294 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



ward. Ireland runs almost directly north and south, its southernmost 

 point being in 51 degrees and 26 minutes of north latitude ; therefore, 

 under any circumstances, the exj^edition never got further south than this 

 line, unless it was pulled southwardly by some mysterious current or influ- 

 ence. The purpose of Cabot was to sail north of west. The account 

 says : " Standing to the north, he began to'steer eastward, keeping, after 

 a few days, the north star on his right hand." Of course, you will 

 understand the expression eastward is used for the Levant, which Cabot 

 expected to reach by going westward until he arrived on its shores. 

 Therefore, the expression is equivalent to saying that the course steered 

 was first north and then west, keeping, after a few days, the north star 

 on the right hand. Before voyages to the new world were undertaken,^ 

 the natural course for a vessel going from England would be east, in 

 which case the north star would be on the left hand, or north, in which 

 case the north star would be just ahead, or south^in which case the north 

 star would be directly behind. But here is a course going to the west, 

 and the north star is on the right hand, a matter so unusual as to occasion 

 special mention. There is an expression of great importance here. The 

 north star did not get upon their right hand until " after some days." 

 They sailed north after leaving Ireland, and, therefore, for some days the 

 north star was directly ahead of them. After some days they turned to 

 the west, and then the north star was on their right hand, and was kej)t 

 on their right hand for the rest of the voj'age. If a line were drawn due 

 east and west from the southerly point of Ireland, it would very nearly 

 strike on its western journey the extreme southerly point of Labrador, 

 which point is washed by the Straits of Belle-isle. If, instead of drawing 

 the line from the south end of Ireland, we draw it from the north end — 

 and the account gives us the privilege of guessing at what point, after 

 passing the westcrl}^ limits of Ireland, a northerly course was begun — the 

 line would strike half way up the Labrador coast. If we allow Cabot 

 about five degrees of northing beyond Ireland, his course would have 

 taken him into Hudson's straits. The declination of the magnetic needle 

 has been introduced by the scientists to further complicate this question. 

 You will recall that consternation got hold of Columbus and his followers, 

 when, on the broad Atlantic, the magnetic needle, instead of pointing a 

 little east of the true or astronomical north, stood pointing directlj^ north 

 for a time and then deliberately began to veer around to the Avest. 

 That has always seemed to me to be the most trying moment in the 

 voyage of Columbus. He was sailing out into the sea of darkness, 

 dreaded by the ancients. If the world were round, would there not be a 

 place where the mighty ocean, the unknown seas, would rush down as- 

 into a vortex, drawing any ship which ventured within reach of ita 

 capacious maw! When, then, he found the magnetic needle, the one true, 

 constant thing in nature, fickle and erratic, his heart must have quaked 



