[52] (p. [205]).—Now the St Maurice; named Trois Rivières, because two islands at its mouth divide it into three channels. On Creuxius' map (1660), it appears as Metaberoutin River, or Three Rivers; on Duval's (1679), the Rivière de Foix. This last appellation seems to be another form of Riuiere du Fouez, given to this river by Cartier. See Champlain's Voyages (Prince Soc.), vol. i., p. 257. At its mouth is the town of Three Rivers, founded by Champlain in 1634.
[53] (p. [205]).—The Ottawa River—Champlain's Riuière des Algommequins; see his "Explanation of the Map of New France," in Voyages (Prince Soc.), vol. i., p. 302. Also named, in early days, Rivière des Prairies; so in Relation of 1640, post, and on Creuxius' map (1660): Faillon (Col. Fr., i., p. 82, note * *) says it was thus named from its discoverer, a young sailor from St. Malo; he is mentioned by Champlain as "a very courageous man," in Voyages (Paris, 1632), p. 159.
[54] (p. [205]).—The Chicchack (or Shickshock) Mountains; called Notre-Dame by Champlain and other early writers. A range of highlands in the Gaspé peninsula, the easternmost part of the Appalachian system, forming the watershed between streams flowing into the St. Lawrence and Bay of Chaleurs. They lie about twelve miles from the St. Lawrence, extending a distance of some 65 miles, between the Ste. Anne des Monts and the Matane rivers; they range in height from 3,000 to 4,000 feet.—See Rochemonteix's Jésuites, vol. i., p. 91; also Laverdière's Champlain, p. 1090.
[55] (p. [205]).—See Laverdière's Champlain, p. 179.
[56] (p. [205]).—Canadis, the Indians of the vicinity of Quebec. Lescarbot says (Nouv. France, p. 238) that "the tribes of Gachepé and Chaleur bay call themselves Canadocoa, that is, Canadaquois," Sagard (Canada, p. 152) mentions a village of Canadians near Tadoussac.
[57] (p. [205]).—Algomeguis (also spelled Algoumequins, Algonmequins, and Algumquins); the Algonquins or Algonkins. Some authors consider this name generic for the Armouchiquois, the Montagnais, the "Petite Nation," the Nation of the Isle, and the Nipissiriniens.—See Martin's edition of Bressani's Relation Abrégée (Montreal, 1852), p. 319. Champlain limits this appellation to the tribes that dwell upon the Ottawa.
[58] (p. [205]).—Ochasteguis, according to Laverdière (Champlain, pp. 317, 346) called by Champlain Ochastaiguins or Ochatequins, from the name of one of their chiefs; a name applied to the Hurons. This last appellation was but a nickname of the tribe, which was properly called Wendot or Wyandot. They inhabited the region east of Lake Huron, to Lake Simcoe.
[59] (p. [205]).—The site of Quebec was first visited by Cartier in 1535, and was then occupied by an Indian village, named Stadacona. The foundation of the present city was laid by Champlain, July 3, 1608; for his chart of Quebec and vicinity (with valuable notes thereon, by the editor), and an engraved illustration of the buildings erected by him, see Laverdière's Champlain, pp. 296, 303. Quebec is also written Quebeck, Quebecq (Champlain), and Kebec, Kébec, or Kebek (Relations); the word, in various Algonkin dialects, signifies "the narrowing of the water," referring to the contraction of the St. Lawrence, opposite Cape Diamond, to a space of only 1,314 yards; while below, at the confluence of the St. Charles, it spreads into a basin over 2,500 yards in width. See Ferland's Cours d'Histoire, vol. i., p. 90; and Parkman's Pioneers, p. 329.
The first known mention of this name, to designate the locality of the present city, is in Champlain's Voyages, ut supra, p. 89.