From the Island of Orleans to Quebec the distance is a league. I arrived there on the 3d of July, when I searched for a place suitable for our settlement, but I could find none more convenient or better situated than the point of Quebec, so called by the savages, [309] which was covered with nut-trees. I at once employed a portion of our workmen in cutting them down, that we might construct our habitation there: one I set to sawing boards, another to making a cellar and digging ditches, another I sent to Tadoussac with the barque to get supplies. The first thing we made was the storehouse for keeping under cover our supplies, which was promptly accomplished through the zeal of all, and my attention to the work. * * * * * CHAMPLAIN'S EXPLANATION OF THE ACCOMPANYING MAP. QUEBEC. _The figures indicate the fathoms of water_. _A_. The site where our habitation is built. [Note 1] _B_. Cleared land where we sow wheat and other grain. [Note 2] _C_. The gardens.[Note 3] _D_. Small brook coming from marshes. [Note 4] _E_. River where Jacques Cartier passed the winter, which in his time he called St. Croix, and which name has been transferred to a place fifteen leagues above Quebec. [Note 5] _F_. River of the marshes. [Note 6] _G_. Place where was collected the grass for the animals brought here. [Note 7] _H_. The grand fall of Montmorency, which descends from a height of more than twenty-five fathoms into the river. [Note 8] _I_. The end of the Island of Orleans. _L_. A very narrow point on the shore east of Quebec. [Note 9] _M_. Roaring river which extends to the Etechemins. _N_. The great river of St. Lawrence. _O_. Lake in the roaring river. _P_. Mountains in the interior; bay which I named New Biscay, _q_. Lake of the great fall of Montmorency. [Note 10] _R_. Bear Brook. [Note 11] _S_. Brook du Gendre. [Note 12] _T_. Meadows overflowed at every tide. _V_. Mont du Gas, very high, situated on the bank of the river. [Note 13] _X_. Swift brook, adapted to all kinds of mills. _Y_. Gravelly shore where a quantity of diamonds are found somewhat better than those of Alanson. _Z_. The Point of Diamonds. _9_. Places where the savages often build their cabins. [Note 14] NOTES. The following notes on Champlain's explanation of his map of Quebec are by the Abbé Laverdière, whose accurate knowledge of that city and its environs renders them especially valuable. They are given entire, with only slight modifications. 1. That is properly the point of Quebec, including what is at present enclosed by La Place, the street Notre Dame, and the river. 2. This first clearing must have been what was called later the Esplanade du Fort, or Grande Place, or perhaps both. The Grande Place became, in 1658, the fort of the Hurons: it was the space included between the Côte of the lower town and the Rue du Fort.