[aaxoxc] DOCHE! (ST. CROIX) ISLAND 179 
TPANSLATION. 
Discription of wie '.) =. ,Lsle.Saincte Croir 2 * . Disputes among the 
Indians referred io the decision of Sieur de Monts. 
CHAPTER Tin. 
they came . . . . into a large river, (which is properly a part of 
the sea), where they encamped on a little island in the middle of the river 
which the said Sieur de Champlain had been to reconnoitre.! And seeing it 
naturally strong and easy of defense, besides the season was slipping away 
so that it was time to think of lodging themselves, without going farther they 
resolved to stop there. I do not wish to inquire too closely into the various 
reasons for the decision as to this dwelling, but I shall always be of the 
opinion that whosever goes to a country to take possession of it should not 
make themselves prisoners upon islands.” 
For, before everything else, the cultivation of the land must be regarded. 
And I would fain ask how one will cultivate it if he must at all hours, morn- 
ing, noon and night, cross with much trouble a large passage of water to go 
for the things one requires from the mainland. And if one fears the enemy, 
how will he be saved if working in the fields or at other necessary work he 
is pursued? For one does not always find a boat in time of need nor two men 
ready to manage it. Further, our life having need of many comforts, an 
island is not good for commencing a colony if there is not running fresh water 
for drinking and household needs, something which is not found in little 
islands. Wood is needed for fuel, which likewise is not there. But above 
everything there is needed protection from the violent winds and the cold, 
which it is hard to find on a little island totally surrounded by water.’ Never- 

1 This seems to imply that Champlain discovered the island when unac- 
companied by de Monts. This is more explicitly stated by Charlevoix in his 
History of New France (Shea’s Translation, I., 252), where he tells of Cham- 
plain exploring the coast in a sloop and pushing on to the Island, where, 
‘M. de Monts arriving soon after,” etc. Charlevoix in 1744, as his references . 
show, had no source of information on this subject not open to us now, so 
that his statement doubtless rests upon this passage in Lescarbot. The entire 
narrative of Champlain shows, however, that he and de Monts were together 
on this voyage, and if Lescarbot really means that Champlain discovered the 
island, it must be that he found it while exploring in the small boat while de 
Monts in the barque was exploring some other part of the immediate neigh- 
bourhood, perhaps the Magaguadavic or other part of Passamaquoddy Bay. 
In this connection the Indian legends given on a later page (page 189) may be 
noted; it is possible that de Monts was erecting a cross at the mouth of the 
Magaguadavic, while Champlain, to save time, explored beyond in the smaller 
boat, and found this river and island. 
2 This idea is also expressed by Sir William Alexander in his ‘‘ Encourage- 
ment to Colonies,” 1624, when he says, referring to this settlement,—‘ in the 
end finding that a little Ile was but a kind of large prison.’’ 
5 These arguments against settling on islands are sound, but how much 
easier it is to be wise after than before the event! It is reasonably certain 
that had Lescarbot been with de Monts in 1604, he too would have been con- 
vinced from the data at his command (on which compare earlier, page 141) 
Sec. II., 1902. 12. 
