It was at Gaspé that Jacques Cartier landed, took possession of the country in the name of his king, and erected a cross thirty feet high adorned with the fleur-de-lis of France. Here, also, a great naval engagement took place between the French and English, and here, too, in later years a great English fleet arrived and captured the village. The Gaspé Peninsula was formerly a province, with its seat of government in this very town of Gaspé. It is now part of the Province of Quebec. In this part also there survives a distinct tradition of the Norse discovery of America.
The early Indians of this region are said to have been the most intelligent of all the North American tribes or peoples. They were far advanced in civilization, and had a fair knowledge of geography and astronomy. In connection with the visits of the Spaniards Velasquez and Gomez, and their meetings with the Gaspesian Indians, a fanciful tradition survives in relation to the origin of the word ‘Canada.’
The oft-repeated remark, “aca nada,” or ‘there is nothing here,’ made by the Castilian adventurers when disappointed in their search for gold, was judged to be of importance by the Indians, who frequently repeated it to Jacques Cartier. Cartier is supposed to have mistaken this oft-heard expression for the name of the new country. A more likely derivation, however, is found in the Indian compound word Caugh-na-daugh, or ‘village of huts;’ and this, it is thought, has gradually settled into the euphonious and easily pronounced name of ‘Canada.’
In later years the Micmac Indians were along the shores of the Gaspé Peninsula in large numbers, but more recently they have almost deserted the region, and are to be found in New Brunswick, etc.
It is related that when Lord Aylmer was Governor-General he once went on an excursion to Gaspé. Micmac Indians to the number of nearly 500 flocked to welcome the ‘great chief.’ When the governor landed with a brilliant staff, he was met by Peter Basket, the great Micmac Chief, at the head of the aboriginal deputation. The chief, a fine, powerful man, and surrounded by his principal warriors, at once commenced a long oration in the usual solemn, singsong tone, accompanied with frequent bowings of the head.
It happened that a vessel had been wrecked in the Gulf some months previously, and the Indians proving themselves ready and adroit wreckers had profited largely by the windfall. Among other things they had seized for personal adornment was a box full of labels for decanters, marked in conspicuous characters, ‘Rum,’ ‘Gin,’ ‘Brandy,’ etc.
The chief had his head liberally encircled with the usual ornaments, and, in addition, had dexterously affixed to his ears and nose some of the labels as bangles.
At first they were not particularly noticeable amid the general novelty of the spectacle, but while listening to the prolonged harangue of the chief, the governor began to scrutinize his appearance and dress; and then his ears and nose with the labels inscribed ‘Brandy.’ ‘Gin,’ ‘Rum,’ etc. Glancing towards his staff he could no longer maintain his gravity, and was joined in a hearty but indecorous burst of unrestrainable laughter.
