French Pathfinders in North AmericaJohnson, William Henry
History
French Pathfinders in North America
Johnson, William Henry
America -- Discovery and exploration -- French; New France -- Discovery and exploration
The explorers had discovered and entered this enchanting basin in the
previous summer. Now its beauty recurred to them, and they determined
to remove thither. In their vessels they transported their stores and
even parts of their buildings across the Bay of Fundy and laid the
foundation of a settlement which they called Port Royal, afterward
renamed by loyal Britons Annapolis, in honor of Queen Anne.
The season proved very severe, and in the spring it was decided to
persevere in the project of planting a colony, if possible, in a warmer
region. For the second time Champlain sailed down the New England
coast.
At Chatham Harbor, as the place is now called, five of the voyagers,
contrary to orders, {112} were spending the night ashore. The word
quickly passed around among the Indians that a number of the palefaces
were in their power. Through the dark hours of the night dusky
warriors gathered at the meeting-place, until they numbered hundreds.
Then they stole silently toward the camp-fire where the unsuspecting
Frenchmen lay sleeping. Suddenly a savage yell aroused them, and
arrows fell in a shower upon them. Two never rose, slain where they
lay. The others fled to their boat, fairly bristling with arrows
sticking in them, according to the quaint picture which Champlain made.
In the meantime, he, with Poutrincourt and eight men, aroused from
their sleep by the horrid cries on the shore, had leaped from their
berths, snatched their weapons, and, clad only in their shirts, pulled
to the rescue of their comrades. They charged, and the dusky enemy
fled into the woods. Mournfully the voyagers buried their dead, while
the barbarians, from a safe distance, jibed and jeered at them. No
sooner had the little party rowed back to the ship than they saw the
Indians dig up the dead bodies and burn them. The incensed Frenchmen,
by a treacherous device, lured some of the assailants within {113}
their reach, killed them, and cut off their heads.
Then, discouraged by the savage hostility of the natives, they turned
homeward and, late in November, the most of the men sick in body and at
heart, reached Port Royal.
Thus ended disastrously Champlain's second attempt to find a lodgment
on the New England coast. But he was not a man to be disheartened by
difficulties.
Soon the snows of another winter began to fall upon Port Royal, that
lonely outpost of civilization. But let us not imagine that the little
colony was oppressed with gloom. There were jolly times around the
blazing logs in the rude hall, of winter evenings. They had abundant
food, fine fresh fish, speared through the ice of the river or taken
from the bay, with the flesh of moose, caribou, deer, beaver, and hare,
and of ducks, geese, and grouse, and they had organized an "Order of
Good Fellowship."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account