Monts and Champlain had already seen. It was the
more unfortunate that he held this view, as the boats were victualled
for over two months, and much could have been done by taking a direct
course to Cape Cod. Little time, however, was spent at the Penobscot
and Kennebec. Leaving St Croix on September 12, Poutrincourt reached the
Saco on the 21st. Here and at points farther south he found ripe grapes,
together with maize, pumpkins, squashes, and artichokes. Gloucester
Harbour pleased Champlain greatly. 'In this very pleasant place we saw
two hundred savages, and there are here a large number of very fine
walnut trees, cypresses, sassafras, oaks, ashes and beeches....There are
likewise fine meadows capable of supporting a large number of cattle.'
So much was he charmed with this harbour and its surroundings that he
called it Le Beauport. After tarrying at Gloucester two or three days
Poutrincourt reached Cape Cod on October 2, and on the 20th he stood off
Martha's Vineyard, his farthest point.

Champlain's chronicle of this voyage contains more detail regarding the
Indians than will be found in any other part of his Acadian narratives.
Chief among Poutrincourt's adventures was an encounter with the natives
of Cape Cod. Unlike the Micmacs, the Armouchiquois were 'not so much
hunters as good fishermen and tillers of the land.' Their numbers also
were greater; in fact, Champlain speaks of seeing five or six hundred
together. At first they did not interfere with Poutrincourt's movements,
even permitting him to roam their land with a body of arquebusiers.
After a fortnight, however, their suspicions began to become manifest,
and on October 15 four hundred savages set upon five Frenchmen who,
contrary to orders, had remained ashore. Four were killed, and although
a rescue party set out at once from the barque, the natives made their
escape.

To pursue them was fruitless, for they are marvellously
swift. All that we could do was to carry away the dead
bodies and bury them near a cross which had been set
up the day before, and then to go here and there to
see if we could get sight of any of them. But it was
time wasted, therefore we came back. Three hours
afterwards they returned to us on the sea-shore. We
discharged at them several shots from our little brass
cannon, and when they heard the noise they crouched
down on the ground to escape the fire. In mockery of
us they pulled down the cross a