| 1 |
Pardon the intrusion, captain. I am looking for a partner to supply our expedition to New France. We will need a lot of materials, especially during the long winter. |
| 2 |
I am Samuel de Champlain, a royal geographer. I have been entrusted with the exploration of our new colony across the ocean. Come, I will tell you the details over dinner. |
| 3 |
I will be a passenger on the ship of François Du Pont. He is an experienced captain, and has already been to New France before. We are sailing off tomorrow, so tell your sailors to be ready. |
| 4 |
The main goal of this voyage is fur trading. My official status is just an observer, but I will be looking for a suitable place for a permanent settlement, and establishing relations with the natives. |
| 5 |
François is a good man. You will get to like him too, I am sure. How about we spend the evening together, and talk about your sea adventures, while drinking some fine French wine? |
| 6 |
I looked up all I could about the previous expeditions, and why they failed. We must befriend the natives, not alienate them. However, some weapons to ensure our safety will be necessary. |
| 7 |
We have two Indians on board, who came with the last expedition. They learned our language, and can translate for us. They love bouillabaisse. If you want to win them over, bring some. |
| 8 |
This is Tadoussac, a port where we trade with the Indians. We will set up a camp on the shore. François was here before, he will know where to find materials we need. |
| 9 |
I forgot to bring my astrolabe. We might get lost easily without it. There is an English expedition camping to the south. Ask them if they have a spare one they could sell to us. |
| 10 |
I have noticed there are Indians gathering on the other side of the river. If you are done with setting up the camp, bring a barque, and let’s go across. We can’t pass up this chance. |
| 11 |
Give your sailors some work to do before we leave. We don’t want them marching around, and appear threatening. They can go gather firewood, or look for some food. |
| 12 |
Here we go. Smile, and don’t look them in the eyes. Our two translators are with us, so leave the talking to them for now. Have you brought something as a gift? |
| 13 |
They like our wine, but it seems to affect them quite strongly. Maybe we should give it out sparsely. Go look what they have in the kettles. It smells wonderful. |
| 14 |
I never had moose stew before. It tastes almost like beef to me. There is also roasted meat of bear, seal and beaver. It’s definitely exotic, but I think I still prefer a grilled fish. |
| 15 |
The tribes gathered to celebrate the victory over their common enemy, the Iroquois. Let’s help them build more lasting totems as a sign of their success. They are not very good stone masons. |
| 16 |
The chieftain believes, we can help them fight against Iroquois, once they attack again. This is a perfect chance to form an alliance. Now we can get to business, so let’s buy some furs. |
| 17 |
It’s time to return to our camp. Tomorrow we set off to explore the land along the local rivers, so get a good night’s sleep. I hope the barques are ready for the exploration. |
| 18 |
Wake up the sailors, who will join us on the expedition. A part of them has to stay here, they can hunt for seals and wild animals. We need to bring a lot of furs back to France. |
| 19 |
We should take our weapons with us, in case we meet the Iroquois. We are friends of their enemies, so expect an attack should we meet them. And don’t forget my favorite arquebus. |
| 20 |
The winter is not even here, yet the weather is freezing cold. A delicate French wine would make me warm, and remind me of my beloved homeland. Do we have some bottles left? |
| 21 |
We have gone quite far on the Saguenay River, yet the land around does not look promising. But I have seen beautiful white beluga whales under the water. Let’s try to feed them some fish. |
| 22 |
Feeding the whales was an experience I will remember for long. The sun is setting down, we should make camp for the night. Find some rocks to form a circle around our fire. |
| 23 |
Tomorrow we turn back and explore the St. Lawrence River instead. I hope the land will be more pleasant there. Here are only rocky mountains and forests. At least we have enough wood for the fire. |
| 24 |
We are passing Tadoussac again. There are still some natives camping here. Let’s buy a few supplies from them for the voyage before us. I would not mind a bit of the moose stew, too. |
| 25 |
The country looks the same here as it did around the Saguenay River. I am disappointed, this is no land for a settlement. I think I am in mood for another glass of wine. |
| 26 |
I believe this is the island that was explored by my fellow French explorer some 60 years ago. The land is more level here. Let’s anchor at the narrowing of the river called Kebec by the Indians. |
| 27 |
Let the sailors make camp, and we can look around. I like what I see here. If this soil were cultivated, it would be as good as ours in France. This might be the place we were looking for. |
| 28 |
This land looks promising, but we should not get too far from our base camp. We can explore more on our way back. I can see there are a lot of colorful fish in the river. Maybe they taste good. |
| 29 |
We have still some time. I heard from the chieftain that there are caves with precious stones under a steep hill, near the sea. I think it’s worth exploring. |
| 30 |
Our time of exploration is coming to an end. The king expects my report soon, so we must return to France. After we make some necessary repairs, we can set the course for home. |
| 31 |
Your help was indispensable. Now I must go give my report to the king. I have also written a book on the way back, read it when it comes out. I hope we meet again sometime. |
| 32 |
Captain! So good to see you again. We meet when I need you the most. We are setting off to establish a new colony. Join our fleet, and take some materials aboard, we have a lot to transport. |
| 33 |
While we cross the ocean, let me tell you about the hard times I have experienced. We have already built a few settlements, but all ended in failure. We are lucky the king approved this expedition. |
| 34 |
The sites we have chosen before were the reason for our failure. This time I found the perfect place near the St. Lawrence River. It’s easily defensible and near the center of the fur trade. |
| 35 |
We will need people with skills such as woodcutters, smiths, masons, carpenters and many more to make the colony prosper. I have also enlisted a gardener and a surgeon. |
| 36 |
We are at our old base camp again. Little has changed here since you have been here the last time. We will anchor our ships here, take some of the material, and continue on small boats. |
| 37 |
This is the place I chose for the new settlement. We were here before, remember? We will start with clearing up the place, cutting down trees, and making beams and planks from the wood. |
| 38 |
Like before, we are financed by the fur trade. Hats from beaver pelts are the latest fashion in Paris. You buy the furs from Indians for a tenth of the price you get for them in France. |
| 39 |
The men need a filling meal to keep up the good work. There are excellent cod fish in the river which will make for a hearty dinner. Catch some while I prepare the fire. |
| 40 |
We need more material to continue the works. We have left a part of them at the harbor in Tadoussac. If you have some men, who are not needed here, send them for the supplies. |
| 41 |
Winter will be here soon. The first building standing needs to be a storehouse, where we can keep the supplies. Our previous settlements had large difficulties with food during winter. |
| 42 |
The storage is finished and we can place the most treasured thing from home in it - French wine, of course. A glass of wine will lift our spirit even in the hardest of times. |
| 43 |
Now we can concentrate on the main structure. I made a design with three connected buildings, one for the workers, one for me, and the third will be a forge and a workshop. |
| 44 |
The functionality is essential, but one convenient decoration on the main building won’t hurt. I want to place a great sundial on the front wall, as a symbol of light, time and order. |
| 45 |
All the people here don’t work for free. I promised them a monthly pay, otherwise they would not be here. And they do a good work, so let’s pay them. |
| 46 |
I learned something alarming. There is a conspiracy against me. A few men plan to kill me, and take over the settlement. We will prepare a trap for them. Come, I will explain the plan by dinner. |
| 47 |
I hope everything is clear. Let’s go get these treacherous betrayers! Tell a few men you trust to be ready. The conspirators might resist detainment, we can’t let them escape. |
| 48 |
There will be a trial for the conspirators. I detest unnecessary cruelty, but at least the main organizer will have to hang to deter anyone else from such plans. You should prepare the gallows. |
| 49 |
We have established good relations with the natives, but not all tribes are friendly. Other colonists from Europe can be dangerous, too. So we will dig a moat and build a wall around the houses. |
| 50 |
The soil here is rich and fertile. We should not have much difficulties with farming. We will need the seeds of grains, beans, some vegetables and fruit. And don’t forget the grape vine. |
| 51 |
Our native friends have come asking for help in their fight against the Iroquois. We have to help them defend their people. I hope it will end in a lasting peace between the Indians. |
| 52 |
The winter is coming. We should start gathering supplies. Our garden is ready for the first harvest, and our hunters are skilled. Still, it won’t hurt to buy some things, too. |
| 53 |
The land is covered in snow, and it seems the Indians have bad luck hunting. There was a party to ask for some food earlier today. Look if we have some salted fish in the storage. |
| 54 |
The snowstorm today is just getting more furious. The guards have spied the Indians trying to cross the river to seek shelter here. Get some of our barques out there, and help them across. |
| 55 |
We don’t have enough food for our people and the Indians, too. They can’t stay here long, but we can give them shelter until the storm ends. Send the men to help the injured. |
| 56 |
A sickness has broken out among the settlers. We need to keep the sick ones separated from the healthy. Make some space in the workshop, so we can move them there. |
| 57 |
It seems that our doctor managed to get the sickness under control. The patients are feeling better. We should build a new stove in the workshop, the warmth will speed up their healing. |
| 58 |
Now scurvy is ravaging my people. It’s the lack of fresh food. We have enough bread and beans, but that is not enough. We need some fruit or vegetables. Have you anything left? |
| 59 |
The winter has taken it’s toll. But, finally, the spring is here and our colony has made it through these hard times. Now that the ice has broken up over the river, we can catch some tasty cod fish again. |
| 60 |
There is still a lot of work before me to make this settlement prosper. But I know, you have also other engagements elsewhere. I thank you for your help. Good luck captain! |
| Final |
It was good working with you, my friend. As a parting gift take my favorite ship with you. It's the ship on which I sailed to New France for the first time, the beautiful Bonne Renommée. |
SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN
1,855,000
95
816,000
789,000
527,500
475,000
1,620,000
1,000
500