, in the years 1609, 1611, and 1615.
In his first expedition he passed with a body of Algonquins and
Montagnais up the river Richelieu, which then, and subsequently, was the
principal route followed by the Iroquois when making incursions into
Canada. He discovered that this river formed the outlet of the waters of
a beautiful lake, which he was the first of Europeans to behold, and
which he called "Lake Champlain," after his own name. He was now in parts
frequented by the Iroquois. According to Champlain's description it was a
region abounding in game, fish, beavers, bears, and other wild animals.
Not far from the site upon which, long afterward, Fort Ticonderoga was
constructed, the invaders fell in with a body of two hundred Iroquois,
who were easily beaten and put to flight, chiefly owing to the chivalrous
valor of Champlain, and the terror inspired by fire-arms used by him and
his two attendant Frenchmen.
Here Champlain witnessed for the first time the cruelties and horrors
attendant upon Indian warfare; and he appears to have exerted his utmost
influence vainly in endeavoring to save the wounded and captive Iroquois
from being tortured. To his indignant remonstrances the conquerors turned
a deaf ear, alleging that they were only inflicting upon their enemies
the sufferings which their own people had often endured at their hands,
and which were reserved for themselves should they ever fall into the
power of the Iroquois.
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