VISIT TO THE SOUTH COAST OUTPORTS 143 



us once again. Here the fog was exceptionally dense. If 

 there is no wind, or the wind is from the south, the coast 

 is under its pail for months together in the summer, so the 

 traveller must have a large stock of patience and a volatile 

 temperament to withstand the constant rain and mist which 

 obscure all things. 



The entrance to St. Lawrence is dominated bv a noble 



4 



headland known locally as " Shaperu," one of those queer 

 names which the traveller in Newfoundland constantly 

 encounters, and for which he finds it difficult to obtain a 

 derivation. The origin of nearly all these queer appellations 

 are Norman-French, which has been vulgarised and perverted 

 to suit local taste. To give a few instances. There is a 

 beautiful little port in Placentia Bay which was called by the 

 old Norman sailors Tasse cT Argent (The Silver Cup). This 

 the natives transmogrified into Tortello John, and it is now 

 called Tortello. Cinq Isles is made into Saint Kells ; Bale 

 de [Argent into Bay de John ; Chapeau Rouge into Shaperu ; 

 Baie Fachezcx into Foushy ; Baie d'Espoir into Bay Despair ; 

 whilst many other instances could be given. This habit of 

 doggerelising names has become a passion with the New- 

 foundlanders, and if a name is difficult, they make a short 

 cut and apply the title of anything that sounds nearest to it. 

 A poor woman brought her child to be christened by the 

 Rev. Christopher Meek. On asking the name of the child, 

 the mother replied that it was to be "Hyena." "Why, my 

 good woman," said the parson, " I could not give the name 

 of a wild animal to this lovely child. There must be some 

 mistake." "Well," answered the mother, "my good man 

 before he went up the Bay cuttin' wood, telled me it were to be 

 ' Hyena ' and nothing else." Soon afterwards the clergyman 

 met the father, who said, "Well, parson, that were a curious 



