Poutrincourt, his son Biencourt, and Lescarbot made a pilgrimage to Mont St. Michel, and Champlain went to Brouage, his native country, having sojourned in America for three years and five months.

FOOTNOTES: 

[5] Norembega was the name applied at that time to a vast tract of country whose limits were nearly unknown.  There was a river and a cape called Norembega.  The river is now the Penobscot, and the cape is the southern extremity of the Acadian peninsula.

[6] The Indians called this island Pemetig, which means the island which is ahead.  The French settled here in 1613, and founded St. Sauveur on the north-eastern coast, in a splendid harbour which is to-day known as Bar Harbour.  The remains of many of the French who were killed during the contest with the English, were interred at Point Fernald.  At the point nearest the mainland there is a bridge of seven hundred feet in length, which communicates with the town of Trenton.

[7] Champlain called the river Peimtegoueet.  This word means the place of a river where rapids exist.  The English have given their preference to the word Penobscot, which comes from the Indian Penaouasket, the place where the earth is covered with stones.

[8] The Pilgrim Fathers, the founders of New England, landed at this place, which they named Plymouth, to preserve the name of the English city from which they had sailed.

CHAPTER III

THE FOUNDING OF QUEBEC

After his return to France, as before described, Champlain had an interview with de Monts, and laid before him the journal which he had prepared of his explorations in America, together with plans of the ports and coasts which he had minutely examined during his visits.  Champlain proposed to de Monts to continue his explorations, and advanced some reasons for prosecuting an enterprise upon which a large sum had been already expended, and which he was persuaded would ultimately afford the means of repairing their fortunes.  De Monts, owing to the failure of his own efforts as a colonizer, was not at first inclined to listen to Champlain’s proposals, but he was finally convinced of the wisdom of his suggestions, and appointed him lieutenant of an expedition to Quebec for the purpose of trading with the Indians.  The expedition was to return to France during the same year.  De Monts obtained another commission from the king, dated at Paris, January 9th, 1608, which gave him the monopoly of the fur trade in the lands, ports and rivers of Canada for a period of one year.  Two vessels were equipped for this expedition, the Don de Dieu, captain Henry Couillard, and the Levrier, captain Nicholas Marion.  Champlain was given the command of the former vessel, and Pont-Grave was in command of the latter.  The Levrier sailed from France on April 5th, and the Don de Dieu eight days later.  The two vessels proceeded directly to Tadousac, without calling at Perce, according to the usual custom.