Tárogató, 1949-1950 (12. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1949-10-01 / 4. szám
16 TÁROGATÓ This territory, almost as large as the combined area of the British Isles, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, is mainly a rough and rocky area. Although much of Labrador is still unexplored, it is said to be heavily wooded in some regions, and is know to possess vast mineral resources. The largest water falls in North America is situated on Labrador’s main river, the Hamilton. Since this region is located in the sub-Arctic there is little agricultural activity and also the soil is poor being of a spongy type known as tundra. The island of Newfoundland has a rugged, deeply indented coast line, and it is estimated that a journey around the island which included entering all the bays would involve a trip of approximately 6,000 miles. These bays, however, provide natural harbours, and account for the numerous fishing villages scattered along the coast, about one every ten miles. The terrain is rocky, undulating and heavily wooded with low ranges of hills. Only along the west coast, however, are there hills which might be classed as mountains. One of the characteristics of the island’s numerous lakes and rivers is that they drain generally in a north-easterly direction. The main lakes are the Grand, Red Indian and Deer. The principal rivers are: The Exploits, Humber and Gander. The climate of Newfoundland is very similar to that of the Maritime provinces being moderate with few extremes in temperature, which seldom goes above 85 degrees in summer or below zero in winter. The climate would be extremely mild, in fact, if it were not for the cold Labrador current which flows down from the north, close to the east coast of the Island. When this Labrador current encounters the warm Gulf Stream off the south-east coast, fog results which sometimes rolls inland. Newfoundland also possesses a neverfailing wind which is referred to in the “Ode to Newfoundland” as — “Wind swept land”. The summer season is normally short, but the autumn is long and usually pleasant. The climate is conducive to the growing of all ordinary root crops, and in some areas wheat and corn are cultivated successfully. Although fruit orchards have not been developed on an extensive scale, apple, plum and cherry trees are to be found in various sections of the island. The island is rich in wild berries. Blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries grow abundantly and are used extensively. Dr. Albert Schweitzer, medical missionary, theologian, musician, philosopher and authority on Bach and Goethe, arrived in New York, June 28th, on the “S.S. Nieuw Amsterdam” on his first visit to the United States. The money he receives from his two lectures on Goethe, which were given in July at Aspen, Colorado, was devoted to his African work. He has confided to friends that he realizes his health may be seriously endangered by the long trip, but he feels the fate of the lepers is more important than his own life. Dr Schweitzer has been at work in Africa for 36 years, with only brief periods in Europe of giving concerts and lectures to raise money for his hospital work. The old English sport of foxhunting has been challenged of late as a “cruel and ferocious blood sport.” A bill introduced into parliament to abolish it raised a storm of controversy. The church has declared against blood sports in the past, though it is rumoured that one or two bishops enjoy riding to the hounds! Apologists for the sport claim that the fox must be hunted to keep down his numbers. “Houses to let. Dozens of them. Spacious and well-equipped.” Australians rubbed their eyes when they saw that advertisement. The houses, it turned out, were scattered through the waterless treeless Nullabor plain in south central Australia, where the government’s 1,100 miles of railway required 500 maintenance men. Forty families accepted, trading sociable homelessness in overcrowded cities for wellhoused loneliness in the desert.
