37^ A VOYAGE TO Book IX, 



carried on a continual and large commerce both with 

 Europe and America. Loiiiibourg was n-^.t, however, 

 the only port where the French veiTels loaded with 

 cod, greater numbers going therofelves to fiih at 

 Newfoundland, off the coall of Petit Norde, and on 

 the bank, as will be more parcicularly feen in the 

 iequel. Befides the inhabitants of Louiibourg, great 

 numbers of French were fettled along the coaft of the 

 neighbouring iflands, parricularly that of St. John, 

 where befides their dwellings they had fiore-houfes 

 and all the appurtenances of a fifliery ; whieh being 

 the moft profitable occupation, and the gain lefs un- 

 certain, very few applied themfelves to the cultivation 

 of the country: indeed, its being in winter coveied 

 with fnow, fometimes to the depth of three or four 

 feet; and even not difiblved till fummer was pretty 

 far advanced, huibandry feemed to want a requifitc 

 time for the produds to attain their proper maturity. 

 Nor could any confidcrable graziery be followed here, 

 being obliged for the fupport of the few cattle they 

 had, to lay up a winter's ftock of hay, and to keep 

 them houfed all that feafon, till the fummer's heat had 

 removed the fnow from the pailures, the richneis of 

 which, in a great meafure, compenfated for this 

 dreary feafon ; and the quick growth of the corn and 

 other produfls for the length and feverity of the 

 winter. 



In this and the adjacent iflands were a confiderable 

 number of inhabitants, born in the country, or on the 

 mainland: and what is remarkable, thefe Indians not 

 ©nly refemble thofe of Peru in complexion and afpeftj 

 there is alio a confiderable affinity in their manners and 

 curtomsj the only vifible difference is in ftature, and 

 this advantage lies vifibly on the fide of the inhabi- 

 tants of thefe northern climates. 



These natives, whom the French term favages, 

 were not abiolutely fubjeds of the king of France, nor 

 entirely independent of him. They acknowkdged 



