Till comparatively recently Eskimos occupied the whole coast of Labrador, so late as 175o there being many hun dreds of them even along the south coast. Their high cheek bone, almond eyes, jet black straight hair, and diminutive size have led most men to regard them as Mongolians who reached Labrador via the Polar sea. But some few contend that they are a branch of the Central Indian tribes of northern Canada. Exclusively a seaboard people, they have never, however, been on friendly terms with the Indians of the interior in historic times, and they are never known to inter-marry. They were ruthlessly shot down and murdered by New England fishermen, who in the early 18th century fished along the Labrador coast from Boston. This was the chief reason why the governor of Boston, under whose juris diction Labrador had been placed by the king, asked to be relieved of that responsibility, being utterly unable to control his seamen. It was claimed they "preferred shooting an Eskimo to any other kind of game." These raw meat eaters (Eskimos) called themselves "Innuit" (the men). They speak a language similar to, and understood by, the Eskimo of Alaska, and their circum polar congeners, with whose manners, customs, methods of living and hunting theirs closely correspond. The governor of Boston was at length relieved of his responsibility, which was handed over to the governor of Newfoundland, who in turn handed it on to Canada. It was apparently, however, so thankless a task that that country returned it later to Newfoundland, and the Eskimo seem to have fared somewhat better for a time. But contact with white men indirectly, if not directly, is always fatal to aboriginal peoples, and by competition, by liquor, and by disease, the little people have been steadily diminishing in number and receding towards the north. Numerous stations of Moravian missionaries that were for i so years carrying on help ful trade and teaching religion at the same time, aided in holding them together north of Hopedale, which lies in Lat. 55°. But social diseases brought back by exhibits of the people carried south to the World Fairs at Chicago and Buffalo, hastened greatly the process of their elimination. The great scourge of Spanish influenza in 1914 made still further rapid inroads on their numbers, and to-day not more than i,000 remain south of Cape Chidley on the Atlantic side. Tuberculosis takes a terrible toll of starch-eating Eskimo. The writer finds the meat eaters of the north far more healthy. Possibly this is partly because they get more vitamines by using practically raw foods. The rapid spread northward in the 19th century of the fisheries and fishing stations of the Newfoundlanders reached its climax about 1900 ; the fish competition of Europe in the salt cod market and since the World War various other well recognized reasons, caused their annual migrations to Labrador to decline, until there is now only 5o% of 25 years ago.
The Indians are Algonquins, and speak a Cree language. They are still wanderers, and live by hunting, only coming out to the coasts to trade for ammunition, arms and a few rudimentary needs. They go to the north shore of the Gulf once a year to meet the Catholic priests, and then ascending the rivers to the high table land, make that their real hunting and living grounds. Forest fires, that have followed the incoming of white men, have driven the deer and game on which their lives depend from whole belts of land that they have to cross, and often they have very hard times, and it is not at all uncommon for families to starve to death. In 1927-28 many, both Eskimos
and Indians, were reported as dying of starvation on the Labrador side of Hudson's bay, and during the previous quarter century W. G. Walton, resident missionary on that coast, reported many such instances ; yet there is good reason to believe that their country will yet prove valuable. The Government of Canada is endeavouring to relieve these natives.
The white population of Labrador has slightly increased in late years. It is mostly of Scotch and south English origin on the east side, and French on the south. The once universal truck system of trade, that was little better than an economic peonage, and which impoverished and degraded the people, has passed away. Better schools are growing up and three hospitals, with nursing stations in between and a regular medical and public health service, has been established by the Inter national Grenfell Association with head offices in St. John's, Newfoundland. Beautiful industrial work is done by the people, their hooked mats being famous as the best made anywhere.
The Moravian Missionary Society, that for over a century and a half has worked for the Eskimo of the north east, have four stations on the coast. Of late years they have abandoned their trade, in favour of the Hudson's Bay company. The Hudson's Bay company is the chief trading company of Labrador. It has ten or more stations in Labrador, is progressive in its policy, and at its stores excellent supplies can be obtained by visitors and tourists. It sends one or more large steamers every year from England with supplies, and it also will carry passengers in a trip round the whole coast and round Hudson's Bay by arrangements. Its office is at Hudson's Bay House, Bishopgate, London, E.C.
The birds of Labrador are far more numerous than most people have understood. Immense quantities of sea birds go north to nest, the golden plover, and one of the small terns, flying 21,000 m. from Patagonia each year. Few birds remain in winter, but the willow grouse, spruce partridges, large owls, ptar migan, and a few other land birds afford an invaluable source of food. The red-pole, the chickadee and the Canada jay remain in the woods. Canada geese and eider ducks breed along the Labrador coast, but king eider ducks and blue geese go to Baffin's land for that purpose.
The Fauna is very varied, though only well adapted vigorous animals can live at all, and nearly all being ani mals of prey they live largely on one another. Squirrel, mice, caribou, lemming, rabbits and hares are the easiest victims ; the porcupine can protect himself better. Lynx have been known to eat foxes. The protection is largely that of colour, as is that of the ermine and the white fox. The latter also keeps out on the drift ice. Almost all provide themselves with specially thick, long haired winter coats, which make them desired of the trappers and the public in the south. The water animals, the seals and bears, put on extra coats of fat in winter, so that they float when dead. Their sight, like that of the owl and eagle, their scent, like that of the wolf and beaver, their hearing, like that of the fox and rabbit are their chief lines of defence. Labrador boasts timber wolves, arctic caribous, Canadian otters, two black bears, white bears, lynx, beaver, martins or sables, mink, lemmings and in numerable mice of many varieties. These furs form the second great source of income of the Labrador people.