PROCEEDINGS FOR 1897 CXXIX 



but the coast cli:irt does, and "The Pilot" [208] calls the land Eenewse 

 Eocks. They are about one and a half mile from the shore. They are 

 always from "six to ten feet above water * * ;K Vessels may go 

 between them and the shore in fine weather." This Cabot did, hence 

 they are laid down on his chart, and in their correct latitude, somewhat 

 north of Cape Race, 



Considerably south of the flag that stands on Isla de la Trenldat is 

 aiiother island. Its latitude is found to be 54° 30'. Turning to the Ad- 

 miralty chart we find at 54° 42' Bulldog Island, of which " The Pilot " 

 [438] says : "Bulldog Island is an isolated barren rock, almost forty feet 

 high * * * situated seventeen miles N. E. 2/3 K from Bast Rock." 

 Thus our scale satisfactorily locates each island and rendei^s the whole 

 chart valuable, bj^ making it intelligible. 



There are two small islands near the northernmost flagstaff. Their 

 position relative to each other, and to the shore, is peculiar. They are a 

 little below the sixtieth degree. Now, if we take an Admiralty chart 

 and scan the whole coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, we shall find 

 no two islands laid down in this unmistakable position, except just north 

 of Kamaktorvik Bay. There we see two small islands situated precisely 

 as those on Cabot's chart, and their latitude is about 59° 30'. This is a 

 proof impossible of rebuttal. It would, in view of all these tests of our 

 scale, be mere childish wilfulness to maintain that Cabot intended this as 

 a chai't of the southern coast of Newfoundland. As such it is drawn 

 out of all proportion, and is altogether unintelligible. As a chart of the 

 whole shore line from Cape Henry to the north of Hudson's Bay it is 

 found most correct and harmonious, and all its parts can be intelligently 

 explained. On the mainland, almost midway between these two small 

 islands, Cabot planted a flag. I believe a careful search of the shore, 

 such as might be made under the direction of the (leological Survey 

 Department, would result in the finding of some trace of the spot Avhere 

 the flag stood. Perhaps a hole drilled in the rock to receive the end of 

 . the staft", or a pile of stones that served to hold it in place, perhaps even 

 a slab with some letters and a date rudely carved thereon, would be 

 found, still attesting to the grandeur of John Cabot's achievements. 



The Nomenclature of Cabot's Chart. 



Our final proof is taken from the names on the chart. "When treat- 

 ing of the old Log Book, we quoted some passages to show that j^eculiar 

 or striking phj'sical features of the shore were noted to serve as land- 

 marks for future seamen. One place was said to resemble a "saddle " or 

 the "hump of a camel," another was like a " huge tun." We find in 

 the " Sailing Directions " accompanying the charts of to-day similar 

 observations. It is probable Cabot wrote short descriptions of the laud- 



Proc. 1897. J, 



