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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6825-8.txt b/6825-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..65f3d29 --- /dev/null +++ b/6825-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7062 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Voyages of Samuel de Champlain, Vol. 3, by +Samuel de Champlain + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. 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: Voyages of Samuel de Champlain, Vol. 3 + +Author: Samuel de Champlain + +Posting Date: October 5, 2014 [EBook #6825] +Release Date: November, 2004 +First Posted: January 28, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGES OF DE CHAMPLAIN, VOL 3 *** + + + + +Produced by Karl Hagen, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team, from images +generously made available by the Canadian Institute for +Historical Microreproductions. + + + + + + + + + + + +CHAMPLAIN'S VOYAGES. + +VOYAGES +OF +SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN. + +TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH +BY CHARLES POMEROY OTIS, PH.D. + +WITH HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS, +AND A +MEMOIR +By THE REV. EDMUND F. SLAFTER, A.M. + +VOL. III. + +1611-1618 + +HELIOTYPE COPIES OF TEN MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. + +Editor: + +THE REV. EDMUND F. SLAFTER, A.M. + + + + +PREFACE + +The present volume completes the work proposed by the Prince Society of a +translation into English of the VOYAGES OF CHAMPLAIN. It includes the +journals issued in 1604, 1613, and 1619, and covers fifteen years of his +residence and explorations in New France. + +At a later period, in 1632, Champlain published, in a single volume, an +abridgment of the issues above mentioned, containing likewise a +continuation of his journal down to 1631. This continuation covers thirteen +additional years. But it is to be observed that the events recorded in the +journal of these later years are immediately connected with the progress +and local interests of the French colony at Quebec. This last work of the +great explorer is of primary importance and value as constituting original +material for the early history of Canada, and a translation of it into +English would doubtless be highly appreciated by the local historian. A +complete narrative of these events, however, together with a large amount +amount of interesting matter relating to the career of Champlain derived +from other sources, is given in the Memoir contained in the first volume of +this work. + +This English translation contains not only the complete narratives of all +the personal explorations made by Champlain into the then unbroken forests +of America, but the whole of his minute, ample, and invaluable descriptions +of the character and habits, mental, moral, and physical of the various +savage tribes with which he came in contact. It will furnish, therefore, to +the student of history and the student of ethnology most valuable +information, unsurpassed in richness and extent, and which cannot be +obtained from any other source. To aid one or both of these two classes in +their investigations, the work was undertaken and has now been completed. + +E. F. S. + +BOSTON, 91 BOYLSTON STREET, +April 5, 1882. + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + +PREFACE +VOYAGE OF CHAMPLAIN IN 1611 +DEDICATION TO HENRI DE BOURBON, PRINCE DE CONDÉ +VOYAGE MADE IN 1613 +DEDICATION TO THE KING +CHAMPLAIN'S PREFACE +EXTRACT FROM THE LICENSE OF THE KING +VOYAGE MADE IN 1615 +VOYAGE MADE IN 1618 +EXPLANATION OF TWO GEOGRAPHICAL MAPS OF NEW FRANCE + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + +LE GRAND SAULT ST. LOUIS +DRESS OF THE SAVAGES +FORT OF THE IROQUOIS +DEER TRAP +DRESS OF THE SAVAGES +CHAMPLAIN'S LARGE MAP OF NEW FRANCE, 1612 +CHAMPLAIN'S SMALL MAP OF NEW FRANCE, 1613 + +INDEX + + + + +THE VOYAGES + +OF SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, + +Of Saintonge, Captain in ordinary to the +King in the Marine; + +OR, + +_A MOST FAITHFUL JOURNAL OF OBSERVATIONS made in the exploration of New +France, describing not only the countries, coasts, rivers, ports, and +harbors, with their latitudes, and the various deflections of the Magnetic +Needle, but likewise the religious belief of the inhabitants, their +superstitions, mode of life and warfare; furnished with numerous +illustrations_. + +Together with two geographical maps: the first for the purposes of +navigation, adapted to the compass as used by mariners, which, deflects to +the north-east; the other in its true meridian, with longitudes and +latitudes, to which is added the Voyage to the Strait north of Labrador, +from the 53d to the 63d degree of latitude, discovered in 1612 by the +English when they were searching for a northerly course to China. + +PARIS. + +JEAN BERJON, Rue St Jean de Beauvais, at the Flying Horse, and at his store +in the Palace, at the gallery of the Prisoners. + +M. DC. XIII. + +_WITH AUTHORITY OF THE KING_. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +DEPARTURE FROM FRANCE TO RETURN TO NEW FRANCE.--THE DANGERS AND OTHER +EVENTS WHICH OCCURRED UP TO THE TIME OF ARRIVAL AT THE SETTLEMENT. + +We set out from Honfleur on the first day of March. The wind was favorable +until the eighth, when we were opposed by a wind south-southwest and +west-northwest, driving us as far as latitude 42°, without our being able +to make a southing, so as to sail straight forward on our course. +Accordingly after encountering several heavy winds, and being kept back by +bad weather, we nevertheless, through great difficulty and hardship, and by +sailing on different tacks, succeeded in arriving within eighty leagues of +the Grand Bank, where the fresh fishery is carried on. Here we encountered +ice thirty or forty fathoms high, or more, which led us to consider what +course we ought to take, fearing that we might fall in with more during the +night, or that the wind changing would drive us on to it. We also concluded +that this would not be the last, since we had set out from France too early +in the season. We sailed accordingly during that day with short sail, as +near the wind as we could. When night came, the fog arose so thick and +obscure that we could scarcely see the ship's length. About eleven o'clock +at night, more ice was seen, which alarmed us. But through the energy of +the sailors we avoided it. Supposing that we had passed all danger, we met +with still more ice, which the sailors saw ahead of our vessel, but not +until we were almost upon it. When all had committed themselves to God, +having given up all hope of avoiding collision with this ice, which was +already under our bowsprit, they cried to the helmsman to bear off; and +this ice which was very extensive drove in such a manner that it passed by +without striking our vessel, which stopped short, and remained as still as +if it had never moved, to let it pass. Although the danger was over, our +blood was not so quickly cooled, so great had been our fear, and we praised +God for delivering us from so imminent a peril. This experience being over, +we passed the same night two or three other masses of ice, not less +dangerous than the former ones. There was at the same time a dripping fog, +and it was so cold that we could scarcely get warm. The next day we met +several other large and very high masses of ice, which, in the distance, +looked like islands. We, however, avoided them all, and reached the Grand +Bank, where we were detained by bad weather for the space of six days. The +wind growing a little milder, and very favorable, we left the banks in +latitude 44° 30', which was the farthest south we could go. After sailing +some sixty leagues west-northwest, we saw a vessel coming down to make us +out, but which afterwards wore off to the east-northeast, to avoid a large +bank of ice, which covered the entire extent of our line of vision. +Concluding that there was a passage through the middle of this great floe, +which was divided into two parts, we entered, in pursuance of our course, +between the two, and sailed some ten leagues without seeing anything, +contrary to our conjecture of a fine passage through, until evening, when +we found the floe closed up. This gave us much anxiety as to what was to be +done, the night being at hand and there being no moon, which deprived us of +all means of returning to the point whence we had come. Yet, after due +deliberation, it was resolved to try to find again the entrance by which we +had come, which we set about accomplishing. But the night coming on with +fog, rain, snow, and a wind so violent that we could scarcely carry our +mainsail, every trace of our way was lost. For, as we were expecting to +avoid the ice so as to pass out, the wind had already closed up the +passage, so that we were obliged to return to the other tack. We were +unable to remain longer than a quarter of an hour on one tack before taking +another, in order to avoid the numerous masses of ice drifting about on all +sides. We thought more than twenty times that we should never escape with +our lives. The entire night was spent amid difficulties and hardships. +Never was the watch better kept, for nobody wished to rest, but to strive +to escape from the ice and danger. The cold was so great, that all the +ropes of the vessel were so frozen and covered with large icicles that the +men could not work her nor stick to the deck. Thus we ran, on this tack and +that, awaiting with hope the daylight. But when it came, attended by a fog, +and we saw that our labor and hardship could not avail us anything, we +determined to go to a mass of ice, where we should be sheltered from the +violent wind which was blowing; to haul everything down, and allow +ourselves to be driven along with the ice, so that when at some distance +from the rest of the ice we could make sail again, and go back to the +above-mentioned bank and manage as before, until the fog should pass away, +when we might go out as quickly as possible. Thus we continued the entire +day until the morning of the next day, when we set sail, now on this tack +now on that, finding ourselves everywhere enclosed amid large floes of ice, +as if in lakes on the mainland. At evening we sighted a vessel on the other +side of one of these banks of ice, which, I am sure, was in no less anxiety +than ourselves. Thus we remained four or five days, exposed to these risks +and extreme hardships, until one morning on looking out in all directions, +although we could see no opening, yet in one place it seemed as if the ice +was not thick, and that we could easily pass through. We got under weigh, +and passed by a large number of _bourguignons_; that is, pieces of ice +separated from the large banks by the violence of the winds. Having reached +this bank of ice, the sailors proceeded to provide themselves with large +oars and pieces of wood, in order to keep off the blocks of ice we met. In +this way we passed this bank, but not without touching some pieces of ice, +which did no good to our vessel, although they inflicted no essential +damage. Being outside, we praised God for our deliverance. Continuing our +course on the next day, we encountered other pieces, in which we became so +involved that we found ourselves surrounded on all sides, except where we +had entered. It was accordingly necessary to turn back, and endeavor to +double the southern point. This we did not succeed in doing until the +second day, passing by several small pieces of ice, which had been +separated from the main bank. This latter was in latitude 44° 30'. We +sailed until the morning of the next day, towards the northwest, +north-northwest, when we met another large ice bank, extending as far as we could +see east and west. This, in the distance, seemed like land; for it was so +level that it might properly be said to have been made so on purpose. It +was more than eighteen feet high, extending twice as far under water. We +calculated that we were only some fifteen leagues from Cape Breton, it +being the 26th day of the month. These numerous encounters with ice +troubled us greatly. We were also fearful that the passage between Capes +Breton and Raye would be closed, and that we should be obliged to keep out +to sea a long time before being able to enter. Unable to do anything else, +we were obliged to run out to sea again some four or five leagues, in order +to double another point of the above-mentioned grand ice bank, which +continued on our west-southwest. After turning on the other tack to the +northwest, in order to double this point, we sailed some seven leagues, and +then steered to the north-northwest some three leagues, when we observed +another ice bank. The night approached, and the fog came on so that we put +to sea to pass the remainder of the night, purposing at daybreak to return +and reconnoitre the last mentioned ice. On the twenty-seventh day of the +month, we sighted land west-northwest of us, seeing no ice on the +north-northeast. We approached nearer for the sake of a better observation, and +found that it was Canseau. This led us to bear off to the north for Cape +Breton Island; but we had scarcely sailed two leagues when we encountered +an ice bank on the northeast. Night coming on, we were obliged to put out +to sea until the next day, when we sailed northeast, and encountered more +ice, bearing east, east-southeast from us, along which we coasted heading +northeast and north for more than fifteen leagues. At last we were obliged +to sail towards the west, greatly to our regret, inasmuch as we could find +no passage, and should be obliged to withdraw and sail back on our track. +Unfortunately for us we were overtaken by a calm, so that it seemed as if +the swell of the sea would throw us upon the ice bank just mentioned, and +we got ready to launch our little boat, to use in case of necessity. If we +had taken refuge on the above-mentioned ice it would only have been to +languish and die in misery. While we were deliberating whether to launch +our boat, a fresh breeze arose to our great delight, and thus we escaped +from the ice. After we had sailed two leagues, night came on, with a very +thick fog, causing us to haul down our sail, as we could not see, and as +there were several large pieces of ice in our way, which we were afraid of +striking. Thus we remained the entire night until the next day, which was +the twenty-ninth, when the fog increased to such an extent that we could +scarcely see the length of the vessel. There was also very little wind. Yet +we did not fail to set sail, in order to avoid the ice. But, although +expecting to extricate ourselves, we found ourselves so involved in it that +we could not tell on which side to tack. We were accordingly again +compelled to lower sail, and drift until the ice should allow us to make +sail. We made a hundred tacks on one side and the other, several times +fearing that we were lost. The most self-possessed would have lost all +judgment in such a juncture; even the greatest navigator in the world. What +alarmed us still more was the short distance we could see, and the fact +that the night was coming on, and that we could not make a shift of a +quarter of a league without finding a bank or some ice, and a great deal of +floating ice, the smallest piece of which would have been sufficient to +cause the loss of any vessel whatever. Now, while we were still sailing +along amid the ice, there arose so strong a wind that in a short time the +fog broke away, affording us a view, and suddenly giving us a clear air and +fair sun. Looking around about us, we found that we were shut up in a +little lake, not so much as a league and a half in circuit. On the north we +perceived the island of Cape Breton, nearly four leagues distant, and it +seemed to us that the passage-way to Cape Breton was still closed. We also +saw a small ice bank astern of our vessel, and the ocean beyond that, which +led us to resolve to go beyond the bank, which was divided. This we +succeeded in accomplishing without striking our vessel, putting out to sea +for the night, and passing to the southeast of the ice. Thinking now that +we could double this ice bank, we sailed east-northeast some fifteen +leagues, perceiving only a little piece of ice. At night we hauled down the +sail until the next day, when we perceived another ice bank to the north of +us, extending as far as we could see. We had drifted to within nearly half +a league of it, when we hoisted sail, continuing to coast along this ice in +order to find the end of it. While sailing along, we sighted on the first +day of May a vessel amid the ice, which, as well as ourselves, had found it +difficult to escape from it. We backed our sails in order to await the +former, which came full upon us, since we were desirous of ascertaining +whether it had seen other ice. On its approach we saw that it was the son +[1] of Sieur de Poutrincourt, on his way to visit his father at the +settlement of Port Royal. He had left France three months before, not +without much reluctance, I think, and still they were nearly a hundred and +forty leagues from Port Royal, and well out of their true course. We told +them we had sighted the islands of Canseau, much to their satisfaction, I +think, as they had not as yet sighted any land, and were steering straight +between Cape St. Lawrence and Cape Raye, in which direction they would not +have found Port Royal, except by going overland. After a brief conference +with each other we separated, each following his own course. The next day +we sighted the islands of St. Pierre, finding no ice. Continuing our course +we sighted on the following day, the third of the month, Cape Raye, also +without finding ice. On the fourth we sighted the island of St. Paul, and +Cape St. Lawrence, being some eight leagues north of the latter. The next +day we sighted Gaspé. On the seventh we were opposed by a northwest wind, +which drove us out of our course nearly thirty-five leagues, when the wind +lulled, and was in our favor as far as Tadoussac, which we reached on the +13th day of May.[2] Here we discharged a cannon to notify the savages, in +order to obtain news from our settlement at Quebec. The country was still +almost entirely covered with snow. There came out to us some canoes, +informing us that one of our pataches had been in the harbor for a month, +and that three vessels had arrived eight days before. We lowered our boat +and visited these savages, who were in a very miserable condition, having +only a few articles to barter to satisfy their immediate wants. Besides +they desired to wait until several vessels should meet, so that there might +be a better market for their merchandise. Therefore they are mistaken who +expect to gain an advantage by coming first, for these people are very +sagacious and cunning. + +On the 17th of the month I set out from Tadoussac for the great fall,[3] +to meet the Algonquin savages and other tribes, who had promised the year +before to go there with my man, whom I had sent to them, that I might learn +from him what he might see during the winter. Those at this harbor who +suspected where I was going, in accordance with the promises which I had +made to the savages, as stated above, began to build several small barques, +that they might follow me as soon as possible. And several, as I learned +before setting out from France, had some ships and pataches fitted out in +view of our voyage, hoping to return rich, as from a voyage to the Indies. + +Pont Gravé remained at Tadoussac expecting, if he did nothing there, to +take a patache and meet me at the fall. Between Tadoussac and Quebec our +barque made much water, which obliged me to stop at Quebec and repair the +leak. This was on the 21st day of May. + +ENDNOTES: + +1. This was Charles de Biencourt, Sieur de Saint Just. He was closely + associated with his father, Sieur de Poutrincourt, in his colony at Port + Royal. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 122, note 77. + +2. They left Honfleur on the first day of March, and were thus seventy-four + days in reaching Tadoussac. The voyage was usually made in favorable + weather in thirty days. + +3. The Falls of St. Louis, near Montreal, now more commonly known as the La + Chine Rapids. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +LANDING AT QUEBEC TO REPAIR THE BARQUE.--DEPARTURE FROM QUEBEC FOR THE +FALL, TO MEET THE SAVAGES, AND SEARCH OUT A PLACE APPROPRIATE FOR A +SETTLEMENT. + + +On going ashore I found Sieur du Parc, who had spent the winter at the +settlement. He and all his companions were very well, and had not suffered +any sickness. Game, both large and small, had been abundant during the +entire winter, as they told me. I found there the Indian captain, named +_Batiscan_, and some Algonquins, who said they were waiting for me, being +unwilling to return to Tadoussac without seeing me. I proposed to them to +take one of our company to the _Trois Rivières_ to explore the place, but +being unable to obtain anything from them this year I put it off until the +next. Still I did not fail to inform myself particularly regarding the +origin of the people living there, of which they told me with exactness. I +asked them for one of their canoes, which they were unwilling to part with +on any terms, because of their own need of it. For I had planned to send +two or three men to explore the neighborhood of the Trois Rivières, and +ascertain what there was there. This, to my great regret, I was unable to +accomplish, and postponed the project to the first opportunity that might +present itself. + +Meanwhile I urged on the repairs to our barque. When it was ready, a young +man from La Rochelle, named Tresart, asked me to permit him to accompany me +to the above-mentioned fall. This I refused, replying that I had special +plans of my own, and that I did not wish to conduct any one to my +prejudice, adding that there were other companies than mine there, and that +I did not care to open up a way and serve as guide, and that he could make +the voyage well enough alone and without my help. + +The same day I set out from Quebec, and arrived at the great fall on the +twenty-eighth of May. But I found none of the savages who had promised me +to be there on this day. I entered at once a poor canoe, together with the +savage I had taken to France and one of my own men. After examining the two +shores, both in the woods and on the river bank, in order to find a spot +favorable for the location of a settlement, and to get a place ready for +building, I went some eight leagues by land along the great fall and +through the woods, which are very open, as far as a lake, [4] whither our +savage conducted me. Here I observed the country very carefully. But in all +that I saw, I found no place more favorable than a little spot to which +barques and shallops can easily ascend, with the help of a strong wind or +by taking a winding course, in consequence of the strong current. But above +this place, which we named _La Place Royale_, at the distance of a league +from Mont Royal, there are a great many little rocks and shoals, which are +very dangerous. Near Place Royale there is a little river, extending some +distance into the interior, along the entire length of which there are more +than sixty acres of land cleared up and like meadows, where grain can be +sown and gardens made. Formerly savages tilled these lands, [5] but they +abandoned them on account of their wars, in which they were constantly +engaged. There is also a large number of other fine pastures, where any +number of cattle can graze. There are also the various kinds of trees found +in France, together with many vines, nut and plum trees, cherries, +strawberries, and other kinds of good fruit. Among the rest there is a very +excellent one, with a sweet taste like that of plantains, a fruit of the +Indies, as white as snow, with a leaf resembling that of nettles, and which +creeps up the trees and along the ground like ivy. [6] Fish are very +abundant, including all the varieties we have in France, and many very good +ones which we do not have. Game is also plenty, the birds being of various +kinds. There are stags, hinds, does, caribous, [7] rabbits, lynxes, [8] +bears, beavers, also other small animals, and all in such large numbers, +that while we were at the fall we were abundantly supplied with them. + +After a careful examination, we found this place one of the finest on this +river. I accordingly forthwith gave orders to cut down and clear up the +woods in the Place Royale, [9] so as to level it and prepare it for +building. The water can easily be made to flow around it, making of it a +little island, so that a habitation can be formed as one may wish. + +There is a little island some twenty fathoms from Place Royale, about a +hundred paces long, where a good and strong settlement might be made. There +are also many meadows, containing very good and rich potter's clay, as well +adapted for brick as for building purposes, and consequently a very useful +article. I had a portion of it worked up, from which I made a wall four +feet thick, three or four high, and ten fathoms long, to see how it would +stand during the winter, when the freshets came down, although I thought +the water would not reach up to it, the ground there being twelve feet +above the river, which was very high. In the middle of the river there was +an island about three-quarters of a league around, where a good and strong +town could be built. This we named _Isle de Sainte Hélène_. [10] This river +at the fall is like a lake, containing two or three islands, and bordered +by fine meadows. + +On the first day of June, Pont Gravé arrived at the fall, having been +unable to accomplish anything at Tadoussac. A numerous company attended and +followed after him to share in the booty, without the hope of which they +would have been far in the rear. + +Now, while awaiting the savages, I had two gardens made, one in the +meadows, the other in the woods, which I had cleared up. On the 2d of June +I sowed some seeds, all of which came up finely, and in a short time, +attesting the good quality of the soil. + +We resolved to send Savignon, our savage, together with another, to meet +his countrymen, so as to hasten their arrival. They hesitated about going +in our canoe, of which they were distrustful, it being a very poor one. +They set out on the 5th. The next day four or five barques arrived as an +escort for us, since they could do nothing at Tadoussac. + +On the 7th I went to explore a little river, along which the savages +sometimes go to war, and which flows into the fall of the river of the +Iroquois. [11] It is very pleasant, with meadow land more than three +leagues in circuit, and much arable land. It is distant a league from the +great fall, and a league and a half from Place Royale. + +On the 9th our savage arrived. He had gone somewhat beyond the lake, which +is ten leagues long, and which I had seen before. [12] But he met no one, +and they were unable to go any farther, as their canoe gave out, which +obliged them to return. They reported that after passing the fall they saw +an island, where there was such a quantity of herons that the air was +completely filled with them. There was a young man belonging to Sieur de +Monts named Louis, who was very fond of the chase. Hearing this, he wished +to go and satisfy his curiosity, earnestly entreating our savage to take +him to the place. To this the savage consented, taking also a captain of +the Montagnais, a very respectable person, whose name was _Outetoucos_. On +the following morning Louis caused the two savages to be called, and went +with them in a canoe to the island of the herons. This island is in the +middle of the fall. [13] Here they captured as many herons and other birds +as they wanted, and embarked again in their canoe. Outetoucos, contrary to +the wish of the other savage, and against his remonstrances, desired to +pass through a very dangerous place, where the water fell more than three +feet, saying that he had formerly gone this way, which, however, was +false. He had a long discussion in opposition to our savage, who wished to +take him on the south side, along the mainland, [14] where they usually go. +This, however, Outetoucos did not wish, saying that there was no danger. +Our savage finding him obstinate yielded to his desire. But he insisted +that at least a part of the birds in the canoe should be taken out, as it +was overloaded, otherwise he said it would inevitably fill and be lost. But +to this he would not consent, saying that it would be time enough when they +found themselves in the presence of danger. They accordingly permitted +themselves to be carried along by the current. But when they reached the +precipice, they wanted to throw overboard their load in order to escape. It +was now, however, too late, for they were completely in the power of the +rapid water, and were straightway swallowed up in the whirlpools of the +fall, which turned them round a thousand times. For a long time they clung +to the boat. Finally the swiftness of the water wearied them so that this +poor Louis, who could not swim at all, entirely lost his presence of mind, +and, the canoe going down, he was obliged to abandon it. As it returned to +the surface, the two others who kept holding on to it, saw Louis no more, +and thus he died a sad death. [15] The two others continued to hold on to +the canoe. When, however, they were out of danger, this Outetoucos, being +naked and having confidence in his swimming powers, abandoned it in the +expectation of reaching the shore, although the water still ran there with +great rapidity. But he was drowned, for he had been so weakened and +overcome by his efforts that it was impossible for him to save himself +after abandoning the canoe. Our savage Savignon, understanding himself +better, held firmly to the canoe until it reached an eddy, whither the +current had carried it. Here he managed so well that, notwithstanding his +suffering and weariness, he approached the shore gradually, when, after +throwing the water out of the canoe, he returned in great fear that they +would take vengeance upon him, as the savages do among themselves, and +related to us this sad story, which caused us great sorrow. + +On the next day I went in another canoe to the fall, together with the +savage and another member of our company, to see the place where they had +met with their accident, and find, if possible, the remains. But when he +showed me the spot, I was horrified at beholding such a terrible place, and +astonished that the deceased should have been so lacking in judgment as to +pass through such a fearful place, when they could have gone another way. +For it is impossible to go along there, as there are seven or eight +descents of water one after the other, the lowest three feet high, the +seething and boiling of the water being fearful. A part of the fall was all +white with foam, indicating the worst spot, the noise of which was like +thunder, the air resounding with the echo of the cataracts. After viewing +and carefully examining this place, and searching along the river bank for +the dead bodies, another very light shallop having proceeded meanwhile on +the other bank also, we returned without finding anything. + + * * * * * + +CHAMPLAIN'S EXPLANATION OF THE ACCOMPANYING MAP. + +LE GRAND SAULT ST. LOUIS. + +A. Small place that I had cleared up. +B. Small pond. +C. Small islet, where I had a stone wall made. +D. Small brook, where the barques are kept. +E. Meadows where the savages stay when they come to this region. +F. Mountains seen in the interior. +G. Small pond. +H. Mont Royal. +I. Small brook. +L. The fall. +M. Place on the north side, where the savages transfer their canoes by + land. +N. Spot where one of our men and a savage were drowned. +O. Small rocky islet. +P. Another islet where birds make their nests. +Q. Heron island. +R. Another island in the fall. +S. Small islet +T. Small round islet. +V. Another islet half covered with water. +X. Another islet, where there are many river birds. +Y. Meadows. +Z. Small river. +2. Very large and fine islands. +3. Places which are bare when the water is low, where there are great + eddies, as at the main fall. +4. Meadows covered with water +5. Very shallow places. +6. Another little islet. +7. Small rocks. +8. Island St. Hélène. +9. Small island without trees. +00. Marshes connecting with the great fall. + +ENDNOTES: + +4. This journey of eight leagues would take them as far as the Lake of Two + Mountains. + +5. This little river is mentioned by Champlain in his Voyage of 1603, + Vol. I. p. 268. It is represented on early maps as formed by two small + streams, flowing, one from the north or northeastern, and the other from + the southern side of the mountain, in the rear of the city of Montreal, + which unite some distance before they reach the St. Lawrence, flowing + into that river at Point Callières. These little brooks are laid down on + Champlain's local map, _Le Grand Sault St. Louis_, on Charlevoix's + _Carte de l'Isle de Montréal_, 1744, and on Bellin's _L'Isle de + Montréal_, 1764; but they have disappeared on modern maps, and probably + are either extinct or are lost in the sewerage of the city, of which + they have become a part. We have called the stream formed by these two + brooks, note 190, Vol. I., _Rivière St. Pierre_. On Potherie's map, the + only stream coming from the interior is so named. _Vide Histoire de + L'Amerique_ par M. de Bacqueville de la Potherie, 1722, p. 311. On a map + in Greig's _Hochelaga Depicta_, 1839, it is called St. Peter's River. + The same stream on Bouchette's map, 1830, is denominated Little River. + It seems not unlikely that a part of it was called, at one time, Rivière + St. Pierre, and another part Petite Rivière. + + It is plain that on this stream was situated the sixty acres of cleared + land alluded to in the text as formerly occupied by the savages. + + It will be remembered that seventy-six years anterior to this, in 1535, + Jacques Cartier discovered this place, which was then the seat of a + large and flourishing Indian town. It is to be regretted that Champlain + did not inform us more definitely as to the history of the former + occupants of the soil. Some important, and we think conclusive, reasons + have been assigned for supposing that they were a tribe of the Iroquois. + Among others may be mentioned the similarity in the construction of + their towns and houses or cabins, the identity of their language as + determined by a collation of the words found in Cartier's journal with + the language of the Iroquois; and to these may be added the traditions + obtained by missionaries and others, as cited by Laverdière, to which we + must not, however, attach too much value. _Vide Laverdière in loco_. + While it seems probable that the former occupants were of the Iroquois + family, it is impossible to determine whether on retiring they joined + the Five Nations in the State of New York, or merged themselves with the + Hurons, who were likewise of Iroquois origin. + +6. I am unable to identify this plant. Its climbing propensity and the + color of its fruit suggest _Rhus radicans_, but in other respects the + similarity fails. + +7. _Cerfs, Daims, Cheureuls, Caribous_. Champlain employs the names of the + different species of the Cerf family as used in Europe; but as our + species are different, this use of names creates some confusion. There + were in Canada, the moose, the caribou, the wapiti, and the common red + deer. Any enumeration by the early writers must include these, under + whatever names they may be described. One will be found applying a name + to a given species, while another will apply the same name to quite a + different species. Charlevoix mentions the orignal (moose) caribou, the + hart, and the roebuck. Under the name _hart_, he probably refers to the + wapiti, _elaphus Canadensis_, and _roe-buck_, to the common red deer, + _Cervus Virginianus_. _Vide Charlevoix's Letters to the Dutchess of + Lesdiguieres_, 1763, pp. 64-69, also Vol. I. of this work, p. 265. + +8. Lynxes, _Loups-serviers_. The compound word _loup-cervier_ was + significant, and was applied originally to the animal of which the stag + was its natural prey, _qui attaque les cerfs_. In Europe it described + the lynx, a large powerful animal of the feline race, that might well + venture to attack the stag. But in Canada this species is not found. + What is known as the Canadian lynx, _Felis Canadensis_, is only a large + species of cat, which preys upon birds and the smaller quadrupeds. + Champlain probably gives it the name _loup-servier_ for the want of one + more appropriate. It is a little remarkable that he does not in this + list mention the American wolf, _Lupus occidentalis_, so common in every + part of Canada, and which he subsequently refers to as the animal + especially dreaded by the deer. _Vide postea_, pp. 139, 157. + +9. The site of Place Royale was on Point Callières, so named in honor of + Chevalier Louis Hector de Callières Bonnevue, governor of Montreal in + 1684. + +10. It seems most likely that the name of this island was suggested by the + marriage which Champlain had contracted with Hélène Boullé, the year + before. This name had been given to several other places. _Vide_ Vol. + I. pp. 104, 105. + +11. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 268, note 191. _Walker and Miles's Atlas_, map 186. + +12. The Lake of the Two Mountains. _Vide antea_, note 4. + +13. On Champlain's local map of the Falls of St. Louis, the letter Q is + wanting; but the expression, _ceste isle est au milieu du faut_, in the + middle of the fall, as suggested by Laverdière, indicates that the + island designated by the letter R is Heron Island. _Vide postea_, R on + map at p. 18. + +14. _Grand Tibie_, so in the original. This is a typographical error for + _grand terre_. _Vide_ Champlain, 1632, Quebec ed., p. 842. + +15. The death of this young man may have suggested the name which was + afterward given to the fall. He was, however, it is reasonable to + suppose, hardly equal in sanctity of character to the Saint Louis of + the French. Hitherto it had been called _Le Grand Saut_. But soon after + this it began to be called _Grand Saut S. Louys_. _Vide postea_, + pp. 38, 51, 59. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +TWO HUNDRED SAVAGES RETURN THE FRENCHMAN WHO HAD BEEN ENTRUSTED TO THEM, +AND RECEIVE THE SAVAGE WHO HAD COME BACK FROM FRANCE.--VARIOUS INTERVIEWS +ON BOTH SIDES. + + +On the thirteenth day of the month [16] two hundred Charioquois [17] +savages, together with the captains Ochateguin, Iroquet, and Tregouaroti, +brother of our savage, brought back my servant. [18] We were greatly +pleased to see them. I went to meet them in a canoe with our savage. As +they were approaching slowly and in order, our men prepared to salute them +with a discharge of arquebuses, muskets, and small pieces. When they were +near at hand, they all set to shouting together, and one of the chiefs gave +orders that they should make their harangue, in which they greatly praised +us, commending us as truthful, inasmuch as I had kept the promise to meet +them at this fall. After they had made three more shouts, there was a +discharge of musketry twice from thirteen barques or pataches that were +there. This alarmed them so, that they begged me to assure them that there +should be no more firing, saying that the greater part of them had never +seen Christians, nor heard thunderings of that sort, and that they were +afraid of its harming them, but that they were greatly pleased to see our +savage in health, whom they supposed was dead, as had been reported by some +Algonquins, who had heard so from the Montagnais. The savage commended the +treatment I had shown him in France, and the remarkable objects he had +seen, at which all wondered, and went away quietly to their cabins, +expecting that on the next day I would show them the place where I wished +to have them dwell. I saw also my servant, who was dressed in the costume +of the savages, who commended the treatment he had received from them. He +informed me of all he had seen and learned during the winter, from the +savages. + +The next day I showed them a spot for their cabins, in regard to which the +elders and principal ones consulted very privately. After their long +consultation they sent for me alone and my servant, who had learned their +language very well. They told him they desired a close alliance with me, +and were sorry to see here all these shallops, and that our savage had told +them he did not know them at all nor their intentions, and that it was +clear that they were attracted only by their desire of gain and their +avarice, and that when their assistance was needed they would refuse it, +and would not act as I did in offering to go with my companions to their +country and assist them, of all of which I had given them proofs in the +past. They praised me for the treatment I had shown our savage, which was +that of a brother, and had put them under such obligations of good will to +me, that they said they would endeavor to comply with anything I might +desire from them, but that they feared that the other boats would do them +some harm. I assured them that they would not, and that we were all under +one king, whom our savage had seen, and belonged to the same nation, though +matters of business were confined to individuals, and that they had no +occasion to fear, but might feel as much security as if they were in their +own country. After considerable conversation, they made me a present of a +hundred castors. I gave them in exchange other kinds of merchandise. They +told me there were more than four hundred savages of their country who had +purposed to come, but had been prevented by the following representations +of an Iroquois prisoner, who had belonged to me, but had escaped to his own +country. He had reported, they said, that I had given him his liberty and +some merchandise, and that I purposed to go to the fall with six hundred +Iroquois to meet the Algonquins and kill them all, adding that the fear +aroused by this intelligence had alone prevented them from coming. I +replied that the prisoner in question had escaped without my leave, that +our savage knew very well how he went away, and that there was no thought +of abandoning their alliance, as they had heard, since I had engaged in war +with them, and sent my servant to their country to foster their friendship, +which was still farther confirmed by my keeping my promise to them in so +faithful a manner. + +They replied that, so far as they were concerned, they had never thought of +this; that they were well aware that all this talk was far from the truth, +and that if they had believed the contrary they would not have come, but +that the others were afraid, never having seen a Frenchman except my +servant. They told me also that three hundred Algonquins would come in five +or six days, if we would wait for them, to unite with themselves in war +against the Iroquois; that, however, they would return without doing so +unless I went. I talked a great deal with them about the source of the +great river and their country, and they gave me detailed information about +their rivers, falls, lakes and lands, as also about the tribes living +there, and what is to be found in the region. Four of them assured me that +they had seen a sea at a great distance from their country, but that it was +difficult to go there, not only on account of the wars, but of the +intervening wilderness. They told me also that the winter before some +savages had come from the direction of Florida, beyond the country of the +Iroquois, who lived near our ocean, and were in alliance with these +savages. In a word, they made me a very exact statement, indicating by +drawings all the places where they had been, and taking pleasure in talking +to me about them; and for my part I did not tire of listening to them, as +they confirmed points in regard to which I had been before in doubt. After +all this conversation was concluded, I told them that we would trade for +the few articles they had, which was done the next day. Each one of the +barques carried away its portion; we on our side had all the hardship and +venture; the others, who had not troubled themselves about any +explorations, had the booty, the only thing that urges them to activity, in +which they employ no capital and venture nothing. + +The next day, after bartering what little they had, they made a barricade +about their dwelling, partly in the direction of the wood, and partly in +that of our pataches; and this they said they did for their security, in +order to avoid the surprises of their enemies, which we took for the +truth. On the coming night, they called our savage, who was sleeping on my +patache, and my servant, who went to them. After a great deal of +conversation, about midnight they had me called also. Entering their +cabins, I found them all seated in council. They had me sit down near them, +saying that when they met for the purpose of considering a matter, it was +their custom to do so at night, that they might not be diverted by anything +from attention to the subject in hand; that at night one thought only of +listening, while during the day the thoughts were distracted by other +objects. + +But in my opinion, confiding in me, they desired to tell me privately their +purpose. Besides, they were afraid of the other pataches, as they +subsequently gave me to understand. For they told me that they were uneasy +at seeing so many Frenchmen, who were not especially united to one another, +and that they had desired to see me alone; that some of them had been +beaten; that they were as kindly disposed towards me as towards their own +children, confiding so much in me that they would do whatever I told them +to do, but that they greatly mistrusted the others; that if I returned I +might take as many of their people as I wished, if it were under the +guidance of a chief; and that they sent for me to assure me anew of their +friendship, which would never be broken, and to express the hope that I +might never be ill disposed towards them; and being aware that I had +determined to visit their country, they said they would show it to me at +the risk of their lives, giving me the assistance of a large number of men, +who could go everywhere; and that in future we should expect such treatment +from them as they had received from us. + +Straightway they brought fifty castors and four strings of beads, which +they value as we do gold chains, saying that I should share these with my +brother, referring to Pont Gravé, we being present together; that these +presents were sent by other captains, who had never seen me; that they +desired to continue friends to me; that if any of the French wished to go +with them, they should be greatly pleased to have them do so; and that they +desired more than ever to establish a firm friendship. After much +conversation with them, I proposed that inasmuch as they were desirous to +have me visit their country, I would petition His Majesty to assist us to +the extent of forty or fifty men, equipped with what was necessary for the +journey, and that I would embark with them on condition that they would +furnish us the necessary provisions for the journey, and that I would take +presents for the chiefs of the country through which we should pass, when +we would return to our settlement to spend the winter; that moreover, if I +found their country favorable and fertile, we would make many settlements +there, by which means we should have frequent intercourse with each other, +living happily in the future in the fear of God, whom we would make known +to them. They were well pleased with this proposition, and begged me to +shake hands upon it, saying that they on their part would do all that was +possible for its fulfilment; that, in regard to provisions, we should be as +well supplied as they themselves, assuring me again that they would show me +what I desired to see. Thereupon, I took leave of them at daybreak, +thanking them for their willingness to carry out my wishes, and entreating +them to continue to entertain the same feelings. + +On the next day, the 17th, they said that they were going castor-hunting, +and that they would all return. On the following morning they finished +bartering what little they had, when they embarked in their canoes, asking +us not to take any steps towards taking down their dwellings, which we +promised them. Then they separated from each other, pretending to go a +hunting in different directions. They left our savage with me that we might +have less distrust in them. But they had appointed themselves a rendezvous +above the fall, where they knew well enough that we could not go with our +barques. Meanwhile, we awaited them in accordance with what they had told +us. + +The next day there came two savages, one Iroquet, the other the brother of +our Savignon. They came to get the latter, and ask me in behalf of all +their companions to go alone with my servant to where they were encamped, +as they had something of importance to tell me, which they were unwilling +to communicate to any Frenchmen. I promised them that I would go. + +The following day I gave some trifles to Savignon, who set out much +pleased, giving me to understand that he was about to live a very irksome +life in comparison with that which he had led in France. He expressed much +regret at separation, but I was very glad to be relieved of the care of +him. The two captains told me that on the morning of the next day they +would send for me, which they did. I embarked, accompanied by my servant, +with those who came. Having arrived at the fall, we went some eight leagues +into the woods, where they were encamped on the shore of a lake, where I +had been before.[19] They were much pleased at seeing me, and began to +shout after their custom. Our Indian came out to meet me, and ask me to go +to the cabin of his brother, where he at once had some meat and fish put on +the fire for my entertainment. While I was there, a banquet was held, to +which all the leading Indians were invited. I was not forgotten, although I +had already eaten sufficiently; but, in order not to violate the custom of +the country, I attended. After banqueting, they went into the woods to hold +their council, and meanwhile I amused myself in looking at the country +round about, which is very pleasant. + +Some time after they called me, in order to communicate to me what they had +resolved upon. I proceeded to them accordingly with my servant. After I had +seated myself by their side, they said they were very glad to see me, and +to find that I had not failed to keep my word in what I had promised them; +saying that they felt it an additional proof of my affection that I +continued the alliance with them, and that before setting out they desired +to take leave of me, as it would have been a very great disappointment to +them to go away without seeing me, thinking that I would in that case have +been ill disposed towards them. They said also that what had led them to +say they were going a hunting, and build the barricade, was not the fear of +their enemies nor the desire of hunting, but their fear of all the other +pataches accompanying me, inasmuch as they had heard it said that on the +night they sent for me they were all to be killed, and that I should not be +able to protect them from the others who were much more numerous; so that +in order to get away they made use of this ruse. But they said if there had +been only our two pataches they would have stayed some days longer, and +they begged that, when I returned with my companions, I would not bring any +others. To this I replied that I did not bring these, but that they +followed without my invitation; that in the future, however, I would come +in another manner; at which explanation they were much pleased. + +And now they began again to repeat what they had promised me in regard to +the exploration of the country, while I promised, with the help of God, to +fulfil what I had told them. They besought me again to give them a man, and +I replied that if there was any one among us who was willing to go, I +should be well pleased. + +They told me there was a merchant, named Bouyer, commander of a patache, +who had asked them to take a young man, which request, however, they had +been unwilling to grant before ascertaining whether this was agreeable to +me, as they did not know whether we were friends, since he had come in my +company to trade with them; also that they were in no wise under any +obligations to him, but that he had offered to make them large presents. + +I replied that we were in no wise enemies, and that they had often seen us +conversing with each other; but that in regard to traffic each did what he +could, and that the above-named Bouyer was perhaps desirous of sending this +young man as I had sent mine, hoping for some return in the future, which I +could also lay claim to from them; that, however, they must judge towards +whom they had the greatest obligations, and from whom they were to expect +the most. + +They said there was no comparison between the obligations in the two cases, +not only in view of the help I had rendered them in their wars against +their enemies, but also of the offer of my personal assistance in the +future, in all of which they had found me faithful to the truth, adding +that all depended on my pleasure. They said moreover that what made them +speak of the matter was the presents he had offered them, and that, if this +young man should go with them, it would not put them under such obligations +to this Bouyer as they were under to me, and that it would have no +influence upon the future, since they only took him on account of the +presents from Bouyer. + +I replied that it was indifferent to me whether they took him or not, and +in fact that if they took him for a small consideration I should be +displeased at it, but if in return for valuable presents, I should be +satisfied, provided he stayed with Iroquet; which they promised me. Then +there was made on both sides a final statement of our agreements. They had +with them one who had three times been made prisoner by the Iroquois, but +had been successful in escaping. This one resolved to go, with nine others, +to war, for the sake of revenge for the cruelties his enemies had caused +him to suffer. All the captains begged me to dissuade him if possible, +since he was very valiant, and they were afraid that, advancing boldly +towards the enemy, and supported by a small force only, he would never +return. To satisfy them I endeavored to do so, and urged all the reasons I +could, which, however, availed little; for he, showing me a portion of his +fingers cut off, also great cuts and burns on his body, as evidences of the +manner they had tortured him, said that it was impossible for him to live +without killing some of his enemies and having vengeance, and that his +heart told him he must set out as soon as possible, as he did, firmly +resolved to behave well. + +After concluding with them, I asked them to take me back in our patache. To +accomplish this, they got ready eight canoes in order to pass the fall, +stripping themselves naked, and directing me to go only in my shirt. For it +often happens that some are lost in passing the fall. Consequently, they +keep close to each other, so as to render assistance at once, if any canoe +should happen to turn over. They said to me, if yours should unfortunately +overturn, not knowing how to swim, you must not think of abandoning it, and +must cling to the little pieces in the middle of it, for we can easily +rescue you. I am sure that even the most self-possessed persons in the +world, who have not seen this place nor passed it in little boats such as +they have, could not do so without the greatest apprehension. But these +people are so skilful in passing falls, that it is an easy matter for +them. I passed with them, which I had never before done, nor any other +Christian, except my above-mentioned servant. Then we reached our barques, +where I lodged a large number of them, and had some conversation with the +before-mentioned Bouyer in view of the fear he entertained that I should +prevent his servant from going with the savages. They returned the next day +with the young man, who proved expensive to his master who had expected, in +my opinion, to recover the losses of his voyage, which were very +considerable, like those of many others. + +One of our young men also determined to go with these savages, who are +Charioquois, living at a distance of some one hundred and fifty leagues +from the fall. He went with the brother of Savignon, one of the captains, +who promised me to show him all that could be seen. Bouyer's man went with +the above-mentioned Iroquet, an Algonquin, who lives some eighty leagues +from the fall. Both went off well pleased and contented. + +After the departure of the savages, we awaited the three hundred others +who, as had been told us, were to come, in accordance with the promise I +had made them. Finding that they did not come, all the pataches determined +to induce some Algonquin savages, who had come from Tadoussac, to go to +meet them, in view of a reward that would be given them on their return, +which was to be at the latest not over nine days from the time of their +departure, so that we might know whether to expect them or not, and be able +to return to Tadoussac. This they agreed to, and a canoe left with this +purpose. + +On the fifth of July a canoe arrived from the Algonquins, who were to come +to the number of three hundred. From it we learned that the canoe which had +set out from us had arrived in their country, and that their companions, +wearied by their journey, were resting, and that they would soon arrive, in +fulfilment of the promise they had made; that at most they would not be +more than eight days behindhand, but that there would be only twenty-four +canoes, as one of their captains and many of their comrades had died of a +fever that had broken out among them. They also said that they had sent +many to the war, which had hindered their progress. We determined to wait +for them. + +But finding that this period had elapsed without their arrival, Pont Gravé +set out from the fall on the eleventh of the month, to arrange some matters +at Tadoussac, while I stayed to await the savages. + +The same day a patache arrived, bringing provisions for the numerous +barques of which our party consisted. For our bread, wine, meat, and cider +had given out some days before, obliging us to have recourse to fishing, +the fine river water, and some radishes which grow in great abundance in +the country; otherwise we should have been obliged to return. The same day +an Algonquin canoe arrived, assuring us that on the next day the +twenty-four canoes were to come, twelve of them prepared for war. + +On the twelfth the Algonquins arrived with some little merchandise. Before +trafficking they made a present to a Montagnais Indian, the son of +Anadabijou, [20] who had lately died, in order to mitigate his grief at the +death of his father. Shortly after they resolved to make some presents to +all the captains of the pataches. They gave to each of them ten castors, +saying they were very sorry they had no more, but that the war, to which +most of them were going, was the reason; they begged, however, that what +they offered might be accepted in good part, saying that they were all +friends to us, and to me, who was seated near them, more than to all the +others, who were well disposed towards them only on account of their +castors, and had not always assisted them like myself, whom they had never +found double-tongued like the rest. + +I replied that all those whom they saw gathered together were their +friends; that, in case an opportunity should present itself, they would not +fail to do their duty; that we were all friends; that they should continue +to be well disposed towards us; that we would make them presents in return +for those they gave us; and that they should trade in peace. This they did, +and carried away what they could. + +The next day they brought me privately forty castors, assuring me of their +friendship, and that they were very glad of the conclusion which I had +reached with the savages who had gone away, and that we should make a +settlement at the fall, which I assured them we would do, making them a +present in return. + +After everything had been arranged, they determined to go and obtain the +body of Outetoucos, who was drowned at the fall, as we have before +mentioned. They went to the spot where he had been buried, disinterred him +and carried him to the island of St Hélène, where they performed their +usual ceremony, which is to sing and dance over the grave with festivities +and banquets following. I asked them why they disinterred the body. They +replied that if their enemies should find the grave they would do so, and +divide the body into several pieces, which they would then hang to trees in +order to offend them. For this reason they said that they transferred it to +a place off from the road, and in the most secret manner possible. + +On the 15th there arrived fourteen canoes, the chief over which was named +_Tecouehata_. Upon their arrival all the other savages took up arms and +performed some circular evolutions. After going around and dancing to their +satisfaction, the others who were in their canoes also began to dance, +making various movements of the body. After finishing their singing, they +went on shore with a small quantity of furs, and made presents similar to +those of the others. These were reciprocated by some of equal value. The +next day they trafficked in what little they had, and presented me +personally with thirty castors, for which I made them an acknowledgment. +They begged me to continue my good will to them, which I promised to do. +They spoke with me very especially respecting certain explorations towards +the north, which might prove advantageous; and said, in reference to them, +that if any one of my company would like to go with them, they would show +him what would please me, and would treat him as one of their own children. +I promised to give them a young man, at which they were much pleased. When +he took leave of me to go with them, I gave him a detailed memorandum of +what he was to observe while with them. After they had bartered what little +they had, they separated into three parties; one for the war, another for +the great fall, another for a little river which flows into that of the +great fall. Thus they set out on the 18th day of the month, on which day we +also departed. + +The same day we made the thirty leagues from this fall to the Trois +Rivières. On the 19th we arrived at Quebec, which is also thirty leagues +from the Trois Rivières. I induced the most of those in each boat to stay +at the settlement, when I had some repairs made and some rose-bushes set +out. I had also some oak wood put on board to make trial of in France, not +only for marine wainscoting, but also for windows. The next day, the 20th +of July, I set out. On the 23d I arrived at Tadoussac, whence I resolved to +return to France, in accordance with the advice of Pont Gravé. After +arranging matters relating to our settlement, according to the directions +which Sieur de Monts had given me, I embarked in the vessel of Captain +Tibaut, of La Rochelle, on the 11th of August. During our passage we had an +abundance of fish, such as _orades_, mackerel, and _pilotes_, the latter +similar to herrings, and found about certain planks covered with +_pousle-pieds_, a kind of shell-fish attaching itself thereto, and growing +there gradually. Sometimes the number of these little fish is so great that +it is surprising to behold. We caught also some porpoises and other species +of fish. The weather was favorable as far as Belle Isle, [21] where we were +overtaken by fogs, which continued three or four days. The weather then +becoming fair, we sighted Alvert, [22] and arrived at La Rochelle on the +16th of September, 1611. + +ENDNOTES: + +16. June 13th. + +17. _Charioquois_. In the issue of 1632, p. 397, Champlain has _Sauuages + Hurons_. It is probable that Charioquois was only a chief of the + Hurons. + +18. This was the young man that had been sent to pass the winter with the + Indians, in exchange for the savage which had accompanied Champlain to + France. _Vide antea_, Vol. II. p. 246. + +19. This was doubtless on the Lake of Two Mountains. + +20. Champlain's orthography is here _Aronadabigeau. Vide_ Vol. I pp. 236, + 291. + +21. Belle Ile. An island on the coast of Brittany in France. + +22. Alvert, a village near Marennes, which they sighted as they approached + La Rochelle. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ARRIVAL AT LA ROCHELLE.--DISSOLUTION OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SIEUR DE +MONTS AND HIS ASSOCIATES, THE SIEURS COLIER AND LE GENDRE OF ROUEN.-- +JEALOUSY OF THE FRENCH IN REGARD TO THE NEW DISCOVERIES IN NEW FRANCE. + + +Upon my arrival at La Rochelle I proceeded to visit Sieur de Monts, at Pons +[23] in Saintonge, to inform him of all that had occurred during the +expedition, and of the promise which the Ochateguins[24] and Algonquins had +made me, on condition that we would assist them in their wars, as I had +agreed. Sieur de Monts, after listening to it all, determined to go to the +Court to arrange the matter. I started before him to go there also. But on +the way I was unfortunately detained by the falling of a horse upon me, +which came near killing me. This fall detained me some time; but as soon as +I had sufficiently recovered from its effects I set out again to complete +my journey and meet Sieur de Monts at Fontainebleau, who, upon his return +to Paris, had a conference with his associates. The latter were unwilling +to continue in the association, as there was no commission forbidding any +others from going to the new discoveries and trading with the inhabitants +of the country. Sieur de Monts, seeing this, bargained with them for what +remained at the settlement at Quebec, in consideration of a sum of money +which he gave them for their share. He sent also some men to take care of +the settlement, in the expectation of obtaining a commission from His +Majesty. But while he was engaged in the pursuit of this object some +important matters demanded his attention, so that he was obliged to abandon +it, and he left me the duty of taking the necessary steps for it. As I was +about arranging the matter, the vessels arrived from New France with men +from our settlement, those whom I had sent into the interior with the +savages. They brought me very important information, saying that more than +two hundred savages had come, expecting to find me at the great fall of +St. Louis, where I had appointed a rendezvous, with the intention of +assisting them according to their request. But, finding that I had not kept +my promise, they were greatly displeased. Our men, however, made some +apologies, which were accepted, and assured them that they would not fail +to come the following year or never. The savages agreed to this on their +part. But several others left the old trading-station of Tadoussac, and +came to the fall with many small barques to see if they could engage in +traffic with these people, whom they assured that I was dead, although our +men stoutly declared the contrary. This shows how jealousy against +meritorious objects gets possession of bad natures; and all they want is +that men should expose themselves to a thousand dangers, to discover +peoples and territories, that they themselves may have the profit and +others the hardship. It is not reasonable that one should capture the lamb +and another go off with the fleece. If they had been willing to participate +in our discoveries, use their means, and risk their persons, they would +have given evidence of their honor and nobleness, but on the contrary they +show clearly that they are impelled by pure malice that they may enjoy the +fruit of our labors equally with ourselves. + +On this subject, and to show how many persons strive to pervert +praiseworthy enterprises, I will instance again the people of St. Malo and +others, who say that the profit of these discoveries belongs to them, since +Jacques Cartier, who first visited Canada and the islands of New Foundland, +was from their city, as if that city had contributed to the expenses of +these discoveries of Jacques Cartier, who went there by the order and at +the expense of King Francis I, in the years 1534 and 1535 to discover these +territories now called New France. If then Cartier made any discovery at +the expense of His Majesty, all his subjects have the same rights and +liberties in them as the people of St. Malo, who cannot prevent others who +make farther discoveries at their own expense, as is shown in the case of +the discoveries above described, from profiting by them in peace. Hence +they ought not to claim any rights if they themselves make no +contributions, and their reasons for doing so are weak and foolish. + +To prove more conclusively that they who maintain this position do so +without any foundation, let us suppose that a Spaniard or other foreigner +had discovered lands and wealth at the expense of the King of France. Could +the Spaniards or other foreigners claim these discoveries and this wealth +on the ground that the discoverer was a Spaniard or foreigner? No! There +would be no sense in doing so, and they would always belong to France. +Hence the people of St. Malo cannot make these claims for the reason which +they give, that Cartier was a citizen of their city; and they can only take +cognizance of the fact that he was a citizen of theirs, and render him +accordingly the praise which is his due. + +Besides, Cartier in the voyage which he made never passed the great fall of +St. Louis, and made no discoveries north or south of the river +St. Lawrence. His narratives give no evidence of it, in which he speaks +only of the river Saguenay, the Trois Rivières and St. Croix, where he +spent the winter in a fort near our settlement. Had he done so, he would +not have failed to mention it, any more than what he has mentioned, which +shows that he left all the upper part of the St. Lawrence, from Tadoussac +to the great fall, being a territory difficult to explore, and that he was +unwilling to expose himself or let his barques engage in the venture. So +that what he did has borne no fruit until four years ago, when we made our +settlement at Quebec, after which I ventured to pass the fall to help the +savages in their wars, and fend among them men to make the acquaintance of +the people, to learn their mode of living, and the character and extent of +their territory. After devoting ourselves to labors which have been so +successful, is it not just that we should enjoy their fruits, His Majesty +not having contributed anything to aid those who have assumed the +responsibilities of these undertakings up to the present time. I hope that +God will at some time incline him to do so much for His service, his own +glory and the welfare of his subjects, as to bring many new peoples to the +knowledge of our faith, that they may at last enjoy the heavenly kingdom. + + +NOTE. + +Champlain here introduces an explanation of his two geographical maps of +New France, and likewise his method of determining a meridian line. For +convenience of use the maps are placed at the end of this work, and for the +same reason these explanations are carried forward to p. 219, in immediate +proximity to the maps which they explain.--EDITOR. + +ENDNOTES: + +23. De Monts was governor of Pons, a town situated about ten miles south of + Saintes, in the present department of Lower Charente. + +24. _Ochateguins. Vide_ Vol III. Quebec ed. p 169. They were Hurons, and + Ochateguin is supposed to have been one of their chiefs. _Vide_ Vol + II. note 321. + + + + +FOURTH VOYAGE +OF +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, + +CAPTAIN IN ORDINARY TO THE KING IN THE MARINE, AND +LIEUTENANT OF MONSEIGNEUR LE PRINCE DE +CONDÉ IN NEW FRANCE, + +MADE IN THE YEAR 1613. + + +To the very high, powerful, and excellent Henri de Bourbon, Prince de +Condé, First Prince of the Blood, First Peer of France, Governor and +Lieutenant of His Majesty in Guienne. + +_Monseigneur, + +The Honor that I have received from your Highness in being intrusted with +the discovery of New France has inspired in me the desire to pursue with +still greater pains and zeal than ever the search for the North Sea. With +this object in view I have made a voyage during the past year, 1613, +relying on a man whom I had sent there and who assured me he had seen it, +as you will perceive in this brief narrative, which I venture to present to +your Excellence, and in which are particularly described all the toils and +sufferings I have had in the undertaking. But although I regret having lost +this year so far as the main object is concerned, yet my expectation, as in +the first voyage, of obtaining more definite information respecting the +subject from the savages, has been fulfilled. They have told me about +various lakes and rivers in the north, in view of which, aside from their +assurance that they know of this sea, it seems to me easy to conclude from +the maps that it cannot be far from the farthest discoveries I have +hitherto made. Awaiting a favorable time and opportunity to prosecute my +plans, and praying God to preserve you, most happy Prince, in all +prosperity, wherein consists my highest wish for your greatness, I remain +in the quality of + + Your most humble and devoted servant, + + SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN_. + + + + +FOURTH VOYAGE +OF +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, + +CAPTAIN IN ORDINARY TO THE KING IN THE MARINE, AND +LIEUTENANT OF MONSEIGNEUR LE PRINCE DE +CONDÉ IN NEW FRANCE, + +MADE IN THE YEAR 1613. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +WHAT LED ME TO SEEK FOR TERMS OF REGULATION.--A COMMISSION OBTAINED-- +OPPOSITIONS TO THE SAME.--PUBLICATION AT LAST IN ALL THE PORTS OF FRANCE. + +The desire which I have always had of making new discoveries in New France, +for the good, profit, and glory of the French name, and at the same time to +lead the poor natives to the knowledge of God, has led me to seek more and +more for the greater facility of this undertaking, which can only be +secured by means of good regulations. For, since individuals desire to +gather the fruits of my labor without contributing to the expenses and +great outlays requisite for the support of the settlements necessary to a +successful result, this branch of trade is ruined by the greediness of +gain, which is so great that it causes merchants to set out prematurely in +order to arrive first in this country. By this means they not only become +involved in the ice, but also in their own ruin, for, from trading with the +savages in a secret manner and offering through rivalry with each other +more merchandise than is necessary, they get the worst of the bargain. +Thus, while purposing to deceive their associates, they generally deceive +themselves. + +For this reason, when I returned to France on the 10th of September, 1611, +I spoke to Sieur de Monts about the matter, who approved of my suggestions; +but his engagements not allowing him to prosecute the matter at court, he +left to me its whole management. + +I then drew up a statement, which I presented to President Jeannin, who, +being a man desirous of seeing good undertakings prosper, commended my +project, and encouraged me in its prosecution. + +But feeling assured that those who love to fish in troubled waters would be +vexed at such regulations and seek means to thwart them, it seemed +advisable to throw myself into the hands of some power whose authority +would prevail over their jealousy. + +Now, knowing Monseigneur le Comte de Soissons[25] to be a prince devout and +well disposed to all holy undertakings, I addressed myself to him through +Sieur de Beaulieu, councillor, and almoner in ordinary to the King, and +urged upon him the importance of the matter, setting forth the means of +regulating it, the harm which disorder had heretofore produced, and the +total ruin with which it was threatened, to the great dishonor of the +French name, unless God should raise up some one who would reanimate it and +give promise of securing for it some day the success which had hitherto +been little anticipated. After he had been informed in regard to all the +details of the scheme and seen the map of the country which I had made, he +promised me, under the sanction of the King, to undertake the protectorate +of the enterprise. + +I immediately after presented to His Majesty, and to the gentlemen of his +Council, a petition accompanied by articles, to the end that it might +please him to issue regulations for the undertaking, without which, as I +have said, it would fail. Accordingly his Majesty gave the direction and +control to the before-mentioned Count, who then honored me with the +lieutenancy. + +Now as I was preparing to publish the commission [26] of the King in all +the ports and harbors of France, there occurred the sickness and greatly +lamented death of the Count, which postponed somewhat the undertaking. But +his Majesty at once committed the direction to Monseigneur le Prince,[27] +who proceeded in the execution of its duties, and, having in like manner +honored me with the lieutenancy, [28] directed me to go on with the +publication of the commission. But as soon as this was done, some marplots, +who had no interest in the matter, importuned him to annul it, representing +to him as they claimed the interests of all the merchants of France, who +had no cause for complaint, since all were received into the association +and could not therefore justly be aggrieved. Accordingly, their evil +intention being recognized, they were dismissed, with permission only to +enter into the association. + +During these altercations, it was impossible for me, as the time of my +departure was very near at hand, to do anything for the habitation at +Quebec, for repairing and enlarging which I desired to take out some +workmen. It was accordingly necessary to go out this year without any +farther organization. The passports of Monseigneur le Prince were made out +for four vessels, which were already in readiness for the voyage, viz. +three from Rouen and one from La Rochelle, on condition that each should +furnish four men for my assistance, not only in my discoveries but in war, +as I desired to keep the promise which I had made to the Ochataiguins [29] +in the year 1611, to assist them in their wars at the time of my next +voyage. + +As I was preparing to set out, I was informed that the Parliamentary Court +of Rouen would not permit the publication of the commission of the King, +because his Majesty had reserved to himself and his Council the sole +cognizance of the differences which might arise in this matter; added to +which was the fact that the merchants of St. Malo were also opposed to it. +This greatly embarrassed me, and obliged me to make three journeys to +Rouen, with orders of his Majesty, in consideration of which the Court +desisted from their inhibition, and the assumptions of the opponents were +overruled. The commission was then published in all the ports of Normandy. + +ENDNOTES: + +25. For a brief notice of the Count de Soissons, _vide_ Vol. I. note 74; + also note by Laverdière, Quebec ed., p. 433. + +26. This Commission, dated October 15, 1612, will be found in Champlain's + issue of 1632. _Vide_ Quebec ed., p 887. + +27. Henry de Bourbon. _Vide_ Vol. I. p 113, note 75. + +28. Champlain was appointed lieutenant of the Prince de Condé on the 22d + day of November, 1612. _Vide_ issue of 1632, Quebec ed., p. 1072. + +29. Ochateguins, or Hurons. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +DEPARTURE FROM FRANCE.--WHAT TOOK PLACE UP TO OUR ARRIVAL AT THE FALLS. + + +I set out from Rouen on the 5th of March for Honfleur, accompanied by Sieur +L'Ange, to assist me in my explorations, and in war if occasion should +require. + +On the next day, the 6th of the month, we embarked in the vessel of Sieur +de Pont Gravé, immediately setting sail, with a favorable wind. + +On the 10th of April we sighted the Grand Bank, where we several times +tried for fish, but without success. + +On the 15th we had a violent gale, accompanied by rain and hail, which was +followed by another, lasting forty-eight hours, and so violent as to cause +the loss of several vessels on the island of Cape Breton. + +On the 21st we sighted the island and Cap de Raye. [30] On the 29th the +Montagnais savages, perceiving us from All Devils' Point, [31] threw +themselves into their canoes and came to meet us, being so thin and +hideous-looking that I did not recognize them. At once they began crying +for bread, saying that they were dying of hunger. This led us to conclude +that the winter had not been severe, and consequently the hunting poor, +which matter we have alluded to in previous voyages. + +Having arrived on board of our vessel they examined the faces of all, and +as I was not to be seen anywhere they asked where Monsieur de Champlain +was, and were answered that I had remained in France. But this they would +not think of believing, and an old man among them came to me in a corner +where I was walking, not desiring to be recognized as yet, and taking me by +the ear, for he suspected who it was, saw the scar of the arrow wound, +which I received at the defeat of the Iroquois. At this he cried out, and +all the others after him, with great demonstrations of joy, saying, Your +people are awaiting you at the harbor of Tadoussac. + +The same day we arrived at Tadoussac, and although we had set out last, +nevertheless arrived first, Sieur Boyer of Rouen arriving with the same +tide. From this it is evident that to set out before the season is simply +rushing into the ice. When we had anchored, our friends came out to us, +and, after informing us how everything was at the habitation, began to +dress three _outardes_ [32] and two hares, which they had brought, throwing +the entrails overboard, after which the poor savages rushed, and, like +famished beasts, devoured them without drawing. They also scraped off with +their nails the fat with which our vessel had been coated, eating it +gluttonously as if they had found some great delicacy. + +The next day two vessels arrived from St. Malo, which had set out before +the oppositions had been settled and the commission been published in +Normandy. I proceeded on board, accompanied by L'Ange. The Sieurs de la +Moinerie and la Tremblaye were in command, to whom I read the commission of +the King, and the prohibition against violating it on penalties attached to +the same. They replied that they were subjects and faithful servants of His +Majesty, and that they would obey his commands; and I then had attached to +a post in the port the arms and commission of His Majesty, that no ground +for ignorance might be claimed. + +On the 2d of May, seeing two shallops equipped to go to the Falls, I +embarked with the before-mentioned L'Ange in one of them. We had very bad +weather, so that the masts of our shallop were broken, and had it not been +for the preserving hand of God we should have been lost, as was before our +eyes a shallop from St Malo, which was going to the Isle d'Orleans, those +on board of which however being saved. + +On the 7th we arrived at Quebec, where we found in good condition those who +had wintered there, they not having been sick; they told us that the winter +had not been severe, and that the river had not frozen. The trees also were +beginning to put forth leaves and the fields to be decked with flowers. + +On the 13th we set out from Quebec for the Falls of St. Louis, where we +arrived on the 21st, finding there one of, our barques which had set out +after us from Tadoussac, and which had traded some with a small troop of +Algonquins, who came from the war with the Iroquois, and had with them two +prisoners. Those in the barque gave them to understand that I had come with +a number of men to assist them in their wars, according to the promise I +had made them in previous years; also that I desired to go to their country +and enter into an alliance with all their friends, at which they were +greatly pleased. And, inasmuch as they were desirous of returning to their +country to assure their friends of their victory, see their wives, and put +to death their prisoners in a festive _tabagie_, they left us pledges of +their return, which they promised should be before the middle of the first +moon, according to their reckoning, their shields made of wood and elk +leather, and a part of their bows and arrows. I regretted very much that I +was not prepared to go with them to their country. + +Three days after, three canoes arrived with Algonquins, who had come from +the interior, with some articles of merchandise which they bartered. They +told me that the bad treatment which the savages had received the year +before had discouraged them from coming any more, and that they did not +believe that I would ever return to their country on account of the wrong +impressions which those jealous of me had given them respecting me; +wherefore twelve hundred men had gone to the war, having no more hope from +the French, who, they did not believe, would return again to their country. + +This intelligence greatly disheartened the merchants, as they had made a +great purchase of merchandise, with the expectation that the savages would +come, as they had been accustomed to. This led me to resolve, as I engaged +in my explorations, to pass through their country, in order to encourage +those who had stayed back, with an assurance of the good treatment they +would receive, and of the large amount of good merchandise at the Fall, and +also of the desire I had to assist them in their war. For carrying out this +purpose I requested three canoes and three savages to guide us, but after +much difficulty obtained only two and one savage, and this by means of some +presents made them. + +ENDNOTES: + +30. The _island_ refers to New Foundland. Cap de Raye, still known as Cape + Ray, was on the southwestern angle of New Foundland. + +31. Now called Point aux Vaches. It was sometimes called All-Devils' + Point. _Vide_ note 136, Vol. I. p. 235. + +32. _Outardes_. Sometimes written _houtardes_, and _Oltardes_. The name + outarde or bustard, the _otis_ of ornithologists, a land bird of + Europe, was applied to a species of goose in Canada at a very early + period. + + The outarde is mentioned by Cartier in 1535, and the name may have been + originally applied by the fishermen and fur-traders at a much earlier + period, doubtless on account of some fancied resemblance which they saw + to the lesser bustard or outarde, which was about the size of the + English pheasant. _Vide Pennant's British Zoölogy_, Vol. I. p. 379. + Cartier, Champlain, Lescarbot, Baron La Hontan, Potherie, and Charlvoix + mention the outarde in catalogues of water-fowl in which _oye_, the + goose, is likewise mentioned. They very clearly distinguish it from the + class which they commonly considered _oyes_, or geese. Cartier, for + instance, says, Il y a aussi grand nombre d'oyseaulx, scauoir grues, + signes, _oltardes, oyes sauuages, blanches, & grises_. Others speak of + _outardes et oyes_. They do not generally describe it with + particularity. Champlain, however, in describing the turkey, _cocq + d'Inde_, on the coast of New England, says, _aussi gros qu'vne outarde, + qui est une espece d'oye_. Father Pierre Biard writes, _et au mesme + temps les outardes arriuent du midy, qui sont grosses cannes au double + des nostres_. From these statements it is obvious that the outarde was + a species of goose, but was so small that it could well be described as + a large duck. In New France there were at least four species of the + goose, which might have come under the observation of the early + navigators and explorers. We give them in the order of their size, as + described in Coues' Key to North American Birds. + + 1. Canada Goose, _Branta Canadensis_, SCOPOLI, 36 inches. + 2. Snow Goose, _Anser hyperboreus_, LINNÆUS, 30 inches. + 3. Am. White-fronted Goose, _Anser albifrons_, LINNÆUS, 27 inches. + 4. Brant Goose, _Branta bernicla_, SCOPOLI, 24 inches. + + Recurring to the statement of Cartier above cited, it will be observed + that he mentions, besides the outarde, wild geese white and gray. The + first and largest of the four species above mentioned, the Canada + goose, _Branta Canadensis_, is gray, and the two next, the Snow goose + and White-fronted, would be classified as white. This disposes of three + of the four mentioned. The outarde of Cartier would therefore be the + fourth species in the list, viz. the Brant goose. _Branta bernicla_. + This is the smallest species found on our northern coast, and might + naturally be described, as stated by Father Biard, as a large duck. It + is obvious that the good Father could not have described the Canada + goose, the largest of the four species, as a large duck, and the white + geese have never been supposed to be referred to under the name of + outarde. The Brant goose, to which all the evidence which we have been + able to find in the Canadian authorities seems to point as the outarde + of early times, is common in our markets in its season, but our + market-men, unaccustomed to make scientific distinctions, are puzzled + to decide whether it should be classed as a goose or a duck. It is not + improbable that the early voyagers to our northern latitudes, unable to + decide to which of these classes this water-fowl properly belonged, and + seeing in it a fancied resemblance to the lesser outarde, with which + they were familiar, gave it for sake of the distinction, but + nevertheless inappropriately, the name of outarde. The reader is + referred to the following authorities. + + _Vide Brief Récit_ par Jacques Cartier, 1545. D'Avezac ed., p. 33; + _Champlain_, Quebec ed., p. 220; _Jésuite Relations_, 1616, p. 10; _Le + Grand Voyage du Pays des Hurons_, par Sagard, Paris, 1632, p. 301; + _Dictionaire de la Langue Hurone_, par Sagard, Paris, 1632, _oyseaux; + Letters to the Dutchess of Lesdiguieres_, By Fr. Xa. de Charlevoix, + London. 1763, p. 88; _Le Jeune, Relations des Jésuites_, 1633, P. 4, + 1636, p. 47; _Histoire de l'Amérique Septentrionale_, par de la + Potherie, Paris, 1722, Vol. I. pp. 20, 172, 212, 308; _Lescarbot, + Histoire de la Nouvelle France_, pp. 369, 582, 611. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +DEPARTURE TO DISCOVER THE NORTH SEA, ON THE GROUND OF THE REPORT MADE ME IN +REGARD TO IT. DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL RIVERS, LAKES AND ISLANDS, THE FALLS +OF THE CHAUDIÈRE AND OTHER FALLS. + + +Now, as I had only two canoes, I could take with me but four men, among +whom was one named Nicholas de Vignau, the most impudent liar that has been +seen for a long time, as the sequel of this narrative will show. He had +formerly spent the winter with the savages, and I had sent him on +explorations the preceding years. He reported to me, on his return to Paris +in 1612, that he had seen the North Sea; that the river of the Algonquins +came from a lake which emptied into it; and that in seventeen days one +could go from the Falls of St. Louis to this sea and back again; that he +had seen the wreck and _débris_ of an English ship that had been wrecked, +on board of which were eighty men, who had escaped to the shore, and whom +the savages killed because the English endeavored to take from them by +force their Indian corn and other necessaries of life; and that he had seen +the scalps which these savages had flayed off, according to their custom, +which they would show me, and that they would likewise give me a young +English boy whom they had kept for me. This intelligence had greatly +pleased me, for I thought that I had almost found that for which I had for +a long time been searching. Accordingly I enjoined upon him to tell me the +truth, in order that I might inform the King, and warned him that if he +gave utterance to a lie he was putting the rope about his neck, assuring +him on the other hand that, if his narrative were true, he could be certain +of being well rewarded. He again assured me, with stronger oaths than ever; +and in order to play his _rôle_ better he gave me a description of the +country, which he said he had made as well as he was able. Accordingly the +confidence which I saw in him, his entire frankness as it seemed, the +description which he had prepared, the wreck and _débris_ of the ship, and +the things above mentioned, had an appearance of probability, in connection +with the voyage of the English to Labrador in 1612, where they found a +strait, in which they sailed as far as the 63d degree of latitude and the +290th of longitude, wintering at the 53d degree and losing some vessels, as +their report proves.[33] These circumstances inducing me to believe that +what he said was true, I made a report of the same to the Chancellor, [34] +which I showed to Marshal de Brissac,[35] President Jeannin, [36] and other +Seigneurs of the Court, who told me that I ought to visit the place in +person. For this reason I requested Sieur Georges, a merchant of La +Rochelle, to give him a passage in his ship, which he willingly did, and +during the voyage he questioned him as to his object in making it; and, +since it was not of any profit to him, he asked if he expected any pay, to +which the young man answered that he did not, that he did not expect +anything, from any one but the King, and that he undertook the voyage only +to show me the North Sea, which he had seen. He made an affidavit of this +at La Rochelle before two notaries. + +Now as I took leave on Whitsuntide, [37] of all the principal men to whose +prayers I commended myself, and also to those of all others, I said to him +in their presence that if what he had previously said was not true he must +not give me the trouble to undertake the journey, which involved many +dangers. Again he affirmed all that he had said, on peril of his life. + +Accordingly, our canoes being laden with some provisions, our arms, and a +few articles of merchandise for making presents to the savages, I set out +on Monday the 27th of May from Isle St. Hélène with four Frenchmen and one +savage, a parting salute being given me with some rounds from small +pieces. This day we went only to the Falls of St. Louis, a league up the +river, the bad weather not allowing us to go any farther. + +On the 29th we passed the Falls, [38] partly by land, partly by water, it +being necessary for us to carry our canoes, clothes, victuals, and arms on +our shoulders, no small matter for persons not accustomed to it. After +going two leagues beyond the Falls, we entered a lake, [39] about twelve +leagues in circuit, into which three rivers empty; one coming from the +west, from the direction of the Ochateguins, distant from one hundred and +fifty to two hundred leagues from the great Falls; [40] another from the +south and the country of the Iroquois, a like distance off; [41] and the +other from the north and the country of the Algonquins and Nebicerini, also +about the same distance. [42] This river on the north, according to the +report of the savages, comes from a source more remote, and passes by +tribes unknown to them and about three hundred leagues distant. + +This lake is filled with fine large islands, containing only pasturage +land, where there is fine hunting, deer and fowl being plenty. Fish are +abundant. The country bordering the lake is covered with extensive +forests. We proceeded to pass the night at the entrance to this lake, +making barricades against the Iroquois, who roam in these regions in order +to surprise their enemies; and I am sure that if they were to find us they +would give us as good a welcome as them, for which reason we kept a good +watch all night. On the next day I took the altitude of the place, and +found it in latitude 45° 18'. About three o'clock in the afternoon we +entered the river which comes from the north, and, passing a small fall +[43] by land so as to favor our canoes, we proceeded to a little island, +where we spent the remainder of the night. + +On the last day of May we passed another lake, [44] seven or eight leagues +long and three broad, containing several islands. The neighboring country +is very level, except in some places, where there are pine-covered hills. +We passed a fall called by the inhabitants of the country Quenechouan,[45] +which is filled with stones and rocks, and where the water runs with great +velocity. We had to get into the water and drag our canoes along the shore +with a rope. Half a league from there we passed another little fall by +rowing, which makes one sweat. Great skill is required in passing these +falls, in order to avoid the eddies and surf, in which they abound; but the +savages do this with the greatest possible dexterity, winding about and +going by the easiest places, which they recognize at a glance. + +On Saturday, the 1st of June, we passed two other falls; the first half a +league long, the second a league, in which we had much difficulty; for the +rapidity of the current is so great that it makes a frightful noise, and +produces, as it descends from stage to stage, so white a foam everywhere +that the water cannot be seen at all. This fall is strewn with rocks, and +contains some islands here and there covered with pines and white cedars. +This was the place where we had a hard time; for, not being able to carry +our canoes by land on account of the density of the wood, we had to drag +them in the water with ropes, and in drawing mine I came near losing my +life, as it crossed into one of the eddies, and if I had not had the good +fortune to fall between two rocks the canoe would have dragged me in, +inasmuch as I was unable to undo quickly enough the rope which was wound +around my hand, and which hurt me severely and came near cutting it off. In +this danger I cried to God and began to pull my canoe, which was returned +to me by the refluent water, such as occurs in these falls. Having thus +escaped I thanked God, begging Him to preserve us. Later our savage came to +help me, but I was out of danger. It is not strange that I was desirous of +preserving my canoe, for if it had been lost it would have been necessary +to remain, or wait until some savages came that way, a poor hope for those +who have nothing to dine on, and who are not accustomed to such +hardship. As for our Frenchmen, they did not have any better luck, and +several times came near losing their lives; but the Divine Goodness +preserved us all. During the remainder of the day we rested, having done +enough. + +The next day we fell in with fifteen canoes of savages called +_Quenongebin_, [46] in a river, after we had passed a small lake, four +leagues long and two broad. They had been informed of my coming by those +who had passed the Falls of St. Louis, on their way from the war with the +Iroquois. I was very glad to meet them, as were they also to meet me, but +they were astonished to see me in this country with so few companions, and +with only one savage. Accordingly, after saluting each other after the +manner of the country, I desired them not to go any farther until I had +informed them of my plan. To this they assented, and we encamped on an +island. + +The next day I explained to them that I was on my way to their country to +visit them, and fulfil the promise I had previously made them, and that if +they had determined to go to the war it would be very agreeable to me, +inasmuch as I had brought some companions with this view, at which they +were greatly pleased; and having told them that I wished to go farther in +order to notify the other tribes, they wanted to deter me, saying that the +way was bad, and that we had seen nothing up to this point. Wherefore I +asked them to give me one of their number to take charge of our second +canoe, and also to serve us as guide, since our conductors were not +acquainted any farther. This they did willingly, and in return I made them +a present and gave them one of our Frenchmen, the least indispensable, whom +I sent back to the Falls with a leaf of my note-book, on which for want of +paper I made a report of myself. + +Thus we parted, and continuing our course up the river we found another +one, very fair and broad, which comes from a nation called _Ouescharini_, +[47] who live north of it, a distance of four days' journey from the +mouth. This river is very pleasant in consequence of the fine islands it +contains, and the fair and open woods with which its shores are +bordered. The land is very good for tillage. + +On the fourth day we passed near another river coming from the north, where +tribes called _Algonquins_ live. This river falls into the great river +St. Lawrence, three leagues below the Falls of St. Louis, forming a large +island of nearly forty leagues. [48] This river is not broad, but filled +with a countless number of falls, very hard to pass. Sometimes these tribes +go by way of this river in order to avoid encounters with their enemies, +knowing that they will not try to find them in places so difficult of +access. + +Where this river has its debouchure is another coming from the south, [49] +at the mouth of which is a marvellous fall. For it descends a height of +twenty or twenty-five fathoms [50] with such impetuosity that it makes an +arch nearly four hundred paces broad. The savages take pleasure in passing +under it, not wetting themselves, except from the spray that is thrown off. +There is an island in the middle of the river which, like all the country +round about, is covered with pines and white cedars. When the savages +desire to enter the river they ascend the mountain, carrying their canoes, +and go half a league by land. The neighboring country is filled with all +sorts of game, so that the savages often make a stop here. The Iroquois +also go there sometimes and surprise them while making the passage. + +We passed a fall [51] a league from there, which is half a league broad, +and has a descent of six or seven fathoms. There are many little islands, +which are, however, nothing more than rough and dangerous rocks covered +with a poor sort of brushwood. The water falls in one place with such force +upon a rock that it has hollowed out in course of time a large and deep +basin, in which the water has a circular motion and forms large eddies in +the middle, so that the savages call it _Asticou_, which signifies boiler. +This cataract produces such a noise in this basin that it is heard for more +than two leagues. The savages when passing here observe a ceremony which we +shall speak of in its place. We had much trouble in ascending by rowing +against a strong current, in order to reach the foot of the fall. Here the +savages took their canoes, my Frenchmen and myself, our arms, provisions, +and other necessaries, and we passed over the rough rocks for the distance +of about a quarter of a league, the extent of the fall. Then we embarked, +being obliged afterwards to land a second time and go about three hundred +paces through copse-wood, after which we got into the water in order to get +our canoes over the sharp rocks, the trouble attending which may be +imagined. I took the altitude of this place, which I found to be in +latitude 45° 38'. [52] + +In the afternoon we entered a lake, [53] five leagues long and two wide, in +which there are very fine islands covered with vines, nut-trees, and other +excellent kinds of trees. Ten or twelve leagues above we passed some +islands covered with pines. The land is sandy, and there is found here a +root which dyes a crimson color, with which the savages paint their faces, +as also little gewgaws after their manner. There is also a mountain range +along this river, and the surrounding country seems to be very +unpromising. The rest of the day we passed on a very pleasant island. + +The next day we proceeded on our course to a great fall, nearly three +leagues broad, in which the water falls a height of ten or twelve fathoms +in a slope, making a marvellous noise. [54] It is filled with a vast number +of islands, covered with pines and cedars. In order to pass it we were +obliged to give up our maize or Indian corn, and some few other provisions +we had, together with our least necessary clothes, retaining only our arms +and lines, to afford us means of support from hunting and fishing as place +and luck might permit. Thus lightened we passed, sometimes rowing, +sometimes carrying our canoes and arms by land, the fall, which is a league +and a half long, [55] and in which our savages, who are indefatigable in +this work and accustomed to endure such hardships, aided us greatly. + +Continuing our course, we passed two other falls, one by land, the other +with oar and poles standing up. Then we entered a lake, [56] six or seven +leagues long, into which flows a river coming from the south, [57] on which +at a distance of five days' journey from the other river [58] live a people +called _Matou-oüescarini_ [59] The lands about the before-mentioned lake +are sandy and covered with pines, which have been almost entirely burned +down by the savages. There are some islands, in one of which we rested +ourselves. Here we saw a number of fine red cypresses,[60] the first I had +seen in this country, out of which I made a cross, which I planted at one +end of the island, on an elevated and conspicuous spot, with the arms of +France, as I had done in other places where we had stopped. I called this +island _Sainte Croix_. + +On the 6th we set out from this island of St. Croix, where the river is a +league and a half broad, and having made eight or ten leagues we passed a +small fall by oar, and a number of islands of various sizes. Here our +savages left the sacks containing their provisions and their less necessary +articles, in order to be lighter for going overland and avoiding several +falls which it was necessary to pass. There was a great dispute between our +savages and our impostor, who affirmed that there was no danger by way of +the falls, and that we ought to go that way. Our savages said to him, You +are tired of living, and to me, that I ought not to believe him, and that +he did not tell the truth. Accordingly, having several times observed that +he had no knowledge of the places, I followed the advice of the savages, +which was fortunate for me, for he fought for dangers in order to ruin me +or to disgust me with the undertaking, as he has since confessed, a +statement of which will be given hereafter. We crossed accordingly towards +the west the river, which extended northward. I took the altitude of this +place and found it in latitude 46° 40'.[61] We had much difficulty in going +this distance overland. I, for my part, was loaded only with three +arquebuses, as many oars, my cloak, and some small articles. I cheered on +our men, who were somewhat more heavily loaded, but more troubled by the +mosquitoes than by their loads. Thus after passing four small ponds and +having gone a distance of two and a half leagues, we were so wearied that +it was impossible to go farther, not having eaten for twenty-four hours +anything but a little broiled fish without seasoning, for we had left our +provisions behind, as I mentioned before. Accordingly we rested on the +border of a pond, which was very pleasant, and made a fire to drive away +the mosquitoes, which annoyed us greatly, whose persistency is so +marvellous that one cannot describe it. Here we cast our lines to catch +some fish. + +The next day we passed this pond, which was perhaps a league long. Then we +went by land three leagues through a country worse than we had yet seen, +since the winds had blown down the pines on top of each other. This was no +slight inconvenience, as it was necessary to go now over, now under, these +trees. In this way we reached a lake, six leagues long and two wide, [62] +very abundant in fish, the neighboring people doing their fishing there. +Near this lake is a settlement of savages, who till the soil and gather +harvests of maize. Their chief is named _Nibachis_, who came to visit us +with his followers, astonished that we could have passed the falls and bad +roads in order to reach them. After offering us tobacco, according to their +custom, he began to address his companions, saying, that we must have +fallen from the clouds, for he knew not how we could have made the journey, +and that they who lived in the country had much trouble in traversing these +bad ways: and he gave them to understand that I accomplished all that I set +my mind upon; in short, that he believed respecting me all that the other +savages had told him. Aware that we were hungry, he gave us some fish, +which we ate, and after our meal I explained to him, through Thomas, our +interpreter, the pleasure I had in meeting them, that I had come to this +country to assist them in their wars, and that I desired to go still +farther to see some other chiefs for the same object, at which they were +glad and promised me assistance. They showed me their gardens and the +fields, where they had maize. Their soil is sandy, for which reason they +devote themselves more to hunting than to tillage, unlike the Ochateguins. +[63] When they wish to make a piece of land arable, they burn down the +trees, which is very easily done, as they are all pines, and filled with +rosin. The trees having been burned, they dig up the ground a little, and +plant their maize kernel by kernel, [64] like those in Florida. At the time +I was there it was only four fingers high. + +ENDNOTES: + +33. _Vide_ Vol. II. p. 171, note 297, for an account of Henry Hudson, to + whom this statement refers. De Vignau had undoubtedly heard rumors + concerning Hudson's expedition to the bay that bears his name in the + years 1610-11, out of which he fabricated the fine story of his + pretended discovery. Longitude at that time was reckoned from the + island of Ferro, one of the Canaries. Proceeding from west to east, the + 290° would pass through Hudson's Bay, as may be seen by consulting any + early French map. _Vide_ Bellin's _Carte du Globe Terrestre_, 1764. + +34. Nicholas Brulart de Sillery, who was born at Sillery, in France, in + 1544, and died in the same place in 1624. He rendered signal service to + Henry IV. Among other public acts he negotiated the peace of Vervins + between France and Spain in 1598. He was appointed grand chancellor of + France in 1607. Henry IV. said of him, Avec mon chanclier qui ne fait + pas le latin et mon connetable (Henri de Montmorency), qui ne fait ni + lire ni écrire, je puis venir à bout des affairs les plus difficiles. + +35. For some account of Marshal de Brissac, _vide_ Vol. I. p. 17, note 16. + +36. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 112, note 73. President Jeannin was a most suitable + person to consult on this subject, as he was deeply interested in the + discovery of a northwest passage to India. When minister at the Hague + he addressed a letter bearing date January 21st, 1609, to Henry IV. of + France, containing an account of his indirect negotiations with Henry + Hudson, for a voyage to discover a shorter passage to India. A copy of + this interesting letter, both in French and English, may be found in + _Henry Hudson the Navigator_, by G. M. Asher, LL.D., Hakluyt Society, + London, 1860, p. 244. + +37. The festival of Whitsunday occurred on the 26th May. _Laverdière in + loco_. + +38. The Falls of St Louis. + +39. Lake St. Louis. + +40. Champlain is here speaking of the river St. Lawrence, which flows into + Lake St. Louis slightly south of west. + +41. Rivière de Loup, now known as the Chateauguay. + +42. The River Ottawa or a branch of it flows into Lake St. Louis from the + north, although its course is rather from the west. It was often called + the River of the Algonquins. It approaches comparatively near to Lake + Nipissing, the home of the Nipissirini. The sources of the Ottawa are + northeast of Lake Nipissing, a distance of from one to three hundred + miles. The distances here given by Champlain are only general estimates + gathered from the Indians, and are necessarily inaccurate. + +43. Rapide de Brussi, by which the river flows from the Lake of + Two Mountains into Lake St Louis. + +44. _Lac de Soissons_, now called Lake of Two Mountains _Vide_ Vol. I. + p. 294. + +45. This is the first of a series of falls now known as the Long Fall. + +46. _Quenongebin_. Laverdière makes, this the same as the Kinounchepiríni + of Vimont. It was an Algonquin nation situated south of Allumette + Island. _Vide Jesuite Relations_, Quebec ed, 1640, p. 34. + +47. _Ouescharini_. These people, called Ouaouechkairini by Vimont, appear + to have dwelt on the stream now known as the _Rivière de Petite + Nation_, rising in a system of lakes, among which are Lake Simon, + Whitefish Lake, Long Lake, and Lake Des Isles. _Vide Jesuite + Relations_, 1640, p. 34. The tribe here mentioned was subsequently + called the Little Nation of the Algonquins hence the name of the + river. _Laverdière_. + +48. This passage is exceedingly obscure. Laverdière supposes that part of a + sentence was left out by the printer. If so it is remarkable that + Champlain did not correct it in his edition of 1632. Laverdière thinks + the river here spoken of is the Gatineau, and that the savages + following up this stream went by a portage to the St. Maurice, and + passing down reached the St. Lawrence _thirty_ leagues, and not + _three_, below the Falls of Saint Louis. The three rivers thus named + inclose or form an island of about the extent described in the + text. This explanation is plausible. The passage amended would read, + "This river _extends near another which_ falls into the great river + St. Lawrence thirty leagues below the falls of St. Louis." We know of + no other way in which the passage can be rationally explained. + +49. Rideau, at the mouth of which is Green Island, referred to in the text + below. + +50. The fall in the Rideau is thirty-four feet, according to the Edinburgh + Gazetteer of the World. The estimate of Champlain is so far out of the + way that it seems not unlikely that feet were intended instead of + fathoms. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 301, 302. + +51. The Chaudière Falls, just above the present city of Ottawa, the + greatest height of which is about forty feet "Arrayed in every + imaginable variety of form, in vast dark masses, in graceful cascades, + or in tumbling spray, they have been well described as a hundred rivers + struggling for a passage. Not the least interesting feature they + present is the Lost Chaudière, where a large body of water is quietly + sucked down, and disappears underground" _Vide Canada_ by W. H Smith. + Vol. I. p. 120. Also Vol I. p, 120 of this work. + +52. The latitude of the Chaudière Falls is about 45° 27'. + +53. Chaudière Lake, which was only an expansion of the River Ottawa. + +54. Rapide des Chats. + +55. This probably refers to that part of the fall which was more difficult + to pass. + +56. Lake des Chats. The name _des chats_ appears to have been given to this + Lake, the Rapids, and the _Nation des chats_, on account of the great + number of the _loup cervier_, or wild cats, _chats sauvages_, found in + this region. Cf. _Le Grande Voyage du Pays des Hurons_, par Sagard, + Paris, 1632, p. 307. + +57. Madawaskca River, an affluent of the Ottawa, uniting with it at Fitz + Roy. + +58. Probably an allusion to the River St. Lawrence. + +59. This is the same tribe alluded to by Vimont under the name + _Mataouchkarmi_, as dwelling south of Allumette Island. _Vide Relations + des Jésuites_, 1640, Quebec ed., p. 34. + +60. Cyprés, Red Cedar or Savin, _Juniperus Virginiana_. _Vide_ Vol. II. + note 168. + +61. They were now, perhaps, two miles below Portage du Fort, at the point + on the Ottawa nearest to the system of lakes through which they were to + pass, and where, as stated in the text, the Ottawa, making an angle, + begins to flow directly from the north. The latitude, as here given, is + even more than usually incorrect, being too high by more than a degree. + The true latitude is about 43° 37'. _Vide Walker_ and _Miles's Atlas of + Dominion of Canada_. Note 62 will explain the cause of this + inexactness. + +62. Muskrat Lake. On Champlain's map of 1632 will be seen laid down a + succession of lakes or ponds, together with the larger one, now known + as Muskrat Lake, on the borders of which are figured the dwellings of + the savages referred to in the text. The pond which they passed is the + last in the series before reaching Muskrat Lake. On the direct route + between this pond and the lake, known as the Muskrat Portage road, the + course undoubtedly traversed by Champlain, there was found in 1867, in + the township of Ross, an astrolabe, an instrument used in taking + latitudes, on which is the date, 1603. It is supposed to have been lost + by Champlain on his present expedition. The reasons for this + supposition have been stated in several brochures recently issued, one + by Mr. O. H. Marshall of Buffalo, entitled _Discovery of an Astrolabe + supposed to have been left by Champlain in 1613_, New York, 1879; + reprinted from the _Magazine of American History_ for March of that + year. Another, _Champlain's Astrolabe lost on the 7th of June, 1613, + and found in August, 1867_, by A. J Russell of Ottawa, Montreal, + 1879. And a third entitled _The Astrolabe of Samuel Champlain and + Geoffrey Chaucer_, by Henry Scadding, D.D., of Toronto, 1880. All of + these writers agree in the opinion that the instrument was probably + lost by Champlain on his expedition up the Ottawa in 1613. For the + argument _in extenso_ the reader is referred to the brochures above + cited. + + [Illustration of an astrolabe.] + + Mr. Russell, who examined the astrolabe thus found with great care and + had it photographed, describes it as a circular plate having a diameter + of five inches and five eighths. "It is of place brass, very dark with + age, one eighth of an inch thick above, increasing to six sixteenths of + an inch below, to give it steadiness when suspended, which apparently + was intended to be increased by hanging a weight on the little + projecting ring at the bottom of it, in using it on ship-board. Its + suspending ring is attached by a double hinge of the nature of a + universal joint. Its circle is divided into single degrees, graduated + from its perpendicular of suspension. The double-bladed index, the + pivot of which passes through the centre of the astrolabe, has slits + and eyelets in the projecting fights that are on it." + + We give on the preceding page an engraving of this astrolabe from a + photograph, which presents a sufficiently accurate outline of the + instrument. The plate was originally made to illustrate Mr. Marshall's + article in the Magazine of American History, and we are indebted to the + courtesy of the proprietors of the Magazine, Messrs. A. S. Barnes and + Company of New York, for its use for our present purpose. + + The astrolabe, as an instrument for taking the altitude of the stars or + the sun, had long been in use. Thomas Blundevile, who wrote in 1622, + says he had seen three kinds, and that the astrolabe of Stofflerus had + then been in use a hundred years. It had been improved by Gemma + Frisius. Mr. Blagrave had likewise improved upon the last-mentioned, + and his instrument was at that time in general use in England. The + astrolabe continued to be employed in Great Britain in taking altitudes + for more than a century subsequent to this, certainly till Hadley's + Quadrant was invented, which was first announced in 1731. + + The astrolabes which had the broadest disks were more exact, as they + were projected on a larger scale, but as they were easily jostled by + the wind or the movement of the ship at sea, they could with difficulty + be employed. But Mr. Blundevile informs us that "the Spaniards doe + commonly make their astrolabes narrow and weighty, which for the most + part are not much above five inches broad, and yet doe weigh at the + least foure pound, & to that end the lower part is made a great deale + thicker than the upper part towards the ring or handle." _Vide + M. Blendeale his Exercises_, London, 1622, pp. 595, 597. This Spanish + instrument, it will be observed, is very similar to that found on the + Old Portage road, and the latter may have been of Spanish make. + + In order to take the latitude in Champlain's day, at least three + distinct steps or processes were necessary, and the following + directions might have been given. + + I. Let the astrolabe be suspended so that it shall hang plumb. Direct + the index or diopter to the sun at noon, so that the same ray of light + may shine through both holes in the two tablets or pinules on the + diopter, and the diopter will point to the degree of the sun's meridian + altitude indicated on the outer rim of the astrolabe. + + II. Ascertain the exact degree of the sun's declination for that day, + by a table calculated for that purpose, which accompanies the + astrolabe. + + III. Subtract the declination, so found, if it be northerly, from the + meridian altitude; or if the declination be southerly, add the + declination to the meridian altitude, and the result, subtracted from + 90°, will give the latitude. + + In these several processes of taking the latitude there are numerous + possibilities of inexactness. It does not appear that any correction + was made for refraction of light, or the precession of the equinoxes. + But the most important source of inaccuracy was in the use of the + astrolabe whose disk was so small that its divisions could not be + carried beyond degrees, and consequently minutes were arrived at by + sheer estimation, and usually when the work was completed, the error + was not less than one fourth or one half of a degree, and it was often + much more. + + This accounts fully for the inaccuracies of Champlain's latitudes from + first to last throughout his entire explorations, as tested by the very + exact instruments and tables now in use. No better method of + determining the latitude existed at that day, and consequently the + historian is warned not to rely upon the latitude alone as given by the + early navigators and explorers in identifying the exact localities + which they visited. + +63. Subsequently called Hurons. + +64. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 49; Vol. II. note 219. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +CONTINUATION.--ARRIVAL AT THE ABODE OF TESSOUAT, AND HIS FAVORABLE +RECEPTION OF ME.--CHARACTER OF THEIR CEMETERIES--THE SAVAGES PROMISE ME +FOUR CANOES FOR CONTINUING MY JOURNEY, WHICH THEY HOWEVER SHORTLY AFTER +REFUSE.--ADDRESS OF THE SAVAGES TO DISSUADE ME FROM MY UNDERTAKING, IN +WHICH THEY REPRESENT ITS DIFFICULTIES--MY REPLY TO THESE OBJECTIONS.-- +TESSOUAT ACCUSES MY GUIDE OF LYING, AND OF NOT HAVING BEEN WHERE HE SAID HE +HAD.--THE LATTER MAINTAINS HIS VERACITY--I URGE THEM TO GIVE ME CANOES.-- +SEVERAL REFUSALS.--MY GUIDE CONVICTED OF FALSEHOOD, AND HIS CONFESSION. + + +Nibachis had two canoes fitted out, to conduct me to another chief, named +Tessoüat, [65] who lived eight leagues from him, on the border of a great +lake, through which flows the river which we had left, and which extends +northward. Accordingly we crossed the lake in a west-northwesterly +direction, a distance of nearly seven leagues. Landing there, we went a +league towards the northeast through a very fine country, where are small +beaten paths, along which one can go easily. Thus we arrived on the shore +of the lake, [66] where the dwelling of Tessoüat was. He was accompanied by +a neighboring chieftain, and was greatly amazed to see me, saying that he +thought I was a dream, and that he did not believe his eyes. Thence we +crossed on to an island, [67] where their cabins are, which are poorly +constructed out of the bark of trees. The island is covered with oaks, +pines, and elms, and is not subject to inundations, like the other islands +in the lake. + +This island is strongly situated; for at its two ends, and where the river +enters the lake, there are troublesome falls, the roughness of which makes +the island difficult of access. They have accordingly taken up their abode +here in order to avoid the pursuit of their enemies. It is in latitude 47°, +[68] as also the lake, which is twenty leagues long, [69] and three or four +wide. It abounds in fish; the hunting, however, is not especially good. + +On visiting the island, I observed their cemeteries, and was struck with +wonder as I saw sepulchres of a shape like shrines, made of pieces of wood +fixed in the ground at a distance of about three feet from each other, and +intersecting at the upper end. On the intersections above they place a +large piece of wood, and in front another upright piece, on which is carved +roughly, as would be expected, the figure of the male or female interred. +If it is a man, they add a shield, a sword attached to a handle after their +manner, a mace, and bow and arrows. If it is a chief, there is a plume on +his head, and some other _matachia_ or embellishment. If it is a child, +they give it a bow and arrow; if a woman or girl, a boiler, an earthen +vessel, a wooden spoon, and an oar. The entire sepulchre is six or seven +feet long at most, and four wide; others are smaller. They are painted +yellow and red, with various ornaments as neatly done as the carving. The +deceased is buried with his dress of beaver or other skins which he wore +when living, and they lay by his side all his possessions, as hatchets, +knives, boilers, and awls, so that these things may serve him in the land +whither he goes; for they believe in the immortality of the soul, as I have +elsewhere observed. These carved sepulchres are only made for the warriors; +for in respect to others they add no more than in the case of women, who +are considered a useless class, accordingly but little is added in their +case. + +Observing the poor quality of the soil, I asked them what pleasure they +took in cultivating land so unpromising, since there was some much better, +which they left barren and waste, as at the Falls of St. Louis. They +answered that they were forced to do so in order to dwell in security, and +that the roughness of the locality served them as a defence against their +enemies. But they said that if I would make a settlement of French at the +Falls of St. Louis, as I had promised, they would leave their abode and go +and live near us, confident that their enemies would do them no harm while +we were with them. I told them that we would this year collect wood and +stone in order the coming year to build a fort and cultivate the land; upon +hearing which they raised a great cry of applause. This conference having +been finished, I asked all the chiefs and prominent men among them to +assemble the next day on the main land, at the cabin of Tessoüat, who +purposed to celebrate a _tabagie_ in my honor, adding that I would there +tell them my plans. This they promised, and sent word to their neighbors to +convene at the appointed place. + +The next day all the guests came, each with his porringer and wooden +spoon. They seated themselves without order or ceremony on the ground in +the cabin of Tessoüat, who distributed to them a kind of broth made of +maize crushed between two stones, together with meat and fish which was cut +into little pieces, the whole being boiled together without salt. They also +had meat roasted on coals, and fish boiled apart, which he also +distributed. In respect to myself, as I did not wish any of their chowder, +which they prepare in a very dirty manner, I asked them for some fish and +meat, that I might prepare it in my own way, which they gave me. For drink, +we had fine clear water. Tessoüat, who gave the _tabagie_, entertained us +without eating himself, according to their custom. + +The _tabagie_ being over, the young men, who are not present at the +harangues and councils, and who during the _tabagies_ remain at the door of +the cabins, withdrew, when all who remained began to fill their pipes, one +and another offering me one. We then spent a full half-hour in this +occupation, not a word being spoken, as is their custom. + +After smoking amply during so long a period of silence, I explained to +them, through my interpreter, that the object of my journey was none other +than to assure them of my friendship, and of the desire I had to assist +them in their wars, as I had before done; that I had been prevented from +coming the preceding year, as I had promised them, because the king had +employed me in other wars, but that now he had ordered me to visit them and +to fulfil my promises, and that for this purpose I had a number of men at +the Falls of St. Louis. I told them that I was making an excursion in their +territory to observe the fertility of their soil, their lakes and rivers, +and the sea which they had told me was in their country; and that I desired +to see a tribe distant six days' journey from them, called the +_Nebicerini_, in order to invite them also to the war, and accordingly I +asked them to give me four canoes with eight savages to guide me to these +lands. And since the Algonquins are not great friends of the _Nebicerini_, +[70] they seemed to listen to me with greater attention. + +After I had finished my discourse, they began again to smoke, and to confer +among themselves in a very low voice respecting my propositions. Then +Tessoüat in behalf of all the rest began and said, that they had always +regarded me more friendly towards them than any Frenchman they had seen; +that the proofs they had of this in the past made their confidence easier +for the future: moreover, that I had shown myself in reality their friend, +by encountering so many risks in coming to see them and invite them to the +war, and that all these considerations obliged them to feel as kindly +disposed towards me as towards their own children. But they said that I had +the preceding year broken my promise, that two thousand savages had gone to +the Falls with the expectation of finding me ready to go to the war, and +making me presents, but that they had not found me and were greatly +saddened, supposing that I was dead, as some persons had told them. He said +also, that the French who were at the Falls did not want to help them in +their wars, that they had been badly treated by certain ones, so that they +had resolved among themselves not to go to the Falls again, and that this +had caused them, as they did not expect to see me again, to go alone to the +war, and that in fact twelve hundred of them had already gone. And since +the greater part of their warriors were absent, they begged me to postpone +the expedition to the following year, saying that they would communicate +the matter to all the people of their country. In regard to the four +canoes, which I asked for, they granted them to me, but with great +reluctance, telling me that they were greatly displeased at the idea of +such an undertaking, in view of the hardships which I would endure; that +the people there were sorcerers, that they had caused the death of many of +their own tribe by charms and poisoning, on which account they were not +their friends: moreover they said that, as it regards war, I was not to +think of them, as they were little-hearted. With these and many other +considerations they endeavored to deter me from my purpose. + +But my sole desire on the other hand was to see this people, and enter into +friendship with them, so that I might visit the North Sea. Accordingly, +with a view to lessening the force of their objections, I said to them, +that it was not far to the country in question; that the bad roads could +not be worse than those I had already passed; that their witchcraft would +have no power to harm me, as my God would preserve me from them; that I was +also acquainted with their herbs, and would therefore beware of eating +them; that I desired to make the two tribes mutual friends, and that I +would to this end make presents to the other tribe, being assured that they +would do something for me. In view of these reasons they granted me, as I +have said, four canoes, at which I was very happy, forgetting all past +hardships in the hope of seeing this sea, as I so much desired. + +For the remainder of the day, I went out walking in their gardens, which +were filled with squashes, beans, and our peas, which they were beginning +to cultivate, when Thomas, my interpreter, who understands the language +very well, came to inform me that the savages, after I had left them, had +come to the conclusion, that if I were to undertake this journey I should +die and they also, and that they could not furnish the promised canoes, as +there was no one of them who would guide me, but that they wished me to +postpone the journey until the next year, when they would conduct me with a +good train to protect me from that people, in case they should attempt to +harm me, as they are evil-disposed. + +This intelligence greatly disturbed me, and I at once went to them and told +them, that up to this day I had regarded them as men and truthful persons, +but that now they had shown themselves children and liars, and that if they +would not fulfil their promises, they would fail to show me their +friendship; that, however, if they felt it an inconvenience to give me four +canoes they should only furnish two and four savages. + +They represented to me anew the difficulties attending the journey, the +number of the falls, the bad character of the people, and that their reason +for refusing my request was their fear of losing me. + +I replied that I was sorry to have them show themselves to so slight an +extent my friends, and that I should never have believed it; that I had a +young man, showing them my impostor, who had been in their country, and had +not found all these difficulties which they represented, nor the people in +question so bad as they asserted. Then they began to look at him, in +particular Tessoüat the old captain, with whom he had passed the winter, +and calling him by name he said to him in his language: Nicholas, is it +true that you said you were among the Nebicerini? It was long before he +spoke, when he said to them in their language, which he spoke to a certain +extent: Yes, I was there. They immediately looked at him awry, and throwing +themselves upon him, as if they would eat him up or tear him in pieces, +raised loud cries, when Tessoüat said to him: You are a downright liar, you +know well that you slept at my side every night with my children, where you +arose every morning; if you were among the people mentioned, it was while +sleeping. How could you have been so bold as to lead your chief to believe +lies, and so wicked as to be willing to expose his life to so many dangers? +You are a worthless fellow, and he ought to put you to death more cruelly +than we do our enemies. I am not astonished that he should so importune us +on the assurance of your words. + +I at once told him that he must reply to these people; and since he had +been in the regions indicated, that he must give me proofs of it, and free +me from the suspense in which he had placed me. But he remained silent and +greatly terrified. + +I immediately withdrew him from the savages, and conjured him to declare +the truth of the matter, telling him that, if he had seen the sea in +question, I would give him the reward which I had promised him, and that, +if he had not seen it, he must tell me so without causing me farther +trouble. Again he affirmed with oaths all he had before said, and that he +would demonstrate to me the truth of it, if the savages would give us +canoes. + +Upon this, Thomas came and informed me, that the savages of the island had +secretly sent a canoe to the Nebicerini, to notify them of my arrival. +Thereupon, in order to profit by the opportunity, I went to the savages to +tell them, that I had dreamed the past night that they purposed to send a +canoe to the Nebicerini without notifying me of it, at which I was greatly +surprised, since they knew that I was desirous of going there. Upon which +they replied that I did them a great wrong in trusting a liar, who wanted +to cause my death, more than so many brave chiefs, who were my friends and +who held my life dear. I replied that my man, meaning our impostor, had +been in the aforesaid country with one of the relatives of Tessoüat and had +seen the sea, the wreck and ruins of an English vessel, together with +eighty scalps which the savages had in their possession, and a young +English boy whom they held as prisoner, and whom they wished to give me as +a present. + +When they heard me speak of the sea, vessels, scalps of the English, and +the young prisoner, they cried out more than before that he was a liar, and +thus they afterwards called him, as if it were the greatest insult they +could have done him, and they all united in saying that he ought to be put +to death, or else that he should tell with whom he had gone to the place +indicated, and state the lakes, rivers, and roads, by which he had gone. To +this he replied with assurance, that he had forgotten the name of the +savage, although he had stated to me his name more than twenty times, and +even on the previous day. In respect to the peculiarities of the country, +he had described them in a paper which he had handed me. Then I brought +forward the map and had it explained to the savages, who questioned him in +regard to it. To this he made no reply, but rather manifested by his sullen +silence his perverse nature. + +As my mind was wavering in uncertainty, I withdrew by myself, and reflected +upon the above-mentioned particulars of the voyage of the English, and how +the reports of our liar were quite in conformity with it, also that there +was little probability of this young man's having invented all that, in +which case he would not have been willing to undertake the journey, but +that it was more probable that he had seen these things, and that his +ignorance did not permit him to reply to the questions of the savages. To +the above is to be added the fact that, if the report of the English be +true, the North Sea cannot be farther distant from this region than a +hundred leagues in latitude, for I was in latitude 47° and in longitude +296°.[71] But it may be that the difficulties attending the passage of the +falls, the roughness of the mountains covered with shows, is the reason why +this people have no knowledge of the sea in question; indeed they have +always said that from the country of the Ochateguins it is a journey of +thirty-five or forty days to the sea, which they see in three places, a +thing which they have again assured me of this year. But no one has spoken +to me of this sea on the north, except this liar, who had given me thereby +great pleasure in view of the shortness of the journey. + +Now, when this canoe was ready, I had him summoned into the presence of his +companions; and after laying before him all that had transpired, I told him +that any further dissimulation was out of the question, and that he must +say whether he had seen these things or not; that I was desirous of +improving the opportunity that presented itself; that I had forgotten the +past; but that, if I went farther, I would have him hung and strangled, +which should be his sole reward. After meditating by himself, he fell on +his knees and asked my pardon, declaring that all he had said, both in +France and this country, in respect to the sea in question was false; that +he had never seen it, and that he had never gone farther than the village +of Tessoüat; that he had said these things in order to return to Canada. +Overcome with wrath at this, I had him removed, being unable to endure him +any longer in my presence, and giving orders to Thomas to inquire into the +whole matter in detail; to whom he stated, that he did not believe that I +would undertake the journey on account of the dangers, thinking that some +difficulty would present itself to prevent me from going on, as in the case +of these savages, who were not disposed to lend me canoes; and accordingly +that the journey would be put off until another year, when he being in +France would be rewarded for his discovery; but that, if I would leave him +in this country, he would go until he found the sea in question, even if he +should die in the attempt. These were his words as reported to me by +Thomas, but they did not give me much satisfaction, astounded as I was at +the effrontery and maliciousness of this liar: and I cannot imagine how he +could have devised this imposition, unless that he had heard of the +above-mentioned voyage of the English, and in the hope of some reward, as +he said, had the temerity to venture on it. + +Shortly after I proceeded to notify the savages, to my great regret, of the +malignity of this liar, stating that he had confessed the truth; at which +they were delighted, reproaching me with the little confidence I put in +them, who were chiefs and my friends, and who always spoke the truth; and +who said that this liar ought to be put to death, being extremely +malicious; and they added, Do you not see that he meant to cause your +death. Give him to us, and we promise you that he shall not lie any more. +And as they all went after him shouting, their children also shouting still +more, I forbade them to do him any harm, directing them to keep their +children also from doing so, inasmuch as I wished to take him to the Falls +to show him to the gentlemen there, to whom he was to bring some salt +water; and I said that, when I arrived there, I would consult as to what +should be done with him. + +My journey having been in this manner terminated, and without any hope of +seeing the sea in this direction, except in imagination, I felt a regret +that I should not have employed my time better, and that I should have had +to endure the difficulties and hardships, which however I was obliged +patiently to submit to. If I had gone in another direction, according to +the report of the savages, I should have made a beginning in a thing which +must be postponed to another time. At present my only wish being to return, +I desired the savages to go to the Falls of St. Louis, where there were +four vessels loaded with all kinds of merchandise, and where they would be +well treated. This they communicated to all their neighbors. Before setting +out, I made a cross of white cedar, which I planted in a prominent place on +the border of the lake, with the arms of France, and I begged the savages +to have the kindness to preserve it, as also those which they would find +along the ways we had passed; telling them that, if they broke them, +misfortune would befall them, but that, if they preserved them, they would +not be assaulted by their enemies. They promised to do so, and said that I +should find them when I came to visit them again. + +ENDNOTES: + +65. It seems not improbable, as suggested by Laverdière, that this was the + same chief that Champlain met at Tadoussac in 1603, then called + _Besouat. Vide_ Vol. I. p. 242. + +66. They crossed Muskrat Lake, and after a portage of a league, by general + estimation, they reached Lake Allumette. This lake is only the expanded + current of the river Ottawa on the southern side of Allumette Island; + which is formed by the bifurcation of the Ottawa. + +67. Allumette Island, often called, in the _Relations des Jésuites_, simply + the Island. The savages in occupation were in the habit of exacting + tribute from the Hurons and others, who passed along on their war + excursions or their journeys for trade with the French at Montreal. + They bartered their maize with other tribes for skins with which they + clothed themselves. + +68. The true latitude here is about 45° 47'. On the map of 1632 the + latitude corresponds with the statement in the text. + +69. In his issue of 1632 Champlain corrects his statement as to the length + of Allumette Island, and says it is ten leagues long, which is nearly + correct. _Vide_ Quebec ed. p 868. Of this island Bouchette says that in + length it is about fifteen miles, and on an average four miles wide. + _British Dominions in North America_, London, 1831, Vol I. p. 187. + +70. This tribe was subsequently known as the Nipissings, who dwelt on the + borders of Lake Nipissing. They were distinguished for their sorceries, + under the cover of which they appear to have practised impositions + which naturally enough rendered other neighboring Algonquin tribes + hostile to them. + +71. The true latitude, as we have stated, _antea_, note 61, is about 45° + 37'; but on Champlain's map it corresponds with the statement in the + text, and a hundred leagues north of where they then were, as his map + is constructed, would carry them to the place in the bay where Hudson + wintered, as stated by Champlain, and as laid down on his small map + included in this volume; but the longitude is incorrect, Allumette + Island being two or three degrees east of longitude 296°, as laid down + on Champlain's map of 1632. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +OUR RETURN TO THE FALLS.--FALSE ALARM.--CEREMONY AT THE CHAUDIÈRE FALLS.-- +CONFESSION OF OUR LIAR BEFORE ALL THE CHIEF MEN.--OUR RETURN TO FRANCE. + +On the 10th of June I took leave of Tessoüat, a good old captain, making +him presents, and promising him, if God preserved me in health, to come the +next year, prepared to go to war. He in turn promised to assemble a large +number by that time, declaring that I should see nothing but savages and +arms which would please me; he also directed his son to go with me for the +sake of company. Thus we set out with forty canoes, and passed by way [72] +of the river we had left, which extends northward, and where we went on +shore in order to cross the lakes. On the way we met nine large canoes of +the Ouescharini, with forty strong and powerful men, who had come upon the +news they had received; we also met others, making all together sixty +canoes; and we overtook twenty others, who had set out before us, each +heavily laden with merchandise. + +We passed six or seven falls between the island of the Algonquins [73] and +the little fall; [74] where the country was very unpleasant I readily +realized that, if we had gone in that direction, we should have had much +more trouble, and would with difficulty have succeeded in getting through: +and it was not without reason that the savages opposed our liar, as his +only object was to cause my ruin. + +Continuing our course ten or twelve leagues below the island of the +Algonquins, we rested on a very pleasant island, which was covered with +vines and nut-trees, and where we caught some fine fish. About midnight, +there arrived two canoes, which had been fishing farther off, and which +reported that they had seen four canoes of their enemies. At once three +canoes were despatched to reconnoitre, but they returned without having +seen anything. With this assurance all gave themselves up to sleep, +excepting the women, who resolved to spend the night in their canoes, not +feeling at ease on land. An hour before daylight a savage, having dreamed +that the enemy were attacking them, jumped up and started on a run towards +the water, in order to escape, shouting, They are killing me. Those +belonging to his band all awoke dumfounded and, supposing that they were +being pursued by their enemies, threw themselves into the water, as did +also one of our Frenchmen, who supposed that they were being overpowered. +At this great noise, the rest of us, who were at a distance, were at once +awakened, and without making farther investigation ran towards them: but as +we saw them here and there in the water, we were greatly surprised, not +seeing them pursued by their enemies, nor in a state of defence, in case of +necessity, but only ready to sacrifice themselves. After I had inquired of +our Frenchman about the cause of this excitement, he told me that a savage +had had a dream, and that he with the rest had thrown themselves into the +water in order to escape, supposing that they were being attacked. +Accordingly, the state of the case being ascertained, it all passed off in +a laugh. + +Continuing our way, we came to the Chaudière Falls, where the savages went +through with the customary ceremony; which is as follows. After carrying +their canoes to the foot of the Fall, they assemble in one spot, where one +of them takes up a collection with a wooden plate, into which each one puts +a bit of tobacco. The collection having been made, the plate is placed in +the midst of the troupe, and all dance about it, singing after their style. +Then one of the captains makes an harangue, setting forth that for a long +time they have been accustomed to make this offering, by which means they +are insured protection against their enemies, that otherwise misfortune +would befall them, as they are convinced by the evil spirit; and they live +on in this superstition, as in many others, as we have said in other +places. This done, the maker of the harangue takes the plate, and throws +the tobacco into the midst of the caldron, whereupon they all together +raise a loud cry. These poor people are so superstitious, that they would +not believe it possible for them to make a prosperous journey without +observing this ceremony at this place, since their enemies await them at +this portage, not venturing to go any farther on account of the difficulty +of the journey, whence they say they surprise them there, as they have +sometimes done. + +The next day we arrived at an island at the entrance to a lake, and seven +or eight leagues distant from the great Falls of St. Louis. Here while +reposing at night we had another alarm, the savages supposing that they had +seen the canoes of their enemies. This led them to make several large +fires, which I had them put out, representing to them the harm which might +result, namely, that instead of concealing they would disclose themselves. + +On the 17th of June, we arrived at the Falls of St. Louis, where I found +L'Ange, who had come to meet me in a canoe to inform me, that Sieur de +Maisonneuve of St. Malo had brought a passport from the Prince for three +vessels. In order to arrange matters until I should see him, I assembled +all the savages and informed them that I did not wish them to traffic in +any merchandise until I had given them permission, and that I would furnish +them provisions as soon as we should arrive; which they promised, saying +that they were my friends. Thus, continuing our course, we arrived at the +barques, where we were saluted by some discharges of cannon, at which some +of our savages were delighted, and others greatly astonished, never having +heard such music. After I had landed, Maisonneuve came to me with the +passport of the Prince. As soon as I had seen it, I allowed him and his men +to enjoy the benefits of it like the rest of us; and I sent word to the +savages that they might trade on the next day. + +After seeing all the chief men and relating the particulars of my journey +and the malice of my liar, at which they were greatly amazed, I begged them +to assemble, in order that in their presence, and that of the savages and +his companions, he might make declaration of his maliciousness; which they +gladly did. Being thus assembled, they summoned him, and asked him, why he +had not shown me the sea in the north, as he had promised me at his +departure. He replied that he had promised something impossible for him, +since he had never seen this sea, and that the desire of making the journey +had led him to say what he did, also that he did not suppose that I would +undertake it; and he begged them to be pleased to pardon him, as he also +did me again, confessing that he had greatly offended, and if I would leave +him in the country, he would by his efforts repair the offence, and see +this sea, and bring back trustworthy intelligence concerning it the +following year; and in view of certain considerations I pardoned him on +this condition. + +After relating to them in detail the good treatment I had received at the +abodes of the savages, and how I had been occupied each day, I inquired +what they had done during my absence, and what had been the result of their +hunting excursions, and they said they had had such success that they +generally brought home six stags. Once on St. Barnabas's day, Sieur du +Parc, having gone hunting with two others, killed nine. These stags are not +at all like ours, and there are different kinds of them, some larger, +others smaller, which resemble closely our deer.[75] They had also a very +large number of pigeons, [76] and also fish, such as pike, carp, sturgeon, +shad, barbel, turtles, bass, and other kinds unknown to us, on which they +dined and supped every day. They were also all in better condition than +myself, who was reduced from work and the anxiety which I had experienced, +not having eaten more than once a day, and that of fish badly cooked and +half broiled. + +On the 22d of June, about 8 o'clock in the evening, the savages sounded an +alarm because one of them had dreamed he had seen the Iroquois. In order to +content them, all the men took their arms, and some were sent to their +cabins to reassure them, and into the approaches to reconnoitre, so that, +finding it was a false alarm, they were satisfied with the firing of some +two hundred musket and arquebus shots, after which arms were laid down, the +ordinary guard only being left. This reassured them greatly, and they were +very glad to see the French ready to help them. + +After the savages had bartered their articles of merchandise and had +resolved to return, I asked them to take with them two young men, to treat +them in a friendly manner, show them the country, and bind themselves to +bring them back. But they strongly objected to this, representing to me the +trouble our liar had given me, and fearing that they would bring me false +reports, as he had done. I replied that they were men of probity and truth, +and that if they would not take them they were not my friends, whereupon +they resolved to do so. As for out liar, none of the savages wanted him, +notwithstanding my request to them to take him, and we left him to the +mercy of God. + +Finding that I had no further business in this country, I resolved to +cross in the first vessel that should return to France. Sieur de +Maisonneuve, having his ready, offered me a passage, which I accepted; and +on the 27th of June I set out with Sieur L'Ange from the Falls, where we +left the other vessels, which were awaiting the return of the savages who +had gone to the war, and we arrived at Tadoussac on the 6th of July. + +On the 8th of August [77] we were enabled by favorable weather to set +sail. On the 18th we left Gaspé and Isle Percée. On the 28th we were on the +Grand Bank, where the green fishery is carried on, and where we took as +many fish as we wanted. + +On the 26th of August we arrived at St Malo, where I saw the merchants, to +whom I represented the ease of forming a good association in the future, +which they resolved to do, as those of Rouen and La Rochelle had done, +after recognizing the necessity of the regulations, without which it is +impossible to hope for any profit from these lands. May God by His grace +cause this undertaking to prosper to His honor and glory, the conversion of +these poor benighted ones, and to the welfare and honor of France. + +ENDNOTES: + +72. By the Ottawa, which they had left a little below Portage du Fort, and + not by the same way they had come, through the system of small lakes, + of which Muskrat lake is one. _Vide Carte de la Nouvelle France_, 1632, + Vol. I. p. 304. + +73. Allumette Island. + +74. Near Gould's Landing, below or south of Portage da Fort.--_Vide + Champlain's Astrolabe_, by A. J. Russell, Montreal, 1879, p. 6. + +75. At that time there were to be found in Canada at least four species of + the Cervus Family. + + 1. The Moose, _Cervus alces_, or _alces Americanus_, usually called by + the earliest writers _orignal_ or _orignac_. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 264, + 265. This is the largest of all the deer family in this or in any other + part of the world The average weight has been placed at seven hundred + pounds, while extraordinary specimens probably attain twice that + weight. + + 2. The Wapiti, or American Elk, _Cervus elaphus_, or _Canadensis_. This + is the largest of the known deer except the preceding. The average + weight is probably less than six hundred pounds. + + 3. The Woodland Caribou, _Cervus tarandus_. It is smaller than the + Wapiti. Its range is now mostly in the northern regions of the + continent but specimens are still found in Nova Scotia and New + Brunswick. The female is armed with antlers as well as the male, though + they are smaller. + + 4. The Common Deer, _Cervus Virginianus_. It has the widest range of + any of the deer family. It is still found in every degree of latitude + from Mexico to British Columbia. _Vide Antelope and Deer of America_ by + John Dean Caton, LL.D., Boston, 1877. + +76. _Palombes_. The passenger, or wild pigeon, _Ectopistes migratorius_. + +77. _Le_ 8 _Aoust_. Laverdière suggests with much plausibility that this + should read "The 8th of July." Champlain could hardly have found it + necessary to remain at Tadoussac from the 6th of July to the 8th of + August for favorable weather to sail. If he had been detained by any + other cause, it would probably have been deemed of sufficient gravity + to be specially mentioned. + + + +VOYAGES +AND +DISCOVERIES IN NEW FRANCE, +From the year 1615 to the end of the year 1618. + +BY +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, +Captain in ordinary to the King in the Western Sea. + +WHERE ARE DESCRIBED + +_The manners, customs, dress, mode of warfare, hunting, dances, festivals, +and method of burial of various savage peoples, with many remarkable +experiences of the author in this country, and an account of the beauty, +fertility, and temperature of the same_. + +PARIS. + +CLAUDE COLLET, in the Palace, at the gallery of the Prisoners. + +M. DC. XIX. + +_WITH AUTHORITY OF THE KING_. + + +TO THE KING. + +_Sire, This is a third volume containing a narrative of what has transpired +most worthy of note during the voyages I have made to New France, and its +perusal will, I think, afford your Majesty greater pleasure than that of +those preceding, which only designate the ports, harbors, situations, +declinations, and other particulars, having more interest for navigators +and sailors than for other persons. In this narrative you will be able to +observe more especially the manners and mode of life of these peoples both +in particular and in general, their wars, ammunition, method of attack and +of defence, their expeditions and retreats in various circumstances, +matters about which those interested desire information. You will perceive +also that they are not savage to such an extent that they could not in +course of time and through association with others become civilised and +cultivated. You will likewise perceive how great hopes we cherish from the +long and arduous labors we have for the past fifteen years sustained, in +order to plant in this country the standard of the cross, and to teach the +people the knowledge of God and the glory of His holy name, it being our +desire to cultivate a feeling of charity towards His unfortunate creatures, +which it is our duty to practise more patiently than any other thing, +especially as there are many who have not entertained such purposes, but +have been influenced only by the desire of gain. Nevertheless we may, I +suppose, believe that these are the means which God makes use of for the +greater promotion of the holy desire of others. As the fruits which the +trees bear are from God, the Lord of the soil, who has planted, watered, +and nourished them with an especial care, so your Majesty can be called the +legitimate lord of our labors, and the good resulting from them, not only +because the land belongs to you, but also because you have protected us +against so many persons, whose only object has been by troubling us to +prevent the success of so holy a determination, taking from us the power to +trade freely in a part of your country, and striving to bring everything +into confusion, which would be, in a word, preparing the way for the ruin +of everything to the injury of your state. To this end your subjects have +employed every conceivable artifice and all possible means which they +thought could injure us. But all these efforts have been thwarted by your +Majesty, assisted by your prudent council, who have given us the authority +of your name, and supported us by your decrees rendered in our favor. This +is an occasion for increasing in us our long-cherished desire to send +communities and colonies there, to teach the people the knowledge of God, +and inform them of the glory and triumphs of your Majesty, so that together +with the French language they may also acquire a French heart and spirit, +which, next to the fear of God, will be inspired with nothing so ardently +as the desire to serve you. Should our design succeed, the glory of it will +be due, after God, to your Majesty, who will receive a thousand +benedictions from Heaven for so many souls saved by your instrumentality, +and your name will be immortalized for carrying the glory and sceptre of +the French as far to the Occident as your precursors have extended it to +the Orient, and over the entire habitable earth. This will augment the +quality of_ MOST CHRISTIAN _belonging to you above all the kings of the +earth, and show that it is as much your due by merit as it is your own of +right, it having been transmitted to you by your predecessors, who acquired +it by their virtues; for you have been pleased, in addition to so many +other important affairs, to give your attention to this one, so seriously +neglected hitherto, God's special grace reserving to your reign the +publication of His gospel, and the knowledge of His holy name to so many +tribes who had never heard of it. And some day may God's grace lead them, +as it does us, to pray to Him without ceasing to extend your empire, and to +vouchsafe a thousand blessings to your Majesty_. + +_SIRE_, + +_Your most humble, most faithful_, + +_and most obedient servant and subject_, + +_CHAMPLAIN_. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +As in the various affairs of the world each thing strives for its +perfection and the preservation of its being, so on the other hand does man +interest himself in the different concerns of others on some account, +either for the public good, or to acquire, apart from the common interest, +praise and reputation with some profit. Wherefore many have pursued this +course, but as for myself I have made choice of the most unpleasant and +difficult one of the perilous navigation of the seas; with the purpose, +however, not so much of gaining wealth, as the honor and glory of God in +behalf of my King and country, and contributing by my labors something +useful to the public good. And I make declaration that I have not been +tempted by any other ambition, as can be clearly perceived, not only by my +conduct in the past, but also by the narratives of my voyages, made by the +command of His Majesty, in New France, contained in my first and second +books, as may be seen in the same. + +Should God bless our purpose, which aims only for His glory, and should any +fruit result from our discoveries and arduous labors, I will return thanks +to Him, and for Your Majesty's protection and assistance will continue my +prayers for the aggrandizement and prolongation of your reign. + + + + +EXTRACT FROM THE LICENSE OF THE KING. + +By favor and license of the KING, permission is given to CLAUDE COLLET, +merchant bookseller in our city of Paris, to print, or have printed by such +printer as shall seem good to him, a book entitled, _Voyages and +Discoveries in New France, from the Year_ 1615 _to the End of the Year +1618. By Sieur de Champlain, Captain in Ordinary to the King in the Western +Sea_. All booksellers and printers of our kingdom are forbidden to print or +have printed, to sell wholesale or retail, said book, except with the +consent of said Collet, for the time and term of six years, beginning with +the day when said book is printed, on penalty of confiscation of the +copies, and a fine of four hundred _livres_, a half to go to us and a half +to said petitioner. It is our will, moreover, that this License should be +placed at the commencement or end of said book. This is our pleasure. + +Given at Paris, the 18th day of May, 1619, and of our reign the tenth. + +By the Council, + +DE CESCAUD + + + + +VOYAGE +OF +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN TO NEW FRANCE, +MADE IN THE YEAR 1615. + + +The strong love, which I have always cherished for the exploration of New +France, has made me desirous of extending more and more my travels over the +country, in order, by means of its numerous rivers, lakes, and streams, to +obtain at last a complete knowledge of it, and also to become acquainted +with the inhabitants, with the view of bringing them to the knowledge of +God. To this end I have toiled constantly for the past fourteen or fifteen +years, [78] yet have been able to advance my designs but little, because I +have not received the assistance which was necessary for the success of +such an undertaking. Nevertheless, without losing courage, I have not +ceased to push on, and visit various nations of the savages; and, by +associating familiarly with them, I have concluded, as well from their +conversation as from the knowledge already attained, that there is no +better way than, disregarding all storms and difficulties, to have patience +until His Majesty shall give the requisite attention to the matter, and +meanwhile, not only to continue the exploration of the country, but also to +learn the language, and form relations and friendships with the leading men +of the villages and tribes, in order to lay the foundations of a permanent +edifice, as well for the glory of God as for the renown of the French. + +And His Majesty having transferred and intrusted the superintendence of +this work to Monseigneur the Prince de Condé, the latter has, by his +management, under the authority of His Majesty, sustained us against all +forts of jealousies and obstacles concerted by evil wishers. This has, as +it were, animated me and redoubled my courage for the continuation of my +labors in the exploration of New France, and with increased effort I have +pushed forward in my undertaking into the mainland, and farther on than I +had previously been, as will be hereafter indicated in the course of this +narrative. + +But it is appropriate to state first that, as I had observed in my previous +journeys, there were in some places people permanently settled, who were +fond of the cultivation of the soil, but who had neither faith nor law, and +lived without God and religion, like brute beasts. In view of this, I felt +convinced that I should be committing a grave offence if I did not take it +upon myself to devise some means of bringing them to the knowledge of +God. To this end I exerted myself to find some good friars, with zeal and +affection for the glory of God, that I might persuade them to send some +one, or go themselves, with me to these countries, and try to plant there +the faith, or at least do what was possible according to their calling, and +thus to observe and ascertain whether any good fruit could be gathered +there. But since to attain this object an expenditure would be required +exceeding my means, and for other reasons, I deferred the matter for a +while, in view of the difficulties there would be in obtaining what was +necessary and requisite in such an enterprise; and since, furthermore, no +persons offered to contribute to it. Nevertheless, while continuing my +search, and communicating my plan to various persons, a man of distinction +chanced to present himself, whose intimate acquaintance I enjoyed. This was +Sieur Hoüel, Secretary of the King and Controller-general of the salt works +at Brouage, a man of devoted piety, and of great zeal and love for the +honor of God and the extension of His religion. [79] He gave me the +following information, which afforded me great pleasure. He said that he +was acquainted with some good religious Fathers, of the order of the +Recollects, in whom he had confidence; and that he enjoyed such intimacy +and confidence with them that he could easily induce them to consent to +undertake the voyage; and that, as to the necessary means for sending out +three or four friars, there would be no lack of people of property who +would give them what they needed, offering for his part to assist them to +the extent of his ability; and, in fact, he wrote in relation to the +subject to Father du Verger, [80] who welcomed with joy the undertaking, +and, in accordance with the recommendation of Sieur Hoüel, communicated it +to some of his brethren, who, burning with charity, offered themselves +freely for this holy undertaking. + +Now he was at that time in Saintonge, whence he sent two men to Paris with +a commission, though not with absolute power, reserving the rest to the +Nuncio of our Holy Father the Pope, who was at that time, in 1614, in +France. [81] He called upon these friars at their house in Paris, and was +greatly pleased with their resolution. We then went all together to see the +Sieur Nuncio, in order to communicate to him the commission, and entreat +him to interpose his authority in the matter. But he, on the contrary, told +us that he had no power whatever in such matters, and that it was to their +General that they were to address themselves. Notwithstanding this reply, +the Recollects, in consideration of the difficulty of the mission, were +unwilling to undertake the journey on the authority of Father du Verger, +fearing that it might not be sufficient, and that the commission might not +be valid, on which account the matter was postponed to the following +year. Meanwhile they took counsel, and came to a determination, according +to which all arrangements were made for the undertaking, which was to be +carried out in the following spring; awaiting which the two friars returned +to their convent at Brouage. + +I for my part improved the time in arranging my affairs in preparation for +the voyage. + +Some months after the departure of the two friars, the Reverend Father +Chapoüin, Provincial of the Recollect Fathers, a man of great piety, +returned to Paris. Sieur Hoüel called on him, and narrated what had taken +place respecting the authority of Father du Verger, and the mission he had +given to the Recollect Fathers. After which narrative the Provincial Father +proceeded to extol the plan, and to interest himself with zeal in it, +promising to promote it with all his power, and adding that, he had not +before well comprehended the subject of this mission; and it is to be +believed that God inspired him more and more to prosecute the matter. +Subsequently he spoke of it to Monseigneur the Prince de Condé, and to all +the cardinals and bishops who were then assembled at Paris for the Session +of the Estates. All of them approved and commended the plan; and to show +that they were favorably disposed towards it, they assured the Sieur +Provincial that they would devise among themselves and the members of the +Court means for raising a small fund, and that they would collect some +money for assisting four friars to be chosen, and who were then chosen for +the execution of so holy a work. And in order to facilitate the +undertaking, I visited at the Estates the cardinals and bishops, and +urgently represented to them the advantage, and usefulness which might one +day result, in order by my entreaties to move them to give, and cause +others who might be stimulated by their example to give, contributions and +presents, leaving all to their good will and judgment. + +The contributions which were made for the expenses of this expedition +amounted to nearly fifteen hundred _livres_, which were put into my hands, +and then employed, according to the advice and in the presence of the +Fathers, for the purchase of what was necessary, not only for the +maintenance of the Fathers who should undertake the journey into New +France, but also for their clothing, and the attire and ornaments necessary +for performing divine service. The friars were sent on in advance to +Honfleur, where their embarkation was to take place. + +Now the Fathers who were appointed for this holy enterprise were Father +Denis [82] as commissary, Jean d'Olbeau, [83] Joseph le Caron, and +Pacifique du Plessis, [84] each of whom was moved by a holy zeal and ardor +to make the journey, through God's grace, in order to see if they might +produce some good fruit, and plant in these regions the standard of Jesus +Christ, determined to live and to die for His holy name, should it be +necessary to do so and the occasion require it. Everything having been +prepared, they provided themselves with church ornaments, and we with what +was necessary for our voyage. + +I left Paris the last day of February to meet at Rouen our associates, and +represent to them the will of Monseigneur the Prince, and also his desire +that these good Fathers should make the journey, since he recognized the +fact that the affairs of the country could hardly reach any perfection or +advancement, if God should not first of all be served; with which our +associates were highly pleased, promising to assist the Fathers to the +extent of their ability, and provide them with the support they might need. + +The Fathers arrived at Rouen the twentieth of March following, where we +stayed some time. Thence we went to Honfleur to embark, where we also +stayed some days, waiting for our vessel to be got ready, and loaded with +the necessaries for so long a voyage. Meanwhile preparations were made in +matters of conscience, so that each one of us might examine himself, and +cleanse himself from his sins by penitence and confession, in order to +celebrate the sacrament and attain a state of grace, so that, being thereby +freer in conscience, we might under the guidance of God, expose ourselves +to the mercy of the waves of the great and perilous sea. + +This done, we embarked on the vessel of the association, which was of three +hundred and fifty tons burden, and was called the Saint Étienne, commanded +by Sieur de Pont Gravé. We departed from Honfleur on the twenty-fourth day +of August, [85] in the above-mentioned year, and set sail with a very +favorable wind. We continued on our voyage without encountering ice or +other dangers, through the mercy of God, and in a short time arrived off +the place called _Tadoussac_, on the twenty-fifth day of May, when we +rendered thanks to God for having conducted us so favorably to the harbor +of our destination. + +Then we began to set men at work to fit up our barques in order to go to +Quebec, the place of our abode, and to the great Falls of Saint Louis, the +rendezvous of the savages, who come there to traffic. + +The barques having been fitted up, we went on board with the Fathers, one +of whom, named Father Joseph, [86] desired, without stopping or making any +stay at Quebec, to go directly to the great Falls, where he saw all the +savages and their mode of life. This induced him to go and spend the winter +in their country and that of other tribes who have a fixed abode, not only +in order to learn their language, but also to see what the prospect was of +their conversion to Christianity. This resolution having been formed, he +returned to Quebec the twentieth day of June [87] for some church ornaments +and other necessaries. Meanwhile I had stayed at Quebec in order to arrange +matters relating to our habitation, as the lodgings of the Fathers, church +ornaments, the construction of a chapel for the celebration of the mass, as +also the employment of persons for clearing up lands. I embarked for the +Falls together with Father Denis, [88] who had arrived the same day from +Tadoussac with Sieur de Pont Gravé. + +As to the other friars, viz., Fathers Jean and Pacifique, [89] they stayed +at Quebec in order to fit up their chapel and arrange their lodgings. They +were greatly pleased at seeing the place so different from what they had +imagined, which increased their zeal. + +We arrived at the Rivière des Prairies, five leagues below the Falls of +Saint Louis, whither the savages had come down. I will not attempt to speak +of the pleasure which our Fathers experienced at seeing, not only so long +and large a river, filled with many fine islands and bordered by a region +apparently so fertile, but also a great number of strong and robust men, +with natures not so savage as their manners, nor as they acknowledged they +had conceived them to be, and very different from what they had been given +to understand, owing to their lack of cultivation. I will not enter into a +description of them, but refer the reader to what I have said about them in +my preceding books, printed in the year 1614. [90] + +To continue my narrative: We met Father Joseph, who was returning to Quebec +in order to make preparations, and take what he needed for wintering in +their country. This I did not think advisable at this season, but +counselled him rather to spend the winter at our settlement as being more +for his comfort, and undertake the journey when spring came or at least in +summer, offering to accompany him, and adding that by doing so he would not +fail to see what he might have seen by going, and that by returning and +spending the winter at Quebec he would have the society of his brothers and +others who remained at the settlement, by which he would be more profited +than by staying alone among these people, with whom he could not, in my +opinion, have much satisfaction. Nevertheless, in spite of all that could +be said to him and all representations, he would not change his purpose, +being urged by a godly zeal and love for this people, and hoping to make +known to them their salvation. + +His motive in undertaking this enterprise, as he stated to us, was that he +thought it was necessary for him to go there not only in order to become +better acquainted with the characteristics of the people, but also to learn +more easily their language. In regard to the difficulties which it was +represented to him that he would have to encounter in his intercourse with +them, he felt assured that he could bear and overcome them, and that he +could adapt himself very well and cheerfully to the manner of living and +the inconveniences he would find, through the grace of God, of whose +goodness and help he felt clearly assured, being convinced that, since he +went on His service, and since it was for the glory of His name and the +preaching of His holy gospel that he undertook freely this journey, He +would never abandon him in his undertaking. And in regard to temporal +provisions very little was needed to satisfy a man who demands nothing but +perpetual poverty, and who seeks for nothing but heaven, not only for +himself but also for his brethren, it not being consistent with his rule of +life to have any other ambition than the glory of God, and it being his +purpose to endure to this end all the hardships, sufferings, and labors +which might offer. + +Seeing him impelled by so holy a zeal and so ardent a charity, I was +unwilling to try any more to restrain him. Thus he set out with the purpose +of being the first to announce through His holy favor to this people the +name of God, having the great satisfaction that an opportunity presented +itself for suffering something for the name and glory of our Saviour Jesus +Christ. + +As soon as I had arrived at the Falls, I visited the people, who were very +desirous of seeing us and delighted at our return. They hoped that we would +furnish them some of our number to assist them in their wars against our +enemies, representing to us that they could with difficulty come to us if +we should not assist them; for the Iroquois, they said, their old enemies, +were always on the road obstructing their passage. Moreover I had +constantly promised to assist them in their wars, as they gave us to +understand by their interpreter. Whereupon Sieur Pont Gravé and myself +concluded that it was very necessary to assist them, not only in order to +put them the more under obligations to love us, but also to facilitate my +undertakings and explorations which, as it seemed, could only be +accomplished by their help, and also as this would be a preparatory step to +their conversion to Christianity. [91] Therefore I resolved to, go and +explore their country and assist them in their wars, in order to oblige +them to show me what they had so many times promised to do. + +We accordingly caused them all to assemble together, that we might +communicate to them our intention. When they had heard it, they promised to +furnish us two thousand five hundred and fifty men of war, who would do +wonders, with the understanding that I with the same end in view should +very glad to see them decide so well. Then I proceeded to make known to +them the methods to be adopted for fighting, in which they took especial +pleasure, manifesting a strong hope of victory. Everything having been +decided upon, we separated with the intention of returning for the +execution of our undertaking. But before entering upon this journey, which +would require not less than three or four months, it seemed desirable that +I should go to our settlement to make the necessary arrangements there for +my absence. + +On the ---- day of ---- following I set out on my return to the Rivière des +Prairies. [92] While there with two canoes of savages I met Father Joseph, +who was returning from our settlement with some church ornaments for +celebrating the holy sacrifice of the mass, which was chanted on the border +of the river with all devotion by the Reverend Fathers Denis and Joseph, in +presence of all the people, who were amazed at seeing the ceremonies +observed and the ornaments which seemed to them so handsome. It was +something which they had never before seen, for these Fathers were the +first who celebrated here the holy mass. + +To return and continue the narrative of my journey: I arrived at Quebec on +the 26th, where I found the Fathers Jean and Pacifique in good health. They +on their part did their duty at that place in getting all things ready. +They celebrated the holy mass, which had never been said there before, nor +had there ever been any priest in this region. + +Having arranged all matters at Quebec, I took with me two men and returned +to the Rivière des Prairies, in order to go with the savages. I left Quebec +on the fourth day of July, and on the eighth of the month while _en route_ +I met Sieur du Pont Gravé and Father Denis, who were returning to Quebec, +and who told me that the savages had departed greatly disappointed at my +not going with them; and that many of them declared that we were dead or +had been taken by the Iroquois, since I was to be gone only four or five +days, but had been gone ten. This made them and even our own Frenchmen give +up hope, so much did they long to see us again. They told me that Father +Joseph had departed with twelve Frenchmen, who had been furnished to assist +the savages. This intelligence troubled me somewhat; since, if I had been +there, I should have arranged many things for the journey, which I could +not now do. I was troubled not only on account of the small number of men, +but also because there were only four or five who were acquainted with the +handling of arms, while in such an expedition the best are not too good in +this particular. All this however did not cause me to lose courage at all +for going on with the expedition, on account of the desire I had of +continuing my explorations. I separated accordingly from Sieurs du Pont +Gravé and Father Denis, determined to go on in the two canoes which I had, +and follow after the savages, having provided myself with what I needed. + +On the 9th of the month I embarked with two others, namely, one of our +interpreters [93] and my man, accompanied by ten savages in the two canoes, +these being all they could carry, as they were heavily loaded and +encumbered with clothes, which prevented me from taking more men. + +We continued our voyage up the River St. Lawrence some six leagues, and +then went by the Rivière des Prairies, which discharges into that river. +Leaving on the left the Falls of St. Louis, which are five or six leagues +higher up, and passing several small falls on this river, we entered a +lake, [94] after passing which we entered the river where I had been +before, which leads to the Algonquins, [95] a distance of eighty-nine +leagues [96] from the Falls of St. Louis. Of this river I have made an +ample description, with an account of my explorations, in my preceding +book, printed in 1614.[97] For this reason I shall not speak of it in this +narrative, but pass on directly to the Lake of the Algonquins.[98] Here we +entered a river [99] which flows into this lake, up which we went some +thirty-five leagues, passing a large number of falls both by land and +water, the country being far from attractive, and covered with pines, +birches, and some oaks, being also very rocky, and in many places somewhat +hilly. Moreover it was very barren and sterile, being but thinly inhabited +by certain Algonquin savages, called _Otaguottouemin_, [100] who dwell in +the country, and live by hunting and the fish they catch in the rivers, +ponds, and lakes, with which the region is well provided. It seems indeed +that God has been pleased to give to these forbidding and desert lands some +things in their season for the refreshment of man and the inhabitants of +these places. For I assure you that there are along the rivers many +strawberries, also a marvellous quantity of blueberries, [101] a little +fruit very good to eat, and other small fruits. The people here dry these +fruits for the winter, as we do plums in France for Lent. We left this +river, which comes from the north, [102] and by which the savages go to the +Saguenay to barter their furs for tobacco. This place is situated in +latitude 46°, and is very pleasant, but otherwise of little account. [103] + +Continuing our journey by land, after leaving the river of the Algonquins, +we passed several lakes [104] where the savages carry their canoes, and +entered the lake of the Nipissings,[105] in latitude 46° 15', on the +twenty-sixth day of the month, having gone by land and the lakes twenty- +five leagues, or thereabouts.[106] We then arrived at the cabins of the +savages, with whom we stayed two days. There was a large number of them, +who gave us a very welcome reception. They are a people who cultivate the +land but little. A shows the dress of these people as they go to war; B +that of the women, which differs in no wise from that of the Montagnais and +the great people of the Algonquins, extending far into the interior.[107] + +During the time that I was with them the chief of this tribe and their most +prominent men entertained us with many banquets according to their custom, +and took the trouble to go fishing and hunting with me, in order to treat +me with the greatest courtesy possible. These people are very numerous, +there being from seven to eight hundred souls, who live in general near the +lake. This contains a large number of very pleasant islands, among others +one more than six leagues long, with three or four fine ponds and a number +of fine meadows; it is bordered by very fine woods, that contain an +abundance of game, which frequent the little ponds, where the savages also +catch fish. The northern side of the lake is very pleasant, with fine +meadows for the grazing of cattle, and many little streams, discharging +into the lake. + +They were fishing at that time in a lake very abundant in various kinds of +fish, among others one a foot long that was very good. There are also other +kinds which the savages catch for the purpose of drying and storing away. +The lake is some eight leagues broad and twenty-five long,[108] into which +a river [109] flows from the northwest, along which they go to barter the +merchandise, which we give them in exchange for their peltry, with those +who live on it, and who support themselves by hunting and fishing, their +country containing great quantities of animals, birds, and fish.[110] + +After resting two days with the chief of the Nipissings we re-embarked in +our canoes, and entered a river, by which this lake discharges itself.[111] +We proceeded down it some thirty-five leagues, and descended several little +falls by land and by water, until we reached Lake Attigouautan. All this +region is still more unattractive than the preceding, for I saw along this +river only ten acres of arable land, the rest being rocky and very hilly. +It is true that near Lake Attigouautan we found some Indian corn, but only +in small quantity. Here our savages proceeded to gather some squashes, +which were acceptable to us, for our provisions began to give out in +consequence of the bad management of the savages, who ate so heartily at +the beginning that towards the end very little was left, although we had +only one meal a day. But, as I have mentioned before, we did not lack for +blueberries [112] and strawberries; otherwise we should have been in danger +of being reduced to straits. + +We met three hundred men of a tribe we named _Cheveux Relevés_, [113] since +their hair is very high and carefully arranged, and better dressed beyond +all comparison than that of our courtiers, in spite of their irons and +refinements. This gives them a handsome appearance. They have no breeches, +and their bodies are very much pinked in divisions of various shapes. They +paint their faces in various colors, have their nostrils pierced, and their +ears adorned with beads. When they go out of their houses they carry a +club. I visited them, became somewhat acquainted, and formed a friendship +with them. I gave a hatchet to their chief, who was as much pleased and +delighted with it as if I had given him some rich present. Entering into +conversation with him, I inquired in regard to the extent of his country, +which he pictured to me with coal on the bark of a tree. He gave me to +understand that he had come into this place for drying the fruit called +_bluës_ [114] to serve for manna in winter, and when they can find nothing +else. A and C show the manner in which they arm themselves when they go to +war. They have as arms only the bow and arrow, made in the manner you see +depicted, and which they regularly carry; also a round shield of dressed +leather [115] made from an animal like the buffalo. [116] + +The next day we separated, and continued our course, along the shore of the +lake of the Attigouautan, [117] which contains a large number of +islands. We went some forty-five leagues, all the time along the shore of +the lake. It is very large, nearly four hundred leagues long from east to +west, and fifty leagues broad, and in view of its great extent I have named +it the _Mer Douce_. [118] It is very abundant in various sorts of very good +fish, both those which we have and those we do not, but especially in +trout, which are enormously large, some of which I saw as long as four feet +and a half, the least being two feet and a half. There are also pike of +like size, and a certain kind of sturgeon, a very large fish and of +remarkable excellence. The country bordering this lake is partly hilly, as +on the north side, and partly flat, inhabited by savages, and thinly +covered with wood, including oaks. After crossing a bay, which forms one of +the extremities of the lake, [119] we went some seven leagues until we +arrived in the country of the Attigouautan at a village called _Otoüacha_, +on the first day of August. Here we found a great change in the country. It +was here very fine, the largest part being cleared up, and many hills and +several rivers rendering the region agreeable. I went to see their Indian +corn, which was at that time far advanced for the season. + +These localities seemed to me very pleasant, in comparison with so +disagreeable a region as that from which we had come. The next day I went +to another village, called _Carmaron_, a league distant from this, where +they received us in a very friendly manner, making for us a banquet with +their bread, squashes, and fish. As to meat, that is very scarce there. The +chief of this village earnestly begged me to stay, to which I could not +consent, but returned to our village, where on the next night but one, as I +went out of the cabin to escape the fleas, of which there were large +numbers and by which we were tormented, a girl of little modesty came +boldly to me and offered to keep me company, for which I thanked her, +sending her away with gentle remonstrances, and spent the night with some +savages. + +The next day I departed from this village to go to another, called +_Touaguainchain_, and to another, called _Tequenonquiaye_, in which we were +received in a very friendly manner by the inhabitants, who showed us the +best cheer they could with their Indian corn served in various styles. This +country is very fine and fertile, and travelling through it is very +pleasant. + +Thence I had them guide me to Carhagouha, which was fortified by a triple +palisade of wood thirty-five feet high for its defence and protection. In +this village Father Joseph was staying, whom we saw and were very glad to +find well. He on his part was no less glad, and was expecting nothing so +little as to see me in this country. On the twelfth day of August the +Recollect Father celebrated the holy mass, and a cross was planted near a +small house apart from the village, which the savages built while I was +staying there, awaiting the arrival of our men and their preparation to go +to the war, in which they had been for a long time engaged. + +Finding that they were so slow in assembling their army, and that I should +have time to visit their country, I resolved to go by short days' journeys +from village to village as far as Cahiagué, where the rendezvous of the +entire army was to be, and which was fourteen leagues distant from +Carhagouha, from which village I set out on the fourteenth of August with +ten of my companions. I visited five of the more important villages, which +were enclosed with palisades of wood, and reached Cahiagué, the principal +village of the country, where there were two hundred large cabins and where +all the men of war were to assemble. Now in all these villages they +received us very courteously with their simple welcome. All the country +where I went contains some twenty to thirty leagues, is very fine, and +situated in latitude 44° 30'. It is very extensively cleared up. They plant +in it a great quantity of Indian corn, which grows there finely. They plant +likewise squashes,[120] and sun-flowers,[121] from the seed of which they +make oil, with which they anoint the head. The region is extensively +traversed with brooks, discharging into the lake. There are many very good +vines [122] and plums, which are excellent,[123] raspberries,[124] +strawberries,[125] little wild apples,[126] nuts,[127] and a kind of fruit +of the form and color of small lemons, with a similar taste, but having an +interior which is very good and almost like that of figs. The plant which +bears this fruit is two and a half feet high, with but three or four leaves +at most, which are of the shape of those of the fig-tree, and each plant +bears but two pieces of fruit. There are many of these plants in various +places, the fruit being very good and savory.[128] Oaks, elms, and beeches +[129] are numerous here, as also forests of fir, the regular retreat of +partridges [130] and hares.[131] There are also quantities of small +cherries [132] and black cherries,[133] and the same varieties of wood that +we have in our forests in France. The soil seems to me indeed a little +sandy, yet it is for all that good for their kind of cereal. The small +tract of country which I visited is thickly settled with a countless number +of human beings, not to speak of the other districts where I did not go, +and which, according to general report, are as thickly settled or more so +than those mentioned above. I reflected what a great misfortune it is that +so many poor creatures live and die without the knowledge of God, and even +without any religion or law established among them, whether divine, +political, or civil; for they neither worship, nor pray to any object, at +least so far as I could perceive from their conversation. But they have, +however, some sort of ceremony, which I shall describe in its proper place, +in regard to the sick, or in order to ascertain what is to happen to them, +and even in regard to the dead. These, however, are the works of certain +persons among them, who want to be confidentially consulted in such +matters, as was the case among the ancient pagans, who allowed themselves +to be carried away by the persuasions of magicians and diviners. Yet the +greater part of the people do not believe at all in what these charlatans +do and say. They are very generous to one another in regard to provisions, +but otherwise very avaricious. They do not give in return. They are clothed +with deer and beaver skins, which they obtain from the Algonquins and +Nipissings in exchange for Indian corn and meal. + +On the 17th of August I arrived at Cahiagué, where I was received with +great joy and gladness by all the savages of the country, who had abandoned +their undertaking, in the belief that they would see me no more, and that +the Iroquois had captured me, as I have before stated. This was the cause +of the great delay experienced in this expedition, they even having +postponed it to the following year. Meanwhile they received intelligence +that a certain nation of their allies, [134] dwelling three good days' +journeys beyond the Entouhonorons, [135] on whom the Iroquois also make +war, desired to assist them in this expedition with five hundred good men; +also to form an alliance and establish a friendship with us, that we might +all engage in the war together; moreover that they greatly desired to see +us and give expression to the pleasure they would have in making our +acquaintance. + +I was glad to find this opportunity for gratifying my desire of obtaining a +knowledge of their country. It is situated only seven days from where the +Dutch [136] go to traffic on the fortieth degree. The savages there, +assisted by the Dutch, make war upon them, take them prisoners, and cruelly +put them to death; and indeed they told us that the preceding year, while +making war, they captured three of the Dutch, who were assisting their +enemies, [137] as we do the Attigouautans, and while in action one of their +own men was killed. Nevertheless they did not fail to send back the three +Dutch prisoners, without doing them any harm, supposing that they belonged +to our party, since they had no knowledge of us except by hearsay, never +having seen a Christian; otherwise, they said, these three prisoners would +not have got off so easily, and would not escape again should they surprise +and take them. This nation is very warlike, as those of the nation of the +Attigouautans maintain. They have only three villages, which are in the +midst of more than twenty others, on which they make war without assistance +from their friends; for they are obliged to pass through the thickly +settled country of the Chouontouaroüon,[138] or else they would have to +make a very long circuit. + +After arriving at the village, it was necessary for me to remain until the +men of war should come from the surrounding villages, so that we might be +off as soon as possible. During this time there was a constant succession +of banquets and dances on account of the joy they experienced at seeing me +so determined to assist them in their war, just as if they were already +assured of victory. + +The greater portion of our men having assembled, we set out from the +village on the first day of September, and passed along the shore of a +small lake, [139] distant three leagues from the village, where they catch +large quantities of fish, which they preserve for the winter. There is +another lake, [140] closely adjoining, which is twenty-five leagues in +circuit, and slows into the small one by a strait, where the above +mentioned extensive fishing is carried on. This is done by means of a large +number of stakes which almost close the strait, only some little openings +being left where they place their nets, in which the fish are caught. These +two lakes discharge into the _Mer Douce_. We remained some time in this +place to await the rest of our savages. When they were all assembled, with +their arms, meal, and necessaries, it was decided to choose some of the +most resolute men to compose a party to go and give notice of our departure +to those who were to assist us with five hundred men, that they might join +us, and that we might appear together before the fort of the enemy. This +decision having been made, they dispatched two canoes, with twelve of the +most stalwart savages, and also with one of our interpreters, [141] who +asked me to permit him to make the journey, which I readily accorded, +inasmuch as he was led to do so of his own will, and as he might in this +way see their country and get a knowledge of the people living there. The +danger, however, was not small, since it was necessary to pass through the +midst of enemies. They set out on the 8th of the month, and on the 10th +following there was a heavy white frost. + +We continued our journey towards the enemy, and went some five or six +leagues through these lakes, [142] when the savages carried their canoes +about ten leagues by land. We then came to another lake, [143] six to seven +leagues in length and three broad. From this flows a river which discharges +into the great lake of the Entouhonorons. After traversing this lake we +passed a fall, and continuing our course down this river for about +sixty-four leagues [144] entered the lake of the Entouhonorons, having +passed, on our way by land, five falls, some being from four to five +leagues long. We also passed several lakes of considerable size, through +which the river passes. The latter is large and very abundant in good fish. + +It is certain that all this region is very fine and pleasant. Along the +banks it seems as if the trees had been set out for ornament in most +places, and that all these tracts were in former times inhabited by +savages, who were subsequently compelled to abandon them from fear of their +enemies. Vines and nut-trees are here very numerous. Grapes mature, yet +there is always a very pungent tartness which is felt remaining in the +throat when one eats them in large quantities, arising from defect of +cultivation. These localities are very pleasant when cleared up. + +Stags and bears are here very abundant. We tried the hunt and captured a +large number as we journeyed down. It was done in this way. They place four +or five hundred savages in line in the woods, so that they extend to +certain points on the river; then marching in order with bow and arrow in +hand, shouting and making a great noise in order to frighten the beasts, +they continue to advance until they come to the end of the point. Then all +the animals between the point and the hunters are forced to throw +themselves into the water, as many at least as do not fall by the arrows +shot at them by the hunters. Meanwhile the savages, who are expressly +arranged and posted in their canoes along the shore, easily approach the +stags and other animals, tired out and greatly frightened in the chase, +when they readily kill them with the spear heads attached to the extremity +of a piece of wood of the shape of a half pike. This is the way they engage +in the chase; and they do likewise on the islands where there are large +quantities of game. I took especial pleasure in seeing them hunt thus and +in observing their dexterity. Many animals were killed by the shot of the +arquebus, at which the savages were greatly surprised. But it unfortunately +happened that, while a stag was being killed, a savage, who chanced to come +in range, was wounded by a shot of an arquebus. Thence a great commotion +arose among them, which however subsided when some presents were given to +the wounded. This is the usual manner of allaying and settling quarrels, +and, in case of the death of the wounded, presents are given to the +relatives of the one killed. + +As to smaller game there is a large quantity of it in its season. There are +also many cranes,[145] white as swans, and other varieties of birds like +those in France. + +We proceeded by short days' journeys as far as the shore of the lake of the +Entouhonorons, constantly hunting as before mentioned. Here at its eastern +extremity, which is the entrance to the great River St. Lawrence, we made +the traverse, in latitude 43°, [146] where in the passage there are very +large beautiful islands. We went about fourteen leagues in passing to the +southern side of the lake towards the territory of the enemy. [147] The +savages concealed all their canoes in the woods near the shore. We went +some four leagues over a sandy strand, where I observed a very pleasant and +beautiful country, intersected by many little streams and two small rivers, +which discharge into the before-mentioned lake, also many ponds and +meadows, where there was an endless amount of game, many vines, fine woods, +and a large number of chestnut trees, whose fruit was still in the burr. +The chestnuts are small, but of a good flavor. The country is covered with +forests, which over its greater portion have not been cleared up. All the +canoes being thus hidden, we left the border of the lake, [148] which is +some eighty leagues long and twenty-five wide. [149] The greater portion of +its shores is inhabited by savages. We continued our course by land for +about twenty-five or thirty leagues. In the space of four days we crossed +many brooks, and a river which proceeds from a lake that discharges into +that of the Entouhonorons. [150] This lake is twenty-five or thirty leagues +in circuit, contains some fine islands, and is the place where our enemies, +the Iroquois, catch their fish, in which it abounds. + +On the 9th of the month of October our savages going out to reconnoitre met +eleven savages, whom they took prisoners. They consisted of four women, +three boys, one girl, and three men, who were going fishing and were +distant some four leagues from the fort of the enemy. Now it is to be noted +that one of the chiefs, on seeing the prisoners, cut off the finger of one +of these poor women as a beginning of their usual punishment; upon which I +interposed and reprimanded the chief, Iroquet, representing to him that it +was not the act of a warrior, as he declared himself to be, to conduct +himself with cruelty towards women, who have no defence but their tears and +that one should treat them with humanity on account of their helplessness +and weakness; and I told him that on the contrary this act would be deemed +to proceed from a base and brutal courage, and that if he committed any +more of these cruelties he would not give me heart to assist them or favor +them in the war. To which the only answer he gave me was that their enemies +treated them in the same manner, but that, since this was displeasing to +me, he would not do anything more to the women, although he would to the +men. + +The next day, at three o'clock in the afternoon, we arrived before the fort +[151] of their enemies, where the savages made some skirmishes with each +other, although our design was not to disclose ourselves until the next +day, which however the impatience of our savages would not permit, both on +account of their desire to see fire opened upon their enemies, and also +that they might rescue some of their own men who had become too closely +engaged, and were hotly pressed. Then I approached the enemy, and although +I had only a few men, yet we showed them what they had never seen nor heard +before; for, as soon as they saw us and heard the arquebus shots and the +balls whizzing in their ears, they withdrew speedily to their fort, +carrying the dead and wounded in this charge. We also withdrew to our main +body, with five or six wounded, one of whom died. + +This done, we withdrew to the distance of cannon range, out of sight of the +enemy, but contrary to my advice and to what they had promised me. This +moved me to address them very rough and angry words in order to incite them +to do their duty, foreseeing that if everything should go according to +their whim and the guidance of their council, their utter ruin would be the +result. Nevertheless I did not fail to send to them and propose means which +they should use in order to get possession of their enemies. + +These were, to make with certain kinds of wood a _cavalier_, which should +be higher than the palisades. Upon this were to be placed four or five of +our arquebusiers, who should keep up a constant fire over their palisades +and galleries, which were well provided with stones, and by this means +dislodge the enemy who might attack us from their galleries. Meanwhile +orders were to be given to procure boards for making a sort of mantelet to +protect our men from the arrows and stones of which the savages generally +make use. These instruments, namely the cavalier and mantelets, were +capable of being carried by a large number of men. One mantelet was so +constructed that the water could not extinguish the fire, which might be +set to the fort, under cover of the arquebusiers who were doing their duty +on the cavalier. In this manner, I told them, we might be able to defend +ourselves so that the enemy could not approach to extinguish the fire which +we should set to their ramparts. + +This proposition they thought good and very seasonable, and immediately +proceeded to carry it out as I directed. In fact the next day they set to +work, some to cut wood, others to gather it, for building and equipping the +cavalier and mantelets. The work was promptly executed and in less than +four hours, although the amount of wood they had collected for burning +against the ramparts, in order to set fire to them, was very small. Their +expectation was that the five hundred men who had promised to come would do +so on this day, but doubt was felt about them, since they had not appeared +at the rendezvous, as they had been charged to do, and as they had +promised. This greatly troubled our savages; but seeing that they were +sufficiently numerous to take the fort without other assistance, and +thinking for my part that delay, if not in all things at least in many, is +prejudicial, I urged them to attack it, representing to them that the +enemy, having become aware of their force and our arms, which pierced +whatever was proof against arrows, had begun to barricade themselves and +cover themselves with strong pieces of wood, with which they were well +provided and their village filled. I told them that the least delay was the +best, since the enemy had already strengthened themselves very much; for +their village was enclosed by four good palisades, which were made of great +pieces of wood, interlaced with each other, with an opening of not more +than half a foot between two, and which were thirty feet high, with +galleries after the manner of a parapet, which they had furnished with +double pieces of wood that were proof against our arquebus shots. Moreover +it was near a pond where the water was abundant, and was well supplied with +gutters, placed between each pair of palisades, to throw out water, which +they had also under cover inside, in order to extinguish fire. Now this is +the character of their fortifications and defences, which are much stronger +than the villages of the Attigouautan and others. + +We approached to attack the village, our cavalier being carried by two +hundred of the strongest men, who put it down before the village at a +pike's length off. I ordered three arquebusiers to mount upon it, who were +well protected from the arrows and stones that could be shot or hurled at +them. Meanwhile the enemy did not fail to send a large number of arrows +which did not miss, and a great many stones, which they hurled from their +palisades. Nevertheless a hot fire of arquebuses forced them to dislodge +and abandon their galleries, in consequence of the cavalier which uncovered +them, they not venturing to show themselves, but fighting under shelter. +Now when the cavalier was carried forward, instead of bringing up the +mantelets according to order, including that one under cover of which we +were to set the fire, they abandoned them and began to scream at their +enemies, shooting arrows into the fort, which in my opinion did little harm +to the enemy. + +But we must excuse them, for they are not warriors, and besides will have +no discipline nor correction, and will do only what they please. +Accordingly one of them set fire inconsiderately to the wood placed against +the fort of the enemy, quite the wrong way and in the face of the wind, so +that it produced no effect. + +This fire being out, the greater part of the savages began to carry wood +against the palisades, but in so small quantity that the fire could have no +great effect. There also arose such disorder among them that one could not +understand another, which greatly troubled me. In vain did I shout in their +ears and remonstrate to my utmost with them as to the danger to which they +exposed themselves by their bad behavior, but on account of the great noise +they made they heard nothing. Seeing that shouting would only burst my +head, and that my remonstrances were useless for putting a stop to the +disorder, I did nothing more, but determined together with my men to do +what we could, and fire upon such as we could see. + +Meanwhile the enemy profited by our disorder to get water and pour it so +abundantly that you would have said brooks were flowing through their +spouts, the result of which was that the fire was instantly extinguished, +while they did not cease shooting their arrows, which fell upon us like +hail. But the men on the cavalier killed and maimed many. We were engaged +in this combat about three hours, in which two of our chiefs and leading +warriors were wounded, namely, one called _Ochateguain_ and another +_Orani_, together with some fifteen common warriors. The others, seeing +their men and some of the chiefs wounded, now began to talk of a retreat +without farther fighting, in expectation of the five hundred men, [152] +whose arrival could not be much delayed. Thus they retreated, a disorderly +rabble. + +Moreover the chiefs have in fact no absolute control over their men, who +are governed by their own will and follow their own fancy, which is the +cause of their disorder and the ruin of all their undertakings; for, having +determined upon anything with their leaders, it needs only the whim of a +villain, or nothing at all, to lead them to break it off and form a new +plan. Thus there is no concert of action among them, as can be seen by this +expedition. + +Now we withdrew into our fort, I having received two arrow wounds, one in +the leg, the other in the knee, which caused me great inconvenience, aside +from the severe pain. When they were all assembled, I addressed them some +words of remonstrance on the disorder that had occurred. But all I said +availed nothing, and had no effect upon them. They replied that many of +their men had been wounded like myself, so that it would cause the others +much trouble and inconvenience to carry them as they retreated, and that it +was not possible to return again against their enemies, as I told them it +was their duty to do. They agreed, however, to wait four days longer for +the five hundred men who were to come; and, if they came, to make a second +effort against their enemies, and execute better what I might tell them +than they had done in the past. With this I had to content myself, to my +great regret. + +Herewith is indicated the manner in which they fortify their towns, from +which representation it may be inferred that those of their friends and +enemies are fortified in like manner. + +The next day there was a violent wind, which lasted two days, and was very +favorable for setting fire anew to the fort of the enemy which, although I +urged them strongly, they were unwilling to do, as if they were afraid of +getting the worst of it, and besides they pleaded their wounded as an +excuse. + +We remained in camp until the 16th of the month, [153] during which time +there were some skirmishes between the enemy and our men, who were very +often surrounded by the former, rather through their imprudence than from +lack of courage; for I assure you that every time we went to the charge it +was necessary for us to go and disengage them from the crowd, since they +could only retreat under cover of our arquebusiers, whom the enemy greatly +dreaded and feared; for as soon as they perceived any one of the +arquebusiers they withdrew speedily, saying in a persuasive manner that we +should not interfere in their combats, and that their enemies had very +little courage to require us to assist them, with many other words of like +tenor, in order to prevail upon us. + +I have represented by figure E the manner in which they arm themselves in +going to war. + +After some days, seeing that the five hundred men did not come, they +determined to depart, and enter upon their retreat as soon as possible. +They proceeded to make a kind of basket for carrying the wounded, who are +put into it crowded up in a heap, being bound and pinioned in such a manner +that it is as impossible for them to move as for an infant in its swaddling +clothes; but this is, not without causing the wounded much extreme +pain. This I can say with truth from my own experience, having been carried +some days, since I could not stand up, particularly on account of an +arrow-wound which I had received in the knee. I never found myself in such +a _gehenna_ as during this time, for the pain which I suffered in +consequence of the wound in my knee was nothing in comparison with that +which I endured while I was carried bound and pinioned on the back of one +of our savages; so that I lost my patience, and as soon as I could sustain +myself, got out of this prison, or rather _gehenna_. + +The enemy followed us about half a league, though at a distance, with the +view of trying to take some of those composing the rear guard; but their +efforts were vain, and they retired. + +Now the only good point that I have seen in their mode of warfare is that +they make their retreat very securely, placing all the wounded and aged in +their centre, being well armed on the wings and in the rear, and continuing +this order without interruption until they reach a place of security. + +Their retreat was very long, being from twenty-five to thirty leagues, +which caused the wounded much fatigue, as also those who carried them, +although the latter relieved each other from time to time. + +On the 18th day of the month there fell much snow and hail, accompanied by +a strong wind, which greatly incommoded us. Nevertheless we succeeded in +arriving at the shore of the lake of the Entouhonorons, at the place where +our canoes were concealed, which we found all intact, for we had been +afraid lest the enemy might have broken them up. + +When they were all assembled, and I saw that they were ready to depart to +their village, I begged them to take me to our settlement, which, though +unwilling at first, they finally concluded to do, and sought four men to +conduct me. Four men were found, who offered themselves of their own +accord; for, as I have before said, the chiefs have no control over their +men, in consequence of which they are often unable to do as they would +like. Now the men having been found, it was necessary also to find a canoe, +which was not to be had, each one needing his own, and there being no more +than they required. This was far from being pleasant to me, but, on the +contrary greatly annoyed me, since it led me to suspect some evil purpose, +inasmuch as they had promised to conduct me to our settlement after their +war. Moreover I was poorly prepared for spending the winter with them, or +else should not have been concerned about the matter. But not being able to +do anything, I was obliged to resign myself in patience. Now after some +days I perceived that their plan was to keep me and my companions, not only +as a security for themselves, for they feared their enemies, but also that +I might listen to what took place in their councils and assemblies, and +determine what they should do in the future against their enemies for their +security and preservation. + +The next day, the 28th of the month, they began to make preparations; some +to go deer-hunting, others to hunt bears and beavers, others to go fishing, +others to return to their villages. An abode and lodging were furnished me +by one of the principal chiefs, called _D'Arontal_, with whom I already had +some acquaintance. Having offered me his cabin, provisions, and +accommodations, he set out also for the deer-hunt, which is esteemed by +them the greatest and most noble one. After crossing, from the island, +[154] the end of the lake, we entered a river [155] some twelve leagues in +extent. They then carried their canoes by land some half a league, when we +entered a lake [156] which was some ten or twelve leagues in circuit, where +there was a large amount of game, as swans, [157] white cranes, [158] +outardes, [159] ducks, teal, song-thrush, [160] larks, [161] snipe, [162] +geese, [163] and several other kinds of fowl too numerous to mention. Of +these I killed a great number, which stood us in good stead while waiting +for the capture of a deer. From there we proceeded to a certain place some +ten leagues distant, where our savages thought there were deer in +abundance. Assembled there were some twenty-five savages, who set to +building two or three cabins out of pieces of wood fitted to each other, +the chinks of which they stopped up by means of moss to prevent the +entrance of the air, covering them with the bark of trees. + +When they had done this they went into the woods to a small forest of firs, +where they made an enclosure in the form of a triangle, closed up on two +sides and open on one. This enclosure was made of great stakes of wood +closely pressed together, from eight to nine feet high, each of the sides +being fifteen hundred paces long. At the extremity of this triangle there +was a little enclosure, constantly diminishing in size, covered in part +with boughs and with only an opening of five feet, about the width of a +medium-sized door, into which the deer were to enter. They were so +expeditious in their work, that in less than ten days they had their +enclosure in readiness. Meanwhile other savages had gone fishing, catching +trout and pike of prodigious size, and enough to meet all our wants. + +All preparations being made, they set out half an hour before day to go +into the wood, some half a league from the before-mentioned enclosure, +separated from each other some eighty paces. Each had two sticks, which +they struck together, and they marched in this order at a slow pace until +they arrived at their enclosure. The deer hearing this noise flee before +them until they reach the enclosure, into which the savages force them to +go. Then they gradually unite on approaching the bay and opening of their +triangle, the deer skirting the sides until they reach the end, to which +the savages hotly pursue them, with bow and arrow in hand ready to let fly. +On reaching the end of the triangle they begin to shout and imitate wolves, +[164] which are numerous, and which devour the deer. The deer, hearing this +frightful noise, are constrained to enter the retreat by the little +opening, whither they are very hotly pursued by arrow shots. Having entered +this retreat, which is so well closed and fastened that they can by no +possibility get out, they are easily captured. I assure you that there is a +singular pleasure in this chase, which took place every two days, and was +so successful that, in the thirty-eight days [165] during which we were +there, they captured one hundred and twenty deer, which they make good use +of, reserving the fat for winter, which they use as we do butter, and +taking away to their homes some of the flesh for their festivities. + +They have other contrivances for capturing the deer; as snares, with which +they kill many. You see depicted opposite the manner of their chase, +enclosure, and snare. Out of the skins they make garments. Thus you see how +we spent the time while waiting for the frost, that we might return the +more easily, since the country is very marshy. + +When they first went out hunting, I lost my way in the woods, having +followed a certain bird that seemed to me peculiar. It had a beak like that +of a parrot, and was of the size of a hen. It was entirely yellow, except +the head which was red, and the wings which were blue, and it flew by +intervals like a partridge. The desire to kill it led me to pursue it from +tree to tree for a very long time, until it flew away in good earnest. Thus +losing all hope, I desired to retrace my steps, but found none of our +hunters, who had been constantly getting ahead, and had reached the +enclosure. While trying to overtake them, and going, as it seemed to me, +straight to where the enclosure was, I found myself lost in the woods, +going now on this side now on that, without being able to recognize my +position. The night coming on, I was obliged to spend it at the foot of a +great tree, and in the morning set out and walked until three o'clock in +the afternoon, when I came to a little pond of still water. Here I noticed +some game, which I pursued, killing three or four birds, which were very +acceptable, since I had had nothing to eat. Unfortunately for me there had +been no sunshine for three days, nothing but rain and cloudy weather, which +increased my trouble. Tired and exhausted I prepared to rest myself and +cook the birds in order to alleviate the hunger which I began painfully to +feel, and which by God's favor was appeased. + +When I had made my repast I began to consider what I should do, and to pray +God to give me the will and courage to sustain patiently my misfortune if I +should be obliged to remain abandoned in this forest without counsel or +consolation except the Divine goodness and mercy, and at the same time to +exert myself to return to our hunters. Thus committing all to His mercy I +gathered up renewed courage going here and there all day, without +perceiving any foot-print or path, except those of wild beasts, of which I +generally saw a good number. I was obliged to pass here this night +also. Unfortunately I had forgotten to bring with me a small compass which +would have put me on the right road, or nearly so. At the dawn of day, +after a brief repast, I set out in order to find, if possible, some brook +and follow it, thinking that it must of necessity flow into the river on +the border of which our hunters were encamped. Having resolved upon this +plan, I carried it out so well that at noon I found myself on the border of +a little lake, about a league and a half in extent, where I killed some +game, which was very timely for my wants; I had likewise remaining some +eight or ten charges of powder, which was a great satisfaction. + +I proceeded along the border of this lake to see where it discharged, and +found a large brook, which I followed until five o'clock in the evening, +when I heard a great noise, but on carefully listening failed to perceive +clearly what it was. On hearing the noise, however, more distinctly, I +concluded that it was a fall of water in the river which I was searching +for. I proceeded nearer, and saw an opening, approaching which I found +myself in a great and far-reaching meadow, where there was a large number +of wild beasts, and looking to my right I perceived the river, broad and +long. I looked to see if I could not recognize the place, and walking along +on the meadow I noticed a little path where the savages carried their +canoes. Finally, after careful observation, I recognized it as the same +river, and that I had gone that way before. + +I passed the night in better spirits than the previous ones, supping on the +little I had. In the morning I re-examined the place where I was, and +concluded from certain mountains on the border of the river that I had not +been deceived, and that our hunters must be lower down by four or five good +leagues. This distance I walked at my leisure along the border of the +river, until I perceived the smoke of our hunters, where I arrived to the +great pleasure not only of myself but of them, who were still searching for +me, but had about given up all hopes of seeing me again. They begged me not +to stray off from them any more, or never to forget to carry with me my +compass, and they added: If you had not come, and we had not succeeded in +finding you, we should never have gone again to the French, for fear of +their accusing us of having killed you. After this he [166] was very +careful of me when I went hunting, always giving me a savage as companion, +who knew how to find again the place from which he started so well that it +was something very remarkable. + +To return to my subject: they have a kind of superstition in regard to this +hunt; namely, they believe that if they should roast any of the meat taken +in this way, or if any of the fat should fall into the fire, or if any of +the bones should be thrown into it, they would not be able to capture any +more deer. Accordingly they begged me to roast none of this meat, but I +laughed at this and their way of doing. Yet, in order not to offend them, +I cheerfully desisted, at least in their presence; though when they were +out of sight I took some of the best and roasted it, attaching no credit to +their superstitions. When I afterwards told them what I had done, they +would not believe me, saying that they could not have taken any deer after +the doing of such a thing. + +On the fourth day of December we set out from this place, walking on the +river, lakes, and ponds, which were frozen, and sometimes through the +woods. Thus we went for nineteen days, undergoing much hardship and toil, +both the savages, who were loaded with a hundred pounds, and myself, who +carried a burden of twenty pounds, which in the long journey tired me very +much. It is true that I was sometimes relieved by our savages, but +nevertheless I suffered great discomfort. The savages, in order to go over +the ice more easily, are accustomed to make a kind of wooden sledge, [167] +on which they put their loads, which they easily and swiftly drag along. +Some days after there was a thaw, which caused us much trouble and +annoyance; for we had to go through pine forests full of brooks, ponds, +marshes, and swamps, where many trees had been blown down upon each +other. This caused us a thousand troubles and embarrassments, and great +discomfort, as we were all the time wet to above our knees. We were four +days in this plight, since in most places the ice would not bear. At last, +on the 20th of the month, we succeeded in arriving at our village. [168] +Here the Captain Yroquet had come to winter with his companions, who are +Algonquins, also his son, whom he brought for the sake of treatment, since +while hunting he had been seriously injured by a bear which he was trying +to kill. + +After resting some days I determined to go and visit Father Joseph, and to +see in winter the people where he was, whom the war had not permitted me to +see in the summer. I set out from this village on the 14th [169] of January +following, thanking my host for the kindness he had shown me, and, taking +formal leave of him, as I did not expect to see him again for three months. + +The next day I saw Father Joseph, [170] in his small house where he had +taken up his abode, as I have before stated. I stayed with him some days, +finding him deliberating about making a journey to the Petun people, as I +had also thought of doing, although it was very disagreeable travelling in +winter. We set out together on the fifteenth of February to go to that +nation, where we arrived on the seventeenth of the month. [171] These Petun +people plant the maize, called by us _blé de Turquie_, and have fixed +abodes like the rest. We went to seven other villages of their neighbors +and allies, with whom we contracted friendship, and who promised to come in +good numbers to our settlement. They welcomed us with good cheer, making a +banquet with meat and fish, as is their custom. To this the people from all +quarters flocked in order to see us, showing many manifestations of +friendship, and accompanying us on the greater part of our way back. The +country is diversified with pleasant slopes and plains. They were beginning +to build two villages, through which we passed, and which were situated in +the midst of the woods, because of the convenience [172] of building and +fortifying their towns there. These people live like the Attignouaatitans, +[173] and have the same customs. They are situated near the Nation Neutre, +[174] which are powerful and occupy a great extent of country. After +visiting these people, we set out from that place, and went to a nation of +savages, whom we named _Cheveux Relevés_. [175] They were very happy to see +us again, and we entered into friendship with them, while they in return +promised to come and see us, namely at the habitation in this place. + +It has seemed to me desirable to describe them and their country, their +customs and mode of life. In the first place they are at war with another +nation of savages, called Asistagueroüon, [176] which means _Gens de Feu_, +who are distant from them ten days' journey. I informed myself accordingly +very particularly in regard to their country and the tribes living there, +as also to their character and numbers. The people of this nation are very +numerous, and are for the most part great warriors, hunters, and +fishermen. They have several chiefs, each ruling in his own district. In +general they plant Indian corn, and other cereals. They are hunters who go +in troops to various regions and countries, where they traffic with other +nations, distant four or five hundred leagues. They are the cleanest +savages in their household affairs that I have ever seen, and are very +industrious in making a kind of mat, which constitutes their Turkish +carpets. The women have the body covered, but the men go uncovered, with +the exception of a fur robe in the form of a cloak, which they usually +leave off in summer. The women and girls are not more moved at seeing them +thus, than if they saw nothing unusual. The women live very happily with +their husbands. They have the following custom when they have their +catamenia: the wives withdraw from their husbands, or the daughter from her +father and mother and other relatives, and go to certain small houses. +There they remain in retirement, awaiting their time, without any company +of men, who bring them food and necessaries until their return. Thus it is +known who have their catamenia and who have not. This tribe is accustomed +more than others to celebrate great banquets. They gave us good cheer and +welcomed us very cordially, earnestly begging me to assist them against +their enemies, who dwell on the banks of the _Mer Douce_, two hundred +leagues distant; to which I replied that they must wait until another time, +as I was not provided with the necessary means. They were at a loss how to +welcome us. I have represented them in figure C as they go to war. + +There is, also, at a distance of a two days' journey from them, in a +southerly direction, another savage nation, that produces a large amount of +tobacco. This is called _Nation Neutre_. They number four thousand +warriors, and dwell westward of the lake of the Entouhonorons, which is +from eighty to a hundred leagues in extent. They, however, assist the +_Cheveux Relevés_ against the _Gens de Feu_. But with the Iroquois and our +allies they are at peace, and preserve a neutrality. There is a cordial +understanding towards both of these nations, and they do not venture to +engage in any dispute or quarrel, but on the contrary often eat and drink +with them like good friends. I was very desirous of visiting this nation, +but the people where we were dissuaded me from it, saying that the year +before one of our men had killed one of them, when we were at war with the +Entouhonorons, which offended them; and they informed us that they are much +inclined to revenge, not concerning themselves as to who struck the blow, +but inflicting the penalty upon the first one they meet of the nation, even +though one of their friends, when they succeed in catching him, unless +harmony has been previously restored between them, and gifts and presents +bestowed upon the relatives of the deceased. Thus I was prevented for the +time being from going, although some of this nation assured us that they +would do us no harm for the reason assigned above. + +Thus we were led to return the same way we had come, and continuing my +journey, I reached the nation of the _Pisierinii_, [177] who had promised +to conduct me farther on in the prosecution of my plans and explorations. +But I was prevented by the intelligence which came from our great village +and the Algonquins, where Captain Yroquet was, namely, that the people of +the nation of the Atignouaatitans [178] had placed in his hands a prisoner +of a hostile nation, in the expectation that this Captain Yroquet would +exercise on the prisoner the revenge usual among them. But they said that, +instead of doing so, he had not only set him at liberty, but, having found +him apt, and an excellent hunter, had treated him as his son, on account of +which the Atignouaatitans had become jealous and resolved upon vengeance, +and had in fact appointed a man to go and kill this prisoner, allied as he +was. As he was put to death in the presence of the chiefs of the Algonquin +nation, they, indignant at such an act and moved to anger, killed on the +spot this rash murderer; whereupon the Atignouaatitans feeling themselves +insulted, seeing one of their comrades dead, seized their arms and went to +the tents of the Algonquins, who were passing the winter near the above +mentioned village, and belabored them severely, Captain Yroquet receiving +two arrow wounds. At another time they pillaged some of the cabins of the +Algonquins before the latter could place themselves in a state of defence, +so that they had not an equal chance. Notwithstanding this they were not +reconciled to the Algonquins, who for securing peace had given the +Atignouaatitans fifty necklaces of porcelain and a hundred branches of the +same [179] which they value highly, and likewise a number of kettles and +axes, together with two female prisoners in place of the dead man. They +were, in a word, still in a state of violent animosity. The Algonquins were +obliged to suffer patiently this great rage, and feared that they might all +be killed, not feeling any security, notwithstanding their gifts, until +they should be differently situated. This intelligence greatly disturbed +me, when I considered the harm that might arise not only to them, but to us +as well, who were in their country. + +I then met two or three savages of our large village, who earnestly +entreated me to go to them in order to effect a reconciliation, declaring +that if I did not go none of them would come to us any more, since they +were at war with the Algonquins and regarded us as their friends. In view +of this I set out as soon as possible, and visited on my way the Nipissings +to ascertain when they would be ready for the journey to the north, which I +found broken off on account of these quarrels and hostilities, as my +interpreter gave me to understand, who said that Captain Yroquet had come +among all these tribes to find and await me. He had requested them to be at +the habitation of the French at the same time with himself to see what +agreement could be made between them and the Atignouaatitans, and to +postpone the journey to the north to another time. Moreover, Yroquet had +given porcelain to break off this journey. They promised us to be at our +habitation at the same time as the others. + +If ever there was one greatly disheartened it was myself, since I had been +waiting to see this year what during many preceding ones I had been seeking +for with great toil and effort, through so many fatigues and risks of my +life. But realizing that I could not help the matter, and that everything +depended on the will of God, I comforted myself, resolving to see it in a +short time. I had such sure information that I could not doubt the report +of these people, who go to traffic with others dwelling in those northern +regions, a great part of whom live in a place very abundant in the chase, +and where there are great numbers of large animals, the skins of several of +which I saw, and which I concluded were buffaloes [180] from their +representation of their form. Fishing is also very abundant there. This +journey requires forty days, as well in returning as in going. + +I set out towards our above-mentioned village on the 15th of February, +taking with me six of our men. Having arrived at that place the inhabitants +were greatly pleased, as also the Algonquins, whom I sent our interpreter +to visit in order to ascertain how everything had taken place on both +sides, for I did not wish to go myself that I might give no ground for +suspicion to either party. + +Two days were spent in hearing from both sides how everything had taken +place. After this the principal men and seniors of the place came away with +us, and we all together went to the Algonquins. Here in one of their +cabins, where several of the leading men were assembled, they all, after +some talk, agreed to come and accept all that might be said by me as +arbiter in the matter, and to carry out what I might propose. + +Then I gathered the views of each one, obtaining and investigating the +wishes and inclinations of both parties, and ascertained that all they +wanted was peace. + +I set forth to them that the best course was to become reconciled and +remain friends, since being united and bound together they could the more +easily withstand their enemies; and as I went away I begged them not to ask +me to effect their reconciliation if they did not intend to follow in all +respects the advice I should give them in regard to this dispute, since +they had done me the honor to request my opinion. Whereupon they told me +anew that they had not desired my return for any other reason. I for my +part thought that if I should not reconcile and pacify them they would +separate ill disposed towards each other, each party thinking itself in the +right. I reflected, also, that they would not have gone to their cabins if +I had not been with them, nor to the French if I had not interested myself +and taken, so to speak, the charge and conduct of their affairs. Upon this +I said to them that as for myself I proposed to go with my host, who had +always treated me well, and that I could with difficulty find one so good; +for it was on him that the Algonquins laid the blame, saying that he was +the only captain who had caused the taking up of arms. Much was said by +both sides, and finally it was concluded that I should tell them what +seemed to me best, and give them my advice. + +Since I saw now from what was said that they referred the whole matter to +my own decision as to that of a father, and promised that in the future I +might dispose of them as I thought best, referring the whole matter to my +judgment for settlement, I replied that I was very glad to see them so +inclined to follow my advice, and assured them that it should be only for +the best interests of the tribes. + +Moreover I told them, I had been greatly disturbed at hearing the further +sad intelligence, namely the death of one of their relatives and friends, +whom we regarded as one of our own, which might have caused a great +calamity resulting in nothing but perpetual wars between both parties, with +various and serious disasters and a rupture of their friendship, in +consequence of which the French would be deprived of seeing them and of +intercourse with them, and be obliged to enter into alliance with other +nations; since we loved each other as brothers, leaving to God the +punishment of those meriting it. + +I proceeded to say to them, that this mode of action between two nations, +who were, as they acknowledged, friendly to each other, was unworthy of +reasoning men, but rather characteristic of brute beasts. I represented to +them, moreover, that they were enough occupied in repelling their enemies +who pursued them, in routing them as often as possible, in pursuing them to +their villages and taking them prisoners; and that these enemies, seeing +divisions and wars among them, would be delighted and derive great +advantage therefrom; and be led to lay new and pernicious plans, in the +hope of soon being able to see their ruin, or at least their enfeebling +through one another, which would be the truest and easiest way for them to +conquer and become masters of their territories, since they did not assist +each other. + +I told them likewise that they did not realize the harm that might befall +them from thus acting; that on account of the death of one man they +hazarded the lives of ten thousand, and ran the risk of being reduced to +perpetual slavery; that, although in fact one man was of great value, yet +they ought to consider how he had been killed, and that it was not with +deliberate purpose, nor for the sake of inciting a civil war, it being only +too evident that the dead man had first offended, since with deliberate +purpose he had killed the prisoner in their cabins, a most audacious thing, +even if the latter were an enemy. This aroused the Algonquins, who, seeing +a man that had been so bold as to kill in their own cabins another to whom +they had given liberty and treated as one of themselves, were carried away +with passion; and some, more excited than the rest, advanced, and, unable +to restrain or control their wrath, killed the man in question. +Nevertheless they had no ill feeling at all towards the nation as a whole, +and did not extend their purposes beyond the audacious one, who, they +thought, fully deserved what he had wantonly earned. + +And besides I told them they must consider that the Entouhonoron, finding +himself wounded by two blows in the stomach, tore from his wound the knife +which his enemy had left there and gave the latter two blows, as I had been +informed; so that in fact one could not tell whether it was really the +Algonquins who had committed the murder. And in order to show to the +Attigouantans that the Algonquins did not love the prisoner, and that +Yroquet did not bear towards him the affection which they were disposed to +think, I reminded them that they had eaten him, as he had inflicted blows +with a knife upon his enemy; a thing, however, unworthy of a human being, +but rather characteristic of brute beasts. + +I told them also that the Algonquins very much regretted all that had taken +place, and that, if they had supposed such a thing would have happened, +they would have sacrificed this Iroquois for their satisfaction. I reminded +them likewise that they had made recompense for this death and offence, if +so it should be called, by large presents and two prisoners, on which +account they had no reason at present to complain, and ought to restrain +themselves and act more mildly towards the Algonquins, their friends. I +told them that, since they had promised to submit every thing to +arbitration, I entreated them to forget all that had passed between them +and never to think of it again, nor bear any hatred or ill will on account +of it to each other, but to live good friends as before, by doing which +they would constrain us to love them and assist them as I had done in the +past. But in case they should not be pleased with my advice, I requested +them to come, in as large numbers as possible, to our settlement, so that +there, in the presence of all the captains of vessels, our friendship might +be ratified anew, and measures taken to secure them from their enemies, a +thing which they ought to consider. + +Then they began to say that I had spoken well, and that they would adhere +to what I had said, and all went away to their cabins, apparently +satisfied, excepting the Algonquins, who broke up and proceeded to their +village, but who, as it seemed to me, appeared to be not entirely +satisfied, since they said among themselves that they would not come to +winter again in these places, the death of these two men having cost them +too dearly. As for myself, I returned to my host, in whom I endeavored to +inspire all the courage I could, in order to induce him to come to our +settlement, and bring with him all those of his country. + +During the winter, which lasted four months, I had sufficient leisure to +observe their country, customs, dress, manner of living, the character of +their assemblies, and other things which I should like to describe. But it +is necessary first to speak of the situation of the country in general and +its divisions, also of the location of the tribes and the distances between +them. + +The country extends in length, in the direction from east to west, nearly +four hundred and fifty leagues, and some eighty or a hundred leagues in +breadth from north to south, from latitude 41° to 48° or 49° [181] This +region is almost an island, surrounded by the great river Saint Lawrence, +which passes through several lakes of great extent, on the shores of which +dwell various tribes speaking different languages, having fixed abodes, and +all fond of the cultivation of the soil, but with various modes of life, +and customs, some better than others. On the shore north of this great +river, extending westerly some hundred leagues towards the Attigouantans, +[182] there are very high mountains, and the air is more temperate than in +any other part of these regions, the latitude being 41°. All these places +abound in game, such as stags, caribous, elks, does, [183] buffaloes, +bears, wolves, beavers, foxes, minxes, [184] weasels, [185] and many other +kinds of animals which we do not have in France. Fishing is abundant, there +being many varieties, both those which we have in France, as also others +which we have not. There are likewise many birds in their time and season. +The country is traversed by numerous rivers, brooks, and ponds, connecting +with each other and finally emptying into the river St. Lawrence and the +lakes through which it passes. The country is very pleasant in spring, is +covered with extensive and lofty forests, and filled with wood similar to +that which we have in France, although in many places there is much cleared +land, where they plant Indian corn. This region also abounds in meadows, +lowlands, and marshes, which furnish food for the animals before mentioned. + +The country north of the great river is very rough and mountainous, and +extends in latitude from 47° to 49°, and in places abounds in rocks. [186] +So far as I could make out, these regions are inhabited by savages, who +wander through the country, not engaging in the cultivation of the soil, +nor doing anything, or at least as good as nothing. But they are hunters, +now in one place, now in another, the region being very cold and +disagreeable. This land on the north is in latitude 49° and extends over +six hundred leagues in breadth from east to west, of parts of which we have +full knowledge. There are also many fine large rivers rising in this region +and discharging into the before-mentioned river, together with an infinite +number of fine meadows, lakes, and ponds, through which they pass, where +there is an abundance of fish. There are likewise numerous islands which +are for the most part cleared up and very pleasant, the most of them +containing great quantities of vines and wild fruits. + +With regard to the regions further west, we cannot well determine their +extent, since the people here have no knowledge of them except for two or +three hundred leagues or more westerly, from whence comes the great river, +which passes, among other places, through a lake having an extent of nearly +thirty days' journey by canoe, namely that which we have called the _Mer +Douce_. This is of great extent, being nearly four hundred leagues long. +Inasmuch as the savages, with whom we are on friendly terms, are at war +with other nations on the west of this great lake, we cannot obtain a more +complete knowledge of them, except as they have told us several times that +some prisoners from the distance of a hundred leagues had reported that +there were tribes there like ourselves in color and in other respects. +Through them they have seen the hair of these people which is very light, +and which they esteem highly, saying that it is like our own. I can only +conjecture in regard to this, that the people they say resemble us were +those more civilized than themselves. It would require actual presence to +ascertain the truth in regard to this matter. But assistance is needed, and +it is only men of means, leisure, and energy, who could or would undertake +to promote this enterprise so that a full exploration of these places might +be made, affording us a complete knowledge of them. + +In regard to the region south of the great river it is very thickly +settled, much more so than that on the north, and by tribes who are at war +with each other. The country is very pleasant, much more so than that on +the northern border, and the air is more temperate. There are many kinds of +trees and fruits not found north of the river, while there are many things +on the north side, in compensation, not found on the south. The regions +towards the east are sufficiently well known, inasmuch as the ocean borders +these places. These are the coasts of Labrador, Newfoundland, Cape Breton, +La Cadie, and the Almouchiquois, [187] places well known, as I have treated +of them sufficiently in the narrative of my previous Voyages, as likewise +of the people living there, on which account I shall not speak of them in +this treatise, my object being only to make a succinct and true report of +what I have seen in addition. + +The country of the nation of the Attigouantans is in latitude 44° 30', and +extends two hundred and thirty leagues [188] in length westerly, and ten in +breadth. It contains eighteen villages, six of which are enclosed and +fortified by palisades of wood in triple rows, bound together, on the top +of which are galleries, which they provide with stones and water; the +former to hurl upon their enemies and the latter to extinguish the fire +which their enemies may set to the palisades. The country is pleasant, most +of it cleared up. It has the shape of Brittany, and is similarly situated, +being almost surrounded by the _Mer Douce_ [189] They assume that these +eighteen villages are inhabited by two thousand warriors, not including the +common mass which amounts to perhaps thirty thousand souls. + +Their cabins are in the shape of tunnels or arbors, and are covered with +the bark of trees. They are from twenty-five to thirty fathoms long, more +or less, and six wide, having a passage-way through the middle from ten to +twelve feet wide, which extends from one end to the other. On the two sides +there is a kind of bench, four feet high, where they sleep in summer, in +order to avoid the annoyance of the fleas, of which there are great +numbers. In winter they sleep on the ground on mats near the fire, so as to +be warmer than they would be on the platform. They lay up a stock of dry +wood, with which they fill their cabins, to burn in winter. At the +extremity of the cabins there is a space, where they preserve their Indian +corn, which they put into great casks made of the bark of trees and placed +in the middle of their encampment. They have pieces of wood suspended, on +which they put their clothes, provisions, and other things, for fear of the +mice, of which there are great numbers. In one of these cabins there may be +twelve fires, and twenty-four families. It smokes excessively, from which +it follows that many receive serious injury to the eyes, so that they lose +their sight towards the close of life. There is no window nor any opening, +except that in the upper part of their cabins for the smoke to escape. + +This is all that I have been able to learn about their mode of life; and I +have described to you fully the kind of dwelling of these people, as far as +I have been able to learn it, which is the same as that of all the tribes +living in these regions. They sometimes change their villages at intervals +of ten, twenty, or thirty years, and transfer them to a distance of one, +two, or three leagues from the preceding situation, [190] except when +compelled by their enemies to dislodge, in which case they retire to a +greater distance, as the Antouhonorons, who went some forty to fifty +leagues. This is the form of their dwellings, which are separated from each +other some three or four paces, for fear of fire, of which they are in +great dread. + +Their life is a miserable one in comparison with our own; but they are +happy among themselves, not having experienced anything better, and not +imagining that anything more excellent is to be found. Their principal +articles of food are Indian corn and Brazilian beans, [191] which they +prepare in various ways. By braying in a wooden mortar they reduce the corn +to meal. They remove the bran by means of fans made of the bark of trees. +From this meal they make bread, using also beans which they first boil, as +they do the Indian corn for soup, so that they may be more easily crushed. +Then they mix all together, sometimes adding blueberries [192] or dry +raspberries, and sometimes pieces of deer's fat, though not often, as this +is scarce with them. After steeping the whole in lukewarm water, they make +bread in the form of bannocks or pies, which they bake in the ashes. After +they are baked they wash them, and from these they often make others by +wrapping them in corn leaves, which they fasten to them, and then putting +them in boiling water. + +But this is not their most common kind. They make another, which they call +_migan_, which is as follows: They take the pounded Indian corn, without +removing the bran, and put two or three handfuls of it in an earthen pot +full of water. This they boil, stirring it from time to time, that it may +not burn nor adhere to the pot. Then they put into the pot a small quantity +of fish, fresh or dry, according to the season, to give a flavor to the +_migan_, as they call it. They make it very often, although it smells +badly, especially in winter, either because they do not know how to prepare +it rightly, or do not wish to take the trouble to do so. They make two +kinds of it, and prepare it very well when they choose. When they use fish +the _migan_ does not smell badly, but only when it is made with +venison. After it is all cooked, they take out the fish, pound it very +fine, and then put it all together into the pot, not taking the trouble to +remove the appendages, scales, or inwards, as we do, which generally causes +a bad taste. It being thus prepared, they deal out to each one his +portion. This _migan_ is very thin, and without much substance, as may be +well supposed. As for drink, there is no need of it, the _migan_ being +sufficiently thin of itself. + +They have another kind of _migan_, namely, they roast new corn before it is +ripe, which they preserve and cook whole with fish, or flesh when they have +it. Another way is this: they take Indian corn, which is very dry, roast it +in the ashes, then bray it and reduce it to meal as in the former case. +This they lay up for the journeys which they undertake here and there. The +_migan_ made in the latter manner is the best according to my taste. Figure +H shows the women braying their Indian corn. In preparing it, they cook a +large quantity of fish and meat, which they cut into pieces and put into +great kettles, which they fill with water and let it all boil well. When +this is done, they gather with a spoon from the surface the fat which comes +from the meat and fish. Then they put in the meal of the roasted corn, +constantly stirring it until the _migan_ is cooked and thick as soup. They +give to each one a portion, together with a spoonful of the fat. This dish +they are accustomed to prepare for banquets, but they do not generally make +it. + +Now the corn freshly roasted, as above described, is highly esteemed among +them. They eat also beans, which they boil with the mass of the roasted +flour, mixing in a little fat and fish. Dogs are in request at their +banquets, which they often celebrate among themselves, especially in +winter, when they are at leisure. In case they go hunting for deer or go +fishing, they lay aside what they get for celebrating these banquets, +nothing remaining in their cabins but the usual thin _migan_, resembling +bran and water, such as is given to hogs to eat. + +They have another way of eating the Indian corn. In preparing it, they take +it in the ear and put it in water under the mud, leaving it two or three +months in this state until they think it is putrefied. Then they remove it, +and eat it boiled with meat or fish. They also roast it, and it is better +so than boiled. But I assure you that there is nothing that smells so badly +as this corn as it comes from the water all muddy. Yet the women and +children take it and suck it like sugar-cane, nothing seeming to them to +taste better, as they show by their manner. In general they have two meals +a day. As for ourselves, we fasted all of Lent and longer, in order to +influence them by our example. But it was time lost. + +They also fatten bears, which they keep two or three years, for the purpose +of their banquets. I observed that if this people had domestic animals they +would be interested in them and care for them very well, and I showed them +the way to keep them, which would be an easy thing for them, since they +have good grazing grounds in their country, and in large quantities, for +all kinds of animals, horses, oxen, cows, sheep, swine, and other kinds, +for lack of which one would consider them badly off, as they seem to be. +Yet with all their drawbacks, they seem to me to live happily among +themselves, since their only ambition is to live and support themselves, +and they lead a more settled life than those who wander through the forests +like brute beasts. They eat many squashes, [193] which they boil, and roast +in the ashes. + +In regard to their dress, they have various kinds and styles made of the +skins of wild beasts, both those which they capture themselves, and others +which they get in exchange for their Indian corn, meal, porcelain, and +fishing-nets from the Algonquins, Nipissings, and other tribes, which are +hunters having no fixed abodes. All their clothes are of one uniform shape, +not varied by any new styles. They prepare and fit very well the skins, +making their breeches of deer-skin rather large, and their stockings of +another piece, which extend up to the middle and have many folds. Their +shoes are made of the skins of deer, bears, and beaver, of which they use +great numbers. Besides, they have a robe of the same fur, in the form of a +cloak, which they wear in the Irish or Egyptian style, with sleeves which +are attached with a string behind. This is the way they are dressed in +winter, as is seen in figure D. When they go into the fields, they gird up +their robe about the body; but when in the village, they leave off their +sleeves and do not gird themselves. The Milan trimmings for decorating +their garments are made of glue and the scrapings of the before-mentioned +skins, of which they make bands in various styles according to their fancy, +putting in places bands of red and brown color amid those of the glue, +which always keep a whitish appearance, not losing at all their shape, +however dirty they may get. There are those among these nations who are +much more skilful than others in fitting the skins, and ingenious in +inventing ornaments to put on their garments. It is our Montagnais and +Algonquins, above all others, who take more pains in this matter. They put +on their robes bands of porcupine quills, which they dye a very fine +scarlet color. [194] They value these bands very highly, and detach them so +that they may serve for other robes when they wish to make a change. They +also make use of them to adorn the face, in order to give it a more +graceful appearance whenever they wish particularly to decorate themselves. + +Most of them paint the face black and red. These colors they mix with oil +made from the seed of the sun-flower, or with bear's fat or that of other +animals. They also dye their hair, which some wear long, others short, +others on one side only. The women and girls always wear their hair in one +uniform style. They are dressed like men, except that they always have +their robes girt about them, which extend down to the knee. They are not at +all ashamed to expose the body from the middle up and from the knees down, +unlike the men, the rest being always covered. They are loaded with +quantities of porcelain, in the shape of necklaces and chains, which they +arrange in the front of their robes and attach to their waists. They also +wear bracelets and ear-rings. They have their hair carefully combed, dyed, +and oiled. Thus they go to the dance, with a knot of their hair behind +bound up with eel-skin, which they use as a cord. Sometimes they put on +plates a foot square, covered with porcelain, which hang on the back. Thus +gaily dressed and habited, they delight to appear in the dance, to which +their fathers and mothers send them, forgetting nothing that they can +devise to embellish and set off their daughters. I can testify that I have +seen at dances a girl who had more than twelve pounds of porcelain on her +person, not including the other bagatelles with which they are loaded and +bedecked. In the illustration already cited, F shows the dress of the +women, G that of the girls attired for the dance. + +All these people have a very jovial disposition, although there are many of +them who have a sad and gloomy look. Their bodies are well proportioned. +Some of the men and women are well formed, strong, and robust. There is a +moderate number of pleasing and pretty girls, in respect to figure, color, +and expression, all being in harmony. Their blood is but little +deteriorated, except when they are old. There are among these tribes +powerful women of extraordinary height. These have almost the entire care of +the house and work; namely, they till the land, plant the Indian corn, lay +up a store of wood for the winter, beat the hemp and spin it, making from +the thread fishing-nets and other useful things. The women harvest the +corn, house it, prepare it for eating, and attend to household matters. +Moreover they are expected to attend their husbands from place to place in +the fields, filling the office of pack-mule in carrying the baggage, and to +do a thousand other things. All the men do is to hunt for deer and other +animals, fish, make their cabins, and go to war. Having done these things, +they then go to other tribes with which they are acquainted to traffic and +make exchanges. On their return, they give themselves up to festivities and +dances, which they give to each other, and when these are over they go to +sleep, which they like to do best of all things. + +They have some sort of marriage, which is as follows: when a girl has +reached the age of eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen years she +has suitors, more or less according to her attractions, who woo her for +some time. After this, the consent of their fathers and mothers is asked, +to whose will the girls often do not submit, although the most discreet and +considerate do so. The lover or suitor presents to the girl some necklaces, +chains, and bracelets of porcelain. If the girl finds the suitor agreeable, +she receives the present. Then the lover comes and remains with her three +or four nights, without saying anything to her during the time. They +receive thus the fruit of their affections. Whence it happens very often +that, after from eight to fifteen days, if they cannot agree, she quits her +suitor, who forfeits his necklaces and other presents that he has made, +having received in return only a meagre satisfaction. Being thus +disappointed in his hopes, the man seeks another woman, and the girl +another suitor, if it seems to them desirable. Thus they continue to do +until a favorable union is formed. It sometimes happens that a girl thus +passes her entire youth, having more than twenty mates, which twenty are +not alone in the enjoyment of the creature, mated though they are; for when +night comes the young women run from one cabin to another, as do also the +young men on their part, going where it seems good to them, but always +without any violence, referring the whole matter to the pleasure of the +woman. Their mates will do likewise to their women-neighbors, no jealousy +arising among them on that account, nor do they incur any reproach or +insult, such being the custom of the country. + +Now the time when they do not leave their mates is when they have +children. The preceding mate returns to her, renews the affection and +friendship which he had borne her in the past, asserting that it is greater +than that of any other one, and that the child she has is his and of his +begetting. The next says the same to her. In time, the victory is with the +stronger, who takes the woman for his wife. Thus it depends upon the +choice of the woman to take and accept him who shall please her best, +having meantime in her searching and loves gained much porcelain and, +besides, the choice of a husband. The woman remains with him without +leaving him; or if she do leave him, for he is on trial, it must be for +some good reason other than impotence. But while with this husband, she +does not cease to give herself free rein, yet remains always at home, +keeping up a good appearance. Thus the children which they have together, +born from such a woman, cannot be sure of their legitimacy. Accordingly, in +view of this uncertainty, it is their custom that the children never +succeed to the property and honors of their fathers, there being doubt, as +above indicated, as to their paternity. They make, however, the children of +their sisters, from whom they are known to have issued, their successors +and heirs. + +The following is the way they nourish and bring up their children: they +place them during the day on a little wooden board, wrapping them up in +furs or skins. To this board they bind them, placing them in an erect +position, and leaving a little opening for the child to do its necessities. +If it is a girl, they put a leaf of Indian corn between the thighs, which +presses against its privates. The extremity of the leaf is carried outside +in a turned position, so that the water of the child runs off on it without +inconvenience. They put also under the children the down of certain reeds +that we call hare's-foot, on which they rest very softly. They also clean +them with the same down. As an ornament for the child, they adorn the board +with beads, which they also put on its neck, however small it may be. At +night they put it to bed, entirely naked, between the father and mother. It +may be regarded as a great miracle that God should thus preserve it so that +no harm befalls it, as might be expected, from suffocation, while the +father and mother are in deep sleep, but that rarely happens. The children +have great freedom among these tribes. The fathers and mothers indulge them +too much, and never punish them. Accordingly they are so bad and of so +vicious a nature, that they often strike their mothers and others. The most +vicious, when they have acquired the strength and power, strike their +fathers. They do this whenever the father or mother does anything that +does not please them. This is a sort of curse that God inflicts upon them. + +In respect to laws, I have not been able to find out that they have any, or +anything that approaches them, inasmuch as there is not among them any +correction, punishment, or censure of evil-doers except in the way of +vengeance, when they return evil for evil, not by rule but by passion, +which produces among them conflicts and differences, which occur very +frequently. + +Moreover, they do not recognize any divinity, or worship any God and +believe in anything whatever, but live like brute beasts. They have, +however, some respect for the devil, or something so called, which is a +matter of uncertainty, since the word which they use thus has various +significations and comprises in itself various things. It is accordingly +difficult to determine whether they mean the devil or something else, but +what especially leads to the belief that what they mean is the devil is +this: whenever they see a man doing something extraordinary, or who is more +capable than usual, or is a valiant warrior, or furthermore who is in a +rage as if out of his reason and senses, they call him _oqui_, or, as we +should say, a great knowing spirit, or a great devil. However this may be, +they have certain persons, who are the _oqui_, or, as the Algonquins and +Montagnais call them, _manitous_; and persons of this kind are the +medicine-men, who heal the sick, bind up the wounded, and predict future +events, who in fine practise all abuses and illusions of the devil to +deceive and delude them. These _oquis_ or conjurers persuade their patients +and the sick to make, or have made banquets and ceremonies that they may be +the sooner healed, their object being to participate in them finally +themselves and get the principal benefit therefrom. Under the pretence of a +more speedy cure, they likewise cause them to observe various other +ceremonies, which I shall hereafter speak of in the proper place. These +are the people in whom they put especial confidence, but it is rare that +they are possessed of the devil and tormented like other savages living +more remote than themselves. + +This gives additional reason and ground to believe that their conversion to +the knowledge of God would be more easy, if their country were inhabited by +persons who would take the trouble and pains to instruct them. But it is +not enough to send to them friars, unless there are those to support and +assist them. For although these people have the desire to-day to know what +God is, to-morrow this disposition will change when they are obliged to lay +aside and bring under their foul ways, their dissolute manners, and their +savage indulgences. So that there is need of people and families to keep +them in the way of duty, to constrain them through mildness to do better, +and to move them by good example to mend their lives. Father Joseph [195] +and myself have many times conferred with them in regard to our belief, +laws, and customs. They listened attentively in their assemblies, sometimes +saying to us: You say things that pass our knowledge, and which we cannot +understand by words, being beyond our comprehension; but if you would do us +a service come and dwell in this country, bringing your wives and children, +and when they are here we shall see how you serve the God you worship, and +how you live with your wives and children, how you cultivate and plant the +soil, how you obey your laws, how you take care of animals, and how you +manufacture all that we see proceeding from your inventive skill. When we +see all this, we shall learn more in a year than in twenty by simply +hearing you discourse and if we cannot then understand, you shall take our +children, who shall be as your own. And thus being convinced that our life +is a miserable one in comparison with yours, it is easy to believe that we +shall adopt yours, abandoning our own. + +Their words seemed to me good common sense, showing the desire they have to +get a knowledge of God. It is a great wrong to let so many men be lost, and +see them perish at our door, without rendering them the succor which can +only be given through the help of kings, princes, and ecclesiastics, who +alone have the power to do this. For to them alone belongs the honor of so +great a work; namely, planting the Christian faith in an unknown region and +among savage nations, since we are well informed about these people, that +they long for and desire nothing so much as to be clearly instructed as to +what they should do and avoid. It is accordingly the duty of those who have +the power, to labor there and contribute of their abundance, for one day +they must answer before God for the loss of the souls which they allowed to +perish through their negligence and avarice; and these are not few but very +numerous. Now this will be done when it shall please God to give them grace +to this end. As for myself, I desire this result rather to-day than +to-morrow, from the zeal which I have for the advancement of God's glory, +for the honor of my King, and for the welfare and renown of my country. + +When they are sick, the man or woman who is attacked with any disease sends +for the _oqui_, who visits the patient and informs himself about the malady +and the suffering. After this, the _oqui_ sends for a large number of men, +women, and girls, including three or four old women. These enter the cabin +of the sick, dancing, each one having on his head the skin of a bear or +some other wild beast, that of the bear being the most common as it is the +most frightful. There are three or four other old women about the sick or +suffering, who for the most part feign sickness, or are sick merely in +imagination. But they are soon cured of this sickness, and generally make +banquets at the expense of their friends or relatives, who give them +something to put into their kettle, in addition to the presents which they +receive from the dancers, such as porcelain and other bagatelles, so that +they are soon cured; for when they find that they have nothing more to look +for, they get up with what they have secured. But those who are really sick +are not readily cured by plays, dances, and such proceedings. + +To return to my narrative: the old women near the sick person receive the +presents, each singing and pausing in turn. When all the presents have been +made, they proceed to lift up their voices with one accord, all singing +together and keeping time with sticks on pieces of dry bark. Then all the +women and girls proceed to the end of the cabin, as if they were about to +begin a ballet or masquerade. The old women walk in front with their +bearskins on their heads, all the others following them, one after the +other. They have only two kinds of dances with regular time, one of four +steps and the other of twelve, as in the _trioli_ de Bretagne. They +exhibit much grace in dancing. Young men often take part with them. After +dancing an hour or two, the old women lead out the sick person to dance, +who gets up dolefully and prepares to dance, and after a short time she +dances and enjoys as much as the others. I leave it to you to consider how +sick she was. Below is represented the mode of their dances. + +The medicine-man thus gains honor and credit, his patient being so soon +healed and on her feet. This treatment, however, does nothing for those who +are dangerously ill and reduced by weakness, but causes their death rather +than their cure; for I can testify that they sometimes make such a noise +and hubbub from morning until two o'clock at night that it is impossible +for the patient to endure it without great pain. Sometimes the patient is +seized with the desire to have the women and girls dance all together, +which is done in accordance with the direction of the _oqui_. But this is +not all, for he and the _manitou_, accompanied by some others, make +grimaces, perform magic arts, and twist themselves about so that they +generally end in being out of their senses, seemingly crazy, throwing the +fire from one side of the cabin to the other, eating burning coals, holding +them in their hands for a while, and throwing red-hot ashes into the eyes +of the spectators. Seeing them in this condition, one would say that the +devil, the _oqui_, or _manitou_, if he is thus to be called, possesses and +torments them. This noise and hubbub being over, they retire each to his +own cabin. + +But those who suffer especially during this time are the wives of those +possessed, and all the inmates of their cabins, from the fear they have +lest the raging ones burn up all that is in their houses. This leads them +to remove everything that is in sight; for as soon as he arrives he is all +in a fury, his eyes flashing and frightful, sometimes standing up, +sometimes seated, as his fancy takes him. Suddenly a fit seizes him, and +laying hold of everything he finds in his way he throws them to one side +and the other. Then he lies down and sleeps for some time. Waking up with a +jump, he seizes fire and stones which he throws about recklessly on all +sides. This rage passes off with the sleep which seizes him again. Then he +rages and calls several of his friends to sweat with him. The latter is the +best means they have for preserving themselves in health. While they are +sweating, the kettle boils to prepare them something to eat. They remain, +two or three hours or so, covered up with great pieces of bark and wrapped +in their robes, with a great many stones about them which have been heated +red hot in the fire. They sing all the time while they are in the rage, +occasionally stopping to take breath. Then they give them many draughts of +water to drink, since they are very thirsty, when the demoniac, who was +crazy or possessed of an evil spirit, becomes sober. + +Thus it happens that three or four of these sick persons get well, rather +by a happy coincidence and chance than in consequence of any intelligent +treatment, and this confirms their false belief that they are healed by +means of these ceremonies, not considering that, for two who are thus +cured, ten others die on account of the noise, great hubbub and hissing, +which are rather calculated to kill than cure a sick person. But that they +expect to recover their health by this noise, and we on the contrary by +silence and rest, shows how the devil does everything in hostility to the +good. + +There are also women who go into these rages, but they do not do so much +harm. They walk on all fours like beasts. Seeing this, the magician, called +_oqui_, begins to sing; then, with some contortions of the face, he blows +upon her, directing her to drink certain waters, and make at once a banquet +of fish or flesh, which must be procured although very scarce at the +time. When the shouting is over and the banquet ended, they return each to +her own cabin. At another time he comes back and visits her, blowing upon +her and singing in company with several others, who have been summoned for +this purpose, and who hold in the hand a dry tortoise-shell filled with +little pebbles, which they cause to resound in the ears of the sick woman. +They direct her to make at once three or four banquets with singing and +dancing, when all the girls appear adorned and painted as I have +represented in figure G. The _oqui_ orders masquerades, and directs them to +disguise themselves, as those do who run along the streets in France on +_Mardi-gras_. [196] Thus they go and sing near the bed of the sick woman +and promenade through the village while the banquet is preparing to receive +the maskers, who return very tired, having taken exercise enough to be able +to empty the kettle of its _migan_. + +According to their custom each household lives on what it gets by fishing +and planting, improving as much land as it needs. They clear it up with +great difficulty, since they do not have the implements adapted to this +purpose. A party strip the trees of all their branches, which they burn at +their base in order to kill them. They clear carefully the land between the +trees, and then plant their corn at distances of a pace, putting in each +place some ten kernels, and so on until they have made provision for three +or four years, fearing that a bad year may befall them. The women attend to +the planting and harvesting, as I have said before, and to procuring a +supply of wood for winter. All the women aid each other in procuring this +provision of wood, which they do in the month of March or April, in the +order of two days for each. Every household is provided with as much as it +needs; and if a girl marries, each woman and girl is expected to carry to +the newly married one a parcel of wood for her provision, since she could +not procure it alone, and at a season when she has to give her attention to +other things. + +The following is their mode of government: the older and leading men +assemble in a council, in which they settle upon and propose all that is +necessary for the affairs of the village. This is done by a plurality of +voices, or in accordance with the advice of some one among them whose +judgment they consider superior: such a one is requested by the company to +give his opinion on the propositions that have been made, and this opinion +is minutely obeyed. They have no particular chiefs with absolute command, +but they show honor to the older and more courageous men, whom they name +captains, as mark of honor and respect, of which there are several in a +village. But, although they confer more honor upon one than upon others, +yet he is not on that account to bear sway, nor esteem himself higher than +his companions, unless he does so from vanity. They make no use of +punishments nor arbitrary command, but accomplish everything by the +entreaties of the seniors, and by means of addresses and remonstrances. +Thus and not otherwise do they bring everything to pass. + +They all deliberate in common, and whenever any member of the assembly +offers to do anything for the welfare of the village, or to go anywhere for +the service of the community, he is requested to present himself, and if he +is judged capable of carrying out what he proposes, they exhort him, by +fair and favorable words, to do his duty. They declare him to be an +energetic man, fit for undertakings, and assure him that he will win honor +in accomplishing them. In a word, they encourage him by flatteries, in +order that this favorable disposition of his for the welfare of his fellow- +citizens may continue and increase. Then, according to his pleasure, he +refuses the responsibility, which few do, or accepts, since thereby he is +held in high esteem. + +When they engage in wars or go to the country of their enemies, two or +three of the older or valiant captains make a beginning in the matter, and +proceed to the adjoining villages to communicate their purpose, and make +presents to the people of these villages, in order to induce them to +accompany them to the wars in question. In so far they act as generals of +armies. They designate the place where they desire to go, dispose of the +prisoners who are captured, and have the direction of other matters of +especial importance, of which they get the honor, if they are successful; +but, if not, the disgrace of failure in the war falls upon them. These +captains alone are looked upon and considered as chiefs of the tribes. + +They have, moreover, general assemblies, with representatives from remote +regions. These representatives come every year, one from each province, and +meet in a town designated as the rendezvous of the assembly. Here are +celebrated great banquets and dances, for three weeks or a month, according +as they may determine. Here they renew their friendship, resolve upon and +decree what they think best for the preservation of their country against +their enemies, and make each other handsome presents, after which they +retire each to his own district. + +In burying the dead, they take the body of the deceased, wrap it in furs, +and cover it very carefully with the bark of trees. Then they place it in a +cabin, of the length of the body, made of bark and erected upon four posts. +Others they place in the ground, propping up the earth on all sides, that +it may not fall on the body, which they cover with the bark of trees, +putting earth on top. Over this trench they also make a little cabin. Now +it is to be understood that the bodies remain in these places, thus +inhumed, but for a period of eight or ten years, when the men of the +village recommend the place where their ceremonies are to take place; or, +to speak more precisely, they hold a general council, in which all the +people of the country are present, for the purpose of designating the place +where a festival is to be held. After this they return each to his own +village, where they take all the bones of the deceased, strip them and make +them quite clean. These they keep very carefully, although they smell like +bodies recently interred. Then all the relatives and friends of the +deceased take these bones, together with their necklaces, furs, axes, +kettles, and other things highly valued, and carry them, with a quantity of +edibles, to the place assigned. Here, when all have assembled, they put the +edibles in a place designated by the men of the village, and engage in +banquets and continual dancing. The festival continues for the space of ten +days, during which time other tribes, from all quarters, come to witness it +and the ceremonies. The latter are attended with great outlays. + +Now, by means of these ceremonies, including dances, banquets, and +assemblies, as above stated, they renew their friendship to one another, +saying that the bones of their relatives and friends are to be all put +together, thus indicating by a figure that, as their bones are gathered +together and united in one and the same place, so ought they also, during +their life, to be united in one friendship and harmony, like relatives and +friends, without separation. Having thus mingled together the bones of +their mutual relatives and friends, they pronounce many discourses on the +occasion. Then, after various grimaces or exhibitions, they make a great +trench, ten fathoms square, in which they put the bones, together with the +necklaces, chains of porcelain, axes, kettles, sword-blades, knives, and +various other trifles, which, however, are of no slight account in their +estimation. They cover the whole with earth, putting on top several great +pieces of wood, and placing around many posts, on which they put a +covering. This is their manner of proceeding with regard to the dead, and +it is the most prominent ceremony they have. Some of them believe in the +immortality of the soul, while others have only a presentiment of it, +which, however, is not so very different; for they say that after their +decease they will go to a place where they will sing, like crows, a song, +it must be confessed, quite different from that of angels. On the following +page are represented their sepulchres and manner of interment. + +It remains to describe how they spend their time in winter; namely, from +the month of December to the end of March, or the beginning of our spring, +when the snow melts. All that they might do during autumn, as I have before +stated, they postpone to be done during winter; namely, their banquetings, +and usual dances for the sake of the sick, which I have already described, +and the assemblages of the inhabitants of various villages, where there are +banquetings, singing, and dances, which they call _tabagies_ [197] and +where sometimes five hundred persons are collected, both men, women, and +girls. The latter are finely decked and adorned with the best and most +costly things they have. + +On certain days they make masquerades, and visit each other's cabins, +asking for the things they like, and if they meet those who have what they +want, these give it to them freely. Thus they go on asking for many things +without end; so that a single one of those soliciting will have robes of +beaver, bear, deer, lynxes, and other furs, also fish, Indian corn, +tobacco, or boilers, kettles, pots, axes, pruning-knives, knives, and other +like things. They go to the houses and cabins of the village, singing these +words, That one gave me this, another gave that, or like words, by way of +commendation. But if one gives them nothing they get angry, and show such +spite towards him that when they leave they take a stone and put it near +this man or that woman who has not given them anything. Then, without +saying a word, they return singing, which is a mark of insult, censure, and +ill-will. The women do so as well as the men, and this mode of proceeding +takes place at night, and the masquerade continues seven or eight days. +There are some of their villages which have maskers or merry-makers, as we +do on the evening of _Mardi-gras_, and they invite the other villages to +come and see them and win their utensils, if they can. Meanwhile banquets +are not wanting. This is the way they spend their time in winter. + +Moreover the women spin, and pound meal for the journeys of their husbands +in summer, who go to other tribes to trade, as they decide to do at the +above-mentioned councils, in which it is determined what number of men may +go from each village, that it may not be deprived of men of war for its +protection; and nobody goes from the country without the general consent of +the chiefs, or if they should go they would be regarded as behaving +improperly. The men make nets for fishing, which they carry on in summer, +but generally in winter, when they capture the fish under the ice with the +line or with the seine. + +The following is their manner of fishing. They make several holes in a +circular form in the ice, the one where they are to draw the seine being +some five feet long and three wide. Then they proceed to place their net at +this opening, attaching it to a rod of wood from six to seven feet long, +which they put under the ice. This rod they cause to pass from hole to +hole, when one or more men, putting their hands in the holes, take hold of +the rod to which is attached an end of the net, until they unite at the +opening of five to six feet. Then they let the net drop to the bottom of +the water, it being sunk by little stones attached to the end. After it is +down they draw it up again with their arms at its two ends, thus capturing +the fish that are in it. This is, in brief, their manner of fishing in +winter. + +The winter begins in the month of November and continues until the month of +April, when the trees begin to send forth the sap and show their buds. + +On the 22d of the month of April we received news from our interpreter, who +had gone to Carantoüan, through those who had come from there. They told us +that they had left him on the road, he having returned to the village for +certain reasons. + +Now, resuming the thread of my narrative, our savages assembled to come +with us, and conduct us back to our habitation, and for this purpose we set +out from their country on the 20th of the month, [198] and were forty days +on the way. We caught a large number of fish and animals of various kinds, +together with small game, which afforded us especial pleasure, in addition +to the provisions thus furnished us for our journey. Upon our arrival among +the French, towards the end of the month of June, I found Sieur du Pont +Gravé, who had come from France with two vessels, and who had almost +despaired of seeing me again, having heard from the savages the bad news, +that I was dead. + +We also saw all the holy fathers who had remained at our settlement. They +too were very happy to see us again, and we none the less so to see them. +Welcomes, and felicitations on all sides being over, I made arrangements to +set out from the Falls of St. Louis for our settlement, taking with me my +host D'Arontal. I took leave also of all the other savages, assuring them +of my affection, and that, if I could, I would see them in the future, to +assist them as I had already done in the past, bringing them valuable +presents to secure their friendship with one another, and begging them to +forget all the disputes which they had had when I reconciled them, which +they promised to do. + +Then we set out, on the 8th of July, and arrived at our settlement on the +11th of that month. Here I found everybody in good health, and we all, in +company with our holy fathers, who chanted the Divine service, returned +thanks to God for His care in preserving us, and protecting us amid the +many perils and dangers to which we had been exposed. + +After this, and when everything had become settled, I proceeded to show +hospitalities to my host, D'Arontal, who admired our building, our conduct, +and mode of living. After carefully observing us, he said to me, in +private, that he should never die contented until he had seen all of his +friends, or at least a good part of them, come and take up their abode with +us, in order to learn how to serve God, and our way of living, which he +esteemed supremely happy in comparison with their own. Moreover he said +that, if he could not learn it by word of mouth, he would do so much better +and more easily by sight and by frequent intercourse, and that, if their +minds could not comprehend our arts, sciences, and trades, their children +who were young could do so, as they had often represented to us in their +country in conversation with Father Joseph. He urged us, for the promotion +of this object, to make another settlement at the Falls of St. Louis, so as +to secure them the passage of the river against their enemies, assuring us +that, as soon as we should build a house, they would come in numbers to +live as brothers with us. Accordingly I promised to make a settlement for +them as soon as possible. + +After we had remained four or five days together, I gave him some valuable +presents, with which he was greatly pleased, and I begged him to continue +his affection for us, and come again to see our settlement with his +friends. Then he returned happy to the Falls of St Louis, where his +companions awaited him. + +When this Captain D'Arontal had departed, we enlarged our habitation by a +third at least in buildings and fortifications, since it was not +sufficiently spacious, nor convenient for receiving the members of our own +company and likewise the strangers that might come to see us. We used, in +building, lime and sand entirely, which we found very good there in a spot +near the habitation. This is a very useful material for building for those +disposed to adapt and accustom themselves to it. + +The Fathers Denis and Joseph determined to return to France, in order to +testify there to all they had seen, and to the hope they could promise +themselves of the conversion of these people, who awaited only the +assistance of the holy fathers in order to be converted and brought to our +faith and the Catholic religion. + +During my stay at the settlement I had some common grain cut; namely, +French grain, which had been planted there and which had come up very +finely, that I might take it to France, as evidence that the land is good +and fertile. In another part, moreover, there was some fine Indian corn, +also scions and trees which had been given us by Sieur du Monts in +Normandy. In a word all the gardens of the place were in an admirably fine +condition, being planted with peas, beans, and other vegetables, also +squashes, and very superior radishes of various sorts, cabbages, beets, and +other kitchen vegetables. When on the point of departure, we left two of +our fathers at the settlement; namely, Fathers Jean d'Olbeau and Pacifique, +[199] who were greatly pleased with all the time spent at that place, and +resolved to await there the return of Father Joseph, [200] who was expected +to come back in the following year, which he did. + +We sailed in our barques the 20th day of July, and arrived at Tadoussac the +23d day of the month, where Sieur du Pont Gravé awaited us with his vessel +ready and equipped. In this we embarked and set out the 3d day of the month +of August. The wind was so favorable that we arrived in health by the grace +of God, at Honfleur, on the 10th day of September, one thousand six hundred +and sixteen, and upon our arrival rendered praise and thanks to God for his +great care in preserving our lives, and delivering and even snatching us, +as it were, from the many dangers to which we had been exposed, and for +bringing and conducting us in health to our country; we besought Him also +to move the heart of our King, and the gentlemen of his council, to +contribute their assistance so far as necessary to bring these poor savages +to the knowledge of God, whence honor will redound to his Majesty, grandeur +and growth to his realm, profit to his subjects, and the glory of all these +undertakings and toils to God, the sole author of all excellence, to whom +be honor and glory. Amen. + + +ENDNOTES: + +78. Champlain's first voyage was made in 1603, and this journal was + published in 1619. It was therefore fully fifteen years since his + explorations began. + +79. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Sagard, Trois ed., pp 27, 28. The reader + is likewise referred to the Memoir of Champlain, Vol. I. pp 122-124. + +80. Bernard du Verger, a man of exalted virtue--_Laverdière_. + +81. Robert Ubaldim was nuncio at this time. _Vide Laverdière in loco_. + +82. Denis Jamay. Sagard writes this name _Jamet_. + +83. Jean d'Olbeau. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Gabriel Sagard, Paris, + 1636, Tross ed., Vol. I. p. 28. + +84. Pacifique du Plessis was a lay-brother, although the title of Father is + given to him by several early writers. _Vide citations by Laverdière in + loco_, Quebec ed., Vol. IV. p. 7. + +85. Read April 24. It is obvious from the context that it could not be + August. Sagard says _le_ 24 _d'Auril_. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, Trois + ed., Vol. I. p 36. + +86. The Recollect Father Joseph le Caron. + +87. _Vide Laverdière in loco_. + +88. Father Denis Jamay. + +89. Jean d'Olbeau and Pacifique du Plessis. + +90. This refers to the volume bearing date 1613, but which may not have + been actually issued from the press till 1614. + +91. Our views of the war policy of Champlain are stated at some length in + Vol I. pp 189-193. + +92. Laverdière thinks it probable that Champlain left the Falls of St Louis + on the 23d of June, and that the Holy Mass was celebrated on the + Rivière des Prairies on the 24th, the festival of St John the Baptist. + +93. This interpreter was undoubtedly Etienne Brûlé. It was a clearly + defined policy of Champlain to send suitable young men among the + savages, particularly to learn their language, and subsequently to act + as interpreters. Brûlé is supposed to have been of this class. + +94. The Lake of Two Mountains. + +95. The River Ottawa, which Champlain had explored in 1613, as far as + Allumet Island, where a tribe of the Algonquins resided, called later + _Kichesipinni_. _Vide Relation des Jésuites_, 1640, p 34. + +96. This is an over-estimate. + +97. Champlain here again, _Vide_ note 90, refers to the issue bearing date + 1613. It is not unlikely that while it bears the imprint of 1613, it + did not actually issue from the press till 1614. + +98. The lake or expansion of the Ottawa on the southern side of Allumet + Island was called the Lake of the Algonquins, as Allumet Island was + oftentimes called the Island of the Algonquins. + +99. The River Ottawa. + +100. Père Vimont calls this tribe _Kotakoutouemi_. _Relation des Jésuites_, + 1640, p. 34. Père Rogueneau gives _Outaoukotouemiouek_, and remarks + that their language is a mixture of Algonquin and Montagnais. _Vide + Relation des Jésuites_, 1650. p. 34; also _Laverdière in loco_. + +101. _Blues_, blueberries. The Canada blueberry. _Vaccinium Canadense_. + Under the term _blues_ several varieties may have been included. + Charlevoix describes and figures this fruit under the name _Bluet du + Canada_. _Vide Description des Plantes Principales de l'Amérique + Septentrionale_, in _Histoire de la Nouvelle France_, Paris. 1744, + Tom. IV. pp. 371, 372; also Vol. I: p 303, note 75, of this work. + +102. At its junction with the Mattawan, the Ottawa's course is from the + north. What is known as its east branch rises 150 miles north of the + city of Ottawa. Extending towards the west in a winding course for the + distance of about 300 miles, it turns towards the southeast, and a few + miles before it joins the Mattawan its course is directly south. From + its northeastern source by a short portage is reached the river + Chomouchouan, an affluent of Lake St. John and the Saguenay. + +103. Mattawa is 197 miles from Ottawa. We have no means of giving the + latitude with entire accuracy, but it is about 46° 20'. + +104. Lac du Talon and Lac la Tortue. + +105. Nipissings, or Nipissirini. Champlain writes _Nipisierinii_. + +106. On the 26th of July, The distance from the junction of the Ottawa and + the Mattawan to Lake Nipissing is about thirty-two miles. If _lieues_ + were translated miles, it would be a not very incorrect estimate. + +107. _Vide_ the representations here referred to. + +108. Lake Nipissing, whose dimensions are over-stated. + +109. Sturgeon River. + +110. Père Vimont gives the names of these tribes as follows,--_Timiscimi, + Outimagami, Ouachegami, Mitchitamou, Outurbi, Kiristinon_. _Vide + Relation des Jésuites_. 1640. p. 34. + +111. French River. + +112. _Blues_. _Vide antea_, note 101. + +113. This significant name is given with reference to their mode of + dressing their hair. + +114. Blueberries, _Vaccinium Canadense_. + +115. _De cuir beullu_, for _cuir bouilli_, literally "boiled leather." + +116. The shields of the savages of this region may have been made of the + hide of the buffalo, although the range of this animal was far to the + northwest of them. Champlain saw undoubtedly among the Hurons skins of + the buffalo. _Vide postea_, note 180. + +117. Lake Huron is here referred to. + +118. The greatest length of Lake Huron on a curvilinear line, between the + discharge of St Mary's Strait and the outlet, is about 240 miles; its + length due north and south is 186 miles, and its extreme breadth about + 220 miles. _Bouchette_. + +119. Coasting along the eastern shore of the Georgian Bay, when they + arrived at Matchedash Bay they crossed it in a southwesterly course + and entered the country of the Attigouautans, or, as they are + sometimes called, the Attignaouentans. _Relation des Jésuites,_ 1640, + p. 78. They were a principal tribe of the Hurons, living within the + limits of the present county of Simcoe. It is to be regretted that the + Jesuit Fathers did not accompany their relations with local maps by + which we could fix, at least approximately, the Indian towns which + they visited, and with which they were so familiar. For a description + of the Hurons and of their country, the origin of the name and other + interesting particulars, _vide Pere Hierosine Lalemant, Relation des + Jésuites_, 1639, Quebec ed. p. 50. + +120. _Sitrouilles_ for _citrouilles_. _Vide_ Vol II. p. 64, note 128. + +121. _Herbe au soleil_. The sunflower of Northeast America, _Helianthus + multiflorus_. This species is found from Quebec to the Saskatchewan, a + tributary of Lake Winnipeg. _Vide Chronological History of Plants_, by + Charles Pickering, M.D., Boston, 1879. p. 914. Charlevoix, in the + description of his journey through Canada in 1720, says: "The Soleil + is a plant very common in the fields of the savages, and which grows + seven or eight feet high. Its flower, which is very large, is in the + shape of the marigold, and the seed grows in the same manner. The + savages, by boiling it, draw out an oil, with which they grease their + hair." _Letters to the Dutchess of Lesdiguieres_, London, 1763, p. 95. + +122. _Vignes_ Probably the frost grape, _Vitis cordifolia_. + +123. _Prunes_. The Canada plum, _Prunus Americana_. + +124. _Framboises_. The wild red raspberry, _Rubus strigosus_. + +125. _Fraises_. The wild strawberry, _Fragaria Virginiana_. _Vide + Pickering Chro. Hist. Plants_, p. 771. + +126. _Petites pommes sauuages_. Probably the American crab-apple, _Pyrus + coronaria_. + +127. _Noix_ This may include the butternut and some varieties of the + walnut. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 264. + +128. Doubtless the May-apple, _Podophyllum peltatum_. In the wilds of + Simcoe this fruit may have seemed tolerable from the absence of others + more desirable. Gray says, "It is slightly acid, mawkish, eaten by + pigs and boys." _Cf. Florula Bostioniensis_, by Jacob Bigelow, + M.D. Boston, 1824, pp. 215, 216. + +129. _Les Chesnes, ormeaux, & heslres_. For oaks see Vol I. p. 264. Elms, + plainly the white elm, _Ulmus Americana_, so called in + contradistinction to the red or slippery elm, _Ulmus fulva_. The + savages sometimes used the bark of the slippery elm in the + construction of their canoes when the white birch could not be + obtained. _Vide Charlevoix's Letters_, 1763, p. 94. For the beech, see + Vol. I. p. 264. + +130. _Perdrix_. Canada Grouse, _Tetrao Canadensis_, sometimes called the + Spruce Partridge, differing from the partridge of New England, which + is the Ruffed Grouse, _Bonasa umbellus_. This latter species is, + however, found likewise in Canada. + +131. _Lapins_. The American hare, _Lepus Americanus_. + +132. _Cerises petites_. Reference is evidently here made to the wild red + cherry, _Prunus Pennsylvanica_, which is the smallest of all the + native species. _Cf_. Vol. I. p. 264. + +133. _Merises_. The wild black cherry, _Prunus serotina_. + +134. The Carantouanais. _Vide Carte de la Nouvelle France_, 1632, _also_ + Vol. I. p. 304. This tribe was probably situated on the upper waters + of the Susquehanna, and consequently south of the Five Nations, + although we said inadvertently in Vol. I. p. 128 that they were on the + west of them. General John S. Clark thinks their village was at + Waverly, near the border of Pennsylvania In Vol. I. p. 143. in the + 13th line from the top, we should have said the Carantouanais instead + of _Entouhonorons_. + +135. The Entouhonorons were a part, it appears, of the Five Nations. + Champlain says they unite with the Iroquois in making war against all + the other tribes except the Neutral Nation. Lake Ontario is called + _Lac des Entouhonorons_, and Champlain adds that their country is near + the River St. Lawrence, the passage of which they forbid to all other + tribes. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 303, 304. He thus appears to apply the name + _Iroquois_ to the eastern portion of the Five Nations, particularly + those whom he had attacked on Lake Champlain; and the Huron name, + _Entouhonorons_, to the western portion. The subdivisions, by which + they were distinguished at a later period, were probably not then + known, at least not to Champlain. + +136. _Flamens_. The Dutch were at this time on the Hudson, qengaged in the + fur trade with the savages. _Vide History of the State of New York_ by + John Romeyn Brodhead, New York, 1853. pp. 38-65. _History of New + Netherland_ or _New York under the Dutch_, by E. B. O'Callaghan, New + York, 1846, pp. 67-77. + +137. Their enemies were the Iroquois. + +138. _Chouontouaroüon_, another name for _Entouhoronon_. + +139. Lake Couchiching, a small sheet of water into which pass by a small + outlet the waters of Lake Simcoe. + +140. Lake Simcoe. Laverdière says the Indian name of this lake was + _Ouentaronk_, and that it was likewise called _Lac aux Claies_. + +141. Étienne Brûlé. _Vide postea_, p. 208. + +142. _Dans ces lacs_. From Lake Chouchiching, coasting along the + northeastern shore of Lake Simcoe, they would make five or six leagues + in reaching a point nearest to Sturgeon Lake. + +143. Undoubtedly Sturgeon Lake. + +144. From their entrance of Sturgeon Lake to the point where they reached + Lake Ontario, at the eastern limit of Amherst Island, the distance is, + in its winding and circuitous course, not far from Champlain's + estimate, viz. sixty-four leagues. That part of the river above Rice + Lake is the Otonabee; that below is known as the Trent. + +145. _Gruës_ The white crane, _Grus Americanus_ Adult plumage pure white + _Coues's Key to North American Birds_, Boston, 1872, p 271 Charlevoix + says, "We have cranes of two colors, some white and others _gris de + lin_," that is a purple or lilac color. This latter species is the + brown crane, _Grus Canadensis_. "Plumage plumbeous gray." _Coues_. + _Vide Charlevoix's Letters_, London. 1763, p 83. + +146. The latitude of the eastern end of Amherst Island is about 44° 11'. + +147. This traverse, it may be presumed, was made by coasting along the + shore, as was the custom of the savages with their light canoes. + +148. It appears that, after making by estimate about fourteen leagues in + their bark canoes, and four by land along the shore, they struck + inland. Guided merely by the distances given in the text, it is not + possible to determine with exactness at what point they left the + lake. This arises from the fact that we are not sure at what point the + measurement began, and the estimated distances are given, moreover, + with very liberal margins. But the eighteen leagues in all would take + them not very far from Little Salmon River, whether the estimate were + made from the eastern end of Amherst Island or Simcoe Island, or any + place in that immediate neighborhood. The natural features of the + country, for four leagues along the coast north of Little Salmon + River, answer well to the description given in the text. The chestnut + and wild grape are still found there. _Vide MS. Letters of the + Rev. James Cross, D.D., LL.D., and of S.Z. Smith, Esq._, of Mexico, + New York. + +149. Lake Ontario, or Lake of the Entouhonorons, is about a hundred and + eighty miles long, and about fifty-five miles in its extreme width. + +150. The river here crossed was plainly Oneida River, flowing from Oneida + Lake into Lake Ontario. The lake is identified by the islands in it. + Oneida Lake is the only one in this region which contains any islands + whatever, and consequently the river flowing from it must be that now + known as Oneida River. + +151. For the probable site of this fort, see Vol. I. p. 130, note 83. + +152. They were of the tribe called Carantouanais. _Vide antea_, note 134. + +153. This was in the month of October. + +154. _Et après auoir trauersé le bout du lac de laditte isle_. From this + form of expression this island would seem to have been visited before. + But no particular island is mentioned on their former traverse of the + lake. It is impossible to fix with certainty upon the island referred + to. It may have been Simcoe or Wolf Island, or some other. + +155. Probably Cataraqui Creek. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 136. + +156. Perhaps Loughborough Lake, or the system of lakes of which this is a + part. + +157. _Cygnes_, swans. Probably the Trumpeter Swan, _Cygnus buccinator_. + They were especially found in Sagard's time about Lake Nipissing. + "Mais pour des Cignes, qu'ils appellent _Horhev_, il y en a + principalement vers les Epicerinys." _Vide Le Grand Voyage av Pays des + Hurons_ par Fr. Gabriel Sagard, Paris, 1632, p. 303. + +158. _Gruës blanches_. _Vide antea_, n. 145. + +159. _Houstardes_. _Vide antea_, note 32. + +160. _Mauuis_, Song-Thrush. Doubtless the Robin, _Turdus migratorius_. + +161. _Allouettes_, larks. Probably the Brown Lark, _Anthus ludovicianus_. + Found everywhere in North America. + +162. _Beccassines_. Probably the American Snipe, _Gallinago Wilsonii_. + +163. _Oyes_, geese. The common Wild Goose, _Branta Canadensis_, or it may + include all the species taken collectively. For the several species + found in Canada, _vide antea_, note 32. + +164. _Les loups_. The American Wolf, _Lupus occidentalis_. + +165. The thirty-eight days during which they were there would include the + whole period from the time they began to make their preparations on + the 28th of October on the shores of Lake Ontario till they began + their homeward journey on the 4th of December. _Vide antea_, p. 137; + _postea_, p. 143. + +166. The author here refers to the chief D'Arontal, whose guest he + was. _Vide antea_, 137. Cf. also Quebec ed. 1632, p. 928. + +167. _Trainees de bois_, a kind of sledge. The Indian's sledge was made of + two pieces of board, which, with his stone axe and perhaps with the + aid of fire, he patiently manufactured from the trunks of trees. The + boards were each about six inches wide and six or seven feet long, + curved upward at the forward end and bound together by cross pieces. + The sides were bordered with strips of wood, which served as brackets, + to which was fastened the strap that bound the baggage upon the + sledge. The load was dragged by a rope or strap of leather passing + round the breast of the savage and attached to the end of the sledge. + The sledge was so narrow that it could be drawn easily and without + impediment wherever the savage could thread his way through the + pathless forests. + + The journey from their encampment northeast of Kingston on Lake + Ontario to the capital of the Hurons was not less in a straight line + than a hundred and sixty miles. Without a pathway, in the heart of + winter, through water and melting snow, with their heavy burdens, the + hardship and exhaustion can hardly be exaggerated. + +168. Namely at Cahiagué. In the issue of 1632, Champlain says they arrived + on the 23d day of the month. _Vide_ Quebec ed, p. 929. Leaving on the + 4th and travelling nineteen days, as stated above, they would arrive + on the 23d December. + +169. Probably the 4th of January. + +170. Father Joseph Le Caron had remained at Carhagouha, during the absence + of the war party in their attack upon the Iroquois, where Champlain + probably arrived on the 5th of January. + +171. In the issue of 1632, the arrival of Champlain and Le Caron is stated + to have occurred on the 17th of January. This harmonizes with the + correction of dates in notes 169, 170. + + The Huron name of the Petuns was _Tionnontateronons_, or + _Khionontateronons_, or _Quieunontateronons_. Of them Vimont says, + "Les Khionontateronons, qu'on appelle la nation du Petun, pour + l'abondance qu'il y a de cette herbe, sont eloignez du pays des + Hurons, dont ils parlent la langue, enuiron douze ou quinze lieues + tirant à l'Occident." _Vide Relation des Jésuites_, 1640, p. 95; + _His. Du Canada_, Vol. I. p. 209. Sagard. + + For some account of the subsequent history of the Nation de Petun, + _vide Indian Migration in Ohio_, by C. C. Baldwin, 1879, p. 2. + +172. It was of great importance to the Indians to select a site for their + villages where suitable wood was accessible, both for fortifying them + with palisades and for fuel in the winter. It could not be brought a + great distance for either of these purposes. Hence when the wood in + the vicinity became exhausted they were compelled to remove and build + anew. + +173. That is to say like the Hurons. + +174. The Nation Neutre was called by the Hurons _Attisandaronk_ or + _Attihouandaron_. _Vide Relation des Jésuites_, 1641, p. 72; + _Dictonaire de la Langue Huronne_, par Sagard, a Paris, 1632. + Champlain places them, on his map of 1632, south of Lake Erie. His + knowledge of that lake, obtained from the savages, was very meagre as + the map itself shows. The Neutres are placed by early writers on the + west of Lake Ontario and north of Lake Erie _Vide Laverdière in loco_, + Quebec ed., p. 546; also, _Indian Migration in Ohio_, by C. C. + Baldwin, p. 4. They are placed far to the south of Lake Erie by + Nicholas Sanson. _Vide Cartes de l'Amerique_, 1657. + +175. The Cheveux Relevés are represented by Champlain as dwelling west of + the Petuns, and were probably not far from the most southern limit of + the Georgian Bay. Strangely enough Nicholas Sanson places them on a + large island that separates the Georgian Bay from Lake Huron. _Vide + Cartes de l'Amerique_ par N. Sanson, 1657. + +176. _Atsistaehronons, ou Nation du Feu_. Their Algonquin name was + Mascoutins or Maskoutens, with several other orthographies. The + significance of their name is given by Sagard as follows: Ils sont + errans, sinon que quelques villages d'entr'eux fement des bleds + d'Inde, et font la guerre à vne autre Nation, nommée _Assitagueronon_, + qui veut dire gens de feu: car en langue Huronne _Assista_ signifie du + feu, et _Eronon_, signifie Nation. _Le Grand Voyage du Pays des + Hurons_, par Gabriel Sagard, a Paris, 1632, p. 78. _Vide Relation des + Jésuites_, 1641, p 72; _Discovery and Exploration of the Mississippi + Valley_, by John Gilmary Shea, p. 13; _Indian Migration in Ohio_, by + C. C. Baldwin, pp 9, 10; Discovery of the _Northwest by John Nicolet_, + by C. W. Butterfield, p. 63; _L'Amerique en Plusieurs Cartes_, par + N. Sanson, 1657. + +177. _Pisierinii_, the Nipissings. This relates to those Nipissings who had + accompanied Champlain on the expedition against the Iroquois, and who + were passing the winter among the Hurons. He had expected that they + would accompany him on explorations on the north of them. But arriving + at their encampment, on his return from the Petuns and Cheveux + Relevés, he learned from them of the quarrel that had arisen between + the Algonquins and the Hurons. + +178. Attigouantans, the principal tribe of the Hurons. + +179. _Colliers de pourceline_. These necklaces were composed of shells, + pierced and strung like beads. They were of a violet color, and were + esteemed of great value. The _branches_ were strings of white shells, + and were more common and less valuable. An engraved representation may + be seen in _Histoire de L'Amérique Septentrionale_, par De la + Potherie, Paris, 1722, Tom. I. p. 334. For a full description of + these necklaces and their significance and use in their councils, + _vide Charlevoix's Letters_, London, 1763, p 132. + +180. _Buffles_, buffaloes. The American Bison, _Bos Americanus_. The skins + seen by Champlain in the possession of the savages seem to indicate + that the range of the buffalo was probably further east at that period + than at the present time, its eastern limit being now about the Red + River, which flows into Lake Winnipeg. The limit of its northern range + is generally stated to be at latitude 60 degrees, but it is sometimes + found as far north as 63 degrees or 64 degrees. _Vide_ Dr. Shea's + interesting account of the buffalo in _Discovery and Exploration of + Mississippi Valley_, p. 18. The range of the Musk Ox is still farther + north, rarely south of latitude 67 degrees. His home is in the Barren + Grounds, west of Hudson Bay, and on the islands on the north of the + American Continent, where he subsists largely on lichens and the + meagre herbage of that frosty region. + +181. Champlain is here speaking of the whole country of New France. + +182. This sentence in the original is unfinished and defective. _Au costé + vers le Nort, icelle grande riuiere terant à l'Occident, etc_. In the + ed. 1632, the reading is _Au costé vers le nort d'icelle grande + riuiere tirant au suroust, etc_. The tranlation is according to the + ed. of 1632. _Vide_ Quebec ed., p. 941. + +183. Champlain here gives the four species of the _cervus_ family under + names then known to him, viz, the moose, wapiti or elk, caribou, and + the common deer. + +184. _Fouines_, a quadruped known as the minx or mink, _Mustela vison_. + +185. _Martes_, weasels, _Mustela vulgaris_. + +186. _The country on the north_, &c. Having described the country along the + coast of the St Lawrence and the lakes he now refers to the country + still further north even to the southern borders of Hudson's Bay. + _Vide_ small map. + +187. _Almouchiquois_, so in the French for Almouchiquois. All the tribes at + and south of _Chouacoet_, or the mouth of the Saco River, were + denominated Almouchiquois by the French. _Vide_ Vol II p 63, _et + passim_. + +188. The country of the Attigouantans, sometimes written Attigouautans, the + principal tribe of the Hurons, used by Champlain as including the + whole, with whom the French were in close alliance, was from east to + west not more than about twelve leagues. There must have been some + error by which the author is made to say that it was _two hundred and + thirty leagues_. Laverdière suggests that in the manuscript it might + have been 23, or 20 to 30, and that the printer made it 230. + +189. The author plainly means that the country of the Hurons was nearly + surrounded by the Mer Douce; that is to say, by Lake Huron and the + waters connected with it, viz., the River Severn, Lake Couchiching, + and Lake Simcoe. As to the population, compare _The Jesuits in North + America_, by Francis Parkman, LL.D., note p. xxv. + +190. _Vide antea_, note 172, for the reason of these removals. + +191. _Febues du Brésil_. This was undoubtedly the common trailing bean, + _Pliaseolus vulgaris_, probably called the Brazilian bean, because it + resembled a bean known under that name. It was found in cultivation in + New England as mentioned by Champlain and the early English settlers. + Bradford discoursing of the Indians, _His. Plymouth Plantation_, + p. 83, speaks of "their beans of various collours." It is possible + that the name, _febues du Brésil_, was given to it on account of its + red color, as was that of the Brazil-wood, from the Portuguese word + _braza_, a burning coal. + +192. _Vide antea_, note 101. + +193. _Sitrouelles_, or _citrouilles_, the common summer squash, _Cucurbita + polymorpha. Vide_ Vol. II. note 128. For figure D, _vide_ p. 116. + +194. The coloring matter appears to have been derived from the root of the + bedstraw, _Galium tinctorum_. Peter Kalm, a pupil of Linnæus, who + travelled in Canada in 1749, says, "The roots of this plant are + employed by the Indians in dyeing the quills of the American + porcupines red, which they put into several pieces of their work, and + air, sun, or water seldom change this color." _Travels into North + America_, London, 1771, Vol. III. pp. 14-15. + +195. Père Joseph Le Caron, who had passed the winter among the Hurons. + +196. _Mardi-gras_, Shrove-Tuesday, or _flesh Tuesday_, the last day of the + Carnival, the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day in Lent. + +197. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 236-238. + +198. This must have been on the 20th of May. + +199. Jean d'Olbeau and the lay brother Pacifique du Plessis. + +200. Joseph le Caron, who accompanied Champlain to France. + + + + +CONTINUATION OF THE VOYAGES +AND DISCOVERIES MADE IN NEW FRANCE, +BY +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, +CAPTAIN FOR THE KING IN THE WESTERN MARINE, +IN THE YEAR 1618. + + +At the beginning of the year one thousand six hundred and eighteen, on the +twenty-second of March, I set out from Paris, [201] together with my +brother-in-law, [202] for Honfleur, our usual port of embarkation. There we +were obliged to make a long stay on account of contrary winds. But when +they had become favorable, we embarked on the large vessel of the +association, which Sieur du Pont Gravé commanded. There was also on board a +nobleman, named De la Mothe, [203] who had previously made a voyage with +the Jesuits to the regions of La Cadie, where he was taken prisoner by the +English, and by them carried to the Virginias, the place of their +settlement. Some time after they transferred him to England and from there +to France, where there arose in him an increased desire to make another +voyage to New France, which led him to seek the opportunity presented by +me. I had assured him, accordingly, that I would use my influence and +assistance with our associates, as it seemed to me that they would find +such a person desirable, since he would be very useful in those regions. + +Our embarkation being made, we took our departure from Honfleur on the 24th +day of May following, in the year 1618. The wind was favorable for our +voyage, but continued so only a very few days, when it suddenly changed, +and we had all the time head winds up to our arrival, on the 3d day of June +following, on the Grand Bank, where the fresh fishery is carried on. Here +we perceived to the windward of us some banks of ice, which came down from +the north. While waiting for a favorable wind we engaged in fishing, which +afforded us great pleasure, not only on account of the fish but also of a +kind of bird called _fauquets_, [204] and other kinds that are caught on +the line like fish. For, on throwing the line, with its hook baited with +cod liver, these birds made for it with a rush, and in such numbers that +you could not draw it out in order to throw it again, without capturing +them by the beak, feet, and wings as they slew and fell upon the bait, so +great were the eagerness and voracity of these birds. This fishing afforded +us great pleasure, not only on account of the sport, but on account of the +infinite number of birds and fish that we captured, which were very good +eating, and made a very desirable change on shipboard. + +Continuing on our route, we arrived on the 15th of the month off Isle +Percée, and on St. John's day [205] following entered the harbor of +Tadoussac, where we found our small vessel, which had arrived three weeks +before us. The men on her told us that Sieur des Chesnes, the commander, +had gone to our settlement at Quebec. Thence he was to go to the Trois +Rivières to meet the savages, who were to come there from various regions +for the purpose of trade, and likewise to determine what was to be done on +account of the death of two of our men, who had been treacherously and +perfidiously killed by two vicious young men of the Montagnais. These two +unfortunate victims, as the men on the vessel informed us, had been killed +while out hunting nearly two years [206] before. Those in the settlement +had always supposed that they had been drowned from the upsetting of their +canoe, until a short time before, one of the men, conceiving an animosity +against the murderers, made a disclosure and communicated the fact and +cause of the murder to the men of our settlement. For certain reasons it +has seemed to me well to give an account of the matter and of what was done +in regard to it. But it is almost impossible to obtain the exact truth in +the case, on account, not only of the small amount of testimony at hand, +but of the diversity of the statements made, the most of which were +presumptive. I will, however, give an account of the matter here, following +the statement of the greater number as being nearer the truth, and relating +what I have found to be the most probable. + +The following is the occasion of the murder of the two unfortunate +deceased. One of the two murderers paid frequent visits to our settlement, +receiving there a thousand kindnesses and favors, among other persons from +Sieur du Parc, a nobleman from Normandy, in command at the time at Quebec, +in the service of the King and in behalf of the merchants of the +Association in the year 1616. This savage, while on one of his customary +visits, received one day, on account of some jealousy, ill treatment from +one of the two murdered men, who was by profession a locksmith, and who +after some words beat the savage so soundly as to impress it well upon his +memory. And not satisfied with beating and misusing the savage he incited +his companions to do the same, which aroused still more the hatred and +animosity of the savage towards this locksmith and his companions, and led +him to seek an opportunity to revenge himself. He accordingly watched for a +time and opportunity for doing so, acting however cautiously and appearing +as usual, without showing any sign of resentment. + +Some time after, the locksmith and a sailor named Charles Pillet, from the +island of Ré, arranged to go hunting and stay away three or four nights. +For this purpose they got ready a canoe, and embarking departed from Quebec +for Cape Tourmente. Here there were some little islands where a great +quantity of game and birds resorted, near Isle d'Orleans, and distant seven +leagues from Quebec. The departure of our men became at once known to the +two savages, who were not slow in starting to pursue them and carry out +their evil design. They sought for the place where the locksmith and his +companion went to sleep, in order to surprise them. Having ascertained it +at evening, at break of day on the following morning, the two savages +slipped quietly along certain very pleasant meadows. Arriving at a point +near the place in question, they moored their canoe, landed and went +straight to the cabin, where our men had slept. But they found only the +locksmith, who was preparing to go hunting with his companion, and who +thought of nothing less than of what was to befall him. One of these +savages approached him, and with some pleasant words removed from him all +suspicion of anything wrong in order that he might the better deceive +him. But as he saw him stoop to adjust his arquebus, he quickly drew a club +that he had concealed on his person, and gave the locksmith so heavy a blow +on his head, that it sent him staggering and completely stunned. The +savage, seeing that the locksmith was preparing to defend himself, repeated +his blow, struck him to the ground, threw himself upon him, and with a +knife gave him three or four cuts in the stomach, killing him in this +horrible manner. + +In order that they might also get possession of the sailor, the companion +of the locksmith who had started early in the morning to go hunting, not +because they bore any special hatred towards him, but that they might not +be discovered nor accused by him, they went in all directions searching for +him. At last, from the report of an arquebus which they heard, they +discovered where he was, in which direction they rapidly hastened, so as to +give no time to the sailor to reload his arquebus and put himself in a +state of defence. Approaching, they fired their arrows at him, by which +having prostrated him, they ran upon him and finished him with the knife. + +Then the assassins carried off the body, together with the other, and, +binding them so firmly together that they would not come apart, attached to +them a quantity of stones and pebbles, together with their weapons and +clothes, so as not to be discovered by any sign, after which they carried +them to the middle of the river, threw them in, and they sank to the +bottom. Here they remained a long time until, through the will of God, the +cords broke, and the bodies were washed ashore and thrown far up on the +bank, to serve as accusers and incontestable witnesses of the attack of +these two cruel and treacherous assassins. For the two bodies were found at +a distance of more than twenty feet from the water in the woods, but had +not become separated in so long a time, being still firmly bound, the +bones, stripped of the flesh like a skeleton, alone remaining. For the two +victims, contrary to the expectation of the two murderers, who thought they +had done their work so secretly that it would never be known, were found a +long time after their disappearance by the men of our settlement, who, +pained at their absence, searched for them along the banks of the river. +But God in his justice would not permit so enormous a crime, and had caused +it to be exposed by another savage, their companion, in retaliation for an +injury he had received from them. Thus their wicked acts were disclosed. + +The holy Fathers and the men of the settlement were greatly surprised at +seeing the bodies of these two unfortunates, with their bones all bare, and +their skulls broken by the blows received from the club of the savages. The +Fathers and others at the settlement advised to preserve them in some +portion of the settlement until the return of our vessels, in order to +consult with all the French as to the best course to pursue in the matter. +Meanwhile our people at the settlement resolved to be on their guard, and +no longer allow so much freedom to these savages as they had been +accustomed to, but on the contrary require reparation for so cruel a murder +by a process of justice, or some other way, or let things in the mean time +remain as they were, in order the better to await our vessels and our +return, that we might all together consult what was to be done in the +matter. + +But the savages seeing that this iniquity was discovered, and that they and +the murderer were obnoxious to the French, were seized with despair, and, +fearing that our men would exercise vengeance upon them for this murder, +withdrew for a while from our settlement.[207] Not only those guilty of the +act but the others also being seized with fear came no longer to the +settlement, as they had been accustomed to do, but waited for greater +security for themselves. + +Finding themselves deprived of intercourse with us, and of their usual +welcome, the savages sent one of their companions named by the French, _La +Ferrière_, to make their excuses for this murder; namely, they asserted +they had never been accomplices in it, and had never consented to it, and +that, if it was desired to have the two murderers for the sake of +inflicting justice, the other savages would willingly consent to it, unless +the French should be pleased to take as reparation and restitution for the +dead some valuable presents of skins, as they are accustomed to do in +return for a thing that cannot be restored. They earnestly entreated the +French to accept this rather than require the death of the accused which +they anticipated would be hard for them to execute, and so doing to forget +everything as if it had not occurred. + +To this, in accordance with the advice of the holy Fathers, it was decided +to reply that the savages should bring and deliver up the two malefactors, +in order to ascertain from them their accomplices, and who had incited them +to do the deed. This they communicated to La Ferrière for him to report to +his companions. + +This decision having been made, La Ferrière withdrew to his companions, who +upon hearing the decision of the French found this procedure and mode of +justice very strange and difficult; since they have no established law +among themselves, but only vengeance and restitution by presents. After +considering the whole matter and deliberating with one another upon it, +they summoned the two murderers and set forth to them the unhappy position +into which they had been thrown by the event of this murder, which might +cause a perpetual war with the French, from which their women and children +would suffer. However much trouble they might give us, and although they +might keep us shut up in our settlement and prevent us from hunting, +cultivating and tilling the soil, and although we were in too small numbers +to keep the river blockaded, as they persuaded themselves to believe in +their consultations; still, after all their deliberations, they concluded +that it was better to live in peace with the French than in war and +perpetual distrust. + +Accordingly the savages thus assembled, after finishing their consultation +and representing the situation to the accused, asked them if they would not +have the courage to go with them to the settlement of the French and appear +before them; promising them that they should receive no harm, and assuring +them that the French were lenient and disposed to pardon, and would in +short go so far in dealing with them as to overlook their offence on +condition of their not returning to such evil ways. + +The two criminals, finding themselves convicted in conscience, yielded to +this proposition and agreed to follow this advice. Accordingly one of them +made preparations, arraying himself in such garments and decorations as he +could procure, as if he had been invited to go to a marriage or some great +festivity. Thus attired, he went to the settlement, accompanied by his +father, some of the principal chiefs, and the captain of their company. As +to the other murderer, he excused himself from this journey, [208] +realizing his guilt of the heinous act and fearing punishment. + +When now they had entered the habitation, which was forthwith surrounded by +a multitude of the savages of their company, the bridge [209] was drawn up, +and all of the French put themselves on guard, arms in hand. They kept a +strict watch, sentinels being posted at the necessary points, for fear of +what the savages outside might do, since they suspected that it was +intended actually to inflict punishment upon the guilty one, who had so +freely offered himself to our mercy, and not upon him alone, but upon those +also who had accompanied him inside, who likewise were not too sure of +their persons, and who, seeing matters in this state, did not expect to get +out with their lives. The whole matter was very well managed and carried +out, so as to make them realize the magnitude of the crime and have fear +for the future. Otherwise there would have been no security with them, and +we should have been obliged to live with arms in hand and in perpetual +distrust. + +After this, the savages suspecting lest something might happen contrary to +what they hoped from us, the holy Fathers proceeded to make them an address +on the subject of this crime. They set forth to them the friendship which +the French had shown them for ten or twelve years back, when we began to +know them, during which time we had continually lived in peace and intimacy +with them, nay even with such freedom as could hardly be expressed. They +added moreover that I had in person assisted them several times in war +against their enemies, thereby exposing my life for their welfare; while we +were not under any obligations to do so, being impelled only by friendship +and good will towards them, and feeling pity at the miseries and +persecutions which their enemies caused them to endure and suffer. This is +why we were unable to believe, they said, that this murder had been +committed without their consent, and especially since they had taken it +upon themselves to favor those who committed it. + +Speaking to the father of the criminal, they represented to him the +enormity of the deed committed by his son, saying that as reparation for it +he deserved death, since by our law so wicked a deed did not go unpunished, +and that whoever was found guilty and convicted of it deserved to be +condemned to death as reparation for so heinous an act; but, as to the +other inhabitants of the country, who were not guilty of the crime, they +said no one wished them any harm or desired to visit upon them the +consequences of it. + +All the savages, having clearly heard this, said, as their only excuse, but +with all respect, that they had not consented to this act; that they knew +very well that these two criminals ought to be put to death, unless we +should be disposed to pardon them; that they were well aware of their +wickedness, not before but after the commission of the deed; that they had +been informed of the death of the two ill-fated men too late to prevent it. +Moreover, they said that they had kept it secret, in order to preserve +constantly an intimate relationship and confidence with us, and declared +that they had administered to the evil-doers severe reprimands, and set +forth the calamity which they had not only brought upon themselves, but +upon all their tribe, relatives and friends; and they promised that such a +calamity should never occur again and begged us to forget this offence, and +not visit it with the consequences it deserved, but rather go back to the +primary motive which induced the two savages to go there, and have regard +for that. Furthermore they said that the culprit had come freely and +delivered himself into our hands, not to be punished but to receive mercy +from the French. + +But the father, turning to the friar, [210] said with tears, there is my +son, who committed the supposed crime; he is worthless, but consider that +he is a young, foolish, and inconsiderate person, who has committed this +act through passion, impelled by vengeance rather than by premeditation: it +is in your power to give him life or death; you can do with him what you +please, since we are both in your hands. + +After this address, the culprit son, presenting himself with assurance, +spoke these words. "Fear has not so seized my heart as to prevent my coming +to receive death according to my desserts and your law, of which I +acknowledge myself guilty." Then he stated to the company the cause of the +murder, and the planning and execution of it, just as I have related and +here set forth. + +After his recital he addressed himself to one of the agents and clerks of +the merchants of our Association, named _Beauchaine_, begging him to put +him to death without further formality. + +Then the holy Fathers spoke, and said to them, that the French were not +accustomed to put their fellow-men to death so suddenly, and that it was +necessary to have a consultation with all the men of the settlement, and +bring forward this affair as the subject of consideration. This being a +matter of great consequence, it was decided that it should be carefully +conducted and that it was best to postpone it to a more favorable occasion, +which would be better adapted to obtain the truth, the present time not +being favorable for many reasons. + +In the first place, we were weak in numbers in comparison with the savages +without and within our settlement, who, resentful and full of vengeance as +they are, would have been capable of setting fire on all sides and creating +disorder among us. In the second place, there would have been perpetual +distrust and no security in our intercourse with them. In the third place, +trade would have been injured, and the service of the King impeded. + +In view of these and other urgent considerations, it was decided that we +ought to be contented with their putting themselves in our power and their +willingness to give satisfaction submissively, the father of the criminal +on the one hand presenting and offering him to the company, and he, for his +part, offering to give up his own life as restitution for his offence, just +as his father offered to produce him whenever he might be required. + +This it was thought necessary to regard as a sort of honorable amend, and a +satisfaction to justice. And it was considered that if we thus pardoned the +offence, not only would the criminal receive his life from us, but, also, +his father and companions would feel under great obligations. It was +thought proper, however, to say to them as an explanation of our action, +that, in view of the fact of the criminal's public assurance that all the +other savages were in no respect accomplices, or to blame for the act, and +had had no knowledge of it before its accomplishment, and in view of the +fact that he had freely offered himself to death, it had been decided to +restore him to his father, who should remain under obligations to produce +him at any time. On these terms and on condition that he should in future +render service to the French, his life was spared, that he and all the +savages might continue friends and helpers of the French. + +Thus it was decided to arrange the matter until the vessels should return +from France, when, in accordance with the opinion of the captains and +others, a definite and more authoritative settlement was to be concluded. +In the mean time we promised them every favor and the preservation of their +lives, saying to them, however, for our security, that they should leave +some of their children as a kind of hostage, to which they very willingly +acceded, and left at the settlement two in the hands of the holy Fathers, +who proceeded to teach their letters, and in less than three months taught +them the alphabet and how to make the letters. + +From this it may be seen that they are capable of instruction and are +easily taught, as Father Joseph [211] can testify. + +The vessels having safely arrived, Sieur du Pont Gravé, some others, and +myself were informed how the affair had taken place, as has been narrated +above, when we all decided that it was desirable to make the savages feel +the enormity of this murder, but not to execute punishment upon them, for +various good reasons hereafter to be mentioned. + +As soon as our vessels had entered the harbor of Tadoussac, even on the +morning of the next day, [212] Sieur du Pont Gravé and myself set sail +again, on a small barque of ten or twelve tons' burden. So also Sieur de la +Mothe, together with Father Jean d'Albeau, [213] a friar, and one of the +clerks and agent of the merchants, named _Loquin_, embarked on a little +shallop, and we set out together from Tadoussac. There remained on the +vessel another friar, called Father _Modeste_ [214] together with the pilot +and master, to take care of her. We arrived at Quebec, the place of our +settlement, on the 27th of June following. Here we found Fathers Joseph, +Paul, and Pacifique, the friars, [215] and Sieur Hébert [216] with his +family, together with the other members of the settlement. They were all +well, and delighted at our return in good health like themselves, through +the mercy of God. + +The same day Sieur du Pont Gravé determined to go to Trois Rivières, where +the merchants carried on their trading, and to take with him some +merchandise, with the purpose of meeting Sieur des Chesnes, who was already +there. He also took with him Loquin, as before mentioned. I stayed at our +settlement some days, occupying myself with business relating to it; among +other things in building a furnace for making an experiment with certain +ashes, directions for which had been given me, and which are in truth of +great value; but it requires labor, diligence, watchfulness and skill; and +for the working of these ashes a sufficient number of men are needed who +are acquainted with this art. This first experiment did not prove +successful, and we postponed further trial to a more favorable opportunity. + +I visited the cultivated lands, [217] which I found planted with fine +grain. The gardens contained all kinds of plants, cabbages, radishes, +lettuce, purslain, sorrel, parsley, and other plants, squashes, cucumbers, +melons, peas, beans and other vegetables, which were as fine and forward as +in France. There were also the vines, which had been transplanted, already +well advanced. In a word, you could see everything growing and flourishing. +Aside from God, we are not to give the praise for this to the laborers or +their skill, for it is probable that not much is due to them, but to the +richness and excellence of the soil, which is naturally good and adapted +for everything, as experience shows, and might be turned to good account, +not only for purposes of tillage and the cultivation of fruit-trees and +vines, but also for the nourishment and rearing of cattle and fowl, such as +are common in France. But the thing lacking is zeal and affection for the +welfare and service of the King. + +I tarried some time at Quebec, in expectation of further intelligence, when +there arrived a barque from Tadoussac, which had been sent by Sieur du +Pont Gravé to get the men and merchandise remaining at that place on the +before-mentioned large vessel. Leaving Quebec, I embarked with them for +Trois Rivières, where the trading was going on, in order to see the savages +and communicate with them, and ascertain what was taking place respecting +the assassination above set forth, and what could be done to settle and +smooth over the whole matter. + +On the 5th of July following I set out from Quebec, together with Sieur de +la Mothe, for Trois Rivières, both for engaging in traffic and to see the +savages. We arrived at evening off Sainte Croix, [218] a place on the way +so called. Here we saw a shallop coming straight to us, in which were some +men from Sieurs du Pont Gravé and des Chesnes, and also some clerks and +agents of the merchants. They asked me to despatch at once this shallop to +Quebec for some merchandise remaining there, saying that a large number of +savages had come for the purpose of making war. + +This intelligence was very agreeable to us, and in order to satisfy them, +on the morning of the next day I left my barque and went on board a shallop +in order to go more speedily to the savages, while the other, which had +come from Trois Rivières, continued its course to Quebec. We made such +progress by rowing that we arrived at the before-mentioned place on the 7th +of July at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Upon landing, all the savages with +whom I had been intimate in their country recognized me. They were awaiting +me with impatience, and came up to me very happy and delighted to see me +again, one after the other embracing me with demonstrations of great joy, I +also receiving them in the same manner. In this agreeable way was spent the +evening and remainder of this day, and on the next day the savages held a +council among themselves, to ascertain from me whether I would again assist +them, as I had done in the past and as I had promised them, in their wars +against their enemies, by whom they are cruelly harassed and tortured. + +Meanwhile on our part we took counsel together to determine what we should +do in the matter of the murder of the two deceased, in order that justice +might be done, and that they might be restrained from committing such an +offence in future. + +In regard to the assistance urgently requested by the savages for making +war against their enemies, I replied that my disposition had not changed +nor my courage abated, but that what prevented me from assisting them was +that on the previous year, when the occasion and opportunity presented, +they failed me when the time came; because when they had promised to return +with a good number of warriors they did not do so, which caused me to +withdraw without accomplishing much. Yet I told them the matter should be +taken into consideration, but that for the present it was proper to +determine what should be done in regard to the assassination of the two +unfortunate men, and that satisfaction must be had. Upon this they left +their council in seeming anger and vexation about the matter, offering to +kill the criminals, and proceed at once to their execution, if assent were +given, and acknowledging freely among themselves the enormity of the +affair. + +But we would not consent to this, postponing our assistance to another +time, requiring them to return to us the next year with a good number of +men. I assured them, moreover, that I would entreat the King to favor us +with men, means, and supplies to assist them and enable them to enjoy the +rest they longed for, and victory over their enemies. At this they were +greatly pleased, and thus we separated, after they had held two or three +meetings on the subject, costing us several hours of time. Two or three +days after my arrival at this place they proceeded to make merry, dance, +and celebrate many great banquets in view of the future war in which I was +to assist them. + +Then I stated to Sieur du Pont Gravé what I thought about this murder; that +it was desirable to make a greater demand upon them; that at present the +savages would dare not only to do the same thing again but what would be +more injurious to us; that I considered them people who were governed by +example; that they might accuse the French of being wanting in courage; +that if we said no more about the matter they would infer that we were +afraid of them: and that if we should let them go so easily they would grow +more insolent, bold, and intolerable, and we should even thereby tempt them +to undertake greater and more pernicious designs. Moreover I said that the +other tribes of savages, who had or should get knowledge of this act, and +that it had been unrevenged, or compromised by gifts and presents, as is +their custom, would boast that killing a man is no great matter; since the +French make so little account of seeing their companions killed by their +neighbors, who drink, eat, and associate intimately with them, as may be +seen. + +But, on the other hand, in consideration of the various circumstances; +namely, that the savages do not exercise reason, that they are hard to +approach, are easily estranged, and are very ready to take vengeance, that, +if we should force them to inflict punishment, there would be no security +for those desirous of making explorations among them, we determined to +settle this affair in a friendly manner, and pass over quietly what had +occurred, leaving them to engage peaceably in their traffic with the clerks +and agents of the merchants and others in charge. + +Now there was with them a man named _Estienne Brûlé_, one of our +interpreters, who had been living with them for eight years, as well to +pass his time as to see the country and learn their language and mode of +life. He is the one whom I had despatched with orders to go in the +direction of the Entouhonorons, [219] to Carantoüan, in order to bring with +him five hundred warriors they had promised to send to assist us in the war +in which we were engaged against their enemies, a reference to which is +made in the narrative of my previous book. [220] I called this man, namely +Estienne Brûlé, and asked him why he had not brought the assistance of the +five hundred men, and what was the cause of the delay, and why he had not +rendered me a report. Thereupon he gave me an account of the matter, a +narrative of which it will not be out of place to give, as he is more to be +pitied than blamed on account of the misfortunes which he experienced on +this commission. + +He proceeded to say that, after taking leave of me to go on his journey and +execute his commission, he set out with the twelve savages whom I had given +him for the purpose of showing the way, and to serve as an escort on +account of the dangers which he might have to encounter. They were +successful in reaching the place, Carantoüan, but not without exposing +themselves to risk, since they had to pass through the territories of their +enemies, and, in order to avoid any evil design, pursued a more secure +route through thick and impenetrable forests, wood and brush, marshy bogs, +frightful and unfrequented places and wastes, all to avoid danger and a +meeting with their enemies. + +But, in spite of this great care, Brûlé and his savage companions, while +crossing a plain, encountered some hostile savages, who were returning to +their village and who were surprised and worsted by our savages, four of +the enemy being killed on the spot and two taken prisoners, whom Brûlé and +his companions took to Carantoüan, by the inhabitants of which place they +were received with great affection, a cordial welcome, and good cheer, with +the dances and banquets with which they are accustomed to entertain and +honor strangers. + +Some days were spent in this friendly reception; and, after Brûlé had told +them his mission and explained to them the occasion of his journey, the +savages of the place assembled in council to deliberate and resolve in +regard to sending the five hundred warriors asked for by Brûlé. + +When the council was ended and it was decided to send the men, orders were +given to collect, prepare, and arm them, so as to go and join us where we +were encamped before the fort and village of our enemies. This was only +three short days' journey from Carantoüan, which was provided with more +than eight hundred warriors, and strongly fortified, after the manner of +those before described, which have high and strong palisades well bound and +joined together, the quarters being constructed in a similar fashion. + +After it had been resolved by the inhabitants of Carantoüan to send the +five hundred men, these were very long in getting ready, although urged by +Brûlé, to make haste, who explained to them that if they delayed any longer +they would not find us there. And in fact they did not succeed in arriving +until two days after our departure from that place, which we were forced to +abandon, since we were too weak and worn by the inclemency of the weather. +This caused Brûlé, and the five hundred men whom he brought, to withdraw +and return to their village of Carantoüan. After their return Brûlé was +obliged to stay, and spend the rest of the autumn and all the winter, for +lack of company and escort home. While awaiting, he busied himself in +exploring the country and visiting the tribes and territories adjacent to +that place, and in making a tour along a river [221] that debouches in the +direction of Florida, where are many powerful and warlike nations, carrying +on wars against each other. The climate there is very temperate, and there +are great numbers of animals and abundance of small game. But to traverse +and reach these regions requires patience, on account of the difficulties +involved in passing the extensive wastes. + +He continued his course along the river as far as the sea, [222] and to +islands and lands near them, which are inhabited by various tribes and +large numbers of savages, who are well disposed and love the French above +all other nations. But those who know the Dutch [223] complain severely of +them, since they treat them very roughly. Among other things he observed +that the winter was very temperate, that it snowed very rarely, and that +when it did the snow was not a foot deep and melted immediately. + +After traversing the country and observing what was noteworthy, he returned +to the village of Carantoüan, in order to find an escort for returning to +our settlement. After some stay at Carantoüan, five or six of the savages +decided to make the journey with Brûlé. On the way they encountered a large +number of their enemies, who charged upon Brûlé and his companions so +violently that they caused them to break up and separate from each other, +so that they were unable to rally: and Brûlé, who had kept apart in the +hope of escaping, became so detached from the others that he could not +return, nor find a road or sign in order to effect his retreat in any +direction whatever. Thus he continued to wander through forest and wood for +several days without eating, and almost despairing of his life from the +pressure of hunger. At last he came upon a little footpath, which he +determined to follow wherever it might lead, whether toward the enemy or +not, preferring to expose himself to their hands trusting in God rather +than to die alone and in this wretched manner. Besides he knew how to speak +their language, which he thought might afford him some assistance. + +But he had not gone a long distance when he discovered three savages loaded +with fish repairing to their village. He ran after them, and, as he +approached, shouted at them, as is their custom. At this they turned about, +and filled with fear were about to leave their burden and flee. But Brûlé +speaking to them reassured them, when they laid down their bows and arrows +in sign of peace, Brûlé on his part laying down his arms. Moreover he was +weak and feeble, not having eaten for three or four days. On coming up to +them, after he had told them of his misfortune and the miserable condition +to which he had been reduced, they smoked together, as they are accustomed +to do with one another and their acquaintances when they visit each +other. They had pity and compassion for him, offering him every assistance, +and conducting him to their village, where they entertained him and gave +him something to eat. + +But as soon as the people of the place were informed that an _Adoresetoüy_ +had arrived, for thus they call the French, the name signifying _men of +iron_, they came in a rush and in great numbers to see Brûlé. They took him +to the cabin of one of the principal chiefs, where he was interrogated, and +asked who he was, whence he came, what circumstance had driven and led him +to this place, how he had lost his way, and whether he did not belong to +the French nation that made war upon them. To this he replied that he +belonged to a better nation, that was desirous solely of their acquaintance +and friendship. Yet they would not believe this, but threw themselves upon +him, tore out his nails with their teeth, burnt him with glowing +firebrands, and tore out his beard, hair by hair, though contrary to the +will of the chief. + +During this fit of passion one of the savages observed an _Agnus Dei_, +which he had attached to his neck, and asked what it was that he had thus +attached to his neck, and was on the point of seizing it and pulling it +off. But Brûlé said to him, with resolute words, If you take it and put me +to death, you will find that immediately after you will suddenly die, and +all those of your house. He paid no attention however to this, but +continuing in his malicious purpose tried to seize the _Agnus Dei_ and tear +it from him, all of them together being desirous of putting him to death, +but previously of making him suffer great pain and torture, such as they +generally practise upon their enemies. + +But God, showing him mercy, was pleased not to allow it, but in his +providence caused the heavens to change suddenly from the serene and fair +state they were in to darkness, and to become filled with great and thick +clouds, upon which followed thunders and lightnings so violent and long +continued that it was something strange and awful. This storm caused the +savages such terror, it being not only unusual but unlike anything they had +ever heard, that their attention was diverted and they forgot the evil +purpose they had towards Brûlé, their prisoner. They accordingly left him +without even unbinding him, as they did not dare to approach him. This gave +the sufferer an opportunity to use gentle words, and he appealed to them +and remonstrated with them on the harm they were doing him without cause, +and set forth to them how our God was enraged at them for having so abused +him. + +The captain then approached Brûlé, unbound him, and took him to his house, +where he took care of him and treated his wounds. After this there were no +dances, banquets, or merry-makings to which Brûlé was not invited. + +So after remaining some time with these savages, he determined to proceed +towards our settlement. + +Taking leave of them, he promised to restore them to harmony with the +French and their enemies, and cause them to swear friendship with each +other, to which end he said he would return to them as soon as he +could. Thence he went to the country and village of the Atinouaentans, +[224] where I had already been; the savages at his departure having +conducted him for a distance of four days' journey from their village. Here +Brûlé remained some time, when, resuming his journey towards us he came by +way of the _Mer Douce_, [225] boating along its northern shores for some +ten days, where I had also gone when on my way to the war. + +And if Brûlé had gone further on to explore these regions, as I had +directed him to do, it would not have been a mere rumor that they were +preparing war with one another. But this undertaking was reserved to +another time, which he promised me to continue and accomplish in a short +period with God's grace, and to conduct me there that I might obtain fuller +and more particular knowledge. + +After he had made this recital, I gave him assurance that his services +would be recognized, and encouraged him to continue his good purpose until +our return, when we should have more abundant means to do that with which +he would be satisfied. This is now the entire narrative and recital of his +journey from the time he left me [226] to engage in the above-mentioned +explorations; and it afforded me pleasure in the prospect thereby presented +me of being better able to continue and promote them. + +With this purpose he took leave of me to return to the savages, an intimate +acquaintance with whom had been acquired by him in his journeys and +explorations. I begged him to continue with them until the next year, when +I would return with a good number of men, both to reward him for his +labors, and to assist as in the past the savages, his friends, in their +wars. + +Resuming the thread of my former discourse, I must note that in my last and +preceding voyages and explorations I had passed through numerous and +diverse tribes of savages not known to the French nor to those of our +settlement, with whom I had made alliances and sworn friendship, on +condition that they should come and trade with us, and that I should assist +them in their wars; for it must be understood that there is not a single +tribe living in peace, excepting the Nation Neutre. According to their +promise, there came from the various tribes of savages recently discovered +some trade in peltry, others to see the French and ascertain what kind of +treatment and welcome would be shown them. This encouraged everybody, the +French on the one hand to show them cordiality and welcome, for they +honored them with some attentions and presents, which the agents of the +merchants gave to gratify them; on the other hand, it encouraged the +savages, who promised all the French to come and live in future in +friendship with them, all of them declaring that they would deport +themselves with such affection towards us that we should have occasion to +commend them, while we in like manner were to assist them to the extent of +our power in their wars. + +The trading having been concluded, and the savages having taken their leave +and departed, we left Trois Rivières on the 14th of July of this year. The +next day we arrived at our quarters at Quebec, where the barques were +unloaded of the merchandise which had remained over from the traffic and +which was put in the warehouse of the merchants at that place. + +Now Sieur de Pont Gravé went to Tadoussac with the barques in order to load +them and carry to the habitation the provisions necessary to support those +who were to remain and winter there, and I determined while the barques +were thus engaged to continue there for some days in order to have the +necessary fortifications and repairs made. + +At my departure from the settlement I took leave of the holy Fathers, Sieur +de la Mothe, and all the others who were to stay there, giving them to +expect that I would return, God assisting, with a good number of families +to people the country. I embarked on the 26th of July, together with the +Fathers Paul and Pacifique, [227] the latter having wintered here once and +the other having been here a year and a half, who were to make a report of +what they had seen in the country and of what could be done there. We set +out on the day above mentioned from the settlement for Tadoussac, where we +were to embark for France. We arrived the next day and found our vessels +ready to set sail. We embarked, and left Tadoussac for France on the 13th +of the month of July, 1618, and arrived at Honfleur on the 28th day of +August, the wind having been favorable, and all being in good spirits. + +ENDNOTES: + +201. Champlain made a voyage to New France in 1617, but appears to have + kept no journal of its events. He simply observes that nothing + occurred worthy of remark. _Vide_ issue of 1632, Quebec ed., p. 969. + Sagard gives a brief narrative of the events that occurred that + year. Vol. I. pp. 34-44. + +202. Eustache Boullé. His father was Nicolas Boullé, Secretary of the + King's Chamber, and his mother was Marguerite Alix. _Vide_ Vol. I. + p. 205 _et passim_. + +203. Nicolas de La Mothe, or de la Motte le Vilin. He had been Lieutenant + of Saussaye in 1613, when Capt. Argall captured the French colony at + Mount Desert. _Vide Les Voyages de Champlain_, 1632, Quebec ed., + p. 773; _Relation de la Nouvelle France_, Père Biard, p. 64. + +204. _Fauquets_. Probably the common Tern, or Sea Swallow. _Sterna + hirundo_. Peter Kalm, on his voyage in 1749, says "Terns, _sterna + hirundo, Linn_, though of a somewhat darker colour than the common + ones, we found after the forty-first degree of north latitude and + forty-seventh degree of west longitude from _London_, very + plentifully, and sometimes in flocks of some hundreds; sometimes they + settled, as if tired, on our ship." _Kalm's Travels_, 1770, + Vol. I. p. 23. + +205. St. John's day was June 24th. + +206. According to Sagard they were assassinated about the middle of April, + 1617. _Hist. Canada_, Vol. I. p. 42. + +207. Sagard says the French, on account of this affair, were menaced by + eight hundred savages of different nations who were assembled at Trois + Rivières. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, 1636, Vol. I. p.42. The + statement, "on estoit menacé de huict cens Sauvages de diuerse + nations, qui festoient assemblez és Trois Rivieres à dessein de venir + surprendre les François & leur coupper à tous la gorge, pour preuenir + la vengeance qu'ils eussent pû prendre de deux de leurs hommes tuez + par les Montagnais environ la my Auril de l'an 1617," is, we think, + too strong. The savages were excited and frightened by the demands of + the French, who desired to produce upon their minds a strong moral + impression, in order to prevent a recurrence of the murder, which was + a private thing, in which the great body of the savages had no part. + They could not be said to be hostile, though they prudently put + themselves in a state of defence, as, under the circumstances, it was + very natural they should do. + +208. They were then at Trois Rivières. + +209. The moat around the habitation at Quebec was fifteen feet wide and six + feet deep, constructed with a drawbridge to be taken up in case of + need. _Vide_ Vol II p. 182. + +210. Probably Père le Caron, who was in charge of the mission at Quebec at + that time. + +211. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Sagard, 1636, Vol. I. p 45. + +212. They arrived on St. John's day, _antea, note 205_, and consequently + this was the 25th of June, 1618. + +213. Jean d'Olbeau. + +214. Frère Modeste Guines. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Sagard, à Paris, + 1636, Vol. I.p. 40. + +215. Joseph le Caron, Paul Huet, and Pacifique du Plessis. + +216. Louis Hébert, an apothecary, settled at Port Royal in La Cadie or Nova + Scotia, under Poutrincourt, was there when, in 1613, possession was + taken in the name of Madame de Guercheville. He afterward took up his + abode at Quebec with his family, probably in the year 1617. His eldest + daughter Anne was married at Quebec to Estienne Jonquest, a Norman, + which was the first marriage that took place with the ceremonies of + the Church in Canada. His daughter Guillemette married William + Couillard, and to her Champlain committed the two Indian girls, whom + he was not permitted by Kirke to take with him to France, when Quebec + was captured by the English in 1629. Louis Hébert died at Quebec on + the 25th of January, 1627. _Histoire du Canada_, Vol. I. pp. 41, 591. + +217. These fields were doubtless those of Louis Hébert, who was the first + that came into the country with his family to live by the cultivation + of the soil. + +218. Platon. _Vide_ Vol. 1., note 155. + +219. Champlain says, _donné charge d'aller vers les Entouhonorons à + Carantouan_. By reference to the map of 1632. it will be seen that the + Entouhonorons were situated on the southern borders of Lake Ontario. + They are understood by Champlain to be a part at least of the + Iroquois; but the Carantouanais, allies of the Hurons, were south of + them, occupying apparently the upper waters of the Susquehanna. A + dotted line will be seen on the same map, evidently intended to mark + the course of Brûlé's journey. From the meagre knowledge which + Champlain possessed of the region, the line can hardly be supposed to + be very accurate, which may account for Champlain's indefinite + expression as cited at the beginning of this note. + + The Entouhonorons, Quentouoronons, Tsonnontouans, or Senecas + constituted the most western and most numerous canton of the Five + Nations. _Vide Continuation of the New Discovery_, by Louis Hennepin, + 1699, p. 95; also Origin of the name Seneca in Mr. O. H. Marshall's + brochure on _De la Salle among the Senecas_, pp. 43-45. + +220. _Vide antea_, p. 124. + +221. The River Susquehanna. + +222. He appears to have gone as far south at least as the upper waters of + Chesapeake Bay. + +223. The Dutch fur-traders. _Vide History of the State of New York_ by John + Romeyn Brodhead, Vol. I. p. 44 _et passim_. + +224. Attigonantans or Attignaouantans the principal tribe of the Hurons, + sometimes called _Les bons Iroquis_, as they and the Iroquois were of + the same original stock. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 276, note 212. + +225. Lake Huron. For the different names which have been attached to this + lake, _vide Local Names of Niagara Frontier_, by Orsamus H. Marshall, + 1881, P. 37. + +226. Brûlé was despatched on his mission Sept 8, 1615. _Vide antea_, + p. 124. + + As we have already stated in a previous note, it was the policy of + Champlain to place competent young men with the different tribes of + savages to obtain that kind of information which could only come from + an actual and prolonged residence with them. This enabled him to + secure not only the most accurate knowledge of their domestic habits + and customs, the character and spirit of their life, but these young + men by their long residence with the savages acquired a good knowledge + of their language, and were able to act as interpreters. This was a + matter of very great importance, as it was often necessary for + Champlain to communicate with the different tribes in making treaties + of friendship, in discussing questions of war with their enemies, in + settling disagreements among themselves, and in making arrangements + with them for the yearly purchase of their peltry. It was not easy to + obtain suitable persons for this important office. Those who had the + intellectual qualifications, and who had any high aspirations, would + not naturally incline to pass years in the stupid and degrading + associations, to say nothing of the hardships and deprivations, of + savage life. They were generally therefore adventurers, whose honesty + and fidelity had no better foundation than their selfish interests. Of + this sort was this Étienne Brûlé, as well as Nicholas Marsolet and + Pierre Raye, all of whom turned traitors, selling themselves to the + English when Quebec was taken in 1629. Of Brûlé, Champlain uses the + following emphatic language: "Lé truchement Bruslé à qui l'on donnoit + cent pistolles par an, pour inciter les sauuages à venir à la traitte, + ce qui estoit de tres-mauuais exemple, d'enuoyer ainsi des personnes + si maluiuans, que l'on eust deub chastier seuerement, car l'on + recognoissoit cet homme pour estre fort vicieux, & adonné aux femmes; + mais que ne fait faire l'esperance du gain, qui passe par dessus + toutes considerations." _Vide issue of_ 1632, Quebec ed., pp. 1065, + 1229. + + But among Champlain's interpreters there were doubtless some who bore + a very different character. Jean Nicolet was certainly a marked + exception. Although Champlain does not mention him by name, he appears + to have been in New France as early as 1618, where he spent many years + among the Algonquins, and was the first Frenchman who penetrated the + distant Northwest. He married into one of the most respectable + families of Quebec, and is often mentioned in the Relations des + Jésuites. _Vide_ a brief notice of him in _Discovery and Exploration + of the Mississippi Valley_, by John Gilmary Shea, 1852, p. xx. A full + account of his career has recently been published, entitled _History + of the Discovery of the Northwest by John Nicolet in_ 1634, _with a + Sketch of his Life_. By C. W. Butterfield. Cincinnati, 1881. _Vide_ + also _Détails fur la Vie de Jean Nicollet_, an extract from _Relation + des Jésuites_, 1643, in _Découveries_, etc, par Pierre Margry, p. 49. + +227. Paul Huet and Pacifique du Plessis. The latter had been in New France + more than a year and a half, having arrived in 1615. _Vide antea_, + pp. 104-5. + + + + +EXPLANATION +OF +TWO GEOGRAPHICAL MAPS OF NEW FRANCE. + + +It has seemed to me well to make some statements in explanation of the two +geographical maps. Although one corresponds to the other so far as the +harbors, bays, capes, promontories, and rivers extending into the interior +are concerned, nevertheless they are different in respect to the bearings. + +The smallest is in its true meridian, in accordance with the directions of +Sieur de Castelfranc in his book on the mecometry of the magnetic needle +[228] where I have noted, as will be seen on the map, several declinations, +which have been of much service to me, so also all the altitudes, +latitudes, and longitudes, from the forty-first degree of latitude to the +fifty-first, in the direction of the North Pole, which are the confines of +Canada, or the Great Bay, where more especially the Basques and Spaniards +engage in the whale fishery. In certain places in the great river +St. Lawrence, in latitude 45°, I have observed the declination of the +magnetic needle, and found it as high as twenty-one degrees, which is the +greatest I have seen. + +The small map will serve very well for purposes of navigation, provided the +needle be applied properly to the rose [229] indicating the points of the +compass. For instance, in using it, when one is on the Grand Bank where +fresh fishing is carried on, it is necessary, for the sake of greater +convenience, to take a rose where the thirty-two points are marked equally, +and put the point of the magnetic needle 12, 15, or 16 degrees from the +_fleur de lis_ on the northwest side, which is nearly a point and a half, +that is north a point northwest or a little more, from the _fleur de lis_ of +said rose, and then adjust the rose to the compass. By this means the +latitudes of all the capes, harbors, and rivers can be accurately +ascertained. + +I am aware that there are many who will not make use of it, but will prefer +to run according to the large one, since it is made according to the +compass of France, where the magnetic needle varies to the northeast, for +the reason that they are so accustomed to this method that it is difficult +for them to change. For this reason I have prepared the large map in this +manner, for the assistance of the majority of the pilots and mariners in +the waters of New France, fearing that if I had not done so, they would +have ascribed to me a mistake, not knowing whence it proceeded. For the +small plans or charts of Newfoundland are, for the most part, different in +all their statements with respect to the positions of the lands and their +latitudes. And those who may have some small copies, reasonably good, +esteem them so valuable that they do not communicate a knowledge of them to +their country, which might derive profit therefrom. + +Now the construction of these maps is such that they have their meridian in +a direction north-northeast, making west west-northwest, which is contrary +to the true meridian of this place, namely, to call north-northeast north, +for the needle instead of varying to the northwest, as it should, varies to +the northeast as if it were in France. The consequence of this is that +error has resulted, and will continue to do so, since this antiquated +custom is practised, which they still retain, although they fall into grave +mistakes. + +They also make use of a compass marked north and south; that is, so that +the point of the magnetic needle is directly on the _fleur de lis_. In +accordance with such a compass many construct their small maps, which seems +to me the better way, and so approach nearer to the true meridian of New +France, than the compasses of France proper, which point to the +northeast. It has come about, consequently, in this way that the first +navigators who sailed to New France thought there was no greater deviation +in going to these parts than to the Azores, or other places near France, +where the deviation is almost imperceptible in navigation, the navigators +having the compasses of France, which point northeast and represent the +true meridian. In sailing constantly westward with the purpose of reaching +a certain latitude, they laid their course directly west by their compass, +supposing that they were sailing on the one parallel where they wished to +go. By thus going constantly in a straight line and not in a circle, as all +the parallels on the surface of the globe run, they found after having +traversed a long distance, and as they were approaching the land, that they +were some three, four, or five degrees farther south than they ought to be, +thus being deceived in their true latitude and reckoning. + +It is true, indeed, that, when the weather was fair and the sun clearly +visible, they corrected their latitude, but not without wondering how it +happened that their course was wrong, which arose in consequence of their +sailing in a straight instead of a circular line according to the parallel, +so that in changing their meridian they changed with regard to the points +of the compass, and consequently their course. It is, therefore, very +necessary to know the meridian, and the declination of the magnetic needle, +for this knowledge can serve all navigators. This is especially so in the +north and south, where there are greater variations in the magnetic needle, +and where the meridians of longitude are smaller, so that the error, if the +declination were not known, would be greater. This above-mentioned error +has accordingly arisen, because navigators have either not cared to correct +it, or did not know how to do so, and have left it in the state in which it +now is. It is consequently difficult to abandon this manner of sailing in +the regions of New France. + +This has led me to make this large map, not only that it might be more +minute than the small one, but also in order to satisfy navigators, who +will thus be able to sail as they do according to their small maps; and +they will excuse me for not making it better and more in detail, for the +life of a man is not long enough to observe things so exactly that at least +something would not be found to have been omitted. Hence inquiring and +pains-taking persons will, in sailing, observe things not to be found on +this map, but which they add to it, so that in the course of time there +will be no doubt as to any of the localities indicated. At least it seems +to me that I have done my duty, so far as I could, not having sailed to put +on my map anything that I have seen, and thus giving to the public special +knowledge of what had never been described, nor so carefully explored as I +have done it. Although in the past others have written of these things, +yet very little in comparison with what we have explored within the past +ten years. + + +MODE OF DETERMINING A MERIDIAN LINE. + +Take a small piece of board, perfectly level, and place in the middle a +needle C, three inches high, so that it shall be exactly perpendicular. +Expose it to the sun before noon, at 8 or 9 o'clock, and mark the point B +at the end of the shadow cast by the needle. Then opening the compasses, +with one point on C and the other on the shadow B, describe an arc AB. +Leave the whole in this position until afternoon when you see the shadow +just reaching the arc at A. Then divide equally the arc AB, and taking a +rule, and placing it on the points C and D, draw a line running the whole +length of the board, which is not to be moved until the observation is +completed. This line will be the meridian of the place you are in. + +And in order to ascertain the declination of the place where you are with +reference to the meridian, place a compass, which must be rectangular, +along the meridian line, as shown in the figure above, there being upon the +card a circle divided into 360 degrees. Divide the circle by two +diametrical lines; one representing the north and south, as indicated by +EF, the other the east and west, as indicated by GH. Then observe the +magnetic needle turning on its pivot upon the card, and you will see how +much it deviates from the fixed meridian line upon the card, and how many +degrees it varies to the northeast of northwest. + + + + +CHAMPLAIN'S LARGE MAP. + +GEOGRAPHICAL CHART OF NEW FRANCE, MADE BY SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN OF SAINTONGE, +CAPTAIN IN ORDINARY FOR THE KING IN THE MARINE. MADE IN THE YEAR 1612. + +I have made this map for the greater convenience of the majority of those +who navigate on these coasts, since they sail to that country according to +compasses arranged for the hemisphere of Asia. And if I had made it like +the small one, the majority would not have been able to use it, owing to +their not knowing the declinations of the needle. [230] + +Observe that on the present map north-northeast stands for north, and +west-northwest for west; according to which one is to be guided in +ascertaining the elevation of the degrees of latitude, as if these points +were actually east and west, north and south, since the map is constructed +according to the compasses of France, which vary to the northeast. [231] + + +SOME DECLINATIONS OF THE MAGNETIC NEEDLE, +WHICH I HAVE CAREFULLY OBSERVED. + +Cap Breton . . . . . . 14° 50' +Cap de la Have . . . . 16° 15' +Baye Ste Mane . . . . 17° 16' +Port Royal . . . . . . 17° 8' +En la grande R. St Laurent 21° + +St Croix . . . . . . . 17° 32' +Rivière de Norumbegue. 18° 40' +Quinibequi . . . . . . 19° 12' +Mallebarre . . . . . . 18° 40' + +All observed by Sieur de Champlain, 1612. + +REFERENCES ON CHAMPLAIN'S LARGE MAP. + + A. Port Fortuné. + B. Baye Blanche. + C. Baye aux Isles. + D. Cap des Isles. + E. Port aux Isles. + F. Isle Haute. + G. Isle des Monts Déserts. + H. Cap Corneille. + I. Isles aux Oiseaux. + K. Cap des Deux Bayes. + L. Port aux Mines + M. Cap Fourchu. + N. Cap Nègre. + O. Port du Rossignol. + P. St. Laurent. + Q. Rivière de l'Isle Verte. + R. Baye Saine. + S. Rivière Sainte Marguerite + T. Port Sainte Hélène. + V. Isle des Martires. + X. Isles Rangées. + Y. Port de Savalette. + Z. Passage du Glas. + + 1. Port aux Anglois. + 2. Baye Courante. + 3. Cap de Poutrincourt. + 4. Isle Gravée. + 5. Passage Courant. + 6. Baye de Gennes. + 7. Isle Perdue. + 8. Cap des Mines. + 9. Port aux Coquilles. + 10. Isles Jumelles. + 11. Cap Saint Jean. + 12. Isle la Nef. + 13. La Heronniére Isle. + 14. Isles Rangées. + 15. Baye Saint Luc. + 16. Passage du Gas. + 17. Côte de Montmorency. + 18. Rivière de Champlain. + 19. Rivière Sainte Marie. + 20. Isle d'Orléans. + 21. Isle de Bacchus. + +NOTE--The reader will observe that in a few instances the references are +wanting on the map. + +CHAMPLAIN'S NOTE TO THE SMALL MAP. + +On the small map [232] is added the strait above Labrador between the +fifty-third and sixty-third degrees of latitude, which the English have +discovered during the present year 1612, in their voyage to find, if +possible, a passage to China by way of the north. [233] They wintered at a +place indicated by this mark, 6. But it was not without enduring severe +cold, and they were obliged to return to England, leaving their leader in +the northern regions. Within six months three other vessels have set out, +to penetrate, if possible, still farther, and, at the same time, to search +for the men who were left in that region. + + +GEOGRAPHICAL MAP OF NEW FRANCE, IN ITS TRUE +MERIDIAN. + +_Made by Sieur Champlain, Captain for the King in the Marine. 1613_. + + +o Matou-ouescariny. [Note: This figure is inverted on the map. _Vide + antea_, note 59, p. 62.] + o+ Gaspay. + oo Ouescariny. [Note: _Vide antea_, note 47, pp. 59, 81. The figure oo is + misplaced and should be where o-o is on the map, on the extreme + western border near the forty-seventh degree of north latitude.] + o-o Quenongebin. [Note: This figure o-o on the map occupies the place + which should be occupied by oo. _Vide antea_, p. 58, note 46.] + A. Tadoussac. + B. Lesquemain. + C. Isle Percée. + D. Baye de Chaleur. + E. Isles aux Gros Yeux. [Note: A cluster of islands of which the Island + of Birds is one.] + H. Baye Françoise. + I. Isles aux Oyseaux. + L. Rivière des Etechemins. [Note: This letter, placed between the River + St. John and the St. Croix, refers to the latter.] + M. Menane. + N. Port Royal. + P. Isle Longue. + Q. Cap Fourchu. + R. Port au Mouton. + S. Port du Rossignol. [Note: The letter S appears twice on the coast of + La Cadie. The one here referred to is the more westerly.] + SS. Lac de Medicis. [Note: This reference is probably to the Lake of Two + Mountains, which will be seen on the map west of Montreal.] + T. Sesambre. + V. Cap des Deux Bayes. + 3. L'Isle aux Coudres. + 4. Saincte Croix. [Note: St. Croix on the map is where a cross surmounted + by the figure 4 may be seen.] + 4. Rivière des Etechemins. [Note: This appears to refer to the + Chaudière. _Vide_ vol. I. p. 296.] + 5. Sault. [Note: This refers to the Falls of Montmorency.] + 6. Lac Sainct Pierre. + 7. Rivière des Yroquois. + 9. Isle aux Lieures. + 10. Rivière Platte. [Note: A small river flowing into Mal Bay. _Vide_ + Vol. I. p. 295; also _Les Voyages de Champlain_, Quebec ed., p. 1099.] + 11. Mantane. [Note: _Vide_ Vol. I. p 234.] + 40. Cap Saincte Marie. [Note: The figures are wanting. Cape St. Mary is on + the southern coast of Newfoundland. _Vide_ Vol I. p. 232.] + + +ENDNOTES: + +228. The determination of longitudes has from the beginning been environed + with almost insuperable difficulties. At one period the declination of + the magnetic needle was supposed to furnish the means of a practical + solution. Sebastian Cabot devoted considerable attention to the + subject, as did likewise Peter Plancius at a later date. Champlain + appears to have fixed the longitudes on his smaller map by + calculations based on the variation of the needle, guided by the + principles laid down by Guillaume de Nautonier, Sieur de Castelfranc, + to whose work he refers in the text. It was entitled, _Mécométrie de + l'eymant c'est à dire la manière de mesurer les longitudes par le + moyen de l'eymant_. This rare volume is not to be found as far as my + inquiries extend, in any of the incorporated libraries on this + continent. There is however a copy in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, + to which in the catalogue is given the bibliographical note: _Six + livres. Folio. Tolose, 1603_. + + It is hardly necessary to add that the forces governing the variation + of the needle, both local and general, are so inconstant that the hope + of fixing longitudes by it was long since abandoned. + + The reason for the introduction of the explanation of the maps at this + place will be seen _antea_, p. 39. + +229. The rose is the face or card of the mariner's compass. It was + anciently called the fly. Card may perhaps be derived from the Italian + cardo, a thistle, which the face of the compass may be supposed to + resemble. On the complete circle of the compass there are thirty-two + lines drawn from the centre to the circumference to indicate the + direction of the wind. Each quarter of the circle, or 90°, contains + eight lines representing the points of the compass in that quarter. + They are named with reference to the cardinal points from which they + begin, as: 1, north, 2, north by east, 3, north-northeast; 4, + northeast by north; 5, northeast; 6, northeast by east; 7, east- + northeast; 8, east by north. The points in each quarter are named in a + similar manner. + +230. The above title is on the large map of 1612. This note is on the upper + left-hand corner of the same map. + +231. For this note see the upper right-hand corner of the map. + +232. In Champlain's issue in 1613, the note here given was placed in the + preliminary matter to that volume. It was placed there probably after + the rest of the work had gone to press. We have placed it here in + connection with other matter relating to the maps, where it seems more + properly to belong. + +233. This refers to the fourth voyage of Henry Hudson, made in 1610, for + the purpose here indicated. He penetrated Lomley's Inlet, hoping to + find a passage through to the Pacific Ocean, or, as it was then + called, the South Sea, and thus find a direct and shorter course to + China. He passed the winter at about 52° north latitude, in that + expanse of water which has ever since been appropriately known as + Hudson's Bay. A mutiny having broken out among his crew, he and eight + others having been forced into a small boat, on the 21st of June, + 1611, were set adrift on the sea, and were never heard of afterward. + + A part of the mutinous crew arrived with the ship in England, and were + immediately thrown into prison. The following year, 1612, an + expedition under Sir Thomas Button was sent out to seek for Hudson, + and to prosecute the search still further for a northwest passage. It + is needless to add that the search was unsuccessful. + + A chart by Hudson fortunately escaped destruction by the mutineers. + Singularly enough, an engraving of it, entitled, TABVLA NAVTICA, was + published by Heffel Gerritz at Amsterdam the same year. Champlain + incorporated the part of it illustrating Hudson's discovery in his + smaller map, which is dated the same year, 1612. He does not introduce + it into his large map, although that is dated likewise 1612. A + facsimile of the Tabula Nautica is given in Henry Hudson the + Navigator, by G. M. Asher, LL.D. published by the Hakluyt Society in + 1860. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Voyages of Samuel de Champlain, Vol. 3, by +Samuel de Champlain + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGES OF DE CHAMPLAIN, VOL 3 *** + +***** This file should be named 6825-8.txt or 6825-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/8/2/6825/ + +Produced by Karl Hagen, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team, from images +generously made available by the Canadian Institute for +Historical Microreproductions. + +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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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. 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: Voyages of Samuel de Champlain, Vol. 3 + +Author: Samuel de Champlain + +Posting Date: October 5, 2014 [EBook #6825] +Release Date: November, 2004 +First Posted: January 28, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGES OF DE CHAMPLAIN, VOL 3 *** + + + + +Produced by Karl Hagen, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team, from images +generously made available by the Canadian Institute for +Historical Microreproductions. + + + + + + + + + + + +CHAMPLAIN'S VOYAGES. + +VOYAGES +OF +SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN. + +TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH +BY CHARLES POMEROY OTIS, PH.D. + +WITH HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS, +AND A +MEMOIR +By THE REV. EDMUND F. SLAFTER, A.M. + +VOL. III. + +1611-1618 + +HELIOTYPE COPIES OF TEN MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. + +Editor: + +THE REV. EDMUND F. SLAFTER, A.M. + + + + +PREFACE + +The present volume completes the work proposed by the Prince Society of a +translation into English of the VOYAGES OF CHAMPLAIN. It includes the +journals issued in 1604, 1613, and 1619, and covers fifteen years of his +residence and explorations in New France. + +At a later period, in 1632, Champlain published, in a single volume, an +abridgment of the issues above mentioned, containing likewise a +continuation of his journal down to 1631. This continuation covers thirteen +additional years. But it is to be observed that the events recorded in the +journal of these later years are immediately connected with the progress +and local interests of the French colony at Quebec. This last work of the +great explorer is of primary importance and value as constituting original +material for the early history of Canada, and a translation of it into +English would doubtless be highly appreciated by the local historian. A +complete narrative of these events, however, together with a large amount +amount of interesting matter relating to the career of Champlain derived +from other sources, is given in the Memoir contained in the first volume of +this work. + +This English translation contains not only the complete narratives of all +the personal explorations made by Champlain into the then unbroken forests +of America, but the whole of his minute, ample, and invaluable descriptions +of the character and habits, mental, moral, and physical of the various +savage tribes with which he came in contact. It will furnish, therefore, to +the student of history and the student of ethnology most valuable +information, unsurpassed in richness and extent, and which cannot be +obtained from any other source. To aid one or both of these two classes in +their investigations, the work was undertaken and has now been completed. + +E. F. S. + +BOSTON, 91 BOYLSTON STREET, +April 5, 1882. + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + +PREFACE +VOYAGE OF CHAMPLAIN IN 1611 +DEDICATION TO HENRI DE BOURBON, PRINCE DE CONDE +VOYAGE MADE IN 1613 +DEDICATION TO THE KING +CHAMPLAIN'S PREFACE +EXTRACT FROM THE LICENSE OF THE KING +VOYAGE MADE IN 1615 +VOYAGE MADE IN 1618 +EXPLANATION OF TWO GEOGRAPHICAL MAPS OF NEW FRANCE + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + +LE GRAND SAULT ST. LOUIS +DRESS OF THE SAVAGES +FORT OF THE IROQUOIS +DEER TRAP +DRESS OF THE SAVAGES +CHAMPLAIN'S LARGE MAP OF NEW FRANCE, 1612 +CHAMPLAIN'S SMALL MAP OF NEW FRANCE, 1613 + +INDEX + + + + +THE VOYAGES + +OF SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, + +Of Saintonge, Captain in ordinary to the +King in the Marine; + +OR, + +_A MOST FAITHFUL JOURNAL OF OBSERVATIONS made in the exploration of New +France, describing not only the countries, coasts, rivers, ports, and +harbors, with their latitudes, and the various deflections of the Magnetic +Needle, but likewise the religious belief of the inhabitants, their +superstitions, mode of life and warfare; furnished with numerous +illustrations_. + +Together with two geographical maps: the first for the purposes of +navigation, adapted to the compass as used by mariners, which, deflects to +the north-east; the other in its true meridian, with longitudes and +latitudes, to which is added the Voyage to the Strait north of Labrador, +from the 53d to the 63d degree of latitude, discovered in 1612 by the +English when they were searching for a northerly course to China. + +PARIS. + +JEAN BERJON, Rue St Jean de Beauvais, at the Flying Horse, and at his store +in the Palace, at the gallery of the Prisoners. + +M. DC. XIII. + +_WITH AUTHORITY OF THE KING_. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +DEPARTURE FROM FRANCE TO RETURN TO NEW FRANCE.--THE DANGERS AND OTHER +EVENTS WHICH OCCURRED UP TO THE TIME OF ARRIVAL AT THE SETTLEMENT. + +We set out from Honfleur on the first day of March. The wind was favorable +until the eighth, when we were opposed by a wind south-southwest and +west-northwest, driving us as far as latitude 42 deg., without our being able +to make a southing, so as to sail straight forward on our course. +Accordingly after encountering several heavy winds, and being kept back by +bad weather, we nevertheless, through great difficulty and hardship, and by +sailing on different tacks, succeeded in arriving within eighty leagues of +the Grand Bank, where the fresh fishery is carried on. Here we encountered +ice thirty or forty fathoms high, or more, which led us to consider what +course we ought to take, fearing that we might fall in with more during the +night, or that the wind changing would drive us on to it. We also concluded +that this would not be the last, since we had set out from France too early +in the season. We sailed accordingly during that day with short sail, as +near the wind as we could. When night came, the fog arose so thick and +obscure that we could scarcely see the ship's length. About eleven o'clock +at night, more ice was seen, which alarmed us. But through the energy of +the sailors we avoided it. Supposing that we had passed all danger, we met +with still more ice, which the sailors saw ahead of our vessel, but not +until we were almost upon it. When all had committed themselves to God, +having given up all hope of avoiding collision with this ice, which was +already under our bowsprit, they cried to the helmsman to bear off; and +this ice which was very extensive drove in such a manner that it passed by +without striking our vessel, which stopped short, and remained as still as +if it had never moved, to let it pass. Although the danger was over, our +blood was not so quickly cooled, so great had been our fear, and we praised +God for delivering us from so imminent a peril. This experience being over, +we passed the same night two or three other masses of ice, not less +dangerous than the former ones. There was at the same time a dripping fog, +and it was so cold that we could scarcely get warm. The next day we met +several other large and very high masses of ice, which, in the distance, +looked like islands. We, however, avoided them all, and reached the Grand +Bank, where we were detained by bad weather for the space of six days. The +wind growing a little milder, and very favorable, we left the banks in +latitude 44 deg. 30', which was the farthest south we could go. After sailing +some sixty leagues west-northwest, we saw a vessel coming down to make us +out, but which afterwards wore off to the east-northeast, to avoid a large +bank of ice, which covered the entire extent of our line of vision. +Concluding that there was a passage through the middle of this great floe, +which was divided into two parts, we entered, in pursuance of our course, +between the two, and sailed some ten leagues without seeing anything, +contrary to our conjecture of a fine passage through, until evening, when +we found the floe closed up. This gave us much anxiety as to what was to be +done, the night being at hand and there being no moon, which deprived us of +all means of returning to the point whence we had come. Yet, after due +deliberation, it was resolved to try to find again the entrance by which we +had come, which we set about accomplishing. But the night coming on with +fog, rain, snow, and a wind so violent that we could scarcely carry our +mainsail, every trace of our way was lost. For, as we were expecting to +avoid the ice so as to pass out, the wind had already closed up the +passage, so that we were obliged to return to the other tack. We were +unable to remain longer than a quarter of an hour on one tack before taking +another, in order to avoid the numerous masses of ice drifting about on all +sides. We thought more than twenty times that we should never escape with +our lives. The entire night was spent amid difficulties and hardships. +Never was the watch better kept, for nobody wished to rest, but to strive +to escape from the ice and danger. The cold was so great, that all the +ropes of the vessel were so frozen and covered with large icicles that the +men could not work her nor stick to the deck. Thus we ran, on this tack and +that, awaiting with hope the daylight. But when it came, attended by a fog, +and we saw that our labor and hardship could not avail us anything, we +determined to go to a mass of ice, where we should be sheltered from the +violent wind which was blowing; to haul everything down, and allow +ourselves to be driven along with the ice, so that when at some distance +from the rest of the ice we could make sail again, and go back to the +above-mentioned bank and manage as before, until the fog should pass away, +when we might go out as quickly as possible. Thus we continued the entire +day until the morning of the next day, when we set sail, now on this tack +now on that, finding ourselves everywhere enclosed amid large floes of ice, +as if in lakes on the mainland. At evening we sighted a vessel on the other +side of one of these banks of ice, which, I am sure, was in no less anxiety +than ourselves. Thus we remained four or five days, exposed to these risks +and extreme hardships, until one morning on looking out in all directions, +although we could see no opening, yet in one place it seemed as if the ice +was not thick, and that we could easily pass through. We got under weigh, +and passed by a large number of _bourguignons_; that is, pieces of ice +separated from the large banks by the violence of the winds. Having reached +this bank of ice, the sailors proceeded to provide themselves with large +oars and pieces of wood, in order to keep off the blocks of ice we met. In +this way we passed this bank, but not without touching some pieces of ice, +which did no good to our vessel, although they inflicted no essential +damage. Being outside, we praised God for our deliverance. Continuing our +course on the next day, we encountered other pieces, in which we became so +involved that we found ourselves surrounded on all sides, except where we +had entered. It was accordingly necessary to turn back, and endeavor to +double the southern point. This we did not succeed in doing until the +second day, passing by several small pieces of ice, which had been +separated from the main bank. This latter was in latitude 44 deg. 30'. We +sailed until the morning of the next day, towards the northwest, +north-northwest, when we met another large ice bank, extending as far as we could +see east and west. This, in the distance, seemed like land; for it was so +level that it might properly be said to have been made so on purpose. It +was more than eighteen feet high, extending twice as far under water. We +calculated that we were only some fifteen leagues from Cape Breton, it +being the 26th day of the month. These numerous encounters with ice +troubled us greatly. We were also fearful that the passage between Capes +Breton and Raye would be closed, and that we should be obliged to keep out +to sea a long time before being able to enter. Unable to do anything else, +we were obliged to run out to sea again some four or five leagues, in order +to double another point of the above-mentioned grand ice bank, which +continued on our west-southwest. After turning on the other tack to the +northwest, in order to double this point, we sailed some seven leagues, and +then steered to the north-northwest some three leagues, when we observed +another ice bank. The night approached, and the fog came on so that we put +to sea to pass the remainder of the night, purposing at daybreak to return +and reconnoitre the last mentioned ice. On the twenty-seventh day of the +month, we sighted land west-northwest of us, seeing no ice on the +north-northeast. We approached nearer for the sake of a better observation, and +found that it was Canseau. This led us to bear off to the north for Cape +Breton Island; but we had scarcely sailed two leagues when we encountered +an ice bank on the northeast. Night coming on, we were obliged to put out +to sea until the next day, when we sailed northeast, and encountered more +ice, bearing east, east-southeast from us, along which we coasted heading +northeast and north for more than fifteen leagues. At last we were obliged +to sail towards the west, greatly to our regret, inasmuch as we could find +no passage, and should be obliged to withdraw and sail back on our track. +Unfortunately for us we were overtaken by a calm, so that it seemed as if +the swell of the sea would throw us upon the ice bank just mentioned, and +we got ready to launch our little boat, to use in case of necessity. If we +had taken refuge on the above-mentioned ice it would only have been to +languish and die in misery. While we were deliberating whether to launch +our boat, a fresh breeze arose to our great delight, and thus we escaped +from the ice. After we had sailed two leagues, night came on, with a very +thick fog, causing us to haul down our sail, as we could not see, and as +there were several large pieces of ice in our way, which we were afraid of +striking. Thus we remained the entire night until the next day, which was +the twenty-ninth, when the fog increased to such an extent that we could +scarcely see the length of the vessel. There was also very little wind. Yet +we did not fail to set sail, in order to avoid the ice. But, although +expecting to extricate ourselves, we found ourselves so involved in it that +we could not tell on which side to tack. We were accordingly again +compelled to lower sail, and drift until the ice should allow us to make +sail. We made a hundred tacks on one side and the other, several times +fearing that we were lost. The most self-possessed would have lost all +judgment in such a juncture; even the greatest navigator in the world. What +alarmed us still more was the short distance we could see, and the fact +that the night was coming on, and that we could not make a shift of a +quarter of a league without finding a bank or some ice, and a great deal of +floating ice, the smallest piece of which would have been sufficient to +cause the loss of any vessel whatever. Now, while we were still sailing +along amid the ice, there arose so strong a wind that in a short time the +fog broke away, affording us a view, and suddenly giving us a clear air and +fair sun. Looking around about us, we found that we were shut up in a +little lake, not so much as a league and a half in circuit. On the north we +perceived the island of Cape Breton, nearly four leagues distant, and it +seemed to us that the passage-way to Cape Breton was still closed. We also +saw a small ice bank astern of our vessel, and the ocean beyond that, which +led us to resolve to go beyond the bank, which was divided. This we +succeeded in accomplishing without striking our vessel, putting out to sea +for the night, and passing to the southeast of the ice. Thinking now that +we could double this ice bank, we sailed east-northeast some fifteen +leagues, perceiving only a little piece of ice. At night we hauled down the +sail until the next day, when we perceived another ice bank to the north of +us, extending as far as we could see. We had drifted to within nearly half +a league of it, when we hoisted sail, continuing to coast along this ice in +order to find the end of it. While sailing along, we sighted on the first +day of May a vessel amid the ice, which, as well as ourselves, had found it +difficult to escape from it. We backed our sails in order to await the +former, which came full upon us, since we were desirous of ascertaining +whether it had seen other ice. On its approach we saw that it was the son +[1] of Sieur de Poutrincourt, on his way to visit his father at the +settlement of Port Royal. He had left France three months before, not +without much reluctance, I think, and still they were nearly a hundred and +forty leagues from Port Royal, and well out of their true course. We told +them we had sighted the islands of Canseau, much to their satisfaction, I +think, as they had not as yet sighted any land, and were steering straight +between Cape St. Lawrence and Cape Raye, in which direction they would not +have found Port Royal, except by going overland. After a brief conference +with each other we separated, each following his own course. The next day +we sighted the islands of St. Pierre, finding no ice. Continuing our course +we sighted on the following day, the third of the month, Cape Raye, also +without finding ice. On the fourth we sighted the island of St. Paul, and +Cape St. Lawrence, being some eight leagues north of the latter. The next +day we sighted Gaspe. On the seventh we were opposed by a northwest wind, +which drove us out of our course nearly thirty-five leagues, when the wind +lulled, and was in our favor as far as Tadoussac, which we reached on the +13th day of May.[2] Here we discharged a cannon to notify the savages, in +order to obtain news from our settlement at Quebec. The country was still +almost entirely covered with snow. There came out to us some canoes, +informing us that one of our pataches had been in the harbor for a month, +and that three vessels had arrived eight days before. We lowered our boat +and visited these savages, who were in a very miserable condition, having +only a few articles to barter to satisfy their immediate wants. Besides +they desired to wait until several vessels should meet, so that there might +be a better market for their merchandise. Therefore they are mistaken who +expect to gain an advantage by coming first, for these people are very +sagacious and cunning. + +On the 17th of the month I set out from Tadoussac for the great fall,[3] +to meet the Algonquin savages and other tribes, who had promised the year +before to go there with my man, whom I had sent to them, that I might learn +from him what he might see during the winter. Those at this harbor who +suspected where I was going, in accordance with the promises which I had +made to the savages, as stated above, began to build several small barques, +that they might follow me as soon as possible. And several, as I learned +before setting out from France, had some ships and pataches fitted out in +view of our voyage, hoping to return rich, as from a voyage to the Indies. + +Pont Grave remained at Tadoussac expecting, if he did nothing there, to +take a patache and meet me at the fall. Between Tadoussac and Quebec our +barque made much water, which obliged me to stop at Quebec and repair the +leak. This was on the 21st day of May. + +ENDNOTES: + +1. This was Charles de Biencourt, Sieur de Saint Just. He was closely + associated with his father, Sieur de Poutrincourt, in his colony at Port + Royal. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 122, note 77. + +2. They left Honfleur on the first day of March, and were thus seventy-four + days in reaching Tadoussac. The voyage was usually made in favorable + weather in thirty days. + +3. The Falls of St. Louis, near Montreal, now more commonly known as the La + Chine Rapids. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +LANDING AT QUEBEC TO REPAIR THE BARQUE.--DEPARTURE FROM QUEBEC FOR THE +FALL, TO MEET THE SAVAGES, AND SEARCH OUT A PLACE APPROPRIATE FOR A +SETTLEMENT. + + +On going ashore I found Sieur du Parc, who had spent the winter at the +settlement. He and all his companions were very well, and had not suffered +any sickness. Game, both large and small, had been abundant during the +entire winter, as they told me. I found there the Indian captain, named +_Batiscan_, and some Algonquins, who said they were waiting for me, being +unwilling to return to Tadoussac without seeing me. I proposed to them to +take one of our company to the _Trois Rivieres_ to explore the place, but +being unable to obtain anything from them this year I put it off until the +next. Still I did not fail to inform myself particularly regarding the +origin of the people living there, of which they told me with exactness. I +asked them for one of their canoes, which they were unwilling to part with +on any terms, because of their own need of it. For I had planned to send +two or three men to explore the neighborhood of the Trois Rivieres, and +ascertain what there was there. This, to my great regret, I was unable to +accomplish, and postponed the project to the first opportunity that might +present itself. + +Meanwhile I urged on the repairs to our barque. When it was ready, a young +man from La Rochelle, named Tresart, asked me to permit him to accompany me +to the above-mentioned fall. This I refused, replying that I had special +plans of my own, and that I did not wish to conduct any one to my +prejudice, adding that there were other companies than mine there, and that +I did not care to open up a way and serve as guide, and that he could make +the voyage well enough alone and without my help. + +The same day I set out from Quebec, and arrived at the great fall on the +twenty-eighth of May. But I found none of the savages who had promised me +to be there on this day. I entered at once a poor canoe, together with the +savage I had taken to France and one of my own men. After examining the two +shores, both in the woods and on the river bank, in order to find a spot +favorable for the location of a settlement, and to get a place ready for +building, I went some eight leagues by land along the great fall and +through the woods, which are very open, as far as a lake, [4] whither our +savage conducted me. Here I observed the country very carefully. But in all +that I saw, I found no place more favorable than a little spot to which +barques and shallops can easily ascend, with the help of a strong wind or +by taking a winding course, in consequence of the strong current. But above +this place, which we named _La Place Royale_, at the distance of a league +from Mont Royal, there are a great many little rocks and shoals, which are +very dangerous. Near Place Royale there is a little river, extending some +distance into the interior, along the entire length of which there are more +than sixty acres of land cleared up and like meadows, where grain can be +sown and gardens made. Formerly savages tilled these lands, [5] but they +abandoned them on account of their wars, in which they were constantly +engaged. There is also a large number of other fine pastures, where any +number of cattle can graze. There are also the various kinds of trees found +in France, together with many vines, nut and plum trees, cherries, +strawberries, and other kinds of good fruit. Among the rest there is a very +excellent one, with a sweet taste like that of plantains, a fruit of the +Indies, as white as snow, with a leaf resembling that of nettles, and which +creeps up the trees and along the ground like ivy. [6] Fish are very +abundant, including all the varieties we have in France, and many very good +ones which we do not have. Game is also plenty, the birds being of various +kinds. There are stags, hinds, does, caribous, [7] rabbits, lynxes, [8] +bears, beavers, also other small animals, and all in such large numbers, +that while we were at the fall we were abundantly supplied with them. + +After a careful examination, we found this place one of the finest on this +river. I accordingly forthwith gave orders to cut down and clear up the +woods in the Place Royale, [9] so as to level it and prepare it for +building. The water can easily be made to flow around it, making of it a +little island, so that a habitation can be formed as one may wish. + +There is a little island some twenty fathoms from Place Royale, about a +hundred paces long, where a good and strong settlement might be made. There +are also many meadows, containing very good and rich potter's clay, as well +adapted for brick as for building purposes, and consequently a very useful +article. I had a portion of it worked up, from which I made a wall four +feet thick, three or four high, and ten fathoms long, to see how it would +stand during the winter, when the freshets came down, although I thought +the water would not reach up to it, the ground there being twelve feet +above the river, which was very high. In the middle of the river there was +an island about three-quarters of a league around, where a good and strong +town could be built. This we named _Isle de Sainte Helene_. [10] This river +at the fall is like a lake, containing two or three islands, and bordered +by fine meadows. + +On the first day of June, Pont Grave arrived at the fall, having been +unable to accomplish anything at Tadoussac. A numerous company attended and +followed after him to share in the booty, without the hope of which they +would have been far in the rear. + +Now, while awaiting the savages, I had two gardens made, one in the +meadows, the other in the woods, which I had cleared up. On the 2d of June +I sowed some seeds, all of which came up finely, and in a short time, +attesting the good quality of the soil. + +We resolved to send Savignon, our savage, together with another, to meet +his countrymen, so as to hasten their arrival. They hesitated about going +in our canoe, of which they were distrustful, it being a very poor one. +They set out on the 5th. The next day four or five barques arrived as an +escort for us, since they could do nothing at Tadoussac. + +On the 7th I went to explore a little river, along which the savages +sometimes go to war, and which flows into the fall of the river of the +Iroquois. [11] It is very pleasant, with meadow land more than three +leagues in circuit, and much arable land. It is distant a league from the +great fall, and a league and a half from Place Royale. + +On the 9th our savage arrived. He had gone somewhat beyond the lake, which +is ten leagues long, and which I had seen before. [12] But he met no one, +and they were unable to go any farther, as their canoe gave out, which +obliged them to return. They reported that after passing the fall they saw +an island, where there was such a quantity of herons that the air was +completely filled with them. There was a young man belonging to Sieur de +Monts named Louis, who was very fond of the chase. Hearing this, he wished +to go and satisfy his curiosity, earnestly entreating our savage to take +him to the place. To this the savage consented, taking also a captain of +the Montagnais, a very respectable person, whose name was _Outetoucos_. On +the following morning Louis caused the two savages to be called, and went +with them in a canoe to the island of the herons. This island is in the +middle of the fall. [13] Here they captured as many herons and other birds +as they wanted, and embarked again in their canoe. Outetoucos, contrary to +the wish of the other savage, and against his remonstrances, desired to +pass through a very dangerous place, where the water fell more than three +feet, saying that he had formerly gone this way, which, however, was +false. He had a long discussion in opposition to our savage, who wished to +take him on the south side, along the mainland, [14] where they usually go. +This, however, Outetoucos did not wish, saying that there was no danger. +Our savage finding him obstinate yielded to his desire. But he insisted +that at least a part of the birds in the canoe should be taken out, as it +was overloaded, otherwise he said it would inevitably fill and be lost. But +to this he would not consent, saying that it would be time enough when they +found themselves in the presence of danger. They accordingly permitted +themselves to be carried along by the current. But when they reached the +precipice, they wanted to throw overboard their load in order to escape. It +was now, however, too late, for they were completely in the power of the +rapid water, and were straightway swallowed up in the whirlpools of the +fall, which turned them round a thousand times. For a long time they clung +to the boat. Finally the swiftness of the water wearied them so that this +poor Louis, who could not swim at all, entirely lost his presence of mind, +and, the canoe going down, he was obliged to abandon it. As it returned to +the surface, the two others who kept holding on to it, saw Louis no more, +and thus he died a sad death. [15] The two others continued to hold on to +the canoe. When, however, they were out of danger, this Outetoucos, being +naked and having confidence in his swimming powers, abandoned it in the +expectation of reaching the shore, although the water still ran there with +great rapidity. But he was drowned, for he had been so weakened and +overcome by his efforts that it was impossible for him to save himself +after abandoning the canoe. Our savage Savignon, understanding himself +better, held firmly to the canoe until it reached an eddy, whither the +current had carried it. Here he managed so well that, notwithstanding his +suffering and weariness, he approached the shore gradually, when, after +throwing the water out of the canoe, he returned in great fear that they +would take vengeance upon him, as the savages do among themselves, and +related to us this sad story, which caused us great sorrow. + +On the next day I went in another canoe to the fall, together with the +savage and another member of our company, to see the place where they had +met with their accident, and find, if possible, the remains. But when he +showed me the spot, I was horrified at beholding such a terrible place, and +astonished that the deceased should have been so lacking in judgment as to +pass through such a fearful place, when they could have gone another way. +For it is impossible to go along there, as there are seven or eight +descents of water one after the other, the lowest three feet high, the +seething and boiling of the water being fearful. A part of the fall was all +white with foam, indicating the worst spot, the noise of which was like +thunder, the air resounding with the echo of the cataracts. After viewing +and carefully examining this place, and searching along the river bank for +the dead bodies, another very light shallop having proceeded meanwhile on +the other bank also, we returned without finding anything. + + * * * * * + +CHAMPLAIN'S EXPLANATION OF THE ACCOMPANYING MAP. + +LE GRAND SAULT ST. LOUIS. + +A. Small place that I had cleared up. +B. Small pond. +C. Small islet, where I had a stone wall made. +D. Small brook, where the barques are kept. +E. Meadows where the savages stay when they come to this region. +F. Mountains seen in the interior. +G. Small pond. +H. Mont Royal. +I. Small brook. +L. The fall. +M. Place on the north side, where the savages transfer their canoes by + land. +N. Spot where one of our men and a savage were drowned. +O. Small rocky islet. +P. Another islet where birds make their nests. +Q. Heron island. +R. Another island in the fall. +S. Small islet +T. Small round islet. +V. Another islet half covered with water. +X. Another islet, where there are many river birds. +Y. Meadows. +Z. Small river. +2. Very large and fine islands. +3. Places which are bare when the water is low, where there are great + eddies, as at the main fall. +4. Meadows covered with water +5. Very shallow places. +6. Another little islet. +7. Small rocks. +8. Island St. Helene. +9. Small island without trees. +00. Marshes connecting with the great fall. + +ENDNOTES: + +4. This journey of eight leagues would take them as far as the Lake of Two + Mountains. + +5. This little river is mentioned by Champlain in his Voyage of 1603, + Vol. I. p. 268. It is represented on early maps as formed by two small + streams, flowing, one from the north or northeastern, and the other from + the southern side of the mountain, in the rear of the city of Montreal, + which unite some distance before they reach the St. Lawrence, flowing + into that river at Point Callieres. These little brooks are laid down on + Champlain's local map, _Le Grand Sault St. Louis_, on Charlevoix's + _Carte de l'Isle de Montreal_, 1744, and on Bellin's _L'Isle de + Montreal_, 1764; but they have disappeared on modern maps, and probably + are either extinct or are lost in the sewerage of the city, of which + they have become a part. We have called the stream formed by these two + brooks, note 190, Vol. I., _Riviere St. Pierre_. On Potherie's map, the + only stream coming from the interior is so named. _Vide Histoire de + L'Amerique_ par M. de Bacqueville de la Potherie, 1722, p. 311. On a map + in Greig's _Hochelaga Depicta_, 1839, it is called St. Peter's River. + The same stream on Bouchette's map, 1830, is denominated Little River. + It seems not unlikely that a part of it was called, at one time, Riviere + St. Pierre, and another part Petite Riviere. + + It is plain that on this stream was situated the sixty acres of cleared + land alluded to in the text as formerly occupied by the savages. + + It will be remembered that seventy-six years anterior to this, in 1535, + Jacques Cartier discovered this place, which was then the seat of a + large and flourishing Indian town. It is to be regretted that Champlain + did not inform us more definitely as to the history of the former + occupants of the soil. Some important, and we think conclusive, reasons + have been assigned for supposing that they were a tribe of the Iroquois. + Among others may be mentioned the similarity in the construction of + their towns and houses or cabins, the identity of their language as + determined by a collation of the words found in Cartier's journal with + the language of the Iroquois; and to these may be added the traditions + obtained by missionaries and others, as cited by Laverdiere, to which we + must not, however, attach too much value. _Vide Laverdiere in loco_. + While it seems probable that the former occupants were of the Iroquois + family, it is impossible to determine whether on retiring they joined + the Five Nations in the State of New York, or merged themselves with the + Hurons, who were likewise of Iroquois origin. + +6. I am unable to identify this plant. Its climbing propensity and the + color of its fruit suggest _Rhus radicans_, but in other respects the + similarity fails. + +7. _Cerfs, Daims, Cheureuls, Caribous_. Champlain employs the names of the + different species of the Cerf family as used in Europe; but as our + species are different, this use of names creates some confusion. There + were in Canada, the moose, the caribou, the wapiti, and the common red + deer. Any enumeration by the early writers must include these, under + whatever names they may be described. One will be found applying a name + to a given species, while another will apply the same name to quite a + different species. Charlevoix mentions the orignal (moose) caribou, the + hart, and the roebuck. Under the name _hart_, he probably refers to the + wapiti, _elaphus Canadensis_, and _roe-buck_, to the common red deer, + _Cervus Virginianus_. _Vide Charlevoix's Letters to the Dutchess of + Lesdiguieres_, 1763, pp. 64-69, also Vol. I. of this work, p. 265. + +8. Lynxes, _Loups-serviers_. The compound word _loup-cervier_ was + significant, and was applied originally to the animal of which the stag + was its natural prey, _qui attaque les cerfs_. In Europe it described + the lynx, a large powerful animal of the feline race, that might well + venture to attack the stag. But in Canada this species is not found. + What is known as the Canadian lynx, _Felis Canadensis_, is only a large + species of cat, which preys upon birds and the smaller quadrupeds. + Champlain probably gives it the name _loup-servier_ for the want of one + more appropriate. It is a little remarkable that he does not in this + list mention the American wolf, _Lupus occidentalis_, so common in every + part of Canada, and which he subsequently refers to as the animal + especially dreaded by the deer. _Vide postea_, pp. 139, 157. + +9. The site of Place Royale was on Point Callieres, so named in honor of + Chevalier Louis Hector de Callieres Bonnevue, governor of Montreal in + 1684. + +10. It seems most likely that the name of this island was suggested by the + marriage which Champlain had contracted with Helene Boulle, the year + before. This name had been given to several other places. _Vide_ Vol. + I. pp. 104, 105. + +11. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 268, note 191. _Walker and Miles's Atlas_, map 186. + +12. The Lake of the Two Mountains. _Vide antea_, note 4. + +13. On Champlain's local map of the Falls of St. Louis, the letter Q is + wanting; but the expression, _ceste isle est au milieu du faut_, in the + middle of the fall, as suggested by Laverdiere, indicates that the + island designated by the letter R is Heron Island. _Vide postea_, R on + map at p. 18. + +14. _Grand Tibie_, so in the original. This is a typographical error for + _grand terre_. _Vide_ Champlain, 1632, Quebec ed., p. 842. + +15. The death of this young man may have suggested the name which was + afterward given to the fall. He was, however, it is reasonable to + suppose, hardly equal in sanctity of character to the Saint Louis of + the French. Hitherto it had been called _Le Grand Saut_. But soon after + this it began to be called _Grand Saut S. Louys_. _Vide postea_, + pp. 38, 51, 59. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +TWO HUNDRED SAVAGES RETURN THE FRENCHMAN WHO HAD BEEN ENTRUSTED TO THEM, +AND RECEIVE THE SAVAGE WHO HAD COME BACK FROM FRANCE.--VARIOUS INTERVIEWS +ON BOTH SIDES. + + +On the thirteenth day of the month [16] two hundred Charioquois [17] +savages, together with the captains Ochateguin, Iroquet, and Tregouaroti, +brother of our savage, brought back my servant. [18] We were greatly +pleased to see them. I went to meet them in a canoe with our savage. As +they were approaching slowly and in order, our men prepared to salute them +with a discharge of arquebuses, muskets, and small pieces. When they were +near at hand, they all set to shouting together, and one of the chiefs gave +orders that they should make their harangue, in which they greatly praised +us, commending us as truthful, inasmuch as I had kept the promise to meet +them at this fall. After they had made three more shouts, there was a +discharge of musketry twice from thirteen barques or pataches that were +there. This alarmed them so, that they begged me to assure them that there +should be no more firing, saying that the greater part of them had never +seen Christians, nor heard thunderings of that sort, and that they were +afraid of its harming them, but that they were greatly pleased to see our +savage in health, whom they supposed was dead, as had been reported by some +Algonquins, who had heard so from the Montagnais. The savage commended the +treatment I had shown him in France, and the remarkable objects he had +seen, at which all wondered, and went away quietly to their cabins, +expecting that on the next day I would show them the place where I wished +to have them dwell. I saw also my servant, who was dressed in the costume +of the savages, who commended the treatment he had received from them. He +informed me of all he had seen and learned during the winter, from the +savages. + +The next day I showed them a spot for their cabins, in regard to which the +elders and principal ones consulted very privately. After their long +consultation they sent for me alone and my servant, who had learned their +language very well. They told him they desired a close alliance with me, +and were sorry to see here all these shallops, and that our savage had told +them he did not know them at all nor their intentions, and that it was +clear that they were attracted only by their desire of gain and their +avarice, and that when their assistance was needed they would refuse it, +and would not act as I did in offering to go with my companions to their +country and assist them, of all of which I had given them proofs in the +past. They praised me for the treatment I had shown our savage, which was +that of a brother, and had put them under such obligations of good will to +me, that they said they would endeavor to comply with anything I might +desire from them, but that they feared that the other boats would do them +some harm. I assured them that they would not, and that we were all under +one king, whom our savage had seen, and belonged to the same nation, though +matters of business were confined to individuals, and that they had no +occasion to fear, but might feel as much security as if they were in their +own country. After considerable conversation, they made me a present of a +hundred castors. I gave them in exchange other kinds of merchandise. They +told me there were more than four hundred savages of their country who had +purposed to come, but had been prevented by the following representations +of an Iroquois prisoner, who had belonged to me, but had escaped to his own +country. He had reported, they said, that I had given him his liberty and +some merchandise, and that I purposed to go to the fall with six hundred +Iroquois to meet the Algonquins and kill them all, adding that the fear +aroused by this intelligence had alone prevented them from coming. I +replied that the prisoner in question had escaped without my leave, that +our savage knew very well how he went away, and that there was no thought +of abandoning their alliance, as they had heard, since I had engaged in war +with them, and sent my servant to their country to foster their friendship, +which was still farther confirmed by my keeping my promise to them in so +faithful a manner. + +They replied that, so far as they were concerned, they had never thought of +this; that they were well aware that all this talk was far from the truth, +and that if they had believed the contrary they would not have come, but +that the others were afraid, never having seen a Frenchman except my +servant. They told me also that three hundred Algonquins would come in five +or six days, if we would wait for them, to unite with themselves in war +against the Iroquois; that, however, they would return without doing so +unless I went. I talked a great deal with them about the source of the +great river and their country, and they gave me detailed information about +their rivers, falls, lakes and lands, as also about the tribes living +there, and what is to be found in the region. Four of them assured me that +they had seen a sea at a great distance from their country, but that it was +difficult to go there, not only on account of the wars, but of the +intervening wilderness. They told me also that the winter before some +savages had come from the direction of Florida, beyond the country of the +Iroquois, who lived near our ocean, and were in alliance with these +savages. In a word, they made me a very exact statement, indicating by +drawings all the places where they had been, and taking pleasure in talking +to me about them; and for my part I did not tire of listening to them, as +they confirmed points in regard to which I had been before in doubt. After +all this conversation was concluded, I told them that we would trade for +the few articles they had, which was done the next day. Each one of the +barques carried away its portion; we on our side had all the hardship and +venture; the others, who had not troubled themselves about any +explorations, had the booty, the only thing that urges them to activity, in +which they employ no capital and venture nothing. + +The next day, after bartering what little they had, they made a barricade +about their dwelling, partly in the direction of the wood, and partly in +that of our pataches; and this they said they did for their security, in +order to avoid the surprises of their enemies, which we took for the +truth. On the coming night, they called our savage, who was sleeping on my +patache, and my servant, who went to them. After a great deal of +conversation, about midnight they had me called also. Entering their +cabins, I found them all seated in council. They had me sit down near them, +saying that when they met for the purpose of considering a matter, it was +their custom to do so at night, that they might not be diverted by anything +from attention to the subject in hand; that at night one thought only of +listening, while during the day the thoughts were distracted by other +objects. + +But in my opinion, confiding in me, they desired to tell me privately their +purpose. Besides, they were afraid of the other pataches, as they +subsequently gave me to understand. For they told me that they were uneasy +at seeing so many Frenchmen, who were not especially united to one another, +and that they had desired to see me alone; that some of them had been +beaten; that they were as kindly disposed towards me as towards their own +children, confiding so much in me that they would do whatever I told them +to do, but that they greatly mistrusted the others; that if I returned I +might take as many of their people as I wished, if it were under the +guidance of a chief; and that they sent for me to assure me anew of their +friendship, which would never be broken, and to express the hope that I +might never be ill disposed towards them; and being aware that I had +determined to visit their country, they said they would show it to me at +the risk of their lives, giving me the assistance of a large number of men, +who could go everywhere; and that in future we should expect such treatment +from them as they had received from us. + +Straightway they brought fifty castors and four strings of beads, which +they value as we do gold chains, saying that I should share these with my +brother, referring to Pont Grave, we being present together; that these +presents were sent by other captains, who had never seen me; that they +desired to continue friends to me; that if any of the French wished to go +with them, they should be greatly pleased to have them do so; and that they +desired more than ever to establish a firm friendship. After much +conversation with them, I proposed that inasmuch as they were desirous to +have me visit their country, I would petition His Majesty to assist us to +the extent of forty or fifty men, equipped with what was necessary for the +journey, and that I would embark with them on condition that they would +furnish us the necessary provisions for the journey, and that I would take +presents for the chiefs of the country through which we should pass, when +we would return to our settlement to spend the winter; that moreover, if I +found their country favorable and fertile, we would make many settlements +there, by which means we should have frequent intercourse with each other, +living happily in the future in the fear of God, whom we would make known +to them. They were well pleased with this proposition, and begged me to +shake hands upon it, saying that they on their part would do all that was +possible for its fulfilment; that, in regard to provisions, we should be as +well supplied as they themselves, assuring me again that they would show me +what I desired to see. Thereupon, I took leave of them at daybreak, +thanking them for their willingness to carry out my wishes, and entreating +them to continue to entertain the same feelings. + +On the next day, the 17th, they said that they were going castor-hunting, +and that they would all return. On the following morning they finished +bartering what little they had, when they embarked in their canoes, asking +us not to take any steps towards taking down their dwellings, which we +promised them. Then they separated from each other, pretending to go a +hunting in different directions. They left our savage with me that we might +have less distrust in them. But they had appointed themselves a rendezvous +above the fall, where they knew well enough that we could not go with our +barques. Meanwhile, we awaited them in accordance with what they had told +us. + +The next day there came two savages, one Iroquet, the other the brother of +our Savignon. They came to get the latter, and ask me in behalf of all +their companions to go alone with my servant to where they were encamped, +as they had something of importance to tell me, which they were unwilling +to communicate to any Frenchmen. I promised them that I would go. + +The following day I gave some trifles to Savignon, who set out much +pleased, giving me to understand that he was about to live a very irksome +life in comparison with that which he had led in France. He expressed much +regret at separation, but I was very glad to be relieved of the care of +him. The two captains told me that on the morning of the next day they +would send for me, which they did. I embarked, accompanied by my servant, +with those who came. Having arrived at the fall, we went some eight leagues +into the woods, where they were encamped on the shore of a lake, where I +had been before.[19] They were much pleased at seeing me, and began to +shout after their custom. Our Indian came out to meet me, and ask me to go +to the cabin of his brother, where he at once had some meat and fish put on +the fire for my entertainment. While I was there, a banquet was held, to +which all the leading Indians were invited. I was not forgotten, although I +had already eaten sufficiently; but, in order not to violate the custom of +the country, I attended. After banqueting, they went into the woods to hold +their council, and meanwhile I amused myself in looking at the country +round about, which is very pleasant. + +Some time after they called me, in order to communicate to me what they had +resolved upon. I proceeded to them accordingly with my servant. After I had +seated myself by their side, they said they were very glad to see me, and +to find that I had not failed to keep my word in what I had promised them; +saying that they felt it an additional proof of my affection that I +continued the alliance with them, and that before setting out they desired +to take leave of me, as it would have been a very great disappointment to +them to go away without seeing me, thinking that I would in that case have +been ill disposed towards them. They said also that what had led them to +say they were going a hunting, and build the barricade, was not the fear of +their enemies nor the desire of hunting, but their fear of all the other +pataches accompanying me, inasmuch as they had heard it said that on the +night they sent for me they were all to be killed, and that I should not be +able to protect them from the others who were much more numerous; so that +in order to get away they made use of this ruse. But they said if there had +been only our two pataches they would have stayed some days longer, and +they begged that, when I returned with my companions, I would not bring any +others. To this I replied that I did not bring these, but that they +followed without my invitation; that in the future, however, I would come +in another manner; at which explanation they were much pleased. + +And now they began again to repeat what they had promised me in regard to +the exploration of the country, while I promised, with the help of God, to +fulfil what I had told them. They besought me again to give them a man, and +I replied that if there was any one among us who was willing to go, I +should be well pleased. + +They told me there was a merchant, named Bouyer, commander of a patache, +who had asked them to take a young man, which request, however, they had +been unwilling to grant before ascertaining whether this was agreeable to +me, as they did not know whether we were friends, since he had come in my +company to trade with them; also that they were in no wise under any +obligations to him, but that he had offered to make them large presents. + +I replied that we were in no wise enemies, and that they had often seen us +conversing with each other; but that in regard to traffic each did what he +could, and that the above-named Bouyer was perhaps desirous of sending this +young man as I had sent mine, hoping for some return in the future, which I +could also lay claim to from them; that, however, they must judge towards +whom they had the greatest obligations, and from whom they were to expect +the most. + +They said there was no comparison between the obligations in the two cases, +not only in view of the help I had rendered them in their wars against +their enemies, but also of the offer of my personal assistance in the +future, in all of which they had found me faithful to the truth, adding +that all depended on my pleasure. They said moreover that what made them +speak of the matter was the presents he had offered them, and that, if this +young man should go with them, it would not put them under such obligations +to this Bouyer as they were under to me, and that it would have no +influence upon the future, since they only took him on account of the +presents from Bouyer. + +I replied that it was indifferent to me whether they took him or not, and +in fact that if they took him for a small consideration I should be +displeased at it, but if in return for valuable presents, I should be +satisfied, provided he stayed with Iroquet; which they promised me. Then +there was made on both sides a final statement of our agreements. They had +with them one who had three times been made prisoner by the Iroquois, but +had been successful in escaping. This one resolved to go, with nine others, +to war, for the sake of revenge for the cruelties his enemies had caused +him to suffer. All the captains begged me to dissuade him if possible, +since he was very valiant, and they were afraid that, advancing boldly +towards the enemy, and supported by a small force only, he would never +return. To satisfy them I endeavored to do so, and urged all the reasons I +could, which, however, availed little; for he, showing me a portion of his +fingers cut off, also great cuts and burns on his body, as evidences of the +manner they had tortured him, said that it was impossible for him to live +without killing some of his enemies and having vengeance, and that his +heart told him he must set out as soon as possible, as he did, firmly +resolved to behave well. + +After concluding with them, I asked them to take me back in our patache. To +accomplish this, they got ready eight canoes in order to pass the fall, +stripping themselves naked, and directing me to go only in my shirt. For it +often happens that some are lost in passing the fall. Consequently, they +keep close to each other, so as to render assistance at once, if any canoe +should happen to turn over. They said to me, if yours should unfortunately +overturn, not knowing how to swim, you must not think of abandoning it, and +must cling to the little pieces in the middle of it, for we can easily +rescue you. I am sure that even the most self-possessed persons in the +world, who have not seen this place nor passed it in little boats such as +they have, could not do so without the greatest apprehension. But these +people are so skilful in passing falls, that it is an easy matter for +them. I passed with them, which I had never before done, nor any other +Christian, except my above-mentioned servant. Then we reached our barques, +where I lodged a large number of them, and had some conversation with the +before-mentioned Bouyer in view of the fear he entertained that I should +prevent his servant from going with the savages. They returned the next day +with the young man, who proved expensive to his master who had expected, in +my opinion, to recover the losses of his voyage, which were very +considerable, like those of many others. + +One of our young men also determined to go with these savages, who are +Charioquois, living at a distance of some one hundred and fifty leagues +from the fall. He went with the brother of Savignon, one of the captains, +who promised me to show him all that could be seen. Bouyer's man went with +the above-mentioned Iroquet, an Algonquin, who lives some eighty leagues +from the fall. Both went off well pleased and contented. + +After the departure of the savages, we awaited the three hundred others +who, as had been told us, were to come, in accordance with the promise I +had made them. Finding that they did not come, all the pataches determined +to induce some Algonquin savages, who had come from Tadoussac, to go to +meet them, in view of a reward that would be given them on their return, +which was to be at the latest not over nine days from the time of their +departure, so that we might know whether to expect them or not, and be able +to return to Tadoussac. This they agreed to, and a canoe left with this +purpose. + +On the fifth of July a canoe arrived from the Algonquins, who were to come +to the number of three hundred. From it we learned that the canoe which had +set out from us had arrived in their country, and that their companions, +wearied by their journey, were resting, and that they would soon arrive, in +fulfilment of the promise they had made; that at most they would not be +more than eight days behindhand, but that there would be only twenty-four +canoes, as one of their captains and many of their comrades had died of a +fever that had broken out among them. They also said that they had sent +many to the war, which had hindered their progress. We determined to wait +for them. + +But finding that this period had elapsed without their arrival, Pont Grave +set out from the fall on the eleventh of the month, to arrange some matters +at Tadoussac, while I stayed to await the savages. + +The same day a patache arrived, bringing provisions for the numerous +barques of which our party consisted. For our bread, wine, meat, and cider +had given out some days before, obliging us to have recourse to fishing, +the fine river water, and some radishes which grow in great abundance in +the country; otherwise we should have been obliged to return. The same day +an Algonquin canoe arrived, assuring us that on the next day the +twenty-four canoes were to come, twelve of them prepared for war. + +On the twelfth the Algonquins arrived with some little merchandise. Before +trafficking they made a present to a Montagnais Indian, the son of +Anadabijou, [20] who had lately died, in order to mitigate his grief at the +death of his father. Shortly after they resolved to make some presents to +all the captains of the pataches. They gave to each of them ten castors, +saying they were very sorry they had no more, but that the war, to which +most of them were going, was the reason; they begged, however, that what +they offered might be accepted in good part, saying that they were all +friends to us, and to me, who was seated near them, more than to all the +others, who were well disposed towards them only on account of their +castors, and had not always assisted them like myself, whom they had never +found double-tongued like the rest. + +I replied that all those whom they saw gathered together were their +friends; that, in case an opportunity should present itself, they would not +fail to do their duty; that we were all friends; that they should continue +to be well disposed towards us; that we would make them presents in return +for those they gave us; and that they should trade in peace. This they did, +and carried away what they could. + +The next day they brought me privately forty castors, assuring me of their +friendship, and that they were very glad of the conclusion which I had +reached with the savages who had gone away, and that we should make a +settlement at the fall, which I assured them we would do, making them a +present in return. + +After everything had been arranged, they determined to go and obtain the +body of Outetoucos, who was drowned at the fall, as we have before +mentioned. They went to the spot where he had been buried, disinterred him +and carried him to the island of St Helene, where they performed their +usual ceremony, which is to sing and dance over the grave with festivities +and banquets following. I asked them why they disinterred the body. They +replied that if their enemies should find the grave they would do so, and +divide the body into several pieces, which they would then hang to trees in +order to offend them. For this reason they said that they transferred it to +a place off from the road, and in the most secret manner possible. + +On the 15th there arrived fourteen canoes, the chief over which was named +_Tecouehata_. Upon their arrival all the other savages took up arms and +performed some circular evolutions. After going around and dancing to their +satisfaction, the others who were in their canoes also began to dance, +making various movements of the body. After finishing their singing, they +went on shore with a small quantity of furs, and made presents similar to +those of the others. These were reciprocated by some of equal value. The +next day they trafficked in what little they had, and presented me +personally with thirty castors, for which I made them an acknowledgment. +They begged me to continue my good will to them, which I promised to do. +They spoke with me very especially respecting certain explorations towards +the north, which might prove advantageous; and said, in reference to them, +that if any one of my company would like to go with them, they would show +him what would please me, and would treat him as one of their own children. +I promised to give them a young man, at which they were much pleased. When +he took leave of me to go with them, I gave him a detailed memorandum of +what he was to observe while with them. After they had bartered what little +they had, they separated into three parties; one for the war, another for +the great fall, another for a little river which flows into that of the +great fall. Thus they set out on the 18th day of the month, on which day we +also departed. + +The same day we made the thirty leagues from this fall to the Trois +Rivieres. On the 19th we arrived at Quebec, which is also thirty leagues +from the Trois Rivieres. I induced the most of those in each boat to stay +at the settlement, when I had some repairs made and some rose-bushes set +out. I had also some oak wood put on board to make trial of in France, not +only for marine wainscoting, but also for windows. The next day, the 20th +of July, I set out. On the 23d I arrived at Tadoussac, whence I resolved to +return to France, in accordance with the advice of Pont Grave. After +arranging matters relating to our settlement, according to the directions +which Sieur de Monts had given me, I embarked in the vessel of Captain +Tibaut, of La Rochelle, on the 11th of August. During our passage we had an +abundance of fish, such as _orades_, mackerel, and _pilotes_, the latter +similar to herrings, and found about certain planks covered with +_pousle-pieds_, a kind of shell-fish attaching itself thereto, and growing +there gradually. Sometimes the number of these little fish is so great that +it is surprising to behold. We caught also some porpoises and other species +of fish. The weather was favorable as far as Belle Isle, [21] where we were +overtaken by fogs, which continued three or four days. The weather then +becoming fair, we sighted Alvert, [22] and arrived at La Rochelle on the +16th of September, 1611. + +ENDNOTES: + +16. June 13th. + +17. _Charioquois_. In the issue of 1632, p. 397, Champlain has _Sauuages + Hurons_. It is probable that Charioquois was only a chief of the + Hurons. + +18. This was the young man that had been sent to pass the winter with the + Indians, in exchange for the savage which had accompanied Champlain to + France. _Vide antea_, Vol. II. p. 246. + +19. This was doubtless on the Lake of Two Mountains. + +20. Champlain's orthography is here _Aronadabigeau. Vide_ Vol. I pp. 236, + 291. + +21. Belle Ile. An island on the coast of Brittany in France. + +22. Alvert, a village near Marennes, which they sighted as they approached + La Rochelle. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ARRIVAL AT LA ROCHELLE.--DISSOLUTION OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SIEUR DE +MONTS AND HIS ASSOCIATES, THE SIEURS COLIER AND LE GENDRE OF ROUEN.-- +JEALOUSY OF THE FRENCH IN REGARD TO THE NEW DISCOVERIES IN NEW FRANCE. + + +Upon my arrival at La Rochelle I proceeded to visit Sieur de Monts, at Pons +[23] in Saintonge, to inform him of all that had occurred during the +expedition, and of the promise which the Ochateguins[24] and Algonquins had +made me, on condition that we would assist them in their wars, as I had +agreed. Sieur de Monts, after listening to it all, determined to go to the +Court to arrange the matter. I started before him to go there also. But on +the way I was unfortunately detained by the falling of a horse upon me, +which came near killing me. This fall detained me some time; but as soon as +I had sufficiently recovered from its effects I set out again to complete +my journey and meet Sieur de Monts at Fontainebleau, who, upon his return +to Paris, had a conference with his associates. The latter were unwilling +to continue in the association, as there was no commission forbidding any +others from going to the new discoveries and trading with the inhabitants +of the country. Sieur de Monts, seeing this, bargained with them for what +remained at the settlement at Quebec, in consideration of a sum of money +which he gave them for their share. He sent also some men to take care of +the settlement, in the expectation of obtaining a commission from His +Majesty. But while he was engaged in the pursuit of this object some +important matters demanded his attention, so that he was obliged to abandon +it, and he left me the duty of taking the necessary steps for it. As I was +about arranging the matter, the vessels arrived from New France with men +from our settlement, those whom I had sent into the interior with the +savages. They brought me very important information, saying that more than +two hundred savages had come, expecting to find me at the great fall of +St. Louis, where I had appointed a rendezvous, with the intention of +assisting them according to their request. But, finding that I had not kept +my promise, they were greatly displeased. Our men, however, made some +apologies, which were accepted, and assured them that they would not fail +to come the following year or never. The savages agreed to this on their +part. But several others left the old trading-station of Tadoussac, and +came to the fall with many small barques to see if they could engage in +traffic with these people, whom they assured that I was dead, although our +men stoutly declared the contrary. This shows how jealousy against +meritorious objects gets possession of bad natures; and all they want is +that men should expose themselves to a thousand dangers, to discover +peoples and territories, that they themselves may have the profit and +others the hardship. It is not reasonable that one should capture the lamb +and another go off with the fleece. If they had been willing to participate +in our discoveries, use their means, and risk their persons, they would +have given evidence of their honor and nobleness, but on the contrary they +show clearly that they are impelled by pure malice that they may enjoy the +fruit of our labors equally with ourselves. + +On this subject, and to show how many persons strive to pervert +praiseworthy enterprises, I will instance again the people of St. Malo and +others, who say that the profit of these discoveries belongs to them, since +Jacques Cartier, who first visited Canada and the islands of New Foundland, +was from their city, as if that city had contributed to the expenses of +these discoveries of Jacques Cartier, who went there by the order and at +the expense of King Francis I, in the years 1534 and 1535 to discover these +territories now called New France. If then Cartier made any discovery at +the expense of His Majesty, all his subjects have the same rights and +liberties in them as the people of St. Malo, who cannot prevent others who +make farther discoveries at their own expense, as is shown in the case of +the discoveries above described, from profiting by them in peace. Hence +they ought not to claim any rights if they themselves make no +contributions, and their reasons for doing so are weak and foolish. + +To prove more conclusively that they who maintain this position do so +without any foundation, let us suppose that a Spaniard or other foreigner +had discovered lands and wealth at the expense of the King of France. Could +the Spaniards or other foreigners claim these discoveries and this wealth +on the ground that the discoverer was a Spaniard or foreigner? No! There +would be no sense in doing so, and they would always belong to France. +Hence the people of St. Malo cannot make these claims for the reason which +they give, that Cartier was a citizen of their city; and they can only take +cognizance of the fact that he was a citizen of theirs, and render him +accordingly the praise which is his due. + +Besides, Cartier in the voyage which he made never passed the great fall of +St. Louis, and made no discoveries north or south of the river +St. Lawrence. His narratives give no evidence of it, in which he speaks +only of the river Saguenay, the Trois Rivieres and St. Croix, where he +spent the winter in a fort near our settlement. Had he done so, he would +not have failed to mention it, any more than what he has mentioned, which +shows that he left all the upper part of the St. Lawrence, from Tadoussac +to the great fall, being a territory difficult to explore, and that he was +unwilling to expose himself or let his barques engage in the venture. So +that what he did has borne no fruit until four years ago, when we made our +settlement at Quebec, after which I ventured to pass the fall to help the +savages in their wars, and fend among them men to make the acquaintance of +the people, to learn their mode of living, and the character and extent of +their territory. After devoting ourselves to labors which have been so +successful, is it not just that we should enjoy their fruits, His Majesty +not having contributed anything to aid those who have assumed the +responsibilities of these undertakings up to the present time. I hope that +God will at some time incline him to do so much for His service, his own +glory and the welfare of his subjects, as to bring many new peoples to the +knowledge of our faith, that they may at last enjoy the heavenly kingdom. + + +NOTE. + +Champlain here introduces an explanation of his two geographical maps of +New France, and likewise his method of determining a meridian line. For +convenience of use the maps are placed at the end of this work, and for the +same reason these explanations are carried forward to p. 219, in immediate +proximity to the maps which they explain.--EDITOR. + +ENDNOTES: + +23. De Monts was governor of Pons, a town situated about ten miles south of + Saintes, in the present department of Lower Charente. + +24. _Ochateguins. Vide_ Vol III. Quebec ed. p 169. They were Hurons, and + Ochateguin is supposed to have been one of their chiefs. _Vide_ Vol + II. note 321. + + + + +FOURTH VOYAGE +OF +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, + +CAPTAIN IN ORDINARY TO THE KING IN THE MARINE, AND +LIEUTENANT OF MONSEIGNEUR LE PRINCE DE +CONDE IN NEW FRANCE, + +MADE IN THE YEAR 1613. + + +To the very high, powerful, and excellent Henri de Bourbon, Prince de +Conde, First Prince of the Blood, First Peer of France, Governor and +Lieutenant of His Majesty in Guienne. + +_Monseigneur, + +The Honor that I have received from your Highness in being intrusted with +the discovery of New France has inspired in me the desire to pursue with +still greater pains and zeal than ever the search for the North Sea. With +this object in view I have made a voyage during the past year, 1613, +relying on a man whom I had sent there and who assured me he had seen it, +as you will perceive in this brief narrative, which I venture to present to +your Excellence, and in which are particularly described all the toils and +sufferings I have had in the undertaking. But although I regret having lost +this year so far as the main object is concerned, yet my expectation, as in +the first voyage, of obtaining more definite information respecting the +subject from the savages, has been fulfilled. They have told me about +various lakes and rivers in the north, in view of which, aside from their +assurance that they know of this sea, it seems to me easy to conclude from +the maps that it cannot be far from the farthest discoveries I have +hitherto made. Awaiting a favorable time and opportunity to prosecute my +plans, and praying God to preserve you, most happy Prince, in all +prosperity, wherein consists my highest wish for your greatness, I remain +in the quality of + + Your most humble and devoted servant, + + SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN_. + + + + +FOURTH VOYAGE +OF +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, + +CAPTAIN IN ORDINARY TO THE KING IN THE MARINE, AND +LIEUTENANT OF MONSEIGNEUR LE PRINCE DE +CONDE IN NEW FRANCE, + +MADE IN THE YEAR 1613. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +WHAT LED ME TO SEEK FOR TERMS OF REGULATION.--A COMMISSION OBTAINED-- +OPPOSITIONS TO THE SAME.--PUBLICATION AT LAST IN ALL THE PORTS OF FRANCE. + +The desire which I have always had of making new discoveries in New France, +for the good, profit, and glory of the French name, and at the same time to +lead the poor natives to the knowledge of God, has led me to seek more and +more for the greater facility of this undertaking, which can only be +secured by means of good regulations. For, since individuals desire to +gather the fruits of my labor without contributing to the expenses and +great outlays requisite for the support of the settlements necessary to a +successful result, this branch of trade is ruined by the greediness of +gain, which is so great that it causes merchants to set out prematurely in +order to arrive first in this country. By this means they not only become +involved in the ice, but also in their own ruin, for, from trading with the +savages in a secret manner and offering through rivalry with each other +more merchandise than is necessary, they get the worst of the bargain. +Thus, while purposing to deceive their associates, they generally deceive +themselves. + +For this reason, when I returned to France on the 10th of September, 1611, +I spoke to Sieur de Monts about the matter, who approved of my suggestions; +but his engagements not allowing him to prosecute the matter at court, he +left to me its whole management. + +I then drew up a statement, which I presented to President Jeannin, who, +being a man desirous of seeing good undertakings prosper, commended my +project, and encouraged me in its prosecution. + +But feeling assured that those who love to fish in troubled waters would be +vexed at such regulations and seek means to thwart them, it seemed +advisable to throw myself into the hands of some power whose authority +would prevail over their jealousy. + +Now, knowing Monseigneur le Comte de Soissons[25] to be a prince devout and +well disposed to all holy undertakings, I addressed myself to him through +Sieur de Beaulieu, councillor, and almoner in ordinary to the King, and +urged upon him the importance of the matter, setting forth the means of +regulating it, the harm which disorder had heretofore produced, and the +total ruin with which it was threatened, to the great dishonor of the +French name, unless God should raise up some one who would reanimate it and +give promise of securing for it some day the success which had hitherto +been little anticipated. After he had been informed in regard to all the +details of the scheme and seen the map of the country which I had made, he +promised me, under the sanction of the King, to undertake the protectorate +of the enterprise. + +I immediately after presented to His Majesty, and to the gentlemen of his +Council, a petition accompanied by articles, to the end that it might +please him to issue regulations for the undertaking, without which, as I +have said, it would fail. Accordingly his Majesty gave the direction and +control to the before-mentioned Count, who then honored me with the +lieutenancy. + +Now as I was preparing to publish the commission [26] of the King in all +the ports and harbors of France, there occurred the sickness and greatly +lamented death of the Count, which postponed somewhat the undertaking. But +his Majesty at once committed the direction to Monseigneur le Prince,[27] +who proceeded in the execution of its duties, and, having in like manner +honored me with the lieutenancy, [28] directed me to go on with the +publication of the commission. But as soon as this was done, some marplots, +who had no interest in the matter, importuned him to annul it, representing +to him as they claimed the interests of all the merchants of France, who +had no cause for complaint, since all were received into the association +and could not therefore justly be aggrieved. Accordingly, their evil +intention being recognized, they were dismissed, with permission only to +enter into the association. + +During these altercations, it was impossible for me, as the time of my +departure was very near at hand, to do anything for the habitation at +Quebec, for repairing and enlarging which I desired to take out some +workmen. It was accordingly necessary to go out this year without any +farther organization. The passports of Monseigneur le Prince were made out +for four vessels, which were already in readiness for the voyage, viz. +three from Rouen and one from La Rochelle, on condition that each should +furnish four men for my assistance, not only in my discoveries but in war, +as I desired to keep the promise which I had made to the Ochataiguins [29] +in the year 1611, to assist them in their wars at the time of my next +voyage. + +As I was preparing to set out, I was informed that the Parliamentary Court +of Rouen would not permit the publication of the commission of the King, +because his Majesty had reserved to himself and his Council the sole +cognizance of the differences which might arise in this matter; added to +which was the fact that the merchants of St. Malo were also opposed to it. +This greatly embarrassed me, and obliged me to make three journeys to +Rouen, with orders of his Majesty, in consideration of which the Court +desisted from their inhibition, and the assumptions of the opponents were +overruled. The commission was then published in all the ports of Normandy. + +ENDNOTES: + +25. For a brief notice of the Count de Soissons, _vide_ Vol. I. note 74; + also note by Laverdiere, Quebec ed., p. 433. + +26. This Commission, dated October 15, 1612, will be found in Champlain's + issue of 1632. _Vide_ Quebec ed., p 887. + +27. Henry de Bourbon. _Vide_ Vol. I. p 113, note 75. + +28. Champlain was appointed lieutenant of the Prince de Conde on the 22d + day of November, 1612. _Vide_ issue of 1632, Quebec ed., p. 1072. + +29. Ochateguins, or Hurons. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +DEPARTURE FROM FRANCE.--WHAT TOOK PLACE UP TO OUR ARRIVAL AT THE FALLS. + + +I set out from Rouen on the 5th of March for Honfleur, accompanied by Sieur +L'Ange, to assist me in my explorations, and in war if occasion should +require. + +On the next day, the 6th of the month, we embarked in the vessel of Sieur +de Pont Grave, immediately setting sail, with a favorable wind. + +On the 10th of April we sighted the Grand Bank, where we several times +tried for fish, but without success. + +On the 15th we had a violent gale, accompanied by rain and hail, which was +followed by another, lasting forty-eight hours, and so violent as to cause +the loss of several vessels on the island of Cape Breton. + +On the 21st we sighted the island and Cap de Raye. [30] On the 29th the +Montagnais savages, perceiving us from All Devils' Point, [31] threw +themselves into their canoes and came to meet us, being so thin and +hideous-looking that I did not recognize them. At once they began crying +for bread, saying that they were dying of hunger. This led us to conclude +that the winter had not been severe, and consequently the hunting poor, +which matter we have alluded to in previous voyages. + +Having arrived on board of our vessel they examined the faces of all, and +as I was not to be seen anywhere they asked where Monsieur de Champlain +was, and were answered that I had remained in France. But this they would +not think of believing, and an old man among them came to me in a corner +where I was walking, not desiring to be recognized as yet, and taking me by +the ear, for he suspected who it was, saw the scar of the arrow wound, +which I received at the defeat of the Iroquois. At this he cried out, and +all the others after him, with great demonstrations of joy, saying, Your +people are awaiting you at the harbor of Tadoussac. + +The same day we arrived at Tadoussac, and although we had set out last, +nevertheless arrived first, Sieur Boyer of Rouen arriving with the same +tide. From this it is evident that to set out before the season is simply +rushing into the ice. When we had anchored, our friends came out to us, +and, after informing us how everything was at the habitation, began to +dress three _outardes_ [32] and two hares, which they had brought, throwing +the entrails overboard, after which the poor savages rushed, and, like +famished beasts, devoured them without drawing. They also scraped off with +their nails the fat with which our vessel had been coated, eating it +gluttonously as if they had found some great delicacy. + +The next day two vessels arrived from St. Malo, which had set out before +the oppositions had been settled and the commission been published in +Normandy. I proceeded on board, accompanied by L'Ange. The Sieurs de la +Moinerie and la Tremblaye were in command, to whom I read the commission of +the King, and the prohibition against violating it on penalties attached to +the same. They replied that they were subjects and faithful servants of His +Majesty, and that they would obey his commands; and I then had attached to +a post in the port the arms and commission of His Majesty, that no ground +for ignorance might be claimed. + +On the 2d of May, seeing two shallops equipped to go to the Falls, I +embarked with the before-mentioned L'Ange in one of them. We had very bad +weather, so that the masts of our shallop were broken, and had it not been +for the preserving hand of God we should have been lost, as was before our +eyes a shallop from St Malo, which was going to the Isle d'Orleans, those +on board of which however being saved. + +On the 7th we arrived at Quebec, where we found in good condition those who +had wintered there, they not having been sick; they told us that the winter +had not been severe, and that the river had not frozen. The trees also were +beginning to put forth leaves and the fields to be decked with flowers. + +On the 13th we set out from Quebec for the Falls of St. Louis, where we +arrived on the 21st, finding there one of, our barques which had set out +after us from Tadoussac, and which had traded some with a small troop of +Algonquins, who came from the war with the Iroquois, and had with them two +prisoners. Those in the barque gave them to understand that I had come with +a number of men to assist them in their wars, according to the promise I +had made them in previous years; also that I desired to go to their country +and enter into an alliance with all their friends, at which they were +greatly pleased. And, inasmuch as they were desirous of returning to their +country to assure their friends of their victory, see their wives, and put +to death their prisoners in a festive _tabagie_, they left us pledges of +their return, which they promised should be before the middle of the first +moon, according to their reckoning, their shields made of wood and elk +leather, and a part of their bows and arrows. I regretted very much that I +was not prepared to go with them to their country. + +Three days after, three canoes arrived with Algonquins, who had come from +the interior, with some articles of merchandise which they bartered. They +told me that the bad treatment which the savages had received the year +before had discouraged them from coming any more, and that they did not +believe that I would ever return to their country on account of the wrong +impressions which those jealous of me had given them respecting me; +wherefore twelve hundred men had gone to the war, having no more hope from +the French, who, they did not believe, would return again to their country. + +This intelligence greatly disheartened the merchants, as they had made a +great purchase of merchandise, with the expectation that the savages would +come, as they had been accustomed to. This led me to resolve, as I engaged +in my explorations, to pass through their country, in order to encourage +those who had stayed back, with an assurance of the good treatment they +would receive, and of the large amount of good merchandise at the Fall, and +also of the desire I had to assist them in their war. For carrying out this +purpose I requested three canoes and three savages to guide us, but after +much difficulty obtained only two and one savage, and this by means of some +presents made them. + +ENDNOTES: + +30. The _island_ refers to New Foundland. Cap de Raye, still known as Cape + Ray, was on the southwestern angle of New Foundland. + +31. Now called Point aux Vaches. It was sometimes called All-Devils' + Point. _Vide_ note 136, Vol. I. p. 235. + +32. _Outardes_. Sometimes written _houtardes_, and _Oltardes_. The name + outarde or bustard, the _otis_ of ornithologists, a land bird of + Europe, was applied to a species of goose in Canada at a very early + period. + + The outarde is mentioned by Cartier in 1535, and the name may have been + originally applied by the fishermen and fur-traders at a much earlier + period, doubtless on account of some fancied resemblance which they saw + to the lesser bustard or outarde, which was about the size of the + English pheasant. _Vide Pennant's British Zoology_, Vol. I. p. 379. + Cartier, Champlain, Lescarbot, Baron La Hontan, Potherie, and Charlvoix + mention the outarde in catalogues of water-fowl in which _oye_, the + goose, is likewise mentioned. They very clearly distinguish it from the + class which they commonly considered _oyes_, or geese. Cartier, for + instance, says, Il y a aussi grand nombre d'oyseaulx, scauoir grues, + signes, _oltardes, oyes sauuages, blanches, & grises_. Others speak of + _outardes et oyes_. They do not generally describe it with + particularity. Champlain, however, in describing the turkey, _cocq + d'Inde_, on the coast of New England, says, _aussi gros qu'vne outarde, + qui est une espece d'oye_. Father Pierre Biard writes, _et au mesme + temps les outardes arriuent du midy, qui sont grosses cannes au double + des nostres_. From these statements it is obvious that the outarde was + a species of goose, but was so small that it could well be described as + a large duck. In New France there were at least four species of the + goose, which might have come under the observation of the early + navigators and explorers. We give them in the order of their size, as + described in Coues' Key to North American Birds. + + 1. Canada Goose, _Branta Canadensis_, SCOPOLI, 36 inches. + 2. Snow Goose, _Anser hyperboreus_, LINNAEUS, 30 inches. + 3. Am. White-fronted Goose, _Anser albifrons_, LINNAEUS, 27 inches. + 4. Brant Goose, _Branta bernicla_, SCOPOLI, 24 inches. + + Recurring to the statement of Cartier above cited, it will be observed + that he mentions, besides the outarde, wild geese white and gray. The + first and largest of the four species above mentioned, the Canada + goose, _Branta Canadensis_, is gray, and the two next, the Snow goose + and White-fronted, would be classified as white. This disposes of three + of the four mentioned. The outarde of Cartier would therefore be the + fourth species in the list, viz. the Brant goose. _Branta bernicla_. + This is the smallest species found on our northern coast, and might + naturally be described, as stated by Father Biard, as a large duck. It + is obvious that the good Father could not have described the Canada + goose, the largest of the four species, as a large duck, and the white + geese have never been supposed to be referred to under the name of + outarde. The Brant goose, to which all the evidence which we have been + able to find in the Canadian authorities seems to point as the outarde + of early times, is common in our markets in its season, but our + market-men, unaccustomed to make scientific distinctions, are puzzled + to decide whether it should be classed as a goose or a duck. It is not + improbable that the early voyagers to our northern latitudes, unable to + decide to which of these classes this water-fowl properly belonged, and + seeing in it a fancied resemblance to the lesser outarde, with which + they were familiar, gave it for sake of the distinction, but + nevertheless inappropriately, the name of outarde. The reader is + referred to the following authorities. + + _Vide Brief Recit_ par Jacques Cartier, 1545. D'Avezac ed., p. 33; + _Champlain_, Quebec ed., p. 220; _Jesuite Relations_, 1616, p. 10; _Le + Grand Voyage du Pays des Hurons_, par Sagard, Paris, 1632, p. 301; + _Dictionaire de la Langue Hurone_, par Sagard, Paris, 1632, _oyseaux; + Letters to the Dutchess of Lesdiguieres_, By Fr. Xa. de Charlevoix, + London. 1763, p. 88; _Le Jeune, Relations des Jesuites_, 1633, P. 4, + 1636, p. 47; _Histoire de l'Amerique Septentrionale_, par de la + Potherie, Paris, 1722, Vol. I. pp. 20, 172, 212, 308; _Lescarbot, + Histoire de la Nouvelle France_, pp. 369, 582, 611. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +DEPARTURE TO DISCOVER THE NORTH SEA, ON THE GROUND OF THE REPORT MADE ME IN +REGARD TO IT. DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL RIVERS, LAKES AND ISLANDS, THE FALLS +OF THE CHAUDIERE AND OTHER FALLS. + + +Now, as I had only two canoes, I could take with me but four men, among +whom was one named Nicholas de Vignau, the most impudent liar that has been +seen for a long time, as the sequel of this narrative will show. He had +formerly spent the winter with the savages, and I had sent him on +explorations the preceding years. He reported to me, on his return to Paris +in 1612, that he had seen the North Sea; that the river of the Algonquins +came from a lake which emptied into it; and that in seventeen days one +could go from the Falls of St. Louis to this sea and back again; that he +had seen the wreck and _debris_ of an English ship that had been wrecked, +on board of which were eighty men, who had escaped to the shore, and whom +the savages killed because the English endeavored to take from them by +force their Indian corn and other necessaries of life; and that he had seen +the scalps which these savages had flayed off, according to their custom, +which they would show me, and that they would likewise give me a young +English boy whom they had kept for me. This intelligence had greatly +pleased me, for I thought that I had almost found that for which I had for +a long time been searching. Accordingly I enjoined upon him to tell me the +truth, in order that I might inform the King, and warned him that if he +gave utterance to a lie he was putting the rope about his neck, assuring +him on the other hand that, if his narrative were true, he could be certain +of being well rewarded. He again assured me, with stronger oaths than ever; +and in order to play his _role_ better he gave me a description of the +country, which he said he had made as well as he was able. Accordingly the +confidence which I saw in him, his entire frankness as it seemed, the +description which he had prepared, the wreck and _debris_ of the ship, and +the things above mentioned, had an appearance of probability, in connection +with the voyage of the English to Labrador in 1612, where they found a +strait, in which they sailed as far as the 63d degree of latitude and the +290th of longitude, wintering at the 53d degree and losing some vessels, as +their report proves.[33] These circumstances inducing me to believe that +what he said was true, I made a report of the same to the Chancellor, [34] +which I showed to Marshal de Brissac,[35] President Jeannin, [36] and other +Seigneurs of the Court, who told me that I ought to visit the place in +person. For this reason I requested Sieur Georges, a merchant of La +Rochelle, to give him a passage in his ship, which he willingly did, and +during the voyage he questioned him as to his object in making it; and, +since it was not of any profit to him, he asked if he expected any pay, to +which the young man answered that he did not, that he did not expect +anything, from any one but the King, and that he undertook the voyage only +to show me the North Sea, which he had seen. He made an affidavit of this +at La Rochelle before two notaries. + +Now as I took leave on Whitsuntide, [37] of all the principal men to whose +prayers I commended myself, and also to those of all others, I said to him +in their presence that if what he had previously said was not true he must +not give me the trouble to undertake the journey, which involved many +dangers. Again he affirmed all that he had said, on peril of his life. + +Accordingly, our canoes being laden with some provisions, our arms, and a +few articles of merchandise for making presents to the savages, I set out +on Monday the 27th of May from Isle St. Helene with four Frenchmen and one +savage, a parting salute being given me with some rounds from small +pieces. This day we went only to the Falls of St. Louis, a league up the +river, the bad weather not allowing us to go any farther. + +On the 29th we passed the Falls, [38] partly by land, partly by water, it +being necessary for us to carry our canoes, clothes, victuals, and arms on +our shoulders, no small matter for persons not accustomed to it. After +going two leagues beyond the Falls, we entered a lake, [39] about twelve +leagues in circuit, into which three rivers empty; one coming from the +west, from the direction of the Ochateguins, distant from one hundred and +fifty to two hundred leagues from the great Falls; [40] another from the +south and the country of the Iroquois, a like distance off; [41] and the +other from the north and the country of the Algonquins and Nebicerini, also +about the same distance. [42] This river on the north, according to the +report of the savages, comes from a source more remote, and passes by +tribes unknown to them and about three hundred leagues distant. + +This lake is filled with fine large islands, containing only pasturage +land, where there is fine hunting, deer and fowl being plenty. Fish are +abundant. The country bordering the lake is covered with extensive +forests. We proceeded to pass the night at the entrance to this lake, +making barricades against the Iroquois, who roam in these regions in order +to surprise their enemies; and I am sure that if they were to find us they +would give us as good a welcome as them, for which reason we kept a good +watch all night. On the next day I took the altitude of the place, and +found it in latitude 45 deg. 18'. About three o'clock in the afternoon we +entered the river which comes from the north, and, passing a small fall +[43] by land so as to favor our canoes, we proceeded to a little island, +where we spent the remainder of the night. + +On the last day of May we passed another lake, [44] seven or eight leagues +long and three broad, containing several islands. The neighboring country +is very level, except in some places, where there are pine-covered hills. +We passed a fall called by the inhabitants of the country Quenechouan,[45] +which is filled with stones and rocks, and where the water runs with great +velocity. We had to get into the water and drag our canoes along the shore +with a rope. Half a league from there we passed another little fall by +rowing, which makes one sweat. Great skill is required in passing these +falls, in order to avoid the eddies and surf, in which they abound; but the +savages do this with the greatest possible dexterity, winding about and +going by the easiest places, which they recognize at a glance. + +On Saturday, the 1st of June, we passed two other falls; the first half a +league long, the second a league, in which we had much difficulty; for the +rapidity of the current is so great that it makes a frightful noise, and +produces, as it descends from stage to stage, so white a foam everywhere +that the water cannot be seen at all. This fall is strewn with rocks, and +contains some islands here and there covered with pines and white cedars. +This was the place where we had a hard time; for, not being able to carry +our canoes by land on account of the density of the wood, we had to drag +them in the water with ropes, and in drawing mine I came near losing my +life, as it crossed into one of the eddies, and if I had not had the good +fortune to fall between two rocks the canoe would have dragged me in, +inasmuch as I was unable to undo quickly enough the rope which was wound +around my hand, and which hurt me severely and came near cutting it off. In +this danger I cried to God and began to pull my canoe, which was returned +to me by the refluent water, such as occurs in these falls. Having thus +escaped I thanked God, begging Him to preserve us. Later our savage came to +help me, but I was out of danger. It is not strange that I was desirous of +preserving my canoe, for if it had been lost it would have been necessary +to remain, or wait until some savages came that way, a poor hope for those +who have nothing to dine on, and who are not accustomed to such +hardship. As for our Frenchmen, they did not have any better luck, and +several times came near losing their lives; but the Divine Goodness +preserved us all. During the remainder of the day we rested, having done +enough. + +The next day we fell in with fifteen canoes of savages called +_Quenongebin_, [46] in a river, after we had passed a small lake, four +leagues long and two broad. They had been informed of my coming by those +who had passed the Falls of St. Louis, on their way from the war with the +Iroquois. I was very glad to meet them, as were they also to meet me, but +they were astonished to see me in this country with so few companions, and +with only one savage. Accordingly, after saluting each other after the +manner of the country, I desired them not to go any farther until I had +informed them of my plan. To this they assented, and we encamped on an +island. + +The next day I explained to them that I was on my way to their country to +visit them, and fulfil the promise I had previously made them, and that if +they had determined to go to the war it would be very agreeable to me, +inasmuch as I had brought some companions with this view, at which they +were greatly pleased; and having told them that I wished to go farther in +order to notify the other tribes, they wanted to deter me, saying that the +way was bad, and that we had seen nothing up to this point. Wherefore I +asked them to give me one of their number to take charge of our second +canoe, and also to serve us as guide, since our conductors were not +acquainted any farther. This they did willingly, and in return I made them +a present and gave them one of our Frenchmen, the least indispensable, whom +I sent back to the Falls with a leaf of my note-book, on which for want of +paper I made a report of myself. + +Thus we parted, and continuing our course up the river we found another +one, very fair and broad, which comes from a nation called _Ouescharini_, +[47] who live north of it, a distance of four days' journey from the +mouth. This river is very pleasant in consequence of the fine islands it +contains, and the fair and open woods with which its shores are +bordered. The land is very good for tillage. + +On the fourth day we passed near another river coming from the north, where +tribes called _Algonquins_ live. This river falls into the great river +St. Lawrence, three leagues below the Falls of St. Louis, forming a large +island of nearly forty leagues. [48] This river is not broad, but filled +with a countless number of falls, very hard to pass. Sometimes these tribes +go by way of this river in order to avoid encounters with their enemies, +knowing that they will not try to find them in places so difficult of +access. + +Where this river has its debouchure is another coming from the south, [49] +at the mouth of which is a marvellous fall. For it descends a height of +twenty or twenty-five fathoms [50] with such impetuosity that it makes an +arch nearly four hundred paces broad. The savages take pleasure in passing +under it, not wetting themselves, except from the spray that is thrown off. +There is an island in the middle of the river which, like all the country +round about, is covered with pines and white cedars. When the savages +desire to enter the river they ascend the mountain, carrying their canoes, +and go half a league by land. The neighboring country is filled with all +sorts of game, so that the savages often make a stop here. The Iroquois +also go there sometimes and surprise them while making the passage. + +We passed a fall [51] a league from there, which is half a league broad, +and has a descent of six or seven fathoms. There are many little islands, +which are, however, nothing more than rough and dangerous rocks covered +with a poor sort of brushwood. The water falls in one place with such force +upon a rock that it has hollowed out in course of time a large and deep +basin, in which the water has a circular motion and forms large eddies in +the middle, so that the savages call it _Asticou_, which signifies boiler. +This cataract produces such a noise in this basin that it is heard for more +than two leagues. The savages when passing here observe a ceremony which we +shall speak of in its place. We had much trouble in ascending by rowing +against a strong current, in order to reach the foot of the fall. Here the +savages took their canoes, my Frenchmen and myself, our arms, provisions, +and other necessaries, and we passed over the rough rocks for the distance +of about a quarter of a league, the extent of the fall. Then we embarked, +being obliged afterwards to land a second time and go about three hundred +paces through copse-wood, after which we got into the water in order to get +our canoes over the sharp rocks, the trouble attending which may be +imagined. I took the altitude of this place, which I found to be in +latitude 45 deg. 38'. [52] + +In the afternoon we entered a lake, [53] five leagues long and two wide, in +which there are very fine islands covered with vines, nut-trees, and other +excellent kinds of trees. Ten or twelve leagues above we passed some +islands covered with pines. The land is sandy, and there is found here a +root which dyes a crimson color, with which the savages paint their faces, +as also little gewgaws after their manner. There is also a mountain range +along this river, and the surrounding country seems to be very +unpromising. The rest of the day we passed on a very pleasant island. + +The next day we proceeded on our course to a great fall, nearly three +leagues broad, in which the water falls a height of ten or twelve fathoms +in a slope, making a marvellous noise. [54] It is filled with a vast number +of islands, covered with pines and cedars. In order to pass it we were +obliged to give up our maize or Indian corn, and some few other provisions +we had, together with our least necessary clothes, retaining only our arms +and lines, to afford us means of support from hunting and fishing as place +and luck might permit. Thus lightened we passed, sometimes rowing, +sometimes carrying our canoes and arms by land, the fall, which is a league +and a half long, [55] and in which our savages, who are indefatigable in +this work and accustomed to endure such hardships, aided us greatly. + +Continuing our course, we passed two other falls, one by land, the other +with oar and poles standing up. Then we entered a lake, [56] six or seven +leagues long, into which flows a river coming from the south, [57] on which +at a distance of five days' journey from the other river [58] live a people +called _Matou-oueescarini_ [59] The lands about the before-mentioned lake +are sandy and covered with pines, which have been almost entirely burned +down by the savages. There are some islands, in one of which we rested +ourselves. Here we saw a number of fine red cypresses,[60] the first I had +seen in this country, out of which I made a cross, which I planted at one +end of the island, on an elevated and conspicuous spot, with the arms of +France, as I had done in other places where we had stopped. I called this +island _Sainte Croix_. + +On the 6th we set out from this island of St. Croix, where the river is a +league and a half broad, and having made eight or ten leagues we passed a +small fall by oar, and a number of islands of various sizes. Here our +savages left the sacks containing their provisions and their less necessary +articles, in order to be lighter for going overland and avoiding several +falls which it was necessary to pass. There was a great dispute between our +savages and our impostor, who affirmed that there was no danger by way of +the falls, and that we ought to go that way. Our savages said to him, You +are tired of living, and to me, that I ought not to believe him, and that +he did not tell the truth. Accordingly, having several times observed that +he had no knowledge of the places, I followed the advice of the savages, +which was fortunate for me, for he fought for dangers in order to ruin me +or to disgust me with the undertaking, as he has since confessed, a +statement of which will be given hereafter. We crossed accordingly towards +the west the river, which extended northward. I took the altitude of this +place and found it in latitude 46 deg. 40'.[61] We had much difficulty in going +this distance overland. I, for my part, was loaded only with three +arquebuses, as many oars, my cloak, and some small articles. I cheered on +our men, who were somewhat more heavily loaded, but more troubled by the +mosquitoes than by their loads. Thus after passing four small ponds and +having gone a distance of two and a half leagues, we were so wearied that +it was impossible to go farther, not having eaten for twenty-four hours +anything but a little broiled fish without seasoning, for we had left our +provisions behind, as I mentioned before. Accordingly we rested on the +border of a pond, which was very pleasant, and made a fire to drive away +the mosquitoes, which annoyed us greatly, whose persistency is so +marvellous that one cannot describe it. Here we cast our lines to catch +some fish. + +The next day we passed this pond, which was perhaps a league long. Then we +went by land three leagues through a country worse than we had yet seen, +since the winds had blown down the pines on top of each other. This was no +slight inconvenience, as it was necessary to go now over, now under, these +trees. In this way we reached a lake, six leagues long and two wide, [62] +very abundant in fish, the neighboring people doing their fishing there. +Near this lake is a settlement of savages, who till the soil and gather +harvests of maize. Their chief is named _Nibachis_, who came to visit us +with his followers, astonished that we could have passed the falls and bad +roads in order to reach them. After offering us tobacco, according to their +custom, he began to address his companions, saying, that we must have +fallen from the clouds, for he knew not how we could have made the journey, +and that they who lived in the country had much trouble in traversing these +bad ways: and he gave them to understand that I accomplished all that I set +my mind upon; in short, that he believed respecting me all that the other +savages had told him. Aware that we were hungry, he gave us some fish, +which we ate, and after our meal I explained to him, through Thomas, our +interpreter, the pleasure I had in meeting them, that I had come to this +country to assist them in their wars, and that I desired to go still +farther to see some other chiefs for the same object, at which they were +glad and promised me assistance. They showed me their gardens and the +fields, where they had maize. Their soil is sandy, for which reason they +devote themselves more to hunting than to tillage, unlike the Ochateguins. +[63] When they wish to make a piece of land arable, they burn down the +trees, which is very easily done, as they are all pines, and filled with +rosin. The trees having been burned, they dig up the ground a little, and +plant their maize kernel by kernel, [64] like those in Florida. At the time +I was there it was only four fingers high. + +ENDNOTES: + +33. _Vide_ Vol. II. p. 171, note 297, for an account of Henry Hudson, to + whom this statement refers. De Vignau had undoubtedly heard rumors + concerning Hudson's expedition to the bay that bears his name in the + years 1610-11, out of which he fabricated the fine story of his + pretended discovery. Longitude at that time was reckoned from the + island of Ferro, one of the Canaries. Proceeding from west to east, the + 290 deg. would pass through Hudson's Bay, as may be seen by consulting any + early French map. _Vide_ Bellin's _Carte du Globe Terrestre_, 1764. + +34. Nicholas Brulart de Sillery, who was born at Sillery, in France, in + 1544, and died in the same place in 1624. He rendered signal service to + Henry IV. Among other public acts he negotiated the peace of Vervins + between France and Spain in 1598. He was appointed grand chancellor of + France in 1607. Henry IV. said of him, Avec mon chanclier qui ne fait + pas le latin et mon connetable (Henri de Montmorency), qui ne fait ni + lire ni ecrire, je puis venir a bout des affairs les plus difficiles. + +35. For some account of Marshal de Brissac, _vide_ Vol. I. p. 17, note 16. + +36. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 112, note 73. President Jeannin was a most suitable + person to consult on this subject, as he was deeply interested in the + discovery of a northwest passage to India. When minister at the Hague + he addressed a letter bearing date January 21st, 1609, to Henry IV. of + France, containing an account of his indirect negotiations with Henry + Hudson, for a voyage to discover a shorter passage to India. A copy of + this interesting letter, both in French and English, may be found in + _Henry Hudson the Navigator_, by G. M. Asher, LL.D., Hakluyt Society, + London, 1860, p. 244. + +37. The festival of Whitsunday occurred on the 26th May. _Laverdiere in + loco_. + +38. The Falls of St Louis. + +39. Lake St. Louis. + +40. Champlain is here speaking of the river St. Lawrence, which flows into + Lake St. Louis slightly south of west. + +41. Riviere de Loup, now known as the Chateauguay. + +42. The River Ottawa or a branch of it flows into Lake St. Louis from the + north, although its course is rather from the west. It was often called + the River of the Algonquins. It approaches comparatively near to Lake + Nipissing, the home of the Nipissirini. The sources of the Ottawa are + northeast of Lake Nipissing, a distance of from one to three hundred + miles. The distances here given by Champlain are only general estimates + gathered from the Indians, and are necessarily inaccurate. + +43. Rapide de Brussi, by which the river flows from the Lake of + Two Mountains into Lake St Louis. + +44. _Lac de Soissons_, now called Lake of Two Mountains _Vide_ Vol. I. + p. 294. + +45. This is the first of a series of falls now known as the Long Fall. + +46. _Quenongebin_. Laverdiere makes, this the same as the Kinounchepirini + of Vimont. It was an Algonquin nation situated south of Allumette + Island. _Vide Jesuite Relations_, Quebec ed, 1640, p. 34. + +47. _Ouescharini_. These people, called Ouaouechkairini by Vimont, appear + to have dwelt on the stream now known as the _Riviere de Petite + Nation_, rising in a system of lakes, among which are Lake Simon, + Whitefish Lake, Long Lake, and Lake Des Isles. _Vide Jesuite + Relations_, 1640, p. 34. The tribe here mentioned was subsequently + called the Little Nation of the Algonquins hence the name of the + river. _Laverdiere_. + +48. This passage is exceedingly obscure. Laverdiere supposes that part of a + sentence was left out by the printer. If so it is remarkable that + Champlain did not correct it in his edition of 1632. Laverdiere thinks + the river here spoken of is the Gatineau, and that the savages + following up this stream went by a portage to the St. Maurice, and + passing down reached the St. Lawrence _thirty_ leagues, and not + _three_, below the Falls of Saint Louis. The three rivers thus named + inclose or form an island of about the extent described in the + text. This explanation is plausible. The passage amended would read, + "This river _extends near another which_ falls into the great river + St. Lawrence thirty leagues below the falls of St. Louis." We know of + no other way in which the passage can be rationally explained. + +49. Rideau, at the mouth of which is Green Island, referred to in the text + below. + +50. The fall in the Rideau is thirty-four feet, according to the Edinburgh + Gazetteer of the World. The estimate of Champlain is so far out of the + way that it seems not unlikely that feet were intended instead of + fathoms. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 301, 302. + +51. The Chaudiere Falls, just above the present city of Ottawa, the + greatest height of which is about forty feet "Arrayed in every + imaginable variety of form, in vast dark masses, in graceful cascades, + or in tumbling spray, they have been well described as a hundred rivers + struggling for a passage. Not the least interesting feature they + present is the Lost Chaudiere, where a large body of water is quietly + sucked down, and disappears underground" _Vide Canada_ by W. H Smith. + Vol. I. p. 120. Also Vol I. p, 120 of this work. + +52. The latitude of the Chaudiere Falls is about 45 deg. 27'. + +53. Chaudiere Lake, which was only an expansion of the River Ottawa. + +54. Rapide des Chats. + +55. This probably refers to that part of the fall which was more difficult + to pass. + +56. Lake des Chats. The name _des chats_ appears to have been given to this + Lake, the Rapids, and the _Nation des chats_, on account of the great + number of the _loup cervier_, or wild cats, _chats sauvages_, found in + this region. Cf. _Le Grande Voyage du Pays des Hurons_, par Sagard, + Paris, 1632, p. 307. + +57. Madawaskca River, an affluent of the Ottawa, uniting with it at Fitz + Roy. + +58. Probably an allusion to the River St. Lawrence. + +59. This is the same tribe alluded to by Vimont under the name + _Mataouchkarmi_, as dwelling south of Allumette Island. _Vide Relations + des Jesuites_, 1640, Quebec ed., p. 34. + +60. Cypres, Red Cedar or Savin, _Juniperus Virginiana_. _Vide_ Vol. II. + note 168. + +61. They were now, perhaps, two miles below Portage du Fort, at the point + on the Ottawa nearest to the system of lakes through which they were to + pass, and where, as stated in the text, the Ottawa, making an angle, + begins to flow directly from the north. The latitude, as here given, is + even more than usually incorrect, being too high by more than a degree. + The true latitude is about 43 deg. 37'. _Vide Walker_ and _Miles's Atlas of + Dominion of Canada_. Note 62 will explain the cause of this + inexactness. + +62. Muskrat Lake. On Champlain's map of 1632 will be seen laid down a + succession of lakes or ponds, together with the larger one, now known + as Muskrat Lake, on the borders of which are figured the dwellings of + the savages referred to in the text. The pond which they passed is the + last in the series before reaching Muskrat Lake. On the direct route + between this pond and the lake, known as the Muskrat Portage road, the + course undoubtedly traversed by Champlain, there was found in 1867, in + the township of Ross, an astrolabe, an instrument used in taking + latitudes, on which is the date, 1603. It is supposed to have been lost + by Champlain on his present expedition. The reasons for this + supposition have been stated in several brochures recently issued, one + by Mr. O. H. Marshall of Buffalo, entitled _Discovery of an Astrolabe + supposed to have been left by Champlain in 1613_, New York, 1879; + reprinted from the _Magazine of American History_ for March of that + year. Another, _Champlain's Astrolabe lost on the 7th of June, 1613, + and found in August, 1867_, by A. J Russell of Ottawa, Montreal, + 1879. And a third entitled _The Astrolabe of Samuel Champlain and + Geoffrey Chaucer_, by Henry Scadding, D.D., of Toronto, 1880. All of + these writers agree in the opinion that the instrument was probably + lost by Champlain on his expedition up the Ottawa in 1613. For the + argument _in extenso_ the reader is referred to the brochures above + cited. + + [Illustration of an astrolabe.] + + Mr. Russell, who examined the astrolabe thus found with great care and + had it photographed, describes it as a circular plate having a diameter + of five inches and five eighths. "It is of place brass, very dark with + age, one eighth of an inch thick above, increasing to six sixteenths of + an inch below, to give it steadiness when suspended, which apparently + was intended to be increased by hanging a weight on the little + projecting ring at the bottom of it, in using it on ship-board. Its + suspending ring is attached by a double hinge of the nature of a + universal joint. Its circle is divided into single degrees, graduated + from its perpendicular of suspension. The double-bladed index, the + pivot of which passes through the centre of the astrolabe, has slits + and eyelets in the projecting fights that are on it." + + We give on the preceding page an engraving of this astrolabe from a + photograph, which presents a sufficiently accurate outline of the + instrument. The plate was originally made to illustrate Mr. Marshall's + article in the Magazine of American History, and we are indebted to the + courtesy of the proprietors of the Magazine, Messrs. A. S. Barnes and + Company of New York, for its use for our present purpose. + + The astrolabe, as an instrument for taking the altitude of the stars or + the sun, had long been in use. Thomas Blundevile, who wrote in 1622, + says he had seen three kinds, and that the astrolabe of Stofflerus had + then been in use a hundred years. It had been improved by Gemma + Frisius. Mr. Blagrave had likewise improved upon the last-mentioned, + and his instrument was at that time in general use in England. The + astrolabe continued to be employed in Great Britain in taking altitudes + for more than a century subsequent to this, certainly till Hadley's + Quadrant was invented, which was first announced in 1731. + + The astrolabes which had the broadest disks were more exact, as they + were projected on a larger scale, but as they were easily jostled by + the wind or the movement of the ship at sea, they could with difficulty + be employed. But Mr. Blundevile informs us that "the Spaniards doe + commonly make their astrolabes narrow and weighty, which for the most + part are not much above five inches broad, and yet doe weigh at the + least foure pound, & to that end the lower part is made a great deale + thicker than the upper part towards the ring or handle." _Vide + M. Blendeale his Exercises_, London, 1622, pp. 595, 597. This Spanish + instrument, it will be observed, is very similar to that found on the + Old Portage road, and the latter may have been of Spanish make. + + In order to take the latitude in Champlain's day, at least three + distinct steps or processes were necessary, and the following + directions might have been given. + + I. Let the astrolabe be suspended so that it shall hang plumb. Direct + the index or diopter to the sun at noon, so that the same ray of light + may shine through both holes in the two tablets or pinules on the + diopter, and the diopter will point to the degree of the sun's meridian + altitude indicated on the outer rim of the astrolabe. + + II. Ascertain the exact degree of the sun's declination for that day, + by a table calculated for that purpose, which accompanies the + astrolabe. + + III. Subtract the declination, so found, if it be northerly, from the + meridian altitude; or if the declination be southerly, add the + declination to the meridian altitude, and the result, subtracted from + 90 deg., will give the latitude. + + In these several processes of taking the latitude there are numerous + possibilities of inexactness. It does not appear that any correction + was made for refraction of light, or the precession of the equinoxes. + But the most important source of inaccuracy was in the use of the + astrolabe whose disk was so small that its divisions could not be + carried beyond degrees, and consequently minutes were arrived at by + sheer estimation, and usually when the work was completed, the error + was not less than one fourth or one half of a degree, and it was often + much more. + + This accounts fully for the inaccuracies of Champlain's latitudes from + first to last throughout his entire explorations, as tested by the very + exact instruments and tables now in use. No better method of + determining the latitude existed at that day, and consequently the + historian is warned not to rely upon the latitude alone as given by the + early navigators and explorers in identifying the exact localities + which they visited. + +63. Subsequently called Hurons. + +64. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 49; Vol. II. note 219. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +CONTINUATION.--ARRIVAL AT THE ABODE OF TESSOUAT, AND HIS FAVORABLE +RECEPTION OF ME.--CHARACTER OF THEIR CEMETERIES--THE SAVAGES PROMISE ME +FOUR CANOES FOR CONTINUING MY JOURNEY, WHICH THEY HOWEVER SHORTLY AFTER +REFUSE.--ADDRESS OF THE SAVAGES TO DISSUADE ME FROM MY UNDERTAKING, IN +WHICH THEY REPRESENT ITS DIFFICULTIES--MY REPLY TO THESE OBJECTIONS.-- +TESSOUAT ACCUSES MY GUIDE OF LYING, AND OF NOT HAVING BEEN WHERE HE SAID HE +HAD.--THE LATTER MAINTAINS HIS VERACITY--I URGE THEM TO GIVE ME CANOES.-- +SEVERAL REFUSALS.--MY GUIDE CONVICTED OF FALSEHOOD, AND HIS CONFESSION. + + +Nibachis had two canoes fitted out, to conduct me to another chief, named +Tessoueat, [65] who lived eight leagues from him, on the border of a great +lake, through which flows the river which we had left, and which extends +northward. Accordingly we crossed the lake in a west-northwesterly +direction, a distance of nearly seven leagues. Landing there, we went a +league towards the northeast through a very fine country, where are small +beaten paths, along which one can go easily. Thus we arrived on the shore +of the lake, [66] where the dwelling of Tessoueat was. He was accompanied by +a neighboring chieftain, and was greatly amazed to see me, saying that he +thought I was a dream, and that he did not believe his eyes. Thence we +crossed on to an island, [67] where their cabins are, which are poorly +constructed out of the bark of trees. The island is covered with oaks, +pines, and elms, and is not subject to inundations, like the other islands +in the lake. + +This island is strongly situated; for at its two ends, and where the river +enters the lake, there are troublesome falls, the roughness of which makes +the island difficult of access. They have accordingly taken up their abode +here in order to avoid the pursuit of their enemies. It is in latitude 47 deg., +[68] as also the lake, which is twenty leagues long, [69] and three or four +wide. It abounds in fish; the hunting, however, is not especially good. + +On visiting the island, I observed their cemeteries, and was struck with +wonder as I saw sepulchres of a shape like shrines, made of pieces of wood +fixed in the ground at a distance of about three feet from each other, and +intersecting at the upper end. On the intersections above they place a +large piece of wood, and in front another upright piece, on which is carved +roughly, as would be expected, the figure of the male or female interred. +If it is a man, they add a shield, a sword attached to a handle after their +manner, a mace, and bow and arrows. If it is a chief, there is a plume on +his head, and some other _matachia_ or embellishment. If it is a child, +they give it a bow and arrow; if a woman or girl, a boiler, an earthen +vessel, a wooden spoon, and an oar. The entire sepulchre is six or seven +feet long at most, and four wide; others are smaller. They are painted +yellow and red, with various ornaments as neatly done as the carving. The +deceased is buried with his dress of beaver or other skins which he wore +when living, and they lay by his side all his possessions, as hatchets, +knives, boilers, and awls, so that these things may serve him in the land +whither he goes; for they believe in the immortality of the soul, as I have +elsewhere observed. These carved sepulchres are only made for the warriors; +for in respect to others they add no more than in the case of women, who +are considered a useless class, accordingly but little is added in their +case. + +Observing the poor quality of the soil, I asked them what pleasure they +took in cultivating land so unpromising, since there was some much better, +which they left barren and waste, as at the Falls of St. Louis. They +answered that they were forced to do so in order to dwell in security, and +that the roughness of the locality served them as a defence against their +enemies. But they said that if I would make a settlement of French at the +Falls of St. Louis, as I had promised, they would leave their abode and go +and live near us, confident that their enemies would do them no harm while +we were with them. I told them that we would this year collect wood and +stone in order the coming year to build a fort and cultivate the land; upon +hearing which they raised a great cry of applause. This conference having +been finished, I asked all the chiefs and prominent men among them to +assemble the next day on the main land, at the cabin of Tessoueat, who +purposed to celebrate a _tabagie_ in my honor, adding that I would there +tell them my plans. This they promised, and sent word to their neighbors to +convene at the appointed place. + +The next day all the guests came, each with his porringer and wooden +spoon. They seated themselves without order or ceremony on the ground in +the cabin of Tessoueat, who distributed to them a kind of broth made of +maize crushed between two stones, together with meat and fish which was cut +into little pieces, the whole being boiled together without salt. They also +had meat roasted on coals, and fish boiled apart, which he also +distributed. In respect to myself, as I did not wish any of their chowder, +which they prepare in a very dirty manner, I asked them for some fish and +meat, that I might prepare it in my own way, which they gave me. For drink, +we had fine clear water. Tessoueat, who gave the _tabagie_, entertained us +without eating himself, according to their custom. + +The _tabagie_ being over, the young men, who are not present at the +harangues and councils, and who during the _tabagies_ remain at the door of +the cabins, withdrew, when all who remained began to fill their pipes, one +and another offering me one. We then spent a full half-hour in this +occupation, not a word being spoken, as is their custom. + +After smoking amply during so long a period of silence, I explained to +them, through my interpreter, that the object of my journey was none other +than to assure them of my friendship, and of the desire I had to assist +them in their wars, as I had before done; that I had been prevented from +coming the preceding year, as I had promised them, because the king had +employed me in other wars, but that now he had ordered me to visit them and +to fulfil my promises, and that for this purpose I had a number of men at +the Falls of St. Louis. I told them that I was making an excursion in their +territory to observe the fertility of their soil, their lakes and rivers, +and the sea which they had told me was in their country; and that I desired +to see a tribe distant six days' journey from them, called the +_Nebicerini_, in order to invite them also to the war, and accordingly I +asked them to give me four canoes with eight savages to guide me to these +lands. And since the Algonquins are not great friends of the _Nebicerini_, +[70] they seemed to listen to me with greater attention. + +After I had finished my discourse, they began again to smoke, and to confer +among themselves in a very low voice respecting my propositions. Then +Tessoueat in behalf of all the rest began and said, that they had always +regarded me more friendly towards them than any Frenchman they had seen; +that the proofs they had of this in the past made their confidence easier +for the future: moreover, that I had shown myself in reality their friend, +by encountering so many risks in coming to see them and invite them to the +war, and that all these considerations obliged them to feel as kindly +disposed towards me as towards their own children. But they said that I had +the preceding year broken my promise, that two thousand savages had gone to +the Falls with the expectation of finding me ready to go to the war, and +making me presents, but that they had not found me and were greatly +saddened, supposing that I was dead, as some persons had told them. He said +also, that the French who were at the Falls did not want to help them in +their wars, that they had been badly treated by certain ones, so that they +had resolved among themselves not to go to the Falls again, and that this +had caused them, as they did not expect to see me again, to go alone to the +war, and that in fact twelve hundred of them had already gone. And since +the greater part of their warriors were absent, they begged me to postpone +the expedition to the following year, saying that they would communicate +the matter to all the people of their country. In regard to the four +canoes, which I asked for, they granted them to me, but with great +reluctance, telling me that they were greatly displeased at the idea of +such an undertaking, in view of the hardships which I would endure; that +the people there were sorcerers, that they had caused the death of many of +their own tribe by charms and poisoning, on which account they were not +their friends: moreover they said that, as it regards war, I was not to +think of them, as they were little-hearted. With these and many other +considerations they endeavored to deter me from my purpose. + +But my sole desire on the other hand was to see this people, and enter into +friendship with them, so that I might visit the North Sea. Accordingly, +with a view to lessening the force of their objections, I said to them, +that it was not far to the country in question; that the bad roads could +not be worse than those I had already passed; that their witchcraft would +have no power to harm me, as my God would preserve me from them; that I was +also acquainted with their herbs, and would therefore beware of eating +them; that I desired to make the two tribes mutual friends, and that I +would to this end make presents to the other tribe, being assured that they +would do something for me. In view of these reasons they granted me, as I +have said, four canoes, at which I was very happy, forgetting all past +hardships in the hope of seeing this sea, as I so much desired. + +For the remainder of the day, I went out walking in their gardens, which +were filled with squashes, beans, and our peas, which they were beginning +to cultivate, when Thomas, my interpreter, who understands the language +very well, came to inform me that the savages, after I had left them, had +come to the conclusion, that if I were to undertake this journey I should +die and they also, and that they could not furnish the promised canoes, as +there was no one of them who would guide me, but that they wished me to +postpone the journey until the next year, when they would conduct me with a +good train to protect me from that people, in case they should attempt to +harm me, as they are evil-disposed. + +This intelligence greatly disturbed me, and I at once went to them and told +them, that up to this day I had regarded them as men and truthful persons, +but that now they had shown themselves children and liars, and that if they +would not fulfil their promises, they would fail to show me their +friendship; that, however, if they felt it an inconvenience to give me four +canoes they should only furnish two and four savages. + +They represented to me anew the difficulties attending the journey, the +number of the falls, the bad character of the people, and that their reason +for refusing my request was their fear of losing me. + +I replied that I was sorry to have them show themselves to so slight an +extent my friends, and that I should never have believed it; that I had a +young man, showing them my impostor, who had been in their country, and had +not found all these difficulties which they represented, nor the people in +question so bad as they asserted. Then they began to look at him, in +particular Tessoueat the old captain, with whom he had passed the winter, +and calling him by name he said to him in his language: Nicholas, is it +true that you said you were among the Nebicerini? It was long before he +spoke, when he said to them in their language, which he spoke to a certain +extent: Yes, I was there. They immediately looked at him awry, and throwing +themselves upon him, as if they would eat him up or tear him in pieces, +raised loud cries, when Tessoueat said to him: You are a downright liar, you +know well that you slept at my side every night with my children, where you +arose every morning; if you were among the people mentioned, it was while +sleeping. How could you have been so bold as to lead your chief to believe +lies, and so wicked as to be willing to expose his life to so many dangers? +You are a worthless fellow, and he ought to put you to death more cruelly +than we do our enemies. I am not astonished that he should so importune us +on the assurance of your words. + +I at once told him that he must reply to these people; and since he had +been in the regions indicated, that he must give me proofs of it, and free +me from the suspense in which he had placed me. But he remained silent and +greatly terrified. + +I immediately withdrew him from the savages, and conjured him to declare +the truth of the matter, telling him that, if he had seen the sea in +question, I would give him the reward which I had promised him, and that, +if he had not seen it, he must tell me so without causing me farther +trouble. Again he affirmed with oaths all he had before said, and that he +would demonstrate to me the truth of it, if the savages would give us +canoes. + +Upon this, Thomas came and informed me, that the savages of the island had +secretly sent a canoe to the Nebicerini, to notify them of my arrival. +Thereupon, in order to profit by the opportunity, I went to the savages to +tell them, that I had dreamed the past night that they purposed to send a +canoe to the Nebicerini without notifying me of it, at which I was greatly +surprised, since they knew that I was desirous of going there. Upon which +they replied that I did them a great wrong in trusting a liar, who wanted +to cause my death, more than so many brave chiefs, who were my friends and +who held my life dear. I replied that my man, meaning our impostor, had +been in the aforesaid country with one of the relatives of Tessoueat and had +seen the sea, the wreck and ruins of an English vessel, together with +eighty scalps which the savages had in their possession, and a young +English boy whom they held as prisoner, and whom they wished to give me as +a present. + +When they heard me speak of the sea, vessels, scalps of the English, and +the young prisoner, they cried out more than before that he was a liar, and +thus they afterwards called him, as if it were the greatest insult they +could have done him, and they all united in saying that he ought to be put +to death, or else that he should tell with whom he had gone to the place +indicated, and state the lakes, rivers, and roads, by which he had gone. To +this he replied with assurance, that he had forgotten the name of the +savage, although he had stated to me his name more than twenty times, and +even on the previous day. In respect to the peculiarities of the country, +he had described them in a paper which he had handed me. Then I brought +forward the map and had it explained to the savages, who questioned him in +regard to it. To this he made no reply, but rather manifested by his sullen +silence his perverse nature. + +As my mind was wavering in uncertainty, I withdrew by myself, and reflected +upon the above-mentioned particulars of the voyage of the English, and how +the reports of our liar were quite in conformity with it, also that there +was little probability of this young man's having invented all that, in +which case he would not have been willing to undertake the journey, but +that it was more probable that he had seen these things, and that his +ignorance did not permit him to reply to the questions of the savages. To +the above is to be added the fact that, if the report of the English be +true, the North Sea cannot be farther distant from this region than a +hundred leagues in latitude, for I was in latitude 47 deg. and in longitude +296 deg.[71] But it may be that the difficulties attending the passage of the +falls, the roughness of the mountains covered with shows, is the reason why +this people have no knowledge of the sea in question; indeed they have +always said that from the country of the Ochateguins it is a journey of +thirty-five or forty days to the sea, which they see in three places, a +thing which they have again assured me of this year. But no one has spoken +to me of this sea on the north, except this liar, who had given me thereby +great pleasure in view of the shortness of the journey. + +Now, when this canoe was ready, I had him summoned into the presence of his +companions; and after laying before him all that had transpired, I told him +that any further dissimulation was out of the question, and that he must +say whether he had seen these things or not; that I was desirous of +improving the opportunity that presented itself; that I had forgotten the +past; but that, if I went farther, I would have him hung and strangled, +which should be his sole reward. After meditating by himself, he fell on +his knees and asked my pardon, declaring that all he had said, both in +France and this country, in respect to the sea in question was false; that +he had never seen it, and that he had never gone farther than the village +of Tessoueat; that he had said these things in order to return to Canada. +Overcome with wrath at this, I had him removed, being unable to endure him +any longer in my presence, and giving orders to Thomas to inquire into the +whole matter in detail; to whom he stated, that he did not believe that I +would undertake the journey on account of the dangers, thinking that some +difficulty would present itself to prevent me from going on, as in the case +of these savages, who were not disposed to lend me canoes; and accordingly +that the journey would be put off until another year, when he being in +France would be rewarded for his discovery; but that, if I would leave him +in this country, he would go until he found the sea in question, even if he +should die in the attempt. These were his words as reported to me by +Thomas, but they did not give me much satisfaction, astounded as I was at +the effrontery and maliciousness of this liar: and I cannot imagine how he +could have devised this imposition, unless that he had heard of the +above-mentioned voyage of the English, and in the hope of some reward, as +he said, had the temerity to venture on it. + +Shortly after I proceeded to notify the savages, to my great regret, of the +malignity of this liar, stating that he had confessed the truth; at which +they were delighted, reproaching me with the little confidence I put in +them, who were chiefs and my friends, and who always spoke the truth; and +who said that this liar ought to be put to death, being extremely +malicious; and they added, Do you not see that he meant to cause your +death. Give him to us, and we promise you that he shall not lie any more. +And as they all went after him shouting, their children also shouting still +more, I forbade them to do him any harm, directing them to keep their +children also from doing so, inasmuch as I wished to take him to the Falls +to show him to the gentlemen there, to whom he was to bring some salt +water; and I said that, when I arrived there, I would consult as to what +should be done with him. + +My journey having been in this manner terminated, and without any hope of +seeing the sea in this direction, except in imagination, I felt a regret +that I should not have employed my time better, and that I should have had +to endure the difficulties and hardships, which however I was obliged +patiently to submit to. If I had gone in another direction, according to +the report of the savages, I should have made a beginning in a thing which +must be postponed to another time. At present my only wish being to return, +I desired the savages to go to the Falls of St. Louis, where there were +four vessels loaded with all kinds of merchandise, and where they would be +well treated. This they communicated to all their neighbors. Before setting +out, I made a cross of white cedar, which I planted in a prominent place on +the border of the lake, with the arms of France, and I begged the savages +to have the kindness to preserve it, as also those which they would find +along the ways we had passed; telling them that, if they broke them, +misfortune would befall them, but that, if they preserved them, they would +not be assaulted by their enemies. They promised to do so, and said that I +should find them when I came to visit them again. + +ENDNOTES: + +65. It seems not improbable, as suggested by Laverdiere, that this was the + same chief that Champlain met at Tadoussac in 1603, then called + _Besouat. Vide_ Vol. I. p. 242. + +66. They crossed Muskrat Lake, and after a portage of a league, by general + estimation, they reached Lake Allumette. This lake is only the expanded + current of the river Ottawa on the southern side of Allumette Island; + which is formed by the bifurcation of the Ottawa. + +67. Allumette Island, often called, in the _Relations des Jesuites_, simply + the Island. The savages in occupation were in the habit of exacting + tribute from the Hurons and others, who passed along on their war + excursions or their journeys for trade with the French at Montreal. + They bartered their maize with other tribes for skins with which they + clothed themselves. + +68. The true latitude here is about 45 deg. 47'. On the map of 1632 the + latitude corresponds with the statement in the text. + +69. In his issue of 1632 Champlain corrects his statement as to the length + of Allumette Island, and says it is ten leagues long, which is nearly + correct. _Vide_ Quebec ed. p 868. Of this island Bouchette says that in + length it is about fifteen miles, and on an average four miles wide. + _British Dominions in North America_, London, 1831, Vol I. p. 187. + +70. This tribe was subsequently known as the Nipissings, who dwelt on the + borders of Lake Nipissing. They were distinguished for their sorceries, + under the cover of which they appear to have practised impositions + which naturally enough rendered other neighboring Algonquin tribes + hostile to them. + +71. The true latitude, as we have stated, _antea_, note 61, is about 45 deg. + 37'; but on Champlain's map it corresponds with the statement in the + text, and a hundred leagues north of where they then were, as his map + is constructed, would carry them to the place in the bay where Hudson + wintered, as stated by Champlain, and as laid down on his small map + included in this volume; but the longitude is incorrect, Allumette + Island being two or three degrees east of longitude 296 deg., as laid down + on Champlain's map of 1632. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +OUR RETURN TO THE FALLS.--FALSE ALARM.--CEREMONY AT THE CHAUDIERE FALLS.-- +CONFESSION OF OUR LIAR BEFORE ALL THE CHIEF MEN.--OUR RETURN TO FRANCE. + +On the 10th of June I took leave of Tessoueat, a good old captain, making +him presents, and promising him, if God preserved me in health, to come the +next year, prepared to go to war. He in turn promised to assemble a large +number by that time, declaring that I should see nothing but savages and +arms which would please me; he also directed his son to go with me for the +sake of company. Thus we set out with forty canoes, and passed by way [72] +of the river we had left, which extends northward, and where we went on +shore in order to cross the lakes. On the way we met nine large canoes of +the Ouescharini, with forty strong and powerful men, who had come upon the +news they had received; we also met others, making all together sixty +canoes; and we overtook twenty others, who had set out before us, each +heavily laden with merchandise. + +We passed six or seven falls between the island of the Algonquins [73] and +the little fall; [74] where the country was very unpleasant I readily +realized that, if we had gone in that direction, we should have had much +more trouble, and would with difficulty have succeeded in getting through: +and it was not without reason that the savages opposed our liar, as his +only object was to cause my ruin. + +Continuing our course ten or twelve leagues below the island of the +Algonquins, we rested on a very pleasant island, which was covered with +vines and nut-trees, and where we caught some fine fish. About midnight, +there arrived two canoes, which had been fishing farther off, and which +reported that they had seen four canoes of their enemies. At once three +canoes were despatched to reconnoitre, but they returned without having +seen anything. With this assurance all gave themselves up to sleep, +excepting the women, who resolved to spend the night in their canoes, not +feeling at ease on land. An hour before daylight a savage, having dreamed +that the enemy were attacking them, jumped up and started on a run towards +the water, in order to escape, shouting, They are killing me. Those +belonging to his band all awoke dumfounded and, supposing that they were +being pursued by their enemies, threw themselves into the water, as did +also one of our Frenchmen, who supposed that they were being overpowered. +At this great noise, the rest of us, who were at a distance, were at once +awakened, and without making farther investigation ran towards them: but as +we saw them here and there in the water, we were greatly surprised, not +seeing them pursued by their enemies, nor in a state of defence, in case of +necessity, but only ready to sacrifice themselves. After I had inquired of +our Frenchman about the cause of this excitement, he told me that a savage +had had a dream, and that he with the rest had thrown themselves into the +water in order to escape, supposing that they were being attacked. +Accordingly, the state of the case being ascertained, it all passed off in +a laugh. + +Continuing our way, we came to the Chaudiere Falls, where the savages went +through with the customary ceremony; which is as follows. After carrying +their canoes to the foot of the Fall, they assemble in one spot, where one +of them takes up a collection with a wooden plate, into which each one puts +a bit of tobacco. The collection having been made, the plate is placed in +the midst of the troupe, and all dance about it, singing after their style. +Then one of the captains makes an harangue, setting forth that for a long +time they have been accustomed to make this offering, by which means they +are insured protection against their enemies, that otherwise misfortune +would befall them, as they are convinced by the evil spirit; and they live +on in this superstition, as in many others, as we have said in other +places. This done, the maker of the harangue takes the plate, and throws +the tobacco into the midst of the caldron, whereupon they all together +raise a loud cry. These poor people are so superstitious, that they would +not believe it possible for them to make a prosperous journey without +observing this ceremony at this place, since their enemies await them at +this portage, not venturing to go any farther on account of the difficulty +of the journey, whence they say they surprise them there, as they have +sometimes done. + +The next day we arrived at an island at the entrance to a lake, and seven +or eight leagues distant from the great Falls of St. Louis. Here while +reposing at night we had another alarm, the savages supposing that they had +seen the canoes of their enemies. This led them to make several large +fires, which I had them put out, representing to them the harm which might +result, namely, that instead of concealing they would disclose themselves. + +On the 17th of June, we arrived at the Falls of St. Louis, where I found +L'Ange, who had come to meet me in a canoe to inform me, that Sieur de +Maisonneuve of St. Malo had brought a passport from the Prince for three +vessels. In order to arrange matters until I should see him, I assembled +all the savages and informed them that I did not wish them to traffic in +any merchandise until I had given them permission, and that I would furnish +them provisions as soon as we should arrive; which they promised, saying +that they were my friends. Thus, continuing our course, we arrived at the +barques, where we were saluted by some discharges of cannon, at which some +of our savages were delighted, and others greatly astonished, never having +heard such music. After I had landed, Maisonneuve came to me with the +passport of the Prince. As soon as I had seen it, I allowed him and his men +to enjoy the benefits of it like the rest of us; and I sent word to the +savages that they might trade on the next day. + +After seeing all the chief men and relating the particulars of my journey +and the malice of my liar, at which they were greatly amazed, I begged them +to assemble, in order that in their presence, and that of the savages and +his companions, he might make declaration of his maliciousness; which they +gladly did. Being thus assembled, they summoned him, and asked him, why he +had not shown me the sea in the north, as he had promised me at his +departure. He replied that he had promised something impossible for him, +since he had never seen this sea, and that the desire of making the journey +had led him to say what he did, also that he did not suppose that I would +undertake it; and he begged them to be pleased to pardon him, as he also +did me again, confessing that he had greatly offended, and if I would leave +him in the country, he would by his efforts repair the offence, and see +this sea, and bring back trustworthy intelligence concerning it the +following year; and in view of certain considerations I pardoned him on +this condition. + +After relating to them in detail the good treatment I had received at the +abodes of the savages, and how I had been occupied each day, I inquired +what they had done during my absence, and what had been the result of their +hunting excursions, and they said they had had such success that they +generally brought home six stags. Once on St. Barnabas's day, Sieur du +Parc, having gone hunting with two others, killed nine. These stags are not +at all like ours, and there are different kinds of them, some larger, +others smaller, which resemble closely our deer.[75] They had also a very +large number of pigeons, [76] and also fish, such as pike, carp, sturgeon, +shad, barbel, turtles, bass, and other kinds unknown to us, on which they +dined and supped every day. They were also all in better condition than +myself, who was reduced from work and the anxiety which I had experienced, +not having eaten more than once a day, and that of fish badly cooked and +half broiled. + +On the 22d of June, about 8 o'clock in the evening, the savages sounded an +alarm because one of them had dreamed he had seen the Iroquois. In order to +content them, all the men took their arms, and some were sent to their +cabins to reassure them, and into the approaches to reconnoitre, so that, +finding it was a false alarm, they were satisfied with the firing of some +two hundred musket and arquebus shots, after which arms were laid down, the +ordinary guard only being left. This reassured them greatly, and they were +very glad to see the French ready to help them. + +After the savages had bartered their articles of merchandise and had +resolved to return, I asked them to take with them two young men, to treat +them in a friendly manner, show them the country, and bind themselves to +bring them back. But they strongly objected to this, representing to me the +trouble our liar had given me, and fearing that they would bring me false +reports, as he had done. I replied that they were men of probity and truth, +and that if they would not take them they were not my friends, whereupon +they resolved to do so. As for out liar, none of the savages wanted him, +notwithstanding my request to them to take him, and we left him to the +mercy of God. + +Finding that I had no further business in this country, I resolved to +cross in the first vessel that should return to France. Sieur de +Maisonneuve, having his ready, offered me a passage, which I accepted; and +on the 27th of June I set out with Sieur L'Ange from the Falls, where we +left the other vessels, which were awaiting the return of the savages who +had gone to the war, and we arrived at Tadoussac on the 6th of July. + +On the 8th of August [77] we were enabled by favorable weather to set +sail. On the 18th we left Gaspe and Isle Percee. On the 28th we were on the +Grand Bank, where the green fishery is carried on, and where we took as +many fish as we wanted. + +On the 26th of August we arrived at St Malo, where I saw the merchants, to +whom I represented the ease of forming a good association in the future, +which they resolved to do, as those of Rouen and La Rochelle had done, +after recognizing the necessity of the regulations, without which it is +impossible to hope for any profit from these lands. May God by His grace +cause this undertaking to prosper to His honor and glory, the conversion of +these poor benighted ones, and to the welfare and honor of France. + +ENDNOTES: + +72. By the Ottawa, which they had left a little below Portage du Fort, and + not by the same way they had come, through the system of small lakes, + of which Muskrat lake is one. _Vide Carte de la Nouvelle France_, 1632, + Vol. I. p. 304. + +73. Allumette Island. + +74. Near Gould's Landing, below or south of Portage da Fort.--_Vide + Champlain's Astrolabe_, by A. J. Russell, Montreal, 1879, p. 6. + +75. At that time there were to be found in Canada at least four species of + the Cervus Family. + + 1. The Moose, _Cervus alces_, or _alces Americanus_, usually called by + the earliest writers _orignal_ or _orignac_. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 264, + 265. This is the largest of all the deer family in this or in any other + part of the world The average weight has been placed at seven hundred + pounds, while extraordinary specimens probably attain twice that + weight. + + 2. The Wapiti, or American Elk, _Cervus elaphus_, or _Canadensis_. This + is the largest of the known deer except the preceding. The average + weight is probably less than six hundred pounds. + + 3. The Woodland Caribou, _Cervus tarandus_. It is smaller than the + Wapiti. Its range is now mostly in the northern regions of the + continent but specimens are still found in Nova Scotia and New + Brunswick. The female is armed with antlers as well as the male, though + they are smaller. + + 4. The Common Deer, _Cervus Virginianus_. It has the widest range of + any of the deer family. It is still found in every degree of latitude + from Mexico to British Columbia. _Vide Antelope and Deer of America_ by + John Dean Caton, LL.D., Boston, 1877. + +76. _Palombes_. The passenger, or wild pigeon, _Ectopistes migratorius_. + +77. _Le_ 8 _Aoust_. Laverdiere suggests with much plausibility that this + should read "The 8th of July." Champlain could hardly have found it + necessary to remain at Tadoussac from the 6th of July to the 8th of + August for favorable weather to sail. If he had been detained by any + other cause, it would probably have been deemed of sufficient gravity + to be specially mentioned. + + + +VOYAGES +AND +DISCOVERIES IN NEW FRANCE, +From the year 1615 to the end of the year 1618. + +BY +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, +Captain in ordinary to the King in the Western Sea. + +WHERE ARE DESCRIBED + +_The manners, customs, dress, mode of warfare, hunting, dances, festivals, +and method of burial of various savage peoples, with many remarkable +experiences of the author in this country, and an account of the beauty, +fertility, and temperature of the same_. + +PARIS. + +CLAUDE COLLET, in the Palace, at the gallery of the Prisoners. + +M. DC. XIX. + +_WITH AUTHORITY OF THE KING_. + + +TO THE KING. + +_Sire, This is a third volume containing a narrative of what has transpired +most worthy of note during the voyages I have made to New France, and its +perusal will, I think, afford your Majesty greater pleasure than that of +those preceding, which only designate the ports, harbors, situations, +declinations, and other particulars, having more interest for navigators +and sailors than for other persons. In this narrative you will be able to +observe more especially the manners and mode of life of these peoples both +in particular and in general, their wars, ammunition, method of attack and +of defence, their expeditions and retreats in various circumstances, +matters about which those interested desire information. You will perceive +also that they are not savage to such an extent that they could not in +course of time and through association with others become civilised and +cultivated. You will likewise perceive how great hopes we cherish from the +long and arduous labors we have for the past fifteen years sustained, in +order to plant in this country the standard of the cross, and to teach the +people the knowledge of God and the glory of His holy name, it being our +desire to cultivate a feeling of charity towards His unfortunate creatures, +which it is our duty to practise more patiently than any other thing, +especially as there are many who have not entertained such purposes, but +have been influenced only by the desire of gain. Nevertheless we may, I +suppose, believe that these are the means which God makes use of for the +greater promotion of the holy desire of others. As the fruits which the +trees bear are from God, the Lord of the soil, who has planted, watered, +and nourished them with an especial care, so your Majesty can be called the +legitimate lord of our labors, and the good resulting from them, not only +because the land belongs to you, but also because you have protected us +against so many persons, whose only object has been by troubling us to +prevent the success of so holy a determination, taking from us the power to +trade freely in a part of your country, and striving to bring everything +into confusion, which would be, in a word, preparing the way for the ruin +of everything to the injury of your state. To this end your subjects have +employed every conceivable artifice and all possible means which they +thought could injure us. But all these efforts have been thwarted by your +Majesty, assisted by your prudent council, who have given us the authority +of your name, and supported us by your decrees rendered in our favor. This +is an occasion for increasing in us our long-cherished desire to send +communities and colonies there, to teach the people the knowledge of God, +and inform them of the glory and triumphs of your Majesty, so that together +with the French language they may also acquire a French heart and spirit, +which, next to the fear of God, will be inspired with nothing so ardently +as the desire to serve you. Should our design succeed, the glory of it will +be due, after God, to your Majesty, who will receive a thousand +benedictions from Heaven for so many souls saved by your instrumentality, +and your name will be immortalized for carrying the glory and sceptre of +the French as far to the Occident as your precursors have extended it to +the Orient, and over the entire habitable earth. This will augment the +quality of_ MOST CHRISTIAN _belonging to you above all the kings of the +earth, and show that it is as much your due by merit as it is your own of +right, it having been transmitted to you by your predecessors, who acquired +it by their virtues; for you have been pleased, in addition to so many +other important affairs, to give your attention to this one, so seriously +neglected hitherto, God's special grace reserving to your reign the +publication of His gospel, and the knowledge of His holy name to so many +tribes who had never heard of it. And some day may God's grace lead them, +as it does us, to pray to Him without ceasing to extend your empire, and to +vouchsafe a thousand blessings to your Majesty_. + +_SIRE_, + +_Your most humble, most faithful_, + +_and most obedient servant and subject_, + +_CHAMPLAIN_. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +As in the various affairs of the world each thing strives for its +perfection and the preservation of its being, so on the other hand does man +interest himself in the different concerns of others on some account, +either for the public good, or to acquire, apart from the common interest, +praise and reputation with some profit. Wherefore many have pursued this +course, but as for myself I have made choice of the most unpleasant and +difficult one of the perilous navigation of the seas; with the purpose, +however, not so much of gaining wealth, as the honor and glory of God in +behalf of my King and country, and contributing by my labors something +useful to the public good. And I make declaration that I have not been +tempted by any other ambition, as can be clearly perceived, not only by my +conduct in the past, but also by the narratives of my voyages, made by the +command of His Majesty, in New France, contained in my first and second +books, as may be seen in the same. + +Should God bless our purpose, which aims only for His glory, and should any +fruit result from our discoveries and arduous labors, I will return thanks +to Him, and for Your Majesty's protection and assistance will continue my +prayers for the aggrandizement and prolongation of your reign. + + + + +EXTRACT FROM THE LICENSE OF THE KING. + +By favor and license of the KING, permission is given to CLAUDE COLLET, +merchant bookseller in our city of Paris, to print, or have printed by such +printer as shall seem good to him, a book entitled, _Voyages and +Discoveries in New France, from the Year_ 1615 _to the End of the Year +1618. By Sieur de Champlain, Captain in Ordinary to the King in the Western +Sea_. All booksellers and printers of our kingdom are forbidden to print or +have printed, to sell wholesale or retail, said book, except with the +consent of said Collet, for the time and term of six years, beginning with +the day when said book is printed, on penalty of confiscation of the +copies, and a fine of four hundred _livres_, a half to go to us and a half +to said petitioner. It is our will, moreover, that this License should be +placed at the commencement or end of said book. This is our pleasure. + +Given at Paris, the 18th day of May, 1619, and of our reign the tenth. + +By the Council, + +DE CESCAUD + + + + +VOYAGE +OF +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN TO NEW FRANCE, +MADE IN THE YEAR 1615. + + +The strong love, which I have always cherished for the exploration of New +France, has made me desirous of extending more and more my travels over the +country, in order, by means of its numerous rivers, lakes, and streams, to +obtain at last a complete knowledge of it, and also to become acquainted +with the inhabitants, with the view of bringing them to the knowledge of +God. To this end I have toiled constantly for the past fourteen or fifteen +years, [78] yet have been able to advance my designs but little, because I +have not received the assistance which was necessary for the success of +such an undertaking. Nevertheless, without losing courage, I have not +ceased to push on, and visit various nations of the savages; and, by +associating familiarly with them, I have concluded, as well from their +conversation as from the knowledge already attained, that there is no +better way than, disregarding all storms and difficulties, to have patience +until His Majesty shall give the requisite attention to the matter, and +meanwhile, not only to continue the exploration of the country, but also to +learn the language, and form relations and friendships with the leading men +of the villages and tribes, in order to lay the foundations of a permanent +edifice, as well for the glory of God as for the renown of the French. + +And His Majesty having transferred and intrusted the superintendence of +this work to Monseigneur the Prince de Conde, the latter has, by his +management, under the authority of His Majesty, sustained us against all +forts of jealousies and obstacles concerted by evil wishers. This has, as +it were, animated me and redoubled my courage for the continuation of my +labors in the exploration of New France, and with increased effort I have +pushed forward in my undertaking into the mainland, and farther on than I +had previously been, as will be hereafter indicated in the course of this +narrative. + +But it is appropriate to state first that, as I had observed in my previous +journeys, there were in some places people permanently settled, who were +fond of the cultivation of the soil, but who had neither faith nor law, and +lived without God and religion, like brute beasts. In view of this, I felt +convinced that I should be committing a grave offence if I did not take it +upon myself to devise some means of bringing them to the knowledge of +God. To this end I exerted myself to find some good friars, with zeal and +affection for the glory of God, that I might persuade them to send some +one, or go themselves, with me to these countries, and try to plant there +the faith, or at least do what was possible according to their calling, and +thus to observe and ascertain whether any good fruit could be gathered +there. But since to attain this object an expenditure would be required +exceeding my means, and for other reasons, I deferred the matter for a +while, in view of the difficulties there would be in obtaining what was +necessary and requisite in such an enterprise; and since, furthermore, no +persons offered to contribute to it. Nevertheless, while continuing my +search, and communicating my plan to various persons, a man of distinction +chanced to present himself, whose intimate acquaintance I enjoyed. This was +Sieur Houeel, Secretary of the King and Controller-general of the salt works +at Brouage, a man of devoted piety, and of great zeal and love for the +honor of God and the extension of His religion. [79] He gave me the +following information, which afforded me great pleasure. He said that he +was acquainted with some good religious Fathers, of the order of the +Recollects, in whom he had confidence; and that he enjoyed such intimacy +and confidence with them that he could easily induce them to consent to +undertake the voyage; and that, as to the necessary means for sending out +three or four friars, there would be no lack of people of property who +would give them what they needed, offering for his part to assist them to +the extent of his ability; and, in fact, he wrote in relation to the +subject to Father du Verger, [80] who welcomed with joy the undertaking, +and, in accordance with the recommendation of Sieur Houeel, communicated it +to some of his brethren, who, burning with charity, offered themselves +freely for this holy undertaking. + +Now he was at that time in Saintonge, whence he sent two men to Paris with +a commission, though not with absolute power, reserving the rest to the +Nuncio of our Holy Father the Pope, who was at that time, in 1614, in +France. [81] He called upon these friars at their house in Paris, and was +greatly pleased with their resolution. We then went all together to see the +Sieur Nuncio, in order to communicate to him the commission, and entreat +him to interpose his authority in the matter. But he, on the contrary, told +us that he had no power whatever in such matters, and that it was to their +General that they were to address themselves. Notwithstanding this reply, +the Recollects, in consideration of the difficulty of the mission, were +unwilling to undertake the journey on the authority of Father du Verger, +fearing that it might not be sufficient, and that the commission might not +be valid, on which account the matter was postponed to the following +year. Meanwhile they took counsel, and came to a determination, according +to which all arrangements were made for the undertaking, which was to be +carried out in the following spring; awaiting which the two friars returned +to their convent at Brouage. + +I for my part improved the time in arranging my affairs in preparation for +the voyage. + +Some months after the departure of the two friars, the Reverend Father +Chapouein, Provincial of the Recollect Fathers, a man of great piety, +returned to Paris. Sieur Houel called on him, and narrated what had taken +place respecting the authority of Father du Verger, and the mission he had +given to the Recollect Fathers. After which narrative the Provincial Father +proceeded to extol the plan, and to interest himself with zeal in it, +promising to promote it with all his power, and adding that, he had not +before well comprehended the subject of this mission; and it is to be +believed that God inspired him more and more to prosecute the matter. +Subsequently he spoke of it to Monseigneur the Prince de Conde, and to all +the cardinals and bishops who were then assembled at Paris for the Session +of the Estates. All of them approved and commended the plan; and to show +that they were favorably disposed towards it, they assured the Sieur +Provincial that they would devise among themselves and the members of the +Court means for raising a small fund, and that they would collect some +money for assisting four friars to be chosen, and who were then chosen for +the execution of so holy a work. And in order to facilitate the +undertaking, I visited at the Estates the cardinals and bishops, and +urgently represented to them the advantage, and usefulness which might one +day result, in order by my entreaties to move them to give, and cause +others who might be stimulated by their example to give, contributions and +presents, leaving all to their good will and judgment. + +The contributions which were made for the expenses of this expedition +amounted to nearly fifteen hundred _livres_, which were put into my hands, +and then employed, according to the advice and in the presence of the +Fathers, for the purchase of what was necessary, not only for the +maintenance of the Fathers who should undertake the journey into New +France, but also for their clothing, and the attire and ornaments necessary +for performing divine service. The friars were sent on in advance to +Honfleur, where their embarkation was to take place. + +Now the Fathers who were appointed for this holy enterprise were Father +Denis [82] as commissary, Jean d'Olbeau, [83] Joseph le Caron, and +Pacifique du Plessis, [84] each of whom was moved by a holy zeal and ardor +to make the journey, through God's grace, in order to see if they might +produce some good fruit, and plant in these regions the standard of Jesus +Christ, determined to live and to die for His holy name, should it be +necessary to do so and the occasion require it. Everything having been +prepared, they provided themselves with church ornaments, and we with what +was necessary for our voyage. + +I left Paris the last day of February to meet at Rouen our associates, and +represent to them the will of Monseigneur the Prince, and also his desire +that these good Fathers should make the journey, since he recognized the +fact that the affairs of the country could hardly reach any perfection or +advancement, if God should not first of all be served; with which our +associates were highly pleased, promising to assist the Fathers to the +extent of their ability, and provide them with the support they might need. + +The Fathers arrived at Rouen the twentieth of March following, where we +stayed some time. Thence we went to Honfleur to embark, where we also +stayed some days, waiting for our vessel to be got ready, and loaded with +the necessaries for so long a voyage. Meanwhile preparations were made in +matters of conscience, so that each one of us might examine himself, and +cleanse himself from his sins by penitence and confession, in order to +celebrate the sacrament and attain a state of grace, so that, being thereby +freer in conscience, we might under the guidance of God, expose ourselves +to the mercy of the waves of the great and perilous sea. + +This done, we embarked on the vessel of the association, which was of three +hundred and fifty tons burden, and was called the Saint Etienne, commanded +by Sieur de Pont Grave. We departed from Honfleur on the twenty-fourth day +of August, [85] in the above-mentioned year, and set sail with a very +favorable wind. We continued on our voyage without encountering ice or +other dangers, through the mercy of God, and in a short time arrived off +the place called _Tadoussac_, on the twenty-fifth day of May, when we +rendered thanks to God for having conducted us so favorably to the harbor +of our destination. + +Then we began to set men at work to fit up our barques in order to go to +Quebec, the place of our abode, and to the great Falls of Saint Louis, the +rendezvous of the savages, who come there to traffic. + +The barques having been fitted up, we went on board with the Fathers, one +of whom, named Father Joseph, [86] desired, without stopping or making any +stay at Quebec, to go directly to the great Falls, where he saw all the +savages and their mode of life. This induced him to go and spend the winter +in their country and that of other tribes who have a fixed abode, not only +in order to learn their language, but also to see what the prospect was of +their conversion to Christianity. This resolution having been formed, he +returned to Quebec the twentieth day of June [87] for some church ornaments +and other necessaries. Meanwhile I had stayed at Quebec in order to arrange +matters relating to our habitation, as the lodgings of the Fathers, church +ornaments, the construction of a chapel for the celebration of the mass, as +also the employment of persons for clearing up lands. I embarked for the +Falls together with Father Denis, [88] who had arrived the same day from +Tadoussac with Sieur de Pont Grave. + +As to the other friars, viz., Fathers Jean and Pacifique, [89] they stayed +at Quebec in order to fit up their chapel and arrange their lodgings. They +were greatly pleased at seeing the place so different from what they had +imagined, which increased their zeal. + +We arrived at the Riviere des Prairies, five leagues below the Falls of +Saint Louis, whither the savages had come down. I will not attempt to speak +of the pleasure which our Fathers experienced at seeing, not only so long +and large a river, filled with many fine islands and bordered by a region +apparently so fertile, but also a great number of strong and robust men, +with natures not so savage as their manners, nor as they acknowledged they +had conceived them to be, and very different from what they had been given +to understand, owing to their lack of cultivation. I will not enter into a +description of them, but refer the reader to what I have said about them in +my preceding books, printed in the year 1614. [90] + +To continue my narrative: We met Father Joseph, who was returning to Quebec +in order to make preparations, and take what he needed for wintering in +their country. This I did not think advisable at this season, but +counselled him rather to spend the winter at our settlement as being more +for his comfort, and undertake the journey when spring came or at least in +summer, offering to accompany him, and adding that by doing so he would not +fail to see what he might have seen by going, and that by returning and +spending the winter at Quebec he would have the society of his brothers and +others who remained at the settlement, by which he would be more profited +than by staying alone among these people, with whom he could not, in my +opinion, have much satisfaction. Nevertheless, in spite of all that could +be said to him and all representations, he would not change his purpose, +being urged by a godly zeal and love for this people, and hoping to make +known to them their salvation. + +His motive in undertaking this enterprise, as he stated to us, was that he +thought it was necessary for him to go there not only in order to become +better acquainted with the characteristics of the people, but also to learn +more easily their language. In regard to the difficulties which it was +represented to him that he would have to encounter in his intercourse with +them, he felt assured that he could bear and overcome them, and that he +could adapt himself very well and cheerfully to the manner of living and +the inconveniences he would find, through the grace of God, of whose +goodness and help he felt clearly assured, being convinced that, since he +went on His service, and since it was for the glory of His name and the +preaching of His holy gospel that he undertook freely this journey, He +would never abandon him in his undertaking. And in regard to temporal +provisions very little was needed to satisfy a man who demands nothing but +perpetual poverty, and who seeks for nothing but heaven, not only for +himself but also for his brethren, it not being consistent with his rule of +life to have any other ambition than the glory of God, and it being his +purpose to endure to this end all the hardships, sufferings, and labors +which might offer. + +Seeing him impelled by so holy a zeal and so ardent a charity, I was +unwilling to try any more to restrain him. Thus he set out with the purpose +of being the first to announce through His holy favor to this people the +name of God, having the great satisfaction that an opportunity presented +itself for suffering something for the name and glory of our Saviour Jesus +Christ. + +As soon as I had arrived at the Falls, I visited the people, who were very +desirous of seeing us and delighted at our return. They hoped that we would +furnish them some of our number to assist them in their wars against our +enemies, representing to us that they could with difficulty come to us if +we should not assist them; for the Iroquois, they said, their old enemies, +were always on the road obstructing their passage. Moreover I had +constantly promised to assist them in their wars, as they gave us to +understand by their interpreter. Whereupon Sieur Pont Grave and myself +concluded that it was very necessary to assist them, not only in order to +put them the more under obligations to love us, but also to facilitate my +undertakings and explorations which, as it seemed, could only be +accomplished by their help, and also as this would be a preparatory step to +their conversion to Christianity. [91] Therefore I resolved to, go and +explore their country and assist them in their wars, in order to oblige +them to show me what they had so many times promised to do. + +We accordingly caused them all to assemble together, that we might +communicate to them our intention. When they had heard it, they promised to +furnish us two thousand five hundred and fifty men of war, who would do +wonders, with the understanding that I with the same end in view should +very glad to see them decide so well. Then I proceeded to make known to +them the methods to be adopted for fighting, in which they took especial +pleasure, manifesting a strong hope of victory. Everything having been +decided upon, we separated with the intention of returning for the +execution of our undertaking. But before entering upon this journey, which +would require not less than three or four months, it seemed desirable that +I should go to our settlement to make the necessary arrangements there for +my absence. + +On the ---- day of ---- following I set out on my return to the Riviere des +Prairies. [92] While there with two canoes of savages I met Father Joseph, +who was returning from our settlement with some church ornaments for +celebrating the holy sacrifice of the mass, which was chanted on the border +of the river with all devotion by the Reverend Fathers Denis and Joseph, in +presence of all the people, who were amazed at seeing the ceremonies +observed and the ornaments which seemed to them so handsome. It was +something which they had never before seen, for these Fathers were the +first who celebrated here the holy mass. + +To return and continue the narrative of my journey: I arrived at Quebec on +the 26th, where I found the Fathers Jean and Pacifique in good health. They +on their part did their duty at that place in getting all things ready. +They celebrated the holy mass, which had never been said there before, nor +had there ever been any priest in this region. + +Having arranged all matters at Quebec, I took with me two men and returned +to the Riviere des Prairies, in order to go with the savages. I left Quebec +on the fourth day of July, and on the eighth of the month while _en route_ +I met Sieur du Pont Grave and Father Denis, who were returning to Quebec, +and who told me that the savages had departed greatly disappointed at my +not going with them; and that many of them declared that we were dead or +had been taken by the Iroquois, since I was to be gone only four or five +days, but had been gone ten. This made them and even our own Frenchmen give +up hope, so much did they long to see us again. They told me that Father +Joseph had departed with twelve Frenchmen, who had been furnished to assist +the savages. This intelligence troubled me somewhat; since, if I had been +there, I should have arranged many things for the journey, which I could +not now do. I was troubled not only on account of the small number of men, +but also because there were only four or five who were acquainted with the +handling of arms, while in such an expedition the best are not too good in +this particular. All this however did not cause me to lose courage at all +for going on with the expedition, on account of the desire I had of +continuing my explorations. I separated accordingly from Sieurs du Pont +Grave and Father Denis, determined to go on in the two canoes which I had, +and follow after the savages, having provided myself with what I needed. + +On the 9th of the month I embarked with two others, namely, one of our +interpreters [93] and my man, accompanied by ten savages in the two canoes, +these being all they could carry, as they were heavily loaded and +encumbered with clothes, which prevented me from taking more men. + +We continued our voyage up the River St. Lawrence some six leagues, and +then went by the Riviere des Prairies, which discharges into that river. +Leaving on the left the Falls of St. Louis, which are five or six leagues +higher up, and passing several small falls on this river, we entered a +lake, [94] after passing which we entered the river where I had been +before, which leads to the Algonquins, [95] a distance of eighty-nine +leagues [96] from the Falls of St. Louis. Of this river I have made an +ample description, with an account of my explorations, in my preceding +book, printed in 1614.[97] For this reason I shall not speak of it in this +narrative, but pass on directly to the Lake of the Algonquins.[98] Here we +entered a river [99] which flows into this lake, up which we went some +thirty-five leagues, passing a large number of falls both by land and +water, the country being far from attractive, and covered with pines, +birches, and some oaks, being also very rocky, and in many places somewhat +hilly. Moreover it was very barren and sterile, being but thinly inhabited +by certain Algonquin savages, called _Otaguottouemin_, [100] who dwell in +the country, and live by hunting and the fish they catch in the rivers, +ponds, and lakes, with which the region is well provided. It seems indeed +that God has been pleased to give to these forbidding and desert lands some +things in their season for the refreshment of man and the inhabitants of +these places. For I assure you that there are along the rivers many +strawberries, also a marvellous quantity of blueberries, [101] a little +fruit very good to eat, and other small fruits. The people here dry these +fruits for the winter, as we do plums in France for Lent. We left this +river, which comes from the north, [102] and by which the savages go to the +Saguenay to barter their furs for tobacco. This place is situated in +latitude 46 deg., and is very pleasant, but otherwise of little account. [103] + +Continuing our journey by land, after leaving the river of the Algonquins, +we passed several lakes [104] where the savages carry their canoes, and +entered the lake of the Nipissings,[105] in latitude 46 deg. 15', on the +twenty-sixth day of the month, having gone by land and the lakes twenty- +five leagues, or thereabouts.[106] We then arrived at the cabins of the +savages, with whom we stayed two days. There was a large number of them, +who gave us a very welcome reception. They are a people who cultivate the +land but little. A shows the dress of these people as they go to war; B +that of the women, which differs in no wise from that of the Montagnais and +the great people of the Algonquins, extending far into the interior.[107] + +During the time that I was with them the chief of this tribe and their most +prominent men entertained us with many banquets according to their custom, +and took the trouble to go fishing and hunting with me, in order to treat +me with the greatest courtesy possible. These people are very numerous, +there being from seven to eight hundred souls, who live in general near the +lake. This contains a large number of very pleasant islands, among others +one more than six leagues long, with three or four fine ponds and a number +of fine meadows; it is bordered by very fine woods, that contain an +abundance of game, which frequent the little ponds, where the savages also +catch fish. The northern side of the lake is very pleasant, with fine +meadows for the grazing of cattle, and many little streams, discharging +into the lake. + +They were fishing at that time in a lake very abundant in various kinds of +fish, among others one a foot long that was very good. There are also other +kinds which the savages catch for the purpose of drying and storing away. +The lake is some eight leagues broad and twenty-five long,[108] into which +a river [109] flows from the northwest, along which they go to barter the +merchandise, which we give them in exchange for their peltry, with those +who live on it, and who support themselves by hunting and fishing, their +country containing great quantities of animals, birds, and fish.[110] + +After resting two days with the chief of the Nipissings we re-embarked in +our canoes, and entered a river, by which this lake discharges itself.[111] +We proceeded down it some thirty-five leagues, and descended several little +falls by land and by water, until we reached Lake Attigouautan. All this +region is still more unattractive than the preceding, for I saw along this +river only ten acres of arable land, the rest being rocky and very hilly. +It is true that near Lake Attigouautan we found some Indian corn, but only +in small quantity. Here our savages proceeded to gather some squashes, +which were acceptable to us, for our provisions began to give out in +consequence of the bad management of the savages, who ate so heartily at +the beginning that towards the end very little was left, although we had +only one meal a day. But, as I have mentioned before, we did not lack for +blueberries [112] and strawberries; otherwise we should have been in danger +of being reduced to straits. + +We met three hundred men of a tribe we named _Cheveux Releves_, [113] since +their hair is very high and carefully arranged, and better dressed beyond +all comparison than that of our courtiers, in spite of their irons and +refinements. This gives them a handsome appearance. They have no breeches, +and their bodies are very much pinked in divisions of various shapes. They +paint their faces in various colors, have their nostrils pierced, and their +ears adorned with beads. When they go out of their houses they carry a +club. I visited them, became somewhat acquainted, and formed a friendship +with them. I gave a hatchet to their chief, who was as much pleased and +delighted with it as if I had given him some rich present. Entering into +conversation with him, I inquired in regard to the extent of his country, +which he pictured to me with coal on the bark of a tree. He gave me to +understand that he had come into this place for drying the fruit called +_blues_ [114] to serve for manna in winter, and when they can find nothing +else. A and C show the manner in which they arm themselves when they go to +war. They have as arms only the bow and arrow, made in the manner you see +depicted, and which they regularly carry; also a round shield of dressed +leather [115] made from an animal like the buffalo. [116] + +The next day we separated, and continued our course, along the shore of the +lake of the Attigouautan, [117] which contains a large number of +islands. We went some forty-five leagues, all the time along the shore of +the lake. It is very large, nearly four hundred leagues long from east to +west, and fifty leagues broad, and in view of its great extent I have named +it the _Mer Douce_. [118] It is very abundant in various sorts of very good +fish, both those which we have and those we do not, but especially in +trout, which are enormously large, some of which I saw as long as four feet +and a half, the least being two feet and a half. There are also pike of +like size, and a certain kind of sturgeon, a very large fish and of +remarkable excellence. The country bordering this lake is partly hilly, as +on the north side, and partly flat, inhabited by savages, and thinly +covered with wood, including oaks. After crossing a bay, which forms one of +the extremities of the lake, [119] we went some seven leagues until we +arrived in the country of the Attigouautan at a village called _Otoueacha_, +on the first day of August. Here we found a great change in the country. It +was here very fine, the largest part being cleared up, and many hills and +several rivers rendering the region agreeable. I went to see their Indian +corn, which was at that time far advanced for the season. + +These localities seemed to me very pleasant, in comparison with so +disagreeable a region as that from which we had come. The next day I went +to another village, called _Carmaron_, a league distant from this, where +they received us in a very friendly manner, making for us a banquet with +their bread, squashes, and fish. As to meat, that is very scarce there. The +chief of this village earnestly begged me to stay, to which I could not +consent, but returned to our village, where on the next night but one, as I +went out of the cabin to escape the fleas, of which there were large +numbers and by which we were tormented, a girl of little modesty came +boldly to me and offered to keep me company, for which I thanked her, +sending her away with gentle remonstrances, and spent the night with some +savages. + +The next day I departed from this village to go to another, called +_Touaguainchain_, and to another, called _Tequenonquiaye_, in which we were +received in a very friendly manner by the inhabitants, who showed us the +best cheer they could with their Indian corn served in various styles. This +country is very fine and fertile, and travelling through it is very +pleasant. + +Thence I had them guide me to Carhagouha, which was fortified by a triple +palisade of wood thirty-five feet high for its defence and protection. In +this village Father Joseph was staying, whom we saw and were very glad to +find well. He on his part was no less glad, and was expecting nothing so +little as to see me in this country. On the twelfth day of August the +Recollect Father celebrated the holy mass, and a cross was planted near a +small house apart from the village, which the savages built while I was +staying there, awaiting the arrival of our men and their preparation to go +to the war, in which they had been for a long time engaged. + +Finding that they were so slow in assembling their army, and that I should +have time to visit their country, I resolved to go by short days' journeys +from village to village as far as Cahiague, where the rendezvous of the +entire army was to be, and which was fourteen leagues distant from +Carhagouha, from which village I set out on the fourteenth of August with +ten of my companions. I visited five of the more important villages, which +were enclosed with palisades of wood, and reached Cahiague, the principal +village of the country, where there were two hundred large cabins and where +all the men of war were to assemble. Now in all these villages they +received us very courteously with their simple welcome. All the country +where I went contains some twenty to thirty leagues, is very fine, and +situated in latitude 44 deg. 30'. It is very extensively cleared up. They plant +in it a great quantity of Indian corn, which grows there finely. They plant +likewise squashes,[120] and sun-flowers,[121] from the seed of which they +make oil, with which they anoint the head. The region is extensively +traversed with brooks, discharging into the lake. There are many very good +vines [122] and plums, which are excellent,[123] raspberries,[124] +strawberries,[125] little wild apples,[126] nuts,[127] and a kind of fruit +of the form and color of small lemons, with a similar taste, but having an +interior which is very good and almost like that of figs. The plant which +bears this fruit is two and a half feet high, with but three or four leaves +at most, which are of the shape of those of the fig-tree, and each plant +bears but two pieces of fruit. There are many of these plants in various +places, the fruit being very good and savory.[128] Oaks, elms, and beeches +[129] are numerous here, as also forests of fir, the regular retreat of +partridges [130] and hares.[131] There are also quantities of small +cherries [132] and black cherries,[133] and the same varieties of wood that +we have in our forests in France. The soil seems to me indeed a little +sandy, yet it is for all that good for their kind of cereal. The small +tract of country which I visited is thickly settled with a countless number +of human beings, not to speak of the other districts where I did not go, +and which, according to general report, are as thickly settled or more so +than those mentioned above. I reflected what a great misfortune it is that +so many poor creatures live and die without the knowledge of God, and even +without any religion or law established among them, whether divine, +political, or civil; for they neither worship, nor pray to any object, at +least so far as I could perceive from their conversation. But they have, +however, some sort of ceremony, which I shall describe in its proper place, +in regard to the sick, or in order to ascertain what is to happen to them, +and even in regard to the dead. These, however, are the works of certain +persons among them, who want to be confidentially consulted in such +matters, as was the case among the ancient pagans, who allowed themselves +to be carried away by the persuasions of magicians and diviners. Yet the +greater part of the people do not believe at all in what these charlatans +do and say. They are very generous to one another in regard to provisions, +but otherwise very avaricious. They do not give in return. They are clothed +with deer and beaver skins, which they obtain from the Algonquins and +Nipissings in exchange for Indian corn and meal. + +On the 17th of August I arrived at Cahiague, where I was received with +great joy and gladness by all the savages of the country, who had abandoned +their undertaking, in the belief that they would see me no more, and that +the Iroquois had captured me, as I have before stated. This was the cause +of the great delay experienced in this expedition, they even having +postponed it to the following year. Meanwhile they received intelligence +that a certain nation of their allies, [134] dwelling three good days' +journeys beyond the Entouhonorons, [135] on whom the Iroquois also make +war, desired to assist them in this expedition with five hundred good men; +also to form an alliance and establish a friendship with us, that we might +all engage in the war together; moreover that they greatly desired to see +us and give expression to the pleasure they would have in making our +acquaintance. + +I was glad to find this opportunity for gratifying my desire of obtaining a +knowledge of their country. It is situated only seven days from where the +Dutch [136] go to traffic on the fortieth degree. The savages there, +assisted by the Dutch, make war upon them, take them prisoners, and cruelly +put them to death; and indeed they told us that the preceding year, while +making war, they captured three of the Dutch, who were assisting their +enemies, [137] as we do the Attigouautans, and while in action one of their +own men was killed. Nevertheless they did not fail to send back the three +Dutch prisoners, without doing them any harm, supposing that they belonged +to our party, since they had no knowledge of us except by hearsay, never +having seen a Christian; otherwise, they said, these three prisoners would +not have got off so easily, and would not escape again should they surprise +and take them. This nation is very warlike, as those of the nation of the +Attigouautans maintain. They have only three villages, which are in the +midst of more than twenty others, on which they make war without assistance +from their friends; for they are obliged to pass through the thickly +settled country of the Chouontouaroueon,[138] or else they would have to +make a very long circuit. + +After arriving at the village, it was necessary for me to remain until the +men of war should come from the surrounding villages, so that we might be +off as soon as possible. During this time there was a constant succession +of banquets and dances on account of the joy they experienced at seeing me +so determined to assist them in their war, just as if they were already +assured of victory. + +The greater portion of our men having assembled, we set out from the +village on the first day of September, and passed along the shore of a +small lake, [139] distant three leagues from the village, where they catch +large quantities of fish, which they preserve for the winter. There is +another lake, [140] closely adjoining, which is twenty-five leagues in +circuit, and slows into the small one by a strait, where the above +mentioned extensive fishing is carried on. This is done by means of a large +number of stakes which almost close the strait, only some little openings +being left where they place their nets, in which the fish are caught. These +two lakes discharge into the _Mer Douce_. We remained some time in this +place to await the rest of our savages. When they were all assembled, with +their arms, meal, and necessaries, it was decided to choose some of the +most resolute men to compose a party to go and give notice of our departure +to those who were to assist us with five hundred men, that they might join +us, and that we might appear together before the fort of the enemy. This +decision having been made, they dispatched two canoes, with twelve of the +most stalwart savages, and also with one of our interpreters, [141] who +asked me to permit him to make the journey, which I readily accorded, +inasmuch as he was led to do so of his own will, and as he might in this +way see their country and get a knowledge of the people living there. The +danger, however, was not small, since it was necessary to pass through the +midst of enemies. They set out on the 8th of the month, and on the 10th +following there was a heavy white frost. + +We continued our journey towards the enemy, and went some five or six +leagues through these lakes, [142] when the savages carried their canoes +about ten leagues by land. We then came to another lake, [143] six to seven +leagues in length and three broad. From this flows a river which discharges +into the great lake of the Entouhonorons. After traversing this lake we +passed a fall, and continuing our course down this river for about +sixty-four leagues [144] entered the lake of the Entouhonorons, having +passed, on our way by land, five falls, some being from four to five +leagues long. We also passed several lakes of considerable size, through +which the river passes. The latter is large and very abundant in good fish. + +It is certain that all this region is very fine and pleasant. Along the +banks it seems as if the trees had been set out for ornament in most +places, and that all these tracts were in former times inhabited by +savages, who were subsequently compelled to abandon them from fear of their +enemies. Vines and nut-trees are here very numerous. Grapes mature, yet +there is always a very pungent tartness which is felt remaining in the +throat when one eats them in large quantities, arising from defect of +cultivation. These localities are very pleasant when cleared up. + +Stags and bears are here very abundant. We tried the hunt and captured a +large number as we journeyed down. It was done in this way. They place four +or five hundred savages in line in the woods, so that they extend to +certain points on the river; then marching in order with bow and arrow in +hand, shouting and making a great noise in order to frighten the beasts, +they continue to advance until they come to the end of the point. Then all +the animals between the point and the hunters are forced to throw +themselves into the water, as many at least as do not fall by the arrows +shot at them by the hunters. Meanwhile the savages, who are expressly +arranged and posted in their canoes along the shore, easily approach the +stags and other animals, tired out and greatly frightened in the chase, +when they readily kill them with the spear heads attached to the extremity +of a piece of wood of the shape of a half pike. This is the way they engage +in the chase; and they do likewise on the islands where there are large +quantities of game. I took especial pleasure in seeing them hunt thus and +in observing their dexterity. Many animals were killed by the shot of the +arquebus, at which the savages were greatly surprised. But it unfortunately +happened that, while a stag was being killed, a savage, who chanced to come +in range, was wounded by a shot of an arquebus. Thence a great commotion +arose among them, which however subsided when some presents were given to +the wounded. This is the usual manner of allaying and settling quarrels, +and, in case of the death of the wounded, presents are given to the +relatives of the one killed. + +As to smaller game there is a large quantity of it in its season. There are +also many cranes,[145] white as swans, and other varieties of birds like +those in France. + +We proceeded by short days' journeys as far as the shore of the lake of the +Entouhonorons, constantly hunting as before mentioned. Here at its eastern +extremity, which is the entrance to the great River St. Lawrence, we made +the traverse, in latitude 43 deg., [146] where in the passage there are very +large beautiful islands. We went about fourteen leagues in passing to the +southern side of the lake towards the territory of the enemy. [147] The +savages concealed all their canoes in the woods near the shore. We went +some four leagues over a sandy strand, where I observed a very pleasant and +beautiful country, intersected by many little streams and two small rivers, +which discharge into the before-mentioned lake, also many ponds and +meadows, where there was an endless amount of game, many vines, fine woods, +and a large number of chestnut trees, whose fruit was still in the burr. +The chestnuts are small, but of a good flavor. The country is covered with +forests, which over its greater portion have not been cleared up. All the +canoes being thus hidden, we left the border of the lake, [148] which is +some eighty leagues long and twenty-five wide. [149] The greater portion of +its shores is inhabited by savages. We continued our course by land for +about twenty-five or thirty leagues. In the space of four days we crossed +many brooks, and a river which proceeds from a lake that discharges into +that of the Entouhonorons. [150] This lake is twenty-five or thirty leagues +in circuit, contains some fine islands, and is the place where our enemies, +the Iroquois, catch their fish, in which it abounds. + +On the 9th of the month of October our savages going out to reconnoitre met +eleven savages, whom they took prisoners. They consisted of four women, +three boys, one girl, and three men, who were going fishing and were +distant some four leagues from the fort of the enemy. Now it is to be noted +that one of the chiefs, on seeing the prisoners, cut off the finger of one +of these poor women as a beginning of their usual punishment; upon which I +interposed and reprimanded the chief, Iroquet, representing to him that it +was not the act of a warrior, as he declared himself to be, to conduct +himself with cruelty towards women, who have no defence but their tears and +that one should treat them with humanity on account of their helplessness +and weakness; and I told him that on the contrary this act would be deemed +to proceed from a base and brutal courage, and that if he committed any +more of these cruelties he would not give me heart to assist them or favor +them in the war. To which the only answer he gave me was that their enemies +treated them in the same manner, but that, since this was displeasing to +me, he would not do anything more to the women, although he would to the +men. + +The next day, at three o'clock in the afternoon, we arrived before the fort +[151] of their enemies, where the savages made some skirmishes with each +other, although our design was not to disclose ourselves until the next +day, which however the impatience of our savages would not permit, both on +account of their desire to see fire opened upon their enemies, and also +that they might rescue some of their own men who had become too closely +engaged, and were hotly pressed. Then I approached the enemy, and although +I had only a few men, yet we showed them what they had never seen nor heard +before; for, as soon as they saw us and heard the arquebus shots and the +balls whizzing in their ears, they withdrew speedily to their fort, +carrying the dead and wounded in this charge. We also withdrew to our main +body, with five or six wounded, one of whom died. + +This done, we withdrew to the distance of cannon range, out of sight of the +enemy, but contrary to my advice and to what they had promised me. This +moved me to address them very rough and angry words in order to incite them +to do their duty, foreseeing that if everything should go according to +their whim and the guidance of their council, their utter ruin would be the +result. Nevertheless I did not fail to send to them and propose means which +they should use in order to get possession of their enemies. + +These were, to make with certain kinds of wood a _cavalier_, which should +be higher than the palisades. Upon this were to be placed four or five of +our arquebusiers, who should keep up a constant fire over their palisades +and galleries, which were well provided with stones, and by this means +dislodge the enemy who might attack us from their galleries. Meanwhile +orders were to be given to procure boards for making a sort of mantelet to +protect our men from the arrows and stones of which the savages generally +make use. These instruments, namely the cavalier and mantelets, were +capable of being carried by a large number of men. One mantelet was so +constructed that the water could not extinguish the fire, which might be +set to the fort, under cover of the arquebusiers who were doing their duty +on the cavalier. In this manner, I told them, we might be able to defend +ourselves so that the enemy could not approach to extinguish the fire which +we should set to their ramparts. + +This proposition they thought good and very seasonable, and immediately +proceeded to carry it out as I directed. In fact the next day they set to +work, some to cut wood, others to gather it, for building and equipping the +cavalier and mantelets. The work was promptly executed and in less than +four hours, although the amount of wood they had collected for burning +against the ramparts, in order to set fire to them, was very small. Their +expectation was that the five hundred men who had promised to come would do +so on this day, but doubt was felt about them, since they had not appeared +at the rendezvous, as they had been charged to do, and as they had +promised. This greatly troubled our savages; but seeing that they were +sufficiently numerous to take the fort without other assistance, and +thinking for my part that delay, if not in all things at least in many, is +prejudicial, I urged them to attack it, representing to them that the +enemy, having become aware of their force and our arms, which pierced +whatever was proof against arrows, had begun to barricade themselves and +cover themselves with strong pieces of wood, with which they were well +provided and their village filled. I told them that the least delay was the +best, since the enemy had already strengthened themselves very much; for +their village was enclosed by four good palisades, which were made of great +pieces of wood, interlaced with each other, with an opening of not more +than half a foot between two, and which were thirty feet high, with +galleries after the manner of a parapet, which they had furnished with +double pieces of wood that were proof against our arquebus shots. Moreover +it was near a pond where the water was abundant, and was well supplied with +gutters, placed between each pair of palisades, to throw out water, which +they had also under cover inside, in order to extinguish fire. Now this is +the character of their fortifications and defences, which are much stronger +than the villages of the Attigouautan and others. + +We approached to attack the village, our cavalier being carried by two +hundred of the strongest men, who put it down before the village at a +pike's length off. I ordered three arquebusiers to mount upon it, who were +well protected from the arrows and stones that could be shot or hurled at +them. Meanwhile the enemy did not fail to send a large number of arrows +which did not miss, and a great many stones, which they hurled from their +palisades. Nevertheless a hot fire of arquebuses forced them to dislodge +and abandon their galleries, in consequence of the cavalier which uncovered +them, they not venturing to show themselves, but fighting under shelter. +Now when the cavalier was carried forward, instead of bringing up the +mantelets according to order, including that one under cover of which we +were to set the fire, they abandoned them and began to scream at their +enemies, shooting arrows into the fort, which in my opinion did little harm +to the enemy. + +But we must excuse them, for they are not warriors, and besides will have +no discipline nor correction, and will do only what they please. +Accordingly one of them set fire inconsiderately to the wood placed against +the fort of the enemy, quite the wrong way and in the face of the wind, so +that it produced no effect. + +This fire being out, the greater part of the savages began to carry wood +against the palisades, but in so small quantity that the fire could have no +great effect. There also arose such disorder among them that one could not +understand another, which greatly troubled me. In vain did I shout in their +ears and remonstrate to my utmost with them as to the danger to which they +exposed themselves by their bad behavior, but on account of the great noise +they made they heard nothing. Seeing that shouting would only burst my +head, and that my remonstrances were useless for putting a stop to the +disorder, I did nothing more, but determined together with my men to do +what we could, and fire upon such as we could see. + +Meanwhile the enemy profited by our disorder to get water and pour it so +abundantly that you would have said brooks were flowing through their +spouts, the result of which was that the fire was instantly extinguished, +while they did not cease shooting their arrows, which fell upon us like +hail. But the men on the cavalier killed and maimed many. We were engaged +in this combat about three hours, in which two of our chiefs and leading +warriors were wounded, namely, one called _Ochateguain_ and another +_Orani_, together with some fifteen common warriors. The others, seeing +their men and some of the chiefs wounded, now began to talk of a retreat +without farther fighting, in expectation of the five hundred men, [152] +whose arrival could not be much delayed. Thus they retreated, a disorderly +rabble. + +Moreover the chiefs have in fact no absolute control over their men, who +are governed by their own will and follow their own fancy, which is the +cause of their disorder and the ruin of all their undertakings; for, having +determined upon anything with their leaders, it needs only the whim of a +villain, or nothing at all, to lead them to break it off and form a new +plan. Thus there is no concert of action among them, as can be seen by this +expedition. + +Now we withdrew into our fort, I having received two arrow wounds, one in +the leg, the other in the knee, which caused me great inconvenience, aside +from the severe pain. When they were all assembled, I addressed them some +words of remonstrance on the disorder that had occurred. But all I said +availed nothing, and had no effect upon them. They replied that many of +their men had been wounded like myself, so that it would cause the others +much trouble and inconvenience to carry them as they retreated, and that it +was not possible to return again against their enemies, as I told them it +was their duty to do. They agreed, however, to wait four days longer for +the five hundred men who were to come; and, if they came, to make a second +effort against their enemies, and execute better what I might tell them +than they had done in the past. With this I had to content myself, to my +great regret. + +Herewith is indicated the manner in which they fortify their towns, from +which representation it may be inferred that those of their friends and +enemies are fortified in like manner. + +The next day there was a violent wind, which lasted two days, and was very +favorable for setting fire anew to the fort of the enemy which, although I +urged them strongly, they were unwilling to do, as if they were afraid of +getting the worst of it, and besides they pleaded their wounded as an +excuse. + +We remained in camp until the 16th of the month, [153] during which time +there were some skirmishes between the enemy and our men, who were very +often surrounded by the former, rather through their imprudence than from +lack of courage; for I assure you that every time we went to the charge it +was necessary for us to go and disengage them from the crowd, since they +could only retreat under cover of our arquebusiers, whom the enemy greatly +dreaded and feared; for as soon as they perceived any one of the +arquebusiers they withdrew speedily, saying in a persuasive manner that we +should not interfere in their combats, and that their enemies had very +little courage to require us to assist them, with many other words of like +tenor, in order to prevail upon us. + +I have represented by figure E the manner in which they arm themselves in +going to war. + +After some days, seeing that the five hundred men did not come, they +determined to depart, and enter upon their retreat as soon as possible. +They proceeded to make a kind of basket for carrying the wounded, who are +put into it crowded up in a heap, being bound and pinioned in such a manner +that it is as impossible for them to move as for an infant in its swaddling +clothes; but this is, not without causing the wounded much extreme +pain. This I can say with truth from my own experience, having been carried +some days, since I could not stand up, particularly on account of an +arrow-wound which I had received in the knee. I never found myself in such +a _gehenna_ as during this time, for the pain which I suffered in +consequence of the wound in my knee was nothing in comparison with that +which I endured while I was carried bound and pinioned on the back of one +of our savages; so that I lost my patience, and as soon as I could sustain +myself, got out of this prison, or rather _gehenna_. + +The enemy followed us about half a league, though at a distance, with the +view of trying to take some of those composing the rear guard; but their +efforts were vain, and they retired. + +Now the only good point that I have seen in their mode of warfare is that +they make their retreat very securely, placing all the wounded and aged in +their centre, being well armed on the wings and in the rear, and continuing +this order without interruption until they reach a place of security. + +Their retreat was very long, being from twenty-five to thirty leagues, +which caused the wounded much fatigue, as also those who carried them, +although the latter relieved each other from time to time. + +On the 18th day of the month there fell much snow and hail, accompanied by +a strong wind, which greatly incommoded us. Nevertheless we succeeded in +arriving at the shore of the lake of the Entouhonorons, at the place where +our canoes were concealed, which we found all intact, for we had been +afraid lest the enemy might have broken them up. + +When they were all assembled, and I saw that they were ready to depart to +their village, I begged them to take me to our settlement, which, though +unwilling at first, they finally concluded to do, and sought four men to +conduct me. Four men were found, who offered themselves of their own +accord; for, as I have before said, the chiefs have no control over their +men, in consequence of which they are often unable to do as they would +like. Now the men having been found, it was necessary also to find a canoe, +which was not to be had, each one needing his own, and there being no more +than they required. This was far from being pleasant to me, but, on the +contrary greatly annoyed me, since it led me to suspect some evil purpose, +inasmuch as they had promised to conduct me to our settlement after their +war. Moreover I was poorly prepared for spending the winter with them, or +else should not have been concerned about the matter. But not being able to +do anything, I was obliged to resign myself in patience. Now after some +days I perceived that their plan was to keep me and my companions, not only +as a security for themselves, for they feared their enemies, but also that +I might listen to what took place in their councils and assemblies, and +determine what they should do in the future against their enemies for their +security and preservation. + +The next day, the 28th of the month, they began to make preparations; some +to go deer-hunting, others to hunt bears and beavers, others to go fishing, +others to return to their villages. An abode and lodging were furnished me +by one of the principal chiefs, called _D'Arontal_, with whom I already had +some acquaintance. Having offered me his cabin, provisions, and +accommodations, he set out also for the deer-hunt, which is esteemed by +them the greatest and most noble one. After crossing, from the island, +[154] the end of the lake, we entered a river [155] some twelve leagues in +extent. They then carried their canoes by land some half a league, when we +entered a lake [156] which was some ten or twelve leagues in circuit, where +there was a large amount of game, as swans, [157] white cranes, [158] +outardes, [159] ducks, teal, song-thrush, [160] larks, [161] snipe, [162] +geese, [163] and several other kinds of fowl too numerous to mention. Of +these I killed a great number, which stood us in good stead while waiting +for the capture of a deer. From there we proceeded to a certain place some +ten leagues distant, where our savages thought there were deer in +abundance. Assembled there were some twenty-five savages, who set to +building two or three cabins out of pieces of wood fitted to each other, +the chinks of which they stopped up by means of moss to prevent the +entrance of the air, covering them with the bark of trees. + +When they had done this they went into the woods to a small forest of firs, +where they made an enclosure in the form of a triangle, closed up on two +sides and open on one. This enclosure was made of great stakes of wood +closely pressed together, from eight to nine feet high, each of the sides +being fifteen hundred paces long. At the extremity of this triangle there +was a little enclosure, constantly diminishing in size, covered in part +with boughs and with only an opening of five feet, about the width of a +medium-sized door, into which the deer were to enter. They were so +expeditious in their work, that in less than ten days they had their +enclosure in readiness. Meanwhile other savages had gone fishing, catching +trout and pike of prodigious size, and enough to meet all our wants. + +All preparations being made, they set out half an hour before day to go +into the wood, some half a league from the before-mentioned enclosure, +separated from each other some eighty paces. Each had two sticks, which +they struck together, and they marched in this order at a slow pace until +they arrived at their enclosure. The deer hearing this noise flee before +them until they reach the enclosure, into which the savages force them to +go. Then they gradually unite on approaching the bay and opening of their +triangle, the deer skirting the sides until they reach the end, to which +the savages hotly pursue them, with bow and arrow in hand ready to let fly. +On reaching the end of the triangle they begin to shout and imitate wolves, +[164] which are numerous, and which devour the deer. The deer, hearing this +frightful noise, are constrained to enter the retreat by the little +opening, whither they are very hotly pursued by arrow shots. Having entered +this retreat, which is so well closed and fastened that they can by no +possibility get out, they are easily captured. I assure you that there is a +singular pleasure in this chase, which took place every two days, and was +so successful that, in the thirty-eight days [165] during which we were +there, they captured one hundred and twenty deer, which they make good use +of, reserving the fat for winter, which they use as we do butter, and +taking away to their homes some of the flesh for their festivities. + +They have other contrivances for capturing the deer; as snares, with which +they kill many. You see depicted opposite the manner of their chase, +enclosure, and snare. Out of the skins they make garments. Thus you see how +we spent the time while waiting for the frost, that we might return the +more easily, since the country is very marshy. + +When they first went out hunting, I lost my way in the woods, having +followed a certain bird that seemed to me peculiar. It had a beak like that +of a parrot, and was of the size of a hen. It was entirely yellow, except +the head which was red, and the wings which were blue, and it flew by +intervals like a partridge. The desire to kill it led me to pursue it from +tree to tree for a very long time, until it flew away in good earnest. Thus +losing all hope, I desired to retrace my steps, but found none of our +hunters, who had been constantly getting ahead, and had reached the +enclosure. While trying to overtake them, and going, as it seemed to me, +straight to where the enclosure was, I found myself lost in the woods, +going now on this side now on that, without being able to recognize my +position. The night coming on, I was obliged to spend it at the foot of a +great tree, and in the morning set out and walked until three o'clock in +the afternoon, when I came to a little pond of still water. Here I noticed +some game, which I pursued, killing three or four birds, which were very +acceptable, since I had had nothing to eat. Unfortunately for me there had +been no sunshine for three days, nothing but rain and cloudy weather, which +increased my trouble. Tired and exhausted I prepared to rest myself and +cook the birds in order to alleviate the hunger which I began painfully to +feel, and which by God's favor was appeased. + +When I had made my repast I began to consider what I should do, and to pray +God to give me the will and courage to sustain patiently my misfortune if I +should be obliged to remain abandoned in this forest without counsel or +consolation except the Divine goodness and mercy, and at the same time to +exert myself to return to our hunters. Thus committing all to His mercy I +gathered up renewed courage going here and there all day, without +perceiving any foot-print or path, except those of wild beasts, of which I +generally saw a good number. I was obliged to pass here this night +also. Unfortunately I had forgotten to bring with me a small compass which +would have put me on the right road, or nearly so. At the dawn of day, +after a brief repast, I set out in order to find, if possible, some brook +and follow it, thinking that it must of necessity flow into the river on +the border of which our hunters were encamped. Having resolved upon this +plan, I carried it out so well that at noon I found myself on the border of +a little lake, about a league and a half in extent, where I killed some +game, which was very timely for my wants; I had likewise remaining some +eight or ten charges of powder, which was a great satisfaction. + +I proceeded along the border of this lake to see where it discharged, and +found a large brook, which I followed until five o'clock in the evening, +when I heard a great noise, but on carefully listening failed to perceive +clearly what it was. On hearing the noise, however, more distinctly, I +concluded that it was a fall of water in the river which I was searching +for. I proceeded nearer, and saw an opening, approaching which I found +myself in a great and far-reaching meadow, where there was a large number +of wild beasts, and looking to my right I perceived the river, broad and +long. I looked to see if I could not recognize the place, and walking along +on the meadow I noticed a little path where the savages carried their +canoes. Finally, after careful observation, I recognized it as the same +river, and that I had gone that way before. + +I passed the night in better spirits than the previous ones, supping on the +little I had. In the morning I re-examined the place where I was, and +concluded from certain mountains on the border of the river that I had not +been deceived, and that our hunters must be lower down by four or five good +leagues. This distance I walked at my leisure along the border of the +river, until I perceived the smoke of our hunters, where I arrived to the +great pleasure not only of myself but of them, who were still searching for +me, but had about given up all hopes of seeing me again. They begged me not +to stray off from them any more, or never to forget to carry with me my +compass, and they added: If you had not come, and we had not succeeded in +finding you, we should never have gone again to the French, for fear of +their accusing us of having killed you. After this he [166] was very +careful of me when I went hunting, always giving me a savage as companion, +who knew how to find again the place from which he started so well that it +was something very remarkable. + +To return to my subject: they have a kind of superstition in regard to this +hunt; namely, they believe that if they should roast any of the meat taken +in this way, or if any of the fat should fall into the fire, or if any of +the bones should be thrown into it, they would not be able to capture any +more deer. Accordingly they begged me to roast none of this meat, but I +laughed at this and their way of doing. Yet, in order not to offend them, +I cheerfully desisted, at least in their presence; though when they were +out of sight I took some of the best and roasted it, attaching no credit to +their superstitions. When I afterwards told them what I had done, they +would not believe me, saying that they could not have taken any deer after +the doing of such a thing. + +On the fourth day of December we set out from this place, walking on the +river, lakes, and ponds, which were frozen, and sometimes through the +woods. Thus we went for nineteen days, undergoing much hardship and toil, +both the savages, who were loaded with a hundred pounds, and myself, who +carried a burden of twenty pounds, which in the long journey tired me very +much. It is true that I was sometimes relieved by our savages, but +nevertheless I suffered great discomfort. The savages, in order to go over +the ice more easily, are accustomed to make a kind of wooden sledge, [167] +on which they put their loads, which they easily and swiftly drag along. +Some days after there was a thaw, which caused us much trouble and +annoyance; for we had to go through pine forests full of brooks, ponds, +marshes, and swamps, where many trees had been blown down upon each +other. This caused us a thousand troubles and embarrassments, and great +discomfort, as we were all the time wet to above our knees. We were four +days in this plight, since in most places the ice would not bear. At last, +on the 20th of the month, we succeeded in arriving at our village. [168] +Here the Captain Yroquet had come to winter with his companions, who are +Algonquins, also his son, whom he brought for the sake of treatment, since +while hunting he had been seriously injured by a bear which he was trying +to kill. + +After resting some days I determined to go and visit Father Joseph, and to +see in winter the people where he was, whom the war had not permitted me to +see in the summer. I set out from this village on the 14th [169] of January +following, thanking my host for the kindness he had shown me, and, taking +formal leave of him, as I did not expect to see him again for three months. + +The next day I saw Father Joseph, [170] in his small house where he had +taken up his abode, as I have before stated. I stayed with him some days, +finding him deliberating about making a journey to the Petun people, as I +had also thought of doing, although it was very disagreeable travelling in +winter. We set out together on the fifteenth of February to go to that +nation, where we arrived on the seventeenth of the month. [171] These Petun +people plant the maize, called by us _ble de Turquie_, and have fixed +abodes like the rest. We went to seven other villages of their neighbors +and allies, with whom we contracted friendship, and who promised to come in +good numbers to our settlement. They welcomed us with good cheer, making a +banquet with meat and fish, as is their custom. To this the people from all +quarters flocked in order to see us, showing many manifestations of +friendship, and accompanying us on the greater part of our way back. The +country is diversified with pleasant slopes and plains. They were beginning +to build two villages, through which we passed, and which were situated in +the midst of the woods, because of the convenience [172] of building and +fortifying their towns there. These people live like the Attignouaatitans, +[173] and have the same customs. They are situated near the Nation Neutre, +[174] which are powerful and occupy a great extent of country. After +visiting these people, we set out from that place, and went to a nation of +savages, whom we named _Cheveux Releves_. [175] They were very happy to see +us again, and we entered into friendship with them, while they in return +promised to come and see us, namely at the habitation in this place. + +It has seemed to me desirable to describe them and their country, their +customs and mode of life. In the first place they are at war with another +nation of savages, called Asistagueroueon, [176] which means _Gens de Feu_, +who are distant from them ten days' journey. I informed myself accordingly +very particularly in regard to their country and the tribes living there, +as also to their character and numbers. The people of this nation are very +numerous, and are for the most part great warriors, hunters, and +fishermen. They have several chiefs, each ruling in his own district. In +general they plant Indian corn, and other cereals. They are hunters who go +in troops to various regions and countries, where they traffic with other +nations, distant four or five hundred leagues. They are the cleanest +savages in their household affairs that I have ever seen, and are very +industrious in making a kind of mat, which constitutes their Turkish +carpets. The women have the body covered, but the men go uncovered, with +the exception of a fur robe in the form of a cloak, which they usually +leave off in summer. The women and girls are not more moved at seeing them +thus, than if they saw nothing unusual. The women live very happily with +their husbands. They have the following custom when they have their +catamenia: the wives withdraw from their husbands, or the daughter from her +father and mother and other relatives, and go to certain small houses. +There they remain in retirement, awaiting their time, without any company +of men, who bring them food and necessaries until their return. Thus it is +known who have their catamenia and who have not. This tribe is accustomed +more than others to celebrate great banquets. They gave us good cheer and +welcomed us very cordially, earnestly begging me to assist them against +their enemies, who dwell on the banks of the _Mer Douce_, two hundred +leagues distant; to which I replied that they must wait until another time, +as I was not provided with the necessary means. They were at a loss how to +welcome us. I have represented them in figure C as they go to war. + +There is, also, at a distance of a two days' journey from them, in a +southerly direction, another savage nation, that produces a large amount of +tobacco. This is called _Nation Neutre_. They number four thousand +warriors, and dwell westward of the lake of the Entouhonorons, which is +from eighty to a hundred leagues in extent. They, however, assist the +_Cheveux Releves_ against the _Gens de Feu_. But with the Iroquois and our +allies they are at peace, and preserve a neutrality. There is a cordial +understanding towards both of these nations, and they do not venture to +engage in any dispute or quarrel, but on the contrary often eat and drink +with them like good friends. I was very desirous of visiting this nation, +but the people where we were dissuaded me from it, saying that the year +before one of our men had killed one of them, when we were at war with the +Entouhonorons, which offended them; and they informed us that they are much +inclined to revenge, not concerning themselves as to who struck the blow, +but inflicting the penalty upon the first one they meet of the nation, even +though one of their friends, when they succeed in catching him, unless +harmony has been previously restored between them, and gifts and presents +bestowed upon the relatives of the deceased. Thus I was prevented for the +time being from going, although some of this nation assured us that they +would do us no harm for the reason assigned above. + +Thus we were led to return the same way we had come, and continuing my +journey, I reached the nation of the _Pisierinii_, [177] who had promised +to conduct me farther on in the prosecution of my plans and explorations. +But I was prevented by the intelligence which came from our great village +and the Algonquins, where Captain Yroquet was, namely, that the people of +the nation of the Atignouaatitans [178] had placed in his hands a prisoner +of a hostile nation, in the expectation that this Captain Yroquet would +exercise on the prisoner the revenge usual among them. But they said that, +instead of doing so, he had not only set him at liberty, but, having found +him apt, and an excellent hunter, had treated him as his son, on account of +which the Atignouaatitans had become jealous and resolved upon vengeance, +and had in fact appointed a man to go and kill this prisoner, allied as he +was. As he was put to death in the presence of the chiefs of the Algonquin +nation, they, indignant at such an act and moved to anger, killed on the +spot this rash murderer; whereupon the Atignouaatitans feeling themselves +insulted, seeing one of their comrades dead, seized their arms and went to +the tents of the Algonquins, who were passing the winter near the above +mentioned village, and belabored them severely, Captain Yroquet receiving +two arrow wounds. At another time they pillaged some of the cabins of the +Algonquins before the latter could place themselves in a state of defence, +so that they had not an equal chance. Notwithstanding this they were not +reconciled to the Algonquins, who for securing peace had given the +Atignouaatitans fifty necklaces of porcelain and a hundred branches of the +same [179] which they value highly, and likewise a number of kettles and +axes, together with two female prisoners in place of the dead man. They +were, in a word, still in a state of violent animosity. The Algonquins were +obliged to suffer patiently this great rage, and feared that they might all +be killed, not feeling any security, notwithstanding their gifts, until +they should be differently situated. This intelligence greatly disturbed +me, when I considered the harm that might arise not only to them, but to us +as well, who were in their country. + +I then met two or three savages of our large village, who earnestly +entreated me to go to them in order to effect a reconciliation, declaring +that if I did not go none of them would come to us any more, since they +were at war with the Algonquins and regarded us as their friends. In view +of this I set out as soon as possible, and visited on my way the Nipissings +to ascertain when they would be ready for the journey to the north, which I +found broken off on account of these quarrels and hostilities, as my +interpreter gave me to understand, who said that Captain Yroquet had come +among all these tribes to find and await me. He had requested them to be at +the habitation of the French at the same time with himself to see what +agreement could be made between them and the Atignouaatitans, and to +postpone the journey to the north to another time. Moreover, Yroquet had +given porcelain to break off this journey. They promised us to be at our +habitation at the same time as the others. + +If ever there was one greatly disheartened it was myself, since I had been +waiting to see this year what during many preceding ones I had been seeking +for with great toil and effort, through so many fatigues and risks of my +life. But realizing that I could not help the matter, and that everything +depended on the will of God, I comforted myself, resolving to see it in a +short time. I had such sure information that I could not doubt the report +of these people, who go to traffic with others dwelling in those northern +regions, a great part of whom live in a place very abundant in the chase, +and where there are great numbers of large animals, the skins of several of +which I saw, and which I concluded were buffaloes [180] from their +representation of their form. Fishing is also very abundant there. This +journey requires forty days, as well in returning as in going. + +I set out towards our above-mentioned village on the 15th of February, +taking with me six of our men. Having arrived at that place the inhabitants +were greatly pleased, as also the Algonquins, whom I sent our interpreter +to visit in order to ascertain how everything had taken place on both +sides, for I did not wish to go myself that I might give no ground for +suspicion to either party. + +Two days were spent in hearing from both sides how everything had taken +place. After this the principal men and seniors of the place came away with +us, and we all together went to the Algonquins. Here in one of their +cabins, where several of the leading men were assembled, they all, after +some talk, agreed to come and accept all that might be said by me as +arbiter in the matter, and to carry out what I might propose. + +Then I gathered the views of each one, obtaining and investigating the +wishes and inclinations of both parties, and ascertained that all they +wanted was peace. + +I set forth to them that the best course was to become reconciled and +remain friends, since being united and bound together they could the more +easily withstand their enemies; and as I went away I begged them not to ask +me to effect their reconciliation if they did not intend to follow in all +respects the advice I should give them in regard to this dispute, since +they had done me the honor to request my opinion. Whereupon they told me +anew that they had not desired my return for any other reason. I for my +part thought that if I should not reconcile and pacify them they would +separate ill disposed towards each other, each party thinking itself in the +right. I reflected, also, that they would not have gone to their cabins if +I had not been with them, nor to the French if I had not interested myself +and taken, so to speak, the charge and conduct of their affairs. Upon this +I said to them that as for myself I proposed to go with my host, who had +always treated me well, and that I could with difficulty find one so good; +for it was on him that the Algonquins laid the blame, saying that he was +the only captain who had caused the taking up of arms. Much was said by +both sides, and finally it was concluded that I should tell them what +seemed to me best, and give them my advice. + +Since I saw now from what was said that they referred the whole matter to +my own decision as to that of a father, and promised that in the future I +might dispose of them as I thought best, referring the whole matter to my +judgment for settlement, I replied that I was very glad to see them so +inclined to follow my advice, and assured them that it should be only for +the best interests of the tribes. + +Moreover I told them, I had been greatly disturbed at hearing the further +sad intelligence, namely the death of one of their relatives and friends, +whom we regarded as one of our own, which might have caused a great +calamity resulting in nothing but perpetual wars between both parties, with +various and serious disasters and a rupture of their friendship, in +consequence of which the French would be deprived of seeing them and of +intercourse with them, and be obliged to enter into alliance with other +nations; since we loved each other as brothers, leaving to God the +punishment of those meriting it. + +I proceeded to say to them, that this mode of action between two nations, +who were, as they acknowledged, friendly to each other, was unworthy of +reasoning men, but rather characteristic of brute beasts. I represented to +them, moreover, that they were enough occupied in repelling their enemies +who pursued them, in routing them as often as possible, in pursuing them to +their villages and taking them prisoners; and that these enemies, seeing +divisions and wars among them, would be delighted and derive great +advantage therefrom; and be led to lay new and pernicious plans, in the +hope of soon being able to see their ruin, or at least their enfeebling +through one another, which would be the truest and easiest way for them to +conquer and become masters of their territories, since they did not assist +each other. + +I told them likewise that they did not realize the harm that might befall +them from thus acting; that on account of the death of one man they +hazarded the lives of ten thousand, and ran the risk of being reduced to +perpetual slavery; that, although in fact one man was of great value, yet +they ought to consider how he had been killed, and that it was not with +deliberate purpose, nor for the sake of inciting a civil war, it being only +too evident that the dead man had first offended, since with deliberate +purpose he had killed the prisoner in their cabins, a most audacious thing, +even if the latter were an enemy. This aroused the Algonquins, who, seeing +a man that had been so bold as to kill in their own cabins another to whom +they had given liberty and treated as one of themselves, were carried away +with passion; and some, more excited than the rest, advanced, and, unable +to restrain or control their wrath, killed the man in question. +Nevertheless they had no ill feeling at all towards the nation as a whole, +and did not extend their purposes beyond the audacious one, who, they +thought, fully deserved what he had wantonly earned. + +And besides I told them they must consider that the Entouhonoron, finding +himself wounded by two blows in the stomach, tore from his wound the knife +which his enemy had left there and gave the latter two blows, as I had been +informed; so that in fact one could not tell whether it was really the +Algonquins who had committed the murder. And in order to show to the +Attigouantans that the Algonquins did not love the prisoner, and that +Yroquet did not bear towards him the affection which they were disposed to +think, I reminded them that they had eaten him, as he had inflicted blows +with a knife upon his enemy; a thing, however, unworthy of a human being, +but rather characteristic of brute beasts. + +I told them also that the Algonquins very much regretted all that had taken +place, and that, if they had supposed such a thing would have happened, +they would have sacrificed this Iroquois for their satisfaction. I reminded +them likewise that they had made recompense for this death and offence, if +so it should be called, by large presents and two prisoners, on which +account they had no reason at present to complain, and ought to restrain +themselves and act more mildly towards the Algonquins, their friends. I +told them that, since they had promised to submit every thing to +arbitration, I entreated them to forget all that had passed between them +and never to think of it again, nor bear any hatred or ill will on account +of it to each other, but to live good friends as before, by doing which +they would constrain us to love them and assist them as I had done in the +past. But in case they should not be pleased with my advice, I requested +them to come, in as large numbers as possible, to our settlement, so that +there, in the presence of all the captains of vessels, our friendship might +be ratified anew, and measures taken to secure them from their enemies, a +thing which they ought to consider. + +Then they began to say that I had spoken well, and that they would adhere +to what I had said, and all went away to their cabins, apparently +satisfied, excepting the Algonquins, who broke up and proceeded to their +village, but who, as it seemed to me, appeared to be not entirely +satisfied, since they said among themselves that they would not come to +winter again in these places, the death of these two men having cost them +too dearly. As for myself, I returned to my host, in whom I endeavored to +inspire all the courage I could, in order to induce him to come to our +settlement, and bring with him all those of his country. + +During the winter, which lasted four months, I had sufficient leisure to +observe their country, customs, dress, manner of living, the character of +their assemblies, and other things which I should like to describe. But it +is necessary first to speak of the situation of the country in general and +its divisions, also of the location of the tribes and the distances between +them. + +The country extends in length, in the direction from east to west, nearly +four hundred and fifty leagues, and some eighty or a hundred leagues in +breadth from north to south, from latitude 41 deg. to 48 deg. or 49 deg. [181] This +region is almost an island, surrounded by the great river Saint Lawrence, +which passes through several lakes of great extent, on the shores of which +dwell various tribes speaking different languages, having fixed abodes, and +all fond of the cultivation of the soil, but with various modes of life, +and customs, some better than others. On the shore north of this great +river, extending westerly some hundred leagues towards the Attigouantans, +[182] there are very high mountains, and the air is more temperate than in +any other part of these regions, the latitude being 41 deg. All these places +abound in game, such as stags, caribous, elks, does, [183] buffaloes, +bears, wolves, beavers, foxes, minxes, [184] weasels, [185] and many other +kinds of animals which we do not have in France. Fishing is abundant, there +being many varieties, both those which we have in France, as also others +which we have not. There are likewise many birds in their time and season. +The country is traversed by numerous rivers, brooks, and ponds, connecting +with each other and finally emptying into the river St. Lawrence and the +lakes through which it passes. The country is very pleasant in spring, is +covered with extensive and lofty forests, and filled with wood similar to +that which we have in France, although in many places there is much cleared +land, where they plant Indian corn. This region also abounds in meadows, +lowlands, and marshes, which furnish food for the animals before mentioned. + +The country north of the great river is very rough and mountainous, and +extends in latitude from 47 deg. to 49 deg., and in places abounds in rocks. [186] +So far as I could make out, these regions are inhabited by savages, who +wander through the country, not engaging in the cultivation of the soil, +nor doing anything, or at least as good as nothing. But they are hunters, +now in one place, now in another, the region being very cold and +disagreeable. This land on the north is in latitude 49 deg. and extends over +six hundred leagues in breadth from east to west, of parts of which we have +full knowledge. There are also many fine large rivers rising in this region +and discharging into the before-mentioned river, together with an infinite +number of fine meadows, lakes, and ponds, through which they pass, where +there is an abundance of fish. There are likewise numerous islands which +are for the most part cleared up and very pleasant, the most of them +containing great quantities of vines and wild fruits. + +With regard to the regions further west, we cannot well determine their +extent, since the people here have no knowledge of them except for two or +three hundred leagues or more westerly, from whence comes the great river, +which passes, among other places, through a lake having an extent of nearly +thirty days' journey by canoe, namely that which we have called the _Mer +Douce_. This is of great extent, being nearly four hundred leagues long. +Inasmuch as the savages, with whom we are on friendly terms, are at war +with other nations on the west of this great lake, we cannot obtain a more +complete knowledge of them, except as they have told us several times that +some prisoners from the distance of a hundred leagues had reported that +there were tribes there like ourselves in color and in other respects. +Through them they have seen the hair of these people which is very light, +and which they esteem highly, saying that it is like our own. I can only +conjecture in regard to this, that the people they say resemble us were +those more civilized than themselves. It would require actual presence to +ascertain the truth in regard to this matter. But assistance is needed, and +it is only men of means, leisure, and energy, who could or would undertake +to promote this enterprise so that a full exploration of these places might +be made, affording us a complete knowledge of them. + +In regard to the region south of the great river it is very thickly +settled, much more so than that on the north, and by tribes who are at war +with each other. The country is very pleasant, much more so than that on +the northern border, and the air is more temperate. There are many kinds of +trees and fruits not found north of the river, while there are many things +on the north side, in compensation, not found on the south. The regions +towards the east are sufficiently well known, inasmuch as the ocean borders +these places. These are the coasts of Labrador, Newfoundland, Cape Breton, +La Cadie, and the Almouchiquois, [187] places well known, as I have treated +of them sufficiently in the narrative of my previous Voyages, as likewise +of the people living there, on which account I shall not speak of them in +this treatise, my object being only to make a succinct and true report of +what I have seen in addition. + +The country of the nation of the Attigouantans is in latitude 44 deg. 30', and +extends two hundred and thirty leagues [188] in length westerly, and ten in +breadth. It contains eighteen villages, six of which are enclosed and +fortified by palisades of wood in triple rows, bound together, on the top +of which are galleries, which they provide with stones and water; the +former to hurl upon their enemies and the latter to extinguish the fire +which their enemies may set to the palisades. The country is pleasant, most +of it cleared up. It has the shape of Brittany, and is similarly situated, +being almost surrounded by the _Mer Douce_ [189] They assume that these +eighteen villages are inhabited by two thousand warriors, not including the +common mass which amounts to perhaps thirty thousand souls. + +Their cabins are in the shape of tunnels or arbors, and are covered with +the bark of trees. They are from twenty-five to thirty fathoms long, more +or less, and six wide, having a passage-way through the middle from ten to +twelve feet wide, which extends from one end to the other. On the two sides +there is a kind of bench, four feet high, where they sleep in summer, in +order to avoid the annoyance of the fleas, of which there are great +numbers. In winter they sleep on the ground on mats near the fire, so as to +be warmer than they would be on the platform. They lay up a stock of dry +wood, with which they fill their cabins, to burn in winter. At the +extremity of the cabins there is a space, where they preserve their Indian +corn, which they put into great casks made of the bark of trees and placed +in the middle of their encampment. They have pieces of wood suspended, on +which they put their clothes, provisions, and other things, for fear of the +mice, of which there are great numbers. In one of these cabins there may be +twelve fires, and twenty-four families. It smokes excessively, from which +it follows that many receive serious injury to the eyes, so that they lose +their sight towards the close of life. There is no window nor any opening, +except that in the upper part of their cabins for the smoke to escape. + +This is all that I have been able to learn about their mode of life; and I +have described to you fully the kind of dwelling of these people, as far as +I have been able to learn it, which is the same as that of all the tribes +living in these regions. They sometimes change their villages at intervals +of ten, twenty, or thirty years, and transfer them to a distance of one, +two, or three leagues from the preceding situation, [190] except when +compelled by their enemies to dislodge, in which case they retire to a +greater distance, as the Antouhonorons, who went some forty to fifty +leagues. This is the form of their dwellings, which are separated from each +other some three or four paces, for fear of fire, of which they are in +great dread. + +Their life is a miserable one in comparison with our own; but they are +happy among themselves, not having experienced anything better, and not +imagining that anything more excellent is to be found. Their principal +articles of food are Indian corn and Brazilian beans, [191] which they +prepare in various ways. By braying in a wooden mortar they reduce the corn +to meal. They remove the bran by means of fans made of the bark of trees. +From this meal they make bread, using also beans which they first boil, as +they do the Indian corn for soup, so that they may be more easily crushed. +Then they mix all together, sometimes adding blueberries [192] or dry +raspberries, and sometimes pieces of deer's fat, though not often, as this +is scarce with them. After steeping the whole in lukewarm water, they make +bread in the form of bannocks or pies, which they bake in the ashes. After +they are baked they wash them, and from these they often make others by +wrapping them in corn leaves, which they fasten to them, and then putting +them in boiling water. + +But this is not their most common kind. They make another, which they call +_migan_, which is as follows: They take the pounded Indian corn, without +removing the bran, and put two or three handfuls of it in an earthen pot +full of water. This they boil, stirring it from time to time, that it may +not burn nor adhere to the pot. Then they put into the pot a small quantity +of fish, fresh or dry, according to the season, to give a flavor to the +_migan_, as they call it. They make it very often, although it smells +badly, especially in winter, either because they do not know how to prepare +it rightly, or do not wish to take the trouble to do so. They make two +kinds of it, and prepare it very well when they choose. When they use fish +the _migan_ does not smell badly, but only when it is made with +venison. After it is all cooked, they take out the fish, pound it very +fine, and then put it all together into the pot, not taking the trouble to +remove the appendages, scales, or inwards, as we do, which generally causes +a bad taste. It being thus prepared, they deal out to each one his +portion. This _migan_ is very thin, and without much substance, as may be +well supposed. As for drink, there is no need of it, the _migan_ being +sufficiently thin of itself. + +They have another kind of _migan_, namely, they roast new corn before it is +ripe, which they preserve and cook whole with fish, or flesh when they have +it. Another way is this: they take Indian corn, which is very dry, roast it +in the ashes, then bray it and reduce it to meal as in the former case. +This they lay up for the journeys which they undertake here and there. The +_migan_ made in the latter manner is the best according to my taste. Figure +H shows the women braying their Indian corn. In preparing it, they cook a +large quantity of fish and meat, which they cut into pieces and put into +great kettles, which they fill with water and let it all boil well. When +this is done, they gather with a spoon from the surface the fat which comes +from the meat and fish. Then they put in the meal of the roasted corn, +constantly stirring it until the _migan_ is cooked and thick as soup. They +give to each one a portion, together with a spoonful of the fat. This dish +they are accustomed to prepare for banquets, but they do not generally make +it. + +Now the corn freshly roasted, as above described, is highly esteemed among +them. They eat also beans, which they boil with the mass of the roasted +flour, mixing in a little fat and fish. Dogs are in request at their +banquets, which they often celebrate among themselves, especially in +winter, when they are at leisure. In case they go hunting for deer or go +fishing, they lay aside what they get for celebrating these banquets, +nothing remaining in their cabins but the usual thin _migan_, resembling +bran and water, such as is given to hogs to eat. + +They have another way of eating the Indian corn. In preparing it, they take +it in the ear and put it in water under the mud, leaving it two or three +months in this state until they think it is putrefied. Then they remove it, +and eat it boiled with meat or fish. They also roast it, and it is better +so than boiled. But I assure you that there is nothing that smells so badly +as this corn as it comes from the water all muddy. Yet the women and +children take it and suck it like sugar-cane, nothing seeming to them to +taste better, as they show by their manner. In general they have two meals +a day. As for ourselves, we fasted all of Lent and longer, in order to +influence them by our example. But it was time lost. + +They also fatten bears, which they keep two or three years, for the purpose +of their banquets. I observed that if this people had domestic animals they +would be interested in them and care for them very well, and I showed them +the way to keep them, which would be an easy thing for them, since they +have good grazing grounds in their country, and in large quantities, for +all kinds of animals, horses, oxen, cows, sheep, swine, and other kinds, +for lack of which one would consider them badly off, as they seem to be. +Yet with all their drawbacks, they seem to me to live happily among +themselves, since their only ambition is to live and support themselves, +and they lead a more settled life than those who wander through the forests +like brute beasts. They eat many squashes, [193] which they boil, and roast +in the ashes. + +In regard to their dress, they have various kinds and styles made of the +skins of wild beasts, both those which they capture themselves, and others +which they get in exchange for their Indian corn, meal, porcelain, and +fishing-nets from the Algonquins, Nipissings, and other tribes, which are +hunters having no fixed abodes. All their clothes are of one uniform shape, +not varied by any new styles. They prepare and fit very well the skins, +making their breeches of deer-skin rather large, and their stockings of +another piece, which extend up to the middle and have many folds. Their +shoes are made of the skins of deer, bears, and beaver, of which they use +great numbers. Besides, they have a robe of the same fur, in the form of a +cloak, which they wear in the Irish or Egyptian style, with sleeves which +are attached with a string behind. This is the way they are dressed in +winter, as is seen in figure D. When they go into the fields, they gird up +their robe about the body; but when in the village, they leave off their +sleeves and do not gird themselves. The Milan trimmings for decorating +their garments are made of glue and the scrapings of the before-mentioned +skins, of which they make bands in various styles according to their fancy, +putting in places bands of red and brown color amid those of the glue, +which always keep a whitish appearance, not losing at all their shape, +however dirty they may get. There are those among these nations who are +much more skilful than others in fitting the skins, and ingenious in +inventing ornaments to put on their garments. It is our Montagnais and +Algonquins, above all others, who take more pains in this matter. They put +on their robes bands of porcupine quills, which they dye a very fine +scarlet color. [194] They value these bands very highly, and detach them so +that they may serve for other robes when they wish to make a change. They +also make use of them to adorn the face, in order to give it a more +graceful appearance whenever they wish particularly to decorate themselves. + +Most of them paint the face black and red. These colors they mix with oil +made from the seed of the sun-flower, or with bear's fat or that of other +animals. They also dye their hair, which some wear long, others short, +others on one side only. The women and girls always wear their hair in one +uniform style. They are dressed like men, except that they always have +their robes girt about them, which extend down to the knee. They are not at +all ashamed to expose the body from the middle up and from the knees down, +unlike the men, the rest being always covered. They are loaded with +quantities of porcelain, in the shape of necklaces and chains, which they +arrange in the front of their robes and attach to their waists. They also +wear bracelets and ear-rings. They have their hair carefully combed, dyed, +and oiled. Thus they go to the dance, with a knot of their hair behind +bound up with eel-skin, which they use as a cord. Sometimes they put on +plates a foot square, covered with porcelain, which hang on the back. Thus +gaily dressed and habited, they delight to appear in the dance, to which +their fathers and mothers send them, forgetting nothing that they can +devise to embellish and set off their daughters. I can testify that I have +seen at dances a girl who had more than twelve pounds of porcelain on her +person, not including the other bagatelles with which they are loaded and +bedecked. In the illustration already cited, F shows the dress of the +women, G that of the girls attired for the dance. + +All these people have a very jovial disposition, although there are many of +them who have a sad and gloomy look. Their bodies are well proportioned. +Some of the men and women are well formed, strong, and robust. There is a +moderate number of pleasing and pretty girls, in respect to figure, color, +and expression, all being in harmony. Their blood is but little +deteriorated, except when they are old. There are among these tribes +powerful women of extraordinary height. These have almost the entire care of +the house and work; namely, they till the land, plant the Indian corn, lay +up a store of wood for the winter, beat the hemp and spin it, making from +the thread fishing-nets and other useful things. The women harvest the +corn, house it, prepare it for eating, and attend to household matters. +Moreover they are expected to attend their husbands from place to place in +the fields, filling the office of pack-mule in carrying the baggage, and to +do a thousand other things. All the men do is to hunt for deer and other +animals, fish, make their cabins, and go to war. Having done these things, +they then go to other tribes with which they are acquainted to traffic and +make exchanges. On their return, they give themselves up to festivities and +dances, which they give to each other, and when these are over they go to +sleep, which they like to do best of all things. + +They have some sort of marriage, which is as follows: when a girl has +reached the age of eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen years she +has suitors, more or less according to her attractions, who woo her for +some time. After this, the consent of their fathers and mothers is asked, +to whose will the girls often do not submit, although the most discreet and +considerate do so. The lover or suitor presents to the girl some necklaces, +chains, and bracelets of porcelain. If the girl finds the suitor agreeable, +she receives the present. Then the lover comes and remains with her three +or four nights, without saying anything to her during the time. They +receive thus the fruit of their affections. Whence it happens very often +that, after from eight to fifteen days, if they cannot agree, she quits her +suitor, who forfeits his necklaces and other presents that he has made, +having received in return only a meagre satisfaction. Being thus +disappointed in his hopes, the man seeks another woman, and the girl +another suitor, if it seems to them desirable. Thus they continue to do +until a favorable union is formed. It sometimes happens that a girl thus +passes her entire youth, having more than twenty mates, which twenty are +not alone in the enjoyment of the creature, mated though they are; for when +night comes the young women run from one cabin to another, as do also the +young men on their part, going where it seems good to them, but always +without any violence, referring the whole matter to the pleasure of the +woman. Their mates will do likewise to their women-neighbors, no jealousy +arising among them on that account, nor do they incur any reproach or +insult, such being the custom of the country. + +Now the time when they do not leave their mates is when they have +children. The preceding mate returns to her, renews the affection and +friendship which he had borne her in the past, asserting that it is greater +than that of any other one, and that the child she has is his and of his +begetting. The next says the same to her. In time, the victory is with the +stronger, who takes the woman for his wife. Thus it depends upon the +choice of the woman to take and accept him who shall please her best, +having meantime in her searching and loves gained much porcelain and, +besides, the choice of a husband. The woman remains with him without +leaving him; or if she do leave him, for he is on trial, it must be for +some good reason other than impotence. But while with this husband, she +does not cease to give herself free rein, yet remains always at home, +keeping up a good appearance. Thus the children which they have together, +born from such a woman, cannot be sure of their legitimacy. Accordingly, in +view of this uncertainty, it is their custom that the children never +succeed to the property and honors of their fathers, there being doubt, as +above indicated, as to their paternity. They make, however, the children of +their sisters, from whom they are known to have issued, their successors +and heirs. + +The following is the way they nourish and bring up their children: they +place them during the day on a little wooden board, wrapping them up in +furs or skins. To this board they bind them, placing them in an erect +position, and leaving a little opening for the child to do its necessities. +If it is a girl, they put a leaf of Indian corn between the thighs, which +presses against its privates. The extremity of the leaf is carried outside +in a turned position, so that the water of the child runs off on it without +inconvenience. They put also under the children the down of certain reeds +that we call hare's-foot, on which they rest very softly. They also clean +them with the same down. As an ornament for the child, they adorn the board +with beads, which they also put on its neck, however small it may be. At +night they put it to bed, entirely naked, between the father and mother. It +may be regarded as a great miracle that God should thus preserve it so that +no harm befalls it, as might be expected, from suffocation, while the +father and mother are in deep sleep, but that rarely happens. The children +have great freedom among these tribes. The fathers and mothers indulge them +too much, and never punish them. Accordingly they are so bad and of so +vicious a nature, that they often strike their mothers and others. The most +vicious, when they have acquired the strength and power, strike their +fathers. They do this whenever the father or mother does anything that +does not please them. This is a sort of curse that God inflicts upon them. + +In respect to laws, I have not been able to find out that they have any, or +anything that approaches them, inasmuch as there is not among them any +correction, punishment, or censure of evil-doers except in the way of +vengeance, when they return evil for evil, not by rule but by passion, +which produces among them conflicts and differences, which occur very +frequently. + +Moreover, they do not recognize any divinity, or worship any God and +believe in anything whatever, but live like brute beasts. They have, +however, some respect for the devil, or something so called, which is a +matter of uncertainty, since the word which they use thus has various +significations and comprises in itself various things. It is accordingly +difficult to determine whether they mean the devil or something else, but +what especially leads to the belief that what they mean is the devil is +this: whenever they see a man doing something extraordinary, or who is more +capable than usual, or is a valiant warrior, or furthermore who is in a +rage as if out of his reason and senses, they call him _oqui_, or, as we +should say, a great knowing spirit, or a great devil. However this may be, +they have certain persons, who are the _oqui_, or, as the Algonquins and +Montagnais call them, _manitous_; and persons of this kind are the +medicine-men, who heal the sick, bind up the wounded, and predict future +events, who in fine practise all abuses and illusions of the devil to +deceive and delude them. These _oquis_ or conjurers persuade their patients +and the sick to make, or have made banquets and ceremonies that they may be +the sooner healed, their object being to participate in them finally +themselves and get the principal benefit therefrom. Under the pretence of a +more speedy cure, they likewise cause them to observe various other +ceremonies, which I shall hereafter speak of in the proper place. These +are the people in whom they put especial confidence, but it is rare that +they are possessed of the devil and tormented like other savages living +more remote than themselves. + +This gives additional reason and ground to believe that their conversion to +the knowledge of God would be more easy, if their country were inhabited by +persons who would take the trouble and pains to instruct them. But it is +not enough to send to them friars, unless there are those to support and +assist them. For although these people have the desire to-day to know what +God is, to-morrow this disposition will change when they are obliged to lay +aside and bring under their foul ways, their dissolute manners, and their +savage indulgences. So that there is need of people and families to keep +them in the way of duty, to constrain them through mildness to do better, +and to move them by good example to mend their lives. Father Joseph [195] +and myself have many times conferred with them in regard to our belief, +laws, and customs. They listened attentively in their assemblies, sometimes +saying to us: You say things that pass our knowledge, and which we cannot +understand by words, being beyond our comprehension; but if you would do us +a service come and dwell in this country, bringing your wives and children, +and when they are here we shall see how you serve the God you worship, and +how you live with your wives and children, how you cultivate and plant the +soil, how you obey your laws, how you take care of animals, and how you +manufacture all that we see proceeding from your inventive skill. When we +see all this, we shall learn more in a year than in twenty by simply +hearing you discourse and if we cannot then understand, you shall take our +children, who shall be as your own. And thus being convinced that our life +is a miserable one in comparison with yours, it is easy to believe that we +shall adopt yours, abandoning our own. + +Their words seemed to me good common sense, showing the desire they have to +get a knowledge of God. It is a great wrong to let so many men be lost, and +see them perish at our door, without rendering them the succor which can +only be given through the help of kings, princes, and ecclesiastics, who +alone have the power to do this. For to them alone belongs the honor of so +great a work; namely, planting the Christian faith in an unknown region and +among savage nations, since we are well informed about these people, that +they long for and desire nothing so much as to be clearly instructed as to +what they should do and avoid. It is accordingly the duty of those who have +the power, to labor there and contribute of their abundance, for one day +they must answer before God for the loss of the souls which they allowed to +perish through their negligence and avarice; and these are not few but very +numerous. Now this will be done when it shall please God to give them grace +to this end. As for myself, I desire this result rather to-day than +to-morrow, from the zeal which I have for the advancement of God's glory, +for the honor of my King, and for the welfare and renown of my country. + +When they are sick, the man or woman who is attacked with any disease sends +for the _oqui_, who visits the patient and informs himself about the malady +and the suffering. After this, the _oqui_ sends for a large number of men, +women, and girls, including three or four old women. These enter the cabin +of the sick, dancing, each one having on his head the skin of a bear or +some other wild beast, that of the bear being the most common as it is the +most frightful. There are three or four other old women about the sick or +suffering, who for the most part feign sickness, or are sick merely in +imagination. But they are soon cured of this sickness, and generally make +banquets at the expense of their friends or relatives, who give them +something to put into their kettle, in addition to the presents which they +receive from the dancers, such as porcelain and other bagatelles, so that +they are soon cured; for when they find that they have nothing more to look +for, they get up with what they have secured. But those who are really sick +are not readily cured by plays, dances, and such proceedings. + +To return to my narrative: the old women near the sick person receive the +presents, each singing and pausing in turn. When all the presents have been +made, they proceed to lift up their voices with one accord, all singing +together and keeping time with sticks on pieces of dry bark. Then all the +women and girls proceed to the end of the cabin, as if they were about to +begin a ballet or masquerade. The old women walk in front with their +bearskins on their heads, all the others following them, one after the +other. They have only two kinds of dances with regular time, one of four +steps and the other of twelve, as in the _trioli_ de Bretagne. They +exhibit much grace in dancing. Young men often take part with them. After +dancing an hour or two, the old women lead out the sick person to dance, +who gets up dolefully and prepares to dance, and after a short time she +dances and enjoys as much as the others. I leave it to you to consider how +sick she was. Below is represented the mode of their dances. + +The medicine-man thus gains honor and credit, his patient being so soon +healed and on her feet. This treatment, however, does nothing for those who +are dangerously ill and reduced by weakness, but causes their death rather +than their cure; for I can testify that they sometimes make such a noise +and hubbub from morning until two o'clock at night that it is impossible +for the patient to endure it without great pain. Sometimes the patient is +seized with the desire to have the women and girls dance all together, +which is done in accordance with the direction of the _oqui_. But this is +not all, for he and the _manitou_, accompanied by some others, make +grimaces, perform magic arts, and twist themselves about so that they +generally end in being out of their senses, seemingly crazy, throwing the +fire from one side of the cabin to the other, eating burning coals, holding +them in their hands for a while, and throwing red-hot ashes into the eyes +of the spectators. Seeing them in this condition, one would say that the +devil, the _oqui_, or _manitou_, if he is thus to be called, possesses and +torments them. This noise and hubbub being over, they retire each to his +own cabin. + +But those who suffer especially during this time are the wives of those +possessed, and all the inmates of their cabins, from the fear they have +lest the raging ones burn up all that is in their houses. This leads them +to remove everything that is in sight; for as soon as he arrives he is all +in a fury, his eyes flashing and frightful, sometimes standing up, +sometimes seated, as his fancy takes him. Suddenly a fit seizes him, and +laying hold of everything he finds in his way he throws them to one side +and the other. Then he lies down and sleeps for some time. Waking up with a +jump, he seizes fire and stones which he throws about recklessly on all +sides. This rage passes off with the sleep which seizes him again. Then he +rages and calls several of his friends to sweat with him. The latter is the +best means they have for preserving themselves in health. While they are +sweating, the kettle boils to prepare them something to eat. They remain, +two or three hours or so, covered up with great pieces of bark and wrapped +in their robes, with a great many stones about them which have been heated +red hot in the fire. They sing all the time while they are in the rage, +occasionally stopping to take breath. Then they give them many draughts of +water to drink, since they are very thirsty, when the demoniac, who was +crazy or possessed of an evil spirit, becomes sober. + +Thus it happens that three or four of these sick persons get well, rather +by a happy coincidence and chance than in consequence of any intelligent +treatment, and this confirms their false belief that they are healed by +means of these ceremonies, not considering that, for two who are thus +cured, ten others die on account of the noise, great hubbub and hissing, +which are rather calculated to kill than cure a sick person. But that they +expect to recover their health by this noise, and we on the contrary by +silence and rest, shows how the devil does everything in hostility to the +good. + +There are also women who go into these rages, but they do not do so much +harm. They walk on all fours like beasts. Seeing this, the magician, called +_oqui_, begins to sing; then, with some contortions of the face, he blows +upon her, directing her to drink certain waters, and make at once a banquet +of fish or flesh, which must be procured although very scarce at the +time. When the shouting is over and the banquet ended, they return each to +her own cabin. At another time he comes back and visits her, blowing upon +her and singing in company with several others, who have been summoned for +this purpose, and who hold in the hand a dry tortoise-shell filled with +little pebbles, which they cause to resound in the ears of the sick woman. +They direct her to make at once three or four banquets with singing and +dancing, when all the girls appear adorned and painted as I have +represented in figure G. The _oqui_ orders masquerades, and directs them to +disguise themselves, as those do who run along the streets in France on +_Mardi-gras_. [196] Thus they go and sing near the bed of the sick woman +and promenade through the village while the banquet is preparing to receive +the maskers, who return very tired, having taken exercise enough to be able +to empty the kettle of its _migan_. + +According to their custom each household lives on what it gets by fishing +and planting, improving as much land as it needs. They clear it up with +great difficulty, since they do not have the implements adapted to this +purpose. A party strip the trees of all their branches, which they burn at +their base in order to kill them. They clear carefully the land between the +trees, and then plant their corn at distances of a pace, putting in each +place some ten kernels, and so on until they have made provision for three +or four years, fearing that a bad year may befall them. The women attend to +the planting and harvesting, as I have said before, and to procuring a +supply of wood for winter. All the women aid each other in procuring this +provision of wood, which they do in the month of March or April, in the +order of two days for each. Every household is provided with as much as it +needs; and if a girl marries, each woman and girl is expected to carry to +the newly married one a parcel of wood for her provision, since she could +not procure it alone, and at a season when she has to give her attention to +other things. + +The following is their mode of government: the older and leading men +assemble in a council, in which they settle upon and propose all that is +necessary for the affairs of the village. This is done by a plurality of +voices, or in accordance with the advice of some one among them whose +judgment they consider superior: such a one is requested by the company to +give his opinion on the propositions that have been made, and this opinion +is minutely obeyed. They have no particular chiefs with absolute command, +but they show honor to the older and more courageous men, whom they name +captains, as mark of honor and respect, of which there are several in a +village. But, although they confer more honor upon one than upon others, +yet he is not on that account to bear sway, nor esteem himself higher than +his companions, unless he does so from vanity. They make no use of +punishments nor arbitrary command, but accomplish everything by the +entreaties of the seniors, and by means of addresses and remonstrances. +Thus and not otherwise do they bring everything to pass. + +They all deliberate in common, and whenever any member of the assembly +offers to do anything for the welfare of the village, or to go anywhere for +the service of the community, he is requested to present himself, and if he +is judged capable of carrying out what he proposes, they exhort him, by +fair and favorable words, to do his duty. They declare him to be an +energetic man, fit for undertakings, and assure him that he will win honor +in accomplishing them. In a word, they encourage him by flatteries, in +order that this favorable disposition of his for the welfare of his fellow- +citizens may continue and increase. Then, according to his pleasure, he +refuses the responsibility, which few do, or accepts, since thereby he is +held in high esteem. + +When they engage in wars or go to the country of their enemies, two or +three of the older or valiant captains make a beginning in the matter, and +proceed to the adjoining villages to communicate their purpose, and make +presents to the people of these villages, in order to induce them to +accompany them to the wars in question. In so far they act as generals of +armies. They designate the place where they desire to go, dispose of the +prisoners who are captured, and have the direction of other matters of +especial importance, of which they get the honor, if they are successful; +but, if not, the disgrace of failure in the war falls upon them. These +captains alone are looked upon and considered as chiefs of the tribes. + +They have, moreover, general assemblies, with representatives from remote +regions. These representatives come every year, one from each province, and +meet in a town designated as the rendezvous of the assembly. Here are +celebrated great banquets and dances, for three weeks or a month, according +as they may determine. Here they renew their friendship, resolve upon and +decree what they think best for the preservation of their country against +their enemies, and make each other handsome presents, after which they +retire each to his own district. + +In burying the dead, they take the body of the deceased, wrap it in furs, +and cover it very carefully with the bark of trees. Then they place it in a +cabin, of the length of the body, made of bark and erected upon four posts. +Others they place in the ground, propping up the earth on all sides, that +it may not fall on the body, which they cover with the bark of trees, +putting earth on top. Over this trench they also make a little cabin. Now +it is to be understood that the bodies remain in these places, thus +inhumed, but for a period of eight or ten years, when the men of the +village recommend the place where their ceremonies are to take place; or, +to speak more precisely, they hold a general council, in which all the +people of the country are present, for the purpose of designating the place +where a festival is to be held. After this they return each to his own +village, where they take all the bones of the deceased, strip them and make +them quite clean. These they keep very carefully, although they smell like +bodies recently interred. Then all the relatives and friends of the +deceased take these bones, together with their necklaces, furs, axes, +kettles, and other things highly valued, and carry them, with a quantity of +edibles, to the place assigned. Here, when all have assembled, they put the +edibles in a place designated by the men of the village, and engage in +banquets and continual dancing. The festival continues for the space of ten +days, during which time other tribes, from all quarters, come to witness it +and the ceremonies. The latter are attended with great outlays. + +Now, by means of these ceremonies, including dances, banquets, and +assemblies, as above stated, they renew their friendship to one another, +saying that the bones of their relatives and friends are to be all put +together, thus indicating by a figure that, as their bones are gathered +together and united in one and the same place, so ought they also, during +their life, to be united in one friendship and harmony, like relatives and +friends, without separation. Having thus mingled together the bones of +their mutual relatives and friends, they pronounce many discourses on the +occasion. Then, after various grimaces or exhibitions, they make a great +trench, ten fathoms square, in which they put the bones, together with the +necklaces, chains of porcelain, axes, kettles, sword-blades, knives, and +various other trifles, which, however, are of no slight account in their +estimation. They cover the whole with earth, putting on top several great +pieces of wood, and placing around many posts, on which they put a +covering. This is their manner of proceeding with regard to the dead, and +it is the most prominent ceremony they have. Some of them believe in the +immortality of the soul, while others have only a presentiment of it, +which, however, is not so very different; for they say that after their +decease they will go to a place where they will sing, like crows, a song, +it must be confessed, quite different from that of angels. On the following +page are represented their sepulchres and manner of interment. + +It remains to describe how they spend their time in winter; namely, from +the month of December to the end of March, or the beginning of our spring, +when the snow melts. All that they might do during autumn, as I have before +stated, they postpone to be done during winter; namely, their banquetings, +and usual dances for the sake of the sick, which I have already described, +and the assemblages of the inhabitants of various villages, where there are +banquetings, singing, and dances, which they call _tabagies_ [197] and +where sometimes five hundred persons are collected, both men, women, and +girls. The latter are finely decked and adorned with the best and most +costly things they have. + +On certain days they make masquerades, and visit each other's cabins, +asking for the things they like, and if they meet those who have what they +want, these give it to them freely. Thus they go on asking for many things +without end; so that a single one of those soliciting will have robes of +beaver, bear, deer, lynxes, and other furs, also fish, Indian corn, +tobacco, or boilers, kettles, pots, axes, pruning-knives, knives, and other +like things. They go to the houses and cabins of the village, singing these +words, That one gave me this, another gave that, or like words, by way of +commendation. But if one gives them nothing they get angry, and show such +spite towards him that when they leave they take a stone and put it near +this man or that woman who has not given them anything. Then, without +saying a word, they return singing, which is a mark of insult, censure, and +ill-will. The women do so as well as the men, and this mode of proceeding +takes place at night, and the masquerade continues seven or eight days. +There are some of their villages which have maskers or merry-makers, as we +do on the evening of _Mardi-gras_, and they invite the other villages to +come and see them and win their utensils, if they can. Meanwhile banquets +are not wanting. This is the way they spend their time in winter. + +Moreover the women spin, and pound meal for the journeys of their husbands +in summer, who go to other tribes to trade, as they decide to do at the +above-mentioned councils, in which it is determined what number of men may +go from each village, that it may not be deprived of men of war for its +protection; and nobody goes from the country without the general consent of +the chiefs, or if they should go they would be regarded as behaving +improperly. The men make nets for fishing, which they carry on in summer, +but generally in winter, when they capture the fish under the ice with the +line or with the seine. + +The following is their manner of fishing. They make several holes in a +circular form in the ice, the one where they are to draw the seine being +some five feet long and three wide. Then they proceed to place their net at +this opening, attaching it to a rod of wood from six to seven feet long, +which they put under the ice. This rod they cause to pass from hole to +hole, when one or more men, putting their hands in the holes, take hold of +the rod to which is attached an end of the net, until they unite at the +opening of five to six feet. Then they let the net drop to the bottom of +the water, it being sunk by little stones attached to the end. After it is +down they draw it up again with their arms at its two ends, thus capturing +the fish that are in it. This is, in brief, their manner of fishing in +winter. + +The winter begins in the month of November and continues until the month of +April, when the trees begin to send forth the sap and show their buds. + +On the 22d of the month of April we received news from our interpreter, who +had gone to Carantouean, through those who had come from there. They told us +that they had left him on the road, he having returned to the village for +certain reasons. + +Now, resuming the thread of my narrative, our savages assembled to come +with us, and conduct us back to our habitation, and for this purpose we set +out from their country on the 20th of the month, [198] and were forty days +on the way. We caught a large number of fish and animals of various kinds, +together with small game, which afforded us especial pleasure, in addition +to the provisions thus furnished us for our journey. Upon our arrival among +the French, towards the end of the month of June, I found Sieur du Pont +Grave, who had come from France with two vessels, and who had almost +despaired of seeing me again, having heard from the savages the bad news, +that I was dead. + +We also saw all the holy fathers who had remained at our settlement. They +too were very happy to see us again, and we none the less so to see them. +Welcomes, and felicitations on all sides being over, I made arrangements to +set out from the Falls of St. Louis for our settlement, taking with me my +host D'Arontal. I took leave also of all the other savages, assuring them +of my affection, and that, if I could, I would see them in the future, to +assist them as I had already done in the past, bringing them valuable +presents to secure their friendship with one another, and begging them to +forget all the disputes which they had had when I reconciled them, which +they promised to do. + +Then we set out, on the 8th of July, and arrived at our settlement on the +11th of that month. Here I found everybody in good health, and we all, in +company with our holy fathers, who chanted the Divine service, returned +thanks to God for His care in preserving us, and protecting us amid the +many perils and dangers to which we had been exposed. + +After this, and when everything had become settled, I proceeded to show +hospitalities to my host, D'Arontal, who admired our building, our conduct, +and mode of living. After carefully observing us, he said to me, in +private, that he should never die contented until he had seen all of his +friends, or at least a good part of them, come and take up their abode with +us, in order to learn how to serve God, and our way of living, which he +esteemed supremely happy in comparison with their own. Moreover he said +that, if he could not learn it by word of mouth, he would do so much better +and more easily by sight and by frequent intercourse, and that, if their +minds could not comprehend our arts, sciences, and trades, their children +who were young could do so, as they had often represented to us in their +country in conversation with Father Joseph. He urged us, for the promotion +of this object, to make another settlement at the Falls of St. Louis, so as +to secure them the passage of the river against their enemies, assuring us +that, as soon as we should build a house, they would come in numbers to +live as brothers with us. Accordingly I promised to make a settlement for +them as soon as possible. + +After we had remained four or five days together, I gave him some valuable +presents, with which he was greatly pleased, and I begged him to continue +his affection for us, and come again to see our settlement with his +friends. Then he returned happy to the Falls of St Louis, where his +companions awaited him. + +When this Captain D'Arontal had departed, we enlarged our habitation by a +third at least in buildings and fortifications, since it was not +sufficiently spacious, nor convenient for receiving the members of our own +company and likewise the strangers that might come to see us. We used, in +building, lime and sand entirely, which we found very good there in a spot +near the habitation. This is a very useful material for building for those +disposed to adapt and accustom themselves to it. + +The Fathers Denis and Joseph determined to return to France, in order to +testify there to all they had seen, and to the hope they could promise +themselves of the conversion of these people, who awaited only the +assistance of the holy fathers in order to be converted and brought to our +faith and the Catholic religion. + +During my stay at the settlement I had some common grain cut; namely, +French grain, which had been planted there and which had come up very +finely, that I might take it to France, as evidence that the land is good +and fertile. In another part, moreover, there was some fine Indian corn, +also scions and trees which had been given us by Sieur du Monts in +Normandy. In a word all the gardens of the place were in an admirably fine +condition, being planted with peas, beans, and other vegetables, also +squashes, and very superior radishes of various sorts, cabbages, beets, and +other kitchen vegetables. When on the point of departure, we left two of +our fathers at the settlement; namely, Fathers Jean d'Olbeau and Pacifique, +[199] who were greatly pleased with all the time spent at that place, and +resolved to await there the return of Father Joseph, [200] who was expected +to come back in the following year, which he did. + +We sailed in our barques the 20th day of July, and arrived at Tadoussac the +23d day of the month, where Sieur du Pont Grave awaited us with his vessel +ready and equipped. In this we embarked and set out the 3d day of the month +of August. The wind was so favorable that we arrived in health by the grace +of God, at Honfleur, on the 10th day of September, one thousand six hundred +and sixteen, and upon our arrival rendered praise and thanks to God for his +great care in preserving our lives, and delivering and even snatching us, +as it were, from the many dangers to which we had been exposed, and for +bringing and conducting us in health to our country; we besought Him also +to move the heart of our King, and the gentlemen of his council, to +contribute their assistance so far as necessary to bring these poor savages +to the knowledge of God, whence honor will redound to his Majesty, grandeur +and growth to his realm, profit to his subjects, and the glory of all these +undertakings and toils to God, the sole author of all excellence, to whom +be honor and glory. Amen. + + +ENDNOTES: + +78. Champlain's first voyage was made in 1603, and this journal was + published in 1619. It was therefore fully fifteen years since his + explorations began. + +79. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Sagard, Trois ed., pp 27, 28. The reader + is likewise referred to the Memoir of Champlain, Vol. I. pp 122-124. + +80. Bernard du Verger, a man of exalted virtue--_Laverdiere_. + +81. Robert Ubaldim was nuncio at this time. _Vide Laverdiere in loco_. + +82. Denis Jamay. Sagard writes this name _Jamet_. + +83. Jean d'Olbeau. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Gabriel Sagard, Paris, + 1636, Tross ed., Vol. I. p. 28. + +84. Pacifique du Plessis was a lay-brother, although the title of Father is + given to him by several early writers. _Vide citations by Laverdiere in + loco_, Quebec ed., Vol. IV. p. 7. + +85. Read April 24. It is obvious from the context that it could not be + August. Sagard says _le_ 24 _d'Auril_. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, Trois + ed., Vol. I. p 36. + +86. The Recollect Father Joseph le Caron. + +87. _Vide Laverdiere in loco_. + +88. Father Denis Jamay. + +89. Jean d'Olbeau and Pacifique du Plessis. + +90. This refers to the volume bearing date 1613, but which may not have + been actually issued from the press till 1614. + +91. Our views of the war policy of Champlain are stated at some length in + Vol I. pp 189-193. + +92. Laverdiere thinks it probable that Champlain left the Falls of St Louis + on the 23d of June, and that the Holy Mass was celebrated on the + Riviere des Prairies on the 24th, the festival of St John the Baptist. + +93. This interpreter was undoubtedly Etienne Brule. It was a clearly + defined policy of Champlain to send suitable young men among the + savages, particularly to learn their language, and subsequently to act + as interpreters. Brule is supposed to have been of this class. + +94. The Lake of Two Mountains. + +95. The River Ottawa, which Champlain had explored in 1613, as far as + Allumet Island, where a tribe of the Algonquins resided, called later + _Kichesipinni_. _Vide Relation des Jesuites_, 1640, p 34. + +96. This is an over-estimate. + +97. Champlain here again, _Vide_ note 90, refers to the issue bearing date + 1613. It is not unlikely that while it bears the imprint of 1613, it + did not actually issue from the press till 1614. + +98. The lake or expansion of the Ottawa on the southern side of Allumet + Island was called the Lake of the Algonquins, as Allumet Island was + oftentimes called the Island of the Algonquins. + +99. The River Ottawa. + +100. Pere Vimont calls this tribe _Kotakoutouemi_. _Relation des Jesuites_, + 1640, p. 34. Pere Rogueneau gives _Outaoukotouemiouek_, and remarks + that their language is a mixture of Algonquin and Montagnais. _Vide + Relation des Jesuites_, 1650. p. 34; also _Laverdiere in loco_. + +101. _Blues_, blueberries. The Canada blueberry. _Vaccinium Canadense_. + Under the term _blues_ several varieties may have been included. + Charlevoix describes and figures this fruit under the name _Bluet du + Canada_. _Vide Description des Plantes Principales de l'Amerique + Septentrionale_, in _Histoire de la Nouvelle France_, Paris. 1744, + Tom. IV. pp. 371, 372; also Vol. I: p 303, note 75, of this work. + +102. At its junction with the Mattawan, the Ottawa's course is from the + north. What is known as its east branch rises 150 miles north of the + city of Ottawa. Extending towards the west in a winding course for the + distance of about 300 miles, it turns towards the southeast, and a few + miles before it joins the Mattawan its course is directly south. From + its northeastern source by a short portage is reached the river + Chomouchouan, an affluent of Lake St. John and the Saguenay. + +103. Mattawa is 197 miles from Ottawa. We have no means of giving the + latitude with entire accuracy, but it is about 46 deg. 20'. + +104. Lac du Talon and Lac la Tortue. + +105. Nipissings, or Nipissirini. Champlain writes _Nipisierinii_. + +106. On the 26th of July, The distance from the junction of the Ottawa and + the Mattawan to Lake Nipissing is about thirty-two miles. If _lieues_ + were translated miles, it would be a not very incorrect estimate. + +107. _Vide_ the representations here referred to. + +108. Lake Nipissing, whose dimensions are over-stated. + +109. Sturgeon River. + +110. Pere Vimont gives the names of these tribes as follows,--_Timiscimi, + Outimagami, Ouachegami, Mitchitamou, Outurbi, Kiristinon_. _Vide + Relation des Jesuites_. 1640. p. 34. + +111. French River. + +112. _Blues_. _Vide antea_, note 101. + +113. This significant name is given with reference to their mode of + dressing their hair. + +114. Blueberries, _Vaccinium Canadense_. + +115. _De cuir beullu_, for _cuir bouilli_, literally "boiled leather." + +116. The shields of the savages of this region may have been made of the + hide of the buffalo, although the range of this animal was far to the + northwest of them. Champlain saw undoubtedly among the Hurons skins of + the buffalo. _Vide postea_, note 180. + +117. Lake Huron is here referred to. + +118. The greatest length of Lake Huron on a curvilinear line, between the + discharge of St Mary's Strait and the outlet, is about 240 miles; its + length due north and south is 186 miles, and its extreme breadth about + 220 miles. _Bouchette_. + +119. Coasting along the eastern shore of the Georgian Bay, when they + arrived at Matchedash Bay they crossed it in a southwesterly course + and entered the country of the Attigouautans, or, as they are + sometimes called, the Attignaouentans. _Relation des Jesuites,_ 1640, + p. 78. They were a principal tribe of the Hurons, living within the + limits of the present county of Simcoe. It is to be regretted that the + Jesuit Fathers did not accompany their relations with local maps by + which we could fix, at least approximately, the Indian towns which + they visited, and with which they were so familiar. For a description + of the Hurons and of their country, the origin of the name and other + interesting particulars, _vide Pere Hierosine Lalemant, Relation des + Jesuites_, 1639, Quebec ed. p. 50. + +120. _Sitrouilles_ for _citrouilles_. _Vide_ Vol II. p. 64, note 128. + +121. _Herbe au soleil_. The sunflower of Northeast America, _Helianthus + multiflorus_. This species is found from Quebec to the Saskatchewan, a + tributary of Lake Winnipeg. _Vide Chronological History of Plants_, by + Charles Pickering, M.D., Boston, 1879. p. 914. Charlevoix, in the + description of his journey through Canada in 1720, says: "The Soleil + is a plant very common in the fields of the savages, and which grows + seven or eight feet high. Its flower, which is very large, is in the + shape of the marigold, and the seed grows in the same manner. The + savages, by boiling it, draw out an oil, with which they grease their + hair." _Letters to the Dutchess of Lesdiguieres_, London, 1763, p. 95. + +122. _Vignes_ Probably the frost grape, _Vitis cordifolia_. + +123. _Prunes_. The Canada plum, _Prunus Americana_. + +124. _Framboises_. The wild red raspberry, _Rubus strigosus_. + +125. _Fraises_. The wild strawberry, _Fragaria Virginiana_. _Vide + Pickering Chro. Hist. Plants_, p. 771. + +126. _Petites pommes sauuages_. Probably the American crab-apple, _Pyrus + coronaria_. + +127. _Noix_ This may include the butternut and some varieties of the + walnut. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 264. + +128. Doubtless the May-apple, _Podophyllum peltatum_. In the wilds of + Simcoe this fruit may have seemed tolerable from the absence of others + more desirable. Gray says, "It is slightly acid, mawkish, eaten by + pigs and boys." _Cf. Florula Bostioniensis_, by Jacob Bigelow, + M.D. Boston, 1824, pp. 215, 216. + +129. _Les Chesnes, ormeaux, & heslres_. For oaks see Vol I. p. 264. Elms, + plainly the white elm, _Ulmus Americana_, so called in + contradistinction to the red or slippery elm, _Ulmus fulva_. The + savages sometimes used the bark of the slippery elm in the + construction of their canoes when the white birch could not be + obtained. _Vide Charlevoix's Letters_, 1763, p. 94. For the beech, see + Vol. I. p. 264. + +130. _Perdrix_. Canada Grouse, _Tetrao Canadensis_, sometimes called the + Spruce Partridge, differing from the partridge of New England, which + is the Ruffed Grouse, _Bonasa umbellus_. This latter species is, + however, found likewise in Canada. + +131. _Lapins_. The American hare, _Lepus Americanus_. + +132. _Cerises petites_. Reference is evidently here made to the wild red + cherry, _Prunus Pennsylvanica_, which is the smallest of all the + native species. _Cf_. Vol. I. p. 264. + +133. _Merises_. The wild black cherry, _Prunus serotina_. + +134. The Carantouanais. _Vide Carte de la Nouvelle France_, 1632, _also_ + Vol. I. p. 304. This tribe was probably situated on the upper waters + of the Susquehanna, and consequently south of the Five Nations, + although we said inadvertently in Vol. I. p. 128 that they were on the + west of them. General John S. Clark thinks their village was at + Waverly, near the border of Pennsylvania In Vol. I. p. 143. in the + 13th line from the top, we should have said the Carantouanais instead + of _Entouhonorons_. + +135. The Entouhonorons were a part, it appears, of the Five Nations. + Champlain says they unite with the Iroquois in making war against all + the other tribes except the Neutral Nation. Lake Ontario is called + _Lac des Entouhonorons_, and Champlain adds that their country is near + the River St. Lawrence, the passage of which they forbid to all other + tribes. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 303, 304. He thus appears to apply the name + _Iroquois_ to the eastern portion of the Five Nations, particularly + those whom he had attacked on Lake Champlain; and the Huron name, + _Entouhonorons_, to the western portion. The subdivisions, by which + they were distinguished at a later period, were probably not then + known, at least not to Champlain. + +136. _Flamens_. The Dutch were at this time on the Hudson, qengaged in the + fur trade with the savages. _Vide History of the State of New York_ by + John Romeyn Brodhead, New York, 1853. pp. 38-65. _History of New + Netherland_ or _New York under the Dutch_, by E. B. O'Callaghan, New + York, 1846, pp. 67-77. + +137. Their enemies were the Iroquois. + +138. _Chouontouaroueon_, another name for _Entouhoronon_. + +139. Lake Couchiching, a small sheet of water into which pass by a small + outlet the waters of Lake Simcoe. + +140. Lake Simcoe. Laverdiere says the Indian name of this lake was + _Ouentaronk_, and that it was likewise called _Lac aux Claies_. + +141. Etienne Brule. _Vide postea_, p. 208. + +142. _Dans ces lacs_. From Lake Chouchiching, coasting along the + northeastern shore of Lake Simcoe, they would make five or six leagues + in reaching a point nearest to Sturgeon Lake. + +143. Undoubtedly Sturgeon Lake. + +144. From their entrance of Sturgeon Lake to the point where they reached + Lake Ontario, at the eastern limit of Amherst Island, the distance is, + in its winding and circuitous course, not far from Champlain's + estimate, viz. sixty-four leagues. That part of the river above Rice + Lake is the Otonabee; that below is known as the Trent. + +145. _Grues_ The white crane, _Grus Americanus_ Adult plumage pure white + _Coues's Key to North American Birds_, Boston, 1872, p 271 Charlevoix + says, "We have cranes of two colors, some white and others _gris de + lin_," that is a purple or lilac color. This latter species is the + brown crane, _Grus Canadensis_. "Plumage plumbeous gray." _Coues_. + _Vide Charlevoix's Letters_, London. 1763, p 83. + +146. The latitude of the eastern end of Amherst Island is about 44 deg. 11'. + +147. This traverse, it may be presumed, was made by coasting along the + shore, as was the custom of the savages with their light canoes. + +148. It appears that, after making by estimate about fourteen leagues in + their bark canoes, and four by land along the shore, they struck + inland. Guided merely by the distances given in the text, it is not + possible to determine with exactness at what point they left the + lake. This arises from the fact that we are not sure at what point the + measurement began, and the estimated distances are given, moreover, + with very liberal margins. But the eighteen leagues in all would take + them not very far from Little Salmon River, whether the estimate were + made from the eastern end of Amherst Island or Simcoe Island, or any + place in that immediate neighborhood. The natural features of the + country, for four leagues along the coast north of Little Salmon + River, answer well to the description given in the text. The chestnut + and wild grape are still found there. _Vide MS. Letters of the + Rev. James Cross, D.D., LL.D., and of S.Z. Smith, Esq._, of Mexico, + New York. + +149. Lake Ontario, or Lake of the Entouhonorons, is about a hundred and + eighty miles long, and about fifty-five miles in its extreme width. + +150. The river here crossed was plainly Oneida River, flowing from Oneida + Lake into Lake Ontario. The lake is identified by the islands in it. + Oneida Lake is the only one in this region which contains any islands + whatever, and consequently the river flowing from it must be that now + known as Oneida River. + +151. For the probable site of this fort, see Vol. I. p. 130, note 83. + +152. They were of the tribe called Carantouanais. _Vide antea_, note 134. + +153. This was in the month of October. + +154. _Et apres auoir trauerse le bout du lac de laditte isle_. From this + form of expression this island would seem to have been visited before. + But no particular island is mentioned on their former traverse of the + lake. It is impossible to fix with certainty upon the island referred + to. It may have been Simcoe or Wolf Island, or some other. + +155. Probably Cataraqui Creek. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 136. + +156. Perhaps Loughborough Lake, or the system of lakes of which this is a + part. + +157. _Cygnes_, swans. Probably the Trumpeter Swan, _Cygnus buccinator_. + They were especially found in Sagard's time about Lake Nipissing. + "Mais pour des Cignes, qu'ils appellent _Horhev_, il y en a + principalement vers les Epicerinys." _Vide Le Grand Voyage av Pays des + Hurons_ par Fr. Gabriel Sagard, Paris, 1632, p. 303. + +158. _Grues blanches_. _Vide antea_, n. 145. + +159. _Houstardes_. _Vide antea_, note 32. + +160. _Mauuis_, Song-Thrush. Doubtless the Robin, _Turdus migratorius_. + +161. _Allouettes_, larks. Probably the Brown Lark, _Anthus ludovicianus_. + Found everywhere in North America. + +162. _Beccassines_. Probably the American Snipe, _Gallinago Wilsonii_. + +163. _Oyes_, geese. The common Wild Goose, _Branta Canadensis_, or it may + include all the species taken collectively. For the several species + found in Canada, _vide antea_, note 32. + +164. _Les loups_. The American Wolf, _Lupus occidentalis_. + +165. The thirty-eight days during which they were there would include the + whole period from the time they began to make their preparations on + the 28th of October on the shores of Lake Ontario till they began + their homeward journey on the 4th of December. _Vide antea_, p. 137; + _postea_, p. 143. + +166. The author here refers to the chief D'Arontal, whose guest he + was. _Vide antea_, 137. Cf. also Quebec ed. 1632, p. 928. + +167. _Trainees de bois_, a kind of sledge. The Indian's sledge was made of + two pieces of board, which, with his stone axe and perhaps with the + aid of fire, he patiently manufactured from the trunks of trees. The + boards were each about six inches wide and six or seven feet long, + curved upward at the forward end and bound together by cross pieces. + The sides were bordered with strips of wood, which served as brackets, + to which was fastened the strap that bound the baggage upon the + sledge. The load was dragged by a rope or strap of leather passing + round the breast of the savage and attached to the end of the sledge. + The sledge was so narrow that it could be drawn easily and without + impediment wherever the savage could thread his way through the + pathless forests. + + The journey from their encampment northeast of Kingston on Lake + Ontario to the capital of the Hurons was not less in a straight line + than a hundred and sixty miles. Without a pathway, in the heart of + winter, through water and melting snow, with their heavy burdens, the + hardship and exhaustion can hardly be exaggerated. + +168. Namely at Cahiague. In the issue of 1632, Champlain says they arrived + on the 23d day of the month. _Vide_ Quebec ed, p. 929. Leaving on the + 4th and travelling nineteen days, as stated above, they would arrive + on the 23d December. + +169. Probably the 4th of January. + +170. Father Joseph Le Caron had remained at Carhagouha, during the absence + of the war party in their attack upon the Iroquois, where Champlain + probably arrived on the 5th of January. + +171. In the issue of 1632, the arrival of Champlain and Le Caron is stated + to have occurred on the 17th of January. This harmonizes with the + correction of dates in notes 169, 170. + + The Huron name of the Petuns was _Tionnontateronons_, or + _Khionontateronons_, or _Quieunontateronons_. Of them Vimont says, + "Les Khionontateronons, qu'on appelle la nation du Petun, pour + l'abondance qu'il y a de cette herbe, sont eloignez du pays des + Hurons, dont ils parlent la langue, enuiron douze ou quinze lieues + tirant a l'Occident." _Vide Relation des Jesuites_, 1640, p. 95; + _His. Du Canada_, Vol. I. p. 209. Sagard. + + For some account of the subsequent history of the Nation de Petun, + _vide Indian Migration in Ohio_, by C. C. Baldwin, 1879, p. 2. + +172. It was of great importance to the Indians to select a site for their + villages where suitable wood was accessible, both for fortifying them + with palisades and for fuel in the winter. It could not be brought a + great distance for either of these purposes. Hence when the wood in + the vicinity became exhausted they were compelled to remove and build + anew. + +173. That is to say like the Hurons. + +174. The Nation Neutre was called by the Hurons _Attisandaronk_ or + _Attihouandaron_. _Vide Relation des Jesuites_, 1641, p. 72; + _Dictonaire de la Langue Huronne_, par Sagard, a Paris, 1632. + Champlain places them, on his map of 1632, south of Lake Erie. His + knowledge of that lake, obtained from the savages, was very meagre as + the map itself shows. The Neutres are placed by early writers on the + west of Lake Ontario and north of Lake Erie _Vide Laverdiere in loco_, + Quebec ed., p. 546; also, _Indian Migration in Ohio_, by C. C. + Baldwin, p. 4. They are placed far to the south of Lake Erie by + Nicholas Sanson. _Vide Cartes de l'Amerique_, 1657. + +175. The Cheveux Releves are represented by Champlain as dwelling west of + the Petuns, and were probably not far from the most southern limit of + the Georgian Bay. Strangely enough Nicholas Sanson places them on a + large island that separates the Georgian Bay from Lake Huron. _Vide + Cartes de l'Amerique_ par N. Sanson, 1657. + +176. _Atsistaehronons, ou Nation du Feu_. Their Algonquin name was + Mascoutins or Maskoutens, with several other orthographies. The + significance of their name is given by Sagard as follows: Ils sont + errans, sinon que quelques villages d'entr'eux fement des bleds + d'Inde, et font la guerre a vne autre Nation, nommee _Assitagueronon_, + qui veut dire gens de feu: car en langue Huronne _Assista_ signifie du + feu, et _Eronon_, signifie Nation. _Le Grand Voyage du Pays des + Hurons_, par Gabriel Sagard, a Paris, 1632, p. 78. _Vide Relation des + Jesuites_, 1641, p 72; _Discovery and Exploration of the Mississippi + Valley_, by John Gilmary Shea, p. 13; _Indian Migration in Ohio_, by + C. C. Baldwin, pp 9, 10; Discovery of the _Northwest by John Nicolet_, + by C. W. Butterfield, p. 63; _L'Amerique en Plusieurs Cartes_, par + N. Sanson, 1657. + +177. _Pisierinii_, the Nipissings. This relates to those Nipissings who had + accompanied Champlain on the expedition against the Iroquois, and who + were passing the winter among the Hurons. He had expected that they + would accompany him on explorations on the north of them. But arriving + at their encampment, on his return from the Petuns and Cheveux + Releves, he learned from them of the quarrel that had arisen between + the Algonquins and the Hurons. + +178. Attigouantans, the principal tribe of the Hurons. + +179. _Colliers de pourceline_. These necklaces were composed of shells, + pierced and strung like beads. They were of a violet color, and were + esteemed of great value. The _branches_ were strings of white shells, + and were more common and less valuable. An engraved representation may + be seen in _Histoire de L'Amerique Septentrionale_, par De la + Potherie, Paris, 1722, Tom. I. p. 334. For a full description of + these necklaces and their significance and use in their councils, + _vide Charlevoix's Letters_, London, 1763, p 132. + +180. _Buffles_, buffaloes. The American Bison, _Bos Americanus_. The skins + seen by Champlain in the possession of the savages seem to indicate + that the range of the buffalo was probably further east at that period + than at the present time, its eastern limit being now about the Red + River, which flows into Lake Winnipeg. The limit of its northern range + is generally stated to be at latitude 60 degrees, but it is sometimes + found as far north as 63 degrees or 64 degrees. _Vide_ Dr. Shea's + interesting account of the buffalo in _Discovery and Exploration of + Mississippi Valley_, p. 18. The range of the Musk Ox is still farther + north, rarely south of latitude 67 degrees. His home is in the Barren + Grounds, west of Hudson Bay, and on the islands on the north of the + American Continent, where he subsists largely on lichens and the + meagre herbage of that frosty region. + +181. Champlain is here speaking of the whole country of New France. + +182. This sentence in the original is unfinished and defective. _Au coste + vers le Nort, icelle grande riuiere terant a l'Occident, etc_. In the + ed. 1632, the reading is _Au coste vers le nort d'icelle grande + riuiere tirant au suroust, etc_. The tranlation is according to the + ed. of 1632. _Vide_ Quebec ed., p. 941. + +183. Champlain here gives the four species of the _cervus_ family under + names then known to him, viz, the moose, wapiti or elk, caribou, and + the common deer. + +184. _Fouines_, a quadruped known as the minx or mink, _Mustela vison_. + +185. _Martes_, weasels, _Mustela vulgaris_. + +186. _The country on the north_, &c. Having described the country along the + coast of the St Lawrence and the lakes he now refers to the country + still further north even to the southern borders of Hudson's Bay. + _Vide_ small map. + +187. _Almouchiquois_, so in the French for Almouchiquois. All the tribes at + and south of _Chouacoet_, or the mouth of the Saco River, were + denominated Almouchiquois by the French. _Vide_ Vol II p 63, _et + passim_. + +188. The country of the Attigouantans, sometimes written Attigouautans, the + principal tribe of the Hurons, used by Champlain as including the + whole, with whom the French were in close alliance, was from east to + west not more than about twelve leagues. There must have been some + error by which the author is made to say that it was _two hundred and + thirty leagues_. Laverdiere suggests that in the manuscript it might + have been 23, or 20 to 30, and that the printer made it 230. + +189. The author plainly means that the country of the Hurons was nearly + surrounded by the Mer Douce; that is to say, by Lake Huron and the + waters connected with it, viz., the River Severn, Lake Couchiching, + and Lake Simcoe. As to the population, compare _The Jesuits in North + America_, by Francis Parkman, LL.D., note p. xxv. + +190. _Vide antea_, note 172, for the reason of these removals. + +191. _Febues du Bresil_. This was undoubtedly the common trailing bean, + _Pliaseolus vulgaris_, probably called the Brazilian bean, because it + resembled a bean known under that name. It was found in cultivation in + New England as mentioned by Champlain and the early English settlers. + Bradford discoursing of the Indians, _His. Plymouth Plantation_, + p. 83, speaks of "their beans of various collours." It is possible + that the name, _febues du Bresil_, was given to it on account of its + red color, as was that of the Brazil-wood, from the Portuguese word + _braza_, a burning coal. + +192. _Vide antea_, note 101. + +193. _Sitrouelles_, or _citrouilles_, the common summer squash, _Cucurbita + polymorpha. Vide_ Vol. II. note 128. For figure D, _vide_ p. 116. + +194. The coloring matter appears to have been derived from the root of the + bedstraw, _Galium tinctorum_. Peter Kalm, a pupil of Linnaeus, who + travelled in Canada in 1749, says, "The roots of this plant are + employed by the Indians in dyeing the quills of the American + porcupines red, which they put into several pieces of their work, and + air, sun, or water seldom change this color." _Travels into North + America_, London, 1771, Vol. III. pp. 14-15. + +195. Pere Joseph Le Caron, who had passed the winter among the Hurons. + +196. _Mardi-gras_, Shrove-Tuesday, or _flesh Tuesday_, the last day of the + Carnival, the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day in Lent. + +197. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 236-238. + +198. This must have been on the 20th of May. + +199. Jean d'Olbeau and the lay brother Pacifique du Plessis. + +200. Joseph le Caron, who accompanied Champlain to France. + + + + +CONTINUATION OF THE VOYAGES +AND DISCOVERIES MADE IN NEW FRANCE, +BY +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, +CAPTAIN FOR THE KING IN THE WESTERN MARINE, +IN THE YEAR 1618. + + +At the beginning of the year one thousand six hundred and eighteen, on the +twenty-second of March, I set out from Paris, [201] together with my +brother-in-law, [202] for Honfleur, our usual port of embarkation. There we +were obliged to make a long stay on account of contrary winds. But when +they had become favorable, we embarked on the large vessel of the +association, which Sieur du Pont Grave commanded. There was also on board a +nobleman, named De la Mothe, [203] who had previously made a voyage with +the Jesuits to the regions of La Cadie, where he was taken prisoner by the +English, and by them carried to the Virginias, the place of their +settlement. Some time after they transferred him to England and from there +to France, where there arose in him an increased desire to make another +voyage to New France, which led him to seek the opportunity presented by +me. I had assured him, accordingly, that I would use my influence and +assistance with our associates, as it seemed to me that they would find +such a person desirable, since he would be very useful in those regions. + +Our embarkation being made, we took our departure from Honfleur on the 24th +day of May following, in the year 1618. The wind was favorable for our +voyage, but continued so only a very few days, when it suddenly changed, +and we had all the time head winds up to our arrival, on the 3d day of June +following, on the Grand Bank, where the fresh fishery is carried on. Here +we perceived to the windward of us some banks of ice, which came down from +the north. While waiting for a favorable wind we engaged in fishing, which +afforded us great pleasure, not only on account of the fish but also of a +kind of bird called _fauquets_, [204] and other kinds that are caught on +the line like fish. For, on throwing the line, with its hook baited with +cod liver, these birds made for it with a rush, and in such numbers that +you could not draw it out in order to throw it again, without capturing +them by the beak, feet, and wings as they slew and fell upon the bait, so +great were the eagerness and voracity of these birds. This fishing afforded +us great pleasure, not only on account of the sport, but on account of the +infinite number of birds and fish that we captured, which were very good +eating, and made a very desirable change on shipboard. + +Continuing on our route, we arrived on the 15th of the month off Isle +Percee, and on St. John's day [205] following entered the harbor of +Tadoussac, where we found our small vessel, which had arrived three weeks +before us. The men on her told us that Sieur des Chesnes, the commander, +had gone to our settlement at Quebec. Thence he was to go to the Trois +Rivieres to meet the savages, who were to come there from various regions +for the purpose of trade, and likewise to determine what was to be done on +account of the death of two of our men, who had been treacherously and +perfidiously killed by two vicious young men of the Montagnais. These two +unfortunate victims, as the men on the vessel informed us, had been killed +while out hunting nearly two years [206] before. Those in the settlement +had always supposed that they had been drowned from the upsetting of their +canoe, until a short time before, one of the men, conceiving an animosity +against the murderers, made a disclosure and communicated the fact and +cause of the murder to the men of our settlement. For certain reasons it +has seemed to me well to give an account of the matter and of what was done +in regard to it. But it is almost impossible to obtain the exact truth in +the case, on account, not only of the small amount of testimony at hand, +but of the diversity of the statements made, the most of which were +presumptive. I will, however, give an account of the matter here, following +the statement of the greater number as being nearer the truth, and relating +what I have found to be the most probable. + +The following is the occasion of the murder of the two unfortunate +deceased. One of the two murderers paid frequent visits to our settlement, +receiving there a thousand kindnesses and favors, among other persons from +Sieur du Parc, a nobleman from Normandy, in command at the time at Quebec, +in the service of the King and in behalf of the merchants of the +Association in the year 1616. This savage, while on one of his customary +visits, received one day, on account of some jealousy, ill treatment from +one of the two murdered men, who was by profession a locksmith, and who +after some words beat the savage so soundly as to impress it well upon his +memory. And not satisfied with beating and misusing the savage he incited +his companions to do the same, which aroused still more the hatred and +animosity of the savage towards this locksmith and his companions, and led +him to seek an opportunity to revenge himself. He accordingly watched for a +time and opportunity for doing so, acting however cautiously and appearing +as usual, without showing any sign of resentment. + +Some time after, the locksmith and a sailor named Charles Pillet, from the +island of Re, arranged to go hunting and stay away three or four nights. +For this purpose they got ready a canoe, and embarking departed from Quebec +for Cape Tourmente. Here there were some little islands where a great +quantity of game and birds resorted, near Isle d'Orleans, and distant seven +leagues from Quebec. The departure of our men became at once known to the +two savages, who were not slow in starting to pursue them and carry out +their evil design. They sought for the place where the locksmith and his +companion went to sleep, in order to surprise them. Having ascertained it +at evening, at break of day on the following morning, the two savages +slipped quietly along certain very pleasant meadows. Arriving at a point +near the place in question, they moored their canoe, landed and went +straight to the cabin, where our men had slept. But they found only the +locksmith, who was preparing to go hunting with his companion, and who +thought of nothing less than of what was to befall him. One of these +savages approached him, and with some pleasant words removed from him all +suspicion of anything wrong in order that he might the better deceive +him. But as he saw him stoop to adjust his arquebus, he quickly drew a club +that he had concealed on his person, and gave the locksmith so heavy a blow +on his head, that it sent him staggering and completely stunned. The +savage, seeing that the locksmith was preparing to defend himself, repeated +his blow, struck him to the ground, threw himself upon him, and with a +knife gave him three or four cuts in the stomach, killing him in this +horrible manner. + +In order that they might also get possession of the sailor, the companion +of the locksmith who had started early in the morning to go hunting, not +because they bore any special hatred towards him, but that they might not +be discovered nor accused by him, they went in all directions searching for +him. At last, from the report of an arquebus which they heard, they +discovered where he was, in which direction they rapidly hastened, so as to +give no time to the sailor to reload his arquebus and put himself in a +state of defence. Approaching, they fired their arrows at him, by which +having prostrated him, they ran upon him and finished him with the knife. + +Then the assassins carried off the body, together with the other, and, +binding them so firmly together that they would not come apart, attached to +them a quantity of stones and pebbles, together with their weapons and +clothes, so as not to be discovered by any sign, after which they carried +them to the middle of the river, threw them in, and they sank to the +bottom. Here they remained a long time until, through the will of God, the +cords broke, and the bodies were washed ashore and thrown far up on the +bank, to serve as accusers and incontestable witnesses of the attack of +these two cruel and treacherous assassins. For the two bodies were found at +a distance of more than twenty feet from the water in the woods, but had +not become separated in so long a time, being still firmly bound, the +bones, stripped of the flesh like a skeleton, alone remaining. For the two +victims, contrary to the expectation of the two murderers, who thought they +had done their work so secretly that it would never be known, were found a +long time after their disappearance by the men of our settlement, who, +pained at their absence, searched for them along the banks of the river. +But God in his justice would not permit so enormous a crime, and had caused +it to be exposed by another savage, their companion, in retaliation for an +injury he had received from them. Thus their wicked acts were disclosed. + +The holy Fathers and the men of the settlement were greatly surprised at +seeing the bodies of these two unfortunates, with their bones all bare, and +their skulls broken by the blows received from the club of the savages. The +Fathers and others at the settlement advised to preserve them in some +portion of the settlement until the return of our vessels, in order to +consult with all the French as to the best course to pursue in the matter. +Meanwhile our people at the settlement resolved to be on their guard, and +no longer allow so much freedom to these savages as they had been +accustomed to, but on the contrary require reparation for so cruel a murder +by a process of justice, or some other way, or let things in the mean time +remain as they were, in order the better to await our vessels and our +return, that we might all together consult what was to be done in the +matter. + +But the savages seeing that this iniquity was discovered, and that they and +the murderer were obnoxious to the French, were seized with despair, and, +fearing that our men would exercise vengeance upon them for this murder, +withdrew for a while from our settlement.[207] Not only those guilty of the +act but the others also being seized with fear came no longer to the +settlement, as they had been accustomed to do, but waited for greater +security for themselves. + +Finding themselves deprived of intercourse with us, and of their usual +welcome, the savages sent one of their companions named by the French, _La +Ferriere_, to make their excuses for this murder; namely, they asserted +they had never been accomplices in it, and had never consented to it, and +that, if it was desired to have the two murderers for the sake of +inflicting justice, the other savages would willingly consent to it, unless +the French should be pleased to take as reparation and restitution for the +dead some valuable presents of skins, as they are accustomed to do in +return for a thing that cannot be restored. They earnestly entreated the +French to accept this rather than require the death of the accused which +they anticipated would be hard for them to execute, and so doing to forget +everything as if it had not occurred. + +To this, in accordance with the advice of the holy Fathers, it was decided +to reply that the savages should bring and deliver up the two malefactors, +in order to ascertain from them their accomplices, and who had incited them +to do the deed. This they communicated to La Ferriere for him to report to +his companions. + +This decision having been made, La Ferriere withdrew to his companions, who +upon hearing the decision of the French found this procedure and mode of +justice very strange and difficult; since they have no established law +among themselves, but only vengeance and restitution by presents. After +considering the whole matter and deliberating with one another upon it, +they summoned the two murderers and set forth to them the unhappy position +into which they had been thrown by the event of this murder, which might +cause a perpetual war with the French, from which their women and children +would suffer. However much trouble they might give us, and although they +might keep us shut up in our settlement and prevent us from hunting, +cultivating and tilling the soil, and although we were in too small numbers +to keep the river blockaded, as they persuaded themselves to believe in +their consultations; still, after all their deliberations, they concluded +that it was better to live in peace with the French than in war and +perpetual distrust. + +Accordingly the savages thus assembled, after finishing their consultation +and representing the situation to the accused, asked them if they would not +have the courage to go with them to the settlement of the French and appear +before them; promising them that they should receive no harm, and assuring +them that the French were lenient and disposed to pardon, and would in +short go so far in dealing with them as to overlook their offence on +condition of their not returning to such evil ways. + +The two criminals, finding themselves convicted in conscience, yielded to +this proposition and agreed to follow this advice. Accordingly one of them +made preparations, arraying himself in such garments and decorations as he +could procure, as if he had been invited to go to a marriage or some great +festivity. Thus attired, he went to the settlement, accompanied by his +father, some of the principal chiefs, and the captain of their company. As +to the other murderer, he excused himself from this journey, [208] +realizing his guilt of the heinous act and fearing punishment. + +When now they had entered the habitation, which was forthwith surrounded by +a multitude of the savages of their company, the bridge [209] was drawn up, +and all of the French put themselves on guard, arms in hand. They kept a +strict watch, sentinels being posted at the necessary points, for fear of +what the savages outside might do, since they suspected that it was +intended actually to inflict punishment upon the guilty one, who had so +freely offered himself to our mercy, and not upon him alone, but upon those +also who had accompanied him inside, who likewise were not too sure of +their persons, and who, seeing matters in this state, did not expect to get +out with their lives. The whole matter was very well managed and carried +out, so as to make them realize the magnitude of the crime and have fear +for the future. Otherwise there would have been no security with them, and +we should have been obliged to live with arms in hand and in perpetual +distrust. + +After this, the savages suspecting lest something might happen contrary to +what they hoped from us, the holy Fathers proceeded to make them an address +on the subject of this crime. They set forth to them the friendship which +the French had shown them for ten or twelve years back, when we began to +know them, during which time we had continually lived in peace and intimacy +with them, nay even with such freedom as could hardly be expressed. They +added moreover that I had in person assisted them several times in war +against their enemies, thereby exposing my life for their welfare; while we +were not under any obligations to do so, being impelled only by friendship +and good will towards them, and feeling pity at the miseries and +persecutions which their enemies caused them to endure and suffer. This is +why we were unable to believe, they said, that this murder had been +committed without their consent, and especially since they had taken it +upon themselves to favor those who committed it. + +Speaking to the father of the criminal, they represented to him the +enormity of the deed committed by his son, saying that as reparation for it +he deserved death, since by our law so wicked a deed did not go unpunished, +and that whoever was found guilty and convicted of it deserved to be +condemned to death as reparation for so heinous an act; but, as to the +other inhabitants of the country, who were not guilty of the crime, they +said no one wished them any harm or desired to visit upon them the +consequences of it. + +All the savages, having clearly heard this, said, as their only excuse, but +with all respect, that they had not consented to this act; that they knew +very well that these two criminals ought to be put to death, unless we +should be disposed to pardon them; that they were well aware of their +wickedness, not before but after the commission of the deed; that they had +been informed of the death of the two ill-fated men too late to prevent it. +Moreover, they said that they had kept it secret, in order to preserve +constantly an intimate relationship and confidence with us, and declared +that they had administered to the evil-doers severe reprimands, and set +forth the calamity which they had not only brought upon themselves, but +upon all their tribe, relatives and friends; and they promised that such a +calamity should never occur again and begged us to forget this offence, and +not visit it with the consequences it deserved, but rather go back to the +primary motive which induced the two savages to go there, and have regard +for that. Furthermore they said that the culprit had come freely and +delivered himself into our hands, not to be punished but to receive mercy +from the French. + +But the father, turning to the friar, [210] said with tears, there is my +son, who committed the supposed crime; he is worthless, but consider that +he is a young, foolish, and inconsiderate person, who has committed this +act through passion, impelled by vengeance rather than by premeditation: it +is in your power to give him life or death; you can do with him what you +please, since we are both in your hands. + +After this address, the culprit son, presenting himself with assurance, +spoke these words. "Fear has not so seized my heart as to prevent my coming +to receive death according to my desserts and your law, of which I +acknowledge myself guilty." Then he stated to the company the cause of the +murder, and the planning and execution of it, just as I have related and +here set forth. + +After his recital he addressed himself to one of the agents and clerks of +the merchants of our Association, named _Beauchaine_, begging him to put +him to death without further formality. + +Then the holy Fathers spoke, and said to them, that the French were not +accustomed to put their fellow-men to death so suddenly, and that it was +necessary to have a consultation with all the men of the settlement, and +bring forward this affair as the subject of consideration. This being a +matter of great consequence, it was decided that it should be carefully +conducted and that it was best to postpone it to a more favorable occasion, +which would be better adapted to obtain the truth, the present time not +being favorable for many reasons. + +In the first place, we were weak in numbers in comparison with the savages +without and within our settlement, who, resentful and full of vengeance as +they are, would have been capable of setting fire on all sides and creating +disorder among us. In the second place, there would have been perpetual +distrust and no security in our intercourse with them. In the third place, +trade would have been injured, and the service of the King impeded. + +In view of these and other urgent considerations, it was decided that we +ought to be contented with their putting themselves in our power and their +willingness to give satisfaction submissively, the father of the criminal +on the one hand presenting and offering him to the company, and he, for his +part, offering to give up his own life as restitution for his offence, just +as his father offered to produce him whenever he might be required. + +This it was thought necessary to regard as a sort of honorable amend, and a +satisfaction to justice. And it was considered that if we thus pardoned the +offence, not only would the criminal receive his life from us, but, also, +his father and companions would feel under great obligations. It was +thought proper, however, to say to them as an explanation of our action, +that, in view of the fact of the criminal's public assurance that all the +other savages were in no respect accomplices, or to blame for the act, and +had had no knowledge of it before its accomplishment, and in view of the +fact that he had freely offered himself to death, it had been decided to +restore him to his father, who should remain under obligations to produce +him at any time. On these terms and on condition that he should in future +render service to the French, his life was spared, that he and all the +savages might continue friends and helpers of the French. + +Thus it was decided to arrange the matter until the vessels should return +from France, when, in accordance with the opinion of the captains and +others, a definite and more authoritative settlement was to be concluded. +In the mean time we promised them every favor and the preservation of their +lives, saying to them, however, for our security, that they should leave +some of their children as a kind of hostage, to which they very willingly +acceded, and left at the settlement two in the hands of the holy Fathers, +who proceeded to teach their letters, and in less than three months taught +them the alphabet and how to make the letters. + +From this it may be seen that they are capable of instruction and are +easily taught, as Father Joseph [211] can testify. + +The vessels having safely arrived, Sieur du Pont Grave, some others, and +myself were informed how the affair had taken place, as has been narrated +above, when we all decided that it was desirable to make the savages feel +the enormity of this murder, but not to execute punishment upon them, for +various good reasons hereafter to be mentioned. + +As soon as our vessels had entered the harbor of Tadoussac, even on the +morning of the next day, [212] Sieur du Pont Grave and myself set sail +again, on a small barque of ten or twelve tons' burden. So also Sieur de la +Mothe, together with Father Jean d'Albeau, [213] a friar, and one of the +clerks and agent of the merchants, named _Loquin_, embarked on a little +shallop, and we set out together from Tadoussac. There remained on the +vessel another friar, called Father _Modeste_ [214] together with the pilot +and master, to take care of her. We arrived at Quebec, the place of our +settlement, on the 27th of June following. Here we found Fathers Joseph, +Paul, and Pacifique, the friars, [215] and Sieur Hebert [216] with his +family, together with the other members of the settlement. They were all +well, and delighted at our return in good health like themselves, through +the mercy of God. + +The same day Sieur du Pont Grave determined to go to Trois Rivieres, where +the merchants carried on their trading, and to take with him some +merchandise, with the purpose of meeting Sieur des Chesnes, who was already +there. He also took with him Loquin, as before mentioned. I stayed at our +settlement some days, occupying myself with business relating to it; among +other things in building a furnace for making an experiment with certain +ashes, directions for which had been given me, and which are in truth of +great value; but it requires labor, diligence, watchfulness and skill; and +for the working of these ashes a sufficient number of men are needed who +are acquainted with this art. This first experiment did not prove +successful, and we postponed further trial to a more favorable opportunity. + +I visited the cultivated lands, [217] which I found planted with fine +grain. The gardens contained all kinds of plants, cabbages, radishes, +lettuce, purslain, sorrel, parsley, and other plants, squashes, cucumbers, +melons, peas, beans and other vegetables, which were as fine and forward as +in France. There were also the vines, which had been transplanted, already +well advanced. In a word, you could see everything growing and flourishing. +Aside from God, we are not to give the praise for this to the laborers or +their skill, for it is probable that not much is due to them, but to the +richness and excellence of the soil, which is naturally good and adapted +for everything, as experience shows, and might be turned to good account, +not only for purposes of tillage and the cultivation of fruit-trees and +vines, but also for the nourishment and rearing of cattle and fowl, such as +are common in France. But the thing lacking is zeal and affection for the +welfare and service of the King. + +I tarried some time at Quebec, in expectation of further intelligence, when +there arrived a barque from Tadoussac, which had been sent by Sieur du +Pont Grave to get the men and merchandise remaining at that place on the +before-mentioned large vessel. Leaving Quebec, I embarked with them for +Trois Rivieres, where the trading was going on, in order to see the savages +and communicate with them, and ascertain what was taking place respecting +the assassination above set forth, and what could be done to settle and +smooth over the whole matter. + +On the 5th of July following I set out from Quebec, together with Sieur de +la Mothe, for Trois Rivieres, both for engaging in traffic and to see the +savages. We arrived at evening off Sainte Croix, [218] a place on the way +so called. Here we saw a shallop coming straight to us, in which were some +men from Sieurs du Pont Grave and des Chesnes, and also some clerks and +agents of the merchants. They asked me to despatch at once this shallop to +Quebec for some merchandise remaining there, saying that a large number of +savages had come for the purpose of making war. + +This intelligence was very agreeable to us, and in order to satisfy them, +on the morning of the next day I left my barque and went on board a shallop +in order to go more speedily to the savages, while the other, which had +come from Trois Rivieres, continued its course to Quebec. We made such +progress by rowing that we arrived at the before-mentioned place on the 7th +of July at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Upon landing, all the savages with +whom I had been intimate in their country recognized me. They were awaiting +me with impatience, and came up to me very happy and delighted to see me +again, one after the other embracing me with demonstrations of great joy, I +also receiving them in the same manner. In this agreeable way was spent the +evening and remainder of this day, and on the next day the savages held a +council among themselves, to ascertain from me whether I would again assist +them, as I had done in the past and as I had promised them, in their wars +against their enemies, by whom they are cruelly harassed and tortured. + +Meanwhile on our part we took counsel together to determine what we should +do in the matter of the murder of the two deceased, in order that justice +might be done, and that they might be restrained from committing such an +offence in future. + +In regard to the assistance urgently requested by the savages for making +war against their enemies, I replied that my disposition had not changed +nor my courage abated, but that what prevented me from assisting them was +that on the previous year, when the occasion and opportunity presented, +they failed me when the time came; because when they had promised to return +with a good number of warriors they did not do so, which caused me to +withdraw without accomplishing much. Yet I told them the matter should be +taken into consideration, but that for the present it was proper to +determine what should be done in regard to the assassination of the two +unfortunate men, and that satisfaction must be had. Upon this they left +their council in seeming anger and vexation about the matter, offering to +kill the criminals, and proceed at once to their execution, if assent were +given, and acknowledging freely among themselves the enormity of the +affair. + +But we would not consent to this, postponing our assistance to another +time, requiring them to return to us the next year with a good number of +men. I assured them, moreover, that I would entreat the King to favor us +with men, means, and supplies to assist them and enable them to enjoy the +rest they longed for, and victory over their enemies. At this they were +greatly pleased, and thus we separated, after they had held two or three +meetings on the subject, costing us several hours of time. Two or three +days after my arrival at this place they proceeded to make merry, dance, +and celebrate many great banquets in view of the future war in which I was +to assist them. + +Then I stated to Sieur du Pont Grave what I thought about this murder; that +it was desirable to make a greater demand upon them; that at present the +savages would dare not only to do the same thing again but what would be +more injurious to us; that I considered them people who were governed by +example; that they might accuse the French of being wanting in courage; +that if we said no more about the matter they would infer that we were +afraid of them: and that if we should let them go so easily they would grow +more insolent, bold, and intolerable, and we should even thereby tempt them +to undertake greater and more pernicious designs. Moreover I said that the +other tribes of savages, who had or should get knowledge of this act, and +that it had been unrevenged, or compromised by gifts and presents, as is +their custom, would boast that killing a man is no great matter; since the +French make so little account of seeing their companions killed by their +neighbors, who drink, eat, and associate intimately with them, as may be +seen. + +But, on the other hand, in consideration of the various circumstances; +namely, that the savages do not exercise reason, that they are hard to +approach, are easily estranged, and are very ready to take vengeance, that, +if we should force them to inflict punishment, there would be no security +for those desirous of making explorations among them, we determined to +settle this affair in a friendly manner, and pass over quietly what had +occurred, leaving them to engage peaceably in their traffic with the clerks +and agents of the merchants and others in charge. + +Now there was with them a man named _Estienne Brule_, one of our +interpreters, who had been living with them for eight years, as well to +pass his time as to see the country and learn their language and mode of +life. He is the one whom I had despatched with orders to go in the +direction of the Entouhonorons, [219] to Carantouean, in order to bring with +him five hundred warriors they had promised to send to assist us in the war +in which we were engaged against their enemies, a reference to which is +made in the narrative of my previous book. [220] I called this man, namely +Estienne Brule, and asked him why he had not brought the assistance of the +five hundred men, and what was the cause of the delay, and why he had not +rendered me a report. Thereupon he gave me an account of the matter, a +narrative of which it will not be out of place to give, as he is more to be +pitied than blamed on account of the misfortunes which he experienced on +this commission. + +He proceeded to say that, after taking leave of me to go on his journey and +execute his commission, he set out with the twelve savages whom I had given +him for the purpose of showing the way, and to serve as an escort on +account of the dangers which he might have to encounter. They were +successful in reaching the place, Carantouean, but not without exposing +themselves to risk, since they had to pass through the territories of their +enemies, and, in order to avoid any evil design, pursued a more secure +route through thick and impenetrable forests, wood and brush, marshy bogs, +frightful and unfrequented places and wastes, all to avoid danger and a +meeting with their enemies. + +But, in spite of this great care, Brule and his savage companions, while +crossing a plain, encountered some hostile savages, who were returning to +their village and who were surprised and worsted by our savages, four of +the enemy being killed on the spot and two taken prisoners, whom Brule and +his companions took to Carantouean, by the inhabitants of which place they +were received with great affection, a cordial welcome, and good cheer, with +the dances and banquets with which they are accustomed to entertain and +honor strangers. + +Some days were spent in this friendly reception; and, after Brule had told +them his mission and explained to them the occasion of his journey, the +savages of the place assembled in council to deliberate and resolve in +regard to sending the five hundred warriors asked for by Brule. + +When the council was ended and it was decided to send the men, orders were +given to collect, prepare, and arm them, so as to go and join us where we +were encamped before the fort and village of our enemies. This was only +three short days' journey from Carantouean, which was provided with more +than eight hundred warriors, and strongly fortified, after the manner of +those before described, which have high and strong palisades well bound and +joined together, the quarters being constructed in a similar fashion. + +After it had been resolved by the inhabitants of Carantouean to send the +five hundred men, these were very long in getting ready, although urged by +Brule, to make haste, who explained to them that if they delayed any longer +they would not find us there. And in fact they did not succeed in arriving +until two days after our departure from that place, which we were forced to +abandon, since we were too weak and worn by the inclemency of the weather. +This caused Brule, and the five hundred men whom he brought, to withdraw +and return to their village of Carantouean. After their return Brule was +obliged to stay, and spend the rest of the autumn and all the winter, for +lack of company and escort home. While awaiting, he busied himself in +exploring the country and visiting the tribes and territories adjacent to +that place, and in making a tour along a river [221] that debouches in the +direction of Florida, where are many powerful and warlike nations, carrying +on wars against each other. The climate there is very temperate, and there +are great numbers of animals and abundance of small game. But to traverse +and reach these regions requires patience, on account of the difficulties +involved in passing the extensive wastes. + +He continued his course along the river as far as the sea, [222] and to +islands and lands near them, which are inhabited by various tribes and +large numbers of savages, who are well disposed and love the French above +all other nations. But those who know the Dutch [223] complain severely of +them, since they treat them very roughly. Among other things he observed +that the winter was very temperate, that it snowed very rarely, and that +when it did the snow was not a foot deep and melted immediately. + +After traversing the country and observing what was noteworthy, he returned +to the village of Carantouean, in order to find an escort for returning to +our settlement. After some stay at Carantouean, five or six of the savages +decided to make the journey with Brule. On the way they encountered a large +number of their enemies, who charged upon Brule and his companions so +violently that they caused them to break up and separate from each other, +so that they were unable to rally: and Brule, who had kept apart in the +hope of escaping, became so detached from the others that he could not +return, nor find a road or sign in order to effect his retreat in any +direction whatever. Thus he continued to wander through forest and wood for +several days without eating, and almost despairing of his life from the +pressure of hunger. At last he came upon a little footpath, which he +determined to follow wherever it might lead, whether toward the enemy or +not, preferring to expose himself to their hands trusting in God rather +than to die alone and in this wretched manner. Besides he knew how to speak +their language, which he thought might afford him some assistance. + +But he had not gone a long distance when he discovered three savages loaded +with fish repairing to their village. He ran after them, and, as he +approached, shouted at them, as is their custom. At this they turned about, +and filled with fear were about to leave their burden and flee. But Brule +speaking to them reassured them, when they laid down their bows and arrows +in sign of peace, Brule on his part laying down his arms. Moreover he was +weak and feeble, not having eaten for three or four days. On coming up to +them, after he had told them of his misfortune and the miserable condition +to which he had been reduced, they smoked together, as they are accustomed +to do with one another and their acquaintances when they visit each +other. They had pity and compassion for him, offering him every assistance, +and conducting him to their village, where they entertained him and gave +him something to eat. + +But as soon as the people of the place were informed that an _Adoresetouey_ +had arrived, for thus they call the French, the name signifying _men of +iron_, they came in a rush and in great numbers to see Brule. They took him +to the cabin of one of the principal chiefs, where he was interrogated, and +asked who he was, whence he came, what circumstance had driven and led him +to this place, how he had lost his way, and whether he did not belong to +the French nation that made war upon them. To this he replied that he +belonged to a better nation, that was desirous solely of their acquaintance +and friendship. Yet they would not believe this, but threw themselves upon +him, tore out his nails with their teeth, burnt him with glowing +firebrands, and tore out his beard, hair by hair, though contrary to the +will of the chief. + +During this fit of passion one of the savages observed an _Agnus Dei_, +which he had attached to his neck, and asked what it was that he had thus +attached to his neck, and was on the point of seizing it and pulling it +off. But Brule said to him, with resolute words, If you take it and put me +to death, you will find that immediately after you will suddenly die, and +all those of your house. He paid no attention however to this, but +continuing in his malicious purpose tried to seize the _Agnus Dei_ and tear +it from him, all of them together being desirous of putting him to death, +but previously of making him suffer great pain and torture, such as they +generally practise upon their enemies. + +But God, showing him mercy, was pleased not to allow it, but in his +providence caused the heavens to change suddenly from the serene and fair +state they were in to darkness, and to become filled with great and thick +clouds, upon which followed thunders and lightnings so violent and long +continued that it was something strange and awful. This storm caused the +savages such terror, it being not only unusual but unlike anything they had +ever heard, that their attention was diverted and they forgot the evil +purpose they had towards Brule, their prisoner. They accordingly left him +without even unbinding him, as they did not dare to approach him. This gave +the sufferer an opportunity to use gentle words, and he appealed to them +and remonstrated with them on the harm they were doing him without cause, +and set forth to them how our God was enraged at them for having so abused +him. + +The captain then approached Brule, unbound him, and took him to his house, +where he took care of him and treated his wounds. After this there were no +dances, banquets, or merry-makings to which Brule was not invited. + +So after remaining some time with these savages, he determined to proceed +towards our settlement. + +Taking leave of them, he promised to restore them to harmony with the +French and their enemies, and cause them to swear friendship with each +other, to which end he said he would return to them as soon as he +could. Thence he went to the country and village of the Atinouaentans, +[224] where I had already been; the savages at his departure having +conducted him for a distance of four days' journey from their village. Here +Brule remained some time, when, resuming his journey towards us he came by +way of the _Mer Douce_, [225] boating along its northern shores for some +ten days, where I had also gone when on my way to the war. + +And if Brule had gone further on to explore these regions, as I had +directed him to do, it would not have been a mere rumor that they were +preparing war with one another. But this undertaking was reserved to +another time, which he promised me to continue and accomplish in a short +period with God's grace, and to conduct me there that I might obtain fuller +and more particular knowledge. + +After he had made this recital, I gave him assurance that his services +would be recognized, and encouraged him to continue his good purpose until +our return, when we should have more abundant means to do that with which +he would be satisfied. This is now the entire narrative and recital of his +journey from the time he left me [226] to engage in the above-mentioned +explorations; and it afforded me pleasure in the prospect thereby presented +me of being better able to continue and promote them. + +With this purpose he took leave of me to return to the savages, an intimate +acquaintance with whom had been acquired by him in his journeys and +explorations. I begged him to continue with them until the next year, when +I would return with a good number of men, both to reward him for his +labors, and to assist as in the past the savages, his friends, in their +wars. + +Resuming the thread of my former discourse, I must note that in my last and +preceding voyages and explorations I had passed through numerous and +diverse tribes of savages not known to the French nor to those of our +settlement, with whom I had made alliances and sworn friendship, on +condition that they should come and trade with us, and that I should assist +them in their wars; for it must be understood that there is not a single +tribe living in peace, excepting the Nation Neutre. According to their +promise, there came from the various tribes of savages recently discovered +some trade in peltry, others to see the French and ascertain what kind of +treatment and welcome would be shown them. This encouraged everybody, the +French on the one hand to show them cordiality and welcome, for they +honored them with some attentions and presents, which the agents of the +merchants gave to gratify them; on the other hand, it encouraged the +savages, who promised all the French to come and live in future in +friendship with them, all of them declaring that they would deport +themselves with such affection towards us that we should have occasion to +commend them, while we in like manner were to assist them to the extent of +our power in their wars. + +The trading having been concluded, and the savages having taken their leave +and departed, we left Trois Rivieres on the 14th of July of this year. The +next day we arrived at our quarters at Quebec, where the barques were +unloaded of the merchandise which had remained over from the traffic and +which was put in the warehouse of the merchants at that place. + +Now Sieur de Pont Grave went to Tadoussac with the barques in order to load +them and carry to the habitation the provisions necessary to support those +who were to remain and winter there, and I determined while the barques +were thus engaged to continue there for some days in order to have the +necessary fortifications and repairs made. + +At my departure from the settlement I took leave of the holy Fathers, Sieur +de la Mothe, and all the others who were to stay there, giving them to +expect that I would return, God assisting, with a good number of families +to people the country. I embarked on the 26th of July, together with the +Fathers Paul and Pacifique, [227] the latter having wintered here once and +the other having been here a year and a half, who were to make a report of +what they had seen in the country and of what could be done there. We set +out on the day above mentioned from the settlement for Tadoussac, where we +were to embark for France. We arrived the next day and found our vessels +ready to set sail. We embarked, and left Tadoussac for France on the 13th +of the month of July, 1618, and arrived at Honfleur on the 28th day of +August, the wind having been favorable, and all being in good spirits. + +ENDNOTES: + +201. Champlain made a voyage to New France in 1617, but appears to have + kept no journal of its events. He simply observes that nothing + occurred worthy of remark. _Vide_ issue of 1632, Quebec ed., p. 969. + Sagard gives a brief narrative of the events that occurred that + year. Vol. I. pp. 34-44. + +202. Eustache Boulle. His father was Nicolas Boulle, Secretary of the + King's Chamber, and his mother was Marguerite Alix. _Vide_ Vol. I. + p. 205 _et passim_. + +203. Nicolas de La Mothe, or de la Motte le Vilin. He had been Lieutenant + of Saussaye in 1613, when Capt. Argall captured the French colony at + Mount Desert. _Vide Les Voyages de Champlain_, 1632, Quebec ed., + p. 773; _Relation de la Nouvelle France_, Pere Biard, p. 64. + +204. _Fauquets_. Probably the common Tern, or Sea Swallow. _Sterna + hirundo_. Peter Kalm, on his voyage in 1749, says "Terns, _sterna + hirundo, Linn_, though of a somewhat darker colour than the common + ones, we found after the forty-first degree of north latitude and + forty-seventh degree of west longitude from _London_, very + plentifully, and sometimes in flocks of some hundreds; sometimes they + settled, as if tired, on our ship." _Kalm's Travels_, 1770, + Vol. I. p. 23. + +205. St. John's day was June 24th. + +206. According to Sagard they were assassinated about the middle of April, + 1617. _Hist. Canada_, Vol. I. p. 42. + +207. Sagard says the French, on account of this affair, were menaced by + eight hundred savages of different nations who were assembled at Trois + Rivieres. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, 1636, Vol. I. p.42. The + statement, "on estoit menace de huict cens Sauvages de diuerse + nations, qui festoient assemblez es Trois Rivieres a dessein de venir + surprendre les Francois & leur coupper a tous la gorge, pour preuenir + la vengeance qu'ils eussent pu prendre de deux de leurs hommes tuez + par les Montagnais environ la my Auril de l'an 1617," is, we think, + too strong. The savages were excited and frightened by the demands of + the French, who desired to produce upon their minds a strong moral + impression, in order to prevent a recurrence of the murder, which was + a private thing, in which the great body of the savages had no part. + They could not be said to be hostile, though they prudently put + themselves in a state of defence, as, under the circumstances, it was + very natural they should do. + +208. They were then at Trois Rivieres. + +209. The moat around the habitation at Quebec was fifteen feet wide and six + feet deep, constructed with a drawbridge to be taken up in case of + need. _Vide_ Vol II p. 182. + +210. Probably Pere le Caron, who was in charge of the mission at Quebec at + that time. + +211. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Sagard, 1636, Vol. I. p 45. + +212. They arrived on St. John's day, _antea, note 205_, and consequently + this was the 25th of June, 1618. + +213. Jean d'Olbeau. + +214. Frere Modeste Guines. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Sagard, a Paris, + 1636, Vol. I.p. 40. + +215. Joseph le Caron, Paul Huet, and Pacifique du Plessis. + +216. Louis Hebert, an apothecary, settled at Port Royal in La Cadie or Nova + Scotia, under Poutrincourt, was there when, in 1613, possession was + taken in the name of Madame de Guercheville. He afterward took up his + abode at Quebec with his family, probably in the year 1617. His eldest + daughter Anne was married at Quebec to Estienne Jonquest, a Norman, + which was the first marriage that took place with the ceremonies of + the Church in Canada. His daughter Guillemette married William + Couillard, and to her Champlain committed the two Indian girls, whom + he was not permitted by Kirke to take with him to France, when Quebec + was captured by the English in 1629. Louis Hebert died at Quebec on + the 25th of January, 1627. _Histoire du Canada_, Vol. I. pp. 41, 591. + +217. These fields were doubtless those of Louis Hebert, who was the first + that came into the country with his family to live by the cultivation + of the soil. + +218. Platon. _Vide_ Vol. 1., note 155. + +219. Champlain says, _donne charge d'aller vers les Entouhonorons a + Carantouan_. By reference to the map of 1632. it will be seen that the + Entouhonorons were situated on the southern borders of Lake Ontario. + They are understood by Champlain to be a part at least of the + Iroquois; but the Carantouanais, allies of the Hurons, were south of + them, occupying apparently the upper waters of the Susquehanna. A + dotted line will be seen on the same map, evidently intended to mark + the course of Brule's journey. From the meagre knowledge which + Champlain possessed of the region, the line can hardly be supposed to + be very accurate, which may account for Champlain's indefinite + expression as cited at the beginning of this note. + + The Entouhonorons, Quentouoronons, Tsonnontouans, or Senecas + constituted the most western and most numerous canton of the Five + Nations. _Vide Continuation of the New Discovery_, by Louis Hennepin, + 1699, p. 95; also Origin of the name Seneca in Mr. O. H. Marshall's + brochure on _De la Salle among the Senecas_, pp. 43-45. + +220. _Vide antea_, p. 124. + +221. The River Susquehanna. + +222. He appears to have gone as far south at least as the upper waters of + Chesapeake Bay. + +223. The Dutch fur-traders. _Vide History of the State of New York_ by John + Romeyn Brodhead, Vol. I. p. 44 _et passim_. + +224. Attigonantans or Attignaouantans the principal tribe of the Hurons, + sometimes called _Les bons Iroquis_, as they and the Iroquois were of + the same original stock. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 276, note 212. + +225. Lake Huron. For the different names which have been attached to this + lake, _vide Local Names of Niagara Frontier_, by Orsamus H. Marshall, + 1881, P. 37. + +226. Brule was despatched on his mission Sept 8, 1615. _Vide antea_, + p. 124. + + As we have already stated in a previous note, it was the policy of + Champlain to place competent young men with the different tribes of + savages to obtain that kind of information which could only come from + an actual and prolonged residence with them. This enabled him to + secure not only the most accurate knowledge of their domestic habits + and customs, the character and spirit of their life, but these young + men by their long residence with the savages acquired a good knowledge + of their language, and were able to act as interpreters. This was a + matter of very great importance, as it was often necessary for + Champlain to communicate with the different tribes in making treaties + of friendship, in discussing questions of war with their enemies, in + settling disagreements among themselves, and in making arrangements + with them for the yearly purchase of their peltry. It was not easy to + obtain suitable persons for this important office. Those who had the + intellectual qualifications, and who had any high aspirations, would + not naturally incline to pass years in the stupid and degrading + associations, to say nothing of the hardships and deprivations, of + savage life. They were generally therefore adventurers, whose honesty + and fidelity had no better foundation than their selfish interests. Of + this sort was this Etienne Brule, as well as Nicholas Marsolet and + Pierre Raye, all of whom turned traitors, selling themselves to the + English when Quebec was taken in 1629. Of Brule, Champlain uses the + following emphatic language: "Le truchement Brusle a qui l'on donnoit + cent pistolles par an, pour inciter les sauuages a venir a la traitte, + ce qui estoit de tres-mauuais exemple, d'enuoyer ainsi des personnes + si maluiuans, que l'on eust deub chastier seuerement, car l'on + recognoissoit cet homme pour estre fort vicieux, & adonne aux femmes; + mais que ne fait faire l'esperance du gain, qui passe par dessus + toutes considerations." _Vide issue of_ 1632, Quebec ed., pp. 1065, + 1229. + + But among Champlain's interpreters there were doubtless some who bore + a very different character. Jean Nicolet was certainly a marked + exception. Although Champlain does not mention him by name, he appears + to have been in New France as early as 1618, where he spent many years + among the Algonquins, and was the first Frenchman who penetrated the + distant Northwest. He married into one of the most respectable + families of Quebec, and is often mentioned in the Relations des + Jesuites. _Vide_ a brief notice of him in _Discovery and Exploration + of the Mississippi Valley_, by John Gilmary Shea, 1852, p. xx. A full + account of his career has recently been published, entitled _History + of the Discovery of the Northwest by John Nicolet in_ 1634, _with a + Sketch of his Life_. By C. W. Butterfield. Cincinnati, 1881. _Vide_ + also _Details fur la Vie de Jean Nicollet_, an extract from _Relation + des Jesuites_, 1643, in _Decouveries_, etc, par Pierre Margry, p. 49. + +227. Paul Huet and Pacifique du Plessis. The latter had been in New France + more than a year and a half, having arrived in 1615. _Vide antea_, + pp. 104-5. + + + + +EXPLANATION +OF +TWO GEOGRAPHICAL MAPS OF NEW FRANCE. + + +It has seemed to me well to make some statements in explanation of the two +geographical maps. Although one corresponds to the other so far as the +harbors, bays, capes, promontories, and rivers extending into the interior +are concerned, nevertheless they are different in respect to the bearings. + +The smallest is in its true meridian, in accordance with the directions of +Sieur de Castelfranc in his book on the mecometry of the magnetic needle +[228] where I have noted, as will be seen on the map, several declinations, +which have been of much service to me, so also all the altitudes, +latitudes, and longitudes, from the forty-first degree of latitude to the +fifty-first, in the direction of the North Pole, which are the confines of +Canada, or the Great Bay, where more especially the Basques and Spaniards +engage in the whale fishery. In certain places in the great river +St. Lawrence, in latitude 45 deg., I have observed the declination of the +magnetic needle, and found it as high as twenty-one degrees, which is the +greatest I have seen. + +The small map will serve very well for purposes of navigation, provided the +needle be applied properly to the rose [229] indicating the points of the +compass. For instance, in using it, when one is on the Grand Bank where +fresh fishing is carried on, it is necessary, for the sake of greater +convenience, to take a rose where the thirty-two points are marked equally, +and put the point of the magnetic needle 12, 15, or 16 degrees from the +_fleur de lis_ on the northwest side, which is nearly a point and a half, +that is north a point northwest or a little more, from the _fleur de lis_ of +said rose, and then adjust the rose to the compass. By this means the +latitudes of all the capes, harbors, and rivers can be accurately +ascertained. + +I am aware that there are many who will not make use of it, but will prefer +to run according to the large one, since it is made according to the +compass of France, where the magnetic needle varies to the northeast, for +the reason that they are so accustomed to this method that it is difficult +for them to change. For this reason I have prepared the large map in this +manner, for the assistance of the majority of the pilots and mariners in +the waters of New France, fearing that if I had not done so, they would +have ascribed to me a mistake, not knowing whence it proceeded. For the +small plans or charts of Newfoundland are, for the most part, different in +all their statements with respect to the positions of the lands and their +latitudes. And those who may have some small copies, reasonably good, +esteem them so valuable that they do not communicate a knowledge of them to +their country, which might derive profit therefrom. + +Now the construction of these maps is such that they have their meridian in +a direction north-northeast, making west west-northwest, which is contrary +to the true meridian of this place, namely, to call north-northeast north, +for the needle instead of varying to the northwest, as it should, varies to +the northeast as if it were in France. The consequence of this is that +error has resulted, and will continue to do so, since this antiquated +custom is practised, which they still retain, although they fall into grave +mistakes. + +They also make use of a compass marked north and south; that is, so that +the point of the magnetic needle is directly on the _fleur de lis_. In +accordance with such a compass many construct their small maps, which seems +to me the better way, and so approach nearer to the true meridian of New +France, than the compasses of France proper, which point to the +northeast. It has come about, consequently, in this way that the first +navigators who sailed to New France thought there was no greater deviation +in going to these parts than to the Azores, or other places near France, +where the deviation is almost imperceptible in navigation, the navigators +having the compasses of France, which point northeast and represent the +true meridian. In sailing constantly westward with the purpose of reaching +a certain latitude, they laid their course directly west by their compass, +supposing that they were sailing on the one parallel where they wished to +go. By thus going constantly in a straight line and not in a circle, as all +the parallels on the surface of the globe run, they found after having +traversed a long distance, and as they were approaching the land, that they +were some three, four, or five degrees farther south than they ought to be, +thus being deceived in their true latitude and reckoning. + +It is true, indeed, that, when the weather was fair and the sun clearly +visible, they corrected their latitude, but not without wondering how it +happened that their course was wrong, which arose in consequence of their +sailing in a straight instead of a circular line according to the parallel, +so that in changing their meridian they changed with regard to the points +of the compass, and consequently their course. It is, therefore, very +necessary to know the meridian, and the declination of the magnetic needle, +for this knowledge can serve all navigators. This is especially so in the +north and south, where there are greater variations in the magnetic needle, +and where the meridians of longitude are smaller, so that the error, if the +declination were not known, would be greater. This above-mentioned error +has accordingly arisen, because navigators have either not cared to correct +it, or did not know how to do so, and have left it in the state in which it +now is. It is consequently difficult to abandon this manner of sailing in +the regions of New France. + +This has led me to make this large map, not only that it might be more +minute than the small one, but also in order to satisfy navigators, who +will thus be able to sail as they do according to their small maps; and +they will excuse me for not making it better and more in detail, for the +life of a man is not long enough to observe things so exactly that at least +something would not be found to have been omitted. Hence inquiring and +pains-taking persons will, in sailing, observe things not to be found on +this map, but which they add to it, so that in the course of time there +will be no doubt as to any of the localities indicated. At least it seems +to me that I have done my duty, so far as I could, not having sailed to put +on my map anything that I have seen, and thus giving to the public special +knowledge of what had never been described, nor so carefully explored as I +have done it. Although in the past others have written of these things, +yet very little in comparison with what we have explored within the past +ten years. + + +MODE OF DETERMINING A MERIDIAN LINE. + +Take a small piece of board, perfectly level, and place in the middle a +needle C, three inches high, so that it shall be exactly perpendicular. +Expose it to the sun before noon, at 8 or 9 o'clock, and mark the point B +at the end of the shadow cast by the needle. Then opening the compasses, +with one point on C and the other on the shadow B, describe an arc AB. +Leave the whole in this position until afternoon when you see the shadow +just reaching the arc at A. Then divide equally the arc AB, and taking a +rule, and placing it on the points C and D, draw a line running the whole +length of the board, which is not to be moved until the observation is +completed. This line will be the meridian of the place you are in. + +And in order to ascertain the declination of the place where you are with +reference to the meridian, place a compass, which must be rectangular, +along the meridian line, as shown in the figure above, there being upon the +card a circle divided into 360 degrees. Divide the circle by two +diametrical lines; one representing the north and south, as indicated by +EF, the other the east and west, as indicated by GH. Then observe the +magnetic needle turning on its pivot upon the card, and you will see how +much it deviates from the fixed meridian line upon the card, and how many +degrees it varies to the northeast of northwest. + + + + +CHAMPLAIN'S LARGE MAP. + +GEOGRAPHICAL CHART OF NEW FRANCE, MADE BY SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN OF SAINTONGE, +CAPTAIN IN ORDINARY FOR THE KING IN THE MARINE. MADE IN THE YEAR 1612. + +I have made this map for the greater convenience of the majority of those +who navigate on these coasts, since they sail to that country according to +compasses arranged for the hemisphere of Asia. And if I had made it like +the small one, the majority would not have been able to use it, owing to +their not knowing the declinations of the needle. [230] + +Observe that on the present map north-northeast stands for north, and +west-northwest for west; according to which one is to be guided in +ascertaining the elevation of the degrees of latitude, as if these points +were actually east and west, north and south, since the map is constructed +according to the compasses of France, which vary to the northeast. [231] + + +SOME DECLINATIONS OF THE MAGNETIC NEEDLE, +WHICH I HAVE CAREFULLY OBSERVED. + +Cap Breton . . . . . . 14 deg. 50' +Cap de la Have . . . . 16 deg. 15' +Baye Ste Mane . . . . 17 deg. 16' +Port Royal . . . . . . 17 deg. 8' +En la grande R. St Laurent 21 deg. + +St Croix . . . . . . . 17 deg. 32' +Riviere de Norumbegue. 18 deg. 40' +Quinibequi . . . . . . 19 deg. 12' +Mallebarre . . . . . . 18 deg. 40' + +All observed by Sieur de Champlain, 1612. + +REFERENCES ON CHAMPLAIN'S LARGE MAP. + + A. Port Fortune. + B. Baye Blanche. + C. Baye aux Isles. + D. Cap des Isles. + E. Port aux Isles. + F. Isle Haute. + G. Isle des Monts Deserts. + H. Cap Corneille. + I. Isles aux Oiseaux. + K. Cap des Deux Bayes. + L. Port aux Mines + M. Cap Fourchu. + N. Cap Negre. + O. Port du Rossignol. + P. St. Laurent. + Q. Riviere de l'Isle Verte. + R. Baye Saine. + S. Riviere Sainte Marguerite + T. Port Sainte Helene. + V. Isle des Martires. + X. Isles Rangees. + Y. Port de Savalette. + Z. Passage du Glas. + + 1. Port aux Anglois. + 2. Baye Courante. + 3. Cap de Poutrincourt. + 4. Isle Gravee. + 5. Passage Courant. + 6. Baye de Gennes. + 7. Isle Perdue. + 8. Cap des Mines. + 9. Port aux Coquilles. + 10. Isles Jumelles. + 11. Cap Saint Jean. + 12. Isle la Nef. + 13. La Heronniere Isle. + 14. Isles Rangees. + 15. Baye Saint Luc. + 16. Passage du Gas. + 17. Cote de Montmorency. + 18. Riviere de Champlain. + 19. Riviere Sainte Marie. + 20. Isle d'Orleans. + 21. Isle de Bacchus. + +NOTE--The reader will observe that in a few instances the references are +wanting on the map. + +CHAMPLAIN'S NOTE TO THE SMALL MAP. + +On the small map [232] is added the strait above Labrador between the +fifty-third and sixty-third degrees of latitude, which the English have +discovered during the present year 1612, in their voyage to find, if +possible, a passage to China by way of the north. [233] They wintered at a +place indicated by this mark, 6. But it was not without enduring severe +cold, and they were obliged to return to England, leaving their leader in +the northern regions. Within six months three other vessels have set out, +to penetrate, if possible, still farther, and, at the same time, to search +for the men who were left in that region. + + +GEOGRAPHICAL MAP OF NEW FRANCE, IN ITS TRUE +MERIDIAN. + +_Made by Sieur Champlain, Captain for the King in the Marine. 1613_. + + +o Matou-ouescariny. [Note: This figure is inverted on the map. _Vide + antea_, note 59, p. 62.] + o+ Gaspay. + oo Ouescariny. [Note: _Vide antea_, note 47, pp. 59, 81. The figure oo is + misplaced and should be where o-o is on the map, on the extreme + western border near the forty-seventh degree of north latitude.] + o-o Quenongebin. [Note: This figure o-o on the map occupies the place + which should be occupied by oo. _Vide antea_, p. 58, note 46.] + A. Tadoussac. + B. Lesquemain. + C. Isle Percee. + D. Baye de Chaleur. + E. Isles aux Gros Yeux. [Note: A cluster of islands of which the Island + of Birds is one.] + H. Baye Francoise. + I. Isles aux Oyseaux. + L. Riviere des Etechemins. [Note: This letter, placed between the River + St. John and the St. Croix, refers to the latter.] + M. Menane. + N. Port Royal. + P. Isle Longue. + Q. Cap Fourchu. + R. Port au Mouton. + S. Port du Rossignol. [Note: The letter S appears twice on the coast of + La Cadie. The one here referred to is the more westerly.] + SS. Lac de Medicis. [Note: This reference is probably to the Lake of Two + Mountains, which will be seen on the map west of Montreal.] + T. Sesambre. + V. Cap des Deux Bayes. + 3. L'Isle aux Coudres. + 4. Saincte Croix. [Note: St. Croix on the map is where a cross surmounted + by the figure 4 may be seen.] + 4. Riviere des Etechemins. [Note: This appears to refer to the + Chaudiere. _Vide_ vol. I. p. 296.] + 5. Sault. [Note: This refers to the Falls of Montmorency.] + 6. Lac Sainct Pierre. + 7. Riviere des Yroquois. + 9. Isle aux Lieures. + 10. Riviere Platte. [Note: A small river flowing into Mal Bay. _Vide_ + Vol. I. p. 295; also _Les Voyages de Champlain_, Quebec ed., p. 1099.] + 11. Mantane. [Note: _Vide_ Vol. I. p 234.] + 40. Cap Saincte Marie. [Note: The figures are wanting. Cape St. Mary is on + the southern coast of Newfoundland. _Vide_ Vol I. p. 232.] + + +ENDNOTES: + +228. The determination of longitudes has from the beginning been environed + with almost insuperable difficulties. At one period the declination of + the magnetic needle was supposed to furnish the means of a practical + solution. Sebastian Cabot devoted considerable attention to the + subject, as did likewise Peter Plancius at a later date. Champlain + appears to have fixed the longitudes on his smaller map by + calculations based on the variation of the needle, guided by the + principles laid down by Guillaume de Nautonier, Sieur de Castelfranc, + to whose work he refers in the text. It was entitled, _Mecometrie de + l'eymant c'est a dire la maniere de mesurer les longitudes par le + moyen de l'eymant_. This rare volume is not to be found as far as my + inquiries extend, in any of the incorporated libraries on this + continent. There is however a copy in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, + to which in the catalogue is given the bibliographical note: _Six + livres. Folio. Tolose, 1603_. + + It is hardly necessary to add that the forces governing the variation + of the needle, both local and general, are so inconstant that the hope + of fixing longitudes by it was long since abandoned. + + The reason for the introduction of the explanation of the maps at this + place will be seen _antea_, p. 39. + +229. The rose is the face or card of the mariner's compass. It was + anciently called the fly. Card may perhaps be derived from the Italian + cardo, a thistle, which the face of the compass may be supposed to + resemble. On the complete circle of the compass there are thirty-two + lines drawn from the centre to the circumference to indicate the + direction of the wind. Each quarter of the circle, or 90 deg., contains + eight lines representing the points of the compass in that quarter. + They are named with reference to the cardinal points from which they + begin, as: 1, north, 2, north by east, 3, north-northeast; 4, + northeast by north; 5, northeast; 6, northeast by east; 7, east- + northeast; 8, east by north. The points in each quarter are named in a + similar manner. + +230. The above title is on the large map of 1612. This note is on the upper + left-hand corner of the same map. + +231. For this note see the upper right-hand corner of the map. + +232. In Champlain's issue in 1613, the note here given was placed in the + preliminary matter to that volume. It was placed there probably after + the rest of the work had gone to press. We have placed it here in + connection with other matter relating to the maps, where it seems more + properly to belong. + +233. This refers to the fourth voyage of Henry Hudson, made in 1610, for + the purpose here indicated. He penetrated Lomley's Inlet, hoping to + find a passage through to the Pacific Ocean, or, as it was then + called, the South Sea, and thus find a direct and shorter course to + China. He passed the winter at about 52 deg. north latitude, in that + expanse of water which has ever since been appropriately known as + Hudson's Bay. A mutiny having broken out among his crew, he and eight + others having been forced into a small boat, on the 21st of June, + 1611, were set adrift on the sea, and were never heard of afterward. + + A part of the mutinous crew arrived with the ship in England, and were + immediately thrown into prison. The following year, 1612, an + expedition under Sir Thomas Button was sent out to seek for Hudson, + and to prosecute the search still further for a northwest passage. It + is needless to add that the search was unsuccessful. + + A chart by Hudson fortunately escaped destruction by the mutineers. + Singularly enough, an engraving of it, entitled, TABVLA NAVTICA, was + published by Heffel Gerritz at Amsterdam the same year. Champlain + incorporated the part of it illustrating Hudson's discovery in his + smaller map, which is dated the same year, 1612. He does not introduce + it into his large map, although that is dated likewise 1612. A + facsimile of the Tabula Nautica is given in Henry Hudson the + Navigator, by G. M. Asher, LL.D. published by the Hakluyt Society in + 1860. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Voyages of Samuel de Champlain, Vol. 3, by +Samuel de Champlain + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGES OF DE CHAMPLAIN, VOL 3 *** + +***** This file should be named 6825.txt or 6825.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/8/2/6825/ + +Produced by Karl Hagen, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team, from images +generously made available by the Canadian Institute for +Historical Microreproductions. + +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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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Voyages of Samuel de Champlain V3 + +Author: Samuel de Champlain + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6825] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on January 28, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGES OF SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN V3 *** + + + + +Produced by Karl Hagen, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. +This file was produced from images generously made available by +the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions. + + + + + +CHAMPLAIN'S VOYAGES. + +VOYAGES +OF +SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN. + +TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH +BY CHARLES POMEROY OTIS, PH.D. + +WITH HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS, +AND A +MEMOIR +By THE REV. EDMUND F. SLAFTER, A.M. + +VOL. III. + +1611-1618 + +HELIOTYPE COPIES OF TEN MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. + +Editor: + +THE REV. EDMUND F. SLAFTER, A.M. + + + + +PREFACE + +The present volume completes the work proposed by the Prince Society of a +translation into English of the VOYAGES OF CHAMPLAIN. It includes the +journals issued in 1604, 1613, and 1619, and covers fifteen years of his +residence and explorations in New France. + +At a later period, in 1632, Champlain published, in a single volume, an +abridgment of the issues above mentioned, containing likewise a +continuation of his journal down to 1631. This continuation covers thirteen +additional years. But it is to be observed that the events recorded in the +journal of these later years are immediately connected with the progress +and local interests of the French colony at Quebec. This last work of the +great explorer is of primary importance and value as constituting original +material for the early history of Canada, and a translation of it into +English would doubtless be highly appreciated by the local historian. A +complete narrative of these events, however, together with a large amount +amount of interesting matter relating to the career of Champlain derived +from other sources, is given in the Memoir contained in the first volume of +this work. + +This English translation contains not only the complete narratives of all +the personal explorations made by Champlain into the then unbroken forests +of America, but the whole of his minute, ample, and invaluable descriptions +of the character and habits, mental, moral, and physical of the various +savage tribes with which he came in contact. It will furnish, therefore, to +the student of history and the student of ethnology most valuable +information, unsurpassed in richness and extent, and which cannot be +obtained from any other source. To aid one or both of these two classes in +their investigations, the work was undertaken and has now been completed. + +E. F. S. + +BOSTON, 91 BOYLSTON STREET, +April 5, 1882. + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + +PREFACE +VOYAGE OF CHAMPLAIN IN 1611 +DEDICATION TO HENRI DE BOURBON, PRINCE DE CONDE +VOYAGE MADE IN 1613 +DEDICATION TO THE KING +CHAMPLAIN'S PREFACE +EXTRACT FROM THE LICENSE OF THE KING +VOYAGE MADE IN 1615 +VOYAGE MADE IN 1618 +EXPLANATION OF TWO GEOGRAPHICAL MAPS OF NEW FRANCE + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + +LE GRAND SAULT ST. LOUIS +DRESS OF THE SAVAGES +FORT OF THE IROQUOIS +DEER TRAP +DRESS OF THE SAVAGES +CHAMPLAIN'S LARGE MAP OF NEW FRANCE, 1612 +CHAMPLAIN'S SMALL MAP OF NEW FRANCE, 1613 + +INDEX + + + + +THE VOYAGES + +OF SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, + +Of Saintonge, Captain in ordinary to the +King in the Marine; + +OR, + +_A MOST FAITHFUL JOURNAL OF OBSERVATIONS made in the, exploration of New +France, describing not only the countries, coasts, rivers, ports, and +harbors, with their latitudes, and the various deflections of the Magnetic +Needle, but likewise the religious belief of the inhabitants, their +superstitions, mode of life and warfare; furnished with numerous +illustrations_. + +Together with two geographical maps: the first for the purposes of +navigation, adapted to the compass as used by mariners, which, deflects to +the north-east; the other in its true meridian, with longitudes and +latitudes, to which is added the Voyage to the Strait north of Labrador, +from the 53d to the 63d degree of latitude, discovered in 1612 by the +English when they were searching for a northerly course to China. + +PARIS. + +JEAN BERJON, Rue St Jean de Beauvais, at the Flying Horse, and at his store +in the Palace, at the gallery of the Prisoners. + +M. DC. XIII. + +_WITH AUTHORITY OF THE KING_. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +DEPARTURE FROM FRANCE TO RETURN TO NEW FRANCE.--THE DANGERS AND OTHER +EVENTS WHICH OCCURRED UP TO THE TIME OF ARRIVAL AT THE SETTLEMENT. + +We set out from Honfleur on the first day of March. The wind was favorable +until the eighth, when we were opposed by a wind south-southwest and +west-northwest, driving us as far as latitude 42 deg., without our being able +to make a southing, so as to sail straight forward on our course. +Accordingly after encountering several heavy winds, and being kept back by +bad weather, we nevertheless, through great difficulty and hardship, and by +sailing on different tacks, succeeded in arriving within eighty leagues of +the Grand Bank, where the fresh fishery is carried on. Here we encountered +ice thirty or forty fathoms high, or more, which led us to consider what +course we ought to take, fearing that we might fall in with more during the +night, or that the wind changing would drive us on to it. We also concluded +that this would not be the last, since we had set out from France too early +in the season. We sailed accordingly during that day with short sail, as +near the wind as we could. When night came, the fog arose so thick and +obscure that we could scarcely see the ship's length. About eleven o'clock +at night, more ice was seen, which alarmed us. But through the energy of +the sailors we avoided it. Supposing that we had passed all danger, we met +with still more ice, which the sailors saw ahead of our vessel, but not +until we were almost upon it. When all had committed themselves to God, +having given up all hope of avoiding collision with this ice, which was +already under our bowsprit, they cried to the helmsman to bear off; and +this ice which was very extensive drove in such a manner that it passed by +without striking our vessel, which stopped short, and remained as still as +if it had never moved, to let it pass. Although the danger was over, our +blood was not so quickly cooled, so great had been our fear, and we praised +God for delivering us from so imminent a peril. This experience being over, +we passed the same night two or three other masses of ice, not less +dangerous than the former ones. There was at the same time a dripping fog, +and it was so cold that we could scarcely get warm. The next day we met +several other large and very high masses of ice, which, in the distance, +looked like islands. We, however, avoided them all, and reached the Grand +Bank, where we were detained by bad weather for the space of six days. The +wind growing a little milder, and very favorable, we left the banks in +latitude 44 deg. 30', which was the farthest south we could go. After sailing +some sixty leagues west-northwest, we saw a vessel coming down to make us +out, but which afterwards wore off to the east-northeast, to avoid a large +bank of ice, which covered the entire extent of our line of vision. +Concluding that there was a passage through the middle of this great floe, +which was divided into two parts, we entered, in pursuance of our course, +between the two, and sailed some ten leagues without seeing anything, +contrary to our conjecture of a fine passage through, until evening, when +we found the floe closed up. This gave us much anxiety as to what was to be +done, the night being at hand and there being no moon, which deprived us of +all means of returning to the point whence we had come. Yet, after due +deliberation, it was resolved to try to find again the entrance by which we +had come, which we set about accomplishing. But the night coming on with +fog, rain, snow, and a wind so violent that we could scarcely carry our +mainsail, every trace of our way was lost. For, as we were expecting to +avoid the ice so as to pass out, the wind had already closed up the +passage, so that we were obliged to return to the other tack. We were +unable to remain longer than a quarter of an hour on one tack before taking +another, in order to avoid the numerous masses of ice drifting about on all +sides. We thought more than twenty times that we should never escape with +our lives. The entire night was spent amid difficulties and hardships. +Never was the watch better kept, for nobody wished to rest, but to strive +to escape from the ice and danger. The cold was so great, that all the +ropes of the vessel were so frozen and covered with large icicles that the +men could not work her nor stick to the deck. Thus we ran, on this tack and +that, awaiting with hope the daylight. But when it came, attended by a fog, +and we saw that our labor and hardship could not avail us anything, we +determined to go to a mass of ice, where we should be sheltered from the +violent wind which was blowing; to haul everything down, and allow +ourselves to be driven along with the ice, so that when at some distance +from the rest of the ice we could make sail again, and go back to the +above-mentioned bank and manage as before, until the fog should pass away, +when we might go out as quickly as possible. Thus we continued the entire +day until the morning of the next day, when we set sail, now on this tack +now on that, finding ourselves everywhere enclosed amid large floes of ice, +as if in lakes on the mainland. At evening we sighted a vessel on the other +side of one of these banks of ice, which, I am sure, was in no less anxiety +than ourselves. Thus we remained four or five days, exposed to these risks +and extreme hardships, until one morning on looking out in all directions, +although we could see no opening, yet in one place it seemed as if the ice +was not thick, and that we could easily pass through. We got under weigh, +and passed by a large number of _bourguignons_; that is, pieces of ice +separated from the large banks by the violence of the winds. Having reached +this bank of ice, the sailors proceeded to provide themselves with large +oars and pieces of wood, in order to keep off the blocks of ice we met. In +this way we passed this bank, but not without touching some pieces of ice, +which did no good to our vessel, although they inflicted no essential +damage. Being outside, we praised God for our deliverance. Continuing our +course on the next day, we encountered other pieces, in which we became so +involved that we found ourselves surrounded on all sides, except where we +had entered. It was accordingly necessary to turn back, and endeavor to +double the southern point. This we did not succeed in doing until the +second day, passing by several small pieces of ice, which had been +separated from the main bank. This latter was in latitude 44 deg. 30'. We +sailed until the morning of the next day, towards the northwest, north- +northwest, when we met another large ice bank, extending as far as we could +see east and west. This, in the distance, seemed like land; for it was so +level that it might properly be said to have been made so on purpose. It +was more than eighteen feet high, extending twice as far under water. We +calculated that we were only some fifteen leagues from Cape Breton, it +being the 26th day of the month. These numerous encounters with ice +troubled us greatly. We were also fearful that the passage between Capes +Breton and Raye would be closed, and that we should be obliged to keep out +to sea a long time before being able to enter. Unable to do anything else, +we were obliged to run out to sea again some four or five leagues, in order +to double another point of the above-mentioned grand ice bank, which +continued on our west-southwest. After turning on the other tack to the +northwest, in order to double this point, we sailed some seven leagues, and +then steered to the north-northwest some three leagues, when we observed +another ice bank. The night approached, and the fog came on so that we put +to sea to pass the remainder of the night, purposing at daybreak to return +and reconnoitre the last mentioned ice. On the twenty-seventh day of the +month, we sighted land west-northwest of us, seeing no ice on the north- +northeast. We approached nearer for the sake of a better observation, and +found that it was Canseau. This led us to bear off to the north for Cape +Breton Island; but we had scarcely sailed two leagues when we encountered +an ice bank on the northeast. Night coming on, we were obliged to put out +to sea until the next day, when we sailed northeast, and encountered more +ice, bearing east, east-southeast from us, along which we coasted heading +northeast and north for more than fifteen leagues. At last we were obliged +to sail towards the west, greatly to our regret, inasmuch as we could find +no passage, and should be obliged to withdraw and sail back on our track. +Unfortunately for us we were overtaken by a calm, so that it seemed as if +the swell of the sea would throw us upon the ice bank just mentioned, and +we got ready to launch our little boat, to use in case of necessity. If we +had taken refuge on the above-mentioned ice it would only have been to +languish and die in misery. While we were deliberating whether to launch +our boat, a fresh breeze arose to our great delight, and thus we escaped +from the ice. After we had sailed two leagues, night came on, with a very +thick fog, causing us to haul down our sail, as we could not see, and as +there were several large pieces of ice in our way, which we were afraid of +striking. Thus we remained the entire night until the next day, which was +the twenty-ninth, when the fog increased to such an extent that we could +scarcely see the length of the vessel. There was also very little wind. Yet +we did not fail to set sail, in order to avoid the ice. But, although +expecting to extricate ourselves, we found ourselves so involved in it that +we could not tell on which side to tack. We were accordingly again +compelled to lower sail, and drift until the ice should allow us to make +sail. We made a hundred tacks on one side and the other, several times +fearing that we were lost. The most self-possessed would have lost all +judgment in such a juncture; even the greatest navigator in the world. What +alarmed us still more was the short distance we could see, and the fact +that the night was coming on, and that we could not make a shift of a +quarter of a league without finding a bank or some ice, and a great deal of +floating ice, the smallest piece of which would have been sufficient to +cause the loss of any vessel whatever. Now, while we were still sailing +along amid the ice, there arose so strong a wind that in a short time the +fog broke away, affording us a view, and suddenly giving us a clear air and +fair sun. Looking around about us, we found that we were shut up in a +little lake, not so much as a league and a half in circuit. On the north we +perceived the island of Cape Breton, nearly four leagues distant, and it +seemed to us that the passage-way to Cape Breton was still closed. We also +saw a small ice bank astern of our vessel, and the ocean beyond that, which +led us to resolve to go beyond the bank, which was divided. This we +succeeded in accomplishing without striking our vessel, putting out to sea +for the night, and passing to the southeast of the ice. Thinking now that +we could double this ice bank, we sailed east-northeast some fifteen +leagues, perceiving only a little piece of ice. At night we hauled down the +sail until the next day, when we perceived another ice bank to the north of +us, extending as far as we could see. We had drifted to within nearly half +a league of it, when we hoisted sail, continuing to coast along this ice in +order to find the end of it. While sailing along, we sighted on the first +day of May a vessel amid the ice, which, as well as ourselves, had found it +difficult to escape from it. We backed our sails in order to await the +former, which came full upon us, since we were desirous of ascertaining +whether it had seen other ice. On its approach we saw that it was the son +[1] of Sieur de Poutrincourt, on his way to visit his father at the +settlement of Port Royal. He had left France three months before, not +without much reluctance, I think, and still they were nearly a hundred and +forty leagues from Port Royal, and well out of their true course. We told +them we had sighted the islands of Canseau, much to their satisfaction, I +think, as they had not as yet sighted any land, and were steering straight +between Cape St. Lawrence and Cape Raye, in which direction they would not +have found Port Royal, except by going overland. After a brief conference +with each other we separated, each following his own course. The next day +we sighted the islands of St. Pierre, finding no ice. Continuing our course +we sighted on the following day, the third of the month, Cape Raye, also +without finding ice. On the fourth we sighted the island of St. Paul, and +Cape St. Lawrence, being some eight leagues north of the latter. The next +day we sighted Gaspe. On the seventh we were opposed by a northwest wind, +which drove us out of our course nearly thirty-five leagues, when the wind +lulled, and was in our favor as far as Tadoussac, which we reached on the +13th day of May.[2] Here we discharged a cannon to notify the savages, in +order to obtain news from our settlement at Quebec. The country was still +almost entirely covered with snow. There came out to us some canoes, +informing us that one of our pataches had been in the harbor for a month, +and that three vessels had arrived eight days before. We lowered our boat +and visited these savages, who were in a very miserable condition, having +only a few articles to barter to satisfy their immediate wants. Besides +they desired to wait until several vessels should meet, so that there might +be a better market for their merchandise. Therefore they are mistaken who +expect to gain an advantage by coming first, for these people are very +sagacious and cunning. + +On the 17th of the month I set out from Tadoussac for the great fall,[3] +to meet the Algonquin savages and other tribes, who had promised the year +before to go there with my man, whom I had sent to them, that I might learn +from him what he might see during the winter. Those at this harbor who +suspected where I was going, in accordance with the promises which I had +made to the savages, as stated above, began to build several small barques, +that they might follow me as soon as possible. And several, as I learned +before setting out from France, had some ships and pataches fitted out in +view of our voyage, hoping to return rich, as from a voyage to the Indies. + +Pont Grave remained at Tadoussac expecting, if he did nothing there, to +take a patache and meet me at the fall. Between Tadoussac and Quebec our +barque made much water, which obliged me to stop at Quebec and repair the +leak. This was on the 21st day of May. + +ENDNOTES: + +1. This was Charles de Biencourt, Sieur de Saint Just. He was closely + associated with his father, Sieur de Poutrincourt, in his colony at Port + Royal. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 122, note 77. + +2. They left Honfleur on the first day of March, and were thus seventy-four + days in reaching Tadoussac. The voyage was usually made in favorable + weather in thirty days. + +3. The Falls of St. Louis, near Montreal, now more commonly known as the La + Chine Rapids. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +LANDING AT QUEBEC TO REPAIR THE BARQUE.--DEPARTURE FROM QUEBEC FOR THE +FALL, TO MEET THE SAVAGES, AND SEARCH OUT A PLACE APPROPRIATE FOR A +SETTLEMENT. + + +On going ashore I found Sieur du Parc, who had spent the winter at the +settlement. He and all his companions were very well, and had not suffered +any sickness. Game, both large and small, had been abundant during the +entire winter, as they told me. I found there the Indian captain, named +_Batiscan_, and some Algonquins, who said they were waiting for me, being +unwilling to return to Tadoussac without seeing me. I proposed to them to +take one of our company to the _Trois Rivieres_ to explore the place, but +being unable to obtain anything from them this year I put it off until the +next. Still I did not fail to inform myself particularly regarding the +origin of the people living there, of which they told me with exactness. I +asked them for one of their canoes, which they were unwilling to part with +on any terms, because of their own need of it. For I had planned to send +two or three men to explore the neighborhood of the Trois Rivieres, and +ascertain what there was there. This, to my great regret, I was unable to +accomplish, and postponed the project to the first opportunity that might +present itself. + +Meanwhile I urged on the repairs to our barque. When it was ready, a young +man from La Rochelle, named Tresart, asked me to permit him to accompany me +to the above-mentioned fall. This I refused, replying that I had special +plans of my own, and that I did not wish to conduct any one to my +prejudice, adding that there were other companies than mine there, and that +I did not care to open up a way and serve as guide, and that he could make +the voyage well enough alone and without my help. + +The same day I set out from Quebec, and arrived at the great fall on the +twenty-eighth of May. But I found none of the savages who had promised me +to be there on this day. I entered at once a poor canoe, together with the +savage I had taken to France and one of my own men. After examining the two +shores, both in the woods and on the river bank, in order to find a spot +favorable for the location of a settlement, and to get a place ready for +building, I went some eight leagues by land along the great fall and +through the woods, which are very open, as far as a lake, [4] whither our +savage conducted me. Here I observed the country very carefully. But in all +that I saw, I found no place more favorable than a little spot to which +barques and shallops can easily ascend, with the help of a strong wind or +by taking a winding course, in consequence of the strong current. But above +this place, which we named _La Place Royale_, at the distance of a league +from Mont Royal, there are a great many little rocks and shoals, which are +very dangerous. Near Place Royale there is a little river, extending some +distance into the interior, along the entire length of which there are more +than sixty acres of land cleared up and like meadows, where grain can be +sown and gardens made. Formerly savages tilled these lands, [5] but they +abandoned them on account of their wars, in which they were constantly +engaged. There is also a large number of other fine pastures, where any +number of cattle can graze. There are also the various kinds of trees found +in France, together with many vines, nut and plum trees, cherries, +strawberries, and other kinds of good fruit. Among the rest there is a very +excellent one, with a sweet taste like that of plantains, a fruit of the +Indies, as white as snow, with a leaf resembling that of nettles, and which +creeps up the trees and along the ground like ivy. [6] Fish are very +abundant, including all the varieties we have in France, and many very good +ones which we do not have. Game is also plenty, the birds being of various +kinds. There are stags, hinds, does, caribous, [7] rabbits, lynxes, [8] +bears, beavers, also other small animals, and all in such large numbers, +that while we were at the fall we were abundantly supplied with them. + +After a careful examination, we found this place one of the finest on this +river. I accordingly forthwith gave orders to cut down and clear up the +woods in the Place Royale, [9] so as to level it and prepare it for +building. The water can easily be made to flow around it, making of it a +little island, so that a habitation can be formed as one may wish. + +There is a little island some twenty fathoms from Place Royale, about a +hundred paces long, where a good and strong settlement might be made. There +are also many meadows, containing very good and rich potter's clay, as well +adapted for brick as for building purposes, and consequently a very useful +article. I had a portion of it worked up, from which I made a wall four +feet thick, three or four high, and ten fathoms long, to see how it would +stand during the winter, when the freshets came down, although I thought +the water would not reach up to it, the ground there being twelve feet +above the river, which was very high. In the middle of the river there was +an island about three-quarters of a league around, where a good and strong +town could be built. This we named _Isle de Sainte Helene_. [10] This river +at the fall is like a lake, containing two or three islands, and bordered +by fine meadows. + +On the first day of June, Pont Grave arrived at the fall, having been +unable to accomplish anything at Tadoussac. A numerous company attended and +followed after him to share in the booty, without the hope of which they +would have been far in the rear. + +Now, while awaiting the savages, I had two gardens made, one in the +meadows, the other in the woods, which I had cleared up. On the 2d of June +I sowed some seeds, all of which came up finely, and in a short time, +attesting the good quality of the soil. + +We resolved to send Savignon, our savage, together with another, to meet +his countrymen, so as to hasten their arrival. They hesitated about going +in our canoe, of which they were distrustful, it being a very poor one. +They set out on the 5th. The next day four or five barques arrived as an +escort for us, since they could do nothing at Tadoussac. + +On the 7th I went to explore a little river, along which the savages +sometimes go to war, and which flows into the fall of the river of the +Iroquois. [11] It is very pleasant, with meadow land more than three +leagues in circuit, and much arable land. It is distant a league from the +great fall, and a league and a half from Place Royale. + +On the 9th our savage arrived. He had gone somewhat beyond the lake, which +is ten leagues long, and which I had seen before. [12] But he met no one, +and they were unable to go any farther, as their canoe gave out, which +obliged them to return. They reported that after passing the fall they saw +an island, where there was such a quantity of herons that the air was +completely filled with them. There was a young man belonging to Sieur de +Monts named Louis, who was very fond of the chase. Hearing this, he wished +to go and satisfy his curiosity, earnestly entreating our savage to take +him to the place. To this the savage consented, taking also a captain of +the Montagnais, a very respectable person, whose name was _Outetoucos_. On +the following morning Louis caused the two savages to be called, and went +with them in a canoe to the island of the herons. This island is in the +middle of the fall. [13] Here they captured as many herons and other birds +as they wanted, and embarked again in their canoe. Outetoucos, contrary to +the wish of the other savage, and against his remonstrances, desired to +pass through a very dangerous place, where the water fell more than three +feet, saying that he had formerly gone this way, which, however, was +false. He had a long discussion in opposition to our savage, who wished to +take him on the south side, along the mainland, [14] where they usually go. +This, however, Outetoucos did not wish, saying that there was no danger. +Our savage finding him obstinate yielded to his desire. But he insisted +that at least a part of the birds in the canoe should be taken out, as it +was overloaded, otherwise he said it would inevitably fill and be lost. But +to this he would not consent, saying that it would be time enough when they +found themselves in the presence of danger. They accordingly permitted +themselves to be carried along by the current. But when they reached the +precipice, they wanted to throw overboard their load in order to escape. It +was now, however, too late, for they were completely in the power of the +rapid water, and were straightway swallowed up in the whirlpools of the +fall, which turned them round a thousand times. For a long time they clung +to the boat. Finally the swiftness of the water wearied them so that this +poor Louis, who could not swim at all, entirely lost his presence of mind, +and, the canoe going down, he was obliged to abandon it. As it returned to +the surface, the two others who kept holding on to it, saw Louis no more, +and thus he died a sad death. [15] The two others continued to hold on to +the canoe. When, however, they were out of danger, this Outetoucos, being +naked and having confidence in his swimming powers, abandoned it in the +expectation of reaching the shore, although the water still ran there with +great rapidity. But he was drowned, for he had been so weakened and +overcome by his efforts that it was impossible for him to save himself +after abandoning the canoe. Our savage Savignon, understanding himself +better, held firmly to the canoe until it reached an eddy, whither the +current had carried it. Here he managed so well that, notwithstanding his +suffering and weariness, he approached the shore gradually, when, after +throwing the water out of the canoe, he returned in great fear that they +would take vengeance upon him, as the savages do among themselves, and +related to us this sad story, which caused us great sorrow. + +On the next day I went in another canoe to the fall, together with the +savage and another member of our company, to see the place where they had +met with their accident, and find, if possible, the remains. But when he +showed me the spot, I was horrified at beholding such a terrible place, and +astonished that the deceased should have been so lacking in judgment as to +pass through such a fearful place, when they could have gone another way. +For it is impossible to go along there, as there are seven or eight +descents of water one after the other, the lowest three feet high, the +seething and boiling of the water being fearful. A part of the fall was all +white with foam, indicating the worst spot, the noise of which was like +thunder, the air resounding with the echo of the cataracts. After viewing +and carefully examining this place, and searching along the river bank for +the dead bodies, another very light shallop having proceeded meanwhile on +the other bank also, we returned without finding anything. + + * * * * * + +CHAMPLAIN'S EXPLANATION OF THE ACCOMPANYING MAP. + +LE GRAND SAULT ST. LOUIS. + +A. Small place that I had cleared up. +B. Small pond. +C. Small islet, where I had a stone wall made. +D. Small brook, where the barques are kept. +E. Meadows where the savages stay when they come to this region. +F. Mountains seen in the interior. +G. Small pond. +H. Mont Royal. +I. Small brook. +L. The fall. +M. Place on the north side, where the savages transfer their canoes by + land. +N. Spot where one of our men and a savage were drowned. +O. Small rocky islet. +P. Another islet where birds make their nests. +Q. Heron island. +R. Another island in the fall. +S. Small islet +T. Small round islet. +V. Another islet half covered with water. +X. Another islet, where there are many river birds. +Y. Meadows. +Z. Small river. +2. Very large and fine islands. +3. Places which are bare when the water is low, where there are great + eddies, as at the main fall. +4. Meadows covered with water +5. Very shallow places. +6. Another little islet. +7. Small rocks. +8. Island St. Helene. +9. Small island without trees. +oo. Marshes connecting with the great fall. + +ENDNOTES: + +4. This journey of eight leagues would take them as far as the Lake of Two + Mountains. + +5. This little river is mentioned by Champlain in his Voyage of 1603, + Vol. I. p. 268. It is represented on early maps as formed by two small + streams, flowing, one from the north or northeastern, and the other from + the southern side of the mountain, in the rear of the city of Montreal, + which unite some distance before they reach the St. Lawrence, flowing + into that river at Point Callieres. These little brooks are laid down on + Champlain's local map, _Le Grand Sault St. Louis_, on Charlevoix's + _Carte de l'Isle de Montreal_, 1744, and on Bellin's _L'Isle de + Montreal_, 1764; but they have disappeared on modern maps, and probably + are either extinct or are lost in the sewerage of the city, of which + they have become a part. We have called the stream formed by these two + brooks, note 190, Vol. I., _Riviere St. Pierre_. On Potherie's map, the + only stream coming from the interior is so named. _Vide Histoire de + L'Amerique_ par M. de Bacqueville de la Potherie, 1722, p. 311. On a map + in Greig's _Hochelaga Depicta_, 1839, it is called St. Peter's River. + The same stream on Bouchette's map, 1830, is denominated Little River. + It seems not unlikely that a part of it was called, at one time, Riviere + St. Pierre, and another part Petite Riviere. + + It is plain that on this stream was situated the sixty acres of cleared + land alluded to in the text as formerly occupied by the savages. + + It will be remembered that seventy-six years anterior to this, in 1535, + Jacques Cartier discovered this place, which was then the seat of a + large and flourishing Indian town. It is to be regretted that Champlain + did not inform us more definitely as to the history of the former + occupants of the soil. Some important, and we think conclusive, reasons + have been assigned for supposing that they were a tribe of the Iroquois. + Among others may be mentioned the similarity in the construction of + their towns and houses or cabins, the identity of their language as + determined by a collation of the words found in Cartier's journal with + the language of the Iroquois; and to these may be added the traditions + obtained by missionaries and others, as cited by Laverdiere, to which we + must not, however, attach too much value. _Vide Laverdiere in loco_. + While it seems probable that the former occupants were of the Iroquois + family, it is impossible to determine whether on retiring they joined + the Five Nations in the State of New York, or merged themselves with the + Hurons, who were likewise of Iroquois origin. + +6. I am unable to identify this plant. Its climbing propensity and the + color of its fruit suggest _Rhus radicans_, but in other respects the + similarity fails. + +7. _Cerfs, Daims, Cheureuls, Caribous_. Champlain employs the names of the + different species of the Cerf family as used in Europe; but as our + species are different, this use of names creates some confusion. There + were in Canada, the moose, the caribou, the wapiti, and the common red + deer. Any enumeration by the early writers must include these, under + whatever names they may be described. One will be found applying a name + to a given species, while another will apply the same name to quite a + different species. Charlevoix mentions the orignal (moose) caribou, the + hart, and the roebuck. Under the name _hart_, he probably refers to the + wapiti, _elaphus Canadensis_, and _roe-buck_, to the common red deer, + _Cervus Virginianus_. _Vide Charlevoix's Letters to the Dutchess of + Lesdiguieres_, 1763, pp. 64-69, also Vol. I. of this work, p. 265. + +8. Lynxes, _Loups-seruiers_. The compound word _loup-cervier_ was + significant, and was applied originally to the animal of which the stag + was its natural prey, _qui attaque les cerfs_. In Europe it described + the lynx, a large powerful animal of the feline race, that might well + venture to attack the stag. But in Canada this species is not found. + What is known as the Canadian lynx, _Felis Canadensis_, is only a large + species of cat, which preys upon birds and the smaller quadrupeds. + Champlain probably gives it the name _loup-servier_ for the want of one + more appropriate. It is a little remarkable that he does not in this + list mention the American wolf, _Lupus occidentalis_, so common in every + part of Canada, and which he subsequently refers to as the animal + especially dreaded by the deer. _Vide postea_, pp. 139, 157. + +9. The site of Place Royale was on Point Callieres, so named in honor of + Chevalier Louis Hector de Callieres Bonnevue, governor of Montreal in + 1684. + +10. It seems most likely that the name of this island was suggested by the + marriage which Champlain had contracted with Helene Boulle, the year + before. This name had been given to several other places. _Vide_ Vol. + I. pp. 104, 105. + +11. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 268, note 191. _Walker and Miles's Atlas_, map 186. + +12. The Lake of the Two Mountains. _Vide antea_, note 4. + +13. On Champlain's local map of the Falls of St. Louis, the letter Q is + wanting; but the expression, _ceste isle est au milieu du faut_, in the + middle of the fall, as suggested by Laverdiere, indicates that the + island designated by the letter R is Heron Island. _Vide postea_, R on + map at p. 18. + +14. _Grand Tibie_, so in the original. This is a typographical error for + _grand terre_. _Vide_ Champlain, 1632, Quebec ed., p. 842. + +15. The death of this young man may have suggested the name which was + afterward given to the fall. He was, however, it is reasonable to + suppose, hardly equal in sanctity of character to the Saint Louis of + the French. Hitherto it had been called _Le Grand Saut_. But soon after + this it began to be called _Grand Saut S. Louys_. _Vide postea_, + pp. 38, 51, 59. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +TWO HUNDRED SAVAGES RETURN THE FRENCHMAN WHO HAD BEEN ENTRUSTED TO THEM, +AND RECEIVE THE SAVAGE WHO HAD COME BACK FROM FRANCE.--VARIOUS INTERVIEWS +ON BOTH SIDES. + + +On the thirteenth day of the month [16] two hundred Charioquois [17] +savages, together with the captains Ochateguin, Iroquet, and Tregouaroti, +brother of our savage, brought back my servant. [18] We were greatly +pleased to see them. I went to meet them in a canoe with our savage. As +they were approaching slowly and in order, our men prepared to salute them +with a discharge of arquebuses, muskets, and small pieces. When they were +near at hand, they all set to shouting together, and one of the chiefs gave +orders that they should make their harangue, in which they greatly praised +us, commending us as truthful, inasmuch as I had kept the promise to meet +them at this fall. After they had made three more shouts, there was a +discharge of musketry twice from thirteen barques or pataches that were +there. This alarmed them so, that they begged me to assure them that there +should be no more firing, saying that the greater part of them had never +seen Christians, nor heard thunderings of that sort, and that they were +afraid of its harming them, but that they were greatly pleased to see our +savage in health, whom they supposed was dead, as had been reported by some +Algonquins, who had heard so from the Montagnais. The savage commended the +treatment I had shown him in France, and the remarkable objects he had +seen, at which all wondered, and went away quietly to their cabins, +expecting that on the next day I would show them the place where I wished +to have them dwell. I saw also my servant, who was dressed in the costume +of the savages, who commended the treatment he had received from them. He +informed me of all he had seen and learned during the winter, from the +savages. + +The next day I showed them a spot for their cabins, in regard to which the +elders and principal ones consulted very privately. After their long +consultation they sent for me alone and my servant, who had learned their +language very well. They told him they desired a close alliance with me, +and were sorry to see here all these shallops, and that our savage had told +them he did not know them at all nor their intentions, and that it was +clear that they were attracted only by their desire of gain and their +avarice, and that when their assistance was needed they would refuse it, +and would not act as I did in offering to go with my companions to their +country and assist them, of all of which I had given them proofs in the +past. They praised me for the treatment I had shown our savage, which was +that of a brother, and had put them under such obligations of good will to +me, that they said they would endeavor to comply with anything I might +desire from them, but that they feared that the other boats would do them +some harm. I assured them that they would not, and that we were all under +one king, whom our savage had seen, and belonged to the same nation, though +matters of business were confined to individuals, and that they had no +occasion to fear, but might feel as much security as if they were in their +own country. After considerable conversation, they made me a present of a +hundred castors. I gave them in exchange other kinds of merchandise. They +told me there were more than four hundred savages of their country who had +purposed to come, but had been prevented by the following representations +of an Iroquois prisoner, who had belonged to me, but had escaped to his own +country. He had reported, they said, that I had given him his liberty and +some merchandise, and that I purposed to go to the fall with six hundred +Iroquois to meet the Algonquins and kill them all, adding that the fear +aroused by this intelligence had alone prevented them from coming. I +replied that the prisoner in question had escaped without my leave, that +our savage knew very well how he went away, and that there was no thought +of abandoning their alliance, as they had heard, since I had engaged in war +with them, and sent my servant to their country to foster their friendship, +which was still farther confirmed by my keeping my promise to them in so +faithful a manner. + +They replied that, so far as they were concerned, they had never thought of +this; that they were well aware that all this talk was far from the truth, +and that if they had believed the contrary they would not have come, but +that the others were afraid, never having seen a Frenchman except my +servant. They told me also that three hundred Algonquins would come in five +or six days, if we would wait for them, to unite with themselves in war +against the Iroquois; that, however, they would return without doing so +unless I went. I talked a great deal with them about the source of the +great river and their country, and they gave me detailed information about +their rivers, falls, lakes and lands, as also about the tribes living +there, and what is to be found in the region. Four of them assured me that +they had seen a sea at a great distance from their country, but that it was +difficult to go there, not only on account of the wars, but of the +intervening wilderness. They told me also that the winter before some +savages had come from the direction of Florida, beyond the country of the +Iroquois, who lived near our ocean, and were in alliance with these +savages. In a word, they made me a very exact statement, indicating by +drawings all the places where they had been, and taking pleasure in talking +to me about them; and for my part I did not tire of listening to them, as +they confirmed points in regard to which I had been before in doubt. After +all this conversation was concluded, I told them that we would trade for +the few articles they had, which was done the next day. Each one of the +barques carried away its portion; we on our side had all the hardship and +venture; the others, who had not troubled themselves about any +explorations, had the booty, the only thing that urges them to activity, in +which they employ no capital and venture nothing. + +The next day, after bartering what little they had, they made a barricade +about their dwelling, partly in the direction of the wood, and partly in +that of our pataches; and this they said they did for their security, in +order to avoid the surprises of their enemies, which we took for the +truth. On the coming night, they called our savage, who was sleeping on my +patache, and my servant, who went to them. After a great deal of +conversation, about midnight they had me called also. Entering their +cabins, I found them all seated in council. They had me sit down near them, +saying that when they met for the purpose of considering a matter, it was +their custom to do so at night, that they might not be diverted by anything +from attention to the subject in hand; that at night one thought only of +listening, while during the day the thoughts were distracted by other +objects. + +But in my opinion, confiding in me, they desired to tell me privately their +purpose. Besides, they were afraid of the other pataches, as they +subsequently gave me to understand. For they told me that they were uneasy +at seeing so many Frenchmen, who were not especially united to one another, +and that they had desired to see me alone; that some of them had been +beaten; that they were as kindly disposed towards me as towards their own +children, confiding so much in me that they would do whatever I told them +to do, but that they greatly mistrusted the others; that if I returned I +might take as many of their people as I wished, if it were under the +guidance of a chief; and that they sent for me to assure me anew of their +friendship, which would never be broken, and to express the hope that I +might never be ill disposed towards them; and being aware that I had +determined to visit their country, they said they would show it to me at +the risk of their lives, giving me the assistance of a large number of men, +who could go everywhere; and that in future we should expect such treatment +from them as they had received from us. + +Straightway they brought fifty castors and four strings of beads, which +they value as we do gold chains, saying that I should share these with my +brother, referring to Pont Grave, we being present together; that these +presents were sent by other captains, who had never seen me; that they +desired to continue friends to me; that if any of the French wished to go +with them, they should be greatly pleased to have them do so; and that they +desired more than ever to establish a firm friendship. After much +conversation with them, I proposed that inasmuch as they were desirous to +have me visit their country, I would petition His Majesty to assist us to +the extent of forty or fifty men, equipped with what was necessary for the +journey, and that I would embark with them on condition that they would +furnish us the necessary provisions for the journey, and that I would take +presents for the chiefs of the country through which we should pass, when +we would return to our settlement to spend the winter; that moreover, if I +found their country favorable and fertile, we would make many settlements +there, by which means we should have frequent intercourse with each other, +living happily in the future in the fear of God, whom we would make known +to them. They were well pleased with this proposition, and begged me to +shake hands upon it, saying that they on their part would do all that was +possible for its fulfilment; that, in regard to provisions, we should be as +well supplied as they themselves, assuring me again that they would show me +what I desired to see. Thereupon, I took leave of them at daybreak, +thanking them for their willingness to carry out my wishes, and entreating +them to continue to entertain the same feelings. + +On the next day, the 17th, they said that they were going castor-hunting, +and that they would all return. On the following morning they finished +bartering what little they had, when they embarked in their canoes, asking +us not to take any steps towards taking down their dwellings, which we +promised them. Then they separated from each other, pretending to go a +hunting in different directions. They left our savage with me that we might +have less distrust in them. But they had appointed themselves a rendezvous +above the fall, where they knew well enough that we could not go with our +barques. Meanwhile, we awaited them in accordance with what they had told +us. + +The next day there came two savages, one Iroquet, the other the brother of +our Savignon. They came to get the latter, and ask me in behalf of all +their companions to go alone with my servant to where they were encamped, +as they had something of importance to tell me, which they were unwilling +to communicate to any Frenchmen. I promised them that I would go. + +The following day I gave some trifles to Savignon, who set out much +pleased, giving me to understand that he was about to live a very irksome +life in comparison with that which he had led in France. He expressed much +regret at separation, but I was very glad to be relieved of the care of +him. The two captains told me that on the morning of the next day they +would send for me, which they did. I embarked, accompanied by my servant, +with those who came. Having arrived at the fall, we went some eight leagues +into the woods, where they were encamped on the shore of a lake, where I +had been before.[19] They were much pleased at seeing me, and began to +shout after their custom. Our Indian came out to meet me, and ask me to go +to the cabin of his brother, where he at once had some meat and fish put on +the fire for my entertainment. While I was there, a banquet was held, to +which all the leading Indians were invited. I was not forgotten, although I +had already eaten sufficiently; but, in order not to violate the custom of +the country, I attended. After banqueting, they went into the woods to hold +their council, and meanwhile I amused myself in looking at the country +round about, which is very pleasant. + +Some time after they called me, in order to communicate to me what they had +resolved upon. I proceeded to them accordingly with my servant. After I had +seated myself by their side, they said they were very glad to see me, and +to find that I had not failed to keep my word in what I had promised them; +saying that they felt it an additional proof of my affection that I +continued the alliance with them, and that before setting out they desired +to take leave of me, as it would have been a very great disappointment to +them to go away without seeing me, thinking that I would in that case have +been ill disposed towards them. They said also that what had led them to +say they were going a hunting, and build the barricade, was not the fear of +their enemies nor the desire of hunting, but their fear of all the other +pataches accompanying me, inasmuch as they had heard it said that on the +night they sent for me they were all to be killed, and that I should not be +able to protect them from the others who were much more numerous; so that +in order to get away they made use of this ruse. But they said if there had +been only our two pataches they would have stayed some days longer, and +they begged that, when I returned with my companions, I would not bring any +others. To this I replied that I did not bring these, but that they +followed without my invitation; that in the future, however, I would come +in another manner; at which explanation they were much pleased. + +And now they began again to repeat what they had promised me in regard to +the exploration of the country, while I promised, with the help of God, to +fulfil what I had told them. They besought me again to give them a man, and +I replied that if there was any one among us who was willing to go, I +should be well pleased. + +They told me there was a merchant, named Bouyer, commander of a patache, +who had asked them to take a young man, which request, however, they had +been unwilling to grant before ascertaining whether this was agreeable to +me, as they did not know whether we were friends, since he had come in my +company to trade with them; also that they were in no wise under any +obligations to him, but that he had offered to make them large presents. + +I replied that we were in no wise enemies, and that they had often seen us +conversing with each other; but that in regard to traffic each did what he +could, and that the above-named Bouyer was perhaps desirous of sending this +young man as I had sent mine, hoping for some return in the future, which I +could also lay claim to from them; that, however, they must judge towards +whom they had the greatest obligations, and from whom they were to expect +the most. + +They said there was no comparison between the obligations in the two cases, +not only in view of the help I had rendered them in their wars against +their enemies, but also of the offer of my personal assistance in the +future, in all of which they had found me faithful to the truth, adding +that all depended on my pleasure. They said moreover that what made them +speak of the matter was the presents he had offered them, and that, if this +young man should go with them, it would not put them under such obligations +to this Bouyer as they were under to me, and that it would have no +influence upon the future, since they only took him on account of the +presents from Bouyer. + +I replied that it was indifferent to me whether they took him or not, and +in fact that if they took him for a small consideration I should be +displeased at it, but if in return for valuable presents, I should be +satisfied, provided he stayed with Iroquet; which they promised me. Then +there was made on both sides a final statement of our agreements. They had +with them one who had three times been made prisoner by the Iroquois, but +had been successful in escaping. This one resolved to go, with nine others, +to war, for the sake of revenge for the cruelties his enemies had caused +him to suffer. All the captains begged me to dissuade him if possible, +since he was very valiant, and they were afraid that, advancing boldly +towards the enemy, and supported by a small force only, he would never +return. To satisfy them I endeavored to do so, and urged all the reasons I +could, which, however, availed little; for he, showing me a portion of his +fingers cut off, also great cuts and burns on his body, as evidences of the +manner they had tortured him, said that it was impossible for him to live +without killing some of his enemies and having vengeance, and that his +heart told him he must set out as soon as possible, as he did, firmly +resolved to behave well. + +After concluding with them, I asked them to take me back in our patache. To +accomplish this, they got ready eight canoes in order to pass the fall, +stripping themselves naked, and directing me to go only in my shirt. For it +often happens that some are lost in passing the fall. Consequently, they +keep close to each other, so as to render assistance at once, if any canoe +should happen to turn over. They said to me, if yours should unfortunately +overturn, not knowing how to swim, you must not think of abandoning it, and +must cling to the little pieces in the middle of it, for we can easily +rescue you. I am sure that even the most self-possessed persons in the +world, who have not seen this place nor passed it in little boats such as +they have, could not do so without the greatest apprehension. But these +people are so skilful in passing falls, that it is an easy matter for +them. I passed with them, which I had never before done, nor any other +Christian, except my above-mentioned servant. Then we reached our barques, +where I lodged a large number of them, and had some conversation with the +before-mentioned Bouyer in view of the fear he entertained that I should +prevent his servant from going with the savages. They returned the next day +with the young man, who proved expensive to his master who had expected, in +my opinion, to recover the losses of his voyage, which were very +considerable, like those of many others. + +One of our young men also determined to go with these savages, who are +Charioquois, living at a distance of some one hundred and fifty leagues +from the fall. He went with the brother of Savignon, one of the captains, +who promised me to show him all that could be seen. Bouyer's man went with +the above-mentioned Iroquet, an Algonquin, who lives some eighty leagues +from the fall. Both went off well pleased and contented. + +After the departure of the savages, we awaited the three hundred others +who, as had been told us, were to come, in accordance with the promise I +had made them. Finding that they did not come, all the pataches determined +to induce some Algonquin savages, who had come from Tadoussac, to go to +meet them, in view of a reward that would be given them on their return, +which was to be at the latest not over nine days from the time of their +departure, so that we might know whether to expect them or not, and be able +to return to Tadoussac. This they agreed to, and a canoe left with this +purpose. + +On the fifth of July a canoe arrived from the Algonquins, who were to come +to the number of three hundred. From it we learned that the canoe which had +set out from us had arrived in their country, and that their companions, +wearied by their journey, were resting, and that they would soon arrive, in +fulfilment of the promise they had made; that at most they would not be +more than eight days behindhand, but that there would be only twenty-four +canoes, as one of their captains and many of their comrades had died of a +fever that had broken out among them. They also said that they had sent +many to the war, which had hindered their progress. We determined to wait +for them. + +But finding that this period had elapsed without their arrival, Pont Grave +set out from the fall on the eleventh of the month, to arrange some matters +at Tadoussac, while I stayed to await the savages. + +The same day a patache arrived, bringing provisions for the numerous +barques of which our party consisted. For our bread, wine, meat, and cider +had given out some days before, obliging us to have recourse to fishing, +the fine river water, and some radishes which grow in great abundance in +the country; otherwise we should have been obliged to return. The same day +an Algonquin canoe arrived, assuring us that on the next day the +twenty-four canoes were to come, twelve of them prepared for war. + +On the twelfth the Algonquins arrived with some little merchandise. Before +trafficking they made a present to a Montagnais Indian, the son of +Anadabijou, [20] who had lately died, in order to mitigate his grief at the +death of his father. Shortly after they resolved to make some presents to +all the captains of the pataches. They gave to each of them ten castors, +saying they were very sorry they had no more, but that the war, to which +most of them were going, was the reason; they begged, however, that what +they offered might be accepted in good part, saying that they were all +friends to us, and to me, who was seated near them, more than to all the +others, who were well disposed towards them only on account of their +castors, and had not always assisted them like myself, whom they had never +found double-tongued like the rest. + +I replied that all those whom they saw gathered together were their +friends; that, in case an opportunity should present itself, they would not +fail to do their duty; that we were all friends; that they should continue +to be well disposed towards us; that we would make them presents in return +for those they gave us; and that they should trade in peace. This they did, +and carried away what they could. + +The next day they brought me privately forty castors, assuring me of their +friendship, and that they were very glad of the conclusion which I had +reached with the savages who had gone away, and that we should make a +settlement at the fall, which I assured them we would do, making them a +present in return. + +After everything had been arranged, they determined to go and obtain the +body of Outetoucos, who was drowned at the fall, as we have before +mentioned. They went to the spot where he had been buried, disinterred him +and carried him to the island of St Helene, where they performed their +usual ceremony, which is to sing and dance over the grave with festivities +and banquets following. I asked them why they disinterred the body. They +replied that if their enemies should find the grave they would do so, and +divide the body into several pieces, which they would then hang to trees in +order to offend them. For this reason they said that they transferred it to +a place off from the road, and in the most secret manner possible. + +On the 15th there arrived fourteen canoes, the chief over which was named +_Tecouehata_. Upon their arrival all the other savages took up arms and +performed some circular evolutions. After going around and dancing to their +satisfaction, the others who were in their canoes also began to dance, +making various movements of the body. After finishing their singing, they +went on shore with a small quantity of furs, and made presents similar to +those of the others. These were reciprocated by some of equal value. The +next day they trafficked in what little they had, and presented me +personally with thirty castors, for which I made them an acknowledgment. +They begged me to continue my good will to them, which I promised to do. +They spoke with me very especially respecting certain explorations towards +the north, which might prove advantageous; and said, in reference to them, +that if any one of my company would like to go with them, they would show +him what would please me, and would treat him as one of their own children. +I promised to give them a young man, at which they were much pleased. When +he took leave of me to go with them, I gave him a detailed memorandum of +what he was to observe while with them. After they had bartered what little +they had, they separated into three parties; one for the war, another for +the great fall, another for a little river which flows into that of the +great fall. Thus they set out on the 18th day of the month, on which day we +also departed. + +The same day we made the thirty leagues from this fall to the Trois +Rivieres. On the 19th we arrived at Quebec, which is also thirty leagues +from the Trois Rivieres. I induced the most of those in each boat to stay +at the settlement, when I had some repairs made and some rose-bushes set +out. I had also some oak wood put on board to make trial of in France, not +only for marine wainscoting, but also for windows. The next day, the 20th +of July, I set out. On the 23d I arrived at Tadoussac, whence I resolved to +return to France, in accordance with the advice of Pont Grave. After +arranging matters relating to our settlement, according to the directions +which Sieur de Monts had given me, I embarked in the vessel of Captain +Tibaut, of La Rochelle, on the 11th of August. During our passage we had an +abundance of fish, such as _orades_, mackerel, and _pilotes_, the latter +similar to herrings, and found about certain planks covered with +_pousle-pieds_, a kind of shell-fish attaching itself thereto, and growing +there gradually. Sometimes the number of these little fish is so great that +it is surprising to behold. We caught also some porpoises and other species +of fish. The weather was favorable as far as Belle Isle, [21] where we were +overtaken by fogs, which continued three or four days. The weather then +becoming fair, we sighted Alvert, [22] and arrived at La Rochelle on the +16th of September, 1611. + +ENDNOTES: + +16. June 13th. + +17. _Charioquois_. In the issue of 1632, p. 397, Champlain has _Sauuages + Hurons_. It is probable that Charioquois was only a chief of the + Hurons. + +18. This was the young man that had been sent to pass the winter with the + Indians, in exchange for the savage which had accompanied Champlain to + France. _Vide antea_, Vol. II. p. 246. + +19. This was doubtless on the Lake of Two Mountains. + +20. Champlain's orthography is here _Aronadabigeau. Vide_ Vol. I pp. 236, + 291. + +21. Belle Ile. An island on the coast of Brittany in France. + +22. Alvert, a village near Marennes, which they sighted as they approached + La Rochelle. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ARRIVAL AT LA ROCHELLE.--DISSOLUTION OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SIEUR DE +MONTS AND HIS ASSOCIATES, THE SIEURS COLIER AND LE GENDRE OF ROUEN.-- +JEALOUSY OF THE FRENCH IN REGARD TO THE NEW DISCOVERIES IN NEW FRANCE. + + +Upon my arrival at La Rochelle I proceeded to visit Sieur de Monts, at Pons +[23] in Saintonge, to inform him of all that had occurred during the +expedition, and of the promise which the Ochateguins[24] and Algonquins had +made me, on condition that we would assist them in their wars, as I had +agreed. Sieur de Monts, after listening to it all, determined to go to the +Court to arrange the matter. I started before him to go there also. But on +the way I was unfortunately detained by the falling of a horse upon me, +which came near killing me. This fall detained me some time; but as soon as +I had sufficiently recovered from its effects I set out again to complete +my journey and meet Sieur de Monts at Fontainebleau, who, upon his return +to Paris, had a conference with his associates. The latter were unwilling +to continue in the association, as there was no commission forbidding any +others from going to the new discoveries and trading with the inhabitants +of the country. Sieur de Monts, seeing this, bargained with them for what +remained at the settlement at Quebec, in consideration of a sum of money +which he gave them for their share. He sent also some men to take care of +the settlement, in the expectation of obtaining a commission from His +Majesty. But while he was engaged in the pursuit of this object some +important matters demanded his attention, so that he was obliged to abandon +it, and he left me the duty of taking the necessary steps for it. As I was +about arranging the matter, the vessels arrived from New France with men +from our settlement, those whom I had sent into the interior with the +savages. They brought me very important information, saying that more than +two hundred savages had come, expecting to find me at the great fall of +St. Louis, where I had appointed a rendezvous, with the intention of +assisting them according to their request. But, finding that I had not kept +my promise, they were greatly displeased. Our men, however, made some +apologies, which were accepted, and assured them that they would not fail +to come the following year or never. The savages agreed to this on their +part. But several others left the old trading-station of Tadoussac, and +came to the fall with many small barques to see if they could engage in +traffic with these people, whom they assured that I was dead, although our +men stoutly declared the contrary. This shows how jealousy against +meritorious objects gets possession of bad natures; and all they want is +that men should expose themselves to a thousand dangers, to discover +peoples and territories, that they themselves may have the profit and +others the hardship. It is not reasonable that one should capture the lamb +and another go off with the fleece. If they had been willing to participate +in our discoveries, use their means, and risk their persons, they would +have given evidence of their honor and nobleness, but on the contrary they +show clearly that they are impelled by pure malice that they may enjoy the +fruit of our labors equally with ourselves. + +On this subject, and to show how many persons strive to pervert +praiseworthy enterprises, I will instance again the people of St. Malo and +others, who say that the profit of these discoveries belongs to them, since +Jacques Cartier, who first visited Canada and the islands of New Foundland, +was from their city, as if that city had contributed to the expenses of +these discoveries of Jacques Cartier, who went there by the order and at +the expense of King Francis I, in the years 1534 and 1535 to discover these +territories now called New France. If then Cartier made any discovery at +the expense of His Majesty, all his subjects have the same rights and +liberties in them as the people of St. Malo, who cannot prevent others who +make farther discoveries at their own expense, as is shown in the case of +the discoveries above described, from profiting by them in peace. Hence +they ought not to claim any rights if they themselves make no +contributions, and their reasons for doing so are weak and foolish. + +To prove more conclusively that they who maintain this position do so +without any foundation, let us suppose that a Spaniard or other foreigner +had discovered lands and wealth at the expense of the King of France. Could +the Spaniards or other foreigners claim these discoveries and this wealth +on the ground that the discoverer was a Spaniard or foreigner? No! There +would be no sense in doing so, and they would always belong to France. +Hence the people of St. Malo cannot make these claims for the reason which +they give, that Cartier was a citizen of their city; and they can only take +cognizance of the fact that he was a citizen of theirs, and render him +accordingly the praise which is his due. + +Besides, Cartier in the voyage which he made never passed the great fall of +St. Louis, and made no discoveries north or south of the river +St. Lawrence. His narratives give no evidence of it, in which he speaks +only of the river Saguenay, the Trois Rivieres and St. Croix, where he +spent the winter in a fort near our settlement. Had he done so, he would +not have failed to mention it, any more than what he has mentioned, which +shows that he left all the upper part of the St. Lawrence, from Tadoussac +to the great fall, being a territory difficult to explore, and that he was +unwilling to expose himself or let his barques engage in the venture. So +that what he did has borne no fruit until four years ago, when we made our +settlement at Quebec, after which I ventured to pass the fall to help the +savages in their wars, and fend among them men to make the acquaintance of +the people, to learn their mode of living, and the character and extent of +their territory. After devoting ourselves to labors which have been so +successful, is it not just that we should enjoy their fruits, His Majesty +not having contributed anything to aid those who have assumed the +responsibilities of these undertakings up to the present time. I hope that +God will at some time incline him to do so much for His service, his own +glory and the welfare of his subjects, as to bring many new peoples to the +knowledge of our faith, that they may at last enjoy the heavenly kingdom. + + +NOTE. + +Champlain here introduces an explanation of his two geographical maps of +New France, and likewise his method of determining a meridian line. For +convenience of use the maps are placed at the end of this work, and for the +same reason these explanations are carried forward to p. 219, in immediate +proximity to the maps which they explain.--EDITOR. + +ENDNOTES: + +23. De Monts was governor of Pons, a town situated about ten miles south of + Saintes, in the present department of Lower Charente. + +24. _Ochateguins. Vide_ Vol III. Quebec ed. p 169. They were Hurons, and + Ochateguin is supposed to have been one of their chiefs. _Vide_ Vol + II. note 321. + + + + +FOURTH VOYAGE +OF +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, + +CAPTAIN IN ORDINARY TO THE KING IN THE MARINE, AND +LIEUTENANT OF MONSEIGNEUR LE PRINCE DE +CONDE IN NEW FRANCE, + +MADE IN THE YEAR 1613. + + +To the very high, powerful, and excellent Henri de Bourbon, Prince de +Conde, First Prince of the Blood, First Peer of France, Governor and +Lieutenant of His Majesty in Guienne. + +_Monseigneur, + +The Honor that I have received from your Highness in being intrusted with +the discovery of New France has inspired in me the desire to pursue with +still greater pains and zeal than ever the search for the North Sea. With +this object in view I have made a voyage during the past year, 1613, +relying on a man whom I had sent there and who assured me he had seen it, +as you will perceive in this brief narrative, which I venture to present to +your Excellence, and in which are particularly described all the toils and +sufferings I have had in the undertaking. But although I regret having lost +this year so far as the main object is concerned, yet my expectation, as in +the first voyage, of obtaining more definite information respecting the +subject from the savages, has been fulfilled. They have told me about +various lakes and rivers in the north, in view of which, aside from their +assurance that they know of this sea, it seems to me easy to conclude from +the maps that it cannot be far from the farthest discoveries I have +hitherto made. Awaiting a favorable time and opportunity to prosecute my +plans, and praying God to preserve you, most happy Prince, in all +prosperity, wherein consists my highest wish for your greatness, I remain +in the quality of + + Your most humble and devoted servant, + + SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN_. + + + + +FOURTH VOYAGE +OF +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, + +CAPTAIN IN ORDINARY TO THE KING IN THE MARINE, AND +LIEUTENANT OF MONSEIGNEUR LE PRINCE DE +CONDE IN NEW FRANCE, + +MADE IN THE YEAR 1613. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +WHAT LED ME TO SEEK FOR TERMS OF REGULATION.--A COMMISSION OBTAINED-- +OPPOSITIONS TO THE SAME.--PUBLICATION AT LAST IN ALL THE PORTS OF FRANCE. + +The desire which I have always had of making new discoveries in New France, +for the good, profit, and glory of the French name, and at the same time to +lead the poor natives to the knowledge of God, has led me to seek more and +more for the greater facility of this undertaking, which can only be +secured by means of good regulations. For, since individuals desire to +gather the fruits of my labor without contributing to the expenses and +great outlays requisite for the support of the settlements necessary to a +successful result, this branch of trade is ruined by the greediness of +gain, which is so great that it causes merchants to set out prematurely in +order to arrive first in this country. By this means they not only become +involved in the ice, but also in their own ruin, for, from trading with the +savages in a secret manner and offering through rivalry with each other +more merchandise than is necessary, they get the worst of the bargain. +Thus, while purposing to deceive their associates, they generally deceive +themselves. + +For this reason, when I returned to France on the 10th of September, 1611, +I spoke to Sieur de Monts about the matter, who approved of my suggestions; +but his engagements not allowing him to prosecute the matter at court, he +left to me its whole management. + +I then drew up a statement, which I presented to President Jeannin, who, +being a man desirous of seeing good undertakings prosper, commended my +project, and encouraged me in its prosecution. + +But feeling assured that those who love to fish in troubled waters would be +vexed at such regulations and seek means to thwart them, it seemed +advisable to throw myself into the hands of some power whose authority +would prevail over their jealousy. + +Now, knowing Monseigneur le Comte de Soissons[25] to be a prince devout and +well disposed to all holy undertakings, I addressed myself to him through +Sieur de Beaulieu, councillor, and almoner in ordinary to the King, and +urged upon him the importance of the matter, setting forth the means of +regulating it, the harm which disorder had heretofore produced, and the +total ruin with which it was threatened, to the great dishonor of the +French name, unless God should raise up some one who would reanimate it and +give promise of securing for it some day the success which had hitherto +been little anticipated. After he had been informed in regard to all the +details of the scheme and seen the map of the country which I had made, he +promised me, under the sanction of the King, to undertake the protectorate +of the enterprise. + +I immediately after presented to His Majesty, and to the gentlemen of his +Council, a petition accompanied by articles, to the end that it might +please him to issue regulations for the undertaking, without which, as I +have said, it would fail. Accordingly his Majesty gave the direction and +control to the before-mentioned Count, who then honored me with the +lieutenancy. + +Now as I was preparing to publish the commission [26] of the King in all +the ports and harbors of France, there occurred the sickness and greatly +lamented death of the Count, which postponed somewhat the undertaking. But +his Majesty at once committed the direction to Monseigneur le Prince,[27] +who proceeded in the execution of its duties, and, having in like manner +honored me with the lieutenancy, [28] directed me to go on with the +publication of the commission. But as soon as this was done, some marplots, +who had no interest in the matter, importuned him to annul it, representing +to him as they claimed the interests of all the merchants of France, who +had no cause for complaint, since all were received into the association +and could not therefore justly be aggrieved. Accordingly, their evil +intention being recognized, they were dismissed, with permission only to +enter into the association. + +During these altercations, it was impossible for me, as the time of my +departure was very near at hand, to do anything for the habitation at +Quebec, for repairing and enlarging which I desired to take out some +workmen. It was accordingly necessary to go out this year without any +farther organization. The passports of Monseigneur le Prince were made out +for four vessels, which were already in readiness for the voyage, viz. +three from Rouen and one from La Rochelle, on condition that each should +furnish four men for my assistance, not only in my discoveries but in war, +as I desired to keep the promise which I had made to the Ochataiguins [29] +in the year 1611, to assist them in their wars at the time of my next +voyage. + +As I was preparing to set out, I was informed that the Parliamentary Court +of Rouen would not permit the publication of the commission of the King, +because his Majesty had reserved to himself and his Council the sole +cognizance of the differences which might arise in this matter; added to +which was the fact that the merchants of St. Malo were also opposed to it. +This greatly embarrassed me, and obliged me to make three journeys to +Rouen, with orders of his Majesty, in consideration of which the Court +desisted from their inhibition, and the assumptions of the opponents were +overruled. The commission was then published in all the ports of Normandy. + +ENDNOTES: + +25. For a brief notice of the Count de Soissons, _vide_ Vol. I. note 74; + also note by Laverdiere, Quebec ed., p. 433. + +26. This Commission, dated October 15, 1612, will be found in Champlain's + issue of 1632. _Vide_ Quebec ed., p 887. + +27. Henry de Bourbon. _Vide_ Vol. I. p 113, note 75. + +28. Champlain was appointed lieutenant of the Prince de Conde on the 22d + day of November, 1612. _Vide_ issue of 1632, Quebec ed., p. 1072. + +29. Ochateguins, or Hurons. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +DEPARTURE FROM FRANCE.--WHAT TOOK PLACE UP TO OUR ARRIVAL AT THE FALLS. + + +I set out from Rouen on the 5th of March for Honfleur, accompanied by Sieur +L'Ange, to assist me in my explorations, and in war if occasion should +require. + +On the next day, the 6th of the month, we embarked in the vessel of Sieur +de Pont Grave, immediately setting sail, with a favorable wind. + +On the 10th of April we sighted the Grand Bank, where we several times +tried for fish, but without success. + +On the 15th we had a violent gale, accompanied by rain and hail, which was +followed by another, lasting forty-eight hours, and so violent as to cause +the loss of several vessels on the island of Cape Breton. + +On the 21st we sighted the island and Cap de Raye. [30] On the 29th the +Montagnais savages, perceiving us from All Devils' Point, [31] threw +themselves into their canoes and came to meet us, being so thin and +hideous-looking that I did not recognize them. At once they began crying +for bread, saying that they were dying of hunger. This led us to conclude +that the winter had not been severe, and consequently the hunting poor, +which matter we have alluded to in previous voyages. + +Having arrived on board of our vessel they examined the faces of all, and +as I was not to be seen anywhere they asked where Monsieur de Champlain +was, and were answered that I had remained in France. But this they would +not think of believing, and an old man among them came to me in a corner +where I was walking, not desiring to be recognized as yet, and taking me by +the ear, for he suspected who it was, saw the scar of the arrow wound, +which I received at the defeat of the Iroquois. At this he cried out, and +all the others after him, with great demonstrations of joy, saying, Your +people are awaiting you at the harbor of Tadoussac. + +The same day we arrived at Tadoussac, and although we had set out last, +nevertheless arrived first, Sieur Boyer of Rouen arriving with the same +tide. From this it is evident that to set out before the season is simply +rushing into the ice. When we had anchored, our friends came out to us, +and, after informing us how everything was at the habitation, began to +dress three _outardes_ [32] and two hares, which they had brought, throwing +the entrails overboard, after which the poor savages rushed, and, like +famished beasts, devoured them without drawing. They also scraped off with +their nails the fat with which our vessel had been coated, eating it +gluttonously as if they had found some great delicacy. + +The next day two vessels arrived from St. Malo, which had set out before +the oppositions had been settled and the commission been published in +Normandy. I proceeded on board, accompanied by L'Ange. The Sieurs de la +Moinerie and la Tremblaye were in command, to whom I read the commission of +the King, and the prohibition against violating it on penalties attached to +the same. They replied that they were subjects and faithful servants of His +Majesty, and that they would obey his commands; and I then had attached to +a post in the port the arms and commission of His Majesty, that no ground +for ignorance might be claimed. + +On the 2d of May, seeing two shallops equipped to go to the Falls, I +embarked with the before-mentioned L'Ange in one of them. We had very bad +weather, so that the masts of our shallop were broken, and had it not been +for the preserving hand of God we should have been lost, as was before our +eyes a shallop from St Malo, which was going to the Isle d'Orleans, those +on board of which however being saved. + +On the 7th we arrived at Quebec, where we found in good condition those who +had wintered there, they not having been sick; they told us that the winter +had not been severe, and that the river had not frozen. The trees also were +beginning to put forth leaves and the fields to be decked with flowers. + +On the 13th we set out from Quebec for the Falls of St. Louis, where we +arrived on the 21st, finding there one of, our barques which had set out +after us from Tadoussac, and which had traded some with a small troop of +Algonquins, who came from the war with the Iroquois, and had with them two +prisoners. Those in the barque gave them to understand that I had come with +a number of men to assist them in their wars, according to the promise I +had made them in previous years; also that I desired to go to their country +and enter into an alliance with all their friends, at which they were +greatly pleased. And, inasmuch as they were desirous of returning to their +country to assure their friends of their victory, see their wives, and put +to death their prisoners in a festive _tabagie_, they left us pledges of +their return, which they promised should be before the middle of the first +moon, according to their reckoning, their shields made of wood and elk +leather, and a part of their bows and arrows. I regretted very much that I +was not prepared to go with them to their country. + +Three days after, three canoes arrived with Algonquins, who had come from +the interior, with some articles of merchandise which they bartered. They +told me that the bad treatment which the savages had received the year +before had discouraged them from coming any more, and that they did not +believe that I would ever return to their country on account of the wrong +impressions which those jealous of me had given them respecting me; +wherefore twelve hundred men had gone to the war, having no more hope from +the French, who, they did not believe, would return again to their country. + +This intelligence greatly disheartened the merchants, as they had made a +great purchase of merchandise, with the expectation that the savages would +come, as they had been accustomed to. This led me to resolve, as I engaged +in my explorations, to pass through their country, in order to encourage +those who had stayed back, with an assurance of the good treatment they +would receive, and of the large amount of good merchandise at the Fall, and +also of the desire I had to assist them in their war. For carrying out this +purpose I requested three canoes and three savages to guide us, but after +much difficulty obtained only two and one savage, and this by means of some +presents made them. + +ENDNOTES: + +30. The _island_ refers to New Foundland. Cap de Raye, still known as Cape + Ray, was on the southwestern angle of New Foundland. + +31. Now called Point aux Vaches. It was sometimes called All-Devils' + Point. _Vide_ note 136, Vol. I. p. 235. + +32. _Outardes_. Sometimes written _houtardes_, and _Oltardes_. The name + outarde or bustard, the _otis_ of ornithologists, a land bird of + Europe, was applied to a species of goose in Canada at a very early + period. + + The outarde is mentioned by Cartier in 1535, and the name may have been + originally applied by the fishermen and fur-traders at a much earlier + period, doubtless on account of some fancied resemblance which they saw + to the lesser bustard or outarde, which was about the size of the + English pheasant. _Vide Pennant's British Zooelogy_, Vol. I. p. 379. + Cartier, Champlain, Lescarbot, Baron La Hontan, Potherie, and Charlvoix + mention the outarde in catalogues of water-fowl in which _oye_, the + goose, is likewise mentioned. They very clearly distinguish it from the + class which they commonly considered _oyes_, or geese. Cartier, for + instance, says, Il y a aussi grand nombre d'oyseaulx, scauoir grues, + signes, _oltardes, oyes sauuages, blanches, & grises_. Others speak of + _outardes et oyes_. They do not generally describe it with + particularity. Champlain, however, in describing the turkey, _cocq + d'Inde_, on the coast of New England, says, _aussi gros qu'vne outarde, + qui est une espece d'oye_. Father Pierre Biard writes, _et au mesme + temps les outardes arriuent du midy, qui sont grosses cannes au double + des nostres_. From these statements it is obvious that the outarde was + a species of goose, but was so small that it could well be described as + a large duck. In New France there were at least four species of the + goose, which might have come under the observation of the early + navigators and explorers. We give them in the order of their size, as + described in Coues' Key to North American Birds. + + 1. Canada Goose, _Branta Canadensis_, SCOPOLI, 36 inches. + 2. Snow Goose, _Anser hyperboreus_, LINNAEUS, 30 inches. + 3. Am. White-fronted Goose, _Anser albifrons_, LINNAEUS, 27 inches. + 4. Brant Goose, _Branta bernicla_, SCOPOLI, 24 inches. + + Recurring to the statement of Cartier above cited, it will be observed + that he mentions, besides the outarde, wild geese white and gray. The + first and largest of the four species above mentioned, the Canada + goose, _Branta Canadensis_, is gray, and the two next, the Snow goose + and White-fronted, would be classified as white. This disposes of three + of the four mentioned. The outarde of Cartier would therefore be the + fourth species in the list, viz. the Brant goose. _Branta bernicla_. + This is the smallest species found on our northern coast, and might + naturally be described, as stated by Father Biard, as a large duck. It + is obvious that the good Father could not have described the Canada + goose, the largest of the four species, as a large duck, and the white + geese have never been supposed to be referred to under the name of + outarde. The Brant goose, to which all the evidence which we have been + able to find in the Canadian authorities seems to point as the outarde + of early times, is common in our markets in its season, but our + market-men, unaccustomed to make scientific distinctions, are puzzled + to decide whether it should be classed as a goose or a duck. It is not + improbable that the early voyagers to our northern latitudes, unable to + decide to which of these classes this water-fowl properly belonged, and + seeing in it a fancied resemblance to the lesser outarde, with which + they were familiar, gave it for sake of the distinction, but + nevertheless inappropriately, the name of outarde. The reader is + referred to the following authorities. + + _Vide Brief Recit_ par Jacques Cartier, 1545. D'Avezac ed., p. 33; + _Champlain_, Quebec ed., p. 220; _Jesuite Relations_, 1616, p. 10; _Le + Grand Voyage du Pays des Hurons_, par Sagard, Paris, 1632, p. 301; + _Dictionaire de la Langue Hurone_, par Sagard, Paris, 1632, _oyseaux; + Letters to the Dutchess of Lesdiguieres_, By Fr. Xa. de Charlevoix, + London. 1763, p. 88; _Le Jeune, Relations des Jesuites_, 1633, P. 4, + 1636, p. 47; _Histoire de l'Amerique Septentrionale_, par de la + Potherie, Paris, 1722, Vol. I. pp. 20, 172, 212, 308; _Lescarbot, + Histoire de la Nouvelle France_, pp. 369, 582, 611. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +DEPARTURE TO DISCOVER THE NORTH SEA, ON THE GROUND OF THE REPORT MADE ME IN +REGARD TO IT. DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL RIVERS, LAKES AND ISLANDS, THE FALLS +OF THE CHAUDIERE AND OTHER FALLS. + + +Now, as I had only two canoes, I could take with me but four men, among +whom was one named Nicholas de Vignau, the most impudent liar that has been +seen for a long time, as the sequel of this narrative will show. He had +formerly spent the winter with the savages, and I had sent him on +explorations the preceding years. He reported to me, on his return to Paris +in 1612, that he had seen the North Sea; that the river of the Algonquins +came from a lake which emptied into it; and that in seventeen days one +could go from the Falls of St. Louis to this sea and back again; that he +had seen the wreck and _debris_ of an English ship that had been wrecked, +on board of which were eighty men, who had escaped to the shore, and whom +the savages killed because the English endeavored to take from them by +force their Indian corn and other necessaries of life; and that he had seen +the scalps which these savages had flayed off, according to their custom, +which they would show me, and that they would likewise give me a young +English boy whom they had kept for me. This intelligence had greatly +pleased me, for I thought that I had almost found that for which I had for +a long time been searching. Accordingly I enjoined upon him to tell me the +truth, in order that I might inform the King, and warned him that if he +gave utterance to a lie he was putting the rope about his neck, assuring +him on the other hand that, if his narrative were true, he could be certain +of being well rewarded. He again assured me, with stronger oaths than ever; +and in order to play his _role_ better he gave me a description of the +country, which he said he had made as well as he was able. Accordingly the +confidence which I saw in him, his entire frankness as it seemed, the +description which he had prepared, the wreck and _debris_ of the ship, and +the things above mentioned, had an appearance of probability, in connection +with the voyage of the English to Labrador in 1612, where they found a +strait, in which they sailed as far as the 63d degree of latitude and the +290th of longitude, wintering at the 53d degree and losing some vessels, as +their report proves.[33] These circumstances inducing me to believe that +what he said was true, I made a report of the same to the Chancellor, [34] +which I showed to Marshal de Brissac,[35] President Jeannin, [36] and other +Seigneurs of the Court, who told me that I ought to visit the place in +person. For this reason I requested Sieur Georges, a merchant of La +Rochelle, to give him a passage in his ship, which he willingly did, and +during the voyage he questioned him as to his object in making it; and, +since it was not of any profit to him, he asked if he expected any pay, to +which the young man answered that he did not, that he did not expect +anything, from any one but the King, and that he undertook the voyage only +to show me the North Sea, which he had seen. He made an affidavit of this +at La Rochelle before two notaries. + +Now as I took leave on Whitsuntide, [37] of all the principal men to whose +prayers I commended myself, and also to those of all others, I said to him +in their presence that if what he had previously said was not true he must +not give me the trouble to undertake the journey, which involved many +dangers. Again he affirmed all that he had said, on peril of his life. + +Accordingly, our canoes being laden with some provisions, our arms, and a +few articles of merchandise for making presents to the savages, I set out +on Monday the 27th of May from Isle St. Helene with four Frenchmen and one +savage, a parting salute being given me with some rounds from small +pieces. This day we went only to the Falls of St. Louis, a league up the +river, the bad weather not allowing us to go any farther. + +On the 29th we passed the Falls, [38] partly by land, partly by water, it +being necessary for us to carry our canoes, clothes, victuals, and arms on +our shoulders, no small matter for persons not accustomed to it. After +going two leagues beyond the Falls, we entered a lake, [39] about twelve +leagues in circuit, into which three rivers empty; one coming from the +west, from the direction of the Ochateguins, distant from one hundred and +fifty to two hundred leagues from the great Falls; [40] another from the +south and the country of the Iroquois, a like distance off; [41] and the +other from the north and the country of the Algonquins and Nebicerini, also +about the same distance. [42] This river on the north, according to the +report of the savages, comes from a source more remote, and passes by +tribes unknown to them and about three hundred leagues distant. + +This lake is filled with fine large islands, containing only pasturage +land, where there is fine hunting, deer and fowl being plenty. Fish are +abundant. The country bordering the lake is covered with extensive +forests. We proceeded to pass the night at the entrance to this lake, +making barricades against the Iroquois, who roam in these regions in order +to surprise their enemies; and I am sure that if they were to find us they +would give us as good a welcome as them, for which reason we kept a good +watch all night. On the next day I took the altitude of the place, and +found it in latitude 45 deg. 18'. About three o'clock in the afternoon we +entered the river which comes from the north, and, passing a small fall +[43] by land so as to favor our canoes, we proceeded to a little island, +where we spent the remainder of the night. + +On the last day of May we passed another lake, [44] seven or eight leagues +long and three broad, containing several islands. The neighboring country +is very level, except in some places, where there are pine-covered hills. +We passed a fall called by the inhabitants of the country Quenechouan,[45] +which is filled with stones and rocks, and where the water runs with great +velocity. We had to get into the water and drag our canoes along the shore +with a rope. Half a league from there we passed another little fall by +rowing, which makes one sweat. Great skill is required in passing these +falls, in order to avoid the eddies and surf, in which they abound; but the +savages do this with the greatest possible dexterity, winding about and +going by the easiest places, which they recognize at a glance. + +On Saturday, the 1st of June, we passed two other falls; the first half a +league long, the second a league, in which we had much difficulty; for the +rapidity of the current is so great that it makes a frightful noise, and +produces, as it descends from stage to stage, so white a foam everywhere +that the water cannot be seen at all. This fall is strewn with rocks, and +contains some islands here and there covered with pines and white cedars. +This was the place where we had a hard time; for, not being able to carry +our canoes by land on account of the density of the wood, we had to drag +them in the water with ropes, and in drawing mine I came near losing my +life, as it crossed into one of the eddies, and if I had not had the good +fortune to fall between two rocks the canoe would have dragged me in, +inasmuch as I was unable to undo quickly enough the rope which was wound +around my hand, and which hurt me severely and came near cutting it off. In +this danger I cried to God and began to pull my canoe, which was returned +to me by the refluent water, such as occurs in these falls. Having thus +escaped I thanked God, begging Him to preserve us. Later our savage came to +help me, but I was out of danger. It is not strange that I was desirous of +preserving my canoe, for if it had been lost it would have been necessary +to remain, or wait until some savages came that way, a poor hope for those +who have nothing to dine on, and who are not accustomed to such +hardship. As for our Frenchmen, they did not have any better luck, and +several times came near losing their lives; but the Divine Goodness +preserved us all. During the remainder of the day we rested, having done +enough. + +The next day we fell in with fifteen canoes of savages called +_Quenongebin_, [46] in a river, after we had passed a small lake, four +leagues long and two broad. They had been informed of my coming by those +who had passed the Falls of St. Louis, on their way from the war with the +Iroquois. I was very glad to meet them, as were they also to meet me, but +they were astonished to see me in this country with so few companions, and +with only one savage. Accordingly, after saluting each other after the +manner of the country, I desired them not to go any farther until I had +informed them of my plan. To this they assented, and we encamped on an +island. + +The next day I explained to them that I was on my way to their country to +visit them, and fulfil the promise I had previously made them, and that if +they had determined to go to the war it would be very agreeable to me, +inasmuch as I had brought some companions with this view, at which they +were greatly pleased; and having told them that I wished to go farther in +order to notify the other tribes, they wanted to deter me, saying that the +way was bad, and that we had seen nothing up to this point. Wherefore I +asked them to give me one of their number to take charge of our second +canoe, and also to serve us as guide, since our conductors were not +acquainted any farther. This they did willingly, and in return I made them +a present and gave them one of our Frenchmen, the least indispensable, whom +I sent back to the Falls with a leaf of my note-book, on which for want of +paper I made a report of myself. + +Thus we parted, and continuing our course up the river we found another +one, very fair and broad, which comes from a nation called _Ouescharini_, +[47] who live north of it, a distance of four days' journey from the +mouth. This river is very pleasant in consequence of the fine islands it +contains, and the fair and open woods with which its shores are +bordered. The land is very good for tillage. + +On the fourth day we passed near another river coming from the north, where +tribes called _Algonquins_ live. This river falls into the great river +St. Lawrence, three leagues below the Falls of St. Louis, forming a large +island of nearly forty leagues. [48] This river is not broad, but filled +with a countless number of falls, very hard to pass. Sometimes these tribes +go by way of this river in order to avoid encounters with their enemies, +knowing that they will not try to find them in places so difficult of +access. + +Where this river has its debouchure is another coming from the south, [49] +at the mouth of which is a marvellous fall. For it descends a height of +twenty or twenty-five fathoms [50] with such impetuosity that it makes an +arch nearly four hundred paces broad. The savages take pleasure in passing +under it, not wetting themselves, except from the spray that is thrown off. +There is an island in the middle of the river which, like all the country +round about, is covered with pines and white cedars. When the savages +desire to enter the river they ascend the mountain, carrying their canoes, +and go half a league by land. The neighboring country is filled with all +sorts of game, so that the savages often make a stop here. The Iroquois +also go there sometimes and surprise them while making the passage. + +We passed a fall [51] a league from there, which is half a league broad, +and has a descent of six or seven fathoms. There are many little islands, +which are, however, nothing more than rough and dangerous rocks covered +with a poor sort of brushwood. The water falls in one place with such force +upon a rock that it has hollowed out in course of time a large and deep +basin, in which the water has a circular motion and forms large eddies in +the middle, so that the savages call it _Asticou_, which signifies boiler. +This cataract produces such a noise in this basin that it is heard for more +than two leagues. The savages when passing here observe a ceremony which we +shall speak of in its place. We had much trouble in ascending by rowing +against a strong current, in order to reach the foot of the fall. Here the +savages took their canoes, my Frenchmen and myself, our arms, provisions, +and other necessaries, and we passed over the rough rocks for the distance +of about a quarter of a league, the extent of the fall. Then we embarked, +being obliged afterwards to land a second time and go about three hundred +paces through copse-wood, after which we got into the water in order to get +our canoes over the sharp rocks, the trouble attending which may be +imagined. I took the altitude of this place, which I found to be in +latitude 45 deg. 38'. [52] + +In the afternoon we entered a lake, [53] five leagues long and two wide, in +which there are very fine islands covered with vines, nut-trees, and other +excellent kinds of trees. Ten or twelve leagues above we passed some +islands covered with pines. The land is sandy, and there is found here a +root which dyes a crimson color, with which the savages paint their faces, +as also little gewgaws after their manner. There is also a mountain range +along this river, and the surrounding country seems to be very +unpromising. The rest of the day we passed on a very pleasant island. + +The next day we proceeded on our course to a great fall, nearly three +leagues broad, in which the water falls a height of ten or twelve fathoms +in a slope, making a marvellous noise. [54] It is filled with a vast number +of islands, covered with pines and cedars. In order to pass it we were +obliged to give up our maize or Indian corn, and some few other provisions +we had, together with our least necessary clothes, retaining only our arms +and lines, to afford us means of support from hunting and fishing as place +and luck might permit. Thus lightened we passed, sometimes rowing, +sometimes carrying our canoes and arms by land, the fall, which is a league +and a half long, [55] and in which our savages, who are indefatigable in +this work and accustomed to endure such hardships, aided us greatly. + +Continuing our course, we passed two other falls, one by land, the other +with oar and poles standing up. Then we entered a lake, [56] six or seven +leagues long, into which flows a river coming from the south, [57] on which +at a distance of five days' journey from the other river [58] live a people +called _Matou-oueescarini_ [59] The lands about the before-mentioned lake +are sandy and covered with pines, which have been almost entirely burned +down by the savages. There are some islands, in one of which we rested +ourselves. Here we saw a number of fine red cypresses,[60] the first I had +seen in this country, out of which I made a cross, which I planted at one +end of the island, on an elevated and conspicuous spot, with the arms of +France, as I had done in other places where we had stopped. I called this +island _Sainte Croix_. + +On the 6th we set out from this island of St. Croix, where the river is a +league and a half broad, and having made eight or ten leagues we passed a +small fall by oar, and a number of islands of various sizes. Here our +savages left the sacks containing their provisions and their less necessary +articles, in order to be lighter for going overland and avoiding several +falls which it was necessary to pass. There was a great dispute between our +savages and our impostor, who affirmed that there was no danger by way of +the falls, and that we ought to go that way. Our savages said to him, You +are tired of living, and to me, that I ought not to believe him, and that +he did not tell the truth. Accordingly, having several times observed that +he had no knowledge of the places, I followed the advice of the savages, +which was fortunate for me, for he fought for dangers in order to ruin me +or to disgust me with the undertaking, as he has since confessed, a +statement of which will be given hereafter. We crossed accordingly towards +the west the river, which extended northward. I took the altitude of this +place and found it in latitude 46 deg. 40'.[61] We had much difficulty in going +this distance overland. I, for my part, was loaded only with three +arquebuses, as many oars, my cloak, and some small articles. I cheered on +our men, who were somewhat more heavily loaded, but more troubled by the +mosquitoes than by their loads. Thus after passing four small ponds and +having gone a distance of two and a half leagues, we were so wearied that +it was impossible to go farther, not having eaten for twenty-four hours +anything but a little broiled fish without seasoning, for we had left our +provisions behind, as I mentioned before. Accordingly we rested on the +border of a pond, which was very pleasant, and made a fire to drive away +the mosquitoes, which annoyed us greatly, whose persistency is so +marvellous that one cannot describe it. Here we cast our lines to catch +some fish. + +The next day we passed this pond, which was perhaps a league long. Then we +went by land three leagues through a country worse than we had yet seen, +since the winds had blown down the pines on top of each other. This was no +slight inconvenience, as it was necessary to go now over, now under, these +trees. In this way we reached a lake, six leagues long and two wide, [62] +very abundant in fish, the neighboring people doing their fishing there. +Near this lake is a settlement of savages, who till the soil and gather +harvests of maize. Their chief is named _Nibachis_, who came to visit us +with his followers, astonished that we could have passed the falls and bad +roads in order to reach them. After offering us tobacco, according to their +custom, he began to address his companions, saying, that we must have +fallen from the clouds, for he knew not how we could have made the journey, +and that they who lived in the country had much trouble in traversing these +bad ways: and he gave them to understand that I accomplished all that I set +my mind upon; in short, that he believed respecting me all that the other +savages had told him. Aware that we were hungry, he gave us some fish, +which we ate, and after our meal I explained to him, through Thomas, our +interpreter, the pleasure I had in meeting them, that I had come to this +country to assist them in their wars, and that I desired to go still +farther to see some other chiefs for the same object, at which they were +glad and promised me assistance. They showed me their gardens and the +fields, where they had maize. Their soil is sandy, for which reason they +devote themselves more to hunting than to tillage, unlike the Ochateguins. +[63] When they wish to make a piece of land arable, they burn down the +trees, which is very easily done, as they are all pines, and filled with +rosin. The trees having been burned, they dig up the ground a little, and +plant their maize kernel by kernel, [64] like those in Florida. At the time +I was there it was only four fingers high. + +ENDNOTES: + +33. _Vide_ Vol. II. p. 171, note 297, for an account of Henry Hudson, to + whom this statement refers. De Vignau had undoubtedly heard rumors + concerning Hudson's expedition to the bay that bears his name in the + years 1610-11, out of which he fabricated the fine story of his + pretended discovery. Longitude at that time was reckoned from the + island of Ferro, one of the Canaries. Proceeding from west to east, the + 290 deg. would pass through Hudson's Bay, as may be seen by consulting any + early French map. _Vide_ Bellin's _Carte du Globe Terrestre_, 1764. + +34. Nicholas Brulart de Sillery, who was born at Sillery, in France, in + 1544, and died in the same place in 1624. He rendered signal service to + Henry IV. Among other public acts he negotiated the peace of Vervins + between France and Spain in 1598. He was appointed grand chancellor of + France in 1607. Henry IV. said of him, Avec mon chanclier qui ne fait + pas le latin et mon connetable (Henri de Montmorency), qui ne fait ni + lire ni ecrire, je puis venir a bout des affairs les plus difficiles. + +35. For some account of Marshal de Brissac, _vide_ Vol. I. p. 17, note 16. + +36. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 112, note 73. President Jeannin was a most suitable + person to consult on this subject, as he was deeply interested in the + discovery of a northwest passage to India. When minister at the Hague + he addressed a letter bearing date January 21st, 1609, to Henry IV. of + France, containing an account of his indirect negotiations with Henry + Hudson, for a voyage to discover a shorter passage to India. A copy of + this interesting letter, both in French and English, may be found in + _Henry Hudson the Navigator_, by G. M. Asher, LL.D., Hakluyt Society, + London, 1860, p. 244. + +37. The festival of Whitsunday occurred on the 26th May. _Laverdiere in + loco_. + +38. The Falls of St Louis. + +39. Lake St. Louis. + +40. Champlain is here speaking of the river St. Lawrence, which flows into + Lake St. Louis slightly south of west. + +41. Riviere de Loup, now known as the Chateauguay. + +42. The River Ottawa or a branch of it flows into Lake St. Louis from the + north, although its course is rather from the west. It was often called + the River of the Algonquins. It approaches comparatively near to Lake + Nipissing, the home of the Nipissirini. The sources of the Ottawa are + northeast of Lake Nipissing, a distance of from one to three hundred + miles. The distances here given by Champlain are only general estimates + gathered from the Indians, and are necessarily inaccurate. + +43. Rapide de Brussi, by which the river flows from the Lake of + Two Mountains into Lake St Louis. + +44. _Lac de Soissons_, now called Lake of Two Mountains _Vide_ Vol. I. + p. 294. + +45. This is the first of a series of falls now known as the Long Fall. + +46. _Quenongebin_. Laverdiere makes, this the same as the Kinounchepirini + of Vimont. It was an Algonquin nation situated south of Allumette + Island. _Vide Jesuite Relations_, Quebec ed, 1640, p. 34. + +47. _Ouescharini_. These people, called Ouaouechkairini by Vimont, appear + to have dwelt on the stream now known as the _Riviere de Petite + Nation_, rising in a system of lakes, among which are Lake Simon, + Whitefish Lake, Long Lake, and Lake Des Isles. _Vide Jesuite + Relations_, 1640, p. 34. The tribe here mentioned was subsequently + called the Little Nation of the Algonquins hence the name of the + river. _Laverdiere_. + +48. This passage is exceedingly obscure. Laverdiere supposes that part of a + sentence was left out by the printer. If so it is remarkable that + Champlain did not correct it in his edition of 1632. Laverdiere thinks + the river here spoken of is the Gatineau, and that the savages + following up this stream went by a portage to the St. Maurice, and + passing down reached the St. Lawrence _thirty_ leagues, and not + _three_, below the Falls of Saint Louis. The three rivers thus named + inclose or form an island of about the extent described in the + text. This explanation is plausible. The passage amended would read, + "This river _extends near another which_ falls into the great river + St. Lawrence thirty leagues below the falls of St. Louis." We know of + no other way in which the passage can be rationally explained. + +49. Rideau, at the mouth of which is Green Island, referred to in the text + below. + +50. The fall in the Rideau is thirty-four feet, according to the Edinburgh + Gazetteer of the World. The estimate of Champlain is so far out of the + way that it seems not unlikely that feet were intended instead of + fathoms. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 301, 302. + +51. The Chaudiere Falls, just above the present city of Ottawa, the + greatest height of which is about forty feet "Arrayed in every + imaginable variety of form, in vast dark masses, in graceful cascades, + or in tumbling spray, they have been well described as a hundred rivers + struggling for a passage. Not the least interesting feature they + present is the Lost Chaudiere, where a large body of water is quietly + sucked down, and disappears underground" _Vide Canada_ by W. H Smith. + Vol. I. p. 120. Also Vol I. p, 120 of this work. + +52. The latitude of the Chaudiere Falls is about 45 deg. 27'. + +53. Chaudiere Lake, which was only an expansion of the River Ottawa. + +54. Rapide des Chats. + +55. This probably refers to that part of the fall which was more difficult + to pass. + +56. Lake des Chats. The name _des chats_ appears to have been given to this + Lake, the Rapids, and the _Nation des chats_, on account of the great + number of the _loup cervier_, or wild cats, _chats sauvages_, found in + this region. Cf. _Le Grande Voyage du Pays des Hurons_, par Sagard, + Paris, 1632, p. 307. + +57. Madawaskca River, an affluent of the Ottawa, uniting with it at Fitz + Roy. + +58. Probably an allusion to the River St. Lawrence. + +59. This is the same tribe alluded to by Vimont under the name + _Mataouchkarmi_, as dwelling south of Allumette Island. _Vide Relations + des Jesuites_, 1640, Quebec ed., p. 34. + +60. Cypres, Red Cedar or Savin, _Juniperus Virginiana_. _Vide_ Vol. II. + note 168. + +61. They were now, perhaps, two miles below Portage du Fort, at the point + on the Ottawa nearest to the system of lakes through which they were to + pass, and where, as stated in the text, the Ottawa, making an angle, + begins to flow directly from the north. The latitude, as here given, is + even more than usually incorrect, being too high by more than a degree. + The true latitude is about 43 deg. 37'. _Vide Walker_ and _Miles's Atlas of + Dominion of Canada_. Note 62 will explain the cause of this + inexactness. + +62. Muskrat Lake. On Champlain's map of 1632 will be seen laid down a + succession of lakes or ponds, together with the larger one, now known + as Muskrat Lake, on the borders of which are figured the dwellings of + the savages referred to in the text. The pond which they passed is the + last in the series before reaching Muskrat Lake. On the direct route + between this pond and the lake, known as the Muskrat Portage road, the + course undoubtedly traversed by Champlain, there was found in 1867, in + the, township of Ross, an astrolabe, an instrument used in taking + latitudes, on which is the date, 1603. It is supposed to have been lost + by Champlain on his present expedition. The reasons for this + supposition have been stated in several brochures recently issued, one + by Mr. O. H. Marshall of Buffalo, entitled _Discovery of an Astrolabe + supposed to have been left by Champlain in 1613_, New York, 1879; + reprinted from the _Magazine of American History_ for March of that + year. Another, _Champlain's Astrolabe lost on the 7th of June, 1613, + and found in August, 1867_, by A. J Russell of Ottawa, Montreal, + 1879. And a third entitled _The Astrolabe of Samuel Champlain and + Geoffrey Chaucer_, by Henry Scadding, D.D., of Toronto, 1880. All of + these writers agree in the opinion that the instrument was probably + lost by Champlain on his expedition up the Ottawa in 1613. For the + argument _in extenso_ the reader is referred to the brochures above + cited. + + [Illustration of an astrolabe.] + + Mr. Russell, who examined the astrolabe thus found with great care and + had it photographed, describes it as a circular plate having a diameter + of five inches and five eighths. "It is of place brass, very dark with + age, one eighth of an inch thick above, increasing to six sixteenths of + an inch below, to give it steadiness when suspended, which apparently + was intended to be increased by hanging a weight on the little + projecting ring at the bottom of it, in using it on ship-board. Its + suspending ring is attached by a double hinge of the nature of a + universal joint. Its circle is divided into single degrees, graduated + from its perpendicular of suspension. The double-bladed index, the + pivot of which passes through the centre of the astrolabe, has slits + and eyelets in the projecting fights that are on it." + + We give on the preceding page an engraving of this astrolabe from a + photograph, which presents a sufficiently accurate outline of the + instrument. The plate was originally made to illustrate Mr. Marshall's + article in the Magazine of American History, and we are indebted to the + courtesy of the proprietors of the Magazine, Messrs. A. S. Barnes and + Company of New York, for its use for our present purpose. + + The astrolabe, as an instrument for taking the altitude of the stars or + the sun, had long been in use. Thomas Blundevile, who wrote in 1622, + says he had seen three kinds, and that the astrolabe of Stofflerus had + then been in use a hundred years. It had been improved by Gemma + Frisius. Mr. Blagrave had likewise improved upon the last-mentioned, + and his instrument was at that time in general use in England. The + astrolabe continued to be employed in Great Britain in taking altitudes + for more than a century subsequent to this, certainly till Hadley's + Quadrant was invented, which was first announced in 1731. + + The astrolabes which had the broadest disks were more exact, as they + were projected on a larger scale, but as they were easily jostled by + the wind or the movement of the ship at sea, they could with difficulty + be employed. But Mr. Blundevile informs us that "the Spaniards doe + commonly make their astrolabes narrow and weighty, which for the most + part are not much above five inches broad, and yet doe weigh at the + least foure pound, & to that end the lower part is made a great deale + thicker than the upper part towards the ring or handle." _Vide + M. Blendeale his Exercises_, London, 1622, pp. 595, 597. This Spanish + instrument, it will be observed, is very similar to that found on the + Old Portage road, and the latter may have been of Spanish make. + + In order to take the latitude in Champlain's day, at least three + distinct steps or processes were necessary, and the following + directions might have been given. + + I. Let the astrolabe be suspended so that it shall hang plumb. Direct + the index or diopter to the sun at noon, so that the same ray of light + may shine through both holes in the two tablets or pinules on the + diopter, and the diopter will point to the degree of the sun's meridian + altitude indicated on the outer rim of the astrolabe. + + II. Ascertain the exact degree of the sun's declination for that day, + by a table calculated for that purpose, which accompanies the + astrolabe. + + III. Subtract the declination, so found, if it be northerly, from the + meridian altitude; or if the declination be southerly, add the + declination to the meridian altitude, and the result, subtracted from + 90 deg., will give the latitude. + + In these several processes of taking the latitude there are numerous + possibilities of inexactness. It does not appear that any correction + was made for refraction of light, or the precession of the equinoxes. + But the most important source of inaccuracy was in the use of the + astrolabe whose disk was so small that its divisions could not be + carried beyond degrees, and consequently minutes were arrived at by + sheer estimation, and usually when the work was completed, the error + was not less than one fourth or one half of a degree, and it was often + much more. + + This accounts fully for the inaccuracies of Champlain's latitudes from + first to last throughout his entire explorations, as tested by the very + exact instruments and tables now in use. No better method of + determining the latitude existed at that day, and consequently the + historian is warned not to rely upon the latitude alone as given by the + early navigators and explorers in identifying the exact localities + which they visited. + +63. Subsequently called Hurons. + +64. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 49; Vol. II. note 219. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +CONTINUATION.--ARRIVAL AT THE ABODE OF TESSOUAT, AND HIS FAVORABLE +RECEPTION OF ME.--CHARACTER OF THEIR CEMETERIES--THE SAVAGES PROMISE ME +FOUR CANOES FOR CONTINUING MY JOURNEY, WHICH THEY HOWEVER SHORTLY AFTER +REFUSE.--ADDRESS OF THE SAVAGES TO DISSUADE ME FROM MY UNDERTAKING, IN +WHICH THEY REPRESENT ITS DIFFICULTIES--MY REPLY TO THESE OBJECTIONS.-- +TESSOUAT ACCUSES MY GUIDE OF LYING, AND OF NOT HAVING BEEN WHERE HE SAID HE +HAD.--THE LATTER MAINTAINS HIS VERACITY--I URGE THEM TO GIVE ME CANOES.-- +SEVERAL REFUSALS.--MY GUIDE CONVICTED OF FALSEHOOD, AND HIS CONFESSION. + + +Nibachis had two canoes fitted out, to conduct me to another chief, named +Tessoueat, [65] who lived eight leagues from him, on the border of a great +lake, through which flows the river which we had left, and which extends +northward. Accordingly we crossed the lake in a west-northwesterly +direction, a distance of nearly seven leagues. Landing there, we went a +league towards the northeast through a very fine country, where are small +beaten paths, along which one can go easily. Thus we arrived on the shore +of the lake, [66] where the dwelling of Tessoueat was. He was accompanied by +a neighboring chieftain, and was greatly amazed to see me, saying that he +thought I was a dream, and that he did not believe his eyes. Thence we +crossed on to an island, [67] where their cabins are, which are poorly +constructed out of the bark of trees. The island is covered with oaks, +pines, and elms, and is not subject to inundations, like the other islands +in the lake. + +This island is strongly situated; for at its two ends, and where the river +enters the lake, there are troublesome falls, the roughness of which makes +the island difficult of access. They have accordingly taken up their abode +here in order to avoid the pursuit of their enemies. It is in latitude 47 deg., +[68] as also the lake, which is twenty leagues long, [69] and three or four +wide. It abounds in fish; the hunting, however, is not especially good. + +On visiting the island, I observed their cemeteries, and was struck with +wonder as I saw sepulchres of a shape like shrines, made of pieces of wood +fixed in the ground at a distance of about three feet from each other, and +intersecting at the upper end. On the intersections above they place a +large piece of wood, and in front another upright piece, on which is carved +roughly, as would be expected, the figure of the male or female interred. +If it is a man, they add a shield, a sword attached to a handle after their +manner, a mace, and bow and arrows. If it is a chief, there is a plume on +his head, and some other _matachia_ or embellishment. If it is a child, +they give it a bow and arrow; if a woman or girl, a boiler, an earthen +vessel, a wooden spoon, and an oar. The entire sepulchre is six or seven +feet long at most, and four wide; others are smaller. They are painted +yellow and red, with various ornaments as neatly done as the carving. The +deceased is buried with his dress of beaver or other skins which he wore +when living, and they lay by his side all his possessions, as hatchets, +knives, boilers, and awls, so that these things may serve him in the land +whither he goes; for they believe in the immortality of the soul, as I have +elsewhere observed. These carved sepulchres are only made for the warriors; +for in respect to others they add no more than in the case of women, who +are considered a useless class, accordingly but little is added in their +case. + +Observing the poor quality of the soil, I asked them what pleasure they +took in cultivating land so unpromising, since there was some much better, +which they left barren and waste, as at the Falls of St. Louis. They +answered that they were forced to do so in order to dwell in security, and +that the roughness of the locality served them as a defence against their +enemies. But they said that if I would make a settlement of French at the +Falls of St. Louis, as I had promised, they would leave their abode and go +and live near us, confident that their enemies would do them no harm while +we were with them. I told them that we would this year collect wood and +stone in order the coming year to build a fort and cultivate the land; upon +hearing which they raised a great cry of applause. This conference having +been finished, I asked all the chiefs and prominent men among them to +assemble the next day on the main land, at the cabin of Tessoueat, who +purposed to celebrate a _tabagie_ in my honor, adding that I would there +tell them my plans. This they promised, and sent word to their neighbors to +convene at the appointed place. + +The next day all the guests came, each with his porringer and wooden +spoon. They seated themselves without order or ceremony on the ground in +the cabin of Tessoueat, who distributed to them a kind of broth made of +maize crushed between two stones, together with meat and fish which was cut +into little pieces, the whole being boiled together without salt. They also +had meat roasted on coals, and fish boiled apart, which he also +distributed. In respect to myself, as I did not wish any of their chowder, +which they prepare in a very dirty manner, I asked them for some fish and +meat, that I might prepare it in my own way, which they gave me. For drink, +we had fine clear water. Tessoueat, who gave the _tabagie_, entertained us +without eating himself, according to their custom. + +The _tabagie_ being over, the young men, who are not present at the +harangues and councils, and who during the _tabagies_ remain at the door of +the cabins, withdrew, when all who remained began to fill their pipes, one +and another offering me one. We then spent a full half-hour in this +occupation, not a word being spoken, as is their custom. + +After smoking amply during so long a period of silence, I explained to +them, through my interpreter, that the object of my journey was none other +than to assure them of my friendship, and of the desire I had to assist +them in their wars, as I had before done; that I had been prevented from +coming the preceding year, as I had promised them, because the king had +employed me in other wars, but that now he had ordered me to visit them and +to fulfil my promises, and that for this purpose I had a number of men at +the Falls of St. Louis. I told them that I was making an excursion in their +territory to observe the fertility of their soil, their lakes and rivers, +and the sea which they had told me was in their country; and that I desired +to see a tribe distant six days' journey from them, called the +_Nebicerini_, in order to invite them also to the war, and accordingly I +asked them to give me four canoes with eight savages to guide me to these +lands. And since the Algonquins are not great friends of the _Nebicerini_, +[70] they seemed to listen to me with greater attention. + +After I had finished my discourse, they began again to smoke, and to confer +among themselves in a very low voice respecting my propositions. Then +Tessoueat in behalf of all the rest began and said, that they had always +regarded me more friendly towards them than any Frenchman they had seen; +that the proofs they had of this in the past made their confidence easier +for the future: moreover, that I had shown myself in reality their friend, +by encountering so many risks in coming to see them and invite them to the +war, and that all these considerations obliged them to feel as kindly +disposed towards me as towards their own children. But they said that I had +the preceding year broken my promise, that two thousand savages had gone to +the Falls with the expectation of finding me ready to go to the war, and +making me presents, but that they had not found me and were greatly +saddened, supposing that I was dead, as some persons had told them. He said +also, that the French who were at the Falls did not want to help them in +their wars, that they had been badly treated by certain ones, so that they +had resolved among themselves not to go to the Falls again, and that this +had caused them, as they did not expect to see me again, to go alone to the +war, and that in fact twelve hundred of them had already gone. And since +the greater part of their warriors were absent, they begged me to postpone +the expedition to the following year, saying that they would communicate +the matter to all the people of their country. In regard to the four +canoes, which I asked for, they granted them to me, but with great +reluctance, telling me that they were greatly displeased at the idea of +such an undertaking, in view of the hardships which I would endure; that +the people there were sorcerers, that they had caused the death of many of +their own tribe by charms and poisoning, on which account they were not +their friends: moreover they said that, as it regards war, I was not to +think of them, as they were little-hearted. With these and many other +considerations they endeavored to deter me from my purpose. + +But my sole desire on the other hand was to see this people, and enter into +friendship with them, so that I might visit the North Sea. Accordingly, +with a view to lessening the force of their objections, I said to them, +that it was not far to the country in question; that the bad roads could +not be worse than those I had already passed; that their witchcraft would +have no power to harm me, as my God would preserve me from them; that I was +also acquainted with their herbs, and would therefore beware of eating +them; that I desired to make the two tribes mutual friends, and that I +would to this end make presents to the other tribe, being assured that they +would do something for me. In view of these reasons they granted me, as I +have said, four canoes, at which I was very happy, forgetting all past +hardships in the hope of seeing this sea, as I so much desired. + +For the remainder of the day, I went out walking in their gardens, which +were filled with squashes, beans, and our peas, which they were beginning +to cultivate, when Thomas, my interpreter, who understands the language +very well, came to inform me that the savages, after I had left them, had +come to the conclusion, that if I were to undertake this journey I should +die and they also, and that they could not furnish the promised canoes, as +there was no one of them who would guide me, but that they wished me to +postpone the journey until the next year, when they would conduct me with a +good train to protect me from that people, in case they should attempt to +harm me, as they are evil-disposed. + +This intelligence greatly disturbed me, and I at once went to them and told +them, that up to this day I had regarded them as men and truthful persons, +but that now they had shown themselves children and liars, and that if they +would not fulfil their promises, they would fail to show me their +friendship; that, however, if they felt it an inconvenience to give me four +canoes they should only furnish two and four savages. + +They represented to me anew the difficulties attending the journey, the +number of the falls, the bad character of the people, and that their reason +for refusing my request was their fear of losing me. + +I replied that I was sorry to have them show themselves to so slight an +extent my friends, and that I should never have believed it; that I had a +young man, showing them my impostor, who had been in their country, and had +not found all these difficulties which they represented, nor the people in +question so bad as they asserted. Then they began to look at him, in +particular Tessoueat the old captain, with whom he had passed the winter, +and calling him by name he said to him in his language: Nicholas, is it +true that you said you were among the Nebicerini? It was long before he +spoke, when he said to them in their language, which he spoke to a certain +extent: Yes, I was there. They immediately looked at him awry, and throwing +themselves upon him, as if they would eat him up or tear him in pieces, +raised loud cries, when Tessoueat said to him: You are a downright liar, you +know well that you slept at my side every night with my children, where you +arose every morning; if you were among the people mentioned, it was while +sleeping. How could you have been so bold as to lead your chief to believe +lies, and so wicked as to be willing to expose his life to so many dangers? +You are a worthless fellow, and he ought to put you to death more cruelly +than we do our enemies. I am not astonished that he should so importune us +on the assurance of your words. + +I at once told him that he must reply to these people; and since he had +been in the regions indicated, that he must give me proofs of it, and free +me from the suspense in which he had placed me. But he remained silent and +greatly terrified. + +I immediately withdrew him from the savages, and conjured him to declare +the truth of the matter, telling him that, if he had seen the sea in +question, I would give him the reward which I had promised him, and that, +if he had not seen it, he must tell me so without causing me farther +trouble. Again he affirmed with oaths all he had before said, and that he +would demonstrate to me the truth of it, if the savages would give us +canoes. + +Upon this, Thomas came and informed me, that the savages of the island had +secretly sent a canoe to the Nebicerini, to notify them of my arrival. +Thereupon, in order to profit by the opportunity, I went to the savages to +tell them, that I had dreamed the past night that they purposed to send a +canoe to the Nebicerini without notifying me of it, at which I was greatly +surprised, since they knew that I was desirous of going there. Upon which +they replied that I did them a great wrong in trusting a liar, who wanted +to cause my death, more than so many brave chiefs, who were my friends and +who held my life dear. I replied that my man, meaning our impostor, had +been in the aforesaid country with one of the relatives of Tessoueat and had +seen the sea, the wreck and ruins of an English vessel, together with +eighty scalps which the savages had in their possession, and a young +English boy whom they held as prisoner, and whom they wished to give me as +a present. + +When they heard me speak of the sea, vessels, scalps of the English, and +the young prisoner, they cried out more than before that he was a liar, and +thus they afterwards called him, as if it were the greatest insult they +could have done him, and they all united in saying that he ought to be put +to death, or else that he should tell with whom he had gone to the place +indicated, and state the lakes, rivers, and roads, by which he had gone. To +this he replied with assurance, that he had forgotten the name of the +savage, although he had stated to me his name more than twenty times, and +even on the previous day. In respect to the peculiarities of the country, +he had described them in a paper which he had handed me. Then I brought +forward the map and had it explained to the savages, who questioned him in +regard to it. To this he made no reply, but rather manifested by his sullen +silence his perverse nature. + +As my mind was wavering in uncertainty, I withdrew by myself, and reflected +upon the above-mentioned particulars of the voyage of the English, and how +the reports of our liar were quite in conformity with it, also that there +was little probability of this young man's having invented all that, in +which case he would not have been willing to undertake the journey, but +that it was more probable that he had seen these things, and that his +ignorance did not permit him to reply to the questions of the savages. To +the above is to be added the fact that, if the report of the English be +true, the North Sea cannot be farther distant from this region than a +hundred leagues in latitude, for I was in latitude 47 deg. and in longitude +296 deg..[71] But it may be that the difficulties attending the passage of the +falls, the roughness of the mountains covered with shows, is the reason why +this people have no knowledge of the sea in question; indeed they have +always said that from the country of the Ochateguins it is a journey of +thirty-five or forty days to the sea, which they see in three places, a +thing which they have again assured me of this year. But no one has spoken +to me of this sea on the north, except this liar, who had given me thereby +great pleasure in view of the shortness of the journey. + +Now, when this canoe was ready, I had him summoned into the presence of his +companions; and after laying before him all that had transpired, I told him +that any further dissimulation was out of the question, and that he must +say whether he had seen these things or not; that I was desirous of +improving the opportunity that presented itself; that I had forgotten the +past; but that, if I went farther, I would have him hung and strangled, +which should be his sole reward. After meditating by himself, he fell on +his knees and asked my pardon, declaring that all he had said, both in +France and this country, in respect to the sea in question was false; that +he had never seen it, and that he had never gone farther than the village +of Tessoueat; that he had said these things in order to return to Canada. +Overcome with wrath at this, I had him removed, being unable to endure him +any longer in my presence, and giving orders to Thomas to inquire into the +whole matter in detail; to whom he stated, that he did not believe that I +would undertake the journey on account of the dangers, thinking that some +difficulty would present itself to prevent me from going on, as in the case +of these savages, who were not disposed to lend me canoes; and accordingly +that the journey would be put off until another year, when he being in +France would be rewarded for his discovery; but that, if I would leave him +in this country, he would go until he found the sea in question, even if he +should die in the attempt. These were his words as reported to me by +Thomas, but they did not give me much satisfaction, astounded as I was at +the effrontery and maliciousness of this liar: and I cannot imagine how he +could have devised this imposition, unless that he had heard of the +above-mentioned voyage of the English, and in the hope of some reward, as +he said, had the temerity to venture on it. + +Shortly after I proceeded to notify the savages, to my great regret, of the +malignity of this liar, stating that he had confessed the truth; at which +they were delighted, reproaching me with the little confidence I put in +them, who were chiefs and my friends, and who always spoke the truth; and +who said that this liar ought to be put to death, being extremely +malicious; and they added, Do you not see that he meant to cause your +death. Give him to us, and we promise you that he shall not lie any more. +And as they all went after him shouting, their children also shouting still +more, I forbade them to do him any harm, directing them to keep their +children also from doing so, inasmuch as I wished to take him to the Falls +to show him to the gentlemen there, to whom he was to bring some salt +water; and I said that, when I arrived there, I would consult as to what +should be done with him. + +My journey having been in this manner terminated, and without any hope of +seeing the sea in this direction, except in imagination, I felt a regret +that I should not have employed my time better, and that I should have had +to endure the difficulties and hardships, which however I was obliged +patiently to submit to. If I had gone in another direction, according to +the report of the savages, I should have made a beginning in a thing which +must be postponed to another time. At present my only wish being to return, +I desired the savages to go to the Falls of St. Louis, where there were +four vessels loaded with all kinds of merchandise, and where they would be +well treated. This they communicated to all their neighbors. Before setting +out, I made a cross of white cedar, which I planted in a prominent place on +the border of the lake, with the arms of France, and I begged the savages +to have the kindness to preserve it, as also those which they would find +along the ways we had passed; telling them that, if they broke them, +misfortune would befall them, but that, if they preserved them, they would +not be assaulted by their enemies. They promised to do so, and said that I +should find them when I came to visit them again. + +ENDNOTES: + +65. It seems not improbable, as suggested by Laverdiere, that this was the + same chief that Champlain met at Tadoussac in 1603, then called + _Besouat. Vide_ Vol. I. p. 242. + +66. They crossed Muskrat Lake, and after a portage of a league, by general + estimation, they reached Lake Allumette. This lake is only the expanded + current of the river Ottawa on the southern side of Allumette Island; + which is formed by the bifurcation of the Ottawa. + +67. Allumette Island, often called, in the _Relations des Jesuites_, simply + the Island. The savages in occupation were in the habit of exacting + tribute from the Hurons and others, who passed along on their war + excursions or their journeys for trade with the French at Montreal. + They bartered their maize with other tribes for skins with which they + clothed themselves. + +68. The true latitude here is about 45 deg. 47'. On the map of 1632 the + latitude corresponds with the statement in the text. + +69. In his issue of 1632 Champlain corrects his statement as to the length + of Allumette Island, and says it is ten leagues long, which is nearly + correct. _Vide_ Quebec ed. p 868. Of this island Bouchette says that in + length it is about fifteen miles, and on an average four miles wide. + _British Dominions in North America_, London, 1831, Vol I. p. 187. + +70. This tribe was subsequently known as the Nipissings, who dwelt on the + borders of Lake Nipissing. They were distinguished for their sorceries, + under the cover of which they appear to have practised impositions + which naturally enough rendered other neighboring Algonquin tribes + hostile to them. + +71. The true latitude, as we have stated, _antea_, note 61, is about 45 deg. + 37'; but on Champlain's map it corresponds with the statement in the + text, and a hundred leagues north of where they then were, as his map + is constructed, would carry them to the place in the bay where Hudson + wintered, as stated by Champlain, and as laid down on his small map + included in this volume; but the longitude is incorrect, Allumette + Island being two or three degrees east of longitude 296 deg., as laid down + on Champlain's map of 1632. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +OUR RETURN TO THE FALLS.--FALSE ALARM.--CEREMONY AT THE CHAUDIERE FALLS.-- +CONFESSION OF OUR LIAR BEFORE ALL THE CHIEF MEN.--OUR RETURN TO FRANCE. + +On the 10th of June I took leave of Tessoueat, a good old captain, making +him presents, and promising him, if God preserved me in health, to come the +next year, prepared to go to war. He in turn promised to assemble a large +number by that time, declaring that I should see nothing but savages and +arms which would please me; he also directed his son to go with me for the +sake of company. Thus we set out with forty canoes, and passed by way [72] +of the river we had left, which extends northward, and where we went on +shore in order to cross the lakes. On the way we met nine large canoes of +the Ouescharini, with forty strong and powerful men, who had come upon the +news they had received; we also met others, making all together sixty +canoes; and we overtook twenty others, who had set out before us, each +heavily laden with merchandise. + +We passed six or seven falls between the island of the Algonquins [73] and +the little fall, [74] where the country was very unpleasant I readily +realized that, if we had gone in that direction, we should have had much +more trouble, and would with difficulty have succeeded in getting through: +and it was not without reason that the savages opposed our liar, as his +only object was to cause my ruin. + +Continuing our course ten or twelve leagues below the island of the +Algonquins, we rested on a very pleasant island, which was covered with +vines and nut-trees, and where we caught some fine fish. About midnight, +there arrived two canoes, which had been fishing farther off, and which +reported that they had seen four canoes of their enemies. At once three +canoes were despatched to reconnoitre, but they returned without having +seen anything. With this assurance all gave themselves up to sleep, +excepting the women, who resolved to spend the night in their canoes, not +feeling at ease on land. An hour before daylight a savage, having dreamed +that the enemy were attacking them, jumped up and started on a run towards +the water, in order to escape, shouting, They are killing me. Those +belonging to his band all awoke dumfounded and, supposing that they were +being pursued by their enemies, threw themselves into the water, as did +also one of our Frenchmen, who supposed that they were being overpowered. +At this great noise, the rest of us, who were at a distance, were at once +awakened, and without making farther investigation ran towards them: but as +we saw them here and there in the water, we were greatly surprised, not +seeing them pursued by their enemies, nor in a state of defence, in case of +necessity, but only ready to sacrifice themselves. After I had inquired of +our Frenchman about the cause of this excitement, he told me that a savage +had had a dream, and that he with the rest had thrown themselves into the +water in order to escape, supposing that they were being attacked. +Accordingly, the state of the case being ascertained, it all passed off in +a laugh. + +Continuing our way, we came to the Chaudiere Falls, where the savages went +through with the customary ceremony; which is as follows. After carrying +their canoes to the foot of the Fall, they assemble in one spot, where one +of them takes up a collection with a wooden plate, into which each one puts +a bit of tobacco. The collection having been made, the plate is placed in +the midst of the troupe, and all dance about it, singing after their style. +Then one of the captains makes an harangue, setting forth that for a long +time they have been accustomed to make this offering, by which means they +are insured protection against their enemies, that otherwise misfortune +would befall them, as they are convinced by the evil spirit; and they live +on in this superstition, as in many others, as we have said in other +places. This done, the maker of the harangue takes the plate, and throws +the tobacco into the midst of the caldron, whereupon they all together +raise a loud cry. These poor people are so superstitious, that they would +not believe it possible for them to make a prosperous journey without +observing this ceremony at this place, since their enemies await them at +this portage, not venturing to go any farther on account of the difficulty +of the journey, whence they say they surprise them there, as they have +sometimes done. + +The next day we arrived at an island at the entrance to a lake, and seven +or eight leagues distant from the great Falls of St. Louis. Here while +reposing at night we had another alarm, the savages supposing that they had +seen the canoes of their enemies. This led them to make several large +fires, which I had them put out, representing to them the harm which might +result, namely, that instead of concealing they would disclose themselves. + +On the 17th of June, we arrived at the Falls of St. Louis, where I found +L'Ange, who had come to meet me in a canoe to inform me, that Sieur de +Maisonneuve of St. Malo had brought a passport from the Prince for three +vessels. In order to arrange matters until I should see him, I assembled +all the savages and informed them that I did not wish them to traffic in +any merchandise until I had given them permission, and that I would furnish +them provisions as soon as we should arrive; which they promised, saying +that they were my friends. Thus, continuing our course, we arrived at the +barques, where we were saluted by some discharges of cannon, at which some +of our savages were delighted, and others greatly astonished, never having +heard such music. After I had landed, Maisonneuve came to me with the +passport of the Prince. As soon as I had seen it, I allowed him and his men +to enjoy the benefits of it like the rest of us; and I sent word to the +savages that they might trade on the next day. + +After seeing all the chief men and relating the particulars of my journey +and the malice of my liar, at which they were greatly amazed, I begged them +to assemble, in order that in their presence, and that of the savages and +his companions, he might make declaration of his maliciousness; which they +gladly did. Being thus assembled, they summoned him, and asked him, why he +had not shown me the sea in the north, as he had promised me at his +departure. He replied that he had promised something impossible for him, +since he had never seen this sea, and that the desire of making the journey +had led him to say what he did, also that he did not suppose that I would +undertake it; and he begged them to be pleased to pardon him, as he also +did me again, confessing that he had greatly offended, and if I would leave +him in the country, he would by his efforts repair the offence, and see +this sea, and bring back trustworthy intelligence concerning it the +following year; and in view of certain considerations I pardoned him on +this condition. + +After relating to them in detail the good treatment I had received at the +abodes of the savages, and how I had been occupied each day, I inquired +what they had done during my absence, and what had been the result of their +hunting excursions, and they said they had had such success that they +generally brought home six stags. Once on St. Barnabas's day, Sieur du +Parc, having gone hunting with two others, killed nine. These stags are not +at all like ours, and there are different kinds of them, some larger, +others smaller, which resemble closely our deer.[75] They had also a very +large number of pigeons, [76] and also fish, such as pike, carp, sturgeon, +shad, barbel, turtles, bass, and other kinds unknown to us, on which they +dined and supped every day. They were also all in better condition than +myself, who was reduced from work and the anxiety which I had experienced, +not having eaten more than once a day, and that of fish badly cooked and +half broiled. + +On the 22d of June, about 8 o'clock in the evening, the savages sounded an +alarm because one of them had dreamed he had seen the Iroquois. In order to +content them, all the men took their arms, and some were sent to their +cabins to reassure them, and into the approaches to reconnoitre, so that, +finding it was a false alarm, they were satisfied with the firing of some +two hundred musket and arquebus shots, after which arms were laid down, the +ordinary guard only being left. This reassured them greatly, and they were +very glad to see the French ready to help them. + +After the savages had bartered their articles of merchandise and had +resolved to return, I asked them to take with them two young men, to treat +them in a friendly manner, show them the country, and bind themselves to +bring them back. But they strongly objected to this, representing to me the +trouble our liar had given me, and fearing that they would bring me false +reports, as he had done. I replied that they were men of probity and truth, +and that if they would not take them they were not my friends, whereupon +they resolved to do so. As for out liar, none of the savages wanted him, +notwithstanding my request to them to take him, and we left him to the +mercy of God. + +Finding that I had no further, business in this country, I resolved to +cross in the first vessel that should return to France. Sieur de +Maisonneuve, having his ready, offered me a passage, which I accepted; and +on the 27th of June I set out with Sieur L'Ange from the Falls, where we +left the other vessels, which were awaiting the return of the savages who +had gone to the war, and we arrived at Tadoussac on the 6th of July. + +On the 8th of August [77] we were enabled by favorable weather to set +sail. On the 18th we left Gaspe and Isle Percee. On the 28th we were on the +Grand Bank, where the green fishery is carried on, and where we took as +many fish as we wanted. + +On the 26th of August we arrived at St Malo, where I saw the merchants, to +whom I represented the ease of forming a good association in the future, +which they resolved to do, as those of Rouen and La Rochelle had done, +after recognizing the necessity of the regulations, without which it is +impossible to hope for any profit from these lands. May God by His grace +cause this undertaking to prosper to His honor and glory, the conversion of +these poor benighted ones, and to the welfare and honor of France. + +ENDNOTES: + +72. By the Ottawa, which they had left a little below Portage du Fort, and + not by the same way they had come, through the system of small lakes, + of which Muskrat lake is one. _Vide Carte de la Nouvelle France_, 1632, + Vol. I. p. 304. + +73. Allumette Island. + +74. Near Gould's Landing, below or south of Portage da Fort.--_Vide + Champlain's Astrolabe_, by A. J. Russell, Montreal, 1879, p. 6. + +75. At that time there were to be found in Canada at least four species of + the Cervus Family. + + 1. The Moose, _Cervus alces_, or _alces Americanus_, usually called by + the earliest writers _orignal_ or _orignac_. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 264, + 265. This is the largest of all the deer family in this or in any other + part of the world The average weight has been placed at seven hundred + pounds, while extraordinary specimens probably attain twice that + weight. + + 2. The Wapiti, or American Elk, _Cervus elaphus_, or _Canadensis_. This + is the largest of the known deer except the preceding. The average + weight is probably less than six hundred pounds. + + 3. The Woodland Caribou, _Cervus tarandus_. It is smaller than the + Wapiti. Its range is now mostly in the northern regions of the + continent but specimens are still found in Nova Scotia and New + Brunswick. The female is armed with antlers as well as the male, though + they are smaller. + + 4. The Common Deer, _Cervus Virginianus_. It has the widest range of + any of the deer family. It is still found in every degree of latitude + from Mexico to British Columbia. _Vide Antelope and Deer of America_ by + John Dean Caton, LL.D., Boston, 1877. + +76. _Palombes_. The passenger, or wild pigeon, _Ectopistes migratorius_. + +77. _Le_ 8 _Aoust_. Laverdiere suggests with much plausibility that this + should read "The 8th of July." Champlain could hardly have found it + necessary to remain at Tadoussac from the 6th of July to the 8th of + August for favorable weather to sail. If he had been detained by any + other cause, it would probably nave been deemed of sufficient gravity + to be specially mentioned. + + + +VOYAGES +AND +DISCOVERIES IN NEW FRANCE, +From the year 1615 to the end of the year 1618. + +BY +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, +Captain in ordinary to the King in the Western Sea. + +WHERE ARE DESCRIBED + +_The manners, customs, dress, mode of warfare, hunting, dances, festivals, +and method of burial of various savage peoples, with many remarkable +experiences of the author in this country, and an account of the beauty, +fertility, and temperature of the same. + +PARIS. + +CLAUDE COLLET, in the Palace, at the gallery of the Prisoners. + +M. DC. XIX. + +_WITH AUTHORITY OF THE KING_. + + +TO THE KING. + +_Sire, This is a third volume containing a narrative of what has transpired +most worthy of note during the voyages I have made to New France, and its +perusal will, I think, afford your Majesty greater pleasure than that of +those preceding, which only designate the ports, harbors, situations, +declinations, and other particulars, having more interest for navigators +and sailors than for other persons. In this narrative you will be able to +observe more especially the manners and mode of life of these peoples both +in particular and in general, their wars, ammunition, method of attack and +of defence, their expeditions and retreats in various circumstances, +matters about which those interested desire information. You will perceive +also that they are not savage to such an extent that they could not in +course of time and through association with others become civilised and +cultivated. You will likewise perceive how great hopes we cherish from the +long and arduous labors we have for the past fifteen years sustained, in +order to plant in this country the standard of the cross, and to teach the +people the knowledge of God and the glory of His holy name, it being our +desire to cultivate a feeling of charity towards His unfortunate creatures, +which it is our duty to practise more patiently than any other thing, +especially as there are many who have not entertained such purposes, but +have been influenced only by the desire of gain. Nevertheless we may, I +suppose, believe that these are the means which God makes use of for the +greater promotion of the holy desire of others. As the fruits which the +trees bear are from God, the Lord of the soil, who has planted, watered, +and nourished them with an especial care, so your Majesty can be called the +legitimate lord of our labors, and the good resulting from them, not only +because the land belongs to you, but also because you have protected us +against so many persons, whose only object has been by troubling us to +prevent the success of so holy a determination, taking from us the power to +trade freely in apart of your country, and striving to bring everything +into confusion, which would be, in a word, preparing the way for the ruin +of everything to the injury of your state. To this end your subjects have +employed every conceivable artifice and all possible means which they +thought could injure us. But all these efforts have been thwarted by your +Majesty, assisted by your prudent council, who have given us the authority +of your name, and supported us by your decrees rendered in our favor. This +is an occasion for increasing in us our long-cherished desire to send +communities and colonies there, to teach the people the knowledge of God, +and inform them of the glory and triumphs of your Majesty, so that together +with the French language they may also acquire a French heart and spirit, +which, next to the fear of God, will be inspired with nothing so ardently +as the desire to serve you. Should our design succeed, the glory of it will +be due, after God, to your Majesty, who will receive a thousand +benedictions from Heaven for so many souls saved by your instrumentality, +and your name will be immortalized for carrying the glory and sceptre of +the French as far to the Occident as your precursors have extended it to +the Orient, and over the entire habitable earth. This will augment the +quality of_ MOST CHRISTIAN _belonging to you above all the kings of the +earth, and show that it is as much your due by merit as it is your own of +right, it having been transmitted to you by your predecessors, who acquired +it by their virtues; for you have been pleased, in addition to so many +other important affairs, to give your attention to this one, so seriously +neglected hitherto, God's special grace reserving to your reign the +publication of His gospel, and the knowledge of His holy name to so many +tribes who had never heard of it. And some day may God's grace lead them, +as it does us, to pray to Him without ceasing to extend your empire, and to +vouchsafe a thousand blessings to your Majesty_. + +_SIRE_, + +_Your most humble, most faithful_, + +_and most obedient servant and subject_, + +_CHAMPLAIN_. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +As in the various affairs of the world each thing strives for its +perfection and the preservation of its being, so on the other hand does man +interest himself in the different concerns of others on some account, +either for the public good, or to acquire, apart from the common interest, +praise and reputation with some profit. Wherefore many have pursued this +course, but as for myself I have made choice of the most unpleasant and +difficult one of the perilous navigation of the seas; with the purpose, +however, not so much of gaining wealth, as the honor and glory of God in +behalf of my King and country, and contributing by my labors something +useful to the public good. And I make declaration that I have not been +tempted by any other ambition, as can be clearly perceived, not only by my +conduct in the past, but also by the narratives of my voyages, made by the +command of His Majesty, in New France, contained in my first and second +books, as may be seen in the same. + +Should God bless our purpose, which aims only for His glory, and should any +fruit result from our discoveries and arduous labors, I will return thanks +to Him, and for Your Majesty's protection and assistance will continue my +prayers for the aggrandizement and prolongation of your reign. + + + + +EXTRACT FROM THE LICENSE OF THE KING. + +By favor and license of the KING, permission is given to CLAUDE COLLET, +merchant bookseller in our city of Paris, to print, or have printed by such +printer as shall seem good to him, a book entitled, _Voyages and +Discoveries in New France, from the Year_ 1615 _to the End of the Year +1618. By Sieur de Champlain, Captain in Ordinary to the King in the Western +Sea_. All booksellers and printers of our kingdom are forbidden to print or +have printed, to sell wholesale or retail, said book, except with the +consent of said Collet, for the time and term of six years, beginning with +the day when said book is printed, on penalty of confiscation of the +copies, and a fine of four hundred _livres_, a half to go to us and a half +to said petitioner. It is our will, moreover, that this License should be +placed at the commencement or end of said book. This is our pleasure. + +Given at Paris, the 18th day of May, 1619, and of our reign the tenth. + +By the Council, + +DE CESCAUD + + + + +VOYAGE +OF +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN TO NEW FRANCE, +MADE IN THE YEAR 1615. + + +The strong love, which I have always cherished for the exploration of New +France, has made me desirous of extending more and more my travels over the +country, in order, by means of its numerous rivers, lakes, and streams, to +obtain at last a complete knowledge of it, and also to become acquainted +with the inhabitants, with the view of bringing them to the knowledge of +God. To this end I have toiled constantly for the past fourteen or fifteen +years, [78] yet have been able to advance my designs but little, because I +have not received the assistance which was necessary for the success of +such an undertaking. Nevertheless, without losing courage, I have not +ceased to push on, and visit various nations of the savages; and, by +associating familiarly with them, I have concluded, as well from their +conversation as from the knowledge already attained, that there is no +better way than, disregarding all storms and difficulties, to have patience +until His Majesty shall give the requisite attention to the matter, and +meanwhile, not only to continue the exploration of the country, but also to +learn the language, and form relations and friendships with the leading men +of the villages and tribes, in order to lay the foundations of a permanent +edifice, as well for the glory of God as for the renown of the French. + +And His Majesty having transferred and intrusted the superintendence of +this work to Monseigneur the Prince de Conde, the latter has, by his +management, under the authority of His Majesty, sustained us against all +forts of jealousies and obstacles concerted by evil wishers. This has, as +it were, animated me and redoubled my courage for the continuation of my +labors in the exploration of New France, and with increased effort I have +pushed forward in my undertaking into the mainland, and farther on than I +had previously been, as will be hereafter indicated in the course of this +narrative. + +But it is appropriate to state first that, as I had observed in my previous +journeys, there were in some places people permanently settled, who were +fond of the cultivation of the soil, but who had neither faith nor law, and +lived without God and religion, like brute beasts. In view of this, I felt +convinced that I should be committing a grave offence if I did not take it +upon myself to devise some means of bringing them to the knowledge of +God. To this end I exerted myself to find some good friars, with zeal and +affection for the glory of God, that I might persuade them to send some +one, or go themselves, with me to these countries, and try to plant there +the faith, or at least do what was possible according to their calling, and +thus to observe and ascertain whether any good fruit could be gathered +there. But since to attain this object an expenditure would be required +exceeding my means, and for other reasons, I deferred the matter for a +while, in view of the difficulties there would be in obtaining what was +necessary and requisite in such an enterprise; and since, furthermore, no +persons offered to contribute to it. Nevertheless, while continuing my +search, and communicating my plan to various persons, a man of distinction +chanced to present himself, whose intimate acquaintance I enjoyed. This was +Sieur Houeel, Secretary of the King and Controller-general of the salt works +at Brouage, a man of devoted piety, and of great zeal and love for the +honor of God and the extension of His religion. [79] He gave me the +following information, which afforded me great pleasure. He said that he +was acquainted with some good religious Fathers, of the order of the +Recollects, in whom he had confidence; and that he enjoyed such intimacy +and confidence with them that he could easily induce them to consent to +undertake the voyage; and that, as to the necessary means for sending out +three or four friars, there would be no lack of people of property who +would give them what they needed, offering for his part to assist them to +the extent of his ability; and, in fact, he wrote in relation to the +subject to Father du Verger, [80] who welcomed with joy the undertaking, +and, in accordance with the recommendation of Sieur Houeel, communicated it +to some of his brethren, who, burning with charity, offered themselves +freely for this holy undertaking. + +Now he was at that time in Saintonge, whence he sent two men to Paris with +a commission, though not with absolute power, reserving the rest to the +Nuncio of our Holy Father the Pope, who was at that time, in 1614, in +France. [81] He called upon these friars at their house in Paris, and was +greatly pleased with their resolution. We then went all together to see the +Sieur Nuncio, in order to communicate to him the commission, and entreat +him to interpose his authority in the matter. But he, on the contrary, told +us that he had no power whatever in such matters, and that it was to their +General that they were to address themselves. Notwithstanding this reply, +the Recollects, in consideration of the difficulty of the mission, were +unwilling to undertake the journey on the authority of Father du Verger, +fearing that it might not be sufficient, and that the commission might not +be valid, on which account the matter was postponed to the following +year. Meanwhile they took counsel, and came to a determination, according +to which all arrangements were made for the undertaking, which was to be +carried out in the following spring; awaiting which the two friars returned +to their convent at Brouage. + +I for my part improved the time in arranging my affairs in preparation for +the voyage. + +Some months after the departure of the two friars, the Reverend Father +Chapouein, Provincial of the Recollect Fathers, a man of great piety, +returned to Paris. Sieur, Houeel called on him, and narrated what had taken +place respecting the authority of Father du Verger, and the mission he had +given to the Recollect Fathers. After which narrative the Provincial Father +proceeded to extol the plan, and to interest himself with zeal in it, +promising to promote it with all his power, and adding that, he had not +before well comprehended the subject of this mission; and it is to be +believed that God inspired him more and more to prosecute the matter. +Subsequently he spoke of it to Monseigneur the Prince de Conde, and to all +the cardinals and bishops who were then assembled at Paris for the Session +of the Estates. All of them approved and commended the plan; and to show +that they were favorably disposed towards it, they assured the Sieur +Provincial that they would devise among themselves and the members of the +Court means for raising a small fund, and that they would collect some +money for assisting four friars to be chosen, and who were then chosen for +the execution of so holy a work. And in order to facilitate the +undertaking, I visited at the Estates the cardinals and bishops, and +urgently represented to them the advantage, and usefulness which might one +day result, in order by my entreaties to move them to give, and cause +others who might be stimulated by their example to give, contributions and +presents, leaving all to their good will and judgment. + +The contributions which were made for the expenses of this expedition +amounted to nearly fifteen hundred _livres_, which were put into my hands, +and then employed, according to the advice and in the presence of the +Fathers, for the purchase of what was necessary, not only for the +maintenance of the Fathers who should undertake the journey into New +France, but also for their clothing, and the attire and ornaments necessary +for performing divine service. The friars were sent on in advance to +Honfleur, where their embarkation was to take place. + +Now the Fathers who were appointed for this holy enterprise were Father +Denis [82] as commissary, Jean d'Olbeau, [83] Joseph le Caron, and +Pacifique du Plessis, [84] each of whom was moved by a holy zeal and ardor +to make the journey, through God's grace, in order to see if they might +produce some good fruit, and plant in these regions the standard of Jesus +Christ, determined to live and to die for His holy name, should it be +necessary to do so and the occasion require it. Everything having been +prepared, they provided themselves with church ornaments, and we with what +was necessary for our voyage. + +I left Paris the last day of February to meet at Rouen our associates, and +represent to them the will of Monseigneur the Prince, and also his desire +that these good Fathers should make the journey, since he recognized the +fact that the affairs of the country could hardly reach any perfection or +advancement, if God should not first of all be served; with which our +associates were highly pleased, promising to assist the Fathers to the +extent of their ability, and provide them with the support they might need. + +The Fathers arrived at Rouen the twentieth of March following, where we +stayed some time. Thence we went to Honfleur to embark, where we also +stayed some days, waiting for our vessel to be got ready, and loaded with +the necessaries for so long a voyage. Meanwhile preparations were made in +matters of conscience, so that each one of us might examine himself, and +cleanse himself from his sins by penitence and confession, in order to +celebrate the sacrament and attain a state of grace, so that, being thereby +freer in conscience, we might under the guidance of God, expose ourselves +to the mercy of the waves of the great and perilous sea. + +This done, we embarked on the vessel of the association, which was of three +hundred and fifty tons burden, and was called the Saint Etienne, commanded +by Sieur de Pont Grave. We departed from Honfleur on the twenty-fourth day +of August, [85] in the above-mentioned year, and set sail with a very +favorable wind. We continued on our voyage without encountering ice or +other dangers, through the mercy of God, and in a short time arrived off +the place called _Tadoussac_, on the twenty-fifth day of May, when we +rendered thanks to God for having conducted us so favorably to the harbor +of our destination. + +Then we began to set men at work to fit up our barques in order to go to +Quebec, the place of our abode, and to the great Falls of Saint Louis, the +rendezvous of the savages, who come there to traffic. + +The barques having been fitted up, we went on board with the Fathers, one +of whom, named Father Joseph, [86] desired, without stopping or making any +stay at Quebec, to go directly to the great Falls, where he saw all the +savages and their mode of life. This induced him to go and spend the winter +in their country and that of other tribes who have a fixed abode, not only +in order to learn their language, but also to see what the prospect was of +their conversion to Christianity. This resolution having been formed, he +returned to Quebec the twentieth day of June [87] for some church ornaments +and other necessaries. Meanwhile I had stayed at Quebec in order to arrange +matters relating to our habitation, as the lodgings of the Fathers, church +ornaments, the construction of a chapel for the celebration of the mass, as +also the employment of persons for clearing up lands. I embarked for the +Falls together with Father Denis, [88] who had arrived the same day from +Tadoussac with Sieur de Pont Grave. + +As to the other friars, viz., Fathers Jean and Pacifique, [89] they stayed +at Quebec in order to fit up their chapel and arrange their lodgings. They +were greatly pleased at seeing the place so different from what they had +imagined, which increased their zeal. + +We arrived at the Riviere des Prairies, five leagues below the Falls of +Saint Louis, whither the savages had come down. I will not attempt to speak +of the pleasure which our Fathers experienced at seeing, not only so long +and large a river, filled with many fine islands and bordered by a region +apparently so fertile, but also a great number of strong and robust men, +with natures not so savage as their manners, nor as they acknowledged they +had conceived them to be, and very different from what they had been given +to understand, owing to their lack of cultivation. I will not enter into a +description of them, but refer the reader to what I have said about them in +my preceding books, printed in the year 1614. [90] + +To continue my narrative: We met Father Joseph, who was returning to Quebec +in order to make preparations, and take what he needed for wintering in +their country. This I did not think advisable at this season, but +counselled him rather to spend the winter at our settlement as being more +for his comfort, and undertake the journey when spring came or at least in +summer, offering to accompany him, and adding that by doing so he would not +fail to see what he might have seen by going, and that by returning and +spending the winter at Quebec he would have the society of his brothers and +others who remained at the settlement, by which he would be more profited +than by staying alone among these people, with whom he could not, in my +opinion, have much satisfaction. Nevertheless, in spite of all that could +be said to him and all representations, he would not change his purpose, +being urged by a godly zeal and love for this people, and hoping to make +known to them their salvation. + +His motive in undertaking this enterprise, as he stated to us, was that he +thought it was necessary for him to go there not only in order to become +better acquainted with the characteristics of the people, but also to learn +more easily their language. In regard to the difficulties which it was +represented to him that he would have to encounter in his intercourse with +them, he felt assured that he could bear and overcome them, and that he +could adapt himself very well and cheerfully to the manner of living and +the inconveniences he would find, through the grace of God, of whose +goodness and help he felt clearly assured, being convinced that, since he +went on His service, and since it was for the glory of His name and the +preaching of His holy gospel that he undertook freely this journey, He +would never abandon him in his undertaking. And in regard to temporal +provisions very little was needed to satisfy a man who demands nothing but +perpetual poverty, and who seeks for nothing but heaven, not only for +himself but also for his brethren, it not being consistent with his rule of +life to have any other ambition than the glory of God, and it being his +purpose to endure to this end all the hardships, sufferings, and labors +which might offer. + +Seeing him impelled by so holy a zeal and so ardent a charity, I was +unwilling to try any more to restrain him. Thus he set out with the purpose +of being the first to announce through His holy favor to this people the +name of God, having the great satisfaction that an opportunity presented +itself for suffering something for the name and glory of our Saviour Jesus +Christ. + +As soon as I had arrived at the Falls, I visited the people, who were very +desirous of seeing us and delighted at our return. They hoped that we would +furnish them some of our number to assist them in their wars against our +enemies, representing to us that they could with difficulty come to us if +we should not assist them; for the Iroquois, they said, their old enemies, +were always on the road obstructing their passage. Moreover I had +constantly promised to assist them in their wars, as they gave us to +understand by their interpreter. Whereupon Sieur Pont Grave and myself +concluded that it was very necessary to assist them, not only in order to +put them the more under obligations to love us, but also to facilitate my +undertakings and explorations which, as it seemed, could only be +accomplished by their help, and also as this would be a preparatory step to +their conversion to Christianity. [91] Therefore I resolved to, go and +explore their country and assist them in their wars, in order to oblige +them to show me what they had so many times promised to do. + +We accordingly caused them all to assemble together, that we might +communicate to them our intention. When they had heard it, they promised to +furnish us two thousand five hundred and fifty men of war, who would do +wonders, with the understanding that I with the same end in view should +very glad to see them decide so well. Then I proceeded to make known to +them the methods to be adopted for fighting, in which they took especial +pleasure, manifesting a strong hope of victory. Everything having been +decided upon, we separated with the intention of returning for the +execution of our undertaking. But before entering upon this journey, which +would require not less than three or four months, it seemed desirable that +I should go to our settlement to make the necessary arrangements there for +my absence. + +On the ---- day of ---- following I set out on my return to the Riviere des +Prairies. [92] While there with two canoes of savages I met Father Joseph, +who was returning from our settlement with some church ornaments for +celebrating the holy sacrifice of the mass, which was chanted on the border +of the river with all devotion by the Reverend Fathers Denis and Joseph, in +presence of all the people, who were amazed at seeing the ceremonies +observed and the ornaments which seemed to them so handsome. It was +something which they had never before seen, for these Fathers were the +first who celebrated here the holy mass. + +To return and continue the narrative of my journey: I arrived at Quebec on +the 26th, where I found the Fathers Jean and Pacifique in good health. They +on their part did their duty at that place in getting all things ready. +They celebrated the holy mass, which had never been said there before, nor +had there ever been any priest in this region. + +Having arranged all matters at Quebec, I took with me two men and returned +to the Riviere des Prairies, in order to go with the savages. I left Quebec +on the fourth day of July, and on the eighth of the month while _en route_ +I met Sieur du Pont Grave and Father Denis, who were returning to Quebec, +and who told me that the savages had departed greatly disappointed at my +not going with them; and that many of them declared that we were dead or +had been taken by the Iroquois, since I was to be gone only four or five +days, but had been gone ten. This made them and even our own Frenchmen give +up hope, so much did they long to see us again. They told me that Father +Joseph had departed with twelve Frenchmen, who had been furnished to assist +the savages. This intelligence troubled me somewhat; since, if I had been +there, I should have arranged many things for the journey, which I could +not now do. I was troubled not only on account of the small number of men, +but also because there were only four or five who were acquainted with the +handling of arms, while in such an expedition the best are not too good in +this particular. All this however did not cause me to lose courage at all +for going on with the expedition, on account of the desire I had of +continuing my explorations. I separated accordingly from Sieurs du Pont +Grave and Father Denis, determined to go on in the two canoes which I had, +and follow after the savages, having provided myself with what I needed. + +On the 9th of the month I embarked with two others, namely, one of our +interpreters [93] and my man, accompanied by ten savages in the two canoes, +these being all they could carry, as they were heavily loaded and +encumbered with clothes, which prevented me from taking more men. + +We continued our voyage up the River St. Lawrence some six leagues, and +then went by the Riviere des Prairies, which discharges into that river. +Leaving on the left the Falls of St. Louis, which are five or six leagues +higher up, and passing several small falls on this river, we entered a +lake, [94] after passing which we entered the river where I had been +before, which leads to the Algonquins, [95] a distance of eighty-nine +leagues [96] from the Falls of St. Louis. Of this river I have made an +ample description, with an account of my explorations, in my preceding +book, printed in 1614.[97] For this reason I shall not speak of it in this +narrative, but pass on directly to the lake of the Algonquins.[98] Here we +entered a river [99] which flows into this lake, up which we went some +thirty-five leagues, passing a large number of falls both by land and +water, the country being far from attractive, and covered with pines, +birches, and some oaks, being also very rocky, and in many places somewhat +hilly. Moreover it was very barren and sterile, being but thinly inhabited +by certain Algonquin savages, called _Otaguottouemin_, [100] who dwell in +the country, and live by hunting and the fish they catch in the rivers, +ponds, and lakes, with which the region is well provided. It seems indeed +that God has been pleased to give to these forbidding and desert lands some +things in their season for the refreshment of man and the inhabitants of +these places. For I assure you that there are along the rivers many +strawberries, also a marvellous quantity of blueberries, [101] a little +fruit very good to eat, and other small fruits. The people here dry these +fruits for the winter, as we do plums in France for Lent We left this +river, which comes from the north, [102] and by which the savages go to the +Saguenay to barter their furs for tobacco. This place is situated in +latitude 46 deg., and is very pleasant, but otherwise of little account. [103] + +Continuing our journey by land, after leaving the river of the Algonquins, +we passed several lakes [104] where the savages carry their canoes, and +entered the lake of the Nipissings,[105] in latitude 46 deg. 15', on the +twenty-sixth day of the month, having gone by land and the lakes twenty- +five leagues, or thereabouts.[106] We then arrived at the cabins of the +savages, with whom we stayed two days. There was a large number of them, +who gave us a very welcome reception. They are a people who cultivate the +land but little. A shows the dress of these people as they go to war; B +that of the women, which differs in no wise from that of the Montagnais and +the great people of the Algonquins, extending far into the interior.[107] + +During the time that I was with them the chief of this tribe and their most +prominent men entertained us with many banquets according to their custom, +and took the trouble to go fishing and hunting with me, in order to treat +me with the greatest courtesy possible. These people are very numerous, +there being from seven to eight hundred souls, who live in general near the +lake. This contains a large number of very pleasant islands, among others +one more than six leagues long, with three or four fine ponds and a number +of fine meadows; it is bordered by very fine woods, that contain an +abundance of game, which frequent the little ponds, where the savages also +catch fish. The northern side of the lake is very pleasant, with fine +meadows for the grazing of cattle, and many little streams, discharging +into the lake. + +They were fishing at that time in a lake very abundant in various kinds of +fish, among others one a foot long that was very good. There are also other +kinds which the savages catch for the purpose of drying and storing away. +The lake is some eight leagues broad and twenty-five long,[108] into which +a river [109] flows from the northwest, along which they go to barter the +merchandise, which we give them in exchange for their peltry, with, those +who live on it, and who support themselves by hunting and fishing, their +country containing great quantities of animals, birds, and fish.[110] + +After resting two days with the chief of the Nipissings we re-embarked in +our canoes, and entered a river, by which this lake discharges itself.[111] +We proceeded down it some thirty-five leagues, and descended several little +falls by land and by water, until we reached Lake Attigouautan. All this +region is still more unattractive than the preceding, for I saw along this +river only ten acres of arable land, the rest being rocky and very hilly. +It is true that near Lake Attigouautan we found some Indian corn, but only +in small quantity. Here our savages proceeded to gather some squashes, +which were acceptable to us, for our provisions began to give out in +consequence of the bad management of the savages, who ate so heartily at +the beginning that towards the end very little was left, although we had +only one meal a day. But, as I have mentioned before, we did not lack for +blueberries [112] and strawberries; otherwise we should have been in danger +of being reduced to straits. + +We met three hundred men of a tribe we named _Cheveux Releves_, [113] since +their hair is very high and carefully arranged, and better dressed beyond +all comparison than that of our courtiers, in spite of their irons and +refinements. This gives them a handsome appearance. They have no breeches, +and their bodies are very much pinked in divisions of various shapes. They +paint their faces in various colors, have their nostrils pierced, and their +ears adorned with beads. When they go out of their houses they carry a +club. I visited them, became somewhat acquainted, and formed a friendship +with them. I gave a hatchet to their chief, who was as much pleased and +delighted with it as if I had given him some rich present. Entering into +conversation with him, I inquired in regard to the extent of his country, +which he pictured to me with coal on the bark of a tree. He gave me to +understand that he had come into this place for drying the fruit called +_blues_ [114] to serve for manna in winter, and when they can find nothing +else. A and C show the manner in which they arm themselves when they go to +war. They have as arms only the bow and arrow, made in the manner you see +depicted, and which they regularly carry; also a round shield of dressed +leather [115] made from an animal like the buffalo. [116] + +The next day we separated, and continued our course, along the shore of the +lake of the Attigouautan, [117] which contains a large number of +islands. We went some forty-five leagues, all the time along the shore of +the lake. It is very large, nearly four hundred leagues long from east to +west, and fifty leagues broad, and in view of its great extent I have named +it the _Mer Douce_. [118] It is very abundant in various sorts of very good +fish, both those which we have and those we do not, but especially in +trout, which are enormously large, some of which I saw as long as four feet +and a half, the least being two feet and a half. There are also pike of +like size, and a certain kind of sturgeon, a very large fish and of +remarkable excellence. The country bordering this lake is partly hilly, as +on the north side, and partly flat, inhabited by savages, and thinly +covered with wood, including oaks. After crossing a bay, which forms one of +the extremities of the lake, [119] we went some seven leagues until we +arrived in the country of the Attigouautan at a village called _Otoueacha_, +on the first day of August. Here we found a great change in the country. It +was here very fine, the largest part being cleared up, and many hills and +several rivers rendering the region agreeable. I went to see their Indian +corn, which was at that time far advanced for the season. + +These localities seemed to me very pleasant, in comparison with so +disagreeable a region as that from which we had come. The next day I went +to another village, called _Carmaron_, a league distant from this, where +they received us in a very friendly manner, making for us a banquet with +their bread, squashes, and fish. As to meat, that is very scarce there. The +chief of this village earnestly begged me to stay, to which I could not +consent, but returned to our village, where on the next night but one, as I +went out of the cabin to escape the fleas, of which there were large +numbers and by which we were tormented, a girl of little modesty came +boldly to me and offered to keep me company, for which I thanked her, +sending her away with gentle remonstrances, and spent the night with some +savages. + +The next day I departed from this village to go to another, called +_Touaguainchain_, and to another, called _Tequenonquiaye_, in which we were +received in a very friendly manner by the inhabitants, who showed us the +best cheer they could with their Indian corn served in various styles. This +country is very fine and fertile, and travelling through it is very +pleasant. + +Thence I had them guide me to Carhagouha, which was fortified by a triple +palisade of wood thirty-five feet high for its defence and protection. In +this village Father Joseph was staying, whom we saw and were very glad to +find well. He on his part was no less glad, and was expecting nothing so +little as to see me in this country. On the twelfth day of August the +Recollect Father celebrated the holy mass, and a cross was planted near a +small house apart from the village, which the savages built while I was +staying there, awaiting the arrival of our men and their preparation to go +to the war, in which they had been for a long time engaged. + +Finding that they were so slow in assembling their army, and that I should +have time to visit their country, I resolved to go by short days' journeys +from village to village as far as Cahiague, where the rendezvous of the +entire army was to be, and which was fourteen leagues distant from +Carhagouha, from which village I set out on the fourteenth of August with +ten of my companions. I visited five of the more important villages, which +were enclosed with palisades of wood, and reached Cahiague, the principal +village of the country, where there were two hundred large cabins and where +all the men of war were to assemble. Now in all these villages they +received us very courteously with their simple welcome. All the country +where I went contains some twenty to thirty leagues, is very fine, and +situated in latitude 44 deg. 30'. It is very extensively cleared up. They plant +in it a great quantity of Indian corn, which grows there finely. They plant +likewise squashes,[120] and sun-flowers,[121] from the seed of which they +make oil, with which they anoint the head. The region is extensively +traversed with brooks, discharging into the lake. There are many very good +vines [122] and plums, which are excellent,[123] raspberries,[124] +strawberries,[125] little wild apples,[126] nuts,[127] and a kind of fruit +of the form and color of small lemons, with a similar taste, but having an +interior which is very good and almost like that of figs. The plant which +bears this fruit is two and a half feet high, with but three or four leaves +at most, which are of the shape of those of the fig-tree, and each plant +bears but two pieces of fruit. There are many of these plants in various +places, the fruit being very good and savory.[128] Oaks, elms, and beeches +[129] are numerous here, as also forests of fir, the regular retreat of +partridges [130] and hares.[131] There are also quantities of small +cherries [132] and black cherries,[133] and the same varieties of wood that +we have in our forests in France. The soil seems to me indeed a little +sandy, yet it is for all that good for their kind of cereal. The small +tract of country which I visited is thickly settled with a countless number +of human beings, not to speak of the other districts where I did not go, +and which, according to general report, are as thickly settled or more so +than those mentioned above. I reflected what a great misfortune it is that +so many poor creatures live and die without the knowledge of God, and even +without any religion or law established among them, whether divine, +political, or civil; for they neither worship, nor pray to any object, at +least so far as I could perceive from their conversation. But they have, +however, some sort of ceremony, which I shall describe in its proper place, +in regard to the sick, or in order to ascertain what is to happen to them, +and even in regard to the dead. These, however, are the works of certain +persons among them, who want to be confidentially consulted in such +matters, as was the case among the ancient pagans, who allowed themselves +to be carried away by the persuasions of magicians and diviners. Yet the +greater part of the people do not believe at all in what these charlatans +do and say. They are very generous to one another in regard to provisions, +but otherwise very avaricious. They do not give in return. They are clothed +with deer and beaver skins, which they obtain from the Algonquins and +Nipissings in exchange for Indian corn and meal. + +On the 17th of August I arrived at Cahiague, where I was received with +great joy and gladness by all the savages of the country, who had abandoned +their undertaking, in the belief that they would see me no more, and that +the Iroquois had captured me, as I have before stated. This was the cause +of the great delay experienced in this expedition, they even having +postponed it to the following year. Meanwhile they received intelligence +that a certain nation of their allies, [134] dwelling three good days' +journeys beyond the Entouhonorons, [135] on whom the Iroquois also make +war, desired to assist them in this expedition with five hundred good men; +also to form an alliance and establish a friendship with us, that we might +all engage in the war together; moreover that they greatly desired to see +us and give expression to the pleasure they would have in making our +acquaintance. + +I was glad to find this opportunity for gratifying my desire of obtaining a +knowledge of their country. It is situated only seven days from where the +Dutch [136] go to traffic on the fortieth degree. The savages there, +assisted by the Dutch, make war upon them, take them prisoners, and cruelly +put them to death; and indeed they told us that the preceding year, while +making war, they captured three of the Dutch, who were assisting their +enemies, [137] as we do the Attigouautans, and while in action one of their +own men was killed. Nevertheless they did not fail to send back the three +Dutch prisoners, without doing them any harm, supposing that they belonged +to our party, since they had no knowledge of us except by hearsay, never +having seen a Christian; otherwise, they said, these three prisoners would +not have got off so easily, and would not escape again should they surprise +and take them. This nation is very warlike, as those of the nation of the +Attigouautans maintain. They have only three villages, which are in the +midst of more than twenty others, on which they make war without assistance +from their friends; for they are obliged to pass through the thickly +settled country of the Chouontouaroueon,[138] or else they would have to +make a very long circuit. + +After arriving at the village, it was necessary for me to remain until the +men of war should come from the surrounding villages, so that we might be +off as soon as possible. During this time there was a constant succession +of banquets and dances on account of the joy they experienced at seeing me +so determined to assist them in their war, just as if they were already +assured of victory. + +The greater portion of our men having assembled, we set out from the +village on the first day of September, and passed along the shore of a +small lake, [139] distant three leagues from the village, where they catch +large quantities of fish, which they preserve for the winter. There is +another lake, [140] closely adjoining, which is twenty-five leagues in +circuit, and slows into the small one by a strait, where the above +mentioned extensive fishing is carried on. This is done by means of a large +number of stakes which almost close the strait, only some little openings +being left where they place their nets, in which the fish are caught. These +two lakes discharge into the _Mer Douce_. We remained some time in this +place to await the rest of our savages. When they were all assembled, with +their arms, meal, and necessaries, it was decided to choose some of the +most resolute men to compose a party to go and give notice of our departure +to those who were to assist us with five hundred men, that they might join +us, and that we might appear together before the fort of the enemy. This +decision having been made, they dispatched two canoes, with twelve of the +most stalwart savages, and also with one of our interpreters, [141] who +asked me to permit him to make the journey, which I readily accorded, +inasmuch as he was led to do so of his own will, and as he might in this +way see their country and get a knowledge of the people living there. The +danger, however, was not small, since it was necessary to pass through the +midst of enemies. They set out on the 8th of the month, and on the 10th +following there was a heavy white frost. + +We continued our journey towards the enemy, and went some five or six +leagues through these lakes, [142] when the savages carried their canoes +about ten leagues by land. We then came to another lake, [143] six to seven +leagues in length and three broad. From this flows a river which discharges +into the great lake of the Entouhonorons. After traversing this lake we +passed a fall, and continuing our course down this river for about +sixty-four leagues [144] entered the lake of the Entouhonorons, having +passed, on our way by land, five falls, some being from four to five +leagues long. We also passed several lakes of considerable size, through +which the river passes. The latter is large and very abundant in good fish. + +It is certain that all this region is very fine and pleasant. Along the +banks it seems as if the trees had been set out for ornament in most +places, and that all these tracts were in former times inhabited by +savages, who were subsequently compelled to abandon them from fear of their +enemies. Vines and nut-trees are here very numerous. Grapes mature, yet +there is always a very pungent tartness which is felt remaining in the +throat when one eats them in large quantities, arising from defect of +cultivation. These localities are very pleasant when cleared up. + +Stags and bears are here very abundant. We tried the hunt and captured a +large number as we journeyed down. It was done in this way. They place four +or five hundred savages in line in the woods, so that they extend to +certain points on the river; then marching in order with bow and arrow in +hand, shouting and making a great noise in order to frighten the beasts, +they continue to advance until they come to the end of the point. Then all +the animals between the point and the hunters are forced to throw +themselves into the water, as many at least as do not fall by the arrows +shot at them by the hunters. Meanwhile the savages, who are expressly +arranged and posted in their canoes along the shore, easily approach the +stags and other animals, tired out and greatly frightened in the chase, +when they readily kill them with the spear heads attached to the extremity +of a piece of wood of the shape of a half pike. This is the way they engage +in the chase; and they do likewise on the islands where there are large +quantities of game. I took especial pleasure in seeing them hunt thus and +in observing their dexterity. Many animals were killed by the shot of the +arquebus, at which the savages were greatly surprised. But it unfortunately +happened that, while a stag was being killed, a savage, who chanced to come +in range, was wounded by a shot of an arquebus. Thence a great commotion +arose among them, which however subsided when some presents were given to +the wounded. This is the usual manner of allaying and settling quarrels, +and, in case of the death of the wounded, presents are given to the +relatives of the one killed. + +As to smaller game there is a large quantity of it in its season. There are +also many cranes,[145] white as swans, and other varieties of birds like +those in France. + +We proceeded by short days' journeys as far as the shore of the lake of the +Entouhonorons, constantly hunting as before mentioned. Here at its eastern +extremity, which is the entrance to the great River St. Lawrence, we made +the traverse, in latitude 43 deg., [146] where in the passage there are very +large beautiful islands. We went about fourteen leagues in passing to the +southern side of the lake towards the territory of the enemy. [147] The +savages concealed all their canoes in the woods near the shore. We went +some four leagues over a sandy strand, where I observed a very pleasant and +beautiful country, intersected by many little streams and two small rivers, +which discharge into the before-mentioned lake, also many ponds and +meadows, where there was an endless amount of game, many vines, fine woods, +and a large number of chestnut trees, whose fruit was still in the burr. +The chestnuts are small, but of a good flavor. The country is covered with +forests, which over its greater portion have not been cleared up. All the +canoes being thus hidden, we left the border of the lake, [148] which is +some eighty leagues long and twenty-five wide. [149] The greater portion of +its shores is inhabited by savages. We continued our course by land for +about twenty-five or thirty leagues. In the space of four days we crossed +many brooks, and a river which proceeds from a lake that discharges into +that of the Entouhonorons. [150] This lake is twenty-five or thirty leagues +in circuit, contains some fine islands, and is the place where our enemies, +the Iroquois, catch their fish, in which it abounds. + +On the 9th of the month of October our savages going out to reconnoitre met +eleven savages, whom they took prisoners. They consisted of four women, +three boys, one girl, and three men, who were going fishing and were +distant some four leagues from the fort of the enemy. Now it is to be noted +that one of the chiefs, on seeing the prisoners, cut off the finger of one +of these poor women as a beginning of their usual punishment; upon which I +interposed and reprimanded the chief, Iroquet, representing to him that it +was not the act of a warrior, as he declared himself to be, to conduct +himself with cruelty towards women, who have no defence but their tears and +that one should treat them with humanity on account of their helplessness +and weakness; and I told him that on the contrary this act would be deemed +to proceed from a base and brutal courage, and that if he committed any +more of these cruelties he would not give me heart to assist them or favor +them in the war. To which the only answer he gave me was that their enemies +treated them in the same manner, but that, since this was displeasing to +me, he would not do anything more to the women, although; he would to the +men. + +The next day, at three o'clock in the afternoon, we arrived before the fort +[151] of their enemies, where the savages made some skirmishes with each +other, although our design was not to disclose ourselves until the next +day, which however the impatience of our savages would not permit, both on +account of their desire to see fire opened upon their enemies, and also +that they might rescue some of their own men who had become too closely +engaged, and were hotly pressed. Then I approached the enemy, and although +I had only a few men, yet we showed them what they had never seen nor heard +before; for, as soon as they saw us and heard the arquebus shots and the +balls whizzing in their ears, they withdrew speedily to their fort, +carrying the dead and wounded in this charge. We also withdrew to our main +body, with five or six wounded, one of whom died. + +This done, we withdrew to the distance of cannon range, out of sight of the +enemy, but contrary to my advice and to what they had promised me. This +moved me to address them very rough and angry words in order to incite them +to do their duty, foreseeing that if everything should go according to +their whim and the guidance of their council, their utter ruin would be the +result. Nevertheless I did not fail to send to them and propose means which +they should use in order to get possession of their enemies. + +These were, to make with certain kinds of wood a _cavalier_, which should +be higher than the palisades. Upon this were to be placed four or five of +our arquebusiers, who should keep up a constant fire over their palisades +and galleries, which were well provided with stones, and by this means +dislodge the enemy who might attack us from their galleries. Meanwhile +orders were to be given to procure boards for making a sort of mantelet to +protect our men from the arrows and stones of which the savages generally +make use. These instruments, namely the cavalier and mantelets, were +capable of being carried by a large number of men. One mantelet was so +constructed that the water could not extinguish the fire, which might be +set to the fort, under cover of the arquebusiers who were doing their duty +on the cavalier. In this manner, I told them, we might be able to defend +ourselves so that the enemy could not approach to extinguish the fire which +we should set to their ramparts. + +This proposition they thought good and very seasonable, and immediately +proceeded to carry it out as I directed. In fact the next day they set to +work, some to cut wood, others to gather it, for building and equipping the +cavalier and mantelets. The work was promptly executed and in less than +four hours, although the amount of wood they had collected for burning +against the ramparts, in order to set fire to them, was very small. Their +expectation was that the five hundred men who had promised to come would do +so on this day, but doubt was felt about them, since they had not appeared +at the rendezvous, as they had been charged to do, and as they had +promised. This greatly troubled our savages; but seeing that they were +sufficiently numerous to take the fort without other assistance, and +thinking for my part that delay, if not in all things at least in many, is +prejudicial, I urged them to attack it, representing to them that the +enemy, having become aware of their force and our arms, which pierced +whatever was proof against arrows, had begun to barricade themselves and +cover themselves with strong pieces of wood, with which they were well +provided and their village filled. I told them that the least delay was the +best, since the enemy had already strengthened themselves very much; for +their village was enclosed by four good palisades, which were made of great +pieces of wood, interlaced with each other, with an opening of not more +than half a foot between two, and which were thirty feet high, with +galleries after the manner of a parapet, which they had furnished with +double pieces of wood that were proof against our arquebus shots. Moreover +it was near a pond where the water was abundant, and was well supplied with +gutters, placed between each pair of palisades, to throw out water, which +they had also under cover inside, in order to extinguish fire. Now this is +the character of their fortifications and defences, which are much stronger +than the villages of the Attigouautan and others. + +We approached to attack the village, our cavalier being carried by two +hundred of the strongest men, who put it down before the village at a +pike's length off. I ordered three arquebusiers to mount upon it, who were +well protected from the arrows and stones that could be shot or hurled at +them. Meanwhile the enemy did not fail to send a large number of arrows +which did not miss, and a great many stones, which they hurled from their +palisades. Nevertheless a hot fire of arquebuses forced them to dislodge +and abandon their galleries, in consequence of the cavalier which uncovered +them, they not venturing to show themselves, but fighting under shelter. +Now when the cavalier was carried forward, instead of bringing up the +mantelets according to order, including that one under cover of which we +were to set the fire, they abandoned them and began to scream at their +enemies, shooting arrows into the fort, which in my opinion did little harm +to the enemy. + +But we must excuse them, for they are not warriors, and besides will have +no discipline nor correction, and will do only what they please. +Accordingly one of them set fire inconsiderately to the wood placed against +the fort of the enemy, quite the wrong way and in the face of the wind, so +that it produced no effect. + +This fire being out, the greater part of the savages began to carry wood +against the palisades, but in so small quantity that the fire could have no +great effect. There also arose such disorder among them that one could not +understand another, which greatly troubled me. In vain did I shout in their +ears and remonstrate to my utmost with them as to the danger to which they +exposed themselves by their bad behavior, but on account of the great noise +they made they heard nothing. Seeing that shouting would only burst my +head, and that my remonstrances were useless for putting a stop to the +disorder, I did nothing more, but determined together with my men to do +what we could, and fire upon such as we could see. + +Meanwhile the enemy profited by our disorder to get water and pour it so +abundantly that you would have said brooks were flowing through their +spouts, the result of which was that the fire was instantly extinguished, +while they did not cease shooting their arrows, which fell upon us like +hail. But the men on the cavalier killed and maimed many. We were engaged +in this combat about three hours, in which two of our chiefs and leading +warriors were wounded, namely, one called _Ochateguain_ and another +_Orani_, together with some fifteen common warriors. The others, seeing +their men and some of the chiefs wounded, now began to talk of a retreat +without farther fighting, in expectation of the five hundred men, [152] +whose arrival could not be much delayed. Thus they retreated, a disorderly +rabble. + +Moreover the chiefs have in fact no absolute control over their men, who +are governed by their own will and follow their own fancy, which is the +cause of their disorder and the ruin of all their undertakings; for, having +determined upon anything with their leaders, it needs only the whim of a +villain, or nothing at all, to lead them to break it off and form a new +plan. Thus there is no concert of action among them, as can be seen by this +expedition. + +Now we withdrew into our fort, I having received two arrow wounds, one in +the leg, the other in the knee, which caused me great inconvenience, aside +from the severe pain. When they were all assembled, I addressed them some +words of remonstrance on the disorder that had occurred. But all I said +availed nothing, and had no effect upon them. They replied that many of +their men had been wounded like myself, so that it would cause the others +much trouble and inconvenience to carry them as they retreated, and that it +was not possible to return again against their enemies, as I told them it +was their duty to do. They agreed, however, to wait four days longer for +the five hundred men who were to come; and, if they came, to make a second +effort against their enemies, and execute better what I might tell them +than they had done in the past. With this I had to content myself, to my +great regret. + +Herewith is indicated the manner in which they fortify their towns, from +which representation it may be inferred that those of their friends and +enemies are fortified in like manner. + +The next day there was a violent wind, which lasted two days, and was very +favorable for setting fire anew to the fort of the enemy which, although I +urged them strongly, they were unwilling to do, as if they were afraid of +getting the worst of it, and besides they pleaded their wounded as an +excuse. + +We remained in camp until the 16th of the month, [153] during which time +there were some skirmishes between the enemy and our men, who were very +often surrounded by the former, rather through their imprudence than from +lack of courage; for I assure you that every time we went to the charge it +was necessary for us to go and disengage them from the crowd, since they +could only retreat under cover of our arquebusiers, whom the enemy greatly +dreaded and feared; for as soon as they perceived any one of the +arquebusiers they withdrew speedily, saying in a persuasive manner that we +should not interfere in their combats, and that their enemies had very +little courage to require us to assist them, with many other words of like +tenor, in order to prevail upon us. + +I have represented by figure E the manner in which they arm themselves in +going to war. + +After some days, seeing that the five hundred men did not come, they +determined to depart, and enter upon their retreat as soon as possible. +They proceeded to make a kind of basket for carrying the wounded, who are +put into it crowded up in a heap, being bound and pinioned in such a manner +that it is as impossible for them to move as for an infant in its swaddling +clothes; but this is, not without causing the wounded much extreme +pain. This I can say with truth from my own experience, having been carried +some days, since I could not stand up, particularly on account of an +arrow-wound which I had received in the knee. I never found myself in such +a _gehenna_ as during this time, for the pain which I suffered in +consequence of the wound in my knee was nothing in comparison with that +which I endured while I was carried bound and pinioned on the back of one +of our savages; so that I lost my patience, and as soon as I could sustain +myself, got out of this prison, or rather _gehenna_. + +The enemy followed us about half a league, though at a distance, with the +view of trying to take some of those composing the rear guard; but their +efforts were vain, and they retired. + +Now the only good point that I have seen in their mode of warfare is that +they make their retreat very securely, placing all the wounded and aged in +their centre, being well armed on the wings and in the rear, and continuing +this order without interruption until they reach a place of security. + +Their retreat was very long, being from twenty-five to thirty leagues, +which caused the wounded much fatigue, as also those who carried them, +although the latter relieved each other from time to time. + +On the 18th day of the month there fell much snow and hail, accompanied by +a strong wind, which greatly incommoded us. Nevertheless we succeeded in +arriving at the shore of the lake of the Entouhonorons, at the place where +our canoes were concealed, which we found all intact, for we had been +afraid lest the enemy might have broken them up. + +When they were all assembled, and I saw that they were ready to depart to +their village, I begged them to take me to our settlement, which, though +unwilling at first, they finally concluded to do, and sought four men to +conduct me. Four men were found, who offered themselves of their own +accord; for, as I have before said, the chiefs have no control over their +men, in consequence of which they are often unable to do as they would +like. Now the men having been found, it was necessary also to find a canoe, +which was not to be had, each one needing his own, and there being no more +than they required. This was far from being pleasant to me, but, on the +contrary greatly annoyed me, since it led me to suspect some evil purpose, +inasmuch as they had promised to conduct me to our settlement after their +war. Moreover I was poorly prepared for spending the winter with them, or +else should not have been concerned about the matter. But not being able to +do anything, I was obliged to resign myself in patience. Now after some +days I perceived that their plan was to keep me and my companions, not only +as a security for themselves, for they feared their enemies, but also that +I might listen to what took place in their councils and assemblies, and +determine what they should do in the future against their enemies for their +security and preservation. + +The next day, the 28th of the month, they began to make preparations; some +to go deer-hunting, others to hunt bears and beavers, others to go fishing, +others to return to their villages. An abode and lodging were furnished me +by one of the principal chiefs, called _D'Arontal_, with whom I already had +some acquaintance. Having offered me his cabin, provisions, and +accommodations, he set out also for the deer-hunt, which is esteemed by +them the greatest and most noble one. After crossing, from the island, +[154] the end of the lake, we entered a river [155] some twelve leagues in +extent. They then carried their canoes by land some half a league, when we +entered a lake [156] which was some ten or twelve leagues in circuit, where +there was a large amount of game, as swans, [157] white cranes, [158] +outardes, [159] ducks, teal, song-thrush, [160] larks, [161] snipe, [162] +geese, [163] and several other kinds of fowl too numerous to mention. Of +these I killed a great number, which stood us in good stead while waiting +for the capture of a deer. From there we proceeded to a certain place some +ten leagues distant, where our savages thought there were deer in +abundance. Assembled there were some twenty-five savages, who set to +building two or three cabins out of pieces of wood fitted to each other, +the chinks of which they stopped up by means of moss to prevent the +entrance of the air, covering them with the bark of trees. + +When they had done this they went into the woods to a small forest of firs, +where they made an enclosure in the form of a triangle, closed up on two +sides and open on one. This enclosure was made of great stakes of wood +closely pressed together, from eight to nine feet high, each of the sides +being fifteen hundred paces long. At the extremity of this triangle there +was a little enclosure, constantly diminishing in size, covered in part +with boughs and with only an opening of five feet, about the width of a +medium-sized door, into which the deer were to enter. They were so +expeditious in their work, that in less than ten days they had their +enclosure in readiness. Meanwhile other savages had gone fishing, catching +trout and pike of prodigious size, and enough to meet all our wants. + +All preparations being made, they set out half an hour before day to go +into the wood, some half a league from the before-mentioned enclosure, +separated from each other some eighty paces. Each had two sticks, which +they struck together, and they marched in this order at a slow pace until +they arrived at their enclosure. The deer hearing this noise flee before +them until they reach the enclosure, into which the savages force them to +go. Then they gradually unite on approaching the bay and opening of their +triangle, the deer skirting the sides until they reach the end, to which +the savages hotly pursue them, with bow and arrow in hand ready to let fly. +On reaching the end of the triangle they begin to shout and imitate wolves, +[164] which are numerous, and which devour the deer. The deer, hearing this +frightful noise, are constrained to enter the retreat by the little +opening, whither they are very hotly pursued by arrow shots. Having entered +this retreat, which is so well closed and fastened that they can by no +possibility get out, they are easily captured. I assure you that there is a +singular pleasure in this chase, which took place every two days, and was +so successful that, in the thirty-eight days [165] during which we were +there, they captured one hundred and twenty deer, which they make good use +of, reserving the fat for winter, which they use as we do butter, and +taking away to their homes some of the flesh for their festivities. + +They have other contrivances for capturing the deer; as snares, with which +they kill many. You see depicted opposite the manner of their chase, +enclosure, and snare. Out of the skins they make garments. Thus you see how +we spent the time while waiting for the frost, that we might return the +more easily, since the country is very marshy. + +When they first went out hunting, I lost my way in the woods, having +followed a certain bird that seemed to me peculiar. It had a beak like that +of a parrot, and was of the size of a hen. It was entirely yellow, except +the head which was red, and the wings which were blue, and it flew by +intervals like a partridge. The desire to kill it led me to pursue it from +tree to tree for a very long time, until it flew away in good earnest. Thus +losing all hope, I desired to retrace my steps, but found none of our +hunters, who had been constantly getting ahead, and had reached the +enclosure. While trying to overtake them, and going, as it seemed to me, +straight to where the enclosure was, I found myself lost in the woods, +going now on this side now on that, without being able to recognize my +position. The night coming on, I was obliged to spend it at the foot of a +great tree, and in the morning set out and walked until three o'clock in +the afternoon, when I came to a little pond of still water. Here I noticed +some game, which I pursued, killing three or four birds, which were very +acceptable, since I had had nothing to eat. Unfortunately for me there had +been no sunshine for three days, nothing but rain and cloudy weather, which +increased my trouble. Tired and exhausted I prepared to rest myself and +cook the birds in order to alleviate the hunger which I began painfully to +feel, and which by God's favor was appeased. + +When I had made my repast I began to consider what I should do, and to pray +God to give me the will and courage to sustain patiently my misfortune if I +should be obliged to remain abandoned in this forest without counsel or +consolation except the Divine goodness and mercy, and at the same time to +exert myself to return to our hunters. Thus committing all to His mercy I +gathered up renewed courage going here and there all day, without +perceiving any foot-print or path, except those of wild beasts, of which I +generally saw a good number. I was obliged to pass here this night +also. Unfortunately I had forgotten to bring with me a small compass which +would have put me on the right road, or nearly so. At the dawn of day, +after a brief repast, I set out in order to find, if possible, some brook +and follow it, thinking that it must of necessity flow into the river on +the border of which our hunters were encamped. Having resolved upon this +plan, I carried it out so well that at noon I found myself on the border of +a little lake, about a league and a half in extent, where I killed some +game, which was very timely for my wants; I had likewise remaining some +eight or ten charges of powder, which was a great satisfaction. + +I proceeded along the border of this lake to see where it discharged, and +found a large brook, which I followed until five o'clock in the evening, +when I heard a great noise, but on carefully listening failed to perceive +clearly what it was. On hearing the noise, however, more distinctly, I +concluded that it was a fall of water in the river which I was searching +for. I proceeded nearer, and saw an opening, approaching which I found +myself in a great and far-reaching meadow, where there was a large number +of wild beasts, and looking to my right I perceived the river, broad and +long. I looked to see if I could not recognize the place, and walking along +on the meadow I noticed a little path where the savages carried their +canoes. Finally, after careful observation, I recognized it as the same +river, and that I had gone that way before. + +I passed the night in better spirits than the previous ones, supping on the +little I had. In the morning I re-examined the place where I was, and +concluded from certain mountains on the border of the river that I had not +been deceived, and that our hunters must be lower down by four or five good +leagues. This distance I walked at my leisure along the border of the +river, until I perceived the smoke of our hunters, where I arrived to the +great pleasure not only of myself but of them, who were still searching for +me, but had about given up all hopes of seeing me again. They begged me not +to stray off from them any more, or never to forget to carry with me my +compass, and they added: If you had not come, and we had not succeeded in +finding you, we should never have gone again to the French, for fear of +their accusing us of having killed you. After this he [166] was very +careful of me when I went hunting, always giving me a savage as companion, +who knew how to find again the place from which he started so well that it +was something very remarkable. + +To return to my subject: they have a kind of superstition in regard to this +hunt; namely, they believe that if they should roast any of the meat taken +in this way, or if any of the fat should fall into the fire, or if any of +the bones should be thrown into it, they would not be able to capture any +more deer. Accordingly they begged me to roast none of this meat, but I +laughed at this and their way of doing. Yet, in order not to offend them, +I cheerfully desisted, at least in their presence; though when they were +out of sight I took some of the best and roasted it, attaching no credit to +their superstitions. When I afterwards told them what I had done, they +would not believe me, saying that they could not have taken any deer after +the doing of such a thing. + +On the fourth day of December we set out from this place, walking on the +river, lakes, and ponds, which were frozen, and sometimes through the +woods. Thus we went for nineteen days, undergoing much hardship and toil, +both the savages, who were loaded with a hundred pounds, and myself, who +carried a burden of twenty pounds, which in the long journey tired me very +much. It is true that I was sometimes relieved by our savages, but +nevertheless I suffered great discomfort. The savages, in order to go over +the ice more easily, are accustomed to make a kind of wooden sledge, [167] +on which they put their loads, which they easily and swiftly drag along. +Some days after there was a thaw, which caused us much trouble and +annoyance; for we had to go through pine forests full of brooks, ponds; +marshes, and swamps, where many trees had been blown down upon each +other. This caused us a thousand troubles and embarrassments, and great +discomfort, as we were all the time wet to above our knees. We were four +days in this plight, since in most places the ice would not bear. At last, +on the 20th of the month, we succeeded in arriving at our village. [168] +Here the Captain Yroquet had come to winter with his companions, who are +Algonquins, also his son, whom he brought for the sake of treatment, since +while hunting he had been seriously injured by a bear which he was trying +to kill. + +After resting some days I determined to go and visit Father Joseph, and to +see in winter the people where he was, whom the war had not permitted me to +see in the summer. I set out from this village on the 14th [169] of January +following, thanking my host for the kindness he had shown me, and, taking +formal leave of him, as I did not expect to see him again for three months. + +The next day I Saw Father Joseph, [170] in his small house where he had +taken up his abode, as I have before stated. I stayed with him some days, +finding him deliberating about making a journey to the Petun people, as I +had also thought of doing, although it was very disagreeable travelling in +winter. We set out together on the fifteenth of February to go to that +nation, where we arrived on the seventeenth of the month. [171] These Petun +people plant the maize, called by us _ble de Turquie_, and have fixed +abodes like the rest. We went to seven other villages of their neighbors +and allies, with whom we contracted friendship, and who promised to come in +good numbers to our settlement. They welcomed us with good cheer, making a +banquet with meat and fish, as is their custom. To this the people from all +quarters flocked in order to see us, showing many manifestations of +friendship, and accompanying us on the greater part of our way back. The +country is diversified with pleasant slopes and plains. They were beginning +to build two villages, through which we passed, and which were situated in +the midst of the woods, because of the convenience [172] of building and +fortifying their towns there. These people live like the Attignouaatitans, +[173] and have the same customs. They are situated near the Nation Neutre, +[174] which are powerful and occupy a great extent of country. After +visiting these people, we set out from that place, and went to a nation of +savages, whom we named _Cheveux Releves_ [175] They were very happy to see +us again, and we entered into friendship with them, while they in return +promised to come and see us, namely at the habitation in this place. + +It has seemed to me desirable to describe them and their country, their +customs and mode of life. In the first place they are at war with another +nation of savages, called Asistagueroueon, [176] which means _Gens de Feu_, +who are distant from them ten days' journey. I informed myself accordingly +very particularly in regard to their country and the tribes living there, +as also to their character and numbers. The people of this nation are very +numerous, and are for the most part great warriors, hunters, and +fishermen. They have several chiefs, each ruling in his own district. In +general they plant Indian corn, and other cereals. They are hunters who go +in troops to various regions and countries, where they traffic with other +nations, distant four or five hundred leagues. They are the cleanest +savages in their household affairs that I have ever seen, and are very +industrious in making a kind of mat, which constitutes their Turkish +carpets. The women have the body covered, but the men go uncovered, with +the exception of a fur robe in the form of a cloak, which they usually +leave off in summer. The women and girls are not more moved at seeing them +thus, than if they saw nothing unusual. The women live very happily with +their husbands. They have the following custom when they have their +catamenia: the wives withdraw from their husbands, or the daughter from her +father and mother and other relatives, and go to certain small houses. +There they remain in retirement, awaiting their time, without any company +of men, who bring them food and necessaries until their return. Thus it is +known who have their catamenia and who have not. This tribe is accustomed +more than others to celebrate great banquets. They gave us good cheer and +welcomed us very cordially, earnestly begging me to assist them against +their enemies, who dwell on the banks of the _Mer Douce_, two hundred +leagues distant; to which I replied that they must wait until another time, +as I was not provided with the necessary means. They were at a loss how to +welcome us. I have represented them in figure C as they go to war. + +There is, also, at a distance of a two days' journey from them, in a +southerly direction, another savage nation, that produces a large amount of +tobacco. This is called _Nation Neutre_. They number four thousand +warriors, and dwell westward of the lake of the Entouhonorons, which is +from eighty to a hundred leagues in extent. They, however, assist the +_Cheveux Releves_ against the _Gens de Feu_. But with the Iroquois and our +allies they are at peace, and preserve a neutrality. There is a cordial +understanding towards both of these nations, and they do not venture to +engage in any dispute or quarrel, but on the contrary often eat and drink +with them like good friends. I was very desirous of visiting this nation, +but the people where we were dissuaded me from it, saying that the year +before one of our men had killed one of them, when we were at war with the +Entouhonorons, which offended them; and they informed us that they are much +inclined to revenge, not concerning themselves as to who struck the blow, +but inflicting the penalty upon the first one they meet of the nation, even +though one of their friends, when they succeed in catching him, unless +harmony has been previously restored between them, and gifts and presents +bestowed upon the relatives of the deceased. Thus I was prevented for the +time being from going, although some of this nation assured us that they +would do us no harm for the reason assigned above. + +Thus we were led to return the same way we had come, and continuing my +journey, I reached the nation of the _Pisierinii_, [177] who had promised +to conduct me farther on in the prosecution of my plans and explorations. +But I was prevented by the intelligence which came from our great village +and the Algonquins, where Captain Yroquet was, namely, that the people of +the nation of the Atignouaatitans [178] had placed in his hands a prisoner +of a hostile nation, in the expectation that this Captain Yroquet would +exercise on the prisoner the revenge usual among them. But they said that, +instead of doing so, he had not only set him at liberty, but, having found +him apt, and an excellent hunter, had treated him as his son, on account of +which the Atignouaatitans had become jealous and resolved upon vengeance, +and had in fact appointed a man to go and kill this prisoner, allied as he +was. As he was put to death in the presence of the chiefs of the Algonquin +nation, they, indignant at such an act and moved to anger, killed on the +spot this rash murderer; whereupon the Atignouaatitans feeling themselves +insulted, seeing one of their comrades dead, seized their arms and went to +the tents of the Algonquins, who were passing the winter near the above +mentioned village, and belabored them severely, Captain Yroquet receiving +two arrow wounds. At another time they pillaged some of the cabins of the +Algonquins before the latter could place themselves in a state of defence, +so that they had not an equal chance. Notwithstanding this they were not +reconciled to the Algonquins, who for securing peace had given the +Atignouaatitans fifty necklaces of porcelain and a hundred branches of the +same [179] which they value highly, and likewise a number of kettles and +axes, together with two female prisoners in place of the dead man. They +were, in a word, still in a state of violent animosity. The Algonquins were +obliged to suffer patiently this great rage, and feared that they might all +be killed, not feeling any security, notwithstanding their gifts, until +they should be differently situated. This intelligence greatly disturbed +me, when I considered the harm that might arise not only to them, but to us +as well, who were in their country. + +I then met two or three savages of our large village, who earnestly +entreated me to go to them in order to effect a reconciliation, declaring +that if I did not go none of them would come to us any more, since they +were at war with the Algonquins and regarded us as their friends. In view +of this I set out as soon as possible, and visited on my way the Nipissings +to ascertain when they would be ready for the journey to the north, which I +found broken off on account of these quarrels and hostilities, as my +interpreter gave me to understand, who said that Captain Yroquet had come +among all these tribes to find and await me. He had requested them to be at +the habitation of the French at the same time with himself to see what +agreement could be made between them and the Atignouaatitans, and to +postpone the journey to the north to another time. Moreover, Yroquet had +given porcelain to break off this journey. They promised us to be at our +habitation at the same time as the others. + +If ever there was one greatly disheartened it was myself, since I had been +waiting to see this year what during many preceding ones I had been seeking +for with great toil and effort, through so many fatigues and risks of my +life. But realizing that I could not help the matter, and that everything +depended on the will of God, I comforted myself, resolving to see it in a +short time. I had such sure information that I could not doubt the report +of these people, who go to traffic with others dwelling in those northern +regions, a great part of whom live in a place very abundant in the chase, +and where there are great numbers of large animals, the skins of several of +which I saw, and which I concluded were buffaloes [180] from their +representation of their form. Fishing is also very abundant there. This +journey requires forty days, as well in returning as in going. + +I set out towards our above-mentioned village on the 15th of February, +taking with me six of our men. Having arrived at that place the inhabitants +were greatly pleased, as also the Algonquins, whom I sent our interpreter +to visit in order to ascertain how everything had taken place on both +sides, for I did not wish to go myself that I might give no ground for +suspicion to either party. + +Two days were spent in hearing from both sides how everything had taken +place. After this the principal men and seniors of the place came away with +us, and we all together went to the Algonquins. Here in one of their +cabins, where several of the leading men were assembled, they all, after +some talk, agreed to come and accept all that might be said by me as +arbiter in the matter, and to carry out what I might propose. + +Then I gathered the views of each one, obtaining and investigating the +wishes and inclinations of both parties, and ascertained that all they +wanted was peace. + +I set forth to them that the best course was to become reconciled and +remain friends, since being united and bound together they could the more +easily withstand their enemies; and as I went away I begged them not to ask +me to effect their reconciliation if they did not intend to follow in all +respects the advice I should give them in regard to this dispute, since +they had done me the honor to request my opinion. Whereupon they told me +anew that they had not desired my return for any other reason. I for my +part thought that if I should not reconcile and pacify them they would +separate ill disposed towards each other, each party thinking itself in the +right. I reflected, also, that they would not have gone to their cabins if +I had not been with them, nor to the French if I had not interested myself +and taken, so to speak, the charge and conduct of their affairs. Upon this +I said to them that as for myself I proposed to go with my host, who had +always treated me well, and that I could with difficulty find one so good; +for it was on him that the Algonquins laid the blame, saying that he was +the only captain who had caused the taking up of arms. Much was said by +both sides, and finally it was concluded that I should tell them what +seemed to me best, and give them my advice. + +Since I saw now from what was said that they referred the whole matter to +my own decision as to that of a father, and promised that in the future I +might dispose of them as I thought best, referring the whole matter to my +judgment for settlement, I replied that I was very glad to see them so +inclined to follow my advice, and assured them that it should be only for +the best interests of the tribes. + +Moreover I told them, I had been greatly disturbed at hearing the further +sad intelligence, namely the death of one of their relatives and friends, +whom we regarded as one of our own, which might have caused a great +calamity resulting in nothing but perpetual wars between both parties, with +various and serious disasters and a rupture of their friendship, in +consequence of which the French would be deprived of seeing them and of +intercourse with them, and be obliged to enter into alliance with other +nations; since we loved each other as brothers, leaving to God the +punishment of those meriting it. + +I proceeded to say to them, that this mode of action between two nations, +who were, as they acknowledged, friendly to each other, was unworthy of +reasoning men, but rather characteristic of brute beasts. I represented to +them, moreover, that they were enough occupied in repelling their enemies +who pursued them, in routing them as often as possible, in pursuing them to +their villages and taking them prisoners; and that these enemies, seeing +divisions and wars among them, would be delighted and derive great +advantage therefrom; and be led to lay new and pernicious plans, in the +hope of soon being able to see their ruin, or at least their enfeebling +through one another, which would be the truest and easiest way for them to +conquer and become masters of their territories, since they did not assist +each other. + +I told them likewise that they did not realize the harm that might befall +them from thus acting; that on account of the death of one man they +hazarded the lives of ten thousand, and ran the risk of being reduced to +perpetual slavery; that, although in fact one man was of great value, yet +they ought to consider how he had been killed, and that it was not with +deliberate purpose, nor for the sake of inciting a civil war, it being only +too evident that the dead man had first offended, since with deliberate +purpose he had killed the prisoner in their cabins, a most audacious thing, +even if the latter were an enemy. This aroused the Algonquins, who, seeing +a man that had been so bold as to kill in their own cabins another to whom +they had given liberty and treated as one of themselves, were carried away +with passion; and some, more excited than the rest, advanced, and, unable +to restrain or control their wrath, killed the man in question. +Nevertheless they had no ill feeling at all towards the nation as a whole, +and did not extend their purposes beyond the audacious one, who, they +thought, fully deserved what he had wantonly earned. + +And besides I told them they must confider that the Entouhonoron, finding +himself wounded by two blows in the stomach, tore from his wound the knife +which his enemy had left there and gave the latter two blows, as I had been +informed; so that in fact one could not tell whether it was really the +Algonquins who had committed the murder. And in order to show to the +Attigouantans that the Algonquins did not love the prisoner, and that +Yroquet did not bear towards him the affection which they were disposed to +think, I reminded them that they had eaten him, as he had inflicted blows +with a knife upon his enemy; a thing, however, unworthy of a human being, +but rather characteristic of brute beasts. + +I told them also that the Algonquins very much regretted all that had taken +place, and that, if they had supposed such a thing would have happened, +they would have sacrificed this Iroquois for their satisfaction. I reminded +them likewise that they had made recompense for this death and offence, if +so it should be called, by large presents and two prisoners, on which +account they had no reason at present to complain, and ought to restrain +themselves and act more mildly towards the Algonquins, their friends. I +told them that, since they had promised to submit every thing to +arbitration, I entreated them to forget all that had passed between them +and never to think of it again, nor bear any hatred or ill will on account +of it to each other, but to live good friends as before, by doing which +they would constrain us to love them and assist them as I had done in the +past. But in case they should not be pleased with my advice, I requested +them to come, in as large numbers as possible, to our settlement, so that +there, in the presence of all the captains of vessels, our friendship might +be ratified anew, and measures taken to secure them from their enemies, a +thing which they ought to consider. + +Then they began to say that I had spoken well, and that they would adhere +to what I had said, and all went away to their cabins, apparently +satisfied, excepting the Algonquins, who broke up and proceeded to their +village, but who, as it seemed to me, appeared to be not entirely +satisfied, since they said among themselves that they would not come to +winter again in these places, the death of these two men having cost them +too dearly. As for myself, I returned to my host, in whom I endeavored to +inspire all the courage I could, in order to induce him to come to our +settlement, and bring with him all those of his country. + +During the winter, which lasted four months, I had sufficient leisure to +observe their country, customs, dress, manner of living, the character of +their assemblies, and other things which I should like to describe. But it +is necessary first to speak of the situation of the country in general and +its divisions, also of the location of the tribes and the distances between +them. + +The country extends in length, in the direction from east to west, nearly +four hundred and fifty leagues, and some eighty or a hundred leagues in +breadth from north to south, from latitude 41 deg. to 48 deg. or 49 deg. [181] This +region is almost an island, surrounded by the great river Saint Lawrence, +which passes through several lakes of great extent, on the shores of which +dwell various tribes speaking different languages, having fixed abodes, and +all fond of the cultivation of the soil, but with various modes of life, +and customs, some better than others. On the shore north of this great +river, extending westerly some hundred leagues towards the Attigouantans, +[182] there are very high mountains, and the air is more temperate than in +any other part of these regions, the latitude being 41 deg.. All these places +abound in game, such as stags, caribous, elks, does, [183] buffaloes, +bears, wolves, beavers, foxes, minxes, [184] weasels, [185] and many other +kinds of animals which we do not have in France. Fishing is abundant, there +being many varieties, both those which we have in France, as also others +which we have not. There are likewise many birds in their time and season. +The country is traversed by numerous rivers, brooks, and ponds, connecting +with each other and finally emptying into the river St. Lawrence and the +lakes through which it passes. The country is very pleasant in spring, is +covered with extensive and lofty forests, and filled with wood similar to +that which we have in France, although in many places there is much cleared +land, where they plant Indian corn. This region also abounds in meadows, +lowlands, and marshes, which furnish food for the animals before mentioned. + +The country north of the great river is very rough and mountainous, and +extends in latitude from 47 deg. to 49 deg., and in places abounds in rocks. [186] +So far as I could make out, these regions are inhabited by savages, who +wander through the country, not engaging in the cultivation of the soil, +nor doing anything, or at least as good as nothing. But they are hunters, +now in one place, now in another, the region being very cold and +disagreeable. This land on the north is in latitude 49º and extends over +six hundred leagues in breadth from east to west, of parts of which we have +full knowledge. There are also many fine large rivers rising in this region +and discharging into the before-mentioned river, together with an infinite +number of fine meadows, lakes, and ponds, through which they pass, where +there is an abundance of fish. There are likewise numerous islands which +are for the most part cleared up and very pleasant, the most of them +containing great quantities of vines and wild fruits. + +With regard to the regions further west, we cannot well determine their +extent, since the people here have no knowledge of them except for two or +three hundred leagues or more westerly, from whence comes the great river, +which passes, among other places, through a lake having an extent of nearly +thirty days' journey by canoe, namely that which we have called the _Mer +Douce_. This is of great extent, being nearly four hundred leagues long. +Inasmuch as the savages, with whom we are on friendly terms, are at war +with other nations on the west of this great lake, we cannot obtain a more +complete knowledge of them, except as they have told us several times that +some prisoners from the distance of a hundred leagues had reported that +there were tribes there like ourselves in color and in other respects. +Through them they have seen the hair of these people which is very light, +and which they esteem highly, saying that it is like our own. I can only +conjecture in regard to this, that the people they say resemble us were +those more civilized than themselves. It would require actual presence to +ascertain the truth in regard to this matter. But assistance is needed, and +it is only men of means, leisure, and energy, who could or would undertake +to promote this enterprise so that a full exploration of these places might +be made, affording us a complete knowledge of them. + +In regard to the region south of the great river it is very thickly +settled, much more so than that on the north, and by tribes who are at war +with each other. The country is very pleasant, much more so than that on +the northern border, and the air is more temperate. There are many kinds of +trees and fruits not found north of the river, while there are many things +on the north side, in compensation, not found on the south. The regions +towards the east are sufficiently well known, inasmuch as the ocean borders +these places. These are the coasts of Labrador, Newfoundland, Cape Breton, +La Cadie, and the Almouchiquois, [187] places well known, as I have treated +of them sufficiently in the narrative of my previous Voyages, as likewise +of the people living there, on which account I shall not speak of them in +this treatise, my object being only to make a succinct and true report of +what I have seen in addition. + +The country of the nation of the Attigouantans is in latitude 44 deg. 30', and +extends two hundred and thirty leagues [188] in length westerly, and ten in +breadth. It contains eighteen villages, six of which are enclosed and +fortified by palisades of wood in triple rows, bound together, on the top +of which are galleries, which they provide with stones and water; the +former to hurl upon their enemies and the latter to extinguish the fire +which their enemies may set to the palisades. The country is pleasant, most +of it cleared up. It has the shape of Brittany, and is similarly situated, +being almost surrounded by the _Mer Douce_ [189] They assume that these +eighteen villages are inhabited by two thousand warriors, not including the +common mass which amounts to perhaps thirty thousand souls. + +Their cabins are in the shape of tunnels or arbors, and are covered with +the bark of trees. They are from twenty-five to thirty fathoms long, more +or less, and six wide, having a passage-way through the middle from ten to +twelve feet wide, which extends from one end to the other. On the two sides +there is a kind of bench, four feet high, where they sleep in summer, in +order to avoid the annoyance of the fleas, of which there are great +numbers. In winter they sleep on the ground on mats near the fire, so as to +be warmer than they would be on the platform. They lay up a stock of dry +wood, with which they fill their cabins, to burn in winter. At the +extremity of the cabins there is a space, where they preserve their Indian +corn, which they put into great casks made of the bark of trees and placed +in the middle of their encampment. They have pieces of wood suspended, on +which they put their clothes, provisions, and other things, for fear of the +mice, of which there are great numbers. In one of these cabins there may be +twelve fires, and twenty-four families. It smokes excessively, from which +it follows that many receive serious injury to the eyes, so that they lose +their sight towards the close of life. There is no window nor any opening, +except that in the upper part of their cabins for the smoke to escape. + +This is all that I have been able to learn about their mode of life; and I +have described to you fully the kind of dwelling of these people, as far as +I have been able to learn it, which is the same as that of all the tribes +living in these regions. They sometimes change their villages at intervals +of ten, twenty, or thirty years, and transfer them to a distance of one, +two, or three leagues from the preceding situation, [190] except when +compelled by their enemies to dislodge, in which case they retire to a +greater distance, as the Antouhonorons, who went some forty to fifty +leagues. This is the form of their dwellings, which are separated from each +other some three or four paces, for fear of fire, of which they are in +great dread. + +Their life is a miserable one in comparison with our own; but they are +happy among themselves, not having experienced anything better, and not +imagining that anything more excellent is to be found. Their principal +articles of food are Indian corn and Brazilian beans, [191] which they +prepare in various ways. By braying in a wooden mortar they reduce the corn +to meal. They remove the bran by means of fans made of the bark of trees. +From this meal they make bread, using also beans which they first boil, as +they do the Indian corn for soup, so that they may be more easily crushed. +Then they mix all together, sometimes adding blueberries [192] or dry +raspberries, and sometimes pieces of deer's fat, though not often, as this +is scarce with them. After steeping the whole in lukewarm water, they make +bread in the form of bannocks or pies, which they bake in the ashes. After +they are baked they wash them, and from these they often make others by +wrapping them in corn leaves, which they fasten to them, and then putting +them in boiling water. + +But this is not their most common kind. They make another, which they call +_migan_, which is as follows: They take the pounded Indian corn, without +removing the bran, and put two or three handfuls of it in an earthen pot +full of water. This they boil, stirring it from time to time, that it may +not burn nor adhere to the pot. Then they put into the pot a small quantity +of fish, fresh or dry, according to the season, to give a flavor to the +_migan_, as they call it. They make it very often, although it smells +badly, especially in winter, either because they do not know how to prepare +it rightly, or do not wish to take the trouble to do so. They make two +kinds of it, and prepare it very well when they choose. When they use fish +the _migan_ does not smell badly, but only when it is made with +venison. After it is all cooked, they take out the fish, pound it very +fine, and then put it all together into the pot, not taking the trouble to +remove the appendages, scales, or inwards, as we do, which generally causes +a bad taste. It being thus prepared, they deal out to each one his +portion. This _migan_ is very thin, and without much substance, as may be +well supposed. As for drink, there is no need of it, the _migan_ being +sufficiently thin of itself. + +They have another kind of _migan_, namely, they roast new corn before it is +ripe, which they preserve and cook whole with fish, or flesh when they have +it. Another way is this: they take Indian corn, which is very dry, roast it +in the ashes, then bray it and reduce it to meal as in the former case. +This they lay up for the journeys which they undertake here and there. The +_migan_ made in the latter manner is the best according to my taste. Figure +H shows the women braying their Indian corn. In preparing it, they cook a +large quantity of fish and meat, which they cut into pieces and put into +great kettles, which they fill with water and let it all boil well. When +this is done, they gather with a spoon from the surface the fat which comes +from the meat and fish. Then they put in the meal of the roasted corn, +constantly stirring it until the _migan_ is cooked and thick as soup. They +give to each one a portion, together with a spoonful of the fat. This dish +they are accustomed to prepare for banquets, but they do not generally make +it. + +Now the corn freshly roasted, as above described, is highly esteemed among +them. They eat also beans, which they boil with the mass of the roasted +flour, mixing in a little fat and fish. Dogs are in request at their +banquets, which they often celebrate among themselves, especially in +winter, when they are at leisure. In case they go hunting for deer or go +fishing, they lay aside what they get for celebrating these banquets, +nothing remaining in their cabins but the usual thin _migan_, resembling +bran and water, such as is given to hogs to eat. + +They have another way of eating the Indian corn. In preparing it, they take +it in the ear and put it in water under the mud, leaving it two or three +months in this state until they think it is putrefied. Then they remove it, +and eat it boiled with meat or fish. They also roast it, and it is better +so than boiled. But I assure you that there is nothing that smells so badly +as this corn as it comes from the water all muddy. Yet the women and +children take it and suck it like sugar-cane, nothing seeming to them to +taste better, as they show by their manner. In general they have two meals +a day. As for ourselves, we fasted all of Lent and longer, in order to +influence them by our example. But it was time lost. + +They also fatten bears, which they keep two or three years, for the purpose +of their banquets. I observed that if this people had domestic animals they +would be interested in them and care for them very well, and I showed them +the way to keep them, which would be an easy thing for them, since they +have good grazing grounds in their country, and in large quantities, for +all kinds of animals, horses, oxen, cows, sheep, swine, and other kinds, +for lack of which one would consider them badly off, as they seem to be. +Yet with all their drawbacks, they seem to me to live happily among +themselves, since their only ambition is to live and support themselves, +and they lead a more settled life than those who wander through the forests +like brute beasts. They eat many squashes, [193] which they boil, and roast +in the ashes. + +In regard to their dress, they have various kinds and styles made of the +skins of wild beasts, both those which they capture themselves, and others +which they get in exchange for their Indian corn, meal, porcelain, and +fishing-nets from the Algonquins, Nipissings, and other tribes, which are +hunters having no fixed abodes. All their clothes are of one uniform shape, +not varied by any new styles. They prepare and fit very well the skins, +making their breeches of deer-skin rather large, and their stockings of +another piece, which extend up to the middle and have many folds. Their +shoes are made of the skins of deer, bears, and beaver, of which they use +great numbers. Besides, they have a robe of the same fur, in the form of a +cloak, which they wear in the Irish or Egyptian style, with sleeves which +are attached with a string behind. This is the way they are dressed in +winter, as is seen in figure D. When they go into the fields, they gird up +their robe about the body; but when in the village, they leave off their +sleeves and do not gird themselves. The Milan trimmings for decorating +their garments are made of glue and the scrapings of the before-mentioned +skins, of which they make bands in various styles according to their fancy, +putting in places bands of red and brown color amid those of the glue, +which always keep a whitish appearance, not losing at all their shape, +however dirty they may get. There are those among these nations who are +much more skilful than others in fitting the skins, and ingenious in +inventing ornaments to put on their garments. It is our Montagnais and +Algonquins, above all others, who take more pains in this matter. They put +on their robes bands of porcupine quills, which they dye a very fine +scarlet color. [194] They value these bands very highly, and detach them so +that they may serve for other robes when they wish to make a change. They +also make use of them to adorn the face, in order to give it a more +graceful appearance whenever they wish particularly to decorate themselves. + +Most of them paint the face black and red. These colors they mix with oil +made from the seed of the sun-flower, or with bear's fat or that of other +animals. They also dye their hair, which some wear long, others short, +others on one side only. The women and girls always wear their hair in one +uniform style. They are dressed like men, except that they always have +their robes girt about them, which extend down to the knee. They are not at +all ashamed to expose the body from the middle up and from the knees down, +unlike the men, the rest being always covered. They are loaded with +quantities of porcelain, in the shape of necklaces and chains, which they +arrange in the front of their robes and attach to their waists. They also +wear bracelets and ear-rings. They have their hair carefully combed, dyed, +and oiled. Thus they go to the dance, with a knot of their hair behind +bound up with eel-skin, which they use as a cord. Sometimes they put on +plates a foot square, covered with porcelain, which hang on the back. Thus +gaily dressed and habited, they delight to appear in the dance, to which +their fathers and mothers send them, forgetting nothing that they can +devise to embellish and set off their daughters. I can testify that I have +seen at dances a girl who had more than twelve pounds of porcelain on her +person, not including the other bagatelles with which they are loaded and +bedecked. In the illustration already cited, F shows the dress of the +women, G that of the girls attired for the dance. + +All these people have a very jovial disposition, although there are many of +them who have a sad and gloomy look. Their bodies are well proportioned. +Some of the men and women are well formed, strong, and robust. There is a +moderate number of pleasing and pretty girls, in respect to figure, color, +and expression, all being in harmony. Their blood is but little +deteriorated, except when they are old. There are among these tribes +powerful women of extraordinary height These have almost the entire care of +the house and work; namely, they till the land, plant the Indian corn, lay +up a store of wood for the winter, beat the hemp and spin it, making from +the thread fishing-nets and other useful things. The women harvest the +corn, house it, prepare it for eating, and attend to household matters. +Moreover they are expected to attend their husbands from place to place in +the fields, filling the office of pack-mule in carrying the baggage, and to +do a thousand other things. All the men do is to hunt for deer and other +animals, fish, make their cabins, and go to war. Having done these things, +they then go to other tribes with which they are acquainted to traffic and +make exchanges. On their return, they give themselves up to festivities and +dances, which they give to each other, and when these are over they go to +sleep, which they like to do best of all things. + +They have some sort of marriage, which is as follows: when a girl has +reached the age of eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen years she +has suitors, more or less according to her attractions, who woo her for +some time. After this, the consent of their fathers and mothers is asked, +to whose will the girls often do not submit, although the most discreet and +considerate do so. The lover or suitor presents to the girl some necklaces, +chains, and bracelets of porcelain. If the girl finds the suitor agreeable, +she receives the present. Then the lover comes and remains with her three +or four nights, without saying anything to her during the time. They +receive thus the fruit of their affections. Whence it happens very often +that, after from eight to fifteen days, if they cannot agree, she quits her +suitor, who forfeits his necklaces and other presents that he has made, +having received in return only a meagre satisfaction. Being thus +disappointed in his hopes, the man seeks another woman, and the girl +another suitor, if it seems to them desirable. Thus they continue to do +until a favorable union is formed. It sometimes happens that a girl thus +passes her entire youth, having more than twenty mates, which twenty are +not alone in the enjoyment of the creature, mated though they are; for when +night comes the young women run from one cabin to another, as do also the +young men on their part, going where it seems good to them, but always +without any violence, referring the whole matter to the pleasure of the +woman. Their mates will do likewise to their women-neighbors, no jealousy +arising among them on that account, nor do they incur any reproach or +insult, such being the custom of the country. + +Now the time when they do not leave their mates is when they have +children. The preceding mate returns to her, renews the affection and +friendship which he had borne her in the past, asserting that it is greater +than that of any other one, and that the child she has is his and of his +begetting. The next says the same to her. In time, the victory is with the +stronger, who takes the woman for his wife. Thus it depends upon the +choice of the woman to take and accept him who shall please her best, +having meantime in her searching and loves gained much porcelain and, +besides, the choice of a husband. The woman remains with him without +leaving him; or if she do leave him, for he is on trial, it must be for +some good reason other than impotence. But while with this husband, she +does not cease to give herself free rein, yet remains always at home, +keeping up a good appearance. Thus the children which they have together, +born from such a woman, cannot be sure of their legitimacy. Accordingly, in +view of this uncertainty, it is their custom that the children never +succeed to the property and honors of their fathers, there being doubt, as +above indicated, as to their paternity. They make, however, the children of +their sisters, from whom they are known to have issued, their successors +and heirs. + +The following is the way they nourish and bring up their children: they +place them during the day on a little wooden board, wrapping them up in +furs or skins. To this board they bind them, placing them in an erect +position, and leaving a little opening for the child to do its necessities. +If it is a girl, they put a leaf of Indian corn between the thighs, which +presses against its privates. The extremity of the leaf is carried outside +in a turned position, so that the water of the child runs off on it without +inconvenience. They put also under the children the down of certain reeds +that we call hare's-foot, on which they rest very softly. They also clean +them with the same down. As an ornament for the child, they adorn the board +with beads, which they also put on its neck, however small it may be. At +night they put it to bed, entirely naked, between the father and mother. It +may be regarded as a great miracle that God should thus preserve it so that +no harm befalls it, as might be expected, from suffocation, while the +father and mother are in deep sleep, but that rarely happens. The children +have great freedom among these tribes. The fathers and mothers indulge them +too much, and never punish them. Accordingly they are so bad and of so +vicious a nature, that they often strike their mothers and others. The most +vicious, when they have acquired the strength and power, strike their +fathers. They do this whenever the father or mother does anything that +does not please them. This is a sort of curse that God inflicts upon them. + +In respect to laws, I have not been able to find out that they have any, or +anything that approaches them, inasmuch as there is not among them any +correction, punishment, or censure of evil-doers except in the way of +vengeance, when they return evil for evil, not by rule but by passion, +which produces among them conflicts and differences, which occur very +frequently. + +Moreover, they do not recognize any divinity, or worship any God and +believe in anything whatever, but live like brute beasts. They have, +however, some respect for the devil, or something so called, which is a +matter of uncertainty, since the word which they use thus has various +significations and comprises in itself various things. It is accordingly +difficult to determine whether they mean the devil or something else, but +what especially leads to the belief that what they mean is the devil is +this: whenever they see a man doing something extraordinary, or who is more +capable than usual, or is a valiant warrior, or furthermore who is in a +rage as if out of his reason and senses, they call him _oqui_, or, as we +should say, a great knowing spirit, or a great devil. However this may be, +they have certain persons, who are the _oqui_, or, as the Algonquins and +Montagnais call them, _manitous_; and persons of this kind are the +medicine-men, who heal the sick, bind up the wounded, and predict future +events, who in fine practise all abuses and illusions of the devil to +deceive and delude them. These _oquis_ or conjurers persuade their patients +and the sick to make, or have made banquets and ceremonies that they may be +the sooner healed, their object being to participate in them finally +themselves and get the principal benefit therefrom. Under the pretence of a +more speedy cure, they likewise cause them to observe various other +ceremonies, which I shall hereafter speak of in the proper place. These +are the people in whom they put especial confidence, but it is rare that +they are possessed of the devil and tormented like other savages living +more remote than themselves. + +This gives additional reason and ground to believe that their conversion to +the knowledge of God would be more easy, if their country were inhabited by +persons who would take the trouble and pains to instruct them. But it is +not enough to send to them friars, unless there are those to support and +assist them. For although these people have the desire to-day to know what +God is, to-morrow this disposition will change when they are obliged to lay +aside and bring under their foul ways, their dissolute manners, and their +savage indulgences. So that there is need of people and families to keep +them in the way of duty, to constrain them through mildness to do better, +and to move them by good example to mend their lives. Father Joseph [195] +and myself have many times conferred with them in regard to our belief, +laws, and customs. They listened attentively in their assemblies, sometimes +saying to us: You say things that pass our knowledge, and which we cannot +understand by words, being beyond our comprehension; but if you would do us +a service come and dwell in this country, bringing your wives and children, +and when they are here we shall see how you serve the God you worship, and +how you live with your wives and children, how you cultivate and plant the +soil, how you obey your laws, how you take care of animals, and how you +manufacture all that we see proceeding from your inventive skill. When we +see all this, we shall learn more in a year than in twenty by simply +hearing you discourse and if we cannot then understand, you shall take our +children, who shall be as your own. And thus being convinced that our life +is a miserable one in comparison with yours, it is easy to believe that we +shall adopt yours, abandoning our own. + +Their words seemed to me good common sense, showing the desire they have to +get a knowledge of God. It is a great wrong to let so many men be lost, and +see them perish at our door, without rendering them the succor which can +only be given through the help of kings, princes, and ecclesiastics, who +alone have the power to do this. For to them alone belongs the honor of so +great a work; namely, planting the Christian faith in an unknown region and +among savage nations, since we are well informed about these people, that +they long for and desire nothing so much as to be clearly instructed as to +what they should do and avoid. It is accordingly the duty of those who have +the power, to labor there and contribute of their abundance, for one day +they must answer before God for the loss of the souls which they allowed to +perish through their negligence and avarice; and these are not few but very +numerous. Now this will be done when it shall please God to give them grace +to this end. As for myself, I desire this result rather to-day than +to-morrow, from the zeal which I have for the advancement of God's glory, +for the honor of my King, and for the welfare and renown of my country. + +When they are sick, the man or woman who is attacked with any disease sends +for the _oqui_, who visits the patient and informs himself about the malady +and the suffering. After this, the _oqui_ sends for a large number of men, +women, and girls, including three or four old women. These enter the cabin +of the sick, dancing, each one having on his head the skin of a bear or +some other wild beast, that of the bear being the most common as it is the +most frightful. There are three or four other old women about the sick or +suffering, who for the most part feign sickness, or are sick merely in +imagination. But they are soon cured of this sickness, and generally make +banquets at the expense of their friends or relatives, who give them +something to put into their kettle, in addition to the presents which they +receive from the dancers, such as porcelain and other bagatelles, so that +they are soon cured; for when they find that they have nothing more to look +for, they get up with what they have secured. But those who are really sick +are not readily cured by plays, dances, and such proceedings. + +To return to my narrative: the old women near the sick person receive the +presents, each singing and pausing in turn. When all the presents have been +made, they proceed to lift up their voices with one accord, all singing +together and keeping time with sticks on pieces of dry bark. Then all the +women and girls proceed to the end of the cabin, as if they were about to +begin a ballet or masquerade. The old women walk in front with their +bearskins on their heads, all the others following them, one after the +other. They have only two kinds of dances with regular time, one of four +steps and the other of twelve, as in the _trioli_ de Bretagne. They +exhibit much grace in dancing. Young men often take part with them. After +dancing an hour or two, the old women lead out the sick person to dance, +who gets up dolefully and prepares to dance, and after a short time she +dances and enjoys as much as the others. I leave it to you to consider how +sick she was. Below is represented the mode of their dances. + +The medicine-man thus gains honor and credit, his patient being so soon +healed and on her feet. This treatment, however, does nothing for those who +are dangerously ill and reduced by weakness, but causes their death rather +than their cure; for I can testify that they sometimes make such a noise +and hubbub from morning until two o'clock at night that it is impossible +for the patient to endure it without great pain. Sometimes the patient is +seized with the desire to have the women and girls dance all together, +which is done in accordance with the direction of the _oqui_. But this is +not all, for he and the _manitou_, accompanied by some others, make +grimaces, perform magic arts, and twist themselves about so that they +generally end in being out of their senses, seemingly crazy, throwing the +fire from one side of the cabin to the other, eating burning coals, holding +them in their hands for a while, and throwing red-hot ashes into the eyes +of the spectators. Seeing them in this condition, one would say that the +devil, the _oqui_, or _manitou_, if he is thus to be called, possesses and +torments them. This noise and hubbub being over, they retire each to his +own cabin. + +But those who suffer especially during this time are the wives of those +possessed, and all the inmates of their cabins, from the fear they have +lest the raging ones burn up all that is in their houses. This leads them +to remove everything that is in sight; for as soon as he arrives he is all +in a fury, his eyes flashing and frightful, sometimes standing up, +sometimes seated, as his fancy takes him. Suddenly a fit seizes him, and +laying hold of everything he finds in his way he throws them to one side +and the other. Then he lies down and sleeps for some time. Waking up with a +jump, he seizes fire and stones which he throws about recklessly on all +sides. This rage passes off with the sleep which seizes him again. Then he +rages and calls several of his friends to sweat with him. The latter is the +best means they have for preserving themselves in health. While they are +sweating, the kettle boils to prepare them something to eat They remain, +two or three hours or so, covered up with great pieces of bark and wrapped +in their robes, with a great many stones about them which have been heated +red hot in the fire. They sing all the time while they are in the rage, +occasionally stopping to take breath. Then they give them many draughts of +water to drink, since they are very thirsty, when the demoniac, who was +crazy or possessed of an evil spirit, becomes sober. + +Thus it happens that three or four of these sick persons get well, rather +by a happy coincidence and chance than in consequence of any intelligent +treatment, and this confirms their false belief that they are healed by +means of these ceremonies, not considering that, for two who are thus +cured, ten others die on account of the noise, great hubbub and hissing, +which are rather calculated to kill than cure a sick person. But that they +expect to recover their health by this noise, and we on the contrary by +silence and rest, shows how the devil does everything in hostility to the +good. + +There are also women who go into these rages, but they do not do so much +harm. They walk on all fours like beasts. Seeing this, the magician, called +_oqui_, begins to sing; then, with some contortions of the face, he blows +upon her, directing her to drink certain waters, and make at once a banquet +of fish or flesh, which must be procured although very scarce at the +time. When the shouting is over and the banquet ended, they return each to +her own cabin. At another time he comes back and visits her, blowing upon +her and singing in company with several others, who have been summoned for +this purpose, and who hold in the hand a dry tortoise-shell filled with +little pebbles, which they cause to resound in the ears of the sick woman. +They direct her to make at once three or four banquets with singing and +dancing, when all the girls appear adorned and painted as I have +represented in figure G. The _oqui_ orders masquerades, and directs them to +disguise themselves, as those do who run along the streets in France on +_Mardi-gras_. [196] Thus they go and sing near the bed of the sick woman +and promenade through the village while the banquet is preparing to receive +the maskers, who return very tired, having taken exercise enough to be able +to empty the kettle of its _migan_. + +According to their custom each household lives on what it gets by fishing +and planting, improving as much land as it needs. They clear it up with +great difficulty, since they do not have the implements adapted to this +purpose. A party strip the trees of all their branches, which they burn at +their base in order to kill them. They clear carefully the land between the +trees, and then plant their corn at distances of a pace, putting in each +place some ten kernels, and so on until they have made provision for three +or four years, fearing that a bad year may befall them. The women attend to +the planting and harvesting, as I have said before, and to procuring a +supply of wood for winter. All the women aid each other in procuring this +provision of wood, which they do in the month of March or April, in the +order of two days for each. Every household is provided with as much as it +needs; and if a girl marries, each woman and girl is expected to carry to +the newly married one a parcel of wood for her provision, since she could +not procure it alone, and at a season when she has to give her attention to +other things. + +The following is their mode of government: the older and leading men +assemble in a council, in which they settle upon and propose all that is +necessary for the affairs of the village. This is done by a plurality of +voices, or in accordance with the advice of some one among them whose +judgment they consider superior: such a one is requested by the company to +give his opinion on the propositions that have been made, and this opinion +is minutely obeyed. They have no particular chiefs with absolute command, +but they show honor to the older and more courageous men, whom they name +captains, as mark of honor and respect, of which there are several in a +village. But, although they confer more honor upon one than upon others, +yet he is not on that account to bear sway, nor esteem himself higher than +his companions, unless he does so from vanity. They make no use of +punishments nor arbitrary command, but accomplish everything by the +entreaties of the seniors, and by means of addresses and remonstrances. +Thus and not otherwise do they bring everything to pass. + +They all deliberate in common, and whenever any member of the assembly +offers to do anything for the welfare of the village, or to go anywhere for +the service of the community, he is requested to present himself, and if he +is judged capable of carrying out what he proposes, they exhort him, by +fair and favorable words, to do his duty. They declare him to be an +energetic man, fit for undertakings, and allure him that he will win honor +in accomplishing them. In a word, they encourage him by flatteries, in +order that this favorable disposition of his for the welfare of his fellow- +citizens may continue and increase. Then, according to his pleasure, he +refuses the responsibility, which few do, or accepts, since thereby he is +held in high esteem. + +When they engage in wars or go to the country of their enemies, two or +three of the older or valiant captains make a beginning in the matter, and +proceed to the adjoining villages to communicate their purpose, and make +presents to the people of these villages, in order to induce them to +accompany them to the wars in question. In so far they act as generals of +armies. They designate the place where they desire to go, dispose of the +prisoners who are captured, and have the direction of other matters of +especial importance, of which they get the honor, if they are successful; +but, if not, the disgrace of failure in the war falls upon them. These +captains alone are looked upon and considered as chiefs of the tribes. + +They have, moreover, general assemblies, with representatives from remote +regions. These representatives come every year, one from each province, and +meet in a town designated as the rendezvous of the assembly. Here are +celebrated great banquets and dances, for three weeks or a month, according +as they may determine. Here they renew their friendship, resolve upon and +decree what they think best for the preservation of their country against +their enemies, and make each other handsome presents, after which they +retire each to his own district. + +In burying the dead, they take the body of the deceased, wrap it in furs, +and cover it very carefully with the bark of trees. Then they place it in a +cabin, of the length of the body, made of bark and erected upon four posts. +Others they place in the ground, propping up the earth on all sides, that +it may not fall on the body, which they cover with the bark of trees, +putting earth on top. Over this trench they also make a little cabin. Now +it is to be understood that the bodies remain in these places, thus +inhumed, but for a period of eight or ten years, when the men of the +village recommend the place where their ceremonies are to take place; or, +to speak more precisely, they hold a general council, in which all the +people of the country are present, for the purpose of designating the place +where a festival is to be held. After this they return each to his own +village, where they take all the bones of the deceased, strip them and make +them quite clean. These they keep very carefully, although they smell like +bodies recently interred. Then all the relatives and friends of the +deceased take these bones, together with their necklaces, furs, axes, +kettles, and other things highly valued, and carry them, with a quantity of +edibles, to the place assigned. Here, when all have assembled, they put the +edibles in a place designated by the men of the village, and engage in +banquets and continual dancing. The festival continues for the space of ten +days, during which time other tribes, from all quarters, come to witness it +and the ceremonies. The latter are attended with great outlays. + +Now, by means of these ceremonies, including dances, banquets, and +assemblies, as above stated, they renew their friendship to one another, +saying that the bones of their relatives and friends are to be all put +together, thus indicating by a figure that, as their bones are gathered +together and united in one and the same place, so ought they also, during +their life, to be united in one friendship and harmony, like relatives and +friends, without separation. Having thus mingled together the bones of +their mutual relatives and friends, they pronounce many discourses on the +occasion. Then, after various grimaces or exhibitions, they make a great +trench, ten fathoms square, in which they put the bones, together with the +necklaces, chains of porcelain, axes, kettles, sword-blades, knives, and +various other trifles, which, however, are of no slight account in their +estimation. They cover the whole with earth, putting on top several great +pieces of wood, and placing around many posts, on which they put a +covering. This is their manner of proceeding with regard to the dead, and +it is the most prominent ceremony they have. Some of them believe in the +immortality of the soul, while others have only a presentiment of it, +which, however, is not so very different; for they say that after their +decease they will go to a place where they will sing, like crows, a song, +it must be confessed, quite different from that of angels. On the following +page are represented their sepulchres and manner of interment. + +It remains to describe how they spend their time in winter; namely, from +the month of December to the end of March, or the beginning of our spring, +when the snow melts. All that they might do during autumn, as I have before +stated, they postpone to be done during winter; namely, their banquetings, +and usual dances for the sake of the sick, which I have already described, +and the assemblages of the inhabitants of various villages, where there are +banquetings, singing, and dances, which they call _tabagies_ [197] and +where sometimes five hundred persons are collected, both men, women, and +girls. The latter are finely decked and adorned with the best and most +costly things they have. + +On certain days they make masquerades, and visit each other's cabins, +asking for the things they like, and if they meet those who have what they +want, these give it to them freely. Thus they go on asking for many things +without end; so that a single one of those soliciting will have robes of +beaver, bear, deer, lynxes, and other furs, also fish, Indian corn, +tobacco, or boilers, kettles, pots, axes, pruning-knives, knives, and other +like things. They go to the houses and cabins of the village, singing these +words, That one gave me this, another gave that, or like words, by way of +commendation. But if one gives them nothing they get angry, and show such +spite towards him that when they leave they take a stone and put it near +this man or that woman who has not given them anything. Then, without +saying a word, they return singing, which is a mark of insult, censure, and +ill-will. The women do so as well as the men, and this mode of proceeding +takes place at night, and the masquerade continues seven or eight days. +There are some of their villages which have maskers or merry-makers, as we +do on the evening of _Mardi-gras_, and they invite the other villages to +come and see them and win their utensils, if they can. Meanwhile banquets +are not wanting. This is the way they spend their time in winter. + +Moreover the women spin, and pound meal for the journeys of their husbands +in summer, who go to other tribes to trade, as they decide to do at the +above-mentioned councils, in which it is determined what number of men may +go from each village, that it may not be deprived of men of war for its +protection; and nobody goes from the country without the general consent of +the chiefs, or if they should go they would be regarded as behaving +improperly. The men make nets for fishing, which they carry on in summer, +but generally in winter, when they capture the fish under the ice with the +line or with the seine. + +The following is their manner of fishing. They make several holes in a +circular form in the ice, the one where they are to draw the seine being +some five feet long and three wide. Then they proceed to place their net at +this opening, attaching it to a rod of wood from six to seven feet long, +which they put under the ice. This rod they cause to pass from hole to +hole, when one or more men, putting their hands in the holes, take hold of +the rod to which is attached an end of the net, until they unite at the +opening of five to six feet. Then they let the net drop to the bottom of +the water, it being sunk by little stones attached to the end. After it is +down they draw it up again with their arms at its two ends, thus capturing +the fish that are in it. This is, in brief, their manner of fishing in +winter. + +The winter begins in the month of November and continues until the month of +April, when the trees begin to send forth the sap and show their buds. + +On the 22d of the month of April we received news from our interpreter, who +had gone to Carantouean, through those who had come from there. They told us +that they had left him on the road, he having returned to the village for +certain reasons. + +Now, resuming the thread of my narrative, our savages assembled to come +with us, and conduct us back to our habitation, and for this purpose we set +out from their country on the 20th of the month, [198] and were forty days +on the way. We caught a large number of fish and animals of various kinds, +together with small game, which afforded us especial pleasure, in addition +to the provisions thus furnished us for our journey. Upon our arrival among +the French, towards the end of the month of June, I found Sieur du Pont +Grave, who had come from France with two vessels, and who had almost +despaired of seeing me again, having heard from the savages the bad news, +that I was dead. + +We also saw all the holy fathers who had remained at our settlement. They +too were very happy to see us again, and we none the less so to see them. +Welcomes, and felicitations on all sides being over, I made arrangements to +set out from, the Falls of St. Louis for our settlement, taking with me my +host D'Arontal. I took leave also of all the other savages, assuring them +of my affection, and that, if I could, I would see them in the suture, to +assist them as I had already done in the past, bringing them valuable +presents to secure their friendship with one another, and begging them to +forget all the disputes which they had had when I reconciled them, which +they promised to do. + +Then we set out, on the 8th of July, and arrived at our settlement on the +11th of that month. Here I found everybody in good health, and we all, in +company with our holy fathers, who chanted the Divine service, returned +thanks to God for His care in preserving us, and protecting us amid the +many perils and dangers to which we had been exposed. + +After this, and when everything had become settled, I proceeded to show +hospitalities to my host, D'Arontal, who admired our building, our conduct, +and mode of living. After carefully observing us, he said to me, in +private, that he should never die contented until he had seen all of his +friends, or at least a good part of them, come and take up their abode with +us, in order to learn how to serve God, and our way of living, which he +esteemed supremely happy in comparison with their own. Moreover he said +that, if he could not learn it by word of mouth, he would do so much better +and more easily by sight and by frequent intercourse, and that, if their +minds could not comprehend our arts, sciences, and trades, their children +who were young could do so, as they had often represented to us in their +country in conversation with Father Joseph. He urged us, for the promotion +of this object, to make another settlement at the Falls of St. Louis, so as +to secure them the passage of the river against their enemies, assuring us +that, as soon as we should build a house, they would come in numbers to +live as brothers with us. Accordingly I promised to make a settlement for +them as soon as possible. + +After we had remained four or five days together, I gave him some valuable +presents, with which he was greatly pleased, and I begged him to continue +his affection for us, and come again to see our settlement with his +friends. Then he returned happy to the Falls of St Louis, where his +companions awaited him. + +When this Captain D'Arontal had departed, we enlarged our habitation by a +third at least in buildings and fortifications, since it was not +sufficiently spacious, nor convenient for receiving the members of our own +company and likewise the strangers that might come to see us. We used, in +building, lime and sand entirely, which we found very good there in a spot +near the habitation. This is a very useful material for building for those +disposed to adapt and accustom themselves to it. + +The Fathers Denis and Joseph determined to return to France, in order to +testify there to all they had seen, and to the hope they could promise +themselves of the conversion of these people, who awaited only the +assistance of the holy fathers in order to be converted and brought to our +faith and the Catholic religion. + +During my stay at the settlement I had some common grain cut; namely, +French grain, which had been planted there and which had come up very +finely, that I might take it to France, as evidence that the land is good +and fertile. In another part, moreover, there was some fine Indian corn, +also scions and trees which had been given us by Sieur du Monts in +Normandy. In a word all the gardens of the place were in an admirably fine +condition, being planted with peas, beans, and other vegetables, also +squashes, and very superior radishes of various sorts, cabbages, beets, and +other kitchen vegetables. When on the point of departure, we left two of +our fathers at the settlement; namely, Fathers Jean d'Olbeau and Pacifique, +[199] who were greatly pleased with all the time spent at that place, and +resolved to await there the return of Father Joseph, [200] who was expected +to come back in the following year, which he did. + +We sailed in our barques the 20th day of July, and arrived at Tadoussac the +23d day of the month, where Sieur du Pont Grave awaited us with his vessel +ready and equipped. In this we embarked and set out the 3d day of the month +of August. The wind was so favorable that we arrived in health by the grace +of God, at Honfleur, on the 10th day of September, one thousand six hundred +and sixteen, and upon our arrival rendered praise and thanks to God for his +great care in preserving our lives, and delivering and even snatching us, +as it were, from the many dangers to which we had been exposed, and for +bringing and conducting us in health to our country; we besought Him also +to move the heart of our King, and the gentlemen of his council, to +contribute their assistance so far as necessary to bring these poor savages +to the knowledge of God, whence honor will redound to his Majesty, grandeur +and growth to his realm, profit to his subjects, and the glory of all these +undertakings and toils to God, the sole author of all excellence, to whom +be honor and glory. Amen. + + +ENDNOTES: + +78. Champlain's first voyage was made in 1603, and this journal was + published in 1619. It was therefore fully fifteen years since his + explorations began. + +79. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Sagard, Trois ed., pp 27, 28. The reader + is likewise referred to the Memoir of Champlain, Vol. I. pp 122-124. + +80. Bernard du Verger, a man of exalted virtue--_Laverdiere_. + +81. Robert Ubaldim was nuncio at this time. _Vide Laverdiere in loco_. + +82. Denis Jamay. Sagard writes this name _Jamet_. + +83. Jean d'Olbeau. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Gabriel Sagard, Paris, + 1636, Tross ed., Vol. I. p. 28. + +84. Pacifique du Plessis was a lay-brother, although the title of Father is + given to him by several early writers. _Vide citations by Laverdiere in + loco_, Quebec ed., Vol. IV. p. 7. + +85. Read April 24. It is obvious from the context that it could not be + August. Sagard says _le_ 24 _d'Auril_. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, Trois + ed., Vol. I. p 36. + +86. The Recollect Father Joseph le Caron. + +87. _Vide Laverdiere in loco_. + +88. Father Denis Jamay. + +89. Jean d'Olbeau and Pacifique du Plessis. + +90. This refers to the volume bearing date 1613, but which may not have + been actually issued from the press till 1614. + +91. Our views of the war policy of Champlain are stated at some length in + Vol I. pp 189-193. + +92. Laverdiere thinks it probable that Champlain left the Falls of St Louis + on the 23d of June, and that the Holy Mass was celebrated on the + Riviere des Prairies on the 24th, the festival of St John the Baptist. + +93. This interpreter was undoubtedly Etienne Brule. It was a clearly + defined policy of Champlain to send suitable young men among the + savages, particularly to learn their language, and subsequently to act + as interpreters. Brule is supposed to have been of this class. + +94. The Lake of Two Mountains. + +95. The River Ottawa, which Champlain had explored in 1613, as far as + Allumet Island, where a tribe of the Algonquins resided, called later + _Kichesipinni_. _Vide Relation des Jesuites_, 1640, p 34. + +96. This is an over-estimate. + +97. Champlain here again, _Vide_ note 90, refers to the issue bearing date + 1613. It is not unlikely that while it bears the imprint of 1613, it + did not actually issue from the press till 1614. + +98. The lake or expansion of the Ottawa on the southern side of Allumet + Island was called the lake of the Algonquins, as Allumet Island was + oftentimes called the Island of the Algonquins. + +99. The River Ottawa. + +100. Pere Vimont calls this tribe _Kotakoutouemi_. _Relation des Jesuites_, + 1640, p. 34. Pere Rogueneau gives _Outaoukotouemiouek_, and remarks + that their language is a mixture of Algonquin and Montagnais. _Vide + Relation des Jesuites_, 1650. p. 34; also _Laverdiere in loco_. + +101. _Blues_, blueberries. The Canada blueberry. _Vaccinium Canadense_. + Under the term _blues_ several varieties may have been included. + Charlevoix describes and figures this fruit under the name _Bluet du + Canada. _Vide Description des Plantes Principales de l'Amerique + Septentrionale_, in _Histoire de la Nouvelle France_, Paris. 1744, + Tom. IV. pp. 371, 372; also Vol. I: p 303, note 75, of this work. + +102. At its junction with the Mattawan, the Ottawa's course is from the + north. What is known as its east branch rises 150 miles north of the + city of Ottawa. Extending towards the west in a winding course for the + distance of about 300 miles, it turns towards the southeast, and a few + miles before it joins the Mattawan its course is directly south. From + its northeastern source by a short portage is reached the river + Chomouchouan, an affluent of Lake St. John and the Saguenay. + +103. Mattawa is 197 miles from Ottawa. We have no means of giving the + latitude with entire accuracy, but it is about 46 deg. 20'. + +104. Lac du Talon and Lac la Tortue. + +105. Nipissings, or Nipissirini. Champlain writes _Nipisierinii_. + +106. On the 26th of July, The distance from the junction of the Ottawa and + the Mattawan to Lake Nipissing is about thirty-two miles If _lieues_ + were translated miles, it would be a not very incorrect estimate. + +107. _Vide_ the representations here referred to. + +108. Lake Nipissing, whose dimensions are over-stated. + +109. Sturgeon River. + +110. Pere Vimont gives the names of these tribes as follows,--_Timiscimi, + Outimagami, Ouachegami, Mitchitamou, Outurbi, Kiristinon_. _Vide + Relation des Jesuites_. 1640. p. 34. + +111. French River. + +112. _Blues_. _Vide antea_, note 101. + +113. This significant name is given with reference to their mode of + dressing their hair. + +114. Blueberries, _Vaccinium Canadense_. + +115. _De cuir beullu_, for _cuir bouilli_, literally "boiled leather." + +116. The shields of the savages of this region may have been made of the + hide of the buffalo, although the range of this animal was far to the + northwest of them. Champlain saw undoubtedly among the Hurons skins of + the buffalo. _Vide postea_, note 180. + +117. Lake Huron is here referred to. + +118. The greatest length of Lake Huron on a curvilinear line, between the + discharge of St Mary's Strait and the outlet, is about 240 miles; its + length due north and south is 186 miles, and its extreme breadth about + 220 miles. _Bouchette_. + +119. Coasting along the eastern shore of the Georgian Bay, when they + arrived at Matchedash Bay they crossed it in a southwesterly course + and entered the country of the Attigouautans, or, as they are + sometimes called, the Attignaouentans. _Relation des Jesuites,_ 1640, + p. 78. They were a principal tribe of the Hurons, living within the + limits of the present county of Simcoe. It is to be regretted that the + Jesuit Fathers did not accompany their relations with local maps by + which we could fix, at least approximately, the Indian towns which + they visited, and with which they were so familiar. For a description + of the Hurons and of their country, the origin of the name and other + interesting particulars, _vide Pere Hierosine Lalemant, Relation des + Jesuites_, 1639, Quebec ed. p. 50. + +120. _Sitrouilles_ for _citrouilles_. _Vide_ Vol II. p. 64, note 128. + +121. _Herbe au soleil_. The sunflower of Northeast America, _Helianthus + multiflorus_. This species is found from Quebec to the Saskatchewan, a + tributary of Lake Winnipeg. _Vide Chronological History of Plants_, by + Charles Pickering, M.D., Boston, 1879. p. 914. Charlevoix, in the + description of his journey through Canada in 1720, says: "The Soleil + is a plant very common in the fields of the savages, and which grows + seven or eight feet high. Its flower, which is very large, is in the + shape of the marigold, and the seed grows in the same manner. The + savages, by boiling it, draw out an oil, with which they grease their + hair." _Letters to the Dutchess of Lesdiguieres_, London, 1763, p. 95. + +122. _Vignes_ Probably the frost grape, _Vitis cordifolia_. + +123. _Prunes_. The Canada plum, _Prunus Americana_. + +124. _Framboises_. The wild red raspberry, _Rubus strigosus_. + +125. _Fraises_. The wild strawberry, _Fragaria Virginiana_. _Vide + Pickering Chro. Hist. Plants_, p. 771. + +126. _Petites pommes sauuages_. Probably the American crab-apple, _Pyrus + coronaria_. + +127. _Noix_ This may include the butternut and some varieties of the + walnut. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 264. + +128. Doubtless the May-apple, _Podophyllum peltatum_. In the wilds of + Simcoe this fruit may have seemed tolerable from the absence of others + more desirable. Gray says, "It is slightly acid, mawkish, eaten by + pigs and boys." _Cf. Florula Bostioniensis_, by Jacob Bigelow, + M.D. Boston, 1824, pp. 215, 216. + +129. _Les Chesnes, ormeaux, & heslres_. For oaks see Vol I. p. 264. Elms, + plainly the white elm, _Ulmus Americana_, so called in + contradistinction to the red or slippery elm, _Ulmus fulva_. The + savages sometimes used the bark of the slippery elm in the + construction of their canoes when the white birch could not be + obtained. _Vide Charlevoix's Letters_, 1763, p. 94. For the beech, see + Vol. I. p. 264. + +130. _Perdrix_. Canada Grouse, _Tetrao Canadensis_, sometimes called the + Spruce Partridge, differing from the partridge of New England, which + is the Ruffed Grouse, _Bonasa umbellus_. This latter species is, + however, found likewise in Canada. + +131. _Lapins_. The American hare, _Lepus Americanus_. + +132. _Cerises petites_. Reference is evidently here made to the wild red + cherry, _Prunus Pennsylvanica_, which is the smallest of all the + native species. _Cf_. Vol. I. p. 264. + +133. _Merises_. The wild black cherry, _Prunus serotina_. + +134. The Carantouanais. _Vide Carte de la Nouvelle France_, 1632, _also_ + Vol. I. p. 304. This tribe was probably situated on the upper waters + of the Susquehanna, and consequently south of the Five Nations, + although we said inadvertently in Vol. I. p. 128 that they were on the + west of them. General John S. Clark thinks their village was at + Waverly, near the border of Pennsylvania In Vol. I. p. 143. in the + 13th line from the top, we should have said the Carantouanais instead + of _Entouhonorons_. + +135. The Entouhonorons were a part, it appears, of the Five Nations. + Champlain says they unite with the Iroquois in making war against all + the other tribes except the Neutral Nation. Lake Ontario is called + _Lac des Entouhonorons_, and Champlain adds that their country is near + the River St. Lawrence, the passage of which they forbid to all other + tribes. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 303, 304. He thus appears to apply the name + _Iroquois_ to the eastern portion of the Five Nations, particularly + those whom he had attacked on Lake Champlain; and the Huron name, + _Entouhonorons_, to the western portion. The subdivisions, by which + they were distinguished at a later period, were probably not then + known, at least not to Champlain. + +136. _Flamens_. The Dutch were at this time on the Hudson, qengaged in the + fur trade with the savages. _Vide History of the State of New York_ by + John Romeyn Brodhead, New York, 1853. pp. 38-65. _History of New + Netherland_ or _New York under the Dutch_, by E. B. O'Callaghan, New + York, 1846, pp. 67-77. + +137. Their enemies were the Iroquois. + +138. _Chouontouaroueon_, another name for _Entouhoronon_. + +139. Lake Couchiching, a small sheet of water into which pass by a small + outlet the waters of Lake Simcoe. + +140. Lake Simcoe. Laverdiere says the Indian name of this lake was + _Ouentaronk_, and that it was likewise called _Lac aux Claies_. + +141. Etienne Brule. _Vide postea_, p. 208. + +142. _Dans ces lacs_. From Lake Chouchiching, coasting along the + northeastern shore of Lake Simcoe, they would make five or six leagues + in reaching a point nearest to Sturgeon Lake. + +143. Undoubtedly Sturgeon Lake. + +144. From their entrance of Sturgeon Lake to the point where they reached + Lake Ontario, at the eastern limit of Amherst Island, the distance is, + in its winding and circuitous course, not far from Champlain's + estimate, viz. sixty-four leagues. That part of the river above Rice + Lake is the Otonabee; that below is known as the Trent. + +145. _Grues_ The white crane, _Grus Americanus_ Adult plumage pure white + _Coues's Key to North American Birds_, Boston, 1872, p 271 Charlevoix + says, "We have cranes of two colors, some white and others _gris de + lin_," that is a purple or lilac color. This latter species is the + brown crane, _Grus Canadensis_. "Plumage plumbeous gray." _Coues_. + _Vide Charlevoix's Letters_, London. 1763, p 83. + +146. The latitude of the eastern end of Amherst Island is about 44 deg. 11'. + +147. This traverse, it may be presumed, was made by coasting along the + shore, as was the custom of the savages with their light canoes. + +148. It appears that, after making by estimate about fourteen leagues in + their bark canoes, and four by land along the shore, they struck + inland. Guided merely by the distances given in the text, it is not + possible to determine with exactness at what point they left the + lake. This arises from the fact that we are not sure at what point the + measurement began, and the estimated distances are given, moreover, + with very liberal margins. But the eighteen leagues in all would take + them not very far from Little Salmon River, whether the estimate were + made from the eastern end of Amherst Island or Simcoe Island, or any + place in that immediate neighborhood. The natural features of the + country, for four leagues along the coast north of Little Salmon + River, answer well to the description given in the text. The chestnut + and wild grape are still found there. _Vide MS. Letters of the + Rev. James Cross, D.D., LL.D., and of S.Z. Smith, Esq._, of Mexico, + New York. + +149. Lake Ontario, or Lake of the Entouhonorons, is about a hundred and + eighty miles long, and about fifty-five miles in its extreme width. + +150. The river here crossed was plainly Oneida River, flowing from Oneida + Lake into Lake Ontario. The lake is identified by the islands in it. + Oneida Lake is the only one in this region which contains any islands + whatever, and consequently the river flowing from it must be that now + known as Oneida River. + +151. For the probable site of this fort, see Vol. I. p. 130, note 83. + +152. They were of the tribe called Carantouanais. _Vide antea_, note 134. + +153. This was in the month of October. + +154. _Et apres auoir trauerse le bout du lac de laditte isle_. From this + form of expression this island would seem to have been visited before. + But no particular island is mentioned on their former traverse of the + lake. It is impossible to fix with certainty upon the isiand referred + to. It may have been Simcoe or Wolf Island, or some other. + +155. Probably Cataraqui Creek. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 136. + +156. Perhaps Loughborough Lake, or the system of lakes of which this is a + part. + +157. _Cygnes_, swans. Probably the Trumpeter Swan, _Cygnus buccinator_. + They were especially found in Sagard's time about Lake Nipissing. + "Mais pour des Cignes, qu'ils appellent _Horhev_, il y en a + principalement vers les Epicerinys." _Vide Le Grand Voyage av Pays des + Hurons_ par Fr. Gabriel Sagard, Paris, 1632, p. 303. + +158. _Grues blanches_. _Vide antea_, n. 145. + +159. _Houstardes_. _Vide antea_, note 32. + +160. _Mauuis_, Song-Thrush. Doubtless the Robin, _Turdus migratorius_. + +161. _Allouettes_, larks. Probably the Brown Lark, _Anthus ludovicianus_. + Found everywhere in North America. + +162. _Beccassines_. Probably the American Snipe, _Gallinago Wilsonii_. + +163. _Oyes_, geese. The common Wild Goose, _Branta Canadensis_, or it may + include all the species taken collectively. For the several species + found in Canada, _vide antea_, note 32. + +164. _Les loups_. The American Wolf, _Lupus occidentalis_. + +165. The thirty-eight days during which they were there would include the + whole period from the time they began to make their preparations on + the 28th of October on the shores of Lake Ontario till they began + their homeward journey on the 4th of December. _Vide antea_, p. 137; + _postea_, p. 143. + +166. The author here refers to the chief D'Arontal, whose guest he + was. _Vide antea_, 137. Cf. also Quebec ed. 1632, p. 928. + +167. _Trainees de bois_, a kind of sledge. The Indian's sledge was made of + two pieces of board, which, with his stone axe and perhaps with the + aid of fire, he patiently manufactured from the trunks of trees. The + boards were each about six inches wide and six or seven feet long, + curved upward at the forward end and bound together by cross pieces. + The sides were bordered with strips of wood, which served as brackets, + to which was fastened the strap that bound the baggage upon the + sledge. The load was dragged by a rope or strap of leather passing + round the breast of the savage and attached to the end of the sledge. + The sledge was so narrow that it could be drawn easily and without + impediment wherever the savage could thread his way through the + pathless forests. + + The journey from their encampment northeast of Kingston on Lake + Ontario to the capital of the Hurons was not less in a straight line + than a hundred and sixty miles. Without a pathway, in the heart of + winter, through water and melting snow, with their heavy burdens, the + hardship and exhaustion can hardly be exaggerated. + +168. Namely at Cahiague. In the issue of 1632, Champlain says they arrived + on the 23d day of the month. _Vide_ Quebec ed, p. 929. Leaving on the + 4th and travelling nineteen days, as stated above, they would arrive + on the 23d December. + +169. Probably the 4th of January. + +170. Father Joseph Le Caron had remained at Carhagouha, during the absence + of the war party in their attack upon the Iroquois, where Champlain + probably arrived on the 5th of January. + +171. In the issue of 1632, the arrival of Champlain and Le Caron is stated + to have occurred on the 17th of January. This harmonizes with the + correction of dates in notes 169, 170. + + The Huron name of the Petuns was _Tionnontateronons_, or + _Khionontateronons_, or _Quieunontateronons_. Of them Vimont says, + "Les Khionontateronons, qu'on appelle la nation du Petun, pour + l'abondance qu'il y a de cette herbe, sont eloignez du pays des + Hurons, dont ils parlent la langue, enuiron douze ou quinze lieues + tirant a l'Occident." _Vide Relation des Jesuites_, 1640, p. 95; + _His. Du Canada_, Vol. I. p. 209. Sagard. + + For some account of the subsequent history of the Nation de Petun, + _vide Indian Migration in Ohio_, by C. C. Baldwin, 1879, p. 2. + +172. It was of great importance to the Indians to select a site for their + villages where suitable wood was accessible, both for fortifying them + with palisades and for fuel in the winter. It could not be brought a + great distance for either of these purposes. Hence when the wood in + the vicinity became exhausted they were compelled to remove and build + anew. + +173. That is to say like the Hurons. + +174. The Nation Neutre was called by the Hurons _Attisandaronk_ or + _Attihouandaron_. _Vide Relation des Jesuites_, 1641, p. 72; + _Dictonaire de la Langue Huronne_, par Sagard, a Paris, 1632. + Champlain places them, on his map of 1632, south of Lake Erie. His + knowledge of that lake, obtained from the savages, was very meagre as + the map itself shows. The Neutres are placed by early writers on the + west of Lake Ontario and north of Lake Erie _Vide Laverdiere in loco_, + Quebec ed., p. 546; also, _Indian Migration in Ohio_, by C. C. + Baldwin, p. 4. They are placed far to the south of Lake Erie by + Nicholas Sanson. _Vide Cartes de l'Amerique_, 1657. + +175. The Cheveux Releves are represented by Champlain as dwelling west of + the Petuns, and were probably not far from the most southern limit of + the Georgian Bay. Strangely enough Nicholas Sanson places them on a + large island that separates the Georgian Bay from Lake Huron. _Vide + Cartes de l'Amerique_ par N. Sanson, 1657. + +176. _Atsistaehronons, ou Nation du Feu_. Their Algonquin name was + Mascoutins or Maskoutens. with several other orthographies. The + significance of their name is given by Sagard as follows: Ils sont + errans, sinon que quelques villages d'entr'eux fement des bleds + d'Inde, et font la guerre a vne autre Nation, nommee _Assitagueronon_, + qui veut dire gens de feu: car en langue Huronne _Assista_ signifie du + feu, et _Eronon_, signifie Nation. _Le Grand Voyage du Pays des + Hurons_, par Gabriel Sagard, a Paris, 1632, p. 78. _Vide Relation des + Jesuites_, 1641, p 72; _Discovery and Exploration of the Mississippi + Valley_, by John Gilmary Shea, p. 13; _Indian Migration in Ohio_, by + C. C. Baldwin, pp 9, 10; Discovery of the _Northwest by John Nicolet_, + by C. W. Butterfield, p. 63; _L'Amerique en Plusieurs Cartes_, par + N. Sanson, 1657. + +177. _Pisierinii_, the Nipissings. This relates to those Nipissings who had + accompanied Champlain on the expedition against the Iroquois, and who + were passing the winter among the Hurons. He had expected that they + would accompany him on explorations on the north of them. But arriving + at their encampment, on his return from the Petuns and Cheveux + Releves, he learned from them of the quarrel that had arisen between + the Algonquins and the Hurons. + +178. Attigouantans, the principal tribe of the Hurons. + +179. _Colliers de pourceline_. These necklaces were composed of shells, + pierced and strung like beads. They were of a violet color, and were + esteemed of great value. The _branches_ were strings of white shells, + and were more common and less valuable. An engraved representation may + be seen in _Histoire de L'Amerique Septentrionale_, par De la + Potherie, Paris, 1722, Tom. I. p. 334. For a full description of + these necklaces and their significance and use in their councils, + _vide Charlevoix's Letters_, London, 1763, p 132. + +180. _Buffles_, buffaloes. The American Bison, _Bos Americanus_. The skins + seen by Champlain in the possession of the savages seem to indicate + that the range of the buffalo was probably further east at that period + than at the present time, its eastern limit being now about the Red + River, which flows into Lake Winnipeg. The limit of its northern range + is generally stated to be at latitude 60 degrees, but it is sometimes + found as far north as 63 degrees or 64 degrees. _Vide_ Dr. Shea's + interesting account of the buffalo in _Discovery and Exploration of + Mississippi Valley_, p. 18. The range of the Musk Ox is still farther + north, rarely south of latitude 67 degrees. His home is in the Barren + Grounds, west of Hudson Bay, and on the islands on the north of the + American Continent, where he subsists largely on lichens and the + meagre herbage of that frosty region. + +181. Champlain is here speaking of the whole country of New France. + +182. This sentence in the original is unfinished and defective. _Au coste + vers le Nort, icelle grande riuiere terant a l'Occident, etc_. In the + ed. 1632, the reading is _Au coste vers le nort d'icelle grande + riuiere tirant au suroust, etc_. The tranlation is according to the + ed. of 1632. _Vide_ Quebec ed., p. 941. + +183. Champlain here gives the four species of the _cervus_ family under + names then known to him, viz, the moose, wapiti or elk, caribou, and + the common deer. + +184. _Fouines_, a quadruped known as the minx or mink, _Mustela vison_. + +185. _Martes_, weasels, _Mustela vulgaris_. + +186. _The country on the north_, &c. Having described the country along the + coast of the St Lawrence and the lakes he now refers to the country + still further north even to the southern borders of Hudson's Bay + _Vide_ small map. + +187. _Almouchiquois_, so in the French for Almouchiquois. All the tribes at + and south of _Chouacoet_, or the mouth of the Saco River, were + denominated Almouchiquois by the French. _Vide_ Vol II p 63, _et + passim_. + +188. The country of the Attigouantans, sometimes written Attigouautans, the + principal tribe of the Hurons, used by Champlain as including the + whole, with whom the French were in close alliance, was from east to + west not more than about twelve leagues. There must have been some + error by which the author is made to say that it was _two hundred and + thirty leagues_. Laverdiere suggests that in the manuscript it might + have been 23, or 20 to 30, and that the printer made it 230. + +189. The author plainly means that the country of the Hurons was nearly + surrounded by the Mer Douce; that is to say, by Lake Huron and the + waters connected with it, viz., the River Severn, Lake Couchiching, + and Lake Simcoe. As to the population, compare _The Jesuits in North + America_, by Francis Parkman, LL.D., note p. xxv. + +190. _Vide antea_, note 172, for the reason of these removals. + +191. _Febues du Bresil_. This was undoubtedly the common trailing bean, + _Pliaseolus vulgaris_, probably called the Brazilian bean, because it + resembled a bean known under that name. It was found in cultivation in + New England as mentioned by Champlain and the early English settlers. + Bradford discoursing of the Indians, _His. Plymouth Plantation_, + p. 83, speaks of "their beans of various collours." It is possible + that the name, _febues du Bresil_, was given to it on account of its + red color, as was that of the Brazil-wood, from the Portuguese word + _braza_, a burning coal. + +192. _Vide antea_, note 101. + +193. _Sitrouelles_, or _citrouilles_, the common summer squash, _Cucurbita + polymorpha. Vide_ Vol. II. note 128. For figure D, _vide_ p. 116. + +194. The coloring matter appears to have been derived from the root of the + bedstraw, _Galium tinctorum_. Peter Kalm, a pupil of Linnaeus, who + travelled in Canada in 1749, says, "The roots of this plant are + employed by the Indians in dyeing the quills of the American + porcupines red, which they put into several pieces of their work, and + air, sun, or water seldom change this color." _Travels into North + America_, London, 1771, Vol. III. pp. 14-15. + +195. Pere Joseph Le Caron, who had passed the winter among the Hurons. + +196. _Mardi-gras_, Shrove-Tuesday, or _flesh Tuesday_, the last day of the + Carnival, the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day in Lent. + +197. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 236-238. + +198. This must have been on the 20th of May. + +199. Jean d'Olbeau and the lay brother Pacifique du Plessis. + +200. Joseph le Caron, who accompanied Champlain to France. + + + + +CONTINUATION OF THE VOYAGES +AND DISCOVERIES MADE IN NEW FRANCE, +BY +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, +CAPTAIN FOR THE KING IN THE WESTERN MARINE, +IN THE YEAR 1618. + + +At the beginning of the year one thousand six hundred and eighteen, on the +twenty-second of March, I set out from Paris, [201] together with my +brother-in-law, [202] for Honfleur, our usual port of embarkation. There we +were obliged to make a long stay on account of contrary winds. But when +they had become favorable, we embarked on the large vessel of the +association, which Sieur du Pont Grave commanded. There was also on board a +nobleman, named De la Mothe, [203] who had previously made a voyage with +the Jesuits to the regions of La Cadie, where he was taken prisoner by the +English, and by them carried to the Virginias, the place of their +settlement. Some time after they transferred him to England and from there +to France, where there arose in him an increased desire to make another +voyage to New France, which led him to seek the opportunity presented by +me. I had assured him, accordingly, that I would use my influence and +assistance with our associates, as it seemed to me that they would find +such a person desirable, since he would be very useful in those regions. + +Our embarkation being made, we took our departure from Honfleur on the 24th +day of May following, in the year 1618. The wind was favorable for our +voyage, but continued so only a very few days, when it suddenly changed, +and we had all the time head winds up to our arrival, on the 3d day of June +following, on the Grand Bank, where the fresh fishery is carried on. Here +we perceived to the windward of us some banks of ice, which came down from +the north. While waiting for a favorable wind we engaged in fishing, which +afforded us great pleasure, not only on account of the fish but also of a +kind of bird called _fauquets_, [204] and other kinds that are caught on +the line like fish. For, on throwing the line, with its hook baited with +cod liver, these birds made for it with a rush, and in such numbers that +you could not draw it out in order to throw it again, without capturing +them by the beak, feet, and wings as they slew and fell upon the bait, so +great were the eagerness and voracity of these birds. This fishing afforded +us great pleasure, not only on account of the sport, but on account of the +infinite number of birds and fish that we captured, which were very good +eating, and made a very desirable change on shipboard. + +Continuing on our route, we arrived on the 15th of the month off Isle +Percee, and on St. John's day [205] following entered the harbor of +Tadoussac, where we found our small vessel, which had arrived three weeks +before us. The men on her told us that Sieur des Chesnes, the commander, +had gone to our settlement at Quebec. Thence he was to go to the Trois +Rivieres to meet the savages, who were to come there from various regions +for the purpose of trade, and likewise to determine what was to be done on +account of the death of two of our men, who had been treacherously and +perfidiously killed by two vicious young men of the Montagnais. These two +unfortunate victims, as the men on the vessel informed us, had been killed +while out hunting nearly two years [206] before. Those in the settlement +had always supposed that they had been drowned from the upsetting of their +canoe, until a short time before, one of the men, conceiving an animosity +against the murderers, made a disclosure and communicated the fact and +cause of the murder to the men of our settlement. For certain reasons it +has seemed to me well to give an account of the matter and of what was done +in regard to it. But it is almost impossible to obtain the exact truth in +the case, on account, not only of the small amount of testimony at hand, +but of the diversity of the statements made, the most of which were +presumptive. I will, however, give an account of the matter here, following +the statement of the greater number as being nearer the truth, and relating +what I have found to be the most probable. + +The following is the occasion of the murder of the two unfortunate +deceased. One of the two murderers paid frequent visits to our settlement, +receiving there a thousand kindnesses and favors, among other persons from +Sieur du Parc, a nobleman from Normandy, in command at the time at Quebec, +in the service of the King and in behalf of the merchants of the +Association in the year 1616. This savage, while on one of his customary +visits, received one day, on account of some jealousy, ill treatment from +one of the two murdered men, who was by profession a locksmith, and who +after some words beat the savage so soundly as to impress it well upon his +memory. And not satisfied with beating and misusing the savage he incited +his companions to do the same, which aroused still more the hatred and +animosity of the savage towards this locksmith and his companions, and led +him to seek an opportunity to revenge himself. He accordingly watched for a +time and opportunity for doing so, acting however cautiously and appearing +as usual, without showing any sign of resentment. + +Some time after, the locksmith and a sailor named Charles Pillet, from the +island of Re, arranged to go hunting and stay away three or four nights. +For this purpose they got ready a canoe, and embarking departed from Quebec +for Cape Tourmente. Here there were some little islands where a great +quantity of game and birds resorted, near Isle d'Orleans, and distant seven +leagues from Quebec. The departure of our men became at once known to the +two savages, who were not slow in starting to pursue them and carry out +their evil design. They sought for the place where the locksmith and his +companion went to sleep, in order to surprise them. Having ascertained it +at evening, at break of day on the following morning, the two savages +slipped quietly along certain very pleasant meadows. Arriving at a point +near the place in question, they moored their canoe, landed and went +straight to the cabin, where our men had slept. But they found only the +locksmith, who was preparing to go hunting with his companion, and who +thought of nothing less than of what was to befall him. One of these +savages approached him, and with some pleasant words removed from him all +suspicion of anything wrong in order that he might the better deceive +him. But as he saw him stoop to adjust his arquebus, he quickly drew a club +that he had concealed on his person, and gave the locksmith so heavy a blow +on his head, that it sent him staggering and completely stunned. The +savage, seeing that the locksmith was preparing to defend himself, repeated +his blow, struck him to the ground, threw himself upon him, and with a +knife gave him three or four cuts in the stomach, killing him in this +horrible manner. + +In order that they might also get possession of the sailor, the companion +of the locksmith who had started early in the morning to go hunting, not +because they bore any special hatred towards him, but that they might not +be discovered nor accused by him, they went in all directions searching for +him. At last, from the report of an arquebus which they heard, they +discovered where he was, in which direction they rapidly hastened, so as to +give no time to the sailor to reload his arquebus and put himself in a +state of defence. Approaching, they fired their arrows at him, by which +having prostrated him, they ran upon him and finished him with the knife. + +Then the assassins carried off the body, together with the other, and, +binding them so firmly together that they would not come apart, attached to +them a quantity of stones and pebbles, together with their weapons and +clothes, so as not to be discovered by any sign, after which they carried +them to the middle of the river, threw them in, and they sank to the +bottom. Here they remained a long time until, through the will of God, the +cords broke, and the bodies were washed ashore and thrown far up on the +bank, to serve as accusers and incontestable witnesses of the attack of +these two cruel and treacherous assassins. For the two bodies were found at +a distance of more than twenty feet from the water in the woods, but had +not become separated in so long a time, being still firmly bound, the +bones, stripped of the flesh like a skeleton, alone remaining. For the two +victims, contrary to the expectation of the two murderers, who thought they +had done their work so secretly that it would never be known, were found a +long time after their disappearance by the men of our settlement, who, +pained at their absence, searched for them along the banks of the river. +But God in his justice would not permit so enormous a crime, and had caused +it to be exposed by another savage, their companion, in retaliation for an +injury he had received from them. Thus their wicked acts were disclosed. + +The holy Fathers and the men of the settlement were greatly surprised at +seeing the bodies of these two unfortunates, with their bones all bare, and +their skulls broken by the blows received from the club of the savages. The +Fathers and others at the settlement advised to preserve them in some +portion of the settlement until the return of our vessels, in order to +consult with all the French as to the best course to pursue in the matter. +Meanwhile our people at the settlement resolved to be on their guard, and +no longer allow so much freedom to these savages as they had been +accustomed to, but on the contrary require reparation for so cruel a murder +by a process of justice, or some other way, or let things in the mean time +remain as they were, in order the better to await our vessels and our +return, that we might all together consult what was to be done in the +matter. + +But the savages seeing that this iniquity was discovered, and that they and +the murderer were obnoxious to the French, were seized with despair, and, +fearing that our men would exercise vengeance upon them for this murder, +withdrew for a while from our settlement.[207] Not only those guilty of the +act but the others also being seized with fear came no longer to the +settlement, as they had been accustomed to do, but waited for greater +security for themselves. + +Finding themselves deprived of intercourse with us, and of their usual +welcome, the savages sent one of their companions named by the French, _La +Ferriere_, to make their excuses for this murder; namely, they asserted +they had never been accomplices in it, and had never consented to it, and +that, if it was desired to have the two murderers for the sake of +inflicting justice, the other savages would willingly consent to it, unless +the French should be pleased to take as reparation and restitution for the +dead some valuable presents of skins, as they are accustomed to do in +return for a thing that cannot be restored. They earnestly entreated the +French to accept this rather than require the death of the accused which +they anticipated would be hard for them to execute, and so doing to forget +everything as if it had not occurred. + +To this, in accordance with the advice of the holy Fathers, it was decided +to reply that the savages should bring and deliver up the two malefactors, +in order to ascertain from them their accomplices, and who had incited them +to do the deed. This they communicated to La Ferriere for him to report to +his companions. + +This decision having been made, La Ferriere withdrew to his companions, who +upon hearing the decision of the French found this procedure and mode of +justice very strange and difficult; since they have no established law +among themselves, but only vengeance and restitution by presents. After +considering the whole matter and deliberating with one another upon it, +they summoned the two murderers and set forth to them the unhappy position +into which they had been thrown by the event of this murder, which might +cause a perpetual war with the French, from which their women and children +would suffer. However much trouble they might give us, and although they +might keep us shut up in our settlement and prevent us from hunting, +cultivating and tilling the soil, and although we were in too small numbers +to keep the river blockaded, as they persuaded themselves to believe in +their consultations; still, after all their deliberations, they concluded +that it was better to live in peace with the French than in war and +perpetual distrust. + +Accordingly the savages thus assembled, after finishing their consultation +and representing the situation to the accused, asked them if they would not +have the courage to go with them to the settlement of the French and appear +before them; promising them that they should receive no harm, and assuring +them that the French were lenient and disposed to pardon, and would in +short go so far in dealing with them as to overlook their offence on +condition of their not returning to such evil ways. + +The two criminals, finding themselves convicted in conscience, yielded to +this proposition and agreed to follow this advice. Accordingly one of them +made preparations, arraying himself in such garments and decorations as he +could procure, as if he had been invited to go to a marriage or some great +festivity. Thus attired, he went to the settlement, accompanied by his +father, some of the principal chiefs, and the captain of their company. As +to the other murderer, he excused himself from this journey, [208] +realizing his guilt of the heinous act and fearing punishment. + +When now they had entered the habitation, which was forthwith surrounded by +a multitude of the savages of their company, the bridge [209] was drawn up, +and all of the French put themselves on guard, arms in hand. They kept a +strict watch, sentinels being posted at the necessary points, for fear of +what the savages outside might do, since they suspected that it was +intended actually to inflict punishment upon the guilty one, who had so +freely offered himself to our mercy, and not upon him alone, but upon those +also who had accompanied him inside, who likewise were not too sure of +their persons, and who, seeing matters in this state, did not expect to get +out with their lives. The whole matter was very well managed and carried +out, so as to make them realize the magnitude of the crime and have fear +for the future. Otherwise there would have been no security with them, and +we should have been obliged to live with arms in hand and in perpetual +distrust. + +After this, the savages suspecting lest something might happen contrary to +what they hoped from us, the holy Fathers proceeded to make them an address +on the subject of this crime. They set forth to them the friendship which +the French had shown them for ten or twelve years back, when we began to +know them, during which time we had continually lived in peace and intimacy +with them, nay even with such freedom as could hardly be expressed. They +added moreover that I had in person assisted them several times in war +against their enemies, thereby exposing my life for their welfare; while we +were not under any obligations to do so, being impelled only by friendship +and good will towards them, and feeling pity at the miseries and +persecutions which their enemies caused them to endure and suffer. This is +why we were unable to believe, they said, that this murder had been +committed without their consent, and especially since they had taken it +upon themselves to favor those who committed it. + +Speaking to the father of the criminal, they represented to him the +enormity of the deed committed by his son, saying that as reparation for it +he deserved death, since by our law so wicked a deed did not go unpunished, +and that whoever was found guilty and convicted of it deserved to be +condemned to death as reparation for so heinous an act; but, as to the +other inhabitants of the country, who were not guilty of the crime, they +said no one wished them any harm or desired to visit upon them the +consequences of it. + +All the savages, having clearly heard this, said, as their only excuse, but +with all respect, that they had not consented to this act; that they knew +very well that these two criminals ought to be put to death, unless we +should be disposed to pardon them; that they were well aware of their +wickedness, not before but after the commission of the deed; that they had +been informed of the death of the two ill-fated men too late to prevent it. +Moreover, they said that they had kept it secret, in order to preserve +constantly an intimate relationship and confidence with us, and declared +that they had administered to the evil-doers severe reprimands, and set +forth the calamity which they had not only brought upon themselves, but +upon all their tribe, relatives and friends; and they promised that such a +calamity should never occur again and begged us to forget this offence, and +not visit it with the consequences it deserved, but rather go back to the +primary motive which induced the two savages to go there, and have regard +for that. Furthermore they said that the culprit had come freely and +delivered himself into our hands, not to be punished but to receive mercy +from the French. + +But the father, turning to the friar, [210] said with tears, there is my +son, who committed the supposed crime; he is worthless, but consider that +he is a young, foolish, and inconsiderate person, who has committed this +act through passion, impelled by vengeance rather than by premeditation: it +is in your power to give him life or death; you can do with him what you +please, since we are both in your hands. + +After this address, the culprit son, presenting himself with assurance, +spoke these words. "Fear has not so seized my heart as to prevent my coming +to receive death according to my desserts and your law, of which I +acknowledge myself guilty." Then he stated to the company the cause of the +murder, and the planning and execution of it, just as I have related and +here set forth. + +After his recital he addressed himself to one of the agents and clerks of +the merchants of our Association, named _Beauchaine_, begging him to put +him to death without further formality. + +Then the holy Fathers spoke, and said to them, that the French were not +accustomed to put their fellow-men to death so suddenly, and that it was +necessary to have a consultation with all the men of the settlement, and +bring forward this affair as the subject of consideration. This being a +matter of great consequence, it was decided that it should be carefully +conducted and that it was best to postpone it to a more favorable occasion, +which would be better adapted to obtain the truth, the present time not +being favorable for many reasons. + +In the first place, we were weak in numbers in comparison with the savages +without and within our settlement, who, resentful and full of vengeance as +they are, would have been capable of setting fire on all sides and creating +disorder among us. In the second place, there would have been perpetual +distrust and no security in our intercourse with them. In the third place, +trade would have been injured, and the service of the King impeded. + +In view of these and other urgent considerations, it was decided that we +ought to be contented with their putting themselves in our power and their +willingness to give satisfaction submissively, the father of the criminal +on the one hand presenting and offering him to the company, and he, for his +part, offering to give up his own life as restitution for his offence, just +as his father offered to produce him whenever he might be required. + +This it was thought necessary to regard as a sort of honorable amend, and a +satisfaction to justice. And it was considered that if we thus pardoned the +offence, not only would the criminal receive his life from us, but, also, +his father and companions would feel under great obligations. It was +thought proper, however, to say to them as an explanation of our action, +that, in view of the fact of the criminal's public assurance that all the +other savages were in no respect accomplices, or to blame for the act, and +had had no knowledge of it before its accomplishment, and in view of the +fact that he had freely offered himself to death, it had been decided to +restore him to his father, who should remain under obligations to produce +him at any time. On these terms and on condition that he should in future +render service to the French, his life was spared, that he and all the +savages might continue friends and helpers of the French. + +Thus it was decided to arrange the matter until the vessels should return +from France, when, in accordance with the opinion of the captains and +others, a definite and more authoritative settlement was to be concluded. +In the mean time we promised them every favor and the preservation of their +lives, saying to them, however, for our security, that they should leave +some of their children as a kind of hostage, to which they very willingly +acceded, and left at the settlement two in the hands of the holy Fathers, +who proceeded to teach their letters, and in less than three months taught +them the alphabet and how to make the letters. + +From this it may be seen that they are capable of instruction and are +easily taught, as Father Joseph [211] can testify. + +The vessels having safely arrived, Sieur du Pont Grave, some others, and +myself were informed how the affair had taken place, as has been narrated +above, when we all decided that it was desirable to make the savages feel +the enormity of this murder, but not to execute punishment upon them, for +various good reasons hereafter to be mentioned. + +As soon as our vessels had entered the harbor of Tadoussac, even on the +morning of the next day, [212] Sieur du Pont Grave and myself set sail +again, on a small barque of ten or twelve tons' burden. So also Sieur de la +Mothe, together with Father Jean d'Albeau, [213] a friar, and one of the +clerks and agent of the merchants, named _Loquin_, embarked on a little +shallop, and we set out together from Tadoussac. There remained on the +vessel another friar, called Father _Modeste_ [214] together with the pilot +and master, to take care of her. We arrived at Quebec, the place of our +settlement, on the 27th of June following. Here we found Fathers Joseph, +Paul, and Pacifique, the friars, [215] and Sieur Hebert [216] with his +family, together with the other members of the settlement. They were all +well, and delighted at our return in good health like themselves, through +the mercy of God. + +The same day Sieur du Pont Grave determined to go to Trois Rivieres, where +the merchants carried on their trading, and to take with him some +merchandise, with the purpose of meeting Sieur des Chesnes, who was already +there. He also took with him Loquin, as before mentioned. I stayed at our +settlement some days, occupying myself with business relating to it; among +other things in building a furnace for making an experiment with certain +ashes, directions for which had been given me, and which are in truth of +great value; but it requires labor, diligence, watchfulness and skill; and +for the working of these ashes a sufficient number of men are needed who +are acquainted with this art. This first experiment did not prove +successful, and we postponed further trial to a more favorable opportunity. + +I visited the cultivated lands, [217] which I found planted with fine +grain. The gardens contained all kinds of plants, cabbages, radishes, +lettuce, purslain, sorrel, parsley, and other plants, squashes, cucumbers, +melons, peas, beans and other vegetables, which were as fine and forward as +in France. There were also the vines, which had been transplanted, already +well advanced. In a word, you could see everything growing and flourishing. +Aside from God, we are not to give the praise for this to the laborers or +their skill, for it is probable that not much is due to them, but to the +richness and excellence of the soil, which is naturally good and adapted +for everything, as experience shows, and might be turned to good account, +not only for purposes of tillage and the cultivation of fruit-trees and +vines, but also for the nourishment and rearing of cattle and fowl, such as +are common in France. But the thing lacking is zeal and affection for the +welfare and service of the King. + +I tarried some time at Quebec, in expectation of further intelligence, when +there arrived a barque from Tadoussac, which had been sent by Sieur du +Pont Grave to get the men and merchandise remaining at that place on the +before-mentioned large vessel. Leaving Quebec, I embarked with them for +Trois Rivieres, where the trading was going on, in order to see the savages +and communicate with them, and ascertain what was taking place respecting +the assassination above set forth, and what could be done to settle and +smooth over the whole matter. + +On the 5th of July following I set out from Quebec, together with Sieur de +la Mothe, for Trois Rivieres, both for engaging in traffic and to see the +savages. We arrived, at evening off Sainte Croix, [218] a place on the way +so called. Here we saw a shallop coming straight to us, in which were some +men from Sieurs du Pont Grave and des Chesnes, and also some clerks and +agents of the merchants. They asked me to despatch at once this shallop to +Quebec for some merchandise remaining there, saying that a large number of +savages had come for the purpose of making war. + +This intelligence was very agreeable to us, and in order to satisfy them, +on the morning of the next day I left my barque and went on board a shallop +in order to go more speedily to the savages, while the other, which had +come from Trois Rivieres, continued its course to Quebec. We made such +progress by rowing that we arrived at the before-mentioned place on the 7th +of July at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Upon landing, all the savages with +whom I had been intimate in their country recognized me. They were awaiting +me with impatience, and came up to me very happy and delighted to see me +again, one after the other embracing me with demonstrations of great joy, I +also receiving them in the same manner. In this agreeable way was spent the +evening and remainder of this day, and on the next day the savages held a +council among themselves, to ascertain from me whether I would again assist +them, as I had done in the past and as I had promised them, in their wars +against their enemies, by whom they are cruelly harassed and tortured. + +Meanwhile on our part we took counsel together to determine what we should +do in the matter of the murder of the two deceased, in order that justice +might be done, and that they might be restrained from committing such an +offence in future. + +In regard to the assistance urgently requested by the savages for making +war against their enemies, I replied that my disposition had not changed +nor my courage abated, but that what prevented me from assisting them was +that on the previous year, when the occasion and opportunity presented, +they failed me when the time came; because when they had promised to return +with a good number of warriors they did not do so, which caused me to +withdraw without accomplishing much. Yet I told them the matter should be +taken into consideration, but that for the present it was proper to +determine what should be done in regard to the assassination of the two +unfortunate men, and that satisfaction must be had. Upon this they left +their council in seeming anger and vexation about the matter, offering to +kill the criminals, and proceed at once to their execution, if assent were +given, and acknowledging freely among themselves the enormity of the +affair. + +But we would not consent to this, postponing our assistance to another +time, requiring them to return to us the next year with a good number of +men. I assured them, moreover, that I would entreat the King to favor us +with men, means, and supplies to assist them and enable them to enjoy the +rest they longed for, and victory over their enemies. At this they were +greatly pleased, and thus we separated, after they had held two or three +meetings on the subject, costing us several hours of time. Two or three +days after my arrival at this place they proceeded to make merry, dance, +and celebrate many great banquets in view of the future war in which I was +to assist them. + +Then I stated to Sieur du Pont Grave what I thought about this murder; that +it was desirable to make a greater demand upon them; that at present the +savages would dare not only to do the same thing again but what would be +more injurious to us; that I considered them people who were governed by +example; that they might accuse the French of being wanting in courage; +that if we said no more about the matter they would infer that we were +afraid of them: and that if we should let them go so easily they would grow +more insolent, bold, and intolerable, and we should even thereby tempt them +to undertake greater and more pernicious designs. Moreover I said that the +other tribes of savages, who had or should get knowledge of this act, and +that it had been unrevenged, or compromised by gifts and presents, as is +their custom, would boast that killing a man is no great matter; since the +French make so little account of seeing their companions killed by their +neighbors, who drink, eat, and associate intimately with them, as may be +seen. + +But, on the other hand, in consideration of the various circumstances; +namely, that the savages do not exercise reason, that they are hard to +approach, are easily estranged, and are very ready to take vengeance, that, +if we should force them to inflict punishment, there would be no security +for those desirous of making explorations among them, we determined to +settle this affair in a friendly manner, and pass over quietly what had +occurred, leaving them to engage peaceably in their traffic with the clerks +and agents of the merchants and others in charge. + +Now there was with them a man named _Estienne Brule_, one of our +interpreters, who had been living with them for eight years, as well to +pass his time as to see the country and learn their language and mode of +life. He is the one whom I had despatched with orders to go in the +direction of the Entouhonorons, [219] to Carantouean, in order to bring with +him five hundred warriors they had promised to send to assist us in the war +in which we were engaged against their enemies, a reference to which is +made in the narrative of my previous book. [220] I called this man, namely +Estienne Brule, and asked him why he had not brought the assistance of the +five hundred men, and what was the cause of the delay, and why he had not +rendered me a report. Thereupon he gave me an account of the matter, a +narrative of which it will not be out of place to give, as he is more to be +pitied than blamed on account of the misfortunes which he experienced on +this commission. + +He proceeded to say that, after taking leave of me to go on his journey and +execute his commission, he set out with the twelve savages whom I had given +him for the purpose of showing the way, and to serve as an escort on +account of the dangers which he might have to encounter. They were +successful in reaching the place, Carantouean, but not without exposing +themselves to risk, since they had to pass through the territories of their +enemies, and, in order to avoid any evil design, pursued a more secure +route through thick and impenetrable forests, wood and brush, marshy bogs, +frightful and unfrequented places and wastes, all to avoid danger and a +meeting with their enemies. + +But, in spite of this great care, Brule and his savage companions, while +crossing a plain, encountered some hostile savages, who were returning to +their village and who were surprised and worsted by our savages, four of +the enemy being killed on the spot and two taken prisoners, whom Brule and +his companions took to Carantouean, by the inhabitants of which place they +were received with great affection, a cordial welcome, and good cheer, with +the dances and banquets with which they are accustomed to entertain and +honor strangers. + +Some days were spent in this friendly reception; and, after Brule had told +them his mission and explained to them the occasion of his journey, the +savages of the place assembled in council to deliberate and resolve in +regard to sending the five hundred warriors asked for by Brule. + +When the council was ended and it was decided to send the men, orders were +given to collect, prepare, and arm them, so as to go and join us where we +were encamped before the fort and village of our enemies. This was only +three short days' journey from Carantouean, which was provided with more +than eight hundred warriors, and strongly fortified, after the manner of +those before described, which have high and strong palisades well bound and +joined together, the quarters being constructed in a similar fashion. + +After it had been resolved by the inhabitants of Carantouean to send the +five hundred men, these were very long in getting ready, although urged by +Brule, to make haste, who explained to them that if they delayed any longer +they would not find us there. And in fact they did not succeed in arriving +until two days after our departure from that place, which we were forced to +abandon, since we were too weak and worn by the inclemency of the weather. +This caused Brule, and the five hundred men whom he brought, to withdraw +and return to their village of Carantouean. After their return Brule was +obliged to stay, and spend the rest of the autumn and all the winter, for +lack of company and escort home. While awaiting, he busied himself in +exploring the country and visiting the tribes and territories adjacent to +that place, and in making a tour along a river [221] that debouches in the +direction of Florida, where are many powerful and warlike nations, carrying +on wars against each other. The climate there is very temperate, and there +are great numbers of animals and abundance of small game. But to traverse +and reach these regions requires patience, on account of the difficulties +involved in passing the extensive wastes. + +He continued his course along the river as far as the sea, [222] and to +islands and lands near them, which are inhabited by various tribes and +large numbers of savages, who are well disposed and love the French above +all other nations. But those who know the Dutch [223] complain severely of +them, since they treat them very roughly. Among other things he observed +that the winter was very temperate, that it snowed very rarely, and that +when it did the snow was not a foot deep and melted immediately. + +After traversing the country and observing what was noteworthy, he returned +to the village of Carantouean, in order to find an escort for returning to +our settlement. After some stay at Carantouean, five or six of the savages +decided to make the journey with Brule. On the way they encountered a large +number of their enemies, who charged upon Brule and his companions so +violently that they caused them to break up and separate from each other, +so that they were unable to rally: and Brule, who had kept apart in the +hope of escaping, became so detached from the others that he could not +return, nor find a road or sign in order to effect his retreat in any +direction whatever. Thus he continued to wander through forest and wood for +several days without eating, and almost despairing of his life from the +pressure of hunger. At last he came upon a little footpath, which he +determined to follow wherever it might lead, whether toward the enemy or +not, preferring to expose himself to their hands trusting in God rather +than to die alone and in this wretched manner. Besides he knew how to speak +their language, which he thought might afford him some assistance. + +But he had not gone a long distance when he discovered three savages loaded +with fish repairing to their village. He ran after them, and, as he +approached, shouted at them, as is their custom. At this they turned about, +and filled with fear were about to leave their burden and flee. But Brule +speaking to them reassured them, when they laid down their bows and arrows +in sign of peace, Brule on his part laying down his arms. Moreover he was +weak and feeble, not having eaten for three or four days. On coming up to +them, after he had told them of his misfortune and the miserable condition +to which he had been reduced, they smoked together, as they are accustomed +to do with one another and their acquaintances when they visit each +other. They had pity and compassion for him, offering him every assistance, +and conducting him to their village, where they entertained him and gave +him something to eat. + +But as soon as the people of the place were informed that an _Adoresetouey_ +had arrived, for thus they call the French, the name signifying _men of +iron_, they came in a rush and in great numbers to see Brule. They took him +to the cabin of one of the principal chiefs, where he was interrogated, and +asked who he was, whence he came, what circumstance had driven and led him +to this place, how he had lost his way, and whether he did not belong to +the French nation that made war upon them. To this he replied that he +belonged to a better nation, that was desirous solely of their acquaintance +and friendship. Yet they would not believe this, but threw themselves upon +him, tore out his nails with their teeth, burnt him with glowing +firebrands, and tore out his beard, hair by hair, though contrary to the +will of the chief. + +During this fit of passion one of the savages observed an _Agnus Dei_, +which he had attached to his neck, and asked what it was that he had thus +attached to his neck, and was on the point of seizing it and pulling it +off. But Brule said to him, with resolute words, If you take it and put me +to death, you will find that immediately after you will suddenly die, and +all those of your house. He paid no attention however to this, but +continuing in his malicious purpose tried to seize the _Agnus Dei_ and tear +it from him, all of them together being desirous of putting him to death, +but previously of making him suffer great pain and torture, such as they +generally practise upon their enemies. + +But God, showing him mercy, was pleased not to allow it, but in his +providence caused the heavens to change suddenly from the serene and fair +state they were in to darkness, and to become filled with great and thick +clouds, upon which followed thunders and lightnings so violent and long +continued that it was something strange and awful. This storm caused the +savages such terror, it being not only unusual but unlike anything they had +ever heard, that their attention was diverted and they forgot the evil +purpose they had towards Brule, their prisoner. They accordingly left him +without even unbinding him, as they did not dare to approach him. This gave +the sufferer an opportunity to use gentle words, and he appealed to them +and remonstrated with them on the harm they were doing him without cause, +and set forth to them how our God was enraged at them for having so abused +him. + +The captain then approached Brule, unbound him, and took him to his house, +where he took care of him and treated his wounds. After this there were no +dances, banquets, or merry-makings to which Brule was not invited. + +So after remaining some time with these savages, he determined to proceed +towards our settlement. + +Taking leave of them, he promised to restore them to harmony with the +French and their enemies, and cause them to swear friendship with each +other, to which end he said he would return to them as soon as he +could. Thence he went to the country and village of the Atinouaentans, +[224] where I had already been; the savages at his departure having +conducted him for a distance of four days' journey from their village. Here +Brule remained some time, when, resuming his journey towards us he came by +way of the _Mer Douce_, [225] boating along its northern shores for some +ten days, where I had also gone when on my way to the war. + +And if Brule had gone further on to explore these regions, as I had +directed him to do, it would not have been a mere rumor that they were +preparing war with one another. But this undertaking was reserved to +another time, which he promised me to continue and accomplish in a short +period with God's grace, and to conduct me there that I might obtain fuller +and more particular knowledge. + +After he had made this recital, I gave him assurance that his services +would be recognized, and encouraged him to continue his good purpose until +our return, when we should have more abundant means to do that with which +he would be satisfied. This is now the entire narrative and recital of his +journey from the time he left me [226] to engage in the above-mentioned +explorations; and it afforded me pleasure in the prospect thereby presented +me of being better able to continue and promote them. + +With this purpose he took leave of me to return to the savages, an intimate +acquaintance with whom had been acquired by him in his journeys and +explorations. I begged him to continue with them until the next year, when +I would return with a good number of men, both to reward him for his +labors, and to assist as in the past the savages, his friends, in their +wars. + +Resuming the thread of my former discourse, I must note that in my last and +preceding voyages and explorations I had passed through numerous and +diverse tribes of savages not known to the French nor to those of our +settlement, with whom I had made alliances and sworn friendship, on +condition that they should come and trade with us, and that I should assist +them in their wars; for it must be understood that there is not a single +tribe living in peace, excepting the Nation Neutre. According to their +promise, there came from the various tribes of savages recently discovered +some trade in peltry, others to see the French and ascertain what kind of +treatment and welcome would be shown them. This encouraged everybody, the +French on the one hand to show them cordiality and welcome, for they +honored them with some attentions and presents, which the agents of the +merchants gave to gratify them; on the other hand, it encouraged the +savages, who promised all the French to come and live in future in +friendship with them, all of them declaring that they would deport +themselves with such affection towards us that we should have occasion to +commend them, while we in like manner were to assist them to the extent of +our power in their wars. + +The trading having been concluded, and the savages having taken their leave +and departed, we left Trois Rivieres on the 14th of July of this year. The +next day we arrived at our quarters at Quebec, where the barques were +unloaded of the merchandise which had remained over from the traffic and +which was put in the warehouse of the merchants at that place. + +Now Sieur de Pont Grave went to Tadoussac with the barques in order to load +them and carry to the habitation the provisions necessary to support those +who were to remain and winter there, and I determined while the barques +were thus engaged to continue there for some days in order to have the +necessary fortifications and repairs made. + +At my departure from the settlement I took leave of the holy Fathers, Sieur +de la Mothe, and all the others who were to stay there, giving them to +expect that I would return, God assisting, with a good number of families +to people the country. I embarked on the 26th of July, together with the +Fathers Paul and Pacifique, [227] the latter having wintered here once and +the other having been here a year and a half, who were to make a report of +what they had seen in the country and of what could be done there. We set +out on the day above mentioned from the settlement for Tadoussac, where we +were to embark for France. We arrived the next day and found our vessels +ready to set sail. We embarked, and left Tadoussac for France on the 13th +of the month of July, 1618, and arrived at Honfleur on the 28th day of +August, the wind having been favorable, and all being in good spirits. + +ENDNOTES: + +201. Champlain made a voyage to New France in 1617, but appears to have + kept no journal of its events. He simply observes that nothing + occurred worthy of remark. _Vide_ issue of 1632, Quebec ed., p. 969. + Sagard gives a brief narrative of the events that occurred that + year. Vol. I. pp. 34-44. + +202. Eustache Boulle. His father was Nicolas Boulle, Secretary of the + King's Chamber, and his mother was Marguerite Alix. _Vide_ Vol. I. + p. 205 _et passim_. + +203. Nicolas de La Mothe, or de la Motte le Vilin. He had been Lieutenant + of Saussaye in 1613, when Capt. Argall captured the French colony at + Mount Desert. _Vide Les Voyages de Champlain_, 1632, Quebec ed., + p. 773; _Relation de la Nouvelle France_, Pere Biard, p. 64. + +204. _Fauquets_. Probably the common Tern, or Sea Swallow. _Sterna + hirundo_. Peter Kalm, on his voyage in 1749, says "Terns, _sterna + hirundo, Linn_, though of a somewhat darker colour than the common + ones, we found after the forty-first degree of north latitude and + forty-seventh degree of west longitude from _London_, very + plentifully, and sometimes in flocks of some hundreds; sometimes they + settled, as if tired, on our ship." _Kalm's Travels_, 1770, + Vol. I. p. 23. + +205. St. John's day was June 24th. + +206. According to Sagard they were assassinated about the middle of April, + 1617. _Hist. Canada_, Vol. I. p. 42. + +207. Sagard says the French, on account of this affair, were menaced by + eight hundred savages of different nations who were assembled at Trois + Rivieres. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, 1636, Vol. I. p.42. The + statement, "on estoit menace de huict cens Sauvages de diuerse + nations, qui festoient assemblez es Trois Rivieres a dessein de venir + surprendre les Francois & leur coupper a tous la gorge, pour preuenir + la vengeance qu'ils eussent pu prendre de deux de leurs hommes tuez + par les Montagnais environ la my Auril de l'an 1617," is, we think, + too strong. The savages were excited and frightened by the demands of + the French, who desired to produce upon their minds a strong moral + impression, in order to prevent a recurrence of the murder, which was + a private thing, in which the great body of the savages had no part. + They could not be said to be hostile, though they prudently put + themselves in a state of defence, as, under the circumstances, it was + very natural they should do. + +208. They were then at Trois Rivieres. + +209. The moat around the habitation at Quebec was fifteen feet wide and six + feet deep, constructed with a drawbridge to be taken up in case of + need. _Vide_ Vol II p. 182. + +210. Probably Pere le Caron, who was in charge of the mission at Quebec at + that time. + +211. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Sagard, 1636, Vol. I. p 45. + +212. They arrived on St. John's day, _antea, note 205_, and consequently + this was the 2tth of June, 1618. + +213. Jean d'Olbeau. + +214. Frere Modeste Guines. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Sagard, a Paris, + 1636, Vol. I.p. 40. + +215. Joseph le Caron, Paul Huet, and Pacifique du Plessis. + +216. Louis Hebert, an apothecary, settled at Port Royal in La Cadie or Nova + Scotia, under Poutrincourt, was there when, in 1613, possession was + taken in the name of Madame de Guercheville. He afterward took up his + abode at Quebec with his family, probably in the year 1617. His eldest + daughter Anne was married at Quebec to Estienne Jonquest, a Norman, + which was the first marriage that took place with the ceremonies of + the Church in Canada. His daughter Guillemette married William + Couillard, and to her Champlain committed the two Indian girls, whom + he was not permitted by Kirke to take with him to France, when Quebec + was captured by the English in 1629. Louis Hebert died at Quebec on + the 25th of January, 1627. _Histoire du Canada_, Vol. I. pp. 41, 591. + +217. These fields were doubtless those of Louis Hebert, who was the first + that came into the country with his family to live by the cultivation + of the soil. + +218. Platon. _Vide_ Vol. 1., note 155. + +219. Champlain says, _donne charge d'aller vers les Entouhonorons a + Carantouan_. By reference to the map of 1632. it will be seen that the + Entouhonorons were situated on the southern borders of Lake Ontario. + They are understood by Champlain to be a part at least of the + Iroquois; but the Carantouanais, allies of the Hurons, were south of + them, occupying apparently the upper waters of the Susquehanna. A + dotted line will be seen on the same map, evidently intended to mark + the course of Brule's journey. From the meagre knowledge which + Champlain possessed of the region, the line can hardly be supposed to + be very accurate, which may account for Champlain's indefinite + expression as cited at the beginning of this note. + + The Entouhonorons, Quentouoronons, Tsonnontouans, or Senecas + constituted the most western and most numerous canton of the Five + Nations. _Vide Continuation of the New Discovery_, by Louis Hennepin, + 1699, p. 95; also Origin of the name Seneca in Mr. O. H. Marshall's + brochure on _De la Salle among the Senecas_, pp. 43-45. + +220. _Vide antea_, p. 124. + +221. The River Susquehanna. + +222. He appears to have gone as far south at least as the upper waters of + Chesapeake Bay. + +223. The Dutch fur-traders. _Vide History of the State of New York_ by John + Romeyn Brodhead, Vol. I. p. 44 _et passim_. + +224. Attigonantans or Attignaouantans the principal tribe of the Hurons, + sometimes called _Les bons Iroquis_, as they and the Iroquois were of + the same original stock. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 276, note 212. + +225. Lake Huron. For the different names which have been attached to this + lake, _vide Local Names of Niagara Frontier_, by Orsamus H. Marshall, + 1881, P. 37. + +226. Brule was despatched on his mission Sept 8, 1615. _Vide antea_, + p. 124. + + As we have already stated in a previous note, it was the policy of + Champlain to place competent young men with the different tribes of + savages to obtain that kind of information which could only come from + an actual and prolonged residence with them. This enabled him to + secure not only the most accurate knowledge of their domestic habits + and customs, the character and spirit of their life, but these young + men by their long residence with the savages acquired a good knowledge + of their language, and were able to act as interpreters. This was a + matter of very great importance, as it was often necessary for + Champlain to communicate with the different tribes in making treaties + of friendship, in discussing questions of war with their enemies, in + settling disagreements among themselves, and in making arrangements + with them for the yearly purchase of their peltry. It was not easy to + obtain suitable persons for this important office. Those who had the + intellectual qualifications, and who had any high aspirations, would + not naturally incline to pass years in the stupid and degrading + associations, to say nothing of the hardships and deprivations, of + savage life. They were generally therefore adventurers, whose honesty + and fidelity had no better foundation than their selfish interests. Of + this sort was this Etienne Brule, as well as Nicholas Marsolet and + Pierre Raye, all of whom turned traitors, selling themselves to the + English when Quebec was taken in 1629. Of Brule, Champlain uses the + following emphatic language: "Le truchement Brusle a qui l'on donnoit + cent pistolles par an, pour inciter les sauuages a venir a la traitte, + ce qui estoit de tres-mauuais exemple, d'enuoyer ainsi des personnes + si maluiuans, que l'on eust deub chastier seuerement, car l'on + recognoissoit cet homme pour estre fort vicieux, & adonne aux femmes; + mais que ne fait faire l'esperance du gain, qui passe par dessus + toutes considerations." _Vide issue of_ 1632, Quebec ed., pp. 1065, + 1229. + + But among Champlain's interpreters there were doubtless some who bore + a very different character. Jean Nicolet was certainly a marked + exception. Although Champlain does not mention him by name, he appears + to have been in New France as early as 1618, where he spent many years + among the Algonquins, and was the first Frenchman who penetrated the + distant Northwest. He married into one of the most respectable + families of Quebec, and is often mentioned in the Relations des + Jesuites. _Vide_ a brief notice of him in _Discovery and Exploration + of the Mississippi Valley_, by John Gilmary Shea, 1852, p. xx. A full + account of his career has recently been published, entitled _History + of the Discovery of the Northwest by John Nicolet in_ 1634, _with a + Sketch of his Life_. By C. W. Butterfield. Cincinnati, 1881. _Vide_ + also _Details fur la Vie de Jean Nicollet_, an extract from _Relation + des Jesuites_, 1643, in _Decouveries_, etc, par Pierre Margry, p. 49. + +227. Paul Huet and Pacifique du Plessis. The latter had been in New France + more than a year and a half, having arrived in 1615. _Vide antea_, + pp. 104-5. + + + + +EXPLANATION +OF +TWO GEOGRAPHICAL MAPS OF NEW FRANCE. + + +It has seemed to me well to make some statements in explanation of the two +geographical maps. Although one corresponds to the other so far as the +harbors, bays, capes, promontories, and rivers extending into the interior +are concerned, nevertheless they are different in respect to the bearings. + +The smallest is in its true meridian, in accordance with the directions of +Sieur de Castelfranc in his book on the mecometry of the magnetic needle +[228] where I have noted, as will be seen on the map, several declinations, +which have been of much service to me, so also all the altitudes, +latitudes, and longitudes, from the forty-first degree of latitude to the +fifty-first, in the direction of the North Pole, which are the confines of +Canada, or the Great Bay, where more especially the Basques and Spaniards +engage in the whale fishery. In certain places in the great river +St. Lawrence, in latitude 45 deg., I have observed the declination of the +magnetic needle, and found it as high as twenty-one degrees, which is the +greatest I have seen. + +The small map will serve very well for purposes of navigation, provided the +needle be applied properly to the rose [229] indicating the points of the +compass. For instance, in using it, when one is on the Grand Bank where +fresh fishing is carried on, it is necessary, for the sake of greater +convenience, to take a rose where the thirty-two points are marked equally, +and put the point of the magnetic needle 12, 15, or 16 degrees from the +_fleur de lis_ on the northwest side, which is nearly a point and a half, +that is north a point northwest or a little more, from the fleur de lis of +said rose, and then adjust the rose to the compass. By this means the +latitudes of all the capes, harbors, and rivers can be accurately +ascertained. + +I am aware that there are many who will not make use of it, but will prefer +to run according to the large one, since it is made according to the +compass of France, where the magnetic needle varies to the northeast, for +the reason that they are so accustomed to this method that it is difficult +for them to change. For this reason I have prepared the large map in this +manner, for the assistance of the majority of the pilots and mariners in +the waters of New France, fearing that if I had not done so, they would +have ascribed to me a mistake, not knowing whence it proceeded. For the +small plans or charts of Newfoundland are, for the most part, different in +all their statements with respect to the positions of the lands and their +latitudes. And those who may have some small copies, reasonably good, +esteem them so valuable that they do not communicate a knowledge of them to +their country, which might derive profit therefrom. + +Now the construction of these maps is such that they have their meridian in +a direction north-northeast, making west west-northwest, which is contrary +to the true meridian of this place, namely, to call north-northeast north, +for the needle instead of varying to the northwest, as it should, varies to +the northeast as if it were in France. The consequence of this is that +error has resulted, and will continue to do so, since this antiquated +custom is practised, which they still retain, although they fall into grave +mistakes. + +They also make use of a compass marked north and south; that is, so that +the point of the magnetic needle is directly on the _fleur de lis_. In +accordance with such a compass many construct their small maps, which seems +to me the better way, and so approach nearer to the true meridian of New +France, than the compasses of France proper, which point to the +northeast. It has come about, consequently, in this way that the first +navigators who sailed to New France thought there was no greater deviation +in going to these parts than to the Azores, or other places near France, +where the deviation is almost imperceptible in navigation, the navigators +having the compasses of France, which point northeast and represent the +true meridian. In sailing constantly westward with the purpose of reaching +a certain latitude, they laid their course directly west by their compass, +supposing that they were sailing on the one parallel where they wished to +go. By thus going constantly in a straight line and not in a circle, as all +the parallels on the surface of the globe run, they found after having +traversed a long distance, and as they were approaching the land, that they +were some three, four, or five degrees farther south than they ought to be, +thus being deceived in their true latitude and reckoning. + +It is true, indeed, that, when the weather was fair and the fun clearly +visible, they corrected their latitude, but not without wondering how it +happened that their course was wrong, which arose in consequence of their +sailing in a straight instead of a circular line according to the parallel, +so that in changing their meridian they changed with regard to the points +of the compass, and consequently their course. It is, They therefore, very +necessary to know the meridian, and the declination of the magnetic needle, +for this knowledge can serve all navigators. This is especially so in the +north and south, where there are greater variations in the magnetic needle, +and where the meridians of longitude are smaller, so that the error, if the +declination were not known, would be greater. This above-mentioned error +has accordingly arisen, because navigators have either not cared to correct +it, or did not know how to do so, and have left it in the state in which it +now is. It is consequently difficult to abandon this manner of sailing in +the regions of New France. + +This has led me to make this large map, not only that it might be more +minute than the small one, but also in order to satisfy navigators, who +will thus be able to sail as they do according to their small maps; and +they will excuse me for not making it better and more in detail, for the +life of a man is not long enough to observe things so exactly that at least +something would not be found to have been omitted. Hence inquiring and +pains-taking persons will, in sailing, observe things not to be found on +this map, but which they add to it, so that in the courte of time there +will be no doubt as to any of the localities indicated. At least it seems +to me that I have done my duty, so far as I could, not having sailed to put +on my map anything that I have seen, and thus giving to the public special +knowledge of what had never been described, nor so carefully explored as I +have done it. Although in the past others have written of these things, +yet very little in comparison with what we have explored within the past +ten years. + + +MODE OF DETERMINING A MERIDIAN LINE. + +Take a small piece of board, perfectly level, and place in the middle a +needle C, three inches high, so that it shall be exactly perpendicular. +Expose it to the sun before noon, at 8 or 9 o'clock, and mark the point B +at the end of the shadow cast by the needle. Then opening the compasses, +with one point on C and the other on the shadow B, describe an arc AB. +Leave the whole in this position until afternoon when you see the shadow +just reaching the arc at A. Then divide equally the arc AB, and taking a +rule, and placing it on the points C and D, draw a line running the whole +length of the board, which is not to be moved until the observation is +completed. This line will be the meridian of the place you are in. + +And in order to ascertain the declination of the place where you are with +reference to the meridian, place a compass, which must be rectangular, +along the meridian line, as shown in the figure above, there being upon the +card a circle divided into 360 degrees. Divide the circle by two +diametrical lines; one representing the north and south, as indicated by +EF, the other the east and west, as indicated by GH. Then observe the +magnetic needle turning on its pivot upon the card, and you will see how +much it deviates from the fixed meridian line upon the card, and how many +degrees it varies to the northeast of northwest. + + + + +CHAMPLAIN'S LARGE MAP. + +GEOGRAPHICAL CHART OF NEW FRANCE, MADE BY SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN OF SAINTONGE, +CAPTAIN IN ORDINARY FOR THE KING IN THE MARINE. MADE IN THE YEAR 1612. + +I have made this map for the greater convenience of the majority of those +who navigate on these coasts, since they sail to that country according to +compasses arranged for the hemisphere of Asia. And if I had made it like +the small one, the majority would not have been able to use it, owing to +their not knowing the declinations of the needle. [230] + +Observe that on the present map north-northeast stands for north, and +west-northwest for west; according to which one is to be guided in +ascertaining the elevation of the degrees of latitude, as if these points +were actually east and west, north and south, since the map is constructed +according to the compasses of France, which vary to the northeast. [231] + + +SOME DECLINATIONS OF THE MAGNETIC NEEDLE, +WHICH I HAVE CAREFULLY OBSERVED. + +Cap Breton . . . . . . 14 deg. 50' +Cap de la Have . . . . 16 deg. 15' +Baye Ste Mane . . . . 17 deg. 16' +Port Royal . . . . . . 17 deg. 8' +En la grande R. St Laurent 21 deg. + +St Croix . . . . . . . 17 deg. 32' +Riviere de Norumbegue. 18 deg. 40' +Quinibequi . . . . . . 19 deg. 12' +Mallebarre . . . . . . 18 deg. 40' + +All observed by Sieur de Champlain, 1612. + +REFERENCES ON CHAMPLAIN'S LARGE MAP. + + A. Port Fortune. + B. Baye Blanche. + C. Baye aux Isles. + D. Cap des Isles. + E. Port aux Isles. + F. Isle Haute. + G. Isle des Monts Deserts. + H. Cap Corneille. + I. Isles aux Oiseaux. + K. Cap des Deux Bayes. + L. Port aux Mines + M. Cap Fourchu. + N. Cap Negre. + O. Port du Rossignol. + P. St. Laurent. + Q. Riviere de l'Isle Verte. + R. Baye Saine. + S. Riviere Sainte Marguerite + T. Port Sainte Helene. + V. Isle des Martires. + X. Isles Rangees. + Y. Port de Savalette. + Z. Passage du Glas. + + 1. Port aux Anglois. + 2. Baye Courante. + 3. Cap de Poutrincourt. + 4. Isle Gravee. + 5. Passage Courant. + 6. Baye de Gennes. + 7. Isle Perdue. + 8. Cap des Mines. + 9. Port aux Coquilles. + 10. Isles Jumelles. + 11. Cap Saint Jean. + 12. Isle la Nef. + 13. La Heronniere Isle. + 14. Isles Rangees. + 15. Baye Saint Luc. + 16. Passage du Gas. + 17. Cote de Montmorency. + 18. Riviere de Champlain. + 19. Riviere Sainte Marie. + 20. Isle d'Orleans. + 21. Isle de Bacchus. + +NOTE--The reader will observe that in a few instances the references are +wanting on the map. + +CHAMPLAIN'S NOTE TO THE SMALL MAP. + +On the small map [232] is added the strait above Labrador between the +fifty-third and sixty-third degrees of latitude, which the English have +discovered during the present year 1612, in their voyage to find, if +possible, a passage to China by way of the north. [233] They wintered at a +place indicated by this mark, 6. But it was not without enduring severe +cold, and they were obliged to return to England, leaving their leader in +the northern regions. Within fix months three other vessels have set out, +to penetrate, if possible, still farther, and, at the same time, to search +for the men who were left in that region. + + +GEOGRAPHICAL MAP OF NEW FRANCE, IN ITS TRUE +MERIDIAN. + +_Made by Sieur Champlain, Captain for the King in the Marine. 1613_. + + +o Matou-ouescariny. [Note: This figure is inverted on the map. _Vide + antea_, note 59, p. 62.] + o+ Gaspay. + oo Ouescariny. [Note: _Vide antea_, note 47, pp. 59, 81. The figure oo is + misplaced and should be where o-o is on the map, on the extreme + western border near the forty-seventh degree of north latitude.] + o-o Quenongebin. [Note: This figure o-o on the map occupies the place + which should be occupied by oo. _Vide antea_, p. 58, note 46.] + A. Tadoussac. + B. Lesquemain. + C. Isle Percee. + D. Baye de Chaleur. + E. Isles aux Gros Yeux. [Note: A cluster of islands of which the Island + of Birds is one.] + H. Baye Francoise. + I. Isles aux Oyseaux. + L. Riviere des Etechemins. [Note: This letter, placed between the River + St. John and the St. Croix, refers to the latter.] + M. Menane. + N. Port Royal. + P. Isle Longue. + Q. Cap Fourchu. + R. Port au Mouton. + S. Port du Rossignol. [Note: The letter S appears twice on the coast of + La Cadie. The one here referred to is the more westerly.] + SS. Lac de Medicis. [Note: This reference is probably to the Lake of Two + Mountains, which will be seen on the map west of Montreal.] + T. Sesambre. + V. Cap des Deux Bayes. + 3. L'Isle aux Coudres. + 4. Saincte Croix. [Note: St. Croix on the map is where a cross surmounted + by the figure 4 may be seen.] + 4. Riviere des Etechemins. [Note: This appears to refer to the + Chaudiere. _Vide_ vol. I. p. 296.] + 5. Sault. [Note: This refers to the Falls of Montmorency.] + 6. Lac Sainct Pierre. + 7. Riviere des Yroquois. + 9. Isle aux Lieures. + 10. Riviere Platte. [Note: A small river flowing into Mal Bay. _Vide_ + Vol. I. p. 295; also _Les Voyages de Champlain_, Quebec ed., p. 1099.] + 11. Mantane. [Note: _Vide_ Vol. I. p 234.] + 40. Cap Saincte Marie. [Note: The figures are wanting. Cape St. Mary is on + the southern coast of Newfoundland. _Vide_ Vol I. p. 232.] + + +ENDNOTES: + +228. The determination of longitudes has from the beginning been environed + with almost insuperable difficulties. At one period the declination of + the magnetic needle was supposed to furnish the means of a practical + solution. Sebastian Cabot devoted considerable attention to the + subject, as did likewise Peter Plancius at a later date. Champlain + appears to have fixed the longitudes on his smaller map by + calculations based on the variation of the needle, guided by the + principles laid down by Guillaume de Nautonier, Sieur de Castelfranc, + to whose work he refers in the text. It was entitled, _Mecometrie de + l'eymant c'est a dire la maniere de mesurer les longitudes par le + moyen de l'eymant_. This rare volume is not to be found as far as my + inquiries extend, in any of the incorporated libraries on this + continent. There is however a copy in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, + to which in the catalogue is given the bibliographical note: _Six + livres. Folio. Tolose, 1603_. + + It is hardly necessary to add that the forces governing the variation + of the needle, both local and general, are so inconstant that the hope + of fixing longitudes by it was long since abandoned. + + The reason for the introduction of the explanation of the maps at this + place will be seen _antea_, p. 39. + +229. The rose is the face or card of the mariner's compass. It was + anciently called the fly. Card may perhaps be derived from the Italian + cardo, a thistle, which the face of the compass may be supposed to + resemble. On the complete circle of the compass there are thirty-two + lines drawn from the centre to the circumference to indicate the + direction of the wind. Each quarter of the circle, or 90 deg., contains + eight lines representing the points of the compass in that quarter. + They are named with reference to the cardinal points from which they + begin, as: 1, north, 2, north by east, 3, north-northeast; 4, + northeast by north; 5, northeast; 6, northeast by east; 7, east- + northeast; 8, east by north. The points in each quarter are named in a + similar manner. + +230. The above title is on the large map of 1612. This note is on the upper + left-hand corner of the same map. + +231. For this note see the upper right-hand corner of the map. + +232. In Champlain's issue in 1613, the note here given was placed in the + preliminary matter to that volume. It was placed there probably after + the rest of the work had gone to press. We have placed it here in + connection with other matter relating to the maps, where it seems more + properly to belong. + +233. This refers to the fourth voyage of Henry Hudson, made in 1610, for + the purpose here indicated. He penetrated Lomley's Inlet, hoping to + find a passage through to the Pacific Ocean, or, as it was then + called, the South Sea, and thus find a direct and shorter course to + China. He passed the winter at about 52 deg. north latitude, in that + expanse of water which has ever since been appropriately known ass + Hudson's Bay. A mutiny having broken out among his crew, he and eight + others having been forced into a small boat, on the 21st of June, + 1611, were set adrift on the sea, and were never heard of afterward. + + A part of the mutinous crew arrived with the ship in England, and were + immediately thrown into prison. The following year, 1612, an + expedition under Sir Thomas Button was sent out to seek for Hudson, + and to prosecute the search still further for a northwest passage It + is needless to add that the search was unsuccessful. + + A chart by Hudson fortunately escaped destruction by the mutineers. + Singularly enough, an engraving of it, entitled, TABVLA NAVTICA, was + published by Heffel Gerritz at Amsterdam the same year. Champlain + incorporated the part of it illustrating Hudson's discovery in his + smaller map, which is dated the fame year, 1612. He does not introduce + it into his large map, although that is dated likewise 1612. A + facsimile of the Tabula Nautica is given in Henry Hudson the + Navigator, by G. M. Asher, LL.D. published by the Hakluyt Society in + 1860. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Voyages of Samuel de Champlain V3 +by Samuel de Champlain + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGES OF SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN V3 *** + +This file should be named 7vcv310.txt or 7vcv310.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7vcv311.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7vcv310a.txt + +Produced by Karl Hagen, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. +This file was produced from images generously made available by +the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Voyages of Samuel de Champlain V3 + +Author: Samuel de Champlain + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6825] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on January 28, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGES OF SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN V3 *** + + + + +Produced by Karl Hagen, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. +This file was produced from images generously made available by +the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions. + + + + + +CHAMPLAIN'S VOYAGES. + +VOYAGES +OF +SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN. + +TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH +BY CHARLES POMEROY OTIS, PH.D. + +WITH HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS, +AND A +MEMOIR +By THE REV. EDMUND F. SLAFTER, A.M. + +VOL. III. + +1611-1618 + +HELIOTYPE COPIES OF TEN MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. + +Editor: + +THE REV. EDMUND F. SLAFTER, A.M. + + + + +PREFACE + +The present volume completes the work proposed by the Prince Society of a +translation into English of the VOYAGES OF CHAMPLAIN. It includes the +journals issued in 1604, 1613, and 1619, and covers fifteen years of his +residence and explorations in New France. + +At a later period, in 1632, Champlain published, in a single volume, an +abridgment of the issues above mentioned, containing likewise a +continuation of his journal down to 1631. This continuation covers thirteen +additional years. But it is to be observed that the events recorded in the +journal of these later years are immediately connected with the progress +and local interests of the French colony at Quebec. This last work of the +great explorer is of primary importance and value as constituting original +material for the early history of Canada, and a translation of it into +English would doubtless be highly appreciated by the local historian. A +complete narrative of these events, however, together with a large amount +amount of interesting matter relating to the career of Champlain derived +from other sources, is given in the Memoir contained in the first volume of +this work. + +This English translation contains not only the complete narratives of all +the personal explorations made by Champlain into the then unbroken forests +of America, but the whole of his minute, ample, and invaluable descriptions +of the character and habits, mental, moral, and physical of the various +savage tribes with which he came in contact. It will furnish, therefore, to +the student of history and the student of ethnology most valuable +information, unsurpassed in richness and extent, and which cannot be +obtained from any other source. To aid one or both of these two classes in +their investigations, the work was undertaken and has now been completed. + +E. F. S. + +BOSTON, 91 BOYLSTON STREET, +April 5, 1882. + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + +PREFACE +VOYAGE OF CHAMPLAIN IN 1611 +DEDICATION TO HENRI DE BOURBON, PRINCE DE CONDÉ +VOYAGE MADE IN 1613 +DEDICATION TO THE KING +CHAMPLAIN'S PREFACE +EXTRACT FROM THE LICENSE OF THE KING +VOYAGE MADE IN 1615 +VOYAGE MADE IN 1618 +EXPLANATION OF TWO GEOGRAPHICAL MAPS OF NEW FRANCE + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + +LE GRAND SAULT ST. LOUIS +DRESS OF THE SAVAGES +FORT OF THE IROQUOIS +DEER TRAP +DRESS OF THE SAVAGES +CHAMPLAIN'S LARGE MAP OF NEW FRANCE, 1612 +CHAMPLAIN'S SMALL MAP OF NEW FRANCE, 1613 + +INDEX + + + + +THE VOYAGES + +OF SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, + +Of Saintonge, Captain in ordinary to the +King in the Marine; + +OR, + +_A MOST FAITHFUL JOURNAL OF OBSERVATIONS made in the, exploration of New +France, describing not only the countries, coasts, rivers, ports, and +harbors, with their latitudes, and the various deflections of the Magnetic +Needle, but likewise the religious belief of the inhabitants, their +superstitions, mode of life and warfare; furnished with numerous +illustrations_. + +Together with two geographical maps: the first for the purposes of +navigation, adapted to the compass as used by mariners, which, deflects to +the north-east; the other in its true meridian, with longitudes and +latitudes, to which is added the Voyage to the Strait north of Labrador, +from the 53d to the 63d degree of latitude, discovered in 1612 by the +English when they were searching for a northerly course to China. + +PARIS. + +JEAN BERJON, Rue St Jean de Beauvais, at the Flying Horse, and at his store +in the Palace, at the gallery of the Prisoners. + +M. DC. XIII. + +_WITH AUTHORITY OF THE KING_. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +DEPARTURE FROM FRANCE TO RETURN TO NEW FRANCE.--THE DANGERS AND OTHER +EVENTS WHICH OCCURRED UP TO THE TIME OF ARRIVAL AT THE SETTLEMENT. + +We set out from Honfleur on the first day of March. The wind was favorable +until the eighth, when we were opposed by a wind south-southwest and +west-northwest, driving us as far as latitude 42°, without our being able +to make a southing, so as to sail straight forward on our course. +Accordingly after encountering several heavy winds, and being kept back by +bad weather, we nevertheless, through great difficulty and hardship, and by +sailing on different tacks, succeeded in arriving within eighty leagues of +the Grand Bank, where the fresh fishery is carried on. Here we encountered +ice thirty or forty fathoms high, or more, which led us to consider what +course we ought to take, fearing that we might fall in with more during the +night, or that the wind changing would drive us on to it. We also concluded +that this would not be the last, since we had set out from France too early +in the season. We sailed accordingly during that day with short sail, as +near the wind as we could. When night came, the fog arose so thick and +obscure that we could scarcely see the ship's length. About eleven o'clock +at night, more ice was seen, which alarmed us. But through the energy of +the sailors we avoided it. Supposing that we had passed all danger, we met +with still more ice, which the sailors saw ahead of our vessel, but not +until we were almost upon it. When all had committed themselves to God, +having given up all hope of avoiding collision with this ice, which was +already under our bowsprit, they cried to the helmsman to bear off; and +this ice which was very extensive drove in such a manner that it passed by +without striking our vessel, which stopped short, and remained as still as +if it had never moved, to let it pass. Although the danger was over, our +blood was not so quickly cooled, so great had been our fear, and we praised +God for delivering us from so imminent a peril. This experience being over, +we passed the same night two or three other masses of ice, not less +dangerous than the former ones. There was at the same time a dripping fog, +and it was so cold that we could scarcely get warm. The next day we met +several other large and very high masses of ice, which, in the distance, +looked like islands. We, however, avoided them all, and reached the Grand +Bank, where we were detained by bad weather for the space of six days. The +wind growing a little milder, and very favorable, we left the banks in +latitude 44° 30', which was the farthest south we could go. After sailing +some sixty leagues west-northwest, we saw a vessel coming down to make us +out, but which afterwards wore off to the east-northeast, to avoid a large +bank of ice, which covered the entire extent of our line of vision. +Concluding that there was a passage through the middle of this great floe, +which was divided into two parts, we entered, in pursuance of our course, +between the two, and sailed some ten leagues without seeing anything, +contrary to our conjecture of a fine passage through, until evening, when +we found the floe closed up. This gave us much anxiety as to what was to be +done, the night being at hand and there being no moon, which deprived us of +all means of returning to the point whence we had come. Yet, after due +deliberation, it was resolved to try to find again the entrance by which we +had come, which we set about accomplishing. But the night coming on with +fog, rain, snow, and a wind so violent that we could scarcely carry our +mainsail, every trace of our way was lost. For, as we were expecting to +avoid the ice so as to pass out, the wind had already closed up the +passage, so that we were obliged to return to the other tack. We were +unable to remain longer than a quarter of an hour on one tack before taking +another, in order to avoid the numerous masses of ice drifting about on all +sides. We thought more than twenty times that we should never escape with +our lives. The entire night was spent amid difficulties and hardships. +Never was the watch better kept, for nobody wished to rest, but to strive +to escape from the ice and danger. The cold was so great, that all the +ropes of the vessel were so frozen and covered with large icicles that the +men could not work her nor stick to the deck. Thus we ran, on this tack and +that, awaiting with hope the daylight. But when it came, attended by a fog, +and we saw that our labor and hardship could not avail us anything, we +determined to go to a mass of ice, where we should be sheltered from the +violent wind which was blowing; to haul everything down, and allow +ourselves to be driven along with the ice, so that when at some distance +from the rest of the ice we could make sail again, and go back to the +above-mentioned bank and manage as before, until the fog should pass away, +when we might go out as quickly as possible. Thus we continued the entire +day until the morning of the next day, when we set sail, now on this tack +now on that, finding ourselves everywhere enclosed amid large floes of ice, +as if in lakes on the mainland. At evening we sighted a vessel on the other +side of one of these banks of ice, which, I am sure, was in no less anxiety +than ourselves. Thus we remained four or five days, exposed to these risks +and extreme hardships, until one morning on looking out in all directions, +although we could see no opening, yet in one place it seemed as if the ice +was not thick, and that we could easily pass through. We got under weigh, +and passed by a large number of _bourguignons_; that is, pieces of ice +separated from the large banks by the violence of the winds. Having reached +this bank of ice, the sailors proceeded to provide themselves with large +oars and pieces of wood, in order to keep off the blocks of ice we met. In +this way we passed this bank, but not without touching some pieces of ice, +which did no good to our vessel, although they inflicted no essential +damage. Being outside, we praised God for our deliverance. Continuing our +course on the next day, we encountered other pieces, in which we became so +involved that we found ourselves surrounded on all sides, except where we +had entered. It was accordingly necessary to turn back, and endeavor to +double the southern point. This we did not succeed in doing until the +second day, passing by several small pieces of ice, which had been +separated from the main bank. This latter was in latitude 44° 30'. We +sailed until the morning of the next day, towards the northwest, north- +northwest, when we met another large ice bank, extending as far as we could +see east and west. This, in the distance, seemed like land; for it was so +level that it might properly be said to have been made so on purpose. It +was more than eighteen feet high, extending twice as far under water. We +calculated that we were only some fifteen leagues from Cape Breton, it +being the 26th day of the month. These numerous encounters with ice +troubled us greatly. We were also fearful that the passage between Capes +Breton and Raye would be closed, and that we should be obliged to keep out +to sea a long time before being able to enter. Unable to do anything else, +we were obliged to run out to sea again some four or five leagues, in order +to double another point of the above-mentioned grand ice bank, which +continued on our west-southwest. After turning on the other tack to the +northwest, in order to double this point, we sailed some seven leagues, and +then steered to the north-northwest some three leagues, when we observed +another ice bank. The night approached, and the fog came on so that we put +to sea to pass the remainder of the night, purposing at daybreak to return +and reconnoitre the last mentioned ice. On the twenty-seventh day of the +month, we sighted land west-northwest of us, seeing no ice on the north- +northeast. We approached nearer for the sake of a better observation, and +found that it was Canseau. This led us to bear off to the north for Cape +Breton Island; but we had scarcely sailed two leagues when we encountered +an ice bank on the northeast. Night coming on, we were obliged to put out +to sea until the next day, when we sailed northeast, and encountered more +ice, bearing east, east-southeast from us, along which we coasted heading +northeast and north for more than fifteen leagues. At last we were obliged +to sail towards the west, greatly to our regret, inasmuch as we could find +no passage, and should be obliged to withdraw and sail back on our track. +Unfortunately for us we were overtaken by a calm, so that it seemed as if +the swell of the sea would throw us upon the ice bank just mentioned, and +we got ready to launch our little boat, to use in case of necessity. If we +had taken refuge on the above-mentioned ice it would only have been to +languish and die in misery. While we were deliberating whether to launch +our boat, a fresh breeze arose to our great delight, and thus we escaped +from the ice. After we had sailed two leagues, night came on, with a very +thick fog, causing us to haul down our sail, as we could not see, and as +there were several large pieces of ice in our way, which we were afraid of +striking. Thus we remained the entire night until the next day, which was +the twenty-ninth, when the fog increased to such an extent that we could +scarcely see the length of the vessel. There was also very little wind. Yet +we did not fail to set sail, in order to avoid the ice. But, although +expecting to extricate ourselves, we found ourselves so involved in it that +we could not tell on which side to tack. We were accordingly again +compelled to lower sail, and drift until the ice should allow us to make +sail. We made a hundred tacks on one side and the other, several times +fearing that we were lost. The most self-possessed would have lost all +judgment in such a juncture; even the greatest navigator in the world. What +alarmed us still more was the short distance we could see, and the fact +that the night was coming on, and that we could not make a shift of a +quarter of a league without finding a bank or some ice, and a great deal of +floating ice, the smallest piece of which would have been sufficient to +cause the loss of any vessel whatever. Now, while we were still sailing +along amid the ice, there arose so strong a wind that in a short time the +fog broke away, affording us a view, and suddenly giving us a clear air and +fair sun. Looking around about us, we found that we were shut up in a +little lake, not so much as a league and a half in circuit. On the north we +perceived the island of Cape Breton, nearly four leagues distant, and it +seemed to us that the passage-way to Cape Breton was still closed. We also +saw a small ice bank astern of our vessel, and the ocean beyond that, which +led us to resolve to go beyond the bank, which was divided. This we +succeeded in accomplishing without striking our vessel, putting out to sea +for the night, and passing to the southeast of the ice. Thinking now that +we could double this ice bank, we sailed east-northeast some fifteen +leagues, perceiving only a little piece of ice. At night we hauled down the +sail until the next day, when we perceived another ice bank to the north of +us, extending as far as we could see. We had drifted to within nearly half +a league of it, when we hoisted sail, continuing to coast along this ice in +order to find the end of it. While sailing along, we sighted on the first +day of May a vessel amid the ice, which, as well as ourselves, had found it +difficult to escape from it. We backed our sails in order to await the +former, which came full upon us, since we were desirous of ascertaining +whether it had seen other ice. On its approach we saw that it was the son +[1] of Sieur de Poutrincourt, on his way to visit his father at the +settlement of Port Royal. He had left France three months before, not +without much reluctance, I think, and still they were nearly a hundred and +forty leagues from Port Royal, and well out of their true course. We told +them we had sighted the islands of Canseau, much to their satisfaction, I +think, as they had not as yet sighted any land, and were steering straight +between Cape St. Lawrence and Cape Raye, in which direction they would not +have found Port Royal, except by going overland. After a brief conference +with each other we separated, each following his own course. The next day +we sighted the islands of St. Pierre, finding no ice. Continuing our course +we sighted on the following day, the third of the month, Cape Raye, also +without finding ice. On the fourth we sighted the island of St. Paul, and +Cape St. Lawrence, being some eight leagues north of the latter. The next +day we sighted Gaspé. On the seventh we were opposed by a northwest wind, +which drove us out of our course nearly thirty-five leagues, when the wind +lulled, and was in our favor as far as Tadoussac, which we reached on the +13th day of May.[2] Here we discharged a cannon to notify the savages, in +order to obtain news from our settlement at Quebec. The country was still +almost entirely covered with snow. There came out to us some canoes, +informing us that one of our pataches had been in the harbor for a month, +and that three vessels had arrived eight days before. We lowered our boat +and visited these savages, who were in a very miserable condition, having +only a few articles to barter to satisfy their immediate wants. Besides +they desired to wait until several vessels should meet, so that there might +be a better market for their merchandise. Therefore they are mistaken who +expect to gain an advantage by coming first, for these people are very +sagacious and cunning. + +On the 17th of the month I set out from Tadoussac for the great fall,[3] +to meet the Algonquin savages and other tribes, who had promised the year +before to go there with my man, whom I had sent to them, that I might learn +from him what he might see during the winter. Those at this harbor who +suspected where I was going, in accordance with the promises which I had +made to the savages, as stated above, began to build several small barques, +that they might follow me as soon as possible. And several, as I learned +before setting out from France, had some ships and pataches fitted out in +view of our voyage, hoping to return rich, as from a voyage to the Indies. + +Pont Gravé remained at Tadoussac expecting, if he did nothing there, to +take a patache and meet me at the fall. Between Tadoussac and Quebec our +barque made much water, which obliged me to stop at Quebec and repair the +leak. This was on the 21st day of May. + +ENDNOTES: + +1. This was Charles de Biencourt, Sieur de Saint Just. He was closely + associated with his father, Sieur de Poutrincourt, in his colony at Port + Royal. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 122, note 77. + +2. They left Honfleur on the first day of March, and were thus seventy-four + days in reaching Tadoussac. The voyage was usually made in favorable + weather in thirty days. + +3. The Falls of St. Louis, near Montreal, now more commonly known as the La + Chine Rapids. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +LANDING AT QUEBEC TO REPAIR THE BARQUE.--DEPARTURE FROM QUEBEC FOR THE +FALL, TO MEET THE SAVAGES, AND SEARCH OUT A PLACE APPROPRIATE FOR A +SETTLEMENT. + + +On going ashore I found Sieur du Parc, who had spent the winter at the +settlement. He and all his companions were very well, and had not suffered +any sickness. Game, both large and small, had been abundant during the +entire winter, as they told me. I found there the Indian captain, named +_Batiscan_, and some Algonquins, who said they were waiting for me, being +unwilling to return to Tadoussac without seeing me. I proposed to them to +take one of our company to the _Trois Rivières_ to explore the place, but +being unable to obtain anything from them this year I put it off until the +next. Still I did not fail to inform myself particularly regarding the +origin of the people living there, of which they told me with exactness. I +asked them for one of their canoes, which they were unwilling to part with +on any terms, because of their own need of it. For I had planned to send +two or three men to explore the neighborhood of the Trois Rivières, and +ascertain what there was there. This, to my great regret, I was unable to +accomplish, and postponed the project to the first opportunity that might +present itself. + +Meanwhile I urged on the repairs to our barque. When it was ready, a young +man from La Rochelle, named Tresart, asked me to permit him to accompany me +to the above-mentioned fall. This I refused, replying that I had special +plans of my own, and that I did not wish to conduct any one to my +prejudice, adding that there were other companies than mine there, and that +I did not care to open up a way and serve as guide, and that he could make +the voyage well enough alone and without my help. + +The same day I set out from Quebec, and arrived at the great fall on the +twenty-eighth of May. But I found none of the savages who had promised me +to be there on this day. I entered at once a poor canoe, together with the +savage I had taken to France and one of my own men. After examining the two +shores, both in the woods and on the river bank, in order to find a spot +favorable for the location of a settlement, and to get a place ready for +building, I went some eight leagues by land along the great fall and +through the woods, which are very open, as far as a lake, [4] whither our +savage conducted me. Here I observed the country very carefully. But in all +that I saw, I found no place more favorable than a little spot to which +barques and shallops can easily ascend, with the help of a strong wind or +by taking a winding course, in consequence of the strong current. But above +this place, which we named _La Place Royale_, at the distance of a league +from Mont Royal, there are a great many little rocks and shoals, which are +very dangerous. Near Place Royale there is a little river, extending some +distance into the interior, along the entire length of which there are more +than sixty acres of land cleared up and like meadows, where grain can be +sown and gardens made. Formerly savages tilled these lands, [5] but they +abandoned them on account of their wars, in which they were constantly +engaged. There is also a large number of other fine pastures, where any +number of cattle can graze. There are also the various kinds of trees found +in France, together with many vines, nut and plum trees, cherries, +strawberries, and other kinds of good fruit. Among the rest there is a very +excellent one, with a sweet taste like that of plantains, a fruit of the +Indies, as white as snow, with a leaf resembling that of nettles, and which +creeps up the trees and along the ground like ivy. [6] Fish are very +abundant, including all the varieties we have in France, and many very good +ones which we do not have. Game is also plenty, the birds being of various +kinds. There are stags, hinds, does, caribous, [7] rabbits, lynxes, [8] +bears, beavers, also other small animals, and all in such large numbers, +that while we were at the fall we were abundantly supplied with them. + +After a careful examination, we found this place one of the finest on this +river. I accordingly forthwith gave orders to cut down and clear up the +woods in the Place Royale, [9] so as to level it and prepare it for +building. The water can easily be made to flow around it, making of it a +little island, so that a habitation can be formed as one may wish. + +There is a little island some twenty fathoms from Place Royale, about a +hundred paces long, where a good and strong settlement might be made. There +are also many meadows, containing very good and rich potter's clay, as well +adapted for brick as for building purposes, and consequently a very useful +article. I had a portion of it worked up, from which I made a wall four +feet thick, three or four high, and ten fathoms long, to see how it would +stand during the winter, when the freshets came down, although I thought +the water would not reach up to it, the ground there being twelve feet +above the river, which was very high. In the middle of the river there was +an island about three-quarters of a league around, where a good and strong +town could be built. This we named _Isle de Sainte Hélène_. [10] This river +at the fall is like a lake, containing two or three islands, and bordered +by fine meadows. + +On the first day of June, Pont Gravé arrived at the fall, having been +unable to accomplish anything at Tadoussac. A numerous company attended and +followed after him to share in the booty, without the hope of which they +would have been far in the rear. + +Now, while awaiting the savages, I had two gardens made, one in the +meadows, the other in the woods, which I had cleared up. On the 2d of June +I sowed some seeds, all of which came up finely, and in a short time, +attesting the good quality of the soil. + +We resolved to send Savignon, our savage, together with another, to meet +his countrymen, so as to hasten their arrival. They hesitated about going +in our canoe, of which they were distrustful, it being a very poor one. +They set out on the 5th. The next day four or five barques arrived as an +escort for us, since they could do nothing at Tadoussac. + +On the 7th I went to explore a little river, along which the savages +sometimes go to war, and which flows into the fall of the river of the +Iroquois. [11] It is very pleasant, with meadow land more than three +leagues in circuit, and much arable land. It is distant a league from the +great fall, and a league and a half from Place Royale. + +On the 9th our savage arrived. He had gone somewhat beyond the lake, which +is ten leagues long, and which I had seen before. [12] But he met no one, +and they were unable to go any farther, as their canoe gave out, which +obliged them to return. They reported that after passing the fall they saw +an island, where there was such a quantity of herons that the air was +completely filled with them. There was a young man belonging to Sieur de +Monts named Louis, who was very fond of the chase. Hearing this, he wished +to go and satisfy his curiosity, earnestly entreating our savage to take +him to the place. To this the savage consented, taking also a captain of +the Montagnais, a very respectable person, whose name was _Outetoucos_. On +the following morning Louis caused the two savages to be called, and went +with them in a canoe to the island of the herons. This island is in the +middle of the fall. [13] Here they captured as many herons and other birds +as they wanted, and embarked again in their canoe. Outetoucos, contrary to +the wish of the other savage, and against his remonstrances, desired to +pass through a very dangerous place, where the water fell more than three +feet, saying that he had formerly gone this way, which, however, was +false. He had a long discussion in opposition to our savage, who wished to +take him on the south side, along the mainland, [14] where they usually go. +This, however, Outetoucos did not wish, saying that there was no danger. +Our savage finding him obstinate yielded to his desire. But he insisted +that at least a part of the birds in the canoe should be taken out, as it +was overloaded, otherwise he said it would inevitably fill and be lost. But +to this he would not consent, saying that it would be time enough when they +found themselves in the presence of danger. They accordingly permitted +themselves to be carried along by the current. But when they reached the +precipice, they wanted to throw overboard their load in order to escape. It +was now, however, too late, for they were completely in the power of the +rapid water, and were straightway swallowed up in the whirlpools of the +fall, which turned them round a thousand times. For a long time they clung +to the boat. Finally the swiftness of the water wearied them so that this +poor Louis, who could not swim at all, entirely lost his presence of mind, +and, the canoe going down, he was obliged to abandon it. As it returned to +the surface, the two others who kept holding on to it, saw Louis no more, +and thus he died a sad death. [15] The two others continued to hold on to +the canoe. When, however, they were out of danger, this Outetoucos, being +naked and having confidence in his swimming powers, abandoned it in the +expectation of reaching the shore, although the water still ran there with +great rapidity. But he was drowned, for he had been so weakened and +overcome by his efforts that it was impossible for him to save himself +after abandoning the canoe. Our savage Savignon, understanding himself +better, held firmly to the canoe until it reached an eddy, whither the +current had carried it. Here he managed so well that, notwithstanding his +suffering and weariness, he approached the shore gradually, when, after +throwing the water out of the canoe, he returned in great fear that they +would take vengeance upon him, as the savages do among themselves, and +related to us this sad story, which caused us great sorrow. + +On the next day I went in another canoe to the fall, together with the +savage and another member of our company, to see the place where they had +met with their accident, and find, if possible, the remains. But when he +showed me the spot, I was horrified at beholding such a terrible place, and +astonished that the deceased should have been so lacking in judgment as to +pass through such a fearful place, when they could have gone another way. +For it is impossible to go along there, as there are seven or eight +descents of water one after the other, the lowest three feet high, the +seething and boiling of the water being fearful. A part of the fall was all +white with foam, indicating the worst spot, the noise of which was like +thunder, the air resounding with the echo of the cataracts. After viewing +and carefully examining this place, and searching along the river bank for +the dead bodies, another very light shallop having proceeded meanwhile on +the other bank also, we returned without finding anything. + + * * * * * + +CHAMPLAIN'S EXPLANATION OF THE ACCOMPANYING MAP. + +LE GRAND SAULT ST. LOUIS. + +A. Small place that I had cleared up. +B. Small pond. +C. Small islet, where I had a stone wall made. +D. Small brook, where the barques are kept. +E. Meadows where the savages stay when they come to this region. +F. Mountains seen in the interior. +G. Small pond. +H. Mont Royal. +I. Small brook. +L. The fall. +M. Place on the north side, where the savages transfer their canoes by + land. +N. Spot where one of our men and a savage were drowned. +O. Small rocky islet. +P. Another islet where birds make their nests. +Q. Heron island. +R. Another island in the fall. +S. Small islet +T. Small round islet. +V. Another islet half covered with water. +X. Another islet, where there are many river birds. +Y. Meadows. +Z. Small river. +2. Very large and fine islands. +3. Places which are bare when the water is low, where there are great + eddies, as at the main fall. +4. Meadows covered with water +5. Very shallow places. +6. Another little islet. +7. Small rocks. +8. Island St. Hélène. +9. Small island without trees. +oo. Marshes connecting with the great fall. + +ENDNOTES: + +4. This journey of eight leagues would take them as far as the Lake of Two + Mountains. + +5. This little river is mentioned by Champlain in his Voyage of 1603, + Vol. I. p. 268. It is represented on early maps as formed by two small + streams, flowing, one from the north or northeastern, and the other from + the southern side of the mountain, in the rear of the city of Montreal, + which unite some distance before they reach the St. Lawrence, flowing + into that river at Point Callières. These little brooks are laid down on + Champlain's local map, _Le Grand Sault St. Louis_, on Charlevoix's + _Carte de l'Isle de Montréal_, 1744, and on Bellin's _L'Isle de + Montréal_, 1764; but they have disappeared on modern maps, and probably + are either extinct or are lost in the sewerage of the city, of which + they have become a part. We have called the stream formed by these two + brooks, note 190, Vol. I., _Rivière St. Pierre_. On Potherie's map, the + only stream coming from the interior is so named. _Vide Histoire de + L'Amerique_ par M. de Bacqueville de la Potherie, 1722, p. 311. On a map + in Greig's _Hochelaga Depicta_, 1839, it is called St. Peter's River. + The same stream on Bouchette's map, 1830, is denominated Little River. + It seems not unlikely that a part of it was called, at one time, Rivière + St. Pierre, and another part Petite Rivière. + + It is plain that on this stream was situated the sixty acres of cleared + land alluded to in the text as formerly occupied by the savages. + + It will be remembered that seventy-six years anterior to this, in 1535, + Jacques Cartier discovered this place, which was then the seat of a + large and flourishing Indian town. It is to be regretted that Champlain + did not inform us more definitely as to the history of the former + occupants of the soil. Some important, and we think conclusive, reasons + have been assigned for supposing that they were a tribe of the Iroquois. + Among others may be mentioned the similarity in the construction of + their towns and houses or cabins, the identity of their language as + determined by a collation of the words found in Cartier's journal with + the language of the Iroquois; and to these may be added the traditions + obtained by missionaries and others, as cited by Laverdière, to which we + must not, however, attach too much value. _Vide Laverdière in loco_. + While it seems probable that the former occupants were of the Iroquois + family, it is impossible to determine whether on retiring they joined + the Five Nations in the State of New York, or merged themselves with the + Hurons, who were likewise of Iroquois origin. + +6. I am unable to identify this plant. Its climbing propensity and the + color of its fruit suggest _Rhus radicans_, but in other respects the + similarity fails. + +7. _Cerfs, Daims, Cheureuls, Caribous_. Champlain employs the names of the + different species of the Cerf family as used in Europe; but as our + species are different, this use of names creates some confusion. There + were in Canada, the moose, the caribou, the wapiti, and the common red + deer. Any enumeration by the early writers must include these, under + whatever names they may be described. One will be found applying a name + to a given species, while another will apply the same name to quite a + different species. Charlevoix mentions the orignal (moose) caribou, the + hart, and the roebuck. Under the name _hart_, he probably refers to the + wapiti, _elaphus Canadensis_, and _roe-buck_, to the common red deer, + _Cervus Virginianus_. _Vide Charlevoix's Letters to the Dutchess of + Lesdiguieres_, 1763, pp. 64-69, also Vol. I. of this work, p. 265. + +8. Lynxes, _Loups-seruiers_. The compound word _loup-cervier_ was + significant, and was applied originally to the animal of which the stag + was its natural prey, _qui attaque les cerfs_. In Europe it described + the lynx, a large powerful animal of the feline race, that might well + venture to attack the stag. But in Canada this species is not found. + What is known as the Canadian lynx, _Felis Canadensis_, is only a large + species of cat, which preys upon birds and the smaller quadrupeds. + Champlain probably gives it the name _loup-servier_ for the want of one + more appropriate. It is a little remarkable that he does not in this + list mention the American wolf, _Lupus occidentalis_, so common in every + part of Canada, and which he subsequently refers to as the animal + especially dreaded by the deer. _Vide postea_, pp. 139, 157. + +9. The site of Place Royale was on Point Callières, so named in honor of + Chevalier Louis Hector de Callières Bonnevue, governor of Montreal in + 1684. + +10. It seems most likely that the name of this island was suggested by the + marriage which Champlain had contracted with Hélène Boullé, the year + before. This name had been given to several other places. _Vide_ Vol. + I. pp. 104, 105. + +11. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 268, note 191. _Walker and Miles's Atlas_, map 186. + +12. The Lake of the Two Mountains. _Vide antea_, note 4. + +13. On Champlain's local map of the Falls of St. Louis, the letter Q is + wanting; but the expression, _ceste isle est au milieu du faut_, in the + middle of the fall, as suggested by Laverdière, indicates that the + island designated by the letter R is Heron Island. _Vide postea_, R on + map at p. 18. + +14. _Grand Tibie_, so in the original. This is a typographical error for + _grand terre_. _Vide_ Champlain, 1632, Quebec ed., p. 842. + +15. The death of this young man may have suggested the name which was + afterward given to the fall. He was, however, it is reasonable to + suppose, hardly equal in sanctity of character to the Saint Louis of + the French. Hitherto it had been called _Le Grand Saut_. But soon after + this it began to be called _Grand Saut S. Louys_. _Vide postea_, + pp. 38, 51, 59. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +TWO HUNDRED SAVAGES RETURN THE FRENCHMAN WHO HAD BEEN ENTRUSTED TO THEM, +AND RECEIVE THE SAVAGE WHO HAD COME BACK FROM FRANCE.--VARIOUS INTERVIEWS +ON BOTH SIDES. + + +On the thirteenth day of the month [16] two hundred Charioquois [17] +savages, together with the captains Ochateguin, Iroquet, and Tregouaroti, +brother of our savage, brought back my servant. [18] We were greatly +pleased to see them. I went to meet them in a canoe with our savage. As +they were approaching slowly and in order, our men prepared to salute them +with a discharge of arquebuses, muskets, and small pieces. When they were +near at hand, they all set to shouting together, and one of the chiefs gave +orders that they should make their harangue, in which they greatly praised +us, commending us as truthful, inasmuch as I had kept the promise to meet +them at this fall. After they had made three more shouts, there was a +discharge of musketry twice from thirteen barques or pataches that were +there. This alarmed them so, that they begged me to assure them that there +should be no more firing, saying that the greater part of them had never +seen Christians, nor heard thunderings of that sort, and that they were +afraid of its harming them, but that they were greatly pleased to see our +savage in health, whom they supposed was dead, as had been reported by some +Algonquins, who had heard so from the Montagnais. The savage commended the +treatment I had shown him in France, and the remarkable objects he had +seen, at which all wondered, and went away quietly to their cabins, +expecting that on the next day I would show them the place where I wished +to have them dwell. I saw also my servant, who was dressed in the costume +of the savages, who commended the treatment he had received from them. He +informed me of all he had seen and learned during the winter, from the +savages. + +The next day I showed them a spot for their cabins, in regard to which the +elders and principal ones consulted very privately. After their long +consultation they sent for me alone and my servant, who had learned their +language very well. They told him they desired a close alliance with me, +and were sorry to see here all these shallops, and that our savage had told +them he did not know them at all nor their intentions, and that it was +clear that they were attracted only by their desire of gain and their +avarice, and that when their assistance was needed they would refuse it, +and would not act as I did in offering to go with my companions to their +country and assist them, of all of which I had given them proofs in the +past. They praised me for the treatment I had shown our savage, which was +that of a brother, and had put them under such obligations of good will to +me, that they said they would endeavor to comply with anything I might +desire from them, but that they feared that the other boats would do them +some harm. I assured them that they would not, and that we were all under +one king, whom our savage had seen, and belonged to the same nation, though +matters of business were confined to individuals, and that they had no +occasion to fear, but might feel as much security as if they were in their +own country. After considerable conversation, they made me a present of a +hundred castors. I gave them in exchange other kinds of merchandise. They +told me there were more than four hundred savages of their country who had +purposed to come, but had been prevented by the following representations +of an Iroquois prisoner, who had belonged to me, but had escaped to his own +country. He had reported, they said, that I had given him his liberty and +some merchandise, and that I purposed to go to the fall with six hundred +Iroquois to meet the Algonquins and kill them all, adding that the fear +aroused by this intelligence had alone prevented them from coming. I +replied that the prisoner in question had escaped without my leave, that +our savage knew very well how he went away, and that there was no thought +of abandoning their alliance, as they had heard, since I had engaged in war +with them, and sent my servant to their country to foster their friendship, +which was still farther confirmed by my keeping my promise to them in so +faithful a manner. + +They replied that, so far as they were concerned, they had never thought of +this; that they were well aware that all this talk was far from the truth, +and that if they had believed the contrary they would not have come, but +that the others were afraid, never having seen a Frenchman except my +servant. They told me also that three hundred Algonquins would come in five +or six days, if we would wait for them, to unite with themselves in war +against the Iroquois; that, however, they would return without doing so +unless I went. I talked a great deal with them about the source of the +great river and their country, and they gave me detailed information about +their rivers, falls, lakes and lands, as also about the tribes living +there, and what is to be found in the region. Four of them assured me that +they had seen a sea at a great distance from their country, but that it was +difficult to go there, not only on account of the wars, but of the +intervening wilderness. They told me also that the winter before some +savages had come from the direction of Florida, beyond the country of the +Iroquois, who lived near our ocean, and were in alliance with these +savages. In a word, they made me a very exact statement, indicating by +drawings all the places where they had been, and taking pleasure in talking +to me about them; and for my part I did not tire of listening to them, as +they confirmed points in regard to which I had been before in doubt. After +all this conversation was concluded, I told them that we would trade for +the few articles they had, which was done the next day. Each one of the +barques carried away its portion; we on our side had all the hardship and +venture; the others, who had not troubled themselves about any +explorations, had the booty, the only thing that urges them to activity, in +which they employ no capital and venture nothing. + +The next day, after bartering what little they had, they made a barricade +about their dwelling, partly in the direction of the wood, and partly in +that of our pataches; and this they said they did for their security, in +order to avoid the surprises of their enemies, which we took for the +truth. On the coming night, they called our savage, who was sleeping on my +patache, and my servant, who went to them. After a great deal of +conversation, about midnight they had me called also. Entering their +cabins, I found them all seated in council. They had me sit down near them, +saying that when they met for the purpose of considering a matter, it was +their custom to do so at night, that they might not be diverted by anything +from attention to the subject in hand; that at night one thought only of +listening, while during the day the thoughts were distracted by other +objects. + +But in my opinion, confiding in me, they desired to tell me privately their +purpose. Besides, they were afraid of the other pataches, as they +subsequently gave me to understand. For they told me that they were uneasy +at seeing so many Frenchmen, who were not especially united to one another, +and that they had desired to see me alone; that some of them had been +beaten; that they were as kindly disposed towards me as towards their own +children, confiding so much in me that they would do whatever I told them +to do, but that they greatly mistrusted the others; that if I returned I +might take as many of their people as I wished, if it were under the +guidance of a chief; and that they sent for me to assure me anew of their +friendship, which would never be broken, and to express the hope that I +might never be ill disposed towards them; and being aware that I had +determined to visit their country, they said they would show it to me at +the risk of their lives, giving me the assistance of a large number of men, +who could go everywhere; and that in future we should expect such treatment +from them as they had received from us. + +Straightway they brought fifty castors and four strings of beads, which +they value as we do gold chains, saying that I should share these with my +brother, referring to Pont Gravé, we being present together; that these +presents were sent by other captains, who had never seen me; that they +desired to continue friends to me; that if any of the French wished to go +with them, they should be greatly pleased to have them do so; and that they +desired more than ever to establish a firm friendship. After much +conversation with them, I proposed that inasmuch as they were desirous to +have me visit their country, I would petition His Majesty to assist us to +the extent of forty or fifty men, equipped with what was necessary for the +journey, and that I would embark with them on condition that they would +furnish us the necessary provisions for the journey, and that I would take +presents for the chiefs of the country through which we should pass, when +we would return to our settlement to spend the winter; that moreover, if I +found their country favorable and fertile, we would make many settlements +there, by which means we should have frequent intercourse with each other, +living happily in the future in the fear of God, whom we would make known +to them. They were well pleased with this proposition, and begged me to +shake hands upon it, saying that they on their part would do all that was +possible for its fulfilment; that, in regard to provisions, we should be as +well supplied as they themselves, assuring me again that they would show me +what I desired to see. Thereupon, I took leave of them at daybreak, +thanking them for their willingness to carry out my wishes, and entreating +them to continue to entertain the same feelings. + +On the next day, the 17th, they said that they were going castor-hunting, +and that they would all return. On the following morning they finished +bartering what little they had, when they embarked in their canoes, asking +us not to take any steps towards taking down their dwellings, which we +promised them. Then they separated from each other, pretending to go a +hunting in different directions. They left our savage with me that we might +have less distrust in them. But they had appointed themselves a rendezvous +above the fall, where they knew well enough that we could not go with our +barques. Meanwhile, we awaited them in accordance with what they had told +us. + +The next day there came two savages, one Iroquet, the other the brother of +our Savignon. They came to get the latter, and ask me in behalf of all +their companions to go alone with my servant to where they were encamped, +as they had something of importance to tell me, which they were unwilling +to communicate to any Frenchmen. I promised them that I would go. + +The following day I gave some trifles to Savignon, who set out much +pleased, giving me to understand that he was about to live a very irksome +life in comparison with that which he had led in France. He expressed much +regret at separation, but I was very glad to be relieved of the care of +him. The two captains told me that on the morning of the next day they +would send for me, which they did. I embarked, accompanied by my servant, +with those who came. Having arrived at the fall, we went some eight leagues +into the woods, where they were encamped on the shore of a lake, where I +had been before.[19] They were much pleased at seeing me, and began to +shout after their custom. Our Indian came out to meet me, and ask me to go +to the cabin of his brother, where he at once had some meat and fish put on +the fire for my entertainment. While I was there, a banquet was held, to +which all the leading Indians were invited. I was not forgotten, although I +had already eaten sufficiently; but, in order not to violate the custom of +the country, I attended. After banqueting, they went into the woods to hold +their council, and meanwhile I amused myself in looking at the country +round about, which is very pleasant. + +Some time after they called me, in order to communicate to me what they had +resolved upon. I proceeded to them accordingly with my servant. After I had +seated myself by their side, they said they were very glad to see me, and +to find that I had not failed to keep my word in what I had promised them; +saying that they felt it an additional proof of my affection that I +continued the alliance with them, and that before setting out they desired +to take leave of me, as it would have been a very great disappointment to +them to go away without seeing me, thinking that I would in that case have +been ill disposed towards them. They said also that what had led them to +say they were going a hunting, and build the barricade, was not the fear of +their enemies nor the desire of hunting, but their fear of all the other +pataches accompanying me, inasmuch as they had heard it said that on the +night they sent for me they were all to be killed, and that I should not be +able to protect them from the others who were much more numerous; so that +in order to get away they made use of this ruse. But they said if there had +been only our two pataches they would have stayed some days longer, and +they begged that, when I returned with my companions, I would not bring any +others. To this I replied that I did not bring these, but that they +followed without my invitation; that in the future, however, I would come +in another manner; at which explanation they were much pleased. + +And now they began again to repeat what they had promised me in regard to +the exploration of the country, while I promised, with the help of God, to +fulfil what I had told them. They besought me again to give them a man, and +I replied that if there was any one among us who was willing to go, I +should be well pleased. + +They told me there was a merchant, named Bouyer, commander of a patache, +who had asked them to take a young man, which request, however, they had +been unwilling to grant before ascertaining whether this was agreeable to +me, as they did not know whether we were friends, since he had come in my +company to trade with them; also that they were in no wise under any +obligations to him, but that he had offered to make them large presents. + +I replied that we were in no wise enemies, and that they had often seen us +conversing with each other; but that in regard to traffic each did what he +could, and that the above-named Bouyer was perhaps desirous of sending this +young man as I had sent mine, hoping for some return in the future, which I +could also lay claim to from them; that, however, they must judge towards +whom they had the greatest obligations, and from whom they were to expect +the most. + +They said there was no comparison between the obligations in the two cases, +not only in view of the help I had rendered them in their wars against +their enemies, but also of the offer of my personal assistance in the +future, in all of which they had found me faithful to the truth, adding +that all depended on my pleasure. They said moreover that what made them +speak of the matter was the presents he had offered them, and that, if this +young man should go with them, it would not put them under such obligations +to this Bouyer as they were under to me, and that it would have no +influence upon the future, since they only took him on account of the +presents from Bouyer. + +I replied that it was indifferent to me whether they took him or not, and +in fact that if they took him for a small consideration I should be +displeased at it, but if in return for valuable presents, I should be +satisfied, provided he stayed with Iroquet; which they promised me. Then +there was made on both sides a final statement of our agreements. They had +with them one who had three times been made prisoner by the Iroquois, but +had been successful in escaping. This one resolved to go, with nine others, +to war, for the sake of revenge for the cruelties his enemies had caused +him to suffer. All the captains begged me to dissuade him if possible, +since he was very valiant, and they were afraid that, advancing boldly +towards the enemy, and supported by a small force only, he would never +return. To satisfy them I endeavored to do so, and urged all the reasons I +could, which, however, availed little; for he, showing me a portion of his +fingers cut off, also great cuts and burns on his body, as evidences of the +manner they had tortured him, said that it was impossible for him to live +without killing some of his enemies and having vengeance, and that his +heart told him he must set out as soon as possible, as he did, firmly +resolved to behave well. + +After concluding with them, I asked them to take me back in our patache. To +accomplish this, they got ready eight canoes in order to pass the fall, +stripping themselves naked, and directing me to go only in my shirt. For it +often happens that some are lost in passing the fall. Consequently, they +keep close to each other, so as to render assistance at once, if any canoe +should happen to turn over. They said to me, if yours should unfortunately +overturn, not knowing how to swim, you must not think of abandoning it, and +must cling to the little pieces in the middle of it, for we can easily +rescue you. I am sure that even the most self-possessed persons in the +world, who have not seen this place nor passed it in little boats such as +they have, could not do so without the greatest apprehension. But these +people are so skilful in passing falls, that it is an easy matter for +them. I passed with them, which I had never before done, nor any other +Christian, except my above-mentioned servant. Then we reached our barques, +where I lodged a large number of them, and had some conversation with the +before-mentioned Bouyer in view of the fear he entertained that I should +prevent his servant from going with the savages. They returned the next day +with the young man, who proved expensive to his master who had expected, in +my opinion, to recover the losses of his voyage, which were very +considerable, like those of many others. + +One of our young men also determined to go with these savages, who are +Charioquois, living at a distance of some one hundred and fifty leagues +from the fall. He went with the brother of Savignon, one of the captains, +who promised me to show him all that could be seen. Bouyer's man went with +the above-mentioned Iroquet, an Algonquin, who lives some eighty leagues +from the fall. Both went off well pleased and contented. + +After the departure of the savages, we awaited the three hundred others +who, as had been told us, were to come, in accordance with the promise I +had made them. Finding that they did not come, all the pataches determined +to induce some Algonquin savages, who had come from Tadoussac, to go to +meet them, in view of a reward that would be given them on their return, +which was to be at the latest not over nine days from the time of their +departure, so that we might know whether to expect them or not, and be able +to return to Tadoussac. This they agreed to, and a canoe left with this +purpose. + +On the fifth of July a canoe arrived from the Algonquins, who were to come +to the number of three hundred. From it we learned that the canoe which had +set out from us had arrived in their country, and that their companions, +wearied by their journey, were resting, and that they would soon arrive, in +fulfilment of the promise they had made; that at most they would not be +more than eight days behindhand, but that there would be only twenty-four +canoes, as one of their captains and many of their comrades had died of a +fever that had broken out among them. They also said that they had sent +many to the war, which had hindered their progress. We determined to wait +for them. + +But finding that this period had elapsed without their arrival, Pont Gravé +set out from the fall on the eleventh of the month, to arrange some matters +at Tadoussac, while I stayed to await the savages. + +The same day a patache arrived, bringing provisions for the numerous +barques of which our party consisted. For our bread, wine, meat, and cider +had given out some days before, obliging us to have recourse to fishing, +the fine river water, and some radishes which grow in great abundance in +the country; otherwise we should have been obliged to return. The same day +an Algonquin canoe arrived, assuring us that on the next day the +twenty-four canoes were to come, twelve of them prepared for war. + +On the twelfth the Algonquins arrived with some little merchandise. Before +trafficking they made a present to a Montagnais Indian, the son of +Anadabijou, [20] who had lately died, in order to mitigate his grief at the +death of his father. Shortly after they resolved to make some presents to +all the captains of the pataches. They gave to each of them ten castors, +saying they were very sorry they had no more, but that the war, to which +most of them were going, was the reason; they begged, however, that what +they offered might be accepted in good part, saying that they were all +friends to us, and to me, who was seated near them, more than to all the +others, who were well disposed towards them only on account of their +castors, and had not always assisted them like myself, whom they had never +found double-tongued like the rest. + +I replied that all those whom they saw gathered together were their +friends; that, in case an opportunity should present itself, they would not +fail to do their duty; that we were all friends; that they should continue +to be well disposed towards us; that we would make them presents in return +for those they gave us; and that they should trade in peace. This they did, +and carried away what they could. + +The next day they brought me privately forty castors, assuring me of their +friendship, and that they were very glad of the conclusion which I had +reached with the savages who had gone away, and that we should make a +settlement at the fall, which I assured them we would do, making them a +present in return. + +After everything had been arranged, they determined to go and obtain the +body of Outetoucos, who was drowned at the fall, as we have before +mentioned. They went to the spot where he had been buried, disinterred him +and carried him to the island of St Hélène, where they performed their +usual ceremony, which is to sing and dance over the grave with festivities +and banquets following. I asked them why they disinterred the body. They +replied that if their enemies should find the grave they would do so, and +divide the body into several pieces, which they would then hang to trees in +order to offend them. For this reason they said that they transferred it to +a place off from the road, and in the most secret manner possible. + +On the 15th there arrived fourteen canoes, the chief over which was named +_Tecouehata_. Upon their arrival all the other savages took up arms and +performed some circular evolutions. After going around and dancing to their +satisfaction, the others who were in their canoes also began to dance, +making various movements of the body. After finishing their singing, they +went on shore with a small quantity of furs, and made presents similar to +those of the others. These were reciprocated by some of equal value. The +next day they trafficked in what little they had, and presented me +personally with thirty castors, for which I made them an acknowledgment. +They begged me to continue my good will to them, which I promised to do. +They spoke with me very especially respecting certain explorations towards +the north, which might prove advantageous; and said, in reference to them, +that if any one of my company would like to go with them, they would show +him what would please me, and would treat him as one of their own children. +I promised to give them a young man, at which they were much pleased. When +he took leave of me to go with them, I gave him a detailed memorandum of +what he was to observe while with them. After they had bartered what little +they had, they separated into three parties; one for the war, another for +the great fall, another for a little river which flows into that of the +great fall. Thus they set out on the 18th day of the month, on which day we +also departed. + +The same day we made the thirty leagues from this fall to the Trois +Rivières. On the 19th we arrived at Quebec, which is also thirty leagues +from the Trois Rivières. I induced the most of those in each boat to stay +at the settlement, when I had some repairs made and some rose-bushes set +out. I had also some oak wood put on board to make trial of in France, not +only for marine wainscoting, but also for windows. The next day, the 20th +of July, I set out. On the 23d I arrived at Tadoussac, whence I resolved to +return to France, in accordance with the advice of Pont Gravé. After +arranging matters relating to our settlement, according to the directions +which Sieur de Monts had given me, I embarked in the vessel of Captain +Tibaut, of La Rochelle, on the 11th of August. During our passage we had an +abundance of fish, such as _orades_, mackerel, and _pilotes_, the latter +similar to herrings, and found about certain planks covered with +_pousle-pieds_, a kind of shell-fish attaching itself thereto, and growing +there gradually. Sometimes the number of these little fish is so great that +it is surprising to behold. We caught also some porpoises and other species +of fish. The weather was favorable as far as Belle Isle, [21] where we were +overtaken by fogs, which continued three or four days. The weather then +becoming fair, we sighted Alvert, [22] and arrived at La Rochelle on the +16th of September, 1611. + +ENDNOTES: + +16. June 13th. + +17. _Charioquois_. In the issue of 1632, p. 397, Champlain has _Sauuages + Hurons_. It is probable that Charioquois was only a chief of the + Hurons. + +18. This was the young man that had been sent to pass the winter with the + Indians, in exchange for the savage which had accompanied Champlain to + France. _Vide antea_, Vol. II. p. 246. + +19. This was doubtless on the Lake of Two Mountains. + +20. Champlain's orthography is here _Aronadabigeau. Vide_ Vol. I pp. 236, + 291. + +21. Belle Ile. An island on the coast of Brittany in France. + +22. Alvert, a village near Marennes, which they sighted as they approached + La Rochelle. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ARRIVAL AT LA ROCHELLE.--DISSOLUTION OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SIEUR DE +MONTS AND HIS ASSOCIATES, THE SIEURS COLIER AND LE GENDRE OF ROUEN.-- +JEALOUSY OF THE FRENCH IN REGARD TO THE NEW DISCOVERIES IN NEW FRANCE. + + +Upon my arrival at La Rochelle I proceeded to visit Sieur de Monts, at Pons +[23] in Saintonge, to inform him of all that had occurred during the +expedition, and of the promise which the Ochateguins[24] and Algonquins had +made me, on condition that we would assist them in their wars, as I had +agreed. Sieur de Monts, after listening to it all, determined to go to the +Court to arrange the matter. I started before him to go there also. But on +the way I was unfortunately detained by the falling of a horse upon me, +which came near killing me. This fall detained me some time; but as soon as +I had sufficiently recovered from its effects I set out again to complete +my journey and meet Sieur de Monts at Fontainebleau, who, upon his return +to Paris, had a conference with his associates. The latter were unwilling +to continue in the association, as there was no commission forbidding any +others from going to the new discoveries and trading with the inhabitants +of the country. Sieur de Monts, seeing this, bargained with them for what +remained at the settlement at Quebec, in consideration of a sum of money +which he gave them for their share. He sent also some men to take care of +the settlement, in the expectation of obtaining a commission from His +Majesty. But while he was engaged in the pursuit of this object some +important matters demanded his attention, so that he was obliged to abandon +it, and he left me the duty of taking the necessary steps for it. As I was +about arranging the matter, the vessels arrived from New France with men +from our settlement, those whom I had sent into the interior with the +savages. They brought me very important information, saying that more than +two hundred savages had come, expecting to find me at the great fall of +St. Louis, where I had appointed a rendezvous, with the intention of +assisting them according to their request. But, finding that I had not kept +my promise, they were greatly displeased. Our men, however, made some +apologies, which were accepted, and assured them that they would not fail +to come the following year or never. The savages agreed to this on their +part. But several others left the old trading-station of Tadoussac, and +came to the fall with many small barques to see if they could engage in +traffic with these people, whom they assured that I was dead, although our +men stoutly declared the contrary. This shows how jealousy against +meritorious objects gets possession of bad natures; and all they want is +that men should expose themselves to a thousand dangers, to discover +peoples and territories, that they themselves may have the profit and +others the hardship. It is not reasonable that one should capture the lamb +and another go off with the fleece. If they had been willing to participate +in our discoveries, use their means, and risk their persons, they would +have given evidence of their honor and nobleness, but on the contrary they +show clearly that they are impelled by pure malice that they may enjoy the +fruit of our labors equally with ourselves. + +On this subject, and to show how many persons strive to pervert +praiseworthy enterprises, I will instance again the people of St. Malo and +others, who say that the profit of these discoveries belongs to them, since +Jacques Cartier, who first visited Canada and the islands of New Foundland, +was from their city, as if that city had contributed to the expenses of +these discoveries of Jacques Cartier, who went there by the order and at +the expense of King Francis I, in the years 1534 and 1535 to discover these +territories now called New France. If then Cartier made any discovery at +the expense of His Majesty, all his subjects have the same rights and +liberties in them as the people of St. Malo, who cannot prevent others who +make farther discoveries at their own expense, as is shown in the case of +the discoveries above described, from profiting by them in peace. Hence +they ought not to claim any rights if they themselves make no +contributions, and their reasons for doing so are weak and foolish. + +To prove more conclusively that they who maintain this position do so +without any foundation, let us suppose that a Spaniard or other foreigner +had discovered lands and wealth at the expense of the King of France. Could +the Spaniards or other foreigners claim these discoveries and this wealth +on the ground that the discoverer was a Spaniard or foreigner? No! There +would be no sense in doing so, and they would always belong to France. +Hence the people of St. Malo cannot make these claims for the reason which +they give, that Cartier was a citizen of their city; and they can only take +cognizance of the fact that he was a citizen of theirs, and render him +accordingly the praise which is his due. + +Besides, Cartier in the voyage which he made never passed the great fall of +St. Louis, and made no discoveries north or south of the river +St. Lawrence. His narratives give no evidence of it, in which he speaks +only of the river Saguenay, the Trois Rivières and St. Croix, where he +spent the winter in a fort near our settlement. Had he done so, he would +not have failed to mention it, any more than what he has mentioned, which +shows that he left all the upper part of the St. Lawrence, from Tadoussac +to the great fall, being a territory difficult to explore, and that he was +unwilling to expose himself or let his barques engage in the venture. So +that what he did has borne no fruit until four years ago, when we made our +settlement at Quebec, after which I ventured to pass the fall to help the +savages in their wars, and fend among them men to make the acquaintance of +the people, to learn their mode of living, and the character and extent of +their territory. After devoting ourselves to labors which have been so +successful, is it not just that we should enjoy their fruits, His Majesty +not having contributed anything to aid those who have assumed the +responsibilities of these undertakings up to the present time. I hope that +God will at some time incline him to do so much for His service, his own +glory and the welfare of his subjects, as to bring many new peoples to the +knowledge of our faith, that they may at last enjoy the heavenly kingdom. + + +NOTE. + +Champlain here introduces an explanation of his two geographical maps of +New France, and likewise his method of determining a meridian line. For +convenience of use the maps are placed at the end of this work, and for the +same reason these explanations are carried forward to p. 219, in immediate +proximity to the maps which they explain.--EDITOR. + +ENDNOTES: + +23. De Monts was governor of Pons, a town situated about ten miles south of + Saintes, in the present department of Lower Charente. + +24. _Ochateguins. Vide_ Vol III. Quebec ed. p 169. They were Hurons, and + Ochateguin is supposed to have been one of their chiefs. _Vide_ Vol + II. note 321. + + + + +FOURTH VOYAGE +OF +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, + +CAPTAIN IN ORDINARY TO THE KING IN THE MARINE, AND +LIEUTENANT OF MONSEIGNEUR LE PRINCE DE +CONDÉ IN NEW FRANCE, + +MADE IN THE YEAR 1613. + + +To the very high, powerful, and excellent Henri de Bourbon, Prince de +Condé, First Prince of the Blood, First Peer of France, Governor and +Lieutenant of His Majesty in Guienne. + +_Monseigneur, + +The Honor that I have received from your Highness in being intrusted with +the discovery of New France has inspired in me the desire to pursue with +still greater pains and zeal than ever the search for the North Sea. With +this object in view I have made a voyage during the past year, 1613, +relying on a man whom I had sent there and who assured me he had seen it, +as you will perceive in this brief narrative, which I venture to present to +your Excellence, and in which are particularly described all the toils and +sufferings I have had in the undertaking. But although I regret having lost +this year so far as the main object is concerned, yet my expectation, as in +the first voyage, of obtaining more definite information respecting the +subject from the savages, has been fulfilled. They have told me about +various lakes and rivers in the north, in view of which, aside from their +assurance that they know of this sea, it seems to me easy to conclude from +the maps that it cannot be far from the farthest discoveries I have +hitherto made. Awaiting a favorable time and opportunity to prosecute my +plans, and praying God to preserve you, most happy Prince, in all +prosperity, wherein consists my highest wish for your greatness, I remain +in the quality of + + Your most humble and devoted servant, + + SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN_. + + + + +FOURTH VOYAGE +OF +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, + +CAPTAIN IN ORDINARY TO THE KING IN THE MARINE, AND +LIEUTENANT OF MONSEIGNEUR LE PRINCE DE +CONDÉ IN NEW FRANCE, + +MADE IN THE YEAR 1613. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +WHAT LED ME TO SEEK FOR TERMS OF REGULATION.--A COMMISSION OBTAINED-- +OPPOSITIONS TO THE SAME.--PUBLICATION AT LAST IN ALL THE PORTS OF FRANCE. + +The desire which I have always had of making new discoveries in New France, +for the good, profit, and glory of the French name, and at the same time to +lead the poor natives to the knowledge of God, has led me to seek more and +more for the greater facility of this undertaking, which can only be +secured by means of good regulations. For, since individuals desire to +gather the fruits of my labor without contributing to the expenses and +great outlays requisite for the support of the settlements necessary to a +successful result, this branch of trade is ruined by the greediness of +gain, which is so great that it causes merchants to set out prematurely in +order to arrive first in this country. By this means they not only become +involved in the ice, but also in their own ruin, for, from trading with the +savages in a secret manner and offering through rivalry with each other +more merchandise than is necessary, they get the worst of the bargain. +Thus, while purposing to deceive their associates, they generally deceive +themselves. + +For this reason, when I returned to France on the 10th of September, 1611, +I spoke to Sieur de Monts about the matter, who approved of my suggestions; +but his engagements not allowing him to prosecute the matter at court, he +left to me its whole management. + +I then drew up a statement, which I presented to President Jeannin, who, +being a man desirous of seeing good undertakings prosper, commended my +project, and encouraged me in its prosecution. + +But feeling assured that those who love to fish in troubled waters would be +vexed at such regulations and seek means to thwart them, it seemed +advisable to throw myself into the hands of some power whose authority +would prevail over their jealousy. + +Now, knowing Monseigneur le Comte de Soissons[25] to be a prince devout and +well disposed to all holy undertakings, I addressed myself to him through +Sieur de Beaulieu, councillor, and almoner in ordinary to the King, and +urged upon him the importance of the matter, setting forth the means of +regulating it, the harm which disorder had heretofore produced, and the +total ruin with which it was threatened, to the great dishonor of the +French name, unless God should raise up some one who would reanimate it and +give promise of securing for it some day the success which had hitherto +been little anticipated. After he had been informed in regard to all the +details of the scheme and seen the map of the country which I had made, he +promised me, under the sanction of the King, to undertake the protectorate +of the enterprise. + +I immediately after presented to His Majesty, and to the gentlemen of his +Council, a petition accompanied by articles, to the end that it might +please him to issue regulations for the undertaking, without which, as I +have said, it would fail. Accordingly his Majesty gave the direction and +control to the before-mentioned Count, who then honored me with the +lieutenancy. + +Now as I was preparing to publish the commission [26] of the King in all +the ports and harbors of France, there occurred the sickness and greatly +lamented death of the Count, which postponed somewhat the undertaking. But +his Majesty at once committed the direction to Monseigneur le Prince,[27] +who proceeded in the execution of its duties, and, having in like manner +honored me with the lieutenancy, [28] directed me to go on with the +publication of the commission. But as soon as this was done, some marplots, +who had no interest in the matter, importuned him to annul it, representing +to him as they claimed the interests of all the merchants of France, who +had no cause for complaint, since all were received into the association +and could not therefore justly be aggrieved. Accordingly, their evil +intention being recognized, they were dismissed, with permission only to +enter into the association. + +During these altercations, it was impossible for me, as the time of my +departure was very near at hand, to do anything for the habitation at +Quebec, for repairing and enlarging which I desired to take out some +workmen. It was accordingly necessary to go out this year without any +farther organization. The passports of Monseigneur le Prince were made out +for four vessels, which were already in readiness for the voyage, viz. +three from Rouen and one from La Rochelle, on condition that each should +furnish four men for my assistance, not only in my discoveries but in war, +as I desired to keep the promise which I had made to the Ochataiguins [29] +in the year 1611, to assist them in their wars at the time of my next +voyage. + +As I was preparing to set out, I was informed that the Parliamentary Court +of Rouen would not permit the publication of the commission of the King, +because his Majesty had reserved to himself and his Council the sole +cognizance of the differences which might arise in this matter; added to +which was the fact that the merchants of St. Malo were also opposed to it. +This greatly embarrassed me, and obliged me to make three journeys to +Rouen, with orders of his Majesty, in consideration of which the Court +desisted from their inhibition, and the assumptions of the opponents were +overruled. The commission was then published in all the ports of Normandy. + +ENDNOTES: + +25. For a brief notice of the Count de Soissons, _vide_ Vol. I. note 74; + also note by Laverdière, Quebec ed., p. 433. + +26. This Commission, dated October 15, 1612, will be found in Champlain's + issue of 1632. _Vide_ Quebec ed., p 887. + +27. Henry de Bourbon. _Vide_ Vol. I. p 113, note 75. + +28. Champlain was appointed lieutenant of the Prince de Condé on the 22d + day of November, 1612. _Vide_ issue of 1632, Quebec ed., p. 1072. + +29. Ochateguins, or Hurons. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +DEPARTURE FROM FRANCE.--WHAT TOOK PLACE UP TO OUR ARRIVAL AT THE FALLS. + + +I set out from Rouen on the 5th of March for Honfleur, accompanied by Sieur +L'Ange, to assist me in my explorations, and in war if occasion should +require. + +On the next day, the 6th of the month, we embarked in the vessel of Sieur +de Pont Gravé, immediately setting sail, with a favorable wind. + +On the 10th of April we sighted the Grand Bank, where we several times +tried for fish, but without success. + +On the 15th we had a violent gale, accompanied by rain and hail, which was +followed by another, lasting forty-eight hours, and so violent as to cause +the loss of several vessels on the island of Cape Breton. + +On the 21st we sighted the island and Cap de Raye. [30] On the 29th the +Montagnais savages, perceiving us from All Devils' Point, [31] threw +themselves into their canoes and came to meet us, being so thin and +hideous-looking that I did not recognize them. At once they began crying +for bread, saying that they were dying of hunger. This led us to conclude +that the winter had not been severe, and consequently the hunting poor, +which matter we have alluded to in previous voyages. + +Having arrived on board of our vessel they examined the faces of all, and +as I was not to be seen anywhere they asked where Monsieur de Champlain +was, and were answered that I had remained in France. But this they would +not think of believing, and an old man among them came to me in a corner +where I was walking, not desiring to be recognized as yet, and taking me by +the ear, for he suspected who it was, saw the scar of the arrow wound, +which I received at the defeat of the Iroquois. At this he cried out, and +all the others after him, with great demonstrations of joy, saying, Your +people are awaiting you at the harbor of Tadoussac. + +The same day we arrived at Tadoussac, and although we had set out last, +nevertheless arrived first, Sieur Boyer of Rouen arriving with the same +tide. From this it is evident that to set out before the season is simply +rushing into the ice. When we had anchored, our friends came out to us, +and, after informing us how everything was at the habitation, began to +dress three _outardes_ [32] and two hares, which they had brought, throwing +the entrails overboard, after which the poor savages rushed, and, like +famished beasts, devoured them without drawing. They also scraped off with +their nails the fat with which our vessel had been coated, eating it +gluttonously as if they had found some great delicacy. + +The next day two vessels arrived from St. Malo, which had set out before +the oppositions had been settled and the commission been published in +Normandy. I proceeded on board, accompanied by L'Ange. The Sieurs de la +Moinerie and la Tremblaye were in command, to whom I read the commission of +the King, and the prohibition against violating it on penalties attached to +the same. They replied that they were subjects and faithful servants of His +Majesty, and that they would obey his commands; and I then had attached to +a post in the port the arms and commission of His Majesty, that no ground +for ignorance might be claimed. + +On the 2d of May, seeing two shallops equipped to go to the Falls, I +embarked with the before-mentioned L'Ange in one of them. We had very bad +weather, so that the masts of our shallop were broken, and had it not been +for the preserving hand of God we should have been lost, as was before our +eyes a shallop from St Malo, which was going to the Isle d'Orleans, those +on board of which however being saved. + +On the 7th we arrived at Quebec, where we found in good condition those who +had wintered there, they not having been sick; they told us that the winter +had not been severe, and that the river had not frozen. The trees also were +beginning to put forth leaves and the fields to be decked with flowers. + +On the 13th we set out from Quebec for the Falls of St. Louis, where we +arrived on the 21st, finding there one of, our barques which had set out +after us from Tadoussac, and which had traded some with a small troop of +Algonquins, who came from the war with the Iroquois, and had with them two +prisoners. Those in the barque gave them to understand that I had come with +a number of men to assist them in their wars, according to the promise I +had made them in previous years; also that I desired to go to their country +and enter into an alliance with all their friends, at which they were +greatly pleased. And, inasmuch as they were desirous of returning to their +country to assure their friends of their victory, see their wives, and put +to death their prisoners in a festive _tabagie_, they left us pledges of +their return, which they promised should be before the middle of the first +moon, according to their reckoning, their shields made of wood and elk +leather, and a part of their bows and arrows. I regretted very much that I +was not prepared to go with them to their country. + +Three days after, three canoes arrived with Algonquins, who had come from +the interior, with some articles of merchandise which they bartered. They +told me that the bad treatment which the savages had received the year +before had discouraged them from coming any more, and that they did not +believe that I would ever return to their country on account of the wrong +impressions which those jealous of me had given them respecting me; +wherefore twelve hundred men had gone to the war, having no more hope from +the French, who, they did not believe, would return again to their country. + +This intelligence greatly disheartened the merchants, as they had made a +great purchase of merchandise, with the expectation that the savages would +come, as they had been accustomed to. This led me to resolve, as I engaged +in my explorations, to pass through their country, in order to encourage +those who had stayed back, with an assurance of the good treatment they +would receive, and of the large amount of good merchandise at the Fall, and +also of the desire I had to assist them in their war. For carrying out this +purpose I requested three canoes and three savages to guide us, but after +much difficulty obtained only two and one savage, and this by means of some +presents made them. + +ENDNOTES: + +30. The _island_ refers to New Foundland. Cap de Raye, still known as Cape + Ray, was on the southwestern angle of New Foundland. + +31. Now called Point aux Vaches. It was sometimes called All-Devils' + Point. _Vide_ note 136, Vol. I. p. 235. + +32. _Outardes_. Sometimes written _houtardes_, and _Oltardes_. The name + outarde or bustard, the _otis_ of ornithologists, a land bird of + Europe, was applied to a species of goose in Canada at a very early + period. + + The outarde is mentioned by Cartier in 1535, and the name may have been + originally applied by the fishermen and fur-traders at a much earlier + period, doubtless on account of some fancied resemblance which they saw + to the lesser bustard or outarde, which was about the size of the + English pheasant. _Vide Pennant's British Zoölogy_, Vol. I. p. 379. + Cartier, Champlain, Lescarbot, Baron La Hontan, Potherie, and Charlvoix + mention the outarde in catalogues of water-fowl in which _oye_, the + goose, is likewise mentioned. They very clearly distinguish it from the + class which they commonly considered _oyes_, or geese. Cartier, for + instance, says, Il y a aussi grand nombre d'oyseaulx, scauoir grues, + signes, _oltardes, oyes sauuages, blanches, & grises_. Others speak of + _outardes et oyes_. They do not generally describe it with + particularity. Champlain, however, in describing the turkey, _cocq + d'Inde_, on the coast of New England, says, _aussi gros qu'vne outarde, + qui est une espece d'oye_. Father Pierre Biard writes, _et au mesme + temps les outardes arriuent du midy, qui sont grosses cannes au double + des nostres_. From these statements it is obvious that the outarde was + a species of goose, but was so small that it could well be described as + a large duck. In New France there were at least four species of the + goose, which might have come under the observation of the early + navigators and explorers. We give them in the order of their size, as + described in Coues' Key to North American Birds. + + 1. Canada Goose, _Branta Canadensis_, SCOPOLI, 36 inches. + 2. Snow Goose, _Anser hyperboreus_, LINNÆUS, 30 inches. + 3. Am. White-fronted Goose, _Anser albifrons_, LINNÆUS, 27 inches. + 4. Brant Goose, _Branta bernicla_, SCOPOLI, 24 inches. + + Recurring to the statement of Cartier above cited, it will be observed + that he mentions, besides the outarde, wild geese white and gray. The + first and largest of the four species above mentioned, the Canada + goose, _Branta Canadensis_, is gray, and the two next, the Snow goose + and White-fronted, would be classified as white. This disposes of three + of the four mentioned. The outarde of Cartier would therefore be the + fourth species in the list, viz. the Brant goose. _Branta bernicla_. + This is the smallest species found on our northern coast, and might + naturally be described, as stated by Father Biard, as a large duck. It + is obvious that the good Father could not have described the Canada + goose, the largest of the four species, as a large duck, and the white + geese have never been supposed to be referred to under the name of + outarde. The Brant goose, to which all the evidence which we have been + able to find in the Canadian authorities seems to point as the outarde + of early times, is common in our markets in its season, but our + market-men, unaccustomed to make scientific distinctions, are puzzled + to decide whether it should be classed as a goose or a duck. It is not + improbable that the early voyagers to our northern latitudes, unable to + decide to which of these classes this water-fowl properly belonged, and + seeing in it a fancied resemblance to the lesser outarde, with which + they were familiar, gave it for sake of the distinction, but + nevertheless inappropriately, the name of outarde. The reader is + referred to the following authorities. + + _Vide Brief Récit_ par Jacques Cartier, 1545. D'Avezac ed., p. 33; + _Champlain_, Quebec ed., p. 220; _Jésuite Relations_, 1616, p. 10; _Le + Grand Voyage du Pays des Hurons_, par Sagard, Paris, 1632, p. 301; + _Dictionaire de la Langue Hurone_, par Sagard, Paris, 1632, _oyseaux; + Letters to the Dutchess of Lesdiguieres_, By Fr. Xa. de Charlevoix, + London. 1763, p. 88; _Le Jeune, Relations des Jésuites_, 1633, P. 4, + 1636, p. 47; _Histoire de l'Amérique Septentrionale_, par de la + Potherie, Paris, 1722, Vol. I. pp. 20, 172, 212, 308; _Lescarbot, + Histoire de la Nouvelle France_, pp. 369, 582, 611. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +DEPARTURE TO DISCOVER THE NORTH SEA, ON THE GROUND OF THE REPORT MADE ME IN +REGARD TO IT. DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL RIVERS, LAKES AND ISLANDS, THE FALLS +OF THE CHAUDIÈRE AND OTHER FALLS. + + +Now, as I had only two canoes, I could take with me but four men, among +whom was one named Nicholas de Vignau, the most impudent liar that has been +seen for a long time, as the sequel of this narrative will show. He had +formerly spent the winter with the savages, and I had sent him on +explorations the preceding years. He reported to me, on his return to Paris +in 1612, that he had seen the North Sea; that the river of the Algonquins +came from a lake which emptied into it; and that in seventeen days one +could go from the Falls of St. Louis to this sea and back again; that he +had seen the wreck and _débris_ of an English ship that had been wrecked, +on board of which were eighty men, who had escaped to the shore, and whom +the savages killed because the English endeavored to take from them by +force their Indian corn and other necessaries of life; and that he had seen +the scalps which these savages had flayed off, according to their custom, +which they would show me, and that they would likewise give me a young +English boy whom they had kept for me. This intelligence had greatly +pleased me, for I thought that I had almost found that for which I had for +a long time been searching. Accordingly I enjoined upon him to tell me the +truth, in order that I might inform the King, and warned him that if he +gave utterance to a lie he was putting the rope about his neck, assuring +him on the other hand that, if his narrative were true, he could be certain +of being well rewarded. He again assured me, with stronger oaths than ever; +and in order to play his _rôle_ better he gave me a description of the +country, which he said he had made as well as he was able. Accordingly the +confidence which I saw in him, his entire frankness as it seemed, the +description which he had prepared, the wreck and _debris_ of the ship, and +the things above mentioned, had an appearance of probability, in connection +with the voyage of the English to Labrador in 1612, where they found a +strait, in which they sailed as far as the 63d degree of latitude and the +290th of longitude, wintering at the 53d degree and losing some vessels, as +their report proves.[33] These circumstances inducing me to believe that +what he said was true, I made a report of the same to the Chancellor, [34] +which I showed to Marshal de Brissac,[35] President Jeannin, [36] and other +Seigneurs of the Court, who told me that I ought to visit the place in +person. For this reason I requested Sieur Georges, a merchant of La +Rochelle, to give him a passage in his ship, which he willingly did, and +during the voyage he questioned him as to his object in making it; and, +since it was not of any profit to him, he asked if he expected any pay, to +which the young man answered that he did not, that he did not expect +anything, from any one but the King, and that he undertook the voyage only +to show me the North Sea, which he had seen. He made an affidavit of this +at La Rochelle before two notaries. + +Now as I took leave on Whitsuntide, [37] of all the principal men to whose +prayers I commended myself, and also to those of all others, I said to him +in their presence that if what he had previously said was not true he must +not give me the trouble to undertake the journey, which involved many +dangers. Again he affirmed all that he had said, on peril of his life. + +Accordingly, our canoes being laden with some provisions, our arms, and a +few articles of merchandise for making presents to the savages, I set out +on Monday the 27th of May from Isle St. Hélène with four Frenchmen and one +savage, a parting salute being given me with some rounds from small +pieces. This day we went only to the Falls of St. Louis, a league up the +river, the bad weather not allowing us to go any farther. + +On the 29th we passed the Falls, [38] partly by land, partly by water, it +being necessary for us to carry our canoes, clothes, victuals, and arms on +our shoulders, no small matter for persons not accustomed to it. After +going two leagues beyond the Falls, we entered a lake, [39] about twelve +leagues in circuit, into which three rivers empty; one coming from the +west, from the direction of the Ochateguins, distant from one hundred and +fifty to two hundred leagues from the great Falls; [40] another from the +south and the country of the Iroquois, a like distance off; [41] and the +other from the north and the country of the Algonquins and Nebicerini, also +about the same distance. [42] This river on the north, according to the +report of the savages, comes from a source more remote, and passes by +tribes unknown to them and about three hundred leagues distant. + +This lake is filled with fine large islands, containing only pasturage +land, where there is fine hunting, deer and fowl being plenty. Fish are +abundant. The country bordering the lake is covered with extensive +forests. We proceeded to pass the night at the entrance to this lake, +making barricades against the Iroquois, who roam in these regions in order +to surprise their enemies; and I am sure that if they were to find us they +would give us as good a welcome as them, for which reason we kept a good +watch all night. On the next day I took the altitude of the place, and +found it in latitude 45° 18'. About three o'clock in the afternoon we +entered the river which comes from the north, and, passing a small fall +[43] by land so as to favor our canoes, we proceeded to a little island, +where we spent the remainder of the night. + +On the last day of May we passed another lake, [44] seven or eight leagues +long and three broad, containing several islands. The neighboring country +is very level, except in some places, where there are pine-covered hills. +We passed a fall called by the inhabitants of the country Quenechouan,[45] +which is filled with stones and rocks, and where the water runs with great +velocity. We had to get into the water and drag our canoes along the shore +with a rope. Half a league from there we passed another little fall by +rowing, which makes one sweat. Great skill is required in passing these +falls, in order to avoid the eddies and surf, in which they abound; but the +savages do this with the greatest possible dexterity, winding about and +going by the easiest places, which they recognize at a glance. + +On Saturday, the 1st of June, we passed two other falls; the first half a +league long, the second a league, in which we had much difficulty; for the +rapidity of the current is so great that it makes a frightful noise, and +produces, as it descends from stage to stage, so white a foam everywhere +that the water cannot be seen at all. This fall is strewn with rocks, and +contains some islands here and there covered with pines and white cedars. +This was the place where we had a hard time; for, not being able to carry +our canoes by land on account of the density of the wood, we had to drag +them in the water with ropes, and in drawing mine I came near losing my +life, as it crossed into one of the eddies, and if I had not had the good +fortune to fall between two rocks the canoe would have dragged me in, +inasmuch as I was unable to undo quickly enough the rope which was wound +around my hand, and which hurt me severely and came near cutting it off. In +this danger I cried to God and began to pull my canoe, which was returned +to me by the refluent water, such as occurs in these falls. Having thus +escaped I thanked God, begging Him to preserve us. Later our savage came to +help me, but I was out of danger. It is not strange that I was desirous of +preserving my canoe, for if it had been lost it would have been necessary +to remain, or wait until some savages came that way, a poor hope for those +who have nothing to dine on, and who are not accustomed to such +hardship. As for our Frenchmen, they did not have any better luck, and +several times came near losing their lives; but the Divine Goodness +preserved us all. During the remainder of the day we rested, having done +enough. + +The next day we fell in with fifteen canoes of savages called +_Quenongebin_, [46] in a river, after we had passed a small lake, four +leagues long and two broad. They had been informed of my coming by those +who had passed the Falls of St. Louis, on their way from the war with the +Iroquois. I was very glad to meet them, as were they also to meet me, but +they were astonished to see me in this country with so few companions, and +with only one savage. Accordingly, after saluting each other after the +manner of the country, I desired them not to go any farther until I had +informed them of my plan. To this they assented, and we encamped on an +island. + +The next day I explained to them that I was on my way to their country to +visit them, and fulfil the promise I had previously made them, and that if +they had determined to go to the war it would be very agreeable to me, +inasmuch as I had brought some companions with this view, at which they +were greatly pleased; and having told them that I wished to go farther in +order to notify the other tribes, they wanted to deter me, saying that the +way was bad, and that we had seen nothing up to this point. Wherefore I +asked them to give me one of their number to take charge of our second +canoe, and also to serve us as guide, since our conductors were not +acquainted any farther. This they did willingly, and in return I made them +a present and gave them one of our Frenchmen, the least indispensable, whom +I sent back to the Falls with a leaf of my note-book, on which for want of +paper I made a report of myself. + +Thus we parted, and continuing our course up the river we found another +one, very fair and broad, which comes from a nation called _Ouescharini_, +[47] who live north of it, a distance of four days' journey from the +mouth. This river is very pleasant in consequence of the fine islands it +contains, and the fair and open woods with which its shores are +bordered. The land is very good for tillage. + +On the fourth day we passed near another river coming from the north, where +tribes called _Algonquins_ live. This river falls into the great river +St. Lawrence, three leagues below the Falls of St. Louis, forming a large +island of nearly forty leagues. [48] This river is not broad, but filled +with a countless number of falls, very hard to pass. Sometimes these tribes +go by way of this river in order to avoid encounters with their enemies, +knowing that they will not try to find them in places so difficult of +access. + +Where this river has its debouchure is another coming from the south, [49] +at the mouth of which is a marvellous fall. For it descends a height of +twenty or twenty-five fathoms [50] with such impetuosity that it makes an +arch nearly four hundred paces broad. The savages take pleasure in passing +under it, not wetting themselves, except from the spray that is thrown off. +There is an island in the middle of the river which, like all the country +round about, is covered with pines and white cedars. When the savages +desire to enter the river they ascend the mountain, carrying their canoes, +and go half a league by land. The neighboring country is filled with all +sorts of game, so that the savages often make a stop here. The Iroquois +also go there sometimes and surprise them while making the passage. + +We passed a fall [51] a league from there, which is half a league broad, +and has a descent of six or seven fathoms. There are many little islands, +which are, however, nothing more than rough and dangerous rocks covered +with a poor sort of brushwood. The water falls in one place with such force +upon a rock that it has hollowed out in course of time a large and deep +basin, in which the water has a circular motion and forms large eddies in +the middle, so that the savages call it _Asticou_, which signifies boiler. +This cataract produces such a noise in this basin that it is heard for more +than two leagues. The savages when passing here observe a ceremony which we +shall speak of in its place. We had much trouble in ascending by rowing +against a strong current, in order to reach the foot of the fall. Here the +savages took their canoes, my Frenchmen and myself, our arms, provisions, +and other necessaries, and we passed over the rough rocks for the distance +of about a quarter of a league, the extent of the fall. Then we embarked, +being obliged afterwards to land a second time and go about three hundred +paces through copse-wood, after which we got into the water in order to get +our canoes over the sharp rocks, the trouble attending which may be +imagined. I took the altitude of this place, which I found to be in +latitude 45° 38'. [52] + +In the afternoon we entered a lake, [53] five leagues long and two wide, in +which there are very fine islands covered with vines, nut-trees, and other +excellent kinds of trees. Ten or twelve leagues above we passed some +islands covered with pines. The land is sandy, and there is found here a +root which dyes a crimson color, with which the savages paint their faces, +as also little gewgaws after their manner. There is also a mountain range +along this river, and the surrounding country seems to be very +unpromising. The rest of the day we passed on a very pleasant island. + +The next day we proceeded on our course to a great fall, nearly three +leagues broad, in which the water falls a height of ten or twelve fathoms +in a slope, making a marvellous noise. [54] It is filled with a vast number +of islands, covered with pines and cedars. In order to pass it we were +obliged to give up our maize or Indian corn, and some few other provisions +we had, together with our least necessary clothes, retaining only our arms +and lines, to afford us means of support from hunting and fishing as place +and luck might permit. Thus lightened we passed, sometimes rowing, +sometimes carrying our canoes and arms by land, the fall, which is a league +and a half long, [55] and in which our savages, who are indefatigable in +this work and accustomed to endure such hardships, aided us greatly. + +Continuing our course, we passed two other falls, one by land, the other +with oar and poles standing up. Then we entered a lake, [56] six or seven +leagues long, into which flows a river coming from the south, [57] on which +at a distance of five days' journey from the other river [58] live a people +called _Matou-oüescarini_ [59] The lands about the before-mentioned lake +are sandy and covered with pines, which have been almost entirely burned +down by the savages. There are some islands, in one of which we rested +ourselves. Here we saw a number of fine red cypresses,[60] the first I had +seen in this country, out of which I made a cross, which I planted at one +end of the island, on an elevated and conspicuous spot, with the arms of +France, as I had done in other places where we had stopped. I called this +island _Sainte Croix_. + +On the 6th we set out from this island of St. Croix, where the river is a +league and a half broad, and having made eight or ten leagues we passed a +small fall by oar, and a number of islands of various sizes. Here our +savages left the sacks containing their provisions and their less necessary +articles, in order to be lighter for going overland and avoiding several +falls which it was necessary to pass. There was a great dispute between our +savages and our impostor, who affirmed that there was no danger by way of +the falls, and that we ought to go that way. Our savages said to him, You +are tired of living, and to me, that I ought not to believe him, and that +he did not tell the truth. Accordingly, having several times observed that +he had no knowledge of the places, I followed the advice of the savages, +which was fortunate for me, for he fought for dangers in order to ruin me +or to disgust me with the undertaking, as he has since confessed, a +statement of which will be given hereafter. We crossed accordingly towards +the west the river, which extended northward. I took the altitude of this +place and found it in latitude 46° 40'.[61] We had much difficulty in going +this distance overland. I, for my part, was loaded only with three +arquebuses, as many oars, my cloak, and some small articles. I cheered on +our men, who were somewhat more heavily loaded, but more troubled by the +mosquitoes than by their loads. Thus after passing four small ponds and +having gone a distance of two and a half leagues, we were so wearied that +it was impossible to go farther, not having eaten for twenty-four hours +anything but a little broiled fish without seasoning, for we had left our +provisions behind, as I mentioned before. Accordingly we rested on the +border of a pond, which was very pleasant, and made a fire to drive away +the mosquitoes, which annoyed us greatly, whose persistency is so +marvellous that one cannot describe it. Here we cast our lines to catch +some fish. + +The next day we passed this pond, which was perhaps a league long. Then we +went by land three leagues through a country worse than we had yet seen, +since the winds had blown down the pines on top of each other. This was no +slight inconvenience, as it was necessary to go now over, now under, these +trees. In this way we reached a lake, six leagues long and two wide, [62] +very abundant in fish, the neighboring people doing their fishing there. +Near this lake is a settlement of savages, who till the soil and gather +harvests of maize. Their chief is named _Nibachis_, who came to visit us +with his followers, astonished that we could have passed the falls and bad +roads in order to reach them. After offering us tobacco, according to their +custom, he began to address his companions, saying, that we must have +fallen from the clouds, for he knew not how we could have made the journey, +and that they who lived in the country had much trouble in traversing these +bad ways: and he gave them to understand that I accomplished all that I set +my mind upon; in short, that he believed respecting me all that the other +savages had told him. Aware that we were hungry, he gave us some fish, +which we ate, and after our meal I explained to him, through Thomas, our +interpreter, the pleasure I had in meeting them, that I had come to this +country to assist them in their wars, and that I desired to go still +farther to see some other chiefs for the same object, at which they were +glad and promised me assistance. They showed me their gardens and the +fields, where they had maize. Their soil is sandy, for which reason they +devote themselves more to hunting than to tillage, unlike the Ochateguins. +[63] When they wish to make a piece of land arable, they burn down the +trees, which is very easily done, as they are all pines, and filled with +rosin. The trees having been burned, they dig up the ground a little, and +plant their maize kernel by kernel, [64] like those in Florida. At the time +I was there it was only four fingers high. + +ENDNOTES: + +33. _Vide_ Vol. II. p. 171, note 297, for an account of Henry Hudson, to + whom this statement refers. De Vignau had undoubtedly heard rumors + concerning Hudson's expedition to the bay that bears his name in the + years 1610-11, out of which he fabricated the fine story of his + pretended discovery. Longitude at that time was reckoned from the + island of Ferro, one of the Canaries. Proceeding from west to east, the + 290° would pass through Hudson's Bay, as may be seen by consulting any + early French map. _Vide_ Bellin's _Carte du Globe Terrestre_, 1764. + +34. Nicholas Brulart de Sillery, who was born at Sillery, in France, in + 1544, and died in the same place in 1624. He rendered signal service to + Henry IV. Among other public acts he negotiated the peace of Vervins + between France and Spain in 1598. He was appointed grand chancellor of + France in 1607. Henry IV. said of him, Avec mon chanclier qui ne fait + pas le latin et mon connetable (Henri de Montmorency), qui ne fait ni + lire ni écrire, je puis venir à bout des affairs les plus difficiles. + +35. For some account of Marshal de Brissac, _vide_ Vol. I. p. 17, note 16. + +36. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 112, note 73. President Jeannin was a most suitable + person to consult on this subject, as he was deeply interested in the + discovery of a northwest passage to India. When minister at the Hague + he addressed a letter bearing date January 21st, 1609, to Henry IV. of + France, containing an account of his indirect negotiations with Henry + Hudson, for a voyage to discover a shorter passage to India. A copy of + this interesting letter, both in French and English, may be found in + _Henry Hudson the Navigator_, by G. M. Asher, LL.D., Hakluyt Society, + London, 1860, p. 244. + +37. The festival of Whitsunday occurred on the 26th May. _Laverdière in + loco_. + +38. The Falls of St Louis. + +39. Lake St. Louis. + +40. Champlain is here speaking of the river St. Lawrence, which flows into + Lake St. Louis slightly south of west. + +41. Rivière de Loup, now known as the Chateauguay. + +42. The River Ottawa or a branch of it flows into Lake St. Louis from the + north, although its course is rather from the west. It was often called + the River of the Algonquins. It approaches comparatively near to Lake + Nipissing, the home of the Nipissirini. The sources of the Ottawa are + northeast of Lake Nipissing, a distance of from one to three hundred + miles. The distances here given by Champlain are only general estimates + gathered from the Indians, and are necessarily inaccurate. + +43. Rapide de Brussi, by which the river flows from the Lake of + Two Mountains into Lake St Louis. + +44. _Lac de Soissons_, now called Lake of Two Mountains _Vide_ Vol. I. + p. 294. + +45. This is the first of a series of falls now known as the Long Fall. + +46. _Quenongebin_. Laverdière makes, this the same as the Kinounchepiríni + of Vimont. It was an Algonquin nation situated south of Allumette + Island. _Vide Jesuite Relations_, Quebec ed, 1640, p. 34. + +47. _Ouescharini_. These people, called Ouaouechkairini by Vimont, appear + to have dwelt on the stream now known as the _Rivière de Petite + Nation_, rising in a system of lakes, among which are Lake Simon, + Whitefish Lake, Long Lake, and Lake Des Isles. _Vide Jesuite + Relations_, 1640, p. 34. The tribe here mentioned was subsequently + called the Little Nation of the Algonquins hence the name of the + river. _Laverdière_. + +48. This passage is exceedingly obscure. Laverdière supposes that part of a + sentence was left out by the printer. If so it is remarkable that + Champlain did not correct it in his edition of 1632. Laverdière thinks + the river here spoken of is the Gatineau, and that the savages + following up this stream went by a portage to the St. Maurice, and + passing down reached the St. Lawrence _thirty_ leagues, and not + _three_, below the Falls of Saint Louis. The three rivers thus named + inclose or form an island of about the extent described in the + text. This explanation is plausible. The passage amended would read, + "This river _extends near another which_ falls into the great river + St. Lawrence thirty leagues below the falls of St. Louis." We know of + no other way in which the passage can be rationally explained. + +49. Rideau, at the mouth of which is Green Island, referred to in the text + below. + +50. The fall in the Rideau is thirty-four feet, according to the Edinburgh + Gazetteer of the World. The estimate of Champlain is so far out of the + way that it seems not unlikely that feet were intended instead of + fathoms. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 301, 302. + +51. The Chaudière Falls, just above the present city of Ottawa, the + greatest height of which is about forty feet "Arrayed in every + imaginable variety of form, in vast dark masses, in graceful cascades, + or in tumbling spray, they have been well described as a hundred rivers + struggling for a passage. Not the least interesting feature they + present is the Lost Chaudière, where a large body of water is quietly + sucked down, and disappears underground" _Vide Canada_ by W. H Smith. + Vol. I. p. 120. Also Vol I. p, 120 of this work. + +52. The latitude of the Chaudière Falls is about 45° 27'. + +53. Chaudière Lake, which was only an expansion of the River Ottawa. + +54. Rapide des Chats. + +55. This probably refers to that part of the fall which was more difficult + to pass. + +56. Lake des Chats. The name _des chats_ appears to have been given to this + Lake, the Rapids, and the _Nation des chats_, on account of the great + number of the _loup cervier_, or wild cats, _chats sauvages_, found in + this region. Cf. _Le Grande Voyage du Pays des Hurons_, par Sagard, + Paris, 1632, p. 307. + +57. Madawaskca River, an affluent of the Ottawa, uniting with it at Fitz + Roy. + +58. Probably an allusion to the River St. Lawrence. + +59. This is the same tribe alluded to by Vimont under the name + _Mataouchkarmi_, as dwelling south of Allumette Island. _Vide Relations + des Jésuites_, 1640, Quebec ed., p. 34. + +60. Cyprés, Red Cedar or Savin, _Juniperus Virginiana_. _Vide_ Vol. II. + note 168. + +61. They were now, perhaps, two miles below Portage du Fort, at the point + on the Ottawa nearest to the system of lakes through which they were to + pass, and where, as stated in the text, the Ottawa, making an angle, + begins to flow directly from the north. The latitude, as here given, is + even more than usually incorrect, being too high by more than a degree. + The true latitude is about 43° 37'. _Vide Walker_ and _Miles's Atlas of + Dominion of Canada_. Note 62 will explain the cause of this + inexactness. + +62. Muskrat Lake. On Champlain's map of 1632 will be seen laid down a + succession of lakes or ponds, together with the larger one, now known + as Muskrat Lake, on the borders of which are figured the dwellings of + the savages referred to in the text. The pond which they passed is the + last in the series before reaching Muskrat Lake. On the direct route + between this pond and the lake, known as the Muskrat Portage road, the + course undoubtedly traversed by Champlain, there was found in 1867, in + the, township of Ross, an astrolabe, an instrument used in taking + latitudes, on which is the date, 1603. It is supposed to have been lost + by Champlain on his present expedition. The reasons for this + supposition have been stated in several brochures recently issued, one + by Mr. O. H. Marshall of Buffalo, entitled _Discovery of an Astrolabe + supposed to have been left by Champlain in 1613_, New York, 1879; + reprinted from the _Magazine of American History_ for March of that + year. Another, _Champlain's Astrolabe lost on the 7th of June, 1613, + and found in August, 1867_, by A. J Russell of Ottawa, Montreal, + 1879. And a third entitled _The Astrolabe of Samuel Champlain and + Geoffrey Chaucer_, by Henry Scadding, D.D., of Toronto, 1880. All of + these writers agree in the opinion that the instrument was probably + lost by Champlain on his expedition up the Ottawa in 1613. For the + argument _in extenso_ the reader is referred to the brochures above + cited. + + [Illustration of an astrolabe.] + + Mr. Russell, who examined the astrolabe thus found with great care and + had it photographed, describes it as a circular plate having a diameter + of five inches and five eighths. "It is of place brass, very dark with + age, one eighth of an inch thick above, increasing to six sixteenths of + an inch below, to give it steadiness when suspended, which apparently + was intended to be increased by hanging a weight on the little + projecting ring at the bottom of it, in using it on ship-board. Its + suspending ring is attached by a double hinge of the nature of a + universal joint. Its circle is divided into single degrees, graduated + from its perpendicular of suspension. The double-bladed index, the + pivot of which passes through the centre of the astrolabe, has slits + and eyelets in the projecting fights that are on it." + + We give on the preceding page an engraving of this astrolabe from a + photograph, which presents a sufficiently accurate outline of the + instrument. The plate was originally made to illustrate Mr. Marshall's + article in the Magazine of American History, and we are indebted to the + courtesy of the proprietors of the Magazine, Messrs. A. S. Barnes and + Company of New York, for its use for our present purpose. + + The astrolabe, as an instrument for taking the altitude of the stars or + the sun, had long been in use. Thomas Blundevile, who wrote in 1622, + says he had seen three kinds, and that the astrolabe of Stofflerus had + then been in use a hundred years. It had been improved by Gemma + Frisius. Mr. Blagrave had likewise improved upon the last-mentioned, + and his instrument was at that time in general use in England. The + astrolabe continued to be employed in Great Britain in taking altitudes + for more than a century subsequent to this, certainly till Hadley's + Quadrant was invented, which was first announced in 1731. + + The astrolabes which had the broadest disks were more exact, as they + were projected on a larger scale, but as they were easily jostled by + the wind or the movement of the ship at sea, they could with difficulty + be employed. But Mr. Blundevile informs us that "the Spaniards doe + commonly make their astrolabes narrow and weighty, which for the most + part are not much above five inches broad, and yet doe weigh at the + least foure pound, & to that end the lower part is made a great deale + thicker than the upper part towards the ring or handle." _Vide + M. Blendeale his Exercises_, London, 1622, pp. 595, 597. This Spanish + instrument, it will be observed, is very similar to that found on the + Old Portage road, and the latter may have been of Spanish make. + + In order to take the latitude in Champlain's day, at least three + distinct steps or processes were necessary, and the following + directions might have been given. + + I. Let the astrolabe be suspended so that it shall hang plumb. Direct + the index or diopter to the sun at noon, so that the same ray of light + may shine through both holes in the two tablets or pinules on the + diopter, and the diopter will point to the degree of the sun's meridian + altitude indicated on the outer rim of the astrolabe. + + II. Ascertain the exact degree of the sun's declination for that day, + by a table calculated for that purpose, which accompanies the + astrolabe. + + III. Subtract the declination, so found, if it be northerly, from the + meridian altitude; or if the declination be southerly, add the + declination to the meridian altitude, and the result, subtracted from + 90°, will give the latitude. + + In these several processes of taking the latitude there are numerous + possibilities of inexactness. It does not appear that any correction + was made for refraction of light, or the precession of the equinoxes. + But the most important source of inaccuracy was in the use of the + astrolabe whose disk was so small that its divisions could not be + carried beyond degrees, and consequently minutes were arrived at by + sheer estimation, and usually when the work was completed, the error + was not less than one fourth or one half of a degree, and it was often + much more. + + This accounts fully for the inaccuracies of Champlain's latitudes from + first to last throughout his entire explorations, as tested by the very + exact instruments and tables now in use. No better method of + determining the latitude existed at that day, and consequently the + historian is warned not to rely upon the latitude alone as given by the + early navigators and explorers in identifying the exact localities + which they visited. + +63. Subsequently called Hurons. + +64. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 49; Vol. II. note 219. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +CONTINUATION.--ARRIVAL AT THE ABODE OF TESSOUAT, AND HIS FAVORABLE +RECEPTION OF ME.--CHARACTER OF THEIR CEMETERIES--THE SAVAGES PROMISE ME +FOUR CANOES FOR CONTINUING MY JOURNEY, WHICH THEY HOWEVER SHORTLY AFTER +REFUSE.--ADDRESS OF THE SAVAGES TO DISSUADE ME FROM MY UNDERTAKING, IN +WHICH THEY REPRESENT ITS DIFFICULTIES--MY REPLY TO THESE OBJECTIONS.-- +TESSOUAT ACCUSES MY GUIDE OF LYING, AND OF NOT HAVING BEEN WHERE HE SAID HE +HAD.--THE LATTER MAINTAINS HIS VERACITY--I URGE THEM TO GIVE ME CANOES.-- +SEVERAL REFUSALS.--MY GUIDE CONVICTED OF FALSEHOOD, AND HIS CONFESSION. + + +Nibachis had two canoes fitted out, to conduct me to another chief, named +Tessoüat, [65] who lived eight leagues from him, on the border of a great +lake, through which flows the river which we had left, and which extends +northward. Accordingly we crossed the lake in a west-northwesterly +direction, a distance of nearly seven leagues. Landing there, we went a +league towards the northeast through a very fine country, where are small +beaten paths, along which one can go easily. Thus we arrived on the shore +of the lake, [66] where the dwelling of Tessoüat was. He was accompanied by +a neighboring chieftain, and was greatly amazed to see me, saying that he +thought I was a dream, and that he did not believe his eyes. Thence we +crossed on to an island, [67] where their cabins are, which are poorly +constructed out of the bark of trees. The island is covered with oaks, +pines, and elms, and is not subject to inundations, like the other islands +in the lake. + +This island is strongly situated; for at its two ends, and where the river +enters the lake, there are troublesome falls, the roughness of which makes +the island difficult of access. They have accordingly taken up their abode +here in order to avoid the pursuit of their enemies. It is in latitude 47°, +[68] as also the lake, which is twenty leagues long, [69] and three or four +wide. It abounds in fish; the hunting, however, is not especially good. + +On visiting the island, I observed their cemeteries, and was struck with +wonder as I saw sepulchres of a shape like shrines, made of pieces of wood +fixed in the ground at a distance of about three feet from each other, and +intersecting at the upper end. On the intersections above they place a +large piece of wood, and in front another upright piece, on which is carved +roughly, as would be expected, the figure of the male or female interred. +If it is a man, they add a shield, a sword attached to a handle after their +manner, a mace, and bow and arrows. If it is a chief, there is a plume on +his head, and some other _matachia_ or embellishment. If it is a child, +they give it a bow and arrow; if a woman or girl, a boiler, an earthen +vessel, a wooden spoon, and an oar. The entire sepulchre is six or seven +feet long at most, and four wide; others are smaller. They are painted +yellow and red, with various ornaments as neatly done as the carving. The +deceased is buried with his dress of beaver or other skins which he wore +when living, and they lay by his side all his possessions, as hatchets, +knives, boilers, and awls, so that these things may serve him in the land +whither he goes; for they believe in the immortality of the soul, as I have +elsewhere observed. These carved sepulchres are only made for the warriors; +for in respect to others they add no more than in the case of women, who +are considered a useless class, accordingly but little is added in their +case. + +Observing the poor quality of the soil, I asked them what pleasure they +took in cultivating land so unpromising, since there was some much better, +which they left barren and waste, as at the Falls of St. Louis. They +answered that they were forced to do so in order to dwell in security, and +that the roughness of the locality served them as a defence against their +enemies. But they said that if I would make a settlement of French at the +Falls of St. Louis, as I had promised, they would leave their abode and go +and live near us, confident that their enemies would do them no harm while +we were with them. I told them that we would this year collect wood and +stone in order the coming year to build a fort and cultivate the land; upon +hearing which they raised a great cry of applause. This conference having +been finished, I asked all the chiefs and prominent men among them to +assemble the next day on the main land, at the cabin of Tessoüat, who +purposed to celebrate a _tabagie_ in my honor, adding that I would there +tell them my plans. This they promised, and sent word to their neighbors to +convene at the appointed place. + +The next day all the guests came, each with his porringer and wooden +spoon. They seated themselves without order or ceremony on the ground in +the cabin of Tessoüat, who distributed to them a kind of broth made of +maize crushed between two stones, together with meat and fish which was cut +into little pieces, the whole being boiled together without salt. They also +had meat roasted on coals, and fish boiled apart, which he also +distributed. In respect to myself, as I did not wish any of their chowder, +which they prepare in a very dirty manner, I asked them for some fish and +meat, that I might prepare it in my own way, which they gave me. For drink, +we had fine clear water. Tessoüat, who gave the _tabagie_, entertained us +without eating himself, according to their custom. + +The _tabagie_ being over, the young men, who are not present at the +harangues and councils, and who during the _tabagies_ remain at the door of +the cabins, withdrew, when all who remained began to fill their pipes, one +and another offering me one. We then spent a full half-hour in this +occupation, not a word being spoken, as is their custom. + +After smoking amply during so long a period of silence, I explained to +them, through my interpreter, that the object of my journey was none other +than to assure them of my friendship, and of the desire I had to assist +them in their wars, as I had before done; that I had been prevented from +coming the preceding year, as I had promised them, because the king had +employed me in other wars, but that now he had ordered me to visit them and +to fulfil my promises, and that for this purpose I had a number of men at +the Falls of St. Louis. I told them that I was making an excursion in their +territory to observe the fertility of their soil, their lakes and rivers, +and the sea which they had told me was in their country; and that I desired +to see a tribe distant six days' journey from them, called the +_Nebicerini_, in order to invite them also to the war, and accordingly I +asked them to give me four canoes with eight savages to guide me to these +lands. And since the Algonquins are not great friends of the _Nebicerini_, +[70] they seemed to listen to me with greater attention. + +After I had finished my discourse, they began again to smoke, and to confer +among themselves in a very low voice respecting my propositions. Then +Tessoüat in behalf of all the rest began and said, that they had always +regarded me more friendly towards them than any Frenchman they had seen; +that the proofs they had of this in the past made their confidence easier +for the future: moreover, that I had shown myself in reality their friend, +by encountering so many risks in coming to see them and invite them to the +war, and that all these considerations obliged them to feel as kindly +disposed towards me as towards their own children. But they said that I had +the preceding year broken my promise, that two thousand savages had gone to +the Falls with the expectation of finding me ready to go to the war, and +making me presents, but that they had not found me and were greatly +saddened, supposing that I was dead, as some persons had told them. He said +also, that the French who were at the Falls did not want to help them in +their wars, that they had been badly treated by certain ones, so that they +had resolved among themselves not to go to the Falls again, and that this +had caused them, as they did not expect to see me again, to go alone to the +war, and that in fact twelve hundred of them had already gone. And since +the greater part of their warriors were absent, they begged me to postpone +the expedition to the following year, saying that they would communicate +the matter to all the people of their country. In regard to the four +canoes, which I asked for, they granted them to me, but with great +reluctance, telling me that they were greatly displeased at the idea of +such an undertaking, in view of the hardships which I would endure; that +the people there were sorcerers, that they had caused the death of many of +their own tribe by charms and poisoning, on which account they were not +their friends: moreover they said that, as it regards war, I was not to +think of them, as they were little-hearted. With these and many other +considerations they endeavored to deter me from my purpose. + +But my sole desire on the other hand was to see this people, and enter into +friendship with them, so that I might visit the North Sea. Accordingly, +with a view to lessening the force of their objections, I said to them, +that it was not far to the country in question; that the bad roads could +not be worse than those I had already passed; that their witchcraft would +have no power to harm me, as my God would preserve me from them; that I was +also acquainted with their herbs, and would therefore beware of eating +them; that I desired to make the two tribes mutual friends, and that I +would to this end make presents to the other tribe, being assured that they +would do something for me. In view of these reasons they granted me, as I +have said, four canoes, at which I was very happy, forgetting all past +hardships in the hope of seeing this sea, as I so much desired. + +For the remainder of the day, I went out walking in their gardens, which +were filled with squashes, beans, and our peas, which they were beginning +to cultivate, when Thomas, my interpreter, who understands the language +very well, came to inform me that the savages, after I had left them, had +come to the conclusion, that if I were to undertake this journey I should +die and they also, and that they could not furnish the promised canoes, as +there was no one of them who would guide me, but that they wished me to +postpone the journey until the next year, when they would conduct me with a +good train to protect me from that people, in case they should attempt to +harm me, as they are evil-disposed. + +This intelligence greatly disturbed me, and I at once went to them and told +them, that up to this day I had regarded them as men and truthful persons, +but that now they had shown themselves children and liars, and that if they +would not fulfil their promises, they would fail to show me their +friendship; that, however, if they felt it an inconvenience to give me four +canoes they should only furnish two and four savages. + +They represented to me anew the difficulties attending the journey, the +number of the falls, the bad character of the people, and that their reason +for refusing my request was their fear of losing me. + +I replied that I was sorry to have them show themselves to so slight an +extent my friends, and that I should never have believed it; that I had a +young man, showing them my impostor, who had been in their country, and had +not found all these difficulties which they represented, nor the people in +question so bad as they asserted. Then they began to look at him, in +particular Tessoüat the old captain, with whom he had passed the winter, +and calling him by name he said to him in his language: Nicholas, is it +true that you said you were among the Nebicerini? It was long before he +spoke, when he said to them in their language, which he spoke to a certain +extent: Yes, I was there. They immediately looked at him awry, and throwing +themselves upon him, as if they would eat him up or tear him in pieces, +raised loud cries, when Tessoüat said to him: You are a downright liar, you +know well that you slept at my side every night with my children, where you +arose every morning; if you were among the people mentioned, it was while +sleeping. How could you have been so bold as to lead your chief to believe +lies, and so wicked as to be willing to expose his life to so many dangers? +You are a worthless fellow, and he ought to put you to death more cruelly +than we do our enemies. I am not astonished that he should so importune us +on the assurance of your words. + +I at once told him that he must reply to these people; and since he had +been in the regions indicated, that he must give me proofs of it, and free +me from the suspense in which he had placed me. But he remained silent and +greatly terrified. + +I immediately withdrew him from the savages, and conjured him to declare +the truth of the matter, telling him that, if he had seen the sea in +question, I would give him the reward which I had promised him, and that, +if he had not seen it, he must tell me so without causing me farther +trouble. Again he affirmed with oaths all he had before said, and that he +would demonstrate to me the truth of it, if the savages would give us +canoes. + +Upon this, Thomas came and informed me, that the savages of the island had +secretly sent a canoe to the Nebicerini, to notify them of my arrival. +Thereupon, in order to profit by the opportunity, I went to the savages to +tell them, that I had dreamed the past night that they purposed to send a +canoe to the Nebicerini without notifying me of it, at which I was greatly +surprised, since they knew that I was desirous of going there. Upon which +they replied that I did them a great wrong in trusting a liar, who wanted +to cause my death, more than so many brave chiefs, who were my friends and +who held my life dear. I replied that my man, meaning our impostor, had +been in the aforesaid country with one of the relatives of Tessoüat and had +seen the sea, the wreck and ruins of an English vessel, together with +eighty scalps which the savages had in their possession, and a young +English boy whom they held as prisoner, and whom they wished to give me as +a present. + +When they heard me speak of the sea, vessels, scalps of the English, and +the young prisoner, they cried out more than before that he was a liar, and +thus they afterwards called him, as if it were the greatest insult they +could have done him, and they all united in saying that he ought to be put +to death, or else that he should tell with whom he had gone to the place +indicated, and state the lakes, rivers, and roads, by which he had gone. To +this he replied with assurance, that he had forgotten the name of the +savage, although he had stated to me his name more than twenty times, and +even on the previous day. In respect to the peculiarities of the country, +he had described them in a paper which he had handed me. Then I brought +forward the map and had it explained to the savages, who questioned him in +regard to it. To this he made no reply, but rather manifested by his sullen +silence his perverse nature. + +As my mind was wavering in uncertainty, I withdrew by myself, and reflected +upon the above-mentioned particulars of the voyage of the English, and how +the reports of our liar were quite in conformity with it, also that there +was little probability of this young man's having invented all that, in +which case he would not have been willing to undertake the journey, but +that it was more probable that he had seen these things, and that his +ignorance did not permit him to reply to the questions of the savages. To +the above is to be added the fact that, if the report of the English be +true, the North Sea cannot be farther distant from this region than a +hundred leagues in latitude, for I was in latitude 47° and in longitude +296°.[71] But it may be that the difficulties attending the passage of the +falls, the roughness of the mountains covered with shows, is the reason why +this people have no knowledge of the sea in question; indeed they have +always said that from the country of the Ochateguins it is a journey of +thirty-five or forty days to the sea, which they see in three places, a +thing which they have again assured me of this year. But no one has spoken +to me of this sea on the north, except this liar, who had given me thereby +great pleasure in view of the shortness of the journey. + +Now, when this canoe was ready, I had him summoned into the presence of his +companions; and after laying before him all that had transpired, I told him +that any further dissimulation was out of the question, and that he must +say whether he had seen these things or not; that I was desirous of +improving the opportunity that presented itself; that I had forgotten the +past; but that, if I went farther, I would have him hung and strangled, +which should be his sole reward. After meditating by himself, he fell on +his knees and asked my pardon, declaring that all he had said, both in +France and this country, in respect to the sea in question was false; that +he had never seen it, and that he had never gone farther than the village +of Tessoüat; that he had said these things in order to return to Canada. +Overcome with wrath at this, I had him removed, being unable to endure him +any longer in my presence, and giving orders to Thomas to inquire into the +whole matter in detail; to whom he stated, that he did not believe that I +would undertake the journey on account of the dangers, thinking that some +difficulty would present itself to prevent me from going on, as in the case +of these savages, who were not disposed to lend me canoes; and accordingly +that the journey would be put off until another year, when he being in +France would be rewarded for his discovery; but that, if I would leave him +in this country, he would go until he found the sea in question, even if he +should die in the attempt. These were his words as reported to me by +Thomas, but they did not give me much satisfaction, astounded as I was at +the effrontery and maliciousness of this liar: and I cannot imagine how he +could have devised this imposition, unless that he had heard of the +above-mentioned voyage of the English, and in the hope of some reward, as +he said, had the temerity to venture on it. + +Shortly after I proceeded to notify the savages, to my great regret, of the +malignity of this liar, stating that he had confessed the truth; at which +they were delighted, reproaching me with the little confidence I put in +them, who were chiefs and my friends, and who always spoke the truth; and +who said that this liar ought to be put to death, being extremely +malicious; and they added, Do you not see that he meant to cause your +death. Give him to us, and we promise you that he shall not lie any more. +And as they all went after him shouting, their children also shouting still +more, I forbade them to do him any harm, directing them to keep their +children also from doing so, inasmuch as I wished to take him to the Falls +to show him to the gentlemen there, to whom he was to bring some salt +water; and I said that, when I arrived there, I would consult as to what +should be done with him. + +My journey having been in this manner terminated, and without any hope of +seeing the sea in this direction, except in imagination, I felt a regret +that I should not have employed my time better, and that I should have had +to endure the difficulties and hardships, which however I was obliged +patiently to submit to. If I had gone in another direction, according to +the report of the savages, I should have made a beginning in a thing which +must be postponed to another time. At present my only wish being to return, +I desired the savages to go to the Falls of St. Louis, where there were +four vessels loaded with all kinds of merchandise, and where they would be +well treated. This they communicated to all their neighbors. Before setting +out, I made a cross of white cedar, which I planted in a prominent place on +the border of the lake, with the arms of France, and I begged the savages +to have the kindness to preserve it, as also those which they would find +along the ways we had passed; telling them that, if they broke them, +misfortune would befall them, but that, if they preserved them, they would +not be assaulted by their enemies. They promised to do so, and said that I +should find them when I came to visit them again. + +ENDNOTES: + +65. It seems not improbable, as suggested by Laverdière, that this was the + same chief that Champlain met at Tadoussac in 1603, then called + _Besouat. Vide_ Vol. I. p. 242. + +66. They crossed Muskrat Lake, and after a portage of a league, by general + estimation, they reached Lake Allumette. This lake is only the expanded + current of the river Ottawa on the southern side of Allumette Island; + which is formed by the bifurcation of the Ottawa. + +67. Allumette Island, often called, in the _Relations des Jésuites_, simply + the Island. The savages in occupation were in the habit of exacting + tribute from the Hurons and others, who passed along on their war + excursions or their journeys for trade with the French at Montreal. + They bartered their maize with other tribes for skins with which they + clothed themselves. + +68. The true latitude here is about 45° 47'. On the map of 1632 the + latitude corresponds with the statement in the text. + +69. In his issue of 1632 Champlain corrects his statement as to the length + of Allumette Island, and says it is ten leagues long, which is nearly + correct. _Vide_ Quebec ed. p 868. Of this island Bouchette says that in + length it is about fifteen miles, and on an average four miles wide. + _British Dominions in North America_, London, 1831, Vol I. p. 187. + +70. This tribe was subsequently known as the Nipissings, who dwelt on the + borders of Lake Nipissing. They were distinguished for their sorceries, + under the cover of which they appear to have practised impositions + which naturally enough rendered other neighboring Algonquin tribes + hostile to them. + +71. The true latitude, as we have stated, _antea_, note 61, is about 45° + 37'; but on Champlain's map it corresponds with the statement in the + text, and a hundred leagues north of where they then were, as his map + is constructed, would carry them to the place in the bay where Hudson + wintered, as stated by Champlain, and as laid down on his small map + included in this volume; but the longitude is incorrect, Allumette + Island being two or three degrees east of longitude 296°, as laid down + on Champlain's map of 1632. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +OUR RETURN TO THE FALLS.--FALSE ALARM.--CEREMONY AT THE CHAUDIÈRE FALLS.-- +CONFESSION OF OUR LIAR BEFORE ALL THE CHIEF MEN.--OUR RETURN TO FRANCE. + +On the 10th of June I took leave of Tessoüat, a good old captain, making +him presents, and promising him, if God preserved me in health, to come the +next year, prepared to go to war. He in turn promised to assemble a large +number by that time, declaring that I should see nothing but savages and +arms which would please me; he also directed his son to go with me for the +sake of company. Thus we set out with forty canoes, and passed by way [72] +of the river we had left, which extends northward, and where we went on +shore in order to cross the lakes. On the way we met nine large canoes of +the Ouescharini, with forty strong and powerful men, who had come upon the +news they had received; we also met others, making all together sixty +canoes; and we overtook twenty others, who had set out before us, each +heavily laden with merchandise. + +We passed six or seven falls between the island of the Algonquins [73] and +the little fall, [74] where the country was very unpleasant I readily +realized that, if we had gone in that direction, we should have had much +more trouble, and would with difficulty have succeeded in getting through: +and it was not without reason that the savages opposed our liar, as his +only object was to cause my ruin. + +Continuing our course ten or twelve leagues below the island of the +Algonquins, we rested on a very pleasant island, which was covered with +vines and nut-trees, and where we caught some fine fish. About midnight, +there arrived two canoes, which had been fishing farther off, and which +reported that they had seen four canoes of their enemies. At once three +canoes were despatched to reconnoitre, but they returned without having +seen anything. With this assurance all gave themselves up to sleep, +excepting the women, who resolved to spend the night in their canoes, not +feeling at ease on land. An hour before daylight a savage, having dreamed +that the enemy were attacking them, jumped up and started on a run towards +the water, in order to escape, shouting, They are killing me. Those +belonging to his band all awoke dumfounded and, supposing that they were +being pursued by their enemies, threw themselves into the water, as did +also one of our Frenchmen, who supposed that they were being overpowered. +At this great noise, the rest of us, who were at a distance, were at once +awakened, and without making farther investigation ran towards them: but as +we saw them here and there in the water, we were greatly surprised, not +seeing them pursued by their enemies, nor in a state of defence, in case of +necessity, but only ready to sacrifice themselves. After I had inquired of +our Frenchman about the cause of this excitement, he told me that a savage +had had a dream, and that he with the rest had thrown themselves into the +water in order to escape, supposing that they were being attacked. +Accordingly, the state of the case being ascertained, it all passed off in +a laugh. + +Continuing our way, we came to the Chaudière Falls, where the savages went +through with the customary ceremony; which is as follows. After carrying +their canoes to the foot of the Fall, they assemble in one spot, where one +of them takes up a collection with a wooden plate, into which each one puts +a bit of tobacco. The collection having been made, the plate is placed in +the midst of the troupe, and all dance about it, singing after their style. +Then one of the captains makes an harangue, setting forth that for a long +time they have been accustomed to make this offering, by which means they +are insured protection against their enemies, that otherwise misfortune +would befall them, as they are convinced by the evil spirit; and they live +on in this superstition, as in many others, as we have said in other +places. This done, the maker of the harangue takes the plate, and throws +the tobacco into the midst of the caldron, whereupon they all together +raise a loud cry. These poor people are so superstitious, that they would +not believe it possible for them to make a prosperous journey without +observing this ceremony at this place, since their enemies await them at +this portage, not venturing to go any farther on account of the difficulty +of the journey, whence they say they surprise them there, as they have +sometimes done. + +The next day we arrived at an island at the entrance to a lake, and seven +or eight leagues distant from the great Falls of St. Louis. Here while +reposing at night we had another alarm, the savages supposing that they had +seen the canoes of their enemies. This led them to make several large +fires, which I had them put out, representing to them the harm which might +result, namely, that instead of concealing they would disclose themselves. + +On the 17th of June, we arrived at the Falls of St. Louis, where I found +L'Ange, who had come to meet me in a canoe to inform me, that Sieur de +Maisonneuve of St. Malo had brought a passport from the Prince for three +vessels. In order to arrange matters until I should see him, I assembled +all the savages and informed them that I did not wish them to traffic in +any merchandise until I had given them permission, and that I would furnish +them provisions as soon as we should arrive; which they promised, saying +that they were my friends. Thus, continuing our course, we arrived at the +barques, where we were saluted by some discharges of cannon, at which some +of our savages were delighted, and others greatly astonished, never having +heard such music. After I had landed, Maisonneuve came to me with the +passport of the Prince. As soon as I had seen it, I allowed him and his men +to enjoy the benefits of it like the rest of us; and I sent word to the +savages that they might trade on the next day. + +After seeing all the chief men and relating the particulars of my journey +and the malice of my liar, at which they were greatly amazed, I begged them +to assemble, in order that in their presence, and that of the savages and +his companions, he might make declaration of his maliciousness; which they +gladly did. Being thus assembled, they summoned him, and asked him, why he +had not shown me the sea in the north, as he had promised me at his +departure. He replied that he had promised something impossible for him, +since he had never seen this sea, and that the desire of making the journey +had led him to say what he did, also that he did not suppose that I would +undertake it; and he begged them to be pleased to pardon him, as he also +did me again, confessing that he had greatly offended, and if I would leave +him in the country, he would by his efforts repair the offence, and see +this sea, and bring back trustworthy intelligence concerning it the +following year; and in view of certain considerations I pardoned him on +this condition. + +After relating to them in detail the good treatment I had received at the +abodes of the savages, and how I had been occupied each day, I inquired +what they had done during my absence, and what had been the result of their +hunting excursions, and they said they had had such success that they +generally brought home six stags. Once on St. Barnabas's day, Sieur du +Parc, having gone hunting with two others, killed nine. These stags are not +at all like ours, and there are different kinds of them, some larger, +others smaller, which resemble closely our deer.[75] They had also a very +large number of pigeons, [76] and also fish, such as pike, carp, sturgeon, +shad, barbel, turtles, bass, and other kinds unknown to us, on which they +dined and supped every day. They were also all in better condition than +myself, who was reduced from work and the anxiety which I had experienced, +not having eaten more than once a day, and that of fish badly cooked and +half broiled. + +On the 22d of June, about 8 o'clock in the evening, the savages sounded an +alarm because one of them had dreamed he had seen the Iroquois. In order to +content them, all the men took their arms, and some were sent to their +cabins to reassure them, and into the approaches to reconnoitre, so that, +finding it was a false alarm, they were satisfied with the firing of some +two hundred musket and arquebus shots, after which arms were laid down, the +ordinary guard only being left. This reassured them greatly, and they were +very glad to see the French ready to help them. + +After the savages had bartered their articles of merchandise and had +resolved to return, I asked them to take with them two young men, to treat +them in a friendly manner, show them the country, and bind themselves to +bring them back. But they strongly objected to this, representing to me the +trouble our liar had given me, and fearing that they would bring me false +reports, as he had done. I replied that they were men of probity and truth, +and that if they would not take them they were not my friends, whereupon +they resolved to do so. As for out liar, none of the savages wanted him, +notwithstanding my request to them to take him, and we left him to the +mercy of God. + +Finding that I had no further, business in this country, I resolved to +cross in the first vessel that should return to France. Sieur de +Maisonneuve, having his ready, offered me a passage, which I accepted; and +on the 27th of June I set out with Sieur L'Ange from the Falls, where we +left the other vessels, which were awaiting the return of the savages who +had gone to the war, and we arrived at Tadoussac on the 6th of July. + +On the 8th of August [77] we were enabled by favorable weather to set +sail. On the 18th we left Gaspé and Isle Percée. On the 28th we were on the +Grand Bank, where the green fishery is carried on, and where we took as +many fish as we wanted. + +On the 26th of August we arrived at St Malo, where I saw the merchants, to +whom I represented the ease of forming a good association in the future, +which they resolved to do, as those of Rouen and La Rochelle had done, +after recognizing the necessity of the regulations, without which it is +impossible to hope for any profit from these lands. May God by His grace +cause this undertaking to prosper to His honor and glory, the conversion of +these poor benighted ones, and to the welfare and honor of France. + +ENDNOTES: + +72. By the Ottawa, which they had left a little below Portage du Fort, and + not by the same way they had come, through the system of small lakes, + of which Muskrat lake is one. _Vide Carte de la Nouvelle France_, 1632, + Vol. I. p. 304. + +73. Allumette Island. + +74. Near Gould's Landing, below or south of Portage da Fort.--_Vide + Champlain's Astrolabe_, by A. J. Russell, Montreal, 1879, p. 6. + +75. At that time there were to be found in Canada at least four species of + the Cervus Family. + + 1. The Moose, _Cervus alces_, or _alces Americanus_, usually called by + the earliest writers _orignal_ or _orignac_. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 264, + 265. This is the largest of all the deer family in this or in any other + part of the world The average weight has been placed at seven hundred + pounds, while extraordinary specimens probably attain twice that + weight. + + 2. The Wapiti, or American Elk, _Cervus elaphus_, or _Canadensis_. This + is the largest of the known deer except the preceding. The average + weight is probably less than six hundred pounds. + + 3. The Woodland Caribou, _Cervus tarandus_. It is smaller than the + Wapiti. Its range is now mostly in the northern regions of the + continent but specimens are still found in Nova Scotia and New + Brunswick. The female is armed with antlers as well as the male, though + they are smaller. + + 4. The Common Deer, _Cervus Virginianus_. It has the widest range of + any of the deer family. It is still found in every degree of latitude + from Mexico to British Columbia. _Vide Antelope and Deer of America_ by + John Dean Caton, LL.D., Boston, 1877. + +76. _Palombes_. The passenger, or wild pigeon, _Ectopistes migratorius_. + +77. _Le_ 8 _Aoust_. Laverdière suggests with much plausibility that this + should read "The 8th of July." Champlain could hardly have found it + necessary to remain at Tadoussac from the 6th of July to the 8th of + August for favorable weather to sail. If he had been detained by any + other cause, it would probably nave been deemed of sufficient gravity + to be specially mentioned. + + + +VOYAGES +AND +DISCOVERIES IN NEW FRANCE, +From the year 1615 to the end of the year 1618. + +BY +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, +Captain in ordinary to the King in the Western Sea. + +WHERE ARE DESCRIBED + +_The manners, customs, dress, mode of warfare, hunting, dances, festivals, +and method of burial of various savage peoples, with many remarkable +experiences of the author in this country, and an account of the beauty, +fertility, and temperature of the same. + +PARIS. + +CLAUDE COLLET, in the Palace, at the gallery of the Prisoners. + +M. DC. XIX. + +_WITH AUTHORITY OF THE KING_. + + +TO THE KING. + +_Sire, This is a third volume containing a narrative of what has transpired +most worthy of note during the voyages I have made to New France, and its +perusal will, I think, afford your Majesty greater pleasure than that of +those preceding, which only designate the ports, harbors, situations, +declinations, and other particulars, having more interest for navigators +and sailors than for other persons. In this narrative you will be able to +observe more especially the manners and mode of life of these peoples both +in particular and in general, their wars, ammunition, method of attack and +of defence, their expeditions and retreats in various circumstances, +matters about which those interested desire information. You will perceive +also that they are not savage to such an extent that they could not in +course of time and through association with others become civilised and +cultivated. You will likewise perceive how great hopes we cherish from the +long and arduous labors we have for the past fifteen years sustained, in +order to plant in this country the standard of the cross, and to teach the +people the knowledge of God and the glory of His holy name, it being our +desire to cultivate a feeling of charity towards His unfortunate creatures, +which it is our duty to practise more patiently than any other thing, +especially as there are many who have not entertained such purposes, but +have been influenced only by the desire of gain. Nevertheless we may, I +suppose, believe that these are the means which God makes use of for the +greater promotion of the holy desire of others. As the fruits which the +trees bear are from God, the Lord of the soil, who has planted, watered, +and nourished them with an especial care, so your Majesty can be called the +legitimate lord of our labors, and the good resulting from them, not only +because the land belongs to you, but also because you have protected us +against so many persons, whose only object has been by troubling us to +prevent the success of so holy a determination, taking from us the power to +trade freely in apart of your country, and striving to bring everything +into confusion, which would be, in a word, preparing the way for the ruin +of everything to the injury of your state. To this end your subjects have +employed every conceivable artifice and all possible means which they +thought could injure us. But all these efforts have been thwarted by your +Majesty, assisted by your prudent council, who have given us the authority +of your name, and supported us by your decrees rendered in our favor. This +is an occasion for increasing in us our long-cherished desire to send +communities and colonies there, to teach the people the knowledge of God, +and inform them of the glory and triumphs of your Majesty, so that together +with the French language they may also acquire a French heart and spirit, +which, next to the fear of God, will be inspired with nothing so ardently +as the desire to serve you. Should our design succeed, the glory of it will +be due, after God, to your Majesty, who will receive a thousand +benedictions from Heaven for so many souls saved by your instrumentality, +and your name will be immortalized for carrying the glory and sceptre of +the French as far to the Occident as your precursors have extended it to +the Orient, and over the entire habitable earth. This will augment the +quality of_ MOST CHRISTIAN _belonging to you above all the kings of the +earth, and show that it is as much your due by merit as it is your own of +right, it having been transmitted to you by your predecessors, who acquired +it by their virtues; for you have been pleased, in addition to so many +other important affairs, to give your attention to this one, so seriously +neglected hitherto, God's special grace reserving to your reign the +publication of His gospel, and the knowledge of His holy name to so many +tribes who had never heard of it. And some day may God's grace lead them, +as it does us, to pray to Him without ceasing to extend your empire, and to +vouchsafe a thousand blessings to your Majesty_. + +_SIRE_, + +_Your most humble, most faithful_, + +_and most obedient servant and subject_, + +_CHAMPLAIN_. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +As in the various affairs of the world each thing strives for its +perfection and the preservation of its being, so on the other hand does man +interest himself in the different concerns of others on some account, +either for the public good, or to acquire, apart from the common interest, +praise and reputation with some profit. Wherefore many have pursued this +course, but as for myself I have made choice of the most unpleasant and +difficult one of the perilous navigation of the seas; with the purpose, +however, not so much of gaining wealth, as the honor and glory of God in +behalf of my King and country, and contributing by my labors something +useful to the public good. And I make declaration that I have not been +tempted by any other ambition, as can be clearly perceived, not only by my +conduct in the past, but also by the narratives of my voyages, made by the +command of His Majesty, in New France, contained in my first and second +books, as may be seen in the same. + +Should God bless our purpose, which aims only for His glory, and should any +fruit result from our discoveries and arduous labors, I will return thanks +to Him, and for Your Majesty's protection and assistance will continue my +prayers for the aggrandizement and prolongation of your reign. + + + + +EXTRACT FROM THE LICENSE OF THE KING. + +By favor and license of the KING, permission is given to CLAUDE COLLET, +merchant bookseller in our city of Paris, to print, or have printed by such +printer as shall seem good to him, a book entitled, _Voyages and +Discoveries in New France, from the Year_ 1615 _to the End of the Year +1618. By Sieur de Champlain, Captain in Ordinary to the King in the Western +Sea_. All booksellers and printers of our kingdom are forbidden to print or +have printed, to sell wholesale or retail, said book, except with the +consent of said Collet, for the time and term of six years, beginning with +the day when said book is printed, on penalty of confiscation of the +copies, and a fine of four hundred _livres_, a half to go to us and a half +to said petitioner. It is our will, moreover, that this License should be +placed at the commencement or end of said book. This is our pleasure. + +Given at Paris, the 18th day of May, 1619, and of our reign the tenth. + +By the Council, + +DE CESCAUD + + + + +VOYAGE +OF +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN TO NEW FRANCE, +MADE IN THE YEAR 1615. + + +The strong love, which I have always cherished for the exploration of New +France, has made me desirous of extending more and more my travels over the +country, in order, by means of its numerous rivers, lakes, and streams, to +obtain at last a complete knowledge of it, and also to become acquainted +with the inhabitants, with the view of bringing them to the knowledge of +God. To this end I have toiled constantly for the past fourteen or fifteen +years, [78] yet have been able to advance my designs but little, because I +have not received the assistance which was necessary for the success of +such an undertaking. Nevertheless, without losing courage, I have not +ceased to push on, and visit various nations of the savages; and, by +associating familiarly with them, I have concluded, as well from their +conversation as from the knowledge already attained, that there is no +better way than, disregarding all storms and difficulties, to have patience +until His Majesty shall give the requisite attention to the matter, and +meanwhile, not only to continue the exploration of the country, but also to +learn the language, and form relations and friendships with the leading men +of the villages and tribes, in order to lay the foundations of a permanent +edifice, as well for the glory of God as for the renown of the French. + +And His Majesty having transferred and intrusted the superintendence of +this work to Monseigneur the Prince de Condé, the latter has, by his +management, under the authority of His Majesty, sustained us against all +forts of jealousies and obstacles concerted by evil wishers. This has, as +it were, animated me and redoubled my courage for the continuation of my +labors in the exploration of New France, and with increased effort I have +pushed forward in my undertaking into the mainland, and farther on than I +had previously been, as will be hereafter indicated in the course of this +narrative. + +But it is appropriate to state first that, as I had observed in my previous +journeys, there were in some places people permanently settled, who were +fond of the cultivation of the soil, but who had neither faith nor law, and +lived without God and religion, like brute beasts. In view of this, I felt +convinced that I should be committing a grave offence if I did not take it +upon myself to devise some means of bringing them to the knowledge of +God. To this end I exerted myself to find some good friars, with zeal and +affection for the glory of God, that I might persuade them to send some +one, or go themselves, with me to these countries, and try to plant there +the faith, or at least do what was possible according to their calling, and +thus to observe and ascertain whether any good fruit could be gathered +there. But since to attain this object an expenditure would be required +exceeding my means, and for other reasons, I deferred the matter for a +while, in view of the difficulties there would be in obtaining what was +necessary and requisite in such an enterprise; and since, furthermore, no +persons offered to contribute to it. Nevertheless, while continuing my +search, and communicating my plan to various persons, a man of distinction +chanced to present himself, whose intimate acquaintance I enjoyed. This was +Sieur Hoüel, Secretary of the King and Controller-general of the salt works +at Brouage, a man of devoted piety, and of great zeal and love for the +honor of God and the extension of His religion. [79] He gave me the +following information, which afforded me great pleasure. He said that he +was acquainted with some good religious Fathers, of the order of the +Recollects, in whom he had confidence; and that he enjoyed such intimacy +and confidence with them that he could easily induce them to consent to +undertake the voyage; and that, as to the necessary means for sending out +three or four friars, there would be no lack of people of property who +would give them what they needed, offering for his part to assist them to +the extent of his ability; and, in fact, he wrote in relation to the +subject to Father du Verger, [80] who welcomed with joy the undertaking, +and, in accordance with the recommendation of Sieur Hoüel, communicated it +to some of his brethren, who, burning with charity, offered themselves +freely for this holy undertaking. + +Now he was at that time in Saintonge, whence he sent two men to Paris with +a commission, though not with absolute power, reserving the rest to the +Nuncio of our Holy Father the Pope, who was at that time, in 1614, in +France. [81] He called upon these friars at their house in Paris, and was +greatly pleased with their resolution. We then went all together to see the +Sieur Nuncio, in order to communicate to him the commission, and entreat +him to interpose his authority in the matter. But he, on the contrary, told +us that he had no power whatever in such matters, and that it was to their +General that they were to address themselves. Notwithstanding this reply, +the Recollects, in consideration of the difficulty of the mission, were +unwilling to undertake the journey on the authority of Father du Verger, +fearing that it might not be sufficient, and that the commission might not +be valid, on which account the matter was postponed to the following +year. Meanwhile they took counsel, and came to a determination, according +to which all arrangements were made for the undertaking, which was to be +carried out in the following spring; awaiting which the two friars returned +to their convent at Brouage. + +I for my part improved the time in arranging my affairs in preparation for +the voyage. + +Some months after the departure of the two friars, the Reverend Father +Chapoüin, Provincial of the Recollect Fathers, a man of great piety, +returned to Paris. Sieur, Hoüel called on him, and narrated what had taken +place respecting the authority of Father du Verger, and the mission he had +given to the Recollect Fathers. After which narrative the Provincial Father +proceeded to extol the plan, and to interest himself with zeal in it, +promising to promote it with all his power, and adding that, he had not +before well comprehended the subject of this mission; and it is to be +believed that God inspired him more and more to prosecute the matter. +Subsequently he spoke of it to Monseigneur the Prince de Condé, and to all +the cardinals and bishops who were then assembled at Paris for the Session +of the Estates. All of them approved and commended the plan; and to show +that they were favorably disposed towards it, they assured the Sieur +Provincial that they would devise among themselves and the members of the +Court means for raising a small fund, and that they would collect some +money for assisting four friars to be chosen, and who were then chosen for +the execution of so holy a work. And in order to facilitate the +undertaking, I visited at the Estates the cardinals and bishops, and +urgently represented to them the advantage, and usefulness which might one +day result, in order by my entreaties to move them to give, and cause +others who might be stimulated by their example to give, contributions and +presents, leaving all to their good will and judgment. + +The contributions which were made for the expenses of this expedition +amounted to nearly fifteen hundred _livres_, which were put into my hands, +and then employed, according to the advice and in the presence of the +Fathers, for the purchase of what was necessary, not only for the +maintenance of the Fathers who should undertake the journey into New +France, but also for their clothing, and the attire and ornaments necessary +for performing divine service. The friars were sent on in advance to +Honfleur, where their embarkation was to take place. + +Now the Fathers who were appointed for this holy enterprise were Father +Denis [82] as commissary, Jean d'Olbeau, [83] Joseph le Caron, and +Pacifique du Plessis, [84] each of whom was moved by a holy zeal and ardor +to make the journey, through God's grace, in order to see if they might +produce some good fruit, and plant in these regions the standard of Jesus +Christ, determined to live and to die for His holy name, should it be +necessary to do so and the occasion require it. Everything having been +prepared, they provided themselves with church ornaments, and we with what +was necessary for our voyage. + +I left Paris the last day of February to meet at Rouen our associates, and +represent to them the will of Monseigneur the Prince, and also his desire +that these good Fathers should make the journey, since he recognized the +fact that the affairs of the country could hardly reach any perfection or +advancement, if God should not first of all be served; with which our +associates were highly pleased, promising to assist the Fathers to the +extent of their ability, and provide them with the support they might need. + +The Fathers arrived at Rouen the twentieth of March following, where we +stayed some time. Thence we went to Honfleur to embark, where we also +stayed some days, waiting for our vessel to be got ready, and loaded with +the necessaries for so long a voyage. Meanwhile preparations were made in +matters of conscience, so that each one of us might examine himself, and +cleanse himself from his sins by penitence and confession, in order to +celebrate the sacrament and attain a state of grace, so that, being thereby +freer in conscience, we might under the guidance of God, expose ourselves +to the mercy of the waves of the great and perilous sea. + +This done, we embarked on the vessel of the association, which was of three +hundred and fifty tons burden, and was called the Saint Étienne, commanded +by Sieur de Pont Gravé. We departed from Honfleur on the twenty-fourth day +of August, [85] in the above-mentioned year, and set sail with a very +favorable wind. We continued on our voyage without encountering ice or +other dangers, through the mercy of God, and in a short time arrived off +the place called _Tadoussac_, on the twenty-fifth day of May, when we +rendered thanks to God for having conducted us so favorably to the harbor +of our destination. + +Then we began to set men at work to fit up our barques in order to go to +Quebec, the place of our abode, and to the great Falls of Saint Louis, the +rendezvous of the savages, who come there to traffic. + +The barques having been fitted up, we went on board with the Fathers, one +of whom, named Father Joseph, [86] desired, without stopping or making any +stay at Quebec, to go directly to the great Falls, where he saw all the +savages and their mode of life. This induced him to go and spend the winter +in their country and that of other tribes who have a fixed abode, not only +in order to learn their language, but also to see what the prospect was of +their conversion to Christianity. This resolution having been formed, he +returned to Quebec the twentieth day of June [87] for some church ornaments +and other necessaries. Meanwhile I had stayed at Quebec in order to arrange +matters relating to our habitation, as the lodgings of the Fathers, church +ornaments, the construction of a chapel for the celebration of the mass, as +also the employment of persons for clearing up lands. I embarked for the +Falls together with Father Denis, [88] who had arrived the same day from +Tadoussac with Sieur de Pont Gravé. + +As to the other friars, viz., Fathers Jean and Pacifique, [89] they stayed +at Quebec in order to fit up their chapel and arrange their lodgings. They +were greatly pleased at seeing the place so different from what they had +imagined, which increased their zeal. + +We arrived at the Rivière des Prairies, five leagues below the Falls of +Saint Louis, whither the savages had come down. I will not attempt to speak +of the pleasure which our Fathers experienced at seeing, not only so long +and large a river, filled with many fine islands and bordered by a region +apparently so fertile, but also a great number of strong and robust men, +with natures not so savage as their manners, nor as they acknowledged they +had conceived them to be, and very different from what they had been given +to understand, owing to their lack of cultivation. I will not enter into a +description of them, but refer the reader to what I have said about them in +my preceding books, printed in the year 1614. [90] + +To continue my narrative: We met Father Joseph, who was returning to Quebec +in order to make preparations, and take what he needed for wintering in +their country. This I did not think advisable at this season, but +counselled him rather to spend the winter at our settlement as being more +for his comfort, and undertake the journey when spring came or at least in +summer, offering to accompany him, and adding that by doing so he would not +fail to see what he might have seen by going, and that by returning and +spending the winter at Quebec he would have the society of his brothers and +others who remained at the settlement, by which he would be more profited +than by staying alone among these people, with whom he could not, in my +opinion, have much satisfaction. Nevertheless, in spite of all that could +be said to him and all representations, he would not change his purpose, +being urged by a godly zeal and love for this people, and hoping to make +known to them their salvation. + +His motive in undertaking this enterprise, as he stated to us, was that he +thought it was necessary for him to go there not only in order to become +better acquainted with the characteristics of the people, but also to learn +more easily their language. In regard to the difficulties which it was +represented to him that he would have to encounter in his intercourse with +them, he felt assured that he could bear and overcome them, and that he +could adapt himself very well and cheerfully to the manner of living and +the inconveniences he would find, through the grace of God, of whose +goodness and help he felt clearly assured, being convinced that, since he +went on His service, and since it was for the glory of His name and the +preaching of His holy gospel that he undertook freely this journey, He +would never abandon him in his undertaking. And in regard to temporal +provisions very little was needed to satisfy a man who demands nothing but +perpetual poverty, and who seeks for nothing but heaven, not only for +himself but also for his brethren, it not being consistent with his rule of +life to have any other ambition than the glory of God, and it being his +purpose to endure to this end all the hardships, sufferings, and labors +which might offer. + +Seeing him impelled by so holy a zeal and so ardent a charity, I was +unwilling to try any more to restrain him. Thus he set out with the purpose +of being the first to announce through His holy favor to this people the +name of God, having the great satisfaction that an opportunity presented +itself for suffering something for the name and glory of our Saviour Jesus +Christ. + +As soon as I had arrived at the Falls, I visited the people, who were very +desirous of seeing us and delighted at our return. They hoped that we would +furnish them some of our number to assist them in their wars against our +enemies, representing to us that they could with difficulty come to us if +we should not assist them; for the Iroquois, they said, their old enemies, +were always on the road obstructing their passage. Moreover I had +constantly promised to assist them in their wars, as they gave us to +understand by their interpreter. Whereupon Sieur Pont Gravé and myself +concluded that it was very necessary to assist them, not only in order to +put them the more under obligations to love us, but also to facilitate my +undertakings and explorations which, as it seemed, could only be +accomplished by their help, and also as this would be a preparatory step to +their conversion to Christianity. [91] Therefore I resolved to, go and +explore their country and assist them in their wars, in order to oblige +them to show me what they had so many times promised to do. + +We accordingly caused them all to assemble together, that we might +communicate to them our intention. When they had heard it, they promised to +furnish us two thousand five hundred and fifty men of war, who would do +wonders, with the understanding that I with the same end in view should +very glad to see them decide so well. Then I proceeded to make known to +them the methods to be adopted for fighting, in which they took especial +pleasure, manifesting a strong hope of victory. Everything having been +decided upon, we separated with the intention of returning for the +execution of our undertaking. But before entering upon this journey, which +would require not less than three or four months, it seemed desirable that +I should go to our settlement to make the necessary arrangements there for +my absence. + +On the ---- day of ---- following I set out on my return to the Rivière des +Prairies. [92] While there with two canoes of savages I met Father Joseph, +who was returning from our settlement with some church ornaments for +celebrating the holy sacrifice of the mass, which was chanted on the border +of the river with all devotion by the Reverend Fathers Denis and Joseph, in +presence of all the people, who were amazed at seeing the ceremonies +observed and the ornaments which seemed to them so handsome. It was +something which they had never before seen, for these Fathers were the +first who celebrated here the holy mass. + +To return and continue the narrative of my journey: I arrived at Quebec on +the 26th, where I found the Fathers Jean and Pacifique in good health. They +on their part did their duty at that place in getting all things ready. +They celebrated the holy mass, which had never been said there before, nor +had there ever been any priest in this region. + +Having arranged all matters at Quebec, I took with me two men and returned +to the Rivière des Prairies, in order to go with the savages. I left Quebec +on the fourth day of July, and on the eighth of the month while _en route_ +I met Sieur du Pont Gravé and Father Denis, who were returning to Quebec, +and who told me that the savages had departed greatly disappointed at my +not going with them; and that many of them declared that we were dead or +had been taken by the Iroquois, since I was to be gone only four or five +days, but had been gone ten. This made them and even our own Frenchmen give +up hope, so much did they long to see us again. They told me that Father +Joseph had departed with twelve Frenchmen, who had been furnished to assist +the savages. This intelligence troubled me somewhat; since, if I had been +there, I should have arranged many things for the journey, which I could +not now do. I was troubled not only on account of the small number of men, +but also because there were only four or five who were acquainted with the +handling of arms, while in such an expedition the best are not too good in +this particular. All this however did not cause me to lose courage at all +for going on with the expedition, on account of the desire I had of +continuing my explorations. I separated accordingly from Sieurs du Pont +Gravé and Father Denis, determined to go on in the two canoes which I had, +and follow after the savages, having provided myself with what I needed. + +On the 9th of the month I embarked with two others, namely, one of our +interpreters [93] and my man, accompanied by ten savages in the two canoes, +these being all they could carry, as they were heavily loaded and +encumbered with clothes, which prevented me from taking more men. + +We continued our voyage up the River St. Lawrence some six leagues, and +then went by the Rivière des Prairies, which discharges into that river. +Leaving on the left the Falls of St. Louis, which are five or six leagues +higher up, and passing several small falls on this river, we entered a +lake, [94] after passing which we entered the river where I had been +before, which leads to the Algonquins, [95] a distance of eighty-nine +leagues [96] from the Falls of St. Louis. Of this river I have made an +ample description, with an account of my explorations, in my preceding +book, printed in 1614.[97] For this reason I shall not speak of it in this +narrative, but pass on directly to the lake of the Algonquins.[98] Here we +entered a river [99] which flows into this lake, up which we went some +thirty-five leagues, passing a large number of falls both by land and +water, the country being far from attractive, and covered with pines, +birches, and some oaks, being also very rocky, and in many places somewhat +hilly. Moreover it was very barren and sterile, being but thinly inhabited +by certain Algonquin savages, called _Otaguottouemin_, [100] who dwell in +the country, and live by hunting and the fish they catch in the rivers, +ponds, and lakes, with which the region is well provided. It seems indeed +that God has been pleased to give to these forbidding and desert lands some +things in their season for the refreshment of man and the inhabitants of +these places. For I assure you that there are along the rivers many +strawberries, also a marvellous quantity of blueberries, [101] a little +fruit very good to eat, and other small fruits. The people here dry these +fruits for the winter, as we do plums in France for Lent We left this +river, which comes from the north, [102] and by which the savages go to the +Saguenay to barter their furs for tobacco. This place is situated in +latitude 46°, and is very pleasant, but otherwise of little account. [103] + +Continuing our journey by land, after leaving the river of the Algonquins, +we passed several lakes [104] where the savages carry their canoes, and +entered the lake of the Nipissings,[105] in latitude 46° 15', on the +twenty-sixth day of the month, having gone by land and the lakes twenty- +five leagues, or thereabouts.[106] We then arrived at the cabins of the +savages, with whom we stayed two days. There was a large number of them, +who gave us a very welcome reception. They are a people who cultivate the +land but little. A shows the dress of these people as they go to war; B +that of the women, which differs in no wise from that of the Montagnais and +the great people of the Algonquins, extending far into the interior.[107] + +During the time that I was with them the chief of this tribe and their most +prominent men entertained us with many banquets according to their custom, +and took the trouble to go fishing and hunting with me, in order to treat +me with the greatest courtesy possible. These people are very numerous, +there being from seven to eight hundred souls, who live in general near the +lake. This contains a large number of very pleasant islands, among others +one more than six leagues long, with three or four fine ponds and a number +of fine meadows; it is bordered by very fine woods, that contain an +abundance of game, which frequent the little ponds, where the savages also +catch fish. The northern side of the lake is very pleasant, with fine +meadows for the grazing of cattle, and many little streams, discharging +into the lake. + +They were fishing at that time in a lake very abundant in various kinds of +fish, among others one a foot long that was very good. There are also other +kinds which the savages catch for the purpose of drying and storing away. +The lake is some eight leagues broad and twenty-five long,[108] into which +a river [109] flows from the northwest, along which they go to barter the +merchandise, which we give them in exchange for their peltry, with, those +who live on it, and who support themselves by hunting and fishing, their +country containing great quantities of animals, birds, and fish.[110] + +After resting two days with the chief of the Nipissings we re-embarked in +our canoes, and entered a river, by which this lake discharges itself.[111] +We proceeded down it some thirty-five leagues, and descended several little +falls by land and by water, until we reached Lake Attigouautan. All this +region is still more unattractive than the preceding, for I saw along this +river only ten acres of arable land, the rest being rocky and very hilly. +It is true that near Lake Attigouautan we found some Indian corn, but only +in small quantity. Here our savages proceeded to gather some squashes, +which were acceptable to us, for our provisions began to give out in +consequence of the bad management of the savages, who ate so heartily at +the beginning that towards the end very little was left, although we had +only one meal a day. But, as I have mentioned before, we did not lack for +blueberries [112] and strawberries; otherwise we should have been in danger +of being reduced to straits. + +We met three hundred men of a tribe we named _Cheveux Relevés_, [113] since +their hair is very high and carefully arranged, and better dressed beyond +all comparison than that of our courtiers, in spite of their irons and +refinements. This gives them a handsome appearance. They have no breeches, +and their bodies are very much pinked in divisions of various shapes. They +paint their faces in various colors, have their nostrils pierced, and their +ears adorned with beads. When they go out of their houses they carry a +club. I visited them, became somewhat acquainted, and formed a friendship +with them. I gave a hatchet to their chief, who was as much pleased and +delighted with it as if I had given him some rich present. Entering into +conversation with him, I inquired in regard to the extent of his country, +which he pictured to me with coal on the bark of a tree. He gave me to +understand that he had come into this place for drying the fruit called +_bluës_ [114] to serve for manna in winter, and when they can find nothing +else. A and C show the manner in which they arm themselves when they go to +war. They have as arms only the bow and arrow, made in the manner you see +depicted, and which they regularly carry; also a round shield of dressed +leather [115] made from an animal like the buffalo. [116] + +The next day we separated, and continued our course, along the shore of the +lake of the Attigouautan, [117] which contains a large number of +islands. We went some forty-five leagues, all the time along the shore of +the lake. It is very large, nearly four hundred leagues long from east to +west, and fifty leagues broad, and in view of its great extent I have named +it the _Mer Douce_. [118] It is very abundant in various sorts of very good +fish, both those which we have and those we do not, but especially in +trout, which are enormously large, some of which I saw as long as four feet +and a half, the least being two feet and a half. There are also pike of +like size, and a certain kind of sturgeon, a very large fish and of +remarkable excellence. The country bordering this lake is partly hilly, as +on the north side, and partly flat, inhabited by savages, and thinly +covered with wood, including oaks. After crossing a bay, which forms one of +the extremities of the lake, [119] we went some seven leagues until we +arrived in the country of the Attigouautan at a village called _Otoüacha_, +on the first day of August. Here we found a great change in the country. It +was here very fine, the largest part being cleared up, and many hills and +several rivers rendering the region agreeable. I went to see their Indian +corn, which was at that time far advanced for the season. + +These localities seemed to me very pleasant, in comparison with so +disagreeable a region as that from which we had come. The next day I went +to another village, called _Carmaron_, a league distant from this, where +they received us in a very friendly manner, making for us a banquet with +their bread, squashes, and fish. As to meat, that is very scarce there. The +chief of this village earnestly begged me to stay, to which I could not +consent, but returned to our village, where on the next night but one, as I +went out of the cabin to escape the fleas, of which there were large +numbers and by which we were tormented, a girl of little modesty came +boldly to me and offered to keep me company, for which I thanked her, +sending her away with gentle remonstrances, and spent the night with some +savages. + +The next day I departed from this village to go to another, called +_Touaguainchain_, and to another, called _Tequenonquiaye_, in which we were +received in a very friendly manner by the inhabitants, who showed us the +best cheer they could with their Indian corn served in various styles. This +country is very fine and fertile, and travelling through it is very +pleasant. + +Thence I had them guide me to Carhagouha, which was fortified by a triple +palisade of wood thirty-five feet high for its defence and protection. In +this village Father Joseph was staying, whom we saw and were very glad to +find well. He on his part was no less glad, and was expecting nothing so +little as to see me in this country. On the twelfth day of August the +Recollect Father celebrated the holy mass, and a cross was planted near a +small house apart from the village, which the savages built while I was +staying there, awaiting the arrival of our men and their preparation to go +to the war, in which they had been for a long time engaged. + +Finding that they were so slow in assembling their army, and that I should +have time to visit their country, I resolved to go by short days' journeys +from village to village as far as Cahiagué, where the rendezvous of the +entire army was to be, and which was fourteen leagues distant from +Carhagouha, from which village I set out on the fourteenth of August with +ten of my companions. I visited five of the more important villages, which +were enclosed with palisades of wood, and reached Cahiagué, the principal +village of the country, where there were two hundred large cabins and where +all the men of war were to assemble. Now in all these villages they +received us very courteously with their simple welcome. All the country +where I went contains some twenty to thirty leagues, is very fine, and +situated in latitude 44° 30'. It is very extensively cleared up. They plant +in it a great quantity of Indian corn, which grows there finely. They plant +likewise squashes,[120] and sun-flowers,[121] from the seed of which they +make oil, with which they anoint the head. The region is extensively +traversed with brooks, discharging into the lake. There are many very good +vines [122] and plums, which are excellent,[123] raspberries,[124] +strawberries,[125] little wild apples,[126] nuts,[127] and a kind of fruit +of the form and color of small lemons, with a similar taste, but having an +interior which is very good and almost like that of figs. The plant which +bears this fruit is two and a half feet high, with but three or four leaves +at most, which are of the shape of those of the fig-tree, and each plant +bears but two pieces of fruit. There are many of these plants in various +places, the fruit being very good and savory.[128] Oaks, elms, and beeches +[129] are numerous here, as also forests of fir, the regular retreat of +partridges [130] and hares.[131] There are also quantities of small +cherries [132] and black cherries,[133] and the same varieties of wood that +we have in our forests in France. The soil seems to me indeed a little +sandy, yet it is for all that good for their kind of cereal. The small +tract of country which I visited is thickly settled with a countless number +of human beings, not to speak of the other districts where I did not go, +and which, according to general report, are as thickly settled or more so +than those mentioned above. I reflected what a great misfortune it is that +so many poor creatures live and die without the knowledge of God, and even +without any religion or law established among them, whether divine, +political, or civil; for they neither worship, nor pray to any object, at +least so far as I could perceive from their conversation. But they have, +however, some sort of ceremony, which I shall describe in its proper place, +in regard to the sick, or in order to ascertain what is to happen to them, +and even in regard to the dead. These, however, are the works of certain +persons among them, who want to be confidentially consulted in such +matters, as was the case among the ancient pagans, who allowed themselves +to be carried away by the persuasions of magicians and diviners. Yet the +greater part of the people do not believe at all in what these charlatans +do and say. They are very generous to one another in regard to provisions, +but otherwise very avaricious. They do not give in return. They are clothed +with deer and beaver skins, which they obtain from the Algonquins and +Nipissings in exchange for Indian corn and meal. + +On the 17th of August I arrived at Cahiagué, where I was received with +great joy and gladness by all the savages of the country, who had abandoned +their undertaking, in the belief that they would see me no more, and that +the Iroquois had captured me, as I have before stated. This was the cause +of the great delay experienced in this expedition, they even having +postponed it to the following year. Meanwhile they received intelligence +that a certain nation of their allies, [134] dwelling three good days' +journeys beyond the Entouhonorons, [135] on whom the Iroquois also make +war, desired to assist them in this expedition with five hundred good men; +also to form an alliance and establish a friendship with us, that we might +all engage in the war together; moreover that they greatly desired to see +us and give expression to the pleasure they would have in making our +acquaintance. + +I was glad to find this opportunity for gratifying my desire of obtaining a +knowledge of their country. It is situated only seven days from where the +Dutch [136] go to traffic on the fortieth degree. The savages there, +assisted by the Dutch, make war upon them, take them prisoners, and cruelly +put them to death; and indeed they told us that the preceding year, while +making war, they captured three of the Dutch, who were assisting their +enemies, [137] as we do the Attigouautans, and while in action one of their +own men was killed. Nevertheless they did not fail to send back the three +Dutch prisoners, without doing them any harm, supposing that they belonged +to our party, since they had no knowledge of us except by hearsay, never +having seen a Christian; otherwise, they said, these three prisoners would +not have got off so easily, and would not escape again should they surprise +and take them. This nation is very warlike, as those of the nation of the +Attigouautans maintain. They have only three villages, which are in the +midst of more than twenty others, on which they make war without assistance +from their friends; for they are obliged to pass through the thickly +settled country of the Chouontouaroüon,[138] or else they would have to +make a very long circuit. + +After arriving at the village, it was necessary for me to remain until the +men of war should come from the surrounding villages, so that we might be +off as soon as possible. During this time there was a constant succession +of banquets and dances on account of the joy they experienced at seeing me +so determined to assist them in their war, just as if they were already +assured of victory. + +The greater portion of our men having assembled, we set out from the +village on the first day of September, and passed along the shore of a +small lake, [139] distant three leagues from the village, where they catch +large quantities of fish, which they preserve for the winter. There is +another lake, [140] closely adjoining, which is twenty-five leagues in +circuit, and slows into the small one by a strait, where the above +mentioned extensive fishing is carried on. This is done by means of a large +number of stakes which almost close the strait, only some little openings +being left where they place their nets, in which the fish are caught. These +two lakes discharge into the _Mer Douce_. We remained some time in this +place to await the rest of our savages. When they were all assembled, with +their arms, meal, and necessaries, it was decided to choose some of the +most resolute men to compose a party to go and give notice of our departure +to those who were to assist us with five hundred men, that they might join +us, and that we might appear together before the fort of the enemy. This +decision having been made, they dispatched two canoes, with twelve of the +most stalwart savages, and also with one of our interpreters, [141] who +asked me to permit him to make the journey, which I readily accorded, +inasmuch as he was led to do so of his own will, and as he might in this +way see their country and get a knowledge of the people living there. The +danger, however, was not small, since it was necessary to pass through the +midst of enemies. They set out on the 8th of the month, and on the 10th +following there was a heavy white frost. + +We continued our journey towards the enemy, and went some five or six +leagues through these lakes, [142] when the savages carried their canoes +about ten leagues by land. We then came to another lake, [143] six to seven +leagues in length and three broad. From this flows a river which discharges +into the great lake of the Entouhonorons. After traversing this lake we +passed a fall, and continuing our course down this river for about +sixty-four leagues [144] entered the lake of the Entouhonorons, having +passed, on our way by land, five falls, some being from four to five +leagues long. We also passed several lakes of considerable size, through +which the river passes. The latter is large and very abundant in good fish. + +It is certain that all this region is very fine and pleasant. Along the +banks it seems as if the trees had been set out for ornament in most +places, and that all these tracts were in former times inhabited by +savages, who were subsequently compelled to abandon them from fear of their +enemies. Vines and nut-trees are here very numerous. Grapes mature, yet +there is always a very pungent tartness which is felt remaining in the +throat when one eats them in large quantities, arising from defect of +cultivation. These localities are very pleasant when cleared up. + +Stags and bears are here very abundant. We tried the hunt and captured a +large number as we journeyed down. It was done in this way. They place four +or five hundred savages in line in the woods, so that they extend to +certain points on the river; then marching in order with bow and arrow in +hand, shouting and making a great noise in order to frighten the beasts, +they continue to advance until they come to the end of the point. Then all +the animals between the point and the hunters are forced to throw +themselves into the water, as many at least as do not fall by the arrows +shot at them by the hunters. Meanwhile the savages, who are expressly +arranged and posted in their canoes along the shore, easily approach the +stags and other animals, tired out and greatly frightened in the chase, +when they readily kill them with the spear heads attached to the extremity +of a piece of wood of the shape of a half pike. This is the way they engage +in the chase; and they do likewise on the islands where there are large +quantities of game. I took especial pleasure in seeing them hunt thus and +in observing their dexterity. Many animals were killed by the shot of the +arquebus, at which the savages were greatly surprised. But it unfortunately +happened that, while a stag was being killed, a savage, who chanced to come +in range, was wounded by a shot of an arquebus. Thence a great commotion +arose among them, which however subsided when some presents were given to +the wounded. This is the usual manner of allaying and settling quarrels, +and, in case of the death of the wounded, presents are given to the +relatives of the one killed. + +As to smaller game there is a large quantity of it in its season. There are +also many cranes,[145] white as swans, and other varieties of birds like +those in France. + +We proceeded by short days' journeys as far as the shore of the lake of the +Entouhonorons, constantly hunting as before mentioned. Here at its eastern +extremity, which is the entrance to the great River St. Lawrence, we made +the traverse, in latitude 43°, [146] where in the passage there are very +large beautiful islands. We went about fourteen leagues in passing to the +southern side of the lake towards the territory of the enemy. [147] The +savages concealed all their canoes in the woods near the shore. We went +some four leagues over a sandy strand, where I observed a very pleasant and +beautiful country, intersected by many little streams and two small rivers, +which discharge into the before-mentioned lake, also many ponds and +meadows, where there was an endless amount of game, many vines, fine woods, +and a large number of chestnut trees, whose fruit was still in the burr. +The chestnuts are small, but of a good flavor. The country is covered with +forests, which over its greater portion have not been cleared up. All the +canoes being thus hidden, we left the border of the lake, [148] which is +some eighty leagues long and twenty-five wide. [149] The greater portion of +its shores is inhabited by savages. We continued our course by land for +about twenty-five or thirty leagues. In the space of four days we crossed +many brooks, and a river which proceeds from a lake that discharges into +that of the Entouhonorons. [150] This lake is twenty-five or thirty leagues +in circuit, contains some fine islands, and is the place where our enemies, +the Iroquois, catch their fish, in which it abounds. + +On the 9th of the month of October our savages going out to reconnoitre met +eleven savages, whom they took prisoners. They consisted of four women, +three boys, one girl, and three men, who were going fishing and were +distant some four leagues from the fort of the enemy. Now it is to be noted +that one of the chiefs, on seeing the prisoners, cut off the finger of one +of these poor women as a beginning of their usual punishment; upon which I +interposed and reprimanded the chief, Iroquet, representing to him that it +was not the act of a warrior, as he declared himself to be, to conduct +himself with cruelty towards women, who have no defence but their tears and +that one should treat them with humanity on account of their helplessness +and weakness; and I told him that on the contrary this act would be deemed +to proceed from a base and brutal courage, and that if he committed any +more of these cruelties he would not give me heart to assist them or favor +them in the war. To which the only answer he gave me was that their enemies +treated them in the same manner, but that, since this was displeasing to +me, he would not do anything more to the women, although; he would to the +men. + +The next day, at three o'clock in the afternoon, we arrived before the fort +[151] of their enemies, where the savages made some skirmishes with each +other, although our design was not to disclose ourselves until the next +day, which however the impatience of our savages would not permit, both on +account of their desire to see fire opened upon their enemies, and also +that they might rescue some of their own men who had become too closely +engaged, and were hotly pressed. Then I approached the enemy, and although +I had only a few men, yet we showed them what they had never seen nor heard +before; for, as soon as they saw us and heard the arquebus shots and the +balls whizzing in their ears, they withdrew speedily to their fort, +carrying the dead and wounded in this charge. We also withdrew to our main +body, with five or six wounded, one of whom died. + +This done, we withdrew to the distance of cannon range, out of sight of the +enemy, but contrary to my advice and to what they had promised me. This +moved me to address them very rough and angry words in order to incite them +to do their duty, foreseeing that if everything should go according to +their whim and the guidance of their council, their utter ruin would be the +result. Nevertheless I did not fail to send to them and propose means which +they should use in order to get possession of their enemies. + +These were, to make with certain kinds of wood a _cavalier_, which should +be higher than the palisades. Upon this were to be placed four or five of +our arquebusiers, who should keep up a constant fire over their palisades +and galleries, which were well provided with stones, and by this means +dislodge the enemy who might attack us from their galleries. Meanwhile +orders were to be given to procure boards for making a sort of mantelet to +protect our men from the arrows and stones of which the savages generally +make use. These instruments, namely the cavalier and mantelets, were +capable of being carried by a large number of men. One mantelet was so +constructed that the water could not extinguish the fire, which might be +set to the fort, under cover of the arquebusiers who were doing their duty +on the cavalier. In this manner, I told them, we might be able to defend +ourselves so that the enemy could not approach to extinguish the fire which +we should set to their ramparts. + +This proposition they thought good and very seasonable, and immediately +proceeded to carry it out as I directed. In fact the next day they set to +work, some to cut wood, others to gather it, for building and equipping the +cavalier and mantelets. The work was promptly executed and in less than +four hours, although the amount of wood they had collected for burning +against the ramparts, in order to set fire to them, was very small. Their +expectation was that the five hundred men who had promised to come would do +so on this day, but doubt was felt about them, since they had not appeared +at the rendezvous, as they had been charged to do, and as they had +promised. This greatly troubled our savages; but seeing that they were +sufficiently numerous to take the fort without other assistance, and +thinking for my part that delay, if not in all things at least in many, is +prejudicial, I urged them to attack it, representing to them that the +enemy, having become aware of their force and our arms, which pierced +whatever was proof against arrows, had begun to barricade themselves and +cover themselves with strong pieces of wood, with which they were well +provided and their village filled. I told them that the least delay was the +best, since the enemy had already strengthened themselves very much; for +their village was enclosed by four good palisades, which were made of great +pieces of wood, interlaced with each other, with an opening of not more +than half a foot between two, and which were thirty feet high, with +galleries after the manner of a parapet, which they had furnished with +double pieces of wood that were proof against our arquebus shots. Moreover +it was near a pond where the water was abundant, and was well supplied with +gutters, placed between each pair of palisades, to throw out water, which +they had also under cover inside, in order to extinguish fire. Now this is +the character of their fortifications and defences, which are much stronger +than the villages of the Attigouautan and others. + +We approached to attack the village, our cavalier being carried by two +hundred of the strongest men, who put it down before the village at a +pike's length off. I ordered three arquebusiers to mount upon it, who were +well protected from the arrows and stones that could be shot or hurled at +them. Meanwhile the enemy did not fail to send a large number of arrows +which did not miss, and a great many stones, which they hurled from their +palisades. Nevertheless a hot fire of arquebuses forced them to dislodge +and abandon their galleries, in consequence of the cavalier which uncovered +them, they not venturing to show themselves, but fighting under shelter. +Now when the cavalier was carried forward, instead of bringing up the +mantelets according to order, including that one under cover of which we +were to set the fire, they abandoned them and began to scream at their +enemies, shooting arrows into the fort, which in my opinion did little harm +to the enemy. + +But we must excuse them, for they are not warriors, and besides will have +no discipline nor correction, and will do only what they please. +Accordingly one of them set fire inconsiderately to the wood placed against +the fort of the enemy, quite the wrong way and in the face of the wind, so +that it produced no effect. + +This fire being out, the greater part of the savages began to carry wood +against the palisades, but in so small quantity that the fire could have no +great effect. There also arose such disorder among them that one could not +understand another, which greatly troubled me. In vain did I shout in their +ears and remonstrate to my utmost with them as to the danger to which they +exposed themselves by their bad behavior, but on account of the great noise +they made they heard nothing. Seeing that shouting would only burst my +head, and that my remonstrances were useless for putting a stop to the +disorder, I did nothing more, but determined together with my men to do +what we could, and fire upon such as we could see. + +Meanwhile the enemy profited by our disorder to get water and pour it so +abundantly that you would have said brooks were flowing through their +spouts, the result of which was that the fire was instantly extinguished, +while they did not cease shooting their arrows, which fell upon us like +hail. But the men on the cavalier killed and maimed many. We were engaged +in this combat about three hours, in which two of our chiefs and leading +warriors were wounded, namely, one called _Ochateguain_ and another +_Orani_, together with some fifteen common warriors. The others, seeing +their men and some of the chiefs wounded, now began to talk of a retreat +without farther fighting, in expectation of the five hundred men, [152] +whose arrival could not be much delayed. Thus they retreated, a disorderly +rabble. + +Moreover the chiefs have in fact no absolute control over their men, who +are governed by their own will and follow their own fancy, which is the +cause of their disorder and the ruin of all their undertakings; for, having +determined upon anything with their leaders, it needs only the whim of a +villain, or nothing at all, to lead them to break it off and form a new +plan. Thus there is no concert of action among them, as can be seen by this +expedition. + +Now we withdrew into our fort, I having received two arrow wounds, one in +the leg, the other in the knee, which caused me great inconvenience, aside +from the severe pain. When they were all assembled, I addressed them some +words of remonstrance on the disorder that had occurred. But all I said +availed nothing, and had no effect upon them. They replied that many of +their men had been wounded like myself, so that it would cause the others +much trouble and inconvenience to carry them as they retreated, and that it +was not possible to return again against their enemies, as I told them it +was their duty to do. They agreed, however, to wait four days longer for +the five hundred men who were to come; and, if they came, to make a second +effort against their enemies, and execute better what I might tell them +than they had done in the past. With this I had to content myself, to my +great regret. + +Herewith is indicated the manner in which they fortify their towns, from +which representation it may be inferred that those of their friends and +enemies are fortified in like manner. + +The next day there was a violent wind, which lasted two days, and was very +favorable for setting fire anew to the fort of the enemy which, although I +urged them strongly, they were unwilling to do, as if they were afraid of +getting the worst of it, and besides they pleaded their wounded as an +excuse. + +We remained in camp until the 16th of the month, [153] during which time +there were some skirmishes between the enemy and our men, who were very +often surrounded by the former, rather through their imprudence than from +lack of courage; for I assure you that every time we went to the charge it +was necessary for us to go and disengage them from the crowd, since they +could only retreat under cover of our arquebusiers, whom the enemy greatly +dreaded and feared; for as soon as they perceived any one of the +arquebusiers they withdrew speedily, saying in a persuasive manner that we +should not interfere in their combats, and that their enemies had very +little courage to require us to assist them, with many other words of like +tenor, in order to prevail upon us. + +I have represented by figure E the manner in which they arm themselves in +going to war. + +After some days, seeing that the five hundred men did not come, they +determined to depart, and enter upon their retreat as soon as possible. +They proceeded to make a kind of basket for carrying the wounded, who are +put into it crowded up in a heap, being bound and pinioned in such a manner +that it is as impossible for them to move as for an infant in its swaddling +clothes; but this is, not without causing the wounded much extreme +pain. This I can say with truth from my own experience, having been carried +some days, since I could not stand up, particularly on account of an +arrow-wound which I had received in the knee. I never found myself in such +a _gehenna_ as during this time, for the pain which I suffered in +consequence of the wound in my knee was nothing in comparison with that +which I endured while I was carried bound and pinioned on the back of one +of our savages; so that I lost my patience, and as soon as I could sustain +myself, got out of this prison, or rather _gehenna_. + +The enemy followed us about half a league, though at a distance, with the +view of trying to take some of those composing the rear guard; but their +efforts were vain, and they retired. + +Now the only good point that I have seen in their mode of warfare is that +they make their retreat very securely, placing all the wounded and aged in +their centre, being well armed on the wings and in the rear, and continuing +this order without interruption until they reach a place of security. + +Their retreat was very long, being from twenty-five to thirty leagues, +which caused the wounded much fatigue, as also those who carried them, +although the latter relieved each other from time to time. + +On the 18th day of the month there fell much snow and hail, accompanied by +a strong wind, which greatly incommoded us. Nevertheless we succeeded in +arriving at the shore of the lake of the Entouhonorons, at the place where +our canoes were concealed, which we found all intact, for we had been +afraid lest the enemy might have broken them up. + +When they were all assembled, and I saw that they were ready to depart to +their village, I begged them to take me to our settlement, which, though +unwilling at first, they finally concluded to do, and sought four men to +conduct me. Four men were found, who offered themselves of their own +accord; for, as I have before said, the chiefs have no control over their +men, in consequence of which they are often unable to do as they would +like. Now the men having been found, it was necessary also to find a canoe, +which was not to be had, each one needing his own, and there being no more +than they required. This was far from being pleasant to me, but, on the +contrary greatly annoyed me, since it led me to suspect some evil purpose, +inasmuch as they had promised to conduct me to our settlement after their +war. Moreover I was poorly prepared for spending the winter with them, or +else should not have been concerned about the matter. But not being able to +do anything, I was obliged to resign myself in patience. Now after some +days I perceived that their plan was to keep me and my companions, not only +as a security for themselves, for they feared their enemies, but also that +I might listen to what took place in their councils and assemblies, and +determine what they should do in the future against their enemies for their +security and preservation. + +The next day, the 28th of the month, they began to make preparations; some +to go deer-hunting, others to hunt bears and beavers, others to go fishing, +others to return to their villages. An abode and lodging were furnished me +by one of the principal chiefs, called _D'Arontal_, with whom I already had +some acquaintance. Having offered me his cabin, provisions, and +accommodations, he set out also for the deer-hunt, which is esteemed by +them the greatest and most noble one. After crossing, from the island, +[154] the end of the lake, we entered a river [155] some twelve leagues in +extent. They then carried their canoes by land some half a league, when we +entered a lake [156] which was some ten or twelve leagues in circuit, where +there was a large amount of game, as swans, [157] white cranes, [158] +outardes, [159] ducks, teal, song-thrush, [160] larks, [161] snipe, [162] +geese, [163] and several other kinds of fowl too numerous to mention. Of +these I killed a great number, which stood us in good stead while waiting +for the capture of a deer. From there we proceeded to a certain place some +ten leagues distant, where our savages thought there were deer in +abundance. Assembled there were some twenty-five savages, who set to +building two or three cabins out of pieces of wood fitted to each other, +the chinks of which they stopped up by means of moss to prevent the +entrance of the air, covering them with the bark of trees. + +When they had done this they went into the woods to a small forest of firs, +where they made an enclosure in the form of a triangle, closed up on two +sides and open on one. This enclosure was made of great stakes of wood +closely pressed together, from eight to nine feet high, each of the sides +being fifteen hundred paces long. At the extremity of this triangle there +was a little enclosure, constantly diminishing in size, covered in part +with boughs and with only an opening of five feet, about the width of a +medium-sized door, into which the deer were to enter. They were so +expeditious in their work, that in less than ten days they had their +enclosure in readiness. Meanwhile other savages had gone fishing, catching +trout and pike of prodigious size, and enough to meet all our wants. + +All preparations being made, they set out half an hour before day to go +into the wood, some half a league from the before-mentioned enclosure, +separated from each other some eighty paces. Each had two sticks, which +they struck together, and they marched in this order at a slow pace until +they arrived at their enclosure. The deer hearing this noise flee before +them until they reach the enclosure, into which the savages force them to +go. Then they gradually unite on approaching the bay and opening of their +triangle, the deer skirting the sides until they reach the end, to which +the savages hotly pursue them, with bow and arrow in hand ready to let fly. +On reaching the end of the triangle they begin to shout and imitate wolves, +[164] which are numerous, and which devour the deer. The deer, hearing this +frightful noise, are constrained to enter the retreat by the little +opening, whither they are very hotly pursued by arrow shots. Having entered +this retreat, which is so well closed and fastened that they can by no +possibility get out, they are easily captured. I assure you that there is a +singular pleasure in this chase, which took place every two days, and was +so successful that, in the thirty-eight days [165] during which we were +there, they captured one hundred and twenty deer, which they make good use +of, reserving the fat for winter, which they use as we do butter, and +taking away to their homes some of the flesh for their festivities. + +They have other contrivances for capturing the deer; as snares, with which +they kill many. You see depicted opposite the manner of their chase, +enclosure, and snare. Out of the skins they make garments. Thus you see how +we spent the time while waiting for the frost, that we might return the +more easily, since the country is very marshy. + +When they first went out hunting, I lost my way in the woods, having +followed a certain bird that seemed to me peculiar. It had a beak like that +of a parrot, and was of the size of a hen. It was entirely yellow, except +the head which was red, and the wings which were blue, and it flew by +intervals like a partridge. The desire to kill it led me to pursue it from +tree to tree for a very long time, until it flew away in good earnest. Thus +losing all hope, I desired to retrace my steps, but found none of our +hunters, who had been constantly getting ahead, and had reached the +enclosure. While trying to overtake them, and going, as it seemed to me, +straight to where the enclosure was, I found myself lost in the woods, +going now on this side now on that, without being able to recognize my +position. The night coming on, I was obliged to spend it at the foot of a +great tree, and in the morning set out and walked until three o'clock in +the afternoon, when I came to a little pond of still water. Here I noticed +some game, which I pursued, killing three or four birds, which were very +acceptable, since I had had nothing to eat. Unfortunately for me there had +been no sunshine for three days, nothing but rain and cloudy weather, which +increased my trouble. Tired and exhausted I prepared to rest myself and +cook the birds in order to alleviate the hunger which I began painfully to +feel, and which by God's favor was appeased. + +When I had made my repast I began to consider what I should do, and to pray +God to give me the will and courage to sustain patiently my misfortune if I +should be obliged to remain abandoned in this forest without counsel or +consolation except the Divine goodness and mercy, and at the same time to +exert myself to return to our hunters. Thus committing all to His mercy I +gathered up renewed courage going here and there all day, without +perceiving any foot-print or path, except those of wild beasts, of which I +generally saw a good number. I was obliged to pass here this night +also. Unfortunately I had forgotten to bring with me a small compass which +would have put me on the right road, or nearly so. At the dawn of day, +after a brief repast, I set out in order to find, if possible, some brook +and follow it, thinking that it must of necessity flow into the river on +the border of which our hunters were encamped. Having resolved upon this +plan, I carried it out so well that at noon I found myself on the border of +a little lake, about a league and a half in extent, where I killed some +game, which was very timely for my wants; I had likewise remaining some +eight or ten charges of powder, which was a great satisfaction. + +I proceeded along the border of this lake to see where it discharged, and +found a large brook, which I followed until five o'clock in the evening, +when I heard a great noise, but on carefully listening failed to perceive +clearly what it was. On hearing the noise, however, more distinctly, I +concluded that it was a fall of water in the river which I was searching +for. I proceeded nearer, and saw an opening, approaching which I found +myself in a great and far-reaching meadow, where there was a large number +of wild beasts, and looking to my right I perceived the river, broad and +long. I looked to see if I could not recognize the place, and walking along +on the meadow I noticed a little path where the savages carried their +canoes. Finally, after careful observation, I recognized it as the same +river, and that I had gone that way before. + +I passed the night in better spirits than the previous ones, supping on the +little I had. In the morning I re-examined the place where I was, and +concluded from certain mountains on the border of the river that I had not +been deceived, and that our hunters must be lower down by four or five good +leagues. This distance I walked at my leisure along the border of the +river, until I perceived the smoke of our hunters, where I arrived to the +great pleasure not only of myself but of them, who were still searching for +me, but had about given up all hopes of seeing me again. They begged me not +to stray off from them any more, or never to forget to carry with me my +compass, and they added: If you had not come, and we had not succeeded in +finding you, we should never have gone again to the French, for fear of +their accusing us of having killed you. After this he [166] was very +careful of me when I went hunting, always giving me a savage as companion, +who knew how to find again the place from which he started so well that it +was something very remarkable. + +To return to my subject: they have a kind of superstition in regard to this +hunt; namely, they believe that if they should roast any of the meat taken +in this way, or if any of the fat should fall into the fire, or if any of +the bones should be thrown into it, they would not be able to capture any +more deer. Accordingly they begged me to roast none of this meat, but I +laughed at this and their way of doing. Yet, in order not to offend them, +I cheerfully desisted, at least in their presence; though when they were +out of sight I took some of the best and roasted it, attaching no credit to +their superstitions. When I afterwards told them what I had done, they +would not believe me, saying that they could not have taken any deer after +the doing of such a thing. + +On the fourth day of December we set out from this place, walking on the +river, lakes, and ponds, which were frozen, and sometimes through the +woods. Thus we went for nineteen days, undergoing much hardship and toil, +both the savages, who were loaded with a hundred pounds, and myself, who +carried a burden of twenty pounds, which in the long journey tired me very +much. It is true that I was sometimes relieved by our savages, but +nevertheless I suffered great discomfort. The savages, in order to go over +the ice more easily, are accustomed to make a kind of wooden sledge, [167] +on which they put their loads, which they easily and swiftly drag along. +Some days after there was a thaw, which caused us much trouble and +annoyance; for we had to go through pine forests full of brooks, ponds; +marshes, and swamps, where many trees had been blown down upon each +other. This caused us a thousand troubles and embarrassments, and great +discomfort, as we were all the time wet to above our knees. We were four +days in this plight, since in most places the ice would not bear. At last, +on the 20th of the month, we succeeded in arriving at our village. [168] +Here the Captain Yroquet had come to winter with his companions, who are +Algonquins, also his son, whom he brought for the sake of treatment, since +while hunting he had been seriously injured by a bear which he was trying +to kill. + +After resting some days I determined to go and visit Father Joseph, and to +see in winter the people where he was, whom the war had not permitted me to +see in the summer. I set out from this village on the 14th [169] of January +following, thanking my host for the kindness he had shown me, and, taking +formal leave of him, as I did not expect to see him again for three months. + +The next day I Saw Father Joseph, [170] in his small house where he had +taken up his abode, as I have before stated. I stayed with him some days, +finding him deliberating about making a journey to the Petun people, as I +had also thought of doing, although it was very disagreeable travelling in +winter. We set out together on the fifteenth of February to go to that +nation, where we arrived on the seventeenth of the month. [171] These Petun +people plant the maize, called by us _blé de Turquie_, and have fixed +abodes like the rest. We went to seven other villages of their neighbors +and allies, with whom we contracted friendship, and who promised to come in +good numbers to our settlement. They welcomed us with good cheer, making a +banquet with meat and fish, as is their custom. To this the people from all +quarters flocked in order to see us, showing many manifestations of +friendship, and accompanying us on the greater part of our way back. The +country is diversified with pleasant slopes and plains. They were beginning +to build two villages, through which we passed, and which were situated in +the midst of the woods, because of the convenience [172] of building and +fortifying their towns there. These people live like the Attignouaatitans, +[173] and have the same customs. They are situated near the Nation Neutre, +[174] which are powerful and occupy a great extent of country. After +visiting these people, we set out from that place, and went to a nation of +savages, whom we named _Cheveux Relevés_ [175] They were very happy to see +us again, and we entered into friendship with them, while they in return +promised to come and see us, namely at the habitation in this place. + +It has seemed to me desirable to describe them and their country, their +customs and mode of life. In the first place they are at war with another +nation of savages, called Asistagueroüon, [176] which means _Gens de Feu_, +who are distant from them ten days' journey. I informed myself accordingly +very particularly in regard to their country and the tribes living there, +as also to their character and numbers. The people of this nation are very +numerous, and are for the most part great warriors, hunters, and +fishermen. They have several chiefs, each ruling in his own district. In +general they plant Indian corn, and other cereals. They are hunters who go +in troops to various regions and countries, where they traffic with other +nations, distant four or five hundred leagues. They are the cleanest +savages in their household affairs that I have ever seen, and are very +industrious in making a kind of mat, which constitutes their Turkish +carpets. The women have the body covered, but the men go uncovered, with +the exception of a fur robe in the form of a cloak, which they usually +leave off in summer. The women and girls are not more moved at seeing them +thus, than if they saw nothing unusual. The women live very happily with +their husbands. They have the following custom when they have their +catamenia: the wives withdraw from their husbands, or the daughter from her +father and mother and other relatives, and go to certain small houses. +There they remain in retirement, awaiting their time, without any company +of men, who bring them food and necessaries until their return. Thus it is +known who have their catamenia and who have not. This tribe is accustomed +more than others to celebrate great banquets. They gave us good cheer and +welcomed us very cordially, earnestly begging me to assist them against +their enemies, who dwell on the banks of the _Mer Douce_, two hundred +leagues distant; to which I replied that they must wait until another time, +as I was not provided with the necessary means. They were at a loss how to +welcome us. I have represented them in figure C as they go to war. + +There is, also, at a distance of a two days' journey from them, in a +southerly direction, another savage nation, that produces a large amount of +tobacco. This is called _Nation Neutre_. They number four thousand +warriors, and dwell westward of the lake of the Entouhonorons, which is +from eighty to a hundred leagues in extent. They, however, assist the +_Cheveux Relevés_ against the _Gens de Feu_. But with the Iroquois and our +allies they are at peace, and preserve a neutrality. There is a cordial +understanding towards both of these nations, and they do not venture to +engage in any dispute or quarrel, but on the contrary often eat and drink +with them like good friends. I was very desirous of visiting this nation, +but the people where we were dissuaded me from it, saying that the year +before one of our men had killed one of them, when we were at war with the +Entouhonorons, which offended them; and they informed us that they are much +inclined to revenge, not concerning themselves as to who struck the blow, +but inflicting the penalty upon the first one they meet of the nation, even +though one of their friends, when they succeed in catching him, unless +harmony has been previously restored between them, and gifts and presents +bestowed upon the relatives of the deceased. Thus I was prevented for the +time being from going, although some of this nation assured us that they +would do us no harm for the reason assigned above. + +Thus we were led to return the same way we had come, and continuing my +journey, I reached the nation of the _Pisierinii_, [177] who had promised +to conduct me farther on in the prosecution of my plans and explorations. +But I was prevented by the intelligence which came from our great village +and the Algonquins, where Captain Yroquet was, namely, that the people of +the nation of the Atignouaatitans [178] had placed in his hands a prisoner +of a hostile nation, in the expectation that this Captain Yroquet would +exercise on the prisoner the revenge usual among them. But they said that, +instead of doing so, he had not only set him at liberty, but, having found +him apt, and an excellent hunter, had treated him as his son, on account of +which the Atignouaatitans had become jealous and resolved upon vengeance, +and had in fact appointed a man to go and kill this prisoner, allied as he +was. As he was put to death in the presence of the chiefs of the Algonquin +nation, they, indignant at such an act and moved to anger, killed on the +spot this rash murderer; whereupon the Atignouaatitans feeling themselves +insulted, seeing one of their comrades dead, seized their arms and went to +the tents of the Algonquins, who were passing the winter near the above +mentioned village, and belabored them severely, Captain Yroquet receiving +two arrow wounds. At another time they pillaged some of the cabins of the +Algonquins before the latter could place themselves in a state of defence, +so that they had not an equal chance. Notwithstanding this they were not +reconciled to the Algonquins, who for securing peace had given the +Atignouaatitans fifty necklaces of porcelain and a hundred branches of the +same [179] which they value highly, and likewise a number of kettles and +axes, together with two female prisoners in place of the dead man. They +were, in a word, still in a state of violent animosity. The Algonquins were +obliged to suffer patiently this great rage, and feared that they might all +be killed, not feeling any security, notwithstanding their gifts, until +they should be differently situated. This intelligence greatly disturbed +me, when I considered the harm that might arise not only to them, but to us +as well, who were in their country. + +I then met two or three savages of our large village, who earnestly +entreated me to go to them in order to effect a reconciliation, declaring +that if I did not go none of them would come to us any more, since they +were at war with the Algonquins and regarded us as their friends. In view +of this I set out as soon as possible, and visited on my way the Nipissings +to ascertain when they would be ready for the journey to the north, which I +found broken off on account of these quarrels and hostilities, as my +interpreter gave me to understand, who said that Captain Yroquet had come +among all these tribes to find and await me. He had requested them to be at +the habitation of the French at the same time with himself to see what +agreement could be made between them and the Atignouaatitans, and to +postpone the journey to the north to another time. Moreover, Yroquet had +given porcelain to break off this journey. They promised us to be at our +habitation at the same time as the others. + +If ever there was one greatly disheartened it was myself, since I had been +waiting to see this year what during many preceding ones I had been seeking +for with great toil and effort, through so many fatigues and risks of my +life. But realizing that I could not help the matter, and that everything +depended on the will of God, I comforted myself, resolving to see it in a +short time. I had such sure information that I could not doubt the report +of these people, who go to traffic with others dwelling in those northern +regions, a great part of whom live in a place very abundant in the chase, +and where there are great numbers of large animals, the skins of several of +which I saw, and which I concluded were buffaloes [180] from their +representation of their form. Fishing is also very abundant there. This +journey requires forty days, as well in returning as in going. + +I set out towards our above-mentioned village on the 15th of February, +taking with me six of our men. Having arrived at that place the inhabitants +were greatly pleased, as also the Algonquins, whom I sent our interpreter +to visit in order to ascertain how everything had taken place on both +sides, for I did not wish to go myself that I might give no ground for +suspicion to either party. + +Two days were spent in hearing from both sides how everything had taken +place. After this the principal men and seniors of the place came away with +us, and we all together went to the Algonquins. Here in one of their +cabins, where several of the leading men were assembled, they all, after +some talk, agreed to come and accept all that might be said by me as +arbiter in the matter, and to carry out what I might propose. + +Then I gathered the views of each one, obtaining and investigating the +wishes and inclinations of both parties, and ascertained that all they +wanted was peace. + +I set forth to them that the best course was to become reconciled and +remain friends, since being united and bound together they could the more +easily withstand their enemies; and as I went away I begged them not to ask +me to effect their reconciliation if they did not intend to follow in all +respects the advice I should give them in regard to this dispute, since +they had done me the honor to request my opinion. Whereupon they told me +anew that they had not desired my return for any other reason. I for my +part thought that if I should not reconcile and pacify them they would +separate ill disposed towards each other, each party thinking itself in the +right. I reflected, also, that they would not have gone to their cabins if +I had not been with them, nor to the French if I had not interested myself +and taken, so to speak, the charge and conduct of their affairs. Upon this +I said to them that as for myself I proposed to go with my host, who had +always treated me well, and that I could with difficulty find one so good; +for it was on him that the Algonquins laid the blame, saying that he was +the only captain who had caused the taking up of arms. Much was said by +both sides, and finally it was concluded that I should tell them what +seemed to me best, and give them my advice. + +Since I saw now from what was said that they referred the whole matter to +my own decision as to that of a father, and promised that in the future I +might dispose of them as I thought best, referring the whole matter to my +judgment for settlement, I replied that I was very glad to see them so +inclined to follow my advice, and assured them that it should be only for +the best interests of the tribes. + +Moreover I told them, I had been greatly disturbed at hearing the further +sad intelligence, namely the death of one of their relatives and friends, +whom we regarded as one of our own, which might have caused a great +calamity resulting in nothing but perpetual wars between both parties, with +various and serious disasters and a rupture of their friendship, in +consequence of which the French would be deprived of seeing them and of +intercourse with them, and be obliged to enter into alliance with other +nations; since we loved each other as brothers, leaving to God the +punishment of those meriting it. + +I proceeded to say to them, that this mode of action between two nations, +who were, as they acknowledged, friendly to each other, was unworthy of +reasoning men, but rather characteristic of brute beasts. I represented to +them, moreover, that they were enough occupied in repelling their enemies +who pursued them, in routing them as often as possible, in pursuing them to +their villages and taking them prisoners; and that these enemies, seeing +divisions and wars among them, would be delighted and derive great +advantage therefrom; and be led to lay new and pernicious plans, in the +hope of soon being able to see their ruin, or at least their enfeebling +through one another, which would be the truest and easiest way for them to +conquer and become masters of their territories, since they did not assist +each other. + +I told them likewise that they did not realize the harm that might befall +them from thus acting; that on account of the death of one man they +hazarded the lives of ten thousand, and ran the risk of being reduced to +perpetual slavery; that, although in fact one man was of great value, yet +they ought to consider how he had been killed, and that it was not with +deliberate purpose, nor for the sake of inciting a civil war, it being only +too evident that the dead man had first offended, since with deliberate +purpose he had killed the prisoner in their cabins, a most audacious thing, +even if the latter were an enemy. This aroused the Algonquins, who, seeing +a man that had been so bold as to kill in their own cabins another to whom +they had given liberty and treated as one of themselves, were carried away +with passion; and some, more excited than the rest, advanced, and, unable +to restrain or control their wrath, killed the man in question. +Nevertheless they had no ill feeling at all towards the nation as a whole, +and did not extend their purposes beyond the audacious one, who, they +thought, fully deserved what he had wantonly earned. + +And besides I told them they must confider that the Entouhonoron, finding +himself wounded by two blows in the stomach, tore from his wound the knife +which his enemy had left there and gave the latter two blows, as I had been +informed; so that in fact one could not tell whether it was really the +Algonquins who had committed the murder. And in order to show to the +Attigouantans that the Algonquins did not love the prisoner, and that +Yroquet did not bear towards him the affection which they were disposed to +think, I reminded them that they had eaten him, as he had inflicted blows +with a knife upon his enemy; a thing, however, unworthy of a human being, +but rather characteristic of brute beasts. + +I told them also that the Algonquins very much regretted all that had taken +place, and that, if they had supposed such a thing would have happened, +they would have sacrificed this Iroquois for their satisfaction. I reminded +them likewise that they had made recompense for this death and offence, if +so it should be called, by large presents and two prisoners, on which +account they had no reason at present to complain, and ought to restrain +themselves and act more mildly towards the Algonquins, their friends. I +told them that, since they had promised to submit every thing to +arbitration, I entreated them to forget all that had passed between them +and never to think of it again, nor bear any hatred or ill will on account +of it to each other, but to live good friends as before, by doing which +they would constrain us to love them and assist them as I had done in the +past. But in case they should not be pleased with my advice, I requested +them to come, in as large numbers as possible, to our settlement, so that +there, in the presence of all the captains of vessels, our friendship might +be ratified anew, and measures taken to secure them from their enemies, a +thing which they ought to consider. + +Then they began to say that I had spoken well, and that they would adhere +to what I had said, and all went away to their cabins, apparently +satisfied, excepting the Algonquins, who broke up and proceeded to their +village, but who, as it seemed to me, appeared to be not entirely +satisfied, since they said among themselves that they would not come to +winter again in these places, the death of these two men having cost them +too dearly. As for myself, I returned to my host, in whom I endeavored to +inspire all the courage I could, in order to induce him to come to our +settlement, and bring with him all those of his country. + +During the winter, which lasted four months, I had sufficient leisure to +observe their country, customs, dress, manner of living, the character of +their assemblies, and other things which I should like to describe. But it +is necessary first to speak of the situation of the country in general and +its divisions, also of the location of the tribes and the distances between +them. + +The country extends in length, in the direction from east to west, nearly +four hundred and fifty leagues, and some eighty or a hundred leagues in +breadth from north to south, from latitude 41° to 48° or 49° [181] This +region is almost an island, surrounded by the great river Saint Lawrence, +which passes through several lakes of great extent, on the shores of which +dwell various tribes speaking different languages, having fixed abodes, and +all fond of the cultivation of the soil, but with various modes of life, +and customs, some better than others. On the shore north of this great +river, extending westerly some hundred leagues towards the Attigouantans, +[182] there are very high mountains, and the air is more temperate than in +any other part of these regions, the latitude being 41°. All these places +abound in game, such as stags, caribous, elks, does, [183] buffaloes, +bears, wolves, beavers, foxes, minxes, [184] weasels, [185] and many other +kinds of animals which we do not have in France. Fishing is abundant, there +being many varieties, both those which we have in France, as also others +which we have not. There are likewise many birds in their time and season. +The country is traversed by numerous rivers, brooks, and ponds, connecting +with each other and finally emptying into the river St. Lawrence and the +lakes through which it passes. The country is very pleasant in spring, is +covered with extensive and lofty forests, and filled with wood similar to +that which we have in France, although in many places there is much cleared +land, where they plant Indian corn. This region also abounds in meadows, +lowlands, and marshes, which furnish food for the animals before mentioned. + +The country north of the great river is very rough and mountainous, and +extends in latitude from 47° to 49°, and in places abounds in rocks. [186] +So far as I could make out, these regions are inhabited by savages, who +wander through the country, not engaging in the cultivation of the soil, +nor doing anything, or at least as good as nothing. But they are hunters, +now in one place, now in another, the region being very cold and +disagreeable. This land on the north is in latitude 49º and extends over +six hundred leagues in breadth from east to west, of parts of which we have +full knowledge. There are also many fine large rivers rising in this region +and discharging into the before-mentioned river, together with an infinite +number of fine meadows, lakes, and ponds, through which they pass, where +there is an abundance of fish. There are likewise numerous islands which +are for the most part cleared up and very pleasant, the most of them +containing great quantities of vines and wild fruits. + +With regard to the regions further west, we cannot well determine their +extent, since the people here have no knowledge of them except for two or +three hundred leagues or more westerly, from whence comes the great river, +which passes, among other places, through a lake having an extent of nearly +thirty days' journey by canoe, namely that which we have called the _Mer +Douce_. This is of great extent, being nearly four hundred leagues long. +Inasmuch as the savages, with whom we are on friendly terms, are at war +with other nations on the west of this great lake, we cannot obtain a more +complete knowledge of them, except as they have told us several times that +some prisoners from the distance of a hundred leagues had reported that +there were tribes there like ourselves in color and in other respects. +Through them they have seen the hair of these people which is very light, +and which they esteem highly, saying that it is like our own. I can only +conjecture in regard to this, that the people they say resemble us were +those more civilized than themselves. It would require actual presence to +ascertain the truth in regard to this matter. But assistance is needed, and +it is only men of means, leisure, and energy, who could or would undertake +to promote this enterprise so that a full exploration of these places might +be made, affording us a complete knowledge of them. + +In regard to the region south of the great river it is very thickly +settled, much more so than that on the north, and by tribes who are at war +with each other. The country is very pleasant, much more so than that on +the northern border, and the air is more temperate. There are many kinds of +trees and fruits not found north of the river, while there are many things +on the north side, in compensation, not found on the south. The regions +towards the east are sufficiently well known, inasmuch as the ocean borders +these places. These are the coasts of Labrador, Newfoundland, Cape Breton, +La Cadie, and the Almouchiquois, [187] places well known, as I have treated +of them sufficiently in the narrative of my previous Voyages, as likewise +of the people living there, on which account I shall not speak of them in +this treatise, my object being only to make a succinct and true report of +what I have seen in addition. + +The country of the nation of the Attigouantans is in latitude 44° 30', and +extends two hundred and thirty leagues [188] in length westerly, and ten in +breadth. It contains eighteen villages, six of which are enclosed and +fortified by palisades of wood in triple rows, bound together, on the top +of which are galleries, which they provide with stones and water; the +former to hurl upon their enemies and the latter to extinguish the fire +which their enemies may set to the palisades. The country is pleasant, most +of it cleared up. It has the shape of Brittany, and is similarly situated, +being almost surrounded by the _Mer Douce_ [189] They assume that these +eighteen villages are inhabited by two thousand warriors, not including the +common mass which amounts to perhaps thirty thousand souls. + +Their cabins are in the shape of tunnels or arbors, and are covered with +the bark of trees. They are from twenty-five to thirty fathoms long, more +or less, and six wide, having a passage-way through the middle from ten to +twelve feet wide, which extends from one end to the other. On the two sides +there is a kind of bench, four feet high, where they sleep in summer, in +order to avoid the annoyance of the fleas, of which there are great +numbers. In winter they sleep on the ground on mats near the fire, so as to +be warmer than they would be on the platform. They lay up a stock of dry +wood, with which they fill their cabins, to burn in winter. At the +extremity of the cabins there is a space, where they preserve their Indian +corn, which they put into great casks made of the bark of trees and placed +in the middle of their encampment. They have pieces of wood suspended, on +which they put their clothes, provisions, and other things, for fear of the +mice, of which there are great numbers. In one of these cabins there may be +twelve fires, and twenty-four families. It smokes excessively, from which +it follows that many receive serious injury to the eyes, so that they lose +their sight towards the close of life. There is no window nor any opening, +except that in the upper part of their cabins for the smoke to escape. + +This is all that I have been able to learn about their mode of life; and I +have described to you fully the kind of dwelling of these people, as far as +I have been able to learn it, which is the same as that of all the tribes +living in these regions. They sometimes change their villages at intervals +of ten, twenty, or thirty years, and transfer them to a distance of one, +two, or three leagues from the preceding situation, [190] except when +compelled by their enemies to dislodge, in which case they retire to a +greater distance, as the Antouhonorons, who went some forty to fifty +leagues. This is the form of their dwellings, which are separated from each +other some three or four paces, for fear of fire, of which they are in +great dread. + +Their life is a miserable one in comparison with our own; but they are +happy among themselves, not having experienced anything better, and not +imagining that anything more excellent is to be found. Their principal +articles of food are Indian corn and Brazilian beans, [191] which they +prepare in various ways. By braying in a wooden mortar they reduce the corn +to meal. They remove the bran by means of fans made of the bark of trees. +From this meal they make bread, using also beans which they first boil, as +they do the Indian corn for soup, so that they may be more easily crushed. +Then they mix all together, sometimes adding blueberries [192] or dry +raspberries, and sometimes pieces of deer's fat, though not often, as this +is scarce with them. After steeping the whole in lukewarm water, they make +bread in the form of bannocks or pies, which they bake in the ashes. After +they are baked they wash them, and from these they often make others by +wrapping them in corn leaves, which they fasten to them, and then putting +them in boiling water. + +But this is not their most common kind. They make another, which they call +_migan_, which is as follows: They take the pounded Indian corn, without +removing the bran, and put two or three handfuls of it in an earthen pot +full of water. This they boil, stirring it from time to time, that it may +not burn nor adhere to the pot. Then they put into the pot a small quantity +of fish, fresh or dry, according to the season, to give a flavor to the +_migan_, as they call it. They make it very often, although it smells +badly, especially in winter, either because they do not know how to prepare +it rightly, or do not wish to take the trouble to do so. They make two +kinds of it, and prepare it very well when they choose. When they use fish +the _migan_ does not smell badly, but only when it is made with +venison. After it is all cooked, they take out the fish, pound it very +fine, and then put it all together into the pot, not taking the trouble to +remove the appendages, scales, or inwards, as we do, which generally causes +a bad taste. It being thus prepared, they deal out to each one his +portion. This _migan_ is very thin, and without much substance, as may be +well supposed. As for drink, there is no need of it, the _migan_ being +sufficiently thin of itself. + +They have another kind of _migan_, namely, they roast new corn before it is +ripe, which they preserve and cook whole with fish, or flesh when they have +it. Another way is this: they take Indian corn, which is very dry, roast it +in the ashes, then bray it and reduce it to meal as in the former case. +This they lay up for the journeys which they undertake here and there. The +_migan_ made in the latter manner is the best according to my taste. Figure +H shows the women braying their Indian corn. In preparing it, they cook a +large quantity of fish and meat, which they cut into pieces and put into +great kettles, which they fill with water and let it all boil well. When +this is done, they gather with a spoon from the surface the fat which comes +from the meat and fish. Then they put in the meal of the roasted corn, +constantly stirring it until the _migan_ is cooked and thick as soup. They +give to each one a portion, together with a spoonful of the fat. This dish +they are accustomed to prepare for banquets, but they do not generally make +it. + +Now the corn freshly roasted, as above described, is highly esteemed among +them. They eat also beans, which they boil with the mass of the roasted +flour, mixing in a little fat and fish. Dogs are in request at their +banquets, which they often celebrate among themselves, especially in +winter, when they are at leisure. In case they go hunting for deer or go +fishing, they lay aside what they get for celebrating these banquets, +nothing remaining in their cabins but the usual thin _migan_, resembling +bran and water, such as is given to hogs to eat. + +They have another way of eating the Indian corn. In preparing it, they take +it in the ear and put it in water under the mud, leaving it two or three +months in this state until they think it is putrefied. Then they remove it, +and eat it boiled with meat or fish. They also roast it, and it is better +so than boiled. But I assure you that there is nothing that smells so badly +as this corn as it comes from the water all muddy. Yet the women and +children take it and suck it like sugar-cane, nothing seeming to them to +taste better, as they show by their manner. In general they have two meals +a day. As for ourselves, we fasted all of Lent and longer, in order to +influence them by our example. But it was time lost. + +They also fatten bears, which they keep two or three years, for the purpose +of their banquets. I observed that if this people had domestic animals they +would be interested in them and care for them very well, and I showed them +the way to keep them, which would be an easy thing for them, since they +have good grazing grounds in their country, and in large quantities, for +all kinds of animals, horses, oxen, cows, sheep, swine, and other kinds, +for lack of which one would consider them badly off, as they seem to be. +Yet with all their drawbacks, they seem to me to live happily among +themselves, since their only ambition is to live and support themselves, +and they lead a more settled life than those who wander through the forests +like brute beasts. They eat many squashes, [193] which they boil, and roast +in the ashes. + +In regard to their dress, they have various kinds and styles made of the +skins of wild beasts, both those which they capture themselves, and others +which they get in exchange for their Indian corn, meal, porcelain, and +fishing-nets from the Algonquins, Nipissings, and other tribes, which are +hunters having no fixed abodes. All their clothes are of one uniform shape, +not varied by any new styles. They prepare and fit very well the skins, +making their breeches of deer-skin rather large, and their stockings of +another piece, which extend up to the middle and have many folds. Their +shoes are made of the skins of deer, bears, and beaver, of which they use +great numbers. Besides, they have a robe of the same fur, in the form of a +cloak, which they wear in the Irish or Egyptian style, with sleeves which +are attached with a string behind. This is the way they are dressed in +winter, as is seen in figure D. When they go into the fields, they gird up +their robe about the body; but when in the village, they leave off their +sleeves and do not gird themselves. The Milan trimmings for decorating +their garments are made of glue and the scrapings of the before-mentioned +skins, of which they make bands in various styles according to their fancy, +putting in places bands of red and brown color amid those of the glue, +which always keep a whitish appearance, not losing at all their shape, +however dirty they may get. There are those among these nations who are +much more skilful than others in fitting the skins, and ingenious in +inventing ornaments to put on their garments. It is our Montagnais and +Algonquins, above all others, who take more pains in this matter. They put +on their robes bands of porcupine quills, which they dye a very fine +scarlet color. [194] They value these bands very highly, and detach them so +that they may serve for other robes when they wish to make a change. They +also make use of them to adorn the face, in order to give it a more +graceful appearance whenever they wish particularly to decorate themselves. + +Most of them paint the face black and red. These colors they mix with oil +made from the seed of the sun-flower, or with bear's fat or that of other +animals. They also dye their hair, which some wear long, others short, +others on one side only. The women and girls always wear their hair in one +uniform style. They are dressed like men, except that they always have +their robes girt about them, which extend down to the knee. They are not at +all ashamed to expose the body from the middle up and from the knees down, +unlike the men, the rest being always covered. They are loaded with +quantities of porcelain, in the shape of necklaces and chains, which they +arrange in the front of their robes and attach to their waists. They also +wear bracelets and ear-rings. They have their hair carefully combed, dyed, +and oiled. Thus they go to the dance, with a knot of their hair behind +bound up with eel-skin, which they use as a cord. Sometimes they put on +plates a foot square, covered with porcelain, which hang on the back. Thus +gaily dressed and habited, they delight to appear in the dance, to which +their fathers and mothers send them, forgetting nothing that they can +devise to embellish and set off their daughters. I can testify that I have +seen at dances a girl who had more than twelve pounds of porcelain on her +person, not including the other bagatelles with which they are loaded and +bedecked. In the illustration already cited, F shows the dress of the +women, G that of the girls attired for the dance. + +All these people have a very jovial disposition, although there are many of +them who have a sad and gloomy look. Their bodies are well proportioned. +Some of the men and women are well formed, strong, and robust. There is a +moderate number of pleasing and pretty girls, in respect to figure, color, +and expression, all being in harmony. Their blood is but little +deteriorated, except when they are old. There are among these tribes +powerful women of extraordinary height These have almost the entire care of +the house and work; namely, they till the land, plant the Indian corn, lay +up a store of wood for the winter, beat the hemp and spin it, making from +the thread fishing-nets and other useful things. The women harvest the +corn, house it, prepare it for eating, and attend to household matters. +Moreover they are expected to attend their husbands from place to place in +the fields, filling the office of pack-mule in carrying the baggage, and to +do a thousand other things. All the men do is to hunt for deer and other +animals, fish, make their cabins, and go to war. Having done these things, +they then go to other tribes with which they are acquainted to traffic and +make exchanges. On their return, they give themselves up to festivities and +dances, which they give to each other, and when these are over they go to +sleep, which they like to do best of all things. + +They have some sort of marriage, which is as follows: when a girl has +reached the age of eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen years she +has suitors, more or less according to her attractions, who woo her for +some time. After this, the consent of their fathers and mothers is asked, +to whose will the girls often do not submit, although the most discreet and +considerate do so. The lover or suitor presents to the girl some necklaces, +chains, and bracelets of porcelain. If the girl finds the suitor agreeable, +she receives the present. Then the lover comes and remains with her three +or four nights, without saying anything to her during the time. They +receive thus the fruit of their affections. Whence it happens very often +that, after from eight to fifteen days, if they cannot agree, she quits her +suitor, who forfeits his necklaces and other presents that he has made, +having received in return only a meagre satisfaction. Being thus +disappointed in his hopes, the man seeks another woman, and the girl +another suitor, if it seems to them desirable. Thus they continue to do +until a favorable union is formed. It sometimes happens that a girl thus +passes her entire youth, having more than twenty mates, which twenty are +not alone in the enjoyment of the creature, mated though they are; for when +night comes the young women run from one cabin to another, as do also the +young men on their part, going where it seems good to them, but always +without any violence, referring the whole matter to the pleasure of the +woman. Their mates will do likewise to their women-neighbors, no jealousy +arising among them on that account, nor do they incur any reproach or +insult, such being the custom of the country. + +Now the time when they do not leave their mates is when they have +children. The preceding mate returns to her, renews the affection and +friendship which he had borne her in the past, asserting that it is greater +than that of any other one, and that the child she has is his and of his +begetting. The next says the same to her. In time, the victory is with the +stronger, who takes the woman for his wife. Thus it depends upon the +choice of the woman to take and accept him who shall please her best, +having meantime in her searching and loves gained much porcelain and, +besides, the choice of a husband. The woman remains with him without +leaving him; or if she do leave him, for he is on trial, it must be for +some good reason other than impotence. But while with this husband, she +does not cease to give herself free rein, yet remains always at home, +keeping up a good appearance. Thus the children which they have together, +born from such a woman, cannot be sure of their legitimacy. Accordingly, in +view of this uncertainty, it is their custom that the children never +succeed to the property and honors of their fathers, there being doubt, as +above indicated, as to their paternity. They make, however, the children of +their sisters, from whom they are known to have issued, their successors +and heirs. + +The following is the way they nourish and bring up their children: they +place them during the day on a little wooden board, wrapping them up in +furs or skins. To this board they bind them, placing them in an erect +position, and leaving a little opening for the child to do its necessities. +If it is a girl, they put a leaf of Indian corn between the thighs, which +presses against its privates. The extremity of the leaf is carried outside +in a turned position, so that the water of the child runs off on it without +inconvenience. They put also under the children the down of certain reeds +that we call hare's-foot, on which they rest very softly. They also clean +them with the same down. As an ornament for the child, they adorn the board +with beads, which they also put on its neck, however small it may be. At +night they put it to bed, entirely naked, between the father and mother. It +may be regarded as a great miracle that God should thus preserve it so that +no harm befalls it, as might be expected, from suffocation, while the +father and mother are in deep sleep, but that rarely happens. The children +have great freedom among these tribes. The fathers and mothers indulge them +too much, and never punish them. Accordingly they are so bad and of so +vicious a nature, that they often strike their mothers and others. The most +vicious, when they have acquired the strength and power, strike their +fathers. They do this whenever the father or mother does anything that +does not please them. This is a sort of curse that God inflicts upon them. + +In respect to laws, I have not been able to find out that they have any, or +anything that approaches them, inasmuch as there is not among them any +correction, punishment, or censure of evil-doers except in the way of +vengeance, when they return evil for evil, not by rule but by passion, +which produces among them conflicts and differences, which occur very +frequently. + +Moreover, they do not recognize any divinity, or worship any God and +believe in anything whatever, but live like brute beasts. They have, +however, some respect for the devil, or something so called, which is a +matter of uncertainty, since the word which they use thus has various +significations and comprises in itself various things. It is accordingly +difficult to determine whether they mean the devil or something else, but +what especially leads to the belief that what they mean is the devil is +this: whenever they see a man doing something extraordinary, or who is more +capable than usual, or is a valiant warrior, or furthermore who is in a +rage as if out of his reason and senses, they call him _oqui_, or, as we +should say, a great knowing spirit, or a great devil. However this may be, +they have certain persons, who are the _oqui_, or, as the Algonquins and +Montagnais call them, _manitous_; and persons of this kind are the +medicine-men, who heal the sick, bind up the wounded, and predict future +events, who in fine practise all abuses and illusions of the devil to +deceive and delude them. These _oquis_ or conjurers persuade their patients +and the sick to make, or have made banquets and ceremonies that they may be +the sooner healed, their object being to participate in them finally +themselves and get the principal benefit therefrom. Under the pretence of a +more speedy cure, they likewise cause them to observe various other +ceremonies, which I shall hereafter speak of in the proper place. These +are the people in whom they put especial confidence, but it is rare that +they are possessed of the devil and tormented like other savages living +more remote than themselves. + +This gives additional reason and ground to believe that their conversion to +the knowledge of God would be more easy, if their country were inhabited by +persons who would take the trouble and pains to instruct them. But it is +not enough to send to them friars, unless there are those to support and +assist them. For although these people have the desire to-day to know what +God is, to-morrow this disposition will change when they are obliged to lay +aside and bring under their foul ways, their dissolute manners, and their +savage indulgences. So that there is need of people and families to keep +them in the way of duty, to constrain them through mildness to do better, +and to move them by good example to mend their lives. Father Joseph [195] +and myself have many times conferred with them in regard to our belief, +laws, and customs. They listened attentively in their assemblies, sometimes +saying to us: You say things that pass our knowledge, and which we cannot +understand by words, being beyond our comprehension; but if you would do us +a service come and dwell in this country, bringing your wives and children, +and when they are here we shall see how you serve the God you worship, and +how you live with your wives and children, how you cultivate and plant the +soil, how you obey your laws, how you take care of animals, and how you +manufacture all that we see proceeding from your inventive skill. When we +see all this, we shall learn more in a year than in twenty by simply +hearing you discourse and if we cannot then understand, you shall take our +children, who shall be as your own. And thus being convinced that our life +is a miserable one in comparison with yours, it is easy to believe that we +shall adopt yours, abandoning our own. + +Their words seemed to me good common sense, showing the desire they have to +get a knowledge of God. It is a great wrong to let so many men be lost, and +see them perish at our door, without rendering them the succor which can +only be given through the help of kings, princes, and ecclesiastics, who +alone have the power to do this. For to them alone belongs the honor of so +great a work; namely, planting the Christian faith in an unknown region and +among savage nations, since we are well informed about these people, that +they long for and desire nothing so much as to be clearly instructed as to +what they should do and avoid. It is accordingly the duty of those who have +the power, to labor there and contribute of their abundance, for one day +they must answer before God for the loss of the souls which they allowed to +perish through their negligence and avarice; and these are not few but very +numerous. Now this will be done when it shall please God to give them grace +to this end. As for myself, I desire this result rather to-day than +to-morrow, from the zeal which I have for the advancement of God's glory, +for the honor of my King, and for the welfare and renown of my country. + +When they are sick, the man or woman who is attacked with any disease sends +for the _oqui_, who visits the patient and informs himself about the malady +and the suffering. After this, the _oqui_ sends for a large number of men, +women, and girls, including three or four old women. These enter the cabin +of the sick, dancing, each one having on his head the skin of a bear or +some other wild beast, that of the bear being the most common as it is the +most frightful. There are three or four other old women about the sick or +suffering, who for the most part feign sickness, or are sick merely in +imagination. But they are soon cured of this sickness, and generally make +banquets at the expense of their friends or relatives, who give them +something to put into their kettle, in addition to the presents which they +receive from the dancers, such as porcelain and other bagatelles, so that +they are soon cured; for when they find that they have nothing more to look +for, they get up with what they have secured. But those who are really sick +are not readily cured by plays, dances, and such proceedings. + +To return to my narrative: the old women near the sick person receive the +presents, each singing and pausing in turn. When all the presents have been +made, they proceed to lift up their voices with one accord, all singing +together and keeping time with sticks on pieces of dry bark. Then all the +women and girls proceed to the end of the cabin, as if they were about to +begin a ballet or masquerade. The old women walk in front with their +bearskins on their heads, all the others following them, one after the +other. They have only two kinds of dances with regular time, one of four +steps and the other of twelve, as in the _trioli_ de Bretagne. They +exhibit much grace in dancing. Young men often take part with them. After +dancing an hour or two, the old women lead out the sick person to dance, +who gets up dolefully and prepares to dance, and after a short time she +dances and enjoys as much as the others. I leave it to you to consider how +sick she was. Below is represented the mode of their dances. + +The medicine-man thus gains honor and credit, his patient being so soon +healed and on her feet. This treatment, however, does nothing for those who +are dangerously ill and reduced by weakness, but causes their death rather +than their cure; for I can testify that they sometimes make such a noise +and hubbub from morning until two o'clock at night that it is impossible +for the patient to endure it without great pain. Sometimes the patient is +seized with the desire to have the women and girls dance all together, +which is done in accordance with the direction of the _oqui_. But this is +not all, for he and the _manitou_, accompanied by some others, make +grimaces, perform magic arts, and twist themselves about so that they +generally end in being out of their senses, seemingly crazy, throwing the +fire from one side of the cabin to the other, eating burning coals, holding +them in their hands for a while, and throwing red-hot ashes into the eyes +of the spectators. Seeing them in this condition, one would say that the +devil, the _oqui_, or _manitou_, if he is thus to be called, possesses and +torments them. This noise and hubbub being over, they retire each to his +own cabin. + +But those who suffer especially during this time are the wives of those +possessed, and all the inmates of their cabins, from the fear they have +lest the raging ones burn up all that is in their houses. This leads them +to remove everything that is in sight; for as soon as he arrives he is all +in a fury, his eyes flashing and frightful, sometimes standing up, +sometimes seated, as his fancy takes him. Suddenly a fit seizes him, and +laying hold of everything he finds in his way he throws them to one side +and the other. Then he lies down and sleeps for some time. Waking up with a +jump, he seizes fire and stones which he throws about recklessly on all +sides. This rage passes off with the sleep which seizes him again. Then he +rages and calls several of his friends to sweat with him. The latter is the +best means they have for preserving themselves in health. While they are +sweating, the kettle boils to prepare them something to eat They remain, +two or three hours or so, covered up with great pieces of bark and wrapped +in their robes, with a great many stones about them which have been heated +red hot in the fire. They sing all the time while they are in the rage, +occasionally stopping to take breath. Then they give them many draughts of +water to drink, since they are very thirsty, when the demoniac, who was +crazy or possessed of an evil spirit, becomes sober. + +Thus it happens that three or four of these sick persons get well, rather +by a happy coincidence and chance than in consequence of any intelligent +treatment, and this confirms their false belief that they are healed by +means of these ceremonies, not considering that, for two who are thus +cured, ten others die on account of the noise, great hubbub and hissing, +which are rather calculated to kill than cure a sick person. But that they +expect to recover their health by this noise, and we on the contrary by +silence and rest, shows how the devil does everything in hostility to the +good. + +There are also women who go into these rages, but they do not do so much +harm. They walk on all fours like beasts. Seeing this, the magician, called +_oqui_, begins to sing; then, with some contortions of the face, he blows +upon her, directing her to drink certain waters, and make at once a banquet +of fish or flesh, which must be procured although very scarce at the +time. When the shouting is over and the banquet ended, they return each to +her own cabin. At another time he comes back and visits her, blowing upon +her and singing in company with several others, who have been summoned for +this purpose, and who hold in the hand a dry tortoise-shell filled with +little pebbles, which they cause to resound in the ears of the sick woman. +They direct her to make at once three or four banquets with singing and +dancing, when all the girls appear adorned and painted as I have +represented in figure G. The _oqui_ orders masquerades, and directs them to +disguise themselves, as those do who run along the streets in France on +_Mardi-gras_. [196] Thus they go and sing near the bed of the sick woman +and promenade through the village while the banquet is preparing to receive +the maskers, who return very tired, having taken exercise enough to be able +to empty the kettle of its _migan_. + +According to their custom each household lives on what it gets by fishing +and planting, improving as much land as it needs. They clear it up with +great difficulty, since they do not have the implements adapted to this +purpose. A party strip the trees of all their branches, which they burn at +their base in order to kill them. They clear carefully the land between the +trees, and then plant their corn at distances of a pace, putting in each +place some ten kernels, and so on until they have made provision for three +or four years, fearing that a bad year may befall them. The women attend to +the planting and harvesting, as I have said before, and to procuring a +supply of wood for winter. All the women aid each other in procuring this +provision of wood, which they do in the month of March or April, in the +order of two days for each. Every household is provided with as much as it +needs; and if a girl marries, each woman and girl is expected to carry to +the newly married one a parcel of wood for her provision, since she could +not procure it alone, and at a season when she has to give her attention to +other things. + +The following is their mode of government: the older and leading men +assemble in a council, in which they settle upon and propose all that is +necessary for the affairs of the village. This is done by a plurality of +voices, or in accordance with the advice of some one among them whose +judgment they consider superior: such a one is requested by the company to +give his opinion on the propositions that have been made, and this opinion +is minutely obeyed. They have no particular chiefs with absolute command, +but they show honor to the older and more courageous men, whom they name +captains, as mark of honor and respect, of which there are several in a +village. But, although they confer more honor upon one than upon others, +yet he is not on that account to bear sway, nor esteem himself higher than +his companions, unless he does so from vanity. They make no use of +punishments nor arbitrary command, but accomplish everything by the +entreaties of the seniors, and by means of addresses and remonstrances. +Thus and not otherwise do they bring everything to pass. + +They all deliberate in common, and whenever any member of the assembly +offers to do anything for the welfare of the village, or to go anywhere for +the service of the community, he is requested to present himself, and if he +is judged capable of carrying out what he proposes, they exhort him, by +fair and favorable words, to do his duty. They declare him to be an +energetic man, fit for undertakings, and allure him that he will win honor +in accomplishing them. In a word, they encourage him by flatteries, in +order that this favorable disposition of his for the welfare of his fellow- +citizens may continue and increase. Then, according to his pleasure, he +refuses the responsibility, which few do, or accepts, since thereby he is +held in high esteem. + +When they engage in wars or go to the country of their enemies, two or +three of the older or valiant captains make a beginning in the matter, and +proceed to the adjoining villages to communicate their purpose, and make +presents to the people of these villages, in order to induce them to +accompany them to the wars in question. In so far they act as generals of +armies. They designate the place where they desire to go, dispose of the +prisoners who are captured, and have the direction of other matters of +especial importance, of which they get the honor, if they are successful; +but, if not, the disgrace of failure in the war falls upon them. These +captains alone are looked upon and considered as chiefs of the tribes. + +They have, moreover, general assemblies, with representatives from remote +regions. These representatives come every year, one from each province, and +meet in a town designated as the rendezvous of the assembly. Here are +celebrated great banquets and dances, for three weeks or a month, according +as they may determine. Here they renew their friendship, resolve upon and +decree what they think best for the preservation of their country against +their enemies, and make each other handsome presents, after which they +retire each to his own district. + +In burying the dead, they take the body of the deceased, wrap it in furs, +and cover it very carefully with the bark of trees. Then they place it in a +cabin, of the length of the body, made of bark and erected upon four posts. +Others they place in the ground, propping up the earth on all sides, that +it may not fall on the body, which they cover with the bark of trees, +putting earth on top. Over this trench they also make a little cabin. Now +it is to be understood that the bodies remain in these places, thus +inhumed, but for a period of eight or ten years, when the men of the +village recommend the place where their ceremonies are to take place; or, +to speak more precisely, they hold a general council, in which all the +people of the country are present, for the purpose of designating the place +where a festival is to be held. After this they return each to his own +village, where they take all the bones of the deceased, strip them and make +them quite clean. These they keep very carefully, although they smell like +bodies recently interred. Then all the relatives and friends of the +deceased take these bones, together with their necklaces, furs, axes, +kettles, and other things highly valued, and carry them, with a quantity of +edibles, to the place assigned. Here, when all have assembled, they put the +edibles in a place designated by the men of the village, and engage in +banquets and continual dancing. The festival continues for the space of ten +days, during which time other tribes, from all quarters, come to witness it +and the ceremonies. The latter are attended with great outlays. + +Now, by means of these ceremonies, including dances, banquets, and +assemblies, as above stated, they renew their friendship to one another, +saying that the bones of their relatives and friends are to be all put +together, thus indicating by a figure that, as their bones are gathered +together and united in one and the same place, so ought they also, during +their life, to be united in one friendship and harmony, like relatives and +friends, without separation. Having thus mingled together the bones of +their mutual relatives and friends, they pronounce many discourses on the +occasion. Then, after various grimaces or exhibitions, they make a great +trench, ten fathoms square, in which they put the bones, together with the +necklaces, chains of porcelain, axes, kettles, sword-blades, knives, and +various other trifles, which, however, are of no slight account in their +estimation. They cover the whole with earth, putting on top several great +pieces of wood, and placing around many posts, on which they put a +covering. This is their manner of proceeding with regard to the dead, and +it is the most prominent ceremony they have. Some of them believe in the +immortality of the soul, while others have only a presentiment of it, +which, however, is not so very different; for they say that after their +decease they will go to a place where they will sing, like crows, a song, +it must be confessed, quite different from that of angels. On the following +page are represented their sepulchres and manner of interment. + +It remains to describe how they spend their time in winter; namely, from +the month of December to the end of March, or the beginning of our spring, +when the snow melts. All that they might do during autumn, as I have before +stated, they postpone to be done during winter; namely, their banquetings, +and usual dances for the sake of the sick, which I have already described, +and the assemblages of the inhabitants of various villages, where there are +banquetings, singing, and dances, which they call _tabagies_ [197] and +where sometimes five hundred persons are collected, both men, women, and +girls. The latter are finely decked and adorned with the best and most +costly things they have. + +On certain days they make masquerades, and visit each other's cabins, +asking for the things they like, and if they meet those who have what they +want, these give it to them freely. Thus they go on asking for many things +without end; so that a single one of those soliciting will have robes of +beaver, bear, deer, lynxes, and other furs, also fish, Indian corn, +tobacco, or boilers, kettles, pots, axes, pruning-knives, knives, and other +like things. They go to the houses and cabins of the village, singing these +words, That one gave me this, another gave that, or like words, by way of +commendation. But if one gives them nothing they get angry, and show such +spite towards him that when they leave they take a stone and put it near +this man or that woman who has not given them anything. Then, without +saying a word, they return singing, which is a mark of insult, censure, and +ill-will. The women do so as well as the men, and this mode of proceeding +takes place at night, and the masquerade continues seven or eight days. +There are some of their villages which have maskers or merry-makers, as we +do on the evening of _Mardi-gras_, and they invite the other villages to +come and see them and win their utensils, if they can. Meanwhile banquets +are not wanting. This is the way they spend their time in winter. + +Moreover the women spin, and pound meal for the journeys of their husbands +in summer, who go to other tribes to trade, as they decide to do at the +above-mentioned councils, in which it is determined what number of men may +go from each village, that it may not be deprived of men of war for its +protection; and nobody goes from the country without the general consent of +the chiefs, or if they should go they would be regarded as behaving +improperly. The men make nets for fishing, which they carry on in summer, +but generally in winter, when they capture the fish under the ice with the +line or with the seine. + +The following is their manner of fishing. They make several holes in a +circular form in the ice, the one where they are to draw the seine being +some five feet long and three wide. Then they proceed to place their net at +this opening, attaching it to a rod of wood from six to seven feet long, +which they put under the ice. This rod they cause to pass from hole to +hole, when one or more men, putting their hands in the holes, take hold of +the rod to which is attached an end of the net, until they unite at the +opening of five to six feet. Then they let the net drop to the bottom of +the water, it being sunk by little stones attached to the end. After it is +down they draw it up again with their arms at its two ends, thus capturing +the fish that are in it. This is, in brief, their manner of fishing in +winter. + +The winter begins in the month of November and continues until the month of +April, when the trees begin to send forth the sap and show their buds. + +On the 22d of the month of April we received news from our interpreter, who +had gone to Carantoüan, through those who had come from there. They told us +that they had left him on the road, he having returned to the village for +certain reasons. + +Now, resuming the thread of my narrative, our savages assembled to come +with us, and conduct us back to our habitation, and for this purpose we set +out from their country on the 20th of the month, [198] and were forty days +on the way. We caught a large number of fish and animals of various kinds, +together with small game, which afforded us especial pleasure, in addition +to the provisions thus furnished us for our journey. Upon our arrival among +the French, towards the end of the month of June, I found Sieur du Pont +Gravé, who had come from France with two vessels, and who had almost +despaired of seeing me again, having heard from the savages the bad news, +that I was dead. + +We also saw all the holy fathers who had remained at our settlement. They +too were very happy to see us again, and we none the less so to see them. +Welcomes, and felicitations on all sides being over, I made arrangements to +set out from, the Falls of St. Louis for our settlement, taking with me my +host D'Arontal. I took leave also of all the other savages, assuring them +of my affection, and that, if I could, I would see them in the suture, to +assist them as I had already done in the past, bringing them valuable +presents to secure their friendship with one another, and begging them to +forget all the disputes which they had had when I reconciled them, which +they promised to do. + +Then we set out, on the 8th of July, and arrived at our settlement on the +11th of that month. Here I found everybody in good health, and we all, in +company with our holy fathers, who chanted the Divine service, returned +thanks to God for His care in preserving us, and protecting us amid the +many perils and dangers to which we had been exposed. + +After this, and when everything had become settled, I proceeded to show +hospitalities to my host, D'Arontal, who admired our building, our conduct, +and mode of living. After carefully observing us, he said to me, in +private, that he should never die contented until he had seen all of his +friends, or at least a good part of them, come and take up their abode with +us, in order to learn how to serve God, and our way of living, which he +esteemed supremely happy in comparison with their own. Moreover he said +that, if he could not learn it by word of mouth, he would do so much better +and more easily by sight and by frequent intercourse, and that, if their +minds could not comprehend our arts, sciences, and trades, their children +who were young could do so, as they had often represented to us in their +country in conversation with Father Joseph. He urged us, for the promotion +of this object, to make another settlement at the Falls of St. Louis, so as +to secure them the passage of the river against their enemies, assuring us +that, as soon as we should build a house, they would come in numbers to +live as brothers with us. Accordingly I promised to make a settlement for +them as soon as possible. + +After we had remained four or five days together, I gave him some valuable +presents, with which he was greatly pleased, and I begged him to continue +his affection for us, and come again to see our settlement with his +friends. Then he returned happy to the Falls of St Louis, where his +companions awaited him. + +When this Captain D'Arontal had departed, we enlarged our habitation by a +third at least in buildings and fortifications, since it was not +sufficiently spacious, nor convenient for receiving the members of our own +company and likewise the strangers that might come to see us. We used, in +building, lime and sand entirely, which we found very good there in a spot +near the habitation. This is a very useful material for building for those +disposed to adapt and accustom themselves to it. + +The Fathers Denis and Joseph determined to return to France, in order to +testify there to all they had seen, and to the hope they could promise +themselves of the conversion of these people, who awaited only the +assistance of the holy fathers in order to be converted and brought to our +faith and the Catholic religion. + +During my stay at the settlement I had some common grain cut; namely, +French grain, which had been planted there and which had come up very +finely, that I might take it to France, as evidence that the land is good +and fertile. In another part, moreover, there was some fine Indian corn, +also scions and trees which had been given us by Sieur du Monts in +Normandy. In a word all the gardens of the place were in an admirably fine +condition, being planted with peas, beans, and other vegetables, also +squashes, and very superior radishes of various sorts, cabbages, beets, and +other kitchen vegetables. When on the point of departure, we left two of +our fathers at the settlement; namely, Fathers Jean d'Olbeau and Pacifique, +[199] who were greatly pleased with all the time spent at that place, and +resolved to await there the return of Father Joseph, [200] who was expected +to come back in the following year, which he did. + +We sailed in our barques the 20th day of July, and arrived at Tadoussac the +23d day of the month, where Sieur du Pont Gravé awaited us with his vessel +ready and equipped. In this we embarked and set out the 3d day of the month +of August. The wind was so favorable that we arrived in health by the grace +of God, at Honfleur, on the 10th day of September, one thousand six hundred +and sixteen, and upon our arrival rendered praise and thanks to God for his +great care in preserving our lives, and delivering and even snatching us, +as it were, from the many dangers to which we had been exposed, and for +bringing and conducting us in health to our country; we besought Him also +to move the heart of our King, and the gentlemen of his council, to +contribute their assistance so far as necessary to bring these poor savages +to the knowledge of God, whence honor will redound to his Majesty, grandeur +and growth to his realm, profit to his subjects, and the glory of all these +undertakings and toils to God, the sole author of all excellence, to whom +be honor and glory. Amen. + + +ENDNOTES: + +78. Champlain's first voyage was made in 1603, and this journal was + published in 1619. It was therefore fully fifteen years since his + explorations began. + +79. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Sagard, Trois ed., pp 27, 28. The reader + is likewise referred to the Memoir of Champlain, Vol. I. pp 122-124. + +80. Bernard du Verger, a man of exalted virtue--_Laverdière_. + +81. Robert Ubaldim was nuncio at this time. _Vide Laverdière in loco_. + +82. Denis Jamay. Sagard writes this name _Jamet_. + +83. Jean d'Olbeau. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Gabriel Sagard, Paris, + 1636, Tross ed., Vol. I. p. 28. + +84. Pacifique du Plessis was a lay-brother, although the title of Father is + given to him by several early writers. _Vide citations by Laverdière in + loco_, Quebec ed., Vol. IV. p. 7. + +85. Read April 24. It is obvious from the context that it could not be + August. Sagard says _le_ 24 _d'Auril_. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, Trois + ed., Vol. I. p 36. + +86. The Recollect Father Joseph le Caron. + +87. _Vide Laverdière in loco_. + +88. Father Denis Jamay. + +89. Jean d'Olbeau and Pacifique du Plessis. + +90. This refers to the volume bearing date 1613, but which may not have + been actually issued from the press till 1614. + +91. Our views of the war policy of Champlain are stated at some length in + Vol I. pp 189-193. + +92. Laverdière thinks it probable that Champlain left the Falls of St Louis + on the 23d of June, and that the Holy Mass was celebrated on the + Rivière des Prairies on the 24th, the festival of St John the Baptist. + +93. This interpreter was undoubtedly Etienne Brûlé. It was a clearly + defined policy of Champlain to send suitable young men among the + savages, particularly to learn their language, and subsequently to act + as interpreters. Brûlé is supposed to have been of this class. + +94. The Lake of Two Mountains. + +95. The River Ottawa, which Champlain had explored in 1613, as far as + Allumet Island, where a tribe of the Algonquins resided, called later + _Kichesipinni_. _Vide Relation des Jésuites_, 1640, p 34. + +96. This is an over-estimate. + +97. Champlain here again, _Vide_ note 90, refers to the issue bearing date + 1613. It is not unlikely that while it bears the imprint of 1613, it + did not actually issue from the press till 1614. + +98. The lake or expansion of the Ottawa on the southern side of Allumet + Island was called the lake of the Algonquins, as Allumet Island was + oftentimes called the Island of the Algonquins. + +99. The River Ottawa. + +100. Père Vimont calls this tribe _Kotakoutouemi_. _Relation des Jésuites_, + 1640, p. 34. Père Rogueneau gives _Outaoukotouemiouek_, and remarks + that their language is a mixture of Algonquin and Montagnais. _Vide + Relation des Jésuites_, 1650. p. 34; also _Laverdière in loco_. + +101. _Blues_, blueberries. The Canada blueberry. _Vaccinium Canadense_. + Under the term _blues_ several varieties may have been included. + Charlevoix describes and figures this fruit under the name _Bluet du + Canada. _Vide Description des Plantes Principales de l'Amérique + Septentrionale_, in _Histoire de la Nouvelle France_, Paris. 1744, + Tom. IV. pp. 371, 372; also Vol. I: p 303, note 75, of this work. + +102. At its junction with the Mattawan, the Ottawa's course is from the + north. What is known as its east branch rises 150 miles north of the + city of Ottawa. Extending towards the west in a winding course for the + distance of about 300 miles, it turns towards the southeast, and a few + miles before it joins the Mattawan its course is directly south. From + its northeastern source by a short portage is reached the river + Chomouchouan, an affluent of Lake St. John and the Saguenay. + +103. Mattawa is 197 miles from Ottawa. We have no means of giving the + latitude with entire accuracy, but it is about 46° 20'. + +104. Lac du Talon and Lac la Tortue. + +105. Nipissings, or Nipissirini. Champlain writes _Nipisierinii_. + +106. On the 26th of July, The distance from the junction of the Ottawa and + the Mattawan to Lake Nipissing is about thirty-two miles If _lieues_ + were translated miles, it would be a not very incorrect estimate. + +107. _Vide_ the representations here referred to. + +108. Lake Nipissing, whose dimensions are over-stated. + +109. Sturgeon River. + +110. Père Vimont gives the names of these tribes as follows,--_Timiscimi, + Outimagami, Ouachegami, Mitchitamou, Outurbi, Kiristinon_. _Vide + Relation des Jésuites_. 1640. p. 34. + +111. French River. + +112. _Blues_. _Vide antea_, note 101. + +113. This significant name is given with reference to their mode of + dressing their hair. + +114. Blueberries, _Vaccinium Canadense_. + +115. _De cuir beullu_, for _cúir bouilli_, literally "boiled leather." + +116. The shields of the savages of this region may have been made of the + hide of the buffalo, although the range of this animal was far to the + northwest of them. Champlain saw undoubtedly among the Hurons skins of + the buffalo. _Vide postea_, note 180. + +117. Lake Huron is here referred to. + +118. The greatest length of Lake Huron on a curvilinear line, between the + discharge of St Mary's Strait and the outlet, is about 240 miles; its + length due north and south is 186 miles, and its extreme breadth about + 220 miles. _Bouchette_. + +119. Coasting along the eastern shore of the Georgian Bay, when they + arrived at Matchedash Bay they crossed it in a southwesterly course + and entered the country of the Attigouautans, or, as they are + sometimes called, the Attignaouentans. _Relation des Jésuites,_ 1640, + p. 78. They were a principal tribe of the Hurons, living within the + limits of the present county of Simcoe. It is to be regretted that the + Jesuit Fathers did not accompany their relations with local maps by + which we could fix, at least approximately, the Indian towns which + they visited, and with which they were so familiar. For a description + of the Hurons and of their country, the origin of the name and other + interesting particulars, _vide Pere Hierosine Lalemant, Relation des + Jésuites_, 1639, Quebec ed. p. 50. + +120. _Sitrouilles_ for _citrouilles_. _Vide_ Vol II. p. 64, note 128. + +121. _Herbe au soleil_. The sunflower of Northeast America, _Helianthus + multiflorus_. This species is found from Quebec to the Saskatchewan, a + tributary of Lake Winnipeg. _Vide Chronological History of Plants_, by + Charles Pickering, M.D., Boston, 1879. p. 914. Charlevoix, in the + description of his journey through Canada in 1720, says: "The Soleil + is a plant very common in the fields of the savages, and which grows + seven or eight feet high. Its flower, which is very large, is in the + shape of the marigold, and the seed grows in the same manner. The + savages, by boiling it, draw out an oil, with which they grease their + hair." _Letters to the Dutchess of Lesdiguieres_, London, 1763, p. 95. + +122. _Vignes_ Probably the frost grape, _Vitis cordifolia_. + +123. _Prunes_. The Canada plum, _Prunus Americana_. + +124. _Framboises_. The wild red raspberry, _Rubus strigosus_. + +125. _Fraises_. The wild strawberry, _Fragaria Virginiana_. _Vide + Pickering Chro. Hist. Plants_, p. 771. + +126. _Petites pommes sauuages_. Probably the American crab-apple, _Pyrus + coronaria_. + +127. _Noix_ This may include the butternut and some varieties of the + walnut. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 264. + +128. Doubtless the May-apple, _Podophyllum peltatum_. In the wilds of + Simcoe this fruit may have seemed tolerable from the absence of others + more desirable. Gray says, "It is slightly acid, mawkish, eaten by + pigs and boys." _Cf. Florula Bostioniensis_, by Jacob Bigelow, + M.D. Boston, 1824, pp. 215, 216. + +129. _Les Chesnes, ormeaux, & heslres_. For oaks see Vol I. p. 264. Elms, + plainly the white elm, _Ulmus Americana_, so called in + contradistinction to the red or slippery elm, _Ulmus fulva_. The + savages sometimes used the bark of the slippery elm in the + construction of their canoes when the white birch could not be + obtained. _Vide Charlevoix's Letters_, 1763, p. 94. For the beech, see + Vol. I. p. 264. + +130. _Perdrix_. Canada Grouse, _Tetrao Canadensis_, sometimes called the + Spruce Partridge, differing from the partridge of New England, which + is the Ruffed Grouse, _Bonasa umbellus_. This latter species is, + however, found likewise in Canada. + +131. _Lapins_. The American hare, _Lepus Americanus_. + +132. _Cerises petites_. Reference is evidently here made to the wild red + cherry, _Prunus Pennsylvanica_, which is the smallest of all the + native species. _Cf_. Vol. I. p. 264. + +133. _Merises_. The wild black cherry, _Prunus serotina_. + +134. The Carantouanais. _Vide Carte de la Nouvelle France_, 1632, _also_ + Vol. I. p. 304. This tribe was probably situated on the upper waters + of the Susquehanna, and consequently south of the Five Nations, + although we said inadvertently in Vol. I. p. 128 that they were on the + west of them. General John S. Clark thinks their village was at + Waverly, near the border of Pennsylvania In Vol. I. p. 143. in the + 13th line from the top, we should have said the Carantouanais instead + of _Entouhonorons_. + +135. The Entouhonorons were a part, it appears, of the Five Nations. + Champlain says they unite with the Iroquois in making war against all + the other tribes except the Neutral Nation. Lake Ontario is called + _Lac des Entouhonorons_, and Champlain adds that their country is near + the River St. Lawrence, the passage of which they forbid to all other + tribes. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 303, 304. He thus appears to apply the name + _Iroquois_ to the eastern portion of the Five Nations, particularly + those whom he had attacked on Lake Champlain; and the Huron name, + _Entouhonorons_, to the western portion. The subdivisions, by which + they were distinguished at a later period, were probably not then + known, at least not to Champlain. + +136. _Flamens_. The Dutch were at this time on the Hudson, qengaged in the + fur trade with the savages. _Vide History of the State of New York_ by + John Romeyn Brodhead, New York, 1853. pp. 38-65. _History of New + Netherland_ or _New York under the Dutch_, by E. B. O'Callaghan, New + York, 1846, pp. 67-77. + +137. Their enemies were the Iroquois. + +138. _Chouontouaroüon_, another name for _Entouhoronon_. + +139. Lake Couchiching, a small sheet of water into which pass by a small + outlet the waters of Lake Simcoe. + +140. Lake Simcoe. Laverdière says the Indian name of this lake was + _Ouentaronk_, and that it was likewise called _Lac aux Claies_. + +141. Étienne Brûlé. _Vide postea_, p. 208. + +142. _Dans ces lacs_. From Lake Chouchiching, coasting along the + northeastern shore of Lake Simcoe, they would make five or six leagues + in reaching a point nearest to Sturgeon Lake. + +143. Undoubtedly Sturgeon Lake. + +144. From their entrance of Sturgeon Lake to the point where they reached + Lake Ontario, at the eastern limit of Amherst Island, the distance is, + in its winding and circuitous course, not far from Champlain's + estimate, viz. sixty-four leagues. That part of the river above Rice + Lake is the Otonabee; that below is known as the Trent. + +145. _Gruës_ The white crane, _Grus Americanus_ Adult plumage pure white + _Coues's Key to North American Birds_, Boston, 1872, p 271 Charlevoix + says, "We have cranes of two colors, some white and others _gris de + lin_," that is a purple or lilac color. This latter species is the + brown crane, _Grus Canadensis_. "Plumage plumbeous gray." _Coues_. + _Vide Charlevoix's Letters_, London. 1763, p 83. + +146. The latitude of the eastern end of Amherst Island is about 44° 11'. + +147. This traverse, it may be presumed, was made by coasting along the + shore, as was the custom of the savages with their light canoes. + +148. It appears that, after making by estimate about fourteen leagues in + their bark canoes, and four by land along the shore, they struck + inland. Guided merely by the distances given in the text, it is not + possible to determine with exactness at what point they left the + lake. This arises from the fact that we are not sure at what point the + measurement began, and the estimated distances are given, moreover, + with very liberal margins. But the eighteen leagues in all would take + them not very far from Little Salmon River, whether the estimate were + made from the eastern end of Amherst Island or Simcoe Island, or any + place in that immediate neighborhood. The natural features of the + country, for four leagues along the coast north of Little Salmon + River, answer well to the description given in the text. The chestnut + and wild grape are still found there. _Vide MS. Letters of the + Rev. James Cross, D.D., LL.D., and of S.Z. Smith, Esq._, of Mexico, + New York. + +149. Lake Ontario, or Lake of the Entouhonorons, is about a hundred and + eighty miles long, and about fifty-five miles in its extreme width. + +150. The river here crossed was plainly Oneida River, flowing from Oneida + Lake into Lake Ontario. The lake is identified by the islands in it. + Oneida Lake is the only one in this region which contains any islands + whatever, and consequently the river flowing from it must be that now + known as Oneida River. + +151. For the probable site of this fort, see Vol. I. p. 130, note 83. + +152. They were of the tribe called Carantouanais. _Vide antea_, note 134. + +153. This was in the month of October. + +154. _Et après auoir trauersé le bout du lac de laditte isle_. From this + form of expression this island would seem to have been visited before. + But no particular island is mentioned on their former traverse of the + lake. It is impossible to fix with certainty upon the isiand referred + to. It may have been Simcoe or Wolf Island, or some other. + +155. Probably Cataraqui Creek. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 136. + +156. Perhaps Loughborough Lake, or the system of lakes of which this is a + part. + +157. _Cygnes_, swans. Probably the Trumpeter Swan, _Cygnus buccinator_. + They were especially found in Sagard's time about Lake Nipissing. + "Mais pour des Cignes, qu'ils appellent _Horhev_, il y en a + principalement vers les Epicerinys." _Vide Le Grand Voyage av Pays des + Hurons_ par Fr. Gabriel Sagard, Paris, 1632, p. 303. + +158. _Gruës blanches_. _Vide antea_, n. 145. + +159. _Houstardes_. _Vide antea_, note 32. + +160. _Mauuis_, Song-Thrush. Doubtless the Robin, _Turdus migratorius_. + +161. _Allouettes_, larks. Probably the Brown Lark, _Anthus ludovicianus_. + Found everywhere in North America. + +162. _Beccassines_. Probably the American Snipe, _Gallinago Wilsonii_. + +163. _Oyes_, geese. The common Wild Goose, _Branta Canadensis_, or it may + include all the species taken collectively. For the several species + found in Canada, _vide antea_, note 32. + +164. _Les loups_. The American Wolf, _Lupus occidentalis_. + +165. The thirty-eight days during which they were there would include the + whole period from the time they began to make their preparations on + the 28th of October on the shores of Lake Ontario till they began + their homeward journey on the 4th of December. _Vide antea_, p. 137; + _postea_, p. 143. + +166. The author here refers to the chief D'Arontal, whose guest he + was. _Vide antea_, 137. Cf. also Quebec ed. 1632, p. 928. + +167. _Trainees de bois_, a kind of sledge. The Indian's sledge was made of + two pieces of board, which, with his stone axe and perhaps with the + aid of fire, he patiently manufactured from the trunks of trees. The + boards were each about six inches wide and six or seven feet long, + curved upward at the forward end and bound together by cross pieces. + The sides were bordered with strips of wood, which served as brackets, + to which was fastened the strap that bound the baggage upon the + sledge. The load was dragged by a rope or strap of leather passing + round the breast of the savage and attached to the end of the sledge. + The sledge was so narrow that it could be drawn easily and without + impediment wherever the savage could thread his way through the + pathless forests. + + The journey from their encampment northeast of Kingston on Lake + Ontario to the capital of the Hurons was not less in a straight line + than a hundred and sixty miles. Without a pathway, in the heart of + winter, through water and melting snow, with their heavy burdens, the + hardship and exhaustion can hardly be exaggerated. + +168. Namely at Cahiagué. In the issue of 1632, Champlain says they arrived + on the 23d day of the month. _Vide_ Quebec ed, p. 929. Leaving on the + 4th and travelling nineteen days, as stated above, they would arrive + on the 23d December. + +169. Probably the 4th of January. + +170. Father Joseph Le Caron had remained at Carhagouha, during the absence + of the war party in their attack upon the Iroquois, where Champlain + probably arrived on the 5th of January. + +171. In the issue of 1632, the arrival of Champlain and Le Caron is stated + to have occurred on the 17th of January. This harmonizes with the + correction of dates in notes 169, 170. + + The Huron name of the Petuns was _Tionnontateronons_, or + _Khionontateronons_, or _Quieunontateronons_. Of them Vimont says, + "Les Khionontateronons, qu'on appelle la nation du Petun, pour + l'abondance qu'il y a de cette herbe, sont eloignez du pays des + Hurons, dont ils parlent la langue, enuiron douze ou quinze lieues + tirant à l'Occident." _Vide Relation des Jésuites_, 1640, p. 95; + _His. Du Canada_, Vol. I. p. 209. Sagard. + + For some account of the subsequent history of the Nation de Petun, + _vide Indian Migration in Ohio_, by C. C. Baldwin, 1879, p. 2. + +172. It was of great importance to the Indians to select a site for their + villages where suitable wood was accessible, both for fortifying them + with palisades and for fuel in the winter. It could not be brought a + great distance for either of these purposes. Hence when the wood in + the vicinity became exhausted they were compelled to remove and build + anew. + +173. That is to say like the Hurons. + +174. The Nation Neutre was called by the Hurons _Attisandaronk_ or + _Attihouandaron_. _Vide Relation des Jésuites_, 1641, p. 72; + _Dictonaire de la Langue Huronne_, par Sagard, a Paris, 1632. + Champlain places them, on his map of 1632, south of Lake Erie. His + knowledge of that lake, obtained from the savages, was very meagre as + the map itself shows. The Neutres are placed by early writers on the + west of Lake Ontario and north of Lake Erie _Vide Laverdière in loco_, + Quebec ed., p. 546; also, _Indian Migration in Ohio_, by C. C. + Baldwin, p. 4. They are placed far to the south of Lake Erie by + Nicholas Sanson. _Vide Cartes de l'Amerique_, 1657. + +175. The Cheveux Relevés are represented by Champlain as dwelling west of + the Petuns, and were probably not far from the most southern limit of + the Georgian Bay. Strangely enough Nicholas Sanson places them on a + large island that separates the Georgian Bay from Lake Huron. _Vide + Cartes de l'Amerique_ par N. Sanson, 1657. + +176. _Atsistaehronons, ou Nation du Feu_. Their Algonquin name was + Mascoutins or Maskoutens. with several other orthographies. The + significance of their name is given by Sagard as follows: Ils sont + errans, sinon que quelques villages d'entr'eux fement des bleds + d'Inde, et font la guerre à vne autre Nation, nommée _Assitagueronon_, + qui veut dire gens de feu: car en langue Huronne _Assista_ signifie du + feu, et _Eronon_, signifie Nation. _Le Grand Voyage du Pays des + Hurons_, par Gabriel Sagard, a Paris, 1632, p. 78. _Vide Relation des + Jésuites_, 1641, p 72; _Discovery and Exploration of the Mississippi + Valley_, by John Gilmary Shea, p. 13; _Indian Migration in Ohio_, by + C. C. Baldwin, pp 9, 10; Discovery of the _Northwest by John Nicolet_, + by C. W. Butterfield, p. 63; _L'Amerique en Plusieurs Cartes_, par + N. Sanson, 1657. + +177. _Pisierinii_, the Nipissings. This relates to those Nipissings who had + accompanied Champlain on the expedition against the Iroquois, and who + were passing the winter among the Hurons. He had expected that they + would accompany him on explorations on the north of them. But arriving + at their encampment, on his return from the Petuns and Cheveux + Relevés, he learned from them of the quarrel that had arisen between + the Algonquins and the Hurons. + +178. Attigouantans, the principal tribe of the Hurons. + +179. _Colliers de pourceline_. These necklaces were composed of shells, + pierced and strung like beads. They were of a violet color, and were + esteemed of great value. The _branches_ were strings of white shells, + and were more common and less valuable. An engraved representation may + be seen in _Histoire de L'Amérique Septentrionale_, par De la + Potherie, Paris, 1722, Tom. I. p. 334. For a full description of + these necklaces and their significance and use in their councils, + _vide Charlevoix's Letters_, London, 1763, p 132. + +180. _Buffles_, buffaloes. The American Bison, _Bos Americanus_. The skins + seen by Champlain in the possession of the savages seem to indicate + that the range of the buffalo was probably further east at that period + than at the present time, its eastern limit being now about the Red + River, which flows into Lake Winnipeg. The limit of its northern range + is generally stated to be at latitude 60 degrees, but it is sometimes + found as far north as 63 degrees or 64 degrees. _Vide_ Dr. Shea's + interesting account of the buffalo in _Discovery and Exploration of + Mississippi Valley_, p. 18. The range of the Musk Ox is still farther + north, rarely south of latitude 67 degrees. His home is in the Barren + Grounds, west of Hudson Bay, and on the islands on the north of the + American Continent, where he subsists largely on lichens and the + meagre herbage of that frosty region. + +181. Champlain is here speaking of the whole country of New France. + +182. This sentence in the original is unfinished and defective. _Au costé + vers le Nort, icelle grande riuiere terant à l'Occident, etc_. In the + ed. 1632, the reading is _Au costé vers le nort d'icelle grande + riuiere tirant au suroust, etc_. The tranlation is according to the + ed. of 1632. _Vide_ Quebec ed., p. 941. + +183. Champlain here gives the four species of the _cervus_ family under + names then known to him, viz, the moose, wapiti or elk, caribou, and + the common deer. + +184. _Fouines_, a quadruped known as the minx or mink, _Mustela vison_. + +185. _Martes_, weasels, _Mustela vulgaris_. + +186. _The country on the north_, &c. Having described the country along the + coast of the St Lawrence and the lakes he now refers to the country + still further north even to the southern borders of Hudson's Bay + _Vide_ small map. + +187. _Almouchiquois_, so in the French for Almouchiquois. All the tribes at + and south of _Chouacoet_, or the mouth of the Saco River, were + denominated Almouchiquois by the French. _Vide_ Vol II p 63, _et + passim_. + +188. The country of the Attigouantans, sometimes written Attigouautans, the + principal tribe of the Hurons, used by Champlain as including the + whole, with whom the French were in close alliance, was from east to + west not more than about twelve leagues. There must have been some + error by which the author is made to say that it was _two hundred and + thirty leagues_. Laverdière suggests that in the manuscript it might + have been 23, or 20 to 30, and that the printer made it 230. + +189. The author plainly means that the country of the Hurons was nearly + surrounded by the Mer Douce; that is to say, by Lake Huron and the + waters connected with it, viz., the River Severn, Lake Couchiching, + and Lake Simcoe. As to the population, compare _The Jesuits in North + America_, by Francis Parkman, LL.D., note p. xxv. + +190. _Vide antea_, note 172, for the reason of these removals. + +191. _Febues du Brésil_. This was undoubtedly the common trailing bean, + _Pliaseolus vulgaris_, probably called the Brazilian bean, because it + resembled a bean known under that name. It was found in cultivation in + New England as mentioned by Champlain and the early English settlers. + Bradford discoursing of the Indians, _His. Plymouth Plantation_, + p. 83, speaks of "their beans of various collours." It is possible + that the name, _febues du Brésil_, was given to it on account of its + red color, as was that of the Brazil-wood, from the Portuguese word + _braza_, a burning coal. + +192. _Vide antea_, note 101. + +193. _Sitrouelles_, or _citrouilles_, the common summer squash, _Cucurbita + polymorpha. Vide_ Vol. II. note 128. For figure D, _vide_ p. 116. + +194. The coloring matter appears to have been derived from the root of the + bedstraw, _Galium tinctorum_. Peter Kalm, a pupil of Linnæus, who + travelled in Canada in 1749, says, "The roots of this plant are + employed by the Indians in dyeing the quills of the American + porcupines red, which they put into several pieces of their work, and + air, sun, or water seldom change this color." _Travels into North + America_, London, 1771, Vol. III. pp. 14-15. + +195. Père Joseph Le Caron, who had passed the winter among the Hurons. + +196. _Mardi-gras_, Shrove-Tuesday, or _flesh Tuesday_, the last day of the + Carnival, the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day in Lent. + +197. _Vide_ Vol. I. pp. 236-238. + +198. This must have been on the 20th of May. + +199. Jean d'Olbeau and the lay brother Pacifique du Plessis. + +200. Joseph le Caron, who accompanied Champlain to France. + + + + +CONTINUATION OF THE VOYAGES +AND DISCOVERIES MADE IN NEW FRANCE, +BY +SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN, +CAPTAIN FOR THE KING IN THE WESTERN MARINE, +IN THE YEAR 1618. + + +At the beginning of the year one thousand six hundred and eighteen, on the +twenty-second of March, I set out from Paris, [201] together with my +brother-in-law, [202] for Honfleur, our usual port of embarkation. There we +were obliged to make a long stay on account of contrary winds. But when +they had become favorable, we embarked on the large vessel of the +association, which Sieur du Pont Gravé commanded. There was also on board a +nobleman, named De la Mothe, [203] who had previously made a voyage with +the Jesuits to the regions of La Cadie, where he was taken prisoner by the +English, and by them carried to the Virginias, the place of their +settlement. Some time after they transferred him to England and from there +to France, where there arose in him an increased desire to make another +voyage to New France, which led him to seek the opportunity presented by +me. I had assured him, accordingly, that I would use my influence and +assistance with our associates, as it seemed to me that they would find +such a person desirable, since he would be very useful in those regions. + +Our embarkation being made, we took our departure from Honfleur on the 24th +day of May following, in the year 1618. The wind was favorable for our +voyage, but continued so only a very few days, when it suddenly changed, +and we had all the time head winds up to our arrival, on the 3d day of June +following, on the Grand Bank, where the fresh fishery is carried on. Here +we perceived to the windward of us some banks of ice, which came down from +the north. While waiting for a favorable wind we engaged in fishing, which +afforded us great pleasure, not only on account of the fish but also of a +kind of bird called _fauquets_, [204] and other kinds that are caught on +the line like fish. For, on throwing the line, with its hook baited with +cod liver, these birds made for it with a rush, and in such numbers that +you could not draw it out in order to throw it again, without capturing +them by the beak, feet, and wings as they slew and fell upon the bait, so +great were the eagerness and voracity of these birds. This fishing afforded +us great pleasure, not only on account of the sport, but on account of the +infinite number of birds and fish that we captured, which were very good +eating, and made a very desirable change on shipboard. + +Continuing on our route, we arrived on the 15th of the month off Isle +Percée, and on St. John's day [205] following entered the harbor of +Tadoussac, where we found our small vessel, which had arrived three weeks +before us. The men on her told us that Sieur des Chesnes, the commander, +had gone to our settlement at Quebec. Thence he was to go to the Trois +Rivières to meet the savages, who were to come there from various regions +for the purpose of trade, and likewise to determine what was to be done on +account of the death of two of our men, who had been treacherously and +perfidiously killed by two vicious young men of the Montagnais. These two +unfortunate victims, as the men on the vessel informed us, had been killed +while out hunting nearly two years [206] before. Those in the settlement +had always supposed that they had been drowned from the upsetting of their +canoe, until a short time before, one of the men, conceiving an animosity +against the murderers, made a disclosure and communicated the fact and +cause of the murder to the men of our settlement. For certain reasons it +has seemed to me well to give an account of the matter and of what was done +in regard to it. But it is almost impossible to obtain the exact truth in +the case, on account, not only of the small amount of testimony at hand, +but of the diversity of the statements made, the most of which were +presumptive. I will, however, give an account of the matter here, following +the statement of the greater number as being nearer the truth, and relating +what I have found to be the most probable. + +The following is the occasion of the murder of the two unfortunate +deceased. One of the two murderers paid frequent visits to our settlement, +receiving there a thousand kindnesses and favors, among other persons from +Sieur du Parc, a nobleman from Normandy, in command at the time at Quebec, +in the service of the King and in behalf of the merchants of the +Association in the year 1616. This savage, while on one of his customary +visits, received one day, on account of some jealousy, ill treatment from +one of the two murdered men, who was by profession a locksmith, and who +after some words beat the savage so soundly as to impress it well upon his +memory. And not satisfied with beating and misusing the savage he incited +his companions to do the same, which aroused still more the hatred and +animosity of the savage towards this locksmith and his companions, and led +him to seek an opportunity to revenge himself. He accordingly watched for a +time and opportunity for doing so, acting however cautiously and appearing +as usual, without showing any sign of resentment. + +Some time after, the locksmith and a sailor named Charles Pillet, from the +island of Ré, arranged to go hunting and stay away three or four nights. +For this purpose they got ready a canoe, and embarking departed from Quebec +for Cape Tourmente. Here there were some little islands where a great +quantity of game and birds resorted, near Isle d'Orleans, and distant seven +leagues from Quebec. The departure of our men became at once known to the +two savages, who were not slow in starting to pursue them and carry out +their evil design. They sought for the place where the locksmith and his +companion went to sleep, in order to surprise them. Having ascertained it +at evening, at break of day on the following morning, the two savages +slipped quietly along certain very pleasant meadows. Arriving at a point +near the place in question, they moored their canoe, landed and went +straight to the cabin, where our men had slept. But they found only the +locksmith, who was preparing to go hunting with his companion, and who +thought of nothing less than of what was to befall him. One of these +savages approached him, and with some pleasant words removed from him all +suspicion of anything wrong in order that he might the better deceive +him. But as he saw him stoop to adjust his arquebus, he quickly drew a club +that he had concealed on his person, and gave the locksmith so heavy a blow +on his head, that it sent him staggering and completely stunned. The +savage, seeing that the locksmith was preparing to defend himself, repeated +his blow, struck him to the ground, threw himself upon him, and with a +knife gave him three or four cuts in the stomach, killing him in this +horrible manner. + +In order that they might also get possession of the sailor, the companion +of the locksmith who had started early in the morning to go hunting, not +because they bore any special hatred towards him, but that they might not +be discovered nor accused by him, they went in all directions searching for +him. At last, from the report of an arquebus which they heard, they +discovered where he was, in which direction they rapidly hastened, so as to +give no time to the sailor to reload his arquebus and put himself in a +state of defence. Approaching, they fired their arrows at him, by which +having prostrated him, they ran upon him and finished him with the knife. + +Then the assassins carried off the body, together with the other, and, +binding them so firmly together that they would not come apart, attached to +them a quantity of stones and pebbles, together with their weapons and +clothes, so as not to be discovered by any sign, after which they carried +them to the middle of the river, threw them in, and they sank to the +bottom. Here they remained a long time until, through the will of God, the +cords broke, and the bodies were washed ashore and thrown far up on the +bank, to serve as accusers and incontestable witnesses of the attack of +these two cruel and treacherous assassins. For the two bodies were found at +a distance of more than twenty feet from the water in the woods, but had +not become separated in so long a time, being still firmly bound, the +bones, stripped of the flesh like a skeleton, alone remaining. For the two +victims, contrary to the expectation of the two murderers, who thought they +had done their work so secretly that it would never be known, were found a +long time after their disappearance by the men of our settlement, who, +pained at their absence, searched for them along the banks of the river. +But God in his justice would not permit so enormous a crime, and had caused +it to be exposed by another savage, their companion, in retaliation for an +injury he had received from them. Thus their wicked acts were disclosed. + +The holy Fathers and the men of the settlement were greatly surprised at +seeing the bodies of these two unfortunates, with their bones all bare, and +their skulls broken by the blows received from the club of the savages. The +Fathers and others at the settlement advised to preserve them in some +portion of the settlement until the return of our vessels, in order to +consult with all the French as to the best course to pursue in the matter. +Meanwhile our people at the settlement resolved to be on their guard, and +no longer allow so much freedom to these savages as they had been +accustomed to, but on the contrary require reparation for so cruel a murder +by a process of justice, or some other way, or let things in the mean time +remain as they were, in order the better to await our vessels and our +return, that we might all together consult what was to be done in the +matter. + +But the savages seeing that this iniquity was discovered, and that they and +the murderer were obnoxious to the French, were seized with despair, and, +fearing that our men would exercise vengeance upon them for this murder, +withdrew for a while from our settlement.[207] Not only those guilty of the +act but the others also being seized with fear came no longer to the +settlement, as they had been accustomed to do, but waited for greater +security for themselves. + +Finding themselves deprived of intercourse with us, and of their usual +welcome, the savages sent one of their companions named by the French, _La +Ferrière_, to make their excuses for this murder; namely, they asserted +they had never been accomplices in it, and had never consented to it, and +that, if it was desired to have the two murderers for the sake of +inflicting justice, the other savages would willingly consent to it, unless +the French should be pleased to take as reparation and restitution for the +dead some valuable presents of skins, as they are accustomed to do in +return for a thing that cannot be restored. They earnestly entreated the +French to accept this rather than require the death of the accused which +they anticipated would be hard for them to execute, and so doing to forget +everything as if it had not occurred. + +To this, in accordance with the advice of the holy Fathers, it was decided +to reply that the savages should bring and deliver up the two malefactors, +in order to ascertain from them their accomplices, and who had incited them +to do the deed. This they communicated to La Ferrière for him to report to +his companions. + +This decision having been made, La Ferrière withdrew to his companions, who +upon hearing the decision of the French found this procedure and mode of +justice very strange and difficult; since they have no established law +among themselves, but only vengeance and restitution by presents. After +considering the whole matter and deliberating with one another upon it, +they summoned the two murderers and set forth to them the unhappy position +into which they had been thrown by the event of this murder, which might +cause a perpetual war with the French, from which their women and children +would suffer. However much trouble they might give us, and although they +might keep us shut up in our settlement and prevent us from hunting, +cultivating and tilling the soil, and although we were in too small numbers +to keep the river blockaded, as they persuaded themselves to believe in +their consultations; still, after all their deliberations, they concluded +that it was better to live in peace with the French than in war and +perpetual distrust. + +Accordingly the savages thus assembled, after finishing their consultation +and representing the situation to the accused, asked them if they would not +have the courage to go with them to the settlement of the French and appear +before them; promising them that they should receive no harm, and assuring +them that the French were lenient and disposed to pardon, and would in +short go so far in dealing with them as to overlook their offence on +condition of their not returning to such evil ways. + +The two criminals, finding themselves convicted in conscience, yielded to +this proposition and agreed to follow this advice. Accordingly one of them +made preparations, arraying himself in such garments and decorations as he +could procure, as if he had been invited to go to a marriage or some great +festivity. Thus attired, he went to the settlement, accompanied by his +father, some of the principal chiefs, and the captain of their company. As +to the other murderer, he excused himself from this journey, [208] +realizing his guilt of the heinous act and fearing punishment. + +When now they had entered the habitation, which was forthwith surrounded by +a multitude of the savages of their company, the bridge [209] was drawn up, +and all of the French put themselves on guard, arms in hand. They kept a +strict watch, sentinels being posted at the necessary points, for fear of +what the savages outside might do, since they suspected that it was +intended actually to inflict punishment upon the guilty one, who had so +freely offered himself to our mercy, and not upon him alone, but upon those +also who had accompanied him inside, who likewise were not too sure of +their persons, and who, seeing matters in this state, did not expect to get +out with their lives. The whole matter was very well managed and carried +out, so as to make them realize the magnitude of the crime and have fear +for the future. Otherwise there would have been no security with them, and +we should have been obliged to live with arms in hand and in perpetual +distrust. + +After this, the savages suspecting lest something might happen contrary to +what they hoped from us, the holy Fathers proceeded to make them an address +on the subject of this crime. They set forth to them the friendship which +the French had shown them for ten or twelve years back, when we began to +know them, during which time we had continually lived in peace and intimacy +with them, nay even with such freedom as could hardly be expressed. They +added moreover that I had in person assisted them several times in war +against their enemies, thereby exposing my life for their welfare; while we +were not under any obligations to do so, being impelled only by friendship +and good will towards them, and feeling pity at the miseries and +persecutions which their enemies caused them to endure and suffer. This is +why we were unable to believe, they said, that this murder had been +committed without their consent, and especially since they had taken it +upon themselves to favor those who committed it. + +Speaking to the father of the criminal, they represented to him the +enormity of the deed committed by his son, saying that as reparation for it +he deserved death, since by our law so wicked a deed did not go unpunished, +and that whoever was found guilty and convicted of it deserved to be +condemned to death as reparation for so heinous an act; but, as to the +other inhabitants of the country, who were not guilty of the crime, they +said no one wished them any harm or desired to visit upon them the +consequences of it. + +All the savages, having clearly heard this, said, as their only excuse, but +with all respect, that they had not consented to this act; that they knew +very well that these two criminals ought to be put to death, unless we +should be disposed to pardon them; that they were well aware of their +wickedness, not before but after the commission of the deed; that they had +been informed of the death of the two ill-fated men too late to prevent it. +Moreover, they said that they had kept it secret, in order to preserve +constantly an intimate relationship and confidence with us, and declared +that they had administered to the evil-doers severe reprimands, and set +forth the calamity which they had not only brought upon themselves, but +upon all their tribe, relatives and friends; and they promised that such a +calamity should never occur again and begged us to forget this offence, and +not visit it with the consequences it deserved, but rather go back to the +primary motive which induced the two savages to go there, and have regard +for that. Furthermore they said that the culprit had come freely and +delivered himself into our hands, not to be punished but to receive mercy +from the French. + +But the father, turning to the friar, [210] said with tears, there is my +son, who committed the supposed crime; he is worthless, but consider that +he is a young, foolish, and inconsiderate person, who has committed this +act through passion, impelled by vengeance rather than by premeditation: it +is in your power to give him life or death; you can do with him what you +please, since we are both in your hands. + +After this address, the culprit son, presenting himself with assurance, +spoke these words. "Fear has not so seized my heart as to prevent my coming +to receive death according to my desserts and your law, of which I +acknowledge myself guilty." Then he stated to the company the cause of the +murder, and the planning and execution of it, just as I have related and +here set forth. + +After his recital he addressed himself to one of the agents and clerks of +the merchants of our Association, named _Beauchaine_, begging him to put +him to death without further formality. + +Then the holy Fathers spoke, and said to them, that the French were not +accustomed to put their fellow-men to death so suddenly, and that it was +necessary to have a consultation with all the men of the settlement, and +bring forward this affair as the subject of consideration. This being a +matter of great consequence, it was decided that it should be carefully +conducted and that it was best to postpone it to a more favorable occasion, +which would be better adapted to obtain the truth, the present time not +being favorable for many reasons. + +In the first place, we were weak in numbers in comparison with the savages +without and within our settlement, who, resentful and full of vengeance as +they are, would have been capable of setting fire on all sides and creating +disorder among us. In the second place, there would have been perpetual +distrust and no security in our intercourse with them. In the third place, +trade would have been injured, and the service of the King impeded. + +In view of these and other urgent considerations, it was decided that we +ought to be contented with their putting themselves in our power and their +willingness to give satisfaction submissively, the father of the criminal +on the one hand presenting and offering him to the company, and he, for his +part, offering to give up his own life as restitution for his offence, just +as his father offered to produce him whenever he might be required. + +This it was thought necessary to regard as a sort of honorable amend, and a +satisfaction to justice. And it was considered that if we thus pardoned the +offence, not only would the criminal receive his life from us, but, also, +his father and companions would feel under great obligations. It was +thought proper, however, to say to them as an explanation of our action, +that, in view of the fact of the criminal's public assurance that all the +other savages were in no respect accomplices, or to blame for the act, and +had had no knowledge of it before its accomplishment, and in view of the +fact that he had freely offered himself to death, it had been decided to +restore him to his father, who should remain under obligations to produce +him at any time. On these terms and on condition that he should in future +render service to the French, his life was spared, that he and all the +savages might continue friends and helpers of the French. + +Thus it was decided to arrange the matter until the vessels should return +from France, when, in accordance with the opinion of the captains and +others, a definite and more authoritative settlement was to be concluded. +In the mean time we promised them every favor and the preservation of their +lives, saying to them, however, for our security, that they should leave +some of their children as a kind of hostage, to which they very willingly +acceded, and left at the settlement two in the hands of the holy Fathers, +who proceeded to teach their letters, and in less than three months taught +them the alphabet and how to make the letters. + +From this it may be seen that they are capable of instruction and are +easily taught, as Father Joseph [211] can testify. + +The vessels having safely arrived, Sieur du Pont Gravé, some others, and +myself were informed how the affair had taken place, as has been narrated +above, when we all decided that it was desirable to make the savages feel +the enormity of this murder, but not to execute punishment upon them, for +various good reasons hereafter to be mentioned. + +As soon as our vessels had entered the harbor of Tadoussac, even on the +morning of the next day, [212] Sieur du Pont Gravé and myself set sail +again, on a small barque of ten or twelve tons' burden. So also Sieur de la +Mothe, together with Father Jean d'Albeau, [213] a friar, and one of the +clerks and agent of the merchants, named _Loquin_, embarked on a little +shallop, and we set out together from Tadoussac. There remained on the +vessel another friar, called Father _Modeste_ [214] together with the pilot +and master, to take care of her. We arrived at Quebec, the place of our +settlement, on the 27th of June following. Here we found Fathers Joseph, +Paul, and Pacifique, the friars, [215] and Sieur Hébert [216] with his +family, together with the other members of the settlement. They were all +well, and delighted at our return in good health like themselves, through +the mercy of God. + +The same day Sieur du Pont Gravé determined to go to Trois Rivières, where +the merchants carried on their trading, and to take with him some +merchandise, with the purpose of meeting Sieur des Chesnes, who was already +there. He also took with him Loquin, as before mentioned. I stayed at our +settlement some days, occupying myself with business relating to it; among +other things in building a furnace for making an experiment with certain +ashes, directions for which had been given me, and which are in truth of +great value; but it requires labor, diligence, watchfulness and skill; and +for the working of these ashes a sufficient number of men are needed who +are acquainted with this art. This first experiment did not prove +successful, and we postponed further trial to a more favorable opportunity. + +I visited the cultivated lands, [217] which I found planted with fine +grain. The gardens contained all kinds of plants, cabbages, radishes, +lettuce, purslain, sorrel, parsley, and other plants, squashes, cucumbers, +melons, peas, beans and other vegetables, which were as fine and forward as +in France. There were also the vines, which had been transplanted, already +well advanced. In a word, you could see everything growing and flourishing. +Aside from God, we are not to give the praise for this to the laborers or +their skill, for it is probable that not much is due to them, but to the +richness and excellence of the soil, which is naturally good and adapted +for everything, as experience shows, and might be turned to good account, +not only for purposes of tillage and the cultivation of fruit-trees and +vines, but also for the nourishment and rearing of cattle and fowl, such as +are common in France. But the thing lacking is zeal and affection for the +welfare and service of the King. + +I tarried some time at Quebec, in expectation of further intelligence, when +there arrived a barque from Tadoussac, which had been sent by Sieur du +Pont Gravé to get the men and merchandise remaining at that place on the +before-mentioned large vessel. Leaving Quebec, I embarked with them for +Trois Rivières, where the trading was going on, in order to see the savages +and communicate with them, and ascertain what was taking place respecting +the assassination above set forth, and what could be done to settle and +smooth over the whole matter. + +On the 5th of July following I set out from Quebec, together with Sieur de +la Mothe, for Trois Rivières, both for engaging in traffic and to see the +savages. We arrived, at evening off Sainte Croix, [218] a place on the way +so called. Here we saw a shallop coming straight to us, in which were some +men from Sieurs du Pont Gravé and des Chesnes, and also some clerks and +agents of the merchants. They asked me to despatch at once this shallop to +Quebec for some merchandise remaining there, saying that a large number of +savages had come for the purpose of making war. + +This intelligence was very agreeable to us, and in order to satisfy them, +on the morning of the next day I left my barque and went on board a shallop +in order to go more speedily to the savages, while the other, which had +come from Trois Rivières, continued its course to Quebec. We made such +progress by rowing that we arrived at the before-mentioned place on the 7th +of July at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Upon landing, all the savages with +whom I had been intimate in their country recognized me. They were awaiting +me with impatience, and came up to me very happy and delighted to see me +again, one after the other embracing me with demonstrations of great joy, I +also receiving them in the same manner. In this agreeable way was spent the +evening and remainder of this day, and on the next day the savages held a +council among themselves, to ascertain from me whether I would again assist +them, as I had done in the past and as I had promised them, in their wars +against their enemies, by whom they are cruelly harassed and tortured. + +Meanwhile on our part we took counsel together to determine what we should +do in the matter of the murder of the two deceased, in order that justice +might be done, and that they might be restrained from committing such an +offence in future. + +In regard to the assistance urgently requested by the savages for making +war against their enemies, I replied that my disposition had not changed +nor my courage abated, but that what prevented me from assisting them was +that on the previous year, when the occasion and opportunity presented, +they failed me when the time came; because when they had promised to return +with a good number of warriors they did not do so, which caused me to +withdraw without accomplishing much. Yet I told them the matter should be +taken into consideration, but that for the present it was proper to +determine what should be done in regard to the assassination of the two +unfortunate men, and that satisfaction must be had. Upon this they left +their council in seeming anger and vexation about the matter, offering to +kill the criminals, and proceed at once to their execution, if assent were +given, and acknowledging freely among themselves the enormity of the +affair. + +But we would not consent to this, postponing our assistance to another +time, requiring them to return to us the next year with a good number of +men. I assured them, moreover, that I would entreat the King to favor us +with men, means, and supplies to assist them and enable them to enjoy the +rest they longed for, and victory over their enemies. At this they were +greatly pleased, and thus we separated, after they had held two or three +meetings on the subject, costing us several hours of time. Two or three +days after my arrival at this place they proceeded to make merry, dance, +and celebrate many great banquets in view of the future war in which I was +to assist them. + +Then I stated to Sieur du Pont Gravé what I thought about this murder; that +it was desirable to make a greater demand upon them; that at present the +savages would dare not only to do the same thing again but what would be +more injurious to us; that I considered them people who were governed by +example; that they might accuse the French of being wanting in courage; +that if we said no more about the matter they would infer that we were +afraid of them: and that if we should let them go so easily they would grow +more insolent, bold, and intolerable, and we should even thereby tempt them +to undertake greater and more pernicious designs. Moreover I said that the +other tribes of savages, who had or should get knowledge of this act, and +that it had been unrevenged, or compromised by gifts and presents, as is +their custom, would boast that killing a man is no great matter; since the +French make so little account of seeing their companions killed by their +neighbors, who drink, eat, and associate intimately with them, as may be +seen. + +But, on the other hand, in consideration of the various circumstances; +namely, that the savages do not exercise reason, that they are hard to +approach, are easily estranged, and are very ready to take vengeance, that, +if we should force them to inflict punishment, there would be no security +for those desirous of making explorations among them, we determined to +settle this affair in a friendly manner, and pass over quietly what had +occurred, leaving them to engage peaceably in their traffic with the clerks +and agents of the merchants and others in charge. + +Now there was with them a man named _Estienne Brûlé_, one of our +interpreters, who had been living with them for eight years, as well to +pass his time as to see the country and learn their language and mode of +life. He is the one whom I had despatched with orders to go in the +direction of the Entouhonorons, [219] to Carantoüan, in order to bring with +him five hundred warriors they had promised to send to assist us in the war +in which we were engaged against their enemies, a reference to which is +made in the narrative of my previous book. [220] I called this man, namely +Estienne Brûlé, and asked him why he had not brought the assistance of the +five hundred men, and what was the cause of the delay, and why he had not +rendered me a report. Thereupon he gave me an account of the matter, a +narrative of which it will not be out of place to give, as he is more to be +pitied than blamed on account of the misfortunes which he experienced on +this commission. + +He proceeded to say that, after taking leave of me to go on his journey and +execute his commission, he set out with the twelve savages whom I had given +him for the purpose of showing the way, and to serve as an escort on +account of the dangers which he might have to encounter. They were +successful in reaching the place, Carantoüan, but not without exposing +themselves to risk, since they had to pass through the territories of their +enemies, and, in order to avoid any evil design, pursued a more secure +route through thick and impenetrable forests, wood and brush, marshy bogs, +frightful and unfrequented places and wastes, all to avoid danger and a +meeting with their enemies. + +But, in spite of this great care, Brûlé and his savage companions, while +crossing a plain, encountered some hostile savages, who were returning to +their village and who were surprised and worsted by our savages, four of +the enemy being killed on the spot and two taken prisoners, whom Brûlé and +his companions took to Carantoüan, by the inhabitants of which place they +were received with great affection, a cordial welcome, and good cheer, with +the dances and banquets with which they are accustomed to entertain and +honor strangers. + +Some days were spent in this friendly reception; and, after Brûlé had told +them his mission and explained to them the occasion of his journey, the +savages of the place assembled in council to deliberate and resolve in +regard to sending the five hundred warriors asked for by Brûlé. + +When the council was ended and it was decided to send the men, orders were +given to collect, prepare, and arm them, so as to go and join us where we +were encamped before the fort and village of our enemies. This was only +three short days' journey from Carantoüan, which was provided with more +than eight hundred warriors, and strongly fortified, after the manner of +those before described, which have high and strong palisades well bound and +joined together, the quarters being constructed in a similar fashion. + +After it had been resolved by the inhabitants of Carantoüan to send the +five hundred men, these were very long in getting ready, although urged by +Brûlé, to make haste, who explained to them that if they delayed any longer +they would not find us there. And in fact they did not succeed in arriving +until two days after our departure from that place, which we were forced to +abandon, since we were too weak and worn by the inclemency of the weather. +This caused Brûlé, and the five hundred men whom he brought, to withdraw +and return to their village of Carantoüan. After their return Brûlé was +obliged to stay, and spend the rest of the autumn and all the winter, for +lack of company and escort home. While awaiting, he busied himself in +exploring the country and visiting the tribes and territories adjacent to +that place, and in making a tour along a river [221] that debouches in the +direction of Florida, where are many powerful and warlike nations, carrying +on wars against each other. The climate there is very temperate, and there +are great numbers of animals and abundance of small game. But to traverse +and reach these regions requires patience, on account of the difficulties +involved in passing the extensive wastes. + +He continued his course along the river as far as the sea, [222] and to +islands and lands near them, which are inhabited by various tribes and +large numbers of savages, who are well disposed and love the French above +all other nations. But those who know the Dutch [223] complain severely of +them, since they treat them very roughly. Among other things he observed +that the winter was very temperate, that it snowed very rarely, and that +when it did the snow was not a foot deep and melted immediately. + +After traversing the country and observing what was noteworthy, he returned +to the village of Carantoüan, in order to find an escort for returning to +our settlement. After some stay at Carantoüan, five or six of the savages +decided to make the journey with Brûlé. On the way they encountered a large +number of their enemies, who charged upon Brûlé and his companions so +violently that they caused them to break up and separate from each other, +so that they were unable to rally: and Brûlé, who had kept apart in the +hope of escaping, became so detached from the others that he could not +return, nor find a road or sign in order to effect his retreat in any +direction whatever. Thus he continued to wander through forest and wood for +several days without eating, and almost despairing of his life from the +pressure of hunger. At last he came upon a little footpath, which he +determined to follow wherever it might lead, whether toward the enemy or +not, preferring to expose himself to their hands trusting in God rather +than to die alone and in this wretched manner. Besides he knew how to speak +their language, which he thought might afford him some assistance. + +But he had not gone a long distance when he discovered three savages loaded +with fish repairing to their village. He ran after them, and, as he +approached, shouted at them, as is their custom. At this they turned about, +and filled with fear were about to leave their burden and flee. But Brûlé +speaking to them reassured them, when they laid down their bows and arrows +in sign of peace, Brûlé on his part laying down his arms. Moreover he was +weak and feeble, not having eaten for three or four days. On coming up to +them, after he had told them of his misfortune and the miserable condition +to which he had been reduced, they smoked together, as they are accustomed +to do with one another and their acquaintances when they visit each +other. They had pity and compassion for him, offering him every assistance, +and conducting him to their village, where they entertained him and gave +him something to eat. + +But as soon as the people of the place were informed that an _Adoresetoüy_ +had arrived, for thus they call the French, the name signifying _men of +iron_, they came in a rush and in great numbers to see Brûlé. They took him +to the cabin of one of the principal chiefs, where he was interrogated, and +asked who he was, whence he came, what circumstance had driven and led him +to this place, how he had lost his way, and whether he did not belong to +the French nation that made war upon them. To this he replied that he +belonged to a better nation, that was desirous solely of their acquaintance +and friendship. Yet they would not believe this, but threw themselves upon +him, tore out his nails with their teeth, burnt him with glowing +firebrands, and tore out his beard, hair by hair, though contrary to the +will of the chief. + +During this fit of passion one of the savages observed an _Agnus Dei_, +which he had attached to his neck, and asked what it was that he had thus +attached to his neck, and was on the point of seizing it and pulling it +off. But Brûlé said to him, with resolute words, If you take it and put me +to death, you will find that immediately after you will suddenly die, and +all those of your house. He paid no attention however to this, but +continuing in his malicious purpose tried to seize the _Agnus Dei_ and tear +it from him, all of them together being desirous of putting him to death, +but previously of making him suffer great pain and torture, such as they +generally practise upon their enemies. + +But God, showing him mercy, was pleased not to allow it, but in his +providence caused the heavens to change suddenly from the serene and fair +state they were in to darkness, and to become filled with great and thick +clouds, upon which followed thunders and lightnings so violent and long +continued that it was something strange and awful. This storm caused the +savages such terror, it being not only unusual but unlike anything they had +ever heard, that their attention was diverted and they forgot the evil +purpose they had towards Brûlé, their prisoner. They accordingly left him +without even unbinding him, as they did not dare to approach him. This gave +the sufferer an opportunity to use gentle words, and he appealed to them +and remonstrated with them on the harm they were doing him without cause, +and set forth to them how our God was enraged at them for having so abused +him. + +The captain then approached Brûlé, unbound him, and took him to his house, +where he took care of him and treated his wounds. After this there were no +dances, banquets, or merry-makings to which Brûlé was not invited. + +So after remaining some time with these savages, he determined to proceed +towards our settlement. + +Taking leave of them, he promised to restore them to harmony with the +French and their enemies, and cause them to swear friendship with each +other, to which end he said he would return to them as soon as he +could. Thence he went to the country and village of the Atinouaentans, +[224] where I had already been; the savages at his departure having +conducted him for a distance of four days' journey from their village. Here +Brûlé remained some time, when, resuming his journey towards us he came by +way of the _Mer Douce_, [225] boating along its northern shores for some +ten days, where I had also gone when on my way to the war. + +And if Brûlé had gone further on to explore these regions, as I had +directed him to do, it would not have been a mere rumor that they were +preparing war with one another. But this undertaking was reserved to +another time, which he promised me to continue and accomplish in a short +period with God's grace, and to conduct me there that I might obtain fuller +and more particular knowledge. + +After he had made this recital, I gave him assurance that his services +would be recognized, and encouraged him to continue his good purpose until +our return, when we should have more abundant means to do that with which +he would be satisfied. This is now the entire narrative and recital of his +journey from the time he left me [226] to engage in the above-mentioned +explorations; and it afforded me pleasure in the prospect thereby presented +me of being better able to continue and promote them. + +With this purpose he took leave of me to return to the savages, an intimate +acquaintance with whom had been acquired by him in his journeys and +explorations. I begged him to continue with them until the next year, when +I would return with a good number of men, both to reward him for his +labors, and to assist as in the past the savages, his friends, in their +wars. + +Resuming the thread of my former discourse, I must note that in my last and +preceding voyages and explorations I had passed through numerous and +diverse tribes of savages not known to the French nor to those of our +settlement, with whom I had made alliances and sworn friendship, on +condition that they should come and trade with us, and that I should assist +them in their wars; for it must be understood that there is not a single +tribe living in peace, excepting the Nation Neutre. According to their +promise, there came from the various tribes of savages recently discovered +some trade in peltry, others to see the French and ascertain what kind of +treatment and welcome would be shown them. This encouraged everybody, the +French on the one hand to show them cordiality and welcome, for they +honored them with some attentions and presents, which the agents of the +merchants gave to gratify them; on the other hand, it encouraged the +savages, who promised all the French to come and live in future in +friendship with them, all of them declaring that they would deport +themselves with such affection towards us that we should have occasion to +commend them, while we in like manner were to assist them to the extent of +our power in their wars. + +The trading having been concluded, and the savages having taken their leave +and departed, we left Trois Rivières on the 14th of July of this year. The +next day we arrived at our quarters at Quebec, where the barques were +unloaded of the merchandise which had remained over from the traffic and +which was put in the warehouse of the merchants at that place. + +Now Sieur de Pont Gravé went to Tadoussac with the barques in order to load +them and carry to the habitation the provisions necessary to support those +who were to remain and winter there, and I determined while the barques +were thus engaged to continue there for some days in order to have the +necessary fortifications and repairs made. + +At my departure from the settlement I took leave of the holy Fathers, Sieur +de la Mothe, and all the others who were to stay there, giving them to +expect that I would return, God assisting, with a good number of families +to people the country. I embarked on the 26th of July, together with the +Fathers Paul and Pacifique, [227] the latter having wintered here once and +the other having been here a year and a half, who were to make a report of +what they had seen in the country and of what could be done there. We set +out on the day above mentioned from the settlement for Tadoussac, where we +were to embark for France. We arrived the next day and found our vessels +ready to set sail. We embarked, and left Tadoussac for France on the 13th +of the month of July, 1618, and arrived at Honfleur on the 28th day of +August, the wind having been favorable, and all being in good spirits. + +ENDNOTES: + +201. Champlain made a voyage to New France in 1617, but appears to have + kept no journal of its events. He simply observes that nothing + occurred worthy of remark. _Vide_ issue of 1632, Quebec ed., p. 969. + Sagard gives a brief narrative of the events that occurred that + year. Vol. I. pp. 34-44. + +202. Eustache Boullé. His father was Nicolas Boullé, Secretary of the + King's Chamber, and his mother was Marguerite Alix. _Vide_ Vol. I. + p. 205 _et passim_. + +203. Nicolas de La Mothe, or de la Motte le Vilin. He had been Lieutenant + of Saussaye in 1613, when Capt. Argall captured the French colony at + Mount Desert. _Vide Les Voyages de Champlain_, 1632, Quebec ed., + p. 773; _Relation de la Nouvelle France_, Père Biard, p. 64. + +204. _Fauquets_. Probably the common Tern, or Sea Swallow. _Sterna + hirundo_. Peter Kalm, on his voyage in 1749, says "Terns, _sterna + hirundo, Linn_, though of a somewhat darker colour than the common + ones, we found after the forty-first degree of north latitude and + forty-seventh degree of west longitude from _London_, very + plentifully, and sometimes in flocks of some hundreds; sometimes they + settled, as if tired, on our ship." _Kalm's Travels_, 1770, + Vol. I. p. 23. + +205. St. John's day was June 24th. + +206. According to Sagard they were assassinated about the middle of April, + 1617. _Hist. Canada_, Vol. I. p. 42. + +207. Sagard says the French, on account of this affair, were menaced by + eight hundred savages of different nations who were assembled at Trois + Rivières. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, 1636, Vol. I. p.42. The + statement, "on estoit menacé de huict cens Sauvages de diuerse + nations, qui festoient assemblez és Trois Rivieres à dessein de venir + surprendre les François & leur coupper à tous la gorge, pour preuenir + la vengeance qu'ils eussent pû prendre de deux de leurs hommes tuez + par les Montagnais environ la my Auril de l'an 1617," is, we think, + too strong. The savages were excited and frightened by the demands of + the French, who desired to produce upon their minds a strong moral + impression, in order to prevent a recurrence of the murder, which was + a private thing, in which the great body of the savages had no part. + They could not be said to be hostile, though they prudently put + themselves in a state of defence, as, under the circumstances, it was + very natural they should do. + +208. They were then at Trois Rivières. + +209. The moat around the habitation at Quebec was fifteen feet wide and six + feet deep, constructed with a drawbridge to be taken up in case of + need. _Vide_ Vol II p. 182. + +210. Probably Père le Caron, who was in charge of the mission at Quebec at + that time. + +211. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Sagard, 1636, Vol. I. p 45. + +212. They arrived on St. John's day, _antea, note 205_, and consequently + this was the 2tth of June, 1618. + +213. Jean d'Olbeau. + +214. Frère Modeste Guines. _Vide Histoire du Canada_, par Sagard, à Paris, + 1636, Vol. I.p. 40. + +215. Joseph le Caron, Paul Huet, and Pacifique du Plessis. + +216. Louis Hébert, an apothecary, settled at Port Royal in La Cadie or Nova + Scotia, under Poutrincourt, was there when, in 1613, possession was + taken in the name of Madame de Guercheville. He afterward took up his + abode at Quebec with his family, probably in the year 1617. His eldest + daughter Anne was married at Quebec to Estienne Jonquest, a Norman, + which was the first marriage that took place with the ceremonies of + the Church in Canada. His daughter Guillemette married William + Couillard, and to her Champlain committed the two Indian girls, whom + he was not permitted by Kirke to take with him to France, when Quebec + was captured by the English in 1629. Louis Hébert died at Quebec on + the 25th of January, 1627. _Histoire du Canada_, Vol. I. pp. 41, 591. + +217. These fields were doubtless those of Louis Hébert, who was the first + that came into the country with his family to live by the cultivation + of the soil. + +218. Platon. _Vide_ Vol. 1., note 155. + +219. Champlain says, _donné charge d'aller vers les Entouhonorons à + Carantouan_. By reference to the map of 1632. it will be seen that the + Entouhonorons were situated on the southern borders of Lake Ontario. + They are understood by Champlain to be a part at least of the + Iroquois; but the Carantouanais, allies of the Hurons, were south of + them, occupying apparently the upper waters of the Susquehanna. A + dotted line will be seen on the same map, evidently intended to mark + the course of Brûlé's journey. From the meagre knowledge which + Champlain possessed of the region, the line can hardly be supposed to + be very accurate, which may account for Champlain's indefinite + expression as cited at the beginning of this note. + + The Entouhonorons, Quentouoronons, Tsonnontouans, or Senecas + constituted the most western and most numerous canton of the Five + Nations. _Vide Continuation of the New Discovery_, by Louis Hennepin, + 1699, p. 95; also Origin of the name Seneca in Mr. O. H. Marshall's + brochure on _De la Salle among the Senecas_, pp. 43-45. + +220. _Vide antea_, p. 124. + +221. The River Susquehanna. + +222. He appears to have gone as far south at least as the upper waters of + Chesapeake Bay. + +223. The Dutch fur-traders. _Vide History of the State of New York_ by John + Romeyn Brodhead, Vol. I. p. 44 _et passim_. + +224. Attigonantans or Attignaouantans the principal tribe of the Hurons, + sometimes called _Les bons Iroquis_, as they and the Iroquois were of + the same original stock. _Vide_ Vol. I. p. 276, note 212. + +225. Lake Huron. For the different names which have been attached to this + lake, _vide Local Names of Niagara Frontier_, by Orsamus H. Marshall, + 1881, P. 37. + +226. Brûlé was despatched on his mission Sept 8, 1615. _Vide antea_, + p. 124. + + As we have already stated in a previous note, it was the policy of + Champlain to place competent young men with the different tribes of + savages to obtain that kind of information which could only come from + an actual and prolonged residence with them. This enabled him to + secure not only the most accurate knowledge of their domestic habits + and customs, the character and spirit of their life, but these young + men by their long residence with the savages acquired a good knowledge + of their language, and were able to act as interpreters. This was a + matter of very great importance, as it was often necessary for + Champlain to communicate with the different tribes in making treaties + of friendship, in discussing questions of war with their enemies, in + settling disagreements among themselves, and in making arrangements + with them for the yearly purchase of their peltry. It was not easy to + obtain suitable persons for this important office. Those who had the + intellectual qualifications, and who had any high aspirations, would + not naturally incline to pass years in the stupid and degrading + associations, to say nothing of the hardships and deprivations, of + savage life. They were generally therefore adventurers, whose honesty + and fidelity had no better foundation than their selfish interests. Of + this sort was this Étienne Brûlé, as well as Nicholas Marsolet and + Pierre Raye, all of whom turned traitors, selling themselves to the + English when Quebec was taken in 1629. Of Brûlé, Champlain uses the + following emphatic language: "Lé truchement Bruslé à qui l'on donnoit + cent pistolles par an, pour inciter les sauuages à venir à la traitte, + ce qui estoit de tres-mauuais exemple, d'enuoyer ainsi des personnes + si maluiuans, que l'on eust deub chastier seuerement, car l'on + recognoissoit cet homme pour estre fort vicieux, & adonné aux femmes; + mais que ne fait faire l'esperance du gain, qui passe par dessus + toutes considerations." _Vide issue of_ 1632, Quebec ed., pp. 1065, + 1229. + + But among Champlain's interpreters there were doubtless some who bore + a very different character. Jean Nicolet was certainly a marked + exception. Although Champlain does not mention him by name, he appears + to have been in New France as early as 1618, where he spent many years + among the Algonquins, and was the first Frenchman who penetrated the + distant Northwest. He married into one of the most respectable + families of Quebec, and is often mentioned in the Relations des + Jésuites. _Vide_ a brief notice of him in _Discovery and Exploration + of the Mississippi Valley_, by John Gilmary Shea, 1852, p. xx. A full + account of his career has recently been published, entitled _History + of the Discovery of the Northwest by John Nicolet in_ 1634, _with a + Sketch of his Life_. By C. W. Butterfield. Cincinnati, 1881. _Vide_ + also _Détails fur la Vie de Jean Nicollet_, an extract from _Relation + des Jésuites_, 1643, in _Découveries_, etc, par Pierre Margry, p. 49. + +227. Paul Huet and Pacifique du Plessis. The latter had been in New France + more than a year and a half, having arrived in 1615. _Vide antea_, + pp. 104-5. + + + + +EXPLANATION +OF +TWO GEOGRAPHICAL MAPS OF NEW FRANCE. + + +It has seemed to me well to make some statements in explanation of the two +geographical maps. Although one corresponds to the other so far as the +harbors, bays, capes, promontories, and rivers extending into the interior +are concerned, nevertheless they are different in respect to the bearings. + +The smallest is in its true meridian, in accordance with the directions of +Sieur de Castelfranc in his book on the mecometry of the magnetic needle +[228] where I have noted, as will be seen on the map, several declinations, +which have been of much service to me, so also all the altitudes, +latitudes, and longitudes, from the forty-first degree of latitude to the +fifty-first, in the direction of the North Pole, which are the confines of +Canada, or the Great Bay, where more especially the Basques and Spaniards +engage in the whale fishery. In certain places in the great river +St. Lawrence, in latitude 45°, I have observed the declination of the +magnetic needle, and found it as high as twenty-one degrees, which is the +greatest I have seen. + +The small map will serve very well for purposes of navigation, provided the +needle be applied properly to the rose [229] indicating the points of the +compass. For instance, in using it, when one is on the Grand Bank where +fresh fishing is carried on, it is necessary, for the sake of greater +convenience, to take a rose where the thirty-two points are marked equally, +and put the point of the magnetic needle 12, 15, or 16 degrees from the +_fleur de lis_ on the northwest side, which is nearly a point and a half, +that is north a point northwest or a little more, from the fleur de lis of +said rose, and then adjust the rose to the compass. By this means the +latitudes of all the capes, harbors, and rivers can be accurately +ascertained. + +I am aware that there are many who will not make use of it, but will prefer +to run according to the large one, since it is made according to the +compass of France, where the magnetic needle varies to the northeast, for +the reason that they are so accustomed to this method that it is difficult +for them to change. For this reason I have prepared the large map in this +manner, for the assistance of the majority of the pilots and mariners in +the waters of New France, fearing that if I had not done so, they would +have ascribed to me a mistake, not knowing whence it proceeded. For the +small plans or charts of Newfoundland are, for the most part, different in +all their statements with respect to the positions of the lands and their +latitudes. And those who may have some small copies, reasonably good, +esteem them so valuable that they do not communicate a knowledge of them to +their country, which might derive profit therefrom. + +Now the construction of these maps is such that they have their meridian in +a direction north-northeast, making west west-northwest, which is contrary +to the true meridian of this place, namely, to call north-northeast north, +for the needle instead of varying to the northwest, as it should, varies to +the northeast as if it were in France. The consequence of this is that +error has resulted, and will continue to do so, since this antiquated +custom is practised, which they still retain, although they fall into grave +mistakes. + +They also make use of a compass marked north and south; that is, so that +the point of the magnetic needle is directly on the _fleur de lis_. In +accordance with such a compass many construct their small maps, which seems +to me the better way, and so approach nearer to the true meridian of New +France, than the compasses of France proper, which point to the +northeast. It has come about, consequently, in this way that the first +navigators who sailed to New France thought there was no greater deviation +in going to these parts than to the Azores, or other places near France, +where the deviation is almost imperceptible in navigation, the navigators +having the compasses of France, which point northeast and represent the +true meridian. In sailing constantly westward with the purpose of reaching +a certain latitude, they laid their course directly west by their compass, +supposing that they were sailing on the one parallel where they wished to +go. By thus going constantly in a straight line and not in a circle, as all +the parallels on the surface of the globe run, they found after having +traversed a long distance, and as they were approaching the land, that they +were some three, four, or five degrees farther south than they ought to be, +thus being deceived in their true latitude and reckoning. + +It is true, indeed, that, when the weather was fair and the fun clearly +visible, they corrected their latitude, but not without wondering how it +happened that their course was wrong, which arose in consequence of their +sailing in a straight instead of a circular line according to the parallel, +so that in changing their meridian they changed with regard to the points +of the compass, and consequently their course. It is, They therefore, very +necessary to know the meridian, and the declination of the magnetic needle, +for this knowledge can serve all navigators. This is especially so in the +north and south, where there are greater variations in the magnetic needle, +and where the meridians of longitude are smaller, so that the error, if the +declination were not known, would be greater. This above-mentioned error +has accordingly arisen, because navigators have either not cared to correct +it, or did not know how to do so, and have left it in the state in which it +now is. It is consequently difficult to abandon this manner of sailing in +the regions of New France. + +This has led me to make this large map, not only that it might be more +minute than the small one, but also in order to satisfy navigators, who +will thus be able to sail as they do according to their small maps; and +they will excuse me for not making it better and more in detail, for the +life of a man is not long enough to observe things so exactly that at least +something would not be found to have been omitted. Hence inquiring and +pains-taking persons will, in sailing, observe things not to be found on +this map, but which they add to it, so that in the courte of time there +will be no doubt as to any of the localities indicated. At least it seems +to me that I have done my duty, so far as I could, not having sailed to put +on my map anything that I have seen, and thus giving to the public special +knowledge of what had never been described, nor so carefully explored as I +have done it. Although in the past others have written of these things, +yet very little in comparison with what we have explored within the past +ten years. + + +MODE OF DETERMINING A MERIDIAN LINE. + +Take a small piece of board, perfectly level, and place in the middle a +needle C, three inches high, so that it shall be exactly perpendicular. +Expose it to the sun before noon, at 8 or 9 o'clock, and mark the point B +at the end of the shadow cast by the needle. Then opening the compasses, +with one point on C and the other on the shadow B, describe an arc AB. +Leave the whole in this position until afternoon when you see the shadow +just reaching the arc at A. Then divide equally the arc AB, and taking a +rule, and placing it on the points C and D, draw a line running the whole +length of the board, which is not to be moved until the observation is +completed. This line will be the meridian of the place you are in. + +And in order to ascertain the declination of the place where you are with +reference to the meridian, place a compass, which must be rectangular, +along the meridian line, as shown in the figure above, there being upon the +card a circle divided into 360 degrees. Divide the circle by two +diametrical lines; one representing the north and south, as indicated by +EF, the other the east and west, as indicated by GH. Then observe the +magnetic needle turning on its pivot upon the card, and you will see how +much it deviates from the fixed meridian line upon the card, and how many +degrees it varies to the northeast of northwest. + + + + +CHAMPLAIN'S LARGE MAP. + +GEOGRAPHICAL CHART OF NEW FRANCE, MADE BY SIEUR DE CHAMPLAIN OF SAINTONGE, +CAPTAIN IN ORDINARY FOR THE KING IN THE MARINE. MADE IN THE YEAR 1612. + +I have made this map for the greater convenience of the majority of those +who navigate on these coasts, since they sail to that country according to +compasses arranged for the hemisphere of Asia. And if I had made it like +the small one, the majority would not have been able to use it, owing to +their not knowing the declinations of the needle. [230] + +Observe that on the present map north-northeast stands for north, and +west-northwest for west; according to which one is to be guided in +ascertaining the elevation of the degrees of latitude, as if these points +were actually east and west, north and south, since the map is constructed +according to the compasses of France, which vary to the northeast. [231] + + +SOME DECLINATIONS OF THE MAGNETIC NEEDLE, +WHICH I HAVE CAREFULLY OBSERVED. + +Cap Breton . . . . . . 14° 50' +Cap de la Have . . . . 16° 15' +Baye Ste Mane . . . . 17° 16' +Port Royal . . . . . . 17° 8' +En la grande R. St Laurent 21° + +St Croix . . . . . . . 17° 32' +Rivière de Norumbegue. 18° 40' +Quinibequi . . . . . . 19° 12' +Mallebarre . . . . . . 18° 40' + +All observed by Sieur de Champlain, 1612. + +REFERENCES ON CHAMPLAIN'S LARGE MAP. + + A. Port Fortuné. + B. Baye Blanche. + C. Baye aux Isles. + D. Cap des Isles. + E. Port aux Isles. + F. Isle Haute. + G. Isle des Monts Déserts. + H. Cap Corneille. + I. Isles aux Oiseaux. + K. Cap des Deux Bayes. + L. Port aux Mines + M. Cap Fourchu. + N. Cap Nègre. + O. Port du Rossignol. + P. St. Laurent. + Q. Rivière de l'Isle Verte. + R. Baye Saine. + S. Rivière Sainte Marguerite + T. Port Sainte Hélène. + V. Isle des Martires. + X. Isles Rangées. + Y. Port de Savalette. + Z. Passage du Glas. + + 1. Port aux Anglois. + 2. Baye Courante. + 3. Cap de Poutrincourt. + 4. Isle Gravée. + 5. Passage Courant. + 6. Baye de Gennes. + 7. Isle Perdue. + 8. Cap des Mines. + 9. Port aux Coquilles. + 10. Isles Jumelles. + 11. Cap Saint Jean. + 12. Isle la Nef. + 13. La Heronniére Isle. + 14. Isles Rangées. + 15. Baye Saint Luc. + 16. Passage du Gas. + 17. Côte de Montmorency. + 18. Rivière de Champlain. + 19. Rivière Sainte Marie. + 20. Isle d'Orléans. + 21. Isle de Bacchus. + +NOTE--The reader will observe that in a few instances the references are +wanting on the map. + +CHAMPLAIN'S NOTE TO THE SMALL MAP. + +On the small map [232] is added the strait above Labrador between the +fifty-third and sixty-third degrees of latitude, which the English have +discovered during the present year 1612, in their voyage to find, if +possible, a passage to China by way of the north. [233] They wintered at a +place indicated by this mark, 6. But it was not without enduring severe +cold, and they were obliged to return to England, leaving their leader in +the northern regions. Within fix months three other vessels have set out, +to penetrate, if possible, still farther, and, at the same time, to search +for the men who were left in that region. + + +GEOGRAPHICAL MAP OF NEW FRANCE, IN ITS TRUE +MERIDIAN. + +_Made by Sieur Champlain, Captain for the King in the Marine. 1613_. + + +o Matou-ouescariny. [Note: This figure is inverted on the map. _Vide + antea_, note 59, p. 62.] + o+ Gaspay. + oo Ouescariny. [Note: _Vide antea_, note 47, pp. 59, 81. The figure oo is + misplaced and should be where o-o is on the map, on the extreme + western border near the forty-seventh degree of north latitude.] + o-o Quenongebin. [Note: This figure o-o on the map occupies the place + which should be occupied by oo. _Vide antea_, p. 58, note 46.] + A. Tadoussac. + B. Lesquemain. + C. Isle Percée. + D. Baye de Chaleur. + E. Isles aux Gros Yeux. [Note: A cluster of islands of which the Island + of Birds is one.] + H. Baye Françoise. + I. Isles aux Oyseaux. + L. Rivière des Etechemins. [Note: This letter, placed between the River + St. John and the St. Croix, refers to the latter.] + M. Menane. + N. Port Royal. + P. Isle Longue. + Q. Cap Fourchu. + R. Port au Mouton. + S. Port du Rossignol. [Note: The letter S appears twice on the coast of + La Cadie. The one here referred to is the more westerly.] + SS. Lac de Medicis. [Note: This reference is probably to the Lake of Two + Mountains, which will be seen on the map west of Montreal.] + T. Sesambre. + V. Cap des Deux Bayes. + 3. L'Isle aux Coudres. + 4. Saincte Croix. [Note: St. Croix on the map is where a cross surmounted + by the figure 4 may be seen.] + 4. Rivière des Etechemins. [Note: This appears to refer to the + Chaudière. _Vide_ vol. I. p. 296.] + 5. Sault. [Note: This refers to the Falls of Montmorency.] + 6. Lac Sainct Pierre. + 7. Rivière des Yroquois. + 9. Isle aux Lieures. + 10. Rivière Platte. [Note: A small river flowing into Mal Bay. _Vide_ + Vol. I. p. 295; also _Les Voyages de Champlain_, Quebec ed., p. 1099.] + 11. Mantane. [Note: _Vide_ Vol. I. p 234.] + 40. Cap Saincte Marie. [Note: The figures are wanting. Cape St. Mary is on + the southern coast of Newfoundland. _Vide_ Vol I. p. 232.] + + +ENDNOTES: + +228. The determination of longitudes has from the beginning been environed + with almost insuperable difficulties. At one period the declination of + the magnetic needle was supposed to furnish the means of a practical + solution. Sebastian Cabot devoted considerable attention to the + subject, as did likewise Peter Plancius at a later date. Champlain + appears to have fixed the longitudes on his smaller map by + calculations based on the variation of the needle, guided by the + principles laid down by Guillaume de Nautonier, Sieur de Castelfranc, + to whose work he refers in the text. It was entitled, _Mécométrie de + l'eymant c'est à dire la manière de mesurer les longitudes par le + moyen de l'eymant_. This rare volume is not to be found as far as my + inquiries extend, in any of the incorporated libraries on this + continent. There is however a copy in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, + to which in the catalogue is given the bibliographical note: _Six + livres. Folio. Tolose, 1603_. + + It is hardly necessary to add that the forces governing the variation + of the needle, both local and general, are so inconstant that the hope + of fixing longitudes by it was long since abandoned. + + The reason for the introduction of the explanation of the maps at this + place will be seen _antea_, p. 39. + +229. The rose is the face or card of the mariner's compass. It was + anciently called the fly. Card may perhaps be derived from the Italian + cardo, a thistle, which the face of the compass may be supposed to + resemble. On the complete circle of the compass there are thirty-two + lines drawn from the centre to the circumference to indicate the + direction of the wind. Each quarter of the circle, or 90°, contains + eight lines representing the points of the compass in that quarter. + They are named with reference to the cardinal points from which they + begin, as: 1, north, 2, north by east, 3, north-northeast; 4, + northeast by north; 5, northeast; 6, northeast by east; 7, east- + northeast; 8, east by north. The points in each quarter are named in a + similar manner. + +230. The above title is on the large map of 1612. This note is on the upper + left-hand corner of the same map. + +231. For this note see the upper right-hand corner of the map. + +232. In Champlain's issue in 1613, the note here given was placed in the + preliminary matter to that volume. It was placed there probably after + the rest of the work had gone to press. We have placed it here in + connection with other matter relating to the maps, where it seems more + properly to belong. + +233. This refers to the fourth voyage of Henry Hudson, made in 1610, for + the purpose here indicated. He penetrated Lomley's Inlet, hoping to + find a passage through to the Pacific Ocean, or, as it was then + called, the South Sea, and thus find a direct and shorter course to + China. He passed the winter at about 52° north latitude, in that + expanse of water which has ever since been appropriately known ass + Hudson's Bay. A mutiny having broken out among his crew, he and eight + others having been forced into a small boat, on the 21st of June, + 1611, were set adrift on the sea, and were never heard of afterward. + + A part of the mutinous crew arrived with the ship in England, and were + immediately thrown into prison. The following year, 1612, an + expedition under Sir Thomas Button was sent out to seek for Hudson, + and to prosecute the search still further for a northwest passage It + is needless to add that the search was unsuccessful. + + A chart by Hudson fortunately escaped destruction by the mutineers. + Singularly enough, an engraving of it, entitled, TABVLA NAVTICA, was + published by Heffel Gerritz at Amsterdam the same year. Champlain + incorporated the part of it illustrating Hudson's discovery in his + smaller map, which is dated the fame year, 1612. He does not introduce + it into his large map, although that is dated likewise 1612. A + facsimile of the Tabula Nautica is given in Henry Hudson the + Navigator, by G. M. Asher, LL.D. published by the Hakluyt Society in + 1860. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Voyages of Samuel de Champlain V3 +by Samuel de Champlain + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGES OF SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN V3 *** + +This file should be named 8vcv310.txt or 8vcv310.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8vcv311.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8vcv310a.txt + +Produced by Karl Hagen, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. +This file was produced from images generously made available by +the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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