CHAMPLAIN : One of the Great Explorers
             Samuel de Champlain discovered and rediscovered many locations in the New World. He was trained in seamanship, navigation and map making. Champlain wrote a book on how the Indians lived. The book had the best information about the Indians at that time. He made many voyages to the New World.
             Champlain was born in Brouage, France in 1567. Samuel went to war in Brittany when he was a young man. After the war he received a reward of money. He was given command of a small ship going to the West Indies. This voyage was the beginning of his adventures to the New World. After a long time of exploring he was nicknamed the "Father of New France".
             Champlain was helped by his uncle, a general of a fleet of the King of Spain, to get the command of the ship going to the West Indies. He first saw the New World under the Spanish flag. Champlain cruised the West Indies and along the coast of the main land from Panama to Mexico. He saw the ancient ruins of Mexico City. Champlain was the first to suggest digging a canal to connect the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean.
             He was asked by Aymar de Clermont, Governor of Dieppe to explore the St. Lawrence. The leader of the expedition was a merchant named Pontgrave. Aymar de Clermont equipped two ships that were slightly larger then a fishing boat. The ships entered the Strait of Belle Isle. As they traveled Champlain saw the ruins of Cartier's old fort at Tadoussac. He also saw Mt. Royal which Cartier named sixty years before. The Indian village of Hochelaga had disappeared, and there were only a few Algonquin Indians.
             A little south of the St. Lawrence River was a settlement they called St. Croix. In the winter after the ships left there were ninety- nine people. They were being paid by de Monts company. When scurvy came it took half of the settlers. This time there wasn't a magic tre...