sometimes to Byron Island,--recalls the landing of Jacques
Cartier.

From this temporary halting-place the ships sailed on
down the west coast of the Magdalen Islands. The night
of June 28 found them at anchor off Entry Island at the
southern end of the group. From here a course laid to
the south-west brought the explorers into sight of Prince
Edward Island. This they supposed to be, of course, the
mainland of the great American continent. Turning towards
the north-west, the ships followed the outline of the
coast. They sailed within easy sight of the shore, and
from their decks the explorer and his companions were
able to admire the luxuriant beauty of the scene. Here
again was a land of delight: 'It is the fairest land,'
wrote Cartier, 'that may possibly be seen, full of goodly
meadows and trees.' All that it lacked was a suitable
harbour, which the explorers sought in vain. At one point
a shallow river ran rippling to the sea, and here they
saw savages crossing the stream in their canoes, but they
found no place where the ships could be brought to anchor.

July 1 found the vessels lying off the northern end of
Prince Edward Island. Here they lowered the boats, and
searched the shore-line for a suitable anchorage. As they
rowed along a savage was seen running upon the beach and
making signs. The boats were turned towards him, but,
seized with a sudden panic, he ran away. Cartier landed
a boat and set up a little staff in the sand with a
woollen girdle and a knife, as a present for the fugitive