From the trend of the land he supposed, however, that, by sailing in an easterly direction, he was again crossing one of the great bays of the coast.
This conjecture seemed to be correct, as the coastline of the island of Anticosti presently appeared on the horizon.

From July 27 until August 5 the explorers made their way along the shores of Anticosti, which they almost circumnavigated.

Sailing first to the east they passed a low-lying country, almost bare of forests, but with verdant and inviting meadows.

The shore ended at East Cape, named by Cartier Cape St Louis, and at this point the ships turned and made their way north-westward, along the upper shore of the island.

On August 1, as they advanced, they came in sight of the mainland of the northern shore of the Gulf of St Lawrence, a low, flat country, heavily wooded, with great mountains forming a jagged sky-line.