232 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



ably neglected field for enterprise and investment, and especially of 

 seeing that its treasures are not prematurely exhausted, but so pre- 

 served as to be a permanent source of revenue and profit. 



We come now to Lieutenant Gordon's observations upon the nat- 

 ural history of the country, and first of all as to its human inhabitants. 

 These are very scanty, and, with the exception of a few white men at 

 the traders' posts, are solely Eskimos. On the north side of the strait 

 they are quite familiar with the ways of white men, and seem to be 

 highly pleased at the prospect of increased intercourse with them. 

 Occasionally one is met with who has mastered the English tongue, 

 but not often. Many others understand well enough what is said to 

 them in that language, although they can not be persuaded to speak 

 it. They are particularly fond of any article of civilized clothing, and 

 the head-man at North Bluff manifested no small pride at the posses- 

 sion of a stand-up linen collar, which he displayed to the utmost ad- 

 vantage. In character they are docile, amiable, and willing to work. 

 When landing the stores and coal at North Bluff they worked all day 

 along with the men, carrying heavy weights up over the rocks, and 

 toiling away as cheerily and heartily as could be desired, asking no 

 other remuneration than biscuits, of which commodity they are inor- 

 dinately fond. These people have no farinaceous food of any kind, 

 and, as a consequence, the children are not weaned until they reach 

 the age of thi*ee or four years. The families are small, there rarely 

 being more than two or three children, and, although early marriages 

 are the rule, their numbers must be diminishing, because signs of their 

 presence were met with everywhere, while the people themselves were 

 found at only three places along the straits, and there are only some 

 five or six families known to be between Cape Chudleigh and Nach- 

 vak. Along the Labrador coast the Eskimos gather in small settle- 

 ments around the Moravian mission-stations. Nain is considered the 

 largest settlement, and its Eskimo population does not exceed two 

 hundred souls. Those at the stations are all educated, being able to 

 read and write in their own language, and, according to the mission- 

 aries, are regular attendants at church, and very fond of music two 

 excellent and hopeful traits certainly. 



Practical prohibition prevails, thanks to the vigilance of the mis- 

 sionaries, and the only liability to temptation that ever falls in the 

 way of an Eskimo is when some unprincipled Newfoundland fisherman 

 offers him a pull out of his flask. This, however, is a rare occurrence, 

 and there is no record of any disturbance or trouble ever having been 

 raised that would elsewhere demand the presence of a policeman for 

 its quelling. The missions are so well managed as to be self-support- 

 ing, the modus operandi being for the missionaries to supply the Es- 

 kimos on loan with the very best traps, fishing-lines, and other gear, 

 and then to purchase from them all their catch, whether it be seals, 

 cod, salmon, furs, or anything else. A vessel which comes out from 



