102 



THE FEENCH BLOOD IN AMEEICA 



Thanksgiving 

 Day 



Building a 

 Fort 



of the paiu which before we had taken in our 

 travel. 



On the morrow, about break of day, I commanded a 

 trumpet to be sounded, that, being assembled, we might 

 give God thanks for our favourable and happy arrival. 

 Then we sang a psalm of thanksgiving unto God, be- 

 seeching Him of His grace to continue His accustomed 

 goodness towards us. His poor servants, and aid us in 

 all enterprises that all might turn to His glory and the 

 advancement of our King. The prayer ended, every man 

 began to take courage. 



Afterwards, having measm^ed out a piece of ground, 

 in the form of a triangle, we endeavoured oui'sehes on all 

 sides — some to bring earth, some to cut faggots, and 

 others to raise and make the rampart ; for there was not 

 a man that had not either a shovel, or cutting-hook, or 

 hatchet, as well to make the ground plain by cutting 

 down the trees, as for the building the fort, which we did 

 hasten, in such cheerfulness, that, within a few days, the 

 effect of our diligence was apparent. ... 



Our fort was built in the form of a triangle ; the side 

 towards the west, which was towards the land, was 

 inclosed with a little trench, and raised with tiu-ns made 

 in the form of a battlement, of nine feet high ; the other 

 side, which was towards the river, was inclosed with a 

 palisade of planks of timber, after the manner that 

 gabions are made. On the south side, there was a kind 

 of bastion, within which I caused an house for the 

 munition to be built ; it was all builded with faggots and 

 sand, saving about two or three feet high, with turf, 

 whereof the battlements were made. In the midst, I 

 caused a great court to be made, of eighteen i^aces long 

 and broad, in the midst whereof, on the one side drawing 

 towards the south, I builded a corpse de gard, and an 

 house on the other side, towards the north, which I 

 caused to be raised somewhat too high, for, within a 

 short while after, the wind beat it down ; and experiences 



