30 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



imagination, of which others are kno^vTi; for Canada, in those early 

 days, impressed the minds of French writers more strongly than is 

 generally supposed. Thus we find, in 1586, the scene of a tragedy laid 

 in Canada. Its title is No. 6 in Harrisse's Notes as follows : " Acou- 

 bar, ou la loyauté trahie. Tragédie tirée des amours de Pistion et de 

 Tortunie en leur voyage de Canada, etc., etc." 



Eeaders must not be surprised to learn that Fortunie was Infanta 

 of Astracan and under the protection of the King of Canada. They 

 are widely apart now, but then both places were supposed to be in 

 Tartary. 



The book is an evidence of an awakening interest in Canada, at 

 that very time taking shape in Champlain's founding of Quebec. What 

 is difficult to explain is its literary form. There must have been a 

 demand for information about Canada to have called for a pamphlet 

 like this. 



