The Iroquois, the first affected, were slow in delivering up the secret of anedda, a white cedar tea which would save them. December began with an epidemic of scurvy. Isolation, Cold and Scurvyįrom mid-November, the ships were imprisoned in the ice. The threat of an early winter lay before the Frenchmen.
Cartier had to return to harbour on the Saint-Charles river, where he found that relations with the Iroquois had become more acrimonious. The rapids north and south of Montreal Island prevented him from continuing his route to the west. He was taken there by his hosts, who spoke to him of the riches of the west, and again of the “Kingdom of the Saguenay”. The island and village were overlooked by a mountain, which he named mount Royal. There were nearly 2,000 people living there. Leaving the ship in Lake Saint-Pierre, he proceeded in a small craft to the Iroquois village, where he arrived on October 2. Cartier established his headquarters on the Sainte-Croix (Saint-Charles) river, and five days later boarded the Émérillon to travel to Hochelaga (Montreal). Sailing along the river to Stadacona (Québec), the ships passed Anticosti Island and the mouth of the Saguenay. Cartographers later applied it to the the “great river of Hochelaga and route to Canada” leading to the interior of the continent, “so long that no man has seen its end”. Lawrence, the explorer gave the saint’s name to a little bay. On July 26 the convoy was reunited, and exploration could begin again. Cartier had been persuasive: his crew had doubled and he had command of three ships: the Grande Hermine, Petite Hermine and Émérillon.įifty days after putting to sea, a first vessel laid anchor off the shores of Newfoundland. Lawrence River and the “Kingdom of the Saguenay”, the objectives of his second voyage upon which he set forth on May 19, 1535. Jacques Cartier arrived in France with two precious trophies: Domagaya and Taignoagny, the sons of Donnacona, whom he had convinced to come with him. After navigating the strait separating Anticosti Island from the north shore, he set off again for Saint-Malo, where he landed on September 5. Jacques Cartier in Gaspé On the 25th he left the Gaspé area, heading for the Gulf of St. Fearing the consequences of this discontent, Cartier lied, describing the cross as an insignificant landmark. The 30-foot cross he erected at Pointe-Penouille seemed improper to Donnacona, the Native chief. Initially trusting and cordial, relations were tarnished when Jacques Cartier claimed possession of the territory on July 24. More than 200 Iroquois from Stadacona (Québec) were on the peninsula to fish. The talks were accompanied by a swapping of items, which history has recorded as the first act of trade between the French and Amerindians. A Lie and A Claiming of PossessionĬartier then moved on to Chaleur Bay, where he encountered some Micmacs on July 7. He first encountered the Magdalen Islands, and then set course for present-day Prince Edward Island, failing to notice that it was in fact an island. After erecting a cross at Saint-Servan on the north coast of the Gulf, Cartier tacked to the south. The exploration began in an area frequented by Breton fishermen: from the Baie des Châteaux (Strait of Belle Isle) to southern Newfoundland.
Twenty days later he reached Newfoundland. The following April 20, the navigator from Saint-Malo cast off with two ships and a crew of 61. On March 19, 1534, Cartier was assigned the mission of “undertaking the voyage of this kingdom to the New Lands to discover certain islands and countries where there are said to be great quantities of gold and other riches”.