IN NORTHERN MISTS 



compass-charts (especially the Cantino chart) of a little later 

 than 1500 (which are drawn in ignorance of the error), I have 

 attempted to reconstruct the distribution of the error in the 

 Atlantic Ocean at that time (cf. chart, below) ; of course, 

 this is purely hypothetical. According to this, during Cabot's 

 voyage westward the error would have varied from about 

 6° east at Bristol to about 30° west off the coast of America. 

 If we suppose that he was able to follow a magnetic western 

 course the whole way from the south coast of Ireland, then he 



must have passed quite to the 

 south of Cape Race in New- 

 foundland. But we are told 

 that he first held somewhat to 

 the north, though we do not 

 know how much, and, on the 

 "other hand, his leeway may 

 have set him at least as far to 

 the south. The assertion that 

 the course mentioned by Soncino 

 Hypothetical chart of the variation must have brought Cabot tO 



land in Labrador or Newfound- 

 land is thus untenable. Nor does 

 it agree with Soncino*s allusion to the country as excellent and 

 temperate, and one where dye-wood and silk might be expected 

 to grow. If this be explained away as due to the usual pro- 

 pensity of discoverers at that time to exhibit the newly found 

 countries in the most favorable light, which is very possible, it 

 is not so easy to explain why we do not hear a word about their 

 having encountered ice on the voyage. If, on his western voy- 

 age, Cabot came to Labrador or the north-east coast of New- 

 foundland some time in June, it is improbable that he should not 

 have seen icebergs, and it is equally unlikely that the Italian 

 ministers should not have mentioned this, which to them would 

 be a great curiosity, if they had heard of it; we see, too, that 

 later, in descriptions of Sebastian Cabot's alleged voyage, the ice 

 is mentioned above all else. Even if John Cabot might have 

 308 



of the compass in the Atlantic, 

 circa 1500 



