[DAWSON] BREST ON THE QUEBEC LABllADOR 19 



to Spain. The Sieiir do Combes sailed from La Rochelle, April 13, 

 1604, and on April 24, was at Isle Maida; bnt it was not until August 

 27 of the following year, 1605, that they reached Cape Bellile, yet the 

 voyage was continuous, and even if 1605 be a misprint for 1604, the 

 time is too long. Near Bellile they found a small town called Surfe, 

 where they stayed some months. No one who had ever seen Belle-Isle 

 could have given such a description of it, and the town of Surfe near 

 it is a plain invention; but the Sieur de Combes sailed from thence 

 on December 11 as easily as if Belle-Isle were an island in the tropics. 

 By stress of weather the vessels were thro-woi upon Newfoundland 

 (Baccalaos), where he found great trees resembling oaks, but with 

 large leaves like cabbages and bearing delicious fruit like oranges, though 

 it was mid-winter. He describes the natives and some giants armed 

 with huge clubs and clad in armour of fish-scales, who were oppressing 

 them. Finally, they sail for Brest, where they arrive on November 5, 

 of necessitv 1606, although the distance from Surfe Avas only fifty 

 leagues. 



Brest is declared to be the chief city of Canada and the residence 

 of the Governor, the Sieur du Dongeon. There were other towois in 

 Canada, among them " Canada and Hanguedo," which are Cartier's 

 names; the others are invented. M. du Dongeon was then engaged 

 in war with the people of Bofragara, who dwelt beyond the Anacal — ■ 

 fancy names also. Brest is described as a strongly fortified city of 

 50,000 fnhabitants, well provided with everything; but wine has to 

 be brought from Florida. 



M. de Combes' account of Canada is exceedingly favourable. The 

 fertility of the country is beyond description; not only in wheat, but 

 in all sorts of fruit and all kinds of merchandise. It is a land favoured 

 of Heaven where, with little work, all things but wine (including gold, 

 silver and precious stones) are produced in- abundance. The natives 

 are white as snow — the men handsome, tall and well proportioned ; 

 the women very beautiful and attractive; and all are well disposed 

 towards the Christian religion. 



It is difficult even to guess at the object for which this most curious 

 book was \\Titten. The descriptions of nautical matters prove that 

 the author was not a sailor, and it is evident he was never on the coast 

 of Canada. Some of the names of places are scraped up from maps 

 and books of voyages, hut most are purely inventions. There are 

 passages which read like extracts from " Sinbad, the Sailor," and the 

 yarn of this Canadian Sinbad, written in the year Champlain founded 

 Quebec, must pique the curiosity of every Canadian. In fact, one is 

 irresistibly reminded of Sinbad's voyages in reading this book. The 



