CHAP. XXVI. THE SETTLEMENT OB^ LONG POINT. 03 



iiightfall we anchored off Long Point, six miles from 

 Mingan harbour. As the breakers on the shore were 

 too heavy to admit of landing, we had to put up with a 

 rolhng night on board. On the following day two of the 

 party attempted to go on shore in a canoe. They reached 

 the long fringe of breakers in safety, but when they 

 made the attempt to dash in on the summit of a huge 

 wave, the stern of the canoe, caught by its crest as it broke 

 on the sloping beach, was pitched ten feet out of the water, 

 and came down again with such a terrific ' bang ' that 

 the steersman was almost shaken out of his senses, and 

 vowed never again to attempt landing with a light canoe 

 in a heavy sea. They retired beyond the foaming curl of 

 the waves, and gathered strength for a fresh attempt, 

 deriving small consolation from the remarks of a group 

 of Acadian fishermen who were on the beach betting 



o 



among themselves whether the canoe would be swamped, 

 or make the shore in safety. The strong hearts won as 

 the canoe, rising on a wave, was carried on to the beach, 

 and held by a stout hand befare the retreating wave 

 could carry her back again. 



Lono; Point is a new settlement situated on a magnifi- 

 cent sandy beach, backed by fine spruce forests, which, 

 mth marshy intervals, extend to the St. John range a 

 few miles in the rear. Many old beaches show the 

 former altitude of the Gulf in the rear of Long Point ; and 

 not more than 200 yards from the shore, the hchen- and 

 moss-covered trees reminded us of the wonderful lichens 

 and mosses in the interior. There are twenty-three 

 houses scattered along the beach at this fishing-station, 

 which is due north of the Perroquet Islands, and is one 



