Islands to Hochelega or Montreal, the distance is about 300 leagues[54].  The original beginning of this great river may be considered as at the mouth of the Saguenay river, which comes from high and steep hills, from whence upwards is the province of Canada on the north side.  That river is high, deep, and straight, wherefore it is dangerous for any vessel to navigate it.  Beyond that river upwards is the province of Canada, in which are abundance of people who inhabit villages or open towns.  In this river there are many islands great and small, among which is one ten leagues long[55], full of large tall trees and many vines.  This island maybe passed on both sides, but the safest way is on its south side.  To the westwards, on the shore or bank of the river there is an excellent and pleasant bay or creek, in which ships may safely ride.  Near this, one part of the river for about the third part of a league is very narrow and deep with a swift current, opposite to which is a goodly piece of high land on which a town stands.  The country around is of excellent soil and well cultivated.  This place is called Stadacona, and is the abode of Donnacona and of the two men we took in our first voyage, Domagaia and Taignoagny.  Before coming up to it there are four other towns, named Ayraste, Starnatay, Tailla on a hill, and Scitadin.  And near Stadacona to the north is the harbour of St Croix, in which we wintered from the 15th September 1535 to the 16th May 1536, during all which time our ships remained dry.  Beyond Stadacona, going up the river, is the habitation of the people called Teguenondahi, on a high mountain, and the valley or champain country of Hochelay, all of which for a great extent on both sides of the river is as fine a plain as ever was seen.  There are mountains to be seen at a distance from the great river, whence several rivers descend to join the Hochelay.  All the country is over-grown with many different kinds of trees and many vines, except around the towns, where the inhabitants have grubbed up the trees to admit of cultivating the ground, and for the purpose of building their houses.  This country abounds in stags, deer, bears, rabbits, hares, martins, foxes, otters, beavers, weasels, badgers, and rats of vast size, besides many other kinds of wild beasts, in the skins of which the inhabitants clothe themselves, having no other materials.  It abounds also in a variety of birds, as cranes, swans, bustards, geese both white and grey, ducks, thrushes, black-birds, turtles, wild-pigeons, linnets, finches, redbreasts, stares, nightingales, and many others.  No part of the world was ever seen producing greater numbers and varieties of fish, both these belonging to the sea and to fresh water, according to their seasons.  Among these many whales, porpoises, sea-horses, and a kind named Adhothuis which we had never seen or heard of before.  These are as large as porpoises, as white as snow, having bodies and heads resembling grey-hounds, and are accustomed to reside between the fresh and salt water about the mouth of the Saguenay river.