Clark soon extended his authority to the nearby French settlements.
Leake consequently moved with speed, heading south and west toward the French settlements.
This would change in the later half of the 17th and 18th centuries as French settlement penetrated further into the continental interior.
The first major French settlement was at Cayenne in 1643.
With his seamanship and leadership, he was a natural choice to lead the proposed French settlement.
At the beginning of the 17th century, French settlements and private companies were established in the area which is now eastern Canada.
The men who continued on were starving by the time they reached the first French settlements in early November.
However, this government was limited to the former French settlements and was rather ineffective.
They were amenable to limited French settlement in their midst.
The song may have appeared as early as 1604 when the first permanent French settlement was established.