The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-10

and Newfoundland as far us our ultimate place of de-
nation ST. Johns In less than two hours we were again
out on the open sea- and making way to Port
Basque, where We expected to find the Sarah Bryant
with the cable on board.
ARRIVAL AT PORT AU BAsQUE-A DISAPPOINTMENT.
We left Halifax on Friday evening as have stated
and reached Port au Basque, which i about two hun
dred and eighty mes distant from that city on Sunday
about twelve O'Clock. We would doubtless have arrived
there at much earlier hour, had 1t not been
for the unfsvorable weather, and a strong head
wind. At time thought VI putting in at
Iousburg, port Cape Breton and remaining THERE
during Saturday night but finally concluded keep
! state here, that Sunday we had
divine service board, both morning and afternoon.
In the morning an excellent sermon preached BY
Rev. David d. Field, ID. d., and prayers offered by Rev
Drs. Spring and Sherwood. DR.. Sherwood delivered a
sermon in the afternoon, and few appropriate remarks
also made by Dr. Spring. About five hours before
we reached Port au Basque the bold promontory Of
every the look ont for the Sarah Bryant All
the telescopes board brought into rcquistion
and the whole coast in the vicinity OF Port an Basque
fsherlnen's huts when within distance oil SIX
eight miles, but vessel, except few
was Suggested that as the harbor lay behind large
pile OF rocks she might not be visible nom sea but even
that hope dspeled when arrived at its entrance
Two schooners were lying az anchor there but the sarah
Bryant had not made her appearance although she had
the morning of Saturday answering 10 the description
OF ship, standing OF Port au Basque 1t was blowing
hard however aud the wind was ADVERSE that she
obliged to put out to sea again. This was great
disappointment the weather most favorable for
the laying Of the cable and intended to begin work at
the earliest hour Monday morning. In this dilemma
could do nothing but either await the arrival of the
Sarah Bryant or go direct to ST. Johns which we in
pay our respects 10 the authorities OF Newfoundland,
and after brief stay, call at Fort Basque again
way back We lay outside the harbor three or four
hours during which about dozen of our company went
ashore, among whom were Mr.. Cooper and Mr.. Field
On way were met by Mr.. Canning, of the
most experienced engineers in London. who engaged
by the company to superntend the laying of the cable
he had been awaiting our arrival or several days, and
shore, set out in small boat 10 meet He informed
that they were daily expecting The Sarah Bryant and
confirmed what we had heard about vessel having been
seen OFF Port au Basque the day before. Mr.. Canning
superintendent the laying OF the great Mediterranean
cable and obtained high reputation for the skill which
he exhibited in that undertaking
During our biief stay at Port Basque had oppor
unity of seeing much Of the place The people, but
will give the result Of my observations intending how
ever, to refer again to the subject return On
cur arrival in the harbor, found sheet of water
almost completely shut in by The land the entrance not
exceeding two hundred and fifty yards in width at the
utmost. Its length is title less than nie and it is
said 10 be thirty athoms in depth while in width it Is
from two hundred and fifty TO three hundred yards
When reached what is called the wharf we had to
ascend rough wooden ladder, ten fifteen feet high
fastened in the rock from the top Of which could
the town or village OF Port Basque consisting of
forty fifty frame houses mostly two stories high OF
these about a dozen were in group, but the
mander scattered of half
mile. They all constructed without the slight
est regard to modern improvements, with
ception, and that, ] suppose. belonged to of
the upper ten. 1t certainly the most ar.socratc
saw and might pass on the outskirts of New York as
neat unprefending little cottsge What struck me par
tcuary in the aspect of this place the rough,
nature OF The ground, which marked by hills,
deep canons and holes. Patches of turf in some places
hid the rocks from view while here aud there beautiful
little wild flowers, of which we formed boquets for our
lady passengers, spang up among the creyices with
coast rpelling rather than inviting the voyager there
yet III its very wildness something fascinating and
romantic to the lover OF adventure The town II it may
be dignGed by the title, situated rising ground
ahordng view OF the country to the distance OF six
miles To the north OF il rises in solitary grandeur
the towering promontoy Of Cape Ray to the height Of
fifteen hundred feet.
Tie surrounding country Is well watered with M mia
found the greatest abundance The only sign vege
tation was sort OF grass or moss aud low stunted
bu shes on which grows brown berry These and few
wild flowers appeared to be the Only vegetable produc
tions Of this part Of the island There few gar
dens to tie houses, but horses catle of
description to be The only production seemed
he goldfish, and That piled up in stacks, which at
distance bore resemblance TO hay ricks The de-
lusicn however, vanished closer inspection.
for there installing the peculiar smell.
Having very little time 70 spend ashore we determined
to make the most of It, and proceed at in nve
legations The first inhabant we met was an old rough
weather beaten fisherman who appeared to be glued the
spot with establishment at sudden appearance for he
never moved from whore first saw him and he re-
NAMED standing there like post when we were leaving
the harbor We made several inquiries of him, but find
ing 1t impossible obtain the desired information
left him pursue Investigations in other qua rtes
The conversation however, is so characteristic that will
give it rertdiim t ftterttim.
"What" we inquired, . the population of this
uEh, whatfo said he after pause. during which he
surveyed from head 20 foot long enough count the
buttons. 'Eh, whats' he said, when he had finished
his inspection.
"How many people live heret''
They amt ell home now.n
" But can you not tell US their number; there two
three hunGrcdy'
" oh; there's great many
"well, where they aY asked looking in the
dreson Of the town which appeared to be entirely de-
serted.
q they are all out" he replied On a hill, short
distance oil, perceived about fifty persons who had
assembled there, when stes niship to of the
and children, and they did not seem DESTROYS of
acquaintance with US am unable ut present to
give the readers Of the Herald any information
With regard 10 their personal appearance. The men,
Thew we're about the medium height with clear blue
eyes light hair regular features and frank, good
ured exp ression that AZ gained confidence
They simple in their manner and their information
upon every subject but cod6shng Is most limited.
= What do you do hercs" We inquired Of another
" What do you all work at in this places ~
We are all fishermen" he said. " We all catch
cod
/" You are not oil employed in catching codg
9 All Of us, excepting two merchants"
Well, and what do they do
They buy cod of the fishermen. There their stacks
there he added pointing 70 the heap Of Goldfish Of which
we lave already spoken.
What do you live on chchys'
In fact as have said, they appeared to know nothing
about anything else they maintained themselves and their
families by fishing and the prn pa portion d their daily
boys nrusted with line and the art is very sim
Pile they become almost proficient in 1t as the
is nothing unusual for OF them to itch two
hundred pounds Of fish in day, while heard Of some
who caught three hundred.
We delayed at Port Basque Ave or six
hours landing articles that required for the
telegraph. Professor shepherd, the geologist en-
ployed by the company 10 make explorations
through the Island and report its mineral
productions left here, did also Mr. Palmer
perenced shpbuilder who to examine the quality
tie timber along and in the vicinity u the Great Cor
droy river. About o'clock in the afternoon started
for St. Johns where arrived at O'Clock the morn.
ing Of the 14th.
ARRIVAL AT ST. JOHNS.
Nothing particularly worthy Of remark occurred our
passage to ST. Johns. The morning OF our arrival was
rainy and the city did not therefore, appear to the best
ad, antale hut Ne grandeur of the surrounding scenery,
and eciay hat Il the coast than made for
the annoyance MI in consequence Of the weather
The island Is prvteotea the east by the bold
line Of ssast which had observed all along
it, southern extremity steep prccp rocks rise TO
the height OF and eight hundred feet almost per-