XX INTRODUCTION. 



sailing schooner, the " Ripley," under the command of Mr 

 Henry W. Emmery, and, through the medium of my 

 governmeut letters, was enabled to visit, in the United States' 

 Revenue Cutters, portions of the Bay of Fundy, and several of 

 the thinly inhabited islands at its entrance. At length the 

 day of our departure for Labrador arrived. The wharf was 

 crowded with all our friends and acquaintance, and as the " star- 

 spangled banner" swiftly glided to the mast-head of our buoyant 

 bark, we were surprised and gratified by a salute from the fort 

 that towers high over the bay. As we passed the Revenue 

 Cutter at anchor, her brave commander paid us the same honour; 

 after which he came on board, and piloted us through a very 

 difficult outlet. 



The next day, favoured by a good breeze, we proceeded at 

 a rapid rate and passing through the interesting Gut of Cansso, 

 launched into the broad waters of the Gulf of St Lawrence, and 

 made sail for the Magdeleine Islands. There we spent a few 

 days, and made several valuable observations. Proceeding from 

 thence, we came in view of the famous " Gannet Rock," where 

 countless numbers of Solan Geese sat on their eggs. A heavy 

 gale coming on, away we sped with i-eefed sails, towards the 

 coast of Labrador, which next morning came in view. The 

 wind had by this time fallen to a moderate breeze, the sky was 

 clear, and every eye was directed towards the land. As we ap- 

 proached it we perceived what we supposed to be hundreds of 

 snow-white sails sporting over the waters, and which we conjec- 

 tured to be the barks of fishermen ; but on n earing them, we 

 found them to be masses of drifting snow and ice, which filled 

 every nook and cove of the rugged shores. Our captain had 

 never been on the coast before, and our pilot proved useless ; 



