m AUDUBON'S LABRADOR 



heart to gaze on these barren lands of Lab- 

 rador, , . . The mosquitoes, many species of 

 horse-fly, small bees, and black gnats filled the 

 air; the frogs croaked; and yet the thermom- 

 eter was not high, not above 55°. This is 

 one of the wonders of this extraordinary coun- 

 try." They found the deserted cabin of a 

 sealer, and Audubon discovered that it "had 

 been the abode of two French Canadians ; first, 

 because their almanac, written with chalk on 

 one of the logs, was in French; and next, the 

 writing was in two very different styles." 

 (.. On July 21 they left Little Mecattina Island 

 and in five hours reached "a harbor which 

 has no name, for we have mistaken it for the 

 right one, which lies two miles east of this; 

 but it matters little, for the coast of Labra- 

 dor is all alike comfortless, cold and foggy 

 yet grand." This harbor, which he elsewhere 

 speaks of as Bate de Portage, is now called Mut- 

 ton Bay. Here he found Captain Bayfield, of 

 the Gulnare, encamped on shore and enjoyed 

 the treat of talking with men of education and 

 refinement. 



The next day Audubon's party embarked 

 in three boats and visited a harbor — Mecat- 

 20 



