Volume 6

A general history and collection of voyages and travels, arranged in systematic order: forming a complete history of the origin and progress of navigation, discovery and commerce, by sea and land, from the earliest ages to the present time / By Robert Kerr.

Date:
1824
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A general history and collection of voyages and travels, arranged in systematic order: forming a complete history of the origin and progress of navigation, discovery and commerce, by sea and land, from the earliest ages to the present time / By Robert Kerr. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    49/524 (page 37)
    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 Assumption4, 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 northern5 coast runs from N. E. and by N. to S. W. and bv 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 east- ward, 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. 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 inlands, over against which is a deep and rapid river, which our two savages told us leads to the country and kingdom of Saguenay6. I his 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 4 The island here called Assumption, certainly is that now called Anti- costi, a term formed or corrupted from the native name Natiscotec. —E. 5 It is probable that we should here read the southern coast. E. 6 The Saguenay river runs into the north-west side of the St Lawrence, in lat. 48° 7' N. long. C9° 9' W.-—E.