168 THE HUDSON BAY ESKIMO. 



houses to prevent the intrusion of the natives, Indians and Eskimo, 

 who were so lately at war with each other that the rancorous feeling 

 had not subsided and might break out afresh at any moment without 

 warning. The remaants of the palisade were yet visible iu 1882. The 

 establishment of this trading post had a pacifying influence upon the 

 natives, who soon found they could do better by procuring the many 

 valuable fur-bearing animals than by engaging in a bloody strife, which 

 the traders always deprecate and endeavor to prevent or suppress. 

 After many trials to establish an overland communication with the 

 stations on Hamilton inlet, it was found to be impracticable, and in 1843 

 the station was abandoned. 



John M'Lean, in a work entitled "Twenty-five Years in the Hudson's 

 Bay Territory,'" gives an account of that portion of the country that 

 came under his knowledge from the year 1838 to 1843. 



In the year 1866 the steamer Labrador was built and sent with a 

 party to reestablish the post at Fort Chimo. Since 1866 the post has 

 been a paying station, and in later years a good profit has been made. 



Fort Chimo is the chief trading station of the Ungava district. The 

 Ungava district proper is the area embraced by the watershed whose 

 outflow drains into Ungava bay. The eastern boundary is formed by 

 the foothills on the west side of the coast range, which is the western 

 limit of Labrador. This range has a trend northwest and southeast ta 

 latitude 00°, where it makes a somewhat abrupt angle and pursues a 

 nearly north course, terminating with Cape Chidley and the Buttons, 

 the latter a low group of islets some 7 miles north of the cajie. 

 The southern boundary is the " Height of Land," near latitude 55°. 

 This region is estimated to be from 1,000 to 3,000 feet above sea level. 

 The greater portion of it is comparatively level, and on its surface are 

 innumerable lakes of various sizes, some of which are quite large. The 

 western boundary is not so well known in the southern part of the 

 region, as it has been seldom traversed. It seems to be a high eleva- 

 tion extending toward the north-northwest, as numerous streams run 

 from the southwest and west toward the central or Koksoak valley. 

 Eskimo who have tra\ crsed the region many times report that the eleva- 

 ted land abruptly ends near 58° 30', and that there is formed a wide 

 swampy tract, estimated to be about 80 miles wide, which opens to the 

 northeast and southwest. The northwestern portion of the district 

 is a great area abounding iu abrupt hills and precipitous mountains of 

 various heights. These heights, estimated to range no higher than 

 li,600 feet, terminate abruptly on the western end of the strait, and 

 the numerous islands in that portion of the water are, doubtless, peaks 

 of this same range continuing to the northwest. 



It will be thus seen that the district of Ungava is a huge amphi- 

 theater opening to the north. The interior of the district is excess- 

 ively varied by ridges and spurs of greater or less elevation. The 



' Two vola. in cue. London, 1849. 



