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Voyages 2 - Chapter 1 |
Voyages 2 - Chapter 2 |
Voyages 2 - Chapter 3 |
Voyages 2 - Chapter
4 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 5 |
Voyages 2 - Chapter 6 |
Voyages 2 - Chapter
7 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 8 |
Voyages 2 - Chapter 9 |
Voyages 2 - Chapter
10 | Voyages 2
- Chapter 11 |
Voyages 2 - Chapter 12 |
Voyages 2 -
Chapter 13 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 14 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 15 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 16 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 17 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 18 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 19 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 20 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 21 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 22 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 23 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 24 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 25 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 26 | Voyages 2 -
Chapter 27 |
Voyages 2 - Chapter 28
Original translation from
the French by Charles Pomeroy Otis, Ph.D. Republished by
the Prince Society, Boston: 1878.
The voyages
to the great river St. Lawrence,
made by Sieur de Champlain,
Captain in ordinary to the King in the Marine,
from the year 1608 to that of 1612
CHAPTER XI.
RETURN TO FRANCE, AND WHAT OCCURRED UP TO THE TIME OF
RE-EMBARKATION.
After forming this
resolution, we went to Quebec to establish him in
authority, and leave him every thing requisite and
necessary for the settlement, together with fifteen men.
Every thing being arranged, we set out on the first day
of September [351] for Tadoussac, in order to fit out
our vessel for returning to France.
We set out accordingly from the latter place on the 5th
of the month, and on the 8th anchored at Isle Percée. On
Thursday the 10th, we set out from there, and on the
18th, the Tuesday following, we arrived at the Grand
Bank. On the 2d of October, we got soundings. On the
8th, we anchored at Conquet [352] in Lower Brittany. On
Saturday the 10th, we set out from there, arriving at
Honfleur on the 13th.
After disembarking, I did not wait long before taking
post to go to Sieur de Monts, who was then at
Fontainebleau, where His Majesty was. Here I reported to
him in detail all that had transpired in regard to the
winter quarters and our new explorations, and my hopes
for the future in view of the promises of the savages
called Ochateguins, who are good Iroquois. [353] The
other Iroquois, their enemies, dwell more to the south.
The language of the former does not differ much from
that of the people recently discovered and hitherto
unknown to us, which they understand when spoken.
I at once waited upon His Majesty, and gave him an
account of my voyage, which afforded him pleasure and
satisfaction. I had a girdle made of porcupine quills,
very well worked, after the manner of the country where
it was made, and which His Majesty thought very pretty.
I had also two little birds, of the size of blackbirds
and of a carnation color; [354] also, the head of a fish
caught in the great lake of the Iroquois, having a very
long snout and two or three rows of very sharp teeth. A
representation of this fish may be found on the great
lake, on my geographical map. [355]
After I had concluded my interview with His Majesty,
Sieur de Monts determined to go to Rouen to meet his
associates, the Sieurs Collier and Le Gendre, merchants
of Rouen, to consider what should be done the coming
year. They resolved to continue the settlement, and
finish the explorations up the great river St. Lawrence,
in accordance with the promises of the Ochateguins, made
on condition that we should assist them in their wars,
as I had given them to understand.
Pont Gravé was appointed to go to Tadoussac, not only
for traffic, but to engage in any thing else that might
realize means for defraying the expenses.
Sieur Lucas Le Gendre, of Rouen, one of the partners,
was ordered to see to the purchase of merchandise and
supplies, the repair of the vessels, obtaining crews,
and other things necessary for the voyage.
After these matters were arranged, Sieur de Monts
returned to Paris, I accompanying him, where I stayed
until the end of February. During this time, Sieur de
Monts endeavored to obtain a new commission for trading
in the newly discovered regions, and where no one had
traded before. This he was unable to accomplish,
although his requests and proposals were just and
reasonable.
But, finding that there was no hope of obtaining this
commission, he did not cease to prosecute his plan, from
his desire that every thing might turn out to the profit
and honor of France.
During this time, Sieur de Monts did not express to me
his pleasure in regard to me personally, until I told
him it had been reported to me that he did not wish to
have me winter in Canada, which, however, was not true,
for he referred the whole matter to my pleasure.
I provided myself with whatever was desirable and
necessary for spending the winter at our settlement in
Quebec. For this purpose I set out from Paris the last
day of February following, [356] and proceeded to
Honfleur, where the embarkation was to be made. I went
by way of Rouen, where I stayed two days. Thence I went
to Honfleur, where I found Pont Gravé and Le Gendre, who
told me they had embarked what was necessary for the
settlement. I was very glad to find that we were ready
to set sail, but uncertain whether the supplies were
good and adequate for our sojourn and for spending the
winter.
ENDNOTES:
351. September, 1609.
352. A small seaport town in the department of
Finisterre, twelve miles west of Brest.
353. The Ochateguins, called by the French Hurons, were
a branch of the Iroquois. Their real name was Yendots.
They were at this time allied with the Algonquins, in a
deadly war with their Iroquois cousins, the Five
Nations.--_Vide Gallatins Synopsis_, Transactions of Am.
Antiq. Society, Cambraidge, 1836, Vol. II. p. 69, _et
passim_.
354. The Scarlet tanager, _Pyranga rubra_, of a scarlet
color, with black wings and tail. It ranges from Texas
to Lake Huron.
355. _Vide antea_, p. 216; and map. 1612.
356. Anno Domini 1610.
Sources/Notes:
Samuel de Champlain.
1567-1635. "Voyages of Samuel de Champlain"
Edited by Edmund F. Slafter, (Boston: Prince Society
1878)
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