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Map of Plymouth Harbor by Samuel
de Champlain, 1605 |
A. (beneath ship in center of
harbor) Anchorage with depths in fashoms [1 fathom = about 6 feet]
B. The Channel C. Islands
D. Dunes [Duxbury Beach today] E. Shoals.
F. Indian wigwams and cultivated fields G. Where
Champlain's ship ran aground
H. (in trees, lower half, center) Wooded land
I. (in trees, lower half, left side) Promontory [Manomet Hill today]
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Samuel de Champlain |
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Samuel de
Champlain (1567-1635) was the son of a French ship captain. He first went
to sea in 1599, when he visited the West Indies and Mexico. On his next expedition, he
went north, exploring Canada and the St. Lawrence River. He then traveled south, sailing
along the New England coast from Cape Anne to Cape Cod. The ship ran aground in Plymouth
Harbor (Port St. Louis to Champlain). While waiting for the tide to come in, he drew the
"Champlain map." Champlain never returned to New England. He spent the rest of
his life exploring Canada and establishing New France.
Champlain’s
account of Plymouth Harbor, 1605 : |
The next
day we doubled Cap St. Louis, so named by Sieur de Monts, a land rather low, and in
latitude 42 45’. The same day we sailed two leagues along a sandy coast, as we passed
along which we saw a great many cabins and gardens. The wind being contrary, we entered a
little bay to await a time favourable for proceeding. There came to us two or three
canoes, which had just been fishing for cod and other fish, which are found there in large
numbers. These they catch with hooks made of a piece of wood, to which they attach a bone
in the shape of a spear, and fasten it very securely. The whole has a fang-shape, and the
line attached to it is made out of the bark of a tree. They gave me one of their hooks,
which I took as a curiosity. In it, the bone was fastened on by hemp, like that in France
...
Some of them came to us and begged us to go to their
river. We weighed anchor to do so, but were unable to do so on account of the small amount
of water, it being low tide, and were accordingly obliged to anchor at the mouth. I went
ashore ... [and made] an examination of the river, but saw only an arm of water extending
a short distance inland... Running into this is merely a brook not deep enough for boats
except at full tide. The circuit of the bay is about a league. On one side of the entrance
to this bay there is a point which is almost an island, covered with wood, principally
pines, with sand-banks, which are very extensive all about. On the other side, the land is
high. There are two islets in this bay, which are not seen until one has entered, and
around which it is almost entirely dry at low tide. This place is very conspicuous from
the sea, for the coast is very low, excepting the cape at the entrance to the bay. |
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