ILLUSTRATION TO VOL. VII
| I. | Photographic facsimile of title-page, Le Jeune's Relation of 1635 | [250] |
PREFACE TO VOL. VII
Following is a synopsis of the documents contained in the present volume:
XXIII. The first installment (chaps. i.-ix.) of Le Jeune's Relation of 1634, written to the provincial at Paris, was given in Vol. [VI.] of our series. In the concluding portion herewith presented, the superior of the Quebec mission continues his account of the Montagnais. He describes their clothing and ornaments; then their language, which, though deficient in expressions for abstract ideas, he praises for its fullness and richness in vocabulary and grammatical forms. He offers to the provincial numerous reasons why he made so little progress in learning the tongue while he wintered among them—his own defective memory; the malice of a medicine man, whom he had opposed; the perfidy of the interpreter Pierre, who refused to teach him; his sufferings from hunger and illness; and the inherent difficulties of the language itself. All these points are elaborated, with many details, the result being a vivid picture of savage life, and of the hardships, danger, and suffering endured by this heroic missionary while wandering with the savages through the forests and mountains along the southern shore of the River St. Lawrence. At last, after almost six months of this wretched life, and many hair-breadth escapes from death, Le Jeune, ill and exhausted, reaches his humble home, the mission house on the St. Charles. In the closing chapter he recounts, in the form of a journal, the events of the summer of 1634 at Quebec; the arrival of the French fleet, with Father Buteux and the colonists of Sieur Robert Giffard; the departure of Brébeuf, Daniel, and Davost for the Huron mission, and their hardships on the voyage; the foundation of new settlements above Quebec,—at St. Croix island (not to be confounded with the site of De Monts's colony), and Three Rivers. He announces his intention to go, with Buteux, to Three Rivers; and closes with an appeal for more missionaries, who shall be competent to learn the Indian dialects.
XXIV. In this letter to Cardinal Richelieu (dated August 1, 1635), Le Jeune congratulates him on his efforts to root out the Huguenot heresy; thanks him for his kindness, and for evidences of affection for the Jesuit mission in Canada; and urges the great man to aid the Company of New France in their colonizing enterprise, for on their success depends that of the mission. The cardinal is reminded how many poor French families might be provided with homes if sent to the New World, where land is abundant; he is also informed that some savages have been converted to the faith.
XXV. This document is known as Le Jeune's Relation of 1635. Heretofore the superior of Quebec has been the sole author of the annual report of the Jesuit mission in New France. But with the arrival of new missionaries the work was greatly broadened, and hereafter we shall find the Relation a composite, arranged by the superior from the several individual reports forwarded to him by his assistants in the field, often with the addition of a general review from his own pen. Of such a character is the present Relation, which, like its successors, is for convenience designated by the name of the superior who forwarded it to the provincial at Paris, for publication.
The 112 introductory pages are by Le Jeune, dated Kebec, August 28, 1635; of these, we have space in this volume for but 51 pages (chaps, i., ii.). Commencing with p. 113 (original pagination), we shall find a report from Brébeuf, dated Ihonatiria (in the Huron country), May 27, 1635. Then will appear, commencing on p. 207, an undated report from Perrault, for 1634-35, describing the island of Cape Breton and the characteristics of its people; and, commencing on p. 220, a number of brief, unaccredited extracts from letters by various members of the missionary staff.
In his opening letter, addressed to the provincial, Le Jeune anticipates most hopefully the growth and prosperity of Canada in the hands of the French, but is especially rejoiced at the great interest which the mission has aroused in France. There, many pious laymen are aiding the enterprise with their efforts and money; many priests desire to join the Canadian mission; and many nuns are eagerly awaiting some opportunity to labor among the Indian women and children for their conversion to the Christian faith. Le Jeune advises these sisters not to come to Canada until they are suitably provided with a house and means of support: and he appeals to the ladies of France to furnish this aid for the nuns. He then describes the condition and extent of the mission, which now has six residences at various points, all the way from Cape Breton to Lake Huron. At the oldest of these, Notre Dame des Anges, near Quebec, center their plans for educational work. He wishes here to establish a college for French children, and is beginning a seminary for the instruction of Indian youth. He describes the importance of the Huron mission, and states that he has received promises of funds for its extension. He recounts the work of himself and his brethren in the French settlements, especially mentioning the comfort they gave to the sick and dying during an epidemic of scurvy at the new settlement at Three Rivers. He then gives detailed accounts of the religious experiences and deaths of various Indian converts; and relates the tragic death of the two Montagnais with whom he had spent the preceding winter,—Carigonan, "the sorcerer," and his brother Mestigoit, in whose cabin they all lived.
R. G. T.
Madison, Wis., April, 1897.