l6 THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF LABRADOR. 



At the western political boundary-line between Labra- 

 dor and Prince Rupert's Land, according to recent maps, 

 we find apparently another water-shed, which on the 

 eastern slope sends a few streams into the Koksoak 

 River, while on its western slope descend several streams 

 which flow in a westerly course into Hudson and James's 

 bays. 



Thus it will be seen that these four river systems take 

 their rise from a great water-shed which curves in a 

 southwesterly direction from Labrador along the north- 

 ern shores of the St. Lawrence River and the Great 

 Lakes. 



Lakes. — The following remarks are taken from our 

 memoir on the " Glacial Phenomena of Labrador and 

 Maine."* 



Labrador is essentially a lake district. Its numerous 

 rivers afford a very imperfect system of drainage to a 

 country densely covered with lakes, ponds, and pools, 

 and morasses innumerable. It resembles in this respect 

 the probable aspect of the Lake or Terrace period in 

 New England and Canada after the Glacial period, when 



South River House (now abandoned) it receives the Washquah River, which 

 forms the route of communication between Ungava Bay and Hamilton Inlet. 

 From this point to the sea (150 miles) the current, though strong, is less broken 

 by rapids ■ it also widens very much, and ninety miles from its mouth it is a 

 mile in breadth, flowing between high rocky banks, thinly clothed with trees ; 

 it is nearly a league in width. Fort Chimo is situated twenty-eight miles from 

 the sea." George's River was ascended by officers of the Hudson Bay Com- 

 pany to establish relations with the Nascopfe Indians, near its source. For 220 

 miles it was, though full of rapids, deep enough for barges. " The general 

 course of the river is north, running parallel to the coast of Labrador, where it 

 is at no time more than 100 miles distant, and often much nearer," (Hind.) 

 We may expect a full description of the region about Fort Chimo when Mr. L. 

 M. Turner's report is issued, as he spent two years at this station. 



* Memoirs of the Boston Society of Natural History, i., 210-303, 1866, 



