From these excerpts from the account of 1603 we may, therefore, sum up the following conclusions: (1) that (according to Laverdière) the place where Champlain "came to an anchor on the North Shoare over against one small island," was the little island formerly existing opposite the Place Royale (which was not, however, named till 1611) and now joined to the main land by the present harbour piers; (2) that incidentally he thus indicates the site of the present harbour of Montreal; that Champlain was the first to note that Montreal, or Hochelaga, was an island, this being deduced from his description of the great island (not named by him) "on the north side which continueth some fifteen leagues in length and almost as much in breadth," etc; (3) that the "mountain neere the said Sault which discovereth farre into the country" is the same as that named by Jacques Cartier as Mount Royal while "the Little River which falleth from the said mountain into the lake" is the Rivière des Prairies; (4) that while he gives no names beyond that of Sault yet he has left us a very clear indication that he was familiar with the site of the present Island of Montreal. From the above quotations there is no explicit mention of the suitability of the Island of Montreal as a future trading post, yet there is little doubt but that Champlain had it in his mind as such when the occasion should serve.
FIGURATIVE MAP
Sketch of Sault St. Louis (Kahnawake) and part of the south shore of the Island of Montreal made by Champlain in 1611
(See opposite page for explanation)
EXPLANATION OF MAP ON OPPOSITE PAGE
- A—Piece of land which I ordered to be cleared.
- B—Small pond.
- C—Small island where I had a stone wall erected.
- D—Small stream where barques are lying.
- E—Prairies where Indians encamp when coming to this country.
- F—Mountains seen at a distance.
- G—Small pond.
- H—Mount Royal.
- I—Small stream.
- L—The "Saut."
- M—Place where the Indians from the north begin their "portage."
- N—Place where one of our men and an Indian were drowned.
- O—Small, rocky island.
- P—Other small island where birds build their nests.
- Q—"Heron" Island.
- R—Other islands of the "Saut."
- S—Small island.
- T—Round Islet.
- V—Other islet, half of which is covered with water.
- W—Other islet where water fowls are found.
- Y—Prairies.
- Z—Small river.
- 2—Rather fine and large island.
- 3—Places which appear bare at low water and where the current is very strong.
- 4—Prairies covered with water (swamps).
- 5—Rather low and marshy land.
- 6—Other small island.
- 7—Small rocks.
- S—Helen's Island.
- 9—Small island barren of trees.
- 10—Marshes in the "Grand Saut."
Their adventurers afterward went up to the Sault which became the goal of many of the "free" traders and prospectors who coursed the St. Lawrence during the period, already described, of the temporary removal of the prohibition against private traders. Certain it is that as early as 1610 Lescarbot had remarked that of all the islands in the river St. Lawrence the most suitable for commerce was without contradiction that of Montreal. (Cf. "La Conversion des Sauvages Baptisés En Canada.") But it was reserved for Champlain in 1611 to put this notion into effect and to become the pioneer trader and the first harbour builder of Montreal. His own narration of the events of 1611 may serve to prove these claims.
THE CHOICE OF MONTREAL AS A TRADING POST
"In the year 1611, I took back my savage to those of his tribe, who were to come to Sault St. Louis, intending to get my servant whom they had as a hostage. I left Quebec, May 20 (21), and arrived at these great rapids [24] the 28th of the month. I immediately went in a canoe with the savage which I had taken to France and one of our men. After having looked on all sides, not only in the woods, but also along the river bank, to find a suitable place for the site of a settlement, and to prepare a place in which to build, I went eight leagues by land, along the rapids through the woods, which are rather open, and as far as the lake, [25] where our savages took me. There I contemplated the country very much in detail. But in all that I saw I did not find any place at all more suitable than a little spot which is just where the barks and shallops can come easily, either with a strong wind or by a winding course, because of the strength of the current. Above this place (which we named La Place Royale), a league from Mount Royal, there are a great many little rocks and shoals, which are dangerous."