154 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. chap. xxx. 



blished at Esquimaux Point, Natashquan, Salmon Har- 

 bour, &c. East of Natashquan it is not yet known 

 whether land capable of being cultivated, and fuel in 

 sufficient abundance exists, to warrant the expectation 

 that such settlements as Esquimaux Point can take so 

 rapid a rise with such fair prospects of increase and per- 

 manency. The importance of a few permanent fishing 

 villages or towns on the Gulf shore, and even on the 

 Atlantic coast, can scai'cely be over-estimated in view 

 of the wonderful extent of the fishing-grounds which 

 they command, and the growing fish trade of the ' North 

 Shore.' 



The spring and sinimier life of the Labradorians is 

 exclusively devoted to fishing. Tkey have no leisure 

 at that period to attend to other occupations, so that 

 it will not excite surprise that until last year the 

 only cow on this vast extent of Gulf coast east of 

 Esquimaux Point was at Natagamiou ; the happy pro- 

 prietor obtained but little profit from his charge, for the 

 impression gained ground among the simple people that 

 cow's milk was a cure for all imaginable maladies. From 

 far and near, within the limits of thirty miles on either 

 side, they sent for a ' drop of milk ' when sickness was 

 upon them ; and as no charge is ever made for such 

 items on this hospitable coast, the owner of the cow had 

 no milk left for himself. 



A second Acadian colony was established near Natash- 

 quan, ninety miles from Mingan, in 1857 ; it already 

 numbers tliirty families. Natashquan, it has been already 

 stated, is famous for its seals, and it is chiefly for the 

 convenience of catching these ' marine wolves ' in the 



