Jacques Cartier

In the summer of 1534, French explorer Jacques Cartier was frustrated. He had been sent to North America not for fish nor for people. He was charged by his king, Francois I, to find a trade passage through the continent to the Pacific and on to the orient. Cartier left the French seaport of saint malo and set a course for Newfoundland. Then through the strait of Belle Isle, and then nothing. Cartier found just confusing shoreline, fog, and dead end. I am rather inclined to believe that this is the land God gave to king. Cartier marked each new bay and promontory on his charts. And then Cartier came upon men. There are people on this coast whose bodies are fairly well formed. But they are wild and savage folk. Cartier sent some of his men ashore. Loaded with trade goods. As soon as they saw as they began making signs that they had come to barter with us. And held up some skins of small value with which they clothed themselves. We offered them some knives and other iron goods to give for their chief. Big part of all they had to such an extent that they went back naked without anything on them. And they made signs to us that they would return on the morrow with Morse kings. With winter approaching, Katy would soon have to leave. Other than some new maps and encounters with natives, his expedition had revealed nothing. He was determined to come back in the spring to pick up where he left off. So Cartier planted a cross to claim this land for France. The chief was dressed in an old black bear's kin. Pointing to the cross, he made us along harangue. Making a sign of the cross with his two fingers, and then he pointed to the land all around as if he wished to say that the region belonged to him. And we ought not to set up the cross without his permission. Donna Connor, chief of the static corner people. Cartier recognized an adversary when he saw one. We held up an axe to him. Pretending we would barter it for his skins. This he nodded asset. And little by little calm near the side of our vessel, thinking he would have the axe. But one of our men who was in our dinghy caught hold of his canoe, and at once, two or three more stepped down into it and made them come on board our vessel, which they were greatly astonished. Cartier had not only seized Donna Connor, but his two sons as well, domingue, and tagma ogni. We explained to them by signs that the cross had been set up to serve as a landmark and guidepost on coming to the harbor, and that we would soon come back and would bring them iron wares and other goods. We told them that we wish to take two of his sons away with us. And afterwards would bring them back again to that harbor. Cartier dressed the sons in European clothes, and told Donna Connor that they would meet the king of France. Then come back the following spring to act as his guides. Then Cartier could sail directly into the river and beyond. To the orient. Paris, in the winter of 1534. Had found themselves at the height of the renaissance amidst dukes and duchesses, artists and scholars. Among them, a prominent clergyman, Andre teve. He was the king was cosmographer, a man of reason who explained the mysteries of the universe and the complexities of the new world. The king was hoping that even though this country did not bring him much revenue, it would at least bring him immotile and the grace of God to have rescued this barbarous people from ignorance and to render it to the Christian church. Today, conjured a myth of a native North America. It was a godless, yet surprisingly peaceful place. He imagined a simple nobility of people who lived in admirable existence, yet could be easily conquered. They have neither cities. Nor castles nor machines of war like us. Cartier managed to convince king Francois that it was worth sending him back on another expedition. Back to Canada. Canada, it was what tag no Agnes and doma Gaia called their father's village at static Kona. Jacques Cartier added the name to his map. Before long, damaged and were back at their father's fire, telling him with the things they had seen on the other side of the ocean. Donna Connor didn't trust the French, and now refused to help them. Cartier and his crew would have to continue upriver alone.