from France. At times there was game, though less than
at Port Royal. The river supplied eels in abundance, but
when badly cooked they caused a fatal dysentery. The
first winter was a repetition of the horrors experienced
at St Croix, with even a higher death-rate. Scurvy began
in February and lasted till the end of April. Of the
eighteen whom it attacked, ten died. Dysentery claimed
others. On June 5, 1609, word came that Pontgrave had
arrived at Tadoussac. Champlain's comment is eloquent in
its brevity. 'This intelligence gave me much satisfaction,
as we entertained hopes of assistance from him. Out of
the twenty-eight at first forming our company only eight
remained, and half of these were ailing.'

The monopoly granted to De Monts had now reached its
close, and trade was open to all comers. From 1609 until
1613 this unrestricted competition ran its course, with
the result that a larger market was created for beaver
skins, while nothing was done to build up New France as
a colony. On the whole, the most notable feature of the
period is the establishment of close personal relations
between Champlain and the Indians. It was then that he
became the champion of the Algonquins and Hurons against
the Iroquois League or Five Nations, inaugurating a policy
which was destined to have profound consequences.

The considerations which governed Champlain in his dealings
with the Indians lay quite outside the rights and wrongs
of their tribal wars. His business was to explore the
continent on behalf of France, and accordingly he took