1670-90.] BARON DE SAINT-CASTIN. 343 



that gave to France her Henri IV. When fifteen 

 years of age, he came to Canada with the regiment 

 of Carignan-Salieres, ensign in the company of 

 Chambly ; and, when the regiment was disbanded, 

 he followed his natural bent, and betook himself 

 to the Acadian woods. At this time there was a 

 square bastioned fort at Pentegoet, mounted with 

 twelve small cannon ; but after the Dutch attack it 

 fell into decay. 1 Saint-Castin, meanwhile, roamed 

 the woods with the Indians, lived like them, formed 

 connections more or less permanent with their 

 women, became himself a chief, and gained such 

 ascendency over his red associates that, according 

 to La Hontan, they looked upon him as their 

 tutelary god. He was bold, hardy, adroit, tena- 

 cious ; and, in spite of his erratic habits, had such 

 capacity for business, that, if we may believe the 

 same somewhat doubtful authority, he made a 

 fortune of three or four hundred thousand crowns. 

 His gains came chiefly through his neighbors of 

 New England, whom he hated, but to whom he 

 sold his beaver skins at an ample profit. His 

 trading house was at Pentegoet, now called Castine, 

 in or near the old fort ; a perilous spot, which he 

 occupied or abandoned by turns, according to the 

 needs of the time. Being a devout Catholic he 

 wished to add a resident priest to his establishment 



1 On its condition in 1670, Estat du Fort et Place de Pentegoet fit it en 

 I'anne'e 1670, lorsque les Anglois I'ont rendu. In 1671, fourteen soldiers and 

 eight laborers were settled near the fort. Talon au Ministre, 2 Nov., 

 1671. In the next year, Talon recommends an envoi de Jilles for the 

 benefit of Pentegoet. Me'moire stir le Canada, 1672. As late as 1698, we 

 find Acadian officials advising the reconstruction of the fort. 



