MIRAMICHI DESTROYED BY FIRE. 



237 



and traverse the inland and unknown parts of 

 that island, throughout the year, Newfoundland 

 being separated from the shores of Labrador 

 only by a channel of moderate breadth, known 

 by the name of Belleisle Straits, it is more than 

 probable, that hunting parties of Esquimaux 

 Indians, like those met with in Hudson's 

 Straits, pass over for the hunting season, and 

 return to that dreary continent for the winter. 



I could not but reflect with gratitude, on 

 escaping, in my tour along the coast, from that 

 dreadful conflagration, which raged for a hun- 

 dred miles or more in width, and destroyed 

 Miramichi, and the surrounding Settlements, 

 on the night of October the 7th. I had deter- 

 mined upon a visit to the above town, but was 

 providentially prevented reaching it ; and had 

 scarcely returned to the vale, before the atmos- 

 phere became so dense with smoke, which pre- 

 vailed throughout the Province, as to excite 

 fearful apprehensions, that large fires were ap- 

 proaching us in the woods. Almost every one 

 ran occasionally to the door, under the expec- 

 tation of seeing the flames burst forth ; nor 

 were our fears allayed, till the air became clear, 

 and the surrounding country opened again to 

 our view. Then the melancholy tale reached 

 us of the above dreadful calamity ; and we 



