39 



crossed from Little Whale River, on Hudson Bay, to Ungava in 1884. 

 Something may be gathered as to the general nature of the country 

 along certain lines, from the accounts given by these gentlemen, but there 

 is little of a really satisfactory character, while neither has made any 

 attempt to fix positions or delineate the features of the region on the 

 map. In all probability this entire region consists of a rocky plateau 

 or hilly tract of rounded archsean rocks, highest on the north-east side 

 and to the south, and sloping gradually down to low land towards 

 Ungava Bay. It is known to be more or less wooded, and in some 

 places with timber of fair growth, but if it should be possessed of any 

 real value, this may probably lie in its metalliferous deposits. In this 

 tract of country particularly there is reason to hope that ores like those 

 of Tilt Cove, in Newfoundland, or those of Sudbury, in Ontario, may 

 occur. 



To sum up briefly, in conclusion, what has been said as to the 

 larger unexplored areas of Canada, it may be stated that while the 

 entire area of the Dominion is computed at 3,470,257 square miles 

 about 954,000 square miles of the continent, alone, exclusive 

 of the inhospitable detached Arctic portions, is for all practical pur- 

 poses entirely unknown. In this estimate the area of the unexplored 

 country is reduced to a minimum by the mode of definition employed. 

 Probably we should be much nearer the mark in assuming it as about 

 one million square miles, or between one-third and one fourth of the 

 whole. Till this great aggregate of unknown territory shall have been 

 subjected to examination, or at least till it has been broken up and 

 traversed in many directions by exploratory and survey lines, we must 

 all feel that it stands as a certain* reproach to our want of . enterprise 

 and of a justifiable curiosity. In order, however, to properly ascertain 

 and make known the natural resoiu'ces of the great tracts lying beyond 

 the borders of civilization, such explorations and surveys as are under- 

 taken must be of a truly scientific character. The explorer or surveyor 

 must possess some knowledge of geology and botany, as well as such 

 scientific training as mav enable him to make intelligent and accurate 

 observations of any natural features or phenomena with which he 

 may come in contact. He must not consider that his duty con- 

 sists merely in the perfunctory measuring of lines and the de- 



