ave the east end of Lake Ontario for their
own country he asked them for a canoe and an escort. Four Indians
volunteered for this service, but no canoe could be had, and in
consequence Champlain was forced reluctantly to accompany the Hurons.
With his usual patience he accepted the inevitable, which in this case
was only unpleasant because he was ill prepared for spending a winter
among the Indians. After a few days he perceived that their plan was
to keep him and his companions, partly as security for themselves and
partly that he might assist at their councils in planning better
safeguards against their enemies.

{113}

This enforced residence of Champlain among the Hurons during the winter
of 1615-16 has given us an excellent description of Indian customs. It
was also the means of composing a dangerous quarrel between the Hurons
and the Algonquins. Once committed to spending the winter among the
Indians, Champlain planned to make Huronia a point of departure for
still further explorations to the westward. Early in 1616 there seemed
to be a favourable opportunity to push forward in the direction of Lake
Superior. Then came this wretched brawl of Hurons and Algonquins,
which threatened to beget bitter hatred and war among tribes which
hitherto had both been friendly to the French. Accepting his duty,
Champlain gave up his journey to the far west and threw himself into
the task of restoring peace. But the measure of his disappointment is
found in these words:

If ever there was one greatly disheartened, it was myself, since I had
been waiting to see this year what during many preceding ones I had
been seeking for with great toil and effort, through so many fatigues
and risks of my life. But realizing that I could not help the matter,
and that everything depended on the will of God, I comforted myself,
resolving to see it in a short time. I had such sure {114} information
that I could not doubt the report of these people, who go to traffic
with others dwelling in those northern regions, a great part of whom
live in a place very abundant in the chase and where there are great
numbers of large animals, the skins of several of which I saw, and
which I concluded were buffaloes from their representation of their
form. Fishing is also very abundant there. This journey requires
forty days as well in returning as in going.

Thus Champlain almost had a chance to see the bison and the great
plains of the West.