Scurvy on Jacques Cartier's second voyage to North America (Winter 1535-1536)

CHAPTER XXIV IN the month of December we were advised that pestilence was rife among the people of Stadaconé, in so much that by their own confession there were already more than fifty dead ; for which reason we forbade them to visit our fort or our vicinity. But though we had driven them away, the pestilence seized on ourselves in strange and marvellous fashion, for some lost their strength, and their legs grew big and swollen, their sinews shrank and became black as coal, and in some cases were spotted thick with purple blotches of blood. Then the plague passed up into their haunches, thighs, shoulders, arms, and neck. And in all cases the mouth grew so foul and rotten about the gums, that the flesh dropped off to the very roots of the teeth, nearly all of which fell out. And this disease raged so in our three ships that in mid-February, of our company of no men not ten were whole, in so much that one could not aid another, which was a pitiful sight to see considering the place wherein we were. For the people of the country came every day before our fort, and saw few men on their feet, and already eight were dead, and more than fifty without hope of life. Our captain seeing misery and sickness so general, ordered all to turn to prayers and orisons, and ordered an image in the likeness of the Virgin Mary to be carried across the snow and ice and placed against a tree, a bow-shot from the fort, and gave orders that on the following Sunday Mass should be said at this spot, and that all, sick or well, who could walk should go in procession singing the seven psalms of David, and the Litany, and praying the Virgin to deign to implore her dear 149 150 MARC LESCARBOT Son to have pity on us.1 Mass said and sung before this image, the captain vowed himself a pilgrim to our Lady to whom prayers are said at Rocamadour [or rather Roqu’ amadou, meaning the Lover’s Rock. This is a town in Quercy much frequented by pilgrims], if God gave him grace to return to 1 The Protestant Hakluyt translates what follows : “praying most heartily that it would please the said our Christ to have compassion upon us.” A line or two above he had changed the image of the Virgin into “ in remembrance of Christ, caused his Image to be set upon a tree.” The Seven Psalms are the Penitential Psalms, i.e. vi., xxxii., xxxviii., li., cii., cxxx., cxliii., in the Protestant versions (vi., xxxi, xxxvii., 1., ci., cxxix., cxlii., in the Vulgate) ; the Litany is the ordinary Litany of the Processionale in the Roman Breviary, frequently known as the “ Litaniæ Sanctorum.” The combination of the Penitential Psalms and the Litany is an ordinary one ; eg. it is said on all Fridays in Lent in the present Roman use. It is the ordinary form of a special “ rogation,” and was thus the natural thing for Cartier to use under the circumstances. I owe this note to the Rev. F. E. Brightman of Magdalen College, Oxford. Here and elsewhere the question arises, whether there were priests with Cartier on his voyages, (i) He several times speaks of Mass being heard or sung. (2) An incomplete list of his crew on the second voyage has been preserved, and includes Dom Guillaume Le Breton and Dom Anthoine, the title usually given to priests, and in Brittany in the sixteenth century especially applied to an unbeneficed priest or chaplain. (3) When the Indians asked Cartier what weather they would have on the way to Montreal, and whether he had spoken to Jesus on the subject, “ il répondit que ses Pretres y avoient parlé” (see Chap, xiv.) On the other hand, on several occasions on which we would expect their presence, it is not mentioned ; some of these are so striking that Dr. Dawson (op. tit., pp. 185-187), while leaving the matter open, is inclined to decide in the negative. Thus at Hochelaga, “ Cartier himself read the Gospel of St. John and the Story of the Passion out of his book of hours. He stroked the limbs of the paralytic chief and prayed for the conversion of the savages” (Dawson). Amid all the woes of the winter, they are never mentioned as “baptizing, comforting, exhorting, or burying.” At Stadaconé, when Donnacona and several others asked for baptism, Cartier replied “That there was no one then who could teach them the faith,” but that on another occasion “he would bring priests and chrism.” (Lescarbot, book vi., chap, iv.) Belleforest (Cosmographie Universelle , ii. 2188) takes this as decisive evidence against their presence. While certainty is of course impossible, my own belief is that the frequent mention of the Mass outweighs the other evidence. The priests may not have gone to Hochelaga, but have remained behind on shipboard. Cartier’s refusal of baptism is more difficult to explain, but it is possible that his priests were down with scurvy, in which case they were in a sense the proto-martyrs of the Canadian Church. HISTORY OF NEW FRANCE 151 France. That day died Philippe Rougemont, a native of Amboise, aged about twenty years. And for that the said sickness was unknown, our captain ordered the body to be opened to see if we could get any knowledge of it, to preserve if possible the rest of us. We found his heart all white and withered, and about it more than a quart of water as red as a date ; the liver healthy, but the lungs black and gangrened, and all his blood drawn into a clot above his heart, for when he was opened, from above his heart sprang a great jet of foul, black blood. Further, his spleen toward the spine was somewhat mortified for about two inches, as though it had been rubbed on a rough stone. After seeing this we made an incision, and cut open his thigh, which was all black on the surface, but the inner flesh was sound enough. This done, he was buried in as seemly fashion as we could. God in His holy grace have mercy on his soul, and on all dead men. Amen. And thereafter from day to day this sickness so spread that a time came when in our three ships there were hot three sound men, so that in one of them there was not a man who could go below deck to draw drink either for himself or for the others. And at this time there were already many dead, whom in our weakness we were forced to bury under the snow, for it was impossible for us at that time to open the frozen ground, so weak were we, and so feeble our strength. And we were also in great dread lest the people of the country should perceive our misery and weakness. And to hide our illness, when they came near our fort, our captain, whom God preserved in continual health, went out to meet them with two or three men, well or ill, whom he made come out behind him. And when he saw them outside the pale, he made pretence of striking them, shouting and throwing sticks at them, sending them on board, making signs to the savages that he was keeping his men at work within the ship, some caulking, others baking, others at 152 MARC LESCARBOT different tasks, and that it would not do for them to come loafing outside ; this the savages believed. And our captain bade the sick men hammer and make a noise within the ships, beating with sticks and stones, pretending to caulk. And at that time so man y were down with the disease that we had almost lost hope of ever returning to France, had not God in His infinite kindness and compassion looked on us in pity, and given us knowledge of a remedy against all maladies, the best that was ever seen or found on earth, as we shall now relate. But first you must know that from mid-November to the 18th1 day of April, we were continuously shut in by the ice, which was more than two fathoms thick ; and on the ground the snow was four feet in height and more than two fathoms thick ; 2 in so much that it was higher than the sides of our ships, and endured all that time ; so that our drink froze fast in the casks, and high and low within the ships there was four inches of ice upon the wood ; and the whole river was frozen as far up as the fresh water extends, above Hochelaga. In this time we lost to the number of twenty-five of the best and kindliest sailors whom we had, who died of this disease ; and there were more than forty of whom we had no hope, and save for three or four all the rest without exception were ill. But God, in His holy grace, looked on us in pity, and sent us a remedy for our health and healing of the kind and in the way that we shall now relate. One day our captain seeing the plague so rife and his men so greatly overcome by it, had gone out of the fort and was walking on the ice, when he saw approaching a band of the people of Stadaconê,3 and among them Domagaya, whom, ten or twelve days before, the captain had seen very ill of the same sickness as his men ; for one of his legs was 1 Cartier says 15th; Hakluyt “until the midst of March.” 2 The last six words are an error of the printer, whose eye was caught by the preceding line. They are not found in the edition of 1609. 3 Stadaconê is the village of the Canadians. [L.] HISTORY OF NEW FRANCE 153 swollen to the size of the body of a two years’ old child, and all its sinews were shrunk ; his teeth were decayed or gone, his gums rotten and foul. The captain seeing him hale and whole, rejoiced greatly, hoping to find from him how he had been healed, in order so to give aid and help to his men. And when they had come near the fort, the captain asked him how he had cured himself of his disease ; Domagaya replied that he had been cured by the juice of the leaves of a tree, and their dregs, and that this was the only remedy for this disease. Then the captain asked if there were not some of it near at hand, and to point it out to him, to heal his servant who had caught the said disease in the house of the chief Donnacona, not wishing to let him know the number of his sick comrades. Then the said Domagaya sent two women with our captain in search of it, who brought back nine or ten boughs and showed us that one must strip off the bark and leaves from the wood, and set the whole mass to boil in water, and then drink this water every second day and put the grounds on the sick and swollen limbs, and that this tree cured of all diseases. And in their tongue this tree is called Anneda.1 Thereupon the captain ordered this brew to be made for 1 Amedda (Cartier). Ameda or Hanneda (Hakluyt). “Some writers suppose this to have been the white spruce ( Picea alba), and others the white pine ( Pinus slrobus ) ; but the P. alba is the better anti-scorbutic” (Baxter). Professor Ganong thinks that the reference on the next page to its size points to the white pine, which is the largest tree of Eastern Canada. Dr. Dawson, St. Lawrence Basin , p. 174, identifies it with the balsam fir, Abies balsamea. The quickness of its operation is not unnaturally exaggerated by the grateful Cartier. On this Dr. Dawson says : “ Cartier, with his usual good judgment, limits the miracle to the apparent accident of the way he obtained knowledge of the remedy by his meeting with Domagaya ; but some late writers go further, and, forgetting that the pagan Indians partook of the benefit to an equal extent as the Frenchmen, imagine that the virtues of the tree were specially conferred and did not avail on subsequent occasions.” I do not see why it is good judgment to admit the miraculous, but to restrict it to the smallest possible dimensions ; the view that the whole cure was due to the interposition of providence, which is apparently that of Mr. Joseph Pop z, Jacques Cartier , p. 101 (Ottawa, 1890), is certainly more consistent than that of Dr. Dawson. 154 MARC LESCARBOT the sick men to drink of, but not one wished to try it, save one or two who risked the experiment. Very soon after they had drunk of it they felt better, which was a true and evident miracle. For, after having drunk of it two or three times, from every disease whereby they had been attacked they recovered health and healing ; insomuch that some of the crew who had had the French pox for five or six years were clean cured by this medicine. On seeing this all crowded round the said medicine, so that they were like to kill one another in their desire to be the first to take it ; in so much that as large and tall a tree as ever I saw was used up in less than a week ; which wrought so well that if all the doctors of Louvain and Montpellier had been there with all the drugs of Alexandria, they would not have done as much in a year as this tree did in a week. For it so profited us that all who were willing to make use of it recovered health and healing, thanks be to God. THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE CHAMPLAIN SOCIETY LESCARBOT : HISTORY OF NEW FRANCE VOLUME II TORONTO THE CHAMPLAIN SOCIETY THE HISTORY OF NEW FRANCE BY MARC LESCARBOT WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION, NOTES AND APPENDICES BY W. L. GRANT, M.A. (Oxon.) PROFESSOR OF COLONIAL HISTORY IN QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY, KINGSTON, CANADA AND AN INTRODUCTION BY H. P. BIGGAR, B.Litt. (Oxon.) AUTHOR OF “THE EARLY TRADING COMPANIES OF NEW FRANCE” IN THREE VOLUMES VOLUME II TORONTO THE CHAMPLAIN SOCIETY 191 1 CONTENTS PAGE TRANSLATION OF BOOKS III. AND IV. i TEXT OF BOOKS III. AND IV 375 MAPS LESCARBOT’S MAP OF NEWFOUNDLAND, GREAT RIVER OF CANADA, AND COASTS OF NEW FRANCE . . At end LESCARBOT’S MAP OF PORT ROYAL, NEW FRANCE (First State) At end LESCARBOT’S MAP OF PORT ROYAL, NEW FRANCE (Second State) At end EASTERN CANADA AND NEWFOUNDLAND . At end HISTORY OF NEW FRANCE 7 48. The isle of Alexay. Hence , he says , that they made some forty leagues , and reached 49. The cape of Orleans. 50. Boats River , which I take to be the Miramichi. 51. Savage Cape. 52. The gulf of St. Lunaire , which I take to be Tracadie. 53. Cape Hope. 54. The bay or gulf of Chaleur , where Jacques Cartier says that the heat exceeds that of Spain. Herein , considering the climate , I am right loath to believe him till he makes another voyage thither . But it may well be that it chanced to be very hot during his stayy which was in the month of July. 55. Meadow Cape. 56. Saint Martin. 57. Cod-fish Bay. 58. Cape St. Louis. 59. Cape Montmorency. 60. Gasp'e. 61. Percée Island. 62. Bonaventure Island. Now let us enter the great river of Canada , wherein we shall find few havens in an extent of more than 350 leagues , so full is it of rocks and shoals. On the south shore , after passing Gaspé, we find — 63. Cape Bishop. 64. The river Matane. 65* The islets of St. John , which I take to be the Peak. 66. The river of the Iroquois. On the north shore , after Chischedec . inserted above at No. 27 — 67. St Margaret' s River. 68. The port of Lesquemin , where the Basques carry on a whalefishery. 69. The port of Tadousac , at the mouth of the river Saguenay, where is carried on the largest fur trade in the whole country. 70. The river Saguenay , one hundred leagues from the mouth of the 8 MARC LESCARBOT river of Canada. This river is so deep that it is almost impossible to find bottom. Here the great river of Canada narrows to not more than seven Leagues in width. 71. Hare Island. 72. Isle aux Coudres. These two islands are thus called by Jacques Cartier. 73. The island of Orleans , which Jacques Cartier called Isle of Bacchus , because of the great number of vines which are there. Here the water of the great river is fresh y though the tide extends more than forty leagues farther up. 74. Quebec. This is a narrow strait of the great river of Canada , which Jacques Cartier calls Achelaci , where Monsieur de Monts has built a fort and dwelling-place for Frenchmen. Near at hand is a stream which falls from a high crag. 75. The port of St. Croix , where Jacques Cartier wintered. Champlain says that he went no farther ; but herein he is wrong. The memory of those who have done good deeds must be kept green. 76. The river of Batiscan. 77. Island of St. Elias. 78. The river of Foixy called by Champlain Three Rivers. 79. Hochelagay an Indian town, the name of which is applied by Jacques Cartier to the great river which we call Canada. 80. Mount Royal , a mountain near Hochelagay whence one sees the great river of Canada till it is lost to sight above the great falls. 81. The falls of the great river of Canaday a league in lengthy the river falling among the rocks with a wondrous noise. 82. The great river of Cana da , whose source is still unknowny though its course is known for over 800 leaguesy in part by explorationy in part by Indian report. In the second voyage of Jacques Cartier I find it stated that at its mouth it is thirty leagues in breadthy and more than 200 fathom deep. The same Jacques Cartier called it Hochelagay the name of the people who in his time dwelt near the falls. HEADINGS OF THE CHAPTERS TO SERVE AS INDEX TO THE MATTERS CONTAINED IN THIS HISTORY BOOK III In which are described the Voyages, Navigations, and Discoveries of ihe French in the Gulf and Great River of Canada CHAPTER I PAGE Summary of the two voyages made by Captain Jacques Cartier to Newfoundland. The gulf and the great river of Canada. Explanation of the names of Newfoundland, Bacalaos, Canada, and Labrador. Mistake of Belief orest . 19 CHAPTER II Account of the first voyage made by Captain Jacques Cartier in the new land of the north, as far as the mouth of the great river of Canada. And first the state of his crew, with the discoveries of the month of May 27 CHAPTER III The navigations and discoveries of the month of June 33 CHAPTER IV The navigations and discoveries of the month of July .... 43 CHAPTER V The navigations and discoveries of the month of August, and the return to France . . 10 MARC LESCARBOT CHAPTER VI That the knowledge of the discoveries of Captain Jacques Cartier is necessary, especially to the Newfoundlanders who go to the fisheries. The route which he took on this second journey. Voyage of Champlain as far as the mouth of the great river of Canada. Letter presented to the King by the said Captain Jacques Cartier concerning the relation of his second voyage . CHAPTER VII Preparation of Captain Jacques Cartier and of his men for the voyage to Newfoundland. Embarkation. Bird Island. His discoveries as far as the rapids of the great river of Canada, called by him Hochelaga. Its unparalleled width and depth. Its source unknown CHAPTER VIII Return of Captain Jacques Cartier toward the Bay of St. Lawrence. Hippopotami. Continuation of his voyage in the great river of Canada, as far as the river Saguenay, a distance of one hundred leagues CHAPTER IX Voyage of Champlain from Anticosti to Tadousac. Description of Gaspé. River Matane. Harbour of Tadousac. Codfish Bay. Percée Island. Chaleur Bay. Remarks on the places, islands, harbours, bays, sandbanks, rocks, and rivers, which are on the north shore as one goes toward the river Saguenay. Description of the harbour of Tadousac, and of the said river of Saguenay. Contradiction of Champlain CHAPTER X Good reception given to the French by the great Sagamore of the Indians of Canada. Their feasts and dances. The war which they carry on with the Iroquois CHAPTER XI The rejoicing made by the savages after they have won a victory over their enemies ; their humours, their malice, their beliefs and false opinions. Their sorcerers speak face to face with devils . PAGS 59 66 73 77 85 88 HISTORY OF NEW FRANCE 11 CHAPTER XII PAGE How Captain Jacques Cartier set out from the river Saguenay to seek for a harbour, and stopped at St. Croix. Unknown fishes ; large tortoises. Ile aux Coudres. Island of Orleans. Yield of the soil of the country. Reception of the French by the savages. Orations of the savage chiefs 95 CHAPTER XIII Return of Captain Jacques Cartier to the island of Orleans, called by him the island of Bacchus, and what he found therein. Buoys set at the harbour of St. Croix. Form of alliance. Ship hauled up on land for the winter. The savages do not approve of the captain going to Hochelaga. Their astonishment at the thunder of the cannons . . . .100 CHAPTER XIV Stupid trick of the savages to turn aside Captain Jacques Cartier from his voyage to Hochelaga. Their idea of the devil. Departure of Champlain from Tadousac to go to St. Croix. Character and yield of the country. The island of Orleans. Quebec. Diamonds at the said Quebec. The river of Batiscan ..... 105 CHAPTER XV Voyage of Captain Jacques Cartier to Hochelaga. Characteristics and fruits of the country. Reception of the French by the savages. Abundance of vines and grapes. A great lake. Musk rats. Arrival at Hochelaga. Wondrous rejoicings of the said savages . . .ill CHAPTER XVI How the captain and the gentlemen of his company, with his sailors, went to the town of Hochelaga. Situation of the spot. Fruits of the country. Buildings, and the manner of life of the savages . Il6 CHAPTER XVII Arrival of Captain Cartier at Hochelaga. Reception and endearments given him. Sick men brought to him to touch them. Mount Royal. Rapids of the great river of Canada. State of the said river beyond the said rapids. Mines. Wooden armour employed by certain tribes. Regret at his departure 119 12 MARC LESCARBOT CHAPTER XVIII PAGE Return of Jacques Cartier to the harbour of St. Croix after his journey to Hochelaga. The savages preserve the heads of their enemies. The Toudamans enemies of the Canadians . . . . .123 CHAPTER XIX Voyage of Champlain from the harbour of St. Croix to the rapids of the great river, wherein are mentioned the rivers, islands, and other things which he has discovered on the said voyage ; and particularly the river, people, and country of the Iroquois 1 25 CHAPTER XX Arrival at the rapids. Description thereof, and of the remarkable things to be seen there. With the account of the Indians concerning the end, or rather the origin of the great river 13 1 CHAPTER XXI Return from the rapids to Tadousac, with the comparison of the account of several savages concerning the length and commencement of the great river of Canada. Of the number of the rapids and lakes through which it passes 137 CHAPTER XXII Description of the great river of Canada, and others which flow into it. The tribes which dwell along its course. The fruits of the earth. The beasts and birds, and particularly a two-footed beast. The fish which abound in the said great river ...... 141 CHAPTER XXIII Of the river of Saguenay. Of the tribes who dwell near its source. Another river flowing from the said Saguenay above the rapids of the great river. Of the river of the Iroquois which flows from the direction of Florida, a country without snow or ice. Peculiarities of this country. Suspicion concerning the savages of Canada. Night watch. Restoration of a girl who had escaped. Reconciliation of the savages with the French 145 HISTORY OF NEW FRANCE 13 CHAPTER XXIV PAGE Mortality among the savages. A strange sickness, unknown among the French. Devotions and vows. Opening of a dead body. Dissimulation toward the savages as to the said sicknesses and mortality. Wonderful cure of that sickness . . ..... 149 CHAPTER XXV Suspicion concerning the long absence of the savage chief ; his return with a multitude of people. Weakness of the French. A ship abandoned for lack of strength to take it along. Account of the peculiarities of the Saguenay, and other wondrous researches . . 155 CHAPTER XXVI A cross set up by the French. Capture of the savage chiefs to carry them to France, and to give account to the King of the peculiarities of the Saguenay. Lamentations of the savages. Presents exchanged between Captain Cartier and these savages 159 CHAPTER XXVII Return of Captain Jacques Cartier to France. Meeting with certain savages who had knives of copper. Presents exchanged between the said savages and the said captain. Description of the places through which his journey led 163 CHAPTER XXVIII Meeting of the Montagnais (the savages of Tadousac) and the Iroquois. Privilege of a wounded warrior. Ceremonies of the savages before setting out to war. Fabulous account of the deformity of the Armouchiquois. Of the mine which shines in the sun ; and of the Gougou. Arrival at Havre de Grace ...... 169 CHAPTER XXIX Digression on the preceding chapter. Easy credulity. The truth concerning the Armouchiquois. Savages always in fear. Causes of panic. False visions and imaginations. What Gougou really is. The inventor thereof. A copper mine. Hanno the Carthaginian. Censures on certain authors who have written concerning New France. Advice on the teaching of the savages . . 172 14 MARC LESCARBOT CHAPTER XXX Enterprise of Monsieur de Roberval to possess the land of Canada. Commission of Captain Jacques Cartier. End of the said enterprise CHAPTER XXXI Complaint on our fickleness and cowardice. New enterprise and commission for Canada. Envy of the merchants of St. Malo. Revocation of the said commission CHAPTER XXXII Voyage of the Marquis de la Roche to the new lands. Sable Island. His return to France in a manner unbelievable. His company five years in the said island. Their return. Commission of the said Marquis BOOK IV In which are comprised the voyages of Messieurs de Monts and de Pouirincourt CHAPTER I The intention of the author. Commission of M. de Monts. Interdiction of the fur trade CHAPTER II Voyage of M. de Monts to New France. What befell on the said voyage. Causes of icebergs in Newfoundland. Names given to certain harbours. Perplexity caused by the delay of the other ship . CHAPTER III Disembarkation at Port Mouton. A man lost for sixteen days in the forest. French Bay. Port Royal. Sand-eel River. Copper mine. Harm done by gold mines. Diamonds. Turquoises PAGE 181 190 Ï94 209 227 HISTORY OF NEW FRANCE 15 CHAPTER IV Description of the river St. John, and of Holy Cross Island. The man lost in the forest found on the sixteenth day. Examples of some wondrous fastings. Disputes between the savages referred to the decision of M. de Monts. Paternal authority among the said savages. What manner of husband they choose for their daughters CHAPTER V Description of Holy Cross Island. Difficulty and generosity of the enterprise of M. de Monts. Envious persecution of it. Return to France of M. de Poutrincourt. Perils of the journey . . . . CHAPTER VI Buildings on Holy Cross Island. Discomforts of the French in this place. Unknown diseases. Ample digression thereon. Their causes. Those who are subject to them. Food, bad water, air, winds, lakes, decomposed forest matter, seasons, bodily disposition of young and old. Opinion of the author on the care of the health and the healing of the said diseases CHAPTER VII Discovery of new lands by M. de Monts. Fictitious stories of the river and imaginary town of Norumbega. Refutation of the authors who have written thereon. Fishing banks of Newfoundland. Kinibeki. Choüakoet. Malebarre. Armouchiquois. Death of a Frenchman by violence. Mortality among the English in Virginia . CHAPTER VIII Arrival of M. du Pont at Holy Cross Island. The colony transferred to Port Royal. Return to France of M. de Monts. Handmills worked with difficulty. Outfit of the said M. du Pont for a voyage of discovery among the new lands beyond Malebarre. Shipwreck. Preparations for the return to France. Comparison between these voyages and those to Florida. Criticism of those who despise the cultivation of the soil CHAPTER IX Motive of, and willingness to accept the voyage to New France on the part of M. de Poutrincourt, and likewise of the author. Departure from Paris to La Rochelle. Farewell to France . . . . PAGE 239 249 255 272 280 286 16 MARC LESCARBOT CHAPTER X PAGE Our ship named the Jonah. The low tide at la Rochelle makes the exit difficult. La Rochelle a town of the Reform. Insolence of the lower classes. Crackers. Wreck of the Jonah. New crew. Weak soldiers should not be sent to the frontiers. Ministers pray for the conversion of the savages. Our scanty zeal. The eucharist carried on their journeys by the early Christians. Diligence of M. de Poutrincourt on the point of embarking .... 289 CHAPTER XI Departure from la Rochelle. Various encounters with ships and corsairs. The sea is stormy near the Azores, and why. Why the west wind is usual in the Western Ocean. Whence come the winds. Porpoises foretell storms. Method of catching them. Storms. Their effects. Calms. Nature of squalls. Their formation. Their effects. Confidence of sailors. How deference is paid to a king’s ship. Computation of our voyage. The sea warm, then cold. Reason of this, and of the icebergs in Newfoundland 296 CHAPTER XII The grand fishing banks. Arrival thereat. Description thereof. Fishery for codfish and of birds. Gluttony of the Snatchers. Various dangers. Causes of the long and frequent fogs in the Western Ocean. Signs of land. Sight of it. Wondrous odours. Two skiffs come alongside. Landing at Port Mouton. Arrival at Port Royal . 303 CHAPTER XIII Lucky meeting with M. du Pont. His return to Port Royal. Rejoicing. Description of the neighbourhood of the said Harbour. Conjecture upon the origin of the great river of Canada. Wheat sown. Return to France of M. du Pont. Voyage to the land of the Armouchiquois of M. de Poutrincourt. Good rye grown wild. Our actions and manner of life at Port Royal. Reason of the meadows on Sand-eel River . . . . . . . . . . . 314. CHAPTER XIV Departure from Holy Cross Island. Marchin Bay. Choiiakoet. Vines and grapes, and gifts of the savages. Armouchiquois lands and tribes. Cure of a wounded Armouchiquois. Simplicity and ignorance of the tribes. Vices of the Armouchiquois. Suspicion. A tribe with no care for clothing. Wheat sown and vines planted in the land of the Armouchiquois. Quantity of grapes. Great throng of people. A dangerous sea ..... 322