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down in the cabins. Most of my interactions were with a Newfoundland craflswoman. a
ova Scotian anist. and several Labrador women.
At one point. I ovcrheard Tom· the crew member I knew - and Anne Han having
a conversation about a tent we had secn on an cxposed hcadland. Tom said that it was
crazy for people to be camping on this headland and cenainly crazy for someone to be
tra\clling alone. especially a "girl." Then he looked at me as ifto say "You're crazy to be
here on your own."
The pattern on this trip was similar to that ofthc one in southern Labrador. We
would call into a community long enough to ornood or take on cargo or passengers and
we wcre quickly gonc again. We were delayed in ain all morning. As is the custom in
Labrador, e\'eryone camc down to the \"harfto sec ifthey kncw anyone on the boat and
to break lhe monotony of living in an isolated community.
The pleasure ofsuch occasions was sometimes hampered by danger. and on this
panicular morning the customary visit was nearly marred with tragedy. A young girl,
nbout sixteen ycnrs old and obviously dnmk, W,IS sitting all onc of thc piles on the dock.
Tom, who had COlllC ovcr to talk to me as I wns leaning over thc sidc. told me 10 move
away as she was going to fall over the wharf. No sooner had we movcd away than she did
so. Crew mcmbers were not allowed to rescue her as they arc not allowed to do anything
on shore. None of the Inuit made a move 10 rescue her. Two local white men dived into
the waler and, using a rope: provided by the CTCW. got her Ollt. did mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation. and brought her around. It was an alarming experience and could h3\'e been
tragic.
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