Then, selecting from the ranks of his followers, who stood in a great circle watching the ceremony, a little girl of ten years old, he led her into the ring and presented her to Cartier.

After her, two little boys were handed over in the same fashion, the assembled Indians rending the air with shouts of exultation.

Donnacona, in true Indian fashion, improved the occasion with a long harangue, which Taignoagny interpreted to mean that the little girl was the niece of the chief and one of the boys the brother of the interpreter himself, and that the explorer might keep all these children as a gift if he would promise not to go to Hochelaga.
Cartier at once, by signs and speech, offered the children back again, whereupon the other interpreter, Domagaya, broke in and said that the children were given in good-will, and that Donnacona was well content that Cartier should go to Hochelaga.

The three poor little savages were carried to the boats, the two interpreters wrangling and fighting the while as to what had really been said.

But Cartier felt assured that the treachery, if any were contemplated, came only from one of them, Taignoagny.