Very early on the 5th of May, a great number of the people came back to speak with their lord, on which occasion they sent a boat, called casnoni in their language, loaded with maize, venison, fish, and other articles of provision after their fashion, and lest any of their men might be detained, this boat was navigated by four women, who were well treated at our ships. By the desire of Donnacona, our captain sent a message on shore by these women, to assure the natives that their chief would be brought back by him to Canada at the end of ten or twelve months: They seemed much pleased at this intelligence, and promised when he brought back Donnacona that they would give him many valuable presents, in earnest of which each of the women gave him a chain of esurgney. Next day, being Saturday the 6th of May 1536, we set sail from the harbour of St Croix, and came to anchor at night in another harbour about twelve leagues down the river, a little below the Isle of Orleans. On Sunday the 7th we came to the Island of Filberts, or Coudres, where we remained till the 16th of the month, waiting till the great flood in the river had spent its force, as the current was too violent to be safely navigated. At this time many of the subjects of Donnacona came to visit him from the river Saguenay, who were much astonished upon being told by Domagaia that Donnacona was to be carried to France, but were reassured by Donnacona who informed them he was to come back next year. They gave their chief on this occasion three packs of beaver skins and the skins of sea wolves or seals, with a great knife made of red copper which is brought from Saguenay, and many other things. They also gave our captain a chain of esurgney, in return for which he presented them with ten or twelve hatchets, and they departed well pleased.
On the 16th of May we departed from the Isle of Filberts, and came to another island about fifteen leagues farther down the river, which is about five leagues in length, where we remained the rest of that day and the following night, meaning to take advantage of the next day to pass by the river Saguenay, where the navigation is very dangerous. That evening we went ashore on the island, where we took such numbers of hares that we called it Hare Island. But during the night the wind became quite contrary and blew so hard that we were forced back to the Isle of Filberts, where we remained till the 21st of the month, when fine weather and a fair wind brought us down the river. On this occasion we passed to Honguedo, which passage had not been seen before. Passing Cape Prat, which is at the entrance into the bay of Chaleur; and having a fair wind we sailed all day and night without stopping, and came next day to the middle of Brions Islands. These islands lie north-west and south-east, and are about fifty leagues asunder, being in lat. 47-1/2° N60. On Thursday the 26th of May, being the feast of the Ascension, we coasted over to a land and shallow of low sands, about eight leagues south-west from Brions Island, above which are large plains covered with trees, and likewise an enclosed lake or sea into which we could find no entrance. On Friday following, being the 27th of the month, in consequence of the wind becoming foul, we returned to Brions Island, where we remained till the beginning of June. To the south-east of this island we saw land which we supposed another island, which we coasted for two or three leagues, and had sight of three other high islands towards the sands, after which we returned to the cape of the said land, which is divided into two or three very high capes61. At this place the water is very deep and runs with a prodigiously swift current. That day we came to Cape Lorain which is in 47 1/2 degrees toward the south. This cape is low land, and has an appearance as of the mouth of a river, but there is no harbour of any worth. At a short distance we saw another head-land toward the south, which we named Cape St Paul.
Sunday following, being the 4th of June, we saw other lands at about twenty-two leagues east-south-east from Newfoundland, and as the wind was contrary we went into a harbour which we named the Bay of the Holy Ghost. We remained there till the Tuesday following, when we sailed along the coast to St Peters Islands, passing many very dangerous rocks and shoals, which lie east-south-east and west-north-west, stretching about twenty-three leagues out to sea. While at St Peters Islands, we saw many French and British ships, and remained there from the 11th to 16th of June, after, which we sailed to Cape Race, where we went into a harbour named Rognoso, where we took in a supply of wood and water to serve us on the voyage home, and at this place we left one of our boats. We left that harbour on Monday the 19th of June, and had such excellent weather and fair winds, that we arrived in the Port of St Maloes upon the 6th of July 1536.
* * * * *
In Hakluyts Collection, III. 286-289, there is a short imperfect fragment of a third voyage by Jacques Cartier to Canada, Hochelega, and Saguenay in 1540; but as it breaks off abruptly and gives hardly any additional information respecting the country and its inhabitants or productions, beyond what is contained in the two voyages already inserted, it has not been deemed necessary to adopt it into the present collection. –E.
Specimen of the language of Hochelega and Canada.
1. Secada. 2. Tigneni. 3. Hasche. 4. Hannaion. 5. Ouiscon. 6. Indahir. 7. Aiaga. 8. Addigue. 9. Madellan. 10. Assem.
Aggonzi, the head.
Hegueniascon, the brow.
Higata, the eyes.
Abontascon, the ears.
Esahe, the mouth.
Esgongay, the teeth,
Osnache, the tongue.
Agonpon, the throat.
Hebelim, the beard.
Hegouascon, the face.
Aganiscon, the hair.
Aiayascon, the arms.
Aissonne, the flanks.
Aggruascon, the stomach.
Eschehenda, the belly.
Hetnegradascon, the thighs.
Agotschinegodascon, the knees.
Agouguenehondo, the legs.
Onchidascon, the feet.
Aignoascon, the hands.
Agenuga, the fingers.
Agedascon, the nails.
Aguehum, a man.
Agrauste, a woman.
Addegesta, a boy.
Agniaquesta, a girl.
Exiasta, a child.
Conda, woods.
Hoga, leaves.
Cabata, a gown.
Caioza, a doublet.
Hemondoha, stocking.
Adogne, a hatchet.
Ahencu, a bow.
Quaetan, a dart.
Canada, a town.
Agogasy, the sea.
Coda, the waves.
Cohena, an island.
Agacha, a hill.
Hounesca, ice.
Camsa, snow.
Athau, cold.
Odazani, hot.
Azista, fire.
Quea, smoke.
Canoca, a house.
Addathy, my father.
Adauahoe, my mother.
Addagrim, my brother.
Adhoasseue, my sister.
Atha, shoes.
Amgoua, a shirt.
Castrua, a cap.
Osizi, corn.
Carraconny, bread.
Sahe, beans.
Ame, water.
Quahouascon, flesh.
Honnesta, damsons.
Absconda, figs.
Ozoba, grapes.
Quahoya, nuts.
Esgueny, an eel.
Undeguezi, a snail.
Hueleuxima, a tortoise.
60
These geographical indications are so obscure as not to be intelligible, unless perhaps the passage between Cape Breton Island and Newfoundland is here meant under the name of Honguedo. –E.
61
The text here is either corrupt, or so vaguely expressed as not to admit of any reasonable explanation or conjecture. –E.