However, I believe for having heard it said, that the lands after new
discoveries were given since to M. Chabot or to M. Ventadour, where a
certain gentleman from Saintonge named M. du Champlain, had very free
admittance and who may have mingled with those of his country who had
navigated with Carrier and had given him a longing to see that of which
he had only heard speak.
He was a proper man for such a scheme; a great courage, wisdom,
sensible, pious, fair and of great experience; a robust body which
would render him indefatigable and capable to resist hunger, cold and
heat.
This gentleman then solicited permission to come to Canada and obtained
it. His small estate and his friends supplied him with a medium sized
vessel for the passage. This new commandant or governor pitied much
the Indians and had the satisfaction at his arrival to see that he was
much feared and loved by them. He took memoranda through his
interpreter of their wars, their mode of living and of their interests.
At that time they were numerous and proud of the great advantages they
had over the Iroquois, their enemy. With this information he recrossed
to France; gave an account of his voyage, and was so charmed with the
land, the climate and of the good which would result from a permanent
establishment that he persuaded his wife to accompany him. His example
induced missionaries of St. Francois and some parisian families to
follow him. He was granted a commission or governor's provisions to
take his living from the country.
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