always with so much pomp. And at night, before giving
thanks to God, he handed over to his successor in the
charge the collar of the Order, with a cup of wine,
and they drank to each other. I have already said that
we had abundance of game, such as ducks, bustards,
grey and white geese, partridges, larks, and other
birds; moreover moose, caribou, beaver, otter, bear,
rabbits, wild-cats, racoons, and other animals such
as the savages caught, whereof we made dishes well
worth those of the cook-shop in the Rue aux Ours, and
far more; for of all our meats none is so tender as
moose-meat (whereof we also made excellent pasties)
and nothing so delicate as beaver's tail. Yea, sometimes
we had half a dozen sturgeon at once, which the savages
brought us, part of which we bought, and allowed them
to sell the remainder publicly and to barter it for
bread, of which our men had abundance. As for the
ordinary rations brought from France, they were
distributed equally to great and small alike; and, as
we have said, the wine was served in like manner.

The results of this regime were most gratifying. The
deaths from scurvy dropped to seven, which represented
a great proportionate decrease. At the same time,
intercourse with the Indians was put on a good basis
thereby. 'At these proceedings,' says Lescarbot, 'we
always had twenty or thirty savages--men, women, girls,
and children--who looked on at our manner of service.
Bread was given them gratis, as one would do to the poor.
But as for the Sagamos Membertou, and other chiefs who