e of these Bird Rocks Cartier stopped his ships in
their westward course, and his men killed great numbers of the birds so
easily that he declared he could have filled thirty boats with them in
an hour.

The explorers continued on their way, and a sail of a few hours brought
them to an island like to none that they had yet seen. After the
rock-bound coast of the north it seemed, indeed, a veritable paradise.
Thick groves of splendid trees alternated with beautiful glades and
meadow-land, while the fertile soil of the island, through its entire
length of about six miles, was carpeted with bright flowers, blossoming
peas, and the soft colours of the wild rose. 'One acre of this land,'
said Cartier, 'is worth more than all the New Land.' The ships lay off
the shore of the island all night and replenished the stores of wood
and water. The land abounded with game; the men of St Malo saw bears
and foxes, and, to their surprise they saw also great beasts that
basked upon the shore, with 'two great teeth in their mouths like
elephants.' One of these walruses,--for such they doubtless were,--was
chased by the sailors, but cast itself into the sea and disappeared. We
can imagine how, through the long twilight of the June evening, the
lovely scene was loud with the voices of the exultant explorers. It was
fitting that Cartier should name this island of good omen after his
patron, the Seigneur de Brion, admiral of France. To this day the name
Brion Island,--corrupted 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 th