FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. n 



had discovered them, they began to shout and to prepare for dancing. Then 

 they came towards me with their bows, arrows, quivers and other arms, and, 

 as there was a meadow between them and me, I made signs to them that 

 they should dance again, whereupon they formed a circle and put all their 

 arms in the centre of it. They had hardly commenced to dance, when they 

 saw the Sieur de Poutrincourt within the wood, with eight arquebusiers, 

 which astonished them. They stopped dancing, and retired from one side 

 and the other, with apprehension that we should do them some harm. We 

 said no more to them, however, and only made some demonstrations of 

 rejoicing. Then we returned to our boat in order to put to sea and get away 

 from them. They wanted us to stay one day, saying that more than 2000 

 men would come to see us, but not willing to lose time we would not longer 

 delay. I believe that they wanted to surprise us. 



"They have some cultivated land and are clearing it up all the time. See 

 how they do it ! They cut the trees at the height of three feet from the 

 ground ; then they burn the branches upon the trunk and sow their corn 

 between the cut wood ; and in the course of time they take away the roots. 

 There are also meadows there sufficient for nourishing a number of cattle. 



"This port is a very good one, having sufficient water for vessels, and 

 affording shelter behind some islands. It is in the latitude of 43 degrees, 

 and we have named it Le Beau Port." 



These French explorers next sailed to Cape Cod, leaving Quiohamenec 

 and his tribe in quiet possession of their territory, which is not known to 

 have been again touched by the feet of civilized men till it was occupied by 

 a few English fishermen in 1623. We should be glad to know something 

 of the doings and adventures of the fourteen men who composed this last 

 company, but no pen has traced the history of the second landing at Le 

 Beau Port. 



