LABRADOR AND HUDSON BAY.

Situation, Extent, Names. LABRADOR is an extensive territory, lying between the east coast of Hudson Bay and the Atlantic ocean, and extending from 48 to 63 degrees north latitude.

The parts on the west and south of the Bay, extending inland to an indeterminate distance, have been denominated New North Wales, and New South Wales. On the north the Bay is bounded by unexplored regions.

The whole of these countries, taken collectively, lie between 48 and 70 degrees north latitude, 850 miles long, and 750 broad, and are sometimes called by the general name of NEW-BRITAIN; a name, however, which has not been admitted into maps. They are also called the country of the EsQUIMAUX; these people being the native inhabitants of the shores of Hudson Bay.

Climate. As dismal and frozen as these regions are, they are becoming still more cold and intolerable. It is a singular, but well established fact, that while other climes are becoming more mild, the northern part of America is becoming more inhospitable. The cold is much more severe, than in the corresponding latitudes on the European continent. Even in latitude 57°, the ice on the rivers is eight feet thick, and brandy coagulates. The rocks burst with a horrible noise, equal to that of heavy ar tillery, and the splinters are thrown to an amazing distance. Mock suns and halos are frequent in these northern climates; the sun rises and sets with a large cone of yellow. ish light. The aurora borealis diffuses a variegated splendor, which equals that of the full moon; and the stars sparkle with a fiery redness. In the shortest day, the sun rises about five minutes after nine, and sets five minutes before three.

Face of the Country. The eastern coast is barren; past the efforts of cultivation. The surface is every where uneven, and covered with masses of stone: the vallies are full of lakes, formed of rain and snow, so chilly as to be productive only of a few small trout. The mountains have

In some

here and there a blighted shrub, or a little moss. places there are a few crooked, stunted trees, as pines, fir, birch, and a species of juniper.

Labrador produces a beautiful erridescent felspar, called Labrador stone, said to have been first discovered, in sailing through some lakes, where its bright hues were re. flected from the water.

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Animals. The animals of this country are the moose, deer, stag, rein-deer, bears, tigers, otters, martens, lynxes, wild cats, and hares. The eastern coast presents numerous islands, covered with flocks of sea fowl, particularly eider ducks. It is a surprising phenomenon, that most of the beasts and fowls of these regions, though of different colors in summer, are all white in the winter.

Inhabitants and Religion. The inhabitants among the mountains are Indians; along the coast they are Esquimaux, the same sort of people with the Greenlanders, and the Lappes and Samoeids of Europe. The Esquimaux are a dwarfish race, with long black hair, small eyes, and flat faces. The Moravians have missionaries established at Okak, Nain, and Hope Dale. In this cold and dreary country they are pursuing their labors, among the poor Esquimaux, with "increasing joy and thankfulness."*

History, Settlements, &c. Labrador was discovered about the year 1585, by Frobisher, who also discovered the strait which bears his name.

Hudson Bay was discovered by an English navigator of that name, in 1610. The coast of this bay, as well as the extensive region of Labrador, cannot be reckoned as Occupied by European settlers. There are, however, some factories, or trading posts, belonging to the Hudson Bay Company, which was established in 1670, for the purposes of commerce and plantation. These are Albany-Fort and Moose-Fort, on James Bay, which is the southern extremity of Hudson Bay; Severn house, at the mouth of Severn river; York Fort, on Nelson's river; and Churchill-Fort, on Churchill river, which is the most northerly of their posts. These are only houses inhabited by the servants of the company, who trade with the natives for furs, which are often brought from great distances within land.

* Periodical accounts of the brethren, No. 39.

INTERIOR COUNTRIES.

CONCERNING the interior parts of North-America, little was known, till the difficult and laborious enterprises of Mr. Mackenzie performed in 1789 and 1793. Previous to these, however, Mr. Hearne had followed Copper-Mine river northward to the Arctic Ocean. The shores of this river were inhabited by Esquimaux.

Mr. Mackenzie, embarked at Fort Chepewyan, on the Lake of the Hills, in latitude 58° 40′ north, longitude 110 30 west, in a canoe of birch bark, with ten associates. His course was northwesterly to seek the Arctic Ocean. Mountains and vallies, dreary wastes, and wide spreading forests, succeed each other in his description. Small bands of wandering savages were the only people he discovered.

After leaving the Lake of the Hills, he entered Slave river, from which he passed to Slave lake, near latitude 61 and 62 north, and longitude 110 to 120 west. The country around wears a barren aspect, but produces berries, large trees of spruce, pine, and white birch.

From this lake he entered a river, which he called Mackenzie's river, a deep and spacious stream. On its banks he found encampments of Knistineaux Indians, a wander. ing tribe, spread over a vast extent of country. Their language is the same as that of the natives on the waters of the St. Lawrence, and the coast of Labrador. They are of a moderate stature, well proportioned, and active. Their dress is simple; their countenance open, and their eyes black. Their women are the most comely of

savages.

The other principal tribes, inhabiting the west side of Mackenzie's river, from Slave lake, are the Strong-bow, Mountain, and Hare Indians; those on the east are the Beaver, Inland, Nathana, and Quarellers.

After proceeding down this river to latitude 69° 1 ́, he reached the tide waters of the Frozen Ocean; but, in the middle of July, was unable to proceed further on account of the ice. He returned to Chepewyan fort, after an absence of 102 days..

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In October, 1792, he proceeded on a voyage to the North Pacific Ocean. From the Lake of the Hills, he ascended Peace river, which is a quarter of a mile wide. The lands on this river are low and rich, inhabited by the Beaver and Mountain Indians. These people are said to be in the lowest state of debasement, and are a barbarous race of beings. The women perform all the drudgeries. Their habitations are formed by setting up a number of poles, united at the top, and forming a circle of 12 or 15 feet diameter at the bottom. These are covered with dressed skins.

In the mountains, which separate the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, are several chasms, which emit smoke and fire, and a sulphureous smell.

Finding the streams of the west did not tend directly to the sea, Mr. Mackenzie proceeded by land for a considerable time. As he advanced nearer the coast, the settlements of the natives were more numerous and permanent; the manner of living more comfortable, and the state of society improved. The people were hospitable; they appeared to have stated seasons for public and private wor ship, and had temples decorated with hieroglyphics.

În latitude 52° 21′ 33′′ north, and longitude 128° 2' west, Mr. Mackenzie reached the Pacific ocean; and inscribed his name on a rock by the shore.

It would be a difficult, if not an impossible task, to enu. merate all the tribes of Indians inhabiting the interior parts of North-America. Their modes of hunting and warfare, their cruelty to their prisoners, the singularities of scalping, and other general characteristics, have been frequently described, and are generally known.

Captains Clark and Lewis, with a select and well furnished company, have since passed up the Missouri river and thence to the Pacific ocean, under the auspices, and at the expense, of the government of the United States.

NORTHWEST COAST.

THE country of the northwest part of America, lying: on the Pacific ocean, and extending south nearly to the 30th degree of north latitude, is known by the general name of THE NORTHWEST COAST.

According to the accounts of various navigators, these regions with little deviation, have the appearance of continued forests, being covered with pines, alder, birch, and various kinds of underwood. The vallies and plains produce currants, gooseberries, raspberries, and numerous flowering shrubs.

The climate on this side of America is milder than that on the eastern, in the same latitudes. South of 45 degrees it is said to be one of the finest climates in the world.

On the coast are many spacious bays, commodious harbors, and mouths of navigable rivers, among which Nootka sound, Admiralty Bay, Port Mulgrave, Prince Wil liam's Sound, and Cook's inlet, are the principal. The peninsula of Alaska, extending westward between Bristol Bay and Prince William's sound, is the most westerly point of the continent of America.

The coast is inhabited by numerous, but small tribes of Indians each tribe is independent, and governed by its own chief. They differ from each other in language and custoins, and are frequently at war. Their most singular practice is that of slitting the under lip, so as to give them the appearance of having two mouths. Some of these tribes disguise themselves, after the manner of the ancient Scythians, in skins of wild beasts, with the heads and limbs. fitted on their own. These habits they use in the chase, to circumvent the animals of the field.

The number of inhabitants on this coast is unknown ;. but it is supposed there are not more than ten thousand, from Nootka sound to Cook's inlet, an extent of 1000 miles. The English have a small colony at Nootka sound, and the Russians a colony of 800, somewhere to the northward of this place. A colony from the United States and

Hassel's Tables,