Vikings of To - Day. By Wilfred T. Grenfell. (Marshall Bros.) —Some
three years ago Dr. Grenfell went out at the sending of the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, to Labrador, to make a beginning of the mission work there, a work both medical and evangelical, and not a little needed in both its aspects. Labrador is about as big as the British Isles, France, and Austria put together, with a population of between twelve and thirteen thousand,—i.e., one to about thirty square miles. As a matter of fact the inland is almost absolutely desolate, the whole popula- tion dwells on the coast, and the whole population has something to do with fishing. The Atlantic coast is under the government of Newfoundland, the St. Lawrence coast under that of the Dominion. Newfoundland has been unable or unwilling to do its duty by its dependency. There is not a lighthouse, or land- mark, or any kind of help to naeigation on the Labrador coast. From Hamilton Inlet, N. Lat. 5I,° (the latitude of Harrogate), as far as Cape Chudleigh (61°)—and this is the chief fishing ground —there is not even a chart. If the Newfoundlanders had spent a hundredth part of what they have sunk in unprofitable railways in giving ordinary helps to Labrador navigation, it would have been well. About four-sevenths of the popula- tion are white, the remainder divided between Eskimo and Indians. These two races are on the downward plane. They have been driven back far from the limits to which they once reached. Dr. Grenfell gives an account of the fauna of the country, and of the fishes, which are practically its sole wealth (some amount of valuable furs excepted). The population is hardy and patient, — indeed, these qualities are essential. Starvation is never very far off, sometimes comes very nese _...000"-- indeed. Dr. Grenfell tells a very tragical story that illustratk, this. One of their chief needs is medical help ; this Dr. Grenfell and his colleagues found, as may be supposed, most welcome. The Moravians have missions here, carried on with the devotion and endurance which characterise this community. This is a book which we heal tily commend to our readers, as a modestly told narrative of a very good work.
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