Sept. 2^, 1002,] 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
^48 
iS they pressed forward in their anxious march over 
iie rough ground of the high prairie. 
But now they saw with dismay that a ravine which ran 
[own to the bottom land of the river, and which was 
lied with tall grass, ran directly across their line of 
narch. The tall grass had now grown, to be an object 
)f dread to their anxious eyes. Calling a halt, tlaeir 
eneral now ordered forward all her troops. Every boy 
Tid man, armed with any kind of gun, was now ranged 
n front, and forming them, in line abreast and some 
hlrty yards apart, she made them a short speech. 
"Now," said she, "you all go on at the word. Be 
eady to shoot, and shoot quick! If Dakotas are in the 
all grass and they see you coming and see that you loiow 
lOAV to fight and are ready to fight, they not wait for 
ou; the)' jump and run. I know!" 
The word was given, and directly in the rear of the 
xtended skirmish line moved the caravan, safely across 
nd out again upon the high land of the prairie. 
Several times this was repeated during their march, 
nd when in the afternoon they came opposite the 
illage of New Ulm they turned at a right angle and 
loved down into the protection and safety of the town 
vithout harm to a single member of the little band, so 
pisely led and guided. But along'the road which wound 
Ls sinuous course along the river bottom, between the 
nouth of the Sleepy Eye and the village of New Ulm, 
he mangled bodies of over fifty pioneers — men, women 
nd little children — lay strewn in all forms of mutilation 
'nd savage slaughter, as the darkness of night closed 
own upon the frontier at the end of that sad and fate- 
dl day. Orin Belknap. 
Summer on the Labrador. 
{Continued j^rom last tueek.) 
Wk were pleasantly received by the missionaries and 
rranged with them for the use of a boat. Among the 
iw Eskimos about, however, we were unable to find 
ne who would accompany us as guide without the 
aily compensation of plenty of tobacco and the value 
[ two quintals of fish, about $6. We decided to go 
lone. After one false start, when our boat proved 
erself in the first hundred- yards, utterly unfit for our 
iirpose, we retlirned, reloaded ever3fthing into a big 
iree-masted "Jack" and tender, received our final in- 
tructions from Capt. Mercer of the Idalia as to direc- 
on, and shortly before six in the evening manned the 
wenty-foot sweeps and forced our craft out into the 
;ind. 
The night was beautiful and clear, the air tinged with a 
light sharpness as of early fall, and as we lost sight 
{ the buildings of Nain they were flooded with the red 
ays of the sun just sinking -behind the distant islands. 
Vith Jake at the helm, while I matched for rocks and 
igeons from the bows, with every sail drawing, we 
tarted off in high spirits and laid a course np the 
outh branch of Nain Bay. We sailed until after dark 
nd made camp about So yards from the shore on 9. 
rassy slope. It was an unusually attractive looking sptit 
or a camp, being sheltered on three sides by high walls 
nd trees, while within a few steps was a clear running 
rook of ice water. But in our choice of a camp we had 
eft out of consideration the ubiquitous mosquito, and 
ound we had chosen a spot already occupied by him as 
breeding ground. We suffered in consequence, and 
self-defense broke camp at the first break of day. 
About noon, finding we were getting into the shallow 
eadwaters of the baj' and having covered, as we thought, 
bout twenty miles, we selected a site for a permanent 
amp on high ground, well protected in front by a high 
ocky precipice and in the rear by a considerable growth 
{ trees. Such protection as we had, however, was not 
ufficient to prevent the capsize of our tent— and 1;he 
onsequent destruction of several valuable articles, in- 
luding a pot of beans jnst finished baking, a luxury 
xpensive in time and oil — during the northwest gale, 
i?hich blew for thirty-six hours after we landed. 
The appearance of the country here resembled very 
tiuch what we had already seen of the coast. High, 
ocky headlands, barren of everything except the rein- 
eer moss, rise abruptly on both sides of the bay. Above 
hese often stand much higher hills, which finally slope 
way into a rolling country intersected in every direc- 
Lon by waterways. In the valleys we often found a 
.rowth of fir and spruce in small areas, and directly in 
tie rear of our camping ground was an area of a quar- 
er of a mile square, some of the trees reachintr thirty 
;et in height. 
As we landed the first day in our tender, we imme- 
iately made the acquaintance of a family of Arctic 
ulls, which we found later, occupied the blufif directly 
n front of our camp. They greeted us with loud and 
ngry cries, and flying over would often swoop down 
Imost within arm's reach. These gulls, an occasional 
lock of ducks flying over, and now and then a spruce 
)artridge or a "woodpecker, seemed to comprise the 
)ird life in our vicinity just at that time. Since reach- 
ng the shore, our early impressions received from the 
geographies, of the vast clouds of migratory birds to be 
ound on the coast, had received a set back. Ofif Iron 
ioiind Island we had passed a great flock of "Tickle 
Hsies," and occasionally from the top of an iceberg or 
rom some rocky headland woifld rise large numbers of 
ulls, but we soon came to the conclusion that the 
.reat breedmg grounds were further north and in more 
naccessible places than the Labrador coast furnished. 
It is a feature of Labrador streams that hardly one 
lows into the sea, but swarms with brook trout. At 
3olton we took several weighing two pounds and those 
ront a quarter to half a pound in large numbers. In 
ihe brooks about our camp we found them plenty and 
jamy and kept ourselves well supplied, but our efforts 
ivith the sea troul, which the Eskimos take in large num- 
iers in the spring and which find a ready market in St. 
ohns, resulted in the capture of a fine mess of flatfish. 
. The game signs around our camp, however, were 
isappointing. While there was a network of trails lead- 
ng in all directions, showing where the caribou had 
ome in large numbers in the earlier part of the summer, 
nothing showed any recent visits. Across the bay we 
found an Eskimo camp used during their spring trout 
fishing, and all about here was a veritable boneyard. 
Antlers, hoofs and whole skeletons bore evidence that 
the natives found caribou plenty enough at times. To 
the mosquito, of course, can be laid the absence of the 
caribou, and it is not surprising that they flee inland 
and to the tops of the highest hills to escape this pest, 
which even to a man with his means of protection, is 
almost unbearable at times. We had them in our tent, 
in our food and on our tramps. When we rested, as we 
often did in climbing the hills, for the exertion was 
severe, every portion of our clothing would immediately 
be covered by a hungry, buzzing crowd, and it was not 
unusual for them to bore through the thin parts and 
even through a soft leather glove. Headgears of net- 
ting, which we wore continually and tar soap constantly 
appHed, were both wholly inadequate against these lustv 
fellows. By vigorous smudging we always cleared out 
the tent before getting into our sleeping bags, and if 
there happened to be a breeze blowing, were sometimes 
undisturbed until morning. If there was no other rea- 
son why Labrador would probably never become a 
summer playground for the people, this reason of the 
mosquito would be sufficient. 
We were unsupplied in our camp with a time piece, 
and so were obliged to rely on the sun for our hours of 
going and coming. This did very well on days when the 
stm could be seen, but there came a day when it was 
h'dden behind a dark mass of heavy clouds. 
Rising at what we supposed was our usual hour, we 
had breakfast and Avent over the hills a short distance. 
We were gone perhaps a little over three hours, and on 
our return set to work to prepare dinner. We had 
hardly finished, when it began to grow perceptibly darker, 
and by the time we had cleaned up another night had 
come. So we again crawled into our sleeping bags, 
pulled our pea-jackets up over us and wondered what 
had become of the day, and if the long Arctic winter 
night was upon us so suddenly. The next day, however, 
was of the usual length. We spent a week in this camp 
and covered a large part of the surrounding country 
in otir tramps. From the tops of the highest hills we 
covered with otir glass miles and miles in every direc- 
tion, and always had the same view of a limitless ex- 
panse of rock, trees, snow, and water, but not the slight- 
est trace of the caribou.' Breaking camp at high water 
early one morning, we started toward Nain with a fresh 
northwest breeze. This increased until it became a gale, 
and with sail shortened to a reefed mainsail, we bowled 
along at a tremendous rate, reaching Nain shortly be- 
fore noon, much to the surprise of the inhabitants, whose 
opinion of our abihty in the management of a boat was 
plainly not flattering when we left themtheweek before. 
east to southwest. A boat was soon manned, and by the 
time the steamer, which proved to be the Grand Lake, 
had come to anchor, a large part of the population of 
Nain was ready to clamber aboard. On her first trip of 
the year, word had been left that the steamer might on 
her next trip go north from Nain to the other station, and 
th is was the principal question asked as we flocked on 
board. 
Up to this time Nain had been the most northerly 
point touched by the regular mail steamer, the traffic 
between the other stations having been carried on by 
schooners. We were told that the steamer sailed the 
first thing in the morning for Okah, Hebron and Rama, 
and our plans were soon made to accompany her, as 
there seemed to be too little time during her trip north 
to camp again. 
A general feeling of expectancy and of pleasant an- 
ticipation was noticeable as the steamer left Nain, and 
there was a sort of "first time" novelty to everything. 
The coast below Nain being new to the captain, our 
friend, Mr. Ford, was taken as pilot, and ten miles out- 
side Nain took us safely over a sand reef when it looked 
to many of us as if we must surely strike, with our 
18 feet of draft, so clearly could we see the bottom. We 
were shortly afterward approached and hailed by a 
whale boat load of ten men, who, with their provisions 
and sea bags, plainly told the story of another wreck. 
As the steamer stopped, they came alongside, and re- 
ported themselves the crew of the schooner Mariner, 
wrecked two days before off Cape Mugford. They were 
told by the Government official to proceed to Nain and 
remain there until the steamer should return, when they 
wotfld be taken south. Proceeding, we were loudly 
cheered by the natives as we passed their summer camps, 
and shortly after noon passed Black Island, with the 
wreck of the Lily of the North plainly seen through our 
glasses. Past the jagged and snow-capped Kigdlapiegh 
we steamed, and toward night were brought to a halt by 
a thick fog, which hid all land marks. The steamer was 
put about and turned in shore toward a fishing boat 
which was coming in from the day's work ^nd making 
for its customary harbor. Taking one of the men 
aboard and the boat in tow, we were guided into the 
harbor behind Cutthroat Island, where we spent the 
night. 
"Oksunai!" "Oksunai!" was the first thing we heard 
on going on deck the next morning. Already nearing 
Okak, the steamer had picked up a large number of 
Eskimos from the outlying islands, and was taking them 
in to assist in the unloading of the stores. As the 
steamer sounded her whistle half a mile from the station, 
answering- shouts could be heard coming from different 
It was during the afternoon offfiTs^flS:^ while taTTJtrtg-^— points along the- shore, and as we came to anchor we 
with the crew of a schooner .unloading missionary sup- 
plies, that we learned of the loss of the Lily of the North. 
She had parted one anchor chain and dragged the other 
anchor in the gale of Saturday before, and had gone on 
to the rocks in Paul's Harbor, Black Island. The second 
pound on the rocks had torn The keel otit and the crew 
had quick work to 'get their belongings on shore, so 
quickly did the water rise in her hold. Wrecks among 
these people are of tlie commonest occurrence, and our 
informants seemed to take the whole affair as a mat- 
ter of course, our interest in every detail seeming very 
surprising to them. They said the cargo was being 
sold at auction as they came by. It is the custom at the 
time of a wreck to appoint from among the captains of 
the schooners at hand one who shall act as auetioneer. 
and by him the cargo and craft are sold. Certain rules 
are followed which are agreed upon by the schooner 
clubs, whose formation takes place at the principal start- 
ing points in Newfoundland. Those who are independ- 
ent of any club, however, often become somewhat 
piratical in their movements and make the occasion of 
a wreck the scene of much highhandedness. From con- 
versation afterward with the man who bought the 
schooner and spars for six dollars, we learned some- 
thing about the prices received for the different articles 
of the cargo. It is, perhaps, enough to say that they 
were absurdly low and showed how great a sacrifice in 
value must be made in order to make a sale. 
We were fortunate in getting Mr. Ford, who is in the 
employ of the missionaries at Nain, and a life-long resi- 
dent of "The Labrador," to accompany us on a second 
camping trip of a few days. Again leaving Nain in the 
boat which had already done us good service, we took 
a southeasterly course and camped during the afternoon 
on Sactushook (long, low) Island. I suppose the un- 
usual noise attending our making camp was what at- 
tracted the magnificent bull caribou which came trotting 
round a bend in the shore as we were putting up the 
tent. His presence, first noticed by Mr. Lord, was a 
signal for the dropping of all camp preparations and a 
frantic stampede for firearms, just then lying scattered 
about the ground. Mr. Ford's quick shot, followed by 
ours, brought him down, and there was soon a good 
prospect for the first fresh meat we had had in six 
weeks. 
The caribou was a fine specimen, with an exceptionally 
good set of antlers, but in our hunt of the island we 
could not find a trace of another. The place made an 
ideal camp, however, being well protected, with plenty 
of water and material for a fire at hand. 
Ducks, geese and shore birds, notably the curlew, were 
in great numbers, and just after light one morning, when 
stalking a flock of geese, we caught a glimpse of a 
black fox skulking along the shore, and on the same 
errand as ourselves. He had frightened the geese, and 
was himself too far off to give a shot, so we returned 
empty-handed. We reached Nain again on the 27th, to 
be ready for the steamer, which was expected daily. 
One evening, as we were seated in Mr. Ford's house 
with his family and three Eskimo women who were 
engaged in softening some skin boots, about half past 
8 we suddenly heard a steamer's whistle. The Eskimo 
women jumped with cries of "Umiaksuak!" "L^miak- 
suak!" (big boat! big boat!), and we all rushed for the 
shore, where a torch was lighted to guide the steamer on 
her cotirse. 
The night was clear and cold, with a keen wind blow- 
ing from the northwest, and the brilliant northern lights 
with constantly changing colors, covered half the sky 
from horizon to horizon, in a general direction of north- 
were surrounded by boats and kayaks containing the 
missionaries and Eskimos. Everybody came aboard, and 
then began the bustling work of unloading the stores 
and taking on the trout, seal oil and whatever else 
Avas to go to St. Johns. 
Okak is about 100 miles north of Nain, and as its 
name signifies (tongue) is placed on a long, narrow 
jab of land. It was started in. 1782, and in appearance 
is similar to the other stations, having the mission house 
w^ith adjoining chapel and the outlying Eskimo huts. 
Okak is the largest in population of the stations, the 
Eskimos numbering about 380. Men, women and chil- 
dren, they all impressed us as being the most sttirdy 
and lusty looking crowd we met on the coast. The 
healthy color in their faces fairly shone through the 
dark skin, and the large number of children of all ages 
spoke well for the continuance of the race, a fact noticeably 
absent at some of the stations. It is evident that they 
still use their natural food of seal blubber and dried fish, 
for it is a well-known fact that as soon as they leave 
this diet and take up the civilized fare of bread and 
molasses the health of the people begins to deteriorate. 
They are in many ways an interesting people to meet. 
Of course, one must first overcome the natural dislike 
to the odor which is noticeable in their company. This 
seems at first impossible, until the interest aroused by 
the native, his life and langua,ge, helps one to forgot 
about his negative charms, and if this feature is after- 
ward at all noticeable it is simply as an agreeable part 
of Jiis personalit3^ Cleanliness is decidedly not one of 
his strong points, and water is known to him principally 
as a good thing to drink. However, in some of the" 
southern stations they are beginning to observe a little 
more neatness in their personal appearance, and often 
signify their knowledge of the day being Sunday by 
pointing to their hair, which has perhaps been a little 
smoothed, or to a change in their "addichek," an 
outer garment shaped like a blouse, with a hood. Will- 
ing and cheerful in their disposition, their "Oksunai" is 
always accompanied by a smile, and during our contact 
with them we saw but a single instance of surliness, and 
that in one afflicted widi the grip, which has found its 
way to that far-off shore. 
Abias, a leader and adviser among the Eskimos, lives 
at Okak. He has reached the age of seventy- three, an 
imusually long life for an Eskimo, and has qualities of 
mind which make him a natural leader and his in- 
fluence great among the natives of northern Labrador 
C. S. Hawkins. 
[to be continued.] 
The shooting season opened with more or less eclat 
in the neighborhood of Comox, Vancouver Island, as 
we are told by the excellent paper, the Cumberland 
News. J. Reis shot a large panther Sept. 6 on the Gor- 
don ranch, and the same week T. Kirkwood killed a 
large bear. Other bears were seen by different people 
even if not secured. 
The News intimates that poaching goes on in the 
vicinity qf Cumberland, as it does in very many other 
places. The season opened this year with good pros- 
pect of fair bags, but those who went out on opening 
day found the birds few and scattered. It is said that on 
the Sunday preceding the opening there were many gun- 
ners abroad, and there was a considerable destruction 
of birds. The law-abiding citizens ought to take hold 
of matters. 
All corrnnunications intended for Forest and StREAM iligifld' 
always be addressed to the Forest and Stream Publishing C^., New 
York, and not to any individual connected with the paper. 
