Narrative of a Voyage to the West Indies and Mexico in the Years 1599-1602Champlain, Samuel de
History
Narrative of a Voyage to the West Indies and Mexico in the Years 1599-1602
Champlain, Samuel de
Mexico -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; West Indies -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
In the year 1518, the Baron de Léry undertook a voyage to North America
with the intention of forming a settlement; but, being detained at sea
for a long time, was obliged to return to France without accomplishing
his object, leaving on the Isle des Sables (Sable Island) and at
Campseau (Canso) his cattle and pigs, which multiplied considerably,
and were subsequently of the greatest service to certain of the Marquis
de la Roche's people, who, about eighty years later, were left on Sable
Island, without any other resource but fish and the flesh of the cattle
they found there.[4]
[4] Fournier.
In 1524, Francis I sent Giovanni Ferazzano, a Florentine, on an
expedition of discovery to the coast of North America. The only
document extant of this (first) voyage is a letter from Ferazzano to
the king, dated the 8th July, 1524,[5] wherein he supposes that His
Majesty is acquainted with his progress, the events of the voyage, and
the success of this first attempt. In the following year he again
sailed, and in March arrived at the coast of Florida. He ranged the
coast from about the 30th to the 50th degree north latitude, as far as
an island which the Bretons had before discovered.[6] Ferazzano took
possession, in the name of the most Christian king, of all the country
which he visited. The next year he undertook a third voyage, of which
nothing authentic was ever known, save that he perished in it.[7]
[5] Ramusio. Mark Lescarbot, who wrote a history of New France
(Paris, 1612), also gives a detailed account of the voyages of
Ferazzano.
[6] Bruzen de la Martonière, _Dictionnaire Geographique_, Paris,
1768.
[7] Fournier quaintly says: "Il avait l'intention d'aller jusques
au Pôle, mais il fust pris et mangé par des sauvages."
In 1534, Jacques Cartier, of St. Malo,[8] sailed thence on the 20th
April, with two vessels of the burthen of sixty tons each, furnished by
Philippe Chabot, admiral of France, and the Comte de Brion, for the
purpose of continuing the discoveries of Ferazzano, and on the 10th May
arrived at Cape Bonavista, in Newfoundland. After some discoveries in
that island he proceeded to the southward, and entering the great gulf,
explored a bay, which he named La Baye des Chaleurs. The rigour of the
season prevented his pursuing his discoveries that year, and he
returned to France.
[8] Champlain says that he was "fort étendu et experimenté au
faict de la marine, autant qu'autre de son temps."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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