[canonc] DOCHET (ST. CROIX) ISLAND 183 
- . . . The Sieur de Poutrincourt had made the voyage there with some of 
his own men, not to winter there, but in order to select a residence and to 
explore out a pleasing place. This having been done, he had no need to 
remain longer. Hence the vessels being ready to return, he embarked on one 
of them with his retinue. 
the Sieur de Poutrincourt having left his arms and munitions of war 
on St. Croix Island in care of the sieur de Monts, as a pledge and guarantee 
of his good intention to return there. 
CHAPTER, Vi. 
Buildings on St. Croix Island. Discomforts of the French at this place. 
Unknown sickness. 
During the voyage just described,’ the Sieur de Monts had work done on 
his fort,? which he had placed at the end of the island at the end opposite to 
the place where we have mentioned he placed his cannon. This had been 
prudently considered in order to command all the river above and below. But 
it was a fault that the fort was on the north side and without any shelter 
except for the trees which were on the bank of the island all around which 
he had forbidden to be cut down. And outside of the fort was the lodging of 
the Swiss, large and spacious, and other small buildings like a fauxbourg [or 
suburb].f Some had housed themselves on the main land near the brook. But 
inside the fort was the residence of the said Sieur de Monts, built with beau- 
tiful and artistic woodwork,’ with the banner of France above. In another 
place was the storehouse, in which was the health and life of everybody, 
built also of good woodwork, and covered with shingles. Opposite the store- 
house were the dwellings of the Sieurs d’Orville, Champlain, Champdoré® and 
other notable persons. Opposite the residence of the Sieur de Monts was a 
covered gallery for exercise play or work in time of rain. And between the 
said fort and the platform where were the cannon, all the space was occu- 

1 That made by Champlain to the Kennebec (page 166). 
? Champlain does not in his narrative speak of this place as a fort, but 
his plan and the description here given by Lescarbot show that a part of the 
settlement was included within a palisade, to which, no doubt, it was intended 
the settlers could retreat from an enemy as to a citadel, abandoning the 
remainder of the buildings. As the Indians were the only foe to be con- 
sidered, however, a palisade between the buildings was sufficient. This fort 
included apparently the dwelling of Sieur de Monts, the storehouse and the 
general assembly house, between which buildings was a palisade (see the plan, 
Fig. 9, and also 14). 
3 Apparently Swiss workmen, possibly also soldiers. 
* A suburb, 1.e., like the more open places with separated residences and 
gardens on the outskirts of a city. 
5 Of course brought from France, as was probably in part at least the 
storehouse. The other buildings were probably simply log huts, while those 
of the men appear to have been little better than Indian wigwams. Cham- 
plain’s picture-plan of the settlement (Fig. 9) is obviously a good deal 
idealized. 
* Not quite correct ; compare Champlain’s plan (Fig. 9). 
