168 BISHOP HOWLEY ON 



between here and Bay des Chaleurs, undoubtedly belongs to "W. F. Ganong, M.A., Pro- 

 fessor of Botany at Harvard University. He removes all difficulties and confusion of former 

 writers, and reconciles all apparent contradictions. I shall then briefly run over this part 

 of the voyage, adopting fully and unreservedly Professor Ganong's views, adding only a 

 few supplementary remarks. (See Transactions, 1887). 



It was most natural that Cartier should fancy he saw two islands as he approached 

 Prince Edward Island. The whole coast is one low sand bank. Out of it arise two remark- 

 able hills which are called Cape Tryon, 110 feet high, and Cape Turner " the highest clitf on 

 the island of red sand stone 120 feet high eight and a half miles S. E. J E. from Cape 

 Tryon" ("The Pilot"). These may quite possibly have been the headlands which Cartier 

 took for two islands. 



But, as is to be expected, old prejudices die hard, and M. De Cazes (Transactions, 1890) 

 here takes up the defence of the old writers and berates Professor Ganong rather roundly. 

 Indeed, as we have seen he even brings Cartier himself to task. He says it is most un- 

 likely that Cartier could take Prince Edward Island for a part of the main land and wants 

 to know why Cartier, who sacrificed so many days in exploring Bay des Chaleurs, did not 

 advance further into the Strait of Northumberland ? But M. De Cazes here overlooks the 

 main object of Cartier's voyage. He was searching for the long-looked for " passage to the 

 west." He had no interest in any passage trending to the south or east. This explains 

 why he did not even enter any of the large estuaries on the Newfoundland shore. Bonne 

 Bay, Bay of Islands, Bay St. George, etc., so that even if he suspected the existence of 

 Northum'berland Strait (l)ut he tells distinctly he did not, but saw as he thought ;i land- 

 locked bay) he would not have explored it, as it turned south and east. He was bound 

 " westward ho ! " and had no time to spare. It may be objected that he lost time exploring 

 about the Magdalens. But he gives us a very good reason for it. He saw there was good 

 anchoring ground, and he wished to find if there were any good harbours. His nautical 

 eye told him at once what an important position these islands were in, as a place of refuge 

 in case of being overtaken in the gulf by a storm : — " Dempuix, L'Ule de Bryon ; Y a beau 

 fons ; partout et pour ce voullions abuoir plus ample cognoissance du dit paroige.'" As a matter 

 of fact he availed of this knowledge and experience, on his return voyage in 1536, as we 

 shall see. 



AVriters hitherto have unanimously considered the Rivière des Barques, which Cartier 

 saw on Tuesday, June 30th, to be the Bay of Miramichi. This location threw everything 

 else into confusion. Mr. Ganong makes it Richmond Bay on the northeast coast of Prince 

 Edward Island ; this sets all aright. Cap Orleans is Cape Kildare, and Cap des Sauvages 

 is the north cape of Prince Edward Island. The Bay of St. Lunaire which, says Mr. 

 Ganong, " various writers, from Lescarbot to those of our own day, have either confounded 

 with the River of Boats, with the Miramichi, or have ignored altogether, is the bight formed 

 by the entrance between Prince Edward Island and the coast of New Brunswick. The " bay 

 in form of a triangle" is Miramichi. ' On the third day of July, Cartier entered the Grande 

 Baye des Chaleurs. He rejoiced at seeing such a magnificent opening to the west. He thought 

 he had at length found the passage. So he called the cape at the entrance Cap d'Espérance, 

 Cape of Hope. It would seem that in giving this nomenclature, Cartier was only following 



' For a minute account of this part of the voyage I refer to Mr. Ganong's paper. 



