CHAPTER I.

JACQUES CARTIER.

By AGNES MAULE MACHAR.

Canadian History Begins with Jacques Cartier-The Time of His Birth Uncertain-A Renown

Sailor Sails to Canada in 1534-His Departure from St. Malo-Reaches NewfoundlandHis Description of the Country-First Contact with the Indians-Takes Possession of the Country for France-Returns to France-Prepares for a Second Voyage-A Stormy Passage -In Sight of Stadacona (Quebec)-Cartier's Reception by Donnacona-Sails up the River to Hochelaga (Montreal)-His Reception at Hochelaga-Back at Stadacona-Winters in Canada Hardships and Scurvy-Sails to Old France Taking a Number of IndiansUndertakes a Third Voyage-Fails to Found a Colony-Returns in Disgust to FranceHonors and Riches His Reward-His Death.

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ANADIAN history properly begins with the name of Jacques Cartier, for, though he made no permanent settlement in this country, the accounts of his famous voyages and of his efforts to found a colony on the banks of the St. Lawrence did much to draw future discoverers and adventurers to the northern part of the American continent.

Of the life of this great sailor but little is known. Even the date of his birth is mere conjecture. The date usually given is December 31, 1494; but it is much more probable that he was born in the year 1491, between June 7 and December 23.

Before attempting his first celebrated voyage of discovery to Canada he was already a noted mariner, having made, it is stated, no fewer than three voyages to Newfoundland. It is likewise supposed that he had seen service with the Portuguese government, and that, in the year 1527, he visited Brazil, but of the period of his life before 1534 little or nothing is definitely known Of his voyages to Canada, however, we have several excellent accounts, and no man among the early explorers is better known than this celebrated mariner of St. Malo.

The bright spring sunshine lighted up the gray walls and battlements of the rugged old sea-port town of St. Malo, on the coast of Brittany, when,

April 20, 1534, two little ships slowly glided away from its harbor bound on a long and adventurous voyage. They were manned by a hundred and twenty men, and their commander was Jacques Cartier, a captain specially chosen by King Francis. The king hoped that he would be able to discover the coveted short route to China and Cathay, and possibly to discover the gold and silver of which the French had heard in South America. He expected, also, that Cartier would open up new channels for trade, and secure the possession of part, at least, of the great new continent, to which, as he truly said, France had as good a right as Spain and Portugal, who wanted to have it all to themselves.

The little expedition sailed across the wide Atlantic, reaching Cape Bonavista in Newfoundland about the middle of May. From thence, passing on to the Isle of Birds, as the Portuguese had called it on account of the multitude of birds there, they arrived at the Straits of Belle Isle, and after some detention through bad weather, they explored the cold and sterile shores of Labrador and Newfoundland.

Cartier thought that this barren and aninviting land might be taken for the country assigned to Cain; and considered one acre of the Magdalen Islands, which he reached next, as worth the whole of Newfoundland. Ile had much to tell of the birds he found there, as well as of "beasts as large as oxen, and possessing great tusks like elephants," which, when he approached, leaped suddenly into the sea. He described, too, the beautiful trees and delicious fruits, as well as the wild corn, blossoming peas (vetches), currants, strawberries, roses and sweet-smelling herbs.

Cartier thought the waves were very heavy and strong among these is'ands. This made him think that there was probably an opening between Newfoundland and Cape Breton, and he began to look for a passage by which he might sail westward into the heart of the country. As the sailors rowed their boats close in shore, coasting along bays and inlets, they could sometimes see the naked savages moving about on the beach, or paddling their light birch canoes; after a time they managed to hold some intercourse and traffic with them, by means of signs and little gifts of hatchets, knives, beads and toys, often having as many as fifty canoes about them.

The

Indians were delighted to exchange their fish for the knives and hatchets which they coveted so much, and a red cap for their chief sent them away overjoyed.

Cartier tried in vain all the little inlets and rivers opening out of the Bay of Chaleurs (heats), to which he gave this name because he found there both the weather and the water so warm. Failing to find any passage like that by which he had entered the Gulf, he sailed east and northward along the coast of Gaspé Bay. Here he landed and set up a large wooden cross, thirty feet high, carved with three fleurs-de-lis, and bearing the inscription in French, "Long live the King of France!" By this means he formally took possession of the land for the King of France.

In order to impress the savages the more, the French knelt around the cross, and made signs, by pointing to the sky, to show that it was connected with the salvation of man. This done, Cartier and his men returned to their ships and were visited afterwards by many of the Indians, including the Chief, his brother and three sons. The chief showed them by expressive signs that he did not like their setting up the cross on his territory without his permission, but when they had induced him to enter their ships and look at the hatchets and knives that the white men had for trading, Cartier easily persuaded him that the cross had been set up merely as a beacon to point the way to the harbor.

Cartier treated the chief hospitably, expressing a great desire to make friends with his people, and promising to return, bringing many useful articles made of iron to exchange for furs. Two of the chief's sons were persuaded to accompany him to France, putting on with great satisfaction the new clothes that Cartier gave them, and throwing the old ones to their friends, who came out to take leave of them, bringing farewell gifts of fish in their canoes. Then with good will expressed on all sides, the French captain sailed away, exhorting the Indians to respect the cross he had set up on the shore.

Head winds and storms prevented Cartier from making any further discoveries on this voyage. He just missed finding his way into the St. Lawrence at Anticosti, supposing, without full examination, that the gulf

there was a great bay. When he arrived home in September, his account of

The two young Indians he had interest to the Bretons, and were

his adventures was eagerly listened to. brought with him were objects of great taught to speak French, so that they might answer the questions which were asked on all sides.

Cartier received great honors for his discoveries, and many people in France were most anxious that he should make a second voyage in order to extend them.

In spite of opposition they succeeded in organizing another and a better equipped expedition than the first. Extensive preparations were made during the winter, and on a bright spring day-May 16, 1535-all St. Malo was astir to see the great religious ceremonial which celebrated the departure of the little fleet. Down in the bay rode at anchor "La Grande Hermine," a large-sized ship for those days, with the two smaller vessels which were to complete the flotilla. In these were to go, besides the crews, several

members of the French noblesse. And in the old cathedral were assembled the officers and men to hear mass and to receive absolution and the paternal blessing of the bishop on their perilous enterprise; while the Breton wives, mothers and maidens, in their picturesque costumes, looked on in mingled pride and anxiety. Three days later the flotilla set sail for the setting sun.

Scarcely, however, had they lost sight of the Breton cliffs when the ships were scattered by a violent storm. It was July before they were collected at the Straits of Belle Isle, from whence they coasted along the bleak shore of Labrador till they entered a small bay opposite the Island of Anticosti. It was the fête of St. Lawrence when they entered the gulf, and Cartier bestowed that name on the bay, from whence it afterwards extended to the whole Gulf and thence to the noble river, then called by Cartier the River of Hochelaga. The St. Lawrence, therefore, keeps in its name a record of the very day when Cartier's expedition first floated on its waters, after its long tossing on a stormy sea.

Piloted by the young Indians who had accompanied Cartier to France, the French ships sailed up the great unknown river, on which no white wings save those of the sea-gulls had ever appeared before. The

mariners gazed with admiring interest at the grand, sombre, pine-clad hills that seemed to guard the approach, and at the gloomy gorge of the dark Saguenay, with huge rugged rocks and dense forests. They landed on a long, low island which they called the Isle aux Coudres on account of the delicious filberts they found there.

Passing up what is now called St. Paul's Bay and on under the frowning headlands of Cape Tourmente, they dropped anchor at last on the lea of "a fair island" crowned with rich woods and festooned with wild vines and such abundant clusters of grapes that Cartier gave it the name of the Isle of Bacchus. We know it as the beautiful Island of Orleans, whose purple mass divides the river below the rock of Quebec.

According to their young Indian guides, the country they were now sailing through was divided into three territories. The first took its name from the Saguenay, beginning at Anticosti and ending with the Isle aux Coudres. The second extending thence to Hochelaga, the present site of Montreal, was called Kanata, a Mohawk word signifying a village or cluster of huts. This name, slightly changed into Canada has widened its significance, until, reaching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, it includes half a continent. The third territory, Hochelaga, was the largest, richest and most populous of the three, which of course formed only a small part of the country now called Canada.

As the ships approached the shore and cast anchor, the Indians could. be seen watching them with great interest and wonder; though probably they had heard rumors before of these strange winged canoes and pale-faced visitors. At first they seemed disposed to fly, but Cartier sent ashore his two young Indian pilots. Doubtless they had many wonderful stories to tell their people-stories which must have seemed to them like tales from another world. Very soon curiosity overcame fear, and the redmen's birch canoes were seen swarming about the ships, loaded with presents of maize, fruit and fish, in return for which Cartier gave them the gifts they prized so much. Cartier's two young Indians could now speak French pretty well, and acted as interpreters between their countrymen and these strange visitors. The Indians eagerly examined the winged canoes, climbed into the rigging,