The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1906-08-18
A WOMAN IN UNKNOWN LABRA-

DOR.
In Harpors Magazine Mrs. Leohi-
das Hubbard writes Of her per-!ous
but successful journey through l-aDfd-
dor. where her husband lost his HE
two years ago. Mrs. Hubbard WIS
the first white person 10 cross the
country since 1888. Her maps are
the first correct maps ever made.
In undertaking i Labrador eXpe-
dition Of exploration. says Mrs. HAD
bard ii was my purpose 70 carry 10
completion the plans which Leonldas,
Jr., my husband, had mapped out Tor
himself in his expedition OF 1903.
Mr. Hubbard planned 70 explore
and map one and perhaps both Of the
two large unknown rivers of north
eastern Iabrador-the Northwest Rlv-
er, draining the great interior lake,
Michikamau, to Hamilton Inlet; ana
the George River, draining the north
ern slope OF the plateau of CnSaVa
Bay-tO witness the annual caribou
migration said by the Indians to take
place about the upper waters OF lhe
George River, to visit in their nome
camp the Nascaupee Indians, or bar
rem Ground People; and TO secure 10
the name, besides the honor ot map
ping the rivers, that OF being first
after Mclean to cross the six nun
dred miles of uneXplored wilderness
lying between Hamilton Inlet and In
gava Bay. In 1885 John Mclean, a
trader Of the Hudson Bay Company,
had crossed this part of Labrador.
but he left 10 map. and his account !
Of the journey is 50 incomplete tAal
to this day it is not certain what route
he took. Thus the country still re-
NAMED terra incognita.
1T seemed to me fit that my nus
bands name should reap the fruits
of service which had cost him 50
much, and in the summer OF 1905 |
undertook and liz every particular sue /
cessfully completed the work which ,
Mr.. Hubbard had so greatly desired /
to have the honor of doing.
"My expedition demonstrated that
geograDhers were mistaken in sup
posing the Northwest River, draining
Lake Michikamau, and the Nascaupee
River, draining Seal Lake, to be two
distinct rivers. They are one and the
same. the outlet Of Lake Mlchlkamau
carving its waters northeast to Seal
Lake. and thence southeast TO Ham:.-
ton Inlet. The head waters Of the
Nascaupee River | traced northWafd
through Lake Michikamau and the
other lakes and streams leading 10
the height of land-a narrow strip OF
bog some three hundred yards in
width-and located the head waters
of the George River Immediately be
yond it, following three hundred miles
to it's mouth the course OF the stream,
which, at it's source q tiny rlvulet,
is at its discharge into Ungaya Bay
a great river three miles in width, and
securing correct maps Of the waters
l witnessed also the an
nual caribou migration, and visited IN
their home camps the two bands OF
Indians inhabiting the northern slope
of the plateau-the Montagnais and
the scaupees-traveiling three hun
dred and fifty miles Of wilderness be-
fore seeing any human faces other
than those of my crew. On the 2lth
If August reached the George River
Hudson Bay Companys post at IN
gava. first after Mclean to cross the
THE entire journey of six hundred
rnyx hn-
less than siXty-one days. forty-three
days OF actual travel and eighteen
days in camp; for We did not travel
On rainy days, and sometimes not on
Sunday We had all We could eat
Ill the time, and at the journeys end
here was, including my gifts to the
Nascaupee Indians, surplus of one ;
hundred and fifty pounds OF prlyl- ,
,ions.