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BOOK III.

NEWFOUNDLAND.

CHAPTER I.

General Description of Newfoundland—Mr Cormack’s Journey across the Interior Country—Climate—Soil—Natural Productions, 8w.

THE island of Newfoundland is situated nearer to Europe than any of the islands, or any part of the continent, of America; and lies within the latitudes of 46° 40’ and 51° 37’ N., and the longitudes of 52° 25’ and 59° 15’ W.

It approaches to a triangular form, and is broken and indented with broad and deep bays, innumerable harbours, coves, lakes, and rivers. Its configuration is wild and rugged, and its aspect from the sea far from prepossessing, which was probably the cause of unfavourable opinions respecting its settlement having been so generally entertained.

The interior of this large island remained unex- plored from its discovery, until within the last six or seven years. Before then, only the harbours, and