Travels in North America, From Modern Writers: With Remarks and Observations; Exhibiting a Connected View of the Geography and Present State of that Quarter of the GlobeBingley, William
History
Travels in North America, From Modern Writers: With Remarks and Observations; Exhibiting a Connected View of the Geography and Present State of that Quarter of the Globe
Bingley, William
Canada -- Description and travel; Mexico -- Description and travel; United States -- Description and travel
The weapons of these Esquimaux are darts, bows, and arrows; and their
food consists chiefly of the flesh of seals, deer, and birds; and of
fish. Some of their canoes are near twenty feet in length, and not more
than two feet wide. They each contain only one person; are formed of a
frame-work, covered with skins; and are so extremely light, that they
are easily overset. Notwithstanding this, and the circumstance that few
of the Esquimaux are able to swim, these people are able to navigate
them, in safety, without a compass, and even in the thickest fogs. When
the ground is covered with snow, they traverse the country in sledges,
drawn by dogs.
During winter, they live in houses, or rather in a kind of cavern, which
they sink in the earth; and, during summer, they occupy tents, made
circular with poles, and covered with skins. Their only beverage is
water. The men are extremely indolent; and all the laborious
occupations, except that of procuring food, are performed by the women.
They sew with the sinews of deer; and much of their needlework is very
neat. The Esquimaux cannot reckon, numerically, beyond six; and their
compound numbers reach no further than 21: all beyond this are called a
multitude.
The principal articles of export, obtained from the coast of Labrador,
are cod-fish, salmon, oil, whalebone, and furs of various kinds.
NEWFOUNDLAND.
Near the south-eastern extremity of Labrador is the island of
_Newfoundland_; which, at present, constitutes an important station, for
the British cod-fisheries. It is of triangular form, and about three
hundred miles in circuit; and, though it lies between the same parallels
of latitude as the south of France, its climate is very severe. In
winter the rivers are frozen to the thickness of several feet; and,
during this season, the earth is covered with snow, and the cold is so
intense that the power of vegetation is destroyed. The coasts abound in
creeks, roads, and harbours; and the interior of the island is full of
steep rocks, woody hills, and sandy valleys; and of plains, interspersed
with rocks, lakes, and marshes. A very small portion of it is at present
cultivated; for neither the soil nor the climate is favourable to
productions necessary to the support of human life. _St. John's_, the
chief town of the island, is a mean and ill-built place, with narrow and
dirty streets. It is situated on the south-eastern part of the coast,
and has a considerable harbour.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account