Category 1:

Jaques Cartier: First Contact with the Indians

Upon arriving at the Cape of Hope Jaques and his crew came across Native
American, which they called Wild Men. The Natives signed for the French to come
onto shore but the French did not. After not accepting the invite onto shore, 7 of the
natives boats followed the French boat and neared them. The Natives danced and
sang in joy. The French signed to them to return back to land and leave them alone,
which the natives did not do. The Natives began to get closer and as they did the
French fired off 2 shots that would terrify the Natives. The natives in terror headed
back to shore and no longer followed the French. The French had every right to take
precautions for they had never came into contact with the Native Americans. Just
the next day the French were on land and began to interact with the Natives. They
traded goods. The French knew what little the Natives had to offer but took them
anyways. The Natives were very enthusiastic about interacting with the French. The
Natives were very content with the knives, hatchets, ironware, beads and other
goods the French offered. Jaques describes the Natives as wild and poor and says
they are easy to convert. He sees the them as preliterate and thinks they can be
converted because of their lifestyle. Saying they go from place to place assuming
they are used to change. Not long before departing back to France the French men
built a cross that stood up 30 feet in the air. In antique font the cross had craved,
Viva le Roy de France, which translated means, Long Live the King of France. The
French kneel in front of the cross once it is standing. I assume they kneel in the
name of King Francis I because at the time he was king. Jaques does not note in his
passages why the Native chief was not so content with the cross but does say they
assured him it was a sign for future purpose. The French would come back and bring
more goods in exchange for allowing a few Natives to go with them back to France
which the Native Chief agreed to.