ENPENT'S LAND, so called from prince Rupert (q.v.), who was one of the founders of the Hudson's Bay company, was formerly the official designation of that extensive tract which forms the basin of Hudson's bay and strait, and is bounded on the w., s., and n. by the water-sheds of the Arctic, St. Lawrence, and Atlantic rivers. The western boundary is from Deer lake to a point a little to the w. of the Red river settlement (q.v). In 1870 the territory held by the Hudson's Bay company was admitted into the dominion of Canada. a portion of linpert's laud falling within the province of Manitoba. The whole of the vast territory known as Rupert's Land slopes inward toward Hudson's bay, and is well supplied with navigable rivers. The mountains of this region, which are chiefly on the boundaries. are of primitive rock, and a great portion of the country is densely wooded. The soil is rich, but on account of the severity of the climate—which is not only of a generally low temperature, but exceedingly_ variable in summer and autumn— the cereals and other alimentary plants are not cultivated to any extent; in fact, they are only planted in the neighborhood of the trading-posts of the Hudson's Bay company (q.v.) and in the agricultural settlement on Red river, in the s.w. In the n. the vege
tation and climate are those of the polar regions. The chief dependence of the inhabit ants of Rupert's Land for food and clothing is on the animal kingdom, which is here most abundantly represented. Beavers are still found, and bears, otters, martens, and musk rats are abundant, their skins forming the chief commercial product of the country. There are also abundance of foxes of various colors, bears, wolves, Canadian lynxes, etc. Among the animals used for food are the wapiti, reindeer, moose, and other species of deer; the musk-ox, hares, and an immense variety of wood-fowl and other birds. The numerous rivers and lakes are abundantly stocked with fish. The population, which is scanty, is composed of British or Canadians, and aboriginal tribes.