104 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. chap, vxvii. 



rally of three shirts and two pairs of trousers, sported 

 during tlie whole of Sunday not less than five shirts one 

 above the other. He perspired as if he were in a vapour- 

 bath, but, with true Indian stoicism, bore the incon- 

 veniences which his redundant garments occasioned, con- 

 scious that a chief of the Nasquapees ought to appear 

 richly dressed in the presence of white people. 



The comitry inhabited by these Indians is precisely 

 such as would engender and foster superstitious ideas. 

 The rugged Atlantic slope is cut up by deep cracks or 

 ravines, through which swift rivers flow hke torrents ; 

 back from the rivers are gloomy valleys, covered with 

 forests in the lowest depressions, and surrounded by bare 

 rocks, towermg from live hmidred to two thousand feet, 

 and snow-clad for seven or eight months in the year. 

 Long fasts, arising from habitual improvidence, as well as 

 their dependence upon wild animals, rapidly becoming 

 scarce, cannot fail to weaken the intellect and destroy 

 that self-rehance which might be sustained under a more 

 regular and secure mode of life. 



Famine with all its horrors is now common enough 

 in many parts of the Labrador Peninsida. Not a year 

 passes but some faU victims to it, chiefly, however, on 

 account of their leaving their proper hunting-grounds to 

 seek the robe noire or follow the fur-traders, who, from 

 the diminishing returns, are compelled to abandon out- 

 posts and concentrate their strength. 



The Hudson's Bay Company had formerly several posts 

 in the Ungava district, all of which are now abandoned. 

 Even Petichikupau on the Ashwanipi, or Hamilton Eiver, 

 is about to be given u}). if that event has not already taken 



