[obrii:nJ CABOT'S J.ANDKALL AND CHART 447 



had not sailed through the Straits, 'and most assuredly the name Cape 

 Breton on the map does not mark any point in Nova Scotia, but is, 

 where it always was, on the island of that n'ame. Evidently then 

 San Joa is P. E. Island. We can well understand why Mr. Harrisse 

 should fail to recognize in San Jo'a, Cape' Breton Island. 



To still further illustrate these maps, and to show P. E. Island on 

 two others, also Portuguese, of a later date, we reproduce here the map 

 of Diego liomem, 1558, and that of Laz'aro Luis, 1563. Although they 

 both bear witness to a very considerable knowledge of the Gulf, neither 

 shows the Straits of Canso, and both show P. E. Island; Homem places 

 it almost in its tnie position, whilst Luis brings it too far north. But 

 there can be no mistaking it in either case. The shape of Kretschmer's 

 San Jo'a is retained by Luis thus showing the identity .of the two. 

 Homem gives the true shape much more accurately and calls it ilU de 

 Scibloes, a name which still lingers in the De Sable shore and river. The 

 name, judging by any part of its shore, is most 'appropriate to P. E. 

 Island. It is often spoken of as '''a sand bank," by those who have seen 

 only the beautiful sandy beaches which form an almost unbroken 

 girdle for the rich loamy soil of the island. 



AVe do not think 'any one will seriously attempt to dispute the 

 clear reading of these maps ; not only does the location proclaim the 

 truth of our contention, but in both cases the Magdalen group is given, 

 as is also St. Paul Island. Luis does not name any of the islands, but 

 he! gives the larger Magdalen considerable prominence, and shows the 

 smaller ones. Ilomem names the larger Magdalen Isla de fenefaiis, 

 and several small conventional ones Brion. To these should be added 

 the Cabot map, 154:4, which shows 'and names P. E. Island St. John. 

 It would be the merest trifling to contend that it is the Magdalen group. 

 We ask any one sincerely interested in this question to sit down 

 quietly and examine and collate the various maps to which we h'ave 

 referred. We' venture to request them to forget the opinions of men 

 of great name, and to read and judge for themselves how far the ex- 

 I)lan'ations here offered are! founded on solid reasons. Could the ex- 

 plorers have mistaken some little creek or inlet on the shores of P. E. 

 Island, or Southern New Brunswick for the head river of the great bay? 

 What point on these shores did they dignify with the title of Big Cape, 

 and Head of the Gulf ? Bear in mind that we know as a matter of 

 fact that the "place, or land, and river of the people," was around the 

 l>aie de Chaleur. Are we to suppose the map drawers glanced in at 

 the Gulf and then drew a small circle to represent it, putting down 

 names at random ? Surely not. A close study reveals that they prob- 



