CHAPTER V 
THE HAMILTON RIVER AND THE GRAND FALLS 
By A. P. Low 
HamiILton INET is the largest of the many long fiords 
which indent the Atlantic coast. Like the others, it is 
very deep, and is surrounded by high hills, often rising a 
thousand feet sheer from the water, while its surface is 
frequently broken by large, bold, rocky islands. The lower 
slope and islands are wooded with dark spruce mingled 
with the lighter-coloured birch and aspen, forming a pleas- 
ing contrast with the bare rocks of the summits. The 
distance, from the hospital station of Indian Harbour at 
its mouth, in a southwest direction to the head of the inlet, 
is slightly over one hundred and fifty miles, while its aver- 
age breadth is fourteen miles. Forty-five miles above the 
entrance, the inlet narrows and is only about a mile wide 
for upwards of five miles. During each change of tide a 
strong current with rapids occurs at this point. 
Rigolet, the headquarters of the Hudson’s Bay Company 
for the Atlantic coast, is situated on the north side of the 
lower part of the narrows. 
A village of Eskimo, made up of a cluster of small log 
houses, occupies the shore of a small cove at the upper end; 
its chief interest lies in the fact that it is the most southerly 
community of these people. The inhabitants have been 
long in contact with the white men, and have acquired many 
of the virtues and vices of civilization. 
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