On July 6, after hearing mass, the first boat with an
exploring party set forth and almost immediately fell in
with a great number of savages coming in canoes from the
southern shore. In all there were some forty or fifty
canoes. The Indians, as they leaped ashore, shouted and
made signs to the French, and held up skins on sticks as
if anxious to enter into trade. But Cartier was in no
mind to run the risk of closer contact with so numerous
a company of savages. The French would not approach the
fleet of canoes, and the savages, seeing this, began to
press in on the strangers. For a moment affairs looked
threatening. Cartier's boat was surrounded by seven canoes
filled with painted, gibbering savages. But the French
had a formidable defence. A volley of musket shots fired
by the sailors over the heads of the Indians dispersed
the canoes in rapid flight. Finding, however, that no
harm was done by the strange thunder of the weapons, the
canoes came flocking back again, their occupants making
a great noise and gesticulating wildly. They were, however,
nervous, and when, as they came near, Cartier's men let
off two muskets they were terrified; 'with great haste
they began to flee, and would no more follow us.' But
the next day after the boat had returned to the ships,
the savages came near to the anchorage, and some parties
landed and traded together. The Indians had with them
furs which they offered gladly in exchange for the knives
and iron tools given them by the sailors. Cartier presented
them also with 'a red hat to give unto their captain.'
The Indians seemed delighted with the exchange. They
danced about on the shore, went through strange ceremonies