Research Project on Explorers
The contents of the following essay shall encompass some of the nameless authors of early colonial times, who with the help of explorers documented their travels and experiences in the Gulf of St. Laurence to the cost of Newfoundland. These experiences are not always experienced by them first hand but cover a wide variety of crewmembers experiences, which the author notes. The documentation of these experiences have been systematically recorded so that other explorers can utilize them as tools in their respected fields. Occasionally discoveries will be made as to the first original documentation of specific buildings plants and animals but a conclusion as to their names or significance cannot always be found readily. Due to the fact that the natives did not share the same methods of enlightenment and because some Europeans did not have access to the actual names of these objects.
Jean Alphonse de Saintonge was a relatively unknown French sea captain originally hailing from the village of Saintonge. He sailed to Canada in 1542 as Roberval's navigator and pilot. Later, he engaged in an act of piracy against the Spanish-an act which would prove fatal. At his death he left two manuscripts of substantial historical interest. His accounts refer to the geographical facts of Newfoundland and Cape Breton. Jean's comments on the acts and beliefs of the natives of those areas in very interesting.
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La Terre-nerve has the best ports and harbors of the entire sea, and great rivers, abundant fisheries. It is all covered with trees, pines, and others such. The coast runs North and South to Cap de Ras. The people here are large, and somewhat dark. They have no more God than beasts, and are evil folk. On this coast are many islands and little islets. The people are named Tabios. They live on fish, flesh, and fruits of trees.
This account contains the description of the native people in Newfoundland in the 1540s. It is common knowledge that the people of the island were the Beothuk, a race of people that were wiped out of existence because colonialism reached Newfoundland first. This statement by Jean Alphonse contains the sole record for the Beothuk term for themselves. Also Jean describes their religious practices comparing them to beasts because they have no God and they must be evil people. Truly a uneducated speculation derived from the fear of a foreign race.
Beyond the Cap de Ras the coast turns to the West as far as the gouffe de S. Iehan. Before you approach this gulf is another which makes Terre-neufe an island, and merges with another of which we have already spoken. All these lands are high mountains. At the gulf of S. Iehan is an island which is named S. Iehan which has a good 30 to 40 leagues of coastline about 15 or 20 leagues of widlth, and is in the midst of a strait. It is inhabited by people who are like those of Terre-neufve. This island is of good soil, fine rivers and trees are there, as in Spain. The land is about the same latitude.
Jean Alphonse has a impeccable approach to describing the peaks of Cape Breton Island and the rich soil and fertility of Prince Edward Island in comparison to the soils of Spain. His cartography paints a picture of what is out there, however he did not include any maps to pinpoint exactly. The addition of latitude should confirm which area is being discussed. However the Jean Alphonse doesn't seem too sure by saying "about" instead of a direct number of latitude. Also if he was speaking about Spain in one sentence, then the same latitude the next, one would think it was the same latitude as Spain. Nevertheless the only coastline in the same latitude as Spain at 40 degrees is in the New York area. St. Johns Newfoundland sits at 47 degrees latitude roughly the same as England.
A comparison of the narrative is offered by Pierre Crignon of Dieppe who accompanied Jean et Raoul Parmentier on all their voyages. He describes Newfoundland in 1539 as follows: The new land of which the part now being considered is called Cape Ras, is situated to the west of our diametrical line or meridian and is in 40 degrees West longitude and 47 degrees North latitude. The New land extends toward the Arctic pole from the 40th to the 60th degree of latitude. From the said Cape Ras to Cape de Brettoni, the coast stretches east and west for 100 leagues. Between Cape Ras and Cape Brettoni live a cruel and austere people, with whom it is impossible to deal or to converse. They are large in stature, dressed in seal skins and skins of other animals bound together. They are marked by certain lines made by applying fire to their faces, and are as if striped with a color between black and brown. In much regarding their face and neck they are like the inhabitants of Barbary. Their hair is long, like that of a woman, and is gathered on the top of their heads like the tail of a horse. Their weapons consist of bows which they know how to shoot very well, and their arrows are tipped with black stones or fish bones.
In this report Crignon gives a very in depth report as to the location in which he is speaking with great accuracy. He does not confirm the name of the people of Newfoundland or ventures into the saint Lawrence. Instead he concentrates on how ruthless the natives of the area appear to be. He also describes the difference in physical features much like Jean Alphonse. Crignon gives the natives a little to much credit as to the durability of their skin when he describes the manner that they apply face paint. One can only imagine the fear that he struck in his readers. He also compares how their hair is all long like that of a woman without trying to conclude as to why? He compares their hair to that of a horse. Jean Alphonse also compared them to animals without a god. So one begins to see what the first impressions of the Europeans were towards to natives.
Apparently the Natives in other areas were more receptive to the newcomers in ways of trade and were seemingly treated better by the Europeans.
On the coast running north and south after the Cape Ras, and up to the Baye des Chateaux, there are great gulfs and great rivers and a large number of very large islands.
This land is more sparsely inhabited than the coast mentioned above, and the inhabitants are more human and more friendly than the others. And here no one has seen any houses, villages, or castles, except for a large wooden enclosure which was seen in the Baye de Chasteaux. The inhabitants live in small huts and houses which are covered with tree bark, which they build to live in during the fishing season, which begins in the spring and last through the summer. When fishing season ends with the approach of winter, they return with their catch in boats made of bark of certain trees called Buil, and go to warmer countries-we know not where.
Obviously Crignon or somebody else from his party was on speaking terms to accumulate such a wealth of knowledge about the natives hunting, fishing and emigrational practices. Also they noticed that nonexistence of castles or houses. Instead is mentioned small huts (most likely tee pees) and a large wooden enclosure. This may be explained to be a long house where the peoples of a tribe came to celebrate their religious rituals such as pow wows and dances. This may be the first documented discovery of these long houses. Overall Crignon's observations were very defined and offered a wealth of geographical knowledge. His collective information from the natives was insightful but he leaves one curious as to the sources of his information.
Andre Thevet was a French cosmographer who Cartier knew and had worked with. Thevet went under intense scrutiny when a few of his historical documents were found to be works of fiction. The reasoning behind these was thought to be greed in order to sell more books by interesting people with extreme stories. Although Thevet's work received a black eye, one can overlook that to view the following description of the Newfoundland and Gulf of St. Lawrence region.
This country is inhabited by barbarians dressed in the skins of wild beasts(who are) extremely inhuman and intractable: according to the experience of those who have gone there to fish for cod.In the sea around Terres Neuues is found another species of fish, which the natives call HEHEC, having a beak like a parrot, as well as other scaled fish. The maritime people nourish themselves on fish, as we have said above. The others, a long distance from the sea, are content with the fruits of the land, which they get without cultivating it or working it.
Here Thevet sees a people who are barbarians who don't act in any way different from the animals, which they wear. Not a far cry from the other opinions. He claims that it is the testimony from the fishermen who fish that area. He also states a strange and or new type of fish that has a beak, which was unable to be found. Then a condescending approach is taken to the style of native nourishment. Claiming them to be a strain on the land by not cultivating food. Whereas the style in which the natives used to obtain food had been working more efficiently then any other because the respected the land and only took what they needed. The author continues to describe the Natives at times of war.
These people are little prone to engage in warfare with their enemies do not search them out. Then they defend themselves completely in the fashion and manner of the Canadians. Their instruments for urging themselves to battle are made of the skins of animals stretched in the shape of a circle, with "fleustes" of the bones of deers, as are those of the Canadians. Having observed their enemy from a distance, they gird themselves for combat with their weapons, which are bows and arrows: and before the battle is joined, their principal guide, whom they consider as a king, being always first, dressed with beautiful furs and feathers, sits on the shoulders of two powerful savages, so that all will recognize him, and will be prompt in obeying him in all that he commands. And after the victory is theirs, God knows how they caress him. And thus they return joyously to their huts, displaying their trophy banners-decorated with the feathers of swans fluttering in the air, and carrying the skin of the faces of their enemies, stretched in little circles, as signs of victory.
Thevet covers a very wide spectrum of events and some very important views and information regarding the native tactics and rituals in acts of war. Thevet's material shows a embarrassing situation in the natives social structural hierarchy. He is left to compare the chief as he were a king and his two great savages must carry him on their shoulders for lack of a thrown or a horse. The comparison to a king is false however because the Europeans do not share any reverence for any particular savage. These accounts only back up Thevet's earlier thesis of how barbaric these people were. He also tries to encompass the whole of the people as being the same rather than Crignon who stated there were good and bad native people who acted hospitable and hostile. Keeping in mind that these reports were made for royalty as probes into what the new world and what its inhabitants were like, these stories must have frightened anyone who was planning to seek out the Promised Land. After all the people of Europe were becoming more enlightened and these people seemed to be heathens who were merciless and dreadful. Anyone who would scalp their opponent and bring it home to their hut as a trophy would frighten the most seasoned military troop.
So why does these three authors showing three similar bias views about their culture and ways of living. Each takes the time to point out natives impeccable skills as bowmen and their seemingly obvious difference in skin tone. With that they began to create preconceived attitudes or opinions about these other people. This prejudice was passed along with the Enlightenment of the European people. They were systematically sharing information and prejudices. The same system that pinpointed latitude so that they could recognize where they were, helped to developed negative attitudes held toward natives based solely on their membership in a specific group. The only one to show that good natives were out there was Crignon who saw a kindness while in trade.
The fur trade appeared to be the best thing for the Natives to do to be at piece with the whites. Further down south the peoples fought to keep the invaders out whereas Cortez and other European conquerors massacred, exploited and enslaved millions. Whereas the economy of New France revolved around the fur trade, thanks to the voyages of French explorers like Jacques Cartier in the 1530s 40s etc. The French were more likely to develop trade relations with Native Americans than to settle permanently on their lands, and European settlement of indigenous lands in Canada occurred more gradually. "To commanded legitimacy, choices have to appear rational." The most rational way to permanently settle in North America was not to fight there way in but to offer natives into the stream of sharing but with a price that they were not ready for.
Each author measured what was important for their objective. Crignon measures geographical space efficiently while showing an interest in the inhabitants, while Thevet gives a sample of the living world of the natives while dipping into their warfare. Jean Alphonse made some observations of the land and peoples, however none of which were crucial to the Enlightenment of Europe but nonetheless hold some bearing. Each author had relevant comments but held a unenlightened bias contributing to the general occupation of lands already spoken for.
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