X PREFACE 



This is the first work relating to the West to be published 

 by the Champlain Society. It has already begun an extensive 

 list of the works of early writers on Eastern Canada. The year 

 1 9 1 1 will, it is hoped, see the completion of the three volumes of 

 Lescarbot's History of New France^ now for the first time entirely 

 translated into English. In this as in all other publications 

 of the Society the original text is given with the translation. 

 Nicolas Denys was the first writer to describe in detail the 

 coasts of eastern Canada, and the Society has republished his 

 great book, adequately translated and with copious notes. 

 It has done the same with Le Clercq's account of Gaspe and 

 its interesting natives. The writings of Champlain, entirely 

 translated into English for the first time, will soon appear in 

 six volumes. The regions lying west of Lake Superior have 

 a history as interesting, but the material is scattered. Hearne's 

 Journal makes a good beginning. In preparation are the 

 Journals of La Verendrye, the first white man to come in 

 sight of the Rocky Mountains by an overland route. His 

 writings will now for the first time be translated into English. 

 The Society is sparing no pains to provide volumes bearing 

 on the Hudson's Bay Company. Much further work on 

 examining and classifying the papers of the Company will, 

 however, be necessary before anything final can be done. 

 Meanwhile members will enjoy the pleasant narrative of 

 Hearne edited by the competent observers whose services the 

 Society has had the good fortune to secure. 



TOWQ-HTO, January 191 1. 



