324 Life of Audubon. 



meet a naturalist on the Labrador station. The first 

 lieutenant is a student of ornithology, and is making col- 

 lections. I showed a letter from the Duke of Sussex to 

 the captain, and after a pleasant hour, and a promise 

 from him to do anything in his power to aid us, I return- 

 ed to our vessel. 



" yune 24. It was our intention to leave this harbor 

 to-day for one fifty miles east, but the wind is ahead, and 

 I have drawn all day. Shattuck and I took a walk over 

 the dreary hills towards evening, and we found several 

 flowers in bloom, among which was a small species of 

 the Kulnua Glauca. We visited the camp of the Moun- 

 taineer Indians about half a mile from us, and found 

 them skinning seals, and preparing their flesh for use. 

 We saw a robe the size of a good blanket made of seal 

 skin, and tanned so soft and beautiful with the hair on, 

 that it was as pleasant to the touch as a fine kid glove. 

 They refused to sell it. The chief of this party is well 

 informed, talks French so as to be understood, is a fine- 

 looking fellow, about forty years old, and has a good- 

 looking wife and baby. His brother also is married, and 

 has several sons between fourteen and twenty. The 

 whole group consists of about twenty persons. They 

 came and saluted us soon after we landed, and to my as- 

 tonishment offered us a glass of rum. The women were 

 all seated outside of their tents, unpacking bundles of 

 clothing and provisions. We entered one tent, and seat- 

 ed ourselves before a blazing fire, the smoke of which 

 escaped through the top of the apartment. To the many 

 questions I put to the chief and his brother, the following 

 is the substance of his answers. 



" The country from this place to the nearest settle- 

 ment of the Hudson Bay Company is as barren and 

 rocky as this about us. Very large lakes of water abound 

 two hundred miles inland from the sea : these lakes con- 



