[311] The Mission of St. Joseph, composed of 400 Huron families, was suddenly attacked by the Iroquois on the 4th July, 1648.
[213] St. Ignace was surprised and taken on 16th March, 1649.
[313] Ste. Marie mission-house was given to the flames by the Jesuits themselves on 15th May, 1649.
[314] St Jean was ravaged on 7th December, 1649.
[315] This parish was called after the celebrated Church of Santa Casa, of Loretto, in Italy. The Huron Missionary, Father Chaumonot, had arranged their huts around the church, which he had erected in imitation of the Loretto Chapel in Italy, where he had seen a vision of angels.
[316] A census of the settlement taken on 19th January, 1879, exhibits the population as composed of 326 souls, divided as follows:—Adult Males, 94; Adult Females, 137; Boys, 49; Girls, 56. Total, 336. 143 males to 193 females; bachelors must have been at a premium in the settlement. We understood that a complete history of the tribe is now in course of preparation by the Rev. Prosper Vincent, a son of Chief Vincent.
[317] An excellent sketch in French has been published of Tahourenche and his tribe, in the Opinion Publique, under the nom de plume of Ahatsistari, which we think ourselves warranted in crediting to the elegant pen of A. N. Montpetit, one of their honorary Chiefs.
[318] Probably the same as alluded to in a quaint old engraving, presented us by John Neilson, Esq., P.L.S., a son of the Hon. John Neilson, himself an honorary Chief of the Lorette Hurons. Under the portrait of Chief Nicholas is printed "Nicholas Vincent Isawanhoni," principal Christian chief and Captain of the Huron Indians, established at La Jeune Lorette, near Quebec, habited in the costume of his country, as when presented to his Majesty George IV. on the 7th of April, 1826, with three other chiefs of his nation, by Generals Brock and Carpenter; the chief bears in his hand the wampum or collar, on which is marked the tomahawk given by his late Majesty George III. The gold medal on his neck was the gift of his Majesty on this presentation.
"They were accompanied and introduced into England on the 14th December, 1824, by Mr. W. Cooper, who though an Englishman, they state to be a chief of their nation, and better known to them as chief Tourhaunchi."
N.B.—It may be well to say that from the earliest times the Lorette Indians have been in the habit of electing as "Honorary Chiefs" Quebecers of note, who may have rendered service to the tribe. A large oil painting is now in the possession of William D. Campbell, Esq., of Quebec, exhibiting the installation as a Chief, in 1837, of the late Robert Symes, J.P., of Quebec.