The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 8: Quebec, Hurons, Cape Breton, 1634-1636

by Unknown

[60] CHAPTER IV.

A COLLECTION OF VARIOUS MATTERS PREPARED IN THE FORM OF A JOURNAL.

ALL that will be said in this Chapter is a mere medley, in which there will be but little sequence or connection, except perhaps that of the time in which the things happened; and still they will follow each other only at wide intervals.

Le douziesme d'Aoust de l'année precedente mil six cens trente quatre, Monsieur du Plessis Bochard General de la flotte, leua l'ancre, & quitta la Rade de Kebec, pour tirer à Tadoussac, & de là en France, où l'on nous dit qu'il arriua enuiron la my-Septembre, n'ayant esté qu'vn mois à trauerser la mer.

On the twelfth of August of the preceding year, one thousand six hundred and thirty-four, Monsieur du Plessis Bochard,[5] Commandant of the fleet, weighed anchor and left the Roadstead of Kebec, to go to Tadoussac and thence to France, where we are told he arrived about the middle of September, having been only a month in crossing the sea.

[61] Le vingt-sixiesme du mesme mois d'Aoust, quelques Sauuages passans proche de nostre Maison nous firent veoir des prunes qu'ils auoient cueilly dans les bois, non pas bien loin de nostre Maison: elles estoient aussi grosses que les petits abricots de France, leur noyau est plat comme celuy de l'abricot: cela me fait dire que les froids de ces Contrées, n'empescherõt pas qu'on n'en retire des fruits. Nous en verrons l'experience dans quelques années; car nous auons greffé quelques antes qui ont fort bien repris.

[61] On the twenty-sixth of the same month of August, some Savages who were passing our House showed us some plums they had gathered in the woods not far from there; they were as large as the little apricots of France, their stone being flat like that of the apricot. This leads me to say that the cold of these Countries does not prevent fruit from growing. We shall know from experience, in a few years, for we have grafted some cuttings which have started very well.

Le troisiesme de Septembre nous nous embarquasmes le Pere Buteux & moy, pour aller secourir nos François en la Nouuelle Habitation, qu'on commençoit aux trois Riuieres. Nous passasmes proche [18] de l'Islet de Rich[e]lieu, nommé des [62] Sauuages Ka ouapassiniskakhi. Monsieur de Champlain y a fait dresser vne platte-forme, sur laquelle on a posé du Canon, pour commander à toute la Riuiere. Depuis cet Islet iusques à vne bonne traite de chemin an de-là, le passage est fort dangereux, à qui n'a cognoissance du vray chenal, nous touchasmes vne fois, eschoüasmes vne autre, & nostre barque, dans vn grand nordest, frisa vne roche, qui donna de l'horreur à tous ceux qui la virent. Dieu semble auoir armé ce passage pour la conseruation du Pays, entre les mains des François qui le possedent.

On the third of September, we, Father Buteux and I, embarked to go and help our French in the New Settlement they are beginning at the three Rivers. We passed near the Island of Rich[e]lieu, called by the [62] Savages Ka ouapassiniskakhi. Monsieur de Champlain has had a platform erected there, upon which they have placed some Cannon in order to command the whole River.[6] From this Islet to a considerable distance above, the passage is very dangerous to any one who does not know the real channel. Once we touched bottom, another time we were stranded; and in a strong northeaster our bark grazed a rock, which filled with horror all those that saw it. God seems to have armed this passage for the preservation of the Country in the hands of the French, who now possess it.

Le huictiesme nous arriuasmes aux trois Riuieres, le seiour y est fort agréable, la terre sablonneuse, la pesche en son temps tres-abõdante. Vn Sauuage rapportera quelquefois dans son Canot douze ou quinze [63] Esturgeons, dont le moindre sera par fois de la hauteur d'vn homme. Il y a quantité d'autres poissons tres-excellens. Les Français ont nõmé ce lieu les trois Riuieres, pource qu'il sort des terres vn assez beau fleuue, qui se vient dégorger dans la grande Riuiere de sainct Laurens par trois principales emboucheures, causées par plusieurs petites Isles, qui se rencontrent à l'entrée de ce fleuue, nommé des Sauuages Metaberoutin. Ie décrirois volontiers la beauté de ce lieu, mais ie crains d'estre long; Tout le pays entre Kebec & ceste nouuelle Habitation, que nous appellerõs la Residence de la Conception, m'a semblé fort agreable, il est entrecoupé de ruisseaux & de fleuues, qui se déchargent d'espaces en espaces dans le Roy des fleuues, c'est à dire, dans la grande riuiere de S. Laurens, [64] qui a bien encore en ce lieu là quelque deux à trois mille pas de large quoy qu'il soit à trente lieuës au dessus de Kebec.

On the eighth, we arrived at the three Rivers. We found living there very agreeable; the ground is sandy, the fish very abundant in its season. A Savage will sometimes bring in his Canoe twelve or fifteen [63] Sturgeon, the smallest of which is occasionally as long as the height of a man; besides these, there are also a number of other very good fish. The French have named this place the three Rivers, because there emerges here a very beautiful river which flows into the great River saint Lawrence through three principal mouths, caused by several little Islands which are found at the entrance of this river, which the Savages call Metaberoutin.[7] I would like to describe the beauty of this place, but I am afraid of being tedious. The whole country between Kebec and this new Settlement, which we will call the Residence of the Conception, seems to me very pleasant; it is intersected by brooks and streams, which empty at short distances from each other into the King of rivers, that is, into the great river St. Lawrence, [64] which is, even at this place, fully two or three thousand paces wide, although it is thirty leagues above Kebec.

[20] Le vingt-septiesme du mesme mois de Septembre vn Elan parut de l'autre bord de ceste grande riuiere, nos François en donnerent aduis à quelques Sauuages cabanez proche de l'Habitation, quelques-vns d'eux s'en vont attaquer ce grand animal, qui se rafraichissoit dedans l'eau, l'allant prendre du costé des terres, pour le pousser plus auant dans le fleuue, ils voloient apres dans leurs petits Canots d'écorce, ils l'approcherent à la portée d'vn iauelot, & l'vn d'eux luy lança vne espée qui le fit bondir, & chercher le chemin de la terre pour se sauuer; ce qu'il eust fait aisément, s'il eust peu aborder; mais voyant ses ennemis de ce costé là, il [65] se iette à l'eau, où il fut bien-tost lardé de coups d'espées. Comme il tiroit à la mort, ils le repousserent vers le bord du fleuue, & là le mirent en vn momẽt en pieces, pour le pouuoir apporter en leur cabane. Nous voyons ceste chasse de nostre Habitation esleuée sur vne platte forme naturelle, qui a veuë sur la grande Riuiere. Ie consideray particulierement la teste de cest animal, il auoit poussé vn bois de la longueur seulement des cornes d'vn bœuf; car il estoit encore tout ieune ce bois estoit tout velu, assez mince, & d'vne grosseur quasi égale partout.

On the twenty-seventh of the same month of September, an Elk appeared on the other bank of this great river; our Frenchmen gave notice of it to some Savages who were encamped near the Settlement, and some of them went to attack this great animal, which was standing in the water drinking. Approaching it from the land side, to drive it farther into the water, they flew after it in their little bark Canoes; and, approaching it within range, one of them launched a javelin at it, which made it give a bound and start for the shore to save itself; it might easily have done this if it had been able to touch the shore; but seeing its enemies there, it [65] rushed into the water where it was soon run through with javelins. When it was near its death, they drove it to the shore, and there in a moment they had cut it in pieces, to be able to carry it to their cabin. We saw this chase from our Settlement, which is on a natural elevation and commands a view of the great River. I carefully examined the head of this animal; its antlers had grown only as long as the horns of an ox, for it was still young; these antlers were covered with hair which was quite fine and almost equally thick throughout.

Le vingt-huictiesme le Pere Buteux & moy trouuasmes vne troupe de Sauuages, qui faisoient festin auprés des fosses de leurs parens trespassez; ils leur donnerent la meilleure part du banquet qu'ils ietterent [66] au feu, & s'en voulans aller vne femme rompit des branches, & des rameaux d'arbres, dont elle couurit ces fosses; ie luy en demanday la raison, elle repartit qu'elle abrioit l'ame de ses amis trespassez, contre l'ardeur du Soleil, qui a esté fort grande cet [22] Automne. Ils philosophent des ames des hommes & de leurs necessitez, comme des corps, conformément à leur doctrine, se figurans que nos ames ont les mesmes besoins que nos corps; nous luy dismes assez que les ames des creatures raisonnables descendoiẽt aux enfers, ou montoient au Ciel; elle ne laissa pas, sans nous rien respondre, de garder la vieille coustume de ses ayeux. Ceux qui ne resentent pas les obligations qu'ils ont à Dieu, d'auoir pris naissance en vn lieu où il est cogneu & adoré, peuuent icy veoir à l'œil quel preciput [67] ils ont par dessus vn monde de barbares.

On the twenty-eighth, Father Buteux and I found a band of Savages who were having a feast near the graves of their deceased relatives; they gave them the best part of the banquet, which they threw [66] into the fire; and, when they were about to go away, a woman broke some twigs and branches from the trees, with which she covered these graves. I asked her why she did this, and she answered that she was sheltering the souls of her dead friends from the heat of the Sun, which has been very great this Autumn. They reason about the souls of men and their necessities as they do about the body; according to their doctrine, they suppose that our souls have the same needs as our bodies. We told her repeatedly that the souls of reasonable beings descended into hell or went up into Heaven; but, without giving us any answer, she continued to follow the old custom of her ancestors. Those who do not appreciate the obligations they are under to God, for having been born in a place where he is known and worshiped, can see here at a glance what an advantage [67] they have over a world of barbarians.

Le vingt-troisiesme iour d'Octobre, quinze ou vingt Sauuages reuindrent de la guerre, amenans vn prisonnier. Si tost qu'il peurent découurir nostre Habitation & leurs cabanes, ils rassemblerent leurs canots, & s'en vindrent doucement par le milieu du grand fleuue, poussant de leur estomach des chants tout remplis d'allegresse; si tost qu'on les apperceut, il se fit vn grand cry dans les cabanes; chacun sortit au deuant pour veoir ces gueriers, qui firent leuer tout debout le pauure prisonnier, & le firent danser à leur mode au milieu d'vn canot; il chãtoit & eux frappoient de leurs auirons à la cadence; il estoit lié d'vne corde qui luy passoit de bras en bras derriere le dos, & d'vne autre aux pieds, & encore d'vne autre [68] assez longue par le trauers du corps; ils luy auoient arraché les ongles des doigts, afin qu'il ne se peust délier. Admirez ie vous prie la cruauté de ces peuples, vne Sauuage nous ayant apperceu le Pere Buteux & moy dans la meslée auec les autres, nous vint dire toute remplie de ioye & de contentement, Tapoue kouetakiou nigamouau; en vérité ie mangeray [24] de l'Hiroquois. En fin ce pauure homme sorty du canot fut conduit dans vne cabane, à l'entrée les enfans, les filles & les femmes le frappoient, qui d'vn baston, qui d'vne pierre: vous eussiez dit qu'il estoit insensible, passant chemin, & receuant ces coups, sans destourner la veuë: si tost qu'il fust entré, on le fit dancer à la cadence de leurs hurlemens. Apres auoir fait quelques tours, frappant la terre, & s'agitant le corps, en quoy consiste toute [69] leur dance, on le fit asseoir, & quelques Sauuages nous apostrophans, nous dirent que cet Hiroquois estoit l'vn de ceux qui l'année precedente auoient surpris & massacré trois de nos François, c'estoit pour estouffer en nous la compassion que nous en pouuiõs auoir, ils oserent bien demander à quelques-vns de nos François, s'ils n'en mangeroient pas bien leur part, puis qu'ils auoient tué de nos Compatriotes. On leur repartit que ces cruautez nous déplaisoient, & que nous n'estions point des antropophages. Il ne mourut point neantmoins; car ces Barbares ennuyez de la guerre, parlerent à ce ieune prisonnier, qui est homme fort, & d'vne riche & haute taille, de faire la paix; ils ont esté long-tẽps à la traiter, mais en fin ils l'ont concluë. Ie croy bien qu'elle ne durera gueres, [70] car le premier vertige qui prendra à quelque estourdy, sur le souuenir que l'vn de ses parens aura esté tué par les Hiroquois, en ira surprendre quelqu'vn, & le massacrera en trahison: & ainsi recommencera la guerre. Il ne faut pas attendre de fidelité des peuples qui n'ont point la vraye Foy.

On the twenty-third day of October, fifteen or twenty Savages returned from the war, bringing a prisoner. As soon as they could descry our Settlement and their cabins, they collected their canoes and sailed slowly down the middle of the great river, uttering from their chests songs full of gladness; as soon as they were seen, there was a great outcry among the cabins, each one coming out to see these warriors, who made the poor prisoner stand up and dance in their fashion in the middle of a canoe. He sang, and they kept time with their paddles; he was bound with a cord which tied his arms behind his back, another was around his feet, and still another, [68] a long one, around his body; they had torn out his finger-nails, so that he could not untie himself. Marvel, I pray you, at the cruelty of these people. A Savage, having perceived Father Buteux and me mingling with the others, came up to us and said, full of joy and satisfaction, Tapoue kouetakiou nigamouau; "I shall really eat some Hiroquois." Finally this poor man came out of the canoe, and was taken into a cabin, the children, girls, and women striking him, some with sticks, others with stones, as he entered; you would have said he was insensible, as he passed along and received these blows without looking around; as soon as he entered, they made him dance to the music of their howls. After having made a few turns, striking the ground and agitating his body, which is all there is of [69] their dancing, they made him sit down; and some of the Savages, addressing us, told us that this Hiroquois was one of those who the year before had surprised and killed three of our Frenchmen; this was done to stifle in us the pity that we might have for him, and they even dared to ask some of our French if they did not want to eat their share of him, since they had killed our Countrymen. We replied that these cruelties displeased us, and that we were not cannibals. He did not die, however; for these Barbarians, weary of the war, spoke with this young prisoner, who was a strong man, tall and finely formed, about making peace; they have been treating about it for a long time, but at last it is concluded. In truth, I believe it will not last long; [70] for the first impulse that seizes some hot-headed fellow, at the remembrance that one of his relations was killed by the Hiroquois, will make him go and surprise one of them, and treacherously assassinate him; and thus the war will begin again. Fidelity cannot be expected from people who have not the true Faith.

Le vingt-quatriesme du mesme mois grand nombre d'Algonquains estans arriuez, ie m'en allay chercher [26] par leur cabanes, vne petite fillette que i'auois baptisée, & nommée Marguerite l'ã passé: sa mere me recogneut bien, & me dit qu'elle estoit morte, c'est autant de gaigné pour le Ciel, ie ne l'auois pas fait Chrestienne qu'à fin qu'elle y allast. Cõme ie vins à demãder des nouuelles du pere de cét enfant que i'auois cõmencé d'instruire, vn Sauuage me respondit qu'il estoit mort; à ceste [71] parole vne sienne fille aagée de dix-huict à vingt ans, fit vn grand cry toute éplorée; on me fit signe que ie ne parlasse point de la mort, dont le seul nom leur semble insupportable.

On the twenty-fourth of the same month, a great many Algonquains having arrived, I went through their cabins, looking for a little girl I had baptized and named Marguerite, the year before. Her mother readily recognized me, and told me that she was dead; that was so much gained for Heaven; I had only made her a Christian that she might go there. When I came to ask news of the father of the child whom I had begun to instruct, a Savage told me that he was dead; at this [71] answer, one of his daughters, about eighteen or twenty years old, uttered a loud cry and burst into tears; they made me a sign that I should not speak of death, its very name seeming to them unbearable.

Le vingt-neufiesme il arriua vne chose assez facetieuse, que ie coucheray icy, pour faire veoir la simplicité d'vn esprit qui ne cognoist point Dieu. Deux Sauuages estans entrez en nostre Habitation, pendant le Diuin Seruice, que nous faisions à la Chapelle, se disoient l'vn à l'autre, Ils prient celuy qui a tout fait, leur donnera-il ce qu'ils demandent? Or comme nous tardions trop à leur gré, Asseurément, disoient-ils, il ne leur veut pas donner: voyla ils crient tous tant qu'ils peuuent (nous chantions Vespres pour lors). Or vn ieune truchement venant à sortir, ils l'aborderent, & [72] luy dirent, Hé bien! celuy qui a tout fait, vous a-il accordé ce que vous demandiez? Ouy, respond-il, nous l'aurons. Asseurémẽt, repartent-ils, il ne s'en est gueres fallu qu'il ne vous ait éconduit; car vous auez bien crié & bien chanté pour l'auoir: nous disions à tous coups, que vous n'auriez rien; mais encore que vous a-il promis? Ce ieune homme soufriant, leur respondit, conformément à leur grande attente, Il nous a promis que nous n'aurions point faim: c'est la grande beatitude des Sauuages d'auoir dequoy contenter leur ventre.

On the twenty-ninth, a rather amusing thing happened, which I shall relate here to show the simplicity of a mind that does not know God. Two Savages having entered our Settlement during Divine Service, which we were holding in the Chapel, said to each other, "They are praying to him who made all things; will he give them what they ask?" Now as we were going rather slowly, according to their ideas, "Certainly," they said, "he does not want to give it to them, see how they are all shouting as loud as they can," (we were singing Vespers at the time). Now, as a young interpreter was going away, they approached him and [72] said "Well, now, he who made all things, has he granted what you ask?" "Yes," he answered, "we shall get it." "Certainly," they replied, "he must have very nearly refused you, for you have cried and sung so hard to get it; we were saying all the time that you would not get anything; but tell us now, what did he promise you?" This young man, smiling, answered them according to their expectations, "He promised us that we should not be hungry." It is the highest state of happiness for the Savages to have something with which to satisfy their stomachs.

Le cinquiesme de Nouembre, i'allay veoir les reliquas [28] d'vne bonne-pallissade, qui a autrefois entouré vne Bourgade, au lieu mesme où nos François ont planté leur Habitation. Les Hiroquois ennemis de ces Peuples ont tout bruslé; on voit encore [73] le bout des pieux tous noirs; il y a quelques arpens de terre défrichée, où ils cultiuoient du bled d'Inde. I'espere qu'auec le temps nos Canadiens reprendront cet exercice, qui leur sera autant profitable pour le Ciel, que pour la terre; car s'ils s'arrestent, on aura moyen de les instruire.

On the fifth of November, I went to see the remains of a good palisade, which formerly surrounded a Village in the very place where our French have established their Abode. The Hiroquois enemies of these Tribes have burned everything; there can still be seen [73] the ends of the blackened stakes; there are some arpents of cleared land, where they cultivated Indian corn. I hope in the course of time our Canadians will resume this industry, which will be as profitable to them for Heaven as for earth; for, if they stop their wanderings there will be opportunities of instructing them.

Le septiesme on nous décriuit vne façon de dance des Sauuages que nous n'auions point encore veuë. L'vn d'eux commence, pendant que les autres chantẽt; la chanson finie, il va donner le bouquet, c'est à dire, qu'il va faire vn present à celuy qu'il veut faire dancer apres soy; l'autre finissant la dance en fait de mesme, & si nos François se trouuent auec eux, on leur porte le bouquet & le present aussi bien qu'aux autres.

On the seventh we had described to us a kind of Savage dance that we had not yet seen. One of them begins while the others sing; the song finished, he goes and gives the bouquet, that is, he goes and makes a present to the one whom he wishes to dance after him; the other does the same thing when he finishes the dance; and, if our French are with them, they bring the bouquet and the present to our men as well as to the others.

Le dix-huictiesme de ce mois, [74] tous les Sauuages s'escarterent, qui deça, qui de là dans les bois, pour aller pendant l'hyuer chercher l'Elan, le Cerf & le Caribou, dont ils viuent; Si bien que nous demeurasmes sans voisins, nos seuls François restans en nostre nouuelle Demeure.

On the eighteenth of this month, [74] all the Savages dispersed, some here and some there into the woods, to go during the winter to hunt the Elk, the Deer and the Caribou, upon which they live; so that we were without neighbors, our French alone remaining in our new Dwelling place.

Le trentiesme de Decembre la neige n'estant ny assez dure ny assez profonde, pour arrester les grandes iambes de l'Elan, vne troupe de ces pauures Barbares, s'en vindrent crier misericorde en nostre Habitation; la famine qui fut cruelle l'an passé les a encore traicté plus rudement cet hyuer, du moins en plusieurs endroits; on nous a rapporté que vers Gaspé les Sauuages ont tué & mangé vn ieune garçon que [30] les Basques leur auoient laissé pour apprẽdre leur langue. Ceux de Tadoussac auec lesquels i'hyuernay il y a vn an, se sont mangez les vns les autres [75] en quelques endroits. Monsieur du Plessis Bochart montant à Kebec, nous a dit qu'il y en auoit encore quelques-vns dans les bois, qui n'osoient paroistre deuant les autres, à raison qu'ils ont meschamment surpris, massacré, & mangé leurs compagnons. Nous auons esté témoins de leur famine aux trois Riuieres: ils venoient par bandes, tous défigurez, décharnez comme des squelets, aymans, disoient-ils autant mourir auprés des François, que dans leurs Forests: le malheur pour eux, estoit, que comme ceste Habitation ne faisoit que de commencer, il n'y auoit point encore de magasins aux trois Riuieres, nos François & nous n'ayans apporté de Kebec que les viures necessaires pour le nombre des hommes qui y residoient: nous nous efforçasmes pourtant de les secourir, chacun de son costé leur [76] faisant la charité selon ses forces, ou selon son affection, pas vn de ceux qui vindrent vers nous ne mourut de faim.

On the thirtieth of December, the snow having been neither hard nor deep enough to arrest the long legs of the Elk, a troop of these poor Barbarians came crying for pity at our Settlement; the famine, which was cruel last year, has treated them still worse this winter, at least in several places; we have heard a report that, near Gaspé, the Savages killed and ate a young boy whom the Basques left with them to learn their language. Those of Tadoussac, with whom I passed the winter a year ago, have eaten each other [75] in some localities. Monsieur du Plessis Bochart, on his way to Kebec, told us that there were still some in the woods who do not dare appear before the others because they had wickedly surprised, massacred, and eaten their companions. We have been witnesses to their famine at the three Rivers; they came in bands, greatly disfigured and as fleshless as skeletons, liking, they said, as well to die near the French as in their own Forests; the misfortune for them was that, as this Settlement was only in its first stages, there was not yet a storehouse at three Rivers, our French and we having brought from Kebec only the food necessary for the number of men who were residing there; we tried, however, to help them, each on his side [76] exercising charity according to his means, or according to his inclinations; not one of those who came to us died of hunger.

Le Pere Buteux & moy entrans dans vne cabane, vne femme nous dit, qu'il n'estoit resté qu'elle & sa compagne, de tous ceux auec lesquels elles auoient hyuerné dans les bois. On a trouué des Chasseurs roides morts sur la neige, tuez du froid & de la faim, entre autres, celuy qui auoit pris le prisonnier Hiroquois duquel i'ay parlé cy dessus.

When Father Buteux and I entered a certain cabin, a woman told us that no one remained but she and her companion, of all those with whom they had wintered in the forest. Hunters had been found stiff in death upon the snow, killed by cold and starvation,—among others, the one who had taken prisoner the Hiroquois of whom I have spoken above.

Vn Sauuage me dit dans ceste famine, que sa femme & sa belle sœur estoient en deliberation de tuer leur propre frere: I'en demanday la raison, nous craignons, fit-il, qu'il ne nous assomme pendant nostre sommeil pour nous manger. Nous vous apportons,[32] luy dis-je, tous les iours vne partie de nos viures [77] pour vous secourir. Cela est vray, respond-il, tu nous donne la vie, mais cét homme est à demy fol; il ne mange point, il a quelque méchant dessein, nous le voulons preuenir, en seras-tu marry? Ie me trouuay vn peu en peine, de consentir à sa mort, ie ne pouuois: ie croyois d'ailleurs qu'ils auoient iuste occasion de craindre. Nous luy donnasmes conseil de ne point laisser de haches ny d'espees en sa cabane, sinon celle dont il auroit à faire, laquelle il poseroit sous sa teste en dormant; il s'accorda à cela, & nous donna ses haches & ses espees, pour les emporter en nostre chambrette. A trois iours de là ce pauure miserable s'en alla à Kebec, où ayant voulu tuer quelque François, Monsieur le Gouuerneur recognoissant sa folie, le fit enchaisner pour le rendre aux premiers Sauuages qui [78] viendroient.

A Savage told me, during this famine, that his wife and sister-in-law contemplated killing their own brother; I asked him why, "We are afraid," he replied, "that he will kill us during our sleep, to eat us." "We supply you," said I, "a part of our food every day [77] to help you." "That is true," he replied, "thou givest us life; but this man is half-mad; he does not eat, he has some evil design; we wish to prevent him, wilt thou be displeased at that?" I found myself a little troubled; I could not consent to his death, and yet I believed they had good cause for their fear. We advised him not to leave any hatchets or javelins in his cabin, except one which he would have to use, and he should place that under his head when he was sleeping; he agreed to this, and gave us his hatchets and javelins, to put them away in our little room. Three days later, this poor wretch went to Kebec, where, having tried to kill some Frenchman, Monsieur the Governor, seeing that he was mad, had him put in chains, to surrender him to the first Savages that [78] might come along.

Or ces allées & venuës des Sauuages affamez ont duré quasi tout l'hyuer; nous faisions ordinairement quelque festin de pois & de farine boüillie à toutes les nouuelles bandes; i'en ay veu tel d'entre-eux qui en mangeoient plus de huict escuellées, deuant que de sortir de la place.

Now these comings and goings of famished Savages lasted almost all winter; we usually made a little feast of peas and boiled flour for all the new bands, and I have seen certain ones among them eat more than eight bowlfuls of this before leaving the place.

Pendant qu'on leur preparoit le banquet, nous leur parlions de Dieu, nous leur representions leurs miseres; ils auoient tous la meilleure volonté du monde de cultiuer au Printemps, ce qu'ont fait quelques vns: mais ils ne demeurerent pas assiduëment auprés de leurs bleds d'Inde, les abandonnans pour aller pescher, qui deça, qui delà.

While the banquet was being prepared, we talked to them about God, we represented to them their poverty; they all had the best intentions in the world to cultivate the land in the Spring, as some of them have done; but they did not remain constantly near their Indian corn,—abandoning it to go fishing, some in one direction, some in another.

Quand aux propositions que nous leur faisions de croire en Dieu, l'vn d'eux me dit vn iour. Si nous [79] croyons en vostre Dieu, neigera-il? Il neigera, [34] luy dis je. La neige sera-elle dure & profonde? Elle le sera. Trouuerõs nous des Orignaux? Vous en trouuerez. Les tuerons nous? Ouy; Car comme Dieu sçait tout, qu'il peut tout, & qu'il est tres bon, il ne manquera pas de vous assister, si vous auez recours en luy, si vous receuez sa Foy, & luy rendez obeyssance. Ton discours est bon, repart-il, nous penserons à ce que tu nous as dit. Cependant ils s'en vont dans les bois, & mettẽt bien-tost en oubly ce qu'on leur a dit: Il est bien vray qu'à la parfin on fera quelque impression sur leur esprit, s'il n'est plus dure que la pierre qui se caue par des gouttes d'eau.

As to the proposals we make to them to believe in God, one of them said to me one day, "If we [79] believe in your God, will it snow?" "It will snow," I said to him. "Will the snow be hard and deep?" "It will be." "Shall we find Moose?" "You will find them." "Shall we kill some?" "Yes; for as God knows all things, as he can do all things, and as he is very good, he will not fail to help you, if you have recourse to him, if you receive the Faith, and if you reader him obedience." "Thy speech is good," answered he, "we will think upon what thou hast told us." Meanwhile, they go off into the woods, and soon forget what has been said to them. It is indeed true that, in the end, some impression will be made upon their minds, if they are not harder than the stone hollowed out by drops of water.

Vne autrefois ayant vn assez long-temps discouru sur nostre creance à vne escouade, qui s'en retournoit chercher dequoy nourrir [80] leurs femmes & leurs enfans, ie leur conseillay, au cas qu'ils ne peussent rien trouuer, de se mettre à genoux, & de s'addresser à celuy qui a fait le Ciel & la terre, de luy promettre qu'ils croiront en luy, s'il les vouloit secourir: ils me promirent qu'ils le feroient; nous leur presentasmes à cet effect vne petite Image de nostre Seigneur Iesus-Christ, & les aduertismes de la façon qu'ils la deuoient placer dans leur grandes necessitez, des prieres qu'ils deuoient faire à celuy qu'elle representoit, leur donnant bonne esperãce qu'ils seroient secourus. Ie mis cette Image entre les mains d'vn nommé Sakapouan, dont i'ay fait mention cy-dessus. Il me promit qu'il feroit de point en point ce que nous luy auions ordonné: mais le miserable ne tint pas sa promesse; car il n'osa iamais produire ceste Image, de [81] peur d'estre gaussé de ses Compagnons, voire mesme il se rioit auec les autres de ce que nous leur auions presché. Aussi Dieu le chastia-il, car il tomba [36] malade, & fut contraint de venir rechercher les François; nous luy redemandasmes l'Image & la rendit. Interrogé pourquoy il n'auoit point prié le Fils du Tout-puissant, Ie m'en estois allé, respond-il, auec bonne volonté de le prier, i'auois conceu vne bonne esperance, qu'il nous donneroit à manger, i'auois mesme retenu la meilleure de toutes les oraisons que tu nous as enseigné: mais estant arriué à nos cabanes, i'ay eu peur que si ie produisois l'Image, qu'on ne s'en moquast, & que celuy qui a tout fait ne se faist chast cõtre moy, & nous fist mourir. En vn mot le respect humain retiẽt ce peuple. I'eus beau luy dire, que s'il eust esté fidele dans [82] ces gausseries, s'il n'eust point adheré à ces mocqueurs, que Dieu l'auroit puissamment assisté, Il faut, dit-il, parler à nos Capitaines. Et en effet qui les auroit gaignez, il auroit tout gagné. Ie reuiens tousiours sur mes brisées, qui sçauroit parfaictement la langue pour les accabler de raisons, & pour refuter promptement leurs niaiseries, seroit bien puissant parmy eux. Le temps apportera tout, & Dieu donnant sa benediction, Populus qui est in tenebris videbit lucem magnam.

Another time, having talked a long time upon our belief with a squad of them, who had returned to seek food for [80] their wives and children, I advised them, in case they could not find anything, to fall upon their knees and to address themselves to him who has made Heaven and earth, to promise him they would believe in him if he would relieve them; they promised that they would do so; we gave them for this purpose a little Image of our Lord Jesus Christ, and instructed them in the way in which they were to place it in the time of their great need, and in some prayers they were to make to him whom it represented, giving them strong hope that they would be helped. I placed this Image in the hands of a certain one named Sakapouan, of whom I have spoken above. He promised me that he would do everything just as we had directed; but the wretch did not keep his promise, for he never dared produce this Image, lest [81] he should be sneered at by his Companions; yes, he even laughed with the others about what we had preached to them. And indeed God chastised him, for he fell sick and was obliged to come seeking the French; we asked for the Image and he returned it. When asked why he had not prayed to the Son of the All-powerful, "I went away," he replied, "with the good will to pray to him; I felt a strong hope that he would give us something to eat, I had even kept in mind the best of all the prayers thou hast taught us; but, when I arrived at our cabins, I was afraid that if I brought out the Image they would make sport of me, and that he who has made all would be angry with me, and make us die." In one word, these people are restrained by worldly considerations. It was in vain I told him that if he had been faithful in [82] the midst of these mockeries, if he had not clung to these mockers, God would have given him powerful assistance; "It is necessary," he said "to talk to our Captains." And, in fact, one who could gain them could gain all. I am always retracing my footsteps, in saying, that one who knew the language perfectly, so that he could crush their reasons and promptly refute their absurdities, would be very powerful among them. Time will bring all things; God giving his blessing, Populus qui est in tenebris videbit lucem magnam.

Or pour vuider tout cét article; ie demanday à ce Sauuage, quelle estoit ceste Oraison qu'il preferoit aux autres. Tu nous dis plusieurs choses, me fit-il, mais ceste priere m'a semblé la meilleure de toutes. Mirinan oukachigakhi nimitchiminan: donne nous auiourd'huy nostre nourriture: donne nous à manger; [83] voyla vne excellente Oraison, disoit-il. Ie ne m'estonne pas de ceste Philosophie; Animalis homo, non percipit ea quæ sunt Spiritus Dei. Qui n'a iamais esté qu'à l'escole de la chair, ne sçauroit parler le langage de l'esprit.

Now to end this whole story, I asked this Savage what this Prayer was that he preferred to all others. "Thou hast told us many things," he replied; "but this prayer has seemed to me the best of all: Mirinan oukachigakhi nimitchiminan, 'Give us to-day our food, give us something to eat.' [83] This is an excellent Prayer," he said. I am not surprised at this Philosophy; Animalis homo, non percipit ea quæ sunt Spiritus Dei. He who has never been at any school but that of the flesh, cannot speak the language of the spirit.

[38] Le vingt-septiesme du mesme mois de Ianuier vn Sauuage me vint apprendre vn secret bien cogneu des Algonquains, mais non pas des Montagnais; aussi n'est-il pas de ce pays-cy, ains de bien auant dans les terres. Il me dit donc, que si quelqu'vn de nos François vouloit l'accompagner, qu'il s'en iroit pescher sous la glace d'vn grand estang, placé à quelque cinq mille pas au delà de la grande Riuiere, vis-à-vis de nostre Habitation. Il y alla en effet, & rapporta quelques poissons; ce qui consola fort nos François: car ils peuuent maintenant au plus fort [84] des glaces, tendre des rets dans cét estang. I'ay veu ceste pesche: voicy comme ils s'y comportent. Ils sont à grands coups de hache vn trou assez grandelet dans la glace de l'estang; ils en font d'autres plus petits, d'espaces en espaces, & auec des perches ils passent vne fiscelle de trous en trous par dessous la glace: ceste fiscelle aussi longue que les rets qu'on veut tendre, se va arrester au dernier trou, par lequel on tire, & on estend dedans l'eau toute la rets qui luy est attachée. Voyla comme on tend les filets pour la premiere fois, quand on les veut visiter, il est fort aisé: car on les retire par la plus grande ouuerture, pour en recueillir le poisson, puis il ne faut que retirer la fiscelle pour les retendre, les perches ne seruans qu'à passer la première fois la fiscelle. Quand Dieu aura beny ces contrées d'vne peuplade de François, [85] on trouuera mille biens, & mille commoditez sur le pays, que ces Barbares ignorent.

On the twenty-seventh of the same month of January a Savage came to acquaint me with a secret well known among the Algonquains, but not among the Montagnais; neither is it known in this part of the country, but farther into the interior. He told me that, if some one of our Frenchmen would accompany him, he would go and fish under the ice of a great pond, located some five thousand paces beyond the great River, opposite our Settlement. One of them did, in fact, go there, and brought back some fish, which greatly comforted our French people, for they can now, in the thickest [84] ice, stretch their nets in this pond. I have seen them fish in this way; now see how they do it. With great blows of the axe they make a tolerably large hole in the ice of the pond; then at intervals they make other smaller ones, and by the use of poles they pass a cord from hole to hole under the ice; this cord, which is as long as the nets they wish to stretch, stops at the last hole, through which it is drawn, and they spread out in the water the whole net which is attached to it. This is the way they spread the nets the first time. When they wish to examine them, it is very easily done, for they draw them out through the largest opening, to collect the fish from them; then it is only necessary to draw back the cord to respread the nets, the poles serving only to put the cord through the first time. When God has blessed these countries with a colony of French, [85] there will result a thousand benefits and a thousand conveniences for the country, of which these Barbarians are ignorant.

Le sixiesme de Feurier la grande Riuiere fut gelée tout à fait, en sorte qu'on passoit dessus en asseurance; elle gela mesme deuant Kebec, ce qui est fort extraordinaire, à raison que les marées sont là fort [40] violentes. Il me semble que la rigueur de l'hyuer s'est fait sentir particulièrement en ce mois cy.

On the sixth of February, the great River was completely frozen over, so that one could walk over it in safety; it even froze opposite Kebec, which is very extraordinary, as the tides there are very strong. It seems to me that the severity of the winter makes itself especially felt during this month.

Le huictiesme de Mars mourut ceste femme Sauuage nommée Anne, dont i'ay parlé au Chapitre second: cõme les douleurs de la mort approchoient, elle disoit par fois toute seule, nitapoueten, nitapoueten, Ie croy, ie croy, nisadkihau, nisadkihau. Ie l'ayme, ie l'ayme: ouaskoucki nioui itoutan. Ie veux aller au Ciel: & vne fois elle me dit, comme ie la quittois, après l'auoir instruite & [86] visitée en sa maladie; Tu m'as seruy de père iusques icy, continuë iusques à ma mort, qui ne tardera pas; retourne moy voir au plustost, & si tu me vois si bas, que ie ne puisse parler, souuienne toy que ie penseray tousiours à ce que tu m'as dit, & que ie croiray tousiours en mon cœur. Vn Sauuage m'ayant informé qu'elle n'estoit point de ce pays-cy, ie l'interrogeay quelques iours deuant sa mort de sa patrie: elle me dit, que ceux de sa Nation s'appelloient ouperigoue ouaouakhi, qu'ils habitoiẽt bien auant dans les terres plus bas que Tadoussac, de mesme costé; qu'on pouuoit par des fleuues descendre de leur pays dans la grande riuiere de sainct Laurens; que ses Compatriotes n'auoient aucun commerce auec les Europeans; c'est pourquoy, disoit-elle, ils se seruent de haches de pierres; qu'ils ont des [87] Cerfs, & des Castors en abondance, mais fort peu d'Elans; qu'ils parlent le langage Montagnais, & qu'ils ne manqueroient de venir à la traitte auec les François, n'estoit que les Sauuages de Tadoussac les veulent tuer quand ils les rencontrent. Ie ne sçay si ce ne sont point ceux que nous appellons Bersiamites, dont quelques-vns ont esté cruellement massacrez cette année à Tadoussac. Ces perfides Sauuages les accueillirent [42] fort humainement, & quand ils les eurent en leur puissance, ils les mirent à mort traistreusement.

On the eighth of March occurred the death of the Savage woman named Anne, of whom I have spoken in Chapter second; as the anguish of death approached, she said at times to herself, nitapoueten, nitapoueten, "I believe, I believe;" nisadkihau, nisadkihau, "I love him, I love him;" ouaskoucki nioui itoutan, "I wish to go to Heaven;" and once she said to me, as I was leaving her after having instructed and [86] visited her in her sickness; "Thou hast been a father to me up to the present; continue so until my death, which will not be long; come back and see me very soon, and if thou seest me so low I cannot speak, remember that I shall always think of what thou hast said to me, and that I shall always believe in my heart." As a Savage had informed me that she did not belong to this region, I asked her a few days before her death about her native country: she told me that the people of her Nation were called ouperigoue ouaouakhi, that they dwelt farther back in the interior, below Tadoussac, and on the same side; that they could descend through the rivers from their country to the great river saint Lawrence; that her Countrymen had no commerce with the Europeans; "that is why," she said, "they use hatchets made of stone;" that they have [87] Deer and Beavers in abundance, but very few Elk; that they speak the Montagnais language, and that they would certainly come and trade with the French, were it not that the Savages of Tadoussac try to kill them when they encounter them. I do not know whether these are the ones that we call Bersiamites, some of whom have been cruelly massacred this year at Tadoussac. These perfidious Savages received them very kindly, and, when they had them in their power, treacherously put them to death.

Le cinquiesme d'Auril vn Sauuage Montaignais vint rapporter au Pere Buteux, que nos Peres, & nos François qui les accompagnoient auoient esté delaissez dans les bois, & liez à des arbres par les Hurons qui les menoient en leur pays, lesquels [88] s'estans trouuez mal d'vne certaine epidemie qui affligea l'Automne passé toutes ces Nations, creurent que ceste maladie leur estoit causée par les François, ce qui les auoit reduits à les traitter de la sorte, & ce sauuage asseuroit auoir appris ceste nouuelle de la bouche de quelques Bissiriniens, voisins des Hurons. Nous remismes toute ceste affaire entre les mains de N. Seigneur, qui prendra nos vies dans les temps, & dans les occasions qu'il luy plaira. Nous auiõs desia appris, comme i'escriuy l'an passé des mauuaises nouuelles du P. Anthoine Daniel qu'on nous faisoit quasi mort: mais en fin la bonté de Dieu nous a consolez; car la pluspart de ces bruits se sont trouuez faux. Il est vray que le Pere Daniel, & tous les autres, ont souffert incomparablement en leur voyage, comme V. R. pourra veoir [89] par la Relation du Pere Brebeuf.

On the fifth day of April, a Montaignais Savage came to report to Father Buteux that our Fathers and our Frenchmen who accompanied them had been abandoned in the woods and tied to trees, by the Hurons who were taking them to their country,—who, [88] falling ill with a certain epidemic which last Autumn afflicted all these Nations, believed that this malady was caused by the French, and it was this which made them treat the French in this way; this savage declared that he had heard the news from the lips of some Bissiriniens, neighbors of the Hurons. We placed the whole matter in the hands of Our Lord, who will take our lives at the time and in the manner that shall please him. We had already learned, as I wrote last year, the bad news about Father Anthoine Daniel, who had been reported to us as almost dead; but at last the goodness of God has comforted us, for most of these reports are found to be false. It is true that Father Daniel and all the others have endured incomparable sufferings in their voyage, as Your Reverence can see [89] by the Relation of Father Brebeuf.

Le quatorziesme du mesme mois, toutes les glaces estant parties, ie m'embarquay dans vn canot auec vn de nos François, & vn Algonquain, pour aller veoir ce beau lac ou estang, dont i'ay parlé cy dessus, que i'auois veu tout glacé pendant l'hyuer. En chemin ie vis la chasse du Rat musqué; cét animal a vne fort longue queuë, il y en a de gros comme des lapins: quand il paroissent sur l'eau les Sauuages les suiuent dans leurs petits canots; aussi-tost ces Rats se [44] voyant poursuiuis se plongent en l'eau, & leurs ennemis s'en vont viste, où ils preuoyent qu'ils reuiendront au dessus pour prendre haleine: bref ils les poursuiuent tant qu'ils les lassent, en sorte qu'ils sont contraints de rester quelque tẽps au dessus de l'eau, pour n'estre suffoquez: alors ils les [90] assomment auec leurs auirons, ou les tuent à coups de fleches. Quand cét animal a gaigné la terre, il se sauue ordinairement dans son trou. On l'appelle Rat musqué, pource qu'en effect vne partie de son corps prise au Printemps sent le musc, en autre temps elle n'a point d'odeur.

On the fourteenth of the same month, as the ice was completely broken up, I embarked in a canoe with one of our Frenchmen and an Algonquain, to go and see the beautiful lake or pond of which I have spoken above, and which I had seen all frozen over during the winter. On the way, I saw a Muskrat hunt. Some of these animals are as large as rabbits; they have very long tails. When they appear upon the water, the Savages follow them in their little canoes; these Rats, upon seeing themselves pursued, immediately dive into the water, their enemies hurrying quickly to the place where they expect them to come up again to take breath; in short, they pursue them until they are tired out, so that they must remain above the water a little while, in order not to suffocate; then they [90] knock them down with their paddles, or kill them with arrows. When this animal has gained the land, it usually saves itself by hiding in its hole. It is called Muskrat because, in fact, a part of its body smells of musk, if caught in the Spring,—at other times, it has no odor.

Le vingt-vniesme, ie partis des trois Riuieres pour venir à Kebec, afin de m'y trouuer, selon le desir de nos Peres, à la venuë des vaisseaux. Nous les attendions de bonne heure, ils sont venus bien tard, le mauuais temps leur a causé vne rude trauerse; nous esperions de les veoir sur la fin de May, & nous n'en auons eu nouuelle que le vingt-cinquiesme de Iuin; auquel temps arriua vn canot enuoyé de Tadoussac, qui rapporta qu'vn vaisseau estoit à l'Isle du Bic, & qu'il en venoit encore cinq ou six, auec bonne [91] deliberation de combattre tous ceux qu'ils trouueroient dans la Riuiere sans Commission.

On the twenty-first, I left three Rivers to come to Kebec, in order to be there, according to the wish of the Fathers, at the coming of the ships. We expected them early, but they came very late, the bad weather having caused them to have a rough passage; we hoped to see them towards the end of May, and we had no news of them until the twenty-fifth of June, when a canoe arrived, sent from Tadoussac, which reported that a ship was at the Island of Bic, and that five or six more of them were coming, with the firm [91] determination to attack all those they found in the River without Commissions.

Le quatriesme de Iuillet, vne chalouppe enuoyée de la part de Monsieur du Plessis Bochart, general de la flotte, resioüit tous nos Frãçois, & nous asseura de sa venuë, & qu'il estoit suiuy de huict forts nauires, six pour Tadoussac, & deux pour Mifcou, sans ce que l'on enuoyoit au Cap Breton, & coste de l'Acadie à M^r le Com. de Razilly.

On the fourth of July, a shallop sent from Monsieur du Plessis Bochart, commandant of the fleet, gladdened all our French,—assuring us of his coming, and that he was followed by eight strong ships, six for Tadoussac and two for Miscou, not including the one sent to Cape Breton and the coast of Acadia, to Monsieur the Commandant de Razilly.

Le dixiesme vne barque montant en haut, nous apporta le Pere Pijart. A mesme temps deux de nos François descendant des Hurons, nous presenterent [46] les lettres de nos Peres qui sont en ce pays-là; c'estoit nous réjoüyr de toutes parts. D'vn costé le Pere nous témoignoit que V. R. nous enuoyoit 4. de nos Peres, & 2. de nos Freres pour renfort, [92] & deux autres Peres pour la Residẽce de S. Charles. Qu'vne infinité de personnes cherissoient ceste Mission, & que V. R. toute pleine de cœur, nous donneroit tous les ans autant d'ouuriers Euangeliques, que la Mission en pourroit nourrir; l'ardeur de venir souffrir quelques choses en ces contrées pour la gloire de nostre Seigneur, estant quasi incroyable. D'autre costé la sãté de nos Peres dans les Hurons, où on les faisoit morts, les bonnes dispositions de ces Peuples, pour receuoir les veritez Chrestiennes; l'affection qu'ils nous portent, nous faisoit benir le sainct Nom de Dieu, & luy rendre graces de tant de benedictions, qu'il va respandant sur ceste entreprise.

On the tenth, a bark which was ascending the river brought us Father Pijart.[8] At the same time, two of our Frenchmen, coming down from the Hurons. presented to us the letters of our Fathers who are in that country; so we received cheering news from all sides. On the one hand, the Father testified to us that Your Reverence was sending us 4 of our Fathers, and 2 of our Brothers, as a reinforcement, [92] and two other Fathers for the Residence of St. Charles; that a vast number of people cherished this Mission, and that Your Reverence, in the fulness of your heart, would every year give as many Gospel workers as the Mission could support; the zeal to come and suffer something in these countries for the glory of our Lord, being almost incredible. On the other hand, the good health of our Fathers among the Hurons, where they were reported dead, and the good disposition of those Peoples to receive the Christian truths, and the affection they bear us, make us bless the holy Name of God, and render him thanks for so many blessings as he is about to pour down upon this enterprise.

Le douziesme, Monsieur le Cheualier de la Roche-Iacquelin, commandant le nauire nommé le Sainct [93] Iacques, vint moüiller l'ancre deuant Kebec. Nostre Frere Pierre Feauté l'ayant remercié de sa bienueillance, nous vint veoir en nostre petite Maison de nostre Dame des Anges. Le lendemain nostre ioye s'accreut par la venuë du Père Claude Quantin & de nostre Frere Pierre Tellier, portez dans le vaisseau du Capitaine de Nesle.

On the twelfth, Monsieur the Chevalier de la Roche-Jacquelin, commandant of the ship called "Sainct [93] Jacques," cast anchor before Kebec. Our Brother Pierre Feauté,[9] having thanked him for his kindness, came to see us in our little House of nostre Dame des Anges. The next day our joy was increased by the arrival of Father Claude Quantin[10] and of our Brother Pierre Tellier, who were brought in the ship of Captain de Nesle.

Le vingtiesme, Monsieur le General nous rendit le Pere le Mercier, qu'il amena dans sa barque; tous ces iours nous estoient des iours de ioye & de contentement, voyant & nos François & nos Peres en bonne santé, apres beaucoup de tourmente sur la mer.

On the twentieth, Monsieur the General conveyed to us Father Mercier,[11] whom he had brought in his bark. All these days were for us days of joy and contentment, seeing both our French and our Fathers in good health after much suffering upon the sea.

Le vingt-deuxiesme de Iuillet se fit vne Assemblée ou vn Conseil entre les François & les Hurons. Le [48] Pere Buteux qui estoit descendu de la Residence de la Conception, & moy [94] y assistasmes. Apres les affaires communes, Monsieur de Champlain nostre Gouuerneur, recommanda auec vne affection energigue nos Peres, & les François qui les accompagnoient à ces Peuples; il leur fit dire, que s'ils vouloient conseruer & accroistre l'amitié qu'ils ont auec les François, qu'il falloit qu'ils receussent nostre creance, & adorassent le Dieu que nous adorons; que cela leur seroit grandement profitable: car Dieu pouuant tout, les benira, les protegera, leur donnera la victoire contre leurs ennemis; que les François iront en bon nombre en leur Pays; qu'ils épouseront leurs filles quand elles seront Chrestiennes: qu'ils enseigneront à toute leur nation à faire des haches, des cousteaux, & autres choses qui leur sont fort necessaires, & qu'à cet effet ils deuroient dés l'an prochain [95] amener bon nombre de leurs petits garçons, que nous les logerons bien, que nous les nourrirons, & que nous les instruirons & cherirons comme s'ils estoient nos petits Freres. Et pour autant que tous les Capitaines ne pouuoient des descendre en bas, qu'ils tiendroient Conseil sur ce sujet en leur Pays, auquel ils appelloient Echom, c'est ainsi qu'il appellent le Pere Brebeuf: & là dessus leur donnant vne lettre pour luy porter, il adiousta: Voicy que i'informe le Pere de tous ces points. Il se trouuera en vostre Assemblée, & vous fera vn present que ses Freres luy enuoyent: là vous ferez paroistre si veritablement vous aymez les François. I'auois suggeré ces pensées à Monsieur nostre gouuerneur qu'il approuua; mais encore il les amplifia auec mille loüanges & mille tesmoignages d'affectiõ enuers nostre [96] Compagnie. Monsieur [50] le General prit aussi la parole sur ce sujet, & fit tout son possible pour donner à cognoistre à ces Peuples, l'estime que sont les grands Capitaines de France des Peres qu'on leur enuoye; & tout cela pour les disposer à recognoistre le Dieu des François, & de tout l'Vniuers. A ce discours vn Capitaine repartit, qu'ils ne manqueroient pas de rendre ceste lettre, & de tenir Conseil sur les Articles proposez. Qu'au reste que toute leur Nation aymoit tous les François, & qu'il sembloit neantmoins, que les François n'aymoient qu'vne seule de leurs Bourgades, puisque tous ceux qui montoient en leur Pays la prenoient pour leur demeure. On leur respondit, que iusques icy ils n'auoient eu qu'vn petit nombre de nos François, & que s'ils embrassoient nostre creance, qu'ils en auroient [97] en toutes leurs Bourgades.

On the twenty-second of July, there was held an Assembly or Council between the French and the Hurons. Father Buteux, who had come down from the Residence of the Conception, and I [94] participated therein. After public affairs, Monsieur de Champlain, our Governor, very affectionately recommended our Fathers, and the French who accompanied them, to these Tribes; he told them, through an interpreter, that if they wished to preserve and strengthen their friendship with the French, they must receive our belief and worship the God that we worshiped; that this would be very profitable to them, for God, being all-powerful, will bless and protect them, and make them victorious over their enemies; that the French will go in goodly numbers to their Country; that they will marry their daughters when they become Christians; that they will teach all their people to make hatchets, knives, and other things which are very necessary to them; and that for this purpose they must next year [95] bring many of their little boys, whom we will lodge comfortably, and will feed, instruct and cherish as if they were our little Brothers. And that, inasmuch as all the Captains could not come down there, they should hold a Council upon this matter in their Country, to which they should summon Echom,—it is thus they call Father Brebeuf;[12] and then, giving them a letter to bear to him, he added, "Here I inform the Father of all these points. He will be in your Assembly, and will make you a present that his Brothers send him; there you will show whether you truly love the French." I suggested these thoughts to Monsieur our governor, and he approved them; but he also amplified them with a thousand praises and a thousand proofs of affection towards our [96] Society. Monsieur the General also said a few words upon this subject, and did all he could to let these Peoples know the high estimation in which the great Captains of France hold these Fathers that they send over to them; and all this was done to dispose them to recognize the God of the French and of the whole Universe. To this discourse a Chief replied that they would not fail to deliver this letter, and to hold a Council upon the Matters proposed. That, as to the rest, their whole Nation loved all the French; and yet, notwithstanding this, the French loved only one of their Villages, since all those who had come up to their Country selected that as their dwelling place. They were answered that, up to the present, they had had only a few of our Frenchmen; and that, if they embraced our belief, they would have some of them [97] in all their villages.

Au sortir du Conseil nous allasmes veoir ceux qui voudroient embarquer le P. le Mercier & le Pere Pijart auec leur petit bagage, pour les porter en leur Pays: le Pere Brebeuf m'en auoit assigné quelquesvns dans ses lettres, mais plusieurs se presentoient; ils regardoient les Pères attentiuement, les mesuroient de leurs yeux, ils demandoient s'ils n'estoient point meschants, s'ils rameroient bien, ils les prenoient par les mains, & leur faisoient signe qu'il faudroit bien remuer l'auiron.

At the conclusion of the Council, we went to see those who were to take on board Father le Mercier and Father Pijart, with their little baggage, to convey them into their Country; Father Brebeuf had designated certain ones to me in his letter, but several presented themselves. They gazed attentively at the Fathers, measured them with their eyes, asked if they were ill-natured, if they paddled well; then took them by the hands, and made signs to them that it would be necessary to handle the paddles well.

En fin le vingt-troisiesme du mesme mois de Iuillet nos Sauuages bien contens, embarquerent nos deux Peres, & vn ieune garçon François, qui a desia passé vne année dans le pays: iamais ie ne vy personnes plus ioyeuses que ces bons Peres, on les fit mettre pieds nuds à l'entrée [98] de leur nauire d'escorce, [52] de peur de les gaster, ils s'y mettent gayement, portans vn œil, & vn visage tout ioyeux, dans les souffrances qu'ils vont rencontrer. Ie me represente vn S. André volant à la Croix; on les separa en trois canots; celuy qui portoit le Pere Pijart estant le premier prest tira droit au bord, c'est à dire au vaisseau de Monsieur le Cheualier, pour luy donner le dernier adieu, & le remercier encore vne fois, des courtoisies fort particulieres qu'il auoit receu de luy, passant dans son nauire depuis la France iusques à Tadoussac. Apres l'auoir salüé Monsieur le Cheualier fit ietter des pruneaux dãs son canot pour les Sauuages qui le menoient, & fit tirer trois volées de canon par honneur. Ces pauures Barbares tressailloiẽt d'aise, mettant la main sur leur bouche en signe d'estonnement.

At last, on the twenty-third of the same month of July, our Savages, well pleased, embarked our two Fathers and a young French boy who has already passed a year in the country. I never saw persons more joyful than were these good Fathers; they had to go barefooted into the [98] bark ships, for fear of spoiling them, and they did this gayly, with glad eyes and faces, notwithstanding the sufferings they were about to encounter. I was reminded of St. Andrew flying to the Cross. They were taken in three different canoes; the one that carried Father Pijart being the first ready, it went directly alongside, that is, of the ship of Monsieur the Chevalier, to say to him his last adieus and to thank him once more for very especial courtesies received from him while crossing in his ship from France to Tadoussac. After having saluted him, Monsieur the Chevalier had some prunes thrown into his canoe for the Savages who were taking him, and had the cannon fired off three times in his honor. These poor Barbarians were thrilled with delight, placing their hands over their mouths as a sign of astonishment.

[99] Le Pere le Mercier vint apres dans son canot, pour recognoistre les obligations qu'il a à Monsieur le General, & prendre congé de luy; il ne sçauoit en quels termes nous tesmoigner le soin qu'il a des nostres, qui passent auec luy dans son vaisseau. Apres les adieux, on ietta aussi des prunes à ses conducteurs, le canon du vaisseau & de la barque, faisant entendre aux Sauuages, qu'ils deuoient auoir grand soin de ceux que nos Capitaines François honoroient auec tant d'affection.

[99] Father le Mercier came afterward in his canoe, to acknowledge the obligations he was under to Monsieur the General, and to take leave of him; the latter did not know how to express the interest he felt in those of our society who had come over with him in his ship. After the farewells, they also threw some prunes to his boatmen, the cannon of the ship and of the bark making these Savages understand that they must take good care of those whom our French Captains honored with so much affection.

Il arriua vne chose plaisante en ces entrefaites, le Pere Buteux en mesme temps remontoit aux trois Riuieres dans vn canot, les Sauuages qui le conduisoient, voyans l'accueil qu'on faisoit aux Peres, & aux Sauuages qui alloient aux Hurons, tirerent comme auoient fait [100] les deux autres canots au vaisseau où estoit Monsieur le General, & Monsieur le Cheualier. Le Pere Buteux leur crie, Ce n'est pas là où il faut aller, ie ne vay pas aux Hurons. Il n'importe, [54] puis qu'on faisoit là du bien à ceux qui portoient nos Peres, ceux-cy en vouloient gouster aussi bien que les autres; aussi leur fit on la mesme courtoisie.

In the midst of these ceremonies a laughable incident occurred. Father Buteux was starting at the same time to return to the three Rivers in a canoe; the Savages who were taking him, seeing the honors bestowed on the Fathers and the Savages who were going to the Hurons, turned, as [100] the other two canoes had done, to the ship where Monsieur the General and Monsieur the Chevalier were. Father Buteux called to them, "You must not go there; I am not going to the Hurons." It did not matter; since favors had there been bestowed upon those who were taking our Fathers, these wished to taste some of them, as well as the others; so they were shown the same courtesy.

Le premier iour d'Aoust le Pere Buteux m'escriuit des trois Riuieres, ou il estoit allé, comme i'ay dit, que les Sauuages Montaignais auoient esleu vn nouueau Capitaine, celuy qu'ils auoient auparauant nõmé Capitanal estant mort dés l'Automne passé: ce Capitanal estoit vn homme de bon sens, grand amy des François; assemblant les Principaux de sa Nation à la mort, il leur enioignit de conseruer cette bonne [101] intelligence auec ses amis, leur disant que pour preuue de l'amour qu'il nous portoit, qu'il desiroit encore apres sa mort demeurer auec nous, & sur l'heure il se fit rapporter de delà le grand fleuue où il estoit, pour mourir auprés de la nouuelle Habitation. Il demanda aussi qu'il fust porté en terre par les mains de nos François, ausquels il destina vn petit present; bref il supplia, qu'on luy donnast sepulture auprés de ses amis. Tout cela luy fut accordé, Monsieur de Champlain a fait mettre vne petite closture à l'entour de son tombeau, pour le rendre remarquable. Si nous eussions esté pour lors aux trois Riuieres, ie ne doute point qu'il ne fust mort Chrestien: I'ay vn grand regret à la mort de cét homme: car il auoit témoigné en plein Conseil, que son dessein estoit d'arrester ceux [102] de sa Nation aupres du fort de la riuiere d'Anguien; il m'en auoit aussi donné parole en particulier, il estoit aymé des siens & des François: c'est ce Capitaine qui rauit il y a deux ans tous ses auditeurs en vne Harangue, dont ie fis mention pour lors. S'il viuoit encore, il fauoriseroit sans doute ce que nous allons entreprendre ce [56] Printemps, pour les pouuoir rendre sedentaires petit à petit.

On the first day of August, Father Buteux wrote me from the three Rivers,—where he had gone, as I have said,—that the Montaignais Savages had elected a new Captain, the one whom they had formerly called Capitanal having died the previous Autumn. This Capitanal was a man of good sense, and a great friend of the French. Assembling the Principal Men of his Nation at the time of his death, he charged them to preserve this good [101] understanding with his friends, telling them that, as a proof of the love he bore us, he would like, even after death, to live with us; and he straightway had himself carried from beyond the great river, where he was, to die near the new Settlement. He also asked to be borne to the grave by the hands of our French, for whom he designated a little present; in short, he begged that he might be buried near his friends. All this was granted him; Monsieur de Champlain has had a little enclosure placed around his grave, to distinguish it. If we had then been at three Rivers, I do not doubt that he would have died a Christian. I was very sorry when this man died; for he had shown in open Council that his purpose was to have the people [102] of his Nation settle near the fort of the Anguien river;[13] he had spoken to me also about this in private. He was loved by his people and by the French; it was this Captain who delighted all his hearers by a Speech he made two years ago, which I mentioned at the time. If he still lived, he would without doubt favor what we are going to undertake this Spring, to be able to make them, little by little, a sedentary people.

Comme ainsi soit que ces pauures Barbares soient dés long temps accoustumez à estre faineants, il est difficile qu'ils s'arrestent à cultiuer la terre, s'ils ne sont secourus. Nous auons donc dessein de voir, si quelque famille veut quitter ses courses; s'il s'en trouue quelqu'vne, nous employerons au renouueau trois hommes à planter du bled d'Inde, proche de la nouuelle Habitation [103] des trois Riuieres, où ce peuple se plaist grandement. Si cette famille s'arreste pendant l'hyuer, nous la nourrirons de bled de nostre recolte & de la sienne; car elle mettra aussi la main à l'œuure: si elle ne s'arreste point nous retirerons nostre part, & la laisserons aller.

As it happens that these poor Barbarians have been for a long time accustomed to be idlers, it is hard for them to locate and cultivate the soil unless they are assisted. Our plan now is to see if some family is not willing to give up these wanderings; if one be found, we will in the spring employ three men to plant Indian corn near the new Settlement [103] at the three Rivers, with which these people are greatly pleased. If this family settles there during the winter, we will maintain them with corn from our harvest and from theirs, for they will also work; if they do not stay with us, we will withdraw our assistance and let them go.

Ce seroit vn grand bien, & pour leurs corps, & pour leurs ames, & pour le trafique de ces Messieurs, si ces Nations estoient stables, & si elles se rẽdoient dociles à nostre direction; ce qu'elles feront comme i'espere auec le temps. S'ils sont sedentaires, & s'ils cultiueut la terre, ils ne mourront pas de faim comme il leur arriue souuent dans leurs courses; on les pourra instruire aisément, & les Castors se multiplieront beaucoup; ces animaux sont plus feconds que nos brebis de France, [104] les femelles portent iusques à cinq & six petits chaque année: mais les Sauuages trouuans vne cabane tuent tout, grands & petits, & masles & femelles: il y a danger qu'en fin ils n'exterminent tout à fait l'espece en ces Pays, comme il en est arriué aux Hurons, lesquels n'ont pas vn seul Castor, allans traitter ailleurs les pelleteries qu'ils apportẽt au Magazin de ces Messieurs. Or on fera en [58] sorte que nos Montaignais, auec le temps, s'ils s'arrestent, que chaque famille prenne son cartier pour la chasse, sans se ietter sur les brisees de ses voisins: de plus on leur conseillera de ne tuer que les masles, & encore ceux qui seront grands. S'ils goustent ce conseil, ils auront de la chair & des peaux de Castor en tres-grande abondance.

It would be a great blessing for their bodies, for their souls, and for the traffic of these Gentlemen, if those Tribes were stationary, and if they became docile to our direction, which they will do, I hope, in the course of time. If they are sedentary, and if they cultivate the land, they will not die of hunger, as often happens to them in their wanderings; we shall be able to instruct them easily, and Beavers will greatly multiply. These animals are more prolific than our sheep in France, [104] the females bearing as many as five or six every year; but, when the Savages find a lodge of them, they kill all, great and small, male and female. There is danger that they will finally exterminate the species in this Region, as has happened among the Hurons, who have not a single Beaver, going elsewhere to buy the skins they bring to the storehouse of these Gentlemen. Now it will be so arranged that, in the course of time, each family of our Montaignais, if they become located, will take its own territory for hunting, without following in the tracks of its neighbors; besides, we will counsel them not to kill any but the males, and of those only such as are large. If they act upon this advice, they will have Beaver meat and skins in the greatest abundance.

Quant aux hommes que nous desirons employer pour l'assistance [105] des Sauuages, Monsieur de Champlain nous a promis qu'il nous en accommoderoit de ceux qui sont en l'habitation des trois Riuieres, à raison que ne faisant point défricher pour nous là haut, nous n'y tenons point d'hommes, mais deux Peres tant seulement qui ont soin du salut de nos François. Nous satisferons pour les gages, & pour la nourriture de ces ouuriers, à proportion du temps que nous les occuperons à défricher & cultiuer auec les Sauuages: si i'en pouuois entretenir vne douzaine, ce seroit le vray moyen de gaigner les Sauuages: Nostre Seigneur pour lequel nous entrons dans ce dessein la veille benir par sa bonté, & ouurir les oreilles à ce pauure Peuple abandonné.

As to the men whom we wish to employ for the assistance [105] of the Savages, Monsieur de Champlain has promised us that he would let us have those who are at the settlement of the three Rivers; for, as they have not cleared any land there for us, we do not keep any workmen there, but merely two Fathers who care for the religious needs of our French. We will arrange for the wages and food of these workmen, according to the time we shall employ them in clearing and cultivating the land with our Savages; if I had the means of supporting a dozen, this would be the true way to gain the Savages. May Our Lord, for whom we enter into this project, bless it through his goodness, and open the ears of these poor abandoned People.

Le dixiesme de ce mois le Pere Masse, & le Pere Buteux nous écriuent [106] de la Residence de la Conception, que le bruit est la haut, que les Hiroquois ont défait sept canots de la petite Nation des Algonquains; si cela est la paix dont i'ay parlé cy-dessus est desia rompuë: Car nos Montagnais alliez des Algonquains suiuront leur party.

On the tenth of this month, Father Masse and Father Buteux wrote me [106] from the Residence of the Conception that it was reported there that the Hiroquois had destroyed seven canoes of the petite Nation of the Algonquains;[14] if this be true, the peace, of which I have spoken above, is already broken, for our Montagnais allies of the Algonquains will take sides with them.

On m'a rapporté, ie ne sçay s'il est vray, qu'vn certain Sauuage nommé la Grenoüille, qui fait icy du Capitaine, a dit que les Hiroquois, auec lesquels il auoit traitté la paix, les ont incité à tuer quelques Hurons, & de prendre guerre auec eux.

I have heard a report, I do not know how true it is, that a certain Savage named "the Frog" [la Grenoüille], who acts as Captain here, has said that the Hiroquois, with whom he had made a treaty of peace, have incited them to kill some of the Hurons, and to make war against them.

[60] Les plus auisez croient que c'est vne ruse de ceux qui traittent auec ces Peuples, & qui s'efforcent par leur entremise, de diuertir les Hurons de commerce qu'ils ont auec nos François; ce qui arriueroit, si nos Montagnais leur faisoient la [107] guerre, & alors ils les attireroient à leurs Habitations, d'où s'ensuiuroit vn tres-notable detrimẽt pour Messieurs les Associez de la Compagnie de la Nouuelle France.

Those best informed believe that this is a ruse of those who trade with these Tribes, and who are striving to divert, through their agency, the Hurons from their commerce with our French; which would happen if our Montagnais made [107] war against them; and then they [the traders] would attract them to their Settlements, and there would result a very considerable injury to the Associated Gentlemen of the Company of New France.

Le dix-septiesme du mesme mois d'Aoust, le Pere de Quen arriua à Kebec dans vne chalouppe, qu'enuoyoit le Capitaine Bontemps pour donner aduis de sa venuë à Tadoussac. Or comme on a veu ceste année les glaces espouuantables sur la mer; vne entre autres de trente à quarante lieuës, d'autres disent de soixante lieuës d'estenduë; vn Pilote m'a asseuré qu'ils la costoierent trois iours & trois nuits ayans vn assez bon vent en poupe, & qu'en quelques endroits elle auoit des campagnes toutes rases, & en d'autres elle se releuoit en collines, & en hautes montagnes. De plus on a veu quelques vaisseaux Turcs, au sortir [108] de la Manche, & quelques nauires degradez voguer en mer çà & là sans vergues & sans voiles, qu'on croit auoir esté pris de ces infideles, lesquels abandonnent souuent les vaisseaux qu'ils rauissent, apres auoir enleué tout ce qui est dedans. Comme disie tous ces bruits couroient, nous auions tous perdu l'esperance de veoir le Capitaine Bontemps, la saison de voguer icy se passant; c'est pourquoy sa venuë inesperée a causé d'autant plus de ioye, qu'on eust esté marry qu'vn si braue Capitaine & vn si bel equipage se fust perdu. Le Pere de Quen nous raconta l'occasion de leur retardement, & nous donna sujet de loüer Dieu, qui les a tiré des ombres de la mort, [62] les sauuant d'vn naufrage qui sembloit ineuitable.

On the seventeenth of the same month of August, Father de Quen[15] arrived at Kebec in a shallop which Captain Bontemps sent to give the news of his arrival at Tadoussac. Now as frightful icebergs have been seen this year upon the sea,—among others, one from thirty to forty, others say sixty leagues in extent, so large that a Pilot has assured me that he coasted along it for three days and three nights having a fair wind astern, and that in some places it had level plains, in others it rose into hills and high mountains: and since some Turkish vessels had been seen sailing out [108] of the English Channel, and some damaged ships floating here and there on the sea without masts and without sails,—which are believed to have been captured by those infidels, who often abandon ships which they plunder, after having robbed them of all they contain:[16] now as all these reports were being circulated, we had all lost hope of seeing Captain Bontemps, the season for sailing to this country having passed. It was this that made his unexpected arrival give us all the more joy, for we would have been sorry if so brave a Captain and so fine a crew had been lost. Father de Quen related to us the cause of their delay, and gave us reason to thank God, who drew them back from the shades of death, saving them from a shipwreck which seemed inevitable.

Le vingt-sixiesme du mesme mois [109] vn ieune homme qui est passé en la Nouuelle France, comme Soldat volontaire dans le vaisseau commãdé par Monsieur le Cheualier de la Roche Iacquelin, a abiuré publiquement les erreurs de Caluin, & embrassé les veritez Chrestiennes & Catholiques. Monsieur le Cheualier le voyant d'vn assez bon naturel, & l'ayant disposé à nous prester l'oreille, prit la peine luy-mesme de l'amener en nostre petite Maison, où par apres il m'est venu trouuer plusieurs fois luy tout seul, pour conferer auec moy; en fin apres luy auoir éclaircy les principaux points de nostre creance, il a voulu reporter à l'Ancienne France, le thresor de la verité que Dieu luy a fait trouuer en la Nouuelle.

On the twenty-sixth of the same month [109] a young man who came over into New France as a volunteer Soldier, in the ship commanded by Monsieur the Chevalier de la Roche Jacquelin, publicly abjured the errors of Calvin, and embraced the Christian and Catholic truths. Monsieur the Chevalier, seeing he had a very good disposition, and having inclined him to lend us an ear, himself took the trouble to bring him to our little House, where he afterwards came to see me several times alone, to confer with me. Finally, after having enlightened him upon the principal points of our belief, he desired to carry back to Old France the treasure of truth which God had led him to find in the New.

Le vingt-septiesme du mesme mois, nous auons veu sur les neuf [110] heures du soir ou enuiron vne grande éclypse de Lune, laquelle à mon aduis n'aura paru en France que sur les deux ou trois heures apres minuit.

On the twenty-seventh of the same month, we saw, towards nine [110] o'clock in the evening or thereabout, a great eclipse of the Moon, which in my opinion did not appear in France until two or three hours after midnight.

Mais il est temps d'arrester ma plume, laquelle ne pourra pas cette année respondre à plusieurs lettres, qu'vne barque qui descend à Tadoussac nous apportera apres le depart des vaisseaux. Il arriue par fois, soit par oubliance ou autrement, qu'on nous rend les lettres quand la flotte a desia fait voile, ce qui fait qu'on ne peut enuoyer les responses la mesme année. Pour nos Francois, & pour nos Peres qui sont au pays des Hurons, on ne doit attendre la response des lettres qu'on leur enuoye de France que deux ans apres: voire mesme si on nous donne icy les lettres qu'on leur adresse [111] pour leur faire tenir, apres le depart des Hurons qui ne descendent à Kebec qu'vne fois [64] l'an, les responses ne seront portées en France qu'au bout de trois ans. I'ay donné cét aduis tout exprés, pour nous excuser enuers plusieurs personnes qui nous font l'honneur de nous escrire, & qui ne voyent point de réponses la mesme année, & quelques-fois n'en voyent point du tout, les lettres ou les responses se perdans dans vne si grande longueur de temps & de chemin. Ie prie Dieu que celles-cy arriuent à bon port auec toute la flotte, elles porteront à vostre Reuerence, pour derniere conclusion, vne supplication tres-humble de se souuenir à l'Autel, & à l'Oratoire de nos pauures Sauuages, & de nous tous qui sommes ses enfans, & de moy particulierement [112] qui en ay plus de besoin que les autres, & qui me diray auec vostre permission, ce que ie suis,

Mon R. P.

Elle nous permettra, s'il luy plaist, d'implorer les prieres de tous nos Peres & de tous nos Freres de sa Prouince, ce que nous faisons encore tous tant que nous sommes, moy qui suis

En la Residence de nostre Dame des Anges, proche Kebec, en la Nouuelle France, ce 28. d'Aoust 1635.

Vostre tres-humble, & tres-obligé seruiteur en nostre Seigneur,

Pavl le Ievne.

ET

• P. Charles l'Allemant.
• P. Iean Brebeuf.
• P. Iean Daniel.
• P. Ambroise d'Auost.
• P. Anne de Noüe.
• P. Enemond Masse.
• P. Antoine Richard.
• P. François Mercier.
• P. Charles Turgis.
• P. Charles du Marché.
• P. Claude Quantin.
• P. Iacques Buteux.
• P. Iean de Quen.
• P. Pierre Pijart.

[66] Et nos Freres Gilbert Burel, Iean Liegeois, Pierre le Tellier, Pierre Feauté.

But it is time to drop my pen, which will not be able this year to answer several letters that a bark which goes down to Tadoussac will bring us after the departure of the ships. It sometimes happens, either from forgetfulness or for some other reason, that they deliver the letters after the fleet has already set sail, so that we cannot send the answers the same year. As to our Frenchmen and our Fathers who are in the country of the Hurons, answers to letters sent from France should not be expected until two years afterwards; indeed, even if letters addressed to them are given to us here [111] to hold for them, after the departure of the Hurons, who come down to Kebec only once a year, the answers will not be carried to France until the end of three years. I have given this information purposely, so as to excuse ourselves to persons who have done us the honor of writing to us, and who do not get their answers the same year, and sometimes do not get them at all, the letters or the replies being lost in so great a lapse of time and so long a journey. I pray God that these may arrive safely, together with all the fleet; they will bear to your Reverence, as a final conclusion, a very humble supplication to remember, at the Altar and in the Oratory, our poor Savages, and all of us who are your children,—especially me, [112] who have more need of it than the others, and who will call myself, with your permission, what I am,

My Reverend Father,

You will permit me, if you please, to implore the prayers of all our Fathers and of all our Brothers in your Province,—as, moreover, do all of us,—I who am,

At the Residence of nostre Dame des Anges, near Kebec, in New-France, this 28th of August, 1635.

Your very humble and greatly obliged servant in our Lord,

Paul le Jeune.

AND

• Father Charles l'Allemant.
• Father Jean Brebeuf.
• Father Jean Daniel.
• Father Ambroise d'Avost.
• Father Anne de Noüe.
• Father Enemond Masse.
• Father Antoine Richard.[17]
• Father François Mercier.
• Father Charles Turgis.[18]
• Father Charles du Marché.[19]
• Father Claude Quantin.
• Father Jacques Buteux.
• Father Jean de Quen.
• Father Pierre Pijart.

And our Brothers Gilbert Burel, Jean Liegeois,[20] Pierre le Tellier, Pierre Feauté.

---

[68] [113] Relation de ce qui s'est passé avx Hvrons, en l'année 1635.

Enuoyée à Kebec au Pere le Ieune, par le P. Brebeuf.

Mon R. Pere,

C'est pour vous rendre compte de nostre voyage en ce Pays des Hurons, lequel a esté remply de plus de fatigues, de pertes & de cousts que l'autre, mais aussi qui a esté suiuy & le sera, Dieu aidant, de plus de benedictions du Ciel.

[113] Relation of what occurred among the Hurons in the year 1635.

Sent to Kebec to Father le Jeune, Father Brebeuf.

My Reverend Father,

I send you an account of our journey into this Huron Country. It has been filled with more fatigues, losses and expenses than the other, but also has been followed, and will be, God aiding, by more of Heaven's blessings.

[114] Dés que l'an passé mil six cens trente quatre, nous arriuasmes aux trois Riuieres, où se faisoit la traitte, nous-nous trouuasmes dans plusieurs difficultez & perplexitez. Car d'vn costé il n'y auoit qu'onze canots de Hurons pour nous embarquer dix personnes que nous estions de surcroist, & qui pretendions aller en leur Pays. D'autre costé on estoit extremement en doute s'il en descendroit cette année là d'autres, attendu le grand eschet qu'ils auoient receu en guerre par les Hiroquois, nommez Sonontrerrhonons au Printemps dernier, & la crainte qu'ils auoient d'vne nouuelle armée. Cela nous mettoit fort en doute, si nous deuions prendre l'occasion d'aller telle qu'elle s'offroit, ou en attendre vne meilleure.

[114] When last year, one thousand six hundred and thirty-four, we arrived at the three Rivers, where the trading post was, we found ourselves in several difficulties and perplexities. For, on the one hand, there were only eleven Huron canoes to embark our ten additional persons who were intending to go into their Country. On the other, we were greatly in doubt whether any others would descend this year, considering the great loss they had experienced in war with the Hiroquois, named Sonontrerrhonons,[21] last Spring, and the fear they had of a new invasion. This placed us much in doubt whether we ought to take advantage of the opportunity which was presented, or wait for a better one.

En fin tout bien consideré nous [115] resolusmes de tenter fortune, iugeans qu'il importoit du tout, d'auoir vn pied dans le Pays, afin d'en ouurir la porte, qui sembloit estroittement fermée à la Foy. Cette resolution fut encore plus aisée que l'execution, qui [70] parauanture eust esté impossible sans le soin, la faueur & la liberalité de Monsieur du Plessis Bochard General de la flotte: car incõtinent après son arriuée, qui fut le cinquiesme Iuillet 1634. il fit tenir Conseil auec les Bissiriniens, ausquels il proposa le dessein qu'il auoit d'enuoyer quelques-vns auec eux, & de nous ioindre aux Hurons. Ils en firẽt plusieurs difficultez, & l'vn des Capitaines de l'Isle nommé la Perdrix par dessus tous; neantmoins les raisons & les presens les gagnerent.

At last, after full consideration, we [115] resolved to try our fortune, judging that it was of vital importance to have a footing in the Country in order to open the door which seemed firmly closed to the Faith. This resolution was far easier than the execution of it, which perchance would have been impossible without the care, the favor, and the liberality of Monsieur du Plessis Bochard, General of the fleet. For immediately after his arrival, which was on the fifth of July, 1634, he held a Council with the Bissiriniens, to whom he proposed the plan he had of sending some men with them, and of joining us to the Hurons. They made several objections, and one of the Chiefs of the Island, named "the Partridge" [la Perdrix],[22] more than all the rest; nevertheless, arguments and presents won them over.

Le lendemain matin l'Assemblée se fit de rechef, par le commandement [116] de Monsieur du Plessis Bochard, où les Bissiriniens & les Hurons se trouuerent. Le mesme dessein leur fut representé; mais pour respect les vns des autres ils resolurẽt tous ensemble de n'embarquer aucun François, & n'y eut pour lors aucune raison qui les peust fléchir. Surquoy nostre entreprise sembloit encore estre rompuë pour ce coup; mais au depart de l'Assemblée vn des Attiguenongha, me tirant à quartier, me dit que ie l'allasse veoir en sa cabane. Là il me fait entendre que luy & son camarade en embarqueroient trois; ie respons que nous ne pouuions aller moins de cinq, sçauoir nous trois, & deux de nos hommes.

The next morning, the Assembly met again, by the command [116] of Monsieur du Plessis Bochard, and both the Bissiriniens and the Hurons were present. The same plan was again presented to them; but out of respect for one another they all agreed not to embark any Frenchmen; and no arguments could, for the time being, move them. Thereupon our enterprise seemed again cut off, by this action. But, at the close of the Assembly, one of the Attiguenongha,[23] drawing me aside, asked me to visit him in his cabin. There he gave me to understand that he and his companion would embark three of us. I replied that we could not go unless five went, namely, we three and two of our men.

Sur cela les Arendarhonons s'estant eschauffez à nous embarquer, nous trouuasmes place pour six; si bien que nous resolusmes de [117] partir, & laisser les deux petits garçons que nous deuions mener iusqu'à quelque autre occasion: aussi tost nous distribuasmes nos pacquets, & fismes des presens à vn chacun pour les encourager, & le lendemain septiéme du mois, M^r du Plessis Bochard leur en fit encore d'autres, en consideration seulement de ce qu'ils nous embarquoiẽt, & les festoya tous ensemble d'vn festin de [72] trois grandes chaudieres. Mais la contagion qui a couru l'année passée parmy tous ces Peuples, auec de grands rauages, ayant en vn instant saisi plusieurs de nos Sauuages, & remply tout le reste de peur, nous causa derechef vne grande confusion, & nous mit en de grandes peines, veu qu'il falloit partir sur le champ. Nos six canots estans reduits à trois, & nos deux Peres & moy nous trouuans desembarquez; [118] il me falloit chercher de nouueaux hommes; reprendre nostre petit equipage; deliberer qui s'embarqueroit, & qui demeureroit; choisir entre nos pacquets ceux que nous porterions, & donner ordre pour le reste, & tout cela en moins de demye-heure, où il eust esté besoin des iournées entieres. Neantmoins recognoissans bien que nostre embarquement estoit vn coup de partie pour le Ciel, nous pensasmes qu'il falloit y faire tous nos efforts, pour resister à ceux de l'ennemy commun du salut des hommes, que nous ne doutions nullement s'estre meslé dans cét affaire. I'y fis tout mõ pouuoir, nous redoublasmes les presens, nous diminuasmes nostre petit bagage, & prismes seulement ce qui concernoit le sainct Sacrifice de la Messe, & ce qui estoit absolument necessaire pour la vie. Monsieur [119] du Plessis y interposa son authorité, Monsieur Oliuer & Monsieur Coullart leur industrie, & tous les François leur affection. Cependant ie vis par plusieurs fois tout renuersé & desesperé, iusqu'à ce que i'eus particulierement recours à nostre Seigneur Iesvs, pour l'vnique gloire duquel nous entreprenions ce penible voyage, & que i'eus fait vn vœu au glorieux sainct Ioseph nouueau Patriarche des Hurons. Car aussi-tost ie vis tout se calmer, & nos Sauuages si contens, que ceux qui embarquerent [74] le Pere Daniel l'auoient desia mis dans leur canot, & sembloit qu'ils l'alloiẽt emmener, sans auoir encore receu la paye ordinaire. Mais ledit Pere voyant qu'ils n'auoient point de capots comme les autres, sort du canot, m'en aduertit, & ie leur en fais donner.

Thereupon the Arendarhonons[24] became eager to embark us; we found place for six, and so we resolved to [117] set out, and leave until some other time the two little boys we were to take. We began to distribute our baggage, and made presents to each one, to encourage them; and on the morrow, the seventh of the month, Monsieur du Plessis Bochard gave them still others, on the single consideration that they would embark us, and feasted all of them at a great feast of three large kettles. But the contagion which spread among all these Tribes last year, with great destruction, having suddenly seized several of our Savages, and filled the rest with fear, again threw us into confusion, and put us to great trouble, seeing that we had to set out immediately. Our six canoes being reduced to three, and our two Fathers and I being disembarked, [118] I had to find new men, to unload our slender baggage, to decide who should embark and who should remain, to choose among our packages those we were to carry, and to give orders as to the rest,—and all this in less than half an hour, when we would have needed entire days. Nevertheless, recognizing clearly that our embarkment was a decisive stroke for Heaven, we thought it necessary to put forth our utmost energies to resist the efforts of the common enemy of man's salvation, who, we doubted not, was mixed up in this matter. I therefore did everything I could; we doubled the presents, we reduced the amount of our baggage, and took only what belonged to the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and what was absolutely necessary for life. Monsieur [119] du Plessis interposed his authority, Monsieur Oliver and Monsieur Coullart their ingenuity, and all the Frenchmen their affection. Yet several times I was completely baffled and desperate, until I had special recourse to our Lord Jesus, for whose glory alone we were undertaking this painful journey, and until I had made a vow to glorious saint Joseph, the new Patriarch of the Hurons. Immediately I saw everything become quiet, and our Savages so satisfied that those who embarked Father Daniel had already placed him in their canoe, and it seemed as if they were going to take him without even receiving the ordinary pay. But the Father, seeing that they had not cloaks like the others, stepped out of the canoe, told me about it, and I had some given to them.

En fin donc apres auoir briéuement [120] remercié M^r du Plessis, luy auoir recommandé l'embarquement du reste de nos gens, si l'occasion se presentoit, & luy auoir dit adieu, & à tous nos François: Ie m'embarquay auec le Pere Antoine Daniel, & vn de nos hommes; les deux autres venoient auec les Algonquains. Monsieur du Plessis honora nostre depart de plusieurs canonnades, afin de nous rendre encore plus recommandables à nos Sauuages. Ce fut le septiesme Iuillet. Le P. Ambroise Dauost s'embarqua huict iours apres auec deux autres de nos gens. Le reste suiuit huict iours apres, pour prendre sa part des fatigues d'vn voyage tres fascheux, non seulement à raison de sa longueur, & de la mauuaise chere qu'on y fait, mais encore pour les circuits qu'il faut faire de Kebec iusques icy par les Bissiriniens & la petite Nation; ie [121] croy qu'il y en a pour plus de trois cens lieuës. Il est vray que le chemin est plus court par le Saut de S. Louys, & par le Lac des Hiroquois, mais la crainte des ennemis, & le peu de commodité qui s'y rencontre, en rẽd le passage desert. De deux difficultez ordinaires, la premiere est celle des sauts & portages. Vostre Reuerence a desia assez veu de sauts d'eau vers Kebec, pour sçauoir ce qui en est: toutes les riuieres de ces Pays en sont pleines, & notamment la riuiere de S. Laurens, depuis qu'on a passé celle des Prairies. Car de là en auant elle n'a plus son lit égal, mais se brise en plusieurs endroits, [76] roulant & sautant effroyablement, à guise d'vn torrent impetueux, & mesmes en quelques endroits elle tombe tout à coup de haut en bas, de la hauteur de plusieurs brasses. Ie me souuenois [122] en passant des Catadoupes du Nil, à ce qu'en disent nos Historiens. Or quand on approche de ces cheutes ou torrens, il faut mettre pied à terre, & porter au col à trauers les bois, ou sur de hautes & facheuses roches, tous les pacquets & les canots mesmes. Cela ne se fait pas sans beaucoup de trauail, car il y a des portages d'vne, de deux & de trois lieuës, ioint qu'il faut en chacun faire plusieurs voyages, si on a tãt soit peu de pacquets. En quelques endroits, qui ne sont pas moins rapides que ces portages; mais neantmoins plus aisez à l'abord, les Sauuages entrans dans l'eau, trainent & conduisent à la main leurs canots, auec d'extremes peines & dangers; car ils en ont par fois iusques au col, si bien qu'ils sont contraints de quitter prise, & se sauuer comme ils peuuent de la rapidité de l'eau, qui emporte & [123] leur arrache le canot. Cela est arriué à vn de nos François, qui demeura seul dans le canot, tous les Sauuages l'ayans laissé aller au gré du torrent mais son adresse & sa force luy sauuerent la vie, & le canot aussi, auec tout ce qui estoit dedans. I'ay supputé le nombre des portages, & ie trouue que nous auons porté trente cinq fois, & traisné pour le moins cinquante. Ie me suis quelquefois meslé d'aider à mes Sauages: mais le fond de la riuiere est de pierres si tranchantes, que ie ne pouuois marcher long-temps estant nuds pieds.

At last, then, after having briefly [120] thanked Monsieur du Plessis, having entrusted to him the embarkation of the rest of our people, if opportunity presented itself, and having bid him and all our Frenchmen adieu, I embarked with Father Antoine Daniel and one of our men; the two others were coming with the Algonquains. Monsieur du Plessis honored our departure with several volleys, to recommend us still more to our Savages. It was the seventh of July. Father Ambroise Davost embarked eight days later, with two others of our people. The rest followed eight days after, to take their part in the fatigues of a journey extremely wearisome, not only on account of its length and of the wretched fare to be had, but also on account of the circuits that have to be made in coming from Kebec to this place by way of the Bissiriniens and the petite Nation; I [121] believe that they amount to more than three hundred leagues. It is true the way is shorter by the Saut de St. Louys and the Lake of the Hiroquois; but the fear of enemies, and the few conveniences to be met with, cause that route to be unfrequented. Of two ordinary difficulties, the chief is that of the rapids and portages. Your Reverence has already seen enough of the rapids near Kebec to know what they are. All the rivers of this Country are full of them, and notably the St. Lawrence after that of the Prairies[25] is passed. For from there onward it has no longer a smooth bed, but is broken up in several places, rolling and leaping in a frightful way, like an impetuous torrent; and even, in some places, it falls down suddenly from a height of several brasses. I remembered, [122] in passing, the Cataracts of the Nile, as they are described by our Historians. Now when these rapids or torrents are reached, it is necessary to land, and carry on the shoulder, through woods or over high and troublesome rocks, all the baggage and the canoes themselves. This is not done without much work; for there are portages of one, two, and three leagues, and for each several trips must be made, no matter how few packages one has. In some places, where the current is not less strong than in these rapids, although easier at first, the Savages get into the water, and haul and guide by hand their canoes with extreme difficulty and danger; for they sometimes get in up to the neck and are compelled to let go their hold, saving themselves as best they can from the rapidity of the water, which snatches [123] from them and bears off their canoe. This happened to one of our Frenchmen who remained alone in the canoe, all the Savages having left it to the mercy of the torrent; but his skill and strength saved his life, and the canoe also, with all that was in it. I kept count of the number of portages, and found that we carried our canoes thirty-five times, and dragged them at least fifty. I sometimes took a hand in helping my Savages; but the bottom of the river is full of stones, so sharp that I could not walk long, being barefooted.

La deuxiesme difficulté ordinaire est pour le viure; souuent il faut ieusner, si l'on vient à perdre les caches qu'on a faites en descendant, & quand on les [78] retrouue, on ne laisse pas d'auoir bon appetit apres s'y estre traicté. Car le manger ordinaire n'est que d'vn peu de bled d'Inde [124] cassé assez grossierement entre deux pierres, & quelquefois tout entier dans de l'eau pure. Cela n'est pas de grand goust. Quelquesfois on a du poisson, mais c'est hazard, excepté quand on passe quelque Nation où l'on en peut acheter. Adioustez à ces difficultez, qu'il faut coucher sur la terre nuẽ, ou sur quelque dure roche, faute de trouuer dix ou douze pieds de terre en quarré pour placer vne chetiue cabane; qu'il faut sentir incessammẽt la puanteur des Sauuages recreus, marcher dãs les eaux, dãs les fanges, dans l'obscurité & l'embaras des forests, où les piqueures d'vne multitude infinie de mousquilles & cousins vous importunent fort.

The second ordinary difficulty, is in regard to provisions. Frequently one has to fast, if he misses the caches that were made when descending; and, even if they are found, one does not fail to have a good appetite after indulging in them; for the ordinary food is only a little Indian corn [124] coarsely broken between two stones, and sometimes taken whole in pure water; it is no great treat. Occasionally one has fish, but it is only a chance, unless one is passing some Tribe where they can be bought. Add to these difficulties that one must sleep on the bare earth, or on a hard rock, for lack of a space ten or twelve feet square on which to place a wretched hut; that one must endure continually the stench of tired-out Savages; and must walk in water, in mud, in the obscurity and entanglement of the forest, where the stings of an infinite number of mosquitoes and gnats are a serious annoyance.

Ie laisse à part vn long & ennuyeux silence où l'on est reduit. I'entends pour les nouueaux qui n'ont par fois en leur compagnie personne de leur langue, & ne sçauent [125] celle des Sauuages. Or ces difficultez comme elles sont ordinaires, aussi nous ont elles esté communes auec tous ceux qui viennent en ces Pays. Mais en nostre voyage nous en auons eu tous d'extraordinaires. La premiere a esté qu'il nous a fallu continuellement ramer, ny plus ny moins que les Sauuages: de sorte que ie n'auois le loisir de reciter mon Breuiaire sinon à la couchée, lors que i'eusse eu plus de besoin de repos que de trauail. L'autre a esté qu'il nous falloit porter nos pacquets, és portages, ce qui nous estoit aussi dur que nouueau, & encore plus aux autres qu'à moy, qui sçait desia vn peu ce que c'est que de fatigue. A chaque portage il me falloit faire au moins quatre voyages, les autres n'en [80] faisoiẽt gueres moins. I'estois desia venu aux Hurõs vne autre fois, mais ie n'auois point manié [126] l'auiron, ny porté de fardeaux non plus que les autres Religieux, qui auoient aussi fait le mesme chemin. Mais en ce voyage il nous a fallu tous commencer par ces experiences à porter la Croix que Nostre Seigneur nous presente pour son honneur, & pour le salut de ces pauures Barbares. Certes ie me suis trouué quelquesfois si las, que le corps n'en pouuoit plus. Mais d'ailleurs mon ame ressentoit de tres-grands contentemens, considerant que ie souffrois pour Dieu: nul ne le sçait, s'il ne l'experimente. Tous n'en ont pas esté quittes à si bon marché.

I say nothing of the long and wearisome silence to which one is reduced, I mean in the case of newcomers, who have, for the time, no person in their company who speaks their own tongue, and who do not understand [125] that of the Savages. Now these difficulties, since they are the usual ones, were common to us as to all those who come into this Country. But on our journey we all had to encounter difficulties which were unusual. The first was that we were compelled to paddle continually, just as much as the Savages; so that I had not the leisure to recite my Breviary except when I lay down to sleep, when I had more need of rest than of work. The other was that we had to carry our packages at the portages, which was as laborious for us as it was new, and still more for others than it was for me, who already knew a little what it is to be fatigued. At every portage I had to make at least four trips, the others had scarcely fewer. I had once before made the journey to the Hurons, but I did not then ply [126] the paddles, nor carry burdens; nor did the other Religious who made the same journey. But, in this journey, we all had to begin by these experiences to bear the Cross that Our Lord presents to us for his honor, and for the salvation of these poor Barbarians. In truth, I was sometimes so weary that the body could do no more, but at the same time my soul experienced very deep peace, considering that I was suffering for God; no one knows it if he has not experienced it. All did not get off so cheaply.

Le Pere Dauost, entre autres, a esté tres-mal mené; on luy a dérobé beaucoup de son petit equipage; on l'a contraint de ietter vn petit moulin d'acier, & quasi tous nos liures, quelques linges, & vne bonne partie [127] du papier que nous portions, dont nous auons grand besoin. On l'abandonna à l'Isle parmy les Algonquains, où il a eu dequoy souffrir à bonnes enseignes. Quand il arriua aux Hurons, il estoit si défait & abbatu, que de long-temps il ne pût se remettre.

Father Davost, among others, was very badly treated. They stole from him much of his little outfit. They compelled him to throw away a little steel mill, and almost all our books, some linen, and a good part [127] of the paper that we were taking, and of which we have great need. They deserted him at the Island, among the Algonquains, where he suffered in good earnest. When he reached the Hurons, he was so worn-out and dejected that for a long time he could not get over it.

Le Pere Daniel fut delaissé & contraint de changer de canot, comme aussi pareillemẽt Pierre l'vn de nos hommes; le petit Martin fut bien rudement traitté, & en fin abandonné aux Bissiriniens, où il demeura si long-temps, qu'il fut quelques deux mois en chemin, & n'arriua aux Hurons que le dix-neufiéme de Septembre. Baron fut volé par les siens la mesme iournée qu'il arriua en ces contrées, & eust encore bien plus perdu, s'il ne les eust contraints par la peur de ses armes luy en rendre quelque partie. Bref [128] tous les François y ont souffert de grandes peines, [82] fait de grosses dépenses, eu égard à leurs petites commoditez, & couru de notables dangers. Et quiconque montera icy haut, se doit resoudre à tout cela, & à quelque chose de plus; mesme à la mort, dont on voit à chaque moment l'Image deuant les yeux. Pour moy qui ne sçais point nager ie m'en suis veu vne fois fort proche: car au partir des Bissiriniens en descendant vn saut, nous-nous en allions tomber dedans vn precipice, si mes Sauuages n'eussent promptement & habilement sauté en l'eau, pour destourner le canot que le courant emportoit. Il est croyable que les autres en pourroient bien dire autant & plus, veu le nombre qu'il y a de semblables rencontres. Trois autres difficultez m'ont donné de la peine en mon particulier. La premiere, [129] l'importunité que mes gens me firent du commencement, pour cacher en quelque part vne quaisse qu'vn de nos François auoit mise dãs nostre canot. La seconde, le soing de ceux de nos gens, que nous auions laissé derriere. La troisiesme, que les Algonquains par où nous passions taschoient de nous intimider, disans que les Hurons nous tueroiẽt, comme ils auoient fait en la personne de Brulé, desirans de nous retenir chez eux, auec beaucoup de demonstration de bienueillance. Depuis nostre arriuée, i'ay appris que le Maistre de mon canot auoit ietté en auant de me degrader en quelque part, auec mon petit bagage; mais que sa proposition auoit esté aussi-tost rebuttée; aussi ne m'en fit-on iamais aucun semblant. Tout cela, Dieu mercy, ne me tourmenta pas beaucoup. Car leur ayant declaré [130] que ie porterois moy-mesme la quaisse dont il estoit question, quoy qu'ils en eussent receu le port; ie me resigné, quant au reste, à la volonté de Dieu, prest à [84] mourir pour l'honneur de son Fils nostre bon Seigneur, & pour le salut de ces pauures Peuples.

Father Daniel was abandoned, and compelled to seek another canoe, as also was Pierre, one of our men. Little Martin was very roughly treated, and at last was left behind with the Bissiriniens, where he remained so long that he was about two months on the road, and only arrived among the Hurons on the nineteenth of September. Baron[26] was robbed by his savages on the very day he arrived in these regions; and he would have lost much more if he had not compelled them, through fear of his arms, to give him back a part of what they had taken. In short, [128] all the Frenchmen suffered great hardships, incurred great expense, considering the few goods they had, and ran remarkable risks. And whosoever will come up here must make up his mind to all this, and to something more, even to death itself, whose Image we see every moment before our eyes. For myself, not knowing how to swim, I once had a very narrow escape from drowning. As we were leaving the Bissiriniens, while descending a rapid we would have gone over a precipice, had not my Savages promptly and skillfully leaped into the water, to turn aside the canoe which the current was sweeping on. It is probable that the others might say as much, and more, considering the number of such incidents there are. Three other difficulties gave trouble to me in particular. The first [129] was the importunity of my men, at the start, to hide somewhere a box that one of our Frenchmen had put into our canoe. The second was anxiety for those of our men we had left behind. The third, that the Algonquains, through whose territory we were passing, tried to intimidate us, saying that the Hurons would kill us as they had Brulé, and desiring to keep us among them, with abundant demonstrations of good will. Since our arrival, I have learned that the Master of my canoe had proposed to land me somewhere with my little baggage, but that his proposal had been at once repelled, and so I saw no sign of anything of the kind. All that, thank God, did not trouble me much; for having declared to them [130] that I would myself carry the box about which the trouble arose, although they had received pay to carry it, I resigned myself as far, as everything else was concerned, to the will of God, ready to die for the honor of his Son, our good Lord, and for the salvation of these poor Peoples.

Ie ne sçay pas quand on parla de me quitter; mais mes Saunages me témoignoient tãt d'affection, & disoiẽt tãt de bien de nous aux autres, qu'ils faisoiẽt enuie à tous les Hurõs que nous rencõtrions, d'embarquer quelqu'vn des nostres. Cela me fait douter, si ce qu'on m'a dit du Maistre de mon canot est vray. Car ceux qui auoiẽt embarqué le Pere Daniel & Baron, voulurent les quitter à l'Isle; mais le Maistre du canot où estoit le Pere Daniel, le voyant mescontent de cela, le fit aussi-tost embarquer, & le porta iusques à ce qu'ils eussent rencontré [131] le Capitaine de la Rochelle, lequel estant de la cognoissance du Pere, pour l'auoir voulu conduire l'an passé, le mit volontiers dans son canot, auec ses deux pacquets. Il luy fit plaisir, & aux Sauuages aussi; car le Pere eust eu encore bien de la peine dans vn canot fort chetif, qui n'auoit que trois hommes languissans, & dont la demeure estoit à douze lieuës loing de la nostre: là où ce Capitaine demeuroit au village, où nous auiõs quelque dessein de nous habituer, & assez proche du lieu où nous sommes; & d'ailleurs son canot estoit fort, & equippé de six puissans Sauuages tous sains & gaillards. Ce bon eschange luy arriua la veille de sainct Ignace au matin, ayant fait le iour precedent naufrage par deux fois. Pour Baron, n'eust esté le Capitaine de l'Isle qui fit remettre ses pacquets dans les canots, [132] il y fust demeuré. Encore ses gens ne luy furent pas si barbares, comme furent autresfois à vn de nos François, ceux qui le ramenoient des Hurons à Kebec. Ce ieune homme surnommé la Marche fust mort dans les bois, si nous n'eussions eu le soin [86] & le credit de le renuoyer chercher plus d'vne lieuë loing du lieu où nous-nous en apperceusmes.

I do not know when they spoke of leaving me; but my Savages exhibited so much affection for me, and said so much that is kind about us to others, that they excited the desire in all the Hurons we met to embark some one of our people. This makes me doubt the truth of what has been said about the Master of my canoe. For those who had embarked Father Daniel and Baron wished to leave them at the Island; but the Master of the canoe in which Father Daniel was, seeing him dissatisfied at that, caused him to embark at once, and carried him until they met [131] the Captain of la Rochelle,[27] who, knowing the Father from having wished to take him last year, willingly received him with his two packages into his canoe. It pleased him, and the Savages also; for the Father would have still had much trouble in a wretched canoe which had only three sick men in it, whose home was twelve leagues distant from ours; this Captain lived at a village where we had some intention of settling, and quite near the place where we are. Besides, his canoe was strong, and manned by six powerful Savages, quite healthy and good-natured. This happy exchange happened to him the morning of the day before the festival of saint Ignace, he having been shipwrecked twice the previous day. As to Baron, had it not been for the Captain of the Island, who caused his baggage to be put back into the canoes, [132] he would have remained there. Still, his people were not so barbarous as formerly were those who brought back one of our Frenchmen from the Hurons to Kebec. This young man, surnamed la Marche, would have died in the woods, if we had not had the care and the interest to send back in search of him more than a league from the place where we missed him.

Il ne faut quelquefois qu'vn mot, quelquefois qu'vn songe, quelque fantaisie, ou la moindre pensée d'incommodité, pour faire dégrader ou mettre à terre, i'ose dire, pour faire massacrer vn hõme, ainsi qu'il arriua l'an passé à vn pauure Algõquain, qui fut abandonné en vn saut par son propre neueu: & il n'y a pas vn mois qu'vn pauure ieune homme aussi Algonquain, estant tombé dans le feu, fut tué auprés de nostre village par ceux de sa Nation, de peur qu'ils auoient [133] d'en estre incommodez dans le canot. Ce qui me persuade qu'ils l'assommerent, c'est la coustume qu'ils en ont; que les Hurons le disoient; & que le soir auparauant il mangeoit bien, & en bonne quantité de ce que nous luy donnions; outre que deux Algonquains nous asseurerent, qu'on estoit dans la pensée de le trépaner d'vn coup ou deux de hache. Vostre Reuerence a veu ou sceu de semblables cas en son hyuernement auec les Sauuages. En vn mot, il faut se resoudre à beaucoup de dangers euidens, & de grandes fatigues, qui veut venir icy. I'attribue neantmoins toutes ces difficultez extraordinaires à la maladie de nos Sauuages. Car nous sçauons assez combien les maladies alterent les humeurs, & les complexions mesmes des plus sociables. Ie ne sçay pas à quel prix nos François, & les Montagnais [134] en aurõt esté quittes. Biẽ sçay je que la pluspart des Mõtagnais qui estoient aux trois Riuieres quand nous-nous embarquasmes, estoient malades, & que plusieurs en mouroient; comme aussi, qu'il n'est quasi point reuenu de canot de la traitte, qui n'aye esté affligé de ceste contagiõ. Elle a esté si vniuerselle [88] parmy les Sauuages de nostre cognoissance, que ie ne sçay si aucun en a euité les atteintes. Tous ces pauures gents en ont esté fort incommodez, notamment pendant l'Automne, tant en leurs pesches qu'en leurs moissons. Plusieurs bleds sont demeurez sous les neiges, grand nombre de personnes sont mortes; il y en a encore à present qui ne sont pas gueris. Cette maladie commençoit par des ardeurs violentes, qui estoient suiuies d'vne espece de rougeolle, ou petite verolle, differente [135] toutesfois de celle de Frãce, accompagnée en plusieurs d'aueuglement pour quelques iours, ou obscurcissement de veuë, & en fin se terminoit en vn flux de ventre, qui en a conduit plusieurs, & en conduit encore quelques-vns au tombeau.

Sometimes a word, or a dream, or a fancy, or even the smallest sense of inconvenience, is enough to cause them to illtreat, or set ashore, and I dare say to murder one,—as happened last year to a poor Algonquain, who was abandoned in a rapid by his own nephew; and, not a month ago, a poor young man, also an Algonquain, having fallen into the fire, was killed near our village by his own Tribesmen, for fear he might [133] be an inconvenience in the canoe. What makes me believe they killed him is that it is the custom among them; that the Hurons said so; and that, the evening before, he ate heartily a good quantity of what we gave him; besides, two Algonquains assured us that they had a mind to brain him with one or two blows of an axe. Your Reverence has seen or known of similar cases in your winter's stay among the Savages. In a word, he who thinks of coming here must make up his mind to many obvious dangers and to great fatigues. I attribute, nevertheless, all these extraordinary difficulties to the sickness among our Savages. For we know very well how sickness alters the disposition and the inclinations even of the most sociable. I know not at what price our French and the Montagnais [134] will have become rid of it. I know, indeed, that the greater part of the Montagnais who were at the three Rivers when we embarked were sick, and that many of them died; and also that almost no one who returned by canoe from trading, was not afflicted with this contagion. It has been so universal among the Savages of our acquaintance that I do not know if one has escaped its attacks. All these poor people have been much inconvenienced by it, particularly during the Autumn, as much in their fishing as in their harvesting. Many crops are lying beneath the snow; a large number of persons are dead; there are still some who have not recovered. This sickness began with violent fever, which was followed by a sort of measles or smallpox, different, [135] however, from that common in France, accompanied in several cases by blindness for some days, or by dimness of sight, and terminated at length by diarrhœa which has carried off many and is still bringing some to the grave.

Parmy ces peines & dangers, nous auons de grandes obligations à la prouidence & bonté paternelle de nostre Seigneur: car ny par les chemins, ny dedans le Pays, pas vn de nous n'a esté pris de ce mal, ny cedé à la faim, ou perdu l'appétit. Quelques-vns ont eu du depuis quelque legere atteinte de maladie, mais cela s'est passé en peu de iours. Nostre Seigneur soit loüé à iamais, & la tres-immaculée Vierge, auec son tres-chaste Espoux, de cette singuliere faueur, qui nous a beaucoup aidé pour authoriser nostre Foy parmy ces Peuples.

Among these troubles and dangers, we owe much to the care and fatherly goodness of our Lord; for neither on the journey hither, nor while in this Country, has one of us been taken with this sickness, nor yielded to hunger, nor lost appetite. Some have had since then light attacks of sickness, but they have passed away in a few days. Our Lord be forever praised, and the most immaculate Virgin with her most chaste Spouse, for this singular favor, which has aided us much in giving authority to our Faith among these Peoples.

[136] I'arriué aux Hurons le cinquiesme d'Aoust, iour de nostre Dame des Neiges; ayant demeuré trente iours par les chemins, en continuel trauail, excepté vn iour de repos que nous prismes au pays des Bissiriniens. Tous les autres, excepté Robert le Coq & Dominique, demeurerent bien dauantage, quoy que d'ordinaire le voyage ne soit que de 20. iours ou enuiron. Ie pris terre au port du village de Toanché [90] ou de Teandeouïata, où autresfois nous estions habituez; mais ce fut auec vne petite disgrace, nostre Seigneur nous voulant faire cognoistre dés l'entrée, qu'il nous appelle icy afin d'y endurer. Mes Sauuages s'oublians des caresses que ie leur avois fait, & de l'assistance que ie leur auois rendu, pendant leurs maladies, & outre cela des belles paroles & promesses qu'ils m'auoient faites, apres m'auoir [137] debarqué, auec quelques ornemens d'Eglise, & quelque autre petit equipage, m'abandonnerent là tout seul, sans viures, ny sans cabane, & reprindrent leur route vers leurs villages, distans de quelques sept lieuës; le mal estoit, que le village de Toanché auoit changé depuis mon depart, & que ie ne sçauois pas bonnement en quel endroit il estoit situé, & que ce riuage n'estant plus hanté, ie ne pouuois pas bien m'asseurer du chemin, & que quand ie l'eusse sceu, ny ma foiblesse ne m'eust pas permis de porter tout mon petit bagage à la fois, ny le hazard du lieu d'en faire à deux. C'est pourquoy ie priois mes Sauuages de m'accompagner iusques au village, ou au moins de coucher en ce bord pour cette nuiét, & garder mes hardes tandis que i'irois prendre langue. Mais leurs oreilles estoient sourdes [138] à mes prieres, & à mes remonstrances. Pour toute consolation ils me dirent que quelqu'vn me viendroit trouuer là. Il fallut auoir patience: ils partent, & ie me prosterne aussitost à genoux, pour remercier Dieu, nostre Dame, & sainct Ioseph, des faueurs & des graces que i'auois receu durant le voyage. Ie saluay l'Ange tutelaire du Pays, & m'offris à nostre Seigneur, auec tous nos petits trauaux, pour le salut de ces pauures Peuples, prenant esperãce que Dieu ne m'abandonneroit point [92] là, puis qu'il m'auoit conserué & conduit auec tant de faueurs. Apres ayant consideré que cet abbord estoit desert, & que i'y pourrois bien demeurer longtemps, auant qu'aucun du village m'y vinst trouuer; ie caché mes pacquets dedans les bois, & prenant auec moy ce que i'auois de plus precieux, ie m'en allé chercher le [139] village, que ie rencontré heureusemẽt enuiron à trois quarts de lieuës, ayant en passant veu auec attendrissement & ressentiment le lieu où nous auions habité, & celebré le S. sacrifice de la Messe trois ans durant, cõuerty en vn beau champ; comme aussi la place du vieux village, où excepté vne cabane rien ne restoit que les ruines des autres. Ie vis pareillement l'endroit où le pauure Estienne Brulé auoit esté barbarement & traistreusement assommé; ce qui me fit pẽser que quelque iour on nous pourroit bien traitter de la sorte, & desirer au moins que ce fust en pourchassant la gloire de N. Seig. Dés aussi-tost que ie fus apperceu au village, & qu'on eust crié, voyla Echom reuenu, c'est ainsi qu'ils me nommẽt, tout le monde sortit pour me salüer & bienueigner, chacun m'appellant par mon nom, & me [140] disant: Quoy Echom, mon nepueu, mon frere, mon cousin, es tu donc reuenu? Mais sans m'arrester, parce que la nuict s'approchoit, ie prends logis, & m'y estant bien peu de temps rafraischy, ie sors aussi-tost auec vne bande de ieunes gens volontaires, pour aller reprendre mon petit bagage. Il estoit vne heure de nuict quand nous fusmes de retour au village. Ie me logeay chez vn nommé Aouandoïé, lequel est, ou au moins a esté vn des plus riches des Hurons. Ce que ie fis à dessein, par ce qu'vn autre moins fort eust pû estre incommodé du grand nombre [94] de François que i'attendois, & qu'il falloit nourrir iusques à ce que nous fussions tous assemblez, & que nostre cabane fust faite. Vous pouuez vous loger où vous voulez, car ceste Nation entre toutes les autres, est fort hospitaliere enuers toute sorte [141] de personnes, mesmes enuers les Estrangers: & vous y demeurez tant qu'il vous plaist, tousiours bien traité à la façon du pays, & au partir de là vous en voyla quitte pour vn, ho, ho, ho, outoécti, ou vn grand mercy, au moins par entre-eux. Car des François ils attendent quelque recompense, à discretion toutesfois. Il est bien vray que tous ne sont pas également hospitaliers, il y a du plus & du moins. Mon hoste est des premiers en ceste vertu, & peut-estre est-ce pour ce sujet que Dieu l'a cõblé iusques à present de benedictiõs temporelles, & l'a preserué entre tous ses Concitoyens. Car leur village nommé Teandeouïhata, ayant esté bruslé par deux fois, il n'y a eu en toutes les deux fois, que sa seule maison exempte de l'embrasement. Quelques vns attribuent cela au fort; pour moy ie le rapporte à vne [142] cause plus noble; & si ie me souuiens d'vn bon trait, soit de prudence, soit d'humanité, dont il se seruit au premier embrasement; car l'enuie s'estant allumée contre luy, & quelques-vns voulant perdre sa cabane, que le feu auoit espargnée, aussi tost il fait mettre chaudiere haute, appreste vn bon festin, conuie tout le village, & les ayant assemblez, leur fait ceste harangue. Mes freres, i'ay vn tres-sensible déplaisir de l'accident qui est arriué; mais qu'y ferions nous, c'en est fait. Pour moy ie ne sçay pas ce que i'ay fait au Ciel, pour auoir esté espargné entre tous les autres. Or pour vous tesmoigner mon déplaisir, & le desir que i'ay de [96] participer à la calamité commune, voyla deux quaisses de bled (elles tenoient pour le moins cent ou six vingts boisseaux) i'en donne vne de bon cœur à tout le [143] village. Cette action appaisa l'enuie, & esteignit les mauuais desseins que l'on couuoit desia contre luy. C'est faire sagement, que de perdre vne partie pour sauuer le reste.

[136] I arrived among the Hurons on the fifth of August, the day of our Lady of the Snows, after being thirty days on the road in continual work, except one day of rest, which we took in the country of the Bissiriniens. All the others, except Robert le Coq and Dominique, took much longer; although usually the journey is only 20 days, or thereabout. I landed at the port of the village of Toanché or of Teandeouïata, where we had formerly lived; but it was with a little misfortune, our Lord wishing us to recognize from the beginning that he is calling us here to suffer. My Savages,—forgetting the kindness I had lavished upon them and the help I had afforded them in their sickness, and notwithstanding all the fair words and promises they had given me,—after having [137] landed me with some Church ornaments and some other little outfit, left me there quite alone, without any provisions and without shelter, and resumed their route toward their villages, some seven leagues distant. My trouble was that the village of Toanché[28] had changed since my departure, and that I did not know precisely in what place it was situated. The shore being no longer frequented, I could not easily ascertain my way; and, if I had known it, I could not from weakness have carried all my little baggage at once; nor could I risk, in that place, doing this in two trips. That is why I entreated my Savages to accompany me as far as the village, or at least to sleep on the shore for the night, to watch my clothes while I went to make inquiries. But their ears were deaf [138] to my prayers and my remonstrances. The only consolation they gave me was to tell me that some one would find me there. I was obliged to be patient; they went away, and I prostrated myself at once upon my knees to thank God, our Lady, and saint Joseph, for the favors and mercies I had received during the voyage. I saluted the tutelary Angel of the Country, and offered myself to our Lord, with all our little labors, for the salvation of these poor Peoples, taking hope that God would not abandon me there, since he had preserved and led me with so many favors. Then, having considered that this shore was deserted, and that I might indeed remain there a long time before any one in the village would come to find me, I hid my packages in the woods; and, taking with me what was most precious, I set out to find the [139] village, which fortunately I came upon at about three-quarters of a league,—having seen with tenderness and emotion, as I passed along, the place where we had lived, and had celebrated the Holy sacrifice of the Mass during three years, now turned into a fine field; and also the site of the old village, where, except one cabin, nothing remained but the ruins of the others. I saw likewise the spot where poor Estienne Brulé was barbarously and traitorously murdered, which made me think that perhaps some day they might treat us in the same manner, and to desire at least that it might be while we were earnestly seeking the glory of Our Lord. As soon as I was perceived in the village, some one cried out, "Why, there is Echom come again" (that is the name they give me); and at once every one came out to salute and welcome me, each calling me by name and [140] saying: "What, Echom, my nephew, my brother, my cousin, hast thou then come again?" But without stopping, for night was approaching, I found a place to lodge; and, having rested a short time, I quickly set out with a volunteer band of young people to bring my slender baggage. It was an hour after sunset when we returned to the village. I lodged with a man named Aouandoïé, who is, or at least was, one of the richest of the Hurons. I did this on purpose, because another with smaller means might have been inconvenienced with the large number of Frenchmen whom I was expecting, and who had to be provided with food and shelter until we had all gathered together, and our cabin was ready. You can lodge where you please; for this Nation above all others is exceedingly hospitable towards all sorts [141] of persons, even toward Strangers; and you may remain as long as you please, being always well treated according to the fashion of the country. On going away, one acknowledges their hospitality by a ho, ho, ho, outoécti, or "many thanks!" at least among themselves; but from Frenchmen they expect some recompense, always at one's discretion. It is quite true that not all are equally hospitable, there are some more and some less so. My host is one of the first in this virtue; and perhaps it is on this account that God has crowned him until now with temporal blessings, and has preserved him among all his Fellow Countrymen; for their village, named Teandeouïhata, having been burned twice, each time his house alone escaped the conflagration. Some attribute this to chance; for myself, I ascribe it to a [142] nobler cause, and so I recall a fine trait, call it prudence or call it humanity, which he displayed on the occasion of the first conflagration. For jealousy having been enkindled against him, and some wishing to destroy his cabin that the fire had spared, at once he caused a large cauldron to be hung, prepared a good feast, invited the whole village, and, having assembled them, delivered this harangue: "My brethren, I am very deeply grieved at the misfortune that has happened; but what can we do about it? It is over. For myself, I know not what I have done for Heaven, to be spared before all others. Now, in order to testify to you my deep grief and my desire to share in the common misfortune, I have two bins of corn" (they held at least one hundred to one hundred and twenty bushels); "I give one of them freely to the whole [143] village." This action calmed their jealousy, and put an end to their wicked designs which they were already forming against him. It was a wise action, this losing a part to save the rest.

Ie me logeay donc chez cét homme, où ie demeuray auec nos deux Peres, & vn de nos gens, l'espace de plus d'vn mois & demy, iusques à ce que nous-nous transportasmes en nostre nouuelle cabane. Cependant ces pauures Sauuages nous faisoient toutes les caresses possibles, les vns portez par leur bon naturel, les autres par la consideration de quelques petits presens que ie leur auois fait, & l'esperance de quelques autres.

I lodged therefore with this man, and lived there with our two Fathers and one of our people, for the space of more than a month and a half, until we took possession of our new cabin. Yet these poor Savages lavished upon us all possible kindnesses,—some influenced by their good natural disposition; others, by a few trifling gifts I made them, and the hope of some others.

Ie departis le reste de nos gens en vne autre cabane, pour éuiter l'importunité & l'incommodité, si nous eussions esté tous en vn seul logis.

I distributed the rest of our people in another cabin, to avoid the annoyance and inconvenience of being all in one lodging.

[144] Le soir & le lendemain se passa en caresses, visites, salutations & applaudissemens de tous ceux du village. Les iours suiuans plusieurs des autres villages, qui estoient de ma cognoissance, me vindrent veoir, & remporterent tous en eschange de leur visite quelques petits presens; c'est peu de chose en détail, mais tout mis en gros fait beaucoup, & monte assez haut pour les lieux. Les vns me disoient; Quoy Echom? és tu donc reuenu? A la bonne heure, nous te souhaittions & demandions grandement, adioustans les raisons telles qu'ils iugeoient, & nous fusmes fort resioüis, quand on nous dist que tu estois à Kebec à dessein de remonter icy. D'autres disoient. Nous voyla bien aises. Les bleds ne mourront plus, [98] pendant ton absence nous n'auions eu que famine. Et en effet, ie croy qu'à nostre arriuée, [145] il n'y auoit que deux familles en tout le village, qui eussent prouision de bled. Tout le reste en alloit acheter ailleurs, ce qui estoit commun à plusieurs autres villages. Depuis nostre arriuée il y en a eu tres-grande abondance par tout le Pays, quoy qu'au Printemps il aye fallu semer par trois fois, à l'occasion des gelées blanches, & des vers.

[144] That evening and the next day passed in the exchanges of affection, visits, salutations, and encouraging words from the whole village. On the following days, several from other villages, who were of my acquaintance, came to see me; and all took away with them, in exchange for their visit, some trifling presents. This is a small thing in detail, but on the whole it exerts a great influence and is of great importance in these regions. Some said to me: "What, Echom, and so thou hast come back! That's right; we were wishing and asking earnestly for thee" (adding their reasons), "and we were heartily glad when they told us that thou wert at Kebec, with the purpose of coming up here." Others said: "We are indeed very glad; the crops will no longer fail; during thy absence we have had nothing but famine." And, in truth, at our arrival there were, I believe, [145] only two families in the whole village who had a store of corn; all the others were going to buy elsewhere, and this was the case in several other villages. Since our arrival, there has been a very great abundance throughout the whole Country, although in the Spring it was necessary to sow three times by reason of white frosts and worms.

Bref ceux de nostre village me disoient, Si tu ne fusses reuenu, la traite des François estoit perduë pour nous: car les Algonquains, & mesmes les Hurons des autres villages, ne nous menaçoiẽt que de mort, si nous y allions, à cause du massacre de Brulé; mais maintenant nous irõs traiter sãs crainte. I'ay esté quelques quinze iours à visiter les villages, & à ramasser auec beaucoup de frais & de peine tout nostre monde, qui abordoit ça & là, & qui ne sçachant [146] pas la langue, n'eust pu venir nous trouuer qu'apres beaucoup d'ennuy. Il est vray qu'vn de nos hommes n'a pas laissé de venir sãs autre adresse, que de ces deux mots, Echom Ihonatiria, qui sont mon nom, & celuy de nostre village. Entre tous les François, ie n'en trouue point qui aye eu plus de peine que le P. Dauost & Baron. Le Pere pour le mauuais traitement de ses Sauuages, Baron pour la longueur du voyage. Il a demeuré quarante iours par les chemins, souuent il estoit luy seul auec vn Sauuage, à nager dans vn canot fort grand & fort chargé. Il luy falloit porter luy-mesme tous ses pacquets. Il a couru risque trois ou quatre fois dans les torrens, & pour comble de ses peines, on luy a dérobé beaucoup de ses marchandises. [100] Certes il faut icy auoir bien de la force & de la patience, & qui croira y venir [147] chercher autre que Dieu, n'y trouuera pas son conte.

In short, those of our village told me, "If thou hadst not returned, the trade with the French was lost for us; for the Algonquains and even the Hurons of the other villages, threatened us with death if we went there on account of the murder of Brulé; but now we shall go to trade without fear." I was occupied some two weeks in visiting the villages, and bringing together, at much expense and trouble, all our party, who landed here and there, and who, not knowing [146] the language, could only have found us out after much toil. It is true that one of our men was able to come without any other address than these two words, Echom, Ihonatiria, which are my name and that of our village. Among all the French I do not find any who had more trouble than Father Davost and Baron; the Father from the wicked treatment of his Savages, Baron from the length of the journey. He occupied forty days on the road; often he was alone with a Savage, paddling in a canoe very large and very heavily laden. He had to carry all his packages himself; he had narrow escapes three or four times in the torrents; and, to crown his difficulties, much of his property was stolen. Truly, to come here much strength and patience are needed; and he who thinks of coming here [147] for any other than God, will have made a sad mistake.

Iean Nicolet, en son voyage qu'il fit auec nous iusques à l'Isle, souffrit aussi tous les trauaux d'vn des plus robustes Sauuages. Estans en fin tous ralliez, nous prismes resolution de nous habituer icy à Ihonatiria, & y bastir nostre cabane, pour les raisons suiuantes. La premiere est, qu'apres auoir serieusement recommandé cét affaire à Dieu, nous iugeasmes que telle estoit sa volonté, parce que la moisson des ames y est plus meure qu'en aucun-autre endroit, tant à cause de la cognoissance que i'ay auec les habitans du lieu, & de l'affection qu'ils m'ont tesmoignée autresfois, que pource qu'ils sont desia à demy instruits en la Foy. En effet nous y en auons baptizé huict, dont les sept sont allez au Ciel, auec la grace du Baptesme, [148] & tout le village est en telle disposition, qu'il ne tient qu'à nous de le baptiser. Mais nous attendons qu'ils soient mieux instruits, & qu'ils ayent quitté par effect leurs principales superstitions.

Jean Nicolet,[29] in the voyage that he made with us as far as the Island, suffered also all the hardships of one of the most robust Savages. Being at last all gathered together, we decided to dwell here at Ihonatiria, and to build here our cabin, for the following reasons: First, after having earnestly recommended the matter to God, we judged that such was his will, because the harvest of souls is more ripe here than in any other place,—as much because of the acquaintance I have with the inhabitants of the place, and of the affection they showed for me formerly, as because they are already partly instructed in the Faith. In truth, we have baptized eight of them, of whom seven have gone to Heaven with the grace of Baptism, [148] and the whole village is of such a disposition that it is only a question of our readiness to baptize it. But we are waiting until they are better instructed, and until they have forsaken for good their principal superstitions.

La seconde raison est, que horsmis ce village, il n'y auoit que la Rochelle où nous deussions auoir inclination de nous arrester; & ç'auoit esté nostre pensée dés l'an passé. Tous les habitans qui le desiroiẽt fort, nous y inuitoient, disans que nous serions comme au centre de la Nation, & adioutans d'autres motifs & raisons qui nous aggreoient assez. Mesme sur le chemin ie m'entretenois en ceste pensée, que ie ne quittay que long-temps apres estre icy arriué; si bien que nous laissasmes assez bon espace de temps à ce village de la Rochelle, les pacquets du Pere Daniel chez le Capitaine, qui [149] l'auoit accueilly dans son canot, en intention d'y faire porter les autres, & nous y loger. [102] Mais ayant consideré, qu'ils deuoient à ce Printemps changer de place, comme ils ont déja fait, nous ne voulusmes point bastir vne cabane pour vn hyuer. D'ailleurs, quoy qu'il nous soit fort à desirer, pour cueillir plus de fruit, d'auoir beaucoup d'auditeurs en nos assemblées, ce qui nous peut faire choisir les grand villages, plustost que les petits; neantmoins pour le commencement, nous auons trouué plus à propos de nous tenir comme à l'ombre, prés d'vne petite bourgade, où les habitans sont déja faits à hanter les François, que de nous mettre tout à coup en vne grãde, où l'on ne fust point accoustumé à nos façous de faire. Autrement c'eust esté exposer des hommes nouueaux & ignorans en la langue, à vne [150] ieunesse nombreuse, qui par ses importunitez & mocqueries eust peû apporter quelque desordre. De plus si nous fussions allez ailleurs, ceux de ce village eussent creû estre encore en la disgrace des François, & eussent peut-estre abandonné le commerce auec eux, veu mesmement que cét Hyuer dernier le Borgne de l'Isle a fait icy courir le bruit, que Monsieur de Champlain n'en vouloit pas demeurer là, pour la mort de Brulé, & qu'il demandoit quatre testes; & il est croyable que si nous n'eussions esté icy, & si nous n'y demeurions comme pour gages, plusieurs craignans d'estre arrestez, soit pour leurs fautes, soit pour celles d'autruy, ne retourneroient plus à la traicte. En outre ces bonnes gents ont pretendu que nous deuiõs demeurer chez eux, s'il estoit vray que nous les aimassions: car, disoiẽt-ils, [151] si vous allez ailleurs, nõ seulemẽt nous aurions sujet de craindre pour nostre particulier, mais encore pour tout le Pays, nos interests estans vnis ensemble; mais maintenãt que vous nous prenez pour vos hostes, [104] nous n'auons plus que craindre comme nous eussions fait: car si vous eussiez choisi vn autre lieu, & que quelque meschant vous eust fait du mal, non seulement les François, mais encore les Hurons s'en fussent pris à nous. Ie pourrois encore icy alleguer quelques autres raisons & considerations qui ne sont pas à mépriser, comme seroit vne plus grãde commodité, tant pour le poisson & pour le gibier, comme pour l'embarquement. Mais la principale est la premiere que i'ay apportée, entre les villages qui nous ont voulu auoir, ceux d'Oënrio en ont fait plus d'instance. Ce petit village assez proche [152] du nostre, faisoit autresfois vne partie de celuy où nous estions iadis: mais nous n'auons pas iugé à propos de nous y arrester ceste fois, seulement ayant reconneu qu'il estoit expedient, que de ce village & du nostre il s'en fist vn en quelque autre part, tant pour leurs affaires communes, que pour nos fonctions & ministeres particuliers. Nous auons fait depuis peu quelques presens à tous les deux ensemble à cette fin. Nos presents sont de grande consideration parmy eux: neantmoins ils ne sont pas encore resolus. Ayant donc arresté de nous tenir où nous sommes, il fut question de bastir vne cabane. Les cabanes de ce pays, ne sont ny des Louures ny des Palais, ny rien de semblable aux riches bastimens de nostre France, nõ pas mesmes aux plus petites chaumines; c'est neantmoins quelque [153] chose de meilleur & plus commode, que les tandis des Montagnais. Ie ne vous sçaurois mieux exprimer la façon des demeures Huronnes, que de les comparer à des berceaux ou tonnelles de iardin; dont au lieu de branches & de verdure, quelques-vnes sont couuertes d'escorce de cedres, quelques autres de grosses escorces de [106] fresnes, d'orme & de sapin, ou perusse: & quoy que celles de cedres soient les meilleures, suiuant l'aduis & l'vsage le plus commun, il y a neantmoins ceste incommodité, qu'elles sont quasi aussi susceptibles du feu que des allumettes, d'où procede quantité d'embrasemens des bourgades entieres, & sans aller plus loing que ceste année, nous en auons veu en moins de dix iours deux grandes entierement consommées; & vne autre, qui est celle de Louys, bruslée [154] en partie. Nous auons veu aussi vne fois nostre propre cabane en feu; mais Dieu mercy nous l'esteignismes aussi tost. Il y a de ces cabanes ou berceaux de diuerse grandeur, les vnes de deux brasses en longueur, d'autres de dix, d'autres de vingt, de trente, & de quarante: la largeur ordinaire est d'enuiron quatre brasses, la hauteur est presque pareille. Il n'y a point de diuers estages; il ne se voit icy ny caue, ny chambre, ny grenier. On n'y veoit autre fenestre ny cheminée qu'vn meschant trou au haut de la cabane, qu'on y laisse à dessein pour chasser la fumée. C'est ainsi qu'on nous a basty la nostre.

Secondly, except this village there was only la Rochelle at which we might have had any inclination to stop, and that had been our intention from last year. All the inhabitants desired it very much, and invited us there, saying that we would be, as it were, in the center of the Nation, and adding other motives and reasons which pleased us well. Even on the road I entertained this thought, and only laid it aside a long time after my arrival here,—so long, indeed, that we left for a considerable space of time the baggage of Father Daniel at this village of la Rochelle, with the Captain who [149] had received him into his canoe,—intending to carry the rest thither, and to abide there. But, having taken into account that they were intending this Spring to change the location of the place, as they have already done, we did not wish to build a cabin for one winter. Besides, although it is a desirable thing to gather more fruit, and to have more listeners in our assemblies, which would make us choose the large villages rather than the small, nevertheless, for a beginning we have thought it more suitable to keep in the shadow, as it were, near a little village where the inhabitants are already disposed to associate with the French, than to put ourselves suddenly in a great one, where the people are not accustomed to our mode of doing things. To do otherwise would have been to expose new men, ignorant of the language, to a [150] numerous youth, who by their annoyances and mockery would have brought about some disturbance. Besides, if we had gone elsewhere the people of this village would have thought themselves still in disgrace with the French, and perhaps would have abandoned trade with them,—especially as during this last Winter Le Borgne,[30] of the Island, spread the report that Monsieur de Champlain did not wish us to remain there, on account of the death of Brulé, and that he was demanding four heads; and it is probable that, if we had not been here, and if we had not remained as pledges, several, fearing to be arrested for their own faults or for those of others, would not have returned again to the trade. Besides, these good people have claimed that we ought to remain among them if it were true that we loved them; "for," said they, [151] "if you go elsewhere, not only shall we have cause to fear on our own account, but for the whole Country besides, our interests being bound together. But, now that you take us for your hosts, we have no longer to fear as we would; for if you had chosen another place, and if some wicked person had done you harm, not only the French but the Hurons also would have blamed us for it." I might bring forward some other reasons and considerations which are not to be despised,—as, for example, it would be a more convenient place, as well for fish and game as for embarking. But the principal reason is the first I mentioned. Among the villages that wished to have us, the people of Oënrio[31] have entreated us most. This little village, quite near [152] ours, used to be a part of the one in which we were formerly; but we have not judged it expedient for us to stop there this time, simply having recognized it to be best that from this village and from ours one should be formed at some other place, both for their common interests and for our own special functions and ministrations. We made, not long ago, some presents to both of them at the same time, for this purpose. Our presents have great influence among them, nevertheless they have not yet decided the question. Having, therefore, determined to stay where we are, the question of building a cabin arose. The cabins of this country are neither Louvres nor Palaces, nor anything like the buildings of our France, not even like the smallest cottages. They are, nevertheless, somewhat [153] better and more commodious than the hovels of the Montagnais. I cannot better express the fashion of the Huron dwellings than to compare them to bowers or garden arbors,—some of which, in place of branches and vegetation, are covered with cedar bark, some others with large pieces of ash, elm, fir, or spruce bark; and although the cedar bark is best, according to common opinion and usage, there is, nevertheless, this inconvenience, that they are almost as susceptible to fire as matches. Hence arise many of the conflagrations of entire villages; and, without going farther than this year, we have seen in less than ten days two large ones entirely consumed, and another, that of Louys, partially burned. [154] We have also once seen our own cabin on fire; but, thank God, we extinguished it immediately. There are cabins or arbors of various sizes, some two brasses in length, others of ten, others of twenty, of thirty, of forty; the usual width is about four brasses, their height is about the same. There are no different stories; there is no cellar, no chamber, no garret. It has neither window nor chimney, only a miserable hole in the top of the cabin, left to permit the smoke to escape. This is the way they built ours for us.

Ceux d'Oënrio & de nostre village s'y sont employez, au moyen de quelque present que nous leur fismes. Nous n'auons pas manqué d'exercice pour la faire acheuer, tant [155] à cause de la maladie vniuerselle de quasi tous les Sauuages, qu'à cause de la cooperation de ces deux villages. Car encore que l'ouurage ne fust pas grand; toutesfois ceux de nostre village, regardans ceux d'Oënrio, qui sous esperance de nous attirer à eux à la longue, ne faisoiẽt que s'amuser sans rien auãcer. Nous estions quasi au mois d'Octobre auant que nous fussions à couuert. Pour le dedans nous l'auons accõmodé nous mesmes; en sorte que bien que ce ne soit pas grand' chose, les Sauuages [108] ne laissent de la venir veoir, & la voyant de l'admirer. Nous l'auons separée en trois. La premiere partie du costé de la porte, sert d'antichambre, de briseuent, & de magazin pour nos prouisions de bled, à la façon des Sauuages. La seconde est, celle que nous habitons, & où est nostre cuisine, nostre [156] menuiserie, nostre moulin, ou lieu à battre le bled, nostre Refectoire, nostre salle, & nostre chambre. Aux deux costez à la façon des Hurons sont deux establies, qu'ils nomment Endicha, sur lesquelles sont des quaisses pour mettre nos habits & autres petites commoditez; mais au dessous, au lieu que les Hurons y logent leur bois, nous y auons pratiqué de petites cabanes pour nous coucher, & retirer quelque chose de nos hardes, hors de la main larronnesse des Hurons. Pour eux ils couchent auprés du feu: mais cependant eux & nous n'auons que la terre pour chalit; pour paillasse & pour matelats quelque escorce, ou quelque branchage couuert d'vne nate de ionc; car pour les linceuls & couuertes, nos habits & quelques peaux en font l'office. La troisiesme partie de nostre cabane est encore [157] diuisée en deux, par le moyen d'vn ouurage de menuiserie, qui luy donne assez bonne grace, & qui se fait admirer icy pour sa nouueauté. En l'vne est nostre petite Chapelle, où nous celebrons tous les iours la saincte Messe, & nous y retirons de iour pour prier Dieu. Il est vray que le bruit qu'on fait quasi continuellement nous en empesche d'ordinaire, horsmis le matin & le soir, que tout le monde est retiré, & nous contraint de gaigner le dehors pour faire nos prieres. En l'autre partie nous y mettons nos vtensiles. Toute la cabane n'a que six brasses de longueur, & enuiron trois & demie de large. Voyla comme nous sommes logez, non [110] sans doute si bien que nous n'ayons dedans ce logis assez bonne part à la pluye, à la neige, & au froid. Cependant, comme i'ay dict, on ne laisse pas de nous venir [158] visiter par admiration; principalement depuis que nous auons eu deux portes de menuiserie, & que nostre moulin & nostre horloge ont commencé à ioüer. On ne sçauroit dire les estonnemens de ces bonnes gens, & combien ils admirent l'esprit des François. Mais ils ont tout dit, quand ils ont dit qu'ils sont ondaki, c'est à dire des Demons: & nous releuions bien ce mot à leur profit, quand nous leur disons. Or ça mes freres, vous auez veu cela; & l'auez admiré, & vous pensez auoir raison, voyant quelque chose d'extraordinaire, de dire ondaki; qu'il faut que ceux qui font tant de merueilles soient des Demons. Et qu'y a t'il d'admirable, comme la beauté du Ciel & du Soleil? qu'y a-t'il d'admirable, comme de voir tous les ans les arbres quasi morts durant l'Hyuer, tous nuds & défigurez, reprendre [159] sans mãquer à chaque Printemps vne nouuelle vie & vn nouuel habit? Le bled que vous semez pourrit, & de sa pourriture va poussant de si beaux tuyaux, & de meilleurs espics? Et ce pendant vous ne dites point, Il faut que celuy qui a fait tãt de beautez, & qui nous estalle tous les ans deuant les yeux tant de merueilles, soit quelque excellent oki; & quelque intelligẽce sureminẽte, &c. Il n'est venu persõne qui n'aye voulu tourner le moulin; neantmoins nous ne nous en seruons point, d'autãt que nous auõs par veu experiẽce que nos Sagamités sont meilleures estant pilées dedans des mortiers de bois, à la façon des Sauuages, que broyées dedans le moulin. Ie croy que c'est à cause que le moulin fait la farine trop fine. Pour ce qui est de l'horloge, il y auroit mille choses à dire. [112] Ils croyent tous [160] que c'est quelque chose viuante; car ils ne se peuuent imaginer comment elle sonne d'elle mesme, & quand elle vient à sonner, ils regardent si nous sommes tous là, & s'il n'y a pas quelqu'vn de caché, pour luy donner le branle.

The people of Oënrio and of our village were employed at this, by means of presents given them. It has cost us much exertion to secure its completion, not only [155] on account of the epidemic, which affected almost all the Savages, but on account of the coöperation of these two villages; for although the work was not great, yet those of our village followed the example of those of Oënrio, who, in hopes of finally attracting us to their village, simply amused themselves without advancing the work; we were almost into October before we were under cover. As to the interior, we have suited ourselves; so that, even if it does not amount to much, the Savages never weary of coming to see it, and, seeing it, to admire it. We have divided it into three parts. The first compartment, nearest the door, serves as an antechamber, as a storm door, and as a storeroom for our provisions, in the fashion of the Savages. The second is that in which we live, and is our kitchen, our [156] carpenter shop, our mill, or place for grinding the wheat, our Refectory, our parlor and our bedroom. On both sides, in the fashion of the Hurons, are two benches which they call Endicha, on which are boxes to hold our clothes and other little conveniences; but below, in the place where the Hurons keep their wood, we have contrived some little bunks to sleep in, and to store away some of our clothing from the thievish hands of the Hurons. They sleep beside the fire, but still they and we have only the earth for bedstead; for mattress and pillows, some bark or boughs covered with a rush mat; for sheets and coverings, our clothes and some skins do duty. The third part of our cabin is also [157] divided into two parts by means of a bit of carpentry which gives it a fairly good appearance, and which is admired here for its novelty. In the one is our little Chapel, in which we celebrate every day holy Mass, and we retire there daily to pray to God. It is true that the almost continual noise they make usually hinders us,—except in the morning and evening, when everybody has gone away,—and compels us to go outside to say our prayers. In the other part we put our utensils. The whole cabin is only six brasses long, and about three and a half wide. That is how we are lodged, doubtless not so well that we may not have in this abode a good share of rain, snow, and cold. However, as I have said, they never cease coming [158] to visit us from admiration, especially since we have put on two doors, made by a carpenter, and since our mill and our clock have been set to work. It would be impossible to describe the astonishment of these good people, and how much they admire the intelligence of the French. But they have said all when they have said they are ondaki, that is, Demons; and indeed we make profitable use of this word when we talk to them: "Now, my brothers, you have seen that and admired it, and you think you are right, when you see something extraordinary, in saying ondaki, to declare that those who make so many marvels must be Demons. And what is there so wonderful as the beauty of the Sky and the Sun? What is there so wonderful as to see every year the trees almost dead during the Winter, all bare and disfigured, resume [159] without fail, every Spring, a new life and a new dress? The corn that you plant rots, and from its decay spring up such beautiful stalks and better ears. And yet you do not say, 'He who made so many beauties, and who every year displays before our eyes so many marvels, must be some beneficent oki, and some supereminent intelligence,'" etc. No one has come who has not wished to turn the mill; nevertheless we have not used it, inasmuch as we have learned by experience that our Sagamités[32] are better pounded in a wooden mortar, in the fashion of the Savages, than ground within the mill. I believe it is because the mill makes the flour too fine. As to the clock, a thousand things are said of it. They all think [160] it is some living thing, for they cannot imagine how it sounds of itself; and, when it is going to strike, they look to see if we are all there and if some one has not hidden, in order to shake it.

Ils ont pensé qu'il entendoit, principalement quand pour rire quelqu'vn de nos François s'escrioit au dernier coup de marteau, c'est assez sonné, & que tout aussi tost elle se taisoit. Ils l'appellent le Capitaine du iour. Quand elle sonne ils disent, qu'elle parle, & demandent quand ils nous viennent veoir, combien de fois le Capitaine a desia parlé. Ils nous interrogent de son manger. Ils demeurent les heures entieres, & quelquesfois plusieurs, afin de la pouuoir ouyr parler. Ils demandoient au commencement ce qu'elle disoit; on leur respondit deux [161] choses, qu'ils ont fort bien retenuës; l'vne que quand elle sonnoit à quatre heures du soir pendant l'hyuer, elle disoit, Sortez, allez vous en, afin que nous fermions la porte; car aussi tost ils leuent le siege, & s'en vont: l'autre qu'à midy elle disoit yo eiouahaoua, c'est à dire, sus dressõs la chaudiere, & ils ont encore mieux retenu ce langage. Car il y a de ces écornifleurs, qui ne manquent point de venir à cette heure là, pour participer à nostre Sagamité. Ils mangent à toutes heures, quand ils ont dequoy. Cependant d'ordinaire ils ne font que manger deux chaudieres par iour, sçauoir est, au matin & au soir. Partant ils sont bien aises pendant le iour de prendre part à la nostre.

They think it hears, especially when, for a joke, some one of our Frenchmen calls out at the last stroke of the hammer, "That's enough," and then it immediately becomes silent. They call it the Captain of the day. When it strikes, they say it is speaking; and they ask when they come to see us how many times the Captain has already spoken. They ask us about its food; they remain a whole hour, and sometimes several, in order to be able to hear it speak. They used to ask at first what it said. We told them two [161] things that they have remembered very well; one, that when it sounded four o'clock of the afternoon, during winter, it was saying, "Go out, go away that we may close the door," for immediately they arose, and went out. The other, that at midday it said, yo eiouahaoua, that is, "Come, put on the kettle;" and this speech is better remembered than the other, for some of these spongers never fail to come at that hour, to get a share of our Sagamité. They eat at all hours, when they have the wherewithal, but usually they have only two meals a day, in the morning and in the evening; consequently they are very glad during the day to take a share with us.

A propos de leurs admirations, i'en pourrois icy coucher plusieurs faites au sujet de la pierre d'aymant; en laquelle ils regardoient s'il y auoit [162] de la colle, & d'vne lunette à onze facettes, qui leur representoit autant de fois vn mesme obiet, d'vne petite [114] phiole dans laquelle vne pulce paroist comme vn hanneton, du verre triangulaire, des outils de menuiserie. Mais sur tout de l'escriture; car ils ne pouuoient conceuoir comme ce qu'vn de nous, estãt au village leur auoit dit & couché en mesme temps par escrit; vn autre qui cependant estoit dans la maison bien esloignée, le disoit incontinent en voyant l'escriture. Ie crois qu'ils en ont fait cent experiences. Tout cela sert pour gaigner leurs affections, & les rendre plus dociles, quand il est question des admirables & incomprehensibles mysteres de nostre Foy. Car la croyance qu'ils ont de nostre esprit & de nostre capacité, fait que sans replique ils croyent ce qu'on leur annonce.

Speaking of their expressions of admiration, I might here set down several on the subject of the lodestone, into which they looked to see if there was [162] some paste; and of a glass with eleven facets, which represented a single object as many times; of a little phial in which a flea appears as large as a beetle; of the prism, of the joiner's tools; but above all of the writing, for they could not conceive how, what one of us, being in the village, had said to them, and put down at the same time in writing, another, who meanwhile was in a house far away, could say readily on seeing the writing. I believe they have made a hundred trials of it. All this serves to gain their affections, and to render them more docile when we introduce the admirable and incomprehensible mysteries of our Faith; for the belief they have in our intelligence and capacity causes them to accept without reply what we say to them.

[163] Reste maintenant à dire quelque chose du pays, des meurs & coustumes des Hurons, de la disposition qu'ils ont à la Foy, & de nos petits trauaux.

[163] It remains now to say something of the country, of the manners and customs of the Hurons, of the inclination they have to the Faith, and of our insignificant labors.

Quant au premier, le peu de papier & de loisir que nous auons, m'oblige à vous dire en peu de mots ce qui pourroit faire vn iuste volume. Le pays des Hurons n'est pas grand, sa plus longue estenduë se peut trauerser en trois ou quatre iours, l'assiette en est belle, la plus part toute en plaines. Il est environné & entrecoupé d'vne quantité de tres-beaux lacs, ou plustost mers, d'où vient que celuy qui leur est au Nord, & au Nord-nordouest, est appellé mer douce. Nous passõs par là en venāt des Bissiriniens. Le sol de ce pays est tout sablonneux, quoy que non esgalement. Cependant il produit quantité de tres-bon bled d'Inde, & peut-on [164] dire, que c'est le grenier de la plus part des Algonquains. Il y a vingt Bourgades, qui disent enuiron trente milles ames, sous vne mesme langue, & encore assez facile à qui a quelque maistre. Elle a distinction de genres, de [116] nombre, de temps, de personnes, de mœuds, & en vn mot tres-parfaite & tres accomplie, contre la pensée de plusieurs. Ce qui me resioüit, c'est que i'ay appris que cette langue est commune à quelques douze autres Nations toutes sedentaires & nombreuses. Sçauoir est aux Conkhandeenrhonons, khionontaterrhonons, Atiouandaronks, Sonontoerrhonons, Onontaerrhonons, Oüioenrhonons, Onoiochrhonons, Agnierrhonons, Andastoerrhonons, Scahentoarrhonõs, Rhiierrhonons, & Ahouenrochrhonons. Les Hurons sont amis de tous ces peuples, excepté des Sonontoerrhonons, Onontaerrhonons, Oüioenrhonons, Onoiochrhonons [165] & Agnierrhonons, que nous comprenons tous sous le nom d'Hiroquois. Encore ont ils desia la paix auec les Sonontoerrhonons, depuis qu'ils furent par eux défaits l'année passée an Printemps.

As to the first, the little paper and leisure we have compels me to say in a few words what might justly fill a volume. The Huron country is not large, its greatest extent can be traversed in three or four days. Its situation is fine, the greater part of it consisting of plains. It is surrounded and intersected by a number of very beautiful lakes or rather seas, whence it comes that the one to the North and to the North-northwest is called "fresh-water sea" [mer douce].[33] We pass through it in coming from the Bissiriniens. The soil of this country is quite sandy, although not equally so. However, it produces a quantity of very good Indian corn, and one may [164] say that it is the granary of most of the Algonquains. There are twenty Towns, which indicate about 30,000 souls speaking the same tongue, which is not difficult to one who has a master. It has distinction of genders, number, tense, person, moods; and, in short, it is very complete and very regular, contrary to the opinion of many. I am rejoiced to find that this language is common to some twelve other Nations, all settled and numerous; these are, the Conkhandeenrhonons, khionontaterrhonons, Atiouandaronks, Sonontoerrhonons, Onontaerrhonons, Oüioenrhonons, Onoiochrhonons, Agnierrhonons, Andastoerrhonons, Scahentoarrhonons, Rhiierrhonons, and Ahouenrochrhonons.[34] The Hurons are friends of all these people, except the Sonontoerrhonons, Onontaerrhonons, Oüioenrhonons, Onoiochrhonons [165] and Agnierrhonons, all of whom we comprise under the name Hiroquois. But they have already made peace with the Sonontoerrhonons, since they were defeated by them a year past in the Spring.

Les deputez de tout le Pays sont allez à Sonontoen pour cõfirmer cette paix, & dit on que les Onontaerhonons, Ouioenrhonons, Ouiochrhonons & Agnierrhonons, veulẽt entrer en ce party. Mais ce n'est pas chose asseurée; que si cela est, voila vne belle grande porte ouuerte à l'Euangile. On m'a voulu mener audit Sonontoen, mais ie n'ay pas iugé à propos d'aller encore en aucune part, iusques à ce que nous ayons icy mieux estably les fondemens de la Loy Euangelique, & que nous y ayons tiré vn crayon, sur lequel les autres Nations qui se conuertiront se puissent reigler. Ie voudrois bien n'aller en aucũ lieu qu'on [166] ne nous recogneust aussi tost pour Predicateurs de Iesus-Christ.

The deputies of the whole Country have gone to Sonontoen[35] to confirm this peace, and it is said that the Onontaerhonons, Ouioenrhonons, Ouiochrhonons and Agnierrhonons wish to become parties to it. But that is not certain; if it were, a noble door would be open to the Gospel. They wanted me to go to this Sonontoen, but I did not judge it wise to go yet into any other part, until we have better established here the foundation of the Gospel Law, and until we have drawn a line by which the other Nations that shall be converted may guide themselves. Indeed, I would not go to any place where [166] we would not be immediately recognized as Preachers of Jesus Christ.

Il est si clair & si euident, qu'il est vne Diuinité qui a fait le Ciel & la terre, que nos Hurons ne la peuuent entierement mécognoistre. Et quoy qu'ils ayent les yeux de l'esprit fort obscurcis des tenebres [118] d'vne longue ignorance, de leurs vices & pechez, si est-ce qu'ils en voyent quelque chose. Mais ils se méprennent lourdement, & ayant la cognoissance de Dieu, ils ne luy rendent pas l'honneur, ny l'amour, ny le seruice qu'il conuient: car ils n'ont ny Temples, ny Prestres, ny Festes, ny ceremonies aucunes.

It is so clear, so evident that there is a Divinity who has made Heaven and earth, that our Hurons cannot entirely ignore it. And although the eyes of their minds are very much obscured by the darkness of a long ignorance, by their vices and sins, they still see something of it. But they misapprehend him grossly, and, having the knowledge of God, they do not render him the honor, the love, nor the service which is his due. For they have neither Temples, nor Priests, nor Feasts, nor any ceremonies.

Ils disent qu'vne certaine femme nommée Eataentsic, est celle qui a fait la terre & les hommes. Ils luy baillent pour adioint vn certain appellé Iouskeha, qu'ils disent estre son petit fils, auec lequel elle gouuerne [167] le monde; cest Iouskeha a soin des viuans & des choses qui concernent la vie, & par consequent ils disent qu'il est bõ: Eataentsic a soin des ames, & parce qu'ils croyent qu'elle fait mourir les hommes, ils disent qu'elle est meschante. Et ce sont parmy eux des mysteres si cachez, qu'il n'y a que les vieillards qui en puissent parler auec credit & authorité, pour estre creus. D'où vient qu'vn certain ieune homme m'en ayant discouru, me dist en se ventant, Ne suisie pas bien sçauant? Quelques vns me disent que la maison de ces deux Diuinitez est au bout du monde vers l'Orient. Or chez eux le monde ne passe point leur Pays, c'est à dire l'Amerique, d'autres les logent au milieu.

They say that a certain woman named Eataentsic[36] is the one who made earth and men. They give her an assistant, one named Jouskeha, whom they declare to be her little son, with whom she governs [167] the world. This Jouskeha has care of the living, and of the things that concern life, and consequently they say that he is good. Eataentsic has care of souls; and, because they believe that she makes men die, they say that she is wicked. And there are among them mysteries so hidden that only the old men, who can speak with credit and authority about them, are believed. Whence it comes that a certain young man, who was talking to me about this, said boastingly, "Am I not very learned?" Some told me that the house of these two Divinities is at the end of the world to the East. Now with them the world does not pass beyond their Country, that is, America. Others place their abode in the middle.

Ce Dieu & cette Deesse viuent comme eux, mais sans disette; font des festins comme eux, sont lascifs aussi bien qu'eux: bref ils se les figurent [168] tous tels qu'ils sont eux mesmes. Et encor qu'il les facent hommes & corporels, ils semblent neantmoins leur attribuer vne certaine immensité en tous lieux. Ils disent que cette Eataentsic est tombée du Ciel, où il y a des habitans comme icy, & que quand elle tomba, elle estoit enceinte. Que si vous leur demandez qui a fait le Ciel & ses habitans, ils n'ont autre repartie, [120] sinon qu'ils n'en sçauent rien. Et quand nous leur preschons vn Dieu, Createur du Ciel & de la terre & de toutes choses: de mesme quand nous leur parlons d'vn Enfer & d'vn Paradis, & du reste de nos mysteres; les opiniastres respondent, que cela est bon pour nostre Pays, non pour le leur; que chaque Pays a ses façons de faire: mais leur ayant monstré par le moyen d'vn petit globe que nous auons apporté, qu'il n'y a [169] qu'vn seul monde, ils demeurẽt sans replique. Ie trouue dans leur mariage deux choses qui me plaisent fort; l'vne qu'ils n'ont qu'vne femme, l'autre qu'ils ne se marient point à leurs parens en ligne directe ou collaterale, pour esloignez qu'ils puissẽt estre. Il y a assez d'ailleurs à y reprendre, quand ce ne seroit que le frequent changement que les hommes font de leurs femmes, & les femmes de leurs maris: ils croyent l'immortalité des ames, qu'ils feignent estre corporelles. Toute la plus grande partie de leur Religion consiste en ce poinct. Ce ne sont d'ailleurs que superstitions, que nous esperons auec la grace de Dieu changer en vraye Religion, & comme despoüilles enleuées sur l'ennemy, les consacrer à l'honneur de nostre Seigneur & en profiter pour leur soulagement particulier. Certes si [170] estãs vn iour Chrestiens, ils viennent à les aider à proportion de ce qu'ils sont à present pour elles en vain; il faudra que nous leur cedions, ou que nous les imitions; car ils n'y espargnent rien, non pas mesmes les plus auaricieux. Nous en auons veu quelques-vns dénuez, ou peu s'en faut, de toutes leurs commoditez, pour ce que plusieurs de leurs amis estoient morts, aux ames desquels ils en auoient fait largesse. Au surplus les chiens, les cerfs, les poissons & autres animaux ont des ames immortelles & raisonnables à leur dire: Pour [122] preuue dequoy les vieillards racontent certaines fables qu'ils font passer pour veritez; ils ne font mention ny de peine ny de recompense au lieu où vont les ames apres la mort; aussi ne mettent-ils point de distinction entre les bons & les mauuais, les vertueux & les vicieux, [171] & ils honorent également la sepulture des vns & des autres: ainsi que nous auons veu en celle d'vn ieune homme qui s'estoit empoisonné du déplaisir qu'il auoit conceu, à raison qu'on luy auoit osté sa femme. Ils ont vne infinité de superstitions, leurs festins, leur medecines, leurs pesches, leurs chasses, leurs guerres; bref quasi toute leur vie ne roule que sur ce piuot; les songes sur tout ont icy grand credit.

This God and Goddess live like themselves, but without famine; make feasts as they do, are lustful as they; in short, they imagine them [168] exactly like themselves. And still, though they make them human and corporeal, they seem nevertheless to attribute to them a certain immensity in all places. They say that this Eataentsic fell from the Sky, where there are inhabitants as on earth; and, when she fell, she was with child. If you ask them who made the Sky and its inhabitants, they have no other reply than that they know nothing about it. And when we preach to them of one God, Creator of Heaven and earth, and of all things, and even when we talk to them of Hell and Paradise and of our other mysteries, the headstrong savages reply that this is good for our Country and not for theirs; that every Country has its own fashions. But having pointed out to them, by means of a little globe that we had brought, that there is [169] only one world, they remain without reply. I find in their marriage customs two things that greatly please me; the first, that they have only one wife; the second, that they do not marry their relatives in a direct or collateral line, however distant they may be. There is, on the other hand, sufficient to censure, were it only the frequent changes the men make of their wives, and the women of their husbands. They believe in the immortality of the soul,[37] which they believe to be corporeal. The greatest part of their Religion consists in this point. There are, besides, only superstitions, which we hope by the grace of God to change into true Religion, and, like spoils carried off from the enemy, to consecrate them to the honor of our Lord, and to profit by them for their special advantage. Certainly, if, [170] should they some day be Christians, these superstitions help them in proportion to what they do for them now in vain, it will be necessary that we yield to them, or that we imitate them; for they spare nothing, not even the most avaricious. We have seen several stripped, or almost so, of all their goods, because several of their friends were dead, to whose souls they had made presents. Moreover, dogs, deer, fish, and other animals have, in their opinion, immortal and reasonable souls. In proof of this, the old men relate certain fables, which they represent as true; they make no mention either of punishment or reward, in the place to which souls go after death. And so they do not make any distinction between the good and the bad, the virtuous and the vicious; [171] and they honor equally the interment of both, even as we have seen in the case of a young man who had poisoned himself from the grief he felt because his wife had been taken away from him. Their superstitions are infinite; their feasts, their medicines, their fishing, their hunting, their wars,—in short, almost their whole life turns upon this pivot; dreams, above all, have here great credit.

Tout ce pays, & ie crois qu'il en va de mesme ailleurs, ne manque pas d'hommes meschans, lesquels par enuie ou par vengeance, ou autre motif, empoisonnent ou ensorcellent, & en fin tost ou tard font mourir ceux qu'ils entreprennent. Quand telles gens sont surpris, on les execute sur le champ, sans autre forme de procés, & il n'en est autre bruit. Pour les autres meurtres ils [172] les vengent sur toute la Nation du meurtrier; aussi ne sçay-je que cette sorte de gens qu'ils facent mourir impunément. I'ay bien connu vne fille larronnesse, qui fut aussi tost assommée sans aucune recherche, mais ç'auoit esté par son propre frere: s'il paroist quelque traistre qui machine la ruine du Pays, ils taschent en commun de s'en défaire au plustost; mais ces accidens sont fort rares.

This whole country, and I believe it is the same elsewhere, is not lacking in wicked men, who, from motives of envy or vengeance, or from other cause, poison or bewitch, and, in short, put to death sooner or later those whom they wish to injure. When such people are caught, they are put to death on the spot, without any form of trial, and there is no disturbance about it. As to other murders, they [172] are avenged upon the whole Nation of the murderer; so that is the only class I know about that they put to death with impunity. I knew indeed a girl that stole, who was at once killed without any inquiry, but it was by her own brother. If some traitor appears, who is planning the ruin of the Country, they endeavor in common to get rid of him as soon as possible; but these accidents are very rare.

Ils disent que ces Sorciers les ruinent; car si quelqu'vn a reüssy en quelque entreprise, si la traitte, si la chasse luy a succedé; aussi-tost ces méchans l'ensorcellent, ou quelque autre de sa maison, afin qu'il consomme tout en Medecins & Medecines. Aussi pour remedier à ces sorts, & autres maladies, il y a vne infinité [124] de Medecins qu'ils appellent Arendiouane. Ces gens à [173] mon aduis son[t] vrays Sorciers, qui ont accez au Diable. Les vns ne font que iuger du mal, & ce en diuerses facons, sçauoir est, par Pyromantie, par Hydromantie, Negromantie, par festins, par danses & chansons. Les autres s'efforcent de guerir le mal par souflemens, breuuages & autres singeries ridicules, qui n'ont aucune vertu ny efficacité naturelle. Mais les vns & les autres ne font rien sans grands presens, & sans bonnes recompenses.

They say that the Sorcerers ruin them; for if any one has succeeded in an enterprise, if his trading or hunting is successful, immediately these wicked men bewitch him, or some member of his family, so that they have to spend it all in Doctors and Medicines. Hence, to cure these and other diseases, there are a large number of Doctors whom they call Arendiouane. These persons, in [173] my opinion, are true Sorcerers, who have access to the Devil. Some only judge of the evil, and that in divers ways, namely, by Pyromancy, by Hydromancy, Necromancy, by feasts, dances, and songs; the others endeavor to cure the disease by blowing, by potions, and by other ridiculous tricks, which have neither any virtue nor natural efficacy. But neither class do anything without generous presents and good pay.

On void en ce Pays quelques Deuins, qu'ils appellent encore Arendiouane, & qui se meslent de faire tomber ou cesser la pluye, & predire les choses futures. Le Diable leur reuele quelques secrets, mais auec tant d'obscuritez, qu'on n'a garde de les arguer de mensonge: témoin vn du village de Scanonaenrat [174] lequel vn peu auparauant l'embrasement des bourgades cy dessus mẽtionnées, auoit veu en songe trois flammes qui tomboient du Ciel sur lesdites bourgades. Mais le Diable ne luy auoit declaré le sens de cet enigme: car ayant obtenu du village vn chien blanc pour en faire festin, & en impetrer l'intelligence, il demeura aussi ignorant apres comme auparauant.

There are here some Soothsayers, whom they call also Arendiouane and who undertake to cause the rain to fall or to cease, and to predict future events. The Devil reveals to them some secrets, but with so much obscurity that one is unable to accuse them of falsehood; witness one of the village of Scanonaenrat[38] [174] who, a little while before the burning of the villages before mentioned, had seen in a dream three flames falling from the Sky on those villages. But the Devil had not declared to him the meaning of this enigma; for, having obtained from the village a white dog, to make a feast with it and to seek information by it, he remained as ignorant afterward as before.

Dernierement comme i'estois chez Louys de saincte Foy, vne vieille sorciere ou deuineresse dudit village, dist qu'elle auoit veu ceux qui estoient allez à la guerre, qu'ils reuenoient, & amenoient vn prisonnier. Nous verrons si elle a dit vray: son procedé est par pyromantie: elle vous figure en sa cabane le lac des Hiroquois, puis d'vn costé elle fait autant de feux comme il y a de personnes qui ont marché en [175] campagn[e]; & de l'autre costé encore autant de feux, qu'ils ont d'ennemis à combattre. Puis si son sort reüssit, elle donne à entendre que les feux de deça ont [126] trauersé, & cela signifie, que les guerriers ont desia passé le lac. Vn feu qui y esteint l'autre, marque vn ennemy défait, que si il l'attire à soy sans l'esteindre, c'est vn prisonnier pris à mercy. C'est ainsi, pour finir ce discours, qui seroit trop long, si ie voulois tout dire, que le Diable amuse ce pauure peuple, substituant ses impietez & superstitions, en la place de la conformité, qu'ils deuroient auoir à la prouidence de Dieu, & du culte qu'ils luy deuroient rendre.

Lastly, when I was in the house of Louys de saincte Foy, an old woman, a sorceress, or female soothsayer of that village, said she had seen those who had gone to the war, and that they were bringing back a prisoner. We shall see if she has spoken the truth. Her method is by pyromancy. She draws for you in her hut the lake of the Hiroquois;[39] then on one side she makes as many fires as there are persons who have gone on [175] the expedition, and on the other as many fires as they have enemies to fight. Then, if her spell succeeds, she lets it be understood that the fires from this side have run over, and that signifies that the warriors have already crossed the lake. One fire extinguishing another marks an enemy defeated; but if it attracts it to itself without extinguishing it, that is a prisoner taken at mercy. It is thus,—to finish my discourse, which would be too long if I tried to say everything,—that the Devil amuses this poor people, substituting his impieties and superstitions in place of the compliance they ought to have with the providence of God, and the worship they ought to render him.

Quant à ce qui concerne les mœurs, les Hurons sont lascifs, quoy qu'en deux chefs moins que plusieurs Chrestiens, qui rougiront [176] vn iour deuant eux. Vous n'y verrez point de baisers, ny de caresses deshonnestez; & dans le mariage vn homme y demeurera les deux & trois ans entiers, sans cognoistre sa femme, tandis qu'elle est nourrice. Ils sont gourmands iusques à rendre gorge: vray est que cela n'est pas souuent, mais seulement en quelques festins superstitieux. Encore ne s'y trouuent-ils pas volontiers; & d'ailleurs ils supportent beaucoup mieux la faim que nous; si bien qu'apres auoir ieusné les deux ou trois iours entiers, vous en verrez encore ramer, porter, chanter, rire, gausser, cõme s'ils auoiẽt biẽ disné. Ils sont fort faineants, menteurs, larrons, importuns demandeurs. Quelques-vns les estiment vindicatifs; mais pour moy ie crois que ce vice est plus notable ailleurs qu'icy. On y voit reluire d'assez belles vertus [177] morales. Vous y remarquez en premier lieu vne grande amour & vnion, qu'ils sont soigneux de cultiuer par le moyen de leurs mariages, de leurs presens, de leurs festins, & de leurs frequentes visites. Au retour de leur pesche, de leur chasse, & de leur traitte, ils s'entredonnent beaucoup: s'ils y ont pris quelque chose d'exquis, ou mesme s'ils l'ont [128] acheté, ou si on le leur a donné, ils en font festin à tout le village: l'hospitalité enuers toute sorte d'estrãgers y est remarquable. Ils leur presentẽt en ces festins ce qu'ils ont preparé de meilleur, & cõme i'ay desia dit, ie ne sçay si ailleurs il se recontre rien de pareil en ce sujet. Il me semble auoir leu dans les vies [des] Peres, qu'vne armée Payenne se conuertit, voyant la charité & l'hospitalité d'vne ville Chrestienne, dont les habitans s'efforçoient à l'enuy de [178] caresser & festoyer les Estrangers. Iugeant bien que ceux-là deuoient professer la vraye Religion, & adorer le vray Dieu Pere commun de tous, qui auoient vn cœur si benin, & faisoient indifferemment tant de bien à toute sorte de personnes. Nous auons aussi esperance que nostre Seigneur donnera en fin la lumiere de sa cognoissance, & communiquera l'ardeur de ses graces à cette Nation, qu'il semble y auoir disposée par la pratique de cette belle vertu. Ils ne refusent iamais la porte à vn Estranger; & l'ayans receu vne fois en leur maison, ils luy font part de ce qu'ils y ont de meilleur: ils ne luy donnent iamais son congé; & quand il le prend de soy-mesme, il en est quitte pour vn simple grand-mercy. Cela me fait esperer, que si vne fois il plaist à Dieu de les illuminer, ils correspondront parfaictement [179] aux graces & aux inspirations de son Fils. Et puis qu'il est venu comme Estranger en sa propre maison, ie me promets que ces bonnes gens le receuront à toutes heures en leur cœur, sans le faire attendre à la porte par trop de dureté; sans luy rien espargner en toute l'estenduë de leurs affections: sans le trahir & le chasser dehors par quelque faute signalée, & sans rien pretendre en son seruice que son honneur & sa gloire: qui est tout ce [130] qu'on peut souhaitter de fidelité en vne ame, pour le bon vsage & sainct employ des faueurs du Ciel.

As regards morals, the Hurons are lascivious, although in two leading points less so than many Christians, who will blush [176] some day in their presence. You will see no kissing nor immodest caressing; and in marriage a man will remain two or three years apart from his wife, while she is nursing. They are gluttons, even to disgorging; it is true, that does not happen often, but only in some superstitious feasts,—these, however, they do not attend willingly. Besides, they endure hunger much better than we,—so well that after having fasted two or three entire days you will see them still paddling, carrying loads, singing, laughing, bantering, as if they had dined well. They are very lazy, are liars, thieves, pertinacious beggars. Some consider them vindictive; but, in my opinion, this vice is more noticeable elsewhere than here. We see shining among them some rather noble moral [177] virtues. You note, in the first place, a great love and union, which they are careful to cultivate by means of their marriages, of their presents, of their feasts, and of their frequent visits. On returning from their fishing, their hunting, and their trading, they exchange many gifts; if they have thus obtained something unusually good, even if they have bought it, or if it has been given to them, they make a feast to the whole village with it. Their hospitality towards all sorts of strangers is remarkable; they present to them in their feasts the best of what they have prepared, and, as I have already said, I do not know if anything similar, in this regard, is to be found elsewhere. I think I have read, in the lives of the Fathers, that a Pagan army was converted on seeing the charity and hospitality of a Christian town, the inhabitants of which vied with each other in [178] caressing and feasting the Strangers,—judging well that those must profess the true Religion and worship the true God, the common Father of all, who had hearts so benign and who did so much good to all sorts of persons, without distinction. We have also hope that our Lord will give at last the light of his knowledge, and will communicate the fire of his graces, to this Nation, which he seems to have disposed thereto by the practice of this noble virtue. They never close the door upon a Stranger, and, once having received him into their houses, they share with him the best they have; they never send him away, and, when he goes away of his own accord, he repays them by a simple "thank you." This makes me hope that, if once it pleases God to illumine them, they will respond perfectly [179] to the grace and inspiration of his Son. And, since he has come as a Stranger into his own house, I promise myself that these good people will receive him at all hours into their hearts without making him wait too long on account of their hardness, without withholding from him anything in the whole range of their affections, without betraying him or driving him outside by any serious fault, and without claiming anything in his service other than his honor and glory; which is all the fidelity one can ask in a soul for the good use and holy employment of the favors of Heaven.

Que diray-je de leur estrange patience dans leur pauureté, disette & maladies? Nous auons veu cette année les villages entiers sur la litiere, nourris d'vn peu de sagamité insipide, & cependant pas vn mot pour se plaindre, pas vn mouuement [180] d'impatience. Ils reçoiuent bien plus constamment la nouuelle de la mort, que ces Messieurs & Dames de la Chrestienté, à qui on en oseroit ouurir la bouche. Nos Sauuages l'entendent non seulement sans desespoir, mais sans se troubler, sans pallir ou blesmir tant soit peu. Nous auons sur tout admiré la constance de nos nouueaux Chrestiens: le penultiéme qui est mort, nommé Ioseph Oatij a demeuré sur la dure l'espace de quatre ou cinq mois, tant deuant qu'apres son Baptesme, si décharné qu'il n'auoit que les os; dãs vne cabane si chetiue, que les vents y souffloient de tous costez, couuert pendant les froidures de l'hyuer d'vne peau fort legere, de bestes noires ou d'escurieux noirs, nourry fort pauuremẽt. On ne l'a cependant iamais ouy faire aucune plainte. Nostre Seigneur Iesus-Christ soit à iamais [181] loüé. C'est sur ces dispositions & fondemens, que nous esperons auec la grace de Dieu bastir l'edifice de la Religiõ Chrestienne parmy ce peuple, qui desia d'ailleurs nous est grandemẽt affectiõné, & a vne grãde opinion de nous. C'est à nous maintenãt à correspõdre à nostre vocatiõ, & à la voix de N. S. qui nous dit, videte regiones, quoniam albæ sunt iam ad messẽ. Il est vray, mon R. P. que messis multa, operarij pauci, & de plus nous nous trouuõs fort foibles pour vne si grãde entreprise; au moins moy; & partant ie supplie nostre R. P. Prouincial & V. R. de nous enuoyer du secours. Sur quoy ie m'escrierois [132] volõtiers au bon Dieu, mitte quem missurus es; car pour nous, nous sõmes des enfans qui ne faisons que begayer. Cependant nous confians en la bonté de N. Seign. & non en nos propres forces & industries, voicy ce que [182] nous auons fait pour la conuersion de ce Peuple, depuis nostre arriuée. Premierement nous-nous sommes employez en l'estude de la langue, qui à cause de la diuersité de ses mots composez est quasi infinie. On ne peut neantmoins rien faire sans cét estude. Tous les François qui sont icy s'y sont ardemment portez, ramenant l'ancien vsage d'escrire sur des escorces de bouleau faute de papier. Les P. Dauost & Daniel y ont trauaillé par dessus tous. Ils y sçauẽt autant de mots que moy, & peut-estre plus. Mais ils n'ont pas encore la prattique pour les former & assembler promptement; quoy que le Pere Daniel s'explique desia passablement. Pour moy qui y fais leçon à nos François, si Dieu ne m'assiste extraordinairement, encor me faudra-il aller long temps à l'escole des Sauuages, telle est la fecondité [183] de leur langue. Cela n'empesche pas que ie n'entende quasi tout ce qu'ils disent, & que ie ne leur face assez comprendre mes conceptions, mesmes dans l'explication de nos plus ineffables mystres. Apres cela, nous nous sommes employez à la visite, sollicitation & instruction des malades, qui ont esté comme i'ay dit en tres-grand nombre; ç'a esté dãs ce pieux exercice que nous auons acquis des ames à nostre Seigneur, iusques au nombre de treize. La premiere fut vne petite fil[l]ette de ce village aagée seulement de quatre ou cinq mois, elle mourut vn quart d'heure après son baptesme, auquel elle fut nõmée Iosephe, pour accomplir vn vœu que i'auois faict de donner ce nom au premier que nous regenererions des sainctes [134] eaux, en recognoissance de tant de faueurs que nous auons receu & receuons [184] par l'entremise de ce grand Sainct. Ce fut le sixiesme Septembre 1634. La deuxiesme, fut vne autre petite fille d'enuirõ deux ans, que nous baptisames le lendemain; elle mourut l'onziesme du mesme mois & an, ayant esté nommée Marie.

What shall I say of their strange patience in their poverty, famine, and sickness? We have seen this year whole villages prostrated, their food a little insipid sagamité; and yet not a word of complaint, not a movement [180] of impatience. They receive indeed the news of death with more constancy than those Christian Gentlemen and Ladies to whom one would not dare to mention it. Our Savages hear of it not only without despair, but without troubling themselves, without the slightest pallor or change of countenance. We have especially admired the constancy of our new Christians. The next to the last one who died, named Joseph Oatij, lay on the bare ground during four or five months, not only before but after his Baptism,—so thin that he was nothing but bones; in a lodge so wretched that the winds blew in on all sides; covered during the cold of winter with a very light skin of some black animals, perhaps black squirrels, and very poorly nourished. He was never heard to make a complaint, however. May our Lord Jesus Christ be ever [181] praised. It is on such dispositions and foundations that we hope, with the grace of God, to build the edifice of the Christian Religion among these people, who, besides, are already affectionately inclined toward us and have a great opinion of us. It is now our part to correspond to our vocation, and to the voice of Our Savior, who says to us, videte regiones, quoniam albæ sunt iam ad messem. It is true, my Reverend Father, that messis multa, operarii pauci, and, besides, we are very weak for so great an enterprise, at least I am, and therefore I beseech our Reverend Father Provincial and Your Reverence to send us help. For this I could cry willingly to the good God, mitte quem missurus es; as for us, we are children, who can only stammer. Yet see what we, trusting in the goodness of Our Lord, and not in our own strength and skill, [182] have done for the conversion of this People since our arrival. In the first place, we have been employed in the study of the language, which, on account of the diversity of its compound words, is almost infinite. One can, nevertheless, do nothing without this study. All the French who are here have eagerly applied themselves to it, reviving the ancient usage of writing on birch-bark, for want of paper. Fathers Davost and Daniel have worked at it, beyond all; they know as many words as I, and perhaps more; but they have not yet had practice in forming and joining them together promptly, although Father Daniel already explains himself passably well. As for me, who give lessons therein to our French, if God does not assist me extraordinarily, I shall yet have to go a long time to the school of the Savages, so prolific is [183] their language. That does not prevent me from understanding almost all they say, and from making them fairly understand my meaning, even in the explanation of our most ineffable mysteries. In addition, we have employed ourselves in visiting, entreating, and instructing the sick, who have been, as I have said, very numerous. It has been in this pious exercise that we have won souls for our Lord, to the number of thirteen. The first was a little girl of this village, only four or five months old; she died a quarter of an hour after her baptism, in which she was named Josepha, to fulfill a vow I had made to give this name to the first that we should regenerate with the holy waters,—in gratitude for so many favors that we have received and are receiving [184] by the interposition of that great Saint. This was on the sixth of September, 1634. The second was another little girl, about two years of age, whom we baptized on the next day. She died on the eleventh of the same month and year, having been named Marie.

Le 26. du mesme mois ie baptisay Marie Oquiaendis mere du Capitaine de ce village, ayeule de l'autre Marie. Celle-cy vit encore, & attribuë sa guerisõ à la vertu du S. Baptesme, le publiant par tout. En effet elle estoit quasi aux abois, & dés qu'elle fut lauée de ces sacrées eaux, elle commença à se mieux porter. Le 20. d'Octobre, ie partis pour aller à la Nation du Petun: en ce voyage Dieu me fit la faueur de baptifer & enuoyer au Ciel trois petits enfans, l'vn desquels entre autres alloit ietter les derniers souspirs quãd i'arriuay dãs sa cabane, où à peine eus-je le loisir [185] de l'ondoyer. Au retour du voyage, ie trouuay que le P. Daniel auoit baptisé Ioseph Ioutaya, qu'on croyoit deuoir expirer sur le chãp. Ie l'auois instruit auparauãt. Il a suruécu long temps, tousiours languissant, & faisant beaucoup d'actes de vertu. Nous l'auons assisté corporellement & spirituellement; si bien que luy & toute sa cabane n'attribuoient la prolongatiõ de sa vie, qu'au double secours qu'il a receu de nostre part. En fin estant mort heureusement dãs la cõfession & inuocatiõ du vray Dieu, & dans la repentãce de ses pechez, nous l'enterrasmes solẽnellement comme il l'auoit desiré. Nous auõs admiré le soin, la charité & la perseuerãce de sa fẽme, dãs les deuoirs & seruices qu'elle luy rẽdoit pendãt vne fort longue, fort salle, & fort puãte maladie. Elle & toute sa cabane (où nous en auons déja baptisé [136] trois) nous est demeurée [186] fort affectionnée, & ils m'ont protesté plusieurs fois qu'ils seroient tous à la vie, à la mort, & au delà en nostre disposition. Mais nous ne les iugeons pas encore assez instruits. C'est en ceste cabane où demeure le premier Huron que i'aye iamais baptizé qui fut l'an mil six cens vingt-neuf, auant nostre depart de ce Pays. C'estoit vn petit enfant tenu pour mort, lequel sembla renaistre & reuiure doublement dans les eaux viuifiantes du sainct Baptesme. Il vit encore aagé d'enuiron cinq ans, & est fort gentil.

On the 26th of the same month, I baptized Marie Oquiaendis, the mother of the Captain of this village, grandmother of the other Marie. She is still living, and attributes her recovery to the virtue of Holy Baptism, publishing it everywhere. In truth, she was almost gone; and as soon as she was washed with the sacred waters she began to improve. On the 20th of October, I set out to go to the Tobacco Nation.[40] In this journey God granted me the favor of baptizing and sending to Heaven three little children, one of whom, among others, was about to give forth his last breath when I reached the lodge and had scarcely time [185] to sprinkle him. When I returned from the journey I found that Father Daniel had baptized Joseph Joutaya, who was believed to be at the point of death. I had instructed him previously. He survived a long time, in a languishing condition, and doing many acts of virtue. We helped him both bodily and spiritually; so well that he and all his family attributed the prolongation of his life to nothing but the double assistance he had received from us. At last, having happily died in the confession and invocation of the true God, and in repentance for his sins, we solemnly interred him as he had desired. We admired the care, the charity, and the perseverance of his wife in the duties and services she rendered to him during a long, very dirty, and very disgusting sickness. She and all her house, (where we have already baptized three) have continued [186] warmly attached to us; and they have often protested to me that they will all be, in life, in death, and beyond, at our service. But we do not judge them yet sufficiently instructed. It is this cabin where lives the first Huron I ever baptized, which was in the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-nine, before our departure from this Country. It was a little child, looked upon as dead, who seemed to be born and live again in a double sense, in the life-imparting waters of holy Baptism. He still lives, being about five years of age, and is very gentle.

Le vingt-vniesme d'Octobre fut baptizé Ioseph Sondaarouhané, aagé d'enuiron quarante ou cinquante ans; il auoit vne grande bonté & douceur naturelle, & m'estoit de longue main affectionné; il rendit son bienheureux esprit à Dieu le vingtiesme Nouembre. Le mesme [187] iour fut baptisé Ioachim Tsindacaiendoua, vieillard de 80. ans. C'estoit vn des Hurons du meilleur naturel que i'aye connu, le lendemain il quitta cette vie pour en commencer vne meilleure, comme nous croyons: nous l'enterrasmes solemnellement en vn lieu separé. Cette ceremonie attira sur nous les yeux de tout le village, & causa à plusieurs le desir qu'on honorast leur sepulture de cette façon, notamment à Ioseph Ioutaia, cy dessus mentionné: lequel apres les obseques acheuées me dit qu'il eust esté bien aise que nous eussions passé au trauers de sa cabane en l'estat que nous estions habillez, pour nous veoir du lieu où la maladie le tenoit attaché: car on luy en auoit fait tant de cas, qu'il declara authentiquement vouloir estre enterré de nos mains, ce qui fut fait.

On the twenty-first of October, was baptized Joseph Sondaarouhané, about forty or fifty years of age. He had great goodness and natural sweetness, and had been attached to me for a long time. He yielded up his blessed spirit to God, on the twentieth of November. On the same [187] day was baptized Joachim Tsindacaiendoua, an old man of 80 years. He was one of the best-natured Hurons I have ever known. The next day he left this life, to begin a better one, as we believe; we interred him solemnly in a separate place. This ceremony attracted upon us the eyes of the whole village, and caused several to desire that we should honor their burial in the same way,—notably Joseph Joutaia, the one above-mentioned, who, after the obsequies were over, told me that he would have been very glad if we had passed through his cabin in the style in which we were dressed, so that he might see us from the place in which sickness kept him bound; for they had talked so much to him about the matter that he declared of his own will that he wished to be interred by our hands, which was done.

[188] Puisque ie suis retombé sur le propos de cét homme, ie diray vne chose memorable qui luy arriua [138] apres son Baptesme. Le Diable luy apparut vn iour en forme d'vn sien frere decedé. Entrant dans sa cabane, il ne le salüa pas, & s'asseyant de l'autre cofté du feu, vis à vis de nostre nouueau Chrestien, il demeura long-temps sans parler. En fin prenant la parole, il luy dit, Quoy donc mon frere, vous nous voulez quitter? Nostre Ioseph, qui n'estoit pas encore assez duit en cette milice, respondit: non, mõ frere, ie ne vous veux pas quitter, ie ne vous quitteray point; & dit-on qu'alors ce faux frere commença à le caresser. Toutesfois il a depuis protesté plusieurs fois qu'il desiroit aller au Ciel.

[188] Since I have referred to this man's decision, I will tell a memorable thing which happened to him after his Baptism. The Devil appeared to him in the form of one of his deceased brothers. Entering his cabin without any salutation, he sat down on the other side of the fire opposite our new Christian, and remained a long time without speaking. At last beginning to speak, he said to him, "How now, my brother, do you wish to leave us?" Our Joseph, who was not yet sufficiently equipped for this warfare, replied, "No, my brother, I don't wish to leave you; I will not leave you," and it is said this false brother then began to caress him. Still, he has since declared several times that he desired to go to Heaven.

Le vingt-septiesme de Nouembre Martin Tsicok, vieillard desia [189] fort aagé, & d'vne humeur fort douce, fut baptisé. Ce bon hõme ne cessa d'inuoquer Iesus & Marie depuis son baptesme iusques au 15. Decembre qu'il mourut. Ie commençay à l'instruire par cette verité: que nos ames apres la mort alloient toutes en Enfer ou en Paradis: Que le Paradis estoit vn lieu remply de delices & de contentemens: & au contraire, l'Enfer, vn lieu de feux, de peines & de tourmens eternels. Qu'au reste, il auisast, tandis qu'il estoit encore en vie, auquel de ces deux lieux il vouloit aller, & demeurer pour iamais. Alors ce bon vieillard se tournant vers sa femme, Ma femme, luy dit-il, ne vaut-il pas bien mieux aller au Ciel? I'ay peur de ces effroyables feux d'enfer: sa femme fut de mesme aduis; & ainsi il presta volontiers l'oreille aux instructiõs qu'on luy dõna.

On the twenty-seventh of November, Martin Tsicok, already a very [189] old man and of a very gentle disposition, was baptized. This good man did not cease to invoke Jesus and Mary from his baptism until the 15th of December, when he died. I began to instruct him with this truth, that our souls after death all go to Hell or to Paradise; that Paradise is a place full of delights and contentment, and on the contrary that Hell is a place of fires, of pains, and eternal torments; that, besides, he should think, while he was yet in life, to which of these places he desired to go and dwell forever. Then this good old man, turning to his wife, said to her, "My wife, is it not indeed better to go to Heaven? I am afraid of those horrible fires of hell." His wife was of the same opinion, and thus he willingly listened to the instructions we gave him.

Le dixneufiesme Ianuier, ie partis [190] pour aller en la maison de Louys de saincte Foy, distante de nostre village de sept ou huict lieuës. Ie n'auois peû ny deu y aller plustost, pour ce qu'il estoit allé en la [140] Nation neutre querir son Pere, qui y estoit demeuré perclus.

On the nineteenth of January, I set out [190] for the house of Louys de saincte Foy, distant from our village seven or eight leagues. I had been neither able nor willing to go sooner, as he had gone to the neutral Nation[41] to seek his father, who had remained there, a cripple.

En ce voyage, passant par Onnentissati, i'allay voir vn nommé oukhahitoüa, qui auoit l'an passé embarqué vn de nos hommes: le trouuant à l'extremité, ie l'instruisis, il creut, il detesta sa vie passée, il fut baptisé sous le nom de François, & deux iours apres quitta ce monde pour s'enuoler au Ciel.

On this journey passing through Onnentissati,[42] I went to see a man named oukhahitoüa, who last year embarked one of our men. Finding him dying, I instructed him; he believed, he detested his past life, he was baptized under the name of François, and two days later quitted this world to fly to Heaven.

Le vingt-neufiesme de Mars nous baptisames solemnellement en nostre petite Chapelle Ioseph Oatij: François petit Pré luy seruit de Parain, plusieurs y assisterent. Il y auoit long-temps que nous l'instruisions; c'est pourquoy il respondit [191] luy-mesme aux interrogations que ie luy faisois en langue Huronne. Ce bon ieune homme estoit d'vne complexion fort valetudinaire; nous l'auions gaigné par vne continuelle assistance, qui l'auoit remis par deux fois: de sorte que tres-volontiers il remit entre nos mains le soin de son ame, laquelle alla heureusement à Dieu le quatorziesme Auril, apres auoir esté fortifiée du Sacrement d'extreme-Onction.

On the twenty-ninth of March, we solemnly baptized in our little Chapel Joseph Oatij; François petit Pré[43] was his Godfather, and many were present. We had been instructing him a long time, and hence he replied [191] personally to the questions I put to him in the Huron tongue. This good young man was of a very sickly constitution; we had gained him by continual assistance, which had twice saved his life; so that he willingly put in our hands the care of his soul, which went happily to God on the fourteenth of April, after having been fortified by the Sacrament of extreme Unction.

Nous auons sur tout admiré sa patience, & sa tranquillité d'esprit, principalement depuis le baptesme. A peine auions nous commencé à l'instruire, qu'il commença à dire fort souuent & de iour & de nuict; Iesus ayez pitié de moy. Marie & Ioseph secourez moy.

We especially admired his patience and tranquility of mind, especially after his baptism. Scarcely had we begun to instruct him when he began to say very often, both by day and by night, "Jesus, have pity on me! Mary and Joseph, help me!"

Finalement le vingtiesme d'Auril, ie baptisay à Oënrio vne femme fort vieille. Elle deceda le vingt-quatriesme; [192] du commencement que ie l'abborday, & que ie luy demanday si elle vouloit aller au Ciel ou en Enfer: elle ne respondoit autre chose, sinon qu'elle iroit où son fils voudroit. Mais luy ayant esté [142] dit que son pere feu Ioachim Tsindacaiendoua estoit allé au Ciel: I'y veux donc aller, dit-elle.

Lastly, on the twentieth of April, I baptized at Oënrio a very old woman, who died on the twenty-fourth. [192] At first, when I talked to her, and asked her whether she wished to go to Heaven or to Hell, she did not answer, except to say that she would go where her son wished. But having told her that her father, the late Joachim Tsindacaiendoua, had gone to Heaven, she said, "Then I wish to go there!"

Ce sont là les fruicts que nous auons recueilly de nos visites, & instructions particulieres. Ie croy que la moisson eust esté plus grande, si i'eusse peu abandonner nostre village, & parcourir les autres. Plaise à nostre Seigneur accepter ces petites premices, & nous donner les forces & les moyens d'en faire dauantage. On en a instruit beaucoup d'autres, qui demandoient le Baptesme fort instãment. Mais ne les voyant pas en dãger de mort, nous les auons reseruez pour vne plus grãde instructiõ.

These, then, are the fruits that we have gathered from our visits and private instructions. I believe the harvest would have been greater if I could have left our village, and visited the others. May it please our Lord to accept these few first fruits, and give us strength and opportunities to gather more of them. We have instructed many others, who asked very urgently for Baptism; but not seeing them in danger of death, we have kept them back for further instructions.

[193] Enuiron le mois de Decembre les neiges commencerent à prendre pied, & les Sauuages se rendirent sedentaires dans le village. Car tout l'Esté, & tout l'Automne, ils sont la plus-part ou dans des cabanes chãpestres à prendre garde à leurs bleds, ou sur le lac à la pesche, ou en traite; ce qui n'est pas vne petite incommodité pours les instruire. Les voyãt donc ainsi reünis, au commencemẽt de ceste année, nous resolusmes de prescher publiquement à tous, & leur faire cognoistre le sujet de nostre venuë en leur Pays, qui n'est pas pour leurs pelleteries, mais pour leur annoncer le vray Dieu, & son fils Iesus-Christ, Sauueur vniuersel de nos ames.

[193] About the month of December, the snow began to lie on the ground, and the Savages settled down in the village. For, during the whole Summer and Autumn, they are for the most part either in their rural cabins, taking care of their crops, or on the lake fishing, or trading; which makes it not a little inconvenient to instruct them. Seeing them, therefore, thus gathered together at the beginning of this year, we resolved to preach publicly to all, and to acquaint them with the reason of our coming into their Country, which is not for their furs, but to declare to them the true God and his son, Jesus Christ, the universal Savior of our souls.

Nous faisons cette Instruction ou Catechisme en nostre cabane: car nous n'auons point encore d'autre Eglise capable. C'est le plus souuent [194] que nous pouuons: car leurs festins, leurs danses, & leurs ieux, les occupent tellement, qu'on ne les assemble pas comme l'on veut.

We gave the Instruction or Catechism in our cabin, for we had as yet no other suitable Church. This is often the most [194] we can do; for their feasts, dances, and games so occupy them that we cannot get them together as we would like.

La façon ordinaire que nous y tenons est cette-cy. Nous appellons le monde par le moyen du Capitaine du village, qui les assemble tous chez nous comme en [144] Conseil, ou bien au son de la clochette. Ie me sers du surplis & du bonnet carré, pour donner plus de maiesté. Au commencement nous chantons à genoux le Pater noster reduit en vers Hurons. Le P. Daniel comme autheur de cela chante vn couplet tout seul, & puis nous le rechantons tous ensemble, & ceux d'entre les Hurons, principalement les petits enfans qui le sçauent desia, prennent plaisir de chanter auec nous, & les autres d'escouter. Cela fait, comme vn chacun est assis, ie me leue, & fais [195] faire le signe de la Croix à tous, puis ayãt recapitulé ce que i'ay dit la derniere fois, i'explique quelque chose de nouueau. Apres cela nous interrogeons les ieunes enfans, & les filles, donnans ou vn petit canon de verre, ou de la racade à ceux qui l'ont merité. Les parents sont fort aises de veoir leurs enfans bien dire, & remporter quelque petit prix, dont ils se rendent dignes par le soin qu'ils ont de venir en particulier se faire instruire. Nous de nostre costé, pour leur donner plus d'emulation, faisons reprendre chaque leçon, par nos deux petits garçons François, qui s'entreinterrogent l'vn l'autre; ce qui rauit les Sauuages en admiration. En fin tout se conclud par le discours des Anciens, qui proposent leurs difficultez, & quelquesfois me [196] font escouter à mon tour le narré de leur creance.

The usual method that we follow is this: We call together the people by the help of the Captain of the village, who assembles them all in our house as in Council, or perhaps by the sound of the bell. I use the surplice and the square cap, to give more majesty to my appearance. At the beginning, we chant on our knees the Pater noster, translated into Huron verse. Father Daniel, as its author, chants a couplet alone, and then we all together chant it again; and those among the Hurons, principally the little ones, who already know it, take pleasure in chanting it with us, and the others in listening. That done, when every one is seated, I rise and make [195] the sign of the Cross for all; then, having recapitulated what I said the last time, I explain something new. After that we question the young children and the girls, giving a little bead of glass or porcelain to those who deserve it. The parents are very glad to see their children answer well and carry off some little prize, of which they render themselves worthy by the care they take to come privately to get instruction. On our part, to arouse their emulation, we have each lesson retraced by our two little French boys, who question each other,—which transports the Savages with admiration. Finally the whole is concluded by the talk of the Old Men, who propound their difficulties, and sometimes [196] make me listen in my turn to the statement of their belief.

Nous commençasmes nos Catechismes par cette verité memorable, que les ames qui sont immortelles, vont toutes apres la mort en Paradis ou en Enfer. Et c'est ainsi que nous les abordons, soit en public, soit en particulier. I'adioustay qu'ils auoiẽt le choix pendant la vie, de prendre party apres la mort icy ou là, où ils aduiseroient presentement. A quoy vn bon veillard m'ayant dit, Aille qui voudra dans les feux d'Enfer, pour moy ie desire aller au Ciel. Tous les [146] autres le suiuirent, & vsans de la mesme response, nous prierent de leur en monstrer le chemin, & oster les pierres, les arbres & les halliers qui y sont, & qui pourroient les arrester.

We began our Catechizing by this memorable truth, that their souls, which are immortal, all go after death either to Paradise or to Hell. It is thus we approach them, either in public or in private. I added that they had the choice, during life, to participate after death in the one or the other,—which one, they ought now to consider. Whereupon one honest old man said to me, "Let him who will, go to the fires of Hell; I want to go to Heaven;" all the others followed and making use of the same answer, begged us to show them the way, and to take away the stones, the trees, and the thickets therein, which might stop them.

Nos Hurons comme vous voyez ne sont pas si massifs qu'on croiroit biẽ, [197] ils me semblent auoir le sens cõmun assez bon, & ie les recognois vniuersellemẽt fort dociles. Il y en a neantmoins d'opiniastres, & attachez à leurs superstitiõs & mauuaises coustumes; ce sont notamment les vieillards: car horsmis ceux là, qui ne sont pas en grand nombre, tout le reste ne sçait rien en leur croyance. Nous en auons en nostre village deux ou trois de ce nombre. Ie suis souuent aux prises auec eux, où ie les conuaincs & les mets en contradiction, de telle sorte qu'ils aduoüent ingenuement leur ignorance, & les autres se mocquent d'eux; neantmoins ils ne se rendent pas, ayant pour tout refuge, que leur Pays n'est pas comme le nostre, qu'ils ont vn autre Dieu, vn autre Paradis, en vn mot d'autres coustumes.

Our Hurons, as you see, are not so dull as one might think them; [197] they seem to me to have rather good common sense, and I find them universally very docile. Nevertheless, some of them are obstinate, and attached to their superstitions and evil customs. These are principally the old people; for beyond these, who are not numerous, the rest know nothing of their own belief. We have two or three of this number in our village. I am often in conflict with them; and then I show them they are wrong, and make them contradict themselves, so that they frankly admit their ignorance, and the others ridicule them; still they will not yield, always falling back upon this, that their Country is not like ours, that they have another God, another Paradise, in a word, other customs.

Ils nous racontent que cette femme nommé Eataentsic tomba du Ciel [198] dedans les eaux, dont estoit couuerte la terre, & que peu à peu la terre se descouurit. Ie leur demande qui a creé ce Ciel, où cette femme n'a pû se tenir, & ils demeurent muets; comme aussi quãd ie les presse de me dire qui auoit produit la terre, veu qu'elle estoit au fond des eaux auparauant la cheute de ceste femme. Vn certain me demanda assez subtilement sur ce propos, où estoit Dieu auant la creation du monde. La response me fut plus facile, apres S. Augustin, qu'à eux l'intelligence de la question qu'ils me faisoient. Vn autre bon vieillard estant tombé malade, ne vouloit point oüyr parler d'aller au Ciel, disant qu'il desiroit aller [148] où estoient ses ancestres. Quelques iours apres il se rendit, & me fit vn plaisant conte. Resioüys toy, me dit-il, car ie suis reuenu du pays des ames, & ie n'y en ay plus trouué, [199] elles sont toutes allées au Ciel. Il n'y a rien qui ne serue à salut, quand il plaist à Dieu, iusques aux songes.

They tell us how the woman, named Eataentsic, fell from Heaven [198] into the waters with which the earth was covered; and that little by little, the earth became bare. I ask them who created the Heaven in which this woman could not stay, and they remain mute; as also when I press them to tell me who formed the earth, seeing that it was beneath the waters before the fall of this woman. One man asked me very cunningly, in this connection, where God was before the creation of the world. The reply was more easy for me, following St. Augustine, than the grasp of the question put to me was for them. Another good old man, having fallen sick, did not wish to hear of going to Heaven, saying he desired to go where his ancestors were. Some days afterwards, he came to me and told me a pleasant story: "Rejoice," he said, "for I have returned from the country of souls, and I have found none there any longer; [199] they have all gone to Heaven." There is nothing which does not serve for salvation when God pleases, not even dreams.

Deux choses entre autres nous ont fort aydé, pour si peu de profit que nous auons desia fait icy, par la grace de nostre Seigneur. La premiere est, comme i'ay desia dit, la santé que Dieu nous a conseruée parmy vne si grande & si vniuerselle contagion: car nos Hurons ont pensé que s'ils croyoient en Dieu, & le seruoient comme nous, il ne mouroient pas en si grand nombre.

Two things among others have aided us very much in the little we have been able to do here, by the grace of our Lord; the first is, as I have already said, the good health that God has granted us in the midst of sickness so general and so widespread. For our Hurons have thought that, if they believed in God and served him as we do, they would not die in so large numbers.

La seconde est l'assistance temporelle, qu'on a rendu aux malades. Ayans apporté pour nous quelques petits rafraichissemens, nous leur en donnions, à l'vn vn peu de prunes, à l'autre vn peu de raisins; aux autres quelque autre chose. Les pauures gens venoient [200] de fort loin pour en auoir tous leur part.

The second is the temporal assistance we have rendered to the sick. Having brought for ourselves some few delicacies, we shared them with them, giving to one a few prunes and to another a few raisins, to others something else. The poor people came [200] from great distances to get their share.

Nos François ayant assez heureusement reüssy à la chasse pendant l'Automne; nous en portions quelque morceau à tous les malades. Cela leur gagnoit le cœur. Veu principalemẽt, qu'ils mouroient n'ayãt ny chair ny poissõ, pour affaisõner leur sagamité. Adioustez que tous nos François se sont Dieu mercy comportez si vertueusement, & si paisiblemẽt dedãs & dehors, pẽdant toute cette année, qu'ils ont attiré la benediction du Ciel. Nous deuons aussi beaucoup au glorieux sainct Ioseph espoux de nostre Dame, & protecteur des Hurons, dont nous auons touché au doigt l'assistãce plusieurs fois. Ce fut vne chose remarquable, que le iour de sa feste, & durant l'Octaue, les commoditez nous venoient de toutes parts.

Our French servants having succeeded very well in hunting, during the Autumn, we carried portions of game to all the sick. That chiefly won their hearts, as they were dying, having neither flesh nor fish to season their sagamité. Add that all our French have borne themselves, thank God, so virtuously and so peaceably on all sides, during the whole year, that they have drawn down the blessing of Heaven. We owe much also to our glorious saint Joseph, spouse of our Lady, and protector of the Hurons, who has rendered us tangible aid several times. It was a remarkable thing that on the day of his feast, and during the Octave, accommodations came to us from all sides.

[150] [201] Auant que de finir, ie diray seulement ce mot de Louys de saincte Foy, que i'aymerois mieux taire, n'estoit qu'il peut seruir pour reconnoistre plus iudicieusement cette Nation. C'est qu'il n'est pas tel qu'il deuroit estre, & que nous l'eussions souhaitté; neantmoins nous en auõs encore bonne esperance. Il fut pris l'année passée par les Hiroquois en la défaite commune, & emmené prisonnier. Il luy en a cousté vn doigt; ce coup de foüet deuroit estre bastant pour le remettre en son deuoir. Son Pere ne fut pas pris: il se sauua à la fuite, mais en fuyãt il patit à bon escient dedans les bois, où il demeura, à ce qu'il dit, trente iours, combattu de trois puissans ennemis; scauoir est du froid, car c'estoit au Printemps, & il estoit nud & sans feu: de la maladie, car il demeura comme perclus des deux iambes & [202] n'en est pas encore guery; & en fin de la faim. A propos de laquelle il raconte vne chose remarquable, si elle est vraye. Il dit qu'ayant demeuré dix ou douze iours sans manger, & priant Dieu, duquel il auoit ouy parler à son fils, il vit comme vn pot de grais tel qu'il en auoit veu à Kebec, remply d'vne très suaue liqueur, & oüyt vne voix, qui luy disoit, Saranhes, aye bon courage, tu n'en mourras pas; prens, boy de ce qui est dans ce pot afin de te fortifier: ce qu'il fit, & en fut merueilleusement soulagé. Que peu apres il rencontra en vn arbrisseau vn sachet de bled, dont il sustenta petitement sa vie, iusques à ce que quelques Sauuages de la Nation neutre, l'ayant fortuitement trouué, l'enleuerent en leur village.

[201] Before drawing to a close, I shall say only this one word about Louys de saincte Foy, which I would prefer not to say were it not that it may help to make this Nation more correctly known; it is this,—he is not such as he ought to be, and as we had wished. Nevertheless, we still have good hope. He was taken prisoner last year by the Hiroquois, in the common defeat, and carried away a captive. It cost him a finger. This severe stroke ought to suffice to bring him back to duty. His Father was not taken; he escaped by flight, but in fleeing he suffered in good earnest in the woods, where he remained, according to his account, thirty days struggling against three powerful enemies,—namely, cold, for it was Spring, and he was naked and fireless; sickness, for his two legs were powerless, and [202] he has not yet recovered; and, lastly, against hunger, in reference to which he relates a remarkable story, if it be true. He says that, having gone for ten or twelve days without eating, and praying to God, of whom he had heard his son speak, he saw what seemed a pot of grease, such as he had seen at Kebec, full of a very savory liquor, and heard a voice that said to him, "Saranhes, be of good cheer; thou wilt not die; take, drink what is in the pot and strengthen thyself," which he did, and was marvelously solaced by it. A little later, he found in a thicket a small bagful of corn, with which he barely sustained life until some Savages of the neutral Nation, having accidentally found him, brought him to their village.

Cét homme m'a témoigné qu'il desiroit se conuertir, luy & toute sa [203] famille, & cooperer à ce que tout son village seruist à Dieu, comme nous. Mais c'est [152] vn esprit deslié aussi bien que son fils, ie ne me fie pas encore en luy. Nostre esperance est en Dieu, & en nostre Seigneur Iesus-Christ, qui a respandu son sang pour le salut des Hurons, aussi bien pour le reste du monde.

This man has declared to me that he and his whole family were desirous of being converted, [203] and of helping to bring the entire village to God's service. But his is a crafty spirit, as well as his son's, and I do not trust him yet. Our hope is in God, and in our Lord Jesus Christ, who shed his blood for the salvation of the Hurons, as well as for the rest of the world.

C'est sur cét appuy, & non sur nos industries, que nous esperons de veoir vn iour icy vne Chrestienté florissante. Les esprits certes y sont dociles & flexibles, ie ne voy que la liberté des femmes qu'ils changent à plaisir, & quelques superstitions difficiles à abolir. Car d'ailleurs ils n'ont point d'auersion de la Foy, ny de la Loy Chrestienne; ils recourent volontiers à Dieu en leurs [204] necessitez: viennent faire benir leurs bleds auant que de les semer, & demandent ce que c'est que nous desirons d'eux. Nous n'auons à apprehender que nos pechez & imperfections, & moy sur tous. Certes ie me sens extremement i[n]digne de cét employ; mais enuoyez nous des saincts, ou faites enuers Dieu nostre Seigneur, que nous soyons tels qu'il desire. Mille recommandations aux saincts sacrifices de vostre Reuerence, & de tous nos Peres & Freres.

De V. R.

De nostre petite Maison de S. Ioseph au village d'Ihonatiria és Hurons ce 27. May 1635. iour auquel le S. Esprit descendit visiblement sur les Apostres.

Tres-humble & tres-obeyssant
seruiteur en nostre Seigneur,

Iean de Brebevf.

It is through this support, and not our own efforts, that we hope one day to see here a flourishing Christianity. Indeed, their minds are docile and flexible; I see only the liberty with which they change their wives at pleasure, and some superstitions, difficult to abolish, for in other respects they have no aversion to the Faith nor to the Christian Law. They turn willingly to God in their [204] necessities; they come to get their crops blessed, before sowing them; and ask us what we desire of them. All we have to fear is our own sins and imperfections, and I above all. In truth, I feel myself extremely unworthy of this employment; but send holy ones to us, or pray to God our Lord that we may be such as he desires. A thousand entreaties for the holy sacrifices of your Reverence and of all our Fathers and Brothers.

Your Reverence's

From our little House of St. Joseph, in the village of Ihonatiria in the Huron country, this 27th of May, 1635, the day on which the Holy Spirit descended visibly upon the Apostles.

Very humble and obedient
servant in our Lord,

Jean de Brebeuf.

---

[154] [205] Mon R. Pere,

Depuis la presente escrite nous auõs baptisé vn enfãt malade, arriere petit neueu de feu Ioachim Tsindacaiendoua, & ce d'autant plus hardiment que ceste famille semble estre toute disposée à la Foy. Nostre Seigneur luy a rendu la santé auec admiration de ses parens, qui remarquerent qu'incontinent apres le baptesme, il reposa fort doucement. Cela seruira pour renuerser vne mauuaise opinion que le Diable va semant dans quelques esprits, ausquels il persuade qu'on ne guerit iamais apres le baptesme. C'est là vne des ruses du Diable contre nous; il en a bien d'autres dont il a fait l'essay desia en partie, mais N. Seigneur le confondra; c'est en luy en qui nous nous confions. Paraduenture V. R. sera-elle [206] biẽ aise de sçauoir que l'Hyuer a esté icy fort court, & fort moderé, le Pays est tel, qu'il porte assez pour la nourriture des habitans. Tout ce Printemps a esté grandement beau & sec, les bleds commencent à pâtir faute de pluye. Ie prie nostre Seigneur, qu'il luy plaise y remedier, & nous donner ce qui sera necessaire pour sa gloire, pour les heureux commencemens de ceste Chrestienté, & pour la benediction des petits trauaux que nostre Compagnie entreprend en ces terres éloignées, sous la protection des Fleurs de Lys, & de nostre Grand Roy, qui les fait fleurir auiourd'huy si glorieusement.

[205] My Reverend Father,

Since the above was written, we have baptized a sick child, grandnephew of the late Joachim Tsindacaiendoua; and this the more boldly, as this family seems to be disposed to the Faith. Our Lord has restored his health, to the wonder of his parents, who remarked that immediately after the baptism he rested very sweetly. This will serve to overthrow a bad opinion that the Devil goes about sowing in some minds, whom he persuades that they will never get better after baptism. This is but one of the ruses of the Devil against us; he has many others, which he has already attempted in part; but Our Lord will confound him; it is in him that we put our trust. Your Reverence will perhaps [206] be glad to hear that the Winter here has been very short and moderate. The Country is such that it bears sufficient for the nourishment of its inhabitants. All this Spring has been extremely clear and dry; the crops are beginning to suffer for want of rain. I pray our Lord that it may please him to remedy this, and to give us what will be necessary for his glory, for the happy beginnings of this Christianity, and for the blessing of the insignificant labors that our Society is undertaking in these distant lands, under the protection of the Fleurs de Lys and of our Great King who to-day is causing them to bloom so gloriously.

[156] [207] Relation de qvelqves particularitez, du lieu & des Habitans de I'Isle du Cap Breton.

Enuoyée par le P. Iulien Perrault, de la Compagnie de Iesus, à son Prouincial, en France, l'an 1634. & 35.

L'ISLE du Cap Breton est esloignée de nostre France d'enuiron neuf cens lieuës par mer. Elle en a soixante & dix ou quatre vingts de circuit. Les mõtagnes y sont fort hautes & en nombre, au pied desquelles [208] se voyent de grandes fondrieres & precipices affreux. La terre y est couuerte de toutes sortes d'arbres, comme de chaisnes, haistres, bouleaux, pins, sapins & autres.

[207] Relation of certain details regarding the Island of Cape Breton and its Inhabitants.

Sent by Father Julïen Perrault, of the Society of Jesus, to his Provincial, in France, in the years 1634 and 35.[44]

THE Island of Cape Breton[45] is about nine hundred leagues distant from our France by sea. It is seventy or eighty leagues in circumference. The mountains here are very high and numerous, at the foot of which [208] are seen great bogs and frightful precipices. The land is covered with all sorts of trees, such as oak, beech, birch, pine, hemlock, and others.

Le Chibou principale partie de ceste Isle, est vne grande Baye d'enuiron deux lieuës de large en son entré, qui va peu à peu s'estressissant le long de six ou sept lieuës, qu'elle comprend en estenduë. Sur le milieu, à main gauche en montant, au haut de la coste, qui regarde le Nor-oüest, est basti le fort de saincte Anne, à l'entrée du port, vis à vis d'vne petite Ance. L'assiete du lieu est si auantageuse, au rapport de ceux qui s'y cognoissent, qu'auec dix ou douze pieces de canon, on pourroit couler à fonds tous les vaisseaux ennemis qui s'y presenteroient.

Chibou,[46] which is the principal part of this Island, is a great Bay about two leagues wide at its entrance, becoming narrower little by little, in the six or seven leagues which form its extent. In the middle, on the left hand in ascending, on the summit of the shore that faces the Northwest, is built the fort of sainte Anne, at the entrance of the harbor, opposite a little Cove. The situation of the place is so advantageous, according to the report of those who are acquainted with it, that with ten or twelve pieces of cannon, all the hostile ships that might present themselves could be sent to the bottom.

Ceux qui ont vieilly sur mer, protestent qu'ils n'ont iamais veu vn [209] Port plus recommandable pour sa capacité, ny pour la facilité de son abord. Trois mille nauires y peuuent estre à l'aise, & à l'abry de tout vent, en vn beau rond tres-agreable à veoir; car sa figure est circulaire, ou peu s'en faut. Les marées y [158] sont fort douces & reiglées; il y a tousiours de dix à douze brassées d'eau: au reste nonobstant que toute l'Isle soit de quarante-six degrez & demy en son eleuation; si est-ce que le froid y est extréme, parmy des neiges de cinq à six mois l'année. Voila pour ce qui est de la situation du lieu: venons aux commoditez de la vie, qu'il offre aux habitans: surquoy on peut dire en general, que les Sauuages sont icy plus à leur aise, qu'en beaucoup d'autres endroits. Si l'Hyuer leur y fournit moins de Castors sur eau, il leur donne aussi en récompense plus d'Orignacs [210] sur terre. En esté ils y viuent assez doucement de Marmettes, de Perroquets, de Cormorans, & autres oyseaux de marine. Ils y ont aussi les Outardes, l'Esplan, les Maquereaux, les Moruës, & semblables prouisions selon la diuersité des saisons, dans les forests, ou sur les costes de la mer.

Those who have grown old upon the sea protest that they have never seen a [209] more desirable Port, either in extent or for its facility of access. Three thousand ships could easily anchor there, and be sheltered from every wind, in a beautiful enclosure very pleasant to look upon; for its form is circular, or nearly so. The tides here are very mild and regular; there is always from ten to twelve fathoms of water. Furthermore, notwithstanding that the Island is in forty-six and a half degrees north latitude, the cold is extreme, the island lying in the midst of snow five or six months of the year. This is the situation of the place, let us come to the conveniences of life which it offers to its inhabitants. On this subject we may say, in general, that the Savages are more comfortable here than in many other places. If the Winter supplies them with fewer Beavers upon the water, it gives them, by way of compensation, more Moose [210] upon the land. In summer, they live very well on Marmots and Parrot fish,[47] with Cormorants and other marine birds. They have also Bustards, Smelts, Mackerel, Codfish, and like supplies, according to the different seasons, in the forests or upon the coasts of the sea.

Quant à eux, pour ce qui est du corps, ils n'ont rien de monstrueux; vous y voyez des gẽs bien-faits, d'vn beau visage, & d'vne riche taille, forts & puissans. Leur charnure est blanche naturellement, comme en font foy les petits enfans; mais le hasle du Soleil, & les frictions d'huile de Loup marin, & de graisse d'Orignac, les rend fort bazanez, à mesure qu'ils croissent. Ils vont la plus-part la teste nuë, & portent de longs cheueux noirs, auec fort peu ou point de barbe, tellement que les femmes n'y sont recogneües, [211] qu'en ce qu'elles se seruent d'vne ceinture, & qu'elles sont moins découuertes que les hommes; tout au rebours de ce qui se prattique en plusieurs lieux de la Chrestienté, à la honte du Christianisme. On void icy des vieillards de quatre-vingts & cent ans, qui n'ont presque pas vn poil gris. Pour le regard de l'esprit, s'il [160] en faut iuger de leurs deportemens, & de leurs façons de traitter auec nos François, ils ne l'ont pas mauuais. Vous ne voyez paroistre en leurs gestes & démarches aucune sottise ou niaiserie, mais plutost vne certaine grauité & modestie naturelle, qui les rend aimables. Ils sont bien si industrieux, que de déguiser leur langage, adioustans à chaque mot vne syllabe, qui ne sert qu'à troubler l'imagination de ceux, dont ils ne veulent point estre entendus.

As to the people, there is nothing anomalous in their physical appearance; you see well-formed men, good-looking, of fine figures, strong and powerful. Their skin is naturally white, for the little children show it thus; but the heat of the Sun, and the rubbing with Seal oil and Moose fat, make them very swarthy, the more so as they grow older. Most of them go bareheaded, and they have long, black hair, with very little or no beard, so that the women cannot be distinguished, [211] except that they use a girdle and are less naked than the men; quite the reverse of what is practiced in many Christian lands, to the shame of Christianity. One sees here old men, of eighty and a hundred years, who have hardly a gray hair. As to their intelligence, if we may judge from their conduct and from their way of dealing with the French, they are not at a great disadvantage. You do not see in their gestures and bearing any foolishness or nonsense, but rather a certain gravity and natural modesty, which makes them agreeable. They are indeed so clever that, in order to disguise their language, they add to every word a syllable, which only serves to confuse the minds of those by whom they do not wish to be understood.

[212] Ce qui leur manque, est la cognoissance de Dieu, & du seruice qu'ils sont obligez de luy rendre, comme aussi de l'estat des ames apres la mort: c'est merueille, que nous n'en auons sceu encore découurir aucun vestige, en ce que nous sçauons de leur langue. Peut-estre qu'en descouurirons nous quelque chose de plus, quand nous y serons plus sçauans: car il n'est pas croyable que la lumiere naturelle soit tout à fait esteinte en eux pour ce regard, ne l'estant point en d'autres Natiõs plus barbares; ou qu'ils ne parlent iamais entre-eux de ce qu'ils ne peuuent tout à fait ignorer. Tant y a que iusqu'à maintenant, nous n'auons non plus remarqué de Religion parmy ces pauures Sauuages, que parmy les bestes. C'est ce qui nous fend le cœur de compassion, pour des ames rachetées au mesme [213] prix que nous, & dont elles feroient leur profit volontiers mieux que nous, si elles sçauoient ce qu'elles vallent, & ce qu'elles ont cousté à celuy qui nous a tant aimez tous ensemble.

[212] What they do lack is the knowledge of God and of the service that they ought to render to him, as also of the state of the soul after death; it is wonderful that we have not yet been able to discover any trace of this knowledge in what we know of their language. Perhaps we shall discover something more, when we become better versed in it; for it is not credible that the light of nature should be altogether extinct in them in this regard, when it is not in other more barbarous Nations, or that they never talk among themselves of that of which they cannot be entirely ignorant. For all that, we have not up to the present noticed any more Religion among these poor Savages than among brutes. This is what wrings our hearts with compassion for souls redeemed at the same [213] price as ours, by which they would willingly profit better than we, if they could know what they themselves are worth, and what they cost him who has loved us all so much.

Or ce qui nous console parmy cette ignorance & barbarie, & ce qui nous fait esperer d'y veoir vn iour la Foy plantée bien auant; c'est en partie la docilité qu'ils nous sont paroistre à vouloir estre instruits, & en partie la fidelité & l'honnesteté que nous y remarquons.

Now what consoles us in the midst of this ignorance and barbarism, and what makes us hope some day to see the Faith widely planted, is partly the docility they have shown in wishing to be instructed, and partly the honesty and decency we observe in them.

[162] Ils se rendent fort assidus & attentifs aux instructions que nous leur donnons: ie ne sçay, si c'est par complaisance, car ils en ont beaucoup naturellement, ou par instinct d'enhaut, qu'ils nous escoutent si volontiers sur les mysteres de nostre Foy, & redisent apres nous, soit qu'ils l'entendent ou non, tout ce [214] que nous leur en declarons. Ils font tres-volontiers le signe de la Croix, comme ils nous voyent faire, leuans les mains & les yeux au Ciel, prononçans, Iesus Maria, comme nous: iusque-là qu'ayans remarqué l'honneur que nous rendons à la Croix, les pauures gens se la peignent au visage, à l'estomach, aux bras, & aux iambes, sans en estre priez. Ie veux bien qu'ils fassent tout cela en ces commencemens par vne simplicité naturelle, qui les porte à imiter tout ce qu'ils voyent, plus que pour aucune meilleure consideration; si est-ce qu'auec le temps, ils en peuuẽt estre aidez; & ils ne seront pas les premiers, quãd ils viendront à pratiquer par election, ce qui leur a esté en vsage, comme par rencontre & par hazard. Au surplus, ce qui n'est pas peu, ils nous pressent parfois de prier nostre bon Iesus pour eux, [215] pour les succez de leurs chasses, & pour la deliurance de leurs maladies.

They are very diligent and attentive to the instructions we give them; I do not know whether it is through complaisance, for they have a great deal of this naturally, or through an instinct from above, that they listen to us so willingly concerning the mysteries of our Faith, and repeat after us, whether they understand it or not, all that [214] we declare to them. They very willingly make the sign of the Cross, as they see us make it, raising their hands and eyes to Heaven and pronouncing the words, "Jesus, Mary," as we do,—so far that, having observed the honor we render to the Cross, these poor people paint it on their faces, chests, arms, and legs, without being asked to do so. I am very willing that they should do all these things in the beginning from a natural simplicity, which causes them to imitate all they see, rather than from any greater consideration; because in time they may be helped by it, and they will not be the first, who come to practice by choice that to which by casual encounter they have become accustomed. Besides, what is of no small importance, they sometimes urge us to pray our good Jesus for them, [215] for the success of their hunting and for relief from their diseases.

L'autre aduantage que nous remarquons icy, pour la predication de l'Euangile, est en la fidelité, & en l'honnesteté que nous y voyons reluire, comme deux clairs rayons de lumiere, au milieu des tenebres. On n'a que faire de se défier de nos Sauuages, ou de prendre garde à leurs mains & à leurs pieds, comme en quelques autres, qui attirent tout à eux, & s'accommodent de tout ce qu'ils treuuent à leur bienfeance. Tout leur est ouuert en tout lieu, & si rien [164] n'est en danger deuant eux, quand ils feroient seuls en vne cabane, & sans pouuoir estre apperceus de personne. Pour l'honnesteté, ils l'ont en telle recõmandation, au moins quãt à ce qui se void à l'exterieur, en leurs actions & paroles, qu'il y a de l'apparence [216] qu'ils se leueront au dernier iour, & condamneront plusieurs Chrestiens, qui l'auront moins cultiuée en la Loy de grace, que ne font ces pauures gens, en celle de nature.

The other encouragement we see here, for the preaching of the Gospel, is in the honesty and decency that we see shining forth in them like two bright rays of light in the midst of darkness. We never think of distrusting our Savages, or of watching their hands and their feet, as with some others who attract everything to them and appropriate all they find at their convenience. Everything is free to them in all places, and yet nothing is in danger in their presence, even if they are alone in a cabin and where no one can see them. As to decency, they hold it in such high estimation, at least as far as external appearances are concerned, in their actions and words, that there is a probability [216] that they will rise up on the last day and condemn many Christians, who will have cultivated this virtue less under the Law of grace, than these poor people have under that of nature.

Nous ne leur auons iamais oüy dire parole messeante, ny veu faire aucune action trop libre, quoy que nous ayons vescu assez familierement auec eux, dedans & hors de leurs cabanes.

We have never heard them use unseemly words, nor seen any actions too free, although we have lived on familiar terms with them inside and outside their cabins.

Vous diriez qu'ils veulent pratiquer par aduance ce beau mot de l'Apostre, qui commande aux Chrestiens, de n'auoir pas mesme, si faire se peut, en leur bouche, vne parole qui signifie le vice contraire. Quelqu'vn repliquera volontiers, que si nous eussions esté plus versez en leur langue, nous n'eussions pas manqué d'y en remarquer. Mais n'est-ce pas beaucoup, que si peu [217] que nous en sçauons ne nous ait encore appris rien de semblable? Et n'y a-t'il pas grande occasion de rougir pour beaucoup de Nations Chrestiennes, parmy lesquelles il ne faut pas auoir fait grand apprentissage en leur Grammaire, pour se trouuer honteux & confus és compagnies, à qui a tant soit peu l'honneur en affection. Que si nous n'auons pas encore les oreilles assez ouuertes, pour rendre tesmoignage asseuré de l'indifference, ou de l'hõnesteté de leurs discours; sõmes nous aueugles, ou ne pouuons nous pas recognoistre ce que c'est qu'vn geste ou vn deportement honteux? & neantmoins nous [166] n'y auons rien veu de semblable, non pas mesme parmy les gens mariez. Que diray-je, sur ce que m'estant vn iour apperceu, qu'vn ieune Sauuage auoit baisé sa femme, que ie ne croyois [218] pas estre la sienne; comme cela me sembloit extraordinaire parmy eux, ie luy demanday sur le champ, si c'estoit sa femme; & il me respondit, qu'oüy; mais ce ne fut pas sans confusion de l'vn & de l'autre, qui se trouuerent surpris. Ioignez cela auec cette grauité, que i'ay desia dit leur estre naturelle, & vous iugerez que Dieu aidant, ils receuront à bras ouuerts vne Loy qui ne recommande rien tãt que cette vertu, qui rẽd les hommes semblables aux Anges; & qu'ils n'auront pas si grande difficulté, qu'ont plusieurs Chrestiens mal appris, de se conformer à tout ce qui est des paroles de l'Euangile, quand on le leur annoncera aux termes de l'Apostre; qu'ils ayẽt à faire paroistre leur modestie aux yeux de tout le mõde, veu que le Seigneur est proche. Il est vray, qu'ils ont la polygamie, & ne gardent point l'indissolubilité [219] du Mariage. Mais il faut esperer, que quand ils viendront a recognoistre les obligations qu'ils ont, auec toutes les Nations de la terre, à vn Dieu qui s'est fait homme pour eux, ils se soumettront volontiers à ses Loix toutes sainctes, nommémẽt en ce qui concerne une vertu, au moyen de laquelle il veut que nous le portions & glorifions sans cesse en nos corps, luy qui a liuré le sien pour nous aux tourmens, & qui nous le donne tous les iours en viandes, pour cét effect singulier.

You would say they are trying to practice in advance that beautiful motto of the Apostle, which commands Christians not even to have, if they can help it, upon their lips a word which signifies indecency. Some one will readily reply that, if we were better versed in their language, we would not fail to notice it therein. But is it not a great deal, that the little [217] we know of it has not taught us anything of the kind? And is there not great reason to blush for many Christian Nations, among whom one does not have to serve a long apprenticeship to their Grammar, to find oneself embarrassed and confused in company, if he has even a little regard for propriety? And if our ears are not yet sufficiently opened to give positive evidence of the unconcern or decency of their talk; are we blind, or are we incapable of recognizing a shameful gesture or action? And yet we have never seen anything of this kind, not even among married people. But what shall I say about noticing one day a young Savage kissing a woman, who I did not think [218] was his wife; as that seemed something extraordinary among them, I straightway asked him if that was his wife, and he replied that she was; but it was not without embarrassment on the part of the two who had been taken by surprise. Add to this modesty the gravity which I have said is natural to them, and you will judge that, God helping, they will receive with open arms a Law which recommends nothing so much as this virtue, which makes men like unto Angels; and that they will not have as much difficulty as many badly taught Christians have, to conform entirely to the injunctions of the Gospel, when it shall be declared to them in the words of the Apostle that they have to show their modesty in the eyes of all the world, since the Lord is near. It is true they have polygamy, and pay no attention to the indissolubility [219] of Marriage. But we must hope that, when they come to recognize the obligations they are under, together with all the Nations of the earth, to a God who made himself man for them, they will willingly submit to his most holy Laws, especially in that which concerns a virtue by means of which he wishes us to bear witness to and glorify without ceasing, in our bodies, him who for us has delivered his own up to torture, and who gives it to us every day as food, for this sole purpose.

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[168] [220] Divers Sentimens & aduis des Peres qui sont en la Nouuelle France.

Tirez de leurs dernieres lettres de 1635.

1 LA Nouuelle France est vn vray climat où on apprend parfaictement bien à ne chercher que Dieu, ne desirer que Dieu seul, auoir l'intention purement à Dieu, & à ne s'attendre & ne s'appuyer qu'en sa diuine & paternelle Prouidence; & cela c'est vn riche thresor du cœur, qui ne se peut estimer.

[220] Various Sentiments and opinions of the Fathers who are in New France.

Taken from their last letters of 1635.

1 NEW France is truly a region where one learns perfectly to seek God alone, to desire God alone, to have sincere intentions toward God, and to trust to and rely solely upon his divine and paternal Providence; and it is a rich heart treasury, impossible to estimate.

2 Viure en la Nouuelle France, c'est à vray dire viure dans le sein de [221] Dieu, & ne respirer que l'air de sa Diuine conduite; on ne sçauroit croire la douceur de cét air là, si ce n'est quand actuellement on le respire.

2 To live in New France means truly to live in the bosom of [221] God, and to breathe only the air of his Divine guidance; the sweetness of that air can be realized only by actually breathing it.

3 Il n'est pas à propos que tout le monde sçache, combien il fait bon dans les sacrées horreurs de ces forests, & combien on trouue de lumieres du Ciel dans les tenebres espaisses de cette barbarie: nous aurions trop de monde qui y voudroit venir, & nos Habitatiõs ne seroient pas capables de loger tant de gens: & c'est ce qui nous confond qui Dieu nous ait choisis, pour nous faire participans de cette misericorde, voyãt qu'il y a tant de nos Peres en France, qui seroient mieux que nous.

3 It is not fitting that every one should know how agreeable it is in the sacred awe of these forests, and how much Heavenly light one finds in the thick darkness of this barbarism; we would have too many persons wishing to come here, and our Settlements would not be capable of accommodating so many; and what confounds us is that God has chosen us, to make us participants in this mercy, seeing that there are so many of our Fathers in France, who would do better than we.

4 La ioye qu'on a quand on a baptisé vn Sauuage, qui se meurt peu apres, & qui s'enuole droit au Ciel, pour deuenir vn Ange, certainemẽt [222] c'est vne [170] ioye qui surpasse tout ce qu'on se peut imaginer: on ne se souuiẽt plus ny de la mer, ny du mal de la mer, ny de l'horreur des tempestes passées; on voudroit auec la souffrance de dix mille tempestes pouuoir aider à sauuer vne ame, puisque Iesus-Christ pour vne seule ame auroit volontiers respandu tout son pretieux sang.

4 The joy that one feels when he has baptized a Savage who dies soon afterwards, and flies directly to Heaven to become an Angel, certainly [222] is a joy that surpasses anything that can be imagined; one no longer remembers the sea, nor seasickness, nor the horror of past tempests; but one would like to have the suffering of ten thousand tempests that he might help save one soul, since Jesus Christ for one soul would have willingly shed all his precious blood.

5 Le plus grand combat que nous ayons eu parmy nous, c'est qui seroit celuy qui auroit la bonne aduenture d'estre choisi pour aller aux Hurons. Dieu a fait tomber le sort sur ceux qu'il luy a plû choisir, & qui sont allez à ces Nations barbares, comme si c'eust esté le Paradis Terrestre. Vne fois qu'on a gousté à bon escient la douceur de la Croix de Iesus-Christ, on la prefere à tous les Empires de la terre.

5 The greatest strife we have had among ourselves was to see which would have the good fortune of being chosen to go to the Hurons. God has made the lot fall upon those he was pleased to choose, and who are going to these barbarous Nations as if to a Terrestrial Paradise. When once a person has tasted in earnest the sweetness of the Cross of Jesus Christ, he prefers it to all the Empires of the earth.

6 Nous trouuans nagueres dans [223] vne tempeste si furieuse, que tout l'Ocean sembloit se bouleuerser, on nous dit que nous estions cause de cét horrible orage; cela nous estonna d'abord, estant dit par des gens de bien; & en demandant la raison, il nous fut dit, que voyant vne si furieuse & enragée tourmẽte, il falloit croire que l'Enfer enrageãt de nous veoir aller en la Nouuelle France, pour conuertir les infidelles, & diminuer sa puissance, par dépit il sousleuoit tous les Elemens contre nous, & vouloit abysmer la flotte, & tout ce qui estoit dedans. Mais nous leur dismes tout doucement; Souuenez vous, Messieurs, que Dieu est plus puissant pour nous defendre, que Lucifer pour nous persecuter: Que la mer s'esleue tant qu'elle voudra, si faut-il que Dieu soit le Maistre. Mirabiles elationes maris, mirabilis in altis Dominus. Nous craignons bien [224] plus la cholere de Dieu contre nos infidelitez, que celle de la mer contre nos infirmitez humaines.

6 Finding ourselves lately in [223] a tempest so furious that the whole Ocean seemed to be in a turmoil, they told us that we were the cause of this horrible storm; this astonished us at first, as it was said by honest people; on asking the reason, we were told that, seeing so furious and raging a tempest, it must be that Hell was enraged at seeing us go to New France to convert infidels and to diminish its power; for revenge it raised up all the Elements against us, and was trying to sink the fleet and all that was within it. But we said to them very gently: "Remember, Sirs, that God is more powerful to defend us, than Lucifer is to persecute us; that the sea may rise as high as it will, yet God must be its Master. Mirabiles elationes maris, mirabilis in altis Dominus. We fear indeed [224] the anger of God against our unfaithfulness, more than that of the sea against our human weakness".

[172] 7 En Europe on a coustume de dire, que quiconque veut apprendre à prier Dieu, il faut aller sur la mer: mais c'est toute autre chose d'y estre effectiuement. Dernierement nous fusmes plus de deux iours & deux nuicts en continuel danger d'estre absorbez de l'Ocean; chaque moment sembloit deuoir estre le dernier moment de nos vies. Vous voyez venir des montagnes, qui sembloient nous deuoir engloutir: Nous estions nous deux prosternez à genoux, priant Dieu de bon cœur; la plus grande peur estoit que quelqu'vn ne mourust sans Confession: c'est là où on fait bien les Oraisons iaculatoires, & où on regarde le Ciel de bon œil: mais on ne croiroit iamais l'efficace de la grace, & les [225] puissantes asseurances que Dieu donne à ses seruiteurs, au milieu des tempestes, & des desespoirs les plus espouuantables.

7 In Europe they are accustomed to say that whoever would learn to pray to God must go upon the sea; but it is quite a different thing to be there in reality. Lately we were more than two days and two nights in continual danger of being engulfed by the Ocean; every moment, it seemed, must be the last of our lives. We saw mountains coming toward us, which seemed about to swallow us up; we two were prostrate upon our knees, praying God with earnest hearts; the greatest fear was that some one would die without Confession; it is there that jaculatory Prayers are made, and that one looks gladly toward Heaven; but one can never believe the power of grace and the [225] invincible confidence that God gives to his servants in the midst of tempests and the most fearful despair.

8 Iamais ie n'auois entendu que c'est d'arriuer à vn poinct de vertu, que pour passer plus auant il faudroit faire miracle: tant il est vray qu'on se trouue quelquefois si auant ou dans la souffrance, ou dans les hazards, ou dans l'abandonnement des creatures, qu'on ne trouue plus rien que Dieu, Mais on le trouue tousiours au bout de l'eschelle de Iacob, à bras & cœur ouuerts, pour embrasser les Anges, & les ames qui volent droit à luy: & c'est chose admirable comme Dieu prend plaisir à se communiquer abondamment aux ames qui ont tout abandonné, & se sont toutes abandonnées à luy. Perdre tout pour trouuer Dieu, c'est vne douce perte, & vne saincte vsure.

8 I have never understood what it was to reach such a point of virtue that, to pass beyond, a miracle would have to be performed; so true is it that a person sometimes finds himself so far plunged into either suffering, or danger, or desertion by his fellow-creatures, that nothing is left to him but God, who nevertheless is always found at the end of Jacob's ladder, with arms and heart open to embrace the Angels and the souls which fly straight to him; and it is wonderful how God takes pleasure in abundantly communicating himself to souls which have abandoned all and given themselves wholly to him. To lose all, that one may find God, is a sweet loss and a holy usury.

[226] 9 Le cœur croist à mesure que les trauaux croissent pour Iesus-Christ; & la Nouuelle France est le pays du monde le plus propre, pour entendre le sens literal de ces belles paroles, Sicut misit me viuens [174] Pater, ita & ego mitto vos. Ie vous enuoye de mesme sorte, que mon Pere m'a enuoyé. Ecce ego mitto vos sicut oues in medio luporum. Voicy que ie vous enuoye cõme des brebis au milieu des loups. Parmy ces forests, en voyant ces Sauuages, nous pauures Estrangers, & seruiteurs de Dieu, que pouuons nous attendre sinon vn coup de dent, & quelque effect de leur barbarie naturelle. Qui craind bien Dieu, ne sçauroit plus rien craindre en ce monde.

[226] 9 The heart grows according as its works for Jesus Christ increase; and New France is the most suitable country in the world in which to understand the literal meaning of these beautiful words, Sicut misit me vivens Pater, ita et ego mitto vos, "I send you, even as my Father has sent me." Ecce ego mitto vos sicut oves in medio luporum. "Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves." Among these forests, at the sight of these Savages, what can we poor Foreigners and servants of God expect but to feel their teeth and some of the effects of their natural barbarism. He who truly fears God can fear nothing more in this world.

10 Il est vray que faire neuf cens lieuës sur les flots de la mer, & auec cent & cent rencontres de Turcs, de glaces, de bancs, d'orages assez horribles, [227] cela peut estonner la nature; & donner de la palpitation au cœur humain; là on experimente ce que veut dire Dauid, Anima mea in manibus meis semper. Ie tiens mon ame tousiours dans mes mains, & ie suis tout prest à tout moment de la sacrifier à Dieu; trop heureux helas! de pouuoir faire tant de fois vn pretieux holocauste de moy-mesme; mais les infusions de Dieu dans les cœurs, & le renfort qu'il verse dans nos ames surpasse tous nos maux. Ie confesse que i'ay mieux appris sur la mer que sur la terre, que c'est qu'infusion de Dieu dans vne ame bien faite.

10 Truly, to make nine hundred leagues upon the waves of the sea, with hundreds of encounters with Turks, icebergs, reefs, and horrible storms—[227] all these things can appall human nature, and cause the human heart to throb; there one experiences what David meant, Anima mea in manibus meis semper. "I hold my soul always in my hands," and I am always ready at any moment to sacrifice it to God; too happy, alas! to be able to make so many times a precious offering of myself; but the infusion of God into our hearts, and the relief he pours into our souls, exceed all of our ills. I confess that I have learned better upon the sea than upon the land what the infusion of God into a well-trained soul is.

11 Quand on void ces Sauuages, bien faits, forts, de bonne façon, doüez d'vn bon sens naturel, & qu'il ne tient qu'à vne goutte d'eau qu'ils ne deuiennent enfans de Dieu, & que Iesus-Christ a respandu tout [228] son sang pour eux, on sent vne ardeur incroyable de les attirer à l'Eglise, & à Dieu; & il est vray qu'on aimeroit mieux la conuersion d'vn de ces pauures Sauuages, que la conqueste d'vn Empire tout entier. La peine qu'on y prend est si agreable, qu'on [176] ne la prend point pour vne peine, mais pour vne faueur du Ciel bien extraordinaire. Caritas Lei vrget nos, tant il est vray que la charité presse les cœurs.

11 When we see these Savages, well formed, strong, of good mien, endowed with natural good sense,—and that it needs only a drop of water to make them children of God, and that Jesus Christ has shed all [228] his blood for them, we feel an incredible ardor to attract them to the Church and to God; and it is true that we would prefer the conversion of one of these poor Savages to the conquest of a whole Empire. The trouble we take in this is so pleasant that we do not consider it trouble, but a truly extraordinary favor of Heaven. Caritas Dei urget nos, so true is it that charity presses our hearts.

12 Ie fus vingt-quatre heures, que nous voyant poursuiuis par les Turcs au sortir de la manche, ie n'attendois plus rien que de tomber entre leurs mains, & estre couuert de chaisnes, & viure en esclauage. Parmy ces frayeurs naturelles, voyla vne forte pensée qui se va saisir de mon cœur, & me dit: Ha! quel bon-heur seroit-ce de pouuoir imiter sainct Paul, & me veoir enchaisner [229] pour l'amour de Iesus, qui fut lié pour moy, & traitté comme vu esclaue, & comme le Roy des voleurs. Ceste douce pensée eut tant de pouuoir sur mon ame, que i'auois plus d'enuie de ces chaisnes, que de crainte de la captiuité.

12 I passed twenty-four hours when, seeing that we were pursued by the Turks in leaving la manche [English Channel], I expected nothing else than to fall into their hands, to be loaded with chains and to live in slavery. In the midst of these natural fears, lo! a strong thought took possession of my heart, and said to me "Ha! what good fortune it would be to be able to imitate saint Paul, and to see myself in fetters [229] for the love of Jesus, who was bound for me, and treated as a slave and as the King of thieves." This sweet thought had so much power over my soul that I had more desire for those chains than fear of captivity.

13 Trois puissantes pensées consolent vn bon cœur, qui est dans les forests infinies de la Nouuelle France, ou parmy les Hurons. La premiere est, ie suis au lieu où Dieu m'a enuoyé, où il m'a mené comme par la main, où il est auec moy, & où ie ne cherche que luy seul. La deuxiéme est, ce que dit Dauid; selon la mesure des douleurs que ie souffre pour Dieu, ses Diuines consolations réjoüyssent mõ ame. La troisiéme, que iamais on ne trouue ny Croix, ny cloux, ny espines, que si on regarde bien, on ne trouue I. C. au milieu. Or peut-on estre mal quand on est en [230] compagnie du Fils de Dieu viuant.

13 Three mighty thoughts console a good heart which is in the infinite forests of New France, or among the Hurons. The first is, "I am in the place where God has sent me, where he has led me as if by the hand, where he is with me, and where I seek him alone." The second is, in the words of David, "according to the measure of the pain I endure for God, his Divine consolations rejoice my soul." The third, that we never find Crosses, nails, nor thorns, in the midst of which, if we look closely, we do not find J.C. [Jesus Christ]. Now, can a person go wrong when he is in [230] the company of the Son of the living God?

14 Quand ie me veois assiegé de flots homicides, de forests infinies, & de mille dangers, il me vient à l'esprit ceste riche parole de S. Ignace martyr: Nunc incipio esse Christi discipulus: c'est auiourd'huy que ie commẽce d'estre de la Cõpagnie de Iesus; car à quoy seruent tant d'exercices, tant de Meditations feruentes, tant de desirs boüillans? tout cela n'est que du vẽt, si [178] on ne les met en pratique; tellement que la vieille France est bonne pour conceuoir de bons desirs, mais la Nouuelle est propre pour l'execution: ce qu'on desire en l'ancienne France, c'est ce qu'on fait dans la Nouuelle.

14 When I see myself surrounded by murderous waves, by infinite forests, and by a thousand dangers there comes to mind that precious saying of the martyred St. Ignace, Nunc incipio esse Christi discipulus: to-day I begin to be of the Company of Jesus. For what avail so many exercises, so many fervent Meditations, so many eager desires? all these are nothing but wind, if we do not put them into practice. So old France is fitted to conceive noble desires, but the New is adapted to their execution; that one desires in old France is what one does in the New.

15 Ie ne sçay que c'est que le pays des Hurons, où Dieu m'enuoye par vne misericorde infinie: mais ie sçay bien que i'ayme mieux y aller qu'au Paradis Terrestre, puisque ie vois [231] que Dieu en a ordonné de la sorte. Chose estrange! que plus i'y vois de Croix preparées, & plus le cœur me rit, & y volle; car quel bõ-heur de ne voir rien de ses yeux que des Sauuages, des Croix, & Iesus-Christ: en ma vie ie n'ay bien compris en France, que c'estoit de se défier totalement de soy-mesme, & se confier en Dieu seul: mais ie dis seul, & sans meslange d'aucune creature. Maior est Deus corde nostro. Dieu est plus grand que nos cœurs: cela est euidẽt en la Nouuelle France, & c'est vne consolation du tout ineffable, que quand on ne trouue plus rien, aussi tost on rencontre Dieu, qui se communique plus abondamment aux bons cœurs.

15 I do not know what the country of the Hurons is, where God sends me in his infinite mercy, but I do know that I would rather go there than to an Earthly Paradise, since I see [231] that God has so ordained. Strange thing! the more Crosses I see prepared for me there, the more my heart laughs and flies thither; for what happiness to see with these eyes nothing but Savages, Crosses, and Jesus Christ. Never have I understood in my life in France what it was to distrust self entirely and to trust in God alone; I say alone, and without the presence of any creature: Major est Deus corde nostro, "God is greater than our hearts;" this is evident in New France, and it is an unutterable consolation that when we find nothing else we immediately encounter God, who communicates himself most richly to good hearts.

16 Ma consolation parmy les Hurons, c'est que tous les iours ie me confesse, & puis ie dis la Messe, comme si ie deuois prendre le Viatique, & mourir ce iour là, & ie ne crois pas [232] qu'on puisse mieux viure, ny auec plus de satisfaction & de courage, & mesme de merites, que viure en vn lieu, où on pẽse pouuoir mourir tous les iours, & auoir la deuise de S. Paul. Quotidie morior fratres, &c. mes freres ie fais estat de mourir tous les iours.

16 My consolation among the Hurons is that I confess every day, and then I say Mass as if I were to take the Viaticum and die that very day; and I do not think [232] that a person can live better, nor with more satisfaction and courage, and even merit, than to live in a place where he expects every day to die, and to have the motto of St. Paul, Quotidie morior fratres, etc., "I protest, brethren, that I die daily."

17 Pour conuertir les Sauuages, il n'y faut pas tant de science que de bonté & vertu bien solide. Les quatre Elemens d'vn homme Apostolique en la [180] Nouuelle Frãce, sont l'Affabilité, l'Humilité, la Patiẽce & vne Charité genereuse. Le zele trop ardent, brusle plus qu'il n'eschauffe, & gaste tout; il faut vne grande magnanimité & condescendence pour attirer peu à peu ces Sauuages. Ils n'entendent pas bien nostre Theologie, mais ils entendent parfaictement bien nostre humilité, & nostre affabilité & se laissent gaigner.

17 To convert the Savages, not so much knowledge is necessary as goodness and sound virtue. The four Elements of an Apostolic man in New France are Affability, Humility, Patience, and a generous Charity. Too ardent zeal scorches more than it warms, and ruins everything; great magnanimity and compliance are necessary to attract gradually these Savages. They do not comprehend our Theology well, but they comprehend perfectly our humility and our friendliness, and allow themselves to be won.

18 La Nation des Hurons se dispose [233] à receuoir la lumiere de l'Euangile, & on espere vn bien incroyable en tous ces quartiers là: mais il y faut deux sortes de personnes pour bien faire cela: les vns en l'anciẽne France assistãt de leurs sainctes prieres, & de leur charité; les autres en la Nouuelle, trauaillant auec grande douceur, & infatigabilité de la bonté de Dieu, & de ce doux cõcert dépend la conuersion de plusieurs milliers d'ames, pour chacune desquelles Iesus-Christ a versé tout son pretieux sãg.

18 The Huron Nation is becoming disposed [233] to receive the light of the Gospel, and inestimable good is to be hoped for in all those regions; but two kinds of persons are necessary to accomplish this,—those in old France, assisting by their holy prayers and their charity; the others in the New, working with great gentleness and tirelessness; on the goodness of God and on this sweet harmony depends the conversion of many thousand souls, for each one of whom Jesus Christ has shed all his precious blood.

19 Si on pouuoit fonder à Kebec vn petit Seminaire d'vne douzaine de petits Hurons, dans peu d'années on en tireroit vn secours incroyable, pour aider à conuertir leurs Peres, & planter vne Eglise fleurissante dans la Nation des Hurons. Helas! combien y en a t'il en Europe qui perdẽt à trois coups de dez, plus qu'il ne faudroit pour conuertir vn monde.

19 If a small Seminary of a dozen little Hurons could be founded at Kebec, in a few years incredible assistance could be derived therefrom, to help in converting their Fathers, and in planting a flourishing Church in the Nation of the Hurons. Alas! how many there are in Europe who lose in three casts of the dice more than would be needed to convert a world.

[234] 20 Vne des pensées qui pressent dauantage ceux qui sont si heureux, que de seruir Dieu parmy ces forests, c'est d'estre indignes d'vne vocation Apostolique, & si releuée, & auoir si peu de vertus dignes d'vn bel employ. Qui ne void la Nouuelle Frãce que par les yeux de chair & de nature, il n'y void que des bois & des croix: mais qui les considere auec les yeux de la grace, & d'vne bonne vocation, il n'y void [182] que Dieu, les vertus, & les graces, & on y trouue tant & de si solides consolations, que si ie pouuois acheter la Nouuelle France, en donnant tout le Paradis Terrestre, certainement ie l'acheterois. Mon Dieu qu'il fait bon estre au lieu où Dieu nous a mis de sa grace, veritablement i'ay trouué icy ce que i'auois esperé, vn cœur selon le cœur de Dieu, qui ne cherche que Dieu.

[234] 20 One of the thoughts which weigh most upon those who are so fortunate as to serve God among these forests, is their unworthiness of their Apostolic and so exalted calling, and that they have so few of the virtues worthy of a noble work. He who sees New France only through the eyes of the flesh and of nature, sees only forests and crosses; but he who looks upon these with the eyes of grace and of a noble vocation, sees only God, the virtues, and the graces; and he finds therein so many and so firm consolations, that, if I were able to buy New France by giving in exchange all the Terrestrial Paradise, I would certainly buy it. My God! how good it is to be in the place where God has placed us by his grace; truly I have found here what I had hoped for, a heart in harmony with God's heart, which seeks God alone.

[235] 21 On dit que les premiers qui fondent les Eglises, d'ordinaire sont saincts: ceste pensée m'attendrit si fort le cœur, que quoy que ie me voye icy fort inutile dans ceste fortunée Nouuelle France, si faut-il, que i'auoüe que ie ne, me sçaurois defendre d'vne pensée qui me presse le cœur. Cupio impendi, & superimpendi pro vobis: Pauure Nouuelle France, ie desire me sacrifier pour ton bien, & quand il me deuroit couster mille vies, moyennant que ie puisse aider à sauuer vne seule ame, ie seray trop heureux, & ma vie tres bien employée.

[235] 21 It is said that the pioneers who found Churches are usually saints; this thought so softens my heart that, although I see I am of but little use here in this fortunate New France, yet I must confess that I cannot forbid one thought which presses upon my heart. Cupio impendi, et superimpendi pro vobis: Poor New France, I desire to sacrifice myself for thy welfare; and though it should cost me a thousand lives, if thus I can aid in saving a single soul, I shall be too happy, and my life will be well spent.

22 Ie ne sçay pas que c'est d'entrer en Paradis, mais ie sçay bien qu'en ce monde, il est mal-aisé de trouuer vne ioye plus excessiue & surabondante, que celle que i'ay sentie entrant en la Nouuelle France, & y disant la premiere Messe, le iour de la [236] Visitation. Ie vous asseure que ce fut bien voirement le iour de la Visitation. Par la bonté de Dieu & de nostre Dame, il me sembla que c'estoit Noël pour moy, & que i'allois renaistre en vne vie toute nouuelle, & vne vie de Dieu.

22 I do not know what it is to enter Paradise; but I know well that in this world it is difficult to find a greater and fuller joy than I had upon entering New France, and saying the first Mass here on the day of the [236] Visitation. I assure you that this was very truly the day of the Visitation. Through the goodness of God and of our Lady, it seemed to me that it was Christmas for me, and that I was going to be reborn into an altogether new life, and a life of God.

23 Le mal de la mer qui m'auoit donné de la peine flottant sur la marine, fut bien-tost effacé par le bien du Ciel, & la ioye que Dieu respandit en mon ame touchant le Cap Breton. En rencontrant nos [184] Peres, il me sembla d'embrasser des Anges du Paradis, ie ne me pû empescher de crier, helas! que sera-ce quand on entrera en Paradis, & que Dieu & les Anges receuront vne belle ame, qui sortira des orages de la vie miserable qu'on mene sur la terre.

23 The seasickness which troubled me, when sailing upon the ocean, was soon effaced by the mercy of Heaven and the joy that God shed in my soul, upon landing at Cape Breton. In meeting our Fathers it seemed to me I was embracing Angels from Paradise; I could not refrain from exclaiming, "Ah! what will it be when we shall enter Paradise, and when God and the Angels shall receive a beautiful soul, which will emerge from the tempests of the wretched life that we lead upon earth!"

24 I'auois creu qu'il falloit des miracles pour conuertir ces Sauuages volans; mais ie me suis trompé, [237] car les miracles propres de la Nouuelle France sont ceux-cy. Leur faire bien du bien, & souffrir bien des maux, ne s'en plaindre qu'à Dieu, s'en estimer indigne, & se tenir pour fort inutile. Quiconque aura ces vertus, fera des miracles plus grands que les miracles, & deuiendra vn Sainct. En effect il y a bien plus de peine de s'humilier profondement deuant Dieu & les hommes, & de s'aneantir, que de resusciter vn mort; car cela ne couste que le dire, quand on a le don des miracles, & pour s'humilier comme il faut à vray dire, il y faut la vie toute entiere d'vn homme.

24 I had thought that miracles were necessary to convert these flying Savages; but I was mistaken, [237] for the real miracles of New France are the following: To do them much good, and endure many pains; to complain to God alone; to judge oneself unworthy, and to feel one's uselessness. He who has these virtues will perform miracles greater than miracles, and will become a Saint. Indeed, it is harder to humiliate oneself deeply before God and men, and to annihilate oneself, than to raise the dead; for that needs only the word, if one has the gift of miracles, but to humiliate oneself as one ought to,—truly, that requires a man's whole life.

25 Nous auons esté fort estonnez & infiniment resioüys, voyant que dans nos petites cabanes, & dans nos Habitations la discipline Religieuse y estoit aussi exactement gardée, qu'aux plus grands Colleges [238] de la France, & que la ferueur interieure est d'autant plus grande, que l'exterieur semble y estre plus suiette à beaucoup de diuertissements: c'est l'ordinaire de la bonté infinie de Dieu, qui selon les besoins multiplie la benediction de ses graces; & en effect à mesure qu'vn seruiteur de Dieu s'abandonne à sa saincte conduite, nostre Seigneur s'eslargit aussi dauantage, & respand plus abõdamment la pluye pretieuse de ses graces.

25 We were greatly astonished and infinitely glad to see in our little cabins, and in our Settlements, the Religious discipline as strictly observed as in the largest Colleges [238] of France, and that the internal fervor is so much the greater as the external seems to be subjected to so many diversions; it is God's ordinary practice, in his infinite goodness, that according to our needs he multiplies the gift of his graces; and, in truth, to the same extent as a servant of God gives himself up to his holy guidance, our Lord expands so much the more and sheds more abundantly the precious shower of his graces.

26 Ces pauures Barbares ont coustume de nõmer [186] tous les Prestres Patriarches, & portent grand respect aux hommes vertueux. Ils nous promettent de nous apporter leurs enfans, quand ils seront malades à la mort, pour les baptiser; en effect on en a baptisé quelques vns qui sont morts peu apres le baptesme. Ils sont bien predestinez à bon escient, & bien-heureux de sortir de la Barbarie, [239] & entrer aussi tost dans le Paradis. Quand on ne feroit iamais autre chose, quel bon-heur d'auoir esté instrument de la predestination de ces petites ames.

26 These poor Barbarians are accustomed to call all the Priests, Patriarchs,[48] and they show great respect to men of integrity. They promise to bring us their children, when they are sick unto death, to be baptized; in fact, some have been baptized who died shortly after baptism. They are indeed the elect, beyond a doubt, and so blessed as to go forth from Barbarism [239] and enter immediately into Paradise. If one should never do anything else, what happiness to have been instrumental in placing these little souls among the elect!

27 On en trouue de si ignorants de toute sorte de Religion, qu'on ne sçauroit trouuer vn nom pour leur faire entendre Dieu; il le faut appeller le grand Capitaine des hommes; celuy qui nourrit tout le monde; celuy qui demeure là haut. On fait tout ce qu'on peut: quelle obligation auront-ils à ceux qui les instruisent, & qui s'efforcent de leur faire cognoistre vn Dieu, pour le seruir le moins mal qu'ils pourront. Là il ne faut pas grande doctrine, mais vne profonde humilité, vne patience inuincible, & vne charité Apostolique pour gaigner ces pauures Sauuages, qui d'ailleurs ont vn bon sens commun. Que si vne fois on commence à les [240] gaigner, le fruict sera inestimable.

27 One meets men so devoid of every notion of Religion, that one cannot find a name to make them understand God; we have to call him the great Captain of men, he who feeds all the world, he who lives on high. We do all we can; what obligations will they be under to those who instruct them and who try to make them know a God in order to serve him as well as they can. Here deep learning is not needed, but a profound humility, an unconquerable patience, and an Apostolic charity, to win these poor Savages, who in other respects have good common sense. And if we begin once to gain [240] them, the fruit will be incalculable.

28 La pensée de sainct Francois Xauier nous passe mille fois par l'esprit, & a vn grand pouuoir. Si les hommes du siecle pour auoir des peaux de Castor, de la moulue, & ie ne sçay quelles denrées, n'apprehendent ny les orages de la mer, ny les Sauuages de la terre, ny la mer, ny la mort; quelle horrible confusion seroit-ce à des seruiteurs de Dieu, d'apprehender cela, ou quelques petits trauaux, pour tascher de gaigner des ames rachetées auec le sang pretieux [188] de Iesus-Christ, & empourprées de son sang de valeur inestimable? Se leueront-ils point au iour du iugement cõtre nous ces petits facteurs, & pescheurs de mouluë pour nous condamner, s'ils prennent plus de peine pour gaigner vne piece d'argent, que nous pour aider à sauuer les Sauuages. Ceste pensée pique si fort nos [241] cœurs, qu'on ne sent point son mal, ou si on le sent on ne s'en oseroit plaindre.

28 A thousand times the thought of saint François Xavier passes through our minds, and has great power over us. If the men of the world, in order to have Beaver skins, and codfish, and I know not what commodities, do not fear either the storms on the sea, or the Savages on land, or the sea, or death; how dreadful will be the confusion of God's servants for being afraid of these things, or of a few little hardships, in trying to win souls ransomed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and empurpled by his blood of inestimable value? On the day of judgment will not these petty traders and fishers of cod rise up to condemn us, if they take more pains to gain a piece of money than we do to help save the Savages? This thought stings our hearts so [241] deeply that we do not feel our sufferings, or if we feel them we do not dare to complain of them.

29 Il y a mille personnes en France qui sont fort inutiles, & qui n'ont nul employ; ils sont sçauans, & puis c'est tout, & cela ne sert de rien du tout à l'Eglise de Dieu; helas! en la Nouuelle France ce seroient des Apostres s'ils vouloient y venir employer leur talent; moins de sçauoir & plus d'humilité & de zele, feroit miracle icy, & ils gagneroient possible plus en vn an, qu'ils ne feront toute leur vie en France.

29 There are many persons in France who are of no use, and have nothing to do there; they are scholars and that is all, and that is of no use in the Church of God; alas! in New France these men would be Apostles, if they would come here to use their talents; less wisdom, and more humility and zeal, would perform miracles here, and it is possible they would gain more in one year than they will do in a lifetime in France.

30 L'experience nous fait voir, que ceux de la Compagnie qui viennent en la Nouuelle France, il faut qu'ils y soient appellez par vne vocation speciale & bien forte; que ce soit gens morts & à soy, & au monde; hõmes veritablement Apostoliques, qui ne cherchent que Dieu, & le [242] salut des ames, qui aiment d'amour la Croix, & la mortification; qui ne s'espargnent point; qui sçachent supporter les trauaux de la mer & de la terre, & qui desirent plus la conuersion d'vn Sauuage, que l'Empire de toute l'Europe; qui ayent des cœurs de Dieu, & tous remplis de Dieu; qui soient comme des petits Iean Baptistes, criant parmy ces deserts & ces forests, comme des voix de Dieu, qui appellent tous ces pauures Sauuages à recognoistre Iesus-Christ; en fin que ce soient des hommes qui ont tous leurs contentemens dans [190] Dieu, & ausquels les souffrances soient leurs plus cheres delices. Voila ce que l'experience nous fait veoir tous les iours: mais aussi il est vray, qu'il semble que Dieu respande bien plus abondamment les rosées de ses graces sur cette Nouuelle France, que sur la vieille, [243] & que les cõsolations interieures, & les Diuines infusions y sont bien plus solides, & les cœurs bien plus embrasez. Nouit Dominus qui sunt eius. Mais il n'appartient qu'à Dieu de faire le choix de ceux dont il se veut seruir, & ausquels il fait cette misericorde de les amener en la Nouuelle France, pour en faire des saincts. Sainct François Xauier disoit qu'il y auoit vne Isle en Orient, qui estoit bien propre pour faire perdre la veuë à force de plorer de ioye excessiue du cœur; ie ne sçay si nostre Nouuelle France ressemble point ceste Isle: mais nous experimẽtons que si quelqu'vn icy s'abandonne à Dieu à bon escient, il court hazard d'y perdre la veuë, & la vie, & tout, & auec grande ioye à force de trauailler; il n'appartient qu'à ceux qui y sont, & qui goustent Dieu, d'en parler par experience.

30 Experience shows us that those of the Society who come to New France should be impelled to it by a special and very forcible call; persons who are dead to themselves and to the world; men truly Apostolic, who seek God alone, and the [242] salvation of souls, who love with real love the Cross and self-mortification; who do not spare themselves; who can endure the hardships of the sea and of the land, and who desire the conversion of a Savage more than the Empire of all Europe; who have Godlike hearts, all filled with God; who are like little John the Baptists, crying through these deserts and forests like voices from God, which summon all these poor Savages to acknowledge Jesus Christ; in fine let them be men whose sole satisfaction is in God and to whom suffering is the greatest delight. That is what experience shows us every day; but it is also true that it seems as if God shed the dew of his grace much more abundantly upon this New France than upon the old, [243] and that the internal consolations and the Divine infusions are much stronger here, and hearts more on fire. Novit Dominus qui sunt ejus. But it belongs to God alone to choose those whom he will use, and whom he favors by taking them into New France, to make saints of them. Saint François Xavier said that there was an Island in the Orient which was quite capable of making a person lose his sight, by crying from excessive joy of the heart; I know not if our New France resembles this Island, but we know from experience that, if any one here gives himself up in earnest to God, he runs the risk of losing his sight, his life, his all, and with great joy, by dint of hard work; it belongs only to those who are here and who enjoy God to speak from experience.

[244] 31 Nous recognoissons euidemmẽt, qu'il faut que ce soit le Ciel qui conuertisse la terre de la Nouuelle Frãce, & que nous ne sõmes pas assez forts. Nous ne craignõs rien tãt, sinon que nos imperfectiõs n'empeschẽt la cõuersiõ de ces pauures Sauuages; c'est pourquoy nous auõs tous esté d'auis de recourir au Ciel, & à la tres saincte Vierge Mere de Dieu, par laquelle Dieu a coustume de faire ce qui ne se peut faire, & conuertir les cœurs les plus abandonnez. A cet effet nous auons resolu de faire vn vœu fort solemnel, dont voicy la teneur.

[244] 31 We clearly recognize that it must be Heaven which shall convert the land of New France, and that we are not strong enough. We fear nothing so much as that our imperfections may prevent the conversion of these poor Savages; that is why we have all been minded to have recourse to Heaven and to the very holy Virgin, Mother of God, through whom God is accustomed to do what seems impossible, and to convert the hearts of the most abandoned. To this end, we have resolved to make a very solemn vow, of which the following is the purport:—

Mon Dieu & mon Sauueur Iesus, quoy que nos pechez nous doiuent esloigner de vostre presence, si est-ce qu'épris d'vne affection de vous honorer & vostre tres-S^te Mere, poussez d'vn desir de nous veoir dans [192] la fidelle correspondance que vous desirez de vos seruiteurs, souhaittãs en [245] outre de vous veoir recõneu & adoré de ces pauures peuples: Nous vous promettons & faisons vœu, comme aussi à la tres-saincte Vierge vostre Mere, & à sõ glorieux Espoux S. Ioseph, de celebrer douze fois és douze mois suiuant le sacrifice de la S^te Messe, pour ceux qui sont Prestres; & pour les autres de reciter douze fois la Couronne ou le Chappellet de la Vierge en l'honneur & en action de grace de son immaculee Cõception, & de ieusner tous la veille de ceste feste: vous promettans en outre que si on erige quelque Eglise ou Chappelle stable dãs ces pais, dans le cours de ce tẽps limité, que nous la ferõs dedier à Dieu sous le tiltre de l'immaculée Cõception, si cela est en nostre pouuoir, le tout pour obtenir de la bõté de N. S. la conuersion de ces Peuples, par l'entremise de sa saincte Mere, & de son sainct Espoux. Receuez [246] cependant, ô l'Emperiere des Anges & des hommes, les cœurs de ces pauures Barbares abandonnez, que nous vous presentons par les mains de vostre glorieux Espoux, & de vos fidelles seruiteurs S. Ignace & S. François Xauier, & de tous les Anges Gardiens de ces miserables contrées, pour les offrir à vostre Fils, afin qu'il leur donne sa cognoissance, & leur applique le merite de son pretieux sang. Ainsi soit-il.

My God and my Savior Jesus, although our sins ought to banish us from your presence, yet being inspired with a desire to honor you and your very Holy Mother, urged by a wish to see ourselves in the faithful correspondence [to your graces] that you desire in your servants, wishing [245] besides to see you acknowledged and adored by these poor people: We promise and make a vow unto you and also to the very holy Virgin your Mother, and to her glorious Spouse St. Joseph, to celebrate twelve times in twelve succeeding months the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass, for those who are Priests; and for the others to say twelve times the Crown or Chaplet of the Virgin, in honor of and as an act of grace for her immaculate Conception, and all to fast the day before this festival; promising you further that, if a permanent Church or Chapel is erected in this country within this specified time, we will have it dedicated to God under the title of the immaculate Conception, if it is in our power,—all this, to secure by the goodness of Our Lord the conversion of these Peoples, through the mediation of his holy Mother and of her holy Spouse. In [246] the meantime receive, O Empress of Angels and of men, the hearts of these poor abandoned Barbarians that we present to you through the hands of your glorious Spouse and of your faithful servants, St. Ignace and St. François Xavier, and of all the Guardian Angels of these wretched countries, to offer them to your Son, that he may give them knowledge of himself and apply to them the efficacy of his precious blood. Amen.

Dieu par son infinie bonté nous rende dignes de cette excellente vocation, pour dignement cooperer à sa grace, au profit de ces pauures Sauuages.

May God in his infinite goodness render us worthy of this noble calling, worthily to coöperate with his grace, to the benefit of these poor Savages.

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