 This
is the tenth in a continuing series of entries from the Voyages
of Samuel de Champlain, first published in 1613. To view Part I,
click here. For Champlain's
account of the discovery of the lake that bears his name, click
here...
Original
translation from the French by Charles Pomeroy Otis, Ph.D.
Republished by the Prince Society, Boston: 1878.
MEMOIR OF SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN
Volume II
1604-1610
CHAPTER X.
THE DWELLING-PLACE ON THE ISLAND OF ST. CROIX TRANSFERRED TO PORT
ROYAL, AND THE REASON WHY.
Sieur De Monts determined to change his
location, and make another settlement, in order to avoid the severe
cold and the bad winter which we had had in the Island of St. Croix.
As we had not, up to that time, found any suitable harbor, and, in
view of the short time we had for building houses in which to
establish ourselves, we fitted out two barques, and loaded them with
the frame-work taken from the houses of St. Croix, in order to
transport it to Port Royal, twenty-five leagues distant, where we
thought the climate was much more temperate and agreeable. Pont
Gravé and I set out for that place; and, having arrived, we looked
for a site favorable for our residence, under shelter from the
north-west wind, which we dreaded, having been very much harassed by
it.
After searching carefully in all directions, we found no place more
suitable and better situated than one slightly elevated, about which
there are some marshes and good springs of water. This place is
opposite the island at the mouth of the river Equille. [179] To the
north of us about a league, there is a range of mountains, [180]
extending nearly ten leagues in a north-east and south-west
direction. The whole country is filled with thick forests, as I
mentioned above, except at a point a league and a half up the river,
where there are some oaks, although scattering, and many wild vines,
which one could easily remove and put the soil under cultivation,
notwithstanding it is light and sandy. We had almost resolved to
build there; but the consideration that we should have been too far
up the harbor and river led us to change our mind.
Recognizing accordingly the site of our habitation as a good one, we
began to clear up the ground, which was full of trees, and to erect
houses as soon as possible. Each one was busy in this work. After
every thing had been arranged, and the majority of the dwellings
built, Sieur de Monts determined to return to France, in order to
petition his Majesty to grant him all that might be necessary for
his undertaking. He had desired to leave Sieur d'Orville to command
in this place in his absence. But the climatic malady, _mal de la
terre_, with which he was afflicted would not allow him to gratify
the wish of Sieur de Monts. On this account, a conference was held
with Pont Gravé on the subject, to whom this charge was offered,
which he was happy to accept; and he finished what little of the
habitation remained to be built. I, at the same time, hoping to have
an opportunity to make some new explorations towards Florida,
determined to stay there also, of which Sieur de Monts approved.
ENDNOTES:
179. In the original, Champlain has written the name of this river
in this particular instance _Guille_, probably an abbreviation for _Anguille_,
the French name of the fish which we call the eel. Lescarbot says
the "river was named _L'Equille_ because the first fish taken
therein was an _equille_."--Vide antea, note 57.
180. The elevation of this range varies from six hundred to seven
hundred feet.
This
is the conclusion of Chapter 10 of Voyages
Click here for Chapter 11
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