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MICHIGAN AS A PROVINCE 1 - 5
he ship which brought them over was quite likely to take them back later in the season or in the following year, at the latest. The climate proved to be quite inhospitable. The soil was not productive, and they were not farmers, anyway. The Indians were none too friendly, especially the Iroquois who cherished a deadly feud against all outside barbarians. Shabby-genteel aristocrats who found poor pickings at home were inclined to try their luck in the new world, but they had not the stamina, either moral or physical, of their neighbors of New England.
They came as adventurers and they dickered with the savages for peltries, but they had no thought of a permanent residence here or of organizing such conditions in this new land as would make it an attractive or a desirable home. In short, they had little interest in the country.
The first permanent settlement was made in 1603 by Champlain whose inclination did not lead him to take much interest in commerce and whose sentiments were liberal and looked toward the public welfare. The French king having desired him to found a settlement, he chose the promontory of Quebec and here he erected some huts for his followers and proceeded to clear the land of timber. They planted rye and wheat which seemed to thrive, but the vines which they imported showed signs of great discouragement, on account of the long duration and severity of the cold. Champlain spent the year in exploration of the neighboring country and then returned to France, leaving his infant colony in charge of Pierre Chauvin. He gave to his sovereign a particular description of what had been done, which was well received, and he was encouraged to recruit additional colonists to accompany him on his return to this country. He found the settlement at Quebec in a prosperous state. In the meantime he had succeeded in interesting a number of wealthy and influential persons in the colony and a company was formed to take charge of the French possessions in Canada.
MICHIGAN
Page 48
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