But probably the most important advantage to their new home were the neighbors. Led by the wonderful and engaging Sagamore Membertou, the people of the village went out of their way to assist the foreign investors. They provided them with food and clothing and taught them how to survive in the Northern climate.
While the men had been tearing down the Ste. Croix settlement and moving it across the bay, Champlain and De Monts spent their time perusing the shores of the land belonging to the Pasmaquoddy and Penobscot, in search of a place for a more lucrative centre for trade. By the time they returned, the old habitation was gone and the new one almost completed.
They passed the evening relating to the others, all the things they had seen and the people they encountered. When they had left St. Croix on June 18, with Panounais and his wife as pilots, they travelled along the shoreline, being careful not to venture out too far. The weather couldn’t have been better, with little fog, and the warm breezes helped to raise De Monts spirits after the disastrous winter.
Some of the men did a little hunting and fishing, which provided fresh meat for the table and the wine brought back by Pont Grave, was a welcome accompaniment. All along the way they were greeted by villagers and summering families, who approached them in the interest of doing business. They feasted, danced, smoked and made merry, though they also had a few calamities and narrow escapes.
When they first entered the Kennebec River, at a popular fishing and game retreat, known as Sabino Head; they encountered several groups of people engaged in activity. Fortunately, Panounais’ wife had originated from the area, so she and her husband went ahead to convince them that the Frenchmen were friendly and only wished to sight see. They were even able to recruit several to guide them down the river and soon were on their way.
From the mouth of the Kennebec, Champlain’s party sailed east and then north until they reached the town of Wiscasset. The chief of the town, Manthoumermer greeted them warmly and accepted them as allies, even hoping that they might be able to negotiate peace with their enemies the Abenaki. He also provided them with guides who could show them a short cut to the main channel of the Kennebec. Not that it was an easy one. When they reached the area later known as Hell’s Gate, the only way they could get through was to tie a tow rope to the trees above and have the men pull them against the strong force of the water.
They were to meet two other sagamores, but when they didn’t show, De Monts and Champlain continued on, exploring the Chouacoit (Saco River). Again, they found the local people friendly and exchanged greetings all along the shorelines. At one village on the River, which was headed by a handsome young chief named Honemechin, they found lush gardens of bush beans, pumpkin, corn, squash and tobacco. The farmers used manure and crabs that had washed up onshore, to fertilize the soil, and were enjoying great success.
He gave his own names to the places they saw and visited (possibly not understanding the Algonkian names), and many of these became famous landmarks of the early British-American settlers: Riviere Du Gua (the Charles River), Port St. Louis (Plymouth), Cap Blanc (Cape Cod), and Port Mallebarre (Nauset). It was at the latter place where the Frenchmen had a negative experience, that may have also led to their dismissing this region.
While pulling into the port on July 21, they were greeted by the Nauset Tribe, who came dancing down to the beach in invitation. Four of the sailors went ashore with large kettles to fill with spring water, but it seems that at least one of the residents coveted the kettles so much that he snatched one. This resulted in a scuffle, and the sailor was killed in a barrage of arrows and knives. In answer, the French ship fired on the group, but missed their mark. Other local residents ran to the beach to try to explain that they were not involved, but it was too late. Champlain had already decided that the people of the area were thieves, but did point out that perhaps if they had something to trade, it may have been different.
Making their exit, they headed back toward the Saco, but nearly ran aground because of the carelessness of two of their pilots; Cramolet and Champdore. Cramolet was probably tried and even executed on the spot, since there is no further mention of him; but Champdore was only reprimanded. His maintenance skills no doubt spared his life.
Their wandering through for the time being, De Monts returned to France to check out his finances, taking with him a live caribou and moose calf, as well as an assortment of colorful feathers, as gifts for the king. He left Pont Grave in charge of the store, with Champlain as his second in command, and the two men began making plans for the long winter ahead.
On the other hand, Poutrincourt was still full of zeal, and more determined than ever to go ahead with plans for his beloved Port Royal. He had lost most of his wealth supporting the Catholic League during the Religious Wars, but his wife's family were still quite wealthy and well connected, so he made his rounds looking for investors, though he still had to borrow heavily.
He was also able to recruit his lawyer, Marc Lescarbot, to come along for the adventure. The disenchanted barrister was looking "to fly from a corrupt world," after he had recently lost an important court case. Though probably the least likely candidate to venture to the backwoods of Canada, his wit and zest for life would add some light heartedness to the venture; and one of the best and earliest records of the enterprise, was later written by him.
Fortunately, they were more successful in engaging mechanics and laborers from Paris, but made the mistake of paying them half their wages before leaving La Rochelle. Now flush with money, the young men went out in search of a little fun, and most wound up in jail. The ship Jonas was anchored at port; full of cargo, but unattended; when a sudden gale blew her adrift. She struck a pier, then grounded on the flats and settled in the mud. Her captain, Poutrincourt, Lescarbot, and others, hastened aboard, and tried pumping the rising water out, while, according to Lescarbot; "...all Rochelle came to gaze from the ramparts, with faces of condolence, but at heart well pleased with the disaster".
They managed to save the ship and cargo, but only after emptying it completely, repairing and reloading, which took time and additional money. They were finally underway on May 13, 1606; to begin, for some, the journey of a lifetime. The weather was poor and the journey rough, but to pass the time, they harpooned porpoises, danced on deck in calm weather, and fished for cod on the Grand Bank.
When the fog finally cleared, writes Lescarbot; "doth a man sometimes seek the land as one doth his beloved, who sometimes repulseth her sweetheart very rudely. Finally, upon Saturday, the fifteenth of July, about two o'clock in the afternoon, the sky began to salute us as it were with cannon-shots, shedding tears, as being sorry to have kept us so long in pain; . . . but, whilst we followed on our course, there came from the land odors incomparable for sweetness, brought with a warm wind so abundantly that all the Orient parts could not produce greater abundance. We did stretch out our hands as it were to take them, so palpable were they, which I have admired a thousand times since."
They soon learned that the other men left behind had not perished, but were out looking for a way back home, having given up on seeing De Monts again. Seems, the weather that year was not as severe, though they still lost 12 men to scurvy. Among them was the Roman Catholic Priest and Huguenot minister, who had been with the original landing party at Ste. Croix. Since the two men had argued constantly, even coming to blows at times, the men buried them together to see if they could settle their differences in the next life. Membertou, the elderly gentleman in the canoe, and his people, had kept the men in fresh meat and game, which they traded for bread, and only the wine had run out.
When spring arrived, the men planted gardens and Champlain had a gazebo constructed near the fort where he could relax. He dammed up spring fed brooks to create a pond for live trout, perch and cod and spent many hours there, writing and listening to the small birds who frequented the area. Of course, he didn’t enjoy his respite for long, and once the ice cleared, set off again to explore; this time with plans to make it all the way to Florida.
Pontgrave was furious and accused Champdore of intentionally sinking the ship to avoid another cruise, and the man was handcuffed and forced to stand trial. Luckily for him, the new ship that the men had built, required his expertise so he was once again acquitted and allowed to get back to work. By now, it was mid-summer and the post had not seen or heard from De Monts; who had told Pont Grave, that if he didn’t return to Port Royal by July 15, 1606; he should seek out alternative transport home.
With that date now passed, Pont Grave ordered his men to clear out and loaded them onto two pinnaces, in search of fishermen willing to take on added fares. He left two men behind to assist Membertou, who promised to keep an eye on the place in their absence. However, once again they ran into difficulties and were forced back to Port Royal. Fortunately, this turned out to be a good thing, since they met up with Jean Ralleau, De Monts’ secretary, who informed them that the ship Jonas was on it’s way with his boss and fresh supplies.
De Monts arrived just before they did, and the group was soon reunited. Besides Poutrincourt and his son, and lawyer Marc Lescarbot; Louis Hebert was also returning despite his terrible experience at Ste. Croix.
But Poutrincourt, though still enamored with the enterprise, realized that it was not as profitable as he had hoped, and headed a new expedition in his own ship, in search of greener pastures (aka: Furs!). He also wanted to see the coast for himself, despite the fact that Champlain wanted to head straight for Cape Cod (Cap Blanc). They also had with them, Messamouet, the chief of the village at La Have, who hoped to make allies of the people in the area.
However, while this may have been a peace keeping mission on his part, it actually laid the ground work for future war between the nations. Messamouet had loaded many trade goods, to offer as gifts, but when these were presented to the two sagamores; Marchin and Onemessin, they returned the maize, beans and pumpkins as being unsatisfactory. This insult greatly angered the La Have chief, and he vowed to get his revenge. The following year he led an army against them and in retaliation they killed Panaounais, Champlain's former guide and son of Membertou. As a result, Membertou then led an army from Port Royal and both Marchin and Onemessin were killed in the onslaught.
