In February 1627, D'Esnambuc left Le Harve in Normandy with 322 men to accomplish his mission of establishing a permanent colony which was to serve as the French Headquarters in the West Indies. From all accounts, the colonists met upon bad times, and only 200 of them survived the crossing. The conditions of the survivors were poor and many died soon after arrival in March. The newcomers were barely capable of building shelters for themselves on the beach.
D'Esnambuc settled in the Eastern part of Basseterre, while De Roissey his second in Command occupied the western part of the island, called Capesterre. D'Esnambuc established his headquarters at what was to become the town of Basseterre while De Roissey constructed a stronghold at Pointede-Sable just opposite the English Fort of Sandy Point, not far from the fig tree that marked the boundary line. In May 1617, the boundary lines were drawn. The English part was better furnished with brooks and streams, while the French got most of the flat land. However, the governors decided to administer the salt-ponds, forests and harbours as commond property.
The French was never a people keen on emigration, so that it became extremely difficult for D'Esnambuc to persuade the French back home. The English Colony was meanwhile thriving, and many settlers tried to extend their property into the sparsely populated French territory. This resulted in quite a number of skirmishes. However, the old frontiers were established in 1629, and both nations joined forces in an attempt to repel a Spanish attack in that same year. These efforts were in vain, however, because the entire island was set on fire, and its French population fled to neighbouring islands. Some never returned, and a number of them founded entirely new settlements on Tortuga, an island off the northern coast of Haiti. "A so ee go." | 
Culture 
