Volume 8 — [60] CHAPTER IV.

[60] CHAPTER IV.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On the twelfth, Monsieur the Chevalier de la Roche-Jacquelin, commandant of the ship called "Sainct [93] Jacques," cast anchor before Kebec. Our Brother Pierre Feauté,9 having thanked him for his kindness, came to see us in our little House of nostre Dame des Anges. The next day our joy was increased by the arrival of Father Claude Quantin10 and of our Brother Pierre Tellier, who were brought in the ship of Captain de Nesle.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On the seventeenth of the same month of August, Father de Quen15 arrived at Kebec in a shallop which Captain Bontemps sent to give the news of his arrival at Tadoussac. Now as frightful icebergs have been seen this year upon the sea,—among others, one from thirty to forty, others say sixty leagues in extent, so large that a Pilot has assured me that he coasted along it for three days and three nights having a fair wind astern, and that in some places it had level plains, in others it rose into hills and high mountains: and since some Turkish vessels had been seen sailing out [108] of the English Channel, and some damaged ships floating here and there on the sea without masts and without sails,—which are believed to have been captured by those infidels, who often abandon ships which they plunder, after having robbed them of all they contain:16 now as all these reports were being circulated, we had all lost hope of seeing Captain Bontemps, the season for sailing to this country having passed. It was this that made his unexpected arrival give us all the more joy, for we would have been sorry if so brave a Captain and so fine a crew had been lost. Father de Quen related to us the cause of their delay, and gave us reason to thank God, who drew them back from the shades of death, saving them from a shipwreck which seemed inevitable.

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

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

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

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

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

Mon R. P.

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

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

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

Pavl le Ievne.

ET

P. Charles l'Allemant.

P. Iean Brebeuf.

P. Iean Daniel.

P. Ambroise d'Auost.

P. Anne de Noüe.

P. Enemond Masse.

P. Antoine Richard.

P. François Mercier.

P. Charles Turgis.

P. Charles du Marché.

P. Claude Quantin.

P. Iacques Buteux.

P. Iean de Quen.

P. Pierre Pijart.

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

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

My Reverend Father,

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

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

Your very humble and greatly obliged servant in our Lord,

Paul le Jeune.

AND

Father Charles l'Allemant.

Father Jean Brebeuf.

Father Jean Daniel.

Father Ambroise d'Avost.

Father Anne de Noüe.

Father Enemond Masse.

Father Antoine Richard.17

Father François Mercier.

Father Charles Turgis.18

Father Charles du Marché.19

Father Claude Quantin.

Father Jacques Buteux.

Father Jean de Quen.

Father Pierre Pijart.

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

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

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

Mon R. Pere,

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

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

Sent to Kebec to Father le Jeune, Father Brebeuf.

My Reverend Father,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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