A Book of American ExplorersHigginson, Thomas Wentworth
History
A Book of American Explorers
Higginson, Thomas Wentworth
America -- Discovery and exploration; United States -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
The next day, we departed with our ships, to bring them to the place
of the Holy Cross; and on the 14th of that month[111] we came thither;
and the Lord Donnacona, Taignoagny, and Domagaia,[112] with twenty-five
boats full of those people, came to meet us, coming from the place
whence we were come, and going toward Stadacona, where their abiding
is. And all came to our ships, showing sundry and divers gestures
of gladness and mirth, except those two that we had brought; to wit,
Taignoagny and Domagaia,[112] who seemed to have altered and changed
their mind and purpose; for by no means they would come unto our ships,
albeit sundry times they were earnestly desired to do it, whereupon we
began to distrust somewhat. Our captain asked them, if, according to
promise, they would go with him to Hochelaga.[113] They answered yea,
for so they had purposed; and then each one withdrew himself. The next
day, being the 15th of the month, our captain went on shore, to cause
certain poles and piles to be driven into the water, and set up, that
the better and safelier we might harbor our vessels there....
The day following, we brought our two great ships within the river and
harbor, where the waters, being at the highest, are three fathoms
deep, and, at the lowest, but half a fathom. We left our pinnace[114]
without the road, to the end we might bring it to Hochelaga. So soon as
we had safely placed our ships, behold! we saw Donnacona, Taignoagny,
and Domagaia, with more than five hundred persons, men, women, and
children; and the said lord, with ten or twelve of the chiefest of the
country, came aboard of our ships, who were all courteously received,
and friendly entertained both of our captain and of us all; and divers
gifts of small value were given them.
Then did Taignoagny tell our captain that his lord did greatly sorrow
that he would go to Hochelaga, and that he would not by any means
permit that any of them should go with him, because the river was of
no importance. Our captain answered him, that, for all his saying,
he would not leave off his going thither, if, by any means, it were
possible; for that he was commanded by his king to go as far as
possibly he could; and that if he――that is to say, Taignoagny――would
go with him, as he had promised, he should be very well entertained:
beside that, he should have such a gift given him as he should well
content himself; for he should do nothing else but go with him to
Hochelaga, and come again. To whom Taignoagny answered, that he would
not by any means go; and thereupon they suddenly returned to their
houses. The next day, being the 17th of September, Donnacona and his
company returned even as at the first....
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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