CHAPITRE III.
DES MOYENS DE CONUERTIR LES SAUUAGES.
LE grand pouuoir que firent paroistre les Portugais au commencement dedans les Indes Orientales & Occidentales, ietta l'admiration bien auant dedans l'esprit des Indiens, si bien que ces peuples embrasserent quasi sans contreditte la creance de ceux qu'ils admiroient. Or voicy à mon aduis les moyens d'acquerir cet ascendant, pardessus nos Sauuages.
CHAPTER III.
ON THE MEANS OF CONVERTING THE SAVAGES.
THE great show of power made at first by the Portuguese in the East and West Indies inspired profound admiration in the minds of the Indians, so that these people embraced, without any contradiction, the belief of those whom they admired. Now the following is, it seems to me, the way in which to acquire an ascendancy over our Savages.
Le premier est d'arrester les courses de ceux qui ruinent la Religion, & de se rendre redoutable aux Hiroquois, qui ont tué de nos hommes, comme chacun sçait, & qui tout fraischement ont massacré deux cent Hurons, & en [36] ont pris plus de cent prisonniers. Voila selon ma pensée la porte vnique, par laquelle nous sortirons du mespris, où la negligence de ceux qui auoient cy-deuant la traicte du pays, nous ont ietté par leur auarice.
First, to check the progress of those who overthrow Religion, and to make ourselves feared by the Iroquois, who have killed some of our men, as every one knows, and who recently massacred two hundred Hurons, and [36] took more than a hundred prisoners. This is, in my opinion, the only door through which we can escape the contempt into which the negligence of those who have heretofore held the trade of this country has thrown us, through their avarice.
Le second moyen de nous rendre recommandables aux Sauuages, pour les induire à receuoir nostre saincte foy, seroit d'enuoyer quelque nombre d'hommes bien entendus à defricher & cultiuer la terre, lesquels se ioignants auec ceux qui sçauroient la langue, trauailleroient pour les Sauuages, à cõdition qu'ils s'arresteroient, & mettroient eux mesmes la main à l'œuure, demeurants dans quelques maisons qu'on leur feroit dresser pour leur vsage, par ce [146] moyen demeurants sedentaires, & voyants ce miracle de charité en leur endroit, on les pourroit instruire & gaigner plus facilement. M'entretenant cét Hyuer auec mes Sauuages, ie leurs communiquois ce dessein, les asseurant que quand ie sçaurois parfaictement leur langue, ie les aiderois à cultiuer la terre, si ie pouuois auoir des hommes, & s'ils se vouloient [37] arrester, leurs representant la misere de leurs courses, qui les touchoit pour lors assez sensiblement. Le Sorcier m'ayant entendu, se tourna vers ses gens, & leur dit, voyez comme cette robe noire ment hardiment en nostre presence; ie luy demandy pourquoy il se figuroit que ie mentois, pource, dit-il, qu'on ne voit point d'hommes au monde si bons comme tu dis, qui voudroient prendre la peine de nous secourir sans espoir de recompense, & d'employer tant d'hommes pour nous aider sans rien prendre de nous; si tu faisois cela, adjousta-il, tu arresterois la pluspart des Sauuages, & ils croiroient tous à tes paroles.
The second means of commending ourselves to the Savages, to induce them to receive our holy faith, would be to send a number of capable men to clear and cultivate the land, who, joining themselves with others who know the language, would work for the Savages, on condition that they would settle down, and themselves put their hands to the work, living in houses that would be built for their use; by this means becoming located, and seeing this miracle of charity in their behalf, they could be more easily instructed and won. While conversing this Winter with my Savages, I communicated to them this plan, assuring them that when I knew their language perfectly, I would help them cultivate the land if I could have some men, and if they wished [37] to stop roving,—representing to them the wretchedness of their present way of living, and influencing them very perceptibly, for the time being. The Sorcerer,[14] having heard me, turned toward his people and said, "See how boldly this black robe lies in our presence." I asked him why he thought I was lying. "Because," said he, "we never see in this world men so good as thou sayest, who would take the trouble to help us without hope of reward, and to employ so many men to aid us without taking anything from us; if thou shouldst do that," he added, "thou wouldst secure the greater part of the Savages, and they would all believe in thy words."
Ie m'en rapporte, mais si ie puis tirer quelque conclusion des choses que ie vois, il me semble qu'on ne doit pas esperer grande chose des Sauuages, tant qu'ils seront errants; vous les instruisés auiourd'huy, demain la faim vous enleuera vos auditeurs, les contraignant d'aller chercher leur vie dans les fleuues & dans les bois. L'an passé ie faisois le Catechisme en begaiant à [38] bon nombre d'enfans, les vaisseaux partis, mes oyseaux s'enuolerent qui d'vn costé qui de l'autre, cette année que ie parle vn petit mieux, ie les pensois reuoir, mais s'estans cabanez de là le grand fleuue de S. Laurens, i'ay esté frustré de mon attente. De les vouloir suiure, il faudrait autant de Religieux qu'ils sont de cabanes, encor n'en viendroit [148] on pas à bout; car ils sont tellement occupez à quester leur vie parmy ces bois, qu'ils n'ont pas le loisir de se sauuer, pour ainsi dire. De plus ie ne crois point que de cent Religieux, il y en ait dix qui puissent resister aux trauaux, qu'il faudroit endurer à leur suitte. Ie voulus demeurer auec eux l'Automne dernier, ie n'y fus pas huict iours, qu'vne fieure violente me saisit, & me fist rechercher nostre petite maison, pour y trouuer ma santé: Estant guary ie les ay voulu suiure pendant l'Hiuer, i'ay esté fort malade la pluspart du temps: ces raisons & beaucoup d'autres que ie deduirois, n'estoit que ie crains d'estre lõg, me font croire qu'on trauaillera beaucoup, & qu'on auancera fort peu, si on n'arreste ces Barbares, [39] de leur vouloir persuader de cultiuer d'eux-mesmes sans estre secourus, ie doute fort si on le pourra obtenir de long temps; car ils n'y entendent rien: De plus où retireront ils ce qu'ils pourront recueillir, leurs cabanes n'estants faites que d'escorce, la premiere gelée gastera toutes les racines & les citroüilles qu'ils auroient ramassées. De semer des poids & du bled d'Inde, ils n'ont point de place dans leurs todis; mais qui les nourrira pendant qu'ils cõmanceront à défricher; car ils ne viuent quasi qu'au iour la iournée, n'ayãt pour l'ordinaire au temps qu'il faut défricher aucunes prouisions. En fin quand ils se tueroiẽt de trauailler, ils ne pourroient pas retirer de la terre la moitié de leur vie, iusques à ce qu'elle soit défrichée, & qu'ils soient bien entendus à la faire profiter.
I may be mistaken; but, if I can draw any conclusion from the things I see, it seems to me that not much ought to be hoped for from the Savages as long as they are wanderers; you will instruct them to-day, to-morrow hunger snatches your hearers away, forcing them to go and seek their food in the rivers and woods. Last year I stammered out the Catechism to a [38] goodly number of children; as soon as the ships departed, my birds flew away, some in one direction and some in another. This year, I hoped to see them again, as I speak a little better; but, as they have settled on the other side of the great river St. Lawrence, my hopes have been frustrated. To try to follow them, as many Religious would be needed as there are cabins, and still we would not attain our object; for they are so occupied in seeking their livelihood in these woods, that they have not time, so to speak, to save themselves. Besides, I do not believe that, out of a hundred Religious, there would be ten who could endure the hardships to be encountered in following them. I tried to live among them last Autumn; I was not there a week before I was attacked by a violent fever, which caused me to return to our little house to recover my health. Being cured, I tried to follow them during the Winter, and I was very ill the greater part of the time. These reasons, and many others that I might give, were I not afraid of being tedious, make me think that we shall work a great deal and advance very little, if we do not make these Barbarians stationary. [39] As for persuading them to till the soil of their own accord, without being helped, I very much doubt whether we shall be able to attain this for a long time, for they know nothing whatever about it. Besides, where will they store their harvests? As their cabins are made of bark, the first frost will spoil all the roots and pumpkins that they will have gathered. If they plant peas and Indian corn, they have no place in their huts to store them. But who will feed them while they are beginning to clear the land? For they live only from one day to another, having ordinarily no provisions to sustain them during the time that they must be clearing. Finally, when they had killed themselves with hard work, they could not get from the land half their living, until it was cleared and they understood how to make the best use of it.
Or auec le secours de quelques braues ouuriers de bon trauail, il seroit aisé d'arrester quelques familles, veu que quelques vns m'en ont des-ja parlé, s'accoustumans d'eux mesmes petit à petit à tirer quelque chose de la terre.
Now, with the assistance of a few good, industrious men, it would be easy to locate a few families, especially as some of them have already spoken to me about it, thus of themselves becoming accustomed, little by little, to extract something from the earth.
[150] Ie sçay bien qu'il y a des personnes de [40] bon iugement, qui croyent qu'encor que les Sauuages soient errants, que la bonne semence de l'Euangile ne laissera pas de germer & de fructifier en leur ame, quoy que plus lentement, pource qu'on ne les peut instruire que par reprises. Ils se figurẽt encor que s'il passe icy quelques familles comme on a des-ja commencé d'en amener, que les Sauuages, prendrõt exemple sur nos François, & s'arresteront pour cultiuer la terre. Ie fus frappé de ces pensées au commencement que nous vinsmes icy, mais la cõmunicatiõ que i'ay euë auec ces peuples, & les difficultez qu'ont des hõmes habituez dans l'oisiueté, d'embrasser vn fort trauail, comme est la culture de la terre, me fõt croire maintenant que s'ils ne sont secourus, ils perdront cœur, notamment les Sauuages de Tadoussac. Car pour ceux des trois riuieres, où nos François font faire vne nouuelle habitation cette année, ils ont promis qu'ils s'arresteront là & qu'ils semeront du bled d'Inde; ce qui me semble n'est pas tout à faict asseuré, mais probable, pour autant que leurs predecesseurs ont eu autresfois [41] vne bonne bourgade en cet endroict, qu'ils ont quittée pour les inuasions des Hiroquois leurs ennemis.
I know well there are persons of [40] good judgment who believe that, although the Savages are nomadic, the good seed of the Gospel will not fail to take root and bring forth fruit in their souls, although more slowly, as they can only be instructed at intervals. They imagine also that, if a few families come over here, as they are already beginning to do, the Savages will follow the example of our French and will settle down to cultivate the land. I myself was impressed with these ideas, when we first came over here; but the intercourse which I have had with these people, and the difficulty that men accustomed to a life of idleness have in embracing one of hard work, such as cultivating the soil, cause me to believe now that if they are not helped they will lose heart, especially the Savages at Tadoussac. As to those of the three rivers, where our French People are going to plant a new colony this year, they have promised that they will settle down there and plant Indian corn; this seems to me not altogether assured, but probable, inasmuch as their predecessors once had [41] a good village in that place, which they abandoned on account of the invasions of their enemies, the Hiroquois.[15]
Le Capitaine de ce quartier là, m'a dit que la terre y estoit fort bonne, & qu'ils l'aimoient fort s'ils deuiennent sedentaires, comme ils en ont maintenant la volonté, nous preuoyons lá vne moisson plus feconde des biens du Ciel, que des fruicts de la terre.
The Captain of that region told me that the land there was quite good, and they liked it very much. If they become sedentary, as they are now minded to do, we foresee there a harvest more abundant in the blessings of Heaven than in the fruits of the earth.
Le troisiesme moyen d'estre bienvoulu de ces peuples, seroit de dresser icy vn seminaire de petits garçons, & auec le temps vn de filles, soubs la conduitte de quelque braue maistresse, que le zele de la [152] gloire de Dieu & l'affectiõ au salut de ces peuples, fera passer icy, auec quelques Compagnes animées de pareil courage. Plaise à sa diuine Majesté d'en inspirer quelques vnes, pour vne si noble entreprise, & leur fasse perdre l'apprehension que la foiblesse de leur sexe leur pourroit causer, pour auoir à trauerser tant de mers, & viure parmy des Barbares.
The third means of making ourselves welcome to these people, would be to erect here a seminary for little boys, and in time one for girls, under the direction of some brave mistress, whom zeal for the glory of God, and a desire for the salvation of these people, will bring over here, with a few Companions animated by the same courage. May it please his divine Majesty to inspire some to so noble an enterprise, and to divest them of any fear that the weakness of their sex might induce in them at the thought of crossing so many seas and of living among Barbarians.
A ce dernier voyage des femmes enceintes sont venuës, & ont aisemẽt surmonté ces difficultez, comme auoient [42] faict d'autres auparauant. Il y a aussi du plaisir d'appriuoiser des ames Sauuages, & les cultiuer pour receuoir la semence du Christianisme. Et puis l'experience nous rend certains, que Dieu qui est bon & puissant enuers tous, au respect neantmoins de ceux qui s'exposent genereusemẽt & souffrent volontiers pour son seruice, il a des caresses assaisonnées de tant de suauitez, & les secoure parmy leurs dangers d'vne si prompte & paternelle assistance, que souuent ils ne sentent point leurs trauaux, ains leurs peines leur tournent à plaisir, & leurs perils à consolation singuliere: Mais ie voudrois tenir icy où nous sommes les enfans des Hurons. Le Pere Brebœuf nous faict esperer que nous en pourrons auoir, s'il entre auec nos Peres dans ces pays bien peuplez, & si on trouue dequoy fonder ce seminaire. La raison pourquoy ie ne voudrois pas prẽdre les enfans du pays dans le pays mesme, mais en vn autre endroict, c'est pour autant que ces Barbares ne peuuent supporter qu'on chastie leurs enfants, non pas mesme de paroles, ne pouuans rien refuser à vn [43] enfant qui pleure, si bien qu'à la moindre fantaisie ils nous les enleueroient deuant qu'ils fussent instruicts; mais si on tient icy les petits Hurõs, ou les enfans des peuples plus esloignez, [154] il en arriuera plusieurs biens: car nous ne serõs pas importunés ny destournés des peres en l'instruction des enfants; cela obligera ces peuples à bien traitter, ou du moins à ne faire aucun tort aux François qui seront en leur pays. Et en dernier lieu nous obtiendrons, auec la grace de Dieu nostre Seigneur, la fin pour laquelle nous venons en ce pays si esloigné, sçauoir est la conuersion de ces peuples.
In the last voyage there came some women who were pregnant, and they easily surmounted these difficulties, as others had [42] done before them. There is also some pleasure in taming the souls of the Savages, and preparing them to receive the seed of Christianity. And then experience makes us feel certain that God, who shows his goodness and power to all, has, nevertheless, for those who expose themselves freely and suffer willingly in his service, favors seasoned with so much sweetness, and succors them in the midst of their dangers with so prompt and paternal assistance, that often they do not feel their trials, but their pain is turned to pleasure and their perils to a peculiar consolation. But I would like to keep here, where we are, the children of the Hurons. Father Brebœuf leads us to hope that we shall have some, if he goes with our Fathers into those well-peopled countries, and if there is anything with which to found a seminary. The reason why I would not like to take the children of one locality [and teach them] in that locality itself, but rather in some other place, is because these Barbarians cannot bear to have their children punished, nor even scolded, not being able to refuse anything to a [43] crying child. They carry this to such an extent that upon the slightest pretext they would take them away from us, before they were educated. But if the little Hurons, or the children of more distant tribes, are kept here, a great many advantages will result, for we would not be annoyed and distracted by the fathers while instructing the children; it will also compel these people to show good treatment to the French who are in their country, or at least not to do them any injury. And, lastly, we shall obtain, by the grace of God our Lord, the object for which we came into this distant country; namely, the conversion of these nations.