[dawson] BREST ON THE QUEBEC LABRADOR IS 



On this assurance they assembled, and, after a long deliberation, 

 they placed their King on a small chariot with four wheels and the 

 four most good looking drew it marching in the direction of our men, 

 making signs to drop their arms. The arms being lowered the King 

 kissed the Sieur de Fougères, who was the most distinguished looking 

 of our men, and told him through his interpreter that if they wished 

 to remain in the country he would furnish them with subsistence and 

 land, and, taking -a great collar of precious stones that he wore around 

 his neck, he gave it to the Sieur de Fougères, and afterwards that same 

 collar was estimated at more than one hundred and fifty thousand ecus 

 ($75,000). Then, after having studied the disposition and appearance' 

 of our folks, and finding them so dexterous and gracious compared with 

 themselves, the Barbarians remained enravished and wanted to worship 

 them like gods, making signs that if they wished to go with them they 

 would be recognized as ELings and Emperors of all their lands which 

 are very extensive and rich, but our people made reply that they were 

 only human beings and no more than themselves, and that there was 

 in Heaven an immortal and Almighty God and that they ought all to 

 worship Him with devotion. Then they threw themselves on their 

 knees, and, stamping with joy and keeping their eyes elevated to Heaven, 

 they commenced to sing hymns of joy in their language. Then, as 

 the wind rose, they ran away in all directions so that in less than no 

 time our men were left alone without knowing the cause of such a 

 sudden alarm. 



After that our people returned to the vessels and told all they 

 had seen and we remained surprised wondering at the mercy of God 

 and the magnitude of His works, as well as the simplicity of those poor 

 beings which renders them a hundred times more happy in their brutish 

 state than we are with all our pride and pomposity. 



We were almost on the point of taking the risk of seizing the 

 country, seeing the road open before us and almost inviting us to action ; 

 but after consultation, foreseeing the perils that we might meet with, 

 we refrained and postponed the attempt to another time. Still the 

 country is beautiful, rich, productive, with an infinite quantity of fine 

 fruits, many precious stones and (about last half of line missing, clipped 

 by hinder) which make it very wealthy. I believe that less than five 

 hundred men could get possession of it and thus make one of the best 

 conquests possible. The French will consider this matter, and mean- 

 time I will proceed with the narrative of our voyage. 



After resting for a day and a half, we raised anchor, and, taking 

 the route of St. Lawrence Island we were again thwarted and had to 

 land on a small Island called Les Chasses, where we remained a fort- 



