o years
later.

The company left Havre in two ships--on March 7, 1604, according to
Champlain, or just a month later, according to Lescarbot. Although De
Monts' commission gave him the usual privilege of impressing convicts,
the personnel of his band was far above the average. Champlain's
statement is that it comprised about one hundred and twenty artisans,
and there were also 'a large number of gentlemen, of whom not a few
were of noble birth.' Besides the excitement provided by icebergs, the
arguments of priest and pastor diversified the voyage, even to the
point of scandal. After crossing the Grand Bank in safety they were
nearly wrecked off Sable Island, but succeeded in reaching the Acadian
coast on May 8. From their landfall at Cap de la Heve they skirted the
coast-line to Port Mouton, confiscating _en route_ a ship which was
buying furs in defiance of De Monts' monopoly.

Rabbits and other game were found in abundance at Port Mouton, but the
spot proved quite unfit for settlement, and on May 19 De Monts charged
Champlain with {30} the task of exploring the coast in search of
harbours. Taking a barque of eight tons and a crew of ten men
(together with Ralleau, De Monts' secretary), Champlain set out upon
this important reconnaissance. Fish, game, good soil, good timber,
minerals, and safe anchorage were all objects of search. Skirting the
south-western corner of Nova Scotia, the little ship passed Cape Sable
and the Tusquet Islands, turned into the Bay of Fundy, and advanced to
a point somewhat beyond the north end of Long Island. Champlain gives
at considerable length the details of his first excursion along the
Acadian seaboard. In his zeal for discovery he caused those left at
Port Mouton both inconvenience and anxiety. Lescarbot says, with a
touch of sharpness: 'Champlain was such a time away on this expedition
that when deliberating about their return [to France] they thought of
leaving him behind.' Champlain's own statement is that at Port Mouton
'Sieur de Monts was awaiting us from day to day, thinking only of our
long stay and whether some accident had not befallen us.'

De Monts' position at Port Mouton was indeed difficult. By changing
his course in mid-ocean he had missed rendezvous with the {31} larger
of his two ships, which under the command of Pontgrave looked for him
in vain from Canseau to the Bay of Islands. Meanwhile, at Port Mouton
provisions were running low, save for rabbits,