■fW;^^,-' r^sf- 



THE LABRADOR JOURNAL 



353 



Gut of Canseau, so named by the Spanish on account of 

 the innumerable Wild Geese which, in years long past and 

 forgotten, resorted to this famed passage. The land rises 

 on each side in the form of an amphitheatre, and on the 

 Nova Scotia side, to a considerable height. Many appear- 

 ances of dwellings exist, but the country is too poor for 

 comfort; the timber is small, and the land, very stony. 

 Here and there a small patch of ploughed land, planted, or 

 to be planted, with potatoes, was all we could see evincing 

 cultivation. Near one house we saw a few apple-trees, yet 

 without leaves. The general appearance of this passage 

 reminded me of some parts of the Hudson River, and ac- 

 companied as we were by thirty smaller vessels, the time 

 passed agreeably. Vegetation about as forward as at East- 

 port; saw a Chimney Swallow, heard some Blue Jays, saw 

 some Indians in a bark canoe, passed Cape Porcupine, a 

 high, rounding hill, and Cape George, after which we entered 

 the Gulf of St. Lawrence. From this place, on the 20th of 

 May last year, the sea was a complete sheet of ice as far 

 as a spy-glass could inform. As we advanced, running 

 parallel with the western coast of Cape Breton Island, the 

 country looked well, at the distance we were from it; the 

 large, undulating hills were scattered with many hamlets, 

 and here and there a bit of cultivated land was seen. It 

 being calm when we reached Jestico Island, distant from 

 Cape Breton about three miles, we left the vessel and made 

 for it. On landing we found it covered with well grown 

 grass sprinkled everywhere with the blossoms of the wild 

 strawberry; the sun shone bright, and the weather was 

 quite pleasant. Robins, Savannah Finches, Song Spar- 

 rows, Tawny Thrushes, and the American Redstart were 

 found. The Spotted Sand-piper, Totatms maculariiis, was 

 breeding in the grass, and flew slowly with the common 

 tremor of their wings, uttering their " wheet-wheet-wheet" 

 note, to invite me to follow them. A Raven had a nest 

 and three young in it, one standing near it, the old birds 



VOL. I. — 23 



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