Company of the West Indies (Compagnie des Indes Occident a les)

Chartered by Louis XIV, 1664, following the cancellation of the charter of the Company of New France. Its field of operations was enormous, covering the west coast of Africa, the east coast of South America from the Amazon to the Orinoco, Canada, Acadia, and Newfoundland. The Christian i zati on of the native tribes was given as the principal object of the Company, commerce being of only secondary importance. Despite its many privileges, and the readine with which its stock was subscribed, it did not prosper, and by 1672 was hopele ly in debt. Three years later its charter was revoked, so far as Canada was concerned. Index : L Resigns its charter, 145. E Creates seigniories, 175. Bib. : Douglas, Old France in the New World ; Parkman, Old Régime .