Narrative and Critical History of America, Vol. 4 (of 8): French Explorations and Settlements in North America and Those of the Portuguese, Dutch, and Swedes 1500-1700
History
Narrative and Critical History of America, Vol. 4 (of 8): French Explorations and Settlements in North America and Those of the Portuguese, Dutch, and Swedes 1500-1700
America -- Discovery and exploration; America -- History; United States -- History
The globe of Ulpius, 1542, does not recognize the voyages of Cartier,
showing Canada as the “Baccalearum Regio,” with openings in the coast
north and south of Newfoundland, called “Terra Laboratores.” North
America appears as a part of Asia.[288] The Nancy globe, which also
shows North America as connected with Asia, indicates that the insular
character of Newfoundland, called “Corterealis,” was well known at
the time of its construction, about 1542. From the gulf behind the
island—the southern part of which is much broken—two rivers extend
some distance into the continent.[289] These globes are according to
the prevailing French idea of the period, making New France, as Francis
I. expressed it, a part of Asia. The map of Jean Rotz, 1542, shows the
explorations of Cartier, but omits the names that belong on the Gulf
and River of St. Lawrence.[290]
The Vallard map 1544 (?) shows very fully the discoveries of Cartier,
his French names being corrupted by the Portuguese map-makers, who
promptly obtained a report of all that Cartier had done. The Gulf and
River of St. Lawrence appear simply as “Rio de Canada.”[291]
In 1544 we reach the famous Cabot map,[292] drawn from French material,
fully illustrating the French discoveries in Canada, and practically
ignoring the claims of Spain, though the alleged author was in the
service of that country. This appears to be the first publication,
and in fact the first recognition in a printed form, of the voyages
of Cartier and Roberval, the narrative of Cartier’s second voyage not
appearing until the following year.
[Illustration: ALLEFONSCE, CAPE BRETON, 1544-1545.]
Next, we find in the map of the Dauphin, or Henri II. (1546), that
Roberval is recognized standing with his soldiers in martial array
on the bank of the Saguenay. Newfoundland is represented as a mass
of islands,—an idea not dissipated by the voyages of Cartier; but
the Gulf and River of St. Lawrence are well depicted, and show the
explorations of the sailor of St. Malo. We see the Island of Assumption
(our Anticosti), the Island of St. John (Alezay), Brion’s Island, and
the Bird Rocks, with many of the names actually given to points of
the coast by Cartier, which shows that he did his work with care, yet
without attempting to affix names to either the gulf or the river,
giving to the latter in his narrative the Indian name “Hochelaga.” On
this map[293] the name of “St. Laurens” stands where Cartier put it
on his first voyage, at the St. John’s River, though the name very
soon—we cannot say when—was applied to the Gulf, as to-day. Gomara
styles it San Lorenço in 1553. The _Isolario_ of Bordone (1549) has
no recognition of Roberval or Cartier, repeating the map found in the
edition of 1527.
[Illustration: ALLEFONSCE, COAST OF MAINE, 1544-1545.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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