INDIES AND MEXICO***


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NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO THE WEST INDIES
AND MEXICO IN THE YEARS 1599-1602,


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WORKS ISSUED BY

The Hakluyt Society.

NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO THE WEST INDIES AND MEXICO.

FIRST SERIES. NO. XXIII-MDCCCLIX

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[Illustration: Facsimile of MS.]


NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO THE WEST INDIES
AND MEXICO IN THE YEARS 1599-1602,

With Maps and illustrations.

by

SAMUEL CHAMPLAIN.

Translated from the Original and Unpublished Manuscript,
with a Biographical Notice and Notes by Alice Wilmere.

Edited by Norton Shaw.







Burt Franklin, Publisher
New York, New York

Published by
Burt Franklin
514 West 113th Street
New York 25, N.Y.

Originally Published by The Hakluyt Society
Reprinted by Permission

Printed in the U.S.A.

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THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY.

SIR RODERICK IMPEY MURCHISON, G.C.St.S., F.R.S., D.C.L., Corr. Mem.
Inst. Fr., Hon. Mem. Imp. Acad. So. St. Petersburg, &c., &c.,
PRESIDENT.

THE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE.                   }
                                            }VICE-PRESIDENTS.
REAR-ADMIRAL C. R. DRINKWATER BETHUNE, C.B. }

RT. HON. LORD BROUGHTON.

BERIAH BOTFIELD, ESQ.

THE LORD ALFRED SPENCER CHURCHILL.

CHARLES WENTWORTH DILKE, ESQ., F.S.A.

RT. HON. SIR DAVID DUNDAS.

SIR HENRY ELLIS, K.H., F.R.S.

JOHN FORSTER, ESQ.

LIEUT.-GEN. CHARLES RICHARD FOX.

R. W. GREY, ESQ., M.P.

EGERTON HARCOURT, ESQ.

JOHN WINTER JONES, ESQ., F.S.A.

HIS EXCELLENCY THE COUNT DE LAVRADIO.

RT. HON. ROBERT LOWE, M.P.

R. H. MAJOR, ESQ., F.S.A.

SIR HENRY RAWLINSON, K.C.B.

THE EARL OF SHEFFIELD.


CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, ESQ., HONORARY SECRETARY.

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INTRODUCTION.


The manuscript, of which the following is a translation, as literal as
the idioms of the two languages admit, is in the possession of Monsieur
Feret, the learned and extremely obliging librarian of the Public
Library at Dieppe. Of its originality and authenticity there can be no
doubt; the internal evidence of similarity in style, diction, and
orthography even, with the published account of Champlain's _Voyages
in New France_, would alone suffice to establish those points.[1]

      [1] Extract from "Histoire et Description Generale de la Nouvelle
      France, avec le Journal Historique d'un Voyage fait par ordre du
      Roi dans l'Amerique Septentrionnale. Par le P. De Charlevoix, de
      la Compagnie de Jesus." Tome Premier, 12o., Paris, 1744, p. 172.
      "Le Commandeur de CHATTE, governeur de Dieppe, lui succeda, forma
      une Compagnie de Marchands de Rouen, avec lesquels plusieurs
      Personnes de condition entrerent en societe, et fit un Armement,
      dont il confia la conduite a Pontgrave, a qui le Roy avoit donne
      des Lettres Patentes, pour continuer les decouvertes dans le
      Fleuve du Canada, et pour y faire des Etablissemens. Dans le meme
      tems Samuel de CHAMPLAIN, Gentilhomme Saintongeois, Capitaine de
      Vaisseau, et en reputation d'Officier brave, habile et experimente,
      _arriva des Indes Occidentales, ou il avoit passe deux ans et
      demi._ Le Commandeur de Chatte lui proposa de faire le voyage de
      Canada, et il y consentit avec l'agrement du Roy, etc."--ED.

M. Feret obtained this valuable document from a resident in Dieppe,
where it has been for an unknown time; and it is more than probable
that it had been in the possession of M. de Chastes, governor of the
town and castle of Dieppe, who was Champlain's chief friend and
protector, under whose auspices he had been employed in the war in
Brittany against the League, and by whom, after his return from the
West Indies, he was sent to Canada. To him, it is most likely that
Champlain would present a narrative of his voyage. On M. de Chastes'
death, the manuscript probably passed into the possession of the
Convent of the Minimes at Dieppe, to which he was a great benefactor
during his life, and by testament after his death. He was also, by his
desire, buried in the church of the convent. The library of the Minime
fathers was, with the rest of their property, and that of the other
convents of the town, dispersed at the great Revolution; but most of
