MILITARY AND CIVIL. 5 
     
    
   
   
    
     while birds of the forest and of the sea were numerous. From 
     
     here he went north and discovered a fine capacious basin, which he 
     
     named Bay of Chaleur; during his sojourn here he had frequent 
     
     and friendly intercourse with the natives. Arriving at Gaspe, 
     
     Cartier took formal possession of the country as being a part of 
     
     the dominion of New France; this he accomplished by erecting 
     
     upon an eminence a cross thirty feet high, having an inscription 
     
     thereon, together with the Arms of France. Autumn was now 
     
     approaching, Cartier therefore shaped his course for the Mother 
     
     Country, where he arrived with his little fleet in September, 
     
     having two sons of the Indian chief on board—hfmary of 
     
     Acadia. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The favourable account given of New France, made the King 
     
     eager to found a colony there, so another expedition under the 
     
     same commander was organized the year following. Three 
     
     ships were fitted out and many gentlemen of means were in- 
     
     duced to engage in the enterprise. 
     
    
   
   
    
     During May, {535, Cartier set sail for the American coast, 
     
     then on reaching Newfoundland he refitted as before. Being 
     
     resolved on exploring the country to the westward, he crossed 
     
     over the waters of the Gulf, and in a few days he entered the 
     
     mouth of a noble river. While ascending this, many beautiful 
     
     islands were passed. Savages were seen moving along the 
     
     banks and on the water in canoes, who beheld the ships 
     
     with wonder, and when cannon were fired uttered loud howls 
     
     and cries of distress. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Reaching an Island now called Orleans, Cartier moored his 
     
     little fleet. Finding the natives a friendly people, he with one 
     
     ship and fifty followers extended his voyage still further up the 
     
     river to a considerable distance and landed at a large Indian 
     
     town, in the vicinity of which there towered a high hill, affording 
     
     a picturesque view of the immense forest and rushing waters 
     
     below. This hill Cartier named Mount Royal, which has been 
     
     subsequently changed to Montreal. He then descended the 
     
     river to where a high bluff had attracted his attention, which 1n 
     
     after years became the site of the famed city of Quebec. Upon 
     
     it was situated an Indian town named Stadacona. Here Cartier 
     
     decided to establish a colony, but when winter came the French 
     
     were so unprepared for its vigor that sickness broke out among 
     
     them taking off many of their number, it was therefore deter— 
     
     mined to depart for France on the return of spring , accordingly