[21] For the purposes of trade the connection with Canada never ceased.
In 1578 there were 100 French vessels at Newfoundland besides 200
Spanish, Portugese and English vessels. (Kingsford, Vol. I, Page 12.)
[22] In a note by Kingsford, Vol. I, Page 24, he wishes to substantiate
his theory that Champlain was Huguenot by quoting his words: "C'est
plus facile de planter la fois Chrestienne" as meaning Christianity
distinguished from the Roman Catholic point of view. Taken in
conjunction with these words above Kingsford's theory cannot be upheld.
CHAPTER III
1603-1625
THE GREAT SAULT
CHAMPLAIN THE FIRST TRADER
THE HISTORY OF HOCHELAGA AFTER CARTIER'S VISIT--CHAMPLAIN, THE
FIRST CARTOGRAPHER OF THE ISLAND OF MONTREAL--ITS DESCRIPTION
IN 1603--CHAMPLAIN EXPLORES THE NEIGHBORHOOD--PLACE ROYALE IN
1611--ST. HELEN'S ISLAND NAMED--THE FIRST TRADING TRANSACTION
RECORDED--CHAMPLAIN SHOOTS THE RAPIDS, 1613--THE EXPLORATION
OF THE OTTAWA VALLEY--1615 THE FIRST MASS IN CANADA AT RIVIERE
DES PRAIRIES--1625 THE DROWNING OF VIEL AND AHUNTSIC AT
SAULT-AU-RECOLLET--THE INTENTION OF CHAMPLAIN TO MAKE A PERMANENT
SETTLEMENT ON THE ISLAND.
The name of Samuel de Champlain is next to be more closely associated
with Montreal. For, although the date connecting him with his first
visit to this site is 1603, and that of Cartier's visit in 1535,
Montreal had not been visited or dwelt upon by any distinguished
European that we can attach a name to, with any certainty.
During all this time, according to tradition, sad things had occurred
at Hochelaga.
"The fate of this Indian town," says Mr. Arthur Weir in "Montreal, the
Metropolis of Canada," "is shrouded in the mists of antiquity. There
is reason to believe that here was enacted a tragedy similar to that
which resulted in the destruction of Troy. According to Mr. Peter
Dooyentate Clarke, the historian of the Wyandots, himself a descendant
of the tribe, the Senecas and Wyandots, or Hurons, lived side by side
at Hochelaga, until in an evil moment a stern chief of the Senecas
refused to permit his son to marry a Huron maiden. The damsel thereupon
rejected all suitors and promised to marry only him who should kill the
chief who had thus offended her.
"A youthful Huron, more amorous than wise, fulfilled the terms of
the vow and won the girl. But the Senecas adopted the cause of their
murdered chief, and made war upon the Hurons, whom they almost
exterminated with the assistance of the other tribes of the Iroquois,
driving their more peaceful and civilized neighbours to the very lake
that now bears their name." However true or false this legend, it is
certain that when Champlain visited the island in 1603 the Indian town
was gone and desolation prevailed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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