Jacques Cartier visits Hochelaga on Mount Royal
                By 1530, François Ier, king of France, decides to join the race to the West Indis, hoping that his explorer will succeed in finding a route to India. Officially, the exploration was aimed at the conversion of the "souls of the heathens".   Venice, in need of a new access route to the East eversince the invasion of Constantinople by the Turcs ottoman encouraged the exploration. For this exploration, François Ier intends to rely on the experience of Brittany's sailors (...and pirates), especially on those of Saint-Malo, some of them knowledgeable on West Indies coastline. Many of them have sailed yearly to the New Lands (or NewFoundland) where they have made abundant fishing. On the advice of Father Le Veneur, curate of Mont Saint-Michel, François 1er chooses his explorer: Jacques Cartier. The mandate: explore the West Indies and find if possible a route to India. ...The salvation of the soul of the heathens could wait for later.....

A. In 1535, CARTIER EXPLORES THE WEST INDIES

            Contrary to his first 1534 exploration when crossing the ocean was done in some twenty days, this second 1535 ocean crossing took Jacques Cartier more than sixty days. He reports..."the sea became tormented with waves and cross winds never seen before".... The 15th of July 1535, he reaches Blanc-Sablon, the rendez-vous place for his ships. Eleven days later, his two additionnal ships enter the bay.
            Reparations. water and wood provisions are made. Two days later the fleet enters the West Indies. The northern shores of a large island, Anticosti, are explored. By the tenth of August, adverse winds force the fleet to seek refuge in a large bay, Saint-Laurent. He is the saint of the day.

           Past Anticosti island, the fleet aims at Gaspé, then Honguedo, a place discovered a year earlier, this in 1534.  A large number of whales cross their path. The first of September 1535, the fleet reaches the entrance of a large river: Saguenay river.  The sixth of September, Cartier and his troop explore an island .... "full of large turtles and of trees full of berries (nozilles) the like of which they have never seen before. He calls the island Île aux Coudres.  The following day, a mass is said. It is the first mass celebrated in Canada. A few days later, in mid-September, Stadacone (Quebec), is reached. This is but a stopover to Hochelaga. After many delays, Cartier continues to his final destination.  

 

 

On reaching Saint-Pierre lake, Cartier's ship Hémérillon can navigate no further. Low water prevents further progress. Many islands block the passage. Leaving his ship, Cartier takes to his boats. On the second of October 1535, he reaches the Iroquoiens settlement of Hochelaga where many Indians welcome his arrival. His troop spends the night in the boats.

 

       

While many people think that Jacques Cartier came to Hochelaga by way of the Saint Lawrence river, old original documents leave no doupt that he came by the Des Prairies river. Why? For many reasons, in particular for the fact that river was at the time Jacques Cartier the regular navigation route used by the Indians. In those days, Indians usually used Des-Rapides river for trade and navigation (the river offered a shorter and safer route downstream for Deux-Montagnes lake).

C. Hochelaga people welcome the French explorer

Early the following morning, Cartier accompanied by his followers and some twenty armed mariners start the long walk to Hochelaga, some two leagues away (or about six miles). Approaching Hochelaga, Cartier notices that the village is enclosed in a mountain. Closeby are cultivated fields. Cartier thus described Hochelaga: "Amidst these fertile cultivated fields is Hochelaga, an Indian village surrounded by a nearby mountain on top of which one can see at a distance" (or in French...”Et au parmy d’icelles champaignes, est scitué(e) et assise ladicte ville de Hochelaga, près et joignant une montaigne, qui est, à l’entour d’icelle, labourée et fort fertille, de dessus laquelle on voyt fort loing”. 

 

HOCHELAGA SETTLEMENT - It is important to note here the checker-board pattern of the 50 long houses Cartier speak of in his memoir to François Ier. While the plan show 50 houses, their layout in this pattern is contrary to Hochelaga culture. This incongruity like many others illustrates the ignorance Europe had of the culture of the people living in the West Indies.

This beautiful painting by a Canadian artist, L. R. Batchelor, illustrates quite well the scene of Cartier's visit of Hochelaga and the warm reception given him. The landscape shown by the artist is in comformity with that described by Cartier's memoir "Brief Recitf" (1545) to François Ier. It is also in conformity with the plan "La Terra de Hochelaga" by Giovanni Battista Ramusio as it appeared in Delle Navigationi et Viaggi (1556). SOURCE: National Archives of Canada.

MOUNT ROYAL- A MOUNTAIN FORMED BY THREE HILLS

One usually believes MOUNT ROYAL made up of one single hill. Not true. MOUNT ROYAL is composed of three hills. These are:

            The largest hill (usually believed to be Mount Royal) called in French La GROSSE MONTAGNE, is in fact one of three hills of the mountain. Its elevation is 234 meters above sea level. This hill, the biggest one, is easily seen for the city center and from the eastern part of the island of Montreal. It is marked by the presence of two important elements: Mount-Royal municipal park and the Cross which is illuminated at night. On plan La Terra de Hochelaga publised at Venice in 1556 by G.B. Ramusio, this hill is shown on the left side of the illustration above the words MONTE REAL.   

             The second hill is smaller and was formerly called LA PETITE MONTAGNE. Today, it is known as mount Westmount. It occupies the western part of Mount Royal.   It is located in the town of Westmount, now a district of Montréal. Its elvevation is 202 meters above sea level. This second hill is totally built up. On its nortern flank is found Saint-Joseph Oratory. On plan La Terra de Hochelaga, it appears in the middle right of the plan, close to Hochelaga.  

        The third hill was formerly called LE PAIN DE SUCRE. Today, it is usually called Outremont. It is located in the town of the same name, now a district of Montreal. On it is found University of Montreal. On plan La Terra de Hochelaga, this hill appears on the right hand side of the illustration.
                  It is not surprising that Jacques Cartier was impressed by the location of Hochelaga being surrounded by a mountain, MOUNT ROYAL, on top of which a panoramic view of the countryside could be had.

 

 

NOTE - A detailled study of the numerous historical documents of that period indicates (without the possibility of a doubt) that Hochelaga was located in the vast elevated plain of Mount Royal, a plain surrounded by the three hills the mountain is made of. This plain is today occupied by two large cemeteries: Mount Royal and Côte-des-Neiges. Il is interesting to note that Hochelaga, an Indian name, means beaver lake. Hochelaga was located nearby the present Beaver Lake.

D - Cartier christens the mountain MOUNT ROYAL

On the following day of his visit, Cartier followed by his troop and Hochelaga people climbed one of the hills of the mountain (one does not know which one). He was then impressed by the panorama offered. Far and wide, mountains can be seen in the distance. Cartier then names the mountain MOUNT ROYAL, this in honor of his king as was the practice at that time. Around this mountain, a city will take place: MONTREAL. More, by this exploration a country is born, CANADA. A century later, in 1642, a colony will take place in Old Montreal, Ville-Marie.

IN 1545, CARTIER TRANSMITS THE MEMOIR OF HIS EXPLORATION,
"Brief Recit", TO FRANÇOIS Ier

             Once the visit of Hochelaga made, Cartier returned to Quebec (Stadacone) where he spent the next winter. There, in Quebec, some 25 members of his troup will die of scorbut. 

         The following spring, he returned to France without one of his three ships for lack of crew. It is believed that the abandoned ship was Petite Hermine. In 1545, Cartier transmitted to the king François Ier the memoir of his exploration, le BRIEF RECIT.  In this memoir, Cartier described with much details his visit of Hochelaga, the high point of his 1535 exploration in the West Indies. Cartier's description of Hochelaga is of major importance. He stated that Hochelaga was closely surrounded by a mountain, MOUNT ROYAL, on top of which a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside could be had. Some 21 years later, a statesman of Venice, Giovanni Battista Ramusio will thus show Hochelaga.  Moreover, in his memoir, Cartier will inform the king that unfortunately he was not able to reach India. However, he recommended to the king the establisment of a first colony. This colony had already taken place in 1540 at Charlebourg-Royal.   

Give us your impressions These will be very much appreciated.

	Hochelaga (click)	Jacques Cartier (click)	Montreal - the Metropolis (click)	The Sacred Mountain (click)	G.B. Ramusio (click)
		.....less history disappears totally with time..

(click)