the tabagie remain at the door of the cabins, withdrew,
when all who remained began to fill their pipes, one
and another offering me one. We then spent a full
half-hour in this occupation, not a word being spoken,
as is their custom.

But for the dexterous arrangement by which Champlain
managed to cook his own food, the tabagie would have been
more dangerous to health than the portage. In any case,
it was an ordeal that could not be avoided, for feasting
meant friendly intercourse, and only through friendly
intercourse could Champlain gain knowledge of that vast
wilderness which he must pierce before reaching his
long-sought goal, the sea beyond which lay China.

As for Vignau, his punishment was to make full confession
before all the French who had assembled at the Sault St
Louis to traffic with the Indians. When Champlain reached
this rendezvous on June 17, he informed the traders of
all that had happened, including

the malice of my liar, at which they were greatly
amazed. I then begged them to assemble in order that
in their presence, and that of the savages and his
companions, he might make declaration of his
maliciousness; which they gladly did. Being thus
assembled, they summoned him and asked him why he had
not shown me the sea of the north, as he had promised
me at his departure. He replied that he had promised
something impossible for him, since he had never seen