264 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. CHAP. xvi. 



time when Canada was discovered, it is probable that the 

 early missionaries, the Courriers des Bois, the fur traders, 

 or the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, would have 

 recorded the phenomenon or learnt the fact from Indians. 

 Still it must be acknowledged that the term ' fire moun- 

 tains,' taken in connection with the earthquakes which 

 have visited the region of the Lower St. Lawrence from 

 time to time, and the testimony of Monsieur Gagnon, is 

 quite sufficient to turn attention to the probability of 

 such an occurrence having taken place in recent times and 

 the possibility of its renewal. 



