Over it and also in many places of the wall there be places to run along and ladders to get up, all full of stones, for the defence of it.
There are in the town about fifty houses, about fifty paces long, and twelve or fifteen broad, built all of wood, covered over with the bark of the wood as broad as any board, very finely and cunningly joined together.
Within the said houses there are many rooms, lodgings and chambers.

In the midst of every one there is a great court in the middle whereof they make their fire.
Such is the picture of Hochelaga as Cartier has drawn it for us.
Arrived at the palisade, the savages conducted Cartier and his followers within.

In the central space of the stockade was a large square, bordered by the lodges of the Indians.

In this the French were halted, and the natives gathered about them, the women, many of whom bore children in their, arms, pressing close up to the visitors, stroking their faces and arms, and making entreaties by signs that the French should touch their children.
Then presently [writes Cartier] came the women again, every one bringing a four-square mat in the manner of carpets, and spreading them abroad in that place, they caused us to sit upon them.

This done the lord and king of the country was brought upon nine or ten men's shoulders (whom in their tongue they call Agouhanna), sitting upon a great stag's skin, and they laid him down upon the foresaid mats near to the captain, every one beckoning unto us that he was their lord and king.