CHAPTER XI. 



EAST COAST OF LABRADOR— CAPE ST. EEWIS TO CAPE 



CHIDLEY. 



The east coast of Labrador is extremely barren and rugged, and 

 is composed of Laurentian gneiss, with intrusive granite and many 

 quartz veins. The hills rise steeply from the sea, often in cliffs, with 

 rugged rocky points. The only sandy beach of any extent on the 

 whole coast northward to Nain is the strand on each side of cape 

 Porcupine. 



From Davis inlet to Nachvak, the outer islands and coast appear 

 to be fairly free from sunken rocks; but from Nachvak to cape 

 Chidley the coast is fringed with small islets and sunken rocks to an 

 average distance of some 5 miles. 



From about port Manvers to cape Chidley the land is generally 

 high ; it attains its greatest elevation midway between Nachvak and 

 cape Chidley, where the hills near the coast are estimated to be 5,000 

 or 6,000 feet high. 



The nominal jurisdiction of the Newfoundland government ex- 

 tends from Blanc Sablon bay to cape Chidley, at the entrance of 

 Hudson strait, but the actual control ceases at Holton harbor, the 

 most northern settled Newfoundland fishing post. Yet the local mail 

 steamer proceeds as far as Nain^ 



Northward of Holton harbor the cod fishery is prosecuted from 

 schooners that " follow the fish," as it is termed, sometimes beyond 

 cape Chidley, though the vicinity of Nain is the usual northern 

 limit. ' 



Eskimo half-breeds have established themselves at various places 

 along the coast northward of Battle harbor, but thete is no large 

 settlement of them till as far north as Cartwright harbor in latitude 

 53° 42', where some are congregated about a post of the Hudson Bay 

 Company. 



There is also a settlement in connection with the Hudson Bay 

 Company at Rigoulette in Hamilton inlet. 



The next native villages to the northward are at Makovik (see 

 p. 731) and Hopedale. which are stations of the Moravian mission. 

 Thence to cape Chidley, the natives, with a few exceptions, live at 

 76846—09 42 657 



