an exact statement of all I have observed respecting not
only the coasts and people, but also the river of Norumbega;
and there are none of the marvels there which some persons
have described. I am of opinion that this region is as
disagreeable in winter as that of our settlement, in
which we were greatly deceived.'

Champlain was now to undergo his first winter in Acadia,
and no part of his life could have been more wretched
than the ensuing eight months. On October 6 the snow
came. On December 3 cakes of ice began to appear along
the shore. The storehouse had no cellar, and all liquids
froze except sherry. 'Cider was served by the pound. We
were obliged to use very bad water and drink melted snow,
as there were no springs or brooks.' It was impossible
to keep warm or to sleep soundly. The food was salt meat
and vegetables, which impaired the strength of every one
and brought on scurvy. It is unnecessary to cite here
Champlain's detailed and graphic description of this
dreadful disease. The results are enough. Before the
spring came two-fifths of the colonists had died, and of
those who remained half were on the point of death. Not
unnaturally, 'all this produced discontent in Sieur de
Monts and others of the settlement.'

The survivors of the horrible winter at St Croix were
not freed from anxiety until June 15, 1605, when Pontgrave,
six weeks late, arrived with fresh stores. Had De Monts
been faint-hearted, he doubtless would have seized this
opportunity to return to France. As it was, he set out