labor to convert the Indians. Tradesmen and mechanics were to be taken out to Canada to build houses and make ail necessary articles for the use of the settlers. Champlain was made governor of the young colony, but did not keep his position long; for war broke out between England and France, and England sent Sir David Kirke with a fleet to take Quebec. Twice Kirke appeared before the fort, and on the second occasion, in 1629, captured it. For three years England held Canada, and then, peace being restored, gave it back to France, not considering the country of much value. Champlain again took charge of the colony, and labored unceasingly to make it prosperous, and to bring the Indians to a knowledge of Christianity. In this he was partially successful, but his work was cut short by death, A. D. 1635. Champlain is rightly considered the Founder of the colony of New France or Canada[1].
CHAPTER II.
CANADA UNDER FRENCH RULE.
1. Indian Missions—To understand the history of Canada during the greater part of the sixteenth century, we must bear in mind that a two-fold object was constantly kept in view by the French kings: first, the establishment and extension of the colony at the expense of the English settlers in America: and secondly, the conversion of the Indians to the Roman Catholic faith. The French kings and their ministers wished to profit not only by the fur-trade of America, but to build up on this continent a colony where the religion of the Roman Catholic Church should be held and practised by the whole population, Indian as well as French.
By far the most interesting portion of the history of French Canada is the story of the Jesuit missions among the Indians. Full of holy zeal for the salvation of the Red men, missionary after missionary of the religious society called Jesuits, made his way to the Hurons in the Georgian Bay district, to the Algonquins to the
- ↑ Canada, is a word of Indian origin, and is supposed to mean “a collection of huts,”
