256 NATURAL AND CIVIL, 



attentively observed all his motions and ges* 

 tures, and endeavored to imitate and repeat 

 them. 



This farce being finished, Cartier proceeded 

 to exhibit more substantial proofs of his benevo- 

 Icnce and power. He signified to the multi« 

 tude that he wished the men, women, and chil- 

 dren, would divide themselves into separate 

 companies. The natives immediately made 

 such an arrangement. To the men Cartier then 

 made a present of hatchets, to the women he 

 presented a quantity of beads, and to the children 

 he gave a multitude of rings. The moment 

 ihese donations were ended, he ordered his 

 iirums to beat, and the trumpets to sound. As- 

 tonished but delighted with the scene the sava- 

 ges shouted, and the whole company fell to 

 dancing. What could be wanting to convince 

 die multitude that their new guests were gods,, 

 mil of benevolence and power ? 



Cartier next proposed to ascend the hill,, 

 finder which the town w^as built. The Indians. 

 iOnducted hira to the summit, and pointed out 

 to him the course of the river above their town ; 

 and informed him that he might sail on it for 

 three moons without coming to an end : that 

 it ran through two or three lakes ; that beyond 

 them there was a sea of fresh water, to which 

 they knew of no limits ; that on the other side 

 of the mountains there was another river Mhich 

 ran to the southwest, through a countr}^ in 

 which there was no ice or snow i and that there 

 were such metals as silver, ^old, and copper, to, 

 be found in the country. Having obtained all 

 tbe information which he expected, Cartier pre- 



