Francois & que les Francois n'allassent point aux Hurons, afin d'emporter
eux seuls tout le trafic," etc.--Relation, 1633, 205 (Cramoisy),--
"desirans eux-mesmes aller recueiller les marchandises des peuples
circonvoisins pour les apporter aux Francois." This "Nation de l'Isle"
has been erroneously located at Montreal. Its true position is indicated
on the map of Du Creux, and on an ancient MS. map in the Depot des Cartes,
of which a fac-simile is before me. See also "Pioneers of France," 347. ]

In the July that preceded Le Jeune's wintering with the Montagnais,
a Huron Indian, well known to the French, came to Quebec with the tidings,
that the annual canoe-fleet of his countrymen was descending the
St. Lawrence. On the twenty-eighth, the river was alive with them.
A hundred and forty canoes, with six or seven hundred savages, landed at
the warehouses beneath the fortified rock of Quebec, and set up their
huts and camp-sheds on the strand now covered by the lower town.
The greater number brought furs and tobacco for the trade; others came
as sight-seers; others to gamble, and others to steal, [ 1 ]
--accomplishments in which the Hurons were proficient: their gambling
skill being exercised chiefly against each other, and their thieving
talents against those of other nations.

[ 1 "Quelques vns d'entre eux ne viennent a la traite auec les Francois
que pour iouer, d'autres pour voir, quelques vns pour derober, et les
plus sages et les plus riches pour trafiquer."--Le Jeune, Relation, 1633,
34. ]

The routine of these annual visits was nearly uniform. On the first day,
the Indians built their huts; on the second, they held their council with
the French officers at the fort; on the third and fourth, they bartered
their furs and tobacco for kettles, hatchets, knives, cloth, beads,