THE RIVERS OF NORTHERN LABRADOR. 1 5 



Ungava Bay receives two important rivers which im- 

 perfectly drain the northwestern slope of Western 

 Labrador. The smaller of the two is the Kangutlua- 

 luksoak or George River, which empties into the bay in 

 lat. 38° 57', and is 140 miles long. Its water-shed is 

 said by Kohlmeister and Knoch to be a chain of high 

 mountains which terminates in the lofty peaks of syenite 

 at Aulezavik Island and Cape Chidley. 



The two Moravian missionaries mentioned above state 

 in addition that " this chain of mountains may be seen 

 from the Kangutlualuksoak River, in Ungava Bay, 

 which is collateral proof that the neck of land termin- 

 ated' to the north by Cape Chidley is of no great 

 width. Both the Nain and Okak Esquimaux frequently 

 penetrate far enough inland to find the rivers taking a 

 westerly course, consequently towards the Ungava coun- 

 try. They even now and then have reached the woods 

 skirting the estuaries of George and South rivers." 

 These missionaries describe the Koksoak or South 

 River as flowing smoothly through a low, rocky (prob- 

 ably Silurian) district, and emptying into Ungava Bay 

 in lat. 58° 36'. It is said to resemble at its mouth the 

 Thames, and affords anchorage for vessels twenty-four 

 miles from its mouth. This stream probably arises near 

 the source of the Grand or Hamilton River, and flows 

 in a N. N. W. direction, probably along a natural fissure 

 formed by the juncture of the Silurian rocks and Lau- 

 rentian system.* 



* This river is said to have its source in Lalce Caniapuscaw, which is 70 miles 

 long and 20 broad, situated in the centre of the peninsula, equidistant from the 

 St. Lawrence, from Ungava and Hamilton Inlet, being 350 miles from each of 

 those points. , 



" It is rapid and turbulent, flowing through a partially wooded country. At 



