ings. A mill and an oven were built; gardens were
laid out and many seeds planted therein. The mosquitoes proved
troublesome, but in other respects the colonists had good cause to be
pleased with their first Acadian summer. So far had construction work
advanced by the beginning of autumn that De Monts decided to send an
exploration party farther along the coast to the south-west. 'And,'
says Champlain, 'he entrusted me with this work, which I found very
agreeable.'

The date of departure from St Croix was September 2, so that no very
ambitious programme of discovery could be undertaken before bad weather
began. In a boat of eighteen tons, with twelve sailors and two Indian
guides, Champlain threaded the maze of islands which lies between
Passamaquoddy Bay and the mouth of the Penobscot. The most striking
part of the coast was Mount Desert, 'very high and notched in places,
so that there is the appearance to one at sea as of seven or eight
mountains extending along {36} near each other.' To this island and
the Isle au Haut Champlain gave the names they have since borne.
Thence advancing, with his hand ever on the lead, he reached the mouth
of the Penobscot, despite those 'islands, rocks, shoals, banks, and
breakers which are so numerous on all sides that it is marvellous to
behold.' Having satisfied himself that the Penobscot was none other
than the great river Norumbega, referred to largely on hearsay by
earlier geographers, he followed it up almost to Bangor. On regaining
the sea he endeavoured to reach the mouth of the Kennebec, but when
within a few miles of it was driven back to St Croix by want of food.
In closing the story of this voyage, which had occupied a month,
Champlain says with his usual directness: 'The above is an exact
statement of all I have observed respecting not only the coasts and
people, but also the river of Norumbega; and there are none of the
marvels there which some persons have described. I am of opinion that
this region is as disagreeable in winter as that of our settlement, in
which we were greatly deceived.'

[Illustration: COASTS EXPLORED BY CHAMPLAIN, 1604-7]

Champlain was now to undergo his first winter in Acadia, and no part of
his life could have been more wretched than the ensuing {37} eight
months. On October 6 the snow came. On December 3 cakes of ice began
to appear along the shore. The storehouse had no cellar, and all
liquids froze except sherry. 'Cider was ser