364 NATURAL AND CIVIL. 



with the neighboring tribes, and on account of 

 their numbers, p^er, and conquests, were 

 become the objects of fear, dread, and aversion, 

 to the other nations.. At the time when the 

 French were forming their colony in Canada^ 

 the five nations of the Iroquoise were engaged 

 in a war with the Algonquins and Hurons. 

 The Algonquins lived along the banks of the 

 river from Quebec to Montreal. The Hurons 

 were dispersed about the lake that bears their 

 name. These, with some other tribes of less 

 consequence, had sufFtrtd severely from the 

 inroads of the Iroquoise i and were unable to 

 make effectual opposition to their arms. 



Instead of attempting to introduce a recon^ 

 ciliation among these hostile nations, Cham-^ 

 plain meaning to avail himself of their quarrels, 

 50on engaged in their wars,^ He took a decided 

 part with the Algonquins, and went himself 

 with the Hurons in their expeditions against the 

 Iroquoise : He instructed them how to carry- 

 on their wars, was pcrsonall)* engaged in several 

 of their battles, and in one of them received a 

 wound not a little dangerous to his life. 



The Indians saw with wonder and surprise 

 the effect of the European arms, in the attacks 

 which Champlain had made upon the Iroquoise 

 at lake Sacrament, and other places. The Al- 

 gonquins and Hurons soon gave a friendly at- 

 tention to the new settlers, and meant by their 

 assistance to gain the superiority over their an- 

 cient and haughty foes. Of course they favor- 

 ed the settlement of the French, give thtm 

 lands, courted their friendship, ai d hivitcd them 

 to settle ill Lvery part of th&ii country -, aiiU by 



