good timber, minerals, and safe anchorage were all objects
of search. Skirting the south-western corner of Nova
Scotia, the little ship passed Cape Sable and the Tusquet
Islands, turned into the Bay of Fundy, and advanced to
a point somewhat beyond the north end of Long Island.
Champlain gives at considerable length the details of
his first excursion along the Acadian seaboard. In his
zeal for discovery he caused those left at Port Mouton
both inconvenience and anxiety. Lescarbot says, with a
touch of sharpness: 'Champlain was such a time away on
this expedition that when deliberating about their return
[to France] they thought of leaving him behind.' Champlain's
own statement is that at Port Mouton 'Sieur de Monts was
awaiting us from day to day, thinking only of our long
stay and whether some accident had not befallen us.'

De Monts' position at Port Mouton was indeed difficult.
By changing his course in mid-ocean he had missed rendezvous
with the larger of his two ships, which under the command
of Pontgrave looked for him in vain from Canseau to the
Bay of Islands. Meanwhile, at Port Mouton provisions were
running low, save for rabbits, which could not be expected
to last for ever. The more timid raised doubts and spoke
of France, but De Monts and Poutrincourt both said they
would rather die than go back. In this mood the party
continued to hunt rabbits, to search the coast
north-easterly for Pontgrave, and to await Champlain's
return. Their courage had its reward. Pontgrave's ship
was found, De Monts revictualled, Champlain reappeared,
and by the middle of June the little band of Colonists