having various sand-banks almost dry at low water, and reaching two leagues from shore.  At the farther extremity of these low lands, which, continue for ten leagues, there is a river of fresh water which runs with such rapidity into the sea that the water is quite fresh a league from its mouth.  Entering this river with our boats, we had about a fathom and half water at its mouth.  In this river we found many fishes resembling horses, which our savages told us lay all day in the water and went on shore at night.  We set sail at day-break of the 21st, continuing our progress along the northern coast of the gulf which we traced the whole of that day to the north-east, and then stood over to the Island of Assumption[42], being assured that no passage was to be found in that direction.  Returning to the harbour at the Seven Islands, which has 9 or 10 fathoms water, we were detained there by mists and contrary winds till the 24th, when we stood over to the southern coast, and came to a harbour about 80 leagues from these islands.  This harbour is over against three flat islands in the middle of the river, between which islands and the harbour there is a very great river which runs between high and low lands.  For more than three leagues out to sea there are many dangerous shelves, leaving not quite two fathoms water, so that the entrance is very dangerous; yet near these shelves the water is from 15 to 20 fathoms deep from shore to shore.  All the northern[43] coast runs from N.E. and by N. to S.W. and by S. This haven is but of small value, as it is only formed by the tide of flood, and is inaccessible at low water.  We named the three small flat islets St Johns Isles, because we discovered them on the day of St John the Baptists decapitation.  Before coming to this haven, there is an island about 5 leagues to the eastward, between which and the land there is no passage except for small boats.  The best station for ships in this harbour is to the south of a little island and almost close to its shore.  The tide here flows at least two fathoms, but ships have to lie aground at low water.

[Footnote 42:  The island here called Assumption, certainly is that now called Anticosti, a term formed or corrupted from the native name Natiscotec.—­E.]

[Footnote 43:  It is probable that we should here read the southern coast.—­E.]

Leaving this harbour on the 1st of September, we proposed sailing for Canada; and at about 15 leagues W.S.W. we came to three islands, over against which is a deep and rapid river, which our two savages told as leads to the country and kingdom of Saguenay[44].  This river runs between very high and steep hills of bare rock, with very little soil; yet great numbers of trees grow among these rocks, as luxuriantly as if upon level and fertile land, insomuch that some of them would make masts for vessels of 30 tons.  At the mouth of this river we met four canoes full of savages, who seemed very fearful of us, and some