180 J. G. BOUEINOT 



Freuchmau of Brouag-e who, a few decades later, made ou the heights of Quebec the com- 

 meucemeut of that dependency which France, in her ambition, hoped would develop 

 until it could dominate the whole continent of North America. 



Though it is not likely now that the true course of the Cabots in their first voyage 

 to eastern America and the actual locality of " Prima Vista" will ever be cleared up to 

 the satisfaction of all students of history, there is no doubt whatever that Jacques Cartier, 

 ou his return from his second A-oyage in 1535-6 to Canada, discovered the passage to the 

 Atlantic between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, and sighted the bold headlands and 

 picturesque cliffs of the northern part of the former island. It is probable that he gave 

 the name of Lorraine to the cape which in the course of two centuries has become Cape 

 North, aptly called " the watch-tower of the gulf." ' We are told in the accounts of his 

 voyage that he saw another cape " towards the south," and gave it the name of St. Paul's, 

 and although there is much difference of opinion as to its exact situation, the weight of 

 authority goes to show that reference is made to a point on the eastern coast of the island 

 to the south of Cape North, assuming the latter to be Cape Lorraine. It is not unlikely that 

 Cartier saw in the distance the bold headland which in later times was Smoky Cape (Cap 

 Enfumé), ou account of the cloud of mist which so often envelopes this storm-swept land- 

 mark of the gulf- It does not appear, however, that Cartier ever landed on the coast of 

 Cape Breton, and the statement that is fouud iu some books that he built a fort and lived 

 one winter on the island has no foundation iu fact. The same assertion has been made of 

 his friend and patron, the Lord of Roberval, who was chosen by the King of France to 

 settle the new country discovered by the sailor of St. Malo. It is now well established 

 that Cape Breton was mistaken by some writers for Cap Rouge, near Quebec, where both 

 Cartier and Roberval — the former in 1541, and the latter in 1512 — erected forts for the 

 defence of the infaut settlement.' 



We have abundant evidence to show that, during the greater jiart of the sixteenth 

 century, French, Spanish and Portuguese fishermen probably frequented the coast of Cape 

 Breton, but it was not until the close of that century that English vessels were found in 

 any number engaged in the fisheries of the gulf. It is now claimed that Baron de Léry's 

 abortive effort of 1518 to establish a settlement was made at Cape Breton, and not at Sable 

 Island, as generally supposed, but this is an entire mistake.' The Portuguese made an 

 attempt in 1521 to settle a colony on the coast of Cape Breton, and the best authority at hand 

 seems to point to the little bay of Inganiche, on the picturesque northeastern shore, as the 

 site of the infant settlement, which Champlaiu tells us was very soon deserted on account 

 of the rigorous and inclement climate.'' But while Spaniard and Portuguese ventured into 

 the bays and rivers of the island, and in all probability attempted to establish temporary 

 posts for trading and fishing purposes, they have not given to Cape Breton the name it 

 bears. The origin of this name is even a matter of controversy between those who claim 

 the Basques or the Bretons to have been the discoverers of the island. Some claim that 



' Judge Haliburton, in his "History of Nova Scotia," ii. 231. 



'^ See App. VJI to this work, where reasons are given at some longtli for (he ojiinions set forth in tlje text. 

 ■' See App. VII (last paragrapli) to tliis work. 



' Fiske ("Uisi;. of Am.," ii. 492, n) cites LeTao, "Histoire chronologiiiiie ile la Noiivelle France," bnttlie refer- 

 ences (pp. 40, 57) are unmistakably to Sable Island. 

 •See App. VIII (4) to this work. 



