THE CODFISH FRONTIER 259 



Lawrence became a connected reality, and the Europeans were 

 ready to believe that this was really a new world and not a 

 part of the kingdom of the Grand Khan or an extension of 

 the Indies. The French continued to go on with an intelligent 

 study and exploitation of the northern waters and the lands 

 beyond the eastward turn of the Ocean River. Also in 1527 a 

 certain John Rut of Bristol vainly searched the waters around 

 Labrador for the Northwest Passage; but at this time the real 

 initiative westward lay with the French. In the 1530's, Jacques 

 Cartier explored the St. Lawrence looking for a short cut to 

 India, and found the entrance to the future empire of colonial 

 France, penetrating as far as Montreal. Cartier was from St. 

 Malo, and his enterprise was calculated to strengthen the fish- 

 ing interests of that port with a solid settlement on the shores 

 of Canada. But nothing consecutive was accomplished by the 

 French Government to this end, because of wars at home and 

 the bitter winter weather of the North American continent. 

 As usual, certain exceptional individuals kept up the effort. 

 Roberval in the 1540's made vain attempts to make a settle- 

 ment stick. Under Roberval was a man of tougher breed and 

 wide experience at sea, Jean Allefonsce, from the Biscayan 

 town of Saintonge. He took one of RobervaFs vessels and 

 sailed southward looking for the mythical Sea of Verrazano. 

 He came down Long Island Sound and penetrated the Hud- 

 son far enough inland to taste its freshness. He thought at 

 least that this great river must connect with the St. Lawrence 

 somewhere near the Indian metropolis of Hochlega. He 

 called the vicinity of New York ''Norembega." In 1540 a 

 French blockhouse was built on the site of Albany to protect 

 fur-trading interests. Roberval, though a great disciplinarian 

 and an eager explorer, failed because he was not a practical 

 man; nor did he get consecutive backing from his government. 

 He was later murdered in a street fight in France, and his com- 

 panion Allefonsce was lost at sea. 



