CHAP. was suspended a Shield, with three Fleurs de Lis, car

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1535.

ved on it, with this Motto, "Long live the King of France." While the ceremony was performing, the Savages beheld it with earnest attention. Cartier and his people knelt down before it, and prayed devoutly, with their hands up lifted to Heaven: and as soon as the ceremony was over, he went on board his Ship. At the same moment, an Indian Chief, clothed in a Bear's skin, attended by three of his Sons and his Brother, went into a Canoe towards the vessels: when he had approached sufficiently near to be heard, he began a long oration and pointed to the Cross just then set up: he then shewed them, the Country round about, giving them to understand, that it was his, and that they should not have it, without his permission: while the Indians were along side one of the ships, two Sailors lept into their Canoe, and forced two of them on board : Cartier endeavoured to pacify the Chief, and assured him, that they should be treated kindly, that they should return again to their own Country, and that the Cross was merely intended as a guide to them on entering the Port, when they should return. To these as surances, he added a present of Hatchets, and knives, which so much pleased the Chief, that he returned perfectly satisfied. Leaving Gaspé on the Twenty-fifth of July, he entered the Saint Lawrence, so far as to see the opposite shores, where meeting with head winds and boisterous weather, he sailed for France, and arrived on the fifth of September at St. Maloe's.

As these discoveries had excited great curiosity, and as Cartier was desirous of improving the spirit that then existed for such enterprises, he represented in the

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strongest terms, the advantages that would arise from a CHAP. Plantation on this part of America. Vice Admiral de Mailleraye warmly espoused the design, and represented Cartier's merit to the King in such a favorable point of light, that an equipment of three vessels was ordered for the next year. With these he sailed on the nineteenth of May, and experienced, such tempestuous weather, soon after he left France, that the vessels separated and never joined until the twenty-sixth of July, at the Bay of Castel's in Newfoundland, the rendez-vous fixed on, in the event of their separation. He then traversed the Gulph of Saint Lawrence, passing between the Island of Anticosti, and the Northern shore: after he had explored the coast, he proceeded up the River St. Lawrence, and on the second of September arrived at an Island, which he named, Bacchus, now, Orleans. After mooring his vessels, he went on shore with several of his people, accompanied by the Indians he had taken with him, on his former voyage. The natives frightened at his approach, fled with the greatest precipitation, nor could they be persuaded to stop, until they were told, that their countrymen, Toagnoagny and Domagaia were with them. As soon as they heard this good news, their fears began to subside, and they shewed their joy in skipping and dancing. Several Chiefs came to the ship's boats, and brought Fish, and Maize, in return for which they received Trinkets and other Baubles. The day after Cartier's arrival, Donnacona, the Chief of the Tribe, attended by his followers, in twelve canoes, paid a visit to Cartier. The Chief began a long oration, moving and twisting his body in the most grotesque and antick postures, and expressed his joy on their arrival. He then addressed himself, to the two Indians, and desir

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CHAP. ed them to relate what they had seen in France, and to inform him what treatment they had met with from Cartier. They assured him, that so far from having any cause for discontent, they had received the utmost kindness, since their departure. Donnacona, to express his gratitude for this conduct, desired Cartier to stretch out his arm, which he stroked and kissed with great eagerness, and then laid it about his neck, as a token of his friendship. Cartier in return for the Chief's kindness, presented him with provisions and wine, for which he received Donnacona's thanks, who attended by his people, regained the shore. A short time after this interview, Cartier intimated to Donnacona his desire to visit Hochelaga, the most considerable Village in the Country, but the Chief so far from being pleased with it, used every argument to dissuade him from it. Cartier, however, intent on the design, secured his vessels at Port de St. Croix, and sailed on the nineteenth of September with his Pinnace and two other boats up the River, and arrived on the second of October, at Hochelaga t As soon as he approached the shore, about one thousand persons went to meet him, with expressions of joy on his arrival, offering Cartier, Fish and Maize, in exchange for which knives and beads, were given them. Cartier and his people slept on board their boats that evening; the next morning, Cartier in a sumptuous attire, with twenty-five of his men, went in procession to see the Town of Hochelaga; when within a short distance of it, they were met by a Sachem, who

Champlain, Vol. 1. P. 10.

The River St. Charles, at the mouth of which was situated Port de St. Croix, was so called, in honor of Charles des Bouës, Grand Vicar of Pontoise, founder of the first mission of Recollets of New France. La Potherye, Vol. 1. P. 125.

Now Montreal.

saluted Cartier, with great courtesy, and shewed signs CHAP. of hearty welcome. In return for this civility, he 1. presented the Chief with two Hatchets and several knives, and hung round the Chief's neck, a Cross, which Cartier, desired him to kiss. Cartier and his people, then passed through large fields of ripe corn, in the midst of which was situated the Town of Hochelaga. It was circular, encompassed with three lines of palisades, through which there was one entrance, well secured with stakes and bars. In the inside, there was a rampart of wood, with ladders to mount on it, where large stones were collected for defence. The Town consisted of fifty Huts, built with stakes and covered with bark. The fire was placed in the center of the Huts round which were their lodging places, floored with bark and covered with skins. In the upper part, there was a place where they dried and preserved their Corn; to prepare it for eating, they pounded it in wooden Mortars, and mixing it with water, they baked it on hot stones. Besides Corn, they had Pumpkins and Squashes.

CARTIER and his people were then conducted to a large square in the centre of the Town, where a number of women, brought their Children to be touched, by these strangers, and prepared Matts, which they spread on the ground, desiring them to sit down. The Chief of the Tribe was brought on a Litter, on the shoulders of ten men and was placed on a mat, next to Cartier. He was about fifty years old, and had no mark of distinction, but a wreath of porcupine quills, dyed red, which he wore on his head. This, he took off and presented it to Cartier, with a request, that he would rub his arms and legs, trembling with the Palsy. Several other persons

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CHAP. afflicted with different disorders, addressed themselves to Cartier, whom, they considered, as a superior Being, sent from Heaven, with the power of healing diseases. Cartier sensible how little equal he was to such a task, endeavored, however, to gratify them, by laying his hands on the sick, offering up, prayers to Heaven, for their speedy recovery. The men, women and children were then arranged in separate bodies, and presents of hatchets were given to the men, beads to the women, and trinkets to the children. He then ordered the drums and trumpets to sound, which pleased the Indians so much, that they began to dance and skip about, with great joy.

CARTIER after the ceremony was over, expressed a wish to ascend the mountain, near the foot of which the Town was built, to which he was immediately conducted by the natives. From the summit of the mountain, he discovered an immense extent of fine country, interspersed with rivers, woods, hills and islands. To this mountain, Cartier gave the name of Mont Royal. Cartier's people, observing the course of the river above several falls, the natives informed them, that they might sail up the river for three months, that it run through two or three great Lakes, beyond which there was a Sea of fresh water to which they knew no bounds; and that on the other side of the mountain, there was another river, which ran in a contrary direction, to the south west, through a country, free from snow and ice. They told Cartier, that there had been found such metal as his Silver whistle, and the haft of a Dagger, belonging to one of his people, which was gilt. The In

Now called, the mountain of Montreal.-Charlevoix, Vol. 1. P. 13.