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 LIBRARY 
 
 nivvrsity of 
 California 
 Irvine 
 
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 uAS.E.LAURIATciol
 
 ^o--
 
 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT AND HIS 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL
 
 W. Hiltou, Pinxt. T. Medland, Sculp. 
 
 Captain Cartwright Visiting His Fox-traps 
 
 Fro7itispiece
 
 Captain Cartwright 
 
 AND HIS 
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 CHARLES WENDELL TOWNSEND, M. D. 
 
 Author of "Along the Labrador Coast," "A Labrador 
 
 Spring," "Thk Birds of Kssex Cotnty," and joint 
 
 author of "Birds of Labrador" 
 
 WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY 
 DR. WILFRED T. GRENFELL 
 
 Illustrations from Old Engravings, Photographs, 
 
 and a Map 
 
 BOSTON 
 
 DANA ESTES & COMPANY 
 
 PUBLISHERS 
 
 1911
 
 Copyright, 1911 
 By Dana Estes & Company 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
 Electrotyped and Printed by 
 THE COLONIAL PRESS 
 C. H. Simonds & Co., Boston, U.S.A.
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 BY 
 
 DR. GRENFELL 
 
 Having been myself long familiar with the ad- 
 mirable diaries of Captain Cartwright, and hav- 
 ing received no little personal inspiration from 
 them, I have often regretted they were not within 
 reach of more men of the present day. I have 
 even gone so far as to try and set time enough 
 aside to do a work myself that it had not pleased 
 any one else to do. I firmly believe, however, it 
 is only the scarcity of copies, and the little knowl- 
 edge of them, that has led to their not being pre- 
 viously published. Thus it may readily be con- 
 ceived how gladly I learned that Dr. Townsend 
 had undertaken this labour of love— a work I con- 
 sider altogether worthy of commendation. There 
 are too few classics of the type of Borrow 's 
 '' Bible in Spain " and \\niite's '' Natural His- 
 tory of Selbourne " that picture so clearly and 
 obviously trutlifully, the struggles and trials, the 
 joys and interests of a very human being— such 
 as most of us find ourselves to be. This book does 
 not conventionally portray the life of a saint, but 
 faithfully depicts that of a sinner— a class of 
 })ooks f)erhaps likely to do just as nnich good- 
 being more interesting and therefore likely to 
 
 vii
 
 viii INTRODUCTION 
 
 reach further, even if it would be classed by some 
 as not so directly edifying to the soul. The Jour- 
 nals are a concise illustration of the enterprise, 
 pluck, perseverance, self-reliance and stoicism of 
 the old English stock. Cartwright is even more 
 than candid in the revelation of his own derelic- 
 tions. But his carefully recorded series of facts 
 about himself and the country paint a graphic 
 picture which leaves one's mind informed and 
 stimulated. It is, moreover, valuable, if for noth- 
 ing else, for its contrast with the style of the 
 journalistic records of passing events in the mod- 
 ern press, where a minimimi of fact is made the 
 basis for a maximum of letter press, so that the 
 oculist rather than the mind or spirit benefits 
 from the search for knowledge. Personally I 
 feel very grateful for an accessible edition of 
 these Journals. It would be a distinct loss to 
 literature if they were permitted to disappear. 
 It strikes me as somewhat appropriate this fore- 
 word should be written from the home of the 
 gallant Captain himself. 
 
 Wilfred Grenfell, M. D., M. A., etc. 
 
 Oct. 6, 1909. 
 »S. S. Strathcona. 
 
 Cartwright, Labrador.
 
 PREFACE 
 
 Before mv first visit to Labrador in the sum- 
 mer of 1906, I came upon the Journal of Captain 
 George Cartwright, published in Newark, Eng- 
 land, in 1792, detailing his experiences during a 
 residence of nearly sixteen years on that inhos- 
 pitable but interesting coast. I found it to be a 
 mine of valuable information and acute observa- 
 tions on many subjects connected with Labrador 
 and Lalirador life and adventure, including ac- 
 counts of the birds and beasts that he hunted and 
 trapped, and of the people, both Eskimo and In- 
 dian, all told with a fidelity to truth that cannot 
 be doubted. 
 
 Cartwright 's tact and judgment in dealing with 
 the Eskimos, Avho had formerly been negotiated 
 by the Europeans only at the musket's mouth, and 
 his uniform justice in his treatment of them, to- 
 gether with his interesting account of their cus- 
 toms and of their behaviour both in Tjabrador and 
 at the coui-t of King George the Tliird, are all 
 admii'ablc. 
 
 His account of the habits of polar bears and 
 beavers studied under exceptionally favoura])lo 
 circumstances, his obsen-ations on the caribou, 
 on wolves, otters, wolverines and other fur-bear- 
 ers, and oTi many species of water-birds, inclndinc: 
 
 iz
 
 PREFACE 
 
 the long extinct great auk, as well as his notes on 
 matters botanical, are all of exceeding interest. 
 
 His treatment of labour difficulties, his adven- 
 tures with American privateers during the Revo- 
 lution and the side-light he throws on the char- 
 acter of Benedict Arnold, with whom he happened 
 to share a cabin on a voyage to England, are all 
 interesting; but above all one admires his keen 
 sense of honour and his cheerful philosophy that 
 cling to him in his numerous misfortunes. 
 
 The care with which his observations are made, 
 his avoidance of exaggeration and his evident in- 
 tention to state the truth as clearly as he could, 
 together with his excellent judgment, make these 
 volumes of great value and ever increasing inter- 
 est, as they deal with conditions many of which 
 are now passed for ever. 
 
 Intermingled with these interesting parts is 
 much that is of necessity tedious and of little in- 
 terest to the general reader, and much that is 
 mere repetition, for the Journal, of over one thou- 
 sand pages, in three large quarto volumes, is the 
 every-day record of Cartwright's life, put down 
 without embellishment evidently for his own con- 
 venience, and, as he himself says, with no thought 
 of publication. The volumes are now rare, and, 
 in this age of hurry, few would care to wade 
 through the great body of the work for the sake 
 of the plums. 
 
 In the following pages I have reproduced the 
 Journal without any changes in the wording, 
 spelling or punctuation, omitting only the unim-
 
 PREFACE xi 
 
 portant details and the mass of repetition. Occa- 
 sionally, only, have I introduced, but always in 
 brackets, a few words of my own to explain any 
 omissions. I have also added in foot-notes from 
 time to time explanatory conmients, and have 
 given as far as possible the common and scientific 
 names of the beasts, birds and plants mentioned. 
 In interpreting the names as given by Cartwright, 
 I have been aided by finding many of them still 
 in use on the Labrador coast, and also bv the fact 
 that Cartwright often uses, very naturally, the 
 names of allied or similar species in England. All 
 of the animals and plants mentioned, with the ex- 
 ception of a few extinct species, are known to 
 occur in Labrador to-day. As these names are 
 often repeated a reference to the index will show 
 the page where the explanatory notes occur. 
 Cartwright 's notes are indicated by asterisks, 
 mine bv numerals. Manv of the unusual words 
 are explained in Cartwright 's ''. Glossarj^," also 
 entered in the index. 
 
 I wish to express my thanks to Mr. Walter 
 Deane for assistance in the identification of the 
 plants and to Dr. Glover M. Allen in the identi- 
 fication of the mammals and fishes. I am also 
 indebted for some of the photographs of the Lab- 
 rador coast to Drs. W. P. Bolles, W. R. MacAus- 
 land and Glover M. Allen. 
 
 A brief account of the family history and of the 
 life of Captain Cartwright subsequent to his resi- 
 dence ill Tyabrador — he himself gives his earlier 
 life — is to be found in the introduction.
 
 xii PKEFACE 
 
 Perhaps no more interesting picture of the man 
 himself, nor any better praise for his Journal can 
 be found than that in the following from the poet 
 Southey, which I have already quoted in '' Along 
 the Labrador Coast," but it is worth quoting 
 again : 
 
 '' I saw Major Cartwright (the sportsman, not 
 the patriot) in 1791. I was visiting with the 
 Lambs, at Hampstead, in Kent, at the house of 
 Hodges, his brother-in-law; we had nearly fin- 
 ished dinner when he came in. He desired the 
 servant to cut Mm a plate of beef from the side- 
 board. I thought the footman meant to insult 
 him: the plate was piled to a height which no 
 ploughboy after a hard day's fasting could have 
 levelled; but the moment he took up his knife 
 and fork and arranged the plate, I saw this was 
 no common man. A second and third supply soon 
 vanished. Mr. and Mrs. Lamb, who had never 
 before seen him, glanced at each other; but Tom 
 and I, with school boys' privilege, kept our eyes 
 riveted upon him with what Doctor Butt would 
 have called the gaze of admiration. * I see you 
 have been looking at me ' (said he, when he had 
 done). ^ I have a very great appetite. I once fell 
 in with a stranger in the shooting season and we 
 dined together at an inn. There was a leg of mut- 
 ton which he did not touch. I never make more 
 than two cuts off a leg of mutton; the first takes 
 all one side, the second all the other; and when 
 I had done this, I laid the bone across my knife 
 for the marrow. The stranger could refrain no
 
 PREFACE xiii 
 
 longer. *' By God, sir,'' said he, "I never saw 
 a man eat like vou. ' ' ' 
 
 " This man had strength and perseverance 
 charactered in every muscle. He eat three cucimi- 
 bers, with a due quantity of bread and cheese, for 
 his breakfast the following morning. I was much 
 pleased with him, he was good-humoured and com- 
 municative; his long residence on the Labrador 
 coast made his conversation as instructive as in- 
 teresting. I had never before seen so extraordi- 
 nary a man, and it is not therefore strange that 
 my recollection of his manner, and words, and 
 countenance should be so strong after an interval 
 of six years. 
 
 '^ I read his book in 1793, and, strange as it may 
 seem, actually read through the three quartos. 
 At that time, I w^as a verbatim reader of indefat- 
 igable patience, but the odd simplicity of the book 
 amused me — the importance he attached to his 
 tra])s delighted me, it w^as so unlike a book written 
 for the world — the solace of a solitan^ evening in 
 Labrador. I fancied him blockaded bv the snows, 
 rising from a meal upon the old, tough, high- 
 flavoured, hard-sinewed wolf, and sitting down 
 like Robinson Crusoe to his Journal. 
 
 '* Tlie annals of his campaigns among the foxes 
 and beavers interested me more than ever did the 
 exploits of ]\rarl])orough or Ei-ederic; besides, I 
 saw plain truth and the heart in Cartwright's 
 book, and in what history could T look for this? 
 
 ** The print is aii ('xccllcnf likeiiess. Tict me 
 add that whoever would know the real history of
 
 xiv PREFACE 
 
 the beaver must look for it in this work. The 
 common accounts are fables. 
 
 " Coleridge took up a volmne one day, and was 
 delighted with its strange simplicity." 
 
 Cartwright reveals himself in these pages as a 
 lover of the truth, a good observer and hard 
 worker, a philosopher in good fortune and in ill 
 fortune, a resourceful man in many trying experi- 
 ences, and above all a man of strict honour and 
 justice. In a larger field he might have attained 
 great eminence. The memory of his labours and 
 observations in Labrador are well worth cherish- 
 ing.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Introduction by Dr. Grenfell vii 
 
 Preface by Editor ix 
 
 Introduction by Editor xix 
 
 Explanation of the Frontispiece 3 
 
 Preface to the Journal 5 
 
 The First Voyage 13 
 
 The Second Voyage 132 
 
 The Third Voyage 148 
 
 The Fourth Voyage 213 
 
 The Fifth Voyage 292 
 
 The Sixth Voyage 316 
 
 Labrador; A Poetical Epistle 363 
 
 Glossary 373 
 
 Index 381
 
 List of Illustrations 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Captain Cartwright Visiting His Fox -traps . Frontispiece 
 
 John Cartwright xxii 
 
 Edmund Cartwright xxvi 
 
 Black's Head Inn, Nottingham xxx 
 
 " Crabbed Spruce Bushes " at Cape Charles ... 32 
 
 Venison Harbour 32 
 
 Bake - apple and Labrador Tea in Blossom at Cape Charles 70 
 
 At the Mouth of Mary Harbour 82 
 
 Icebergs on the Labrador Coast 82 
 
 Covent Garden in 1732, from an engraving attributed to 
 
 Hogarth 122 
 
 John Hunter 126 
 
 Ship Harbour 158 
 
 The Hudson's Bay Company's Post at Cartwright at the 
 
 present day 168 
 
 Near the Mouth of White Bear River . . , .178 
 
 Looking South - east from the Mouth of Eagle River . 178 
 
 Spear Harbour with an Iceberg at its Mouth . . . 208 
 Fishing Schooners Going North, Mealy Mountains in the 
 
 Distance 2r)2 
 
 " A Deal of Ice near the Land " '2rt2 
 
 Tumbled Rocks 2n4 
 
 " Island of Ice " at St. Francis Harbour .... 354 
 
 A Chart of Part of the Coast of Labrador 
 
 The Chart original ia 34 by 24 inches; the smal] map of the straits of Bello Isle inserted 
 in the lower left hnrid roriicr of the churt is a portion of the niiip of Newfoundland pub- 
 lished with the oriKinal Journal. 
 
 The design on the cover is from a photograph of a Labrador racket or snow-ahoe.
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 BY 
 
 DR. TOWNSEND 
 
 George Cartwright, the second son of William 
 Cartwriglit, was boni at Marnham, Nottingham- 
 shire, England, on February 12th (old style), 1739. 
 
 One of his ancestors, Sir Hugh Cartwright, who 
 died in 1656, married the daughter and co-heiress 
 of Cartwright, of Edinglej^ He was faithful to the 
 cause of the unfortunate Charles, and was one of 
 those who made themselves responsible for the 
 debts contracted by the King during the siege of 
 Newark. Had it not been for this loyalty of Sir 
 Hugh to the cause of Charles, it is probable that 
 the Labrador Journal would never have been writ- 
 ten, for the family fortunes were so depleted in 
 those stormy times that George Cartwright, in- 
 stead of being able to follow his bent and live the 
 life of a sporting English gentleman, was obliged 
 to seek his fortunes over the seas among the rocks 
 of Labrador. Owing to this same depleted state 
 of the family exchequer, his education was cut 
 short, and we have in his Journal possibly a more 
 vigorous and less flowery record than we might 
 have had if George's education had been embel- 
 lished with all the latest touches of the age. 
 
 Another of the ancestors of the subject of this 
 memoir, Edmund by name, married the sister of 
 
 ziz
 
 XX INTRODUCTION 
 
 Archbisliop Cranmer, which enured to his tem- 
 poral if not to his spiritual interests, as is shown 
 in the following document: " Hee [Edmund Cart- 
 wright] was a scholar and Master of Artes of 
 Jesus College, Cambridge, where hee was inti- 
 mately acquainted with his countryman and fel- 
 low student, Thomas Cranmer, son of Thomas 
 Cranmer, of Aslacton, whose only daughter Cart- 
 wright married: which Cranmer, becoming after- 
 wards Archbishop of Canterbury, tooke his 
 brother Cartwright and sister into his house, and, 
 at the dissolution of the abbeys, provided for him 
 the abbey of Mauling in Kent, Rowney in Bed- 
 fordshire, and Ossington in Nottinghamshire, 
 which are at this day worth three thousand a year, 
 and married his heir, Hugh, to one of the Lord 
 Cobham's daughters." 
 
 The father of our hero, William Cartwright, 
 who married in 1731 his cousin Anne Cartwright, 
 daughter of George Cartwright, was a man of very 
 considerable talent and energy of character. He 
 effected — temporarily it may be added — the 
 abolition of the practice of giving vails ^ to serv- 
 ants, which had become an intolerable abuse, and 
 to his exertions the public are indebted for the 
 execution of the work at Muskham near Newark, 
 where the road for more than a mile was preserved 
 from the effects of flood by being carried over 
 thirteen brick arches. It was once observed of 
 William Cartwright that " he had a genius for 
 encountering difficulties," and it is evident that 
 
 1 TipB.
 
 INTRODUCTION xxi 
 
 some of his sons inherited the same propensity 
 in no common degree. He was blessed with five 
 sons and five daughters. The oldest son, William, 
 obtained a place in the Treasurj^ but died young. 
 George was the second son. Then followed John, 
 Edmund and Charles. 
 
 John, the third son, was born at Marnham on 
 September 28, 1740. At the age of five years he 
 was sent to a grammar school at Newark, and later 
 to Heath Academy in Yorkshire. A great part 
 of his vacations from school were spent at the 
 house of his uncle by marriage, John, Viscount 
 Tyrconnel. Lord Tyrconnel, although eccentric, 
 was a man of learning and integrity. He was a 
 Whig of the old school, and it is related of him, 
 '' that when divine service was performing in the 
 Chapel at Belton, the old lord was observed to be 
 greatly agitated during the reading of the prayer 
 for the Parliament, stirring the fire violently, and 
 muttering impatiently to himself, * Nothing but a 
 miracle can mend them. ' " ^ 
 
 At the age of eighteen, in 1758, John entered the 
 naval ser^'ice of his country, and was present at 
 the capture of Cherbourg, and the destruction of 
 its naval basin. At this siege he showed his cour- 
 age and generosity, by leaping from the deck of 
 a 90-gun ship under sail to save the life of a man 
 who had fallen overboard. 
 
 In 1750 he joined the '* ^Fagnarn'me," com- 
 manded ))y Lord Howe, whom he ever afterwards 
 
 ' Thfi liifo and Corrfsponflcnrn of Major Cartwright. Edited by his 
 niece, F. D. Cartwright, London, 1826.
 
 xxii INTRODUCTION 
 
 regarded with feelings of the greatest affection 
 and respect. The French fleet under Admiral 
 Conflans were attacked in the great s^a fight of 
 November 20th of that year by the English Ad- 
 miral Sir Edward Hawke, and notwithstanding 
 their knowledge of the coast, which enabled them 
 to retire to the dangerous shallows amid rocks, 
 more than half of their vessels were either cap- 
 tured, disabled or driven ashore. Of the twenty- 
 six men under the command of John Cartwright 
 in this battle, thirteen were killed, while he es- 
 caped with but a slight scratch from a splinter. 
 
 In 1766 John was appointed by Sir Hugh Pal- 
 lisser, the Governor of Newfoundland, to be his 
 deputy or surrogate within the district of Trin- 
 ity and Conception Bays, and the following year 
 he was made deputy commissary to the Vice- 
 Admiralty Court in Newfoundland. Here he 
 served with great efficiency for five years. During 
 this time he explored the River Exploits to its 
 head-waters, in a lake named by him Lieutenant's 
 Lake. Poor health, however, obliged him to re- 
 linquish the post and he returned to England in 
 1771. 
 
 Such was the spirit of fairness of the man that 
 at the outbreak of the rebellion among the Amer- 
 ican Colonists, he refused to accept a tempting 
 appointment to fight against a cause which he 
 believed to be just. These views of his were first 
 expressed publicly to the world in 1774, when he 
 published a pamphlet entitled: " American Inde- 
 pendence the Glory and Interest of England."
 
 ' t £v>Mtj k >i-*i:^ 
 
 /p/yrt ca^^ Ha^-^ 
 
 John Cart Wright
 
 INTRODUCTION xxiii 
 
 The full title \n\ge of the second edition of the 
 work is interesting and furnishes much food for 
 reflection as to what might have happened if 
 Great Britain had followed the sage and far- 
 seeing advice of the author. It reads : 
 
 " AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE 
 
 THE 
 
 INTEREST AND GLORY 
 
 OF 
 
 GREAT BRITAIN 
 
 A NEW EDITION 
 
 To which is added, 
 
 A copious APPENDIX, containing two additional Letters to the 
 Legislature; a Letter to EDMUND BURKE, Esq.; controverting his 
 Principles of American Government 
 
 AND 
 
 A POSTSCRIPT, containing new Arguments on the Subject; A 
 Draught for a Bill proposed to be brought into Parliament for restoring 
 Peace and Harmony between Great Britain and British America, and for 
 perpetuating the same: 
 
 Together with 
 
 The essential Materials for a proposed Grand British LEAGUE and 
 CONFEDERACY, to be entered into by Great Britain and all the States 
 of British America. 
 
 The whole of which shews, beyond Denial or Doubt, that by granting 
 the Colonists an unrestrained civil Freedom and Lcyidative Independence, 
 we may most effectually secure their future Commercial Dependence upon, 
 and consequently shall best promote the Interest and support the Glory 
 of, Great Britain. 
 
 It i.s not to be hoped, in the corrupt State of human Nature, that any 
 Nation will be subject to another, any longer than it find its own Account 
 in it, and cannot help itself 
 
 No Creatures suck the Teats of their Dams longer than they can draw 
 Milk from thence, or can providf thciuHelves with better Food; nor will
 
 xxiv INTRODUCTION" 
 
 any country continue their Subjection to another, only because their 
 great Grand-mothers were acquainted. This is the Course of human 
 Affairs, and all wise States will always have it before their Eyes. 
 
 Trenchard on Plantations and Colonies, in Cato's Letters 
 
 No. 106 Anno 1772 
 
 London: 
 
 Printed for the AUTHOR, by H. S. Woodfall. 
 
 Sold by J. Wilkie, No. 71 St. Paul's Church-yard; 
 
 and at the Pamphlet-Shops 
 
 M.DCC.LXXV." 
 
 Later lie published many pamphlets on reform 
 in Parliament, and worked incessantly in the holy 
 cause of liberty. The first, and perhaps the most 
 famous of these pamphlets, was entitled, *' Take 
 your choice : Representation and Respect, Imposi- 
 tion and Contempt : Annual Parliaments and Lib- 
 erty, Long Parliaments and Slavery: The People's 
 Barrier against undue Influence and Corruption: 
 Thoughts on Parliamentary Reform etc." This 
 appeared in 1776, that momentous year for the 
 American Colonists when they proclaimed their 
 independence. Later this pamphlet appeared as 
 ^' The Legislative Rights of the Commonalty vin- 
 dicated." John Cartwright always strove for 
 annual parliaments and universal suffrage. In 
 1780 he originated the '' Society for Constitu- 
 tional Information." Although much beloved by 
 his family and friends, it is needless to say that 
 such advanced and independent thinking on mat- 
 ters political made him displeasing to the higher 
 powers, and in 1819 he was indicted for conspir-
 
 INTRODUCTION xxv 
 
 acy, and iiiuleted by a tine to the extent of a hun- 
 dred pounds sterling. Only his excellent charac- 
 ter, and the almost universal esteem in which he 
 was held, prevented a sentence of imprisonment. 
 
 In 1775 he was appointed major of the Notting- 
 hamshire militia, and his love of liberty was 
 shown by a design for a regimental button which 
 was in use bv this militia for manv years. The 
 design consisted of a cap of li])erty resting on a 
 book, over which appeared a hand liolding a drawn 
 sword. The motto was '' Pro legihiis ct lihertate.''^ 
 Eighteen years later, after several attempts had 
 been made to obtain his resignation, he was finally 
 discharged from his position in the regiment, ow- 
 ing to the opposition in the ruling powers to his 
 liberal views. He received, however, many ex- 
 traordinary testimonies of friendship and thanks 
 from his brother officers for his long and meri- 
 torious services. 
 
 Major Cartwright died quietly at Hampstead on 
 September 23, 1824. The great respect and love 
 with whicli this remarkable man was held showed 
 itself in the form of a popular subscription for 
 a monument, which was erected to his mem- 
 ory. 
 
 ITie fourth son, Edmimd, bom at Marnham on 
 April 24, 1743, displayed a great diversity of tal- 
 ents. Educated at the grammar school at Wake- 
 field, ho went in due course to Oxford, wIkm'c he 
 bc^an his academical studies in University Col- 
 lege. In 17G4 he was elected a demy of Mau^dalen 
 College, and succeeded to a fellowshi]) there in
 
 xxvi INTRODUCTION 
 
 the same year. In 1770 his poetical genius blos- 
 somed forth in a legendary tale in verse, entitled 
 ** Armine and Elvira." So successful did this 
 prove that seven editions appeared in somewhat 
 over a year.^ This was followed in 1779 by an- 
 other successful poem, " The Prince of Peace." 
 In the latter year he was made rector of Goodby 
 Marwood, Leicestershire, to which was added a 
 prebend in the Cathedral of Lincoln. Here it 
 would seem his life would probably be passed in 
 the peaceful occupations of a country clergyman. 
 His attention, however, having been called to the 
 possibility of applying machinery to weaving, his 
 inventive genius declared itself, and he produced 
 and patented in 1785 the power-loom. The first 
 machine was somewhat rude, but he afterward 
 gradually improved it, so that it became almost 
 perfect. The opposition on the part of the hand 
 weavers, which w^ent to the extent of destroying 
 by fire the first mill constructed on his plan, de- 
 layed, but did not prevent the complete success 
 of his great invention. Besides the power-loom, 
 Edmund Cartwright invented machines for comb- 
 
 1 The first and last verses of " Armine and Elvira " will give some idea 
 of its scope. They are as follows: 
 
 " A hermit on the banks of Trent, 
 
 Far from the world's bewildering maze, 
 To humbler scenes of calm content 
 Had fled from brighter, busier days. 
 
 Joy, Gratitude, and Wonder, shed 
 United tears o'er Hymen's reign. 
 
 And Nature her best triumph led, — 
 For Love and Virtue join'd her train."
 
 Edmund Cartwright
 
 INTRODUCTION xxvii 
 
 iiig wool and making ropes, and lie was also the 
 author of many improvements in the arts, manu- 
 factures and agriculture. In 1803 he was given 
 the silver medal of the Society of Arts, for the 
 invention of a three-furrow plough, and in 1805 he 
 received the gold medal of the Board of Agricul- 
 ture for an '' Essay on Manures." 
 
 In 1793 Edmund removed to London, but in 
 1800 he accepted the position of domestic chaplain 
 to the Duke of Bedford, who gave him the man- 
 agement of an experimental farm at AVoburn. In 
 1806 the Universitv of Oxford conferred on him 
 the degrees of B. D. and D. D. 
 
 On June 10, 1809, Parliament voted him the 
 sum of ten thousand pounds sterling in considera- 
 tion of '' the good service he had rendered the 
 pu))lic by his inventions of weaving, and as some 
 recompense for the losses he had sustained in 
 bringing to perfection the inventions by which the 
 country had materially benefited." With part of 
 this money, which made him independent, he 
 bought a small farm at Hollander, between Seven- 
 oaks and Tunbridge in Kent. He died on Octo- 
 ber 30, 1823. 
 
 Of the fifth son, Charles, history has recorded 
 ))Ui little. When a lieutenant on board the 
 *' Argo " ho distinguished himself on the African 
 coast by taking the Dutch fort of Commenda, for 
 which he received the thanks of the African Com- 
 pany. He refused, however, notwillistandiug his 
 own scanty means, to take bis share of Hie ]irize- 
 moncy, amounting to about a thousand pounds,
 
 xxviii INTRODUCTION 
 
 but insisted on distributing it among the sailors 
 who served under him. 
 
 Of the five daughters I can say nothing, but if, 
 as was doubtless the case, they partook of the 
 character and spirit of their parents and brothers, 
 they filled well their stations in life. 
 
 The manor house of Marnham where this inter- 
 esting family was reared, was pulled down a cen- 
 tury ago and a new hall built in its place. It oc- 
 cupied a lonely site which commanded extensive 
 views of the lovely valley of the Trent. 
 
 In the introduction to his Labrador Journal, 
 which follows, Caj)tain George Cartwright has 
 given a brief account of his life before he went 
 to Labrador. The Journal itself recounts his life 
 during his sixteen adventurous years in Labrador. 
 Of his life in England after his return for the last 
 time, we have only occasional glimpses, but it is 
 evident that his sturdy habit of mind and body 
 remained with him to the last, and that his inter- 
 est in Labrador never waned. 
 
 Miss F. D. Cartwright, from whose excellent 
 ^* Life of Major Cartwright " I have obtained 
 many of my facts, speaks of her uncle George 
 as '* a man of great strength of mind, as well as 
 personal courage." In another place she says: 
 " Captain Cartwright was possessed of uncommon 
 vigour both of mind and body; his journal of * A 
 Sixteen Years' Residence in Labrador,' has been 
 long known to the public, and though from the 
 nature of the subject, it contains much tedious 
 detail, it cannot be perused without interest, as
 
 INTRODUCTION xxix 
 
 the work of a niau ol luituraliy strong, though 
 uncultivated talents, of great observation, and un- 
 inipeached integrity. In early life, he served as 
 aide-de-camp in the German AVar under the Mar- 
 quis of Granby, to whom his activity and energy 
 rendered him very useful; and it is probable he 
 might have risen to considerable eminence in his 
 profession had he not, as soon as peace left him 
 at liberty to follow his inclination, preferred to 
 military idleness, an adventurous life amidst the 
 snows of Labrador. 
 
 *' In the latter |)art of liis life he accej^ted the 
 office of barrack-master at Nottingham, which he 
 held for many years, till finding himself too infirm 
 for a service of that nature, he retired to Mans- 
 field in the vear 1817. 
 
 *' His energy of mind continued to the last, and 
 only a few months before his death, he w^as busied 
 in proposing to the Hudson's Bay Compan}^, vari- 
 ous plans and contrivances for hunting, &c. and 
 nothing but increasing infirmity prevented his 
 offering his services to put them in execution. 
 
 *' His features were handsome, and his complex- 
 ion blooming. His Herculean frame I'ctained, 
 even in age, a peculiar air of dignit}^ and although 
 a great part of his life liad l)een s])(mi1 in liardy 
 exercises and rough pursuits, his maimers in com- 
 pany were courtly, and his ('(^u^•('rsation agree- 
 a})l('. Though (liffering so matorinlly in politics 
 with his ])rothei- [Major John], whoso forl)earance 
 on these subjects he eertaiul}' did not f.-iil some- 
 times to exercise, theii* nmtual attachment con-
 
 XXX INTRODUCTION 
 
 tinned through life, and Major Cartwright was 
 not so much absorbed in political speculations as 
 to be prevented from entering with apparent 
 pleasure into those discussions on hawking, bear- 
 hunting, wolf-catching, and deer-tracking, in which 
 he had once taken an almost equal interest." 
 
 These pleasant relations must have been par- 
 ticularly tried at the time that the Duke of New- 
 castle, to whom the Captain was particularly at- 
 tached, treated his brother John with much sever- 
 ity and appointed another officer as major of the 
 Nottinghamshire militia in his place. 
 
 In 1803, at the time of the electioneering dis- 
 turbances, George Cartwright was barrack-mas- 
 ter of Nottingham, and '' though holding an ob- 
 noxious situation, and known to be a violent Tory 
 politician, he used to walk and ride through the 
 streets in the midst of the popular commotion; 
 and while others on the same side were afraid to 
 show themselves, a way was invariably made for 
 him to pass without insult or molestation." 
 
 During his residence in Nottingham he lived in 
 a house in Broad-marsh, which afterwards bore 
 the sign of the Black's Head,^ and was generally 
 known as " Old Labrador." He much enjoyed the 
 sport of hawking, and '* previous to the enclosure 
 of the open lands, in the vicinity of Nottingham, 
 he might be seen wending his way up the Mans- 
 field road, during a fine autumnal morning, on 
 horse-back, with his servant behind him, and the 
 hawks on his wrist, in pursuit of his vocation. 
 
 * At this Inn Lord Byron's body lay in state on July 15 and 16, 1824.
 
 Black's Head Inn, Nottingham
 
 INTRODUCTION xxxi 
 
 But ai'ter tiic enclosure took place, the Captain 
 entirely abandoned his favorite amusement."^ 
 
 In 1811 he was much interested in having a 
 device of his own tried that would make any boat 
 answer the j^urpose of a life-boat. He sta,yed with 
 his brother John at his house in Westminster at 
 the time, and, as he was unfortunately confined 
 by a severe rheumatism, his brother very kindly 
 attended to the business. The invention '' con- 
 sisted of a portable apparatus formed of bladders 
 and corks, so arranged as to be easil}^ attached to 
 the sides of a shi2:)'s boat in case of emergency, 
 and, by affording the greatest possible degree of 
 buoj^ancy, enabled it to support an extraordinary 
 weight. ... 
 
 ** The exi:)eriment was tried on the 7th of Oc- 
 tober immediately below Blackfriars Bridge, and 
 the apparatus was attached to a six-oared cutter 
 belonging to the Cabalva East Indiaman, Captain 
 Birch. 
 
 ** It appeared that with twenty-three men on 
 board all standing on her thw^arts, and eight hun- 
 dred-weight of iron in the boat, which was also 
 crowded with sail, the thwarts w^ere an inch above 
 water, so that the w^eight actually sustained must 
 have been equivalent to at least forty-five men 
 properly stowed in case of a wreck. "^ 
 
 But a few years later, in 1819, his l^rother John 
 received news of the dangerous illness of his elder 
 bi'other O corpse at ^fansficld. Although John was 
 
 ' Annfil'^ of \ottinp;hnmphiro. Thos. Railpy. 
 
 * Life and correspondence of Major Cartwright, loc. cit.
 
 xxxii INTRODUCTION 
 
 in the niidst of an important election he hastened 
 to his brother's bedside, where he remained until 
 the 26th of February. 
 
 A letter written by John to his wife at this time 
 reveals some interesting traits of the character of 
 both brothers. 
 
 a 
 
 To Mrs. Cartwright 
 
 My Dearest and Best Friend, 
 I have the pleasure to report that I think my 
 brother much better; he makes very affectionate 
 inquiries after all at No. 17; and though he gave 
 me a little scolding in his way, for being at the 
 trouble of so long a journey, I am glad to see that 
 he is pleased with my coming. 
 
 '' His voice is strong, and though not much in- 
 clined for conversation, can occasionally talk with 
 much animation of Hudson's Bay and a North- 
 west passage. The chief thing I observe a defi- 
 ciency in, (for the medical attendant is a man of 
 skill and experience,) is an inattention to have in 
 readiness suitable articles of nourishment. I am 
 not much skilled in such things, but have been of 
 some use in this respect. ' ' 
 
 This improvement was of but short duration, 
 for soon after Captain George Cartwright was 
 again attacked by a severe illness, and on the 11th 
 of March, 1819,^ in the eighty-first year of his age, 
 he expired. 
 
 1 This date, which is from Miss Cartwright's book, does not correspond 
 with the date given in the inscription ; if the difference were only twelve 
 days it might be explained by the difference between th^ old and the new 
 styles.
 
 INTRODUCTION xxxiii 
 
 Many of the methods used bv Cartwris-ht in the 
 capture of birds, beasts and fishes are still em- 
 ployed on the Labrador coast, and many of the 
 local names for these methods and for the game 
 still remain. Some of the methods have been im- 
 proved, but in agricultui'e Oartwright seems to 
 have been far in advance of the Labrador dwellers 
 of the present day, and the^^ could learn a lesson 
 from his experiences. 
 
 The names bestowed bv Cartwrio^ht on the is- 
 lands and harbours of the Labrador coast still 
 remain. One of his chief seats of residence there. 
 Caribou Castle, near the entrance of Sandwich 
 Bay, perpetuates his name as the Hudson's Bay 
 Company's Post of Cartwright. At the little 
 graveyard at this post is a stone erected by Miss 
 F. D. Cartwright to the memory of the two broth- 
 ers George and John. Tliis reads as follows: 
 
 In Memon' of 
 
 George Cartwright 
 
 Captain in his Majesty's 37th Rpgiment of Foot. 
 
 Second son of ^^'iUiam Cartwright, Esq., of 
 
 Mamham Hall in Nottinghamshire. 
 
 who in March 1770 made a settlement 
 
 on the coast of Labrador 
 
 where he remained for sixteen years. 
 
 He died at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire 
 
 the 19th of February 1819. 
 
 Also of 
 
 John Cartwright 
 
 Lieutenant of the Guem.sey, five years surrogate of Newfoundland 
 
 And afterwards Major of the Nottinghamshire militia. 
 
 He died on the 23d of September 1824 
 
 To these distinguished brothers, who in zealously protecting and 
 bofriending pavr-d the way for the introduction of Christiiuiity to the 
 natives of these benighted regions 
 
 This memorial is affectionately inscribed 
 by their niece Frances Dorothy Cartwright.
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 OF 
 
 TRANSACTIONS and EVENTS, 
 
 DURIKC A 
 RESIDENCE OF NEARLY SIXTEEN YEARS 
 
 OK THE 
 
 COAST OF LABRADOR; 
 
 •CONTAININC 
 
 MANY INTERESTING PARTICULARS, 
 
 BOTH OP THB 
 
 COUNTRY AND ITS INHABITANTS, 
 
 NOT HITHERTO KNOWN. 
 ILLUSTRATED WITH PROPER CHARTS. 
 
 By GEORGE CARTWRIGHT, Efi- 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. I.. 
 
 NEWARK: 
 
 r«lNTED AND SOLD BY ALLIN AND RIOOE ; 
 
 tOLA ALtO it C. C. J. AND J. ROBINSON, IN T ATEK NOSIIK-KOW, AUD 
 J, tlOCKSALE, PICCADILLY, LONDOK. 
 
 1798.
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FROXTISPli:CE 
 
 Tlie Frontispiece represents a Winter Scene 
 on the sea coast of Labrador, with the Author 
 taking his usual walk round his fox-traps. He is 
 supposed to have got sight of some deer, and has 
 put his dog's hood on, to keep him quiet. His hat 
 (which is white,) northwester, wrappers, cuffs, 
 breeches, and buskins, are English; his jacket 
 (which is made of Indian-dressed deer-skin, and 
 painted,) sash, and rackets are Mountaineer; and 
 his shoes Esquimau. The pinovers of his north- 
 wester are loose, and hang down on the right side 
 of it. On his back is a trap, fixed by a pair of 
 slings, in the manner of a soldier's knapsack. A 
 bandoleer hangs across his breast, from his right 
 shoulder; to which are fastened a black-fox, and 
 his hatchet. A Gemian rifle is on his left shoulder. 
 Tn the back ground is a yellow fox in a trap; be- 
 yond him, there is a white-l)ear crossing the ice of 
 a narrow harliour; and at the mouth of the liar- 
 bour the view is terminated hy a \)oo\) at the sea, 
 wliirh is frozen ovci-. Tlie tops of a few small 
 rocks appear, and the rocky summits of the distant 
 hills arc bare, bul all the rest of the ground is 
 covered with snow.
 
 PREFACE 
 
 Conscious of my inability to entertain tlie 
 reader with tlie Style and Language of some late 
 writers, I humbly solicit his candor and indul- 
 gence for the many inaccuracies he will meet with 
 in the perusal of the work. However great some 
 of its defects may appear, I hope they will in some 
 measure be compensated for by the veracity of 
 my narrative. I do not pretend to give animated 
 descriptions of a country I have never visited, nor 
 of the custom and manners of a people I have 
 never seen. The transactions of the day w^ere in 
 general entered at the close of the same; and little 
 did I then suspect, that they W'Ould ever be ex- 
 hibited to the eye of the Public. They were writ- 
 ten for no other purpose, than to serve as mem- 
 orandums for my own use and personal reference. 
 
 After my return to England, I had often been 
 solicited bv some of mv friends, who had occasion- 
 ally read parts of the manuscript, to print the 
 work; but I never could prevail on myself to do 
 so, until T was urged thereto by one in particular, 
 to whom I should have thought myself guilty of 
 great ingratitude had T refused. 
 
 T flatter myself that it will not be deemed imper- 
 tinent, if, by way of excuse for not acquitting 
 myself better, T give (fn those who do not already 
 know it) a short sketch of my life. 
 
 6
 
 6 PREFACE 
 
 I was born on the twelfth of February (old 
 style) 1739, of an ancient family at Mamham, in 
 the County of Nottingham. Not being the eldest 
 son, and my father having but a moderate estate 
 and nine other children, it was not in his power 
 to do much for me. I received part of my educa- 
 tion at Newark, and during a few of the last years, 
 attended the Latin School. I was one year at 
 Randall's Academy, at Heath in Yorkshire; from 
 whence I returned and continued another year 
 at Newark. On the first of February 1753, I was 
 appointed a Gentleman Cadet, in the Cadet Com- 
 pany at Woolwich, where I had the opportunity 
 of improving myself, at the Royal Academy in 
 that place, for one year. But, sorry am I to say, 
 that either the want of genius or application, ren- 
 dered of little use to me, the instructions of those 
 excellent masters with which that institution was 
 then furnished. 
 
 On the sixth of March in the following year, I 
 embarked for the East Indies, being the seventh 
 of twelve Cadets, who were sent to fill up the com- 
 missions which might become vacant, either in a 
 detachment of Artillery, commanded by Captain 
 Lieutenant William Hislop, or in the Thirty-ninth 
 Regiment of foot, which was then sent to that part 
 of the world, under the command of Colonel John 
 Adlercron, who was appointed Commander in 
 Chief of all the Forces employed, or to be em- 
 ployed in the East Indies. 
 
 In little more than a year after my arrival in 
 India, I obtained an Ensigncy in Colonel Adler-
 
 PREFACE 
 
 crun's Kugiinent, by the death of Captain Lyon. 
 But I had not the good fortune to be one of a de- 
 tachment which went to Bengal on board Admiral 
 Watson's squadron, where they were lauded under 
 the command of Lieutenant Colonel * Clive, and 
 assisted in the re-taking of Fort William, the 
 taking of Chandernegore from the French, and in 
 obtaining the signal victory over the Nabob of 
 Bengal, at Plassy; which laid the foundation of 
 the British power in that part of the world, and 
 filled the purses of all who were employed on that 
 service. 
 
 In the year 1757 Colonel Adlercron and his regi- 
 ment Avere recalled. At the end of the next year 
 I was one of six officers who landed at Limerick; 
 and soon afterwards I was promoted to a Lieu- 
 tenancy. 
 
 Early in the Year Sixty, on the application of 
 the late ^farquis of Granby, T was ordered to Grer- 
 many; where I had the honor to serve his Lord- 
 ship in the capacity of Aid de Camp, during the 
 remainder of the German War. 
 
 An Aid de Camp to a Commander in Chief, is 
 always supposed to be in the sure line of promo- 
 tion; but it was my ill luck to obtain nothing bet- 
 ter than Iho ])revet rank of Ca]itain. T still re- 
 mained a Tiieutenant in the Tliirty-ninth Regi- 
 ment: but after my return to England, at the 
 express desii-e of the ^Marfjuis, to save me the mor- 
 tification of s('i'\iiig uiidci- two junior officers who 
 had ))een permitted to 2)urchase Companies over 
 
 • Late I>ord Clive.
 
 8 PREFACE 
 
 my head without their ever being offered to me, 
 I exchanged to half -pay, and received two hmidred 
 and fifty pounds for the diiference, between that 
 and my full pay. The greatest part of this sum 
 was appropriated to the payment of the debts 
 which I had contracted in Germany; by being 
 obliged to keep a number of horses and servants, 
 to enable me to attend his Lordship on all occa- 
 sions. 
 
 In the Spring of 1765 I made an excursion to 
 Scotland, to indulge my insatiable propensity for 
 shooting: but I soon found that two shillings and 
 fourpence a day, was too small an income to enable 
 me to live in a Baronet 's country seat, and to keep 
 a female companion, two servants, a couple of 
 horses, and three brace of dogs. As my pocket 
 would not permit me to have any dealings with 
 the butcher, myself and family were compelled to 
 fast, when neither m}^ gun nor fishing rod would 
 supply us with provisions. No sooner did my 
 resources fail, by the scarcity of fish and game 
 at the approach of winter, than I made an auction 
 of all my furniture, and returned to London by 
 sea with the lady and dogs. 
 
 London being no place for a man of my scanty 
 circumstances to remain in, I soon went down to 
 Plymouth, where my brother John then com- 
 manded the Sherborne Cutter, and cruised with 
 him against the smugglers, until he was dis- 
 charged from that vessel, and appointed first lieu- 
 tenant of the Guernsey, of fifty guns, then lying 
 at Spit Head and bound for Newfoundland; on
 
 PREFACE 
 
 board which ship the present !Sir Hugh Palliser, 
 who was theu Governor of that ishuid, had his 
 Broad-pendant. Having- no partienhtr engage- 
 ment, and hearing that l)ears and deer were plen- 
 tiful there, I felt so strong an inclination to be 
 among them, that I accompanied my brother on 
 that voyage. 
 
 On our arrival at St. John's, the command of 
 a small schooner was conferred on my l)rother, 
 and he was sent on some service to one of the 
 Northern harbours, where I accompanied him; 
 and it was then that I obtained m}^ first knowledge 
 of the Red, or Wild Indians. 
 
 On the return of the shij) to Portsmouth, I 
 found, that my good friend the Marquis, who had 
 been appointed Commander in Chief of the Army 
 during my al)scnce, had o])tained for me a Com- 
 pany in the Thirty-seventh Regiment of foot, ui)ou 
 a vacancy made by the death of Captain Slack, 
 who died in consequence of a wound in his shoid- 
 der, which he received from one of the last shots 
 that were fired by the French aniiy in Germany. 
 
 The regiment was at that time at ^linorca, and 
 r Joined it there the following Summer. T \ovy 
 soon raught ihc inveterate endemic ague of tlial 
 island, and in six nionlhs was so greatly reduced, 
 that I must shortly have died, had not Tjieutenant 
 Ciovernoi' Johnstone been so kind, as to pei'nu't 
 mr fo jT'lni'ii to I'Jiglaud. 7 had a tedious passage 
 honic, hut was perfectly fi'ce fi-om my complaint 
 while at sen, altlionuli it constaiilly i-ctni'iicd the 
 instant the ship entei'cd a liarhour. II was ihe
 
 10 PEEFACE 
 
 end of April 1768, when I arrived at Spit Head, 
 where the Guernsey Man of War was then lying, 
 under sailing orders for Newfoundland. Finding 
 that I could not live on shore, I obtained leave 
 from Lord Granby and made a second voyage to 
 Newfoundland in that ship. By these means my 
 health was perfectly restored. 
 
 During the Guernsey's stay at St. John's, I went 
 upon an expedition against the Wild Indians ; and 
 it was that which first gave rise to the voyages 
 which I afterwards made to Labrador. My design 
 being laid before the King, his Majesty was gra- 
 ciously pleased to permit me to retire on half -pay, 
 early in the year 1770, in order that I might put 
 it in execution, and I soon after sailed for that 
 country. 
 
 The reader may naturally conclude, from the 
 life I have led since my leaving the Academy at 
 Woolwich, that it was not probable that I should 
 have improved the slight education which I re- 
 ceived in my youth ; and indeed such a conclusion 
 is very just, as I had seldom, during that time, 
 attempted to read anything but a newspaper. On 
 my arrival in Labrador, ])eing secluded from so- 
 ciety, I had time to gain acquaintance with myself: 
 and I could not help blushing when I perceived, 
 how shamefully I had misemployed my time. The 
 little improvement I have since made, has been 
 entirely owing to writing my Journal, and to 
 reading a small collection of books which I took 
 out with me ; but it was too late in life, for me to 
 receive much benefit from those helps.
 
 PREFACE 11 
 
 It was suggested to me, that I ought to have 
 put the manuscript iuto abler hands, who would 
 render it less unworthy the Public eye; but as it 
 appeared to me, that by so doing I should arrogate 
 to mvself an honour to which I was not entitled; 
 and also pay such a price as would swallow up the 
 greater part, if not the whole, of the profit arising 
 from the sale of my books, I did not approve of 
 the one, nor could I afford the other. 
 
 The only merit to which I have any pretensions, 
 is that of a faithful Journalist, who prefers the 
 simplicity of plain language and downright truth, 
 to all the specious oiTiaments of modern style and 
 description. I humbly trust, that this apology 
 will satisfv mv friends, and serve to extenuate 
 those errors, which must be too obvious to be over- 
 looked by critical examination.
 
 A 
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 OF 
 
 TRANSACTIONS AND EVENTS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 COAST OF LABRADOR 
 
 THE FIRST VOYAGE 
 
 Sunday, March 30, 1770. Some previous com- 
 munications having passed on the subject, Lieu- 
 tenant Francis Lucas of the Royal Navy and I 
 went down to Bristol and on this day engaged to 
 enter into a partnership with ^lessrs. Thomas 
 Perkins and Jeremiah Coghlan, merchants of that 
 city, under the firm of Perkins, Coghlan, Cart- 
 wright, and Lucas, for the purpose of carrying on 
 various branches of business upon the coast of 
 Labrador; and particularly, of endeavoui'ing to 
 cultivate a friendly intercourse with the Esqui- 
 maux Indians/ wlio have always been accounted 
 the most savage race of people upon tlie wliole 
 continent of Amerir'a. They have n1 different 
 times committed several robberies and imii-ders on 
 
 ' He refers to the Eskimofl, not to the Indians. CarfwriKht froquonfly 
 unes the word Indian when he tneanfl Eskimo. This latter rare were in 
 his day often r-alled " Fishing Indians " to distinRuish them from the true 
 Indians, who were called " Hunting Indians." 
 
 1.J
 
 14 CAPTAIN" CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 the property and persons of the adventurers in 
 Labrador. Three years ago, they murdered three 
 servants at Cape Charles, who belonged to * Mr. 
 Nicholas Darby, an adventurer from Bristol. This 
 occasioned him to abandon that place, and has 
 ever since interrupted all commerce between that 
 nation and the British. That affair has also de- 
 terred every other adventurer from extending his 
 business to the northward of Chateau Bay, where 
 Government, near five years ago, erected a block- 
 house in a small Fort, which is garrisoned by an 
 officer and twenty men from the Governor of New- 
 foundland's ship. A Sloop of War is also sta- 
 tioned there during the Summer, not only to pro- 
 tect the merchants and their people from the In- 
 dians, but also to prevent encroachments from 
 the French, who carry on very extensive fisheries 
 in all the northern harbours of Newfoundland. 
 
 In consequence of our partnership it was re- 
 solved, that we should purchase from Messrs. Per- 
 kins and Coghlan (who are in the Newfoundland 
 trade) a schooner of eighty tons, then lying in the 
 harbour of Poole; that Mr. Lucas should have the 
 command of that vessel; and that I should reside 
 in Labrador, to direct and manage all our concerns 
 on shore. 
 
 In the beginning of May I returned to Bristol 
 in expectation of going out to Labrador in the 
 schooner which we had agreed for with Messrs. 
 Perkins and Coghlan, but, by some extraordi- 
 
 * Father to the since much celebrated Mrs. Robinson.^ 
 
 * A famous actress who wrote poems and novels under the pen name of 
 Perdita.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 15 
 
 nary management of those gentlemen, I found 
 that the vessel was already sailed for Fogo, a small 
 island contiguous to the eastern coast of New- 
 foundland (where they carry on the principal part 
 of their business) in order to be delivered to 
 us there. Messrs. Coghlan and Lucas sailed for 
 Fogo on the morning after my arrival; and as no 
 other vessel was going from thence to that part 
 of the world, Mr. Perkins and I inirchased a 
 schooner of fiftv tons, which had latelv arrived 
 with dispatches from Boston. We named her the 
 Nimrod, appointed a ^Ir. French to the command 
 of her, and on the 25th I sailed in her for Fogo. 
 My suite consisted of Mrs. Selby, my housekeeper; 
 Charles Atkinson, who was a soldier in my com- 
 pany in the thirty-seventh regiment of foot and 
 my servant for the last four years; and to whom, 
 at my request. General Grey gave his discharge; 
 and Edward Watson, late an under keeper in 
 Averham Park. I took also, three couple of fox- 
 hounds, one couple of bloodhounds, a greyhound, 
 a pointer, a spaniel, and a couple of tame rabbits. 
 Saturday, Jidij 7, 1770. Nothing material hap- 
 pening during the voyage, we arrived safe in the 
 harbour of Fogo this day. I found here ^lessrs. 
 Coghlan and Lucas, who had 1)oon employed in 
 getting ready our schooner called the Eniorprize, 
 for the pur]iose of landing me u])on some part of 
 Lal)i'ador, and ^\v. Lucas was afterwards to ex- 
 plore the Coast to the Northward in quest of the 
 Esquimaux. From these ^\v. Lucas had great 
 expectations, in consequence of the interest he
 
 16 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 had with Mycock, the woman whom he took to 
 England about a year and a half ago, and from 
 whom he had learned their language. 
 
 Finding that it would still be some time before 
 the Enterprize was fit for sea, I borrowed a small 
 sloop of Mr. Coghlan, took Captain French, Mrs. 
 Selby, Charles and Edward, together with all the 
 dogs, and sailed this morning on a cruise up the 
 Bay of Exploits, in hopes of meeting with some 
 of the Wild Indians,^ as numbers of them fre- 
 quent that bay at this time of the year. 
 
 Wednes., July 11, 1770. We got under weigh 
 soon after daylight, and as we towed towards 
 Comfit Island I discovered, by the help of a pocket 
 Dolland,^ a party of the Wild Indians upon a very 
 small island which lies contiguous to the East end 
 of Little Cold Hall. They had two whigwhams, 
 about a hundred yards from the shore, with a fire 
 in each, and two canoes hdng on the beach; one 
 of which they seemed to be mending. I counted 
 six people, and one of them appeared to be re- 
 markably tall, but I could not distinguish of which 
 sex they were; they did not seem to be alarmed 
 at us, because their ignorance of the powers of 
 the telescope, made them not suspect we had dis- 
 <30vered them at that distance. 
 
 * The long since extinct and little known race, the Beothttk. They are 
 now considered to have constituted a distinct linguistic stock of the 
 Indians. Carmack's Expedition, conducted in behalf of the Beothic Society 
 in 1827, failed to find a single individual of this once prominent tribe. 
 The cause of their extinction is only too plainly shown by Cartwright in 
 his valuable account of them. 
 
 ^ A telescope made by John Dollond or Dolland, an English optic- 
 ian, the inventor of the achromatic telescope in 1757.
 
 LABRAJJOK JOUHNAL 17 
 
 These ludiaus are the original inhabitants of 
 the island of Newfoundland, and although beyond 
 a doubt descendants from some of the tribes upon 
 the continent of America, and most probably from 
 the ^lountaineers of Labrador, yet it will be very 
 difficult to trace their origin. The}^ have been so 
 long separated from their ancient stock, as well 
 as from all mankind, that they differ widely in 
 many particulars from all other nations. In my 
 o])inion, they are the most forlorn of any of the 
 himian species which have yet come to my knowl- 
 edge, the Indians of Terra del Fogo excepted; for 
 these are not onlv excluded from all intercourse 
 with the rest of mankind, but are surrounded by 
 inveterate enemies, and not even possessed of the 
 useful services of a dog. 
 
 As far as I can learn, there w^ere many Indians 
 on the island when it was first discovered by Eu- 
 ropeans, and there are still fishermen living, w^ho 
 remember them to have been in much greater 
 number than at present, and even to have fre- 
 quented most parts of the island. They are now 
 much diminished, and confine themselves chiefly 
 to the parts between Cape Freels and Cape John. 
 The reason, I presume, of their preferring that 
 district to any other is, because, wnthin it are sev- 
 ci-al deep, winding bays, with many islands in 
 tlicni, where tliey can more easily procure sub- 
 sistence, and with greater secm'ity hide them- 
 selves fv()^\\ nil I- fishermen. I am sorry to add, 
 that tin- latter ai-c iiiiicli greater savages than 
 the Indians themselves, for they seldom fail to
 
 18 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 shoot the poor creatures whenever they can, and 
 afterwards boast of it as a very meritorious 
 action. With horror I have heard several de- 
 clare, they would rather kill an Indian than a 
 deer! 
 
 These Indians are called Red, from their custom 
 of painting themselves, and everything belonging 
 to them, with red ochre, which they find in great 
 plenty in various parts of the island; and Wild, 
 because they secrete themselves in the woods, 
 keep an unremitting watch, and are seldom seen; 
 a conduct, which their defenceless condition, and 
 the inhuman treatment which they have always 
 experienced from strangers, whether Europeans 
 or other tribes of Indians from the Continent, have 
 compelled them to adopt. 
 
 They are extremely expert at managing their 
 canoes, which are made with a very thin, light 
 wood-work, covered with birch rinds, and worked 
 by single-headed paddles; they vary in size, ac- 
 cording to the number of persons which they are 
 intended to carry. 
 
 They are excellent archers, as many of our 
 fishermen have too fatally experienced, and they 
 are likewise good furriers. Indeed, if they had 
 not these resources, the whole race must long 
 since have been extirpated by cold and fam- 
 ine. 
 
 Formerly, a very beneficial barter was carried 
 on in the neighbourhood of Bonavista, by some of 
 the inhabitants of that harbour. They used to 
 lay a varietj^ of goods at a certain place, to which
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 19 
 
 the ludians resorted, who took what they were 
 iu want of, and left furs in return. One daj^, a 
 viHain hid himself near the deposite, and shot a 
 woman dead, as she was furnishing herself with 
 what pleased her best. Since that time, they have 
 been alwa^^s hostile to Europeans, I fear that the 
 race will be totall}" extinct in a few years; for 
 the fishing trade continually increasing, almost 
 every river and brook w^hich receives salmon is 
 already occupied hy our people, and the bird- 
 islands are so continually robbed, that the poor 
 Lidians must now find it much more difficult 
 than before, to procure provisions in the sum- 
 mer; and this difficulty will annually become 
 greater. Nor do they succeed better in the win- 
 ter; for our furriers are considerably increased 
 in number, much improved in skill, and venture 
 farther into the country than formerly; by 
 which, the breed of beavers is greatly dimin- 
 ished. 
 
 About two years ago, I went on an expedition 
 up the River Exploits, which is the largest in 
 Newfoundland, many miles higher than any Euro- 
 pean ever was before, and I there saw^ a great 
 number of the Indian houses uninhabited; I con- 
 cluded from thence, that the Indians retired into 
 the r'ountiy at the approach of Winter, to feed 
 on venison and beaver, and, if I may judge by the 
 number o^ deer's heads wliirli I saw 1)y the v'wov 
 side, fliey must be vei-y dexterous hunters. Tlie 
 very lonj::, and strong fences whidi Ihcv liad made, 
 were convincing proofs, that they knew their busi-
 
 20 CAPTAIN CART WEIGHT'S 
 
 ness. I observed, that these fences were of two 
 kinds. Those Indians who lived on the South side 
 of the river, erected theirs on the top of the bank, 
 and extended it for a mile or two in length. Where 
 they found plenty of tall trees, they felled them 
 so as to fall parallel to the river, and one upon 
 another; the weak places they filled up with the 
 tops of other trees. Where any open place inter- 
 vened, they made use of a sort of sewell, made of 
 narrow strips of birch rind, tied together in the 
 form of the wing of a paper kite: each of these 
 was suspended from the end of a stick, stuck into 
 the ground in an oblique position, that it might 
 play with every breeze of wind. These sewells 
 were placed at no great distance from each other, 
 and the effect produced by their motion, was con- 
 siderably heightened by the noise of the strips, 
 when they struck against each other. By these 
 means, the deer^ were deterred by the sewells 
 from attempting to enter the woods at the open 
 places, and the fences were too high to be over- 
 leaped, and too strong to be forced. Of course, 
 they were compelled to walk along the shore, until 
 
 1 The name deer is used by Cartwright as it is by the present day in- 
 habitants of Newfoundland and Labrador for the caribou, — the American 
 reindeer. There are no other deer native to either Newfoundland or 
 Labrador. The Newfoundland caribou, Rangifer terroe-novce, belongs in the 
 group of woodland caribou. In Labrador the woodland caribou, Rangifer 
 caribou, occurs throughout the wooded portions and in Cartwright's time 
 was abundant on the southeastern coast. In the treeless northern region 
 the barren ground caribou occurs, Rangifer ardicus. The reindeer of 
 northern Europe, Rangifer tarandus, is a smaller animal and is at present 
 writing being introduced by Dr. W. T. Grenfell into Newfoundland and 
 later into Labrador to take the place of the Eskimo dogs as a beast of 
 burden, and to supply milk, mea?t and clothing.
 
 LxVBRADOR JOURNAL 21 
 
 tliey could pass those obslruetions, and proceed 
 to the Southern parts of the ishind, to which they 
 always resort in great luunbers, at the approach 
 of AVinter. Thev iiud there many extensive tracts 
 of hind destitute of wood, and covered with plenty 
 of Reindeer Lichen,^ Empetrum Nigrum,- and 
 other herbage; and which the want of trees keeps 
 free from snow, by the wind drifting it off, from 
 all such places as are exposed to its force. The 
 Northern parts of the island are in general so well 
 covered with timber, where the snow never drifts, 
 that the herbage is buried too deep for them: yet 
 there are some small spots of open ground in those 
 parts, where a few herds of deer find subsistence 
 everv Winter. At certain intervals the Indians 
 make stands, from whence they shoot the deer 
 with their arrows, as they pass along under the 
 fence: some of those I observed were erected in 
 large spreading trees, and others were raised be- 
 hind the fence. 
 
 The other kind of fence is always built on the 
 North side of the river, and is so constructed, tliat 
 a herd of deer having once entered, it is almost 
 impossible for one of them to escape. From their 
 house, which is alwavs situated bv the side of the 
 river, they erect two high, and very sti-ong fences, 
 parallel to each other, forming a iian-ow lane of 
 some length, and stretching into the country. 
 From the farther end of eadi, they extend two 
 v('i'\- lonu: wing-fences, the extrenn'ties of wln'ch 
 
 ^ CUuUinin rnrKjifcrina . Cartwrinht is rnrrort in criirmn tliis ;i Urhen 
 iinfl not (I moHS. 
 » This ifl the scientific imrno Htill used for tlx- crow-berry or curlew-berry.
 
 22 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 are from one mile to two, or more, asmicler/ The 
 deer travel in small companies, few of them ex- 
 ceeding a dozen head, and when they meet with 
 these hawk, or wing-fences, they walk along them, 
 until they are insensibly drawn into the pound, 
 as partridge are into a tunnel net. The women 
 prevent them from returning, and they are all 
 killed with great ease by the men. 
 
 Besides the whigwhams (which are constructed 
 with slight poles, in the form of a cone, about six 
 or seven feet in diameter at the base, eight or nine 
 in height, and covered with birch rinds, or skins, 
 and often with sails which they contrive to steal 
 from the fishing-rooms) we also observed several 
 houses substantially built of timber. They were 
 about ten or twelve feet square; some of the sides 
 were constructed with squared timber, laid hori- 
 zontally upon each other, with moss between; 
 others were built of upright logs standing very 
 open, with a slight frame of lattice-work on the 
 inside; upon the latter we observed deer's hair, 
 from which we concluded they made use of the 
 skins of those animals to keep out the weather. 
 The roofs were low pyramids, with a hole 
 in the top for the emission of smoke; the 
 fire was in the centre, and the inhabitants sleep 
 round it. 
 
 ' Carmack (or Cormack) in his descent of the River of Exploits in 1827, 
 previously referred to in a note, says: " But what arrests the attention 
 most, in gliding down the stream, is the extent of the Indian fences to 
 entrap deer. They extend from the lake downwards, continuous on the 
 banks of the river, at least thirty miles, with openings here and there, 
 for the animals to go through, and swim across the river."
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 23 
 
 The bows of these people are made of sycamore, 
 but they do not seem to thiiik a straight clear piece 
 anv way essential; for we found none of them 
 to be so. The backs were round, the inner side 
 flat, except in the grasp, and we observed, that all 
 of them had one edge thicker than the other, which 
 we supposed was for the truer direction of the 
 arrow; a principle not attended to by other arch- 
 ers. The length was about five feet and a half. 
 
 The arrows are made of Wejanouth pine; ^ they 
 are slender, light, perfectly straight, and about 
 three feet long. The head is a barbed lance, made 
 out of an old nail, and about six inches long, let 
 into a cleft in the top of the shaft, and secured 
 there by a thread of deer's sinew. They are 
 feathered at the other end from the wing of the 
 goose or eagle. 
 
 As they cannot always get a regular supply of 
 provisions; in times of plenty, they take care to 
 provide for those of scarcity. This they do by 
 jerking venison, seal's flesh, birds, and fish; and 
 by making sausages, several of which I often 
 found when I was formerly in Newfoundland. 
 They consisted of the flesh and fat of seals, eggs, 
 and a variety of other rich matter, stuffed into 
 the guts of seals; for wnnt of salt and spices, the 
 composition had the h(Ui\ f/oiil to perfection. 
 
 It is a singular and almost incredible fact that 
 these people should visit Funk Island,' whidi lies 
 forty miles from Cape Freels, and sixty from the 
 
 ' Or whito pino, PimiA Strnhus. 
 
 ^ Funk I.slanfl wan a famous brooHinR Rrnund for tho Rront. auk, t<i/ip infra.
 
 24 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 Island of Fogo. The island being small and low, 
 they cannot see it from either of those places, nor 
 is it possible to conceive, how they could get in- 
 formation from any other nation. The Indians 
 repair thither once or twice every year, and return 
 with their canoes laden Avith birds and eggs; for 
 the number of sea-fowl w^hich resort to this island 
 to breed, are far beyond credibility. 
 
 That our people might easily have established 
 a friendly intercourse, and beneficial traffic with 
 these Indians, the circumstance which I have al- 
 ready related renders highly probable: but Adle 
 murder first produced a spirit of revenge in them, 
 and that has been made a pretence for unheard 
 of cruelties, on the parts of our fishermen. I could 
 relate several recent instances, some of which I 
 had from the accounts of the perpetrators them- 
 selves; but they are so diabolically shocking, that 
 I will spare the reader the pain of perusing, and 
 myself that of writing, an account of acts, which 
 w^ould disgrace the greatest savages. 
 
 What number of these Indians may still be left, 
 no person can even hazard a conjecture; but it 
 must decrease annually: for our people murder all 
 they can, and also destroy their stock of provision, 
 canoes, and implements of all sorts, whenever a 
 surprise forces them, by a precipitate retreat, to 
 leave those things behind them. This loss has 
 frequently occasioned whole families to die by 
 famine. The Mickmack Indians,^ who come from 
 
 1 These belong to the distinct Algonkin family, the same family to 
 which the Nascaupee and Montagnais Indians of Labrador belong.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNML 25 
 
 Cape Bretou, and are furuislied with lirearms, are 
 also their imphioable enemies; and greatly an 
 overmatch for these poor wretches, who have 
 nu better defensive weapons, than bows and 
 arrows. 
 
 In consequence of their having so many, and 
 such formidable enemies, they generally keep 
 themselves concealed in tlio woods, in places best 
 situated for discovering the approach of danger; 
 and from whence thev can make a safe and un- 
 perceived retreat. Whole summers therefore 
 often pass without an Indian been seen, although 
 fresh vestiges of them are daily observed. When I 
 was formerlv in Newfoundland, both in the vears 
 1766 and 1768, I met with whigwhams upon sev- 
 eral of these islands (which are very numerous) 
 in which the fires were burning; yet I never saw 
 an Indian: nor should I have been gratified with 
 a sight of one now, had they not supposed, that 
 we were at too great a distance to discover them. 
 
 TJnrrsiJdji, Juhj 12, 1770. We got under sail at 
 day-light, and ^^'ent to Night Island. At six 
 o'clock we came to anchor off the west end of it, 
 and landed with all the hounds. It w^as not long 
 before we found a fox, and chased him for four 
 hours: but the weather was then so wvy hot, that 
 the dogs could Iniiil no longer. AVe then re-em- 
 barkcfl .'ukI mndc s.-iil for rimi'lcs's Brook, wbci-e 
 we ai"]-i\('<| a1 sun-sel. 
 
 Fridai/, J/i/i/ /.7, 1770. I fook a shoi't walk this 
 morning into sonic neigli})oui"ing mai-shes, niid ex- 
 pected to have nu'f wilb a dcci-, biH saw none. Oji
 
 26 CAPTAIN CAETWRIGHT'S 
 
 my return, I fixed up a boat's sail between two 
 trees, at a short distance from the buildings, to 
 keep off the rain, under which Mrs. Selby and I 
 sat watching a bear-path imtil the evening. At 
 that time a large bitch bear^ made her appear- 
 ance, and I shot her through the heart with my 
 Hanoverian rifle ; she had not had a cub this year, 
 and was very poor. We immediately roasted a 
 joint, and, although it tasted rank, it served very 
 well to satisfy a craving appetite, as we had lived 
 very indifferently since we left Fogo. 
 
 Saturday, July 14, 1770. As soon as we had 
 dispatched some plentiful dishes of bear steakes 
 this morning, we took a walk to a pond which lies 
 upon the brook, and not far from the mouth of 
 it, to look at a new beaverhouse, in which the 
 salmoniers had killed four beavers.^ The appear- 
 ance on the outside resembled a heap of earth, 
 stones and sticks; it was built adjoining to the 
 bank, and the crown of it was about four feet 
 above the level of the water. I examined it very 
 strictly, to see if I could discover those marks of 
 sagacity and contrivance, which are related by 
 those authors who have entertained the world 
 with the natural history of these curious animals ; 
 but, for want of a competent knowledge in archi- 
 tecture, I presume, I could perceive only the order 
 of confusion. As to the inside I can say nothing, 
 for we did not open it; but that, I am told, is in 
 the form of an oven. 
 
 * Black bear, Ursus americanus. 
 
 ^ Canadian beaver, Castor canadensis.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 27 
 
 I shot a blaek-diick,' which is an excelieut bird; 
 it is the size and shape of the English wild-duck, 
 but the feathers are black, with a bar of shining 
 blue on each wing: there is no perceptible differ- 
 ence between the duck and the mallard, the latter 
 not having the curled feathers on the runip.^ 
 
 Tuesday, Jidij 24, 1770. The time ])etween the 
 eighteenth and this day, was employed in making 
 the necessary preparations for our departure for 
 Labrador. Mrs. Selbv had the misfortune to fall 
 down in walking to a neighbouring house : by this 
 accident she broke the small bone of her right leg 
 and dislocated her ancle. 
 
 This morning I embarked on board the Enter- 
 prize schooner, commanded by lieutenant Lucas, 
 and sailed for Labrador. In addition to my 
 foraier family, I brought with me from Fogo two 
 carpenters, a mason, John Fogarty, and Ann 
 Obrien, whose husband was a blacksmith, and 
 one of the schooner's crew. The schooner was 
 mounted with eight swivels, manned with twenty 
 men, and furnished with as many stands of small- 
 arms. 
 
 Nothing remarkable occurred \mtil the evening 
 of the 27th, when one of our best men was knocked 
 overboard by a jerk of the boom, in assisting to 
 reef the mainsail ; but we saved him with the boat. 
 
 ' Black or dusky duck, Anas ruhripes (until very recently known aa 
 A. ohscurn). 
 
 * CartwTiKht'H meaning; i8 rather obscure, but he intends to say that 
 the female or duck of the black duck reseniblen th<- female \vild-<lu(k or 
 mallani M . hnnch/is), as the latter bird lack.s the curled fcuithers on the rump 
 poswssed by the drake mallard.
 
 28 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 Being at that time arrived off Cape Quirpon, we 
 lay to till midnigiit, and then made sail across the 
 straits of Belle Isle; notwithstanding there was a 
 very thick fog, and the wind dead on the Labrador 
 shore. 
 
 Saturday, July 28, 1770. At five o'clock this 
 morning we found ourselves almost in the break- 
 ers, and to the westward of York Point. We were 
 very near running on shore, once or twice after- 
 wards; but at last we contrived to find our way 
 into Pitt's Harbour in Labrador. 
 
 We found lying here the Nautilus and the Otter 
 Sloops of War; the former commanded by Cap- 
 tain Williams, and the latter by Captain Morris. 
 Mr. Lucas and I went on board of both the ves- 
 sels, to pay our respects to the captains; one of 
 whom had brought twenty stands of small-arms 
 for my use; which I was informed Sir Edward 
 Hawke, now first Lord of the Admiralty, had or- 
 dered Commodore Bvron/ the Governor of New- 
 foundland, to furnish me with, fearing lest I 
 should not have a sufficiency for my defence 
 against the Esquimaux;* but being already sup- 
 plied with enough of our own, I declined accept- 
 ing them. I then went on shore to York Port to 
 
 1 Nicknamed by the sailors " Foul-weather Jack," grandfather of Lord 
 Byron, who refers to him in his " Epistle to Augusta: " — 
 
 " A strange doom is thy father's son's, and past 
 Recalling as it lies beyond redress 
 Reversed for him our grandsire's fate of yore, 
 He had no rest at sea, nor I on shore." 
 * I should be ungrateful not to mention, that Sir Edward, with whom 
 I had not even the honor of a personal acquaintance, ordered this supply 
 without any application on my part.
 
 LABKAJ)OR JOURNAL 29 
 
 visit lieutenant DaA'yes of the marines, wlio be- 
 longed to the Guernsey during both the A'oyages 
 that I sailed in her, and now conmiands here. He 
 presented nie with a New England whale-boat, 
 and shewed me two hams of a white bear,^ in brine, 
 intended as a compliment to the Governor, which 
 he and his people killed last winter, upon the ice 
 in the harbour; the weight of the animal, he as- 
 sured me, was a hundred and twenty stone of four- 
 teen pounds each. In the flight-time, "which com- 
 mences about the middle of April, and commonly 
 ends with the month of May, he said, they had 
 killed about fifteen hundred ducks, which ap- 
 peared probable enough, from the bags of feathers 
 he shewed me. 
 
 Sun day, July 29, 1770. At day-light this morn- 
 ing, we sailed for Charles River, and brought along 
 with us a baitskiff belonging to Perkins and Cogh- 
 lan, that had been left at the fort last year. There 
 being Ijut little wind, I got into the wherry when 
 we drew near St. Peter's Islands, and landed upon 
 one of them, where I shot four eider ducks,- and 
 seven lords and ladies;'' the latter lieing in full 
 moult could not fly, Init they were very fat. From 
 thence we rowed to the outer point of Cam]) Is- 
 lands, where we caught many large cod-fish,' by 
 
 1 Polar bear, Thalarctos mnritimus, now extirpated from Labrador 
 except in the most northern parts. 
 
 ' American eider, Snmttlrria drrssrri. The dreenland eider, S. rnnllissivin 
 horealU, breedn nortli of Huiiiilton Inlet a) the present day, as doew also the 
 KinK eider, .S. spectahilis. 
 
 * The male and female Harlequin dii<k, 1 1 islrionicus hiatrionicuJt. 
 
 * Gadun callarian.
 
 30 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 which the boat was so deeply laden, that we were 
 in danger of sinking, and could hardly make use 
 of the oars to row on board the schooner again. 
 In the evening I landed on Seal Island, near Cape 
 Charles; which had never been occupied by any 
 person since Captain Darby abandoned it, after 
 the Esquimaux had killed three of his people 
 there; and took possession of it for our company. 
 We afterwards proceeded for Charles River, and 
 anchored in the mouth of it at ten o 'clock at night, 
 not having light to go higher up. 
 
 Monday, July 30, 1770. At day-light, I sent Ned 
 on shore upon South Head, where he burnt priming 
 at a stout stag.* We then got under weigh, and 
 worked up the river above Barred Island, where 
 we came to an anchor again and moored; as there 
 did not appear to us to be a sufficient depth of 
 water for our vessel any higher. 
 
 After breakfast, Mr. Lucas and I got into the 
 wherr}^^, and rowed up the river to the place where 
 Captain Darby had lived; which is as high as a 
 boat can go. There we found his old house in such 
 good condition, that it might easily be made proof 
 against the weather, by chinsing between the studs 
 with moss, and giving it an additional covering. 
 There were also the ruins of a servant's house, 
 a work-shop, and fishing stage; all these we took 
 possession of, and returned on board to dinner. 
 The people were busily employed all day in land- 
 ing the provisions and goods which were destined 
 
 * All the deer in this country are rein-deer, yet I shall take the liberty 
 to call them stags, hinds, &c., the same as red deer are distinguished.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 31 
 
 for my use, as I had resolved to tix my residence 
 here. Two men were left on shore at night to 
 take care of them, and the live stock; for I had 
 brought from Fogo, a couple of goats and a few 
 X)oultry. As none of those peoi)le, who were em- 
 ployed in the boats, had ever been in this part 
 of the world before, they were greatly terrified 
 with the continual crying of the loons,^ believing 
 them to be Indians; and one man even swore, that 
 he saw two upon the shore. 
 
 [For several days after this Capt. Cartwright 
 was busy in directing the landing of his goods, 
 the repairing of old houses and in building anew. 
 Yet he found time for shooting and exploration.] 
 
 Saturday, August 4, 1770. I set the carpenters 
 to work on the intended dwellinghouse, which is 
 thirtv-seven feet bv fourteen, with orders to divide 
 it into three equal parts; the south apartment to 
 be the kitchen, the centre a dining-room, and the 
 north to be sub-divided longit\ulinally into two 
 ])ed-rooms; with a loft for goods over the whole. 
 The mason began a chimney in one of the bed- 
 rooms, with the bricks and lime, which T ])rought 
 out for that purpose. 
 
 Mo)i(laii, August 6, 1770. T walked to the top 
 of a hill, which lies a mile and a half East of this 
 ])lace, and found part of it to be barren, and the 
 rest covered with crabbed spruce-bushes,^ from 
 
 ' Gfvria immer. 
 
 * Blark Rprupc, Pirra mnrinnn : white spnirp, P. rnnn'imKil't : (and, in 
 Homp plar>fs in southern linhrndnr, red spnifo, P. nihrn) on this roast 
 indcwi buwhes, W)mPtirnoH not more than a foot high, yot ofton fifty yoarfl 
 old, lus I havf drtrTiiiinod liv roiinlinc th«' rinirs, Vuh; " A Labrador 
 Spring." Dunu EhIch & Co., Boston, 1010, pp. 200-219.
 
 32 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 one to three feet high; and on the farther side, 
 there is an elevated hommock, from whence I had 
 an extensive view. The foot of this hill, which I 
 named Prospect Hill, is washed to the eastward, 
 by a pool, at least a mile in length, and above two 
 hundred yards in breadth. About two hundred 
 yards above that, is a lake three miles in length, 
 and half a mile in breadth, in which are several 
 small islands; and still higher up, are many other 
 pools of an inferior size, which, I presume, are 
 supplied from small tributary streams : and below 
 the first of these are two or three small ponds. 
 To the two principal ones I gave the names of 
 Island Lake, and Long Pool. In the woods be- 
 tween the river and the hill, I observed a great 
 deal of very useful timber, but no large trees. 
 
 Friday, August 10, 1770. Early in the morning, 
 I took Charles and Ned with me, and sailed for 
 Chateau in our baitskiff; but we had no sooner 
 got below the narrows, into the more open part 
 of the river, than I met my brother John in a 
 whaleboat. I was informed by him, that Sir Ed- 
 ward Hawke, judging I should meet with many 
 unforeseen difficulties in establishing my new set- 
 tlement, had been so particularly kind and atten- 
 tive to me, as to give directions to Governor Byron 
 to furnish me with such assistance as was in his 
 power. In consequence of this, the governor had 
 sent my brother, from St. John's in Newfound- 
 land, in the Ranger schooner, with Mr. Dixon, a 
 midshipman; Mr. Langman, a mate; two carpen- 
 ters, and ten seamen, under his command. My
 
 " Crabbed Spruce Bushes " at Cape Charles 
 
 Venison Harbour
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 33 
 
 brother lieariug of Mrs. ISelby's accident, had also 
 brought from Chateau, ]\Ir. John Williams, a sur- 
 geon's mate, belonging to the Antelope, who 
 chanced to be there. Mr. Dixon was with him, but 
 he had left the Ranger at Seal Island, under the 
 care of ^Ir. Langnian, until he should discover the 
 place of my abode. We returned home to break- 
 fast, and afterwards went down to South Head 
 a shooting; where my brother killed a brace of 
 spruce-game,^ and I, a curlew.^ In the mean time 
 he sent the whale-boat to Seal Island, to order the 
 schooner up the river. 
 
 [xVfter several days passed pleasantly with his 
 brother in shooting ducks and in hunting caribou 
 and foxes, the Captain sailed for Chateau and 
 then going north, sailed up Gilbert's River, as far 
 as the peninsula called Olivestone.] 
 
 Fridajj, August 24, 1770. Mr. Langman went 
 on shore at Olivestone to roast a haunch of veni- 
 son, and bake a venison pasty; just as they were 
 ready, the woods caught fire, and burnt with great 
 fury, which forced him and his assistants to make 
 a preci])itate retreat: though he saved the venison 
 and imi>lements of cookery; but a boat's sail and 
 a few other things were considerably injured by 
 the accident. 
 
 Su}idaf/, Aufjust 2fJ, 1770. The scliooner got 
 under sail at day-light, and ]>rof'eeded up the river. 
 
 ' Hudsonian spnifP jctousp, Canachilrs rnnndnisis. 
 
 * Eflkimo nirlow, Xtinu-nius linrralis, fnniierly ahiiiiflant, and one of the 
 moflt intprcsting and fharartoristif l)irdH of tlio Labrador coa.'^t, increaa- 
 inctv raro siriro IROO, nf)w almost extinct. TIuh is the " dough-bird " of 
 the New England coast.
 
 34 CAPTAIN CART WEIGHT'S 
 
 At the same time I landed on the South shore, 
 and walked along it until I passed Grove Island, 
 where the boat took me on board again. At the 
 mouth of Beaver Brook was a Momitaineer ^ whig- 
 wham that had been occupied very lately; and 
 near this place we observed the head of a beaver, 
 which appeared to be newly picked. I could see 
 no difference of structure between this whig wham 
 and those made by the wild Indians of Newfound- 
 land. On some low hills, partly barren, and the 
 rest covered with small bad spruce-bushes, were 
 many large flocks of curlews feeding on the ber- 
 ries, which were very plentiful there; but could 
 kill only one. The berries of the Empetrum Ni- 
 grum, and likewise some delicious blue berries 
 which grow on a small shrubby plant, called 
 Ground Whortle,^ both of which are now ripe, are 
 what the curlews delight to feed on. These not 
 only make them uncommonly fat, but also give 
 their flesh a most delicious flavor. 
 
 In the evening we anchored a little below Gil- 
 bert's Narrows, when mv brother and I landed on 
 the north point, which is low, flat, and without 
 trees. There we found another whigwham which 
 we concluded had been lately inhabited, as we saw 
 the fresh footmarks of the Indians on the sand. 
 On the upper side of the point were abundance of 
 
 ^ Mountaineer Indians or Montagnais of the southern half of Labrador. 
 North of Hamilton Inlet in the interior dwell the Nascaupee Indians. 
 Both belong to the Algonkin family. 
 
 2 Probably bog whortleberry, Vaccinium uliginosum, called in some 
 places on the coast whorts. Other blueberries, V. ccBspitosum, V. pennsyl- 
 vanicum and V. Canadense, also occur in Labrador.
 
 LABR.VDOR JOURNAL 35 
 
 beaver-cut sticks, that had been carried down the 
 river, and had lodged there. From this circum- 
 stance, I judged, that beavers must be very plen- 
 tiful in the lakes, pools, and ponds, which lie upon 
 these streams. 
 
 Monday, August 27, 1770. Early in the morn- 
 ing we weighed, ran through the narrows, and 
 anchored again about a mile above, near to the 
 north shore. My brother and I went higher up in 
 the whale-boat, and found several obstructions 
 from sand-beds. About four miles above, are sev- 
 eral small low islands, on which grow many fine 
 white and black spruces. We found the water 
 there quite shallow; having a bed of very white 
 sand. On each side there is much useful timber. 
 The woods, from their appearance, afford good 
 shelter for foxes ^ and martens.- We saw many 
 signs of black-bears, and porcupines,^ and in the 
 river, salmon '' are most probably to be found. I 
 tailed a couple of traps for otters,"* but did not find 
 
 * The red fox of Labrador is Vulpes rubiginosa bangsi. Of this there 
 are several individual colour varieties, known a.s cross fox, silver fox and 
 black fox. The Arctic fox, also called blue fox and white fox, Vulpes 
 Ingopijis ungava, is also found on this coast. 
 
 * The Labrador form of the marten or American sable, Mustela americana 
 brumnlis. 
 
 ^ Labrador porcupine, Erelhizon dorsatum picinum. 
 
 * Salmon, Salmo Solar. 
 
 ' Otter, Lutra canadensis. The " rubl)inp; places " are the otter slides. 
 The fact that the otter slides down hill for amusement is well attested, 
 and is of considerable interest. Seton says, " Life-Histories of Northern 
 Animals." lOtK), Vol. 11, p. 834: " This is the only ciuso I know of among 
 Amorican quadnjpfds where the entire race, young and old, unite to keep 
 np an institution that is not connected in any way with the instincts of 
 feeding, fighting, or multiplying, but is simply maintained jis an amuse- 
 ment."
 
 36 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 many rubbing places. On the north side was an- 
 other fresh whigwham. We observed in the water 
 many geese ^ and seals. 
 
 Friday, August 31, 1770. We sailed at day-light 
 and anchored again off the east-end of Cartwright 
 Island, where all the shooters landed and stationed 
 themselves across the middle of it; each placing 
 himself within proper distance of his next neigh- 
 bour. After sending the two boats to lie off differ- 
 ent points, we dispatched a few of the sailors into 
 the woods with the hounds. In the afternoon, a 
 young hind passed within shot of my brother, but 
 he did not see her. An hour after, I saw her again, 
 standing up to her belly in a pond, which was 
 above a mile below me; there I got within distance 
 and killed her. In the course of the day I shot 
 three curlews, three grouse," and an auntsary;^ 
 the rest of the party killed four grouse, one cur- 
 lew, one auntsary, and a whabby.^ 
 
 Tuesday, Septemher 4, 1770. We arrived at the 
 mouth of the river [Charles] at four o'clock this 
 morning, and there anchored. We then landed on 
 South Head, and met with the track of a very large 
 
 * Canada goose, Branta canadensis. 
 
 2 By " grouse " Cartwright means the willow ptarmigan, Lagopus 
 lagopus. By " ptharmakin, " or ptarmigan, he means the rock ptarmigan, 
 Lagopus rupestris, which is found in Labrador throughout the barren, 
 treeless regions, except in the extreme north, where it is replaced by Rein- 
 hardt's ptarmigan, Lagopus rupestris reinhardi. Cartwright was familiar 
 with the red grouse of Scotland, Lagopus scolicus, a species of ptarmigan, 
 which does not turn white in winter, as well as with the ptarmigan of that 
   country, Lagopus mutus, which puts on a winter plumage of white. 
 
 » Greater Yellow-legs, Tolanus melanoleucas. The name auntsary is 
 still used in Labrador. 
 
 * Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 37 
 
 white-bear, which was so fresh, that the bkiod- 
 houiid challenged it. Ned drew upou it with the 
 dog for a considerable distance, but could not ob- 
 tain sight of him. In the meantime ^Ir. Dixon 
 and I walked o\er the hills, where we killed seven 
 curlews and three grouse. On our rettirn on 
 board, we got under weigh, ran up into Pond 
 Reach, where we anchored and moored; after 
 which, we came home in the whale-boat. The car- 
 penter, whom my brother left here, died of an 
 apoplexy on the 2nd of August. The buck rabbit 
 had the misfortune to be killed bv the greyhound: 
 in consequence of which the breed is lost, as the 
 surviving doe brought forth two female young 
 ones. 
 
 Moudaj/, September JO, 1770. After breakfast, 
 we w^ent in the boat to the mouth of Island Hrook, 
 where we landed, and "walked to the top of a steep, 
 craggy hill; to which I gave the name of Rugged 
 and Tough. The sides of this hill l)eing abru])t, 
 and covered with short, rough spruces and firs,* 
 about six feet high, it was very difficult either to 
 ascend or descend. The top, from whence there 
 is an extensive prospect, is barren. 1 kiUcd two 
 brace of grouse there; and my ])i-other, one brace, 
 and a cui'lcw. On oui* return, I tailed a snare, in 
 the mean time, ^Ir. Dixon moved the schooner up 
 the rivej', and moored her near the house. 
 
 At mid-night Mr. Tiangman i-eturiied IVom (Pla- 
 teau, and iiifoi-iiicd us, thai ilic soutlimi ti'ibes 
 of "Rsf|uini;iu.\ h;i<l l.'ifcly been there; but were 
 
 ' BalHuui fir, Abies hihamen.
 
 38 CAPTAIN CARTWRiaHT'S 
 
 gone home again. They had a quantity of whale- 
 bone with them, the greatest part of which some 
 * Moravians who chanced to be there, had pur- 
 chased. 
 
 Monday, September 17, 1770. I got three addi- 
 tional men from the Ranger this morning; and all 
 hands were employed to-day, as follows: six men 
 in the w^oods; three on the drain; two carpenters 
 slitting the planks; one at work in the house; 
 and another nailing battens on the paper, which 
 was put upon the store roof; my brother, the 
 mason, and a helper, in setting up a copper in the 
 kitchen ; two men were employed in bringing tree- 
 roots out of the garden, and piling them up for 
 firing; Mr. Langman and a boy, in building an m 
 
 oven at a little distance from the house; another, 
 in stubbing up roots in the garden; and I was 
 engaged in making four canvas bags for the pur- 
 pose of bringing home venison, and also in scra- 
 ping the otter's skin. ^ 
 
 Wednes., Septemder 19, 1770. Finding my pro- 
 visions decrease very fast, I could not supply the | 
 Ranger's crew any longer, on which occasion they t. 
 refused to work for me; although I still offered 
 to continue the payment of two shillings a day to 
 each of the carpenters, and one shilling a day each, 
 to all the rest. 
 
 * These Moravians ^ went to Labrador, in a small vessel chartered by 
 the society, in order to establish a settlement among the Esquimaux; but 
 their ostensible purpose, was to convert the Indians to Christianity. 
 
 ^ The Moravians established the first permanent settlement at Nain 
 in 1771, although they had visited Labrador as early as 1752. At the 
 present day they have eight mission stations among the Eskimos in Labra- 
 dor from Makkovik on the south to Killinek on the north.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 39 
 
 Thursday, September 20, 1770. All the Ranger's 
 people returned to work again this morning, ex- 
 cept John Shaw; and as he was the ringleader in 
 the combination, niv brother would not suffer him 
 to be employed any more. 
 
 Mr. Langman completed his oven to-day; and 
 the East end of the house being habitable, I took 
 possession of it this evening. 
 
 Friday, September 21, 1770. We laid a coat of 
 pitched paper upon the roof of the house, and a 
 second covering of l)oards upon the paper. The 
 rest of the hands were busy; some in bringing 
 timber out of the woods, and others in squaring 
 it, while the remainder were going on with the 
 casing and other work. Mr. Langman having 
 taken out of the oven, the stones, which he had 
 made use of to turn the arch upon, was making 
 a fire in it, in order to bake a pie; w^hen, alas! 
 down it fell; to the no small mortification of us 
 all. I employed myself most part of this day in 
 skinning and spreading the otter. 
 
 My house not having yet been distinguished by 
 any name, we called it Ranger Lodge,^ in honor 
 of liis Majesty's schooner, which was moored be- 
 fore the door. 
 
 Thursday, September 27, 1770. The West end 
 of the house took fire this nftenioon, at the back 
 of the kitr-hen fireplncc; ])nt it was soon extin- 
 
 * The whole inlet into which the Charles River nins at whoee mouth 
 stood RfinKf-r Ixwlge, is now known as " The Ixxige." At the present time 
 all the inhabitants of the little settlement at TnHian Tove, Cape Charles, 
 Bail up this inlet every fall, and asrend the Charles River to the woods, 
 where they pasa the winter.
 
 40 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 guislied. It is easy to perceive, that these wooden 
 houses, are very inflaniinable buildings; particu- 
 larly, when the chinmeys are constructed with 
 boards, and the back of the fireplace is a stone 
 wall four feet high only. 
 
 Sunday, September 30, 1770. Mr. Langman 
 killed a porcupine upon the hill at the East end 
 of the house, which I have named Battery Hill; 
 from a battery of swivel guns which Captain 
 Darby erected on it, to defend himself against the 
 Esquimaux. I wrote several letters to England 
 and Newfoundland; also settled the accompts of 
 the Ranger's crew, and gave them bills for the 
 balance. My brother left me this evening, in 
 order to return to St. John's. 
 
 Tuesday, October 2, 1770. Ned walked down the 
 river on one side, and Charles on the other; they 
 returned with three shellbirds ^ and a saddleback.^ 
 I made a spring for the slider of my Hanoverian 
 rifle, and a cap for my large-shot gun. 
 
 A fall of snow the whole day, for the first time. 
 
 Wednss., October 3, 1770. The West end of 
 the house took fire four times to-day; the 
 chimney of the copper being too near the studs, 
 I shall be mider the necessity of taking it 
 down. 
 
 Thursday, October 4, 1770. At nine o'clock at 
 night, two sailors belonging to the Enterprize 
 came here by land, with the intelligence of the ar- 
 rival of that vessel, in the mouth of the river this 
 
 ^ Red-breasted merganser; shelldrake, Mergus serraior. 
 ^ Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus.
 
 LABEADOR JOURNAL 41 
 
 inoniiiii;". Tliev also informed me, that Mr. Lueas 
 had hiiided long before they did; and came ott' 
 for this jjlace on foot; not being able to row 
 against the wind. 1 inmiediateh' ordered a large 
 tire to ))e made on the top of Batter}^ Hill, and 
 gims to be tired frequently; being certain, that 
 he must have quitted the river side, and lost him- 
 self in the woods. 
 
 Fridaij, October 5, 1770. At five o'clock this 
 morning ]\Ir. Lucas, with one of his men (Obrien, 
 the smith, who is husliand to my servant-maid) 
 having discovered the tire, found their way here; 
 after havmg wandered about in the woods all 
 night. 
 
 ^Ir. Lucas infonned me, that after he had 
 cruised along the coast, some distance to the north- 
 ward; he, at length, had the good fortune to dis- 
 cover one of the Esquimaux settlements, called 
 Auchbucktoke; where he had purchased a small 
 quantity of whalebone, and a few young seal 
 skins; and that he had prevailed upon the 
 chief of that tribe, together with his family, 
 to accompany him hither; and to winter near 
 me: in order, to give me an opportunity, <»f 
 laymg a foundation for a friendly intercourse with 
 them. 
 
 The cliicf's name is Attuiock, and his family 
 consists of two wives, three young children, a 
 brother, a nephew, and a maid-servant. 
 
 At nine o'clock, Attniock, Tooklavinin, his 
 brothel-, a yonih aboni seventeen yeai's of age; 
 and Etniock, tlie nepliew, a youlli of lif'leeii; came
 
 42 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 up here in their kyacli:s/ and breakfasted with me ; 
 after which they went back, in order to bring up 
 the women and children. The skiff returned in 
 the evening, accompanied by the schooner's boat; 
 and both of them were laden with goods intended 
 for Indian trade. As soon as the goods were 
 landed, I sent both the boats back again. Attuiock 
 returned in one of them, to apologize for the ab- 
 sence of his wives; the weather being too wet for 
 them to come on shore. 
 
 The carpenters finished the maid's cabin, and 
 all their other w^ork in the kitchen. Charles and 
 Ned visited the slips, and the latter killed a brace 
 of spruce-game; but poor Charles, who is a better 
 soldier than a marksman, returned like the Knight 
 of the Sorrowful Countenance; for, in shooting 
 at a bird, he had killed his dog. 
 
 Saturday^ October 6, 1770. The carpenters be- 
 gan to erect a porch to the house door, and the 
 rest of the people were busy in assisting to unlade 
 the schooner. Attuiock brought his wives and 
 children up to-day; and they dined with me. 
 
 Sunday, Octoher 7, 1770. I was engaged in wri- 
 ting letters to England all the forenoon ; after din- 
 ner I went on board the Enterprize, and returned 
 home at night. One of the people having care- 
 lessly left a bucket upon the deck yesterday, with 
 a gallon of rum in it, Mr. Lucas's goat drank al- 
 most the whole of the contents, and has continued 
 ever since in so complete a state of intoxication, 
 
 * Skin-covered boats, the characteristic boat of the Eskimo, just as the 
 birch bark canoe is of the Indian.
 
 LAJ3R.Vi)0K JOUKX.VL 43 
 
 as to be unable to get upou iier legs. 1 shot a bird 
 called a ladv. 
 
 Friday, October 12^1770. Early in the mornmg, 
 I went to pay a visit to the Indians: but of all the 
 people I ever yet heard of, the Estiuimaux, I think, 
 are the most uncleanlv. Thev even exceed the 
 accounts which I have read of the Hottentots: for 
 they not only eat the guts of an animal; but, with 
 a still higher gout for delicacies of this kind, they 
 devour even the contents! Their tent was highly 
 impregnated with the effluvia of such savoury 
 dainties. At the farther end, a little raised from 
 the ground, on pieces of boards, were abundance 
 of deer-skins and garments, on which they both 
 sat and slept ; the rest was well filled with vessels 
 for eating and drinking; bags of seals' oil, part 
 of the carcase of a seal recently killed; fat, guts, 
 fish; and a great variety of other good things, all 
 lying in glorious confusion; on which their dogs 
 and themselves fed promiscuously! Tlie whole 
 was nauseous in the highest degree, and I was 
 obliged to quit the place without much reluctance. 
 Afterwards, I walked upon the cape land; where 
 I killed a pair of eider ducks, a grouse, and a 
 ptharmakin. 
 
 Saturdftj/, Orfober 13, 1770. T paid my friends 
 anothei- visit; Ickcongogue (the youngest wife) 
 was dressing a green seal skin, wliidi li.-ul lain in 
 oil and filth some days, and feeding her infant 
 daughter with the scrapings: as a most delicious 
 morsel. She sometimes indnlged <h<' child with 
 the tail of a raw scul])in to suck: bii1 the fish fre-
 
 44 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 queiitly dropping clown, she as often picked it up 
 out of the mire and presented it again. 
 
 I went out fishing again, in the evening, and 
 killed a codfish. 
 
 Sunday, October 21, 1770. Early in the morn- 
 ing the Dispatch Shallop arrived from Fogo, laden 
 with jDrovisions, other stores, a sheep, a small pig, 
 and some traps. Six men, who are hired to our 
 company for the ensuing year, came in this boat; 
 two of whom are furriers. In the afternoon I read 
 prayers to my family. 
 
 There was a continual fall of snow all the day; 
 but in the evening it turned to rain. 
 
 Tuesday, October 23, 1770. I sent the shallop 
 to sea this morning with four hands, to try if they 
 could catch some fish. At eight o'clock a whale- 
 boat arrived from York Fort ; in which, came Mr. 
 Jones, the surgeon; and Mr. Macleod, a midship- 
 man, on a visit to me. At night the three Indian 
 men came here, when Attuiock informed me of 
 the loss of one of his children, that had died a 
 few days ago; also, he complained, that his house 
 was too bad to live in, and that he could kill no 
 provisions there. 
 
 Wednes., October 24, 1770. At day-light this 
 morning, observing a falcon^ striking at my ducks, 
 I shot him. He was a strong, beautiful, speckled 
 bird. I sent Ned and the two furriers to tail traps 
 for otters in Punt Pond; and gave orders to the 
 Chateaumen for repairing an old Canadian house, 
 about half a mile down the river; for the better 
 
 * Perhaps a duck hawk, Falco peregrinus anatum.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 45 
 
 acconunodation ot* Attuiock and his family: the 
 Lidians and 1 walked down to the place to view 
 the premises; of which I made them a present in 
 due form. 
 
 Fridai/, October 20, 1770. Early in the morning 
 the gentlemen went off for Chateau, and I walked 
 home bv myself; the distance is twelve miles. I 
 got shots at an otter, and two seals, with my little 
 rifle; but killed none of them. Ned and the fur- 
 riers returned in the evening, having killed only 
 a ]")ied-duck.^ Tliey had tailed a trap on the land- 
 wash at tlie head of Niger Sound, which caught 
 me by the foot, as I was creeping to get a sliot at 
 the otter. Charles went the north walk ; he killed 
 a spruce-game, and found a rabbit " and a porcu- 
 pine in two of the snares on Hare Hill. 
 
 Safiorlajj, October 27, 1770. After breakfast T 
 took Charles and the two furriers with me in the 
 wherry, and rowed down to Furriers' Cove; where 
 we landed, and proceeded to the north walk, with 
 an intention of returning the same way. AMien 
 we got upon North Head, I discovered an old stag, 
 with a hind and her calf, upon Lyon Neck. I then 
 sent the furriers to lie off Salt Point in the wlierry, 
 in case the deer should take the watci-; while 
 Charles and I crossed at the head oL' the Cove, to 
 
 'CartwTiKht Bpoaks sevoral timoa of a " piod-duck " and it is possihlc 
 that ho refpra to the Labrador dnrk, Camptorhynrlmn InhrndoriuK, which 
 was also known as tho " piod duck." Althoiinh it wa« conunon in Cart- 
 wripht's day it has horn pxtinct sinco about 1874. 
 
 ' Labrador varying harr-, Lrjnm mritriratins. This hare is ypllowish- 
 brown to dniF) in summor, and piirf white in winter. The Labrador 
 polar hare, lA:pu« lahrudoriwi, uIho oucurn there.
 
 46 CAPTAIN CAET WEIGHT'S 
 
 the leeward of them. I killed the stag, and, we 
 both fired at the hind, but niissed her. Another 
 stag, some years younger, then made his appear- 
 ance; but having discovered us, before we saw 
 him, I was prevented from approaching nearer 
 than a hundred and fifty yards: I fired at him, 
 but without doing any execution. 
 
 The other two men having joined us, we at- 
 tempted to carry the stag to the boat; but he was 
 too heavy for us to lift off the ground, till he was 
 paunched and his head cut off near to his shoul- 
 ders. Even then, we could carry him but a few 
 yards at a time, although he had not an ounce of 
 fat; as this is the rutting season. His* horns are 
 a noble, branching pair; with fift^-six points. 
 
 Thursday, November 1, 1770. The Indian men 
 came here this morning; and Attuiock walked 
 with me to Watson Pond, where I seated a little, 
 at which he was greatly astonished, having never 
 seen any such thing before. From thence we took 
 a short circuit, and looked at three slips. Attui- 
 ock killed a spruce-game with an arrow. 
 
 Monday, November 5, 1770. At day-light I sent 
 the furriers to Watson Brook, where they found 
 three martens caught; and brought home three of 
 the traps, which they afterwards tailed in the path 
 of Prospect Hill; they also built another death- 
 fall there. I caught a marten near the river side, 
 and tailed the two double-spring traps on the 
 north shore. Ned cut a path to the brook, and 
 
 * The head of this stag is now in Averham. Park Lodge, in the county 
 of Nottingham.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 47 
 
 the other three men altered the kitchen t-hiiimey. 
 In the afternoon I made twenty-four bridges and 
 tongues for deathfalls, and caught two jays ^ on 
 the porch, with birdUme. 
 
 It thawed all daj^; some showers of small snow 
 fell; but it began to freeze again at night. 
 
 Wcd)ies., November 7, 1770. The two jays 
 v.'hich I caught on the fifth instant, I have hitherto 
 kept confined in a cage; but they now have the 
 liberty of the room; and I was greatly surprised 
 to see them fly to me for food, and familiarly perch 
 upon my hand: they even suffered me to stroke 
 them with one hand, while they were eating some 
 pork fat out of the other. 
 
 Friday, November 9, 1770, At nine o'clock this 
 morning, an old stag, a hind, and her calf, came 
 down the river upon the ice, and stopped opposite 
 to the house; there was also a young stag, follow- 
 ing at a distance. I snatched up my Hanoverian 
 rifle, and should certainly have killed the hind, 
 but the gun was not loaded. On hearing the snap 
 of the cock, they hastily ran back again. As soon 
 as I had loaded the piece, I took it, with my little 
 rifle, and walked up the river on this side; but, 
 finding that they had taken the woods on the other, 
 I returned, crossed before the door, an<l hastened 
 for Prospect Hill; sending Charles and the boy 
 with a bl(»odhound, 1o di'aw upon tlie slot. T'^'pon 
 the hill, I came upon their slol in the snow, and 
 soon got within a hundred yards of them; when 
 
 ' Labr.Klor Jay, PiriAnrun rnnmlijiKh nigricajrillus, a bird that rescmblrfl 
 closely the Canadu Jay, or whiakey jack.
 
 48 CAPTAIN CiVKT WRIGHT'S 
 
 I killed the liincl with one gun, and shot the calf 
 through the neck with the other. The stags went 
 off and crossed Long Pool ; I followed the calf for 
 about a mile, and shot her through the side; but 
 was obliged to slip my greyhound, before I could 
 secure her. I stripped and quartered both the 
 deer, and hung the venison upon some trees. 
 While I was employed on the hind, a raven ^ came 
 and perched on a tree within shot, and I killed him, 
 also. I did not get home till the evening, and was 
 both tired and wet; for the snow was a foot deep 
 on the ground, and the trees were loaded with it. 
 
 Sunday, November 11, 1770. The Indians made 
 me a visit today, and complained, that their pro- 
 visions were entirely exhausted. I gave them a 
 skin-bag of oil, which Mr. Lucas purchased at 
 Auchbucktoke, and left here. No people on earth, 
 I think, except themselves, would have eaten its 
 contents; for it had been filled with phrippers, 
 pieces of flesh, and rands of seals' fat. It was a 
 complete mixture of oil and corruption, with an 
 intolerable stench; even the very sight of it was 
 nauseous. The Indians, however, were of a dif- 
 ferent opinion, and considered it as a most luxuri- 
 ous treat. I had a marten in my trap on Dog 
 Point. 
 
 Saturday, November 17, 1770. This morning I 
 ordered Charles and Haines to make the necessary 
 preparations, and attend me to Chateau; to return 
 the visit of my friends Messrs. Jones and Mac- 
 leod: accordingly, being provided with a proper 
 
 1 Northern raven, Corvus corax principalis.
 
 LABRADOR JOrRNAL 49 
 
 siipi)ly uf provisiuus for the day, we began uur 
 journey, with an intention of trying to hnd some 
 beavers by the way. AVe went up the path to 
 Prospect Hill; and proceeded to the bottom of 
 Island Lake. We runnnaged the north side of the 
 lake, together with a small pond adjoining, and 
 found one new beaverhouse and three old ones. 
 Evening api)roaching, when we got to the head of 
 the lake; we did not go far up the brook, before 
 we constructed a back-tilt; we made a good fire 
 in front, and passed the night there. In our way, 
 we found a marten in one of the traps in the path 
 of Prospect Hill. 
 
 Sunday, November 18, 1770. At day-light this 
 morning we pursued our route, and at noon 
 reached the summit of a high hill, with a bare top; 
 but not being able to discern the sea from that 
 situation; I concluded we must have kept too far 
 to the westward. Tlie prospect around us was 
 extensive and pleasing; but, as the country be- 
 tween us and Chateau w^as covered with thick 
 woods, as far as w^e could see; and the distance 
 uncertain; and what was of greater consequence 
 than all the rest; Ave had no provisions for the 
 supply of the following day: therefore, T judged 
 it prudent to return ])ack again to the place which 
 we left this morning. In the course of the day's 
 walk, we found several old beavei'houses; also, 
 some very large timber, both of larch and black 
 spruce; but they are too f.-ii* fi-oni home to be of 
 any use to me. Charles killed a brace of spruce- 
 game.
 
 50 CAPTAIN C.VRT WRIGHT'S 
 
 Monday^ November 19, 1770. I set off home- 
 ward by myself this morning at day-light; and 
 upon a small island in Island Brook, I had the 
 satisfaction of finding a large new beaverhouse; 
 which appeared to be inhabited by a numerous 
 crew. There was a magazine of provisions de- 
 posited in the water, a few yards before the front 
 of it, sufficient to have loaded a waggon; and the 
 tops of the sticks appeared a foot above the ice. 
 On each side of the house, I observed, they had 
 kept a hole open through the ice, for some days 
 after the pond was frozen over; that they might 
 work upon it. The sight of this house, convinced 
 me, that all those which I had hitherto seen, were 
 old ones, and uninhabited by the beavers. 
 
 Arriving at the head of Long Pool, I met with 
 the sliding of an otter; which was so fresh, that 
 my greyhound challenged it; and I soon discov- 
 ered him fishing in the disemboguing of the brook, 
 where it was yet open. I sat watching for an hour ; 
 in which time he caught plenty of small trouts: 
 he then got upon a small rock, which was at least 
 one hundred yards from my station; and, while 
 he was making room for some more fish, I sent a 
 ball through him, and killed him upon the spot. 
 I fixed him upon my back and hastened home, 
 where I arrived at noon; and found his weight 
 to be thirty-three pounds. The two men, whom 
 I left behind me to examine some small ponds, 
 returned at one o'clock, and brought a brace of 
 spruce-game. 
 
 Monday, November 26, 1770. Charles and Ned
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 51 
 
 went to the traps and tleatiifalls on Nescaupiek 
 Ridge; also to the beaverhouse on that side, and 
 brought home an old beaver, that weighed forty- 
 five pounds. They found all the traps and death- 
 falls robbed by martens, and choked with snow. 
 On their return, they observed that three deer had 
 followed them for a short distance; and then 
 quitted the path. 
 
 Wedves., November 28, 1770. Early in the 
 morning, ordered Charles, Ned, Milmouth, and 
 Haines to launch the wherry over the ice into the 
 water; intending to go to Eyre Island after the 
 deer: but, not being able to get much lower than 
 the Narrows, we landed on the South shore, and 
 walked to Seal Island. We arrived there at sun- 
 set, and found that the season for catching seals * 
 had just begun. The crew^ had most of their nets 
 out, and above thirty seals on shore. 
 
 Friflajj, Xovewher SO, 1770. The seals came in 
 shoals to-day: none but stragglers having appeared 
 before. I shot one with my rifle; but it sunk. 
 
 Mo)i(lay, Deremher 3, 1770. Seals were very 
 plentiful to-day; but the weather tui'ued out so 
 bad, Ihat the people could not visit more than half 
 their nets. Tlie whole consist of twelve shoal nets, 
 of forty fathoms by two; and three stoppers of 
 a hundi'od and thirty fathoms by six. The latter 
 are made fast at one end to '\Aniite-Fox Island; and 
 
 ' Thf harp Honl. Phnrn rp-rmlnn'h'rn, is tlir> one most froquontlv tnkpn 
 on thn Lahnulor ('oiist, but thf followinR also occur: hooded seal, Cyxlo- 
 phnra rrwtntn: ^ray seal, Unlirhrrrun gmpitJ^: heardod Boal, Erignaihus 
 harhatun; ringed seal, Phoca hispida; harbour seal, Phnrn vitulina con- 
 color.
 
 52 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 at the other to capstans, which are fixed on this 
 island; by these means, the headropes are either 
 lowered to the bottom, or raised to the surface 
 of the water, at pleasure : and, being placed about 
 forty yards behind each other, form tw^o pounds. 
 There is a narrow tickle of twenty yards in width, 
 between this island and the continent; across 
 which a net is fixed, to stop the seals from passing 
 through. I shot a raven with my rifle. 
 
 Wednes., December 5, 1770. At eleven o'clock 
 this morning I set off homeward, accompanied by 
 my two men; but separated from them on the top 
 of Twelve o'clock Head. When I came to Cross 
 Pond, I found myself sinking with extreme exer- 
 tion; which I had been obliged to make, to get 
 through the thick, stubborn, bushes, that grew on 
 the West side of the Head. I therefore left my 
 gun, hatchet, and rackets; and also all which my 
 pockets contained. At half after four I got home ; 
 but was so completely worn out with fatigue, that 
 I was scarce able to speak for an hour; and was 
 with difficult}^ kept from fainting, during the 
 greatest part of that time. My attendants found 
 a better way down the hill, and arrived an hour 
 after me, very little worse with their journey. As 
 I did not expect to walk much, I had, unfortu- 
 nately, put on an under waistcoat, and a pair of 
 drawers, made of lambs' skins, with the wool 
 inwards, which heated me most intolerably. 
 
 I found every thing had been neglected in my 
 absence: the beaverhouse was frozen up; the 
 traps and deathfalls choked with snow 5 and only
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 53 
 
 four inartens brought in. i had the cramp se- 
 verely all night. 
 
 Thursdaij, December 6, 1770. I had a slight 
 fever, and was nnich troubled with the cramp all 
 day. Finding my head man to be a drunken, 
 worthless, fellow, I degraded him; and appointed 
 Obrien in his place. 
 
 At night the Indian maid-servant came here, 
 and informed me, that her master had attempted 
 to kill her; and that he and his family had threat- 
 ened to murder me and all my people. Although 
 I did not give much credit to her; yet, I thought 
 it prudent to load all my fire-arms, lest there might 
 be some truth in the report; especially as my peo- 
 ple were under great apprehension of danger, 
 from the account of the Indian women. She re- 
 mained here all night. 
 
 Attuiock, accompanied by one of his wives and 
 his brother, came here this morning after the girl; 
 and spent the day with me. Finding the affair 
 to be only a slight quarrel, I reconciled the par- 
 ties; and they all returned home in the evening, 
 apparently good friends. By the instruction I 
 received from a very imperfect A'ocabulary of the 
 Esquimaux language, which ^li'. TiUcas wrote out, 
 we were mutually enal)]ed to understand each 
 other; but it was a work of* gi"ea1 difficulty, and 
 proved very tedious, foi* we often were nuicli em- 
 Ijarrassed in our conversaf i<>ii. 
 
 Wediics.^ Drrrmhrr 12. 1770. T wcuf down flie 
 ri\('i' .■ind \isi1('(l tlic 1r;ip^; also iTiiioxcd flint 
 which ("iiaries taih'd i'o]- a fox vestei'dav, and set
 
 54 CAPTAIN CABT WRIGHT'S 
 
 it for an otter; together with five snares for rab- 
 bits. Although they are pretty numerous in the 
 woods, yet they are not easy to be caught, because 
 they do not keep any path. I afterwards called 
 on the Indians, begged some seal's flesh for my 
 dogs, and some oil for the lamps ; at the same time 
 gave them an invitation to the lodge; on which 
 they accompanied me back to my house, and dined 
 with me: one dish, among the rest, consisted of a 
 fox; which was boiled, and tasted very well. 
 
 Thursday, December 13, 1770. Four men were 
 sawing, and three making sleds and dogs. Took- 
 lavinia came this morning with his dog, and went 
 with the furriers, to try if he could find under 
 what part of the pond bank, the beavers had taken 
 up their abode: but the cur would not hunt. 
 Charles visited his traps, but got nothing. I went 
 to those which are down the river, but nothing 
 had been caught. Observed two otters going 
 downwards under the ice, and frequently coming 
 upon it through cracks and holes, which they 
 found, (being low-water mark:) I headed them a 
 considerable distance, and then walked upwards, 
 until I met with a hole, near which I sat watching 
 for three hours. They then came through it upon 
 the ice, when I fired upon them with my double- 
 barrel, and knocked them both over; but one got 
 down the hole again, before I could get at him, and 
 made his escape; the other was killed dead. 
 
 Saturday, December 15, 1770. While I was at 
 breakfast, the house was discovered to be in 
 flames. The penthouse, which was constructed
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 55 
 
 over the t'lmiiel of the stove, had taken tire, and 
 communicated it to the roof. Fortmiatelv, how- 
 ever, seven men were at home, by whose assistance 
 it was extinguished; yet not before I had almost 
 despaired of saving the house: for we had much 
 difficulty in access to water; the boy having neg- 
 lected to open the hole through the ice, which I 
 had directed always to ])e kept clear. I then 
 shifted the gunpowder into the store, for fear of 
 a similar accident. 
 
 Charles altered some deathfalls; but the frost 
 was too severe to do much at them. Three of 
 the men were sliglitly frostburnt,* and most of 
 them seared. The pig was so much burnt, that I 
 was forced to kill it; and was obliged to house the 
 fowls, their combs and feet being frozen stiff. 
 
 The day was clear, and calm; and the frost un- 
 commonlv severe: for at eisrht o'clock in the mom- 
 ing the mercury stood at 25° below 0. 
 
 Sunday, Decemhcr 16, 1770. I sent Ned with 
 the Indians, to trv if thev could walk down to Seal 
 Island upon the ice; but thev could not get any 
 lower than Otter Island. On their return, they 
 met with an otter upon the ice in Charles Harbour, 
 and killed him \\iili ilie grey-hound. T made a 
 visit to the Lidiau l.-idics, in tlie morning; and read 
 prayers to my family in tlie afternoon. 
 
 A fortnight ago, T placed a box of earth near the 
 top of the stove, and sowed some seeds in it; there 
 
 • Frofltbumt is a tfrm ii«o<l in this part of tho world, to sifzjiify ♦hnt' 
 tho flf-wh is ,'jmazinirly Mfniiriihfd with cnld, so jls to rondcr it rallmis. 
 It haw not unfrfqiipntiv hap[)fn»'d, that pfople have lost the use of their 
 limbs, by the Beverity of the froHt.
 
 56 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 are now cucumbers, mustard, cresses, and onions 
 coming up. 
 
 A fine day, and at noon the mercury stood at 5°. 
 
 Monday, December 17, 1770. I employed all the 
 men near the house to-day. In the evening the 
 three Indian men came here ; and, from the effects 
 of some liquor, were exceedingly noisy and troub- 
 lesome. I had a sallad at dinner; which I may 
 venture to affirm, was the first ever cut upon this 
 coast in the month of December. 
 
 Continual snow all day. 
 
 Wednes., Decemher 19, 1770. The Indians, hav- 
 ing been to Seal Island with their sled, brought a 
 couple of seals' carcasses for my dogs; some seal- 
 skins; a bottle of seal's oil, and some other things 
 I had left there. 
 
 As the construction of an Esquimaux sled ^ dif- 
 fers so widely, and is, I think, so much superior 
 to all others which have yet come to my knowl- 
 edge; a particular description may not be un- 
 worthy of notice : It is made of two spruce planks, 
 each twenty-one feet long, fourteen inches broad, 
 and two inches thick, which are hcAvn out of sep- 
 arate trees (because they are not acquainted with 
 the use of the pitsaw.) They are placed collater- 
 ally with their upper edges at a distance of about 
 a foot asunder; but the under edges are somewhat 
 more, and secured in that position by a batten, 
 two inches square, which is placed close under the 
 upper edges. The fore ends are sloped off from 
 the bottom upwards, that they may rise over any 
 
 * Komatik. 
 
 t
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 57 
 
 ineqiiaiities upon the road. Boards of eighteen 
 inches long are set across the upper edges of the 
 sled, three inches asunder, to place the goods upon; 
 and to accommodate the driver and others with a 
 seat. The imder edges are shod with the jaw l)one 
 of a whale, ctit into lengths of two or three feet, 
 half an inch thick; and are fastened on with pegs 
 of the same. This shoeing is dural)le, and makes 
 them slide very gliljly. The woodwork is sewed 
 together with split whalebone. A couple of holes 
 are bored through the fore ends of each plank ; in 
 which are inserted the two ends of a strong, short 
 thong, made out of the hide of a sea-cow,' and 
 secured by a knot; and to the middle part of the 
 thong, a separate one is fastened, from each dog. 
 They make use of any num])er of dogs, as occasion 
 may require: and their thongs are of different 
 lengths; always minding that the dog which is 
 best trained, has the longest. The driver sits fore- 
 most of the company, with a very long thonged 
 whip in his hand; but the handle is short in pro- 
 portion to the whip, being, not more than a foot. 
 The motion of the sled is verv easy, and half a 
 dozen people may travel forty miles a day, without 
 diffif'ulty, if they have fourteen or fifteen dogs 
 yoked. 
 
 MoHrJaif, Vfccmhcr 24, 1770. At sun-set the peo- 
 
 ' CartwriRht did not moan tlip mnnator or soa-oow, Mnnntus Inli- 
 ro«<m, which is southpm in il.s distril)ution. Ilf nf<rn-(] to the Atlantic 
 walniH, TrirhrrhiiJi rosmnrus, wliich forinorly p.\t(<n<io<l its ranKf <<> Houthcrn 
 Labrador, and Nova Scotia. It wjls variously known by the early ex- 
 plorers ;ls the sea-cow, .sea-<»x. sea-horse and morse, while Lescarbot say.s 
 that the creatures seen in the Hay of Seven IsiandH were " hippopotami "!
 
 58 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 pie ushered in Christmas, according to the New- 
 foundland custom. In the first place, they built 
 up a prodigious large fire in their house ; all hands 
 then assembled before the door, and one of them 
 fired a gun, loaded with powder only; afterwards 
 each of them drank a dram of rum; concluding the 
 ceremony with three cheers. These formalities 
 being performed with great solemnity, they re- 
 tired into their house, got drunk as fast as they 
 could, and spent the whole night in drinking, quar- 
 relling, and fighting. It is but natural to suppose, 
 that the noise which they made (their house being 
 but six feet from the head of my bed) together 
 with the apprehension of seeing my house in 
 flames, prevented me from once closing my eyes. 
 This is an intolerable custom; but as it has pre- 
 vailed from time immemorial, it must be submitted 
 to. By some accident my thermometer got broke. 
 
 Tuesday, December 25, 1770. The people were 
 all drunk, quarrelling, and fighting all day. It 
 snowed early in the morning, the forenoon was 
 dull, and the rest of the day clear, with hard frost. 
 
 Sunday, December^ 30, 1770. After breakfast I 
 took Ned with me and intended to walk down to 
 Eyre Island; but, near Barred Island, coming 
 upon the fresh slot of fifteen deer, leading towards 
 Punt Pond, we followed them. On one of the small 
 ponds we met with the tracks of four stout wolves,* 
 
 * Gray wolf, called also timber wolf, Cams occidentalis. The resem- 
 blance between the Eskimo dog of the Eastern Labrador coast and this 
 wolf is very striking. '^Hiile the wolf, however, carries its tail out behind, 
 the 'Eskimo dog generally curls it up over its back. The wolf of Europe 
 is by some considered the same as the American gray wolf.
 
 LABRADOR JOURXAL 59 
 
 which had but just passed. When we arrived at 
 Niger Sound we saw the slot of other small com- 
 panies of deer; some of which were gone towards 
 Drifty ^lountains, and the rest upon the cape land. 
 The day being then far spent we hastened to Seal 
 Island, where we arrived at tive in the evening. I 
 had then the pleasure to be informed, that Guy 
 and his people had killed near eight hundred seals, 
 and had got all their nets on shore. On Niger 
 Sound we saw a good silver fox; and I killed a 
 grouse on the cape land with my rifle. 
 
 It was a very fine day, although the frost was 
 severe. 
 
 Sunday, Jamiart/ 6, 1771. My maid-sen^ant and 
 boy not being very well, I took some blood from 
 both of them; and gave the latter two doses of 
 James's powder,' of seven grains each. After 
 breakfast I paid a visit to my neighbours. 
 
 Wednes., January 9,1771. I took Ned with me 
 up the river, where I tailed five snares for rabbits, 
 caught a grouse with a partridge net, and shot a 
 spruce-game with my rifle. A wolf had lately been 
 frequently traversing the river, and lind made 
 himself a very snug kennel upon the bank in the 
 snow, where some long grass grew. Attuiock and 
 Tooklavinia came here this evening, and informed 
 me, that thev had met with a herd of deer to-dav 
 upon Great Caribou: and that Attuiock would 
 have killed one of them, had he not broke liis arrow 
 in drawing his bow so strong, as to catch the i)0\nt 
 
 ' A oelebrated nostnmi of Dr. .Tam«'s, an Knulinli j)liyni(iMn who died 
 in 1770, compoBcd of oxide of antimony and pliospliaf*- of calciuin.
 
 60 CAPTAIN CARTWEIGHT'S 
 
 in the inside of it. The deer then went off for 
 Lyon Neck; and they returned home. They also 
 said, that a wolf had been in one of the lower traps, 
 but had gotten out again. 
 
 Thursday, January 10, 1771. Taking Charles, 
 Ned, Mihnouth, and the greyhound with us, Attui- 
 ock and I went in quest of the deer. Judging that 
 they would be found near Cutter Harbour, we went 
 up the sawyers' path b}^ Watson Pond, and 
 crossed at the foot of Belvoir Hill to the head of 
 Atkinson Pond; but not meeting with their slot 
 there, we walked down the lake to Lyon Neck; 
 where the Indian left us and returned home. Soon 
 after, we came upon the slot of the deer, and fol- 
 lowed them to the top of Lyon Head; at which 
 place, the greyhound was so eager to get loose, 
 that we judged they must have been feeding there 
 very lately: night now overtaking us, we retired 
 a little way under the side of a hill; made a good 
 fire, and, considering the weather was extremely 
 cold, and we lay in the open air, on the Labrador 
 coast, we passed a tolerably comfortable night. 
 
 Friday, January 11, 1771, The frost was so 
 immoderately severe this morning, that we did not 
 leave the fire before the sun was up, we then pro- 
 ceeded along the North East side until we got to 
 the extreme point of the hill, that we might get 
 to leeward of the deer. At nine o'clock we dis- 
 covered them feeding by the side of a bleak hill, 
 not far from where we slept: we approached as 
 near to them as the situation would permit, and 
 there lay watching, in expectation that they would
 
 LABEADOR JOUEXxVL 61 
 
 soon shift their ground; but not tinding them dis- 
 posed to move, and the frost increasing, we at- 
 tempted to gain their right, but they discerned us 
 and gallopped avcay till they came upon the ice 
 in the harbour; where thev lav down, about three 
 hundred yards from the shore. There I flattered 
 myself that the dog would have been a match for 
 one of them, and I divided the people in order 
 to surround the herd, but they were too cmming 
 for us. On their rising, the dog was slipped, when 
 he soon ran in and separated them, but they joined 
 again presently; and there being a])out six inches 
 of light snow upon the ice, with a thin shell, frozen 
 on the top, the dog struck so deep in, and cut his 
 legs so much, that he was at length obliged to de- 
 sist from the pursuit. Never did I see creatures 
 more sensible of the advantage they had, or make 
 better use of it. At first starting they ran up wind, 
 and keeping as close together as possible, they 
 kicked u]i such a shower of frozen snow, that I 
 could scarcely discern the dog when he was near 
 them; and wondered at his resolution in continu- 
 ing the chase. When they came near the shore, 
 they wheeled gently round, well knowing, that they 
 could not run there near so well as on the ice, and 
 might l)e in danger of an ambuscade. As the dog 
 abated of his speed, they diminished iheii's; and 
 when he gave up the pm^suit, they ran no longer, 
 but turned about and looked at liiiii. On (>l)S('rving 
 our attempts to surround them, they trotted away 
 upon the iee towards Great Caribou, passing be- 
 tween Eyre Island and Little rari])ou. This herd
 
 62 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 of deer, eighteen in number, were all hinds and 
 calves; and I believe, that the slot which we saw 
 some time ago, was made by them. 
 
 Great Caribou being a barren island, and hav- 
 ing no shelter near it, we were under the necessity 
 of returning home, though the distance is seven 
 miles: accordingly we made the best of our way, 
 and arrived safe ; but were most completely tired. 
 By the way we had a yellow fox in one of the traps. 
 
 Tuesday, Jmiuary 15, 1771. At day-light this 
 morning, taking Charles, Milmouth, and Haines 
 with me, I set off for Eyre Island. I found my way 
 to the tilt very well; but the men lost themselves 
 for some time. I sent one of the woodmen to Seal 
 Island, and two of them home. The tilt not being 
 finished, we all lay in the woods, where we passed 
 a most uncomfortable night. 
 
 At midnight the frost increased; the wind blew 
 the fire about, and made it smoke most intolerably. 
 The fuel was not of a good kind for burnings and 
 the trees in the wood being small and rather thinly 
 scattered, those parts of us which were not imme- 
 diately next to the fire were ready to freeze: we 
 were therefore obliged to turn ourselves continu- 
 ally; during which time I often wished to be 
 lashed to a spit, and turned like a roasting goose, 
 without the trouble of doing it myself. 
 
 Thursday, January 17, 1771. Early this morn- 
 ing I went to great Caribou, and walked all over 
 that Island; but the deer were gone; and I saw 
 only the tracks of a wolf and some foxes. The 
 tilt was so far finished to-day, that we all lay in
 
 LABRADOR JOURN.VL (53 
 
 it, and 1 got a most luxurious night's sleep. The 
 Indians eanie here in their way to JSeal island, and 
 remained with us all night. 
 
 Sunday, Januanj 20, 1771. At noon our sealers 
 and all the peoi)le went olt' for Seal Island, and I 
 aeconipanied them as far as South Head: from 
 whenee I took a circuit over the Barrens and then 
 returned home, having three of my toes frostburnt 
 a little. As they were not ver}^ bad, the innnedi- 
 ate application of snow only soon revived them. 
 All my peoi^le returned from the tilt in the evening. 
 
 Mo)iday, January 28, 1771. In the evening Guy 
 arrived here, and informed me, that on Friday last, 
 he should have accompanied ^Ir. Jones from Cha- 
 teau to Seal Island, in his way to this place; (in 
 order to render that assistance to my maid-serv- 
 ant, Nanny, which she will soon stand in need of) 
 but, as it was not convenient to him, ^Ir. Jones 
 came off by himself: he added, that he had crossed 
 the track of a man yesterday upon Niger Sounds 
 who had gone down towards the sea. On hearing 
 this account I w^as much alarmed; for, as ^Ir. 
 Jones had not arrived at the island, I concluded 
 that he must have lost his way, or some other mis- 
 fortune befallen him. 
 
 The Indians returned, and ])rought me three 
 round harps. 
 
 Tuesday, January 2.0, 1771. At day-l)reak this 
 morning, T sent off two men across the country to 
 Chateau, to enquire if Mr. .Tones hnfl i-etui'ned ]);i<'k 
 again; T also sent anothci- ui.nt \v iHi Cny to Niger 
 Sound, to follow the track which lie had observed
 
 64 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 there. In the evening, two of the sealers arrived 
 with a letter from Guy, informing me, that on Pmit 
 Pond he had met with the footsteps of a man 
 (crossing into the track made by me and one of 
 Guy's men, on Friday last) who had followed us 
 to the end of the pond, and there broken a few 
 boughs, upon which he supposed he had lain dur- 
 ing the night, and gone forward again on Saturday 
 morning. He pursued the track to the mouth of 
 Niger Sound, and upon the North end of Romid 
 Island he found the unfortunate Mr. Jones frozen 
 to death, with his faithful Newfoundland bitch by 
 his side! He gave the poor creature what bread 
 he had about him, but could not prevail on her to 
 leave her master. He had been so imprudent as 
 to leave Chateau, not only by himself, but also, 
 without either a hatchet, provisions, tinder, or 
 matches. It was evening, I suppose, when he met 
 with my track, and he certainly did not know 
 where he was; for had he taken it the other way, 
 he might have reached my house in about an hour's 
 good walking. The loss of this young man is the 
 more to be regretted, as he was of a very amiable 
 disposition, and likely to prove an ornament to 
 his profession. 
 
 Thursday, January 31, 1771. The Chateau men 
 went off for Seal Island early this morning ; from 
 which place my man returned today, accompanied 
 by those whom I sent from Chateau ; also another 
 party from the same place, joined them upon the 
 road. These people brought me what things they 
 found in Mr. Jones's pockets, and informed me 
 
 i
 
 LABRADOR JOURX.AL 65 
 
 tliat tiiey had cuveied tiie corpse wiili snow and 
 boughs of trees; but could not prevail on the bitch 
 to leave her deceased master, i went down to mv 
 traps, where I met with the fresh slot of live deer 
 upon the river, and followed them over South 
 Head; but on observing that one of the Indians 
 had pursued them, I turned l)ack. 
 
 Thursday^ Fchniary 7, 1771. I employed myself 
 most i)arl of this day in making a pair of scales 
 and weiglits; that I may have the advantage of 
 proportioning my medicines with more accuracy. 
 
 Satiirdaij, Fehruanj 9, 1771. The sawyers en- 
 gaged in felling and bringing home firewood. I 
 had the fat of two seals melted, and it produced 
 fourteen gallons of oil. I was nmch indisposed 
 this morning, and have been so for some time past. 
 My ]ndse is quick and low, particularly after 
 meals; I am subject to profuse sweating, and con- 
 sequent weakness. I attempted to bleed myself, 
 but was so very aw^kward, that, after making six 
 incisions, I could not get more than four ounces 
 of Idood. However, I was much Ijetter in a few 
 hours. 
 
 Tuefidaij, Fchruarjf 12, 1771. At six o'clock this 
 evening, my niMid was taken in l;il>i>nr: and foi" 
 want of l)etter assistance. I was obliucd lo officiate 
 as midwife myself. Slie li.-id w sexcre time; h\\\ 
 at half after eleven T delivfM'ed licr of a stout ])oy: 
 and she did nie the lioiioi' t«> s;iy, lli;i1, nlthough 
 she had been under the li.inds <d' tliree male, and 
 two female practitioners, before she left England, 
 she never met with a ]»erson who ix'rformed his
 
 66 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 part better. Fortunately for her, Brooke's Prac- 
 tice of Physic, which was found in Mr. Jones's 
 pocket, gave me some idea of an art, which never 
 till then did I expect to be called upon to practise. 
 Having taken proper care of the mother, I was 
 obliged next to act as nurse, and take the child 
 to bed with me; neither of which offices do I wish 
 ever to resume. 
 
 Sunday, February 17, 1771. I finished the last 
 of my venison this day; and it had kept perfectly 
 good. From the three deer, the few large fish 
 which were caught in November last; and the 
 beavers, foxes, otters, martens, grouse, and other 
 animals, which we killed in the course of the win- 
 ter; I had fresh meat for dinner almost every day, 
 and a sufficient variety. The otters are hard and 
 strong eating, but the martens are nearly as good 
 as rabbits; and the foxes are not despicable food: 
 yet they taste best when boiled and served ]^p with 
 caper sauce. 
 
 Monday, February 18, 1771. The woodmen were 
 employed in new-casting, and ganging fishing 
 leads. Haines being indisposed to-da}^, and find- 
 ing that he had feverish symptoms, I took twelve 
 ounces of blood from him in the morning, and gave 
 him an emetic in the evening. I found myself bet- 
 ter than usual, and Nanny is so well, that she sat 
 up some hours, although it was contrary to my 
 professional advice. I have not been able to keep 
 a fire in the dining-room these two days, on ac- 
 count of the smoke. Snow with thaw. 
 
 Tuesday, February 26, 1771. The sawyers at
 
 LABRADOR JOFRXAL 67 
 
 Work. Charles and llaiiies walked tlieir paths, but 
 got uothiiig. 1 looked at iii\ traps down the river, 
 and then proceeded to Ln'ou Head, where I visited 
 mv Indian ' friends in tlieir snowhouse; with 
 which I was greatly pleased. This curious habita- 
 tion was hollowed out of a drift bank t)f snow, in 
 form of an oven; the length is about twelve feet, 
 the width ten, and the height seven. Across the 
 farther end was raised a platform of snow. On 
 this were laid some boards, Avhere the whole fam- 
 ily slept u])on bedding, composed of a consider- 
 able numl)er ol' deerskins; which are both soft 
 and warm. There was a curious window in the 
 roof, fronting the bed; which was nearly three feet 
 square, and made of a piece of transparent ice, 
 sha^'ed to a proper substance. It admitted a per- 
 fectly good light, and was secured in its 2:)lace by 
 strewing the edges with snow, and sprinkling that 
 snow with watei-. On each side was a small ]^ed- 
 estal of snow, f(n' the su])])ort of a couple of lamps, 
 which gave a sufficient light by night, and added 
 so much heat to that occasioned by the breath of 
 the Indians, as to make the liouse entirely wai'm: I 
 was even oldiged to o})en my waistcoat for a wliilc 
 This heat also tha\ved the roof and sides suffi- 
 ciently to enable the external frost, and naiui-al 
 coldness of the snow, 1o form iiunnn(M'able small 
 icicles. These diffei'cnt concretions fi'om I lie i*(>- 
 flection of the lam])S made the apartment glitter 
 with the ap})earance of radiant diamonds, or lunn"- 
 
 ' EHkimo. It iiniHt bf> rompmborotl th.'it Cartwriftht frecjucntly usch 
 the word Iiifiiaii for Ewkiuiu.
 
 68 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 nous crystalizations. The lamps were formed of 
 stone, wliicli they contrive to hollow out properly 
 for this purpose; and the wicks, (for each had 
 several laid in. a row on the edge of the lamp) 
 were bits of a particular kind of moss, well dried. 
 Having first poured some oil into the lamp, they 
 then spit a number of small pieces of fat upon a 
 stick, and place them horizontally, at such a dis- 
 tance behind the wicks, that their heat melts the 
 fat, equal to the consumjDtion of oil. The entrance 
 was two feet square, and the upper part of it re- 
 clined outwards, making a considerable angle, and 
 was near the central part of the front of the apart- 
 ment. The door was a block of thick ice, which 
 they laid upon the inside of that aperture. From 
 the door was a descent of four steps into a porch, 
 which was sixteen feet long, four feet wide at the 
 bottom next the house, but narrowed towards the 
 outer end till it was but just sufficient for them 
 to enter at, where it was quite open. It was built 
 of large, oblong blocks of snow laid one upon an- 
 other, and meeting at the top, which was ten feet 
 high. By the entrance of the house projecting for- 
 ward into the porch, and the steps before it, any 
 person might walk in without stooping. 
 
 Adjoining to the entrance of the porch was a 
 detached kitchen, formed with blocks of snow, 
 and shaped like a glass-house; but not more 
 than ten feet high, and five in diameter. A 
 stick was laid across it to hang the pot upon, 
 which was boiled by the blaze of a few small 
 sticks.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 69 
 
 After speudiiig an agreeable hour with the In- 
 dians, I returned to tlie tilt on Eyre Island; but 
 was disappointed in linding nobody there: all the 
 firewood was nearly burnt up; and I was too lazy 
 to cut any more myself. Tlie weather being- ex- 
 ceedingly cold, and neither of the men returning, 
 I passed an uncomfortable, solitary night. The 
 wind forced so much drift in between the boards, 
 that my bed, and the whole floor of the tilt, were 
 soon coyered a foot deep with snow. 
 
 A yery fine day, l)ut an extremely bad night. 
 
 JVednes., Fchniarii 27, 1771. At one o'clock 
 this afternoon, Ned and ^lilmouth returned from 
 Seal Island, where they lay last night. They in- 
 formed me, that the ice w^as driyen off shore, to 
 the distance of some miles; and that a boat ar- 
 riyed last night from Chateau, with some people 
 belonging to Messrs. Noble and Pinson of Dart- 
 mouth, who carry on their business in Temple 
 Bay. In the eyening one of my people came from 
 the Lodge, and Ijrought me a letter h'om Mr. Ged, 
 who relieyed Lieutenant Dayyes in the command 
 of York Fort. 
 
 Hard frost with low^ drift. 
 
 Thursday, March 7, 1771. Nanny was so Ijad 
 to-day, that I was greatly alaniied. Tier face was 
 intensely red, her eyes had a fiery briglitness, and 
 she had such a quick succession of fainting-tits, 
 that each was of longer dui'ation lliaii the interyal 
 which preceded. Being destitule of eyery medi- 
 cine which Dr. l^rookes pi-escrib<'s in siicli cases, 
 I was entirely at a loss what to give lici-; but as
 
 70 CAPTAIN CART WEIGHT'S 
 
 I judged, that Indian tea ^ was of the same nature 
 with the herbs which are recommended by that 
 author, I had some gathered from under the snow 
 in the woods, and gave Iier a pint of the strong 
 infusion of that plant sweetened with sugar; re- 
 peating the same three hours after. In a short 
 time, I had the pleasure to find her complaints 
 removed, and the unfavorable symptoms disap- 
 pear. I visited my traps, and shifted them both. 
 Charles, Haines, and Milmouth, went to Island 
 Lake, and brought home three spruce-game, and 
 the old beaver, whose foot they took off the 25th 
 of last month. At night the Indians brought two 
 seals and a pair of ducks. 
 
 Sunday J March 10, 1771. The Indians went to 
 the tilt, and returned in the evening accomj)anied 
 by Ned, with a good silver-fox, and most of the 
 things which were there. I read prayers to my 
 family, and churched Nanny, who is now, thank 
 God, perfectly recovered; an event which I have 
 reason to believe, was effected by the Indian tea. 
 
 Monday, March 11, 1771. I set off at seven 
 o'clock this morning, attended by Ned, Attuiock, 
 and Tooklavinia, for Chateau. We went down 
 Charles Eiver to the mouth of Punt Brook, and 
 crossed the Isthmus to Niger Sound; which we 
 continued till we were opposite to Niger Island. 
 We landed on the South side, and advanced across 
 
 * I believe that our author refers to Labrador tea, Ledum grcenlandi- 
 cum and L. palustre. This being; evergreen rould be gathered from under 
 the snow, and its medicinal value for various affections was formerly 
 highly esteemed.
 
 
 
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 LABRADOR JOURNAL 71 
 
 the eouutrv tu the head of St. Peter's Bav, and 
 afterwards to York Fort; where we arrived at 
 ti\e o'clock ill the afternoon. The distance I 
 judge to be near thirty miles, for the snow was 
 unconnnonly tirm, and we walked with a very 
 quick pace. On St. Peter's Bay we met with an 
 otter, but he got through a hole in the ice; we 
 also observed the tracks of some wolves there. 
 The sky was perfectly clear all day, and as there 
 was only a gentle wind, w^e suffered from heat and 
 thirst. Inmiediately on my arrival at home, I 
 felt much pain in my eyes;' (with a sensation like 
 that of having dust in them) which continued all 
 niij^ht. It was caused bv the reflection of the sun 
 upon the surface of the snow, that had been 
 thawed and frozen again. 
 
 Three large stags were seen upon Temple Bay 
 this morning, coming from the Westward; but 
 the Imrking of the dogs at the fort, turned them 
 back. 
 
 Tuesdaij, Marel) 12, 1771. The pain in my eyes 
 nuich increased, and I felt very stiff from yester- 
 day's walk. 
 
 Fine weather. 
 
 Wedues., March 13, 1771. At four o'clock this 
 iiioj'uing I awoke with extreme pain in my eyes, 
 i\\u\ was entirely unable to open them; wliich is 
 ;i (•(»in])lnint that is called in this \)[\y\ of the world, 
 sii(>ir-hJi}i(l. Upo]i forcing my eyes o])en with my 
 fingers, the sensation wns exquisite, attended 
 wiHi n plentiful dischai'gc of shai'p water; which 
 brought on a quick succession of severe spasms.
 
 72 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 Tlie effects were exactly the same as would be 
 produced by a person having his eyes filled with 
 the most pungent snuff'. As soon as I got up, I 
 held them over the steam of hot water, and by 
 repeatedly doing the same in the course of the 
 day, and keeping them well defended from the 
 light with handkerchiefs bound over them, the 
 pain was greatly diminished at night, when I ap- 
 plied a poultice of boiled bread and oil. 
 
 Friday, March 15, 1771. My eyes were so much 
 better, that I could keep them' open all day, and 
 even bear to go to the door for a few minutes at 
 a time. A white-bear was seen in Temple Tickle. 
 The deer-hunters returned this evening, and had 
 seen near forty head; but could not get within 
 shot of them. All the ground which lies along the 
 shore of the straits of Belle Isle is generally much 
 frequented by deer during the Winter, but partic- 
 ularly so at this time of the year; and they con- 
 tinue there till the end of April, or later. 
 
 Thursday, March 21, 1771. Rising at day-light 
 this morning, I prepared for my departure, but 
 a white-bear being discovered upon the ice, com- 
 ing towards the fort from Henly Island, we all 
 ran out to attack him. The people made so much 
 noise, that he turned back, took the water, and 
 swam across to Wliale Gut, where he landed and 
 went into the country. A party of the marines 
 pursued, but could not overtake him. These ani- 
 mals travel at a much greater rate than is gen- 
 erally supposed; for they take very long steps. 
 
 Friday, March 22, 1771, At eight o'clock this
 
 LABRADOR JOURN.VL 73 
 
 morning, leaving Ned behind nie, who is yet too 
 weak to travel, and borrowing a marine of Mr. 
 Ged, 1 set oft' on my return home. We kept along 
 the low land till we came near St. Peter's Bay, 
 then turned up the hills and ascended St. Peter's 
 Head; which is bald on the top, and the highest 
 mountain in this neighborhood. We had a com- 
 manding view of the country, and I could plainly 
 discern Prospect Hill. We descended on the 
 North side of the head, where we found thick 
 woods, in which the snow was very deep and light. 
 Here we met with the recent marks of porcupines ; 
 and I killed a spruce-game Avith my rifle: ])ut my 
 eye not being clear enough to attem]^t beheading 
 the bird, as I usually do, I fired at the body, and 
 the ball knocked him entirely to pieces. After- 
 w^ards we made a straight course to Ranger Lodge, 
 but did not arrive there till seven o'clock in the 
 evening. At the head of Fox Pond we crossed the 
 fresh track of a white-bear, but I had not the least 
 inclination to follow him. Since my departure, 
 Charles had brought in two martens; the furriers 
 one, and a wolvering; ^ one trap was lost, and they 
 found a foxhound dead in another, in which he 
 had the misfortune to be caught. 
 
 A delightful mild day. 
 
 Sunday, Ajtril 7, 1771. Eai'ly in llie morning 
 I put my provisions, bedding, nnd othei" l)aggage 
 on tlie Indian sled; my gun and I'ackels ui)on my 
 own, drawn ])y thi'ce flogs, and set off witli Haines 
 for the tilt; wliidi willi nnu-li (lirfi<'ul1y we found. 
 
 • Wolverine, also culled Glutton or Indian devil, Gulo luscua.
 
 74 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 Monday, April 8, 1771. At ten o'clock Mil- 
 mouth came from the Lodge to remain with me. 
 Soon afterwards two of the sealers called to in- 
 form me that they had killed a wolf at the East 
 end of this island, which had got into one of their 
 traps upon White-Fox Island this morning. He 
 travelled at such a rate with the trap upon one 
 of his fore feet, that they had much difficulty to 
 overtake him, though assisted by a couple of stout 
 Newfoundland dogs; for the wolf so intimidated 
 the dogs, by frequently snapping at them as he 
 ran, that they were afraid to attack him. I went 
 with them to take a view of the beast, and a large 
 old dog he was, but very poor; for he had been 
 impelled by hunger to haunt about the sealers' 
 house for some time past, to eat the seals' bones 
 which had been left half picked by their dogs. 
 Milmouth and I were employed all the rest of the 
 day in cutting boughs to sewel the harbour, in 
 order to cause the deer to come close to a point 
 of Eyre Island, where I intend to watch for them. 
 
 It snowed hard all last night, and drifted the 
 whole of this day. 
 
 Tuesday, April 9, 1771. A man came from Seal 
 Island and brought me a forequarter of the wolf, 
 a piece of which was roasted for dinner, but it 
 proved so hard, dry, tough, and rank, that I could 
 swallow but one mouthful. As I was, however, 
 determined to get the better of my squeamish 
 stomach, I set the remainder by for supper, but 
 my success was not then much greater. At one 
 o'clock I joined Haines, and we made a shooting-
 
 LABRADOR JOURN^y;. 75 
 
 stand of suow at llie iSoutli West point of tins 
 island. >> 
 
 Sandal/, April 14, 1771. A man came here from 
 Seal Island, who informed me that another wolf 
 had carried oft' one of their traps last week; and, 
 that in his way to this place, he had killed. an otter 
 upon the ice. The Indians having caught six 
 seals, they brought them to the Lodge this eve- 
 ning, as a fresh supply of provisions for the dogs. 
 Whether my appetite or the taste of the wolf be 
 better, I cannot tell; but I can now make a tol- 
 erable good meal of him. 
 
 Monday, April 15, 1771. Tlie evening being 
 clear, I walked to the top of the highest hill upon 
 this island, and had an extensive view out to sea; 
 but could not discern a drop of fresh water. I 
 finished mj^ quarter of wolf to-day, and I believe, 
 that my stomach will not refuse such food again, 
 during my residence in this country. 
 
 Sunday, Ajjril 21, 1771. Attuiock and his fa- 
 vourite wife came here, and brought Haines home. 
 Upon an examination of my provisions, I found 
 no more left than will be sufficient for five weeks. 
 Various complaints w^ere made to me against the 
 sawyers; and, upon a full investigation of the 
 circumstances, I found them all to be rascals. 
 
 Monday, April 22, 1771. After breakfast the 
 Indians set me down at the tilt, and then returned 
 home. In the afternoon T walked to the top of 
 the highcsl hill, and ^'ould jjoi-ccive all the land 
 ;irniiii(l still covered with snow, and nothing but 
 tinn ice to be disc'crned out at sea, as Cai' as the
 
 76 CAPTAIN CAETWRIGHT'S 
 
 eye could reach: which, I suppose, cannot be less 
 than fifty leagues from the land. 
 
 Satiirdaij, April 27, 1771. The ice being driven 
 to a distance from the shore, some of the people 
 went with me this morning to the outer point of 
 Indian Island, in expectation of shooting some 
 ducks; but, although many thousands flew to the 
 Northward, they all kept too far off. 
 
 Sunday, May 5, 1771. Etuiock came here early 
 this morning with their sled; and taking Charles, 
 Bettres (the boy) and Williams with me, we went 
 to Seal Island. At noon we set out for Chateau 
 in a skiff, taking also a couple of the sealers. We 
 had clear water till we passed Camp Islands; but 
 on observing a jamb of ice which extended from 
 Table Point towards Belle Isle, we endeavored 
 to go on the outside of it. In this attempt we got 
 so far out to sea, (and such abundance of ice at 
 the same time came after us from the North East) 
 that it was with great difficulty we regained the 
 shore at Birchy Cascade: we hauled our skiff up 
 and spent the night by a good fire in the woods. 
 
 Monday, May 6, 1771. Early in the morning we 
 launched the boat, and rowed along shore to Foul- 
 weather Broke, but could get no farther; the ice 
 being firmly jammed quite across, from Table 
 Point to Belle Isle. There we hauled up the boat 
 and I walked upon the point where I met with 
 eight deer, and shot one of them through the 
 haunches, at a considerable distance, but did not 
 kill him; I then pursued him a long way without 
 success. The rest of the people went round the
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 77 
 
 shore to the Head of St. Peter's Bay, but killed 
 nothing. We suffered greatly all night from cold, 
 for the woods were thin, cliiefly old bireh,^ the 
 snow was very deep, and we could scarce keep our 
 fire alight, the fuel being full of sap. 
 
 Tuesday, May 7, 1771. At day-light this morn- 
 ing, finding the ice was driven back to the North- 
 ward, I ordered the boat round the Point, alid 
 walked across to Conden Tickle; where I found 
 fourteen deer feeding upon wild rye ^ which ap- 
 peared through the snow. Unfortunately they 
 got sight of me at the same time, and went off, 
 when I fired at above two hundred yards distance, 
 without effect. The boat meeting me there, we 
 made the best of our wav to Chateau, and arrived 
 in Henlev Tickle at four in the afternoon, where 
 I shot four ducks and then went to York Fort. 
 
 Friday, Maij 10, 1771. Early in the morning, 
 leaving Charles to follow with the sealers, and 
 taking Bettres with me, I went to the Table Land 
 in a boat belonging to the garrison, and sent it 
 back immediately on my arrival. In my way 
 hither I measured the flight of the eider ducks bv 
 the following method: viz. on arriving off Duck 
 Island, six miles distant from Henley Tickle, I 
 caused the people to lie on their oai's; and when 
 I saw the flash of the guns, which wen* fii-ed at a 
 flock of ducks as they passed through, I observed 
 by my watch how long they were in flying abreast 
 
 ' Papor or Canoo Mnli, lirluln AUm. Tim dwarf birch, B. glandulosa 
 var. rntunrlifolia, is alno (■oniiiioii in lyahradnr. 
 ' Elyrnua arcnariua.
 
 78 CAPTAIN CAET WRIGHT'S 
 
 of us. The result of above a dozen observations, 
 ascertained the rate to be ninety miles an hour. 
 After making a tilt with some seal skins which 
 I borrowed at Chateau, I took a walk across the 
 point, and got shots at a good fox and a black 
 duck, with my ritie; also saw a deer, but night 
 came on before I could get up to it. It was nine 
 o'clock when I returned to the tilt very hungry; 
 having eaten nothing since six in the morning: 
 but, instead of dinner being ready, the boy had 
 not been able to light a fire; therefore I was 
 obliged to do that business myself; I soon effected 
 it, and broiled some ducks for our suppers. In my 
 way hither I killed one duck out of the boat, and 
 brought some others along with me. 
 
 Sunday, May 12, 1771. Early in the morning 
 Etuiock and the Indians came to the tilt, and con- 
 ducted me and my baggage home on their sled. 
 We found the bay broken up in the middle, as 
 high as the South head of White-Bear Sound, 
 where we inadvertently got upon loose pans of ice, 
 and were in danger of being driven out to sea; but 
 by the activity of the dogs, we escaped the danger. 
 From Seal Island to Otter Island the ice was very 
 rotten, and knee deep in water. On my arrival 
 at home I was informed that one of my people 
 had killed a deer last week. 
 
 Monday, May 13, 1771. I had the skiff caulked 
 and payed; the boards piled; the foundation for 
 the salmon-house cleared; and other things done. 
 Charles began to dig the garden, Ned took up 
 some seweling, and was at work down the river
 
 LABRADOR eJOURNAL 79 
 
 all day. in the evening the river broke up as far 
 as Rabbit Island; having been entirely frozen 
 twenty-seven weeks and three days. 
 
 A very warm day. 
 
 Tuesday, Maij 21, 1771. The first green leaf ap- 
 peared to-day, which was a currant.^ 
 
 Monday, May 27, 1771. I killed a gull" with 
 my little rifle, and caught five large trouts with 
 baits. Milmouth returned at night, and brought 
 a goose. Charles was at work in the lower garden. 
 
 Wednes., May 29, 1771. At day-light I sent 
 most of the peojole down to the shallop, and went 
 myself with two hands into St. Lewis's Bay. We 
 tailed one trap for an otter in Cutter Harbour; 
 then Avent into Mary Harbour, where we tailed 
 two more. At the head of this place we found a 
 very fine salmon river, which precipitates over 
 a flat rock, extending across the mouth of it, and 
 forms a most beautiful cascade. Near this spot 
 was a mountaineer whigwham of last year, on 
 which we spread our sails, and slept in it. I killed 
 a seal and a spruce-game with my rifle, but lost 
 the former. 
 
 It snowed and hailed all day and night. 
 
 Fridaj/, May 31, 1771. Wo ]ii"oceede(l lo "Ryre 
 Island, where we found a duck in a trap: l)('ing 
 caught there by a hard squall of wind, we were 
 
 • Rihes Iriste or R. prostrahim. On May 24, 1000, at EBquimaux Point, 
 I found the currants just boKiniiinK to opon thoir l(>af-bu(lH. 
 
 * The most common larijc jrull on the l>abr;ifl()r coa-st is the herring? 
 gull, Imtiik ar(icTtlahis. Tlie preat blafk-l jacked null, L. marinus and the 
 glaucous KuU or biirKoniasfer, />. hyptrhorruH, are ulso conmion. The 
 kittiwakc, Rinm trvl(u-tijla, is an abundant Bmall gull.
 
 80 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 obliged to run tlirougii Raft Tickle into a cove, 
 where we hauled up our boat; killed a pair of 
 eider ducks, and winged a black-duck, but lost it. 
 In the evening the squall abating, we set off, and 
 got home by ten at night; in the way I killed a 
 seal with goose shot, but it sunk. Ned and Haines 
 were come from Chateau, but had brought only 
 twelve ducks. They had begun to build the 
 salmoii-house. Attuiock sent me a present of his 
 old kyack. Clear weather. 
 
 Saturday^ Jiuie 1, 1771. I turned the people 
 out at four o'clock, and finding that the work at the 
 salmonhouse was not well executed, I made them 
 pull it down and begin afresh. The boatsmaster 
 came up and informed me, that he had brought 
 the shallop into the river. Milmouth and Bettres 
 went to Eyre Island with traps ; where they killed 
 a duck and a tinker,^ and gathered thirty-three 
 eggs. Two of the Indians came up, and brought 
 me a duck and a few eggs. The instant I got home 
 I sat down to write letters to Fogo and England, 
 and continued at that work all day. 
 
 Sunday, June 2, 1771. I continued writing all 
 the last night, and until noon to-day; when, hav- 
 ing finished, the shallop immediately sailed for 
 Fogo. I went to bed at half after two in the after- 
 noon, not a little fatigued. 
 
 Mo7iday, June 3, 1771. At four o'clock all 
 hands were at work on the salmonhouse, except 
 two; at the same time I sent down the river for 
 the skiff and punt, which were left in Furriers 
 
 ^ Still called " tinker," the razor-billed auk, Alca torda.
 
 LxVBRADOK JOURNAL 81 
 
 Cove: they returned at eight, when Mihiiouth 
 went to Niger Sound, shifted the trap, and killed 
 a shell-bird and a bottle-nosed diver/ 
 
 Thursday, June 6, 1771. At day-Hght I began 
 to prepare for a cruise; and at seven o'clock, 
 taking Charles and Bettres with me, I sailed for 
 St. Lewis's Bay: we had three otters in the traps, 
 tailed three more, shot three ducks, and gathered 
 seventeen eggs. We passed the night in Mary 
 Harbour. 
 
 Friday, J une 7, 1771. At noon w^e sailed up the 
 bay, got to the head of it at night, and there found 
 a large river, with plenty of good timber on the 
 north side of it. We landed at the mouth of a 
 small brook, where there were some old Nescau- 
 pick whigwhams, and erected a tilt for ourselves; 
 but had not a very pleasant night, as it snowed 
 hard the whole time. I named the river, the Col- 
 leroon; from a large river in the East Lidies of 
 the same apjoellation. 
 
 Saturday, J tine 8, 1771. We spent the morning 
 in taking off some rinds to cover our tilt, and in 
 skinning the otters. Li the afternoon we went 
 about two miles higher up the river, which ap- 
 peared very likely to produce plenty of salmon, 
 but difficult and expensive to fish; being In-oad, 
 shoal, and rapid. On examination of the timber 
 we found a great number of white spruce trees, 
 which were tall, clear, and straight; fi-om six, to 
 
 ' Surf Bcoter or Rkunk-head cool, Oidcniin jHr^picilUiln. 'Ilic white- 
 winj^ed scoter, 0. der/Inn/li wa« and ia still known on the Labrador coast 
 ua the " brass-wing diver."
 
 82 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 nine feet in circumference. We killed a spruce- 
 game, and returned to the tilt in the evening. 
 
 Sunday, June 9, 1771. At ten o'clock this morn- 
 ing we set out homewards. About two miles 
 lower, we met with a small river on the* South 
 West side of the bav. I named it the Alexander; 
 abundance of that plant ^ growing on its banks. 
 
 A warm day, but froze sharp in the night. 
 
 Monday, June 10, 1771. We made sail down the 
 bay at five this morning. On the South shore 
 were several groves of good birch, fit for hoop- 
 poles; plenty of trees proper for rinding; and 
 many spots of good grass fit for hay. I killed a 
 goose and wounded two more. We visited the 
 traps in Mary Harbour, and had an otter. We 
 then went to Hutton Island, where I killed five 
 ducks and a shell-bird; we also gathered twenty- 
 nine eggs, and fomid a goose-nest with seven. 
 At half past seven we left that place, and, with 
 the help of our sails and oars, reached home at 
 midnight, very well pleased with the discoveries 
 which had been made: for, beside the above-men- 
 tioned advantages, there are many good rubbing 
 places, and the country seems likely for martens; 
 but not so for beavers. We saw but few signs of 
 deer or black-bears; nor were there many ves- 
 
 ^ Cartwright frequently speaks of " alexander " by which he un- 
 doubtedly means the cow-parsnip, Herocleum lanaium, belonging to the 
 carrot family, Umbellifereae. This plant resembles superficially the 
 English Smyrnium olusatrum or alexander, with which Cartwright was 
 doubtless familiar. This was used as a pot herb in England just as H. 
 lanaium was used in Labrador by the Indians. I found the cow-parsnip 
 very common at Cape Cliarles and in the Mary Harbour region.
 
 Icebergs on the Labrador Coast 
 
 I 
 
 At the Mouth of Mar3' Harbour
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 83 
 
 tiges of Indians, and those we found were old. 
 The length of the bay, from Lion Head to the river 
 mouth, is about seven leagues. I was writing 
 letters all the remainder of the night. 
 
 Tlinrsdcuj, June 20, 1771. I was making flies 
 and a fishing-line till dinner; after which I went 
 in the punt up the stream, and killed one slink and 
 a brace of trout. Charles took up the sewels in 
 Sewel Cove. The skiff came up at night with two 
 of Guy's crew, who brought me a confused ac- 
 count of a rupture with Spain, which they had 
 heard of from some people of Chateau, that had 
 arrived at Seal Island this day: that a vessel be- 
 longing to Noble and Pinson had arrived at Cha- 
 teau; that the codfish were on the coast, and that 
 they had caught a quintal ^ this morning with a 
 few trouts, which I sent them yesterday. 
 
 Bright sun, and very hot weather. 
 
 Friday, June 21, 1771. My maid, through care- 
 lessness in heating the oven, set the hill on fire, 
 but by timely assistance, it was extinguished; 
 otherwise, the buildings; and the whole country 
 round, would soon have been in flames. Had 
 twenty-seven slinks in the net. 
 
 A very hot day, and the moschettos bit for the 
 first time tliis year. 
 
 Wednes., June 26, 1771. In the afternoon John 
 Tilsed came, and brought intelligence of his re- 
 turn with the shallop from Fogo; from whence 
 he had l)r<)Ught ])i\ck aiiothci- fisliorman and a 
 coopei'. Slic was laden with ciiipty hogsheads, 
 
 'A weif^ht of 112 poundfl.
 
 84 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 (for the seals' oil,) and a fresh supply of provi- 
 sions. He delivered to me some letters from Eng- 
 land and Fogo. From the former place I received 
 the very afflicting information of the death of my 
 good friend Lord Granby; and from the latter I 
 was informed of the loss of my partner lieutenant 
 Lucas, who was supposed to have foundered at 
 sea, in our schooner Enterprise, on his passage 
 from Fogo to Oporto; for which place he sailed 
 the latter end of October last, with a cargo of dry 
 fish on freight. They also advised me, that our 
 schooner Nimrod was to be consigned to me with 
 a cargo of supplies from England ; and that a shal- 
 lop, intended as a present to Attuiock, was to be 
 immediately sent to me from Fogo. Tilsed and 
 his crew returned to Stage Cove at night to assist 
 in carrying on the work there. 
 
 A very hot day. 
 
 Tuesday^ July 2, 1771. At five o'clock this 
 morning, taking a couple of men with me in the 
 wherry, I went to Seal Island; where Hezekiah 
 Guy and company delivered to me two thousand 
 seven hundred and five gallons of seals' oil; thirty- 
 two fox, and four otter skins; one wolf and one 
 deer skin, with two bags of feathers; being part 
 of their winter's * voyage. I then made a visit 
 to the Indians who are encamped on Cape Island; 
 and my old friend Attuiock made me a present of 
 a beautiful ranger ^ skin. 
 
 * A term used in this country, to express the whole of what any set 
 of men make, catch, or procure, in the course of a winter, or summer. 
 ^ Harbour seal, Phoca vitulina (xmcolor.
 
 LABRxVDOR JOURNAL 85 
 
 I was greatly pleased with their method of 
 ciiriug eodhsh without salt; which, m that state, 
 they call pipsliij. The fish is split down the back, 
 the bone taken out, and the thick parts scored 
 down to the skin, an inch asunder; two of them 
 are then fastened together by theii' tails, and hung 
 across a pole to dry in the open air. This method 
 of curing fish or flesh, we call jerking. It is an 
 excellent wav, and anvthinoj which is so cured, 
 will keep perfectly sweet and good, for a great 
 length of time, provided no wet or damp affect it; 
 but it requires to be well soaked before it be 
 dressed. 
 
 Thiirsdaij, July 4, 1771. Attuiock and Tookla- 
 vinia came up in their kyacks, accompanied by 
 five other Esquimaux, who had arrived at Cape 
 Charles this morning with their families. They 
 supped with me, and afterwards smoked a few 
 whiffs of tobacco and drank a little callibogus; 
 but they seemed to prefer sugar and water. 
 
 Friday, July 5, 1771. It was astonishing to see 
 what a quantity of hot cake and coffee my seven 
 uncouth friends swallowed for breakfast this 
 morning. After their repast, I went with them 
 to the Cape on a visit to their wives, and was 
 rowed thither in the wherry by Charles and one 
 of the Indians. Tlie other six attended in their 
 kyacks, and threw their different kinds of darts 
 as they went along; an art at which they are 
 amazingly dexterous. T shot a seal with my 
 TT;iiio\-cri;m riflo but he sunk. 
 
 AiTi\ing at Cape Island, close adjoining At-
 
 86 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 tuiock's tent, I found several others, each of which 
 was inhabited by a numerous family attended by 
 dogs. There seemed to be no distinction between 
 these people and their faithful attendants; for 
 they all lived together in common, much in the 
 same way as I have already described in the 
 former part of my journal. The ground within 
 and about the tents was covered with codfish, 
 seals, ducks and eggs: of which the Indians or 
 their dogs made a repast at pleasure, without cere- 
 mony. They had lately killed an old white-bear, 
 and every tent was supplied with a sufficient 
 quantity boiled in a pot; out of which each in- 
 dividual helped himself as often as he found room 
 to cram down a little more: and no sooner was 
 the pot empty, than it was immediately replen- 
 ished. From Shuglawina the chief, (whose tent 
 and shallop were both larger and better than those 
 belonging to any of the other) I received a present 
 of five * silver fox-skins : another gave me a 
 ranger-skin; and a third an arrow. There were 
 several pretty girls, and some good-looking youths 
 among them. My old friend, I believe, had made 
 a very favourable report of my behaviour to him 
 during the Winter; for they seemed to be as 
 pleased to see me, and as obedient to me as if I 
 had been their king. On my departure, I dis- 
 tributed about a pound of small beads and a few 
 needles among them, with which they were well 
 satisfied; and the men promised to conduct their 
 wives to my house on the morrow to return the 
 
 * These five skins were sold at Bristol for ISl. 7s. Qd.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 87 
 
 visit, and at the same time to bring theii- whale- 
 bone and skins to trade with me. 
 
 In my way home I called at Seal Island, where 
 I received six hundred and twentv-live seal-skins 
 from Guy and company. I then proceeded to the 
 stage, where I gave some directions, and got home 
 by ten at night, accompanied by two Indian men 
 in their kyacks. Milmouth had shifted the net, 
 and put it out again. 
 
 The weather was very fine to-day. 
 
 Sunday, July 7, 1771. At one o'clock this after- 
 noon, our bait-skiff full of Indians, attended by 
 several others in their kyacks, came here; having 
 left their shallop in the river below. They 
 brought a small quantity of whalebone and a few 
 skins, which I purchased with some trifling arti- 
 cles. There were in the whole, thirty-two people, 
 of both sexes and of all ages. Nine salmon were 
 boiled for them, and, although the fish were fifteen 
 pounds weight each, on an average, they ate the 
 whole at a meal. T can eat pretty well myself; 
 ))ut my perfoi'mances in that way are not worth 
 recording in the history of men of such superior 
 talents. They all returned in the evening except 
 Shuglawina, his daughter, Attuiock and Ickon- 
 gorjue. 
 
 There was excellent fishiuc; todav, and had 
 there been but one fleet of good nets in the water, 
 we could have killed ten tierces. 
 
 Tuesday, July !f, 1771. Early this morning I 
 went to Cape Tharles, and there pitched my tent 
 upon the eontinont, flii'crtly opposite the Indian
 
 88 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 Camp; having a tickle between us, not more than 
 eighty yards wide. The instant that I was ready 
 to open shop, I sent my people home, with injunc- 
 tions not to come near me until I sent them an 
 order in writing for that purpose ; or, unless they 
 had any business with me, which could not be 
 deferred till my return. My tent was soon filled 
 with Indians, and we carried on a very brisk trade 
 till tw^o o'clock in the afternoon. Shuglawina 
 then came in, spoke a few words in a rough tone 
 of voice, and all the rest instantly walked out. 
 Taking me by the shoulder and speaking sternly,, 
 he made signs for me to go along Avith him. As 
 these people have hitherto plundered and mur- 
 dered Europeans whenever they had the oppor- 
 tunity, I must confess, that I expected that was 
 to be my fate now; and my suspicions were con- 
 firmed, upon recollecting the apprehensions which 
 they expressed at the sight of my fire-arms, till I 
 convinced them, that they were not loaded. How^- 
 ever, being well assured, that if they were deter- 
 mined to kill me, I could not prevent them; I put 
 the best face possible on this unpleasant affair, 
 locked up my goods, and followed him out. He 
 led me to the top of an eminence, at the back of 
 my tent, and we were followed by all the men and 
 boys. On observing a collection of brush wood 
 and other dry fuel, I naturally concluded, that I 
 was to be sacrificed; but whether they intended 
 to roast me alive or dead, I could not determine. 
 I did not, however, long remain in suspense, for 
 Shuglawina soon dispelled my fears by telling me,
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 89 
 
 that we had done business enough for one day, and 
 therefore he had brought me there to look out for 
 vessels at sea (that station eonmianding a view 
 quite across the straits of Belle Isle as far as 
 Quirpon and the adjoining parts of Newfound- 
 land) adding, that the wood was to make signals 
 to them. On discovering a whabby swimming in 
 a small pond, I sent for my rifle, and broke both 
 its thighs at the first shot; Shuglawina then fired 
 and killed it. It was really surprising, that he 
 should kill a bird with a single ball, the first shot 
 which he ever fired in his life, at a distance of a 
 hundred yards at the least. 
 
 They all returned to their own tents at sun-set, 
 and did not steal a single article from me, al- 
 though several of my goods lay exposed to them; 
 which I firmlv believe was the first instance of the 
 kind ever known. 
 
 Wedne.s'.j JuJij 10, 1771. Not an Indian of- 
 fered to cross the tickle this mornins: until thev 
 saw me up at five o'clock. Most of the men were 
 gone out to kill seals and codfish, and those who 
 were in camp then came to my tent, ])ut as I had 
 yesterday purchased the greatest part of their 
 goods, my traffic with them was now trifling. 
 
 These people live at the three southoriunost set- 
 tlements, where no whales are killed; they do not 
 trouble themselves much to rntrh furs, not being 
 furnislied with traps; uov do Ibcy iiiidcM'stand the 
 use of dcathfnlls. ^Pliey Icill plenty of seals, fish, 
 and fowl iii flieii- own neighborhood; and barter 
 with the noi'thern tribes for whalel)one.
 
 90 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 Very little more than the mere necessaries of 
 life (which, a little reflection will convince every- 
 one, are few indeed) will satisfy an Indian; for he 
 has no stimulus to industry. When he has killed 
 food he has generally procured clothing also; 
 therefore he will work no longer. As seals are 
 infinitely more valuable to an Esquimau, and 
 much more certain to be kjlled by him, than foxes, 
 martens, or any other animals, on the skins of 
 which luxury has fixed a better price; it is not 
 surprising that he will stick close to the chase of 
 the one, to the great neglect of the other. Besides, 
 the catching of furs is so fatiguing and precarious, 
 and the carcasses so small, that, were he to give up 
 his time to that business, his family must perish 
 with hunger. Yet I have not a doubt, but com- 
 merce will, in progress of time, have the same 
 effect on these people, that it ever has had on 
 other nations : it will introduce luxury, which will 
 increase their wants, and urge them to much more 
 industry than they at present possess. They will 
 then purchase traps, learn to build deathfalls, and 
 contrive other devices to kill furs, at such times 
 as a successful seal-chase shall give them lei- 
 sure to pay proper attention to that branch of 
 trade. 
 
 In the afternoon I went over to the island and 
 visited the ladies. I found them variously em- 
 ployed, and observed that great attention was 
 paid to the providing of belly-timber: for the 
 kettle was either boiled, or boiling, in every tent. 
 Some were busy in dressing green seal-skins, and
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 91 
 
 others iii jerking tisli; some, in making boots and 
 jackets, whilst others were sucking the fat from 
 eidei'-diick skins, intended for winter garments, 
 and engaged in a great variety of other employ- 
 ment. The most perfect good humour prevailed 
 among them, and they took great pains to enter- 
 tain me with singing and dancing. Although I 
 did not admire their tunes, yet I could perceive 
 that manv of them had very soft and musical 
 voices; but as to their dancing, one would have 
 supposed that they had learned that art from the 
 bears of the country. 
 
 As mere visiting was not my sole object, Jew 
 like, I took with ine a box of beads and other 
 trifles, with which I j^icked up several skins and a 
 little whalebone. Shuglawina made me a present 
 of a very fine silver fox-skin; but he insisted on 
 having the same price for the brush of it, as I had 
 just paid for an entire skin. However, as he only 
 demanded a small ivory comb, which cost me no 
 more than twopence halfpenny, and the skin was 
 worth four guineas, I made no scruple in comple- 
 ting the purchase. 
 
 Saturday, July 13, 1771. In the afternoon, 
 Shuglawina and I took a walk on the Cape land in 
 quest of deer, but saw none. I detected his son in 
 attempting to sell me some of my own whalebone 
 whi^'h he had stolen out of my tent: T complained 
 1«» Ills father, but for w^ant of being perfect in the 
 language, T could not make him understand me; 
 oi- ;i1 least he would not: however, he offered me 
 a present, by way of settling the affaii*, which I
 
 92 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 refused; but made liim sensible that I was satis- 
 fied. 
 
 Wednes., July 24, 1771. At five this morning, 
 I sent the sahnoniers with the net up the river. 
 We caught sixteen fish with it, in the pools 
 above the pound; the latter had sixty-three in it, 
 and the Indians killed twenty with their darts. 
 
 Saturday, July 27, 1771. I jourehased a few 
 skins from the Indians to-day, and, in the evening, 
 they went off for Camp Islands. One of the In- 
 dian men behaving rudely to my maid, I seized 
 him by the collar, and launched him out of the 
 door. I was most heartily tired of their company 
 before they went, they were so very rude and 
 troublesome: and although they eat no less than 
 fifteen large salmon in twenty-four hours, yet 
 they were much displeased that I would not give 
 them another meal. I did not count the number 
 of visitors, but I do not believe they exceeded 
 forty. I had two new salmon-nets put out to-day. 
 We had but few fish out of the pound, and only a 
 score out of the nets; most of which had been 
 some time in the river, I fished a little with the 
 fly at noon, and killed a few trouts. I received 
 several letters by the Indian Prince, among which 
 was a packet from Marnham. 
 
 Friday, August 2, 1771. I lent Guy my chart of 
 the coast, and ordered both boats to Port Char- 
 lotte to try for fish and baits about Point Spear 
 and Cape St. Francis. Having examined the In- 
 dian traffic, I found that I had got three hundred 
 weight of whalebone; ninety-seven ranger, four
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 93 
 
 doater, and nineteen fox skins; twenty-one spare 
 fox brnslies; twelve deer, four otter, and two mar- 
 ten skins; one wolf, one wolvering, and one black- 
 bear skin. xVt night the skilf eanie n\) with a let- 
 ter. We found a wolvering to-day in one of the 
 traps, which was tailed some time since in AVat- 
 son Brook, but he ^vas tainted. Few salmon 
 going. 
 
 Suudai/, Amju.st 4, 1771. At eight this morn- 
 ing, being accompanied by Shuglawina, we got 
 under weigh [in the Nimrod] and sailed for Fogo; 
 but immediately got aground on the bar between 
 White Fox and Little Island: we lay there an 
 hour, then got otf ])y the help of a warp, and went 
 to sea. There being but little wind all day, we 
 got no farther than the back of Belle Isle, and 
 were beating in the mouth of the straits all 
 night. 
 
 Mondai), August 5, 1771. We were about foiu' 
 leagues from Groais Island at sun-set, when we 
 saw a snow ^ standing in for Croque. During a 
 calm in the afternoon, Shuglawina went off in his 
 kyack in pursuit of a penguin ; - he presently came 
 within a proper distance of the bird, and struck 
 his dai't into it; ])ut, as the weapon did not enter 
 a mortal part, the penguin swam and dived so 
 
 • A Bailing vessel, whoHo rip; Is now obaolple. The snow had two larpe 
 maflts, and a third small ma.st which carried a trysail just abaft of the 
 mainmast. 
 
 'Great auk or Kare-fowl, Plnntus impcnnis, exiinet since about 1850. 
 This interest inn l»ird Wius fulled jxTifjuin by tli<' t-aiTuT voyagers, a name 
 subsequently use<l to dej^ignatc an entirely different Kro'ii) of birds confined 
 to the southern ocean, but resembling the great auk in bcins flightless.
 
 94 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 well, that lie would have lost both the bird and 
 the dart, had he not driven it near enough the 
 vessel for me to shoot it. 
 
 Thursday, August 8, 1771. We anchored in the 
 harbour of Fogo at ten this morning, and, in the 
 coLirse of the day, landed all the oil and other 
 things. 
 
 Sunday, August 11, 1771. Early in the morning 
 I engaged some of the best furriers in the place 
 (who are also good salmoniers) to enter into our 
 service for the ensuing year. At seven in the 
 evening I sailed for Charles Harbour. Mr. Bell, 
 the surgeon of this place, accompanied me on a 
 visit; and John Wrixon, a furrier, came also to 
 take a view of the country, in order to make a 
 report of his observations to his comrades. 
 
 Wednes., September 11, 1771. According to 
 the custom of this part of the world, as well as 
 some others, all the people got very drunk today; 
 because some of their friends were taking their 
 leave of them, and going away. 
 
 Sunday, September 15, 1771. In the morning I 
 read prayers to my family; in the afternoon I 
 went to the lower garden, and gathered some 
 green peas and ripe currants. 
 
 Friday, September 27, 1771. After breakfast I 
 took two hands with me to rummage Atkinson 
 Pond. We looked at the slips and traps at Salt 
 Point and on Lyon Neck, and found an otter in 
 that at the mouth of the pond, but it was tainted. 
 We tailed two other traps for otters. In the eve- 
 ning a vessel appeared, working into the harbour;
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 95 
 
 I went on board, and found her to be his Majesty's 
 brig Grenville, commanded by Mr. Michael Lane, 
 who had been employed all the smmner in survey- 
 ing- part of the coast northward of this place. I 
 remained all night on board. Killed a lady.^ 
 Clear, pleasant weather. 
 
 [With the onset of winter trapping operations 
 went on more actively.] 
 
 Sunday, November 10, 1771. In the night, my 
 Newfoundland dog, not having been put in the 
 kennel, visited some of the traps, and brought one 
 of them home on his foot. 
 
 Tuesday, November 26, 1771. Seals were plenti- 
 f id in the coves, but few of them came through the 
 tickle to-day. We had forty in the nets, and I 
 pelted three. 
 
 Wednes., November 27, 1771. Having caught 
 a severe cold, by sleeping in * puppy's parlour 
 for the three last nights [at the tilt], I determined 
 to return home. Accordingly I ordered a man to 
 make the necessary preparations for that pur- 
 pose; likewise to put eleven seals' carcases into 
 the wherry for my dogs. Every thing being ready, 
 we sailed at nine o'clock this morning. Li passing 
 one of the skiffs, which I o])served was loaded, the 
 people informed me that they had just seen a 
 white-bear in Mahar's Cove. On arriving at the 
 stage, I perceived that he had been there also, and 
 overturned a blubber-cask. After stowinir away 
 
 ' The Kf-ntlr' roador may bo rorniiulcfl that Cartwrinht refors to the 
 female harlequin dufk. 
 
 * To nlfop in puppy's parlour, KiRnificH slocpinj? in one's clothes, upon 
 the floor, before the fire.
 
 96 CAPTAIN CABT WRIGHT'S 
 
 the herring-nets and some other things, we pro- 
 ceeded up the river to Canoe Point; where we 
 landed the carcases, moored the wherry, and 
 walked home; for the river was frozen over in 
 bridges, from that place to the Narrows, but the 
 ice was firm and good all the way home from 
 thence; having been frozen over ever since Mon- 
 day last. 
 
 Tuesday, December 17, 1771. The shifting of 
 the wind, and a great sea along shore, occasioned 
 by yesterday's gale, cleared the whole bay [of 
 ice]. The boats made three trips each, and 
 brought on shore a hundred and twent.y-five seals, 
 and both the stoppers; and here the voyage con- 
 cludes. On casting up the account, I find we have 
 killed nine hundred and seventy-two seals; which 
 is the most I ever heard of, in proportion to the 
 men and nets. 
 
 Tuesday, Decefuher 24, 1771. I removed the 
 traps from Dog Point to Island Brook, where 
 there was abundance of marten-trackings, but 
 not many of foxes. A bear had lately been up 
 there. At night Christmas Eve was celebrated in 
 the usual manner, by the people getting very 
 drunk. Severe frost. 
 
 Wednes., December 25, 1771. I treated all 
 hands with buttered hot rolls and coffee for break- 
 fast; after which, some of them walked up the 
 river, where they saw the track of a wolf. I read 
 prayers, and afterwards regaled the people with 
 veal pie and rice pudding for dinner. In the eve- 
 ning I walked to Island Brook.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 97 
 
 The sky was clear, and the frost not so severe 
 as yesterday. [Charles, from much drinking- be- 
 came ill, and was treated by the Captain with 
 bleeding, James' jjowders and so forth, from tune 
 to tmie.] 
 
 Sunday, Janaari) 5, 1772. All the people got 
 drunk today, and the cooper behaving in a very 
 insolent manner, I gave him a few strokes w^ith a 
 small stick; upon which he had the impudence to 
 complain of being so bruised as not to be able to 
 eat his dinner. Charles relapsed, and was very 
 ill again. 
 
 It snowed hard all last night and till noon, w^hen 
 it turned to rain for the rest of the day; mild 
 weather. 
 
 Morula tj, January 6, 1772. I bled one of the 
 sealers, and two of my dogs. The cooper refused 
 to work, pretending he could not use his right 
 ami; I gave him nothing but water gruel, and 
 made a deduction from his wages for his neglect. 
 Charles so ill, that I think he will scarce live till 
 the morning. 
 
 Foggy, with silver thaw. 
 
 Friday, January 10, 1772. Charles is now likely 
 to recover; he w^as up most of the day. At noon 
 an otter came up the watering hole; I shot at him 
 out of the window with a rifle, but missed him. 1 
 made a net for the fowl house, and worked on the 
 furlew net. 
 
 Saturday, January 11, 1772. T met the two St. 
 Lewis's-Bay-mon and one of the sealers, coming 
 from Seal Island, who inrornicd nic that an old
 
 98 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 bitch white-bear and two cubs, came upon the 
 island this morning, and they liad killed them all; 
 that my bloodhounds behaved very well upon the 
 occasion; particularly one of the whelps, which 
 fastened on them with great resolution. 
 
 Monday, January 13, 1772. I thought Charles 
 would have died every minute of this day; which 
 kept me at home. I read prayers to him; for he 
 retains his senses, notwithstanding he is so bad 
 that he can take nothing. 
 
 Saturday, Jafitiary 25, 1772. I had part of a 
 loin of white bear roasted for dinner, which 
 proved very good; although, to say the truth, it 
 was much like beef basted with seal oil; however, 
 for want of the beef without the oil, I ate near 
 two pounds of it. 
 
 Tuesday, January 28, 1772. This being another 
 bad day, I employed myself in netting, attending 
 my patient, [Charles] and in studying physic and 
 surgery. At night, the evening, or some other 
 star, shone remarkably, and appeared luminous 
 and large; it bore South at ten o'clock and seemed 
 to be not very high. 
 
 Tuesday, February 4, 1772. After breakfast 
 Mr. Bullock and I went up Island Brook, where 
 we saw the tracks of two wolverings, one of which 
 had been caught by a hook, that I had hung from 
 the branch of a tree, with a bait upon it, and had 
 broken it; he afterwards got into a trap which 
 was not far off, and carried it to some distance, 
 where the creeper caught hold of a bush, and he 
 escaped after a very long struggle. Mr. Bullock
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 99 
 
 shot a squirrel ' and an owl. diaries was exceed- 
 ingly bad all day, but rather better at night. The 
 marine being not well, I bled hiin; and being in- 
 disposed myself, I took an emetic. 
 
 Thursday, February 6, 1772. After breakfast 
 Mr. Bullock accompanied me up the river, and to 
 Snug Pond; we both fired at a spruce-game, w-ith- 
 out doing any execution. During our absence, my 
 faithful old servant Charles breathed his last. I 
 set the cooper to make a coffin for him. 
 
 Clear, pleasant weather. 
 
 Sunday, February .9, 1772. After breakfast I 
 sent the corpse down to Indian Cove, and had it 
 buried in the snow; where I intend it shall re- 
 main till spring. 
 
 Sunday, February 23, 1772. This being the an- 
 niversary of my birthday, I gave the people a 
 good dimier, and regaled them with rum. 
 
 Wedues., February 26, 1772. At eight o'clock 
 Mr. Bullock and his two men, myself, and one of 
 my servants, began our journey to Chateau, with 
 our baggage and provisions on our sleds, each 
 drawn by one dog. 
 
 Thursday, February 27, 1772. At tw^o o'clock 
 this morning it began to snow very hard, with a 
 great thaw% and so continued all day, which pre- 
 vented us from prosecuting our journey. Being 
 very wet and cold, and not able to make the fire 
 
 ' Labrador rod squirrol, Murvft hv/lsonicvu. This \b tho only Bquirrpl 
 excppt the L:ihr:ulf)r flying Rquirrol, Sriurnplerusi ^inhrinus mnkofikmais, 
 found in Lfibrador. The gray sqtiirrol, Sciurus carolinensis leucotia, 
 reaches as far north an Bouthem Canada only.
 
 100 CAPTAIN CART WEIGHT'S 
 
 burn well, in the evening we began to dig a hole 
 in the snow, intending to lie there; just as it was 
 finished, and the marine still at work in it, the top 
 feU in upon him. We dug him out with all expe- 
 dition, but his back was much hurt by being 
 pressed double. We then cleared out the hole, 
 laid trees and boughs across it, and covered them 
 with snow; Mr. Bullock and I then crept into it, 
 and slept there, wrapped in ni}^ boat-cloak, and 
 were warmer than we should have been by the 
 fire. But as we were very wet, and our lodging 
 room leaked greatly, I must confess we should 
 have been more comfortable in our beds at home. 
 We tailed two traps by the brook side. 
 
 [A little later the Captain and Mr. Bullock, and 
 Fogarty set out for St. Modest, — forty miles 
 away.] 
 
 Tuesday^ March 17, 1772. One of the dogs hav- 
 ing given us the slip last night (which was no bad 
 proof of his understanding) at day-light I sent 
 Fogarty back for him to Mr. Hewet's [at Temple 
 Bay]. At 10 o'clock he returned, and Mr. Bullock 
 came with him; at the same time the wind 
 veered, and it began to blow and snow extremely 
 hard; we therefore retired into the wood and 
 made a fire. Mr. Bullock took a short walk, killed 
 a brace of grouse, and saw a wolf. Of all the bad 
 nights I ever spent out of doors, this was by far 
 the worst; fortunately for us, the timber was 
 good and very plentiful, or we must have perished. 
 Fogarty, who is a good hatchet-man, was cutting 
 wood aU night, and we were mending the fire ; but
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 101 
 
 althuiigh we kept as good a one as possible, having 
 never less than a cart load on at a tune, the snow 
 was so deep that we did not see the ground till 
 three in the morning, and the wind striking down 
 upon the fire, almost blinded us with smoke; at 
 the same time the snow fell in large fleaks, and in 
 such abmidance, that it wetted us to the skin, and 
 also prevented the fire from affording us much 
 warmth. 
 
 Wednes.^ March 18, 1772. Glad were we to 
 see the day appear, and immediately determined 
 on returning to^Ir. Hewet's house, but on looking 
 round us we found a retreat not so easy a matter; 
 for, having dug away the snow with our rackets 
 that we might keep ourselves on a level with the 
 fire, we perceived ourselves to be in a hole full 
 ten feet deep, with perpendicular sides of hard 
 snow. Fortunately, however, a friendly tree ex- 
 tending its branches through the snow, we laid 
 hold of them, struck our toes into the wall and got 
 out. Leaving all my baggage except my bread- 
 bag, we returned to Mr. Hewet's, and gave up all 
 farther thoughts of prosecuting our intended 
 JuLirney. For the whole country between Temple 
 Bay and St. Modest is high and barren, and no 
 woods to be met with but in four places, which are 
 about ten miles from each other; consequently a 
 fresh breeze of wind causes the drift to fly so 
 thick as to obstruct the siglit. F found Mr. Hewet 
 and several of liis peo])le drunk, (yesterday being 
 St. Patrick's day) in honoui' of their native coun- 
 try.
 
 102 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 Rain and snow till nine this morning, fair after- 
 wards. 
 
 Sunday, March 29, 1772. I went npon my sled 
 romid the low grounds, [at St. Peter's Bay] and 
 saw the tracks of two large white-bears; but was 
 near losing my life by a frolic. For, laying the 
 hounds on the track of one of the bears, I encour- 
 aged them to hunt it, which they soon did, and ran 
 by the eye and cried it merrily. Growing more 
 eager every yard, they presently ran away with 
 me, and we soon came upon the ice in Harbour 
 Pleasure; nor could I stop them till they had got 
 near to the mouth of the harbour, w^here the ice 
 was so weak (being a fresh freezing of only a few 
 days) that they absolutely broke through with a 
 foot or two, and it bent very much with the weight 
 of me on the sled. With some difficulty I turned 
 them about, and got safe back. [On April 7 he 
 returned to Charles River.] 
 
 Friday, April 10, 1772. At sun-rise I went 
 down the river, and found all the slips in Slip Cove 
 down and covered with snow, and the large trap 
 likewise covered very high. I observed that the 
 [white] bear had gone upon Salt Point, where I 
 soon discovered the mischief done by this animal 
 on an oil-hogshead; which had been spoiled last 
 winter by a wolf: I stood for some time viewing 
 the damage with astonishment. The cask was 
 made of strong oak staves, well secured by thick, 
 broad hoops of birch; yet this creature with one 
 stroke of his tremendous paw, had snapped off the 
 four chime-hoops, and broken the staves short off.
 
 LABR.U)OR JOURNAL 103 
 
 Suiidaij, May 3, 1772. 1 measured the thickness 
 of the ice in the river, and found it to be upwards 
 of three feet. Read prayers to the family. In the 
 evening, an otter came up the river, on the ice, 
 when the hounds winding him, went off in full cry, 
 and soon came up with and killed him. 
 
 Tuesdaij, Man 5, 1772. At day-light I sent 
 Fogarty and Bettres with some provisions, &c. 
 on the Nescaupick sled to the tilt, and at eight 
 o'clock I followed them myself, with Mrs. Selby, 
 my tent, and the rest of my baggage on an Esqui- 
 mau sled, drawn by six dogs. As we went down 
 the river, I saw, first one deer, then two, and after- 
 wards three, upon the ice. I fired at the first at 
 the distance of three hundred and fifty yards; at 
 the second at three hundred; ''and at one of the 
 third at one hundred and thirty yards, which I 
 killed, but missed both the others. Having two 
 couple of unentered hounds with me, I let them 
 all loose to blood them, but the old dog following 
 the first deer, I was not able to catch him again. 
 After permitting the hounds to tear at the throat 
 for a while, I harnessed them again, left the bag- 
 gage on the ice, laid the deer on the sled, and we 
 returned home. The other two deer, which were 
 \\ith the one that T had killed, having turned 
 back and run up the river on our track, T laid the 
 linunds on their slot, and they ran it so eagerly, 
 that they did not observe where they turned into 
 the woods, but kept on in full cry all tlie way to 
 mv door. Tlie crv of the hounds beinc: echoed 
 from a variety nf ])laces, was fine beyond descrip-
 
 104 CAPTAIN CART WEIGHT'S 
 
 tion; and it is inconceivable liow little they ap- 
 peared to feel the draught and weight of the 
 sled. 
 
 Saturday, May 23, 1772. I was out the whole of 
 this day endeavoring to kill a goose, but my labour 
 was in vain; notwithstanding I saw several, and 
 likewise many ducks. 
 
 Tuesday, June 2, 1772. We hauled the net at 
 day-light, but had nothing in it. I then put out an 
 eel-pot, and having tried the trout several times, 
 at length I killed a brace. At noon eight kyacks 
 of Esquimaux came up, among whom were At- 
 tuiock, Tooklavinia, and Etuiock; the rest were 
 part of those who came here last Summer. They 
 informed me that they came this morning in two 
 shallops to Great Caribou, where they had left 
 their boats and families. They brought me pres- 
 ents of Avhale-bone, venison, and eggs; and like- 
 wise one of my traps with an otter in it, which 
 they had met with in the river below. I purchased 
 some whale-bone of them, and in the evening six 
 of them returned, leaving the other two, who 
 stayed all night with me. 
 
 Wednes., June 3, 1772. After breakfast one 
 of the Indian shallops came up to Indian Cove, 
 from which place the women walked to the Lodge, 
 and stayed till the afternoon. I bought seventy- 
 three pounds weight of long bone, and a few skins 
 of them. Having only the marine at home, I had 
 no small trouble with my visitors in the article of 
 provision; for the number being great, and their 
 appetites likewise in proportion, we could scarcely
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 105 
 
 dress A'ictuals fast enough for them. They be- 
 haved very well however, and returned, to all 
 appearance, contented with their traffic and 
 entertainment. I skimied and spread the 
 otter. 
 
 Thursday, June 4, 1772. At noon I went down 
 the river in the old punt, and tailed the trap which 
 the Indians had brought up, on Barred Island, 
 where it was before. Meeting the sealers, who 
 were coming up with herring nets, and a tierce of 
 salt, I returned with them; and with their assist- 
 ance buried m.y late old servant, Charles Atkinson. 
 Thev afterwards returned home, and in the eve- 
 ning I tilled a little more of the lower garden, and 
 likewise took up the salmon-net which I hung up 
 to dry. 
 
 Monday, June 8, 1772. Early in the morning, 
 taking the marine with me in the old punt, and 
 a few trading goods, I intended going down to the 
 Indians. On our way we looked at the traps, and 
 in one, which was tailed in a deer-path on Salt 
 Point, we found a 1}tix.^ 
 
 Friday, June 12, 1772. In the afternoon I took 
 up ))oth the nets, and put them out afresh below 
 the deeps, and had two slinks in them. AMiik' we 
 were employed in this business, a skiff, belonging 
 to Noble and Pinson, arrived and took possession 
 of the river; under a pretence of having a right 
 so to do, by virtue of the Acts of Pai-liament rela- 
 tive to Newfoundland. 
 
 Mondaif, Jinir /.'7, 1772. As Noble nnd Piiison\s 
 
 ' Canada lynx, Lynx cancuiensis.
 
 106 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 people liad taken possession of the river, and 
 the dispute could not be settled for some 
 time, I thought it best to send my people to the 
 Colleroon. 
 
 Tliursday, June 18, 1772. In the morning sev- 
 eral Indians came up in one of their shallops, and 
 brought me a pair of live young eagles,^ a few 
 ducks, and some eggs. I had a little whale-bone 
 and a few skins from them.' They remained all 
 night with me, and it was with no little difficulty 
 I could restrain them from killing Noble and Pin- 
 son's people, for disturbing me in my fishery. At 
 noon I took the chief with me in the flat up the 
 stream a fishing, and killed three salmon and a 
 brace of trout with fly. He was greatly surprised 
 to see me kill so large fish with such fine tackle, 
 and shewed me their method of fly-fishing for 
 salmon, but he did not raise one. He had the skin 
 of the leg of a sea-pigeon,^ which is scarlet, fast- 
 ened on the shank of a cod-hook, tied to a cod-line. 
 This he threw by hand down the stream, and 
 played it in the same manner as we do a fly. I 
 make no doubt but they kill some salmon in this 
 way, or he would not have been provided with 
 such tackle; for an Indian never will use those 
 things which Avill not answer the end intended, 
 but I do not think theirs a good way, for it is too 
 awkward. 
 
 ' Northern bald eagle, Haliaeehis leiicocephalus alascanus; possibly the 
 golden eagle, Aquila Chrysa'etos, although this species is very rare on the 
 Eastern Coast. 
 
 * " Sea-pigeon " or " pigeon," black guillemot, Cepphus gryUe.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 107 
 
 Wediies., Jidij 1, 1772. We sailed for Camp 
 Islands earlv this moriiiiii>', where we arrived in 
 a short space of time. We found there, seventeen 
 tents and nine shaHops. I pitched my tent, and 
 carried on a very brisk trade during the whole 
 of the da3\ In the evening, two fresh boats ar- 
 rived from the northward, one of which was a 
 whaling-boat, and had a good deal of bone in her. 
 At sun-set, the Indians amused themselves with 
 playing at ball; this amusement consisted only 
 in tossing the ball at pleasure from one to another, 
 each striving who should get it; but I soon per- 
 ceived they were very bad catchers. I taught 
 them the sports of threading-the-needle, and leap- 
 frog; the latter of which diverted them much, as 
 it did me likewise: for as thev liad no idea of 
 springing, and the women playing as well as the 
 men, they were continually tumbling over each 
 other in glorious confusion; but as the women 
 wore breeches, it was of very little consequence 
 on which end they fell; their heads, or their heels. 
 They had likewise a game much resembling that 
 of threading-the-needle; but instead of the last 
 couple turning hands over head, the leader ran 
 round, till they were all wound u[) in a circle; 
 when pulling and hauling different ways, they 
 tumbled over each other, and 1lius linished their 
 sport. One of them having a veiy bad cold, which 
 I understand is a prevalent disorder amongst 
 them, T bled him. 
 
 Friday, Jidy 5, 1772. Two shallops went off 
 this morning for Chateau. T saw great plenty of
 
 108 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 caplin/ and several large slioals came close in 
 shore, when the Indians and I killed many with 
 darts. 
 
 Monday, July 6, 1772. I had but little trade 
 to-day. The Indians were diverting themselves 
 with shooting at a mark with their arrows; but I 
 cannot say, that I think them good archers, al- 
 though their bows are constructed on an excellent 
 principle; for by the assistance of a back-string 
 the bow preserves its elastic power, and by slack- 
 ening or tightening this string, it is rendered weak 
 enough for a child of five years old, or strong 
 enough for the most powerful man amongst them. 
 As there is something particular in their sport of 
 to-day, I shall endeavour to describe it. They 
 provide two targets of four feet square, made of 
 sticks, and covered with deer-skins. These they 
 fix on poles about eight feet high, and at sixty 
 yards distance from each other. The men divi- 
 ding themselves into two parties, each party shoots 
 twenty-one arrows at one of the targets, standing 
 by the other. That party which puts the most 
 arrows into the target, gains the honour, for they 
 have not the least idea of gaming. The victors 
 immediately set up shouts of mockery and deri- 
 sion at the conquered party; these they continue 
 for some time; when the wives and daughters of 
 the conquerors join in the triumph, and walking 
 in procession round the targets, sing a song upon 
 the occasion, priding themselves not a little with 
 
 1 Mallotus villosus, a fish resembling the smelt, a good food-fish, but 
 used chiefly as bait for cod.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 109 
 
 the defeat of their opponents, who at length join 
 in the langh against themselves, and all are 
 friends again, without any oft'enoe (seemingly) 
 behig either given or taken. Upon this occasion 
 the women wear a pair of clean gloves, made of 
 the skins of white foxes or hares, and these they 
 endeavom' to make as much shew of as possible, 
 by holding up and displaying their hands. At a 
 little distance they look very well, but on inspec- 
 tion, they do not seem to be calculated so much 
 for use as ornament; the fur being on the outside. 
 They are dressed likewise in their best clothes and 
 large boots, and having marched round the tar- 
 gets, they retire to one side, whilst the men renew 
 their sport. As I had formerly practiced a little 
 with the l)ow, I was not quite a stranger to the 
 use of it, and having observed them for some time, 
 I desired permission to shoot; when, more by ac- 
 cident, than superionty of skill, I sent an arrow 
 near to the centre of the target at the first shot. 
 They expressed very great astonishment at my 
 performance, and innnediately began to dance and 
 shout around me; which thev continued for a con- 
 siderable time. But a different scene was soon 
 after exhibited; for being informed by one of 
 their people, that a principal man amongst them, 
 had stolen a skein of thread; I immediately sent 
 to the chief a peremptoT'v order to bring the 
 thread to my tout, wliicli lie accordingly complied 
 with. TTaving I'cpi-ovcd liiiii in a ^'cl•y angry tone 
 for his })ehavi()nr. I u'a\c 1iini a tVw si i-okcs. lie 
 instantly made resistance, when catching him in
 
 110 CAPTAIN CARTWEIGHT'S 
 
 my arms, I gave him a cross-buttock (a method 
 of throwmg unknown to them) and pitched him 
 with great force headlong out of my tent. I then 
 appealed to the rest for the justice of my cause, 
 who not only applauded me for the action, but 
 seemed to have a high opinion both of my lenity 
 and strength. The man went immediately to his 
 tent, and returned with a beautiful seal-skin as 
 a present to me; but I would by no means accept 
 of it, making him and the rest understand, that I 
 did not quarrel with him, that he should make me 
 a present to be reconciled; but because he had 
 been guilty of a dishonest action; and that as he 
 now seemed to be sensible of his crime, I was per- 
 fectly satisfied. I told them, that I would never 
 steal anything from them, and as I would not suf- 
 fer any of my people to plunder them, so neither 
 would I suffer them to rob me with impunity: and 
 I moreover assured them ; that nothing should ever 
 induce me to take away their lives. By words 
 and signs together, I made them fully comprehend 
 my meaning, which had the desired effect; for we 
 were afterwards not only upon the most friendly 
 terms; but I seemed likewise to have established 
 an authorit^y over them. 
 
 Tuesday, July 7, 1772. I spent the greatest part 
 of the day in visiting from tent to tent, and in 
 conversing with the principal men; who not only 
 behaved to me with respect, but did me the honour 
 to call me an Esquimau: and, indeed, in outward 
 appearance the difference between us was but lit- 
 tle; for, being habited in the dress of the country,
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 111 
 
 the only marks of (listinctioii were 1113' hat and 
 complexion. 
 
 SiDuJaij, July 12, 1772. I was so extremely ill 
 all this day, as to be obliged to keep my bed. 
 Now, indeed, mv situation was trulv wretehed! 
 My bed lay on the wet ground in a small tent, 
 so close as to admit but little air, and the heat was 
 equal to that of a cucmnber frame; whilst the 
 steam occasioned hj the moisture extracted from 
 the earth, kept a continual dropping from the top. 
 I had nothing to eat but salted beef and pork, and 
 nothing proper to give me relief. I had no one 
 near me to whom I could make known my com- 
 plaints, except the Indians, with whose language 
 I was but little acquainted. They seemed how- 
 ever to be really affected with my situation, 
 though without the knowledge of administering 
 relief; nor were thev sensible that a continual 
 noise could disturb a sick person. After it was 
 dark they gave me a convincing proof of their 
 attachment (which T would most gladly have ex- 
 cused) by assembling in and about the tent near- 
 est to mine, and there performing some super- 
 stitious ceremonies for my recovery. As T was 
 not an eye witness of their rites, T can only say 
 that they were accompanied with such horrid 
 yells and hideous outci-ies, as T never before had 
 heard from the mouths of the human species. 
 These dismal notes were continued till day-light; 
 add to this, their dogs were incessantly fighting, 
 and tumbling ii])o)i my tenl. 
 
 [Cartwright soon i-ec(»\ci'c(l, althojiigh a cough,
 
 112 CAPTAIN CAET WRIGHT'S 
 
 " which resembled the explosion of gunpowder " 
 troubled him at first. Trading, fishing and hunt- 
 ing continued as usual.] 
 
 Friday, August 14, 1772. At eleven o'clock Mr. 
 Hill accompanied me down the river, [Charles] 
 on a party of pleasure; we went in our kyacks, 
 with provisions for two or three days, and landed 
 by the brook in Salt Cove. In the evening, twenty 
 geese came into the fresh-water pond, which emp- 
 ties itself into the Cove; but as we could not get 
 near enough to them, we let them alone till it was 
 dark, when we divided and tried again. As we 
 were watching the geese, a hind and calf came 
 close up to Mr. Hill, but he did not fire, on a sup- 
 position that he could not kill one wdth shot. The 
 deer winding him, went hastily off, and drove 
 away the geese. We then laid dowm under some 
 trees, and endeavored to compose ourselves to 
 sleep; but we were prevented till mid-night, by 
 the intolerable biting of the moschetos,^ at which 
 time we met with another as unpleasant attack, 
 but of a different kind. A storm came on at that 
 time, which lasted an hour, during which, it thun- 
 dered and lightened most tremendously, accom- 
 panied with much rain. Mr. Hill got up, and 
 would have had me done the same, but I replied, 
 ^' Since I can be no better off, I am resolved to 
 lie where I am till day-light, unless I am floated 
 off the ground." After the storm was over a set- 
 tled rain set in and continued all night. Mr. Hill 
 
 ^ The mosquitoes, midges, black flies, moose flies and horse flies of 
 Labrador are the equals of any in the world in ferocity and numbers.
 
 LABRADOR .JOURNAL 113 
 
 killed three curlews as we were crossing the 
 isthmus. 
 
 Mo)iclaij, August 24, 1772. At day-light we 
 sailed for Chateau, and arrived in Lance Cove at 
 four ill the afternoon; we left the shallop there, 
 and went on board the Otter, where we remained 
 the iiiiiht. Bv the wav we met the Otter's boat 
 coming to me, with a message from captain 
 ^lurris. 
 
 Thursday, August 27, 1772. Captain Morris 
 sending his boat for me this morning, I went on 
 board and breakfasted with him; after which I 
 set off homewards in the Otter's yawl, under the 
 command of Mr. Sympson, the gunner, whom cap- 
 tain Morris sent to order all the Indians to return 
 home immediately; excepting those w^ho were to 
 go to England with me, and a few^ others wdio w^ere 
 to remain all winter at my settlement. 
 
 Thursday, September 10, 1772. After breakfast 
 I w^eiit down the river in mv kvack and landed on 
 the north east side of Salt Cove; from whence I 
 walked across to Wolf Cove, where I saw^ several 
 geese and a sniiDC ; ^ w^hich is the first I have seen 
 in this country. 
 
 Saturday, Septenther 12, 1772. Early in the 
 morninji; a shallop of Noble and Piiison's came u]) 
 here; whicli I sent off immediately for the Colle- 
 roon, to bring down the salmon, the crew, and 
 craft. They had not been gone lialf an li<»ur, be- 
 fore my house took fire, and having nobody at 
 home to assist me })ut the boy, it was burnt to 
 
 ' WilHon'8 Hnipe, Gallinago delicala, a rare summer resident of Labrador.
 
 114 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 the ground in a short time, together with the serv- 
 ants' house and sahnon-house. We saved but 
 twenty-nine tierces of salmon, and a few other 
 things, most of which were damaged. Sixteen 
 tierces were burnt, as were all the goods for In- 
 dian trade ; all our slops, and my private baggage. 
 With much labour we saved the store-house, and 
 prevented the woods from taking fire. As soon 
 as that was effected I walked in among the ruins, 
 picked up some gun barrels, and broiled some 
 steakes of venison upon them, to refresh my wear- 
 ied spirits. I then took up my lodgings in the 
 store-house, having fortunately saved some bed- 
 clothes. My private loss I computed at near 
 five hundred pounds; and that of the partner- 
 ship at two hundred and fifty. In the eve- 
 ning another shallop of Noble and Pinson^s ar- 
 rived. 
 
 A fine day, but rained hard in the night, which 
 prevented the fire from spreading again. 
 
 Sunday^ September 13, 1772. The fire still 
 burns fiercely in the ruins, particularly among the 
 sahnon. I picked up some of my plate, but most 
 of it was melted. We shipped the salmon on 
 board the shallop, and sent her off for Chateau 
 at night. 
 
 Rainy weather. 
 
 Saturday, September 19, 1772. All hands were 
 set to work on a new house, which we got studded 
 by night, and part of the chimney built. I killed 
 a seal from the door, but did not get it. 
 
 Monday, September 21, 1772. Early in the
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 115 
 
 morning I had the sealing skiff repaired, and took 
 an inventory of what goods remained. I then 
 engaged two of tlie people afresh, and, at noon, 
 sailed with the rest for Chateau to get a passage 
 for England. At midnight we came to an anchor 
 at Seal Island. 
 
 It snowed very hard both before, and some time 
 after, day-light; it lay eight inches deep, but went 
 off at noon. 
 
 Thursday, October 29, 1772. I sent part of our 
 baggage on board [the Mary at Lance Cove]. In 
 the morning the Indian shallop came here, and 
 they pitched their tents on the beach. It was this 
 day determined, that Attuiock, Ickcongoque, his 
 youngest wife; Ickeuna, her daughter; (a child 
 under four years of age) Tooklavinia, Attuiock 's 
 youngest brother; and Caubvick his wife, should 
 accompany me to England. Another brother, 
 with his wife, are already gone to England with 
 Perkins and Coghlan's head-man; and their other 
 two brothers, Nawadlock and Scheidley, with 
 their families, and Attuiock 's other three wives, 
 with the rest of their children, are to winter at 
 my sealing-post at Stage Cove. I gave them very 
 parti r^ular injunctions for their behaviour, and 
 they pi'omised obedience. 
 
 Friday, Ortohrr 30, 1772. This afternoon the 
 vessel went hip^her up the bay, to be ready to go 
 to sea as soon as the wind serves. 
 
 The rest of the Indians l)ciiig gone to Charles 
 TIar})our, those who are to go to England with me 
 are accommodated in ^Ir. Pinson's house. On
 
 116 CAPTAIN CAETWRIGHT'S 
 
 going into the room where they slept, I observed 
 Attuiock performing a ceremony, which, for its 
 singularity, I shall take the liberty to relate. His 
 wife was laid upon the floor, with her hands by 
 her sides: Attuiock sat on the right side of his 
 wife, so far back, as to have her head opposite to 
 his knees. He had placed a loose strap under her 
 head, which came over her forehead. In this strap 
 he put the end of a strong stick, which he held in 
 his hands across his knees. With great gravity, 
 and in a low, doleful cadence, he sung a song, fre- 
 quently laying a strong emphasis on some par- 
 ticular word which I did not understand; at the 
 same time, by the help of a lever, he raised her 
 head as high as the length of her neck would per- 
 mit, and then let it bump down again upon the 
 floor, keeping time to the tune. As I supposed 
 it was a religious rite, (he being a priest^) I si- 
 lently observed what was going foreward. At 
 length, the old gentleman fixing his eyes on me, 
 pointed to his wife, with an important look, and 
 said, ''It is very good, very good.'^ " That may 
 be," replied I, " but pray what is it good for? " 
 " My wife has got the head-ach," answered the 
 priest. Not willing to affront him, I got out of 
 the room as fast as possible, that I might indulge 
 myself in a hearty laugh, at the curious Esquimau 
 method of curing that complaint. 
 
 Saturday, November 7, 1772. In the evening 
 Mr. Pinson, the Indians, myself, and Mrs. Selby, 
 and all the other passengers embarked and lay on 
 
 * Eskimo, angakok.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 117 
 
 board the Mary; a ship eonmianded by Mr. George 
 Monday. 
 
 Sunday, Xoventher <9, 1772. At day-break we 
 put to sea, and set sail for Ireland. We found a 
 very great sea in the streights, and by night were 
 two leagues to the eastward of the island of Belle 
 Isle. 
 
 Saturday, Novemher 21, 1772. Nothing more 
 occiUTed than is usual in vovaees at this time of 
 the year across the Atlantic, till three o'clock this 
 morning; when, by some mismanagement of the 
 hchn, the ship was caught by the lee as she was 
 scudding under the fore-sail, and was near foun- 
 dering before the sail could be clued up; that 
 being effected, we brought to under the mizen- 
 stay-sail. At day-light we found the bolt-sprit 
 was sprung; we then reefed the fore-top-mast, 
 secured the fore-mast and bolt-sprit, and put her 
 before the wind again. 
 
 Tliick weather, and a great sea. 
 
 Sunday, Novemher 22, 1772. The Indians grew 
 extremely uneasv to-day, and insisted that we 
 had lost oursehes and should neyer more see 
 land. I then examined the log book, and shewed 
 them upon the chart where we were; adding, that 
 we should make the land of Ireland, near Cape 
 Clear, to-morrow; but they gave very little credit 
 to what I said. 
 
 Thick weather. 
 
 Monday, Novemher 23, 1772. At day-break, the 
 wind havint;- sliiflcd and rlcnrcd tlie sky, we \)vv- 
 ceived ourselves to be not more llian four niilcs
 
 118 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 from the land, and near Bantry Bay. Nothing 
 but the unmediate interposition of Divine Provi- 
 dence, or a series of fortunate accidents (should 
 the former be doubted) could possibly have saved 
 our lives. For had we not broached to on Satur- 
 day last, and by so doing lost twenty leagues of 
 ground, we must have run on shore in a heavy 
 gale and thick weather, at ten o'clock last night. 
 Had not the wind abated to almost a calm at five 
 this morning, we should have been on shore by 
 six; and if it had not cleared up just when it did, 
 and the wind shifted, we should soon have been 
 too near the land to have cleared it. We passed 
 Cape Clear in a little time, and ran along shore 
 till midnight, when we brought to for day-light. 
 
 A fine day. 
 
 Tuesday, November 24, 1772. At day-light we 
 found ourselves between Youghall and Dungar- 
 von, and hauled close up to the mouth of the latter 
 place in hopes of a boat coming off to take the 
 servant passengers on shore; in which case we 
 should immediately have proceeded for England: 
 but none appearing, we went forward for Water- 
 ford, and anchored at Passage at three in the 
 afternoon. We found here, his Majesty's frigate 
 Glory, commanded by my old acquaintance cap- 
 tain Chads. In the evening my friends and I 
 landed at Passage, where we supped; then went 
 to Waterford in a noddy* and two carrs, where 
 we arrived at one o'clock the next morning. 
 
 Wednes., November 25, 1772. We remained at 
 
 * A four-wheeled cab with the door at the back.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 119 
 
 Watert'ord from this day till the twenty-eighth, 
 and I was teased to death bv the curiosity of the 
 whole town and country to see the Indians/ 
 
 Saturday, November 28, 1772. After breakfast 
 we set off for Passage, but could scarcely get 
 through the streets for the concourse of people; 
 eA'ery window likewise was full. 
 
 Sunday, November 29, 1772. At day-light we 
 unmoored, and soon after sailed for Dartmouth, 
 with a fair wind and fine weather. 
 
 Friday, December 4, 1772. Meeting with con- 
 trary winds and yery thick weather, we were 
 working between L^eland, England, and Scilly 
 imtil this day; when not being able to do better, 
 we ran into St. Helling 's Pool in Scilly. 
 
 Saturday, December 5, 1772. After breakfast 
 I took the Lidians with me and went to St. 
 Mary's, the largest of the Scilly Islands, and 
 stayed the night there. 
 
 Sunday, December 6, 1772. Meeting with the 
 Proyidence brig bound for I^ondon, I took pas- 
 sage in her; the Indians and myself then returned 
 to the ship and brought away all our baggage and 
 put it on board the Proyidence. 
 
 Wednes., December 9, 1772. At four o'clock 
 this morning we sailed for T^ondon; the master 
 and mate both di'unk. At eight at night wo were 
 abreast of Mount's Bay. 
 
 Friday, 11, fn Sunday, IS. At throe o'clock this 
 afternoon we came to an anchc^i- in tlio Downs, 
 
 ' Tho rffidfr nocd not be romindod that this word in constantly used 
 for Eekimos.
 
 120 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 and took a pilot on board. We sailed from thence 
 the next morning, and in twenty-four hours came 
 to an anchor in Gravesend Road; I landed with 
 the two men, and set off for London in a post- 
 chaise, where we arrived at three in the after- 
 noon. 
 
 Monday, December 14, 1772. I went down the 
 river this morning, met the vessel in the Pool, and 
 brought the women on shore. They were greatly 
 astonished at the number of shipping wdiich they 
 saw in the river; for they did not suppose that 
 there were so many in the whole world : but I was 
 exceedingly disappointed to observe them pass 
 through London Bridge without taking much no- 
 tice of it. I soon discovered that they took it for 
 a natural rock which extended across the river. 
 They laughed at me when I told them it was the 
 work of men; nor could I make them believe it, 
 till we came to Blackfriars Bridge, which I caused 
 them to examine with more attention; shewing 
 them the joints, and pointing out the marks of 
 the chizzels upon the stones. They no sooner com- 
 prehended by Avhat means such a structure could 
 be erected, than they expressed their wonder with 
 astonishing significancy of countenance. 
 
 On landing at Westminster Bridge, we were 
 immediately surrounded by a great concourse of 
 people; attracted not only by the uncommon ap- 
 pearance of the Indians who were in their seal- 
 skin dresses, but also by a beautiful eagle, and 
 an Esquimau dog; which had much the resem- 
 blance of a wolf, and a remarkable wildness of
 
 LABRADOR JOUEX.VI. 121 
 
 look.^ 1 put tlieiii all inlo euac-hcs, with as iiiiicli 
 expedition as possible, and drove oft* to the lodg- 
 ings which I had prepared in Leicester Street. 
 
 In a few days time, I had so many applications 
 for admittance to see the new visitors, that my 
 time was wholly taken up in gratifying the curi- 
 osity of my friends and their acquaintance;' and 
 the numbers who came made my lodgings very 
 inconvenient to the landlord as well as to myself. 
 I therefore resolved to look out for a house. I 
 soon hired a small one, ready furnished, for ten 
 guineas a month, in Little Castle Street, Oxford 
 Market, and removed thither. 
 
 Being willing, as far as lay in my power, to 
 comply with the incessant applications of my 
 friends for a sight of the Indians; and finding 
 it impossible either to have any rest, or time to 
 transact lousiness, I appropriated two days a week 
 to that purpose, viz., Tuesdays and Fridays. On 
 those davs, not onlv mv house was filled, even 
 to an inconvenience, but the street was so much 
 crowded with carriages and people, that my resi- 
 dence was a great nuisance to the neighbourhood. 
 
 As their skin dresses had a dirty appearance 
 and an offensive smell, I provided a quantity of 
 broad-ch)th, flannel, and beads, together with 
 whatever else was necessaiy; and i]\o women 
 now having leisure to work, and being excel- 
 lent tavlors, soon clothed tliem all anew; pre- 
 
 ' 'ITif EHkimo dop; of I.abnulor f)f ihc present day resembles von' elosely 
 tho northern wolf, exeept that it usually carries the tail curled over the 
 back instead of partially extended beliind.
 
 122 CAPTAIN CABT WRIGHT'S 
 
 serving their own fashion in the cut of their gar- 
 ments. 
 
 I once took the men to the opera when their 
 Majesties were there, and we chanced to sit near 
 Mr. Coleman, the manager of Covent Garden The- 
 atre, who politely invited all the Indians and my- 
 self to a play at his house. He fixed on Cymbeline, 
 and they were greatly delighted with the repre- 
 sentation. But their pride was most highly grati- 
 fied, at being received with a thundering applause 
 by the audience on entering the box. The men 
 soon observed to their wives, that they were 
 placed in the King's box, and received in the same 
 manner as their Majesties were at the opera; 
 which added considerably to the pleasure which 
 they felt from the tout ensemhle. Never did I 
 observe so young a child pay such unremitting 
 attention to the whole representation, as little 
 Ickeuna; no sooner did the swords begin to clash, 
 in the fighting scene between Posthumus and 
 lachimo, but she set up a most feeling scream. 
 
 About a fortnight after our arrival in town, 
 having provided great-coats, boots, and hats for 
 the men, in order that they might pass through 
 the streets unobserved, I took Attuiock with me 
 and walked be^yond the Tower. We there took 
 boat, rowed up the river, and landed at Westmin- 
 ster Bridge ; from whence we walked to Hyde Park 
 Corner, and then home again. I was in great ex- 
 pectation, that he would begin to relate the won- 
 ders which he had seen, the instant he entered the 
 room; but I found myself greatly disappointed.
 
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 LABRADOR JOURNAL 123 
 
 He immediately sat down by the tire side, placed 
 both his hands on his knees, leaned his head for- 
 ward, tixed his eyes on the ground in a stupid 
 stare; and continued in that posture for a con- 
 siderable time. At length, tossing up his head, 
 and fixing his eyes on the cieling, he broke out 
 in the following soliloquy; ''Oh! I am tired; 
 here are too mam^ houses; too much smoke; too 
 many people; Labrador is very good; seals are 
 plentiful there; I wish I was back again." By 
 which I could plainly perceive, that the multi- 
 plicity, and variety of objects had confounded his 
 ideas; which were too much confined to compre- 
 hend any thing but the inconveniences that he had 
 met with. And indeed, the longer they continued 
 in England, the more was I convinced of the truth 
 of that opinion; for their admiration increased in 
 proportion, as their ideas expanded; till at length 
 they began more clearly to comj^rehend the use^ 
 beauty, and mechanism of what they saw ; though 
 the greater part of these were as totally lost upon 
 them, as they would have been upon one of the 
 brute creation. 
 
 Although they had often passed St. Paul's with- 
 out betraying any great astonishment, or at least 
 not so much as all Europeans do at the first sight 
 of one of those stupendous islands of ice, w^hich 
 are daily to be seen near the east coast of their 
 owTi country, yet when T t(wk thorn to the top of 
 it, and convinced them that i1 was ])nilt by the 
 hands of men (a circumsiancj^ wliich had not en- 
 tered their heads before, for they had supposed
 
 124 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 it a natural production) tliey were quite lost in 
 amazement. The people below, they compared to 
 mice; and insisted, that it must at least be as high 
 as Cape Charles, which is a mountain of consid- 
 erable altitude. Upon my asking them how they 
 should describe it to their countrymen on their 
 return, they replied, with a look of the utmost 
 expression, they should neither mention it, nor 
 many other things which they had seen, lest they 
 should be called liars, from the seeming impos- 
 sibility of such astonishing facts. 
 
 Walking along Piccadilly one day with the two 
 men, I took them into a shop to shew them a col- 
 lection of animals. We had no sooner entered 
 than I observed their attention riveted on a small 
 monkey; and I could perceive horror most 
 strongly depicted in their countenances. At 
 length the old man turned to me and faltered 
 out, '* Is that an Esquimau? " I must confess, 
 that both the colour and contour of the counte- 
 nance had considerable resemblance to the people 
 of their nation; but how they could conceive it 
 possible for an Esquimau to be reduced to that 
 diminutive size, I am wholly at a loss to account 
 for; unless they had fixed their attention on the 
 countenance only, and had not adverted to any 
 other particulars. On pointing out several other 
 monkeys of different kinds, they were greatly 
 diverted at the mistake which they had made; 
 but were not well pleased to observe, that mon- 
 keys resembled their race much more than ours. 
 
 The parrots, and other talkative birds, next at-
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 125 
 
 tracted their notice. And it was a great treat to 
 me, both then and at all other times, to observe 
 their different emotions, much more forcibly ex- 
 pressed in their countenances, than is possible to 
 be done by those, whose feelings are not equally 
 genuine. Civilized nations imperceptibly con- 
 tract an artificial expression of countenance, to 
 help out their languid feelings; for knowledge, 
 by a coimnunication with the world and l)ooks, 
 enlightens our ideas so much, that they are not 
 so liable to be taken by surprise, as the unin- 
 fonned mind of the savage, who never had the 
 least hint given him, that certain things are in 
 existence; consequently, they break upon him as 
 unexpectedly, and forci])ly, as the sun would do 
 upon a man who was born deaf and blind, in case 
 he should suddenly be brought to sight on a clear 
 day. 
 
 Bemg on a dining visit, with that excellent sur- 
 geon and anatomist, the ingenious John Hunter,* 
 in the afternoon Attuiock w^alked out of the room 
 by himself, but presently returned with such evi- 
 dent marks of terror, that we w^ere all greatl}^ 
 alarmed, fearing some accident had happened to 
 liiin; or, that he had met wdth an insult from one 
 of the servants. lie seized hold (►f my hand, and 
 eagerly pressed me to go along with him. I asked 
 the cause of his emotion, but could get notliiiig 
 more from him than '' Come along, come along 
 with me," and he hastily led me into a room in 
 
 ' NoUhI siirKoon, ;inatomiflt, :in<l phyHioloKiat.; author of " TroatiHO 
 on the Blood, luflamuiution, and Ciuiwhot Wounda," etc. 1728 to 1793.
 
 126 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 the yard, in which stood a glass case containing 
 many human bones. ' ' Look there, ' ' says he, with 
 more horror and consternation in his countenance, 
 than I ever beheld in that of man before, ^' are 
 those the bones of Esquimaux whom Mr. Hunter 
 has killed and eaten? Are we to be killed? Will 
 he eat us, and put our bones there? " As the 
 whole company followed us, the other Indians had 
 also taken the alarm before the old priest had 
 finished his interrogatories; nor did any of them 
 seem more at ease, by the rest of us breaking out 
 into a sudden and hearty laugh, till I explained 
 to them that those were the bones of our own peo- 
 ple, who had been executed for certain crimes 
 committed by them, and were preserved there, 
 that Mr. Hunter might better know how to set 
 those of the living, in case any of them should 
 chance to be broken; which often happened in so 
 populous a country. They were then perfectly 
 satisfied, and approved of the practice; but Attu- 
 iock's nerves had received too great a shock to 
 enable him to resume his usual tranquility, till 
 he found himself safe in my house again. 
 
 Passing through Hyde Park, in our way to Hol- 
 land House, and observing his Majesty looking at 
 the regiment of Old Buffs, which were then going 
 to Plymouth, we got out of the coach and went 
 up to the front; where I explained to them the 
 use of that body of men, and of the evolutions 
 which they were performing. After his Majesty 
 had reviewed the regiment collectively, the re- 
 cruits were drawn out at a few paces distant from
 
 John Hunter
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 127 
 
 the left flank, that he iiiigiit examine them sep- 
 arately. So great a crowd had gathered round 
 us, as incommoded our view of the troops, and 
 attracted the notice of the King, who then sent 
 General Harvey to order me with the Indians, 
 into the vacant s})ace between the regiment and 
 the recruits. Here his ]\lajesty rode slowly past 
 them, and condescended to salute them ))y taking 
 off his hat, accompanied with a gracious smile; 
 honours which they were highly pleased with, and 
 often mentioned afterwards with great exultation. 
 Nor were they in the least displeased that his 
 Majesty did not speak to them; since I had pre- 
 viously told them not to expect it; and they ob- 
 served that he spoke to none but the commanding 
 officer, and one or tw^o of those who were in at- 
 tendance. 
 
 They were afterwards greatly diverted at the 
 expence of the Hon. Stephen Fox. That gentle- 
 man came to Holland House on purpose to see the 
 Indians there; but when he arrived, they were 
 at the end of a long gallery : Stephen being rather 
 out of wind with walking up stairs, sat down at 
 the door to wait their return, where he unfoi'tu- 
 nately fell fast asleep. Although we continued a 
 long time in the house with Lord ' and I^ady Hol- 
 
 • Henry Fox, first Lord Holland, was the fathor of the above men- 
 tioned Stephen Fox, afterward second Lord Holland, and of Charles James 
 Fox. Henry diofl in 1774, the year followirin Cartwrijiht's visit, and the 
 death of Stephen soon followed, as iiiiKhl he expected from (he descrip- 
 tion of this gentleman as given by our author. Holland House, which 
 became a great social centre during the life of the thirrl Lord Holland, 
 Henry Richard \';L-!jall Fox, is still standing in Kensington.
 
 128 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 land, lie did not awake from his slumber till we 
 had got into the coach to go away; when he 
 mounted his poney and gallopped off. His man- 
 ner of retreat made them express great compas- 
 sion for the poor beast, whose unfortunate lot it 
 was to carry so great a weight at such a rate ; nor 
 could I help censuring him myself for cruelty, till 
 I was informed that he would have fallen asleep 
 on horse-back had he gone slower. Then, indeed, 
 I pitied both horse and rider. 
 
 I continued in London till the month of Febru- 
 ary; at which time I took the Indians with me 
 to my father's house at Marnham in Nottingham- 
 shire, where we stayed six weeks. Wliile we were 
 there I amused them with all kinds of field diver- 
 sions : we also made several visits in the neighbor- 
 hood; particularly one to Kelham, where Lord 
 George Sutton politely invited our whole family, 
 and entertained my friends with a fox-chase. For- 
 tunately we had an excellent run of twelve miles, 
 and it was very singular, that, although the In- 
 dians had been on horse-back only three times 
 before, they were both in at the death; which hap- 
 pened in an open field, with three couple and a 
 half of hounds, out of twenty-five couples; a proof 
 how hard they must have driven him. 
 
 I soon found the country agree much better 
 with their inclinations, as well as their health, 
 than London. Here they could enjoy fresh air 
 and exercise, without being distressed by crowds 
 of people gathering round them whenever they 
 stirred out; which was always the case in town.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 129 
 
 Tlie women, according to the universal disposition 
 of the fair sex, enjoyed visiting and dancing; and 
 I nuist say, that Caubvick attained to great per- 
 fection in that graceful accomplishment, during 
 her short stay. The men were best pleased with 
 sporting; the exquisite nose of the hound, which 
 could follow an animal by the scent, over an open 
 country or througli a thick wood, ahnost as swiftly 
 as he could have done had the creature been in 
 view, the sagacity and steadiness of the pointer, 
 and the speed of the greyhound, were matters of 
 great astonislmient to them. But above all, they 
 were most struck with the strength, beauty, and 
 utility of that piece of perfection in the brute crea- 
 tion, that noble animal, the horse. 
 
 The face of the country did not pass unobserved 
 by them, and their expression was '' The land is 
 all made; " for they supposed that we had cut 
 down the woods, and levelled the hills. Li the 
 former supposition they were certainly I'ight; and 
 I do not wonder at the latter, since they would 
 naturally suppose that all the world was like the 
 small part of it which they had formerly seen; 
 and which is almost an entire collection of hills 
 covered with thick woods. As they had never 
 before seen any cultivated land (except a few 
 small gardens, which they observed were dug with 
 a spade) they formed an idcn <»!' <>iir immense 
 numbers, by being al)l(' t<» lill so much land and 
 consume the produce of it in ,i year; exclusive of 
 the ;niimal food with wliidi Ihey saw our tables 
 and iii.'ii'kets abounded. I low the inhabitants of
 
 130 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 London were supplied with food, I could never 
 make them fully comprehend, any more than I 
 could the number of people by which the metrop- 
 olis was inhabited. Their arithmetic goes no 
 higher than the number twenty-one; therefore, 
 the best I could do, was to tell them, that a certain 
 number of large whales would serve them for one 
 meal only. Nothing surprised them more, than 
 to meet with a man who assured them he could 
 not shoot, had never killed an animal, nor seen 
 the sea in his life. 
 
 After my return to town, by his Majesty's per- 
 mission, I took them to Court; where their dresses 
 and behaviour made them greatly taken notice of. 
 They were also at the houses of several of the 
 nobility and people of fashion; and I omitted 
 nothing, which came within the compass of my 
 pocket, to make their stay in England agreeable, 
 or to impress them with ideas of our riches and 
 strength. The latter I thought highly necessary, 
 as they had often, when in Labrador, spoken of 
 our numbers with great contempt, and told me 
 they were so numerous, that they could cut otf all 
 the English with great ease, if they thought 
 proper to collect themselves together; an opinion 
 which could not fail to produce in me very un- 
 pleasant reflections. But they had not been long 
 in London before they confessed to me, that the 
 Esquimaux were but as one, compared to that of 
 the English. 
 
 At the same time, I did not neglect to provide 
 everything that was necessary for my return. I
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 131 
 
 represented to the Earl oi" Dartnioutli (who was 
 then at the head of the board of trade and planta- 
 tions) the unjust proceedings of Noble and Pin- 
 son, in dispossessing me of my fishing-posts, and 
 obtained an order for mv salmon-tisherv in 
 Charles River to be restored; but I could not suc- 
 ceed with respect to my sealing-post near Cape 
 Charles. I also presented to his lordship a plan 
 for the encouragement of the trade in Labrador, 
 and was examined by the board upon that head. 
 Their report was laid before his Majesty in coun- 
 cil, and my plan was partially adopted. 
 
 The term of my partnership with Perkins and 
 Coghlan being expired, T dissolved it, and made 
 preparation for returning to Labrador on my own 
 bottom; which the liberalitv of mv father enabled 
 me to do, by assisting me with tw^o thousand 
 poimds. 
 
 THE END OF THE FIRST VOYAGE.
 
 132 CAPTAIN CAKTWRIGHT'S 
 
 THE SECOND VOYAGE 
 
 May, 1773. Having purchased a brig of eighty 
 tons, and named her the Lady Tyrconnel/ I 
 shipped on board her all such goods as had been 
 provided in London; and having ordered others 
 at Lymmington, Weymouth, and Waterford, I 
 quitted my house on the fifth of May, and em- 
 barked on board my vessel in the river Thames; 
 together with Mrs. Selby, the Lidians, Mr. John 
 Williams, a surgeon, whom I had engaged to serve 
 me in the capacity of clerk also, his wife, a maid- 
 servant, a cooper named William Mather, and two 
 apprentice boys. The command of the vessel I 
 gave to Mr. George Monday, late Master of the 
 Mary, in which I returned from Labrador; and I 
 brought along with me a brace of greyhounds, a 
 terrier, and some tame rabbits. A party of friends 
 dined on board with me, and we had a merry 
 leave-taking. 
 
 Saturday, May 8, 1773. Having now completed 
 all my business in town, and the wind being fair, 
 at two o'clock this afternoon we made sail down 
 the river; the Esquimaux well pleased in the ex- 
 pectation of soon seeing their native country, 
 their relations and friends again; and I very 
 
 *The name of Cartwright's aunt.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 133 
 
 liai)py iu the prospect of carrying tlieni back, ap- 
 parently in perfect health. 
 
 Tuesday, May 11, 1773. We passed through the 
 Downs this evening, when I discharged the pilot, 
 and went to sea. 
 
 Th ursday, May 13, 1773. The pleasing prospects 
 which I so lately had before me were of very short 
 duration; for this evening as Caubvick was going to 
 bed, she complained of great sickness at her stom- 
 acli, had a very bad night, and daily grew w^orse. 
 On my arrival at L^nnmington on the thirteenth, 
 and consulting a surgeon there, (for my own, I 
 found, was utterly ignorant of her complaint) he 
 declared her malady to be the small-pox: which 
 had nearly tlie same effect on me, as if he had pro- 
 nounced my sentence of death. As it was vain to 
 expect that the rest should escaj^e the infection, 
 medicines were immediately given to prepare 
 them for it; and I thought it a fortunate circum- 
 stance, that an opportunity offered for doing it.^ 
 
 Having taken on board forty tons of salt, and 
 some other goods, I sailed from thence on tlu^ 
 eighteenth, and arrived in AVeymoutli Roads a 
 few hours after. There I received on board some 
 nets and other goods from Bridport, and had tlie 
 pleasure to find Caubvick go on as well as pos- 
 silde; her disorder being of the mild kind. I took 
 the others out in the l)oat every day, and we went 
 to the Bill of Portland to shoot niuri's.^ 
 
 On the twenty-second Caub\i<'k tnnied the 
 
 * Vaccination wafl first practised by .Iciincr in 17%. 
 ' Murre or common RuiH^'niot, Vrui troille.
 
 134 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 height, and did not appear to be iii the least dan- 
 ger. At the same time Ickongoque began to com- 
 plain. We sailed for Ireland on the twenty-eighth, 
 bnt the wind taking us ahead when we got off the 
 Bill of Portland, we put back and anchored in Port- 
 land Road. Tooklavinia now was taken ill. 
 
 At two o'clock in the morning of the twenty- 
 nihth, we weighed again, and proceeded down the 
 channel with a fair wind and pleasant weather; 
 still in hopes of arriving in sufficient time for my 
 business; but at ten o'clock, so dreadful a stench 
 pervaded the whole vessel, all the Indians being 
 now ill, that three of the ship's crew now were 
 seized with a fever, and we had reason to expect, 
 that a pestilential disorder would soon attack us 
 all. I therefore ordered captain Monday to carry 
 the vessel into Plymouth, although I foresaw that 
 measure would prove an immense loss to me, by 
 the ruin of my voyage, and we came to an anchor 
 in Catwater the next afternoon at two o'clock. I 
 went on shore immediately, and made a personal 
 application to Earl Cornwallis, Admiral Spry, and 
 the Mayor of Plymouth, for an house to put the 
 Indians in, but could not succeed. 
 
 Monday, May 31, 1773. Ickeuna died this morn- 
 ing, Caubvick had a violent fever on her, and the 
 rest were extremely ill. In the evening I bar- 
 gained for a house at Stonehouse, for two guineas 
 and a half per week. At four o'clock the next 
 morning we weighed and removed the vessel to 
 Stonehouse Pool. I got the Indians on shore un- 
 mediately, and Ickcongoque died that night.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 135 
 
 Wednes., Jiiue 2, 1773. On the second I en- 
 gaged Dr. Farr, the physician to the Naval Hos- 
 pital, and Mr. Monier, an apothecary of Plymouth, 
 to attend the Indians; and, by the doctor's direc- 
 tions, I removed the two men into separate tents, 
 which I had pitched in an adjoining close. In the 
 evening I went to Plymouth, in order to set off for 
 London, which I did the next morning at six 
 o'clock, and arrived there at two in the afternoon 
 of the fifth. 
 
 On the morning of the sixth I waited on the 
 Earl of Dartmouth, his Majesty's Principal Sec- 
 retary of State for America, and acquainted his 
 lordship with what had happened. And I must 
 take this opportunit}'- of gratefully acknowledg- 
 ing the many obligations which I had the honor 
 to receive from his lordship upon this, as well as 
 upon several other occasions. 
 
 Thursdajj, June 10, 1773. I left London on my 
 return to Plymouth at six o'clock this morning, 
 and arrived at Stonehouse on Saturday evening. 
 I was now informed that both the men died in the 
 night of the third Instant, and that Caubvick had 
 been given over, but was at length in a fair way 
 of recovery, though reduced to a skeleton, and 
 troubled with a great many large boils. She re- 
 covered so verv slowlv, that it was not until the 
 fourth r)f July that T durst venture to remove her, 
 when T once more embarked with her and all the 
 rest of my family Texcept my maid whom \ had 
 disfhai-ged foi- bad behaviour) to proceed on my 
 intended voyage.
 
 136 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 We sailed from Plymouth early in the morning 
 of the fifth, but meeting with contrary winds we 
 had a tedious passage to Waterford, for we did 
 not arrive there till the afternoon of the tenth. It 
 was some consolation, however, to be favoured 
 with fine weather, and to catch great plenty of 
 mackarel every day. 
 
 My time was taken up till the sixteenth, in pur- 
 chasing and getting on board such provisions as I 
 had occasion for; I also hired another woman- 
 servant, and on that day I sailed for Labrador. 
 
 As voyages across the Atlantic at this time of 
 the year are generally tedious, by reason of the 
 prevalency of the westerly wind, I was not sur- 
 prised, that this proved longer than was conve- 
 nient to me. The weather, in general, was exceed- 
 ingly fine, and we caught plenty of fish of different 
 kinds; such as mackarel,^ a small shark, a few 
 fish greatly resembling tench, (which I killed with 
 an Esquimau birding-dart under the stern) a por- 
 poise and a dolphin. It is not usual for dolphins ^ 
 to come so far north, but we saw two, three 
 bonetas ^ and a few flying-fish ^ in the latitude of 
 49° 15', on the twelfth of August. 
 
 Caubvick's hair falling off, and being matted 
 with the small-pox, I had much difficulty to pre- 
 vail on her to permit me to cut it off, and shave 
 her head. Notwithstanding I assured her that the 
 
 ' Scomber scomheus. 
 2 Coryphcena hippurus. 
 
 3 Probably tuna or horse-mackerel Thunntis thynnus. 
 * Exocoetus volitans.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 137 
 
 smell oi' tile liair would euimnunicate the iufeetion 
 to the rest of her eountiy folks ou her return, yet 
 I was not able to prevail on her to consent to its 
 being thro^Yn overboard. She angril}' snatched it 
 from me, locked it up in one of her trunks, and 
 never would permit me to get sight of it after- 
 wards; flying into a violent passion of anger and 
 grief whenever I mentioned the subject, which I 
 did almost every day, in hopes of succeeding at 
 last. 
 
 Friclai/, August 27, 1773. This evening at sun- 
 set w^e got sight of the land, and judged om-selves 
 to be nine or ten leagues from it; the next morn- 
 ing at day-light we found ourselves about three 
 leagues from Cape St. Francis, and at eight 
 o'clock at night came to an anchor in Charles 
 Harbour. 
 
 Sundaij. August 29, 1773. Early in the morning 
 I went on shore at Stage Cove, and found the 
 house locked up. I sent the boat to the Lodge, 
 and walked across the Barrens to Bare Point, 
 where I met her again, Avith two of my people on 
 board. From them I learned that they had killed 
 in the winter as many seals as produced twelve 
 tuns <»r oil: and caught fifty tierces of salmon this 
 suninici-. I shot six curlews, and n utov plover' 
 in my way thither, and returned to llic boat. 
 
 Tuesdaj/, August 31, 1773. About noon almost 
 the whole of the three southernmost Iribes of Es- 
 (|uimaux, amoiuiting to five hundi'ed souls or 
 
 ' Thf bird known in Enjjlimrl its the Rn-y plover w rallc<l by American 
 omithologiHts thf hliirk-bellicd plover, SquaUirola sqvuiUirola.
 
 138 CAi^TAi^ CAETWRIGHT'S 
 
 thereabouts, arrived from Chateau in twenty-two 
 old English and French boats (having heard of 
 my arrival from some boats belonging to that 
 port, which returned from this neighborhood in 
 the night of Saturday last) but the wind did not 
 suit them to come hither till this morning. 
 
 I placed myself upon a rock near the water-side, 
 and Caubvick sat down a few paces behind me. 
 We waited for the landing of the Indians with 
 feelings very different from theirs; who were hur- 
 Tying along with tumultuous joy at the thoughts 
 of immediately meeting their relations and 
 friends again. As the shore would not permit 
 them to land out of their boats, they brought them 
 to their anchors at a distance off, and the men 
 came in their kyacks, each bringing two other 
 persons, lying flat on their faces; one behind and 
 the other before, on the top of the skin covering. 
 On drawing near the shore, and perceiving only 
 Caubvick and myself, their joy abated, and their 
 countenances assumed a different aspect. Being 
 landed, they fixed their eyes on Caubvick and me, 
 in profound, gloomy silence. At length, with 
 great perturbation and in faltering accents, they 
 enquired, separately, what was become of the rest; 
 and were no sooner given to understand, by a 
 silent, sorrowful shake of my head, that they were 
 no more, than they instantly set up such a yell, as I 
 had never before heard. Many of them, but par- 
 ticularly the women, snatched up stones, and beat 
 themselves on the head and face till they became 
 shocking spectacles; one pretty young girl (a
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 139 
 
 sister to the late two men) gave herself so severe 
 a blow upon the cheek-bone, that she bruised and 
 cut the tiesh shockingly, and almost beat an eye 
 out. In short, the violent, frantic expressions of 
 grief were such, as far exceeded my imagination; 
 and I could not help participating with them so 
 far, as to shed tears most plentifully. T\\ey no 
 sooner observed my emotion, than, mistaking it 
 for the apprehensions which I w^as under for fear 
 of their resentment, the}^ instantly seemed to for- 
 get their own feelings, to relieve those of mine. 
 They pressed round me, clasped my hands, and 
 said and did all in their powder to convince me, 
 that they did not entertain any suspicion of my 
 conduct towards their departed friends. As soon 
 as the first violent transports of grief began to 
 subside, I related the melancholy tale, and ex- 
 plained to them, as well as I could, the disorder 
 by which they w^ere carried off; and pointed to 
 Caubvick, who bore very strong, as w^ell as recent, 
 marks of it. They often looked very attentively 
 at her, but, during the whole time, they never 
 spoke one word to her, nor she to them. As soon 
 as I had brought the afflicting story to a conclu- 
 sion, they assured me of their belief of every par- 
 ticular, and renewed their declarations of friend- 
 ship. Their stay afterwards was but short; they 
 presently reimbarked, weighed their anchors, and 
 ran across the harbour to Raft Tickle, where they 
 landed and encamped: the rest of the afternoon 
 and the whole of the night was s]>ent in horrid 
 yellings, which were considerably augmented by
 
 140 CAPTAIN CARTWEIGHT'S 
 
 the variety of echoes, produced from the multi- 
 plicity of hills surrounding the harbour, till the 
 whole rung again with sounds that almost pet- 
 rified the blood of the brig's crew and my new 
 servants. 
 
 Wednes., September 1, 1773, I sent three In- 
 dian shallops up the river for wood. My people 
 were at work on the platform. At noon I sailed 
 for Chateau in an Indian shallop; but the wind 
 shifting I turned back. I then visited the Indians 
 at their Camp; they received me very well, but 
 not with that lively joy they were wont; the late 
 melancholy news having spread an universal sor- 
 row throughout the tents. They took great pains 
 to assure me, that they still continued their friend- 
 ship for me, and desired I would not be under 
 any apprehensions on account of what had 
 happened. In the evening all the shallops re- 
 turned with wood. I killed a black-duck and a 
 curlew. 
 
 I found Caubvick along with this [Eskimo] 
 family, and wondered at her taking so cordially 
 to her former way of living, after the comfort and 
 luxury to which she had lately been used, and 
 which she seemed most heartily to enjoy. Twee- 
 gock, the girl whom I had bought, and Caubvick 
 came along with me in the shallop. 
 
 Thursday, September 16, 1773. Having found, 
 by a variety of instances, that Shuglawina, the 
 chief of these tribes, is not only a man of superior 
 understanding, but also one whose fidelity and 
 honesty may be relied on, I made him up a small
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 141 
 
 cargo of goods to take home with hhn; aud deter- 
 mined that he should go to the northward next 
 smnmer, to trade w^th the whaling tribes of his 
 nation; for I understand that the southern Li- 
 dians never kill any whales/ but either purchase 
 whalebone from the northern tribes, or cut it out 
 of a dead whale when they chance to meet with 
 one, which often happens. 
 
 The Lidians being all assembled now% and the 
 wind fair, the whole fleet sailed to-day for their 
 respective settlements; and w^e parted on the 
 most friendly terms. 
 
 Tuesday, September 38, 1773. Being in a con- 
 tinual hurry of business and much perplexity, by 
 reason of my distressed situation, I have ne- 
 glected to keep a regular journal. 
 
 This morning I took a walk upon the hills to 
 the w^estward, and killed seven brace of grouse.- 
 These birds are exactly the same with those of 
 the same name in Europe, save only in the colour 
 of their feathers, which are speckled with white 
 in summr'7% and perfectly white in winter, (four- 
 
 ' There are five species of large whales regularly found on the Labrador 
 coast at the present time besides several smaller whales or porpoises. 
 The five large whales are: siilpliiir-boltom, Balnmnptern miisniln.s; fin- 
 bark, B. phy.'induH ; pike-headed, li. nculoroMraln ; polku^k, B. horculis 
 hump-baeked, Megaplera nodosa. The southorn right whale, Ralfwna 
 glncialis, is now extirpated in that region owing to the efforts of the Basque 
 fishermen from the Ifith to the end of the ISth nenturi(>s. It wjw prnbubly 
 rare in Cartwright's time, although eommon ejirlier. The sjx'nn whale, 
 Phyneln mnrmnphdluH, is a more southern speeies, but ocrasionally wan- 
 ders to the Labrador coa.st. 
 
 ' Willf)W ptarmigan, Lurio/nm Idfjnpv/^, also ff)und in Europe jind Asia. 
 The red grouse of Gniat Britain, L(mo[)iui Scolican, docs not turn whitu 
 in winter.
 
 142 CAPTAIN C ART WRIGHT'S 
 
 teen black ones in the tail excepted) which always 
 remain the same. 
 
 When I was in England,* Mr. Banks, Doctor 
 Solander, and several other naturalists having 
 enquired of me, respecting the manner of these 
 birds changing colour, I took particular notice of 
 those I killed, and can aver, for a fact, that they 
 get at this time of the year a very large addition 
 of feathers, all of which are white; and that the 
 coloured feathers at the same time change to 
 white. In spring, most of the white feathers drop 
 off, and are succeeded by coloured ones: or, I 
 rather believe, all the white ones drop off, and 
 that they get an entirely new set.^ At the two 
 seasons they change very differently; in the 
 spring, beginning at the neck, and spreading from 
 thence; now, they begin on the belly, and end at 
 the neck. There are also ptharmagans in this 
 country, w^hich are in all respects, the same as 
 those I have killed on some high mountains in 
 Scotland.^ 
 
 Wednes., October 6, 1773. [At White Cove] 
 I killed a brace of spruce-game with my rifle, and 
 a diver with shot; and one of my people killed a 
 
 * Now Sir Joseph Banks. ^ 
 
 1 An English naturalist and patron of science. He equipped the En- 
 deavour, and accompanied Cook's first expedition 1768-71, visited Iceland 
 in 1772 and was president of the Royal Society from 1778 to 1820. 
 
 2 This latter view is the one generally accepted today, especially by 
 most American ornithologists, who have discarded the view that the 
 colour of the mature feather changes. 
 
 ' The ptarmiaian found in tho Highlands of Scotland is Lagoptis wiifvs, 
 and turns white in winter. The American bird h? refers to is the rock 
 ptarmigan, Lagopus rupestris,
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 143 
 
 pair uf pied-birds,^ which afforded us an excellent 
 supper, ur we must hare fasted. 
 
 Sidtihtij, October 10, 1773. Li the morning I got 
 some things into the boat and went up to the 
 Lodge, where I found all well, except that my 
 maid-servant had run away with John Temple- 
 ton, (Noble and Pinson's head-man) and that the' 
 Indian man (my slave girl's father) was dead, 
 and had left me a legacy of two wives and three 
 children. This man sailed in a bait-skiff (wdiich 
 was the price of his daughter) along with the rest 
 of his countrymen; but meeting with a severe gale 
 of wind, he soon after parted from them, lost his 
 kyack, and was near losing himself and all his 
 family. This disaster caused him to return, and 
 to beg I would permit hun to winter near my seal- 
 hig-post. I foresaw that great inconvenience and 
 expense would be the consequence of permitting 
 him to become so near a neighbour; but as I was 
 well aware that they must all perish if I refused, 
 humanity would not suffer me to give him a 
 denial. This was the first night I slept at home 
 since my arrival upon the coast, and my bed w^as 
 now laid upon the floor; but even that w^as luxury, 
 having seldom had my clothes off these six weeks 
 past, and constantly slept before the fire. 
 
 Monday, November 7, 1773. The brig not being 
 yet returned from Quel)ec, and the season so far 
 advanced, this day we went to short allowance for 
 
 ' See note on pipd-duck. It is possihlc he refers hero to tJie oyster - 
 ratrher, HfFmnlnpus ptillinlus, now exf ir[)!ite<| from Labrador, but 
 cotnmoD when Audubon waa there in IS'M.
 
 144 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 the winter, viz. fourteen pounds of flour, three 
 pounds of rice, four pounds and a half of bread, 
 and three quarts of peas per week, for nine people ; 
 as for meat, we have plenty. 
 
 Tuesday, November 9, 1773. To my inexpres- 
 sible comfort, this day a boat came up here and 
 informed me that the brig was returned from 
 Quebec, and had brought me all I wrote for. 
 
 Thursday, November 11, 1773. After a famine 
 comes a feast. Yesterday I had scarcely enough 
 to live on; today w^e abound in luxuries. I have 
 now, not only great plenty of dry provisions, but 
 also two sheep, several turkies, geese, ducks and 
 fowls; also potatoes, cabbages, carrots, onions 
 and apples. 
 
 Tuesday, November 16, 1773. I went round my 
 traps and had one marten. In the evening my 
 slave girl ran away; I pursued her by her foot- 
 steps in the snow on this side of the river, to the 
 Narrows: night then coming on I returned, 
 knowing she could not cross it below. 
 
 Wednes., November 17, 1773. Early in the 
 morning I crossed the river in search of the girl, 
 and found the marks of her feet where she had 
 crossed the ice, a little below the house, and 
 tracked her below the Narrows; where I met a 
 skiff, coming up from the sealing-post, with her 
 on board. She arrived late last night at her 
 mother's house. This boat brought some more 
 boards, and two casks of corn for the poultry; 
 likewise a letter from captain Monday, inform- 
 ing me that the vessel was ready for sea.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 145 
 
 Friday, Xove)nber 19, 177 S. After breakfast I 
 went down in the boat to Stage Cove, and there 
 had the satisfaction to find ahnost all the sealing- 
 eraft in order, and four nets out; I liauled them, 
 but had nothing. At night I slept on board the 
 Ladv Tvreonnel. 
 
 Moderate frosty weather. 
 
 Saturdai/, November 20, 1773. We unmoored at 
 nine this morning, hauled out of the cove, and 
 weighed the anchor; when we found the sails so 
 hard frozen, that it was with great difficulty we 
 got them loose. We ran out of the harbour 
 through Enterprize Tickle, and got to sea. I 
 brought awa}^ Noozelliack, a boy about twelve 
 years of age; part of the old man's legacy. 
 
 It froze exceedingly hard last night, and this 
 morning proved clear and fine; but at noon it be- 
 gan to snow fast, and continued till after dark. 
 The sides of the A-essel were a foot thick of ice, all 
 round near the water edge, and every rope was 
 quite stiff with frost. 
 
 Tuesday, November 23, 1773. I had hitherto 
 intended going to St. John's in Newfoundland, to 
 try to get a freight for the vessel, she having onl}^ 
 eleven tons of seal-oil and a few furs on Ijoard; 
 but the wind being directly against us, and the 
 season far spent, lliis morning I ordered the mas- 
 ter to Ijeai- away for England. 
 
 It was not initil to-day that llie ice fell off our 
 sides, and the ropes grew lini])er. 
 
 The passage was extremely fine, considering 
 the time of the vear; foi- we lind a rontiimed fair,
 
 146 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 moderate wind, with good weather till we got into 
 soundings, which w^as on the fifth of December, 
 when the wind came to the eastw^ard. On the 
 sixth came on a smart gale, which continued all 
 the next day, and reduced us to our courses. At 
 night we were so near being run down by a stout 
 snow, that our jib-boom touched her tafferel as 
 she passed us; for she had mistaken the tack 
 which we were upon. The wind came round again 
 on the tenth, and we got sight of Scilly that morn- 
 ing. We saw the Lizard in the afternoon, got into 
 the Downs on the night of the twelfth, and in the 
 afternoon of the fourteenth came to an anchor at 
 Cherry Garden Stairs. I landed immediately, and 
 hastened to George's Coffee-house, where I aston- 
 ished several of my old friends, by the great quan- 
 tity of beef-steakes which I ate to my dinner; for 
 I had not had one good meal since I left Ranger 
 Lodge. 
 
 Fearing lest Noozelliack should take the small 
 pox in the natural way, I determined to have him 
 inoculated.^ For this purpose I went to Knights- 
 bridge the next morning, and waited on Mr. Sut- 
 ton; to whom I told what had happened to those 
 Indians I was carrying back in the spring, and 
 desired him to receive the boy into his own house 
 and take all possible care of him ; which he readily 
 consented to do. I left the boy with Mr. Sutton 
 on the seventeenth, and when he thought he had 
 
 ^ Inoculation for smallpox was introduced in Europe from the East 
 by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, and was first performed in London 
 in 1721. About 1800 it was superseded by vaccination.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 147 
 
 sufficiently prepared liiiii, lie introduced the in- 
 fection. The disease appeared in due time, but he 
 died in three days after; so fatal is that disorder 
 to this race of mortals! 
 
 This was a very great mortification and disap- 
 pointment to me; for, as I intended, at a future 
 period, to have visited all the northern tribes of 
 Esquimaux, I had brought home this boy, in order 
 to put him to school to be instructed in the Eng- 
 lish language; intending him for my interpreter. 
 Through him I should have been enabled to have 
 gained full information of their religion, customs 
 and manners. At the same time, I should have 
 im]iroved myself in their language, my dealings 
 with his countrj^nen would have been greatly 
 facilitated, and I should have acquired much 
 knowledge of the northern parts of the coast. 
 
 THE END OF THE SECOND VOYAGE, AND FIRST VOLUME.
 
 148 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 THE THIRD VOYAGE 
 
 December, 1773. Soon after my arrival in town, 
 I entered into a partnership with captain Robert 
 Scott, late commander of the Speaker East India- 
 man, and Mr. John Scott, his younger brother, 
 who had been his fourth mate on board the said 
 ship. They were jointly to have one half of the 
 trade, and I the other. My vessel and stock were 
 to be received at a valuation of two thousand 
 pounds, and they were to furnish an equal sum 
 in cash. We appointed Mr. Robert Hunter, mer- 
 chant in London, our factor, and ordered him to 
 purchase another vessel for us, and provide such 
 goods as I judged we should want. 
 
 Mr. Hunter having purchased an American- 
 built ship for us, almost new, of two hundred and 
 thirty tons burthen; we named her the Earl of 
 Dartmouth, gave the command of her to Mr. John 
 Dykes , fitted her for sea, and on the tenth of 
 March she sailed for Cadiz, to take in a freight of 
 wines for Mr. Adam Lymburner of Quebec. 
 There she was to procure bread, flour, planks, 
 boards, hogshead and tierce packs, hoops, and 
 such other articles as were cheaper, in general, at 
 that place than in England, and carry them to 
 Charles Harbour for the use of the Company. Mr,
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 149 
 
 Joliu Seott sailed in iier in quality of super- 
 cargo. 
 
 Captain ^londay having misbehaved himself 
 greatly, in several instances, during the course of 
 my last voyage, 1 discharged him, and gave the 
 command of the Lady Tyrconnel to Mr. Thomas 
 Venture. That vessel having taken on board all 
 such things as had been provided in London, 
 sailed on the twenty-third of March for Ply- 
 mouth; where she was to receive several other 
 goods. Captain Scott eml^arked; as did also Mr. 
 James Pitkethley, whom we had hired to serve us 
 in the double capacity of surgeon and clerk, in the 
 place of Mr. Williams. I was to go by land to 
 Poole and Bridport, and meet the vessel at 
 Plymouth. 
 
 I left London the next day, and arrived at 
 Plymouth on the second of April, where I found 
 the vessel safe moored. 
 
 Having shipped off all our goods, and hired a 
 joiner, two men, and a couple of women servants, 
 we sailed at six in the morning of the thirteenth 
 for Waterford or Cork; as the wind might best 
 suit. 
 
 Tlie wind being fair and a fine gale, we ran 
 down the Channel ;i1 the rate of seven knots. At 
 tlu-ee in the afternoon, ('a])tain Venture, ])eing em- 
 ])loyed in the ca])in in i)r('paring some tackle for 
 tiout on his arrival in La])rador, did not pay 
 ])roper attention to the course of the vessel; in 
 fonsequenf-e of wliidi slic i-;m upon llial well- 
 known r(jck called Rujidlcsloiic, which lies about
 
 150 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 four miles southward of the Land's End. She in- 
 stantly stopped, and we imniediately saw many 
 spKnters from her bottom, floating on the surface 
 of the water. In a few minutes she went on again, 
 and we tried the pumps continually, but she made 
 no water; this surprised us greatl}^ for the shock 
 was a severe one. It blew fresh all night, and the 
 tide out of the Irish and Bristol Channels, having 
 set us farther to leeward than we had supposed 
 it would; the next morning we found ourselves 
 far to leeward of Waterford, and therefore bore 
 up for Cork, where we anchored at eight in the 
 evening near the village of Cove. 
 
 On the twenty-eighth we began to unload the 
 vessel. The goods were obliged to be sent up to 
 Cork, and stored under the care of a custom-house 
 officer. We then had a regular survey on the ves- 
 sel, when it was discovered, that eight of her floor 
 timbers on one side, and six on the other were 
 snapped short off. In consequence of which, and 
 the other damages together, she was condemned 
 as unfit to proceed on her voyage. 
 
 On the thirtieth we purchased a new brig, built 
 at Cork, but the inside work was not quite fin- 
 ished; the burthen was one hundred and thirty 
 tons, and name, Success. 
 
 The Lady Tyrconnel being thrown upon the 
 hands of her underwriters, it was necessary that 
 captain Ventfire should remain to take care of 
 her. We therefore appointed Mr. John Lafoyle, 
 late mate of the above vessel, and formerly boat- 
 swain of the Speaker, to be master of the Success;
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 151 
 
 but did not provide any mate under him, as cap- 
 tain Scott imdertook, in fact, to conunand the 
 A'essel. We began to reship the goods on the tlfth 
 of ]\Iay, and having completed every thing by the 
 twelfth, we cleared out of the custom-house, and 
 in the afternoon warped down the river as low as 
 Marshwall End. 
 
 The tide serving in the morning of the four- 
 teenth, we worked down to Cove, where the blun- 
 dering pilot ran the brig aground upon the spit; 
 she floated off again with the flood, and received 
 no damage. 
 
 In working down the river, the people observed 
 a coimtry-man going to Cork to sell milk, which 
 he carried in a couple of churns slung, one on each 
 side of his horse. AVe l)eing then very near the 
 shore, some of them began to banter him, which 
 put him out of temper, and he retorted Avitli some 
 warmth. At that instant the vessel was put in 
 stays; when the shivering of the sails, and the 
 noise which the crew made in l)racing them about, 
 so affrighted the horse that he threw his rider 
 and gall()i)C(l off; spilling the milk all the way 
 he went. A loud laiiuli immediately broke out 
 from the whole crew, accompanied by many taunt- 
 ing speeches, which, together with the biaiise he 
 had received, and the loss nf Ids nnik, so exas- 
 perated pool" Paddy, that lie instantly sti'ipped 
 into buff, advanced to the edge of llic water, and 
 flourished liis fists about in a menacing manner: 
 th\is he vented his anger, })oth by woi'ds and ges- 
 tures, till wc were too far off lo hear his voice.
 
 152 CAPTAIN CART WEIGHT'S 
 
 We had the pleasure to hud our uew vessel sail 
 well; and nothing remarkable occurred till the 
 thirty-first. There being then a great head swell, 
 occasioned by preceding strong gales at west; at 
 one in the afternoon we had the misfortune to 
 carry away our main-mast, eight feet above the 
 deck; the fall of which carried away also the 
 boom, larboard cat-head, bumpkin and rail in the 
 waist; together with both top-masts, and the 
 main-top gallant mast. Unfortunately, two good 
 seamen were aloft at the time, both of whom were 
 saved, but very much bruised; particularly one 
 of them. By ten at night we had got all the wreck 
 on board, and found neither yards nor sails dam- 
 aged. We laid the vessel to under the fore-sail, 
 and the rest went to sleep, while Pitkethly and I 
 kept the watch all night. As there was but little 
 wind she rolled, gunwale to, incessantly; and I 
 often thought she would have turned bottom up; 
 for she is well built for that work, and is the most 
 uneasy vessel in a sea that I ever sailed in. She 
 is also of true Hibernian fabric, having a pine 
 bottom, and oak upper works. 
 
 By six o'clock in the evening of the second of 
 June, we had got up jury-masts, such as they 
 were, and then made sail again. 
 
 Saturday J June 4, 1774. By an observation of 
 the sun and moon, we found our longitude to be 
 36° 24' west from London. We saw a gannet;^ 
 a bird which is seldom seen out of soundings; and 
 many sailors affirm that it never is, but they are 
 
 * Gannet or Solan goose, Sula bassana.
 
 LABRADOR .IOURN.VL 153 
 
 mislakeu. This day we liad anotlier uiisfortuue: 
 we brought two sows big with pig from Ireland, 
 under the assurance that they woidd not pig in 
 less than six weeks, but one of them brought forth 
 today. Being the anniversary of the King's birth- 
 day, (•a])tain Seott and myself drank an extra bot- 
 tle to his Majesty's health, and gave our people 
 some rum, that the}" might do the same. 
 
 Fridaji, Juuc 10, 1774. Tliis day we saw the 
 first penguin and several bulls/ Longitude per ac- 
 count corrected from the last obserA^ation 48° 42'. 
 We have had hard gales with a great sea for this 
 week i^ast, which made the vessel labour prodi- 
 giously. 
 
 Tuesday, June 14, 1774. At four o'clock this 
 morning we saw the island of Belle Isle bearing 
 West Xoi-tli West, distance five leagues. At five 
 we saw the land of Drifty ^lountains, Cape 
 Charles, and Cape St. Lewis; and, continuing our 
 course we ran directly into Charles Harbour, 
 where we anchored at one o'clock in the afternoon, 
 by which we found the observ^ation true within 
 foui- or five Tuiles; an exactness very sufficient 
 foi- every ]»ur])ose. At three T Avent up to the 
 Lodge in a skiff, anrl found .-ill my ]X'0]>le well, 
 excepling one man wlio had lost his toes hy the 
 frost ill ^ilay last; and had the mortification to 
 heai", that there was a general failui'c of seals last 
 season. 
 
 [On June 26, 1774, ** our new dwelling-house " 
 at Stage Cove, r»n the point of land on the noi'th 
 
 • Dovekiea or little auks, Allc alle.
 
 154 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 side of White Bear Bay was begun and on July 
 14th he says: " All the shoremen were employed 
 on the dwelling-house, and the bricklayer began 
 the kitchen chimney."] 
 
 Saturday, August 27, 177 A. Our new house be- 
 ing now habitable, we took possession of it to-day. 
 It is seventy feet by twenty-five, and contains a 
 kitchen twenty-four feet square, a dining room 
 twentj^-four by sixteen, six bed-rooms and a small 
 passage, being only a ground floor; which I pre- 
 ferred, for fear of fire.^ 
 
 Saturday, Septemher 3, 1774. The Otter sailed 
 under the command of captain Dykes, with a 
 cooper's crew, consisting of two coopers, and two 
 young men, for Alexis River, where they are to 
 make hoops during the winter. From thence she 
 is to proceed to Sandwich Bay with Joseph 
 Friend, a youngster, and an apprentice, where 
 they are to remain during the winter, to kill furs ; 
 and in the sprmg, to prepare for a salmon-fish- 
 ery. 
 
 Saturday, October 1, 1774. In the morning I 
 sent two hands to look at the traps by Atkinson 
 Pond: one of the small ones was carried away by 
 a bear: they killed a pair of ladies and an aunt- 
 sary. At one o'clock this afternoon, I married 
 William Bettres to Catharine Gourd (one of the 
 maid-servants whom we brought from Plymouth; 
 the other returned with captain Scott.) The re- 
 
 ^ On July 30, 1906 I traced the faint remains of the ruins of this house, 
 and satisfied myself by measurements of its identity. See " Along the 
 Labrador Coast," pp. 217-220.
 
 LABRADOH JOURNAL 155 
 
 maiuder of the day was spent by all the servants 
 in great festivity. 
 
 Tuesday, October 18, 1774. The man whom I 
 sent vesterdav for the trai), found his wav back 
 at noon; he had lost himself, although the dis- 
 tance is not more than two miles, and no wood so 
 high as his head all the way. I gave him a severe 
 beating, to cause him to take more care in future 
 than rim the risk of losing his life through stu- 
 pidity and carelessness. At the same time I in- 
 structed him in unerring rules how to find his way 
 home, should he ever be bewildered hereafter. 
 
 [The winter passed uneventfully in the usual 
 occupations of trapping and shooting.] 
 
 Sunday, April 2, 1775. At six o'clock this morn- 
 ing, I set off for Port Marnham on a deer-shooting 
 party, taking Indian Jack, with our provisions 
 and necessaries, upon my Esquimau sled, drawn 
 by a couple of blood-hounds and a Newfoimdland 
 dog. 
 
 Monday, April 3, 1775. Early in the morning, 
 I ordered the Indian boy home, with the sled and 
 dogs; but the bad weather which soon came on, 
 caused him to return. I went up Porcupine Hill 
 and traversed about there till the weather drove 
 me back again. T killed an old ])orcu])ine big with 
 young, ready to bring foi-th. I do not know how 
 many these creatures have at a }»irth; but imagine 
 they are not very prolific: for if they w^ere, they 
 would destroy all the ti'ees in the country, as they 
 feed on nothing but llic rinds ^ the whole winter, 
 
 ' Bark of trfica.
 
 156 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 and by so doing kill a prodigious number of trees 
 of all sorts; tliougb tliey prefer the silver-fir to 
 all others. In spring, they are very fond of the 
 leaves of the larch, and in the autumn, they eat 
 a bad species of mushrooms, which grow here in 
 tolerable plenty. This creature is a good deal like 
 the beaver, in size and shape; the only difference 
 is in the tail and feet. They both sit up, and make 
 use of their fore feet to feed themselves with. 
 The porcupine readily climbs trees, for which pur- 
 pose he is furnished with very long claws; and, 
 in winter, when he mounts into a tree, I believe 
 he does not come down till he has eaten the bark 
 from the bottom to the top. He generally makes 
 his course through a wood, in a straight direction ; 
 seldom missing a tree, unless such as are old. He 
 loves the young ones best, and devours so much, 
 eating only the inner part of the rind, that I have 
 frequently known one porcupine ruin near a hun- 
 dred trees in a winter. A man who is acquainted 
 with the nature of these animals, will seldom miss 
 finding them when the snow is on the ground, if 
 he can but hit upon the rinding of that winter; 
 by making a circuit round the barked trees, he 
 will soon come upon his track, unless a very deep 
 snow should chance to fall after his last ascent. 
 Having once discovered that, he will not be long, 
 ere he find the animal. The belly of a porcupine 
 is covered with coarse fur, but all the rest of him, 
 with sharp prickles; the longest and strongest 
 of which are on his rump and tail. It is a received 
 opinion, that a porcupine can dart his quills at
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 157 
 
 pleasure into a distant oljji'd; Imt, I venture to 
 affirm that this species cannot (whatever any 
 other may do) for I have taken nutch pains to 
 ascertain the fact.^ On the approach of danger, 
 he retreats into a hole, if possible; btit where he 
 cannot find one, he seizes upon the best shelter 
 that offers, sinks his nose between his fore legs, 
 and defends himself by a sharp stroke of his tail, 
 or a sudden jerk of his back. As the quills are 
 bearded at their points, and not deeply rooted in 
 the skin, they stick firmly into whatever they 
 penetrate. Great care shottld be taken to extract 
 them immediatelv; otherwise, bv the muscular 
 motion of the animal into which they are struck, 
 enforced by the beards of the quills, they soon 
 work themselves quite through the part; but I 
 never perceived the puncture to be attended with 
 worse sym2)toms, than that of a chirurgical in- 
 strument.^ 
 
 This porcupine chanced to be upon the ground; 
 and my greyhound, which always attends me and 
 never had seen one before, no sooner set eyes on 
 him, than he struck at him with the same resolu- 
 tion that he would have done at a fox. I thought 
 he would instantly have gone mad. His tongue, 
 the whole inside of his mouth, his nose and face 
 were stuck as full of quills, as it was possible foi- 
 tlicin to be; insomuch, that his mouth was gagged 
 wide open, and he was in such agony, Hial he 
 
 'This is a rommon " received opinion " at tho prospnt day, but Cart 
 wrif^ht's statement is rorreot. 
 
 - It is to he rfmornbcTed that " ciiinirniciil iiiHlruincntw " in those days 
 were not aneptic.
 
 158 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 would have bit me, when I attempted to give him 
 relief, could he have closed his mouth. Upon 
 returning to the house, I made Jack hold him 
 down, and then, with the assistance of a pair of 
 bullet moulds, in about three hours time, I ex- 
 tracted most of them. Some were broken too 
 short to take hold of, and I drew out several by 
 their points, which had penetrated quite through 
 the roof of his mouth and the cartilage of his nose. 
 
 Tuesday, April 4, 1775. We singed the porcu- 
 pine, and made a good soup of it. 
 
 It blew, snowed, and drifted exceedingly hard, 
 with sharp frost all day. 
 
 Thursday, May 11, 1775. Some of the people 
 were employed in making a salmon-net, others in 
 collecting sealing-craft, and the rest in carrying 
 away the chips and dirt from about the house. I 
 caught an ermine ^ in the store-room. 
 
 It rained till six in the morning, and froze after- 
 wards. 
 
 Monday, May 15, 1775. I saw the first shell- 
 birds, divers and sandlarks.^ I went out a duck- 
 shooting in the evening, and killed four, and a pair 
 of shellbirds; and had a marten in one of my, 
 traps on Otter Point. 
 
 Sunday, May 27, 1775. I went out in a skiff 
 this morning to Battle Harbour ^ and the adjacent 
 
 ^ Bonaparte's weasel, Putorius cicognanii. It is brown in summer and 
 white in winter. 
 
 ^ Probably sandpipers although he may refer to the horned lark or 
 shore lark, Otocoris alpestris. 
 
 ^ This is the first mention by Cartwright of that now important fishing- 
 station.
 
 3 
 O 
 
 u 
 
 a 
 
 a.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 159 
 
 Islands, and killed thirty ducks and a paii' of 
 ladies. 
 
 Sundaijy June 4, 1775. At eight o'clock this 
 morumg I sailed in the Otter, with five of our 
 people and Indian Jack, for Alexis River and 
 Sandwich Bay. At two we were abreast of Port 
 Charlotte; and the wind taking us a head, we 
 ^vorked to windward up Alexis River, as high as 
 a small cove in Denbigh Island, opposite to Sugar 
 Island, where we anchored at ten at night. I had 
 been out in the skiff, and shot a goose. The boat 
 proved so leaky, that the spudgel * was scarce 
 ever out of hand. 
 
 M 0)1 da I/, June o, 1775. AVeighing at day-light, 
 we towed and worked till eleven o'clock, and find- 
 ing we gained nothing, came to an anchor again 
 off the east head of Ship Harbour. I went off 
 innnediately in the punt with two hands up the 
 river, landed at midnight opposite to Grove Is- 
 land, and lay down to sleep. T^ast night seven 
 hundred spudgels of water, was thrown out of the 
 boat in three hours. 
 
 Tuesday^ June 6, 1775. At half past three this 
 morning, we rowed into Grove Tickle, where we 
 found a ])oat's crew of Toghlan's, rinding; from 
 them we learned where oui* coo])ers lived, and ar- 
 rived at theii- house at five o'clock. T foinid they 
 had marie five hundred and fifty bundles of hoops, 
 and had cauii:ht twelve martens and one fox. 
 The Mountaineei' Indians, with whom we ;iic ac- 
 
 • A sjiii'lcfl i'i M Hpifill soH of l»iickf't fixcfl in thf cni] nf m HfafT; and 
 ifl used to bail honfs uitli. when they have not a puinj) li\<'<l in them.
 
 160 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 quainted, being on Nevile Island, I went there and 
 got the skins of ten martens, four foxes, four 
 beavers, and three otters of them, in part of their 
 debt to us. At noon, bringing the whole crew with 
 me, I set off for the Shalloway, and got on board 
 her at four o'clock, and then sent one cooper and 
 a youngster back immediately in a flat, and sailed 
 for Sandwich Bay. At night we anchored in Fish- 
 ing-ships Harbour. One of the people saw fresh 
 slot of deer, on the easternmost island. 
 
 Thursday, June 8, 1775. At four this morning 
 we weighed and went to sea. I went off in the 
 skiff, with four hands, to take a view of the islands 
 on the outside of Stoney Island; the largest of 
 which forms a very fine harbour for small vessels, 
 between it and Stoney Island. It runs N. E. and 
 S. W., has a fair, narrow entrance at each end, but 
 widens in the middle by a cove in the small Island, 
 on which we found a hind and calf. I shot the 
 hind, and then lying down close to her, caught 
 the calf by a leg as it came to suck. Observing 
 the drift ice to draw nearer in shore, and it being 
 calm, I went out to the shalloway and towed her 
 into this harbour. I then sent two men to take 
 a cruise over Stoney Island, and gave them but 
 one gun. I soon perceived one of them throwing 
 stones at an old hind, which stood her ground in 
 a defensive posture. The novelty of the sight sur- 
 prised me greatly, as I could not account for it; 
 I immediately went over with the dogs, and we 
 soon caught the calf alive and drove the hind into 
 the water, where the rest of the people pursued
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 161 
 
 with the skift" and killed her. i then learned, that 
 as soon as they had got to the top ot* the first hill, 
 they discovered these deer, feeding on the other 
 side of it, and that one of them returned to inform 
 me, whilst the other attempted to get a shot. The 
 deer perceiving him, ran round the hill and com- 
 ing close past the other man, he l)roke the under 
 jaw of the calf with a stone; upon which it lay 
 down: and the affection of the dam was so great, 
 that she would not quit it, although he hit her 
 several times with such force, that I could hear 
 the soimd of the stones. The calf was not more 
 than two (.r three days old, and judging it impos- 
 sible to kee]) it alive, we killed it: bnt it proved 
 verv indifferent meat. At ciulit o'clock at niu'ht, 
 the wind shifting suddenly and blowing a hard 
 gale, the boat went round her anchor, fouled it, 
 and drove. AVe let go the other, and brought her 
 u|) just as she was going ashore: after which we 
 moored her safe. A great numl)er of seals were 
 seen, beating Ijack to the northward. We had the 
 ])leasure to iind that the boat made nuich less 
 water. 
 
 Fridaii, June 9, 177'>. At noon T sent tw^o men 
 a shooting on Stoney Lsland, and they returned at 
 five o'clock with a ])tai'migan, and re])orted that 
 no ice was in sight 1o the uoi-lhward: but, thai 
 to the southward it was janmied in n])on the shore. 
 We irot some wood and water on bo.ii-d and at 
 nighl uiiiii<»<»ic(|. r^Tdiii Ihe gi"e;i1 pleiitv of veni- 
 son which we got liei-c, I ii;imed this. Vp}}i<<nn Uar- 
 buur; and the small island which makes it, Vcni-
 
 162 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 son Island. The boat leaks so little now that we 
 can keep her free with ease. 
 
 It snowed hard all the morning, and the day 
 was dull. 
 
 Saturday, June 10, 1775. At three this morning 
 we weighed and went to sea. At six, the wind 
 shifting we worked in among the Seal Islands, 
 and came to anchor in a narrow tickle, open to 
 the S. S. W. As I disliked that place I immedi- 
 ately went off in the skiff, to find a passage 
 through these Islands, (which are very numer- 
 ous,) and a good harbour. I found both, and ob- 
 served, that the coast was clear for about four 
 miles off shore; but, that all beyond that was one 
 continued jam of ice. I landed on several islands 
 and got thirty two eggs and shot six ducks. At 
 four o'clock a breeze sprang up and we got under 
 sail, but it soon after failed and we came to again, 
 in an excellent Esquimau harbour. 
 
 A fine day. 
 
 Sunday, June 11, 1775. This morning at five 
 o'clock we got under sail, and as there was not 
 much wind, I sent four hands, and Jack in my 
 kyack, to visit the small islands which lay ahead 
 of us. As the season is very backward, eggs are 
 scarce yet; therefore they met with only one hun- 
 dred and thirty-five. The people having seen a 
 hare, I went on shore and killed her; she proved 
 of the white sort * and had five young ones in 
 her; which is one more than I ever observed, or 
 heard of before, This sort, in my opinion, ought 
 
 1 Labrador or Miller's Polar hare, Leptis arcticus lahradorius.
 
 l.ABRADOR JOURNAL 163 
 
 rather to Ije called the mountain, than the polar 
 hare; as I have seen them on the heathy moim- 
 tains in Ireland and Scotland, where thev are com- 
 mon: and I have been told, that they are to be 
 found tipon Chiviot Hills; but I could never learn 
 that the connnon hare ever frequented those lofty 
 situations. At six at night we anchored in a cove, 
 in a small bay at the east end of the Isle of Ponds, 
 pretty well defeudetl from the easterly winds by 
 some islands, called the Dismal Islands, and land- 
 locked from every other. Jack took a cruise in 
 my kyack, and soon returned with information, 
 that there were a brace of stags on a point which 
 projects into the middle of the bay. I went after 
 them in the kvack, followed bv the skiff, which 
 made so nnich noise, that they went olf before I 
 coidd land. In the night, a large pan of ice drove 
 foul of us, and j^inned us in the cove. 
 
 A fine, clear, warm day. 
 
 M 0)1 da J/, June 12, 1775. The ice pressing hard 
 \\\)(m us, we vered closer in shore, and put one 
 third of the cargo out on the ice; but having six- 
 teen inches of water to spare at low water, we 
 took the casks in again. The ice still forcing us 
 further in, at eleven at night the ))oat grounded 
 and lay along veiy nnu'h; yet, by the hel]i of the 
 fore haulyai'd made fast to a rock, we got her over 
 to the othei" side, where she was supported ])y a 
 ])aii of ice and sat almost on an even keel upon 
 flat i-ocks. 
 
 Hard snow and shar]) fi'ost all day and night. 
 
 Tue.sdaij, June 13, 1775. At noon, the boat
 
 164 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 grounded again, and the casks of salt pressed so 
 hard against her sides as to force them open. She 
 sprung her main thwart, and drew both that and 
 the partner thwart off from the gunwhale on the 
 starboard side; when the mast, wliich was very 
 heavy, heeling to the other, I expected she would 
 have fallen abroad. We inmiediately fixed the 
 main haulyards to a rock; and by so doing, sup- 
 ported the mast and gave her great ease. As soon 
 as she was afloat, we landed four hogsheads of 
 bread, one empty hogshead, and a grindstone; 
 and put fourteen hogsheads of salt upon a pan of 
 ice. We then bored holes through her sides with 
 an auger, drew them in, and lashed them round 
 the main mast with ratline, and by passing it 
 through the thwarts, we secured them at the same 
 time. At high water the ice pressed exceedingly 
 hard upon us. It froze, snowed, and drifted very 
 much all day. We picked up some drift-wood, 
 with which we made a fire by the side of a rock; 
 but, even with this accommodation, we were 
 starved, and much dispirited in our situation : for 
 we expected to lose the boat; our skiff would not 
 carry more than five ; and we were full sixty miles 
 from the nearest inhabited place within our 
 knowledge. 
 
 Wednes. June 14, 1775. At seven this morning, 
 the larboard bowfast parted, and the cleat of the 
 large road was carried away. The large ice with- 
 out us, being now broken in pieces, pressed harder 
 than ever. At eleven, she took the ground in a 
 yery ugly manner, hanging between a rock on one
 
 LABR.VDOR JOURX.U:. 165 
 
 side and a pan of ice on the other; and it was out 
 of our }»o\ver to relieve her, as the ice was about 
 seven feet thick. 
 
 Weather niucli the same as before. 
 
 TliHisilaif, J Kite 15, 1775. At noon I took a walk 
 on the island, killed a grouse with my rifle, and 
 had a good course after a hare. At half flood I 
 returned, wlien. the boat being aflonf and the Avind 
 eunsidcrabh' al)atod, with incredible laliour and 
 difficulty, and not without much danger, we 
 warped the vessel through the ice, got under sail 
 and worked farther olT. 81ie got such a squeeze 
 last night, as to prove so leaky this morning, that 
 we could hardly keep her a float. I sent the skiff 
 in for the small anchor, ])ut, not being able to get 
 at it, they cut the road and left it. By midnight 
 we had got almost all on board again, except the 
 salt; it then began to blow smart again, and we 
 weighed and ran round the point into Batteau 
 Harboin*. 
 
 Friduji, June 16, 1775. At one this morning, 
 we anchored in Batteau Harbour, and at six, ob- 
 serving the main jam coming fast u]ion us, even 
 against a fresh of wind. F scut the skiff on shore 
 to bring off wliat ever tliey could get, across the 
 neck; and before she i-etin'n(ul we were obliged 
 to weigh and put to sea, and Imd but just time 
 to pass, between ;i i.ojnl .•iiid llic jee. Tlie skiff 
 joined us soon after and bmuulif my kyack, \n\\ 
 left flic rest of 111,, tilings and a bloodliomid be- 
 hind. Tliry |-c|.(,|-lc(l. Iliat llie wliole coxe, which 
 T named Devil's Cove, was full of di-ift ice; and
 
 166 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 that the flat pans among which we had lain, were 
 driven on shore by the former; consequently, had 
 we not got out just as we did, the boat must have 
 been crushed to pieces. At ten o'clock we an- 
 chored in Porcupine Harbour, and soon after 
 shifted our berth to the mouth of the north brook, 
 where we moored with a shore fast; having now 
 but one anchor. I had a salmon-net put out, and 
 shot a goose. Tliis brook has lately been much 
 frequented by deer and black bears. The boat 
 very leaky. 
 
 Some snow today, and the weather remarkably 
 cold. 
 
 Saturday, June 17, 1775. The boat leaked less 
 water than yesterday by one half. 
 
 It rained all day, and snowed in the evening, 
 with very cold weather. 
 
 Sunday, June 18, 1775. I put out an ottertrap, 
 hauled the net and had a large sea trout ^ in it. 
 A black bear had chewed the inner mooring of 
 the net all to pieces; I took it up in the evening 
 and hung a codfish in a small tree for the bear. 
 
 A rainy morning, a dull day, and clear evening. 
 
 Monday, June 19, 1775. At day-light I sent one 
 of the people on shore to watch the bear: at five 
 he called on me, and said, that three large bears 
 were on the west side of the brook. I went on 
 shore immediately and saw two but they crossed 
 the brook, and I could not get near them. I waded 
 through the water up to my middle, and was near 
 being carried down by the rapidity of the current: 
 
 ^ Salvelinus, species?
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 167 
 
 and the water was so cold that my blood was 
 ahiiost stagnated. In the evening 1 tailed a gun 
 for them. Much ice di'ove into the mouth of the 
 harbour. 
 
 Monday, June 26, 1775. At two in the morning 
 we came to sail, intending to keep witliin the Isle 
 of Ponds, but on going a head in the skiff, I found 
 the tickle was jammed at the north end; upon 
 which we hauled the wind, worked to windward 
 of the island, and then bore away out side of 
 Spotted Island. Having passed it, and observing 
 a deal of ice a head, we hauled close under a small 
 high island, at the north entrance of Spotted Is- 
 land Ti<'kle, and there anchored. I then landed 
 to take a view, and found ourselves to be in most 
 innninent danger; being entirely surrounded with 
 ice; tliat to windward, driving fast after us, and 
 that to leeward, januning in upon the outer side 
 of Indian Island. But as there was still a small 
 oj)ening left, the only way by which w^e could 
 escape, I ran down the hill, returned on board and 
 hauled up the anchor; we shook out all the reefs, 
 flew away at the rate of eight knots and soon got 
 safe througli. At quarter ])efore four in the aftei-- 
 noon, we passed Half- Way Island, when we came 
 into a clear sea; aftei* i-unning tln'(^ugh scattei'cd 
 ice, so close that we could scarce keep cleai' of i1 
 for <'leven leagues. TTad we sti-uck against the 
 ice, the l)oat mustha\'e beeu daslied to pieces. At 
 half past six, we doubled C[\\)o "NTorth, and at 
 ei^ht. anchrired off Venison TTe;id, lioping to find 
 sheltfj- ill a small cove thei'e; but being disa))-
 
 168 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 pointed we weighed again, and spent the night 
 under sail between Huntingdon Island, and the 
 Continent. 
 
 A fine day, but the night was dark and cloudy. 
 
 Tuesday, June 27, 1775. At four this morning 
 we entered Cartwright Harbour, and at eight got 
 into Sandwich Bay, when we anchored off a point 
 called, Longstretch, and I went oft* in the skiff for 
 our people's house. Three miles below the nar- 
 rows of Hinchingbrook Bay, and on the south 
 shore, I found the old punt, which they brought 
 with them, on shore and staved; this made me 
 apprehend some accident had happened to them; 
 on a point at the entrance of the river, I found 
 a trap on a rubbing-place struck up, with the 
 grass grown through it, which increased my fears, 
 and those were afterwards confirmed at one 
 o'clock, when we arrived at their house, Avhich 
 I found they had left some time ago. On exam- 
 ining their chests, I found a letter for me in the 
 head-man's pocketbook, informing me, that they 
 had been almost two months on very short allow- 
 ance; had eaten their dogs and part of the skins 
 of the furs which they had caught, and did not 
 expect to live long. This letter was dated the 
 twenty- third of May, and by Friend's journal, I 
 believe they continued here until the end of that 
 month. They had built a skiff, and as she was 
 gone, and they had plenty of powder and shot, I 
 am in hopes they have got to sea, where they will 
 be well supplied with ducks and eggs. In the 
 house I found thirty fox, forty-seven marten, ten
 
 
 c 
 in 
 
 0) 
 
 J3 
 
 fcuO 
 
 
 en 
 O 
 
 6 
 o 
 u 
 
 >. 
 
 n 
 
 J" 
 
 'c 
 o 
 (/) 
 
 •o 
 
 3 
 
 w 
 
 H
 
 LABRADOK JOURNAL 169 
 
 rabbits and two mink skins, besides a good quan- 
 tity of feathers; and about the door, twenty four 
 porcupine skins. They had also killed some otters 
 and a wolf; the carcasses of the whole were more 
 than would have served them two months, exclu- 
 sive of the provisions they brought with them, 
 whieh alone were sufficient to have lasted them 
 imtil this day. But I could plainly perceive they 
 had made great waste; which was the cause of 
 their want. I stayed here the night. 
 
 A clear hot day. 
 
 Thursdai/, June 29, 1775. At dny-light I sent 
 the people on shoi'e to ])uild tlie wliarf on a point 
 which T named Paradise. At six o'clock in the 
 evening the wharf being finished, we heaved 
 along side and began to deliver the goods; but 
 were soon obliged to desist, as the tide was near 
 carrving awav our new fabrick. We had six slinks 
 in the net. 
 
 A \ery hot day. 
 
 SiDulai/, Jul// 2, 1775. Sending the ]ieople on 
 shore at day-light, Hayes repaired and caulked 
 the old punt. Two hands were rinding part of 
 the day, and got eighty-two; the rest were at work 
 on the salmon-house. At elexcii o'clock I went 
 in my kyack iiilo I lincbinbrook \\;\\\ on the south 
 shore of wlii<'li, and near Ibe bc;i(l, T found the 
 new skiff di-iven on sho7-e ])y tlic wind, and staved; 
 her paintei* was tied to one of licr niasls, which 
 had the sail on it, and was lying on the beach: her 
 thwai'ts, l)f»ttom bonrds, some fnr bo.-ii'ds, and five 
 rackets w<'i-e at hiL,di water mark; and a spade,
 
 170 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 drawing-knife, liatclaet, gouge and seven trap- 
 chains were in her; so that all hopes of their being 
 yet alive are now over. 
 
 Monday, July 5, 1775. The fish here are the 
 largest, fattest and best I ever saw on this coast. 
 We had a pike ^ of six pounds in one of the nets, . 
 which is the first I ever heard of in this country. 
 
 Thursday, July 6, 1775. We ballasted the Otter, 
 brought down the lost men's chests from their 
 house, killed thirteen tierces of fish, and left the 
 nets full. At two o'clock, leaving three salm- 
 oniers, the cooper and Jack, and taking the other 
 three hands with me in the Otter, I made sail for 
 Charles Harbour. 
 
 Tuesday, July 11 , 1775. At five in the evening 
 we came to an anchor in Charles Harbour and 
 moored. I found our ship. Earl of Dartmouth, 
 arrived; she came in, the twenty eighth ult. in a 
 shattered condition, having met with the ice, five 
 or six degrees off the land, and had been fast in 
 it for twenty-three days. By her we learnt, that 
 the Lady Tyrconnel had been repaired, and re- 
 turned upon our hands by the underwriters, and 
 was on her voyage from Barcelona to Quebec with 
 wine, for Mr. Lymburner; from whence she was 
 to come here, Avith supplies of bread, flour and 
 other goods. 
 
 Of all the dreary sights which I have yet beheld, 
 none ever came up to the appearance of this coast, 
 between Alexis River and Cartwright Harbour, 
 on my late voyage to Sandwich Bay. The conti- 
 
 ^ Esox Indus,
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 171 
 
 iient is all of it iiiuuiitaiiiuus, except the peninsula 
 which parts Rocky Bay, from Table Bay; the 
 extreme point of which forms one side of Indian 
 Tickle. All the islands, the Isle of Ponds, the 
 Seal Islands and some of the small ones which 
 are within the bays excepted, are high; the faces 
 of all the hills which front 1lie sea, ai"e scarce any- 
 thing but bare rocks. The spots where any ver- 
 dure was likely to appear, were covered with drift 
 baidvs of snow; the shore was barricaded with ice, 
 seven feet thick; most of the best harbours were 
 then not open, and all the rest had so much loose 
 ice, driving about with every wind as to render 
 it dangerous to anchor therein; the water which 
 we had to sail through, had a])undance of scat- 
 tered ice floating uj^on it, and all towards the sea 
 was one, uniform, compact body of rough ice. 
 How far it reached from the shore must be left 
 to conjecture; but I make no doul)t it extended 
 fifty leagues at least; perhaps double that dis- 
 tance. There w^as however some advantage from 
 it, since it kept the water as smooth, as land would 
 have done at that distance. Tlie badness of the 
 weather also contributed to increase the horror of 
 the scene. But we no sooner entered Cartwright 
 ITarboin-, than the face of nafni-o was so greatly 
 and suddenly changed, as if we had shot witliin 
 tlie ti-opics. There we saw neither ice nor snow; 
 the hills were of a niodei-ale height, com))letely 
 covered with spruces, lan-hes, iii's and Itii-ch, the 
 different hues of w]ii<-h caused ;i ph'asing variety, 
 and the sh(.>re was bordered round with verdant
 
 172 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 grass. The water too, instead of pans of ice, was 
 mottled over with ducks and drakes, * cooing 
 amorously; which brought to my remembrance, 
 the pleasing melody of the stockdove. That noth- 
 ing might be wanting to complete the contrast, 
 there was not a cloud in the sky: the sun had no 
 sooner attained a sufficient height, than he darted 
 his rays upon us most vehemently; which were 
 reflected back, by the glossy surface of the water, 
 with intolerable heat; while zephyrus played 
 upon us with a tropical warmth. The scene was 
 greatly altered on our return, for the jam ice was 
 not to be seen, the barricados were fallen off from 
 the shore, most of the snow melted, all the har- 
 bours were open, and we had much pleasanter 
 prospects, since we ran within several of the 
 largest islands, and of course saw their best sides. 
 
 Wednes., July 13, 1775. No codfish on the coast 
 yet. Hard gale with rain all day. 
 
 Thursday, July 13, 1775. This morning Cath- 
 erine Bettres was delivered of a son. 
 
 Strong gales with rain. 
 
 Friday, July 14, 1775. I examined all the furs 
 which we got last winter, and found we had a 
 hundred and thirty-two martens, fifty-seven 
 foxes, eighteen beavers, seventeen otters, and 
 four minks. A skiff came up from our stage, 
 
 * Eider-ducks make a cooing at this time of the year, not unlike the 
 first note of the stockdove. [Columba (xnas.]'^ 
 
 * The courtship of the eider is an interesting performance, and is ex- 
 pressed by curious gestures of the head, neck and body, as well as by the 
 notes which sound like the syllables aah-ou or ah-ee-ou. See " A Labrador 
 Spring," pp. 84-89.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 173 
 
 which was built siiice I left this place on Great 
 Caribou, for a caplin-sein, and reported that 
 there was plenty of caplin, but no cod. A rainy 
 day. 
 
 Tui.sdinj, July IS, 1775. An Indian family 
 (moinitaineers) came here to-day, who said, that, 
 thev had been towards Sandwich Bav, and saw 
 a great smoke thereabouts. The other Indian 
 family was here when I arrived. 
 
 Wt'dnes., Jul// J 9, 1775. We completed the 
 loading of the Otter, and at four in the afternoon, 
 taking captain Dykes, with four of his men, the 
 boatbuilder, a cooper, and both the Indian fami- 
 lies, consisting of thirteen persons, I sailed for 
 Sandwich Ba.\ , with the ship's long-boat in tow. 
 
 Sioiddi/, J ((I If .23, 1775. At four this morning I 
 sent the long-boat for the salt, and wliilo it was 
 bringing off, I went with captain Jack (the princi- 
 pal Indian) in his canoe, round the cove [Devil's 
 Cove]. Wc killed live ducks, four geese, and an 
 otter. Wc returned at seven, just as the salt was 
 stowed, and g<»1 undci' sail immediately. We saw" 
 great plenty of cod and ('a])lin round the Dismal 
 Islands; and obseiwed, that ])l('n1y of shaggs ^ 
 and tinkers breed on them. In the afternoon we 
 aiieliored in Sand Hill Cove, where we found a 
 profligious (juantity of cod and ea|)lin; the foi'mer 
 wc cauLdit as fast as we eonld hand them in, and 
 
 ' Thf U-Tvn Hhag iw nppli'<i in Amorira both to tho (loubl<Hl-rrcfitcd cor- 
 morant. I'hnlncrnrnrnx auriluH, :inil thf coniinon ronnonuit , I'hdhirrn- 
 rtrrax rnr}>n, both of which brcH-<l on the Labrndor Con-st. In I'.nnhmd 
 tho Ifmi x/i'i'/ aiii)rK's to thf ("in'«'n Cormorant, /'. graculus, and not to 
 P. carbo which aWj occurs there and in called cormorant.
 
 174 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 the latter we gathered in great numbers among 
 the rocks, where they were left by the tide. The 
 Indians went on shore and made a whigwham, 
 where they remained all night, and in the evening 
 one of them shot at a black-bear. Their tracks 
 were very plentiful on the shore, and I watched 
 them till dark, but saw none ; I then tailed a large 
 trap for them. There is a large jam of ice in the 
 offing, and a great deal comes into Table Bay, 
 which was the principal reason of our coming into 
 this place. 
 
 The day was fine, but there was much haze 
 round the horizon. 
 
 Monday^ July 24, 1775. At four this morning, 
 I sent the long-boat on shore for some sand and 
 the trap; and at six, we went to sea. We had 
 fish for the haul this morning, and I never saw so 
 fine a place for a cod-sein; the bottom being 
 smooth, white sand, with an extensive beach of 
 the same. I found a ^ stag's head of seventy-two 
 points, in full perfection, and brought it away; 
 the beast had been killed by another in rutting- 
 
 * This head is now in the possession of the Earl of Dartmouth.* 
 1 Mr. J. G. Millais (" Newfoundland and its Untrodden Ways," London, 
 1907) says he has never seen a Newfoundland caribou with more than 
 forty-nine points. He adds in a note (p. 317): " No point should be 
 included that does not fulfil the old watch-guard or powder-horn test, 
 unless it may be a clean blunt snag at least half an inch from the main 
 horn. The Germans count everything as a point upon which a torn 
 piece of paper will rest, but we regard as ' offers ' all small excrescences 
 that do not fulfil the old British conditions. For instance, Captain Cart- 
 wright's famous ' seventy-two point ' Labrador head, which I have re- 
 cently traced, and on which he counted every offer, has in reality fifty- 
 three points." This is no reflection on Cartwright'a accuracy but simply 
 shows diverse methods of counting points.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 175 
 
 tiiiit', 1 believe; as bis bones were there. Wheu 
 we got within a mile of Cape North, the ice 
 ai)i>eared to be janniied to the northward of it; 
 upon which 1 went a head with captain Jack in 
 his i-anue, landed and walked to the top of the 
 Cape, where we saw fresh slot of deer, and ob- 
 served the ice to extend in a large compact jam, 
 from the Gannet Islands to Wolf Island; and a 
 great deal of scattered stuff to the north-east. We 
 got on board again on the north-west side of the 
 cape, and proceeded to the mouth of Blackguard 
 Bay, when the wind failing, we came to an anchor 
 near Venison Head, where the Indians went on 
 shore, and erected a wdiigwham. 
 
 Tuesdcu), Jul}) 35, 1775. At four this morning 
 we hauled up and came to sail, leaving the Indians 
 on shore; they refused to go any further, because 
 I would not give cai)tain Jack some rum last night 
 when he was almost drunk. At one we anchored 
 off Black Head to stop tid(^; I went forward in 
 my kyack to Cartwright Ilarljour, to look for a 
 place for building my house upon; intending to 
 reside there, to conduct the business in Sandwich 
 Bay. I found a convenient and agi'eeal)le spot 
 on the point at tlie entrance of it. At \\\vvo o'clock 
 we got under sail again and worked up to the 
 mouth of Dykes River, where we came to for the 
 night. 
 
 \Vcd}iLs., .1 1(1 11 :>(;, 1775. At Ibrcc ibis morning 
 we got nndcr sail, and at six in ibc cxcning we 
 anchored at the salnion-pf)st ;\i P.-ii-.idisc. I found 
 about a hunfliv-d and fort \ 1i('iT<'s of salmon on
 
 176 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 shore, the salt nearly expended, and fish still 
 plentiful. The peoi3le informed me the fish came 
 in so fast after I left them, that they were obliged 
 to take two of their nets up, and fish with two 
 only, till Monday last ; when they put out others. 
 
 Sunday, July 30, 1775. We put out two more 
 nets, took up two, and boated * two. We set up 
 the frame of the fishermen's house, packed five 
 tierces of fish, (a puncheon contains two tierces 
 and a half; a hogshead, one and a quarter) and 
 caught two hundred and three fish; also, had a 
 spot of ground dug, sowed some radish and turnip 
 seeds, and set some cabbage-plants which I 
 brought from Charles Harbour. 
 
 Wednes., August 2, 1775. Four hands were at 
 work on the house till five in the evening, when 
 they were driven off by rain; they afterwards 
 picked oakum. We caught one hundred and sixty- 
 seven fish, and packed four tierces. At noon I 
 went up the river, landed on the east side, about 
 half a mile above Friend's Point, and walked to 
 the top of a small hill, from whence I had a good 
 view of the surrounding country. I observed a 
 very fine lake, about three miles long, and one 
 broad, lying on the south river, a mile higher up. 
 By the side of the east river, there were some 
 large marshes; and most of the adjacent country 
 is covered with good birch, fit for making hoops 
 and staves: the whole had a beautiful appear- 
 ance; and particularly so at this time of the year, 
 
 * To boat a net, is, to take it into a boat and put it out immediately 
 in the same place.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 177 
 
 when birches have a richer, and more lively ap- 
 pearance than spruces or lirs. Nor are the hills 
 either so hii;h or so steep as in most parts of this 
 comitry, and they arc divided by a variety of little 
 brooks and rills, which adds to the beauty of the 
 prospect. 
 
 Fridaij, August 4, 1775. Having tinished the 
 studding of the house, we covered it in, and par- 
 titioned oft' a room for salt; packed six tierces, 
 killed two lunidred and twenty-five salmon, and 
 a trout; ' such a one as neither I nor any of our 
 people had ever seen before; it was of a lead col- 
 our; the flesh was very pale, the skin was like 
 that of a tench, and it had no scales, but marked 
 as if it had plenty of very small ones; the belly 
 was white, and it had two rows of small red-spots, 
 just perceptible, down each of its sides: the In- 
 dian l)oy called it a '^ salt-water trout," and said, 
 the livers to the northward had ])lenty of them. 
 In the evening T killed a loon in the water, at a 
 hiuidred yards distance, with my rifle. I saw the 
 first Ijaked a])])les.2 
 
 Tiiursdd//, August 17, 177.'). In tlic forenoon I 
 went up the river in my kyack, and took two men, 
 the greyhound and a Newfoundland dog in the 
 punt, to hunt for the bear. We got the ])mit in 
 to the lake without nnich difficulty, and found a 
 yearling dog-bear fast by both hind legs, in that 
 trap which cnpfnin Dvkos s;i\v l;is1 night: the 
 
 ' Ah thcrr are ho many Hpccics liclrdiirinii to tlic trout fiiniily it is iin- 
 poswiblf to niiriu" this on«' with any ccrtiiinty, hut it is jxisHiblo that Cart- 
 wriRht rofiTH to Salvdinim nqvansn narein. 
 
 ' Or " bake-applc," cloudberry, Ruhxia Cluicmaemorua.
 
 178 CAPTAIN CAET WRIGHT'S 
 
 other was not moved, but Dykes was near being 
 caught in it himself. After baiting the bear for 
 some time, to enter the dogs, I shot it through the 
 head and brought it, and both the traps down with 
 us. On our return we skinned the bear, which 
 proved in good condition for this time of the year. 
 Monday, August 21, 1775. At five in the morn- 
 ing we set off again, and soon came to the mouth 
 of a large river, which I named Eagle River, from 
 seeing several of those birds by the side of it. 
 The mouth being very shallow, I sent the skiff 
 to the point on the north side, and went up in my 
 kyack to the head of the tide; which I found 
 broad, rapid, and discharging a deal of water; 
 the sides were bounded by high, rocky hills, well 
 covered with wood, appearing to be much fre- 
 quented by salmon and bears, but difficult to fish; 
 nor did I see a proper place for buildings to be 
 erected upon. Returning to the skiff, we rowed 
 round a sharp point, which I named Sepamtion 
 Point, into another large river, to which I gave 
 the name of White-Bear River; the month of 
 which is full of sand banks. At four in t>ae after- 
 noon we got to the head of the tide, where a 
 smaller stream falls in; and a little higher, there 
 is a most beautiful cataract, the perpendicular fall 
 of which is about fourteen feet, with a deep pool 
 underneath. It was so full of salmon, that a ball 
 could not have been fired into the water without 
 striking some of them. The shores were strewed 
 with the remains of thousands of salmon which 
 had been killed by the white-bears, many of them
 
 Near the Mouth of White Bear River 
 
 Looking South-east from the Mouth of Eagle River
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 179 
 
 quite fresh; and scores oi' salmon wei'e continu- 
 ally in the air, leaping at the fall; but none of 
 them could rise half the height. The country all 
 round is full of bear-paths, leading to the fall. 
 We watclied there till dark, but saw no beast of 
 any kind. Rctui'ning to the mouth of the small 
 river, we made a tire under a high, sandy hill, and 
 lay there. 
 
 Tuesday, August 22, 1775. At day-light the 
 greyhound awoke us by barking; we jumped up 
 and found it was at a black-bear, which was at 
 the foot of the bank. He immediately ran off, 
 when one of our people going about fifty yards 
 from the resting place, came close upon a large 
 wolf, and was glad to make a speedy and safe 
 retreat. Captain Dykes and I instantly went 
 after him, and saw the beast not far from the 
 same spot: when I sent a ball at him, and laid 
 it close to his heels. We then walked to the cat- 
 aract, but saw nothing. Returning to the boat, 
 we put our things in and were just going off, when 
 I perceived a wolf coming up on the other side 
 of the river, and expected he would have come 
 within shot; but ho turned off on winding the 
 smoke. Al)out a mile below, we saw a large stag 
 crossing the l•i^'e]•, and T pui'sued him \u my 
 kyack; but he winded me, and gal]o])ed off into 
 the woods. Al the mouth of the i-ivci-, we landed 
 and walked I'ound .i flal, sandy ]:>oint; co\('i'(^d 
 with tall })ad wood, to the moiilli of a small ])rook, 
 which comes down a valley from the northward, 
 close under the foot of Mealy ^lountains and on
 
 180 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 the west side of them; the bed of this brook is a 
 fine, white quicksand. Near the mouth of the 
 brook we saw a pair of doves/ and I killed one 
 with my rifle; it was much like a turtle dove and 
 fed on the berries of the Empetrum Nigrum. I 
 never heard of such a bird in the country before 
 and I believe they are very scarce. Returning to 
 the boat, we sailed for Cartwright Harbour, and 
 had much wind and sea in crossing the bay, which 
 is twelve, or thirteen miles broad in that part. I 
 found the Otter arrived and unloaden. 
 
 Wednes., August 33, 1775. We ballasted the 
 shalloway, pitched my tent, made a tilt for the 
 people, dug a spot of ground and planted some 
 cabbages in it. In the morning, one of the people 
 walked along shore to the head of the harbour, 
 and there saw five deer feeding; he returned and 
 informed me, but they were gone before I could 
 get to the place. I found some good deer paths, 
 and observed, that the white-bears frequently 
 walked along the shore. At eight in the evening, 
 the Otter sailed for Charles Harbour. 
 
 Thursday, August 24, 1775. At eight o'clock 
 this morning, recollecting that I had not much to 
 do here at present, and that it would be more con- 
 venient for me to go to Charles Harbour now than 
 hereafter, I put a few clothes into the skiff, took 
 all hands and rowed after the Otter; knowing she 
 could not be far off, as there had been but very 
 little wind ever since we sailed. In an hour I 
 
 1 Either the passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius, now probably 
 extinct, or the mourning dove, Zenaidura macroura Qarolinen^H.
 
 LABKADOK JOURNAL 181 
 
 boarded her, abreast of Goose Cove, and then sent 
 the skiff back. 
 
 [Capt. Cartwriglit reached Charles Harbour, 
 and after xisitins: lli'iik'X- Harbour returned on 
 the Lady Tyrconncl, bringing Mrs. ISelby and the 
 Indians with him.] 
 
 Sundiifj, Sepfenibi r 10, 1775. At halt' past seven 
 we anchored in Cartwright Tickle, abreast of the 
 landing })lace, for there was too tliick a fog to go 
 an}' t'ai-thor. Our ]"»eople came off and informed 
 me tliat the house was studded and covered in. 
 
 Mondaij, Septonher 11, 1775. At one this morn- 
 ing it ])('gan to blow hard; at five the gale was 
 heavy, and in half an hour after, our cable parted: 
 we were then near driving on shore upon Western 
 Point, which is shoal, and rocky; but we got her 
 before the wind, ran up the harbour, and let go 
 the other anchor between a small woody island, 
 and Earl Island, where we brought up in four 
 fathoms and a half of water, over a bottom of 
 tough black nnid, and there rode out the gale. 
 The water was perfectly smooth, but the wind 
 blew so excessively hard, that the vessel was fre- 
 (juentl}- laid almost on her beam ends, the tide 
 making her ride athwart the wind, and the s})oon- 
 drift flew entirely f>ver her. We got u|) the s])are 
 anchor, and bent the i-emnius of the ])arted cable 
 to it. It snowed and li.'iiled all da>', was severely 
 cold, and we were in (•(•iistant appi'ehension of 
 partiiig (lU?- cable and l<»sinLi- the \-ess<'l, at least, 
 if not ourselves also. 
 
 Tuesday, September 12, 1775. At seven o'clock
 
 182 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 we weighed the anchor, and we found it had lain 
 in very tough mud with many large stones in it; 
 for the cable hung on them as it came in, and was 
 rubbed in several places, nor was the anchor 
 canted, notwithstanding the violence of the gale. 
 We then set the forestay-sail and ran into the 
 bight on the south side of my house, there came 
 to an anchor in nine fathoms good, clear, ground, 
 which is an excellent place for a ship to ride in. 
 I went on shore and was informed, that the tide 
 yesterday, flowed two feet higher than usual; that 
 it rose two inches high in the house; and that the 
 violence of the wind was so great, as to turn the 
 bottom up of a sealing-skiff, which lay on Rocky 
 Point. I never experienced so hard a gale before. 
 Sunday, October 1, 1775. We landed all the salt 
 and part of the provisions [at Hoop-pole-Cove]. 
 At noon taking Jack with me, I went up the East 
 River in a skiff, landed at the head of the tide, 
 and wall^ed by the side of it to the foot of the 
 second pond; we then ascended a high hill on 
 the south side, from whence we had an extensive 
 view of the country. We saw a lake lying on the 
 river, to the eastward of that hill, and several 
 small pools to the northward. On our return, we 
 observed a salmon in the second pond, and found 
 a gooseberry ^ bush on the bank of it, which is the 
 first I have either seen or heard of in this country. 
 From the top of Rodghill, I observed two other 
 good streams fall into the river, before it empties 
 into the tide way, and several large marshes by 
 
 * Rihes oxyacanthoides.
 
 LABRADOR JOL'RXAL 183 
 
 the sides of them. The country is very promising 
 for deer and l)eavers, and the whok^ that we went 
 over to-day, is so clear of woods and rocks, that 
 I could have galloped a liorse all the way from 
 the boat, except the first two hundred yards. In 
 one place were several acres of ground with long 
 grass growing on it fit for tihage: I tried the soil, 
 and found it a light sand, with a good mixture of 
 black mould, and of a great de]ith. We killed a 
 porcupine and a spruce-game. 
 
 Wcihics., Orfohrr 11, 1775. At nine o'clock, 
 captain Kinloch and I went off in the yawl for 
 mv house, and took the new skiff in tow, laden 
 with casks. On our arrival there, we were in- 
 formed that three deer had taken the water in 
 front of the door, about an hour before, and swum 
 down tlie Tickle into Tluntingdon llarliour, where 
 they still remained. Leaving the skiff we pur- 
 sued, and soon got sight of them, lying to in the 
 middle of the harbour. They made towards us 
 until we got very near; they then made off*, and 
 caused a long and severe chase, but at length T 
 killed them all. They proved a staggard.' a 
 knoblei*,- and an (dd hind: the quarters Jind 
 humbles"'' of the whole. wciLihed foin" liundre(l 
 aiul ninety-six pounds. Il is inci-edible how fast 
 thev swim,'' and how lone: lliev can hold it; al- 
 though the boat ?'ows veiw well, yet we had hard 
 
 ' A 8ta<? in his fourth year. 
 
 * Kiiof)l)|r-r or knohltT, n hart or Htap; in its Bpoond year. 
 
 * nuriihli-H or imihlrs. - - ontniils. 
 
 * N!illai.s fstirnatcd that the Newfoundland caribou could swim at 
 the rate of five milefl an hour.
 
 184 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 work to come up with the staggard. I also shot 
 a duck, and saw a prodigious number of geese. 
 
 Monday, October 30, 1775. I went round my 
 walk; and one of the traps which were tailed for 
 otters was struck up, and I had a porcupine in 
 another. Several large flocks of ducks flew close 
 past Brocket Point. Finding myself much weak- 
 ened by wearing flannel shirts, I this day put on 
 a linen one, and intend wearing no others in 
 future. 
 
 Tuesday, October 31, 1775. I went with Jack to 
 Earl Island; we shifted one of his traps there, 
 and saw the fresh slot of a deer. Had linen sheets 
 put upon my bed instead of flannel ones. 
 
 Friday, November 3, 1775. At three this after- 
 noon the Otter arrived from Charles Harbour, 
 from whence she sailed the twenty-second of last 
 month, with thirteen hands to complete the crews 
 here. They informed me, that the gale of wind, 
 which happened here on the eleventh of Septem- 
 ber, reached that place on the twelfth, and did 
 infinite mischief both on this coast, and all round 
 Newfoundland. Our ship the Earl of Dartmouth 
 was driven on shore and greatly damaged, but 
 was got off and repaired; our two shallops were 
 driven on shore; one almost beat to pieces, and 
 the other much damaged; the planter's boat was 
 wrecked; four out of five of Noble and Pinson's 
 vessels were driven on shore and bulged; several 
 of their boats were wrecked in Lance Cove; seven 
 others were driven over to Newfoundland and 
 there lost, together with twenty-eight out of
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 185 
 
 twenty-nine men; Thomas's brig was wrecked; 
 Coghlan's sloop driven on shore; vast quantities 
 of lish spoiled; and every stage and wharf on the 
 coast were washed down, ours among the rest; 
 and that nothing which was afloat, except the Man 
 of War, one of Noble and Pinson's vessels, and 
 this shalloway, had ridden it out. The Otter was 
 near being lost last night; she ran into Berry 
 Island Tickle in the dark, and at low water, 
 grounded and beat a good deal, l)ut fortunately 
 the bottom was smooth sand, and she received no 
 injury. 
 
 Sioulai/, Dccemhcr 10, 1775. The sealers cut 
 out the net at Brocket Point, and had two bed- 
 lamers in it; the still part of the harbour having 
 been frozen ever since the third instant. Jack and 
 I took a walk to the top of the high hill on the 
 south side of Great Marsh, from whence we saw 
 two pools which lie upon the Laar. We went up 
 the west side of the hill, which rises gradually and 
 is well clothed with wood; but, as we found the 
 walking very bad, l)y reason of the great depth 
 and lightness of the snow, I determined to descend 
 on the east side, being much deeper, and where 
 but few trees grow: we got on A^ery well for a 
 little way, 1)ut coming to the top of a precipice, 
 we found ourselves to be in a very un]>l('asant 
 situation; for we could not get far, either to tlie 
 right or the left, nor was i1 i)ossi])le to mount the 
 hill again, on account of its steepness and tlie 
 depth of the snow. We were therofoi-c rodnced 
 to the alternative, either of remaining where we
 
 186 CAPTAIN CiiRTWRIGHT'S 
 
 were to perish with cold or of dropping over the 
 precipice, which was at least twenty feet high, at 
 the risk of breaking our bones on the fragments 
 of rocks beneath, unless they were sufficiently cov- 
 ered with snow to break our fall. On searching 
 my pockets, I found a fathom of cod-line, one end 
 of which I tied to a small birch tree, which grew 
 close to the top, eased myself down over the edge, 
 and then dropped as soft as on a feather-bed; and 
 Jack followed in the same manner; our guns, 
 rackets, and hatchets, having been previously 
 thrown down. We soon after came into Laar 
 Cove, and returned home along the back-shore, on 
 which we found a yellow-fox and a marten in two 
 of my traps. 
 
 Thursday, Decemher 21, 1775. We had a capital 
 silver-fox, a good cross-fox, and a marten in the 
 traps, and shot a spruce-game. Many foxes had 
 been in my walk, and several of my traps were 
 robbed. I gave out twenty-one traps to the seal- 
 ers. I have now thirty-one in my walk, and Jack 
 has nineteen in his. 
 
 Sunday, December 24, 1775. Jack and I looked 
 at our traps and each of us brought in a yellow- 
 fox. The sealers, according to custom, began to 
 usher in Christmas, by getting shamefully drunk. 
 
 Thursday, January 4, 1776. I sent John Hayes 
 and one of the western furriers to reconnoitre the 
 country about Cape North, and the rest of us went 
 round our traps. The eastern furriers followed 
 the wolf which carried off the trap yesterday, and 
 met with it near Goose Cove ; it proved a grizzled
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 187 
 
 bitch, weighed forty-iiiiie pounds, stood twenty- 
 seven inches high, and, from her nose-end to her 
 rmnp, measured three feet seven inches. Another 
 wolf followed my track of yesterday, to seven of 
 my traps, one of wliicli he struck up but would 
 not meddle with the rest. I had a loin of w^olf, 
 and part of a loin of wliite-bear roasted for my 
 dimier; the former was the sw^eetest, but the lat- 
 ter, by much the tenderest of the two. 
 
 MoHclau, January 15, 1776. All hands went 
 round the traps, which were found drifted up; I 
 had a raven's beak in one, and a marten had been 
 caught in the spring-snare, but carried it off by 
 cutting the line. My feet w^ere on tlie point of 
 freezing the whole tune I w^as out although they 
 were well defended by flannel and Indian boots: 
 the httle finger of my left hand was burnt from 
 end to end, by touching a trap as I was tailing it; 
 but I soon took the frost out of it by the immediate 
 application of snow\ This accident brought a 
 couplet of Hudibras to my recollection: he says, 
 
 " And many dangers shall environ, 
 The man who meddles with cold iron; " 
 
 which so tickled my fancy, that I could not help 
 repeating it all the rest of the day. 
 
 Sunday, January 21, 1776. T made prepara- 
 tions {{iY a cruise on a party of pleasure. 
 
 Monday, January 22, 1776. At half past seven 
 this morning, taking four men with me, and our 
 provisions on two Nescaupick sleds, one drawn by 
 two Newfoundland dogs, Ihe other by two of the
 
 188 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 men by turns, I set off for Isthmus Bay, and ar- 
 rived there at half past three o'clock. We went 
 to the best inn in the place, which was a spot of 
 strong wood, under a hill on the west side, and 
 there made a good fire, by which we lay. By the 
 way, we met with two cross-foxes in a couple of 
 my traps, and saw a silver-fox by the South Hare 
 Island, and also some old tracks of wolves. 
 
 Clear, mild weather all day, and till midnight. 
 
 Tuesday, January 23, 1776. At one o'clock this 
 morning, it began to blow, snow, and drift exceed- 
 ingly hard, insomuch that we could not go out of 
 the wood. 
 
 Wednes., January 24, 1776. At five this morn- 
 ing the gale and drift abated, but it continued to 
 snow till ten o'clock; we then went out, crossed 
 the bay and walked upon the cape land, but saw 
 neither deer nor fresh slot; from which I conclude 
 that they are gone upon the outer islands. From 
 the top of Mount Marten I could not see any water 
 at sea, although I could plainly discern Wolf Is- 
 land, which is thirteen leagues off. We returned 
 to our quarters at three in the afternoon, when 
 it began to snow again, and held it all night. We 
 observed, that a fox had been very near the fire; 
 and, although the dogs were tied up there, he had 
 the impudence to gnaw a hole in a bag and carry 
 off a piece of pork. 
 
 Thursday, January 25, 1776. It continued to 
 snow till half past ten this morning, when it 
 cleared up and we set off homewards. The fox 
 came again last night, and we having secured our
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 189 
 
 provisions, he revenged himself by cutting the 
 harness from the sled, and canying it off; to- 
 gether with a racket, which distressed us not a 
 little, however we repaired the loss in the best 
 manner we could. Tlie day was severe, the Avind 
 in our faces, and the snow soft, which made it 
 laborious walking. Finding the people could not 
 keep pace with me, I pushed forward by myself, 
 and felt very stout until I passed Black Head; but 
 then, the snow growing lighter and deeper, (by 
 being sheltered from drift) I sunk up to my knees 
 even in Indian rackets, and soon was tired so com- 
 pletely, that it was with the utmost difficulty I 
 got home; and even when within gun-shot of my 
 own house, I was almost ready to lie down and 
 give it up. I got home at half past five in the eve- 
 ning, and sent four men to meet the others, who 
 did not get in till eight o'clock, and were as much 
 tired as myself; had I not sent them assistance, 
 they most likely would have perished. The dis- 
 tance from hence to Isthmus Bay, I judge to be 
 fifteen miles. A good silver-fox was brought out 
 of one of my traps on Monday, and Jack had a 
 white one on Wednesday. 
 
 Stinrhi//, JoDnary 28, 1776. Dull, severe 
 weathei". Notwithstanding the weather is so 
 extremely severe, yet the cold feels healthy and 
 pleasant; much more so than the winters of 
 Europe; nor does it ever cause a person to 
 shake. 
 
 Thursdaji, Fchruarif 1, 1776. The business of 
 this day was as follows: the eastern furriers had
 
 190 CAPTAIN CAETWRIGHT'S 
 
 a cross-fox and carried out two more traps from 
 the cat-path. Also, Jack shot a spruce-game. A 
 prodigious number of foxes had been every where. 
 The glow of the snow was offensive to my eyes 
 today, for the first time. 
 
 Saturday, February 17, 1776. Jack, P. Hayes, 
 and I went round our traps; the former carried 
 the three which he brought home yesterday to 
 Diver Island. As I was returning home, I dis- 
 covered a wolf at one of Hayes's traps in Great 
 Marsh ; I watched him with my glass and saw him 
 go a great number of tunes round it, trying to rob 
 it from every side, but without accomplishing his 
 purpose; he then went to another, which he tried 
 in the same manner, but not so long, and after- 
 wards turning into Laar Cove, took my footing, 
 and robbed six of ni}^ traps in succession, by dig- 
 ging at the backs of them. I waylayed him at the 
 seventh, and waited for him as long as the severity 
 of the frost would permit me, and should have 
 killed him, could I have remained there a little 
 longer; but being almost frozen stiff, I walked 
 gently towards him, and when he perceived me, 
 he went off into the woods. I lost another trap 
 in the drift. 
 
 Tuesday, February 20, 1776. P. Hayes, Jack, 
 and I went to our traps; the former saw a wolf 
 in Great Marsh, and two others were all round, 
 and even walked over my house last night; one 
 of them visited some of my traps, robbed the 
 spring snare, and cut the line it was tied by. 
 Three were about Jack 's traps on Diver Island : in
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 191 
 
 short, they are iio\v so very plentiful, that their 
 tracks are to be met with every where. 
 
 Wednes., Fehruartj 21, 1776. All hands visited 
 their traps; some wolves had been round them all, 
 and P. Hayes had an old grizzled one. At three 
 o'clock in the afternoon, as I was standing at the 
 door, I observed a wolf going down the tickle, by 
 the side of the water which is not frozen, and stop 
 at the lower end. Taking my gun and dog I went 
 towards him; but he never took the least notice 
 of the dog, until he got within a few yards of him, 
 and then went off in a gentle canter, making a 
 running fight: the dog soon left him and went 
 to the water 'side ; at the same time I saw Jack 
 creep down and fire a shot, which I supposed was 
 at a seal. When I returned home, the boy soon 
 after came m and informed me, that the wolf had 
 chased a deer into the water, and that it was still 
 there. I went with him immediately, and shot it 
 through the head: it proved an old, dry hind, was 
 with calf and very fat: the head and carcass 
 weighed one hundred and fifty-five pounds. 
 
 Thursday, February 22, 1776. Jack and I went 
 round our traps, and he brought home three, 
 wbicli were all that remained on the south side 
 of the harboui'. Thank God, T had some venison 
 for dinner to-day; having scarce tasted any thing 
 for these ten weeks past, except white-bear, 
 wolves, and foxes. I Imve so great a dislike to 
 salted meat, that I would I'athcr cat any animal 
 whatsoever that is tVesli, than the best beef or 
 p(jrk that is salted.
 
 192 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 Saturday, February 24, 1776. I went with Jack 
 round Diver Island: a wolf had visited several of 
 his traps, and had been caught in the last, but had 
 got out again. At the west end of the island we 
 met with the fresh slot of a deer, which I followed 
 to the top of the westernmost hill, where I ob- 
 served a wolf had attacked a deer; and, from 
 observing some ravens, I believe he had killed it 
 in the woods on the north side; but the weather 
 then coming on so exceedingly bad, I made the 
 best of my way home, and was met by four men 
 who were in quest of me. After some difficulty 
 in finding the road we arrived safe. I observed 
 that numbers of foxes and martens traverse the 
 woods on that island, in quest of spruce-game and 
 rabbits; which, from their tracks, must be very 
 plentiful. 
 
 Friday, March 1, 1776. Jack went to one of his 
 traps on Earl Island and brought a rabbit: on 
 examining it, I find the white coat is an additional 
 one which is got in autumn, and will lose it again 
 in spring; it is composed of long, coarse, king- 
 hairs: the summer fur-coat remaining under- 
 neath, and retaining its colour. 
 
 Clear, sharp, frosty weather, with much drift all 
 day. 
 
 Tuesday, March 12, 1776. P. Hayes, Jack, and 
 I visited our traps ; a wolf had robbed one of mine 
 and looked at some others. I also went to Laar 
 Pond, and from thence to the top of a high hill, 
 which lies between it and Goose Cove, from 
 whence I had a good view of the country round
 
 LABR.VDOR JOURNAL 193 
 
 about, it IS very nioiuitaiiious, with but few 
 pouds or marshes, and covered with bad wood, 
 which is chiefly small, old, stunted, black-spruce. 
 I observed a chain of ponds, or marshes run from 
 the south side of Goose Cove, across to Table Bay; 
 a small part of which, I could see. The Gannet 
 Islands on one side, and Wolf Islands on the other 
 were plainly to be discerned, but there was no 
 water in sight. From the Gannet Islands in- 
 wards, the ice was new made, and clear of snow; 
 without, was the main jam, perfectly Arm. To 
 the northward, the coast is low, with many small 
 islands; from which I judge it would be danger- 
 ous to navigate from hence to sea that way. On 
 the hill there was much tracking of grouse and 
 some of spruce-game in the woods; also, signs of 
 porcupines, but I could find none. I was pleas- 
 ingl}" entertained with the melodious singing of 
 the cross-beaked linnets;' they remain all winter 
 with us, and feed on the seeds of black spruce. 
 What made their music more agreeable, was the 
 novelty; this being the first time that I have heard 
 the note of any bii'd this year, except the jay,^ 
 which chants its short coarse tune everv mild dav 
 thi-ou.^!! the whole winter. 
 
 Thiirsdaij, March 14, 1770. As I was going to 
 
 ' Probably the whito-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, part of whose 
 Bong, wliifh is very indodioiiH, roscrnblos that of the canary- The song 
 of the Anu'rican crossbill, Loxia currirostra ininnr, althongh sweet is not 
 so pleasing. This latter species probably spends the winter farther to 
 the wMjth. 
 
 ' I,abrafh)r jay, I'lrisorrvs nnin/h-risis 7iii/rirti/nllits. Vov a discussion 
 of this subject of the song of the jay, sec 'I'ow nscnd and Allen, " Hirds 
 of Labnulor," Boston, 1907, p. .380.
 
 194 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 bed to niglit I perceived myself to be attacked 
 with scurvy.^ I have long had some trifling com- 
 plaints, to which I have paid no attention; but 
 why I should now have the scurvy I cannot imag- 
 ine, as I have tasted very little salted flesh, or fish, 
 for these twelve months past; have drank great 
 plenty of good spruce-beer, but no drams of any 
 kind, nor have I been the least heated with liquor: 
 I have used a great deal of exercise : having walked 
 out every day that a man dare shew his nose to 
 the weather, unless detained by indisposition, or 
 business; neither of wliich has often happened, 
 and I was always out from three to six hours; 
 sometimes more. 
 
 Friday, March 15, 1776. Early this morning I 
 sent the Bay-men off. Jack and I went round our 
 traps; my old plague the wolf had struck up one, 
 and robbed two more: I believe this scoundrel is 
 one of those which got out of some of the traps 
 before, as he follows me every night, and is so 
 cunning that he will not go fair upon them; but 
 if he does not take care of himself, I will be the 
 death of him yet. I tailed two more traps in my 
 walk. 
 
 Saturday, March 16, 1776. Jack and I went our 
 rounds; he had two martens, and some of my 
 traps had been robbed by foxes, of which there 
 had been a good run. I tailed . another, which 
 make thirty-four small and two large ones. 
 
 Severe frost in the morning, less, the rest of the 
 
 * I am inclined to think his diagnosis was incorrect, as his diet was 
 largely fresh meat.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 195 
 
 day; clear with hot sun, and very warm out of the 
 wind. 
 
 Simday, March 17, 1776. This being St. Pat- 
 rick's Day, the people as usual, got beastly drunk. 
 I sent Jack round my walk, and he brought the 
 fore-half of a good cross-fox ; the cursed wolf had 
 eaten the rest. 
 
 Wednes., March 20, 1776. Jack and I went 
 round our traps; I shot an American bulltinch,^ 
 wliicli is as large as an English thrush. They 
 come here in s})ring to breed, and leave us at the 
 latter end of summer; this bird was full of par- 
 tridge-berries. 
 
 Wednes., April 3, 1776. At three o'clock this 
 morning Nooquashock, the eldest India woman, 
 was taken in labour: my skill in these matters, 
 was now fairly put to the test, for she had both 
 a cross birth and twins, but at two in the after- 
 noon, I delivered her of a brace of daughters. I 
 then visited my traps, and had a marten; another 
 had been at the seal, but the traps w^ere so loaded 
 with wet snow, they could not strike up. Several 
 foxes, and some wolves had looked at many of 
 them, ])ut they would not meddle with any. 
 
 Sim day, April 7, 1776. I went round some of 
 my traps, and found six of them robbed by foxes, 
 and five out of the seven about the seal, struck up; 
 a marten w^as in one, and a jay had been eaten out 
 of another; the other three, T fancy had l)een 
 struck up by jays. At three o'clock the deer- 
 
 ' Canadian pino proflbpak, Pinirnla cnvrlrnlor Icnrvrn. Cnrtwright 
 lator Hpeaks of the American robin under the name of the robin-red-breast.
 
 196 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 hunters returned and brought a marten which 
 they had shot as it was feeding upon their provi- 
 sions. 
 
 Friday, April 12, 1776. In the afternoon I per- 
 ceived a bitch white-bear, and a cub of last year 
 coming down the harbour on the ice; we all got 
 our guns and waited until they came within half 
 a mile of the house, when they winded it and 
 turned off for Earl Island : I then slipped the 
 greyhound and we all gave chase. As soon as the 
 dog got near them, the old bear turned about and 
 attacked him with the greatest fury; she made 
 several strokes at him with her fore-paws, but by 
 his agility he avoided the blows. He then quitted 
 the bitch and pursued the cub, which he caught 
 near the island and pulled it down, but was obliged 
 to desist on the approach of the enraged dam. As 
 he would not fasten on her behind, both of them 
 gained the island at the time we got up within 
 fifty yards of them, when two of the people fired, 
 and I snapped my rifle several times, but without 
 effect, as the main-spring I afterwards found was 
 broke. Two of the people followed them for some 
 distance into the woods, but, as they had not their 
 rackets and the snow was very rotten, they could 
 not overtake them. 
 
 Thursday, April 18, 1776. I sowed some mus- 
 tard, cresses, and onions in a tub, and hung it up 
 in the kitchen. 
 
 It rained all day, but cleared in the evening. 
 
 Friday, April 19, 1776. Jack and I went round 
 our traps; he shot a grouse on the hill, where we
 
 LABRADOR JOURN.VL 197 
 
 saw live, and in the evening' he went there again 
 and killed another; they are beginning to change 
 coloui' now. Several saddlebacks ^ and a pair ot* 
 eagles were seen to day; and from the top of the 
 hill I cunhl perceive that the ice was broken up 
 on the outside of Sandy Point. By tlie saddle- 
 backs coming up here, 1 am certain that the ice 
 is gone off the coast, so far as to leave a clear 
 passage all along shore. 
 
 A clear dny, with gentle frost. 
 
 SatunUni, April 20, 1776. We went our rounds 
 as usual, and ui)un Oreat Marsh Jack saw^ a w^olf 
 struggling in one of his small, double-spring traps; 
 but just as he got up to him, one of the springs 
 came off and he got aw^ay. The boy then shot him 
 through the flank with a ball, and pursued him a 
 long way into the woods; but not being able to 
 come up with him, he turned up to the top of the 
 hill which I was upon the twelfth ult. from whence 
 he could see that the ice was driven some distance 
 off the coast, and w^as broken ui3 as high as the 
 west end of the north Hare Island. He brought 
 home a porcupine and a spruce-game. The tickles 
 are daily l)]-eaking up slowly; the snow goes off 
 fast; and, as we haA^e not had so much as usual 
 this last winter, T expect it will nil be gone early. 
 Plenty of saddlel)acks come up here, and there 
 are now" many flocks of snowbirds.' 
 
 Fridaji, April 2G, 1770. Jack and T went round 
 our traps; he had a silver fox and a wolvering. 
 
 ' Or (?TPat blafk-backod gull, LnrvM mnrimis. 
 
 * He refers probably to the suow bunting, Plertrohcnax niralis.
 
 198 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 He also went on the top of Black head, where he 
 saw much tracking of foxes. 
 
 Tuesday, April 30, 1776. At noon, a pair of 
 geese came into the tickle, and at two o'clock a 
 brace of wolves came over from the south side of 
 the harbour, directly towards the house; I waited 
 to receive them at the door, but they either winded 
 or saw the smoke, and turned down the harbour 
 before they came within shot. I innnediately ran 
 to the top of Signal Hill, expecting they would 
 get into some of the traps, but they made a 
 streight course to Huntingdon Island. I sent 
 Jack to try for ducks, and he saw plenty going to 
 the northward, but killed none. 
 
 Friday, May 3, 1776. At six o'clock this morn- 
 ing, I took my station on the top of Signal Hill, to 
 watch for deer, which, at this time of the year, are 
 generally travelling to the northward. At ten I 
 discovered two hinds and a calf come round Black 
 Head upon the ice, and make towards Great 
 Marsh. I got within eighty yards of them and 
 fired at one, but being greatly out of wind I missed 
 it. From thence they went out upon Cartwright 
 Harbour and I followed; Jack headed them and 
 turned them back, I then slipped the greyhound 
 and we had a very fine course. The dog gained 
 fast on them so long as he had bare, rough ice to 
 run upon, but he lost ground when he landed, the 
 snow being both deep and rotten upon the ground. 
 However, he pursued them across the marsh and 
 part of Huntingdon Harbour, but there gave them 
 up, and they went to Huntingdon Island. I meas-
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 199 
 
 ured the length uf their stroke at lull s]mh'(1 and 
 foiuid it to be sixteen feet on an average. 
 
 Wedne.s., May S, 1776. At three o'clock this 
 morning I took John Hayes, his crew, Jack, the 
 greyhound, and two Newfoundland dogs with me, 
 intending to kiunch the skiff into the water, and 
 go a duck shooting. As they were hauling her 
 along, I went forward to Puml)ly Point, from 
 whence I discovered a white-bear lying on the ice 
 near Huntingdon Island; we left the skiff, and 
 all hands went towards him, but finding the ice 
 extremely weak in the middle of the channel we 
 stopped. I then sent one man rotmd to drive him 
 towards us: in the mean time the bear went into 
 a pool of water which was open near the island, 
 and the man got on the other side and fired at 
 him; but as he did not come out so soon as I ex- 
 pected, I sent the rest of the people l)ack for the 
 skiff, intending to launch it into the water to him. 
 He soon after got upon the ice, and came close 
 up to me. I could have sent a ball through him; 
 but as I wished to have some sport first, I slipped 
 the greyhound at him, but he would not close with 
 him till the Newfoundland dogs came up; we then 
 had a fine battle, and they stopped him imtil I got 
 close up. As I was laying down one gun, that I 
 might tire at hijn with the other, I observed the 
 iee which I was u)><>n, to be so very weak Ihat it 
 Ix'iit under nie; aii<l I was at the same time sur- 
 i-(uinded witli small li(des, through which the 
 water br)iled up, by the motion of the ice, caused 
 by my weight. As 1 knew the water there was
 
 200 CAPTAIN C ART WEIGHT'S 
 
 tweuty-five fathoms deep, with a strong tide, my 
 attention Avas diverted, from attempting to take 
 away the life of a bear, to the safety of my own; 
 and while I was extricating myself from the 
 danger which threatened me, the bear bit all the 
 dogs most severely, and made good his retreat into 
 the open water, which was at some distance lower 
 down. Soon after he got upon the ice again, and 
 made towards the brook in Goose Cove, when we 
 all gave chase a second time, and some of the 
 peo23le came up with him at the mouth of the 
 brook, but he got into the woods, and they could 
 not follow him for want of their rackets. While 
 this was doing, Hayes made me a signal, and I 
 soon perceived eleven deer upon the ice, near 
 Pumbly Point, coming downwards; I waylayed 
 them at a point of one of the largest islands, but 
 should not have had a shot, had they not, when 
 they came abreast of me, seen the people returning 
 from the chase of the bear. An old stag then 
 turned towards me and came within a hundred 
 and twenty yards, when I fired and killed him 
 dead; the rest, which were hinds and calves, then 
 pushed forward for Hare Island Tickle. We then 
 broke the deer up, and made a very hearty meal 
 on his humbles, which occasioned my naming the 
 island, FiUhelly. After which we hauled up the 
 skiff on Pumbly Point, and returned home with 
 the venison. In Goose Cove we saw the tracks 
 of several white-bears, and the slot of many deer; 
 the latter had lately frequented Fillbelly very 
 much.
 
 LABR.IDOR JOURXxU. 201 
 
 Frulaji, May JO, l}7ii. After breakfast I sent 
 the liuliaii women to 8ii;iial Hill to pick 
 partridge-berries ^ and wateh tor deer. I then 
 pku-ed myself upon the iee, in the middle of the 
 harbour, and at foiu* oYdoek thev made me a 
 signal: soon after, seven deer came full gallop out 
 of Great Marsh, btit keei)iiig near the north shore, 
 they passed me at three hundred and fifty yards 
 distance. I then fired two guns without effect, 
 and they I'an \\\) the harbour. They seldom travel 
 so late in the day, but, as the frost did not go off 
 till the afternoon, they durst not venture on the 
 ice before the surface of it was thawed, for the 
 w^olves can kill them with the greatest ease upon 
 slippery ice. 
 
 Clear with sharp frost till one o'clock; hazy 
 with thaw afterwards, and it snowed fast at night. 
 
 Thursdaif, Majj ]6, 1776. One man watched the 
 deer as usiuil; the rest of the peo])le w^ere em- 
 ployed in cutting the ice round the shalloway, and 
 in jtniking up the fire-w^ood. Some hotmds ^ and a 
 loon ap])eared today for the first time. 
 
 A little snow in the moi'uing, some sleet and rain 
 ill tlic afternoon, and at night it rained freely; 
 thawed all day. 
 
 SunrJdi/, Jifur .9, 1776. At eight o'clock this 
 mr)niiiig, I went out a egging with all hands. John 
 
 ' Hp dooH not rofor to }fitrh(llit rrpens, thr " partridRO bprry," com- 
 mon in Nova Scotia and farther south, lnil [)r(ihal)lv to Vnrrhnum 
 Vilu'-Jftnea. 
 
 ^ Old squaw or lonR-tailod duck, Ilnrrlda hi/rntnh'.i. This name ia 
 still iiHffl for this «pr'fir'< on the Laf)rador coast, and is an appropriate 
 one as the calls of thcw ducks supRcst a pack of liounds in full cry.
 
 202 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 Hayes went down the eastern passage, in one 
 skiff, and brought ten ducks, a tern, a gull, and a 
 hundred and thirty-six eggs; and four hands and 
 Jack went along with me in another skiff, over 
 the Flats, and visited some of the islands there: 
 we brought in a beaver, a goose, a bottle-nosed 
 diver, five ducks, four strangers, and three hun- 
 dred and seventeen eggs. We found the beaver 
 upon one of the duck islands, but what he was 
 doing there, I cannot guess ; at first I thought that 
 he had been sucking eggs, but upon opening his* 
 paunch, I could find no signs of them. We landed 
 on Sandy Head, and discovered a very fine, large 
 river, which looks likely to produce plenty of 
 salmon, to which I gave my own name; the bed 
 of it is sandy, which has made large shoals off the 
 mouth of it, through which there is no channel, 
 and at low water spring-tides, they have not one 
 foot of water upon them. 
 
 A dull day, with fog aloft. 
 
 Thursday, June 13, 1776. In the evening some 
 of the people came down from Paradise, and 
 brought three of the new skiffs; both the crews 
 there had been living on bread and water for a 
 fortnight past. Smith brought his own and Math- 
 er's fur down with him: the whole of what we 
 have killed this last winter and spring, amounts 
 to ten deer, one white-bear, six wolves, seven wol- 
 verings, eighty-three foxes, eighty-six martens, 
 seven otters, two minks, one beaver and one flying 
 squirrel. 
 
 Wednes., July 8, 1776, About noon hearing an
 
 LABR.VDOR JOURNAL 203 
 
 luicuiiniion uoise on the south of the harbour, I 
 went over in niv kvack, and found it was a bitch 
 doater with her whelp. Great quantities of salmon 
 came in from sea to-day. 
 
 Our voyage is absolutely ruined, by a vessel not 
 arriving with the necessary supplies. 
 
 Safnrdaij, J idij 0, 1776. At noon, taking all my 
 family, and a tent in one of the new skiffs, which 
 I have a})proiJriated to my own use, and called the 
 Roebuck, I set out on a crtiise of pleasure to the 
 eastward, in hopes of meeting our vessel. I tailed 
 a large trap for bears on the shore under Black 
 Head, then went to Wreck Island, w^here we shot 
 six ducks, gathered sixty-one eggs, and dined; 
 after which they landed me on Huntingdon Island, 
 and proceeded to Egg Rock, where they killed six 
 ducks, two pigeons, and gathered two hundred 
 and fifty eggs. This is the fourth time that this 
 rock has been robbed this year, and we have taken 
 in all, about a thousand eggs off it, although it is 
 not above a hundred and fifty yards long, and 
 fifteen broad. I walked across the marshes to the 
 head of Egg Harbour, and found two good deer- 
 paths leading into it, but they had not been much 
 used this vear. The boat met me there, and we 
 ])itched the tent on the west side; great numbers 
 of geese and ducks were there on our arrival; and 
 we s.'iw plenty of ca])lin every ^yhel•e, as we came 
 rlown. 
 
 ThursrJnj/, July 11, 1776. Aflei- breakfast, I 
 went to llie water-side ;in<l (•;inglit a few caplin 
 with a I;iii(]ing-net. At noon Jack and I went in
 
 204 CAPTAIN CAETWRIGHT'S 
 
 the skiff a few yards off shore, and hi an hour's 
 time we caught a hundred and ten cod, although he 
 lost both his hooks soon after he began. I then 
 trouled for them from the shore, in the same 
 manner as for pike, and caught them as fast as I 
 could throw in. In the evening Jack caught a 
 bushel of caplin with the landing-net. I never in 
 my life saw them in such plenty, nor so large. 
 
 Friday^ July 19, 1776. Observing many cod-fish 
 to come close in to the shore, where the water was 
 deep, I laid myself flat upon the rock, took a caplin 
 by the tail, and held it in the water, in expectation 
 that a cod would take it out of my fingers ; nor was 
 I disappointed, for almost instantly a fish struck 
 at, and seized it; and no sooner had one snatched 
 away the caplin, than another sprang out of the 
 water, at my hand, Avhich I had not withdrawn, 
 and actually caught a slight hold of my finger and 
 thumb. Had I dipped my hand in the water, I am 
 convinced they would soon have made me repent 
 of my folly, for they are a very greedy, bold fish. 
 
 Saturday, July 20, 1776. From Black Head we 
 perceived the Otter crossing the Flats for the 
 harbour, and soon after we saw a vessel at an 
 anchor off the north end of Huntingdon Island; 
 we spoke the Otter in the tickle, and found captain 
 Scott on board, who informed me, that the vessel 
 was a snow called the Two Sisters, commanded by 
 Robert Maxwell, which he had chartered to bring 
 out our supplies. That he had sold both our own 
 vessels, and that my brother John had bought the 
 Earl of Dartmouth, and would send her out to me
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 205 
 
 witli supplies on my own account, as our partner- 
 ship was to terminate at the end of this sunmier. 
 
 Wed))cs., JuJij 24, 1776. The fur being aired, 
 I vahied it at a hundred and twent}^ eight pounds. 
 
 Fridajj, July 26, 1776. At ten o'clock captain 
 Scott and I sailed in the Otter for White-bear 
 River, and arrived there at sun-set: but we got 
 aground about half a mile below the salmon-post. 
 We went up in the skiffc* and found spring tish 
 very scarce, but poolers were in tolerable plenty. 
 Two of the people had just killed a cub white- 
 bear and wounded its dam, which had another cub 
 with her. Thev killed two hundred and fourteen 
 fish to-day. 
 
 Saturday, July 27, 1776. We unloaded the 
 Otter. After breakfast captain Scott and I went 
 up the river in a skiff to the cataract, below which 
 salmon were as thick as they could lie; I tried 
 them with fly, but could not raise one. We killed 
 foui' hundred and fifty-six fish to-day. 
 
 Sunday. July 28, 1776. At eleven this morning 
 we attempted to fall down the river, but got 
 aground as we were weighing the anchor. In the 
 afternoon T discovered a very large white-bear 
 c()inii)g u]) the I'iver, upon the middle ground: 
 captain Scott and T waylayed him, ])ut he winded 
 the shalloway, landed on the south side, and ran 
 into the woods. At foui' o'clock we got under 
 weigh, and fell down to Nine-fathom TTole, where 
 we anchored for the night. We killed one hundred 
 and sixty-four fish to-dav. 
 
 Sunday, AufjusI i, 1776. Captain Scott returned
 
 206 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 this morning, and informed me, that just before he 
 came off, a bitch white-bear with two cubs of this 
 year came upon the point where liis tent was 
 pitched, and got into his skiff to search for fish, 
 the blood of which they winded; the bitch then 
 walked on for Muddy Bav, but the cubs loitered 
 behind. He got between them and her, and fired 
 at one of them, being afraid to attack their dam; 
 his imprudence was near being fatal to him; for 
 she immediately turned about and made at him, 
 but on his rmming away, and the cubs joining her 
 unhurt, she was contented, and pursued her in- 
 tended route. Wlienever a man meets with a 
 white-bear and cubs, he ought either to kill the 
 dam, or let them all alone ; otherwise his own life 
 will be in great danger. I had given captain Scott 
 that advice before, but: I will engage he will not 
 slight it a second time, for I never knew one who 
 did. 
 
 Wednes., August 14, 1776. We unloaded the 
 Otter; and in the afternoon I took all hands, ex- 
 cept the cooper, up to the salmon-leap: we fished 
 in the stream below the rattle, and also in the 
 lower pool, and killed seventy-eight fish. As this 
 work is very fatiguing and wet, and the flies bite 
 most intolerably, I took a tierce of porter for the 
 people, which they made rather too free with; and 
 the consequence was, that the taylor was near 
 being drowned. We left the net at swing, in the 
 lower pool. 
 
 A clear hot day. 
 
 Tuesday, Septemher 3. 1776. Jack killed a cur-
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 207 
 
 lew this muniing ni' wry large size; I have seen 
 some few of them before, l)Ut never till now com- 
 pared any of them with the others; this is darker 
 on the back, has a white belly, and weighed hfteen 
 ounces (the conmion sort but nine and a half) and 
 the wings extended are longer by five inches.* I 
 killed live curlews at the door. 
 
 TJiiirsdai/, Septouhcr .5, 7776'. I concluded a 
 bargain with captain Scott to-day, for the share 
 of the stock in trade of his brother and himself 
 belonging to our partnership, which being nearly 
 expired, they did not choose to renew : I gave him 
 bills for the amount, being one thousand two hun- 
 dred pounds. After dinner captain Scott and I 
 took a walk upon Signal Hill; he killed a curlew 
 and two gre}" plover, and I shot fourteen curlews 
 and a plover. Jack killed a curlew and a plover. 
 
 Saturday, Septemher 7, 1776. Six men were 
 at work on the house, which they finished by night. 
 Captain Scott and T took a walk to Black Head. 
 T found the trap which I lost in the winter, with 
 the remains of a marten in it, and saw several 
 tracks of black-bears. At dark the head-man of 
 AVhite-bear River came down to inform me, that 
 he m(.'t with two mountaineer families vestcrdav, 
 whom he towed down t(j the foot of Mealy Moun- 
 tains, where they landed; it blowing too fresh for 
 them to come any farthei-. 
 
 Wed)ies., Se])tcmhcr //, 1776. At noon the 
 
 ' It is vrr>- possible fli.it tliis wius m Iliulsoniaii ciirlow, Numenius 
 hii'lumiiriiH. This speoies haa boon rccordcil for Labrador by Couea, Turner 
 and othcrH.
 
 208 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 Mountaineers came here in two canoes; tliere 
 were two men and their wives, a boy about sixteen 
 years old (a son of captain Jack's) and two small 
 children. They gave me four beaver-skins, and 
 afterwards stole them again and sold them to me. 
 They continued to drink brandy, of which they 
 were very greedy, until they were quite drunk, but 
 were not near so troublesome as captain Jack and 
 his family. 
 
 Thursday, Septeynher 12, 1776. All this morn- 
 ing was spent in purchasing furs from the Indi- 
 ans; they had not much, but they sold them 
 cheaper than the others had done. They shewed 
 me their method of shooting deer; although they 
 were very drunk, yet they made several good 
 shots, which convinced me of their expertness.^ 
 
 When a Mountaineer gets up to a herd of deer, 
 he puts three or four balls into his mouth; the 
 instant he has fired, he throws some loose powder 
 down his piece, drops a wet ball out of his mouth 
 upon it and presses it down with his ramrod, but 
 puts in no wadding, either upon the powder or 
 the ball; by which means he gets more shots than 
 if he loaded in the common way. As they use no 
 measure for their powder, but throw it in by hand, 
 the}^ generally over-charge; a spring-flask, with 
 a ball made up in a cartridge would be a much 
 better way, but those flasks come too high for the 
 
 ^ This adoption of fire-arms by the Indians earlier than by the Es- 
 kimos, and their evident skill in their use, may partly account for the 
 abandonment of southern Labrador by the latter people, although the 
 prime factor was of course the white race. Indians and Eskimos have 
 always been enemies.
 
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 LABRADOR JOURNAL 209 
 
 Indian niarkel ; tlicTciure tiiu}' are i'lirnislicd with 
 the cow-horn, such as are provided for ship's use. 
 
 After dinner the^• went off for their tents, which 
 were in Diver Ticlvle, well satisfied with the re- 
 ception they met with, and jironiised to return 
 again. 
 
 Sinidau, September 22, 1776. Having concluded 
 all my business on shore, captain Scott and I em- 
 barked on board the Two Sisters. At noon we got 
 under weigh, and worked out of the harbour: at 
 dark we were abreast of Black Islands, and found 
 a great swell at sea. 
 
 Wednes., Septemher 25, 1776. At ten this 
 morning we saw the land, but did not know^ where 
 we were, as the w^eather was foggy; we supposed 
 that we were near Point Spear; at three o'clock 
 we made the land again, and found it to be the 
 Caribous; we then ran round the South side of 
 them, and came to anchor in Charles Harbour, 
 at half after four. I had the disappointment to 
 hear, that our three salmon-j^osts here had got 
 but a himdred and fifty tierces of fish. I also 
 learned, that few other people had killed more in 
 l)roportion, and that the cod-fishery had failed 
 greatly all ronnd Newfoundland, but had been 
 vei"y successful u])on this coast. Noble and V'w- 
 son's schooner came in here this evening from the 
 northward, and remained the night. 
 
 SatKrdn/f, Ortoher 5, 1776. We spread the re- 
 mainder of the fish, got the Squii'i'el afloal, and 
 packed the fni's: lliere wei'c in (be whole, eighty- 
 eight foxes, a hundi-ed and Iwenty-five martens,
 
 210 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 thirty-five beavers, seventeen otters, seven wol- 
 verings, six wolves, four white bears, one black 
 ditto, three minks, one lyuks, and three Indian- 
 dressed rangers. 
 
 Wednes., October 9, 1776. At eight o'clock this 
 morning, we perceived a sail in the offing, and 
 sopn knew her to be my ship; at noon she came 
 to an anchor, and the captain (David Kinlock) 
 came on shore and brought my letters. From 
 them I learned that she had brought my supplies 
 for the winter, and also two clerks, viz. Joseph 
 Daubeny and Robert Collingham; that she had 
 goods on board for Quebec, to which place she 
 ought to have gone first. This vessel had lately 
 been named the Countess of Effingham: she had 
 been eight weeks from Portland Road, and had 
 met with much bad weather, by which some of 
 her cargo was damaged. The arrival of this ship 
 saved the lives of some fine, fat, blood-hound 
 whelps; for, as we had nothing fresh to eat be- 
 sides codfish, captain Scott and I had determined 
 to have a bow-wow-pie for dinner to-day, and I 
 was actually going out to kill the whelps, when 
 I discovered the ship in the offing. We began to 
 turn the oil out of the store-house and prepare for 
 receiving the goods from on board the ship. 
 
 Tuesday^ November 5, 1776. I shipped my bag- 
 gage on board a small brig called the Ann, com- 
 manded by William Pinson, (Mr. Pinson's son) 
 and in the evening I embarked, as did captain 
 Scott, Mr. Pinson, and all his English servants, 
 who were discharged.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 211 
 
 Thur.sdoijj Xovcmhcr 7, 1776. xVt half past two 
 o'clock this afternoon wc got under weigh, and 
 sailed for Dartmouth; at six o'clock we judged 
 ourselves to be abreast of Belle Isle, but could 
 not see it, and at seven we passed close to a very 
 large island of ice. 
 
 Dull, hazy weather. 
 
 Saturday, November 23, 1776. At half an hour 
 after two o'clock this morning, (it then blowing 
 a hard gale of wind, with a great sea, and ver}^ 
 thick weather) we saw Scilly Light, right ahead, 
 by which we knew we were among the rocks lying 
 to the westward of it. The hehn was immediatel^y 
 put aport, and the vessel, which was at that time 
 going seven miles an hour, flew up into the wind 
 with her head to the southward. AVliile the people 
 were bracing the head yards about, I espied a 
 breaker, not far to leeward, and a little ahead 
 witlial; we inunodiately vered to the other tack, 
 and in so doing, she went within half her lengtli 
 of the rock; we got the sails trimmed as quick 
 as possible, then lay u}) north by west, and ran 
 near five knots an hour. At a quarter after three 
 we discovered four high rocks, close under our 
 lee, and had much difficulty to clear them; indeed 
 we all gave ourselves up for lost, and had we 
 struck against the rocks, not a soul could have 
 been saved; 1lo^vc^•f'r, we were now out of all dan- 
 ger, fn)' we s;i\v IK) iiioj-c .-irtci" tliosc; but for t'cai' 
 (if Hic woi'st, we kept on oui- course till dny-liglil; 
 ;ni(l during tlic wlmlc time, the lee end of the wind- 
 lass was scarce e\-en out of tlic water, as it blew
 
 212 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 very hard, and we carried the top sails to it. At 
 day-light we bore away, and passed between 
 Scilly and England, at noon we doubled the land's 
 end, and at half past two were abreast of the Liz- 
 zard, at six we made the Eddistone, and at ten 
 we heaved to, off the Start; it then blowing most 
 desperately, attended with much rain. 
 
 Sunday, November 24, 1776. At day-light we 
 made sail, and plied to windward all day; in the 
 morning we were about six leagues south easterly 
 off the Start, but our sails and rigging were so 
 much shattered by the late blowing weather, that 
 we gained but little before dark. 
 
 Cloudy weather. 
 
 Monday, November 25, 1776. At day-light we 
 found ourselves between the Start and the Berry, 
 and no great distance off shore; and at nine 
 o'clock we came to an anchor in Dartmouth 
 Range. Captain Scott, Pinson, and I went on 
 shore in the pilot boat; and at ten we landed safe 
 at Dartmouth. 
 
 I did not leave Dartmouth until the second of 
 December; and as I made several stoppages by 
 the way, it was the evening of the tenth inst. be- 
 fore I airrived in London; where I conclude this 
 voyage. 
 
 THE END OF THE THIRD VOYAGE.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 213 
 
 THE FOURTH VOYAGE 
 
 April, 1777. Last year my brother John imfor- 
 tunately })ut my business mto the hands of akler- 
 man Wooh'idge, Avho saeriticed iwj interest to his 
 own, by shipi)ing a quantity of rum and porter 
 on board the Countess of Effingham, for Quebec; 
 in order that he mi^lit receiA'e the freight, which 
 amounted to two hundred pounds. From this cir- 
 cumstance she was not only detained in EngUmd 
 above a month later than she would otherwise 
 liave been, which made her late arrival in Labra- 
 dor of dangerous consequence, as well as a great 
 loss to me; but she was afterwards obliged to 
 proceed to Quebec. She, however, had the good 
 fortune to arrive there, and to return to England; 
 but as she came back empty, her expences 
 aninuiitcd to more money than the freight. She 
 liad nioi-('o\ci' received some damage, wliich 
 o])lioc(| iiK- t(, j)iij ;i )](.^v keel into her, and give 
 hei* some ni]i. |- repairs that cost me a considerable 
 sum. 
 
 In lbc iiiciii fiiiic T )ti-o\'ided such good as 
 could b(* procui-ed in Ii(>n(lon, shipped Ihcm on 
 J)oai'(k ;iiid tlicii oj-dei'ed ilic sliip 1o Tiymming- 
 <<'ii to take in some salt, and to wait for my 
 arrival.
 
 214 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 Tuesday, Api^il 29, 1777. We got under weigh 
 at ten o'clock this morning, but having the tide 
 against us, it was two in the afternoon before we 
 passed the Needles. 
 
 Sundaij, May 4, 1777. We got sight of Dungar- 
 von Hills at noon to-day, and anchored at Passage, 
 in the harboui' of Waterford, at eight o'clock at 
 night. 
 
 We found lying here the Pegasus Sloop of War, 
 captain Gore ; and the Wasp Sloop, captain Bligh ; 
 also a number of vessels which were bound to 
 Newfoundland, under convoy of the Pegasus. The 
 lieutenant of the above ship boarded mine soon 
 after she passed Duncannon Fort, and although 
 it was then tide of ebb and the wind was very 
 scant, he obliged her to lie to, until she was very 
 near being on shore upon the rocks. After a great 
 deal of improper behaviour, he pressed Roco Gas- 
 per, an Italian; notwithstanding he had a pro- 
 tection. I was at that time on shore, and on 
 receiving information of the above particu- 
 lars, I waited on captain Gore; but very sorry 
 am I to say, that I neither obtained the 
 man's discharge, nor met with that degree 
 of politeness which it was natural for me to ex- 
 pect. 
 
 I went to Waterford the next morning, where 
 I purchased provisions, and hired upwards of 
 thirtv fishermen for the use of my concerns in 
 Labrador. These transactions found me with full 
 employment till the evening of the ninth; by 
 which time the provisions were on board, most of
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 215 
 
 the servants were embarked, and 1 put my ship 
 under eonvoy of the Pegasus. 
 
 Sutulay, May IS, 1777. Nothing worthy of re- 
 mark occurred until this day, unless that captain 
 Gore, having a fleet of ships under his care, and 
 a report prevailing of privateers being near the 
 Irish Coast neglected his duty: for he neither took 
 the least pains to keep his fleet together, nor at- 
 tempted to collect them when dispersed; he 
 neither carried sail in proportion to the heaviest 
 sailers, nor did he ever examine such ships as 
 appeared in sight: although several vessels actu- 
 ally ran through his fleet, he never spoke to one, 
 nor even shewed his colours, in answer to theirs. 
 By such conduct, he soon lost the fourth part of 
 his fleet; and as he persisted in keeping on the 
 starboard tack, with the wind at south west, in 
 the latitude of 46" 4fi' north, at noon, I ordered 
 the signal to be made for speaking with him; but 
 notwithstanding we were no more than a mile 
 from him, and on his lee quarter, he took no notice 
 of it. At l\v(. o'clock I caused the signal to be 
 ha\ded down, the colours to be hoisted, the vessel 
 to be put about, and left him. 
 
 W'c had \erv tempestuous weather all night, 
 and met several vessels, wliidi .ilarnu'd us greatly, 
 feni'iiig lest any of them should prove American 
 Piivateers. 
 
 On the twenty-eighth we saw a ]iaii' of gannets, 
 wliicb ni.'idc 11u' sailors suspect that we were in 
 soun<lings: but we could not find any ground with 
 a luuiflrccl f;itbonis of line.
 
 216 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 [On the 17th of June the}^ reached Table Ba}^ 
 near Sandwich Bay.] 
 
 On drawing near North Point, I had the yawl 
 hoisted out, and went off to the small island, which 
 lies a mile and a half south by east from thence, 
 in order to shoot ducks and gather eggs. An old 
 white bear and her cub, had already taken pos- 
 session of it for the latter purpose; and on my 
 arrival within a hundred yards of the shore, the 
 old lady appeared disposed to dispute my landing : 
 but I soon settled that point, by sending a ball 
 through her heart, and then landed and killed her 
 cub also. Notwithstanding both bears were shot 
 through the centre of their hearts, the bitch ran 
 three hundred yards, and the cub at least a hun- 
 dred before they dropped. As a great surf broke 
 upon the shore, it was with difficulty that one man 
 and I landed; and we were not able to do any- 
 thing more with the bears, than merely to paunch 
 them. I shot seven ducks, while my man gathered 
 above two hundred eggs; we then re-embarked 
 and followed the ship, which we overtook at nine 
 o'clock: presently after, she was obliged to let go 
 an anchor off the east end of Ledge Island; be- 
 cause, so thick a fog coming on, together with 
 night, that we durst not attempt to proceed into 
 a harbour, which none of us had even yet seen; 
 an original chart of Lane's, being all that we had 
 to go by. 
 
 Wednes., June 18, 1777. We weighed at day- 
 light this morning, and presently came to an an- 
 chor in South Harbour, where we moored also.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 217 
 
 At ten o'clock I sent the long l)oat with the mate 
 and ten men for the bears, and they returned with 
 them in the eA'ening: they also l)rought a pair of 
 ducks and four large baskets full of eggs; but 
 very few of them were good. On examining the 
 paunches of the liears, they found them well filled 
 with eggs. I had often heretofore observed, that 
 all the nests upon an island had been robbed, and 
 Ihe down pulled out; but I did not know till now, 
 how those things had happened. 
 
 TJiiu'Sfhii/, June 19, 1777. T had the old bear 
 salted: a hind quarter of her weighed ninety 
 pounds, and all hough she was very lean, yet her 
 fat tilled half a pork-l)arrel. Plenty of the young 
 })ear was dressed for dinner, which, together with 
 sitting ducks and half hatched eggs, proved a 
 great treat to us, who had been so long confined to 
 salt provisions; how much soever such food may 
 be despised by those who never lived far from a 
 butcher. , 
 
 There was a thick dry fog in the morning, and 
 wet one all the rest of the day. 
 
 [On June 21st the ship anchored in Tartwi-ight 
 II.irt»"UF-. I I tlie?! went on shore, and had the 
 plcasni-c to liear, that all my people had enjoyed 
 go(.(l licalili since T left thcni; ])nt I had the mor- 
 tificniioii to be iiifornied, that they had got very 
 few I'nrs, and scai'cely moi-e seals than su])plied 
 them with sufTieient oil for thcii- own consump- 
 tion. 
 
 Fruldi/, Jiiur 27, 1777. This morning the ship 
 unmoored, aiid ]»iv'pai-c(l t<i sail (nr Charles liar-
 
 218 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 bour. At nine o'clock Mrs. Selby and I 
 set off in the ship's yawl, rowed by the two 
 Indian women, for White-bear River; at five 
 o'clock we arrived at Little Brook and pitched 
 a tent there, afterwards we went to the salmon- 
 post, where I found, they had got about six 
 tierces of fish on shore. I shot a pair of 
 geese. 
 
 [The chief occupation of the summer was the 
 cod-fishery, in which Cartwright was fairly suc- 
 cessful, for which he built a Stage at Cfreat Island 
 near Blackguard Bay. Hardly a day passed, how- 
 ever, when he did not indulge in shooting game 
 or in exploring the country.] 
 
 Wednes., September 3, 1777. After breakfast, 
 taking Jack with me, I went in the Roebuck to 
 Cartwright River; we pitched our tent at the 
 mouth of Alder Brook, and rummaged it for bea- 
 vers, but could not find the house, which my peo- 
 ple saw there this spring. 
 
 Thursday, Septem'ber 4, 1777. iEarly in the 
 morning we went up the brook again, and took 
 a long, fatiguing walk to the top of a high hill, 
 from whence we could command an extensive 
 view of the country. We observed, that it was 
 chiefly marshes with small ponds in them, and 
 very little wood, except by the sides of the river 
 and brooks; there the soil is good, rich sand, and 
 produces plenty of very large timber, and abun- 
 dance of good raspberries,^ both red and white, 
 as ever I ate in my life. There are also large beds 
 
 * Rubua idaeus var. aculeatissimus.
 
 LABRADOR JOFRXAL LM9 
 
 ul' altU r ' and willow,- wliieli must cause a great 
 resort of grouse in the winter. To the northward 
 of the river mouth we could perceive a hirge bay, 
 the whole shore uf which is a fine sandy beach, 
 except the northern extremity, which is termi- 
 nated bv a rockv, hillv, barren headland, with a 
 small island lying off the point. Between the bay 
 and the ri^•er, the land is Wi\\ and low, consisting 
 almost entirely of wet marshes. We found four 
 dams and a hovel as we went u]) the brook; and 
 on our return. Jack coming dow^n the other side, 
 found the house, situated at the cxtremitv of a 
 very narrow ])oint, which we did not go round 
 before. I killed three large, horn owls,^ and a 
 black-duck. 
 
 Satiirdaij, Sepiemhcr 6, 1777. We had a couple 
 of owls for dinner, which proved fat and white, 
 but very tough. 
 
 Tuesdai/, Xovcuiher 25, 1777. I had an oppor- 
 tunity of shooting at a goose to-day, although 
 it is ver\ late in the vear for those birds to be 
 seen. 
 
 Suiu/dij, Xo cent her oO, 1777. Early this morn- 
 ing T went in the skiff to Earl Island. Sending 
 hei- to tlie fai'thest brook, T landed in the first cove 
 
 ' AlnxjLS rrisjM. 
 
 * The wiIIf)\vH, !<nUx, am of roursp diffif ult to idontify. Dolabarre 
 in the report of tho Browii-HMrv.-ird Expedition O^iill. ricnu. ''^'"•. of F'hila. 
 Ill Apr. 1WI2, pp. ISO, VM)) list.s nine Hpecics of willows from Lahrador. 
 Several of thew ar*- low crecpinj^ plants. Hritton and Brown Bperifically 
 refer eleven to Laf>rador. Seven different .•species of willows have been 
 iflentified from the H|.M'cirn(ns I have hrouuht from the eastern and south- 
 ern eoa«tH. 
 
 * Labrador homed owl, Huho virgininnun htlerocnemis.
 
 220 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 on the south side, and walked up the valley to 
 the marsh; then turned westward along the is- 
 land, looked at the deertrap, settled it afresh, and 
 went to the top of the burnt hill over the north- 
 west point, where I sat watching for some time. 
 After which, merely by accident and contrar}^ to 
 my intention, I crossed upon the trap in my way 
 back to the boat, and by this Avandering prevented 
 the poor Indian boy (Jack) from loosing his leg, 
 at least, nay perhaps I saved his life; for, seeing 
 me upon the hill, he intended to come to me, but 
 in stepping over the trap, his foot slipped, and 
 staggering back, he was caught by one leg above 
 the calf; consequently he must have remained 
 a prisoner there all night. When I came up 
 to him, he smiled in my face and humourously 
 said, '^ Here is a young fool of a deer caught at 
 last." 
 
 Wednes., December 10, 1777. This morning 
 Jack and I crossed the ice to Earl Island above 
 the tickle. I went to my traps at the east end of 
 the island; the first I could not find, but shifted 
 the other there, and baited them all with old 
 Cheshire cheese and honey. Just as I had finished 
 the last, a cross-fox came out of the woods to wind- 
 ward, and turned downwards; as soon as he 
 winded some bits of the cheese which I had 
 thrown at a distance, he stopped as if to consider 
 whether he should venture to eat them or not, at 
 last advancing with the greatest care, and tndng 
 the snow with his feet as he went along, he crept 
 up and took them; growing more bold, he then
 
 T.ABRADOR JOURNAL 221 
 
 trotted up and set oue foot fairly w itliiii the trap, 
 but not touching the ])ridge, lie was not eauglit. 
 xVt the same time, either winding or feeling the 
 trap, or perhaps winding my footstep on a rock 
 close by, he gave a sudden spring, and ran off at 
 full speed. I lay all the time flat uj^on the ice at 
 the water's edge, and on observing him go off I 
 tired at him, l)nt having only small shot, and being 
 full sixtv vards olf, he was not much the worse 
 for it. 
 
 Moudaji, January 5, 1778. This morning, two 
 thirds of mv house was S(^ entirelv drifted over, 
 as to appear like a hill; and nobody would snp- 
 })ose it to be any other, were it not for the top of 
 the chinmey. At eleven o'clock, two of the sealers 
 arrived with a letter from the head-man, inform- 
 ing me, that on the day when they left this place, 
 thev got no further than a few miles bevond Sandv 
 Point: and that the next day, Josej)!! Poole going 
 on about two miles ahead of the rest, fell through 
 the ice and was drowned. Patrick AVoods, one of 
 those who came to-day, broke in also; but being 
 near the shore and within his depth, fortunately 
 gr)t out again, and by immediately drying himself 
 l)efore a good fire which they made in the woods, 
 took no harm. 
 
 Fridd//, Januar// .9, 1778. Dull, mild weather, 
 witli ;\ Utile snow at times until i]]o evening, when 
 it t^i-ew clear, and fi'oze sharj)ly. Although sudden 
 and great changes of the weathei' most commonly 
 cause sickness in England, yet I ncx-er found tliey 
 had the same effeet in this countrv, notwithstand-
 
 222 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 ing those wMcli we experience liere, are so much 
 greater; as may be observed in many parts of 
 this work. 
 
 TJmrsday, January 15, 1778. Jack returned in 
 the afternoon without any thing. He lay in Goose 
 Cove on Monday night ; in Eagle Cove on Tuesday 
 night; and at the stage last night; from whence 
 he came early this morning. On Venison Head, 
 he saw much slot of deer, and the tracks of both 
 wolves and foxes. AVlien he got near to the stage, 
 three wolves came from thence upon the ice, and 
 seemed disposed to attack him. As I never knew 
 the boy given to lying, I cannot doubt his story; 
 which, for its curiosity, I will relate. The three 
 wolves separated and surrounded him; the two 
 smallest clapped down on their bellies, and the 
 largest, which he said was a very stout old dog, 
 then ran full cry at him. He all this time en- 
 deavored to imitate the appearance and motion of 
 a deer as well as he could, by holding his gun be- 
 hind his back, with the muzzle over his head for a 
 horn, and stooping and walking with his hatchet 
 for a fore-leg. This scheme would have succeeded, 
 had not the old wolf, before he got near enough, 
 took the wind of him; when, finding his mistake, 
 he ran off and howled in a different tone of voice, 
 which the others perfectly understood; for they 
 jumped up, wheeled round and joined him, and 
 then all went off together. One of them has, per- 
 haps, been in one of Wrixon's traps lately; for 
 it was lame, and Jack saw blood in the shoremen's 
 house, where they had taken up their quarters for
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 223 
 
 some time; and they had fed upon ihe blubber 
 whieh had been left in the casks. 
 
 Wedma., February 25, 1778. On my giving 
 Tweegoek a small slap for some sluttish and dirty 
 tricks, she snatched up a penknife, which chanced 
 to lie on a table near her, and would certainly 
 have stabbed herself to the heart, if the point of it 
 had not iK'en stopped by a rib: 1 innnediately 
 took it from her, when she took her own knife out 
 of her pocket and made a second attempt with 
 tliat, but without effect likewise. She made two 
 small punctures under her left breast, l)ut of no 
 consequence. I then took good care to pacify her 
 effectually, before I let her go out of my sight. 
 
 Siuulaii, March 29, 1778. Jack and Terry ex- 
 amined the countrv to the southwards: where 
 they found two marshes, four ponds and some 
 pretty good timber: but the latter is too far from 
 the water side to be of use. They saw no signs of 
 beavers, but met with the tracks of a few martens, 
 and killed two ]»oi'('upines. I took Patrick with 
 me, and went up I he suuth-east brook to the first 
 pond; then turned uoi'th-west, and came back, 
 through the woods. I had a cat ^ in a trap by the 
 brook, killed a porcupine, and saw flic tracks of 
 a lynx and another cat. T heard some crossbeak- 
 liunets sing, f'oi- the fii'st time fliis year. 
 
 Moiiflnii, April C, 177H. At eiiiht this morning. 
 I set off for Last Ai-m, taking Pati-ick .iiid Jnck 
 
 ' As th*' wildcat, LynT nifTus, is not known to occur in I ahriuior, it 
 in po«Hiblf that CartwriKht rpfprn to the fisher, MunUla pcnnnntii, some- 
 tiiuui called the fliih cat or black cut.
 
 224 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 with me, who, together with the bloodhound dog, 
 drew our provisions and baggage on a sled. At 
 the south point of Earl Island, Jack built a death- 
 fall for foxes, and then followed. At two in the 
 afternoon we got to the brook, when I pitched a 
 tent upon the snow, and then sent Patrick home 
 again with the dog. 
 
 Tuesday, April 7, 1778. I went to the top of the 
 high hill with a bare crown, which is on the south 
 side of this brook, from w^hence I commanded a 
 most extensive view in every direction, except 
 from south-west, to west north-west. I observed 
 a valley, full of marches and ponds, to extend 
 from Dykes River to Paradise East River; and 
 another, with a string of ponds in it, which run 
 from the middle of the former vallev, to Table 
 Bay Brook. I am of opinion, that a few beavers 
 may be found in some of those ponds; that they 
 must be good places for otters; and that the 
 marshes are exceedingly well situated for inter- 
 cepting deer at the passing times. I observed a 
 range of very high, barren mountains towards 
 the head of White-bear River, a long way in the 
 country, which I never saw before. But what 
 pleased me most, was, to discover plenty of good 
 rinds, in the woods not far from the water-side, 
 as I shall want a great number this spring. I 
 found a porcupine on the top of a tall fir-tree, and 
 after taking the trouble to climb up and cut off 
 the head of the tree with my knife (as he climbed 
 higher than it would bear my weight) T lost my 
 labour; for, before I could get down and overtake
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 225 
 
 liiiii, he shuttled iiilu his liule, wliieh was under a 
 large roek not far distant, and escaped. 
 
 Thursday, April D, 1778. I sent the boys in 
 quest of the porcupine which I saw on Thursday, 
 which thev not onlv found and killed, l)ut they 
 dressed and eat it too, without saying a word to 
 me; who lay all the time m my deer-skin bag in 
 the tent, where I continued from the night of last 
 Tuesday, until after it was dark this evemng; 
 nearly perishing with cold the whole time. 
 
 Friday, April 10, 1778. At eight this morning 
 we set out homewards. It then froze so severely, 
 that I was obliged to walk above a mile without 
 my rackets, to prevent my toes from l)urning; 
 but b}' the time we got half way home, the weather 
 ,was grown very hot, and it was most intolerably 
 so, after we got into the harbour, insonmch, that 
 we were obliged to lay down on the snow to cool 
 ourselves. 
 
 The boys brought a sled load of baggage, and 
 we tailed three traps for foxes by the way. I 
 judge, the distance from my house, to be about 
 tw('l\e miles. 
 
 A clear day. Thcr. 5" 1° below - 2*^ 56° - 
 8*^ 19\ 
 
 Tuesday, May 5, 1778. After l)i'('akfast T went 
 upon the hill and watched till clcNcn o'clock, but 
 no deer a])pearing, made me conjecture, that the 
 fresh water on the 1o)) of ihc ice, now being frozen, 
 it was too slippci-y for lliciii to walk upon, as 
 thev would casilv become a pi'c\' to (lie wolves; 
 besides, the snow is now so liai'd in the woods,
 
 226 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 tliat it is very good travelling across the country, 
 and all the marshes being clear of snow, they can 
 get food as they travel along. I am the more con- 
 firmed in this opinion, as I never knew them cross 
 the ice at this time of the year, until the sun had 
 thawed the surface sufficiently to enable them to 
 keep their feet. The bridge of ice at the east end 
 of the small island at the head of the harbour, 
 broke up last night. 
 
 Clear, frosty weather. 
 
 Monday, May 18, 1778. At six this morning, 
 taking the cooper and Jack with me, I went up 
 the harbour in the Roebuck, to look for the lost 
 traps, but found only one of them. I sent Jack to 
 strike up the deer-traps, but we could get at only 
 one ; the other being yet covered with much snow. 
 In the mean time the cooper and I sat watching 
 for geese, but we could not get a shot as mqtj few 
 were stirring; but we saw a great many black- 
 ducks. Two swallows ^ appeared today, which is 
 very early for them, and I observed a stem of 
 grass shewing its seed, although not yet two 
 inches out of the ground. 
 
 Monday, June 1, 1778. Early this morning we 
 took up the net and hung it upon the scaffold to 
 dry; there was a pike of six pounds and a half 
 in it. I went to the beaver-house, out of which 
 the two beavers were caught last fall, and tailed 
 a trap near it. In a small pond, which has been 
 made by the beavers a little above, we found an 
 
 ' The tree swallow, Tridoprocne h' color, bank swallow, Rijmria riparia, 
 and barn swallow, Hirundo erylhrogaaler , all occur in Labrador.
 
 LABKADOR JOURNAL 22 
 
 zzt 
 
 old house. The stint was the longest and eom- 
 pletest i ever saw; it extended across a small 
 vale, through which ran a narrow rill of water, b}^ 
 which means a pond, ot* about an acre, was formed; 
 this is often the practice of those industrious 
 animals. But when i\\ey are found in such a 
 place, it is a very easy matter to kill the whole 
 family (or ci-ew, as the furriers term them), for, 
 by cutting a hirge breach in the stint, all the water 
 is soon drained otf, and they cannot make their 
 escape. We saw a brace of deer on an island in 
 the river, but could not get a shot. 
 
 Tucsdaii, Juuc 2, 1778. Some more of the gar- 
 den was dug, and we sowed some radishes, onions, 
 turnips, nuistard and cresses. I then went to a 
 large pond which lies luider the south end of that 
 ridge, and empties into Eagle River; on the north 
 side of which, 1 found three large beaver-houses, 
 with a strong crew of beavers belonging to one of 
 them: for, in the wood, lay as many trunks of 
 stout l)irch trees as would load the biggest lighter 
 on the rivei- Thames; and in the pond, were as 
 many logs and sticks, fresh cut, as would load two 
 or three large stage waggons. 
 
 Tu( sdajf, Jinir 30, 1778. After breakfast 1 went 
 ill the skiff with the women, to the ti'aps in the 
 li;irl)oiir. one of wliicli liad a robin-i'ed-breast ' in 
 it. Wc l.iiidcd on tbc woody island and there 
 g,'it]ici-c(I sixteen eggs, 1 also shot six ducks, and 
 my dog caught one. 
 
 Thiirsthiif, Jidif !). 1778. At day-break a skiff 
 
 • AmfTif-an robin, PUintMiruH migrnloriuA.
 
 228 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 came here from the stage to mform me that a 
 vessel of mine was arrived from England. I im- 
 mediately went down there, and found her to be 
 the Reconciliation, John Kettle master; a new 
 brigantine which had been taken from the Amer- 
 icans, and purchased for me this spring. She 
 is about eighty tons burden; is laden with provi- 
 sions and stores; she brought out some new serv- 
 ants from England and Ireland. B}^ my letters I 
 find, that the Countess of Effingham is ordered to 
 load with salt at Lisbon, to which place she carried 
 a cargo of corn on freight for Leghorn, and to come 
 from thence here. 
 
 Sunday, July 19, 1778. The Otter coming up 
 at ten this morning; I put some empty tierces on 
 board her, and sailed immediately for Wliite-bear 
 River, where I arrived at four in the afternoon; 
 but found no fish going, and only seventy tierces 
 on shore. 
 
 Wednes., July 22, 1778, At four o'clock this 
 morning we weighed anchor, towed out of the 
 river, and anchored again a little below the mouth 
 of it, where we moored. Leaving one man on 
 board the shalloway, to take care of her, I got into 
 the yawl with captain Kettle, Jack, and the other 
 two sailors; and rowed up Eagle River to bring 
 some of the salmon-craft from thence. 
 
 On entering the river, we observed a wolvering 
 going along on the south shore of it, which is the 
 first I ever saw alive, unless in a trap. When we 
 got to the first rapid, which is as high as a boat 
 can go, we saw a brace of white-bears in the river
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 229 
 
 aljuvc; and a blae-k oiie, walking along the north 
 shore. I landed on the south side with my double 
 barrel and ride; ordering captain Kettle to land 
 Jack on the opposite shore; then to follow me 
 with one of his men, and leave the other to take 
 care of the boat and keep her atioat. I had not 
 gone far, before I observed a very large black- 
 bear walking upwards, on the other side of the 
 river; which soon took the water and swam across, 
 but landed at some distance above me, and went 
 into the woods. 
 
 About half a mile higher, I came to a very 
 strong shoot of water, occasioned by the river 
 being pent in between two high points; from 
 thence I saw several white-bears fishing in the 
 stream above. I waited :^or them, and in a short 
 time, a bitch vrith a small cub swam doAvn close 
 to llie other shore, and landed a little below. The 
 bitch immediately went into the wockIs, but the 
 cub sat down u])on a rock, when I sent a ball 
 through it, at the distance of a hundred and 
 twentv vards at the least, and knocked it over; 
 but getting ii]) again it crawled into the woods, 
 wlicre T heaid i1 ci-ying nionrnfuUy, and con- 
 chidcd that it coiilfl not long surx'ive. 
 
 Tlic I'cpoi-f <»r my gun 1)rought some others 
 down, and it was no so(»ner re-loaded, than an- 
 f>ther she bcai-, with a cub of eighteen months 
 old <';inic swiimiiiiig close undei" inc. T shot the 
 liitch thi'oiiL:li the bend .'ind killc(l Ik r dc.'id. M'lic 
 (•lib j)cr-<'('i\ iiig tlii< ;in(] L!:ctting sight of inc, .-is T 
 was standing close to tlic I'da^i' of the ])a]dc, which
 
 230 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 was near eight feet above the level of the water, 
 made at me with great ferocity; but just as the 
 creature was about to revenge the death of his 
 dam, I saluted him with a load of large shot in 
 his right eye, which not only knocked that out, but 
 also made him close the other; during which time, 
 he turned round several times, pawed his face, 
 and howled most hideously. He no sooner was 
 able to keep his left eye open, than he made at me 
 again, quite mad with rage and pain; but when 
 he came to the foot of the bank, I gave him an- 
 other salute with the other barrel, and blinded 
 him most completely; his whole head, was then 
 entirely covered with blood. The second shot 
 made him act in the same manner as the first, 
 until he struck the ground with his feet, when he 
 landed a little below me, and blundered into the 
 woods; knocking his head against every rock and 
 tree that he met with. 
 
 I now perceived that two others had just landed 
 about sixty yards above me, and were fiercely 
 looking round them. As both my guns were dis- 
 charged, the ram-rod of my rifle broken by load- 
 ing in too great haste the last time, and as I had 
 left my shot, and ball-bag belonging to the other 
 in the boat, I freely confess, that I felt myself in 
 a very unpleasant situation. But as no time was 
 to be lost, I darted into the woods and instantly 
 loaded my double-barrel with powder only; that 
 I might singe their whiskers at least, if I were 
 attacked; for the rifle balls were too large. 
 Having loaded my rifle also with as much ^expe-
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 231 
 
 ditioii as a broken rod would permit, I returned 
 to my former post. The bears having advanced a 
 few yards, were at the edge of woods, and the old 
 one was looking sternly at me. The danger of 
 firing at her I knew was great, as she was sec- 
 onded by a cub of eighteen months; but I could 
 not resist the temptation. She presenting a fair 
 broadside to me, I fortunately sent my ball 
 through her heai't, and dr()})ped her; l)ut getting 
 up again, she ran some yards into the woods; 
 where I soon found her dead, without her cub. 
 
 The captain, his man, and Jack coming up, I 
 was informed that Jack could not get a shot at the 
 lilack-bear; but had shot one of those white ones 
 which first passed me; that the beast had landed 
 on this side of the river, and had gone up on a 
 small ])arren hill, some little distance within the 
 woods, and there died; that they were going after 
 her, but thought it best to come inunediatel}" to 
 mv assistance, when thev heard me fire so often. 
 
 Leaving them to skin this bear, I advanced 
 higher up the river, until I came opposite a beau- 
 tif'nl cataract, and to the end of a small woody 
 ishind which lies near the south shore. There T 
 sat down upon some bare rocks, to contemplate 
 thr^ scene before me, and to observe the manoou- 
 \-j'es f>f the bears; ninuliors of whidi were Ihcii in 
 sight. 
 
 Tlie cataract is foi-mcd l»y the i-Inci' Ix'ing con- 
 fined bciwccii < wo <'lc\;il('(l |>()in<s, with a Hat rock 
 oxtendinti; across the l»(<l of ii; llic )>ci"iu'ndicuhn" 
 f.ill of wliicli is ciirhi feel; Crniii wliciicc there was
 
 232 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 a gradual descent for about forty yards, with sev- 
 eral rude cubical rocks standing upon it. These 
 made a most complete and magnificent cascade; 
 far superior to the best artificial one I ever saw. 
 Immediately beneath was a deep pool; and the 
 river widened in a circular form, into a spacious 
 basin of three hundred yards diameter, which, 
 taking a short turn below, resembled a circular 
 pond. The water being low, there was a space of 
 some yards between it and the woods: some parts 
 were composed of fragments of rocks; others, of 
 gravel, sand, or flat rocks, w^ith bushes of alder 
 growing in their interstices. The whole was sur- 
 rounded by small, detached hills, covered with 
 spruces and firs, interspersed with larches, birch, 
 and aspin, forming a most pleasing landscape; a 
 drawing of which I greatly regretted I was not 
 able to take. In the lower part of the pool were 
 several island-rocks from one to two yards over; 
 with salmon innumerable, continually leaping 
 into the air, which had attracted a great con- 
 course of bears. Some of them diving after the 
 fish: and I often observed them to get upon a 
 rock, from whence they would take a high leap, fall 
 headforemost into the water, dive to the bottom, 
 and come up again at seventy or eighty yards dis- 
 tance. Others again were walking along shore; 
 some were going into the woods, and others com- 
 ing out. I had not sat there long, ere my atten- 
 tion was diverted, from the variety of objects, 
 which at first presented themselves, to an enor- 
 mous, old, dog bear, which came out of some alder
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 233 
 
 bushes on my right and was walking slowly 
 towards nu", with his eyes fixed on the ground, 
 and his nose not tar from it ; at the same tmie he 
 presented a fair forehead to me: I turned myself 
 roimd to front hiin, di'ew^ up my feet to elevate my 
 knees, on which I rested my elbows, and in that 
 position suffered him to come within five j^ards 
 of mo before I drew the trigger; when I placed 
 my ball in the centre of his scull, and killed him 
 dead: but as the shore was a flat reclining rock, 
 he rolled round until he fell into the river; from 
 the edge of which, he dropped at least fotir yards. 
 On casting my eyes aroimd, I perceived another 
 beast of equal size, raised half out of the water. 
 He no sooner discovered me, than he made towards 
 me as fast as he cotdd swim. As I was not then 
 prepared to receive him, I ran into the wood to 
 make ready my unerring rifle. Whilst I was em- 
 ployed in that operation, he dived and brought 
 up a salmon; which he repeatedly tossed up a 
 yard or two in the air, and letting fall into the 
 water, would dive and l)ring it up again. Li this 
 manner he diverted himself for some time, fall- 
 ing slowly down with the stream until he was shut 
 out from my sight, by some bushes, which grew^ 
 a little lower down. Being now ready, T advanced 
 to the attack, anrl ])resently perceived him, stand- 
 ing in the watci* w itii bis foi'o paws upon a rock, 
 dexouring the salmon. I ci-c))! thi'ougb the 
 bushes uiilil I caiiic (i|i|M»si1o to him, and tinding 
 myself then within fifty yai'ds, 1 interi'upted his 
 repast, by sending a b.ill through his head; it
 
 234 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 entered a little above his left eye, went out at 
 the root of his right ear, and knocked him over, 
 he then appeared to be in the agonies of death for 
 some time; but at last recovered sufficiently to 
 land on my side of the river, and to stagger into 
 the woods; where I found he bled so copious a 
 stream, that it was impossible that he could go 
 far. Captain Kettle and his assistants had now 
 finished their work, and joined me a second time; 
 and as I wished them to skin the other bear, I sent 
 them to him for that purpose. 
 
 Never in my life did I regret the want of am- 
 munition so much as on this day; as I was by the 
 failure interrupted in the finest sport that man 
 ever had. I usually carried fourteen balls in a 
 box which is in the butt of my rifle, exclusive of 
 the load; besides a couple of bags, tied to my 
 bandoleer, for the use of my double-barrel; one 
 containing six balls, and the other shot. But this 
 morning, I had inadvertently neglected to replen- 
 ish the box, which had only seven balls in it, and 
 had left my bandoleer with the bags in the boat, 
 as I mentioned before; otherwise I am certain, 
 that I could w^ith great ease have killed four or 
 five brace more. They were in such plenty, that 
 I counted thirty-two white-bears, and three black 
 ones : but there were certainly many more, as they 
 generally retire into the woods to sleep after 
 making an hearty meal; and they could not be 
 long in doing that here, for the river was quite 
 full of salmon. 
 
 Having now only two balls left beside that in
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 235 
 
 my ritle, and fearing I might be tempted to fire 
 them, and afterward have my retreat disputed, 
 or be attacked by one or more enraged bears im- 
 mediately after I had tired a shot, when I should 
 have nothing to defend myself with but the 
 powder only, Avhieh was in my other gun, I 
 thought it was most prudent to retiu'n to the boat 
 and get a fresh supply of annnunition. When I 
 got down, I not only found myself very much 
 fatigued, but the day was much spent, and we had 
 as much other work to do, as the remainder of it 
 was competent to. The Shalloway likewise was 
 left in so exposed a situation, that she might eas- 
 ilv be driven from her anchors, if it came on to 
 blow strong; I therefore altered my intention, 
 and waited the return of the other three people. 
 It was not long before they came down; for they 
 were not able to skin the bear. Although his 
 body was afloat in the water, which was about 
 four feet deep, and nothing but his head rested 
 upon a flat rock, yet they could not lift even that 
 up. It was with the utmost exertion of their 
 united strength, that they could heave him off the 
 rock with assistance of leavers; nor could thev 
 cant him on his back, after he w^as wholly atloat, 
 in order to skin him in the watei*; much less were 
 thev able to draw him on shore. V\'v iiidgcd liim 
 to })e as much as twelve hniidrcd pounds weight; 
 nor c(juld Ik- well be h*ss than tlial, as lie stood 
 six feet high, as his carcass was as big as the 
 largest ox I ever saw. Fiudinu llieuisclves foiled 
 in every other attem])t, a1 Iciiglli tli<'.\- lied wind-
 
 236 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 falls to him and launched hhn into the stream, in 
 hopes that we might pick hun up with the boat; 
 but the trees came down without the bear, which 
 made us conclude, that he had grounded some- 
 where above. Thus ended in disappointment, the 
 noblest day's sport I ever saw: for we got only 
 one skin, although we had killed six bears, and 
 not one morsel of flesh; which at this time would 
 have been particularly acceptable, as we had eaten 
 nothing of fourteen hours. 
 
 The black-bear which I saw cross the river, ap- 
 peared to swim very heavily; and I do not believe 
 that they can dive and catch fish in deep water, 
 but content themselves with walking along the 
 shores, where the water is not out of their depth, 
 to pick up the offals which are left by the white 
 ones and otters; or such as die of their wounds 
 and drive on shore; but they will catch fish in 
 shallow streams, and rake up clams and other 
 shellfish. When they first come out of their caves 
 in the spring, for want of better food, I have ob- 
 served that they eat dead grass; they also feed 
 on ants and other insects which they get out of 
 rotten windfalls; these they tear to pieces for 
 that purpose, but when Empetrum Nigrum is 
 ripe, they feed almost wholly on the berries ; which 
 not only make them fat, but also give their flesh 
 a very good flavour. As they have no chance with 
 a white-bear, they always avoid the unequal com- 
 bat; and I do believe they will attack no animal 
 that is able to make a stout resistance: even the 
 porcupine, I am inclined to think, they do not
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 237 
 
 molest, for I never saw or heard of one, which had 
 any quills of that creature in him. 
 
 Being now all assemliled, we picked up the 
 killicks and buoys, which we stowed in the salmon- 
 house along with such other things as I intended 
 should remain there during the winter. We then 
 took the nets and moorings into the yawl, and 
 rowed on l)oard the Otter, which we reached at 
 ten o'clock at night as tired and ravenous as a 
 pack of fox-hounds after a hard day. 
 
 Tucsdaif, Juhj 28, 1778. Having got on board a 
 few beams from above the salmon-post, at nine 
 o'clock we sailed for Caribou Castle; where we 
 arrived at four in the afternoon. We then took 
 on board some beams, longers, and blubber-casks; 
 also the three hogs, with some other things; and 
 at midnight sailed for the stage. 
 
 Wedncs., Julj/ 29, 1778. We arrived at the 
 stage at four this morning; at which time the 
 shoremen were just coming out of it. I found 
 tlirce hundred and twenty quintals of fish on 
 shore, one small ])ile was made, and five boats 
 were at sea; but no ))aits were to be had. At 
 noon Ml-. l)aul)eny went away in the baitskiff 
 for Table Bay, in quest of baits. We unloaded 
 part of the timber out of the Otter. The boats 
 came in lietween five and six this evening, with 
 forty quintals of fish.' 
 
 Thursdaji, Juhj 30, 1778. TTaving landed most 
 of the timber out of the Otter, I had the inner end 
 
 ' At thr' firfHont day fmh is the technical name for codfitth on tho 
 Labra<Jor coa.st.
 
 238 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 of the stage covered. At nine o'clock, I went off 
 in a skiff with four hands to Tern Island, where 
 I spread some old salmon-nets on the rocks, shot 
 twenty-two terns,^ an eider-duck and a sea-par- 
 rot^; all of which I gave to the boats for baits; 
 they were then fishing off Long Island. 
 
 Thursday, August 20, 1778. At six this morn- 
 ing, the Stag came in with the fish of all the boats, 
 amounting to nine quintals only; the boatmaster 
 informed me, that he saw a vessel working in here 
 yesterday, and gave her chase until the wind and 
 sea obliged him to desist; soon after which, he 
 saw her stand out to sea again. At noon, Mr. 
 Daubeny sailed in the Stag in quest of the above 
 vessel; which we suppose must be the Countess of 
 Effingham. 
 
 Friday, August 21, 1778. At eight this morning 
 the vessel was discovered about four or five miles 
 to windward of Blackguard Bay. She could have 
 come into the harbour very easily; but hauling 
 her wind, she w^eathered the Gannets, and stood 
 out to sea again; which makes me not know what 
 to think, although by my glass I could plainly 
 descry her to be a ship and am certain she is mine. 
 I immediately ran to the top of the highest hill, 
 and set fire to some bushes there, but she took no 
 notice of it. I then returned and sent captain 
 Kettle, with four hands in the Otter, out after 
 her. In the evening I saw him bear away round 
 
 ^ Probably the Arctic tern, Sterna paradisoea. 
 
 ^ Puffin, Fraterculus arcticus. This bird is known tQ-day on the Labra- 
 dor Coast by the name of peroqueet.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 239 
 
 Black islands; it then blowing very hard with a 
 liigh sea. 
 
 Exceeding cold and dark weather. 
 
 Saturday, August 22, 1778. I went several times 
 upon the hill to-day, to look out for the ship and 
 boats; but could see none of them until past three 
 in I lie afternoon; then I discovered the ship com- 
 aig in from sea, and the Wolvering from Black 
 islands; whereupon i sent a skiff out to meet the 
 shallop, and order her to speak with the ship. At 
 dusk the latter came safe to an anchor in the har- 
 bour, and proved to be the Countess of Effingham, 
 David Kinloch master, laden with salt from Lis- 
 bon; which place she left on the fourth of July. 
 She brought the first intelligence of hostilities 
 being commenced by Great Britain against 
 France, by the taking of a fortv gun ship and 
 two frigates. Kinloch made Cape St. Francis on 
 the fourteenth instant; and had met with very 
 bad weather ever smce. The Beaver, Wolvering 
 and Squirrel came in this evening, and brought 
 tw^elve quintals of fish; they informed me they 
 saw the Marten beating up betw^een Black Islands 
 and Cape land. 
 
 Sunday, August 23, 1778. Early this morning 
 I sent the Wolvering on a cruise to the southward, 
 after the missing Ixtats. Tlic slii]) moored in her 
 berth. I g[»ve .ill hands Iwo jxtunds of venison 
 each foi- dinner. Jack look a walk to the otlier 
 end of this island, wliei-e lie s;iw a silvei'-fox, and 
 shot six curlews. Aftei- dimier I went with all 
 my faniil}' to Slink i*uiiit, w here we picked a bowl
 
 240 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 full of baked apples; I also shot two grouse, and 
 Jack five. In the evening, the Martin came in; 
 she had ridden the gale out, under North Head. 
 At ten at night the Otter returned; she had torn 
 her sails very much in the gale on Friday last, 
 and had taken shelter between the two Black 
 Islands; where captain Kettle informs me, there 
 is a good harbour for ships. The Wolvering met 
 with her there, gave her some provisions, and then 
 worked into Gready Harbour. 
 
 Wednes., August 26, 1778. At three in the after- 
 noon a ship was discovered to the eastward of the 
 Sisters, standing in for this place; I sent Mr. 
 Daubeny off to her, in a skiff with four hands, and 
 soon after perceived, that she had my baitskiff in 
 tow. 
 
 Thursday, August 27, 1778. At one o'clock this 
 morning, I was alarmed by a loud rapping at 
 my door, which when I had opened, a body of 
 armed men rushed in; they informed me that 
 they belonged to the Minerva privateer, of Bos- 
 ton in New-England, commanded by John Grimes ; 
 mounting twenty nine-pounders, and manned 
 with a hundred and sixty men; and, that I was 
 their prisoner. They then demanded all my keys, 
 took possession of both my vessels; also the Otter, 
 then full of goods which she was going to land 
 from the brig, and of all my stores which were 
 on shore. About nine, the Minerva worked into 
 Blackguard Bay, and came to an anchor there. 
 I then went on board her, and was received with 
 civility by captain Grimes; who told me that,
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 241 
 
 some da^s ago, lie had entered Temple Bay and 
 taken three vessels from Noble and Pinson, which 
 he had hHed with tish, and stores from the shore 
 and sent oft' for Boston. He said that many 
 of the hshernien had entered with him; among 
 whom were two men who had lately lived with 
 me, and who had informed him where I lived. 
 From thence he went to Charles Harbonr, where 
 he had taken one vessel from ^Ir. Shule, another 
 from ^Ir. Seydes, and had i)lundered my pos- 
 sessions there and at Ranger Lodge; at the 
 former j)l^C'e another man who lived with me 
 last vear, and one of mv salmoniers at the lat- 
 ter, had entered with him. I requested the re- 
 leasement of Mr. Daubeny, who was kept prisoner 
 on board, but he would not grant it. *He sent an 
 officer and a partj^ of men in my l^aitskiff to Cari- 
 bou Castle, to plunder there also. The skiff was 
 piloted by that villain Dominick Kinnien, who 
 went out baitmaster of her for the first time yes- 
 terday, and who, together with his whole crew 
 of six men, had entered with the jn'ivateer's 
 people the instant they got on ])oard. In the 
 course of the day, they shipped what was in the 
 Otter on board the Countess of Effingliam, and in 
 the evening sent her off for Boston. In going out 
 of the har])our, they rail liei* on shore off the low 
 point on the east side, but soon got her off again, 
 and went to sea through Ihe north-east passage. 
 In the iiigbi I slipped a skiCf out of the harbour 
 with four hands, 1o inlnnn tlu' boats, and order 
 them U) go into North Harbour, in Table Bay.
 
 242 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 Friday, August 28, 1778. The Minerva came 
 into the harbour this morning, where she moored, 
 and filled her empty water-casks. The Otter and 
 Stag w^ere sent to Caribou, to bring down what 
 was there; and they shipped off some of my dry 
 fish, and most of the goods which were here. By 
 this time, many of my people had entered on 
 board the privateer, and some of them had in- 
 formed the captain of the four men going away 
 in the skiff last night; which enraged him and his 
 people so much, that I found it prudent, to send 
 Indian Jack by land, with orders for the boats to 
 come in here. 
 
 Saturday, August 29, 1778. In the course of 
 this day, the remaining part of the dry fish, and 
 most of the goods which were here, were shipped 
 off on board the Reconciliation. In the afternoon 
 the three shallops which were out a fishing, came 
 into the harbour, the people were set on shore, 
 and the sails were unbent: but the Indian bo3\ 
 was kept on board. In the afternoon, the surgeon 
 of the privateer drove the two Indian women on 
 board, and the child, Phillis, was soon sent after 
 them. In the night, the Otter and the Stag re- 
 turned from Caribou, with all my property from 
 that place. At supper, having heard that they 
 intended to send to Paradise and White-bear 
 River for what was there, I dropped a hint, of 
 expecting a frigate here immediately; and it had 
 the desired effect. 
 
 Sunday, Augtist 30, 1778. Early this morning, 
 I found the enemy in a great bustle. They took on
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 243 
 
 board the privateer, all the goods which had been 
 brought down from Caribou, except a chest of 
 l)aggage, which Grimes returned; but manj^ 
 things were pillaged out of it. He then gave me 
 a small quantity of provisions, returned my boats 
 and most of their sails, and b.v noon, the ship to- 
 gether with my l)rig went to sea through Western 
 Tickle, and steered away north-east by east; pass- 
 ing to the westward of the Gannet Islands. May 
 the devil go with them! 
 
 The ^linerva's guns formerly belonged to one 
 of his Majesty's frigates, Avhich was cast away 
 near Boston; I think the Syren. The first lieuten- 
 ant's name is Carlton; the third, Cushin; the 
 master's Ogilvie; lieutenant of the marines, 
 Larey; and the surgeon's, Elliot. Carlton and 
 Elliot are two of as great villains as any un- 
 hanged; the other three behaved exceeding well, 
 particularly ]\lr. Ogihie, of whose civilities I shall 
 ever retain a most grateful remembrance. I 
 should be particularly happj^ to have it in my 
 power to reward properly the infamous behaviour 
 of Carlton and Elliot; and the villainy of Thomas 
 Adams, lately a mate in the sendee of Noble and 
 Pinson; also of Michael Bryan, Luke Ryan, Den- 
 nis Ryan, and Doiiiiuirk Kinnien, lately my serv- 
 ants, who were by far the most active in distress- 
 ing me. Tliey were the ])ersons who gave in- 
 formation where r li\-e(l. ))il<»1e(l the ship to this 
 place, and discovered to the enemy the places 
 where great part of my property lay. Grimes is 
 a lying rascal; for, lie \(.luntarily made me many
 
 244 CAPTAIN CAET WRIGHT'S 
 
 promises, and afterwards broke them all. Many 
 of my people entered, and went away in tlie pri- 
 vateer; and most of the remainder would have 
 done so likewise, under the apprehension of be- 
 ing left here destitute of the means either of sub- 
 sisting, or getting off the island : but I thought it 
 my duty to my king and country, even in my then 
 distressed situation, to prevent the desertion. 
 Grimes turned two rascals on shore again, and I 
 immediately gave them a most severe beating 
 with a sound stick. 
 
 The rest of this day was spent in landing the 
 provisions which Grimes had returned, and in 
 picking up the few things which were left scat- 
 tered up and down; and I had the pleasure to 
 find, that they had forgot a puncheon of olive oil, 
 and my three live swine. As soon as they were 
 gone, I took up my gun, walked out upon the 
 island and shot a curlew. 
 
 A very fine day. 
 
 A list of my people who entered on hoard the -privateer voluntarily, and 
 also of those who were impressed / distinguishing the stations in which 
 they were employed, at the time they quitted my service. 
 
 Entered at Charles Harbour 
 John Downing, salmonier. 
 
 / Entered at Great Island 
 
 * John Kettle, master of the David Kennedy, youngster; 
 
 ReconciUation William Raylie, ditto ; 
 
 * On being informed by the officers of the privateer, that Kettle had 
 entered with them, as a prize-master, I expostulated with him; and en« 
 deavored to persuade him, to continue firm on the side of his king and
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 
 
 245 
 
 William Johnston, mate of the 
 
 Reconcihation. 
 Thoma^j Caliill, boatmaster. 
 Dominick Kinnien, baitmaster. 
 Nichola^s I'ower, midshipman; 
 Kichard W lielan, ditto; 
 Darby Sullivan, ditto. 
 Jos. Flemming, foresheetman; 
 Murtough Kelly, ditto; 
 John Sheehy, ditto. 
 John Dalton, splitter. 
 Mirhael Downey, header; 
 Michael Rielly, ditto. 
 Patrick Carrol, cooper. 
 Patrick Bryan, youngster; 
 Cornelius Keef, ditto; 
 Ihomas Denn, ditto; 
 Thomas Dawson, ditto; 
 Patrick Sheehy, ditto; 
 
 James Clear}', ditto; 
 
 Edward Fling, ditto; 
 
 John Scauucl, apprentice; 
 
 James Hobeu, sailor; 
 
 James Simon, ditto; 
 
 John Conake, ditto; 
 
 Thomas (a boj) ditto; 
 
 Angel Bennett, ditto; 
 
 Martin Cornelius, do. ) Dutch- 
 
 1. P. Edzard, ditto. ) men. 
 
 Jack, a boy about 17 years old; 
 
 Cattook, a woman about 26; 
 
 Tweegock, a woman about 18; 
 
 Phillis, a girl 3J'4, daughter to 
 
 Tweegock. 
 The last four are Esquimaux, 
 and my household servants; who 
 were carried away, to be made 
 slaves of. 
 
 Total 36 
 
 The crew of the ^finerva was composed of a 
 variety of nations; but the major part of them, 
 were English and Irish; and the officers told me, 
 that they had not above ten native Americans 
 amongst them. Grimes is the son of a snperan- 
 
 country; upon which he pretended, that he was only taking the advantage 
 of going as passenger to Boston, in order to get to England from thence. 
 The next year, he wont to England and coniplainod, lliat on his arrival 
 at Boston, he was confined a prisoner, until he was exchanged; and lie 
 compelled me to pay him, all the wages which were due to him at tlie 
 time he onterofl on board the privateer. I was afterwards informefl, 
 that all the rest of the traitors (who entered from me and the other mer- 
 chants on the coast, in expectation of sharing liie i)hin(ler) were served 
 in the same manner. Clrimes artfully held out a share of the booty, to 
 inveigle the fishennen to enter with him, in order that he might replace 
 those men whom he had sent away in the different jirizes; otherwise he 
 would not have had men enow left, to navigate his own siiip; l)Ut on his 
 arrival at Boston, he threw them nil into j)ri.son, to cheat them of tlieir 
 share of the i)riz<*-money. The villains were served right, and Crimes 
 ucte<J in character.
 
 246 CAPTAIN OARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 T^^— ^»^^^^— w^^i^^^^^»»ii mil-   I . . .- ^ 
 
 nuated boatswain at Portsmouth ; * Ogilvie, a 
 Scotclmiaii, and formerly a mate of an East India- 
 man; tLarey, an Irishman; § Elliot, was born in 
 the Tower of London; * Carlton and II Cushen, 
 were the only native Americans I saw; the latter, 
 is descended from an opulent family of that name 
 at Boston, who w^ere principal owners of the ship, 
 and he was much of a gentleman in his behaviour: 
 the other, was fomierly a Marble-head fisherman, 
 and as great a villain as any this day unhung. 
 Just before they sailed, as I was begging a 
 few nails of Mr, Grimes, Carlton, who was. walk- 
 ing the quarterdeck, stopped short and said to 
 me, " G— d d — n you, sir, if I commanded this 
 ship, I would not leave you a rag by G— d; I 
 would carry off all I could; and what I could 
 not, I would burn; then if you, and those who 
 remain wdth you, could not eat those rocks (point- 
 ing to the shore) you might starve and be 
 d-d." 
 
 Monday, August 31, 1778. We washed out the 
 remainder of the fish that w^as left in the stage. 
 Two of the men who went away in the skiff ap- 
 peared upon Slink Point this forenoon. I sent a 
 boat for them, and after dinner, had them landed 
 on the south-east side of the harbour, with orders 
 to return to North Harbour, where the other two 
 were, to haul the skiff up there, and then all to 
 come home; and they accordingly returned in the 
 evening. I then mustered my people, and found, 
 
 * The sailing master. t Lieutenant of marines. § Surgeon- 
 
 X First Lieutenant. 1 1 Third Lieutenant.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 247 
 
 lliat the remaining number, including the man at 
 Rxinger Lodge, and the crew at Paradise, 
 anK)unted in the whole to thirty-seven. And upon 
 the ])est calculation we were able to make, we 
 judged, that I cannot be less than fourteen thou- 
 sand pounds worse for this visit; which I have 
 great reason to fear, will prove my ruin. Had not 
 this happened, we had calculated upon fifteen 
 lumdred pounds profit on the year's work. As 
 the goods which the Americans took from me, 
 were such as they were greatly distressed for at 
 Boston, they valued their capture at seventy thou- 
 sand pounds. 
 
 I shot a ])race of curlews to-day, and the skiff 's- 
 crew brought a porcupine. 
 
 Tufsdaij, September ], ]778. I made prepara- 
 tions for sending two shallops to Newfoundland; 
 we laid one of them on shore to clean her bottom, 
 and got her off again in the evening. Mr. Colling- 
 ham went to Caribou, to see what was left there. 
 I shot one curlew. 
 
 Tt rained all day. 
 
 Wednes., Septewher 2, 177S. T wrote several 
 letters. Mr. rollingham returned at noon and 
 said, that nothing was left at Caribou besides my 
 bed, a few bad pease, some kegs of sour oatmeal 
 and tlic old seal-nets: they even took the dial- 
 plate, off tlic ])ost in 1hc garden. 
 
 rhitrsddii, Srpfrnihrr .'?, }77S. At two this af- 
 ternoon, Ml-. Daubeny sailed in the Stag with four 
 hands f'ni- Cliarles llai'boiir: frnm whence he is 
 to go on to Newfoundland, to purchase some pro-
 
 248 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 visions and a few other necessaries. At the same 
 time captain Kinlock sailed in the Wolvering for 
 St. John's, in Newfoundland, with the sailors; 
 where he is to sell the boat and endeavour to pro- 
 cure a vessel, to carry the salmon and the re- 
 mainder of the codfish to market. 
 
 Monday, September 7, 1778. My new house 
 which was building, was pulled down; and the 
 materials carried into the stage, to be ready to be 
 sent up the harbour where I intend to build a 
 house for myself to live in this winter; because I 
 am sure we shall be so short of provisions, that 
 if we have not good success with our traps and 
 guns, we must all inevitably perish for want of 
 food, before a vessel can possibly arrive next sum- 
 mer; and there is no chance of killing much about 
 Caribou. 
 
 Wednes., September 9, 1778. We spread the 
 green fish, put it into piles this evening, and 
 heaved one pile. After breakfast I took traps up 
 to the highest part of this island and tailed them 
 for hares. At noon, we saw a shallop coming in 
 here from the southward. Fearing a privateer's 
 crew might be in her, I aniied all my people with 
 guns, sticks or stones, and placed them in ambush 
 behind one of the window-leaves of the stage; 
 but it proved to be William Phippard, who is go- 
 ing with four hands to winter in Ivucktoke Bay. 
 He informed me that the privateer had plundered 
 the merchants in Temple Bay and Charles Har- 
 bour, very severely; by his accomit, more so than 
 they did me.
 
 LABEADOR JOURNAL 249 
 
 Satiirdaij, September lU,li7^. The people began 
 to build niv new house to-day, but the weather soon 
 obliged them to desist. 
 
 Wednes., September 23, 1778. Early this morn- 
 ing I sent Smith and four hands in the Lance to 
 Caribou, to ])ring the doors, windows, kitchen 
 range, and some other things from that house. I 
 fitted out Josei)h Tero for a furring voyage to 
 White-bear River, at which place he is to reside 
 bv himself durino- flie winter. I sent him off in 
 the Otter, under the command of Mr. Colling- 
 ham; from whence she is to go to Paradise, re- 
 turn to ^Miite-bear River, and then come back 
 here. 
 
 Saturday, September 26, 1778. After breakfast 
 I went up Curlew Harbour, sliifted the two first 
 offer traps, tailed two for foxes and another large 
 one in the middle path for deer. I then sent Terry 
 to the eastern hills. Lmnediatel.y after I saw a 
 large stag upon the south hill, winding and look- 
 ing at me; he then trotted off to the northward, 
 and T let him pass; crossing his route and sinking 
 the wind, T made all possi])le speed to the foot of 
 Gravel Hills, where T headed him. He walked 
 slowly past me within fifteen yards, and nmst cer- 
 tainly have been killed had not my gun missed 
 fire: he immediately set off in a full run, whcm T 
 fired hastily .aftei- him, ])ut without success. Such 
 misfoi'tunes will ha])])eii somelimes, and had F not 
 met with worse, T should have had n<» cause of 
 com|>laiii1 in 1liis iiisl.-nirc; but now, in my ju-cs- 
 ent scarcit} of food, i must look upon it as ii<»
 
 250 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 inconsiderable loss; for he was a noble, fat beast. 
 I also saw many grouse, and killed four. 
 
 Wednes., September 30, 1778. At eleven o'clock 
 I went up South-east Cove, and walked from 
 thence to the eastern traps; the bridge of the 
 furthest large one had been turned by a fox; but 
 a small stump which I did not perceive before 
 caught one of the jaws and prevented it from 
 striking up; by the side of the trap I found five 
 large mice,^ which the fox had dropped out of his 
 mouth. In the mean time, Martin walked to the 
 top of Mount Martin, where he met with several 
 grouse, and killed four; from thence he discov- 
 ered a large stag, which he supposed had winded 
 me, and was coming up the path, which leads from 
 the south-east end to the top of the hill, where 
 he waylayed and killed him. I have mentioned 
 this hill before, yet it was not until to-day, 
 and from the above circumstance that I named 
 it. 
 
 Thursday, October 1, 1778. At eight this morn- 
 ing, I went with four hands in the Roebuck, to 
 fetch home the venison. We broke him up where 
 he lay, and brought all down at one time, together 
 with two brace of grouse which Martin shot. He 
 proved a noble creature, had twenty-nine points 
 on his head, measured twelve hands and three 
 inches in height, produced ten pounds of suet, 
 and weighed as follows: viz., his quarters two 
 hundred and seventy pounds, head twenty pounds, 
 
 * Perhaps the larger Labrador meadow mouse, Microtus pennsylvanicus 
 enixus.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 251 
 
 aud bumbles twenty pounds. He is just sucb a 
 beast as I shot at ou Saturday last, perhaps he is 
 the same; yet neither so old nor so large as the 
 one which I killed on the tw^enty-seventh of Oc- 
 tober in the year seventy, but in much better con- 
 dition; having an inch of fat on his ribs, and an 
 inch and a half on his haunches. 
 
 Sunday, October 4, 1778. This afternoon, four 
 Nescaupick, or Mountaineer Indians came hei^ in 
 two canoes, and were the same whom I had seen 
 at Caribou two years ago. They had no furs with 
 them, and went back at sunset; promising that 
 they would return in a day or two, and bring all 
 the rest of their tribe, whom they had left at Cari- 
 bou. 
 
 Monday, October 5, 1778. Three Indians ap- 
 pearing upon Berry Hill, I went and brought them 
 over to my house. These were the chief, whose 
 name is Pere Barecack; his wife, Cowcosish, and 
 their daughter, Catherine Ooquioo; a girl about 
 sixteen years of age: they did me the honour to 
 stay all night; got drunk, and were very trouble- 
 some. I purchased one ranger, and five beaver 
 skins of them, being all they brought. 
 
 Sunday, October 11, 1778. Winter begins now 
 to appeal"; the Mealy Mountains have put on their 
 new liveries, and every downd'all whitens the 
 heads <»f the liigli hills. Thf decj- are beating out 
 to the barren headlands on the sea coast; the eider, 
 and king-ducks' are hastening to the southward; 
 and ^T'onse arc chatterinu: in great flocks upon the 
 
 'King f'idpr, Somateria Hperlahilifi.
 
 252 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 hills: I am afraid it will overtake me, before I 
 am ready for it. Mr. Daubeuy not being yet re- 
 turned, with a supply of provisions and clothing, 
 makes me very uneasy. Under these distresses 
 and inquietudes, would any man believe, that my 
 people have been ready to mutiny, because I 
 would give them no salted pork along with their 
 two pounds of fat venison each day for dinner? 
 Yet it is a fact: nor could I quiet them until I 
 peremptorily declared, that I could not possibly 
 suffer any salted meat to be expended, whilst any 
 fresh remained in the house; and that, if they 
 were not content, I would give them, what I verily 
 believed they much deserved, a hearty drubbing. 
 
 Monday, October 12, 1778. At nine at night Mr. 
 Collingham returned from Paradise with some 
 hoop-poles, planks, salmon-nets, and all the peo- 
 ple from thence. At Longstretch he found all the 
 Indians, who intended going to Paradise. They 
 had eight canoes, and were about forty in num- 
 ber; from them he purchased forty-eight beaver, 
 eleven otter, and three black-bear skins. 
 
 Thursday, October 29, 1778. At three o'clock 
 this morning, I sent off all my discharged servants 
 in the Otter; there were thirteen of them. We 
 repacked the largest pile of fish, upon the place 
 where it is to stand all winter. 
 
 Wednes., November 4, 1778. About one o'clock 
 this morning, Mr. Daubeny, and the four hands 
 whom he took with him, returned in a shallop be- 
 longing to Mr. Seydes and Co. He had borrowed 
 this vessel to bring the provisions, &c. which he
 
 Fishing Schooners going North, Mealy Mountains in the Distance 
 
 A Deal of Ice near the Land '*
 
 LABRADOR JOURXxVL 253 
 
 had purcliased in Newl'oundlaiul; having had the 
 misfortune to be cast away at the mouth of Inglis 
 Harbour, and to loose the Stag in his return to 
 this phice; but he saved all the provisions and 
 the rigging of the boat. He met the Otter in Bat- 
 teau Harbour, and would have persuaded the peo- 
 ple to turn back, in order that these men might 
 go away also, as I did not want them; but he 
 could not prevail on them to do so, as the winter 
 was so far advanced. This is an additional dis- 
 tress to me; for I now have but nine barrels of 
 pork for fourteen people, when I ought to have as 
 much more; as I don't expect any vessel before 
 the middle of July; so that we are now in great 
 danger of being stamped for want of food, before 
 we can get a fresh supply. 
 
 Friday, November 13, 1778. Early this morn- 
 ing I went to the new house, with Mr. Collinghani 
 and one man in the Roebuck, and then walked to 
 Blackguard Bay to look for the last lost trap, but 
 could not find it. At noon Mr. Daubeny and the 
 rest of the family followed in the Caplin with a 
 load of furniture, and we now took possession of 
 our new^ habitation; which is much too small, for 
 want of more boards and nails. 
 
 Su)\(ht}f, November 1.5, 1778. T went round my 
 traps in Blackguard Bay; in one, T had a capital 
 silver-fox, approaching Ticarly to a l)lack; * in an- 
 othei- there was a good cross-fox, and T shot an- 
 
 * In Ff'hninry 17S0, fliis fox w.-l'^ hoM hy iiuclion in London, for forty 
 guineas; nnfl hud lie not Ju'<'n nliRhtly nil)!)»'d on one liip by beinR 
 two ninhts in th*- trnp, he; would liavo fftrhcd sixty; being esteenu'd the 
 best that fiad hcon imported of Hcvcn years,
 
 254 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 other cross-fox with my rifle, and tailed the three 
 traps which I struck up some time ago. Mr. Dau- 
 beny papered part of the roof of the house. 
 
 Thursday, December 24, 1778. Mr. Daubeny 
 visited two of his traps and had the leg of a white- 
 gull,^ which had been eaten out by a fox. I went 
 to two of mine and shot a brace of ptarmigans. 
 This being Christmas Eve, I gave the people some 
 brandy as usual, and they all got very drunk, in 
 conformity to annual custom; which, I presume, 
 was first imported into Newfoundland from Ire- 
 land, and brought hither from thence. 
 
 Severe frost with some drift. 
 
 Thursday, January 21, 1779. I rested very in- 
 differently last night, and was much indisposed 
 all this day; occasioned by drinking too much 
 new spruce-beer j^esterday; and the fatigue of 
 the two last days; having walked full fourteen 
 miles each, without rackets; which caused me to 
 sink into the snow three or four inches in general; 
 frequently down to my knees, and sometimes to 
 my middle. Notwithstanding all this, and the 
 walking as fast as possible, some spruce-beer, 
 which I carried in an elastic bottle in my upper 
 waistcoat-pocket close to my ribs, froze so, as to 
 lose all fluidity. 
 
 1 This was perhaps an ivory gull, Pagophila alba, a bird that comes to 
 Labrador with the winter and arctic ice, at the time when the kittiwakes • 
 and herring gulls are departing for the south. The Labrador men at the 
 present day call them " ice partridges " and shoot them as they hover 
 about seals' blood which has been poured on the ice to attract them. 
 Mrs. Holmes in the " Log of the Laura," p. 60, speaks of the-.shooting of 
 " snow grouse or ivory gulls " on the east coast of Greenland.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 255 
 
 Thiir.sdaij, Fcbraarij i, l^t'J. 1 visited my 
 southern traps, and found both stations robbed. 
 From thence I intended going to the top of Table 
 Hill, but on coming to the foot of it, I crossed the 
 track of a wolvering with one of ]\Ir. CoUingham's 
 traps on his foot. Leaving my sled and dog there, 
 I followed, and came up to him on the w^est side 
 of the hill; and on my return, tailed the trap in 
 a marsh by the shoal ponds; observing that the 
 foxes had followed his bleeding track. As this 
 beast went through the thick of the w^oods, under 
 the north side of the hill, where the snow w^as so 
 deep and light, that it was with the greatest dif- 
 ficulty I could follow him even in Lidian rackets, 
 I was quite puzzled to know" how he had contrived 
 to prevent the trap from catching hold of the 
 branches of the trees, or sinking in the snow; but, 
 on coming up with him, I discovered how he had 
 managed: for, after making an attempt to fly at 
 me, he took the trap in his mouth and ran upon 
 three legs. I now do not w^onder at the stories 
 which I have heard of their carrying a trap so 
 far. Tliese creatures are surprisingly strong in 
 proportion to their size : this weighed only twenty- 
 si x pounds, and the trap ei«;ht, yet, including all 
 the turns he had taken, he had carried it six miles. 
 
 Tuf'sday, Ffhruary 9, 1779. From the abun- 
 dance of fresh slot, which has generally been seen 
 herea?)outs, by visitoi-s to these parts during the 
 three preceding winters, T was indnced to believe, 
 tbat the peninsnla of ra|»e Noj-th was never with- 
 out deer. But I am now convinced, that they
 
 256 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 resort thither in the greatest numbers from the 
 time the rut first begins to affect them (which is 
 early in October) until the ice is firm to the east- 
 ward of it, which is generally by the middle of 
 January. At this time they go off to the outer- 
 most islands, in order to b<3 more out of the way 
 of the wolves; and those islands lie so far from 
 hence, that we cannot go to them and back again 
 in a da}^, nor do they afford shelter to pass the 
 night in, being destitute of wood. In about an- 
 other month, I expect they will begin to draw in 
 a little more to the continent, but I do not think 
 they are so plentiful on this part of the coast as 
 they were in former winters; because, I never 
 knew wolves to be so scarce as of late. 
 
 Not a single track of a white-bear has been seen 
 for a long time past, which makes me think that 
 those creatures keep out upon the outer edge of 
 the ice during the winter; for, there they may 
 meet with seals. When they come on shore, I 
 presume it is chiefly on the outer islands; yet I 
 have sometimes known them go far into the coun- 
 try in the winter: but how they can procure food 
 there, is to me unknown; for I cannot believe 
 they can catch any other land animal than the 
 porcupine, and of them but few; they must also 
 pay severely for a scanty meal, from the pain 
 occasioned by the quills which nature has pro- 
 vided for its defence. As to fish, they certainly 
 can catch but few, and those only small ones, in 
 such parts of rivers and brooks, as the strength 
 or particular sets of their currents, or warm
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 257 
 
 spriugs may keep open. I should have imagined 
 that they Avould resort greatly to those parts of 
 the tiekles going into Sandwich Bay, which are 
 open all winter, because great mnnbers of winter 
 seals (harps, and their young, called bedlamers) 
 constantly remain there; yet we never saw the 
 track of one in the depth of winlcr. These ani- 
 mals are prodigious travellers, and nnist certainly 
 be able to go a long time without food. AVhen 
 they can get nothing else, they will feed on the 
 long stalks of the sea weed ^ from which kelp is 
 made; so will seals likewise, for I have seen ])oth 
 of them do it. Great numl)ers of them, I believe, 
 are destroyed CA^ery spring, by being carried upon 
 the ice too far from land to be able to regain it, 
 although they will swim to a very great distance. 
 I have heard of their being met with, on loose 
 pans of ice, fifty leagues from the land, by ships 
 which have been coming upon the coast. Tliey 
 bring forth their young about IMarch, and drop 
 them upon the ice, where they lie for some days 
 before thev are able to follow their dams, which 
 leave them there while they go in quest of prey; 
 and when they are fir^t able to travel, frequently 
 ciU'vv them on tlicii- ])acks. Thev most commoulv 
 have but one at a time; sometimes, however, they 
 have two, and T have heard of their having three. 
 They breed but once in two years, and their cubs 
 follow them all that time; l)n1 how long they 
 suckle them, or h<\w lonii' <hey go with young, 1 
 do not know. When llieii- <'iibs are very small, 
 
 ' He evidently rcfere to the " devil's-apron," Laminaria.
 
 258 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 it is dangerous to meet tliem, as they have then 
 been often known to attack a man without the 
 least provocation ; but at other times, they always 
 make ofl: yet, should you fire at one at any time 
 of the year, and shoot it through a part which is 
 not immediately mortal, you must expect to be 
 instantly attacked with the greatest fury. As 
 they are amazingly strong and excellent boxers, 
 your danger w^ill be imminent, unless you have 
 a double-barrelled gun loaded with shot to blind 
 them, or a dog, which will keep continually seiz- 
 ing them behind (tliis all dogs will do, after they 
 have run at two or three) the bear will then sit 
 down on his buttocks and spin round like a top, 
 endeavouring to get hold of the dog. This is the 
 time, when you may approach and kill him dead at 
 one shot, if you are but cool : but if the dog is not 
 well used to the sport, he will attack him forward ; 
 in which case he is sure to be either killed, lamed, 
 or cowed immediately, and the bear will then at- 
 tack you. 
 
 Thursday, Fehruary 11, 1779. Heavy gales 
 with snow, drift, and severe frost. The badness 
 of the weather drove Gready and Martin from the 
 island, because they could not keep their fire in. 
 As they were coming along the ice, they observed 
 three tinkers ^ fly past them, and presently, one 
 of them fell as suddenly as if it had been shot. 
 On picking it up, they found the eyes of it were 
 frozen as hard as beads. 
 
 Both myself and others have often found some 
 
 ^ Razor-billed auks, Alca torda.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 259 
 
 of these birds, torus, and bulls ' dead upon the 
 ice, or land, at a great distance from water; yet 
 I could never tell how they came there; the mys- 
 tery is now unravelled. During the whole of the 
 winter season, small holes, like ponds, are kept 
 open on one side or other of most of the outer 
 islands (by the set of the wind) to which these 
 birds resort for food. Upon the shifting of the 
 wind, the ice fills up those holes, and the birds are 
 then forced to betake themselves to flight to seek 
 others: and, as it often comes on to snow and 
 drift excessivelv hard at those times, with severe 
 frost, they are most completely lost. Sometimes 
 they fly into the country; at other times, along 
 shore: and in short anv wav, as chance directs 
 them, until their eyes are frozen in their heads; 
 and, being quite overcome by the severity of the 
 weather they drop dead;^ as was the case with 
 this biiYl, to-day. 
 
 Mondaj/, Frhrunrji 15, 1779. At three this af- 
 ternoon, the up]")er part of the kitchen chimney 
 Twhich, foi* want of bricks, T was obliged to finish 
 with wattles clayed over) took fire; which quickly 
 found its way to the boarded partition l)etween it 
 and the dining room, and burnt with such fury, 
 that the whole house, the provisions, and all that 
 were in i1 nuist soon have been consumed, had 
 we not fortunately ])eeu all a1 home. The great 
 pot chanced to be on the fire, in which was spruce, 
 
 • Dovokif' or liltlf auk, Allr nllr. 
 
 *StHrvntion in unfloubfofllv tho rhiof fnrtor in this mortnlity. North- 
 ern bini« stnnH pxtrrrno rnl<l [)rovi<ior| thoy havo plonty of foot!. The 
 freezing of the cyea is probably a post mortem phenomenon.
 
 260 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 boiling for beer: this liquor, together with snow, 
 we applied so successfully within doors, and also 
 from without, through a hole made in the roof, 
 that we soon extinguished the flames ; and thereby 
 saved our lives from the most terrible of all 
 deaths; the want of food. 
 
 Monday, March 15, 1779. Daubeny went to 
 Table Bay, and might have had a good shot at a 
 wolf, if his gun had been ready. Collingham went 
 to North Harbour and killed three grouse. I went 
 round my eastern walk, and killed four grouse. 
 Great plenty of foxes had been going everywhere, 
 but the traps were all drifted up, and they kill 
 such plenty of grass mice, that they are not very 
 eager for dead baits. This evening we drank the 
 last drop of rum. 
 
 It froze sharply all day, yet the sky being pretty 
 clear, the weather was quite warm; and I saw 
 some water on a rock, made by the melting of the 
 snow, for the first time this year. 
 
 Wednes., March 17, 1779. I had reserved a 
 small quantity of brandy for the people to cele- 
 brate St. Patrick's Day with, and now let them 
 have it for that purpose. 
 
 Sunday, March 28, 1779. At noon Mr. Daubeny 
 returned, and one of Mr. Coghlan's people with 
 him. From this man I learned, that their crew, 
 consisting of three hands, had killed but eleven 
 foxes and one deer: and that the other crew of 
 three hands at Black-bear Bay, had killed but 
 three foxes. Mr. Daubeny brought with him a 
 medal, which William Phippard picked up last
 
 LABRADOR JOrRXAL 201 
 
 year aiiiuiig the indiaii baggage, wliich llu'v foimd 
 uu the island in Ivnektoke Bay, where they saw 
 so many dead Esquimaux. As I well remember 
 this medal (for it belonged to a brother of mine 
 who gave it to one of the Indians whom I had 
 in England) I am now un longer in (l()ul)t respect- 
 ing their persons, or the cause of their death. I 
 am certain, that thev must be the same I was 
 acquainted witli; that Caubvick must have re- 
 tained the infection in her hair which she kept 
 in a trunk; and tliat the small-pox broke out 
 amongst them in the winter, and swept them all 
 off. lie also brouglit eleven beaver-skins, which 
 he })urchased from one of the ])eo])le. 
 
 Monday, April 5, 1779. Three hands were dig- 
 ging for the Caplin, which they found in the eve- 
 ning. Daubeny and Collingliam went to Great 
 Ishmd and the sealing-post, and killed a grouse. 
 I sat watching for some time on Slink Point: and 
 had the ])leasure to see a streak of water in the 
 offing, extending some leagues along shore to the 
 northward. 
 
 Fridan, April .9, 1779. At six o'clock this after- 
 no(jn Ml". (V)llingham returned: he got to Tei-o's 
 house on Wednesday eveniiiL!,-, and found him ;ni(l 
 his companion, (my Xewfonndland dou) both 
 well, lie weni with Tero round his 1ra])s yes- 
 terday, and lef1 him Ihis moi-ning at four o'clock; 
 the distance is thij"ty-fi\'e miles, lie informed 
 mc fji.'it Tero li;i(1 killed Iwcnty-two mai'tens, 
 eleven foxes, ei^-ht wohcs. fonr l»ca\'ers and 1hi"c(^ 
 wol\-erings. One of the wolves had gone off wilh
 
 262 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 a trap, and he accidentally met with him ten days 
 after; he was alive, but so far from his house, 
 that he left him. Tero told Collingham, that soon 
 after the last boat left him, several Indians 
 stopped a few days on Separation Point; that 
 they staked the beaver-house which I found in 
 the summer, hung the two traps which he had 
 in it upon a tree, and had stolen the chains off 
 them. Martens were beginning to run again. 
 The snow is now grown very rotten. 
 
 Wednes., April 14, 1779. I made a beaver-net 
 today of seal-twine. In the afternoon Mr. Dau- 
 beny visited some of his traps near home; two of 
 which were struck up. 
 
 Wednes., April 21, 1779. At day-break Mrs. 
 Selby was taken in labour, and at ten o'clock I 
 delivered her of a daughter. At seven Mr. Cogh- 
 lan's men set off for Sandhill Cove. Daubeny 
 and Collingham went round the traps of the lat- 
 ter, on Venison Head, and brought in a white-fox. 
 Three men were throwing the snow out of the 
 cook-room. 
 
 Thursday, April 22, 1779. Two men were at 
 work in the cook-room. Mr. Daubeny went with 
 me round my traps; three of them were carried 
 off by foxes, none of which we could find. He 
 shot a hare, and we saw another; also a brace 
 of white-foxes near a breeding earth, which is 
 under the cliff on the north-east side of Mount 
 Martin, on which there is a falcon's * nest. The 
 
 * Cartwright may refer to duck hawk, Falco peregrinuf^ anatum, or to a 
 white or black gyrfalcon, Falcn islandus, or F. ruslicolus obsoleius.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 263 
 
 offing breaks up but slowly; the ice has parted 
 from Cape North, by the outer Sister, to the inner 
 Gannet, and nearly in a north-west line from 
 thence. 
 
 A clear, hot sun, which melted the snow fast. 
 
 Suudaif, May 9, 1779. After breakfast I took 
 a walk to the end of Slink Point, in expectation 
 of seeing the ice broken up by the late gales of 
 wind; Init I could not observe that' it was more 
 so now than before; which convinces me, that 
 there must be a vast body of drift-ice still upon 
 the coast, extending to a great distance from 
 land; otherwise a swell must have rolled in, suf- 
 ficient to have ripped it up in every place which 
 is not land-locked. I killed a grouse with a ball, 
 out of my double-barrelled gun; observed that 
 Indian sallad made its appearance; and that the 
 mountain sallow was in bud. These are the first 
 instances of vegetation I have taken notice of 
 this spring. 
 
 Friday, May 14, 1779. Islv. Daubeny visited his 
 traps this moraing and had the smallest w^hite- 
 fox T over saw; it weighed oidy six pounds and 
 three (juarters, although it was very fat, which is 
 a pound and a quai-ter less than the hares here. 
 T got an egg out of a butcher-bird's' nest, which 
 is in the top of ;i spruce-tree close to my house. 
 These birds build thcM*]' nests exactly in the same 
 maimer as house-sparrows - do, when they build 
 
 ' \orfhom Hhriko or })iifrhr'r bird, Lnrtiua hnrealvt. 
 * Kiiropoan houso Hparrow, failed in Arnorira " Enfjiish sparrow," 
 PoHner (lomenlicus, a pest that hafl fortunaloly not yet reached Labrador.
 
 264 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 ill a tree; and their eggs are as like as possible 
 to the eggs of those birds. 
 
 Wednes,, May 19, 1779. In the afternoon, ob- 
 serving a great number of ducks in the west 
 corner of Blackguard Bay, I had the Roebuck 
 launched round on the ice to that place; but there 
 being then no wind, they were so shy that I could 
 kill only one. There were several hounds and 
 gulls, with some pigeons and black-divers ^ among 
 them. 
 
 Thursday, May 20, 1779. I shot the hen butcher- 
 bird and had her nest taken, which had six eggs 
 more in it; the cock bird I shot a few days ago; 
 and as I am now in possession of them both, I 
 mean to stuff the skins. 
 
 It snowed till nine this morning, and was clear 
 afterwards. 
 
 Wednes., May 26, 1779. [Capt. Cartwright be- 
 came convinced that Mrs. Selby had been un- 
 faithful.] The fact being clearly proven by two 
 witnesses, and by very strong corroborating cir- 
 cumstances related by seven others, together 
 with her own confession, I declared as formal a 
 divorce between us as ever was pronounced in 
 Doctors Commons. Upon reading the deposi- 
 tions to Daubeny, and asking him what he had 
 to say in his defence, he positively denied the 
 whole; accused her of being in a combination 
 with the other people against him, offered to take 
 his most solemn oath to the truth of his assertions, 
 
 * Possibly American Scoter, Oiderrda americana, as the other scoters 
 are called divers.
 
 LABR.VDOR JOURN^VL 265 
 
 aiuL repeatedly pressed me to adininister an oath 
 to him; but I did not ehiise that he should add 
 perjury to the crimes he had alread}" committed. 
 I disowned it [the child], and resolved never to 
 make any })rovision for it, unless I should here- 
 after be compelled so to do by a judicial sen- 
 tence. 
 
 Fridufi, Mail 28, 1779. I walked to the end of 
 Slink Point, where I killed one goose, wounded 
 another, and struck up all the traps; which con- 
 cludes the fox-catchinu: for this season. The 
 whole of what we got at this place is as follows, 
 viz. sixteen silver-foxes, twenty-eight crosses, 
 nineteen vellows, twentv-six whites, and one blue- 
 fox, total ninety-six. Eight at least have been 
 eaten out of the traps, or have been lost with 
 them; and had the traps not l)een so very old 
 and bad we should nearly have doubled the above 
 number. AVhat I have now, are onlv the worst 
 of my old stock; for the privateer not only car- 
 ried away six dozen of new ones, which had never 
 ])een opened, but also, what good ones they found 
 ill use. 
 
 Sinuhiif, Mnn SO, 1779. ^[rs. Selby's child ])eing 
 very ill t(»-(lay, T baptized it by the name of 
 ]Vraria. 
 
 Dai'k 1ill hvo r> 'clock, and the rest of the day 
 proved as bad weather as it usu.illy is in the 
 montli (A' JaiiuaF'v in Enii:land. 
 
 }fo))r]fiif, Mdif .?/, J779. Noi withstanding Dau- 
 bciiy o^U'Voc] to take his oath lliat he was per- 
 fect! v innoceni iA' all which he had ])een accused
 
 266 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 of, yet, this day, he confessed to me, that he was 
 guilty of the crime laid to his charge. 
 
 Tuesday, June 1, 1779. At nine o'clock this 
 morning I sent Daubeny in a skiff with four hands 
 to White-bear River, a rinding. I had a punt 
 trimmed, and at six in the evening, sent four 
 other men after him. I took an account of the 
 provisions which are left, and found that, owing 
 to the success of our traps, slips, and guns, to- 
 gether with good oeconomy, I have now enough 
 left to last until the end of September. I was 
 under the greatest apprehension all winter, of 
 falling short of provisions before any vessel could 
 arrive with a supply. From the delays of wait- 
 ing for, and sailing with convoy, I did not sup- 
 pose the arrival could be earlier than the middle 
 of July; and, if the vessel should chance to be 
 taken, I should be obliged to send a boat to St. 
 John's, in Newfoundland. I therefore would not 
 suffer a morsel of salted meat to be expended at 
 such times as there was anything fresh in the 
 house: and it was no small additional uneasiness 
 to me, that my people were, three or four times, 
 on the point of mutiny, because I would not give 
 them salted pork, which they threatened to take 
 by force: but I prevented their doing so, by as- 
 suring them, that I would shoot the first, and 
 every man, who should make an attempt of the 
 kind. 
 
 Unfortunately, the foxes went out of season 
 much sooner than usual, and by the month of 
 March, they smelled so rank, that I could not
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 267 
 
 insist on their eating tiieni. i then hit upon an 
 expedient whieh was of singular help to nie; for 
 on cateliing- the tirst wliite-fox, I skinned him 
 \\ith great care and ate him myself, telling my 
 l)eoi)le, thai a white-fox was superior to a hare. 
 This set them a longing; and then, by way of an 
 indulgence, I gave them all we caught aftenvards; 
 ))ut the fact was, thev were no better than those 
 of other colours; they however satisfied the cra- 
 vings of the appetite, and kept us from famishing. 
 Before thev went off this morning, I had the sat- 
 isfaction to receive their voluntarv thanks for not 
 giving way to their unreasonable demands; they 
 being now convinced, that we must all inevitably 
 have perished if I had. 
 
 Tui'yiihijj, June 8, 1779. This was a teriible, bad 
 day. The ground is greatly flooded, and I fear 
 the rivers will overflow. If any ships are on this 
 coast now, God help them! unless they are pirat- 
 ical privateers, coming to plunder innocent peo- 
 l)le again: for such, I recommend to their friend 
 the D -1. 
 
 Fridcuj, J arte 11, 1779. I got a shot at about 
 fully eider-dueks, pretty well doubled up, and 
 killed three; also ei'i])j)led five or six more, but 
 got only one. Upon examining the down of these 
 ducks, whicli is so valuable, warm, elastic, and 
 b'ght, 1 round tliat it gi'ows out of the body in 
 tlic in;iiinei- of ;i rc'itlici-; whose whole length, 
 bolli mI" (piill ;ind shaft, is cxti-emely line, and does 
 not exceed one tenfh oi' .-m iii<-li in lengih. On this 
 grows a buncli of feather}' substances, resembling 
 
 r
 
 268 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 the harle ^ on the sides of a peacock's tail-feather, 
 which are from eight tenths of an inch to an inch 
 and two tenths in length. I counted the number 
 of harles on two of these stems, and fomid one to 
 have ninety-six, the other fifty-two; but not hav- 
 ing a microscope, I could not tell if either of them 
 was entire or not. 
 
 Weather as yesterday, till seven in the eve- 
 ning, the sky then cleared, and we were blessed 
 with the smiles of the enlivening sun once more. 
 
 Friday, June 18, 1779. This afternoon William 
 Phippard and his crew arrived from Ivucktoke 
 Bay,^ on their way to Sandhill Cove. He in- 
 formed me, that they had killed but twenty-six 
 beavers, twenty-two martens, six white-foxes, 
 and three wolverings: that he had seen but two 
 families of Mountaineer Indians, from whom he 
 had gotten twelve martens and an otter. I got 
 eight beaver-skins and three wolverings from him, 
 in balance of a debt, which his late partner John 
 Wrixon had contracted. He had been three weeks 
 from his winter-house. He also told me, that 
 they met with white-geese,^ and another sort of 
 spruce-game, much larger than the common ones, 
 the cock having a long tail; * that they were a 
 scarce bird, and so very tame, they would almost 
 
 ' Harl, the little plumelets growing on each side of the tail feathers 
 of the peacock. Used in making flies. 
 
 2 Eskimo Bay, The month of Hamilton Inlet. 
 
 ^ Greater snow goose or " wavy," Cken hyperhorea nivalis. 
 
 * Sharp-tailed grouse, Pedioecetes phasianellus. It is probable that this 
 bird occasionally strays to the shores of Hamilton Inlet, but it occurs 
 regularly on the Hudson Bay coast.
 
 LABRxVDOR JOURNAL 269 
 
 suffer tlieuisclves to be taken off the trees by 
 hand. These, I presume, are the swans,^ and 
 pheasants, said b}' Mr. Ellis to be found in Hud- 
 son's Bav. He saw the ruins of three French 
 settlements, and found several beaver-houses; but 
 the place was so nnich frequented by India^is, that 
 the crews <if beavers were all broken ones. One 
 of the Indians drcAv him a chart of that bay, upon 
 birch rind; it is very large, and contains several 
 rivers, islands and smaller bays. 
 
 Tiicsdai/, June 29, 1779. I shot a loon, took a 
 (hu'k's nest, by the pond near the fiagstatf and 
 found a robin's nest. These birds are somewhat 
 l)igger than a thrush, are like that bird in shape, 
 but of a more beautiful plumage. They build the 
 same sort of nest, but their note is like the black- 
 ]»ird's;2 their eggs also, of which they seldom lay 
 more than three, are very like those of the black- 
 bird's. 
 
 Wednes., Junr 30, 1779. I weighed some eggs 
 to-day, and found those of the saddleback gull 
 to be four ounces fifteen penm^veights; eider- 
 ducks, from three ounces six pennyweights to 
 four ounces; and ]^igeons two oiuices five penny- 
 weights: T also weighed some eider down, and 
 found, tliat thirty-seven of the little tufts weighed 
 one grain. 
 
 • Thn whlfltlinK Hwan, Olm columlrianns, broo<lH on (ho iHlandfl on (ho 
 eaatom sido of Hudson Ray. 
 
 * The Englixh hhu-khinl Is a (hnish. Turrluf, mrrula, and is rola(<vl 
 to tho Amorioan rf)hin. Roth (ho EiikI'-^Ii thrush and tlio Amorioan rohiti 
 uso mud in the? ronstruotidn of 1h<'ir nosts. In more favourable roKioius 
 further Houth the robin often lays four or five cggH.
 
 270 CAPTAIN CARTWEIGHT'S 
 
 Friday, July 9, 1779. At nine o'clock at night 
 I was alarmed by a rapping at my door; but was 
 soon relieved from my fears, by the appearance of 
 captain Kinloch and nine servants, which were 
 some of my old hands. He informed me, that my 
 old ship, the Comitess of Effingham, was safe at 
 an anchor in North Harbour, with all the salt and 
 most of the other goods, which the Minerva's peo- 
 ple had carried away in her. She had been re- 
 taken on her passage to Boston by five of the 
 crew which had been put on board at this place 
 to conduct her thither; three of whom had entered 
 from me, and two from Noble and Pinson. They 
 carried her into Dartmouth, where she was de- 
 livered up to my agent. She sailed from thence 
 to Waterford, in the beginning of June; and from 
 thence came hither. Kinloch had met with a deal 
 of ice near the land, and had got through it with 
 much difficulty, and the loss of the ship's head. 
 I gave them plenty of boiled bear for supper, but 
 some of the new hands were so nice, that they 
 would not eat it. 
 
 Monday, July 12, 1775. At five in the after- 
 noon, James Gready, and his two hands returned 
 from Charles Harbour in a sealing-skiff of mine. 
 He informed me, that a small American privateer 
 of four guns had gone into Twillingate this spring, 
 and there taken a vessel, laden with old fish, be- 
 longing to Mr. Slade of Poole, and had given all 
 the goods which were in his stores, to the poor 
 inhabitants of the place; that from thence she 
 had come to Battle Harbour on this coast, and had
 
 LABK.VUOK JOURNAL 271 
 
 taken a sloop of Mr. JSlade's, with about twenty- 
 two tims of seals' oil ou board, aud destroyed his 
 goods there; that a good mauy seals had been 
 killed on this side of Chateau; but that most of 
 the posts within the streights had lost the great- 
 est part of their nets, and killed very few seals. 
 That at my post in Charles Harbour, any number 
 might have been killed; they were in such plenty. 
 That everv bodv on this side of Trinitv were in 
 the utmost distress for provisions, from the dep- 
 radations of the privateers, as no vessels had ar- 
 rived from England. He informed me likewise, 
 that twelve men had been lost the last winter 
 upon this coast, by the severit}^ and badness of 
 the weather: that there were ])lent3" of codfish 
 to the southward, l)ut no salt; as no other vessel 
 but Slade's sloop had yet arrived. He also told 
 me, that John Baskem had taken possession of 
 my salmon-post at Port ^Marnham, and that all 
 my houses in, and near Charles Harl)Our had been 
 l)roken open and jilundered by the English crews 
 ill that neighbourhood: that Coghlan's crew at 
 Saudliill Cove had killed above a hundred tierces 
 of salmon, and had still strong fishing. 
 
 Saturday, JiiJtj 17, 1779. Early this morning, 
 the people finished riggiup: ^he Beaver, and at 
 seven o'clfx-k, T sailed in her for Paradise. 
 
 SutuUu), JuJji 1R, 1779. At three in the after- 
 noon the wind coming fail", we weighed and ran 
 up as high as the south poini of DiMmken Cove, 
 where we came In ;in .'iriclior r<»r \v;int of wind, 
 and r went to Paradise in the skiff. I found here,
 
 272 CAPTAIN CAETWRIGHT'S 
 
 about three hundred and fifty tierces of fish on 
 shore; all the casks and all the houses were full, 
 by reason of so much old fish; all the salt was 
 expended, and most of the nets were taken up. 
 Fish were still in prodigious plenty; a new 
 salmon-house of ninety feet by twenty was built, 
 and all the rinds were brought to this place. Only 
 ten nets were put out at first, and in a few days 
 the fish were in such abundance that the people 
 were obliged to take four of them up again; and 
 when they had taken up some of those yester- 
 day, having neither salt or casks to cure more 
 fish, they were killing thirty-five tierces, or seven 
 hundred and fifty fish a day, and might have 
 killed more, with more nets. Six hundred 
 and fifty-five fish were killed to-day. Clear fine 
 weather. 
 
 [Cartwright gives '^ A Diary of the Salmon- 
 Fishery " by which it may be seen that 12,396 
 salmon were caught between June 23 and July 20 
 inclusive. Only 36 were taken in June, but 
 the numbers rapidly increased and on July 6th, 
 the largest number, namely, 1,305 salmon were 
 caught.] 
 
 The fish were about fifteen pounds weight each, 
 upon an average, and filled three hundred and 
 ninety tierces of forty-two gallons. Had I not 
 been visited by the privateer last year, I should 
 have kept my nets out during the whole of the 
 season; and, from the length of time that I after- 
 wards found the salmon continvied to run up the 
 river, am confident I should have killed upwards
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 273 
 
 ut* tiiii'ty twu thousand lisli; which would have 
 produced a thousand tierces. 
 
 Wcihu's., July 21, 1779. I took Mr. Colliugham 
 with 11 ic ill the Beaver, and at seven o'clock we 
 came to sail. Beiuj;- near Duclv Island, I landed 
 opposite to it, and walked along shore to the 
 mouth of the small hrook, which empties itself 
 into the south side of Eastern Ann in Sandwich 
 Bay. and the shallop came to an anchor oft' it. 
 Good paths of Ijears and foxes run along this 
 shore, and ii is much used by geese at certain 
 times. I picked up above six score of excellent 
 quills, which had dropped from their wings in 
 the late moulting season; at wdiich time they are 
 in their ])rime; these quills are sold in London for 
 two shillings a score. 
 
 Friday, July 23, 1779. "We got under weigh at 
 four o'clock this morning, and fowled downwards; 
 we soon after saw^ a bitch-w^olf, with four small 
 cubs at her heels, running along the shore between 
 Muddv Bav and the narrows. I landed a head 
 of them with my double-barrel and rifle, and 
 should have given a pretty good account of 
 tin 11 1. Imd they not turned into the woods. Tn 
 Laar ('(»\e we saw a ])lack-bear witli one small 
 (Mih; iA''( Venison Head w^e caught seven codfish; 
 and at ten at night, arrived at the stage. 
 
 SfDtday, July ;?.7, 1779. This morning the ship's 
 two boats came up here, when T loaded llieiii \\ iili 
 househrdfl fnriiii iifc, t^-e. ;iii(I ;it iiooii, removed 
 with my family to Oreat Tslnnd foi* the sumuKM'. 
 This morning a hind and calf swam over from
 
 274 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 Venison Head, and landed close to my house on 
 Great Island; but, upon seeing the people, they 
 inmiediately took the water again and made off. 
 Four hands pursued them in a skift", killed the 
 hind, and caught the calf alive; they bound its 
 legs, and kept it so till my arrival, when I had a 
 crib made for it at the end of my house. It ap- 
 peared not to be very tunorous nor wild, but 
 seemed much distressed for want of its dam and 
 her milk, for it ate white moss, and other things 
 out of my hand, and sucked at the ends of my 
 handkerchief most eagerly; suffering me to 
 stroke it all the tune. It was ver}^ quiet when- 
 ever I was with it, but grunted incessantly, and 
 tried to get out w^hen it w^as left alone. 
 
 Sundaff, August 1, 1779. In the afternoon John 
 Mac Carthy having behaved very ill, and, as I was 
 going to give hun a stroke with a stick, he raised 
 a hatchet at me, and took an oath upon a book 
 (which I believe was a prayer-book) that he 
 would cleave me or any other man down, who 
 shoidd offer to go near him. He made several 
 eiforts to chop at me, and some of my servants, 
 who attempted to take hun, and then ran off to the 
 other end of the island. At night he went into the 
 cook-room, where one of the people took the 
 hatchet from him, but he absconded again. 
 
 Friday, August 6, 1779. [Mac Carthy delivered 
 himself up on August 5th.] 
 
 In the afternoon I gave Mac Carthy twenty- 
 seven lashes with a small dog-whip on his bare 
 back, and intended to have made up the number
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 275 
 
 tu tliirty-nine; but at> he then fainted, i stopped 
 and released hmi; when he thanked me on his 
 knees for my kMiity, and acknowledged that he 
 not only deserved the punishment, but expected 
 that I should hixxe flogged him nearly to death, 
 And as I had the pleasure to observe, that all my 
 people expressed themselves well pleased with 
 what I liad done, I therefore hoj^e to have no 
 more occasion to be reduced to the painful neces- 
 sity of inflicting corporal punishment as an ex- 
 ample to the rest. 
 
 A sharp frost this morning, a cloudy day, and 
 moist evening. 
 
 Sftfurrlnif, August 14, 1779. I took a walk 
 round the island with the dogs, but saw nothing. 
 I was also attended hy my young deer, which is 
 now perfectly tame, and I shall now make some 
 remarks on those animals. Notwithstanding rein- 
 deer are nattirallv verv wild and timorous, vet no 
 creature is so soon, or so effectually tamed if taken 
 young; but what they may be when caught after- 
 wards I cannot tell. They not only grow very 
 bold, but also shew great affection for such men 
 and dogs as they take a likiug to, and have a great 
 spite against those who affront them. This deer 
 of mine has had its full liberty ever since the 
 fourth day aft(M- i1 was caught (except a few 
 nights conflneuiciit in Ihe crib, lest the dogs 
 should kill it wlx-u we were all aslee]^) but since 
 that, it has constantly lain oui. Tt is not in the 
 least alarmed at any noise, not even at the report 
 of a gun fired close to it; but il is nmch terrifled,
 
 276 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 if any dog runs after, or even near it, and any 
 running of the people instantly affrights it; but 
 the moment all is quiet, it is so too. It will often 
 go up to a dog and smell to him: it is well ac- 
 quainted with all mine, and will lie down by the 
 fire amongst them. I believe they scarce ever 
 sleep, for as much as I have watched this, I never 
 could observe, that it was ever asleep, or kept its 
 eyes closed for more than two seconds at a time; 
 and if I moved ever so little, it would start up. 
 When I have lain down on the bed, at a time when 
 it was lying on the floor, it would start up every 
 five or six minutes, and come to see that I was not 
 gone; and having licked my face, or sucked my 
 neck handkerchief a little, it would quietly lie 
 down again. When at any time it lost me, it 
 would run about grunting somewhat like a hog, 
 and never rest until it had found me, when it 
 would run up to me in full speed. Sometimes I 
 have diverted myself, with stooping and running, 
 both after and from it, which pleased it much; 
 and it would do the same, and frisk about in the 
 same manner, as I have seen the wild calves one 
 among another: and I have likewise observed, 
 that whenever it is frightened, it erects its single ^ 
 which at all other times hangs down. It is a mis- 
 taken notion that they will not eat grass, or 
 scarcely anything but white moss; for they will 
 eat every kind of vegetable which this country 
 naturally produces; alexander, and some few 
 other things excepted: nor have I yet been a})le 
 
 1 Tail.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 277 
 
 tu discover that any beast in this country would 
 eat alexander, except black-bears, which are A^ery 
 fond of it. Rein-deer do not seem to relish grass 
 much, yet 1 have seen mine eat a little, and it gen- 
 erally preferred the coarsest kinds. 1 have often 
 observed, that in the latter end of April and in 
 the month of Mav, the wild ones eat little else be- 
 sides dry grass and wild r^^e, which then appear 
 through the snow. They affect great variety in 
 their food, while things are in a growing state; 
 preferring the youngest and most juicy. This 
 causes them to varv their food everv month; and 
 also several times on the same day, accordingly 
 as it is moist or dry; rejecting now^ what an hour 
 ago they preferred to every thing else. The 
 leaves of the dogberry ^ bush when young, and a 
 tender plant wdiich growls by hill sides on moist 
 ground, resembling cross lettuce, as also a succu- 
 lent, aquatic plant wdiich growls in ponds, all these 
 they devour most greedily. Tliere is a small pond 
 near this house w^hich is full of the latter, and this 
 deer of mine has eaten it close down to the w^ater. 
 I think T have seen the same kind of plaiit in the 
 Highlands of Scotland, and is what they use there 
 ill tlicir ])('('!', instead of hops. They also delight 
 to eat young leaves of most sorts of trees and 
 shru})S whicli have not a resinous juice; ]inrti<'U- 
 larly the willow: l)ut T have knowm them eat the 
 
 ' The name doKberry is applied to a species of Koosoberry, Rihes Cy- 
 noatnili, to the bhwk chokeberry, P]/rus mdanocnrixt, mii'I to the moun- 
 tain JLsh, P]iTUH nmcrirmin. The hi.st naniecl species f^:irt\\riM;ht recoRnized 
 by its proper name, the first he would h.-ive r:i!lcd ;i nooselierry. Whether 
 the black chokeberry occurH in Labrador or not, 1 do not know.
 
 278 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 outer shoots of the black spruce in the winter 
 time, though but sparingly. I most wonder that 
 they are not fond of vetches,^ which grow in great 
 abundance here. I have often tracked the wild 
 ones through large beds of them, without observ- 
 ing that they cropped any; yet I have seen mine 
 eat a few sometimes. This will eat a little of the 
 crumb of soft bread, but will scarcely touch the 
 crust, or biscuit; but that may be owing to the 
 tenderness of its teeth. Pudding and boiled 
 potatoes it is very fond of, but will not eat the 
 latter raw; it will also eat boiled salt meat. They 
 are very sure footed; for they will run along 
 shore, over sharp rough rocks, or smooth, round, 
 loose stones, without ever stumbling or slipping; 
 l)ut on smooth ice they can with difficulty stand. 
 The}^ are beautifully made, are as straight limbed 
 and have nearly the same shape as the horse, only 
 not so good a neck. They walk, trot, and gallop 
 in the same manner, and no old hunter will take 
 either a flying, or standing leap with more grace 
 or judgment than my young deer will now. They 
 have great strength and are remarkably active; 
 which renders them very useful in a sled. They 
 go very wide behind, are fearless of their road, 
 and will swim with most extraordinary swiftness, 
 and to a prodigious distance: I am certain they 
 will swim more than five miles in an hour, and I 
 verily believe, six. The stags have a deal more 
 courage than the hinds, and those hinds which 
 
 ^ Milk vetch, Astragalus alpinus, and beach pea, Lathyrus maritimus, 
 are both common on this coast.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 279 
 
 have calves, have less than the dry ones. When 
 they hear a noise, or if they see a man standing 
 perfectly still, their cnriosity will often tempt 
 them to make out the object; a curiosity which I 
 have known prove fatal to them: for they will 
 frequently gallop, or trot down within sixty or a 
 hundred yards, and there stand and gaze for the 
 space of a minute or two. When they are satisfied, 
 they run off, and generally sink the Avind to be in- 
 fomied of a pursuit. In the winter they most com- 
 monly go several miles before they rest. If pur- 
 sued by a dog they husband their speed and wind 
 surprisingly; for they will suffer their pursuer to 
 come by degrees within a few yards of them, but 
 no nearer if they can prevent it; they will then 
 continue to run at his rate till he is tired; and as 
 soon as he stops, they will do so too, and turn 
 about and look at him; after which they will go 
 leisurely on, but often stop to look back. If they 
 are upon ice, where there is much snow, they will 
 not quit it for the barren hills. When pursued in 
 the sunnner time, they always make for the near- 
 est water, in \\liicli im land animal has the least 
 chance witli lliciii. if lluir ciiciny comes u]^ with 
 them, they defend Hiciiiselves with their hoi'us 
 and bind feet; and aj'c so strong and active, that 
 a f.'iir sti'oke wilji cithci', generally proves fatal 
 to wolf (»!• doLi, if 1b(' (\('('V 1)0 an old one. 1 have 
 often eat of \nrious kinds of venison, .'ind in dil'- 
 ferent eounlries; but T tliink none e<|nal 1o ihat 
 of tbe rein-dr'er \\licn in |>ro|)ei* season. From the 
 o])serA'nf icjns \\1iic]i mine li;is L^i^■'^'n me opportuin'-
 
 280 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 ties to make, I am fully of opinion, that there are 
 many parts of England where they would live 
 and thrive well, but I do not think they would 
 exist in such parks as produce nothing but fine 
 grass. 
 
 Sunday, August 15, 1779. Most of the people 
 were shamefully intoxicated to-day. I take as 
 much care as possible to prevent these things, but 
 they willjiappen sometimes. 
 
 Friday, August 20, 1779. At one this morning, 
 I was greatly alarmed by one of my people knock- 
 ing at my door, and telling me, that I was taken 
 again; for that a stout ship was at an anchor in 
 Blackguard Bay, and her boat was gone to take 
 possession of my ship. On opening the door, I 
 saw her riding abreast of my house. I immedi- 
 ately ran out, without stocking or shoe, to hide 
 some guns; sending the man to do the same by 
 my plate. On returning to the house for more, 
 I found an officer in possession of it; but he soon 
 relieved me from my fears by informing me, that 
 the ship was his majesty's sloop of war, Marten, 
 commanded by Thomas Durell, Esq. At the same 
 time he delivered me a letter from his captain, 
 and another from John Becher of London Esq. 
 He then returned on board, and I to bed again; 
 but the alarm had put my spirits into such an 
 agitation, that I could not close my eyes. At six 
 o'clock I went on board the Marten to pay my 
 respects to captain Durell; soon after, she got 
 under weigh, and captain Kinloch piloted her into 
 the harbour; where she moored. I shipped two
 
 LABKAJJOK JOUENAL 281 
 
 liugsheads of furs ou board the Marteu, to be 
 carried to 8t. Joiiu's for fear of accidents here, 
 and spent the day on board with her captain. I 
 sent a man ont a deer shooting, upon the Cape 
 kind, but he saw none. 
 
 Satardaij, Aucjtist 21, 1779. Captain Durell was 
 so obliging as to give me the assistance of some of 
 his people, who put a new mainmast and boom 
 into the Beaver, and did some work on the Count- 
 ess of Effingham; also the captain and his purser 
 dined, and spent most of the day with me. The 
 boats came in at night without a fish; and it was 
 a double mortifipatinn to me, to reflect that much 
 about this time last year, Avhen I was visited by 
 that accursed privateer, I had venison, curlew^s, 
 and other good things in the greatest plenty; but, 
 that now, when friends were come, I had not one 
 morsel of anything but salted provisions to set 
 before them: the weather likewise was too bad 
 to get anything. 
 
 Sunday, Auf/usf 20, 1779. We saw an old, bitch 
 l)lack-bear with a very small cub, going up wind 
 ())i the south-west shore; T landed behind them, 
 gdf a sliot nt the old one, and struck her through: 
 llicy then I'.Mii 11)) Ibe hill. T laid down my gun, 
 ])iij-sued and raiight the cul) in my li;mds. Tbe 
 ihuw no sooner heard it ery, ihan she sk)])pe(l, 
 I'narcd ;iii(l llii-c.-iiened nic with an attack; but the 
 mate fii-cr] ;in(l l^illcd licr. T sent the cub on board, 
 intendiiiL: lo kccj) 11 ;ili\'e; l)iit my people being 
 miK'b ;irF-;ii<l i1 would wori-y them, sfpieezed it so 
 h.'ird MS t'l foi-cf flic mc'il undigested through it,
 
 282 CAPTAIN CARTWBIGHT'S 
 
 and it died soon after. We tlien walked to North 
 Point, and saw many curlews, but tliey were so 
 wild, that I killed but three. 
 
 Monday, August 30, 1779. The bears were 
 skinned and weighed; the old one was but sev- 
 enty-two pounds, and the cub only eight; they 
 had nothing but alexander in them. 
 
 Wednes., SeptemJjer 8, 1779. At noon I dis- 
 covered a black-bear feeding on Venison Head; 
 taking Mr. Collingham, Martin, and four dogs 
 with me, we landed under Berry Hill, and shot 
 him through. I then laid the dogs on and baited 
 him for some time; they all behaved very well, 
 particularly the greyhound, which always kept 
 behind: but the three Newfoundland dogs seizing 
 forward, he lamed them all, and one of them so 
 desperately, that I am afraid he will scarcely ever 
 be good for any thing again. Observing that the 
 other two were in great danger also, I seized the 
 bear by the back of the neck, introduced my knife 
 behind his shoulder to his heart, and killed him. 
 This method, I learnt from his majesty's Jagurs, 
 in the forest of Linsburg, in Hanover, when I was 
 killing wild boars with them, at the conclusion of 
 the German War. When a boar is stabbed in that 
 manner, he instantly drops dead, but this bear did 
 not; on the contrar^^ he fought the dogs most 
 furiously until all his blood was spilt, and the 
 exertions which he made, forced it up m}^ sleeve 
 as high as my elbow. He weighed sixty-three 
 pounds, was getting fat, and I judge him to be 
 about three or four years old.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 283 
 
 Fiidaij, Stpftitiber 10, 1779. At nine this uiurn- 
 ing, taking James Gready and three other good 
 hands with nie, i sailed in the Beaxer tor Charles 
 Harbour. 
 
 Mondaij, September 13, 1779. [He arrived at 
 Port Marnhani on this day at seven in the evening.] 
 As John Baskeni had taken i)ossessi()n of this 
 place, ent \\\) several of my casks, and done me 
 other injuries, I had determined to turn him, 
 his faniilv and t>oods out of mv houses and seize 
 his tish for satisfaction: but he not being at home, 
 and observing that neither his wife nor chil- 
 dren had a shoe to their feet, and were in the 
 utmost i^overty and distress, my resentment was 
 turned into pity, and I accordingly made him a 
 present, by a written deed of gift, of my houses 
 and all my interest in that place and Deer Har- 
 bour, which is an appendage to it, and also of 
 what salmon-racks and cribs I had at Charles 
 Harbour. 
 
 Taesdaij, Septemher 14, 1779. We saih'd at 
 four this morning, and at six anchored in Charles 
 Harljoui-. wlici-c T found all my liouses shut up, 
 and nolliing missing of what had Ix-en lefl tliis 
 spring. 
 
 [Cartwright returned to Blackguai-d Bay wliere 
 he settled In's .'iccdinifs, .-ind hcidcd tlic (N>nntcss 
 of Effingham deep with fish.] 
 
 Monda//, October 25, 1779. T shi])])cd off all my 
 own ha'jii'agc, also flic dicsts and bedding l)('h)ng- 
 iwu; 1" ni\' (lisch.'ii'Licd s(i'\ ;inls; who. jogeihor 
 witli Mr. Daubcny, Mrs. Sclby, [wliosc chihl had
 
 284 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 died on September 16tli] and I, embarked in the 
 evening. 
 
 Wednes., October 27, 1779. At lialf past seven 
 this morning we began to heave up the anchor, 
 but it was so firmly fixed in the ground, which is 
 tough black clay, that it was with the utmost dif- 
 ficulty, and not without the assistance of all the 
 men from the shore, we could weigh it; we broke 
 a couple of purchasing bars in the operation. At 
 nine we got to sea through the eastern passage, 
 with a strong gale at north-west; there being a 
 high sea running, and the ship extremely deep, 
 and too much by the head, she plunged into it in 
 such manner, that it made quite a free passage 
 over her. The gale kept gradually increasing un- 
 til the next evening, by which time it became a 
 very heavy one, and continued so for twenty-four 
 hours, which carried us into the latitude of Funk 
 Island, and as we judged, about fourteen leagues 
 to the eastward of it. All that time it froze so 
 severely, that everything Avas solid ice, as high up 
 the rigging as the spray of the sea reached: but 
 now both wind and frost abated, and we had after- 
 wards mild, foggy weather, with light baffling 
 winds, until the fourth of November, when we had 
 a fresh breeze at south-west, with which we got 
 safe to an anchor in the harbour of KSt. John's, in 
 Newfoundland, where I went to get convoy. I 
 found lying here Admiral Edwards, the governor 
 of Newfoundland, in the Romney man of war of 
 sixty guns; the Surprise and L^^corne frigates; 
 the Marten and Cygnet sloops; and the Wildcat
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 a 
 
 H
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 285 
 
 and C'uuriei" armed vessels; besides a great uum- 
 ber of inerc'haiitmen, I immediately waited on 
 the admiral, \v1k» informed me, that if the wind 
 permitted, he shonld sail in the morning for Eng- 
 land; accompanied by the Snrprise, Lj'corne, and 
 Marten, and shonld take nnder his convoy all snch 
 vessels as were bonnd to England or Ireland. I 
 dined on board the Ronmey with captain Mercier 
 of the marines, and in the evening I went on shore 
 to transact my bnsiness there, bnt conld do noth- 
 ing, everybody being in hnrry and confusion. The 
 next morning, the admiral made the signal to pre- 
 pare for sailing, but the wind not serving, he 
 could not stir. I landed all my discharged serv- 
 ants, and got on board provisions and w^ater for the 
 ship. At four o'clock the following morning (the 
 sixth) the admiral made the signal to unmoor, 
 and at ten, another signal was given to w^eigh; 
 when tlie 8ur]irise, Marten, and several merchant- 
 men u<»1 (Mil of the harbour with all speed. At 
 eleven the admiral w(Mit out; we got up our an- 
 chor at two in the afternoon, and the Lycorne 
 frigate did the same immediately after. WHien 
 we got out to sea, the admiral and the body of the 
 fleet were so far ahead, that we could not distin- 
 guish his ship, nor any of the men of war, except 
 the Lycoriic; wliich by Ihat time was two miles 
 off, and going fast from us. We wci'c about two 
 leagues oD' at sunset; many vessels were tlien 
 .just got out, .-iiid We observed sevei'al otlicrs get- 
 ting under' \v;i\-; tlic inoutli of llic ]i;ii"b<>u]' bcMUg 
 open to US. That harb(jur being very narrow, a
 
 286 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 fleet of eighty-four sail of merchant ships, must 
 necessarily take a long time to get out; or they 
 would fall on board of each other; and I saw sev- 
 eral do so. We expected that the admiral would 
 heave to for the remainder of the night, when he 
 had got to a proper distance from the land; yet 
 although we carried sail the whole night, and every 
 day and night after, with very strong and heavy 
 gales (in which we split the head of our rudder; 
 strained the ship so, that she leaked very much, 
 which she had never done before; split some of 
 her sails to pieces, and were most of the time 
 nearly under water, by cariying to such extrem- 
 ity) we saw nothing more of the admiral or the 
 fleet, until the morning of the twelfth; when we 
 discovered them about four leagues off upon our 
 weather bow. At eight o 'clock, we saw some guns 
 fired by a ship, which we supposed to be the ad- 
 miral, but could not tell the meaning of them. 
 We continued to carry every sail which could 
 stand, and threw out a signal for seeing a strange 
 vessel, but no notice was taken of it; nor did the 
 admiral shorten sail in the evening to collect his 
 fleet, although other vessels, as well as mine, were 
 far astern and one large ship a great way to lee- 
 ward. That night, and the following day proving 
 foggy, we never saw him or the fleet afterwards. 
 We had every day from leaving St. John's seen 
 several unfortunate vessels, who like ourselves, 
 had been left behind; and we continued to do the 
 same, for above half the voyage after. We still 
 carried sail to the very utmost extremity for many
 
 LA:BRAD0K JOUKNAL 287 
 
 d-c\ys after, and then, giving np all hopes ut' joining 
 the fleet, we carried only as mneh as prndence 
 warranted. For fear of being taken, I directed 
 that the ship shonld be kept in the latitude of the 
 Shannon; intending to land there myself; be- 
 cause, had 1 been taken, the ^jeople whom 1 left 
 behind would probably have been starved to death 
 next year, for want of a suppl}^ of provisions. We 
 had a very Ijlowing passage, with many contrary 
 winds, and much dark weather. On the evening 
 of the twentv-ninth, bv an observation of the 
 moon and a fixed star, taken by captain Kinloch 
 tlie night before, we found ourselves still thirteen 
 leagues to the westward of the Blasques, although 
 we ought to have been half way up the Shannon, 
 according to the dead reckoning. It then blowing 
 verv hard at north-west bv north, we stood under 
 (jur courses to the southward; but seeing no land, 
 at eight the next morning, by which time we knew 
 we were to the southward of the Blasques we bore 
 away right along shore till noon; when being in 
 the latitude of 51 "" 22' north, T ordered a course 
 to be shaped direct for Cape Clear, which, if the 
 longitudinal obsei'vation was right, and the wind 
 held, would cany us abreast of the island called 
 Dorses, by foui- in llie afternoon, and the length of 
 Cape Clear by midnight. The observation proved 
 so very exact that we actually made tlie foi-mer on 
 our l;irl)oai-(l bejim ;it a quarter ])efore four, and 
 at midniulit we wej-e dose in with tlie Inttei'. Tliis 
 is the thii'd time I1i;if I jiave seen tiiose ol)serva- 
 tions t.-ikcn. ;ind e;ic1i time the\- ;is('ert;iin th<^
 
 288 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 longitude to the greatest nicety; full as much so, 
 as the meridian observation of the sun does that 
 of the latitude. It immediately after became calm, 
 and so continued till day-light, when we had a 
 fair sight of the land, at about three leagues dis- 
 tance. A light breeze then came from the south- 
 ward and brought on thick fog, when we stood 
 along shore to the eastward, sometimes seeing the 
 land, and others not. The wind increased bv de- 
 grees until it reduced us to close reefed topsails; 
 the fog was then become very thick, and w^e began 
 to think ourselves in danger of being lost; as we 
 were not far from the shore, the wind being dead 
 on it, and a gale of wind, with a long dark night 
 at hand. Lost we must have been, beyond all 
 doubt, had not a pilot boat, lying off the Old Head 
 of Kinsale, got sight of us, and boarded us at two 
 o'clock in the afternoon; w^e then were within a 
 mile of that land vet could not see it. We immedi- 
 ately put up the helm, squared the yards, and at 
 four, came safe to an anchor in the excellent har- 
 bour of Kinsale; by which time it blew a desper- 
 ate gale of wdnd, with so thick a fog, that we could 
 not see across the harbour, and both continued for 
 three days. The next morning I went on shore, 
 and took up my quarters at a house called the 
 Bowling-green, and had the pleasure to find gen- 
 eral Moucher and several of my old friends of the 
 Regiment of Buffs; I dined at the mess of the 
 latter. The following day I dined with the gen- 
 eral; on Sunday the fifth of December I went to 
 church, where I returned God thanks for my safe
 
 LABRADOR JOURN^VL 289 
 
 arrival, and the merciful deliverance I had hitely 
 received from his hands. I heard a most excellent 
 sermon on Patience; after which I dined with Mr. 
 Othwell, who is at the head of the Customs here. 
 On Wednesday I went to Cork to get some money 
 from Mr. Jasper Lucas, merchant at that place, 
 and to settle a credit for my ship with him. I re- 
 turned the next day; and late the following night 
 embarked on board the George Privateer of Bris- 
 tol, commanded l)y captain John ]\lajor, a gentle- 
 man like young man, who very politely offered me 
 a passage for myself and ]\Irs. Selby, to Bristol. 
 He had returned from a six months cruise, in 
 which he had taken only one Spanish ship, l)ound 
 from Cadiz to the Havanah. Early the next morn- 
 ing we sailed with a fair wind at south-west, and 
 pleasant weather; but the wind kept creeping 
 forward until we were forced to haul the bow- 
 lines; and as we did not make a sufficient allow- 
 aivo for the indraught of the tide into St. George's 
 Channel ; at two the next morning, we discovered 
 the light of the Smalls on our weather bow. The 
 consequence was, that for the remainder of that 
 day, and all the next night, we were tossed about 
 ])y a hard gale of wind in St. George's channel; 
 but, instead (^f repining at our fate, we liad great 
 cause to icjoicc; for had we got into Bristol (1ian- 
 nel thai iiiiihl, we iiiiisl li<-i\-e been cast away on 
 the Welsh coast. At day-break the following 
 moniing, we saw land ahead and to leewai'd, which 
 we sii|)posed was Bai'sey Island, and the land ad- 
 joining; and that consecjuently we were imljayed
 
 290 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 on the Welsh Coast, and should be lost; but on 
 drawing nearer to it, we were agreeably surprised 
 to discover that it was Tuscar and part of Ireland ; 
 we had still a smart, close-reefed gale with which 
 we tacked, and at one o'clock got sight of St. 
 David's Head. At three in the afternoon, having 
 weathered the Smalls, we bore away up Bristol 
 Channel with a strong gale, which by that time 
 had got to north-west. At ten we heaved to, and 
 saw Lundy the next morning at four. We were 
 abreast of Illford Coome at nine, when a Pilot 
 boarded us, and at the same time we were chased 
 by two press boats from thence, which the people 
 kept oft' by firing shot at them. At four in the 
 afternoon we anchored at Posset, and I had very 
 soon after the pleasure to set my foot on Old Eng- 
 land once more, by landing at a place called Lamp- 
 lighters Hall, where I spent the night. I sent a 
 man to Bristol this morning for a Permit from the 
 Custom-house, for landing my baggage; but the 
 forms of office requiring more ceremony and de- 
 lay, than were either necessary in my case, or con- 
 venient to myself, I set out for Bristol in a chaise 
 in the evening. M)^ baggage arrived at the Cus- 
 tom-house the next morning, and each legal fee 
 being paid, as well as some, which, perhaps, were 
 not so, it was delivered to me again; and at noon 
 I set off in a chaise towards London. I lay that 
 night at Devises, and the next day, at nine in the 
 evening, I arrived in Town. In a short time after 
 I went into the country to my father's; I set Mrs. 
 Selby down at her brother's house, by the way.
 
 LAEK.U)OK JOUKNAL 291 
 
 and made hvr an annual allowance for life; having 
 strictly kept the resolution which I made on the 
 twentieth of May last, and the declaration made 
 on the twentv-sixth. 
 
 END OF THE FOURTH VOYAGE, 
 AND SECOND \'OLUME.
 
 292 CAPTAIN CART WEIGHT'S 
 
 THE FIFTH VOYAGE 
 
 Soon after my arrival in England in the year 
 1779, I found npon settling my accompts, that the 
 various and great misfortunes which I had met 
 with had involved me in a much larger debt than 
 I was able to pay. Interest then suggested to me, 
 that an immediate bankruptcy would be the most 
 advantageous step I could take ; but honor forbade 
 it; because, I knew that my father had by his will, 
 made me his sole heir and executor, after paying 
 his debts and such legacies as were contained in 
 his will: and by my calculations, I judged there 
 w^ould be a sufficiency, not only to pay them, but 
 also both principal and interest of my own debts, 
 and leave a competent maintenance for me into the 
 bargain when ever his exit should happen, which, 
 from his age and infirmities, I had reason to sup- 
 pose could not be at any distant period: besides 
 which, I had other expectations. I therefore laid 
 those things before my principal creditors, and 
 gave them their choice whether they would im- 
 mediately proceed to extremities, or give me time 
 and wait for that event. They chose the latter, 
 but required me to give bonds and such other 
 securities as were in my power; and as I had no 
 intention of doing any thing but what was strictly
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 293 
 
 honest and just, I hesitated not to comply with 
 their demands: but I have since found, that I 
 should have acted more prudently if I had taken 
 good advice first, and had the accompts strictly 
 examined, bv which, mv debts would have been 
 greatly reduced. I now contiimed to carry on my 
 business as usual, and every year after met with 
 more misfortunes: in particular, my ship, the 
 Countess of Effingham was dashed to pieces in 
 Trinity Bay, in the spring of 178L A new 
 schooner, which had been that year built by my 
 orders at Paradise, arrived at Dartmouth, about 
 Christmas, a mere wreck; with great part of her 
 cargo thrown over board, and only a single hun- 
 dred pounds insured on her, and that was done, 
 at thirty-three guineas per cent. The next year, 
 she was taken bv the enemv. These misfortunes 
 caused great hindrance to my business in Labra- 
 dor, and prevented the fish, and other things which 
 were procured there, from being sent off the coast 
 to their respective markets. On the eighth of 
 Decenibei- 1781 my father died; and towards the 
 end of the following year, I discovered, that he 
 had, a little before his death, settled upon my next 
 bi'otln'i', John, landed estates to the amount of 
 nine Inindi'cd and fifty jxiunds live shillings a 
 \'ear; and lliat the demands which were upon the 
 residue of bis estates and effects, foi* de])ts and 
 legacies, would nf>t only swallow u]^ the whole, 
 hnl weie nioi-c hy a few hundi'eds than they would 
 satisfy; conse(|uently, tlial no1 one sliilling would 
 come to me from that quarter; and that, what with
 
 294 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 the accumulation of interest and the late addi- 
 tional losses, my debts were considerably in- 
 creased. However, I had yet one chance left, for 
 I received a letter from my agent, Mr. Robert 
 Collingham, informing me that he had met with a 
 vein of some kind of ore, twenty inches wide. I 
 therefore determined to return again to Labrador, 
 and take a miner from Derbyshire with me to ex- 
 amine it; not in the least doubting, but I should 
 soon be out of debt, and also in very affluent cir- 
 cumstances. I then appointed my brother John 
 my attorney, to transact all the business of the 
 executorship, put all my late father's effects into 
 his hands, and prepared for my intended voy- 
 age. 
 
 June 5, 1783. This morning at three o'clock I 
 left London, and went in the stage coach to Poole. 
 I arrived there at eight o'clock that night, and 
 went to Mr. Lester's house; where he politely en- 
 treated me to continue until my embarkation, and 
 I accepted his offer. I found Samuel Mather, a 
 Derbyshire miner, had arrived here some time 
 since. 
 
 July 7, 1783. This afternoon, I embarked on 
 board a brig belonging to Mr. Lester, called the 
 Labrador, commanded by Mr. John Pitt; and 
 bound to Trinity in Newfoundland. 
 
 [On August 24th Cartwright landed at Trinity 
 Harbour, and on August 30th he sailed in the brig 
 Catharine for Paradise, in Labrador, where he 
 arrived at noon on September 11th]; but found 
 no living creature there, except a Newfoundland
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 295 
 
 bitch. The doors were all locked up, nor could we 
 discover, where the people were gone. In the 
 evening the Esquimaux which we had seen at 
 Spotted Island, arrived here in a small shallop 
 and a whaling-boat, and pitched their tents among 
 my houses: which now consist of a dwelling-house 
 and store-house in one, sixty feet by twenty five, 
 and two stories high; a house for the servants, 
 thirty feet by seventeen; three salmon-houses, 
 ninety feet by twenty each; and a smith's shop, 
 sixteen feet by twelve. On the south side of 
 the dwelling-house, we found a tolerable large 
 garden; with i)lenty of cabbages, turnips, let- 
 tuces, pease, and other things in full perfec- 
 tion. 
 
 Friday^ Septemher 12, 1783. I had the vessel 
 warped to the wharf head and landed all my 
 goods; having taken the liberty of breaking open 
 the servants house. T had a little trade with the 
 Indians, but they had not much to sell; having 
 already dis])Osed of most of the goods which they 
 brought this year. At eight o'clock at night Mr. 
 rVillingham, the cooper, and a boy arrived in the 
 Neddy (formerly the Caplin) from White-bear, 
 and Eagle Ivixci-. wliither they had been to bring 
 away some nets and tivips, which were left there. 
 I now had the moi'titication to hear, that my peo- 
 ple ]\;\(\ killed x'ei'v few furs last winter, and only 
 seventy-one tieives of salmon this summer. But 
 those disap|>oiiitnieiits were nothing, compared to 
 anothej' wliieli I now experienced; foi* the sup- 
 posed ore, proved to be a friable substance of no
 
 296 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 use or value; consequently, all my expectations 
 from it were blasted, and I clearly foresaw inevi- 
 table ruin, waiting my return to England. 
 
 Saturday, September 13, 1783. I had a small 
 matter of trade to-day with the Indians, and ad- 
 mired exceedingly the honest principle of one of 
 them, who absolutely refused to part with a 
 bundle of whalebone, which he had brought 
 to pay a debt with; notwithstanding I assured 
 him that the person to whom he owed it was 
 not in this country, nor would ever return to it 
 again. 
 
 Tuesday, Septemter 23, 1783. After breakfast 
 I took two men with me in a skiff, and went to the 
 mouth of South-east River: where we landed and 
 walked into the countrv, on the south side of it, 
 as far as the east end of the large black hill, called 
 Thickhead. The distance which we walked to- 
 day, is about seven miles; we found the woods 
 but thin in general; the walking good and plenty 
 of feed for deer at this time of the vear, and for 
 black-bears in the summer. The food, which the 
 black-bears meet with here, is ants and flies: the 
 woods have been burnt several years ago, and 
 great numbers of trees lie on the ground; which 
 being now perfectly rotten, are filled with plenty 
 of ants and other insects. The bears break these 
 trees to pieces with their paws, and lick out the 
 insects with their tongues. This is no supposi- 
 tion, but a real fact; for I have killed a bear with 
 her paunch almost full of such insects, and with 
 nothing else in her. We saw in the course of the
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 297 
 
 day three otters, a niusqiuiisli,' and uiiie spruce- 
 game : I beheaded one of the latter with my rifle, 
 and Ivilled another with shot. 
 
 Sioidaij, September 28, 1783. As all accounts 
 which I have hitherto read of beavers, are very 
 erroneous, I shall here comnumicate my observa- 
 tions on those animals. I suppose, that none of 
 the writers who have mentioned them, ever saw 
 a beaver-house, but related only the tales of illit- 
 erate furriers, whose veracity is not to be de- 
 pended upon. I tremble at seeing myself under 
 the necessity of contradicting that celebrated nat- 
 ural historian Compt de Buffon; yet I must take 
 the libertv to do it. He savs, '* A beaver has a 
 scalv tail, because he eats fish: " I wonder much 
 tliat ^fonsieur Buffon had not one himself for the 
 same reason; for I am sure that he has Cclten a 
 great deal more fish, than all the beavers in the 
 world put together. Beavers will neither eat fish, 
 nor any other animal food; but live upon the 
 leaves and bark of such trees and shrubs as have 
 7i(»t a resinous juice, and the root of the water- 
 lilly. 1 liavc known them eat black spruce; and 
 Ihcy will sometimes cut down silver fir; but T 
 Itelieve, that is ojily to build with when other 
 trees at-e scarce. A\nien they eat, they hold their 
 food in their forepaws and sit u)) like monkies. 
 Ill tlie sumiiier lime lliey fainble abont very nuich, 
 pa\ing liitle regard to their houses, and will make 
 
 ' I.abrarlor mupqiifmh or miiskrat, Fiher zihpthirus aqidlonins. Tho 
 anirnnl foiinH in Labrador is smaller and darker than the common musk- 
 rat, Fiber zUnlhinut.
 
 298 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 a bed of sticks shred fine, under a bush near the 
 water-side, and there sleep: the first bed of this 
 kind which I found, I took to be the nest of a 
 goose. If the pond which they lived in the last 
 winter, has plenty of such food as they like, grow- 
 ing by the side of it, and they have not been dis- 
 turbed by man, they will seldom quit it; but if 
 there be a scarcity of food, they Avill wander about 
 in search of another, where they can be more 
 plentifully supplied: and it has long been ob- 
 served, that of all the trees which grow in New- 
 foundland or Labrador, they like the aspen ^ best, 
 and next to that the birch. Having found a place 
 convenient for the purpose, they connnonly begin 
 early in August to erect their house. Their mode 
 of constructing it I had from a very intelligent 
 observer, John Edwards, who has made the catch- 
 ing of them his whole employment for several 
 winters; in which time he has killed several hun- 
 dreds. He told me, if the pond be deep close to 
 the bank, and that free from rocks, they begin 
 under water, at the foot of the bank, and scoop 
 out a hole, rising gradually to the surface ; carry- 
 ing all the earth which they dig out there to the 
 top, and mix abundance of sticks, and even stones 
 among it. The sticks which they make use of on 
 this occasion, are of all sizes, from the thickness 
 of a man's ancle to his little finger, but very sel- 
 dom of larger dimensions. They pile up these 
 materials in the form of a dome, sometimes to the 
 height of six, or seven feet above the level of the 
 
 * Populus tremuloides.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 299 
 
 ground, but coiniiionly not more than four. The 
 base is generally of an oval form; the height ten 
 or twelve feet, and eight or nine in width. As 
 they raise this pile above, they hollow it out below, 
 taking care that their bed, or lodging place, shall 
 be above the reach of the floods, and sufficiently 
 roomv to contain the whole familv. From the 
 fore part of the house, they build a projection into 
 the pond, sloping downwards all the way, and 
 under this they enter into their house. This en- 
 trance is called by the furriers, the Angle; nor 
 do they always content themselves with one, but 
 more commonly will have two, and sometimes 
 three. They have but one apartment, which is 
 tenned the lodging, and which is shaped in the 
 inside like an oven, the bottom of which is cov- 
 ered with the shreds of sticks, resembling fine 
 narrow shavings. At a little distance from the 
 angle, is their magazine of provisions, which con- 
 sists of the roots of water-lilly, and the branches 
 of trees; the but-ends of the latter they stick into 
 the mud, where there is any. The whole is tenned 
 (crith, and T have seen as much as a cart would 
 hold; great part appearing above water. They 
 are verv industrious creatures, for even amidst 
 a superabundance of provisions, they will con- 
 tinue to add to the store; and though their house 
 be completely built, they will still carry on fresh 
 works, until the pond is fi-ozen Hi-ni oNcr; they will 
 even keep a hole open to \\(ii-l< on the house for 
 some nights after, provided tlie frost is not very 
 severe: and as they will enter every old house
 
 300 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 and do a little work upon it, young furriers are 
 frequently deceived thereby, supposing those 
 houses to be inhabited. Although they will some- 
 times continue in the same pond for three or four 
 years or more, yet they will frequently build 
 themselves a new house every year; at other 
 times they will repair an old one, and live in that; 
 and they often build a new house upon, or close 
 adjoining to an old one, making the two tops into 
 one, and cut a communication between the lodg- 
 ings: hence, I presume, arose the idea of their 
 having several apartments. When the pond is 
 not deep enough for them, they will throw a dam 
 across the mouth of the brook, by which it dis- 
 charges its water, to raise it to a sufficient height ; 
 making use of sticks, stones, mud, and sand for 
 this purpose. Some of these I have seen of great 
 length and strength, insomuch that I have walked 
 over them with the greatest safety, though not 
 quite dry-shod, if they be new, as the water al- 
 ways sheds over them, being on an exact level 
 from end to end. But if, notwithstanding the 
 stint, they cannot raise the water to a proper 
 depth, near the bank, they build their house in the 
 pond, at a few yards distance from the shore, be- 
 ginning at the bottom and hollowing it out as they 
 go on, for they must have about three feet depth 
 over the end of the angle, or the water would 
 freeze in it, and they could go neither in nor out. 
 If there be an island in the pond, they generally 
 make their house on that, being the safest place; 
 and by far the greatest number of houses are on
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 301 
 
 the north shore, for the advantage of the sun. 
 They have no openmg from their house on the 
 land side, and for these reasons; because the 
 frosty air would enter at that hole and freeze up 
 the water in the angle, whereby they would be 
 cut off from their magazine: the wolves likewise 
 and other enemies might enter thereat and kill 
 them; and the cold would be greater than they 
 could bear. For, although they are provided with 
 a thick skin, covered with plenty of long, warm 
 fur, they cannot endure severe frost, being well 
 known, that they die if exposed to it for a short 
 time. By what I have said, the reader will sup- 
 pose they are endued with unerring sagacity, but 
 that is not the case; for they have been known 
 to build their house in a pond, where there was 
 such a scarcity of food, that they have all died for 
 want; or in one, that lay in a flat cotmtn^, which, 
 by a great thaw in the winter, has been flooded; 
 when they have been obliged to cut a hole through 
 the crown of the lodging, and by so doing, and the 
 water freezing in their house on the return of the 
 frost, they have not been able to get into it again, 
 but have all been found dead upon it. At other 
 times, they have lived on a brook, where a thaw 
 has caused such a stream as has washed away all 
 their food, and consequently starved them. They 
 will often i-im a siint across a narrow valley, 
 through which a siii;ill drain of water runs, and 
 where plenty of willows, alders and such like 
 things grow, .-hhI make a ponrl for themselves. 
 The fntTier has then oiilv to cut the stint, and
 
 302 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 when the water is run off, he kills them all with 
 the greatest ease. As the killing of beavers is 
 an art appertaining to the science of furring, 
 which I do not wish to make public, I shall say 
 no more on that head, except that they are always 
 killed by staking their houses, by guns, or by 
 traps; and not by hunting them with dogs, by 
 men on horse-back with spears, as I have seen 
 ridiculously described in prints. Nor do they 
 ever castrate themselves to escape their pursuers, 
 for that part is not only of no use, but both those, 
 their prides and oil-bags (the two latter vessels 
 being common to both sexes, and the prides only 
 used in medicine, known by the name of casto- 
 reum) lie so completely within them, that the 
 operation must be performed by a very skilful 
 hand indeed, and with the greatest care not to 
 kill them. Besides, what made them acquainted 
 with the cause of their being pursued? If their 
 flesh were not such excellent eating, very few 
 beaver-skins would ever come to market. Bea- 
 vers generally bring forth two young ones at a 
 time, which are most commonly male and female; 
 yet they will often have but one, especially the 
 first time of breeding; and sometimes three or 
 four; and I was told by a man of mine (Joseph 
 Tero) that he once cut seven out of an old one. 
 The first year, they are called pappooses; the sec- 
 ond, small medlers; the third, large medlers; the 
 fourth, heaver; and after that, old or great heaver. 
 They copulate in May, and bring forth toward 
 the end of June. The young ones continue to
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 303 
 
 live with tlieir parents until tliey are full three 
 years old; then pair oft", build a house for them- 
 selves, and begin to breed. Yet sometimes, and 
 not imcommonlv, if the\- are undisturbed and 
 have plenty of provisions, they will continue 
 longer with the old ones, and breed in the 
 same house. They are then called a double 
 crew; and that was the case with the family 
 \vhich w^e found yesterday. It oftentimes hap- 
 pens, that a single beaver lies retired, and it is 
 then stiled by furriers, a hermit: they sa}^, it is 
 turned out from the family, because it is lazy and 
 will not work; and what is very singular (for 
 be the cause wdiat it will, the fact is certain) all 
 hermit beavers have a black mark on the inside 
 of the skin u])on their backs, called a saddle, 
 which distinguishes them. I rather think the 
 cause of hermit beavers to be fidelity; as they 
 are very faithful creatures to their mate; and by 
 some accident or other, losing that mate, they 
 eithei' will not pair again, or remain single until 
 thev can tind another hermit of the contrarv sex; 
 and that the saddle ])roceeds from the want of a 
 partner to keei) their back warm. T am sure that 
 supposition is more natuj-.il, tli<-m, that it should 
 be turned out ])ecause it is lazv; for manv of those 
 hermit Ijeavers do so uiucli woi'k that good fur- 
 riers have sometimes been (h'ceixcd, and imag- 
 ined, they had I'onnd a small ci'ew. Whethei' they 
 do, oi" do nol make use of tlicii- 1ails as 1 rowels to 
 plaster llieir bouses with, I cainiol say, ihougli T 
 am inclined to believe they do not; because theii*
 
 304 CAPTAIN CAETWRIGHT'S 
 
 tail is so heavy, and the tendons of it so weak, 
 though numerous, that I do not think they can 
 use it to that effect ; and that therefore they daub 
 the earth on with their hands, for I must call them 
 so. When they dive, they give a smack on the 
 water with their tails as they go down; but that 
 appears to me to proceed from the tail falling over 
 with its own weight. They move very slowly on 
 land, and being also a very cowardly creature, are 
 easily killed there by any man or beast that 
 chances to meet with them: yet, being defended 
 by long fur, and a thick skin, and armed with 
 long, strong teeth, firmly set in very strong jaws, 
 they are capable of making a stout resistance. I 
 have heard of an old one, which cut the leg of a 
 dog nearly off at one stroke, and I make not the 
 least doubt of the truth of the information. Still 
 I have been informed, that otters will enter their 
 houses and kill them; but I believe it must only 
 be the young ones, when the old ones are from 
 home ; for I hardly think, that an old beaver would 
 suffer itself to be killed by an otter. When met 
 on shore by a man, they have been known to sit 
 upon their breech and fall a crying like a young 
 child; an instance of which I must relate. 
 
 A man newly arrived in Newfoundland, was 
 walking through a wood, and near a pond; where 
 he chanced to meet a beaver with a billet of wood 
 on his shoulder, going down to the water. . As 
 soon as the creature saw him, he laid down his 
 load, sat upon his breech and cried exactly like 
 an infant. The man having more tenderness in
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 305 
 
 his disposition than sueh niun usually have, not 
 knowing what it was, and, perhaps, taking it for 
 a creatiu'e superior to the brute creation, stopped 
 and addressed it thus, " Thou need'st not cry, 
 " poor thing, for I would not hurt thee for the 
 " world; so thou mayest take up thy turn of fire- 
 " wood and go home about thy business." The 
 above story I do not give as a positive fact; re- 
 latino- it onlv as I have often heard it. It is an 
 actual truth however, that a late servant of mine, 
 Charles Atkinson, could ne\cr be prevailed upon 
 to taste the flesh of beavers, because he was sure, 
 he said, " They were enchanted Christians." 
 When beavers meet with a sufficiency of aspen, 
 birch, or such shrubs as they are fond of, and 
 which are not bigger than a stout pole, they will 
 seldom cut those of a larger size; but, when neces- 
 sity obliges them, they will cut down the largest 
 tree that ever grew. How long they are in per- 
 forming the work, 1 have no opportunity to as- 
 certain, but I believe it is done in no great time: 
 for I once found at the foot of a black spruce, that 
 they had ^-ut down, a chip of four inches in length 
 and two in l)readth, whir-h seemed to ha\-e been 
 taken off at one sti'oke. And T have secMi so many 
 stout trees, whieli 1i;ive l)een felled by ilieni in the 
 course of one season, tliat T nni convinced tliey 
 must work liotli (piick and diliucnlly. Small trees 
 they cut on one side only, l»iij large ones they go 
 round <'ind ;il\\;iys t'cli them towards Hk" water, 
 to sa\e thenisch es ciirriage. A stick, llic thick- 
 ness of a stoni walking c;iiic, llicy will cnl off at
 
 306 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 one stroke, and as clean as if done by a gardener's 
 pruning-knife. It is the bark only of trees which 
 they eat, and seem to like that of the branches 
 best, though they will eat the rind of the trunks 
 also. Having felled a large tree, they lop off all 
 the branches, and those, as well as the bodies of 
 small trees, they cut up into lengths according 
 to their weight and thickness; the larger ones 
 they carry on their shoulders to the water side, 
 throw them in, and tow them to the place where 
 they are wanted; the long branches they drag 
 along in their mouths. They always cut on the 
 windward side of a pond, because, by swimming 
 along the shore before they land, they can wind 
 any enemy who may perchance be there; the wind 
 also assisting them to fell the tree towards the 
 water, and to tow the wood home. These crea- 
 tures begin to grow fat after the middle of July, 
 are in tolerable case by the end of August, and by 
 the end of September, are at their best, provided 
 they have good living and are not disturbed. 
 Those which feed upon bronze,^ particularly on 
 birch, are the most delicious eating of any animal 
 in the known world; but the flesh of those which 
 feed upon the root of the water lil}^, although it 
 makes them much fatter than any other food, has 
 a strong taste, and is very unpleasant. After 
 Christmas they begin to decline, and by May are 
 commonly poor; in these particulars they resem- 
 ble the porcupine, as they do in many other re- 
 spects. If their house is disturbed much before 
 
 ^ Or brouae, the tender shoots or twigs of shrubs and trees.
 
 LABRADOR elOURNAL 307 
 
 the pond is frozen, they commonly quit it, and 
 go into the next, either above or below; or they 
 will go into an old house in the same pond, or a 
 small one of their own there, which they generally 
 have besides the one they live in, and it is termed 
 the hovel. If they have been teased much in 
 former years, they will often fly for a very slight 
 disturbance; but should the furrier chance to 
 catch the two old ones at first, the rest of the 
 family will scarce ever quit the pond. So long as 
 the pond is free from ice, the}^ keep adding to 
 their magazine of provisions; but when it is 
 frozen firm, they begin to live upon it. As the 
 sticks which compose their magazine are entan- 
 gled one in another, so as to make it difficult to 
 extract a whole one, they cut a piece off, bring 
 it into their house, and then eat off the bark: after 
 which, they carry it out again and cast it loose in 
 the water. In bringing their food into their 
 house, thev often strike one end of the stick on 
 the bridge of a trap, which the furrier has placed 
 for them in the angle. From this circumstance, 
 many of the ignorant people have positively as- 
 serted, that the sagacity of the beaver induced 
 him so to do, to prevent being caught himself; 
 but if beavers had so much knowledge, very 
 few of them, I am persuaded, would be taken. 
 Whereas, the beaver's safety depends chiefly on 
 the furriers' ignorance, for he who understands 
 his business well, will certainly catch the whole 
 family, nr .'ill the families which are in the same 
 ponr] nr it he not too larg<') in a very few nights,
 
 308 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 be they ever so numerous. If they are caught 
 young, they are soon made tame, and then are 
 very fond of boiled pease. Buffon and others say, 
 that they make use of their tails as sleds to draw 
 stones and earth upon: I cannot contradict their 
 assertions, as I have never seen these animals 
 work; but I do not believe it, because, their tails 
 being thickest at the root and down the centre 
 part, it would be almost impossible for them to 
 keep a stone on it, unless held there by another. 
 Nor have I ever observed, that they had taken 
 any stones oif the ground; but they bring them 
 from the sides and bottoms of the water, and must 
 make use of their hands for those purposes; as 
 they could easier shove and roll them along, than 
 draw them on their tails: besides, the skin of the 
 under part of the tail would be rubbed off by the 
 friction on the ground; which never yet has been 
 observed to be the case with them, and is a 
 stronger proof, that they never do make use of 
 them for that purpose. Those who compare this 
 account with the writings of Butfon ^ and others, 
 
 1 Buffon (translation by William Smellie, London, 1791) says of the 
 beaver: " The form of the edifices is either oval or round . . . some of 
 them consist of three or four stories; and their walls are about two feet 
 thick, raised perpendicularly upon planks, or plain stakes. . . . They are 
 built with amazing solidity, and neatly plastered both without and within. 
 They are impenetrable to rain, and resist the most impetuous winds. 
 The partitions are covered with a kind of stucco, as nicely plastered as 
 if it had been executed by the hand of man. In the application of this 
 mortar, their tails serve for trowels, and their feet for plashing. . . . 
 These retreats are not only very safe, but neat and commodious. The 
 floors are spread over with verdure. The branches of the box and the 
 fir serve them for carpets, upon which they permit not the smallest dirti- 
 ness. The window that faces the water answers for a balcony to receive
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 309 
 
 will tiiid a great difference, but it must be leniem- 
 bered, that tliey wrote entirely from hearsay, and 
 I, from experience chietly. As so many noble- 
 men and gentlemen in England have expended 
 large sums on curiosities and pleasure, I greatly 
 wonder, that not one, out of so manv who have 
 parks well walled round (for no other fence will 
 do) with convenient ponds in them, have been 
 curious enough to establish a colony of beavers; 
 which might easily he done, by planting plenty 
 of birch, aspen, ash, willow, sallow, osier, alder 
 .and other such like trees round the ponds, accord- 
 ing to the nature of the soil, and j^rocuring a few 
 pairs of beavers to turn in. But care should be 
 taken to have pairs of the same families, lest they 
 should all turn hermits. 
 
 Thursday, October 2, 178S. I sent Edwards this 
 morning with two other men to the l)eaver-house, 
 and thev returned in the eveninc; with a beaver 
 and a great beaver; another tra]) had ])een struck 
 
 the fresh air, and to bathe. During the greatest part of the day, they sit 
 on end, with their head and anterior parts of the body elevated and their 
 posterior parts suni< in tlie water. . . . The continu.il habit of keeping 
 their tail and po-;terior |)arts in the water, appears to have clianKed the 
 nature of their flesh, 'i'iiat of their anterior parts, as far as the reins, 
 has the taste and consistence of the flesh of hind or air .iiiiinals, but that 
 of the fail and posteriors has the odour and all the otlifr (jualities of fish." 
 Huffon repeats only to reject as incredil)le the stories " that, after the 
 beavers have established a society, they reduce strangers and travellers 
 of their own sfjecies into slavery; that these they enijjloy to carry their 
 earth ami to drag their trees; that they treat in the same manner 
 the la/.y and old of their own society; that they turn them on their backs, 
 and make thern serve as vehicles for tin* carriage of their materials; that 
 these refjublicans never associate Imt in .in odii iniinln r, in onjci- to have 
 always a casting voice in their dejiber.itioiis; that each tribe has its chief; 
 that they have establi.shed .sentinels for the public safety," etc.
 
 310 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 up and hauled out, and some others would also 
 have been caught, had not the late rains raised 
 the water about a foot higher than it was when 
 the traps were tailed; by which, the whole of 
 their stint had been carried away. The great 
 beaver, which was the mother of the family, 
 weighed forty-five pounds; measured two feet 
 seven inches in length, from the tip of her nose 
 to the root of her tail, and her tail was a foot long 
 and six inches and a half in breadth. The beaver 
 weighed thirty-three pounds and three quarters; 
 both of them were paunched before they were 
 brought home. 
 
 Wednes., October 8, 1783. The first flight of 
 eider-ducks went up the river this evening. As 
 those birds trim the shore along in the flight- 
 times, great numbers of flocks go up this river 
 as high as Friend's Point, and sometimes higher, 
 but on finding their mistake, they commonlv re- 
 turn again along the opposite side. Some few 
 flocks are supposed to cross the country to the 
 sea again, and in spring some have been seen to 
 come down the river, which were supposed to 
 return the same way back, but in general they 
 keep over the salt water. 
 
 Thursday, October 9, 1783. Mr. Collingham 
 and four men nearly finished the new kitchen by 
 breakfast-time; he then served out provisions to 
 the two coopers, who are to have a couple of 
 youngsters with them and live this winter at the 
 head of Hinchingbrook Bay, to make tierces ; and 
 also to one furrier, who is to live bv himself about
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 311 
 
 a mile from the coopers. In the evening they all 
 sailed for that place in the Neddy. 
 
 Friday, Octohcr 10, 1783. I sent Edwards to the 
 beaver-house to shift the traps and stay the night 
 if he saw occasion. ^Ir. Collingham having fin- 
 ished the new kitchen, we made a good fire in it, 
 and found the chimney to carr}^ smoke very well. 
 
 Saturday, October 11, 1783. At noon Edwards 
 returned with a small medler, and informed me 
 that he had found another new house in one of 
 the ponds above, in which he supposed were tw^o 
 great medlers. At the same time, the people from 
 Hinchingbrook Bay returned in the Neddy, and 
 took back with them the remainder of their things 
 in their skiff, ^ly people are now all fixed for 
 this winter. Besides the above, and the five people 
 who are to seal at Lidian Island, ^Ir. Collingham 
 and the boy are to remain here. 
 
 Thursday, October 16, 1783. The brig was un- 
 moored at seven this morning, and at nine the 
 miner and I embarked. We got under sail imme- 
 diately. 
 
 [On the 20th they reached the Coast of New^- 
 foundland and drove in a gale of wind towards 
 Cape John.] 
 
 At eiglit the wind shifted to north by east, and 
 lilcw with iri-eat violence, driving us toward the 
 Barrack and other rocks. At noon the following 
 day, captain Oayler told me that we should be 
 among those rocks before day-light, if the gale 
 held; and that the vessel w^ould bear no more sail, 
 withr)iii liTcal dnncr^r of upsetting. T replied, *' It
 
 312 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 is not now a time to consider what a vessel will 
 do, but to determine what she shall do. For 
 my part, it is a matter of the greatest indiffer- 
 ence to me w^hether I am drowned by being 
 driven on the rocks, or by the upsetting of the 
 vessel, but as the one seems to be certain, and 
 the other is only a supposition, I am decidedly 
 for setting more sail immediately, and endeav- 
 ouring to get outside of Funk Island, where we 
 shall have drift enough.'^ He approved of my 
 arguments, set more sail, and the little vessel 
 plunged through the sea better than could be ex- 
 pected. 
 
 [On Thursday, October 30th, Cartwright 
 reached Trinity Harbour, and on Thursday, De- 
 cember 18th, he sailed on the ^' Little Benjamin '* 
 for Poole. A month later, on Saturday, January 
 17, 1784, they "" endeavoured to get into the bay 
 of Biscay."] 
 
 At two in the afternoon, a most dreadful hurri- 
 cane came on from the northward, such as none 
 of us had ever seen, and which beggars all de- 
 scription, suffice it to say, that it was dreadful 
 and terrible to the greatest degree. Although 
 captain Pitman, the master of the vessel, had the 
 prudence to take in what sail he had out, yet it 
 laid the vessel nearly on her beam ends, and we 
 expected that she must either have upset or lost 
 her masts. It lasted three quarters of an hour, 
 and even afterwards blew so hard till ten at night, 
 that we could not shew one rag of sail: and as it 
 had shifted again to north north west, we sup-
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 313 
 
 posed that we were driving upon the coast of 
 France, between Ushant and the Seimes. To re- 
 tard her drift somewhat, a cable was veered out, 
 which at ten at night was cut aAvay, and we set 
 a reefed foresail and balance-reefed mainsail. It 
 is easier to imagine than to describe the anxiety 
 of our minds, expecting every minute, from ten 
 o'clock on the Saturday morning to eight on Sun- 
 day night, to discover ragged rocks close under 
 our lee, and soon after to be driven upon them 
 in a most violent gale of wind. We then, most 
 devoutly, went to prayers; I officiated as chap- 
 lain, and no sooner had we done, than, to the ad- 
 miration and astonishment of every man on board, 
 the wind became perfectly moderate; it shifted 
 four points in our favour, the sky cleared, and, 
 miraculous to relate, the sea which but the mo- 
 ment before ran as high and as dangerous as it 
 could well do, in an instant became as smooth as 
 if we had shot under the lee of Scilly at five or 
 six leagues distant! We could attribute all these 
 things, to nothing but the effect of the immediate 
 interposition of the DIVINITY, who had ))een 
 graciously ])leased to hear our prayers, and grant 
 nil)' |)('titions; and 1 liojx', I shall never be of a 
 colli rary way of thinking. After this, we had 
 various weather with hard-hearted winds, which 
 (li-ovc us to the westward of Tape Clear, so thai 
 it was not till tho fif'tli of 'P('l)ruary, at midnight, 
 that we saw the land; and at eleven at night, on 
 Snfnrda\- the seventh, we let go an andioi" in 
 St ii<ll;iii(l Il;i>, 1n 1li<' no small Joy and satisfac-
 
 314 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 tion of every man on board. I then had the mor- 
 tification to hear, that the ship, John, foundered 
 at sea m a few days after she left Trinity; conse- 
 quently all my furs and whalebone went to the 
 bottom; and I soon after learnt that, Mr. Lester 
 not receiving my letter till after the above news 
 arrived in England, not one penny had been in- 
 sured on them. Early the next morning Mr. 
 Stone and I, together with three other passengers 
 got into the pilot boat and went up to Poole, where 
 we landed safe at nine o'clock. We immediately 
 dressed ourselves, and went to church to return 
 God thanks for the mercies which we had so lately 
 received at his hands; and, through the minister, 
 offered our public thanks, also. I remained at 
 Mr. Lester's house during my stay at Poole, which 
 was till the eighteenth; when I set out for Lon- 
 don in the Post Coach, lay that night at Alresford, 
 departed from thence the next morning at seven, 
 and arrived in London at five o'clock in the eve^ 
 ning. 
 
 Well knowing that it was utterly out of my 
 power to satisfy the demands of my creditors, 
 principal and interest, together amounting to 
 upwards of seven thousand pounds, on my arrival 
 in town, I employed a friend to make the follow- 
 ing offers to them; and to request of them to 
 choose that which they thought would be most 
 conducive to their interest. 
 
 1st. I would give up to them, upon oath, every 
 article of property I possessed in the world, pro- 
 vided they would give me a discharge in full.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 315 
 
 2d. If they would allow me live years free of 
 interest, I would return to Labrador, in expec- 
 tation of being able, now that peace was restored, 
 to pay the whole of my debts in that period. 
 
 3d. If neither the above offers w^ere satisfac- 
 tory, I requested of them to make a bankrupt of 
 me. 
 
 But, strange as it appeared to me, and must do 
 so to others, ni}^ principal creditors absolutely re- 
 fused to accede to any of these proposals. How^- 
 ever. Peregrine Cust, Esq. to w^hom I owed a 
 hundred pounds, taking compassion on me, imme- 
 diately struck the disgraceful Docket.^ 
 
 During all these transactions and until I had 
 received my certificate, it was necessary for me 
 to keep close in my lodgings, w^here I amused 
 myself with transcribing my journal, and in wri- 
 ting a poem, which, bad as it is, I will take the 
 liberty of laying before the public, at the end of 
 my next voyage, in hopes that it may afford some 
 little amusement: at the same time, assuring the 
 gentle reader that, if I am so fortunate as to ob- 
 tain his pardon for this presumption, I will never 
 more be guilty of the like offence. Tho' T have 
 often slept whole nights on mountains as high as 
 that of famed Parnassus, yet, never having taken 
 a naj) in its sacred summit, it cannot be expected, 
 that I should have awoke a Poet. 
 
 ' To Hlrike n fforket, is to pivo ii honfl to tbo lord cliann-Ilor, onRuping 
 to provr- thf debtor to b'- a bankrupt, whereupon a fiat of bankruptcy 
 ia issued against the debtor. 
 
 END OF THE FII'I'II \T)YAGE.
 
 316 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 THE SIXTH VOYAGE 
 
 April, 1785. Although, the certificate which I 
 have received, is equal to a receipt in full; the 
 very liberal offers which my brother John has 
 made to me, are sufficient to enable me to live in 
 England with comfort; and the tormenting sci- 
 atica, with which I have been afflicted for these 
 five years last past, renders me totally unfit to 
 encounter those hardships and fatigues which a 
 life in Labrador is subject to; yet, since I am con- 
 vinced that there will be far short of twenty shil- 
 lings in the pound for my creditors, when the final 
 dividend on my bankruptcy is made, and as I can- 
 not look upon myself to be an honest man, unless 
 I pay up the last deficient penny whenever it is 
 in my power to do it; consequently I feel it my 
 duty to put myself in the way of obtaining money 
 for that purpose. As I see no j^rospect of doing 
 that by remaining in England, I have determined 
 to return to Labrador once more, to try m)^ for- 
 tune upon as large a scale, as my present confined 
 circumstances will admit of. My plan is, to keep 
 but few servants, and to employ them and myself, 
 in killing furs in the winter, and in trading with 
 the Indians in the summer. 
 
 In consequence of the above resolutions, I have,
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 317 
 
 with my brother's assistance, for sometime past 
 been making preparations accordingly. And Mr. 
 Nepean, under Secretary of State to Lord Sydney, 
 having prevailed on me to take some of the con- 
 victs, who are under sentence of transportation 
 for seven years, I went to Newgate and pitched 
 upon Alexander Thompson, "William Litchfield, 
 John Keshan, and Thomas Connor; the first 
 twenty-two, the second seventeen, and the other 
 two sixteen years of age, and gave in their names 
 to ^Ir. Nepean. 
 
 [On Friday, April 29, 1785, in the brigantine 
 Susan, J^Ioses Cheater master, and a ship's com- 
 pany of thirty-nine souls, Cartwright sailed from 
 Studland Bay for Newfoundland.] 
 
 Friday, May 27, 1785. At ten this morning 
 [near the Newfoundland Coast] observing several 
 birds very busy about something in the water, 
 the small boat was hoisted out, and it proved to 
 be a large squid,' which measured seven feet, ex- 
 clusive of the head, whicli broke off in hoisting it 
 in; when gutted, the ])ody filled a pork barrel, 
 and the whole of it would have filled a tierce. Al- 
 though such of these fish as come near the land, 
 and are generally seen, seldom exceed six or eight 
 inches; yet I am told, that Hiey grow to a most 
 enormous size; even to that of a large whale. 
 They are also called the ink-fish, from emitting a 
 black liquor when pursued by other fish. They 
 are caught in greal numbers in the harbours of 
 Newfnniirllnnd; and multitudes run on shore at 
 
 • ArcheteuthU, spociee?
 
 318 CAPTAIN CAETWRIGHT'S 
 
 high water, where they are left by the tide, espe- 
 cially if a fire be made on the beach. They are 
 used in Newfoundland for baits to catch codfish, 
 and are excellent for that purpose. I have eaten 
 them, but the taste is not pleasant, being very 
 sweet; perhaps plenty of pepper and salt might 
 make them better, but I had none at the time. 
 
 [On Tuesday, June 14, Cartwright sailed in the 
 shallop Fox for Isthmus Bay, Labrador.] 
 
 Tuesday, July 5, 1785. This morning I had 
 my boat moved nearer to the Lyon, [a British 
 armed brig commanded by Lieutenant Michael 
 Lane, who was employed to survey Newfound- 
 land and the points adjacent] and we spent the 
 day on board that vessel. A boat came in from 
 Funk Island laden with birds, chiefly penguins. 
 
 Funk Island is a small flat island-rock, about 
 twenty leagues east of the island of Fogo, in the 
 latitude of 50° north. Innumerable flocks of sea- 
 fowl breed upon it every summer, which are of 
 great service to the poor inhabitants of Fogo; 
 who make voyages there to load with birds and 
 eggs. When the water is smooth, they make their 
 shallops fast to the shore, lay their gang-boards 
 from the gunwale of the boat to the rocks, and 
 then drive as many penguins on board, as she will 
 hold; for the wings of those birds being remark- 
 ably short, they cannot fly. But it has been cus- 
 tomary of late years, for several crews of men to 
 live all the summer on that island, for the sole 
 purpose of killing birds for the sake of their 
 feathers, the destruction which they have made is 
 
  
 
 LABR.VDOR JOURNAL 319 
 
 incredible. If a stop is not soon put lo that prac- 
 tice, the whole breed will be diminished to ahnost 
 nothing, particularly the penguins: for this is 
 now the only island they have left to breed upon; 
 all others lying so near to the shores of Newfound- 
 land they are continually robbed. The birds 
 which the people bring from thence, they salt and 
 eat, in lieu of salted pork. It is a very extraordi- 
 nary thing (yet a certain fact) that the Red, or 
 Wild Indians, of Newfoundland should every year 
 visit that island; for, it is not to be seen from the 
 Fogo hills, they have no knowledge of the com- 
 pass, nor even had any intercourse with any other 
 nation, to be inforaied of its situation. How they 
 came by their information, will most likely re- 
 main a secret among themselves. 
 
 Thursday, July 21, 1785. At half after five in 
 the evening, came to an anchor in the harbour of 
 Quirpon, which is the northernmost one in New- 
 foundland, and formed by a large, high island, 
 which gives name to the harbour; the north-east 
 point of which, is called Cape Quirpon, is the 
 north-east extremitv of Newfoundland, and is in 
 sight of Labrador. Here we found several French 
 ships, and were well received by captain Guidelou, 
 who conmianded the Monsieur privateer in the 
 last war, during hei- first cruise; when, in the 
 space of four months, he took twenty-eight prizes 
 on the coasts of Fn2:lnnd and Ireland. For which 
 services, he was honoivd with a sword, and a let- 
 ter of thanks f?'om his kinc He is muHi of a £[,or\- 
 tlcman, speaks Fnglish tolerably well, having
 
 320 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 formerly been a prisoner in England; he has a 
 great respect for our nation, and takes every op- 
 portunity of rendering services to the English in 
 this part of the world. He is a proprietor of the 
 greatest French house in the Newfoundland trade, 
 and has the direction of all their concerns on this 
 side of the Atlantic. Here also, and in almost 
 every harbour between this place and Conch, the 
 fishery has been good: but in those within the 
 Straights of Bell Isle, and Gulph of St. Lawrence 
 it has failed greatly. 
 
 Tuesday, August 2, 1785. Mrs. Collingham and 
 I dined on board the Echo with captain Nichols, 
 [at Temple Bay] and we all went on shore at 
 Lance Cove, and drank tea with Mr. William 
 Pinson; who is agent to Noble and Pinson, and 
 son of the latter. Two families of Esquimaux, 
 part of some who lived last winter at the Isle 
 of Ponds, are now here, but no others have 
 been seen hereabouts this summer. Two men of 
 that nation were shot last year at Cape Charles, 
 by two others (Tukelavinia and Adlucock) for 
 the sake of their wives, which is the reason that 
 the rest did not come as usual. At Ance-a-Loup 
 and parts adjacent, the fishery has been pretty 
 successful. I saw one flock of curlews, 
 
 Thursday, August 11, 1785. At six this morn- 
 ing we came to sail; at half past four, doubled 
 Cape North; and at seven, came to an anchor in 
 Isthmus Bay, opposite the house which I built 
 immediately after the privateer left me in the 
 year 1778: and in which I lived, that winter. I
 
 LABR.V130R JOURNAL 321 
 
 had the pleasure lu liiul il uiioecupiecl, and in as 
 good condition as possible. I immediately took 
 possession of it; intending to make it m}^ resi- 
 dence in future. 
 
 Monday J September 5, 1785. In the evening I 
 placed a hare-net across this end of Slink Point, 
 and had it beat l)y two of the boys and thi'ee dogs, 
 but found nothing. At noon, a shallop belonging 
 to Noble and Piiison, arrived here from Table 
 Bay, and brought part of my provisions from Bat- 
 tle Harbour. ^h\ AVilliam Dier, late master of 
 the Mary, came in this boat, and brought some 
 people to complete the winter crews at Paradise, 
 where he is to be superintendent, and as soon as 
 he had landed my goods, he sailed for that place. 
 My late possessions in Sandwich Bay, together 
 with what goods remained there, were sold last 
 winter, by my assignees, to Noble and Pinson; 
 fur the paltry smii of two hundred and fifty 
 pounds: whereas, the goods alone were valued at 
 two hundred and eighty pounds; and I had in- 
 formed my assignees, that the fishing-posts and 
 the buildings thereon, were well worth a thousand 
 pounds. But ^Ir. Rolx'i-t Hunter,* merchant in 
 London, who is the adin^' assignee, does a great 
 deal of l)usiness l)y comniission, for Noble and 
 Pinson; theref(jre it is no wonder, that my prop- 
 erty was sold by ])rivate contract io those ])eo])le; 
 rather i1i;iti by public anclion -.\i Potdc; as T de- 
 sired il ini^lit !)('. I nnist confess, that T eannot 
 help f'eelinL^ U-reatly hurt, thai Noble ;in(l Pinson, 
 who lia\'e been in\ iii\<| ci-.'it e enemies e\-er since
 
 322 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 I first came to this country, should get, for less 
 than nothing, possessions \Yhich cost me so much 
 labour, to find out, and money to establish. Had 
 they given a fair price for them, I should have 
 been contented, and my creditors would not have 
 been injured. 
 
 Thursday, Septemljer 8, 1785. At eight o'clock 
 at night, a man arrived with a letter from Mr. 
 Collingham, informing me, that Mr. Dier had 
 forcibly seized upon all his whalebone, oil, and 
 furs, together with what belonged to my as- 
 signees and m^^self, and sent the w^hole to Mr. 
 William Pinson, at Temple Bay. Mr. Collingham 
 requested me to go immediately to Paradise in my 
 boat, to bring himself, his wife and baggage away 
 from thence, as he had no other chance of getting 
 from that place, nor any means of living at it. 
 
 Monday, September 12, 1785. At one o'clock 
 this morning the Fox brought Mr. Collingham 
 and his wife, and also his baggage: likewise all 
 the remainder of those goods w^hich formerly be- 
 longed to me, and had either by accident or mis- 
 take not been mentioned in the inventorv; Mr. 
 Collingham having put them up to auction, and 
 bought them himself for sixty-two pounds ten 
 shillings. This day Mr. Collingham and I agreed 
 to enter into partnership for so long a time as 
 should be hereafter determined upon. 
 
 Wednes., September 14, 1785. At two o'clock 
 this morning Mr. Collingham sailed for Temple 
 Bay in the Fox, with Tilsed, Will, and Jack, to 
 demand, from Mr. William Pinson, restitution for
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 323 
 
 the stolen goods, and in ease of refusal to proceed 
 to England to lay the case before His ^lajesty's 
 ministers, and also to endeavour by law to obtain 
 redress. 
 
 Wcdues., September 28, 1785. At five in the 
 evening, ^Ir. Collinghani returned in our boat, 
 and another of Noble and Pinson's came along 
 with him, with four hands to winter at Paradise. 
 These boats brought the remainder of my provi- 
 sions, all the pine boards, and the goods from In- 
 dian Island. JVlr. Collinghani informed me, that 
 Mr. William Pinson had restored the goods which 
 Dier robbed him of, and that he had shipped them 
 on freight in the Mary, commanded by Mr. Pin- 
 son himself, and had consigned them to our friend 
 Benjamin Lester, Esq., at Poole. He also said, 
 that he saw a brig and a shallop among the Seal 
 Islands, which belonged to an adventurer from 
 Quebec; who was going in the shallop to winter 
 in Ivucktoke Bay, and intended leaving the brig 
 witl) ;i <rew of hands to winter where they were, 
 and t(» hsh for seals. 
 
 Safuvdaij^ Deeemher 10, 1786. Oliserving that 
 Willijini and Alexander still persisted in their old 
 tri<'ks of being as idle as })()ssihle, I i"e(juested Mi*, 
 r'ollinghnni to give each of them a severe beating 
 with ;i i-ope's end, whicli he excn-utcd in a mas- 
 \i-v\y niaiuic)-. Sori-y am 1 lo (»l)S('i'\-e, thai all the 
 fniir <'on\-i('ts aiv- so intolcraltly idle, thai nolliing 
 bnl s('\f'rity, can iiKJiicc them \^) do thei?- woi'k as 
 they on^rht. (lenllc means lin\(' hitlici'lo been 
 used in \ain; and now we are detei-mined lo try
 
 324 CAPTAIN CAUT WRIGHT'S 
 
 the effect of strict discipline. Not having been 
 conversant with people of their description, I did 
 not reflect that idleness was the root from whence 
 their villainies sprung; and that of course, sever- 
 ity only could extirpate it. Alexander and Jack 
 are such old offenders, and so thoroughly aban- 
 doned in their principles, that I am fully of 
 opinion, they will both be hanged, if they live to 
 return to England; and I think it not improbable, 
 that we shall some day or other be obliged to shoot 
 them in our own defence; for they have more than 
 once threatened the lives of our other servants, 
 and may probably hereafter attempt to destroy 
 their masters. Mr. Collingham shot a brace of 
 grouse on the hill above the house. 
 
 A clear, severe day, with drift on the barrens. 
 
 Monday, December 19, 1785. Between eight 
 and nine this morning a brace of deer were per- 
 ceived crossing the harbour to the eastward; and 
 after breakfast Mr. Collingham followed them. 
 From the top of Mount Martin he discovered nine 
 others, feeding near Gready's Tilt; and in going 
 towards them, he met with a hind and calf, near 
 the brook of South-east Cove, which seeing him, 
 joined the herd; when they all went off upon 
 the ice, and walked to the lower end of Curlew 
 Harbour, where they lay down. He stalked up 
 within a hundred and seventy yards behind a 
 large umbrella of white dimity; at which they 
 took fright, and starting up, ran nearly as much 
 farther, and then stood to look at it: he at that 
 time made ready to fire, but his gun going off
 
 LABRADOK JOURXAT. 325 
 
 accidentally, blew a hole tliroiigli the umbrella. 
 Tilsed was planing boards, and the rest of the 
 people were sawing and cleaving tirewood. 
 
 SiDtdaij, December 25, 1785. At noon ten deer 
 crossed the harbour from Martin's Cove, and land- 
 ing in that opposite the house, went upon the 
 High Barrens. This being Christmas-day, we 
 gave the people roasted venison for dinner, and 
 had for ourselves a mountain hare, an excellent 
 venison pasty, and a berry pie; we afterwards 
 finished the remaining three bottles of porter. 
 
 Moudaij, January 2, 1786. Rein-deer have 
 many peculiarities, in wliich they differ from all 
 other kinds of deer; especially respecting their 
 horns. That the females have them as well as 
 the males, I have noticed in former parts of my 
 Journal; but till now, I never knew that they were 
 so irregidar in mewing them. I have seen stags 
 with theii- horns on the eighth of ^larch; I killed 
 one the fifth of April, which had mewed a little 
 time before; yet not only this deer, but also all 
 the other nine which w^ere with him, had mewled 
 about the same time; for the parts were not well 
 skinned over. One of those which I saw on the 
 twenty-third ult. was an old stag which had 
 mewed; but as I had no idea, that they did so l)e- 
 fore A})i'i], T thought that he naturally had not 
 had anv horns, from the circumstance of Hiat hind 
 having ])ut one, which we caught in a sli]) on the 
 eighth of Noveiiibci-. Notwithstanding 1ha1 Hie 
 male deer mew s«» in-cLiiiI.iflx', yet they nil bui'uish 
 in August. My j)coplc, who lived on Indian
 
 326 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 Island two years ago, told me, that tlie stags 
 mewed at this time of the year, but I gave no 
 credit to them for the reasons which I have men- 
 tioned; also, from seeing a three or four years-old 
 male deer with his horns on, in the month of May, 
 1772. I have also reason to believe, that neither 
 male nor female rein-deer ever burnish their first 
 horns, which appear at a year old; as I never saw 
 one which had done so. 
 
 Friday, February 3, 1786. At ten this morning, 
 Mr. Collingham went over to the Capeland, and 
 took Tilsed, Crane, William, Alexander and Tom 
 with him; also two Newfoundland dogs and the 
 greyhound. He met with some deer in the vale 
 beyond Burnt Knap, and surrounded them; but 
 they escaped without anybody getting a shot at 
 them. The weather then proving bad, he called 
 the people away, joined Tilsed, and came home: 
 the others followed, and were not far behind when 
 he saw them last. Tliese two returned at four 
 o'clock; but as none of the other four, nor the 
 dogs are arrived, I am greatly alarmed for their 
 safety, as they must have lost themselves, and 
 there is no shelter on all that ground. Tilsed shot 
 a brace of ptarmigans near the house. 
 
 Saturday, February 4, 1786. At half after nine 
 this morning, Mr. Collingham Avent off for Table 
 Hill, and Tilsed for Mount Martin, to look for our 
 lost people. At eleven o'clock, William and Tom 
 returned almost speechless; and so cold, as scarcely 
 to have any perceptible warmth about their bod- 
 ies; their clothes were barricaded with ice in such
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 327 
 
 a manner, that I was obliged to cut them off; and 
 upon the whole, thev were shoeking spectacles. I 
 immediately put them to bed, and gave them some 
 warm tea, with a little soft bread and butter; an 
 hour after I gave them a cup of warm, strong 
 grog; and some time after that, a basin of venison 
 broth. Fortunately, the night being mild, they 
 were not frost-burnt, except Tom, slightly, at the 
 end of one of his great toes; but that I did not 
 regard. At one o'clock. Crane returned; his 
 clothes were covered with ice, and he was slightly 
 bunit about his hams, which were bare by his 
 stockings slipping down; but he was not near so 
 much tired nor cold, as the others. At two o'clock 
 Mr. Collingham returned with information that 
 he found Alexander on North Harbour, asleep 
 upon the ice; that he knew him, and spoke once; 
 and with his assistance was able to walk a few 
 yards; when his leg failing, he and Tilsed earned 
 him on shore, laid him in the sun under some 
 bushes, and covered him with part of their own 
 clothes; luit that he died immediately after. 
 
 Alexander Thompson formerly l)elonged to that 
 gang of fresh-water pirates, who conunitted so 
 many depredations u))oii the I'iver Tliames, and 
 was a niosl desixTatc and hai'deiied villain. Tie 
 frer|neiitly i-eeounted the various robberies in 
 which h<' li;t(l been concerned, .'iiid always con- 
 <"luded with e.\|)i'essiiig a delei'iiiined I'esolution 
 to return to liis fVu'iner eoui'se of life if ever he 
 saw England a<^aiii. As lu' talked of nuirch'ring 
 a Timn on the slightest provrteation, witli as little
 
 328 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 concern as lie would of killing a dog; it seems as 
 if Providence had cut him off in this shocking 
 manner, to prevent the mischiefs which he other- 
 wise would have committed; and had miracu- 
 lously preserved the other two for the work of 
 reformation: indeed they are by much the best 
 of the four; their greatest fault being idleness. 
 
 Thursday, March 16, 1786. Finding that we 
 have now a hundred and forty-four pieces of veni- 
 son left, we determined that no other meat shall 
 be dressed whilst any of it remains; as by that 
 time, we may expect mild weather to set in. Our 
 servants have had venison four days a week until 
 yesterday se'nnight, since which time they have 
 had it every day; but we have had it every day 
 all the winter through. 
 
 Friday, June 30, 1786. Wheii Mr. CoUingham 
 was at the Indian settlement, they showed him a 
 small island in the mouth of the bay, and near to 
 the north shore of it, on which a most tragical 
 scene happened about fifty years ago. A number 
 of Esquimaux were then encamped upon it, when 
 a dispute arose between two young men, about the 
 wife of one of them, with whom the other was 
 in love, and insisted upon having her from him. 
 High words ensued; the respective friends of the 
 two men took part with them, and not being able 
 to settle the matter amicably, they at length had 
 recourse to their bows: their arrows flew swiftly 
 until all were expended; they then attacked each 
 other with their knives. Neither age nor sex were 
 spared in this civil dissension. The feeble grand-
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 329 
 
 sii'e, the tender niotlier, and the infant at her 
 breast fell alike undistinu,uished victims of frantic 
 rage and imgoverned hivy. Two men only, and 
 they of oi^posite parties, survived the bloody con- 
 test: when each, surveying the dreadful carnage 
 that every where surrounded him, and struck with 
 the thought of what would become of himself, if 
 he killed his antagonist, agreed to desist. 
 
 Thtirsday, July 13, 1786. Early this morning 
 Mr. Collingham delivered me a letter wdiich he 
 had received from Noble and Pinson, brought by 
 the Mary, in which they informed him, that my 
 assignees had attached all the goods which he 
 sent to England last year, for the benefit of them- 
 selves (Noble and Pinson) and likewise falsely 
 accusing both Mr. Collingham and m^^self of em- 
 bezzling part of my late estate. From this intel- 
 ligence I instantly determined to return to Eng- 
 land, to confute their villainies, and recover the 
 goods. 
 
 Wednes.y July 19, 1786. Eketcheak, one of the 
 Indian men, last winter maiTied a second wife; a 
 young girl about sixteen years of age: T took a 
 fancy to her, and desired that he would spare her 
 for me, as I had no wife, and was in great want 
 of one. He replied. '' You are very welcome to 
 *' Ikt, 1)111 I ;iiii .-itVaid she will not ))lease you, as 
 " her tem|)cr is xcry bad, and she is so idle, tliat 
 ** she will do no woi-k; nor can she use a needle: 
 '* but my otbor wife is llic Ijest tempered creature 
 " in tlie world; an excellent sempstress, is indus- 
 *' try itself, and she has two children; all of which
 
 330 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 '' are much at your service; or, if you please, 
 *' you shall have them both; and, when I return 
 ** next year, if you do not like either one or the 
 ** other, I will take them back again." I thanked 
 him for his extreme politeness and generosity, and 
 told him, that I could not think of depriving him 
 of his good wife and two children, but Avould be 
 contented with the bad one. '' You shall have 
 '' her," said he, '' but before we proceed any far- 
 ** ther in this business, I wish you would mention 
 ^' it to her relations, and obtain their consent." 
 Her father being dead, I sent for her mother and 
 two uncles, who readily gave their consent, and 
 expressed great pleasure at the honor of the alli- 
 ance. I then communicated my wishes to the 
 young lady, but she no sooner understood wdiat 
 they were, than she began to knit her brows, and 
 the instant I had concluded my speech, in which 
 I expatiated on the pleasure, elegance, and afflu- 
 ence which she would experience as my wife, to 
 what she enjoyed in her present state, she con- 
 temptuously replied, " you are an old fellow, and 
 " I will have nothing to say to you." So there 
 ended my courtship; and how polite soever any 
 future refusal may be, yet I must understand the 
 literal meaning to be, as above expressed. 
 
 Friday, July 21, 1786. A number of the Esqui- 
 maux are ill of most violent colds, which they are 
 very subject to; it carries off great numbers of 
 them. The disorder^ being infectious Mr. Col- 
 
 1 Influenza or la grippe is at the present day a very serious and fatal 
 disease among the Labrador Eskimos.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 331 
 
 liiigliain has gut it also wlik-li he tells me is 
 not the first time, having eanght it of them for- 
 merly. 
 
 Wednes.j July 26, 1786. Last night about twelve 
 o'clock, the moschetos being verv troublesome, 
 ^fr. CoUingham got up and made such a smoke in 
 the kitchen, as in a short time filled every part 
 of the house: fortimatoly I awoke just in time to 
 save our lives: Mrs. Colliugham being quite over- 
 come with it, was carried out of bed into the open 
 air in a lifeless state; all the rest of us were 
 obliged to jump out of our beds, and run naked 
 out of doors; where we were forced to remain 
 above an hour, before the smoke was sufficiently 
 cleared away for us to be able to endure it. 
 
 [On Stniday, July 30, 1786, Capt. Cartwright 
 sailed in the Fox for Temple Bay which he 
 reached on August 10th. Here he re-embarked in 
 the Merlin Sloop of War, Capt. Edward Packen- 
 ham, and sailed for St. John's, Newfoundland. 
 This i)ort was not reached until October 2nd as 
 the whole western and southern coasts of New- 
 fouiidhmd were leisurely skirted.] 
 
 Tuc.sda/j, Ortohrr .7, 17f^6. ' After breakfast I 
 brought most of* my baggage on shoi-c, and took 
 my leave of cajitain P.ickenham and his officers; 
 tlic l.iiicr T sliall always remember witli ])leasure, 
 for tlicii' (•i\ility to me: lnit as to llic f'oi'iiici', T 
 can not say that my (►bligations to liini, are any 
 Li'i'cat biii'tluMi to mo. Mr. I*oii1li' lo^l-: me with 
 Inni lo Mr. Ogdcn's the sni"^(Mni n\' tlie island, 
 
 ' Richard Ilouth, Collector of the Cu.stoinH at St. John's.
 
 332 CAPTAIN CAHTWRIGHT'S 
 
 where we sat down, a party of ten, to a very gen- 
 teel dinner; after which we played at cards and 
 supped. 
 
 This was a delightful day. 
 
 Wednes., October 4, 1786. I waited on His Ex- 
 cellency John Elliot esquire, the Govemour of 
 Newfoundland, to whom I was introduced by Mr. 
 Routh; he invited us both to dine with him on 
 the morrow. I dined to-day in company with 
 some of the officers and young gentlemen of the 
 Merlin at the London Tavern. 
 
 I dined with the Governor on the fifth, and all 
 the rest of my time while I remained here was 
 most agreeably spent; as I met with the greatest 
 civilities from all the principal people (many of 
 whom I was formerly acquainted with, when I 
 was here in the Guernsey Man of War in the years 
 1766 and 1768) dining and spending the evening 
 in private families every day. The two last days 
 I spent on board the Echo Sloop of War; the first 
 with the officers; the second with captain Reyn- 
 olds, who appears to be in every sense of the word, 
 a Gentleman; and, in my opinion, nothing can be 
 a stronger proof of it, than the universal terms of 
 attachment and approbation in which his officers 
 constantly spoke of him. 
 
 General Benedict Arnold (who lately came here 
 from New Brunswick in a cutter of his own) and 
 I having hired the cabin of the brig John, belong- 
 ing to Tinmouth, John Bartlet owner and master, 
 embarked on board of that vessel at two o'clock 
 this afternoon; as did likewise the general's serv-
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 333 
 
 ant, and a hundred and eleven discharged fisher- 
 men, exclusive of the ship's company, consisting 
 of ten men; making in the whole a hundred and 
 twenty-four. We laid in for our own use, two 
 live sheep, several head of poultry, plenty of veg- 
 etables, and good store of every other article 
 which we thought requisite for our passage to 
 England. Nothing material happened, till Sun- 
 day the twenty second, when a hard gale of wind 
 came on; however, we bore the violence of it tol- 
 erably well till ten o'clock the next night, when 
 our boltsprit was carried away. This was soon 
 followed with the loss of the fore-mast, and main- 
 mast; the tiller went next; two of the deadlights 
 were beat out; the tafrael carried away; some 
 casks of water, coals, and in short everything 
 washed off the quarter-deck; our sheep were 
 drowned in the long-boat; and our poultry, to- 
 gether with all our vegetables, except the pota- 
 toes which were in the cabin, were washed over- 
 board. The wreck of the bolt-sprit and fore-mast, 
 ])}■ the lee rigging not being cut, still hung to us; 
 and, the vessel being forced over them, they kept 
 beating under the bottom for seven hours: when, 
 by the spirited exertions of the mate, they were 
 cut away. Never did 1 experience sucli a niglit ; 
 the sea ran incredibly iiigh; it blew most tremen- 
 dously; we expected, that the sea would have beat 
 the vessel to pier-es, and feared every instant, that 
 she would ))(' ])ulged by the wreck, and sink with 
 us. At length day-li^ht fame. }»ut it still con- 
 tinned tn blow so baiwl, tli;it iiolliini:; more could
 
 334 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 be done, than to set up a top-gallant-mast abaft, 
 lasli it to the thuber-heads, and hoist a stay-sail 
 to it, to keep the vessel some what steadier. We 
 were then but four hundred and ninety five miles 
 from St. John's; and, as we judged it impossible 
 to get back there, by reason of the prevalence of 
 the westerly winds, we determined on proceeding 
 towards England; we also intended to quit the 
 vessel, if we should be so fortunate as to fall in 
 with any other, which would take us on board. 
 The day following we began to get up jury-masts, 
 but it was five days before we completed that busi- 
 ness, and were very badly rigged at last, having 
 only the main boom for a fore-mast; a top-mast 
 for a main-mast; with a pole of firewood on it for 
 a top-mast, and a top-gallant-mast abaft, to keep 
 her nearer to the wind. Some days after, we 
 made a short mast of planks, and steped it 
 through a hole cut in the quarter-deck, by way of 
 a mizzen-mast. Our sails were very few, and 
 those both old and bad; nor had we any to replace 
 them, in case they gave out. We examined the 
 quantity of water and provisions, and went to 
 an allowance of three half pints for each passen- 
 ger, and double that quantity for the ship's com- 
 pany. But twelve days after, we reduced the pas- 
 sengers to a pint of water, and the ship 's company 
 to a quart. We had scarcely any remission for hard 
 gales of wind, from south-east to south south-west, 
 for five weeks, which drove us into the latitude 
 of 56°— 15' north, which is quite out of the track 
 of all shipping, nor could we fetch any land as.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 335 
 
 the wind then was, except Icekiiid or Greeidand; 
 and those countries were locked up in frost and 
 darkness. xA.t last, to our no small joy, on Mon- 
 day the tw^enty seventh of November, it pleased 
 God to send us a fine north- w^est wind, which con- 
 tinued fair for us during the rest of the voyage. 
 On Thursday the thirtieth we struck soundings 
 in sixty-five fathoms of water, between Cape 
 Clear and Scilly; and there saw^ a dismasted, and 
 al)andoned vessel. We sent our ])oat on board 
 her, but got only a few kegs of water; her provi- 
 sions and sails having been all taken out. She 
 was the Hopew^ell from Newfoundland, laden with 
 dry fish, and belonged to Poole. Oiu' allow^ance 
 of water was dou])led to-day; the next day, it was 
 encreased to three pints; and we saw^ another 
 vessel upon a wind far to leeward. On Saturday 
 the second of r)ecem])er, we saw several vessels 
 ahead, and one on our starboard quarter wiiich 
 came ujd with, and spoke us; she was a small 
 schooner from Twillingate, in Newfoundland, to 
 Poole; had been out twenty four days, and had 
 met with no other, than w^esterly and north-west 
 winds. She belonged to Mr. Hezekiah Guy, who 
 was formerly a servant of mine, and w^as com- 
 manded })y a ])rotheT- of liis. T desired him to 
 make a i'0])0]'t of iiu', on liis nri'iA';il ;it Pooh'. At 
 three o'dofk in the aftei'noon, we had the pleas- 
 ure to get siglit of tlic l;iii<l, from tlic Landsend 
 to the Tiizzai'd. The wiiifl xccrcd soutliei'Iy in the 
 ni^lit, and blew hai'd; and .-it (\;\y bi'eak we had 
 the mortifieation to find a nciv thick fog, acconi-
 
 336 CAPTAIN CAETWRIGHT'S 
 
 panied by a heavy gale of wind dead on the shore ; 
 but at mne o'clock, judging that we were abreast 
 of the start; a full council was called, to deter- 
 mine what we should do, when every man except 
 general Arnold, unanimously concluded, that it 
 would be better to put before the wind and make 
 the land at all events, than to keep the sea in our 
 crippled state, as we did not think it possible to 
 clear Portland; in which case, we must run on 
 shore in the night. Having made our election, we 
 bore away; and never did I see so much anxiety 
 in the countenances of men, as appeared in every 
 one on board; for every minute we expected to 
 see a rocky shore not far distant, and most likely 
 to run upon it. At two in the afternoon the fog 
 cleared away, and we then got sight of Berry 
 Head, with Tor Bay right a head. A frantic joy 
 now pervaded every one, almost to madness, and 
 continued for near an hour; by which time, we 
 had four fishing-boats from Brixham along-side, 
 and in a short time, all the passengers, except 
 general Arnold and his servant, got into them 
 and went on shore; leaving the vessel safe at an 
 anchor in Babicam Bay. At six o'clock I landed 
 at Brixham, and regaled myself on a luxurious 
 and plentiful dish of beef-steakes; which was the 
 first good meal I had made, since the commence- 
 ment of our misfortunes. Here I learned that 
 great numbers of vessels, particularly Newfound- 
 landers, had been lost, and others greatly dam- 
 aged in the late gales; one belonging to this port, 
 got in here this morning, a greater wreck than
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 337 
 
 we were; liaviiig lot;! lier masts and nine men; 
 all of whom were washed overboard, when her 
 masts were carried away. 
 
 I remained at Brixham till Tuesday the fifth, 
 when I hired a single-horse chair, (u^^ chaise being 
 to be had) and went to Tinmonth; wlicre I found 
 the John safe arrived, and a Newfoundland ves- 
 sel, which attempted to come in on Sunday night, 
 on shore upon the beach at the mouth of the har- 
 bour. On Wednesday I got my ])aggage on shore, 
 and was informed by the mate, that, at such times 
 as I was upon deck general Arnold through the 
 medium of his servant, had stolen most of the 
 wine, which belonged to us both, and had sold it 
 to the sailors for water; which he kept for his 
 own use. Be that as it may, the facts were these; 
 on examining the lockers, only one bottle of wine 
 was left, although there ought to have been more; 
 and there w^ere nine bottles of w^ater, not one drop 
 of which I knew of. A few days after we were 
 reduced to a pint of water, the general's servant 
 offered to purchase from the sailors, two bottles 
 for me; the price of which was to be a dollar in 
 money; I readily consented to give that price, 
 and one bottle was delivered the next day; but 
 I could never get the other until Friday last, when 
 T had 110 occasion i'ov it; and as T had, for a 
 long lime })ast, obser^'ed 1lic general to have 
 great abuiKl.nicc oi" water, 1h<'i'e is very gi'eat 
 reason to Ix'Iieve the male's repjnl lo be a true 
 one. 
 
 On the seventh T went in a chaise to Exeter, and
 
 338 CAPTAIN CABTWKIGHT'S 
 
 on the eighth took a passage in the mail coach to 
 Blaudford; from whence I went that night to 
 Poole in a chaise, and arrived at Mr. Lester's 
 house at eight o'clock. He had heard of me from 
 Mr. Guy, but, the letter which I wrote to him from 
 Brixham having not yet appeared, he had con- 
 cluded that we were cast away on Sunday last, 
 and that all hands had perished. I continued at 
 Poole till the sixteenth, when I went to Wim- 
 bourn; the next evening I set out for London in 
 the Poole mail coach, and arrived there at nine 
 o'clock on the morning of the eighteenth. 
 
 Soon after my arrival in London, I made appli- 
 cation to my assignees for restitution of the goods 
 which they had attached; yet although I very 
 clearly convinced them, that they were the prop- 
 erty of Mr. Collingham and myself, and had been 
 honestly obtained, and that Noble and Pinson 
 could not possibly have any claim on them, they 
 refused to restore them. I threatened them with 
 law; and they proposed arbitration; to which I 
 consented. But they afterwards found a pretence 
 for refusing to sign the bonds, which forced me 
 to assign my part (only one hogshead of oil) to 
 Mr. Collingham, and then, as his agent, to serve 
 William Pinson with a copy of a writ. My as- 
 signees defended the action; they put the trial 
 off twice, and attempted to do it a third time ; but 
 I frustrated their intentions; and when the cause 
 came to a hearing, the great Erskine ^ himself was 
 obliged to declare that he had not a word to say 
 
 * Baron Erskine, 1750 to 1823, famous jurist and forensic orator.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 339 
 
 in defence of his client. Tn consequence of whicli, 
 Mr. Collingliam obtained a verdict for full dam- 
 ages and costs of suit, a circumstance not to the 
 honour of those who endeavoured to deprive him 
 of his property. I was, however, above two hun- 
 dred pounds out of pocket, by the expences which 
 I had been at: yet, as I had obtained a perfect 
 cure of my sciatica and had prevented my partner 
 from being shamefully wronged, I thought the 
 money had been well applied. 
 
 Perhaps it may not l)e displeasing to the reader, 
 if I here attempt a short Natural History of the 
 countrv, and add such remarks as mv verv con- 
 fined abilities have enabled me to make. 
 
 Labrador is a large peninsula, joined at the 
 isthmus to Canada, which, together with Hud- 
 son's Bay, bounds it on the west; on the north 
 are Hudson's Straits; the Atlantic Ocean on the 
 east; and the Straits of Bell Isle, and the Guli)h 
 of St. Laurence on the south. 
 
 The face of the whole country, at least all those 
 parts we are at present acquainted with, are very 
 hilly; and in most parts mountainous. The south 
 coast has great appearance of fertility from the 
 sea, but a close inspection discovers the soil to 
 be poor, and the verdure to consist only of coarse 
 plants, which are well adapted to the suppoi-t and 
 nourishment of deer and goats, but do not appear 
 piopcr foi- horses, kine, or sheep. Tliere is no 
 doubt ]m\ ru]li\a1ion would produce good grass 
 of different kinds, and that grazing fai'nis might 
 be established; they would however, be attended
 
 340 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 with too much trouble and expence to have them 
 on a large scale; as it would be difficult to fence 
 against the white-bears and wolves, and all kinds 
 of cattle must be housed for nine months in the 
 year. Corn might possibly be raised about the 
 heads of the deepest bays, and in the interior 
 parts of the country; but the few experiments 
 which I made in my gardens failed of success; 
 for the ears were singed by the frost before the 
 grain ripened. 
 
 All the east coast, as far as I went and by what 
 I could learn from the Esquimaux, exhibits a most 
 barren and iron-bound appearance; the moun- 
 tains rise suddenly out of the sea, and are com- 
 posed of a mass of rocks, but thinly covered in 
 spots with black peat earth; on which grow some 
 stunted spruces, empetrum nigrum, and a few 
 other plants, but not sufficient to give them the 
 appearance of fertility; such lands therefore are 
 always denominated Barrens. 
 
 As some compensation for the poverty of the 
 soil, the sea, rivers, and lakes abound in fish, fowl, 
 and amphibious creatures. No country is better 
 furnished with large, convenient, and safe har- 
 bours, or supplied with better water; for rivers, 
 brooks, lakes, jjools, and ponds are every where 
 to be met with in great abundance. And I cannot 
 help observing here, that the swelled throats ^ 
 which the inhabitants of many Alpine countries 
 are subject to, are occasioned by the mineral par- 
 ticles which the waters imbibe in their passage 
 
 ^ Goitre.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 341 
 
 down certain hills, and not to the effect of snow- 
 water, since no such complaints are to be found 
 in Labrador, where genuine springs are so scarce, 
 that I may venture to affinn, nineteen parts out 
 of twenty of the waters in that country, are the 
 product of the winter snows. 
 
 All along the face of the east coast, and within 
 the many capacious bays which indent it, are 
 thousands of islands of various sizes, on which 
 innumerable nmltitudes of eider-ducks, and other 
 water-fowl breed: the very smallest are not with- 
 out their inhabitants, if the spray of the sea does 
 not fly entirely over them; and the larger ones 
 have generally deer, foxes, and hares upon them: 
 the former will swim out to them, to get clear of 
 the wolves which infest the continent; but the 
 two latter go out upon the ice, and are left upon 
 them when it breaks up in the spring. 
 
 All those kinds of fish which are found in the 
 Artie seas, abound on this coast; and the rivers 
 are frequented l)y great abundance of salmon, and 
 various sorts of sea-trout; pike, barbel,* eels,^ 
 river-trout, and some few other kinds of fresh- 
 water fish are also found in tliciii. 
 
 Althou<;li, in sailing along this coast, the aston- 
 ished marinei- is insensibly drawn into a conclu- 
 sion, that this country was the lasl which God 
 made, and th;it he had no other view than to throw 
 together there, the refuse of his materials, as of 
 
 ' The Furopoan barbel is not nutivo to Anicrica. CartwriRht possibly 
 rrfj-rs to n «iu k*T or to h homofl funM . 
 ' Anguilla chryHypa.
 
 342 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 no use to mankind, yet, lie no sooner penetrates 
 a few miles into a bay, than the great change, both 
 of the climate and prospects, alter his opinion. 
 The air then becomes soft and warm; bare rocks 
 no longer appear; the land is thick clothed with 
 timber, which reaches down almost to high-water 
 mark, and is generally edged with grass. Few 
 stout trees are to be met with, until you have 
 advanced a considerable distance and have shut 
 the sea out; for the sea air, most certainly has a 
 very pernicious effect upon the growth of timber, 
 as well as on many other things. The best timber, 
 is generally found near the head of the tide, and 
 by the sides of brooks. My business requiring a 
 great deal of all sorts, and a multitude of rinds, 
 it became necessary for me, in all my ranges 
 through the woods, to keep a very sharp look-out 
 for whatever might be of use; which naturally 
 led me to make observations, on the inclination 
 and course of nature, in the propagation and 
 growth of timber. 
 
 Whether it be owing to the climate, or to the 
 soil of this country, I will not take upon me to 
 say, but the fact is, that nature is disposed to 
 clothe the ground with spruces and firs; inter- 
 mixing a few larches,^ birch, and aspens spar- 
 ingly, along the edges of those woods which grow 
 adjoining to the shores of the bays, rivers, brooks, 
 and ponds; where only, they arrive at any degree 
 of perfection. Although abundance of larches 
 will grow upon the sides of the barren hills along 
 
 * Larix laricina.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 343 
 
 the sea-coast, vet I never saw one, in such situa- 
 tions, which was of any value. If, through the 
 carelessness of those who make fires in the woods 
 or by lightning, the old spruce woods are burnt 
 down, Indian-tea is generally the first thing which 
 comes up; currants follow next, and after them, 
 birch. As the plants of birch commonly spring 
 up within three or four feet of each other, they 
 are soon drawn up, and make most excellent 
 hoops; about which time, the spruces and firs will 
 be sprung up among them, to the height of two, 
 three, or four feet, when the Indian-tea and cur- 
 rants will be nearly killed. The birches having 
 now locked their heads so close that the sun can- 
 not penetrate through the foliage and requiring 
 more nourishment than the ground is able to give 
 to each plant, they begin to shew consumptive 
 symptoms, by the under branches dying; and as 
 some few of the stronger ones rob those wliich are 
 weaker, the latter decay altogether, and what re- 
 main grow to pretty stout trees: yet it is almost 
 impossible to find one of them sound, by their not 
 being thinned in proper time, so as to admit the 
 genial rays of the sun, and a free circulation of 
 air, to invigorate and fertilize the earth; and to 
 allow each plant a sufficient portion of land for 
 its support. At length the spruces and firs over-i 
 top, and kill the ])irches; and, when it so ha])pens 
 that th('3' do not stand too thick and the soil suits 
 them, they will arrive at a great size; pariicularly 
 the white-spruce. Wiere there is a ]j(jverty of 
 soil, and they grow close together, they are black,
 
 344 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 crabbed, and mossy; consequently of no value: 
 but where the soil is pretty good, if they stand 
 too thick, yet they run clear and tall, and attain 
 substance sufficient for shallop 's-oars, skiff 's-oars, 
 stage-beams, rafters, longers, and other purposes, 
 for which length is principally required. Had not 
 nature disposed them to shoot their roots hori- 
 zontally, the adventurers in that country would 
 have found a great difficulty in building vessels 
 of any kind for it is from the root, with part of 
 the trunk of the tree; that most of the timbers 
 are cut; and no others will supply proper stems, 
 and other particular timbers. 
 
 When a fire happens on a peat soil, at the end 
 of a very dry summer, the whole of it is burnt 
 away to a great depth; and will not only, produce 
 no good timber again, but also, is both dangerous 
 and troublesome to walk over; for great numbers 
 of large stones and rocks, are then left exposed 
 on the surface, and the Indian-tea, currants, &c. 
 which grow between, often prevent their being 
 discovered in time to avoid a bad fall: but if the 
 fire happens early in the summer, or when the 
 ground is wet, the soil takes no damage. The 
 burnt woods are also very bad to walk through, 
 until the trees are felled and pretty well gone to 
 decay; but in how many years that will be, I had 
 no opportunity to observe ; I know it is not a few, 
 and that it depends on particular circumstances. 
 
 When the woods are left to nature, the growth 
 of the timber is very slow, for I seldom saw even 
 a young tree, which sent forth an annual shoot
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 345 
 
 above six iiK-hes in length; in general it was only 
 one. AVliereas, I always observed them to grow 
 from twelve to eighteen inches in a year, wher- 
 ever all the old trees had been felled, and the 
 young ones were left at a considerable distance 
 from each other; thev also looked nmch more 
 healthy and beautiful; which fidly proves how 
 absolutely necessary the sun, air, and a sufficient 
 space of ground are to the growth of good timber. 
 Labrador produces but scA^en sorts of trees ^ 
 which are worthy of that appellation: viz. black, 
 white, and red sprtice, larch, silver fir, l)irch and 
 aspen; at least, if there be any others, they must 
 grow on the confines of Canada. Those next in 
 size, are willow^, mountain ash,- and cherry;"^ the 
 two former grow up in many stems, as if from old 
 stools, and I never saw one thicker than a good 
 hedge-stake; but the latter is a single standard, 
 anrl T believe very scarce; for I met wdth them 
 by the side of one hill only, where they stood in 
 good plenty, and were a])out seven or eight feet 
 high, but not more than three inches in circum- 
 ference; the fruit was small, tasteless, and nearly 
 all stone. Tlie rest are mere shi"u])s; they are the 
 alder, osier,^ don:-berrv, baked-pears,^' junipei-,''' 
 
 ' Mcwt of tho plants and animals pivon in this review of Cartwripht'a 
 have already been mentioned, and may be found by referring to the 
 index. 
 
 ' PifTVH nmcTirnnn and P. silchensin. 
 
 ' I'riiniiM pennxyburncd. 
 
 * A HfHries of willow, Snlix, or red-osier, Cnrnns xlnlnnifern. 
 
 * The shafl bush, Amflanrhier rnnndentnn var. olignrarpa, is sometimea 
 calle<l InfJian pear and may possibly be intended. 
 
 ' JuniiMsriui communU vur. dcprcuHU and J. horizonlalis.
 
 346 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 currants, raspberries, with a few others, and I 
 once, if not twice, saw a small gooseberry-bnsh. 
 The fruits consist of various kinds of berries, 
 viz. currants, raspberries, partridge-berries, em- 
 petrum nigrum, baked-apples, baked-pears, whor- 
 tle-berries of two sorts, cranberries,^ and a small 
 berry which grows in a gravelly or sandy soil, 
 the plant of which resembles that of the straw- 
 berry, each producing but a single fruit, which is 
 of a bright pink colour, granulated like a mul- 
 berry, and has a delicious flavour; but they are 
 scarce on those parts of the east coast which I was 
 upon, for I met with them on a few spots only in 
 the neighbourhood of Sandwich Bay, but at L'ance 
 a Loup they were more abundant ; and there also, 
 I saw tolerable plenty of scarlet strawberries ^ 
 which were the only ones I ever observed in that 
 country. 
 
 As to plants, since I am no botanist, I shall beg 
 leave to say no more of them, than that I believe 
 there is no very great variety, and but few, if any, 
 which are not to be met with, in other northern 
 countries. 
 
 The only vegetables which I found fit to eat, 
 were alexander (or wild celery), fathen,^ scurvy- 
 grass,'* the young leaves of the osier, and of the 
 ground- whortleberry; Indian sallad, red-docks,^ 
 and an alpine plant, which the rein-deer are very 
 
 ' Mountain cranberrj', Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea var. minus. 
 
 ^ Fragaria virginiana. 
 
 ^ Fathen, pigweed or goosefoot. Chenopndium, species? 
 
 * Scurvy grass, a cress, Cochlearia, species? 
 
 ^ Rumex, species?
 
 LABRADOR JOURNxSJ. 347 
 
 fond of. Fatheu, liowever is uo where to be met 
 with, but where the ground has been dug. 
 
 The soil is mostl}' of a light kind, yet clay is 
 conunon to be met with in most harbours, and in 
 the beds of rivers, below high-water mark; though 
 I met with a spot of strong, blue clay by the side 
 of Hooppole Cove in St. Lewis's Bay, on which 
 grew good birch and other trees. 
 
 That the mountains in Labrador contain some 
 kinds of ores, I make no doubt; but none have 
 yet been discovered, except that of iron w^hich I 
 believe is in great plenty, since iron-stone is very 
 connnon along most of the shores; and I met with 
 several small springs, Avhicli had a w^eak chalyb- 
 eate taste, and tinged the ground red. Nor is 
 there any great chance of ores being found, unless 
 it should appear to the day, by the side of some 
 cliff; most of which founder more or less every 
 spring, by the crevices in the rocks filling with the 
 drainage of the earth, and by the expansive power 
 of the frost acting like so many wedges all the 
 winter; in consequence of which many tons of 
 rocks fall down as soon as the ice is thawed. 
 AMiite spar is very common; and several samples 
 of that beautiful one called Labrador spar,^ has 
 been picked up by the Esquimaux, of which there 
 is one large piece in the Levcrian Museum: but 
 have not yet been abb' to learn, that any but de- 
 tached pieces, have been met with; all of which 
 were picked u]) upon the land-wash. 
 
 The birds of that country, T presume, are com- 
 
 * Or Labradorite, a lime-Hoda feldttpar.
 
 348 CAPTAIN CAETWRIGHT'S 
 
 mon to most of those which border upon the arc- 
 tic circle, they are the white-tailed eagle, falcons, 
 hawks, and owls of various kinds; raven, white- 
 grouse, ptarmigan, sprucegame, whistling-curlew, 
 grey-plover, various kinds of sandpipers, and 
 other waders; geese, ducks of various sorts, 
 shags, gulls, divers of various sorts, swallows, 
 martins, some few species of small birds, snipes, 
 and doves; but the two last are very scarce, for 
 I do not recollect ever seeing more than five snipes 
 and two doves. It is rather singular, that nothing 
 of the heron ^ kind ever visit that country, since 
 the fresh-waters are so abundantly stocked with 
 trout, and I have seen bitterns in Newfoundland. 
 
 Tlie beasts are bears both white and black (of 
 the latter I am told, there are two kinds, one of 
 which have a white ring round their necks, and 
 the Esquimaux say, '' They are very ferocious,'^ 
 but I never saw one of them, or even a skin) rein- 
 deer, wolves, wolverines, foxes of various kinds, 
 viz., black, silver, cross, yellow, white, and blue; 
 martens, lynxes, otters, mink,^ beavers, mus- 
 quash, racoons,^ hares, rabbits, and moles.^ There 
 may be other kinds, but they did not come within 
 my observation. 
 
 The native inhabitants are two distinct nations 
 of Indians; Mountaineers and Esquimaux. The 
 Mountaineers are tall, thin, and excellent walk- 
 
 * Several different species of herons including the bittern, Botaurus 
 lentiginosus, have occasionally been found on the southern coast. 
 
 2 Putorius vison. 
 
 ' The racoon, Procyon lotor, is unknown in Labrador. 
 
 * Star-nosed mole, Condylar a crislata.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 349 
 
 ers; their colour greatly resembles that of our 
 gypsies; probably occasioued, by their being con- 
 stantly exposed to the weather and smokey whig- 
 whams. In features they bear a strong resem- 
 blance to the French, which is not to be wondered 
 at, since they have had an intercourse with the 
 Canadians for so many years, but there are few, 
 I believe, who have not some French blood in 
 them. These j^eople inhabit the interior parts of 
 the country, which they traverse by the assistance 
 of canoes, covered with birch-rinds, in the sum- 
 mer; and of rackets, or snow-shoes, in the winter. 
 Their weapons are guns and bows; the latter are 
 used only to kill moor-game, but their chief de- 
 pendence is on the gun, and they are excellent 
 marksmen; particularly with single ball. They 
 are wonderfully clever at killing deer, otherwise 
 they would starve; and when they are in a part 
 of the coimtry, in the winter time, where deer are 
 scarce, they will follow a herd by the slot, day 
 and night, until they tire tliem quite down; when 
 they are sure to kill them all. I must not be un- 
 derstood literally, that they take no rest all that 
 time, for, if the night is liglit enough, they rest 
 only four or five hours, then pursue again; which 
 space of time, being too short for the deer to ob- 
 tain either food or rest, they are commonly jaded 
 out by the fourth day. The Indians ])aun('h and 
 leave them, tlien go back to theii- families, return 
 inunediately witli bag and baggage, and remain 
 there until they have eaten them all; when, if 
 they have not provided another supply elsewhere.
 
 350 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 they look out a fresh. But when deer are plenti- 
 ful, they are quickly provided with food without 
 much trouble, for, as two or three families usually 
 go together in the winter time, some post them- 
 selves to leeward of the herd, while others go to 
 windward, and drive them down; by which means, 
 it seldom happens that they all escape. When 
 they have good success among the deer, they also 
 kill most furs; for then^ they have leisure to 
 build, and attend to deathfalls, in which they kill 
 foxes and martens. Porcupine hunting is an em- 
 ployment assigned to the women, and is a good 
 resource, where there are strong, fir woods. 
 
 Beavers they can do nothing at in the winter, 
 on account of the frost, but they kill numbers of 
 them in the spring and autumn; and even all the 
 summer through: but one good English furrier 
 will kill more than four Indians, where those ani- 
 mals are numerous. They kill beavers by watch- 
 ing for, and shooting them; or, by staking their 
 houses; the method of doing which, I will endeav- 
 our to explain: If the pond, where the beaver 
 house is, be not capable of being drawn dry, they 
 cut a hole through the roof of the house into the 
 lodging, to discover the angles; they then run 
 stakes through at the edge of the water, where 
 the house is always soft, parallel to each other, 
 across each angle, and so near together that no 
 beaver can pass between. The stakes being all 
 fitted in their places, they draw them up to permit 
 the beavers to return into the house, (the hole on 
 the top being covered up so close as not to admit
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 351 
 
 any ligiit) and then hunt with their dugs, back- 
 wards and forward round the edges of the pond, 
 to discover where the}^ have hid themselves under 
 the hollow banks; taking especial care, not to go 
 near the house, until they can find them no longer 
 any where else. They then approach it very cau- 
 tiously, replace the stakes with the utmost expe- 
 dition, throw the covering off the hole, and kill 
 them with spears made for the pm^pose. ^Mien 
 they have a canoe, they will drive the pond in the 
 manner already described, without disturbing the 
 house; and, when they suppose the beavers are 
 all in, they place a strong net round it; then ma- 
 king an opening, they kill them as they strike out 
 of the house. They will also place a net across 
 a contraction in the pond, where there happens 
 to be one, and kill them there, in the course of 
 driving. But, as it is seldom that the whole crew 
 or family are killed by these means, hermit bea- 
 vers are always observed to be most numerous in 
 those parts of the country which are frequented 
 by Indians. The Mountaineers are also very dex- 
 terous in imitating the call of every bird and 
 beast, by which they decoy them close to their 
 lurking-] )laces. And as the destruction of ani- 
 mals is their whole study, there is not one, whose 
 nature and haunts they are not perfectly well 
 acquainted with: insomuch, that one man will 
 maintain liiinself, a wife, and five or six children 
 in greater plenty, and with a inore regular supply 
 than any Eur()])eaii could supi)ort himself singly, 
 although he were a better shot.
 
 352 CAPTAIN CAETWRIGHT'S 
 
 As these people never stay long in a place, con- 
 sequently they never build, houses, but live the 
 year round in miserable whigwhams; the cover- 
 ings of which, are deer-skins and birch rinds: 
 the skins which they use for this purpose, as well 
 as for clothes; are tainted, to take off the hair, 
 then washed in a lather of brains and water, and 
 afterwards dried and well rubbed: but for winter 
 use, they will also have jackets of beaver, or deer- 
 skins, with the hair on. As to the morals of these 
 people, I cannot speak much in praise of them, 
 for they are greatly addicted to drunkenness and 
 theft. They profess the Roman Religion; but 
 know no more of it, than merely to repeat a prayer 
 or two, count their beads, and see a priest when- 
 ever they go to Quebec. 
 
 The Esquimaux being a detachment from the 
 Greenlanders, or those from them,^ any attempt 
 of mine to describe them, would be impertinent; 
 since that has already been done by much abler 
 pens. I will therefore content myself with say- 
 ing, they are the best tempered people I ever met 
 with, and most docile : nor is there a nation under 
 the sun, with which I would sooner trust my per- 
 son and property; although, till within these few 
 years, they were never known to have any inter- 
 course with Europeans, without committing theft 
 or murder, and generally both. 
 
 The Climate is remarkably healthy, as an at- 
 
 1 Both of these views are still under discussion. The Eskimos are of 
 the same linguistic stock and have very similar habits from Greenland 
 to Behring Sea.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 353 
 
 tentive reader must observe in perusing my jour- 
 nal. The winters are very long and severe, but 
 the cold is of a pleasant kind; never causing a 
 person to shiver, as it does in England; neither 
 could I ever observe, that the sudden, and great 
 transitions which are so often experienced, had 
 any bad effect on the constitution; nor do I know 
 of one endemical complaint. Agues I never heard 
 of, although Physicians tell us, ' ' They are caused, 
 by stagnate waters and too much wood," both of 
 which there are in the greatest abundance there/ 
 A few miles from the sea, the weather, in the sum- 
 mer time, is quite warm, and the air has a remark- 
 able softness in it; but the multitude of mosche- 
 tos and sand-flies are intolerable grievances. On 
 the sea coast, the air is much cooler, and it is very 
 raw and cold indeed, when the wind comes in 
 from the ocean; occasioned by the prodigious 
 quantities of ice so immediately contiguous to the 
 coast, whereby the water itself is always in a 
 chilled state. Were it not for the immense quan- 
 tity of fresh water, which is continually running 
 into the sea from the rivers, brooks, and drainage 
 of the land, caused by the melting of the incred- 
 ible quantity of snow which falls in the course of 
 the winter, that coast would long since have been 
 inaccessible to ships; for the summers are neither 
 long, nor hot enough to dissolve the ice; whereas, 
 these waters raise the surface of the sea so much 
 higher than that which lies nearer to the equinoc- 
 
 • Althoujjh rriOHfuiitoPH ahoiind, niiilarial-bcurinK Anopheles do not 
 occur.
 
 354 CAPTAIN CABTWRIGHT'S 
 
 tial line, that they occasion a constant current to 
 the southward ; by which means the ice is dragged 
 along into a warmer climate, where it is dissolved. 
 The immense islands of ice,^ which are daily 
 to be seen near the coast of Labrador, can be 
 formed in the following manner only. The sea 
 in the extreme north, is of such a depth, that nav- 
 igators have often not been able to JEind the bot- 
 tom with a line of an hundred fathoms, even close 
 to the shore; the land is very high, and many 
 parts of the shore are perpendicular cliffs; the 
 face of the coast being greatly broken, numbers of 
 bays and coves are formed therebv: and those are 
 defended from any swell rolling into them from the 
 sea, by the prodigious quantity of flat, low ice, 
 which almost continuously covers that part of the 
 ocean, and which, it may be presumed, prevents 
 those bays and covers from breaking up for one, 
 two, or more years together. The severe frost of 
 one winter will form flat ice upon them, of an in- 
 credible thickness; that ice is deeply covered with 
 the snows which are continually falling, and a 
 thousand times more is drifted upon it from the 
 adjoining land, until the accumulation is beyond 
 all conception. On the return of summer, the sun 
 and rains cause the snow to become wet and 
 shrink together; when the frost from beneath, 
 striking up through the whole mass, consolidates 
 it into a firm body of ice. In this manner it keeps 
 continually accumulating until the adjoining sea 
 
 * Cartwright never uses the modern term " iceberg," and indeed the 
 Labradorians at the present day speak only of " ice-islands."
 
 3 
 O 
 
 
 C3 
 
 ID 
 
 O
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 355 
 
 gets clearer of drift ice than usual, when a gale 
 of wind happening from the southward, sends in 
 such a swell as rips up the whole, and divides it 
 into many pieces, resembling stupendous white 
 rocks, which are slowly di'agged to the south- 
 ward by the current. As several of those islands 
 mav be some years before thev arrive in a climate 
 that is capable of dissolving them, it is more than 
 probable, that in the mean time, they gain more 
 in the course of each winter, than they lose in the 
 intermediate summer/ When they have ad- 
 vanced some distance to the southward, they thaw 
 so much faster under water than they do above it, 
 that they lose their equili])rium, upset, and fall 
 in pieces; otherwise, I verily believe that some of 
 them would drive almost to the equinoctial line, 
 before they were entirely dissolved. 
 
 The jam-ice ^ is formed upon the coast, by the 
 freezing of the water on the surface of the sea, 
 and ])y the snow which falls into it, and is driven 
 together by the wind, until it is ten or twelve feet 
 thick, and cemented, in the course of the winter, 
 by the penetrating power of the frost; which, 
 having formed the surface into a solid body, 
 strikes through it, and acts with piercing vigour 
 equally on what ever it touches below; and the 
 w^ater, at that time being as cold as possilde to 
 remain in a flnid state, gives ])ut little resistance 
 to the action of tlic frost. T am r-onfirmod in this 
 
 ' This theory in oxplanation of tho formation of icobprRn iH of rourBP 
 orroncous. C'artwriKht was iKnomnt of thoir formation by tlic bronkinK 
 off of Ifirj^e masHcs fnnn glacierH ut tlieir entrance into the sea. 
 
 » Floe.
 
 356 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 opinion, from having had the new ice cut through 
 to creep for seal-nets, when we have found sev- 
 eral feet of soft lolly underneath; all of which 
 has been cemented into firm ice before it broke 
 up in the following spring. The breaking up of 
 Baffin's Bay, Hudson's Bay, the bays in Labra- 
 dor, and the tickles between the numerous islands, 
 all contribute their quota; and the sea is so com- 
 pletely subdued by it some certain winters, that 
 I am of opinion, there is not a drop of clear water 
 to be met with any where between Spotted Island 
 and Iceland; nor on the north-west side of that 
 line ; for I have known gales of wind to blow dead 
 on the shore, and to last for three days, yet the 
 ice which joined to the land, had no more motion, 
 than the rocks to which it was frozen; that was 
 scarce possible to have happened, had there been 
 any open water to windward. 
 
 Dews are so little known in this country, that 
 I seldom observed any, unless there had been a 
 fog in the night; and, during every hot day in 
 summer, a vapour appears to skim along the sur- 
 face of all open grounds, which resembles that of 
 an intense, red hot fire, and prevents the distin- 
 guishing of an object at a distance. I do 
 not recollect to have observed the same in Eng- 
 land. 
 
 During the summer, travelling by land to any 
 distant place, is not only very unpleasant, but it 
 is almost impracticable. It must be performed 
 on foot; the traveller must carry his provisions, 
 hatchet, and what other things he has occasion for
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 357 
 
 upon his back; liis course will be continually in- 
 terrupted by rivers, lakes, or large ponds; he will 
 find the woods intolerably hot; he will find the 
 ground, almost every where, give way under his 
 feet, as if he were walking upon a bed of sponge; 
 and he will be incessantlv tormented bv millions 
 of flies. But it is excellent walking in the winter, 
 with a pair of rackets; and there is no obstruc- 
 tion from water, as all waters are firmly frozen. 
 The Esquimaux make use of a long sled,^ about 
 twenty-one feet by fourteen inches, the sides of 
 wliich are made of two inch plank, about a foot 
 broad; the under edges are shod with the jaw-- 
 bone of a w^hale, a quarter of an inch thick, fast- 
 ened on with pegs made out of the teeth of the 
 sea-cow;^ across the upper edges, are placed 
 broad, thin battens to fit and stow their baggage 
 upon. Thej^ yoke a number of stout dogs to this 
 sled, and travel at the rate of six or seven miles 
 an hour upon the ice, or barren hills: but they 
 cannot go into the woods, for the dogs would not 
 only bog in the snow there, but the sled would 
 sink too deep, and be always getting foul of the 
 young trees. The ^lountaineer method is the only 
 one adapted for the interior parts of the country: 
 their sleds are made of two thin boards of birch; 
 each about six inches broad, a quarter of an inch 
 thick, and six feet long: these are fastened par- 
 allel to each othoi- ])y slight battens, sewed on 
 with thongs of deer-skin; and the foremost end 
 is curved up to rise over the inequalities of the 
 
 ' Koraatik. ' Wnlrua.
 
 358 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 snow. Each individual who is able to walk, is 
 furnished with one of these; but those for the 
 children are proportionately less. On them they 
 stow all their goods, and also their infants; which 
 they bundle up very warm in deer-skins. The 
 two ends of a leather thong are tied to the corners 
 of the sled; the bright ' or double part of which is 
 placed against the breast, and in that manner it 
 is drawn along. The men go first, reheving each 
 other in the lead by turns; the women follow 
 next, and the children, according to their strength, 
 bring up the rear; and, as they all walk in rack- 
 ets, the third or fourth person finds an excellent 
 path to walk on, let the snow be ever so light. 
 
 The businesses hitherto carried on by the Eng- 
 lish, are the same with those on the island of New- 
 foundland. The exports are codfish, salmon, oil, 
 whalebone, and furs; but the latter are much 
 superior to any of the same kind which are killed 
 upon that island, and few parts of the world pro- 
 duce better. 
 
 Notwithstanding the many disadvantages, which 
 that country labours under, from poverty of soil, 
 short summers, long winters, and severe frosts, 
 yet I am clear, that art and good management are 
 capable of making great improvements; and if 
 the observations which I made on the effects of 
 certain manures, in that country and Newfound- 
 land, can be of any use in England, I shall think 
 my time well bestowed in communicating them. 
 
 In one garden which I made, where the ground 
 
 1 A misprint, evidently, for bight.
 
 L.VERADOR JOURNAL 359 
 
 was a collection of sheer, tine gravel, without a 
 particle of soil that I could perceive, the first crop 
 was, what I thought a very fair one; but at the 
 end of the sununer, I had a quantity of rotten sea- 
 weed dug in. The following sununer, to prevent 
 the ground being so much dried up as it had been 
 the preceding one, I transplanted cabbages, cauli- 
 flowers, and lettuces, when very young, and care- 
 fully covered the whole of the ground between 
 them, with fresh sea-weed, which had a most ex- 
 cellent effect ; for, by that means, there was a con- 
 stant moisture preserved, and the plants arrived 
 at great perfection. 
 
 In another garden, w^here the soil Tvas a hot, 
 fine sand, the first year's crop was nothing to 
 boast of; but, as I carried on a great salmon fish- 
 ery at that place, I fallowed part of it the follow- 
 ing summer, and covered it wdth the entrails of the 
 salmon, which contain abundance of fat; in the 
 course of three years, by manuring it in that man- 
 ner, the sand was absolutely become too strong 
 and adhesive. 
 
 All the sealing-posts now exhibit a very differ- 
 ent appearance from what they originally did, 
 from the great quantity of oil that has been spilt 
 upon the ground every spring, and the putrefac- 
 tion of the seals' carcasses in the summer. 
 
 On landing in tlio harbour of Tatalina, on my 
 last voyage fi"om Trinity to Tjaliradoi-, T oliserved 
 a luxuriancy of herbage, which T did not sup|)ose 
 the soil, in that part of the woi'ld ca]>able of ]iro- 
 ducing; but on a closci- inspection T found, the
 
 360 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 extent of that fertility was confined to those 
 places on which fish had formerly been cured; 
 some small degree of verdure appeared on the 
 adjoining land, which I knew must have been 
 trampled on; but beyond that, the earth exhib- 
 ited its original barren state. I was consequently 
 led into a belief, that the brine, which drained out 
 of the fish when they were first spread, was the 
 cause of so great an alteration: and I was con- 
 firmed in this opinion, on my arrival at Conch; 
 where I found but few of the former fishing-rooms 
 occupied, and all the rest bearing a burden of fine 
 grass, which would not have disgraced the best 
 meadows in England; while the surrounding land 
 still remained as barren, as any other parts of 
 the island. 
 
 All the old encampments of the Esquimaux, 
 point themselves out to you on sailing along the 
 shore. And the south-west point of Great Island, 
 on which I had a cod-fishery for three successive 
 summers, is now covered with grass, where noth- 
 ing but heath formerly grew. 
 
 My garden in Isthmus Bay, which the reader 
 would observe, produced excellent crops the first 
 year, by being manured with sea-weed and offals 
 of fish; and also by mixing a greater portion of 
 the barren sand that lay underneath, among the 
 peat soil on the surface, it has since, I have been 
 informed, brought every thing to a degree of per- 
 fection, which had never been seen in that part 
 of the world, in any former year. 
 
 Hence it appears to me, that nothing can so
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 361 
 
 eft'ectually improve and alter the nature of hot, 
 barren sand, as unctuous, animal manures; since, 
 by binding it, the moisture is retained much 
 longer; and more food is obtained for the plants 
 which are grown upon it. But the worst of it is, 
 that such manures are to be had in Engk\nd, but 
 in small quantities only, and at a great expence, 
 unless the refuse of the whale's fat, after the oil 
 has been extracted, will have the same effect; but 
 I should reject the skin, as a substance not likely 
 to answer any good purpose. For the same rea- 
 sons that I would recommend unctuous manures 
 to dry sand land, I would not attempt to put them 
 upon strong soils, lest they should become too 
 adhesive. 
 
 The black peat, or car soil, I should suppose, 
 would receive great benefit from an admixture 
 of barren sand, assisted by the produce of the 
 fold yard. But, as in England, that kind of land 
 generally lies so low as to be very difficult to drain, 
 little is to be expected from it, unless that can 
 effectually be done. 
 
 END OF THE SIXTH VOYAGE.
 
 LABRADOR: 
 A 
 
 POETICAL EPISTLE » 
 
 Well may you, Charles, astonishment express 
 To see my letter in poetic dress. 
 How can he, you will say, in Nature's spight, 
 Who ne'er found time to read, attempt to write? 
 Write verses too! and words to measure cut! 
 Unskill'd in cutting, save at Loin or Butt.* 
 No matter how; a project's in my head, 
 To write more verses, than I've ever read. 
 The whim has seiz'd me: now you know my scheme; 
 And my lov'd Labrador shall be my Theme. 
 
 The Winter o'er, the Birds their voices tune, 
 To welcome in the genial month of June. 
 Love crouds with feather'd tribes each little Isle, 
 And all around kind Nature seems to smile. 
 Now Geese and Ducks and nameless numbers more, 
 In social flocks, are found on every shore. 
 Their eggs to seek, we rove from Isle to Isle, 
 Eager to find, and bear away the spoil: 
 These in abundance, every hand picks up. 
 And when our toil is o'er, on these we sup. 
 
 The Furrier now the Fox and Mart gives o'er, 
 To trap the Otter rubbing on the shore. 
 The Rein-deer stag, now lean and timid grown, 
 In dark recesses, silent feeds alone. 
 The Willow's tender leaf, and various plants, 
 He fails to find not in those dreary haunts. 
 His fearful Hind, now shuns the Wolf's dire wiles, 
 And seeka her safety on the neighb'ring Isles; 
 
 ' See page 315 for an account of the writinK of this poom. 
 
 • In his younger daya, the Author had a remarkable good appetite. 
 
 303
 
 364 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 
 
 Whether in Lakes, or near the Ocean's shore, 
 Cleaving the liquid wave, she ventures o'er. 
 Now pond'rous grown, she Nature's law obeys, 
 And on the ground her tender nursling lays. 
 O'er this she watches with maternal care. 
 Nor danger dreads, unless fell man comes there; 
 (Him, beast of prey, or Rock, or Wave ne'er stops) 
 For, mark'd by him, to him a prey she drops. 
 Fond, in the Summer, on young twigs to browse, 
 The social Beavers quit their Winter's house. 
 Around the Lake they cruise, nor fear mishap, 
 And sport unheedful of the Furrier's trap. 
 
 The Salmon now no more in Ocean play, 
 But up fresh Rivers take their silent way. 
 For them, with nicest art, we fix the net; 
 For them, the stream is carefully beset; 
 Few fish escape: We toil both night and day, 
 The Season's short, and Time flies swift away. 
 
 The Esquimaux from Ice and Snow now free. 
 In Shallops and in Whale-boats go to Sea; 
 In Peace they rove along this pleasant shore, 
 In plenty live; nor do they wish for more. 
 Thrice happy Race! Strong Drink nor gold they know; 
 What in their Hearts they think, their Faces shew. 
 Of manners gentle, in their dealings just. 
 Their plighted promise, safely you may trust. 
 Mind you deceive them not, for well they know. 
 The Friend sincere, from the designing Foe. 
 They once were deem'd a People fierce and rude; 
 Their savage hands in Human blood imbru'd; 
 But by my care (for I must claim the merit) 
 The world now owns that virtue they inherit. 
 Not a more honest, or more gen'rous Race 
 Can bless a Sov'reign, or a Nation grace. 
 With these I frequent pass the social day: 
 No Broils, nor Feuds, but all is sport and play. 
 My Will's their Law, and Justice is my Will; 
 Thus Friends we always were, and Friends are still. 
 Not so the Mountaineers, a treach'rous Race;
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 365 
 
 In stature tall, but meagre in the Face. 
 To Europeans long have they been known ; 
 And all their \'ices, these have made their own. 
 Not theirs the friendly visit; nor the feast 
 Of social intercourse; but like brute beast, 
 They greedily devour the reeking meal : 
 And then get drunk and quarrel, lie, and steal. 
 
 The Codfish now in shoals come on the coast, 
 (A Fish'ry this, our Nation's chiefest boast) 
 Now numerous Caplin croud along the Shore; 
 Tho' great their numbers, yet their Foes seem more: 
 Whilst Birds of rapine, hover o'er their Heads, 
 ^'oracious Fish in myriads throng their Beds. 
 With these our Hooks we artfully disguise. 
 And soon the glutton Cod becomes our Prize. 
 Not one stands idle; each Man knows his post, 
 Nor Day, nor Night, a moment must be lost. 
 The western Wind of low Ice clears the Sea, 
 And leaves to welcome Ships a passage free. 
 Yet huge large Isles of wond'rous bulk remain, 
 (To drive off which, the Wind still blows in vain) 
 In size, surpassing far thy bulk, Paul! * 
 Immeasurably wide, and deep, and tall. 
 To Seaward oft' we cast an anxious eye; 
 At length th' expected Ship with pleasure spy. 
 Impatient Joy then seizes ev'ry Breast; 
 And till we've boarded her Adieu to rest. 
 Eager the News to learn, from Friends to hear; 
 The long seal'd letter hiiatily we tear. — 
 The Cargo landed, and the ship laid by. 
 To Fishing straight, the jolly Sailors hie. 
 If you love sporting, go to Lahrador: 
 Of Game of various sorts, no land has more. 
 There you may suit your Taste, as you're inclin'd. 
 From the fierce White-bear to the timid Hind. 
 Of Fishing too, you there may have your fill: 
 Or in the Sea, or in the purling Rill. 
 Of feathcr'd (Jame, variety you'll find. 
 And plenty you may kill, if you're not blind. 
 
 • Saint Puul'a London.
 
 366 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 If in the shooting Bears, or black or white, 
 If in this larger Game, you take delight, 
 In summer time, to some large Stream repair, 
 Yet mind no Salmon-crew inhabit there. 
 This savage Tribe, averse to social joys, 
 Frequent those parts, most free from Men and noise; 
 Save, where the Cataract's stupendous height. 
 Stops the fleet Salmon in their sportive flight. 
 Bears in abundance oft' frequent this place. 
 And noble Skins your Victory will grace. 
 Of the Black-bear you need not be afraid ; 
 But killing White ones, is a dangerous Trade. 
 In this be cool, and well direct your Lead, 
 And take your Aim at either Heart or Head; 
 For struck elsewhere, your Piece not level'd true. 
 Not long you'll live, your erring hand to rue. 
 To kill this Beast, the Rifle I like best; 
 With Elbows on my Knees my Gun I rest. 
 For self-defence, the double Gun I prize. 
 Loaded with Shot, directed at his Eyes. 
 
 Or would you rather a stout Rein-deer kill, 
 (July now in) observe and climb some hill, 
 Environ'd by extent of open ground; 
 For there the Rein-deer at this time are found. " 
 Nor walk about, but from a Station watch, 
 And soon his motions with your Eye you'll catch. 
 Be steady now; with cautious Eye explore 
 The Wind's true quarter, or your sport is o'er. 
 Nor less his Eye and Ear demand your care; 
 No Beast more quick can see, more quick can hear. 
 Yet oft' his curious eye invites his fate, 
 And makes him see his Error when too late. 
 With strict Attention all your ground survey; 
 To steal up Wind, then take your silent way. 
 Shoes with fur soles, the sportsman ought to wear; 
 Your lightest footsteps, else, he's sure to hear. 
 If unperceiv'd, you've work'd with toil and pain, 
 Lie still awhile till you your Breath regain. 
 A Deer in feeding looks upon the ground: 
 Then to advance the surest time is found.
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 367 
 
 When broadside to you, and his Head is down, 
 
 Aim at his Heart, but, and he drops your own. 
 
 Observe, no Ball will kill these Creatures dead, 
 
 Save such, as strike the Spine, the Heart, or Head. 
 
 Struck in those mortal parts, Death quick comes on; 
 
 But wounded elsewhere, sick, he will lie down; 
 
 There let him he: anon, with cautious tread. 
 
 Steal softly up and shoot him through the head. 
 
 But shou'd it chance the Deer keeps open ground, 
 
 "VMiere, to approach him, shelter is not found. 
 
 And, Night now near, you cannot longer wait, 
 
 Tr>' this device, it may draw on his fate : 
 
 Full to his view, and motionless appear; 
 
 This oft excites him to approach you near. 
 
 He then will stop, to take a careful view; 
 
 Be ready with your Gun, and level true. 
 
 If the voracious Wolf shou'd please you more, 
 
 All sandy beaches you must well explore. 
 
 Chiefly, by Lakes, or by a River's side; 
 
 (In Summer, in the Woods themselves they hide;) 
 
 Be careful not to walk along the Strand, 
 
 But at convenient places there to land. 
 
 His tracts discover'd, seek some snug retreat. 
 
 And patient lie, till with your Came you meet. 
 
 A Wolf alone, is not your only chance; 
 
 Perhaps a Bear, or Deer may soon advance. 
 
 For various reasons, when the water's low, 
 
 AU Beasts along the Shore delight to go. 
 
 If safely hidden, you have naught to mind. 
 
 But, that your Game shan't have you in the wind. 
 
 When August comes, if on the Coast you be, 
 Thousands of fine Curlews, you'll daily see: 
 Delicious Bird! not one with thee can vie! 
 (Not rich in plumage, but in flavour high) 
 Nor Ortolan, nor Cock, with trail on toast. 
 Of high-fed Epicures, the pride and boast! 
 Young Geese too now, in numbers croud the shore; 
 Such are the Dainties of our I-ahkador. 
 
 If you wou'd wish witli Hares 1o sport awhile, 
 You're Hure to find them on each barren isle:
 
 368 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 But shou'd you there, the signs of Foxes trace, 
 Your Sport is o'er: No Hares frequent that place. 
 Grouse, Ptarmigan, and various sorts of Game, 
 With Birds and Beasts too tedious here to name, 
 You'll find in plenty through the Year to kill; 
 No Game-Laws there to thwart the Sportsman's Will! 
 
 September comes, the Stag's in season now; 
 Of Ven'son, far the Richest you'll allow. 
 No Long-legg'd, Ewe-neck'd, Cat-hamm'd, Shambling Brute: 
 In him strength, beauty, size, each other suit. 
 His branching Horns, majestic to the view, 
 Have points (for I have counted) seventy-two. 
 But do you think, you'll all this pleasure share, 
 And, when fatigu'd, to some good Inn repair; 
 There on a Chop, or Steak, in comfort dine. 
 And smack your Lips, o'er glass of gen'rous Wine? 
 No, no; in this our Land of Liberty, 
 Thousands of Miles you'll walk, but no House see. 
 When Night comes on, it matters not a Rush, 
 Whether you sleep in that, or t'other Bush. 
 If Game you've kill'd, your Supper you may eat; 
 If not, to-morrow you'll be sharper set. 
 Yourself, both Cook and Chamberlain must be, 
 Or neither. Bed, nor Supper will you see. 
 Drink you will want not, Water's near at hand; 
 Nature's best Tap! and always at Command. 
 
 Now Works of various kinds, employ all hands; 
 Each to his Post; for no one idle stands. 
 The Salmon now we pack; the next our care, 
 The Codfish for the IMarket, to prepare. 
 Crews to their Winter-quarters now we send; 
 Whilst some, the Firewood fell; Nets, others mend. 
 The Furrier now, with care his Traps looks o'er, 
 These he puts out in paths, along the Shore, 
 For the rich Fox; although not yet in kind. 
 His half-price Skin, our Labour's worth we find. 
 And when the Beaver lands, young Trees to cut, 
 Others he sets for his incautious foot. 
 On Rubbing-places, too, with nicest care,
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 369 
 
 Traps for the Otter, he must uext prepare. 
 Then deathfalls, in the old tall Woods he makes, 
 With Traps between, and the rich Sable takes. 
 
 Now cast your Eyes around, stern Winter see, 
 His progress making, on each fading Tree. 
 The yellow leaf, th' effect of nightly frost, 
 Proclaims his Visit, to our dreary Coast. 
 Fish, Fowl, and Ven'son, now our Tables grace; 
 Roast Beaver too, and e'ery Beast of chase. 
 Luxurious living this! who'd wish for more? 
 Were Quin ' alive, he'd haste to Labrador! 
 
 Some new variety, next Month you'll find; 
 The stately Stag now seeks his much-lov'd Hind. 
 Grown bold with Love, he stalks along the plains; 
 And e'en, to fly from Man, now oft disdains. 
 If, in your Walks, you meet this noble Brute, 
 And with him wish his progress to dispute; 
 Be cool, collected; let him come quite near; 
 Then take your Aim well, and you've nought to fear. 
 If struck not dead, reluctantly he flies; 
 And soon grows faint; then trembling, falls and dies. 
 But shou'd a sudden panic seize your frame, 
 And fear misguide you, in your Point and Aim, 
 Your Error's fatal ; 'tis in vain you fly, 
 T' evade the fury of your Enemy. 
 
 Now Eider-ducks fly South, along the shore; 
 In milder Climes, to pass the winter o'er. 
 At some fit Point, there take your secret stand. 
 And numbers you may kill, from off the land. 
 
 All this is pleasure; but a Man of Sense, 
 Looks to his Traps; 'tis they bring in the Pence. 
 The Otter-.sea.son's short; and soon the frost 
 Will freeze your Traps, then all your Labour's lost. 
 Of Beaver too, one Week will yield you more. 
 Than later, you can hope for, in a Score. 
 
 ^ An English actor, 1693 to 1706. One of his most famous parts waa 
 that of KalritaEf.
 
 370 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 
 
 In paths, the Foxes now, will nightly cruise; 
 But when snow'd up, no longer paths they use. 
 
 November in; the Ships must now be gone, 
 Or wait the Winter, for the Spring's return. 
 The Lakes are fast; the Rivers cease to flow; 
 Now comes the cheerless Day of Frost and Snow. 
 In chains of Ice, the purhng stream is bound; 
 Black Woods remain; but Verdure is not found. 
 And Here we feel, the Tyrant's iron sway, 
 Till a more genial Sun, returns with May. 
 Seals now we take; which, when the Frost's severe. 
 In crouded Shoals, along the Coast appear. 
 Hamper'd in strong-mesh'd Toils, in vain they dive; 
 Their Freedom to regain, in vain they strive; 
 Strangled they die; and with their Skins and Oil, 
 Amply repay expence, and Time, and Toil. 
 By Christmas-Day, this work is always o'er. 
 And Seals and Nets, safe landed on the shore. 
 
 Now blows December with a keener blast; 
 And Ocean's self, in Icy Chains binds fast. 
 Ascend yon Mountain's top; extend your view 
 O'er Neptune's trackless Empire, nor will you. 
 In all his vast Domain, an Opening have, 
 Where foams the Billow, or where heaves the Wave. 
 A dreary Desart all, of Ice and Snow, 
 Which forming Hills, fast into Mountains grow. 
 So cutting cold, now blust'ring Boreas blows, 
 None can with naked Face, his blasts oppose. 
 But well wrapp'd up, we travel out secure. 
 And find Health's blessings, in an Air so pure. 
 
 Now to his Cave, the Black-bear hies his way, 
 Where, lock'd in Sleep, he spends both Night and Day; 
 Nor, till a milder Sun revives his Blood, 
 Wakes from his Dreams, to prowl abroad for food. 
 Not so the White one; ever on the stray 
 In quest of Seals, his present only prey. 
 This monster fierce and strong, you need not fear. 
 If that your Dog attack him in the rear. 
 
 1
 
 LABRADOR JOURNAL 371 
 
 There teas'd, he wields about his pond'rous Frame, 
 And gives the Sportsman time to take his Aim. 
 But shou'd your untaught Cur attack before, 
 Both Dog and I\Iaster soon will be no more. 
 
 To barren ground, the Fox-traps now we shift, 
 Where they can stand secure, and free from Drift; 
 Bait well your Trap; observe too how it lies; 
 And soon, a Fox, or wolf, will be your prize: 
 For Wolves, in plenty, on such ground appear, 
 Compell'd by Hunger, there to seek for Deer. 
 Oft have I seen this Animal display. 
 Much artful skill, in hunting down his prey. 
 The Herd descri'd, he slily creeps up near; 
 Then, rushing forward, singles out his Deer. 
 Greedy of Blood, and with keen Hunger press'd, 
 This he pursues, regardless of the rest. 
 With well strung Sinews, both maintain the Strife; 
 The one for Food — the other runs for Life. 
 If light the Snow, the Doer evades the Chase; 
 If drifted hard, the Wolf supports his pace. 
 Then, bold with fear, he turns upon his Foe, 
 And oft'times deals him a most fatal blow. 
 But oft'ner falls a \'ictim in the fray. 
 And to his ruthless Jaws becomes a prey. 
 
 We'll shift the Scene, and to the Woods repair, 
 And see what various Works are doing there. 
 In yonder Birchen grove, there lives a Crew, 
 Employ'd in mending Casks, and making new. 
 This wood of Spruce, which rises to the sky, 
 The fish'rj^'s future Sliipping will supply. 
 Some fell the Trees, and some saw out the Stock, 
 Whilst others form the Vessel in tlic Dock. 
 In these Employments, Winter's jiassed away; 
 No change is found, till near the api)roach of May. 
 Returning small Birds then the Country (ill, 
 And Cock-grouse chatter on each barren Hill. 
 The Ice parts from the Shore, and now tlic Ducks 
 Their Northward course beat back in ninii'rous flocks. 
 Deer in small licrdd the same route bend tlicir way,
 
 372 
 
 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT 
 
 Affording pastime for your Gun each day. 
 All Animals their Winter-quarters leave, 
 And Ocean, now awake, begins to heave. 
 Ice rotten grown, in ev'ry Lake you'll see, 
 And swelling Rivers, from their Bonds set free. 
 The Woodmen now with Sledges, on the Snow, 
 Their Winter's Work draw out and homeward go. 
 What's yet to do, must instantly be done. 
 For other Work must shortly be begun. 
 Shallops now launched, the Crews no longer stay. 
 But in their Boats, bring all their Work away. 
 In such like Toils and Sports, the Year goes round, 
 And for each day, some Work or Pleasure's found. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 GLOSSARY 
 
 AuNTSART. A bird of the wading genus, resembling a redshank. 
 (Greater Yellow-legs, Tolanus melanoUucus. The name is still used in 
 Labrador.] 
 
 Angle of a Beaverhouse. The entrance; it is always under water. 
 
 Baked Apples. The fruit of a plant so called, from the similarity of 
 taste to that of the pulp of a roasted apple. [" Bake apple " or cloud- 
 berry, Ruhus Chamaemorns.] 
 
 Barrens. Elevated lands, which will not produce timber. 
 
 Barricados. That ice which is formed upon the shore above low- 
 water mark. 
 
 Beavek - CcTONGS. A furrier's term for those trees or sticks which 
 have been cut down by beavers. It is also used for the stumps which are 
 left. 
 
 Block up a Boat. To place blocks, or logs of wood under her keel. 
 
 Bobber. A small piece of wood, which is made fast by a piece of line 
 (called the bobber-line) to that corner of a shoal-net next to the land, 
 which, by floating upon the water, shews where the net is. 
 
 Bridge of a Deatiifall. A piece of board placed within a deathfall; 
 one end of which is hung to a small stake by a piece of twine, and the 
 other end Ls supported in an horizontal position by a peg (called a tongue.) 
 NVhen an animal treads on it, the peg Is drawn out, which sets the cat- 
 killer at liberty, and that falls upon the back of the creature and kills it. 
 
 Bridge of a Trap. A plate of iron in the centre of a trap for the 
 animal to tread on, which then falling down, sets the jaws at liberty. 
 
 Bulk of Fish. A quantity of fish salted one upon another. 
 
 Bull. A small sea bird. I believe it is called the ice-bird. [Dovekie 
 or little auk, Alle alle.] 
 
 Busk. \ piece of board which is pointed at one end and broad at 
 the other. V\'hen a furboard is not broad enough to spread a skin prop- 
 erly, the bask is introduced on the belly side to stretch it completely. 
 
 Callibogus. a mixture of spnico-boor and rum. 
 
 Cai'LIN. a fish " Salrno Archcus " IVnnant. \.\fnlhtus trillosiis.] 
 
 Cat - house. A hut of boughs erected over a trap, to defend it from 
 snow. 
 
 CuiNRiNf;. Filling with mo.ss, the vacancies between the studs of 
 houses, to keep out the wind and frost. 
 
 CoDSTAGE. A covered platform, which is built, projecting over the 
 water, to split and salt codfish in. 
 
 878
 
 374 GLOSSARY 
 
 Craft. A fisherman's term, signifying the whole of the implements 
 they use; such as nets, hooks, Unes, &c. 
 
 Crew of Beavers. The two old beavers, and all their young ones 
 which have not yet begun to breed. If there are more breeding pairs 
 than one in the same house, it is said to be inhabited by a double or treble 
 crew. 
 
 Cross - fox. A fox which is bred between a silver and yellow. [A 
 colour variety of the Labrador red fox, Vulpes rvbiginosa bangsi.] 
 
 Cuffs. Mittens to wear upon the hands. They resemble those made 
 use of by hedgers in England. 
 
 Deathfall. a trap made of logs. They are chiefly used to catch 
 martens, but they will kill any beast, by erecting them in proportion 
 to his size and strength. 
 
 DiLLROOM. The well in a boat. 
 
 DoATER. An old, common seal. [Probably harp seal, Phoca groen- 
 landica.] 
 
 Eddy Flaw. When the current of wind is interrupted by a hill or 
 any other body, short puffs will often strike in a contrarj' direction; those 
 are called Eddy FlaWs. 
 
 Faggots of Fish. Small parcels of codfish, from a dozen to a score, 
 laid one upon another, with their backs upwards to be defended from 
 wet, during rain or the night. 
 
 Fall in a River. A small cataract. 
 
 Fish upon the Gangboards. An expression used by fishermen to 
 denote a boat being completely laden with fish; to shew which, they 
 bring in two or three upon the Gangboards. 
 
 Flakes. Sets of beams, which are supported on posts and shores, 
 and covered with boughs. They are used to dry fish upon. They are 
 of two sorts, viz: Broad-flakes and Hand-flakes. 
 
 Fleet of Nets. A number of nets, which are fastened to each other, 
 in such manner as to form a pound, or pounds. A fleet of salmon-nets, 
 commonly speaking, is but three. But there is no determined number 
 for a fleet of Stopper-nets for seals. 
 
 Flight - time. The periodical migration of ducks. 
 
 Frostburn. a deep and serious penetration of frost on any animal 
 substance. The effect of severe frost on animal substances being equal 
 with that of fire, is the reason of that term. 
 
 Furboards. Boards to spread furs upon. 
 
 Ganging Hooks and Leads. To fix fine twine in a particular man- 
 ner to fish-hooks, and small straps of line to leads, that they may be 
 ready for immediate use. 
 
 Gigger or Jigger. A pair of large hooks fixed back to back with some 
 lead run upon the shanks, in the shape of a fish. The Gigger being let 
 down to the bottom, is played by sharp jerks, and such fish are hooked 
 by it, as are enticed by the resemblance of the leg^ l^o a real fish.
 
 GLOSSARY 375 
 
 Gully. A Barrel with only one head in it, and a couple of large holes 
 bored under the chime hoop3 of the other end, to introduce a stang to 
 carry it upon. They are used chiefly to carry salt in. 
 
 Harp. An old seal of that kind called by Pennant, " Blackback." 
 [Harp seal, Phoca groenlandica.] 
 
 Haul a Net. Such nets aa are constantly moored in the water 
 are hauled by going out to them in a boat, laying hold of one end, and 
 hauling the boat along by the head-rope to the other end, taking the fish 
 out into the boat; the meshes being made large enough for the fish to 
 entangle themselves in them. A seine is hauled, by».shooting it, bj' de- 
 grees, out of a boat into the water, and hauhng it on shore again by the 
 two ends. 
 
 HocND. A water-fowl rather larger than a teal. These birds migrate 
 to the north in large flocks in the spring, and as they fly, make a continual 
 noise, than which nothing can more resemble the cry of a pack of beagles 
 when in chase. When, and how they return to the south again I am 
 unacquainted. [Old-squaw, Harelda hyemalis.] 
 
 Hl'mmoc. a little hill. 
 
 Ja.m Ice. The low ice with which the whole face of the ocean is cov- 
 ered every winter, and until late in the summer. 
 
 Jar. The young of the smallest kind of seal; the old ones are called 
 Double .Jars. [Either the harbour seal, Phoca vitulina concolor, or ringed 
 seal, Phoca hispitJa, probably the latter.] 
 
 Jerk. To cure fish or meat in the open air without salt. 
 
 Killers of a Deathfall, are three, viz. The Ground-killer; which 
 lies upon the ground, across the front of the Deathfall. The Cat-killer; 
 one end of which turns upon a nail which is driven into a strong stake, 
 and the other is supported high up by a line which passes over a crutch 
 on the top of a stake and then comes down to another at the bottom, 
 under which one end of the tongue is fixed, while the other supports the 
 bridge; which being pressed by the animal, disengages the point of the 
 tongue, that sets the cat-killer at liberty and it falls down upon the ground- 
 killer; con.sequently falls down upon the back of any animal, which may 
 be standing across the latter. And the Main-killer; ope end of which 
 rests upon the ground and the other upon the elevated end of the Cat- 
 killer, and falls with it; serving to keep the latter down. 
 
 KiLLicK. A wooden anchor, made by nailing a pair of claws across 
 ea<li other, and fixing three rods to each claw; within which a large stone 
 is placed to give it weight, and the ends of all the rods are tied together 
 above the stone, to secure it in its place. [These are still used on the 
 New England coa.st and bear the same name.) 
 
 Ki.vrj - Hairs. The long, glossy hairs in the skin of a beast, which 
 cover the thick coat of fur. 
 
 Kyack. The Esquimau name for the canoe which is made use of by 
 that nation.
 
 376 GLOSSARY 
 
 Lady. A water-fowl of the duck genus, and the hen of the lord. [Fe- 
 male harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus.] 
 
 Lance. A small fish. The Sand-eel. [Amynodytes americanus.] 
 
 IjANDwash. That part of the shore which is within the reach of the 
 water in heavy gales of wind. 
 
 Laying - room. Boughs spread upon the ground to dry fish upon. 
 They are seldom made use of, except on the first establishing a cod-fish- 
 ery, before there has been time to erect flakes. 
 
 Ledge. Sunken rocks, and shoaly places in the sea, where the cod- 
 fish resort. 
 
 LoBScousE. A sea dish. It is a comp«5sition of minced, salted beef, 
 sea biscuit broken small, together with potatoes and onions, pepper, 
 &c. resembling a thick soup. 
 
 LoNGERS. Poles, which, by being nailed top to but, are made use 
 of for floors, instead of boards. 
 
 Lolly. Soft ice, or congealed snow floating in the water when it first 
 begins to freeze. 
 
 Loon. A large fowl of the diving genus. [Gavia immer.] 
 
 Lord. A water-fowl of the teal kind. [Male harlequin duck, Histri- 
 onicus histrio7iicus.] 
 
 Mew. a keeper's term, for deer casting their horns. 
 
 Mink. A small amphibious animal of the otter species. [Putorius 
 vison.] 
 
 NiTCH OP Rinds. Ten in number, or as many large ones, as a man 
 can conveniently carry under his arm. Each rind must be six feet long, 
 and as wide as the circumference of the tree on which it grew. 
 
 Northwester. A hood to cover the head and shoulders in severe 
 weather. It is intended chiefly to defend the cheeks and neck. 
 
 Pack of Casks. A cask which is taken to pieces, first marking the 
 staves, bundled up together and secured by four hoops. 
 
 Pan op Ice. A piece of flat ice of no determined size, but not very 
 large; the large ones are called sheets of ice. 
 
 Pelt. The skin of an animal with the fat adhering to it. That term 
 is made use of, for the skins of seals, and such other animals, the fat of 
 which lies between the skin and the flesh. A seal &c. is said to be Pelted, 
 when the skin and fat are taken off together. 
 
 Phrippers. The fin-like feet of seals, and other amphibious animals. 
 
 Pile op Fish. A large quantity of dry fish, built up in the form of a 
 round haystack. When they are sufficiently cured upon the flakes, they 
 are made up into a pile, in order to preserve them from wet; to get a 
 gentle heat, and to make room for others. 
 
 Pinovers. Bits of flannel, which are tacked to one side of the North- 
 wester, and pinned to the other; one covering the nose, and the other, 
 the chin. 
 
 Planter. A man who keeps servants of his own, and cajxiea on busi-
 
 GLOSSARY 377 
 
 ness for himself; but who, by not having a vessel, buys his necessary 
 supplies from, and sells the produce of his concerns to a merchant in 
 the country. 
 
 Pooler. A salmon which has lain a long time in a river, but has not 
 yet spawned. [Salmo salar.] 
 
 Post. A stout piece of timber, standing perpendicularly under a 
 beam. A station from whence a fishery is carried on. 
 
 Pryor - POLK. A long pole, which is fastened to that end of a shoals 
 net that is farthest from the land, by a piece of rat-hne; which, not being 
 long enough to reach to the surface of the water, causes the top of the 
 pole to appear, when the water is covered with ice or lolly. 
 
 Ptarmigan. A bird of the grouse-kind; it generally weighs about a 
 pound, but seldom more. [The rock ptarmigan, Lagopus rupestriis. 'i'he 
 willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus, Cartwright calls grouse] 
 Punt. A small boat. 
 
 Raftering of Ice. Ice is said to rafter, when, by being stopped in 
 its piissage, one piece is forced under another, until the uppermost ones 
 ri.se to a great height. 
 
 Rand of Fat. A sealer's term for a large piece of fat, just as it hap- 
 pens to be cut off the animal. 
 
 Rapid, in a River, ^^'here there is a sudden declivity of the bed of 
 a river, the stream runs quicker; such places are called Rapids. 
 
 Rattle, in a River. Where there is a succession of falls in a river 
 (which are frequently to be met with in mountainous countries) the 
 falling water makes a great noise; such a place is called a Rattle. 
 Rendering Oil. A sealer's term for melting fat into oil. 
 Rinding. The action of taking the bark from trees. In this part of 
 the world, one length only, of six feet, is taken ofT the lower part of the 
 tnink of a tree. The chief use of rinds is, to cover the roofs of houses and 
 piles of fish. 
 
 Rode. A small tow-line, of four inches and an half; made use of by 
 shallops, by way of a cable. 
 
 Round Seal. A seal which has not yet been either skinned or pelted. 
 Rubbingplace. a place by the water-side, which otters have fre- 
 quently made use of to rub themselves on after fishing. 
 
 Rummage. A furrier's term for searching a country; particularly 
 for beaver-hou.ses, when nothing else is mentioned. 
 
 Saddle op a Hill. The; low part between two elevations on a chain 
 of hills. 
 
 Saddleback. The largest species of gull, " Blackback." Pennant. 
 (Great black-backed gull, L/ims marinus.] 
 
 ScuLPiN. A fish of the gurnet genus. [Afyoxoccphalufi, species?) 
 Sewel. a device to^turn deer; particularly applied to the feathered line. 
 Shelliuhd. a water-fowl. I believe it is called honer in England. 
 [Sheldrake, red-brea.sted mergaiwcr, Mergus 8crrator.\
 
 378 GLOSSARY 
 
 Shares. Men are said to work on the shares when they have a pro- 
 portion of what they kill or make, in lieu of wages; their employer fur- 
 nishing craft. 
 
 Shin. An instrument of wood, to take rinds off the trees. 
 
 Shoal - net. A net to catch seals in. It is generally forty fathoms 
 long by two deep. The foot of it is brought to, on a shallop's old rode, 
 and the head, on two fishing-lines; with corks between. It is set in any 
 depth of water, not exceeding fifteen fathoms nor less than three, and 
 moored by a couple of killicks, fastened by eight or ten fathoms of rope 
 to the ends of the foot-rope, which by its weight keeps the foot of the net 
 close to the bottom of the water, and the corks make it stand perpen- 
 dicular. As the seals dive along near the bottom to fish, they strike into 
 the net and are entangled; for the net is placed, with one end towards 
 the shore, and the other right off. The Pryor-pole at the outer clew 
 (corner) and the bobber at the inner one, shew where the net is. The 
 sealers lay hold of either, and by their means bring the head of the net 
 to the boat; they then haul their boat along to the other end, and take 
 the seals out as they go. 
 
 Shoals of Seals, or Fish. A number of seals or fish being in com- 
 pany, are called a shoal. I presume the term arose, from the breaking of 
 the water among them, appearing like the rippling of shoaly ground. ^ 
 
 Shoot in a River. A place where the stream, being confined by rocks 
 which appear above water, is shot through the apertm-e with great force. 
 
 Shore. A stout post placed on the side of a beam in a reclined posi- 
 tion, to prevent its giving way on that side. 
 
 Shoremen. The people who are employed on shore, to head, split, and 
 salt the codfish. 
 
 Shore up a Boat. When a boat is placed upon the blocks, and set 
 upright, several shores are placed on each side; to prevent its falling 
 either to one side or the other. 
 
 Silver - fox. A black-fox, with white king-hairs dispersed on the back 
 of it. [A colour variety of the Labrador red fox, Vulpes rubiginosa bangsi.] 
 
 Silver - thaw. When it rains and freezes at the same time. 
 
 Slink. A salmon which has spawned, and has not yet recovered itself 
 by returning into the sea; till which time, it never will. [Salmo salar.] 
 
 Slip. A snare for catching deer, bears, or other large animals. They 
 are made^ of various materials, aqcordingly as a man is provided. 
 
 Slot. The foot-mark of deer. 
 
 Spring Fish. A salmon which is in perfect season. [Salmo salar.] 
 
 Spruce -Game. A bird of the grouse genus. [Hudsonian spruce 
 grouse, Canachites canadensis.] 
 
 Spudgel. a small bucket fixed to the end of a pole, to throw the water 
 out of a boat, which has no pump. 
 
 > The Century Dictionary says that shoal is the assibilated form of school, mean- 
 ing a company, a multitude.
 
 GLOSSARY 379 
 
 Spubshores. Very long shores, to support the wall-plate of the roof 
 of a codstage. 
 
 Squid. The inkfish. [Ommastrcphcs illeccbrosus; of the cuttle-fish 
 family.] 
 
 Swing a net. A net is said to be at swing, when one end only of it 
 is made fast. 
 
 Ste.\dy in a River. A part where the bed widens, inclining to a pond, 
 and there is no perceptible stream. 
 
 Stint. The dam made by beavers across a stream, to raise the water 
 to a height convenient for their purpose. 
 
 Stock of TiMbtK. A piece of timber, intended to be sawed. 
 
 Stopper - net. A large net for catching seals, which is made to fit 
 the place in which it is fixed; the foot Ues upon the ground, and the head 
 floats on the surface of the water, by means of buoys. The farther end is 
 made fast to an island (where there is one) or to the head-rope of a long 
 net which is moored parallel to the shore, and the near end is raised or 
 lowered at pleasure, by means of capstans. Several of these nets being 
 placed at certain distances from each other, form so many pounds. 
 
 Stouter. Verj' strong shores, wliich are placed round the head of a 
 stage or wharf, to prevent them from being damaged by ships or boats. 
 
 Stranger. A water-fowl of the duck kind.' 
 
 Tail a Trap. To fix it properly for catching an animal. 
 
 Thwart up a Boat. To move a boat out of the reach of the tide, by 
 the assistance of leavers, or bodily strength, when she is laid broadside 
 to the shore. 
 
 Tickle. A passage between the continent and an island, or between 
 two islands, when it is of no great width. 
 
 Tinker. A sea fowl, " Razorbill." Pennant. [Razor-billed auk, 
 .4/ra tor da.] 
 
 Tilt. A small hut. 
 
 Tilt - back. A Back-tilt is a shed made of boughs, resembUng the 
 section of a roof; the back part is placed towards the wind, and a fire is 
 generally made in front. 
 
 Tom - COD. Young codfish. [This term is used loosely of several 
 
 'The name stranrf^r for a water l)ird is not used, as far as I can discover, on tlio 
 Lalirador coast at the present day, nor have 1 found the name ainonp; the vernacu- 
 lar names of water liirds in use during CartwriRht's day in Kn(;land. Selby in his 
 Illustrations of British <^)rnitllolo^'y, lH.t;t, Vol. II, ]>. 420, p;iv<'« the name utrniuj as one 
 of the provincial names for the foolish jjnillemot, andMont:i(;"<', in his" Ornithologi- 
 cal dictionary of British Birds," in 17:il,Jnd edit., p. W>, also K'ves this word,s])elt 
 ttranfy, tor the same hird. It la perhaps not too far fetched to think that Cart- 
 wright refern to the same hird under tht- name of utroit'irv, especially as it is 
 common on the I^brador roast. The common or foolish puillemot or ninrro, Uria 
 1roilf,&n(\t\\P: very similar Hruniih's murre, I'rht hmtrin, hoth occurrod therein 
 enormous numJ)ers in Cnrtwriu'ht's <lay, and he does not refer to these l)ir<ls on the 
 coaflt unless under the name of stranger.
 
 380 GLOSSARY 
 
 small fishes but is properly applied to the Atlantic tomcod or frost-fish, 
 Microgadus tomcodas.] 
 
 Tongue of a Deathfall. A peg, which is tied to the end of the line 
 which supports the Cat-killer; the but end of which is placed under a fork 
 or notch in a stake, and the point is inserted in a hole in the end of the 
 bridge. 
 
 Tongue of a Trap. A small bar of iron, which is placed on one side 
 of the bed of a trap, and turns upon a pin: it passes over one of the jaws, 
 and the end of it is fixed under the heel of the bridge, which it supports 
 until that is pressed upon; when, being set at liberty, the jaws fly up. 
 
 Turn of Timber. So much as a man can carry on his shoulders. 
 
 Water - horse. Newly washed codfish, which are laid upon each 
 other to drain before they are spread to dry. 
 
 Whabby. a water-fowl of the diving genus. [Red-throated loon, 
 Gavia stellata.] 
 
 Whigwham. An Indian tent of a conical form. 
 
 Whitecoat. a young seal, before it has cast its first coat, which is 
 white and furry. [Probably harp seal, Phoca groenlandica.] 
 
 Whitefish. a fish of the Porpoise kind. [White whale, Delphinap- 
 terus leucas.] 
 
 Whitings. Trees which have been barked, and left standing. 
 
 Whittled - sticks. Sticks from which beavers have eaten the bark. 
 
 Wrappers. Loose sleeve-pieces to button round the wrists, to defend 
 them from the frost. 
 
 Writh. The contents of the magazine formed by beavers, for their 
 support in the winter. 
 
 Youngster. A novitiate; a person in the first year, or early part of 
 his servitude; one who has his business to learn.
 
 INDEX 
 
 The figures in italics refer to the pages where the explanatory notes occur. 
 
 Adlercron, Col. John, 6 
 
 Alder, :^19, 3-45 
 
 Alexander, see Cow-parsnip 
 
 Alexander River, 82 
 
 Alexis River, 159 
 
 American Independence, xxii-xxiv 
 
 Angle of a beaverhouse, 299, 373 
 
 Antlers of caribou, 46, 174, 325, 326 
 
 Armine and Elvira, xxvi 
 
 Arnold. Benedict, 332, 336, 337 
 
 Aspen, 29S, 342, 345 
 
 Atkinson, Charles, 15, 42, 97-99, 
 
 105 
 Auchbucktocke, 41, 48 
 Auk, Great, 93, 94, 153, 318, 319 
 Auk, Razor-billed, SO, 258, 379 
 Auntsar>', see Yellow-legs, Greater 
 
 Baked apple, 177, 240, 375 
 
 Baked-pears, SJfO 
 
 Bankruptcy, 292, 315, 316 
 
 Banks, Sir Joseph, 1^2 
 
 Baptism of Maria, 265 
 
 Barbel, 3^1 
 
 Barrens, 340, 373 
 
 Barricades, 373 
 
 Batteau Harbour, 165,253 
 
 Battle Harbour, 158, 270,321 
 
 Bear, Black, 26, 35, 166, 174, 177, 
 178, 179, food of, 236, 296; 273, 
 281, 282, 348 
 
 Bear, Polar. 29, 37, 72, 73, 86, 95, 
 as food, 98; damage by, 102; 
 eating salmon, 178; 196, 199, 
 200, 205, action with cubs, 206, 
 eating eggs, 217; 348, at Eagle 
 River falls, 228-236; habits of, 
 256-2.58 
 
 Beaver, 26, 35, 49, 50, 70, 172, 202, 
 226, 227, goncral account of, 
 297-319; 310, 311, Indian 
 mfthods f)f capture, 350-351 
 
 BeiJlamer, 185, 257 
 
 Bellv-timber. 90 
 
 BeothuLs, 9, /6-25, 34, 319 
 
 Birch. 77, 82, 176, 342-345 
 
 Black-diver, see Scoter, American 
 
 Black duck, 27, 140, 219 
 
 Blackguard Bay, 218, 240, 253, 
 280 
 
 Black's Head, xxx 
 
 Blueberries, SJ^, 346 
 
 Boneta, 136 
 
 Bottle-nose diver, see Scoter, Surf 
 
 Bras.s-wing diver, see Scoter, White- 
 winged 
 
 Brouze, 306 
 
 Buffon, 297, 308, 309 
 
 Bulfinch, sec Pine grosbeak 
 
 Bull, see Dovekie 
 
 Butcher bird, see Shrike 
 
 Byron, Commodore, 28, 32 
 
 Callibogus, 373 
 Caplin, KAS". 173, 174, 204, 373 
 Caribou, Barren-ground, 20, 21 
 Caribou, Newfountlland, 20, 21 
 Caribou, Woodland, 20, .30, 36, 45, 
 46, 47, 48, 51 , .59, behaviour with 
 dogs, 60-62; freciucnting shores 
 in winter, 72; 76, 77, 103, 160, 
 161, 174, speed, 183, 278; 198, 
 200, 201, 249-251, migrations 
 of, 2.56; captive calf, 271 278; 
 food of, 27(), 277; as food. 279; 
 324, 325, mewing antlers, 325, 
 326 
 Caribou Castle, 237, 241, 242, 247 
 Carmack, Expedition of, 16, 22 
 Cartwright, Cli.-irlcs, xxvii, xxviii 
 ('art Wright, Edmund, ancestor of 
 
 (Jeorge, xix, xx 
 Cartwright, Edmund, brother of 
 
 George, xxv-xxvii 
 Cartwrinlit Harbour. 171. 175. 198 
 Cartwright, .loliii. xxi-xxv, 8, 9, 32 
 Cartwriglil, Miss V. D., xxviii 
 Cartwright, Sir Hugh, xix 
 Cartwright, \\'illi,iin, brother of 
 George, xx 
 
 381
 
 382 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Cartwright, William, father of 
 
 George, xx 
 Cat, see Fisher 
 Charles River, 29, 30, 39 
 Chateau Bay, 14, 77, 99 
 Cherry, 345 
 
 Christmas, 58, 96, 186, 254, 325 
 Churching of Nanny, 70 
 Climate, 189, 221, 352 
 Clive, Lord, 7 
 
 Cloudberry, see Baked-apple 
 Cod, 39, 83, 173, 174, 204, 237, 248, 
 
 271 
 Colleroon River, 81 
 Convoy, Sailing under, 214, 215, 285 
 Cormorant, 173 
 Covent Garden Theatre. 122 
 Cow-parsnip, 82, eaten by black 
 
 bears only, 277; 346 
 Cranberry, 34-6 
 Cranmer, Archbishop, xix, xx 
 Crossbill, 193, 223 
 Cross-buttock, 110 
 Curlew, Eskimo, 33, 34, 36, 37, 137, 
 
 207, 282, 320 
 Curlew, Hudsonian, 207 
 Currant, 79, 343, 346 
 
 Darby, Nicholas, 14, 30 
 Dartmouth, Earl of, 131, 135 
 Deer, see Caribou 
 Deer fences, 19-22 
 Doater, 93, 203, 374 
 Docket, To strike a, 315 
 Dog-berry, 277, 345 
 Dolland, Pocket, 16 
 Dolphin, 136 
 Dove, 180, 348 
 Dovekie, 153, 259, 373 
 Duck hawk, 44, 262 
 
 Eagle, 106, 178, 197, 348 
 
 Eagle River, 178, 227, 228, 231-236 
 
 Edwards, Admiral, 284, 286 
 
 Eel, 341 
 
 Egging, 80, 81, 82, 162, 201, 203, 
 216, 217 
 
 Eider, 29, 43, rate of flight, 77-78; 
 courtship, 172; down of, 267, 
 268, 269; eggs of, 269; migra- 
 tion, 310, 341 
 
 Eider, King, 251 
 
 Empetrum nigrum, 21, 34, 180, 340 
 
 Elliot, Gov. John, 332 
 
 Ermine, see Weasel 
 
 Erskine, Baron, 338 
 
 Esquimaux, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28, 30, 
 38; habits, 41-45, 48; 53, 54, 
 55; komatik, 56, 57; 59; 
 snow-house, 67-69; trade with, 
 85-92, 104-107; sports, 108- 
 110; medical treatment, 111, 
 116; trip to England, 115- 
 132; small-pox, 133-137; grief, 
 138-140, 143, 296, 320; fatal 
 dispute, 328,329; offer in mar- 
 riage, 329, 330; colds, 330; origin 
 of, 352; 357 
 
 Esquimaux dog, 58, 120, 121 - 
 
 Exploits River, xxii, 19, 22 
 
 Eyre Island, 51, 62, 69 
 
 Falcon, 262 
 
 Falls of Eagle River, 231, 232, 236 
 
 Falls of White Bear River, 178, 179, 
 
 205 
 Fillbelly Island, 200 
 Fir balsam, 37, 342-345 
 Fire (of buildings), 39, 40, 54, 55, 
 
 11,3-114, 2.59 
 Fire (forest), 33, 83, 343,344 
 Fisher, 223 
 Flakes, 374 
 Floe ice, 75, 76, 162-167, 263, 355, 
 
 356, 375 
 Flying-fish, 136 
 Fox, Arctic (also called blue or 
 
 white fox), 35, 262, 263, as 
 
 food, 267 
 Fox, Black, 35, 253 
 Fox, Cross, 35, 186, 188, 220, 374 
 Fox, Hon. Stephen, 127, 128 
 Fox, Red, 35, 62, as food, 66; 172, 
 
 188, robbing traps, 194; 260, 
 
 265, 266, 267 
 Fox, Silver, 35, 59, 70, 86, 91, 186, 
 
 188 378 
 Frostburn, 55, 63, 327, 374 
 Funk Island, 23, 24, 318, 319 
 
 Gannet, 152, 215 
 Gannet Islands, 243, 263 
 Gardening, 55, 56, 94, 176, 196, 
 
 227, 295, 339, 340, 3,58-361 
 George's Coffee-house, 146 
 Goat, intoxicated, 42 
 Goose, Canada, 36, 82, 112, 203, 
 
 219; quills, 273 
 Goose, Greater snow, 268 
 Gooseberry, 182, 346 
 Granby, Marquis of, 7, 9, 84 
 Gready Harbour, 240
 
 INDEX 
 
 383 
 
 Great Caribou Island, 62 
 
 Great Island, 273, 274 
 
 Grimes, Captain John, 240-247 
 
 Grouse, see Ptarmigan, Willow 
 
 Grouse, Red, 86, 14I 
 
 Grouse, Sharp-tailed, 268 
 
 Grouse, Spruce, SS, 45, 46, 49, 50, 
 
 73, 297, S7S 
 Guidelou, Captain, 319, 320 
 Guillemot, Black, 106, 203, 264; 
 
 eggs of, 2G9 
 Guillemot, Common, see Murre 
 Gulls, 40, 79, 197, 254, 377 
 Gull. Great black-backed, 40, 197, 
 
 377 
 Gull, Ivory, 254 
 
 Hare, Polar, 45, 162, 163 
 
 Hare, Varying, 4^, changing coat, 
 
 192 
 Harle, 268 
 Harlequin duck, S9, 43, 95, 154, 159, 
 
 376 
 Harp, 257, 375 
 
 Hawko, Sir Edward, xxii, 28, 32 
 Henly Island, 72 
 Hermit beavers, 303 
 Heron, 348 
 
 Hinchingbrook Bay, 168, 310 
 Hislop, Lieut. William, 6 
 Holland, Lord and Lady, 127 
 Horned lark, 158 
 Horned owl, 219 
 Hound, see Old-squaw 
 Howe, Lord, xxi 
 Humbles, 183 
 
 Hunter, Dr. John, 125, 126 
 Huntington Island, 168, 198 
 
 Icebergs, 354, 355 
 
 Igloo, 67-69 
 
 Indian tea, see Labrador tea 
 
 Indians, see Beothuks, Micmars, 
 
 Mountaineers, Nascaupees 
 Indians, Red or Wild, srr Beothuks 
 Indians, term f)ftcn wronglj' applied 
 
 to KsriuiriKUix, (]. v. 
 Inoculation for the small-pox, I46 
 Isle of Ponds, 167, 171 
 Isthmus Bav, 320, 360 
 Ivucktoke Bay, 248, 261, 268 
 
 James powder, 59 
 Jar, 375 
 
 Jay, Labrador, 47, 193, robbing 
 traps, 195 
 
 Jigger, 374 
 
 Jones, Surgeon, 44, 63-65 
 
 Juniper, 345 
 
 Killick, 375 
 
 King-duck, sec Eider, King 
 
 King George III, 122, 126, 127, 130 
 
 K no bier, 1S3 
 
 Komatik, 56, 357 
 
 Kyack, 42, 138, 375 
 
 Labour difficulties, 97, 252, 266, 274, 
 
 275, 323 
 Labrador: A Poetical Epistle, 363- 
 
 372 
 Labrador, Definition of, 339 
 Labrador duck, 45 
 Labrador spar, 347 
 Labrador tea, 70, 343 
 Lady, see Harlequin duck 
 Laminaria, 257 
 Lance, 376 
 Lane, Michael, 95 
 Larch, 49, 171, 342 
 Life-boat invention, xxxi 
 Lobscouse, 376 
 
 Lodge, The, see Ranger Lodge 
 Lolly, 376 
 Longers, 376 
 Loon, 31, 269, 376 
 Loon, Red-throated, 36, 89, 177, 
 
 380 
 Lord, see Harlecjuin duck 
 Lynx, 105, 223, 348 
 
 Mackerel, 136 
 Mallard, 27 
 Manures, 358-361 
 Marnham Manor, xxviii, 128 
 Marten, 35, 46, 48, 49, 51, 53, as 
 
 food, m; 73, 172, 192, 196, 262 
 Mary Harbour, 79, 82 
 Meadow mouse, 250, 260 
 Mealy Mountains, 179,251 
 Medlar, 302, 311 
 Mcrgan.scr, Red-breasted, 40, 81, 
 
 S2, 158, 377 
 Micmacs, 24 
 
 Midwiferv, 65, 66, 195, 262 
 Mink, \12,348,S76 
 Mole, 34s 
 Moravians, 38 
 
 M()s(|uito<-s, 83, 112, 331, S6S 
 Mount Martin, 250 
 Mountain ash, 345
 
 384 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Mountaineers, ^4, 34, 159, 173, 175, 
 208, 251, 268, 269, 348-352, 
 357 358 
 
 Mount Martin, 250, 324 
 
 Murre, 133, 379 
 
 Muskrat, 297, 348 
 
 Nascaupees, 34, 34 
 
 Newgate prisoners, 317, 323, 324, 
 
 327, 328 
 Niger Sound, 63, 64, 70 
 Noddy, 118 
 Nottinghamshire militia, xxv 
 
 Old squaw, 201, 264, 375 
 
 Ores, 294, 295, 347 
 
 Osier, 345 
 
 Otter, 35, 45, catching fish, 50; 54, 
 56, as food, 66; 71, 75, 81, 82, 
 rubbing places, 35, 377 
 
 Oyster-catcher, 143 
 
 Palliser, Sir Hugh, xxii, 9 
 Paradise, 169, 175, 242, 247, 252, 
 
 271, 321,323 
 Partridge-berry, 201 
 Penguin, see Auk, Great 
 Phrippers, 48, 376 
 Pied-duck, see Labrador duck 
 Pied -bird, see Oyster-catcher 
 Pigeon, see Guillemot, Black 
 Pigeon, Passenger, 180 
 Pike, 170, 226 
 Pine grosbeak, 195 
 Pine, Weymouth, 23 
 Pipshy, 85 
 Planter, 376 
 Plover, Grey, 137, 207 
 Pooler, 377 
 Porcupine, 35, 40, 45, habits, 155- 
 
 156; quills, 156-158; as food, 
 
 158; 224, 225 
 Power-loom, xxvi 
 Privateers, 240-247, 270 
 Ptarmakin, see Ptarmigan, Rock 
 Ptarmigan (of Scotland), 36, 142 
 Ptarmigan, Rock, 36, 43, 142, 326, 
 
 377 
 Ptarmigan, Willow, 36, 37, 43, 59, 
 
 changes in plumage, 141-14^, 
 
 197, 260, 377 
 Puffin, 238 
 Puppy's parlour, 95 
 
 Quin, 369 
 
 Quintal, 83 
 Quirpon, 319 
 
 Rabbit, see Hare 
 
 Racoon, 348 
 
 Ranger, 84, 86, 92 
 
 Ranger Lodge, 39, 241, 247 
 
 Raspberry, 218, 346 
 
 Raven, 48, 52, 187, 192 
 
 Red-dock, 346 
 
 Reindeer, see Caribou 
 
 Reindeer, European, 20 
 
 Reindeer lichen, 21 
 
 Rinding, 82, 155, 159, 376, 377 
 
 Robin, 227, nest and eggs of, 269 
 
 Robinson, Mrs., 14 
 
 Routh, Richard, 331 
 
 Rye, Wild, 77,277 
 
 Saddle-back, see Gull, Great black- 
 backed 
 
 Sallad, Indian, 263, 346 
 
 Sallow, see Willow or Osier 
 
 Salmon, 35, 92, 106, 137, 176, 177, 
 178, 205, at Eagle River Falls, 
 232; numbers and weight, 272 
 
 Sandpiper, 158, 348 
 
 Sandwich Bay, 168, 175, 257, 273, 
 321 
 
 Saint Peter's Bay, 71, 73, 102 
 
 Scoter, American, 246 
 
 Scoter, Surf, 81, 202 
 
 Scoter, White-winged, 81 
 
 Sculpin, 377 
 
 Scurvy, 194 
 
 Scurvy-grass, 346 
 
 Sea-cow, see Walrus 
 
 Seals, 45, 51, 59,87,95,96, 137, 161, 
 eating sea-weed, 257; 271 
 
 Seal-nets, 51, 52, 95, 378, 379 
 
 Sea-parrot, see Puffin 
 
 Sea-pigeon, see Guillemot, Black 
 
 Selby, Mrs., 15, 26, 27, 33, 132, 218, 
 262, divorce, 264, 265; 283,290 
 
 Sewell, 20, 74, 78, 83, 377 
 
 Shag, see Cormorant 
 
 Shell-bird, see Merganser 
 
 Ship Harbour, 159 
 
 Shrike, 263, 264 
 
 Sled, Esquimaux (komatik), 56, 57 
 
 Sfink, 83, 105, 378 
 
 Small-pox, /55-137, 146, 261 
 
 Snipe, US, 34? 
 
 Snow (a saihng vessel), 93 
 
 Snow-blindness, 71, 72
 
 INDEX 
 
 385 
 
 Snow-bunting, 197 
 Sparrow, House, 263 
 Spruce-beer, 194, 254, 260 
 Spruce-game, see Grouse, Spruce 
 Spruce trees, SI, 37, 49, of great 
 
 size, 81; 193, 342-345 
 Spudgel,159, 378 
 Squid, 317, 379 
 Squirrel, Flving, 99, 202 
 Squirrel, Red, 99 
 Staggard, 1S3 
 Stint, 300, 301, 379 
 Storm, ISl, 182, 184, 185, 211, 212. 
 
 2S4, 288, 311, 312, 313, 333-337 
 Stranger, 202, 379 
 Strawberry, 346 
 Swallows, 226 
 Swan, \\'liistling, 269 
 
 Table Bav, 171 
 
 Temple Bay, 100, 101, 241, 248 
 
 Tern, 23S 
 
 Tickle, 379 
 
 Tinker, see Auk, Razor-billed 
 
 Tom-cod, 3S0 
 
 Trout, 79, 83, 92, 166, 177 
 
 Tyrconnel, Lord, xxi 
 
 Vails, XX 
 
 Venison Harbour, 161 
 
 Vetches, 27S 
 
 \oyage. Definition of, 84 
 
 Walrus, 57 
 
 Weasel, 15S 
 
 Whabby, sec Loon, Red-throated 
 
 ^\•luiles, HI, 3S0 
 
 White-Bear River, 178, 179. 205, 
 
 224, 249 
 White-Bear Sound, 78 
 \\'hite whale, SSO 
 \\'hortle, see Blueberries 
 Wigwam, Indian, 22, 79, 81, 352 
 WiUlcat, see Fisher 
 Williams, John, 33 
 Willow, 219, 3Jt5 
 Wolf, 5S, 59, 71, 74, as food, 74, 75, 
 
 187; 179, 187; robbing traps, 
 
 190; 191, 192, 194, 197, 222, 
 
 261, 262, 273 
 Wolverine, 73, 93, 98, 197, 228, 255 
 Writh, 299, 380 
 
 Yellow-legs, Greater, 36, 154, 873 
 York Fort, 28, 71, 77
 
 1 
 
 DATE DUE 
 
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