HISTORY OF VERMONT. 25^ 



inunlcation to the south, by means of the lakes 

 with a fertile country, which belonged to a 

 powerful and warlike nation called the Iroquoise ; 

 that there were several and large lakes to the 

 West, to one of which they knew of no bounds ? 

 and that to the north there was a large inland 

 sea of salt water, the limits of which were also 

 unknown. Having obtained this information, 

 Champlain returned to France to communicate 

 his discoveries to the government ; and to pro- 

 cure assistance and supplies, to effect a settle- 

 ment in the country. 



In 1607 the establishment of a colony on the 

 river St. Lawrence, became an object of serious 

 attention to the court and merchants of France. 

 It was concluded that such a colony would ex- 

 tend the fur trade^ and open a communication 

 to China through the western lakes ; and thus 

 serve to benefit the kingdom, and to enrich the 

 adventurers. Encouraged by diese expectations, 

 several vessels were fitted out in the year 1608, 

 to begin a colony. Cliamplain had the com- 

 mand. He arrived at the place called Quebec^ 

 in the beginning of July. In his former voyage 

 he had fixed upon this, as the most eligible 

 place for a settlement, and upon his arrival he 

 immediately began to cut down the trees, to 

 clear up the land, to erect buildings, and pre- 

 pare the soil for gardens and fields. At that 

 place he spent the winter with his company, in 

 the course of which they suffered much from 

 the severity of the climate, and the prevalency 

 of the scurvy. 



Having began his colony at Quebec, in the 

 spring of the year 1609 Champlaia set out to- 



