Section II., 1897. [ 131 ] Trans. R. S. C. 



V. — Supplementary Notes on Sable IslanrJ. 



By the Eev. George Patterson, D.D., LL.D., F.R.S.C. 



(Read 23rd .June, 1897.) 



Since the ijublication of m}^ paper on Sable island, read before the 

 Eoyal Society of Canada at its meeting in 1894, several articles on the 

 subject have appeared in the journals of the day, without, so far as I have 

 seen, adding anything of importance to our information regarding it. la 

 the report of the Dominion archivist for 1895, however, are given a num- 

 ber of papers relating to the commencement of the first government 

 establishment on the island, which I had vainly sought for in the Record 

 office in Halifax. From these and other sources I have obtained a few 

 additional fticts which add something to our knowledge and enable us to 

 clear up some points which were in uncertainty. 



I. 

 Early Legend. 



The whole circumstances of the island, its physical phenomena, the 

 dire catastrophes of which it has been the scene, and the deeds of wicked- 

 ness which have stained its shores, are fitted to cast an awe over the mind 

 of the thoughtful visitot-, even when not inclined to superstition; but 

 considering the class who have principally frequented it, Ave might expect 

 it to be the very home of weird legend. Besides those we have already 

 referred to, Abbé Fei'land, in his work " Les Sablons,'' has given another 

 Avhich may have a basis of fact, and which, at all events, is of interest as 

 showing tlie superstition of the fishermen on our coast in the past, per- 

 haps to a considerable extent at the present time, and how legends are 

 formed and grow. 



Among the colonists brought out by De LaRoche, it is alleged, was 

 a Franciscan monk, charged by his superioi-s with the spiritual care of 

 the party, and to explore, on behalf of the church, the new world. AVhen 

 they were left on the island, this father chose to land with them and to 

 share their solitude and their dangers. These men, of whom the greater 

 part had been di*awn from the prisons of France, were generally bad 

 subjects, but their repentance was not deemed impossible, and while this 

 was the case he would not abandon them. 



Then followed a life of patience, devotion and continued disquiet- 

 udes. His warnings, exhortations and prayers wore often without effect. 

 Still they did not turn to hate him. On the contrarj^, though his preach- 

 ing and conduct were a severe reproof to them, they still respected or 

 soon became attached to him. 



