st Paul's island. 413 CHAPTER IV . Description of Paul's Island, and of the Isle of Sable . The extent and surface of Paul's Island, or rather rock, for it is little more, would be undeserving of notice, were it not the passive sullen cause of pro¬ bably more serious disasters than any spot of the same size on the face of the globe. It rises, black and steep, out of the principal entrance to the Gulf of Law¬ rence, in a direct line between , in ¬ foundland, and the north cape of , about ten miles distant from the latter. Its length is about a mile and a half, its breadth less than half a mile, and its height nearly 100 yards above the level of the sea, appearing with three hills. The water is very deep close to the rocks ; and it has a steep beechy cove on the north-west, where a boat may sometimes land, and also a cove on the north-east side. Some small spots of a mossy kind, between the rocks, retain water, which oozes again through the crevices of the rocks, and in some places forms small rivulets. As there is tolerable anchorage on both sides of the island, those who are acquainted frequently run un¬ der the lee of it for shelter. This was practised by the American privateers during the last war. The situation of this island is what renders it so danger-