hopes and spirits, and laid before Francis plans not only for completing the discovery of the American coast, but for penetrating into the interior of the continent, and also for colonizing some part of this vast and fertile region. That monarch seems to have welcomed the proposal with his characteristic ardour, since Ramusio speaks of the " immense liberality" with which he was disposed to favour it, and from which the most important results were expected. Verazzani did indeed set out on another voyage; but its records are equally brief and fatal. Ramusio gives neither date nor place, nor country, but states, that having landed with some of his crew, he was seized by the savages, killed and devoured in the presence of his companions on board, who sought in vain to give any assistance. Such was the fate of one of the most eminent navigators of that age, whom Forster ranks as similar to Cook, both as to his exploits during life, and the dreadful mode of his death. But Verazzani, though possessed of many great qualities, cannot be placed on a level with the first navigator of modern times. I should even hope that this analogy fails as to the peculiar fate which he is reported to have suffered. That all the Indians were cannibals was a standing belief of that age, of which the slightest appearance or presumption was held conclusive. But closer observation has, in almost every instance, proved, that though their treatment of enemies and captives was abundantly direful, it scarcely ever assumed this peculiarly dreadful form. That Verazzani perished amid flame and torture is but too probable; but I do not think that he perished in that fearful manner which his annalist has recorded.* The gloomy impression produced by the tragic fate of Verazzani seems to have deterred others for some time from such enterprises. At length Jacques Cartier, a bold seaman of St Malo, proposed another voyage, and was readily supplied with two ships, under the direction of the Sieur de Melleraye, then Vice-Admiral of France. He set sail on the 20th April, 1534, and on the 10th May came in view of Cape Bonavista. As large masses of ice, however, were still floating about the coast, he deemed it wise to enter a harbour which he called St Catherine, and to remain there ten days. The sea then becoming favourable, he came out, and stood to the north. The first striking object was an island named the Island of Birds, from the prodigious flights with which it was covered. They appeared as if they were planted, and standing like crops of grain upon it and the surrounding sea. In his second voyage, he says, there would have been enough to have loaded the whole navy of France, without any sensible vacancy being left. Cartier now sailed along the whole northern coast of Newfoundland, giving names to all its capes and harbours. He found it barren in the extreme, and considers it a great license to call it Newfoundland, when there was not land enough to have loaded a cart; nothing but rocks and sand, covered with arid * Ramusio, iii. 348-52. VOL. I. F stones: he verily thought it must have been the land assigned to Cain. The natives were tall, stout, and fierce; they were clothed in skins of beasts and fishes, had their bodies painted, and used canoes made of bark. A French boat, which had been sent on shore, was surrounded by five of their canoes, when they offered the usual savage welcome by dancing and raising cries of joy. The French, however, afraid of their superior numbers, discharged some guns, which caused them to fly with the utmost speed. Next day they appeared in nine barks, but fled at sight of the French, at the same time looking back and showing skins, with which they were willing to traffic. On receiving assurance of safety, they gladly approached, and, seeing the knives and toys with which the French were provided, began dancing with all their might, and setting up loud shouts of joy. In the purchase of these muchprized objects they not only expended all the skins with which they had come prepared, but took from their persons those with which they were scantily covered, and went off stark-naked in search of more. Proceeding along the coast, the French came to a place where they were visited by forty barks, having on board about two hundred men, women, and children. They received with equal delight the slender gifts which the foreigners bestowed upon them. The young ladies were at first kept in the background, within a grove; but two or three having contrived to get forward, received such handsome presents, that the other damsels were presently brought up, in the hope of coming in for a share. Cartier thought these the most miserable mortals he had ever beheld. They wore nothing but a scanty covering of poor skins, the value of which could in no case be rated above fivepence. They lived solely on fish, and on some berries and small grains which grew spontaneously; and they had no habitation, except their barks, which, when they went on shore, they turned upside down, and slept beneath them. Cartier having sailed along the northern coast of Newfoundland, and passed through the Straits called afterwards Belleisle, found himself in a wide and open sea, which no navigator, except, perhaps, Cortereal, appears before to have reached. All had sailed across from the coast of Newfoundland to that of Labrador, or Nova Scotia, considering the passages separating them only as gulfs. To the west he now saw a wide and open field of discovery; but the season was far advanced, and the east wind, which was driving him with violence towards these unknown seas and coasts, would have rendered his return to France precarious. He determined to reserve till another voyage and season the farther prosecution of this object. When Cartier returned to France, and reported the prospects opened to him by the sea to the west of Newfoundland, he found the Court still ready to second his enterprise. A larger expedition was equipped next spring, consisting of three vessels, of 120, of 70, and of 40 tons. They were solemnly prepared for the expedition by confession, and receiving the sacrament in the church of St Malo. They proceeded direct to Newfoundland, which they rounded by the same line as in the former voyage. On coming to the sea on the west, and proceeding to explore it, Cartier soon found himself in a broad gulf, to which he gave the name of St Lawrence, which it has since retained. What he called so, however, was only the channel between the island of Anticosti and the opposite Labrador coast. On reaching its eastern cape he opened a communication with the natives, who informed him, that this gulf gradually narrowed till it terminated by receiving a large river coming from a vast and unexplored distance in the interior of a great continent. Two days' sail above this island was the river and territory of Saguenay, beyond which was Canada, having passed which, and ascended the river, he would come to Hochelaga, a populous territory, at the highest known point of the river. Thus instructed, Cartier sailed up the gulf, which gradually narrowed to a river, and here he found the channel divided by a long and populous island, the same afterwards called Orleans, situated immediately below Quebec. He was waited upon by Donnaconna, the ruler of Canada, with about five hundred subjects, of all ages and sexes. Donnaconna began first a long harangue, or, as it is termed, a preaching, the terms of which were not at all understood, but it appeared to be of the most friendly import; the whole party then raised three tremendous howls, as another sign of welcome. Donnaconna crowned the whole by a very high and singular gift; for having brought a boy and girl, who, the French were informed, were |