The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-07-15
NO. XIII.

l22 men, to visi, and explore the west os
Newfoundland. OF this and Cartier's two subse
quent voyages, we have a fair and connected
narrative He frs. visited many islands and har-
bors, and made scrupulous examination of every
bay and inlet flied no doubt with the idea OF
OF finding, among the ''islands," passage 10
China and the Indies, prevalent thought with
the mariners Of that period, as it was with Coum-
bus when he stumbled on new world. Coasting
the northern side Of Newfoundland and the iron
bound coast Of Labrador, they were so uninvlllng
That the narrator expresses the belief that "thls
was the land allotted to CAIN
| On the 3rd of July, however, Cartier entered
the gulf 10 which the name of ST. Lawrence has
since been applied. Being detained by stress of
weather eight days the Bay De Chaleur, he
sent one of the ships boats ahead to explore.
lney went or leagues TO cape Of the bay,
whence they deserted two parties Of Indians Sin
about 40 or SO canoes crossing the cha mel
These the frs; natives Of the ma in la nd they
mad seen aud this s the first account we havs
OF any white men having penetrated that ias
th0agh from the actions OF these Indians, il may
be inferred this not their first interview will.
Europeans One party Of the Savages landed.
and beckoned them TO follow their example.
making great noise and showing ''cer,iin
skins upon pieces of wobd'--i. e. fresh stretched
skins. Fearing their Numbers the seamen kept
two canoes, in which movement they were joined
by five canoes of the other party s'whc wera
coming from the side" They approached in
friendly manner, dancing and making many
signs of joy. Saying in their tongue .Ncps ton
tamen assuah.''* The seamen however, dis
trusted their intentions, and finding it impossible
TO eiude them by flight, fired two shots amorg
them, by which they were so aerrihed that they
fled precipitately ashore, ''making great noise
After pausins awhile, the ''wiid men, as they
are uniormly called throughout the narrative,
re-embarked and renewed the pursuit, but CON-
ing alongside Of the boat, were frightened back
by the strokes Of two lances, when they made no
further attempt to follow.
This was the first rencon,re Of whites with tho
North American savages. And on tho following
day, an interview was brought or by the approach
of said "wiid men, " il nine canoes, which is thus
described 1--WE, being advised Of their conling,
went in boats 10 the point where they were;
hut as soon as they saw US approaching, they be-
gan TO flee, making Signs that they came to
trdinc with US, showing US such shns as they
Clothed themselves with, which ere OF small
value. We likewise made signs 10 them, that
we wished them evil. and in sign thereof, two
OF our men venturcd to go on land to them, and
carry them knives, with other iron wares, and
red hal 10 give unto their captan. Which, when
they saw, they also came on land, and brought
some Of their skins, and SO began TO deal with us.
seeming 10 be very glad 10 have our iron wares
and other things, dancing, with many other GER
emonIes, as wiih their hands 10 cast water on
their heads. They gave US whatever they had,
not keeping anything so that they were consraln-
ed to 20 back naked, and made signs to Us, that
the next day they would come agAin, and bring
more skins.
Here was the CONNIE ncement, officially, Of that
Tamihed Fur TRADE, which has influenced The
q cl nd me in Mr.
and Northwest, for quite three centuries, and
which led TO the discovery and exploration Of the
interior regions Of the continent IN the northern
latitndes, and was tie main inducenIent which
led whites first 10 visit Minnesota
Observing spacious bay extending beyond the
cape where this intercourse had been opened,
Cartier despatched the boats To examine il, under
the hope ,ha, it might iord The desired passage
to the Indies. While engaged. his men dis
covered ''the smokes and fires" of "wild nen'
on a small lake, communicating with The bay.
An amica5lc interview ensued, The natives pre-
seating cooked seal, aud The French making q
return I'm hatchets, kniyes and beads y After
these preliminariss, which were conducted with
good deal Of caution, by deputies from both
sides, the body of The men approached in their
canoes ior the purpose Oi irathcng, leaving
most Of their families 1ehud. About !hree hun
dred men, women aud children, were estimated
their friendship by singing and dancing, and by
rubbing their hands upon The a:ms OF their Eurc-
pean visitors, Then liiling them up towards the
heavens These people were IN the position as
signed 20, The Mlcnacs, III 1860, according TO
Gaiia,ius eihologtcal map; aud it Is stated that
they called haichet cochi (ho-shee) and
knife, bacont (hah-kon)
On the 18th of Jqy, Cartier left bis moorngs
at St. Martins Creek, and proceeded up the Cuff.
E.,,n s.rt,, hnd fiaar
Gaspe bay. and sheltered for thirteen days in a
river of that bay. Here. also, they opened a
trade with the lid men, but these Guspe In
dams are represented differing, both in nature
and language irom those before mentoned. They
had nothing with them besides their heats and
nets; shaved their heads except tuf at the
crown; sheltered themselves al night under their
canoes, on the bare ground; and ate their pro-
visions very partially cooked. They caressed
Cartier, by touching aud rubbing him with their
hands; they also sung and danced Their nets
were made Of species Of indigenous hemp; they
possessed also kind Of mile: called ''tapaige,'
beans called .'S1hu," and nuts called "caaehya."
If anything was exhibited, which they did not
know or understand, they shook their heads, say
ing ".Nahda." 1t is added, iaai they never come
to sea. except in fishing time, which accounts for
their having no property or lodges with them.
As the word "Cahehya' is, with a slight differ
has been inferred that these Gaspe Indians were
Of the Iroquols stock.
The twenty fourth of July was signalized 10y
Car,er's taking formal possession Of the country
for his government. He set up cross thirty feet
hiyh, inscribed, "I',rs ie Roy de Frcnce,'
amidst various ceremonies, in presence Of all the
ships company, and many Of the natives. These
latter on reflection to have conceived the
true intent Of this act, and their chief oap!ainsd
of it, in "long oTatIon," giving them TO UNDER
stand that the country was his, aud that We
should not set up any cross without his leave"
Having quieted the Old chiefs fears, aad made
use oe some dupIicity tc get him to come along
side. they cruelty seized two Of the natives for the
Mr. Schoolcraft offers the conjecture, that ".ya-
De,cn means man, in the SheshalapOosh Sabrada
(which is dialect Of the Agcntins that these
ua,y Of She Indians Properly, Sapew
male IL is 50 in Kree think from their motives that
the sentence probably invitation TO stop and
trade with thea for their frs, showing that this
uro,ably not the frat time whites had intercourse with
! them IL that way
L. has been remarked by Schooicref that these
not te terms for Ratchet and knife IN the Mcmac,