The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation — Volume 12: America, Part IHakluyt, Richard
History
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation — Volume 12: America, Part I
Hakluyt, Richard
Discoveries in geography -- English; Voyages and travels
also to the Northwards, Hares, and Foxes in all parts so plentifully, that
at noone dayes they take away our flesh before our faces within lesse then
halfe a paire of buts length, where foure and twentie persons were turning
of drie fish, and two dogs in sight, yet stoode they not in feare till wee
gaue shot and set the dogs vpon them: the Beares also be as bold, which
will not spare at midnight to take your fish before your face, and I
beleeue assuredly would not hurt any bodie vnlesse they be forced.
Nowe to showe you my fancie what places I suppose meetest to inhabite in
those parts discouered of late by our nation: There is neere about the
mouth of the grand Bay, an excellent harbour called of the Frenchmen
Chasteaux,[95] and one Island in the very entrie of the streight called
Bell Isle,[96] which places if they be peopled and well fortified (as there
are stones and things meete for it throughout all Newfoundland) wee shall
bee lordes of the whole fishing in small time, if it doe so please the
Queenes Maiestie, and from thence send wood and cole with all necessaries
to Labrador lately discouered: but I am of opinion, and doe most stedfastly
beleeue that we shall finde as rich Mines in more temperate places and
Climates, and more profitable for fishing then any yet we haue vsed, where
wee shall haue not farre from thence plentie of salt made vndoubtedly, and
very likely by the heate of the Sunne, by reason I find salt kerned on the
rockes in nine and fortie and better: these places may bee found for salte
in three and fortie. I know more touching these two commodities last
remembred then any man of our nation doeth; for that I haue some knowledge
in such matters, and haue most desired the finding of them by painefull
trauaile, and most diligent inquirie. Now to be short, for I haue bene ouer
long by Master Butlers means, who cryed on mee to write at large, and of as
many things as I call to minde woorthy of rembrance: wherefore this one
thing more. I could wish the Island in the mouth of the riuer of Canada[97]
should be inhabited, and the riuer searched, for that there are many things
which may rise thereof as I will shew you hereafter. I could find in my
heart to make proofe whether it be true or no that I haue read and heard of
Frenchmen and Portugals to bee in that riuer, and about Cape Briton. I had
almost forgot to speake of the plentie of wolues, and to shew you that
there be foxes, blacke, white and gray: other beasts I know none saue those
before remembered. I found also certain Mines of yron and copper in S.
Iohns, and in the Island of Yron, which might turne to our great benefite,
if our men had desire to plant thereabout, for proofe whereof I haue
brought home some of the oare of both sortes. And thus I ende, assuring you
on my faith, that if I had not beene deceiued by the vile Portugals
descending of the Iewes and Iudas kinde, I had not failed to haue searched
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