w CJ-= =-- O') 6 M u - M =-- C\I w---o - -- C\I !:2_,.... :2; = CD 0 : - <<; t:: - r-- !Q ,.... · = - M J!r .; \.'tii: .. . t' r *4 f.: , t \ .. .. " .e, . - :. _ r-'I;r:r:\. 1 ,,; . . "'J F6 3'7 · j Ji'" 13 r 8 q b '/ . I :>> ''1 . THE JESUIT RELATIONS AND ALLIED DOCUMENTS VOL. XVIII The edition conszSts of sev- en hundred and fifty sets all numbered No. J d, -.- . . /' , .if . ' . $2..r The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents 11 TRAVELS AND EXPLORATIONS OF THE JESUIT MISSIONARIES IN NE\V FRANCE 1610- 1 79 1 THE ORIGINAL FRENCH, LATIN, AND ITAL- IAN TEXTS, WITH ENGLISH TRANSLA- TIONS AND NOTES; ILLUSTRATED BY PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND FACSIMILES EDITED BY REUBEN GOLD THW AITES Secretary of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Vol. XVIII HURONS AND QUEBEC: 1640 CLEVELAND: ttbe :muttOWa :mrotbers COmpan\?, PUBLISHERS, M DCCCXCVIII COPYRIGHT, 1898 BY THE BURROWS BROTHERS Co ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Tlte Imþerial Press, Cleveland EDITORIAL STAFF Editor REUBEN GOLD THWAITES ! FINLOW ALEXANDER PERCY FAVOR BICKNELL WILLIAM FREDERIC GIESE CRAWFORD LINDSAY WILLIAM PRICE Translators . HIRAM ALLEN SOBER Assistant Editor EMMA HELEN ELAIR Bibliographical Adviser VICTOR HUGO PALTSITS CONTENTS OF YOLo XYIII PREFACE TO VOLUME XVIII I DOCUMENTS :- XXXVIII. Lettre au T. R. P. Mutio Vitelleschi, Général de la Compagnie de J ésus, à Rome. Joseplt-MarÙ Chaumonot; Pays des Hurons, May 24, 1640 10 XXXIX. Lettre au R. P. Philippe Nappi, Supérieur de la Maison Professe, à Rome. Joseplt-fi-farÙ Chaumonot; Pays des Hurons, May 26, 1640 14 XL. Lettre au R. P. Philippe Nappi, Supérieur de la faison Professe, à Rome. Joseph-fi-farÙ Clzaumonot; Sainte-ßfarie aux Hurons, August 3, 16 4 0 3 6 XLI. Relation de ce qvi s'est passé en la N ovvelle France, en l'année 1640. [Chaps. i.- x. of Part I.] Paul Ie Jeune; Kébec, September 10, 16 4 0 47 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: Y"OLU:\IE XVIII . 25 I NOTES . 255 ILLUSTRATION TO VOL. XVIII 1. Photographic facsimile of title-page, Relation of 16 40 . 50 PREFACE TO VOL. XVIII Following is a synopsis of the documents contained in the present volume: XXXVIII. Joseph Marie Chaumonot writes to the Father General (May 24. 1640) a brief letter, sketching the state of the Huron mission. It has thirteen priests, with several donnés; it comprises thirty-two villages, " in which not a single cabin re- mains where the Gospel has not been proclaimed. It The missionaries have been frequently persecuted, but none have yet perished. XXXIX. Two days later (May 26), Chaumonot writes to Father Nappi, of Rome, a more detailed account of the mission,- the manner in which the Fathers live, their methods of work, the characteris- tics of the savages, the persecution experienced from them, and the ravages of the epidemic. He then nar- rates the miraculous cure of two blind persons by one of the missionaries, and the details of several baptisms. The death of an Iroquois prisoner, by torture, is described; and allusion is made to the possibility that some of the missionaries may meet similar treatment from the Iroquois. Chaumonot sends greetings to many of his friends by name, and closes by asking for some masses and communions, of which the missionaries are often deprived. 2 PREFACE TO VOL. XVIII XL. This is another letter by Chaumonot to N ap- pi, dated August 3 of the same year. The writer describes a missionary journey made by him with Brébeuf to a tribe where the Gospel has not before been preached. Here they are met with distrust and aversion, arising from the same calumnies that had so endangered them among the Hurons. Their books are considered as repositories of magic spells; and the missionaries are suspected of concocting these spells even when they kneel in prayer. They are repeatedly threatened with death; but God pro- tects them from their enemies. This mission has little effect, except that they succeed in baptizing many sick children, without the knowledge of their relatives; many of these are now in heaven. Chau- monot does not give the name of this tribe; but, from the Huron Relation of 1641 (chap. vi.) we learn that it was the Attiwandaronk or Neutral Nation. The letter closes by relating several acts of heroism, among the Hurons, remarkable in "poor infidels without morality. II XLI. The Relatz"oll of 1640 is a composite. In 1639, Barthélemy Vimont succeeded Le Jeune as superior of the order in New France, and his name appears on the title-page of the annual volume. He seems, however, to have only edited the Relation, or perhaps only forwarded the matter to Paris for pub- lication by the provincial; for Part I., the Quebec portion, is still from the pen of Le J eune (dated Sep- tember 10); and Part II., the Huron report, is by Jerome Lalemant (dated May 27, with a postscript written August 3). In our present volume, we pub- lish the first ten chapters of Part I., by Le J eune. The report opens with a synopsis of Father fé- PREFACE TO VOL. XVIII 3 nard's account of the voyage made by the French fleet this year, which also brought over Joseph du Peron and some lay brethren, and additional nuns for both convents at Quebec; all these were heartily welcomed there. The writer warns the nuns who desire to come to Canada that the country is not ready for them, and that they must await its devel- opment. The great object of the missionaries now is, to render the savages sedentary; four families of them are at present living in the cabins built for them by the French. Le J eune praises the virtue and piety of the colo- nists. He relates that a plague of grasshoppers and other insects \vas immediately driven away by some prayers and processions. The people enjoy good health; the soil is prolific; peace and content pre- vail. By way of diversion for the people, and honor to the infant Dauphin of France, Montmagny has a miracle play or "tragi-comedy" performed, under the charge of :Martial Piraubé. For the benefit of the savages, there is introduced therein "the soul ()f an unbeliever, pursued by two demons, who finally hurl it into a hell which vomits forth flames. The struggles, cries, and shrieks of this soul and of these demons, who speak in the Algonquin tongue, so deep- ly penetrates the hearts of some," that a savage, two days later, tells of hideous dreams, inspired by the spectacle. Now that the epidemic of smallpox (described in the Relation of 1639) is over, the savages reassemble at St. Joseph (Sillery), and resume their effort to become sedentary. Those who are converted decide among themselves to drive away from this settlement all who do not believe as they do. Acting on the 4 PREFACE TO VOL. XVIII advice of the Fathers and a suggestion from Montma- gny, the governor, they elect, by secret ballot, some chiefs to rule over them,- the head of these being Etinechkavat, a Christian. They not only make all necessary arrangements for the conduct of their affairs, but summon the women to a council and admonish them to be forthwith baptized - the disin- clination of the latter to that rite having been" the cause of all their misfortunes." The women are warned that hereafter they must obey their hus- bands; one of them, having run away, is caught, and the chiefs ask the Fathers if she would not better be chained by one foot, and whether four days and nights of fasting would be sufficient penance for her fault. The Indians have now begun to cultivate the land. Father Vimont, the new superior, is residing at Sil- lery, in order to aid them; and the French colonists have also done much in this direction. Some Algon- kins also are settling at Three Rivers. At both set- tlements, the converts desire to interest their tribes- men in their undertaking, and to gather them into the colonies, to be aided by the French, and to have but one God. Several instances are given of the faith, obedience, and virtue displayed by these neo- phytes. The chief difficulty anticipated by the Fa- thers is, in the enforcement of single marriage, to which the savages are unaccustomed. In this, as in all other matters, fontmagny aids the missionaries to the utmost,- causing three marriages of Sillery Indians to take place at Quebec, with a magnificent feast and rich gifts for the bridal party. :Many of the young Indians come to the Fathers" in private, and ask us to find them wives, or to speak for them PREFACE TO VOL. XVIII 5 to those whom they desire to marry; some widows, and even some young girls, ask us secret! y to find them husbands, confiding in us more than in those of their own nation." All the converts show great solicitude to avoid the sins they have abandoned, especially the licentious acts and speech so prevalent among their countrymen; and the girls drive away their pagan suitors with firebrands. Madame de la Peltrie comes to Sillery at Christ- mas, to attend the midnight mass with the savages; the latter go to escort her thither, and" vie in caress- ing her." She often visits them, at other seasons, and takes with her some Indian girls from the Ursu- line seminary, who have learned to sing very sweet- ly, both in their own language and in French. The converts show great zeal,-they refuse to eat on fast days, even when in great need; they thank God when successful in hunting; they are very con- trite for their faults, and even for their evil dreams. The children are ready to fight one another for their belief. A young man is severely punished by the Sillery converts, for having married an unbaptized girl; and" two boys, who came late to prayers in the morning, were punished by having a handful of hot cinders thrown upon their heads, with threats of greater chastisement in case the offense were repeat- ed." Another man gives up tobacco, when reproved by a priest. Pigarouich, erstwhile a medicine man, is immediately cured of an illness, by prayer; and the same agency enables him to make a canoe (the first he had ever built), " as well as the most expert person could have done." Even the unbelieving Indians show the utmost respect for the Christian mysteries and belief, and imitate the actions of those 6 PREFACE TO VOL. XVIII who have been converted; some even have visions of heaven. A young Christian, having lost at gam- bling, confesses to the priest with great contrition; and" with charming simplicity" adds, " I will stake nothing hereafter, except some article of small value." Buteux sends to his superior similar accounts from the residence at Three Rivers. lany widows and orphans, made such by the fatal epidemic of last year, have come hither, to seek aid from the French. The missionaries aid these, as far as their own poverty will allow, and, in the spring, set them to raising corn for their supplies. Le J eune relates a terrible tragedy occurring among a household of savages who had been attacked by smallpox in the forests. Most of them died; the head of the family,-who had recently married in the savage fashion, without waiting for the Church's benediction, and whom, in consequence, " God was sharply pursuing with his judgments, "_ill and help- less, was murdered by his sister, to avoid further care for him, and to flee with her own son. She at first abandoned her brother's children, but afterward compelled the elder of these to strangle his own little sister. "But God, in whose sight all this fatal trag- edy was played, willed that this Proserpina should play one act of it. He struck her with the contagion from which she was fleeing; and, before reaching the place where she wished to bring her son, she died like a beast. Finally, her son was brought to the hospital, where he died in an intolerable stench, but with strong indications of salvation." Le Jeune proceeds to enumerate the Indian tribes of whom the French have knowledge, from Labra- dor to Hudson Bay, and from the :Mississippi to PREFACE TO VOL. XVIII 7 Virginia. This survey reveals a boundless field for missionary labor, and he asks the aid of Christians in France to help spread the Gospel therein. In this connection he states an interesting oc- currence - the arrival on the St. Lawrence of an Englishman, brought hither by Abenaki Indians, who is " searching for a route through these countries to the sea of the North," in which quest he has" for two years ranged the whole Southern coast, from Virginia to Quinebiqui." :Montmagny sends him to Tadoussac, that he may return to England by way of France. R. G. T. MADISON, WIS., March, 1898. XXXVIII-XL THREE LETTERS BY JOSEPH MARIE CHAUMONOT XXXVIII.- Au T. R. P. Général de la Compagnie de Jésus; Pays des Hurons, 24 Mai, 1640 XXXIX.- Au R. P. Philippe Nappi, Supérieur de Ia Maison Professe, à Rome; Pays des Hurons, 26 Mai, 16 4 0 XL.- Au même; Sainte-Marie aux Hurons, 3 Août, 1640 SOURCE: The originals were in Italian, and deposited in the archives of the Society in Rome. Father Martin copied them there in 1858, and translated them into French; these translations being published in Carayon's Première lJ;/Ùsion des Jésuites au Canada, pp. 195-215. We follow Carayon for the French text, and our English translations are there- from. 10 LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSU1TES [V OL. 18 [195J Lettre du P. Joseph-Marie Chaumonot, au T. R. P. Mutio Vitelleschi, Général de la Compagnie de Jé- sus, à Rome. (Traduile de l'itallen sur l'original conservé à Rome.) Du pays des Hurons, 24 mai 1640. M ON TRÈS-RÉvÉREND PÈRE, Pax Christi. Le 10 de septembre 1639, j'arrivai dans Ie pays des Hurons en la Nouvelle-France, après une navigation de trois mois très-pénible et très-dange- reuse, qui fut suivie d'un voyage d'un autre mois sur les rivières, les lacs et à travers les forêts. N ous sommes ici treize Pères, to us français, avec quelques jeunes gens qui se donnent à nous pour Ie soin du temporel, et qui nous tiennent lieu de frères coadjuteurs. Notre manière de vivre paraîtra en Europe très-étrange et très-pénible, mais nous la trou- vons fort douce et fort agréable. Nous n'avons ni sel, ni huile, ni fruits, ni pain, ni vin, excepté celui que nous gardons pour la messe. Toute notre nour- riture se compose d'un grand [196J plat de bois rem- pli d'une espèce de soupe faite de blé d'Inde, écrasé entre deux pierres ou pi1é dans un mortier, et assai- sonnée avec quelques poissons fumés. Notre lit est la terre, couverte d'une écorce d'arbre ou tout_au plus d'une natte. L'étendue de notre mission comprend cette année 1640] CHA UJIONOT TO THE GENERAL 11 [195J Letter from Father Joseph Marie Chaumonot to the Very Reverend Father Mutio Vi- telleschi, General of the Society of Jesus, at Rome. (Translatedfrom the Italian original þreserved at Rome.) From the Huron country, 1ay 24, 1640. M y VERY REVEREND FATHER, Pax Christi. I arrived in the Huron country, in New France, on the loth of September, 1639, after a very painful and dangerous voyage of three months, which was followed by a journey of another month upon rivers and lakes, and through forests. There are thirteen Fathers of us here, all French, with some young men who are given to us for the care of temporal matters, and who with us take the place of lay brethren. Our manner of living will seem in Europe very strange and full of hardship, but we find it quite easy and agreeable. We have neither salt, oil, fruits, bread, nor wine, except what we keep for the mass. Our entire nourishment con- sists of [I 96J a sort of soup made of Indian corn, crushed between two stones, or pounded in a mor- tar, and seasoned with smoked fish,- this served in a large wooden dish. Our bed is the ground, cov- ered with a piece of bark, or, at the most, with a mat. The extent of our mission comprises this year thirty-two hamlets or villages, in which not a single 12 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 trente-deux bourgs ou villages, dans lesquels il ne reste pas ttne seule cabane OÙ l'Évangile n'ait été annoncé. Beaucoup de sauvages ont reçu Ie baptême. La plupart, victimes d'une épidémie qui a ravagé tout Ie pays, sont au del, nous l' espérons. Cette ma- ladie a été 1'occasion de bien des calomnies et de per- sécutions exdtées contre nous sous Ie prétexte que nous étions les auteurs du fiéau. Toutefois aucun de nous n'a péri dans cette tempête, bien que quel- ques-uns aient été bâtonnés et que d'autres aient vu la hache levée sur eux, et bien près de leur tête. N ous avons tous besoin du secours de vos prières; c'est pourquoi nous nous recommandons humblement à vos saints Sacrifices. J e suis, de V otre Paternité, Le très-indigne serviteur et fils en Notre-Seigneur. JOSEPH-MARIE CHAUMONOT. Du pays des Hurons, Ie 24 mai 1640. 1640] CHA UMONOT TO THE GENERAL 13 cabin remains where the Gospel has not been pro- claimed. Many savages have received baptism; most of these, the victims of an epidemic which has ravaged the whole country, are in heaven, we hope. This malady has been the occasion for many calum- nies and persecutions, excited against us under the pretext that we were the authors of the scourge. None of us, however, have perished in this tem- pest, although some have been beaten, and others have seen the hatchet raised over them, and very near to their heads. We all have need of the help of your prayers, hence we commend ourselves humbly to your holy Sacrifices. lam Your Paternity's Very unworthy servant and son in Our Lord, JOSEPH MARIE CHAUMONOT.l From the country of the Hurons, May 24, 1640. 14 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 [197J Lettre du P. Joseph-Marie Chaumonot au R. P. Philippe Nappi, Supérieur de la Maison Professe à Rome. (Traduite de l'italien sur l'original conser-vi à Rome.) MON Du pays des Hurons, 26 mai 16 4 0 . RÉVÉREND PÈRE, Pax Christi. J e ne pourrai jamais remercier assez la di- vine bonté de la faveur qu'elle m'a faite, en me conduisant à travers tant de dangers, dans Ie lieu Ie plus favorable qui soit au monde, pour perfectionner un religieux. J e dois en faire part à V otre Révérence, afin qu'elle veuille bien m'aider à en remercier Ie bon Dieu. L'année dernière, j'ai écrit que, après trois mois d'une navigation très-pénible, je suis arrivé dans la Nouvelle-France, mais qu'i! me fallait encore m'avancer trois cents lieues plus loin dans Ie désert. V oici Ie récit de ce voyage. La veille de saint Laurent, je m'embarquai dans un canot de sauvages Hurons (ainsi s'appelle ce peu- pIe) sur la grande rivière, qui porte Ie nom de [19 8 J ce glorieux martyr; dans quelques endroits, elle est large de dix, treize, vingt lieues. Pendant cent lieues de son cours, ses eaux sont salées, et Ie flux et reflux s'y font sentir: aussi est-elle sujette, vu sa largeur, à des tempêtes, comme l'Océan. Le P. Poncet s'embarqua en même temps que moi; mais quatre jours après Ie départ, nous fûmes obli- 1640] CHAUMONOT TO NAPPI 15 [197] Letter of Father Joseph Marie Chaumonot to the Reverend Father Philippe Nappi, Supe- rior of the Professed House at Rome. (Translated from the Italian original þreserved at Rome.) From the country of the Hurons, May 26, 1640. M y REVEREND FATHER, Pax Christi. I shall never be able sufficiently to thank the divine goodness for the favor that it has done me, by leading me through so many dangers into the most favorable place in the world for perfecting a religious. I am obliged to acquaint Your Reverence therewith, to the end that you may kindly consent to aid me in thanking the good God for it. Last year, I wrote that after three months of very difficult navi- gation I arrived in New France, but that I still had to proceed three hundred leagues further into the wilderness. Here follows the account of this journey. On the eve of saint Lawrence, I embarked in a canoe of Huron savages (thus this people is called), on the great river which bears the name of [198J that glorious martyr; in some places it is ten, thirteen, twenty leagues wide. For a hundred leagues of its course its waters are salt, and the flow and ebb of tides is there perceptible: it is also subject, by reason of its width, to storms, like the Ocean. Father Poncet embarked at the same time with me; but four days after the departure we were obliged 16 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 gés de nous séparer, laissant notre premier canot pour monter séparément dans deux autres. Nous devions cependant aller de compagnie, de telle sorte que presque chaque soir, nous nous trouvions en- semble pour souper et passer la nuit, avec les conduc- teurs de nos canots d'écorce, et souvent même nous avions la grande consolation de dire la sainte messe, Ie matin, avant de partir; mais ce fut la seule pen- dant tout Ie voyage, qui fut de trente jours pour moi et de trente-deux pour Ie P. Poncet: voyage on ne peut plus laborieux. . . . . Arrivé au but de ce voyage, je trouvai onze de nos Pères, distribués dans trois Résidences pour être plus près des bourgs importants, qu'ils veulent instruire et civiliser. N os habitations sont d' écorce, comme cel1e des sauvages, sans divisions intérieures, excepté pour la chapelle. Faute de table et d'ustensiles de ménage, nous mangeons par terre et nous buvons dans des écorces d'arbres. Tout l'appareil de notre cuisine et de notre réfectoire [199J consiste dans un grand plat de bois, plein de sagamité, à laquelle je ne vois rien de plus semblable que la colle qui sert à tapisser les murs. La soif ne nous gêne guère, soit parce que nous ne nous servons jamais de sel, soit parce que notre nourriture est touiours très-liquide. Pour moi, depuis que je suis ici, je n'ai pas bu en tout un verre d'eau, quoiqu'il y ait déjà huit mois que je sois arrivé. Notre lit est formé d'une écorce d'arbre, sur laquelle nous mettons une couverture, épaisse à peu près comme une piastre de Florence. Pour les draps, on n'en parle pas, même pour les malades. Mais la plus grande incommodité, c' est la fumée qui, faute de cheminée, remplit toute la cabane et gâte 1640] CHAUMONOT TO NAPPI 17 to separate, leaving our first canoe in order to get into two others, singly. We were, however, to go in company, so that almost every evening we found ourselves together to sup and pass the night with the guides of our bark canoes; and often we even had the great consolation of saying the holy mass in the morning before starting; but this was the only con- solation during the whole voyage, which was thirty days for me and thirty-two for Father Poncet,- the most laborious journey possible. . . . . Having arrived at the end of this voyage, I found eleven of our Fathers, distributed in three Residences in order to be nearer to important villages, which they desire to instruct and civilize. Our habitations are of bark, like those of the savages, and without interior partitions, except for the chapel. For want of a table and household utensils, we eat on the ground, and drink from the bark of trees. The whole apparatus of our kitchen and of our refectory [199] consists of a great wooden dish, full of saga- mité, whereto I see nothing more similar than the paste which is used in covering walls. Thirst hard- ly annoys us,- either because we never use salt, or because our food is always very liquid. As for Ine, since I have been here, I have not drunk in all a glass of water, although it is now eight months since I arrived. Our bed is made with a piece of bark, upon which we put a blanket nearly the thickness of a Florentine piastre. Respecting sheets, there is no mention of them, even for the sick. But the great- est inconvenience is the smoke, which, for want of a chimney, fills the whole cabin and spoils everything that one would keep. When certain winds blow, it is no longer possible to stay therein, because of the 18 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 tout ce qu'on voudrait garder. Quand certains vents souffient, il n'est plus possible d'y tenir, à cause de la douleur que ressentent les yeux. En hiver nous n'avons pas la nuit d'autre lumière que celIe du feu de la cabane, qui nous sert pour réciter notre bré- viaire, pour étudier la langue et pour toute chose. Le jour, nous nous servons de l'ouverture laissée au haut de la cabane, et qui est à la fois cheminée et fenêtre. Voilà la manière de vivre dans notre rési- de nee ; pour celle que nous gardons quand nous allons en mission, Votre Révérence doit savoir d'abord que, quoique ces sauvages observent entre eux certaines règles d'hospitalité, avec nous ils ne [200J les obser- vent pas. Nous sommes done obligés de porter avec nous quelques petits couteaux, des aleines, des bagues, des aiguilles, des pendants d' oreille et choses semblables, pour payer nos hôtes. Nous portons en outre une couverture en guise de manteau, qui sert à nous envelopper la nuit. La manière d'annoncer la parole de Dieu aux sau- vages n'est pas de monter en chaire et de prêcher sur une place publique; il nous faut visiter chaque cabane en particulier, et auprès du feu, exposer à ceux qui veulent nous écouter les mystères de notre sainte foi. lIs n'ont en effet aucun autre lieu de réunion pour traiter leurs affaires, que la cabane de quelqu'un de leurs capitaines. J e ne me serais jamais imaginé une d ureté comme celIe d'un cæur sauvage élevé dans l'infidélité. Quand ils sont convaincus de la folie de leurs superstitions et de leurs fables, et qu'on leur a prouvé la vérité et la sagesse de la foi, il faudrait, pour achever de les gagner, leur promettre que Ie baptême" leur donnera 1640] CHAU1110NOT TO NAPPI 19 pain felt by the eyes. In winter, we have no other light by night than that of the cabin fire, which serves us for reciting our breviary, for studying the lan- guage, and for everything. By day we use the open- ing left at the top of the cabin,- which is at once chimney and window. Such is the manner of living in our residence; as for the one that we observe when we go on a mission, Your Reverence must know, to begin with, that although these savages practice among themselves certain rules of hospitality, with us they [200J apply them not. We are, therefore, obliged to carry with us a few little knives, awls, rings, needles, earrings, and such like things, to pay our hosts. We carry furthermore a blanket in the guise of a cloak, which serves to wrap us in at night. The way of announcing the word of God to the savages is not to mount a pulpit and preach in a pub- lic square; we must visit each cabin in private, and beside the fire expound, to those who are willing to listen to us, the mysteries of our holy faith. They have, in fact, no other place of meeting, for transact- ing their affairs, than the cabin of some one of their captains. I should never have imagined a hardness like that of a savage heart, brought up in infidelity. When they are convinced of the folly of their superstitions and of their fables, and when one has proved to them the truth and the wisdom of the faith, it would be necessary, in order to finish winning them, to promise them that baptism will give them prosperity and long life,- these poor peoples being susceptible only to temporal goods. That does not result from 20 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 prospérité et longue vie, ces pauvres gens n'étant sen- sibles qu'aux biens ternporels: cela ne vient pas de stupidité; ils sont rnême plus intelligents que nos campagnards, et il y a certains capitaines, dont nous admirons l'éloquence, acquise sans beaucoup de pré- ceptes de rhétorique. [201J Leur obstination dans l'infidélité est produite par la difficulté qu'ils croient trouver dans l' observation des cornman dements et surtout du sixième. Le petit nornbre de fidèles, que Notre-Seigneur s'est choisi, est une preuve de ce que peut la grâce dans les cæurs les plus barbares de la terre. J'en connais un qui, cette année, au moment OÙ les hosti- lités contre la religion étaient plus vives, n'a pas craint de parcourir en apôtre presque tous les vil- lages. II allait dans les assemblées et les conseils des capitaines, lorsqu'ils traitaient quelque affaire, et blâmait hardiment leurs folies. II exaltait la soli- dité de la doctrine, que les robes noires (c'est ainsi qu'ils nous appellent) étaient venus leur enseigner, protestant qu'il était prêt à donner sa vie pour la défendre. Ses auditeurs applaudissaient alors à ses discours; rnais ils n ' em brassaien t pas pour cela la vérité, qu'ils reconnaissaient. Ce même Sauvage de- manda à fa ire les exercices, et il en profita si bien, que Ie Père, qui lui donnait les méditations, en était étrangement émerveillé. Si on écrit dans la Rela- tion française ses réfiexions spirituelles, elles pour- ront servir de leçon, même aux religieux les plus pieux et les plus fervents. II avait dans sa famille une nièce, attaquée de je ne sais quelle rnaladie, qui, la nuit, lui faisait pousser des cris effrayants, comme si elle avait vu quelque spectre. [202J Pour la déli- 1640] CHA UMONOT TO NAPPI 21 stupidity; they are even more intelligent than our rustics, and there are certain captains whose eloquence we admire,-acquired without many precepts of rhetoric. [201] Their obstinacy in infidelity is pro- duced by the difficulty which they think to find in the observance of the commandments, and especially of the sixth. The small number of faithful ones whom Our Lord has chosen for himself, is a proof of what grace can do in the most barbarous hearts on the earth. I know one who this year, at the moment when the hostili- ties against religion were most keen, did not fear to make the round, as an apostle, of nearly all the vil- lages. He went into the assemblies and the councils of the captains, when they were transacting some business, and boldly censured their follies. He ex- alted the solidity of the doctrine which the cc black gowns" (thus they call us) had come to teach them; protesting that he was ready to give his life to de- fend it. His hearers then applauded his remarks; but they did not therefore embrace the truth which they acknowledged. This same Savage requested to make a retreat, and he profited by this so well that the Father, who gave him the meditations, was strangely amazed thereat. If his spiritual reflections be writ- ten in the French Relation, they may serve as a les- son even to the most pious and to the most fervent religious. He had in his family a niece, attacked by some sickness or other, which at night caused her to utter frightful cries, as if she had seen some spectre. [202] To relieve her, he put his chaplet about her neck, saying to her: cc Remember that thou art a Christian, and that thou belongest no more to the de- mon; and make the sign of the cross." She did so, 22 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 vrer, il lui mit au cou son chapelet, en lui disant: (< Rappelle-toi que tu es chrétienne, et que tu n'ap- << partiens plus au démon, et fais Ie signe de la croix.)) Elle Ie fit, et à partir de ce moment, elle n'a plus été tourmentée de semblable mal. II serait trop long de raconter tous les exemples héroïques de constance que ce Sauvage et quelques autres de nos convertis, bien qu' en petit nombre, nous ont donnés. :Mais c'en est assez pour montrer à Votre Révérence que Dieu ne refuse pas sa grâce, même aux plus sauvages des hommes, et que ces peuples sont capables de recevoir la doctrine de l'Evangile, malgré la très-grande difficulté qu'il ya à l'expliquer, à cause de la pauvreté de la langue; car ils n' ont ni vignes, ni troupeaux, ni tours, ni villes, ni sel, ni lampes, ni temples, ni maîtres d'aucune science ou art. lIs ne savent ni lire ni écrire, et nous avons beau coup de peine à leur faire comprendre les paraboles qui sont sur ces matières dans Ie saint Evangile. II est vrai que ce défaut et cette pauvreté de leur langue n'a jamais été cause du retard de leur conversion; car les Pères qui savent leur langue, leur font assez bien connaître ce qui est nécessaire pour Ie salut, sans ce servir de ces comparaisons. L'hiver dernier, il n'y a pas eu une seule cabane [203] dans nos trente-deux bourgs, où la parole de Dieu n'ait été portée; mais les fruits ont été plus grands pour l'Eglise triomphante que pour l'Eglise militante. Comme il régnait une maladie conta- gieuse qui n'épargnait ni âge ni sexe, tout notre soin était de catéchiser les malades, pour leur donner à la fin de leur vie un passe-port pour Ie ciel. Le plus grand nombre de ceux que cette maladie a enlevés, après Ie saint baptême, étaient les petits enfants. . . . . 1640] CHAU1lfONOT TO NAPPI 23 and from that moment forward, she was not again tor- mented by the like trouble. It would be too tedious to relate all the heroic examples of constancy which this Savage and some others of our converts, though in small number, have given us. But this is enough to show Your Rever- ence that God does not refuse his grace, even to the most savage of men, and that these peoples are cap- able of receiving the doctrine of the Gospel, notwith- standing the very great difficulty of explaining it, on account of the poverty of the language; for they have neither vineyards nor flocks, nor towers nor cities, nor salt, nor lamps, nor temples, nor masters of any science or art. They can neither read nor write, and we have much difficulty in making them understand the parables which are related to these matters in the holy Gospel. It is true that this de- fect and this poverty of their language has never been a cause of the delay in their conversion; for the Fathers who know their language enable them to understand well enough that which is necessary for salvation, without using these comparisons. Last winter, there was not a single cabin [203J in our thirty-two villages into which the word of God was not carried; but the results have been greater for the Church triumphant than for the Church mili- tant. As there prevailed a contagious disease which spared neither age nor sex, all our care was to cate- chize the sick, in order to give them at the end of their life a passport for heaven. The greatest num- ber of those whom this malady carried off, after holy baptism, were the little children. . . . . The Savages have held several very crowded as- semblies, to consider means for compelling us to 24 LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES [VOL. 18 Les Sauvages ont tenu plusieurs assemblées très- nombreuses pour aviser aux moyens de nous forcer à quitter Ie pays. Beaucoup de capitaines ont voté notre mort; mais pas un n' a osé s' en faire l' exécu- teur, et jusqu'à présent Dieu nous a préservé de leurs coups. Pendant tout l'hiver nous nous attendions chaque jour à apprendre la mort de quelqu'un de nos missionnaires, et chaque jour en disant la sainte messe, nous faisions la communion, comme devant nous servir de viatique. Tout s'est borné à quelques coups de bâton, et au chagrin de voir renverser les croix que nous avions dressées, et réduire en cendres une de nos cabanes. Un seul des nôtres a vu couler son sang, sed non usque ad mortem. . . . . Quand nous visitons ces pauvres gens, s'ils n'ar- rivent pas à temps pour nous fermer la porte [ 20 4J au nez, ils se bouchent les oreilles et se couvrent la figure de peur d'être ensorcelés. Tout cela nous donne beaucoup d'espérance qu'un jour la foi fleurira dans cette malheureuse terre, puisque les persécu- tions dont Dieu se sert pour l'établir et la cultiver ne nous font pas défaut. La moisson promet beaucoup, non pas seulement à cause du nombre de nos Sauvages, mais parce qu'il y a bien d'autres nations répandues dans ces im- menses solitudes. N ous connaissons déjà les noms de plus de vingt, qui sont dans la direction de la mer du Nord, toutefois peu considérables: on nous fait espé- rer qu'au-delà, nous trouverons des contrées plus peuplées. Pour yarriver il faudra souffrir encore plus que nous ne l'avons fait pour venir ici. Avant de finir, je veux raconter à Votre Révérence quelques faits extraordinaires arrivés cette année. 1640] CHA UMONOT TO NAPPI 25 leave the country. Many captains have voted our death; but not one has dared to become the execu- tioner therein, and hitherto God has preserved us from their attacks. During the whole winter we were expecting every day to learn the death of some one of our missionaries; and each day, while saying the holy mass, we received the communion, as if it were to serve as viaticum. Everything ended in a few blows from a club, and in the vexation of see- ing the crosses overturned which we had set up, and one of our cabins reduced to ashes. A single one of ours has seen his blood flow, sed non usque ad mor- tem. . . . . When we visit these poor people, if they do not arrive in time to close the door [204J to our noses, they stop their ears and cover their faces, for fear of being bewitched. All that gives us much hope that one day the faith will flourish in this unhappy land, since the persecutions which God uses to establish and cultivate it are not wanting for us. The harvest promises much, not only on account of the number of our Savages, but because there are many other nations spread abroad in these immense solitudes. We already know the names of more than twenty, which are in the direction of the Northern sea,- not at all considerable, however; we are led to hope that, beyond, we shall find more populous re- gions. To arrive there, it will be necessary to suffer still more than we have done in order to come here. Before finishing, I wish to relate to Your Rever- ence some extraordinary incidents which happened this year. A poor man, baptized in his sickness, having recovered health, was attacked with an in- flammation which deprived him of sight. One of our 26 LES RELA TI01VS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 Un pauvre homme, baptisé dans sa maladie, ayant recouvré la santé, fut attaqué d'une fluxion qui le priva de la vue. Un de nos Pères, Ie félicitant un jour d'avoir échappé à la mort, eut pour réponse que maintenant la vie était pour lui un fardeau, puisqu'il était aveugle. Le Père lui lava les yeux avec de l'eau bénite, en disant: ((Que Ie Père, Ie Fils, et Ie Saint-Esprit, en qui tu crois, te guérissenb>, et au même moment la fluxion cessa, [205J et Ie lendemain la vue lui fut rendue complétement.- Une femme n'ayant pas voulu se soumettre à certaines supersti- tions, fut frappée de cécité par Ie démon, pour la punir. Le même Père l'engagea à mettre sa con- fiance en Dieu, et à se laver avec de l' eau bénite, et elle recouvra parfaitement la vue.- Un jeune hom- me, ayant été à la pêche avec son jeune frère, et quelques autres, fut attaqué par les ennemis de leur nation. Comme i1 craignait plus la mort de son jeune frère que la sienne, i11e couvrit de son corps, Ie pro- tégeant ainsi contre les coups qu'il reçut lui-même. On Ie ramena demi-mort à son village. Un de nos Pères s'y trouvait. Voyant qu'il était sans mouve- ment et sans parole, i1 ne pouvait pas l'aider à bien mourir. Malgré cela, il ne perdit pas courage, et fit væu de quelques messes en l'honneur de saint Fran- çois-Xavier, pour Ie soulagement de ce pauvre infi- dèle. Au même moment la langue du moribond se délie, ses yeux s'ouvrent et regardant Ie ciel, il s'é- crie ((Aondeckiclziai Taz"tene. Toi qui as fait la terre, aie pitié de moi.>> Aussitôt Ie Père 1 'instruit, Ie bap- tise, et il mourut peu après.- Un autre jeune homme avait, je ne sais par quel dépit, mangé une racine vénéneuse pour se donner.la mort, et i1 était déjà 1640] CHA UMONOT TO NAPPI 27 Fathers, congratulating him one day for having es- caped death, received the answer that now life was a burden for him, since he was blind. The Father washed his eyes with holy water, saying: " May the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, in whom thou believest, heal thee; " and at the same moment the inflammation ceased, [205J and the next day his sight was completely restored. A woman having been unwilling to submit to certain superstitions, was struck with blindness by the demon, to punish her. The same Father persuaded her to put her confidence in God, and to bathe herself with holy water, and she perfectly recovered sight. A young man, hav- ing been fishing with his young brother and certain others, was attacked by the enemies of their nation. As he feared more for his young brother's death than his own, he covered him with his own body, thus pro- tecting him against the blows that he himself re- ceived. He was led back half dead to his village. One of our Fathers happened to be there. Seeing that he was without motion and without speech, he could not aid him to die well. Notwithstanding that, he did not lose courage, and vowed some masses in honor of saint François Xavier, for the relief of this poor infidel. At the same moment the dying man's tongue is loosed, his eyes open, and looking at heav- en, he exclaims: Aondecldckiai Taitene, "Thou who hast made the earth, have pity on me." Immediate- ly the Father instructs and baptizes him; and he died soon afterward. Another young man had, from I know not what chagrin, eaten a poisonous root, in order to commit suicide; and he was already tor- mented by the violence of the poison when he came to our cabin. Having there succumbed, he flings 28 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 tourmenté par la violence du poison quand i1 vint à notre cabane. Rendu là, il se jette à terre, en [206] écumant, avec tous les signes d'une mort prochaine. Interrogé sur la cause de son mal, pour toute ré- ponse, il présente Ie reste de la racine qu'il avait mangée, en disant de la montrer à ses parents après sa mort. Nos Pères, avertis par quelques Sauvages que ce poison était mortel, s'empressent d'instruire au plus vite ce malheureux, et le baptisent, après avoir pris toutes les precautions nécessaires, quand i1 s'agit du baptême des adultes. Environ une demi- heure après, il mourut en chemin, pendant que ses parents Ie reportaient à sa cabane.- Un homme, attaqué par la contagion et voyant 1'inefficacité des remèdes des médecins du pays, c'est-à-dire des sor- ciers (vrais ou faux), se donna plusieurs coups de couteau dans la poitrine. Un des Nôtres entre alors par hasard dans sa cabane, et aussitôt celui-ci l'ap- pelle et lui demande Ie baptême. Le Père Ie caté- chise et Ie baptise sans tarder. Le nouveau chrétien lui dit: <> C'est ce qui arriva: ces vieux sauvages furent pris, emmenés captifs, cruellement tourmen- tés, brûlés, rôtis et dévorés, selon la coutume de cette contrée, habitée par des anthropophages, comme je vous l'ai déjà écrit. N'ayant rien autre chose à raconter à Votre Révé- rence, je finis, en la priant, si elle trouve quelque chose dans ma lettre qui puisse intéresser notre T. R. P. Général, de vouloir bien Ie lui communiquer, mais de bouche seulement, ma lettre étant écrite trop misérablement pour la mettre sous les yeux de Sa Paternité. Que Votre Révérence veuille bien l'assu- rer que je ne dis jamais la sainte messe sans la recom- mander à Notre Seigneur. J e suis, de V otre Révérence, Ie très-humble serviteur en Notre-Seigneur. JOSEPH-MARIE CHAUMONOT. De la résidence de Ste-Marie aux Hurons, Ie 3 août 1640. 1640] CHAUMOJllOT TO NAPPI 45 away captive, cruelly tormented, burned, roasted, and devoured,- according to the custom of this coun- try, inhabited by cannibals, as I have already writ- ten to you. Having nothing else to relate to Your Reverence, I close; requesting you, if you find anything in my letter which can interest our Very Reverend Father General, to be so kind as to make it known to him: but orally alone,-my letter being written too wretchedly to put it beneath His Paternity's eyes. Will Your Reverence kindly assure him that I never say holy mass without commending him to Our Lord? I am Your Reverence's very humble servant in Our Lord. JOSEPH MARIE CHAUMONOT. From the residence of Ste. Marie among the Hurons, the 3rd of August, 1640. XLI RELATION OF 1640 PARIS: SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, 1641 SOURCE :1: We reprint from the original edition (H. 76), in Lenox Library. The document consists of two parts: Part I., by Le Jeune, dated at Quebec, September 10, 1640; Part II., by Jerome Lalemant, dated in the Huron country, May 27, 1640, with a postscript dated August 3. In the present volume, we give chaps. Í.- x. of Part I.; this part will be concluded in our Volume XIX., and Part II. commenced; Volume XX. will see the conclusion of the entire document. 1 RE LA T ION "DE C.E,QYI S'EST PASSE' """) EN LA NOVVElLE FRANCÉ EN L'ANNEE M. DC. XL. ,. Enuoyéc au R. P. Prouincia'l de la Conl- pagnie de I E. S V de la PrclÚncc de France. P dr Ie P. Barthelemy VTmont 'J de If' 1i Je fmeComp,-tgnie;, Superieur de la ReJidciice'de K.. éhec. , J RELATION OF WHAT TOOK PLACE IN NEW FRANCE IN THE YEAR M. DC. XL. Sent to the Reverend Father Provincial of the Society of J E S us of the Province of France. By Father Barthelemy Vimont, of the same Society, Superior of the Residence of Kébec. PARIS, S E BAS TIE N C RAM 0 I S Y, Printer in ordinary to the King, ruë St. Jac- ques, at the Sign of the Storks. M. DC. XLI. By Royal License. , 52 LES RELATIONS DES.lÉSUITES (VOL. 18 Extraiét du Priuilege du Roy. P AR grace & Priuilege du Roy, il eft permis à SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, Marchand Libraire Iuré, Imprimeur ordinaire du Roy, Bourgeois de Paris, d'imprÜner ou faire imprimer vn liure intitulé, Relation de ce qui s' eft paJJé en la nouuelle France en /' année 1640. enuoyée au Reuerend Pere Prouz"nâal de la CompagnÙ de IESVS en la Prouince de France, par Ie Pere Barthelemy VÙnont de la me.fme Compagnie, SuperÙur de la Refidence à Kébec: & ce pendant Ie temps & efpace de quinze années confecutiues: Auec defences à tous Libraires & Imprimeurs d'imprimer ou faire impri- mer ladite Relation fous pretexte de déguifement ou changement qu'ils y pourroient faire, à peine de con- fifcation, & de l'amande portée par ledit Priuilege. Donné à Paris, ce 20. Septembre 1640. Par Ie Roy en fon Confeil, Signé, CEBERET. 1640] RELA TION OF r640 53 Extract from the Royal License. B y the grace and License of the King, permis- sion is granted to SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, Book- seller under Oath, Printer in ordinary to the King, Citizen of Paris, to print or to have printed a book entitled Relation de ce qui s' est passé en fa nouvelle France en I' année 1640. envoyée au Reverend Pere Pro- vz"ncial de la Compagnie de JESUS en fa Province de France, par Ie Pere Barthelemy VÙnont de fa mesme Compagnze, SuperÙur de fa Residence à Kébec/ and this during the time and space of fifteen consecutive years. Pro- hibiting all Booksellers and Printers from printing or having printed the said Relation under pretext of disguise or change that may be made therein, on penalty of confiscation, and of the fine provided by the said License. Given at Paris, this 20th of Sep- tember, 1640. By the King in Council. Signed, CEBERET. 54 LES RELA TIONS DES /É'SUITES [VOL. 18 Permiffion du P. ProuinciaL N OVS IACQVES DINET Prouincial de la Compagnie de IESVS en la Prouince de France: Auons accordé pour l'aduenir au Sieur SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY Marchand Libraire, Imprimeur ordinaire du Roy, l'impreffion des Relations de la Nouuelle France. FAIT à Paris, Ie 12. Decembre 1640. IACQVES DINET. 1640] RELA TION OF I640 55 Permission of the Father Provincial. W E, JACQUES DINET, Provincial of the Society of JESUS in the Province of France, have for the future granted to Sieur SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, Bookseller, Printer in ordinary to the King, the printing of the Relations of New France. DONE at Paris, this 12th of December, 16 4 0 . JACQUES DINET. 56 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 Table des Chapitres contenus en cette Relation. R ELA TION de ce qui s' eft paßé en la nouuelle France en l' année 1640.. . pag. I . Cllapz"tre I. Du voyage & de l' arrillée de la flotte en la nouuelle France. 3. Chap. II. De l' eftat general de la Colonie Franfozfe, & de la conuerfion des Sauuages. 16 Chap. III. Les Sauuages.fe r' affemblent à S. Io.feph apres la maladÙ, eflzfent quelques Capitaines, & font paroijlre leur Zele pour la Foy. 22 Chap. IV. Des Sauuages baptzj"ez, & des bonnes aélions de cette nouuelle Eglife. 44 Chap. V. Contz"llllation du me.fme dzj"cours. 58 Chap. VI. Continuation du me.fme .fujet. 72 Chap. VII. ContÙluatz"on des afìi01ls de nos 1lOuueaux ChreSliens. 91 Chap. VIII. De la bonne difpofition de quelques Sauuages non encore baptzfez. 105 Chap. IX. De la prouÙlence de Diett au chozx de quelques-vns, & au rebut de quelques autres. I 17 Chap. X. De l' esperance qu' on a de la conuer fion de Plufieurs Sauuages. 128 Chap. XI. De l'hospital. 146 Çhap. XII. Du Jommaire [sc. .fcminaireJ des Meres Vr.fulines. 168 Chap. XIII. Diuer.fes cho.fes qui n' ont pa eSlre rapportées aux Chapitres precedens. 187 1640] RELA TION OF I640 57 Table of the Chapters contained in this Relation. R ELA TION of what occurred Í1l new France tOn the year 16 4 0 .. . . page I. Chapter I. Of the 'voyage of the fleet, and its arrival in new France. 3. Chap. II. Of the general COllditz"on of tile French Colony, alld the conversz"on of the Savages. 16 Chap. III. The Savages reassemble at St. Joseph after tIle epidemic, elect se'veral Captains, and show their Zeal for the Faith. 22 Chap. IV. Of tIle Sa'i'ages baptized, and the good deeds Ùl thÚ new Ckurch. 44 Chap. V. Continuation of the same subject. 58 Chap. VI. Contz"nuatz"on of the same subject. 7 2 Chap. VII. Continuation of tIle actions of our new CllrÚtz"ans. 9 I Cllap. VIII. Of the good dÚposz"tion of some Savages not ),et baptized. 105 Chap. IX. Of the providence of God tOn the choice of some, and the rejection of others. I 17 Chap. X. Of tile hope we have for the conversion of many Sa'l/ages. 128 Chap. XI. Of the hospital. 14 6 Chap. XII. Of tIle seminary of tIle Ursulz"ne Motlters. 168 Chap 0 XIII. Various tllÙZgS which could not be re- ported in the preceding Chapters. 187 5 LES RE'LA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [V OL. 18 Table des Chapitres contenus en la Relation de ce qui s'eft paffé dans le pays des Huron en l'année 1640. C HAPITRE I. De l'eflat du pays. pag. Chap-itre II. Des perfecutions excz"tées contre 1lOUS. Chap. III. De l' eflat general du Cllrt.slz"anifme en ces c01ztrées. Chap. IV. De la Refidence fixe de fainéte MarÙ. Chap. V. De la mzßz.on de fainfle 51àrie aux Ata- roncllr01lO1ls. 4. II. 33. 4 2 . 68. Chap. VI. De la refidcllce & 11lzßion de S. Jofeph aux AttÙlgneenongnahac. 79. Chap. VII. De la mzßioJl de la Conception aux Atti- gnaouentan. 99 Chap. VIII. Des ChreflÙns de cette mefme 1Itzßion de la Conception. . I 18. Chap. IX. De la miffion de faÙzfl lean Baptijle aux A rendaronons. . 145 . Chap. X. De la mzßion furnommée des Apoflres aux Khionontateronons. 16 4. Lettre efcritte au P. VÙnont depuzS la Relatz"on. . 19 2 1640J RELA TIOiV OF I6.,.o 59 Table of the Chapters contained in the Relation of what took place in the country of the Hurons, in the year 1640. C HAPTER I. Of the COllditz"on of the coun- try. . . . . page 4. Chapter II. Of the persecutz"olls exÚted against us. I I. Chap. III. Of the general condÜion of Christz"anÜ}' ill these countries. 33. Chap. IV. Of the permanent Residellce of saÙlte MarÙ. 4 2 . Chap. V. Of the mission of saillte lIfar'Ìe to the Ata- roncllronons. 68. Chap. VI. Of the residcnce and missioll of St. Joseph to the Attillgneenongnahac. 79. Clwp. VII. Of the mission of la COllceptz"on to tlze Attz"gnaouentan. 99 Chap. VIII. Of the Clzristz"ans of this same mission of la Conception. . 1 18. Chap. IX. Of tlte mission of saint Jeall Baptiste to the Arendaroll01zs. 145. Chap. X. Of the mission surnamed "of the Apos- tles, JJ to tile Khiollontateronons. . 16 4. Letter written to Father Vimont after the Relation was finished. . . 19 2 60 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 [1] Relation de ce qvi s'eft paffé en la Nouuelle France, en l' Année 1640. M ON R. PERE, Ie croyois qu'efiant defchargé du fardeau de la Superiorité, ie ferois en fuite deliuré des foins de la Relation que V. R. exige de nous, & qu'vne grande partie de la France attend auec quel- que paffion: mais nofire R. P. Superieur ma fait veoir que cefie confequence n'efioit point neceffaire, fi bien que nonobfiant qu'illa pût dreffer auec auan- tage ayant defia vne grande cognoiffance du pays & des Sauuages, i1 s'efi encor repofé fur moy pour [2] cefie année dans l'empreffement de fes affaires du tribut dont les affeétions de V. R. & d'vne infinité de perfonnes de merite & de condition nous rendent redeuables. Ie doute fort fi nous aurons vn affez grand fond pour faire cefie rente annuelle, fi ce n'efi qu'on ayme les redites car les fubiets fe trouuans fort femblables, les difcours ne fçauroient pas auoir vne gran de diuerfité quand les fauuages fe feront tous reduits comme i1 arriuera quelque iour fi on les fecoure fortement ie ne fçay plus ce qu'on pourroit remarquer finon leurs bonnes aétiõs qui pour auoir beaucoup de reffemblances pourroient caufer du degoufi. Pleut à Dieu que nous fuffions dans cefie peine, & que tous ces pauures Barbares fuffent au point que nous les fouhaittons, à peine de ne pro- 1640] RELATION OF 1640 61 [I] Relation of what occurred in New France, in the Year 1640. M y REVEREND FATHER, I thought that, when I was relieved from the burdens of a Superior, I would conse- quently be freed from the responsibility of the Rela- tion which Your Reverence exacts from us, and which a large part of France awaits with some eager- ness. But our Reverend Father Superior has shown me that this is not a necessary consequence; and so, although he could have done it advantageously, as he has already an extensive knowledge of the coun- try and of the Savages, there again devolves upon me [2] this year, in the pressure of his business, the tribute which Your Reverence's affection and that of an infinite number of persons of merit and rank make it incumbent upon us to render. I doubt very much whether we shall have enough material to make up this annual rent, unless our readers like repetitions. For as the subjects are very similar, the narratives cannot have a great variety when the savages shall all be converted,-as will happen some day, if they are energetically aided. I do not know what one can record then, unless it be their good actions, which, from their great similarity, may cause some feeling of surfeit. Would to God that we might have this difficulty, and that all these poor Barbarians were at the point where we wish them to be, reluctant to make known their actions except to the sight of Heaven, 62 LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES [VOL. ]8 duire leurs aétions qu'à la veuë du Ciel, & de n'en parler qu'à celuy auquel on ne les peut cacher, mais entrons en difcours. 1640] RELA TION OF .1640 63 and to speak of them except to him from whom they cannot be concealed. But let us begin our nar- rative. 64 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [V OL. 18 [3] CHAPITRE PREMIER. DU VOYAGE & DE L' ARRIUÉE DE LA FLOTTE EN LA NOUUELLE FRANCE. L E Pere René Menart eftant arriué à Kebec nous a raconté quelques particularitez du Voyage de la Flotte de cefte année, lefquelles m'ont femblé tres-dignes de compofer ce premier chapitre. Nos vaiffeaux, difoit-il, fe mirent en Rade Ie vingt- fixiefme de Mars. Madame la Ducheffe d' Aiguillon ayant augmenté la fondation de fon Hofpital en la N ouuelle France, & defirant en fuite que deux Reli- gieufes de la maifon de la Mifericorde eftablie à Dieppe vinffent donner du fecours à leurs bonnes fæurs, Monfeigneur l' Archeuefque de Roüen leur accorda leur congé auec autant d'amour & d'affeétion qu'il defire l'accroiffement de la gloire de noftre Sei- gneur en la conuerfion des pauures Sauuages: [4] la Mere de fainéte Marie & la fæur de fainét Nicolas toutes deux profeffes de ce Monafiere furent choifies auec vne tres-fenfible confolation de leur bon-heur, & auec les regrets de quantité d'autres qui foufpi- roient apres cefte croix qu'ils enuifageoient comme vn Paradis. Madame de la Pelletrie fondatrice d'vn Seminaire de petites filles fauuages & des Religieufes Vrfulines qu'elle à fait paffer en ces contrées, defi- rant qu'on leur amenaft vne Profeffe du Conuent de Paris, Monfeigneur l' Archeuefque s'intereffant dans la caufe de Dieu, & voulant auoir part à 1'inftruétion 16401 RELA TION OF r640 65 [3] CHAPTER FIRST. OF THE VOYAGE OF THE FLEET, AND ITS ARRIVAL IN NEW FRANCE. F ATHER René Menart, 5 having arrived at Kebec, related to us some details of the V oyage of the Fleet this year, which seem to me very worthy to compose this first chapter. "Our ships," said he, " set out from their Anchorage on the twen- ty-sixth of March. Madame the Duchess d' Aiguil- Ion having increased the endowment of her Hospital in New France, and desiring, consequently, that two Nuns of the house of Mercy established at Dieppe should come and give some help to their good sis- ters, Monseigneur the Archbishop of Rouen granted them their dismissal, with a love and affection pro- portionate to his desire for the increase of the glory of our Lord in the conversion of the poor Savages. [4] Mother de sainte Marie and sister de saint Nicho- las, both professed nuns of this Monastery, were chosen, with very keen appreciation of their good fortune, and with regrets for the many others who were sighing for this cross, which they regarded as a Paradise. As Madame de la Pelletrie, foundress of a Seminary for little savage girls and for the Ur- suline Nuns whom she has had cross over into these countries, desired that there should be brought to them a Professed Nun of the Convent of Paris,6 and as Monseigneur the Archbishop, who interests him- self in the cause of God, and wishes to participate in 66 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 & au falut des ames que ces bonnes filles cultiueront, ne iugeant pas à propos qu'vne feule fortit de fon Conuent en enuoya deux, fçauoir efi la Mere Anne de fainéte Claire, & la Mere Marguerite de fainéte Athanafe qui enleuerent auec elles tous les cæurs de cefie grande Maifon. Voyla donc quatre Religieufes embarquées dans Ie vaiffeau nommé 1'Efperance, conduit par Monfieur de Courpon fort honefie Gentil- homme, lequel à obligé ces [5J bonnes ames au der- nier point: ie ne fçay fi les demons preuoyoient quelque grand bien de ce paffage, mais il femble qu'il nous ayent voulu abyfmer dé la rade, ils foufleuerent tout l'Ocean, defchainerent les vents, exciterent des tempefies fi horribles & fi continuës qu'elles nous penferent perdre à la veuë de Dieppe: nous fufmes dans ces dangers racontoit Ie Pere, depuis Ie vingt-fixiefme de Mars iufques au vingt- huiétiefme d' Auril battus de pluye & de neige auffi pres de la mort que nous l'efiions des cofies de France, vn vaiffeau de fainét Valery qui efioit en rade auec nous fe détachant de fes ancres s'alla brifer à nos yeux, tout ce qui efioit dedans fe perdit, les hommes furent engloutis dans les ondes & de vingt ou enuiron qu'ils efioient dans ce Nauire il ne s'en fauua que trois, la mort qui moiffonnoit ces corps fembloit nous attendre à tous moments pour nous deuorer, i'entendois plufieurs perfonnes detefier 1 'heure & Ie moment que la penfée leur efioit venuë en l'efprit [6J de monter fur mer, & de confier leur vie à la mercy d'vn cable, la vertu anime puiffamment vn cæur, ces bonnes filles qui en autre temps auroient tremblé dans vn bafieau deffus la Seine, fe mocquoient de la mort, & de fes appro- ches, en effet il importe peu qu'on meure fur la terre 1640] RELA TION OF .1640 67 the instruction and salvation of the souls that these good sisters will cultivate, did not judge it proper for one alone to leave her Convent, he sent two, namely, Mother Anne de sainte Claire and Mother 1vlarguerite de sainte Athanase, and all the hearts of this great House went with them. Accordingly, there were four Nuns who embarked in the vessel called the .. Esperance," under the command of Monsieur de Courpon, a very honest Gentleman, who favored these [5] good souls to the utmost. I do not know whether the demons foresaw some great blessing from this passage, but it seems as if they desired to engulf us from the time we left the roadstead. They raised up the whole Ocean, unchained the winds, and excited such horrible and continuous tempests that they almost made us perish in sight of Dieppe. We were in the midst of these dangers," related the Father, "from tbe twenty-sixtb of Marcb until the twenty-eighth of April, beaten upon by rain and snow, as near to death as we were to the coasts of France. A ship of saint Valery, which was in the roadstead with us, detaching itself from its anchors, went to pieces before our eyes, everything that was within being carried away. The men were engulfed in the waves; and, of twenty or thereabout who were in this Ship, only three were saved. The death that reaped these bodies, seemed at every moment wait- ing to devour us. I heard many persons cursing the hour and the moment when the thought entered their minds [6J to go upon the sea, and to entrust their lives to the mercy of a cable. Virtue animates a heart powerfully. These good sisters, who, at other times, would have trembled in a boat upon the Seine, mocked at death and its approaches. In fact, it mat- 68 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 ou dans les eaux, pourueu qu'on meure auec Dieu. Cefie tempefie efiant paffée i1 s'en eDeua vne autre auffi furieufe que la premiere comme on la vit naifire dans l'air, nos mariniers ietterent Ie fecond ancre qui nous fauua la vie, car Ie cable du premier qui nous auoit tenu iufques alors fe rompit en vn moment, & nofirc vaiffeau fe fufi perdu fans refource, fi Ie fecond ancre ne l' eufi arrefié. Si nous euitions vn peril nous tõbions dans l'autre, Ie cable manquant à nofire Vice-Admiral vn coup de mer Ie ietta fur nous auec vne telle fureur que les plus cõfians penfoiet efire perdus, iamais ie n'ay enuifagé la mort de fi prés, i'eu recours au grand fainét Iofeph, patron des contrées ou nous voulions aller, fi ce vaiffeau fe fufi auancé de vingt pas nous nous fuffions brifés, & 1'0- cean [7] nous auroit enfeuelis dedans fes ondes. Au point que ie prefentois mes væux à Dieu par 1'entre- mife de ce grand Sainét, on nous vint dire que Ie vent auoit efcarté ce vaiffeau, Dieu conferua les trois de nofire Flotte qui efioient en rade fans autre perte que d'vn cable & d'vn bafieau que la tempefie nous enleua, quelques vns auoient fait courre Ie bruit qu'vne des Religieufes efioit morte, & que l'autre eftoit à l' extremité. Ie defcendy en terre, difoit Ie Pere, pour affeurer du contraire; il eft vray qu'elles eurent de l'exercice vn grand mois durant pendant ces tem- pefies, que Dieu efprouua leur confiance, mais pas vne ne recula en arriere. Ah! qu'il fait bon fe ietter entre les bras de fa douce prouidence, & receuoir auec amour les coups que fa main nous donne, les Anges conferuoient nofire Flotte par les mefmes tempeftes que les demons excitoient pour la perdre, ie ne fçay fi depuis cent ans on a veu des vaiffeaux fi 1640] RELA TION OF I640 69 ters little whether one die upon the land or upon the sea, provided one die with God. This tempest hav- ing passed over, another arose as furious as the first. As they saw it arising in the air, our sailors cast the second anchor, which saved our lives; for the cable of the first, which, until then, had secured us, broke in a moment, and our ship would have been hope- lessly lost if the second anchor had not held us fast. If we avoided one danger, we fell into another. Our Vice Admiral missing the cable, a wave dashed it upon us with such fury that the most steadfast thought they were lost. Never have I confronted death so near. I had recourse to the great saint Joseph, patron of the countries where we wished to go. If this ship had advanced twenty paces, we would have been dashed to pieces, and the Ocean [7] would have swallowed us in its waves. At the moment when I was offering my vows to God through the medium of this great Saint, they came to tell me that the wind had passed by this vessel. God pre- served the three of our Fleet which were in the road- stead, without other loss than that of a cable, and of a boat that the tempest carried away from us. Some had circulated the report that one of the Nuns was dead, and that another was dying. I landed," said the Father, "to assure them of the contrary. It is true they were in some anxiety during the long month of these tempests when God was proving their constancy, but not one of them drew back. Ah! how good it is to cast oneself into the arms of his sweet providence, and to receive with love the strokes that his hands give us! The Angels pre- served our Fleet through the same tempests that the demons excited to destroy it. I do not know that 70 LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES [VOL. 18 long temps en rade ny batus de vents fi fortement contraires, cefie furie nous enchaifnãt près du port nous deffendoit [8] contre des fregates ennemyes équipées en guerre qui nous att ndoient au paffage, fi bien que fi nous euffions leué l'ancre vn iour deuant nofire defpart, nous fuffions infailliblement tombez entre les mains de l'ennemy. Madame Ia Ducheffe d' Aiguillon ayant eu aduis de cet embufcade fit en forte que Monfeigneur Ie Cardinal de Richelieu com- manda aux vaiffeaux du Havre de nous donner efcorte, comme nous nous mettions en deuoir de les aller ioindre, nous rencontrafmes cinq fregates Dun- querquoifes, auffi tofi on met la main aux armes, on iette les canons hors des fabors, chacun fe difpofe au combat, Monfieur de Courpon nofire Admiral s'a- uance, mais ces fregates efiant embaraffées de deux vaiffeaux Hollandois qui nous auoient quittez la nuiét precedente, & qui venoient d'efire pris vn peu auant que nous paruffions s'efcarterent de nous voyans à nofire contenance que nous eftions pour leur difpu- ter fortement la viétoire, nous arriuafmes au Havre incontinent apres, où nous trouuafmes cinquante Na- uires à l'ancre [9] qui nous attendoient, Ie vent nous fauorifant Monfieur de Beaulieu qui commandoit la flotte RoiaIe, nous fit entourer de quarante vaiffeaux. Ie ne penfois pas eftre en mer, difoit Ie Pere, me voyãt enuironné de tant de bois, comme nous vogui- ons dans cette affeurance, les vaiffeaux du Roy def- couurirent huiét fregates ennemies aufquelles ils don- nerent la chaffe; mais elles euaderent à la faueur du vent, l'efcorte Royale nous voyans hors de la manche & hors du danger nous quitta. Voila comme les tempeftes nous voulant perdre au port nous prote- 1640] RELA TION OF I640 71 for a hundred years vessels have been seen so long anchored, or assailed by winds so very contrary. This fury, chaining us near the port, defended us [8] against hostile frigates equipped for war, which were awaiting us at the passage,- so that, if we had weighed anchor one day before our departure, we would infallibly have fallen into the hands of the enemy. Madame the Duchess d' Aiguillon, having been advised of this ambuscade, so arranged that Monseigneur the Cardinal de Richelieu ordered the ships of Havre to convoy us. As we were about to go and join them, we encountered five Dunkirk frigates. Immediately the weapons are grasped, the cannons are thrust out of the portholes,- everyone is ready for the combat. Monsieur de Courpon, our Admiral, advances. But these frigates- being em- barrassed by two Dutch ships that had left us the previous night, and which had just been captured a little while before we appeared - turned away from us, seeing in our faces that we were ready stubbornly to dispute the victory with them. We reached Havre directly afterwards, where we found fifty Ships at anchor [9] which were awaiting us. The wind fa- voring us, Monsieur de Beaulieu, who commanded the Royal fleet, had us surrounded by forty ships. I did not think that I was upon the sea," said the Fa- ther, " seeing myself encompassed by so much wood. As we floated along in this security, the ships of the King discovered eight hostile frigates, to which they gave chase. But they escaped, owing to a favorable wind. The Royal escort, seeing us out of the chan- nel and out of danger, left us. Thus the tempests, ready to destroy us in the port, protected us against our enemies. As soon as we were upon the high 72 LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES [VOL. 18 geoient contre les ennemis, fi-tofi que nous fufmes en haute mer les vents nous fauoriferent pour la plufpart du temps, nous eufmes quelques petites bou- rafques; mais de peu de durée. Ie n'ay point veu plus de deuotion fur la terre que fur la mer, les prin- cipaux de nofire flotte, les paiIagers & les mate lots affifioient au diuin feruice que nous chantions fort fouuent, ils frequentoient les Sacremens, fe trou- uoient aux prieres & aux leétures publiques qu' on faifoit en fon temps, mais la deuotion fut tres-fen- fible & tres-remarquable [10] Ie iour du fainét Sacre- met, on pre para vn autel magnifique dans la chambre de noftre Admiral, tout l' equipage dreiIa vn repofoir fur l'auant du vaiiIeau, noftre Seigneur voulant efire adoré fur cet element fi mobile, nous donna vn calme fi doux que nous penfions voguer fur vn efiang, nous fifmes vne proceffion vrayement folemnelle, puis que tout Ie monde y affifia & que la pieté & la deuotion la faifoient marcher en bel ordre toute à l'entour du vaiiIeau, nofire frere Dominique Scot reuefiu d'vn furplis portoit la croix, aux deux cofiés de laquelle marchoient deux enfans portans vn flambeau ardent en la main, fuiuoient les Religieufes auec leurs cierges blancs & vne modeftie Angelique, apres Ie Preftre qui portoit Ie fainét Sacrement marchoit l' Admiral de la flotte, & en fuitte tout l' equipage, les canons firent retentir l'air & les ondes de leur ton- nerre, & les Anges prenoient plaifir d'entendre les loüanges que nos cæurs & nos bouches donnoiet à leur Prince & à noftre fouuerain Roy. 11 n'y eut que fept perfonnes qui n'approchaffent [II] de la íainéte table, & encor s'efioient ils repus vn peu auparauant de cette viande facrée; enfin apres auoir 1640] RELA TION OF I640 73 sea, the wind favored us during most of the time; we had some slight squalls, but they were of short duration. I have not seen more devotion upon the land than there was upon the sea; the chief person- ages of our fleet, the passengers, and the sailors attended divine service, which we celebrated very often. They frequented the Sacraments, and were present at prayers and the public readings that were given at suitable times. But the devotion was most profound and most conspicuous [10] on the day of the blessed Sacrament. A magnificent altar was pre- pared in the chamber of our Admiral; the whole crew erected an altar at the prow of the ship; our Lord, desiring to be adored upon this so unstable element, gave us a calm so peaceful that we could imagine ourselves floating upon a pond. We formed a procession truly solemn, since everyone took part in it, and their piety and devotion caused them to march in fine order all around the ship. Our broth- er Dominique Scot, wearing a surplice, bore the cross, on either side of which marched two children, each bearing a lighted torch in his hands; the Nuns followed with their white wax tapers, in Angelic modesty; after the Priest, who carried the blessed Sacrament, walked the Admiral of the fleet, and then the whole crew. The cannons made the air and the waves resound with their thunder, and the Angels took pleasure in hearing the praises that our hearts and our lips gave to their Prince and to our sovereign King. There were only seven persons who did not approach [II] the holy table, and yet they had feasted upon this sacred food a little while before." Finally, after having enjoyed very fair weather after this act so imbued with piety, the Ad- 74 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 iouy d'affez beau-temps depuis cette aétion, toute plaine de pieté, l' Admiral arriua à TadouíIac Ie der- nier de Iuin, où Ie fainét Iacques efioit entré deux iours auparauant, Ie Pere Menard s'embarquant dans vne chalouppe auec nofire frere Dominique Scot, laiffa Ie Pere Iofeph Duperron & nofire frere Iaques Ratel auec les Religieufes, pour nous venir donner promptement nouuelles de 1'arriuée de la flotte, bref Ie Dimanche au matin Ie fainct Iacques commandé par Ie Capitaine Ancelot, vint moüiller l'ancre deuant Kebec, Monfieur nofire Gouuerneur defcendit fur Ie port auec noítre R. P. Superieur, pour receuoir nos Peres & pour conduire ces filles vrayement genereufes en leurs maifons, au fortir du vaiffeau elles fe iettent à genoux, baife la terre tant defirée, chantent vn Laudate Dominum 011l1ZeS Gentes, & Madame de la Pel- letrie accompagnée de fes petites Seminarifies genti- ment vefiuës, embraffe ces bonnes Religieufes, [12] les conduit premierement en la Chappelle des Vrfu- lines, comme efiant la plus proche du Quay, noftre Eglife & nofire maifon ayant efié bruílées, on les mena en cette Chappelle pour adorer nofire Seigneur, & pour Ie remercier des faueurs qu'elles auoient receuës de fa bonté, delà elle vont faluer Monfieur nofire Gouuerneur en fon fort, puis on les mena cha- qu'vnes dans leurs maifons, où la ioye & la charité leur donna entrée, elles fortirent du vaiffeau plus faines qu'elles n'y efioient entrées, la pauureté & les incommoditez des maifons bafiies fur la terre, femble des palais & des richeffes à ceux qui fortent d'vne maifon de bois flottante au gré des vents & des vagues, Ie landemain on les conduifit à S. Iofeph, pour leur faire veoir les Sauuages, qui les ont attirées en ce 1640] RELA TION OF I640 75 miral arrived at Tadoussac on the last of June, where the" saint Jacques" had entered two days before. Father Menard, embarking in a shallop with our brother, Dominique Scot, left Father Joseph Duper. ron and our brother Jacques Ratel with the Nuns, that he might promptly come to give us news of the fleet's arrival. In brief, on Sunday morning the "saint Jacques," commanded by Captain Ancelot, came and cast anchor opposite Ke bec; Monsieur our Governor went down to the wharf with OUT Rever- end Father Superior, to receive our Fathers, and to escort these truly generous sisters to their houses. Upon leaving the ship they fell upon their knees, kissed the ground so long desired, and sang the Lau- date Domi1'lum omnes Gentes; and Madame de la Pelle- trie, accompanied by her little Seminarists, neatly dressed, embraced these good Nuns, [12J whom she conducted first to the Chapel of the U rsulines, this being the nearest to the Quay, as our Church and house had been burned. They were taken to this Chapel to adore our Lord, and to thank him for the favors they had received from his goodness. Thence they went to salute Monsieur our Governor in his fort; then they were taken to their own houses, where joy and love welcomed them. They left the ship in better health than when they had entered it. Poverty and discomfort, in houses that are built upon the land seem palaces and riches to those who come forth from a house of wood floating at the will of the winds and the waves. The next day, we took them to St. Joseph, to show them the Savages who have attracted them to this new world. They were pres- ent at prayers, and at the instruction that was being 76 LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES [VOL. 18 nouueau monde, elles affifierent aux prieres & à l'in- firuétion qu'on leur fit. La ioye deroboit leurs cæurs & leurs yeux, ce pauure peuple admiroit la genereufe eonfianee de ces ieunes Amazones, qui malgré 1'0_ eean viennent chercher Ie [13J falut de ces barbares en ees derniers confins du monde, bref ayant vifité les pauures demeures de ce peuple; elles fe retire- rent en leur c1ofiure, pour la garder fuiuant leurs Reigles & leurs Infiituts. Quelques iours apres leur arriuée, la Mere de fainéte Marie Hofpitaliere efi tombée malade, e'efi vn petit agneau tout difpofé pour entrer dans Ie bercail du vray Berger, il femble neantmoins que Dieu luy veille rendre la fanté. Pour conc1ufion de ce Chapitre, ie diray ces deux mots à vne infinité de Religieufes, qui bruílent d'vn defir de fuiure celles qui font paffées. Ce n'efi pas tout d' efire enuoyées de la France, i1 faut efire appellée de la nouuelle, pour faire icy plus de fruiét que de bruit. Les filles ne fçauroient penetrer dans les Nations plus éloignées & plus peuplées; i1 en eft venu tres-fuffifamment pour les occupations qu'elles peuuent auoir dans vn païs qui ne fait que de naifire. Celles à qui l'humilité. l'obeyffance & l'appel leurs ont [14J donné des patentes, ont efié receuës à bras ouuerts des Anges gardiens de ees eontrées, elles co- operent fainctement auec ees bien-heureux efprits au falut de ces peuples, en effet & les Hofpitalieres & les Vrfulines font dans la ioye, elles ont paffé l'année dãs vne profonde paix, eheries des François & des Sauuages, tres-zelées pour les fonétions de leur infii- tut. Ce bon-heur n'en doit point attirer dauantage, puis qu'vn plus grand nombre n'efi pas de faifon, Ie païs fe faifant tous les iours ouurira en fon temps la 1640] RELATION OF r640 77 given. Joy stole away their hearts and their eyes. These poor peoples admired the noble constancy of these young Amazons, who, in spite of the Ocean, came to seek the [13] salvation of these barbarians in these farthest confines of the earth. In brief, having visited the poor dwellings of these people, they retired to their own sed usion, to observe it according to their Rules and their Institutes. Some days after their arrival, Mother de sainte Marie, a Hospital Nun, fell sick. Here was a dear lamb all ready to enter the fold of the true Shepherd. It seems, how- ever, that God willed her to be restored to health. As a conclusion to this Chapter, I will say these few words to a vast number of Nuns, who burn with a desire to follow those who have crossed over. It is not everything to be sent from France; one must be called by new [France], in order to produce more fruit here than noise. The sisters cannot penetrate into the more distant and more populous Nations; those who have come are amply sufficient for the occupations they can have in a country which has accomplished only its birth. Those to whom humil- ity, obedience, and vocation have [14J given diplo- mas, have been received with open arms by the guardian Angels of these countries. They coöperate piously with those blessed spirits in the salvation of these peoples. In fact, both the Hospital Nuns and the U rsulines are full of joy. They have passed the year in profound peace, cherished by the French and Savages, very zealous in the functions of their order. This happiness ought not to attract more of them, since a greater number would be unseasonable; as the country grows every day, it will, at the proper 78 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 porte aux autres. 11 faut pour Ie prefent bander to us nos nerfs pour arrefter les Sauuages, au commence- ment que nous vinfmes en ces contrées, comme nous n'efperions quafi rien des vieux arbres, nous erl1ploi- ons toutes nos forces à cultiuer les ieunes plãtes, mais noftre Seigneur nous donnant les adultes nous cõuertiffons les grãdes def peces, que nous faifiõs pour Ies enfãs, au fecours de leurs peres & de leurs meres, les aydant à cultiuer la terre & à fe loger dans vne maifon fixe & permanente, nous retenons neantmoins encor auec nous quelques [15] petits or- phelins delaiffés. Mais noftre plus grand effort doit tendre à rallier ces pauures brebis egarées, fans cela il n'y a point d' occupation en ces contrées pour des Religieufes, notamment pour les Vrfulines, il n'en eft pas de mefme de nous autres; car nous penetrons és nations fedentaires, où les filles n' ont aucun accés, tant pour l'eloignement de nos François qui les conferuent, que pour l'horreur des chemins, & pour les grands trauaux & dangers qui furpaiIent leur fexe, les filles & Ies femmes ne fçauroient monter plus haut que l'Ille de Montreal, où Ie fault fainét Louys: or eft il que depuis l'embouchure du fleuue S. Laurens iufques à cette Ille, tous les Sauuages font errans, i1 les faut done reduire à vne vie fedëtaire, fi on veut auoir leurs enfans, ceux qui prenoient plaifir de fecourir noftre feminaire feront confoIés, voyant que les depenfes qu'on faifoit pour des enfans, eftant employées à faire vne petite mai- fon, arrefient & gaignent à Iefus-Chrift Ie pere, la mere & les enfans. N ous auons fait quatre petits logemens cette année, voila pour quatre [16] familIes, ces bonnes gens font rauis voyant cette charité, Ie 1640] RELA TION OF I640 79 time, open the door to the others. At present, we must strain every nerve to arrest the Savages. When we first came into these countries, as we hoped for scarcely anything from the old trees, we employed all our forces in cultivating the young plants; but, as our Lord gave us the adults, we are turning the great outlay we made for the children to the succor of their fathers and mothers,- helping them to cul- tivate the land, and to locate in a fixed and perma- nent home; we still retain with us, however, some [15] little abandoned orphans. But our strongest efforts ought to tend towards rallying these poor lost sheep. Without this, there is no occupation in these countries for Nuns, especially for the Ursulines. It is not the same with us; for we penetrate into the sed- entary nations, where the sisters have no access,- not only on account of the remoteness of our French who have charge of them, but of the horrors of the roads, and the great hardships and dangers, which are beyond their sex. The girls and women cannot go up farther than the Island of Montreal, or the sault saint Louys. Now it happens that from the mouth of the river St. Lawrence up to this Island, all the Savages are wanderers; hence they must be brought to a sedentary life, if we wish to have their children. Those who took pleasure in assisting our seminary will be consoled by seeing that the outlays made for the children, being employed in erecting a little house, arrest and win for Jesus Christ the father, the mother, and the children. We have built four little lodgings this year, and in these there are four [16] families. These good people are delighted at seeing this charity. The whole may amount to 80 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 tout peut reuenir à quatre ou cinq cens efcus, helas! ce n'efi qu'vn COUp de dez en France, ou vne fimple collation, & dans nos grands bois c'efi Ie falut de quatre pauures familIes, qui peut efire ne verroient iamais Dieu fi on ne leur prefioit ce fecours. 1640] RELA TION OF I640 81 four or five hundred écus. Alas! it is only one throw of the dice in France, or one simple collation; and in our great woods it is the salvation of four poor families, who perhaps would never see God if this aid were not lent them. 82 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 CHAPITRE II. DE L'ESTAT GENERAL DE LA COLONIE FRANÇOISE, & DE LA CONUERSION DES SAUUAGES. L A, paix, 1'amour & la bonne intelligence regne parmy nos François. La foy s'eftend & iette de profondes racines parm y les Sauuages, ces quatre paroles fuffiroient pour monftrer que nous viuons icy dans vn fiec1e d'or. Ceux qui nous ont par1é des fiec1es dorés, ne les embeliffoient pas des mines du Perou, mais d'vne in- nocence preferable aux richeffes de l'vn & de 1'autre hemifphere. [17] Si bien que nous pouuons quafi dire que l'vfage de fer, rend les fiec1es d'or, & l'v- fage de l'or fait les fiec1es de fer. II eft vray qu'on vit en ces contrées dans vne gran de innocence, la vertu y regne comme dans fon empire, Ie vice qui la pourfuit inceffamment, n'y paroît qu'en cachette & à la derobée, ne fe produifant iamais fans confufion. Les principaux habitãs de ce nouueau monde, defi- reux de conferuer cette benediétion du Ciel, fe font rangés fous les drapeaux de la fainéte Vierge, à l'honneur de laquelle ils entendent tous les Samedis la fainéte Meffe, frequentent fouuet les Sacremens de vie, prefte l' oreille aux difcours qu' on leur fait des grandeurs de cette Princeffe, & du bon-heur de la paix & de l'vnion qui les allie ça bas en terre, pour les rendre vne mefme chofe auec Dieu dedans les Cieux, cette deuotion a banny les inimitiés & les 1640] RELA TION OF I640 83 CHAPTER II. OF THE GENERAL CONDITION OF THE FRENCH COLO- NY, AND THE CONVERSION OF THE SAVAGES. P EACE, love, and good understanding reign among our French people. The faith is extending, and taking deep root among the Savages. These few words might suffice to show that we are living here in a golden age. Those who have told us about golden ages did not embellish them with Peruvian mines, but with an innocence preferable to the riches of either hemi- sphere; [17] so that we can almost say that the use of iron renders the ages golden, and the use of gold makes the ages iron. Verily, one lives in these countries in great innocency ,- virtue reigns here as if in its empire; vice, which pursues it incessantly, only appears secretly and by stealth, never introduc- ing itself without humiliation. The principal inhab- itants of this new world, desiring to preserve this blessing of Heaven, have ranged themselves under the banner of the blessed Virgin, in whose honor they hear the holy Mass every Saturday, often frequent the Sacraments of life, and lend ear to the discourses that are given them on the dignities of this Princess, and on the blessedness of the peace and union that bind them here below on earth, to render them one with God in Heaven. This devotion has banished enmities and coldness; it has introduced pure dis- course in the place of too licentious language; it has 84 LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES [V OL. 18 froideurs, elle a introduit de bons difcours, au lieu des paroles trop libertines, elle a fait reuiure la cou- flume de prier Dieu publiquemet foir & matin dans les familIes, elle a donné des affeétions de la pureté à quelques [18] perfonnes dans Ie mariage, iufques à prefenter leurs væux par mutuel accord, à l'integrité de la fainéte Vierge, & les renouueller de temp en temps, pour receuoir plus fainétement fon fils bien aymé dedans leurs cæurs. L'année paffé les che- nilles, les fauterelles & les autres vermines, man- geant tout ce qui fortoit de la terre, on fit quelques proceffions & quelques prieres publiques pour cet effet, chofe eftrange, Ie iour fuiuant ces beftioles moururent & difparurent en telle forte, que telle per- fonne a recueilly plus de trente poinffons de froment, n'en efperant pas dix boiffeaux. Au refte nous viuons icy fort contens & fort fatis- faits, les François font en bonne fanté, l'air du pays leur eft bon, auffi eft-il pur & fain, la terre commence à leur donner des grains abondamment, les guerres, les procez, les debats & les querelles ne l'empeftent point, en vn mot, Ie chemin du Ciel femble plus court & plus affeuré de nos grands bois, que de vos grandes villes, il eft vray que nous ne penfons point eftre feuls dans vn pays eftranger, auffi n'y fommes nous [19] pas, puis que nous n'auons tous qu'vn mefme Prince & qu'vn mefme Roy, que nous aymons & que nous honorons vniquement, nous fifmes l'an paffé des feux de refiouyffance pour la naiffance de Monfeigneur Ie Dauphin, nous priafmes Dieu par vne proceffion folemnelle, de rendre cet enfant femblable à fon pere, noftre ioye & noftre affeétion, ne s' eft pas con- tenuës dans les limites d'vne année, Monfieur Ie Che- 1640] RELA TION OF I640 85 revived the custom in families of publicly praying to God, evening and morning; it has given desires for purity to some [18] persons in marriage, even to offering their vows by mutual accord to the chastity of the blessed Virgin, and to renewing these, from time to time, that they may more holily receive her well-beloved son in their hearts. Last year, the caterpillars, grasshoppers, and other insects eating all that came out of the earth, some processions and public prayers were made on this account; strange to say, the following day these little animals died, and disappeared so entirely, that a certain person reaped more than thirty puncheons of grain. though not expecting over ten bushels. Moreover, we live here in great contentment and satisfaction. The French are in good health; the air of the country agrees with them. as it is pure and salubrious; the soil is beginning to yield them grain in abundance; wars, lawsuits, disputes, and quarrels do not infect them. In a word, the road to Heaven seems shorter and surer from our great for- ests than from your large cities. True, we do not think of ourselves as being alone in a strange coun- try; nor are we so, [19] since we all have only one and the same Prince and the same King , whom alone we love and honor. Last year, we made bonfires for the birth of Monseigneur, the Dauphin; we entreated God, by a solemn procession to make this child like his father. Our joy and our affection were not kept within the bounds of one year; Monsieur the Cheva- lier de Montmagny, our Governor, wishing to prolong it, has had a Tragi-comedy represented this year, in honor of this newborn Prince. I would not have be- lieved that so handsome apparel and so good actors 86 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 ualier de Montmagny noftre Gouuerneur la voulant prolonger, à fait reprefenter cette année vne Tragi- comedie en l'honneur de ce Prince nou ueau né, ie n'aurois pas creu qu'on eut peu trouuer vn fi gentil appareil, & de fi bons acteurs à Kebec, Ie fieur Martial Piraubé qui conduifoit cette aétion & qui en reprefentoit Ie premier perfonnage, reuffit auec excel- lence; mais afin que nous Sauuages en peuffent reti- rer quelque vtilité, Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur doüé d'vn zele & d'vne prudence non commune, nous in- uita d'y Ineíler quelque chofe qui leur pût donner dans la veuë & frapper leurs oreilles, nous fifmes pour- fuiure fame d'vn infidelle par [20] deux demons, qui en fin la precipiterent dans vn enfer, qui vomiffoit des flames, les refiftances, les cris & les hurlemens de cette ame & de ces demons, qui parloient en langue Algonquine, donnerent s'y auant dans Ie cæur de quelques vns, qu'vn Sauuage nous dit à deux iours de là, qu'il auoit efté fort efpouuanté la nuiét par vn fonge tres-affreux, ie voyois difoit-il, vn gouffre hor- rible, d' où fortoient des flames & des demons, il me fembloit qu'ils me vouloient perdre, ce qui me donna bien de la terreur, bref ce pauure peuple fe vient rendre à Iefus-Chrift de iour en iour, Ie fecours qu'on leur donne pour defricher & pour cultiuer la terre les encourage fi fort, que c' eft vne benediétion de les voir prier & trauailler [en] fon temps. . Les bons exemples des principaux de cette colonie les gagnent puiffamment, :Monfieur noftre Gouuer- neur approche par fois de la fainéte table auec eux, il les honore de fa prefence, les venant vifiter à S. Iofeph, ayant appris que ces bons Neophites deuoient communier Ie iour de fefte de noftre Pere & Patri- 1640] RELATION OF I640 87 could be found in Kebec. Sieur Martial Piraubé,7 who had charge of this performance, and who repre- sented the chief personage, succeeded excellently; but in order that our Savages might derive some benefit from it, }'fonsieur the Governor, endowed with uncommon zeal and prudence, invited us to put something into it which might strike their eyes and their ears. vVe had the soul of an un believer pur- sued by [20] two demons, who finally hurled it into a hell that vomited forth flames; the struggles, cries, and shrieks of this soul and of these demons, who spoke in the Algonquin tongue. penetrated so deeply into the hearts of some of them, that a Savage told us, two days afterward. that he had been greatly frightened that night by a very horrible dream. "I saw, " said he, " a hideous gulf whence issued flames and demons. It seemed to me that they tried to destroy me, and this filled me with great terror." In brief, these poor peoples are giving themselves up to Jesus Christ from day to day; the help that is given them in clearing and cultivating the land encourages them so greatly, that it is a blessing to see them praying and working, each in due time. The good examples of the chief men of this colony strongly influence them; Monsieur our Governor sometimes approaches the holy table with them; he honors them by his presence, coming to visit them at St. Joseph. Having learned that these good N eo- phytes were to receive communion on the day of the feast of our Father and Patriarch, St. [2 I] Ignace, he came to perform his devotions with them in our Chapel of St. Joseph. Madame de la Peltrie was there at the same time, to be godmother to some chil- dren that were to be baptized. 'Vas it not beautiful 88 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 arche S. [21J Ignace, il vint faire fes deuotions auec eux en noftre Chapelle de S. Iofeph, Madame de la Peltrie s'y trouua en mefme temps, pour eftre mar- raine de quelques enfans qu'on deuoit baptifer, ne faifoit-il pas beau voir ces perfonnes de merite & de qualité, meí1ées parmy des Sauuages approcher tous enfemble de Iefus-Chrift, cette innocence nous fait vn fiec1e d'or. II y a quelque temps que nous difions aux Sauuages, que des perfonnes de condition auoient defiré d'eftre recommandés à leurs prieres quand ils communie- roient, que la Royne mefme auoit fouhaitté qu'ils priaffent Dieu pour fon Dauphin, comme ie ray ap- pris de bonne part, cela les eftonne & les confole, & donne vne apprehenfion de la grandeur de Dieu, & vne eftime des prieres, voyãs que des perfonnes fi releuées en font tant d'eftat, leur difant que cette bonne Princeffe auoit fait quelque aumofne pour les fecourir, que d'autres Dames ou femmes de Capitaines faifoient Ie mefme, qu'on prioit Dieu pour eux par toute la France, ils admiroient la bonté [22J & la no- bleffe du chriftianifme, qui abbaiffe les chofes grandes & releue les plus baffes. Quelques vns d'eux me dirent que tous les iours ils ne manquoient pas de prier pour les perfonnes qui les affiftoient, me nom- mant fort bien ceux qui ont eftably quelque fecours folide, pour les tirer de leurs grandes miferes. Les Chapitres fuyuans donneront de la confolation à ceux qui ont cooperé au fang de Iefus-Chrift, dont la vertu paroit auec eftonnement en ces pauures barbares. 1640] RELA TION OF I640 89 to see these worthy and titled persons, mingling with the Savages,- and all together approaching Jesus Christ? This simplicity creates for us a golden age. Some time ago, we told the Savages that persons of rank had desired to be recommended to their pray- ers when they received communion,-that even the Queen had wished them to pray to God for her Dau- phin, as I have learned on good authority. This surprises and consoles them, and gives them an idea of the greatness of God, and an esteem for prayer, seeing that personages so eminent value it so high- ly. Upon telling them that this good Princess had given some alms to succor them, that other Ladies or wives of Captains had done the same, that pray- ers for them were offered to God throughout all France,-they admired the goodness [22] and lofty character of Christianity, which abases great things and exalts the most humble. Some of them told me that they would not fail to pray daily for the persons who helped them, naming to me very well those who have given substantial help to draw them out of their great miseries. The following Chapters will afford some consolation to those who have coöperated with the blood of Jesus Christ, the virtue of which appears wonderfully in these poor barbarians. 90 LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES [VOL. 18 CHAPITRE III. LES SAUUAGES SE RASSEMBLENT À SAINCT JOSEPH APRES LA MALADIE, ELISENT QUELQUES CAPITAINES, & FONT P AROISTRE LEUR ZELE POUR LA FOY. I ' A Y veu quelquefois des pigeons effarez battus d'vn faucon, ces pauures oyfeaux voloient qui deçà qui delà à [23] lentour de leur colombier fans y entrer, puis leur ennemy venant à difparoifire ils venoient fondre tout à coup dans leur petite mai- fon, voila iufiement l'idée du pitoyable efiat auquel fe trouuoient l' an paffé nos Sauuages, la maladie les pourfuiuoit comme à tire d'aifies, ils tournoient à l'en- tour de la maiíon S. Iofeph, pafíoient & repafíoient dans leurs petites gondoles & canots, & voyant encor l'ombre du Vautour qui les chafíoit, ils s'enfuyoient derechef, mais enfin ce fleau venant à cefíer, ils fe font venus rejetter dans la demeure qu'ils ont choifis, Et Deus fecit cum telltatz"one prouentll111, Dieu leur a donné plus de courage qu'auparauant. Au temps qu'ils fe rafíembloient Ie R. P. Vimont nofire Supe- rieur, montant aux trois Riuieres en rencontra quel- ques vns en chemin, deíquels il m'eícriuit en ces termes, Nous arriuafmes hier fur Ie midy chez Mon- fieur de la Poterie, nous n' en pourrons partir que ce iourd 'huy prefque à mefme heure, pource que nos mattelots ont laifíé eíchouër nofire chalouppe trop haut, ie n'ay peu trouuer de canot pour gaigner Ie deuant, [24] car i1 n'y en a icy que deux; dont l'vn 1640] RELA TION OF I640 91 CHAPTER III. THE SAVAGES REASSEMBLE AT SAINT JOSEPH AFTER THE EPIDEMIC, ELECT SEVERAL CAPTAINS, AND SHOW THEIR ZEAL FOR THE FAITH. I HAVE sometimes seen frightened pigeons at- tacked by a hawk. These poor birds would fly here and there [23] around their dovecote, with- out entering it; then, their enemy happening to dis- appear, they would suddenly dart into their little home. This is precisely the image of the pitiable condition in which our Savages were last year. The malady pursued them with flapping wings, as it were; they hovered around the house of St. Joseph, passed and repassed in their little gondolas and canoes, and, still seeing the shadow of the Vulture that pursued them, they again took flight; but final- ly, as this scourge began to abate, they came and took refuge in the dwelling they have chosen, Et Deus fecit cum telltatione proventum, God has given them more courage than before. At the time they were reassembling, the Reverend Father Vimont, our Superior, going up to the three Rivers, encoun- tered some of them on the way, of whom he wrote me in these terms: ""VV e reached 110nsieur de la Poterie's8 house yesterday about noon; we shall not be able to leave until to-day at about the same hour, because our sailors have let our shallop run aground too far up. I could not find a canoe, to go on ahead of it, [24] for there are only two here,-one of which 92 LES RELA TI01VS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 s'en va à S. Iofeph, l'autre doit feruir à trente Sau- uages ou enuiron, que ie rencontray icy hier au foir, ie les fis prier Dieu & les enfeignay Ie mieux que ie peu, ils me forcerent de chanter Irinitik, (c'efi vn Cantique compofé en leur langue) Dieu fçait comme ie m' en acquité, ie paffay pourtant iufques au bout auec les Litanies, ie leur expofay comme vofire Re- uerence & moy, leur auions procuré la Gribane, pour mener leur petit bagage à S. Iofeph, & que Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur leur accordoit cette faueur pour les obliger à defricher la terre, ils s'y tefmoignerent fort portez, apres que i'eu par1é, ils me dirent d'eux mefmes qu'ils efioient parens du Capitaine de l'Ifle; mais cependant qu'ils ne l'aymoiët pas, pource qu'ils fçauoient bien qu'il ne fe montroit affectionné à la culture de la terre & à l'infiruétion qu'en apparence, prenant congé d'eux ie les affeuray que ie prefferois mon voyage, pour les venir prendre au retour & me fa ire leur Capitaine iufques à S. Iofeph, i' ay veu quelques vieilles femmes infirmes & [2SJ quelques en- fans, qui pourront augmenter l' occupation des meres Hofpitalieres & des meres Vrfulines, ie defire auec paffion de retourner bien vifie, & de contribuer quel- que chofe à l'arrefi de ces pauures Sauuages, i'oubliois vn mot qui me confola bien fort, ils adioufierent à leur harangue, qu'ils n'auoient point d'efprit pour retenir ce qu'on leur enfeignoit, pource qu'ils n'e- fioient point baptifez, & qu'ils fçauoient bien que Ie baptefme ayde à bien comprendre & à bien retenir, & que s'ils efioient baptifez ils auroient plus de force & plus d'efprit, pour apprendre les chofes de la foy, & pour faire comme les François, ie vous prie faluer de ma part V. Ces bonnes gens & plufieurs autres de 1640] RELA TION OF I640 93 goes to St. Joseph, the other must serve about thirty Savages whom I encountered here last evening. I had them pray to God, and taught them as well as I could. They made me sing the lrinitik (a Song composed in their language). God knows how I acquitted myself of this; however, I proceeded to the end with the Litanies. I eXplained to them how your Reverence and I had procured for them the Gribane, 9 to take their little baggage to St. Joseph, and that Monsieur the Governor was granting them this favor, in order to induce them to clear the land. They declared themselves very favorably inclined to this. After I had spoken, they told me that, as for themselves, they were relatives of the Captain of the Island; but that, however, they did not like him, because they knew very well that he showed himself interested in the cultivation of the land and in the instruction, only in appearance. Upon taking leave of them, I assured them that I would hasten my journey, in order to come and take them on my return, and make myself their Captain as far as St. Joseph. I saw some infirm old women and [25] some children, who may give the Hospital mothers and the Ursuline mothers more occupation. I desire ear- nestly to return very soon and contribute something towards the permanent settlement of these poor Sav- ages. I forgot one thought which consoled me very much. They added, in their address, that they had not the sense to retain what was taught them, be- cause they were not baptized,- that they were well aware that baptism aids in comprehending clearly and in remembering well; and that, if they were baptized, they would have more strength and more intelligence to learn the things pertaining to the faith, and to do 94 LES RELATIONS DES.lÉSUITES [VOL. 18 diuers endroits fe font enfin raffemblez à S. Iofeph, où ils ont fait ce que ie vay dire, tous les Chrefiiens qui font les principaux d'entre eux, firent vn com- plot, fans nous en rien dire, d'affembler les Sauuages pour les induire fortement à croire que fi quelqu'vn fe monftroit formellement ennemy de la foy, ils pri- rent refolution de la chaffer de la bourgade qu'ils [26] commencent. Nous ayant donné aduis de leur deffein, nous iugeafmes qu'il les falloit laiffer faire, & que cette aétion fi extraordinaire aux Sauuages, qui ne fe contredifent quafi iamais, s'eftimãs tous auffi grands feigneurs les vns que les autres, pouuoit prouenir de l'efprit de Dieu. L'affemblée faite trois Chreftiens haranguerent, Ie premier fut Eftienne Pi- garouik, iadis fameux forcier parmy eux, il aigrit vn petit les efpris de quelques payens par fa ferueur, car apres auoir tefmoigné qu'il ne craignoit point la mort, qu'il tiendroit à faueur qu'on Ie maffacraft pour la foy, il dit qu'il falloit bannir Ie diable de leur nou- uelle refidence, & que les mefcreans Ie retenoient auec eux, notamment ceux qui vouloiët auoir deux femmes, & par confequent qu'il falloit ou croire ou fe feparer, & que ceux qui auoient du courage de- uoient dire franchement leurs penfées fur ce fujet. Apres celuy-cy Noel N egabamat parla; mais plus moderement. L'experience fit iI, nous apprend que Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur, que les Peres & tous les [27] François nous ayment, vous voyez qu'ils ne fecourent pas feulement ceux qui font baptifez, ils nous aydent tous à cultiuer la terre & à nous loger, ils nous foula- gent en nos maladies, ils fubuiennent à nos difettes fans nous rien demander, n y fans attendre de nous aucune recompenfe, vous approuuez tous ces bonnes 1640] RELA TION OF I640 95 as the French do. I beg you, salute for me Yours." These good people, and many others from various places, finally gathered at St. Joseph, where they did what I am about to tell. All the Christians who are prominent among them mutually agreed, without telling us anything about it, to get the Sav- ages together and offer them strong inducements to believe; if anyone showed himself an open enemy to the faith, they resolved to drive him away from the village that they [26] are beginning. Having informed us of their intention, we judged that it was best to let them proceed, and that this action J so extraordinary among the Savages, who hardly ever contradict one another, each considering himself as great a lord as the other, might proceed from the spirit of God. The people being assembled, three Christians addressed them. The first was Estienne Pigarouik, formerly a famous sorcerer among them. He somewhat irritated the minds of some of the pagans by his fervor; for - after having testified that he did not fear death, that he would consider it a favor if they should murder him for the faith - he said that they must banish the devil from their new residence, and that the unbelievers retained him with them, especially those who wished to have two wives; and, consequently, that it was necessary either to believe or to separate, and that those who had courage ought frankly to express their opinions upon this subject. After this one, Noel Negabamat spoke, but more moderately. "Experience," he began, " teaches us that Monsieur the Governor, that the Fathers, and all the [27] French love us. You see that they suc- cor not only those who are baptized, they aid us all 96 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 aétions, vous dites tous, cela eft bien, ces gens là nous ayment; mais íçachez que fi ce qu'ils font eft bon, ce qu'ils enfeignent eft encore meilleur, ils ne diíent pas qu'ils iront tous íeuls au Ciel, ils difent que nous fommes tous freres, que nous n'auons qu'vn meíme Pere, que les plaifirs de l'autre vie font auffi-bien pour nous que pour eux, vous fçauez ce qu'ils enfei- gnent, vous les efcoutez tous les iours, il me femble que nous deurions nous vnir tous d'vne meíme creance, puis que nous voulons nous raffembler dans vne mefme bourgade. lean Baptifte Etinechkadat qui eft Capitaine d'ex- traétion, parla Ie dernier. Vous fçauez (dit-il) que ie ne fuis pas grand diícoureur, que ma langue tient [28] mon palais, & qu' à peine ma bouche eft elle percée, ie fuis defia âge, ie commance à pen fer plus qu'à parler: or ie vous affeure que i'ay bien confidere la Foy deuant que de l'embraffer, ie ne me fuis pas rendu à la premiere femonce, mais i'en fuis mainte- nant fi fatisfait que plus ie la confidere, & plus ie l'ayme, & par confequent fi vous auez quelque cre- ance en moy ne craignez point de l' em braffer, ie croy que l'vnique moyen de reffufciter voftre nation qui fe va perdre c'eft de vous r'affembler tous, & de croire en Dieu, non par feintiíe, mais du fond du cæur; & comme i1 eft bon, & qu'il peut tout, il nous fera reuiure, & nous conferuera. V oyla ce que dirent nos Chreftiens en cefte premiere affemblée qui fe fit la nuiét en laquelle nous ne nous trouuafme point non plus qu'aux autre íuiuantes, nos Neophytes ou pluftoft noftre Seigneur conduiíoit tout cet affaire. Vn Payen feul, homme arrogant, mais qui la autre- fois efté dauantage, prit la parole apres ces trois 1640] RELA TION OF I640 97 to cultivate the land, and to furnish ourselves with lodgings; they relieve us in our sicknesses, they pro- vide for us in our want, without asking us for any- thing. nor expecting any recompense from us. You all approve of these good actions; you all say' That is good, those people love us.' But know that if what they do is good, what they teach is still better. They do not say that they all will go alone to Heav- en; they say that we all are brothers, that we have only one and the same Father, that the pleasures of the other life are for us as well as for them. You know what they teach,-you listen to them every day. It seems to me we all ought to unite in one and the same belief, since we wish to assemble in one and the Salne village." Jean Baptiste Etinechkavat, who is a Captain by descent, spoke last. " You know" (said he) "that I am not a great talker,-that my tongue clings [28] to my palate, and that it is hard to open my lips. I am already old, I am beginning to think more than to speak. Now I assure you that I con- sidered the Faith well before embracing it, I did not yield to the first invitation; but I am now so satisfied that, the more I consider it, the more I love it; and consequently, if you have any faith in me, do not fear to embrace it. I believe that the only means of restoring your nation, which is going to destruction, is for you all to assemble and to believe in God,- not hypocritically, but from the depths of your hearts; and as he is good, and as he can do all, he will re- store and preserve us." That was what our Chris- tians said in this first assembly, which took place at night; we were not present there, nor were we at the following ones. Our Neophytes, or rather our Lord, conducted this whole affair. 98 LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES [VOL. 18 harangues. Ie voy bien, dit-il, qu'on nous veut chaffer, il efi vray qu'on ne s'attaqua pas fi direéte- ment [29] à moy qu'à vn tel, qui efi mon parent, mais il faut qu' on fçache qu' on ne Ie peut heurter fans me choquer, on crie qu'il ayme deux femmes, n'auons nous pas cefie liberté depuis vn long temps d'en prendre tant que nous voudrons? Si on penfe no us faire fortir de force, il faut ioüer à qui l'empor- tera, celuy qui perdra la partie cedera: N ous efcou- tons tous les iours les Peres, nous n'improuuõs pas ce qu'ils difent, mais nous ne croyõs pas pouuoir re- tenir ce qu'ils enfeignent, ny garder ce qu'ils recom- mandent, i1 ne fe faut pas hafier les forces viennet auec l'âge: I'ay eu de grands degoufis de ce qu'ils prefchent, ie me fuis autrefois mocqué d'eux, ie les ay querellez & menacé, ie n'auois que la bouche en ce temps-là, maintenant ie commence à auoir des oreilles, fi elles ne font pas encore fi bien percées que les vofires, ce qu'on dit ne laiffe pas d'y entrer: Pour moy fi i'efiois parent des François comme vous qui auez receu leur creance, ie ne voudrois pas pour- tant offencer mes compatriotes, la conc1ufion fut qu'on penferoit à cet affaire. Nos Chrefiiens [30] ne quitterent pas leur poinéte, ils nous vindrent prier d'agir fecrettement auec Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur, afin qu'il les portafi à créer quelques Chefs pour les conduire dans leurs petites affaires, iugeãs bien que Ie petit nombre des Chefs efiant gagné tout Ie refie fuiuroit aifement apres. Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur qui ne laiffe efcouler aucune occafion d'amplifier la Foy & Ie Royaume de Iefus-Chrifi, fit appeller les principaux, & apres les auoir loüez, les vns d'auoir receu Ie fainét Baptefme, les autres de fe difpofer à 1640] RELATION OF r640 99 One Pagan alone-an arrogant man, but who had formerly been more so- began to speak after these three harangues. "I see clearly," said he, "that they wish to drive us away. True, they do not attack me so directly [29] as they do such a one, who is my relative. But it must be known that one can- not strike him without hurting me. They cry out that he loves two women; have we not had the priv- ilege for a long time to take as many of them as we wish? If they think to make us go out by force, we shall have to play at ' who shal1 fetch?' and the one who loses the game shall give up. We listen every day to the Fathers,-we do not disapprove what they say; but we do not think that we can remember what they teach, or observe what they recommend; we must not be in haste, strength comes with age. I did feel great distaste for what they preach,- I used to make sport of them, I have quarreled with and threatened them; I had nothing but a mouth at that time, but now I am beginning to have ears; if they are not yet so sensitive as yours, nevertheless, what is said goes into them. As for me, if I were related to the French as you are who have received their belief, I would not be willing, however, to offend my countrymen." The conclusion was that they would think the matter over. Our Christians [30] did not give up their point. They came to beg us to treat secretly with Monsieur the Governor, that he might prompt them to appoint some Captains to lead them in their little affairs,- judging rightly that, the few Captains being gained over, all the rest would readily follow. Monsieur the Governor, who does not let slip any occasion for extending the Faith and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, had the principal ones 100 LE RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 Ie receuoir, apres les auoir exhortez à tenir ferme dans la refolution qu'ils ont prHe, & qu'ils ont defia mis en praétique de culti uer la terre & de s' arrefier. Apres auoir recommandé aux Chrefiiens la confiance en leurs mariages, il leur fit entendre qu'il feroit à propos qu'ils eíleuffent quelques chefs pour les gou- uerner, & que fi les femmes & la ieuneffe viuoient dans l'independance, que ce n'efioit pas Ie moyen de fe conferuer, ils promirent tous de s'affembler à S. Iofeph fur ce fubjet. A trois iours delà ils nous vindrent [3 I] trouuer en nofire maHon, & nous demãderent comme ils proce- deroient en cefie affaire, leur ayant expliqué comme cela fe pourtoit faire par bul[le ]tins fecrets, ils con- clurent tout fur l'heure qu'il falloit qu'ils entraffent l'vn apres l'autre en la chambre de l'vn de nous pour nommer au Pere qui feroit là trois des principaux qu'ils iugeroient plus propres pour commander; cela fe fifi fur l'heure, Ie Pere efcriuit leur voix fecrete- ment, puis illeur de clara tout haut combien chacun d'eux auoit de fuffrages, fans nommer ceux qui les auoient donnez, les Chrefiiens l'emporterent par deffus les Payês, Ieã Baptifie Etinechkadat n'entra point dans l'eíleétion; car efiant Capitaine d'ex- traétion chacun luy dõna Ie premier rang, vn feul Payen approcha du nombre des voix qu'eurent les Chrefiiens. L'eleétion faite ils fe regardoient l'vn l'autre bien efionnez, n'ayans iamais procedé en cefie façon, pas vn ne prenoit la parole, en fin vn Chrefiien efiro- piat d'vne iambe qui s'efioit trouué auec les autres s'efcria, A quoy penfons nous? pourquoy perfonne ne parle-il? voyla vofire [32] ouurage, c'efi nous qui 16-W] RELA TION OF z640 101 called together; and - having praised them. some for having received holy Baptism, others for prepar- ing themselves to receive it; having exhorted them to hold fast to the resolution they have taken, and which they have already put into practice, to culti- vate the land and to settle down j and having recom- mended to the Christians constancy in their mar- riages-he gave them to understand that it would be well if they should elect some chiefs to govern them; and that, if the women and the youth lived independently, this was not the way to preserve them- selves. They all promised to assemble at St. Joseph to consider this matter. Three days afterward they came [3 I] to our house to see us, and asked us how they should proceed in this affair. Having explained to them how it could be done through secret votes, they immediately con- cluded that they must enter, one after the other, the chamber of one of us, to name, to the Father who should be there, three of the principal men whom they might consider best qualified to command. This was done without delay; the Father wrote their votes secretly, then he declared to them aloud how many ballots each of them had, without naming those who had given them. The Christians prevailed over the Pagans. Jean Baptiste Etinechkavat did not compete in the election, for, being a Captain by descent, everyone gave him the first rank. One Pagan alone approached the number of votes that the Christians had. The election over, they looked at one another in great astonishment, never having proceeded in this manner. No one broke the silence. Finally a Chris- tian, crippled in one leg, who happened to be present 102 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 venons de conc1ure qu'il faut que tels & tels comman- dent, où plufiofi c'efi Dieu qui la ainfi ordonné, it a conduit nos voix & nos fuffrages, il ne refie plus qu'à obeyr, puis fe tournant vers nous, ie voy bien chacun regarde fon compagnon à qui commencera de parler, mes Peres, nous dit-il, permettez nous de nous retirer en quelque endroit hors de vofire maifon; afin que nous puiffions nous confulter les vns & les autres, fur ce que nous venons de faire, & qu'vn chacun dife librement ce qu'il en penfe, on les congedia fur Ie champ, eux s'efians affemblez en l'vne de leur cabanes à part, ce boiteux pouffé comme ie croy, de l'efprit de Dieu, parla d'vne fi gran de ferueur des grandeurs de la Foy, & fur tout des biens de l'obe- ïffance, qu'il les eftonna tous, ils parlementerent entr' eux & conc1urent. Premierement que ce pauure boiteux, qui parloit fi bien de Dieu, feroit Capitaine des prieres, qu'il feroit efcouté, qu'il apprendroit de nous tout ce qu'il pourroit des veri- tez de nofire creance pour leur expliquer, [33] & que chacun fe difpoferoit à la receuoir. Secondement ils en deftinerent deux, qui tien- droient la ieuneffe dans leur deuoir, l'vn efioit Chre- íHen & l'autre encore Payen. En troifiefme lieu ils conc1urent, que les trois qui auoient eu plus de voix determineroient de leurs affaires, auec lean Baptifie def-ja Capitaine, & que ces nouueaux Magiftrats ne feroient qu'vn an en charge, leur terme expiré qu' on procederoit à vne nouuelle eí1eétion. En quatriefme lieu, ils confirmerent la refolution qu'ils auoient prife de cultiuer la terre, cela faiét ils allerent trouuer Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur pour luy ren- 1640] RELA TION OF I640 103 with the others, exclaimed, " What are we thinking about? Why does no one speak? This is your own [32] work. It is we who have just concluded that such and such persons should command, or rather it is God who has so ordered it,- he has guided our opinions and our ballots; nothing more remains but to obey." Then, turning toward us, " I see plainly that each one is looking at his companion to see who will begin to speak. :Ivr y Fathers," he said to us, " permit us to withdraw to some place outside of your house, that we may consult among ourselves upon what we have just done, and that each one may say freely what he thinks of it." They were immedi- ately dismissed, and, having assembled apart in one of their cabins, this lame man, urged on, as I believe, by the spirit of God, spoke with so great fervor of the grandeurs of the Faith, and above all of the blessings of obedience, that he astonished them all. They parleyed among themselves, and concluded: First, that this poor cripple, who spoke so well of God, should be Captain of prayers; that he should be lis- tened to; that he should learn from us what he could of the truths of our belief, to explain these to them; (33] and that each one should dispose himself to receive it. Secondly, they appointed two of them, who should keep the young men to their duty; one was a Chris- tian, and the other still a Pagan. In the third place, they concluded that the three who had received the most votes should decide their affairs, with Jean Baptiste, already a Captain, and that these new :Magistrates should be in charge only one year; that, when their term expired, they sho:uld proceed to a new election. 104 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 dre raifon de leur procedé, & pour Ie fupplier d' au- thorifer ceux qu'ils auoient eíleus, illeur promit de les maintenir, & comme il fait rendre obeyffance à chaque pere de famille dans fa maifon, qu'il tiendra la main s'ils l'en requierent, que leurs compatriottes obeyffent à ce qu'ils ont conclud par entr'eux. Quand tout fut arrefté, la ieuneffe paffant l'arquebufe [34] fur l'ef- paule à l'entour de la cabane, où les Capitaines auoient efté et1eus, fit vne gentile falue pour les honnorer. Le lendemain l'vn de nous interrogeant vn Payen affez eíloigné de la foy s'il ne penfoit point à fe faire inftruire. N'auez vous pas, dit-il, ouy ces coups d'arquebufes qu'on tira hier au foir, ce bruit vous affeuroit de Ia volonté que i'ay de croire en Dieu; car nous conclumes tous qu'il falloit vous efcouter, & embraffer vos façons de faire. Comme tout cecy s'eftoit paffé feulement entre Ies hommes, iIs refolurent d'affembler les femmes pour les preffer de fe faire infiruire, & de receuoir Ie fainét Baptefme, on les fit donc venir, & les ieunes gens aum, Ie bon fut qu'on les prefcha fi bien, que Ie iour fuiuant vne partie de ces pauures femmes ren- contrant Ie Pere de Quen luy dirent, où eft vn tel Pere, nous Ie venons prier de nous baptifer, hier les hommes nous appellerent en Confeil, c'eft la pre- miere fois que iamais Ies femmes y font entrées; mais Us nous traiéterent fi rudement, [35] que nous en eftions toutes eftonnées, c'efi vous autres nous di- foient-ils, qui efies caufes de tous nos malheurs, c'eft vous qui retenez les demõs parmy nous, vous ne preffez point pour efire baptifées, il ne fe faut pas contenter de demander vne feule fois cette faueur aux Peres, iI les faut importuner, vous eftes paref- 1640] RELA TION OF I640 105 In the fourth place, they confirmed the resolution they had made to cultivate the land. This done, they went to see Monsieur the Governor to give him an account of their proceedings, and to entreat him to authorize those whom they had elected. He prom- ised them that he would support these; and, as he has obedience rendered to every head of a family in his own house, that he would lend a helping hand if they required it of him, to the end that their coun- trymen should obey what they have mutually con- cluded. When all was resolved upon, the young men, passing, with arquebuses [34] upon their shoul- ders, around the cabin where the Captains had been elected, fired a neat salute in their honor. The next day, when one of us asked a Pagan, who was somewhat averse to the faith, if he were not thinking of being instructed, " Did you not hear the arquebus shots last evening?" said he. " That noise assured you of my willingness to believe in God; for we all concluded that we must listen to you, and embrace your customs. " As all this took place only among the men, they resolved to call together the women, to urge them to be instructed and to receive holy Baptism. Ac- cordingly, they were brought together, and the young people also. The best of it was that they preached to them so well that the following day some of these poor women, encountering Father de Quen, said to him, " Where is such a Father? we have come to beg him to baptize us. Yesterday the men summoned us to a Council, the first time that women have ever entered one; but they treated us so rudely [35] that we were greatly astonished. 'It is you women,' they said to us, ' who are the cause of all our misfor- 106 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 feufes d'aller aux prieres, quant vous paffez deuant la croix, vous ne la falués point, vous voulez eftre independantes, or fçachez que vous 0 beïrez à vos maris, & vous ieuneffe vous obeïrez à vos parens & à nos Capitaines, & fi quelqu'vn y manque nous auons conclud qu'on ne luy dõneroit point à manger. Voila vne partie du fermon de ces nouueaux Predicateurs, lefquels à mon aduis font d'autant plus eftonnans qu'ils font nouueaux, & tres-eíloignez des façons d'a- gir des Sauuages. Ie croy bien qu'ils n' entreront pas tout d'vn coup dans cette grande foufmiffion qu'ils fe promettent; mais il en fera de cet article comme des autres, ils l'embrafferont petit à petit. Vne ieune femme vn peu apres ces eíleétions, s' en eftant fuye dans [36] Ie bois ne voulant pas obeyr à fon mary, les Capitaines la firent chercher, & nous vindrent demander fi l'ayant trouuée il ne feroit pas bon de l'enchainer par vn pied, & fi ce feroit affez de la faire ieufner quatre iours & quatre nuiéts fans manger, pour penitence de fa faute. II arriua au mefme temps vn traiét d'edification, deux femmes aueugles, ayans ouy dire qu'il falloit honorer la croix qui eftoit entre leurs cabanes & la Chappelle, la cherchoient auec leurs baftons quant elles venoient à la Meffe, & comme elle eft plantée dans vne palliffade de pieux, ils paffoient leurs bas- tons fur ces pieux, fe doutãt bien que cette croix eftant plus haute, elles la rencontreroient, quelques vns de nos François les voyans fi attentiues à chercher, s'ar- refterent pour veoir ce qu'elles vouloient faire, apres auoir bien fuyui la palliffade, enfin elles rencontrerent la croix, & toutes deux luy firent vne grande reue- renee, cela fit rire nos Francois, qui ne laifferent 1640] RELA TION OF I640 107 tunes,- it is you who keep the demons among us. You do not urge to be baptized; you must not be sat- isfied to ask this favor only once from the Fathers, you must importune them. You are lazy about go- ing to prayers; when you pass before the cross, you never salute it; you wish to be independent. Now know that you will obey your husbands; and you young people, you will obey your parents and our Captains; and, if any fail to do so, we have concluded to give them nothing to eat.' " This is a part of the sermon of these new Preachers, who, in my opinion, are so much the more wonderful as they are new and very far removed from the Savage methods of action. I believe, indeed, that they will not all at once enter into this great submissiveness that they promise themselves; but it will be in this point as in others, they will embrace it little by little. A young woman having fled, shortly after these elections, into [36] the woods, not wishing to obey her husband, the Captains had her searched for, and came to ask us, if, having found her, it would not be well to chain her by one foot; and if it would be enough to make her pass four days and four nights without eating, as penance for her fault. There occurred at the same time an edifying inci- dent. Two blind women having heard that they must honor the cross which was between their cabins and the Chapel, felt for it with their staffs when they came to Mass; and, as it is planted within a palisade of stakes, they passed their staffs over these stakes, wondering if, this cross being higher, they could touch it. Some of our Frenchmen, seeing them so earnestly searching, stopped to see what they in- tended to do. After having carefully followed the 108 LES RELATIONS DES.lÉSUITES [VOL. 18 pas d'efire bien ediffiez de la fimplicité de ces bonnes gens. En fuite de toutes ces conc1ufions, ils [37] fe mi- rent à trauailler à leurs deferts, de verité ie croy que leurs Anges fe refiouyffoient bien fort, les voyant fi feruens dans vne occupation fi innocente & fi vtile, pour Ie bien de leurs corps & de leurs ames, no fire Reuerend Pere Superieur qui auoit paffé l' H yuer à Kebec, voulut iouyr de cette confolation, il s'en vint demeurer à S. Iofeph, & fit merueille pour les fecou- rir. Nous sõmes extremement obligez à V. R. de nous auoir enuoyé vn homme fi prudent, fi charitable & fi zelé pour Ie falut des pauures Sauuages. Non- obfiant les diuertiffemens de fa charge, il a tellement aduancé en la cognoiffance de la langue qu'il fe faict defia entendre, expliquant Ie catechifme auec fruiét, il s'en alloit luy-mefme auec nos hommes fecourir ces bons Neophites, leur donnant par fois à manger à la fin de leur trauail, leur procurant du bled d'Inde pour ferner, ie vous laiffe à penfer fi ces pauures Sauuages efioient confolez, voyans ces grands aétes de charité. Quelques François voulans participer à ce bon æuure, donnerent auffi [38] quelques iournées de leurs hõmes pour aduancer cet ouurage, & ayder ces pauures gens à femer leurs bleds, la graine de chari- té, produit des fruiéts de gloire. A mefme temps qu'on trauailIoit ça bas auec fer- ueur, quelques Algonquins de l'Ifle faifoient Ie mefme aux trois riuieres, Ie defert qu'ils ont fait, efi l'vne des plus fortes chaifnes qui les puiffent arre- fier, ils auoient donné parole à N. R. P. Superieur qui les alIa vifiter, de fe faire infiruire, & de cultiuer 1640] RELA TION OF I640 109 palisade, they finally encountered the cross, and both made a deep reverence to it. This made our French- men laugh, yet they were great! y edified at the sim- plicity of these good people. In consequence of all these conclusions, they [37] set to work at their meadows. In truth, I believe that their Angels rejoiced greatly, seeing them so fervent in an occupation so innocent, and so useful to the wel- fare of their bodies and their souls. Our Reverend Father Superior, who had passed the Winter at Kebec, , wishing to enjoy this consolation, came to live at St. Joseph, where he did wonders in aiding them. We are extremely obliged to Your Reverence for having sent us a man so prudent, so charitable, and so zeal- ous for the salvation of the poor Savages. Notwith- standing the distractions of his office, he has so. advanced in the knowledge of the language that he already makes himself understood, eXplaining the catechism profitably. He went himself with our men to succor these good Neophytes, sometimes giv- ing them food at the end of their work, and procur- ing Indian corn for them to plant. I leave you to imagine whether these poor Savages were comforted, at seeing these great acts of charity. Some Frenchmen, wishing to participate in this good work, also gave [38] a few days' labor of their men to advance it, and to help these poor people plant their corn. The seed of charity produces fruits of glory. At the same time that they were working down here with fervor, some Algonquins of the Island were doing the same thing at the three rivers. The clearing they have made is one of the strongest chains that can hold them there. They had given their 110 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 la terre, ie croy qu'ils la garderont, fi la crainte de leurs ennemis ne les faiét quitter prife. Le Pere Iacques Buteux & Ie Pere Charles Raimbault qui trauaillent en cette refidence, les gaignent fortement à nofire Seigneur. Quand nos Sauuages eurent enfemencé leur champs, ils nous diret qu'ils auoient deffein de defcendre à Tadouffac, en partie pour aller en marchandife aux peuples du Saguene; mais principalement pour inui- ter Ie Capitaine de Tadouffac & fes gens, d'em- braffer la foy & de venir demeurer aupres d'eux, & pource [39] qu'en telles occafions les prefens parlent plus que la bouche, ils amafferent quantité de porce- laine, pour prefenter à ce Capitaine, nous y cãtribu- afmes quelque chofe de noftre part, ils nous dirent encore que fi ceux de Tadouffac fe rangeoient auec eux, qu'ils iroient inuiter les autres nations plus eíloignées à faire Ie mefme; afin adiouftoient ils que nous n'ayons tous qu'vn Dieu, & qu'vne façõ de faire, nos paroles difoient les Chreftiens, ne feront point nouuelles; car Ie bruit de noftre creance fe refpend defia par tout, ha! qu'il eft vray que, Deus 1l0jler ignÙ con.fumens ejl, que Dieu eft vn feu confommant, & que Nemo ejl qui.fe ab.fcondat à calore eius, qu'il n'y a mar- bre qu'il n'echauffe. Euffay-ie iamais creu, que des Barbares nés dans la cruauté, nourris de chair hu- maine, fuffent deuenus Predicateurs de Iefus-Chrift, ie puis affeurer que ie ne fçache perfonne qui leur ayt donné ces penfées, d'aller inuiter les autres nations de croire en Dieu, c' eft vn pur ouurage du fainét Efprit, & afin qu'on voye que c'eft l'efprit. Qui contz"net omnia & replet orbem terrarum .fcz"entz"am [4 0 ] habens vods. V oyci ce qu'il a fait dire aux Sauuages 1640] RELA TION OF 1640 111 word to Our Reverend Father Superior, who went to visit them, that they would receive instruction, and would cultivate the land; I believe that they will keep it, if the fear of their enemies does not cause them to let go the prize. Father Jacques Buteux and Father Charles Raimbault, who labor in this resi- dence, exert a strong influence upon them for our Lord. When our Savages had planted their fields, they told us that they intended to go down to Tadoussac, partly to trade with the peoples of the Saguene, but principally to invite the Captain of Tadoussac and his people to embrace the faith and to come to live near them; and since [39J on such occasions presents speak louder than words, they collected a quantity of porcelain to present to this Captain. We con- tributed something thereto, on our part. They told us, besides, that if the people of Tadoussac ranged themselves on their side, they would go and invite the other more distant nations to do the same, "In order," they added, " that we may all have only one God, and one way of doing things." "Our words, ,. said the Christians, " will not be new, for the report of our belief is already spread everywhere." Ah, how true it is that Deus noster zgnÙ consumens est, that God is a consuming fire; and that Nemo est qui se abscondat à calore ejus, that there is no marble that it does not heat. Would I ever have believed that Barbarians born in cruelty, and fed upon human flesh, would become Preachers of Jesus Christ? I can assure you that I do not know anyone who has given them these ideas of going to invite other nations to believe in God,-it is purely the work of the holy Spirit; and, In order that it may be seen 112 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 des trois Riuieres. Quelques canots d' Attikamegues (ce font peuples qui habitent ordinairement au deffus du fieuue des trois Riuieres) efiãs defcendus vers nos François, les Algonquins les inuiterent de venir de- meurer auec eux pour auoir la cognoiffance de Dieu, leur difant mille biens du fecours que nous leur ren- dons felon noftre petit pouuoir, ces nouueaux hofies ne repartirent rien à cela; mais s'en allans trouuer Ie Pere Buteux, ils luy tefmoignerent qu'ils auoient vn grand defir d'eftre infiruiéts, & de cultiuer la terre, non pas auec les Algonquins, à raifon qu'ils efioient differens d'humeur & de langue, Ie Pere leur deman- da s'ils ne voudroient pas bien choifir vne place, vne iournée de chemin ou enuiron, dans Ie fieuue Meta- ber tin, que nous appel1õs les trois Riuieres, & que là deux Peres de no fire Cõpagnie les iroient inftruire, helas! firent ils, c'eft bien ce que nous fouhaitte- rions. V oicy les propres termes de la lettre du Pere Buteux, qui nous refcriuit ces bonnes nouuelles, affeure toy, me [41J dit Ie Capitaine de cette nation, que ie feray ce que ie pourray enuers mes gens; afin que cela fe faffe, tu en fçauras des nouuelles deuant l' Automne, afin qu'on fe puiffe difpofer pour defer- ter au Printemps, prends courage, moy & mon oncle que voila parlerons fortement de cet affaire, cet oncle dont il parloit & qui eftoit là prefent, efi vn bon vieillard que ie baptifay ran paffé, & que Ie fieur Marfolet nomma Nicolas, ie luy auois dit qu'il taf- chafi de fe venir confeffer au Printemps, il n'y a pas manqué, il a rompu expres Ie deffein qu'il auoit d'al- ler plus haut, cet homme eft fort affectionné à la fainéte Foy, ce qui luy donne vne gran de con fiance en Dieu, dont en voicy vn effeét qu'il me raconta lors 1640] RELA TION OF I640 113 that it is the spirit, Quz. contÙzet omnia et replet orbem terrarum sâentz"am [40J habens voâs, behold what it has caused the Savages of the three Rivers to say. Some canoes of Attikamegues (these are tribes that live ordinarily above the river of the three Riv- ers) ha ving come down towards our French, the Algonquins invited them to come and live with them, in order to obtain a knowledge of God,- telling them a thousand good things about the help that we ren- der them according to our limited power. These new guests answered nothing to this; but, going to see Father Buteux, they testified to him that they had a great desire to be instructed and to cultivate the land,- but not with the Algonquins, because they were of different natures and language. The Father asked them if they would not like to choose a place, distant one day's journey or thereabout, on the river Metaberoutin, which we call the three Rivers, and that there two Fathers of our Society would go to instruct them. "Ah," they replied, "that is just what we would like." Here are the exact words of the letter of Father Buteux, who wrote us this good news: '" Rest thee assured,' [4 I J the Captain of this nation said to me, ' that I shall do what I can with my people, in order that this may be accomplished; thou shalt hear news of it before Autumn, so that arrangements may be made to clear the land in the Spring. Take courage! I and my uncle, whom you see, will speak urgently of this matter.' This uncle of whom he spoke and who was present there, is a good old man whom I baptized last year, and whom sieur Marsolet named Nicholas. I had told him that he should try to come and con- fess in the Spring. He did not fail to do so, purposely 114 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 que ie Ie voulois congedier, apres s'eftre confeffé, attend encor vn petit me dit-il, ie te veux dire ce que m'a fait nofire Pere, c'eft ainfi qu'il appelloit Dieu, les neiges n' ont pas efté bonnes cette année, ce qui a efié caufe qu'à la fin de l'Hyuer ie me fuis trouué vne fois bien en peine, ie n'auois rien à man- ger, & ie n'efperois pas d'en trouuer auec mes iambes defia vieilles, [42J veu que de meilleurs chaffeurs que moy perdoient courage, ie m'addreffay pour lors, comme ie fay en toutes mes neceffités à no fire Pere, & luy dis i'efpere en toy, tu és Ie maifire de tout, ayde nous, fais ce qu'il te plaira, quelque têps apres ma priere, ie rencontray inopinement deux Orignaux, doni i'en tuay vn fur Ie champ, & donnay charge à de ieunes gens d'aller tuer l'autre, ce qu'ils firent, ainfi i'efpere que celuy qui efi bon me logera au ciel auec luy. Ie puis dire en verité que Ie P. R[a]im- bault & moy voyans comme ce bon homme s' eftoit fi bien conferué dans les forefts & parmy des Barbares, n'ayant eu que fort peu d'infiruétion, n'admirafmes la bõté de Dieu; Ie fainét Efprit eft vn grand maiftre. Nos Algonquins font allez en traiéte vers vne na- tion qui fe nomme les Vtakd'amivek [sc. tak 'ami- ekJ, ceux-cy traiétent auec d'autres qui viennent du Nord, & qui s'appellent Papiraga 'ek, ils ont vn ren- dez-vous, où ils s'affemblêt au mois d'Aoufi, il fait s'y froid au pays de ceux-cy que les arbres ne vien- nent pas à iufie grandeur, pour donner de l'efcorce fuffifante pour [43J leur faire des canots, qu'ils achep- tent des autres peuples, i'efpere que la Foy fera por- tée dans ces nations, qu'on pourra attirer & arrefier ça-bas auec Ie temps. Ce font les paroles du Pere, Dieu Ie veille exaucer. 1640] RELA TION OF r640 115 breaking off his plan of going farther up. This man takes a deep interest in the holy Faith, and this gives him great confidence in God, of which here is one result that he related to me when I would have dismissed him. After having confessed, he said to me, ' Wait a little longer; I wish to tell thee what our Father has done for me' - it is th us he called God- 'The snows have not been favorable this year, which caused me once at the end of the Winter to be in great distress; I had nothing to eat, and I did not expect to find any game with my legs already old, [42J seeing that better hunters than I had lost cour- age. I addressed myself then, as I do in all my ne- cessities, to our Father, and said to him, "My hope is in thee, thou art the master of all; help us; do what shall please thee." Some time after my pray- er, I encountered unexpectedly two Moose,- one of which I killed immediately, and charged some young men to go and kill the other one, which they did. So I hope that he who is good will lodge me in heaven with him.' I can say truly that Father R[aJimbault and I, seeing how this good man had been preserved in the forests and among Barbarians, though he had had but very little instruction, admired the goodness of God. The holy Ghost is a great master. "Our Algonquins have gone to trade in the vicin- ity of a nation called the Outakw'amiwek. 10 The latter trade with others who come from the North, and who are called Papiragaw'ek. ll They have a rendezvous where they assemble in the month of August. It is so cold in the country of the latter that the trees do not attain the proper size to furnish them bark enough for [43J making their canoes, 116 LES RELATIONS DES JÉSUITE'S [VOL. 18 I'ay defia dit, qu'vne piece de cent efcus eft capable d'arrefter & de conuertir toute vne famille, par vne petite maifonnette qu' on luy dreffe, partie à la Fran- çoife, partie à la façon des Sauuages, pleuft à Dieu que la fuperfiuité des baftimens de France, fut conuertie en ces petits edifices, & que la deuotion d'arrefter & fixer ces pauures peuples, entraft dans le cæur des puiffans du monde. Qui reduit vne famine conuertit tous fes defcendans, & fait vn petit peuple Chreftien. 1640] RELA TION OF .r640 117 which they buy from other tribes. I hope the Faith will be carried into these nations, that we may be able to attract and locate them down here in the course of time. " These are the words of the Father; may God hearken to them. I have already said that the sum of a hundred écus is sufficient to hold and convert an entire family, by means of a little house that is built for it, partly in the French way, partly in the fashion of the Savages. Would to God that the superfluity of buildings in France were converted into these little edifices; and that zeal to render these poor peoples permanently settled would enter the hearts of the mighty ones of the earth. He who civilizes one family converts all its descendants, and makes a miniature Christian people. 118 LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES [VOL. 18 [44] CHAPITRE IV. DES SAUUAGES BAPTISÉS, & DES BONNES ACTIONS DE CETTE NOUUELLE EGLISE. N OUS auons baptifé cette année enuiron douze cens Sauuages, tant aux Hurons qu'icy bas, ceux qui ont receu ce Sacrement és refidences de Kebec, de S. Iofeph, & des trois Riuieres, font la plufpart perfonnes adultes, qui ont embraffé la Foy de Iefus-Chrift. dans vne bonne fanté, apres vne fuffi- fante inftruétion qu' on leur a donnée, ils viuent maintenant dans vne ioye & dans vne innocence tres- aymable. Ie ne m'arrefieray pas à d'efcrire les par- ticularités de leurs baptefmes, ie me contenteray de coucher quelques vnes de leurs bonnes aétions, & des bons fentimens que Dieu leur donne. C'eft main- tenant qu' on peut dire que, Samarz"a recipit Verbum [45] Dez", qu'il n'y a point de barbarie à l'efpreuue des bontés de Dieu, les ames fainétes qui ont arroufé ces nouuelles plantes de leurs larmes, & qui les ont fait germer & pouffer par leurs fainctes prieres, & par leurs fecours chari tables: goufterõt auec plaifir ces fruiéts du fang de Iefus-Chrifi, que ie leur pre- fente de tout mon cæur. N ous auons done en la refidence de fainét Iofeph, vne nouuelle Eglife de Sauuages, qui fe raffemblent petit à petit en ce lieu là, tant pour efire inftruiéts, que pour cultiuer la terre. N ous en auõs vn autre aux trois Riuieres, qui pour eftre plus ieune n'a pas 1640] RELA TION OF I640 119 [44] CHAPTER IV. OF THE SAVAGES BAPTIZED, AND THE GOOD DEEDS IN THIS NEW CHURCH. W E have baptized this year about twelve hun- dred Savages, including those among the Hurons as well as those down here. Those who have received this Sacrament at the residences of Kebec, St. Joseph, and the three Rivers, are for the most part adults, who have embraced the Faith of Jesus Christ in good health, after they have been given sufficient instruction. They are living now in most delightful happiness and innocence. I will not stop to describe the particulars of their baptisms, but will content myself with mentioning some of their good actions and some of the good sen timen ts that God gives them. It is now that we can say, Samaria recipz"t Verbum [45] Dei, there is no barbarian condition that is proof against God's goodness. The pious souls who have watered these new plants with their tears, and who have made them germinate and grow by their holy prayers and by their kindly assist- ance, will taste with pleasure these fruits of the blood of Jesus Christ, which I present to them with all my heart. We have, then, at the residence of saint Joseph, a new Church of Savages, who are gradually collecting in that place, both to be instructed and to cultivate the land. We have another at the three Rivers, which, being younger, is not as yet so strong. The 120 LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES [VOL. 18 encor tant de force. Les principaux Sauuages d'icy- bas íont defia Chreftiens, les autres afpirent à cette faueur, c'eft vne coníolation bien douce de veoir la candeur de ces nouueaux enfans de Dieu. Premierement il n'y a nulle difficulté de porter ces bons Neophites, à frequëter les Sacremens les iours qu'on defire qu'ils s'en approchent, vn [des] Peres s'en va la veille par les cabanes, ou bien leur dit aux pri- eres, & à l'inftruétion qu'on leur [46] fait tous les íoirs en la Chappelle, où ils s'affemblent, demain ne manqués pas de vous venir confeffer, & ceux à qui on accord era la íainéte Communion la receuront auec reuerence, ho! reípondent-ils, cela fait tenez vous prefts fi vous voulez des quatre heures du matin; car vous ne manquerez pas de voir des Sauuages à vofire porte, tous prefts de íe confeffer, cette 0 beyffance eft elle pas bien aymable? Comme on leur recommande de ne laiffer croupir dans leur cæur aucune offence qu'ils iugent tant íoit peu griefue; i'en ay veu s'en venir dés Ie point du iour en noftre maHon, & dire à l'vn de nous, mon Pere, mon cæur eft mechant, i'ay faché Dieu, i'ay fait telle offence, dHant tout haut leur peché, par exemple, i'ay fait vn feftin à tout manger, Ie Diable ma trompé, ie me viens confeffer, ie n'auray point de repos que ie n'aye vomy la malice de mon ame; s'eftans confeffez ils s'en vont íoulagez, íe croyans purifiez dans Ie íang de Ieíus-Chrift qui leur eft appliqué par ce Sacrement, dont its conçoiuent fort bien la vertu. [47] II Y en a qui ne manquent point de íe con- feffer tous les huiét iours, & de íe communier autant de fois qu'on leur permet, car ils ne Ie font point íans congé. 1640] RELA TION OF I640 121 principal Savages down here are already Christians, and the others aspire to this grace. It is a very sweet consolation to see the candor of these new chil- dren of God. First, there is no difficulty in inducing these good Neophytes to frequent the Sacraments on the days when they are desired to approach them. One of the Fathers goes through the cabins, the evening before, or says to them at prayers, and at the in- struction that is [46] given them every evening, in the Chapel where they assemble, "Do not fail to come to-morrow to confess; and those to whom the holy Communion shall be granted, shall receive it with reverence." Ho! they respond. This done, hold yourselves in readiness, if you please, at four o'clock in the morning, for you will be sure to see Savages at your door, all ready to confess. Is not this obedience very pleasing? When they were urged to allow no offense, how- ever insignificant they might consider it, to stagnate in their hearts, I have seen them come to our house at the break of day, and say to one of us, " My Father, my heart is wicked; I have offended God; I have committed such an offense, " naming their sin aloud,- for example, "I have made an eat-all feast; the Devil has deluded me. I am going to confess; I shall have no rest until I have vomited forth the malice of my soul. " Having confessed, they go away relieved, believing themselves purified in the blood of Jesus Christ, which is applied to them through this Sacrament, the virtue of which they very well comprehend. [47] There are some who do not fail to confess every week, and to receive communion as many 122 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [V OL. 18 l' ay defia remarqué aux Relations precedentes, que plufieurs quittent leur ieu, ou leur difner, ou leur fouper, c'efi à dire leur manger, quand on les appelle aux prieres où à l'infiruétion qui fe fait tous les iours vne fois ou deux à l' Eglife, quand ils ne font point à la chaffe. Vn de nos François efiant venu certain iour de grand matin à Sillery, & ayãt ietté les yeux par les cabanes, vit encor les Sauuages tous endormis, là deffus on fonne la premiere Meffe, laquelle affez fouuent fe dit deuant que Ie Soleil fe leue. En vn moment il vit la plufpart des Chrefiiës debouts, & en vn tour de main s' efians en ueloppez de leurs cou- uertes qui leur feruët de robbes & de lids, ils s'ë vin- drët droit à la Chappelle en cet equipage fans mot dire, ce bon homme qui les regardoit refia tout efion- né les ayant plufiofi veu en la Maifon de Dieu qu'vn François ne fe feroit habillé, la plufpart [48] des Chrefiiens font ialoux d'entendre tous les iours la Meffe, cet auãtage qu'ils ont par deffus les Payens de pouuoir affifier à ces myfieres facrez les confole fort. Nous auons efié long-temps en doute fi nous bap- tizerions les ieunes gens prefis de fe marier deuant qu'ils ayent pris party. L'experience nous fait veoir que la grace du Baptefme opere puiffamment dans vn cæur, la loy qui deffend au Chrefiien de s'allier d'vne infidelle eft fi bien receuë parmy ces bonnes gens, que fi vn ieune homme Pay en recherche vne fille Chrefiienne, pour l'ordinaire il s'addreiIera à nOllS pour efire infiruit, & pour receuoir Ie Baptefme deuant que parler à la fille, car il fçait bien qu'elle Ie mefprifera comme vn infidele, où fi elle a quelque 1640] RELATION OF I640 123 times as they are permitted, for they do not do so without leave. I have already remarked in the preceding Rela- tions that many quit their games, or their dinner or supper,-that is to say, their food,-when they are called to prayers, or to the instruction that is given once or twice every day in the Church, when they are not away hunting. One of our Frenchmen having come to Sillery one day, early in the morning, and having glanced through the cabins, sawall the Savages still sleep- ing. At that moment the bell was rung for the first Mass, which is often said before the Sun rises. In a moment, he saw the greater part of the Christians upon their feet; and in the turn of one's hand they had wrapped themselves in their blankets, which serve as garments and as beds; they came straight to the Chapel, in this costume, in complete silence. The good man who was looking at them was greatly astonished at seeing them in the House of God before a Frenchman would have been dressed. The majority [48] of the Christians are anxious to hear Mass every day. The advantage they have over the Pagans, of being able to attend these sacred mys- teries, consoles them greatly. We have been long in doubt whether we should baptize young people of marriageable age before they have made their choice. Experience has shown us that the grace of Baptism operates powerfully in a heart. The law which forbids the Christian to ally himself with an unbeliever is so well received among these simple people that, if a young Pagan is seeking a Christian girl, he will usually apply to us to be instructed and to receive Baptism before speak- 124 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 bonne inclination pour luy elle ne manquera pas de luy dire qu'elle ne fe peut pas marier fans Ie confen- tement du Pere qui l'aura baptifée ou inftruiéte. Nous viuons maintenant dans vne profonde paix, la Foy eft refpectée des Payens mefme, les nouueaux Chreftiens font dans la ferueur, il eft vray que Dieu [49] a efprouué ces pauures peuples par de grandes calamitez, mais comme la nuiét retourne apres Ie iour, & l'Hyuer apres l'Efté, ie m'attend bien qu'il s'eíleuera quelque tempefie apres cefie bonace. Ie me perfuade quafi que ces bourrafques prouiendront des mariages faits à la façon des Chreftiens, les Sau- uages font depuis plufieurs fiec1es dans la poffeffion d'vne pleine liberté brutale changeans de femlnes quand illeur plaifi, n'en prenant qu'vne ou plufieurs, felon leur paffion, maintenant qu'ils fe font Chrefiiens, il faut qu'ils baiffent Ie col fous Ie ioug d'vn mariage, qui peut eftre leur fëblera vn iour bien rude, il eft vray qu'il ne s'eft iamais trouué au monde d'alliances plus fainétes & plus parfaictes, & plus propre pour conferuer l' amitié, que celles des Chreftiens; mais cela n' empefche pas que les mariés tribulatz"onem carllzS habeant, ne foient affez fouuent troublés dans leurs mefnages, & que ce ne foit vne efpece de martyr, d'eftre lié infeparablement auec vn homme ou vne femme, qui aura plus d'âpreté qu'vn [50] chardon, & moins de douceur qu'vne épine. Or ce n'eft pas que iufques à prefent nous ayons grand subiet de nous plaindre de nos N eophites en ce point, au contraire, ie dirois volõtiers que l' amour que fe portent ceux que nous auons mariés en face de l'Eglife, apres la publication des banes [sc. bans], & Ie defir qu'ils ont de perfeuerer iufques à leur 1640] RELA TION OF I640 125 ing to the girl; for he knows very well that she will scorn him as an unbeliever, or, if she be well inclined toward him, she will not hesitate to tell him that she cannot marry him without the consent of the Father who may have baptized or instructed her. We are living now in profound peace; the Faith is respected even by the Pagans, and the new Chris- tians are fervent. True, God [49] has tried these poor people by great calamities; and, as night returns after day, and Winter after Summer, I am expecting with certainty that he will raise up some storm after this calm. I am almost persuaded that these tempests will arise from the marriages made in the Christian way. The Savages have been for many ages in possession of a complete brutal liberty, chang- ing wives when they pleased,- taking only one or several, according to their inclinations. N ow that they have become Christians, they must bend their heads under the yoke of single marriage, which per- haps will, some day, seem to them very hard. It is true that no alliances have ever been found in the world more holy and more perfect, and better adapted for preserving affection, than those of Christians. But that does not prevent that those who are married trz"bulatz"onem carnzS habeant, and be often annoyed in their households, and that it should be a sort of martyrdom, to be inseparably bound to a man or a woman who may have more sharpness than a [50] thistle, and less softness than a thorn bush. N ow it is not that, hitherto, we have great reason to complain of our Neophytes in this matter. On the contrary, I can readily say that the love which inspires those who have married with the rites of the Church, after the publication of the banns, and 126 LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES [VOL. 18 mort dans cette amitié, eft vn miracle de la Religion Chreftienne, it eft bien vray que deuant que de les baptifer, & par apres deuant que de les marier, nous leur faifons fortement apprehender les loix du ma- riage, leur faifant voir l'importance qu'il y a d'obeïr aux ordonnances de Dieu & de fon Eglife, & la dif- grace qu'ils encourreroient de choquer l'authorité de Monfieur Ie Cheualier de Montmagny noftre Gouuer- neur, lequel ne manqueroit pas de faire punir feu ere- ment ceux qui rebuteroient leurs femmes pour en prendre d'autres. Veritablement Dieu nous a fauorifé d'vn homme felon fon cæur, tres zelé [5 I] pour fa gloire & pour fon feruice, comme il voit l'importance qu'il y a d' authorifer ce Sacrement, & de Ie rêdre venerable parmy ces peuples, il defira que la ceremonie de trois mariages que nous auons publiés à Sillery, fe paffât à Kebec, & voulut luy mefme faire vn magnifique fefiin à tous les conuiés aux nopces, Madame de la Pelletrie & quelques autres Dames Françoifes prirent charge d' accommoder les époufées, & pour les hom- mes on les fit richement veftir, portans les dons pre- cieux, que fa Maiefté fit l'an paffé à quelques vns de nos Sauuages, les principaux de nos François les con- duirent auec honneur iufques à l'Eglife, ayant receu Ie Sacrement de mariage, ils les menerent en vne fale, où ils furent tres-bien traictés. Les Sauuages voyant cet appareil eftoient rauis, nos François bien edifiés, & les cieux prenoient plaifir à vne aétion qui fe faifoit pour la gloire de celuy qui les a baftis. Quelques Montagnets & Algonquins, non conuiés aux nopces, regardoient ces ceremonies auec eftonne- ment, & leurs femmes voyant les ieunes filles & [52] 1640] RELA TION OF I640 127 their desire to persevere until death in this affection- ate relation, is a miracle of the Christian Religion. It is indeed true that before baptizing them, and afterwards before marrying them, we clearly ex- plain to them the laws of marriage, showing them the importance of obeying the ordinances of God and of the Church, and the disgrace they incur by clashing with the authority of Monsieur the Cheva- lier de Montmagny, our Governor, who would not hesitate to have those severely punished who should discard their wives in order to take others. Truly, God has favored us with a man after his own heart, very zealous [5 I] for his glory and for his service. As he saw the importance of authoriz- ing this Sacrament, and of making it reverenced among these peoples, he desired that the ceremony for three marriages that we had published at Sillery should take place at Kebec, and wished himself to make a magnificent feast for all those invited to the nuptials. Madame de la Pelletrie and some other French Ladies took charge of dressing the brides; and as for the men, we had them richly clothed, wearing the precious gifts which his Majesty made last year to some of our Savages. Our leading Frenchmen conducted them with honor to the Church, and, after they had received the Sacrament of mar- riage, took them into a hall, where they were hand- somely entertained. The Savages, when they saw this ceremoniousness, were enraptured, and our French people greatly edified; and the heavens took delight in an act which was done for the glory of him who built them. Some Montagnais and Algon- quins, not invited to the wedding, regarded these ceremonies with astonishment; and their wives, see- 128 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 femmes qu'on alloit marier reuefiuës des petites richeffes du pays, dont ils font grande eftime, fe di- foient l'vne à l'autre, on cognoift bien que ces épou- íées ne font point orphelines, que leurs peres ne font pas morts, elles ne feroient pas fi braues fi elle n' auoient de bons parens, loüant par cette admiration Ie íoin qu'on a de ces nouuelles plantes du iardin de l' Eglife. I'entendy de mes oreilles ces paroles fortir de la bouche de quelques vns de nos François, nous n' attendions pas cette benediétion de nos iours, en verité c'eft vne confolation bien fenfible, de voir vn Barbare eí1eué dans la liberté qu'ont les ames [sc. ânes] íauuages, fe captiuer doucement fous Ie ioug de Iefus-Chrift noftre Sauueur. L'vn de ces mariés eftoit Vincent Xauier, fils de deffunét François Xauier N enaskvmato, ieune homme âgé d'enuiron vingt deux ans, fe voyant priué de fon pere & de ía belle mere, emportés de l'epidemie com- mune, nous vint dire qu'il auoit befoin du fecours d'vne femme, qui luy fes raquettes & fes robes, bref qui prit garde à íon mefnage, i'ay de [53] l'affeétion, difoit-il, pour vne ieune fille, ie vous prie d'affembler mes parens, & de considerer fi elle m'eft propre, fi vous iugés que ce foit mon bien ie l'efpouferay, finon ie fuiuray voftre confeil: fes parens & fes amis conclurent que ce party luy eftoit fortable. Or comme l' Aduent approchoit, nous luy difmes qu'à la verité il fe pouuoit bien marier en ce fainét temps, mais que les plus fages Chreftiens ne Ie faifoit pas, ouy, mais difoit-il, Ie temps me preffe d' aller à la chaffe, vous me remettez à quarante iours d'icy, qui me fera mes raquettes, priez en vofire promife, luy difmes nous, il fe mit à rire, ie me feray refpondit- 1640] RELA TION OF I640 129 ing the young girls and [52J women who were about to be married arrayed in the small treasures of the country, which they greatly value, said to one an- other, "One could easily tell that these brides are not orphans, that their fathers are not dead; that they would not be so fine if they did not have good parents, " praising by this admiration the care that is taken of these new plants in the garden of the Church. I heard with my own ears these words come from the lips of some of our French people,- " We did not expect this blessing in our time; in truth, it is a very touching consolation to see a Bar- barian, reared in the freedom of the wild asses, bring himself meekly under the yoke of Jesus Christ, our Savior. " One of these bridegrooms was Vincent Xavier, son of the deceased François Xavier N enaskumato, a young man about twenty-two years old. Finding himself deprived of his father and stepmother, who were carried off in the general epidemic, he came to tell us that he needed the help of a woman to make his snowshoes and c1othes,-in brief, to take care of his household. "I am [53J in love with a young girl," said he; " I beg you to call my relatives to- gether, and to consider whether she is suitable for me. If you decide that it is for my good, I will marry her; if not, I will follow your advice." His relatives and friends decided that this choice would be a suitable one for him. Now as Advent was draw- ing near, we told him that, in truth, he could very properly marry at this holy season, but that the most prudent Christians did not do it. "Yes," said he, " but I am in a hurry to go hunting. If you put me off until forty days hence, who will make my snow- 130 LES RELA TI01VS DES jjÇ:SUITES [VOL. 18 iI, gauffer de moy: car ce n' eft pas la couftume de noftre nation d'emploier les filles deuant leur ma- riage, mais il n'importe fit iI, quoy que Ie terme que vous me donnez foit bien long, il vaut mieux attendre & fe mettre en danger d'eftre moqué que de ne pas vous obeïr, ce bon ieune homme attendit, & fe com- porta auec vne innocence vrayement Chreftienne pen- dant tout ce tëps-là, fe confeffant fort fouuent, pour fe [54] fortifier contre les embufches de fathan, qui ne dort pas en telles occafions. Ie ne fçay fi ce que ie vay dire, ne fera point trou- ué ridicule en voftre France; mais il eft icy & dans l'innocence & dans la bien-feance. Les Sauuages qui vont à l'entour de nos habitations, s'addreffent à nous pour tous leurs petits negoces, comme feroient des enfans à leurs peres, ils viennent par fois deman- der s'ils iront chaffer en tel endroit, s'ils prendront medecine, s'ils feront fuerie, s'ils danceront, s'ils fe marieront, les ieunes gens nous viennent trouuer en particulier & nous prient de leurs trouuer femme, ou de parler pour eux à celles qu'ils defirent époufer, quelques femmes veufues, & mefme encor quelques filles nous prient en fecret de leurs trouuer mary, fe confians plus en nous qu' à ceux de leur nation, & nous difent fort bien que nous agiffions comme de noftre part, fans faire femblant qu'ils nous ont parlé, Ie tout gift à f e com porter en forte dans ces offices de cha- rité, qu'eux mefmes fe lient & qu'ils concluent leurs affaires fans nous engager, finon à les [55J conduire dans les voyes des enfans de Dieu. Les Payens mefme qui ont quelque inclination à la Foy, fe com- portent ainfi enuers nous. II y a quelque temps qu'vn ieune Sauuage non 1640] RELA TION OF .1640 131 shoes? " "Ask your promised bride to do it," we said to him. He began to laugh, and replied, " I shall make myself a laughingstock, for it is not the custom in our country to employ girls before their marriage; but it does not matter," he continued; cc although the term you set me is a very long one, it is better to wait, and to risk being made sport of, than not to obey you." This good young man wait- ed, and behaved with a truly Christian innocence during all that time,- confessing very often, in order [54] to fortify himself against the snares of satan, who does not sleep at such times. I do not know if what I am going to say will not be considered absurd in your France, but it is looked upon here as both innocent and proper. The Sav- ages who come about our settlements apply to us in all their little affairs, as children would to their fa- thers. They come sometimes to ask if they shall go hunting in such a place, if they shall take medicine, if they shall have a sweat, if they shall dance, if they shall marry. The young men come to see us in private and ask us to find them wives, or to speak for them to those w horn they desire to marry; some widows, and even some young girls, ask us secretly to find them husbands, confiding in us more than in those of their own nation, and tell us emphatically that we are to act as if on our own account, without making it appear that they had spoken to us. The whole point lies in so behaving in these offices of charity that they themselves become intimate and conclude the affair without involving us, except in [55] leading them in the paths of the children of God. Even the Pagans who are well disposed towards the Faith behave thus toward us. 132 LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES [V OL. 18 encor baptifé, nous fit demander par quelques vns de fes parens Chrefiiens, fi nous trouuerions bon qu'il fe mariât à vne fille qu'il nommoit. Or comme ny l'vn ny l'autre n'efioient pas Chrefiiens, nous ref- pondifmes que nous n'entrions point dans ces co- gnoiffances, & que nous ne nous meílions point des manages, finon pour prendre garde qu'ils fe traiétent à la façon des Chreftiens quand on eft baptifé, ce ieune homme ne paffa pas outre. L'ayant rencontré à quelques iours de delà, ie luy demanday s'il n'e- fioit point marié, ie n' ay garde fit-il, de me marier fans vofire confentement, vous efies mon pere, c'eft à vous non feulement de me dire fi vous trouués bons que ie me marie, mais encor de m' affigner Ie iour que ie Ie dois faire, ouy, mais luy dy-ie, vous n'efies pas Chreftien? ie ne Ie fuis pas encor repartit-il, mais i'ay gran de enuie de l'efire, & [56] celIe que ie recherche à la mefme volonté, c'efi pourquoy ie vous fupplie de nous baptifer tous deux deuant noftre ma- riage, nous attendrons tant qu'il vous plaira, fi nous ne fommes pas encor affez infiruiéts. Les ames fainétes, qui prient pour la conuerfion de ces peuples & qui fe voient exaucées, pourront elles ouïr parler de cette candeur fans que leurs cæurs s'amolliffent ou fe fonde dãs Ie cæur de Dieu. Comme nous voy- ons que noftre Seigneur va beniffant les mariages de ces bons Neophites, nous baptifafmes ces deux ieunes gens, bien inftruiéts, & puis les mariafmes en face de l'Eglife, nous auons fait plufieurs autres mariages, ils font tous par la grace de nofire Seigneur dans vne bonne refolution de ne fe point quitter iufques à la mort, excepté vn ou deux, qui commencent à tous donner de la peine. 1640] RELATION OF I640 133 Some time ago a young Savage, not yet baptized, had us asked by some of his Christian relatives if we would approve of his marrying a girl whom he named. N ow as neither the one nor the other was a Chris- tian, we replied that we would not take part in such connections, and that we did not meddle with mar- riages, except to see that they live in a Christian manner when they have been baptized. This young man did not press the matter farther. Having met him some days later, I asked him if he were not mar- ried. "I have no inclination," he replied, " to mar- ry without your consent. You are my father; it is for you not only to tell me whether you approve my marrying, but also to appoint the day when I shall do so." "Yes," I said to him, "but you are not a Christian." "I am not one yet," he replied, " but I am very desirous of becoming one, and [56J the girl whom I am seeking has the same desire; this is why I beg you to baptize us both before our marriage. \Ve will wait as long as you please, if we are not yet sufficiently instructed." Can the holy souls who pray for the conversion of these peo- ples, and who feel that they are heard, hear of this candor without their hearts softening or melting in the heart of God? As we see that our Lord keeps blessing the marriages of these good Neophytes, we baptized these two young people, well instructed, and then married them with the rites of the Church. We have arranged several other marriages. All these pairs are, by the grace of our Lord, firmly re- solved not to forsake each other until death,-except one or two, who are beginning to cause us some trouble. 134 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 Quand i1 arriue quelque different entr'eux, i1 nous viennent trouuer, ou nous en font donner aduis, vne femme Chreftienne apprenant qu'on faifoit ie ne fçay quels ieux ou recreations publiques dans vne cabane, s'y voulut trouuer, fon [57] mary tefmoigna qu'il ne l'aggreoit pas, elle ne laBIa pas d'y aller contre fa volonté, eftant de retour fon mary luy dit, fi ie n'e- fiois pas Chreftien, ie vous dirois que fi vous n'auez point d' affeétion pour moy, que vous cherchaffiez vn autre mary à qui vous rendiffiez plus d' obeïffance; mais ayant promis à Dieu de ne vous point quitter iufques à la mort, ie ne fçaurois vous tenir ce langage quoy que vous m' offenciés, cette pauure femme luy demanda pardon tout fur 1 'heure, & des Ie matin du iour fuiuant, elle s'en vint trouuer Ie Pere qui la bap- tifée, & luy dit mon Pere, i'ay faché Dieu, ie ntay pas obey à mon mary, i'en ay Ie cæur tout trifte, ie voudrois bien m'en confeffer, cette candeur eft rauif- fante. C'eft affez pour ce Chapitre, paffons à quel- ques autres aétions de ces bons N eophites. 1640] RELA TION OF r640 135 When some difference occurs among them, they come to see us, or have us give them some advice. A Christian woman, learning that I know not what games or public recreations were in progress in a cabin, wished to be present there; her [57J husband declared that he did not approve this; she went, however, against his wish. Having returned, her husband said to her, " If I were not a Christian, I would tell you that, if you did not care for me, you should seek another husband to whom you would render more obedience; but, having promised God not to leave you until death, I cannot speak to you thus, although you have offended me." This poor woman asked his forgiveness, without delay, and on the following morning came to see the Father who had baptized her, and said to him, " My Father, I have offended God, I have not obeyed my husband; my heart is very sad; I greatly desire to make my confession of this." Such frankness is delightful. Enough for this Chapter; let us pass on to some other acts of these good Neophytes. 136 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 [58] CHAPITRE V. CONTINUATION DU MESME DISCOURS. V N ieune Sauuage malade, ayant efté abandonné de fes gens enuiron dix lieuës au deffus de la refidence S. Iofeph, Ie Pere de Quen, qui a gran dement trauaillé toute cette année en cette refi- dence, prit vn François auec foy & s' en alIa chercher ce pauure malade, l'ayant trouué auec bien de la peine, Ie fit amener à l'Hofpital, où ce pauure garçon fut fi bien affifté, qu'il en guerit, la charité fait des miracles, elle change les Sauuages en enfans de Dieu, ce ieune Sauuage voyant vn fi grand amour en fon endroit, fe fait in ftruire , preffe qu'on Ie baptife, on en fait quelque difficu1té, pource qu'eftant preft à fe marier, on craignoit qu'il ne s'alliaft de quelque infi- dele, s'il ne pouuoit trouuer de fille Chreftienne; i1 promet de garder toutes les loix de Dieu & de fon Eglife, [59] tant qu'illuy fera poffible, mais ille pro- met de fi bonne grace, & d'vn fi bon cæur, qu'on Ie baptife, la grace à de puiffans effeéts, depuis ce temps-là ce ieune homme ne s'eft iamais dementi de fa parole, il n'a pas la feule penfée d'epoufer vne in fide Ie , il eft fi ennemy des diffolutions de la ieu- neffe, qu'vn certain iour quelques Sauuages eftans arriués du pays des Algonquins, i1 nous vint dire en fecret, & fur Ie foir, ie vous fupplie de me donner Ie couuert cette nuit & les autres fuiuantes, tant que ces ieunes gens ferõt parmy nous, pource que ie ferois 1640] RELA TION OF I640 137 [58] CHAPTER V. CONTINUATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT. A s a sick young Savage had been abandoned by his people about ten leagues above the resi- dence of St. Joseph, Father de Quen, who has labored diligently all this year in this residence, took a Frenchman with him and went in search of this poor sufferer. They found him after a great deal of trouble, and had him brought to the Hospital, where the poor boy was so well cared for that he recovered. Charity works miracles; it changes Savages into chil- dren of God. This young Savage, seeing so great love toward him, received instruction, and urged us to baptize him. There were some objections to this, because, being of a marriageable age, it was feared that he might ally himself with some unbeliever if he could not find a Christian girl. He promised to obey all the laws of God and of his Church, [59J in so far as it should be possible to him; and he prom- ised it with such good grace and so good a heart, that he was baptized. Grace has powerful effects. Since that time this young man has never belied his promise,- he has no thought of marrying an unbe- liever, and is such an enemy of the dissoluteness of the young men that one day, when some Savages arrived from the Algonquin country, he came toward evening, and said to us, secretly, " I entreat you to give me shelter this night and the following ones, as long as these young men shall be among us; for 138 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 obligé par bien-feance de les accompagner, & comme ils ne font pas baptifez, ils pourront faire quelque chofe que Dieu hayt, & moy ie ne fçauroit plus l'offencer, car c'eft tout de bon que ie croy, & que ie luy ay dit que ie luy obeyrois. Vn autre ieune homme nous difoit que fon bap- tefme luyauoit bouché les oreilles, ie n'entends plus faifoit-il les paroles diffoluës que quelques eftourdis proferent par fois en noftre cabane, mon cæur eft fi content de fe voir libre de fes offences, qu'il ne fe peut comprendre, [60J ie fçay de bonne part ce que ie vay dire, vn ieune homme âgé d'enuiron vingt- cinq à trente ans, paffant chemin coucha dans vne cabane de Sauuages; la nuit vne femme l'aborda, luy voyant fon deffein, courut au deuant de la tenta- tiõ, retirés vous luy dit-il, car ie fuis Chreftien, ceux qui prient Dieu ne commettent point ces pechez-là. I'ay defia dit ailleurs, que les ieunes Sauuages qui cherchent femme, vont voir la nuit leur maiftreiIes, nous crions fortement contre cette couftume tres- pernicieufe. car encor que pour l'ordinaire tout fe paffe dans vne grande honefteté, neantmoins Ie dan- ger d' offencer Dieu y eft trop grand. Or tout auffi-toft qu'il arriue quelques ieunes Sau- uages de dehors, nos Chreftiens nous en donnent aduis, afin que nous tenions la main que tous fe con- tiennent dans leur deuoir, eux mefmes crient contre la ieuneiIe qui s'emancipe, leurs reprochans qu'ils appellent les demons dans leurs cabanes, & qu'ils attirent la malediétion de Dieu deiIus leurs teftes. II eft arriué vne chofe bien [61J remarquable en cet en droit, vn ieune homme non encor baptifé recher- chant vne fille Chreftienne l'alla voir la nuit; cette 1640] RELA TION OF I640 139 I shall be obliged by courtesy to accompany them, and, as they are not baptized, they will be likely to do something that God hates; and, for my part, I can no more offend him, for it is in earnest that I believe, and that I told him I would obey him." Another young man told us that his baptism had stopped his ears. (( I no longer hear," said he, (( the licentious words that heedless youths sometimes utter in our cabin. It is impossible to understand how glad my heart is to see itself free from its sins." [60] I learned from good authority what I am about to relate. A young man between twenty-five and thir- ty years old, while pursuing his way, lay down to sleep in a cabin of Savages. In the night, a woman approached him. He, perceiving her purpose, antici- pated temptation by saying to her, (& Go away, for I am a Christian; those who pray to God do not commit such sins." I have said elsewhere that the young Savages who are seeking a wife go to visit their mistresses at night. We forcibly denounce this most pernicious custom; for although, in general, all is done with great decency, yet the risk of offending God is too great. Now, when any young Savages arrive from out- side, our Christians immediately inform us of it, that we may watch and see that all keep within the bounds of duty. They themselves rebuke the young men who take too much liberty, reproaching them with calling the demons into their cabins, and with drawing down the curse of God upon their heads. There happened a very [61] remarkable thing in re- gard to this. A young man not yet baptized, who was wooing a Christian girl, went to see her at night. 140 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 fille ne Ie rebuta point de prime abord, elle l'efcouta difcourir, ce qui fcandalifa tellement les Chrefiiens, que nous en fufmes incontinens aduertis, nous la fifmes venir & la tançafmes vertement, luy repro- chant qu'elle fe comportoit comme vne perfonne aban- donnée, qui ne croyoit point en Dieu, & que les feules careffes de ce ieune homme en tel temps, efioient coulpables. Cette pauure fille bien efionnée repartit au Pere qui la tançoit; mon Pere il eft vray que i'ay efcouté ce ieune homme, mais il ne m'a point careffée, ie ne fuis point Françoife, i'ay veu des François badiner auec des filles, & les careffer & bai- foter: ce n'efi point nofire coufiume, ceux qui nous recherchent, nous parlent feulement & puis s'en vont, croyés moy difoit elle, quand ce ieune homme me parloit ie me fouuenois fort bien que i' efiois Chrefiienne, & que ie ne voulois pas offencer Dieu, ie luy ay dit feulement qu'il s'addreffât à vous pour cet affaire, Ie [62] bruit efi cependant luy dit Ie Pere, que vous ne vous efies pas bien comportée, ceux qui prient Dieu refpondit elle, ne diront pas cela; car ie vous affeure que ie n'ay fait autre mal que de l'efcou- ter, me comportant felon nofire ancienne façõ de faire. Là deffus, vn certain qui voulut rire, & tout enfemble s'affeurer de l'innocence de la fille en fa fimplicité, ie fçauray bien luy dit-il, fi ce ieune homme vous a trompée, car ie vous feray prendre vn breuage qui vous fera vomir tout fur Ie champ s'il vous a touchée, ne vomiray-ie point, dit-elle, au cas qu'il ne m'ait point touchée? point du tout: ça donc donnez Ie moy tout maintenant, & vous verrez mon innocence, Ie compagnon luy donne vne ceuil- lerée de firop fort noir, elle Ie prend d'vn vifage tout 1640] RELA TION OF I640 141 At first this girl did not rebuff him, but listened to his conversation, which so scandalized the Christians that we were immediately informed of it. vVe sum- moned her and reprimanded her sharply, reproach- ing her with behaving like a profligate who did not believe in God, and telling her that even the caresses of this young man at such a time were sinful. This poor girl, greatly surprised, replied to the Father who chided her, " :My Father, it is true that I have listened to this young man, but he did not caress me. I am not French; I have seen Frenchmen trifling with girls, caressing and kissing them, but this is not our custom,-those who seek us only talk to us, and then go away. Believe me," said she, "when this young man was speaking to me I remembered very well that I was a Christian, and that I was unwilling to offend God. I merely told him that he should address himself to you in this matter." "The [62] report is, however," said the Father, " that you did not behave properly." "Those who pray to God," she replied, "will not say that. For I assure you that I have done nothing wrong, beyond listening to him, conducting myself according to our ancient customs." Thereupon, a certain person, for the sake of a joke and also to assure himself of the gen- uineness of the girl's simplicity, said to her, " I shall know truly whether this young man has deceived you, for I will have you take a potion that will make you vomit immediately if he has touched you." " Shall I not vomit," said she, " unless he has touched me?" "Not at all." "Well, then, give it to me now and you will see my innocence." His compan- ion gave her a spoonful of very black syrup, which she took with a very cheerful face, and swallowed 142 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 guay, l'auale auec affeurance, fi ie ne do is point vo- mir s'efcrie elle, qu'au cas que i'aye commis quelque mal ie ne crains rien. Elle fut loüée de fa confiance, marque de fa pureté; mais on luy fit fi bien entendre Ie mal que c'efioit de fcandalifer fon prochain, & de fe mettre en danger d'efire trompée [63] du diable, qu'elle & fes compagnes en profiterent. Et à quel- ques fepmaines delà, d'autres ieunes gens les efians venus rechercher la nuit, elles leur dirent auffi-tofi qu'ils fe retiraffent, & qu'elles efioient Chrefiiennes, qu'ils s'addreffaffent aux Peres qui les auoient bap- tifées, pour parler de mariage s'ils en vouloiët épou- fer quelques vnes, ces ieunes gens ne s'en allans point, elles prirent des tifons de feu & les menacerent de leur porter à la face s'ils ne fe retiroient, efire né dans la barbarie & faire ces actions, c'efi prefcher hautement Iefus-Chrifi. Vne femme Chrefiienne croyant qu'vn François luy donnoit vn coufieau affez gentil, qu'il luy prefioit feulement, Ie retint, Ie François s'en oublia pour lors, fi bien qu'il creut l'auoir perdu, mais l'ayant reco- gnu entre les mains de cette femme, i1 luy voulu ofier, elle refifie, protefiant qu'il luy a donné, la diuerfité de langage fait affez fouuent de fauffes ententes, en fin cette femme entre fi bien en colere, qu'elle fit conieéturer au Pere de Quen, qui efioit là prefent, que la Foy n'eítoit pas profondement enra- cinée [64] dans fon arne, c'efi pourquoy illuy demanda fi elle auoit voulu tromper Dieu en fon baptefme, à ces paroles elle entre en foy mefme & luy dit, mon Pere c'efi la colere qui m'a tranfportée, fay faché Dieu, ie m'iray confeffer, ce n'efi pas l'amour que ie porte au coufieau, mais la peur que i'ay eu que vous 1640] RELA TION OF I640 143 confidently. "If I do not vomit," she exclaimed, " except in case I have done wrong, I fear nothing." She was praised for her firmness, a sign of her puri- ty. But she was made to understand so clearly the harm there was in scandalizing her neighbor, and placing herself in danger of being deluded [63] by the devil, that she and her companions profited by it. And a few weeks afterwards, when other young men came to visit them at night, they straightway told them that they should go away,-that they were Christians, and that, if the men wished to marry any of them, they should address themselves on that sub- ject to the Fathers who had baptized the girls. But, as these young men did not go away, the girls took firebrands and threatened to thrust them in their faces if they did not leave. To be born in barbar- ism and act in this manner, is to preach Jesus Christ boldly. A Christian woman, believing that a Frenchman gave her a very pretty knife, that he had only loaned her, kept it. The Frenchman forgot it for the time, so that he thought he had lost it. But having recog- nized it in the hands of this woman, he tried to take it away. She resisted, protesting that he had given it to her. A difference in language often results in misunderstandings. Finally, this woman became so angry that she made Father de Quen, who was pres- ent, imagine that the Faith was not deeply rooted [64] in her soul. Hence he asked her if she had wished to deceive God in her baptism. At these words, she recovered herself and said to him, " My Father, I have been carried away by my anger. I have displeased God, I will go and confess. It was not my love for the knife, but the fear I had that 144 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [V OL. 18 ne me tinfiés pour vne larronnefIe, ie vous afIure que i'ay procedé de cæur deuant Dieu en mon baptefme, & c'efi ce qui m'afflige, qu'on croie que ie commette les pechés que ceux qui font baptifés ne commettent point, là-defIus elle fe mit à prefcher les ieunes filles qui efioient là, leurs declarant ce qu' elles deuoient quitter, au cas qu' elles voulufIent efire Chrefiiennes. Quelques Sauuages nous ont propofé ces cas de confcience bien aifés à refoudre, par exemple, fi c'e- fioit vn grand peché de fonger la nuit quelque mal, quoy qu'en dormant mefme on y refifiafi. Quand le diable nous porte à croire nos fonges, fi nous les re- jettons, difoient-ils, la penfée que nous auons euë de les croire, efi-elle vn grand mal? I'ay eu peine [65] quelque fois de demander certains pechés à quelques Sauuages, de peur de leur faire entendre que des perfonnes baptifées les pouuoient commettre. On baptifa certain iour cinq vieilles femmes en- femble, dont la plus ieune auoit plus de foixante ans, apres Ie baptefme l'vne de ces bonnes Neophites prit Ie Pere qui les auoit baptifées par la main, & luy dit mon :fils tu nous as fait reuiure, nofire cæur efi tout refiouy, il nous dit que tes paroles font veri tables, & que nous irons au ciel, l'autres s'efcrioit ô que ie prie- ray Dieu maintenant de bon cæur! en effet fi-tofi qu'on parloit de Dieu dans leurs cabanes, elles fe mettoient à genoux & ioignoient les mains, la plus âgée difoit à fes gens, i1 me femble que nos An- cefires croyoient quelque chofe de ce qu'enfeignent les Peres, car i1 me fouuient, qu'efiant bien ieune, mon pere fort âgé nous racomptoit que celuy qui a tout fait, & qui donne à manger, fe fafchoit quand 1640] RELA TION OF I640 145 you might look upon me as a thief. I assure you that I acted sincerely before God in my baptism; and what afflicts me is that it should be thought that I commit sins that those who are baptized do not com- mit. " Thereupon, she began to preach to the young girls who were present, declaring to them what they would have to give up if they wished to be Chris- tians. Some of the Savages have proposed to us these cases of conscience, which are very easy to solve,- for example, if it be a great sin to dream some- thing wrong at night, although even in dreaming one should resist it? "If the devil incline us to be- lieve our dreams, if we reject them," they ask, " is the thought we had, of believing them, a great sin?" I have been troubled [65] sometimes in asking Sav- ages about certain sins, lest I might cause them to infer that baptized persons could commit these. One day five old women were baptized together, the youngest of whom was more than sixty years old. After baptism, one of these good Neophytes took the Father who had baptized them by the hand, and said to him, " My son, thou hast made us live again; our hearts are full of joy,-they tell us that thy words are true, and that we shall go to heaven." The others cried out, " Oh, how fervently I will now pray to God!" In fact, as soon as one spoke of God in their cabins, they fell upon their knees, and clasped their hands. The most aged one said to her people, 41 It seems to me that our Ancestors believed some- thing of what the Fathers teach; for I remember that when I was quite young, my father, who was very old, related to us that he who has made all, and who provides our food, was displeased when any 146 LES R LA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 on faifoit quelque mal, & qu'il haïffoit les mefchans, & qu 'illes puniffoit apres leur mort. Apres Ie baptefme de ces bonnes [66] vieilles, comme nous renuoions vn grãd homme bien fait, rejettans fon baptefme en autre temps pour ne nous fembler affez infiruiét, il parut fort trifie, ie fuis affiigé nous difoit-il, vous me dites que ie ne fuis pas encor affez infiruiét, n'en fçay ie pas autant que ces bonnes vieilles que vous auez baptifées? permettez moy que ie reuienne de main matin, & vous m'exa- minerés encor vne fois, nous luy permifmes & ce bon homme, iadis fort orgueilleux, mais maintenant fort bon Chrefiien, fe faifoit infiruire par vn enfant, des principaux articles du Catechifme, enfin il nous preffa fi bien, alleguãt qu'il s'en alloit faire vn voiage, & qu'il n'ofoit partir fans efire defchargé de fes pechés, que nous Ie baptifafmes auec quelques autres qu'on . fit Chrefiiens à mefme temps, vn pen de cognoiffance Chrefiienne auec vne bonne volonté, vaut plus que toute la Philofophie d' Arifiote. Le feiziefme de Ianuier, ayant appris qu'vne pau- ure vieille femme efiant partie de la refidence de S. Iofeph, pour aller aux trois Riuieres, efioit demeurée malade [67] en chemin auec deux enfans, incapables de la fecourir, nous enuoiafmes deux Sauuages pour l'amener à l'Hofpital, comme ils n'auoient point de traifnes ils amenerent les deux enfans, & laifferent la malade toute feule au milieu des bois, nous tançaf- mes fort ces deux meffagers, & leur difmes qu'il falloit retourner querir cette pauure creature, l'vn d'eux qui n'efioit pas encor Chrefiien, entendant parler de re- tourner, efquiue au plufiofi, celuy qui efioit baptifé, rebrouffe chemin auec vn de nos Peres & nofire frere 1640] RELA TION OF I640 147 one did wrong, and that he hated the wicked and punished them after their death." After the baptism of these good [66] old women, as we were sending away a tall, well-formed man,- postponing his baptism until another time, because he did not seem well enough instructed,-he ap- peared very sad. "I am grieved," he said to us. , , You tell me that I am not yet sufficiently instructed; do I not know as much as these simple old women whom you have baptized? Permit me to return to- morrow morning, and examine me once more." We allowed him to do so, and this good man, once very proud, but now a very good Christian, reconciled himself to be instructed by a child in the principal articles of the Catechism. Finally, he urged us so strongly - alleging that he was going away on a journey, and that he dared not depart without being freed from his sins-that we baptized him, with a few others who were made Christians at the same time. A little Christian knowledge, together with good will, avails more than all the Philosophy of Aristotle. On the sixteenth of January, having learned that a poor old woman, who had left the residence of St. Joseph to go to the three Rivers, was lying ill [67] by the wayside, with two children who were incapable of helping her, we sent two Savages to bring her to the Hospital. As they had no sleds, they brought the two children, and left the sick woman all alone in the depths of the woods. We chided these two -messengers severely, and told them that they must return and get this poor creature. One of them who was not yet a Christian, hearing us say" return," stole away as quickly as possible. The one who was 148 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 lean Ligeois, arriuées qu'ils furent OÙ efioit la malade, ils la trouuerent en vn trou fait dans la neige, couchée fur quelque branche de pin, fans autre abry que Ie Ciel, elle n'auoit point d'ecorces pour fe deffendre de l'iniure de l'air, il fallut coucher en cette mefme hofiellerie, où on ne trouue rien a foupper que ce qu'on y porte, Dieu donna vn nouuel abry à ces nou- ueaux hofies, il neiga tant to ute la nuit, qu'ils eftoient couuerts & enfeuelis dans la neige de taus cofiés. Ces trauaux qui paroiffent grands en France, [68] paffent icy pour legers, en effet on les fouffre fans peine, Ie iour venu la malade fe confeffe, on la lie fur vne petite traifne, nofire frere Ligeois & ce bon ieune Sauuage la tirent & la pouffent tant qu'ils peuuent, mais comme Ie temps efioit fafcheux & qu'elle auoit beaucoup enduré, elle mourut deuant que d'arriuer à l'Hofpital, fi ces aétions touchent les Sauuages, elles touchent auffi Ie Ciel, qui dat niuem ficut lanam, qui fait trouuer vn manteau de neige auffi chaud qu'vn manteau de laine. C'efi vne chafe affez ordinaire aux Chrefiiens de fe mettre à genoux fi-toft qu'ils ont tué quelque ani- mal, & d'en remercier Dieu fur Ie champ, vne bonne vieille femme fçachant cette couftume la prattiqua à fa mode s'en allant chercher des racines pour man- ger, en ayant trouué elle fe mit à genoux fur la neige, tenant ce difcours à nofire Seigneur, grand Capitaine c' eft vous qui auez fait Ie ciel & la terre, & ces racines, vous les auez faiétes pour noftre nourriture, vous me les auez enfeignés afin que i' en mangeaffe, ie vous en remercie, fi vous m'en [69] voulés encor donner ie les prendray, finon ie ne laifferay pas de croire en vous, voila fa priere. 1640] RELA TION OF 1640 149 baptized retraced his steps, with one of our Fathers and our brother Jean Ligeois. When they reached the place where the sick woman was, they found her in a hole made in the snow, lying upon a few branches of pine, with no shelter but Heaven, and with no bark to protect herself from the wind. They had to sleep in this same hostelry, where nothing was to be found for supper except what they brought with them. God gave a new shelter to these new guests; it snowed so hard, all night, that they were covered and shrouded in snow on all sides. These hardships, which seem great in France, [68] are considered here as light,- in fact, they are easily borne. When morning came, the sick woman confessed; they bound her to a little sled, and our brother Ligeois, and this good young Savage hauled and pushed her as well as they could. But, as the weather was very severe, and as she had suffered a great deal, she died before reaching the Hospital. If these actions touch the Savages, they also touch Heaven, qui dat nivttn sicut lanam, who causes a mantle of snow to be found as warm as a mantle of wool. It is a very common practice with the Christians to fall upon their knees as soon as they have killed some animal, and to thank God for it upon the spot. A good old woman, knowing this custom, practiced it in her own way. Going in search of some roots to eat, and finding some, she knelt upon the snow and ad- dressed these words to our Lord: " Great Captain, it is you who have made heaven and earth, and these roots. You have made them for our nourishment, you have shown them to me that I might eat them. I thank you for them; if you [69] are willing to give me more, I will take them; if not, I will not give up believing in you." This was her prayer. 150 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [V OL. 18 Vn Sauuage paffant fur Ie bord du grand fleuue, C011lme les vents fouffioiêt auec violence vne affez belle tortuë pouffée par la tempefie, fortit du fond de l' eau & fut iettée à fes pieds comme vne pierre, luy la voyant fe met à genoux, & leuant les yeux au Ciel dit ces paroles; Mon Pere ie vous remercie, c' efi vous qui m' auez donné cet animal, vous l' auez fait pour me nourrir, & maintenant vous me Ie prefentés, ie vous en remercie. De verité ces bonnes gens ont vne candeur bien aymable, ce feroit vne chofe bien nouuelle en France, fi quelqu'vn des auditeurs affemblés pour entendre la predication, arrefioit Ie predicateur au milieu de fon difcours, ou pour luy parler, ou pour luy deman- der l' explication de quelque point de fa doétrine, cela fe fait tous les iours icy fans mefeance. Quel- qu'vn de nous prefchant de la confeffion, & declarant l'importance qu'il y a de purifier fon cæur dans ce Sacremet, [70] & de ne rien cacher à Dieu, vn Capi- taine s' efcria tout haut, mon Pere on ne fait que iouër dans nos cabanes, efcoutés ieuneffe, entendez-vous bien ce que nous dit Ie Pere, vous ne faiétes pas bien, amandez-vous, vous ioüez trop, venez-vous confeffer, & gardez- vous bien de celer aucun de vos pechez, cette parenthefe fermée, Ie Predicateur continuë fon dif cours. V ne autrefois Ie Pere parlant de la Communion, & difant que Ie Fils de Dieu fe cachoit fous la blan- cheur du pain pour efprouuer no fire foy, vne bonne vieille leuant fa voix, dit aux autres femmes qui efioient là, nous auons beau nous deguifer, il vient exprés en nofire cæur pour voir tout ce qui s'y paffe, i1 cognoifi bien fi nous croyons par feintife ou non, 1640] RELA TION OF 1640 151 As a Savage was passing along the bank of the great river while the wind was blowing violently, a very fine turtle, stirred up by the tempest, came forth from the depths of the water, and was thrown at his feet like a stone. When he saw it, he fell upon his knees and, raising his eyes to Heaven, uttered these words, "My Father, I thank you. It is you who have given me this animal. You have made it to nourish me, and now you present it to me. I thank you for it." Verily, these good people possess a truly engaging candor. It would be a very novel thing in France if one of the audience assembled to hear a sermon were to stop the preacher in the middle of the discourse,- either to talk with him, or to ask him for the ex- planation of some point of his doctrine. This hap- pens here every day without any impropriety. One of us preaching on confession, and declaring the im- portance of purifying one's heart in this Sacrament, [70] and of concealing nothing from God, a Captain exclaimed aloud, "My Father, they do nothing but gamble in our cabins. Listen, young men, do you understand clearly what the Father is telling us? You are not doing right; mend your ways ! You gamble too much; come and confess, and be careful not to hide any of your sins." This parenthetical speech finished, the Preacher continued his sermon. At another time,-when the Father was speaking of the Communion, and saying that the Son of God concealed himself under the whiteness of the bread to try our faith,-a good old woman, raising her voice, said to the other women who were there, " It is in vain for us to hide anything; he comes into our hearts purposely to see all that is going on there. 152 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 c'efi pour cela qu'il fe cache, afin de defcouurir fi nous auons de la malice en l'ame. Quand on dit quelque chofe qu'ils approuuent fort, ils Ie tefmoignent par fois tout au milieu de la predi- cation ho-ho, difent-ils, ou bien, mi ki, voila qui va [71] bien: ou bien encor, mi ke t'iang, nous ferons cela. Vous en verrez qui diront au Predicateur, mon Pere n'allez pas fi vifie, parlez plus doucement, fi Ie Pere ne fe fert pas bien à propos de quelque mot en leur langue, ils luy fuggerent Ie vray mot qu'il faut dire, & perfonne ne trouue cela efirange. I'ay autre- fois remarqué, que les Sauuages pour fe faire beaux, fe rougiffent ou fe noirciffent la face, ou fe la pei- gnent d'vne autre couleur, or comme quelqu'vn de nous cryoit certain iour contre cette mauuaife cou- fiume. L'vn de fes auditeurs indigné contre ceux qui la retenoient, s' efcria, mon Pere il n'y a que les difformes & les malotrus qui fe peignent, nous autres qui fommes beaux naturellement, nous auons quitté cette vieille mode, voila leur franchife. Mais remar- quez s'il vous plaifi, qu'il n'y a que les principaux de l'auditoire qui fe donnent l'autorité de parler, c'efi affes pour ce Chapitre. 1640] RELATION OF 1640 153 He knows very well whether we are only pretending to believe,- it is for this purpose that he conceals himself, to discover whether we have any malice in our souls. ' , When one says something which they greatly ap- prove, they show it sometimes in the very midst of the preaching. Ho-ho, they say, or mi hi, " that is [71] good;" or, again, mi ke t'iang, " we will do that." There are some who will say to the Preacher, " My Father, do not go so fast; speak more slowly." If the Father does not correctly use some word of their language, they will suggest to him the right word that he should use, and no one finds this strange. I have previously remarked that the Savages, to adorn themselves, redden or blacken their faces, or paint them in some other color. Now as one of us rebuked this mischievous custom on a certain day, one of his auditors, indignant at those who retained it, ex- claimed, ,. My Father, it is only the deformed and the uncouth who paint themselves. The rest of us, who are naturally handsome, h3.ve given up this old custom." See how frank they are. But observe, if you please, that it is only the chief persons of the audience who assume authority in speaking. This is enough for this Chapter. 154 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 [72] CHAPITRE VI. CONTINUATION DU MESME SUJET. V N ieune homme Chrefiien s'efiant mis en colere battit fa femme, qui l'auoit infolemment pro- uoqué, il n'efioit pas encor hors de fougue, que fe repentant de fon peché, i1 fe gliffe en nofire chap- pelle pour en crier mercy à Dieu, il y rencontra Ie Pere de Quen auquel i1 dit, ie fuis trifie, ie viens de fafcher Dieu, priez-le pour moy, or comme eel a s'e- fioit fait deuant plufieurs perfonnes, il s'eí1eue vne grande rumeur dans les cabanes, plufieurs Chrefiiens & plufieurs Payens tous enfemble, s'en viennent chez nous fe plaindre de ce fcandale, ces gens là ne refpeétent pas leur baptefme, difoient les Chrefiiens, ils viuent comme s'ils ne croyoient pas en Dieu. Les infideles nous reprochoient que nous ne les baptifions pas, & qu'ils faifoient mieux que plufieurs qui l'efioiet, [73] on leur enfeigne du bien, difoient-ils, & ils ne Ie font pas: ils prient Dieu & cependant ils fe met- tent en colere, ils font baptifés & neantmoins ils ne laiffent pas de fe battre, comme nous leurs eufmes dit que nous les aduertirions de leur deuoir, ils les allerent querir tout fur l'heure, fans attendre dauantage, ils furent vefperizés comme il faut, notamment la fem- me, qui efioit plus coulpable que fon mary, cette con- fufion leur feruit, & ne fit point de mal aux autres; les infideles ne fçauroient fupporter les deffauts des Chrefiiens, ils croyent qu'ayant embraffé vne Loy fi 1640] RELA TION OF 1640 155 [72] CHAPTER VI. CONTINUATION OF THE SA1tE SUBJECT. A YOUNG Christian, getting into a passion, beat his wife, who had insolently provoked him. He had not yet recovered from his rage, when, repenting of his sin, he slipped into our chapel to cry to God for mercy; encountering Father de Quen there, he said to him, " I am sad, I have just offended God, pray to him for me." Now as that had hap- pened in the presence of several persons, a great clamor arose in the cabins,-many Christians and Pagans coming together to us, to complain of this scandal. "Those people do not respect their bap- tism," said the Christians; "they live as if they did not believe in God." The unbelievers reproached us with not having baptized them, when they be- haved better than many who were baptized. [73] " They are taught what is right," said these, " and they do not do it. They pray to God, and yet they get angry. They are baptized, and yet they do not hesitate to beat one another." When we had told them that we would admonish those persons con- cerning their duty, they went and brought them without delay, waiting for nothing more. They were properly reprimanded, especially the woman, who was more guilty than her husband. This humil- iation was useful to them, and did no harm to the others. The un believers cannot tolerate the faults of the Christians; they believe that, having em braced 156 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 fainéte, ils doiuent efire exempts de toute fragilité, il efi vray que la grace du baptefme fait d'efiranges metamorphofes, quand on y correfpond. Vn Sauuage Chrefiien, voulant entrer en quelque maifon, vn François Ie repouffa auec violence, ils fe parloient tous deux fans s'entendre, Ie Sauuage fe voyant mal traiété, difoit, fi ie n'efiois baptifé ie t'ac- commoderois bien, ie fuis plus grand & plus fort que toy, ie t'aurois bien-tofi renuerfé par terre, mais Ie [74] Pere qui m'a baptifé m'a dit que la colere ne valoit rien, & qu'il ne falloit point faire de mal, mefme à ceux qui nous en faifoient, c' efi pourquoy ie me retirera y. Vn ieune Neophite ayant fait rencontre d'vn cari- bou, Ie tua d'vn coup d'arquebufe, auffi-tofi il fe mit à genoux pour en remercier Dieu, coufiume qu'il gardoit mefme deuant que d'efire baptifé, mais ce qu'il fit en fuitte efi fort remarquable; premierement i1 enuoya aux pauures malades de l'Hofpital, vne partie de fa chaffe, offrant ces premices à nofire Sei- gneur, fecondement comme il auoit tué cet animal Ie Ieudy au foir, & qu'il en deuoit faire fefiin Ie iour fuiuant felon la coufiume du pays, i1 voulut attendre iufques au Dimanche, de peur que les Chrefiiens ne mangeaffent de la chair les iours deffendus, i1 voyoit bien que la neceffité en laquelle ils efioient les difpen- foient affez, on luy difoit auffi que les hommes de- uoient partir Ie Samedy pour aller à la chaffe, & qu'ils ne goufieroient point de fon fefiin s'il ne fe hafioit de Ie faire, nonobfiant tout cela, [75] il tint ferme, aymant mieux plaire à Dieu qu'aux hommes. La veille de N oël quelques Sauuages non encor bap- tifez, efians arriués à S. Iofeph firent fefiin de greffe 1640] RELATION OF 1640 157 a Law so holy, the latter ought to be exempt from all frailties. It is true that the grace of baptism causes strange transformations, when one acts in accord with it. A Christian Savage, who wished to enter a certain house, was violently repulsed by a Frenchman. They both talked, but neither understood the other. The Savage, finding himself badly treated, said, "If I were not baptized, I would thrash thee well. I am larger and stronger than thou art,- I would soon have thrown thee to the ground; but the [74] Father who baptized me told me that anger avails nothing, and that one must not do evil even to those who have done it to us; hence I will go away." A young Neophyte, having encountered a caribou, killed it with a shot from his arquebus. He imme- diately fell upon his knees and thanked God for it,- a custom which he observed even before his bap- tism; but what he did afterward is very remarkable. First, he sent to the poor sick persons at the Hospi- tal a portion of his game, offering these first fruits to our Lord. Secondly, as he had killed this animal Tuesday evening, and as he ought to make a feast of it the following day, according to the custom of the country, he wished to wait until Sunday, lest the Christians would not eat meat on the forbidden days. He saw, indeed, that the necessity in which they found themselves sufficiently dispensed them; and he was also told that the men were to leave on Sat- urday, to go hunting, and that they would not taste his feast if he did not hasten to give it. N otwith- standing all this, [75] he held firm, preferring to please God rather than man. On Christmas eve, some Savages, not yet baptized, having arrived at St. 158 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 d'ours, ce font leurs grandes delices, comme on y inuitoit quelques vns de nos Chrefiiens, l'vn deux refpondit, encor que veritablement nous foyons dans la neceffité, neantmoins nous ne mangerons point de chair auiourd'huy, nous ieufnons tous, c'efi pourquoy nous n'irons point au fefiin, nous aprifmes cette refponce quelques iours apres par cas fortuit, cela nous ediffia & confola dautant plus que ces pauures gens foufroient de la difette. Madame de la Pelterie fondatrice des Vrfulines, tres-zelée pour les Sauuages, voulut venir à fainct Iofeph à la fefie de Noël, pour fe trouuer à la Meffe de minuiét auec eux, elle a vne ioye & vne confola- tion nompareille quand elle peut communier auec ces bons Neophites, elle fe trouua certain iour entou- rée de plus de quarante Sauuages, qui approchoient tous de la fainéte table auec elle, cela ne fe paffa pas fans larmes de [76] ioye, auffi faut-il auoüer que Ie changement fi fubit de ces pauures barbares, donne bien du contentement au cæur qui ayme Iefus-Chrifi. Quand les Sauuages Chrefiiens eurêt aduis qu'elle leur vouloit faire cet honneur de les venir vifiter à cette bonne fefie, ils I' allerent querir hommes, fem- mes & filles, auec vne telle ardeur que nous en efiions efionnés, c'efioit à qui la carefferoit dauantage, fi par fois elle les vient vifiter par eau, ces bonnes gens luy font vne petite falue d'arquebuzades lors qu'elle fe defembarque, l'accompagnant iufques à leurs mai- fons ou cabanes, auec beau coup d'a:ff'eétion, elle amene toufiours auec foy quelques petites filles Sauuages feminarifies bien gentiment couuertes, ce qui agrée fort aux Sauuages, or comme ces enfans entendent tous les iours la fainéte Meffe auec fes Religieufes, & 1640] RELA TION OF I640 159 Joseph, made a feast of bear's fat, which is their great delicacy. When some of our Christians were invited to this, one of them replied, .. Although we are truly in need, nevertheless we will not eat meat to-day. We are all fasting, and for that reason we shall not go to the feast." We learned of this an- swer a few days later by mere chance, and it edified and consoled us all the more, because these poor people were suffering from want. Madame de la Pelterie, foundress of the U rsulines, very zealous in behalf of the Savages, wished to come to saint Joseph at the Christmas feast, in order to be present with them at the midnight Mass. She experiences a matchless joy and consolation when she can receive communion with these good Neophytes. She found herself one day surrounded by more than forty Savages, who all approached the holy table with her, and this did not take place with- out tears of [76] joy. Indeed, it must be confessed that the so sudden change in these poor barbarians gives great satisfaction to the heart that loves Jesus Christ. When the Christian Savages learned that she wished to do them the honor of visiting them at this blessed feast, they went to bring her,-men, women, and girls,-with an ardor that greatly surprised us. They vied with each other in caressing her. When sometimes she comes by water to visit them, these good people fire a little arquebus salute for her when she disembarks,-accompanying her as far as their houses or cabins, and showing her great affection. She always brings with her some little Savage semi- nary girls, very prettily dressed, which greatly pleases the Savages. Now as these children hear the 160 LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES [VOL. 18 qu'elles les entendent chanter pendant l'eleuation du fainét Sacrement, e1les ont fi bien retenu vn de leurs motets, qu'elle Ie chanterent brauement à S. Iofeph deuãt tous leurs parens Chrefiiens, lors qu'on [77] leuoit la fainéte Hofiie à la Meffe de minuiét, e1les chanterent auffi deuant la fainéte Meffe vn Cantique fpirituel compofé en leur langue, fur la Naiffance du Fils de Dieu, tous les Sauuages reprenoient genti- ment Ie firophes, chantans les vns apres les autres auec vn bon accord, Dieu fçait fi ces bons Neophites efioient contens auffi-bien que leurs enfans, & fi Ma- dame de la Pelterie qui en efi plus ialoufe que leurs pauures meres, efioit confolée. Deux chofes aug- menterent fa ioye, La premiere fut, qu'entrant fur Ie foir en la maifon de N oël N egabamat, où elle fe reti- roit, elle Ie trouua à genoux auec toute fa famille, fai- fant leurs prieres, elle fut bien efionnée & les Peres auffi qui l'accompagnoient, d'entendre les longues oraifons qu'ils faifoient, nonobfiant qu'ils euffent affifié aux prieres communes, qu' on fait faire ordi- nairement aux Sauuages en Ia Chappelle. En fecond lieu, voulant faire fefiin aux Sauuages qui l'auoient tant ediffiée, elle fit prefenter à Noel Negabamat ce qu'elle leur donnoit, mais Noël dit au [78] Pere qui luy parloit, mon Pere il y a icy quel- ques Sauuages qui s'en võt aux trois Riuieres, i'ap- prends que ceux qui font là font efbranlés & qu'ils ont enuie de croire, il feroit bon que Madame de la Peltrie fit ce prefent à ces Sauuages qui font fur leur depart, pour les gagner, afin qu'ils parlent bien de la Foy, & qu'ils portent leurs compatriotes à l'em- braffer. Ie n'aurois pas attendu cette refponce ny ce 1640] RELA TION OF I640 161 holy Mass every day with the Nuns, and as they hear them sing every day during the elevation of the blessed Sacrament, they have remembered one of their motets so well that they sang it finely at St. Joseph, in the presence of their Christian relatives, when [77] the sacred Host was elevated at the mid- night Mass. They sang also before the holy Mass a spiritual Song, composed in their own language, upon the Birth of the Son of God. All the Savages took up the strophes finely, and sang them one after another in good time. God knows how happy these good Neophytes were, and their children too, and w hat consolation Madame de la Pelterie experienced, who is more solicitous about them than are their poor mothers. Two circumstances added to her joy. The first was that, entering toward evening the house of Noël Negabamat, where she was staying, she found him upon his knees with all his family, say- ing their prayers. She was greatly astonished, and the Fathers also who accompanied her, to hear the long prayers they were offering, notwithstanding the fact that they had assisted at the general prayers that we usually have the Savages offer in the Chapel. In the second place, wishing to make a feast for the Savages who had so greatly edified her, she had what she was going to give them offered to Noel N egabamat; but N oël said to the [78] Father who spoke to him, " My Father, there are some Savages here who are going to the three Rivers. I learn that those who are there are moved, and are inclined to believe. It would be well for Madame de la Peltrie to make this present to these Savages who are about to leave, in order to win them to speak well of the Faith, and to influence their compatriots to embrace 162 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 zele d'vn homme, qui ne fait que de naifire en Iefus- Chrifi. II n'efi pas iufques aux enfans, qui n'ayent quel- que affection pour leur creance, fi vn d'entr'eux voit faire quelque mal à fon compagnon, illuy dit qu'il faut qu'il fe confelIe, & qu'il a mal fait, il y a quel- ques iours que deux ieunes garçons, l' vn Chrefiien & l'autre Payen, fe penferent gourmer à bon efcient pour leur creance, Ie Chrefiien parlant à celuy-cy nouuellement arriué, l'inuitoit de prier Dieu, illuy dit comment veux tu que ie Ie prie ne Ie voyant pas, l'autre Ie menace d'aller en enfer s'il ne Ie prioit, penfe-tu dit 1 'infidele, que ce que difent les Peres foit vray? nous irons [79] nous autres apres nofire mort où Ie Soleil fe couche, nous n'irons point dans la terre, les Peres font des menteurs, non, fit Ie Chrefiien, ils ne mentent pas, ceux qui croyent & qui obeyffent à Dieu irõt au Ciel, les autres iront au feu, cela n'efi pas vray repart fon compagnon, Ie Chrefiien refifie, l'autre luy tient tefie, bref ils s'animent fi bien, que fi on ne fut venu pour les feparer. ils s'alloient battre bien ferré, ie trouue ce zele d'autant plus admirable que Ies Sauuages font froids comme glace, & ennemis des difputes & des querelles, ce n'efi pas qu'ils n'ay- ent de la colere, mais ils la cachent mieux que nous, auffi leur fait elle plus de mal, en voicy vn exemple. Vne ieune femme, fe voyant preffée d'efpoufer vn homme qu'elle n'aymoit point, entre en telle fureur fans Ie faire paroittre au dehors, qu'elle fe voulut étrangler, on court incontinent, on Ia trouue demie morte, on coupe Ie licoI, on la reporte toute pafmée en fa cabane, auffi-tofi vn Chrefiien nous en vient donner aduis, nous y courufmes, l'vn de nous Ia voy- 1640] RELA TION OF .r640 163 it." I would not have expected this answer or this zeal from a man who had only just been born in Jesus Christ. There are none, even among the children, who have not some affection for their belief; if one of them sees any fault in a companion, he tells him that he must confess, for he has done wrong. A few days ago, two boys, one a Christian and the other a Pagan, were about to fight in earnest, on account of their beliefs. The Christian, speaking to the other, who had just arrived, invited him to pray to God. The latter said to him, " Why dost thou ask me to pray to God, when I do not see him?" The other threat- eningl y replied that he would go to hell, if he did not pray. "Dost thou think," said the unbeliever, " that what the Fathers say is true? We shall go [79J after our death to the place where the Sun sets,- we shall not go into the ground; the Fathers are liars. ,. , , No, .. returned the Christian, " they do not lie; those who believe and obey God will go to Heaven, the others will go into the fire." "That is not true," retorted his companion. The Christian insisted, the other was obstinate: in short, they be- came so excited that if some one had not come and separated them, they would have fought very fierce- ly. I found this zeal all the more admirable, because the Sa vages are as cold as ice, and opposed to dis- putes and quarrels. Not that they do not experience anger, but they conceal it better than we do, and it also does them more harm. Here is an example of this. A young woman, finding herself urged to marry a man whom she did not love, became so enraged, without showing any outward indications of it, that 164 LES RELA TIONS DES ./ÉSUITES [VOL. 18 ant en cet efiat deplorable, [80] fit fecrettement vn væu à la plus fainéte & plus adorable famille qui fut iamais, de Iefus, de Marie & de S. Iofeph, priant Ie chef de cette augufie maifon, d'empefcher que cette ame ne fe perdit, elle reuint à foy, & nous donna tout Ie contentement que nous euffions peu efperer d'vne ame qui fortoit des portes de l'enfer, nous luy demandafmes fi elle ne craignoit point d'efire d'am- née, ie ne penfois point à cela, difoit-elle, mais feule- ment à me deliurer de l'ennuy de cet homme. Vn ieune Chrefiien ayant ioüé, & perdu quelque chofe notable de fon petit meuble, fe douta bien que nous en feriõs mefcontens, i1 s'en vint trouuer l'vn de nous & luy dit, mon Pere, ie vous prie ne foyés point mefcontent de ce que i'ay fait, ie ne Ie feray plus, i'ay perdu beaucoup au ieu, i'ay mal fait, ie ne fuis pas trifie de ma perte, mais de vous auoir mef- contenté; car ie fçay bien que cela vous deplaifi, & que Dieu ne l'aggrée pas, ie ne ioüeray plus que chofe de petite valeur, cette fimplicité efi aimable. [81] Vne femme Chrefiienne ayant fongé qu'elle voyoit Ie diable, nous vint trouuer dés Ie matin, i'ay penfé venir dés cette nuit, difoit-elle, Ie mefchant manitou m'efi venu voir, il m'a voulu donner à man- ger, ie l'ay refufé, i'efiois fi epouuantée me fouue- nant de ce que vous nous auez enfeigné, que ce mef- chant nous vouloit perdre, que m'efiant eueillée en furfault, ie voulois courir en vofire maifon de peur qu'il ne me trompafi: on l'affeura que fi elle efioit forte en la Foy, qu'il ne luy pourroit faire aucun mal, notamment fi elle ne croyoit plus en fes fonges, ie les hais mefme en dormant, difoit cette pauure creature. V oicy vn point d' edification, les neiges 1640] RELA TION OF I640 165 she tried to hang herself. People ran to her at once; they found her half dead; they cut the noose, and carried her, entirely unconscious, to her cabin. A Christian came straightway and informed us of this; we ran thither, and one of us, seeing her in this deplorable state, [80J secretly made a vow to the most holy and adorable family that ever existed,- that of Jesus, Mary, and St. J oseph,- praying the head of that august house to prevent this soul from being lost. She came to herself, and gave us all the satisfaction that could have been expected from a soul which was coming forth from the gates of hell. We asked her if she was not afraid of being damned. " I was not thinking of that," said she, " but only of freeing myself from the annoyance of that man." ., A young Christian gambled, and lost something valuable from his little property. Wondering, right- ly, if we would not be displeased with him, he came to see one of us and said, " My Father, I pray you not to be displeased with what I have done; I will not do so any more. I have lost much in play; I have done wrong. I am not sad about my loss, but because I have displeased you; for I know very well that you are dissatisfied, and that God is not pleased. I will stake nothing hereafter, except something of small value." This simplicity is charming. [81J A Christian woman having dreamed that she saw the devil, came to see us the next morning. "I almost came in the night," said she; "the wicked manitou came to see me, and wished to give me some- thing to eat, but I refused him. I was so frightened when I recalled what you have taught me,- that this evil one desired to ruin us,- that, waking with a start, I wished to run to your house, lest he should 166 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 efiant vn peu hautes, nos Sauuages s'en allerent dans les bois pour faire leurs prouifions de chairs d'Elan; comme ils deuoient eftre long-temps nous donafmes aux Chrefiiens vn calandrier pour recognoifire les Dimãches, afin de faire leurs prieres vn petit plus longues ces iours-là; or comme ils ne fçauent ny lire, ny efcrire, on auoit difiingué les iours & les Lunes, & les Fefies par diuerfes marques, [82] leur donnans ce papier comme à l'auenture, pour voir s'ils s'en pourroient feruir, ie vous affeure que nous fufmes bien efionnes à leur retour, car nons efians venus voir, apres auoir remercié Dieu en la Chappelle, ils nous apporterent leur papier, & nous dirent, voyez fi nous ne nous fommes point mefcontés, voila le iour où nous penfons efire, firent ils, ils ne s'efioient pas mefpris d'vn feul iour, voila adiouftoient-Ï1s les iours de Dimanches, nous les auons gardez tous, excepté celuy-là, qu'ils monfiroient, nous l'auons marqué ex- pres pour vous Ie monfirer, nous difmes qu'il falloit vous en aduertir, Ie degel nous contraignit de trauail- ler ce iour-là, nous en efiions bien marris, mais nous efiions en danger de perdre nos prouifions: les iours de Fefies nous nous affemblions & prions Dieu dans vne cabane, & nous chantions ce que nous fçauons, les autres iours chacun prioit Dieu chez foy. Le quinziefrne de Ianuier, quelques Sauuages nous vindrent trouuer de plus d'vne lieuë loin pour fe con- fefIer, deuant [83] que de s'engager plus auant dans les terres, entre autres vne femme nous toucha, ie n'ay point encor communié, difoit-elle, ie ne fçay fi ie vous reuerray iamais, accordez moy la Communion deuant mon defpart, on l'interrogea & l'ayant trouuée 1640] RELA TION OF I640 167 beguile me." She was assured that, if she were strong in the Faith, he could do her no harm, espe- cially if she no longer believed in her dreams. "I hate them even in my sleep," said this poor creature. In the following, there is matter for edification. The snow being rather deep, our Savages went into the woods to provide themselves with Elk meat; as they were to be gone a long time, we gave the Christians a calendar, that they might know the Sundays, so that they could make their prayers somewhat longer on those days. Now as they can neither read nor write, we had distinguished the days and the Months and the Feasts by different marks. [82J Giving them this paper at random, as it were, to see if they could use it, I assure you that we were greatly astonished upon their return; for when they came to see us, after having thanked God in the Chapel, they brought us their paper, and said, "See if we have counted wrongly; there is the day where we think we are," they continued. They were not mistaken by a single day. "There, " they added, " are the Sundays; we have kept them all except that one," which they indicated; "we have marked it purposely to show it to you, for we said that we must tell you about it. The thaw obliged us to work that day; we were sorry about it, but we were in danger of losing our provisions. On the Feast days, we assembled and prayed to God in one cabin, and sang what we knew. On the other days, each prayed to God by himself." On the fifteenth of January, some Savages came to us from more than a league away, to make con- fession, before [83] getting still farther into the inte- rior. Among others, a woman touched our hearts. " I have not yet received communion," said she; "I 168 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 afIez infiruiéte, on luy donna l'accomplifIement de fon defir. V oicy quelques parolles tirés des lettres que la Mere Superieure de l'Hofpital m'efcriuoit, renuoy- ant les malades à S. Iofeph. Cette fille qui retourne à S. Iofeph, & que nous auons penfée en nofire Hof- pital, efi l'vne des plus modefies que i'aye veu, non feulement parmy les Sauuages, mais auffi parmy les Françoifes, elle s'efi comportée auec vne tres-grande retenuë parmy tant de perfonnes qui font en l'Hofpi- tal, dans vne autre lettre. Plufieurs Sauuages vin- drent hier en no fire maHon, comme il efioit tard, ils ont couché à l'Hofpital, ils m' ont extremement edi- fiée, au premier mot des prieres qu'on fait Ie foir, ils fe mirent à genoux, & les firent auec vne deuotion qui me touchoit, ie crains que mes offences [84] ne me rendent indigne d'ayder ce pauure peuple. Vne autrefois elle efcriuoit en ces termes, les ma- lades que vous nous enuoyez font extremement pa- tiens, ils m' efionnent, ils prient Dieu fort volontiers, nous les faifons entrer en nofire Chappelle pour prier, ils Ie font auec grande affeétion. I'ay dit cy-deffus, que les Sauuages auoient creé vn certain ieune Chrefiien fort feruent, Capitaine des prieres, c'efi à dire qu'il auroit foing de faire faire les prieres en nofire abfence, & de fe faire infiruire foy- mefme, pour rapporter à fes gens ce qu'on luyauroit enfeigné, or i1 arriua que les Sauuages s' en efiant allez à quelques lieuës de fainét Iofeph, pour faire des canots, ce Capitaine les fuiuit, & quelques iours apres il nous vint retrouuer, & nous tint ce difcours, nos Capitaines m'ont enuoyé vers vous, pour efire infiruiét, felon que nous auiõs conuenu par enfemble, 1640] RELA TION OF I640 169 do not know whether I shall ever see you again; grant me the Communion before my departure." She was questioned, and, being found sufficiently instructed, she was granted the fulfillment of her desire. Here are some sentences taken from the letters that the 1vlother Superior of the Hospital wrote me when she sent the patients back to St. Joseph: " This girl who is returning to St. Joseph, and whom we have cared for in our Hospital, is one of the most modest girls I have ever seen, not only among the Savages, but also among the French. She has con- ducted herself with very great reserve among the many persons who are in the Hospital." In another letter, "Several Savages came to our house yester- day; as it was late, they slept in the Hospital. They edified me greatly. At the first word of the prayers that were offered in the evening, they knelt down and said them with a devotion that touched my heart. I fear that my own transgressions [84] render me unworthy of aiding these poor people." At another time, she wrote in .these terms: "The sick whom you have sent are extremely patient; they astonish me. They pray to God with great willing- ness; we had them enter our Chapel to pray, which they did very gladly. JJ I have said above, that the Savages had created a certain young and very fervent Christian, " Captain of prayers," -that is to say, he was to see that the prayers were said in our absence, and was to be him- self instructed, that he might report to his people wbat had been taught him. Now it happened that, the Savages having gone some leagues away from saint Joseph to make canoes, this Captain followed 170 LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES [VOL. 18 ie leur ay enfeigné tout ce que ie fçauois, ie m'en viens à l'eícole pour apprendre quelque autre choíe de noftre creance, afin de leur enfeigner, [85J ils font tous extremement contens de la Foy qu'ils ont embraffée, c'eft tout de bon qu'ils croyent en Dieu, on ne fait maintenant non plus d'eftat de nos vieilles couftumes, & de nos vieilles fuperftitions anciennes, dans les cabanes de ceux qui font baptifés, que de cette pierre. Quelques Sauuages de Tadouffac nous font venus voir pour eftre inftruiéts, & pour demeu- rer auec nous, & pour cultiuer la terre, ils nous ont eftonnés, tant ils tefmoignent de defir d'eftre Chre- ftiens, ils nous ont dit iufques à ces paroles, fi vous nous voyez chanceler dans la refolution que nous auons prife de nous faire baptifer, nous vous permet- tons de nous frapper, & de nous chaffer d'auec vous. V oicy vn mot de lettre du P. de Quen, touch ant ces bons Neophites, lean Baptifte Etinechkavat & Eftienne Pigarvich, me vindrent voir hier tout expres pour fçauoir quand il feroit Dimanche ils me dirent qu'i1s eftoient triftes de n'auoir pas ouy la Meffe depuis qu'ils eftoient partis de S. Iofeph, ie leur ay donné vn papier, où i'ay marqué les [86J iours, afin qu'ils peuffent fçauoir quand il fera Dimanche, ils m'ont promis qu'ils ne manqueroient pas de venir à la Meffe ce iour là, quoy qu'ils foient eiloignés d'icy enuiron trois lieuës, en effeét, ils n'y ont pas man- qué, ils m'ont affeuré qu'on prioit Dieu dans vne cabane, où tous les Sauuages Chreftiens s'affem- bloient, & qu'ils allumoient vne écorce deuant l'i- mage de noftre Seigneur, mais pource que I' écorce fe confomme trop toft, ils m'ont prié de leur donner vn cierge, ils font tous dans vn contentement incroy- 1640J RELATION OF I640 171 them; and some days afterward, coming to see us, he discoursed in this manner: "Our Captains have sent me to you to be instructed, according to what we have agreed upon together. I have taught them all I knew. I am coming to school to learn some- thing else about our belief, in order to teach them. [85] They are all entirely satisfied with the Faith that they have embraced. It is in earnest that they be- lieve in God. Our old customs and ancient supersti- tions are now no more valued, in the cabins of those who are baptized, than this stone. Some Savages of Tadoussac have come to us to be instructed, and to remain with us and cultivate the land. They have astonished us, so great a desire do they show to be Christians. They have even said these words to us, · If you see us waver in the resolution we have made, to be baptized, we will let you beat us, and drive us away from you.' " Here is part of a letter from Father de Quen, touching these good Neophytes. "Jean Baptiste Etinechkavat and Estienne Pigaruich came to me yesterday, expressly to know when it would be Sun- day. They told me they were sad at not having heard Mass since they had left St. Joseph. I gave them a paper whereon I marked the [86] days, that they might know when Sunday came. They prom- ised me that they would be sure to come to Mass that day, although they are about three leagues distant from here; and, in fact, they did not fail to come. They assured me that prayers were offered to God in a cabin where all the Christian Savages gathered, and that they lighted a piece of bark before the im- age of our Lord; but, as the bark burned out so soon, they begged me to give them a taper. They are all 172 LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES [V OL. 18 able d'auoir embraffé la Foy, nous chaftions difoient- ils, les defobeïffans: vne ieune fille n'ayant pas voulu aller à la rets, où fon pere l'enuoyoit, fut deux iours fans manger en punition de fa defobeïffance: deux ieunes garçons eftans venus trop tard aux prieres du matin, furent punis par vne poignée de cendres chaudes qu'on leur ietta fur la tefte, auec menace de plus grand chaftiment en cas de recidiue, Ie Sauuage qui me racomptoit cette hiftoire me fit rire, eftant difoit-il, aux prieres auec les autres, la face tournée vers l'image de noftre [87J Seigneur, iauois grande enuie de voir fi ces deux ieunes gens que ie venois d'eueiller eftoient venus aux prieres; mais me fou- uenant que vous recõmandiez 1a modeftie, & l' atten- tion quand on parle à Dieu, ie n'ofois me mouuoir, enfin voulant recognoiftre fi tout Ie monde eftoit en fon deuoir, ie me 1aiffay aller, ie tournay la tefte; mais tant foit peu & bien fagement, ie croy, faifoit- iI, qu'il n'y a point de mal en cela, cette candeur me fit rire. V oicy vne aétion qui m'a gran dement touché: vn ieune homme Chreftien, âgé d'enuiron vingt-deux ans, n'ayant peu trouuer femme à S. Iofeph, s'en alIa en marchandife vers vne autre nation, dans les terres d' où il ramena vne ieune fille, auec 1e fcan- dale des nouueaux Chreftiens, qui ne veulent pas qu'vn ieune homme baptifé époufe vne Payenne, il demeuroit auec elle comme eftant marié à la façon des Sauuages, fi-toft qu'i1 parut aux trois Riuieres, on la luy fit quitter, l'ayant quitté il s'en reuint à S. Iofeph tout plain de confufion. Nous affemblafmes les principaux Chreftiens [88J pour fçauoir comme on fe comporteroit en cet affaire, ils conc1uoient 1640] RE'LA TION OF I640 173 in an incredible state of satisfaction at having em- braced the Faith. 'We punish the disobedient,' said they. A young girl who would not go to the nets,. where her father sent her, was two days without food as a punishment for her disobedience. Two boys, who came late to prayers in the morning, were pun- ished by having a handful of hot cinders thrown upon their heads, with threats of greater chastise- ment in case the offense were repeated. The Sav- age who related this next story to me made me laugh. 'Being at prayers with the others,' said he, · having my face turned towards the image of our [87] Lord, I had a great desire to see if these two young men whom I had just awakened had come to pray- ers; but remembering that you recommended mod- esty and attention when one is speaking to God, I did not dare move. Finally, wishing to find out if everyone was doing his duty, I yielded. I turned my head, but ever so little, and very discreetly; I believe,' he added, ' that there was no harm in that.' This candor made me laugh." Here is an act which has greatly touched me. A young Christian, about twenty. two years old, not having been able to find a wife at St. Joseph, went to trade with another nation in the interior, whence he brought back a young girl, to the scandal of the new Christians, who do not allow a baptized man to marry a Pagan. He lived with her as if married, in the fashion of the Savages. As soon as he appeared at the three Rivers, they made him leave her; and, after having given her up, he returned to St. J 0- seph, greatly humiliated. We assembled the prin- cipal Christians, [88J to ascertain what action would be taken in this matter. They summarily decided 174 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 nettement qu'il Ie falloìt chaffer & luy deffendre de iamais plus demeurer auec les Chreftiens pour auoir fait vne fi mauuaife aétion, nous repartifmes que cette rigueur feroit bonne en cas qu'il voulut perfe- uerer dans fa malice, mais que Dieu eftant plein de mifericorde, il Ie falloit receuoir à pardon s'il reco- gnoiffoit fon offenfe, auffi-toft fut ordonné qu'il crie- roit mercy à Dieu publiquement de fon peché, voicy comme la chofe fe paffa, vn Dimanche matin la pluf- part des Chreftiens eftans affemblés en l'Eglife pour ouyr Ia fainéte 1vleffe, ce pauure ieune homme fe tint à l' entrée de la porte, & parlant tout haut dit au Pere qui fe difpofoit pour celebrer; mon Pere me voulez vous permettre l' entrée de l'Eglife, Ie Pere Iuy reprocha qu'il auoit commis vn grand fcandale, & que s'il en vouloit demander pardon à Dieu qu'il entraft, il entre done, fe met à genoux deuant l' Au- tel, & de foy-mefme parlant tout haut il s'efcrie, mon Dieu faiétes moy mifericorde, ie vous ay offencé, ie vous en demande [89] pardon, ayés pitié de moy, i'ay commis vn grand peché, mais vous eftes bon, faites moy mifericorde, ie ne commettray plus iamais cette offence, ie me confefferay, ayés pitié de moy, & vous autres qui eftes icy affemblés, priés pour moy, afin que Dieu me faffe mifericorde, ie fuis bien marry de 1'auoir faché, cela dit, il fe profterna baifant la terre, & vn Capitaine Chreftien s'écria, prions pour luy afin que Dieu luy face mifericorde, tout Ie monde fe mit auffi-toft à genoux priant tout haut noftre Seigneur d' auoir pitié de ce pauure peni- tent, ie confeffe ingenuement que cette aétion me perça Ie cæur, ce n' eft pas tout, ce ieune homme m'eftant venu voir fur les trois heures apres midy, 1640] RELA TION OF 1640 175 that he should be driven away and forbidden ever to live again with the Christians, for having been guilty of so bad an action. We replied that this severity would be proper in case he intended to persevere in his evil course; but that, as God was full of mer- cy, he should be received and pardoned if he ac- knowledged his offense. It was immediately decreed that he should publicly entreat God for mercy upon his sin. The affair occurred thus: One Sunday morning, the greater part of the Christians having assembled in the Church to hear the holy Mass, this poor young man, remaining near the open door, and speaking loudly, said to the Father who was prepar- ing to officiate, " 1y Father, will you permit me to enter the Church? " The Father reproached him, saying that he had caused a great scandal, and that, if he would ask God's pardon for it, he might enter. He came in, then, knelt down before the Altar, and of his own accord, speaking in a loud voice, cried, " 1y God, have mercy upon me; I have offended you, I ask you [89] for pardon; have pity upon me; I have committed a great sin, but you are good,- have mercy upon me. I will never be guilty of this offense again; I will confess; have pity upon me. And you who are here assembled, pray for me, that God may show me mercy; I am very sorry to have offended him." This said, he prostrated himself, and kissed the ground; and a Christian Captain exclaimed, " Let us pray for him, that God may show him mercy." All immediately fell upon their knees, praying aloud to our Lord to have compassion on this poor penitent. I confess frankly that this act pierced me to the heart. This is not all. This young man coming to see me, about three o'clock in the after- 176 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 me toucha plus qu'il n'auoit fait Ie matin, mon Pere, me difoit-il, i'ay eu vn fi grand regret de ma faute que ie n'ay ofé aborder aucun Chreftien depuis mon retour, ie n'oferois feulement les regarder, on m'auoit bien dit que vous me tanceriez fi ie reuenois à fainét Iofeph, ie n'ay pas laiffé de vous venir trou- uer, ie vous affeure que depuis que i'ay quitté cette femme, i'ay ieufné tous [go] les iours, ne mangeant qu'vne fois Ie iour & encore pas, tant i'ay de douleur d'auoir fafché Dieu, ie n'ay ofe me retirer aux ca- banes des Chreftiens, ie paffe deuant eux la tefte baiffée fans mot dire, ie les iray voir quand ie feray confeffé, voyla comme la chofe paffa, mais voicy ce qui me ietta dans vn profond eftonnement, quand ce bon Neophite eut fatisfait pour ce fcandale, ie luy demanday comme il eftoit laiffé aller à vn fi grãd peché, ie ne luy auois point voulu parler deuant fa penitence, i'examinay diligemment fon procedé, ie Ie trouuay fi peu coulpable deuãt Dieu, que ie fremis quelque temps en moy-mefme d'vne fainéte horreur, i1 eft vray qu'il auoit amené cette ieune fille, ayant defia donné parole à vne autre, il eft vray qu'il de- meuroit auec elle comme s'il euft efté marié, & voyla Ie fcandale, mais il eft vray auffi que la crainte qu'il auoit d'offencer Dieu & Ie refpeét qu'il portoit à fon bapt fme, l'auoient empefché de la toucher, quoy qu'il en fut fortement follicité, defirant qu'elle fut Chreftienne deuant que de luy tefmoigner fon [gl] amitié, voyla à mon aduis ce qui paffe l'eftonnement, eftre dans Ie feu & ne pas bruner, faire vne aétion prefque innocente deuant Dieu, & en porter la peni- tence auec amour deuant les hommes. 1640] RELA TION OF z640 177 noon, affected me more than he had done in the morning. "1vly Father," said he, " I have so deeply regretted my fault that I have not dared to approach any Christian since my return; I would not dare even to look at them. I was told, indeed, that you would chide me if I returned to saint Joseph; but I have come, nevertheless, to see you. I assure you that, since I left this woman, I have fasted every [go] day,-eating only once a day and not more,-so much have I grieved for having offended God. I have not dared to take shelter in the cabins of the Christians; I pass before them in silence, with bowed head; I shall go and see them when I have con- fessed." Thus the incident passed over, but now see what caused me profound astonishment; when this good Neophyte had atoned for this offense, I asked how he had come to yield to so great a sin; I had been unwilling to speak to him before his pen- ance. I carefully examined his behavior; I found him so little guilty before God that I shuddered with- in myself for some time with a holy horror. It is true that he had taken this young girl, having al- ready given his word to another; it is true that he lived with her as if they were married, and that was the offense. But it is true also that his fear of offend- ing God and his respect for his baptism had pre- vented him from touching her, although he .was urgently solicited to do so,- desiring that she should become a Christian before showing her the evidences of his [gl] affection. This, in my opinion, is what passes wonder,-to be in the fire, and not be burned; to do an act almost innocent before God, and patient- ly to bear the penance for it before men. 178 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 CHAPITRE VII. CONTINUATION DES ACTIONS DE NOS NOUUEAUX CHRESTIENS. C ONCEPTUM fermonem tenere qut"s poterz"t. Puis que ie fuis en train de parler des aétions de nos Chreftiens, il faut que ie couche en ce Chapitre Ie refte des petites remarques que i'en ay faiétes, ou qu'on m'en a données. Vn Sauuage de l'Ifle eftant defcendu à S. Iofeph pour trouuer femme à fon fils, & recherchant la fille de deffunét François Xauier N enaskvmat, N oël N e- gabamat à qui cette fille a efté fort recommandée, parla en ces termes au pere du ieune homme; nous ne fommes [92] plus ce que nous auons efté, nous auons quitté nos anciennes façons de faire pour en prendre de meilleures, celles que nous auons prifes nous aggreent, no us les aymons & nous les voulons garder iufques à la mort, c'eft pourquoy nous ne pou- uons donner cette fille, qui croit en Dieu, & qui eft baptifée, qu'à vne perfonne de mefme creance, autre- ment Dieu fe fafcheroit, & nous ne voulons pas l'offencer, Ie barbare ne repartit rien à ce difcours, il diuertit Ie propos, & s'entretint pour lors de toute autre chofe; mais Ie landemain matin i1 retourna auec vn grand colier de pourcelaine, qu'il prefenta à Noël N egabamat, & luy dit, voyla qui parle pour moy, & qui vous affeure que ie veux croire en Dieu, & que ie veux embraffer les façons de faire que vous 1640] RELA TION OF I640 179 CHAPTER VII. CONTINUATION OF THE ACTIONS OF OUR NEW CHRIS- TIANS. C ONCEPTUM sernzonem tenere quÙ poterit.? Since I am speaking of the actions of our new Chris- tians, I must set down in this Chapter the remainder of the little observations that I have made of them, or that have been communicated to me. A Savage of the Island, who went down to St. Joseph to find a wife for his son, asked for the daughter of the deceased François Xavier Nenaskumat. Noël Negabamat, to whom this girl had been carefully entrusted, spoke in these terms to the father of the young man: "Weare no [92J longer what we once were,-we have given up our old customs, to accept better ones. Those that we have adopted please us; we love them, and wish to observe them until death. Hence we cannot give this girl, who believes in God and is baptized, except to a person of the same belief. Otherwise, God would be angry, and we do not wish to offend him." The barbarian answered nothing to this speech; he changed the subject, and conversed for the time about some other matter. But, the next morning, he returned with a large porcelain collar, which he presented to Noël Negabamat, say- ing to him, " This will speak for me, and will assure you that I wish to believe in God, and that I wish to embrace the customs that you so cherish. There- fore, do not raise any difficulties about granting this 180 LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES [VOL. 18 cherifíez tant, & par confequent ne faites nulle diffi- cu1té d'accorder cette fille à mon fils; car il fe fera baptifer, & moy auffi, Noël Negabamat bien eftonné de cette aétion repartit, nous ne voulons rien con- c1ure touchant ce mariage fans l'aduis de noftre Pere, il eft allé faire vn tour à Kebec [93J nous l'at- tendons ce soir, fi-toft qu'il fera de retour ie luy por- teray ce colier, qui luy fera entendre vos intentions, il n'y manqua pas, à peine Ie Pere eftoit il entré dans fa chambre, que Noëlluy prefente cette pourcelaine & luy expofe toute l' affaire, ie fçay de bonne part que ce ieune Sauuage preffa fort la fille pour fçauoir fi elle l'aggreoit, mais encor qu'elle eut de l'affeétion pour luy, neantmoins elle ne refpondit autre chofe fin on , qu'il ne falloit pas s'addreffer à elle pour cet affaire, mais au Pere qui l' a inftruiéte & à fes parens. Or ce Sauuage fe voyant éconduit de ce cofté-là, pour des iuftes raifons, rechercha vne ieune femme Payenne qui venoit de quitter fon mary, & comme celle-cy eftoit parente de lean Baptifte Etinechkavat il s'addreffeà luy, Ie tireà l'écart, luy fait fes prefens & fa demande, lean Baptifte luy répondit en cette forte, ie tiens cette ieune femme comme ma fille, mais ie ne te celeray point que les eaux du baptefme n'ayant pas encor paffé fur fa tefte, elle a peu d'efprit, i'ay prié fouuent vn tel Pere de la baptifer. [94J comme il recognoiffoit qu'elle n'aymoit pas fon mary, & qu'elle Ie pourroit quitter, comme elle a fait, il ne l' a pas voulu faire, fi elle eftoit baptifée ie ne la don- nerois iamais qu'à vn Chreftien, puis qu'elle ne l'eft pas, ie te l' accorde, fi e1le en eft contente. Au refte encor que Ie Pere qui fçait la valeur des eaux qu'il verfe fur nous, ne l'ait point voulu baptifer, il ne la 1640] RELA TION OF r640 181 girl to my son; for he will be baptized, and I also." Noël Negabamat, greatly surprised at this act, re- plied, "We will conclude nothing about this mar- riage without the advice of our Father. He has gone on a journey to Kebec; [93] we expect him this evening. As soon as he returns I will carry him this collar, which will make him understand your intentions. " He did not fail to do so; and the Father had scarcely entered his chamber before Noël presented him this porcelain. and eXplained the whole matter to him. I know upon good authority that this young Savage importuned the girl exceed- ingly, to find out if she would accept him; but, although she felt some affection for him, she would nevertheless give him no other answer than that he must not apply to her in this matter, but to the Father who had instructed her, and to her relatives. N ow this Savage, seeing himself put off in this quarter for good reasons, sought a young Pagan woman who had just left her husband; and as she was a relative of Jean Baptiste Etinechkavat, he addressed the latter; taking him aside, he proffered him his presents and his request. Jean Baptiste an- swered him thus: "I look upon this young woman as my daughter; but I will not conceal from thee that, as the waters of baptism have not passed over her head, she has little sense. I have often begged such a Father to baptize her; [94] as he saw that she did not love her husband, and that she probably would leave him, as she has done, he was not will- ing to do so. If she were baptized, I would never give her to anyone but a Christian; as she is not, I will give her to thee, if she is willing. Moreover, although the Father, who knows the value of the 182 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUI rES [VOL. 18 pas entierement éconduite, mais i1 nous à dit feule- ment, quïl falloit attendre qu'elle fut mieux difpo- fée, c' eft pourquoy ie te fupplie de la faire inftruire là haut par les Peres qui font aux trois Riuieres, & de luy procurer Ie baptefme, & à ton fils auffi, ce font Ies paroles de ce bon N eophite. I'ay parlé cy-deffus d'vn Chreftien eftropiat d'vne iambe, ie puis dire que la grace fait vn miracle en ce ieune homme; ie penfe auoir defcrit fon baptefme aux relations precedentes, mais cela n'empefchera pas que ie ne touche icy vne ou deux de fes aétions en paffant, il eft d'vn naturel prompt & altier, mais fi Ie fang amolit les diamants, la grace dompte les cæurs, i1 nous racomptoit [95] vn iour, qu'eftant allé à la guerre, il fe vit pourfuiuy par trois grands Hiro- quois, comme lors il auoit de bonnes iambes illes deuançoit auec aduantage, enfÌn s'eftant apperceu qu'ils n'eftoient pas tous trois enfemble, il tourne vifage, attaque Ie premier & l'arrefte d'vn coup de fleche; cela fait, il fait femblant de fuïr, les autres Ie pourfuiuans, il fe retourne vne autrefois, tranf- perce Ie plus proche, puis ayant ietté fon arc & fon carquois, i1 court apres Ie troifiefme l'efpée à Ia main, mais comme il craignoit d'en rencontrer quelques autres, i1 fe retira bien ioyeux, d' auoir euité vn tel danger. 11 auoit pour lors vn corps de fer, pour ainfi parler, & vne ame de feu, mais les grandes maladies qui l'attaquerent par apres luy firent bien voir qu'il eftoit bafty de fange & de bouë, comme Ie refte des hom- mes; il attribuë toutes fes difgraces à fon orgueil, il dit hautement deuant fes compatriotes qu'à mefme temps qu'il s' eft veu plongé dans quelque efiime de 164U] RELATION OF I640 183 waters that he pours upon us, was not willing to bap- tize her, he did not entirely refuse her, but merely told us that it was necessary to wait until she were bet- ter disposed. Hence, I beg thee to have her instructed up there by the Fathers who are at the three Rivers, and to procure baptism for her and for thy son also." Such were the words of this good Neophyte. I have spoken above of a Christian who was lame in one leg. I can say that grace effected a miracle in this young man. I think I have described his bap- tism in preceding relations, but that will not prevent me from incidentally mentioning here one or two of his actions. He is of a hasty and proud disposition; but, if blood softens diamonds, grace subdues hearts. He related to us [95] one day that, having gone to war, he saw himself pursued by three stout Hiro- quois. As he then had good legs, he considerably outran them. At last, perceiving that they were not all three together, he turned around, attacked the first one and stopped him by an arrow shot. This done, he pretended to flee, and the others pursued him; he turned again, and pierced the nearest one through; then, having thrown down his bow and quiver, he ran after the third, javelin in hand; but as he was afraid of encountering others, he withdrew, greatly rejoiced at having escaped such danger. He had then a body of iron, so to speak, and a soul of fire. But the severe illnesses that afterward attacked him made him see plainly that he was built of clay and mud, like the rest of humanity. He attributes all his misfortunes to his own pride. He says boldly before his countrymen that whenever he has found himself plunged in self-admiration, at that very time some misfortune has overtaken him. We 184 LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES [VOL. 18 foy-mefme, à mefme teps quelque malheur l'a ac- cueilly, nous l'auons [96] fecouru quelques années dans fes miferes, en fin la maifon de charité & de mi- fericorde efiant efiablie on l'y fit porter, comme i1 efi vrayement touché de Dieu, i1 profitoit grandement aux autres malades. Ayant appris cet Hyuer que les Peres de la refidence de S. Iofeph fe retiroient, ou comme parlent maintenant les Sauuages qui nous cognoiffent, fe cachoient pour parler à Dieu dans leurs exercices fpirituels, il pria infiamment qu'on l'y fit porter, n'ayant plus d'autre incommodité que fa iambe, dont il ne fe peut feruir, la mere Superieure de l'Hofpital m'en efcriuit ces mots, Pierre Trigatin (c'efi ainfi qu'il fe nomme) me voyant donner ma lettre à vn Sauuage, ma obligée de mander à V. R. qu'il defire auec paffion d'aller à S. Iofeph, pour efire enfeigné à prier Dieu, & faire queIque retraiéte, i1 fut hier vne heure & demie en nofire Chappelle en oraifon, & toutes les fois qu'il en fort, on voit bien qu'il efi tout remply de Dieu, nous tefmoignant vn mefpris de tout, mefme du boire & du manger, i1 efi foufmis à tout, on diroit [97] d'vn predicateur Ie voyant enfeigner les autres, l'affection luy faifant faire tous les gefies qu'il faut pour leur imp rimer ce qu'il dit, ie croy que les ames qui ayment Dieu fer- uemment ont des confolations nompareilles voyans ces bons N eophites, ce font les paroles de la Mere. Enfin nofire R. P. Superieur Ie fit apporter ou plufioft traifner à la façon du païs, il conceuoit fort bien les chofes de Dieu, gardoit Ie filence, fe retiroit en vn petit coing pour faire fes oraifons & fes medi- tations, il s' efionnoit de l' ignorance des hommes, & deploroit la mifere de fes compatriotes, nous ne 1640] RELA TION OF I640 185 have [96] aided him for several years in his suffer- ings; the house of charity and mercy being finally established, we had him carried there, and, as he is really touched by God, the other patients profited greatly by his presence. Having learned this Win- ter that the Fathers of the residence of St. Joseph went into retreat,- or, as the Savages who know us now say, hid themselves to speak to God in their spiritual exercises,- he begged earnestly that he should be carried there, his only impediment being his leg, which he could not use. The mother Superior of the Hospital wrote me thus about him: " Pierre Trigatin" (this is his name), "seeing me give my letter to a Savage, has constrained me to send this message to Your Reverence, that he pas- sionately desires to go to St. Joseph to be taught to pray to God, and to go into retreat. Yesterday he was an hour and a half in prayer, in our Chapel; and, every time he issues therefrom, it is very evident that he is filled with God, testifying to us a con- tempt for all things, even for food and for drink; he is submissive to all; one would call him [97] a preacher, seeing him teach the others,- his enthu- siasm causing him to make all the gestures necessary to impress upon them what he is saying. I believe that the souls who ferventl y love God experience incomparable consolation in seeing these good N eo- phytes." These are the :Mother's words. Finally, our Reverend Father Superior had him brought, or rather dragged, in the fashion of the country. He very well understood the things of God, kept silent, and withdrew to a little corner to offer his prayers and meditations. He expressed astonish- ment at the ignorance of men, and deplored the 186 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 fommes difoit-il, que des chiens, nous ne penfons qu'à cette vie, quand on me parle de Dieu mon ame eft repeuë, il me femble qu'elle eft comme vn homme qui a grand appetit, auquel on donne bien à difner. Le Pere qui Ie conduifoit Ie voyant petuner, luy demanda pourquoy il petunoit, il demeura court fans refpondre, fi Dieu vous difoit pourfuit Ie Pere, ren- dez compte de vos aétions, pourquoy [98J auez vous pris du tabac? que diriez-vous? ie ferois bien en peine; car ie n' en ay iamais pris que pour Ie plaifir que i'y fentois, mais pourquoy adioutoit-il, ne m'a- uez vous pas auerty pluftofi de cette action dereglée? ie n'en prendray iamais plus; en effet il s'en paffa fort long-teps, iufques à ce qu'vne perfône luy dit qu'il feroit à propos qu'il en prit vn peu pour fa fan- té, ceux qui fçauent de queUe manie les Sauuages & quelques François font portés à prendre la fumée du tabac, admireront cette abftinence en vn Canadois, les grands yurongnes n' ayment pas tant Ie vin que les Sauuages ayment Ie petun. Ayant fait vn tour ce Printemps aux trois Riuieres, Ie Pere Buteux refcriuit de luy ces paroles au Pere Claude Pijart, Pierre Trigatin eft ça haut de fort bonne edificatiõ, il ne laifíe pas d'auoir enuie de cou- rir tout boiteux qu'il eft, il y a quelque iours qu'vn François nous vint donner l'alarme des Hiroquois, Pierre auffi-toft fe prefente pour aller decouurir l' en- nemy, & quoy que ie luy peufíe aUeguer, il defira s'embarquer dans vn canot [99J de quatre perfonnes, qu'il gouuernoit au commancement auec 1'vne des potences dont il fe fert pour marcher, & puis auec vn auiron, ils s' en allerent done dans Ie lac S. Paul, où 1640] RELA TION OF I640 187 misery of his countrymen. "We are only dogs," said he; "we think of nothing but this life. When one speaks of God, my soul is fed; it seems to me it is like a man who has a great appetite, to whom is given a good dinner." The Father who had charge of him, seeing him smoking, asked him why he smoked. He stopped short, and did not answer. "If God said to you," pursued the Father, '" Render an account of your actions; why [98] did you take tobacco?' what would you say?" "Indeed I would be at a loss; for I have never taken it except for the pleasure I felt from it. But why," he added, ,( have you not informed me sooner of this disorderly action? I will never again take it." In fact he dispensed with it for a long time, until some one told him that it would be proper for him to take a little of it for his health. Those who know what a mania the Savages and some Frenchmen have for smoking tobacco, will admire this abstinence in a Canadian. Intemperate drinkers are not so fond of wine as the Savages are of tobacco. As he made a trip to the three Rivers this Spring, Father Buteux wrote these words about him to Father Claude Pijart: " Pierre Trigatin affords very great edification up here; he even wishes to run, lame as h is. A few days ago, a Frenchman came to give us the alarm about the Hiroquois. Pierre immediately presented himself to go and discover the enemy; and, however much I might argue with him, he desired to embark in a canoe [99] with four persons, which he guided at first with one of the staffs which served him in walking, and then with a paddle. They went, then, to lake St. Paul, where a noise had been heard. As night drew on, they per- 188 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 on auoit entendu du bruit, comme la nuit approchoit ils apperceurent comme vn canot, auffi-tofi croyans que c'eftoit l'ennemy, Pierre fit defembarquer les Sauuages & vn François qui efioient auec eux les fait mettre à genoux, pour prier Dieu, & leur priere eftant faite ils fe rembarquent, s'en vont donner fur ce canot pour Ie combattre, mais en l'approchant ils trouuerent que c'eftoit vn arbre qui flottoit fur l'eau, s'il ne combattit point ce ne fut pas faute de courage, mais d'occafion, il s'eft icy confefíé & communié & Louis Nichvtenfis auffi, les deux Dimanches qu'ils y ont efté. II a bonne enuie de reuenir encor enfeigner fes gens, en verité ie n'eufíe pas creu qu'il euft eu la hardiefíe qu'il a monfiré à l'endroit de ceux qu'il enfeignoit, prindpalement en ce qu'il leur difoit, qu'il cheriffoit tous les hommes; & mefme les Hiro- quois en Dieu, & que s'il auoit vn prifonnier il [100] auroit plus de foin de luy bruí1er Ie cæur de l'amour de Dieu, que de tourmenter fon corps, à mon aduis il n'y a que la grace qui puiffe faire dire cela, notam- ment à vn homme de fon humeur, voila ce que porte la lettre du Pere. I'ay par1é bien amplement aux années precedentes d'vn certain forder tres-fameux panny les Sauuages, maintenant bon Chrefiien, il fut baptifé des l'année pafíée, i'en diray deux mots pour Ie prefent, il fe nomme Eftienne Pigarovich, il arriua à S. Iofeph Ie vingt-troifiefme d' Auril retournant de fa chaffe de l'Eí1ã, voicy ce qu'il nous raconta à diuerfes ren- contres. V oyant que la petite verole attaquoit ceux auec lefquels il s' eftoit ioint premierement, il reprit les incredules de n'auoir pas prefté l'oreille aux dif- cours de la foy que nous leur auions faiéts, en apres 1640J RELA TION OF I640 189 ceived something like a canoe,- and, at once sup- posing that it was the enemy, Pierre had the Savages and a Frenchman who was with them disembark, and made them kneel and pray to God. Their pray- er finished, they reëmbarked and proceeded to attack this canoe; but, upon approaching it, they perceived that it was a tree floating upon the water. If he did not fight it was not for lack of courage, but of opportunity. He confessed and received communion here, and Louis Nichutensis also, the two Sundays they were here. He has a great desire to return again, to teach his people. In truth, I would not have believed that he possessed the fearlessness he has shown toward those whom he was teaching,- principally in saying to them that he cherished all men, even the Hiroquois, in God; and that, if he had a prisoner, he [100] would care more to burn his heart with love for God, than to torture his body. In my opinion, nothing but grace can inspire such words, especially in a man of his nature." Such are the contents of the Father's letter. I have spoken very fully in former years of a cer- tain sorcerer very famous among the Savages, now a good Christian. He was baptized during the past year. I will say a few words concerning him at this time. His name is Estienne Pigarouich. He ar- rived at St. Joseph on the twenty-third of April, on his return from Elk-hunting. Here is what he related to us at various times: Seeing that the smallpox was attacking those whom he had first joined, he re- proved the unbelieving for not having lent ear to the discourses that we had given them on the faith; then he exclaimed, " If anyone wishes to pray to God, let him join me; I hope that he will help us! " Some 190 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES lVOL. 18 il s'efcria fi quelqu'vn veut prier Dieu qu'il fe ioigne à moy, i'efpere qu'il nous fecourera, quelques infi- deles fe ietterent de fon party, tous les foirs & tous les matins ils faifoient leurs prieres à genoux, ils les prononçoit tout haut & les autres Ie fuiuoient [101] mot apres mot, chofe eftrange pas vn deux ne fut attaqué de cette maladie peftilente, qui emporta to us ceux que l'infidelité ou Ie refpeét humain em- pefcherent d'auoir recours à Dieu. II nous racomptoit que Ie Capitaine de Tadouffac, nommé Etovait, auec lequel il s'eftoit retiré, difoit par fois deuant fes gens, ie hay la foy & les prieres, ny moy ny mes enfans ne croirons iamais ce que di- fent les François de l'autre vie, ie m'efionnois faifoit ce bon N eophite, de cette malice, Dieu ne la pas laiffé long-temps impunie, car luy, fa femme & tous fes enfans & ceux qui eftoient auec luy furent pris du mal commun & enleués en vn inftant, Ô que i'e- ftois trine difoit-il, de voir mourir ces pauures mife- rabIes fans baptefme. Apres que nous fufmes deli- urés de ce fleau commun ie tombay malade bien auant dans 1'Hyuer, & dans les bois, en forte que ie n'en pouuois plus, tous ceux qui eftoient auec moy me tenoient pour mort, dans cette affiiétion ie me fou- uins que i'eftois baptifé & que Dieu eftoit mõ Pere, ie luy dis pour lors en mon cæur, tu peux tout [102] tu fçais bien que ie n'en puis plus, & que i'ay la tefte fi foible que ie vay perdre l' efprit, fi tu veux tu me peux guerir, determine neantmoints & faiéìs ce que tu voudras, mais ie croy que tu es tout puiffant, & que fi tu voulois tout maintenant tu me guerirois, comme ie priois en mon cæur, faifoit-il, ie me fenty guery en vn inftant kaiafikat, kaiafikat, tout à coup, tout à 1640] RELA TION OF I640 191 unbelievers went over to his side, and every evening and morning they said their prayers on their knees,- some pronouncing them aloud, and the others fol- lowing them. [101] word for word. Strange to say, not one of them was attacked by this pestilential malady, which carried off all those whom infidelity or fear of public opinion prevented from having recourse to God. He related to us that the Captain of Tadoussac, named Etouait, with whom he had taken shelter, said sometimes before his people, " I hate the faith and prayers; neither I nor my children will ever believe what the French say of the other life." "I was surprised at this malice," said this good N eo- phyte. God did not leave him long unpunished; for he, his wife, and all his children, and those who were with him, were seized by the common malady and carried off in a moment. "Oh ! how sorry I was," said he, " to see these poor wretches die with- out baptism. After we were delivered from this common scourge, I fell sick late in the Winter, and far in the woods,- so that I was utterly helpless, and all those who were with me regarded me as a dead man. In this affliction I remembered that I was baptized and that God was my Father. I said to him then in my heart, , Thou canst do all, [102] thou knowest well that I can do no more, and that my head is so weak that I am about to lose my mind: if thou wilt, thou canst heal me. Decide, however, and do what thou wilt; but I believe that thou art all-powerful, and that, if thou wilt, thou canst at this moment heal me.' While I was praying in my heart," he continued, "I felt myself cured in an instant, kaiasikat, kaiasikat, suddenly, suddenly; I 192 LES RELA TIONS DES ./ÉSUITES [VOL. 18 coup, ie me leuay tout fur l'heure & mangeayauec l'eftonnement de ces gens que tu vois, monftrantceux qui l'accompagnoient pour lors, non eJl perj"ollarum acceptatio apud Deum, Dieu ne regarde point fi on eft Grec ou Barbare, qui a plus de confiance & plus d'amour eft Ie mieux venu aupres de fa Majefté. V oicy vn autre traiét de fa prouidence, ayant fait ma prouifion de chair d'Elan, difoit ce bon N eophite, ie me trouuay bien en peine comme ie la porterois à fainét Iofeph, car nous n'auions pas affez de canots pour nous & pour noftre bagage; ie penfois dans mon efprit fi ie ne pOUITois pas bien faire vn caieux de bois, fur lequel ie mettrois [103] mon equipage, mais les marées font fi fortes, les vents fi dangereux, & les caieux fi pefans, que toute ma prouifion s' en fut allée à vaux I' eau, ne fçachant quel confeil pren- dre, ie dy à ma femme, prions Dieu, nous fommes baptifés, il nous infpirera ce qu'il faut faire, apres noftre priere, ie me fenty porté à faire vn canot, ie n'en auois iamais fait, & ie defefperois deuant ma priere d'en pouuoir faire, mais ayant dit à Dieu que tout ce qu'il nous auoit donné à manger feroit perdu s'il ne nous aydoit, ie creu que i'en viendrois à bout, en effet nous en fHmes auffi bien que les plus experts. Ce bon homme eft fi zelé, que quand il fçait quel- que defordre parmy fes gens, il nous en vient don- ner aduis pour y remedier; luy mefme va voir ceux qu'il croit faire mal & leur donne bon confeil, il prend vn tres-grand plaifir d' oüir parler de Dieu, & de grandes recompenfes & des grands chaftimens de l'autre vie, il a fi peu de refpeét humain qu'il ne craint ny petit ny grand, & par fois il nous tefmoi- 1640] RELA TION OF I640 198 arose without delay, and ate something, to the aston- ishment of these people that thou seest ,. - pointing to those who then accompanied him. Non est perso- narum acceptatz"o apud Deum. God cares not whether one is a Greek or a Barbarian; he who has the most confidence and love is the most welcome to his Majesty. Behold another example of his providence. "Hav- ing obtained my supply of Elk meat," said this good Neophyte, " I was quite at a loss how I should carry it to saint Joseph, for we did not have enough canoes for ourselves and our baggage. I wondered if I could not easily make a wooden raft, upon which I could put [103] my goods; but the tides are so strong, the winds so dangerous, and the rafts so heavy, that all my supplies might go to the bottom of the river. Not knowing what course to take, I said to my wife, C Let us pray to God; we are baptized,- he will in- spire in us what must be done.' After our prayer, I felt myself prompted to make a canoe; I had never made one, and I despaired, before my prayer, of being able to do so; but having told God that all he had given us to eat would be lost, if he did not help us, I believed that I could accomplish it. In fact, we made one as well as the most expert persons could have done." This good man is so zealous that, when he knows of some irregularity among his people, he comes to inform us of it that it may be remedied. He himself goes to see those whom he believes to have done wrong, and gives them good advice. He takes a very great pleasure in hearing conversation about God, and about the great rewards and severe punish- ments of the other life. He has so little regard for 194 LES RELA TIOl\TS DES jÉSUITES [VOL. 18 gne [104] qu'il voudroit bien fouffrir la mort pour fa creance. C'eft vne confolation bien fenfible d'entendre auec queUe innocence ces bonnes gens rendent compte de leurs confciences quand ils retournent des bois apres cinq ou fix mois d'abfence, ils fe conferuent pour la plufpart auec vne pureté rauiffante, encor qu'ils foient auec des barbares, & qu'ils n'ayent autre fe- cours que du Ciel, comme ils ne font pas polis à l'ex- terieur, i1 n'y a que ceux qui entendent leur langue & qui les conuerfent qui ayent cognoiffance de ces vrais biens incognus aux yeux des hommes; mais bien cognus de Dieu. 1640] RELA TION OF I640 195 worldly considerations that he fears neither small nor great; and he sometimes declares to us [104J that he would willingly suffer death for his belief. It is a very touching consolation to hear with what innocence these good people render an account of their consciences when they return from the woods, after five or six months of absence. They maintain themselves, in most cases, in a delightful purity, al- though they are with barbarians, and have no other aid than that of Heaven. As they are not outwardly polished, it is only those who understand their lan- guage and converse with them who have a knowl- edge of these truly good persons,-unknown to the eyes of men, but well known to God. 196 LES RELATIONS DES./ÉSUITES [VOL. 18 [105J CHAPITRE VIII. DE LA BONNE DISPOSITION DE QUELQUES SAUUAGES NON EKCOR BAPTISÉS. D ANS les grandes refiftences que les Sauuages nous faifoient au commencement que nous leur parlions de la foy, ie fuppliois fouuent noftre Seigneur de me faire cefte grace qu'auãt ma mort ie peuffe voir deux familIes lauées dedãs fon fang, profeffer publiquement & cõftamment la Reli- gion Chreftienne, fa bonté ayant donné cefte confo- lation à mes yeux, ie fouhaittois quafi de chanter Ie Cantique de S. Simeon, tant cefte faueur me fem- bloit grande, mais Dieu qui ne mefure pas fes dons à la petiteffe de noftre cæur, a voulu que ie viffe en- trer en fon Eglife, non feulement ces deux premieres familIes, mais plufieurs autres, & que i'euffe ce con- tentement bien doux de les voir profeffer courageufe- ment la foy de Iefus-Chrifi; ce n'eft pas [106] tout, ce Dieu des mifericordes a telIement difpofé les Sau- uages non encor baptifez, qu'il femble que fa Ma- jefté veut changer ce pauure peuple, & faire reluire fes lumieres dans les tenebres. Difons deux mots des fentiments qu'il donne à quelques vns de ces Infideles. Plufieurs fe viennent recommander à nos prieres quand ils entreprenent quelque voyage; cet hyuer dernier, voulans trauerfer la grande riuiere toute heriffée de glaces, ils nous venoient trouuer, & l'vn 1640] RELA TION OF r640 197 [105] CHAPTER VIII. OF THE GOOD DISPOSITION OF SOME SAVAGES NOT YET BAPTIZED. I N the great resistance the Savages made to us, w hen we first spoke to them of the faith, I often supplicated our Lord to grant me this favor,- that before my death I might see two families washed in his blood, publicly and steadfastly profess the Christian Religion. His goodness having granted this consolation to my eyes, I almost desired to sing the Canticle of St. Simeon, so great did this favor seem to me. But God, who does not measure b is grace by the littleness of our hearts, has willed that I should see enter his Church not only these first two fami- lies, but several others; and that I should have the satisfaction, truly sweet, of seeing them boldly pro- fess the faith of Jesus Christ. This is not [106] all; this God of mercy has so disposed the Savages not yet baptized, that it would seem that his Majesty wishes to transform this poor people, and to make his light shine in the darkness. Let us say a few words about the sentiments he has given to some of these Unbelievers. Many come to commend themselves to our pray- ers, when they are undertaking a journey. This last winter, wishing to cross the great river all blocked with ice, they came to see us; and one of them, ad- dressing the Father that he knew, said to him, " ly Father, when you see us embark, look at us; raise 198 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 deux s'addreffant au Pere qu'il cognoiffoit, luy difoit, Mon Pere, quand vous nous verrez embarquez regar- dez nous, leuez les yeux au Ciel, dites à Dieu ces paroles, gardez-les, ouurez leur paffage, efcartez les glaces, deliurez les du peril ou plufieurs perdent la vie, ne nous perdez point de veuë tandis que nous ferons fur la riuiere, difoient ces bonnes gens, & quand nous ferions efloignés de vous dedans les bois, penfez à nous quand vous prierez Dieu. Vn autre Sauuage dont la mere & la fille efioient baptifées, & fe nommoient Magdelaine & Dorothée, faifoit cefie [107J priere à Dieu quand il alloit à la chaffe, vous qui auez tout fait regardez :Magdelaine & Dorothée vos enfans, elles veulent manger, don- nez leur dequoy, i' en vay chercher pour elles, vous les aymez, car elles font baptifées. Ce bon homme empruntoit les noms de fa mere & de fa fille pour induire nofire Seigneur à luy donner bonne chaffe, faifant voir par cefie action l'efiime qu'il faifoit du baptefme, qu'il receura bien-tofi s'il plaifi à Dieu. Vn Sauuage nous difoit que dés fa ieuneffe il regar- doit Ie Ciel & la terre auec efionnement, mais qui pourroit bien auoir fait tout cela, difoit-il? cela n'a pas efié fait en vain & fans deffein. Vn autre nous racontoit qu'efiant malade cet Au- tomne, il auoit veu dans Ie Ciel vn ieune François de fa cognoiffance trefpaffé depuis peu, ie la vy, di- foit-il, dans vne beauté & dans vn lieu Ie plus rauif- fant du monde, ie voulu m'auancer pour aller en ce lieu de delices, mais il me demanda fi i'efiois baptifé, ayant refpondu que non, il me dit, retire toy, tu ne fçaurois voir Ie grand Capitaine du Ciel, [108J ny venir auec moy, fi tu n'es laué dans les eaux du bap- 1640] RELATION OF I640 199 your eyes to Heaven, and say to God these words: 'Preserve them; open the way for them, and part the ice; deliver them from a danger wherein many lose their lives.' Do not lose us from sight while we shall be upon the river," said these good people; '" and, when we shall be far away from you in the woods, think of us when you pray to God." Another Savage, whose mother and daughter were baptized and were named 11agdelaine and Dorothée, Qffered this [107] prayer to God when he went hunt- ing: "You who have made all, look down upon Magdelaine and Dorothée, your children. They wish to eat, give them food. I am going away to seek something for them; you love them, for they are baptized." This good man borrowed the names of his mother and daughter, to induce our Lord to give him successful hunting,-showing by this act the esteem in which he held baptism, which he will receive soon, if it please God. A Savage told us that, ever since his youth, he had looked upon the Sky and the earth with wonder. " Now, who can have made all that?" said he, " it has not been made in vain, and without a purpose." Another related to us that, being sick this Au- tumn, he had seen in Heaven a young Frenchman of his acquaintance who had died a little while before. '" I saw him," said he, "in most ravishing beauty and in the most delightful place imaginable. I wished to go forward and enter this place of delight, but he asked me if I were baptized. "VVhen I told him I was not, he said to me, , Retire, thou canst not see the great Captain of Heaven, [108] or come with me, if thou art not washed in the waters of bap- tism.' This amazed me greatly, and, at the same time, what I saw disappeared." 200 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 tefme, cela m'eftonna fort, & à mefme temps ce que ie voyois dif parut. Quoy qu'il en foit de cefte vifion, ce Sauuage a fouftenu publiquement deuant ceux de fa nation que Ies ames pouuoient aller au Ciel, & qu'il y feroit def- ja s'il euft efté baptifé. Vn certain Algonquin racon- toit cet hyuer qu'vn Sauuage de ces pays plus haut eftoit refufcité; on l'auoit enfeuely, difoit-il, on eftoit tout preft de Ie mettre en terre quand il commença à fe remuer, on fe met à decoudre viftement les robes dans lefquelles on l'auoit enueloppé, ce bon homme fe leue à fon feant, racontent qu'il vient du pays des ames, lequel eft fitué ou Ie Soleil fe couche, aíIeure qu'il n'a veu là aucun François, ce lieu eHant deftiné feulement pour les Sauuages, il eft en ma puiffance, difoit-il, de viure encore en terre, mais i'ayme mieux m'en aller au pays des ames que refter parmy les hommes, cela dit, il fe couche, meurt derechef, on Ie renueloppe & Ie met-on en terre. Le Sauuage qui a eu la vifion dont [109] ie viens de parler, enten- dant cefte fable, dit tout hault qu'il n'en croyoit rien, & que ce qu'il auoit veu eftoit fi admirable qu'il ne Ie pouuoit ofter de fon efprit, affeurant toufiours que Ies ames pouuoient aller au Ciel. Mais remarquez s'il vous plaift que Ie Diable deçoit ce pauure homme, donnant vne fauffe interpretation aux parolles qu'il a entenduës, car comme ce Frãçois qu'il affeure auoir veu dans vne grande gloire, luy dit qu'il n'entreroit point au Ciel qu'il ne fut bap- tifé, il a cõc1ud delà qu'auffi toft qu'il fera baptifé i1 mourra pour y aller, fi bien qu' il retarde de iour en iour ne pouuant fe refoudre à quitter fi toft la terre, i'efpere qu'on luy oftera bien toft cet erreur. II a fait defia baptifer fa femme & fes enfans. 1640] RELA TION 0.1< .r640 201 Whatever there may be in this vision, this Savage has publicly maintained before those of his nation that souls can go to Heaven, and that he would already be there if he had been baptized. A certain Algon- quin related this winter that a Savage of those coun- tries farther up had been resuscitated. "They had shrouded him," said he, " and were all ready to put him in the ground when he began to move. They quickly set to work to undo the robes in which they had bound him. This good man, sitting up, related that he had come from the country of souls, which is situated where the Sun sets, and that he had not seen any Frenchman there,-this place being des- tined only for Savages. "It is in my power," said he, "to live again upon earth; but I prefer to go away to the country of souls, rather than to remain among men;" so saying, he lay down and died again. He was a second time en veloped, and placed in the ground. The Savage who had the vision of which [ 10 9] I have just spoken, hearing this tale, said boldly that he did not believe it at all, and that what he had seen was so wonderful that he could not get it out of his mind,- continuing to assert that souls could go to Heaven. But observe, if you please, that the Devil deludes this poor man, giving a false interpretation to the words that he heard. For, since this Frenchman whom he declares to have seen in great glory said to him that he could not enter Heaven if he were not baptized, he has concluded therefrom that, as soon as he shall be baptized, he will die in order to go there: so that he delays from day to day, not being able to resolve upon leaving the earth so soon. I hope he will speedily be freed from this error. He has already had his wife and children baptized. 202 LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES [VOL. 18 II y a des Sauuages non encor baptifez qui nous viennent donner aduis des fuperftitions qui fe com- mettent en fecret dans les cabanes, difans que ceux qui croyent encor à ces refueries, retiennent les de- mons parmy eux, il eft vray que les Infideles n'ofe- roient quafi plus diuulguer ces vieilles fottifes qui fe vont tous [110] les iours aboliffant à S. Iofeph. Vn Sauuage, encor payen, auoit procuré Ie bap- tefme à vne fienne petite fille, cet enfant venant à mourir nous I' enterrafme honorablement en noftre Cimetierre, ce qui Ie toucha fort, mais cõme nous luy eufmes par1é de la gloire dont iouyffoit fon enfant, il en fut fi aife qu'il s'efcria, mon cæur eftoit efiouffé, & vous luy auez donné de l'air, puis que ma fille eft fi heureufe, ie veux aller auec elle, & puis que vous auez logé fon corps aupres de voftre maifon, logez moy auffi aupres de vous, car d'orefnauant ie tiendray ce lieu-cy pour mon pays, & ie m'arrefieray auec les autres qui veulent compofer vne bourgade, inftruifez moy tous les iours & ma femme auffi, elle a volonté d'eftre baptifée auffi bien que moy, comme on les inftruifoit s'i! arriuoit que Ie pere qui en auoit pris charge s'abfentaft quelquefois, ils luy difoient au retour, vofire abfence nous attrifte & noftre cæur eft refiouy quand vous efies de retour, car vous eftes noftre pere. Vne femme Sauuage ayant racommodé quelque chofe pour nofire maifon; [III] quelque canot ou chofe femblable, nous luy demãdafmes ce qu'elles vou- loit pour fa peine, helas! dit-elIe, ie ne demãde rien finon que vous vous fouueniez que ie ne fuis pas bap- tifée, ie craignois cet hyuer de mourir dans les bois fans baptefme, au moindre mal mon cæur trembloit, 1640] RELA TION OF I640 203 There are Savages not yet baptized who come to inform us of superstitious rites which are performed secretly in the cabins,-saying that those who still believe in these delusions retain the demons among them. In truth, the Unbelievers would hardly dare divulge these ancient follies any more, which are [110] daily being abolished at St. Joseph. A Savage, still pagan, had procured baptism for one of his little girls. This child happening to die, we buried her with honor in our Cemetery, which deeply touched him. But, when we spoke to him of the glory his child was enjoying, he was so pleased that he exclaimed, " My heart was suffocating, and you have given it air. Since my child is so happy, I wish to go with her; and since you have placed her body near your house, lodge me also near you,-for henceforward I shall look upon this place as my country, and shall settle with the others who wish to form a village. Instruct me every day, and my wife also. She wishes to be baptized, as well as I." While they were being instructed, if it happened that the father who had taken charge of them occa- sionally absented himself, they would say to him on his return, "Your absence saddens us, and our hearts are rejoiced when you have returned, for you are our father." A Savage woman, having mended some article for our house,- [I II] a canoe, or something of the kind,- we asked her what she desired for her trouble. "Ah," said she, "I ask nothing, except that you remember that I am not baptized. I was afraid of dying in the woods this winter without baptism; my heart trembled at the least sickness. Do not let me go away from you any more burdened with my sins." 204 LES RELA TIOJVS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 ne me laifIez plus eiloigner de vous chargée de mes offenfes. Deux autres femmes s'efiant efgarées du chemin fur la nuit, efioient en danger de mourir de froid fur les neiges, car elles n'auoient point de raquettes ny de hache ny de fufil, & ne fe portoient pas trop bien, fe voyans dans cefie angoiffe elles ont recours à Dieu, l'vne efioit Chrefiienne & l'autre non; ayant fait leur priere elles crient à l'auenture pour voir fi elles ne feroient point entenduës de quelqu'vn; à mefme temps vn canot conduit par deux Chreftiens pafIoit fur Ie grand fleuue à l'endroit ou efioient ces femmes, ils ref pondent à leurs cris, les appellent, les font defcendre au bord de l'eau, & les embarquent, ces bonnes femm"es admiroient ce rencontre, & di- foient auec efionnement, Dieu nous a [112] prompte- ment fecouruës. Vn forder de Tadouffac fort efiourdy efiant venu à S. Iofeph nous Ie traiétafmes rudement de paroles, i1 nous difoit nettement que fon art luy auoit fauué la vie, & que s'il croyoit en Dieu qu'il ne pafferoit pas rEfié, nous recommandafmes à N oël N egabamat de luy parler en fecret, il ny manqua pas, il pafIoit quafi les nuids à luy parler de noftre creance. En fin cet homme quoy que mechant fut touché des dif- cours de ce bon Neophyte, & des bons exemples des nouueaux Chrefiiens, en forte qu'il nous vint prier de baptifer fon fils, & nous afIeura qu'i! fe feroit in- ftruire, ie voy bien, dit-il, que ie ne fay pas bien, ie veux quitter Ie Diable, & croire en Dieu, ie m'en vais faire vn tour à Tadouffac, bien toft vous me verrez de retour. Ie ne fçay pas ce qui en fera tous ceux que Dieu appelle ne refpondent pas à fa voix, cet homme à bien des liens à rompre. 1640] RELA T IOA' OF .r640 205 Two other women, who lost their way towards nightfall, were in danger of dying from cold upon the snow, for they had no snowshoes, hatchets, or tinder box, and besides, were not very well. See- ing themselves in this extremity, they had recourse to God. One was a Christian, and the other not. When they had offered their prayers they shouted, to see if, perchance, they would not be heard by some one; and at the same time a canoe, paddled by two Christians, made its way over the great river towards the place where these women were. They answered their cries, called to them, had them come down to the edge of the water, and took them on board. These good women wondered at this encoun- ter, and said with astonishment, "God has [112] promptly aided us." A sorcerer of Tadoussac, a very reckless fellow, having come to St. Joseph, we took him sharply to task. He told us bluntly that his art had preserved his life, and that if he should believe in God he would not survive the Summer. We requested Noël Negabamat to speak to him privately. He did not fail to do so; he almost spent nights in talking to him of our belief. Finally this man, although wicked, was touched by the discourse of this good Neophyte, and by the good example of the new Christians, so that he came and pleaded with us to baptize his son, and assured us that he would be in- structed. "I see clearly," said he, " that I am not doing right; I will quit the Devil, and believe in God. I am about to make a trip to Tadoussac, but you will soon see me back again." I do not know how it will turn out; not all those whom God calls, respond to his voice. This man has many ties to sun der. 206 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 I'ay defia remarqué qu'il y a des Sauuages non encor baptifez qui ne fe veulent pas marier fans noftre aduis, d'autres ne manquent point de fe met. tre à genoux [113] fi-toft [ils] ont tué quelque animal & d'en remercier Dieu, cela fe va mettre en couftume parmy eux, d'où naiftra vn grand bien, car s'ils ont recours à Dieu fa bonté ne les abandonnera pas. Vn Payen allant voir la nuit vne femme veufue pour l'époufer, celle-cy luy dit ne fçais tu pas que les Peres crient contre cette coufiume, de plus tu as def-ja vne femme, en voudrois tu auoir deux toy qui fais eftat d' approuuer les prieres? fi vn tel Pere (di- foit-elle) te trouuoit icy que dirois-tu? cet importun continuant de la molefier les autres nuits, elle luy dit tu me contraindras de m'en aller ailleurs, & de de- couurir ta malice aux Peres, ne crains tu point l' en- fer? fçache que ie veux efire Chreftienne, & que ie ne veux époufer qu'vn Chreftien, ne me parle plus, tu perds tes peines, ie veux obeïr à Dieu. II n'y a cæur fi dur que la parole de Dieu n'amo- liffe à la longue, vn efprit rude & fuperbe, me difoit i1 y a quelque temps, ie me fuis moqué cent fois des difcours du Pere de Quen, i'ay refifié au Pere Bu- teux Ie voulant empefcher de [114] nous infiruire, pour toy ie ne te pouuois fupporter, ie prenois plaifir de te quereller, & quand ie l'auois fait ie l'allois ra- compter par les cabanes comme vne gran de proüeffe, mais maintenant vos paroles me femblent bonnes, elles defcendent petit à petit dans mon cæur, ie croy que mes oreilles fe feront à les écouter. V oicy quelques remarques du Pere Buteux en- 110yées des trois Riuieres, ces pauures gens font dans 1640] RELA TION OF .r640 207 I have already remarked that there are Savages not yet baptized who will not marry without our advice. Others always fall upon their knees [113] as soon as they have killed some animal, and thank God for it. This is getting to be a custom among them, whence will arise great good,- for, if they have recourse to God, his goodness will not abandon them. A Pagan went to see a widow one night, to marry her, when she said to him, " Dost thou not know that the Fathers rebuke this custom? and besides, thou hast already a wife; wouldst thou have two,- thou, who pretendest to approve prayers? If such a Father JJ (said she) " found thee here, what wouldst thou say?" This troublesome fellow continuing to annoy her on other nights, she said to him, I' Thou wilt compel me to go somewhere else, and to expose thy malice to the Fathers. Dost thou not fear hell? Know that I intend to be a Christian, and that I will not marry anyone but a Christian. Do not speak to me any more; thou hast thy trouble for nothing; I wish to obey God." There is no heart so hard that the word of God does not soften it in time. A rude and haughty fel- low said to me some time ago, " I bave a hundred times made sport of the speeches of Father de Quen; I have opposed Father Buteux, trying to prevent him from [114] instructing us; as for thee, I could not endure thee,- I took pleasure in quarreling with thee, and, when I had done so, I went through the cabins and spoke of it as a great feat. But now your words seem good to me; they are going down little by little into my heart; I believe my ears will get accustomed to hear them. " Here are some observations of Father Buteux, sent 208 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 Ia creance que la maladie les doit accueillir cet Efté, its ne laiffent pas de fe difpofer pour Ie baptefme, ils font fort portés à prier Dieu, quãd nous entrons dans leurs cabanes, ils demandent fi c'eft pour faire Ies prieres, fe mettans à genoux fi-toft qu' on les commance. L'vn de nous allant faire prier Dieu dans Ies cabanes, vn peu eíloignées de noftre habitation, ren- contra vn vieillard qui s'en alloit faire des traifnes il demanda au Pere où il alloit, ie vay faire prier tes gens, Iuy dit Ie Pere, ie n'y pourray affifter, dit ce bon Sauuage, mais prions icy, Ià deffus il fe met à genoux fur la neige, [I I 5J par vn temps tres-rigou- reux, Ie Pere Ie fit prier Dieu, cela fait ce bon homme s'en alIa tout content à fon trauail. Vne femme me difoit qu'eftant dans la neceffité au milieu des bois, fon mary fit mettre ceux de fa cabane à genoux, & leur dit, or fus addreffons nous à celuy qui nous peut nourrir, il eft bon, affeurement it nous fecourera fi nous Ie prions de bon cæur, ce qu'ils firent & incontinent apres ils firent fort bonne chaffe d ' ours. V oicy ce qui eft arriué depuis peu, dit Ie Pere, vn Sauuage de confideration parmy les fiens, me vint dire qu'il auoit veu Ie manitou, & qu'il me prioit d'al- ler chez luy faire les prieres inftituées pour Ie chaf- fer, il y fallut aller quoy qu'il fut nuit, ie portay auec moy vn crucifix, que chacun adora, apres les auoir affurez ie laiffay Ie crucifix dans leur cabane, quelque temps apres ce Sauuage qui m'eftoit venu querir fe trouua oppreffé d'vn mal de cofté, caufé du trop grand trauail qu'il auoit pris à fon champ, ce pauure homme ne fçachant à qui auoir recours, s'ad- 1640] RELA TION OF I640 209 from the three Rivers: "These poor people still be- lieve that the malady is to attack them this Summer. They do not cease to prepare themselves for bap- tism; they are strongly inclined to pray to God; when we enter their cabins they ask if it is to offer prayers, falling upon their knees as soon as these are begun. "One of us, going into the cabins at a little dis- tance from our settlement to offer prayers, met an old man who was going away to make sleds. He asked the Father where he was going. 'I am going to get thy people to pray,' replied the Father. 'I cannot be present,' said this good Savage, 'but let us pray here.' Thereupon he knelt down upon the snow, [115] in the severe cold; the Father had him pray to God, and, this done, the good man went off to his work, very happy. " A woman told me that, being in want while in the depths of the woods, her husband had those of his cabin kneel down, and said to them, ' Come, let us address ourselves to him who can feed us; he is good,- he will certainly help us, if we pray to him sincerely.' This they did, and directly afterwards were successful in bear-hunting. " Here is something that happened a little while ago," says the Father. "A Savage, of high stand- ing among his own people, came and told me that he had seen the manitou, and pleaded with me to go home with him to offer the prayers appointed to drive him away. I was obliged to go, although it was night, taking with me a crucifix, which everyone adored. After having reassured them, I left the crucifix in their cabin. Some time afterward, this Savage who had come to get me, finding himself 210 LES R LATIONS DESJÉSUITES [VOL. 18 dreffa à celuy qu'il croyoit auffi puiffant [116] pour chaffer Ia maladie que les diables, illuy demanda Ia guerifon, qu'il receut plainement & foudainement. Vn ieune homme nous a fort edifié demandant Ie baptefme, ie confeffe, difoit-il, que ie fuis vn coureur, que ie n'ay point d'arrefi, mais depuis que vous m'auez par1é de l'autre vie, ie porte toufjours vos paroles dans mon cæur, i'ay beau aller ça & Ià, ce que vous m 'auez dit me fuit par tout, il me femble qu'on l'a efcrit dans mon cæur, ie difois l'autre iour au fieur Oliuier, que ie croyois tout de bon, & que i'auois pris refolution de m'arrefier, ce n'efi pas luy difoy-ie, que i'efpere qu'on me fera meilleur marché au magazin fi ie fuis baptifé, non ie ne penfe point à vos marchandifes, ie penfe à quelque chofe de meil- leur, voila, Iuy monfi[r]ant Ie Ciel, ce que ie penfe, c'eft cela qui efi efcrit dedans mon cæur, & qui me fait craindre de mourir auparauant que mes pechez foient emportés par les eaux du baptefme, Dieu luy donne Ia perfeuerance. II y a trois iours qu'vne femme non en cor baptifée demeuroit à Ia porte de [117J l'Eglife pendant Ia Meffe, mais comme fon petit fils efioit Chrefiien, & qu'il n'efi permis qu'aux Chrefiiens d'entendre la :Meffe, elle plantoit ce petit enfant tout debout atta- ché à fon berceau à l'entrée de la Chappelle, atten- dant dehors que la Meffe fut ditte pour Ie prendre faifant voir par cette aétion l'efiime qu'elle faifoit du bon-heur de fon fils, qu'on luy accorderoit à elle mefme n'efioit Ia crainte qu'on a qu'elle époufe vn Payen, fon mary l'ayant laiffée fort ieune. 1640] RELA TION OF I640 211 oppressed by a pain in his side, caused by too hard work he had done in his field,- the poor man, not knowing to whom he should apply, addressed himself to him whom he believed to be as powerful [116] to drive away sickness as devils. He asked him for his recovery, which he received completely and suddenly. " A young man greatly edified us in his request for baptism. 'I confess,' said he, , that I am a rover, that I have no abiding-place; but, since you have spoken to me of the other life, I al wa ys bear your words in my heart; it is vain for me to go here and there,-what you have said to me follows me every- where; it seems as if it had been written in my heart. I said the other day to sieur Olivier that I believed sincerely, and that I had resolved to settle down,- " not," I said to him, " because I hope they will give me things cheaper at the store if I am baptized; I am not thinking of your merchandise, I am thinking of something better; that '-indicating the Sky-' is what I think of, it is that which is written in my heart, and which makes me afraid to die before my sins are carried away by the waters of baptism.'" May God give him perseverance. " Three days ago a woman, not yet baptized, re- mained at the door of [117] the Church during Mass. As her little son was a Christian, and as none but Christians are allowed to hear Mass, she set this little child,- standing upright, bound to his cradle,- at the entrance to the Chapel, waiting outside until 1fass was over, to take him; showing by this act the value she attached to her son's good fortune, which would be granted to her also were it not for the fear that she will marry a Pagan, her husband having left her very young." 212 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 CHAPITRE IX. DE LA PROUIDENCE DE DIEU AU CROIX DE QUELQUES VNS, & AU REBUT DE QUELQUES AUTRES. Q VELQUES Sauuages fe conuertiffent quelque- fois fi foudainement, & par des occafions fi peu premeditées, qu'il femble qu'vn hazard les mene au [118] Ciel, & cependant ils n'y entrent que par vne fage conduite, & par vne affurée proui- dence du grand Dieu. Vn Capitaine Sauuage s'efioit cabané au deffus de S. Iofeph en pleine fanté, Ie voila tout à coup d'vne grande maladie, arriue qu'vne femme paffant deuant nofire maifon dans fon canot, nous dit deux mots fans fe defembarquer, comme elle pourfuiuoit fon che- min, l'vn de nous luy erie, n'y a-il point de malades en vofire eabane, helas! fit elle, ie m'oubliois de vous dire qu'vn tel Capitaine eft tombé ee matin dans de grandes conuulfions, auffi-toit Ie Pere de Quen entendant cela court, prend fa couuerture & vn moreeau de pain pour tous viure & s'embarque, i1 arriue fur la nuit, trouue cet homme en vn pitoy- able efiat, l'inftruit, Ie confole, i1 demande Ie bap- tefme, erie mercy à Dieu de fes peehez, Ie Pere ne Ie croyant pas fi mal, fe retire en la eabane voifine pour faire fes prieres & prendre vn peu de repos, mais Dieu qui vouloit auoir cette ame l' empefcha fi bien de dormir, qu'il fut cõme cõtraint de fe leuer & d'aller voir sõ malade, [119] chofe eftrãge, ille trouue 1640] RELA T/ON OF 1640 213 CHAPTER IX. OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD IN THE CHOICE OF SOME, AND THE REJECTION OF OTHERS. C ER T AIN Savages are sometimes converted so suddenly, and by means so little premedi- tated, that it seems as if chance takes them to [II 8] Heaven; and yet they do not enter it with- out a wise leading and a definite providence of the great God. A Savage Captain had encamped above St. Joseph, in good health, when all at once he was attacked by a serious illness. It happened that a woman passing before our house in her canoe said a few words to us without disembarking; as she continued on her way, one of us called to her, " Are there not some sick people in your cabin?" "Oh," said she, "I forgot to tell you that such a Captain fell sick this morning, with violent convulsions." Upon hearing this, Father de Quen immediately ran, seized his blanket, and a piece of bread for his only food, and embarked. He arrived toward nightfall, and found this man in a pitiable condition j he instructed and consoled him; the latter asked for baptism, and cried to God for mercy for his sins. The Father, not sup- posing him so ill, withdrew to a neighboring cabin, to offer his prayers and take a little rest. But God, who intended to have this soul, so kept him from sleeping that he was constrained, as it were, to arise and go to see his patient. [119] Strange to say, he 214 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [V OL. 18 aux abois, n'ayant plus de vie qu'autant qu'il en falloit pour demander & pour receuoir Ie fain& Bap- tefme, Ie Pere bien eftonné luy donne, & l'enuoie tout fur l'heure en Paradis: vous diriez que cet homme s' eft fauué par hazard, & que d' autres fe damnent par accident, mais il nya ny hazard nyacci- dent deuant Dieu, fa bonté & fa iuftice s'accordent bien auec fa prouidence. Ce n' eft pas tout, quelques enfans eftoient malades dans ces mefmes cabanes, Ie Pere les veut baptifer, les parens s'y oppofent, vne femme plus inftruite que les autres fe trouuant là plaide pour Ie baptefme de ces pauures enfans, & Dieu gagna fa caufe, car ils furent fai&s fes enfans, qu'il foit beny à iamais, laudent eum cæli & terra & omnia quæ in eis Junt. L'vn de nous, eítant allé dire la fainéte Meffe à l'Hofpi- tal, trouue vne femme nouuellement apportée bien malade, il luy vint vne forte penfée de la difpofer tout fur l'heure au baptefme, mais comme i1 eftoit preffé & qu'il auoit quelque indifpofition pour Iors, il voulut differer, [120J fe promettant bien de la reuenir voir dãs peu de temps, comme ilIa quittoit, il fentit ce reproche en fon cæur, fi cette femme meurt fans baptefme à qui en fera la faute? i1 retourne vers la malade, luy touche Ie poux, & Ie trouuant affez bon à fon aduis, la quitte encor vne fois, il n'eftoit pas forty qu'vn remords luy fait prendre refolution de ne point quitter cette pauure creature, qu'il ne la vit en eftat de receuoir ce Sacrement de falut, i1 s'arrefte, l'inítruit, la laiffe dans vn grand defir d'eftre Chreftienne, & dans des regrets d'auoir offenfé fon Dieu & fon Pere, il ne fut pas loing qu'on luy vint crier que cette pauure femme expiroit, il retourne, 1640] RELA TION OF I640 215 found him in a desperate condition, having no more life than was necessary for him to ask and receive holy Baptism. The Father, greatly surprised, gave it to him, and sent him straightway to Paradise. You might say that this man had escaped by chance, and that others damn themselves by accident. But there is neither chance nor accident with God; his goodness and justice harmonize with his providence. This is not all. Some children were sick in these same cabins. The Father wished to baptize them, the parents opposed him; a woman, better instructed than the others, being present, pleaded for the baptism of these poor children, and God gained his cause, for they were made his children. May he be forever blessed, laudent eum cælt" et terra et omnia quæ in eÙ sunt. One of us having gone to say holy Mass at the Hospital, found a woman who had been just brought there very sick. A strong impulse prompted him to dispose her immediately to baptism, but as he was in haste, and felt some indisposition at the time, he wished to defer it, [120] promising himself that he would certainly return and see her in a little while. As he left her, he was conscious of this reproach in his heart, "If this woman dies without baptism, whose fault will it be?" He returned to the sick woman, felt her pulse, and finding her well enough, in his opinion, left her again. He had not gone out before remorse made him resolve not to leave this poor creature, until he saw her in a condi- tion to receive this Sacrament of salvation. He stopped, instructed her, and left her with a great desire to be a Christian, and with regret at having offended her God and Father. It was not long before they came to him, exclaiming that this poor 2]6 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 la baptife, elle meurt donnant des indices tres-grands de fa predefUnation, Ie Pere fe fouuenant de ce qui s'eftoit paffé en fon cæur, refta tout épouuanté: voy- ant qu'il ne s'en eftoit quafi rien fallu qu'elle ne fut morte fans baptefme, i1 eft vray qu'à fon regard Ie falut de cette ame paroiffoit n'auoir efté attaché qu'au petit filet fort aifé à rom pre, mais Dieu Ie tenoit auec vne chaifne bien forte. [12 I] Voicy quelques remarques tirées des me- moires du P. Buteux, vne troupe d' Algonquins traif- nans quant & eux beau coup de pauures veufues & orphelins, fe font venus ietter entre les bras de noftre charité, qui n'eftoient que trop ouuerts pour les rece- uoir, i1 faut que ie confeffe que voyant l'extreme difette de ces pauures barbares, foit pour leurs viures, foit pour leurs habits, iamais ie n'eus plus d'enuie d'eftre riche, la premiere cabane où i'entray, fut de deux pauures veufues bien âgées lefquelles auoient recueillyenuiron dix ou douze enfans, & pour toute prouifion n'auoiêt pas la valeur d'vn fac de bled d'Inde, c'eft pour lors que ie regrettay les viures qu' on nous enuoyoit, lefquels ont efté perdus dans la barque qui nous venoit voir, i'entrois dans quelque deffiance voyant tant de pauures creatures fur nos bras auec fi peu de viures qui fe rencontroient en noftre maifon, mais celuy qui nourrit les oyfeaux du Ciel, n'abandonne pas ceux pour lefquels il a crée les oyfeau, & les poiffons & tous les animaux. Ie ne fçay par quel miracle de fa prouidence [122] cela s' eft fait, mais ie fçay bien que ces pauures gens ont tous paffé l'Hyuer fains & gaillards, & fa bonté nous a fait trouuer dequoy les fecourir, nous en auons bap- tifé quelques vns qui nous confolent, entre autres vne 1640] RELATION OF I640 217 woman was expiring; he returned, and baptized her; and she died, giving very marked indications of her predestination. The Father, recalling what had passed in his own heart, was filled with consternation, considering how near she was to dying without bap- tism. True, in his eyes, the salvation of this soul seemed only attached by a fine thread, very easy to break; but God held it with a very strong chain. [121J Here are some observations taken from the memoirs of Father Buteux: "A band of Algonquins, dragging with them many poor widows and orphans, came to throw themselves into the arms of our char- ity, which were only too wide open to receive them. I must confess that, when I saw the extreme poverty of these poor barbarians, both as to their food and their clothes, I never had a greater desire to be rich. The first cabin I entered was that of two poor wid- ows, well advanced in age, who had gathered togeth- er about ten or twelve children, and for their sole provision had not the value of a bag of Indian corn. It was then I regretted the supplies that were sent us, which had been lost in the bark that was coming to see us. I had some misgivings when I saw so many poor creatures upon our hands, with so little food to be found in our house; but he who feeds the birds of the Air, does not abandon those for whom he has created the birds, the fish, and all the animals. I do not know by what miracle of his providence [122J this was done; but I do know well that these poor people all passed the Winter well and happy, and his goodness enabled us to find something with which to assist them. We have baptized some of them who are a comfort to uS,-among others, a good widow, who seems to have been reserved for 218 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 bonne veufue, qui femble auoir efié referuée pour Ie Ciel par vne particuliere prouidence de nofire Sei- gneur: les Hiroquois venãt faire la guerre en fon pays l' enleuerent en fa petite ieunelTe auec quelques autres prifonniers, elle fut efleuée parmyeux & repu- tée par apres comme vne femme de leur nation; efiant defia grande les Algonquins allans en guerre auec deffunt Monfieur de Champlain, & fe iettans fur vne bourgade d' Hiroquois où efioit cette femme, maffacroient tous ceux qu'ils auoient à la rencontre, cette pauure creature fe trouuant dans la mélée, vou- lut faire entendre aux Algonquins qu'elle efioit de leur nation, mais elle auoit oublié fa langue, excep- té ce mot feul, qu'elle reïteroit de toutes fes forces, nz"r, nir, nz"r, moy, moy, moy, ce mot luy fauua la vie, vn Algonquin l'ayant tirée à part, elle luy fit enten- dre comme [123] elle pût, qu'elle auoit efié prife en fa ieuneffe par l'ennemy, on la remene en fon pays, où s'efiant mariée elle a veu mourir fon mary, fes enfans, grand nombre de fes parens & Dieu l'a con- feruée dans la gran de mortalité qui a fort affiigé fa nation, la referuant pour luy donner entrée en fon Eglife, & pour exciter fes compatriotes à deferter la terre, car elle feule, auec cinq petits enfans qu'elle a conferuez dans la calamité publique, n'ayant de viure que ce que nofire pauureté luy fournit, a defia fait vn beau grand champ de bled d'Inde, elle me fit grande pitié l'autre iour, entrant fur Ie foir en fa cabane, ie la trouuay toute abbatuë & toute éplorée, luy en demandãt la raifon elle me dit, ie ne puis tenir mes larmes, iettant les yeux fur ces pauures orphelins, pour moy il y a long-temps que ie fuis accoufiumée à paffer les iournées entieres fans man- 1640] RELA TION OF I640 219 Heaven by a special providence of our Lord. The Hiroquois, coming to make war against her country, carried her off in her childhood with some other prisoners. She was reared among them, and after- ward reputed as a woman of their nation. Once, after she had grown up, the Algonquins went to war in company with the deceased Monsieur de Cham- plain,12 and throwing themselves upon a Hiroquois village where this woman was, massacred all those whom they encountered. This poor creature, find- ing herself in the conflict, tried to make the Algon- quins understand that she was of their nation; but she had forgotten her own language, except this one word, which she reiterated with all her might, 1dr, nir, 1Zir, ' me, me, me.' This word saved her life. An Algonquin drawing her aside, she made him un- derstand, as well as [123] she could, that she had been captured in her youth by the enemy. She was sent back to her own country, where, having married, she saw her husband, her children, and a great many of her relatives die. But God preserved her in the midst of the great mortality which has heavily afflicted her nation,- reserving her, in order to give her admission to his Church, and to stimulate her compatriots to clear the land; for she alone, with five little children that she has saved in the public calam- ity, and having nothing to live upon except what our poverty furnishes her, has already prepared a fine, large field of Indian corn. She aroused my deep compassion, the other day. Entering her cabin to- wards evening, I found her quite despondent and in tears. Upon asking the reason of this, she said to me, ' I cannot restrain my tears when I cast my eyes upon these poor orphans. As for me, I have for a 220 LES RELATIONS DES.lÉSUITES [VOL. 18 ger, comme i'ay fait tout auiourd'huy trauaillant à mon champ fans rien prendre, mais ie ne puis enten- dre ces enfans crier à la faim fans eftre touchée, voila difoit-elle, Ie fubieét de mes larmes, de vous importuner ie [124] n'oferois, car depuis l' Automne iufques à maintenant vous nous auez toufiours fecou- rües confommant les viures qui vous font grand befoin. Si eft-ce luy dif-je que i'ay donné ce matin dequoy vovs faire vne fois à manger auiourd'huy, ie n' en ay rien veu, repart elle, enfin Ie Pere trouua que Ie Sauuage à qui il auoit donné cette commiffion ayant de quoy difner ce iour-Ià, auoit referué cette aumofne pour Ie lendemain; la bonté & la iuftice font les deux bras de la grande prouidence de Dieu, nous auons veu des effeéts de fa mifericorde, voyons vn coup de fa iuftice. Vn Sauuage ayant efté baptifé en danger de mort auec de grands fentimens de l'autre vie, reuint en fanté. II eftoit d'vn affez bon naturel, mais 1'amour d'vne femme Ie perdit, il1'aymoit paffionnement, & n'ayant pas Ie loifir qu'elle fut inftruite & baptifée, i1l'époufa à la façõ des Sauuages, fans attendre la benediétion de 1'Eglife, nous Ie menaçafmes des chaftimens de Dieu, qui Ie fuiuirent de bien prés, ce miferable s'en eftant allé à la chaffe du caftor auec fa famille [125] affez nombreufe, vit mourir fa femme, & les enfans qu'elle auoit d'vn autre lit fans bap- tefme, fes parens faifis du mefme mal furent bien toft emportez, en fin il tombe malade auec vn fien fils âgé d' enuiron vingt ans, & vne fienne fille Chre- fiienne âgée de douze, fa fæur qui eftoit veufue depuis quelques années & qui auoit pour fils vn grãd ieune homme excellent chaffeur, foignoit tous ces 1640] RELA TION OF r640 221 long time been accustomed to pass whole days with- out eating,-as I have done during this day, working in my field and taking nothing,- but I cannot hear these children cry with hunger, without being touched. This,' said she, , is the cause of my tears. To importune you I [124] would not dare; for, since Autumn until now, you have always helped us, using up your supplies, and thus leaving yourselves in great want.' 'Yet I gave you food,' said I, 'in order that you might eat once to-day.' 'I have seen none of it,' she replied." Finally, the Father found that the Savage to whom he had given this commission, having something to dine upon to-day, had reserved this gift for the morrow. Goodness and justice are the two arms of the glorious providence of God. We have seen some effects of his mercy; let us see a stroke of his justice. A Savage who had been baptized while in danger of death, with admirable sentiments regarding the other life, was restored to health. He had a good enough disposition, but love for a woman ruined him. He loved her passionately; and, not having the time to wait until she was instructed and bap- tized, he married her in the Savage fashion, without waiting for the benediction of the Church. We threatened him with the punishments of God, which followed very closely upon him. This unhappy man, having gone to hunt the beaver with his numerous family, [125] saw his wife, and her children by a previous marriage, die without baptism. Her par- en ts, seized by the same malady, were soon carried away. Finally, he fell sick, together with one of his sons, about twenty years of age, and one of his daugh- ters, a Christian, twelve years old. His sister-who 222 LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES [VOL. 18 malades dans les bois, mais comme elle vit fon fils faifi de cefte contagion, elle prit vn eftrange confeil pour luy fauuer la vie, Ie voulant amener vers les demeures de nos François pour trouuer quelque re- mede à fon mal, & ne pouuant embarqu[e]r fon frere, qui eftoit ce miferable apoftat que Dieu pourfuiuoit viuement, elle l'afIomme à grands coups de baftons en la prefence de fes deux enfans de fon nepueu, & de fa niepce, qui n' ofoient branler de peur que cefte megere ne leur en fit autant, eel a fait elle embarque fon fils malade & laifIe à l'abandon fon nepueu & fa niepce qui fortoient de maladie leur crians qu'ils priffent vn canot qu'elle leur monftroit [126] s'ils fe vouloient fauuer, ces pauures enfans ne pouuans pas mettre à l'eau ce canot ny Ie gouuerner dans leur foi- blefIe, quittant leur pere qu'on venoit d'affommer, fuiuent vn iour en tier leur tante fur Ie bord de l'eau fans manger, cefte proferpine les regardoit fans com- paffion, en fin eftant lafIé de ramer elle defcendit en terre pour fe repofer, fon nepueu la prie d'auoir pitié de luy & de fa pauure fæur, cefte cruelle repart, fi tu veux que ie te fauue la vie tuë ta fæur, car ie ne vous fçaurois pas embarquer tous deux: de plus pro- mets moy que tu ne parleras iamais de ce que i'ay fait à ton pere, ah! Dieu que fera ce pauure ieune homme, de tuer fa fæur c' eft cruauté, de refter auec elle, c'eft choifir la mort fans luy pouuoir donner la vie, c'eft deux pauures enfans fe regardoiet l'vn l'au- tre parlans des yeux, car leurs cæurs n'auoient pas affez de forces pour donner du mouuement à leurs langues: en fin cefte tigreffe prefIa ce pauure ieune homme d'eftre Ie bourreau de fa propre fæur. Ma plume ne peut fans horreur trencher Ie mot, il prend 1640] RELA TION OF I640 223 had been a widow for some years, and who had a son who was a tall young man and an excellent hunter- took care of all these patients in the woods. But when she saw her son assailed by this contagion, she took a strange course in order to save his life. De- siring to bring him to the dwellings of our French to find some remedy for his disease, and not being able to take on board her brother,-the miserable apostate whom God was sharply pursuing,- she beat the latter to death with heavy blows from a club, in the presence of his two children, her nephew and her niece, who did not dare stir lest this Megera would do as much to them. This done, she embarked her sick son, and deserted her nephew and niece who were recovering from the illness,- calling to them to take a canoe that she showed them, [126] if they wished to save themselves. These poor children,- not be- ing able to launch this canoe, or to guide it in their weakness,-leaving their father who had just been beaten to death, followed their aunt a whole day along the edge of the water, without eating. This Proserpina looked at them pitilessly. At last, being weary of paddling, she came ashore to rest. Her nephew begged her to have pity upon him and his poor sister. This cruel woman replied, "If thou wishest me to save thy life, kill thy sister, for I can- not embark you both. Promise me, besides, that thou wilt never speak of what I have done to thy father." 0 God, what will this poor young man do? To kill his sister is cruel; to remain with her is to choose death, without being able to give her life. These two poor children look at each other, speaking with their eyes, for their hearts have not enough strength to give motion to their tongues. Finally, 224 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 vne corde, la paffe au col [127] de fa fæur, iette cefie pauure innocente par terre, met vn pied fur Ie bout de ce licol & tire l'autre bout tant qu'il peut des deux mains immolant à la cruauté de ceíte louue cefie pauure viétime innocëte. Quand ce miferable frere fut de retour ie luy demandois fi fa fæur ne l'auoit point fupplié de luy laiffer la vie, nõ fit-il, elle ne m'en parla point, ny ne s'enfuit de moy, elle me regarda d'vn æil pitoyable, & me laiffa exercer vne cruauté qui me deuoit fauuer la vie, ce meurtre com- mis, ce ieune homme s'embarque auec cefie megere, mais Dieu à la veuë duquel fe ioüoit toute cefie funefie tragedie, voulut que cefie proferpine en fit vn aéte, il la frappa de la cõtagion qu'elle fuyoit, & auant que d'arriuer où elle vouloit mener fon fils, elle mourut comme vne befie. En fin fon fils fut appor- té à l'hofpital où i1 efi mort dans vne puanteur into- lerable, mais auec de grands indices de fon falut, nous en parlerons en fon lieu. 1640] RELA TION OF r640 225 this tigress urged the poor young man to be the ex- ecutioner of his own sister. My pen cannot set down the word without horror. He takes a cord, passes it around [127] his sister's neck, throws this poor inno- cent to the ground, puts one foot upon the end of this noose, and draws the other as tightly as he can with both hands,-sacrificing to the cruelty of this she-wolf this poor innocent victim. When this wretched brother had returned I asked him if his sis- ter had not entreated him to spare her life. "No," he replied, " she did not speak to me, nor flee from me; she looked at me pitifully, and left me to exer- cise a cruelty which was to save my life." This murder committed, the young man embarked with this Megera, but God, in whose sight all this fatal tragedy was played, willed that this Proserpina should play one act of it. He struck her with the contagion from which she was fleeing; and, before reaching the place where she wished to bring her son, she died like a beast. Finally, her son was brought to the hospital, where he died in an intolerable stench, but with strong indications of salvation. We shall speak of him in the proper place. 226 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 [128] CHAP. X DE L'ESPERANCE QU'ON A DE LA CONVERSION DE PLUSIEURS SAUUAGES. I ' AURA Y de la peine à declarer mes penfées dans ce Chapitre, mon efprit croit plus qu'il n'en fcauroit dire, faifons Ie denombrement de quel- ques nations en partie voifines des riues du grand fleuue, & puis ie tafcheray de m'enoncer. A l' entrée du grand golfe de S. Laurent du cofié du Nord on trouue les Efquimaux peuples bien bar- bares & grãds ennemis des Europeans à ce qu'on dit fuiuant la mefme cofié du Nord en mõtant on ren- contre les peuples de Chifedech & les Berfiamites, ce font petites nations dont on a peu de cognoifIance, Iefquelles ont commerce auec d'autres qui font de- dans les terres. En fuite on trouue les Sauuages de TadoufIac, qui ont cognoifIance auec la nation du Porc Epic, & par 1'entremife de ceux-cy auec [129J d'autres Sauuages encore plus retirez dedans les terres. Montant toufiours on arriue à Kebec, & puis aux trois Riuieres. Les Sauuages qui frequentent ces deux habitations vont en marchandife aux At- tikamegues, & ceux-cy à trois ou quatre petites nations qui font au Nord de leur pays. Quand on arriue au premier faut qui fe rencontre dans Ie grand fleuue S. Laurent, que nous appellons Ie fault fainét Louis, on trouue vn autre fleuue nom- mé la Riuiere des Prairies. Ce fleuue fe nomme 1640] RELA TION OF I640 227 [128] CHAP. X. OF THE HOPE WE HAVE FOR THE CONVERSION OF MANY SA V AGES. I SHALL be at a loss to make known my thoughts in this Chapter, for my mind thinks more than it can express. Let us enumerate some of the nations partly adjacent to the banks of the great river, and then I will try to express my thoughts. At the entrance to the great gulf of St. Lawrence, on the Northern shore. we find the Esquimaux tribes,- very barbarous, and hostile to the Europeans, it is said; following the same Northern shore up- wards we find the Chisedech and Bersiamite peo- pIes; these are insignificant nations, of whom we know little, who have dealings with other inland tribes. Then we find the Savages of Tadoussac, who bave intercourse with the Porcupine nation, and through them with [129] other Savages farther in- land. Continuing up the river we reach Kebec, and then the three Rivers. The Savages who frequent these two settlements go to trade with the Attika- megues, and these with three or four other small nations which are North of their country.13 \Vhen we reach the first rapid found in the great river St. Lawrence, which we call "sault saint Louis," we come to another stream called the" River des Prairies." This river is thus named because when a certain Frenchman named des Prairies, charged with piloting a bark to the sault St. Louis,came to this junc- 228 LES RELA TIONS DES .fÉSUITES [VOL. 18 ainfi, pource qu'vn certain François nommé des Prai- ries ayant charge de cõduire vne barque au fault S. Louis, quãd il vint à cet affour ou rencontre de ees deux fleuues au lieu de tirer du cofié du Süd, ou eft Ie fault fainét Louis i1 tira au Nord vers cet autre fleuue qui n'auoit point encore de nom François, & qui depuis ce temps là fut appellé la Riuiere des Prairies. 10ntãt done fur cete riuiere on rencontre les Ouaouechkairini, que nous appellons la petite nation des Algonquins. Montant toufiours plus haut -on trouue les Kichefipirini, les Sauuages [130] de l'Ifle qui ont à cofté dans les terres au Nord les Kota- koutouemi. Au Sud de 1'IOe font les Kinounchepi- rini, les Mataouchkarini, les Ountchatarounounga, 1es Sagahiganirini, les Sagnitaouigama, & puis les Hurons qui font à l'entrée de la mer douce. Ces fix nations derniere font entre Ie fleuue de fainct Lau- rens & la Riuiere des Prairies. Quittant la Riuiere des Prairies quand elle tire droit au Nord pour aller au Surouefe on va trouuer Ie Lac Nipifin ou font les Nipifiriniens: Ceux-cy ont au Nord les Timifcimi, les Outimagami, les Ouachegami, les Mitchitamou, les Outurbi, les Kiriftinon qui habitent fur les riues de la mer du Nord ou les Nipifiriniens vont en mar- chandife. Reuenons main tenant à la mer douce. Cefte mer n'eft autre chofe qu'vn grand Lac lequel fe venant à eftreffir à l'Oüefi, ou l'Oüeft Nord-oüeft fait vn autre plus petit Lac, qui puis apres fe va elar- giffant en vn autre grand Lac ou feconde mer douce. Voicy les nations qui bordent ces grands Lacs ou ces mers du eofié du Nord. I'ay dit qu'à l'entrée du premier de [131] ces Lacs fe rencontrent les Hurons, les quittans pour voguer 1640] RELATION OF I640 229 tion or meeting of these two rivers, instead of coast- ing along the Southern shore, where the sault saint Louis is, he turned to the North, towards the other river which as yet had no French name, and which, since that time, has been called the" River des Prairies." Going up this river, then, we find the Ouaouechkaïrini, which we call the " petite nation" of the Algonquins. Going still farther up the river we find the Kichesipirini, the Savages [130] of the Island, who have adjacent to them, in the territory to the North, the Kotakoutouemi. To the South of the Island are the Kinounchepirini, the 1fataouchka- rini, the Ountchatarounounga, the Sagahiganirini, the Sagnitaouigama, and then the Hurons, who are at the entrance to the fresh-water sea. 14 These last six nations are between the river saint Lawrence and the River des Prairies. Leaving the River des Prai- ries when it turns directly to the North, that we may go to the Southwest, we come to Lake Nipisin, where the Nipisiriniens are found. These have upon their North the Timiscimi, the Outimagami, the Ouache- gami, the 11itchitamou, the Outurbi, the Kiristinon, who live on the shores of the North sea whither the Nipisiriniens go to trade. 15 Let us return now to the fresh-water sea. This sea is nothing but a large Lake which, becoming narrower in the West, or the \Vest Northwest, forms another smaller Lake, which then begins to enlarge into another great Lake or second fresh-water sea. Such are the nations that border these great Lakes or seas of the North. I have said that at the entrance to the first of [131] these Lakes we find the Hurons. Leaving them, to sail farther up in the lake, we find on the North the Ouasouarini; farther up are the Outchougai, and still 230 LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES [VOL. 18 plus haut dans Ie lac, on trouue au Nord les Ouafoua- rini, plus haut font les Outchougai, plus haut encore à l'embouchure du fleuue qui vient du Lac Nipifin font les Atchiligoüan. Au delà fur les meflnes riues de cefte mer douce font les Amikoüai, ou la nation du Caftor. Au Sud defquels eft vne HIe dans cefte mer douce longue d'enuiron trente lieuës habitée des Outaouan, ce font peuples venus de la nation des cheueux releuez. Apres les Amikouai fur les mefmes riues du grand lac font les Oumifagai, qu'on paffe pour venir à Baouichtigouian, c' eft à dire, à la nation des gens du Sault, pource qu'en effeét il ya vn Sault qui fe iette en cet endroit dans la mer douce. Au delà de ce fault on trouue Ie petit lac, fur les bords duquel du cofté du Nord font les Roquai. Au Nord de ceux-cy font les Mantoue, ces peuples ne nauigent guiere, viuans des fruiéts de la terre, paffant ce plus petit lac on entre dans la feconde mer douce, fur les riues de laquelle font les Maroumine, plus auant en- core fur les [132J mefmes riues habitent les Ouinipigou peuples fedentaires qui font en grand nombre, quel- ques François les appellet la Nation des Puans, à caufe que Ie mot Algonquin ouinipeg fignifie eau puante. Or ils nomment ainfi l' eau de la mer falée, fi bien que ces peuples fe nommet Ouinipigou, pource qu'ils viennent des bords d'vne mer dõt nous n'auons point de cognoiffance, & par confequent il ne faut pas les appeller la nation des Puans, mais la nation de la mer, és enuirons de cette nation font les Na- dvefiv, les Affinipour, les Eriniouaj, les Rafaouakoue- ton, & les Pouutouatami. Voila les noms d'vne partie des nations qui font au delà des riues du grand fleuue fainét Laurent, & des grands lacs des Hurons 1640] RELA TION OF r640 231 farther up, at the mouth of the river which comes from Lake Nipisin, are the Atchiligouan. Beyond, upon the same shores of this fresh-water sea, are the Amikouai, or the nation of the Beaver. To the South of these is an Island in this fresh-water sea about thirty leagues long, inhabited by the Outaouan; these are people who have come from the nation of the raised hair. After the Amikouai, upon the same shores of the great lake, are the Oumisagai, whom we pass while proceeding to Baouichtigouian,- that is to say, to the nation of the people of the Sault, for, in fact, there is a Rapid, which rushes at this point into the fresh-water sea. Beyond this rapid we find the little lake, upon the shores of which, to the North, are the Roquai. To the North of these are the Mantoue, people who navigate very little, living upon the fruits of the earth. 16 Passing this smaller lake, we enter the second fresh-water sea, upon the shores of which are the 11aroumine; and still farther, upon the [132] same banks, dwell the Ouinipigou, a sedentary people, who are very numer- ous; some of the French call them the" Nation of Stinkards," because the Algonquin word" ouinipeg " signifies" bad-smelling water," and they apply this name to the water of the salt sea,-so that these peo- ples are called Ouinipigou because they come from the shores of a sea about which we have no knowl- edge; and hence they ought not to be called the nation of Stinkards, but the nation of the sea. In the neighborhood of this nation are the Naduesiu, the Assinipour, the Eriniouai, the Rasaouakoueton, and the Pouutouatami. 17 These are the names of a part of the nations which are beyond the shores of the great river saint Lawrence and of the great lakes of 232 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 du cofté du Nord. Ie vifiteray tout maintenant Ie cofté du Sud, ie diray en paffant que Ie fieur Nicolet interprete en langue Algonquine & H uronne, pour Meffieurs de la nouuelle Frãce, m' a donné les noms de ces nations qu'il a vifité luy mefme pour la plufpart dans leur pays, tous ces peuples entendent l' Algonquin, excepté les Hurons, qui ont [133] vne langue à part, comme auffi les Ouinipigou ou gens de mer. On nous a dit cette année qu'vn Algonquin voyageãt au delà de ces peuples, a rencontré des nations extremement peuplées, ie les voyois difoit-il affemblés comme dans vne foire, achepter & vendre, en fi grand nombre qu'on ne les pouuoit compter, il donnoit vne idée des villes d'Europe, ie ne fçay pas ce que s' en eft. Vifitons main tenant Ie cofié du Sud du grand fleuue S. Laurent. Depuis fon embouchure iufques au fault S. Louis, on trouue les Sauuages du Cap Breton, les Souricois font plus auãt dans les terres, on rencontre les Sau- uages de Mifcou & de Gafpe, entre les riues de la mer de l' Acadie, & Ie grand fleuue font les Eteche- mins, les Pentagouetch, les Abnaquiois, les Nahiga- niouetch, & quelques autres nations, mais elles font toutes bien petites. Depuis Ie fault S. Louis montant toufiours fur ce grand fleuue, on trout1e de belles nations au Sud, & toutes fedentaires, & fort nombreufes, comme les Agneehrono, les Oneiochronon, Ie [134] Onontaeh- ronon, les Konkhandeenhronon, les Oniouenhronon, les Andaftoehronon, les Sonontouehronon, les Ando- ouanchronon, les Kontareahronon, les Ouendat, les Khionontatehronon, les Oherokouaehronon, les Aon- dironon, les Ongmarahronon, les Akhrakvaeronon, 1640] RELA TION OF I640 233 the Hurons on the North. I will now visit the Southern shores. I will say, by the way, that sieur Nicolet, interpreter of the Algonquin and Huron languages for the Gentlemen of new France, has given me the names of these nations, which he himself has visited, for the most part in their own country. All these peoples understand Algon- quin, except the Hurons, who have [133] a lan- guage of their own, as also have the Ouinipigou, or people of the sea. We have been told this year that an Algonquin, journeying beyond these peoples, en- countered nations extremely populous. "I saw them assembled," said he, " as if at a fair, buying and sell- ing, in numbers so great that they could not be counted;" it conveyed an idea of the cities of Eu- rope. I do not know what there is in this. Let us now visit the Southern coast of the great river St. Lawrence. From its mouth up to the sault St. Louis are to be found the Savages of Cape Breton. The Souricois are farther inland; we also meet the Savages of Mis- cou and Gaspe; between the shores of the Acadian sea and the great river are the Etechemins, the Pen- tagouetch, the Abnaquiois, the Nahiganiouetch, and a few other nations, but they arè all very small. I8 Continuing to ascend this great river from the sault St. Louis, we find to the South very flourishing nations, all sedentary and very numerous,-such as the Agneehrono, the Oneiochronon, the [134] Onontaeh- ronon, the Konkhandeenhronon, the Oniouenhronon, the Andastoehronon, the Sonontouehronon, the An- doouanchronon, the Kontareahronon, the Ouendat, the Khionontatehronon, the Oherokouaehronon, the Aondironon, the Ongmarahronon, the Akhrakuaero- 234 LES RELATIONS DES JÉSUITES [V OL. 18 les Oneronon, les Ehreffaronon, les Attiouendaronk, les Eriehronon, les Totontaratonhronon, les Ahriot- taehronon, les Ofcouarahronon, les H vattoehronon, les Skenchiohronon, les Attiftaehronon, les Ontarah- 1;onon, les Aoueatfiouaenhronon, les Attochingoch- ronon, les Attiouendarankhronon. Toutes ces na- tions font fedentaires, comme i'ay defia dit, elles cultiuent la terre, & par confequent font remplies de peuples, i'ay tiré leurs noms d'vne carte Huronne, que Ie Pere Paul Ragueneau m'a communiqué, il n'y a point de doute que ces peuples ne foient au Nord de la Virginie, de la Floride, & peut eftre encore de la nouuelle Mexique, voila vn beau champ pour les ouuriers Euangeliques & bien parfemé de Croix, la plus [135J part de ces peuples entendent la langue H uronne. Le vingt-quatriefme iour de Iuin eft arriué icy vn Anglois auec vn fien feruiteur, conduits dans des ca- nots par vingt Sauuages Abnaquiois, il eft party du lac ou fleuue Quinibequi en Lacadie, où les Anglois ont vne habitation, pour venir chercher quelque paf- fage par ces contrées vers la mer du Nord, Monfieur le Gouuerneur en ayant ouy nouuelle, ne luy permit pas de venir à Kebec, il l'enuoya garder par quelques foldats, luyenioignant de preffer fon retour, il s'en mit en deuoir, mais quelques vns des principaux Sau- uages qui 1'auoient amenez eftans tombez malades, & les riuieres ou ruiffeaux par où il auoit paffé eftãt affeichées, il fe vint ietter entre les mains des Fran- çois, pour euiter la mort qu'il ne pouuoit quafi pas euiter au retour, tant ces chemins font horribles & épouuantables, Monfieur de Montmagny Ie fit con- duire à Tadouffac, pour aller rechercher l' Angleterre par la France. 1640] RELA TION OF I640 235 non, the Oneronon, the Ehressaronon, the Attiouen- daronk, the Eriehronon, the Totontaratonhronon, the Ahriottaehronon, the Oscouarahronon, the Huattoeh- ronon, the Skenchiohronon, the Attistaehronon, the Ontarahronon, the Aoueatsiouaenhronon, the Atto- chingochronon, the Attiouendarankhronon. All these nations are sedentary, as I have already said. 19 They cultivate the land, and consequently are very populous. I have taken their names from a Huron map that Father Paul Ragueneau sent me. There is no doubt that these peoples are at the North of Vir- ginia, Florida, and perhaps even new Mexico. Here is a glorious field for Gospel laborers, and well strewn with Crosses. The greater [135] part of these tribes understand the Huron language. On the twenty-fourth day of June, an Englishman arrived here with one of his servants, brought in canoes by twenty Abnaquiois Savages. He departed from the lake or river Quinibequi in Lacadie, where the English have a settlement, to search for some route through these countries to the sea of the North. Monsieur the Governor, having learned of this, did not permit him to come to Kebec; he sent him away, guarded by some soldiers, enjoining him to hasten his return. He set about doing so, but some of the principal Savages who had brought him having fallen sick, and the streams or brooks by which he had journeyed having dried up, he came and threw him- self into the hands of the French to avoid the death that he could scarcely escape on his return, so horrible and frightful are the roads. 1Ylonsieur de Montmagny had him taken to Tadoussac, that he might return to England by way of France. This good man related some wonderful things to 236 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 Ce bon homme nous racontoit des merueilles de la nouuelle Mexique, i'ay [136J apris difoit-il qu'on peut nauiger en ce pays là par les mers qui luy font au Nord, il y a deux ans que i'ay rodé toute la cone du Sud, depuis la Virginie iufques à Quinebiqui, pour chercher fi ie ne trouuerois point quelque grande riuiere, ou quelque grand lac qui me conduifit à des peuples qui euffent cognoiffance de cette mer qui eft au Nord du Mexique, n'en ayant point trouué ie fuis venu en ces pays cy, pour entrer dans Ie Saguené, & pour penetrer fi ie pouuois auec les Sauuages du pays iufques à la mer du Nord; ce pauure homme eufi perdu cinquante vies s'il en eufi eu autant, deuant que d'arriuer en cette mer du Nord, par Ie chemin qu'il fe figuroit, & quand il auroit trouué cette mer, i1 n'auroit rien decouuert de nouueau, ny rencontré aucune ouuerture au nouueau :IYlexique, il ne faut pas eftre grand Geographe pour recognoiftre cette verité. Mais ie diray en paffant que nous auons de grandes probabilités, qu'on peut defcendre par Ie fecond grand lac des Hurons, & par les peuples que nous [137] auons nõmés dans cette mer qu'il cherchoit, Ie fieur Nicolet qui a Ie plus auant penetré dedans ces pays fi efloignés, m'a affeuré que s'il eufi vogué trois iours plus auant fur vn grand fleuue qui fort de ce lac, qu'il auroit trouué la mer, or i'ay de fortes con- ieétures que c'efi la mer qui refpond au Nord de la nouuelle Mexique, & que de cette mer, on auroit en- trée vers Ie Iapon & vers la Chine, neantmoins comme on ne fçait pas ou tire ce grand lac, ou cette mer douce, ce feroit vne entreprife genereufe d'aller def- couurir ces contrées. Nos Peres qui font aux 1640] RELA TION OF I640 237 us about new Iexico. "I have [136] learned," said he, " that one can sail to that country through seas that are North of it. For two years I have ranged the whole Southern coast, from Virginia to Quinebi- qui, seeking to find some great river or great lake that might lead me to peoples who had some knowl- edge of this sea which is to the North of :Mexico. Not having found any, I came to this country to en- ter the Saguené, and penetrate, if I could, with the Savages of the country, to the North sea." This poor man would have lost fifty lives, if he had had so many, before reaching this North sea by the way he described; and, if he had found this sea, he would have discovered nothing new, nor found any passage to new Mexico. One need not be a great Geographer to recognize this fact. But I will say, in passing, that it is highly prob- able one can descend through the second great lake of the Hurons, and through the tribes that we [137J have named, into this sea that he was seeking. Sieur Nicolet, who has advanced farthest into these so dis- tant countries, has assured me that, if he had sailed three days' journey farther upon a great river which issues from this lake, he would have found the sea. Now I have strong suspicions that this is the sea which answers to that North of new 1Iexico, and that from this sea there would be an outlet towards Japan and China. Nevertheless, as we do not know whither this great lake tends, or this fresh-water sea, it would be a bold undertaking to go and explore those countries. Our Fathers who are among the Hurons, invited by some Algonquins, are about to extend their labors to the people of the other sea, of which I have spoken above. 20 Perhaps this voyage 238 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 Hurons inuités par quelques Algonquins, font fur Ie point de donner iufques à ces gens de l'autre mer, dont i'ay parlé cy-deffus, peut eftre que ce voyage fe referuera pour l'vn de nous qui auons quelque petite cognoiffance de Ia langue Algonquine. On voit par ce que ie viens de dire, la grande eften- duë de pays, & Ie grand nombre de peuples qui n'ont point ouy parler de Iefus-Chrift. Et me femble que Ie temps viendra & qu'il eft defta venu, auquel Dieu fe veut [138J faire cognoiftre à vne partie de ces nations, on ne peut reuoquer en doute que Ie Pere Eternel ne veille mettre fon Fils en poffeffion de l'heritage qu'il luy a promis, dabo tibi gentes hæreditatem tuam, dominabÜur à mari eofque [see ufque] ad 'mare, il commandera depuis la mer du Nord, iufques à la mer du Sud, & à flumine eofque [se. ufque] ad ter11linos orbÚ terra rum, & depuis Ie grand fleuue de S. Laurens, qui eft Ie premier de to us les fleuues, iufques aux derniers confins de la terre, iuf- ques au dernieres limites de l' Amerique, & iufques aux HIes du Iapon, & vltra, & au delà, omnes gentes feruÙnt ez", toutes les nations luy rendront hommage, animas pauperu11l faluas faciet. i1 fauuera les ames des pauures Sauuages, 011mes gentes magnijicabunt eum, tous les peuples Ie magnifieront, & replebÜur Maz"eflate eÙls omnÚ terra, fa Majefié remplira toute la terre, fiat, fiat. Et il y a de l'apparence, que nous en fommes là, veu Ie changement des cæurs, que Dieu fait en ces qua[rJtiers, en eftant follicité par vne infi- nité de fainétes ames, qui iour & nuiét employent leurs væux & leurs prieres, aupres de fa diuine Ma- jefié pour [139] ce fubiet. Le zele auffi & la ferueur de ceux qui y contribuent, & s'offrent à y contribuer 1640] RELA TION OF r640 239 will be reserved for one of us who has some little knowledge of the Algonquin tongue. One sees, from what I have just said, the great extent of the country and the great number of peo- ples who have never heard of Jesus Christ. And it seems to me that the time will come, and that it has already come, when God will [138J make himself known to a part of these nations. We cannot call in question the truth that the Eternal Father wishes to put his Son into possession of the heritage that he has provided him; dabo tz"bi gentes hæredi- tatem tuam, dominabÜur à mari usque ad mare, he shall rule from the North sea to the South sea, et à flumine usque ad terminos orbis terrarum, and from the great river St. Lawrence, which is the chief of all rivers, to the remotest confines of the earth, even to the farthest boundaries of America and to the Islands of Japan, et ultra, and beyond; onmes gentes servÙnt ei, all the nations shall render him homage; animas pauperum salvas fadet, he shall save the souls of the poor Savages; omnes gentes magmficabunt eum, all peoples shall magnify him, et replebÜur Majestate eJus omnis terra, his Majesty shall fill all the earth; fiat, fiat. And it seems that we are attaining this, con- sidering the change of hearts that God is effecting in these quarters, being solicited thereto by an infinite number of saintly souls, who day and night employ their vows and their prayers before his divine 1Iajes- ty, for [139J this purpose. Moreover, the zeal and the fervor of those who contribute to this, and offer to contribute more and more, also give us strong assurance of this. It is not without design that God inspires so many good souls to assist with their means this infant Church, which cannot ascend towards 240 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 de plus en plus, nous en dõne auffi de grandes affeu- ranees. Ce n'efi pas fans deffein, que Dieu infpire tant de bonnes ames, à affifier de leurs moyês cette Eglife naiffante, qui ne peut s'efleuer vers Ie del, fi elle n'eH: foufienuë fur terre, ie veux dire, fi les biens temporels n'y font employés, & ne feruêt d'attrait aux Sauuages, pour les retirer du milieu des bois, & leur donner quelque efperance de mieux en des demeures arrefiées, où ils puiffent efire infiruiéts. Ie n' ofe icy fpecifier ce que plufieurs y font, parce qu'ils m'ont fait entendre, qu'ils ne veulent auoir que Dieu pour tefmoin. Ceux qui auront deuotion de les imiter, ont par delà Ie P. Charles Lalemant Procureur de toutes nos miffiõs, qui fçaura bien leur dire ce qui fera Ie plus expedient, lors qu'il fera aduerty de leurs bonnes intentions. Mais fi nous nous promettons Ie fecours des Princes & liberalitez des viuants, nous n'auons pas moins de fujet d'efperer que ceux qui nous ont honorez de leurs affeétions [140J & offerts leurs væux à Dieu pour nous, durant Ie cours de cette vie, continuerõt cet exercice dans Ie del; & ce d'autant plus volontiers, qu'ils en cognoitront mieux la neceffité. C'efi-icy que ie fens mon cæur atten- dry, & fe renouuellent tous les fentimens dont il fut faify à la nouuelle du deces de Monfieur Foucquet d'heureufe memoire, duquel il n'y a que Dieu, qui comprit les têdreffes pour nos pauures Sauuages, l'eftime qu'il faifoit de cefie entreprife, Ie zele & les liberalitez auec lefquelles il en procuroit l'execution, ie ne doute point que la perte d'vn homme, fi vtile à l'Efiat, & dont les aétions ont merité vne approba- tion fi vniuerfelle, n'ayt efié extraordinairement fen- fible à l'ancienne France, mais elle me permettra de 1640] RELA TION OF I6. O 241 heaven if it is not sustained upon earth,- I mean, if temporal benefits are not employed to serve as an attraction to the Savages, to draw them out of the woods, and give them some hope of better things in established dwelling places, where they can be in- structed. I dare not specify what several are doing in this matter, because they have given me to under- stand that they wish God to be their only witness. Those who have the devout wish to imitate these have over yonder Father Charles Lalemant, Procuror of all our missions, who can very well tell them what will be most advisable, when he is informed of their good intentions. But if we promise ourselves the aid of Princes and the liberality of the living, we have no less reason to hope that those who have honored us with their kind interest [140] and offered their vows to God for us, during this life, will con- tinue this exercise in heaven, and all the more will- ingly as they will then better know the need for it. Here I feel my heart softened, and all those tender feelings are renewed with which it was filled at the tidings of the death of l\10nsieur Foucquet,21. o f happy memory, whose tenderness for our poor Savages, the value he placed upon this enterprise, the zeal and liberality with which he procured its execution, are comprehended by no one but God. I do not doubt that the loss of a man so useful to the State, and whose actions have merited so universal approbation, has been deeply felt by old France, but she will per- mit me to say that it has not been less felt by the new. The consolation of both is that uno avulso, non deficit alter . he has left a heritage not only of his reputation and offices, but also of his virtues, and especially of his zeal for the service of God in these countries. 242 LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES [VOL. 18 dire qu'elle ne l'a pas moins efié à la nouuelle, la confolation de l'vne & de l' autre efi que, vno auulfo, non deficÜ alter, i1 a laiffé vn heritier non feulement de fa reputation & de fes charges, mais auffi de fes vertus, & particulierement de fon zele pour Ie feruice de Dieu, dans ces contrées. La crainte que i'ay de faire fouf!rit la modefiie des [141J viuans, & de violer Ie fecret dont l'obligation dure mefme apres la mort, ne me permettra dans d'en dire dauantage. Quant à Meffieurs de la Nouuelle France, qui font de grand frais tous les ans, pour faire paffer en ces contrées fi efloignées de l'Europe, les chofes necef- faires pour y fubfifier; ils nous obligent toufiours infiniment en cela; comme auffi en ce qu'ils ont ac- cordé mefme faueurs aux Sauuages Chrefiiens, qui fe rendront fedentaires qu'aux François, ie les en re- mercie de tout mon cæur, & les coniure de perfeuerer dãs leurs faueurs. Et fur ce propos, ils me permet- tront s'il leur plaifi, de leur dire icy quatre petites paroles, la plus faine partie de leurs corps s'efi iettée dans leur affociation, non tant pour retirer les biens periffables de ce nouueau monde, que pour cooperer puiffamment au falut de ces peuples, or puifque Dieu fauorife leur premier deffein, appellant ces pauures barbares à foy par leur entremife, il me fem- ble qu'ils ont fubiet de fe refiouïr, & de benir celuy qui leur accorde la fin plus noble qu'ils pretendoient, les choififfant pour [142J procurer vn fi grand ou- urage. Que fi les fruicl:s de ces grandes terres que Ie Roy leur a donnée ne correfpondent pas à leurs defpenfes exceffiues, ie ne croy pas que Ie Dieu du ciel, duquel ils ont procuré & procureront encor la gloire, s'oublie d'eux. 1640] RELA TION OF I6. O 243 My fear of offending the modesty of the [141] living, and of violating the secret which continues binding even after death, will not permit me to say more. As for the Gentlemen of New France, who every year are at great expense in bringing over to these countries so remote from Europe, the supplies neces- sary for subsistence here, they always infinitely oblige us in this matter, as also in their having ac- corded the same favors to the Christian Savages who shall make themselves sedentary, as to the French. I thank them for this with all my heart, and adjure them to persevere in their favors. And in regard to this they will permit me, if they please, to say here a few modest words. Their best energies are lav- ished upon their association,-not so much for the sake of deriving perishable goods from this new world, as to coöperate efficiently in the salvation of these peoples. Now since God favors their chief purpose, calling these poor barbarians to himself through their agency, it seems to me that they have reason to rejoice and to bless him who grants them the most noble object for which they are striving, choosing them to [142] accomplish so great a work. And if the fruits of these broad lands that the King has given them do not correspond to their excessive outlay, I do not think that the God of heaven, whose glory they have procured and will procure, will for- get them. How the spirit of God is working! I was wishing that some one would do at the three Rivers what we were doing at St. Joseph near Kebec. Several Algon- quins presented themselves to form a settlement, and we lacked the means for this. The God of heaven, who saw our weakness, inclined toward us the arms 244 LES RELATIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 Que 1'efprit de Dieu eft agiffant, ie fouhaittois que quelqu'vn fit aux trois Riuieres, ee que nous faifons à S. Iofeph proche de Kebec, plufieurs Algonquins fe prefentoient pour s'arrefter, & nous manq1.1ions de forces, Ie Dieu du del qui voyoit nos foibleffes, nous difpofoit des bras d'amour & de eharité, vne perfonne de merite & de condition, a faiét paffer cette année quatre hommes, à ce deffein, pour défrieher & pour baftir. Reftoit encor à pouruoir à la Riuiere des prairies on croit icy que fi on dreffe là quelque habitation, plufieurs Sauuages y aborderont de diuers endroits. Nous apprenons par la fiotte de cette année, que des perfonnes de vertu & de courage, font en refolu- tion d'y enuoier nombre d'hommes l'an prochain, ils ont defia fait paffer des viures pour ce deffein, [143] n'eft-il pas done vray que Dieu fraie Ie chemin aux pauures Sauuages, pour les attirer dans les filets de l'Euangile. Guy, mais dira quelqu'vn cette entre- prife eft plaine de depences & de difficultez, ces Meffieurs trouueront des montagnes où ils pëfent trouuer des val1ées, i'ay defia dit cent fois, que tous ceux qui trauaillent fous l' eftendart de Iefus-Chrift, pour luy amener des ames, fe11lina1lt in lacrÙnz"s, ie ne diray pas à ces Meffieurs qu'ils trouueront des chemins parfemés de rofes, la croix, les peines & les grands frais, font les pierres fondamentales de la mai- fon de Dieu. Au refte fi iamais les François s'efta- bliffent en cet endroit, ïefpere que les Sauuages qui ont autrefois habité cette contrée, & qui font montés plus haut pour la crainte de leurs ennemis, retourne- ront dans leur ancien pays, où ils trouueront la vie de l'ame, n'y cherchans que la vie du corps. 1640] RELA TION OF I640 245 of love and charity; a personage of merit and rank has caused four men to be brought over this year for the purpose of clearing and building. It remains now to provide for the River des prai- ries. It is thought here that if a habitation is erected there, many Savages will come to it from different places. We learn, through this year's fleet, that some brave and virtuous persons have resolved to send hither a number of men next year, having already sent over supplies for this purpose. [143J Is it not true that God opens the way to the poor Savages, to attract them into the Gospel nets? ' , Yes," some one will say, " but this enterprise is full of expenses and diffi- cuI ties; these Gentlemen will find mountains where they expect to find valleys." I have already said a hundred times that all those who work under the standard of Jesus Christ, to lead souls to him, semi- nall! in lacrimis. I will not tell these Gentlemen that they will find the way strewn with roses; the cross, hardships, and great expenses are the foundation stones of the house of God. Moreover, if ever the French establish themselves in this place, I hope that the Savages who formerly inhabited this region, and who have gone farther up the river, for fear of their enemies, will return to their old country, where they will find the life of the soul, while seeking only the life of the body. This is not all. If ever we are at peace with the tribes of the South, -which will be very easily effected if some Hollanders cede what they have usurped [144J in Acadia upon the territory of his Majesty, for this coast belongs to new France,-the settlement which will be found at the River des prai- 246 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 Ce n'efi pas tout, fi iamais nous fommes en paix auec les peuples du Midy, ce qui fe fera bien ayfe- ment, fi quelques Hollandois cedent ce qu'ils ont vfurpé [144J en l' Acadie fur les terres de fa :Majefié, car cette co fie efi de la nouuelle France, l'habitation qui fe fera en la Riuiere des prairies, donnera vn facile accez à tOllS ces peuples qui font en nombre & fedentaires. Madame la Ducheffe d' Aiguillon m' en efcrit de fa grace, & me promet de s'y emploier, comme elle a defia commancé; d' où reuffira vn bien nompareil pour ces pauures contrées; & i1 n'y aura que Dieu feul qui foit capable de recompenfer cette fainéte & forte entreprife. C'efi ce qui faiét que nous nous portons à de nou- uelles decouuertures, nos Peres qui font au pays des Hurons, combattans tous les iours contre la mort, & contre les demons, ne fcauroient s'arrefier, ils par- lent d'aller à la nation du petun, à la nation neutre, à la nation des gens de mer, ceux qui trauaillent pour les Algonquins veulellt efire de la partie, Dieu leur prefente des Sauuages qui fauorifent leurs def- feins, i1 remuë leurs cæurs, & anime leur courage. II me femble que quand ie mis Ie pied en ces con- trées, i1 y auoit moins d'apparence [145J que les Sau- uages qui ont receu Iefus-Chrifi, [e deuffent arrefier & fe foufmettre à fes loix que ie n'en voy, pour vne partie des nations dont i'ay fait mention cy-deffus. Pourquoy done les defefperons-nous? ouy, mais tout Ie monde n'efi pas dans ces fentimens là, ie refpond excepté ceux qui ne voyent les Sauuages qu'en paffant, & au lieu où ils ne font pas encor inítruiéts, excepté quelques efprits mefcontens, & malfaits qui blafphemant, quæcumque ignorant, qui condamnent ce 1640] RELA TION OF I640 247 ries will give an easy access to all these tribes, "\vhich are numerous and sedentary. Madame the Duchess d' Aiguillon has graciously written to me, and prom- ised to interest herself therein, as she has already be- gun to do,-whence will arise a matchless good for these poor countries. There is no one save God alone who is capable of rewarding this holy and brave en terprise. It is this that impels us to new discoveries. Our Fathers who are in the Huron country, combating daily against death, and against the demons, cannot rest. They talk of going to the tobacco nation, to the neutral nation, to the nation of the people of the sea. Those who work among the Algonquins wish to participate in this \vork. God presents them Sav- ages who favor their designs; he stirs their hearts, and animates their courage. It seems to me that when I set foot in these coun- tries there was less probability [145] that the Sav- ages who have received Jesus Christ would settle down and submit to his laws, than I see in regard to a part of the nations I have mentioned above. \Vhy, then, shall we despair of them ? Yes, but not every one entertains such sentiments. I answer that,- ex- cept those who see the Savages only for a short time, and in places where they are not yet instructed, and except some discontented and perverse minds, who blaspheme quæcumquc ignorant, who condemn what they do not see, and what they think they see,- there is no one here who does not admire and bless God in the conversion of the Savages. Do you wish me to speak plainly? 'Vhen I regard, with my own eyes of flesh, the innumerable expenses that must be incurred in order to succeed in this enterprise, the 248 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES [VOL. 18 qu'ils ne voyent pas, & qu'ils penfent voir, il n'ya perfonne icy qui n'admire & ne beniffe Dieu dans la conuerfion des Sauuages. V oulez-vous que ie vous parle nettement, quand ie regarde auec mes yeux de chair, les frais innombrables qu'il faut faire pour ve- nir à bout de cette entreprife, les peines, les trauaux, les fouffrances, les croix, les dangers, les morts, les calomnies qui fe rencontrent, & qui fe rencontreront de plus en plus, & de toutes parts, en ce chemin où nous nous iettons, quand ie contemple auec ces mef- mes yeux la legereté, l'inconfiance, & la barbarie [146J des Sauuages, ie tremble, ie fuis foible comme vn rofeau, ie n'ay plus de cæur, tout me femble bafiy fur Ie fable mouuant, mais quand ie releue ma pen- fée & que ie la iette en Iefus-Chrifi, & que ie l'enui- fage auec les yeux de la foy, & de la confiance, quand ie confidere ce qu'il a fait, & ce qu'il fait tous les iours pour fauuer ces pauures ames, ie fuis tout puiffant, ces difficultez m'animent, & tout cet ouurage me femble fondé fur la pierre viue, petra autem erat Clzrz"- jius, ie parle dans les fentimens de tous ceux que Dieu a appellé à cette vigne, dont ie fuis Ie moindre. 1640] RELA TION OF .1640 249 pain, the labors, the sufferings, the crosses, the dan- gers, the deaths, the slanders that must be encoun- tered,- and that will have to be encountered more and more, and from all sides, in this road where we have cast ourselves,-when I contemplate with these same eyes the frivolity, the inconstancy, and the barbarity [146J of the Savages, I tremble,- I am as weak as a reed, I have no more heart; all seems to me to be built upon the shifting sand. But when I lift up my thoughts, and cast them upon Jesus Christ, and when I look at him with the eyes of faith and confidence, when I consider what he has done, and what he is doing every day to save these poor souls,- I am all-powerful,- these difficulties animate me; and all this work seems to me to be founded upon the living rock, þetra aute11l erat Christus. I express the sentiments of all those whom God has called to this vineyard, of whom I am the least. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: VOL. XVIII XXXVIII - XL These three documents are letters in Italian, sent to Rome, from the Huron country, by Father Joseph Marie Chaumonot,- the first (May 24, 1640) to the Father General, the other two (May 26 and August 3. 1640) to Father Philippe Nappi. superior of the professed house at Rome. In 1858, Father Felix Martin found them in the Society archives, then pre- served in Rome, and made copies of them; but these apographs cannot now be found with the other Martin papers in the archives of St. Mary's College, Mont- real. We follow the French translation, made by Martin, and published in Carayon' s Premz"ère 1V1ÙÚon des JésuÜcs au Calzada, where they are numbered xiv., xv., and xvi. respectively; our English translation is from the French. XLI The Relatz"on of 1640 (Paris, 1641), although having only Vimont's name on the title-page, is in reality a composite. His share in the publication seems to have been solely that of editor. He succeeded Le J eune as superior in 1639, and became responsible for the Relatz"ons until 1645, when he was in turn suc- ceeded by Jerome Lalemant. Part I. was prepared by Le J eune, and is signed "A Kébec, en la nou- uelle France. ce 10 de Septembre 1640." Part. II. is the report on the Huron mission by Jerome Lale- 252 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES mant, which is dated" Des Hurons, ce 27 de 1Iay 16 40," and contains a postscript that is dated" Des Hurons, ce 3. d' Aoull 1640." For the text of this annual, we have had recourse to a copy of the original Cramoisy edition in the Lenox Library. The Relation is usually designated as "H. 76," because described in Harrisse's Notes, no. 76. CollatÙm: Title with verso blank, I leaf; "Priui- lege" (signed 20th September, Le Jeune's letter of loth September having, of course, not yet arrived in Paris), with "Permiffion JJ on the verso, I leaf; " Table" to Part I., pp. (2); "Table" to Part II., pp. (2); Le Jeune's Relatz"on, pp. 1- 197, with the verso of p. 197 blank,-followed by Lalemanfs Huron Relation, which consists of: half-title, with verso blank, I leaf; text, pp. 1-196, as numbered; one blank leaf. The signatures are: ã in four, A- Iv! in eights, N in four, aa-mm in eights, nn in four, the last leaf being a blank. There is no mispaging in Le Jeune's section; but in Lalemant's, pp. 9, 80, and 193 - 19 8 are misnumbered 10, 74, and 191 - 196. We have examined several copies which agree even with regard to turned letters, e.g., Part 1., p. I 13, 1. 17- " l'enfe.r. JJ But we have discovered the following peculiarity in Le Jeune's Relation-p. 154, 1. 26, reads in one copy: " Itavichpich nous a grandement," and in the other: "Itaovichpich nous a grãdement." Copies of this Relation may be found in the follow- ing libraries: Lenox (both variations), Harvard, Brown (private), Laval University (Quebec), and British Mu- seum. Copies have been sold or priced as follows: Harrassowitz (1882), no. 27, priced at 125 marks; O'Callaghan (1882), no. 1219, sold for $15-ithad BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DA TA: VOL. XVIII 253 cost him $26; Quari tch, General Catalogue, vol. v., no. 30005, priced at LIS; Dufossé (1891), priced at ISO francs; Chadenat, of Paris, priced (1892 and 1897) at 160 and 150 francs, respectively. NOTES TO VOL. XVIII (Figures in þarentheses, following number of note, refer to þages of English text.) I (p. 13).- Pierre Joseph Marie Chaumonot was born Mar. 9, 161 I. in a village of Burgundy, France. While a lad, he wandered into Italy, and finally, at the age of twenty-one, resolved to enter the Jesuit order, in which he became a novice May 18, 1632, at Rome. In that city his priestly studies were pursued, interrupted by two years (1635-37) spent as an instructor at Fermo. In 1639, he was assigned to the Canadian mission, and immediately went to the Hu- ron country. In November, 1640, he undertook, with Brébeuf, a mission to the Neutral Nation, where they remained five months, until- suffering the utmost hardships, and threatened on every side with death.- they were obliged to return to Ste. Iarie. Chaumo- not then labored at the missions, successively, of St. Jean Baptiste, St. Michel, and La Conception; of the last-named, he had charge when the Hurons were dispersed by the Iroquois (1649), whereupon he followed his disciples in their flight to Isle St. Joseph' (now Charity Island), in Lake Huron. Finding this retreat no longer safe from their enemies, the Hurons, in the summer of 1650, took refuge at Quebec; and, in March following, they were established on the isle of Orleans by the Jesuits, on an estate purchased by them from Eléonore de Grandmaison (vol. xi., note 12). This colony was under Chaumonot's care; it numbered at first about 400, but was soon increased, by other refugees, to about 600 souls. In September, 1655, Chaumonot went with Dablon to the Onondaga mission. and labored among the Iroquois tribes during the next three years. Returning to Quebec, he again took charge of his Huron colony-remaining in this post thirty-five years longer, ex- cept one year in Quebec (1663-64), and two years (1664-66) at Fort Richelieu as chaplain of its garrison. In the autumn of 1692, he was compelled to give up his charge and retire to Quebec, by a IJngering illness which finally ended his life, Feb. 21, 1693. By the command of his superior, Chaumonot wrote his autobiog- raphy (1688), which will be given in this series. He is best known by his works on the Huron language, in which he was unusually proficient. An English translation (by Wilke) of his Huron gram- 256 LES RELATIONS DES /ÉSUITES mar (written in Latin) was published in Quebec Lit. and Hist. Soc. Trans., vol. ii. (1831), pp. 94-198. 2 (p. 35).-This name-Calmonotti, as misprinted by Carayon- was simply an Italianized form of Chaumonot's name, the root of which means" bald" (Lat. calvus).-A. E. JONES, S.J. 3 (p. 37).- Luigi de Gonzaga was born at Castiglione, Italy, in 1568, and became a Jesuit at the age of eighteen. He did not live, however, to complete his training for the priesthood; for in 1591, an epidemic appearing in Rome, he so devoted himself to the care of the sick and dying that he fell a victim to the pestilence. He was canonized in 1626, under the name of St. Aloysius. 4 (p. 37).- The holy house of Lorette: the Santa Casa,-accord- ing to tradition, the house of the Virgin Mary at Nazareth, which was discovered by Empress Helena, about 308 A. D.; upon the ruin and subjugation of Palestine by the Turks, this house was miracu- lously transported (May, 1291) to Tersate, in Dalmatia, and again (1294) in like manner to Loreto, its present location. This is a city of about 8,000 population, in the Marches of Italy, 13 miles N. E. of Macerata, and three miles from the Adriatic. The Santa Casa stands within a magnificent church, and its original rough bricks are entirely encased in white marble, exquisitely sculptured. Rich and costly gifts have been lavished upon it, and" its treasury of offerings is one of the richest in the Western world." Among these are certain gifts presented in 1684 by the Christian Hurons of Cana- da. In this house is a statue of the Virgin, in cedar wood, said to have been made in the time of the Apostles. About 40,000 pilgrims visit it annually. This shrine and its devotions were especially favored by the Jesuits.- See McClintock & Strong's Bibl. Cycloþ., art. .. Loretto;" and" Maison de Lorette," in L'Abeille, vol. viii. (1860), nos. 27-29. 5 (p. 65).-René Ménard was born at Paris, Sept. 7, 1605, and became a Jesuit novice Nov. 7, 1624. He was a student at Paris, La Flèche, Bourges, and Rouen, successively; and an instructor at Orléans (1629 - 32) and Moulins (1636- 39). In 1640, he came to Cana- da; and, after spending a year in the study of Algonkin, accom- panied Ragueneau to the Huron country. Upon Raymbault's return from Sault Ste. Marie (vol. xi., note 16), Ménard started with him to the country of the Nipissings, but they were driven back by storms. In April, 1642, however, Ménard and Pijart succeeded in reaching that tribe, with whom they remained till Sept., 1643. Mé- nard was connected with the Huron mission until its destruction in 1649, after which he was stationed at Three Rivers, becoming supe- rior of that residence in June, 1651. From May, 1656, to March, 1658, he was a laborer in the Iroquois mission,- at the latter date, being NOTES TO VOL. XVIII 257 compelled, with the other missionaries, to flee for their lives to Quebec. In August, 1660, Ménard was sent with a party of Ottawa Indians who were returning from Montreal to their home on Lake Superior. He spent the winter with them, probably in the neighborhood of the present L' Anse, Mich., suffering great hardships and privations,- harshly treated by most of the Indians, though converting a few of them and baptizing some at the point of death. Hearing, in the following spring, that some Hurons who had fled from their Iroquois foes had encamped about the headwaters of the Black River in Wisconsin, Ménard set out to visit the . Near the end of the jour- ney, he became separated from his French companion, and was seen no more,-doubtless perishing of hunger in the unknown forest (August, 1661).-See Campbell's excellent monograph on Ménard, Parkman Club Pubs. (Milw.), no. II. 6 (p. 65).-Concerning the relations between the Ursulines of Paris and of Tours, cf. vol. xvi., pp. 15-17; also Chapot's Marie de l'Incarnation, t. i., pp. 318-320,354,355. 7 (p. 87).- Piraube was royal notary at Quebec, during the years 16 39-43; other information about him is not available. 8 (p. 91 ).- For sketch of De la Poterie, see vol. viii., note 58. 9 (p. 93).- Gribane: .. a bark with mast and sails, of 50 or 60 tons, in use along the coasts of Normandy and Picardy, and in the navigation of the lower Seine, from Rouen to Havre" (Littré). 10 (p. II5).-Outakw'amiwek (Outagoumois): a tribe living in the vicinity of Lake Outakouami, N. E. of L. Mistassini, as indicated on various maps of that time. Some of these make it the source of the Peribonca River; in which case, it would be the modern Lake Ouichtagani (Bouchette's map, 18-16). II (p. II5).-Paþiragaw'ek: the Papinachois, a Montagnais tribe located far to the N. E. of Lake St. John, mainly about the headwaters of the Betsiamites River. They were at various times visited by Jesuit missionaries from the Tadoussac mission; and Nouvel spent several years among them (1664-67). 12 (p. 219).-Concerning Champlain's attacks on the Iroquois, see vol. v., note 50. 13 (p. 227).-Concerning Eskimos, see vol. ii., note 10; Brinton's American Race (N. Y., 1891), pp. 59-64; and Bur. of Eth1tol. Reþ., 1884-85, 1887-88. Bersiamites: a :Montagnais tribe, dwelling on the northern trib. utaries of the St. Lawrence, below Tadoussac. Le J eune mentions some of them (vol. viii., p. 41) as having been perfidiously slain (1635) by the savages of Tadoussac. A missionary (probably Jacques de la Place) wrote in the Relation of 1646 that" a mortal hatred existed between the Bersiamites and the savages of Acadia and 258 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES Gaspé;" he was present, in that year, at a conference held between these tribes, at which a treaty of peace was concluded. The mis- sionaries found the Bersiamites gentle and docile; Bailloquet visited them in 1661-62, and probably, in subsequent years, other priests from the Tadoussac mission. The tribe was also known as Ouma- mi wek. Peuþles de Chisedech: dwelling near the Bersiamites. and allied to them. Regarding the Porc-Épics. see vol. xiv., 1tote 13. 14 (p. 229),- Concerning the Petite Nation, the Island tribe, and the Iroquets (here named Ountchatarounounga), see vol. v., notes 52, 56, 57. "Ouaouechkairini: these were the Algonkins proper, and prob- ably were ca1led · Petite Nation' on account of their low stature. The Petite Nation River in Ottawa county, Que., and the Little Nation River in Prescott county. Ont.,-tributaries of the Ottawa from opposite sides,-preserve the name of this tribe, and show their original location. "-A. F. HUNTER. Kotakoutouemi: Laverdière conjectures this to be the Outaou- kotwemiwek mentioned in Relation of 1650. chap. v., "whose lan- guage is a medley of Algonquin and Montagnais." Apropos of this linguistic feature, Ferland says (Cours d'Histoire, vol. i., p. 91): .. There existed, among the AlgonqUlns and :\:lontagnais, a sort of patois, by means of which they held communication among them- selves without the Europeans being able to understand them." lI-Eataouchkarini: the Relation of 1672 mentions this tribe as then living near Hudson Bay, apparently having fled thither for refuge from their enemies. Their earlier habitat, as indicated by their name, was the Madawaska River of Ontario. " Sagahiganirini: their location may have been near the Rideau range of lakes, where numerous remains exist. Dr. T. W. Beeman of Perth, Ont., who has examined these remains, says: · Every small lake shows one or more village sites.' One of considerable size existed at Rideau Lake itself, where the Tay River empties into it. Here have been found evidences of an extended occupa- tion, lasting down to the arrival of white traders, as a few traces of European intercourse are found there. See Beeman's accounts in Onto Arch. .J. fus. Ann. Reþ. (Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth). .. Kinou1tcheþirini: the situation of these was probably in Ren- frew county, Ontario, where the valleys of tributaries of the Ottawa River contain remains of former Indian towns. A number of relics from that district are in the Ontario Archæological Museum at Toronto."-A. F. HUNTER. 15 (p. 229).-These Algonkin tribes extended from Lake Temis- NOTES TO VOL. XVIII 259 earning westward to Hudson Bay. The largest and most important was the Kiristinon or Cristinaux, a name afterward shortened to that now given them, Cri or Cree. Druillettes and Dablon estab- lished a mission among them in 1661, and Allouez was there in 1667. Brinton says (A mer. Race, p. 74) that this tribe" retained the lan- guage of the stock in its purest form. " .. Ti11liscimi: a name deri ved from that of Lake Temiscaming (te11lis gamz: 'deep lake'). Remains of early Indian occupation are found near the Old Fort, at the northern end of this lake; but the above name has not been continuously retained by any distinct tribe."- A. F. H {jI"TER. 16 (p. 231).-The Atchiligouan, at the mouth of French River, were visited by Garreau and Claude Pijart in 16-t6. The Oumisagai (now Mississaguas) were in 1670-73 a part of the Sault Ste. Marie mission; and Nouvel and André were then laboring among them. A. F. Hunter says: "This is the earliest reference to the 1ississaguas. They are now settled in Eastern Ontario, at New Credit, Alnwick, and other points, and number in all about 800." - See Chamberlain's account of this tribe, in Jourlz. A mer. Fol1.:-Lore, vol. i., pp. 150- 160. Baouichtigouian: called by the French Gens du Saut, or Sau- leurs, because of their residence about the Sault de Ste. Marie; no\V known as Ojibwas, or Chippewas. The Relation of 1670 says that, becoming reduced to the number of 150, they formed a union with three other neighboring tribes, the Nouquet, Outchibous, and Marameg. A. F. Hunter says: "A band of Algonkins, now at Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., is known as the Batchewaung tribe.-this being still the native name of that town (written also Pow-e-ting). It is not probable, however, that these Indians are the descendants of those mentioned in the text,- few tribes, owing to wars, migra- tions, and other causes, retaining their originaJ locations. It is thought by some writers that the Sauteux of Lake Superior, and westward, are the descendants of the original Nation du Sault; see, for instance, Maclean's Calladimz Savage Folk (Toronto, 1896), p.17 1 ." Concerning the Amikouai (Beavers), see vol. X., note 6; the Otta- was, vol. xiv., 1lote 9. 17 (p. 23 1 ).-Ouinipigou= Winnebagoes (vol. xv., note 7): Nadue- siu= Sioux; Assinipour= Assiniboines. All these are branches of the Dakota stock. Maroumine = l\Ienomonees; Eriniouai = Illinois; Pouutouatami = Pottawatomies,- all Algonkin tribes. Rasouakoueton is probably equivalent to Mascoutins, R being a misprint for .J.Jf. 18 (p. 233).-Concerning the tribes of Gaspé, Acadia, and Maine, 260 LES RELA TI01VS DES JÉSUITES see vols. i.- iii. of this series. Souricois = .Micmacs; Pentagouetch = Penobscots; Etechemins=Tarratines. On the Abenakis, see vol. xii.. 1tOte 22. Nahiganiouetch: the Mahicans or Mohicans, occupying the ter- ritory between the Connecticut and Hudson Rivers, and allied with the Pequots; of Algonkin stock. 19 (p. 235).- For sketches of the Huron-Iroquois tribes, see vol. viii., 1tOte 34. Kontareahronon: apparently the inhabitants of the Huron vi1lage of Contarea (vol. X., 1tOte 8). Ouendat (Wyandot): the general appellation of the Huron clans (vol. ii., note 58 and vol. v., note 17). " A ondironon: that part of the Neutrals who lived nearest to the Hurons; destroyed by the Senecas in 1648 (Relatio1l of 1648). 011g11larahr01t011 [apparently a misprint for OnguiarahrononJ: the Niagara portion of the Neutrals. Oner01t011: probably the \Ven- rohronons, part of whom took refuge with the Hurons in 1639'''- A. F. HUNTER. A ttioue11daronk: the Neutrals (vol. viii., note 41). Sanson's map (1656) gives two locations for this tribe,-one, west of the Nia- gara; the other, far south of Lake Erie, and west of the Alleghany Mountains. This, and the similar duplication of names in the pres- ent text, suggest the possibility that a part of this nation had fled southward, to escape the Iroquois. Totontaratonhronon: Laverdière conjectures that this may be the Atontrataronnons, an Algonkin tribe who, a little later, fled from the St. Lawrence to the Huron country. Among them, :\lé- nard established the mission of Ste. Elizabeth (Huron Relation of 1644, chap. viii.). In any attempt to identify the names of Indian tribes. as recorded at so remote a time, there are many difficulties. which must not be forgotten by the modern reader of an enumeration like that here given by Le Jeune. No Indian tongue was written, at the time of the missionaries' arrival; and they, in their attempts to learn and write a language utterly different from any they had hitherto known, were met by almost insuperable obstacles,- as we are told by Biard (vol. ii., pp. 9- 13; iii., pp. 193-197), and by Le Jeune in earlier Relations (vol. v., pp. 111-115; vii., pp. 21-33). :Many of the tribes enumerated in the text were known to the French only through the reports of wandering Indians, fur traders, or coureurs de bois ,- most of them ignorant men; and these names could be only phonetically noted,- with great liability to misunderstand- ing, on the part of both Frenchman and Indian. At the same time. as may be seen in the text, these names were often transmitted through other tribes, especially the Huron; and when we add to all NOTES TO VOL. XVIII 261 these complexities the frequent shifting of residence, on the part of the tribesmen, it will be seen that great caution is necessary in attempting to identify either tribes or locations through their names alone. 20 (p. 237).-This refers to the voyage of Jogues and Raymbault to Sault Ste. Marie (vol. xi., note 16). 21 (p. 241).-This was François Fouquet, viscount de Vaux, who was born in 1587, and died Apr. 22, 1640. He was a member of the royal council, and also of parliament; and, for his integrity and ability, was held in high esteem by Louis XIII. and Richelieu, who employed him in many State affairs of importance. He was father of Nicolas Fouquet, the noted minister of finance under Louis XIV. 1-.. .