Seeing and Knowing the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas

When the Norman and Breton armateurs sent their ships to the New World in the sixteenth century, they had faith that through the ability to negotiate with the Indigenous peoples with whom they sought to trade, the leaders of these expeditions would return to Saint-Malo or Dieppe with precious cargo. Among these were brazilwood (used to dye cloth), chinaroot (to relieve symptoms of the pox), and furs for the European market. Storms or attacks by hostile vessels could destroy or reduce the value o