CAETIEE'S COURSE. 155 



Brittany. They liear the same relative positions to each otlier as these latter islands. The 

 island known to-day as Belle Isle, sitnated abont fifteen miles from the most northerly point 

 of Newfoundland, and the same distance from the mainland of Labrador, is not mentioned 

 at all by Cartier. It is only by mistake that it obtained the name it now bears ; or rather 

 the name was transferred from the original Belle Isle (the Belle Isle South mentioned 

 above) in this way. In those early days, the fishermen coming out to fish in the " Great 

 Bay" (the Gulf of St. Lawrence) used first to make Bonavista or Bird Rocks, then creep 

 along shore to Belle Isle, and finally, rounding the northern head of Newfoundland, enter 

 the straits. Hence Belle Isle South became a landmark for the straits. Afterwards becom- 

 ing more adventurous, they steered directly for the straits or for the island at its mouth, to 

 which island naturally was transferred the name formerly given to the more southern island, 

 now gone out of use as a landmark ; but this occurred after Cartier's time. Cap Rouge, on 

 the east side of the northern peninsula of Newfoundland, near Groaix Island, has preserved 

 its name to the present day. It is found on maps prior to Cartier. In the Italian maps it 

 is given as Capo Rosso (red), not to be confounded with Cape Raso or Rasso, sometimes 

 given by the Italians for Cape Race. The harbour called by Cartier 



Rapont 



-is variously written and called Karpunt, Kirpon, Qiiirpon, Carpon and Carpoon. It is 

 situated on a small island off the northeast point of Newfoundland. I consider all these 

 forms to be simply corruiitions of "arpon " (harpoon in English ; in Italian, rampone). The 

 letter C being placed before it to signify cape, has gradually become absorbed into the name, 

 making Carpon for C. Arpon, just as C. Arenas became Carenas. 



It is rather curious that the course given from Cape Rouge to Cape Degrat (on Kirpon 

 Island), namely, north-northeast and south-southwest, is true or stellar, and is the only one 

 so given. All the rest are magnetic, with a variation (west) of 33"", or nearly three points, 

 which is almost exactly the same as the variation of the present day. 



The description of the harbour of Carpoon given by Cartier in so correct and minute, 

 that it would do for the Coastal Pilot of the present day. It is worth while comparing the 

 two. "It is," he says, " in fifty one and a-half degrees (cinquatde et ung degrez et demy) Au 

 dit hable de rapont ya deux entrées, Vane vers Vest et Vaultre vers le su de V isle : mais il fault 

 dormer garde de la bande et pointe de Veist car se sont bastures et pays somme, et fault ranger 

 Visle de Vouaist à la longueuer de demy cable ou plus près qu'il veult; et puis s'en aller sur le su 

 vers le rapont ; et se fault donner garde de trois basses qui sont sonbz Veau on {en) chenal devers 

 Visle de Vest." 



The following description is from the " Sailing Directions "' of Jas. Imray, F.R.G.S., 

 (1876) : " Cape Bauld, the northern extremity of Kirpon Island, is in lat. 51"' 38' 45" N. =^ =* 

 The narrow channel southward of Kirjion, which divides it from the main land, is the 

 eastern approach to Kirpon Harbour. It is verj' shallow having a depth of only 12 to 15 

 feet at low water. # * * Vessels approaching (Kirpon Harbour) from the northward 

 may borroir as close as they please till they arrive at the entrance # * * where there are 

 some rocks above and under water." 



The similarity of the language is simply astonishing ! It looks like an adaptation of 

 Cartier's words and shows the wonderful perfection and completeness of his observations. 



On leaving Point Degrat, Cartier sailed, after doubling two islands on the port hand, 

 "W. by N. " Ouaist, ung quart du JVorouaist," and entered "La dite Baye," that is 



