Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22
MRS. LEONIDAS HUBBARD'S
EXPLORATION OF LABRADOR
Nina Il. Hubbard in Harper's Magazine
Copyright 1905 by Harper 4 Brothers

Nina Il. Hubbard in Harper's Magazine.
Copyright 1906 by Harper Brothers.l
undertaking a Labrador expedition
of exploration 1t was my purpose to
carry to completion the plans which
u Leonidas Hubbard. ir.. my husband.
had mapped out for himself in his
expedition of 1903.
Mr. Hubbard planned to explore and map
one and perhaps both OF the two large I'M
known rivers of northeastern Labrador-the
Northwest river, draining the great in
terror lake, Michikamau, to Hamilton inlet
and the George river, draining the northern
slope of the plateau TO Ungava bay-to wit
ness the annual caribou migration said by
the Indians to take place about the upper
waters Of the George river; to visit in their
home camp the Nascaupee Indians. or bar
rem ground people,. and TO secure to the
name, besides the honor of mapping the
rivers, tnat or being first after Mclean to
cross the six hundred miles of UNEMPLOYED
wilderness lying between Hamilton inlet
and Cngava bay. In 1888 John Mclean a
trader OF the Hudson Bay Company, had
crossed this part of Labrador but he left
travelling $50 miles OF wilderness before
SO incomplete that to this day 1t is not
certain what route he took. Thus the
country stin remained terra incognita.
The tragic ending of MIR. Hubbard's ex-
petition Is well known. The fatal mistake
In the rivers. to which so many things con-
tTibuted to lead him. was made, and he
ialed to accomplish his purpose; but that
dia not prove his expedition carelessly
and ignorantly planned undertaking On the
contrary. all the information obtained by his
survivors from the Indians at Northwest
river post In December of that year went
only to show that had IT not been for the
mistake In the rivers the expedition would
have been entirely successful
IL seemed TO me tit that my husband 8
lwfNn CHI
which had cost him so much. and in the
summer of 1895 undertook and in every
particular successfully completed the work
which MIR. Hubbard had so greatly desired
10 have the honor of doing.
My expedition demonstrated that geogra-
pliers were mistaken in suposing the North
west river. draining Lake Michikamau, and
the Naseaupee river. draining Seal lake to
be two distinct rivers. They are one and
the same. the outlet OF Lake Michikamau
carrying its waters northeast TO Seal lake
and thence southeast to Hamilton inlet
The headwaters OF the Nascaupee river
traced northward through Lake Michika-
mau and the other lakes and streams lead
ing to the height of laBd-a narrow strip
of bog some 300 yards in width-and located
the headwaters OF the George river imme-
Giately beyond it, following 200 miles to its
mouth the course OF the stream, which, at
Its source tiny rlyulet Is at Its discharge
Into Ungava bay great river three miles
in width, and securing correct maps of the
waters traversed. | Witnessed also the an
nual caribou migration and visited in their
home camps the two bands of Indians In
habting the northern slope OF the plateau
the Montagnais and the Nascaupees-
travelling $50 miles OF wilderness before
seeing any human faces other than those
of my crew. on the 9th of August /
reached the George river Hudson Bay Com
pany's post at Ungava. first after Mclean
TO cross the country.
The entire journey OF GOO miles was ac-
complished in few hours less than sixty
one days. torty-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 all
the time. and at the journeys end there
was, Including my gifts to the Nascaupee
Indians. surplus of $50 pounds OF pro-
visions.
With mo I had three men OF my crew.
chief among whom was George Elson the
Scotch Indian. who had SO Loyalty served
Mr.. Hubbard on his expedition OF
1858, and whose devotion had eliminated
in his nobly heroic, though unspecesss
ful. efforts to save Mr.. Hubbard $
life The other two were Joseph Iser-