262 THE LABRADOR ESKIMOS AND THEIR FORMER RANGE. 



and either totally extirpated or expelled ; the few that 

 escaped returning to the north, outside of the Strait of 

 Belle Isle. In this assault, it is said, more than i,ooo 

 were slain, and by the quantity of human bones scattered 

 over the island I should think the number was not over- 

 rated. After their expulsion from the Gulf shores they 

 occasionally made predatory excursions against the 

 French — coming into the Straits, early in the spring, in 

 skin-boats — burning fishing-rooms, boats, etc., killing the 

 guardians or making them fly. Twice they assaulted 

 Bradore during the times of the Courtemanches, in one 

 of which they lost four hundred men : indeed, they con- 

 tinued this warfare until three years before the conquest ; 

 when, after destroying several fishing-stands along the 

 Straits, they were repulsed by some sealing crews at 

 Pennoyer River (pp. 45, 46). 



The following extract from Arthur Dobbs's " An Ac- 

 count of the Countries adjoining to Hudson's Bay" 

 (London, 1744) throws light on the struggle for exist- 

 ence on the East Main, nearly two centuries ago, be- 

 tween the red Indians and the Eskimos : 



" The East Main from Slade River to Hudson's 

 Streight is least known, there being no factories fixed 

 there for Trade, altho' the best Sable and black Fox 

 skins are got there. Here the Nodway or Eskimaux 

 Indians live, who are' in a manner hunted and destroyed 

 by the more southerly Indians, being perpetually at war 

 with each other." 



The stone structures, particularly the grave or dolmen- 

 like burial-places referred to by the Moravians, are of 

 course matters of very great interest. In connection 

 with that statement we would draw attention to the fol- 



