them; and in the largest there was a prodigious number
of those white birds we named Margaulx, larger than
geese. Another of the islands, which was cleft
in the middle, was entirely covered with the birds
called Godetz; but towards the shore, besides Godetz,
there were many
Apponatz[31], like those formerly
mentioned. We went ashore on the lower part of
the smallest island, where we killed above a thousand
godetz and apponatz, putting as many as we pleased
into our boats; indeed we might have loaded thirty
boats with them in less than an hour, they were so
numerous and so tame. We named these the Islands
of
Margaulx. About five leagues west from
these islands, we came to an island two leagues long
and as much in breadth, where we staid all night to
take in wood and water, which we named
Brions
Island. It was full of goodly trees, verdant
fields, and fields overgrown with wild-corn and pease
in bloom, as thick and luxuriant as any we had seen
in Brittany, so that it seemed to have been ploughed
and sown; having likewise great quantities of gooseberries,
strawberries, roses, parsely, and many other sweet,
and pleasant herbs; on the whole it had the best soil
of any we had seen, and one field of it was more worth
than the whole of Newfoundland. The whole shore
was composed of a sandy beach, with good anchorage
all round in four fathom water; and the shore had
great numbers of great beasts, as large as oxen, each
of which have two large tusks like elephants teeth[32].
These animals live much in the sea. We saw one
of them asleep on the shore, and went towards it in
our boats in hopes of taking it, but as soon as he
heard us, he threw himself into the sea and escaped.
We saw also wolves and bears on this island, and there
were considerable lakes about it towards the S.E. and
N.W. As far as I could judge, there must be some
passage between this island and Newfoundland, and
if so it would save much time and distance, if any
useful purpose is to be had in these parts.
[Footnote 31: This word has not been used before,
but is probably meant for the same bird formerly called
Aparath. These names of birds in Newfoundland
are inexplicable.—E.]
[Footnote 32: Probably the Morse, vulgarly called
the sea-horse.—E.]
About four leagues W.S.W. from Brions Island we saw
some other land surrounded by small isles of sand,
which we believed to be an island, and to a goodly
cape on this land we gave the name of Cape Dauphin,
as the good grounds begin there. We sailed along
these lands to the W.S.W. on the 27th of June, and
at a distance they seemed to be composed of low lands
with little sand-hills; but we could not go near, as
the wind was contrary. This day we sailed 15
leagues. Next day we went about 10 leagues along
this land, which is all low, till we came to a cape
composed of red and craggy rocks, having an opening
which fronts to the north, and we noticed a pool or
small lake, having a field between it and the sea.