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Show 18 wee sa.ylcd so long, that, in tl1o cndc, wee found it rcturn('d into the great current, and in l1is return, to make a little island separated from the firmc Iande, where wee went on shore, and by commandment of the captain, because it was exceeding fairc and pleasant, there we planted tl1c pillar upon a hillock open round about to the view and cnvironcd with a lake halfe a fathom dccpc, of very good and swcete water." W c arc particular in tlJCsc details, in the hope that future explorers may be thus assisted in the work of identifying the places marked by our II ugucnots. Everything which they sec in tho new world which surrounds them, is imposing to the eye and grateful to the sense. They waudcr among avenues of gigantic pines that remind them of the mighty colonnades in ttfc great cathedr-als of the old world. 'fhey are at once exhila1·atcd by a sense of unwonted freslmess and beauty in wl1at they behold, and by aspects of grandeur and vastness which solemnize all their thoughts and fancies. With these feelings, when, in their wander· ings, they arouse from the shady covers where they browsed "two stagges of exceeding hignesse, in respect of those which tht.V hnd scene before," their captain furbids that they should shoot them, though they might easily have done so. The anecdote speaks wt!ll for RibaulVs humanity. It was not wholly because he wa.s "moved with tho singular fairenesso and bignesse of tl1em," as Laudonniere imagines, but because his soul was lifted with rcli· gious sentiment-filled with worship at that wondrous temple of nature in which the great J chovah seemed visibly present, in love and mercy, as in the first sweet duys of the creation. To the little river which surrounded the islet, on which tho pillar wiUI raised, they gave the name of " Libomc." Tho island itself is supposed to be that which is now called Lemon Island. 'rll£ FIRST VOY.\Gl: m• RIDAUJ,T. 10 The matter is one wl1ich still admits of doubt, though scarcely beyond the reach of certainty, in a close examination fi'Om the guide posts which we still possess. It is n question which may well provoke the diligence of the local antiquary. "Another isle, not far distant from" that of the pillar, next claimed the attention of the voyagers. IT ere they "found nothing but tall cedars, the fairest that were scene in this country. For this cause wee called it the Isle of Cedars." This ended their exploration for the day A few days were consumed in farther researches, without leading to any new discoveries. In the meantime, Ribault prepared to execute the commands of his sovereign, in the performance of one of tho tnsks which ch·ilization but too frequently sanctions at tho expense of humanity. He was oommandcd by the Quecn·mothcr to capture and carry home to }?ranee a couple of the natives. These, as we have seen, were a mild rnce, maintaining among themselves a. gentle intercourse, and exercising towards strangers a grateful hospitality. It was with a doubtful propriety that our Frenchman deWrmincd to separate any of them from their homes and people. Dut it was not for Ribnult to question tho decrees of that sovereign whom it was the policy of the Huguenots, at present, to conciliate. IT~ving selected a special and sufficient complement of soldiers, he determined "to rcturnc once againc townrd the In· dians which inhabiteth that armc of the river which runneth toward tho West." The pinnace was prepared for this purpose. 'l'ho object of tlJC voyage was successful. The Indians were again found where they had been at first encountered. The Frenchmen were received with hospitality. Ribault made his desires known to the king or chief of the tribe, who graciously gave his permission. Two of the Indirms, who fancied that they were more favored thnn |
