1890-91.] DISCOVERER OF THE GREAT PALLS OF LABRADOR. 335 



McLean one of those places, "where every prospect pleases," for he says: 

 ^' Every preparation for our departure being now completed, I took leave 

 of Fort York, its fogs, and bogs and mosquitoes, with little regret." He 

 embarked in a brig on the 22nd of August, he does not say for what 

 point, but we afterwards learn his destination to have been Fort Chimo, 

 near the mouth of the Ungava or Caniapuscaw River. On this voyage 

 he narrowly escaped the loss of his life more than once. Of Fort Chimo 

 he writes, " I was much gratified by the appearance of everything about 

 the establishment. The buildings had just been finished with materials 

 sent out from England, through the considerate and kindly feeling of the 

 committee, whose compassion had been excited by the accounts they had 

 heard of the miserable hovels in which the people were lodged when the 

 place was first settled." It is at this point in his journal that he makes 

 the first reference to his wife, of whom I have heard it stated, that she 

 was a very beautiful and intelligent native of one of the western tribes. 

 Referring to the departure of the vessel he says, " The clank of the 

 capstan while the operation of weighing was being executed, echoing 

 from the surrounding hills, suggested the question, ' When shall that 

 sound be heard again ? ' From the melancholy reverie which this idea 

 suggested, I was roused by the voice of my fellow exile, ' the companion 

 of my joys and sorrows,' in whose society such gloomy thoughts could 

 not long dwell." 



With such a scene as was spread out before them, he might well be 

 pardoned for entertaining gloomy forebodings, for " This post," he says, 

 " is situated in lat, 59° 28' standing on the east bank of South River, 

 about thirty miles distant from the sea, surrounded by a country that 

 presents as complete a picture of desolation as can be imagined ; moss- 

 covered rocks without vegetation and without verdure, constitute the 

 cheerless landscape that greets the eye in every direction. A few stunt- 

 ed pines growing in the villages form the only exception and at this 

 season of the year, when they shed their leaves,* contribute but little 

 to the improvement of the scene." 



I have already referred to circumstances connected with the establish- 

 ment of Fort Chimo, but the following from Mr. McLean's own pen 

 enables us to understand how it came about that he made the discovery 

 of the Great Falls. He says, " I was directed to push outposts into the 

 interior, to support my people on the resources of the country, and at 

 the same time to open a communication with Esquimaux Bay, on the 

 coast of Labrador, with the view of obtaining in future my supplies from 

 thence by inland route ; there being no question of the practicability of 



* Probably this refers to the hackmatac or tamarac. 

 22 



