212 A. S. PACKAKD, Jr., ON THE GLACIAL PHENOMENA 



domes and rounded tops. The two Moravian missionaries, mentioned above, state in addi- 

 tion, that "tins chain of mountains may be seen from the Kangutlualuksoak River, in Un- 

 gava Bay, which is a collateral proof that the neck of land terminated to the north by 

 Cape Chudleigh is of no great width. Both the Nain and Okkak Esquimaux frequently 

 penetrate far enough inland to find the rivers taking a westerly course, consequently to- 

 wards the Ungava country. They even now and then have reached the woods skirting 

 the estuaries of George and South rivers." These missionaries describe the Koksoak o°r 

 South River as flowing smoothly through a low, rocky (probably Silurian) district, and 

 emptying into Ungava Bay in lat. 58° 36'. It is said to resemble at its mouth the 

 Thames, and affords anchorage for vessels twenty-four miles from its mouth. This stream 

 probably arises near the source of the Grand or Hamilton River, and flows in a N. N. W. 

 direction, probably along a natural fissure formed by the juncture of the Silurian rocks and 

 Laurentian system. 



At the western political boundary line between Labrador and Prince Rupert's Land, ac- 

 cording to recent maps, we find apparently another water-shed, which on the eastern slope 

 sends a finv streams into the Koksoak River, while on its western slope descend several 

 streams which flow in a westerly course into Hudson's and James Bay. 



Thus it will be seen that these four river systems take their rise from a great water-shed 

 which curves in a southwesterly direction from Labrador along the northern shores of the 

 St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. 



Labrador is essentially a lake district. Its numerous rivers afford a very imperfect sys- 

 tem of drainage to a country densely covered with lakes, ponds and pools, and morasses 

 innumerable. It resembles in this respect the probable aspect of the Lake or Terrace 

 period in New England and Canada after the Glacial period, when the present broad rivers 

 were only chains of lakes, and may thus be said to be in an embryonic stage, as its river- 

 beds have never been remodelled and scooped out into gentle declivities and broad valleys 

 nor immense depths of sand and clay deposited to smooth over the inequalities of the 

 rocky surface of the country, such as in the temperate zone render a continent inhabitable 

 throughout its breadth; while in Labrador man can only inhabit the coast, and eain a live- 

 lihood from the sea. 



We must distinguish two classes in the lakes of Labrador, viz.: the deep mountain 

 tarns, lying in the interior, directly upon the summits of the water-sheds ; and the far more 

 numerous broad, shallow lakes and pools spread profusely over the surface below the 

 height of land. These last occupy shallow depressions and hollows, most probably exca- 

 vated by glaciers, in valleys which have been simply remodelled by glacial action The 

 deep tarns on the contrary, evidently fill original depressions, sinking between lofty ranges 

 ot hills. Davies says that in the region about the source of the Hamilton River the lakes 

 are very deep, and lie directly on the height of land, while the ponds on the lowlands are 

 shallow; and on the other hand, those which directly communicate with the ocean or with 

 the fiords are m general distinguished for their depth. « This almost universal shallowness 

 of the lakes is a singular feature, when the nature of their borders is taken into considera- 

 tion, as they are generally surrounded by hills, which would lead one to look for a corre- 

 sponding depth in the lake ; but, instead of this, some are so shallow, that for miles there 

 is hardly water enough to float a half-loaded canoe. I am informed by my friend John 

 McLean, Esq., that this is likewise the case with the lakes lying on the water-shed of 

 Ungava Bay. The lakes, lying on the table-land are said to be deep." J He also states that 



1 Loc. cit. p. 76. 



