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Jacques
Cartier treated native Americans with more kindness than many other colonists
and explorers.
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acques Cartier grew up as a sailor, married
well and became an agent of exploration for King Francis I of France.
In April, 1534, he sailed for the New World. Before sailing, his men took
an oath that they would "behave themselves truly and faithfully in the
service of the Most Christian King." Jacques' name was made immortal by
the faithfulness with which he and his men carried out that oath.
On May 10, 1534, Jacques and the sixty-one sailors in his two little
ships, sighted Cape Bonavista, "The Cape of Happy Vision." It was his
first glimpse of Newfoundland. Ice was so thick along the shore that they
could not land. Instead they sailed south and spent a few days repairing
their ships. On May 21st, they set to sea again, to chart the coast of
Newfoundland.
Jacques was a practicing French Catholic. Consequently, in his explorations
of Canada, he treated Native Americans--for the most part--with kindness
and integrity. He made a point of sharing the Gospel with them and perpetrated
few of the cruelties that were so common in Latin America and would later
occur among other North Americans: his worst act seems to have been to
capture two Indians for display to France.
His journal reported pious hopes that "with the help of God" he might
have success. He had his men confess their sins before sailing; and on
land and sea celebrated mass on special days or in gratitude for safety.
He erected several crosses, although some were intended to lay claim to
lands for France.
At the erection of one of those crosses, on the shore of Gaspe Bay, Jacques
wrote, "...we all knelt down together before them [Indian observers],
with our hands toward heaven yielding thanks to God: and we made signs
to them [the Indians], showing them the heavens and that all our salvation
depended upon Him who dwells in them [the heavens]; at which they showed
a great admiration, looking first at one another and then at the cross."
One of Jacques' most famous remarks came when he noted the barren terrain
of Newfoundland. "In all the north land I did not see a cartload of good
earth. To be short, I believe that this was the land that God allotted
to Cain." (Cain was cursed for committing the world's first murder).
After leaving Newfoundland, Jacques sailed into the Gulf of St. Lawrence,
explored Prince Edward Island and the shores of what are now the provinces
of New Brunswick and Quebec. He concluded that if there was a northwest
passage, it would be found to the west. A strong wind thwarted his attempts
to sail beyond Anticosti Island on his first voyage. However, on his second
voyage, he discovered the St. Lawrence River, which became a path into
the interior of New France. His faith made him bold and gave him courage
in some very dark hours.
Resources
- Leacock, Stephen. The Mariner of St. Malo; a Chronicle of the
Voyages of Jacques Cartier. Chronicles of Canada. Toronto: Glasgow,
Brook & Co., 1915.
- Various encyclopedia and internet articles.
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