No. 3.] G. M. DAWSON INDIANS OF CANADA. 133 



really attempted to carry out their professions. In the early 

 history of Canada we continually find the priest in advance of 

 the explorer and the trader ; and, though it is hinted that in 

 some cases the traffic in peltries occupied part of the attention of 

 the missionary, we seldom find them lending the Divine sanction 

 to unprovoked violence or robbery. 



The intercourse of the Europeans and Indians of the north- 

 eastern portion of America can scarcely be said to have been 

 begun by Cabot in his voyages of 1497-98-99, when he first 

 discovered this part of the coast. With Cartier, in 1534 and 

 1535, in his memorable voyages up the St. Lawrence, the first 

 real contact occurred. The natives appear to have received him 

 often timidly, but were found ready enough to trade when friend- 

 ship had been cautiously established. At the villages of Stada- 

 cona (Quebec) and Hochelaga he was received even with rejoicing, 

 the natives bringing gifts of fish, corn and " great gourds," which 

 they threw into his boat in token of welcome. It is evident, 

 however, that they well understood and wished to maintain their 

 territorial rights, for we find that when Cartier, in his first 

 voyage, set up in the vicinity of the Bale des Chaleurs his '^ cross 

 thirty feet high," the aged chief of the region objected to the 

 proceeding, telling the French — as well as his language could be 

 understood — that the country all belonged to him, and that only 

 with his permission could they rightly erect the cross there. It 

 was too, when, in 1541, Cartier attempted his abortive colony 

 at Quebec, that the natives first manifested jealousy and a hostile 

 spirit. 



Much later, in 1607, when the permanent occupation of the 

 country was begun by Champlain at Quebec, the erection of a 

 fort sufficiently strong first received the attention of the colonists : 

 showing that they did not place a too implicit confidence in the 

 continued friendliness of the Indians toward their enterprise. 

 The French would indeed have found the foundation of their 

 colony a difficult matter, but for the state of the Indian tribes 

 at the time of their arrival. The Iroquets of the St. Lawrence 

 valley had, since the date of Cartier's second voyage, been exter- 

 minated, probably by the Hurons, and the Algonkin nations 

 were in a state of chronic war with the too powerful Iroquois. 

 Champlain, adopting the only policy open to him, the traditional 

 one of intruders, allied himself, offensively and defensively, with 

 his neighbours the Algonkins, thereby perpetuating the warfare 



