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[104] some fish, uttering many words which we did not understand, making signs that they would not remove the cross we had set up.


Iii.—Cartier ascends the St. Lawrence as far as Quebec.

[this took place on Cartier's second voyage. He sailed from St. Malo, may 19, 1535, and reached the mouth of the St. Lawrence, which he ascended, hoping to find a passage to the west.]


Our captain then caused our boats to be set in order, that with the next tide he might go up higher into the river to find some safe harbor for our ships; and we passed up the river, against the stream, about ten leagues, coasting the said island, at the end where---of we found a goodly and pleasant sound, where is a little river and haven, where, by reason of the flood, there is about three fathoms water. This place seemed very fit and commodious to harbor our ships therein; and so we did very safely. We named it the Holy Cross;1 for on that day we came thither. Near unto it there is a village, whereof Donnacona is lord; and there he keepeth his abode: it is called Stadacona,2 as goodly a plot of ground as possibly may be seen, and therewithal very fruitful, full of goodly trees even as in France, as oaks, elms, ashes, walnut trees, maple-trees, citrons, vines, and white-thorns, that bring forth fruit as big as any damsons, and many other sorts of trees,

1 The St. Croix River, now called St. Charles. The first name was given because Cartier reached it on the festival of the Holy Cross.

2 Now Quebec.

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