[ganong] 



CARTOGRAPHY OF NEW BRUNSWICK 



329 



The first explorer of our norlbenst coast, of whom we have positive 

 knowledge, was John Cabot, a Venetian, who made voyages to this 

 region under the patronage of Henry YII. of England, in 1497 and 1 49,S. 

 Neither narratives nor ina])s of his exist, and his landfall and subscMjUcnt 



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Fig. 2. STEPHANIUS, 1570. 

 From Prowse ; full size. 



course are unknown. It is generally agreed, however, that his voyages 

 are the source of the representation of this part of the continent on the 

 map of the Sjianiard La Cosa, of 1500 (Fig. 3), which is the first dated 

 map to show any part of the northeast coast of America, laid down from 

 actual exploration.' Tt is not certain what part of the coast is repre- 

 sented on this map. but the most reasonable view seems to be that of 

 Dawson, Kohl, and some others, which is that it represents the south 

 coast of Newfoundland and a part of the island of Cape Breton, Cavo de 

 ynglaterra being Cape Race or near it, and Cavo descubierto being on 

 Cape Breton. This entire Cabot exploration is most obscure, despite its 



1 Both Harrisse and G. R. F. Prowse believe there were other voyages to this 

 coast between 1497 and l.W), whicli arc unknown to us directly, but which are 

 suggested by some features of the early maps. 



