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If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 6: Quebec, 1633-1634 - -Author: Various - -Editor: Reuben Gold Thwaites - -Release Date: February 21, 2016 [EBook #51262] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JESUIT RELATIONS, VOL 6, QUEBEC *** - - - - -Produced by Karl Hagen, Eleni Christofaki and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions -(www.canadiana.org)) - - - - - - - - - -Transcriber's Note. - -A list of the changes made can be found at the end of the book. -Formatting and special characters are indicated as follows: - - _italic_ - =bold= - +spaced+ - - - - - THE JESUIT RELATIONS AND ALLIED DOCUMENTS - - VOL. VI - - - The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents - - TRAVELS AND EXPLORATIONS OF THE JESUIT MISSIONARIES IN NEW FRANCE - - 1610-1791 - - THE ORIGINAL FRENCH, LATIN, AND ITALIAN TEXTS, WITH ENGLISH - TRANSLATIONS AND NOTES; ILLUSTRATED BY PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND - FACSIMILES - - EDITED BY - - REUBEN GOLD THWAITES - Secretary of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin - - Vol. VI - QUEBEC: 1633-1634 - - CLEVELAND: =The Burrows Brothers Company=, PUBLISHERS, M DCCCXCVII - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1897 - BY - THE BURROWS BROTHERS CO - - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - - _The Imperial Press, Cleveland_ - - - - -EDITORIAL STAFF - - Editor REUBEN GOLD THWAITES - - Translator from the French JOHN CUTLER COVERT - - Assistant Translator from the French MARY SIFTON PEPPER - - Translator from the Latin WILLIAM FREDERIC GIESE - - Translator from the Italian MARY SIFTON PEPPER - - Assistant Editor EMMA HELEN BLAIR - - Bibliographical Adviser VICTOR HUGO PALTSITS - - - - -CONTENTS OF VOL. VI - - - PREFACE TO VOLUME VI 1 - - DOCUMENTS:-- - - XXI. Relation de ce qvi s'est passé en la Novvelle France, en l'année - 1633. [Conclusion.] _Paul le Jeune_; Paris, 1634 5 - - XXII. Lettre au R. P. Provincial de France, à Paris. _Paul le Jeune_; - Québec, 1634 33 - - XXIII. Relation de ce qui s'est passé en La Novvelle France, en - l'année 1634. [Chapters i.-ix.] _Paul le Jeune_; Maison de N. - Dame des Anges, en Nouuelle France, August 7, 1634 91 - - BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: Volume VI. 319 - - NOTES 325 - - - - -[Decoration] - -ILLUSTRATION TO VOL. VI - - I. Photographic facsimile of title-page, Le Jeune's _Relation_ - of 1636 94 - - - - -PREFACE TO VOL. VI - - -Following is a synopsis of the documents contained in the present -volume: - -XXI. In the final installment of Le Jeune's _Relation_ for 1633 (the -first part was presented in our Vol. V.), the superior describes the -coming (July 28), of the Hurons to Quebec, and the conference that was -held between them and the French. The missionaries make arrangements -to return with these savages, to labor in their country: but, at the -last moment, complications arise from the murder of a Frenchman by -up-country natives, and in consequence the Hurons refuse passage to the -Fathers. Le Jeune closes with an earnest appeal for help in their work -in Christianizing the denizens of the great wilderness. - -XXII. This is a letter from Le Jeune to his provincial, written in the -year 1634, but not bearing specific date. He describes the condition -of the Quebec mission: states that at last the Huron country is open -to them, and Brébeuf and others have gone thither. He, with Buteux, -will go to the new settlement at Three Rivers, for which he gives his -reasons at length. The narrator recites their difficulties with the -hired workmen brought from France; and asks that these may be replaced -by lay brothers of their own order. He mentions several of these -brothers by name, describing their abilities and dispositions. The -field of missionary work is widening, and the superior tells how it -ought to be occupied, and how many should be assigned for each station. -He requests the provincial to appoint another superior in Canada, as -his duties are too heavy for him. More missionaries are asked for, and -a special petition is entered for the appointment, in this connection, -of his friend Benier. - -Le Jeune describes the dwelling of the Jesuits at Quebec, and asks for -means to fence in a tract of land for their cattle, and to erect a -small house for the herders; also, to repair their buildings, injured -by the English. He plans how they may provide a portion of their own -food, hitherto wholly brought from France: and describes the crops -they have thus far raised, with the effect of the climate on each. He -deprecates the formation of too many missions, preferring to strengthen -those already formed; and relates the kind help given them by the -Company of New France. - -In conclusion, our author rehearses the difficulties of reaching the -wandering tribes; asks for a seminary for the children; expresses a -desire to send some of these to France for education; and requests -aid to enlarge the Quebec mission. The manuscript which has come down -to us, lacks some of its final pages, but appears to be substantially -complete. - -XXIII. This document is Le Jeune's _Relation_ of 1634, closed at the -mission house in Quebec, August 7th of that year, and sent to his -provincial at Paris. The following abstract covers the first nine -chapters (out of a total of thirteen), which is all we have space for -in the present volume. - -Le Jeune, as the superior of his order in New France, describes the -good conduct and piety of the French settlers, and the wisdom and -goodness of the governor, Champlain. An account is given, from hearsay, -of the sudden death of Jacques Michel, a profane Huguenot, a tragedy -which is thought to have been a direct punishment for his blasphemies. -This is followed by a long description of the conversion and baptism of -certain savages, and the happy death of some of these. A definite plan -is advocated for the conversion of the natives in the neighborhood of -Quebec: that the French, their protectors, should make themselves more -formidable to the common enemy, the Iroquois; that the friendly natives -should be systematically taught agriculture, and induced to become -sedentary, and, while thus acquiring this technical education, should -be aided with food; that seminaries should be established, in which -Indian children, both boys and girls, can be educated at Quebec. - -The superior then gives a detailed account of the religious belief, -traditions, and superstitions, of the Montagnais tribe, among whom he -had passed the preceding winter,--their fasts, rites, and customs. -He praises their intelligence, contentment, fortitude, good nature, -generosity; but condemns their filthy habits, their inveterate habit -of mockery and ridicule, their fierce cruelty towards enemies, -their disposition to utter slander, their deceitfulness, gluttony, -intemperance, vile language, and impudent habits of begging. He -enumerates the animals, birds, fishes, fruits, and roots eaten by the -savages. Their numerous feasts are described, and the customs and -superstitions connected therewith; also, their mode of hunting elks, -beavers, and other animals, and of fishing, both by nets and harpoons. -He also describes some of the fauna peculiar to Canada,--the singing -marmot, the skunk, the squirrels, and the humming-bird. - - -We take much pleasure in announcing that arrangements have been -concluded with Mr. Victor Hugo Paltsits, of the staff of Lenox Library, -to furnish notes for and to revise the Bibliographical Data for our -series, his services commencing with the present volume. Mr. Paltsits -is one of the members of the Bibliographical Society of London, and an -expert of wide repute in this important field. - -We are under obligations to the Rev. Rudolph Meyer, S.J., of Rome, -for valuable advice and encouragement; and to the Rev. T. O'Leary, of -Edgegrove, Pa., for kindly suggestions. - - R. G. T. - - MADISON, WIS. April, 1897. - - - - - XXI (concluded) - - LE JEUNE'S RELATION, 1633 - - PARIS: SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, 1634 - - Continued from Vol. V. - - - - -Le 4. on tint encore vn conseil: i'y assistay auec le P. Brebeuf, car -on deuoit parler de l'embarquement de nos Peres. Le sieur de Chãplain -fit ses presens, qui correspondoyent en valeur à ceux que les Hurons -luy auoyent faict. Receuoir des presens des Sauuages, c'est s'engager -à rendre le reciproque. On parla de plusieurs choses en ce conseil, -entr'autres les Hurons demanderent l'eslargissemēt du prisonnier -Sauuage qui [293 i.e., 193] a tué nouuellement vn François, cõme i'ay -remarqué cy dessus. Le sieur de Champlain fit merueille sur ce poinct, -pour faire voir aux Hurons qu'il n'estoit pas à propos de le mettre -en liberté; & qu'ayant tué vn Frãçois qui ne luy auoit fait aucun -tort, il meritoit la mort. Les Hurons furent satisfaits des raisons -qu'on leur apporta. On parla encore de l'amitié contractée entr'eux -& les François, & que nos Peres allans en leur païs confirmeroyent -puissamment cette amitié. Les Hurons estoient les plus contens du -monde: ceux qui deuoyent embarquer & conduire nos Peres auoyent desia -receu le loyer de leur peine future, nous leur auions mis entre les -mains leurs paquets ou leur petit bagage: nous estions allé coucher -au Magasin le Pere de Nouë & moy auec nos trois Peres, pour les voir -monter le lendemain de grand [194] matin dans leurs petits canots, & -leur dire le dernier adieu, quand tout à coup nostre ioye fut changée -en tristesse. Sur les dix ou onze heures du soir vn Sauuage borgne de -la nation de l'Isle grandement allié de la nation du prisonnier s'en -alla crier par les cabannes de tous les Sauuages qu'on se donnast -bien garde d'ẽbarquer aucun Francois, & que les parens du prisonnier -estoyent aux aguets sur la riuiere pour tuer les Frãçois s'ils les -pouuoyent attrapper au passage. Le Dimanche precedent ceux de la -nation de ce prisonnier auoyent tenu conseil auec les capitaines des -Montagnaits, des Sauuages de l'isle, & des Hurons, pour voir comme -ils pourroyent impetrer la grace de ce prisonnier. Les Hurons furent -suppliez de la demander: estans esconduits ce Sauuage de l'Isle allié -de la nation de l'homicide fit ce [195] cri public par les cabanes, -qu'on n'ẽbarquast aucun Francois si on ne le vouloit mettre en danger -euident de sa vie. Ayant ouy ce cry, & le Pere Brebeuf qui l'escoutoit -m'ayant interpreté ce qu'il vouloit dire, ie m'en allay auec le Pere -de Nouë au fort, pour en donner aduis au Sieur de Champlain. Nous -estions couchez dans le magasin des François, à l'entour duquel estoyēt -cabanez les Sauuages. Le Fort nous fut ouuert, & apres auoir declaré le -subiet de nostre venue pendant la nuict, nous retournasmes d'où nous -estiõs partis: nous trouuâmes en chemin les Capitaines des Sauuages -en conseil, ausquels le Truchement, selon que le Sieur de Champlain -luy auoit commandé, declara qu'on leur vouloit parler encor vne fois -deuant leur depart. Le lendemain au point du iour vn Sauuage alla -faire vne autre criée par les [196] cabanes, disant qu'on ne partiroit -point encore ce iour là, & que la ieunesse se tint en paix, & que ceux -qui n'auoyent pas traitté toutes leurs marchandises, la traittassent. -Sur les huict ou neuf heures du matïn, le sieur de Champlain assembla -de rechef les Capitaines des Hurons, le Sauuvage de l'Isle qui auoit -faict ce cri publicq, & le Capitaine des Montagnaits. Il demanda à ce -Sauuage pourquoy il auoit fait cette deffence: il repartit que tout le -païs estoit en alarme, & qu'il s'alloit perdre si on embarquoit des -François pour les conduire aux Hurons, car les parents du prisonnier -ne manqueroiēt d'en tuer quelqu'vn, & que là dessus la guerre seroit -declarée. Que les Hurons mesmes seroient de la partie, car voulans -defendre les François, on s'en prendroit à eux; & qu'ainsi tout le païs -seroit perdu. Qu'il n'auoit [197] point fait de defence, mais donné -aduis de la meschante volonté qu'auoient les parents de l'homicide: -que si on deliuroit le prisonnier que tous ces troubles tomberoient -d'eux mesme, & que la riuiere & tout le païs seroit libre. On demanda -aux Hurons s'ils ne persistoient pas dans la volonté de nous conduire -en leur païs, ils respondirent que la riuiere n'estoit pas à eux, & -qu'on prit garde auec ces autres nations s'ils pourroient passer en -asseurance: que pour eux ils ne demandoient pas mieux que d'embarquer -des François. Ie remarquay la prudence de ces Sauuages, car ils -tesmoignerent tellement l'affectiõ qu'ils nous portoient qu'ils ne -vouloient point choquer les nations par lesquelles ils doiuent passer -venans à Kebec: l'vn d'eux s'addressant à ce Sauuage de l'Isle luy -dit, preste l'oreille maintenant, ne dy [198] point quand nous serons -là hault en ton pays, que nous n'auons point parlé pour le prisonnier, -nous auons fait ce que nous auons peu: mais que veux tu que nous -disions aux raisons du sieur de Champlain? Les François nous sont -amis à tous, s'il ne tenoit qu'à nous nous les embarquerions. Il faut -confesser que les Hurons monstroient grande inclination de mener nos -Peres. Le sieur de Champlain voyant ce changement si subit fit tout -ce qu'il peut, & nous donna liberté de proposer toutes les raisõs que -no⁹ pourriõs pour faire en sorte que nos peres se peussent mettre en -chemin: il apporta des raisons tres-fortes, & tres-pertinentes. Il -se seruit de menaces. Il leur proposa la paix & la guerre, bref on -ne pouuoit rien souhaitter dauãtage. A tout cela ce Sauuage repartit -qu'on ne pouuoit pas tenir la ieunesse, & qu'il [199] dõnoit aduis -de leur mauuais dessein, & qu'on attendit pour cette année, qu'ils -dechargeroient leur cholere contre les Hiroquois leurs ennemis; & -qu'à lors la riuiere seroit libre. Ne vous en prenés point à nous, -disoit il, s'il arriue quelque mal-heur: car nous n'y scaurions -donner ordre. Là dessus pour gagner ce Sauuage ie demande la grace -du prisonnier ayant au prealable conuenu auec le sieur de Champlain, -lequel me repartit qu'il y alloit de sa vie, & que nostre grand Roy -luy demanderoit conte de cet homme qu'on auoit tué: ie le prie donc de -sursoir l'execution de sa mort iusques à ce qu'on eut parlé au Roy pour -sçauoir sa volõté. Et là dessus poursuiuant ma pointe, ie m'addresse -aux Sauuages, leur faisant paroistre l'affection que nous auions -pour eux. Que nous ne poursuiuions iamais la mort de personne: [200] -que nous taschions de mettre la paix par tout. Le Sieur de Champlain -adioustoit des merueilles de son costé, disant que nous parlions à -Dieu, que nous estions aimez de ceux qui nous cognoissoyẽt, qu'il n'en -vouloit poĩt d'autres tesmoins que les Hurons mesmes qui nous auoyent -tant cheris: que nous allions pour leur enseigner de grandes choses. -Les Hurons repartirent que cela alloit bien, & que nous auions proposé -vn bon expediẽt de retarder la mort de ce Sauuage iusques à ce que -nous eussions des nouuelles de nostre grand Roy. Ie presse donc ce -Sauuage de l'Isle, sçauoir mon si les parents de ce prisonnier sçachans -que nous plaidions pour luy, ne nous laisseroient pas passer s'ils -nous rencontroyent? Que veux tu que ie te die? respondit-il, ils sont -enragez: si le prisonnier ne sort il n'y a point d'asseurance. Ils -ne pardonneront [201] à personne. Là dessus le Truchement repartit: -S'ils font les diables, nous les ferons aussi. En vn mot le Sieur -de Champlain les intimida, & leur dict qu'ils se donnassent garde -eux-mesmes: & si vn Sauuage estoit apperceu auec des armes, qu'il -donneroit permission à ses gens de le tirer & de le mettre à mort, -& qu'ils l'auoyent menacé luy-mesme à cause qu'il va seul: mais que -d'orenauant il ne marcheroit plus en enfant, mais en soldat. Ie suis -amy de tous, vous estes mes amis, disoit-il aux Hurons, ie vous cheris, -i'ay mis ma vie pour vous, ie la mettray encore: ie vous protegeray, -mais ie suis ennemy des meschans. - - On the 4th, another council was held; I was present with Father - Brebeuf, because the embarkation of our Fathers was to be talked - over. Sieur de Champlain made his presents, which corresponded in - value to those that the Hurons had made him. To accept presents - from the Savages is to bind oneself to return an equivalent. A - great many things were spoken of in this council; among others, the - Hurons asked for the liberation of the Savage prisoner who [293 - i.e., 193] had recently killed a Frenchman, as I stated above. - Sieur de Champlain sought earnestly to make the Hurons understand - that it was not right to restore him to liberty; and that, having - killed a Frenchman who had done him no harm, he deserved death. - The Hurons were satisfied with the reason given them. They spoke - also of the friendship contracted between them and the French, - saying that it would be greatly strengthened by the Fathers going - into their country. The Hurons were the happiest people in the - world. Those who were to embark and to carry the Fathers in their - canoes had already received pay for their future trouble; we - had placed in their hands the parcels or little baggage of the - Fathers. We had gone to the Storehouse to sleep, Father de Nouë - and I, with our three Fathers, that we might see them off early - the next [194] morning in their little canoes, and might say to - them our last farewell, when all at once our joy was changed into - sadness. At about ten or eleven o'clock that night, a one-eyed - Savage, belonging to the Island tribe, closely allied to the tribe - of the prisoner, went among the cabins of all the Savages crying - out that they should be careful not to take any Frenchmen in their - canoes, and that the relatives of the prisoner were on the watch - along the river to kill the Frenchmen, if they could catch them - during the passage. On the previous Sunday some Savages of the - same tribe as the prisoner had held a council with the captains - of the Montagnaits, of the island Savages, and of the Hurons, to - determine how they might secure the pardon of this prisoner. The - Hurons were besought to ask it. They refused, and this Island - Savage, whose tribe was allied to the tribe of the murderer, raised - this [195] general cry among the cabins, warning every one not - to give passage to a Frenchman, unless they wished to place him - in evident danger of his life. Having heard the cry, and Father - Brebeuf, who was listening, having interpreted its meaning to - me, I went with Father de Nouë to the fort to give information - of the same to Sieur de Champlain. We had been sleeping in the - storehouse of the French, around which the Savages were encamped. - The Fort was opened to us; and, after having made known the - object of our night visit, we returned to the place whence we had - departed. Upon the way we found the Captains of the Savages in - council, to whom the Interpreter, according to the order of Sieur - de Champlain, declared that he desired to talk to them once more - before their departure. The next morning, at daybreak, a Savage - passed through the [196] camp proclaiming that they were not to - depart that day; and that the young men should keep the peace, - and that those who had not sold all their merchandise should sell - it. About eight or nine in the morning, sieur de Champlain again - assembled the Captains of the Hurons, the Island Savages who had - made this outcry, and the Captain of the Montagnaits. He asked the - Savage why he had aroused that opposition; he answered that - the whole country was in a state of alarm, and that it would be - lost if the French were embarked to be taken to the Hurons, for - the relatives of the prisoner would not fail to kill some of the - party and that thereupon war would be declared; that the Hurons - even would be dragged into it; for, if they defended the French, - they would be attacked, and that thus the whole country would be - lost; that he had [197] not aroused any opposition, but had merely - made known the wicked designs of the murderer's relatives; that, - if the prisoner were released, these troubles would immediately - be ended, and that the river and the whole country would be free. - The Hurons were asked if they still adhered to their wish to take - us to their country. They answered that the river was not theirs, - and that great caution must be observed in regard to those other - tribes, if they were to pass by in security. As far as they were - concerned, they asked nothing better than to furnish passage to - the French. I observed the discretion of these Savages, for they - gave evidence of their affection for us, in such manner as not to - offend the tribes through which they must pass in coming to Kebec. - One of them, addressing the Island Savage, said: "Now listen; when - [198] we shall be up there in thy country, do not say that we have - not spoken in behalf of the prisoner; we have done all that we - could, but what answer wouldst thou have us make to the reasons - given by sieur de Champlain? The French are the friends of all of - us; if it depended only upon us, we should embark them." It must - be confessed that the Hurons showed a strong inclination to take - our Fathers with them. Sieur de Champlain, seeing this so sudden - change, did all in his power, and gave us liberty to advance all - the reasons we could, to the end that our fathers might be set on - their way. He urged very strong and very pertinent reasons; he used - threats; he proposed peace and war; in short nothing more could be - desired. But to all this the Savage answered that they could not - restrain their young men; that he [199] had given warning of their - wicked intentions, and that the French ought to postpone their - departure for this year; that they would vent their anger upon the - Hiroquois, their enemies, and then the river would be free. "Do - not blame us," said he, "if misfortune overtakes you; for we could - not restore order." Thereupon, in order to win over this Savage, - I asked for the pardon of the prisoner, having previously agreed - upon this with sieur de Champlain, who replied to me that it was a - matter of life and death with him, and that our great King would - ask him to give an account of the man who had been killed. I begged - him to suspend the execution of the death sentence, until the King - might be spoken to, and his will learned. And thereupon, following - my point, I addressed the Savages, representing our affection for - them; saying that we had never sought the death of any one; [200] - that we everywhere tried to promote peace. Sieur de Champlain did - admirably on his part, saying that we talked to God; that we were - loved by all who knew us, that he wanted no other witnesses of this - than the Hurons themselves, who had cherished us so dearly; that - we were going to teach them great things. The Hurons answered that - it was very well, that we had proposed a good expedient; that of - postponing the death of this Savage until we should have news from - our great King. I then importuned the Island Savage, asking him - whether the prisoner's kindred, if they knew that we were pleading - for him, would not allow us to pass if they encountered us. "What - dost thou wish me to say?" he answered, "they are furious. If the - prisoner is not liberated, there is no safety; they will pardon - [201] no one." Thereupon the Interpreter replied: "If they act - the part of devils, so will we." In a word, Sieur de Champlain - intimidated them, saying they must look out for themselves; that if - a Savage was seen with arms, he would give permission to his men to - fire upon him and kill him; that they [the savages] had threatened - him himself, because he went about alone; but hereafter he would - not go around like a child, but like a soldier. "I am a friend to - all, you are my friends," said he to the Hurons; "I love you; I - have risked my life for you, I will risk if again; I will protect - you; but I am the enemy of evil-doers." - -On dira que le Capitaine de la nation de ce meurtrier se deburoit -saisir de ceux qui ont mauuaise volonté contre les François. il est -vray, mais i'ay desia remarqué cy dessus que ces [202] Sauuages -n'ont aucune police, & que leur Capitaine n'a point cette authorité. -Ce qu'il peut faire, c'est de prier ces meschans de se diuertir de -leurs desseins, voire mesme il est arriué autrefois que les Sauuages -craignans plus les Europeans qu'ils ne les craignent maintenant, si -quelqu'vn de leurs hommes auoit quelque volonté de tuer vn François, -soit qu'il eut songé qu'il le debuoit faire, ou autrement, les autres -le flattoyent, & luy faisoyent des presens de peur qu'il n'executast -son mauuais dessein, & qu'il ne perdist par ce moyen tout le païs. -Maintenant c'est beaucoup qu'ils aduertissent les François qu'ils se -tiennent sur leurs gardes, comme ils ont fait n'a pas long temps, -disans qu'il y auoit quelques ieunes hommes qui espioient dans les -bois s'ils trouueroient quelque François à l'escart pour l'assommer, -& ainsi on [203] n'est point en asseurance parmy ces peuples; disons -neantmoins, _Qui habitat in adiutorio Altissimi, in protectione Dei -cœli commorabitur._ - - It will be said that the Captain of the tribe of the murderer ought - to have seized all those who had wicked designs against the French. - It is true; but I have already remarked above that these [202] - Savages have no system of government, and that their Captain has - no such authority. What he can do, is to ask these wicked people - to give up their designs. Indeed, it has happened before, when - the Savages feared the Europeans more than they do now, if one of - their men wanted to kill a Frenchman, either having dreamed that - he was to do it, or from other cause, the others flattered him - and made him presents, fearing that he would carry out his wicked - intentions, and in this way they might lose the whole country. Now - it is a great deal if they warn the French to be on their guard, - as they did not long ago, saying that there were some young men who - were prowling about in the woods to kill any Frenchman that they - might find by himself; and thus we [203] are not safe among these - people. Let us say, however: _Qui habitat in adjutorio Altissimi, - in protectione Dei cœli commorabitur._ - -Mais concluons ce conseil. Le Pere Brebeuf voyãt que sō voyage -estoit rompu, & que ce seroit temerité de l'entreprendre non pour la -crainte de la mort, car ie ne les vy iamais, si resolus luy, & ses -deux cõpagnons le Pere Daniel, & le Pere Dauost, qu'alors qu'on parla -qu'ils pourroient laisser la vie au chemin qu'ils entreprenoient pour -la gloire de nostre Seigneur: mais comme ils engageoient les François -à vne guerre contre ces peuples au cas qu'on les mit à mort, nous -iugeasmes auec l'aduis du sieur de Champlain que la conseruation de -la paix entre ces nations estoit preferable à la consolation qu'ils -auroient de mourir en telle occasion. Le Pere Brebeuf voyant [204] donc -ce passage fermé pour cette année, apostropha les Hurons, & leur dit: -Vous estes nos freres, nous voulions aller en vostre païs pour viure & -mourir auec vous: mais puisque la riuiere est bouchée, nous attendrons -à l'année qui vient que tout sera paisible. C'est vous qui ferés la -plus grande perte, car maintenant que ie commence à vous pouuoir -parler sans truchement, ie voulois vous enseigner le chemin du ciel, & -vous découurir les grandes richesses de l'autre vie; mais ce mal-heur -vous priue de tous ces biens. Ils repartirent qu'ils en estoient bien -marris, & qu'vne année seroit bien-tost passée. - - But to the conclusion of this council. Father Brebeuf seeing - that his journey was broken up, and that it would be foolhardy - to undertake it,--not through fear of death, because I never saw - them more resolute, both he and his two companions, Father Daniel - and Father Davost, than when they were told that they might lose - their lives on the road which they were about to take for the glory - of our Lord: but as they would involve the French in war against - these people, in case they were killed,--we agreed with sieur de - Champlain, that the preservation of peace among these tribes was - preferable to the consolation they would experience in dying on - such an occasion. Now Father Brebeuf, seeing [204] the way closed - for that year, addressed the Hurons, saying: "You are our brothers, - we wish to go to your country to live and die with you; but, as - the river is closed, we shall wait until the coming year, when all - will be peaceable. It is you who will sustain the greater loss; - because now, as I am beginning to be able to talk to you without an - interpreter, I wish to teach you the way to heaven, and to reveal - to you the great riches of the other life; but this misfortune - deprives you of all these blessings." They replied that they were - very sorry, and that a year would very soon pass away. - -A l'issuë de cette assemblée nous nous en allasmes par les cabanes -retirer le petit bagage de nos Peres que nous auions desia mis -entre les mains des Sauuages pour le porter en leur [205] païs. Ces -pauures gens estoient bien faschez de cet accident, & quelques-vns du -village de la Rochelle dirent au Pere que s'il vouloit venir, qu'ils -l'embarqueroyent, & qu'ils esperoyent le pouuoir faire passer: mais -c'estoit se mettre luy & eux & les François en danger. Voila donc -l'esperãce d'entrer aux Hurons perdue pour cette année. Ie prie Dieu -qu'il nous ouure la porte l'an prochain. Voicy deux raisons plus fortes -que deux grosses serrures qui semblent l'auoir fermée pour vn long -temps. - - Upon the dispersion of this assembly, we went through the cabins, - to get the little baggage of our Fathers that we had already placed - in the hands of the Savages to be carried to their [205] country. - These poor people regretted this unfortunate affair very much; and - some of those of the village of la Rochelle said to the Father - that, if he wished to go with them, they would carry him, and they - hoped to give him a peaceful passage. But that would be placing - himself and them and the French in danger. Thus the hope of going - into the Huron country is lost for this year. I pray God to open - the door for us next year. Below are two reasons, stronger than two - great locks, which seem to have closed it to us for a long time. - -La premiere est tirée de l'interest des Sauuages de l'Isle, des -Algōquaĩs, & des autres nations qui sont entre Kebec & les Hurons. -Ces peuples voudroyent bien que les Hurons ne descendissent point aux -Frãçois pour traitter leurs pelleteries, afin de remporter tout le -gain de la traitte, desirans eux-mesmes aller recueillir les [206] -marchandises des peuples circonuoisins pour les apporter aux François: -c'est pourquoy ils ne sont pas bien aises que nous allions aux Hurons, -s'imaginans qu'on les sollicite de descendre, & que les François estans -auec eux, on ne sçauroit si aisémẽt leur fermer le passage. La seconde -raison est tirée de la crainte des Hurons: ils voyent que les François -ne veulent point receuoir de presẽs pour la mort de leurs hommes quand -on en a tué quelqu'vn: ils craignent que leur ieunesse ne fasse quelque -mauuais coup, car ils seroient obligez d'amener vif ou mort celuy qui -auroit cõmis quelque meurtre, ou bien de rompre auec les François. -Cela les tient en ceruelle, d'ailleurs, le sieur de Champlain leur -tesmoignant qu'il n'y a point de vraye amitié si on ne s'entreuisite -les vns les autres: ils desirẽt grandemẽt, du moins en apparẽce, de -nous auoir [207] en leur païs. Dieu a placé des limites dans les temps, -qu'on ne scauroit outrepasser: quand le moment sera arriué auquel il a -deliberé de donner secours à ces nations, il n'y a digue ny barriere -qui puisse resister à sa puissance. - - The first is found in the interests of the Island Savages, the - Algonquains, and the other tribes which are between Kebec and the - Hurons. These people, in order to monopolize the profit of the - trade, prefer that the Hurons should not go down the river to trade - their peltries with the French, desiring themselves to collect the - [206] merchandise of the neighboring tribes and carry it to the - French; that is why they do not like to see us go to the Hurons, - thinking that we would urge them to descend the river, and that, - the French being with them, it would not be easy to bar their - passage. The second reason may be found in the fear of the Hurons, - who see that the French will not accept presents as a compensation - for the murder of one of their countrymen; they fear that their - young men may do some reckless deed, for they would have to give - up, alive or dead, any one who might have committed murder, or else - break with the French. This makes them uneasy. Aside from this, as - sieur de Champlain has told them that there is no true friendship - unless visits are interchanged, they are very desirous, at least in - appearance, to have us [207] in their country. God has set limits - to time, which man cannot pass. When the moment shall have come - which he has fixed for giving succor to these tribes, there will be - neither dike nor barrier that can resist his power. - -Au reste cõme ie ne cognois point les secrets ressorts de sa -prouidence, ie n'ay peu encor iusques à present m'attrister de ce -retardement de nos Peres. Autant que nous pouuons coniecturer par les -apparences humaines il y auoit esperance d'vne grande moisson: mais -ayant fait tout ce que nous auons peu pour enuoier des ouuriers à cette -recolte, nous croyons que le maistre du champ n'a pas voulu qu'on y -mist encore la faucille: si ce coup est vn coup de sa bõté, qui void au -delà de nos pensées qu'il soit beny pour vn iamais: si c'est vn coup de -sa iustice qui ait voulu [208] chastier si rigoureusement nos offenses, -qu'il foit encor beny au delà des temps. Nous detestons la cause de -ce chastiment, & adorons la main qui nous frape, auec vne tres-grande -confiance que celuy qui a tiré la lumiere des tenebres, tirera du bien -de ce malheur. Nos Peres ne ferõt point icy oisifs. Le Pere Brebeuf -leur fera leçon tous les iours soirs & matins de la langue des Hurons. -Ie me sens moy-mesme fort porté d'aller à cette eschole, afin que si -V. Reuer. me veut enuoyer l'an qui vient auec eux i'aye desia quelque -auance: ie n'ay encor rien cõclud d'asseuré sur ce point: i'y veux -pẽser pl⁹ à loisir deuãt Dieu. - - However, as the secret resources of his providence are hidden from - me, I have not been able, up to the present time, to look with - regret upon this delay of our Fathers. As far as we are able to - foresee with our human vision, there are hopes of a great harvest; - but, having done all that was in our power to send laborers to this - field, we believe that the master thereof does not wish the sickle - to be yet used upon it. If this blow is a blow from the kindness - of him who sees beyond our thoughts, may he be forever blessed. If - it is a stroke of his justice for the [208] severe chastisement - of our offences, still be he blessed beyond all time. We hate the - cause of this chastisement, and adore the hand that strikes us, - very confident that he who drew light out of darkness will draw - good from this misfortune. Our Fathers will not be idle here. - Father Brebeuf will teach them every day, evening and morning, the - language of the Hurons. I myself feel very much inclined to go to - this school, in order that, if Your Reverence should wish to send - me with them next year, I may already have made some progress; I - have decided nothing certain yet upon this point; I wish to think - about it more at my leisure before God. - -Pour retourner à nos Hurons, Louys Amantacha voyant que nous n'alliõs -point en son païs, & qu'il s'ẽ deuoit aller le lendemain au poinct du -iour, il s'en vint coucher en nôtre petite maison pour se confesser -& [209] cõmunier encore vne fois auant son depart; ce qu'il fit, -nous donnãt vne grande consolation, & le iour suiuãt 6. Aoust tous -les Hurons trousserent bagage; & en moins de riẽ enleuerẽt leurs -maisons & leurs richesses, & les emporterẽt auec eux pour s'en seruir -pendant le chemin d'enuiron 300 lieuës qu'on conte de Kebec en leur -païs. I'entretins quelque tẽps Louys Amãtacha, ie le sonday le mieux -qu'il me fut possible; car les Sauuages sont assez complaisans & -dissimulez: ie ne trouuay rien que de bon en luy, c'est l'vn des bõs -esprits que i'aye veu parmy ces peuples V. R. me permettra s'il luy -plaist, de le recommãder à ses prieres & à celles de tous nos Peres -& Freres de sa prouince; car si vne fois l'esprit de Dieu s'empare -de cete ame, ce sera vn puissant secours pour ceux qui porteront les -bonnes nouuelles de l'Euãgile en ces contrées, & [210] au contraire -comme il a frequēté les Anglois, s'il se porte au mal il gastera -tout: mais nous auõs pl⁹ sujet d'esperer le biē, que de craindre le -mal. Il semble d'ailleurs que Dieu vueille ouurir les tresors de sa -misericorde à ces pauures Barbares qui nous souhaittent, du moins à -ce qu'il semble auec affection. Ie voy vn grand desir en nos Peres de -deuorer toutes ces difficultez qui se rencontrent dãs l'estude de ces -langues, & vous diriez quasi que Dieu les a arrestez pour les acquerir -icy plus cõmodement, afin qu'ils puissēt à mesme temps mettre le feu -en diuers endroits des Hurons quand sa Maiesté leur y donnera entrée. -Ie ne crains qu'vne chose en ce dilayement, que l'Ancienne Frãce ne -se lasse de secourir la Nouuelle voiãt que la moisson tarde tant à -meurir: mais qu'ō se souuienne que les potirõs naissent en vne nuict, -& qu'il faut [111 i.e., 211] des années pour meurir les fruicts de la -palme. On a esté 38 ans à ce que i'ay ouy dire, auant que de rien faire -au Brasil. Combien a on attendu aux portes de la Chine? Dieu vueille -qu'õ y soit biē entré de l'heure que ie parle. Ceux qui courent, & qui -s'eschauffent si fort se lassent bien souuent plus qu'ils n'auancent. -Ie ne dy pas cecy pour reietter bien loing la conuersion des Sauuages. -Si nos Peres fussent entrés cette année aux Hurõs ie m'attendois de -rescrire à V. R. l'an prochain que, _receperat Samaria verbum Dei_, -que ces barbares auoient receu la foy; ce fera quãd il plaira à celuy -duquel dépẽd ce grãd ouurage: car à mõ aduis les hõmes y peuuent bien -peu, quoy qu'ils n'y doiuent espargner ny leurs trauaux, ny leur sãg, -ny leur vie. ô qui verroit dans l'vne des grandes ruës de Paris ce que -ie voyois il y a trois iours aupres du grand fleuue S. [212] Laurẽs, -cinq ou six cens Hurõs vestus à la Sauuage, les vns de peaux d'ours, -les autres de peaux de castor, & d'autres de peau d'Eslan, tous hõmes -bien faits, d'vne riche taille, hauts, puissans, d'vne bõne paste, d'vn -corps biẽfourny; qui les verroit dy ie demãdans secours, & proferans -les parolles que disoit ce Macedonien à sainct Paul, _Transiens in -Macedoniam adiuua nos_: Venés, secourés nous, apportés en nostre païs -le flambeau qui n'y a iamais esclairé! ô que ce spectacle donneroit de -cõpassion à ceux qui ont tant soit peu d'amour de celuy qui a verse -tout sõ sang pour ces ames qui se perdent tous les iours faute que -personne ne le recueille pour leur appliquer. - - To return to our Hurons: Louys Amantacha, seeing that we were not - going to his country, and that he was to leave us next morning at - daybreak, came to sleep in our little house, in order to confess - and [209] to receive holy communion once more before his departure. - This he did, causing us great consolation; and on the following - day, August 6th, all the Hurons packed their baggage, and in less - than no time took away their houses and their riches, and carried - them off, to use them on the road of about 300 leagues, which is - the distance reckoned to be between Kebec and their country. I - talked for some time with Louys Amantacha, and sounded him as well - as I could; for the Savages are quite artful and dissimulating. I - found nothing but good in him; he is one of the admirable character - that I have seen among these people. Your Reverence will permit - me if you please, to recommend him to your prayers and to those - of all our Fathers and Brothers in your province; for, if once - the spirit of God takes possession of this soul, he will be a - powerful reinforcement for those who will carry the good news of - the Gospel into these countries; and, [210] on the contrary, as - he has associated with the English, if he be inclined to evil, he - will ruin everything; but we have more reason to hope for good - than to fear evil. Besides, it seems that God desires to open the - treasures of his mercy to these poor Barbarians, who look upon - us with affection; at least, judging from appearances. I see a - great desire among our Fathers to overcome all the difficulties - which are encountered in the study of these languages; and you - might almost say that God has detained them that they may learn - them more conveniently here, and may, at the same time, kindle - the fire in a number of places among the Hurons, when his Majesty - shall have opened to them the way. I only fear one thing in - this delay; that Old France may fail to give New [France] the - necessary aid, seeing that the harvest is so slow in ripening. - But let it be remembered that mushrooms spring up in a night, - while it requires [111 i.e. 211] years to ripen the fruits of - the palm. It was 38 years, as I have heard, before anything was - accomplished in Brazil. How long have they been waiting at the - gates of China? May it be God's will that they have been received - there at the hour when I write. Those who run and become greatly - heated often weary themselves more than they advance. I do not say - this to defer for a long time the conversion of the Savages. If our - Fathers had gone among the Hurons this year, I expected to write - to Your Reverence next year that _receperat Samaria verbum Dei_; - that these barbarians had received the faith. That will be when it - shall please him upon whom all of this great work depends; for, - in my opinion, men can accomplish but very little here, although - they should spare neither their labor, nor their blood, nor their - lives. Oh, whoever would see in one of the great streets of Paris - what I saw three days ago near the great river St. [212] Lawrence, - five or six hundred Hurons in their Savage costumes,--some in - bear skins, others in beaver, and others in Elk skins, all well - made men of splendid figures, tall, powerful, good-natured, and - able-bodied,--whoever would see them, I say, asking help and - uttering the word of that Macedonian to saint Paul: _Transiens in - Macedoniam adjuva nos_; "Come, help us, bring into our country the - torch which has never yet illuminated it!" Oh, what compassion this - spectacle would excite in these people, however little love they - have for him who shed his blood for these souls that are being - lost every day, because no one gathers it up to apply it to their - salvation. - -Mais il est tantost temps de m'auiser que ie n'escry plus vne lettre, -mais vn liure, tant ie suis long: ce n'estoit pas mõ dessein de tãt -escrire, les feuillets se sont multipliés insensiblemẽt, [213] & m'ont -mis en tel point qu'il fault que i'enuoie ce brouillard pour ne pouuoir -tirer & mettre au net ce que ie croirois debuoir estre presenté à V.R. -I'escriray vne autre fois plus precisemẽt & plus asseuremẽt. On se fie -beaucoup en ces premiers cõmẽcemens, cõme i'ay dit, au rapport de ceux -qu'on croid auoir prattiqué les Sauuages. _Plus valet oculatus testis -quàm decem auriti._ I'ay remarqué qu'apres auoir veu quelque action -commune à deux ou trois Sauuages, on l'attribue incontinent à toute la -Nation: L'argument qui se fait du denombremẽt des parties est fautif -s'il ne les comprẽd toutes ou la plus grande partie. Aioustés qu'il -y a quantité de peuples en ces contrées qui conuiennent en plusieurs -choses, & differẽt en beaucoup d'autres; si bien quãd on dit que les -Sauuages ont coustume de faire quelque action, cela peut estre vray -[214] d'vne nation, & non pas de l'autre: Le temps est le pere de la -verité. - - But it is about time for me to reflect that I am no longer writing - a letter, but a book, I have made it so long. It was not my - intention to write so much; the pages have insensibly multiplied - [213] and I am so situated that I must send this scrawl, as I - am unable to rewrite it and to make a clean copy of it, such as - I think ought to be presented to Your Reverence. I shall write - another time more accurately, and with more assurance. In these - beginnings, as I have said, much confidence is given to the reports - of those who are believed to have had experience among the Savages. - _Plus valet oculatus testis quàm decem auriti._ I have observed - that, after having seen two or three Savages do the same thing, - it is at once reported to be a custom of the whole Tribe. The - argument drawn from the enumeration of parts is faulty, if it does - not comprehend all or the greater part. Add to this that there are - many tribes in these countries who agree in a number of things, - and differ in many others; so that, when it is said that certain - practices are common to the Savages, it may be true [214] of one - tribe and not true of another. Time is the Father of truth. - -C'est assez pour cette année: mille & mille actions de graces des soins -& de la charité de V.R. en nôtre endroit & à l'endroit de tant de -pauures peuples qu'elle oblige nous saisãt icy subsister; car quoy que -nous faisiõs peu, si est ce que i'espere que nous donnerõs commencement -à ceux qui viendrõt apres nous, & qui feront beaucoup. Nous sõmes -tous en bonne santé par la grace de nost. Seigneur, & suppliõs V.R. -d'vn mesme cœur de nous enuoier des personnes capables d'apprẽdre les -langues. C'est ce que ie voy maintenant de plus necessaire pour le biẽ -des ames en ces pays. Pour la terre, ie luy en enuoie des fruicts, -ce sont des espics de formẽt, de seigle & d'orge, que nous auõs semé -pres de nôtre maisonnette. Nous ramassâmes l'an passé quelques touffes -de segle que [215] nous trouuions çà & la parmy des pois: ie contay -en quelques vnes 60 épics, en d'autres 80, en d'autres 112. Nous -battismes ces glannes, & en tirâmes vn peu de seigle, qui nous paiera -biẽ cette année la peine qu'il nous donna de le glãner l'an passé. Le -peu de fourmẽt que nous auons semé deuant les neiges est fort beau, -celuy qu'on a semé au printemps ne meurira point, car c'est du bled -d'hyuer: il faudroit auoir du bled marsais & du bled sans barbe, on dit -qu'il est meilleur. L'orge est plus beau qu'en Frãce: & ie ne doute -point que si le pays estoit découuert qu'on ne rencõtrast des vallées -tres fertiles. Les bois sont maligns, ils nourrissent les froids -engendrent les petites gelées produisent quantité de vermines, cõme des -sauterelles, des vers, des pucerõs qui mangent notamment le iardinage: -nous nous éloignerons d'eux petit à [216] petit sãs toutefois bouger -d'vne place. Ie r'entre en discours contre ma pensée, quittons tout -pour nous recõmander aux prieres, & Saincts Sacrifices de V.R. & de -toute sa prouince. Ie croy que cette missiõ est biẽ auãt dãs son cœur, -& que ces pauures Sauuages y ont bõne place: celuy là y est aussi auec -eux qui est en verité - - D. V. R. - - Tres-obligé & tres-obeissant seruiteur selon Dieu - - PAVL LE IEVNE. - - This is enough for this year; I offer thousands and thousands - of thanks for the interest and charity of Your Reverence in our - behalf, and in behalf of the many poor people whom you bless by - keeping us here; for, although we do but little, yet I hope that - we shall make a beginning for those who are to come after us and - who will do a great deal. We are all in good health, by the grace - of our Lord; and we beseech Your Reverence, with one heart, to - send us persons capable of learning the languages. It is what - I now believe to be most necessary for the welfare of the souls - in this country. As to the soil, I send you some of its fruits: - they are heads of wheat, of rye, and of barley, that we planted - near our little house. We gathered last year a few wisps of rye - that [215] we found here and there among the peas; I counted in - some of them 60 kernels, in others 80, in others 112. We threshed - these gleanings and took from them a little rye, which will this - year pay us very well for the trouble that we had in gleaning it - last year. The little wheat which we sowed before the snows is - very beautiful: that which was sown in the spring will not ripen, - because it is winter wheat. We must have some March wheat, and some - that is beardless, for these are said to be the best. The barley - is finer than in France: and I have no doubt that, if this country - were cleared, very fertile valleys would be found. The woods are - troublesome; they retain the cold, engender the slight frosts, - and produce great quantities of vermin, such as grasshoppers, - worms, and insects, which are especially destructive in our - garden; we shall rid ourselves of them, little by [216] little, - without, however, leaving the place. I resumed this discourse - unintentionally; let us cut it short, to recommend ourselves to the - prayers and to the Holy Sacrifices of Your Reverence and of your - whole province. I believe that this mission is cherished by you, - and that these poor Savages occupy a good place in your heart. He - also is there with them who is, in truth, - - Of Your Reverence, - - The greatly obliged and very obedient servant, in God, - - PAUL LE JEUNE. - - - - -Extraict du Priuilege du Roy. - - -PAR Grace & Priuilege du Roy il est permis à Sebastien Cramoisy, -marchand Libraire Iuré en l'Vniuersité de Paris d'imprimer ou faire -imprimer vn liure intitulé _Relation de ce qui s'est passé en la -Nouuelle France en l'année mil six cens trente trois, Enuoyée au R.P. -Barthelemy Iaquinot Prouincial de la Compagnie de Iesus en la prouince -de France, Par le Pere Paul le Ieune de la mesme Compagnie, Superieur -de la Residence de Kebek_: & cependant le temps & espace de cinq années -cōsecutiues. Auec defenses à tous Libraires & Imprimeurs d'imprimer ou -faire imprimer ledit liure souz pretexte de desguisement, ou changement -qu'ils y pourroient faire, à peine de confiscation, & de l'amende -portée par ledit Priuilege. Donné à Sainct Germain en Laye le 10 -Decembre, mil six cens trente trois. - - Par le Roy en son conseil. - - Poicteuin. - - Extract from the Royal License. - - BY Grace and License of the King, permission is granted to - Sebastien Cramoisy, Bookseller under Oath, of the University of - Paris, to print or to have printed a book entitled: _Relation de - ce qui s'est passé en la Nouvelle France en l'année mil six cens - trente trois, Envoyée au R.P. Barthelemy Jaquinot Provincial de la - Compagnie de Jesus en la province de France, Par le Pere Paul le - Jeune de la mesme Compagnie, Superieur de la Residence de Kebek_: - and this during the time and space of five consecutive years. - Prohibiting all Booksellers and Printers from printing or having - printed the said book, under any pretext of disguise or change that - they may make in it, on penalty of confiscation and of the fine - provided by the said License. Given at Sainct Germain en Laye, on - the 10th of December, one thousand six hundred and thirty-three. - - By the King in council. - - Poictevin. - - - - - XXII - - LETTRE DU LE JEUNE - - au R. P. Provincial à Paris - - QUEBEC: 1634 - - -SOURCE: Reprinted from Carayon's _Première Mission_, pp. 122-156. - - - - -[122] Lettre du P. Paul le Jeune, au R. P. Provincial de France à Paris. - -(_Copiée sur l'autographe conservé aux archives du Jésus à Rome._) - - - QUÉBEC, 1634. - - MON REVEREND PERE, - - Pax Christi. - -Les larmes qui me tombent des yeux à la veuë des lettres de V. R. -arrestent ma plume; je suis dur comme bronze, et cependant son -affection m'a tellement amoly, que la joye me fait pleurer et me fait -donner mille benedictions à Dieu. O quel cœur! quel amour! quelle -volonté elle a pour nous! je ne sçay comme y correspondre, sinon de luy -dire _ecce me_, me voilà tout entier entre ses mains et pour le Canada -et pour la France et pour tout le monde, _ad majorem Dei gloriam_. Je -me voy si foible à tout, et Dieu si puissant pour tout, qu'il me semble -qu'il n'y a plus rien à désirer ny à refuire. On m'escrit que V. R. a -donné pour les pauvres Canadiens jusques à l'image de son oratoire. -M. de Lauson[I.] [123] dit que son affection n'a point de limites, et -qu'il mettra la mission en tel estat, qu'on sera contraint de procurer -la continuation d'un si grand bien. Tout le monde confesse que Dieu est -pour nous, puisque le cœur des supérieurs, qui est entre ses mains, est -tout à nous. Le moyen d'estre insensible à tant de biens, et d'avoir -le cœur et les yeux secs, dans une pluie de tant de bénédictions! Mais -entrons en affaire; je n'épargneray ny l'encre ni le papier, puisque -V. R. supporte avec tant d'amour mes longueurs et mes simplicités. -Après l'avoir remerciée de tout mon cœur du secours qu'il luy a plu -nous envoyer, comme aussy des vivres et des rafraîchissements, je luy -descriray tout l'estat de cette mission. - - [122] Letter from Father Paul le Jeune, to the Reverend Father - Provincial of France, at Paris. - - (_Copied from the autograph preserved in the archives of the Gesù, - at Rome._) - - QUEBEC, 1634. - - MY REVEREND FATHER, - - The peace of Christ be with you. - - The tears which fall from my eyes at the sight of the letters of - Your Reverence, stop my pen; I am hard as bronze, and yet your love - has so greatly softened me, that joy makes me weep and causes me - to utter a thousand blessings to God. Oh, what a heart! What love! - What good will you show toward us! I do not know how to respond - to it except by saying to you, "_ecce me_; behold me altogether - in your hands, for Canada, for France, and for all the world, _ad - majorem Dei gloriam_."[1] I behold myself so weak in all things, - and God so mighty in all things, that it seems to me there is - nothing more to be desired nor to be avoided. They have written - me that Your Reverence has given for the poor Canadians even the - very image from your oratory. M. de Lauson[II.] [123] says that - his affection is boundless; and that he will put the mission in - such a state, that they will be obliged to secure the continuance - of so great a blessing. Everyone acknowledges that God is for us, - since the hearts of the superiors, which are in his hands, are all - for us. How can we be insensible to so many benefits, and keep our - hearts and eyes dry, in a downpouring of so many blessings! But let - us enter upon affairs; I shall spare neither ink nor paper, since - Your Reverence endures with so much love my tediousness and my - simplicity. After having thanked you with all my heart for the help - which you have been pleased to send us, as well as for the food - and fresh supplies, I will describe to you fully the state of this - mission. - -Commençons par ce qui s'est passé cette année. Nous avons vescu dans -une grande paix, Dieu mercy, entre nous, avec nos gens, et avec tous -nos françois. Je suis grandement édifié de tous nos Pères. Le P. -Brebeuf[III.] est un homme choisy de Dieu pour ces pays; je l'ay laissé -en ma place six mois durant, neuf jours moins, que j'ay hiverné avec -les sauvages: tout a procédé toujours en paix. Le [124] Daniel[IV.] -et le P. Davost[V.] sont paisibles. Ils ont bien estudié à la langue -huronne; j'ay tenu la main qu'ils ne fussent point divertis de cet -exercice que ie croy estre de tres grande importance. Le P. Masse[VI.] -que je nomme quelquefois en riant, le Père _Utile_, est bien cognu de -V. R. Il a eu soin des choses domestiques et du bestial que nous avons, -en quoy il a très-bien réussy. Le Père De Nouë,[XI.] qui est d'un bon -cœur, a eu soin de nos ouvriers, les conduisant dans leur travail tout -à fait difficile en ces commencemens. Notre Frère Gilbert[XII.] s'est -[de] fait mieux porté cet hyver que l'autre; aussi n'a-t-il pas été si -rigoureux. Je l'ay mis dans sa liberté de retourner à cette année; il -a mieux aimé rester. Nous verrons comme il réussira avec nostre Frère -Liégeois[XIII.] lequel à mon [125] advis, fera très-bien. Je suis le -plus imparfait de tous et le plus impatient. J'ay passé l'hyver avec -les Sauvages, comme je viens de dire. La faim nous a pensé tuer; mais -Dieu est si présent dans ces difficultés, que ce temps de famine m'a -semblé un temps d'abondance; n'estoit que je crains d'excéder, je -raconterais à V. R. les sentiments que Dieu donne en ce temps-là. -J'avoue que je sentois parfois la faim, et que souvent ces paroles me -venoient en la bouche: _Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie_; mais -jamais je ne songe les avoir prononcées sans adjouster cette condition -_si ita placitum est ante te_. Je disois par fois ces autres de saint -Xavier d'un assez bon cœur: _Domine, ne me his eripias malis, nisi ad -majora pro tuo nomine reserves._ J'estois consolé jusques dans mon -sommeil; mais laissons cecy, car Dieu agissoit pour lors. Voicy ce -que je suis: sitost que nous fusmes secourus des créatures, je devins -malade de corps et d'âme, Dieu me faisant voir ce qu'il est et ce que -je suis. J'estois impatient, dégousté, cherchant la retraite en notre -petite maison. Je taschois bien d'arrêter cet estat de misere; mais, -comme mes passions sont toute viciées, je choppois à tous coups, ne -rapportant rien de ce voyage que mes deffaults. J'ai couché dans la -Relation les causes pour lesquelles je suis revenu peu sçavant en leur -langue; c'est asses de ce point. Pour [126] ce qui touche nos hommes, -ils entendent tous les matins la sainte Messe devant leur travail; -le soir ils viennent tous à la chapelle, où on fait les prières que -j'envoye à V. R. Nous chantons vespres les festes et les dimanches, -et on leur fait quasi tous les dimanches une exhortation. Outre cecy, -on presche à Kébec; on y chante aussy les vespres, parfois la grande -Messe. Voilà sommairement nos occupations de cette année passée; la -Relation en parle plus amplement. - - Let us begin with what has occurred this year. We have lived in - great peace, thank God, among ourselves, with our working people, - and with all the french. I have been greatly pleased with all our - Fathers. Father Brebeuf[VII.] is a man chosen of God for these - lands; I left him in my place for six months, with the exception of - nine days, while I passed the winter with the savages. Everything - went on peacefully during that time. [124] Father Daniel[VIII.] - and Father Davost[IX.] are quiet men. They have studied the Huron - language thoroughly, and I have taken care that they should not - be diverted from this work, which I believe to be of very great - importance. Father Masse,[X.] whom I sometimes playfully call - Father _Useful_, is well known to Your Reverence. He has had - the care of the domestic affairs and of our cattle, in which he - has succeeded very well. Father de Nouë,[XIV.] who has a good - heart, has had the care of our laborers, directing them in their - work, which is very difficult in these beginnings. Our Brother - Gilbert[XV.] has felt better this winter than the last, as it has - not been so severe. I gave him liberty to return this year, but - he preferred to remain. We shall see how he will succeed with our - Brother Liégeois[XVI.] who, in my [125] opinion, will do very well. - I am the most imperfect of all and the most impatient. I have - passed the winter with the Savages, as I have just said. Famine - almost killed us; but God is so present in these difficulties, that - this time of famine seemed to me a time of abundance; were it not - that I am afraid of wearying you, I would recount to Your Reverence - the sentiments with which God inspired me at that time. I confess - that I sometimes experienced hunger, and that often these words - came to my lips: _Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie_; but I - think I never pronounced them without adding this condition: _si - ita placitum est ante te_. I also occasionally repeated these words - of saint Xavier with a very good heart: _Domine, ne me his eripias - malis, nisi ad majora pro tuo nomine reserves_. I was consoled even - in my sleep; but let us leave this, for God was acting then. This - is what I am: as soon as we were assisted by creatures, I became - sick in body and in soul, God causing me to see what he is and what - I am. I was impatient, disgusted, seeking a retreat in our little - house. I tried to put an end to this condition of misery; but, as - my passions are altogether depraved, I stumbled at every step, - bringing back nothing from this journey except my faults. I have - set down in my Relation the reasons why I returned, knowing little - about their language; enough upon this subject. As [126] to what - concerns our men: every morning they hear holy Mass before their - work, and in the evening all come to chapel, where the prayers - which I send to Your Reverence are recited. We sing vespers on - feast days and sundays, and almost every sunday an exhortation is - made to them. Besides, there is preaching at Kébec, where they also - sing vespers, and occasionally a high Mass. This is the outline of - our occupations during this last year; the Relation speaks thereof - more fully. - -Pour l'année que nous allons commencer au départ des vaisseaux, voicy -comme nous serons distribués et ce que nous ferons. - - For the year which we are about to begin at the departure of the - ships, this is the way in which we shall be distributed and what we - shall do: - -Le P. Brebeuf, le P. Daniel et le P. Davost, avec trois braves jeunes -hommes et deux petits garçons, seront aux Hurons. Enfin nostre Seigneur -leur a ouvert la porte. M. Duplessis[XVII.] y a grandement contribué, -disons M. de Lauson, qui luy avait sans doute recommandé ce point, -dont il s'est très-bien acquitté, comme V. R. verra par la lettre que -le P. Brebeuf m'a envoyée du chemin des Hurons. Je croy qu'ils sont -maintenant bien près du lieu où ils prétendent aller. Ce coup est un -coup du ciel; nous espérons une grande moisson de ces pays. Le P. [127] -Brebeuf et le P. Daniel se jetèrent dans les dangers de bien souffrir; -car ils s'en allèrent sans bagages ny sans la monnoie nécessaire pour -vivre. Dieu y a pourvu, car M. Duplessis a tenu la main que tout -passast. Voilà pour les Hurons. - - Father Brebeuf, Father Daniel, and Father Davost, with three brave - young men and two little boys, will be among the Hurons. At last - our Lord has opened to them the door. M. Duplessis[XVIII.] has - aided greatly in this; let us say M. de Lauson, who has without - doubt recommended this affair to him, of which he has acquitted - himself very well, as Your Reverence will see by the letter which - Father Brebeuf has sent me on his way to the Hurons. I believe that - they must now be quite near the place where they intend to go. This - stroke is a stroke from heaven; we shall hope for a great harvest - from this country. Father [127] Brebeuf and Father Daniel exposed - themselves to great suffering; for they went away without baggage, - or without the money necessary to live. God has provided therefor, - as M. Duplessis has taken care that all should go well. So much for - the Hurons. - -Nous demeurerons aux Trois-Rivières, le P. Buteux[XIX.] et moy. Ce lieu -est sur le grand fleuve, 30 lieues plus haut que Kébec, sur le chemin -des Hurons; on le nomme les Trois-Rivières pour ce qu'une certaine -rivière qui vient des terres se dégorge dans le grand fleuve par trois -embouchures. Nos François commencent là cette année une habitation; -il y fault deux de nos Pères. J'ay esté fort longtemps en balance qui -y pourroit aller. Le P. Brebeuf et le P. de Nouë estoient d'advis -que je demeurasse à Kébec; mais j'ay recognu que le P. Lalemant[XX.] -appréhendoit cette nouvelle demeure, y croyant qu'il n'en reviendroit -pas si on l'y envoyoit, s'offrant néanmoins de bon cœur à faire ce -qu'on voudroit. Il est vray qu'il y meurt ordinairement quelques -personnes en ces commencemens; mais la mort n'est pas toujours un grand -mal. - - We shall live at Three Rivers, Father Buteux[XXI.] and I. This - place is upon the great river, 30 leagues farther up than Kébec, - upon the way to the Hurons; it is called Three Rivers, because a - certain river which flows through the land empties into the great - river by three mouths. Our French people are this year beginning a - settlement there, and two of our Fathers must be there.[4] I have - been doubtful for a long time as to who should go. Father Brebeuf - and Father de Nouë thought that I should remain at Kébec; but I - perceived that Father Lalemant[XXII.] was apprehensive of this new - abode, believing that he would never return if he were sent there, - offering himself freely, however, to do what should be desired. It - is true that some persons generally die in these beginnings, but - death is not always a great evil. - -Après avoir recommandé l'affaire à nostre Seigneur, [128] je me suis -résolu d'y aller moy-mesme pour les raison suivantes: - - After having commended this affair to our Lord, [128] I resolved to - go there myself, for the following reasons: - -1º J'ay creu que je ne faisois rien contre le dessein de V. R. quittant -la maison pour sept ou huit mois; car je peux retourner au printemps, -je ne sçay néanmoins si je reviendray devant la venuë des vaisseaux; de -plus, je laisse entre les mains d'une personne qui fera mieux que moy -cent fois, _quis ego sum_? un atome à comparaison de luy. Je doutois de -son estomac pour les prédications de Kébec; mais l'auditoire est petit, -et il ne trouve aucun inconvénient en cela; - - 1st. I believed that I was doing nothing contrary to the designs - of Your Reverence in leaving the house for seven or eight months, - for I can return in the spring; however, I do not know whether I - shall come back before the coming of the ships. Moreover, I leave - it in the hands of a person who will do a hundred times better - than I, for _quis ego sum?_ an atom in comparison with him. I had - some doubts in regard to the strength of his voice for preaching - at Kébec; but the audience room is small, and he does not find any - inconvenience therein. - -2º J'ay creu que notre Seigneur aurait pour agréable que je donnasse -ce contentement au Père, de ne point quitter Kébec, où nous sommes -desjà un petit accommodés, et que s'il y a du danger, que je le dois -prendre pour moy; - - 2nd. I thought that it would be more agreeable to our Lord that I - should give the Father this satisfaction, that he need not leave - Kébec, where we are rather comfortably situated; and that, if there - be any danger, I ought to take it upon myself. - -3º Le fils de Dieu mourant en croix nous a déterminés à la croix, il -ne la faut donc pas fuir quand elle se presente; c'est ma plus forte -raison, on souffre il est vray dans une nouvelle habitation, notamment -précipitée comme celle-là. Je ne sçay comme sera faite la maison; estre -pesle-mesle avec des artisans, boire, manger, dormir avec eux; ils ne -sçauroient faire là aucune provision de quoy que ce soit; tout cela ne -m'estonne point; les cabannes des sauvages que j'ay habitées cet hiver -[129] sont bien pires. Le P. Buteux me resjouit: car il prend cela de -bon cœur; je le voy fort resolu à la croix. V. R. a raison de dire que -c'est l'esprit qu'il faut avoir. Nous estudierons là la langue, quoy -qu'avec moins de commodité qu'à Kébec, à cause du logement, où il y -aura un plus grand tintamarre que dans les cabanes des sauvages; car -nos français avec lesquels nous serons tous ensemble, ne sont pas si -paisibles et si patiens que ces barbares. De plus je voulois prendre -cet hiver un sauvage avec moy à Kébec pour m'instruire, puis que je -commence à les pouvoir interroger: cela ne se pourra pas faire aux -Trois-Rivières, mais il n'importe, je feray ce que je pourray. - - 3rd. The son of God, dying upon the cross, has obligated us to bear - the cross, so we should not flee from it when it presents itself; - this is my strongest reason, for in truth there is suffering in a - new settlement, especially in one established so hurriedly as that - one. I do not know how the house will be arranged; we shall be - mixed up with workingmen, drinking, eating, and sleeping with them; - they cannot make other provision for us of any kind whatever. All - this does not appall me, for the cabins of the savages, in which - I lived this winter, [129] are much worse. Father Buteux pleases - me greatly, for he takes this cheerfully; I see him strongly - determined to bear the cross. Your Reverence is right in saying - that this is the kind of spirit that we should have. We shall - study the language there, although less advantageously than at - Kébec, on account of the lodging, in which there will be a greater - hubbub than in the cabins of the savages; for our french people, - with whom we shall be in company, are not so calm and patient as - these barbarians. Furthermore, I had intended this winter to keep a - savage with me at Kébec to instruct me, since I am beginning to be - able to question them; this cannot be done at Three Rivers; but it - is of no importance, I shall do what I can. - -Resteront à Kébec le P. Lallemant, le P. Masse, le P. de Nouë et -nos deux Frères avec tous nos hommes. La douceur et la vertu du P. -Lallemant tiendra tout en paix, et fera réussir le travail de nos -gens. Envoyer le P. de Nouë et le P. Brebeuf aux Trois-Rivières, je ne -voyois point d'apparence, 1º pour ce que le P. de Nouë gouverne ici nos -hommes; 2º le Pere Buteux eust perdu une année, il n'auroit rien fait -du tout en la langue; 3º _Satis calidus est, licet alioquin optimus, -P. de Nouë_; il falloit donc que le P. Lallemant ou moy y allassions: -j'ay pris le sort pour moy, croyant laisser la maison en plus grande -paix que si je fusse demeuré, [130] je croy que V. R. approuvera mon -procedé; du moins j'ay pensé suivre en cecy le mouvement de Dieu: qu'il -soit loué pour un jamais! Voilà ce que nous ferons cette année. C'est -une grande occupation que de bien souffrir, Dieu nous en fasse la -grace! Parlons maintenant de nos serviteurs domestiques. - - There will remain at Kébec, Father Lallemant, Father Masse, - Father de Nouë, and our two Brothers, with all our men.[6] The - gentleness and virtue of Father Lallemant will hold all in peace, - and will cause the work of our people to prosper. I did not think - it feasible to send Father de Nouë and Father Brebeuf to Three - Rivers,--1st, because Father de Nouë looks after our men here; 2nd, - Father Buteux would have lost a year, he would have done nothing - at all in the language; 3rd, _Satis calidus est, licet alioquin - optimus, P. de Nouë_; so Father Lallemant or I myself had to go. I - have chosen this lot for myself, believing that I should leave the - house in greater peace than if I remained, [130] and I believe that - Your Reverence will approve my action; at least I thought I was - following in this an impulse from God; may he be forever praised! - So that is what we shall do this year. It is a great occupation, to - suffer nobly; may God give us grace for it! Let us speak now of our - household servants. - -J'ay dit que nous avions esté en paix de tous costés. Les murmures qui -arrivent par fois et les escapades ne doivent pas estre mis dans les -grands désordres, quand on se releve aussy tost qu'on est tombé, et -quand la chute n'est pas grande. Quelques-uns de nos hommes ont quelque -fois témoigné quelque impatience; mais nous avons subject de benir -Dieu, car rien ne s'est passé de notable. Voici les causes de leurs -mécontentemens. - - I have said that we lived peacefully on all sides. The murmurs - and escapades which occasionally happen should not be placed in - the list of great disorders, when one rises as soon as he has - fallen, and when the fall is not great. A number of our men have - occasionally shown some impatience; but we have reason to bless - God, for nothing of importance has happened. Here are the causes - for their discontent. - -1º C'est le naturel des artisans de se plaindre et de gronder. - - 1st. It is the nature of working people to complain and to grumble. - -2º La diversité des gages les fait murmurer: un charpentier, un -briquettier et autres, gagneront beaucoup plus que les manœuvres, et -cependant ils ne travaillent pas tant, je veux dire qu'ils n'ont pas -tant de peine que les autres, à raison qu'ils font leur mestier, et -les autres font des choses fort difficiles: _inde querimoniæ_. Ils ne -considèrent pas qu'un maistre masson a moins de peine qu'un manœuvre, -quoy qu'il gagne davantage. - - 2nd. The difference in wages makes them complain: A carpenter, a - brickmaker, and others will earn more than the laborers, and yet - they do not work so much; I mean that it is not so hard for them as - for the others, because they are following their professions, and - the others are doing more laborious things: _inde querimoniæ_. They - do not consider that a master-mason may exert himself less than a - laborer, although he earns more. - -[131] 3º La plus part ne font point leurs mestiers, sinon pour un peu -de temps; un cousturier, un cordonnier, un jardinier et les autres se -trouvent estonnés, quand il faut traisner du bois sur la neige; en -outre ils se plaignent qu'ils oublieront leur art. - - [131] 3rd. The greater part do not follow their trades, except for - a short time; a tailor, a shoemaker, a gardener, and others, are - amazed when required to drag some wood over the snow; besides, they - complain that they will forget their trades. - -4º Il faut confesser que les travaux sont grands en ces commencemens: -les hommes sont les chevaux et les bœufs; ils apportent ou traisnent -les bois, les arbres, la pierre; ils labourent la terre; ils la -hercent. Les mouches de l'esté, les neiges de l'hyver et mille autres -incomodités sont importunes: des jeunes gens qui travailloient à -l'ombre dans la France, trouvent icy un grand changement. Je m'estonne -que la peine qu'ils ont, en des choses qu'ils n'ont jamais faites, ne -les fait crier plus hault qu'ils ne crient. - - 4th. It must be confessed that the work is great in these - beginnings; the men are the horses and oxen; they carry or drag - wood, trees, or stones; they till the soil, they harrow it. The - insects in summer, the snows in winter, and a thousand other - inconveniences, are very troublesome. The youth who in France - worked in the shade find here a great difference. I am astonished - that the hardships they have to undergo, in doing things they have - never done before, do not cause them to make a greater outcry than - they do. - -5º Ils sont tous logés dans une mesme chambre, et, comme ils n'ont -pas tous leurs passions bien domptées et qu'ils sont d'humeurs bien -différentes, ils ont des subjects de discord sans subject. - - 5th. They all lodge in one room; and, as they have not all learned - to control their passions, and are of dispositions altogether - different, they have occasions for causeless quarrels. - -6º Comme il faut que nous passions par leurs mains, ne les pouvant -renvoyer quand ils manquent, et comme ils voyent qu'un baston n'est pas -bien servi en notre main pour les chastier, ils font plus aisément des -renchères, qu'ils ne feroient avec des séculiers qui les presseroient -fort et ferme. - - 6th. As we are more or less dependent upon them, not being able to - send them back when they fail to do right, and as they see that a - stick for the purpose of chastising them is of little use in our - hands, they are much more arrogant than they would be with laymen, - who would urge them with severity and firmness. - -Que V. R. pèse toutes ces raisons, s'il luy plaict, [132] et elle nous -aidera à benir Dieu; car avec tout cela nous n'avons pas laissé -de passer l'année paisiblement, tançant quelques uns, en punissant -quelques autres, quoyque très rarement, dissimulant fort souvent, _Deus -sit in æternum benedictus!_ et, comme ce n'est pas assés que la paix -soit chez nous, mais il la faut très-profonde, s'il y a moyen, j'estime -qu'il serait bon de faire ce que je vay dire. - - Your Reverence will weigh all these reasons, if you please, [132] - and will aid us in praising God; for notwithstanding all this, we - have not failed to pass the year peaceably, reprimanding some, - punishing others, though rarely--very often pretending not to - see; _Deus sit in æternum benedictus!_ and, as it is not enough - that peace should dwell among us, but that it should be firmly - established, if it be possible, I deem it best to do what I am - about to say. - -Il ne faudroit icy que des hommes de bon travail: voila pour quoy il -seroit bon que nous eussions trois braves Frères pour les menus offices -de la maison, pour la cuisine, la boulangerie, la cordonnerie, la -cousturierie, le jardin, la sacristie, les lessives, la serrurerie, le -soin du bestial, du laitage, du beurre, etc. On diviseroit tous ces -offices entre ces trois bons Frères, et ainsy on seroit délivré de -donner des gages à des ouvriers qu'on occupe en ces offices, et qui -se plaignent quand on les occupe en d'autres choses. Tous nos hommes -seroient dans les grosses besognes, et par consequent je supplie V. R. -de nous envoyer deux bons Frères. Nostre Frère Liegeois, qui commence -fort bien, sera le troisième. Pour notre Frère Gilbert peut-estre le -renvoira-t-on: sinon il travaillera à la menuiserie tout doucement, -car il est desjà bien cassé et gêné d'une rupture. Voicy les Frères -sur lesquels j'arresterois ma pensée, si V. R. le trouvoit bon: nostre -[133] Frère Claude Frémont et notre Frère le serrurier, qu'elle nous -promet par ses lettres d'envoyer l'an prochain. Je ne cognois ni luy ni -l'autre; on me dit qu'ils sont tous deux paisibles et de bon travail. -Si cela est, V. R. nous les donnera, s'il luy plaist. On en pourroit -bien envoyer un aux Hurons ou aux Trois-Rivières, selon le cours des -affaires. - - Only good workmen are needed here; hence it would be well for us - to have three capable Brothers, to perform the minor duties of the - house,--cooking, baking, making shoes, making clothes, looking - after the garden, the sacristy, washing, tinkering, caring for the - cattle, the milk, butter, etc. All these duties would be divided - among these three good Brothers, and thus we would be relieved of - giving wages to workmen who are occupied with these duties, and - who complain when they are given other things to do. All our men - should be engrossed with the heavy tasks, and consequently I beg - Your Reverence to send us two good Brothers. Our Brother Liegeois, - who is beginning very well, will be the third. As to our Brother - Gilbert, perhaps he will be sent back; if not, he will work slowly - at carpentry, for he is already broken down and hindered by a - rupture. The following are the Brothers upon whom my choice would - fall, if it please Your Reverence; our [133] Brother Claude Frémont - and our Brother the locksmith, whom you promised in your letters to - send us next year. I do not know either of them, but I am told that - they are both peaceable and good workmen. If this be true, Your - Reverence will send them to us, if you please. One of them could - be easily sent to the Hurons or to Three Rivers, according to the - course of events. - -Avec ces bons Frères, il nous faut avoir icy pour le moins dix hommes -de bon travail pour les bastiments et pour la terre et pour faucher, -pour tout en un mot. Qui en pourroit encore davantage, seroit le -meilleur: ceux cy travaillant tous dans les grosses besoignes, ne se -plaindront pas de ceux qui font les menus offices. Nous avons desjà -quatre de ces hommes: reste pour six à envoyer, et nous renvoirons -l'an qui vient tous ceux que nous avons, excepté ces quatre. Voilà -quel doit estre l'estat de la maison pour l'an qui vient quant au -travail, si V. R. le trouve bon: dix bons ouvriers et trois ou quatre -de nos Frères, sçavoir est, Nostre Frère Liegeois, N. Frère Claude -Frémont, N. Frère le serrurier, dont je ne scay pas le nom, et nostre -Frère Gilbert, s'il demeure. Pour les six ouvriers que nous demandons, -voicy leurs mestiers: deux charpentiers forts, dont l'un pour le -moins entende à dresser un bastiment, en un mot qu'il sçache bien son -mestier; un menuisier, et trois hommes [134] de travail qui puissent -estre appliqués à déserter la terre, à tirer la scie de long (il n'est -pas necessaire qu'ils sçachent ce mestier, mais qu'ils ayent la volonté -et les forces pour le faire), à faucher, à aider les charpentiers, -masson, briquetier, auprès du bestial, à tout ce qu'on voudra; il faut -des hommes forts pour cela et de bonne volonté. Si on ne peut avoir -deux charpentiers, qu'il en passe un bon pour le moins, et en la place -de l'autre, un homme de travail, comme je le viens de descrire. Je -parleray encore de cecy ailleurs, afin que si un vaisseau manquoit, -l'autre porte de nos nouvelles. Il est bien aisé de dépeindre bon -ouvrier, mais bien difficile de le trouver. Je feray voir ailleurs à -V. R. la necessité que nous avons de ces dix hommes. - - With these good Brothers, we should have here at least ten men - capable of building, cultivating, and reaping,--in a word, of doing - everything. Whoever could do still more, would be the best; these - who are altogether occupied with the heavy work, will not complain - of those who perform the minor duties. We have already four of - these men, so there remain six to be sent; and we shall send back - next year all those we have, except these four. The following ought - to be the arrangement of the household for the coming year in - regard to work, if it so please Your Reverence: ten good workmen - and three or four of our Brothers; namely, Our Brother Liegeois, - Our Brother Claude Frémont, Our Brother the locksmith, whose name - I do not know, and our Brother Gilbert, if he remain. In regard - to the six workmen for whom we ask, the following will be their - trades: two strong carpenters, at least one of them understanding - how to erect a building,--in a word, let him understand his trade; - a joiner, and three workmen [134] who can be employed in clearing - the land, in using the pit saw (they need not know this trade, but - must have only willingness and strength to do it), in reaping, in - helping the carpenters, the mason, the brickmaker, in watching the - cattle, in doing everything that is required of them; for this, - strong men are needed, and those who are willing. If we cannot have - two carpenters, let one good one, at least, come over; and, instead - of the other, such a workman as I have just described. I shall - speak again of this matter elsewhere, to the end that, if one of - our ships fail to arrive, the other will bear our letters. It is - very easy to describe a good workman, but quite difficult to find - one. I shall explain to Your Reverence elsewhere our need of having - these ten men. - -Pour les quatre qui désirent ou désiroient entrer en notre Compagnie, -je lui diray qu'Ambroise, qui a si bien contenté à Orléans et ailleurs, -et mesme qui a rendu icy de bons services, s'en vouloit aller cette -année. Il est d'un bon naturel et bon ouvrier. S'il contente, nous -prierons V. R. de le recevoir l'an qui vient, si non il n'obtiendra -aucune lettre de recommandation. Pour Louys, il fait merveille dans -son mestier; quand on l'applique à autre chose, il est mescontent: les -grosses besognes qui sont icy le decouragent aussy bien que Robert -Hache. Ils sont tous deux bons enfants, mais ils n'ont pas assés de -[135] courage et peut estre de force pour les travaux de Canada. Ils -demandoient quasi de s'en retourner cette année; mais la crainte de -n'estre pas reçeus les a arrestés. Nous verrons comme ils feront -doresnavant; ils ont bonne volonté. - - As to the four who desire or were desiring to enter our Society, - I will tell you that Ambroise, who gave such satisfaction at - Orleans and elsewhere, and who even here rendered some good - services, wished to go away this year. He has a good disposition - and is an excellent workman. If he gives satisfaction, we will - beg Your Reverence to receive him next year; if not, he will not - secure any letter of recommendation. As for Louys, he does wonders - in his trade; but when he is given something else to do, he is - discontented. The rough and heavy work to be done here discourages - him, as well as Robert Hache. They are both good boys, but they - have not enough [135] courage, and perhaps not enough strength, for - the work in Canada. They almost asked to return this year, but the - fear of not being received stopped them. We will see how they do - from now on; they show great willingness. - -Quant à Jacques Junier, il est constant dans le bien. J'aimerois mieux -en verité dix hommes comme lui, que dix autres. Il y a longtemps -qu'il demeure sur le païs; je luy ay dit de la part de V. R. qu'il -seroit reçu repassant en France. Deux choses empescheront qu'il n'y -retourne cette année: la première, il a grande difficulté de se mettre -sur mer, s'y trouvant fort mal; la seconde, à peine la maison se -peut-elle passer de luy, tant il nous est nécessaire en toutes façons. -C'est un jeune homme que ne dit mot, mais qui fait beaucoup. Comme -je représentois au P. Lallemant que V. R. nous le renvoiroit au plus -tost, il m'a dit: «La difficulté qu'a nostre R. P. Provincial de luy -laisser faire icy son noviciat provient d'une croyance qu'il a que -cela ne soit pas bien trouvé à Rome ou bien de quelques uns de nos -Pères; car sans cela, il aime tant la mission, qu'il le laisseroit -icy, estant notamment informé de la douceur de ce bon garçon, auquel -il ne manque que l'habit pour estre religieux, et s'il fait dans la -religion comme il fait au monde, on sera content de luy. J'escriray -[136] donc, m'a-t-il dit, à Rome, afin qu'on nous accorde cette faveur, -qui nous est importante pour le bien de la maison; informés-en N. R. P. -Provincial.» C'est ce que je fay par la présente. S'il faut enfin qu'il -passe, il passera. Dieu est le maistre de tout. Je supplie V. R. me -pardonner s'il luy semble que je parle avec moins de respect dans mes -lettres; je ne veux rien absoluement, mon R. P., que ce que vous jugés -devant Dieu. Je parle selon que je croy la nécessité, ce me semble. - - As to Jacques Junier, he perseveres in doing right. In truth I - would prefer ten men like him to ten others. He has now been a - long time in the country; and I have told him, on the part of Your - Reverence, that he would be received when he went back to France. - Two things prevent his returning this year: the first is that it - is exceedingly disagreeable for him to make a sea voyage, as he - becomes very sick; the second, that the house can scarcely get - along without him, he is so necessary to us in every way. He is a - young man who says nothing, but does much. As I was representing to - Father Lallemant that Your Reverence would send him back to us as - soon as possible, he said to me: "The difficulty which our Reverend - Father Provincial will have, in allowing him to make his novitiate - here, arises from his belief that it would not be approved at Rome, - nor indeed among some of our Fathers; were it not for this, he - loves our mission so much that he would leave him here, especially - if he were informed of the amiability of this good boy, who needs - only the gown to be a religious; and, if he conducts himself in - religion as he does in the world, they will be satisfied with him. - I shall write [136] now to Rome," said he, "to the end that they - may grant us this favor, which is important for the good of our - house; inform Our Reverend Father Provincial of this." I am doing - so through this letter. If he must return, he will return. God is - the master of all. I beg Your Reverence to pardon me if I seem - to speak with a lack of respect in my letters; I wish absolutely - nothing, my Reverend Father, except what you deem best before God. - I speak as I believe it needful, as it seems to me. - -Parlons des Pères dont cette mission auroit besoin. - - Let us speak of the Fathers whom this mission needs. - -Il en faudroit deux aux Hurons; s'ils font la paix avec les Iroquois, -comme elle se traite à ce qu'on dit, il en faudroit bien davantage; -car il faudroit entrer dans tous les peuples stables. Si ces nations -viennent à recevoir la foy, elle crieront à la faim, et on ne leur -pourra donner à manger, faute des personnes qui sçachent les langues. -De plus les Frères qui seroient parmi les Hiroquois, travailleroient à -entretenir la paix entre eux et les Hurons; néanmoins sur l'incertitude -de cette paix, nous ne demandons que deux Pères pour les Hurons. Il -faut un supérieur aux Trois-Rivières, et deux Pères pour demeurer à -Kebec, proche de nos françois: voilà cinq prestres et deux Frères; -voyons la nécessité qu'il y a d'avoir tant de monde. - - Two are needed among the Hurons: if they make peace with the - Iroquois, for I am told that it is being negotiated, a number - more will be needed, as we must enter all the stationary tribes. - If these people receive the faith, they will cry with hunger, and - there will be no one to feed them, for lack of persons who know - the languages. Moreover, the Brothers who should be among the - Hiroquois would exert themselves to preserve the peace between them - and the Hurons; nevertheless, on account of the uncertainty of - this peace, we ask for only two Fathers to go to the Hurons. There - must be a superior at Three Rivers, and two Fathers must remain at - Kébec, near our french people; so this makes five priests and two - Brothers. Let us see what need there is of having so many men. - -Pour les deux Pères qu'on envoira aux Hurons, [137] ils pourroient -estre envoiés de là à la nation Neutre, ou parmy les Hiroquois, ou en -quelque autre nation, ou bien estre retenus dans les Hurons mesmes, -qui sont au nombre de trente mille âmes, en fort peu de païs. Pour -Kébec, je demande deux Pères; si le P. Lallemant est supérieur, il -demeurera avec les PP. Masse et de Nouë, et avec nos gens pour faire -réussir la maison; les deux Pères seront au fort, où on parle de leur -bastir une maisonnette ou une chambre; ils prescheront, entendront les -confessions, administreront les sacrements, diront la sainte messe à -nos françois: bref ils feront l'office de pasteur, et apprendront la -langue des sauvages, les allans voir quand ils cabaneront proche d'eux. -Ils auront un garçon, qui leur apportera toutes les semaines leurs -vivres de nostre maison esloignée du fort d'une bonne demie lieue. - - As for the two Fathers who will be sent to the Hurons, [137] - they could be sent from there to the Neutral tribe, or among the - Hiroquois, or to some other tribe; or even be kept among the - Hurons, who number thirty thousand souls in a very small extent - of country. For Kébec, I ask two Fathers; if Father Lallemant is - superior, he will remain with Fathers Masse and de Nouë, and with - our people, to ensure the success of the house; the two Fathers - will be at the fort, where they talk of building them a little - house or a room; they will preach, will hear confessions, will - administer the sacraments, and will say holy mass for our french - people; in short, they will perform the office of pastors, and will - learn the language of the savages, going to visit them when they - encamp around the place. They will have a boy, who will every week - bring them their food from our house, distant from the fort a good - half league. - -Je demande un supérieur aux Trois-Rivières, pour ce que ce n'est pas -trop de tenir là trois Pères, afin qu'il y en ait toujours deux libres -pour les sauvages. Que si V. R. n'en veut envoyer que deux, le P. -Buteux à qui j'aprendray cette année ce que je pourray de la langue, -demeurera avec lui à Kébec ou aux Trois-Rivières, et moy avec l'autre; -mais à mon advis ce n'est pas trop de trois pour les Trois-Rivières: -l'un sera pour nos françois, les deux autres pour les sauvages, voir -mesme il se pourra [138] faire qu'on en envoira l'un d'eux aux Hurons -avec les deux qu'il y faut faire passer. Je me doute bien que le Pere -Brebeuf en pourra demander plus de deux; si bien que si V. R. nous peut -donner cinq Peres et deux Frères, ce ne sera pas trop. Je me souviens -de ce que je lui ay autrefois entendu à dire, «_ad pauca attendens -facile enunciat_; j'ay bien le monde qu'il fault, mais je ne dy pas où -on trouvera de quoy le nourrir.» A cela je n'ay point de répartie. Je -me restreins le plus qu'il m'est possible; car pour le bien de cette -mission, il faudroit bien plus de monde que nous n'en demandons. - - I ask a superior for Three Rivers, for it is not too much to - keep three Fathers there, so that there may be always two free - for the savages. But if Your Reverence wishes to send only two, - Father Buteux, to whom I shall this year teach what I know of the - language, will remain with the one at Kébec, or at Three Rivers, - and I with the other; but it seems to me three are not too many for - Three Rivers; one will be for our french people, the two others - for the savages; indeed, it may [138] happen that one of them - will be sent to the Hurons, with the two who must go up there. I - am inclined to think that Father Brebeuf may ask more than two; so - that, if Your Reverence can send us five Fathers and two Brothers, - it will not be too many. I often call to mind what I once heard him - say, "_ad pauca attendens facile enunciat_; I have indeed as many - people as I need, but I do not say where the food will be found to - nourish them." To that I have no answer. I am restricting myself as - much as I can; because, for the good of this mission, it would be - well to have more people than we are asking. - -J'ay icy deux humbles supplications à faire à V. R. Je les fay au -nom de Jésus Christ de toute l'estendue de mon cœur: mon R. P., je -conjure V. R. de me décharger. Je dy quelquefois aux petites croix -qui me viennent: «Et encor celle là, et tant que vous voudrés, ô mon -Dieu.» Mais à celles que le P. Lallemant m'a apporté dans les lettres -de V. R. qui me continuoient en charge je l'ay dy plus de trois fois, -mais avec une rétraction de cœur qui ne pouvoit boire ce calice. En -vérité, mon R. Père, je n'ay pas les talens, ny les qualités, ny la -douceur requise pour estre supérieur; de plus, je le dy et il est vray, -c'est un grand détourbier pour l'estude de la langue; je dy un très -grand détourbier, diray-je mesme que cecy, cette année, nuit au salut -peut-être [139] de quelques sauvages. J'apprend que les Sauvages qui -sont aux Trois-Rivières sont tous malades et meurent en grand nombre. -Le P. Brebeuf mesme qui a passé par là, m'escrit qu'il seroit à propos -que j'y allasse: je suis dans les écritures, je n'ay rien ou peu de -choses prestes, les vaisseaux seront bien tost prests, à faire voile; -je seray surpris de mes lettres et informations, que j'envoie à V. R. -touchant nos besoins; je me dépêche tant que je peux. Si je n'estois -point Superieur, je serois délivré de tout cela; il y a longtemps que -je serois là hault. Je me dispose pour y aller tout à fait jusques au -printemps ou jusques à la venue des vaisseaux. Je n'ay pas l'esprit -capable de tant de choses: le soin de nos gens, tant de sortes de -petits travaux qu'il y a, bref tout s'addresse au Supérieur, et cela -le divertit infiniment, notamment à Kebec, où nous sommes bon nombre -de personnes. Adjoutés les sermons, confessions, visites: je veux -croire que tout cela empescheroit peu le P. Lallemant de l'estude de la -langue; pour moy, je le dy devant Dieu, cela m'en détourne grandement. -Depuis le mois d'avril, auquel je retournay d'avec les sauvages, je -n'ay pas regardé un seul mot de leur langue. Le P. Lallemant, qui -n'est pas si assidu à l'estude, a voulu, au commencement de sa venue, -prendre un petit garde au travail de nos hommes. Enfin il s'en [140] -est défait, me confessant ingénuement, ce qu'il n'avoit pas voulu -croire, qu'il estoit impossible d'estudier avec ce soin. On donne un -temps tout libre à ceux qui estudient dans nos classes; ils ont de -braves maistres; ils ont de bons livres; ils sont logés commodément: -et moy qui suis sans livres, sans maistres, mal logé, pourray-je bien -estudier avec un soin qui m'occupe quasi tout entier bien souvent? V. -R. considerera cecy devant Dieu, s'il luy plaist; je ne veux que sa -plus grande gloire. Il est vray que je me bas contre mon ombre; le -temps parle pour moy: il y a plus de trois ans (ou il y aura à la venue -des vaisseaux) que je suis en charge; le Père Lallemant estant ce qu'il -est, et demeurant à Kebec, contentera infiniement. Je remercie desjà -par avance V. R. de ce qu'elle m'accordera cette requeste. Voicy la -seconde. - - Just here I have two humble requests to make of Your Reverence. - I make them in the name of Jesus Christ from the very depths of - my heart. My Reverend Father, I beg Your Reverence to discharge - me. I sometimes say to the little crosses which come to me, "And - this also and as many as you wish, O my God." But to those which - Father Lallemant has brought me in Your Reverence's letters, which - continue me in my charge, I have said this more than three times, - but with a shrinking of the heart which could not drink this cup. - In truth, my Reverend Father, I have not the talents, nor the - qualities, nor the mildness, necessary to be superior: besides, - I say it, and it is true, it is a great disturbance in the study - of the language; I say a very great disturbance,--I will even say - that this, during the present year, is preventing the salvation, - perhaps, [139] of some savages. I learn that the Savages who are - at Three Rivers are all sick, and are dying in great numbers. Also - Father Brebeuf, who passed through there, writes me that it would - be fitting that I should go there; I am busy with the letters, I - have nothing or very little ready; the ships will soon be ready to - sail away; I shall not have my letters and reports prepared to send - Your Reverence in regard to our needs, but I am hurrying as much - as possible. If I were not Superior, I would be free from all this - and would have been up there a long time ago. I am preparing to go - there and remain until spring, or until the coming of the ships. I - have not a mind capable of so many things: the care of our people, - little difficulties of so many kinds, in short, all are brought to - the Superior; and that distracts him greatly, especially at Kebec, - where we are quite numerous. Add to this the sermons, confessions, - and visits. I am willing to think that all these things would not - greatly interfere with Father Lallemant's study of the language; - as for me, I say it before God, it distracts me greatly therefrom. - Since the month of April, when I returned from my stay with the - savages, I have not looked at a word of their language. Father - Lallemant, who is not so studious, wished, when he first came, - to pay a little attention to the work of our men. Finally he got - [140] rid of this duty, confessing to me frankly, what he had been - unwilling to believe, that it was impossible to study with this - care. Time altogether free is given to those who study in our - classes, they have good teachers, they have good books, they are - comfortably lodged; and I, who am without books, without masters, - badly lodged, shall I be able to study, engrossed with cares which - very often occupy me almost entirely? Your Reverence will consider - this before God, if you please; I wish only his greater glory. It - is true that I start at my own shadow; but time speaks for me,--it - is more than three years (or will be at the coming of the ships) - since I have been in charge; Father Lallemant, being what he is, - and dwelling at Kebec, will give great satisfaction. I thank Your - Reverence in advance for granting me this request. Here is the - second. - -Le P. Benier m'escrit qu'il ne se sçauroit consoler de ce qu'il -ne vient point en Canada, sinon dans la veue de ses péchés qui l'en -empêchent; il me prie d'escrire à Rome pour luy. Je dy tout mon cœur -à V. R. il espère que de là on luy ouvrira la porte, les Provinciaux -luy fermans en France. J'en ay escry, comme il m'en supplie; mais ce -n'est pas de là que j'attend ma plus grande consolation, mon R. P. -Permettés moy, que je le demande pour Dieu, au nom de Dieu et en Dieu, -pour le salut de plusieurs [141] âmes; je renonce entièrement à tout -ce qu'il y auroit de déréglé dans mon affection; non, mon R. P., ce -n'est point l'affection de la créature qui parle. Si. V. R., à qui -Dieu se communique plus abondamment qu'à un pauvre pécheur, juge dans -un dénuement de tout en la présence de Jesus Christ, qu'il soit plus -nécessaire en France et auprès d'une femme,[XXIII.] qu'au milieu de ces -peuples barbares, je ne le demande plus: _majorem Dei gloriam specto_. -S'il rend tant soit peu plus de services à Notre Seigneur où il est, -qu'il ne feroit en la Nouvelle France, qu'il y demeure, au nom de Dieu; -c'est là où je le souhaitte. Mais si V. R. juge que Dieu le veuille -icy, je le demande de tout mon cœur. La crainte que j'ay qu'il n'arrive -quelque changement, me fait conjurer V. R. de nous donner selon le cœur -qu'elle a pour nous. Si je sçavois que celui qui luy pourra succeder -dût hériter de son amour, je ne serois pas si importun; car il est vray -que je suis honteux de tant presser. - - Father Benier writes me that he would be inconsolable at not coming - to Canada, if he were not confronted with his sins, which prevent - him from it; he begs me to write to Rome for him. I tell Your - Reverence frankly that he hopes they will open to him, from there, - the door which the Provincials have closed to him in France. I have - written them, as he requested me; but it is not from there that I - expect my greatest consolation, my Reverend Father. Permit me to - ask him for God, in the name of God, and in God, for the salvation - of many [141] souls; I renounce entirely anything immoderate in my - affection; no, my Reverend Father, it is not the affection of the - creature which speaks. If Your Reverence, to whom God communicates - himself more fully than to a poor sinner, should deem, in the - presence of Jesus Christ, uninfluenced by any motive whatsoever, - that he is more necessary in France and near a woman[XXIV.] than - in the midst of these barbarous people, I ask for him no more; - _majorem Dei gloriam specto_. If he renders more service to Our - Lord where he is, however little it may be, than he would in New - France, let him remain there, in the name of God; it is there where - I wish him to be. But if Your Reverence thinks that God wishes him - here, I ask for him with all my heart. My fear that some changes - may occur makes me conjure Your Reverence to give to us according - to your affection for us. If I knew that he who may succeed you - would inherit your love, I would not be so importunate; for truly I - am ashamed to be so urgent. - -Encore ce coup, mon R. P., qui sera conforme à son affection: -donnez-nous, s'il vous plaist, le P. Benier, et le P. Vimont, si le P. -Benier ne passe pendant qu'elle est en charge, je ne l'attend plus; -[142] je le demanderay tant à Dieu, et j'ay une confiance en luy, qu'il -nous le donnera. - - Yet this one favor, my Reverend Father, which will be in harmony - with your affection; give us, if you please, Father Benier and - Father Vimont. If Father Benier does not come over while you are - in charge, I shall never expect him; [142] I shall ask for him - fervently from God, and I am confident that he will give him to us. - -V. R. trouvera-t'elle bon que je parle encore une fois librement pour -un moment de temps. Le P. Lallemant Supérieur à Kebec, le P. Vimont et -le P. Buteux demeureront au fort, le P. Benier, le P. Pinette ou le -P. Garnier, et le P. Le Jeune aux Trois-Rivières. Le P. Pinette ou le -P. Garnier, et le P. Mercier, qui est au collége de Paris, pour les -Hurons; je ne cognoy pas ce dernier, mais on m'en dy du bien. Pardonnez -moi mon R. Père, pardonnez moi mes sottises, j'entend que toutes mes -demandes soient des refus, si elles ne sont conformes aux volontés de -Dieu, qui me seront déclarées par celle de V. R. que j'embrasseray de -tout mon cœur jusques à la mort, si je puis et ultra. Je ne peux ny -ne veux déterminer de moy en aucune façon, ny des autres; je propose -avec amour et confiance et avec indifference; mais je demande les -meilleurs ouvriers que je peux, pour ce qu'il faut icy, en vérité, des -esprits qui viennent à la croix et non aux conversions, qui soient -extrêmement souples et dociles: autrement il n'y a icy plus de paix et -par conséquent point de fruit. Il faut la chasteté de nos constitutions -tout-à-fait angélique; il ne faut qu'estendre la main pour cueillir la -pomme du péché. - - Will Your Reverence overlook it if I continue a moment longer to - speak freely? Father Lallemant being Superior at Kebec, Father - Vimont and Father Buteux will remain at the fort; Father Benier, - Father Pinette, or Father Garnier, and Father Le Jeune, at Three - Rivers. Father Pinette, or Father Garnier, and Father Mercier, who - is at the college of Paris, for the Hurons; I am not acquainted - with the last named, but they speak well of him to me. Pardon me, - my Reverend Father, pardon me my foolishness; I expect that all - my requests will be refused, if they are not conformable to the - will of God, which will be declared to me through that of Your - Reverence, and which I shall embrace with all my heart, even unto - death, and beyond, if I can. I cannot, and do not wish, to decide - for myself in any way, nor for others; I suggest with love and - confidence, and with indifference; I ask for the best workers - that I can have, because such are needed here,--in truth, men who - come for the sake of the cross and not for conversions, who are - extremely pliant and docile; otherwise there will be no longer - any peace here, and consequently no fruit. The altogether angelic - chastity demanded by our constitutions is necessary here; one needs - only to extend the hand to gather the apple of sin. - -[143] C'est à ce coup que mes longueurs seront ennuieuses; car ce -n'est pas encor fait. Parlons de l'estat auquel est notre maison[XXV.] -pour le présent. Nous avons une maison qui a quatre chambres basses: -la première sert de chapelle, la seconde de réfectoire, et dans ce -réfectoire sont nos chambres. Il y a deux petites chambres passables, -car elles sont de la grandeur d'un homme en quarré; il y en a deux -autres qui ont chacune huict pieds; mais il y a deux lits en chaque -chambre. Voila pour six personnes fort étroitement; les autres, quand -nous étions tous ensemble, couchoient au grenier. La troisième grande -chambre sert de cuisine; la quatrième c'est la chambre de nos gens: -voilà tout nostre logement. Dessus nous est un grenier, si bas qu'on -n'y sçauroit loger; nous y montons avec une échelle. - - [143] It is at this point that my tediousness will become - wearisome; for it is not yet finished. Let us speak of the - condition of our house[XXVII.] at the present time. We have a house - which contains four rooms below: the first serves as chapel, the - second as refectory, and in this refectory are our rooms. There are - two little square rooms of moderate size, for they are proportioned - to a man's height; there are two others, each of which has a - dimension of eight feet; but there are two beds in each room. These - are rather narrow quarters for six persons; the others, when we are - all together, sleep in the garret. The third large room serves as - kitchen, and the fourth is the room for our working people; this is - our entire lodging. Above is a garret, so low that no one can dwell - there; to this we mount with a ladder. - -Il y avoit un autre bastiment de mesme grandeur vis-à-vis de celuy-cy. -Les Anglois en ont bruslé la moitié; l'autre moitié est couverte -seulement de bousillée; elle sert de grange, d'estable, et de -menuiserie. Nos gens, cette année, ont fait des aix, ont esté quérir -les arbres dans les bois; ils ont mis des portes, des fenestres par -tout; ils ont fait les petites chambres au réfectoire, quelques -meubles, tables, [144] escabeaux, crédences pour la chapelle et autres -choses semblables; ils ont enfermé notre maison de grands pieux de -sapin, nous faisant une belle cour d'environ cent pieds en quarré, -le Pere de Nouë conduisant cet ouvrage. Ces pieux ont quatorze pieds -de hault; il y en est entré près de douze cent. Cela est beau à voir -et bien utile. Nous y avons mis de bonnes portes, que Louys a bien -ferrés; avec tout cela on a cultivé, labouré, et ensemencé nos terres -défrichées: voilà les plus gros ouvrages de nos gens, et l'estat de la -maison. - - There was another building of the same size, opposite this one. - The English burned half of it, and the other half is covered only - with mud; it serves us as a barn, a stable, and a carpenter's room. - Our workingmen this year have made boards, have gone to the woods - to get the trees, have placed doors and windows throughout, have - made the little rooms in the refectory, some furniture, tables, - [144] stools, credence-tables for the chapel, and other similar - things; they have enclosed our house with large poles of the fir - tree, making for us a fine court about a hundred feet square, being - superintended in this work by Father de Nouë. These poles are - fourteen feet high, and there are about twelve hundred of them. It - looks well, and is quite useful. We have placed some gates therein, - which Louys has bound with iron. In addition to all this, we have - cultivated, tilled, and seeded our cleared lands. So these are the - more important works of our people, and the condition of the house. - -Voicy ce qu'il faut faire doresnavant: - - The following is what must be done in future: - -Il faut dresser une petite maison en une pointe de terre, qui est -vis-à-vis de nous.[XXVI.] Il n'y a que la rivière à passer; l'eau -tourne quasi tout à l'entour de cette pointe, faisant une peninsule. -Nous avons commencé à la fermer de pieux du costé de la terre, et -nous logerons là dedans notre bestial, sçavoir est, les vaches et les -cochons; il faut à cet effet dresser là une petite maison, pour ceux -qui en auront soin, comme aussy de bonnes estables bien abbritées -contre le froid. - - We must erect a small house upon a point of land which is - opposite.[XXVIII.] We need only cross the river to reach it; the - water almost surrounds this point, forming a peninsula. We have - begun to enclose it with stakes on the land side, and we shall keep - there our cattle; that is, our cows and pigs; for this purpose we - must build a little house, for those who will take care of them, - and also some good stables sheltered from the cold. - -L'an passé, on nous envoya un homme pour charpentier qui ne l'estoit -pas, ce qui est cause qu'on n'a point basty cette année, ce qui nous -a fait un [145] grand tort. Il faut en outre achever de dresser ce -bastiment bruslé par les Anglois. On est après depuis la venue des -navires, qui nous ont apporté un charpentier; il faut des planches pour -le couvrir, faire les portes, fenestres, etc. Il nous faut faire une -grange pour mettre ce qu'on recueillera de la terre. Il faut faire un -puis: nous allons querir l'eau à deux cents pas de la maison; c'est -une grande peine, l'hiver notamment qu'il faut casser la glace de la -rivière pour avoir de l'eau. Il faut raccommoder et agrandir notre -cave, que nous avons entretenue jusques icy. Il faut redresser plus de -la moitié du bastiment ou nous logeons, et recouvrir tout, car il pleut -et neige par tout: au commencement nos Pères ne firent qu'un meschant -todis, pour se loger; les Anglois le négligeans, il seroit desjà par -terre, si nous ne fussions retournés pour l'entretenir; ce ne sont -que des planches et de petites lattes, sur lesquelles on a bousillé. -Il faut du monde pour le bestial; il faut labourer et ensemencer le -peu que nous avons de terre; il faut faucher et faire la moisson; il -faut faire le bois de chaufage, qu'on va desjà quérir assés loing sans -charrette; il faut faire de la chaux. - - Last year they sent us a man as a carpenter who was not one; and - for this reason there has been no building this year, which has - done us [145] great harm. We must also repair the damages in the - building burned by the English. They have been doing this since - the coming of the ship, which brought us a carpenter; we must have - planks with which to cover it, and make doors, windows, etc. We - must make a barn in which to put our crops. We must have a well; we - have to go for water two hundred steps from the house, which causes - us great trouble, especially in the winter, when we have to break - the ice of the river in order to get it. We must repair and enlarge - our cellar, which until now we have kept in good order. We must - rebuild more than half of the building where we now are, and put a - new roof upon it, for the rain and snow penetrate everywhere; at - first, our Fathers made only a miserable hut in which to live; the - English neglecting it, it would have fallen to the ground if we had - not returned to preserve it; it is made only of planks and small - laths, upon which some mud has been plastered. We must have people - to look after the cattle; the little ground that we have must be - tilled and sown; the harvest must be cut and gathered in. We must - prepare firewood, which they have to get at some distance away, and - without a cart. We must have some lime made. - -Il y a mille choses que je ne sçaurois rapporter: que V. R. voie si -c'est trop de dix personnes pour tout cela. Nous en demanderions vingt -ou trente, [146] s'il y avoit de quoy les nourrir et payer; mais nous -nous restreignons-à dix, avec trois de nos Frères, et encore ne sçay-je -si on pourra fournir, en France, ce qu'il faut pour cecy et pour nous, -tant il y va de dépenses. - - There are a thousand things which I cannot mention, but Your - Reverence may see whether ten persons are too many for all this. - We would ask for twenty or thirty, [146] if there were anything - with which to feed and maintain them; but we restrict ourselves to - ten, with three of our Brothers; and even then I do not know if - they will be able to furnish, in France, what will be necessary for - these and for us, so great are the expenses. - - _Ce qu'on peut prétendre de cette maison pour soulager la mission - et frais qu'elle doit faire pour notre entretien._ - - _What may be expected of this house for the assistance of the - mission, and the expenses necessary for our support._ - -Il y a quatre gros articles qui font la plus grande dépense de cette -mission: les lards qu'on envoie, le beurre, les boissons et les -farines; avec le temps, le pays peut fournir cecy. Pour les lards, si -dès cette année nous eussions esté bastis, il n'en eût point fallu -envoyer, ou pas tant, l'année prochaine: nous avons deux grosses truies -qui nourrissent chacune quatre petits cochons; il a fallu nourrir cela -tout l'esté dans notre cour à découvert. Le P. Masse nous a eslevé ce -bestial. Si cette pointe dont j'ay parlé estoit fermée, on les mettroit -là, et on ne leur donneroit rien l'esté; je veux dire que dans quelque -temps nous aurons du lard pour notre provision, c'est un article de 400 -livres défalqué. Pour le beurre, nous avons deux vaches, deux petites -genisses et un petit taureau. M. de Caen laissant icy son bestial, -voyant qu'il se fust perdu, nous retirasmes trois vaches; de [147] -la famille, qui est icy, trois autres; eux et nous avons donné à M. -Giffard chacun une vache; il nous en reste ce que je viens de dire. -Faute de logement, elles nous coustent plus qu'elles ne valent: car -il faut détourner nos gens de choses plus nécessaires; elles gastent -ce que nous avons semé, et on ne les peut garder dans ces bois, les -mouches les tourmentent. Elles sont venues trois ans trop tost; mais -elles fussent mortes, si nous ne les eussions recueilly; nous les avons -prises comme abandonnées. Avec le temps elles donneront du beurre pour -la provision, et des bœufs pour labourer, et parfois de la chair. - - There are four staples which make up the greatest expense of this - mission: the pork, butter, drinks, and flour, which are sent; in - time, the country may furnish these things. As to pork, if from - the beginning of this year we had had a building, no more of it, - or not much, would have had to be sent next year; we have two fat - sows which are each suckling four little pigs, and these we have - been obliged to feed all summer in our open court. Father Masse - has raised these animals for us. If that point of which I have - spoken were enclosed, they could be put there and during the summer - nothing need be given them to eat; I mean that in a short time we - shall be provided with pork, an article which would save us 400 - livres. As to butter, we have two cows, two little heifers, and a - little bull. M. de Caen having left his cattle here when he saw - that he was ruined, we took of them three cows, and for [147] the - family which is here, three others; they and we each gave to M. - Giffard[8] a cow, so we have remaining the number that I have just - stated. For lack of a building, they cost us more than they are - worth, for our working people are obliged to neglect more necessary - things for them; they spoil what we have sown; and they cannot be - tended in the woods, for the insects torment them. They have come - three years too soon, but they would have died if we had not taken - them in; we took them when they were running wild. In time they - will provide butter, and the oxen can be used for plowing, and will - occasionally furnish meat. - -Pour la boisson, il faudra faire de la bierre; mais nous attendrons -encore que nous soyons bastis, et qu'il y ait une brasserie dressée: -ces trois articles sont assurés avec le temps. Pour les blés, on a -douté si la terre, où nous sommes, n'estoit point trop froide. Allons -par ordre, et voyons la nature du sol: voicy deux années que tout ce -qui est du jardinage, qui ne lève que trop, a été mangé par la vermine, -qui provient ou du voisinage des bois, ou de ce que la terre n'est pas -bien encor exercée et purifiée ny aérée. Au milieu de l'esté, cette -vermine meurt, et nous avons de fort beaux jardinages. - - As to drinks, we shall have to make some beer; but we shall wait - until we have built, and until a brewery is erected; these three - articles are assured, with time. As to grains, some people are - inclined to think that the land where we are is too cold. Let us - proceed systematically, and consider the nature of the soil: these - last two years all the vegetables, which come up only too fast, - have been eaten by insects, which come either from the neighborhood - of the woods, or from that land which has not yet been worked and - purified, nor exposed to the air. In midsummer these insects die, - and we have very fine vegetables. - -Pour les arbres fruitiers, je ne scay ce qui en sera. Nous avons -deux allées, l'une de cent pieds [148] et plus, l'autre plus grande, -plantées de sauvageons de part et d'autre fort bien repris; nous avons -huit ou dix antes de pommiers et poiriers qui sont aussy fort bien -reprises: nous verrons comme cela réussira. J'ay quelque créance que le -froid nuit grandement aux fruits; dans quelques années nous en aurons -l'expérience. On a vu icy autre fois des belles pommes. - - As to the fruit trees, I do not know how they will turn out. We - have two double rows of them, one of a hundred feet [148] or more, - the other larger, planted on either side with wild trees which - are well rooted. We have eight or ten rows of apple and pear - trees, which are also very well rooted; we shall see how they will - succeed. I have an idea that cold is very injurious to the fruit, - but in a few years we shall know from experience. Formerly, some - fine apples have been seen here. - -Pour le bled d'inde, il meurit bien l'an passé; cette année il n'est -pas beau. - - As to the indian corn, it ripened very nicely the past year, but - this year it is not so fine. - -Pour les pois, je n'en ay point veu chez nous de beaux; la terre pousse -trop. Ils réussissent fort bien chez cette famille qui est en lieu -hault et plus aéré. - - As to peas, I have seen no good ones here; their growth is too - rapid. They succeed very well with this family, who live in a - higher and more airy location. - -Le seigle a réussy deux ans. Nous en avons semé pour en faire -l'expérience; il est fort beau. - - The rye has succeeded well for two years. We planted some as an - experiment, and it is very fine. - -L'orge peut aussy réussir. Reste pour le froment: nous en avons semé à -l'automne en divers temps; il s'en est perdu en quelque endroit soubs -les neiges; en un autre endroit il s'est si bien conservé qu'on ne voit -point en France de plus beau bled. Nous ne sçavons pas bien encor le -temps qu'il faut prendre pour semer devant l'hiver; la famille qui est -icy a toujours semé du bled marsais, qui meurit fort bien en sa terre. -Nous en avons semé un peu cette année; nous verrons s'il meurira. Voila -les qualités du sol où nous sommes. - - Barley succeeds also. There remains the wheat; we sowed some in the - autumn, at different times; in some places it was lost under the - snow, in others it was so well preserved that no finer wheat can be - seen in France. We do not yet know very well which time it is best - to take before winter to put in the seed; the family living here - has always sown spring wheat, which ripens nicely in their soil. We - sowed a little of it this year, and will see whether it ripens. So - these are the qualities of our soil. - -Je rapporte tout cecy, pour ce que M. de Lauson [149] nous mandoit que -nous transportassions nos gens aux Trois-Rivières, où l'on va faire une -nouvelle habitation, disant que tout meuriroit mieux en ce quartier -là. On a esté bien en branle s'il le falloit faire; du moins on y -vouloit envoyer trois ou quatre hommes. J'ay toujours creu qu'il ne -falloit point diviser nos forces, et qu'il falloit faire réussir une -maison, qui fût par après le soutien des autres; qu'il falloit voir le -bien devant que d'y rien entreprendre. Enfin ceux qui sont passés les -premiers mandent que la terre y est fort sabloneuse; que tous y meurira -mieux pour un temps, mais que ce sol sera bien tost las. Je m'en vay -demeurer là, comme j'ay dit, avec le P. Buteux; nous verrons ce qui en -est. Quand la terre seroit très-bonne, je ne serois pas d'advis qu'on -quittast le soin de cette maison où nous sommes: c'est l'abord des -vaisseaux; ce doit estre le magasin, le lieu de refuge; la comodité -pour le bestial, à cause des prairies, y est grande; pour les farines, -au pis aller on peut avoir des seigles, mais j'espère qu'on aura aussy -de bon froment, et que le temps enseignera quand il le faut semer; si -le bled marsais meurit, le fourment, le seigle et l'orge viendront icy -fort bien. Tirons quelques conclusions de ce qu'il faut faire. - - I report all this because M. de Lauson [149] wrote to us that - we should transport our people to Three Rivers, where they were - going to make a new settlement, saying that everything would ripen - better in that quarter. There was much hesitation as to whether - it should be done; at least they wanted us to send three or four - men there. I have always thought that our forces should not be - divided, and that one house should be made successful, which might - afterward be the support of the others; for it is necessary to - see some result before undertaking anything else. In fact, those - who went there first send word that the soil is very sandy, and - that all would mature better for a time; but that this soil will - soon be exhausted. I am going to live there, as I have said, with - Father Buteux; we shall see what there is in it. Even if the soil - is very good, I do not think that the care of this house, where we - are, should be given up: it is the landing place of the ships, it - ought to be the storehouse, or place of refuge; the advantages for - raising cattle here, on account of the meadows, are great. As to - the cereals, if the worst comes to the worst, we have oats, but I - hope that we shall also have good wheat, and that time will show us - when it ought to be sown; if the spring grains ripen, wheat, oats, - and barley will be produced here very well. From this, let us draw - some conclusions as to what should be done. - -Primo, il se faut bastir pour nous loger, et les animaux et les bleds. - - First, we must build some place where we ourselves can stay, and - can keep our animals and crops. - -[150] Secundo, il faut semer maintenant ce qui est nécessaire, -seulement pour le bestial, et tascher, au plus tost dans peu d'années, -d'avoir des lards et du beurre. - - [150] Second, we must now sow what is necessary for the cattle, - and try as soon as possible, in a few years, to have some pork and - butter. - -Tertio, estans logés, tous nos gens s'appliqueront à la terre, à -défricher et cultiver, pour avoir des bleds. Voilà ce me semble -l'ordre qu'il faut faire garder pour le temporel; quand on sera basty, -on ne tiendra plus ny charpentiers, ny artisans, mais seulement des -défricheurs et laboureurs, pour l'entretenement de la maison. On -empruntera par fois du fort un artisan, donnant un homme en sa place -pour le temps qu'on le tiendra. - - Third, being lodged, all our working people will apply themselves - to clearing and cultivating the land, in order to have grains. The - following is the order which it seems to me we ought to follow, - in regard to the temporal; when we shall have built, we shall no - longer keep any carpenters or artisans, but only woodchoppers and - laborers, for the maintenance of the house. Occasionally we shall - borrow an artisan from the fort, giving a man in his place for the - time during which we shall keep him. - -Ou bien ce qui me semble le meilleur, on tiendra serviteurs, -domestiques, et on nourrira des hommes qui défricheront et cultiveront -la terre à moitié, et ainsy, estans interessés dans leur travail, on -n'aura que faire de se mettre en peine d'eux. Il y a encore du temps -pour penser à cela. - - Or rather, what seems to me better, we shall keep domestic - servants, and shall maintain men who will clear and cultivate the - land by shares, and thus, being interested in their work, we shall - not have to take any trouble for them. There is still time to think - of that. - -Voicy une autre affaire: - - Here is another matter: - -On parle de commencer de nouvelles habitations en divers endroits, et -d'avoir là de nos Peres. J'ay une pensée, que nous ne sçaurions pas -entreprendre de nous loger et bastir partout; ce sera bien tout si -nous faisons bien réussir le lieu où nous sommes, et partant, pour -les autres habitations, deux ou trois de nos Peres, ou deux Peres et -un garçon y pourront [151] aller, et ces messieurs les logeront et -entretiendront, et fourniront tout ce qu'il faudra pour l'église ou -chapelle, s'il leur plaist. Nous allons le P. Buteux et moy, comme j'ay -desjà dit, demeurer aux Trois-Rivières expressement pour assister nos -françois, car nous n'irions pas sans cela; cependant nous portons des -meubles pour la sacristie, et habits pour nous, et, ce que je trouve -plus étrange, nos propres vivres que nous leur donnerons: car nous -mangerons avec eux, faute de logis où nous puissions nous retirer. -Nous faisons cela volontiers, car j'apprend que ces messieurs nous -aiment fort, et nous assistent tant qu'ils peuvent, selon l'estat de -leurs affaires; aussy faisons nous, et ferons nous tout ce que nous -pourrons en leur considération: car outre que nous portons aux Trois -Rivières jusques à de la cire et de la chandelle, nous avons envoyé -aux Hurons trois ou quatre personnes plus que nous n'eussions fait, -n'estoit leurs affaires que j'ay recommandées à nos hommes. Il est -vray qu'ils ont donné quelque chose pour ce subject, à ce que m'a dit -le Pere Lallemant. Je ne desire pas les importuner; mais je sçay leur -aise qu'ils sçachent que nous les servirons de bon cœur, et que nous -esperons qu'ils donneront ce qu'il faut pour l'entretien de [nos] -Pères aux nouvelles habitations, et qu'ils monteront leur chappelle, -comme ils ont fait cette année celle [152] de Kébec;[XXIX.] et qu'ils -donneront aussy des gages et des vivres aux hommes que nous tiendrons -en leur considération; et pour leurs affaires soit dans les Hurons, -soit ailleurs, nous tenons ces hommes avec nous, afin qu'ils ne se -débauchent avec les Sauvages et ne donnent mauvais exemple, comme ont -fait autrefois ceux qui y estoient. Voila pour le temporel de cette -mission; si je me souviens d'autre chose, je l'escriray en un autre -endroit. - - They are talking about beginning new settlements in different - places, and of having there some of our Fathers. I have an idea - that we could not undertake to settle and build everywhere; it - will be all we can do if we make the place where we are prosper; - and therefore, for the other settlements, two or three of our - Fathers, or two Fathers and a boy, can [151] go to them, and these - gentlemen will lodge and maintain them, and will furnish everything - for the church or chapel that they see fit. We are going, Father - Buteux and I, as I have said, to live at Three Rivers expressly - to assist our countrymen, for we would not go, were it not for - that; however, we are going to take furniture for the sacristy, - and clothes for ourselves, and, what seems to me stranger still, - our own food, which we shall give to them; for we shall eat with - them, for lack of a dwelling where we might be by ourselves. We - do this willingly, for I learn that these gentlemen are very much - attached to us, and assist us as much as they can, according to the - condition of their affairs; also we do, and will do, all that we - can for their sakes; for, besides carrying with us to Three Rivers - everything, even to the wax and the candles, we have sent to the - Hurons three or four more persons than we should have done, were - it not for their affairs which I have entrusted to our men. It is - true, that they have given something for this object, according to - what Father Lallemant has told me. I do not wish to importune them; - but I am aware that they are glad to know that we will serve them - willingly, and that we shall expect them to give what is necessary - for the maintenance of [our] Fathers in the new settlements; and - that they will furnish their chapel, as they have done this year - this one [152] at Kébec;[XXX.] and that they will give also wages - and food to the men whom we shall keep for their sakes; and on - their account, either among the Hurons, or elsewhere, we keep - these men with us, in order that they may not become debauched - with the Savages and show a bad example, as those did who were - here formerly. This is all there is to be said for the temporal - interests of this mission; if I remember anything else, I shall - write it in another place. - -Venons au spirituel. - - Let us come to the spiritual. - -Premièrement nous esperons une grande moisson avec le temps dans les -Hurons, plus grande et plus prochaine si on y peut envoyer beaucoup -d'ouvriers pour passer dans les nations voisines, le tout soubs la -conduite et l'ordonnance du Supérieur qui sera aux Hurons. Ces peuples -sont sédentaires et en grand nombre; j'espère que le P. Buteux sçaura -dans un an autant du langage montagnais qui j'en sçay, pour l'enseigner -aux autres, et ainsy j'iray où on voudra. Ce n'est pas que j'attende -rien de moy; je tacheray de servir pour le moins de compagnon. Ces -peuples, où nous sommes, sont errans et en fort petit nombre; il sera -difficile de les convertir, [153] si on ne les arreste; j'en ay apporté -les moyens dans la Relation. - - First, we shall hope to have in time a great harvest among the - Hurons,--greater and nearer, if we can send there many laborers to - pass into the neighboring tribes, all to be under the leadership - and command of the Superior who will be among the Hurons. These - people are sedentary and very populous; I hope that Father Buteux - will know in one year as much of the montagnais language as I know - of it, in order to teach it to the others, and thus I shall go - wherever I shall be wanted. It is not that I expect anything of - myself, but I shall try to serve at least as a companion. These - people, where we are, are wandering, and very few in number; it - will be difficult to convert them, [153] if we cannot make them - stationary; I have discussed the means for doing this, in my - Relation. - -Pour le Seminaire, hélas! pourroit-on bien avoir un fond pour cela? -Dans les bastimens dont j'ay parlé, nous désignons un petit lieu pour -le commencer, attendant qu'on fasse exprès un corps de logis pour ce -subject. Si nous estions bastis, j'espérerois que dans deux ans le P. -Brebeuf nous envoiroit des enfants hurons; on les pourroit instruire -icy avec toute liberté, estans éloignés de leur parens. O le grand coup -pour la gloire de Dieu, si cela se faisoit! - - As to the Seminary, alas! if we could only have a fund for this - purpose! In the structures of which I have spoken, we marked out a - little place for the beginning of one, waiting until some special - houses be erected expressly for this purpose. If we had any built, - I would hope that in two years Father Brebeuf would send us some - huron children; they could be instructed here with all freedom, - being separated from their parents. Oh, what a great stroke for the - glory of God, if that were done! - -Quant aux enfants des Sauvages de ce pais-cy, il y aura plus de peine -à les retenir; je n'y voy point d'autre moyen que celuy que touche -V. R. d'envoyer un enfant tous les ans en France: ayant esté là deux -ans, il y reviendra sçachant la langue; estant desjà accoustumé à nos -façons de faire, il ne nous quittera point et retiendra ses petits -compatriotes. Notre petit Fortuné, qu'on a renvoyé pour estre malade, -et que nous ne pouvons rendre à ses parens, car il n'en a point, est -tout autre qu'il n'estoit, encor qu'il n'ait demeuré que fort peu en -France; tant s'en faut qu'il courre après les Sauvages, il les fuit, -et se rend fort obéissant. En vérité il m'estonne: car il s'encouroit -incontinent aux cabanes de ces barbares sitost qu'on lui disoit un mot; -il ne pouvoit [154] souffrir qu'on luy commandast quoy que ce fust: -maintenant il est prompt à ce qu'il peut faire. Je voulois envoyer -cette année une petite fille, que la famille, qui est icy, m'a donnée, -peut-être encore un petit garçon, selon le désir de V. R. Mais M. de -Champlain m'a dit que M. de Lauson luy avoit recommandé de ne laisser -passer aucun Sauvage petit ou grand. Je l'avois prié l'an passé du -contraire; j'ay quelque pensée que le P. Lallemant a quelque part en -ce conseil et en cette conclusion. Voicy les raisons pourquoy ils -jugent qu'il n'est pas expédient qu'il en passe: 1º L'exemple des deux -qui sont passés, et qui se sont perdus. Je respond que Louys[XXXI.] -le Huron, fut pris et corrompu par les Anglois, et encor a-t-il fait -icy le debvoir de chrestien, se confessant et communiant, l'an passé, -à sa venue et à son départ de Kébec; il est maintenant prisonnier des -Hiroquois. Pour Pierre le montagnais,[XXXIII.] mené [155] en France par -les Pères Récolets, estant icy de retour, il fuyoit les Sauvages: on le -contraignit de retourner avec eux pour apprendre la langue, qu'il avoit -oubliée; il n'y vouloit pas aller, jusque là qu'il dit: On me force, -mais si j'y retourne une fois on ne m'aura pas comme on voudra. Les -Anglois sont survenus là-dessus, qui l'ont gasté; adjoustés que je n'ay -point veu sauvage si sauvage et si barbare que luy. - - As to the children of the Savages in this country, there will be - more trouble in keeping them; I see no other way than that which - Your Reverence suggests, of sending a child every year to France. - Having been there two years, he will return with a knowledge of - the language, and having already become accustomed to our ways, - he will not leave us and will retain his little countrymen. Our - little Fortuné, who has been sent back because he was sick, and who - can not return to his parents, for he has none, is quite different - from what he was, although he has lived only a little while in - France; so far from mingling with the Savages, he runs away from - them, and is becoming very obedient. In truth he astonishes me, - for he used to begin to run to the cabins of the barbarians as - soon as we said a word to him; he could not [154] suffer any one - to command him, whoever he might be; now he is prompt in whatever - he does. This year I wished to send a little girl, who was given - me by the family, that lives here, and perhaps also a little boy, - according to Your Reverence's wish. But M. de Champlain told me - that M. de Lauson had recommended him not to let any Savage go - over, small or great. I begged him last year to allow this to be - done; I have an idea that Father Lallemant has some share in this - advice and in this conclusion. Here are the reasons why they think - that it is not expedient for them to go over: 1st. The example of - the two who have gone over and who have been ruined. I answer that - Louys[XXXII.] the Huron was taken and corrupted by the English; and - yet he has here performed the duties of a Christian, confessing and - taking communion last year at his arrival, and at his departure - from Kebec; he is now a prisoner of the Hiroquois. As to Pierre the - montagnais,[XXXIV.] taken [155] into France by the Récolet Fathers, - when he returned here, he fled from the Savages; he was compelled - to return among them, in order to learn the language, which he had - forgotten; he did not wish to go, even saying: "They are forcing - me; but, if I once go there, they will not get me back as they - wish." At that time the English came upon the scene, and they have - spoiled him; I may add that I have not seen a savage so savage and - so barbarous as he is. - -L'autre raison du P. Lallemant est que ces enfans cousteront à nourrir -et entretenir en France, et la mission est pauvre. S'ils sont en un -collége, on demandera pension; s'ils sont ailleurs, cela retardera les -aumônes que feroient les personnes qui les nourriront. Je répond que -les collèges ne prendront point de pension, et quand il en faudroit, je -trouve la chose si importante pour la gloire de Dieu, qu'il la faudroít -donner. Le P. Lallemant commence à gouster mes raisons; car je l'assure -qu'on ne peut retenir les petits Sauvages, s'ils ne sont dépaïsés ou -s'ils n'ont quelques camarades qui les aident à demeurer volontiers. -Nous en avons eû deux: en l'absence des sauvages, ils obéissoient -tellement quellement; les sauvages estoient-ils cabanés près de nous, -nos enfants n'estoient plus à nous, nous n'osions leur rien dire. - - Father Lallemant's other reason is that it will cost something to - maintain these children in France, and the mission is poor. If - they are in a college, their board will have to be paid; if they - are elsewhere, that will diminish the alms which would be given by - the persons who support them. I answer that the colleges will not - take anything for board; and, if it were necessary to pay this, I - find the affair so important for the glory of God, that it ought - to be given. Father Lallemant begins to appreciate my reasons, - for I assured him that we could not retain the little Savages, if - they be not removed from their native country, or if they have not - some companions who help them to remain of their own free will. We - have had two of these: in the absence of the savages they obeyed - tolerably well, but when the savages were encamped near us, our - children no longer belonged to us, we dared say nothing. - -Si nous pouvons avoir quelques enfants cette [156] année, je feray -mon possible pour les faire passer, du moins deux garçons, et cette -petite fille, qui trouvera trois maisons pour une. On m'en demande en -plusieurs endroits. Si M. Duplessis m'écoute, au nom de Dieu, soit. -Quant le P. Lallemant aura expérimenté la difficulté qu'il y a de -retenir ces enfants libertins, il parlera plus haut que moy. - - If we can have some children this [156] year I shall do all I can - to have them go over, at least two boys and this little girl, who - will find three homes for one. Several places have asked me for - them. If M. Duplessis listens to me, in the name of God, so let it - be. When Father Lallemant shall have found out the difficulty there - is in keeping these wild children, he will speak more peremptorily - than I do. - -V. R. voit, par tout ce qui a esté dit, le bien que l'on peut espérer -pour la gloire de Dieu de toutes ces contrées, et combien il est -important, non-seulement de ne rien divertir ailleurs de ce qui est -donné pour la mission de Kebec, mais encore de trouver quelque chose -pour faire subsister du moins une maison qui serve de retraite aux -Nostres, qui serve de séminaire pour des enfants et pour les Nostres -qui apprendront un jour les langues, car il y a quantité de peuples -différens tous en langage. - -Voici encore..... - -(_Le reste manque au manuscrit._) - - Your Reverence sees, through all that has been said, the benefits - to be expected for the glory of God from all of these countries, - and how important it is, not only not to divert to some other - places what is given for the mission at Kebec, but still more to - find something for the maintenance at least of a house which may - serve as a retreat for Our Associates, as a seminary for children, - and for Our Brothers who will one day learn the languages, for - there are a great many tribes differing altogether in their - language. - - Still further ... - - (_The rest of this manuscript is lacking._) - - -NOTES: - -[I.] Jean de Lauson, intendant de la compagnie des Cent-Associés, et -qui fut plus tard gouverneur de la Nouvelle-France. - -[III.] Jean de Brébeuf, d'une famille noble de Normandie, l'un des -premiers missionnaires jésuites venus en Canada en 1625, et qui fut -martyrisé au pays des Hurons en 1649 par les Iroquois. - -[IV.] Antoine Daniel, natif de Dieppe, arrivé l'année précédente 1633, -et martyrisé par les Iroquois, en 1649. - -[V.] Ambroise Davost, arrivé l'année précédente, en même temps que le -P. Daniel. - -[VI.] Le P. Ennemond Masse, le même qui avait évangélisé les sauvages -de l'Acadie, dès l'année 1611, avec le P. Biard. Il vint en Canada en -1633 et mourut en la résidence de Saint-Joseph de Sillery, en 1646, à -l'âge de 72 ans. - -[XI.] Anne De Nouë, natif de Champagne, venu au Canada en 1626 et -martyr de son zèle en 1646. On le trouva gelé sur le Saint-Laurent. - -[XII.] Il vint au Canada en même temps que le P. Lejeune, en 1632. - -[XIII.] Le Frère Jean Liégeois, qui périt victime de la haine des -Iroquois, près de Sillery, en 1655. - -[XVII.] Duplessis-Bochart, général de la flotte, comme on l'appelait -alors, qui fut plus tard nommé gouverneur des Trois-Rivières, et qui -fut tué par les Iroquois, le 19 août 1652. - -[XIX.] Le P. Jacques Buteux, natif d'Abbeville, en Picardie, qui fut -tué par les Iroquois, le 10 de mai 1652. - -[XX.] Le P. Charles Lalemant, l'un des trois premiers missionnaires -jésuites venus à Québec, en 1625. - -[XXIII.] Le P. Benier était confesseur de la princesse X ***. - -[XXV.] Notre-Dame des Anges, près de Québec. - -[XXVI.] La pointe aux Lièvres, à l'entrée de la rivière Saint-Charles. - -[XXIX.] «L'an 1634, Messieurs de la Compagnie ont envoyé pour cent -escus de meubles et ornements entre autres l'image de saint Joseph en -bosse qui est sur l'autel.» _Catalogue des bienfaiteurs de Notre-Dame -de Recouvrance_ (Archives du Séminaire de Québec). - -[XXXI.] Louis Amantacha, surnommé de Sainte-Foy, qui avait été baptisé -en France. - -[XXXIII.] Ou Pierre-Antoine Patetchoanen, «qui depuis cinq ans (1620-5) -avoit été envoyé en France par nos religieux de Kébec; lequel après -avoir été bien instruit et endoctriné aux choses de la foy, fut baptizé -et nommé par deffunt M. le Prince de Guiménée, son parrain, Pierre -Antoine, qu'il entretint aux études jusques après sa mort, que l'enfant -fut congru en la langue latine, et si bon françois, qu'estant de retour -à Kébec, nos religieux furent contraints le renvoyer pour quelque temps -entre ses parens, afin de reprendre les idées de sa langue maternelle, -qu'il avoit presque oublié.» (F. Sagard.) - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[II.] Jean de Lauson,[2] intendant of the company of the Hundred -Associates, who was later governor of New France--[Carayon.] - -[VII.] Jean de Brébeuf, of a noble family of Normandy, one of the first -jesuit missionaries, came to Canada in 1625, and was martyred in the -country of the Hurons, in 1649, by the Iroquois.--[Carayon.] - -[VIII.] Antoine Daniel, a native of Dieppe, arrived the preceding year, -1633, and was martyred by the Iroquois in 1649.--[Carayon.] - -[IX.] Ambroise Davost arrived the preceding year, at the same time as -Father Daniel.[3]--[Carayon.] - -[X.] Father Ennemond Masse, the same one who had evangelized the -savages of Acadia in the year 1611 with Father Biard. He came to Canada -in 1633 and died at the residence of Saint-Joseph de Sillery, in 1646, -at the age of 72 years.--[Carayon.] - -[XIV.] Anne De Nouë, native of Champagne, came to Canada in the year -1626 and was a martyr to his zeal in 1646. He was found frozen upon the -Saint Lawrence.--[Carayon.] - -[XV.] He came to Canada the same time as Lejeune, 1632.--[Carayon.] - -[XVI.] Brother Jean Liégeois, who perished as a victim of Iroquois -hatred, near Sillery, in 1655.--[Carayon.] - -[XVIII.] Duplessis-Bochart, general of the fleet, as he was then -called; who was later made governor of Three Rivers and killed by the -Iroquois on the 19th of August, 1652.--[Carayon.] - -[XXI.] Father Jacques Buteux,[5] a native of Abbeville, in Picardie, -who was killed by the Iroquois on the 10th of May, 1652.--[Carayon.] - -[XXII.] Father Charles Lalemant, one of the first three jesuit -missionaries, came to Quebec in 1625.--[Carayon.] - -[XXIV.] Father Benier was confessor of the princess X ***.--[Carayon.] - -[XXVII.] Notre Dame des Anges,[7] near Quebec--[Carayon.] - -[XXVIII.] La pointe aux Lièvres, at mouth of river Saint -Charles.--[Carayon.] - -[XXX.] "In the year 1634 the Gentlemen of the Society sent one hundred -ecus' worth of furniture and ornaments, among others the figure of -saint Joseph in relief, which is over the altar." _Catalogue of the -benefactors of Notre-Dame de Recouvrance._ (Archives of the Seminary at -Québec.)--[Carayon.] - -[XXXII.] Louis Amantacha, surnamed Sainte-Foy, who was baptized in -France.--[Carayon.] - -[XXXIV.] Pierre-Antoine Patetchoanen, "who, five years ago, (1620-5) -was sent into France by our religious of Kébec; after having been -taught and instructed in the doctrines of the faith, he was baptized -and named by the deceased M. le Prince de Guiménée, his godfather, -Pierre Antoine, who maintained him at his studies up to the time of his -death, until the child became so well versed in the latin language, and -so good a frenchman, that having returned to Kébec, our religious were -obliged to send him back for a little while to his parents, so that -he might regain the ideas of his native tongue, which he had almost -forgotten."[12] (F. Sagard.)--[Carayon.] - - - - - XXIII - - LE JEUNE'S RELATION, 1634 - - PARIS: SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, 1635 - - -SOURCE: Title-page and text reprinted from the copy of the first issue, -in Lenox Library. Table des Chapitres, from the second issue, at Lenox. - -Chaps. i.-ix., only, are given in the present volume; the concluding -portion will appear in Volume VII. - - - - - RELATION - DE CE QVI S'EST PASSÉ - EN LA - NOVVELLE FRANCE, - EN L'ANNÉE 1634. - - Enuoyée au - R. PERE PROVINCIAL de la Compangnie de +IESVS+ - en la Prouince de France. - - _Par le P. Paul le Ieune de la mesme Compagnie, Superieur de la - residence de_ K_ebec._ - -[Illustration] - - A PARIS - - Chez SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, Imprimeur ordinaire du Roy, ruë S. Iacques, - aux Cicognes. - - M DC. XXXV. - - _AVEC PRIVILEGE DV ROY._ - - - RELATION - OF WHAT OCCURRED - IN - NEW FRANCE, - IN THE YEAR 1634. - - Sent to the - REVEREND FATHER PROVINCIAL - of the Society of JESUS in the - Province of France. - - _By Father Paul le Jeune, of the same Society, - Superior of the Residence of Kebec._ - - PARIS, - - SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, Printer in ordinary to the King. - Ruë St. Jacques, - at the Sign of the Storks. - - M DC. XXXV. - - _BY ROYAL LICENSE._ - - - - -[iii] Extraict du Priuilege du Roy. - - -PAR Grace & Priuilege du Roy, il est permis à Sebastien Cramoisy, -Imprimeur o[r]dinaire du Roy, marchand Libraire Iuré en l'Vniuersité -de Paris, d'imprimer ou faire imprimer vn liure intitulé, _Relation -de ce qui s'est passé en la Nouuelle France en l'année mil six cens -trente-quatre, Enuoyée au Reuerend Pere Barthelemy Iaquinot, Prouincial -de la Compagnie de_ IESVS _en la Prouince de France, Par le P. Paul le -Ieune de la mesme Compagnie, Superieur de la Residence de Kebec_: & -cependant le temps & espace de neuf années consecutiues. Auec defenses -à tous Libraires & Imprimeurs d'imprimer ou faire imprimer ledit liure, -sous pretexte de desguisement, ou changement qu'ils y pourroient faire, -à peine de confiscation, & de l'amende portée par ledit Priuilege. -Donné à Paris le 8. Decembre mil six cens trente-quatre. - - Par le Roy en son Conseil, - - VICTON. - - [iii] Extract from the Royal License. - - BY the Grace and License of the King, permission is granted to - Sebastien Cramoisy. Printer in ordinary to the King, Bookseller - under Oath in the University of Paris, to print or to have printed - a book entitled, _Relation de ce qui s'est passé en la Nouvelle - France en l'année mil six cens trente-quatre, Envoyée au Reverend - Pere Barthelemy Jaquinot, Provincial de la Compagnie de_ JESUS - _en la Province de France, Par le P. Paul le Jeune de la mesme - Compagnie, Superieur de la Residence de Kebec_: and this during - the time and space of nine consecutive years. Prohibiting all - Booksellers and Printers to print or to have printed the said - book, under pretext of any disguise or change which they may make - therein, under penalty of confiscation and the fine provided by - said License. Given at Paris, the 8th of December, one thousand six - hundred thirty-four. - - By the King in Council, - - VICTON. - - - - -[1] Relation de ce qvi s'est passé en la Novvelle France svr le Grand -Fleuue de S. Laurens en l'année mil six cens trente-quatre. - - -MON R. PERE, - -Les Lettres de vostre Reuerence, les tesmoignages de son affection pour -la cõuersion de ces peuples, les effets de son amour en nostre endroit, -la venuë de nos Peres qu'il luy a pleu nous enuoyer pour renfort cette -année, les desirs qu'ont vn si grand nombre des nostres de venir en -ces contrées sacrifier leurs vies & leurs trauaux pour la gloire de -Nostre Seigneur: Tout cela ioinct auec le bon succez qu'eurent [2] -les vaisseaux l'an passé à leur retour, & l'heureuse arriuée de ceux -qui sont venus cette année, auec le zele que tesmoignent Messieurs -les associez de la Compagnie de la nouuelle France pour la conuersion -de ces peuples barbares. Tous ces biens ioincts ensemble venãs -fondre tout à coup dans nos grands bois par l'arriuée de Monsieur du -Plessis General de la flotte qui nous met dãs la ioüissance des vns, -& nous apporte les bonnes nouuelles des autres, nous comblent d'vne -consolation si grande, qu'il me seroit bien difficile de la pouuoir -bien expliquer: Dieu en soit beny à iamais, si sa bonté continuë -de se respandre sur ces Messieurs, comme nous l'en prions de toute -l'estenduë de nostre cœur, tant d'ames plongées dans vne nuict d'erreur -qui dure depuis vn si long-temps, verront en fin le iour des veritez -Chrestiennes: Et nostre bon Roy, Monseigneur le Cardinal, Messieurs -les Associez, Monsieur le Marquis de Gamache grand appuy de nostre -Mission & quantité d'autres, par la faueur desquels le Sang du Fils de -Dieu leur sera vn iour appliqué, auront la gloire & le merite d'auoir -contribué à vne si saincte œuure. - - [1] Relation of what occurred in New France on the Great River St. - Lawrence, in the year one thousand six hundred thirty-four. - - - MY REVEREND FATHER, - - The Letters of your Reverence, the evidences of your desire for - the conversion of these people, the effects of your love for us, - the coming of our Fathers whom you have been pleased to send this - year for our reinforcement, the desires of so many of our society - to come to these countries and sacrifice their lives and their - labors for the glory of Our Lord: All this, added to the successful - return of [2] our ships last year, and the fortunate arrival of - those which have come this year, with the zeal which the Honorable - associates of the Company of new France show for the conversion - of these barbarous people,--all these blessings together, pouring - down at once into our great forests through the arrival of Monsieur - du Plessis, General of the fleet, who makes possible for us the - enjoyment of some, and brings us good news of the others, overwhelm - us with a satisfaction so great that it would be exceedingly - difficult to express it well. God be forever praised for these - blessings! If his goodness continues to be bestowed upon these - Gentlemen, as we pray it may be with all our hearts, many souls - plunged in a night of error, which has already lasted so long a - time, will at last see the light of Christian truth. And our good - King, Monseigneur the Cardinal, the Honorable Associates, the - Marquis de Gamache,[9] a great supporter of our Mission, and a - number of others, by whose favor the Blood of the son of God will - some day be applied to these souls, will have the glory and the - merit of having contributed to so blessed a work. - -[3] Ie distingueray la Relation de ceste année par chapitres, à la fin -desquels ie mettray vn iournal des choses qui n'ont autre liaison que -la suitte du temps auquel elles sont arriuées. Tout ce que ie diray -touchant les Sauuages, ou ie l'ay veu de mes yeux, ou ie l'ay tiré de -la bouche de ceux du pays, nommément d'vn vieillard fort versé dans -leur doctrine, & de quantité d'autres auec lesquels i'ay passé six -mois peu de iours moins, les suiuant dans les bois pour apprendre leur -langue. Il est bien vray que ces peuples n'ont pas tous vne mesme -pensée touchant leur créance, ce qui fera paroistre vn iour de la -contrarieté entre ceux qui traicteront de leurs façons de faire. - - [3] I shall divide the Relation of this year into chapters, at the - end of which I shall add a journal of things which have no other - connection than the order of time in which they happened. All that - I shall say regarding the Savages, I have either seen with my own - eyes, or have received from the lips of natives, especially from - an old man very well versed in their beliefs, and from a number of - others with whom I have passed six months with the exception of a - few days, following them into the woods to learn their language. - It is, indeed, true that these people have not all the same idea - in regard to their belief, which will some day make it appear that - those who treat of their customs are contradicting each other. - - - - -CHAPITRE I. - -DES BONS DEPORTEMENS DES FRANÇOIS. - - -NOUS auons passé cette année dans vne grande paix & dans vne tres-bonne -intelligence auec nos François. La sage conduitte & la prudence de -Monsieur de Champlain Gouuerneur de Kebec [4] & du fleuue sainct -Laurens qui nous honore de sa bien-veillance, retenant vn chacun dans -son deuoir, a fait que nos paroles & nos predicatiõs ayent esté bien -receuës, & la Chappelle qu'il a fait dresser proche du fort à l'honneur -de nostre Dame, a donné vne belle commodité aux François de frequenter -les Sacremens de l'Eglise, ce qu'ils ont fait aux bonnes Festes de -l'année, & plusieurs tous les mois auec vne grande satisfaction de ceux -qui les ont assistez. Le fort a paru vne Academie bien reglée, Monsieur -de Champlain faisant faire lecture à sa table le matin de quelque bon -historien, & le soir de la vie des Saincts; le soir se fait l'examen -de conscience en sa chambre & les prieres en suitte qui se recitent -à genoux. Il fait sonner la salutation Angelique au commencement, au -milieu & à la fin du iour suiuant la coustume de l'Eglise. En vn mot -nous auons subiect de nous consoler voyans vn chef si zelé pour la -gloire de Nostre Seigneur & pour le bien de ces Messieurs. - - CHAPTER I. - - ON THE GOOD CONDUCT OF THE FRENCH. - - - WE have passed this year in great peace and on very good terms - with our French. The wise conduct and prudence of Monsieur de - Champlain, Governor of Kebec [4] and of the river saint Lawrence, - who honors us with his good will, holding every one in the path of - duty, has caused our words and preaching to be well received; and - the Chapel which he has had erected near the fort, in honor of our - Lady, has furnished excellent facilities to the French to receive - the Sacraments of the Church frequently, which they have done on - the great Feast Days of the year, and many every month, to the - great satisfaction of those who administered them. The fort has - seemed like a well-ordered Academy; Monsieur de Champlain has some - one read at his table, in the morning from some good historian, - and in the evening from the lives of the Saints; then each one - makes an examination of his conscience in his own chamber, and - prayers follow, which are repeated kneeling. He has the Angelus[10] - sounded at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the day, - according to the custom of the Church. In a word, we have reason to - console ourselves when we see a chief so zealous for the glory of - Our Lord and for the welfare of these Gentlemen. - -Croiroit-on bien qu'il s'est trouué vn de nos François en Canada -qui pour contrecarrer les dissolutions qui se font ailleurs [5] au -Carnaual, est venu le Mardy gras dernier, pieds & testé nuë sur la -neige & sur la glace depuis Kebec iusques en nostre Chappelle, c'est -à dire vne bonne demie lieuë, ieusnant le mesme iour pour accomplir -vn vœu qu'il auoit fait à Nostre Seigneur, & tout cela sans autres -tesmoings que Dieu & nos Peres qui le rencontrerent. - - Could it be believed that there is one of our Frenchmen in Canada, - who, to offset the licentiousness which is carried on in other - places [5] during the Carnival, came on last shrove Tuesday, with - bare head and feet, over the snow and ice from Kebec all the way to - our Chapel; that is, a good half league, fasting the same day, to - fulfill a vow made to Our Lord; and all this was done without any - other witnesses than God, and our Fathers who met him. - -Pendant le sainct temps de Caresme, non seulement l'abstinence des -viandes defenduës & le ieusne s'est gardé, mais aussi tel s'est -trouué qui a fait plus de trente fois la discipline, deuotion bien -extraordinaire aux soldats & aux artisans tels que sont icy la plus -part de nos François. - - During the holy time of Lent, not only abstinence from forbidden - meats and fasting were observed, but there was a certain one who - took the discipline more than thirty times,--extraordinary devotion - in soldiers and artisans, such as are the greater part of our - Frenchmen here. - -Vn autre a promis d'employer en œuures pies la dixiesme partie de tous -les profits qu'il pourra faire pendant tout le cours de sa vie. Ces -petits eschantillons font voir que l'Hyuer n'est pas si rude en la -nouuelle France qu'on n'y puisse recueillir des fleurs du Paradis. - - Another has promised to use the tenth part of the profits he may - make, during the course of his whole life, in works of piety. These - little samples show that the Winter in new France is not so severe - that some flowers of Paradise may not be gathered there. - -Ie mettray en ce lieu, ne sçachant où le mieux placer ailleurs, ce -qu'vn de nos François tres-digne de foy & recogneu pour tel, nous a -raconté de Iacques Michel Huguenot qui amena les Anglois en [6] ce -païs cy: Ce miserable la veille de sa mort ayant vomy cõtre Dieu & -contre nostre sainct Pere Ignace mille blasphemes, & s'estant donné -cette imprecation qu'il vouloit estre pendu s'il ne donnoit vne -coupple de soufflets auant la nuict du iour suiuant à vn de nos Peres -qui estoit pris de l'Anglois, vomissant contre luy des iniures fort -messeantes, il fut surpris bien tost apres d'vne maladie qui luy osta -toute cognoissance & le fit mourir le lendemain comme vne beste: Quatre -circonstãces de ce rencontre donnerent de l'estonnement aux Huguenots -mesmes, la maladie qui le prit quelques heures apres ses blasphemes, -l'erreur des Chirurgiens qui estoient en nombre, lesquels donnerent -des remedes soporiferes à vn letargique, son trespas si soudain & sans -cognoissance, expirant sans qu'aucun s'en apperceust quoy qu'il y eust -six hommes aupres de luy, la fureur des Sauuages enuers son corps qui -le deterrerent & le pendirent selon son imprecation, puis le ietterent -aux chiens? Les Anglois qui estoient dans le fort de Kebec ayant sceu -cette histoire tragique, dirent tous estonnez, que si les Iesuites -sçauoient tout cela qu'ils en feroient des miracles. - - I shall insert here, not knowing where better to put it, what one - of our Frenchmen, quite worthy of credence, and so acknowledged, - told us about Jacques Michel,[11] a Huguenot, who brought the - English to [6] this country. This wretch, having upon the eve - of his death, vomited forth a thousand blasphemies against God - and against our holy Father Ignatius, and having uttered this - imprecation, that "he would be hanged if he did not give a couple - of slaps before the next evening to one of our Fathers who was - taken by the English," uttering the most unseemly insults against - him, was soon afterwards overtaken by an illness which bereft him - of all consciousness, and caused him to die the next day like a - beast. Four circumstances in this incident astonished the Huguenots - themselves,--the illness which seized him a few hours after his - blasphemies; the mistake of the Surgeons, who were numerous, in - giving soporific remedies to a man in a lethargy; his so sudden and - unconscious death, expiring without any one perceiving it, although - there were six men around him; the rage of the Savages against - his body, which they disinterred and hanged, according to his - imprecations, and then threw to the dogs. The English, who were in - the fort at Kebec, having heard this tragic story, were amazed; and - said that, if the Jesuits knew all that, they would make miracles - out of it. - -[7] Or nous le sçauons maintenant & cependant nous n'en ferons ny -prodiges ny miracles: mais nous dirons seulement qu'il ne fait pas bon -blasphemer contre Dieu ny contre ses saincts, ny se bander contre son -Roy trahissant sa patrie: Mais venons maintenant à nos Sauuages. - - [7] Now, we do know it, and yet we will make neither prodigies nor - miracles out of it; but we will only say that it is not well to - blaspheme against God or his saints, nor to strive against one's - King to betray one's country. But now let us come to our Savages. - - - - -CHAPITRE II. - -DE LA CONUERSION, DU BAPTESME & DE L'HEUREUSE MORT DE QUELQUES SAUUAGES. - - -QVELQUES Sauuages se sont faicts Chrestiens cette année, trois ont esté -baptisez cest Hyuer en mon absence, en voicy les particularitez toutes -pleines de consolation que nos Peres m'ont raconté à mon retour. - - CHAPTER II. - - ON THE CONVERSION, BAPTISM, AND HAPPY DEATH OF CERTAIN SAVAGES. - - - SOME Savages have become Christians this year; three have been - baptized this Winter during my absence. Here are the very - encouraging particulars of these baptisms, which our Fathers - related to me upon my return. - -Le premier estoit vn ieune homme nommé Sasousmat aagé de 25. à 30. ans, -les François le surnommoient Marsolet: Le ieune homme entẽdant vn iour -vn Truchement parler des peines d'Enfer & des recompenses du Paradis, -luy dit, mene [8] moy en France pour estre instruict, autrement tu -respondras de mon ame, donc estant tombé malade il fut plus aisé de -l'induire à se faire Chrestien, le Pere Brebœuf m'a donné de luy ce -memoire. - - The first was a young man named Sasousmat, from 25 to 30 years - of age, whom the French have surnamed Marsolet. This young man, - having one day heard an Interpreter talk about the pains of Hell - and the rewards of Paradise, said to him; "Take [8] me to France - to be instructed, otherwise thou wilt be responsible for my soul." - Then, having fallen sick, it was easier to induce him to become a - Christian. Father Brebœuf gave me this account of him. - -"Ayant appris la maladie de ce ieune hõme ie le fus visiter, & le -trouuay si bas qu'il auoit perdu le iugemẽt, nous voila dõc dans vn -regret de ne le pouuoir secourir, ce qui fit prẽdre resolution à nos -Peres & à moy de presenter à Dieu le lendemain le Sacrifice de la Messe -à l'honneur du glorieux S. Ioseph Patron de cette nouuelle France, pour -le salut & conuersion de ce pauure Sauuage: à peine auiõs nous quitté -l'Autel qu'on nous vint aduertir qu'il estoit rentré en son bon sens, -nous le fusmes voir, & l'ayans sondé nous le trouuasmes remply d'vn -grand desir de receuoir le S. Baptesme, nous differasmes neantmoins -quelques iours pour luy donner vne plus grande instruction. En fin il -m'enuoya prier par nostre Sauuage nommé Manitougatche, & surnommé de -nos Frãçois la Nasse que ie l'allasse baptizer, disant que la nuict -precedente il m'auoit veu en dormant venir en sa Cabane pour luy -conferer ce Sacremẽt, & qu'aussi-tost [9] que ie m'estois assis aupres -de luy que rout [tout] son mal s'en estoit allé, ce qu'il me confirma -quand ie le fus voir: ie luy refusay neantmoins ce qu'il demandoit pour -animer dauantage son desir, si bien qu'vn autre Sauuage qui estoit -present ne pouuant souffrir ce retardement, me demanda pourquoy ie ne -le baptizois point puis qu'il ne falloit que ietter vn peu d'eau sur -luy & que s'en estoit fait, mais luy ayant reparty que ie me perdrois -moy mesme si ie baptizois vn infidelle & vn mécreant mal instruict: -le malade se tournant vers vn François, luy dit, Matchounon n'a point -d'esprit, c'est ainsi que s'appelloit cet autre Sauuage, il ne croit -pas ce que dit le Pere, pour moy ie le crois entierement. Sur ces -entrefaites les Sauuages voulans décabaner & tirer plus auãt dans les -bois Manitougatche qui commẽçoit à se trouuer mal, nous vint prier de -le receuoir & le pauure malade aussi en nostre maison, nous prismes -resolution d'auoir soin des corps, pour aider les ames que nous voyons -bien disposées pour le Ciel. On met dõc sur vne traine de bois ce bon -ieune homme, & on nous l'amene sur la neige, nous le receuons auec -amour & [10] l'accommodons le mieux qu'il nous est possible, luy tout -remply d'aise & de contentement de se voir auec nous, tesmoigna vn -grand desir d'estre baptizé, & de mourir Chrestien. Le lẽdemain qui -estoit le 26. de Ianuier estant tombé dans vne grãde syncope nous le -baptizasmes, croyãs qu'il s'en alloit mourir, luy donnans le nom de -François en l'honneur de S. François Xauier, il reuint à soy, & ayant -appris ce qui s'estoit passé, il se monstra plein de ioye d'estre fait -Enfant de Dieu, s'entretenant tousiours iusques à la mort, qui fut deux -iours apres, en diuers actes que ie luy faisois exercer tantost de Foy -& d'Esperance, tantost d'Amour de Dieu & de regret de l'auoir offencé, -il prenoit en cela vn plaisir fort sensible, & recitoit tout seul auec -de grands sentimens ce qu'on luy auoit enseigné, demandant vn iour -pardon à Dieu de ses pechez, il s'accusoit tout haut soymesme comme -s'il se fust confessé, puis la memoire luy manquant, Enseigne moy (me -disoit-il) ie suis vn pauure ignorant, ie n'ay point d'esprit, suggere -moy ce que ie dois dire; vne autre fois il me pria de luy ietter de -l'eau beniste pour l'aider à auoir douleur de ses pechez, [11] cela -m'estonna, car nous ne luy auions pas encores parlé de l'vsage de cette -eau, nous ayant inuité à chanter aupres de luy quelques prieres de -l'Eglise, nous le voyõs pendant ce sainct exercice les yeux esleuez -au Ciel auec vne posture si deuote que nous estions tous attendris, -admirans les grãdes misericordes que Dieu operoit dedans cette ame, qui -en fin quitta son corps fort doucement le 28. de Ianuier pour aller -ioüir de Dieu." - - "Having learned of the illness of this young man, I went to visit - him, and found him so low that he had lost his reason. Behold us - now greatly troubled at not being able to help him, and so we - resolved, our Fathers and I, to offer to God the next day the - Sacrifice of the Mass in honor of the glorious St. Joseph, Patron - of this new France, for the salvation and conversion of this poor - Savage; scarcely had we left the Altar, when they came to tell us - that he had recovered his senses; we went to see him, and, having - sounded him, we found him filled with a great desire to receive - Holy Baptism; we deferred this, however, for a few days, in order - to instruct him more fully. At last he sent word to me, through our - Savage named Manitougatche, and surnamed by our French, "la Nasse," - that I should come and baptize him, saying that the night before - he had seen me in his sleep, coming to his Cabin to administer to - him this Sacrament; and that, as soon [9] as I sat down near him, - all his sickness went away; he confirmed this to me when I saw him. - Nevertheless I refused his request, in order the more to stimulate - his desire, so that another Savage who was present, not being able - to bear this delay, asked me why I did not baptize him, since it - was only necessary to throw a little water upon him, and then all - would be done. But, when I answered him that I would myself be - lost, if I baptized an infidel and a poorly-taught unbeliever, - the sick man, turning to a Frenchman, said, 'Matchounon has no - sense'--it was thus they called the other Savage--'he does not - believe what the Father says; as for me, I believe it entirely.' - Meanwhile, the Savages wishing to change their camp and to go - farther into the woods. Manitougatche, who began to feel ill, - came to beg us to receive him and the poor sick man also into our - house: and so we decided to care for the bodies, in order to aid - the souls, which we saw were well disposed toward Heaven. So this - worthy young man was placed upon a wooden sledge, and brought to - us over the snow. We received him with love, and [10] made him as - comfortable as we could. He was fall of gladness and satisfaction - to see himself with us, evincing a great desire to be baptized and - to die a Christian. The next day, which was the 26th of January, - as he had fallen into a deep stupor, we baptized him, believing - that he was going to die. We gave him the name François, in honor - of St. François Xavier. He regained consciousness, and, having - learned what had taken place, expressed his joy at having been made - a Child of God. He passed his time constantly until his death, - which was two days later, in different acts that I caused him to - practice, sometimes of Faith and Hope, sometimes of the Love of - God, and of remorse for having offended him. He took a very obvious - pleasure in this, and repeated all alone with deep feeling what - had been taught him. One day, while he was asking pardon of God - for his sins, he accused himself aloud, as if he were making his - confession: then, his memory failing (he said to me): 'Teach me; I - am a poor ignorant creature, I have no understanding; suggest to me - what I ought to say.' Another time he begged me to sprinkle some - holy water upon him, to help him to be sorry for his sins. [11] I - was surprised at this, for we had not yet spoken to him of the use - of this water; when, at his request, we sang some prayers of the - Church in his presence, we saw him during this holy service with - eyes raised toward Heaven in an attitude of such devotion that we - were all greatly touched, admiring the wonderful effects of mercy - that God was bringing about in this soul, which finally left the - body on the 28th of January, to go and enjoy God." - -Quand la nouuelle de sa conuersion & de sa mort fut sceuë de nos -François à Kebec, il y en eut qui ietterent des larmes de ioye & de -contentemens, benissans Dieu de ce qu'il acceptoit les premices d'vne -terre qui n'a presque porté que des espines depuis la naissance des -siecles. - - When the news of his conversion and death became known to our - French at Kebec, some of them shed tears of joy and satisfaction, - blessing God for accepting the first fruits of a land which has - borne little else than thorns since the birth of the centuries. - -Il arriua vne chose biẽ remarquable peu d'heures apres sa mort, -vne grãde lumiere parut aux fenestres de nostre maison, s'éleuant -& s'abbaissant par trois fois, l'vn de nos Peres vid cét esclat, & -plusieurs de nos hommes qui sortirent incontinent, les vns pour voir -si le feu n'estoit point pris en quelque endroit de la maison, les -autres pour voir s'il esclairoit, n'ayans trouué aucun vestige de cette -flamme ils creurent [12] que Dieu declaroit par ce prodige la lumiere -dont ioüissoit cette ame qui nous venoit de quitter. Les Sauuages de la -Cabane du defunct virent dans les bois où ils s'estoient retirez cette -lumiere, ce qui les espouuenta d'autant plus qu'ils creurent que ce feu -estoit vn presage d'vne future mortalité en leur famille. - - One quite remarkable thing happened a few hours after his death. - A great light appeared at the windows of our house, rising and - falling three times; one of our Fathers saw the flash, as did - several of our men, who went out immediately, some to see if a - part of our house had not taken fire, the others to see if it were - lightning. Having found no trace of this fire, they believed [12] - that God was declaring through this phenomenon the light that - was being enjoyed by the soul that had just left us. The Savages - belonging to the Cabin of the deceased saw this light in the woods, - where they had withdrawn, and it frightened them all the more as - they thought it was a foreshadowing of future deaths in their - family. - -I'estois pour lors (moy qui escris cecy) à quelques quarante lieuës de -Kebec dãs la cabane des freres du defunct, cette lumiere s'y fit voir -à mesme temps & à mesme heure, comme nous l'auons remarqué; depuis -le Pere Brebœuf & moy confrontans nos memoires, & mon hoste frere du -trespassé l'ayant apperceuë sortit dehors tout espouuanté, & la voyant -redoubler s'escria d'vne voix si estonnante, que tous les Sauuages & -moy auec eux sortismes de nos cabanes: ayant trouué mon hoste tout -esperdu ie luy voulus dire que ce feu n'estoit qu'vn esclair, & -qu'il ne falloit pas s'espouuanter, il me repartit fort à propos que -l'esclair paroissoit & disparoissoit en vn moment, mais que cette flãme -s'estoit pourmenée deuant ses yeux quelque espace de tẽps: de plus, -as-tu iamais veu, me dit-il, esclairer ou tonner dans vu froid si [13] -cuisant comme est celuy que nous ressentons maintenãt? Il est vray -qu'il faisoit fort froid, ie luy demanday ce qu'il croyoit dõc de ces -feux, c'est, me fit-il, vn mauuais augure, c'est, vn signe de mort il -m'adiousta que le Manitou ou le diable se repaissoit de ces flammes. - - I was then (I who am writing this) some forty leagues from Kebec, - in the cabin of the brothers of the dead man; and this light - appeared there at the same time and at the same hour, as we have - since observed, Father Brebœuf and I, by comparing our notes. My - host, brother of the deceased, having perceived it, rushed out in - horror; and, seeing it repeated, cried out in such astonishment, - that all the Savages, and I with them, rushed out of our cabins. - Having found my host all distracted, I tried to tell him that this - fire was only lightning, and that he need not be frightened; he - answered me very aptly that lightning appeared and disappeared in - an instant, but that this fire had moved before his eyes for some - time. "Besides" said he to me, "hast thou ever seen lightning or - thunder in such piercing [13] cold as that which we are feeling - now?" It was indeed very cold. I asked him then what he thought of - these fires. "It is" he said, "a bad omen, it is a sign of death." - He added that the Manitou, or devil, fed upon these flames. - -Pour retourner à nostre bien-heureux defunct, nos Peres l'enterrerent -le plus solemnellemẽt qu'il leur fut possible, nos François s'y -trouuans auec beaucoup de deuotiõ. Manitougatche nostre Sauuage ayant -veu tout cecy en outre, considerant que nous ne voulions rien prendre -des hardes ou des robbes du trespassé, lesquelles il nous offroit, il -resta si edifié & si estonné qu'il s'en alloit par les cabanes des -Sauuages, qui vindrent bien-tost apres à Kebec, raconter tout ce qu'il -auoit veu, disant que nous auions donné toute la meilleure nourriture -que nous eussions à ce pauure ieune homme que nous en auions eu vn soin -cõme s'il eust esté nostre frere, que nous nous estions incommodez -pour le loger, que nous n'auions rien voulu prendre de ce qui luy -appartenoit, que nous l'auiõs enterré auec beaucoup d'hõneur. Cela en -toucha si biẽ quelques-vns, [14] notãment de sa famille, qu'ils nous -amenerent sa fille morte en trauail d'enfant pour l'enterrer à nostre -façon, mais le P. Brebœuf les rencontrant leur dit, que n'ayãt pas -esté baptizée nous ne la pouuiõs mettre dans le Cimetiere des enfans de -Dieu. De plus sçachant qu'ils font ordinairement mourir l'enfant quand -la mere le laisse si ieune, croyans qu'il ne fera que languir apres son -deceds, le Pere pria Manitouchatche d'obuier à cette cruauté, ce qu'il -fit volontiers, quoy que quelques-vns de nos François estoient desia -resolus de s'en charger au cas qu'on luy voulust oster la vie. - - To return to our happy deceased. Our Fathers buried him with as - much solemnity as they could, our Frenchmen being present and - showing great devotion. Manitougatche, our Savage, having seen all - this, and also observing that we did not wish to accept any of the - belongings or clothes of the deceased, which he offered us, was - so pleased and astonished that he went about among the cabins of - the Savages who came soon afterward to Kebec, relating all that he - had seen,--saying, that we had given the best food we had to this - poor young man, that we had nursed him as if he had been our own - brother, that we had inconvenienced ourselves in order to give him - a lodging, that we had not consented to take anything that belonged - to him, and that we had buried him with a great deal of honor. Some - of them were so touched by this, [14] especially his own family, - that they brought us his daughter, who had died in childbirth, to - bury her in our way; but Father Brebœuf, meeting them, told them - that, as she had never been baptized, we could not put her in the - Cemetery of the children of God. Besides, knowing that they usually - kill the child when its mother leaves it so young, thinking that - it will languish after her death, the Father begged Manitouchatche - to prevent this cruel act, which he did willingly; although some - of our French People had determined to take charge of the child - themselves, if a disposition were manifested to kill it. - -Le second Sauuage baptizé a esté nostre Manitouchatche autrement la -Nasse, i'en ay parlé dans mes Relations precedentes, il s'estoit -comme habitué aupres de nous auant la prise du païs par les Anglois, -commençant à defricher & à cultiuer la terre, le mauuais traictement -qu'il receut de ces nouueaux hostes l'ayãt esloigné de Kebec, il -tesmoignoit par fois à Madame Hebert qui resta icy auec toute sa -famille qu'il souhaittoit grandement nostre retour. Et de fait si tost -qu'il sceut nostre venuë il nous vint voir, & se cabana [15] tout -aupres de nostre maison, disant qu'il se vouloit faire Chrestien, nous -asseurant qu'il ne nous quitteroit point si nous ne le chassions, aussi -ne s'est-il pas beaucoup absenté depuis que nous sommes icy, cette -communication luy a fait conceuoir quelque chose de nos mysteres. -Le seiour qu'a fait en nostre maison Pierre Antoine le Sauuage son -parent luy a seruy, d'autant que nous luy auõs declaré par sa bouche -les principaux articles de nostre creance. O que les iugemens de Dieu -sont pleins d'abismes! Ce miserable ieune homme qui a esté si bien -instruict en France s'estant perdu parmy les Anglois, comme i'escriuis -l'an passé, est deuenu apostat, renegat, excommunié, athée, valet d'vn -Sorcier qui est son frere: Ce sont les qualitez que ie luy donneray cy -apres parlant de luy: & ce pauure vieillard qui a tiré de sa bouche -infectée les veritez du Ciel, a trouué le Ciel, laissant l'Enfer pour -partage à ce renegat, si Dieu ne luy fait de grandes misericordes: -Mais suiuans nostre route, apres la mort de Frãçois Sasousmat dont -nous venons de parler, ce bon homme ennuyé de n'auoir auec qui -s'entretenir: car pas vn de nous ne sçait [16] encores parfaictement -la langue, se retira auec sa femme & auec ses enfans, mais la maladie -dont il estoit desia attaqué, s'augmentant, il presse sa femme & ses -enfans de le ramener auec nous, esperant la mesme charité qu'il auoit -veu exercer enuers son compatriote, on le receut à bras ouuerts, ce -qu'ayant apperceu, il s'escria, ie mourray maintenant content puis -que ie suis auec vous. Or comme ses erreurs auoient vieilly auec -luy, nos Peres recogneurent qu'il pensoit autant & plus à la santé -de son corps qu'au salut de son ame, tesmoignant vn grand desir de -viure, remettant son Baptesme iusques à mon retour, neantmoins comme -il s'alloit affoiblissant ils souhaitterent de le voir vn petit plus -affectiõné à nostre creance, ce qui les incita d'offrir à Dieu vne -neufuaine à l'hõneur du glorieux Espoux de la saincte Vierge pour le -bien de son ame, le cõmencement de cette deuotion fut le commencement -de ses volontez plus ardantes, il se monstra fort desireux d'estre -instruit commençant à mespriser ses superstitions, il ne voulut plus -dormir qu'il n'eust au prealable prié Dieu, ce qu'il faisoit encores -deuant & apres sa refection, [17] si bien qu'il differa vne fois plus -de demie-heure à mãger ce qu'õ luy auoit presenté, pource qu'on ne -luy auoit pas fait faire la benediction, demandant au Pere Brebœuf -qu'il luy fist dire douze ou treize fois de suitte pour la grauer en -sa memoire. C'estoit vn contentement plein d'edification, de voir vn -vieillard de plus de soixante ans, apprendre d'vn petit François que -nous auons icy, à faire le signe de la Croix, & autres prieres qu'il -luy demandoit. Le Pere Brebœuf voyant que ses forces se diminuoient, -& que d'ailleurs il estoit assez instruict, luy dit que sa mort -approchoit, & que s'il vouloit mourir Chrestien, & aller au Ciel, qu'il -falloit estre baptisé. A ces paroles il se monstra si ioyeux qu'il -se traisna luy mesme comme il peut en nostre chapelle, ne pouuant -attendre que les Peres qui preparoient ce qu'il falloit pour conferer -ce Sacrement le vinssent querir: vn de nos François, son Parrain, luy -donna le nom de Ioseph. Deuant & pendant son baptesme, qui fut le -troisiéme d'Auril, le Pere l'interrogeant sommairement sur tous les -[18] articles du Symbole, & sur les commandemens de Dieu, il respondit -nettement & courageusemẽt qu'il croyoit les vns, & s'efforceroit de -garder les autres si Dieu luy rendoit la santé, monstrant de grands -regrets de l'auoir offensé: sa femme & l'vne de ses filles estoient -presentes, celle-là ne pouuoit tenir les larmes & l'autre se monstroit, -toute estonnée, admirant la beauté des sainctes ceremonies de l'Eglise. - - The second Savage to be baptized was our Manitouchatche, otherwise, - la Nasse, of whom I have spoken in my former Relations. He had - begun to get accustomed to our ways before the capture of the - country by the English, having commenced to clear and cultivate - the land; the bad treatment he received from these new guests drove - him away from Kebec; he sometimes expressed to Madame Hebert, - who remained here with her whole family, his strong desire for - our return. And, in fact, as soon as he heard of our arrival, he - came to see us, and settled [15] near our house, saying that he - wished to become a Christian, and assuring us that he would not - leave us unless we chased him away; indeed he has been away from - us very little since we have been here. This intercourse has made - him understand something of our mysteries. The sojourn made in our - house by Pierre Antoine,[12] a Savage and a relative of his, has - been of use to him, inasmuch as we have declared to him through - his lips the principal articles of our faith. Oh, how unfathomable - are the judgments of God! This wretched young man, who was so well - instructed in France, having been ruined among the English, as I - wrote last year, has become an apostate, renegade, excommunicate, - atheist, and servant to a Sorcerer who is his brother. These are - the qualities which I shall assign to him hereafter when speaking - of him. And this poor old man, who has received from his infected - lips the truths of Heaven, has found Heaven, leaving Hell as the - heritage of this renegade, unless God shows him great mercy. But, - continuing our story: after the death of François Sasousmat, of - whom we have just spoken, this good man, wearied at not having - any one with whom to converse,--for not one of us yet [16] knows - the language perfectly,--went away with his wife and children; - but, the disease with which he was already affected increasing, he - urged his wife and children to bring him back to us, hoping for the - same charity he had seen us practice toward his fellow-savage. - He was received with open arms, perceiving which, he cried out, - "Now I shall die happy, since I am with you!" But as his errors - had grown old with him, our Fathers recognized that he thought as - much and even more of the health of his body than of the Salvation - of his soul, showing a great desire to live, and putting off his - Baptism until my return; nevertheless, as he was continually - growing weaker, they wished to see him show more interest in our - belief; this induced them to offer to God a novena in honor of - the glorious Spouse of the holy Virgin, for the welfare of his - soul. The beginning of this devotion was the beginning of more - earnest inclination on his part; he showed himself very desirous - of being instructed, and began to despise his superstitions. He - would no more go to sleep unless he had first prayed to God, which - he did also before and after eating,--[17] to such an extent that - he once deferred, for more than half an hour, eating what had - been presented to him, because they had not had him offer the - benediction, asking Father Brebœuf to have him say it twelve or - thirteen times in succession, to engrave it upon his memory. It was - very edifying to see an old man more than sixty years of age learn - from a little French boy, whom we have here, to make the sign of - the Cross, and other prayers that he asked to be taught. Father - Brebœuf, seeing that his strength was failing, and also that he was - well enough instructed, told him that death was approaching; and - that, if he wished to die a Christian and go to Heaven, he must - be baptized. At these words he showed such joy that he dragged - himself as well as he could to our chapel, not being able to wait - until our Fathers, who were making the necessary arrangements - for administering this Sacrament, could go after him. One of our - Frenchmen, his Godfather, gave him the name Joseph. Before and - during his baptism, which took place on the third of April, the - Father examining him briefly upon all the [18] articles of the - Creed, and upon the commandments of God, he answered clearly and - courageously that he believed the former, and would endeavor to - keep the latter if God would restore him his health, and showed - great regret for having offended him. His wife and one of his - daughters being present, the one could not keep back her tears, and - the other was greatly bewildered, admiring the beauty of the holy - ceremonies of the Church. - -Ie retournay de mon hyuernement d'auec les Sauuages, six iours apres -son baptesme, ie le trouuay bien malade, mais bien content d'estre -Chrestien. Ie l'embrassay comme mon frere, bien resioüy de le voir -enfant de Dieu, nous continuasmes de l'instruire, & de luy faire -exercer des actes des vertus, notamment Theologales, pendant l'espace -de douze iours, qu'il suruescut apres son baptesme. - - I returned from my winter sojourn with the Savages, six days - after his baptism, and found him very sick, but very glad to be - a Christian. I embraced him like a brother, greatly rejoiced at - seeing him a child of God. We continued to teach him and to have - him practice acts of virtue, especially the Theological Virtues - [faith, hope, and charity], during the twelve days that he survived - his baptism. - -Les Sauuages desirans le penser à leur mode auec leurs chants, auec -leurs tintamarres, & auec leurs autres supersti[ti]ons, tascherent -plusieurs fois de nous l'enleuer iusques là, qu'ils amenerent vne -traine pour le reporter, & l'vn de [19] leurs sorciers ou iongleurs -le vint voir exprés pour le débaucher de nostre creance: mais le bon -Neophyte tint ferme, respondant qu'on ne luy parlast plus de s'en -aller, & qu'il ne nous quitteroit point, que nous ne l'enuoyassiõs. -Ce n'est pas vne petite marque de l'efficacité de la grace du sainct -Baptesme, de voir vn homme nourry depuis soixante ans & plus, dedans -la Barbarie, habitué aux façons de faire des Sauuages, imbu de leurs -erreurs & de leurs resueries, resister à sa propre femme, à ses -enfans, & à ses gendres, & à ses amis & à ses compatriotes, à ses -_Manitousiouets_, sorciers ou iongleurs, non vne fois, mais plusieurs -pour se ietter entre les bras de quelques estrangers, protestant qu'il -veut embrasser leur creance, mourir en leur Foy & dedans leur maison. -Cela fait voir que la grace peut donner du poids à l'ame d'vn Sauuage -naturellement inconstante. - - The Savages, wishing to care for him in their way, with their - songs, their uproar, and their other superstitions, tried several - times to take him away from us, even going so far as to bring - a sledge upon which to take him back, and one of [19] their - sorcerers or jugglers came to see him, for the express purpose - of enticing him away from our belief; but the good Neophyte held - firm, answering that they should not speak to him about going - away, and that he would not leave us unless we sent him away. It - is no slight indication of the efficacy of the grace of holy - Baptism, to see a man who had been steeped for over sixty years in - Barbarism, accustomed to all the ways of the Savages, imbued with - their errors and with their illusions, resist his own wife, his - children, his sons-in-law, his friends and his fellow-savages, his - _Manitousiouets_, sorcerers or jugglers, not once but many times, - to throw himself into the arms of strangers, protesting that he - wished to embrace their belief, to die in their Faith and in their - house. This shows that grace can give stability to the soul of a - Savage, who is by nature inconstant. - -En fin, apres auoir instruit nostre bon Ioseph du Sacrement de -l'Extreme-Onction, nous luy conferasmes, & iustement le Samedy Sainct -son ame partit de son corps, pour s'en aller celebrer [20] la feste -de Pasques au Ciel. L'vn de ses gendres l'ayant veu fort bas, estoit -demeuré aupres de luy pour voir comme nous l'enseuelirions apres sa -mort, desirant qu'on luy donnast vne Castelogne & son petunoir, pour -s'en seruir en l'autre monde: mais comme il alloit porter la nouuelle -de cette mort à la femme du deffunct, nous l'enseuelismes à la fàçon -de l'Eglise Catholique, honorant ses obseques le mieux qu'il nous fut -possible. Monsieur de Champlain pour tesmoigner l'amour & l'honneur que -nous portons à ceux qui meurent Chrestiens, fist quitter le trauail à -ses gens, & nous les enuoya pour assister à l'office, nous gardasmes -le plus exactement qu'il nous fut possible les ceremonies de l'Eglise, -ce qui agrea infiniment aux parens de ce nouueau Chrestien; vne chose -neantmoins leur depleut quand on vint à mettre le corps dans la fosse, -ils s'apperceurent qu'il y auoit vn peu d'eauë au fonds, à raison que -les neiges se fondoient pour lors & degouttoient là dedans, cela leur -frappa l'imagination, & comme ils sont [21] superstitieux les attrista -vn petit. Cet erreur ne sera pas difficile à combatre quand on sçaura -bien leur langue; voila à mon aduis les premiers des Sauuages adultes -baptisez, & morts constans en la foy dans ces contrées. - - Finally, after having instructed our good Joseph in the Sacrament - of Extreme Unction, we administered it to him; and on that very - day, Holy Saturday, his soul left the body and went to celebrate - [20] Easter in Heaven. One of his sons-in-law, when he saw him very - low, remained near him to see how we would bury him after death, - wishing us to give him his Castelogne [blanket] and his tobacco - pouch, for use in the other world; but, when he went to carry the - news of this death to the wife of the deceased, we buried the - latter according to the custom of the Catholic Church, showing - as much honor as we could in the funeral ceremonies. Monsieur de - Champlain, in order to give proof of the love and honor we bear - those who die in the Christian Faith, had his people leave their - work, and sent them to us to attend the services; we followed as - closely as possible the ceremonies of the Church, which was very - acceptable to the relatives of this new Christian. There was one - thing, however, which displeased them; when we came to put the body - in the grave, they noticed that there was a little water in the - bottom, caused by the snow melting just then and dropping into it; - this struck their imagination, and as they are [21] superstitious, - saddened them a little. It will not be difficult to combat such - errors, when we know their language well. These are, as far as I - know, the first adult Savages in these countries who have been - baptized and died firm in the faith. - -Le troisiesme Sauuage baptisé cette année, estoit vn enfant âgé de -trois à quatre mois seulement, son Pere estant en cholere contre sa -femme, fille de nostre bon Ioseph, soit pource qu'elle le vouloit -quitter, ou qu'il estoit touché de quelque ialousie, il print l'enfant -& le ietta contre terre pour l'assommer: Vn de nos François suruenant -là dessus, & se souuenant que nous leurs auions recommandé de conferer -le Baptesme aux enfans qu'ils verroient en danger de mort, au cas -qu'ils ne nous peussent appeller, il prit de l'eauë & le baptiza: ce -pauure petit neantmoins ne mourut pas du coup, sa mere le reprit & -l'emporta auec soy dans les Isles quittant son mary, qui nous a dit -depuis qu'il croit que son fils est mort, sa mere estant tombée dans -vne maladie qu'il iuge mortelle. - - The third Savage baptized this year was a child only three or four - months old: the Father, being angry at his wife, daughter of our - good Joseph, either because she wanted to leave him, or because he - had a touch of jealousy, took the child and threw it against the - ground, to kill it. One of our Frenchmen happening along just then, - and remembering that we had recommended them to administer Baptism - to children whom they saw in danger of death, in case they could - not call us took some water and baptized it; this poor little child - did not die immediately, however; its mother took it and carried it - away with her to the Islands, leaving her husband, who has since - told us that he believes his child is dead, as its mother had been - taken with a disease which he thought was mortal. - -Le quatriesme estoit fils d'vn Sauuage [22] nommé Khiouirineou, sa -mere s'appelloit Ouitapimoueou, ils auoiẽt donné nom à leur petit -Itaouabisisiou ses parens me promirent qu'ils nous l'apporteroient pour -l'enterrer en nostre cimetiere au cas qu'il mourut, & qu'ils nous le -donneroient pour l'instruire s'il guerissoit, car il estoit malade, -faisans ainsi paroistre le contentement qu'ils auoient que leur petit -fils receut le sainct Baptesme: Ie le baptisay donc, & luy donnay le -nom de Iean Baptiste, ce iour estant l'octaue de ce grand Sainct. Le -sieur du Chesne Chirurgien de l'habitation, qui vient volontiers auec -moy par les Cabanes, pour nous aduertir de ceux qu'il iuge en danger de -mort fut son parrain. - - The fourth was the son of a Savage [22] named Khiouirineou, the - mother's name was Ouitapimoueou, and they had named their little - child Itaouabisisiou. His parents had promised me that they would - bring him to us to be buried in our cemetery, if he died; and, if - he recovered,--for he was very sick,--they would give him to us to - be educated, thus showing their satisfaction that their little son - should receive holy Baptism. So I baptized him and gave him the - name Jean Baptiste, that day being the octave of this great Saint. - Sieur du Chesne, Surgeon of the colony, who willingly comes with - me through the Cabins, to advise us of those whom he considers in - danger of death, was his godfather. - -Le cinquiesme fut baptizé le mesme iour, son Pere auoit tesmoigné au -sieur Oliuier truchement, qu'il eut bien voulu qu'on eust fait à son -fils ce qu'on fait aux petits enfans François, c'est à dire qu'on -l'eust baptizé, le sieur Oliuier m'en ayant donné aduis i'allay voir -l'enfant, ie differay le baptesme pour quelques iours, le trouuant -encore plein de vie; en fin le P. Buteux & [23] moy l'estans retournez -voir, nous appellasmes Monsieur du Chesne, qui nous dit que l'enfant -estoit bien mal. ie demanday à son Pere s'il seroit content qu'on -le baptizât, tres-cõtent (fit-il,) s'il meurt ie le porteray en ta -maison, s'il retourne en santé il sera ton fils, & tu l'instruiras. -Ie le nommé Adrian du nom de son Parrain, il se nommoit auparauant -Pichichich, son Pere est surnommé des François Baptiscan, il s'appelle -en Sauuage Tchimaouirineou, sa mere Matouetchiouanouecoueou. Ce pauure -petit âgé d'enuiron 8. mois s'enuola au Ciel, la nuict suiuante son -Pere ne manqua pas d'apporter son corps, amenant auec soy dix-huict -ou vingt Sauuages, hommes, femmes & enfans, ils l'auoient enueloppé -dans des peaux de Castor, & pardessus d'vn grand drap de toile, qu'ils -auoient achepté au magazin, & encore pardessus d'vne grande escorce -redoublée. Ie déueloppay ce pacquet, pour voir si l'enfant estoit -dedans, puis ie le mis dans vn cercueil que nous luy fismes faire, ce -qui agrea merueilleusement aux Sauuages: car ils croyent que l'ame [24] -de l'enfant se doit seruir en l'autre monde de l'ame, de toutes les -choses qu'on luy donne à son depart, ie leur dis bien que cette ame -estoit maintenant dedans le Ciel, & qu'elle n'auoit que faire de toutes -ces pauuretez neãtmoins nous les laissasmes faire, de peur que si nous -les eussions voulu empescher, ce que i'aurois peu faire, (car le Pere -chanceloit defia,) les autres ne nous permissent pas de baptizer leurs -enfans quand ils seroient malades, où du moins ne les apportassent -point apres leur mort. Ces pauures gens furent rauis, voyants cinq -Prestres reuestus de surplis honorer ce petit ange Canadien, chantant -ce qui est ordonné par l'Eglise, couurans son cercueil d'vn beau -parement, & le parsemant de fleurs: nous l'enterrasmes auec toute la -solemnité qui nous fut possible. - - The fifth was baptized the same day. His Father made known to - sieur Olivier, the interpreter,[13] that he would be very glad if - they would do to his son what was done to little French children; - meaning that they should baptize him. Having been informed of this - by sieur Olivier, I went to see the child, but deferred baptism - for a few days, as the child was still full of vitality. At last, - Father Buteux and [23] I, having gone to see him, called Monsieur - du Chesne, who told us that the child was very sick. I asked his - Father if he would like to have us baptize him. "I should be very - glad" (he answered); "if he dies, I will carry him to thy house; - if he recovers, he shall be thy son, and thou shalt instruct - him." I named him Adrian, after his Godfather; before this he was - called Pichichich; his Father has been surnamed by the French - Baptiscan,--he was called, in Savage, Tchimaouirineou, his mother - Matouetchiouanouecoueou. This poor little child of about eight - months flew away to Heaven. The following night, his Father did not - fail to bring the body, having with him eighteen or twenty Savages, - men, women, and children. They had wrapped it in Beaver skins, - and over that was a large piece of linen cloth, which they had - bought at the store, and over all a great double piece of bark. I - unrolled the parcel to see if the child was inside; then I laid it - in a coffin which we had made for it, and this pleased the Savages - wonderfully, for they believe that the soul [24] of the child will - use in the other world of souls all the things that have been - given to it at its departure. I told them indeed that the soul - was now in Heaven, and that it had no concern whatever with these - trifling things. Nevertheless we let them go on, for fear that, if - we tried to prevent them,--which I might have done (for the Father - already wavered)--the others would not permit us to baptize their - children when they were sick, or at least would not call us after - they died. These simple people were enchanted, seeing five Priests - in surplices honoring this little Canadian angel, chanting what - is ordained by the Church, covering the coffin with a beautiful - pall, and strewing it with flowers. We buried him with all possible - solemnity. - -Tous les Sauuages assistoient à toutes les ceremonies, quand ce vint à -le mettre en la fosse, sa mere y mit son berceau auec luy & quelques -autres hardes selon leur coustume, & bien-tost apres tira de son laict -dans vne petite [25] escuelle d'escorce qu'elle brusla sur l'heure -mesme. Ie demanday pourquoy elle faisoit cela, vne femme me repartit, -qu'elle donnoit à boire à l'enfant, dont l'ame beuuoit de ce laict. Ie -l'instruisis là dessus, mais ie parle encores si peu qu'à peine me pût -elle entendre. - - All the Savages were present during the entire ceremony. When it - came to lowering him into the grave, his mother placed his cradle - therein, with a few other things, according to their custom; and - soon after she drew some of her milk in a little [25] bark ladle, - which she burned immediately. I asked why this was done, and a - woman answered me that she was giving drink to the child, whose - soul was drinking this milk. I instructed her upon this point, - but I still speak the language so poorly that I scarcely made her - understand me. - -Apres l'enterrement nous fismes le festin des morts, donnans à manger -de la farine de bled d'Inde, meslée de quelques pruneaux à ces bonnes -gens, pour les induire à nous appeller quand eux ou leurs enfans seront -malades. Bref ils s'en retournerent auec fort grande satisfaction, -comme ils firent paroistre pour lors, & particulierement deux iours -apres. - - After the burial we had the funeral feast, giving some Indian - cornmeal mixed with prunes to these simple people, to induce them - to call upon us when they or their children were sick. In short, - they went away very much pleased, as they showed us then, and more - particularly two days later. - -Le Pere Buteux retournant de dire la Messe de l'habitation, comme il -visitoit les Cabanes des Sauuages, il rencontra le corps mort du petit -Iean Baptiste qu'on enueloppoit comme l'autre, ses parents, quoy que -malades, luy promirent de l'apporter chés nous. On m'a desia fait -recit (dit la mere) de l'honneur & du bon traictement que vous faictes -à nos enfans, mais ie ne [26] veux point qu'on deueloppe le mien. Là -dessus le Pere du premier trespassé luy dist, on ne fait point de mal à -l'enfant on ne luy oste point ses robbes, on regarde seulement s'il est -dedans le pacquet, & si nous ne sommes point trompeurs, elle acquiesça -& presenta son fils pour estre porté dans nostre Chapelle, dans -laquelle le Pere Buteux nous l'amena en la compagnie de ses parens & -des autres Sauuages; nous l'enterrasmes auec les mesmes ceremonies que -l'autre, & eux luy donnerent aussi ses petits meubles pour passer en -l'autre monde, nous fismes encores le festin qu'ils font à la mort de -leurs gens, bien ioyeux de voir ce peuple s'affectionner petit à petit, -aux sainctes actions de l'Eglise Chrestienne & Catholique. - - Father Buteux, as he was visiting the Cabins of the Savages on his - return from saying Mass at the settlement, saw the dead body of - little Jean Baptiste, which they were wrapping up like the other. - His parents, although sick, promised to bring him to us. "They - have already told me," (said the mother) "of the honor and kind - treatment you show to our children, but I do not [26] wish mine - to be unrolled." Thereupon, the Father of the one who had died - first said to her, "They do no harm to the child; they do not take - off any of its clothes; they only look to see if it is inside - the parcel, and if we are deceiving them." She acquiesced, and - presented her son to be carried into our Chapel, into which Father - Buteux brought him to us, together with his relatives and other - Savages. We buried him with the same ceremonies as the other, and - they gave him also his belongings, to pass with him into the other - world. We again held the feast that is made at the death of their - people, very happy to see them, little by little, acquiring an - affection for the holy offices of the Christian and Catholic Church. - -Le quatorziesme de Iuillet ie baptizay le sixiesme, c'estoit vne petite -Algonquine aagée d'enuiron vn an, ie ne l'eusse pas si tost fait -Chrestienne, n'estoit qui ses parens s'en vouloient aller vers leur -pays. Or iugeant auec Monsieur du Chesne, que cet enfant trauaillé -d'vne fieure ethique, estoit en [27] danger de mort, ie luy conferay -ce Sacrement, elle fut appellée Marguerite, on la nommoit en Sauuage -_Memichtigouchiouiscoueou_, c'[e]st à dire, femme d'vn European, son -Pere se nomme en Algonquain _Pichibabich_, c'est à dire Pierre, & sa -mere Chichip, c'est à dire vn Canard, ils m'ont promis que si cette -pauure petite recouure sa santé qu'ils me l'apporteroient, pour la -mettre entre les mains de l'vne de nos Françoises, comme ce peuple est -errant, ie ne sçai maintenant où elle est, ie crois qu'elle n'est pas -loing du Paradis, si elle n'y est desia. - - On the fourteenth of July, I baptized the sixth, a little Algonquin - girl about a year old. I would not have made this child a Christian - so soon, had it not been that its parents wished to go to their own - country. Now, believing with Monsieur du Chesne that this child, - who was suffering from hectic fever, was in [27] danger of death, I - administered this Sacrament. She was called Marguerite; her Savage - name was _Memichtigouchiouiscoueou_, meaning, "wife of a European;" - her Father was called in Algonquain, _Pichibabich_, that is to - say, "Stone," and her mother Chichip, meaning "a Duck." They have - promised me that if this poor little child recovers its health, - they will bring it to me, to be placed in the hands of one of our - French Women. As this is a wandering tribe, I do not know now where - she is; but I believe she is not far from Paradise, if she is not - already there. - -La septiesme personne que nous auons mis au nombre des enfans de Dieu, -par le Sacrement de Baptesme, c'est la mere du petit Sauuage, que nous -auions nommé bien-venu; elle s'appelloit en Sauuage _Ouroutiuoucoueu_, -& maintenant on l'appelle Marie, ce beau nom luy a esté donné, suiuant -le vœu qu'auoit fait autresfois le R. Pere Charles l'Allement, que -la premiere Canadienne que nous baptizerions, porteroit le nom de la -saincte Vierge, & le premier Sauuage, celuy de [28] de son glorieux -Espoux sainct Ioseph, nous n'auions point cognoissance de ce vœu, -quand les autres ont esté baptizés. I'espere que dans fort peu de -iours il sera entierement accomply: mais pour retourner à nostre -nouuelle Chrestienne, l'ayant trouuée proche du fort de nos François, -abandonnée de ses gens, pource qu'elle estoit malade, ie luy demanday -qui la nourrissoit, elle me respondit que les François luy donnoient -quelque morceau de pain, & que quelques vns reuenans de la chasse, luy -iettoient par fois en passant vne tourterelle, si vous vous voulez -cabaner, luy dis-je, proche de nostre maison, nous vous nourrirõs, -& vous enseignerons le chemin du Ciel; Elle me repartit d'vne voix -languissante, car elle estoit fort mal, helas! i'y voudrois bien aller, -mais ie ne sçaurois plus marcher, aye pitié de moy, enuoye moy querir -dans vn Canot. Ie ny manquay pas le lendemain matin 23. Iuillet ie -la fis apporter proche de nostre maison; la pauure fẽme me demãdoit -bien si elle n'entreroit point chez nous, elle s'attẽdoit que nous luy -feriõs la mesme [29] charité que nous auions fait aux deux premiers -baptizés, mais ie luy respõdis qu'elle estoit fẽme, & que nous ne -pouuions pas la loger dãs nôtre maisõnette qui est fort petite, que -neãtmoins nous luy porterions à manger dans sa Cabane, & que tous les -iours ie l'irois voir pour l'instruire, elle fut contente. Quand ie -commençay à luy parler de la saincte Trinité, disant, que le Pere, & le -F[i]ls & le sainct Esprit, n'estoient qu'vn Dieu qui a tout fait: ie le -sçay bien, me fit-elle, ie le crois ainsi; Ie fus tout estonné à cette -repartie, mais elle me dit que nostre bon Sauuage Ioseph luy rapportoit -par fois ce que nous luy disions, cela me consola fort, car en peu de -temps elle fut suffisamment instruicte pour estre baptizée: i'estois -seulement en peine de luy faire conceuoir vne douleur de sez pechez, -les Sauuages n'ont point en leur langue, si bien en leurs mœurs, ce -mot de peché: le mot de meschanceté & de malice signifie parmy eux vne -action contre la pureté, à ce qu'ils m'ont dit: i'estois donc en peine -de luy faire conceuoir vn deplaisir d'auoir offencé [30] Dieu, ie luy -leus par plusieurs fois les Commandemens, luy disant que celuy qui à -tout fait haïssoit ceux qui ne luy obeïssoient pas, & qu'elle luy dit -qu'elle estoit bien marrie de l'auoir offencé: La pauure femme qui -auoit bien retenu les deffences que Dieu a fait à tous les hommes de -mentir, de paillarder, de desobeïr à ses parents, s'accusa tout seule -de toutes ses offences par plusieurs fois: disant de soy mesme, celuy -qui as tout fait aye pitié de moy, IESVS, Fils de celuy qui peut tout, -fais moy misericorde: ie te promets que ie ne m'enyureray plus ny que -ie ne diray plus de paroles des honnestes, que ie ne mentiray plus, ie -suis marrie de t'auoir fasché, i'en suis marrie de tout mon cœur, ie -ne mens point, aye pitié de moy, si je retourne en santé, ie croiray -tousiours en toy, ie t'obeiray tousiours, si ie meurs aye pitié de mon -ame; l'aiant donc veuë ainsi disposée, craignant d'ailleurs qu'elle ne -mourust subitement, car elle estoit fort malade, ie luy demanday si -elle ne vouloit pas bien estre baptizée, ie voudrois bien encore viure, -me dit-elle, [31] ie cogneu qu'elle s'imaginoit que nous ne donnions -point le baptesme qu'à ceux qui deuoient mourir incontinent apres; ie -luy fist entendre que nous estions tous baptizés, & que nous n'estions -pas morts, que le baptesme rendoit plutost la santé du corps, qu'il -ne l'ostoit; baptise moy donc au plutost me fit elle: ie la voulus -esprouuer, il estoit arriué quelques canots de Sauuages à Kebec, ie -luy dis, voila vne compagnie de tes gens qui vient d'arriuer, si tu -veux t'en aller auec eux, ils te receuront, & ie te feray porter en -leurs cabanes; la pauure creature se mit à pleurer & à sanglotter si -fort, qu'elle me toucha, me tesmoignant par ses larmes qu'elle vouloit -estre Chrestienne, & que ie ne la chassasse point: enfin voiant son -mal redoubler, nous prismes resolution de la baptizer promptement; ie -luy fist entendre qu'elle pourroit mourir la nuict, & que son ame s'en -iroit dans les feux, si elle n'estoit baptizée: que si elle vouloit -receuoir ce sacrement en nostre Chappelle, que ie l'y ferois apporter -dans vne couuerture, elle tesmoigna qu'elle [32] en estoit contente: -ie m'en vay, luy disie, preparer tout ce qu'il fault, prends courage, -ie t'enuoieray bien-tost querir: la pauure femme n'eut pas la patience -d'attendre, elle se traisne comme elle pût, se reposant à tous coups, -en fin elle arriua à nostre maison esloignée de plus de deux cent pas -de sa cabane, & se jetta par terre n'en pouuant plus, estant reuenuë -à soy, ie la baptizay en presence de nos Peres, & de tous nos hommes: -elle me respondit brauement à toutes les demandes que ie luy feis, -suiuant l'ordre de conferer ce Sacrement aux personnes qui ont l'vsage -de raison: Nous la reportasmes dans sa cabane toute pleine de joie, & -nous remplis de consolation voiant la grace de Dieu operer dans vne -ame où le diable auoit fait sa demeure si long temps. Cecy arriua le -premier iour d'Aoust. - - The seventh person whom we have placed among the number of the - children of God, through the Sacrament of Baptism, is the mother - of the little Savage whom we named "bien-venu;" she is called, - in Savage, _Ouroutiuoucoueu_, and now her name is Marie. This - beautiful name was given to her in pursuance of a vow once made by - Reverend Father Charles l'Allement, that the first Canadian Woman - whom we should baptize should bear the name of the holy Virgin; and - the first Savage, that [28] of her glorious Spouse, saint Joseph. - We did not know about this vow, when the others were baptized; I - hope that in a very few days it will be entirely fulfilled. But to - return to our new Christian. When I found her near the French fort, - abandoned by her people, because she was sick, I asked her who fed - her; she answered that the French gave her a few morsels of bread, - and that, on their return from the chase, they occasionally threw - her a pigeon. "If you wish to stay near us," I said, "we will care - for you, and will teach you the way to Heaven." She answered me in - a weak voice, for she was very sick, "Alas! I would indeed like to - go there, but I can no longer walk; have pity upon me, send some - one in a Canoe to fetch me." I did not fail to do this; and on - the next day, the 23rd of July, I had her brought near our house. - The poor woman asked me if she were not to go inside, expecting - us to show her the same [29] charity that the first two who had - been baptized had received; but I told her that, as she was a - woman, we could not lodge her in our house, which is very small; - that we would, however, carry her something to eat to her Hut, and - that every day I would go to see and teach her. She was satisfied - with this. When I began to speak to her about the holy Trinity, - saying that the Father, the son, and the holy Spirit, were only one - God, who has made all things, "I know that well," she replied, "I - believe it." I was greatly astonished at this answer, but she told - me that our good Savage Joseph occasionally reported to her what we - told him. This was a great consolation to me, for in a short time - she was sufficiently instructed to be baptized. My only trouble - was to make her feel sorrow for her sins. The Savages have not - this word "sin" in their language, though they certainly have it - in their customs. The word for wickedness and malice, among them, - means a violation of purity, as they have told me. So I was puzzled - to know how to make her understand sorrow at having offended [30] - God. I read her the Commandments several times, telling her that - he who made all things hates those who do not obey him; and that - she should tell him she was very sorry for having offended him. The - poor woman, who well remembered that God forbids all men to lie, to - be wanton, to disobey their parents, accused herself over and over - again of all these offences. She said of her own accord, "Thou who - hast made all things, have mercy upon me; JESUS, son of him who - hath all power, have compassion upon me. I promise thee that I will - not get drunk any more, that I will not utter bad words any more, - that I will not lie any more. I am sorry for having angered thee, I - am sorry with all my heart. I am not lying, have mercy upon me. If - I recover, I will always believe in thee, I will always obey thee. - If I die, have mercy upon my soul." As I saw her thus minded, and - feared beside that she might die suddenly, for she was very ill, - I asked her if she would not like to be baptized. "I would like - to live longer," she replied. [31] I saw she imagined that we only - gave baptism to those who were to die immediately afterwards. I - made her understand that we were all baptized and we were not dead, - that baptism restored health to the body rather than took it away. - "Baptize me then as soon as possible," she answered. I wanted to - try her. Some canoes of Savages having arrived at Kebec, I said to - her: "Here is a company of thy people just arrived; if thou wishest - to go away with them, they will receive thee, and I will have thee - taken to their cabins." The poor creature began to weep and to sob - so violently, that I was touched, proving to me by her tears that - she wanted to be a Christian, and that she did not want me to drive - her away. At last, when we saw that she was growing much worse, - we decided to baptize her at once. I made her understand that she - might die that night, and that her soul would go into the flames if - she were not baptized; that if she wished to receive this sacrament - in our Chapel, I would have her conveyed there in a blanket. She - showed that she [32] was satisfied with this. "I am going away," I - said to her, "to prepare what is necessary, take courage, I will - send for thee soon." The poor woman did not have the patience to - wait, but dragged herself along as well as she could, resting at - every step, until at last she arrived at our house more than two - hundred steps from her cabin, and threw herself upon the ground - completely exhausted. When she recovered herself, I baptized her - in the presence of our Fathers and of all our men. She answered - confidently all the questions I put to her in following the order - of the administration of this Sacrament to persons who have the - use of their reason. We bore her, all full of joy, back to her - own cabin; and we ourselves were greatly comforted at seeing the - grace of God working in a soul where the devil has so long made his - habitation. This happened the first day of August. - -Le lendemain quelques François m'estant venus voir, l'allans visiter, -ils la trouuerent tenant vn Crucifix en main, & l'apostrophant fort -doucement! Toy qui est mort pour moy, fais moy misericorde, ie veux -croire en [33] toy toute ma vie, aye pitié de mon ame; Ie rapporte -expressement toutes ces particularitez, pour faire voir que nos -Sauuages ne sont point si barbares qu'ils ne puissent estre faits -enfans de Dieu: I'espere que là où le peché a regné, que la grace y -triomphera, cette pauure femme veit encores plus proche du Ciel que de -la santé. - - The next day, some French people, who came to see me, went to visit - her, and found her holding a Crucifix in her hand, and addressing - it in a low voice: "Thou who hast died for me, be merciful to me; I - wish to believe in [33] thee all my life; have pity upon my soul." - I report all these details purposely, that you may see that our - Savages are not so barbarous that they cannot be made children of - God. I hope that there, where sin has reigned, grace will triumph. - This poor woman is still living, nearer to Heaven than to health. - -Ie concluerray ce Chapitre par vn chastiment assez remarquable d'vne -autre Canadienne, qui ayant fermé l'oreille à Dieu pendant sa maladie, -semble auoir esté rejettée à sa mort. Le Pere Brebœuf l'ayant esté -voir, pour luy parler de receuoir la foy, elle se mocqua de luy, & -mesprisa ses paroles: sa maladie l'ayant terrassée, & les Sauuages -voulans decabaner, la porterent à cette honneste famille, habituée -icy depuis vn assez long temps; mais n'ayãt pas où la loger, ces -Barbares la trainerent au fort, si nous n'eussions esté si esloignez, -asseurément ils nous l'auroient amenée; car ie me doute qu'ils la -presentoiẽt à nos François, voyans que nous auions receu auec beaucoup -d'amour les deux Sauuages morts Chrestiens. [34] Monsieur de Champlain -voyant qu'il estoit desia tard luy fist donner le couuert pour vne -nuict, ceux qui estoient dans la chambre où on la mit furent contraints -d'en sortir, ne pouuans supporter l'infection de cette femme. - - I shall finish this Chapter with an account of the very remarkable - punishment of a Canadian Woman, who, having closed her ear to God - during her sickness, seems to have been rejected at her death. When - Father Brebœuf went to see her, to speak to her about receiving - the faith, she laughed at him and scorned his words. Having been - prostrated by sickness, and the Savages wishing to break camp, they - carried her to this worthy family who have lived here for quite a - long time; but, as they had no place to keep her, these Barbarians - dragged her to the fort; if we had not been so far away, they would - no doubt have brought her to us, for I am inclined to think that - they presented her to our Frenchmen because we had received with so - much kindness the two deceased Christian Savages. [34] Monsieur de - Champlain, as it was already late, gave her shelter for one night. - Those who were in the room where she was placed, had to leave, as - they could not bear the odor from this woman. - -Le iour venu Monsieur de Champlain fist appeller quelques Sauuages, -& leur ayant reproché leur cruauté d'abandonner cette creature qui -estoit de leur nation, ils la reprirent & la trainerent vers leurs -Cabanes, la rebutans comme vn chien, sans luy donner le couuert. Cette -miserable se voyant delaissée des siens, exposée à la rigueur du froid, -demãda qu'on nous fist appeller; mais cõme il n'y auoit point là de -nos François, les Sauuages ne voulurent pas prendre la peine de venir -iusques en nostre maison, esloignée d'vne bonne lieuë de leurs Cabanes, -si bien que la faim, le froid, la maladie, & les enfans des Sauuages, -à ce qu'on dit, la tuerent; nous ne fusmes aduertis de cette histoire -tragique que quelques iours apres sa mort: s'il y auoit icy vn Hospital -il y auroit tous les malades du [35] pays, & tous les vieillards, pour -les hommes nous les secourerons, selon nos forces, mais pour les femmes -il ne nous est pas bien seant de les receuoir en nos maisons. - - In the morning, Monsieur de Champlain caused a number of the - Savages to be called; and, being reproached by him for their - cruelty in abandoning this creature, who was of their tribe, they - took her and dragged her toward their Cabins, repulsing her as - they would a dog, and giving her no covering. This wretched woman, - finding herself abandoned by her own people and exposed to the - severity of the cold, asked that we should be called. But, as - there were no Frenchmen there, the Savages did not care to take - the trouble to come all the way to our house, a good league from - their Cabins; so that hunger, cold, disease, and the children of - the Savages, as it is reported, killed her. We did not hear of this - tragedy until some days after her death. If we had a Hospital here, - all the sick people of the [35] country, and all the old people, - would be there. As to the men, we will take care of them according - to our means; but, in regard to the women, it is not becoming for - us to receive them into our houses. - - - - -CHAPITRE III. - -DES MOYENS DE CONUERTIR LES SAUUAGES. - - -LE grand pouuoir que firent paroistre les Portugais au commencement -dedans les Indes Orientales & Occidentales, ietta l'admiration bien -auant dedans l'esprit des Indiens, si bien que ces peuples embrasserent -quasi sans contreditte la creance de ceux qu'ils admiroient. Or voicy à -mon aduis les moyens d'acquerir cet ascendant, pardessus nos Sauuages. - - CHAPTER III. - - ON THE MEANS OF CONVERTING THE SAVAGES. - - - THE great show of power made at first by the Portuguese in the East - and West Indies inspired profound admiration in the minds of the - Indians, so that these people embraced, without any contradiction, - the belief of those whom they admired. Now the following is, it - seems to me, the way in which to acquire an ascendancy over our - Savages. - -Le premier est d'arrester les courses de ceux qui ruinent la Religion, -& de se rendre redoutable aux Hiroquois, qui ont tué de nos hommes, -comme chacun sçait, & qui tout fraischement ont massacré deux cent -Hurons, & en [36] ont pris plus de cent prisonniers. Voila selon ma -pensée la porte vnique, par laquelle nous sortirons du mespris, où la -negligence de ceux qui auoient cy-deuant la traicte du pays, nous ont -ietté par leur auarice. - - First, to check the progress of those who overthrow Religion, and - to make ourselves feared by the Iroquois, who have killed some of - our men, as every one knows, and who recently massacred two hundred - Hurons, and [36] took more than a hundred prisoners. This is, in - my opinion, the only door through which we can escape the contempt - into which the negligence of those who have heretofore held the - trade of this country has thrown us, through their avarice. - -Le second moyen de nous rendre recommandables aux Sauuages, pour les -induire à receuoir nostre saincte foy, seroit d'enuoyer quelque nombre -d'hommes bien entendus à defricher & cultiuer la terre, lesquels se -ioignants auec ceux qui sçauroient la langue, trauailleroient pour -les Sauuages, à cõdition qu'ils s'arresteroient, & mettroient eux -mesmes la main à l'œuure, demeurants dans quelques maisons qu'on leur -feroit dresser pour leur vsage, par ce moyen demeurants sedentaires, -& voyants ce miracle de charité en leur endroit, on les pourroit -instruire & gaigner plus facilement. M'entretenant cét Hyuer auec mes -Sauuages, ie leurs communiquois ce dessein, les asseurant que quand -ie sçaurois parfaictement leur langue, ie les aiderois à cultiuer -la terre, si ie pouuois auoir des hommes, & s'ils se vouloient [37] -arrester, leurs representant la misere de leurs courses, qui les -touchoit pour lors assez sensiblement. Le Sorcier m'ayant entendu, se -tourna vers ses gens, & leur dit, voyez comme cette robe noire ment -hardiment en nostre presence; ie luy demandy pourquoy il se figuroit -que ie mentois, pource, dit-il, qu'on ne voit point d'hommes au -monde si bons comme tu dis, qui voudroient prendre la peine de nous -secourir sans espoir de recompense, & d'employer tant d'hommes pour -nous aider sans rien prendre de nous; si tu faisois cela, adjousta-il, -tu arresterois la pluspart des Sauuages, & ils croiroient tous à tes -paroles. - - The second means of commending ourselves to the Savages, to - induce them to receive our holy faith, would be to send a number - of capable men to clear and cultivate the land, who, joining - themselves with others who know the language, would work for the - Savages, on condition that they would settle down, and themselves - put their hands to the work, living in houses that would be built - for their use; by this means becoming located, and seeing this - miracle of charity in their behalf, they could be more easily - instructed and won. While conversing this Winter with my Savages, - I communicated to them this plan, assuring them that when I - knew their language perfectly, I would help them cultivate the - land if I could have some men, and if they wished [37] to stop - roving,--representing to them the wretchedness of their present - way of living, and influencing them very perceptibly, for the time - being. The Sorcerer,[14] having heard me, turned toward his people - and said, "See how boldly this black robe lies in our presence." I - asked him why he thought I was lying. "Because," said he, "we never - see in this world men so good as thou sayest, who would take the - trouble to help us without hope of reward, and to employ so many - men to aid us without taking anything from us; if thou shouldst - do that," he added, "thou wouldst secure the greater part of the - Savages, and they would all believe in thy words." - -Ie m'en rapporte, mais si ie puis tirer quelque conclusion des choses -que ie vois, il me semble qu'on ne doit pas esperer grande chose des -Sauuages, tant qu'ils seront errants; vous les instruisés auiourd'huy, -demain la faim vous enleuera vos auditeurs, les contraignant d'aller -chercher leur vie dans les fleuues & dans les bois. L'an passé ie -faisois le Catechisme en begaiant à [38] bon nombre d'enfans, les -vaisseaux partis, mes oyseaux s'enuolerent qui d'vn costé qui de -l'autre, cette année que ie parle vn petit mieux, ie les pensois -reuoir, mais s'estans cabanez de là le grand fleuue de S. Laurens, -i'ay esté frustré de mon attente. De les vouloir suiure, il faudrait -autant de Religieux qu'ils sont de cabanes, encor n'en viendroit on -pas à bout; car ils sont tellement occupez à quester leur vie parmy -ces bois, qu'ils n'ont pas le loisir de se sauuer, pour ainsi dire. -De plus ie ne crois point que de cent Religieux, il y en ait dix qui -puissent resister aux trauaux, qu'il faudroit endurer à leur suitte. -Ie voulus demeurer auec eux l'Automne dernier, ie n'y fus pas huict -iours, qu'vne fieure violente me saisit, & me fist rechercher nostre -petite maison, pour y trouuer ma santé: Estant guary ie les ay voulu -suiure pendant l'Hiuer, i'ay esté fort malade la pluspart du temps: -ces raisons & beaucoup d'autres que ie deduirois, n'estoit que ie -crains d'estre lõg, me font croire qu'on trauaillera beaucoup, & qu'on -auancera fort peu, si on n'arreste ces Barbares, [39] de leur vouloir -persuader de cultiuer d'eux-mesmes sans estre secourus, ie doute fort -si on le pourra obtenir de long temps; car ils n'y entendent rien: De -plus où retireront ils ce qu'ils pourront recueillir, leurs cabanes -n'estants faites que d'escorce, la premiere gelée gastera toutes les -racines & les citroüilles qu'ils auroient ramassées. De semer des poids -& du bled d'Inde, ils n'ont point de place dans leurs todis; mais qui -les nourrira pendant qu'ils cõmanceront à défricher; car ils ne viuent -quasi qu'au iour la iournée, n'ayãt pour l'ordinaire au temps qu'il -faut défricher aucunes prouisions. En fin quand ils se tueroiẽt de -trauailler, ils ne pourroient pas retirer de la terre la moitié de leur -vie, iusques à ce qu'elle soit défrichée, & qu'ils soient bien entendus -à la faire profiter. - - I may be mistaken; but, if I can draw any conclusion from the - things I see, it seems to me that not much ought to be hoped for - from the Savages as long as they are wanderers; you will instruct - them to-day, to-morrow hunger snatches your hearers away, forcing - them to go and seek their food in the rivers and woods. Last year - I stammered out the Catechism to a [38] goodly number of children; - as soon as the ships departed, my birds flew away, some in one - direction and some in another. This year, I hoped to see them - again, as I speak a little better; but, as they have settled on - the other side of the great river St. Lawrence, my hopes have - been frustrated. To try to follow them, as many Religious would - be needed as there are cabins, and still we would not attain our - object; for they are so occupied in seeking their livelihood - in these woods, that they have not time, so to speak, to save - themselves. Besides, I do not believe that, out of a hundred - Religious, there would be ten who could endure the hardships to - be encountered in following them. I tried to live among them last - Autumn; I was not there a week before I was attacked by a violent - fever, which caused me to return to our little house to recover my - health. Being cured, I tried to follow them during the Winter, and - I was very ill the greater part of the time. These reasons, and - many others that I might give, were I not afraid of being tedious, - make me think that we shall work a great deal and advance very - little, if we do not make these Barbarians stationary. [39] As for - persuading them to till the soil of their own accord, without being - helped, I very much doubt whether we shall be able to attain this - for a long time, for they know nothing whatever about it. Besides, - where will they store their harvests? As their cabins are made of - bark, the first frost will spoil all the roots and pumpkins that - they will have gathered. If they plant peas and Indian corn, they - have no place in their huts to store them. But who will feed them - while they are beginning to clear the land? For they live only from - one day to another, having ordinarily no provisions to sustain them - during the time that they must be clearing. Finally, when they had - killed themselves with hard work, they could not get from the land - half their living, until it was cleared and they understood how to - make the best use of it. - -Or auec le secours de quelques braues ouuriers de bon trauail, il -seroit aisé d'arrester quelques familles, veu que quelques vns m'en ont -des-ja parlé, s'accoustumans d'eux mesmes petit à petit à tirer quelque -chose de la terre. - - Now, with the assistance of a few good, industrious men, it would - be easy to locate a few families, especially as some of them - have already spoken to me about it, thus of themselves becoming - accustomed, little by little, to extract something from the earth. - -Ie sçay bien qu'il y a des personnes de [40] bon iugement, qui croyent -qu'encor que les Sauuages soient errants, que la bonne semence de -l'Euangile ne laissera pas de germer & de fructifier en leur ame, -quoy que plus lentement, pource qu'on ne les peut instruire que par -reprises. Ils se figurẽt encor que s'il passe icy quelques familles -comme on a des-ja commencé d'en amener, que les Sauuages, prendrõt -exemple sur nos François, & s'arresteront pour cultiuer la terre. Ie -fus frappé de ces pensées au commencement que nous vinsmes icy, mais -la cõmunicatiõ que i'ay euë auec ces peuples, & les difficultez qu'ont -des hõmes habituez dans l'oisiueté, d'embrasser vn fort trauail, comme -est la culture de la terre, me fõt croire maintenant que s'ils ne sont -secourus, ils perdront cœur, notamment les Sauuages de Tadoussac. Car -pour ceux des trois riuieres, où nos François font faire vne nouuelle -habitation cette année, ils ont promis qu'ils s'arresteront là & qu'ils -semeront du bled d'Inde; ce qui me semble n'est pas tout à faict -asseuré, mais probable, pour autant que leurs predecesseurs ont eu -autresfois [41] vne bonne bourgade en cet endroict, qu'ils ont quittée -pour les inuasions des Hiroquois leurs ennemis. - - I know well there are persons of [40] good judgment who believe - that, although the Savages are nomadic, the good seed of the Gospel - will not fail to take root and bring forth fruit in their souls, - although more slowly, as they can only be instructed at intervals. - They imagine also that, if a few families come over here, as they - are already beginning to do, the Savages will follow the example of - our French and will settle down to cultivate the land. I myself was - impressed with these ideas, when we first came over here; but the - intercourse which I have had with these people, and the difficulty - that men accustomed to a life of idleness have in embracing one of - hard work, such as cultivating the soil, cause me to believe now - that if they are not helped they will lose heart, especially the - Savages at Tadoussac. As to those of the three rivers, where our - French People are going to plant a new colony this year, they have - promised that they will settle down there and plant Indian corn; - this seems to me not altogether assured, but probable, inasmuch - as their predecessors once had [41] a good village in that place, - which they abandoned on account of the invasions of their enemies, - the Hiroquois.[15] - -Le Capitaine de ce quartier là, m'a dit que la terre y estoit fort -bonne, & qu'ils l'aimoient fort s'ils deuiennent sedentaires, comme -ils en ont maintenant la volonté, nous preuoyons lá vne moisson plus -feconde des biens du Ciel, que des fruicts de la terre. - - The Captain of that region told me that the land there was quite - good, and they liked it very much. If they become sedentary, as - they are now minded to do, we foresee there a harvest more abundant - in the blessings of Heaven than in the fruits of the earth. - -Le troisiesme moyen d'estre bienvoulu de ces peuples, seroit de dresser -icy vn seminaire de petits garçons, & auec le temps vn de filles, -soubs la conduitte de quelque braue maistresse, que le zele de la -gloire de Dieu & l'affectiõ au salut de ces peuples, fera passer icy, -auec quelques Compagnes animées de pareil courage. Plaise à sa diuine -Majesté d'en inspirer quelques vnes, pour vne si noble entreprise, & -leur fasse perdre l'apprehension que la foiblesse de leur sexe leur -pourroit causer, pour auoir à trauerser tant de mers, & viure parmy des -Barbares. - - The third means of making ourselves welcome to these people, would - be to erect here a seminary for little boys, and in time one for - girls, under the direction of some brave mistress, whom zeal - for the glory of God, and a desire for the salvation of these - people, will bring over here, with a few Companions animated by - the same courage. May it please his divine Majesty to inspire some - to so noble an enterprise, and to divest them of any fear that - the weakness of their sex might induce in them at the thought of - crossing so many seas and of living among Barbarians. - -A ce dernier voyage des femmes enceintes sont venuës, & ont aisemẽt -surmonté ces difficultez, comme auoient [42] faict d'autres auparauant. -Il y a aussi du plaisir d'appriuoiser des ames Sauuages, & les cultiuer -pour receuoir la semence du Christianisme. Et puis l'experience nous -rend certains, que Dieu qui est bon & puissant enuers tous, au respect -neantmoins de ceux qui s'exposent genereusemẽt & souffrent volontiers -pour son seruice, il a des caresses assaisonnées de tant de suauitez, -& les secoure parmy leurs dangers d'vne si prompte & paternelle -assistance, que souuent ils ne sentent point leurs trauaux, ains -leurs peines leur tournent à plaisir, & leurs perils à consolation -singuliere: Mais ie voudrois tenir icy où nous sommes les enfans -des Hurons. Le Pere Brebœuf nous faict esperer que nous en pourrons -auoir, s'il entre auec nos Peres dans ces pays bien peuplez, & si on -trouue dequoy fonder ce seminaire. La raison pourquoy ie ne voudrois -pas prẽdre les enfans du pays dans le pays mesme, mais en vn autre -endroict, c'est pour autant que ces Barbares ne peuuent supporter -qu'on chastie leurs enfants, non pas mesme de paroles, ne pouuans rien -refuser à vn [43] enfant qui pleure, si bien qu'à la moindre fantaisie -ils nous les enleueroient deuant qu'ils fussent instruicts; mais si on -tient icy les petits Hurõs, ou les enfans des peuples plus esloignez, -il en arriuera plusieurs biens: car nous ne serõs pas importunés ny -destournés des peres en l'instruction des enfants; cela obligera ces -peuples à bien traitter, ou du moins à ne faire aucun tort aux François -qui seront en leur pays. Et en dernier lieu nous obtiendrons, auec la -grace de Dieu nostre Seigneur, la fin pour laquelle nous venons en ce -pays si esloigné, sçauoir est la conuersion de ces peuples. - - In the last voyage there came some women who were pregnant, and - they easily surmounted these difficulties, as others had [42] done - before them. There is also some pleasure in taming the souls of the - Savages, and preparing them to receive the seed of Christianity. - And then experience makes us feel certain that God, who shows his - goodness and power to all, has, nevertheless, for those who expose - themselves freely and suffer willingly in his service, favors - seasoned with so much sweetness, and succors them in the midst - of their dangers with so prompt and paternal assistance, that - often they do not feel their trials, but their pain is turned to - pleasure and their perils to a peculiar consolation. But I would - like to keep here, where we are, the children of the Hurons. Father - Brebœuf leads us to hope that we shall have some, if he goes with - our Fathers into those well-peopled countries, and if there is - anything with which to found a seminary. The reason why I would not - like to take the children of one locality [and teach them] in that - locality itself, but rather in some other place, is because these - Barbarians cannot bear to have their children punished, nor even - scolded, not being able to refuse anything to a [43] crying child. - They carry this to such an extent that upon the slightest pretext - they would take them away from us, before they were educated. But - if the little Hurons, or the children of more distant tribes, are - kept here, a great many advantages will result, for we would not - be annoyed and distracted by the fathers while instructing the - children; it will also compel these people to show good treatment - to the French who are in their country, or at least not to do them - any injury. And, lastly, we shall obtain, by the grace of God our - Lord, the object for which we came into this distant country; - namely, the conversion of these nations. - - - - -CHAPITRE IV. - -DE LA CREANCE, DES SUPERSTITIONS, & DES ERREURS DES SAUUAGES MONTAGNAIS. - - -I'AY desia mandé, que les Sauuages croyoient qu'vn certain nõmé -Atachocam auoit creé le monde, & qu'vn nommé Messou l'auoit reparé. -I'ay interrogé là dessus ce fameux Sorcier & ce vieillard, auec -lesquelles i'ay passé [44] l'Hyuer, ils m'ont respondu, qu'ils ne -sçauoient pas qui estoit le premier Autheur du mõde, que c'estoit -peut-estre Atahochã, mais que cela n'estoit pas certain qu'ils ne -parloient d'Atahocam, que comme on parle d'vne chose si esloignée, qu'õ -n'en peut tirer aucune asseurance, & de fait le mot Nitatahokan en leur -lãgue, signifie, ie racõte vne fable, ie dis vn vieux conte fait à -plaisir. - - CHAPTER IV. - - ON THE BELIEF, SUPERSTITIONS, AND ERRORS OF THE MONTAGNAIS SAVAGES. - - - I HAVE already reported that the Savages believe that a certain one - named Atachocam had created the world, and that one named Messou - had restored it.[16] I have questioned upon this subject the famous - Sorcerer and the old man with whom I passed [44] the Winter; they - answered that they did not know who was the first Author of the - world,--that it was perhaps Atahocham, but that was not certain; - that they only spoke of Atahocam as one speaks of a thing so far - distant that nothing sure can be known about it; and, in fact, the - word "Nitatahokan" in their language means, "I relate a fable, I am - telling an old story invented for amusement." - -Pour le Messou, ils tiennent qu'il a reparé le monde qui s'estoit perdu -par le deluge d'eau, d'où appert qu'ils ont quelque traditiõ de cette -grande inondation vniuerselle qui arriua du temps de Noë, mais ils ont -remply cette verité de mille fables impertinentes. Ce Messou allant -à la chasse ses loups Ceruiers dont il se seruoit au lieu de chiens, -estans entrez dans vn grand lac ils y furent arrestez. Le Messou les -cherchant par tout, vn oyseau luy dit qu'il les voyoit au milieu de ce -lac, il y entre pour les retirer, mais ce lac venant à se desgorger -couurit la terre, & abisma le monde, le Messou bien estõné, enuoya le -corbeau chercher vn morceau de terre pour rebastir cet element, mais -il [45] n'en peut trouuer, il fist descendre vne Loutre dãs l'abisme -des eauës, elle n'en peut rapporter, enfin il enuoya vn rat musqué, -qui en rapporta vn petit morceau, duquel se seruit le Messou, pour -refaire cette terre où nous sommes, il tira des flesches aux troncs des -arbres, lesquelles se conuertirent en brãches, il fist mille autres -merueilles, se vengea de ceux qui auoient arresté ses Loups Ceruiers, -épousa vne Ratte musquée, de laquelle il eust des enfans qui ont -repeuplé le monde, voila cõme le Messou a tout restably. Ie touchay -l'an passé cette fable, mais desirant rassembler tout ce que ie scay -de leur creance, i'ay vsé de redittes. Nostre Sauuage racõtoit au Pere -Brebœuf que ses compatriotes croyent qu'vn certain Sauuage auoit receu -du Messou le don d'immortalité dans vn petit pacquet, auec vne grande -recommandation de ne la point ouurir, pendãt qu'il le tint fermé il -fust immortel, mais sa femme curieuse & incredule, voulut voir ce qu'il -y auoit dans ce present, l'ayant deployé, tout s'enuola, & depuis les -Sauuages ont esté sujets à la mort. - - As to the Messou, they hold that he restored the world, which was - destroyed in the flood; whence it appears that they have some - tradition of that great universal deluge which happened in the - time of Noë, but they have burdened this truth with a great many - irrelevant fables. This Messou went to the chase, and his Lynxes, - which he used instead of dogs, having gone into a great lake, were - held there. The Messou, seeking them everywhere, was told by a - bird that it had seen them in the midst of this lake. He went in, - to get them out; but the lake overflowed, covering the earth and - swallowing up the world. The Messou, very much astonished, sent a - raven in search of a little piece of ground, with which to rebuild - this element [the earth], but he [45] could not find any; he made - an Otter descend into the abyss of waters, but it could not bring - back any; at last he sent a muskrat, which brought back a little - morsel, and the Messou used this to rebuild this earth which we - inhabit. He shot arrows into the trunks of trees, which made - themselves into branches; he performed a thousand other wonders, - avenged himself upon those who had detained his Lynxes, and married - a muskrat, by whom he had children who have repeopled this world. - So this is the way in which the Messou restored all things. I - touched upon this fable last year, but, desiring to recapitulate - all I know about their beliefs, I have repeated many things. Our - Savage related to Father Brebœuf that his people believe that a - certain Savage had received from Messou the gift of immortality in - a little package, with a strict injunction not to open it; while - he kept it closed he was immortal, but his wife, being curious and - incredulous, wished to see what was inside this present; and having - opened it, it all flew away, and since then the Savages have been - subject to death.[17] - -[46] Ils disent en outre, que tous les animaux de chaque espece ont -vn frere aisné, qui est cõme le principe & cõme l'origine de tous les -indiuidus, & ce frere aisné est merueilleusement grand puissãt. L'aisné -des Castors, me disoiẽt-ils, est peut-estre aussi gros que nostre -Cabane, quoy que ses Cadets (i'entẽds les Castors ordinaires) ne soient -pas tout à faict si gros que nos moutons; or ces aisnez de tous les -animaux sont les cadets du Messou, le voila bien apparẽté, le braue -reparateur de l'Vniuers, est le frere aisné de toutes les bestes. Si -quelqu'vn void en dormant l'aisné ou le principe de quelques animaux, -il fera bonne chasse, s'il void l'aisné des Castors, il prẽdra des -Castors, s'il void l'aisné des Eslans, il prendra des Eslans, iouyssans -des cadets par la faueur de leur aisné qu'ils ont veu en songe. Ie -leur demanday où estoient ces freres aisnez, nous n'en sommes pas bien -asseurez, me disoient-ils, mais nous pensons que les aisnés des oyseaux -sont au ciel, & que les aisnez des autres animaux sont dans les eauës. -Ils reconnoissent deux principes des saisons, l'vn [47] s'appelle -_Nipinou_k_he_, c'est celuy qui ramene le Printemps & l'Esté. Ce nom -vient de _Nipin_, qui en leur langue signifie le Printemps. L'autre -s'appelle Pipounoukhe du nom de Pipoun, qui signifie l'Hiuer, aussi -rameine il la saison froide. Ie leurs demandois si ce Nipinoukhe & -Pipounoukhe estoient hõmes ou animaux de quelque autre espece, & en -quel endroict ils demeuroient ordinairement; & ils me respondirent -qu'ils ne sçauoient pas bien cõme ils estoient faicts, encor qu'ils -fussent biẽ asseurez qu'ils estoiẽt viuants; car ils les entendent, -disent-ils, parler ou bruire, notãment à leur venuë, sans pouuoir -distinguer ce qu'ils disent; pour leur demeure, ils partagent le mõde -entre-eux, l'vn se tenant d'vn costé, l'autre de l'autre, & quand le -temps de leur station aux deux bouts du mõde, est expiré l'vn passe en -la place de l'autre se succedans mutuellement; Voila en partie la fable -de Castor & de Pollux. Quand Nipinoukhe reuient, il ramene auec soy la -chaleur, les oyseaux, la verdure, il rend la vie & la beauté au mõde, -mais Pipounoukhe rauage tout, [48] estant accompagné de vents froids, -de glaces, de neiges, & des autres appanages de l'Hiuer; Ils appellent -cette succession de l'vn à l'autre _Achitescatoueth_, c'est à dire ils -passent mutuellement à la place l'vn de l'autre. - - [46] They also say that all animals, of every species, have an - elder brother, who is, as it were, the source and origin of all - individuals, and this elder brother is wonderfully great and - powerful. The elder of the Beaver, they tell me, is perhaps as - large as our Cabin, although his Junior (I mean the ordinary - Beaver) is not quite as large as our sheep. Now these elders of all - the animals are the juniors of the Messou. Behold him well related, - this worthy restorer of the Universe, he is elder brother to all - beasts. If any one, when asleep, sees the elder or progenitor of - some animals, he will have a fortunate chase; if he sees the elder - of the Beavers, he will take Beavers; if he sees the elder of the - Elks, he will take Elks, possessing the juniors through the favor - of their senior whom he has seen in the dream. I asked them where - these elder brothers were. "We are not sure," they answered me, - "but we think the elders of the birds are in the sky, and that the - elders of the other animals are in the water." They recognize two - progenitors of the seasons; one [47] is called _Nipinoukhe_, it is - this one that brings the Spring and Summer. This name comes from - _Nipin_, which in their language means Springtime. The other is - called Pipounoukhe, from the word Pipoun, which means Winter; it - therefore brings the cold season. I asked them if this Nipinoukhe - and Pipounoukhe were men, or if they were animals of some other - species, and in what place they usually dwelt; they replied that - they did not know exactly what form they had, but they were quite - sure they were living, for they heard them, they said, talking - or rustling, especially at their coming, but they could not tell - what they were saying. For their dwelling place they share the - world between them, the one keeping on one side, the other upon - the other; and when the period of their stay at one end of the - world has expired, each goes over to the locality of the other, - reciprocally succeeding each other. Here we have, in part, the - fable of Castor and Pollux. When Nipinoukhe returns, he brings - back with him the heat, the birds, the verdure, and restores life - and beauty to the world; but Pipounoukhe lays waste everything, - [48] being accompanied by the cold winds, ice, snows, and other - phenomena of Winter. They call this succession of one to the other - _Achitescatoueth_; meaning that they pass reciprocally to each - others' places. - -De plus, ils croyent qu'il y a certains Genies du jour, ou Genies de -l'air, ils les nomment _Khichi_k_ouai_ du mot _Khichi_k_ou_, qui veut -dire le jour & l'air. Les Genies, ou K_hichi_k_ouai_, connoissent les -choses futures, ils voyẽt de fort loing, c'est pourquoy les Sauuages -les consultent, non pas tous mais certains iongleurs, qui sçauent mieux -bouffonner & amuser ce peuple que les autres. Ie me suis trouué auec -eux quand ils consultoient ces beaux Oracles, voicy ce que i'en ay -remarqué. - - Furthermore, they believe that there are certain Genii of light, - or Genii of the air, which they call _Khichikouai_ from the word - _Khichikou_, which means "light" or "the air." The Genii, or - _Khichikouai_, are acquainted with future events, they see very far - ahead; this is why the Savages consult them, not all [the savages] - but certain jugglers, who know better than the others how to impose - upon and amuse these people. I have chanced to be present when they - consulted these fine Oracles, and here is what I have observed. - -Sur l'entrée de la nuict, deux ou trois jeunes hommes dresserent vn -tabernacle au milieu de nostre Cabane, ils plãterent en rond six pieux -fort auãt dans terre, & pour les tenir en estat, ils attacherent au -haut de ces pieux vn grand cercle, qui les enuironnoit tous; cela -fait ils entourerent cet Edifice de Castelognes, laissant le haut du -tabernacle [49] ouuuert, c'est tout ce que pourroit faire vn grand -homme, d'atteindre de la main au plus haut de cette tour ronde, capable -de tenir 5 ou 6 hommes debout. Cette maisõ estãt faite, on esteint -entierement les feux de la cabane, iettant dehors les tisons, de peur -que la flãme ne donne de l'espouuãte à ces Geniés ou K_hichi_k_ouai_, -qui doiuent entrer en ce tabernacle, dans lequel vn ieune iongleur -se glissa par le bas, retroussant à cét effect la couuerture qui -l'enuirõnoit, puis la rabbattãt quand il fut entré, car il se faut bien -donner de garde qu'il n'y ait aucune ouuerture en ce beau palais, sinon -par le haut. Le jongleur entré, commença doucement à fremir, comme en -se plaignãt, il esbranloit ce tabernacle sans violence au cõmencement, -puis s'animant petit à petit, il se mit à siffler d'vne façon sourde, -& comme de loin: puis à parler comme dans vne bouteille, à crier -comme vn chat-huant de ce pays-cy, qui me semble auoir la voix plus -forte que ceux de France, puis à hurler, chanter, variant de tõ à tous -coup, finissant par ces syllabes, _ho ho, hi hi, gui gui nioué_, & -autres [50] semblables cõtrefaisant sa voix en sorte qu'il me sembloit -oüir ces marionnettes que quelques bateleurs fõt voir en France: -Il parloit tãtost Mõtagnais, tantost Algonquain, retenãt tousiours -l'accent Algonquain, qui est gay, cõme le Prouençal. Au commencement, -cõme i'ay dit, il agitoit doucement cét edifice, mais cõme il s'alloit -tousiours animant, il entra dans vn si furieux enthousiasme, que ie -croyois qu'il deust tout briser, esbranlant si fortement, & auec de -telles violences sa maison, que ie m'estonnois qu'vn homme eust tant de -force: car, comme il eut vne fois cõmencé à l'agiter, il ne cessa point -que la consulte ne fust faite, qui dura enuiron trois heures: Comme -il changeoit de voix, les Sauuages s'escrioient au commencemẽt _moa, -moa_, escoute, escoute: puis inuitãs ces Geniés, ils leurs disoiẽt, -_Pitou_k_hecou_, _Pitou_K_hecou_, entrez, entrez. D'autrefois cõme -s'ils eussent respondu aux hurlements du jongleur, ils tiroient ceste -aspiration du fond de la poitrine, _ho, ho_. I'estois assis comme les -autres regardant ce beau mystere auec defence de parler: mais cõme ie -ne leur [51] auois point voüé d'obeïssance, ie ne laissois pas de dire -vn petit mot à la trauerse: tantost ie les priois d'auoir pitié de ce -pauure jongleur, qui se tuoit dans ce tabernacle: d'autrefois ie leur -disois qu'ils criassent plus haut & que leurs Geniés estoient endormis. - - Towards nightfall, two or three young men erected a tent in the - middle of our Cabin; they stuck six poles deep into the ground in - the form of a circle, and to hold them in place they fastened to - the tops of these poles a large ring, which completely encircled - them; this done, they enclosed this Edifice with Castelognes,[18] - leaving the top of the tent [49] open; it is all that a tall man - can do to reach to the top of this round tower, capable of holding - 5 or 6 men standing upright. This house made, the fires of the - cabin are entirely extinguished, and the brands thrown outside, - lest the flame frighten away the Genii or _Khichikouai_, who are - to enter this tent; a young juggler slipped in from below, turning - back, for this purpose, the covering which enveloped it, then - replaced it when he had entered, for they must be very careful that - there be no opening in this fine palace except from above. The - juggler, having entered, began to moan softly, as if complaining; - he shook the tent at first without violence; then becoming - animated little by little, he commenced to whistle, in a hollow - tone, and as if it came from afar; then to talk as if in a bottle; - to cry like the owls of these countries, which it seems to me - have stronger voices than those of France; then to howl and sing, - constantly varying the tones; ending by these syllables, _ho ho, - hi hi, gui gui, nioué_, and other [50] similar sounds, disguising - his voice so that it seemed to me I heard those puppets which - showmen exhibit in France. Sometimes he spoke Montagnais, sometimes - Algonquain, retaining always the Algonquain intonation, which, like - the Provençal, is vivacious. At first, as I have said, he shook - this edifice gently; but, as he continued to become more animated, - he fell into so violent an ecstasy, that I thought he would break - everything to pieces, shaking his house with so much force and - violence, that I was astonished at a man having so much strength; - for, after he had once begun to shake it, he did not stop until the - consultation was over, which lasted about three hours. Whenever he - would change his voice, the Savages would at first cry out, _moa, - moa_, "listen, listen;" then, as an invitation to these Genii, they - said to them, _Pitoukhecou, Pitoukhecou_, "enter, enter." At other - times, as if they were replying to the howls of the juggler, they - drew this aspiration from the depths of their chests, _ho, ho_. I - was seated like the others, looking on at this wonderful mystery, - forbidden to speak; but as I [51] had not vowed obedience to them, - I did not fail to intrude a little word into the proceedings. - Sometimes I begged them to have pity on this poor juggler, who - was killing himself in this tent; at other times I told them they - should cry louder, for the Genii had gone to sleep. - -Quelques vns de ces Barbares s'imaginẽt que ce jongleur n'est point là -dedans, qu'ils est transporté sans sçauoir ny ou, ny cõment. D'autres -disent que son corps est couché par terre, que son ame est au haut de -ce tabernacle, où elle parle au commencement, appellant ces Geniés, & -iettant par fois des estincelles de feu. Or pour retourner à nostre -consultation, les Sauuages, ayant ouy certaine voix que contrefit le -jongleur, pousserẽt vn cris d'allegresse, disants qu'vn de ces Geniés -estoit entré: Puis s'addressants à luy, s'escrioient, _Tepouachi, -tepouachi_, appelle, appelle; sçauoir est tes compagnõs; là dessus le -jongleur faisant du Geniés, changeant de ton & de voix les appelloit: -cependant nostre sorcier qui estoit presẽt prit son tambour, & chantant -auec le iongleur qui estoit dans le tabernacle, les autres [52] -respondoient: On fit dancer quelques ieunes gens, entr'autres l'Apostat -qui n'y vouloit point entendre, mais le sorcier le fit bien obeïr. - - Some of these Barbarians imagined that this juggler was not inside, - that he had been carried away, without knowing where or how. Others - said that his body was lying on the ground, and that his soul was - up above the tent, where it spoke at first, calling these Genii, - and throwing from time to time sparks of fire. Now to return to our - consultation. The Savages having heard a certain voice that the - juggler counterfeited, uttered a cry of joy, saying that one of - these Genii had entered; then addressing themselves to him, they - cried out, _Tepouachi, tepouachi_, "call, call;" that is, "call - thy companions." Thereupon the juggler, pretending to be one of - the Genii and changing his tone and his voice, called them. In the - meantime our sorcerer, who was present, took his drum, and began - to sing with the juggler who was in the tent, and the others [52] - answered. Some of the young men were made to dance, among others - the Apostate,[12] who did not wish to hear of it, but the sorcerer - made him obey. - -En fin apres mille cris & hurlements, apres mille chants, aprés auoir -dancé & bien esbranlé ce bel edifice, les Sauuages croyãs que les -Geniés ou K_ichi_k_ouai_ estoient entrez, le sorcier les consulta: -il leur demanda de sa santé (car il est malade) de celle de sa fẽme -qui l'estoit aussi. Ces Geniés, ou plustost le jongleur qui les -contrefaisoit, respondit que pour sa fẽme elle estoit desia morte -que c'en estoit fait, i'en eusse bien dit autant que luy, car il ne -falloit estre ny prophete, ny sorcier pour deuiner cela; d'autãt que -la pauure creature auoit la mort entre les dents: pour le sorcier, ils -dirẽt qu'il verroit le Printemps. Or cognoissãt sa maladie, qui est vne -douleur de reins, ou pour mieux dire, vn appanage de ses lubricitez -& paillardises, car il est sale au dernier poinct, ie luy dis voyant -qu'il estoit sain d'ailleurs, & qu'il beuuoit & mangeoit fort biẽ, que -non seulement il verroit le printemps, mais encore l'Esté, si quelque -autre accident [53] ne luy suruenoit, ie ne me suis pas trompé. - - At last, after a thousand cries and howls, after a thousand songs, - after having danced and thoroughly shaken this fine edifice, the - Savages believing that the Genii or _Kichikouai_ had entered, the - sorcerer consulted them. He asked them about his health, (for he is - sick), and about that of his wife, who was also sick. These Genii, - or rather the juggler who counterfeited them, answered that, as to - his wife, she was already dead, that it was all over with her. I - could have said as much myself, for one needed not to be a prophet - or a sorcerer to guess that, inasmuch as the poor creature was - already struck with death; in regard to the sorcerer, they said - that he would see the Spring. Now, knowing his disease,--which was - a pain in the loins, or rather an infirmity resulting from his - licentiousness and excesses, for he is vile to the last degree,--I - said to him, seeing that he was otherwise healthy, and that he - drank and ate very heartily, that he would not only see the spring - but also the Summer, if some other accident [53] did not overtake - him, and I was not mistaken. - -Apres ces interogations, on demanda à ces beaux oracles s'il y auroit -bien tost de la neige, s'il y en auroit beaucoup, s'il y auroit des -Eslans ou Orignaux, & en quel endroict ils estoient, ils repartirent ou -plutost le iongleur, contrefaisant tousiours sa voix, qu'ils voyoient -peu de neige & des orignaux fort loing, sans determiner le lieu, ayãt -bien cette prudence de ne se point engager. - - After these interrogations, these fine oracles were asked if there - would soon be snow, if there would be much of it, if there would - be Elks or Moose, and where they could be found. They answered, or - rather the juggler, always disguising his voice, that they saw a - little snow and some moose far away, without indicating the place, - having the prudence not to commit themselves. - -Voila comme se passa cette consulte, apres laquelle se voulut arrester -le iongleur: mais comme il estoit nuict, il sortit de son tabernacle, -& de nostre cabane si vistement, qu'il fust dehors auant quasi que ie -m'en apperçeusse. Luy & tous les autres Sauuages qui estoient venus -des autres Cabanes à ces beaux mysteres, estans partis, ie demanday à -l'Apostat, s'il estoit si simple de croire que ces Geniés entrassent & -parlassent dans ce tabernacle, il se mit à iurer sa foy, qu'il a perduë -& reniée, que ce n'estoit point le iongleur qu'il parloit, ains ces -K_hichi_k_ouai_ ou Genies [54] du iour, & mon hoste me dit, entre toy -mesme dans le tabernacle, & tu verras que ton corps demeurera en bas, -& ton ame montera en hault: I'y voulu entrer, mais comme i'estois seul -de mõ party, ie preueu qu'ils m'auroient faict quelque affront, & comme -il n'y auoit point de tesmoins, ils se seroient vantez, que i'aurais -recogneu & admiré la verité de leurs mysteres. - - So this is what took place in this consultation, after which I - wished to get hold of the juggler; but, as it was night, he made - his exit from the tent and from our little cabin so swiftly, - that he was outside almost before I was aware of it. He and all - the other Savages, who had come from the other Cabins to these - beautiful mysteries, having departed, I asked the Apostate if - he was so simple as to believe that the Genii entered and spoke - in this tent. He began to swear his belief, which he had lost - and denied, that it was not the juggler who spoke, but these - _Khichikouai_ or Genii [54] of the air, and my host said to me, - "Enter thou thyself into the tent, and thou wilt see that thy body - will remain below, and thy soul will mount on high." I did want to - go in; but, as I was the only one of my party, I foresaw that they - might commit some outrage upon me, and, as there were no witnesses - there, they would boast that I had recognized and admired the truth - of their mysteries. - -Or j'auois grande enuie de sçauoir de quelle nature ils faisoient -ces Geniés, l'Apostat n'en sçauoit rien. Le sorcier voyant que -i'esuantois ses mines, & que i'improuuois ses niaiseries, ne me le -vouloit point enseigner, si bien qu'il fallut que ie me seruisse -d'industrie: Ie laissay escouler quelques sepmaines, puis le jettant -sur ce discours, ie luy parlois comme admirant sa doctrine, luy disant -qu'il auoit tort de m'esconduire, puisque à toutes les questions qu'il -me faisoit de nostre croyance, ie luy respõdois ingenument, sans -me faire tirer l'oreille: En fin il se laissa gagner à ses propres -loüanges, & me descouurit les secrets de l'escole: voicy la fable qu'il -me raconta, touchant la nature [55] & l'essence de ces Geniés. - - Now I had a great desire to know the nature of these Genii; the - Apostate knew nothing about them. The sorcerer, seeing that I was - discovering his mines, and that I disapproved of his nonsense, did - not wish to explain anything to me, so that I was compelled to make - use of my wits. I allowed a few weeks to pass; then, springing this - subject upon him, I spoke as if I admired his doctrine, saying to - him that it was wrong to refuse me, since to all the questions - which he asked me in regard to our belief, I answered him frankly - and without showing any reluctance. At last he allowed himself to - be won over by this flattery, and revealed to me the secrets of the - school. Here is the fable which he recounted to me touching the - nature [55] and the character of these Genii. - -Deux Sauuages consultans ces Geniés en mesme temps, mais en deux diuers -tabernacles, l'vn d'eux, homme tres-meschant, qui auoit tué trois -hõmes à coup de haches par trahison, fust mis à mort par les Geniés, -lesquels se transportans dans le tabernacle de l'autre Sauuage pour -luy oster la vie, aussi bien qu'à son compagnon, ils se trouuerent eux -mesmes surpris; car ce iongleur se defendit si bien, qu'il tua l'vn de -ces K_hichi_k_ouai_, ou Geniés, & ainsi l'on a sçeu comme ils estoient -faicts, car ce Geniés demeura sur la place. Ie luy demanday donc de -quelle forme il estoit, il estoit gros comme le poing, me fit-il, son -corps est de pierre, & vn peu long; Ie conceu qu'il estoit faict en -cone, gros par vn bout, s'allant tousiours appetissant vers l'autre. -Ils croiẽt que dans ce corps de pierre il y a de la chair & du sang, -car la hache dont ce Genié fust tué resta ensanglantée. Ie m'enquestay -s'ils auoient des pieds & des ailes, & m'ayant dict que non, & comment -donc, leur fis-ie, peuuent ils entrer ou voler dans ces tabernacles, -[56] s'ils n'ont ny pieds ny aisles, le sorcier se mit à rire, disant -pour solution, en verité ceste robe noire n'a point d'esprit, voila -comme ils me payent quand ie leurs fais quelque obiectiõ à laquelle ils -ne peuuent respondre. - - Two Savages having consulted these Genii at the same time, but - in two different tents, one of them, a very wicked man who had - treacherously killed three men with his hatchet, was put to death - by the Genii, who, crossing over into the tent of the other Savage - to take his life, as well as that of his companion, were themselves - surprised; for this juggler defended himself so well that he killed - one of these _Khichikouai_ or Genii; and thus it was found out how - they were made, for this One remained in the place where he was - killed. Then I asked him what was his form. "He was as large as - the fist," he replied; "his body was of stone, and rather long." - I judged that he was cone-shaped, large at one end, and gradually - becoming smaller towards the other. They believe that in this - stone body there is flesh and blood, for the hatchet with which - this Spirit was killed was bloody. I inquired if they had feet and - wings, and was told they had not. "Then how," said I, "can they - enter or fly into these tents, [56] if they have neither feet nor - wings?" The sorcerer began to laugh, saying in explanation, "In - truth, this black robe has no sense." This is the way they pay me - back when I offer some objections to something which they cannot - answer. - -Comme ils faisoient grand cas du feu que iettoit ce iongleur hors de -son tabernacle, ie leur dis, nos François en ietteroient mieux que luy, -car il ne faisoit voler que des estincelles de quelque bois pourry -qu'il porte auec soy, comme ie me persuade, & si i'eusse eu de la -resine, ie leur eusse faict sortir des flammes. Ils me contestoient -qu'il estoit entré sans feu dans cette maison, mais de bonne fortune, -ie luy auois veu donner vn gros charbon ardant qu'il demanda pour -petuner. - - As they made a great deal of the fire which this juggler threw out - of his tent, I told them that our Frenchmen could throw it better - than he could; for he only made a few sparks fly from some rotten - wood which he carried with him, as I am inclined to think, and if - I had had some resin I could have made the flames rise for them. - They insisted that he entered this house without fire; but I had - happened to see some one give him a red-hot coal which he asked to - light his pipe. - -Voila leur creance touchant les principes des choses bonnes: Ce qui -m'estonne, c'est leurs ingratitudes, car quoy qu'ils croyent que le -Messou a reparé le monde, que Nipinoukhé & PipounouKhe rameinent les -saisons, que leur KhichiKouai leurs apprẽnent où il y a des Eslans, -ou Orignaux, & leurs rendent milles autres bõs offices: si est ce que -ie n'ay peu iusques icy recognoistre [57] qu'ils leur rendent aucun -honneur: i'ay seulement remarqué que dans leurs festins, ils iettent -par fois quelques cuillerées de gresse dãs le feu, prononcant ces -parolles _Papeouekou, Papeoue_K_ou_, faites nous trouuer à manger, -faites nous trouuer à manger: ie crois que cette priere s'addresse à -ces Genies, ausquels ils presentent cette gresse comme la chose la -meilleure qu'ils ayent au monde. - - So that is their belief touching the foundations of things good. - What astonishes me is their ingratitude; for, although they believe - that the Messou has restored the world, that Nipinoukhé and - Pipounoukhe bring the seasons, that their Khichikouai teach them - where to find Elks or Moose, and render them a thousand other good - offices,--yet up to the present I have not been able to learn [57] - that they render them the slightest honor. I have only observed - that, in their feasts, they occasionally throw a few spoonfuls - of grease into the fire, pronouncing these words: _Papeouekou, - Papeouekou_; "Make us find something to eat, make us find something - to eat." I believe this prayer is addressed to these Genii, to whom - they present this grease as the best thing they have in the world. - -Outre ces principes des choses bonnes, ils recognoissent vn Manitou, -que nous pouuons appeller le diable, ils le tiennent comme le principe -des choses mauuaises, il est vray qu'ils n'attribuent pas grande -malice au Manitou, mais à sa femme, qui est vne vraye diablesse: le -mary ne hait point les hommes, il se trouue seulement aux guerres, & -aux combats, & ceux qu'il regarde sont à couuert, les autres sont tués: -voila pourquoy mon hoste me disoit, qu'il prioit tous les iours ce -Manitou de ne point ietter les yeux sur les Hiroquois leurs ennemis, & -de leur en donner tousiours quelqu'vn en leurs guerres. Pour la femme -du Manitou, elle est [58] cause de toutes les maladies qui sont au -mõde, c'est elle qui tuë les hommes, autrement ils ne mouroient pas, -elle se repaist de leur chair, les rongeant interieurement, ce qui -faict qu'on les voit amaigrir en leurs maladies: elle a vne robe des -plus beaux cheueux des hommes & des femmes qu'elle tuë, elle paroist -quelquefois comme vn feu, on l'entend bien bruire comme vne flamme, -mais on ne sçauroit distinguer son langage: d'icy procedent à mon aduis -ces cris & ces hurlemens, & ces batements de tambours qu'ils font -alentour de leurs malades, voulans comme empescher cette diablesse de -venir dõner le coup de la mort: ce qu'elle faict si subtilement, qu'on -ne s'en peut defendre, car on ne la voit pas. - - Besides these foundations of things good, they recognize a Manitou, - whom we may call the devil. They regard him as the origin of evil; - it is true that they do not attribute great malice to the Manitou, - but to his wife, who is a real she-devil. The husband does not - hate men. He is only present in wars and combats, and those whom - he looks upon are protected, the others are killed. So for this - reason, my host told me that he prayed this Manitou every day - not to cast his eyes upon the Hiroquois, their enemies, and to - always give them some of them in their wars. As to the wife of the - Manitou, she is [58] the cause of all the diseases which are in the - world. It is she who kills men, otherwise they would not die; she - feeds upon their flesh, gnawing them upon the inside, which causes - them to become emaciated in their illnesses. She has a robe made of - the most beautiful hair of the men and women whom she has killed; - she sometimes appears like a fire; she can be heard roaring like - a flame, but her language cannot be understood. From this, in my - opinion, come those cries and howls, and those beatings of the drum - which they make around their sick, as if to prevent this she-devil - from giving the deathblow, which she does so secretly that no one - can defend himself therefrom, for he does not see her. - -Deplus, les Sauuages se persuadent que non seulement les hommes & les -autres animaux: mais aussi que toutes les autres choses sont animées, -& que toutes les ames sont immortelles, ils se figurent les ames comme -vn ombre de la chose animée, n'ayans iamais ouy parler d'vne chose -purement spirituelle, ils se representent l'ame de l'hõme, [59] comme -vne image sombre & noire, où comme vne ombre de l'homme mesme, luy -attribuant des pieds, des mains, vne bouche, vne teste, & toutes les -autres parties du corps humain. Voila pourquoy ils disent que les ames -boiuent & mangent, aussi leurs dõnent-ils à manger quand quelqu'vn -meurt, iettant la meilleure viãde qu'ils ayent dãs le feu, & souuẽt ils -m'ont dit qu'ils auoient trouué le matin de la viande rongée la nuict -par les ames. Or m'ayans declaré ce bel article de leur croyance, ie -leurs fis plusieurs interogations. Premierement, ou alloient ces ames -apres la mort de l'homme, & des autres creatures; elles vont, dirent -ils, fort loin, en vn grãd village situé où le Soleil se couche: Tout -vostre pays, leur dis-je (sçauoir est l'Amerique) est vne grande Isle, -comme vous tesmoignez l'auoir appris: comment est ce que les ames des -hommes, des animaux, des haches, des cousteaux, des chaudieres; bref -les ames de tout ce qui meurt, ou qui s'vse, peuuent passer l'eau -pour s'en aller à ce grand village que vous placez où le soleil se -couche, trouuent [60] elles des vaisseaux tous prests pour s'embarquer -& trauerser les eaux? non pas, mais elle vont à pied, me dirent-ils, -passants les eaux à gay en quelque endroict: & le moyen, leur fis-ie, -de passer à gay le grand Ocean que vous sçauez estre si profond, -car c'est cette grãde mer qui enuironne vostre pays, tu te trompe, -respondent-ils, où les terres sont conjointes en quelque endroict, ou -bien il y a quelque passage guayable par où passent nos ames: & de -faict nous apprenons que l'on n'a peu encore passer du costé du Nord, -c'est à cause (leur repartis-ie) des grãds froids qui sont en ces mers, -que si vos ames prẽnent cette route elles seront glacées & toutes -roides de froid, deuant qu'elles arriuent en leurs villages. - - Furthermore, the Savages persuade themselves that not only men and - other animals, but also all other things, are endowed with souls, - and that all the souls are immortal;[17] they imagine the souls - as shadows of the animate objects; never having heard of anything - purely spiritual, they represent the soul of man [59] as a dark - and sombre image, or as a shadow of the man himself, attributing - to it feet, hands, a mouth, a head, and all the other parts of - the human body. Hence this is the reason that they say the souls - drink and eat, and therefore they give them food when any one - dies, throwing the best meat they have into the fire; and they - have often told me that the next morning they find meat which has - been gnawed during the night by the souls. Now, having declared to - me this fine article of their faith, I propound to them several - questions. "First, where do these souls go, after the death of man - and other creatures?" "They go," they say, "very far away, to a - large village situated where the Sun sets." "All your country," I - say to them (meaning America), "is an immense Island, as you seem - to know; how is it that the souls of men, of animals, of hatchets, - of knives, of kettles,--in short, the souls of all things that die - or that are used, can cross the water to go to this great village - that you place where the sun sets? do they [60] find ships all - ready to embark them and take them over the water?" "No, they go - on foot," they answer me, "fording the water in some places." "And - how," I respond; "can they ford the great Ocean which you know is - so deep, for it is this great sea which surrounds your country?" - "Thou art mistaken," they answer; "either the lands are united in - some places, or there is some passage which is fordable over which - our souls pass; and, indeed, we know that no one has yet been able - to pass beyond the North coast." "It is because (I answer them) of - the great cold in those seas, so that if your souls take this route - they will be frozen and all stiff from cold, before they reach - their villages." - -Secondement ie leur demande, que mangeoient ces pauures ames, faisant -vn si long chemin, elles mangent des escorces, dirent-ils, & du vieux -bois qu'elles trouuent dans les forests, ie ne m'estonne pas, leur -respõdis-je, si vous auez si peur de la mort, & si vous la fuiez tant, -il n'y a guere de plaisir d'aller manger du vieux bois & des escorces -en l'autre vie. - - Secondly, I ask them, "What do these poor souls eat, making so - long a journey?" "They eat bark," they said, "and old wood which - they find in the forests." "I am not astonished," I replied, "that - you are so afraid of death, that you shun it so greatly; there - is hardly any pleasure in going and eating old wood and bark in - another life." - -[61] Tiercement. Que font ces ames estant arriuées au lieu de leur -demeure? pendant le iour elles sont assises tenans leur deux coudes sur -leur deux genoux, & leur testes entre leur deux mains, posture assés -ordinaire aux Sauuages malades: pendant la nuict elles vont & viennent, -elles trauaillent, elles vont à la chasse, ouy mais, repartis-ie, elles -ne voient goutte la nuict, tu es vn ignorant, tu n'as point d'esprit, -me firent ils, les ames ne sont pas comme nous, elles ne voyent goutte -pendant le iour, & voyent fort clair pendant la nuict, leur iour est -dans les tenebres de la nuict, & leur nuict dans la clarte du iour. - - [61] Thirdly: "What do these souls do when they arrive at their - dwelling place?" "During the daytime, they are seated with their - two elbows upon their two knees, and their heads between their two - hands, the usual position of sick Savages; during the night, they - go and come, they work, they go to the chase." "Oh, but they cannot - see at all during the night," I rejoined. "Thou art an ignoramus, - thou hast no sense," they answered; "souls are not like us, they do - not see at all during the day, and see very clearly at night; their - day is in the darkness of the night, and their night in the light - of the day." - -En quatriesme lieu, à quoy chassent ces pauures ames pendant la nuict? -elles chassent aux ames des Castors, des Porcs epics, des Eslans, & -des autres animaux, se seruãs de l'ame des raquettes, pour marcher sur -l'ame de la neige, qui est en ce pays là: bref elles se seruent des -ames de toutes choses, comme nous nous seruõs icy des choses mesmes. -Or quant elles ont tué l'ame d'vn Castor, ou d'vn autre animal, ceste -ame meurt elle tout a faict, ou bien a elle vne autre ame qui s'en -aille en quelque [62] autre village? Mon sorcier demeura court à cette -demande; & cõme il a de l'esprit, voyant qu'il s'alloit enferrer s'il -me respõdoit directemẽt, il esquiua le coup: car s'il m'eut dit que -l'ame mouroit entierrement, ie luy aurois dit que quand on tuoit -premierement l'animal, son ame mouroit à mesme temps: s'il m'eust dit -que ceste ame auoit vne ame qui s'en alloit en vn autre village, ie -luy eusse fait voir que chaque animal auroit selon sa doctrine plus de -vingt, voire plus de cent ames, & que le mõde deuoit estre remply de -ces villages où elles se retirent, & que cepẽdãt on n'en voyoit aucun. -Cognoissant dõc qu'il s'alloit engager, il me dit, tais toy, tu n'as -point d'esprit, tu demande des choses que tu ne sçais pas toy-mesme, si -i'auois esté en ces pays-là, ie te respondrois. - - "In the fourth place, what are these poor souls hunting during the - night?" "They hunt for the souls of Beavers, Porcupines, Moose, - and other animals, using the soul of the snowshoes to walk upon - the soul of the snow, which is in yonder country; in short, they - make use of the souls of all things, as we here use the things - themselves." "Now, when they have killed the soul of a Beaver, or - of another animal, does that soul die entirely, or has it another - soul which goes to some [62] other village?" My sorcerer was - nonplused by this question; and as he is quick-witted, he dodged - the question, seeing that he was going to involve himself if he - answered me directly; for if he had answered me that the soul would - die entirely, I would have told him that when they first killed - the animal its soul would have died at the same time; if he had - answered that this soul had a soul which went away into another - village, I would have shown him that every animal would have, - according to his doctrine, more than twenty, indeed more than a - hundred souls, and that the world would have to be full of these - villages to which they withdrew, and yet no one had ever seen one - of them. Recognizing that he was about to entangle himself, he said - to me, "Be silent, thou hast no sense; thou askest things which - thou dost not know thyself; if I had ever been in yonder country, I - would answer thee." - -En fin ie luy dis que les Europeans nauigeoient par tout le monde, ie -leur declaray, & leur fis voir par vne figure ronde, quel estoit le -pays où le soleil se couche à leur regard, l'asseurant qu'on n'auoit -point trouué ce grand village, que tout cela n'étoit que resueries, que -les ames des hommes seulement estoiẽt [63] immortelles, & que si elles -estoient bõnes, elles s'en alloient au ciel, que si elles estoient -meschantes, elles descendoient dans les enfers pour y estre brulées -à iamais, & que chacun receuroit selon ses œuures. En cela, dit-il, -vous mentez vous autres, d'assigner diuers endroicts pour les ames, -elles vont en vn mesme pays, du moins les nostres: car deux ames de -nos cõpatriotes sont reuenuë autresfois de ce grand village, & no⁹ ont -appris tout ce que ie t'ay dit, puis elles s'en retournerent en leur -demeure: ils appellent la voye lactée, _Tchipaï mesKenau_, le chemin -des ames, pource qu'ils pensent que les ames se guindent par cette voye -pour aller en ce grand village. - - At last, I told them that the Europeans navigated the whole world. - I explained to them and made them see by a round figure what - country it was where the sun sets according to their idea, assuring - them that no one had ever found this great village, that all that - was nothing but nonsense; that the souls of men alone were [63] - immortal; and, that if they were good, they would go to heaven, - and if they were bad they would descend into hell, there to burn - forever; and that each one would receive according to his works. - "In that," he said, "you lie, you people, in assigning different - places for souls,--they go to the same country, at least, ours do; - for the souls of two of our countrymen once returned from this - great village, and explained to us all that I have told thee, then - they returned to their dwelling place." They call the milky way, - _Tchipaï meskenau_, the path of souls, because they think that the - souls raise themselves through this way in going to that great - village. - -Ils ont en outre vne grande croyãce à leurs songes, s'imaginans que -ce qu'ils ont veu en dormant doit arriuer, & qu'ils doiuent executer -ce qu'ils ont resué: ce qui est vn grand malheur, car si vn Sauuage -songe qu'il mourra s'il ne me tuë, il me mettra à mort à la premiere -rencontre à l'escart. Nos Sauuages me demandoiẽt quasi tous les matins, -n'as-tu point veu de Castors, ou d'Orignac [64] en dormant: & cõme -ils voyoiẽt que ie me mocquois des songes, ils s'estonnoient, & me -demandoient à quoy crois-tu donc, si tu ne crois a tes songes? ie crois -en celuy qui a tout fait, & qui peut tout; tu n'as point d'esprit, -comment peus-tu croire en luy, si tu ne le vois pas? Ie serois trop -long de rapporter toutes les badineries sur ces sujects, reuenons à -leurs superstitions qui sont sans nombre. - - They have, besides, great faith in their dreams, imagining that - what they have seen in their sleep must happen, and that they - must execute whatever they have thus imagined. This is a great - misfortune, for if a Savage dreams that he will die if he does not - kill me, he will take my life the first time he meets me alone. Our - Savages ask almost every morning, "Hast thou not seen any Beavers - or Moose, [64] while sleeping?" And when they see that I make sport - of their dreams, they are astonished and ask me, "What does thou - believe then, if thou dost not believe in thy dream?" "I believe - in him who has made all things, and who can do all things." "Thou - hast no sense, how canst thou believe in him, if thou hast not seen - him?" It would take too long to relate all their silly ideas upon - these subjects; let us return to their superstitions, which are - numberless. - -Les Sauuages sont grands chanteurs, ils chantent comme la pluspart -des nations de la terre par recreation, & par deuotion; c'est à -dire en eux par superstition: Les airs qu'ils chantent par plaisir -sont ordinairement graues & pesants, il me semble qu'ils ont par -fois quelque chose de gay, notamment les filles: mais pour la -pluspart, leurs chansons sont massiues, pour ainsi dire, sombres, & -malplaisantes: ils ne sçauent que c'est d'assembler des accorts pour -composer vne douce harmonie. Ils proferent peu de paroles en chantant, -variants les tons, & non la lettre. I'ay souuent ouy mon Sauuage faire -vne longue chanson de ces trois mots K_aie_, _nir_, k_higatoutaouim_, -[65] & tu feras aussi quelque chose pour moy: Ils disent que nous -imitons les gazoüillis des oyseaux en nos airs, ce qu'ils n'improuuent -pas, prenans plaisir quasi tous tant qu'ils sont à chanter, ou à -ouïr chanter, & quoy que ie leur die que ie n'y entendois rien, ils -m'inuitoient souuent à entonner quelque air, ou quelque priere. - - The Savages are great singers: they sing, as do most of the nations - of the earth, for recreation and for devotion, which, with them, - means superstition. The tunes which they sing for pleasure are - usually grave and heavy. It seems to me that occasionally they sing - something gay, especially the girls, but for the most part, their - songs are heavy, so to speak, sombre and unpleasant; they do not - know what it is to combine chords to compose a sweet harmony. They - use few words in singing, varying the tones, and not the words. - I have often heard my Savage make a long song with these three - words, _Kaie_, _nir_, _khigatoutaouim_, [65] "And thou wilt also do - something for me." They say that we imitate the warbling of birds - in our tunes, which they do not disapprove, as they nearly all take - pleasure both in singing and in hearing others sing: and although I - told them that I did not understand anything about it, they often - invited me to sing some song or prayer. - -Pour leurs chãts superstitieux, ils s'en seruent en mille actions, le -sorcier & ce viellard, dont i'ay parlé, m'en donnerent la raison: deux -Sauuages, disoient ils, estans jadis fort desolés, se voyans à deux -doigts de la mort faute de viure, furent aduertis de chanter, & qu'ils -seroient secourus; ce qui arriua, car ayans chanté, ils trouuerent à -manger: de dire qui leur donna cest aduis, & comment, ils n'en sçauent -rien: quoy que s'en soit, depuis ce temps là toute leur religion -consiste quasi à chanter, se seruans des mots les plus barbares qu'ils -peuuent rencontrer: Voicy vne partie des paroles qu'ils chanterent en -vne longue superstition qui dura plus de quatre heures, _Aiasé manitou, -aiasé manitou, aiasé manitou, ahiham, hehinham,_ [67 i.e., 66] _hanhan, -henina_k_hé hosé henina_K_hé, enigouano bahano anihé ouibini naninaouai -nanahouai nanahouai aouihé ahahé aouihé_: Pour conclusion, _ho! ho! -ho!_ Ie demanday que vouloient dire ces parolles, pas vn ne m'en peut -donner l'interpretation: car il est vray que pas vn d'eux n'entend ce -qu'il chante, sinon dans leurs airs, qu'ils chantent pour se recréer. - - As for their superstitious songs, they use them for a thousand - purposes, for which the sorcerer and that old man, of whom I have - spoken, have given me the reason. Two Savages, they told me, being - once in great distress, seeing themselves within two finger-lengths - of death for want of food, were advised to sing, and they would be - relieved; and so it happened, for when they had sung, they found - something to eat. As to who gave them this advice, and how it - was given, they know nothing; however, since that time all their - religion consists mainly in singing, using the most barbarous - words that come into their minds. The following are some of the - words that they sang in a long superstitious rite which lasted - more than four hours: _Aiasé manitou, aisé manitou, aiasé manitou, - ahiham, hehinham,_ [67 i.e., 66] _hanhan, heninakhé hosé heninakhé, - enigouano bahano anihé ouibini naninaouai nanahouai nanahouai - aouihé ahahé aouihé_; concluding with _ho! ho! ho!_ I asked what - these words meant, but not one could interpret them to me; for it - is true that not one of them understands what he is singing, except - in the tunes which they sing for recreation. - -Ils joignent leurs tambours à leurs chants, ie demanday l'origine de -ce tambour, le veillard me dit, que peut estre quelqu'vn auoit eu en -songe qu'il estoit bon de s'en seruir, & que de là l'vsage s'en estoit -ensuiuy. Ie croirois plustost qu'ils auroient tiré cette superstition -des peuples voisins, car on me dit (ie ne sçay s'il est vraiy) qu'ils -imitent fort les Canadiens qui habitent vers Gaspé, peuple encore plus -superstitieux que celuy-cy. - - They accompany their songs with drums. I asked the origin of this - drum, and the old man told me that perhaps some one had dreamed - that it was a good thing to have, and thus it had come into use. I - thought it most probable they had derived this superstition from - the neighboring tribes; for I am told (I do not know how true it - is) they imitate to a great degree the Canadians who live toward - Gaspé, a tribe still more superstitious than those of this country. - -Au reste, ce tambour est de la grandeur d'vn tambour de basque, il -est composé d'vn cercle large de trois ou quatres doigts, & de deux -peaux roidement estenduës de part & d'autre: ils mettent dedans des -petites pierres ou [68 i.e., 67] petits callious pour faire plus de -bruit: le diametre des plus grands tambours est de deux palmes ou -enuiron, ils le nomment _chichigouan_, & le verbe _nipigahiman_, -signifie ie fais ioüer ce tambour: ils ne se battent pas comme font -nos Europeans: mais ils le tournent & remuent, pour faire bruire les -caillous qui sont dedans, ils en frappent le terre, tantost du bord, -tantost quasi du plat, pendant que le sorcier fait mille singeries -auec cest instrument. Souuent les assistans ont des batons en mains, -frappant tous ensemble sur des bois, ou manches de haches qu'ils ont -deuant eux, ou sur leurs _ouragans_, c'est à dire, sur leurs plats -d'escorce renuersés: Auec ces tintamarres, ils ioignent leurs chants & -leurs cris, ie dirois volontiers leurs hurlements, tant ils s'efforcent -par fois, ie vous laisse à penser la belle musique: ce miserable -sorcier auec lequel mon hoste, & le renegat, m'ont fait hiuerner contre -leurs promesses, m'a pensé faire perdre la teste auec ses tintamarres: -car tous les iours à l'entrée de la nuict, & bien souuent sur la -minuict, d'autrefois [68] sur le iour il faisoit l'enragé. I'ay esté -vn assez long temps malade parmy eux, mais quoy que ie le priasse de -se moderer, de me donner vn peu de repos, il en faisoit encore pis, -esperant trouuer sa guerison dans ces bruits qui augmentoient mon mal. - - As to this drum, it is the size of a tambourine, and is composed - of a circle three or four finger-lengths in diameter, and of two - skins stretched tightly over it on both sides; they put inside - some little pebbles or [68 i.e., 67] stones, in order to make - more noise; the diameter of the largest drums is of the size of - two palms or thereabout; they call it _chichigouan_, and the verb - _nipagahiman_ means, "I make this drum sound." They do not strike - it, as do our Europeans; but they turn and shake it, to make the - stones rattle inside; they strike it upon the ground, sometimes - its edge and sometimes its face, while the sorcerer plays a - thousand apish tricks with this instrument. Often the spectators - have sticks in their hands and all strike at once upon pieces of - wood, or upon hatchet handles which they have before them, or upon - their _ouragans_; that is to say, upon their bark plates turned - upside down. To this din they add their songs and their cries, I - might indeed say their howls, so much do they exert themselves at - times; I leave you to imagine this beautiful music. This miserable - sorcerer with whom my host and the renegade made me pass the - winter, contrary to their promise, almost made me lose my head with - his uproar; for every day,--toward nightfall, and very often toward - midnight, at other times [68] during the day,--he acted like a - madman. For quite a long time I was sick among them, and although I - begged him to moderate a little and to give me some rest, he acted - still worse, hoping to find his cure in these noises which only - made me worse. - -Ils se seruent de ces chants, de ce tambour, & de ces bruits, ou -tintamarres en leurs maladies, ie le declaray assez amplement l'an -passé, mais depuis ce temps là, i'ay veu tant faire de sottises, de -niaiseries, de badineries, de bruits, de tintamarres à ce malheureux -sorcier pour se pouuoir guerir, que ie me lasserois d'escrire & -ennuierois vostre reuerence, si ie luy voulois faire lire la dixiesme -partie de ce qui m'a souuent lassé, quasi iusques au dernier poinct. -Par fois cest homme entroit comme en furie, chantant, criant hurlant, -faisant bruire son tambour de toutes ses forces: cependant les autres -hurloient comme luy, & faisoient vn tintamarre horrible auec leurs -bastõs, frappans sur ce qui estoit deuant eux: ils faisoient danser -des ieunes enfans, puis des filles, puis des femmes; il baissoit [69] -la teste, souffloit sur son tambour: puis vers le feu, il siffloit -comme vn serpent, il ramenoit son tambour soubs son menton, l'agitant -& le tournoyant: il en frappoit la terre de toutes ses forces, puis -le tournoyoit sur son estomach: il se fermoit la bouche auec vne main -renuersée, & de l'autre, vous eussiez dit qu'il vouloit mettre en -pieces ce tambour, tant il en frappoit rudement la terre: il s'agitoit, -il se tournoit de part & d'autre, faisoit quelques tours à l'entour -du feu, sortoit hors la cabane, tousiours hurlant & bruyant: il se -mettoit en mille postures; & tout cela pour se guerir. Voila comme ils -traictent les malades. I'ay quelque croyance qu'ils veulent coniurer la -maladie, ou espouuanter la femme du Manitou, qu'ils tiennent pour le -principe & la cause de tous les maux, comme i'ay remarqué cy dessus. - - They make use of these songs, of this drum, and of this noise or - uproar, in their sicknesses. I explained it quite fully last year; - but since that time I have seen so much foolishness, nonsense, - absurdity, noise, and din made by this wretched sorcerer in - order to cure himself, that I should become weary in writing and - would tire your reverence, if I should try to make you read the - tenth part of what has often wearied me almost beyond endurance. - Occasionally this man would enter as if in a fury, singing, crying - and howling, making his drum rattle with all his might; while the - others howled as loudly as he, and made a horrible din with their - sticks, striking upon whatever was before them; they made the - little children dance, then the girls, then the women; he lowered - [69] his head and blew upon his drum, then blew toward the fire; he - hissed like a serpent, drew his drum under his chin, shaking and - turning it about; he struck the ground with it with all his might, - then turned it upon his stomach; he closed his mouth with the back - of one hand, and then with the other; you would have said that he - wanted to break the drum to pieces, he struck it so hard upon the - ground; he shook it, he turned it from one side to the other, and, - running around the fire several times, he went out of the cabin, - continuing to howl and bellow; he struck a thousand attitudes, and - all this was done to cure himself. This is the way they treat their - sick. I am inclined to think that they wish to conjure the disease, - or to frighten the wife of Manitou, whom they hold as the origin - and cause of all evils, as I have said above. - -Ils chantent encore & font ces bruits en leurs sueries, ils croiroient -que cette medecine, qui est la meilleure de toutes, celles qu'ils -ont, ne leur seruiroit de rien, s'ils ne chantoient en suant: Ils -plantent des bastons en terre faisants [60 i.e., 70] vne espece de -petit tabernacle fort bas: car vn grand homme estant assis là dedans, -toucheroit de sa teste le hault de ce todis, qu'ils entourent & -couurent de peaux, de robes, de couuertures: Ils mettent dans ce four -quantité de grosses pierres qu'il[s] ont faict chauffer, & rougir dans -vn bon feu, puis se glissent tous nuds dans ces estuues, les femmes -suent par fois aussi bien que les hommes: d'autrefois ils suent tous -ensemble, hommes, & femme pesle & mesle: ils chantent, ils crient, -ils hurlent dans ce four, ils haranguent: par fois le sorcier y bat -son tambour. Ie l'escoutois vne fois comme il faisoit du prophete là -dedans, s'escriant qu'il voyoit des Orignaux, que mon hoste son frere -en tueroit, ie ne peus me tenir que ie ne luy disse, ou plustost à ceux -qui estoient presens, & qui luy prestoient l'oreille comme à vn oracle, -qu'il estoit bien croyable qu'on trouueroit quelque masle, puisque on -auoit desia trouué & tué deux femelles, luy cognoissant où ie visois, -me dit en grondant, il est [61 i.e., 71] croyable que cette robe noire -n'a point d'esprit: Ils sont tellement religieux en ces crieries, & -autres niaiseries, que s'ils font sueries pour se guerir, ou pour auoir -bonne chasse, ou pour auoir beau temps, rien ne se feroit s'ils ne -chantoient, & s'ils ne gardoient ces superstitions. I'ay remarqué que -quand les hommes suent, ils ne se veulent point seruir des robes des -femmes pour entourer leur sueries, s'ils en peuuent auoir d'autres: -bref quand ils ont crié trois heures ou enuiron dans ces estuues, ils -en sortent tous mouillés & trempés de leur sueur. - - They sing and make these noises also in their sweating operations. - They believe that this medicine, which is the best of all they - have, would be of no use whatever to them if they did not sing - during the sweat. They plant some sticks in the ground, making - [60 i.e., 70] a sort of low tent, for, if a tall man were seated - therein, his head would touch the top of this hut, which they - enclose and cover with skins, robes, and blankets. They put in this - dark room a number of heavy stones which they have had heated and - made red-hot in a good fire, then they slip entirely naked into - these sweat boxes. The women occasionally sweat as well as the men. - Sometimes they sweat all together, men and women, pellmell. They - sing, cry and groan in this oven, and make speeches: occasionally - the sorcerer beats his drum there. I heard him once acting the - prophet therein, crying out that he saw Moose; that my host, his - brother, would kill some. I could not refrain from telling him, - or rather those who were present and listened to him as if to an - oracle, that it was indeed quite probable that they would find - a male, since they had already found and killed two females. - When he understood what I was driving at, he said to me sharply, - "Believe [61 i.e., 71] me, this black robe has no sense." They are - so superstitious in these uproars and in their other nonsense, - that if they have sweats in order to cure themselves, or to have - a good hunt, or to have fine weather, [they think] nothing would - be accomplished if they did not sing, and if they did not observe - these superstitions. I have noticed that, when the men sweat, - they do not like to use women's robes with which to enclose their - sweat boxes, if they can have any others. In short, when they have - shouted for three hours or thereabout in these stoves, they emerge - completely wet and covered with their sweat. - -Ils chantent encore & battent le tambour en leur festins, comme ie -declareray au chapitre de leurs banquets: ie leur ay veu faire le mesme -en leurs conseils, y entremeslant d'autres iongleries: Pour moy ie me -doute que le sorcier en inuente tous les iours de nouuelles pour tenir -son monde en haleine: & pour se rendre recommandable: ie luy vis vn -certain iour prẽdre vne espée, la mettre la pointe en bas, le manche -en hault (car leurs espées [72] sont emmanchées à vn long baston) il -mit vne hache proche de cette espée, se leu[a] debout, fit ioüer son -tambour, chanta hurla à son accoustumée, il fit quelques mines de -dancer, tourna à l'entour du feu: puis se cachant, il tira vn bonnet -de nuict, dans lequel il y auoit vne pierre à esguiser, il la met dans -vne cullier de bois, qu'on essuya exprés pour cest effect, il fit -allumer vn flambeau d'escorce, puis donna de main en main le flambeau, -la cueiller, & la pierre, qui estoit marquée de quelques raies, la -regardans tous les vns apres les autres, philosophant à mon aduis sur -cette pierre, touchant leur chasse, qui estoit le subiect de leur -conseil ou assemblée. - - They also sing and beat drums in their feasts, as I shall explain - in the chapter upon their banquets. I have seen them do the same - thing in their councils, mingling therein other juggleries. For - my part, I suspect that the sorcerer invents every day some new - contrivance to keep his people in a state of agitation, and to - make himself popular. One day I saw him take a javelin and turn - the point down and the handle up (for their javelins [72] have a - long stick for a handle); he placed a hatchet near this javelin, - stood up, pounded on his drum, uttered his usual howls, pretended - to dance, and walked around the fire. Then, concealing himself, - he drew out a nightcap, in which there was a whetstone which he - placed in a spoon made of wood, which had been wiped expressly for - this purpose; then he lighted a bark torch, and passed from hand - to hand the torch, the spoon, and the stone, which was marked with - stripes,--all examining it attentively, one after the other, and - philosophizing, as it seemed to me, over this stone, in regard to - their chase, which was the subject of their council or assembly. - -Ces pauures ignorants chantent aussi dans leurs peines, dans leurs -difficultez, dans leurs perils & dangers: pendant le temps de nostre -famine, ie n'entendois par ces cabanes, notãment la nuict, que chants, -que cris, battements de tambours, & autres bruits: & demandant ce que -c'estoit, mes gens me disoient qu'ils faisoient [73] cela pour auoir -bonne chasse, & pour trouuer à manger, leurs chants & leurs tambours -passent encore dans les sortileges que font les sorciers. - - These poor wretches sing also in their sufferings, in their - difficulties, in their perils and dangers. During the time of our - famine, I heard nothing throughout these cabins, especially at - night, except songs, cries, beating of drums and other noises; when - I asked what this meant, my people told me that they did [73] it - in order to have a good chase, and to find something to eat. Their - songs and their drums also play a part in the witchcraft of the - sorcerers. - -Il faut que ie couche icy, ce que ie leurs vis faire le douxiesme -Feurier, comme ie recitois mes heures sur le soir, le sorcier se mit à -parler de moy _aïamtheou_, il fait ses prieres, dit-il: puis prononçant -quelques paroles, que ie n'entendis pas, il adiousta _Niganipahau_; ie -le tueray aussi tost: la pensée me vint qu'il parloit de moy, veu qu'il -me haïssoit pour plusieurs raisons, comme ie diray en son lieu: mais -notamment pource ce que ie taschois de faire veoir que tout ce qu'il -faisoit n'estoit que badinerie & puerilité: Sur cette pensée qu'il me -vouloit oster la vie, mon hoste me va dire, n'as tu point de poudre -qui tuë les hommes? pourquoy, luy dis-ie, ie veux tuer quelqu'vn, -me respond il? ie vous laisse à penser si i'acheuay mon office sans -distraction, veu que ie sçauois fort bien qu'ils n'auoient garde de -faire mourir aucun de leurs gens, & que le sorcier m'auoit menacé de -mort [74] quelques iours auparauant, quoy qu'en riant, me dit il apres: -mais ie ne m'y fiois pas beaucoup, voyant donc ces gens en action, ie -r'entre dans moy-mesme, suppliant nostre Seigneur de m'assister, & de -prendre ma vie au moment & en la façon, qu'il luy plairoit: neantmoins -pour me mieux disposer à ce sacrifice, ie voulus voir s'ils pensoient -en moy, ie leur demanday donc où estoit l'homme qu'ils vouloient faire -mourir, ils me repartent qu'il estoit vers Gaspé à plus de cens lieuës -de nous. Ie me mis à rire, car en verité ie n'eusse iamais pensé qu'ils -eussent entrepris de tuer vn homme de cens lieuës loin. Ie m'enquis -pourquoy ils luy vouloient oster la vie. On me respondit que cest homme -estoit vn sorcier Canadien, lequel ayant eu quelque prise auec le -nostre, l'auoit menacé de mort, & luy auoit donné la maladie, qui le -trauailloit depuis vn long temps, & qui l'alloit estouffer dans deux -iours, s'il ne preuenoit le coup par son art: ie leurs dis que Dieu -auoit deffendu de tuer, & que nous autres, ne faisions mourir personne: -cela n'empescha point [75] qu'ils ne poursuiuissent leur pointe. Mon -hoste preuoiant le grand bruit qui se deuoit faire, me dit, tu auras -mal à la teste, va-t en en l'autre cabane voisine: non, dit le sorcier, -il n'y a point de mal qu'il nous voye faire. On fit sortir tous les -enfans & toutes les femmes, horsmis vne qui s'assit aupres du sorcier: -Ie demeuray donc spectateur de leurs mysteres, auec tous les Sauuages -des autres cabanes qu'on fit venir: Estans tous assis, voicy vn ieune -homme qui apporte deux paux ou pieux fort pointus, mon hoste prepare -le sort composé de petits bois formez en langue de serpẽt des deux -costez, de fers de flesches, de morceaux de cousteaux rompus, d'vn fer -replié comme vn gros hameçon, & d'autres choses semblables, on enuelopa -tout cela dans vn morceau de cuir: Cela fait, le sorcier prend son -tambour, tous se mettent à chanter & hurler, & faire le tintamarre que -i'ay remarqué cy dessus: apres quelques chansons, la femme qui estoit -demeurée se leue, & tourne tout à l'entour de la cabane par dedans, -passant par deriere le [76] dos de tous tant que nous estions. S'estant -rassisse, le magicien prend ces deux pieux, puis designant certain -endroit, commence à dire; voila sa teste (ie crois qu'il entendoit de -l'homme qu'il vouloit tuer) puis de toutes ces forces, il plante ces -pieux en terre, les faisant regarder vers l'endroict, où il croioit -qu'estoit ce Canadien. Là dessus mon hoste va ayder son frere, il -fait vne assez grande fosse en terre auec ces pieux: cependant les -chants & autres bruits continuoient incessemment. La fosse faite, les -pieux plantez, le valet du sorcier, i'entens l'Apostat, va querir vne -espée, & le sorcier en frappe l'vn de ces paux, puis descend dans la -fosse, tenant la posture d'vn homme animé qui tire de grands coups -d'espée & de poignard; car il auoit l'vn & l'autre dans cette action -d'homme furieux & enragé. Le sorcier prend le sort enuelopé de peau, -le met dans la fosse, & redouble les coups d'espée à mesme temps qu'on -redoubloit le tintamarre. - - I must set down here what I saw them do on the twelfth of February. - As I was reciting my hours, toward evening, the sorcerer began to - talk about me: _aiamtheou_, "He is making his prayers;" then, - pronouncing some words which I did not understand, he added: - _Niganipahau_, "I will kill him at once." The thought occurred to - me that he was speaking of me, seeing that he hated me for several - reasons, as I shall state in the proper place; but especially - because I tried to show that all he did was mere nonsense and - child's play. Just as I was thinking that he wanted to take my - life, my host said to me, "Hast thou not some powder that kills - men?" "Why?" I asked. "I want to kill some one," he answered me. - I leave you to imagine whether I finished my prayers without any - distraction; for I knew very well that they were disinclined to - kill any of their own people, and that the sorcerer had threatened - me with death [74] some days before,--although only in jest, as - he told me afterward; but I did not have much confidence in him. - Now seeing these people bustling about, I retired within myself, - supplicating our Lord to help me, and to take my life at the moment - and in whatever manner would be pleasing to him. Nevertheless, to - better prepare myself for this sacrifice, I wished to learn if they - had me in mind, and so I asked them where the man was that they - wished to kill; they answered me that he was in the neighborhood of - Gaspé, more than a hundred leagues away from us. I began to laugh, - for in truth I had never dreamed that they would undertake to kill - a man a hundred leagues away. I inquired why they wished to take - his life. They answered that this man was a Canadian sorcerer, - who, having had some trouble with ours, had threatened him with - death and had given him the disease from which he had suffered - so long, and which was going to consume him in two days, if he - did not prevent the stroke by his art. I told them that God had - forbidden murder, and that we never killed people; that did not - prevent them [75] from pursuing their purpose. My host, foreseeing - the great commotion which was about to take place, said to me, - "Thou wilt have the headache; go off into one of the other cabins - near by." "No," said the sorcerer, "there will be no harm in his - seeing what we do." They had all the children and women go out, - except one who sat near the sorcerer; I remained as a spectator - of their mysteries, with all the Savages of the other cabins, who - were summoned. All being seated, a young man comes bearing two - pickets, or very sharply-pointed sticks; my host prepares the - charm, composed of little pieces of wood shaped at both ends like - a serpent's tongue, iron arrow-points, pieces of broken knives, - bits of iron bent like a big fishhook, and other similar things; - all these are wrapped in a piece of leather. When this is done, the - sorcerer takes his drum, all begin to chant and howl, and to make - the uproar of which I spoke above; after a few songs, the woman - who had remained arises, and goes all around the inside of the - cabin, passing behind the [76] backs of the people who are there. - When she is reseated, the magician takes these two stakes; then, - pointing out a certain place, begins by saying, "Here is his head," - (I believe he meant the head of the man whom he wished to kill); - then with all his might he drives these stakes into the ground, - inclining them toward the place where he believed this Canadian - was. Thereupon my host comes to assist his brother; he makes a - tolerably deep ditch in the ground with these stakes; meanwhile - the songs and other noises continue incessantly. The ditch made - and the stakes planted, the servant of the sorcerer, I mean the - Apostate, goes in search of a sword, and the sorcerer strikes with - it one of these pickets; then he descends into the ditch, assuming - the posture of an excited man who is striking heavy blows with the - sword and poniard; for he has both, in this act of a furious and - enraged man. The sorcerer takes the charm wrapped in skin, puts it - in the ditch, and redoubles his sword-cuts at the same time that - they increase the uproar. - -En fin ce mystere cessa, il retire l'espée & le poignard tout -ensanglanté, les iette deuant les autres Sauuages; on recouure [77] -viste la fosse, & le magicien tout glorieux, dit que son homme est -frappé, qu'il mourra bien tost, demande si on n'a point entendu ses -cris: tout le monde dit que non, horsmis deux ieunes hommes ses parens, -qui disent auoir ouy des plaintes fort sourdes, & comme de loing. O -qu'ils le firent aise, se tournant vers moy, il se mit a rire, disant, -voyez cette robe noire qui nous vient dire qu'il ne faut tuer personne: -Comme ie regardois attentiuement l'espée & le poignard; il me les fit -presenter, regarde, dit-il, qu'est cela; c'est du sang, repartis-je, de -qui? de quelque Orignac ou d'autre animal, ils se mocquerent de moy, -disants que c'estoit du sang de ce Sorcier de Gaspé; comment, dis je, -il est à plus de cent lieuës d'icy? il est vray font-ils, mais c'est -le Manitou, c'est à dire le Diable, qui apporte son sang pardessous la -terre. Or si c'est hõme est vrayement Magicien, ie m'en rapporte, pour -moy i'estime qu'il n'est ny Sorcier ny Magicien, mais qu'il le voudroit -bien estre: tout ce qu'il faict selon ma pensée n'est que badinerie, -[78] pour amuser les Sauuages, il voudroit bien auoir communication -auec le Diable ou Manitou, mais ie ne crois pas qu'il en ait: si bien -me persuaday-je, qu'il y a eu icy quelque Sorcier, ou quelque Magicien -s'il est vray ce qu'ils disent des maladies & des guerisons, dont -ils me parlent: c'est chose estrange, que le Diable qui apparoist -sensiblement aux Ameriquains Meridionaux, & qui les bat & les tourmente -de telle sorte, qu'ils se voudroient bien deffaire d'vn tel hoste, ne -se communique point visiblement ny sensiblement à nos Sauuages, selon -ce que ie crois. Ie sçais qu'il y a des personnes d'opinion contraire, -croyans aux rapports de ces Barbares, mais quand ie les presse, ils -m'aduoüent tous, qu'ils n'ont rien veu de tout ce qu'ils disent, mais -seulement qu'ils l'ont oüy dire à d'autres. - - Finally, this mystery ends, and he draws out the sword and the - poniard all covered with blood, and throws them down before the - other Savages; the ditch [77] is hurriedly covered up, and the - magician boastfully asserts that his man is struck, that he will - soon die, and asks if they have not heard his cries; they all say - "no," except two young men, relatives of his, who say they have - heard some very dull sounds, and as if far away. Oh, how glad they - make him! Turning toward me, he begins to laugh, saying, "See this - black robe, who comes here to tell us that we must not kill any - one." As I am looking attentively at the sword and the poniard, - he has them presented to me. "Look," he says, "what is that?" "It - is blood," I answer, "of what? Of some Moose or other animal." - They laugh at me, saying that it is the blood of that Sorcerer of - Gaspé. "How?" I answer them, "he is more than a hundred leagues - away from here." "It is true," they reply, "but it is the Manitou; - that is, the Devil, who carries his blood under the earth." Now if - this man is really a Magician, I leave you to decide; for my part, - I consider that he is neither Sorcerer nor Magician, but that he - would like very much to be one. All that he does, according to my - opinion, is nothing but nonsense [78] to amuse the Savages. He - would like to have communication with the Devil or Manitou, but I - do not think that he has. Yet I am persuaded that there has been - some Sorcerer or Magician here, if what they tell me is true about - diseases and cures which they describe to me; it is a strange - thing, in my opinion, that the Devil, who is visible to the South - Americans, and who so beats and torments them that they would like - to get rid of such a guest, does not communicate himself visibly - and sensibly to our Savages. I know that there are persons of - contrary opinion, who believe in the reports of these Barbarians; - but, when I urge them, they all admit that they have seen nothing - of that of which they speak, but that they have only heard it - related by others. - -Ce n'est pas le mesme des Ameriquains Meridionaux, nos Europeans ont -oüy le bruit, la voix & les coups que ruë le Diable sur ces pauures -esclaues: & vn François digne de creance, [79] m'a asseuré l'auoir oüy -de ses oreilles: surquoy on me rapporte vne chose tres remarquable, -c'est que le Diable s'enfuit, & ne frappe point ou cesse de frapper -ces miserables, quand vn Catholique entre en leur compagnie, & qu'il -ne laisse point de les battre en la presence d'vn Huguenot, d'où vient -qu'vn iour se voyans battus en la compagnie d'vn certain François, -ils luy dirent, nous nous estonnons que le diable nous batte, toy -estant auec nous, veu qu'il n'oseroit le faire quand tes compagnons -sont presents. Luy se douta incontinent que cela pouuoit prouenir de -sa religion, (car il estoit Caluiniste) s'adressant donc à Dieu, il -luy promist de se faire Catholique si le diable cessoit de battre -ces pauures peuples en sa presẽce: Le vœu fait, iamais plus aucun -Demon ne molesta Amariquain en sa compagnie, d'où vient qu'il se fist -Catholique, selon la promesse qu'il en auoit faicte; mais retournons à -nostre discours. I'ay veu deux autrefois faire les mesmes sortileges à -nostre Magicien pretendu, & [80] garda toutes les ceremonies susdites, -horsmis qu'il changea de sort, car vne fois il se seruit de quatre -bastons faits en forme de fuseaux à filer, sinon qu'ils estoient plus -gros, & qu'ils auoient comme des dents en certains endroits: Il se -seruit encore du bout de la queuë & du pied d'vn Porc épic, & quelques -poils d'Orignac, ou de Porc épic, liez ensemble en petit faisseau: -l'autrefois il se seruit encore de ces fuseaux, d'vn pied de Porc -épic, ou d'vn autre animal, d'os de quelque beste, d'vn fer semblable, -& celuy qu'õ attache à vne porte pour la tirer, & de quelques autres -badineries: son valet le renegat luy tenant tout cela prest, & battant -le tambour pendant que son Maistre estoit occupé dans la fosse. Voila -vne partie des actions esquelles se retrouuent leurs chants, leurs -cris, hurlemens & tintamarres. - - Among the South Americans it is different. Our Europeans have - heard the noise, the voice, and the blows that the Devil deals to - these poor slaves, and a Frenchman, worthy of belief, [79] has - assured me that he heard it with his own ears. In regard to this, - a very remarkable thing is reported to me; it is that the Devil - takes flight, and does not strike or else ceases to strike these - wretches, when a Catholic enters their company, and that he does - not cease to strike them in the presence of a Huguenot. From this - it happened that, one day, seeing themselves being beaten in the - presence of a Frenchman, they said to him, "We are astonished that - the devil beats us when thou art with us, seeing that he does not - dare to do it when thy companions are here." It suddenly occurred - to him that this might come from his religion (for he was a - Calvinist); so, addressing himself to God, he promised to become - a Catholic if the devil ceased beating these poor people in his - presence. After this vow was made, never afterward did any Demon - molest an American in his company, on account of which he became a - Catholic according to his promise. But let us return to our story. - I have seen our pretended Magician perform the same witchcraft - on two other occasions. [80] He observed all the above mentioned - ceremonies, except that he changed the charm, for once he made use - of four sticks made in the shape of spindles, except that they were - heavier, and that they had something like teeth in certain places. - Also he used the end of the tail and the foot of a Porcupine, and - some hairs of the Moose and of the Porcupine, bound together in a - little sheaf. Another time he used these spindles also, and a foot - of the Porcupine or of another animal, the bone of some beast, an - iron similar to that which they fasten to a door to pull it open, - and some other absurd things. His servant, the renegade, held all - these things ready for him, and beat the drum while his Master was - occupied in the ditch. These are a part of their actions, among - which are mingled their songs, their cries, their howls and uproar. - -Leur Religiõ, ou plustost superstitiõ, consiste encore à prier: mais, ô -mon Dieu! quelles oraisons font ils? Le matin les petits enfans sortans -de la Cabane, s'escrient à pleine teste, _Cacoua_k_hi_ [81] _Pa_k_hais -Amiscoua_k_hi, Pa_k_hais Mousoua_K_hi, Pa_k_hais_: venez Porcs épics, -venez Castors, venez Elans, voila toutes leurs prieres. - - Their Religion, or rather their superstition, consists besides in - praying; but O, my God, what prayers they make! In the morning, - when the little children come out from their Cabins, they shout, - _Cacouakhi,_ [81] _Pakhais Amiscouakhi, Pakhais Mousouakhi, - Pakhais_, "Come, Porcupines; come, Beavers; come, Elk;" and this is - all of their prayers. - -Les Sauuages eternuans, & quelquefois mesme en autre temps, disent -pendant l'Hiuer, criants tout haut _Etouctaian miraouinam an -Mirouscami_K_hi_, ie serois bien aise de voir le Printemps. - - When the Savages sneeze, and sometimes even at other times, during - the Winter, they cry out in a loud voice, _Etouctaiau miraouinam an - Mirouscamikhi_, "I shall be very glad to see the Spring." - -D'autrefois ie leur ay oüy demãder le Printemps, ou la deliurance du -mauuais, & autres choses semblables; & tout cela se faict par desirs -qu'ils expriment, criants tant qu'ils peuuent, ie serois bien aise que -ce iour continuast, que le vent se changeast, &c. De dire à qui ces -souhaits s'adressent, ie ne sçaurois, car eux mesmes ne le sçauent pas, -du moins ceux à qui ie l'ay demandé ne m'en ont pû instruire. - - At other times, I have heard them pray for the Spring, or for - deliverance from evils and other similar things; and they express - all these things in the form of desires, crying out as loudly as - they can, "I would be very glad if this day would continue, if the - wind would change," etc. I could not say to whom these wishes are - addressed, for they themselves do not know, at least those whom I - have asked have not been able to enlighten me. - -I'ay remarqué cy-dessus qu'ils prient Le Manitou de ne point ietter les -yeux sur leurs ennemis, afin qu'ils les puissent tuer: voila toutes les -prieres & oraisons que i'ay oüy faire aux Sauuages, ie ne sçay s'ils -en ont d'autres, ie [82] ne le crois pas. O que ie me fentois riche & -heureux parmy ces Barbares, d'auoir vn Dieu à qui ie peusse adresser -mes souhaits, mes prieres & mes vœux! & qu'ils sont miserables de -n'auoir point d'autres desirs, que pour la vie presente! I'oubliois -à dire icy, mais ie l'ay couché cy-dessus, qu'ils ont vne Image ou -espece de sacrifice, car ils iettent au feu de la gresse qu'ils -recueillent sur la chaudiere où cuit la viande, faisants cette priere -_Papeoue_k_ou_, _Papeoue_k_ou_, faictes nous trouuer à manger, faictes -nous trouuer à manger: ie crois qu'ils adressent cette oraison à leur -_Khichekouai_, & peut-estre encore les autres; voicy vne superstition -qui m'a bien ennuyé. - - I have remarked above that they pray The Manitou not to cast his - eyes upon their enemies, in order that they may be able to kill - them. These are all the prayers and orisons which I have heard - the Savages make; I do not know whether they have others,--I [82] - do not think they have. Oh, how rich and happy I consider myself - among these Barbarians, to have a God to whom I can address my - desires, my prayers and my vows! And how miserable they are not to - have any other desires than for the present life! I was forgetting - to say here, although I have mentioned it above, that they have - an Imitation or kind of a sacrifice, for they throw upon the fire - grease which they skim from the kettle where the meat is cooking, - uttering this prayer, _Papcouekou, Papcouekou_, "make us find - something to eat, make us find something to eat." I believe that - they address this prayer to their _Khichckouai_, and perhaps to - others besides. The following is a superstition which greatly - annoyed me. - -Le vingt-quatriesme de Nouembre, le Sorcier assembla les Sauuages & se -retrancha auec des robes & des couuertures en vn quartier de la Cabane; -en sorte qu'on ne le pouuoit voir, ny ses compagnons: il s'y trouua vne -femme auec eux qui marquoit sur vn baston triangulaire long de demie -picque, toutes les chansons qu'ils disoient, ie [83] priay vne femme de -me dire ce qu'ils faisoient dans ces retranchemens, elle me respondit -qu'ils prioient; mais ie croy qu'elle me fist cette respõse, pour ce -que quand ie saisois oraison, eux me demandans ce que ie faisois, ie -leurs disois, _Nataïamihiau missi ca_ K_hichitât_, ie prie celuy qui a -tout faict: & ainsi quand ils chantoient, quand ils hurloient, battans -leurs tambours & leurs bastons, ils me disoient qu'ils faisoient -leurs prieres, sans me pouuoir expliquer à qui ils les addressoient. -Le renegat m'a dit que ceste superstition, qui dura plus de cinq -heures, se faisoit pour vn mort, mais comme il ment plus souuent qu'il -ne dit vray, ie m'en rapporte à ce qui en est: ils appellent cette -superstition _Ouechibouan_, en suitte de ces longues oraisons, le -Sorcier donna le patron d'vn petit sac couppé en forme de jambe à vne -femme pour en faire vn de cuir, qu'elle remplit à mon aduis de poil de -Castor, car ie maniay cette jambe qui me sembla molasse, & pleine d'vn -poil assez doux, ie demanday prou ce que c'estoit, [84] & pourquoy on -faisoit ce petit sac tortu, mais iamais on ne me le voulut dire. Ie -sçeu seulement qu'ils l'appelloient _Manitou_k_athi_, c'est à dire, -jambe du Manitou, ou du Diable; elle fut long temps penduë dans la -Cabane au lieu où s'asseoit le Sorcier; depuis on la donna à vn ieune -homme pour la porter penduë au col, elle estoit des appartenances de -ces longues prieres, que ie viens de cotter, mais ie n'ay peu sçauoir à -quel dessein cela se faisoit. - - On the twenty-fourth of November, the Sorcerer assembled the - Savages, and entrenched himself with some robes and blankets in - one quarter of the Cabin, so that neither he nor his companions - could be seen. There was a woman with them, who marked on a - triangular stick, half a spear in length, all the songs they - recited. I [83] begged a woman to tell me what they were doing in - this enclosure, and she answered me that they were praying; but - I believe she made this response because, when I prayed and they - asked me what I was doing, I told them, _Nataïamihiau missi ca - Khichitât_, "I am praying to him who made all things;" and so when - they sang, when they howled, and beat their drums and their sticks, - they told me that they were making prayers, without being able to - explain to me to whom they were addressed. The renegade told me - that this superstitious rite, which lasted more than five hours, - was performed for a dead person; but, as he lies oftener than he - tells the truth, I give it for what it is worth. They call this - superstition _Ouechibouan_. After these long orisons, the Sorcerer - gave the pattern of a little sack, cut in the form of a leg, to a - woman, to make one of leather. This she filled, I thought, with - Beaver hair, for I felt the leg and it seemed to me light and full - of soft hair. I asked often what it was, [84] and why they made - this little crooked sack, but they never told me. I only know that - they call it _Manitoukathi_; meaning, leg of the Manitou, or of the - Devil; for a long time it was hung in the Cabin, at the place where - the Sorcerer was seated; afterward, it was given to a young man to - wear hung from his neck. It was one of the accompaniments of these - long prayers, which I have just described; but I have not been able - to find out for what purpose it was used. - -Ils gardent par fois encore vn ieusne fort rigoureux, non pas tous, -mais quelques vns qui ont enuie de viure long temps; mon hoste voyant -que ie ne mangeois qu'vne fois pendant le Caresme, me dit que quelques -vns d'entre eux ieusnoient pour auoir vne longue vie; mais m'adjousta -qu'ils se retiroient tous seuls dans vne petite Cabane à part, & que -là ils ne beuuoient ny mãgeoient quelquefois huict iours, quelquefois -dix iours durant: d'autres m'ont dit qu'ils sortent comme des squelets -de cette Cabane, & que par [85] fois on en rapporte à demy-morts, -ie n'ay point veu de ces grands ieusneurs, si bien de grãds disneurs: -vray est que ie n'ay point de peine à croire cét excez, car toutes les -fausses religions sont pleines de puerilitez, ou d'excés, ou de saletez. - - Now and then they observe a very rigorous fast,--not all of them, - but certain ones who desire to live a long time. My host, seeing - that I ate only once a day during Lent, told me that some of their - people fasted in order to have a long life; but he added that they - withdrew alone into a little Cabin apart from the others, and while - there they neither drank nor ate, sometimes for eight and at other - times for ten days; others have told me that they emerge from this - Cabin like skeletons, and that sometimes [85] they are brought out - half dead. I have not seen any of these great fasters, but I have - seen great diners. In truth I have no difficulty in believing in - these excesses, for all false religions are full of nonsense, of - excesses, or of uncleanness. - -I'ay veu faire vne autre deuotion au Sorcier, laquelle, comme ie crois, -n'appartient qu'à ceux de sa profession; on luy dresse vne petite -Cabane esloignée d'vn jet de pierre ou de deux des autres, il se -retire là dedans pour y demeurer seul huict iours, dix iours, ou plus -ou moins: Or vous l'entendez iour & nuict crier, hurler, & battre son -tambour; mais il n'est pas tellement solitaire, que d'autres ne luy -aillent aider à chanter, & que les femmes ne le visitent, c'est là où -il se commet de grandes saletez. - - I have seen another devotion performed by the Sorcerer, which, I - believe, belongs only to those of his profession. They erect for - him a little Cabin distant from the others a stone's throw or two, - into which he retires to remain there alone eight or ten days, more - or less. Now day and night he can be heard crying, howling and - beating his drum; but he is not so solitary that others do not go - to help him sing, and that the women do not visit him, and it is - here that great licentiousness is carried on. - -Les Sauuages sont encore fort Religieux enuers leurs morts; mon hoste, -& le vieillard dont i'ay souuent faict mention, m'ont confirmé ce que -i'ay des-ja escrit vne autrefois, que le corps mort du deffunct ne sort -point par la [86] porte ordinaire de la Cabane, ains on leue l'escorce -de l'endroict où l'hom[me] est mort, pour faire passer son cadaure. - - The Savages are also very Religious in regard to their dead. My - host, and the old man of whom I have spoken, confirmed what I have - already written before, that the body of the deceased does not - go out through the [86] common door of the Cabin, but the bark - is raised at the place where the dead man is, in order to make a - passageway for the corpse. - -De plus, disent ils, l'ame sort par la cheminée, ou par l'ouuerture -qu'ils font au haut de leurs todis, ils frappent à coups de baston -sur leurs Cabanes, afin que cette ame ne tarde point, & qu'elle ne -s'accoste de quelque enfant, car elle le fairoit mourir: ils enterrent -les robbes, les chaudieres, & autres meubles auec le trespassé, pource -qu'ils l'ayment, & afin aussi qu'il se serue de l'ame de toutes ces -choses en l'autre vie. Ils iettent comme i'ay des-ja dit, la meilleure -viande qu'ils ayent au feu, pour en donner à manger à l'ame dit -deffunct, qui mange l'ame de ces viandes: ils n'estendent point les -corps de leur long comme nous faisons les enseuellissants, mais ils -les accroupissent & accourcissent comme vne personne qui est assise -sur les talons: ils couppent vn petit touffet de cheueux du deffunct, -pour presenter à son plus proche parent. Je n'en sçay [87] pas la -raison. Mais faisons vne autre liste de leurs superstitions & de leur -ignorance, celles que ie viens de rapporter, concernent en quelque -façon leur religion ridicule; les suiuantes le peuuent proprement -appeller superstitions. - - Furthermore, they say that the soul goes out through the chimney, - or at the opening which they make at the top of their huts. They - strike heavy blows with a stick upon the Cabins, that this soul may - not delay, and that it may not come near a child, for it would kill - it. They bury with the dead man his robes, his kettles, and other - belongings, because they love him, and also in order that he may - make use of the soul of all these things in the other life. They - throw, as I have already said, the best meat they have into the - fire, to give something to eat to the soul of the deceased, which - eats the soul of this food. They do not stretch out the bodies of - their dead lengthwise, as we do those of our dead, but they place - them in a crouching position like a person who is seated upon his - heels. They cut a little tuft of hair from the dead man to present - to his nearest relative. I do not know [87] why they do this. - But let us make another list of their superstitions and of their - ignorance, as what I have just reported concerns in some manner - their ridiculous religion: the following may properly be called - superstitions. - -Les Sauuages ne iettent point aux chiens les os des Castors, Porcs -épics femmelles, du moins certains os determinez; bref ils p[r]ennent -garde tres-soigneusement que les chiens ne mangent aucun os des oyseaux -& des autres animaux qui se prennent au lacs, autrement ils n'en -prendront plus qu'auec des difficultez incomparables: encore y a-il là -dedans mille obseruations, car il n'importe que les vertebres ou le -croupion de ces animaux soient données aux chiens, pour le reste il -faut le jetter au feu; toutefois pour le Castor pris à la rets, c'est -le meilleur de ietter ses os dans vn fleuue, c'est chose estrange -qu'ils recueillent & ramassent ces os, & les conseruent auec tant de -soin, que vous diriez que leur chasse seroit perduë s'ils auoient [88] -contreuenu à leurs superstitions: comme ie me mocquois d'eux, & que ie -leurs disois que les Castors ne sçauoient pas ce que l'on faisoit de -leurs os; ils me respondirent, tu ne sçais pas prendre les Castors, -& tu en veux parler: deuant que le Castor soit mort tout à faict, me -dirent-ils, son ame vient faire vn tour par la Cabane de celuy qui -le tuë, & remarque fort bien ce qu'on fait de ses os; que si on les -donnoit aux chiens, les autres Castors en seroient aduertis: c'est -pourquoy ils se rendroient difficiles à prendre, mais ils sont bien -aises qu'on iette leurs os au feu, ou dans vn fleuue, la rets notamment -qui les a pris en est bien contente. Ie leur dis que les Hiroquois -au rapport de celuy qui estoit auec nous, iettoient les os de Castor -aux chiens, & cependant qu'ils en prenoient fort souuent, & que nos -François prenoient du gibier plus qu'eux (sans comparaison) & que -neantmoins nos chiens en mangeoient les os, tu n'as point d'esprit, me -firent-ils, ne vois tu pas que vous & les Hiroquois cultiuez la terre -[89] & en recueillez les fruicts, & non pas nous, & partant que ce -n'est pas la mesme chose: ie me mis à rire entendant cette response -impertinente; le mal est que ie ne fais que beguayer, que ie prends vn -mot pour l'autre, que ie prononce mal, & ainsi tout s'en va le plus -souuent en risee; Que c'est vne grande peine de parler à vn peuple -sans l'entendre. De plus, en leurs festins à manger tout, il faut bien -prendre garde que les chiens n'en goustent tant soit peu, mais de cecy -en vn autre chapitre. - - The Savages do not throw to the dogs the bones of female Beavers - and Porcupines,--at least, certain specified bones; in short, they - are very careful that the dogs do not eat any bones of birds and - of other animals which are taken in the net, otherwise they will - take no more except with incomparable difficulties. Yet they make - a thousand exceptions to this rule, for it does not matter if the - vertebræ or rump of these animals be given to the dogs, but the - rest must be thrown into the fire. Yet, as to the Beaver which has - been taken in a trap, it is best to throw its bones into a river. - It is remarkable how they gather and collect these bones, and - preserve them with so much care, that you would say their game - would be lost if they [88] violated their superstitions. As I was - laughing at them, and telling them that Beavers do not know what is - done with their bones, they answered me, "Thou dost not know how to - take Beavers, and thou wishest to talk about it." Before the Beaver - was entirely dead, they told me, its soul comes to make the round - of the Cabin of him who has killed it, and looks very carefully to - see what is done with its bones; if they are given to the dogs, - the other Beavers would be apprised of it and therefore they would - make themselves hard to capture. But they are very glad to have - their bones thrown into the fire, or into a river; especially the - trap which has caught them is very glad of this. I told them that - the Hiroquois, according to the reports of the one who was with - us, threw the bones of the Beaver to the dogs, and yet they took - them very often; and that our Frenchmen captured more game than - they did (without comparison), and yet our dogs ate these bones. - "Thou hast no sense," they replied, "dost thou not see that you and - the Hiroquois cultivate the soil [89] and gather its fruits, and - not we, and that therefore it is not the same thing?" I began to - laugh when I heard this irrelevant answer. The trouble is, I only - stutter, I take one word for another, I pronounce badly; and so - everything usually passes off in laughter. What great difficulty - there is in talking with people without being able to understand - them. Furthermore, in their eat-all feasts they must be very - careful that the dogs do not taste even the least of it; but of - this in another chapter. - -Ils croyent que la gresle a de l'esprit & de la connoissance, comme mon -hoste faisoit festin pendant cet Hiuer, il dit à vn ieune homme, va -t'en aduertir les Sauuages de l'autre Cabane qu'ils viennent quand ils -voudront que tout est prest, mais ne porte point de flambeau, il estoit -nuict & il gresloit fort & ferme: i'entends aussi les Sauuages sortans -de leurs Cabanes, s'écrier à leurs gens, ne nous éclairez point, car -il gresle. Ie demanday par apres la raison de cela, on me respõdit que -la grêle auoit de l'esprit, & qu'elle haïssoit [90] la lumiere, ne -venant ordinairement que sur la nuict: que si on portoit des flambeaux -dehors, elle cesseroit, dont ils seroient bien marris, car elle sert -à prendre l'Originac. Voila des gens biẽ entendus aux meteores, ie -leur dis que la gresle n'estoit autre chose que l'eau de la pluye, qui -se congeloit par la froidure, laquelle s'augmentât sur la nuict par -l'eloignement du Soleil, il gresloit plustost qu'en plein midy: ils -me repartirent à l'ordinaire, tu es vn ignorant, ne vois tu pas qu'il -a faict froid tout le iour, & que la gresle a attendu la nuict pour -venir; Ie voulus repartir que la nuée n'estoit pas encore disposée, -mais on me dit _eca titou eca titou nama_ K_hitirinisin_, tais toi, -tais toi, tu n'as pas d'esprit: voila la monnoye dont ils me payent, -& dont ils payent bien souuent les autres sans s'alterer. Mon hoste -coupoit par superstition le bout de la queuë de tous les Castors qu'il -prenoit, & les enfiloit ensemble. Ie demanday pourquoy, le vieillard -me dit, c'est vne resolution ou vne promesse qu'il a faict, afin de -prendre beaucoup de Castors de sçauoir à qui il fait ce vœu [91] ny -luy, ny moy ne le sçaurions dire. - - They believe that the hail has understanding and knowledge. When - my host was giving a feast, that Winter, he said to a young man, - "Go tell the Savages of the other Cabin that they may come when - they wish, that everything is ready; but do not carry a torch." It - was night, and there was a very heavy hailstorm. So I heard the - Savages going out from their Cabins, crying to their people, "Do - not make any light for us, because it hails." I afterward asked - the reason for this, and they answered me that the hail possessed - intelligence, and that it hated [90] the light, usually coming only - at night-time; that, if torches were carried out of doors, it would - stop, and they would be very sorry for this, for it helped them - to capture the Moose. See how intelligent these people are about - atmospheric phenomena. I told them that the hail was nothing but - the water of the rain, congealed by the cold, which was greater - at night on account of the absence of the Sun, and so it hailed - then oftener than in the middle of the day. They answered me in - their usual way, "Thou art an ignoramus; dost thou not see that - it has been cold all day long, and that the hail has waited until - night to come?" I tried to tell them that the clouds had not yet - gathered, but they said, _eca titou eca titou nama Khitirinisin_, - "keep still, keep still, thou hast no sense." This is the money - with which they pay me, and with which they very often pay the - others without any variation. Through superstition, my host cuts - off the end of the tail from all the Beavers he takes, and strings - them together. I asked why; and the old man told me that it was - a resolution or promise that he had made in order to take many - Beavers. As to whom he made this vow, [91] neither he nor I would - be able to tell. - -Ils mettent au feu vn certain os plat de Porc épic, puis ils regardent -à sa couleur s'ils feront bonne chasse de ces animaux. - - They put upon the fire a certain flat bone of the Porcupine; then - look at its color attentively, to see if they will hunt these - animals with success. - -Quand quelqu'vn de leurs gens s'est egaré dans les bois, voyans qu'il -ne retourne point en la Cabane, ils pendent vn fusil à vne perche pour -le redresser; & cela fait, me disoient ils, qu'il voye du feu, & qu'il -reconnosse son chemin: quand vn esprit s'est vne fois egaré du chemin -de la verité, il donne bien auant dans l'erreur. - - When some one of their men is lost in the woods, seeing that he - does not return to his Cabin, they hang a fuse to a pole to direct - him, and, that done, they tell me that he sees the fire and finds - his way back. When the mind has once strayed from the path of - truth, it advances far into error. - -Mais à propos de leur fusil, ie diray cy qu'il n'est pas faict comme -les nostres; ils ont pour meche la peau d'vne cuisse d'vn aigle, auec -le duuet qui prẽd feu aisement, ils battent deux pierres de mine -ensemble, comme nous faisons vne pierre à fusil, auec vn morceau de -fer ou d'acier: au lieu d'allumettes, ils se seruẽt d'vn petit morceau -de tondre, c'est vn bois pourry & bien seché, qui brusle aisement & -incessammẽt iusques à ce qu'il soit consommé: ayant pris feu ils le -mettent dans l'escorce de Cedre puluerisée, & soufflant [92] doucement -cette écorce s'enflamme. Voila comme ils font du feu. I'auois porté vn -fusil françois auec moy, & cinq ou six allumettes, ils s'estonnoient -de la promptitude auec laquelle i'allumois du feu, le mal fut que mes -allumettes furent bien tost vsées, ayant manqué d'en porter vn peu -dauãtage. - - But, in regard to their fuse, I will say here that it is not made - like ours. For wick they use the skin of an eagle's thigh, covered - with down, which takes fire very easily. They strike together two - metallic stones, just as we do with a piece of flint and iron or - steel; in place of matches, they use a little piece of tinder, a - dry and rotten wood which burns easily and continually until it is - consumed. When they have lighted it, they put it into pulverized - Cedar bark; and, by gently [92] blowing, this bark takes fire. That - is how they light their fires. I brought a french fuse with me, and - five or six matches. They were astonished at the ease with which - I could light a fire; the trouble was that my matches were soon - exhausted, as I had failed to bring enough. - -Ils ont encore vne autre espece de fusil, ils tournent vn petit baston -de Cedre, de ce mouuement sort du feu qui allume du tondre: mais comme -ie n'ay point veu l'vsage de ce fusil plus familier aux Hurons qu'aux -Montagnais, ie n'en diray pas dauantage. - - They have still another kind of fuse. They twist a little Cedar - stick, and this friction causes fire, which lights some tinder; - but, as I have never seen them use this fuse, which is more - familiar to the Hurons than to the Montagnais, I will say no more - about it. - -Quand quelqu'vn d'eux a pris vn Ours, il y a bien des ceremonies deuant -qu'il soit mangé, vn de nos gens en prit vn. Voicy ce qu'on obserua. - - When some one of them has taken a Bear, there are extensive - ceremonies before it is eaten. One of our people took one, and this - is what they did: - -Premierement l'Ours estant tué, celuy qui l'a mis à mort ne l'apporte -point, mais il s'en reuient à la Cabane en donner la nouuelle, afin que -quelqu'vn aille voir la prise comme chose precieuse; car les Sauuages -preferent la chair d'Ours à toutes leurs autres viandes: il me semble -que le ieune Castor ne luy cede en rien, mais l'Ours a [93] plus de -graisse. Voila pourquoy il est plus aimé des Sauuages. - - First, the Bear having been killed, the man who killed it did not - bring it back, but he returned to the Cabin to impart the news, - so that some one might go and see the prize, as something very - precious; for the Savages prefer the meat of the Bear to all other - kinds of food; it seems to me that the young Beaver is in no way - inferior to it, but the Bear has [93] more fat, and therefore the - Savages like it better. - -Secondement l'Ours a[p]porté toutes les filles nubiles, & les ieunes -femmes mariées qui n'ont point encore eu d'ẽfans, tant celles de -la Cabane où l'Ours doit estre mangé, que des autres voisines, s'en -vont dehors, & ne rentrent point tant qu'il y reste aucun morceau de -cet animal, dont elles ne goustent point: Il negeoit & faisoit vn -temps fort fascheux, il estoit quasi nuict quãd cét Ours fut apporté -en nostre Cabane: tout à l'heure les femmes & les filles sortirent, & -s'en allerent Cabaner ailleurs le mieux quelles peurent non sans patir -beaucoup, car ils n'ont pas tousiours des écorces à leur commandemẽt -pour dresser leur maison, qu'ils couurẽt en tel cas de brãches de Sapin. - - Second, the Bear being brought, all the marriageable girls and - young married women who have not had children, as well as those of - the Cabin where the Bear is to be eaten, and of the neighboring - cabins, go outside, and do not return as long as there remains a - piece of this animal, which they do not taste. It snowed, and the - weather was very severe. It was almost night when this Bear was - brought to our Cabin; immediately the women and girls went out and - sought Shelter elsewhere, the best they could find. They do this - not without much suffering; for they do not always have bark at - hand with which to make their house, which in such cases they cover - with branches of the Fir tree. - -En troisiesme lieu, il faut bien éloigner les chiens, de peur qu'ils -ne lechent le sang, ou ne mangent les os, voire les excremens de cette -beste, tãt elle est cherie. On enterre ceux-cy sous le foyer, & on -iette ceux-là au feu; voila ce que i'obseruay en cette superstitiõ. -On fit deux banquets de cét Ours, [94] l'ayant fait cuire en deux -chaudieres, quoy qu'en mesme temps. On inuita les hõmes & les femmes -âgées au premier festin, lequel acheué, les femmes sortirent, puis on -depẽdit l'autre chaudiere, dont on fit festin à manger tout entre les -hommes seulement. Cela se fit le soir de la prise; le lendemain sur la -nuict, ou le second iour, ie ne m'en souuiens pas bien, l'Ours estant -entierement mangé, les ieunes femmes, & les filles retournerent. - - In the third place, the dogs must be sent away, lest they lick - the blood, or eat the bones, or even the offal of this beast, so - greatly is it prized. The latter are buried under the fireplace, - and the former are thrown into the fire. The preceding are - the observations which I made during the performance of this - superstition. Two banquets are made of this Bear, [94] as it is - cooked in two kettles, although all at the same time. The men - and older women are invited to the first feast, and, when it is - finished, the women go out; then the other kettle is taken down, - and of this an eat-all feast is made for the men only. This is done - on the evening of the capture; the next day toward nightfall, or - the second day, I do not exactly remember, the Bear having been all - eaten, the young women and girls return. - -Si l'oiseau qu'ils nomment _Ouichcatchan_, qui est quasi de la grosseur -d'vne pie, & qui luy ressemble, (car il est gris aux endroicts que la -pie est noire, & blanc ou elle est blanche) se presente pour entrer -dans leur Cabane, ils le chassent fort soigneusement, pource disent -ils, qu'ils auroient mal à la teste: ils n'ẽ dõnent point de raison -ils l'ont, si on les croit, experimenté, ie les ay veu prendre le -gesier de cét animal, le fendans & regardans dedans fort attentiuement; -mon hoste me dit, si ie trouue dedans vn petit os d'Originac (car cét -oyseau mange de tout) ie tueray vn Orignac, si ie trouue vn os d'Ours, -ie [95] tueray vn Ours, & ainsi des autres animaux. - - If the bird which they call _Ouichcatchan_, which is nearly the - size of the magpie, and which resembles it (for it is gray in the - places where the magpie is black, and white where it is white), - tries to get into their Cabins, they drive it away very carefully, - because, they say, they would have a headache; they do not give - any reason for this, but have, if they are to be believed, learned - it by experience. I have seen them take the throat of this animal, - split it open, and look into it very attentively. My host tells me, - "If I find inside a little bone of the Moose (for this bird eats - everything) I shall kill a Moose; if I find a bone of the Bear, I - [95] shall kill a Bear;" and so on with other animals. - -Dans la famine que nous auons enduré, nos Sauuages ne voulurent point -manger leurs chiens, pource que si on tuoit vn chiẽ pour le manger, vn -hõme seroit tué à coups de hache, disoiẽt-ils. - - In the famine which we endured, our Savages would not eat their - dogs, because they said that, if the dog was killed to be eaten, a - man would be killed by blows from an axe. - -Mon hoste iettant quelques branches de pin dans le feu, il prestoit -l'oreille au bruit qu'elles feroient en se bruslant, prononçant -quelques paroles; ie luy demanday pourquoy il faisoit cette ceremonie, -pour prendre des Porcs épics, me respond il, de dire quel rapport il y -a de ces branches bruslées auec leur chasse, c'est ce qu'ils ne sçauent -pas, & ne sçauroient sçauoir. - - My host, throwing some pine branches into the fire, listened - attentively to the noise which they made in burning, and pronounced - some words. I asked him why he went through this ceremony; "To - capture Porcupines," he answered me. What connection there is - between these burning branches and their hunting, they neither do - nor can explain. - -Ils ne mangent point la moëlle des vertebres ou de l'espine du dos -de quelque animal que ce soit, car ils auroient mal au dos, & s'ils -fourroient vn baston dans ces vertebres, ils sentiroiẽt vne douleur, -comme si on le fichoit dans les leur. Ie le faisois expres deuant -eux pour les desabuser, mais vn mal d'esprit si grand, comme est vne -superstition inueterée depuis tant de siecles, & succée auec le laict -de la nourrice [96] ne se guerit pas en vn moment. - - They do not eat the marrow of the vertebræ or backbone of any - animal whatever, for they would have a backache; and, if they - were to thrust a stick into these vertebræ, they would feel the - pain the same as if some one had driven it into theirs. I did it - purposely, in their presence, to disabuse them; but a disease of - the mind so great as is a superstition firmly established for so - many centuries, and drunk in with the nurse's milk, [96] is not - eradicated in a moment. - -Ils ne mangent point les petits embrions d'Orignac, qu'ils tirent du -ventre de leurs meres, sinon à la fin de la chasse de cét animal, la -raison est que leurs meres les aiment, & qu'elles s'en rendroient -fascheuses & difficiles à prendre, si on mangeoit leur fruict si ieune. - - They do not eat the little embryos of Moose, which they take from - the wombs of the mothers, except at the end of the chase for this - animal. The reason is that their mothers love them, and they would - become angry and difficult to capture, if their offspring were - eaten so young. - -Ils ne reconnoissent que dix Lunes en l'année, i'entends la pluspart des -Sauuages, car i'ay fait auouër au Sorcier qu'il y en auoit douze. - - They recognize only ten Moons in the year,--I mean the greater part - of the Savages, for I made the Sorcerer admit that there are twelve. - -Ils croyent que la Lune de Feurier est plus lõgue de plusieurs iours -que les autres, aussi la nomment ils la grande Lune; Ie leur ay -demanday d'où venoit l'Eclypse de Lune & de Soleil; ils m'ont respondu -que la Lune s'éclypsoit ou paroissoit noire, à cause qu'elle tenoit -son fils entre ses bras, qui empeschoit que l'on ne vist sa clarté. Si -la Lune a vn fils, elle est mariée, ou l'a été, leur dis-je, oüy dea, -me dirent ils, le Soleil est son mary qui marche tout le iour, & elle -toute la nuict; & s'il s'eclypse, ou s'il s'obscurcit, c'est qu'il -prend aussi par fois le fils qu'il a eu de [97] la Lune entre ses bras: -oüy, mais ny la Lune ny le Soleil n'ont point de bras, leur disois-je, -tu n'as point d'esprit: ils tiẽnent tousiours leur arcs bandés deuant -eux, voila pourquoy leurs bras ne paroissent point; & sur qui veulent -ils tirer? hé qu'en sçauons nous. Ie leur demanday que vouloient dire -ces taches qui se font voir en la Lune; tu ne sçay riẽ du tout, me -disoient ils; c'est vn bonet qui luy couure la teste, & non pas des -taches. Ie m'enquis pourquoy le fils du Soleil & de la Lune n'estoit -pas luisant comme ses parents, ains noir & obscur; nous n'en sçauons -rien, me firent ils, si nous auions esté au Ciel nous te respondrions. -Au reste ils croyent qu'ils viẽt quelquefois en terre, & quand il se -pourmene en leur pays, ils meurent en grand nõbre. Ie leur ay demandé -s'ils n'auoiẽt point veu de Cometes, ces Estoilles à longue queuë, & -ce que c'estoit; nous en auons veu, me dirent ils, c'est vn animal -qui a vne grande queuë, 4. pieds, & une teste, nous voyons tous cela, -disoiẽt-ils. - - They believe that the February Moon is longer by several days than - the others, and therefore they call it the great Moon. I asked them - whence came the Eclipse of the Moon and of the Sun. They answered - that the Moon was eclipsed, or appeared to be dark, because she - held her son in her arms, which prevented her brightness from being - seen. "If the Moon has a son, she is married, or has been," I told - them. "Oh, yes," they replied, "the Sun is her husband, who walks - all day, and she all night; and if he be eclipsed, or darkened, it - is because he also sometimes takes the son which he has had by [97] - the Moon, into his arms." "Yes, but neither the Moon nor the Sun - has any arms," I answered them. "Thou hast no sense; they always - hold their drawn bows before them, and that is why their arms do - not appear." "And whom do they wish to shoot?" "Ah, how do we - know?" I asked them what those spots meant that appear on the Moon. - "Thou knowest nothing at all," they said; "it is a cap which covers - her head, and not spots." I inquired why the son of the Sun and of - the Moon was not bright like parents, but black and gloomy. "We do - not know," said they; "if we had been in the Sky, we might answer - thee." Furthermore, they think that he comes now and then upon - earth; and, when he walks about in their country, many people die. - I asked them if they had never seen Comets, those Stars with long - tails, and what they were. "We have seen them," they answered; "it - is an animal that has a long tail, 4 feet, and a head; we can see - all that," they said. - -Ie les interrogeay sur le tonnerre, ils me dirent qu'ils ne sçauoient -pas quel animal c'estoit, qu'il mangeoit les serpents [98] & -quelquefois les arbres, que les Hurons croyẽt que c'est vn oiseau fort -grãd induit à cette creãce, par vn bruit sourd que fait vne espece -d'hirondelle qui paroist icy l'Esté: Ie n'ay point veu de ces oiseaux -en France, i'en ay tenu icy, il a le bec, & la teste, & la figure du -corps, cõme vne hirondelle, sinõ qu'il est vn peu plus gros; il se -pourmene le soir en l'air, faisant vn bruit pesãt par reprises. Les -Hurons disent qu'il fait ce bruit du derriere, cõme aussi l'oiseau -qu'ils pẽsent estre le tõnerre, & qu'il n'y a qu'vn seul hõme qui -voye cét oiseau, & encore vne fois en sa vie; c'est ce que m'ẽ dit mõ -vieillard. - - I asked them about the thunder; they said that they did not know - what animal it was; that it ate snakes, [98] and sometimes trees; - that the Hurons believed it to be a very large bird. They were led - to this belief by a hollow sound made by a kind of swallow which - appears here in the Summer. I have not seen any of these birds in - France, but have examined some of them here. They have a beak, a - head, and a form like the swallow, except that they are a little - larger; they fly about in the evening, repeatedly making a dull - noise. The Hurons say that they make this noise from behind, as - does also the bird which they think is the thunder; and that there - is only one man who has seen this bird, and he only once in his - lifetime. This is what my old man told me. - -Voila vne partie de leurs superstitiõs; que de poussiere dedans leurs -yeux, & qu'il y aura de peine à la faire sortir, pour leur faire -voir le beau iour de la verité. Ie croy neãtmoins, que qui sçauroit -parfaittement leur langue, pour les payer promptement de bonnes -raisons, qu'ils se mocqueroient eux mesmes de leurs sottises: car par -fois ie les rendois honteux & cõfus, quoy que ie ne parle quasi que par -les mains, ie veux dire par signes. - - These are some of their superstitions. How much dust there is in - their eyes, and how much trouble there will be to remove it that - they may see the beautiful light of truth! I believe, nevertheless, - that any one who knew their language perfectly, in order to give - them good reasons promptly, would soon make them laugh at their own - stupidity; for sometimes I have made them ashamed and confused, - although I speak almost entirely by my hands, I mean by signs. - -Ie veux conclurre ce chapitre par vn estõnement; on se plaint en France -d'vne [99] Messe, si elle passe vne demie heure; le Sermon limité d'vne -heure semble par fois trop long, à peine exerce l'on ces actes de -Religion vne fois la semaine, & ces pauures ignorants crient & hurlent -à toute heure. - - I am going to conclude this chapter with a surprise; they complain - in France of a [99] Mass, if it lasts more than half an hour; a - Sermon limited to an hour seems too long; those Religious services - are performed hardly once a week; and yet those poor ignorant - people cry and howl all the time. - -Le Sorcier les assemble souuent en plein minuict, à deux heures, à -trois heures du matin, dãs vn froid qui gele tout; iour & nuict il les -tient en haleine, employans non vne ou deux heures, mais trois & -quatre de suitte, à faire leurs deuotions ridicules. On fait sortir les -pauures femmes de leurs Cabanes, se leuãts en pleine nuict, emportants -leurs petits enfans parmy les neiges chez leurs voisins. Les hommes -harassez du trauail du iour, ayant peu mangé & couru fort lõg temps, -au moindre cry qu'on leur faict quittent leur sommeil, & s'en viennent -promptement au lieu où se fait le Sabbat, & ce qui semblera au delà -de toute creance. Ie n'ay iamais veu former aucune plainte parmy eux, -ny aux femmes ny aux hommes, ny mesme aux enfans, chacun se montrant -prompt & allaigre à la voix du Sorcier ou du jongleur, hélas! mon Dieu, -les ames qui vous aiment seront [100] elles sans sentiment, voyants -plus de passion pour des folies, que pour la verité? Belial est-il plus -aimable que IESVS? pourquoy dõc est-il plus ardãment aimé, obey plus -promptement, & plus deuotement adoré? mais passons outre. - - The Sorcerer often brings them together at midnight, or at two or - three o'clock in the morning, in a cold which freezes everything. - Day and night he holds them with bated breath, during not one - nor two hours, but three or four in succession, to perform their - ridiculous devotions. They make the poor women go out from their - Cabins, rising at midnight and carrying their little children over - the snow to their neighbors. Men, harassed by the work of the day, - who have eaten but little and hunted a long time, at the first cry - waken and promptly betake themselves to this Witches' Sabbath; - and, what will seem beyond all belief, I have never known a single - complaint to arise among them, neither among the women nor the men, - nor even the children, each one showing himself prompt and glad to - obey the voice of the Sorcerer or juggler. Alas, my God, will the - souls that love you be [100] without feeling, when they see more - zeal shown for folly than for truth? Is Belial more lovely than - JESUS? Why then is he more ardently loved, more promptly obeyed, - and more devotedly adored? But let us pass on. - - - - -CHAPITRE V. - -DES CHOSES BONNES QUI SE TROUUENT DANS LES SAUUAGES. - - -SI nous commençons par les biens du corps, ie diray qu'ils les possedẽt -auec auantage: ils sont grands, droicts, forts, bien proportionnez, -agiles, rien d'effeminé ne paroist en eux. Ces petits Damoiseaux qu'õ -voit ailleurs, ne sont que des hõmes en peinture, à comparaison de -nos Sauuages. I'ay quasi creu autrefois que les Images des Empereurs -Romains representoient plustost l'idée des peintres, que des hommes qui -eussent iamais esté, tant leurs testes sont grosses & puissãtes, mais -ie voy icy sur les épaules de ce peuple les testes de Iules Cesar, de -Pompée, d'Auguste, d'Othon, & des autres que i'ay veu en France, tirées -sur [101] le papier, ou releuées en des medailles. - - CHAPTER V. - - ON THE GOOD THINGS WHICH ARE FOUND AMONG THE SAVAGES. - - - IF we begin with physical advantages, I will say that they - possess these in abundance. They are tall, erect, strong, well - proportioned, agile; and there is nothing effeminate in their - appearance. Those little Fops that are seen elsewhere are only - caricatures of men, compared with our Savages. I almost believed, - heretofore, that the Pictures of the Roman Emperors represented - the ideal of the painters rather than men who had ever existed, - so strong and powerful are their heads; but I see here upon the - shoulders of these people the heads of Julius Cæsar, of Pompey, of - Augustus, of Otho, and of others, that I have seen in France, drawn - upon [101] paper, or in relief on medallions. - -Pour l'esprit des Sauuages, il est de bõne trempe, ie croy que les -ames sont toutes de mesme estoc, & qu'elles ne different point -substantiellemẽt; c'est pourquoy ces barbares ayans vn corps bien fait, -& les organes bien rangez & bien disposez, leur esprit doit operer auec -facilité: la seule education & instruction leur mãque, leur ame est vn -sol tres bon de sa nature, mais chargé de toutes les malices qu'vne -terre delaissée depuis la naissance du mõde peut porter. Ie compare -volõtiers nos Sauuages auec quelques villageois, pource que les vns & -les autres sont ordinairement sans instruction; encore nos Paysans -sont-ils precipuez en ce point: & neantmoins ie n'ay veu personne -iusques icy de ceux qui sont venus en ces contrées, qui ne confesse & -qui n'aduoüe franchement que les Sauuages ont plus d'esprit que nos -paysans ordinaires. - - As to the mind of the Savage, it is of good quality. I believe - that souls are all made from the same stock, and that they do not - materially differ; hence, these barbarians having well formed - bodies, and organs well regulated and well arranged, their minds - ought to work with ease. Education and instruction alone are - lacking. Their soul is a soil which is naturally good, but loaded - down with all the evils that a land abandoned since the birth of - the world can produce. I naturally compare our Savages with certain - villagers, because both are usually without education, though our - Peasants are superior in this regard; and yet I have not seen any - one thus far, of those who have come to this country, who does not - confess and frankly admit that the Savages are more intelligent - than our ordinary peasants. - -De plus, si c'est vn grand bien d'estre deliuré d'vn grand mal, nos -Sauuages sont heureux, car les deux tyrans qui donnent la gehenne & -la torture à vn grand nombre de nos Europeans, ne regnent [102] point -dans leurs grands bois, i'entends l'ambition & l'auarice; Comme ils -n'ont ny police, ny charges, ny dignitez, ny commandement aucun, car -ils n'obeyssent que par bien-veillance à leur Capitaine; aussi ne se -tuẽt ils point pour entrer dãs les honneurs, d'ailleurs comme ils se -contentent seulement de la vie, pas un d'eux ne se donne au Diable pour -acquerir des richesses. - - Moreover, if it is a great blessing to be free from a great evil, - our Savages are happy; for the two tyrants who provide hell and - torture for many of our Europeans, do not reign [102] in their - great forests,--I mean ambition and avarice. As they have neither - political organization, nor offices, nor dignities, nor any - authority, for they only obey their Chief through good will toward - him, therefore they never kill each other to acquire these honors. - Also, as they are contented with a mere living, not one of them - gives himself to the Devil to acquire wealth. - -Ils font profession de ne se point fascher, non pour la beauté de la -vertu, dõt ils n'ont pas seulemẽt le nom mais pour leur contentement & -plaisir, ie veux dire, pours s'affranchir des amertumes que cause la -fascherie. Le Sorcier me disoit vn iour, parlant d'vn de nos François, -il n'a point d'esprit, il se fasche, pour moy rien n'est capable de -m'alterer; que la famine nous presse, que mes plus proches passent en -l'autre vie, que les Hiroquois nos ennemis massacrent nos gens, ie ne -me fasche iamais, ce qu'il dit n'est pas article de foy; car comme -il est plus superbe qu'aucun Sauuage, aussi l'ay ie veu plus souuent -alteré que pas vn d'eux; vray est que bien souuent il se retenoit, & se -commãdoit auec violence, notamment [103] quand ie mettois au iour ses -niaseries. Ie n'ay iamais veu qu'vn Sauuage prononcer cette parole, -_Ninichcatihin_, ie suis fasché encore; ne la profera il qu'vne fois: -mais i'aduertis qu'on prit garde à luy, car quand ces Barbares se -faschent, ils sont dangereux & n'ont point de retenuë. - - They make a pretence of never getting angry, not because of the - beauty of this virtue, for which they have not even a name, but - for their own contentment and happiness, I mean, to avoid the - bitterness caused by anger. The Sorcerer said to me one day, - speaking of one of our Frenchmen, "He has no sense, he gets angry; - as for me, nothing can disturb me; let hunger oppress me, let my - nearest relation pass to the other life, let the Hiroquois, our - enemies, massacre our people, I never get angry." What he says - is not an article of faith; for, as he is more haughty than any - other Savage, so I have seen him oftener out of humor than any of - them; it is true also that he often restrains and governs himself - by force, especially [103] when I expose his foolishness. I have - only heard one Savage pronounce this word, _Ninichcatihin_, "I am - angry," and he only said it once. But I noticed that they kept - their eyes on him, for when these Barbarians are angry, they are - dangerous and unrestrained. - -Qui fait profession de ne se point fascher, doit faire profession de -patience; les Sauuages nous passent tellemẽt en ce poinct, que nous -en deurions estre confus: ie les voyois dans leurs peines, dans leurs -trauaux souffrir auec allegresse. Mon hoste admirant la multitude du -peuple que ie luy disois estre en France, me demandoit si les hommes -estoient bons, s'ils ne se faschoient point, s'ils estoiẽt patients. -Ie n'ay rien veu de si patient qu'vn Sauuage malade; qu'on crie, qu'on -tempeste, qu'õ saute, qu'on dãse, il ne se plaint quasi iamais. Ie me -suis trouué auec eux en des dangers de grandement souffrir; ils me -disoient nous serõs quelquefois deux iours, quelque fois trois sans -manger, faute de viure, prends courage, _Chihiné_, aye l'ame dure -resiste à la peine & au trauail, garde toy de la tristessé, autrement -tu seras malade; regarde que nous ne laissons pas de rire, [104] quoy -que nous mangions peu, vne chose presque seule les abbat, c'est quand -ils voyent qu'il y a de la mort; car ils la craignẽt outre mesure; -ostez cette apprehension aux Sauuages, ils supporteront toute sortes de -mespris & d'incommoditez, & toutes sortes de trauaux & d'injures fort -patiemmẽt: Ie produiray plusieurs exemples de tout cecy dans la suitte -du temps, que ie reserue à la fin de ces chapitres. - - Whoever professes not to get angry, ought also to make a profession - of patience; the Savages surpass us to such an extent, in this - respect, that we ought to be ashamed. I saw them, in their - hardships and in their labors, suffer with cheerfulness. My host, - wondering at the great number of people who I told him were in - France, asked me if the men were good, if they did not become - angry, if they were patient. I have never seen such patience as is - shown by a sick Savage. You may yell, storm, jump, dance, and he - will scarcely ever complain. I found myself, with them, threatened - with great suffering; they said to me, "We shall be sometimes two - days, sometimes three, without eating, for lack of food; take - courage, _Chihiné_, let thy soul be strong to endure suffering and - hardship; keep thyself from being sad, otherwise thou wilt be sick; - see how we do not cease to laugh, [104] although we have little to - eat." One thing alone casts them down,--it is when they see death, - for they fear this beyond measure; take away this apprehension from - the Savages, and they will endure all kinds of degradation and - discomfort, and all kinds of trials and suffering very patiently. - Later, I shall give several examples of this, which I am reserving - for the end of these chapters. - -Ils s'entraiment les vns les autres, & s'accordent admirablement -bien; vous ne voyez point de disputes, de querelles, d'inimitiez, de -reproches parmy eux, les hõmes laissent la disposition du mesnage -aux femmes sans les inquieter; elles coupent, elles tranchent, elles -donnent comme il leur plaist, sans que le mary s'en fasche. Ie n'ay -iamais veu mon hoste demãder à vne ieune femme estourdie qu'il tenoit -auec soy, que deuenoiẽt les viures, quoy qu'ils diminuassẽt assez -viste. Ie n'ay iamais oüy les femmes se plaindre de ce que l'on ne les -inuitoit aux festins, que les hommes mangeoient les bons morceaux, -qu'elles trauailloient incessamment, allans querir le bois pour le -chauffage: faisants les Cabanes, passans les peaux, & s'occupans en -[105] d'autres œuures assez penibles, chacun fait son petit affaire -doucement, & paisiblement sans dispute. Il est vray neantmoins qu'ils -n'ont point de douceur ny de courtoisie en leurs paroles, & qu'vn -François ne sçauroit prendre l'accent, le ton & l'aspreté de leur voix -à moins que de se mettre en cholere, eux cependant ne s'y mettrent pas. - - They are very much attached to each other, and agree admirably. You - do not see any disputes, quarrels, enmities, or reproaches among - them. Men leave the arrangement of the household to the women, - without interfering with them; they cut, and decide, and give away - as they please, without making the husband angry. I have never seen - my host ask a giddy young woman that he had with him what became of - the provisions, although they were disappearing very fast. I have - never heard the women complain because they were not invited to the - feasts, because the men ate the good pieces, or because they had to - work continually,--going in search of the wood for the fire, making - the Houses, dressing the skins, and busying themselves in [105] - other very laborious work. Each one does her own little tasks, - gently and peacefully, without any disputes. It is true, however, - that they have neither gentleness nor courtesy in their utterance; - and a Frenchman could not assume the accent, the tone, and the - sharpness of their voices without becoming angry, yet they do not. - -Ils ne sont point vindicatifs entr'eux, si bien enuers leurs ennemis. -Ie coucheray icy vn exẽple capable de confondre plusieurs Chrestiens. -Dans les pressures de nostre famine, vn ieune Sauuage d'vn autre -quartier nous vint voir, il estoit aussi affamé que nous; le iour -qu'il vint fut vn iour de ieusne pour luy & pour nous, car il ny -auoit dequoy manger: le lendemain nos chasseurs ayãs pris quelques -Castors, on fit festin auquel il fut très biẽ traitté, on luy dit en -outre qu'õ auoit veu les pistes d'vn Orignac, & qu'on l'iroit chasser -le lendemain; on l'inuita à demeurer, & qu'il en auroit sa part, luy -respõdit qu'il ne pouuoit estre dauantage; s'estant doncques enquis du -lieu où étoit la beste, il s'ẽ retourna: Nos Chasseurs ayans trouué & -tué le lendemain [106] cest Elan, l'enseuelirent dãs la neige, selon -leur coustume, pour l'enuoyer querir au iour suiuãt. Or pendãt la nuict -mon ieune Sauuage cherche si biẽ, qu'il trouue la beste morte, & en -enleue vne bõne partie sans dire mot, le larcin connu par nos gens, -ils n'entrerent point en des furies, ne donnerent aucune malediction -au voleur; toute leur cholere fut de se gausser de luy, & cependãt -c'estoit presque nous oster la vie, que de nous dérober nos viures, car -nous n'en pouuions recouurer. A quelque temps de là, ce voleur nous -vint voir, ie luy voulus representer la laideur de son crime, mon hoste -m'imposa silence, & ce pauure hõme rejettant son larcin sur les chiens, -nõ seulement fut excusé, mais encore receu pour demeurer auec nous dans -vne mesme Cabane. Il s'en alla donc querir sa femme, qu'il apporta sur -son dos, car elle a les iambes sans mouuement; & vne ieune parente -qui demeure auec luy apporta son petit fils, & tous quatre prirent -place en nostre petit todis, sans que iamais on leur aye reproché ce -larcin, ains au contraire on leur a tesmoigné tres-bõ visage, & les -a-on traittez comme [107] ceux de la maison. Dites à vn Sauuage, qu'vn -autre Sauuage a dit pis que pendre de luy, il baissera la teste, & ne -dira mot: s'ils se rencõtrent par apres tous, ils ne feront nõ plus de -semblant de cela, comme si riẽ n'auoit esté dit, ils se traitteront -comme freres, ils n'ont point de fiel enuers leur nation. - - They are not vindictive among themselves, although they are toward - their enemies. I will here give an example that ought to confound - many Christians. In the stress of our famine, a young Savage from - another quarter came to see us, who was as hungry as we were. The - day on which he came was a day of fasting for him and for us, for - there was nothing to eat. The next day, our hunters having taken - a few Beavers, a feast was made, at which he was well treated; - he was told besides that the trail of a Moose had been seen, and - that they were going to hunt for it the next day; he was invited - to remain and to have his share of it; he answered that he could - stay no longer, and, having inquired about the place where the - animal was, he went away. Our Hunters, having found and killed this - Elk the [106] next day, buried it in the snow, according to their - custom, to send for it on the following day. Now, during the night, - my young Savage searched so well, that he found the dead beast, - and took away a good part of it without saying a word. When the - theft became known to our people, they did not get into a rage and - utter maledictions against the thief,--all their anger consisted - in sneering at him; and yet this was almost taking away our life, - this stealing our food when we were unable to obtain any more. Some - time afterward, this thief came to see us; I wanted to represent to - him the seriousness of his offence, but my host imposed silence; - and when this poor man attributed his theft to the dogs, he was - not only excused, but even received to live with us in the same - Cabin. Then he went for his wife, whom he carried upon his back, - for her legs are paralyzed; a young female relative who lives with - him brought his little son; and all four took their places in our - little hut, without ever being reproached for this theft; on the - contrary they were received very kindly, and were treated as if - [107] belonging to the family. Tell a Savage that another Savage - has slandered him, and he will bow the head and not say a word; - if they meet each other afterward, they will pretend not to know - anything about it, acting as if nothing had been said. They treat - each other as brothers; they harbor no spite against those of their - own nation. - -Ils sont fort liberaux entr'eux, voire ils font estat de ne riẽ aimer, -de ne point s'attacher aux biẽs de la terre, afin de ne se point -attrister s'ils les perdẽt. Vn chiẽ dechira n'a pas longtemps vne belle -robe de Castor à vn Sauuage, il estoit le premier à s'en rire; l'vne -de leurs grãdes injures parmy eux, c'est de dire cét homme aime tout, -il est auare: si vous leur refusez quelque chose, voicy leur reproche, -comme ie remarquay l'an passé, _Khisakhitan_ _Sa_K_hita_, tu aime cela, -aime le tant que tu voudras: ils n'ouurent point la main à demy quand -ils donnent, ie dis entr'eux, car ils sont ingrats au possible enuers -les estrangers. Vous leur verrez nourrir leurs parents, les enfans de -leurs amis, des femmes vefues, des orphelins, des vieillards, sans -iamais leur rien reprocher, leur donnans abondamment [108] quelquefois -des Originaux tous entiers; c'est veritablement vne marque d'vn bon -cœur, & d'vne ame genereuse. - - They are very generous among themselves and even make a show of - not loving anything, of not being attached to the riches of the - earth, so that they may not grieve if they lose them. Not long ago - a dog tore a beautiful Beaver robe belonging to one of the Savages, - and he was the first one to laugh about it. One of the greatest - insults that can be offered to them, is to say, "That man likes - everything, he is stingy." If you refuse them anything, here is - their reproach, as I remarked last year: _Khisakhitan Sakhita_, - "Thou lovest that, love it as much as thou wilt." They do not open - the hand half-way when they give,--I mean among themselves, for - they are as ungrateful as possible toward strangers. You will see - them take care of their kindred, the children of their friends, - widows, orphans, and old men, never reproaching them in the least, - giving them abundantly, [108] sometimes whole Moose. This is truly - the sign of a good heart and of a generous soul. - -Comme il y a plusieurs orphelins parmy ce peuple; car depuis qu'ils se -sont adonnez aux boissons de vin & d'eau de vie, ils meurent en grand -nõbre; ces pauures enfans sont dispersez dans les Cabanes de leurs -oncles, de leurs tantes, ou autres parents, ne pensez pas qu'on les -rabrouë, qu'on leur reproche qu'ils mãgent les viures de la maison, -rien de tout cela, on les traitte comme les enfans du pere de famille, -ou du moins peu s'en faut, on les habille le mieux qu'on peut. - - As there are many orphans among these people,--for they die - in great numbers since they are addicted to drinking wine and - brandy,--these poor children are scattered among the Cabins of - their uncles, aunts, or other relatives. Do not suppose that - they are snubbed and reproached because they eat the food of the - household. Nothing of the kind, they are treated the same as the - children of the father of the family, or at least almost the same, - and are dressed as well as possible. - -Ils ne sont point delicats en leurs viures, en leur coucher, & en leurs -habits, mais ils ne sont pas nets; Iamais ils ne se plaignent de ce -qu'on leur donne, qu'il soit froid, qu'il soit chaud, il n'importe, -quand la chaudiere est cuitte, on la partage sans attẽdre personne, -non pas mesme le maistre de la maison, on luy garde sa part qu'on luy -presente toute froide. Ie n'ay point oüy plaindre mon hoste de ce que -l'on ne l'attendoit pas, n'estant qu'à deux pas de la Cabane. Ils -couchẽt sur la terre bien souuent; à l'enseigne des [109] estoiles. -Ils passerõt vn iour, deux & trois iours sans manger, ne laissans pas -de ramer, chasser, & se peiner tant qu'ils peuuent. L'on verra dans la -suite de cette relation, que tout ce que i'ay dit en ce chapitre est -tres-veritable, & neãtmoins ie n'oserois asseurer que i'aye veu exercer -aucun acte de vraye vertu morale à vn Sauuage: Ils n'ont que leur seul -plaisir & contentement en veuë, adjoustez la crainte de quelque blasme, -& la gloire de paroistre bons chasseurs; voila tout ce qui les meut -dans leurs operations. - - They are not fastidious in their food, beds, and clothes, but are - very slovenly. They never complain of what is given them; if it be - cold, if it be warm, it does not matter. When the food is cooked, - it is divided without waiting for any one, not even the master of - the house; a share is reserved for him, which is given to him cold. - I have never heard my host complain because they did not wait for - him, if he were only a few steps from the Cabin. They often sleep - upon the ground, at the sign of the [109] stars. They will pass - one, two, and three days without eating, not ceasing to row, hunt, - and fatigue themselves as much as they can. It will be seen in the - course of this relation, that all I have said in this chapter is - very true; and yet I would not dare to assert that I have seen one - act of real moral virtue in a Savage. They have nothing but their - own pleasure and satisfaction in view. Add to this the fear of - being blamed, and the glory of seeming to be good hunters, and you - have all that actuates them in their transactions. - - - - -CHAPITRE VI. - -DE LEURS VICES & DE LEURS IMPERFECTIONS. - - -LES Sauuages estans remplis d'erreurs, les õt aussi de superbe & -d'orgueil. L'humilité naist de la verité la vanité de l'erreur & du -mensonge; ils sont vuides de la connoissance de la verité, & par -consequent tres remplis d'eux mesmes. Ils s'imaginent que par droit -de naissance ils doiuent ioüir de la liberté de asnons Sauuages, ne -rendant aucune subiection à qui que ce soit, sinon quand il leur -plaist: Ils m'ont reproché cent fois que nous [110] craignõs nos -Capitaines, mais pour eux qu'ils se mocquoient & se gaussoient des -leur: toute l'authorité de leur chef est au bout de ses leures, il est -aussi puissant qu'il est eloquent; & quand il s'est tué de parler & de -haranguer, il ne sera pas obey s'il ne plaist au Sauuages. - - CHAPTER VI. - - ON THEIR VICES AND THEIR IMPERFECTIONS. - - - THE Savages, being filled with errors, are also haughty and - proud. Humility is born of truth, vanity of error and falsehood. - They are void of the knowledge of truth, and are in consequence, - mainly occupied with thought of themselves. They imagine that they - ought by right of birth, to enjoy the liberty of Wild ass colts, - rendering no homage to any one whomsoever, except when they like. - They have reproached me a hundred times because we [110] fear our - Captains, while they laugh at and make sport of theirs. All the - authority of their chief is in his tongue's end; for he is powerful - in so far as he is eloquent; and, even if he kills himself talking - and haranguing, he will not be obeyed unless he pleases the Savages. - -Ie ne crois pas qu'il y aye de nation sous le ciel plus mocqueuse -& plus gausseuse que la nation des Montagnais, leur vie se passe -à manger, à rire, & à railler les vns des autres, & de tous les -peuples qu'ils cognoissent; ils n'ont rien de serieux, sinon par fois -l'exterieur faisans parmy nous les graues & les retenus: mais entr'eux -sont de vrais badins, de vrais enfans qui ne demandent qu'à rire. Ie -les [c]achois quelquefois vn petit, notamment le Sorcier, les appellant -des enfans, leurs tesmoignãs que ie ne pouuois asseoir aucun jugement -asseuré sur toutes leurs responses; car si ie leur demandois d'vn, ils -me disoient d'autre, pour trouuer suiet de rire & de gausser: & par -consequent ie ne pouuois connoistre quand ils parloient serieusement, -ou quand ils se mocquoient. La conclusion ordinaire de leurs discours & -de leurs entretiens, est en verité nous nous sommes [111] bien mocquez -d'vn tel. - - I do not believe that there is a nation under heaven more given to - sneering and bantering than that of the Montagnais. Their life is - passed in eating, laughing, and making sport of each other, and - of all the people they know. There is nothing serious about them, - except occasionally, when they make a pretense among us of being - grave and dignified; but among themselves they are real buffoons - and genuine children, who ask only to laugh. Sometimes I annoyed - them a little, especially the Sorcerer, by calling them children, - and showing them that I never could place any reliance upon all - their answers; because, if I questioned them about one thing, - they told me about something else, only to get something to laugh - and jest about; and consequently I could not know when they were - speaking seriously, or when they were jesting. The usual conclusion - of their discourses and conversations is: "Really, we did make - [111] a great deal of sport of such and such a one." - -I'ay fait voir dans mes lettres precedentes combien les Sauuages sont -vindicatifs enuers leurs ennemis, auec quelle rage & quelle cruauté -ils les traittent, les mageants apres leur auoir fait souffrir tout ce -qu'vn demon incarné pourroit inuenter, cette fureur est commune aux -femmes, aussi bien qu'aux hommes; voire mesme elles les surpassent en -ce poinct. I'ay dit qu'ils mangent les poux qu'ils trouuent sur eux, -non pour aucun goust qu'ils y trouuẽt, mais pource qu'ils veulent -mordre ceux qui les mordent. - - I have shown in my former letters how vindictive the Savages are - toward their enemies, with what fury and cruelty they treat them, - eating them after they have made them suffer all that an incarnate - fiend could invent. This fury is common to the women as well as to - the men, and they even surpass the latter in this respect. I have - said that they eat the lice they find upon themselves, not that - they like the taste of them, but because they want to bite those - that bite them. - -Ce peuple est fort peu touché de compassion, quand quelqu'vn est malade -dans leurs Cabanes, ils ne laissent pas pour l'ordinaire de crier, de -tempester, & de faire autant de bruit, cõme si tout le monde estoit en -santé; ils ne sçauent que c'est de prendre soin d'vn pauure malade, & -de luy donner des viandes qui luy sont bonnes: s'il demande à boire, on -luy en donne, s'il demande à manger, on luy en presente, sinon on le -laisse là: de l'inuiter auec amour & charité, c'est vn langage qu'ils -n'entendent pas; tant qu'vn malade pourra manger, ils le porteront -[112] ou le traisneront auec eux; cesse-il de manger, ils croient que -c'est fait de sa vie, ils le mettent à mort, tant pour le deliurer -du mal qu'il endure, que pour se soulager de la peine qu'ils ont de -le porter quand ils vont en quelqu'autre endroit. I'ay admiré auec -cõpassion la patiẽce des malades que j'ay veu parmi eux. - - These people are very little moved by compassion. When any one - is sick in their Cabins, they ordinarily do not cease to cry and - storm, and make as much noise as if everybody were in good health. - They do not know what it is to take care of a poor invalid, and to - give him the food which is good for him; if he asks for something - to drink, it is given to him, if he asks for something to eat, it - is given to him, but otherwise he is neglected; to coax him with - love and gentleness, is a language which they do not understand. As - long as a patient can eat, they will carry [112] or drag him with - them; if he stops eating, they believe that it is all over with - him and kill him, as much to free him from the sufferings that he - is enduring, as to relieve themselves of the trouble of taking him - with them when they go to some other place. I have both admired - and pitied the patience of the invalids whom I have seen among them. - -Les Sauuages sont mesdisants au de là de ce qu'on en peut penser; ie -dis mesme les vns des autres, ils n'espargnent pas leurs plus proches: -ils sont auec cela fort dissimulez; car si l'vn médit d'vn autre, il -s'en mocquent à gorge desploiée: si l'autre paroist là dessus, il luy -tesmoignera autant d'affection, & le traittera auec autant d'amour, -comme s'il l'auoit mis iusques au troisiesme ciel à force de le loüer. -La raison de cecy prouient à mon aduis de ce que leurs detractions -& mocqueries, ne sortent point d'vn cœur enfielé, ny d'vne bouche -empestée, mais d'vne ame qui dit ce qu'elle pense pour se donner -carriere: & qui veut tirer du contentement de tout, voire mesme des -mesdisances, & des gausseries: c'est pourquoy ils ne se troublent -point; quoy qu'on leur die que d'autres se sont mocqués [113] d'eux, ou -qu'ils ont blessé leur renõmée: tout ce qu'ils repartent ordinairement -à ces discours, c'est _mama irinisiou_, il n'a point d'esprit, il -ne sçait ce qu'il dit: & à la premiere occasion ils payeront leur -detracteur en mesme monnoye, luy rendants le reciproque. - - The Savages are slanderous beyond all belief; I say, also among - themselves, for they do not even spare their nearest relations, - and with it all they are deceitful. For, if one speaks ill of - another, they all jeer with loud laughter; if the other appears - upon the scene, the first one will show him as much affection and - treat him with as much love, as if he had elevated him to the third - heaven by his praise. The reason of this is, it seems to me, that - their slanders and derision do not come from malicious hearts or - from infected mouths, but from a mind which says what it thinks - in order to give itself free scope, and which seeks gratification - from everything, even from slander and mockery. Hence they are - not troubled even if they are told that others are making sport - of [113] them, or have injured their reputation. All they usually - answer to such talk is, _mama irinisiou_, "He has no sense, he does - not know what he is talking about;" and at the first opportunity - they will pay their slanderer in the same coin, returning him the - like. - -La menterie est aussi naturelle aux Sauuages que la parole, non pas -entr'eux, mais enuers les estrangers: en suitte dequoy l'on peut -dire, que la crainte & l'espoir, en vn mot, que l'interest est la -mesure de leur fidelité, ie ne me voudrois cõfier en eux qu'autãt -qu'ils craindroient d'estre punis s'ils manquoient à leur deuoir, ou -qu'ils espereroient d'estre recompensés s'ils estoient fideles. Ils ne -sçauent que c'est d'estre secrets, de tenir leur parole, & d'aimer auec -constance; notamment ceux qui ne sont pas de leur nation, car ils sont -de bon accord parmy eux, & leurs mesdisances & railleries, n'alterent -point leur paix, & leur bonne intelligence. - - Lying is as natural to Savages as talking, not among themselves, - but to strangers. Hence it can be said that fear and hope, in one - word, interest, is the measure of their fidelity. I would not be - willing to trust them, except as they would fear to be punished if - they failed in their duty, or hoped to be rewarded if they were - faithful to it. They do not know what it is to keep a secret, to - keep their word, and to love with constancy,--especially those who - are not of their nation, for they are harmonious among themselves, - and their slanders and raillery do not disturb their peace and - friendly intercourse. - -Ie diray en passant que les Sauuages Montagnais ne sont point larrons, -l'entrée leur est libre dans les demeures des François, parce qu'ils -ont la main seure: [114] mais pour les Hurons, si on auoit autant -d'yeux qu'ils ont de doigts aux mains, encore ne les empescheroit-on -pas de dérober, car ils dérobent auec les pieds: ils font profession de -ce mestier, & en suitte d'estre battus si on les descouure. Car cõme -i'ay desia remarqué, ils porteront les coups que vous leur donnerez -patiemment; non pas en reconnoissance de leur peché, mais en punition -de leur stupidité, s'estans laissez surprendre en leur larcin. Ie -laisseray à parler d'eux aux Peres qui les sont allez voir, dont -i'enuierois la condition, n'estoit que celuy qui nous assigne nos -departemẽs est toujours aimable, & toujours adorable, quelque part ou -portiõ qu'il nous dõne. - - I will say in passing that the Montagnais Savages are not thieves. - The doors of the French are open to them, because their hands can - be trusted; [114] but, as to the Hurons, if a person had as many - eyes as they have fingers on their hands, he could not prevent - them from stealing, for they steal with their feet. They make - a profession of this art, and expect to be beaten if they are - discovered. For, as I have already remarked, they will endure the - blows which you give them, patiently, not as an acknowledgment of - their fault, but as a punishment for their stupidity in allowing - themselves to be detected in their theft. I will leave the - description of them to our Fathers who are going there, whose lot I - would envy, were it not that he who assigns us our departments is - always worthy of love and always adorable, whatever part or portion - he may give us. - -Il est du manger parmy les Sauuages, comme du boire parmy les yurognes -d'Europe: ces ames seiches & toujours alterées, expireroient volõtiers -dãs vne cuue de maluoisie, & les Sauuages dans vne marmite pleine de -viande; ceux-là ne parlent que de boire, & ceux cy que de manger. -C'est faire vne espece d'affront à vn Sauuage, de refuser les morceaux -qu'il presente. Vn certain voyant que i'auois remercié mon hoste, qui -me [115] presentoit à manger, me dit, tu ne l'aime pas, puis que tu -l'esconduits: Ie luy dis que nostre coustume n'estoit pas de mãger -à toutes heures, que neantmoins ie prendrois ce qu'il me donneroit, -pourueu qu'il ne m'en donnast guieres souuent. Ils se mirẽt tous à -rire, & vne vieille me dit, que si ie voulois estre aimé de leur -nation, il falloit que ie mangeasse beaucoup. Quand vous les traittez -biẽ, ils témoignent le contentement qu'ils prennent en vostre festin -par ces paroles _tapoué nimitison_, en verité ie mange: comme si -leur souuerain contentement estoit en cette action: & à la fin du -banquet, ils diront pour action de graces, _tapoué_ _ni_k_hispoun_, -veritablemẽt ie suis saoul; c'est à dire, tu m'as bien traitté, i'en ay -iusques à creuer; i'ay desia me semble remarqué cecy. Ils croyent que -c'est bestise & stupidité de refuser: le plus grãd cõtentement qu'ils -puissent auoir en leur Paradis, qui est le ventre. Ie m'écrierois -volõtiers, ô iuste iugement de Dieu, que ce peuple qui met sa derniere -fin à mãger soit tousiours affamé, & ne soit point repeu que comme les -chiens, car leurs festins les plus splendides ne sont pour [116] ainsi -dire, que les os & les reliefs des tables d'Europe; La premiere action -qu'ils font le matin à leur resueil, c'est d'estendre le bras à leur -escuelle d'escorce garnie de chair, & puis de manger. Au commencemẽt -que ie fus auec eux, ie voulus introduire la coustume de prier Dieu -deuant que de manger & de fait ie donnois la benedictiõ quand ils le -vouloiẽt faire: mais l'Apostat me dit, si vous voulez prier autant -de fois qu'on mangera dans la Cabane, preparés vous à dire vostre -_Benedicite_ plus de vingt fois auant la nuict. Ils finissent le iour -comme ils le commencent, ils ont encore le morceau à la bouche, ou le -calumet pour petuner, quand ils mettent la teste sur le cheuet pour -reposer. - - Eating among the Savages is like drinking among the drunkards - of Europe. Those dry and ever-thirsty souls would willingly end - their lives in a tub of malmsey, and the Savages in a pot full of - meat; those over there, talk only of drinking, and these here only - of eating. It is giving a sort of insult to a Savage to refuse - the pieces which he offers you. A certain one, seeing that I had - declined what my host [115] offered me to eat, said to me, "Thou - dost not love him, since thou refusest him." I told him that it - was not our custom to eat at all hours; but, nevertheless, I would - take what he would give me, if he did not give it to me quite so - often. They all began to laugh; and an old woman said to me that, - if I wished to be loved by their tribe, I must eat a great deal. - When you treat them well, they show their satisfaction with your - feast in these words, _tapoué nimitison_, "I am really eating," - as if their highest content were in this action; and at the - end of the banquet, they will say as an act of thanks, _tapoué - nikhispoun_, "I am really full;" meaning, "Thou hast treated me - well; I am full to bursting." It seems to me that I have spoken of - this before. They believe that it is foolish and stupid to refuse; - the greatest satisfaction that they can have in their Paradise - is in the stomach. I do not hesitate to exclaim: Oh, how just is - the judgment of God, that these people, who place their ultimate - happiness in eating, are always hungry, and are only fed like dogs; - for their most splendid feastings are, [116] so to speak, only the - bones and the leavings of the tables of Europe! Their first act, - upon awakening in the morning, is to stretch out their arms toward - their bark dish full of meat, and then to eat. When I first began - to stay with them, I tried to introduce the custom of praying to - God before eating, and in fact I pronounced a blessing when they - wanted it done. But the Apostate said to me, "If you want to pray - as many times as they will eat in your Cabin, prepare to say your - _Benedicite_ more than twenty times before night." They end the day - as they begin it, always with a morsel in their mouths, or with - their pipes to smoke when they lay their heads on the pillow to - rest. - -Les Sauuages ont tousiours esté gourmands, mais depuis la venuë des -Europeans, ils sont deuenus tellement yurognes, qu'encore qu'ils -voyent bien que ces nouuelles boissons de vin & d'eau de vie, qu'on -leur apporte depeuplẽt leurs pays, & qu'eux mesmes s'en plaignent; -ils ne sçauroient s'abstenir de boire, faisants gloire de s'enyurer, -& d'enyurer les autres. Il est vray qu'ils meurẽt en grand [117] -nombre, mais ie m'estonne encore comme ils peuuent si long temps -resister, car donnez à deux Sauuages deux & trois bouteilles d'eau -de vie, ils s'asseoiront, & sans manger boirõt l'vn apres l'autre, -iusques à ce qu'ils les ayent vuidées. La compagnie de ces Messieurs -est merueilleusement loüable, de defendre la traitte de ces boissons. -Monsieur de Champlain fait tres sagement de tenir la main que ces -deffences soient gardées. I'ay appris que Mõsieur le General du Plessis -les a fait obseruer à Tadoussac. On m'auoit dit que les Sauuages -estoient assez chastes, ie ne parleray pas de tous, ne les ayãt pas -tous frequentez, mais ceux que i'ay conuersez sont fort lubriques, & -hõmes & femmes. Dieu quel aueuglemẽt? quel bõ-heur du peuple Chrestien? -que le chastiement de ces Barbares! au lieu que par admiratiõ nous -disons assés souuent, IESVS qu'est cela! mon Dieu qui a fait cela? ces -vilains & ces infames prononcent les parties des-honnestes de l'homme -& de la femme. Ils ont incessamment la bouche puante de ces ordures, & -mesmes iusques aux petits enfãts, aussi leur disois-je par fois, que -si les [118] pourceaux & les chiens sçauoient parler, ils tiendroient -leur langage. Il est vray que si l'impudique Sorcier ne fust pas venu -dãs la Cabane où i'estois, i'auois gaigné cela sur mes gens, qu'aucun -n'osoit parler des choses des-honnestes en ma presence, mais cét -impudent authorisoit les autres. Les femmes vn peu âgées se chauffent -presque toutes nuës, les filles & les ieunes femmes, sont à l'exterieur -tres-honnestement couuertes, mais entre elles leur disscours sont -puants, comme des cloaques. Il faut neãtmoins aduouër que si la liberté -de se gorger de ces immondices estoit parmy quelques Chrestiens, cõme -elle est parmy ces peuples, on verroit bien d'autres monstres d'excez -qu'on ne voit pas icy; veu mesme que nonobstant les loix Diuines & -humaines, la dissolution y marche plus à descouuert que non pas icy. -Car les yeux n'y sont point offensez. Le seul Sorcier a fait en ma -presence quelque action brutale, les autres battoient seulement mes -oreilles, mais s'apperceuants que ie les entendois, ils en estoient -honteux. - - The Savages have always been gluttons, but since the coming of the - Europeans they have become such drunkards, that,--although they - see clearly that these new drinks, the wine and brandy, which are - brought to them, are depopulating their country, of which they - themselves complain,--they cannot abstain from drinking, taking - pride in getting drunk and in making others drunk. It is true that - they die in great [117] numbers; but I am astonished that they - can resist it as long as they do. For, give two Savages two or - three bottles of brandy, they will sit down and, without eating, - will drink, one after the other, until they have emptied them. The - company of these Gentlemen is remarkably praiseworthy in forbidding - the traffic in these liquors. Monsieur de Champlain very wisely - takes care that these restrictions are observed, and I have heard - that Monsieur the General du Plessis has had them enforced at - Tadoussac.[19] I have been told that the Savages are tolerably - chaste. I shall not speak of all, not having been among them all; - but those whom I have met are very lewd, both men and women. God! - what blindness! How great is the happiness of Christian people! How - great the chastisement of these Barbarians! In place of saying, as - we do very often, through wonder, "JESUS! what is that? My God! who - has done that?" these vile and infamous people pronounce the names - of the private parts of man and woman. Their lips are constantly - foul with these obscenities; and it is the same with the little - children. So I said to them, at one time, that if [118] hogs and - dogs knew how to talk, they would adopt their language. Indeed, if - the shameless Sorcerer had not come into the Cabin where I was, - I should have gained thus much from my people, that not one of - them would dare to speak of impure things in my presence; but this - impertinent fellow ruled the others. The older women go almost - naked, the girls and young women are very modestly clad; but, - among themselves, their language has the foul odor of the sewers. - It must be admitted, however, that if liberty to gorge oneself in - such filth existed among some Christians, as it does among these - people, one would see very different exhibitions of excess from - what are seen here; for, even despite the laws, both Divine and - human, dissoluteness strides more openly there than here. For here - the eyes are not offended. The Sorcerer alone has been guilty of - any brutal action in my presence; the others only offended my ears, - but, perceiving that I heard them, they were ashamed. - -Or comme ces peuples connoissent bien cette corruption, ils prennent -plustost [119] les enfans de leurs sœurs pour heritiers, que leurs -propres enfans, ou de leurs freres, reuoquans en doute la fidelité -de leurs femmes, & ne pouuãts douter que ces nepueux ne soient tirez -de leur sang, aussi parmy les Hurons, qui sont plus sales que nos -Montagnais; pource qu'ils sont mieux nourris, l'enfant d'vn Capitaine -ne succede pas à son pere, mais le fils de sa sœur. - - Now, as these people are well aware of this corruption, they prefer - to take [119] the children of their sisters as heirs, rather than - their own, or than those of their brothers, calling in question - the fidelity of their wives, and being unable to doubt that these - nephews come from their own blood. Also among the Hurons,--who - are more licentious than our Montagnais, because they are better - fed,--it is not the child of a Captain but his sister's son, who - succeeds the father. - -Le Sorcier me disant vn iour que les femmes l'aimoient, car au dire des -Sauuages, c'est son genie que de se faire aimer de ce sexe. Ie luy dis -que cela n'estoit pas beau qu'vne femme aimast vn autre que son mary; -& que ce mal estãt parmy eux, luy mesme n'estoit pas asseuré, que son -fils qui estoit là present, fut son fils. Il me repartit, tu n'as point -d'esprit: vous autres François vous n'aimez que vos propres enfans, -mais nous, nous cherissons vniuersellement tous les enfans de nostre -nation, ie me mis à rire, voyant qu'il philosophoit en cheual & en -mulet. - - The Sorcerer told me one day that the women were fond of him, for, - as the Savages say, it is his demon that makes the sex love him. - I told him that it was not honorable for a woman to love any one - else except her husband; and that, this evil being among them, he - himself was not sure that his son, who was there present, was his - son. He replied, "Thou hast no sense. You French people love only - your own children; but we all love all the children of our tribe." - I began to laugh, seeing that he philosophized in horse and mule - fashion. - -Apres toutes ces belles qualitez, les Sauuages en ont encore vne -autre plus onereuse que celles dont nous auons parlé, mais non pas -si meschante; c'est [120] leur importunité enuers les estrangers. -I'ay coustume d'appeller ces cõtrées lá, le pays d'importunité enuers -les estrangers, pource que les mouches, qui en sont le symbole, & le -hierogliphique, ne vous laissent reposer ny iour ny nuict: pendant -quelques mois de l'Esté, elles nous assaillent auec telle furie, & -si continuellement, qu'il n'y a peau qui soit à l'espreuue de leur -aiguillõ: tout le monde leur paye de son sang pour tribut. I'ay veu -des personnes si enflées apres leurs picqueures, qu'on croyoit qu'ils -perdroient les yeux, qui ne paroissoient quasi plus: or tout cela n'est -rien, car enfin cette importunité se chasse auec de la fumée, que les -mouches ne sçauroient supporter, mais ce remede attire les Sauuages: -s'ils sçauent l'heure de vostre disner, ils viẽnent tout exprez pour -auoir à manger, ils demandẽt incessamment, mais auec des presses si -reïterées, que vous diriez qu'ils vous tiennent tousiours à la gorge: -faites leur voir quoy que ce soit, s'il est tant soit peu à leur vsage: -ils vous diront l'aime tu? donne le moy. - - With all these fine qualities, the Savages have another, more - annoying than those of which we have spoken, but not so wicked; - it is [120] their importunity toward strangers. I have a habit - of calling these countries, "the land of importunity toward - strangers," because the flies, which are the symbol and visible - representation of it, do not let you rest day or night. During - certain Summer months, they attack us with such fury, and so - continually, that no skin is proof against their sting, and every - one pays his blood as tribute. I have seen persons so swollen after - being stung by them, that one would think they would lose their - eyes, which can scarcely be seen; now all that is nothing, for - this annoyance can be dispelled by means of smoke, which the flies - cannot stand, but this remedy attracts the Savages,--if they know - our dinner hour, they come purposely to get something to eat. They - ask continually, and with such incessant urgency, that you would - say that they are always holding you by the throat. If you show - them anything whatever, however little it may be adapted to their - use, they will say, "Dost thou love it? Give it to me." - -Vn certain me disoit vn iour, qu'en son [121] pays on ne sçauoit -point conjuguer le verbe _do_, au present, encore moins au preterit: -les Sauuages ignorent tellemẽt cette coniugaison, qu'ils ne vous -donneroient point la valeur d'vne obole, s'ils ne croient, pour ainsi -dire, retirer vne pistole; ils sont ingrats au dernier point. - - A certain man said to me one day, that in his [121] country they - did not know how to conjugate the verb _do_, in the present, - and still less in the past. The Savages are so ignorant of - this conjugation, that they would not give you the value of an - obole,[20] if they did not expect, so to speak, to get back a - pistole; for they are ungrateful in the highest degree. - -Nous auons icy tenu & nourry fort long temps nostre Sauuage malade, qui -se vint ietter entre nos bras pour mourir Chrestien, cõme i'ay remarqué -cy-dessus: tous ces cõpatriottes estoient estõnez du bon traittement -que nous luy faisions, ses enfants en sa consideration, apporterent vn -peu de chair d'Elan; on leur demanda ce qu'ils vouloient en eschange, -car les presents des Sauuages sont des marchez: ils demanderent du vin -& de la poudre à Canon, on leur repart qu'on ne leur en pouuoit donner; -que s'ils vouloient autre chose que nous eussions, on leur donneroit -tres volontiers, on leur donna fort bien à manger, & pour conclusion -ils remporterẽt leurs viandes, puisqu'on ne leur donnoit ce qu'ils -demandoient, menaçant qu'ils viendroient requerir leur pere, ce qu'ils -firent; mais le bon hõme ne voulut pas [122] nous quitter; de cét -échantillon, iugez de la piece. - - We have kept here and fed for a long time our sick Savage, who came - and threw himself into our arms in order to die a Christian, as I - have stated above. All his fellow-savages were astonished at the - good treatment we gave him; on his account, his children brought a - little Elk meat, and they were asked what they wished in exchange, - for the presents of the Savages are always bargains. They asked - some wine and Gunpowder, and were told that we could not give them - these things; but that, if they wished something else that we had, - we would give it to them very gladly. A good meal was given them, - and finally they carried back their meat, since we did not give - them what they asked for, threatening that they would come after - their father, which they did; but the good man did not wish [122] - to leave us. From this sample, judge of the whole piece. - -Or ne pensez pas qu'ils se comportent ainsi entr'eux, au contraire, ils -sont tres reconnoissants, tres liberaux, & nullement importuns enuers -ceux de leur nation. S'ils se cõportent ainsi enuers nos François, & -enuers les autres estrangers, c'est à mon aduis que nous ne voulons -pas nous allier auec eux comme freres, ce qu'ils souhaitteroient -grandement; mais ce seroit nous perdre en trois iours: cars ils -voudroient que nous allassions auec eux manger de leurs viures tant -qu'ils en auroient, & ils viendroiẽt aussi manger les nostres tãt -qu'ils dureroiẽt: & quand il n'y en auroit plus, nous nous metterions -tous à en chercher d'autres. Voila leur vie qu'ils passent en festins -pendãt qu'ils ont dequoy; mais comme nous n'entendons rien à leur -chasse, & que ce procedé n'est pas loüable, on ne veut pas leur prester -l'oreille. C'est pourquoy ne nous tenants point comme de leur nation, -ils nous traittent à la façon que i'ay dit. Si vn estrãger quel qu'il -soit se iette de leur party, ils le traitteront comme eux. Vn ieune -Hiroquois, auquel [123] ils auoient donné la vie, estoit comme enfant -de la maison; que si vous faites vostre mesnage à part mesprisants -leurs loix, ou leurs coustumes ils vous succeront s'ils peuuent iusques -au sang. Il n'y a mouche, ny guespe, ny taon, si importun qu'vn Sauuage. - - Now do not think that they act thus among themselves; on the - contrary, they are very grateful, very liberal, and not in the - least importunate toward those of their own nation. If they conduct - themselves thus toward our French, and toward other foreigners, it - is because, it seems to me, that we do not wish to ally ourselves - with them as brothers, which they would very much desire. But this - would ruin us in three days; for they would want us to go with - them, and eat their food as long as they had any, and then they - would come and eat ours as long as it lasted; and, when there was - none left, we would all set to work to find more. For that is the - kind of life they live, feasting as long as they have something; - but, as we know nothing about their mode of hunting, and as this - way of doing is not praiseworthy, we do not heed them. Hence, as we - do not regard ourselves as belonging to their nation, they treat us - in the way I have described. If any stranger, whoever he may be, - unites with their party, they will treat him as one of their own - nation. A young Hiroquois whose [123] life they had spared, was - like a child of their own family. But if you carry on your affairs - apart from them, despising their laws or their customs, they will - drain from you, if they can, even your blood. There is not an - insect, nor wasp, nor gadfly, so annoying as a Savage. - -Ie suis tantost las de parler de leurs desordres, disons quelque chose -de leur saleté, & puis finissons ce chapitre. - - I am rather tired of talking about their irregularities; let us - speak of their uncleanness, and then end this chapter. - -Ils sont sales en leurs habits, en leurs postures[1], en leurs -demeures, & en leur manger, & cependant il n'y a aucune inciuilité -parmy eux; car tout ce qui donne du contentement aux sens, passe pour -honeste. - - They are dirty in their habits, in their postures, in their homes, - and in their eating; yet there is no lack of propriety among them, - for everything that gives satisfaction to the senses, passes as - propriety. - -I'ay dit qu'ils sont sales en leurs demeures, l'aduenuë de leurs -Cabanes est vne grange à pourceaux. Iamais ils ne balient leur maison, -ils la tapissent au cõmencement de branches de pin, mais au troisiesme -iour ces brãches sont pleines de poil, de plumes, de cheueux, de -coupeaux, de raclure de bois, & cependant ils n'ont point d'autres -sieges, ny d'autres licts pour se coucher, dõt l'on peut voir de quelle -saleté peuuent estre chargez leurs habits: vray est que ces ordures -[124] & saletez ne paroissent pas, tant dessus leurs robes, que dessus -les nostres. - - I have said that they are dirty in their homes; the entrance to - their Cabins is like a pig-pen. They never sweep their houses, - they carpet them at first with branches of pine, but on the third - day these branches are full of fur, feathers, hair, shavings, or - whittlings of wood. Yet they have no other seats, nor beds upon - which to sleep. From this it may be seen how full of dirt their - clothes must be; it is true that this dirt [124] and filth does not - show as much upon their clothes as upon ours. - -Le Sorcier quittant nostre Cabane pour vn temps, me demanda mon -manteau, pource qu'il faisoit froid, disoit-il; comme si i'euffe esté -plus dispensé des loix de l'Hiuer que non pas luy: ie luy prestay, s'en -estant seruy plus d'un mois, en fin il me le rẽdit si vilain, & si -sale, que i'en estois honteux, car les flegmes & autres immondices qui -le couuroient, luy donnoient vn autre teinture. Le voyant en cét estat, -ie le dépliay exprez deuant luy, afin qu'il le vit; connoissant bien ce -que ie voulois dire, il me dit fort à propos, tu dis que tu veux estre -Mõtagnais & Sauuage comme nous, si cela est, ne sois pas marry d'en -porter l'habit; car voila comme sont faites nos robes. - - The Sorcerer leaving our Cabin for a while, asked me for my cloak, - because it was cold, he said, as if I more than he were exempt from - the rigors of Winter. I lent it to him, and, after having used it - more than a month, he returned it to me at last so nasty and dirty, - that I was ashamed of it, for it was covered with phlegm and other - filth which gave it a different color. Seeing it in this condition, - I purposely unfolded it before him, that he might see it. Knowing - very well what I meant, he quite aptly remarked to me, "Thou sayest - that thou wouldst like to be a Montagnais and Savage, like us; if - that is so, do not be troubled about wearing the cloak, for that is - just the way our clothes look." - -Quand est de leur posture, elle suit la douceur de leur commodité, & -non les regles de la bien seance: les Sauuages ne preferent iamais ce -qui est honneste à ce qui est delectable. I'ay veu souuent le pretendu -magicien couché tout nud, hormis vn mechant brayer plus sale qu'vn -torchon de cuisine, plus noir qu'vn écouillõ de four, retirer vne de -ses [125] iambes contre la cuisse, & mettre l'autre sur son genoüil -releué, haraguant ses gens en cette posture, son auditoire n'auoit pas -plus de grace. - - As to their postures, they follow their own sweet wills, and not - the rules of good breeding. The Savages never prefer what is decent - to what is agreeable. I have often seen the pretended magician lie - down entirely naked,--except a miserable strip of cloth dirtier - than a dish-cloth, and blacker than an oven-mop,--draw up one of - his [125] legs against his thigh, place the other upon his raised - knee, and harangue his people in this position, his audience being - scarcely more graceful. - -Pour leur manger, il est tant soit peu plus net que la mangeaille que -l'on donne aux animaux, & non pas encore tousiours, ie ne dis rien par -exaggeration, i'en ay gousté & vescu quasi six mois durant. Nous auiõs -trois écroüélés en nostre Cabane, le fils du Sorcier qui les auoit à -l'oreille d'vne façon fort sale, & pleine d'horreur; son neueu qui -les auoit au col, vne fille qui les auoit sous vn bras; ie ne sçay si -ce sont vrayes escroüelles, quoy qu'il en soit, ce mal est plein de -pus, couuert d'vne croute fort horrible à voir: ils en sont quasi tous -frappez en leur ieunesse, tant pour leur saleté, que pource qu'on ne -fait point de difficulté de boire & de mãger auec des malades. Ie les -ay veu cent fois patroüiller dans la chaudiere où estoit nostre boisson -cõmune, y lauer leurs mains, y boire à pleine teste comme les bestes, -reietter leurs restes là dedans; car c'est la coustume des Sauuages, -y fourrer des bastons demy brulés, & pleins de cendre, y plonger de -[126] leur vaisselle d'escorce pleine de graisses, de poil d'Orignaux, -de cheueux, y puiser de l'eau auec des chaudrons noirs com[me] la -cheminée: & aprés tout cela, nous beuuions tous de ce broüet, noir -comme de l'ambroisie. Ce n'est pas tout, ils reiettẽt là dedãs les os -qu'ils ont rongé, puis vous mettent de l'eau ou de la neige dans la -chaudiere, la fõt boüillir, & voila de l'hipocras. Vn certain iour des -souliers venant d'estre quittés, tomberent dãs nostre boisson, ils se -lauerent à leur aise, on les retira sans autre ceremonie puis on beut -apres eux comme si rien ne fut arriué. Ie ne suis pas bien delicat, si -est-ce que ie n'eus point de soif tant que cette maluoisie dura. - - As to their food, it is very little, if any, cleaner than the swill - given to animals, and not always even as clean. I say nothing in - exaggeration, as I have tasted it and lived upon it for almost - six months. We had three persons in our Cabin afflicted with - scrofula,--the son of the Sorcerer, whose ear was very disgusting - and horrid from this disease; his nephew, who had it in his neck; - and a daughter, who had it under one arm. I do not know whether - this is the real scrofula; whatever it is, this sore is full of - pus, and covered with a horrible-looking crust. They are nearly - all attacked by this disease, when young, both on account of their - filthy habits, and because they eat and drink indiscriminately with - the sick. I have seen them a hundred times paddle about in the - kettle containing our common drink; wash their hands in it; drink - from it, thrusting in their heads, like the animals; and throw into - it their leavings; for this is the custom of the Savages, to thrust - sticks into it that are half-burned and covered with ashes; to dip - therein [126] their bark plates covered with grease, the fur of the - Moose, and hair; and to dip water therefrom with kettles as black - as the chimney; and after that, we all drank from this black broth, - as if it were ambrosia. This is not all; they throw therein the - bones that they have gnawed, then put water or snow in the kettle, - let it boil, and behold their hippocras. One day some shoes, which - had just been taken off, fell into our drink; they soaked there - as long as they pleased, and were withdrawn without exciting any - special attention, and then the water was drunk as if nothing - whatever had happened. I am not very fastidious, but I was not very - thirsty as long as this malmsey lasted. - -Iamais ils ne lauent leurs mains exprés pour manger, encore moins leur -chaudiere, & point du tout la viande qu'ils fõt cuire, quoy que le -plus souuent (ie le dis comme ie l'ay veu cent & cent fois) elle soit -toute couuerte de poil de bestes, & de cheueux de leurs testes: Ie -n'ay iamais beu aucun boüillon parmy eux, qu'il ne m'aye fallu jetter -quãtité de ces poils & de ces cheueux, & bien d'autres ordures; comme -des charbons, des petits [127] morceaux de bois, & mesme du baston -dont ils attisent le feu, & remuent bien souuent ce qui est dans la -chaudiere: ie les ay veu par fois prẽdre vn tison ardẽt, le mettre dãs -la cendre pour l'esteindre: puis quasi sans le secoüer, le tremper dãs -la chaudiere ou trempoit nostre disner. - - They never wash their hands expressly before eating, still less - their kettles, and the meat they cook, not at all,--although it - is usually (I say this because I have seen it hundreds of times) - all covered with the animal's hairs, and with those from their own - heads. I have never drunk any broth among them, from which I did - not have to throw out many of these hairs, and a variety of other - rubbish, such as cinders, little [127] pieces of wood, and even - sticks with which they have stirred the fire and frequently stirred - up the contents of the kettle. I have occasionally seen them take - a blazing brand and put it in the ashes to extinguish it, then, - almost without shaking it, dip it into the kettle where our dinner - was simmering. - -Quand ils font secherie de la chair, ils vous ietteront par terre tout -vn costé d'Orignac, ils le battent auec des pierres; ils marchent -dessus, le foulent auec leurs pieds tout sales, les poils d'hõmes & de -bestes, les plumes d'oiseaux s'ils en ont tué, la terre & la cendre; -tout cela s'incorpore auec la viande, qu'ils font quasi durcir comme -du bois à la fumée; puis quand ils viennent à manger de ce boucan, -tout s'en va de compagnie dans l'estomach, car ils n'ont point d'eau de -despart: en vn mot ils croient que nous n'auons point d'esprit de lauer -nostre viande, car vne partie de la graisse s'en va tousiours auec -l'eau. - - When they are engaged in drying meat, they will throw down upon the - ground a whole side of the Moose, beat it with stones, walk over - it, trample upon it with their dirty feet; the hairs of men and of - animals, the feathers of birds, if they have killed any, dirt and - ashes,--all these are ground into the meat, which they make almost - as hard as wood with the smoke. Then when they come to eat this - dried meat, all goes together into the stomach, for they have not - washed it. In fact, they think that we are very foolish to wash - our meat, for some of the grease goes away with the water. - -Quand la chaudiere commence a boüillir, ils recueillent l'écume fort -soigneusement, & la mangent auec delices: ils m'en presentoient auec -faueur, ie la trouuois bonne durant nostre famine, mais depuis [128] -venant par fois a les remercier de ce present, ils m'appelloient -superbe & orgueilleux: ils chassent au rats & aux souris par plaisir, -comme aux lieures, & les trouuent également bons. - - When the kettle begins to boil, they gather the scum very carefully - and eat it as a delicacy. They gave some to me as a favor, and - during our famine I found it good; but since [128] then, when - I sometimes happened to decline this present, they called me - fastidious and proud. They take delight in hunting rats and mice, - the same as rabbits, and find them just as good. - -Les Sauuages ne mangent pas comme nos François dãs vn plat, ou autre -vaisselle commune à tous ceux qui sont à table; l'vn d'entr'eux descend -la chaudiere de dessus le feu, & fait les parts à vn chacun, presentant -par fois la viande au bout d'vn baston, mais le plus souuent sãs -prendre ceste peine, il vous iettera vne piece de chair toute brulante, -& pleine de graisse, cõme on ietteroit vn os a vn chiẽ; disant -_Na_K_himitchimi_, tiens, voila ta part, voila ta nourriture; si vous -estes habile-homme, vous la retenés auec les mains, sinon garde que la -robe ne s'en sente, où que les cendres ne seruent de sel, puisque les -Sauuages n'en ont point d'autre. - - The Savages do not eat as we French do, from a dish or other - vessel, common to all those at the table; but one of them takes - down the kettle from the fire and distributes to each one his - share; sometimes presenting the meat at the end of a stick, but - oftener without taking this trouble, he will throw you a piece of - meat boiling hot, and full of grease, as we would throw a bone to a - dog; saying, _Nakhimitchimi_, "Take it! this is thy share, here is - thy food." If you are quick, you catch it in your hands; otherwise, - look out that your gown does not catch it, or that the ashes do not - serve as salt, for the Savages have no other. - -Ie me suis veu bien empesché au commencement, car n'osant couper la -chair qu'ils me donnoient dãs mon plat d'écorce de peur de le blesser, -ie ne sçauois comment en venir à bout, n'ayant point d'assiette. En fin -il se fallut faire tout à tout, deuenir Sauuages auec les Sauuages: Ie -[129] iettay les yeux sur mon compagnon, puis ie taschay d'estre aussi -braue homme que luy. Il prend sa chair à pleine main, & vous la couppe -morceaux apres morceaux, comme on feroit vne piece de pain, que si la -chair est vn peu dure, ou qu'elle cede au cousteau pour estre trop -molasse; ils vous la tiennent d'vn bout par les dents, & de l'autre -auec la main gauche, puis la main droitte iouë là dessus du violon, -se seruãt de cousteau pour archet; & cecy est si commun parmy les -Sauuages, qu'ils ont vn mot propre pour exprimer cette actiõ, que nous -ne pouuons expliquer qu'en plusieurs paroles & par circumloqution. Si -vous esgarez vostre cousteau, comme il n'y a point de couteliers dans -ces grãds bois, vous estes condamnez à prendre vostre portion à deux -belles mains, & mordre dans la chair & dans la graisse aussi brauement, -mais non pas si honnestement que vous feriez dans vn quartier de -põme; Dieu sçait si les mains, si la bouche, & vne partie de la face -reluisent par apres? le mal est que ie ne sçauois à quoy m'essuyer; de -porter du linge, il faudroit vn mulet, ou bien faire tous les jours la -[130] lessiue: car en moins de riẽ tout se change en torchon de cuisine -dans leurs Cabanes. Pour eux ils torchẽt leurs mains à leurs cheueux, -qu'ils nourrissent fort longs, d'autrefois à leurs chiens: ie veis vne -femme qui m'apprit vn secret, elle nettoya ses mains à ses souliers, -ie fis le mesme; ie me seruois aussi de poil d'Orignac, & de branches -de pin, & notamment de bois pourry puluerisé, ce sont les essuyemains -des Sauuages; on ne s'en sert pas si doucement comme d'vne toile -d'Hollande, mais peut-estre plus gayement & plus ioyeusement. C'est -assez parlé de ces ordures. - - I found myself very much embarrassed, in the beginning; for not - daring to cut the meat they gave me in my bark dish, for fear of - spoiling the dish, I did not know how to manage it, not having any - plate. Finally I had to become all to all, and a Savage with the - Savages. I [129] cast my eyes upon my companion, then I tried to - be as brave a man as he was. He took his meat in his open hand, - and cut from it morsel after morsel, as you would do with a piece - of bread. But if the meat is a little tough, or if it slips away - from the knife from being too soft, they hold one end of it with - their teeth, and the other with the left hand, then the right - hand plays upon it in violin fashion, the knife serving as a bow. - And this is so common among the Savages, that they have a word to - express this action, which we could only explain with several words - and by circumlocution. If you were to lose your knife, as there - are no cutlers in these great forests, you are compelled to take - your share in your two hands, and to bite into the flesh and into - the fat, as bravely but not so politely, as you would bite into - a quarter of an apple. God knows how the hands, the mouth, and a - part of the face shine after this operation. The trouble was, I - did not know upon what to wipe them. To carry linen with you would - require a mule, or a daily [130] washing; for, in less than no - time, everything is converted into dish-cloths in their Cabins. As - to them, they wipe their hands upon their hair, which they allow - to grow very long, or else, upon their dogs. I saw a woman who - taught me a secret; she wiped her hands upon her shoes, and I did - the same. I also used Moose fur, pine branches, and, especially, - powdered rotten wood. These are the hand-towels of the Savages. - One does not use them as pleasantly as a piece of Holland linen, - but perhaps more gaily and joyously. Enough has been said of their - filth. - - - - -CHAPITRE VII. - -DES VIANDES & AUTRES METS DONT MANGENT LES SAUUAGES, DE LEUR -ASSAISONNEMENT, & DE LEURS BOISSONS. - - -ENTRE les animaux terrestres ils ont des Elans, qu'on appelle -ordinairement icy des Origenaux, des Castors, que les Anglois nomment -des Bieures, des Caribõs, qualifiez par quelques vns asnes Sauuages: -ils ont encore des Ours, [131] des Blereaux, des Porcs épics, des -Renards, des Lieures, des Siffleurs ou Rossignols, c'est vn animal plus -gros qu'vn Lieure; ils mangent en outre des Marthes, & des Ecurieux de -trois especes. - - CHAPTER VII. - - ON THE MEATS AND OTHER DISHES WHICH THE SAVAGES EAT, THEIR - SEASONING, AND THEIR DRINKS. - - - AMONG their terrestrial animals they have the Elk, which is here - generally called the Moose; Castors, which the English call - Beavers; Caribou,[21] by some called the Wild ass; they also - have Bears, [131] Badgers, Porcupines, Foxes, Hares, Whistler or - Nightingale,--this is an animal larger than a Hare;[22] they eat - also Martens, and three kinds of Squirrels. - -Pour les oiseaux, ils ont des Outardes, des Oyes blãches & grises, -des Canards de plusieurs especes, des Sarcelles, des Bernaches, des -Plongeurs de plusieurs sortes; ce sont tous oiseaux de riuiere. Ils -prennent encore des Perdrix ou de Gelinottes grises, des Beccasses & -Becassines de quantité d'especes, des Tourterelles, &c. - - As to birds, they have Bustards, white and gray Geese, several - species of Ducks, Teals, Ospreys and several kinds of Divers. These - are all river birds. They also catch Partridges or gray Hazel-hens, - Wood-cocks and Snipe of many kinds, Turtle doves, etc. - -Quand au Poisson, ils prennent en vn temps des Saulmons de diuerses -sortes, des Loups marins, des Brochets, des Carpes, & Esturgeons de -diuerses especes, des Poissons blancs, des Poissons dorez, des Barbuës, -des Anguilles, des Lamproyes, de L'esplanc, des Tortues & autres. - - As to Fish, they catch, in the season, different kinds of Salmon, - Seals, Pike, Carp, and Sturgeon of various sorts; Whitefish, - Goldfish, Barbels, Eels, Lampreys, Smelt, Turtles, and others. - -Ils mangent en outre quelques petits fruicts de la terre, des -framboises, des bleuës, des fraises, des noix qui n'ont quasi point -de chair, des noisettes, des pommes sauuages plus douces que celles -de France, mais beaucoup plus petites; [332 i.e., 132] des cerises, -dont la chair & le noyau ensemble ne sont pas plus grosses que les -noyaux des Bigarreaux de France. Ils ont encore d'autres petits fruicts -Sauuages de diuerses sortes, des Lambruches en quelques endroicts: bref -tout ce qu'ils ont de fruict (ostez les fraises & les framboises qu'ils -ont en quantité) ne vaut pas vne seule espece des moindres fruicts de -l'Europe. - - They eat, besides some small ground fruits, such as raspberries, - blueberries, strawberries, nuts which have very little meat, - hazelnuts, wild apples sweeter than those of France, but much - smaller; [332 i.e., 132] cherries, of which the flesh and pit - together are not larger than the pit of the Bigarreau cherry in - France. They have also other small Wild fruits of different kinds, - in some places Wild Grapes; in short, all the fruits they have - (except strawberries and raspberries, which they have in abundance) - are not worth one single species of the most ordinary fruits of - Europe. - -Ils mangent en outre des racines comme des oignons de martagons rouges, -vne racine, qui a goust de reglisse, vne autre que nos François -appellent des chapelets, pource qu'elle est distinguée par nœuds en -forme de grains, & quelques autres en petit nombre. - - They eat, besides, roots, such as bulbs of the red lily; a root - which has a taste of liquorice; another that our French People call - "rosary," because it is distinguished by tubers in the form of - beads; and some others, not very numerous.[23] - -Quand la grande famine les presse, ils mangent des racleures ou des -escorces d'vn certain arbre, qu'ils nomment _Michtan_, lesquels ils -fendent au Printẽps pour en tirer vn suc doux comme du miel, ou cõme du -sucre: à ce que m'ont dit quelques vns, mais à peine s'amusent ils à -cela tant il en coule peu. - - When they are pressed by famine, they eat the shavings or bark of - a certain tree, which they call _Michtan_, which they split in the - Spring to get from it a juice, sweet as honey or as sugar;[24] I - have been told of this by several, but they do not enjoy much of - it, so scanty is the flow. - -Voila les viandes & autres mets, dont se repaissent les Sauuages des -contrées où nous sommes; I'obmets sans doute [133] plusieurs autres -especes d'animaux, mais ils ne me reuiennent pas maintenant en la -memoire. - - These, then, are the meats and other articles of food upon which - the Savages, of these countries where we are, subsist. I omit, - without doubt, [133] several other species of animals, but I do not - recall them at present. - -Outre ces viures que ce peuple tire de son pays sans cultiuer la terre, -ils ont encore des farines & des bleds d'Inde; qu'ils troquent pour -des peaux d'Orignac auec les Hurons, qui descendent iusques à Kebec, -ou iusques aux trois riuieres. Ils acheptẽt encore du Petun de cette -nation, qui quasi tous les ans en a porté en grande quantité. - - Besides these foods, which this people find in their own country - without cultivating the soil, they have also cereals and Indian - corn, which they trade for Moose skins with the Hurons, who come - down as far as Kebec or the three rivers. They also buy Tobacco - from that nation, who bring large quantities of it with them every - year.[25] - -De plus, ils ont de nos François de la galette, du biscuit, du pain, -des pruneaux, des pois, des racines, des figues, & choses semblables. -Voila dequoy se nourrit ce pauure peuple. - - Besides, they get from our French People galette, or sea biscuit, - bread, prunes, peas, roots, figs, and the like. You have here the - food of these poor people. - -Quand à leurs boissons, ils n'en font aucune ny de racines ny de -fruicts, se contentans d'eau pure, il est vray que le boüillon dans -lequel ils ont cuit la viãde, & vn autre boüillon qu'ils font d'os -d'Elan concassez & brisez, seruent aussi de boisson. Vn certain -villageois disoit en France, que s'il eust esté Roy il n'eut beu que -de la gresse, les Sauuages en boiuent assez souuent, voire mesme ils -la mangent & mordent dedans, quand [134] elle est figée, comme nous -morderions dans vne pomme. Quand ils ont faict cuire vn Ours bien gras -ou deux ou trois Castors dans vne chaudiere, vous les verriez ramasser -& recueillir la gresse sur le boüillõ, auec vne large cuillier de bois, -& gouster cette liqueur comme le plus doux Parochimel qu'ils ayent: -quelquesfois ils en remplissent vn grand plat d'escorce, qui faict la -ronde à l'entour des conuiez au festin, & chacun en boit auec plaisir. -D'autres ayant ramassé cette gresse toute pure, ils iettent dedans -quantité de neige; ce qu'ils font encore dans le boüillon gras, quand -ils veulent boire vn peu froid, vous verriez de gros morceaux de gresse -figée sur ce breuuage, & neantmoins ils le boiuent & l'auallent comme -de l'Hipocras. Voila à mon aduis toutes les sortes de boissons qui se -retreuuent parmy nos Sauuages, & dont ils m'ont faict gouster en Hiuer. -Il a esté vn temps qu'ils auoient horreur de nos boissons d'Europe, -mais ils se vendroient maintenant pour en auoir tant ils les ayment. -Ie me suis quasi oublié de dire qu'ordinairement ils boiuent chaud -ou tiede; ils me tançoient [135] par fois, me voyant boire de l'eau -froide, me disants que ie serois maigre, & que cela me refroidiroit -iusques dans les os. - - As to their drinks, they make none, either from roots or fruits, - being satisfied with pure water. It is true that the broth in - which they have cooked the meat, and another broth which they make - of the ground and broken bones of the Elk, serve as beverages. - A certain peasant said in France that, if he were King, he would - drink nothing but grease; the Savages do drink it very often, and - even eat and bite into it, when [134] it is hard, as we would bite - into an apple. When they have cooked a very fat Bear, or two or - three Beavers, in a kettle, you will see them skim off the grease - from the broth with a large wooden spoon, and taste this liquor as - if what they had were the sweetest Parochimel. Sometimes they fill - with it a large bark dish, and it goes the rounds of the guests at - the feast, each one drinking with pleasure. At other times, having - gathered this clear grease, they throw into it a quantity of snow; - this they do also in their greasy soup, when they wish to drink - it somewhat cool. You will see great lumps of grease floating on - the top of this drink, and yet they swallow it like Hippocras.[26] - These are, I believe, all the kinds of beverages to be found among - the Savages, and which they had me taste during the Winter. There - was a time when they had a horror of our European drinks; but they - have now become so fond of these, that they would sell themselves - to get them. I almost have forgotten to say that they generally - drink everything warm or tepid, and sometimes blame me [135] when - they see me drink cold water, telling me that I will become thin, - and that it will chill me even to the bone. - -De plus, ils n'entremeslent point le manger & le boire comme nous, mais -on distribue premierement la chair ou les autres mets, puis ayant mangé -ce qu'ils veulent, on partage le boüillon, où on le met en certain -endroict, & chacun y va boire qui veut. - - Also, they do not mix their eating and drinking as we do; but they - first distribute the meat or other dishes; then, having eaten what - they want, they divide the broth, or it is put in a certain place, - and each one goes and drinks as he likes. - -Disons pour conclusion de ce poinct, que les Sauuages auec tant -d'animaux, tant d'oiseaux & de poissons, sont quasi tousiours affamez; -la raison est, que les oiseaux & les poissons sont passagers, s'en -allant & retournãt à certain temps, & auec cela ils ne sont pas trop -grands gybboyeurs, & encore moins bons ménagers, car ce qu'ils tuent -en vn iour ne void pas l'autre, excepté l'Elan & l'Anguille, dont -ils font secherie quand ils en ont en grande abondance, si bien que -pendant le mois de Septembre & octobre, ils viuent pour la plus part -d'anguilles fresches en Nouembre, Decembre, & souuent en Ianuier, ils -mangent leurs anguilles boucanées, & quelques Porcs epics [136] qu'ils -prennent pendant les petites neiges, cõme aussi quelques Castors s'ils -en trouuent. Quand les grandes neiges sont venuës ils mangent l'Orignac -frais, ils le font seicher pour se nourrir le reste du temps iusques -en Septembre, auec quelques oiseaux, quelques Ours & Castors qu'ils -prennent au Printemps & pendant l'Esté: Or si toutes ces chasses ne -donnent point (ce qui n'ariue que trop souuent pour eux) ils souffrent -grandement. - - Let us say, in concluding this subject, that with all their - animals, birds and fish, the Savages are almost always hungry; the - reason for this is, that the birds and fish are migratory, going - and returning at certain times. Besides, they are not very great - hunters, and are still poorer managers; for what they kill in one - day is not seen the next, except the Elk and Eels, which they dry - when they have them in great abundance. So that, during the months - of September and October, they live for the most part upon fresh - eels; in November, December and often in January, they eat their - smoked eels, some Porcupines, [136] which they take during the - lighter snowfalls, as also a few Beavers, if they find them. When - the heavy snows come, they eat fresh Moose meat; they dry it, to - live upon the rest of the time until September; and with this they - have a few birds, Bears, and Beavers, which they take in the Spring - and during the Summer. Now, if the hunt for all these animals does - not succeed (which with them occurs only too often) they suffer - greatly. - - - - -CHAPITRE VIII. - -DE LEURS FESTINS. - - -IL n'y a que les chasseurs effectiuemẽt & ceux qui l'ont esté, qui -soient ordinairement conuiez aux festins, les femmes vefues y vont -aussi: notamment si ce n'est pas vn festin à manger tout, les filles, -les femmes mariées, & les enfans en sont quasi tousiours exclus. Ie dis -quasi tousiours, car par fois on les inuite, ie leur ay veu faire des -_Acoumagouchanai_, c'est à dire des festins à ne rien laisser, ausquels -tout le monde se trouuoit, les [137] hõmes, fẽmes, & petits enfans: -quand ils ont grãde abondance de viures, les femmes font quelquefois -des festins par entr'elles, où les hõmes ne se trouuẽt point. - - CHAPTER VIII. - - ON THEIR FEASTS. - - - ONLY actual hunters, and those who have been hunters, are usually - invited to their feasts, to which widows go also, especially if it - is not an eat-all feast. The girls, married women, and children, - are nearly always excluded. I say nearly always, for occasionally - they are invited. I have known them to have _Acoumagouchanai_, that - is to say, feasts where nothing is to be left, to which every one - was invited, [137] men, women, and little children. When they have - a great abundance of food, sometimes the women have a feast of - their own, where the men are not found. - -Leur façon d'inuiter est sans fard & sans ceremonie, quand tout est -cuit & prest à manger (car on n'inuite personne auparauant) quelqu'vn -s'en va par les Cabanes où sont ceux qui doiuent estre conuiez, -ou bien mesme on leur criera ce mot du lieu où se faict le festin -k_hinatonmigaouinaouau_, vous estes inuitez au banquet, les hommes -ausquels ce mot s'adresse, respondent _ho ho_, & prenant sur l'heure -mesme leur plat d'escorce & leur cueiller de bois, s'en viennent en -la Cabane de celuy qui les traitte. Quand tous les hommes ne sont pas -inuitez, on nomme ceux qu'on veut conuier; le deffaut de ceremonies -faict épargner beaucoup de paroles à ces bõnes gens. Il me semble qu'au -siecle d'or on faisoit comme cela, sinon que la netteté y estoit en -plus grande recommandation que parmy ces peuples. - - Their way of inviting is straightforward and without ceremony. When - all is cooked and ready to eat (for no one is invited before), - some one goes through the Cabins of those who are to be invited; - or else they will cry out to them this word, from the place where - the feast is given, _khinatonmigaouinaouau_, "You are invited to - the banquet." The men to whom this word is addressed, answer, _ho - ho_, and straightway taking their own bark dish and wooden spoon, - come to the Cabin of the one who is to entertain them. When all the - men are not invited, those who are desired are named. The absence - of ceremony spares these simple people many words. It seems to me - in the golden age they must have done like this, except that then - cleanliness was in higher favor than among these people. - -Dans tous les festins, comme aussi dans leurs repas ordinaires, on -donne à vn chacun sa part, d'où vient qu'il n'y en a [138] que deux -ou trois qui ayẽt les meilleurs morceaux, car ils ne les diuisent -point: ils donneront par exemple la langue d'vn Orignac, & toutes ses -appartenances à vne seule personne, la queuë & la teste d'vn Castor à -vn autre; voila les meilleures pieces, qu'ils appellent _Mascanou_, la -part du Capitaine. Pour les boyaux gras de l'Orignac, qui sont leurs -grands delices, ils les font ordinairement rostir & en font gouster à -tous, comme aussi d'vn autre mets, dont ils font grand estat, c'est le -gros boyau de la beste remply de gresse, & rosty auec vne corde qui -pend & tourne deuant le feu. - - In all the feasts, as well as in their ordinary repasts, each - one is given his part, from which it happens that [138] only two - or three have the best pieces, for they do not divide them. For - example, they will give the tongue of a Moose and all the giblets - to a single person, the tail and head of a Beaver to another; these - are the best pieces, which they call _Mascanou_, "the Captain's - part." As to the fat intestines of the Moose, which are their great - delicacies, they usually roast them and let every one taste them, - as they do another dish, which they hold in high esteem,--namely, - the large intestine of the beast filled with grease, and roasted, - fastened to a cord, hanging and turning before the fire. - -Au reste ils sont magnifiques en ces festins, car ils ne presentent -que les bonnes viandes les separants exprés, & donnant à chacun tres -abondamment, quand ils en ont. - - Also they are very magnificent in these feasts, for they only offer - the good meat, separating it expressly, and giving to each one very - abundantly, when they have it. - -Ils ont deux sortes de festins, les vns à manger tout, les autres à -mãger ce qu'on voudra, remportant le reste pour en faire part à leur -famille. Cette derniere façon me semble loüable, car il n'y a point -d'excez, chacun prend autant qu'il luy plaist de la portion qui luy -est donnée; [139] voire i'oserois dire que c'est vne belle inuention -pour conseruer l'amitié entr'eux, & pour se nourrir les vns les autres: -car ordinairement les peres de famille ne mangent qu'vne partie de -leurs mets, portans le reste à leurs femmes & à leurs enfans, le mal -est qu'ils font trop souuent des festins dans la famine que nous -auons enduré: si mõ hoste prenoit deux, trois, & quatre Castors, tout -aussi tost fut-il iour, fut-il nuict on en faisoit festin à tous les -Sauuages voisins; & si eux auoient pris quelque chose, ils en faisoient -de mesme à mesme temps: si que sortant d'vn festin vous allez à vn -autre, & par fois encore à vn troisiesme, & vn quatriesme. Ie leur -disois qu'ils ne faisoient pas bien, & qu'il valoit mieux reseruer ces -festins aux iours suiuans, & que ce faisant nous ne serions pas tant -pressez de la faim; ils se mocquoient de moy, demain (disoient-ils) -nous ferons encore festin de ce que nous prendrons; oüy mais le plus -souuent ils ne prenoient que du froid & du vent. - - They have two kinds of feasts,--one at which everything is eaten; - the other at which the guests eat what they please, carrying away - the rest to divide with their families. This last feast seems to me - praiseworthy, for there is no excess, each one taking as much as he - likes of the portion given to him; [139] indeed, I would venture - to say that it is a happy invention to preserve friendship among - them, and for each to help feed the others. For usually the heads - of families only eat a part of their share, carrying the rest to - their wives and children. The trouble is that their feasts come - too often. In the famine through which we passed, if my host took - two, three, or four Beavers, immediately, whether it was day or - night, they had a feast for all the neighboring Savages. And if - those people had captured something, they had one also at the same - time; so that, on emerging from one feast, you went to another, - and sometimes even to a third and a fourth. I told them that they - did not manage well, and that it would be better to reserve these - feasts for future days, and in doing this they would not be so - pressed with hunger. They laughed at me. "To-morrow" (they said) - "we shall make another feast with what we shall capture." Yes, but - more often they captured only cold and wind. - -Pour leurs festins à ne rien laisser, ils sont tres blamables, & c'est -neantmoins l'vne de leurs grandes deuotions, car ils [140] font ces -festins pour auoir bonne chasse, il se faut bien donner de garde que -les chiens n'en goustent tant soit peu, tout seroit perdu, leur chasse -ne vaudroit rien; Et remarquez que plus ils mangent plus ce festin -est efficace; de là vient qu'ils dõneront à vn seul homme, ce que ie -ne voudrois pas entreprendre de manger, auec trois bons disneurs, ils -creueroient plustost, pour ainsi dire, que de rien laisser. Vray qu'ils -se peuuent ayder les vns les autres; quand quelqu'vn n'en peut plus, il -prie son compagnon de l'assister, où bien l'on fait passer son reste -pardeuant les autres qui en prennent chacun vne partie, & apres tout -cela s'il en reste on le iette au feu; celuy qui mange le plus est le -plus estimé, vous les entendez raconter leurs proüesses de gueule, -specifiants la quantité & les parties de la beste qu'ils ont mãgé; Dieu -sçait quelle musique apres le banquet, car ces Barbares donnent toute -liberté à leur estomach & à leur ventre, de tenir le langage qui leur -plaist pour se soulager; quand aux odeurs qu'on sent pour lors dans -leurs Cabanes, elles sont plus fortes que l'odeur des roses, mais elles -ne sont pas si douces, vous les voyez haleter [141] & souffler comme -des gens remplis iusques au gosier; & de faict comme ils sont nuds, -ie les voyois enflez iusques à la gorge, encore ont ils du courage -là dedans, leur cœur retient ce qu'on luy donne, ie n'ay veu que -l'estomach du Sorcier mécontent de ce qu'on luy auoit donné, quantité -d'autres en approchoient de bien prés, mais ils tenoient bon. I'en ay -veu par fois de malades apres ces excez. - - As to their "leave-nothing" feasts, they are very blamable; and - yet this is one of their great devotions, because they [140] make - these feasts in order to have a successful chase. They must be - very careful that the dogs taste nothing of this, or all will be - lost, and their hunting will be worthless. And notice that, the - more they eat, the more efficacious is this feast. Hence it happens - that they will give, to one man, what I would not undertake to - eat with three good diners. They would rather burst, so to speak, - than to leave anything. True, they can help each other; when one - can eat no more, he begs his companions to assist him; or else he - may pass the remains of his part along to the others, who each - one take some of it, and after all this, if anything remain, it - is thrown into the fire. The one who eats the most is the most - admired. You will hear them describing the prowess of their jaws, - naming the quantity and the parts of the beast which they have - eaten. God knows what kind of music follows this banquet, for these - Barbarians give full liberty to their stomachs and bellies, to - utter whatever sounds they please, in order to relieve themselves. - As to the odors that are then exhaled in their Cabins, they are - stronger than the perfume of roses, but not so sweet. You see them - pant [141] and blow, like people full up to their throats; and, in - fact, as they are naked, I saw that they were swollen as high as - their necks. Still, with it all, they have mettle there inside, for - their stomachs retain what is given them. I have known only the - Sorcerer's stomach to be dissatisfied with what it received; many - others came very near it, but they held their own. Occasionally, I - have seen some of them sick after these excesses. - -Mais venons à l'ordre qu'ils gardent en ces banquets; Ceux qu'on doit -traitter estans conuiez à la façon que i'ay dit, ils s'en viennent auec -leur _ouragan_, ou escuelle leur cuillier, ils entrent dans la Cabane -sans ceremonie, chacun prenant sa place comme il vient, ils s'asseoient -en rond à l'entour de la chaudiere qui est sur le feu, renuersant leur -plat deuant eux, leurs sieges, c'est la terre couuerte de branches de -pin, il n'y a point de preseance, toutes les parties d'vn cercle sont -aussi courbées, & aussi nobles les vnes que les autres, quelquesfois -l'vn d'eux dira à celuy qui entre _Outaiappitou_, viens icy, sieds toy -là. - - But let us notice the order which they observe in these banquets. - Those who are to be entertained having been invited in the way I - have stated, they come each with his _ouragan_, or dish, and his - spoon, and enter the Cabin without ceremony, each one taking his - place as he comes. They seat themselves around the kettle which is - over the fire, turning their plates upside down before them. Their - chairs are the ground, covered with pine branches; and no order of - precedence is observed. All the members of the circle are alike - bent forward; and one is as noble as the other. Sometimes one will - say to another who enters, _Outaiappitou_, "Come here, sit thou - there." - -Chacun ayant pris sa place & s'estant assis en forme de Guenon, -retirant ses [142] jambes contre ses cuisses, si c'est vn festin à -manger tout, on ne dit mot, on chante seulement, & s'il y a quelque -Sorcier ou _Manitousiou_, il bat son tambour; vray qu'ils ne sont pas -tousiours si religieux qu'ils ne tiennent quelque petit discours. Si le -festin n'est pas à ne rien laisser, ils s'entretiennent vn peu de temps -de leurs chasses, ou d'autres choses semblables, le plus souuent de -gausseries. - - Each one, having taken his place, sits in the posture of a - monkey, drawing up his [142] legs against his thighs. If it is an - eat-all feast, not a word is said, they only sing; and if there - is a Sorcerer or _Manitousiou_ present, he beats his drum; true, - they are not always so strict that they do not hold some little - conversation. If it is not a leave-nothing feast, they have a - little conversation about their hunting, or the like, but most - frequently about their pranks. - -Apres quelques discours, le distributeur du festin, qui est -ordinairement celuy qui le fait, descend la chaudiere de dessus le feu, -ou les chaudieres s'il y en a plusieurs, les mettãt deuant soy, & lors -il fait quelque harãgue ou semet à chãter, & tous les assistans auec -luy; quelquefois il ne faict ny l'vn ny l'autre, mais seulement il dit -les mots de l'entrée du festin qui ne s'obmettent iamais, c'est à dire -qu'il declare dequoy il est composé: par exemple il dira, hommes qui -estes icy assemblez, c'est vn tel qui faict le festin, ils respondent -tous du fond de l'estomac _hô-ô-ô_, le festin est composé de chair de -Castor, ils poussent de rechef leur aspiration _hô-ô-ô_, il y a aussi -de la farine [143] de bled d'Inde _hô-ô-ô_, respondent ils, à chaque -diuersité de mets. - - After some talk, the server of the feast, who is usually the one - who gives it, takes down the kettle from the fire,--or the kettles, - if there are several,--and, placing them before him, he makes a - speech or begins a song, and all the others join in. Sometimes - he does neither, but simply says the words at the opening of the - feast, which are never omitted,--namely, he declares of what it is - composed; for example, he will say, "Men who are assembled here, - it is such and such a one who gives this feast." They all answer - in deep chest tones, _hô-ô-ô_. "The feast is composed of the flesh - of Beavers." They again utter this aspiration, _hô-ô-ô_. "There is - also some [143] Cornmeal." _Hô-ô-ô_, they respond, to each of the - different dishes. - -Pour les festins moins solemnels, celuy qui le faict s'addressant à -quelqu'vn de ses amis, ou de ses parents, il luy dira, mon cousin, ou -mon oncle, voila le Castor que i'ay pris, nous le mangerons maintenant, -& alors tout le monde dit son _hô-ô-ô_, & voila le festin ouuert, -duquel on ne sort point, que les mots par lesquels on le conclud ne -soient dicts. Cela fait, le distributeur ramasse quelquefois la gresse -de dessus la chaudiere & la boit luy tout seul, d'autres fois il en -fait part à ses amis, quelquefois il en remplit vn grand & profond plat -qui se presente à tous les conuiez comme i'ay dit, & chacun en boit -sa part; si le festin est de pois, de farine, de bled d'Inde, ou de -choses semblables demy liquides, il prend les _Ouragans_, ou escuelles -d'vn chacun, & distribue la chaudiere, le plus esgalement qu'il luy -est possible, leurs rendant leurs plats bien garnis, sans regarder par -quel bout il commence; il n'y a ny honneur ny blasme d'estre party le -premier ou le dernier. Si le festin est de viande, il la tire auec vn -baston pointu, [144] la met dans des plats d'escorce deuant soy, puis -ayant ietté les yeux sur le nombre des conuiez, il la distribue comme -il luy plaist, donnant à chacun abondamment, non pas egalement. Car il -donnera les friants morceaux à ses confidents, voire mesme quand il a -donné à tous vne bonne piece, commençant par ceux qui ne sont pas de sa -Cabane, il rechargera iusques à deux & trois fois & non pas pour les -autres, personne ne s'offence de ce procedé, car c'est la coustume. - - As to their less solemn feasts, the one who gives them addresses - each one of his friends, or relatives, and says to him, "My cousin, - or my uncle, here is a Beaver that I have taken, we will now eat - it;" and then every one utters his _hô-ô-ô_; and lo, the feast - has begun, from which they do not emerge until the words with - which they are to terminate it are uttered. When this is done, - the distributor sometimes collects the grease from the kettle and - drinks it all by himself; at other times, he shares it with his - friends; then again, he fills a large, deep dish which is offered - to all the guests, as I have said, and each one drinks his share. - If the feast is of peas, flour, Cornmeal, or such half-liquid - things, he takes the _Ouragans_, or dishes, of each one and divides - what is in the kettle, as equally as he can, returning their plates - to them well filled, without noticing at what end he began. There - is neither honor nor disgrace in being served first or last. If the - feast is of meat, he draws it out with a pointed stick, [144] puts - it into some bark dishes before him; then, having cast his eyes - over the number of guests, he distributes it as he pleases, giving - to each one abundantly, but not equally. For he will give the - dainty morsels to his intimate friends; and, even when he has given - to each of them a good piece, beginning with those who are not of - his Cabin, he will serve them again, even two or three times, and - not the others. No one is offended at this proceeding, for it is - the custom. - -Il presente ordinairement la chair au bout d'vn baston, nommant la -piece ou la partie de l'animal qu'il donne, en cette façon; si c'est -la teste d'vn Castor, ou d'Asne sauuage, ou d'autre animal, il dira -_Nichta_ K_oustigouanime_; Mon cousin, voila ta teste, si c'est vn -espaule, il dira voila ton espaule, si ce sont des boyaux, il en dira -de mesme; d'autresfois ils disent simplemẽt, _Khimitchimi_, voila -ton mets: mais prenez garde qu'ils n'ont point l'equiuoque en leur -langue que nous auons en la nostre. On raconte d'vn certain, lequel -rencontrant son amy, luy dit par courtoisie, si i'auois quelque chose -digne de vous, ie vous inuiterois à des-jeusner en [145] nostre maison, -mais ie n'ay rien du tout, son valet l'entendant luy repartit à la -bõne foy, excusez-moy Monsieur, vous auez vne teste de veau, cela dit -en lãgage Montagnais n'a rien de ridicule, pource qu'ils n'õt point -d'equiuoque en ces termes, les mots qui signifient ma teste propre & la -teste d'animal qui m'est donnée estants differents. - - He usually offers the meat on the end of the stick, naming the - piece or part of the animal which he is giving in this way; if it - is the head of a Beaver or of a wild Ass, or some other animal, he - will say, _Nichta Koustigouanime_, "My cousin, here is thy head;" - if it is the shoulder, he will say, "Here is thy shoulder;" and if - it is the intestines, he will name it in the same way; at other - times they simply say, _Khimitchimi_, "Here is thy meat." But bear - in mind that they have not the ambiguity in their language that we - have in ours. They tell a story about a certain one, who, meeting - his friend, said to him through courtesy, "If I had something - worthy of you I would invite you to breakfast at [145] our house, - but I have nothing at all." His servant hearing him, answered in - good faith, "Excuse me, Sir, you have a calf's head." If this were - said in the Montagnais language, there would be nothing ridiculous - in it, for they have nothing ambiguous in such terms,--the words - which mean "my own head" and "the head of an animal which is given - me," being altogether different. - -Celuy qui fait le festin & qui le distribue ne fait iamais sa part, il -se contente de voir manger les autres sans se rien retenir pour soy; -neantmoins quand il y a peu de viures, si tost qu'il a tiré la viande -de la chaudiere, son voisin ou son amy choisit les meilleurs morceaux -par courtoisie, & les met à part; puis quand tout est distribué, il les -presente au distributeur mesme, luy disant vn tel, voila ton mets, il -respond comme tous les autres, _hô-ô-ô_. - - The one who gives the feast and who serves it never takes part - therein, but is satisfied in watching the others, without keeping - anything for himself. However, when there is a scarcity of food, - as soon as the meat is taken from the kettle, his neighbor or - friend chooses the best pieces for politeness and puts them aside; - then when all is distributed, he presents them to the distributor - himself, saying to him, "Here is thy meat," and he answers like all - the others, _hô-ô-ô_. - -Ils ont quelques ceremonies, que ie n'entẽds pas bien faisant festin -d'vn Ours, celuy qui l'auoit tué, fit rostir ses entrailles sur des -branches de pin, prononçant quelques paroles que ie n'entendis pas, il -y a quelque grand mystere là dedans: de plus on luy dõna l'os du cœur -de l'animal, qu'il porte dans une petite bource matachiée, penduë à son -col; faisans festin d'Orignac, [146] celuy qui luy auoit donné le coup -mortel, & qui faisoit le festin, apres auoir distribué la chair, ietta -de la gresse dans le feu, disant: _papeoue_k_ou_, _papeoue_k_ou_, i'ay -desia expliqué ce que cela veut dire. - - They have some ceremonies which I do not well understand, when - they have a Bear feast; the one who has killed it has the entrails - roasted over some pine branches, pronouncing some words which I - do not comprehend. There is some great mystery in this; also they - give him the heart-bone of the animal, which he carries in a little - embroidered purse hung around his neck. When they have a Moose - feast, [146] the one who has given it its deathblow, and who gives - the feast, after having distributed the flesh, throws some grease - into the fire, saying, _papeouekou, papeouekou_, of which I have - already explained the meaning. - -Le festin distribué, si c'est à manger tout, chacun mange en silence, -quoy que quelqu'vns ne laissent pas de dire vn petit mot en passant: -aux autres festins, encore qu'il soit permis de parler ordinairement, -ils parlent fort peu, s'estonnans des François qui causent autant & -plus en table qu'en autre temps: aussi nous appellent-ils des Oyes -babillardes. Leurs bouches sont quasi grosses comme des œufs, & c'est -le plaisir qu'ils prennent à gouster & à sauourer ce qu'ils mangent, -qui leur ferme la bouche, & non l'honnesteté: Vous prendriez trop de -plaisir à leur voir assaillir dãs leurs grandes escuelles d'escorce, vn -Castor boüilly, ou rosty, notamment quand ils viennent de la chasse, -ou de leur voir étudier vn os: ie les ay veus tenir vn pied d'Orignac -à deux mains par vn bout la bouche, & les dents faisants leur deuoir -de l'autre: en sorte qu'ils me sembloient vouloir iouër de ces longues -flutes d'Allemagne, sinon qu'ils alloient vn peu trop fort, pour auoir -long temps bonne haleine: [147] quand ce qu'ils mangent leur agrée, -vous leur entendez dire de fois à autre, ainsi que i'ay desia remarqué, -_tapoué nimitison_, en verité ie mange, cõme si on en doutoit. Voila le -grand tesmoignage qu'ils rendent du plaisir qu'ils prennent à vostre -festin; au reste ayant succé, rongé, brisé les os qui leurs escheent -pour en tirer la gresse & la mouëlle, ils les rejettent dans la -chaudiere pleine de boüillõ qu'ils doiuent boire par apres, il est vray -qu'aux bãquets à tout manger, ils sont deliurez de cette inciuilité, -car il n'y a point d'os. - - The feast distributed, if it is an eat-all, each one eats in - silence, although some do not fail to say a word or two from time - to time. In the other feasts, although they are usually permitted - to speak, they speak very little, and are astonished at the French - who talk as much and more at the table than at any other time, so - they call us cackling Geese. Their mouths are almost as large as - eggs, and it is the delight they have in tasting and relishing what - they eat that closes their mouths, and not politeness. You would - take genuine pleasure in seeing them attack, in their great bark - dishes, a boiled or roasted Beaver, especially when they have just - come from the chase, or in seeing them tackle a bone. I have seen - them hold the foot of a Moose in their two hands by one end, the - mouth and the teeth doing duty at the other, so that they seem to - me to be playing on those long German flutes, except that they go - at it with a little too much force to hold their wind long. [147] - When they are eating something that they are very fond of, you - will hear them say from time to time, as I have already remarked, - _tapoué nimitison_, "I am really eating," as if any one doubted - it. This is the great proof that they offer of the pleasure they - experience at your feast. Now having sucked, gnawed, and broken the - bones which fall to them, to get out the grease and marrow, they - throw them back into the kettle of broth which they are to drink - afterward. It is true that at the eat-all banquets this unmannerly - trick is not practiced, for there are no bones. - -Ayans mangé les mets qu'on a presenté, on distribue le boüillon de -la chaudiere, dont chacun boit selon sa soif, si c'est vn banquet -de deuotion, c'est à dire, à ne rien laisser, quelquefois il faut -aussi boire tout le boüillon; d'autrefois il suffit qu'on mãge toute -la viande, estant libre de boire ce qu'on voudra du boüillon. Quand -le Maistre du festin void qu'on cesse de mãger, il dit les paroles -qui terminent le banquet, qui sont celles-cy, ou autres semblables, -_Egou_ K_hé_ _Khiouiecou_; or vous vous en irez, supplé, quand il vous -plairra: le festin conclud, quelques vns demeurent vn peu de temps pour -discourir, d'autres s'en vont aussi tost délogeans sans trompette; -c'est à [148] dire, qu'ils sortent sans dire mot, par fois ils disent, -_Ni_k_hiouan_, ie m'en vay, on leur respond _Niagouté_, allez à la -bonne-heure, voila le grand excez de leurs compliments. - - Having eaten the meats that have been offered, the broth is served - from the kettle, each one drinking of this according to his thirst. - If it is a banquet of devotion, that is to say, a leave-nothing - feast, sometimes they are also obliged to drink all the broth. At - other times, it is enough if they eat all the meat, being free to - drink what they want of the broth. When the Master of the feast - sees them stop eating, he pronounces the words which terminate the - banquet, which are the following, or others like them: _Egou Khé - Khiouiecou_, "Now you will go away; return this feast when you - please." The feast concluded, some remain a little while to talk, - and others leave immediately, going out without trumpets; that - [148] is, they go out without saying a word; sometimes they say, - _Nikhiouan_, "I am going;" the answer is, _Niagouté_, "Go then." - See the profuseness of their compliments. - - - - -CHAPITRE IX. - -DE LEUR CHASSE & DE LEUR PESCHERIE. - - -COMMENÇONS par l'Elan, quand il y a peu de neiges, ils le tuent a coups -de fleches, le premier que nous mangeasmes fut ainsi mis à mort, mais -c'est vn grand hazard quand ils peuuent approcher de ces animaux à la -portée de leurs arcs, car ils sentent les Sauuages de fort loing, & -courent aussi viste que les Cerfs. Quand les neiges sont profondes, ils -poursuiuent l'Elan à la course, & le tuent à coups d'espées, qu'ils -emmanchent à de longs bastons pour cét effect: ils dardent ces espées -quand ils n'osent ou ne peuuent aborder la beste, ils poursuiuent par -fois deux & trois iours vn de ces animaux, les neiges n'estant, ny -assez dures ny assez profondes d'autrefois vn enfant les tueroit quasi, -car la neige venant à se glacer apres quelque petit dégel, ou quelque -pluye, elle blesse ces pauures Orignaux, qui ne vont pas loing sans -estre massacrez. - - CHAPTER IX. - - ON THEIR HUNTING AND FISHING. - - LET us begin with the Elk. When there is very little snow, they - kill it with arrows, the first that we ate being taken in this - way. But it is a great stroke of luck when they can approach these - animals within range of their bows, as they scent the Savages at - a great distance, and run as fast as Deer. When the snow is deep, - they pursue the Elk on foot, and kill it with thrusts from javelins - which are fastened on long poles for this purpose, and which they - hurl when they dare not or cannot approach the beast. Sometimes - they chase one of these animals for two or three days, the snow - being neither hard nor deep enough; while at other times a child - could almost kill them, for, the snow being frozen after a slight - thaw or rain, these poor Moose are hurt by it, and cannot go far - without being slaughtered. - -[149] On m'auoit dit que l'Elan estoit grand cõme vn mulet d'Auuergne, -il est vray qu'il a la teste longue cõme vn mulet, mais ie le trouue -aussi gros qu'vn bœuf, ie n'en ay veu qu'vn seul en vie, il estoit -ieune, à peine le bois ou les cornes luy sortoient de la teste, ie -n'ay point veu en France ny genisse, ny bouuillon, qui approchât de sa -grosseur, ny de sa hauteur; il est haut monté comme le Cerf, son bois -est haut branchu & plat en quelque façon, non rond comme celuy des -Cerfs, ie parle des bois que i'ay veu, peut-estre y en a-il d'autre -façõ. Quelqu'vn m'a dit que la femelle portoit tousiours deux petits, & -tousiours masle & femelle; mes Sauuages, au contraire, disent qu'elle -en porte tantost vn tantost deux, & qu'vne seule fois ils en ont trouué -trois dans vne femelle, ce qui les estonna comme vn prodige. - - [149] I had been told that the Elk was as large as an Auvergne - mule. True, its head is as long as that of a mule, but I find it as - large as an ox. I have only seen one of them alive; it was young, - and the branches or horns were just emerging from its head; I never - saw in France either a heifer or young bullock that was as big or - as high as it was. It is tall and erect, like the Deer; its horns - are lofty, branching, and somewhat flat, not round like those of a - Deer; I speak of the horns that I have seen, but there may be other - kinds. I have been told that the female always bears two little - ones, always male and female. On the contrary, my Savages tell me - that she sometimes bears one, and sometimes two; and that once they - found three in a female, which astonished them as if it were a - prodigy. - -I'ay quelque pensée qu'on pourra auec le temps domestiquer ces animaux, -qu'on s'en pourra seruir pour le labourage, & pour tirer des tranées -sur la neige, ce seroit vn grand soulagement. - - I have sometimes thought that, in time, these animals might be - domesticated, and could be used to till the soil and to draw - sledges over the snow, which would be a great comfort. - -Quand les Sauuages ont tué plusieurs Elans, & passé plusieurs iours -en festins, ils pensent à leur prouision & à leur seicherie, ils vous -étendrons sur des perches les deux costez d'vn grand Orignac, en ayant -osté [150] les os: si la chair est trop épaisse, ils la leuẽt par -laichent, & en outre la tailladent; afin que la fumée la desseiche & -la penetre par tout, lors qu'elle commence à ce seicher ou boucaner, -ils la battent auec des pierres, la soulent aux pieds, afin qu'il n'y -demeure dedans aucun suc qui la puisse corrompre, enfin estant bien -boucané, ils la plient & la mettent en paquets, voila leur prouision, -le boucan est vn pauure manger, la chair fraische de l'Elã est fort -aisée à digerer, elle ne dure point dãs l'estomac; voila pourquoy les -Sauuages ne la font point tant cuire: Pour le goust, il me semble que -la chair d'vn bœuf ne cede point à la chair d'vn bon Elan. - - When the Savages have killed a number of Elks, and passed several - days in feasting, they begin to think about drying them and laying - them away. They will stretch upon poles the two sides of a large - Moose, the bones thereof having [150] been removed. If the flesh is - too thick, they raise it in strips and slash it besides, so that - the smoke may penetrate and dry all parts. When they begin to dry - or smoke this meat, they pound it with stones and tramp it under - foot so that no juice may remain to spoil it. At last, when it is - smoked, they fold and arrange it in packages, and this forms their - future store. Dried meat is poor food, but the fresh meat of the - Elk is very easy to digest. It does not remain long in the stomach, - therefore the Savages do not cook it much. In regard to taste, it - seems to me that beef is not inferior to good Elk meat. - -Le Castor ou le Bieure se prend en plusieurs façõs. Les Sauuages disent -que c'est l'animal bien aymé des François, des Anglois, & des Basques, -en vn mot des Europeans; i'entendois vn iour mon hoste qui disoit en -se gaussant, _Missi picoutau amiscou_, le Castor fait toutes choses -parfaictement bien, il nous faict des chaudieres, des haches, des -espées, des couteaux, du pain, bref il fait tout; il se mocquoit de -nos Europeans qui se passionnent pour la peau de cest animal, & qui -se battent à qui dõnera le plus à ces Barbares, pour en auoir: [151] -iusques là que mon hoste me dit vn iour me monstrant vn fort beau -couteau, les Anglois n'ont point d'esprit, ils nous donnent vingts -couteaux comme celuy là pour vne peau de Castor. - - The Castor or Beaver is taken in several ways. The Savages say - that it is the animal well-beloved by the French, English and - Basques,--in a word, by the Europeans. I heard my host say one day, - jokingly, _Missi picoutau amiscou_, "The Beaver does everything - perfectly well, it makes kettles, hatchets, swords, knives, bread; - and, in short, it makes everything." He was making sport of us - Europeans, who have such a fondness for the skin of this animal - and who fight to see who will give the most to these Barbarians, to - get it; [151] they carry this to such an extent that my host said - to me one day, showing me a very beautiful knife, "The English have - no sense; they give us twenty knives like this for one Beaver skin." - -Au Printemps, le Castor se prend à l'attrappe amorcée du bois dont il -mange: les Sauuages sont tres-bien entendus en ces attrapes, lesquelles -venant à se detendre, vne grosse piece de bois tombe sur l'animal & -l'assomme, quelquefois les chiens rencontrant le Castor hors la Cabane, -le poursuiuent & le prennent aisement; ie n'ay point veu cette chasse, -mais on m'en a parlé, & les Sauuages font grand estat d'vn chiẽ qui sẽt -& découure cét animal. - - In the Spring, the Beaver is taken in a trap baited with the wood - it eats. The Savages understand perfectly how to handle these - traps, which are made to open, when a heavy piece of wood falls - upon the animal and kills it. Sometimes when the dogs encounter the - Beaver outside its House, they pursue and take it easily; I have - never seen this chase, but have been told of it; and the Savages - highly value a dog which scents and runs down this animal. - -Pendant l'Hiuer ils le prennent à la rets & soubs la glace, voicy -comment; on fend la glace en long, proche de la Cabane du Castor, on -met par la fente vn rets & du bois qui sert d'amorce, ce pauure animal -venant chercher à manger s'enlace dans ces filets faicts de bonne & -forte ficelle double, & encore ne faut il pas tarder à les tirer, car -ils seroiẽt bien tost en pieces, estãt sorty de l'eau par l'ouuerture -faite en la glace, ils l'assõment auec vn gros bastõ. - - During the Winter they capture them in nets and under the ice, in - this way: They make a slit in the ice near the Beaver's House, and - put into the hole a net, and some wood which serves as bait. This - poor animal, searching for something to eat, gets caught in a net - made of good, strong, double cord; and, emerging from the water to - the opening made in the ice, they kill it with a big club. - -L'autre façon de le prendre sous la glace est plus noble, tous les -Sauuages n'en ont [152] pas l'vsage, mais seulement les plus habiles; -ils brisent à coups de haches la Cabane ou maison du Castor, qui est -en effect admirable, il n'y a mousquet qui la transperce à mon aduis, -pendant l'Hiuer elle est bastie sur le bord de quelque petit fleuue, -ou d'vn estang faicte à double estage, sa figure est ronde, les -materiaux dont elle est composée sont du bois & de la terre, si bien -liez & vnis par ensemble, que i'ay veu nos Sauuages en plein Hiuer suer -pour y faire ouuerture à coups de haches, l'estage d'embas est dãs ou -sur le bord de l'eau, celuy d'enhaut est au dessus du fleuue, quand le -froid a glacé les fleuues & les estãgs, le Castor se tient retiré en -l'estage d'ẽhaut, où il a fait sa prouision de bois pour manger pendant -l'Hiuer; il ne laisse pas neantmoins de descendre de cest estage en -celuy d'embas, & de celuy d'embas il se glisse sous les glaces, par des -trous qui sont en ce bas estage, & qui respondent sous les glaces: il -sort pour boire & pour chercher du bois qu'il mange, lequel croist sur -la riue des estangs, & dans les estangs mesme; ce bois par embas est -pris dans les glaces, le Castor le va couper par dessous, & le porte -en sa maison. Or les Sauuages ayans brisé cette maison, ces pauures -animaux, qui sont par fois en grand nombre [153] sous vn mesme toict, -s'en vont sous les glaces, qui d'vn costé, qui d'vn autre, cherchans -des lieux vuides & creux entre l'eau & la glace, pour pouuoir respirer: -ce que sçachans leurs ennemis, ils se vont pourmenans sur l'estang ou -sur le fleuue glacé, portans vn long baston en main, armé d'vn costé -d'vne tranche de fer, faite comme vn ciseau de Menuisier, & de l'autre -d'vn os de Baleine, comme ie croy; ils sondent la glace auec cest os, -frappans dessus & prenans garde si elle sonne creux, & si elle donne -quelque indice de sa concauité, alors ils couppent la glace auec la -tranche de fer, regardãs si l'eau n'est point agitée par le mouuement -ou par la respiration du Castor: si l'eau remuë, ils ont vn bastõ -recourbé qu'ils fourrent dans le trou qu'ils viennent de faire, s'ils -sentent le Castor, ils le tuẽt auec leur grand baston, qu'ils appellent -_ca oui_k_achit_, & le tirans de l'eau, en vont faire curée tout aussi -tost, si ce n'est qu'ils ayent grande esperance d'en prendre d'autres: -Ie leur demandois pourquoy le Castor attendoit là qu'on le tuast, où -ira il, me disoiẽt ils, sa maison est rompuë, les autres endroits où il -peut respirer entre l'eau & la glace sont cassez, il demeure là dans -l'eau, cherchant de l'air, cependant on l'assomme, il sort quelquefois -[154] par la Cabane, ou par quelque trou, mais les chiens qui sont là, -& qui le sentent, & l'attendent, l'ont bien tost attrapé. - - The other way of taking them under the ice is more noble. Not - all the Savages use [152] this method, only the most skillful; - they break with blows from the hatchet the Cabin or house of the - Beaver, which is indeed wonderfully made. In my opinion no musket - ball can pierce it. During the Winter it is built upon the shore - of some little river or pond, is two stories high, and round. The - materials of which it is composed are wood and mud, so well joined - and bound together that I have seen our Savages in Midwinter - sweat in trying to make an opening into it with their hatchets. - The lower story is in or upon the edge of the water, the upper is - above the river. When the cold has frozen the rivers and ponds, the - Beaver secludes himself in the upper story, where he has provided - himself with wood to eat during the Winter. He sometimes, however, - descends from this story to the lower one, and thence he glides out - under the ice, through the holes which are in this lower story and - which open under the ice. He goes out to drink and to search for - the wood that he eats, which grows upon the banks of the pond and - in the pond itself. This wood at the bottom is fastened in the ice - and the Beaver goes below to cut it and carry it to his house. Now - the Savages having broken this house, these poor animals, which are - sometimes in great numbers [153] under one roof, disappear under - the ice, some on one side, some on the other, seeking hollow and - thin places between the water and ice, where they can breathe. - Their enemies, knowing this, go walking over the pond or frozen - river, carrying a long club in their hands, armed on one side with - an iron blade made like a Carpenter's chisel, and on the other - with a Whale's bone, I believe. They sound the ice with this bone, - striking upon it and examining it to see if it is hollow; and if - there is any indication of this, then they cut the ice with their - iron blade, looking to see if the water is stirred up by the - movement or breathing of the Beaver. If the water moves, they have - a curved stick which they thrust into the hole that they have just - made; if they feel the Beaver, they kill it with their big club, - which they call _ca ouikachit_; and, drawing it out of the water, - go and make a feast of it at once, unless they have great hopes - of taking others. I asked them why the Beaver waited there until - it was killed. "Where will it go?" they said to me; "its house - is broken to pieces and the other places where it could breathe - between the water and ice are broken; it remains there in the - water, seeking air, and meanwhile it is killed." Sometimes [154] it - goes out through its House, or some hole; but the dogs which are - there, scenting and waiting for it, have soon caught it. - -Lors qu'il y a quelque fleuue voisin, ou quelque bras d'eau conjoinct -à l'estang où ils sont, ils se coulẽt la dedans; mais les Sauuages -barrent ces fleuues quand ils les découurent, ils cassent la glace & -fichent quantité de pieux les vns pres des autres, en sorte que le -Castor ne peut euader par là. I'ay veu de grands lacs qui sauuoient la -vie aux Castors, car nos gens ne pouuans casser tous les endroicts où -ils pouuoient respirer, aussi ne pouuoient ils attraper leur proye; Il -y a quelquefois deux menages de Castors dans vne mesme Cabane, c'est à -dire deux masles & deux femelles auec leurs petits. - - When there is a river near by, or an arm of water connecting with - the pond where they are, they slip into that; but the Savages dam - up these rivers when they discover them, breaking the ice and - planting a number of stakes near each other, so that the Beaver may - not escape in that direction. I have seen large lakes which saved - the lives of the Beavers; for our people, not being able to break - all the places where they could breathe, therefore could not trap - their prey. Sometimes there are two families of Beavers in the same - House, that is, two males and two females, with their little ones. - -La femelle en porte iusques à sept, quatre, cinq, six pour l'ordinaire, -ils ont quatre dents, deux embas & deux en haut merueilleusemẽt -aterées, les autres deux sont petites, mais celles-cy sont grandes & -tranchantes, ils s'en seruent pour couper les bois de leur prouision, & -les bois dont ils batissent leur demeure, ils aiguisent ces dents quand -elles sont emoucées, les frottans & pressants les vnes contre [155] -les autres, faisans vn petit bruit que i'ay oüy moy-mesme. - - The female bears as many as seven, but usually four, five, or - six. They have four teeth, two below, and two above, which are - wonderfully drawn out; the other two are small, but these are large - and sharp. They are used to cut the wood for their food, and the - wood with which they build their house; they sharpen these teeth - when they are dull, by rubbing and pressing them against [155] each - other, making a little noise which I have myself heard. - -Le Castor a le poil fort doux, les chapeaux qu'on en fait en sont -tesmoins, il a des pieds forts courts & fort propres pour nager, car -ils ont vne peau continue entre les ongles, à la façon des oyseaux -de riuiere, ou des loups marins, sa queuë est toute platte, assez -longuette faicte en ouale; i'en mesuray vne d'vn gros Castor, elle -auoit vne paulme & huict doigts ou enuiron de longeur, & quasi vne -paulme de la main en largeur, elle estoit assez épaisse, elle est -couuerte, non de poil, mais d'vne peau noire figurée en écailles: ce ne -sont pas pourtant de vrayes écailles: on prend icy le Castor pour vn -animal amphiuie, voila pourquoy on en mange en tout temps: ma pensée -est que sa gresse fonduë approche plus de l'huille que de la gresse, -la chair en est fort bonne, elle m'a semblé vn peu fade au Printemps, -& non pas en Hiuer; Au reste si sa peau surpasse la peau du mouton, -la chair de mouton surpasse à mon aduis celle de Castor; tant pource -qu'elle est de meilleur goust, comme aussi que le Moutõ est plus gros -qu'vn Castor. - - The Beaver has very soft fur, the hats made of it being an evidence - of this. It has very short feet which are well adapted to swimming, - for the nails are united by skin, in the same way as those of - river-birds or seals; its tail is entirely flat, quite long and - oval-shaped. I measured one of a large Beaver; it was a palm and - eight fingers or thereabout in length, and almost one palm of the - hand in width. It was quite thick, and was covered, not with hair, - but with a black skin looking like scales; however, these are not - real scales. The Beaver here is regarded as an amphibious animal, - and therefore it is eaten in all seasons. My idea is that the - grease when melted is more like oil than grease; the flesh is very - good, but it seems to me a little stale in the Spring, and not so - in Winter. But if the pelt of the Beaver excels the pelt of the - sheep, the flesh of the sheep is superior, in my opinion, to that - of the Beaver,--not only because it tastes better, but also because - the Sheep is larger than the Beaver. - -Le Porc épic se prend à l'attrape & à la course, le chien l'ayant -découuert, il est [156] mort s'il n'est bien prés de son giste, qu'il -faict sous de grandes roches, sous lesquelles s'estant retiré, il est -en lieu d'asseurance; car ny les hõmes, ny les chiens, ne se sçauroient -glisser là dessous, il ne peut courre sur la neige, voila pourquoy il -est bien tost assommé, & n'est guere plus gros qu'vn gros cochon de -laict, ses pointes ou piquerons sont blãcs, longuets & assez minces, -entrelassez & entremeslez d'vn poil noir ou grisate: I'ay veu en France -des armes où il y auoit des pointes de Porcs épics trois fois plus -longues & dix fois plus grosses & biẽ plus fermes que celles des Porcs -épics de ce païs cy: les Sauuages m'ont dit que vers le fleuue de -Saguenay, tirãt vers le Nord, ces animaux y estoient bien plus gros. -Ils les brulent comme nous faisons les pourceaux en France, puis les -ayant raclez, les font boüillir ou rostir, le manger en est bon, assez -dur neantmoins, notamment des vieux, car les ieunes sont tendres & -delicats; mais ils n'approchent point, ny de nos Porcs Sangliers, ny de -nos Porcs domestiques. - - The Porcupine is taken in a trap, or by coursing. The dog having - discovered it, it is sure to be [156] killed if it is not very - near its abode, which it makes under large rocks; having reached - this, it is in a place of safety, for neither men nor dogs can - crawl into it. It cannot run upon the snow, and is therefore - very soon put to death. It is hardly larger than a good-sized - sucking-pig. Its points or quills are white, long, and rather thin, - interlaced and mixed with black or grayish hair. In France I have - seen specimens of the Porcupine with quills three times longer and - ten times thicker, and much stiffer than those of the Porcupines - of this country. The Savages have told me that near the Saguenay - river, toward the North, these animals are much larger. They singe - them as we do pigs in France; and, after they are scraped, they - are boiled or roasted, and are quite edible, although rather - tough, especially the old ones, but the young ones are tender and - delicate. But in taste they are not equal to either our Wild Boar - or our common Pig. - -Cest animal a les pieds tortus, & les iette en dehors, ses piquerons -ont cette qualité, s'ils piquẽt vn chien ou quelque persõne, ils -entrent incessamment, s'insinuans ou glissans petit à petit, & s'en -allans ressortir par [157] la partie opposée à leur entrée; par exemple -s'attachans au dos de la main, ils la transperceront & sortiront par -le dedans. I'ay souuent veu les chiens tous herissez de ses pointes -entrées desia à demy quand leurs Maistres les retiroient. Voulant -considerer le premier qu'on apporta en la Cabane où ie demeurois auec -les Sauuages, ie l'empoignay par la queuë, & le tiray vers moy, tous -ceux qui me regardoient se mirent à rire, voyans cõme ie procedois; & -de faict quoy que i'eusse tasché de le prendre dextremẽt, si est-ce que -quantité de ces petites lances s'attacherent à mes mains, car il n'y a -aiguille si pointuë, ie les retiray aussi tost, & les iettay dans le -feu. - - This animal has crooked feet, which it turns outward. Its quills - have this peculiarity: if they stick into a dog or person they - keep on penetrating, insinuating themselves or slipping in, little - by little, and coming out [157] opposite where they entered. For - example, if they stick into the back of the hand they will go - through it, and come out on the inside. I have often seen dogs - bristling with these quills, already thrust half-way into them when - their Masters draw them out. Wishing to examine the first one that - was brought into the Cabin where I was staying with the Savages, - I caught it by the tail and drew it toward me. All those who were - looking on began to laugh at the way I went at it; and, in fact, - although I had tried to take hold of it adroitly, nevertheless a - number of these little spears stuck into my hand, for there is no - needle so sharp. I immediately drew them out, and threw them into - the fire. - -L'Ours au Printemps se prend à l'attrape, l'Hiuer ils le trouuẽt dans -des arbres creux où il se retire, passans plusieurs mois sans manger, -& cependant il ne laisse pas d'estre fort gras, ils couppent l'arbre -pour faire sortir la proye qu'ils assomment sur la neige, où bien à la -sortie de son giste. - - Bears are taken in a trap, in the Spring. In the Winter they are - found in hollow trees, to which they withdraw, passing several - months without eating, and yet they continue to be very fat. They - fell a tree, to make their prey emerge, which they kill upon the - snow, or as it is coming from its abode. - -Ils prennent les Lieures au lacet, ou les tuent auec leurs arcs ou -matras; i'ay desia remarqué autrefois que ces animaux sont blancs -pendant les neiges, & gris en autre temps, ie les trouue vn peu plus -hauts & plus pattus que ceux de France. Ils tuent les [158] Marthes & -les Escurieux en mesme façon; voila les chasses d'animaux terrestres -que i'ay veu. - - Hares are caught in nets, or are killed with arrows or darts. I - have already stated elsewhere that these animals are white during - the snow, and gray at other times. They seem to me to be a little - higher and more rough-footed than those of France. They kill [158] - Martens and Squirrels in the same way. These are the methods of - hunting terrestrial animals, so far as I have seen them. - -Pour les oiseaux, ils en tuent quelques vns auec leurs arcs, se -seruans de fleches & de Matras, mais c'est fort raremẽt: depuis qu'ils -ont traitté des armes à feu auec les Anglois, ils sont deuenus demy -Gibboyeurs, quelques vns d'entr'eux tirent assez bien; mon hoste est -l'vn de leurs meilleurs harquebusiers, ie luy ay veu tuer quelques -Outardeaux, quelques Canards & Becassines, mais leur poudre est bien -tost vsée. - - As to the birds, some are killed with bows, arrows and Darts being - used; but this is done rarely. Since they have come into possession - of firearms, through their traffic with the English, they have - become fair Huntsmen, some of them shooting very well. My host is - one of their best musketeers; I have seen him kill Bustards, Ducks - and Snipes; but their powder is very soon exhausted. - -Quand à leur pesche, ils se seruent de rets, cõme nous qu'ils traittent -des François, & des Hurons: ils ont vne façon particuliere de pescher -le Saulmon, mais ne m'y estant pas trouué, ie n'en diray rien. - - As to their fishing, they use nets as we do, which they get in - trade from the French and Hurons. They have a special way of - fishing for Salmon; but, not having seen it, I will not speak of it. - -Pour l'Anguille, ils la peschent en deux façons auec vne nasse, où -auec vn harpon. Ils font des nasses auec assez d'industrie, longues -& grosses, capable de tenir cinq & six cens anguilles: la mer estant -basse, ils les placent sur le sable, en quelque lieu propre & reculé, -les asseurans en sorte que les marées ne les emportent point: aux deux -costez ils ramassent des pierres qu'ils étendent comme vne chaisne -ou [159] petite muraille de part & d'autre, afin que ce poisson qui -va tousiours au fond rencontrãt cest obstacle, se glisse doucement -vers l'emboucheure de la nasse où le conduisent ces pierres; la mer -venant à se grossir, couure la nasse, puis se rabaissant, on la va -visiter: par fois on y trouue cẽt ou deux cẽts Anguilles d'vne marée, -d'autrefois trois cẽt, quelquefois point du tout, quelquefois, six, -huict, dix, selon les vents & les temps: Quand la mer est agitée, on en -prend beaucoup, quand elle est calme, peu ou point, mais alors ils ont -recours à leur harpon. - - In regard to Eels, they fish for them in two ways, with a weir and - with a harpoon. They make the weirs very ingeniously, long and - broad, capable of holding five or six hundred eels. When the water - is low, they place these upon the sand in a suitable and retired - spot, securing them so that they are not carried away by the tides. - At the two sides they collect stones, which they extend out like a - chain or [159] little wall on both sides; so that this fish, which - always swims toward the bottom, encountering this obstacle, will - readily swim toward the mouth of the net, to which these stones - guide it. When the sea rises, it covers the net; then, when it - falls, they go and examine it. Sometimes they find there one or two - hundred Eels in a single tide, at other times three hundred, often - none at all; at other times six, eight, ten, according to the winds - and the weather. When the sea is rough, many of them are taken; - when it is calm, few or none, and then they have recourse to their - harpoon. - -Ce harpon est vn instrument, composé d'vn long baston, gros de trois -doigts, au bout duquel ils attachent vn fer pointu, lequel ils armẽt de -part & d'autre de deux petits bastons recourbés, qui se viennent quasi -ioindre au bout de la pointe du fer: quand ils viennent à frapper vne -anguille de ce harpon, ils l'embrochent dans ce fer les deux baston -adjoincts, cedans par la force du coup, & laissãs entrer l'anguille; -puis se reserrans d'eux mesme, car ils ne s'ouurent que par la secousse -du coup, ils empeschent que l'anguille embrochée ne ressorte. - - This harpoon is an instrument composed of a long pole, two or three - fingers thick, at the end of which they fasten a piece of pointed - iron, which is provided on both sides with two little curved - sticks, which almost come together at the end of the iron point. - When they strike an eel with this harpoon, they impale it upon the - iron, the two pieces of stick yielding by the force of the blow and - allowing the eel to enter; then closing of themselves, because they - only open through the force of the blow, they prevent the impaled - eel from getting away. - -Cette pesche au harpon, ne se fait ordinairement [160] que la nuict, -ils se mettẽt deux Sauuages dans vn canot, l'vn derriere qui le -gouuerne & qui rame, & l'autre est deuant, lequel à la faueur d'vn -flambeau d'écorce, attaché à la prouë de son vaisseaux, s'en va -cherchant la proye de ses yeux, rodans doucement sur le bord de ce grãd -fleuue, apperceuãt vne Anguille, il lance son harpon sans le quitter, -la perce comme i'ay dit, puis la iette dans son canot; il y en a tel -qui en prendra trois cens en vne nuict, & bien dauantage, quelquefois -fort peu. C'est chose estrange de la quantité de ce poisson qui se -retrouue en cette grãde riuiere, és mois de Septembre & d'Octobre, & -cela deuant l'habitation de nos François, dont quelques vns de ceux qui -ont demeuré plusieurs années sur le pays, se sont rendus aussi experts -en cét art que les Sauuages. - - This harpoon fishing is usually done [160] only at night. Two - Savages enter a canoe,--one at the stern, who handles the oars, and - the other at the bow, who, by the light of a bark torch fastened - to the prow of his boat, looks around searchingly for the prey, - floating gently along the shores of this great river. When he sees - an Eel, he thrusts his harpoon down, without loosening his hold of - it, pierces it in the manner I have described, then throws it into - his canoe. There are certain ones who will take three hundred in - one night, and even more, sometimes very few. It is wonderful how - many of these fish are found in this great river, in the months - of September and October; and this immediately in front of the - settlement of our French, some of whom, having lived several years - in this country, have become as expert as the Savages in this art. - -On croit que cette grande abondance, prouient de quelques lacs des pays -plus hauts, qui venans à se dégorger nous font present de cette manne, -qui nous nourrit, non seulement tout le Caresme & autres iours de -poissons, mais aussi en autre tẽps. - - It is thought that this great abundance is supplied by some lakes - in the country farther north, which, discharging their waters here, - make us a present of this manna that nourishes us, not only during - all the time of Lent and other fish days, but also at other seasons. - -Les Sauuages font secherie de ces lõgs poissons à la fumée; estans -apportez dans leurs Cabanes, ils les laissent vn peu de [161] temps -égouster, puis leur couppent la teste & la queuë, ils les ouurent par -le dos, puis les ayans vuidées ils les tailladent, afin que la fumée -entre par tout: les perches de leurs Cabanes en sont toutes chargées, -estans bien boucanées, ils les accouplent & en font de gros paquets, en -mettans enuiron vne centaine ensemble; voila leurs viures iusques à la -neige qui leur donne de l'Orignac. - - The Savages dry these long fish in smoke. After they are brought - into their Cabins, they let them drain a [161] little while; then, - cutting off their heads and tails, they open them up the back, and - after they are cleaned, they are cut with slits, so that the smoke - may thoroughly penetrate them. The poles of their Cabins are all - loaded with these eels. After being well smoked, they are piled - together in large packages, about a hundred being placed in each. - Here you have their food up to the season of snow, which brings - them the Moose. - -Ils tuent le Loup marin à coups de baston, le surprenant lors que -sortant de l'eauë, il se va éguayer sur quelques roches au Soleil, car -ne pouuant courir, s'il est tant soit peu esloigné de son element il -est perdu. - - They kill the Seal with blows from a club, surprising it when it - comes out of the water. It goes to Sun itself upon the rocks, and - not being able to run, if it is ever so little distant from its - element it is lost. - -C'est assez pour ce chapitre, ie ne fais pas profession de tout dire, -mais seulement de remarquer vne partie des choses qui m'ont semblé -deuoir estre escrites, qui voudra auoir vne pleine cognoissance de ces -contrées, qu'il lise ce qu'en a escrit Monsieur de Champlain, si faut -il auant que ie passe outre; que ie dise deux mots de quatre animaux, -que ie n'ay point veu en France, ie ne sçay où les loger, sinõ au bout -de ce chapitre. - - This is enough for this chapter. I do not pretend to tell - everything, but only to jot down some of the things which seem to - me worthy of record. Whoever wishes to gain a full knowledge of - these countries should read what Monsieur de Champlain has written - about them. But, before I pass on, I must say a few words about - four animals that I have never seen in France. I do not know where - to place them, except at the end of this chapter. - -L'vn se nomme des Sauuages _Ouinascou_, [162] nos François l'appellẽt -le siffleur ou le Rossignol, ils luy ont donné ce nom, pource qu'encore -qu'il soit de la chasse des animaux terrestres, il chante neantmoins -cõme vn oiseau, ie dirois volontiers qu'il siffle comme vne Linotte -bien instruite, sinon qu'il m'est aduis qu'il ne sçait qu'vne chanson, -c'est à dire qu'il n'a pas vne grande varieté de tons, mais il dit -tres-bien la leçon que la nature luy a apprise. Il est enuiron de la -grosseur d'vn Lieure, d'vn poil roux; quelques vns m'ont asseuré qu'il -se roule en peloton, & que comme vn Liron il dort tout l'Hiuer, sans -qu'on le puisse réueiller, ie n'en ay point veu que l'Esté, cest animal -est vn excellent manger, ny le Lieure n'en approche pas. - - One of them is called by the Savages _Ouinascou_; [162] our French - call it the whistler or Nightingale.[22] They have given it this - name, because although it belongs to terrestrial animals, yet it - sings like a bird; I might say that it whistles like a well taught - Linnet, were it not that I think it only knows one song; that is to - say, it has not a great variety of tones, but it says very well the - lesson that nature has taught it. It is about the size of a Hare - and has a reddish skin. Some have assured me that it rolls itself - into a ball, and, like the Dormouse, it sleeps all Winter, it - being impossible to awaken it. I have only seen this animal in the - Summer; it is excellent eating, and excels the Hare. - -L'autre est vn animal basset, de la grandeur des petits chiens, ou -d'vn chat, ie luy donne place icy, non pour son excellence, mais pour -en faire vn symbole du peché; i'en ay veu trois ou quatre, il est d'vn -poil noir assez beau & luisant, il porte sur son dos deux rayes toutes -blãches, qui se ioignãs vers le col & proche de la queuë, font vne -ouale qui luy dõne tres-belle grace; la queuë est touffuë & [163] bien -fournie de poil, cõmme la queuë d'vn Regnard, il la porte retroussée, -cõme vn Escurieux, elle est plus blanche que noire, vous diriez à l'œil -notãment quant il marche, qu'il meriteroit estre nommé le petit chien -de Iupiter; mais il est si puant, & iette vne odeur si empestée, qu'il -est indigne d'estre appellé le chien de Pluton, il n'y a voirie si -infecte; ie ne l'aurois pas creu si ie ne l'auois senty moy mesme, le -cœur vous manque quasi quand vous en approchez, on en a tué deux dans -nostre court; plusieurs iours apres il sẽtoit si mal par tout nostre -maison, qu'on n'en pouuoit supporter l'odeur. Ie croy que le peché que -sentit saincte Catherine de Sienne, deuoit estre de mesme puanteur. - - The other is a low animal, about the size of a little dog or cat. - I mention it here, not on account of its excellence, but to make - of it a symbol of sin. I have seen three or four of them. It has - black fur, quite beautiful and shining; and has upon its back two - perfectly white stripes, which join near the neck and tail, making - an oval which adds greatly to their grace. The tail is bushy and - [163] well furnished with hair, like the tail of a Fox; it carries - it curled back like that of a Squirrel. It is more white than - black; and, at the first glance, you would say, especially when - it walks, that it ought to be called Jupiter's little dog. But it - is so stinking, and casts so foul an odor, that it is unworthy of - being called the dog of Pluto. No sewer ever smelled so bad. I - would not have believed it if I had not smelled it myself. Your - heart almost fails you when you approach the animal; two have been - killed in our court, and several days afterward there was such a - dreadful odor throughout our house that we could not endure it. I - believe the sin smelled by sainte Catherine de Sienne must have had - the same vile odor. - -Le troisiéme est vn Escurieux volant, il y en a icy de trois especes. -Les vns sont communs, & sont non si beaux que ceux de France, les -autres que nos François nomment Suisses, pour estre bigarrez sur le -dos, sont tres-beaux & fort petits; les Escurieux volans sont assez -beaux, leur excellence consiste en ce qu'ils volent; ce n'est pas -qu'ils ayent des aisles, mais ils ont vne certaine peau aux [164] deux -costez, qu'ils replient fort proprement contre leur ventre quand ils -marchent, puis l'estendent quand ils volent. Leur vol n'est pas à mon -aduis de longue haleine, i'en ay veu voler vn, il se soustenoit fort -bien en l'air, mon hoste me l'auoit donné; ie le voulois enuoyer à V.R. -mais la mort, la deliuré d'vn si lõg voïage. - - The third is a flying Squirrel. There are three kinds of squirrels - here. The first are the common squirrels, which are not so - beautiful as those in France. The others, which our French call - Swiss, because they are spotted upon the back, are very beautiful - and quite small. The flying Squirrels are rather pretty, but their - chief merit lies in their flying. Not that they have wings, but - they have a certain piece of skin on [164] both sides, which they - fold up very neatly against their stomachs when they walk, and - spread out when they fly. I do not think they take long flights; I - saw one of them flying, and it sustained itself very well in the - air. My host gave me one; I would send it to Your Reverence, but - death has freed it from so long a voyage. - -Le quatriéme se nomme de nos François l'oiseau mouche, pource qu'a -peine est il plus gros qu'vne abeille, d'autres l'appellent l'oiseau -fleur, pource qu'il se nourrit sur les fleurs, c'est à mon iugement -l'vne des grãdes raretez de ce païs cy, & vn petit prodige de la -nature, Dieu me semble plus admirable en ce petit oiseau qu'en vn grand -animal, il bruit en volans comme vne abeille; ie l'ay veu quelquefois -se soustenir en l'air, becquetant vne fleur, son bec est longuet, son -plumage me sembloit d'vn verd paré; ceux qui l'appellent l'oiseau fleur -diroient mieux en mon iugement, le nommant la fleur des oiseaux. - - The fourth is called by our French the fly-bird, because it is - scarcely larger than a bee; others call it the flower-bird, because - it lives upon flowers. It is in my opinion one of the great - rarities of this country, and a little prodigy of nature. God seems - to me more wonderful in this little bird than in a large animal. It - hums in flying, like the bee; I have sometimes seen it hold itself - in the air and stick its bill into a flower. Its bill is rather - long, and its plumage seems to be a mottled green. Those who call - it the flower-bird would, in my opinion, speak more correctly if - they would call it the flower of birds. - - - - -BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: VOL. VI - - -XXI - -See Volume V. for particulars of this document. - - -XXII - -The incomplete letter from Paul le Jeune to his provincial, dated at -Quebec, 1634 (without month or day), we obtain from Carayon's _Première -Mission_, pp. 122-156. The original, written in French, is in the -archives of the Gèsu, at Rome, where in 1858 it was copied for Carayon, -by Father Martin; this apograph now rests in the archives of St. Mary's -College, Montreal. - - -XXIII - -In reprinting the text of Le Jeune's _Relation_ of 1634 (closed at -Quebec, August 7), we follow the example of the first edition (Paris, -1635), in the Lenox Library; but the "Table des Chapitres" we obtain -from that library's copy of the second edition, as this feature is not -a part of the first. These two editions are known to bibliographers as -"H. 60" and "H. 61," respectively, because referred to in Harrisse's -_Notes_, nos. 60 and 61. The "Privilege" bears date, December 8, 1634, -four months and a day later than the date of the document. - -_Collation of first edition_: Title, with verso blank, 1 l.; Privilege, -with verso blank, 1 l.; text, pp. 1-342. The signatures of the text -are in eights, except Y which is in six, the last three leaves being -blank, one of which is usually pasted to the cover. There are two -copies of this edition (H. 60) in the Lenox Library. In one of these -the paragraph of fourteen lines beginning, "Le 24. du mesme mois" is, -through an error, given on p. 327, after the paragraph commencing -with "Le premier de Iuillet." In the other copy this is corrected -by transposition, the former paragraph appearing on p. 326. This -peculiarity serves to fix the priority of editions; for in H. 61 the -reprinter has followed the corrected issue of H. 60 in this respect, -though not line for line. This is likewise true of the Avignon edition, -noticed below. - -The second edition collates as follows: Title, with verso blank, 1 l.; -text, pp. 1-342; "Table des Chapitres," 1 l.; "Extraict du Priuilege du -Roy," with verso blank, 1 l. The signatures are A-Y in eights; sig. Y -consists of text, 3 ll.; table, 1 l.; privilege, 1 l.; blank, 3 ll. - -The pagination is quite erratic. In two copies of the first edition -which we have examined, the following errors appear in both: 132 -mispaged 332; 229 mispaged 129; 321 and 322 mispaged 323 and 324; 335 -mispaged 33. In the first issue of this edition 66 and 67 are mispaged -67 and 68, and 70 and 71 are mispaged 60 and 61; but in the second -issue of this edition these latter mistakes have been corrected. In the -second edition 220, 221, 281, 310, and 321-336 are mispaged 200, 121, -283, 210, and 323-338, respectively. - -The second edition (H. 61) is in every way a reprint, varying from -the first edition in line and page-lengths, in contractions, in -line-endings, in text, in folio headings, and in typographic style. -While the title-pages of both editions end similarly, line for line, -the type of the first edition is generally larger than that of the -second; L'ANNE'E and M DC. XXXV in the first, are printed L'ANNEE and -M. DC. XXXV, in the second edition. In the Privilege of the first -edition the head ornament consists of eighteen parts, bisected by -four dots; but in the second there are but seventeen parts without a -division. The word "consecutiues" in the first is printed "cõsecutiues" -in the second; many similar differences in the text, too numerous to -mention here, are evident. Among other differences may be noted the -fact that whereas, in the first edition, native words are sometimes set -in Roman and sometimes in Italic, they are uniformly in Italic in the -second edition. - -There is still another, a third, edition of this Relation of 1634, -which may be designated as the Avignon edition. The only copy known -to us is in the Lenox Library. It is imperfect; for almost half of -the upper part of the title-page, half of leaf A₄ (pp. 7 and 8), and -nearly the whole of the last four pages (413-416) are lacking. It was -reprinted, together with the Relation of 1635, and the following title -is restored by conjecture, through the help of the wording of similar -lines in other Relations. - -[Relations] | d[e ce qvi s'est passé] | en [la Novvelle France,] | -en [les années 1634 et 1635.] | Enuoyée a[u R. Pere Provincial de] | -la Compagni[e de Iesvs en la] | Prouince de F[rance.] | Par le Pere -le Ievne de la m[esme] | Compagnie, Superieur de la | Residence de -Kebec. | [_A cross patté_] | En Avignon, | De l'Imprimerie de Iaqves -Bramereav, | Imprimeur de sa Sainctetè, de la Ville, & | Vniuersité. -Auec permission des Superieurs | M. DC. XXXVI. | - -_Collation_: Title, with verso blank, 1 l.; preface headed "A -MESSIEVRS," etc., pp. (8); Le Jeune's Relation of 1634, pp. 1-269; p. -270 blank; Relation of 1635, pp. 271-336; Brébeuf's Huron Relation, -pp. 337-392; Perrault's Relation of Cape Breton, pp. 393-400; "Divers -Sentimens," pp. 401-416. Sig. a in five, and A-Cc in eights. Sig. O is -by mistake printed Oo; pp. 27, 152, 212, 323, and 345 are mispaged 77, -52, 122, 223, and 245, respectively. There is a special preface, as -follows, covering eight unnumbered pages: - - A Messievrs les Prefect, Assistans, Conseillers, & Confreres - de la grande Congregation de N. Dame erigée au - College d'Auignon sous le tiltre de l'immaculee - Cōception de la Vierge. - - MESSIEVRS, - - _Voicy des Sauuages qui sortent de leurs forests, pour se produire - au iour dans la France, & changer d'air & d'humeur dans le plus - agreable seiour du monde. Ils_ [2] _viennent de paroistre à la - Cour, ou l'on a pris plaisir a voir ces visages d'vn autre monde: - le Roy les à veus comme l'vne des conquestes de sa pieté & celuy - qui luy a presenté cette Relation à eu le mesme accueil que le - courrier qui luy auroit porté les nouuelles d'vne Prouince gaignée. - Ce grand Genie de l'Estat venant de forcer l'Heresie dans ses - meilleures villes, a fait passer encore son zele au dela des mers, - pour y donner la chasse à l'Idolatrie, iusques dans ses forests. - Il est vray qu'il a fallu plus de sueur que de sang en vne guerre, - d'où l'on ne pretendoit autre auantage que sur des ames, & où l'on - ne_ [3] _vouloit rien gaigner que sur des esprits, qui ne sont - difficiles a estre vaincus, que parce qu'ils sont trop foibles. - Vous verrez des catécumenes, chez qui la premiere disposition pour - estre Chrestiens, c'est de deuenir Hommes; & peutestre que vous - benirez auec moy les trauaux de ces conquerans de la Croix, que - la charité arrache du sein de leur patrie pour changer le Ciel de - la Frãce en vn climat qui voit d'autres astres que cettui-cy, & - où l'on n'a rien de commun auec nous que les Elemens. Au reste ie - vous presente cet ouurage comme vne piece qui est toute acquise - à vostre Maistresse, & que i'appends comme_ [4] _vn anatheme - voué à cet auguste Oratoire où la Reyne du Ciel voit autour de - ses Autels l'vne des plus honorables assemblées qui soient en - France. Vous aurez de la consolation à voir des Pays inconnus, - qui donnent des seruiteurs à +MARIE+, & la passion que vous auez - pour sa gloire, vous fera prendre vos interests dans les heureux - progrez que ces commencemens nous promettent, puisque la creance - du Fils est la premiere disposition à l'honneur de la Mere: vous - estes les domestiques de l'vn & de l'autre; & voicy des Estrangers - qui cherchent de la faueur, & qui esperent que comme +MARIE+_ [5] - _agréera le bon accueil que ses deuots feront aux nouueaux subiets - de +JESVS+ aussi +IESVS+ les verra de bon œil, si les deuots de - +MARIE+ les luy presentent. Que si nos Canadois à leur abord vous - saluent de mauuaise grace, Messieurs, ne vous rebutez pas; ce sont - les complimens d'vn peuple qui voit plus souuent des Elans que des - hommes, & que nos François appriuoisent à la vie ciuile, sous des - cabanes. Ie sçay bien que dans l'estat ou vous les verrez vous ne - leur donnerez aucun autre rapport auec nous que celuy de la figure, - & que vous iugerez que dans le rang des natures intelligentes,_ - [6] _ils composent vne espece nouuelle, entre l'hōme & la beste: & - cela mesme à mon iugemēt doit seruir à les faire mieux receuoir, - puisque vous lirez sur ces faces mal-faittes les obligatiõs - immortelles que vous auez à cette Prouidence qui à contribué autant - de perfections differentes pour vous rendre accomplis, qu'elle a - laissé de defauts dans les corps, & dans les esprits de nos pauures - Sauuages. Peutestre que le commerce qu'ils ont auec nos François - leur sera vne leçon ordinaire de cette humanité dont nous tenons - eschole ouuerte à toute l'Europe. Qui sçait si ces landes steriles - seront vn iour l'vne des_ [7] _belles parties du monde. Pourrions - nous bien desauoüer que ces belles Prouinces que nous habitōs - maintenant, & où les Nations estrangeres viennent faire l'amour - aux Graces, n'ayent esté autrefois la Nouuelle France? & les Peres - de ceux qui viennent estudier chez nous l'art de viure auec les - hommes, n'ont-ils pas fait passer nos ancestres pour des Barbares? - Que si nos Peres ont seulement adoré des Dieux d'or & de marbre, - nos Sauuages ne sont pas plus impies, pour estre superstitieux auec - moins de despense; & tousiours ils auront cet auantage qu'ils ne - perdront pas tant a brusler leurs Idoles. Que si_ [8] _vous agrées - (Messieurs) cete offre, ie redoubleray mes vœus & mes prieres - pour haster la conuersion de ces peuples afin que ma presse suë - plus souuent, & trauaille sur quelque ouurage plus grand ou vous - recognoistrez que ie suis._ - - _MESSIEVRS_, - - Vostre tres-humble & tres obeissant seruiteur. - - +IAQVES BRAMEREAV.+ - -The Avignon has one peculiarity which we have not seen noted elsewhere. -Signature F ends on p. 96 with the catch-word "Pour." In commencing -the next sheet, signature G, the printer begins with the word "Pour" -found near top of p. 130 of the Paris first issue; from that point, he -continues his type-setting, seemingly without discovering that he has -omitted the whole of the matter from line 4, p. 125, to line 3, p. 130 -of the Paris first edition. - -Harrisse's descriptions (nos. 60, 61, and 64) are entirely useless, -being in these titles very inaccurate. There are errors and omissions, -too, in Sabin, vol. xvi., p. 537, nos. iii. and iv. As the statements -of other catalogues and bibliographies are generally based on these, -we omit, in this case, to refer to them. Copies of the Paris editions -have been sold or priced as follows: Barlow (1889), no. 1274, $25.; -O'Callaghan (1882), no. 1215, first edition, $9.; no. 1213, second -edition, but called there first, $65.--it had cost him 68 francs; Moore -sale, pt. 2 (1894), no. 639, second edition, $10.; Dufossé, of Paris, -priced (1891 and 1892) at 150 francs; Harrassowitz, of Leipzig, priced -(1882) at 180 marks. Copies of the Paris editions, first or second, -may be found in the following libraries: Lenox (2 editions), Harvard, -Library of Parliament (Ottawa), Brown (private), British Museum, and -Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris. - - - - -NOTES TO VOL. VI - - -(_Figures in parentheses, following number of note, refer to pages of -English text._) - -1 (p. 35).--This was the motto of the Society of Jesus; it was a -favorite expression with Loyola, and was adopted by him as the rule of -his life. It became thus the rule of the Jesuit order, expressing the -consecration of the lives of its members "to the greater glory of God." - -2 (p. 35).--Jean de Lauson (or Lauzon), one of the most influential -men in the affairs of Canada during more than thirty years, was born in -1582. In 1627, he was a member of both the state and privy councils; -a member of the tribunal known as "requêtes de l'hotel," whose office -was to bring petitions of individuals before the royal council; and -president of the grand council. In the same year, he was appointed -intendant of Richelieu's Company of New France, holding this post for -about ten years. He acquired, for both himself and his family, large -seigniories; the most important of these was the island of Montreal, -which, however, he transferred (Aug. 7, 1640) to Dauversière and his -associates, who founded the Montreal colony. - -In January, 1651, Lauson was appointed governor of Canada, where he -arrived in October following. Nine days later, he married (as his -second wife) Anne Després, sister-in-law of Sieur Duplessis-Bochart -(see vol. v., _note_ 34). Lauson's administration, lasting till the -end of 1656, was marked by quarrels with the Montreal colony, and by -general disaffection among the residents of Canada. He cared less, -apparently, for the needs or welfare of the country than for his own -aggrandizement; and he was unfitted, by age and by lack of resolution, -for the position he held,--especially at this time, when the Iroquois -were a constant menace to the entire St. Lawrence region. He was, -however, friendly to the Jesuits, and conferred many favors upon them. -He died in February, 1666. - -3 (p. 37).--Davost and Daniel had arrived, with the latter's brother, -at the Grand Cibou (Cape Breton), in 1632; and in the following year -they went thence to Quebec with Champlain (see vol. v., _notes_ 53, 54). - -4 (p. 43).--Concerning Three Rivers, see vol. iv., _note_ 24. - -5 (p. 43).--Jacques Buteux was born at Abbeville, April 11, 1600; -and at the age of twenty entered the Jesuit novitiate at Rouen. His -studies were pursued at La Flèche; he was an instructor at Caen during -1625-29, and superintendent of the school at Clermont, 1633-34. In -the latter year, he was sent to the Canada mission, and in September -went with Le Jeune to the new settlement of Three Rivers. Here he -remained (as superior, during 1639-42, and 1647-52), ministering to the -Montagnais and Algonkin tribes, among whom he frequently journeyed. -His death occurred May 10, 1652, while ascending the St. Maurice -River, on a journey to the country of the Attikamègues; attacked by a -hostile band of Iroquois, he was slain by them, and thrown into the -river. Buteux, though of frail and delicate physique, was filled with -zeal for the conversion of the savages, and longed for the glory of a -martyr's death. Mother Mary of the Incarnation writes that his was "an -incredible loss to the mission." - -6 (p. 47).--_All our men_: a number of skilled artisans had been -sent over in 1634, with Le Jeune; and they proceeded, under De Nouë's -direction, to rebuild the Jesuit residence, which had suffered greatly -during the capture of Quebec and the English occupation. They also -built a small house for the priests in charge of Champlain's chapel, -Notre Dame de Récouvrance (see vol. iv., _note_ 20). - -7 (p. 69).--_Notre-Dame des Anges_: this name was given first by the -Récollets to their convent at Quebec (see vol. iv., _note_ 22); the -Jesuits adopted the appellation for their own church and residence -not far distant, on the site once occupied by Cartier's fort, at the -confluence of the St. Charles and Lairet rivers. The Jesuits were -granted, in 1626, a seigniory on the St. Charles, which was named -Notre-Dame des Anges. - -8 (p. 75).--Robert Giffard, sieur of Beauport, was born in 1587, -at Mortagne, France. He was a physician, and Sulte says that he had -an appointment in that capacity, on the ships that were annually -sent to Canada. In 1627, he had a hunting-lodge at La Canardière, -where two Frenchmen were murdered by the Indians. He left Canada, -upon its seizure by the English; but having obtained (Jan. 15, 1634) -the concession of Beauport, below Quebec, he, in the following May, -conducted thither a colony, under the escort of Duplessis-Bochart. -He was (after Hébert) the first real colonist in Canada, the first -who obtained from the soil support for his establishment. Lists of -Giffard's censitaires are given by Sulte (_Can.-Français_, vol. ii., -pp. 50-52, 57). In 1647, he obtained another and larger grant of land, -known as the fief St. Gabriel. He transferred a part of this concession -to the Hurons of New Lorette, March 13, 1651; another part to the -hospital nuns (which order one of his daughters had joined two years -before), Aug. 20, 1652; and the remainder to the Jesuits, Nov. 2, 1657, -but five months before his death. In September, 1648, Giffard was -elected a member of the colonial council. In August, 1652, his daughter -Marie Louise (then aged thirteen) married Charles de Lauson, son of the -governor. Giffard was a prominent and public-spirited citizen of New -France. - -9 (p. 101).--Nicholas Rohault, Marquis de Gamache (or Gamaches), was -a nobleman of Picardy. His eldest son, René Rohault, was born May -25, 1609, not far from Amiens, in which city he was a pupil at the -Jesuit college. René became a novice in that order, March 9, 1626, at -Paris,--largely through the influence of Coton, then provincial of -France, whose death occurred but ten days later. Upon entering his -novitiate, René persuaded his father to give the Jesuits a part of his -own patrimony, for the establishment of a school in connection with -their Canadian mission. De Gamache accordingly gave them, for his son, -16,000 écus of gold (Charlevoix erroneously says 6,000); and added, as -a personal gift from himself, an annuity of 3,000 livres, to be paid as -long as he should live. René pursued his studies successively at Paris, -Amiens, Eu, and La Flèche, and preached three years at Eu, where he -died June 29, 1839. - -Le Jeune had opened, about the beginning of 1633, at the residence -of Notre Dame des Anges, a school for such Indian children as he -could collect from wandering families or parties camping near -Quebec,--Montagnais or Algonkin. In the summer of 1636, a few boys were -brought from the Huron country by Daniel and Davost; and these, with -two lads who had been presented to Le Jeune, were the nucleus of the -"seminary" or boarding-school that had been so ardently desired by the -missionaries, Récollet as well as Jesuit. After continuing this school -nearly five years, the Jesuits abandoned it, in order to carry on the -college at Quebec (which had been established through the gift of De -Gamache), and an Indian settlement at Sillery.--See Creuxius' _Hist. -Canad._, pp. 7, 8; and Rochemonteix's _Jésuites_, vol. i., pp. 205-209, -280-287. - -10 (p. 103).--Kingsford says (_Canada_, vol. 1., p. 130): "One -regulation which Champlain instituted remains in force to this day. He -directed that, in New France, the _Angelus_ should be rung at morning, -mid-day, and evening,--a social as well as a religious necessity, in a -community where there were few clocks, watches, or sun-dials. - -"The _Angelus_ is so called from the short Latin prayer made at the -hour indicated by the ringing of the church bell. In summer the morning -hour is six, in winter it is seven; the bell is also rung at noon, and -at seven in the evening." The devotion of the Angelus was instituted by -Pope John XXII., in 1316. - -11 (p. 105).--Cf. with this account of Jacques Michel, that given by -Champlain, in _Voyages_ (1632), pp. 230, 252, 256-262. - -12 (p. 119).--Concerning Pierre Antoine (Pastedechouan), the -Montagnais interpreter, see vol. v., _note_ 33. - -13 (p. 129).--For sketch of Oliver Le Tardif, see vol. v., _note_ 49. - -14 (p. 147).--_The Sorcerer_: Carigonan, a noted medicine man among -the Montagnais, and a brother of Pierre Antoine. A third brother, with -whom Le Jeune lived while wintering with the tribe, was named Mestigoit. - -15 (p. 151).--The abandonment of the Indian village at Three Rivers, -here referred to, would seem to have occurred some time after the -League of the Five Nations was formed (soon after 1600). See vol. v., -_note_ 52. - -16 (p. 157).--See Le Jeune's account of legends regarding Messou and -Atahocan, vol. v., pp. 153-157, and _note_ 41. Cf. the "comparative -study of the Nanibozhu legend" given by Chamberlain in _Journal of -American Folk-Lore_, vol. iv. (1891), pp. 193-213; and vol. v., p. 291. - -17 (p. 159).--This curious legend suggests the Greek myth of Pandora. -Cf. a story related by Le Clercq, in his _Relation de la Gaspesie_ -(Paris, 1691), pp. 310-326, of a soul that was brought back by a -bereaved father from the Land of Souls, and lost through the curiosity -of a woman. On the ideas of immortality current among the aborigines, -see Sagard's _Canada_, pp. 497, 498; Champlain's _Voyages_ (1632), part -i., p. 127; Tailhan's _Perrot_, pp. 40-43, 184, 185; Schoolcraft's -_Ind. Tribes_, vol., iii., p. 60, and vol. v., p. 79; and Parkman's -_Jesuits_, pp. lxxx.-lxxxiii. - -18 (p. 163).--_Castelogne_: a woolen blanket. The name, originally a -commercial term, and used especially in Normandy, seems to have been -derived from Catalonia, Spain, where this article was manufactured. -Clapin's _Dictionnaire Canadien-Français_ (Montreal, 1894) states that -the name "castelogne" is still used in Canada, to designate a home-made -rug of odds and ends. - -19 (p. 253).--The _Mercure François_, vol. xix. (1633), p. 841, thus -speaks of the influence of liquor on the Indians, and Champlain's -attitude toward the traffic, in an account of the latter's voyage to -Canada (1633), written by "a reliable person who made the voyage with -him:" "Our Savages--not only men, but women and girls--are such lovers -of brandy that they get swinishly intoxicated, since the English made -them acquainted with this beverage, which causes numberless quarrels -among them. When they get tipsy, they fight, and batter each other with -their fists; they break into the cabins, and tear them in pieces; and -in this state they may do some foul deed, and murder us,--as some time -ago they threatened a sailor, and, if he had not thrown himself into -the water, I know not what they might have done to him,--and thence -would arise broils and commotion throughout the country. Sieur de -Champlain, considering this, and realizing the misfortunes that would -arise therefrom, deems it expedient to issue a stringent prohibition -of traffic, in any manner whatsoever, in brandy,--under penalty of -corporal punishment, and loss of his wages, for any one caught in -selling brandy and wine." - -The missionaries of all the orders, notably the Jesuits, persistently -opposed the sale of liquor to the Indians; but in this course they -aroused powerful and unscrupulous enemies, as we shall see in later -volumes. - -20 (p. 257).--_Obole_: a small copper coin of early French currency, -named from the Greek ὀβολός. Its value was one-half that of a denier -tournois (which equaled one-twelfth of a sou). The obole is mentioned -as early as 1329. The word is used in the present text, however, to -signify, in a general way, a very small sum, in the same manner that -the English often use the word "penny," or "farthing." - -21 (p. 271).--For information on the elk and moose, see vol. ii., -_note_ 34; on the caribou, see vol. iii., _note_ 17. - -22 (p. 271).--_The whistler, or nightingale_: so named from the shrill -whistle it utters on the approach of an enemy. The hoary marmot, or -whistler (_Arctomys pruinosus_): a hibernant rodent, of the _Sciuridæ_ -or squirrel family; its flesh is esteemed a delicacy by the Indians, -who also sew the skins into robes or blankets. - -23 (p. 273).--Concerning these roots, see vol. v., _note_ 29. The -"rosary" is doubtless _Apios tuberosa_; its roots were and still are -used as food by the aborigines. It has been found as far north as -latitude 47°, on the Lower St. Lawrence. It is figured and described -by Charlevoix, in _Plantes Principales de l'Amérique Septentrionale_ -(Paris, 1744), p. 21. - -24 (p. 273).--_Michtan_: the sugar-maple (_Acer saccharinum_). This -tree was found, by early explorers, growing abundantly throughout -Canada and the Atlantic region. Lafitau tells how the Indians made -sugar from its sap (_Mœurs des Sauvages_, part ii., pp. 154-157) and -gives a pictorial illustration of the process. Cf. Schoolcraft's _Ind. -Tribes_, vol. ii., pp. 55, 56; Bouchette's _British Dominions in N. -America_ (London, 1832), pp. 371, 372; and Carr's "Food of Amer. Inds," -_Am. Antiq. Soc. Proc._, vol. x., part i., p. 170. - -25 (p. 273).--The early explorers found tobacco cultivated by the -natives along the entire Atlantic coast. Cartier saw it in use on -the St. Lawrence; Champlain, under cultivation at San Domingo and -on the coast of Maine; Strachey, on the James River (where it was -called _apooke_). The Northern species was _Nicotiana rustica_, -smaller and of milder quality than _N. tabacum_ of the South. It was -generally known among the Indians as _petun_ (a word of Brazilian -origin).--See Pickering's _Chron. Hist. of Plants_, pp. 741, 742. -Champlain mentions it (Laverdière's ed., p. 50) as "tobacco, also -called petung, or Queen's plant." It is figured by De Bry in Wyth's -_Portraits of Inhabitants of Virginia_ (1590), plates 1, 22,--reprinted -by Langley (N. Y., 1841). For descriptions of its preparation and use, -see Cartier's _Brief Récit_ (Tross ed.), p. 31; Lescarbot's _Nouv. -France_, pp. 838, 840; Lafitau's _Mœurs des Sauvages_, part ii., pp. -126-139. Lescarbot says: "The good Tobacco that comes from Brazil costs -sometimes an écu the pound." Tobacco was highly prized by the American -Indians, and often figured in their myths, religious rites, and -sacrifices; much information concerning these is given by _Jour. Amer. -Folk-Lore_. - -The pipes used in smoking were often elaborately carved and otherwise -ornamented. Creuxius has an illustration (_Hist. Canad._, p. 76) of -an Indian smoking a long pipe; Schoolcraft gives descriptions and -engravings of various sculptured pipes, in _Ind. Tribes_, vol. i., pp. -72, 74; vol. ii., p. 511. Cf. _Bureau of Ethnology Report_, 1890-91, -pp. 323-354, etc.; and 1891-92, pp. 128-134. The pipe was ceremoniously -smoked at councils, especially when a treaty was under consideration. - -26 (p. 275).--_Hippocras_: an old medicinal drink composed of -wine with an infusion of spices and other ingredients, used as a -cordial.--_Century Dictionary_ (N. Y., 1889). - - - - -Transcriber's Note. - -Variable spelling and hyphenation have been retained. Minor punctuation -inconsistencies have been silently repaired. - - -Corrections. - -The first line indicates the original, the second the correction. - -p. 105: - - bereft him of all conciousness - bereft him of all consciousness - -p. 133: - - her Father was called in Algonqauin, - her Father was called in Algonquain, - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Jesuit Relations and Allied -Documents, Vol. 6: Quebec, 1633, by Various - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JESUIT RELATIONS, VOL 6, QUEBEC *** - -***** This file should be named 51262-0.txt or 51262-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/2/6/51262/ - -Produced by Karl Hagen, Eleni Christofaki and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions -(www.canadiana.org)) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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