36 



north as the Koksoak. It is an important article of food as it 

 has good preservative quaHties. It also might be called medicinal 

 in that its acid juices counteract to a large extent the exclusive 

 meat diet of the Eskimo. It is gathered just before the ground 

 is covered with snow, as it is improved by frost, and again in the 

 spring, just after the disappearance of the snow, when it is 

 said to be most perfect. 



The varieties of blueberry are widespread. The shrub 

 variety is found in northern Labrador on the rivers and barrens 

 and is a firmer fruit and more acid to the taste than its southern 

 relative, the bush variety, found throughout southern Labrador 

 as far north as Nain. An intermediate variety, the ground 

 blueberry, is found along the Koksoak. The dewberry (Rubus 

 articus) is found in large quantities on the islands off the east 

 coast of Hudson bay, also in northern Labrador along the rivers. 

 A smaller species, the eyeberry, Rubus triflorus, is found on 

 Hamilton river. 



The wild-strawberry {Fragaria virginiana), which has a 

 reddish blossom distinguishing it from the white blossom of the 

 baked-apple, is abundant in Hamilton inlet and on the east 

 coast of Hudson bay. The Indian pear is found in two varieties 

 in the interior and on Hamilton inlet and Sandwich bay. The 

 crowberry {Empetrum nigrum) is common throughout the rocky 

 coast and inlets. Altogether, Labrador is perhaps better 

 supplied with berries than any other section of sub-arctic country 

 which the Eskimo inhabit. 



MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



During my voyage around the Labrador peninsula I took 

 pains to make a collection of plants, and particularly to inquire 

 of the natives if any were put to a medicinal use. I was agree- 

 ably surprised to find that quite a few were used for this purpose, 

 and among them I recognized some varieties also employed 

 by the natives of Alaska. Whether the use of such plants was 

 originally derived from the Indians or whites, I cannot say, 

 but it is true that the Eskimo recognize the use of several com- 

 mon plants for poultices and teas, the efficacy of which I can 

 testify from personal experience. 



