New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-31
LABRADOR, THE GREAT UNKNOWN,
ALMOST At OUR DOORS LIES H LARGE PROPORIION
OF THE EARTH'S UNEMPLOYED AREA.

pace down through a canyon with almost vertical
walls of gneiss four hundred feet high and be-
tween twenty-five and thirty miles long. There
was no cave behind the curtain of water as at
Niagara for there no soft underlying stratum
of rock It was estimated that the time occupied by
Niagara Falls in carving its gorge of six or seven
miles through the softer rock was hardly more
than a day as compared with the period occupied
by the Grand Falls in Labrador. The party was
not successful in obtaining good pictures OF the
falls owing TO the lateness OF the hour when they
reached them and the necessity for starting back
Immediately because Of their short stock OF pro-
visions.
Henry G. Bryant Of the Geographical Society OF
philadelphia in his report TO the reason for
leaving the falls soon, said something which IS
of special interest in view Of the story that MT.
Hubbard died OF starvation. Mr. Hubbard had
started with a small stock Of provisions, expecting
to kill sufficient game TO provide his party with
food Mr. Bryant said: ITO have remained under
the circumstances seemed 10 risk starvation, for
owing the absence Of all game from the vicinity,
there appeared to be means OF eking out our
supplies by the usual devices Of the woodsman."
AS in the case Of Niagara Falls. the Indians have
q for it-"Pat-ses- che-wan," the Marrow
Place Where the Water Falkland tell a legend
about it. The legend is that many years ago two
Indian maidens gathering hrewood near the falls
were enticed to the brink and drawn by the
evil spirit OF the place. During the long years since
then, these unfortunates have been condemned TO
dwell beneath the falls and forced TO toll daily
dressing deerskns. until now, no longer young and
beautiful. they be through the mist trail
ing their white hair behind them stretching out
their shrunken arms toward any mortal who vent
to visit the confines of their mystic dwelling
place
There few trees TO be seen throughout the
76o miles OF seaboard of Labrador. between the
Strait OF Belle Isle and Cape Chudeigh and abso-
lutey none above So degrees north latitude story
is told Of tree out Hebron more than thirty
viii 10 o,,I,-
high. few varieties of berries are to be found
and In the protected inets a few vegetables such
as potatoes, cabbage. etc. which can be covered at
night to shield them from the occasional frosts are
grown In little garden plots. set off from the COM
mon land by fishing nets sustained by sticks stuck
in the ground. The interior OF the southern end Of
the peninsula is covered with dense growths of
spruce and fir, and game and fish are fairly album
dant' including trout The average minimum tenn
perature in this region in the summer season has
been found to be about 40 degrees The scenery
combines towering cliffs wooded headlands and
leapng cascades, which CLEAN in the sum- in strik-
ing contrast with the dark foliage Of the evergreen
trees There are evidences OF glacial action to be
Iouna IN powders and upon low mountains Of
granite and gneiss
The surface of the plateau to the north. in tho
neighborhood OF Grand Falls is in striking con-
trast 1t seems desolate. fiat. bleakly monotonous
There is no evidence OF life OF any sort, and the
oppressive silence of ages broods everywhere It
is sparsely covered with stunted spruce trees and
white patches of caribou add to the bieakness
Of the scene. The sparkling lakes and labyrinth
or intercommunicating channels are the only en-
hvening feature of the landscape
Notwithstanding the contact of some OF the Ind
ians in the north with the representatives of the
Hudson's Bay Company and other white men at the
posts, they seem to cling to their primitive GUS
toms. Owing to the observance of a regulation
forbidding the sale OF sprituous liquors TO them
they have retained many of the virtues OF iso-
Hunb ar1 HE
party expected to meet with hospitality at their
hands. The caribou, reindeer, furnishes their
chief item of food, and also provides them with
covers for their wigwams and material for clothing
They take hot air baths coca sionaIly securing
them by rolling heated stones into a hole dug in
the ground. following the stones in themselves and
then pulling over the hole a curious wicker frama
covered with deerskins. They marry early the men
at eighteen and the women at sixteen. In the sum-
mer the tribes break up into groups Of three or
four families each, and wander about the country
traversing the rivers and chains OF lakes in birch
bark canoes. The winter season finds them pur-
suing game the snow on their cumbersome
circular snowshoes. dragging their sledges behind
them. This nomadic life. IL is said among the
Nascopees has served to keep alive the custom of
fastening the demise OF the aged and hepIeSs
The victim is not dispatched outright but IS SUD-
piled with sufficient food to last few days and is
then abandoned. In due OF time starvation
puts an end to his life. From time to time the
Indians to the trading posts OF the Hudsons Bay
Company TO exchange pelts for -four ammunition
etc.
Among the mountaineers there is little political
organization, their traditional enemies the
Esquimaus. have long since ceased to trouble them
There is tradition OF deadly conflict between
the two on Esquimau Island. twelve miles west OF
Rigolet. in Melville Bay. which was the last and
was won by the Indians. Graves of Esquirnaus and
the remains of what appears TO be a rude breast
work testify TO the truth OF the legend.
The EsQuinaus-there are only about O thousand
OF them--now occupy the coast strip at the north
ern end OF the peninsula. They are Of strong and
stocky build, with a swarthy Tartar cast of feat
ures and cheerfuiness OF disposition which the
vicissitudes Of life seldom rufie. Contact with
missionaries OF the Moravian Church has greatly
changed their religious belief and their manner OF
living. but the heritage OF superstition crops out
now and then. A young student who with several
other collegians. visited Labrador few years
ago removed a few coins from a young Esquimau's
ear and swallowed his knife at coast village
The Esquimsus watched his sleisht hand perform
ance Tor few minutes and then silently left his
presence. Thinking ne possessed OF devil
they avoided him during the remainder of the
stay OF the party. In an Esquimau home at another
place which had the true greasy Esquinlau
OH smell, the same coliegian found a small organ
ana q guitar An Esquimau maiden played the
FORMER ana an old man the latter. The neighbors
came IN, and with perfect pitch. sopranos altos
tefors and bassos Joined IN singing Moody and