72 SAMUEL EDWAED DAWSON ON THE 



map five years later, the east coast is nameil Imt not the south and Reinel's names are 

 Portuguese, many of which still cling to the localities °' in a more or less corrupted form. 

 It is very unlikely that, sailing 2,000 miles over an utterly unknown sea, Cabot should have 

 made precisely the point of Cape Race. It is made always now, but it is aimed at. To 

 suppose Cabot hit it is like supposing a man to make a chance-medley shot across a rifle 

 range in a fog and to hit the bull's-eye. It is within the limit of jîossibility but the chances 

 are many thousands to one it will not be done. J^ow on looking at the row of names on 

 La Cosa's map it will be seen that they commence with Cape of England (Cavo de Yiigla- 

 terra) on the east point and stop with Cavo descuhierto on the west. At one of these two 

 points the discovery must have been made and the coasting commenced. Either Cabot 

 exactly hit Cape Race and coasted westward to Cape Discovery, or he discovered land at 

 Cape Discovery and, his object having been attained and his provisions falling short, he 

 turned and coasted eastwards giving the name Cape of England to the last spot of western 

 land he saw as he set his course on the return voyage to England. When we consider the 

 force of the names themselves we feel that the latter alternative must l)e the true one, and 

 Juan de la Cosa's map therefore becomes conclusive evidence for the priority of the flag of 

 England on the northeastern coast of the North American continent. John Cabot must 

 have been very clear in his report, because Raimondo di Soncino in his second letter"" td the 

 Duke ot ]SIilan says that Cabot had constructed a globe and had pointed out the place where 

 he had been. This was in the winter between the two voyages so that no confusion between 

 them was possible. 



Cavo descuhierto I — the discovered cape — and close to it, 31ar descuhierto por Ingleses ! 

 What can be more evident than that the spot where Europeans first touched the American 

 continent is thus indicated? Why otherwise should it especially be called -'the discovered 

 cape" if not because this cape was first discovered ? It is stated elsewhere that on the same 

 day, opposite the land, an island was also discovered ; and in fact upon the Madrid fac- 

 simile two small islands are found, one of which is near Cavo descuhierto. The name the 

 discovered cape at the extreme end of a series of names tells its own story. Cabot overran 

 Cape Race and went south of St. Pierre and Miquelon without seeing them, and continuing 

 on a westerly course hit Cape Breton at its most easterly point. An apt illustration occurs 

 in a voyage made by the ship " Bonaventure " in 1591 recorded in Hakluyt. She overshot 

 Cape Race without knowing it and came to the soundings on the bank ''' south of St. Peter's, 

 where they found 20 fathoms, and then the course was set N. W. by Î^T., for Cape Ray. The 

 course was sharply altered towards a definite and known point but, if he did not see Cape 

 Race, not knowing what was before him Cabot would liave had no object in abruptly alter- 

 ing his course but, continuing his westerly course, 'would strike the east point of Cape 

 Breton. That point then, and not Cape North, would be the "discovered cape'' — the 

 fvima vista — and there not far oft" " over against the land " " opposite the land " {ex adverso) 

 he would find Scatari island which would be the island of St. John so continually attendant 

 on Cape Breton upon the succeeding maps. If this theory be aceeiitcd all becomes clear, and 

 the little Mattltew, having achieved success, having demonstrated the existence of Cathay 

 within easy reach of England returned home ; noticing and naming the salient features of 

 the south coast of Newfoundland. She had not too much time to do it, for she was back in 

 Bristol in 34 davs at most. This theory is further confirmed by the circumstance recorded 

 by Pas<iualigo that as Cabot returned he saw two islands on the right which he had not time 



