harbour of Mallebarre. It would have been much better,
in my opinion, to cross from where we were directly to
Mallebarre, the route being already known, and then use
our time in exploring as far as the fortieth degree, or
still farther south, revisiting upon our homeward voyage
the entire coast at pleasure.'

In the interest of geographical research and French
colonization Champlain was doubtless right. Unfortunately,
Poutrincourt wished to see for himself what De Monts and
Champlain had already seen. It was the more unfortunate
that he held this view, as the boats were victualled for
over two months, and much could have been done by taking
a direct course to Cape Cod. Little time, however, was
spent at the Penobscot and Kennebec. Leaving St Croix on
September 12, Poutrincourt reached the Saco on the 21st.
Here and at points farther south he found ripe grapes,
together with maize, pumpkins, squashes, and artichokes.
Gloucester Harbour pleased Champlain greatly. 'In this
very pleasant place we saw two hundred savages, and there
are here a large number of very fine walnut trees,
cypresses, sassafras, oaks, ashes and beeches. ...There
are likewise fine meadows capable of supporting a large
number of cattle.' So much was he charmed with this
harbour and its surroundings that he called it Le Beauport.
After tarrying at Gloucester two or three days Poutrincourt
reached Cape Cod on October 2, and on the 20th he stood
off Martha's Vineyard, his farthest point.

Champlain's chronicle of this voyage contains more detail