THE COAST. 19 



wick, one-sixth larger than Ireland, three times as 

 large as Holland, and twice as large as Denmark. Its 

 figure roughly approaches an equilateral triangle. 

 (See map.) Two large peninsulas project from the 

 main body of the island : one of these (Petit Nord) 

 points northwards, and is long and narrow ; the other 

 is the peninsula of Avalon, pointing southeast, and 

 almost severed from the mainland the connection 

 being a narrow isthmus, in one place but three miles 

 wide. On the eastern side of the peninsula of Avalon 

 is situated St. John's, the capital. 



THE COAST. 



As seen from the ocean, the shores of Newfound- 

 land furnish a picture of rock-bound cliffs rising from 

 200 to 500 feet in height, broken by numerous mag- 

 nificent bays, running in some instances 80 to 90 

 miles inland and throwing out smaller arms in all 

 directions, so that though the circumference of the 

 island from headland to headland is about 1000 miles, 

 the actual length of coast line is more than twice as 

 much. These bays frequently present varied scenes 

 of beauty, being studded with small islands, having 

 their shores clad in many instances with dark green 

 forests to the water's edge, while in others the rocks 

 are barren or moss-covered. 



