INTRODUCTION. 



be immediately given up ; nor were any such lands for the future 

 to be purchased from the said Indians, but in the name of His 

 Brittannic Majesty, at some public meeting or assembly, of said 

 Indians, to be held for that purpose by the Governor or Comman- 

 der-in-chief of such colony within or near which they should 

 lie. The trade with the said Indians was declared free and open 

 to all British subjects who should take out proper Hcenses for 

 that purpose. 



This union of the coast of Labrador with Newfoundland, by 

 placing the former under a jurisdiction which could, from local 

 circumstances, more effectually than any other, provide for the 

 maintenance of order and the due administration of justice in those 

 parts, tended materially to increase its importance as a fishery 

 without any injury to the fur trade, both being perfectly compat- 

 ible. When this arrangement was altered in 1774, and the juris- 

 diction of the Governor of Newfoundland was reduced to its former 

 hmits, a superintendent of trade, appointed by the Governor-Gen- 

 eral of the Four British Provinces, and responsible to him, used to 

 reside at Labrador. This measure, which appeared to have had 

 for its principal object to encourage the fur trade, must have proved 

 very prejudicial to the fishery, and the source of much disorder 

 and irregularity. The re- annexation of the coast of Labrador 

 and adjacent islands to the government of Newfoundland, in the 

 year 1809, was consequently a measure extremely favorable to the 

 interests of the trade and fisheries." 



With a proper understanding, then, of the region visited, I will 

 proceed with the narrative of the expedition, trusting that a greater 

 part of it may be of general interest to the reader. 



