General History of the State of Michigan: With Biographical Sketches ...

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THE HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

CHAPTER I.

FRANCE MOVES TO ESTABLISH A COLONY IN AMERICA-CARTIER PROCEEDS TO CANADA-HIS SECOND VOYAGE-ROBERVAL'S EXPEDITION -OTHER FRENCH EXPEDITIONS CHAMPLAIN'S FIRST EXPEDITION TO THE ST. LAWRENCE-HE FORMS A SETTLEMENT AT QUEBEC. OTHER VOLUMES of this work, treating of other States, give a complete narrative of the efforts of England and Spain to colonize the New World. Hence, in this place, it is sufficient to trace only the movements of France, in her unfortunate struggle to plant a permanent branch of empire in America. This is the more expedient, since only the name of the latter is associated with the first settlement of Michigan.

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the discoveries of Christopher Columbus and Sebastian Cabot were creating considerable excitement in France, and Francis I granted a commission to Jacques Cartier, of St. Malo, authorizing him to prosecute discoveries in the far West. Cartier's outfit for this expedition consisted of two ships, of sixty tons burden each, and a crew of sixty-one efficient men. He set sail for America, from St. Malo, on the 20th

of April, 1534.

This was by no means the first western movement of civilization. The Spaniards already occupied Florida; the English had taken possession of the middle portion of the continent, and the northern regions alone remained for the French. To the latter point the brave commander directed his little fleet. He made a safe voyage, and, after exploring the northern coast of Newfoundland, he returned to France, reaching St. Malo on the 15th of September, 1534.

He gave a very favorable account of the new country to the French court, which was well received; but subsequent developments proved that he had done little more than land on the northwestern banks of Newfoundland. Fearing the consequences of the autumnal storms upon his ships, he remained but a few weeks. Nevertheless, he had seen enough to persuade the belief that a fruitful country lay beyond, in the direction of Michigan and the surrounding States.

Immediately after Cartier's return to France preparations began for a second expedition. Three vessels were fitted out, with a view to a more extended voyage. They were the Great Herminia, of about one hundred and twenty tons; the Little Herminia, of sixty tons; and the Hermirillon, of forty tons. The first named was the flag ship.

The fleet set sail on the 15th of May, 1535. This was a very important day at St. Malo. Every adventurer about to sail for the New World was an object of much interest to the inhabitants, and not a little pains were taken to celebrate their departure. In the hour of separation from kindred and country, the priests of their religion had sought to propagate their future comfort and support by preparing a gorgeous pageant. The officers and crews of the whole squadron confessed, and received the sacrament. Afterwards they presented themselves before the altar, in the great cathedral at St. Malo, where the Bishop, arrayed in sacerdotal robes of rare magnificence, bestowed on them his benediction.

An account of the voyage, which was, many years after, published in a French journal, states that it was very tempestuous. Many of the crew suffered unnumbered hardships, but, after many days of toil and discontent, the eastern banks of Newfoundland again appeared to the eye of the adventurous commander. After five or six hours' sail, the squadron being in a higher latitude than Cartier had supposed, they passed the coast of the island, and still continuing their course, they entered, on St. Lawrence day, a broad gulf. In commemoration of this event, they gave the name of St. Lawrence to the gulf, and to the great river that flows into it, which they bear to this day.

Proceeding up the river's course, they found themselves, in a

few days, opposite the Indian village of Stadacona, then occupying a portion of the ground on which the city of Quebec now stands. As the vessels came to an anchor, the terrified natives fled to the forest, where they gazed with mingled feelings of awe and wonder on the "winged canoes" which had borne the pale-faced strangers to their shores.

The Indians at once resolved on a wary intercourse with the strangers. Their chief, Donacona, approached the vessels with a fleet of twelve canoes, filled with armed warriors. Ten of these canoes he directed to remain at a short distance, while he proceeded, with the other two, to ascertain the purport of the visitwhether it was for peace or war. With this object in view, he commenced an oration. Cartier heard the chief patiently, and, with the aid of a Gaspé Indian interpreter, he was enabled to open a conversation, and to quiet his apprehensions. An amicable understanding having thus been established, Cartier moored his vessels safely in the River St. Charles, where, shortly afterwards, he received a second visit from Donacona, who, this time, came accompanied by five hundred warriors of his tribe.

Having thoroughly rested and refreshed himself and his men, Cartier determined to explore the river to Hochelaga, another Indian town, which he learned was situated farther up its course. With the view of impressing the Indians with the superiority of the white man, he caused, prior to his departure, several cannon shots to be discharged, which produced the desired result. Like their countrymen of the South on the arrival of Columbus, the red men of the St. Lawrence were alarmed by the firing of artillery; and, as its thunders reverberated among the surrounding hills, a feeling of terror took complete possession of their minds.

Leaving his other ships safely at anchor, Cartier, on the 19th of September, proceeded up the river with the Hermirillon and two boats. He was compelled, however, owing to the shallowness of the water, to leave the vessel at Lake St. Peter. Bold, and loving adventure for its own sake, and at the same time strongly imbued with religious enthusiasm, Cartier watched the shifting landscape, hour after hour, as he ascended the river, with feelings of the deepest gratification, which were heightened by the reflection that.

he was the pioneer of civilization and of Christianity in that unknown clime. "Nature," says MacMullen, "presented itself in all its primitive grandeur to his view. The noble river, on whose broad bosom he floated onward, day after day, disturbing vast flocks of water fowl; the primitive forests of the North, which here and there presented, amid the luxuriance of their foliage, the parasitical vine, loaded with clusters of luscious grapes, and from whence the strange notes of the whip-poor-will, and other birds, of varied tone and plumage, such as he had never before seen, were heard at intervals; the bright sunshine of a Canadian autumn; the unclouded moonlight of its calm and pleasant nights, with the other novel accessories of the occasion, made a sublime and profound impression upon the mind of the adventurer."

Cartier arrived, on the 2d of October, opposite the Huron village of Hochelaga, the inhabitants of which lined the shore on his approach, and made the most friendly signs to him to land. Supplies of fish and corn were freely tendered by the Indians, in return for which they received knives and beads. Despite this friendly conduct, however, Cartier and his companions deemed it most prudent to pass the night on board their boats.

On the following day, headed by their leader, dressed in the most imposing costume at his command, the exploring party went in procession to the village. At a short distance from its environs they were met by a sachem, who received them with that solemm courtesy peculiar to the aborigines of America. Cartier made him several presents. Among these was a cross, which he hung round his neck and directed him to kiss. Patches of ripe corn encircled the village, which consisted of fifty well built huts, secured from attack by three lines of stout palisades. It is recorded that Cartier did all he could to soothe the minds of the savages, and that he even prayed with these idolaters, and distributed crosses, and other symbols of the Catholic faith, among them.

After the usual ceremonies with the Indians, Cartier ascended the mountain behind the native village. Here he erected a cross and a shield, emblazoned with the Fleur-de-lis, emblem of church and State, and named the region of his discoveries "New France."

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