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Mame wd fe : Dati! ry r if re aie ih J ok a wa pr = a at ~~aatal : ae el oa ay ar App paRe ; | | , se zr e twee gil’ itbsane 4 I Wutyuren~: went tie neyreyere” &> : yor Nem » © oe et = ys : f ES Nae et “* We s 7: ‘ aé #5 we ACIt wine | Win mal Til! aw nn 8 aM s La 4 ~ ef a8 a = wr wt Ss rm co oe oe ae . nw z i See ed reve... pata] veyyt 4 Waa, re “ay hel ae ~ v eVONIRUEE rie baareneteree reel abel Sab oda v rawerwey Nee | HT as SURREEpemaae: 5 “0h AR be os Di ws 08 " Lb Leap AMAL al wT 1 MATT Dens www eer aw Ko Ve me bo har Ve veoay | Viv bts tre ft. ailtea Mccain lelel al Te wee = cer. = s'_ yea -@ Sa eh Pehle aeeeeeonee Wp Whee ote Sem steer Tee! att wi Me ALE CHUL ae yeiteryyys | Tarvay "we ete yey? aihaae aT To "Why Arte, ay wy v7 “dhs ALT | ho | Wye, , + ALN ; | Ape i leg Sm es Dw yy? 1 7M viv ve MeN Ae hep dethd pet iad Li Vy tu PETE tater 1 bata tery = ‘of yyy LED, A wok: ‘sf0ado~w smnoinuag ¥ = aay Py i ae EAA V TON ~ os Sa zu =z SS SS on = €=e >t Bh Free uh ‘ TH , yi i He = = =F = : = D es ‘ ; : “yeezao AL “Seas “Ss = be P Lit Syn 4 PAPO VIA OYE a] AY 40 Morey S200, 5 = i < ° - = — Sas : %, ‘ = = a 1@ } = = a3 ae = Sa i , H ee x a i —_ Ir a = F; a = be ¥ | : : “4 ; : — H —— = x" = = $ ‘ ii 3 - : —- = I > eS ans : i * Nt << 3 : = Ne d = 4 sa ‘ SSS = = : baie, =A SMES eee peat a ES — pact | [Be ore a | i 7 a ae ; North- America. CONTAINING | & | An Account of the’feveral Nations of that vaft Con-| 5 tinent ;“their Cuftoms, Commerce, and Way cf} ] Navigation upon the Lakes and Rivers ; the feve- | | ral Attempts of the Exglifh and French to difpoftefs | | one another; with the Reafons of the Mifcarriage| | of the former; and the various Adventures be: | | ‘tween the French, and the Ircquefe Confederates of | | England, from 1683. to 1694. : | A Geographical Defcription of Canada, and a Natu- | | ral Hiftory of the Country, with Remarks upon | | their Government,’ and the Intereft of the Englifh| | and French in their Commerce. REN: : | Alfoa Dialogve between the Author ard a General of the] } Savages, giving a full View of the Religion and itrange | | Opinions of thofe People : With an Account of the Au-| | thors Retreat to Portugal and Denmark, and his Remarks on thofe Courts. : ‘oe | RS To which is added, re en A Dictionary of the A/zonkine Language, which is generally | § {poke in North-America. — . Iifuftrated with Twenty Three Mapps and Cutts. - | j ~ ih W died in French ) By the Baron LAHONTAN, Lord Lievtenant | | of the French Colony at-Pircentia-in-New-+ ha foundtand, now in Engla BUREAU OF ETHNOLO : iW : | Done into Englilh. a Be In Two VOLUMES. (|. A grear part of which never Printed in the Original., | me LON DON: Printed for H. Bonwicke in St. Paul’s Charch-yard ; | PPT. Goodwin, M. Wotton, B. Tooke, in Fleetfireet 3 and S$. Manjhip | 4 Mi i aotenet 2 Bal *" Caan + ¢ ° > Pe Cornhil, 1903. $i sist sieve eee sn? “ ce ' y he f . / BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY bye ie 1890 LIBRARY. oh # d y | a = 43 See eg * £ “ a tig s Ui AE 6 alli To His: Grace : ie LWILLIAM ‘ Pe Duke of Devonfhire, SengeB - Lord Steward of Her " Majefties Hout: hold, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Derby , Chief fuflice in Eyre of all Her Majefiies Forrefts, Chafes , Parks, &c. Trent-North; Ove of the Lords of Her Majefties Moft - Honourable Privy Council, and Knight of the Moft Honourable Order ee the Garter. :" Teds g Ince I had the onscr to prefent Se, the King of Denmark with the kM firft part of this Book, I pre- “fume to make a Prefent of the Latter to your Grace. In making the firtt _ Dedication, I had no other induce-— _ ment, than a due regard to the bene- _ fits I receiv’d from His Majeftics fa- - vour ; and the fame Motive with re- - ference to your Grace, has prompted. me to make this ac knowledgment of ee tHe The Dedication. the undeferved Favours you kindly vouchfaf’d me. I did not dare to launch out into the praife of His Danifh Majefty, who has a juft Title to all forts of Enco- miums; by reafonthat the little French — I had, has been forgot among a fort of People, that take Panegyricks “to be Affronts.. “Tis withthe fame view, My Lord, that I decline the pleafure of publithing thofe diftinguifhing Qua- Jities, that place Your Lordthip at the Head of the Moft Accomplith’d Gran- dees of the W orld, and the Moft Zea- lous Patriots of their Country. I am with all Gratitude and Veneration, ‘My Lord, Tour Grace's, } oe | Mo? Humble, and Moft _ - Obedient Servant, Lahontan.. THE Gs! THE ¥y boing flatter dn my 1y felf with the vain = » hopes of retrieving the King of ¥ran- ce’s favour, before the Declaration of aS thisWar; Iwas fo far from thinking to put thefé. Letters, ‘and Memoirs, to the Prefs that Idefign d to have committed ’em to the flames, af.. that’ Monarch had done me the honour of reinflating me in my former Places, with the good leave of Meffic feurs de Pont- chartrain , * the Father and * The one Chancellor of France, and the other the Son, Twas with that view Secretary of State: Both that T uegletted fo put ‘em in of "em vaftly rich. fuch a drefs as might now be wifl'd for, for the fatisfattion of the Reader that gives bimfelf the trouble to perufe em, Between the jifteenth and fixteenth year of my . Age I went to Canada, and there took care to keep up a conftant Corre{pondence by Letters with an old Relation, who had required of me a Narrative of the Occurrences of that Country, upon the account of the yearly afiftance be gave me. Tis thefe very Let- ters that make the. greateft part of the firft Vo- lum. They contain aw account of al that pafs'd. between the Englifh, the French, the Troquete, bi 3 an The Pretace. and the other Savage Nations, from the year 1683, . £0 1694. Zogether with a- great many curious — Remarks, that may be of ufe to thofe who have a-. ny knowledge of the Englith or French Colonies. _ The whole is writ with a great deal of Fidelity; — jor Treprefent things juft as they are. I weither © 7 flatter nor {pare any Perfon what- ‘ Calld by the Eng- fgeyer » I attribute to the * Iro- ith in New-York : | Mahak, ’ quefe, the glory they have pur- ; chafed on feveral occaftons, tho — at the fame time I hate that Rafcally People, as much as Eforns and Law-Suits. Notwithftanding the Veneration I have for the Clergy, I impute to them all rhe mifchief the \roquefe have done to the French Colonies, in the courfe of a War that had never been undertaken; if it had not been for the Counfels of thefe pious Church- Men, re a ry hl yo : The Reader is defird to take notice that the Towns of New-York, are known to the French by their old Names only, and for that reafon I~ was obligd to make ufe of the fame in my Let-— ters, as well as my Mapps. They give the name of New-York to a that Country, that. reaches from the Source of its River to the Mouth, that is, to the Uland, upon which there flands a City cal’d in the time of the Dutch Manathe, and now by the Englith, New-York. J» like man- ner the Plantation of Albany, that lies towards — the head of the River, is cal’d by the French, Orange. ae he Farther ; I would not have the Reader to take it amifs, that the thoughts of the: Savages are fet forth in aw Exrorean Drefs. The occafion of — aa | ela ones a that ry 5 . >) MPhe-Prefizce. _ that choice proceeded from the Rela- * ‘Magda tion I Correfponded with ; for that ™ — — honelt Gentleman ridiculed the Metaphorical Ha- rangue of the* Grangula; and intreated me not — to makea literal Tranflation of a Language that was fo fluff'd with Fictions and Savage Alyper- boles. °Tis for this reafon that all the Difcour- ; _fes and. Arguments of thofe Nations, are here accommodated to the European Style and way of Speaking ; for having comply'd with my Friend’s Requeft, I contented my felf in keeping only a. Copy of the Letters I writ to him, during my Pilgrimage in the Country of thefe naked Philo- eee ye | Sighs ‘Twill not be improper to acquaint the Reader by the bye, that thofe who know my faults, do as little juftice to thefe People, as they do to me, in alledging Tama Savage my felf, and that that makes me {peak fo favourably of my Felow-Sa- vages, Thefe Obfervators do me a great deal of — Flonour, as long as they do uot explain themfelves, fo as to make me direélly of the fame Character with that which is tack’d to the word Savage by _ the Europeans za their way of thinking: For in _ faying only that Tam of the fame temper with the Savages, they give me without defign, the Cha- rattler of the bonefteft Man in the World. ‘Tis an uncontefied truth, that the Nations which are not | debauch d by the Neighbourhood of the Europeans, are flrangersto the Meafures of Meum and Vuurn, ~ and toall Laws, Judges, and Priefis. This can't be call’d in queftion, fince all Travellers that have vifited thofe Countries, vouch for its trath ; and a great many of different Profefftons, have oS. | eiiiiae, ek ROOD . The Preface. given the World repeated affurauces that °tis fo. Now this being granted, we ought uot to f{cruple to believe, that thefe are fuch wife and reafona- ble People. I take it, a Mau muft be quite blind, who do's not fee that the property of Goods ( Ido - not speak of the inzrofing of Women ) as the ouly Source of all the Diforders that perplex the Eu- ropean Societies. Upon that Conftderation’twill be eafte to perceive, that I have not [poke wide — in defcribing that Wifdom and Acutene{s which — fbines through the Words and Aétions of thefe poor Americans, Jf all the World had accefs to the Books of Voyages, that are found in [ome well flock'd. Libraries, they would find in above a bun- dred Defcriptions of Canada, ax infinity of Dif- courfes and Arguments offerd by the Savages, which are incomparably fironger, and more ner- wous than thofe I've inferted inmy Memoirs. As for fuch as doubt of the Inftintt and wonder- ful capacity of Beavers, they need only to caft their Eyes upon the Great Map of America, drawn by the Sieur de Fer, avd gravd at Paris in the year 1698. Where they will meet with feveral furprifing things, relating to thefe Animals. While my Book was a Printing in Holland, 7 was iw England; and as foow as it appeard, feveral Englith Gearlemen of a diftinguifhing Me- rit, whe underftand the French as well as their Mather Tongue, gave me to know, that they would be glad to fee a more ample Relation of the Man- ners and Cuftoms of tle People of that Continent, whom we call bythe name of Savages. This ob- ligd me to communicate to thefe Gentlemen, the fubfiance of ib2 feveral Conferences L had in that | | Og ae The Preface. “Country. with a certain Huron, whom the Frencit tall Rat.- While I flayd at that Americans Village, I imploy’d my time very agreeably in ma- _ king acareful Collection of all his Arguments and 3 Opinions; and as foonas I returwd frommy Voy- age upon the Lakes of Canada, I fhew’d my Ma- nufcript to Count Frontenac, who was fo pleasd _ with it, that he took the pains to affijt me in _ digefting. the Dialogues, and bringing them into _ the aa they now appear in: For before that, : they were abrupt Conferences without Connexion. ~ Opon the Solicitation of thefe Englith Gentlemen, ve L’ve put thefe Dialogues into the hands of the - Perfon who tranflated my Letters and Memoirs : And if it had not been for their preffing Inftan- ces, they had never feen the light ; for there are but few in the World that will judge imparti- ally, and without prepoffeffion, of fome things cen- tain'd in em. wkd I have likewife intrufted the fame Tranflator with fome Remarks that I made in Portugal, ~ and Denmark, whea I fled thither from New- found-Land. Zhere the Reader will meet with a defcription of Lisbon and Copenhagen, and of the capital City of Arragon. | Zo the Tranflation of my jfirft Volume, I have added an exalt Map of Newfound-Land, which was not in the Original. I have likewife cor- . welied almoft all the Cuts of the Holland Zm- preffion, for the Dutch Gravers bad murder’d em, by not underfianding their Explications, which were all in French, They have grav'd Women for Men, and Men for Women; naked Perfons for thofe that arecloath’d, and & Contra. As 7 a for w | The Preface, | for the Maps, the Reader will find “em very exact; And I have taken care to have the Tracts of my Voyages more nicely delineated, than in the O- rigitdle : ee: oe I underfland by Letters from Paris, that the zwo Mefieurs de Pontchartrain indeavour by all means to be reveng’d upon me for the af~ front they fay I have given "em in publifbing fome triffling Stories in my Book, that ought- to have been conceald. Tam likewife inform'd, that I have reafon to be apprehenftve of the Refent- ment of feveral Ecclefa(ticks, who pretend I have infulted God in cenfuring their Condud. But — fiuce Lexpetted nothing lefs than the furious Re- fentment both of the one and the other, when I put this Book to the Prefs; 1 had time enough to arm my felf fromtop to toe, ix order to make head againft ’em, °Tis my comfort, that f have writ nothing but what I make good by Aathentick proofs; befides, that LE could mot have faid lefs — of ‘em than I have done; for if F had not tied — my felf up to the direct thread af my Difcourfe, I could have made Digreffiozs, in which the Con-. dutt both of the one and the other, would have appeard to be prejudicial to the repofeof the So- ciety, and the publick Good. I had provocation enough to have treated em in that manner ; but my Letters being addrefs'd to an old Bigotted Re- — lation of mine, who fed upon Devotion, and dread- ed the influence of the Court; he fiill befeech’d me to write nothing to himthat might difoblige the Clergy or the Courtzers, for fear of the intercept- ing of my Letters. Hlowever, f have advice from Paris, that fome Pedants are fet: at work to lafo | me The Preface. | we in writing; and fo I muft prepare tofiand the brunt of a {bower of affronts, that will be pourd upon mein a few days. But "tis no matter ; Iam fo good a Conjurer, that I can ward off any frorm fromthe fide of Paris. I laugh at their Threats ; and fince I can’t make ufe of my Sword, I'll wage Prat eaIeny Pen, es + This I only mention by the bye, in this my Pre- face to the Reader, whom T pray the Heavens to Crown with Profperity , in preferving him: | from having any bufinefs to adjuf? with moft of the Minifters of State, and Priefts ; for let them be never fo faulty, theyll fill be faid to be in the right, till fuch time as Anarchy be _ introduc'd among? us, as well as the Americans, amon whom the forryeft fellow thinks bimfelf a better Man, than a Chancelour of France. Thefe People are happy in being fcreewd from the tricks and fhifts of Minifters, who are always Mafters where-ever they come. Lenvy the fiate of a poor Savage, who tramples upon Laws, and pays Homage to no Scepter. I wifb I could {pend the reft of my Life inbis Hutt, and fo be no lon- ger expos d to the chagrin of bending the knee to a fet of Men, that facrifice the publick good to . their private intereft, and are born to plague koneft Men. The two Minifters of State I 5 a to do with, have been follicited in vain, by the Datchefs of Lude, Cardinal Bouillon, Count Gui- {car , Mr. de Quiros, and Count d Avaux: No- thing could prevail, tho’ all that is laid to my charge, confifts only in not bearing the affronts of a Governcur, whom they protect ; at atime whex _. &@ bundred other Officers, who live under the impu> | ! : | £AaSLON The Preface. tation of Crimes, infinitely greater than mine, are excusd for three Months abfence from Court. Now the Reafonis, that they give th quarter to thofe who have the misfortune to difpleafe the two Meffieurs de Ponchartrain, than to Such as ail contrary to the King's Orders. | “But after all my Misfortunes, I have this to folace me, that I injoy in England a fort of Li- berty, that is mot met with elfewhere: For one may juftly fay, that of all the Countries inhabited by civilis'd People, this alone affords the greateft perfeciion of Liberty. Nay, I donot except the liberty of the Mind, for I am convinced, that the ae maintain it with a great deal of tender- ne(s: So true itis, that all degrees of Slavery are abhorr'd by this People, who fhew their Wif- dom inthe precautions they take to prevent their finking into a fatal Servitude. Lule | To B: CONTENTS eet. | | Dated at Quebec Nov. 8. 1683. a Ontaining a Defcription of the Paffage from France to Canada; with fome Remarks upon the Coafts, Channels, &c. and the variation of the Needle. p. I. LETTER tt Dated at the Canton of Beaupre May 2.1684. Containing a Defcription of the Plantations of - Canada, and the manner in which they were firft form'd: As alfo an Account of the Tranf- portation of Whores from¥rance to that Coun- try ; together with a view of its Climate and a | p. 7. Lia ‘The Contents. CETTE Rw Dated at Quebec May 15. 1684. Containing an ample Defcription of the City yy OF Quebec, avd of the Ifland of St.Laurence. — : | 7 : | ee oe ULE LEb ee | . Dated at Moureal June 14. 1684. 7 Containing a brief Defcription of the Habitaté- “ons of the Savages in the Neighbourhood of Quebec; of the River of St. Laurence, as far up as Monreal; of a curious way of jifbing Eels; and of the Cities of Trois Rivieres, and Monreal: Zogether with an account of the Conduct of the Forreft-Rangers. or Pedlers. ony p. 16. LEI TE Roy ‘Dated at Monreal June ro, FOOAS « In which is contain’d a fhort account of the \ro- quefe, with a view of the War and Peace they made with the French, and of the means by which it was brought about. See Pee cae plead decks Bar Dated at Monreal June 20. 1684. Being, an ample Defcription of the Canows made of Birch Bark, in which the Canadans | | per- lee Phe Contents, perform all their Voyages; with an Account of = the manner in which they are made and ma- nag d. | ee a he ig oh iia en Dated at Monreal Novemb. 2. 1684. Defcribing the River of St. Laurence, from - Monreal to the firft great Lake of Canada, with the Water-falls, Cataracts, and Naviga- tion of that River: As alfo Fort Frontenac, and the advantages that accrue from it, To- — gether with a Circumftantial account of the Expedition of Mr.de \a Barre, the Governour General, againft the \roquefe; the Speeches he made, the Replies he recetvd, and the final Accommodation of the difference. p. 29. LETTER. VIL Dated at Monreal June 28. 1685. Reprefenting the Fortifications of Monreal, and the indifcreet zeal of the Priefis, who are Lords of that Town: With a Defcription of Cham- bhi, and of the Commerce of the Savages upon ‘the great Lakes. | ot S Apeay. Pe a To Rs Dated at Boucherville Of. 2. 1685. ae Being aw Account of the Commerce and Trade of’ + Monreal: Of the Arrival of the Marquis of ae 8 | Denonville The Contents, Denonville with fome Troops; and of the re-— ealling of Mr. dela Barre. With a curious Def- cription of certain Licenfes for trading in Bea- — vereSkins in the remote Countries, psi. LE TER Dated at Boucherville Fuly 3. 1686. Relating the Arrival of Mr. de Champigni, 7 the room of Mr. de Meules, who i recall’d to France; the arrival of the Troops that came along with him, the curiofity of the Rackets, _ and the way of hunting Elks ; with a Defcrip- tion of that Animal, p. 55. Le TT ER. oe Dated at Boucherville May 28.1687. Being acurious Defcription of the Hunting of di- vers Animals, p. 60. Pel Ee Dated at St. Zvelens over againtt Monreal Fane 8. 1687. he The Chevalier de Vaudreuil arrives in Canada with fome Troops. Both the Regular Troops and the Militia are pofted at St. Helens, iz a readimefs to march againft the Troquet’. | p- 60. Beer ‘The Contents, ‘4. BEST ER, XI: i “Dated at Niagara Aug. 2. 1687. Reprefenting the unfavourable Iffue of the Cam- ¢ _ paign, made in the lroquefe Country; the dif- covery of an Ambufcade, and the iffuing of Ore ders for the Author to march with a Detachment to the great Lakes. ah ty” ie LETTER. XIV Dated at Mifilimakinac May 26. 1688. The Author leaves Nagara, and has an Incounter with the Yroquefe at the end of the Land-Car- riage. The after-part of his Voyage. A Def- __ éription of the Country. He arrives at Fort St. Jofeph zz the Mouth of the Lake of Hurons. A Detachment of the Hurons arrive at the fame place. After an Ingagement, they fet out for Miffilimakinac. 4 ftrange Adventuré of Mr. » de la Salle’s Brother. Miftilimakinac de/- * eribd, Hye a p. 80. by Bae YE Re KV, | Dated at Mifilimakinac Sept. 18: 1688. Defcribing the Fal call'd Saut St. Marié, wheré the Author ‘perfwades the Inhabitants to joyn _ the Outaouas, and march againft the \roquefe.. And containing, an account of the Occurrences of the Voyage between that Placé aad Mi(ulitiaki- flag | _ Ps 9%e ; a L BE Fs The Contents. | LcbheT TE RR. xVE Dated at Mifilimakinac May 28. 1689: Containing an Account of the Author's Departure from, and Returuto, Miftilimakinac. A Def- cription of the Bay of Puants, and its Villages. |. An ample Défcription of the Beavers, follow’d by the Fournal of a remarkable Voyage uponthe Loug River, anda Map of the adjacent Coun- try. SAD. Td. Lia tT ER ave | | Dated at Quebec Sep. 23. 1689. Zhe Author fets out from Miffilimakinac to the Colony, and defcribes the Country, Rivers, and Paffes that be faw by the way. The \roquefe make a fatal incurfiow into the Ifland of Mon- real: Fort Frontenac zs abandowd; Couut Frontenac 1 fent to Canada, and the Marquis of Denonville 2s recail'd. | p. 142- LE ET EE Re XVilk ' Dated at Quebec Nov.15. 1689. Giving an Account of Mr. de Frontenac’s Arrival, bis Reception, his Voyage to Monreal, and the repairing of Fort krontenac. p. 151. Jewkes To dE Ry OE Dated at Monreal: October 2. 1690. — Relating the Attempts upon New-England, and. i es) Se New- The Contents, New-York; a fatal Embaffy fent by the French to the lroquefe, and an ill-concerted Enterprife of the Englith axd the Iroquefe, i marching by vend to attack the French Colomy. p. 155. ie BO Tar B Re CK. Dated at Rochel Fauuary 12. 1691. Being a Relation of a fecond and very important Expedition of the Englifh by Sea; in which is contain d a Letter written by the Englith Admi- ral to Count Frontenac, with the Governour'’s Verbal Anfwer. As alfo an account of the Aus thors departure for France. p. 159. eel TER. XX Dated at Rochel Fuly 16. 1691. Containing a Defcription of the Courts or Offices of the Miniffers of State, and a view of fome . Services that ave ill rewarded at Court. Pp. 166, BEETER. XXI, Dated at Quebec Nov. 10. 1691. Which contains an account of the Author's depar- tare from Rochel to Quebec, of bis Voyage ro the mouth of the River St. Laurence, of a Ren- counter with aw English Ship which he fought ; _- of the firanding of bis Ship; of his failing thro’ the River St. Laurence ; of ‘the news he receiv'd _ that a party of the Enelit th and {roquele, had de- feated a Body of the — Ti Tops, PX 71. Lik. Ys The Contents. LETTER, XXIL Dated at Nants Ociob. 25. 1692. Containing an Account of the taking of fome Eng- lith Veffels, of defeating a Party of the lroquefe, of an Iroquefe burat alive at Quebec ; of ano- ther Party of thefe Barbarians, who having fur- pris d fome Coureurs de Bois, were afterwards farprisd themfelves. Of the Project of an Enter- prize propos’d by Mr. ¥rontenac to the Author. Of the Author's departure in a Frigat forFrance, and his flopping at Placentia, which was then at- _ tack d by the Englith Fleet that came to take that _ Poft from us, How the Englith fail’d in their Defigu, and the Author purfwd his Voyage. We el LETTER... RAIS. Dated at Nants May ro. 1693. Containing an Account of Mr.Frontenac’s Project, which was rejected at Court, and the reafon why it was rejetied, The King gives the Author the Lieutenancy of Newfound Land, &c. together with the Independent Company. p. 197. LETTER ehieoare Dated at Viana in Portugal Fan. 31. 1694. Tie Author's departure from France to Placentia. A Fleet of 30 Englifh Ships came to feize upon that place ; but is difappointed, and fbeers off. The reafon why the Englith bave Lad fuccefs . Ne : Ut “i, Gieadl The Contents. ae | all their Enter prifes beyond | Sea. The Au- thor's Adventure with the Governour of Placen- tia. His departure for Portugal. Az Ingage- ment witha ¥lufhing Privateer, =—S pp. 193. Memoirs of North. America, Containing a Geographical Deféription of that vaft Continent ; the Cuftoms and Commerce of the Inhabitants, &c. Dp. 203. A fhort Defcription of Canada. =———s*p.209.. ~ . ALift of the Savage Nations of Canada. p.230. —{ A Lift of the Animals of Canada. Po 292- A Defcription of {uch Animals or Beafts as are 20? mention d in the Letters. iia ee ee 3.4 Lift of the Fowl or Birds of Canada. —sp.23.7. A Defcription of fuch Birds as are not accounted for in the Letters, Pp: 239. A Defcription of the Infects of Canada. p.242. The Names of the f(b of Canada. - — p.243. _ A Defcription of the Fifb that are not mention d in . the Letters. p:.244. _ The Trees and Fruits of Canada. p: 247. A Defcription of the above-mention’ dTrees. p.248. A General view of the Commerce of Canad® p.25 4. The Commodities truck’d to and again between the French and the Savages, Pp. 257. An Account a the Government of Canada i# Gene- ral, p. 260. A Di ifcourfe of the atid of the French aa Eng- lh zn North- Americ /p. 260. A Table a xplaining py ancommon Terms. p.2r76. The The Contents of the Second Othene.’. | A Difcourfe of the Habit, Houfes, Complexi- [ \ o and Temperament of the Savages of : _ North-America. Py Ver 2. A foort view of the Hlumours and Cuftoms of the. Savages, p.7 The Belief of the Savages, sat the Obftacles of their Converfion, p: "Fo: The way of Worfhip us'd by the Savages. p. 29. An Account of the Amours and Marriages of the Savages. Pvai A in iew of the Difeales and Remedies of the — 45% The ‘Diverfieas of Hunting and Shooting hal a= mong the Savages. | p. 5 i The Military Art of the Savages. p.7 A View of the Heraldy and the Coats of sia) of _ the Savages. B84. An Explication cf the Savage “ Hieroglyphicks | p. 86. A Conference or Dialogue between the Author and Adario, a noted Man a- mong the Savages. Containing a Ciréumfantial view of the Cuftoms and Humours of that People. Pp. 90. Ap De yn.) ye Pemernane FP RT f nada, An APPENDI me Containing fome ‘New Voyagesto Portugal and Denmark ; afrer the Author's Retirement from Ca- Ue CLE Rt Dated at Lisbon April 10. LOOd.\%: Containing a Defcription of Viana, Porto a Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Lisbon; together with a View of the Court of Portugal; and an Account of the Government, Laws, Cuftois, and Flumours of the Portuguefe. p. 185. We a ee a | Dated at Zravemunde 1694. Containing an Account of the Author's Voyage from Lisbon zo Garnfey ; his Adventure with an Engs lith Maz of War, and an Englith Privateer: A Defcription of Rotterdam and Amfterdam ; the Author's Voyage to Hamburgh ; the Dimenfions of a¥lemith Sloop; a Defcription of the City of Hamburg; the Author's Fourney from thence to Lubeck, aud a Defcription of that City, p.211- Peete Re WE |. Dated at Copewhagen Sept.12. 1694. Containing a Defcription of the Port and City of ia Copenhagen, a view of the Danith Court, and of the Flumours, Cufloms, Commerce, Forces,&ec. of the Danes. p. 22.6% | 1 The Contents, LETT Eee, | Dated at Paris Decemb, 29. 1694. Containing a Journal of the Author’s Travels fron Copenhagen ¢o Paris. ee LET Le RR, We Dated at Erleich Fuly 4. 1694. Giving a view of the Superftition and Ignorance of thé People of Bearn; their addittednefs to the _ notions of Witchcraft, Apparitions, &ic. And the — Author's Arguments againft that Delufon.p.255.° LER eRe Dated at Fluefta July 11-1695. Containing an Account of the Author's efcape and journey toSpain ; his being taken up for a Au- guenot, azd the Ignorance and Bigotry of the Curatés aud People of Bearn za France. p. 26%, LET TE Re Vibe Dated at Saragoza Oétob. 8. 1695. Containing a Defeription of Saragoza; a View of: the Government of Arragon, and an Account of the Cujtoms of the People. ip. 274. A fhort Dictionary of the Language of the Savages; ERR AT YA, VOL. 1. p. 6... xz. for days vr. Leagues. p. 7.1.17. for two or three, t. tree or thrze hundred. p.16.1. 5. for Miles r. Leagues. p- 18. for forty rv. forty fix. Pp. 227.1. 34. for Poninte x. Pointe, Vol.IS. p. 4. b 8. for Supernemerans rv. Supernu- merary. p. 1.35. for twenty minth x. twenty fixth. p, 21.1. 18. for Happinefs r. Ua happine/s. 26.1..38. for can r.can't. p.79. L. 6. for.Canada vr. Actaia, p. 230.1. 33- for CounreS of Friezland, r. Countets dé Frize. p. 243. 1. ¥. for Streets r.. Skirts. p 248. ha. for bitelligence r. Paftpavis : Sorte SR ra? lp SC a ho ee ees s? {| i | pe — —_ - — Coe Leen 4 ‘outh of a Creat Lake of ASSINIPOVALS ils & Cres and Towns t 3 French & Enghfh iia, Da 6 MWllages of the Sava = a a wdavage Wit. deft. b Troquefe § ‘pe Gis with 2 Croft abou’ 4 are abandon'd i ji The Countries for Beaver hunting that I know cof * } WSwaterfalls and Catar in y Ravers ; 4% Land Carriages from one place « to anather. | "The prickd Aine that runs from~ tLaurence Bay potnts out the courfé = of my Voyage to Miffiimakinae + he tines run tm this fafhion trom Miffih - makenac by 7 Eat zd of y Lake - ga etreane’LS | steend tn our Rxpeditio agunft the Froguefe 0 wi Dhes Serpentine fine - As shews ¥ Cour fe of my Return fromMiffilmakinac to Monreal, the way of Rd’ Franco~t:, fh ae 7 "in fe _ and. che Great Te. of Outaouas . Villages the MAL: thes s Sages R, - I Plurons - Wires and so tw CondeRiver, j: a7af) _2z7/ —— + S&S age ofy APD sper ls on | oa F Inittle Fort of St Germain 14 th hinders f ESAS A Hinipovals lp come dou'n to Po\ renelfon NE Mipycon Larne | Fort of 5 —*s Se ate 7 a ghenting be Sailer a [29% Zrds to mot A o, See (, “arch thry Enjlifh Fore 3) ae Cage AY od 2 Mechene Machandibi ATleonon: A fesnons é‘ 2) Enna), ONTILARE . As io ae 3 A General Map of INEW FRANCE EEeRRAD-& LAB RAD OZ EskKiMAaAUx ans A>) Dj ame R ; a BaD) P&B. des Chaleurs \ t.deMifeau~| Miramichi Pt FE N Zw Chedaboucktor AND Acadia 4 ee, J eee Nag 1. Bay of st name neet stots psiarretesees Tayeree Wietessecet a Nrertterete tetas ares Siectige mpprtorectat soo towetoo eee pees Ssiss caters Sherman crszsas So igiarese vo VA -ES North- Ameria ese TPE RL _ Dated at the Port of Quebec, Now. 8. 1683. | Containing a Delong ion of the Paffage from France to Canada; with fome Remarks upon the Coafts, Channels, &e. and the Variation of the Needle. OCD R, - World is fo formidable to thofe whoare ob- “tig d toundertake it; for I folemnly proteft thac - fure long; but then the hopes of viewing an un- known Country, attones for the tedioufnefs of the ‘Voyage. When webroke grotind from Rochel, 1 - acquainted you with the Reafons that mov'd Mr. ke Fevre de ia Barre, Governor General of Canada, —tofend the Sieur Mabu, a Canadefe, to Frances : and at the fame time gave you to know, that he B had am farpris’ to find that a Vapeoe to aie New: #4. *tis far from being what the World commonly. dakes' it for. "Tis true, the Paffage i is in fome mea-— 4 Some New Voyages — had refolv’d upon the utter deftruétion of the Irc- gue(e, who area’ very Warlike and Savage People. Thefe Barbarians befriend the Englifh, upon the ac- count of the Succours they receive from ’em ; but they areenemies to us, upon the apprehenfion of being deftroy’d by us fome time or other. The General | {poke of but now, expected that the King would fend him feven or eight hundred Men; but when we fet out from Roche! the feafon was {fo far advanced, that our three Companies of Marines were reckon’d a fufficient Venture. I met with nothing in our Paffage that was dif- | agreeable, abating for a Storm that alarm’d us for. fome days, upon the precipice of the bank of New- found-Land, where the Waves {well prodigioufly, e- ven when the Winds are low. In that Storm our Frigat receiv’'d fome rude fhocks from the Sea; but in regard that fuch accidents are ufual in that Voy- age, they made no impreffion upon the old fea- fon’d Sailors. As for my part, I could not pre- - tend to that pitch of indifference; for having ne- ver made fuch a Vovage before, I was\fo alarm’d — in feeing the Waves mount up tothe Clouds, that I made more vows to Neptune, than the brave Ido- — meneus didin his return from the Wars of Troy. After we made the bank, the Waves funk, and the Wind dwindled, and the Sea became fo fmooth and eafie, that we could not work our Ship. You can fcarce imagine what quantities of Cod-filh were catch’d there by our Seamen, inthe {pace of a quarter of an hour; for though we had thirty two ~ fathom Water, yet the Hook was no fooner at the — bottom, than the Fifh was catch’d; fo that they had nothing todo but to throw in, and take up ~ without interruption : Butafter all, fuch is the mif- fortune of this Fifhery, that it do’s not fucceed but — upon certain banks, which are commonly paft o- — ver without ftopping. However, as we wereplen- — pa td — tifully fice oe a eeeat ” to North-America. oe tifully entertain’d at the coft of thefe Fifhes, fo {uch of ’em as continuedin the Sea, made fuffici- ent reprifals upon the Corps of a Captain, and of feveral Soldiers, who dy’d of the Scurvy, and were thrown over-board three or four days after. In the mean time the Wind veering to the Weift- North-Weft, we were oblig’d to lye bye for five or fix days; butafcer that ic chop’d to the North, and fo we happily made Cape Rafe, tho’ indeed our Pilots were at a lofsto know where we were, by reafon that they could not take the Latitude forten or twelve days before. You may eafily imagine, that ’was with great joy that we heard one of our Sailors call from the Top-Maft, Land, Land, jut as St Paul did when he approach’d to Maltha, Tip dea, viv de: For you muft know that when the P1- lots reckon they approach to Land, they ufe the precaution of fending up Sailors to the Top-Maft, in order to fome difcovery ; and thefe Sailors are reliev'd every two hours till Night comes, at which time they furl their Sails if the Land is not yet defcry’d: So that in the Night-time they fcarce make any way. From this ic appears how impor- tant it isto know the Coaft, before you approach toit; may, the Paflengers put fuch a value upon the difcovery, that they prefent che firft difcoverer with fome Piftoles. In the mean time, you'll be pleas’d to obferve, that the Needle of che Compafs, which naturally points to the North, turns upon the bank of Newfound-Land, twenty three Degrees towards the North-Weft; that is, it points there a degree nearer to the Welt, than North-Norcth- Welt. This remark we made by our Compafs of Vari- ation. | We defcry’d the Cape about Noon ; and in order to confirmthe Difcovery, ftood in upon it with all fails alofe. Ac laft, being aflur’d that ’ewas the Promontory we look’d for, an univerfal joy was : Bat {pread 4 Some New Voyages | f{pread throughout the Ship, and the fate of the -wrerches that we had thrown over-board, was quite forgot. Then the Sailors fer about the Chriftening of thofe wlio had never mace the Voyage before, and indeed they had done ic fooner, if ic had not been for the death of our above-mention’d Compa- nions. The Chriftening L {peak of, is an imperti- nentCeremony, practis'd-by Sea-faring Men, whofe -humours are: as ftrange and .extravagane, as the Element it felf, upon which they foolifhly. traft themfelves. By vertue of a Cuftom of old ftand- ing, they profane the Sacrament of Baptifm in an unaccountable manner. Upon that occafion, the old - Sailors being blacken’d all over, and difguis’d with Rags and Repes, force the greener fort that have never pafs'd fome certain degrees of Latitude be- fore, to fall down on their Knees, and to {wear upon a Book of Sea Charts, that upon all occafi- ons they will practife upon others, the fame Cere- -mony that is then made ufe of cowards them. Af- ter the adminiltring of this ridiculous Oath, they throw fifty Buckets full of Water upon their Head, Belly, and Thighs, and indeed ail over their Body, without any regard totimes or feafons. . This piece of folly is, chiefly practis’d under che Aquator, un- der the Tropicks, under the Polar Circles, ypon the — bank of Newfound-Laud; and in the Streights of Gibraltar, the Sund, and the Dardanelloes. As for Perfons of Note or Chara&er, they are exempted from the Ceremony, at the expence of five or fix _ bottles of Brandy for che Ships Crewe .-. . Three or four days after the performance of this — Solemnity, we difcover'd Cape Raye, and fo, made up to St. Laurence Bay, in the Mouth of which we were becalm’d fora littl while; and during that Calm, we hada clearer and pleafanter day, than — any we had feen in the Paflage. Itlook’d as if that day had been vouchfaf'd us by way of recom- Baas: | . pence © ce eres i “ . - 4 ca ih Sr P past RA EE tan ae gh RT to North-America, e pence for the Rains, Foggs, and high Winds, thae we incounter’d by the way. There we faw an Engagement between a Whale — Wil and’ a * Sword-Fifh, at the di- * Efpadon, 2 Fifhbe- ftance of a Gun-fhot from our j°%™ ag Nad, Frigat) We were perfectly charm’d Pee Paferinse a ? when we faw the Sword-Fifh jump paving in its Snout 0 out of the waterin orderto dart its fort of Saw which is Spear into the Body of the Whale, 117 Msi lons, /eur fe when oblig’d totake breath. This rie, spich entertaining fhow lafted ar leaft two hours, fometimes tothe Starboard, and fome- times to the Larboard of the Ship. The Sailors, among whom Superftition prevails as much as among the Egyptians, took this for a prefage of fome mighty Storm; but the Prophecy ended in two or three days of contrary Winds, during which time we travers'd between the Iflandof Newfound- Land, and that of Cape Breton. Two days after we came in fight of the [fland of Fowls, by the help of a North-Eaft Wind ; which drove us from the Mouth of St. Laurence Bay, to the Ifle of Anticofi, upon the bank of which, we thought to have been caft a- way, by nearing ittoo much. In the Mouth of thar River we fell intoa fecond calm, which was follow’d by a contrary Wind, that oblig’d us to lye bye for fome days. At laft we made Tadouffac, by gradual approaches, and there came to an An- chor. _ _ This River is four Leagues broad where we then - rode, and twenty two atits Mouth 3 but it contracts it felf gradually, asit approaches to itsfource. Two days after, the Wind ftanding Eaft, we weigh’d An- yi, chor; and being favour'd by the Tyde, gor fafe through the Channel of the Red Hland, in which the Currents are ape to turn a Veflel on one fide, as well as at che Ifland of Coudres, which lies fome Leagues higher, But upon the Coaft of the laft SS ne B 3 Ifland, 6 Some New Voyages Ifland, wehad certainly ftruck upon the Rocks, if . we had not drop’d an Anchor. Had the Ship been caft away at chat place, we might eafily have fav’d our felves : But ic provd fo, that we were more af- fraid than hurt. Next Morning we weighed with a frefh gale from the Eaft, and the next day after came to an Anchor over againft Cape Tourmente, where we had not above two Leagues over, tho’ atthe fame time ’tis a dangerous place to thofe who are unacquainted withthe Channel. From thence we had but feven days failing to the Port of Que- bec, where we nowride at Anchor. In our Paflage from the red [fland to this place, we faw fuch floats of Ice, and fo much Snow upon the Land, that we were upon the point of turning back for France, tho’ we werenot then above thirty Leagues off our defired Port. We were affraid of being ftop’d by the Ice, and fo loft; but thank God we “{cap’d. We have receiv'd advice, that the Governor has mark’d out Quarters for our Troops in fome Villa- ges or Cantons adjacent te this City; fo that lam oblig’d to prepare to go afhoar, and therefore mult make anend of this Letter. I cannot as yet give you any account of the Country, excepting that tis already mortally cold. As tothe River, I mean to give youa more ample defcription of it, when I cometo know it better. We are informed that Mr. de Ja Salle is juft returnnd from his Travels, which he undertook upon the difcovery of a great River that falls into the Gulf of Mexico; and that he imbarques to morrow for France. He is perfectly well acquainted with Canada, and for that reafon you ought to vifit him, if you go cto Paris this Win- ter.. doaim Flea SIR, Yours, &c LE T- to North-America, = - rd LET EER. Dated at the Canton of Beaupre, May 2. 1684. Containing a Defcription of the Plantations of Canada, and the manner in which they were firft form’d: As alfo an account of the Tranfporta- - tion of Whores from France to that Country ; together with a view of its Climate and Soil. eke « S foon as we landed laft year, Mr. dela Barre _lodg’d our three Companies in fome Cantons or Quarters in the Neighbourhood of Quebec. The | Planters call thefe places Cotes, which in France figni- fies no more than the Sea-Goaft; tho’ in this Coun try where the names of Yowz and Village are un- known, that word is made ufe of to exprefsa Seig- nory or Manour, the Houfes of which lie at the diftance of twoor three Paces one from another, and are f{zated on the brink of the River of St. Lax- rence. In earneft, Sir, the Boors of thofe Manors live with more eafe and conveniency, than an in- finity of the Gentlemen in France. Lam out indeed ~ in calling ’em Boors, for that name is as little known _ here as in Spain ; whether it be that they pay no Taxes, and injoy the liberty of Hunting and Fifh- ing; or that the eafinefs of their Life, puts “em up- on alevel with the Nobility. The pooreft of them have four + Ar- + 4 Arpentisa fpot pents of Ground in front, and % sround containing thirty or forty in depth: The 7° Bio Sai whole Country being a continued teen Face long. Forreft of lofty Trees, che ftumps B4 of 8 Some New Voyages of which mult be grub’d up, before they can make ufe of a Plough. Tis true, this is a troublefom and chargeable task at firft; but ina fhore time after they make up their Loffes 3 for when the Vir- gin ground is capable of receiving Seed, it yields an increafe to the rate of an hundred fold. Corn is — there fown in Aday, and reap’d about the middle of September. Inftead of threfhing the Sheafsin the Field, they convey ’em to Barns, where they lie till the coldeft feafon of the Winter, at which time the — Grain is more eafily difengag’d from the Ear. In this Country they likewife fow Peafe, which are much efteem’d in France. All forts of Grain are very cheap here, as well as Butchers Meat and Fowl. ' The price of Wood is almoft nothing, in compari- fon wich the charge of its carriage, which after all is very inconfiderable. . | Molt of the Inhabitants are a free fort of Péople thac removed hither from France, and brought with ‘em but little Money to fet up withal: ‘The reft are thofe who were Soldiers about thirty or forty years ago, at which time the Regiment of Carignan — was broke, and they exchang’d ‘a Military Poft, for the Trade of Agriculture, Neither the one nor the other pay’d any thing for the grounds they pof- tefs, no more than the Officers of thefe Troops, who mark’d out to themfelves, certain portions of unmanurd and woody Lands; for this vaft Cone- nent is nothing elfe than one continued Forreft. The Governours General allow’d the Officers thre¢ or four Leagues of ground in front, with as much depth-as they pleas’d; and at the fame time the OF ficers gave the Soldiers as much ground as they pleas’d, upon thecondition of the payment of a Crown per Arpent, by way of Fief. ” ‘ After the reform of thefe Troops, feveral Ships were fent hither from France, with: a Cargoe OF Women of an ordinary Reputation, under the di Ke gia ara to North-America. redtion of fome old ftale Nuns, who ranp’d em in three Claffes. The Veftal Virgins were heap’d up, Cif I may fo fpeak ) one above another, in three different Apartments, where the Bridegrooms fing- led out their Brides, juftasa Butcher do’s an Ewe from amongft a Flock of Sheep. In thefe three Se- raglio’s, there was fuch variety and change of Diet, as could fatisfie the moft whimfical Appetites; for here was fome big fome little, fome fair fome brown, fome fat and fomemeagre. In fine, there was fuch Accommodation, that every one might be fitted to his Mind: And indeed the Market had fuch arun, thatin fifteen days time, they were all difposd of. I am told, that the fatteft went off beft, upon the apprehenfion that thefe being lefs active, would keep truer to their Ingagements, and hold out better againft the nipping cold of the Win- ter: But afterall, a great many of the He. Adven- turers found themfelves miftaken in cheir meafures. © However, let that beas it will, icaffords a very curious Remark; namely, That in fome parts of the World, to which the vicious European Women are tranfport- ed, the Mob of thofe Countries do’s ferionfly be- lieve, that their Sins are fo defac'd by the ridiculous Chriftening, I took notice of before, that they are Jook’d upon ever after as Ladies of Vertue, of Ho- nour, and of an untarnifh’d condué of Life. The. Sparks that wanted to be married, made their Ad- _ dreffes tothe above-mention’d Governeffes, to whom they were oblig’d to give an account of their ‘Goods and Eftates, before they were allow’d to make their choice in the three Seraglio’s. After the choice was determin’d, the Marriage was concluded upon the {por, in the prefence of a Prieft, and a publick Notary ; and the nexc day the Governor- General beftow’d upon the married Couple, a Bull, a Cow, a Hog, a Sow, a Cock, a Hen, two Barrels Qf falt Meat, and eleven Crowns ; together with a 10 Some New Voyages | a certain Coat of Arms call’d by the \| Horns Greeks || xtpav. The Officers having a | nicer tafte than the Soldiers, made their Application to the Daughters of the ancient Gen- tlemen of the Country, or thofe of the richer fore, of Inhabitants; for you know that Canada has been poffefs’d by the French above an hundred years. In this Country every one lives ina good anda well furnifh’d Houfe; and moft of the Houfes are of Wood, and two Stories high. Their Chimnies are very large, by reafon of the prodigious Fires they make to guard themfelves from the Cold, which is — there beyond all meafure, from the Month of De- cember, to that of April. During that fpace of time, the River is always frozen over, notwith- ftanding the flowing and ebbing of the Sea; and the Snow upon the ground, is three or four foor deep ; which is very ftrange in a Country that lites in the Latitude of forty feven Degrees, and fome odd Minutes. Moft People impute the extraordinary Snow to the number of Mountains, with which » this vaft Continent is replenifh’d. Whatever isin that matter, I muft take notice of one thing, that feems very ftrange, namely, that the Summer days are longer here than at Paris. “The Weather isthen fo clearand ferene, that in three Weeks time you Shall not fee a Cloud in the Horizon. I hape to go to Quebec with the firft opportunity ; for I have or- — ders tobe in a readinefs to imbarque within fifteen days for Afonreal, which is the City of this Coun- ery, that lies fartheft up towards the Head of the River. Bi dh, Tam, SIR, Yours, Kc. \ LET- to North- America, 1 gl Ae HS cs ae By Dated at Quebec May 15. 1684. Containing an ample Defcription of the City of ~ Quebec, and of the Iland of Orleans. S:E-R, . Efore [fet out for Afonreal, Thad the curiofity to view the Ifland of Orleans, which is feven Leagues in length, and three in breadth: Ic ex- tends from over againft Cape Tourmente, to within a League anda half of Quebec, at which place the River divides it felf into two branches. The Ships fail through the South Channel; for the North Channel is fo foul with Shelves and Rocks, that the {mall Boats can only pafs that way. The Ifland belongs to a General Farmer of France, who would make out of ita thoufand Crowns of yearly Rent, if himfelf had the management of it. ’Tis fur- rounded with Plantations, that produce all forts of Grain. | i Quebec is the Metropolitan of New-France,.eing _ almoft a League in Circumference ; It lies-in the Latitude of 47 Degrees, and 12 Minutes. The Longitudeof this place is uncertain, as well as that of feveral other Countries, with the leave of the Geographers, that reckon you up 1200 Leagues from Rochel to Quebec, without taking the pains to meafure the Courfe: However, I am fure that ic lies but at too great a diftance from France, for the Ships that are bound hither; For their pafflage com- monly lafts fortwo Months and a half, whereas the homeward bound Ships may in 30 or 40 days failing, eafily make the Bee Ile, which is the fu- reff. ¥2 Some New Voyages | reft and moft ufual Land, thata Ship makes upon along Voyage. The reafon of this difference, is, that the Winds are Eafterly for 100 days of the year, and Wefterly for 260. iat Quebec is divided into the upper and the lower Ci- © ty. The Merchants live in the latter, for the con- veniency of the Harbor; upon which they have built very fine Houfes, three Story high, of a fort of Stone that’s as hard as Marble. The upper or high City is full as populous, and as well adorn’d as the lower. Both Cities are commanded by a Cattle, that flands upon the'-higheft Ground. This Caftle is the Refidence of the Governours, and affords them not only convenient Apart- ments, but the nobleft and moft extenfive Prof- ped in the World. Quebec wants two eflenti- al things, namely , a Key and Fortifications 5 though both the one and the other might be eafily made, confidering the conveniency of Stones ly- ing upon the fpot. *Tis incompafs’d with feveral Springs, of the beft frefh Water in the World, which the Inhabirants draw out of Wells ; for they are fo ignorant of the Hydroftaticks, that not one of “em knowshow to convey the Water to certain Bafins, in ordér to raife either flat or {pouting Fountains. ‘Thofe who live on the River fide, in the lower City, are not half fo much pinch’d with the Cold, as the Inhabitants of the uppers befides that the former have a peculiar conveniency of tranfporting —ceffaries, to che very Doors of their Houfes: But as the latter are more expofsd to the injuries of the Cold, fo they injoy the benefit and pleafure of a cooler Summer. The way which leads from the one Ciry totheother is pretty broad, and adorn d with Houfes on each fide j,enly “tis a little fteep. Quebec {tands upon a very uneven Ground; and its g in Boats, Corn, Wood, and other Ne- Houfes are not uniform, The Intendantlivesina ~ bot tom, ae ! to North-America. 13 ‘bottom, at fome fimall diftance from the fide of a little River, which: by joyning the River of &. Laurence, coops up the City in a right Angle. His - Houfe isthe Palace in which the Soveraign Coun- cil affembles four timesa Week; and on one fide of which, we fee great Magazines of Ammuniti- on and Provifions: There are fix Churches in the the High City: The Cathedral confifts of a Bilhop, - and twelve Prebendaries, who live in common in the Chapter-Houfe, the Magnificence and Archi- teGure of which is truly wonderful. Thefe poor Priefts are a very good fort of People; they con- tent themfelves with bare Neceffaries, and meddle with nothing but the Affairs of the Church, where the Service is perform’d after the Roman way. The fecond Church is that of the Jefuits, which ftands in the Center of the City ; and is a fair, ftately, and well lighted Edifice. The great Altar of the Je- {uits Church, is adorn’d with four great Cylindrical Columns of one Stone; The Stone being a fore of Canada Porphyry, and black as Jet, wichout either Spots or Veins. Thefe Fathers have very conveni- ent and large Apartments, beautify’d with plea- fant Gardens, and feveral rows of Trees, which are fo thick and bufhy, that in Summer one mighe take their Walks for an Ice-Houfe: And indeed we may fay without ftretching, that there is Ice not far from’em, for the good Fathers are néver without a referve in two or three places, for the cooling of their:Drink. Their College is fo {mall, that ac the beft they have fcarce fifty Scholars, atia- time. The third Church isthat of she Recolleds,. who, through the inrerceflion of Count Frontenac, ebtain'd leaveof the King to build a little. Chap- pel ¢ which I calla Church ; ) norwichftanding the Remonftrances of Mr. de Laval our Bilhop, who,ia — concert with the Jefuits, usd his urcmoft- Efforts for ten years together co hinder it.. Before the build- ing oe Some New Voyages ing of this Chappel, they liv'd in a little Hofpital - that the Bifhop had order’d to be built for “ems — and fome of ’em continue there ftill. The fourth — Church is that of the U-/elines, which has been ~ burn’d down two or three times, and ftill rebuilt to. the Advantage. The fifth is that of the Hofpital- Order, who take a particular Care of the Sick, tho’ themfelves are poor, and but ill lodg’d. \ ft The Soveraign Council is held at Que- ‘ie ich “*- bec. It confifts of twelve Counfellors of ss | Table. Capa y de {pada, who are the fupream Judicature, and decide all Caufes with- out Appeal. The Intendant claims a Right of be- ing Prefident to the Council; but in the Juftice- Hall the Governour-General places himfelf fo as to face him, the Judges being fet on both fides of them ; fo that one would think they are both Prefidents. While Monjieur de Frontenac wasin Canada, he laugh’d at the pretended Precedency of the Intendants ; nay he ufed the Members of that Affembly as roughly as Cromwell did the Parliament of Eng- and. At this Court every one pleads his own Caute, - for Sollicitors or Barrifters never appear there ; by which means it comes'to pafs, that Law-Suits are guickly brought to a Period, without demanding Court Fees or any other Charges from the contend- ing Parties. The Judges, who have but four hun- dred Livers a Year from the King, havea Difpen- fation of not wearing the Robe and the Cap. Be- fides this Tribunal, we have in this Country a Lieu- tenant-General, both Civil and Military, an Attor- ney-General, the Great Provoft, and a Chief Juftice in Eyre. | : The way of travelling in the Winter, whether in Town or Country, is that of Sledges drawn by Horfes ; who are fo infenfible of the Cold, thae I have feen fifty or fixty of ’em in ‘fanuary and Fe- bruary ftand in the Snow up co their Breaft, in the ) midit -~ to North America. el. midft of a Wood, without ever offering to go near their Owner’s Houfe. In the Winter-time they travel from Quebec to Monreal upon the Ice, the River being then frozen over ; and upon that oc- — cafion thefe Sledges will run you fifteen Leagues a ‘day. Others have their Sledges drawn by two Ma- ftitf Dogs, but then they are longer by the way. As for their way of travelling in Summer, I shall tranfmit you an Account of it, when I come to be better inform’d. Iam told that the People of this Country will go a thoufand Leagues in Ca- nows of Bark ; a Defcription of which you may expect, as foon as I have made ufe of ’em. The Eafterly Winds prevail herecommonly in the Spring and Autumn; and the Wefterly have the Afcen- dant in Winter and Summer. Adieu Sir: I muft now make an end of my Letter, for my Matter be- ginsto run fhort. All I can fay, is, that as foon as I am better inftructed in what relates to the Com- merce , and the Civil and Ecclefiaftical Govern- ment of the Country, Pll tranfmit you fuch ex- aé&t Memoirs of the fame, as fhall give you full fatisfaction. Thefe you may expeé& with the firft Opportunity ; for in all Appearance our Troops will return after the Conclufion of the Campaign that we are now going to make in the Country of the Iroquefe, under the Command of Monfieur de la Barre. In feven or eight Days time I mean to im- bark for Monreal; and in the mean time am going to make a Progrefs to the Villages of Scileri, of Saut dela Chaudiere, and of Lorete, which are inhabi- ted by the Abenakis and the Hurons. Thefe Places are not above three or four Leagues off ; fo that I may return with eafe next Week. As for the Manners of the People, I cannot pretend to defcribe ’*em fo foon ; for a juft Obfervation and Knowledge of thefe things cannot be compafs’d without time. I have been this Winter at hunting with thirty or : forty 16 Some New Voyages forty young Algonkixs, who were well made clever Fellows. My Defign in accompanying them, was,to — learn their Language, which is mightily efteem’d in this Country; for all theother Nations for a thou- {and Miles round (excepting the Jroquefe and the Hu- rons) underftand it perfectly well; nay, all their . refpective Tongues come as near to this, asthe Por- tuguefe does to the Spanifh. I have already made my felf Mafter of fome Words. with a great deal of Fa- cility ; and they being mightily pleafed in feeing a_ Stranger ftudy their Tongue, take all imaginable pains to inftrué& me. I am, | SIR, Yours, &c. LEE Tek Me Dated at Alcnreal, Fume 14. 1684. Containing a brief Defcription of the Habitations of the Savages in the Neighbourhood of Que- bec; Of the River of St. Lawrence, Gc. as far up as Monreal ; Of acurious way of fifhing Eels 3 and of the Cities of Trois Rivieres and Mon- ws _ real: Together with au Account Coureurs de oF the Conduct of the * Forreft Bois. See the Ex- plication Table. Rangers or Pedlers. STR 7 . Rive my Departure from Quebec, I vifited the adjacent Villages inhabited by the Savages. The — Village of Lorete is peopled by two hundred Fa-_ ~~ miliesy iid to North America. 17 milies of Hurovs, who were converted to Chriftia- nity by the Jefuirs, though with a great deab of Reluctancy. The Villages of Silleri, and of Saut de Ja Chaudiere, are compos’d of three hundred Fami- Jies of Abenaks, who are likewife Chriftians, and among whom the Jefuits have fetled Mitlionaries, I return’d to Quebec time enough, and imbarqued under the conduct of a Mafter, that would rather have had a Ladening of Goods, than of Soldiers. The North-Eaft Winds wafted us infive or fix days to Trois Rivieres, which is the name of a {mall Ciry, feated ac the diftance of thirty Leaguesfrom hence. ‘Phat City derives its name from three Rivers, chat {pring from one Channel, and after continuing their divifion for fome {pace re-unite into a joynt Stream,that falls in- to the River of St: Laurence, about half a quarter of a League below the Town. Had we fail’d all Night, the | Tides would have carry’d us thitherintwo days time ; but in regard that the River is full of Rocks and Shelves, we durft not venture uponitin the dark ; fo, we came toan Anchor every Night, which did notat - all difpleafe me ; forin thecourfe of chirty Leagues, ( notwithftanding the darkneis of the Night ) it Pave me an opportunity of viewing an infinite number of Habitations on each fide of the River, which are not above a Musker-Shot diftane one from another. The Inhabitants that are fetled between Quebec and fifteen Leagues higher, diverted me ve- ry agreeably with the fifhing of Eels. At low wa- ter they ftretch out Hurdles to the loweit Warer- Mark; and that fpace of ground being then dry by the retreat of the Water, is cover'd over, and. fhut up by the Hurdles, Between the Hurdles they place atcertain diitances Inftruments call’d Racbes, » from the refemblance they bear to a Bee-hive; be- fides Baskets and litte Nets beleg’d upon a Pole, which they call Boxteux,“and Bouts de Quieres. Then they ler all ftand in chis fafhion for three Monthsin 3 | G the Pepin abe Pitmad Ni een ae o eyed ee iB Some New Voyages = the Spring, and twoin the Autumn. Now as of- - ten as the Tide comesin, the Eels looking out for fhallow places , and making towards the Shoar, croud in among the Hurdles, which hinder ’em af- terwards to retire with the Ebb-water ; upon that they are forc’d to bury themfelvesia the abovemen- tioned Ingines, which are fometimes fo ove:-cranid, that they break. When tis low water, tie Inha- -bitants take out thefe Eels, which are cerrainiy the. biggeft, and the longeft in the World. ‘They fale them up in Barrels, where they'll keep a whole year without {poiling: And indeed they give an admira- ble relifh in all Sauces; nay, there’s nothing thae the Council of Quebec defires more, than that this Fifhery fhould be equally plentiful in all years. Trois Rivieres is a little paltry Town, feated in the Laticude of forty Degrees; ’tis not fortified neither with Stone, nor Pales. “The River to which it Owesits name, takes ics rife an hundred Leagues to the North-Welt, from the greateft ridge of Mountains in the Univerfle. ‘The Algonkins who are at prefent an Erratick fore of Savages, and, like the Arabs, have no fetled Abode; that People, I fay, feldom firaggle far from the banks of this River, upon which they have excellent Beaver-hanting. In former times the Iroguefe cut off three fourths of that Nation; but they have not dard to renew their In- curfions, fince the French have Peopled the Coun- trics that lie higher up upon the River of St. Lzu- vence. Lcall’d Tro:s Rivieres a little Town, with refe- rence to the paucicy.of the Inhabitants; though as the fame time they are very rich, and livein ftately Houfes. The King has made ic the Refidence of. a Governor, who would die for Hunger, if he did not trade with the Natives for Beavers, when | his {mall allowance is out: Befides; a Man thac would live there, mult beef the like temper with a Dog, or at leafthe muft take pleafure in fcratch- | ing | to North-America, - 19 ing his Skin, for the Flea’s are there more nume- rous than the grains of Sand. Iam inform’d, that. the Nativesof this place make the belt Soldiers in the Country. Three Leagues higher we enter’d St. Peter’s Lake, which is fix Leagues long, and had difficulty enough in crofling it; for the frequent Calms oblig’d us to —eaft Anchor feveral times. It receives three or four Rivers that abound with Fith; upon the Mouth. of which, Ef defery'd with my Telefcope very fine Houfes. Towards the Evening we fail’d out of that Lake with a frefh Eafterly Gale; and though we hosfted up all our Sails, the Current run fo ftrong againfi us, that *twas three hours before we couid make Sore/, which was two {mall Leagues off. Sorelis a Canton of four Leagues in front ; in the neighbourhood of which, a certain River conveys the waters of Champlain Lake, to the Ri- ver of St. Laurence, after having form’d a Water-fall of two Leagues at Chambli, Though we reckon but eight Leagues frorn Sorel to Monreal, yet we {pent three days in failing between ’em ; by reafon partly of flack Winds, and partly of the ftrength of the Currents. In this courfe we fiw nothing but I- flands; and both fides of the River all along from Quebec to this place, are fo replenifh’d wich Inhabi- tants, that one may jultly call ’em two continued Villagesof fixty Leagues in length. This place, which goes by the name of Villemarie; or Monreal, liesin the Latitude of forty five De- grees, and {ome Minutes; being feated in an Ifland of the fame name, which is about five Leagues broad, and fourteen Leagues long. The Directors of the Seminary of St. Su/pitius at Paras, are the Proprietors of the Ifland, and have the nomination of a Bailiff, and feveral other Magilftrates; nay, in former times they had the priviledge of nominating a Governor. This Kiecle Fown hits all open without any Fortification (2 either ‘ees 20 Some New Voyages either of Stohe or Wood: But its ficuation is fo ad- vantageous, notwithftanding thatit flandsupon an uneven and fandy Ground, that ic might eafily be made an impregnable Poft. The River of St. Lax- rence which runs juft by the Houfes, on one fide of this Town, is not Navigable further, by reafon of its rapidity; for about half a quarter of a League higher, ’tis full of rapid falls, Eddy’s, cc. Mr. Perot the Governor of the Town, who has but a thoufand Crowns a year Sallary ; has made Shift co get fifty thoufand in a few years, by tra- ding with the Savages in Skins and Furs. The — Bailiff of the Town gets but little by his piace, no more than his Officers: So that the Mer- chants are the only Perfons that make Money here ; for the Savages that frequent the great Lakes of Canada, come down hither almoftevery year with | a prodigious quantity of Beavers-Skins, to be giv- - en_in exchange for Arms, Kettles, Axes, Knives, and athoufand fuch things, upon which the Mer- chants clear two hundred per Cent. Commonly the | Governor General comes hither about the time cf their coming down, in order to fhare the profit, and receive Prefents from that People. The Ped- Jers call’d Coureurs de Bow, export from hence every year feveral Canows full of Merchandife, which — they difpofe of among all the Savage Nations of the Continent, by way of exchange for Beaver- Skins. Seven or eight days ago, I faw twenty five or ehirty of thefe Canows retarn with heavy Car- goes; each Canow was managd by two or three _ Men, and carry’d twenty hundred weight, i.e. for- ty packs of Beaver Skins, which are worth an hun- dred Crowns a piece. Thefe Canows- had been a) year and eighteen Months ont. You would bea- maz'd if you faw how lewd chefe Pedlers are when © they return; how they Feaft and Game, and how prodigal they are, not only in their Cloaths, but” a : upon ( to North-America. 21 upon Women. Such of ’emas are married, have the wifdom to retire to their own Houfes; but the Batchelors act jut as our Eaf-India-Men, and Pi- rates are wont to do; for they Lavifh, Eat, Drink, and Play all away aslongas the Goods keld out ; and when thefeare gone, they e’en fell their Em- broidery, their Lace, and their Cloaths. This done, they are forc’d to go upon a new Voyage for Sub fiftance. : | The Directors of the Seminary of St. Sulpitius, take care to fend Miflionaries hither from time to © time, who live under the direction of a Superiour, that is very much refpected inthe Country. They have Apartments allotted for “em in a ftately, grear, and pleafant Houfe, buile of Free-ftone. This Houfe is built after the Model of that of St. Sul- pice at Parws and the Altar ftands by it felf, juft like that at Pars. ‘Their Seignories or Cantons chat lye on the South-fide of the Ifland, produce a con- fiderable Revenue ; for the Plantations are good, _and the Inhabitants are richin Corn, Cartle, Fowl, and athoufand other Commodities, for which they find a Mercat in the City: But the North part of the Hfland lies wafte. Thefe Directors would ne- ver fuffer the Jefuits or Recolle&s to ‘difplay their Banners here; though ’tis conjectur’d, that at the long run theyll be fore’d to confenttoir. At the diftance of a League from the Town, I faw atthe foot of a Mountain, a Plantation of Iroquefe Chri- {tians, who are initructed by two Priefts of che Or- der of Sulpitivs; and Ym inform’d of a larger and more populous Plantation on tother fide of the Ri- ver, at the diltance of two Leagues from hence, which is took care of by Father Bruyas the Jefuit. I hope co fer out from hence, as foon as Mr. de la Barre receives advice from France; for he defigns to leave Quebec upon the arrival of the firft Ship, I refolve to go to Fort Frontenac, upgn the Lake chat | on 20es 22 Some New Foyages goes by the fame name. If I may credit thofe who have been formerly in Action againft the Iroquefe, I fhali be able upon my return from this Campaign, to inform you of fome things that will feem as {ftrange to you, as they will be difagrecable tomy felf. "I am, SIR, Yours, &c. LETTER Dated at Monreal fune 18. 1684. En which is contain'd a : fbb account of the Tro- quefe, with a view of the War and Peace they made with the French, aud of the means by which it was brought about. Sik, wrote co you but four days ago,and did not think © to have heard from you fo foon ; but this Morn- ing I met with avery agreeable Surprifal, in receiv- ing a Packet addrefs’d to me by your Brother. You may be fure Iwas infinitely well pleas'd, in being given to underftand what has pafs'd in Europe fince 1 left it. The knowl edge of the Affairs of Europe is comfortable to one that’s doom’d to another World, | fuch as this is, and I cannot but acknowledge my — {elf infinitely indebted to you, for the exactnefs of your Intelligence. . In as much as you require of me an account of the Froguefe, and would have me- to prefenr you with a juft view of their Tempér and Government ; I would willingly fatisfie and_ oblige you in that, or pany other penn > Butin nd ) ws Pee te x a." Sap 73 . gard ‘ to North-America, 23 gard that Iam oblig’d to fet out for Fort Frontenac ‘the day after to morrow, I have not time to in- form my felf of things, or to confult thofe who have been in the Country before: So that all I can do at prefent, is only to acquaint you with what I have learn’d this Winter, trom Perfons that have fojourn’d twenty years among ’em. As foon as I have an opportunity of inlarging my knowledge upon that Head, by a more immediate converfation with themfelves, you may aflure your felf chat Pil impart it to you. In the mean time, be pleasd to accept of what follows. = | Thefe Barbarians are drawn up in five Cantons, not unlike cthofe of the Swzffes. Tho’ thefe Can- tons are allof one Nation, and united in one joyne intereft, yet they go by different names, wiz. the T/onontouans, the Goyogoans, the Onnotagues, the Onoy- outs, andthe Agnies. Their Language is almoft the fame ; and the five Villages or Plantations in which they live, lie at the diftance of thirty Leagues one from another, being all feated near the South fide — of the Lake of Oxtario, or of Frontenac. Every year the five Cantons fend Deputies to affift at the Uni- on Feaft, and to {moak in the great Calumet, or Pipe of the five Nations. Each Village or Canton con- tains about fourteen thoufand Souls, 7. ¢. 1500 that bear Arms, 2000 Superannuated Men, 4000 Wo- men, 2000 Maids, and 4000 Children: Tho’ indeed fome will tell you, that each Village has not above — roooo or 11000 Souls. There has been an Alliance \of long ftanding between thefe Nations and the Englifh, and by trading in Furrs to New-York, they are fupply’d by the Englifh wich Arms, Ammuniti- on, and all other Neceffaries, at a cheaper rate than the Freachcan afford’em at. They have no other _eonfideration for England or France, than what de- pends upon the occafion they have for the Commo- dities of thefe two Nations; though after all they | C4 Biv. an wigii Some New Ve oyages give an over-purchafe; for they pay for them four times more than they are worth. They laugh at the Menaces of our Kings and Governors, for they have no notion of dependance, nay, the very word is to them infupportable. They look upon them- felves as Soveraigns, accountable to none but God alone, whom they call Tle Great Spirit. They wa- ged War with usalmoft always, from the firlt fet- tlement of our Colonies in Canada, to the firftyears of the Count of Frontenac’s Government. Meffieurs de Courfelles, and de Traci, both of ‘em Governors- General, made Head againft the Agnids upon thie Champlain Lake, in Winter as well as in Sum- mer 5 but they could not boaft of any great Suc- ceis. They only burnt their Villages, and carry’d off fome hundred of their Children, of whom the above-mention d Frogucfe C Chriftians are fprung. °Tis true, they cut off ninety or an hundred Warriours 5 but in compenfation for that, feveral Canadans, and feveral Soldiers of the Regiment of Carignan, being unprovided agaialt the unfufferable cold of the Cli- mate, loft their Limbs, and even their Life it felf. Cock Frees: what fucceeded Mr. Courfelle, per- ceiving that the Barbarians had the advantage of the Exropeans, as tothe waging of. War in that Coun- ery } upon this apprehenfion, Ifay, he declin’d fuch fruiclels Expeditions, which were very chargeable to the King, and us‘d all his efforts to difpofe the Sa- vages toa fincere and lafting Peace. This judici- ous Governor had three thingsin view; The firft was to it neourage the greatelt part of the French In- habitants, who would have abdicated the Colony, and return’d to France, if the War had continued. His fecond Topick was, that the conclufion of a Peace would difpofe an infinity of People to mar- — ry, and cogrubup the Trees, upon which the Co- lony would be better Peopled and inlarg’d. The — third Argument t that diffuaded him irom carrying oH : to North-America. 25 on the War, was adefign of purfuing the difcove- ry of the Lakes, and of the Savages that live upon their banks, in order to fettle a Commerce with ‘em, and at thefame time to ingage themin our interefts, by good Alliances, in cafe of a Rupture with the Jroquefe. Upon the confideration of thefe Reafons, he fent fome Canadans by way of a for- mal Embafly to the Iroquefe Villages , in order to acquaint them, that the King being inform’d that a -groundlefs War was carried on againft them, had fent him from France to make peace with’em. At the fame time the Ambafladors had orders to ftipu- Jate all the advantages they could obtain with refe- rence to the Commerce. The Irogue/e heard this Propofal with a great deal of Satisfaction; for Charles U1. King of England, had order’d his Gover- nor in New-York to reprefent to ’em, that if they - continu’d to wage War with the French, they were ruin’d, and that they would find themfelves crufh’d by the numerous Forces that were ready to fail from France. In effect, they promisd to the Am- baffadors that four hundred of their number fhould meet Count Frontenac, attended by an equal number of his Men, at the place where Fort Frontenac now ftands. Accordingly,fome Months after, both the one and the other met at the place appointed, and ~ fo a Peace was concluded. Mr. de Ja Salle was very ferviceable tothis Governor, in giving him good and feafonable Advices, which I cannot now enter upon, being oblig’d to make fome preparations for my Voyage. When the Campaign is over, you may expect to hearfrom me. In the mean time, Tam, | Ss 2 R, Yours, &e. LE TI- 26 Some New Voyages | LE: Ey iok Bae Dated at Monreal ‘fune 20. 1684, Being an ample Defcription of the Canows made of Birch-bark, in which the Canadans per- form all their Voyages; with an account of the manner in which they are made and mae nag d. p 1 Ry; 7 I thought to have fet out as this day ; but in regard thac our Complement of great‘Canows is not yet brought up, our Voyage is put off'for two Gays. Having fo much leifure time upon my Hands, I have a mind to imploy it in prefenting you witha {hort view of thefe flender Contrivances in which the Canadans perform all theis Voyages:: And this will furnifh you with an Idea of the Voiture of this Country. I faw but now above an hundred Ca nows, fome preat and fome little; but confidering | that the former are only proper for Martial Expedi- tions, and long Voyages, I {hall confine my Ded- cription to thar fort. Even the great ones are of different fizes; for they run from ten to twenty eight Foot long. Indeed the leaft of all hoid but two Perfons fer upon their Breech, as ina Coffins / and are apt to over-fet, if the Paflengers move ta/ one fide or other: But thofe of a larger fize will eafily afford ftowage for fourteen Perfons; tho’ they are commonly mann’d anly with three Men, when they are imploy'd in tranfporting Provifions and Merchandize ; and even then theyll carry twenty hundred weight. The lJargeflt fort are fafe and ‘ LO me er me a ee er Vol oe. | 26. cy SS hee Late carriage ae SS = == ——— SSS S= = * f 43 ay

Men ply fometimes on their Knees, namely, when they run down the {mall Watrer-falls; fometimes flanding , when. they ffem a Current by fetting the Boar along with Poles ; and fometimes fitting, viz. in {mooth and ftagnating water. ‘The Oars. they make uafe of are made of Mapie-wood, and their form is reprefented in the annex’d Cutt. The Blade of the Oar is twenty Inches long, hx Inches broad, and four Lines thick: The Handle ts about three Foot long, and as big as a Pigeons Egg. When they have occafion to run up againft rapid Currents, they make ufe of Poles made of Pine- wood ; and the fetting of the Boat along wich thefe, 4 ( $x i to North-America, 29 Gs what they call Piquer de find. The Canows have neither Stern nor Prow, for they run to a point at both ends: Neither have they Keels, Naiis or Pegs, in the whole Stru@ure. The Steerfman, or he who Conns the Boat, rows without interruption as well as the reft. The common purchafe of fuch a Boat is eighty Crowns; but it do’s not laft above five Or. fix years. | | This day I have receiv’d advice, that Mr. de /z Barre has rais'd the Militia in the neighbourhood of Quebec, and that the Governor of this Ifland has re- ceiv’d orders to have that of the adjacent Cantons in readinefs tomarch. I am, S. 8 PR] Yours, &fc. Pied te RV Dated at Adonreal Novem). 2. 1684. Defcribing the Courfe of the River of St. Laurence, from Monreal to the jirji great Lake of Cana- da; with the Water-fails, Cataratis, and Navi- gation of that River: As alfo Fort Frontenac, aud. the Advantages that accrue from it. To- gether with a Circumftantial account of the Expedition of Mr. de \2 Barre, the Goveruor- General againft the lroquele; the Speeches he made, the Replies be receiv'd, aud the fmal Accommodation of the difference. re | “Hank God I have finijh’d this Campaign, and & am nowreturnd in fafety to chis place. To prefent you with che Hiftory of our Campaign, be ota | pleas’d 30 Some New Voyages _pleas’d to know that in two or three days after the date of my laft, I imbarqu’d onboard of a Ca- now that was work’d by three expert Canow-Men, Every Canow contain’d two Soldiers; and we all — rowd up againft the Current of the River till we arriv'd at Saut de St. Lous, about three Leagues a- bove this Town, which is a little Water-fall, bue — fo rapid, that our Watermen were forc’d to ftand in the water up to their Middle, in order to drag the Canows againft che Stream for half a quarter of a League. Wereimbarqu’d above this Pafs, and rew'd about twelve Leagues up the River, and thro’ the Lake of St. Lows, till we arriv’d at a place call’d the Ca/cades, where we were forc’d to turn outand carry our Boats and Baggage over-land, about half a quarterof a League. “Tis true, we might have tow’d our Boats againft the Stream in this place with fome labour ; but there was a Cataraé a little aboveit, which they call le Cataratte du Trou. I had taken up a notion that the only difficulty of fail- ing up the River, confifted in the trouble of Land- carriages but when I came to be a Spectator of the matter, I found chat the ftemming of the Cur- | rents whether in towing of the Canows, or in fet- ting them along with Poles, was equally laborious. About five or fix Leagues higher we cathe to the Water-falls call’d Sauts des Cedres, and du Buiffon, where we were forcd totranfpore our Boats five hundred paces over Land. Some Leagues above that, we enterd the Lake of St. Francs, which is faid to be twenty Leagues in Circumference; and having crofsdit, met with as ftrong Currents as before, particularly ata fall call’d Lonvg Saat, where we hadrecourfe to Land-carriage for half a League. ‘Then we were fore’dto drag up the Boats againfi the — rapid Stream; and after a great deal of fatigue came — atlaft to a Pafscall’d /a Galete, from whence we had buc cwenty Leagues failing to Fort Frontenac. This — Pals to North America. 32 Pafs was the laft difficulty we had to furmount ; for above ic the water was as ftill asthat of a Pool, and then our Watermen ply’d with their Oars in ftead of Poles. | | The Maringouins, which we call Adidges, are un- fufferably troublefom in all the Countries of Cana- da. We were haunted with fuch clouds of em, that we thought to be eat up; and {moaking being the only Artifice that could keep ’em off, the Remedy was worfe than the Difeafe ; In the Night-time the People fhelter themfelves from ’em in Bowers or Arbours, made after the following manner. They drive into the Ground Stakes or little branches of — Trees, at a certain diftance one from another, fo as to form a femicircular Figure; in which they puta Quilt and Bedcloaths, covering it above with a large . sheet that falls down to the Ground on all fides, and fo hinders the Infedtsto enter. We landed at Fort Frontenac after twenty days failing ; and immediately upon our arrival, Mr. Duta our Commander in chief, view’d the Fortifi- cations of the place, and three large Barques thae Jay at Anchor in the Port. We repair’d the Forti- fications in a very little time, and fitted up the three Barques. ‘This Fort was a Square, confifting of large Curtains flanked wich four little Baftions ; thefe Fianks had but two Battlements, and the Walls were fo low, that one might eafily climb upon ’em with- out a Ladder. After Mr. de la Salle concluded the Peace with the Iroguefe, the King beftow’d upon him and his Heirs the property of this place; but he was fo negligent, that inftead of enriching himfel€ ‘by the Commerce it might have afforded, he was - confiderably out of pocket uponir. To my mind this Fort is fituated very advancageoufly fora Trade with the five Irequefe Nations : For their Villages lye in tne Neighbourhood of the Lake, upon which they may tranfport their Furs in Canows with aay eale, —— 32 Some New Voyages ae eafe, than they can carry ’em over-land to New- York. Intime of War I take it to be indefenfible ; for the Cataraéts and Currents of the River are fuch, that fifty Ircquefe may there ftop five hundred French, without any other Arms but Stones. Do but con- fider, Sir, that for twenty Leagues together the River is forapid, that we dare not fet the Canow four paces off the fhoar; Befides, Canada being no- _ thing but a Forreft, as I intimated above, ’tis im- poffible to travel there without falling every foot into Ambufcades, efpecially upon the banks of this. River, which are lin’d with thick Woods, that ren- der ’em inacceflible. None but the Savages can skip from Rock to Rock, and {cour thro’ the Thickets, as if ’cwere an open Field. If we were capable of fuch Adventures, we might march five or fix hun- dred Men by Landto guard the Canows that carry the Provifions; but at the fame time ’tis to be con= fider’d, that before they arriv’d at the Fort, they would confume more Provifions than the Canows ean carry ; Notto mention that the lroguefe would ftill out-number ’em. As to the particulars relating to the Fort, I fhall take notice of °em when I come to give a general defcription of New- France. | While we continued at Fort Frontenac, the Irogue/e who live at Ganeouffe and Quente, at the diftance of feven er eight Leagues from thence, threw in upon us Harts, Roe-bucks, Turkeys and Fifh; in ex- change for Needles, Knives, Powder and Ball. To- wards the end of Auguf Mr. de la Barre joynd us 3 but he was dangeroufly ill of a Feaver, which rao’d in like manner among moft of his Militia; fo that only our three Companies were free from Sicknefs. This Feaver was of the intermit- ting kind; and the convulfive Motions, ‘fremblings, and frequency of che Pulfe that attended the cold Fit, were fo violent, that moft of our fick Men dy'd in the fecondor thid Pic. Their Blood was | o — to North America. 33 of a blackifh brown colour, and tainted with a fore of yellowifh Serum, not unlike Pus or corrupt Mat- ter. Mr. dela Barres Phyfician, who in my opinion knew as little of the true caufes of Feavers as Hip- pocrates or Galen, and a hundred thoufand befides ; this mighty Phyfician, 1 fay, pretending to trace the caufe of the Feaver I now {fpeak of, imputed it to the unfavourable qualities of the Air and the Aliment. His plea was, that the exceflive heat of the feafon, put the Vapours or Exhalations into an over-rapid Motion ; that the Air was fo) over-ra- rify’d, that we did not fuck in a iufficient quantity of its chat the fmall quantity we did receive was loaded with Infects and impure Corpufculum’s , which the fatal neceflity of Refpiration oblig’d us to {wallow; and that by this means nature was put into diforder: He added, that the ufe of Bran- dy ahd fale Meat fower’d the Blood, that this fower- nefs occafion’d a fort of Coagulation of the Chyle and Blood, that the Coagulation hindred it to cir- culate thro’ the Heart wich a due degree of Cele- rity; and that thereupon there infued an extraordi- nary Fermentation, which is nothing elfe but a Feaver. But afterall, to my mind this Gentleman’s Syfteme was too much upon the Iroguefe ftrain 3 for at that ratethe Diftemper mult have feiz’d all with- out diftinétion, whereas neither our Soldiers nor the feafon’d Canadans were troubled with ic; for it raged only among the Militia, who being unac- quainted with the way of fetting the Boats with Poles, were forc’d at every turn to get into the water and drag ’em up againft the rapid Stream : Now, the waters of that Country being naturally cold, and the heat being exceflive, the Blood mighi thereup- on freeze by way of Antiperiftafis, and {fo occafion the Feaver I {peak of, purfuantto the common Max- im, Omnzu repentina mutatio eff periculofa, 1.€. All [ud- den changes are of dangerous tens a $ i aay 34 Some New Voyages — As foon as Mr. dela Barre recover'd, he imbarqu’d | in order to continue his march ; tho’ he might have eafily known, that after halting fourteen or fifteen days at that Fort, when the feafon was fo far ad- vanced, he could not pretend to compafs the end of his Expedition. We row’d Night and Day the Weather being very calm, and in five or fix days came before the River of Famine, where we were forc’'d to putin upon the apprehenfion of a Storm. Efere we met with a Canow that Mr. Dulbut had fent from Miffilimakinac, with advice, that purfuant to orders he had ingag’d the Hurems , Outacua’s, and fome other People, to joyn his Army; in which he had above two hundred *SeeCoureurs brave * Foreft Rangers. Thefe News piven inthe were very acceptable to Mr. de la ara Barre ; but at the fame time he was ve- ry much perplexed; for I’m perfwaded he repented oftner than once, of his entring upon an Expedi- tion that he forefaw would prove Succefslefs: and to aggravate the danger of his Enterprife, the JIro- guefe had at that time an opportunity to fall upon us. In fine, after a mature confideration of the ~Confequences, and of the Difficulties that flood in the way, he fent back the Canow to Mr. Dulbut, with orders to difmifs the Foreft Rangers and Sava- ges immediately, where-ever he was, and by all means to avoid the approaching to his Troops. By good luck Mr. Dulbur had not yet reach’d Niagara, when he receiv’d thefe Orders; with which the Sa- vages that accompany’d him were fo diffatisfied, that chey threw out all manner of Ihvectives againft the French Nation. ; As foon as Mr. dela Barre had difpatch’d this Ca- now, he fent Mr. Je Moine to the Village of the Onnontagues, which lay about eighteen Leagues up the River. This Mr. /e Mocine wasa Gentleman of Normandy, and highly efteem’d by the Jroquefe, a to North-America. bi 3 €all’d him Akouelfan, i.e. the Partridge. His Orders were, to indeavour by al] means to bring along with him fome of the old ftanders of that Nation ¢ and accordingly he return’d in a few days, accom- pany’ with one of their moft confiderable Gran- _ dees, whohad a Train of thirty young Warriours, and was diftinguifh’d by the Title of the Grangula. As foon as he debarqued, Mr. de Ja Barre fent him a Prefent of Bread and Wine, and of thirty Sal- mon-Trouts, which they fifh'din that place in fuch plenty, that they brought up a hundred at one caft of a Net: Ac the fame time he gave the Grandee to underftand, that he congratulated his Arrival, and would be glad to have an Interview with him after he had refted himfelf for fome days. You muft know that he had us’d the precaution of fend- ing the fick back to the Colony, that che Irogque/e might not perceive the weaknefs of his Forces; and to favour the Stratagem, Mr. le Moine reprefented to the Grangula, that the Body of the Army was left behind at Fort Frontenac, and that the Troops he faw inour Camp, were the General’s Guards. Bue unhappily one of the Iroquefe that had a {mattering of the French Tongue, having ftroul’d in the Night- time towards our Tents, over-heard what we faid, and fo reveal’d the Secret. Two days after their arrival, che Grangula gave notice to Mr. de Ja Barre that he was ready for an Interview; and according- ly an hour being appointed, the whole Company appear d as the figure reprefents ic. | The Grangulafat on the Eaft fide, being plac’d at the head of his Men, with his Pipe in his Mouth , and the great Calumet of Peace before him. He was very attentive to the following Ha- rangue, pronounc’d by our Interpreters ; which you cannot well underftand, without a previous explica- tion of the Calumet; and the Coliers that it menti- ons, He Da The. 36 Some New Voyages The Calumet of Peace is made of certain Stones, or of Marble, whether red, black, or white. The Pipe or Stalk is four or five foot long ; the body of the Calumet is eight Inches long, and the Mouth or Head in which the Tobacco is lodg’d, is three In- ches in length; its figure approachesto that of a Hammer. The red Calumets are moft efteenrd. The Savages make ufe of ’em for Negotiations and State Affairs, and efpecially in Voyages; for when they havea Calumet in their hand, they go where they willin fafety. The Calumet is trimm’d with yellow, white, and green Feathers, and has the fame effeé&t among the Savages, that the Flag of friendfhip has amongft us; for to violate the Rights of this venerable Pipe, is among them a flaming | Crime, that will draw down mifchief upon their Nations. As for the Coliers, they are certain fwathes of two or three Foot in length, and fix Inches in breadth ; being deck’d with little Beads made of a certain fort of fhells that they find upon the Sea Shoar, between New-York and Virginia. Thefe Beads are round, and as thick as a little Pea; but they are twice as long as a grain of Corn: Their colour is either blew or white; and they are bord thro’ juft like Pearl, being run after the fame manner upon ftrings that lye fideways one to another. Without the intervention of thefe Coders, there’s no bufinefs to be negotiated with the Savages ; for be- eer. ing altogether unacquainted with writing , they — make ufe of them for Contracts and Obligations. Sometimes they keep for an Age the Coles that they have receiv'd from their Neighbours 5 and in regard that every Colier has its peculiar Mark, they learn from the old Perfons, the Circumftances of the time: and place in which they were deliverd; but after that age is over, they are made ufe of for new Tieaties. | ee Mr to North-America. /” @e Mr. de la Barre’s Harangue, was to this purpofe. © The King, my Malfter, being inform’d that the € five Iroquefe Nations have for a long time made ‘infractions upon the meafures of Peace, order’d ‘me to come hither with a Guard, and to fend © Akoneffan to the Canton of the Onnotagues, inorder €to an Interview with their principal Leaders, in “the Neighbourhood of my Camp. This great * Monarch means, that you and I fhould {moak to- * gether in the great Calumet of Peace, with the € Provifo, that you ingage in the name of the € T/onnontouans, Goyoguans, Onnotagues, Onnoyoutes, and € Agnies, to make reparation to his Subjects, and to ‘be guilty of nothing for the future, that may oc- € cafion a fatal rupture. © The Tfounonteuans, Goyogouans, Onnotagues, Onnay- © outes and Agnies, have ftrip'd, rob’d, and abusd ‘all the Foreft-Rangers, that travel’d in the way © of Trade to the Country of the IWinefe, of the * Oumamis, and of feveral other Nations, who are “my Mafter’s Children. Now this ufage being in - € high violation of the Treaties of Peace concluded “with my Predeceffor , Iam commanded to de- * mand Reparation, and at the fame time to de- * clare, that in cafe of their refufal to comply with ‘my demands, or of relapfing into the like Robbe- © ries, War is pofitively proclaim’d. This Colier makes my words geod, “The Warriours of thefe five Nations have intro- © duced the Englifh to the Lakes, belonging to the € King my Matter, and into the Country of thofe € Nations to whom my Mafter is a Father: This ® they have done with a defign toruine the Com- © merce of his Subjects, and to oblige thefe Nati- fons to depart from their due Allegiance; not- © € withftanding the Remonftranccs of the late Go- D. 3 * vernor vernor of New-York, who faw throthe danger that both they and the Englifh expos’d themfelves to. At prefent Iam willing to forget thofe Adions 3 ' but if ever you be guilty of the like for the future, ‘I have exprefs orders to declare War, * 38 Some New Voyages This Colier warrants my Words. ‘The fame Warriours have made feveral barba- € rous Incurfions upon the Country of the Iinefe, ‘and the Oumams. They have maflacred Men, ‘Women, and Children; they have took, bound, ‘and carried off an infinite number of the Natives © of thofe Countries, who. thought themfelves fe- *curein their Villages in atime of Peace. Thefe © People are my Mafter’s Children, and therefore ‘ muft hereafter ceafe to be your Slaves. I charge * you to reftore em to their Liberty, and to. fend *’em home without delay ; for if the five Nations f refufe to comply with this demand, I have exprefS © orders to declare War. | This Colier makes my words good. ‘ Thisis alll hadto fay to the Grangula, whom * I defire to report to the five Nations, this De- ‘ claration, that my Mafter commanded me to ‘make. He wifhes they had nor oblig’d him to ! ‘fend apotent Army to the Fort of "TheFrench © * Cataraccay, in order to carry on a a it Fort = © War that will prove. fatal to them : ey ee And he will be very much troubled, © if ic fo falls out, that this Fore. which is a work © of Peace, muft be imploy’d fora Prifon to your ‘ Militia. Thefe mifchiefs ought to be prevented “by mutual endeavours: The French who are the ‘ Brethren and Friends of the five Nations, will ‘never difturb their Repofe; provided they make ‘the fatisfadion I now demand, and prove religi- — ‘ous obfervers of their Treaties. I wilh my words Moe Rt ae to North-America. — -39 “aay produce the defir'd effect ; for if they donor, ‘J am oblig’d to joyn the Governor of New-York, 6 who has orders from the King his Mafter, to af- € fit meto burn the five Villages, and cut you off. This Colier confirms my word, € While Mr. de /a Barre’s Interpreter pronounc’d this Harangue, the Grangula did nothing but look’ upon the end of his Pipe: After the Speech was finifh’'d he rofe, and having took five or fix turns in the Ringthat the French and the Savages made, he return’d to his place, and ftanding upright {poke after the following manner to the General, who fat in his Chair of State. | © * Onnontio, I honour you, and all “ThiTitle they — ©the Warriors that accompany medo 8/¥¢ 20 the Go- ; vernor-General the fame: Your Interpreter hasmade jrcanada. an end of his Difcourfe, and now , €I come to begin mine. My Voice glides to yeur * Ear, pray liften to my words. a © Onnontio, in fetting out from Quebec, you mult - © needs have fancy’d that the fcorching Beams of ‘the Sun had burnt down the Forefts which render, ‘our Country unacceflible to the French; or elfe © that the Inundations of the Lake had furrounded € our Cottages, and confin’d us as Prifoners. This ‘certainly was your thought ; and it could be no- ‘thing elfe but the curiofity of feeing a burnt or ‘ drown’d Country, that mov'd you to undertake a ‘Journey hither, But now you have an opportu- ‘nity of being undeceiv’d, for I and my warlike § Retinue come to affure you, that the T/onontoyans, © Goyogonans, Ounontagues, Onnoyoutes and Agnies, are € not yet deftroy’d. I return you thanks in their € name, for bringing into their Country the Calu- met of Peace, that your Predeceffor receiv'd from ‘theirhands, Arche fame time I congratulate your D4 © Happinefs, 40 Some New Voyages | .......,. * Happinefs, inhaving leftunder Ground — are * * the bloody Axe, that has been fo of- ee “tendyd with the blood of the French. — * T malt tell you, Oxnontio, 1 am not a- ‘ fleep, my Eyes are open; and the Sun that vouch- * fafes the light, gives me a clear view of a great * Captain at the head of a Troop of Soldiers, who “ {peaks as if he were afleep. He pretends that he “do’s not approach to this Lake with any other “view, than to fmoak with the Oxnotagues in the “great Calumet 3. but the Grangula knows better “things, he fees plainly that the Onnontio mean’d to. ‘knock ’em on the Head, if the French Arms had “not been fo much weaken’d. | | “I perceive that the Onmontio ravesina Gamp of — * fick People, whofe lives the great Spirit has fav’d * by vifiting them with Infirmities. Do you hear, © Onnontio, our Women had took up their Clubbs ; “ang the Children and the old Men, had vifited * your:-Camp with their Bows and Arrows, if our © Warlike Men had not ftop’d and difarm’d ’em, © when Akoueffan your Ambafladour appear’d before “my Village. But I have done, Pil talk no more © of that. as ‘You muft know, Oxnontio, we have robb’d no © French-Méen, but thofe who fupply’d the Ilinefeand * the Oumamis Cour Enemies) with Pufees,with Pow- * der, and with Ball: Thefe indeed we took care © of, becaufe fuch Arms might have coft us our life. © Our Condud in that point is of a piece with that * of the Jefuits, who ftave allthe barrelsof Brandy ‘shat are brought to our Cantons, left the People - © getting drunk fhould knock them in the Head. € Our Warriours have no Beavers to give in ex- — © change for all che Arms they take from the French 3 “and as for the old fuperannuated People, they do ‘not think of bearing Arms. | a This ~~ to North-America. At This Colier comprehends my word. ¢ We have conduéted the Englifh to “They pretend ‘our * Lakes, in order to traffick with %.°%¢ Propersy | | ‘ of the Lakes. ‘the Oxtaouas, and the Harons ; juft as | ‘the Algonkins conducted the French to our five Can- tons, in order to carry on a Commerce that the Eng- ‘ Jifh lay claim to as theirRight. We are born Free- ~©men, and have no dependance either upon the © Onnontio or thet Corlar. We have a “ power togo where we pleafe, tocon- ee a ¢ du@& who we will to the places we re- Gyeernop of fort to, and to buy and fell where New-York. we think fit. If your Allies are your : €Slaves or Children, you may e’en treat ’em as “fuch, and rob °’em of the liberty of. entertaining ‘any other Nation but your own. This Colier contains my word. “We fell upon the Winefe and the Oumamis, be- * caufe they cut down the trees of Peace that fervd *for limits or boundaries to our Frontiers. They “came to hunt Beavers upon our Lands; and con- ‘trary tothe cuftom of all the Savages, have car- ‘ried off whole Stocks, {| both Male ae ‘and Female. They have ingag’d the ie © Chaouanons in their intereft, and en- °ri2 capital’ * tertain’d ’em in their Country. They Crime to de- ~*fupply’d ’em with Fire-Arms , after 77 44 #4 ‘ the concerting of ill defigns againft us. 2°27" ° “ ‘We have done lefs than the Eng- ‘*Tifh and the French, who without any right, have *ufurp’d the Grounds they ate now poflefs’d of ; *and of which they have diflodg’d feveral Nations, “in order to make way for their building of Cities, * Villages, and Forts. 7 vi This 4z - Some New Voyages The Colier contains my word. ‘I give you to know, Ovnontio, that my Voice “4s the Voice of the five Iroquefe Cantons. This is * their Anfwer, pray incline your Ear, and liiten to * what they reprefent. | © The Z/onontouans, Goyogouans, Onnontagues, Onnoy- ‘outes, and Agnies declare, that *Interring the Axe, ‘ they interrd “the Axe at Cata-— fignifics the making f © yacowy, in the prefence of your @ Peace; and thedig- ¢ : ging of it up imports | Ptedeceflor, in the very center a Declarationof War. ‘Of the Forts and planted the ‘ Tree of Peace in the fame place, *that it might be carefully preferv’d; that “ewas “then ftipulated, chat the Fort fhould be us’d as a * place of retreat for Merchants, and not a refuge “for Soldiers ; and that inftead of Arms and Am- * munition, it should be made a Receptacle of only * Beaver+Skins,and Merchandize Goods. Beit known “to you, Oxnontio, that for the future. you ought to ‘takecare, that fogreata number of Martiai-Men * ast now fee, being fhut up in fo {mall a Fort, da € not ftifle and choak the Tree of Peace. Since it £ took Root fo eafily, it muft needs be of pernicious © confequence to ftopits growth, and hinder it to ‘f{hade both your Country and ours with its Leaves. ‘I do affure you, in the name of the five Nations, §that our Warriours fhall dance the Calume: Dance ‘under its branches; that ehey fhall reft in Tran- bis. ‘ guilicy upon their + Matts, and * will never dig up the Axe to cut : ‘down the Tree of Peace; till ‘{uchtime as the Onnontie and the Corlar, do e1- ‘ther joyntly or feparately offer to invade the © Countrv, that the great Spirit h a a * the favour of our Anceftors. } This Phrale (gni- foes keeping the Peace. is difpos’d of in elf vel men Aeeeeaea Paaeada aAcacaaaa oa ane Laterpreter french: officers p vag, we rn eg : A R 4 | : a A x a "WAL St Sk <2 SS ae yy 8 igi K A ne he Si fT ‘yi a fe P) “Salhi we!) ~ y \ ~ i oi €. vy Aah 22 we e i> eS + The lanom artd - Boats of the Anny to NorthAmerica, == 43 This Colier contains my word 3 and the other compre- bends the power granted to me by the five Naw — tions. | “Then the Grangule addref'd himfelf to Mr. i Moine, and {poke to this purpofe. © Akoueflan, take Heart, you area Man of Senfe ; ‘ {peak and explain my meaning; be fure you for- £ set nothing, but declare all thae thy Brethren and ‘ thy Friends reprefent to thy chief Oznontio, by the £ voice of the Grangula, who pays you all Honour “and Refpect, and invites you to accept of this Pre- € fent of Beavers, and to aflift at his Feaft imme- * diately. © This other Prefent of Beavers is fent by the five £ Nations to the Oxnontio. As foon as the Grangula had done, Mr. le Moine and the Jefuits that were prefent, explain’d his an- {wer to Mr. dela Barre, who thereupon retir'd tohis *~ Tent and ftorm’d and blufter’d, till fome body came and reprefented to him, that, Iroca Progenies ne(cit habere modos, i.e. The Iroquefe are always upon extreams. ‘The Grangula danced after the Iroquefe manner, by way of prelude to his Entertainment ; afrer which he regal’d feveral of the French. Two days after he and his Martial-Retinue return’d to their own Country , and our Army fet out for Monreal. As foon as the General was on board, to- gether with ‘the few healthy Men that remain’d, the Canows were difpers’d, for the Militia ftragled here and there, and every one made the belt of his way home. Our three Companies indeed kept together, becaufe all of us, both Officers and Soldiers, were carried in flat-bottom’d Boats, made of Deal on purpofe for our ufe. However, I could have wilh'd to have rua down the falls and Cata- eae: ey ee 44 Some New Voyages racts in the fame Canow that brought mé up, for every body thought we fhonld have been caft a- way atthefe Pafles, which are full of Eddy’s and Rocks; and ’twasnever heard before, that fuch Pre-— cipices were pafs’d with Deal Boats either upwards or downwards. But we were forced to run all hazards, and had certainly been {wallow’d up in thofe Moun-— tains of Water, if we had not oblig’d feveral Ca-_ nowsto fhoot the Cataracts at the head of our Boats, — in order to fhew us the way ; at the fame time we had prepar’d our Soldiers for rowing, and fhieving : upon occafion. Do but confider, Sir, that the Cur- x rents run as faft as a Cannon Ball; and that one” falfe ftroak of the Oar, would have run us unavoid-— ably upon the Rocks ; for we are oblig’d to fteer a Zig-zag courfe purfuant to the thread of theStream, which has fifty windings. The Boats which are- loaded are fometimes loft in thofe places. But after _ all, tho’ the rifque we run be very great, yet by, way of Compenfation, one has the fatisfaction of running a great way in a little time; for we run from Galete to this Town in two days time, not- withftanding that we crofs'd the two ftagnating Lakes" I took notice of before. As fonn as we landed, we receiv’d advice that the Chevalier de Callieres was come to {upply the room of Mr. Perrot, the Governor of this place. Mr. Per= rot hashad feveral {cufHles with Mr. de Frontenac, and Mr. de Ja Barre; of which you may expect a far- ther account, when Iam better inform’d. All the World blames our General for his bad Succefs: Tis talk’d publickly, that his only defign was to cover the fending of feveral Canows to traffick with the Savages in thofe Lakes for Beaver-Skins. The People here are very bufie in wafting over to Court — a thoufand Calumnies againft him ; both the Cler- sy andthe Gentlemen of the long Robe, write to “his difadvantage. Tho’ after all, the whelitn is | alfe to North- America. AS -falfe; for the poor Man could do no more than he did. Juft now, I was inform’d that Mr. Hainaut, Mr. Moztortier, and Mr. Durivan, three Captains of Ships, are arriv’d at Quebec, with a defign to pafs the Winter there, and to affift him as Counfellors ; and that the laftof thefe three has brought with him an Independent Company, to be commanded by himfelf. IT fhall have no opportunity of writing again be- — fore the next Spring ; for the laft Ships that are to return for France this year, are now ready to fail. Lamy olk, Yours, Se Gon, bok. ER. Vill. Dated at Monreal, ‘fune 28. 1685. ise peer: the Fortifications of Monreal, and the indifcreet Zeal of the Priefts, who are. Lords of that Town: With a Defeription of Chambli, and of the Commerce f the Savages upon the great Lakes. Sy liR, Have. juft receiv’d yours, by a {mall Veffel of Bourdeaux loaded with Wine; which is the firit that came to Quebec this Year. I am mightily pleas‘d to hear that the King has granted to Mr. de la Salle four Ships, to go upon the Difcovery of the Mouth of the Mififipi ; and cannot bat admire your Curio- firy, in defiring to know the Occurrences of this Place, and how I {pent my time in the Winter. Mr. de Callieres was no fooner poffefs’d of his Go- - vernment, than he order’d all the Inhabitants of this - Town, and of the adjacent Country, to cut down, and bring in great Stakes, of fifteen Foot in length, , Xe) 46 —- Some New Voyages to fortifiethe Town. During the Winter, thefe O¢2 ders were purftied with fo much Application, that all things are now ready for making the Inclofures in which five or fix hundred Men are to be imploy’d, I {pent part of the Winter in Hunting with the 4k gonkins, in order to a more perfect knowledge of their Language ; and the reft I fpent in this Place, with a great deal of uneafinefs: for, here we can- not enjoy our felves, either at Play, or in vifiting the Ladies, but *tis prefently carried to the Cu- rate’s ears, who takes publick notice of it in the Pulpit. His Zeal goes fo far, as even to name the Perfons: and fince he refufes the Sacrament of the Holy Supper to Ladies of Quality, upon the moft lender Pretences, you may eafily guefs at the other fteps of his Indifcretion. You cannot imagine to what a pitch thefe Ecclefiaftical Lords have fcrew’d their Authority: They excommunicate all the Masks, and wherever they {py ’em, they run after "em to uncover their Faces, and abufe ’em in a re- proachful manner: In fine, they have a more watch- ful eye over the Condué of the Girls and married Women, than their Fathers and Husbands have. They cry out againft thofe that do not receive the Sacrament once a Month; and at Laffer they oblige all forts of Perfons to give in Bills to their Confeffors. They prohibit and burn all the Books that treat of any other Subject but Devotion. When I think of this Tyranny, I cannot but be imrag’d at the imper- tinent Zeal of the Curate of this City. This inhu- mane Fellow came one day to my Lodging, and finding the Romance of the Adventures of Petronius upon my Table, he fell upon it with an unimagina- ble fury, and tore out almoft all the Leaves. ‘This Book I valued more than my Life, becaufe ’twas not caftrated; and indeed I was fo provok’d when I faw — it all in wrack, that if my Landlord had not held me, I had gone immediately to that leshanaaege Ors ta North America. Ly ftor’s Houfe, and would have pluck’d out the Hairs of his Beard wich as little mercy as he did the Leaves of my Book. Thefe Animals cannot content them- felves with the {tudying of Mens Actions, but they muft likewife dive into their Thoughts. By this Sketch, Sir, you may judge what a pleafant Life we lead here. | The 30th of the laft March the Ice melted; and the River being then open, I was fent with a {mall Detachment to Chambli: for commonly the Sun re- fumes its Vigour here much about that time. Cham- bli ftands on the brink of a Bafin, about five or fix Leagues off this Place: That Bafin is two Leagues in Circumference, and receives the Lake of Champlain by a Water-fall that is a League and a half in length; out of which there arifes a River that difembogues at Sorel into the River of St. Laurence, as I intimated a- bove in my fourth Letter. In former times this Place had a great Trade in Beaver-skins, which 1s mow decay’d: for the Soccoks, the Mahingans, and the Openangos, us'd formerly to refort thither in ihoals, to exchange their Futs for other Goods; but at pre- fent they are retir’d to the Exglifh Colonies, to avoid the purfuic of the Iroquefe. The Champlain Lake, which lies above that Watcr-fall,is eighty Leagues ia - circumference. At the end of this Lake we met with, another, call’d S. Sacrement, by which one may go very eafily to New-York,there being but 2 Land-carri- age of two Leagues from thence to the River Du Fer, which falls into the Adanathe. While I was at Chcm- bli, 1 faw two Canows loaded with Beaver-skins pafs privately by that way; and twas thought they were fent thither by Mr. de la Barre. This fmuggling way of Trade is exprefly prohibited: for they are oblig’d to carry thefe Skins before the Office of the Compa- ny, where they are rated at an Hundred and 60 per Cent. lefs than the Englifh buy ’em at in their Colo- nies. But the lictle Fort that ftands at the bottom of 48 Some New Voyages of the Water-fall, upon the brink of the Bafin of Chambli, being only fingle Pallifadoes, it cannot hin- der People to pafs that way; efpecially confidering that the Profpeé, of fo great a profit, renders the Paffengers the more daring. ‘The Inhabitants of the adjacent Villages are very much expos’d to the Incur- fions of the Iroquefe in time of War. Notwithftand- ing the weaknefs of the Fort, I continued in that place a Month and a half, and then I return’d hither, where dr. de la Barre arriv'd fome days after ; being accompany’d with Mr. Hennaut, Mr. Montortier, and Mr. du Rivau. Much about the fame day there ar- riv'd 25 or 30 Canows, belonging to the Coureurs de _ Bow, being homeward bound from the great Lakes, and laden with Beaver-skins. The Cargo of each Canow amounted to 40 Packs, each of which weighs 50 pound, and will fetch 50 Crowns at the Farmers Office. Thefe Canows were follow’d by so more of the Outaouas and Hurons, who come down every Year to the Colony, in order to make a better Mar- ket than they can do in their own Gountry of AG/i- limakinac, which lies on the Banks of the Lake of Hurons, at the Mouth of the Lake of the Iimefe, Their way of Trading is as follows. | Upon their firft Arrival, they incamp at the di- {tance of five or fix hundred Paces from the Town. The next day is {pent in ranging their Canows, un- loading their Goods, and pitching their Tents, which are made of Birch Bark. The next day after, they ‘demand Audience of the Governour General; which is granted ’em that fame day ina publick place. Up- on this Occafion, each Nation makes a Ring for it felf; the Savages fit upon the Ground with their Pipes in their Mouths, and the Governour is feated in an arm’d Chair; after which, there ftarts up an Orator or Speaker from one of thefe Nations, who makes an Harangue, importing, ‘ That his Brethren are * come to vifit the Governour general, and By with —_- to North-Améetica. 49 ¢ with him their wonted Friendfhip: That their chief € View is, to promote the Intereft of the French, fome ¢ of whom being unacquainted with the way of ¢ Traffick, and being too weak for the tranfporting ¢ of Goods from the Lakes, would be unable to deal €in Beaver-skins, if his Brethren did not come in © perfon to deal with ’em in their own Colonies: € That they know very well how acceptable their, ¢ Arrival is to the Inhabitants of Monreal, in regard of ‘the Advantage they reap by ic: That in regard the ‘ Beaver-skins are much valued in France, and the © French Goods given. in exchange are of an incotifi- “derable Value, they mean to give the French fuffics “ent proof of their readinefs to farnifh ’em with € what they defire fo earneftly: That by way of pres © paration for another Years Cargo, they are come ®to take in Exchange, Fufees, Powder, and Ball, ‘in order to hunt great numbers of Beavers, or to € gall the Iroquefe, in cafe they offer to difturb rhe © French Settlements: And, in fine, That in confir- ‘mation of their Words, they throw a Purcelain € Colier with fome Beaver-skins to the Kitchi-Okima ¢ (fo they call the Governour-General ) whofe Pro-« ‘ rection they lay claim to in cafe of any Robbery or ¢ Abufe committed unpon’eminthe Town; = The Spokefman having made an end of hi3 Speech, returns to his Place, and takes up his Pipe ¢ and then the Interpreter explains the Subftance of the Harangue to the Governour, who commonly gives a very civil Anfwer, efpecially if the Prefen¢ be valuable: in confideration of which, he likewife makes chent a Prefent of fome trifling things. This Gone, the Savages rife up, and return to their Hutts to make fuitable Preparations for the enfuing Tracks The next day the Savages make their Slaves catry the Skins to the Eloufes of the Merchants, who bar- gain with ’em for fuch Cloaths asthey want. All che Anhabitants of Adoureal are one co trafitek with | a. : eth 50 Some New Voyages "em in any Commodity but Wine and Brandy thefe — two being excepted upon the account that when the Savages have got what they wanted, and have a- ny Skins left, they drink to excefs, and then kill their Slaves; for when they are in drink, they quar- rel and fight; and if they were not held by thofe who are fober, wou'd certainly make Havock one of another. However, you muft obferve, that none of ’em will touch either Gold or Silver. ’Tis a co- mical fight, to fee “em running from Shop to Shop, ftark naked, with their Bow and Arrow. The ni- cer fore of Women are wont to hold their Fans be- fore their eyes, to prevent their being frighted with the view of their ugly Parts. But thefe merry Com- panions, who know the brisk She-Merchants as well as we, are not wanting in making an Offer, which is fometimes accepted of, when the Prefent is of good Mettle. If we may credit the common Report, there are more than one or two of the Ladies of this. Country, whofe Conftancy and Vertue has held out againft the Attacks of feveral Officers, and at the fame time vouchfaf’d a free accefs to thefe nafty Lechers. “Tis prefum’d their Compliance was the Effect of Curiofity, racher than of any nice Relifh ; for, in a word, the Savages are neither brisk, nor conftant. Bue whatever is in the matter, the Wo- men are the more excufable upon this Head, that fuch Opportunities are very unfrequent. | As foon as the Savages have made an end of their Truck, they take leave of the Governour, and fo re- — turn home by the River of Outaouas. To conclude, — they did a great deal of good both to the Poor and. Rich; for you will readily apprehend, that every. bedy turns Merchant upon fuch occafions. Lam, SIR, Yours, &c. : it LETTER ~ ta. North-America, 54 a A By woh Se ‘Dated at Boucherville, Odtob. 2. I 685. Being an Account of the Commerce and Trade of Monreal: Of the Arrival of the Marquis of ~ Denonville with fome Troops ; and of the recal- fing of Mr. dela Barre. With a curious De- fcription of certain Licenfes for Trading in Bea- ver~skins in thé remote Countries, w Receiv’d your fecond Letter three Weeks ago, but could not fend a fpeedier Anfwer, by reafon that hone of our Ships have yer fet Sail for France. Since you want to know the nature of the Trade of Adon- real, be pleas'd to take the following Account. Almoft all the Merchants of that City aé only on the behalf of the Quebec Merchants, whofe Factors they are. The Barques which carry thither dry Commodities, as well as Wine and Brandy, are but few in number; but then they make feveral Voyages in one Year from the one City to the other. The Inhabitants of the Iffand of Monreal, and the adja- cent Cantons, repair twice a Year to the City of Monreal, where they buy Commodities fifty per Cent. dearer than at Quebec. The Savages of the neigh- bouring Countries, whether fettled or erratick, car- ry thither the Skins of Beavers, Elks, Caribous, Fo- xes, and wild Cats; all which, they truck for Fufees, Powder, Lead, and other Neceflaries. ‘There every ‘one is allow’d to trade; and indeed ’tis the beft place for the getting of an Eftate in a fhort time. All the Merchants have fuch a perfe& good underftatiding 6ne with another; that they 7 fell at the fame price. | 4 2 ue _. ° Some New Voyages es ’ But when the Inhabitants of the Country find their Prices exorbitant, they raife their Commodities tr proportion. The Gentlemen that have a Charge of Children, efpecially Daughters, are oblig’d to be good Hasbands, in order to bear the Expence of the magnificent Cloaths with which they are fet off; for Pride, Vanity, and Luxury, reign as much in New France as in Old France. In my opinion,’twould — do well, if the King would order Commodities to be rated at a reafonable Price, and prohibit the fel- ling of Gold or Silver Brocadoes, Fringes, and Rib- bands, as well as Points and rich Laces. The Marquis of Dezonville is come to fucceed Mr. de Ja Barre in the quality of Governour-General ; for the King has recall’d Mr. de Ja Barre, upon the Accufations laid again{t him by his Enemies. To be Sure, you who are in France know better than I, that Mr. de Denonville was Maitre de Camp to the Queen's Regiment of Dragoons, which Place he fold to Mr. Aurcey when the King beftow’d this Govern- ment upon him; and, that he broughe with him - tome Companies of Marines, befides his Lady and his Children: for it feems the danger and inconve- niencies chae attend fuch a long and troublefome Voyage, made no Impreflion upon her. This Go- vernour itay’d at firft fome Weeks at Quchec, after which he came to Monreal, with goo or 600 Mew of Regular Troops, and fent back the Captains Hai- naut, A4ontortier, and da Rivo, with feveral other Of ficers. His Army is now in Winter Quarters all round Monreal. My Quarters are at a Place call’d Boucherville, which lies at the diftance of three Leagues from Monreal. 1 have been here fifteen Days, and in all appearance fhall live more happily than in the Town, abating for the Solitude 3 for at leaft I thall have no other oppofition to encounter in the cafe of Balls, Gaming, or Feafting, but the zealous Freaks ofa filly Prieft. Eam inform’d, that the Coven. 1a9 to North-America. 53. thas given. Orders to compleat the Fortifications of Monreal, and is now ready to embarque for Quebec, where our Governours commonly pafs the Winter. The Savages I fpoke of in my laft, met the Irogquefe upon the great River of the Outaoxas, who inform’d _ “em that the Evxglih were making Preparations to tranfport to their Villages in Adi/flimakinac, better and cheaper Commodities than thofe they had from the French. ‘This piece of News did equally alarm _the Gentlemen, the Pedlers call’d Coureurs de Boss, and the Merchants; who, at that rate, would be confiderable Lofers: for you muft know, that Cana- da fabfifts only upon the Trade of Skins or Furrs, three fourths of which come from the People thar live round the great Lakes: So that if the Englifh fhould put fuch a Defign in execution, the whole Country would fuffer by it; efpecially confidering, that *ewould fink certain Licenfes: an Account of which will be proper in this place. Thefe Licenfes are granted in Writing by the Go- vernours General, to poor Gentlemen and old Offi- Gers who have a Charge of Children. They are dif- pos’d of by the King’s Orders; and the Defign of "em is, to enable fuch Perfons to fend Commodities to thefe Lakes. The Number of the Perfons thus impowerd, ought not to exceed twenty five in one Year: but God knows how many more have private —Licenfes. All other Perfons, of what Quality or Condition foever, are prohibited to go or fend to thefe Lakes, without fuch Licenfes, under the pain of Death. Each Licenfe excends to the lading of two great Canows; and whoever procures a whole or a/half Licenfe for himfelf, may either make ufe of it himfelf, or fell ic to the higheft Bidder. Com- monly they are bought at fix hundred Crowns a- piece. Thofe who purchafe em are at no trouble in finding Pedlars or Foreft-Rangers to undertake the long Voyages, which fetch che moft confiderable | Ne gear. Le Gains, - 54: Some New Voyaces Gains, and commonly extend to a Year, and fome- times more. The Merchants put into the two Ca- nows ftipulated in the Licenfe, fix Men with a thou- {and Crowns-worth of Goods, which are rated to the Pedlars at fifteen per Cent. more than what they are fold for in ready Money in the Colony. When the Voyage is perform’d, this Sum of a thoufand Crowns commonly brings in feven hundred per Cent. clear profit, and fometimes more, fometimes lefs ; for thefe Sparks call’d Coureurs de Bow bite the Sava- ges moft dexteroufly, and the lading of two Ca- nows, computed at a thoufand Crowns, is a Pur- chafe for as many Beaver-skins as will load four Ca- snows: Now, four Canows wil! carry a hundred and -fixty Packs of Skins, that is, forty a-piece; and reckoning each Pack to be worth fifty Crowns, the — value of the whole amounts to eight thoufand Crowns. As to the Repartition of this extravagant Profit, ’tis made after.the following manner; In the firft place, the Merchant takes out of the whole bulk | fix hundred Crowns for the Purchafe of his Licenfe; _ then a thoufand Crowns for the prime Coft of the — exported Commodities. After this, there remains 6400 Crowns of Surplufage, out of which the Mer- chant takes forty per Cent. for Bottomree, which a- - mounts to 2560 Crowns; and the Remainder is di- vided equaliy among the fix Coureurs de Bos, who get . little more than 600 Crowns a-piece: and indeed I muft fay “tis fairly earn’d; for their Fatigue is in- — conceivable. Inthe mean time, you muft remark, — that over and above the foregoing profit, the Mer- — chant gets 25 per Cext. upon his Beaver-skins by car> rying them to the Office of the Farmers General, — where the Price of four forts of Beaver-skins is fix’d. — Tf che Merchant fells thefe Skins to any private Man in the Country for ready Money, he is paid in the current Money of the Country, which is of lefs va- lug than the Bills of Exchange that the Director of et te on ae an am ee ee ~ — a A ARIE 1611 NRT IROOM TRIN TS RE A A, a ee err WY x ¢ UO Ay 1) ON << " ae . , YOKAAY yy \ \ : x y, ye : o.4 YOY AX OY VAL KK) OOK vy) y\ O regrialab ‘or Elks i tl t t = to NorthAmericas = sg 5 that Office draws upon Rocbel or Pars for there they are paid in French Livres, which are twenty Sols, whereas a Canada Livre is but fifteen So/s. This ‘Advantage of 25 per Cent. is call’'d le Benefices but take notice, that ’tis only to be had upon Beaver- skins: for, if you pay to a Quebec Merchant 400 Ca- nada Livres in Silver, and take from hima Bill of _ Exchange upon his Correfpondent in France, his - ‘Correfpondent will pay no more than 300 French Livres, which is a juft Equivalent. © This is the laft Intelligence I fhall give you for this Year, which has already brought in a very cold Autumn. ‘The Quebec Ships muft fet Sail in the mid- dle of November, purfuant to the wonted Cuftom, fam, | | aH $1 R, Yours, &C. eB ee ROX, | Dated at Boucherville July 8. 1686. Relating the Arrival of Mr. de Champigni, 2# the room of Mr.de Meules, who is. recall’d to France ; the arrival of the Troops that came along with him, the curiofity of the Rackets, and the way of hunting Elks ; with a Defcrip-_ tion of that Animal. ; Pe eye. | Pwr Hough Ihave not heard from you this. year, A yet Iwill not flight this opportunity of wri- ting to you. Some Ships from France are arriv’d at Quebec, and have brought ove r Mr. de Champigni No- a one roua, 56 ~— Some New Voyages | yous, with fome Companies of Marines. Hecomes — to fupply the place of Mr. de Adeules, whom the - King recalls upon the unjuft complaints that are — gnade of him. He is charg’d with preferring his private Intereft co the publick Good; but the charge as falfe, and he wiil eafily clear himfe)f. Iam apt go believe he may have carry’d on fome under- hand Commerce, but in fo doing he injurd no bo- — dy; nay, on the contrary he has procur’d Bread — for a thoufand poor Creatures, that without his Af — fiftance would have ftarv’d for Hunger. Thisnew Entendant is defcended of one of the moft Illuftri- ous Families of the Robein France. He is faid to . be aManof Honour, and Fame entitles hisLady to | a diftinguifhing Merit: I underftand, he and Mr. © Deuonville are bound f{peedily for Adonreal, where they mean to take a review of the Inhabitants of this - fland, and of the Neighbouring Cantons. Preba- bly, chey take fuch precautions in order to fome mew effort againit the Iroquefe. Laft Winter we had no new Occurrences in the Colony. I fpent the whole Winter aethe hunting of Orignals or Elks a- long with the Savages, whofe Language Iam lear- — ning, as I have intimated to you feveral times. The hunting of Elks is perform’d upon the Snow, ~ with fuch Rackets as you fee defign’d in the annex’d Cutt. Thefe Racketsare two Foot anda halflong, and fourteen Inches broad; their ledges are made of a very hard Wood, about an Inch thick, thae faftens the Net juft like a Tennis Racket, from — _ which chey differ only inthis; that chofe for the — Tennis are made of Gut-ftrings, whereas the others — are made of little thongs of the skins of Harts or Elks, In the Cut, you may perceive two little fpars of Wood, which run a-crofs eo render the Net fir= mer and ftiffer. The hole that appears by thetwa _ Latchets, is the place in which they put the Toes gad fore-part of the Foot; fo that “tis cied falt by ‘to North America, 57 the two Latchets, which run twice round aboutthe Heel, and every ftep they make upon the Snow, the fore-part of the Foot finks into that hole, as of- een as they raife their Heel. By thehelp of this Contrivance they walk fafter upon the Snow, than. one can de with Shoes upon a beaten path: And indeed ’tisfo neceflary for them, that *twould be otherwife impoflible not only to hune and range the Woods, but even to go to Church, notwith- ftanding they are fo near; for commonly the Snow is three or four Foot deep in that Country during the Winter. Being oblie’d to march thirty or forty Leagues in the Woods in purfuic of the above- mention’d Animals, I found that the fatigue of the Journey equal’d the pleafure of ic. The Orignal is a fort of Elk, not much different from that we find in Adufcovy, *Tis as big as an Auvergne Moyle, and much of the fame fhape, aba- ting for its Muzzle, its Tail, and its great flat Horns, which weigh fometimes 300, and fometimes 400 weight, if we may credit thofe who pretend tohave weighd ’em: This Animal ufually reforts to planted Countries. Its Hair is long and brown ; and the Skin is ftrongand hard, but not thick. The Flefh of the Orignal, efpecially that of the Female fort, eats delicioufly ; and *tis faid, that the far hind Foot of the Female kind, is a Cure for the _ Falling-Sicknefs ; it neither runs nor skips, but its trot will almoft keep up with the running of a Hare. The Savages affure us, that in Summer ‘twill -trot three Days and three Nights without intermiffion. This fort of Animals commonly gather into a body towards the latter end of Autumn; andthe Herds are largeft in the beginning of the Spring, at which time the fhe ones are in rutting ; but after their heat is over, -they all difperfe themfelves. We hunted ’em in the following manner: Firft of a'l, we went 40 Leagues to the Northward of the River of St. Lau — —- rete / §8 Some New Voyages ‘ vence, where we found a little Lake of three or four Leagues in Circumference, and upon the banks of that Lake, we made Hutts for our felves of the barks of Trees,having firft clear'd the Ground of the Snow thae cover'd it. In our Journey thither, we kill’d as many Hares and Wood-hens, as we could eat. When we had fitted up our Hutts, the Savages went out upon the difcovery of the Elks, fome to the Northward, and fometo the South, to the diftance of two or three Leagues from the Hutts. As foon as they difcover’d any frefh foor-fteps, they de-_ tach’'d one of their number to give us notice, tothe end, that the whole Company might have the plea- fure of feeing the chace. We traced thefe foot- eps fometimes for one, and fometimes for two Leagues, and then fell in with five, cen, fifteen or twenty Elks in a body; which prefently betook themfelves to flight, whether a pare or ina Body, and funk into the Snow up to their Breaft. Where the Snow was hard and condenfated, ot where the froft following wet Weather had glaz’d it above, we came up with ’em after the chace of a quarter of a League: But when the Snow was fofe or juft fallen, we were forc’d co purfue ’em three or four Leagues before we could catch ’em, unlefs the Dogs happen’d to ftop’em where the Snow was very deep. When we came up with them, the Savages fired upon ’em with Fufees. If the Elks be much inrag’d they ll fometimes turn upon the Savages, who co- ver themfelves with Boughs in order to keep off their Feet, with which they would crufh ’em to pieces. As foon as they are kill’d, the Savages make new Hutts upon the fpot, with great Fires in the mid- dle ; while the Slaves are imploy’d in fleaing “em, and ftretching out the Skins in theopen Air. One of the Soldiers that accompany’d me, told me one Day, that to withftand the violence of the Cold, one ought tohave his Blood compos'd of Brandy, prs his to North-America, 59 his Body of Brafs, and his Eyes of Glafs: And I muft fay, he had fome ground for what he fpoke, for we were forc’d to keep a Fire all round us, all the Night long. Aslong asthe Flefhof thefe Ani- mals lafts, the Savages feldom think cf flirting ; but whert ’tis all confum’d, they then look out for anew Difcovery. Thus they continue to hunt, eill the Snow and the Iceare melted. As foon as the ereat thaw commences; *tis impoffible for ’em to travel far ; fo that chey content themfelves with the killing of Hares and Partridges, which are very numerous in the Woods. When the Rivers are clear of the Ice, they make Canows of the Elk-skins, which they fow together very eafily, covering the Seams with a fat fore of Earth inftead of pitch. This work is over in four or five days time, after ¢ which they return home in the Canows with all their Baggage. This, Sir, was our Diverfion for three Months in the Woods. Wetook fifty fix Elks, and might have kild twice as many, if we had hunted for the be- nefit of the Skins. In the Summer feafon, the Sa- vages have two ways of killing ’°em, both of which are equally troublefom. One confifts in hanging a Rope-gin between two Trees, upon a Pafs furroun- ded with Thorns; the other is compafs’d by craul- ing like Snakes among the Trees and Thickets, and approaching to’em upon the Leeward fide, fo that they may be fhot with a Futee. Harts and Cari- bous are kill’d both in Summer and Winter, after the fame manner with the Elks ; excepting that the Caribon’s, which are a kind of wild Affes, make an eafie efcape when the Snow is hard, by vertue of their broad Feet; whereas the Elk finks as faft as he rifes.. In fine, I am fo well pleas’. with the hunting of this Country, that I have refolv’d to im- ploy all my leifure time upon that Exercife. The. Savages have promifed, that in three Months es 60 Some New Voyages I fhall fee other. forts of chafes, which will prove lefs fatiguing, and moreagreeable. Lam, — 6 iRb os Yours, &c. LET ER oe Dated at Boucherville May 28. 1687. Being a curious Defcription of the Eiunting of die vers Animals, Stk | YS U complain that the laft year you receiv’d but one of my Letters, dated “uly 8. and with the fame breath affure me, that you writ two to me, neither of which is come to hand. I receivd a Letter from you this Day, which is fomuch the more acceptable, that I thought you had been dead, and that I find you continue to give proof of your _remembrance of me. Ifind by your Letter, thae you have an agreeable relifh for the curious Elk- Hunting in this Country, and that a further ac- countof ourother hunting Adventures, would meet with a welcome Reception. This Curiofity, indeed, is worthy of fo great a Hunts-Man as your felf 3 but at prefent I muft beg your excufe as to the Bea- ver-khunting, for I know nothing of it yet but by heart-fay- oe In the beginning of September, I fet outin a Ca-— now upon feveral Rivers, Marfhes, and Pools, that difembogue in the Champlain Lake, being accom- _ pany’d with thirty or forty of the Savages that are very expert in Shooting and Hunting, and vag oy ; = ie to North-America, 61 ~ well acquainted with the proper places for finding Water-foul, Deer, and other fallow Beafts. The firft Poft we took up was upon the fide of a Marth or Fen of four or five Leagues in Circumference; and after we had fitted up our Hutts, the Savages made Hutts upon the Water in feveral places. Thefe Wa- _ter-Hutts are made of the branches and leaves of - Trees, and contain three or four Men: For a Decoy they have the skins of Geefe, Buftards, and Ducks, . dry'dand ftuff’d with Hay, the two feetbeing made faft with two Nails to a {mall piece of a light plank, which floats roundthe Hutt. This place being fre- quented by wonderful numbers of Geefe, Ducks, Buftards, Teals, and an infinity of other Fowl uns . known to theEuropeans; when thefe Fowls fee the ftuff’d Skins fwimming with the Heads erected, asif they were alive, they repair to the fame place, and fo give the Savages an opportunity of fhooting’em, either flying, or upon the Water; after which che Savages get into their Canows.and gather ’em up. They have likewife a way of catching ‘em. with Nets, ftretch’d upon the furface of the Water atthe Entries of the Rivers. In a word, we eat nothing but Water-fowl for fifteen Days; after which we -refolv’d to declare War againft the Turtle-Doves, which are fo numerous in Canada, that the Bifhop has been fore’d to excommunicate *em oftner than’ once, upon the account of the Damage they do to the Product of the Earth. With that view, we imbarqued and made towards a Meadow, in the Neighbourhood of which, the Trees were cover’d with that fore of Fowl, more than with Leaves: For juft then ‘twas the feafon in which they retire from the North Countries, and repair to the Southern Climates; and one would have thought, that all the Turtle-Doves upon Earth had chofe to pafs thro” this place. Forthe eighteen or twenty days that we ftayd there, I firmly believe that a thonfand pas | a Men 62 Some New Voyages — Men might have fed upon ’em heartily, wichoue putting themfelves to any trouble. You muft know, that through the middle of this Meadow there runs a Brook, upon which I andtwo young Savages fhot feveral Snipes, Rayles, and a certain fort of Fowl call’d Bateurs de faux, which is as bigasa Quail, and eats very delicioufly. ! In the fame place we kill’d fome AZusk-Rats, or a fore of Animals which refemble a Rat in their fhape, and are as big as a Rabbet. The Skins of thefe Rats are very much valued, as differing but lictle from thofe of Beavers. Their Tefticles {mell fo ftrong of Musk, that no Civet or Antilope that Afia affords, can boaft of fuch a ftrong and fweet {mell. Wefpy’d’em in the Mornings and Evenings, at which time they ufually appear upon the Water with their Nofe to the Windward, and betray them: {elves to the Huntfmen, by the curling of the Wa- ter. The Fouteraux, which are an amphibious fort of little Pole-Cats, are catch’d after the fame manner. I was likewife entertain’d upon this occafion, with the killing of certain little Beafts, call’d Siffeurs, or Whiftlers, with allufion to their wonted way of whiftling or whizzing at the Mouth of their Holes in fair Weather. They are as big as Hares, but fomewhat fhorter, their Flefh is good for nothing,. bue their Skins are recommended by their rarity. - ‘The Savages gave me an opportunity of hearing one of thefe Creatures whiltle for an hour together, after which they fhot it. To gratifie the curiofity I had to fee fuch diverfity of Animals, they made a diligent fearch for the Holes or Dens of the Cars caioux, and having found fome at the diftance of ' two or three Leagues from the Fen upon which we were pofted, they conducted me tothe place. At the break of day we planted our felves round the Holes, with our Bellies upon the Ground ; and lefe fome Slaves to hold the Dogs a Musket-fhot behind RSs to North. America. 63 us. As foon as thefe Arimals perceiv’d Day-lighe, they came out of their Holes, which were immedi- ately ftop'd up by the Savages, and upon that the Dogs fetch’d em up with eafe. We faw but two of ‘em, which made a vigorous defence againft the Dogs, but were ftrangled after a difpute of half an hour. Thefe Animals are not unlike a Badger, .on- ly they are bigger, and more mifchievous. Tho’ our Dogs fhew’da great deal of Courage in attack- ing the Carcaioux, they betray’d their Cowardice the next day ina rencounter with a Porcupine, which we f{py’d upon alittle Tree. To obtain the pleafure of feeingthe Porcupine fall, we cut down the Trees but neither the Dogs nor we durft go near it: The, Dogs only bark’d and jump’d roundit ; for it dare- ed itslong and hard hair like fo many Bodkins,’ three or four paces off. At laft we pelted it to death, and put it upon the fire to burn off its Darts 5 after which we {calded it like a Pig, took out the Intrails, and roafted ic: But tho’ *twas very fat, I could not relifh it fo well as to comply with the aflertion of the Natives, who alledge, that it eats as well asa Capon ora Partridge. After the Turtle-Doves had all pafid over the place, in queft of their Southern retreats, the Sa- vages offer'd to fend fome of their number with Canows to conduct me home, before the Rivers and Lakes were frozen overs for themfelves were to tarry out for che Elk-hunting ; and they imagin’d that the Cold and Hardfhip attending that Exercife, had made me fick of it the year before. Howe- ver, wehad then a Month good before the com- mencement of the Froft, and in that interval of time, they proffer’d to entertain me with more diverting Game than any Ehad feen before. T hey proposd to go fifteen or fixteen Leagues further up the Country, afluring me, that they knew of a cer- tain place that had the moft advantageous fituati- 64 Some New Voyages on in the World, both for Pleafure and Profit, and that afforded great plenty of Otters, of the Skins of which they mean’d tomakea great Cargoe. Ac- cordingly we pull’d down our Hutts, and having imbarqu'd in our Canows, fail’d up the River, till. we came to a little Lake of two Leagues in Circum- ference, at the endof which we faw another greats er Lake, divided from this by an Ifthmus of 150 Paces in length. We pitch’d our Hutts at the di- {tance of a League from that Ifthmuss and fome of the Savages filh’d for Trouts, while the reft were imploy'd inlaying Traps for the Otters upon the brinks of the Lake. Thefe Traps are made of five Stakes plac’d in theform of an oblong Quadrangle; fo as to make a little Chamber, the Door of which is kept up, and fupported by a Stake. To the mid- dle of this Stake they tyea {tring which paffes thro’ a little fork, and has a Trout well faften’d to the end of it. Now, when the Octer comes on fhoar, and fees this baic, he putsabove half his Body in- to that fatal Cage, in order to {wallow the Fifh; but he nefooner touches, than the {tring to which tis made faft pulls away the Stake chat fupports the Door, upon which an heavy and loaded Door falls upon his Reins and quafhes him. During our Pil-. grimage in that part of the Country, the Savages took above two hundred and fifty Canada Otters $ the Skins of .which are infinitely prittier chan thofe of Mdufcovy or Sweden. The beft of ’em which are not worth two Crowns in this place, are fold in France for four or five, and fometimes for ten, if they are black and very rough. As foon as the Sa~ vages had fet their Traps, they gave orders to their Slaves to go round the Lake every Morning, in or+_ der to take out the amphibious Animals. After that they conducted me to the above-nrention’d Ifth- mus, where I was furpriz’d to fee a fort of a Park er Fence made of ‘Trees, felld one upon se aD DDE REESE CP EL RTE ta OD! ITO: a I AOI ane ES UES sen re Beis %, , sin dion di call i stories ba ye vage a Min Sy < oe i e Ku tg a mood hen marti or mvitd = Set by a dog fi 272 a park, afte rs l being pursued by ; ’ 7 *: avages. i | io North América. 65 and interlace’d with Thorns and Branches; with a quadrangular inclofure of Stakes atthe end of ir, the entry of which was very narrow. They gave meto know, that they ufed to hunt Harts in thae place, and promis’d to divert me with the fhew, as foon as the Inclofures werea little mended. “In ef-— fed, they carry’d metwo or three Leagues off, up- onfuch Roads as had nothing on either fide buc - Fensand Marfhes ; andafter they had difpers’d them- ~ felves, fome on one hand and fome on the other, with a Dog for every Man; I faw a great many Harts runningto and again, in queft of places of Safety. The Savage that I kept company with, © aflurd me, thathe and Ihad no occafion to walk very faft, becaufe he had took the ftraighteft and the neareft Road. Before us we faw above ten Marts, which were forc’d to turn back, rather than throw themfelves into the Marfh, of which they could never get clear. Ac laft, aftér walking a great pace, andrunning now andthen, we arrivd at the Park, and found the Savages lying flat upon the Ground all round it, in order to fhut up the the entry of the fake Inclofure as foon as the Harts enterd. We found thirty five Hartsin the place; and, if the Park had been better fenc’d, we might _ have had above fixty; for the nimbleft and lighceft of *em, skip’d over beforethey came to enter the Inclofure. We kill’d a great many of ’em, but {par’d the Dams, becaufe they were great with young. J ask’d of the Savages the Tongues and the Marrow of the Harts, which they gave me very readily< The Flefh was very fat, but not delicious, except~ ing fome few bits about the Ribs. Bue after all, this was not our only Game; for two days after we went a Bear-hunting, and the Savages who fpend three partsof four of their life in Hunting in the Woods, are very dexterous at that Exercife, efpeci- ally in fingling out the Trunks of the Trees upon lie & which 66 Some New Voyages oe a which the Bears Neftle. Icould not but admire ‘their knowledge inthat Point, when, as we were walking up and down in a Foreft, at the diftance of an hundred Paces one from another, I heard one Savage call to another, Here’s a Bear. Laske "em how he knew that there wasa Bear upon the Tree which he knock’d with his Axe; and they all reply d, chat *rwas as eafily diftinguilh’d as the print of an Elks foot in the Snow. For five or fix times they never mifsd; for after they had knock’d two or three times upon the Trunk of the Tree, the Bear came out of its hole, and was prefently fhot. The Canz- da Bears are extream black, bute not mifchievous, for they never attack one, unlefs they be wounded or fird upon. They are fo fat, efpecially in the Autumn, that they can {carce walk: Thofe which we kill’d were extream fat, but their fat is good for nothing bute tobe burnt, whereas their Flefh, and, | above all, their Feet are very nice Victuals. The Savages affirm, that no Flefh is fo delicious as that of Bears; and indeed, I think they are in the righe of ir, While we rang’d up and down in queft of Bears, we had-the pleafure of fpying fome Martins and wild Cats upon the branches of the Trees, which the Savages {hot in the Head to preferve their Skin. But the molt Comical thing I faw, was the Srupi- dity of the Wood-hens, which fit upon the Trees in whole Flocks, and are kill’d one after another, without ever offering to ftir. Commonly the’ Sa- vages {hoot at “em with Arrows, for they fay they are not worth a fhoct of Powder, which is: able to kill an Elk or an Hart. I have ply’d ehis fore of © Fowling in the Neighbourhood of our Cantons or Habitations in the Winter time, with’ the help of a Dog who found out the Trees by fcent, and then © bark’d; upon which Lapproach’d'tothe Tree, and - found the Fowls upon the Branches When the thaw came, I wene two or three Leagues 0 | “ ner to North- America. 6% ther up the Lake, in Company with fome Canadefe; on purpofe to fee that Fowl flap with its Wings. Believe me, Sir, this fight is one of the greateft Cu- ‘riofities in the World; for their flapping makes a noife much like that of a Drum all about, for the ~ foace of a Minute or thereabouts; then the noifé ceafes for half a quarter of an Hour, after which it begins again. By this noife we were directed to the place where the unfortunate Moor-hens far, and found ’em upon rotten moffy. Trees. By flap- ping one Wing againft the other, they mean to call their Matess and the humming noife that infues thereupon, may be heard half a quarter of a League off. This they do only in the Months of April, May, September, and Oéfober 3 and, which is very ré- markable, a Moorhen never flaps in this manner; but upon one Tree. It begins at the break of day, and gives over at nine a Clock in the Morning, till about an hour before Sunfet that it flutters again, and continues fo todotill Night: I proteft to you, that I have frequently contented my felf with fee- ing and admiring the flapping of their Wings with- out offering to thoor at ’em. | _ Befides the pleafure of fo many different forts of Diverfion, I was likewife entertain’d in the Woods with the company of the honeft old Gentlemen that _jiv’d in former Ages. Honeft Homer, the amiable Anacreon, and my dear Lucian, were my infepara- ble Companions. Ariffotle too defir’d paflionately to go along with us, but my Canow was too litele to holdhis bulky Equipage of Peripatetick Silo« gifms: So that he was e’en fain to trudge back to the Jefuits, who vouchfaf’d him a very honourable Reception. Ihada great deal of reafon torid my _ felf of that great Philofopher’s Company 3 for his ridiculous Jargon, and his fenfelefs Terms, would have frighted the Savages out of their wits. Fare- well, Sir; Tam now arriv’d at once at the end of ) Eo2 | my. , ae yf 68 Some New Voyages my Game and my Letter: I have heard no News from Quebec, where they continue to make mighty Preparations for fome confiderable Enterprife. Time will difcover a great many things, an Account of which I mean to tran{mit to you by the Ships that are-to leave this Harbour in the end of Autumn. I conclude with my ufual Compliment, Yours, &c. LETTER AM Dated at St. Helens, over-againft Monreal, Fune 8. 1687. “a y 4 ii: f ‘ i, tn 4 The Chevalier de Vaudreuil arrives in Canada with fome Troops, Both the Regular Troops and the Militia, are pofted at St. Helens, ix a readinefs to march againft the \roquefe. SIR, | I Have fuch a budget-full of News, that I know mot where to begin. I receiv'd Letters but now from Mr. Senelay’s Offices by which I have Advice, that Orders are fent to Mr. Denonville to allow me to go for France, upon my private Concerns. No lon- ger fince than Yefterday, he told me I fhould have Leave to go after the Campaign is over. My Rela- tions write, that the procuring of this Leave colt *em a great deal of pains ; and thac the fooner I come to. Paras, ’twill be the better for me. \ The Governour arriv’d at Monreal three or four days ago, with all the Militia of the Country, who jie now incampd along with our Troops in that Tfland. Mr. D’Amblement has been at Quebec this Month, with five or fix fecond Rate Ships, having ’ eS ‘ ae E 4 eae f ; to NortheAmetica. 69 -fail'd from Rochel thither in 28 days. He brought over with him ten or twelve Companies of Marines, who are to guard the Colony while we invade the Iroquefe Country. “Tis faid, chat latt Year Mr. De~ nonville {ent feveral Canadefe, that were known and efteem’d by the Savages, our Allies, who live upon the Banks of the Lakes and the adjacent Countries, -with Orders to engage ’em to favour our Defign of extirpating the Iroquefe. In the Winter he made Ma~ gazines of Ammunition and Provifions, and now he has fent feveral Canows, laden with Provifions, to Fort Frontenac, and given Orders for the building of an infinite number of fuch Boats as I defcrib’d in my fourth Letter, for the Tranfporting of our twenty Companies of Marines. The Militia who are in- . campd in this Ifland along with our Troops, make fifteen hundred Men, and are join’d by five hundred of the converted Savages that live in the Neighbour- hood of Quebec and the Ifland of Monreal. The Che- Valier Vaudreuil, who is come from France to Com- mand our Troops, is refolv’d to appear in the Field, notwithftanding the Fatigue of his Paflage to Canada: and the Governour of AMdéonreal is of the fame mind. Mr. de Champigni, the Intendant of this Ceuatry, went from hence to Fort Frontenac two days ago. The day after to morrow, Mr. de Denonville means to march at the Head of his little Army, being ac- company’d with an ancient Iroquefe, that is very much refpected by the five Cantons. The Hiftory and various Adventures of this old Gentleman, are - too tedious to bear a Kelation in this place. Every Me eens at, body: is apprehenfive that this Expedition will prove as fucceflefs as that of Mr. dela Barre: And if their _ Apprehenfions are not difappointed, the King lays out his Money to no purpoie. For my own part, — when I reflect upon the Attempt we made three Years ago, I can’t but think ic impoflible for us to facceed, Time will dilcover the Confequences of e 3 this 70 — Some New Voyaces this Expeditions and perhaps we may come to re- pent, tho’ too late, of our complying with the Ad- vice of fome Difturbers of the Publick Peace, who project to enlarge their private Fortunes in a general Commotion. I lay this down for an uncontefted Truth, that we are not able to deftroy the Iroquefe by our felves: befides, what occafion have we to trou- ble ‘em, fince they\give us no Provocation ? How- ever, let the Event be what it will, 1 fhall not fail upon my Return to tranfmit you a Journal of our Actions, unlefs it be, thae I embarque for Rochel, and deliver ic my felf; In the mean time, believe — me to be, | | | SIR, Yours, &c¢. LETTER 3a Dated at Niagara, Aug. 2. 1687. Reprefenting the unfavourable Iffue of the Cam- paign made in the Yroquefe Country; the Dz{- covery of an Ambufcade, and the iffuing of Or- ders for the Author to march with a Detach= ment to the great Lares. as oi R, WT has been a Maxim in all Ages, That the Events B. of things are not always anfwerable to Mens Ex- pectations: When Men form to themfelves a promi- fing profpeé& of compafling their Ends, they fre- quently meet with the mortification of feeing them- felves difappointed. This I {peak by way of applica- tion to my felf; for inftead of going for France, pur- fuant to the Contents of the Letter I writ to you | | two to North-America. At two Months ago, { am now oblig’d to fraggle to one End of the World, as you'll find by the follow- ing Journal of our Expedition. We broke up from St. Helews much about the time I {poke of in my laft. Mr. de Champigni went before us ‘with a {trong Guard, and arrivd ina Canow at | Fort Frontenac, eight or ten days before we carne up. As foon as he arriv’d, he fent two or three hundred Canadefe to furprife the Villages of Kente and Gane- — ouffe, which lie at the diftance of feven or eight Leagues from the Fort, and are inhabited by a fore of Iroquefe, that deferv'd no other Ufage than what they met with. Our Canadefe had no Breat difficulty in maftering them; for they furpris’d “em when they Jeaft thought of any Alarm, and brought ’em Prifo- ners to Fort Frontenac, where they were tied to Polis - with Cords round their Necks, Hands, and Feet. We arriv’d at the Fort on the firft of Faby, after the encountering of feveral Difficulties among the Wa- ter-falls, Cataracts, and Currents, thae I formerly defcrib’d to you in my Account of Mr. de la Barre’s ' Expedition. We were more perpiex’d in this Voy- age than the former; for our Boats were fo heavy, _ that we could not tranfport ” em over Land as we did the Canows, but were oblig’d to drag ’em up through the impracticable Paffes with the force of Men and Ropes. Immediately upon our sh ace I went firaight to the Fort, where I faw the miferable Pri- foners in the abovemention’d Pofture. The fight of this piece of Tyranny filld me at once with Com- _. paffion and Horror ; but in the mean time the poor _ | Wretches fung Night and Day, that being the cufto- “mary Practice of the People of Canada when they fall into the hands of their Enemies. They com- plaind, * That they were betray'd without any J eround 3 that in compenfation for the care they © had took ever fince the Peace to furnifh the Garri- iad yn with Fifh and Venifon, they were bound and is ay tied a2 Some New Voyages : tied to Pofts, and whip’d in fach a manner, thae ‘ they could neither ficep, nor guard off the Flies 5 «that the only Requiral they met with for procuring © to the French a Commerce in the Skins of Beavers * and other Animals, was, to be doom’d to Slavery, © “and to fee their Fathers, and the ancient Men of “their Country, murder’d before their eyes. Are € thefe the French, faid they, that the Fe/uits cry’d up €fo much for Men of dapeeds and Honour? Even * the cruelleft fort of Death that Imagination it felf rican reach, would be nothing to us in comparifon € with the odious and horrible Spectacle of the Blood ‘ of our Anceftors, that is fhed fo inhumanely before our eyes. ‘Affuredly, the five Villages will revenge © our Quarrel, and entertain ~ everlafting and juft € Refeniment of the ¢ tyrannical Ufage we now meet ‘ with.” I made ip to one of thefe Wretches that was about five and twenty Years old, and had fre- quently regal’d me_in ‘his Hutt, not far from the Fort, during my fix Weeks Service in that Place in the Year of Mr. de /a Barre’s Expedition. This poor Man being Mafter of the Algonkin Language, I gave him to know, that I was heartily griev’d to fee him. ga. that difmal Poflure ; ; that I would take care to have Victuals and Drink convey’d to him twice a day, and would give him Letters for my Friends at Monrecl, in order to. his being us’d more favourably than his Companions. He reply’d, That he faw and was very well acquainted with the Horror that moft of the Frexco were affected with, upon the view of the Cruelty they underwent; and, that he feorn’d ro be fed, or usd more civilly than his Fellow Pri- foners. He gave mean account of the manner in which they were furprisd, and how their Anceftors were maffacred; and truly, I do ot believe that any — ene can be touch ‘d with more cutting and bicter Re- flexions than this peor Man was, when he recounted the many Services he had done the French, — | to North America. 73 the whole courfe of his Life: At laft, after many Sighs and Groans, he bow’d down his Head, and wrap d himfelf up in Silence. Quaque.pote/? narrat, refabant ultima fievit. But this was not the only thing that affected me, when I beheld che mifery of thefe innocent Creatures: I faw fome young Sava- ges of our fide burn their Fingers with Fire in their lighted Pipes; which provok’d me to threfh ’em foundly ; but I was feverely reprimanded for my pains, and confin’d to my Tent for five or fix days, where I only repented that [ had not dealt my blows in a double meafure. Thefe Savages refented the matter fo highly, that they ran prefently to their Hutts, and flew to their Fufees,. in order to kill me. Nay, all that could be done was fcarce fufficient to appeafe ‘em; for the Difpute came to that heighth, that they would have left us, if ic had not been that our Men affur’d ’em I was || drunk, that all the French were prohibited || Among the Savages, to give meeither Wine or Brandy, i i A a ori and that I fhould certainty be im- fp, "Borsle at aes prifon’d as foon as the Campaign af Crimes. ' were over. However, the poor: - Wretches, the Prifoners, were carried to Quebecs , - from whence they are to be fent to the French Gal-. | leys. Much about that time, the Sieur dela Foref, one of the Mr. de Ja Salle’s Officers, arriv’d at the _ Fort in a great Canow, being conducted thither by eight or ten Coureurs de Bos. He gave Mr. de Denon- ville to underitand, that a Party of the Winefe and the Oumams waited for the Hurons and the Outaouas at the Lake of St. Claire, in order to joyn’em, and to march with joint Forces to the River of the Zjo- nontouans, that being the place of their general Ren- dezvous. He added, that in the Lake of the Hurons hear Mifilimarkinac, Mr. de la Durantazs, aflifted by the Savages, .our Allies, had taken an Exglifh Com- pany conducted by fome Irequefe, who had fifty | = Pe ce ee thoufand Lar 94 Some New Voyages thoufand Crowns-worth of Goods in their Canows, to be difpos’d of in exchange with the Nations that dwell upon thefe Lakes: as alfo, That Mr. Dulbut had taken another Englifh Convoy, being affifted by the Coureurs de Bow, and the Savages, who had fhar’d the former Capture ; and that he had kept the Eng- bf and Iroquefe as Prifoners, as well as their Com- — mander, who was call’d Major Gregory. In fine, he reprefented to Mr. de Denonville, that twas high time _ for him to fet out from Fort Frontenac, if he mean’d 3 t to appear at the general’ Rendezvous, where the Auxiliary Troops fent from the Lakes would arrive _ very fpeedily. The next day, being the 3d of Fuly, the Sieur de Ja Foret embarqued again for Niagara, and ftcer’d to the North-fide of the Lake, Act the fame time we embarqued, and f{tood to the oppofite fide of the Lake, being favour’d by the Calms which in that Month are very common. - By good luck, our whole Body arriv’d almoft at one and the fame time in the River of the Z/onontou- ans; and upon that occafion, the Savages, our Al- lies, who draw Prediétions from the moft trifling — ae Accidents, fhew’d their wonted Superftition in ta-_ king this for an infallible Prefage of the utter De- ftruction of the Irgguefe: tho’ after all they provd falfe Prophets, as you will find by the fequel of this Letter. The fame Night that we Landed, we hawl’d our Canows and Boats out of the Water, and fet a ftrong Guard upon ’em.. This done, we built a Fore _ of Stakes or Pales, where we left the Sieur Dorvillers with four hundred Men to guard our Shipping and Baggage. The next day, a young Camadefe, call’d Fon- taine Marion, was unjuftly fhot to death. His cafe ftood thus: Having travell’d frequently all over this — Continent, he was perfeétly well acquainted with the Country, and with the Savages of Canada; and ' after the doing of feveral good Services to the King, — - defir’'d Leave from the Governour general to conti- | nue & a An froguese Village bed.#. Ne ae memes ime ah aa th s2 fe deviate to North-America: 75 ‘fue his Travels, in order to carry on fome little Trade: but his Requeft was never granted. Upon that he refolv’d to remove to New England, the two Crowns being thenin Peace. The Planters of New England gave him a very welcome Reception ; for he was an active Fellow, and one that underftood almoft all the Languages of the Savages. Upon this Confideration he was employ’d to conduct the two Englifh Convoys I {poke of but now, and had the Misfortune to be taken along with them. Now, to my mind, the Ufage he met with from us was ex- tream hard; for, we are in, Peace with England: and befides, that Crown lays Claim to the Property of the Lakes of Canadz. eae | The next Day we began our March towards the great Village of the Z/onoxtouans, without any other Provifions than ten Biskets a Man, which every one carry d for himfelf. We had but feven Leagues to. match in a great Wood of tall Trees, upon a {mooth even Ground. ‘The Coureurs de Bos, with a Party of the Savages, led the Van, and the relt of the Sava- ges brought up the Rear, our Regular Troops and our Militia being pofted in the middle. The firlt Day the Army march’d four Leagues, and the ad~ vane'd Guards made no Difcovery. The fecond Day our advane’d Parties march’d up to the very Fields of the Village without perceiving any thing, tho’ they paft within a Piftol-fhot of five hundred T/ewontouans, who lay flat upon the Ground, and fuffer’d em to pafs and repafs without moleftation. Upon their In- telligence we march’d up with equal Precipitation and Confufion, being bouy’d up with the Apprehen- fion that the Iroguefe had fled, and that at leaft their - Women, Children, and fuperannuated Perfons would fallinto our hands. When we arrivd at the bottom of the Hill upon which the Ambufcade was plac’d, at the diftance of a quarter of a League from the Vil- age, they began to raife their wonted Cry, which | ; was g6 Some New Voyaces was follow’d by the firing of fome Muskets. Had you but feen, Sir, what Diforder_our ‘Troops and Militia were in amid{t the chick Trees, you would have joyn’d with me, in thinking that feveral thou-— fands of Earcpeans are no more than a fufficient num- — ber to makehead againit five hundred Barbarians. Our — Battalions were divided into ftraggling Parties, who — fell in to the right and left, without knowing where © they went. Inftead of firing upon the Iroquefe, we — fi’d upon one another. *Iwas to no purpofe to call © in the Soldiers of fuch and fuch a Battalion, for we © could not fee thirty Paces off: In fine, we were fo diforder’d, that the Enemy were going to clofe in up- on us with their Clubs in their hands; when the Sa. vages of our fide having rally’d, repuls’d the Enemy, _ and purfu’d ’em to their Villages with fo much fury, that they brought off the Heads of eighty, and wounded a great many. In this Action we loft ten Savages, and a hundred French: We had twenty or two and twenty wounded, in which number was. the good Father Angeleran the Jefuic, who receiv’d a Musket-fhot in thofe Parts which Origes chofe to lop off, in order to qualify himfeif for inftru@ing the ‘Pair Sex without the difturbance of Paflion, or the danger of Scandal. When the Savages brought in © the Heads of their Enemies to Mr. de Denonville, they _ask’d him why he halted, and did not march up? ‘He made Anfwer, That he could not leave his wounded Men behind, and that he thought it pro- per to encamp, that the Surgeons might have time to drefs their Wounds. ‘To obviate this Pretence, the Savages offer’d to make Litters for the tranfport- ing of ‘em to the Village that lay but a little way off. But our General did not approve of their Advice 3 upon which, notwithftanding his Remonftrances, they drew up into a Body, and tho’ they confilted of ten different Nations, agreed in a joynt Refoluti+ on of purfuing their Enemy, inhopes of taking; rn : = : saul pies to North. America. 29 leaft their Women, their Old-men, and their Chil- dren. Our General being acquainted with their Re- folution, gave em to know, that he earneftly defir’d they would reft for one day, and not depart from hisCamp, and that the next day he would burn their Villages, and ftarve em to Death by fpoiling their Crops. But they took this Compliment fo ill, chat molt of em return’d to their own Country; remon- ftrating, ‘ That the French came out to fetch a Walk, “rather than to wage War, fince’they would not ‘ take the Advantage of the beft Opportunity in the © World: That their Ardour, like a flafh of Fire, ‘ was extinguifh’d as foon as kindled: That ’twas a € fruiclefs Adventure, to draw together fo many ¢ Warriours, from all Parts, to burn fome Hutts of € Bark, thae the Enemy could rebuild in four days: « © That the Z/onontouans did not matter the {poiling of € their Corn, for that the other Iroque/e Nations were £ able to fupply em: And in fine, That fince they © had joyn’d the French twice together to no purpofe, © they would never truft ’em for the future, in {pice © of all the Remonftrances they could make. Some are of the opinion, that Mr. de Denonville ought to have gone farther; and others affirm, that ’ewas im- poflible for him to-do more than he did. For my part, I fhall not venture upon any Decifion of the matter; thofe who fit at the Helm are moft liable tobe perplex’d. To purfue the bare matter of Fad ;sx ‘we march’cd\next day to the great Village, and car- ry d our wounded Men upon Litters: but we found nothing there but Afhes; for the Iroquefe-had burnt the Village themfelves, by way of Precaution. Then we {pent five or fix days in cutting down the Indian Corn with our Swords. From thence we march’d to the two little Villages of the Thegaronbies andthe \ | Danoncaritaoui, which lay about two or three Leagues off. Having done the like Exploits there, we re- turn’d to the Lake fide. In all thefe Villages we Beate | Ce | found 78 = Some New Voyages found plenty of Horfes, black Cattel, Fowl, and Hogs. All the Country round afforded us a very charming, pleafant, and even Profpeé. The Fo- refts thro which we march’d were replenifh’d with Oak, Wall-nut, and wild Chefnut-Trees. Two days after we imbarqu’d for Niagara, which lay thirry Leagues off, and arriv’d there in four days. As foon as the Troops had debarqu’d, we imploy’d ’em in making a Fort of Pales with four Baftions, which was finifh’d in three days. Here we > rhean to leave 120 Soldiers under the command of Mr. des Bergeres, with Ammunition and Provifions for eight Months. The Fort ftands on the South fide of the Streight of Herri¢ Lake, upon a Hill; at the foot of which, thac Lake falls into the Lake of Fron- teuac. Yefterday the Savages our Allies cook leave of Mr.\ de Denonville, and made. a Speech after their ufual manner ; in which, among other things, they infinuated, Thae they were pleas’d to fee a Fort fo conveniently plac’d, which might favour their retreat upon any Expedition againft the Iro- guefe; That they depended upon his promife, of continuing the War till the five Nations fhould be either deftroy’d or difpoffefs'd of their Country ; That they earneftly defir’d that part of the Army fhould take the Field out of hand, and continue in it both Winter and Summer, for\ that they would certainly do the fame on their part; andin fine, That for as much as their Alliance with France was chiefly grounded upon the promifes the French made _ of liftening to no Propofalsof Peace, till the five Nations fhould be quite extirpated ; they therefore hop’d they would be as good as their Word; efp2- cially confidering that a Ceffation of Arms would fully the honour of the Fresch, and infallibly dif- engage their Allies. Mr. de Dencsville gave them frefh aflurances of his intention to carry on the War, in fpite of all the efforts of the Iroquefe 3 and in a eae Hn word, to North-America. =9 word, protefted that he would profecute this defign fo vigoroufly, that in the end thefe Barbarians fhould be either quite cut off, or oblig’d to fhift their Seats. Me 4 ! The General call’d for me that very day, and ac- quainted me, that in regard I underftood the Lan- | guage of the Savages, I was to’ go with a Detach- ment to cover their Country purfuant to their Re- queft. Atthe fame timehe affur’d me, he would in- form the Court of the Reafons that mov’d him to detain me in Canada, notwithftanding that he had orders to give me leave to ga home. You may eafily guefs, Sir, that I was thunderftruck with thefe News, whenI had fed my felf all along with the hopes of returning to France, and promoting my ‘Intereft, which is now fo much thwarted. Howe- ver, I was forc’d to be contented; forthe greater Power bears the fway allthe World over. Purfu- ant to my orders, [ made all fuicable preparations for my Voyage, without lofsof time. I took leave of my Friends, who fingled out the beft Soldiers for me; and made me Prefents of Cloaths, Tobac- co, Books, and an infinity of other things, that they could {pare without any inconveniency, becaufe they werethen upon their return to the Colony, which affords every thing that one can defire. By good luck, I brought my Aftrolabe with me from Monreal, which will enable me to take the Latitudes - of this Lake, and to make feveral other ufeful Ob- fervations; for in all appearance, I fhall be out ewo years or fuch a matter. The Men of my Detach- ment are brisk proper fellows, and my Canows are both new and large. Iam to go along with Mr. Dulbat, a Lions Gentleman, who is a Perfon of ereat Merit, and has done his King and his Coun- try very confiderable Services. Mr. de Tonti makes another of our Company; and a Company of Sa- Vages is to follow us, Mr. de Denonville will fet jo . for for the Colony by the North fide of the Lake of Frontenac, intwoor threedays. He defigns to leave at Fort Frontenac, a numberof Men and Ammuni- tion equal to what heleaves here. I herewith tranf- mit fome Letters for my Relations, which I beg you would convey to their Hands. If I meet with any opportunity, [ll fend you a Journal of my Voyage the next year. In the mean time, I am, SE &, Yours, &c. | LET TER oe: Dated at Mifilimakinae May 26. 1688. Lhe Author leaves Niagara, and has an Incour- ter with the \roquefe at the eud of the Land- Carriage. The after part of his Voyage. A Defcription of the Country. He arrives at Fort St. Jofeph ia the Mouth of the Lake of Hurons. A Detachment of the Hurons arrive atthe fame place. After an Ingagement, they Jet out for Miffilimakinac. A férange Adven- ture of Mr. de la Salle’s Brother. Mifflima- kinac deferil d. | STR, Am at a lofs to determine whether ’tis owing to, -- Stupidity, or greatnefs of Mind, that the lofs of my Eftate, which I infallibly forefee, do’s not at all affe& me. ‘Your Letter is bue too fhrewd a confir- mation of my Prophecy: However. I cannot but purfue your feafonable advice im writing to Court 5 ~ to North-America. Sa in the mean time fuffer me to fatisfie my promife, in prefenting you with arelation of my Voyages. Timbarqued at Niagara Auguft 3. on board a Ca- now mann’d with eight Soldiers of my Detach- ment; and after running three Leagues again{ft the Current of the Streight, came that fame day tothe place where the Navigation ftops. There I met with the Sieur Grifolon dela Tourette, Brother to Mr. Dulbut, who had ventur'd to come from AMdiffilima- hinac with a fingle Canow to joyncthe Army. The 4th we commenc’d our great Land-Carriage to the Southward, being oblig’d to tranfport our Canows from a League and a half below the great Fall of Niagara, to half a League above it. Beforewegot at any beaten or level Patlr, we were forc’d to climb up three Mountains, upon which an hundred Troquefe might. have knock’d us all on the head with Stones. While we were imployd in this tranfport service, we werealarm’d twice or thrice; which caution’d us to keep a f{tri& guard, and to tranfpore _ our Baggage with all poflible Expedition: Nav, after all our precautions we were forc’d to leave one half of our Baggage about half way, upon the dif- covery of a thoufand Iroguefe that march’d towards | us. Do you judge, Sir, if we had not fome rea- fon to be alarm’d; and whether we would ftand to Sacrifice all to the naturai principle of Self. prefer- vation; tho’ indeed we were in danger of lofing our Lives as well as our Baggage: for we had not - imbarqued above the Fall half a quarter of an hour, when the Enemy appeard upon che Streight fide. I affure you, I ‘fcap’d very narrowly; for about a quarter of an hour before, I and three or four Savages had gone five hundred paces out of our Road, tolook upon that fearful Cataract; and ’twas as much asi could’do, to get at the Canows be- _ fore they put off Tobe taken by fuch cruel Fel-— “Ss ee Me G lows, 82 Some New Voyages = = | lows, was to me no trifling thing. * The Prifoners ta-* 1/ morir e niente, ma il vivere brugi- ken by the Ivegnefe anao OY troppo. To die is nothings. are frequently burnt. but to Live in the midjt of Fire * is too be much. x EES | ~ As for the Waterfall of Niagara 3 tis feven or eight hundred foot high, and half a League broad. Towards the middle of ic we defcry an Ifland that leans towards the Precipice, as if it were ready to fail. All the Beafts that crofs the Water within half a quarter of a League above this unfortunate — Hand, are fuck’din by force of the Stream: And the Beaits and Filth that are thus kill'd by che prodi- gious fall, ferve for food to fifty Irogue/e, who are fetled about two Leagues off, and take ’em out of the water with their Canows. Between the furface of the water that fhelves off prodigioufly, and the — foot of the Precipice, three Men may crofs in a breaft without any other dammage, than a {prink- ling of fome few drops of water, To return to the Story of the thoufand Iroquefes E muft tell you, that we crofs’d the Streight with all the vigour we were mafters of, and after rowing alf Night, arrivd next Morning at the moath of the Lake, which appeard to be indifferent rapid. Then we were fecure from all danger, for the Ircguefe Ca- ‘nows are fo dull and large, chat they cannot fait near fo quick as thofe made of Birch-bark. The former are made of Elm-bark, which 1s very heavy, and their form is very aukard ; for they arefolong | and broad thac thirty Men row. in them, two a- breaft, whether fitting or ftanding, and the fides aré fo lew, that they. dare not venture “em upon the Lakes, tho’ the wind be very flack. We coafieda- long the North-Coaft. of the Lake of Erie, being ~ favour’d by the Caims,which are in a manner conftant in that feafon, efpecially in the Southern Countries, Upon the brink of this Lake we frequen ae | hia : locks i en ey. ae North-America. 8 2 flocks of fifty or fixty Turkey’s, which run incredi- bly faft upon the Sands: And the Savages of our Company kill’d great numbers of “em, which they - gave to us in exchange for the Fifh that we catch’d. The 2574 we arriv’d at a long point of Land which Shoots out 14 or 15 Leagues into the Lake ; andthe heat being exceflive, we chofe to tranfport our Boats and Baggage two hundred paces over-land, rather than coa{t about for thirty five Leagues. Septemb. 6. Weenter’d the Streightof the Lake of Huron, where we met with a flack Current of half a League in breadth, that continued till we agriv’d in rhe Lake of St. C/aire, which is twelve Leagues in Circumfe- sence. The 81) of the fame Month we fteer'd on to the other end, from whence we had but fix Leagues to run againft the ftream, till we arrivd in the Mouth of the Lake of Hurons, where we landed on the 14th. You cannot imagine the pleafant profpect of this Streight, and of the lictle Lake; for their banks are coverd with all forts of wild Fruit- Trees. ~Tis true, the want of Agriculture finks the, agreeablenefs of the Fruic ; but cheir plenty is very furprifing.. We {py’d no other Animals upon the fhoar, bue Herds-of Harts, and Roe-bucks: And when we came to little Ilands, we f{courd ’em, in order to oblige thefe Beafts to crofs over to the Con- tinent, upon which they offering to {wim over, were knock’d on the head by our Canow-men that - were planted all round the Iflands. After our ar- rival atthe Fort, of which I was orderd to take poffeflion, Mr. Dulbut and Mr. de Tonti had a mind to reft themfelves for fome days, as weil} as the -$avages that accompany’d us. This Fort, which was buile by Mr. Dulbut, was Garrilon’d upon his own charges by the Courcurs de Bois, who had taken care to fow in it fome Buthels of Turkey-Wheat, _ which afforded a plentiful Crop, that prov'd of greac © wfe'to me. The Garrifon furrendred their Poft ve- 3 : G2 ry 84 Some New Voyages ry chearfully to my Detachment ; and then purfu- ed their Commerce with our Savages, for every one had leave to go where he pleas'd. This gave me an op- portunity of fending two Canows under a guard of Soldiers, to difpofe of a great Roll of Tobacco cf 200 weight, that Mr. Dalbut had kindly prefent- ~-edme with; for that honeft Gentleman inform’d me, that my Soldiers might eafily purchafe Corn in exchange for Tobacco, fooner than for any other Commodities. Iam oblig’d to him as long as I live ; but I am much affraid, the Treafurer of the “Navy will make him no better compenfation for this piece of Service, than for a thoufand other disburfe- - ments upon the King’s account. The Soldiers I fent with the Tobacco, return’d in the latter end of November, and brought with ’em the Reverend Father Avenau the Jefuit, who found no occafion co trouble himfelf with preaching up Abftinence from Meat in the time of Lest. They brought ad- vice, that a Party of che Hurons being prepard to march out of their Villages, to attack the Iroquefe Beaver-hunters, would {peedily repair to the Fort to reft themfelves. In the mean time I waited wich impatience forthe arrival of ong Turcct, and four more of the Coureurs de Bois, who were to come to me in the beginning of December, along with fome other Huntfmen that Mr. de Denonville had promisd to fend me: But hearing nothing of ’em, and our Commons being at that time very fhort, I fhould fiave been very much pinchd, if four young Cana- defe who were expert Huntfinen, had not tarry’d with me all Winter. The above-mention’d Party of the Hurons artivd Decemb. 2. being headed by one Saent{ouan, who left me hisCanow and his Bag- gage, to keep till he return’d; for he could not poflibly continue his Navigation longer, upon the account that the furface of the water began then to be cover with Ice. ‘Thefle Savages chofe to march : : over-. to North-America. 85 ever-land to the Fort of Niagara, where they ex- pected to receive intelligence before they enter’d the Country of the Iroguefe. They march’d ten days, g..e. fifty Leagues, without feeing one Soul. But at laft their Scouts perceiv’d the foot-fteps of fome Huntfmen , which they trac’d at a great pace for | a whole Night, the Snow being then afoot deep. Towards the break of day they return’d, and gave notice totheir Fellow-Adventurers, that they had difcoverd fix Hutts, with ten Men lodg’d in each of ‘em. Upon this Intelligence the whole party madea halt, in order to paint their faces, to pre- pare their Arms, and to concert proper Meafures. The attack was fo form’d, that two Men made foftly upto the two doors of the Hurts with their Clubs in their Hands, to knock down any one that offer’d to come out,while the reft were imploy’d in fi- ring their pieces. And the Action was crown’d with wonderful Succefs; for the Ircquefe being furpriz’d and fhut up in their bark Prifons, there was bute _ two outof fixty four chat made their efcape; and _ thefe two being naked and deftitute of Fire-Arms, could not but perifh in the Woods, Three of the Horons indeed were kill’dupon the fpot, but to at- tone for that lofs, the Agreffors carry’d off four- teen Prifoners, and four Women. This done, they —marci’d back to my Fort with all poffible Expedi- _ tion. Among the Captive Slaves, there were three who had made part of the number of the 1000 Iro- guefe that thought to have furpris'd us the year be- fore, when we wereimploy’d in the great Land- Carriage at Niagara. They gave us to under- - ftand, that the Fort of Niagara was block’d up by — _ eight hundred Iroguefe, who mean’d to appear be- fore my Poft without any delay. This troublefom piece of news gall’d me co the laft degree, for fear of being. reduc’d to extremities; and with that view i was a very nice Husband of what Corn I had ~ G 3 lefr, 86 Some New Voyages - Jeft. IT was hot apprehenfive of being attack’d by ‘em, for the Savages never fight fairly, neither do they ever atrempt to pull up Paliffadoess but I was affraid that they would ftarve us out by cramping — our Hundfmen in their due range. However, the | Hurons continuing fifteen days in my Fort fo refirefh themfelves, 1 us’d the precaution of ingaging them to afliftmy Huntfmen in providing Meat: But as foon as they took leave of me in order to return home, our hunting was at at end, and the Gates were kept fhut. | | At laft, finding that my Provifions were almoft out, I refolv’d to go to Mifilimakinac, to buy up | Corn from the ‘Hurons and the Outaouans. Accor- dingly, having left fome Soldiers to guard the Fort in my abfence, Limbarqu’d with the reft of my Detachment on the firft of Apri, with a gentle South-Eaft Gale; by the help of which we infenfi- bly crofs'd the Bay of Saguinan. That little Gulf is fix hours over, andin the middle of ic there are «wo little Iflands, which afford a very feafonable fheltér when a wind arifes in the croffing over. Before you have crofs’d this Bay, the Coaltis alt a Jong fullof Rocks and Shelves, one of whichthat i faw was fix Leagues broad: But above it the Coaft is cledn and low, efpecially towards the Sand-Ri- ver, which lies half way between that Bay and a place calld Jl’ Anfe du Fonnere. Now this laft place is reckon’d thirry Leagues off the Bay. Having — paft that, we had but chirry Leagues more to fail ; which we did without any danger, by the help of _ an Eaft-South-Eaft Gale, that f{well’d the Waves prodigionfly. Inthe Mouth of the Jinefe Lake we metthe party of the Huronsthat I mention’d before; and four or five bundred Outaouas, who were bound home, after having {pent the Winter in hunting of Beavers upon the River of Saguinas. Both they and we were fore’d to lye by inthat place for in or | sour to North-America, 87 four days, by reafon of the Ice: After which the Lake was clear'd, and we crofs’dic together. When the Hurons came afhoar, they confulted among themfelves how to difpofe of theic Slaves: After which they made a Prefent of one of ’°em to Mr. de Fuchereau, who commanded in that place; bute — the poor wretch was prefently fhot to Death. Ano- ther of ’em was prefented to the Oxtaouas, who granted him his Life, for fuch reafons asyou would eafily apprehend, if you were better acquainted with the policy and cunning of thatfort of Men, whom you now take for Beafts. I arriv’d in this place on the 184 of April, and my uneafinefs and trouble took date from the day of my arrival : For I found the Indian Corn fo {carce by reafon of the preceding bad Harvelts, thar I defpair’d of finding half fomuchasI wanted. But - after all, I am hopeful, chat two Villages will fur- _ nith me with almoft as much as I have occafion for. Mr. Cavelier arriv’d here Aday 6, being accompany 'd with his Nephew, Father Anaffafe the Recollet, a Pilot, one of theSavages, and fome few Frenchmen, which made a fort of a party-colour’d Retinue. Thefe Frenchmen werefome of thofe thar Mr. de la Salle had conduéted upon the difcovery of Adifi/ipi. They give our, that chey are fentto Canada, in order to go to France, withfome Difpatches from Mr. de /a Salle to the King; But we fufpea@ that be is dead, becaufe he do’s not return along with ’em. I fhall not fpend time in taking notice of their great Journey over-land; which by the account _ they give cannot be lefs chan eight hundred Leagues. Mifflimakinac, the place I am now in, is certainly a placeof great Importance. It lies in the Latiende of forty five Degrees, and thirty Minutes; but as for its Longitude, I have nothing to fay of it, for reafons mention’d in my fecond Letter. ’Tis noc above half a League ae from the Winefe Lake, Rs a 4 : an 88 ~ Some New Voyages .an account of which,and indeed ofall the other Lakes, you may expect elfe-where. Here the Hurons and — Outaouas have, each of ’em, a Village ; the one be- ing fever’d from the other by a fingle Paliffadoe : Bat the Outaouas are beginning to build a Fort up- © on aHill, chac ftands but 1000 or 1200 paces off. This Precaution . chey were prompted to by the murder of a certain Huron, cal’d Sandaouires, who was alfaflinated in the Saguinan River by four young Outacuas. In this place the Jefuits have a little Houfe, or Colledge adjoyning to a fort of a Church, and inclos’d with Pales that feparate it from the Village of the Hurons. Thefe good Fathers lavifh a- way: all their Divinity and Patience to no purpofe, ‘in converting fuch ignorant Infidels: For all the length they can bring ’em co, is, that oftentimes they'll defire Baptifm for their dying Children, and fome few fuperannuated Perfons confent to re- ceive the Sacrament of Baptifm, when they find © themfelves at the point of Death. The Coureurs de Bows have but a very fmall fettlement here; though at the fametime ’tis not inconfiderable, as being the Staple of all the Goods thatthey truck with the South andthe Weft Savages; for they cannot avoid | pafling this way,when they go to the Seats of the I/i- nefe, and the Oumamz, or tothe Bay des Puants, and tothe River of Adififipi. The Skins which they im- port from thefe different places, muft lye here fome time before they are tranfported to the Colony. — _ Mifilimckinac is fated very advantageoufly ; for © the Irogue/e dare not venture with their forry Canows, — to crofs the Streight of the Ilinefe Lake, which is two Leagues over ;. befides that she Lake of the Hu- rons-is too rough for fuch flender Boats: And as_ they-cannot come to it by Water, fo they cannot — approach to it by Land, by reafon of the Marthes, Fens, and little Rivers, which ’ewould be very diffi- — cule. tocrofs; not to mention thac the Streighe of — the Iiimefe Lake lies {hllin their way. You | Sete ear Rp , SS eee . = Bs 2 ee = ss Z Mikes oot =: SSS 2. gyetf 247 ad = : =z. 5 Zz : 2bayig SUOLIOFT Pf “. —— afnoy igi shuyygs A epresatf i ee ee — ATM tL fe — oc St ny OR | LL 2LLIA, DNEWHSLG, BHL : St We ee e vt net SNOW’ Ao i ( cS ae cea ne a he, Btls = ¢ = yffpriu Jo WT to North-Ametica, §=—«- «89 . You can {carce believe, Sir, what vaft fholes of white Fifh are catch’d about the middle of the Chan- nel, between the Continent and the Ifle of A“/ii- - makinac. The Outaouasand the Hurons could never fubfift here, wichout that Fifhery; for they are ob- lig’d to travel above twenty Leagues in the Woods, before they can kill any Harts or Elks, and ’twould be an infinite fatigue to carry their Carcafes fo far over Land. This fort of white Fifhin my o- pinion, is the only one in all thefe Lakes chat can be call’d good; and indeed it goes beyond all o- ther forts of River Fifh. Above all, it has one fin- gular property, namely, that all forts of Sauces {poil ic, fo that *tis always eat either boil’d or broil'd, without any manner of feafoning. -In the Chan- nel I now fpeak of the Currents are fo ftrong, that. they fometimes fuck in the Nets, though they are two or three Leagues off. In fome feafons, it fo ‘falls out that the Currents run three days Eaftward, - two days to the Welt, one tothe South, and four ~ _ Northward ; fometimes more, and fometimes lefs. The canfe-of this diverfiry of Currents could ne-_ ver be fathom’d, for in a calm, they’l run ing the {pace of one day to all the -points of the Compafs, j. e. fometimes one way, fometimes another, with- out any limitation of time; fo that the decifion of _ this matter muft belefe to the Difciples of Coperni- cus. Here the Savages catch Trouts asbigh as one’s Thigh, with a fort of Fifhing-Hook made in the form of an Awl, and made faft to a piece of Brafs ‘wire, which is joynd tothe Line that reaches to the bottom of the Lake. This fort of Fifhery is ~ earried on not only with Hooks, bat with Nets, -andthat in Winter, as wellas in Summer: For they make holes in the Ice at a certain diltance one from another, thro’ which they conduct the Nets with Poles. The Outaouas and the Hurons have very plea- fant Fields, in which they fow Indian Corn, Peafe, ny an $0 —. Some New Voyages and Beans, befides a fort of Citruls, and Melons, — which differs much from ours, and of which I fhall take occafion to {peak in another place. Some-— times, thefe Savages fell cheic Corn very dear, efpecially when the Beaver-hunting happens not — to take well: Upon which eccafion they make fufficient reprifals upon us for che extfavagant price of our Commodities. /) 3 As foon as I have bought up fixty facks of Corn, each of which may weigh fifty pound, I am to march with my Detachment alone to St. Mary's Fort, in order to ingage the Sauteurs or the Inhabi- tants of Saut Saini Marie, to joyn the Outaouas; af- ter which we mean to march with joynt Forces to the Country of the Jroguefe. Befides thefe, there’s a party of a hundred Hurons ready to march, un- der. the Command of the great Leader Adario, whom the French call the Rat ; but they do not march our way.1 fhall write to you with thefirft Op- porunity after my return from this Expedition. Per- haps the Jefuits will fend your Letters for me along with Mr. Denonville’s to Fort St. Fofeph, where 1am to — sefide. I fhallexpe@ their arrival with the utmoft jmpatience. Inthe mean time I fend you a Letter directed to Mr. de Seignelai, the purport of which 1 have here fubjoyn’d. “Twill bea very fenfible ob- ligation laid upon me, if you vouchfafe to believe that I always am, bash i SIR, Yours, 8£c. i LET- mo Ronb Amen, = The Letter directed to Mr. de Seignelay. Honoured Sir, : | Am the Son of a Gentleman that {pent three hun- dred thoufand Crowns in deepening the Water of | the two Gaves of Bearn: He had the good luck to compafs his End by conveying a great many Brooks to thefe two Rivers; and the Current of the Adour was by that means fo far ftrengthen’d as to render the Bar of Bayonue paflable by a fifty Gun. Ship, whereas in former times a Frigot of ten Guns durit not venture over it. “Iwas in confideration of chis great and fuccefsful Attempt, that his Majefty gran- ted co my Father and his Heirs for ever, certain Du- ties and Taxes, amounting to the Sum of three thou- fand Livresa Year. This Grant was confirm’d by -an Aé& of the Council of State, dated Fazuary 9. 1658, Sign’d Boffact, Collated, ec. Another Ad- Vantage accruing to the King and the Province from my Father's Services, confifts in the bringing down of Mafts and Yards from the Pyrenean Mountains, which could never have been effected, if he had not by his Care, and by the disburfing of immenfe Sums, enlarged the quantity of Water in the Gave of Olerow to a double proportion. Thefe Duties and ‘Taxes which had been juftly intail’d upon him and his Heirs, ceas’'d to be ours when he dy’d; and toin-— flame the Difgrace, I loft his Places, viz, that of be- | ing a Honorary Judge of the Parliament of Paw, and. — Chief Juftice in Eyre for the Province of Bearn; all which were mine by Inheritance. Thefe Loffes are now follow’d by an unjuft Seizure that fome pre- tended Creditors have made of the Barony of /a Hon- | tan, Or Some New Voyages | tan, of a piece of Ground that lies contiguous to it, and of a hundred thoufand Livres that lay in the hands of the Chamber of Bayonne. Thefe faithlefs Creditors have no other reafon to fue me, but that I” am now in the fagg end of the World, and that they are rich, and fupported by the Credit and Protection of the Parliament of Pars, where they hope to make © good their unjuit Pretenfions in my Abfence. Laft Year I obtain’d Leave to return to France, in order to take care of this matters; but now Mr. de Denonville has fent me with a Detachment to thefe Lakes; from whence I humbly petition that your Honour would vouchfafe me Leave to come home the next Year, and at the fame time honour me with your Prote- ction. Iam, with all poffible refpect, Your Honours, &c. — CETTER RE Dated at Mifilimakinac, Sept. 18. 1688. Defcribing the Fall call’d Saut St. Marie, where the Author perfwades the Inhabitants to joyn the Outaouas, aud march againft the roquefe. _ And containing an Account of tke Occurrences of the Voyage between that Place and Mafili- makinac. gre wkd T Am now retarn’d from the Iroquefe Country, and _ have quitted the Fort of St. ‘Fofeph, againft my Will. Icannot allow my felf to doubt, but that ~ you (cok care of the Letter directed for Mr. de Seig- nelay, which I tranimitted to you three Months ago. Ai JT fet oe Mo North Ametics, 92 PT fet out from hence in my Canow, Fune 2. And after my Arrival at the Water-fall call’d Saut Sainte ' Marie, 1 perfwaded forty young Warlike Fellows to -joyn the Party of the Outaouas that I mention’d in my laft. This Saut Sainte Marie is a Cataract, or rather a Water-fall of two Leagues in length, which gives vent to the Waters of the upper Lake, and at the bottom of which, not far from the Jefuits Houfe, there’s a Village of the Outchipoues, alias Sauteurs. This Place is a great Thoroughfare for the Cowreurs de Bow that trade with the Northern People, who ufu- ally repair to the brinks of that Lake in the Summer. The continual Fogg that rifes from the upper Lake, _and {preads over the adjacent Country, renders the Ground fo barren, that it bearsno Corn. The 13th of the fame Month I fet out from the abovementi- on’d Village, being accompany’d by the forty young Sauteurs, who. embark’d in five Canows, each of which held eight Men. ‘The 16th we arrivd at the Ifle of Detour, where my Soldiers and the Party of the —Outaouashad tarry’dfor me twodays. The firft day was {pent by the Outaeuas and the Sauteurs in Warlike Feafis, Dancing, and Singing, purfuant to their -wonted Cuftom: The next day we all embark’d, and traverfing from Ifle to Ifle, made the Ifland of ~ Manitoualin in four days. This Ifland is 25 Leagues long, and feven or eight broad. In former times twas pofieis'd by the Outaouas of Talon, call’d the Otonta- gans; who were diflodg’d by the Progrefs of the iro- quefe, that has ruin’d fo many Nations. We coaftd upon that Ifle a whole day ; and being favour’d by: a Calm, crofs’d from Ifle to Ifle till we made the Fatt-fide of the Lake. In this Paflage we crofs’d be- tween two Iflands that were fix Leagues diftant the one from the other; and upon that occafion our Wa- termen, who were not usd to venture fo far out in their flender Boats, were fain to tugg hard at their Oars. The Savages ftood out at firft, and refus’'d to , ven- 94 ~=—«SSome’ New Voyages — venture fo far from Land, for they would rather have gone fifty Leagues about; bue at Jaft I over- ‘perfwaded ’em, by reprefenting that I would have been very loth to venture my own Perfon, if I had not been fufficiently provided againft all danger by an exact knowledge of the Winds and the Storms. The Calm continuing, we made thé River.of Tdeo- nontaté on the 25th. The next day there fprung up a Gale from the Weft-fouth-weft, which kept us back for four or five days; but our ftop was of no ' great advantage to us, for it rain’d fo heavily, that we could not hunt. This Country is the ancient Seat of the Hurons, as it appears from the Naime they give to their Nations in their own Language, viz. Theonontateronons, i.e. the Inhabitants of Theonontate. But after the Iroquefe had, upon divers occafions, ta- ken and defeated great numbers of ’em, the reft quit- ted the Country to avoid the like Fate. We re- embark’d on the 29th, and on the rft of Fuly arriv’d at Fort St. Fofeph, where the Soldiers I had left wait- ed for us with. great Impatience. Having landed fome Sacks Corn at the Fort, we fet out again on the 3d of Fuly, and purfued our Courfe with all di- ligence, in order to an early Appearance in the Iro- guefe Country. We fail’d through the Streight or Neck, and flood to the South-fide, of the Lake Erie : and being favour’d by the Weather, arriv’d on the 17th in the River of Conde, which I fhall have occa- fion to take notice of in defcribing the Lakes of Ca- jada. Immediately, upon our Landing, the Savages fell to work in cutting down Trees, and making a Redoubt cf Stakes, or Pales, for the Security of our Canows and Baggage, and for a fafe Retreat co our {elves in cafe of neceflicy.. ota The 2oth they march’d, each Man being provi- ded with a light Covering, a Bow, and fome Arrows, Cor elfe a Fufee ) and a little Bag containing ten pound weight of the Flowr of the Indian Corn. | Ae ee \ \ a ta North America. 95 They thought it moft convenient to keep to the Banks of the River, upon which the Goyogoans are ‘wont to fifh for Sturgeon; for that Fifh, which is fix foot in length, comes out of the Lakes in hot Weather, and {wims up the Rivers. They had re- folv’d likewife, if they found the Country clear, to march up and furprife the Villages of the Goyogoans : but they were foon eas‘d of that trouble; tor they had not march’d two days when their Scouts de- {cry’d three hundred Iroque/e: and on the other hand the Iroguefe fpy’d them to fuch purpofe, that the Scouts efcap'd very narrowly, and had much ado to return to the body of the Party, which immediately betook themfelves to flighe. I was mightily furpris’d when I heard the Centinel of our Redoubt cry out, Aux Armes, our Men are beaten and pur[ued; but I was yet more furpriz’d when I faw the Fugitives run at full fpeed, when there was no body behind them. When they came up they were all filent for half an . hour, purfuant to their Ufe and Wont; after which their Leader recounted co me the Particulars of che Adventure. I thought at firft that their advancd Guards had miftook the number of the Enemies; for I knew that the Outaonzs had not the Reputation of too much Courage: but the next day a Party of the Iroque/e appear’d in fight of our Redoubt, which gave mie occafion to believe that they were in the right of ic. Nay, this Truth was afterwards confirmed by a certain Slave call’d Chaouanon, who made his efcape to the Redoubt, and affur’d me, that the Iroquefe were not lefs than four hundred; to which he added, thar they expected to be joyn’d by fixty more that had > march’d fome Months before to the Country of the Oumames. He inform’dus farther, That while che Marquis de Denonville was concerting meafures for a Peace with the five Nations, an Englifhman, of the Name of Aria, accompany’d with fome others, en- Geayourd to diflwade them from Peace, by yg brs | rom 06 ©=©—S Same New Voyages from the Governour of New York. In the mean time the Savages having prefs'd me to affift at a Council of War, they propos tolie by for a fair Wind, and then to embark. They reprefented, that they de- fign’d to fail to the end of the Lake, where they would infallibly light upon the fixty Iroquefe that I mention’d above ; but withal, that they could not agree to fet out in a Calm, becaufe that after cheir quitting the Redoubt, and launching out, a contra- ry Wind might force ’em afhore, where their Throats might be cut if the Enemy purfu’d ‘em. I reply'd, That ’twas then fuch fine Weather, that we had no- thing to expect but Calms; that if we tarry’d longer in this Place, our Enemies would thereby gain time to make Canows in order to a Purfuic ; that fince the favourablenefs of the Wind was fo uncertain, we ought to embark without lofs of time ; that we might fail in the Night, and fculk in the Day-time behind Rocks and Points of Land; and, that by this means the Enemy would be at a lofs to know whether we ftood to the South or to the North fide of the Lake. The Savages made Anfwer, That “twas true their tarrying might be every way prejudicial ; but “twas equally true, that my Expedient was dangerous : However, they confented to embark along with us, and for that end gumm’d their Canows. Weem- — _ bark’d on the 24th at night, and the Weather being fair, clear, and calm, made a great deal of way that night, and the fucceeding day. ‘The next Evening’ we came to an Anchor, defigning to fleep for three or four hours, but not to ftir out of the Canows. About Midnight we weigh’d our little wooden An- chors, and one half of the Men row’d while the o- ther was at reft. Thus did we continue tofteer with a great deal of Precaution and Care, rowing all night, and lying by all day. ie hee July 28. when we were lying almoft all afleep in a Creck of a little Ifland, the Watch deferying fome ' , : Canows ~ to North- America. Oy _ Canows that made towards.us, wak’d fome Savages that had gone a-fhore to fleep the more convenient- ly. The Noife having alarm’d us all, we prefently - made our felves ready to get in head of thefe Canows s but at the fame time, tho’ we were but haifa League off, we could not diftinguifh who they were, by rea- fon that the Sun-beams falling perpendicularly, made the Surface of the Water look like a Looking-glafs. Indeed there being but two of “em, we reckon’d they were mann’d with Iroguefe, and that each of ’em contain’d at leaft twenty Men: upon which fufpi- cion, the Leader of the Sawteurs offered to go a-fhore with his Men, and poft himfelf at the Entry of a Wood, from whence he would foftly follow the Ca- nows without being difcover’d, till fuch time «s we forc’d ’em a-fhore. At the fame time he propos’ _ that the Outaouas and my Detachmente fhould fuffer ?em to be within a Musket-fhot of the Ifland before we difcover’d our felves, or offer’d to give ’em chafe, upon the apprehenfion that if we follow’d ’em clofer, _ they would be fo far from getting on fhore, that they would fight as defperate, and choofe rather to be kilfd or drown’d than to be taken. This Propofal was lik’d, and every thing was manag’d accordingly. As foon as our unknown Enemy perceiv’d us, they made the Shore with all imaginable Precipitation ¢ and juft when they were going to knock their Prifo- ners on the Head, the Sauteurs fell upon ’em, bue mifs’d of their aim in taking ’em all alive; for they fought to the laft gafp, like Men that knew no Me- dium betwixt Conqueft and Death. Una /alus vitiss nullam {perare falutem. ‘This Engagement happen’d while we landed: however, the Sauteurs came off with Honour, for they loft only four Men, and of twenty Iroquefe they kill’d three,- wounded five, and took the reft Prifoners, fo that not one of em efcap’d. © The Iroquefe had along with theni eighteen Slaves of __ the Ovmame, who were all wounded, and feven big- Pils H belly’d belly’d Women, from whom we had Intelligence that the reft of their Party were then upon their Re- © turn by Land upon the Banks of the Lake, having thirty four Prifoners, of both Sexes ; and that they could not then be far off. When this Intelligence was laid before us, the Outacouas were of the opinion — that we fhould reft fatisfied with the Feats we had > done, upon the Plea that the above-mention’d four — hundred Iroquefe would certainly get before us. On the other hand, the Sauteurs maintain’d that they had rather perifh than fail to attempt the Refcue of thefe Prifoners, and the Defeat of the whole Party ; and that if no bedy would fecond ’em, they would make the Attempt by themfelves. The Bravery of this Refolution oblig’d me to encourage and egg on the Outaouas. I vemonftrated to’em, that in regard the Sauteurs ingrofs’d the Glory of the former Adon, they had more reafon than we to decline the rifque of a fecond Engagement : that if we refus'd to back ‘em, our Cowardice would cover us with everlafting Unfamy: and, that in order to render the Attack more fecure, we ought to ufe a fpeedy Precaution in finding out fome Point or Elbow of Land where our Canows, our Baggage, and our Prifoners mighe be lodg’d fafe. The Outaouas had a great deal of Re- ludtancy to the matter; however, after confulting among themfelves, they comply’d with the Propofal, more for Shame, than out of true Courage. Having faid down that joint Refolution, we made up a little fort of a Fence in feven or eight hours, and then fent out Scouts on all hands, while the main Body was kept in readinefs to march upon the firft Alarm. - Auguft 4. two of our Spies return’d upon full fpeed, co acquaint us that the Iroquefe were not above three Leagues off, and that they advane’d towards us; and withal, that upon the Road there was a little Brook, upon which an Ambufcado might be conveniently. laid. This Advice animated our Savages fo =a ot i lll ll Ky ; ON gh pC PR rt : to North-America. that they run immediately to take Poffeffion of that advantageous Poft: but they knew not how to make the right nfe of it. The Ouraouas were too hafly in firing; and by fhooting at too great a diftance, gave all the Enemies an opportunity of making their Ef- cape, abating for ten or twelve whofe Heads were brought into the little Fort where I flay'd. The Slaves indeed were all retaken, and fo refcued from the Cruelty of chefe Tygers; which encourag’d us to reft fatisfied. When the Expedition was over, we ftow’d thefe poor Wretches in our Canows, and. fteer'd with all Expedition to the Streight or Neck of the Lake of Huron, which we made on the 13th: We enjoy'd a great deal of Pleafure in ftemming the Current of that Streight; the Iflands of which, that I mention’d above, were cover'd with Roe-bucks. This opportunity we did not flight; nor did we grudge our ftopping upon thefe Iflands for eight days; during which time we were bufied in Hunt- ing, and refrefh’d our felves with plenty of excellent Fruit that was fully ripe. Here the wounded and _retaken Prifoners had an opportunity of refting, and of drinking the Broth of feveral forts of Meat; and we had time to broil as much Meat as we could flow in our Canows, not to mention the great numbers of Turkeys that we were oblig’d to eat upon the fpot, for fear that che heat of the Seafon would fpoil ec | : In that {pace of time the poor wounded Savages were carefully purg’d with fauch Roots as the Awweri- cans are well vers’d in; which J mean to explain to you in its proper time and place; and they wanted not good Reftoratives of Jelly-broth. The 24th we re-embark’d, and artiv'd at Night at Fore Sr. ‘fofeph, where I found a Party of eighty Oumams command- ed by one Adichitonka, who being lately return’d frony — Niagara, expected my Arrival with the utmoft im- patience. When I landed, I was furprisd to fee the icy Fi 2 Ford Ue ae “100 0=——ts« Some NNew Voyages. | _ Fort cramm’d with Savages; but on the other hand, they were equally aftonilh’d to find in our Company their Country-men, to whofe hard Fortune they had been altogether Strangers, The joyful Meeting fill’d the Air wich Acclamations, and Panegyricks rung all about to an extravagant degree. I with, Sir, you had been there to partake of the Pleafure of fo fine a Show: had you been’ prefent, you would — have join'd with me in owning that all our French Rhetorick cannot reach fuch pithy and fignificant Fi- sures, efpecially upon the fcore of Hyperbole’s, as made up the bulk of the Harangues and Songs that thefe poor People utter’d with Rapture and Tranf- port. Michitonka acquainted me, that after he wene © to the Fore of Niagara, with a Defign to make fome Expedition into the Country of the T/onontouans, he found that the Scurvey had made fuch a terrible ha- vock in that Fort, that it had {weep’d off the Com- mander, and all the Soldiers, bating twelve, who had the good luck to get over it, as well as Mr. de ~ Bergeres, who by the advantage of a hale Conftituti- on had ftemm’d the raging Violence of that Diftem- per. He inform’d me farther, That Mr. Bergeres ha- ving refolv’d to fet out with his twelve Men for the- Fort of Frontenac, had defir'd of him a Reinforcement : of fome young Oxmams, which was granted him; ‘that after Mr. Bergeres had embark’d, himfelf march’d over Land to the Country of the Onnontagues, where he rejoin’d the Reinforcement he had granted to Mr. de Bergeres, and underftood from them, that during ‘the Winter the Scurvey had carried off as many Sol- diers at Fort Frontenac as at Niagara; and, that Mr. de Denonville was negotiating a Peace with the Jro- gquefe. | : | le ‘The Governour of Fort Frostenac had requefted — Michitonka to engage in no Enterprife, and to return home with his Men; upon which that Leader being — in full March homeward, was attack’d by thee, | aa ° area “hla dt Nya bi) a lah iad aca TES al ee mM a to NorthAmeticaa § ~—‘ tok ~ dred Onnontagues, whom he durft not engage other- wife than in a running Fight, by which he loft four ‘Men. Being inform’d of all thefe Circumftances, I confulted with the three different Nations that were then pofted in my Fort. After a mature Reflection upon the Intelligence that was laid before ’em, they - came to this Refolution ; That fince the Marquis de Denonville had a mind to clap up a Peace, and the Fort of Niagara was abdicated, the Fort I then com- manded would be of no ufe; that fince I had nei- ther Provifions nor Ammunition for above two Months, I fhould be oblig’d at the end of thefe two Months to retreat to the Place from whence I now write; that at that time of the Year our Navigation would be uneafie and dangerous; that in regard I lay under an indifpenfible neceflity of making my — Retreat, twas of no great moment whether I march’d - off two Months fooner or later ; and, in fine, that ~fince I had receiv’d no frefh Orders, nor no Succors, *cwas my Buafinefs to go off along with them. This ~ Refolution, which was a fufficient Argument tofway me, afforded matter of joy to the Soldiers, who were afraid of being oblig’d to a more rigorous courfe of _Abftinence in that Poft than they had formerly un- dergone ; for the meafures of a critical Abftinence do not fit well upon a Soldiers Stomach. In fine, purfuant to our joint Refolution, we fet fire co the Fort on the 27th, and embarked that fame day, and keeping -clofe to the South fhore of the Lake that [I took no- tice of in my laft, arriv’d here on the roth of Scprem- ber. The Oumame march’d over Land to their own Country, and carry’d with ‘em the Wounded, who |. were then in a condition to march. 7 ~ Upon my Arrival in this Place, I found here Mr. - de la Durantay, whom Mr. Denonville has invelted with the Commiffion of Commander of the Coureurs de Bow that trade upon the Lakes, and in the Southern Countries of Canada. The Governour has fent ne : : ee Orders fs ; . ‘ } ; ak a hw rar? Wide ain Ieee toe aL BANTRY EON Bh qo2 Some New Voyages a Orders to return to the Colony if the Seafon and o- ther Circumftances permit 5 or to tarry here till the _ Spring if I forefse unfurmountable Difficulties in the Paffage. In the mean time he has fent me Effects to anfwer the Pay of my Detachment, and to fubfift ‘em in the Winter. Thefe Orders would be extream acceptable to me, if I couid but contrive how to re- turn to the Colony ; but that feems to be abfolutely impoflible, and both the Freuch and the Savages agree that itis fo. There are in that Paflage fo many Wa- ter-falls, Cataracts, and Places where there’s a necef- firy of tedious Land-carriages, that I dare not run fuch Hazards with my Soldiers, who cagnot work the Boats but upon ftagnating Water. Upon that: confideration [ have thought it more proper to hale here till the next Year; at which time I defign to ~ ¢ake the Advantage of the Company of fome Frencb- men and Savages, that promife co take into each of their Canows one of my Men. In the mean time, I am upon the point of undertaking another Voyage, for I cannot mew my felf up here all chis Winter. I defign to make the beft ufe of my time, and to tra- vel chrough the Southern Countries that IT have fo | ofen heard of, having engag’d four or five good Huntimen of the Oxtaouas to go along with me. The Party of the Huron: that I mention’d in the beginning of my Letter, return’d hither two Months ago, and brought with ’em an Iroguefe Slave, whom their Leader prefented to Mr. de Iuchereau, the late Colonel of the Coureurs de Bos, and whom that Co- lonel order’d to be immediately fhot. The crafty Leader acted upon that occafion a very cunning and malicious part, the fatal Confequences of which ! eafily forefee: He intrufted no body with the Secree . but my felf; for he is my true Friend, and he knows that Tam his. However, I muft go no farther up- on this matter, left my Letter fhouid be intercepted. Tho’ after all, af the Blow were not already given, — or if *twere poffible to remedy it, my Frierndfhip fhould not hinder me from acquainting Mr. de De- nonville With the Intrigue, that he might get clear of cas wellashecould. If it pleafes God to allow me a fafe Return to France, I fhall tell you the Story by word of mouth. I underftand by your laft, that the King has pre- ferr’d his Almoner, the Abbot of Sz. Valiers, to the Bilhoprick of Quebecz and that this Bifhop was con- — fecrated in St. Sulpice’s Church. ‘This piece of News would be very welcome to me, if I thought he would be lefs rigid than Mr. de Laval, his Predeceffor. Bat what likelyhood is there that the new Bifhop will be of a tractable temper? If ’tis true that he has refus’d other good Bifhopricks, he muft be as fcrupulous as the Monk Dracontius, that St. Athanafiws cenfures for not accepting of a Prefentation to a Bifhoprick that was offerd him. [In fine, if he is of that {crupulous- Temper, his critical Stri@gefs will fcarce go down in this Country ; for the People are already tyr’d out with his Predeceffor’s Excommunications. I amy Bs S1&, Yours, &c, Ha. LETTER 4 i 7 ae } 104 — Some New Voyages DL E ToT eee Dated at Mifilimakinac, May 28. 1689. Containing an Account of the Authors Departure from, and Return to, Miliilimakinac: A De-— f{cription of the Bay of Puants, and its Villages. An ample Defcription of thé Beavers; followd by the Fournal of a remarkable Voyage upon the Long River, aud a Map of the adjacent Cougtry. SIR, ¢ “Hank God, Iam now return’d from.my Voy- age upon the Long River, which falls into the River of Adifiipi. I would willingly have trac’d it up to its Source, if feveral Obftacles had not ftoud in my way. I fet out from hence the 24th of Sept. accompany ’d with my own Detachment, and the five Huntfmen I mention’d in my laft; who indeed did me a great deal of Service. All the Soldiers were provided with new Canows loaded with Provifions ~ and Ammunition, and fuch Commodities as are pro-- per for the Savages. The Wind, which ftood then in the North, wafted me in three days to the Bay of Poutecuatamu, that lay forty Leagues off. The mouth of that Bay is in a manner choak’d with Ifles, and the Bay it felf is ten Leagues broad, and twenty five Leagues long. - i a 0a ~The 29th we cameo a little deep fort of a River, ~ which difembogues at a place where the Water of the Lake {wells three foot high in twelve hours, and — decreafes as much in the fame compafs of time. Our tarrying there three or four days gave me an oppor- tunity of making this Remark. . The Villages of the Sako, the Pouteouatams, and fome Malomins, are oe @ NovthAmeética: = 46s feated on the fide of that River, and the Jefuits have a Houfe or College buile uponit. This is a place of great Trade for Skins and Indian Corn, which’ thefe Savages fell to the Coureurs de Bois, as they come and go, it being the neareft and moft - convenient Pafflage to the River of Mififipi. The Soil of this Country is fo fertile, that it produces (in a manner ‘without Agriculture ) our Exropean Corn, Peafe, Beans, and feveral other Fruits chat are not known in France. As foon as I landed, the - Warriours of thefe three Nations came by turns to my Apartment, to regale me with the Ca/umet-Dance, and with the Captains-Dance; the former being a figni- . fication of Peace and Friendfhip, andthe latterof Ref- pect and Efteem. Ireturn’d the Compliment witha - Prefent of fome Rolls of Brafl Tobacco, which they . value mightily, and fome ftrings of Venice Beads, with _ which they imbroider their Coats. Next Morning I was invited to a Feaft with one of the three Na- tions; and after having fent to ’em fome Dithes and Plates, purfuane to the Cuftom of the Country, I went accordingly about Noon. They began with congratulating my Arrival, and after [ had return’d | them thanks, fella finging and dancing one after another, in a particular manner, of which you may expect a circumftantial account when I have _ more leifure. The Singing and Dancing lafted for two hours, being fealon’d with Acclamations of Joy _-and Jefts, which make up part-of their ridiculous Mufick. After that che Slaves came to ferve, and all the Company fat down after the Eaffern fafhion, every one being provided with his Mefs, juft as our Monks are in the Monaftery-Halls, -Firftof allfour Platters were fec down before me, in the firft of which there were two white Fifh on- ly boild in Water; in the fecond the Tongue and Breaftof a Roe-buck boil'd; in che third two _ Woodhens, the hind Feet or Trottersof a Bear,and — Rte Ls . is the a SeeWMMEMAIN TS WRG NOS CT gal: Bs ete nw: a ea Me mini aN AL abe SS SAREE ES 5 il abel cs SHIRE Red a, 1 ORE? ye vie vs 2 a : too ome iNew Voyages — BY ea W 5 ; = Z ; ~s RONES RO en Hoda 3 WS 4 Lae aN rat ¥ eae i { the Tail of a Beaver, all roafted; and the fourth’ — contain’d a large quantity of Broth made of feve- ral forts of Meat. For Drink they gave mea very — pleafant Liquor, which was nothing but a Syrrup of Maple beat up with Water; but of this more elfewhere. ‘The Feaftlafted wo Hours; after which ¥ intreated one of the Grandees to fing for me; for in all the Ceremonies made ufe of among the Sa- vages, “tis cuftomary toimploy another to a& for ‘em. I made this Grandee a Prefent of fome pic- ces of Tobacco, in order to oblige him to a& my pare till Night. Next day, and the day after, I was oblig’dto go to the Feafts of the other two Nations, who obferv’d the fame Formalities, \“[he moit curious thing I faw in the Villages, was ten or twelve tame Beavers, that went and came like Dogs from the Rivers tothe Cottages, without ftrag- ling out of the Road. I ask’d the Savages if thefe Animals could live out of the Waters; and receiv’d this anfwer, thac they could live afhoar as well as Dogs, and that they had. kept fome of *em above a year, without fuffering them to gonear the Ri- vers: \From whence I conclude, that the Ca/zifs are. outin nor ranging Ducks, Geefe, and Teals, inthe ' number of Amphibious Animals,as the Naturaliits are wont to do. I had heard the fame ftory from fe- veral Americans before; but being apprehenfive that there were different Species of Beavers, 1 hada mind » go be better inform’d ; Andindeed there is a parti- cular kind of ’em, whichthe Savages call the Zer- refrial, or Land-Beaver ; but at the fame time they tell you, thefe are of a different Species from the Amphibious fort; for they make Holes or Dens in the Earth, like Rabbets or Foxes, and never go near she Water unlefs ic be to drink. They are like- wife cail’d by the Savages, the lazy or idle kind, as being expell’d by. the other Beavers from the Ken- nels in which thefe Animals are lodg’d, to the ~ gambey i A Beaver 26 mthes long from the. head to the tail : ce <$ Tan NS ore ,) ose \ wast St RR Y y pe ww2th ropes Ae Oe: : ; = — a A beeve attackd nith Sa JS, pears iy = A Savage sp ring ing 7 ise a Leeve rg ¢ ae 9 fh JaVvages AV OTIIY thetr reat E ’ UA ~ ta North America. ek he pumberof 80. Thefe Kennels I mean to defcribe — afterwards; in the mean time I only take occafion — to acquaint you, that the idle fort being unwilling ‘to work, are expell’d by the others, juft as Wafps fare by Bee. ; and are fo teas’d by “em, that they are forc’d to quit the Kennels, which the better ‘and more induftrious Race huddles up to themfelves in the Fens. This fupine Beaver refembles the o- ther fort inits Figure, excepting that the Hair is tubed off the Back and the Belly, which is occafi- ond by their rubbing again{ft the Earth when they réturn to, or ftir out from their Holes. — 4 _ The Writers of Natural Hiftory are very much ut, in fancying that the Beavers cut off their own ‘Tefticles, when purfued by the Huntfmen ; for that: which the Phyficians call Ca/foreum, is not lodg’d in the Tefticles, but inacertain Bag that Nature feems to have form’d on purpofe for thefe Animals, and ‘this Bag they make ufe of toclear their Teeth, af- | Fi het ee Bread 4 he 1 POW Wale RUNS Sarai 1 RRR Pa FP Ri id bai ea hd ¢ t ‘ter the biting of fome gummy Shrub. But fuppo- — fing the Tefticlesto be the proper Receptacle of the Caftor, we muft flill conceive chat *tis impofii- ble for a Beaver to pull out his Tefticles; without. fending che Nerves of the Groin, in which they are feated juft by the Sharebone. *Tis manifett thar Ean and feveral other Naturalifts, were {carce acquaint- ed with Beaver-hunting; for had they known any thing of the mater, they would never have talk’d Of the purfuing of thefe Animals, which never ga from the fide of the Pond where their Kennels are ‘built; and which dive under water upon the leaft noife, and return to their Dens when the danger is over. If thefe Creatures were but fenfi- ble of the reafon for which War is declard againft “em, they would flea themfelves alive; for ‘tis their Skin only thatthe Huntfmen want, the value of the Caftor being nothing in comparifon with that. A great Beaver is twenty fix Inches long, fan Cae ‘Foo. Some New Voyages the hind-Head, to the root of the Tail. °Tis a- bout three Foot and eight Inches round, its Head. is feven Inches long, and fix broad ; its Tail is four- teen Inches long, and fix broad, and about the mid- dle it has the thicknefs of an Fach and two lines. The figure of the Tail isOval ; the Scale with which _ ‘tis cover’d, and which performs the Office of what. \ the Phyficians call the Epidermss or Scarf-skin, is an — ci oe Hexagon. The Beaver carries upon its Tail che Clay, the Earth and other Materials of which they make their Banks and Kennels, or Hutts, by a wonderful Inftinct. Its Ears are fhort, round, and hollow; its Legs are five Inches long, its Feet fix Inches and eight Lines, and its Paws are three Inches and a half from the Heel to the end of the sreat Toe. Its Paws are form’d much like a Man’s Hand, and they make ufe of “em in feeding, as Apesdo. The - five Toes are joyn’d like thofe of a Duck, with a _ Membrane of a Slate-colour. Its Eyes are ue the lef- fer fize, in proportion to the bulk of its Body, and bear the figure of a Rats Eyes. Before its Muzzle there are four Fore-Teeth or Cutters, oz. two in each Jaw, as in a Rabbet, befides which it has fix- teen Grinders, that is, eight in the upper, and as many in the lower Mandible. ‘The Cutters are a- bove an-Inch long, and + of an Inch broad, being © very ftrong and fharp like a Cutlas; for a "Beaver _affifted by its Affociates, ( if I may fo call its fellow - Beavers ) cuts down ,Trees as big asa Hogthead ; which I could never have believ’d, if I had not ob- | ferv’d with my own Eyes, above t twenty Trunks of © Trees cut down in that fafhion. A Beaver hastwo © lays of Hair ; one is long, and of a fhining black © colour, with a grain as big as that of Mans Hair 5 _ the otheris fine and fmooth, and in Winter fifteen 4 lines long: In a word, the laft is the fineft Down © in the World. ‘The Skin of uch a Beaver as have — - mow defcrib’d, will be two ae bie. ‘bur the © . ee price | at Ls “price varies according tothe goodnefs. In Winter and Autumn the Fiecth of a Beavereats very well,if ic be roafted. Thus, Sir, 1 have prefented you wich an ‘exact Defcription of thefe reputed Amphibious A- nimals which make fuch Structures, chat all the Are ‘of Man can {carce equal. Upon another occafion perhaps | may give youa circumftantial Account — of their wonderful Structure, which I decline at prefent, becaufe the Digreflion would be too te- dious. To return to my-Voyage. After our arrival in the Bay of Ponteouatams, we bid adieuto the Na- - -vigation upon the Lakes of Canada; and fetting out September 30, arriv'd Odober 2. at the foot of the fall of Kakalin, after ftemming fome little Currents in the River of Puants. Thenext day we accomplith’d the {mall Land-carriage, and on the s¢ arriv’d be- fore the Village of Kikapous, in the Neighbourhood of which I incamp’d the next day, in order to re- ceive Intelligence. That Village ftands upon the brink of a little Lake, in which the Savages fifh - | ‘great quantities of Pikes and Gudgeons. I found only thirty or forty Men fit for. War in the place, for the reft were gone a Beaver-hunting fome days before. The 74 I reimbarq’d, and rowing hard made in the Evening the little Lake of Adalomins, where we kill’d Bucks and Buftards enough for Sup- ~per. We wentafhoar that Night, and buile Hutes for our felves upon a point of Land that fhoots outs by .break of day I wentin a Canow to the Village, 0 i U2 ieee “ke eee eS MeN: “ © to North. America. - 109) 4 and after an hours Conference with fome of the Sa- . vages, prefented em with two Rolls of Tobacco, and they by way of Acknowledgment, made me_ _a prefent of two or three Sacks of Oatmeal : For the fides of the Lake are cover’d witha fore of Oats, which grows in tufts with a tall Stalk, and of which | the Savagesreap plentiful Crops. The 9rd I arriv’d at thefoot of Oxtagams Fort, where | found but few 4 LS ee . 110 Some New Voyages few People; however, they gave me a very kind Reception, for after dancing the Calumet before the Door of my Hutt, they made me a Prefent of Venifon and Fith. Next day they convey’d me up the River, to the place where their folks were hunc- ing the Beavers. ‘The 11+ we imbarq’d, and lan- ded the 13¢4 upon the fhoarof a little Lake, where the Head of that Nation refided. After we had _ rear'd up our Hutts, chat General gave mea Vifit, and inquir'd which way I intended tomove. I made an{wer, that I was fo far from defigning to march toward the Nadoueffous his Enemies, that L — Should not come near ’em by roo Leagues; and to confirm the innocence of my Intentions, I pray’d him co fend fix Warrious to accompany me to the long River, which I defign’d to trace up co its Source. He reply’d, chat he was extream glad to find that I carry’d neither Arts nor Cloaths to the Nadoueffious 5 that he faw Ihad not the equipage of a Coareur de Bois, but that on the contrary, I had fome difcove- ry in my view. At the fame time he’caution’d me not toventure too far up that Noble River, by reafon of the multitudes of People that £ would find there, though they have no ftomach for War: He mean’d, that fome numerous Party might fur- prife me in the Night-time. In the meantime, in- ftead of the fix. Warriours that I defird, he gave me ten, who underftood the Lingua, and knew the Country ‘of the Eokores, with whom his Na- tion had maintain’d a Peace of twenty years ftand- ing. I{tay’d two days with this General, during — which time fie regal’d me nobly, and walk’d about with meto give me the Satisfaction of obferving the difpofure of the Cottages of the Beaver-hunters 3 a defcription of which, you may expect in another place; 4 prefented him with a Fufee, twelve Flint- _ ftones, two pound of Poveder, four pound of Ball, . and a lich Axe, and I gave each of histwoSonsa — 3 | 3 “greats. f | to North America. ate preat Coat, anda Roll of Brafil Tobacco. Two ot the ten Warriours that he gave me, could {peak the Language of the Outacuas, which I was well pleas'd with; not that I wasa ftranger to their own Lan- guage, for between that and the Algonkin there is no ereat difference, but in regard that there were fe- veral words that puzled me. My four Outaouas were tranfported with this lictle Reinforcement, and were then fo incouraged, that they told me above four times, thac we might venture fafely fo far as the Plantation of the Sun. I embarged with thisfmall Guard the 167) about Noon, and arriv’d that Night at the Land-carriage of Ouifconfinc, which we fi- _nifh’d in two days, that is, we left the River of Puants, and tranfported our Canows and Baggage to the River Ou:/coafinc, which is not above three quarters of a League diftant, or thergabouts. I fhall fay nothing of the River we left, but that twas Muddy, ful! of Shelves, and inclofed with a fleep Coaft, Marfhes, and frightful Rocks. The 19th we embarqu’d upon the River O+//- confine, and being favour’d by a flack Current, ar- rivd in four days at the place, where it empties it felf into the River Adififipi, which is about half a League broadin that pare. The force of the Cur- rent, and thebreadth of that River, is much the fameas that of the Loire. Ic lies North-Eaft, and. South-Welt; and its fides are adorn’d with Meadows, lofty Trees and Firs. Lobferv’d but two Iflands up- on it, though there may be more, which the dark- -nefs of the Night hid from us as we came down. The 23¢ we landed upon an Ifland in the River Miffifipi, over againft the River I {poke of but now, and werein hopesto find fome wild Goats there, bue had the ill fortune to find none. The day af- ter we croft to ¢other fide of the River, founding ic every where, as wehad done the day before, and fcuad nine foot water in the fhalloweft place. The wa | | Vil swe OR 112, Some New Voyages 7 2d of November we made the Mouth of the Long River, having firft ftem’d feveral rapid Currents of that River, though ‘twas then at loweft Ebb. In this lictle paffage we kill’d feveral wild Beeves which we broil’d, and catch’d feverallarge Dabs. On the 3d we enter’d the Mouth of the Long River, which looks like a Lake full of Bull-rufhes ; we found in the middle of it a marrow Channel, upon- which we fteerd till Night, and then lay by to fleep in our Canows. Inthe Morning I enquird of my ten Outagame, if we had far to failbefore we were clear of the Rufhes, and receiv'd this anfwer, that they had never been in the Mouth of that River before, though at the fame time they affur’d me, that about twenty Leagues higher, the Banks of it were clad with Woods and Meadows. But after all we did not fail fo far, for about ten a Clock next Morning the River came pretty narrow, and the Shoar was cover’d with lofty Trees; and after continuing our courfe the reft of that day, we had a profpectof Meadows now andthen. Thatfame Night we landed at a pointof Land, witha defign to drefs our broil’d Meat, for at that time we had> mone frefhe The nexe day we ftop’d at the firft Ifland we faw, in which we found neither Man nor Beaft ; and the Evening drawing near, I was _ unwilling to venture far into it, fo wee’en con-. tented our felves with the catching of fome forry Fith. The 6tha gentle Gale {prung up, which wafted us to another Ifland about 12 Leagues higher, where a a i rapid River in the World. But the quicknefs of the paflage was not the only furprifal, for I was amaz'd- that I faw no Harts, nor Bucks, nor Turkeys, ‘ha- ving met with ’em all along in the other parts of my Difcovery. The 7b the fame Wind drove us to / ~ ta North-America. 113 ‘to. a.third Ifland, that lay tenor twelve Leagues off the former, which we quitted in the Morning. Inthis third Ifland our Savages kill’d thirty or forty . Pheafants, which I was not ill pleas’d with. _ The 84 the Wind proving unferviceable to. us, by reafon that ‘twas intercepted by Hills cover’d with Firs, we ply’d omr Oars; and about two inthe Afternoon, defcry’d on the left Hand large Mea- dows,and fome Hutts at the diflance of a quarter of a League fromthe River. Upon this Difcovery, our. Savages and ten of the Soldiers jump’d upon the ihoar, and directed their courfe to the Houfes, where _ they found fifty or fixty Huntfinen prepar’d to re- ceive ’em, with their Bows and Arrows. As foon as the Huntfmen heard the voice of the Outagams, © they threw down their Arms, and prefented the Company with fome Deer that they had juft killd, _ which they likewife help’d tocarry to my Canows, _ The Benefactors werefome of the Eokoros, who had - left. cheir Villages, and come thither to hunt. I pre-— fented ‘em, more out of Policy, than Acknowledg- ment, with Tobacco, Knives and Needles, which they could not but admire. Upon this, they re- _ paird with expedition to their Villages, and gave — their, Affociates to underftand, what a good fort of People they had met with ; which had fo much in- fluence, that the next day towards the Evening, there appear'd upon the River fide above two thou- -fand Savages, who fell a dancing as foon as they defcry’d us.. Thereupon, our Ovtagams went afhoar, and after a fhort Conference, fome of the princi- pal Savages imbarqu’d on board of our Canows, and fo weall fteer’d tothe chief Village, which we did mot reach till Midnight. I order’d our Hutts to be made up on a point of Land near a little Ri- ver, at the diftance of a quarter of a League from the Village. Though the Savages prefsd me ex-— treamly to lodge in one of am Villages, yet none ns Ha: ‘went a4 ~ Some New Voyages went with ’em but the Outagams, and the four Ov- taouas, who at the fame time caution’d the Savages. not to approach to our Camp in the Night-time. Next day Iallow’d my Soldiers to refrefh and reft themfelves; and went my felf to vific the Gran- dees of this Nation, to whom I gave Prefents of Knives, Ciffars, Needles, and Tobacco. They gave me to underftand, that they were infinitely well pleasd with our arrival in their Country, for that they had heard the Savages of other Nations {peak very honourably of the French. I took leave of em on the 124, and fet out with a Convoy of five or fix hundred Savages, who march’d upon the fhoar, keeping pace with our Canows. We pafs’d by a- nocher Village chat lay to the right Hand, and ftop’d at athird Village that was five Leagues diftant from the firft, but did not difimbarque: For all that [I defign’d, was to make a Prefent to the leading Men of the Village, from whom [ receiv’d more Indian Corn, and broil’d or dry’d Meat, than [had occafion for. In fine, I pafs’d from Village to Village without ftopping, unlefs ic were to incamp all Night, or to prefent the Savages with fome Trinkets; and fo {teer'd on to the laft Village, with a defign to get fome Intelligence. As foon as we arriv’d atthe end of this Village, the Great Governour, who in- deed was a venerable old Gentleman, fent out Hunt- ers to bring usgood Cheer. He inform’d me, that fixty Leagues higher I fhould meet with the Nation of the Effanapes, who wag’d War with him ; that if ic had not been for their being at War, he would have given me a Convoy to their Country; that, however he mean’d to give up to me fix Slaves of that Country, which I might carry home, and make ufe of as I faw occafion; and that in failing up the Ri- ver, | had nothing to fear, but the being furpriz'd in the Night-time. In fine, after he had inftruéted me in feveral very ufeful Circumftances, I — | ately Po te North America, anys ately made every, thing ready for my Departure. The Commanders of this People acquainted me, that they had twelve Villages peopled by 20000 Wartiours ; that their number was much greater before the War, which they wag’d at one time with the Nadoneffis, the Panimoba, and the Effanapes. ‘The People are very civil, and fo far from a wild Savage temper, that they have an Air of Humanity and Sweetnefs. Their Hutts are long, andround at the top, not unlike thofe of our Savages ; but chey are made of Reeds and Bulrufhes, interlac’d and cemented witha fort of fat Earth. Both the Men and the Women go na- ked allover, excepting their Privities. The Womenare not fo bhandfom, asthofe who live upon the Lakes of _ Canada. There feems to be fomething- of Govern- ment and Subordination among this People ; and they have their Houfes fortified with the branches of Trees, and Fafcines f{trengthen’d with fat Earth. — The 21 we imbarqu'd at the break of day, and landed that Night in an Ifland cover’d with Stones and Gravel, having pafs’d by another at which I would not putin, becaufe I would not flight the opportunity of the Wind, which then ftood very fair. Next day the Wind ftanding equally fair, we fet out and continued our courfeall that Day, and the following Night; for che fix Effanapes in- form’d us, that the River was clean, and free from Rocks and Beds of Sand. The 23 we landed early in the Morningon the'right fide of che River, in order to careen one of our Boats that fprung a Leak. Whilethat was a doing, we dreft fome Ve- nifon that had been prefented meby the Comman- der of the laft Village of the Eokoros ; and the ad- jacent Country: being replenifh’d wich Woods, the Savages of our Company went a fhooting in the - Forefts ; but they faw nothing but {mall Fowls, that they did not think fit to fhoot at. As foon as we reimbarqu’d, the Wind fell all of a fudden, andfo ie | md 2 co WE - Pe 116 Some New Voyages we were forc’dto ply the Oars; but moft of the | Crew having flept but little the Night before, they row’d but very faintly, which oblig’d me to put in: at a great Ifland two Leagues higher; the fix E/- fanapes Slaves having inform’d me, that this Ifland _ afforded great plenty of Hares, which I found to be true. Thefe Animals had a lucky Inftin@ in taking fhelter in this Ifland, for there the Woods are fo chick, that we were fore’d to fet fire to feve- ral places, before we could diflodge ’em. Having made an end of our Game, my Soldi- ers fed heartily, and thereupon fell fo found afleep, that I could {carce get ’em wak’d upona falfe A- larm, occafion’d. by a Herd of Wolves that made a noife among the Thickets upon the Continent. We reimbarqued next day at ten a Clock in the Morn- ing, and did not run above twelve Leagues in two days, by reafon that the Savages of our Company would needs walk alongthe River fide with their Guns, to fhoot Geefe and Ducks; in which they had very good Succefs. After that we incampt juft by the Mouth of a little River en che right Hand, and the Effanapes Slaves gave me notice, that the firft of their Villages was not above fixteen or eighteen Leagues off. Upon this Information, I fent, by the advice of the Savages of cur Company, two of the Slaves té give notice of our arrival. The 26th we row’d briskly, in hopes to reach the firft Village that day ; but being retarded by the huge quantities of float- ing Wood, that we met in feveral places, we were forc’d to continue all Night in our Canows, The 279th about ten or eleven a Clock we approach’d to the Village, and after putting up the great Calumet of Peace upon the Prow of our Canows, lay upon our QOars. eens un | Upon our firlt appearance, three or four hundred Effanapes came running to the fhoar, and, after dan- cing juft over againft us, inviced us afhoar. As foon | | | : ) o to North-America. 117 as we caine near the fhoar, they began to jump in- to our Canows; but I gave ’em to know by the— four Effanapes Slaves, that [ defir'd they fhould re- tire, which they didimmediately. Then I landed, being accompany’d with the Savages of our Com- pany, namely, the Outagama, and the Outaouas, and with cwenty Soldiers. At the fame time I gave or- ders to my Sergeants, to land and poft Centries. As we ftood upon the fhoar, all the E/fanapes proftra- ted themfelves three or four times before us, with their Hands upon their Foreheads; after which we were convoy’dto the Village with fuch Acclamati- ons of Joy, as perfeétly ftun’d us. Upon our arri- val at the Gate, our Conductors ftop’d us, till che Governour, a Man of fifty years of Age, march’d out with five or fix hundred Men arm‘d with Bows and Arrows. The Ostagamis of my Company per- ceiving this, charg’d “em with Infolence in receiv- ing Strangers with cheir Arms about ’em, and call’d out in the Eokoros Language, that they ought to lay __down their Arms. But the Effanapes Slaves that -E | had fentin thé day before, came upto me, and » pave meto underfland, that ’twas their cuftom to ftand to their Arms on fuch occafions, and that . there was no danger in the cafe. However, the ob- ftinate Oxtagams oblig’d us to retire immediately to our Canows: Upon which the Leading Officer, and the whole Battalion, flung their Bows and Ar- _ rows afide all on afudden. Then I return’d, and our whole Company enter’d the Village with their Fufees in their Hands, which the Savages admir’d mightily. The Leader of the Savages conducted us to a great Hutt, which look’d as if no body had liv’d in it before. When I and my twenty Soldiers had enter'd the place, they ftop’d the Outagamis, affirming, that they did not deferve the priviledge - of entring within the Cottage of Peace, fince they had endeavour’d to create a difference, and occafi- | | | 3 | on \ 118 Some New Voyages on a War between us and the Effanapes. In the _mean time I order’d my Men to open the Door, © and to callout to che Outagame, that they fhould offer no manner of Injury: But the Ostagams in ftead of coming in, prefs’ me to return with all expedition to the Canows, which accordingly I did, without lofs of time, and carry’d with me the four Ejjanapes Slaves, in order to leave ’em atthe firft Village we cameto. Wehad no fooner imbarqued, than the twoother Slavescame to acquaint me that the Governor would ftop me in his River; but the Outagams made anfwer, that he could not do that without throwing a Mountain into it. In — fine, we did not ftand to difpute the matters and _ tho ’cwas then late, we row’d ftraight to the next Village, which lay about three Leagues off. Du- ting the time of this paflage, I usd che precaution of taking from my fix Slaves an exaé information of the Conflituticn’of their Country, and particu- larly of the principal Village. They having affur'd me, that the Capital Canton was feated upon a fort of a Lake, I took up\a Refolution of not {topping at the other Villages, where I fhould only lofe time, andlavifh my Tobacco, and fteering di- rectly to the Adctropolitan, in order to complain to - their Generaliflimo. : : Pie , We arriv’d at the Capital Canton on the 3d of November, and there met. with a very honourable Reception. The Oxtegamis of our Company com- plain’d of the affront they had receiv’d; but the Head General being already inform’d of the mat- ter, made anfwer, that they ought to have carry’d off the Governour or Leading Officer, and brought him along with them. In pafling from the firft Vil- lage to this we run fifty Leagues, and were follow’d by a Proceffion of People, that} were much more fociable than the Governour that offerd us that AF front. Afcer our Men had ficted up our Hutts a | ; Sa ene to North-America. BI 9 the diftance of a Cannon fhot from the Village ; we wentina joynt body with the Ouragamis and . the Outaouas, to the Cacick of that Nation; and in the mean time the E//anapes Slaves were brought be- fore him by ten of my Soldiers. { was adtually in the prefence of thispetty King, when thefe Slaves fpente half an hour in proftrating themfelves feveral times before him. I made him a Prefene of Tobacco, Knives, Needles, Ciffars, two Firelocks with Flints, fome Hooks, and a very pretty Cutlas. He was better fatisfied with thefe trifling things, which he had never feen before, than I cou!d have been with a plentiful Fortune. He teftified his Acknowledg- ment of the Gift, by a Counter-prefent that was more folid, though not much more valuable, as confifting of Peafe, Beans, Harts, Roe-bucks, Geefe and Ducks, of which he fenc great plenty to our Camp: And indeed, we were extreamly. well fatis- fied with fuch a feafonable Prefent. He gave me to know, That, fince I defign’d to vifit the Guacfi- | _ tares, he would give me a Convoy of two or three hundred Men: That the Guac/itares were a very ho- neft fort of People; and that both they and his People were link’d by a common intereft in guard- ing off the Mozeemlek, which were a turbulent and _ warlike Nation. He added, that the Nation laft -mention’d were very numerous; that they never took the Field without twenty thoufand Menat leaft : _ Thatto reprefs the Incurfions and Infults of chat dangerous Enemy, the Gzac(itares and his Nation had maintain’d a Confederacy tor fix and twenty years ;__ and that his Allies ( the Guacfitares ) were forc’d to take up their Habitation in Iflands, where the Ene- my cannot reach’em. I was glad to accept of his Convoy, and return’d him many thanks. I ask’d four Pirogues of him, which he granted very frank- ly, allowing meto pick and choofe that number out of fifty. Having thus concerted my Meafures, I | I 4 was 120 «= Some New Voyages : was refolv’'d to lofe no times and with that view order'd my Carpenters to plane the Pirogues’s by which they were thinner ancl lighter by onehalf. The poor innocent People of this Country, could not conceive how we work’d withan Axe; every ftroke we gavetheycryd out, asif they had feen fome new Prodigy 3 nay, the firing of Piftols could not divert em fromthat Amazement, though they were equally ftrangers both to the Piftol and the Axe. As foon as my Pirogues were got ready, I left my Canows with the Governour or Prince, and beg’d of him that they might remain untouch’d by any body ; in which point he was very faithful to me. I cannot but acquaint you in this place, that the higher I went up the River, I met with more dif- cretion from the Savages. Butin the meantime I muft not take leave of the Jaft Village, without giv- — ing fome account of it. Tis bigger than all the reft, andis the Refidence of the Great Commander. or Generaliffimo, whofe Apartment is built by ic felf towards the fide of the Lake, and furrounded with fifty other Apartments, in which all his Rela- tions arelodg’d. When he walks, his wayisftrowd , with the leaves of Trees: But commonly he isk: carry d by fix Slaves. His Royal Robes are of the’ % fame Magnificence with thofe of the Commander ~ of the Okoros : For he is naked all over, excepting his lower parts, which are cover’'d with a large _ Scarf made of the barks of Trees. The large extent of this Village might jufily inticle it to the name of a City. The Houfes are built almoft like Ovens, . but they are large and high; and moft of ’em are cf Reeds cemented with fat Earth. The day be- fore T left chis place, as I was walking about, I faw thirty or forty Women running at full {peed ; and being furprisd wich the fpeGacle, {poke to the Ox- tagamis to order my four Slaves to fee what the matter was; for thefe Slaves vyere my only Interpreters * | to North America, 123 this unknown Country. Accordingly they brought me word, that twas fome new married Women, who were running to receive the Soul of an old Fellow that lay a dying. From thence I concluded, that the People were Pythagoreans ; and upon that Apprehenfion, ask’d’em how they came to eat A- _ nimals, into which their Souls might be transfus‘d : But they made anfwer, thac che Tranfmigration of Souls is always confin’d to the refpedtive Species, fo that the Soul of a Mancannot enter into a Fow}, © as that of a Fow! cannot be lodg’d in a quadruped, - andfoon. The Okoros, of both Sexes, are fully as handfom and as clever, asthis People. December the 4th, I took leave of this Village, ha- ving ten Soldiers on board of my Pirogue, befides the ten Oumamis, the four Outaouas,and the four Effa- napes Slaves, that I have mention’d fo often. Here ended the Credit and Authority of the Calumer of | Peace, for theGwacftares are not acquainted with that Symbol of Concord. The firft day we had enough to doto run fix or feven Leagues, by rea- fon of the Bulrufhes with which the. Lake is in-— cumberd. ‘The two following days we fail’d twen- . - ty Leagues. ‘The 4th day a Weft-North-Weft wind furpris'd us with fucha boifterous violence, that we were forced to pur afhoar, and lay two days upon a fandy Ground, where we were in danger of ftar- ving for Hunger and Cold ; for the Country was fo barren, that we could not find a chip of Wood wherewith to warm our felves, or todrefs our Vidtu- als; and as far as cur Eye could reach, there was -- nothing to be feen but Fens cover’d with Reeds _ and Clay, and naked Fields. Having indur’d this Hardfhip we fet out again, and row’d to a little Ifland, upon.which we incamp’d, but found no- _ thing there but green Fields; however, to makefome amends we filh’d up great numbers of little Trouts, upon which we fed very heartily. At laft, after | | failing 122 Some New Voyages failing fix days more, we arriv’d at the Point or Lands-end of that Ifland which you fee mark’d in my Map with a Flower-de-luce. *Iwas then the r9th day of Decerwber, and we had not yet felc all the rigorous Hardihips of the Cold. As foon as I had landed and fitted up my Tents or Hutts, I de- tach’d my Effanapes Slaves to the firft of the three Villages that lay before us; for I had avoided ftop- ping at fome Villages in an Ifland upon which we coafted in the Night-time. The Slaves return’d in a great Alarm, occafion’d by the unfavourable An- fwer they receiv’d from the Guacfitares, who took us ~ for Spaniards, and were angry with them for con- ducting us to their Country. I fhall not be minute in every Particular that happen’d, for fear of tyring your Patience “Tis fufficient to acquaint you, that _ upon the Report of my Slaves I immediately em- bark’d, and pofted my felf in another [land that lay in the middle between the great Ifland and the Continent; but I did not fuffer the Effanapes to be inmy Camp. Inthe mean time the Gaacfitares fert expeditious Couriers to the People that live eighty Leagues to.the Southward of them, to defire they would fend fome of their number to examine us ; for that People were fuppos‘d to be well acquainted with the Spaniards of New Mexico. The length,of the Journey did not difcourage em, for they came as chearfuily as if it had been upon a National Con- cern: and after taking a view of our Cloaths, our Swords, our Fufees, our Air, Complexion, and manner of Speech, were forc’d to own that we were not true Spaniards? Thelé Confiderations, join’d to the Account I gave ’em of the Reafons upon which I undertook the Voyage, of the War we were ingagd in again{t Spain, and of the Country to the Eaftward that we poffefs’d; thefe, I fay, had fo much influ- ence, as to undeceive ‘em. Then they invited me co encamp in their Ifland, and brought mea im of wee Asrain to North-America, 123 Grain not unlike our Lentils, that grows plentifully in that Country. I thank’d ’em for their Invitation, and told em that I would not be oblig’d to diftruft them, nor give them any occafion to diftruft me. However, I crofs’d with my Savages and ten Sol- Giers well arm’d ; and after breaking the Ice in cer- tain places ( for it had freez’d hard for ten or twelve days ) I landed within two Leagues of one:of their Villages, to which I walk’d up by Land. *Tis need- Jefs to mention the Particulars of the Ceremony with which I was receivd, it being the fame with what I defcrib’d upon other occafions ; I fhall only take occa- _ fion to acquaint you, that my Prefents made a won- derful Impreffion upon the Minds of thefe People, whom I fhall call a rafcally Rabble, cho’ at the fame time they are the politeft Nation I have yet feen in this Country. Their Governour bears the Figure of a King more than any of the other Commanders of the Savages. He hasan abfolure Dominion over all the Villages which are defcrib’d in my Map. In this and the other Iflands I {aw large Parks, or Inclofures, ftock’d with wild Beeves for the ufe of the People. I had an Interview for two hours together with the Go- vernour, or the Cacick; and almoft our whole Confe- rence related to the Spaniards of New Mexico, who, as — he affured me, were not diftant from his Country a- bove eighty Zazous, each of which is three Leagues. [ muft own indeed, 1 was as curious upon this Head as he was; and I wanred an Account of the Spaui- ards from him, as much as he did from me: In fine, we reciprocally inform’d one another of a great ma- ny Particulars relating to that Head. He requefted me to accept of a great Houfe that was prepar’d for | me; and his firft piece of Civility confifted in calling in a great many Girls, and prefling me and my Re- tinue to ferve our felves, Had this Temptation been thrown in our way at a more feafonable time, it had provd irrefiftible ; but “twas not an agreeable a for 124 Some New Voyages | for Paflengers that were infeebled by Labour and Want. Sine Cerere <» Baccho friger Venus. After he _ made us fuch a civil Proffer, the Savages, upon my inflance, reprefented to him, that my Detachment expected me at a certain hour, and that if I ftay’d longer, they wouid be in pain for me. This Adven- ture happen’d on the 7th of ‘Fanuary, , ‘Two days after, the Cacick came to fee me, and brought with him four hundred of his own Subjeas, and four Adozcemlck, Savages, whom I took for Spa- nicrds. My Miltake was occafion’d by the great dif- ference between thefe two American Nations ; for, the Mozcemick Savages were cloath’d, they had a * thick bufhy Beard, and their Hair hung down un- der their Ears; their Complexion was fwarthy, their Addrefs was civil and fubmiffive, their Meen grave, ‘and their Carriage engaging. Upon thefe Confide-. rations I could not imagine that they were Savages, tho’ after all I found my felf miftaken. Thefe four Slaves gave mea Defcription of their Country, which the Gnacfitares reprefented by way of a Map upon a Deer’s Skin; as you fee it drawn in this Map. Their Villages ftand upon a River that {prings out of a ridge of Mountains, from which the Long River likewife derives its Source, there being a great. many Brooks there which by a joint Confluence form the River. - When the Guacfitares have a mind to hunt wild Beeves, they fet out in Pirogues, which they make ufe of till chey come to the Crofs markd thus (-+) in - the Map, atthe Confluence of two little Rivers. The Hunting of the wild Bulls, with which all the Val- leys are cover'd in Summer, is fometimes the occafi- on of a cruel War: For the other Crofs (+-) which you fee in the Map is one of the Boundaries or Li- mits of Mozeemlek; and if either of thefe two Nati- ons advances but a little beyond their Limits, it pives Rife to a bloody Engagement. The Mountains I {poke of but now, are fix Leagues broad, and ger | Ha a that 3 ; mee pee NT PE we te ra fii hk a 8 ae la g ; : ih | : 7 ; ayes tae (| «to North America. T2575 | that one muft caft an infinity of Windings and Tur- nings before he can crofs’em. Bears and wild Beals are their only Inhabitants. — | 4 The Mozeemleck Nation is numerous and puiflant. The four Slaves of that Country inform’d me, that at the diftance of 150 Leagues from the Place where I then was, their principal River empties it felf into a Salt Lake of three hundred Leagues in Circumfe- rence, the mouth of which is abour two Leagues broad: That the lower part of chat River is adorn’d with fix noble Cities, furrounded with Stone cemen- ted with tat Earth: That the Houfes of thefe Ciries have no Roofs, but are open above like a Platform, as you fee *°em drawn in the Map: That befides the abovemention’d Cities, there were above an hundred Towns, great and fmall, round that fort of Sea, up- on which they navigate with fuch Boats as you fee drawn in the Map: That the People of that Country made Stuffs, Copper Axes, and feveral other Mann- factures, which the Ouwtagams and my other Inter- preters could not give me to underftand, as being al- together unacquainted with fuch things: Thac their Government was Defpotick, and lodg’d in the hands of one great Head, to whom the reft paid a trem- bling Submiffion: That the People upon that Lake call chemfelves Tahuglauk, and are as numerous as _ the Leaves of Trees, ( {uch is the Expreffion that the Savages ufe for an Hyperbole: ) That the Adozecenlek People fupply the Cities or Towns of the Tahaglauk with great numbers of little Calves, which they take upon the abovemention’d Mountains: and, That the Tabuglauk make ufe of thefe Calves for feveral ends; for, they not only eat their Flefh, bur bring °em up to Labour, and make Cloaths, Boots, ee. of their Skins. They added, That ‘twas their Mit fortune to be took Prifoners by the Gvac/itares in the War which had lafted for eighteen Years ; bur, that they hoped a Peace would be {peedily concluded, Ge. ‘upon 126 Some New Voyages upon which the Prifoners would be exchang’d, pur- fuant to the ufual Cuftom. They glory’d in the poffeflion of a greater meafure of Reafon than the Gnacfitares could pretend to, to whom they allow no more than the Figure of a Man; for they look upon ‘em as Beafts otherwife. To my mind, their Notion — upon this Head is not fo very extravagants. for I ob- ferv’d fo much Honour and Politenefs in the Con- verfation of thefe four Slaves, that I thought. I had to do with Europeans: But, after all, I malt confefs, that the Guwacfitares are the moft tractable Nation I met with among all the Savages. One of the four Mozeemlek Slaves had a reddith fore of a Copper Me- dal hanging upon his Neck, the Figure of which is — _ reprefented in the Map. I had it melted by Mr. de Pontis Gun-fmith, who underftood fomething of | Mettals; but it became thereupon heavier, and deep- er colourd, and withal fomewhat tractable. I defir’d the Slaves to give mea circumftantial Account of thefe Medals; and accordingly they gave me to un- derftand, that they are made by the Tabuglauk, who are excellent Artizans, and put a great value upon fuch Medals. I could pump nothing farther out of "em, with relation co the Country, Commerce and Cuftoms of that remote Nation. All they could fay was, thatthe great River of that Nation runs all a- long Weftward, and chat the'fale Lake into which it falls is three hundred Leagues in Circumference, and thirty in breadth, ics Mouth itretching a great way to the Southward. I would fain have fatisfied my Curiofiry in being an eye-witnefs of the Manners and Cuftoms of the Tabuazlavk; but that being im- practicable, I was forc’d to be inftructed at fecond hand by thefe Adozeemlck Slaves; who afiur'd me, upon the Faith of a Savage, that the Taéuglauk wear their Beards two Fingers breadth long; that cheir Garments reach down to their Knees; that they co- ver their Heads with a fharp-pointed Cap; that they pee always =e) to North America. 127 always wear a long Stick or Cane in their hands, ‘which is tipp’d, not unlike what we ufe in Ex- ropes that they wear a fort of Boots upon their Legs which reach up to the Knee; chat their Women ne- ver fhew themfelves, which perhaps proceeds..from_ the fame Principle that prevails in Italy and Spain 5 and, in fine, that this People are always at War with © the puiffant Nations that are feated in the Neigh- bourhood of the Lake; but withal, that they never difquiet the ftrowling Nations that fall in their way, by reafon of their Weaknefs: An admirable Leffon for fome Princes in the World, who are fo much in- tent upon the making ufe of the ftrongeft hand. This was all I could gather upon that Subje&t. My Curiofity prompted me to defire a more particular Account 3; but unluckily I wanted a good Interpre- ter: and having to do with feveral Perfons that did not well underftand themfelves, I could make no- thing of their incoherent Fuftian. I prefenced the poor miferable Slaves with fomecthing in proportion to the Cuftom of that Country, and endeavour’d to erfwade ’em to go with me to Canada, by making ?em fuch Offers as in their efteem would appear like Mountains of Gold: but the love they had for cheir Country ftifled all Perfwafion; fo true it is, that Na- ture reduc‘ to its juft Limits cares but little for Riches. | In the mean time it began to thaw, and the Wind chop’d about to the South-weit; upon which I gave notice to the great Cacique of the Guac/itares, that I had a mind to return to Canada. © Upon that occafion Irepeated my Prefents ; in compenfation of which, my Pirogues were ftow’d with Beef as full as they could hold. This done, I embark’d, and crofs’d o- ver from the little Ifland to the Continent, where I fix'd a great long Pole, with the Arms of France done upon a Plare of Lead. I fet our the 26th of Fannary, and arriv’d fafe on the sth of Feérwary in the Country of \ 128 Some New Voyages of the Effmapes. We had much more pleafure in failing down the River, than we had in going up; for we had the agreeabie diverfion of feeing feveral Huntfinen fhooting the Water-Fowl, that are plen- tiful upon that River. You muft know, that the Stream of the Long River is all along very flack and eafie, abating for about three Leagues between the fourteenth and fifteenth Village ; for chere indeed its Current may be calld rapid. The Channel is fo ftraight, that ic fcarce winds at all from the Head to the Lake. ’Tis true ’tis not very pleafanc; for moft of irs Banks have a difmal Profpecét, and the Water it felf has an ugly Tafte: but then its Ufefulnefs at- tones for fuch Inconveniencies; for, tis navigable with the greateft cafe, and will bear Barques of fifty Tun, till you come to that place which is mark’d with a Flower-de-luce in the Map, and where I put up the Poft that my Soldiers chriften’d /a Hontau’s Li- mit. March 2. Larriv’d in the Adififpi, which was then much deeper and more rapid than before, by reafon of the Rains and Land-floods. To fave the Labour of Rowing, we then left our Boats to the Current, and arriv’d on the roth in the Ifland of “Rencontres, which took its Name from the Defeat of 400 Irequefe, accomplith’d there by 300 Nadoueffis. The Story of the Encounter is briefly this: A Party of 400 Iroquefe having a mind to furprife a certain People in the Neighbourhood of the Orentas (of whom more anon ) march’d to the Country of the Tinefe, where they buile Canows, and were furnilh’d with Provifions. After that they embark’d upon the Ri- ver Milifipi, and were difcoverd by another lictle Fleet that was failing down the orher fide of the fame River. The Iroque/e crofs'd over immediately to that Tiland, which is fince call’d dux Rencontres. The Nadoueffis, i.e. the othe litle: Fleet, being {ulpici- ous of forne ill Defgn, without knowing what Peo. pie they were, (for they had no knowledge of the : : Troquefe Cay URE OLS T eae OE tee Pow ohm wide ee ae North: America. 129 . Froquefe but by Hear-fay; upon this fufpicion, I fay, they tuge’d hard to come up with ‘em. The two Armies pofted themfelves upon the point of the | Hand, where the two Crofles are put down in the Map; and as foon as the Nadouefis came in fight, the Troquefe cry’d out in the IWinefe Language, Who are ye2 ‘To which the Nadonefis anfwer’d, Some body: And putting the like Queftion to the Iroquefe, receiv’d the - fame Anfwer. Then the Ircquefe put this Queftion to ‘em, Where are you a going ? To hunt Beeves, reply’d the Nadoueffis. But pray, fays the Nadoueffis, what's your bufine(s? To hunt Men, reply’d the Iroquefe. °Tu well, fays the Nardouelfis, we are men, and fo you need go.no farther. Upon this Challenge the two Parties difembark’d, and the Leader of the Nadoueffis cut his Canows to pieces; and after reprefenting to his War- riours that they behov’d either to Conquer or Die, march’d up to the Iroquefes who receiv'd,’em at firft Onfet with a Cloud of Arrows: But the Nadoue/ffis having ftood their firft Difcharge, which kill’d em eighty Meni, fell in upon ’em with their Clubs in their hands, before the others could charge agains _and fo routed ’em entirely. This Engagement lafted for two hours, and was fo hort, that two hundred and fixty Iroquefe fell upon the {pot, and the reft were ail taken Prifoners. Some of the Iroque/e indeed at- tempted to make their Eicape after che AGion was over 3 but the victorious General fent ten or twelve of his Men to purfue *em in one of che Canows that he had taken: and accordingly they were all over- _ taken and drown’d. The Nadoueffis having obtain’d this Victory, cuc off the Nofes and Ears of two of the clivereft Prifoners ; and fupplying ’em with Fue fees, Powder, and Ball, gave.*em the liberty of re- turning to their own Country, in order to give their Country-men to underftand, that they oughe not te employ Women to hunt after Men any longer. K comes st Vay RA oe UE Oe 130 —— Some New Voyages eran The 12th we arriv’d at the Village of the Otentar, where we took in a plentiful Provifion of Turkey Corn, of which thefe People have great ftore.. They inform’d us, that their River was pretty rapid, and took its Rife from the neighbouring Mountains; and that the upper part of it was adorn’d with feveral Villa- ges inhabited by the People call’d Panimaba, Paneaffa, and Panetonka. But confidering that I was ftraitned for time, and that I faw no probability of learning what I wanted to know with reference to the Spani- ards; 1 took leave of ’em the next day, which was. _ the 13th, and in four days time, by the help of the - Current and our Oars, made the River of the'Adiffoura. This done, we run up againit the Stream of that Ri- ver, which was at leaft as rapid as the A4i/i/ipi was at that time; and arriv‘d on the 18th at the firft Village of the Miffours, where I only ftop’d to make the People fome Prefents that procur’d me a hundred Turkeys, with which that People are wonderfully well ftock’d. After that, we row’d hard againft the Stream, and landed next night near the fecond Vil- lage. As foon as I arriv’d, I detach’d a Sergeant with ten Soldiers to convoy the Outagams to the Village, while che reft of my Crew were bufied in fitting up our Hutts and unloading our Canows. It happen’d unluckily that neither the Soldiers nor the Outagams could make the Savages underitand “em; and the latter were juft ready to fall upon “em, when an old _ Fellow cry’d out, that the Strangers were not with- ‘out more company, for that he had difcoverd our Huts and Canows. Upon this, the Soldiers and the — Outagamie reurd in a great Confternation, and ad- visd me to keep a ftrong Guard all night. About two a clock in thé Morning two Men approach d to ~ our licele Camp, and call’d in Iinefe, that they wan- ted an Interview ; upon which the Outagamu, being extreamly well farished that there was fome body a- - mong ’em who could underftand what they tai on Mn er ee PON ME el ar to North-America. 131 ply’d in Winefe, that they fhould be very welcome as —foon as the Sun appear’d in the Horizon. Neverthe- lefs, the Outagams refented the former Affront fo much, that chey importun’d me all nighe long to fet fire to the Village; and put all the fcoundrel Inhabi- tants to the Sword. I made anfwer to ’em, that / 7ewas our bufinefs to be wifer than they, and tobend — our Thoughts, not upon a fruiclefs Revenge, but upon the Difcovery that we were then if queft of. Act the break of Day the two Adventurers of the Night came up to. us, and after putting Interrogato- fies to us for the {pace of two hours, invited us td come up to their Village. The Outagamzs reply'd, _ that the Head or Governour of their Nation ought to have faluted us fooner: and this oblig’d em to go back to give him notice. After that we faw no bo- dy for three hours: but at Jaft, when our Impatience was juft beginning to boil, we perceiv’d the Gover- nour, who accofted us in a trembling Pofture. He was accompany’d with fome of his own Men, who were loaded with broil’d or dry’d Meat, Sacks of Tur- key or Indiax Corn, dry’d Raifins, and fome fpeckled oer particolourd Buck-skins. In confideration of this Prefent, | made em another of lefs confequence. Then I brought on a Conference between the Outa- gama of my Company and the two Night Meffen- gers, in order. to make fome difcovery of the Naturé of the Country; but they {till ftop’d our Mourhs with this Anfwer, that they knew noching of the ‘Matter, but chat the other Nations thac Jiv’d higher up were able to inform us. Had I been of the fameé mind with the Ostagams, we had done noble Ex- ploits in this Place: but I confider’d that ’cwas my bufinefs to purchafe the Knowledge of feveral things, which I could not obtain by burning the Village. To be fhort,we re-embark’d that fame day ,about two a clock in the Afcernodti; and row’d about four. Leagues vp the Raver; where we made the River of * : kh 2 the vee Some New Voyages the Ofages, and encamp’d by its Mouth. That Night we had feveral falfe Alarms from the wild Beeves, up- on which we made fufficient Reprifals afterwards s for the next day we kill’d many of ’em notwithftand- ing that it rain’d fo heavily that we could fcarce ftir out of our Hutts. Towards the Evening, when the Rain was over, and while we were tranfport- ing two or three of thefe Beeves to our little Camp, we {py’d an Army of the Savages upon a full March towardsus. Upon that, my Men began to antrench themfelves, and to unload their Pieces with Worms, in order to charge ’em afrefh; but one of the Piects happening to go off, the whole Body of the Enemy difappear’d, fome ftrageling one way, and fome another: for thefe People were upon the fame foot with the Nations chat live upon the Long River, forafmuch as neither of them had ever feen or handied Fire-Arms. However, this Adventure mov’d the Outagamz fo much, that to fatisfie them, I was oblig’d to re-embark that very night, and re- turn the fame way that I carne. Towards Midnight we came before a Village, and kept a profound Si- lence till Day-break, at which time we row’d up to their Fort; and upon our entring there, and difchar- sing our Pieces in the Air, the Women, Children, and fuperannuated Men, were put into fuch a Con- {fternation, that they run from place to place calling outfor Mercy. You muft know, al! their Warriours were abroad, and *twas a Body of them that offer’d to attack us the day before. The Oxtagamis percei- ving the Confternation of the Women and Children, call’d our, that they behov’d to depart the Village, and that the Women fhould have time to take up their Children. Upon that the whole Crew turn’d / out, and we fet fire co the Village on all fides. This done, we purfu’d our Courfe down that rapid River, and enter'd che River Adi/iipi on the 25th, early in the Morning: the 26th, about three a clock rad | ) ; (¢r~ to North-America. 133 Afternoon, we defcry’d three or four hundred Sava- ges employ’d in the Hunting of Beeves, which fwar- med in all the Meads to the Weftward. As foon as the Hunters fpy’d us, they made a fign that we fhould make towards’em. Being ignorant wha, or how numerous they were, we made a halt at firft 5 but at laft we putin about a Musket-fhot above ’em, ailing out to em that they fhould not approach to us ina Body. Upon that, four of their number came up to us with a f{miling Countenance, and gave us to know, in the J/inefe Language, that they were Akan{as. We could not but credit their Report, for — they had Knives and Sciffars hanging upon theic Necks, and little Axes about ’°em, which the Iinefe prefent ’em with when they meet. In fine, being affur’d that they were of that Nation, which Mr. de a Salle and feveral other French.men were intimately acquainted with, we landed at the fame place; and they entertain’d us firft with Dancing and Singing, and then with all forts of Meat. The next day they fhew’d us.a Crocodile that they had knock’d in the head two days before, by a Stratagem that you'll find defcrib’d in another place: After that they gave us the diverfion of a Hunting Match; for ’tis cufto- mary with them, when they mean cto divert them- _ felves, to catch the Beeves by the different Methods laid down inthis Cur. I put fome Queftions to “em relating to the Spaniards, but they could not refolve ‘em. All chat I learn’d from ’em was, that the Mi/- fours and the Ofages are numerous and miichievous Nations, equally void both of Courage and Honelty 3 that their Countries were water’d with very great | Rivers; and, in a word, were too good for them. After we had {pent two days wich them, we pur- fued our Voyage to the River Ouabach, taking care to watch the Crocodiles very narrowly, of which they had told us incredible Stories. The next day we enterd the Mouth of that River, and founded ic, Nee K 3 tO 434 Some New Voyages metry the truth of what the Savages reported of its depth. In effect, we found there three Fathom and ahalf Water; but the Savages of our Company al- ledg’d, chat twas more {well’d than ufually. They | all agreed, that twas Navigable an hundred Leagues up, and I with’d heartily, that my time had allow’d me to run up to its Source; but that being unfeafo- nable, I fail’d up againft the Stream, till we came to the River of the Iinefe, which we made on the gth of April wich fome difficulty, for the Wind was againft usthe firlt two days, and the Currents was very rapid. | | AllI can fay of the River A4{ifpi, now that I am cto take leave of it, is, chat its narroweft part is half a League over, and the fhalloweftisa Fa- thom and a half deep;.and that according to the information of the Savages, its ftream is pretty gen- tle for feven or eight Months of the year. As for Shelves or Banks of Sand, E met with none in it. “Tis full of Ifles which look like Groves, by reafon of the great plenty of Trees, and in the verdant feafon of the year afford a very agreeable profpect. Its Banks are Woods, Meadows and Hills. I cannos be pofitive, whether ic winds much in other places ; batas far as I could fee, its courfe is very different from that of our Rivers in Frances for I mutt tell you by the way, that allthe Rivers of America run pretty Hraighe. : ! The River of che H/nefe is intitled to Riches, by vertue of the benign Climate, and of the great quan- — titiesof Deer, Roe-Bucks, and Turkeys that feed ypon ics brinks: Not to mention feveral other Beafts and Fowls, a defcription of which would require anintire Volume. If you faw but my Journal, you | would be fick of the tedious particulars of our dai- ly Adventures both in Hunting and Fifhing divers {pecies of Animals,and in Rencounters with the Sava- ges. In fhort, the laft thing 1 fhall mention of this 3 . 2 River, to NortheAmerica. 135 River, is, that the Banks are replenifh’d with an infinity of Fruit-Trees, which we faw ina difmal condition , as being ftrip’d of their verdure ; and that among thefe Fruit-Trees, there are many Vines, which bear moft beautiful Clufters of very large Grapes. gate fome of thefe Grapesdry’d in theSun, which had a moft delicious Tafte. The Beavers are as unfrequent in this, as in the long River, where I faw nothing but Orters, of which the People make Furs forthe Winter. BS | I fet out from the IWinefe River on the 1oth of April, and by the help of a Weft South-Weft Wind, | arriv'din fix days at the Fort of Crevecoeur, where I met with Mr. de Tonti, who receiv'd me with all ima- ginable Civility , and is juftly refpected and ho- nourd by the Iroguefe. I ftay’d three days in this — Fore, where there were thirty Coureurs de Bow that traded with the Ilinefe. The 20tbI arrivdat the - _ Village of the Iinefes and to leffen the drudgery of a great Land-carriage of twelve great Leagues, in- gae’d four hundred Men to tranfport our Baggage, which they did in the {pace of four days, being incourag’d by a Bribe of a great Roll of Brafl To- bacco, an hundred pound weight of Powder, two hundred weight of. Ball, and fome Arms, which I _ gave tothe moft confiderable Men of their number. ~The 24th [ arriv’d at Chekakou, where my Ostagames took leave of me inorder to return to their own Country, being very well fatisfied with a. Prefent I made ’em of fome Fufees, and fome Piftols. The 2sth I reimbarqued, and by rowing hard in a Calm, made the River of the Oumamis on the 287. There I - met four hundred Warriours, upon the very fame. place where Mr. de Ja Salle had formerly buile a Fort. ‘Thefe Warriourswerethenimployd in burn- ing three Troguefe, who, as they faid, deferv’d the Punifhment ; and invited ustofharein the pleafure of the Show 3 for the Savages take it very ill if one K 4 Ns refufes © 2 136 Some New Voyages refufes the diverfion of fuch real Tragedies. The Tragical {pectacle made me fhrink, for the poor wretches were put to inconceiveable Torture ; and upon that I refolv’d to reimbarque with all ex- — pedition ; alledging for an Apology, that my Men had great ftore of Brandy with’em, an@ would cer- tainly make themfelves drunk, in folemnifing their Victory, upon which they would be apt to commie diforders, that I could not poflibly prevent. Ac- cordingly I went immediately on board, and after coafting along the Lake, crofs'd the Bay de/Ours, and landed at Adifilimakinac the 224. aa J am inform’d by the Sieur de S. Pierre de Repantig- wi, who travel’d from Quebec hither upon the Ice, that Mr. de Denonville has took up a refolution of making a Peace with the Iroguefe, in which he means to comprehend the other Nations that are his Al- . jies; and with that view had given notice to his Al- lies, that they fhould not infeft che Iroquefe. He acquaints me further, that Mr. de Denonville has fent orders to the Governour of this place, to perfwade the Rat, ( one of the Commanders of the Huarons ) to go down tothe Colony, witha defign, to have him hang’d; and that the Savage General being a- ware of the defign, has made a publick Declaration, that he will go thither on purpole to defie him. Ac- cordingly he defigns to fetout to Morrow witha great body of Outaouas, and fome Coureurs de Bois, under the command of Mr. Dulbur. As for the Soldiers of my Detachment, I have difpersd ’em in feveral Canows among the Savages, and the Coureurs de Bow 3 — but having fome bufinefs to adjuft in this place, I am obligd to tarry my felf feven or eight days longer | } | This, Sir, isthe true account-of my little Voy- age. Ihave related nothing but the Effential Cir- cumftances; choofing to overlook the reft, which are fo trifling, as to be unworthy of your Curiofi- : ee ty. to North-America. tre ey. As for the Wine/e Lake, tis three hundred Leagues “Gn Circumference, as you may fee by the Scale of Leagues upon the Map. °Tis {eated in an admira- #bleClimate ; its Banksare cloath’d with fine and tall. Trees, and have but few Meads. The River of the Oumamis is not worth your regard. The Bay | de VOurs qui dort, is of an indifferent large extent, and receives the River upon which the Outaouas are wont to hunt Beavers every third year. {n fhort, it has neither Shelves, Rocks, nor Banks of Sand. The Land which bounds it on the South fide, is re- plenifh’d with Roe-bucks, Deer, and Turkeys. Fare- wel, Good Sir: And affure your felf, that ’twill al- ways be a fenfible pleafure co me, toamufe you with an account of the greateft Curiofities I meet wich. But now, Sir, I hope you will not take it ill, that the Relation I here give you, is only an Abridg- ment of my Voyage: For, in earneft, to be mi- nute upon_every particular Curiofity, would require - more timeand leifure than I can fpare. 1 have here fent you a view of the fubftantial pare; and fhall afterwards hope for an opportunity of recount- ing to you by word of Mouth, an infinity of Ad- ventures, Rencouncers, and Obfervations, which may call up che reflecting faculty of thinking Men. My own Thought is too Superficial to philofophife upon the Origin, the Belief, the Manners and Cye-: ftoms of fo many Savages; or to make any advan- ces with reference to the extent of this Continent to the Weftward. I have contented my felf with _ offering fome thoughts upon the caufes of the bad fuccefs of the Difcoveries, that feveral experienc’d Men have attempted in merica, both by Sea and Land: And I flatter my felf, that my thoughts up- - on that head are juft. The frefh Inftances of Mr. dela Salle, and feveral other unlucky Difcoverers, may afford a fufficient and feafonable caution to | ee thafe, 138 Some New Voyages _ thofe, who for the future fhall undertake to difcover all the unknown Countries of this New World. ‘°Tis not every one that’s qualify’d for fuch an En- terprife, on licet omnibus adire Corinthum. °Twerean €afie matter to trace the utmoft limits of the Coun try that lies to the Weft of Canada, provided it be gone about in a proper Method. In the firft place, inftead of Canows, I would have fuch Adventurers to make ufe of certain Sloops of a peculiar Stru- éture, which might draw but little Water, and be © portable, as being made of light Wood; and with- all carry thirteen Men, with 35 or 40 hundred weight of Stowage, and be able to bear the fhock of the Waves inthe preat Lakes. Courage, Health, and Vigilance, are not fufficient of themfelves to quali- fie a Man for fuch Adventures; he ought to be poffefs'd of other Talents, which are rarely met with in one and the fame Perfon. The Conduc& of the three hundred Men that accompany’d me upon this Difcovery, gave me a great deal of trou- ble. It requires a large ftock of Induftry and Pati- ence, to keep fuch a Company up to their Duty, Sedition, Mutinies, Quarrels, and an infinity of dif- orders frequently take place among thofe, who be- ing in remote and folitary Places, think they have a right of ufing force againft their Superiours. One muft diflemble, and even fhut his Eyes upon occa- ~fion, leaft the growing Evil fhould be inflam’d; The gentleft Methods are the fureft, for him thar commands in Chief; andif any Matiny or Sediti- © ous Plot is in view, ’tis the bufinefs of che-inferior — Officers to ftifle it, by perfwading the Mutineers, that the difcovery of fuch things to the Command- ing Officer, would create a great deal of uneafiriefs, So, the chief Officer muft {till make as if he were ignorant of what pafles, unlefs it be, that the flame breaks out in his Prefence ; then indeed he lies un- der an indifpenfible Obligation, of infli@ting sai | \ - ag to North America, 139. and private punifhment, without his prudence di- rects him to pat off the Execution, upon an appre- henfion of fome pernicious confequences that may infue thereupon. In fuch Voyages he muift over- look a thoufand things, which upon other occafi- ons he has all reafon to punifh. He muft counter- feit a downright ignorance of their Inerigues with the She-Savages, of their Quarrels among themfelves, of their negligence in not mounting che Guard, and not obferving theother pointsof Duty ; in a word, he muft pretend to know nothing of an Infinity of fuch Diforders, as have no direé&t tendency toa. Revolt. He ought to ufe the precaution of fing- ling out a Spy in his lictle Army, and reward him handfomly for a dexterous Intelligence as to all that happens; to the end that he may remedy the grow- ing diforders either directly or indireétly. This Spie ‘may by good management, and due fecre- . cy find out the Ringleader of a Club or Cabal’; _and when the Commanding Officer has receiv’d fuch fatisfaction upon the matter, that there’s no room left to doubt of the Criminal’s Demeric; ’twill chen be very convenient to make away with him, and that with fuch matiagement, that no body fhould know what became of him. | - Farther: He ought to give *em Tobacco and Brandy now and then, toask their advice upon fome occafions, to fatigue ’em as little as poffible, to call ‘em upto dance and make merry, and at the fame time to exhort ’em to live in a good underftanding with one another. The beft Topick he can make ufe of for inforcing their Duty, is Religion, and the Honour of their Country, and this he ought to defcant upon himfelf: For though I have a greae deal of Faith in the power of the Clergy ; yet I know that fort of Men do’s more harm than good, in Voyagesof this nature; and for that reafon ’d- — Ghoofe to be without their Company. The Perfon — | Oe ae 140 ~~ = Some New Voyages who undertakes to goupona Difcovery, oughtto — be very nice and cautious in the choice of his Mens for every one is not fic for his bufinefs. His Men ~ ought to be betwéen 30 and 4o years of Age, of a dry Conftitution, of a peaceable Temper, of an active and bold Spirit, and inur’d to the fatigues of | Voyages. The whole Retinue muft confift of three hundred Men; and of that number there muft be fome Ship-Carpenters,Gun-{miths, and Sawyers with ali their Tools; befides Hunt{men, and Fifhermen with their Tackling. You muit likewife have Sur- geons among ’em, but their Cheit ought to contain nothing but Razours, Lancets, External Medicines for Wounds, Orvietan and Senna. All the Men of the Detachment, ought to be provided with Buff- Coats and Boots toturn the Arrows ; for, as I inti- mated above, the Savages of the unknown Coun- tries are ftrangers to Fire-Arms. They muft be arm’d with a double barrel’d Gun, a double barrel’d Piftol, anda good long Sword. The Commanding Officer muft take care to provide a fufficiene quan- tity of the Skins of Deer, Elks, and Beeves, in order to be few’d together, and hung round his Camps ‘upon certain Stakes fix’d at convenient diftances from one another. I had as many as would go — round a {quare of thirty Foot every way; for each Skin being five Foot deep, and almoft four Foot broad, I made two pieces of eight Skins a piece, which were raisdand extended in a Minute. Be- fides thefe, he ought to carry with him fome Por- Guns of eight Foot in length, and fix in breadth 3 with two Hand-Mills for grinding the Ixdian Corn, Nails of ail fizes, Pickaxes, Spades, Hatchets, Hooks, Soap, and Cotton to make Candles of. Above ail, he mui not forget to take in good ftore of Powder, Brandy, Brafil Tobacco, and fuch things as he muft prefene cothe Savages whofe Country he difcovers. Add to this Cargo, an Aftrolabe, a-Semicircle, Py : . verad — to North-America. = = 941 veral Sea-Compaffes, fome Simple, and fome of Va- riation, a Load-ftone, two large Watches of three Inches Diameter ;, Pencils, Colours, and Paper, for making Journals and Maps, for the defigning of Land-Creatures, Fowl, Fifh, Trees, Plants, Grain, and in a word, whatever feems worthy of his Cu- riofity. I would likewife advife him to carry with him fome Trumpeters and Fidlers, both for anima- ting his Retinue, and raifing the admiration of the Savages. Withthis Equipage, Sir, a Man of Senfe, Condu&, and Action, I mean, a Man that’s Vi- gilant, Prudent, Cautious, and above all, Patiene and Moderate, and qualify’d for contriving Expe- dients upon all occafions; a Man, I fay, thus qua- lify’d, and thus fitted out, may boldly go to all the Countries that lye to the Weft of Canada, without any apprehenfion of dafiger. As for my own part, I ferioufly declare, that if I were poffefs'd of all thefe qualities, I fhould efteem it my happinefS to be imploy’d upon fuch an Enterprife, both for the Glory of his Majefty, and my own SatisfaGion: For the continu’d diverfity of Objects, did fo charm me in my Voyages, that I had fcarce time to reflec upon the fatigue and trouble that Tunderwent, I am, MkS 9 FRE Yours, 8c. LETTER 142 Some New Voyages, Sr ET Be eae Dated at Quebec S cbtember 2 8. 1689, The Author fets out from Miffilimakinac #o the . Colony, and defcribes the Country, Rivers, and Paffes that be faw by the way. The lroquefe make a fatal incurfton into the Iland of Mon- real: Fort Frontenac zs abandon’d. Count Frontenac és fent to Canada, and the Marquis of Denonville zs recall’d. : oI R, : pies Wric to you from AGifilimakinac on the 28th of B May. I left that place Fune the 874, and fet out for Adonreal, accompany’d with twelve Outaouas , who were divided into two Canows, and rowd very hard. The 234, I overtook the Coureurs de Bow in the River Creuse, who had got the ftart of me for fome days. Mr. Dulbut usd his utmoft efforts - to diffwade me from going further with fo weak a Retinue. He would have had me to go down along with him; and remonftrated to me, that if my twelve Conducers perceiv’d either in the Land- carriage or upon the Rivers, any thing that might call up an apprehenfion of falling into the hands of | the Iroquefe, they would defert me and the Canows, and fly tothe Woods to avoid the Enemy. I re- jected his Advice, though I had like to have repent- ed of my refolution not long after 3 for according. to his PrediGtion, my Canow-Men threatn’d to run away tothe Forrefts, ae the Fall call’d Long Sant ¢ ~ And indeed if they had done it, I had follow'd ‘em, upon the reflection, chat of two Evilsa Man ought — c ? ac i I is ae dia a a J Sia to North. America. tae to choofe the leaft; but this Storm blew over. In the great River of the Outaouas, not far from the River of Lievre, I met Mr. de St. Helene at the Head | of a Party of the Coureurs de Bois, who was bound for Hudfon's Bay, in order toretake fome Forts that the Englifh had feiz’d upon. He acquainted me with the Prince of Orange's Expedition for England ; and gave me to underftand, that upon his arrival King Famesretir'd to France, and that the Prince was pro- claim’d King, which feem’d to prefage a bloody and fharp War in Europe. I affure you, Sir, this piece of News furpriz’d me extreamly ; and not- withftanding that I had it from che Mouth of a Man, whofe word I rely very much upon, yet I had all the difficulry inthe World to make my felf believe, that a Revolution of {uch Importance could be ac- complith’d in fo fhort atime, without the effufion of Blood; efpecially confidering what a ftri@ Alli- - ance there was between our Court, and the Court of England, and how much ‘twas the intereft of both thefe Monarchs to give mutual affiftance to one another. ‘July the 9th Larriv’d at Monreal, after ven- turing down feveral fearful Cataracts in the River of the Ostaouas,and induring the hardfhips of fifteen or twenty Land-carriages, fome of which areabove a League in length. | ~ The Navigation is prety fure from Mifilimakinae to the River des Francois; for in coafting along: the Lake of Hurons, we meet with an infinity of Iflands, which ferve fora fhelter. Butin going up that Ri- ver, there’s fome difficulty, for it has five Cataradts which oblige us toturn out and carry all over-Jand for thirty, fifty, and a hundred Paces. Having pafs'd that River, we enter’d the Lake of the Ne- picerinis, from whence we are forc’d to tranfport our Canows and Baggage two Leagues over-land, to a- nother River which has fix or feven Water-falls that _ we commonly fhoot, From that River we have a- nother 144 Some New Voyages nother Land-carriage to the River Creufe, whieli falls with rapid Currents into the great River of the Outaouas, near a place calld Mataouan. We conti- nue our courfe upon this great River, till we come to the point of the ifland of Adonreal, where ’tis loft in the great River of St. Laurence. Thefe two. Ri- vers joyn one another with very gentle Streams, and quitting their fearful Channels form the little Lake of St. Levis. I thought to have loft my Life atthe fall, calP'd the fall of St. Louis, about three Leagues from Monreal, for our Canow having over-. fecin the Eddy, I was carry’d by the Current to the foot of that Catara@, from whence the Cheva- lier de Vaudreuil drag’d me out by a great chance. The Canows and the Skins belonging to the fix Savages were loft; and one of the Savages was drown’d. ‘This is the only time 1 was in danger, through the whole courfeof my Voyages. As foon as I landed here, E repair’'d with diligence to a Ta- vern to refrefh my felf, and to make up the loffes I had fuftain’d by aneceffary Abftinence. The nexe day [waited upon Mr. de Denonville, and Mr. ae Champigni, to whom I gave an account of my Voy- — ages, and withal, gave in the News that a great company of the Coureurs de Bois and Savages would arrive very {peedily ; which they did accor-— dingly after fifteen days. The Rat I mention’d a- bove came down hither, and return’d home nots withftanding the threats that were levell’d againft him. By this Adventure, he fhew’d that he‘laugh’d — at their Intrigues. But now that I] have mention’d © his name, I cannot forbear mentioning a malicious - Stratagem that this cunning Savage made ufe of © iaft year, to prevenc the conclofion of a Peace be- eween Mr. de Denonvilleand the Iroguefe. ro This Savage is the general and chief Counfellour — of the Hurons; he is a’Man of forty yearsof Age, — and brave in his way. When he found himfelf — prefs - i to North-America. 145 “prefs and importun’d by Mr. de Denonville, to en- . ter intothe Alliance concluded in the year 1687, that [I took notice of before; he at Jaft comply’d with his defire, with thisreferve, that the War should not be put to an end till the Iroquefe were totally routed. This claufe the Governour promis to make good, and gave him aflurances to that pur- pofe on the 3d of September, in the fame year, which happen’d about twodays before I fet out from Ni- agara, upon my Voyagetothe great Lakes. ‘This Savage-General relying upon Mr. de Denonville’s pro- mife, march’d from Mifflimakinac at the Head of an hundred Warriours, as I infinuated in my 14t4 Let- ter, in order to invade the Iroquefe Country, and atchieve fome glorious feats among ’em. In the mean time, to carry on his defign the more cauti- oufly, he thought ic proper to pafs by the way of Fort Frontenac, where he might receive fome intel- ligence. Upon his arrival at this Fort, the Gover- nour told him that Mr. de Denonville was negotiating a Peace with the five Ircquefe Nations, whofe Em- baffadors and Hoftages he expected in a fhorttime, in order to concludeand ratifie the Peace, he having orders to conduct “em to Monreal: And that upon that Confideration, ’twas moft proper for him and his Warriours to return home, and to pafs no fur- ther. The Savage General was mightily furprisd with this unexpected piece of News; efpecially con- fidering that by the means of that Peace; he and his Nation would be given up as a Sacrifice for the Wellfare of the French. When the Governor had made an end of his Remonftrance, the Rat ac- knowledg’d, that what he offer’d was very reafona- ble, but. withal, that inftead of following his Ada vice, he would go and tarry for the Iroquefe Em- baffadours and Hoftages at the Cataracts, by which they were oblig’d to pafs. He had noe tarry’d there above five or fix days, the unhappy Depu- : ) ties “ye Some New Voyages ties arriv'd with a Train of forty young Men, who © ~ were all either kill’d or taken as they difembarqued. ~ The Prifoners were no fooner fetter’d, than this crafty General of the Hurons reprefented to ’em, that the French Governour had fent him notice to take up that Poft, in order to lie in wait fora Par- ty of fifty Warriours, that were to pafs that way — ata certain fet time. The Iroguefe being much fur- _ pris’'d with the apprehenfion of the perfidioufnefs that he charg’d upon Mr. de Denonville, acquainted the Rat with the defign upon which they came. Up- on that the Rat counterfeited a fort of Rage and Fury ; and to play his Cards the better, flew out in invedctives againft Mr. de Denonville, declaring, that fome time or other ‘he would be reveng’d upon that Governour, for making him the Inftrument of the moft barbarous Treachery that ever was acted. Then he fix’d his Eyes upon all the Prifoners, a- mong whom was che chief Embafladour call’d Theganeforens, and {poke to this purpofe; Go my Bre- thren, though I am at War with you, yet I releale you, and allow you to go bome. “Tis the Governour of the French that pat me upon thes black Adion, which I {halt never be able to digeft, unle/s your five Nations revenge themfelves, and make their juft Reprifals. This was fufficient to convince the Iroquefe of the fincerity of his words; and they aflur’d himupon the fpor, chat if he had a mind to make a feparate Peace, the five Nations would agree to it: However, the Rat ha- ving loft one Man in this Adventure, kept an Iro- quefe Slave co fupply the place of the Man he had loft: And after furnifhing the Prifoners with Guns, Powder, and Ball, in order to cheir return home- ward, march’d to Mifilimakinac, where he prefent- ed the French Governour with the Slave that he brought off. The poor wretch was no fooner .de- liver’d, than he was condemn’d to be fhot; for at that cime the French Garrifon did not know “sy | ie | Mr. de Denonville defign’d to clap up a Peace with the Iroquefe. The condemn‘d Prifoner gave an ac- count of his Adventure, and that of the Ambaffa- dours ; but the French thoughe that che fear of Death made the fellow talk idely, and were confirm’d in that thought, by hearing the Rat and his Men fay that he was Light-headed : Infomuch, that the poor Fellow was putto death, notwithftanding all the reafons he could offer. The fame day that he was fhot, the Rat call’d an old Iroguefe Slave that had ferv’'d him a long while, and told him he had re- folv’d toallow him the liberty of returning to his — own Country, and fpending the reft of his days © among his Friends and Country-men. At the fame time he gave him to know, that fince he had been an Eye-witnefs of the barbarous ufage that his Country- men had met with from the French, notwith{tand- ing what he offer'd inhis own defence, it behov’d him to acquaint his Countrymen with the black- nefs of that Action. The manumitted Slave obey’d his ordersfo pundtually, chat foon after the Iroquefe made an Incurfion, at a time when the Governour did not dream of any fuch thing, for he had us’d the Precaution of giving the Iroquefe to underftand, © that he difallow’d of the Rat’s Treachery ; info- much, that he hada mind to have him hang’d; and upon this profpect, expected hourly ten or twelve Deputies to conclude the Peace he fo much defir’d. In effect the Deputies did come, bur neither their Number nor their Defign was fuitable to what the -Governour had promifed to himfelf. Twelve hun- dred Warriours landed at the Lands-end of the Ifland of Monreal, and burnt and fack’d all the Plantations © in that Quarter: They maflacred Men, Women, and Children; and Madam de Denonville, who was thea at Monreal with her Husband, did not think her felf fafe in that place. A general Confternation _ was {pread all abour; for the Barbarians were not a- 7 hs & bove 148 Some New Voyages bove three Leagues from Adonreal. They burnt alf the adjacent Settlements, and block’d up two Forts. Mr. de Denonville fent out a Detachment of a hundred Soldiers and fifty Savages to oppofe ’em, being un- willing to {pare a greater number out of the City: ‘nN but all che Men of the Detachment were either taken or cut in pieces, excepting twelve Savages, one Sol- dier, and Mr. de Longueit who commanded the Party, and was carried off by the twelve Savages after his Thigh was broke: The other Officers, namely, the Sieurs dela Raberre,Denis,la Plante,and Villedene,were all taken Prifoners. Ina word, the Barbarians \aid al- moft the whole Ifland wafte, and loft only three ~/Men, who having drank to excefs of the Wine they found in the Plantations, were decoyd into a Fort by a Canadefe Cow- keeper, that had been their Slave for fome Years. As foon as the three unfortunate Troquefe arriv'd in the Port, they were thrown into a Cellar to fleep themfelves fober; and, queftionlefs, as foon as they wak’d they repented of their excef- five drinking. When they wak’d, they fell imme- diately a finging; and when the Garrifon offer’d to fetter “em, and carry ’em to Monreal, they flew to fome Clubs that lay in the Cellar, and made fuch a vigorous and brave defence, that the Garrifon was forc’d to {hoot °em upon the {por. The Cow-keeper being brought before Mr. de Denonvile, he told him, That the Breach made by che Rat’s Conttivance was - irreparable; that the five Iroguefe Nations relented that Adventure with fo much warmth, that ’ctwas im- poilible to difpofe °em to a Peace ia a fhort time $ that they were fo far from being angry with that Hu- ron for what he did, that they were willing to enter into a Treaty with him, owning chat he and his Party had done nothing but what became a braveMan and a good Ally. Doubriefs this fatal Incurfion was a — great Surprifal to Mr. de Denonville, and afforded him a copious Field for Reflection. *Iwas already im- | — polfible- TS, LAPIS hy SERS fe yd to North-America. 149 poflible to continue the Poffleflion of Fort Frontenac, where they began to want Provifions, and which could not be relieved without expofing a great many - Men to the danger of the Paffes or Cataracts, which [have mention’d fo often. There was a downright _ neceflity of calling out the Garrifon, and blowing up the Fort; but che difficulry lay in finding a Man to carry Orders for that effeét to the Governour, for no body durft undertake it, tll the Sieur Perer d’ Arpentigni offer’d to go all alone through the Fo- refts; and accordingly he went, and did his Bufinefs fuccefsfully. The Orders were extream welcome to Mr. de Valrenes, the Governour of the Fort for the time; who, upon the receiving of em, run a Mine under the four Baitions, which, with the Powder he put in, was reckon’d fufficient to blow it up. This done, he embark’d, and came down the River through the Cataraéts to Monreal, where he found Mr. de Denonville, and accompany’d him _ hither. That Officer did not only abdicate the Fort of Fren- tenac,but fet fire to three great Barques that they us‘d to ply with upon the Lake, both to awe the Ireguefe in time of War, and to convey Commodities to em in time of Peace. Mr. de Denonville acted a prudent part in relinquifhing both this Fort and that of Nia- garas for, in earnelt, thefe two Pofts are indefen- fible, by reafon of the inacceflible Cataracts, upon which an Ambufcado of ten Iroguefe may repulfe a thoufand Frenchmn by the throwing of Stones. But after all I muft own, that the Welfare and Preferva- tion of our Colonies had an abfolute dependance upon thefe two Forts, which feem’d to infure the ut- ter Deftruction of the Iroquefes for they could not ftir out of their Villages to Hunt, or to Fifh, with- | out running the rifque of having their Throats cut by the Savages in Alliance with us, who being then afiurd of a fafe Retreat, would have made continual Incurfions into the Country of thofe Barbarians ; As me One And 150 Some New Voyages — And by this means the Ircquefe being unprovided with Beaver-skins to be given in exchange for Guns, Pow- der, Ball, and Nets, would be ftarw’d to death, or at leaft be oblig’d to depart their Country. In the end of September Mr. de Bonaventure, Cap- tain and Owner of a Merchant Ship, arriv’d in this Port , and broughe the News of Mr. de Frontenac’s Reinftallment in the place of Governour-General of Canada, and of the Re-calling of Mr. de Denon- ville, whom the Duke de Beauvilliers has recommen- ded to the King, for the place of Sub-Governour to the Princes his Grandfons. Sore People are uneafie at the re-calling of this Governour; and ’tis faid, that the Reverend Fathers the Jefuits, fall under the number of the Malecontents: For if we may credit the reports of the Country, they contributed in a preat meafure, tothe re-calling of Mr, de Frontenac feven or eight years agoe, by acting in concert with the Intendant of Cbe/neau, and the fupreme Coun- cil, and drawing up Accufations againft him which had the defired effect ; though now the King fhews that he is undeceiv'd, by reinftating that Gentleman once morein this Government. In the mean time the Statefmenof the Country that are moft guilty, know not how to drefgs this kettle of Fifh; for they make no queftion bute the New Governour will re- tain a jult refentmentof what's paft.. But the Gen- tlemen, Merchants, and other Inhabitants, are ma- king preparations for folemnifing his Arrival, which they expect with as much impatience, as the Jews do the Ascfias. The very Savages that live in the _ skirts of the Colony, fhew an uncommon Joy up- on the hopes of his return: And indeed, we need not thinkicftrange, for that Governour drew Efteem and Veneration, not only from the French, but from ail the Nations of this vaft Continent, who look’d upon him as their Guardian Angel. Mr. de Denon- ville begins to pack up his Baggage, and that in ef- 7 Se iY fee, cr toe co et hes gas WO Lae, eae f to North-America. 158 fed, is all I can fay of him. °Tis none of my bu- finefs to meddle with an infinity of Affairs, that ree late to the Gentleman’s private Intereft. Asto the queftion, whether he has manag’d well or ill, du- ring the courfe of his Government, or whether he was lov’d or hated, I know nothing of the matter. I am at a lofs to know whether he kept a good or a forry Table, for indeed I was never at it. Adieu. I make account to fet out for Rochel, when the Veffel that brings our new Governour, returns for ‘France. I am, SIR, Yours, &c. LETTER XVII. Dated at Quebec November 15. 1689, _ Giving an Account of Mr. de ¥rontenac’s Arri- val, his Reception, his Voyage to Monreal, and the repairing of Fort Frontenac. SIR, 0 pe E, Intelligence you give me of the adjudging _ of the Lands of Labontan, would have drove me to defpair; if you had not affur'd me at the ~ fame time, that I might recover it after a Century of years, (if I had the misfortune to live fo long ) upon the condition of reimburfing to the Poffef- four, the Sum that he pay for it, and of proving that I was actually in the Kings Service in the re- mote parts of the World, when that Eftate was fold. To {peak to the purpofe, Mr. de Frontenac has 4 | counters — 442 Some New Voyages -countermanded the leave I had to go for France, and has offerd me a free accefs to his Pocket and his ‘Table. All the Arguments I offer’d, have no In- fluence upon him, and fo I am bound to obey. This new Governour arriv'd at Quebec the 151b0f Offobery. He came on fhoar at eight a Clock at Night, and was receivd by the Supreme Council, and all the Inhabitants in Arms, with Flambeau’s both in the City, and upon the Harbour, with a triple Difcharge of the great and fmall Guns, and Uluminations in all the Windows of the City. That fame Night he was complimented by all the Com. panies of the Town, and above all, by the Jefuits, who upon that occafion made a very pathetick Speech, though the Heart had lefs hand in it, than the “Mouth. The next day he was vifited by all the La- dies, whofé inward joy appeard in their Counte- nances, as much asin their Words. Several Per- fons made Fire-works, while the Governour and his Retinue fung Je Deum in the great Church. Thefe {clemn Demonitrations of Joy, increasd from day to day, till the new Governour fet out for Monreal and the Conduét of the People upon this Head, af- forded fignal proofs of the fatisfaGion they had in his return, and of their refting affurd, that his wife Conduct, and noble Spirit, would preferve the Re- pofe and Tranquility that he always kept up, du- ring his firft ten years Government. All the World ador’d him,andftyl’d him Redemptor Patria ; to which Title he had a juftclaim, for all che Inhabitants of thefe Colonies agree, that when he came firlt to Canada, he found all things in Confufion and Di- ftrefs. Ac that time the Iroquefe had burnt all the Plantations, and cut the Throats of fome thoufands of the Frevch; the Farmer was knock’d anithe Head in his Field; the Traveller was murder upon the Road, and the Merchane ruin’d for want of Com- merce: All the Planters were pinch d with Fomine, , . ghe. 7 Ss to NorthAmerica, 153 the War render’d the Country defolates; and in a word, New-France had infallibly ‘perifh’d,’ if chis Governour had not made that Peace with the Bar- barians, that I fpoke of in my fifth Letter. The bringing of that Peace to bear,was an action of great- _ er Importance, than you can well imagine; for thefe Barbarians grounded all their Wars upon a perfonal Enmity, whereas the European Ruptures depend more upon Intereft than upon pure Revenge. Mr. de St. Valiers the Bifhop of Quebec, arriv’d likewife on the 15th at the fame Port. He had imbarqu’d in the preceding Spring, on board of a Bark that he had hird to cranfporte him to Acadia, to Newfound-land, and to the other Countries of his Diocefs. Mr. de Frontenac our Governour, fet out © — for Monreal in a Canow, four or five days after his Arrivals; and I had the honour to accompany him. All Indeavours were us‘d to diflwade him from un- dertaking that Voyage, when the feafon was fo cold, and fo far advane’d: For, asl inform’d you before, the Iceis thicker and ftronger here in O¢fob. than ‘tis at Paris in ‘fanuary; which, is very ftrange. Notwithitanding all the Remonftrances drawn from the Hardfhips and Inconveniences of the Voyage, — he flighted the Fatigues of the Water, and threw him- _ felf into a Canow in the fixty eighth year of his. his Age. Nay, he took theabdication of Fort Fron- tenac fo much to Heart, that he had gone ftraighe thither, if the Nobility, the Priefts, and the Inha- bitants of Monreal, had not intreated him with joynt Supplications, not to expofe his Perfon to the dan- per of the Falls and Cataracts that lie in that Paf- fage. In the mean time fome Gentlemen of Cana- da, follow’d by a hundred Coureurs de Bois, under the command of Mr. Mantet, ventur’d upon the Voyage, with intent tolearn the State of the Fort. J acquainted you in my laft Letrer, that Mr. de Val- yenes had blown up the Walls of the Fort, when he 194 — Some New Voyages he made his Retreat; but by good luck, the da- mage was not fo great as “twas took to be; for the Party commanded by Mr. Adantet, have already rear d , the ruinous Wall to the height of fome Fathoms, and will continue to work upon the re- pair of the Fort all this Winter. This News Mr. de Frontenac receiv d laft Night, which was the fixth after his return to this City. I had forgot to tell you that he brought with him out of France, fome of thofe Iroquefe that Mr. de Dewonville had fent to the Galleys, as [intimated in my thirteenth Letter; the reft having perifh’d in their Chains. Of all thefe unfortunate Barbarians that he has brought back, the moft confiderable is one that goes by the name of Oreouabé. He was not usd asa Galley Slave, in regard that he was the Leader of the Goyoguans, and the Governour has lodg’d him in the Caftle, in confideration of the efteem he fhews both for Mr. de Frontenac,and for the French Nation, Some flatter themfelves with the hopes, that fome Accommodation with the five Iro- guefe Nations may be effected by his Mediati- on; and for that end propofals of Peace are now in agitation: But I have three good reafons for predicting, that fuch a Defign will prove abor- tive. I have already laid thefe Reafons before Mr. de Frontenac, who gave me to know, that after the departure of the Ships, he would difcourfe me upon that Head. I fhall not offer at the particulars of his Interview, with Monfieur and Madam de Denonville 5 till fuch time as you and I have an opportunity of talking under the Rofe. Some Officers accompany Mr. Denonville and his Lady, to France, in hopes of be- ing prefer'd. In allprobability the Ships will fet fail to Morrow, for we have now a fair and gentle Wefterly — Gale; befides, that the feafon for quitting this Port, is almoft fpent. Jam, ae SIR, Yours, &c, a — a AVERSA St Si LA Aa td da Pe ie a ide to North-America, 15 5 LE T:P-B Rives. Dated at Monreal Offober 2. 1690. Relating the Attempts upon New-England and New-York; a fatal Embaffy fent by the ¥rench to the Yroquefe; and an ill-concerted Inter- prife of the Englifh and the Iroquefe, iz algae. by Land to Attack the French Co- lony. SIR, F tecorn fifteen days fince a Ship of Rochel laden — -& with Wine and Brandy, arriv’d in this Har- bour ; and the Captain took care to convey a Let- ter from you to my Hands. As to your defire of having a circumftantial Account of the Trade of Canada, I cannot fatisfie it at prefent, for I am not as yetfo thoroughly acquainted with all its Bran- ches, But I affure you, that fome time. or other I fhall fend you fuch Memoirs, as will give you fa- tisfaction upon that Head. In the mean time, I hope you'll be contented with an account of what pafs’d in this Country fince the date of my laft. As foon as Mr. Denonville fet out from Quebec, upon his return to France, Mr. de Frontenac took pof- feffion of the Fort, which is the common Refidence of our Governour-General ; and order’d one of our beft Architects to make preparations for rebuilding it as foon as he could. In the beginning of this year, Mr. d'Iberville at- tempted to pillage a fmall Village in New-York, | call’d by the Iroguefe Corlar ; which name they like-— wile give to all the Governours of that Engl Co- | | ony. 156 Some New Voyages lony. ThisGentleman, who isa Canadefe, was at- tended by. five hundred Coureurs de Bois, and the like number of Savages; and the whole Party made the Expedition over Snow and Ice, notwithftanding they had three hundred Leagues to march back- ward and forward, and that the Roads were very rugeed and troublefome. Mr d’Iberville met with wonderful Succefs, for after he had pillag’d, burnt, and fack’d that little Village, with the adjacent Cantons, he fell in with a Party of an hundred Iroguefe, and defeated ’em intirely. Much about the fame time Mr. de Portneuf , another Canada’ Gen- tleman, march’d out at the Head of three hundred Men, one half Savages, and the other half Coureurs de Bois,with intent to poffefs himfelf of a Fore belonging to the Exgéifh, call'd Kenebeki, which ftands upon the Sea-Coaft of New-England, towards the Frontiers of © Acadia. The Garrifon of this Fort made a brave defence: But there being great quantities of Grana- do’s and other Fire-works thrown in upon ’em, while the Savages ( contrary to their Cuftom) fcal'd | the Paliffadoes on all hands, the Governour was ob- lig’d co furrender upon Difcretion. °Tis faid, that in this Action the Courenrs de Bois did their duty ve- ry bravely, but the Enterprife had prov’d fuccefslefs without the affiftance of the Savages. | - As foon as the Rivers were navigable, Mr. de Fron-. tenac offer'd to fend me with Propofals of Peace to the Ircquefe. But made an{wer, that fince his Pock- et and his Table had been free to me during the Winter, I could not imagine that he hada mind to beridof me fofoon. Being oblig’d by this re- ply to unfold my meaning, | remonftrated to him, That, the King of England having loft his Crown, and War being proclaim’d, the Governours of New- England and New-York, would infallibly ufe their utmoit Efforts to excite thefe Bandito’s to redouble their Incurfions; that for that end they would = : A m to North America. 157- nifh ’em with Ammunition gratis, and even joyn em in order to attack our Towns; and above all, that the Intrigue of the Rat had fo provok’d ’em, that inmy opinion, *twas impoflible to appeafe ’em. Upon thefe Confiderations, 1 humbly befeech’d him to have fome other Perfon in his view, in cafe he perfifted in his defign of making a Trial of thae Nature. The Chevalier Do was fingled out for this fatal Embafly, being attended by one Colin, as In- —terpreter of the Iroquefe Language, and two young Canadans. They fet out in a Canow, and when they came in fight of the Village of the Onnontagues, were receiv’'d with the honourable Salvo of feveral good blows, and conducted with the fame Ceremo- ny to the Village. Such a Retinue could not but be difagreeable to the Gentleman that came tomake offers of a Peace. The ancient Men being quick- ly, affembled, thoughe ic moft proper to fend ’em -back with a favourable Anfwer, and in the mean time to ingage fome of the Agnies and Oxnoyotes, to lye in wait for em at the Cataracts of ‘the River, and there killewo, fending the third back to Que- bec. and carrying the fourth to their Village, where there would be found fome Englifh that would fhoot ’em, that is, that would give’em the fame — ufage asthe Rat didto their Ambaffadours : So true itis, that thae Action fticks in their ftomachs. This Project had actually been put in execution, if ichad not been for fome of the Planters of New-York, who were then among the Barbarians, having come thither on purpofe to animate ’em againft us. Thefe Planters knew fo well how to influence the Barba- rians that were already bent upon Revenge ; that a Company of young Barbarians burnt ’em all alive, excepting the Chevalier Do, whom they tied Hand -and Foot, and fent him bound to Boffon, with a defign to pump out of him; a view of the condition of our Colonies and Forces. This piece of News . | | we 158 Some New Voyages ice tis we receivd two Months after, by fome Slaves that made their efcape from the Iroquefes and Mr. de Frontenac, when furpris’d with fuch difmal News, declard, that out of twenty Captains that offer’d to execute that Commiffion, and would have ta- ken the Imployment for an Honour, I was the only one that had been capable of forefeeing its bad Succefs. | ‘Fune the 24th, I imbarqu’d for this place in a fluggifh Brigantine, that the Captain of the Go- vernours Guards had caus’d to be built the forego- ing Winter. This venerable Veffel had the ho- nour to lodge the Intendant and his Lady; and all of us being inno hafte, {pent ten or twelve days by the way, and feafted like Kings every Night. Mr. de Frontenac mark’d out a Fort in his paflage to - the City of Trois Rivieres, which I {poke of before. Fifteen days after our arrival in this place, a cer- tain Savage whofe name was Plake, came and gave us notice, that he had difcover'd a Body of a thou- fand Englifh, and five hundred Iroguefe that march’d up to attack us. Upon this Intelligence, all our Troops crofs’d over to the Meadow of Madelaine, oppofite to this City, and there incamp’d, in con- junction with three or four hundred Savages thae were our Allies, in orderto give the Enemy a warm Reception. Our Camp was no fooner form’d, than Mr. de Frontenac detach’d two or three {mall Parties of the Savagesto obferve the Enemy. ‘Thefe Parties came foon back, after having furpris’'d fome ftragling Troguefe at hunting on the Confines of Champlaine Lake: The Prifoners inform’d us, that the Englifl being unableto encounter the fatigues of the march, and unprovided with a fufficient ftock of Provifi- ons, both they and the Irequefe were return’d to their own Country. This account being confirm’d by other Savages, our Troops decamp’d, and march’d back to this place, from whence I was detach’d a fome ta North America. 199 - fome days after to command a Party that was to cover the Reapers of Fort Roland, which lies inthis Ifland. When the Harveft was over I return’d to this place, along with the Hurons and the Outaouas, who had come down from their own Country, in | purfuit of their ufual Trade in Skins, an account of which you had in my eight Letter. Thefe Tra- ders continued here fifteen days, and then march’d home. 7 | This, Sir, isa Summary of all our Occurrences of Moment fince thelaft year. About fifteen days hence, I think to fet out for Quebec, in Mr. de Fron- tenacs Brigantin. I conclude with my ufual Com-- plement, SPR, Yours, &c. LETTER XX. Dated at Rochel January 12. 1691. Being a Relation of a fecond and very important Expedition of the Englith Zy Sea; in which is containd a Letter written by the Englifh Ad- miral to the Count of Frontenac, with this Governour’s Verbal Anfwer. As alfo an ac count of the Authour’s departure for France. eS LR, 1] am arrivd at laft at Rochel, from whence I now tran{mit you a Relation of all that pafsd in Canada, fince the date of my laft Letter. In the - {pace of a few days after that date, Mr. de Fronte- mac received advice that a ftrong Fleet of Englifh ie \ Ships, + 160 Some NewVoyages = Ships, amounting to thirty ‘four Sail, was feen neag Tadouffac. Immediately he got on board of his Bri- gantine, and order’d all the Troops to imbarque in Canows and Boots, and torow Night and Day to prevent the Enemy ; all which was happily put in execution. Atthe fame time he gave orders to Mr. de Callieres, to bring down as many of the Inhabi- tants as poflibly he could. We rowd with fuch expedition, and diligence, chat we arriv’d the 3d_ day at Quebec. Asfoon as Mr. de Frontenac debar- qued, he view’d the weakeft Pofts, and orderd ‘em tobe fortified without lofs of time: He rais'd Batteries in feveral places, and though in that ca-_ pital City we had buc twelve great Guns, and but licle Ammunition, yet he feem’d to be refolutely bent upon an obftinate Refiftance to the efforts of the Enemy’s Fleet, which in the mean time ftood catching of Flies, at the diftance of two Leagues from Quchec. We took the advantage of their flow approaches, and work’d inceffantly to put our felves ina pofture of defence. Our Troops, our Militia, and our confederate Savages, came up to us on all hands. °*Tis certain, that if the Englifh Admiral had made his Defcent before our arrival at Quebec, or even twodays after, he had carry’d the place without ftriking a blow ; for at that me there was an m \ not two hundred French in the City, which lay | open, and exposd on all hands. But inftead of doing that, he caft Anchor towards the poirit of the Ifland of Orleans, and loft three days in con- fulting with the Captains of the Ships, before they — came to a Refolutiog. He took the Sieur Foliet with his Lady and his Mother-in- Laws in a Bark in the River of St. Laurence, Three Merchant-men. from France, and one laden with Beaver-Skins from Hudjon Bay, enter’d the River of Saguenay, by the way of Zadouffac, where they fculk’d, and after hauling their Guns afhoar, rais'd very good Barte- : FCS ‘asioy S727 OF24F 22AZO = 2 OPAt PIP YB Orsprs2t124 == N _ SLOG FP AID AOD PUR sebvansh sesso AZ = : PYPASIN tFOU ysybugh 202s asd/ay 2¥ZO LISI]? ft purr sloop psy bus gt 24aIfes 22209 A 247 | ; a : ’ * sdoo-1 4 FPUDZ OF bench soy Ly syle . A 2 é Aeapoucuv? schyy ympbug ay, “ThebIIYIA solo $e tof, beselnogs doggysy bu “LALY "7927 SJ ey sy but Ty fe. sbo.s0yniv aay . “guodnue g Jo brispriocdep sboyist V Dl720u2220n g 2477 21 274/22 Lorseg 74 Fort “quodnv2g fp ausibhse py to hscrsbr Zz ee S249 LIS i 2 x - 5 SULA fo oS bel Mk Ae A €i! “840407 f/f? At2Qgog ae) i say preue Fo d ven . 29799171 G Jo nay “VIN \ See er —i ‘ene ae a 2 \ Sa ee ST ;. tmnt y Y 4 UU NT au et o J d pra i : 5 ; , ET\L ist 5 ue ait Pay law ae { os : 3 War y A | 44 " 4 { ‘| : Py, Coes Abas t} oe i i q i Le r Loew , iS > tt Ss Sete" ee rs to ae nel, os if ne Rs an tt y carat 9 if we oh ‘ ; > Ge) (ar-g . j oe Pe | PPE | aa i isi #1 PON 3 ‘ + eset . iis ay a Y A a yas G ve BS | Lad a *x - é. A a. FTI TF SE i MBE come Mt Mt ls i FLL PFS SF SG Se 4 , : == SSS. Un ey ae Hb spite evans ere ks oO ~~ to North: Ametica. ae Wey ties. To be fhort, the Officers of the Enemy’s Fleet caine to a Refolution after the lofs of three or four days in ufelefs Confultations, during which time we were joyn’don all hands by great numbers of - Inhabitants and Soldiers. Purfuant co the refoluti- on of the Councils of War, the Aeglifh Admiral, namely, Sir William Phips, fent out his Sloop with a French Flag uponits Prow, which made up tothe City with found of Trumpet. Upon this, Mr. de Frontenac {ent out another with a French Officer to meet it, who found an Exglif) Major in the Sloop, who gave him to underftand, that he had the charge of a Letter from his General, to the Governour of Canada, and hop’d he might be allow’d to deliver it himfelf. Upon that the Prev: Officer took him into his Sloop, and having blindfolded him, con- du@ed him to the Governour’s Chamber; where his Face beinguncover’d, he deliver’d him a Letters — che fubftance of which was this. Mane, © USir Wiliam Phips, General of the Forces ot ~ © New-England, by Sea and Land, to Count Fronte- ‘nac, Governour General of Quebec, by Orders from, ‘and inthe name of William UL and Mary King ‘and Cneen of England; am come to make my felf ‘Matter of this Country. Bue in regard that I *‘ have nothing fo much in view, as the preventing of the effufion of Blood, I require you to furren- ‘der at difcretion, your Cities, Caitles, Forts , ‘Towns, as wellas your Perfons; affuring you at ‘the fame time, that you fhall meer with all man-. ‘ner of good Ufage, Civiliry and Humanity. Hf: “you do not accept of this Propofal without any. ‘ Reftriction, I willindeavour, by che afliftance of “ficaven, on which Erely, and the force of my * Arms, to make a Conqueli of ’em. I expeét a po- ‘fitivé an{wer in writing inthe fpace of am Hoar, “and in thé frean time give you noticé, that after oo i © éhé 162 Some New Voyages © the commencement of Hoffilicies, I fhall not enter- “tain any thoughts of Accommodation | sign'd, William Phips. After che Interpreter had tranflaced the Letter to Mr. de Frontenac, who was then f{urrounded with OF- ficers; he order’d the Captain of his Guards to make a Gibbet before the Fort, in order to hang the poor Major, who in all appearance underftood French ; for upon the pronouncing of this fatal Sen- tence, he was like to fwoon away. And indeed I © muft fay, the Major had fome reafonto be affected, © for he had certainly been hang’d, if the Bifhop and . the Intendant, who to his good luck were then pre- fent, had not interceded on his behalf. Mr. de Fron- tenac pretended, chat they were a Fleet of Pyrates, or of Perfons without Commiffion, for that the King of england was thenin France. But atlaft the Gov;nour being appeas’d, order’d the Major to re- pair forthwith on board of his Admiral, againft whom he could defend himfelf the better, for not being attack d. Ac che fametime he declar’d, that he knewno other King of Great Britain, than fames TI, that-his rebellious Subjeéts were Pyrates, and that he dreaded neither their Force nor cheir Threats. - This faid, he threw Admiral PAips’s Letter in the Major’s face, and then turn’d his Back upon him. Upon that the poor Ambaffadour took frefh cou- rage, and looking upon his Watch, took the liber- ty toask Mr. de Frontenac, if he could not have his Anfwer in Writing before the hour elapsd. But the Governour made anfwer with all che haughtinefs — and difdain imaginable, that his Admiral deferv’d no other anfwer, than what flew from the Mouth of Cannons and Muskets. Thefe words were no fooner pronounc’d, than the Major was fored to take his Letter again, and being blind-folded, was reconducted to his Sloop, in which he row’d to- wards the Fleet with all expedition. The to North-America. — (863 The next day about cwoin the Afternoon, fixty Sloops were fent afhoar with cen or twelve hundred Men, who ftood upon the Sand in very good or- der. After that the Sloops went back to the Ships, - and brought afhoar the like Compliment of Men, which was afterwards joyn’d by a third Comptc- ment of the famenumber. Asfoon as thefe | 'roops were landed, they began to march towards the Ci- ty with Drums beating, and Colours flying. This Defcent was made over againft the Lfle of Orleans, — about a League and a half below Quebec ; but “twas — not fo expeditious, but that our Confederate Sava- ses, with two hundred Cowreurs de Bois, and fifty . Officers, had time to poft themfelves ina Copfe of thick Brambles, which lay half a League off the place of Landing. It being impoffible for fo {mall a Party to come to an open Battle with a numerous Enemy, they were fore’d to fight after the manner of the Savages, that is, tolay Ambufcadoes from place to place in the Copfe, which was a quarter - of a League broad. This way of waging War _ prov’d wonderfully fuccefsful to us, for our Men being pofted in the middle of the Copfe, we fuffer’d the Englijh to enter, and then fir'd upon ’em, ly- ing flat upon the ground till chey fird their pieces ; after which we fprung up, and drawing into knots here and there, repeated our fire with fuch fuccefs, that the Englifh Militia perceiving our Savages fell into cdénfufion and diforder, and their Battalions were broke; infomuch, that they betook themfelves to flight, crying out, Indians, Indians, and gave our _Savages the opportunity of making a bloody flangh- ter among ‘em, for we found three hundred Men left upon the fpot, without any other lofs on our fide, than that of ten Coxreurs de Bos, four Officers, and two Savages. | _ The next day the Englifh ianded four pieces of brafs Cannon mounted like Field-pieces, and foughe ! | M 2 very 164 Some New Voyages very bravely, though they were very ill difciplin’d. °Tis certain there was no want of Courage on their fide, and their wantof Succefs muft be imputed to their unacquaintednefs with Military Difcipline, to their being infeebled by che fatigues of the Sea, and to the ill conduG of Sir William Phips, who upon this Enterprife could not have done morethan he did, if he had been ingag’d by us to ftand {till with his hands in his Pockets. ‘This day pafs'd over more peaceably than the nexe: Forthen the Englifh made a frefh attempt to force their pafflage through the Copfe, by the help of their Artillery ; but they loft three or four hundred ‘more in the attempt, and were forcd to retire with all diligence to the Land- ing-place: On our fide we loft Mr. de St. Helene, who dy’d of a wound in his Leg, and about forty — French-men and Savages. This Victory animated us fo much, that we purfued the Englifh to their Camp, and lay all Night facupon the ground juft by ie, with adefign to attack ic by the break of day: But they fav’d usthe labour, for they imbarqued a- bout Midnight with fuch confufion, that we kill’d fifty more of ’em, rather by chance, than by dexte- rity, while they were getting into their Boats. When day came, we tranfported to Quebec their Tents and their Cannon, which they had left behind ’em; the Savages being in the mean timeimploy d in frip- ping thedead in the Wood. | * The fame day that the Defcent was msde, Sir William Phips weigh’d and came to an Anchor with four great Ships, ac the diftance of a Musket-ihot trom thelower City, where we had only one Batte- ry of fix or eight Pounders. There ha Cannonadoed — ‘or twenty four hours fo handfomly, that the fire of the great Gunsequal’d that of the fmall Arms. — ‘Che dammage they did to the reofs of che Houfes, amounted co five or fix Piltoless for as I informd youin my firlt Letter, the Walls of the Honfes are — fo hard, thata Ball cannot pierce em. § When ~ When Sir illiam Phips had made an end of thefe glorious Exploits, he fent to demand of Mr. de Fron- tenac fome Englifh Prifoners, in exchange for the Sieur Foliet, with his Wife and his Mother, and fome Seamen; which was forthwith put in execution. This done, the Fleet weigh’d Anchor and fteer’d homeward. As foon as the three Merchantmen . that Jay {culking in the River of Saguenay, faw the - Fleet running below Tadouffac with full Sail before — a Welterly Gale, they put their Guns aboard, and purfuing their Voyage with great fatisfaction, ar- rivd at Quebec on the 12th of November. They had {carce put their Cargoe on fhoar, when the bitter cold cover’d the River with Ice, which dammag’d their Ships fo much, that they were forc’d to run "em afhoar. This troublefom Froft was as uneafie to me, asto Mr. de Frontenac; for 1 then faw thac I was oblig’d to pafs another Winter in Canada, and Mr. de Frontenac was at a lofs, tocontrivea way of fending the King advice of this Enterpriie. But by good luck, there came allof a fudden a downfal of Rain, which wasfollow’d by a Thaw, and was e- qually acceptable to us both. Immediately theGo- vernour order’d an unrigg’d Frigat to be rigg’d and fitted out; which was done accordingly with fuch difpatch, that the Ballaft, Sails, Ropes, and. Maits, were all in order almoft as foon as the Orders were given out. When the Frigat was ready to fail, the Governour told me, that the making of France as foon asever [ could, would bea piece of important Service; and that I ought rather co perifh, than to fuffer my felf co be taken by the Enemy,or to put inat any Port whatloever by the way. Ac the fame time he gave me a particular Letter to Mr. de Seignelay, the purport of which was much to my advantage. I put to Sea the 20th of November, the like of which wasnever feen in that place before. At the Ifle of Coudres we “{cap’d luckily, for there the to North-America, 166 f Meats Geen : Y TID TRY ONS RETR Se eT TN 166 Some New Voyages ahi. North-Eaft, Wind blew fo hard upon us, that after we had dropd Anchor, we thought to have been fplic in pieces in the Night-time. The reft of our paflage was good enough, for we en- counterd buc one Storm till wearriv’d at this place. Indeed we met with contrary Winds, about 150 Leagues off the coalt of France, which oblig’d us to traverfe, and lye byfor along time, and ’twas for this reafon that our paffage was fo long. 3 - J hear you are now in Provence, and that Mr. de Seiguelai is gone upon a Voyage to the other World, which is of a quite different nature from that I have juft perform’d. In earneft, Sir, his Death is the Jaft misfortune to the Navy of France, to the Colo- nies of the two America’s, and to me in particular, fince Mr. de Frontenac's Recommendatory Letter is thereby render’d ufelefs tome. I am, — | SIR, Yours, &c. LET LER: XA. Dated at Rochel ‘Fuly 26. 1691. Containing a Defcription of the Courts or Offices of the Minifters of State, and a view of fome Services that are 7H rewarded at Court. SIR, Moe ee E Letter you writ to me two Months agoe cameto my Hands at Paris ; but I could not give you an anfwer there, becaufe I had not then done my bufinefs. Now that 1 am return’d to Ro- chel, I have leifure time enough to inform you of all that befell mesfince my return to France. Asfoon as I arriv’d at Ver{ailles, 1 waited upon Mr. de Ponta = . te North-Ametica.. © + 167 chartrain, who fucceeded Mr. de Seignelai. I repre- fented to him, that Mr. de Frontenac had given me a Letter to his Predeceffour,in which he took notice of the Services I had done. I remonitrated to him, that my Eftate being feiz’d upon, and chere being . feveral Law-fuits to be adjufted, where my prefence was neceflary, I hop’d his Majefty would give me © leave to quit his Service. He made anfwer, that he had been inform’d of the ftate of my Affairs , and thatI was allow’d to purfue the management of ‘em, till the departure of the laft Ships that are bound this year tor Quebec, to which Place he mean’d I fhould return. Having receiv’d this anfwer, I went from Verfailles to Para, where my Relations drew me into a confultation of feveral Counfellors, who declar’d that my Affairs were fo perplex’d, that in their opinion, I could not have ’em adjafted in fo fhorta time. In the mean time,the Crowns I wasfore’d to lug out for this Confulcation, turn’d my Stomach againit the going to Law with Perfons that had fo much interelt in the Parliament of Paris ; infomuch, that I was almoft in themind of lofing my Right, rather than toenter upon the Law-fuic. However, I did not fail to put in fora provifion upon my con- fifcated Eftate, by vertue of my being actually in the Service. But the follicicing of that, coft me fo much trouble and charges, thac chough my power- ful Adverfaries had not been able to prevent che ob- taining of my requeft, yet the Sum adjudg’d chere- upon, would not be fufficient to anfwer the char- gesI wasat. Meffeurs de Bragelone are very honoura- ble Gentlemen, as you know very well. ’Tistrue,chey love Piftoles better than their Relations, and upon that Principle contented themfelves in doing me the honour of their good Advice, for their Generofity do’s not go much further; andif I had no other re- fuge'than theirs, I fhould be but in a forry conditi- on. The Abbot of Ecouttes, who is more liberal, M 4 Sa dt 163 Some New Vi ayages tho’ not forich as they, made mea Prefent of a hus- dred Louis dors, which I applied to the payment of the Fees, for being receiv'd into the Order of St. Lazarus. The Ceremony of that Inftallment was perform’d in Mr. de Lowvois his Chamber, and did not 1 laft fo long as the telling of the Money. I was in hopes that this generoys Abbot would have beftow’d -upon me fome fimple Benefice that he might have thrown in my way, withoucinjuring himfelf: But ic feems, a fcruple of Confci ence ftood my Enemy. Upon the whole, Sir, I was e’en forc’d at laft to go to Ver{ailles to follicht for a Place, which is the molt cuttingand vexatious Gfice in the World. Do but confider, Sir, that in thofe Royal Apart- ments Crowns fly, and no body knows where they go. One muft patiently attend five or fix hours a ay in Mr. de Poatchartrain’s Apartments, only to fhew himfelf every time that that Minifter goes out Or comes in. He no fooner appears, than every one e crowds it. to prefent Memorials cloge’d with fifty Reafons, which commonly fly off as light as the Wind. As foon as he receives thefe Petitions, he gives’em to fome Secretary or other that follows him’; and this Secretary carries em to Meflieurs de Ja Touche, de Begon, and de Saluberris ; whofe Feotmen receive Piftoles from moft of the Officers, who without that Expedienc, would be in danger of catching cold at the Door of the Office of thefe Deputies. °Tis from that expedient alone, that their good or bad deftiny mult flow. Pray undeceive your felf, as to your notion of the protection of great Lords: The time is gone in which the Minifters granted what- — ever they ask’d for their Baftards, their Footmen, and their Vaffals. There is but two or three Prin- ces or Dukes, who being great Favourites, will med- dle in protecting thofe that have no immediate de-~ pendance upon “em: And if thefe a) it, “tis very pen 4 ; 4 | eal ~ to North-America. 69 feldom ; for you know that theGentry of Franceis in ‘no great Circumftances,and thefe greatLords have of- tentimes poor Friends of their own, for whom they -are oblig’d to ask places, in order to their Subfiftence. As the World goes now, the Minifters are upon fuch a foot, that they'll refufe any thing to Perfons of the higheft Dignity about Court, by replying, the King will have itfo, or the King will have it other- wife. And asfor the Topick of Merit; that’s fuch a frightful Monfter, that ic can have no Reception in the Minifters Offices, nay, moft of the Minifters are {truck with horrour when they think of it. *Tis the Minifters , in effe@, that difpofe of all pla- ces, though it appears as if *cwere the King. They. do what they pleafe, without being accountable to him, for he puts all upon the affection and zeal they oughtto have for hisService. They carry Ex- tracts tohim, in which the merit of the Officers they meanto prefer, is eicher fuppos’d or extoll’d. But the Memorials of thofe they do not like, are far from appearing. | Pm forry I fhould be oblig’d to lay this truth be- fore you; however, I mention no particular Mi nifter, for they are not all of that kidney. [know fome of ’em that would {corn to do the leait in- juftice to any Man whatfoever; and would nox fuf- fer their Suiffes, or their Lackeys, or even their De- puties or Clerks, to intrigue for the preferment of fuch and fuch Perfons by the means of Piftoles. Thefe dexterous Intriguers, do by indireé&t means make more Officers, than you have hairs on your Head; and| *tis for that reafon they are faluted a League off, | and dignify’d as ferioufly with the Title of Adon/icur, | as their Mafters are with that of Monfeigneur or Grandeur. ‘Thefe laft Titles have been acquir’d by | our Minifters and Secretaries of State, with as _ muchglory, as by our Bifhops. We muftnot think | it ftrange therefore, that even our General Officers | have mo Some New Voyages i have the words Adonfeigneur and Grandeur fo frequent- ly in their Mouths, provided it be accompany’d wich that of your Excellency. Ifwear, Sir, 1 could find matter for a Book of three hundred Pages in Folio, if I hada mind to be particular upon the in- trigues of the Officers and Minilters of States; upon the means by which the Sollicitors compafs their ends, the notorious Knavery of a certain fort of People, and the patience with which the Officers muft be fortified ; upon the contempt that thofe meet with, who have no other Recommendation than Meric, and ina word, upon all the inftances of Injuftice, that are practisd without the King’s knowledge. Let it be as ic will, LT muft acquaint you that af- ter a fruitlefs Sollicitation for what I thoyght I had {cme Title to, in confideration of my Services, I receivd this Anfwer, that the King would ‘order Mi. de Frontenac to provide for me as handfomly as he could, when an occafion offer’'d: So that Iwas — forc’'d to reft facisid with my Anfwer, and re- folve to continue a Captain for ever; for I know very well chat the Governour of Canada can not. prefer me toa higher Poft. ~ Having left Verfailies, I came hither with all ex- pedition, and then. went to receive the com- inands of the Intendant of Rochefort. He acquainted me that the Ship call’d Amore was fitting up, and ahat I might fail as foon as ‘twas ready. He re- conimended to me the Chevalier de Meaupou, Ma- ‘dam Postcbartrain’s Nephew, who is to go along with me. This Gentleman having the curtofity to fee Canada, is come hither from Paris, witha hand- fom Retinue. °Tis in vain to fet forth to him the tedioufnefs of the Paffage, the inconveniencies of | the Sea, and the difagreeablenefs of the Coun- — try ; for all chefe Arguments ferve only to inflame — his Curiofity. The Count d Aunay is to convoy us to che Latitude of Cape Finiferre, at which i? ae ; age & ; 2 [ 6 4 to NorthAmericaa § 17 he isto take leave of us, and return to Rochefort. We only ftay for a fair Wind to put to Sea. Lam, SiTRg He oh iad ses (2 CRT, eT ee me. LER ROXIE — Dated at Quebec Nov. 10. 1691. Which contains an Account of the Authors depar- parture from Rochel to Quebec, of bis Voy- age to the Mouth of the River St. Laurence, of a Ren-counter he had with an Englith Ship which he fought; of the ftranding of his Ship; of his failing through the River St. Laurence ; of the News he receiud, that a Party of the Englith and Jroquefe had defeated a Body _of the French Troops. . se ook, : | 2 gd O days after I wrote to you, we fet fail i fromthe Harbour of Rochel, upon our great Voyage to Canada. On the sth of Auguft we per- ceiv'd a greatShip, which the Count of Aunay gave chafe to, who having a better Sailer, came up with her in three hours time, whereupon fhe on ja fud- den put up Genoefe Colours. Some Guns were fir'd upon the Prow, to oblige her to ftrike ; but the Cap- tain was fo obftinate, chat Mr. d’ Aunay was forc’d to give her a Broadfide, which killd four or five of the Seamen, whereupon the reft were oblig’d to put out their Long-boat, and carry to his Ship their Paffports and Bills of Lading, On the rob, after they ¥/2 Some New Voyages | they had taken the Latitude, the Pilots thinking that they were even with Cape Finiffer, Mr. d?Aunay fent out his Long-boat, to acquaint me that he was then — upon his return home, upon which | wrote him a_ Letter of thanks. Father Bechefer a Jefuit, who had” been many years Superior of the College of Quebec, _ whither he was now going in the fame Capacity, was _ forc’d to throw himfelf into this Long-boat, in order — to his return into France, having found himfelf con- tinually indifpos’d, from the firftday we putto Sea. On the 23d of Augu? we had a great Storm of Wind from the North-Weft, which lafted about twenty four hours, being then a hundred Leagues off the Bank of Newfound-Land. This Bank takes its Name from the I~ fland of Newfound-Land, @ Map of which w bere annex'd. When the Storm was over, there fucceeded a Wind from the North-Eaft, which drove us in tenor twelve hours, to the Mouth of the River of St. Lau- ” rence. On the 6th of September we difcoverd a Ship failing from the Coaft of Ga/pe, which bore down upon us with a full fail, We thoughe at firft chat they were French coming from Quebec, but their way of working the Ship difcover’d to us within an hour © after, that chey were Enemies. After we knew - them, we prepardto fight them, and they being a- bout a League tothe Windward of us, came quick- — ly down upon us with full Sail, within Musket-— fhot. Prefently they put up Englifh Colours, and gave — us a Broad-fide; and we put up our own Colours, and paid them home in theirown Coyn. TheFighe © iafted two hours, and borh fides fird continually one upon another, but the Sea being tempeftuous, — we were oblig’d to fhear off as Night came on, without fuffering any other lofs, than the wound- © ing of two Seamen, and the receiving ef twenty — eleht or thirty fhot in our Mafts, Sails, and Rig- ging. Twodays after we met Mr. Duta, Captain of the Hazardous, who was homeward bound for — | | : | Frances to North America. 172 ~ France, being a Convoy to ten or twelve Merchant Ships. He gave me fome Refrefhments, and told me fome news of Canada, which were very accep- “table. We purfu’d our courfe in fpight of the South- Eaft Wind, which oblie’d us to tack about feveral ways, till we came to Portneuf,. near to Tadouffac. In this place we were ftranded by the faule of the Coafting-Pilot, who being objtinate for cafting An- chor near the Land, was like to have been the caufe of aShipwrack. At Midnight the Ship was fo daih’d againft the Sand, that I thought fhe was {plic in pieces, but the Tide ebbing by degrees, fhe was lefe ying upon the Coaft, without any apparent Dam- age. I prefently caus'd a Kedger to be dropt in the deep Water belag’d with feveral Ropes call’d Grelins Epiffes ( fee the Explication Table, ) and the next Morning the Tide returning fet the Ship afloat, — and then we haul’d it in with the Capettan. On the 1376 we caft anchor near the Red Iland, and the next day being the 141, we pafsd chat Channel without danger, by the favour of a frefh Gale from the North-Eaft. Bi, _ -Onthe 1572 we caft Anchor at the Ile of Hares: On the 16¢4 we pafs’d the Ifle of Coudres: On the a7th we weatherd the Cape of Tourmente, and the next day we anchor’d in this Port. From the Mouth of the River to this ‘place, we had the fineft Sunfhine days that ever were feen: During which time, I had both leifure and opportunity to view the Coafts on theright Hand and the left, while we tack’d about and about as the wind ferv'd. When I faw a great many Rivers on the South fide, Iask’d the Pilots why the Ships us’d to fteer their courfe on the North fide, where there is no Anchorage to be found, but at Papinachefe, the feven I/fes, and _ Portnenf. They anfwer’d'me, thatthe ordinary Bree- zes of the rough North-Welt Wind, which blows upon this River for three quarters of a year, were ‘ the 174 Some New Voyages the true caufe why they durft not go far from the North fide; and that nobody could enfure a Ship that fhould fteer on the South fide, except it were | in the Months of Fune, Fuly, and Auguff. If ic were not for that, I believe ic would be more plea- fant, more eafie, and lefs dangerous to fail on the South, than on the North fide, becaufe one might _caft Anchor every Night at the entrance of thofe Rivers which difcharge themfelves all along that Coalt, and would not be oblig’d to be veering a- bout continually Night and Day, as he is forc’d to do, when he fteers his courfe on the North fide. This, Sir, is all I had to fay at prefene about our failing inthis River, which I fhall have occafion to mention to you again. After our Shipcaft Anchor before Quebec, I landed with the Chevalier Meaupou, - whom I conducted to the Houfe of Mr. Frontenac, who ter d to him as well as to me, the ufe of his Table and Houfe. Iam inform’d that 300 Engli{h; and 200 Iroquefe, approach’d about two Months agoe to the Ific of Adonreal; That the Governour of that Ifle tranfported 15 Companies from the other fide of the River, to watch their Motions; That a Detach- ment of the Enemy having furpriz’d our Out- Guards, attack’d the whole Body of them, and our Camp at the fame time with fo much Vigour and Courage, that they kill’d upon the fpot more than © three hundred Soldiers,befides two Captains,fix Lieu- tenants, and five Enfigns; and that after this fatal — Expedition, Mr. Valrenes, a Captain of the Ma- rines, fet out from Monreal, witha Detachment of — French and Savages, to go to Fort Chambii, ( for fear the Iroquefe fhould attack that Poft ) who ha- ving met in their paflage a party of Englifh and Iroquee, attack’d them vigoroufly, and defeated them. =” All thefe different Adventures give me eround to conjecture, that ic willbe much more mere | than to North America. “Uy than *tis imagin’d, to make a good Peace with the five Nations of the Iroguefe. Mr. Frontenac has given the neceflary Orders to all the neighbouring Habi- tations, that they fhould tranfpore a great quantity of Stakes and Lime in the Winter time to the Neigh- bourhood of this City. Farewel Sir, the laft Ships which are co depart hence for France, will fail in three or four days. I am, | ea SIR, Yours, Oc. LETTER XX. - ie Dated at Nants Offob. 25. 1692. Containing an Account of the taking of {ome Englifh Veffels, of defeating a Party of the Troquefe, of an lroquefe durnt alive at Que- bec; of another Party of thefe Barbarians, who having furprizd fomé Coureurs de Bois, were afterwards furprizd themfelves. Of the Pros ject of an Enterprize proposd by Mr. ¥ronte- nac to the Author. Of the Authors departure in a Frigat for France, and his topping at Pla- centia, which was attack’d by an Englilh Fleet that came to take that Poft jfromus. How the Englith faild in their Defign, and the Author - purfed his Voyage. s d K, | HIS Letter comes from Britany, and. not from Canada, from whence I parted fuddenly to re- turn into France, about two Months after I re- ceivd your Letter, which I could, not thea anfwer for want of an opportunity. You tell me, that you are fatisfi'd with the Defcription I have fent you of | Le | the { 176 Some New Poydges , the River St. Laurence, and that you would be very glad to have as exact an account of the whole Coun- try of Canadz. Ican {carcefatisfie your defire at prefent, becaufe I have not yet had time to fort all my Memoirs, and therefore you muft not take ie amifs, that E pray you to fufpend your curiofity for fome time. Inthe mean time, here follows the Relation of fome things chat happen’d in Canada, which may_be acceptable to you. ; Immediately after the Ships parted from Quebec the laft year, Mr. Frontenac order'd a Plan to be drawn of a Wall to encompafs the City, and ha- . ving tranfported thither all the Materials neceflary — for building fome Redoubts of Stone, he took care to fortifie ic during the Summer. Some days agoe a Gentleman of New-England cal’d Nelfon, was brought prifoner to Quebec, who was taken In the River of Kenebeki,zapon the Coaft of Acadia, together with three Ships belonging to him, and becaufe he was a very gallant Man, Mr. Frontenac gave him a Lodging athis own Houfe, and treated him with ail manner of Civility. About the beginning of this year, thisGovernour gave the command of a Party confifting of 150 Soldiers, to Chevalier Beau- cour, With whom fifty of the Savages that were our Friends were joyn’d, in order to march on the Ice cowards Fort Frontezac. About thirty or forty Leagues from Monreal, they meta Company of fix- ty Iroquefe, who were difcoves’d by the Foot-fteps — of fome of their Hunters, chat had ftragled out of their Cottages, andthe next day they were all fur- - prizd, and either had their Throats cut, or were made Prifoners. The Sieur de la Plante who liv’d in Slavery with thefe Wretches, had the good for-, tune to be sprefene in their Company when they were defeated, and he had certainly been kill'd with his Mafters, if he had noe cry’d out with all his. Might, Spare me, I am a Frenchman: Tag was one Mache &h Li to North America, = «s-8 77 a the four Officers, who had the misfortune to be ta- ken in that fatal Incurfion, which thefe Tygers made into Monreal, as I told youin my 1724 Letter. The Chevalier Beaucour return’d again tothe Colon with his Party, and brought along with him twelve r:i- foners of the Iroguc/e, who were immediately con- ducted to Quebec : After chev arrivd, Mr. Frontenac did very judicioufly condemn two of the wicked- eft of the Company, to be burne alive wich a flow Fire. This Sentence extreamly terrified the Gover- nour’s Lady, and the Jefuits; the Lady usd all manner of fupplication to procure a moderation of the terrible Sentence, but the Judge was inexorable, and the Jefuits employ’d all their Eloquence in vain upon this occafion. The Governour anfwered them, “* That ic was abfolutely neceffary to make * fome terrible examples of Severity to frighten the “© Troquefe ; That fince thefe Barbarians burnt almoft “all the French, who had the misfortune to fall in- *“to their Hands, they muft be treated after the “fame manner, becaufe the Indulgence which had “* hitherto been. fhown them, feem’d to authorize ‘© them to invade our Plantations, and fo much the “* rather to do it, becaufe they run no other hazard, “ than that of being taken, and well kept at their ** Mafter’s Houfes; but when they fhould under- © ftand that the French caus'd them to be burnt, they “would havea care for the future, how they ad- “ vanc'd with fo much boldnefs to the very Gates *“ of our Cities; and in fine, That the Sentence of ** Death being paft, thefe two wretches muft pre- *“ pare to take a Journey into the other World. This obftinacy appear’d furprizing in Mr. Frontenac, who buca little before had favourd the efcape of three or four Perfons liable to the Sentence of Death, upon the importunate prayer of Madam the Gover- | nefs; but though the redoubled her earneft Suppli- cations, fhe could not ~~ his firm Refolution as to 178 = Some New Voyages = to thefetwo Wretches. The Jefuits were thereup- on fent to Baptize them, and oblige them to ac- knowledge the Trinity, and the Incarnation, and to reprefent to them the Joys of Paradife, and the Torments of Hell, within the {pace of eight or ten — hours, You will readily confefs, Sir, that this was a very bold way of treating thefe great Myfteries, and thatto endeavour to make the Iroquefe under- ftand them fo quickly, was to expofe them to their Laughter. Whether they took thefe Truths for Songs, I do not know; but this I can aflure you, that from the Minute they were acquainted with this fatal News, they fent back thefe good Fathers without e ver hearing them; and then they began to fing the fong of Death, according to the cuftom of the Sa- vages. Some charitable Perfon having thrown a Knife to them in Prifon, he who had the leaft Cou- rageof thetwo, thruft ic into his Breaft, and died of the Wound immediately. Some young Huron: of Lorette, aged between fourteen and fifteen years, came to feize the other, and carry him away to the Diamant Cape, where notice was given to prepare a great pileof Wood. He ran todeath with a great- er unconcernednefs, than Socrates would have done, if he had been in his cafe. During the time of Ex- ecution he fung continually ; ‘* That he was a War- _ “riour, brave and undaunted ; that the moft cruel ‘kind of Death could not fhock his Courage, that “no Torments could extort from him any Cries, _ that his Companion was a Coward for having © kill’d himfelf chrough the fear of Torment; and ‘‘Jafily, chat if he was burnt, he had this Comfort, “* chat he had treated many French and Hurons after “ the fame‘manner. All that he faid was very true, and chiefly as to his own courage and firmnefs of Souls for I can truly {wear to you, that he nei- ther fhed Tears, nor was ever perceiv'd to Sigh $ but on the contrary, during all the time that eae fer wes to North-America. ett: fer’d the moft horrible Torments that could-be in- vented, and which lafted about the fpace of three hours, he never ceas’d one Minute from finging. The foles of his Féet were roafted before two great ~ Stones red hot, for more than a quarter of anhour ; _the tops of. his Fingers were fcorch’d in a Stove of ‘lighted Pipes; during which Torture he did not ‘draw back his Hand. After this the feveral joynts of his Body were cut off, one after another: The Nerves of his Limbs and Arms were diftorted with a little Iron Wand, after fucha manner, as cannot poflibly be exprefs'd. In fine, after many other “Tortures, the hair of his Head was taken off after fuch a manner, that there remain’d nothing but the Skull, upon which thefe young Executioners were going to throw fome burning Sand, when a certain Slave of the Hurens of Lorette, by the order of Ma- dam the Governefs, knock’d him onthe head with a Club, which putan end tohis Martyrdom. As to my felf, I vow and f{wear, that the Prologue of this Tragedy, created in me fo great a Horror, that Thad not the curiofity to fee the end-of it, nor to hear this poor Wretch fing to the laft moment of his Life. Ihave feen fo many burnt againft my Will, amongft thofe People where I fojourn’d, du- ring the courfe of my Voyages, that I cannot think of itwithouttrouble. °Tis a fad Spectacle, at which every one is obliged to be prefent, when he happens — to Sojourn among thefe Savage Nations, who inflict this cruel kind of Death upon their Prifoners of War; for as I have told you in one of my Letters, all the Savages practife this barbarous Cruelty. No- thing is more grating to a civil Man, than chat he is. oblig’d to be a Witnefs of the Torments which this kind of Martyrs fuffer; for if any one fhould pretend to fhun this Sight, or exprefs any Compafli- on for them, he would be efteem’d by them a Man of no Courage. ) | | | N 2 After ‘ i 180 Some New Voyages — After the Navigation was open and free, the Sieur Sc. Michel a Canadan, fet out from Monreal for the Beaver Lakes, at che Head of a Party of the - ‘Coreurs de Bois, with feveral Canowsladen with fuch Goods as are proper for the Savages. In their paf- faze from Long-Saut, to the River of the Outaouas, they met fixty [rogue/e, who furpriz’d them,and cut all their Throats except four, that had the good for- tune co efcape, and carry the news to Monreal. As foon as this fatal accident was known, the Cheva- lier Vaudreuil, put himfelf in 2 Canow with a De- tachment, and purfu'd chis party of Iroquefe, being follow’d by a hundred Cenadans, and fome confe- derate Savages. I know not by what chance he had the good fortune to overtake them, but foit was, he furpriz’d them, and attack’d them with Vigour, upon which they fought defperately, but at laft they were defeated. This Victory coft us the lives of many of our Savages, and of three or four of our Officers. The lroquefe chat were taken, were carried co the Ci- ey of Monreal, near which place they were regal’d with a Salvo of Baftinadoes. | About the beginning of the Month of July, Mr. Frontenac having receivd fome News from the Commander of the Lakes, fpoke tome of a cer- tain Project, which I had formerly fhown him to be of great Importance: But becaufe he did not fuf- ficiently confider all the advantages that might be reap'd from it, and on the contrary, apprehended @ great many difficulties would attend the putting ie in execution, he had altogether neglected this Af- fair, of which I fhall give you the following ac- count. | I obferv’d to you in my 17 Letter, the great Im- portance and Advantage of the Forts of Frontenac and Niagara, and that in the conjuncture of Cir- cumftances wherein Mr. Denonville then found them, it was impoflible to preferve them. You have alfo remargud to NorthAmerica. 11811 semarqu’d the advantages which the Savages have over the Exropeans, by their way of fighting in the Forrefts of this vaft Continent. Since we cannot deftroy the Jroguefe with our own fingie Forces, we are neceffarily oblig’d to have recourfe to the Sava- ges that are our Allies: And ’tiscertain, as they themfelves forefee, that if thefe Barbarians could com pafs the Deftruction of our Colonies, they would be fubdued by them fooner or later, as it has hap- pend co many other Nations, fo they know it to be their Intereft to joyn with us to deftroy thefe Ban- dit’s. Now fince they are well affected to this de- fign, we muft endeavour to facilitate to them the means of putting itin execution, for you may ea- fily believe that thefe People, asfavage as they are, are not fo void of Senfe, as totravel two or three hundred Leagues from their own Country, to fighe againft their Enemies, without being fure of a place of retreat, where they may repofe them- - felves, and find Provifions. There is no queftion therefore, but we fhould build Forts upon the Lands of the Iroguefe, and maintain them in fpite of their Teeth. This, Sir, 1s what I propos'd above a year agoe to Mr. Frontenac, and it is whathe would have me ftill toundertake. I project therefore,to build an maintain three Forts upon the courfe of the Lakes, with fome Veffels that fhall go wich Oars, which i will build according to my Fancy; but they be- ing light, and of great carriage, may be manag’d eicher with Oars or a Sail, and will alfo be able to bear the fhocks of the Waves. I demand fifty Seamen of the French Bifcay, for they are known to be the moft dexterous and able Mariners that are in the World. I muft alfo have two hundred Soldiers , chofen out of the Troops of Cznada. I will build three little Caftles in feveral places, one at the mouth of the Lake Errie, which you fee in my Map of Canada, under the name of Fort Suppofe, befides two | N 3 others. 482 Some New Voyages Others. The fecond J will build in the fame place where it was when I maintain’d it, in the years 1687, and 1688. whereof I have wrote to you in my 14thand 15t4 Letter: and the third atthe Mouth of the Bay of Zoronto, upon the fame Lake. Ninety Men will be fufficient to Garrifon thefe three Re- doubts, and perhaps a {maller number ; for the Iro- quefe who never faw a Canon, but in a Pidture, and co whom an ounce of Powderis more precious than a Lewis-D’or, can never be perf{waded to attack any kind of Fortification. I defire of the King for put~ ting this Project in execution, 15000 Crowns a year, for the Maintenance, Entertainment, Subfiftance, and pay of thefe 250 Men. It will be very eafie for me to tranfpore with the abovemention’d Vef- {els 400 Savages, into the Country of the Iroguefe, whenever Ihave a mind. I can carry Provifions for 2000, and tranfport as many Sacks of Indian Corn, as are neceffary for maintaining thefe Forts both in Winter andSummer. “Tis eafieto have plenty of Hunting and Shooting in all the Ifles, and to con- | trive ways for croffing the Lakes ; and it will be fo. much the more eafie to purfue the Iroquefe in their Cfhnows, and fink them, that my Veffels are light, and my Men fight under a Cover. In fine, if you | {aw the Memorial which [ am to prefent to. Mr. Pontchartrain, you would find that this Enterprize is the fineft and moft ufeful that can be invented, to diftrefs the Iroquefe in time of War, and confine - them within bounds in time of Peace. Mr. Fronte- yac has joynd to it a private Letter to Mr. Pontchar- train, wherein he obferves to him, that if this Pro- - ject were well put in execution, thefe terrible Ene- mies would be oblig’d in two years time, to aban- — don their Country. After this he adds, that he judg- es me fufficiently qualified to go upon fuch an In- terprife; and believes I will make my point good. Perhaps he might have light on’others that know the Country and Cuftoms of the Savages better = to North-America, 183 ~ J do: But by an accident which do’s not tend much. to my advantage, I have purchas’d the Efteem and Friendfhip of thefe Savages, which in my opinion was the only reafon that mov'd Mr. de Froutenac to ~ fingle out me for this Service. a, | ‘fuly the 27th the Governour having given me his Packet for the Court, and the St. 4nm Frigat being rige’d and fitted out according to his Orders, I im- -barqu’d in the Port of Quebec, and after five days failing, we met in the River of St. Laurence, over againtt Monts notre dame, twelve Merchantmen bound from France for Quebec, under the Convoy of Mr. 4 Iberville, Captain of the Poli. Auguf? the 8th, we got clear of the Bay of St. Laurence, by the help of a Welterly Gale, and thatin fuch fair and clear Wea- ther, that wedefcry’d the Iflandsof Cape Breton and Newfound-Land, as diftinétly, as if we had been with- in a Musket-fhog of em. The nine or ten follow- ing days were fo far of a different ftamp, that we could fcarce fee from the Prow tothe Poop of the Ship, for all of a fudden there fell the thickeft and darkeft Fog that everI faw. Atthe end of thefe days the Horifon clearing up, we ftood in for New- found-Land, de{crying Cape St. Mary; and by ma- _ king all the fail we could, arriv’d that very day in the Port of Placentia. ) In that Port I found fifty Fifhermen, moft of which were of French Bifcay, and thought to have fec out for France along with them in afew days: - Batthey were longer in getting ready than I thought for,and when we were juft ready to break ground,we were inform’d by fome Fifhermen, that five large Englifh Ships were come to an Anchor near Cape Sr. Mary. This Intelligence prov’d very true, for onthe 15th of September they caft Anchor in fightof Placen- tia. ‘Lhe x6rh they weigh’d, and came to an An- chor in the Road, out of the reach of our Guns. Upon this the Gevernour was not a little perplex’d,for he had but fifty Soldiers in his Fort, and a very N 4 {mall Db SARS aon ee Ce ; hae oe i 184 — Some New Voyages {mall moiety of Ammunition. Befides, the Fort was commanded by a Mountain, from whence he mighe be gall’d with Stones flung out of Slings; and twas to be fear'd,the Englifh would poffefs themfelves of that highGround.. I march’d with fixty of the Seamen belonging to the Fifhermen, to prevent their Landing, in cafe they attempted to makea Defcent at a certain place call’d /a Fontaine; and I compafs’d my end without firing a Gun. Ineffeé, fix or fe- ven hundred Exglifh putin to the Land in twenty Sloops, with a delign to have landed at that place; upon which my vigorous Cantabrians being full of fire and forwardnefs, appear’d too foon upon the tShoar, in {pite of my Teeth, and by that means ob- lig’d the Englifh to take another courfe,and row with all their mightto the back of a little Cape, where chey threw in a Barrel of Pitch and Tar that burnt two arpents of Thickets. The 182 about Noon, per- ceiving that a lictle Sloop put off from the Admiral with a white Flag on its Prow, and made towards the Fort, Truninthither immediately. The Go-— vernour had took care to fend out one of his own ~ Sloops with the fame Flag, to meet the other, and was furprisd when fhe return’d with two Englifh OF- ficers on board. Thefe Officers gave the Governour — to underftand, that the Admiral defir'd he would fend an Officer on board of him, which was done accordingly ; for Mr. de Cojfe-belle and I, went on board of the Admiral, who receiv’d us with all Ref- pect and Civility, and regal’d us with Sweet-meats, and feveral forts of Wines, with which we drank — the Healths of the Admirals of France, and England. - He fhew’d us his whole Ship, to the very Carriages — of the Guns, and then gave the Sieur de Coffebelle to ~ know, that *cwould bea great trouble to himto be © oblig’d to take Placentia by the force of Artns, in re- gard that he forefaw, fuch an Enterprife would prove fatal to the Governour, to the Garrifon, and all the ee ae ue wma 57.0. he lé x4 leat NS)! ITY EGET eo ede RENN | “EE ee tl pik Sd mae Ht I 9 LEI SEOUL, TT A TIS OIL ETAT S “ eo - * = tipi 3B 8 ee s : . XN ee SN S S wa Ln iw m a Nn : SSR > eee a! 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Our Officer be- ing fully acquainted with the Governours Mind, made anfwer in his name, that he was refolv’d up- on a vigorous defence, and would rather {pring the place in the Air, than furrender it to the Enemies of the King his Mafter. Aftera mutual exchange of Compliments, we took leaveof him, and being rea- dy to get into our Sloop, he told us with embraces, that he was infinitely forry he could not falute us with his Guns, in the room of which he order’d five — or fix Huzza’s, with a Long live the King. When we went into the Boat, we return’d him the fame number of fhouts, to which he return’d a feventh that finifh’d the Ceremony. Upon our return to the Port, Mr. de Coffebelle gave the Governour an ac- count of the force of the Admiral’s Ship. The St. Albans (fo the Ship was call’d) carried fixty fix Guns mounted, and fix hundred Men Complement, but the other Ships appear’d to be of lefs force. - The next day, which wasthe 19h, they advanc’d within Canon-fhoc of the Fort, where they lay bye, while a Sloop row’d up tothe Batteries. The Go- vernour fent out another Sloop: to know what the matter was, and was anfwer'd, that if he had a mind for a Parley in the time of the Ingagement, he fhould put up a red Flag for a Signal. 1 was then potted at Ja Fontaine, to oppofe a Defcent ; for that was the only place that could be ferviceable to the Englifh, in order to mafter Placentia, The Englifh ought to have confider’d, that their Cannon. would do no fervice againft an impenetrable Rampart, and that they would lofe their labour in {hooting againft Flints and Earth. Bucit feems, they were oblig’d by exprels Orders from the Prince of Orange, to do_ ¥ 2 it, 186 Some New Voyages | it, and at the fame timeto expofe themfelves to the danger of being funk, which had certainly been effected, if we had had Powder and Ball enough , for the Canonading lafted almoft five hours. The 20th a French Pilot who was Prifoner on board of the Admiral, made his efcape by throw- ing himfelf into the Sea in the Night-time. He landed at the place where [lay in Ambufcade ; and after he had given me an account of what pafs’d in the Fleet, I fent him to’ the Governour’s Houfe. Heinform’d me, that they had defign’d a Defcent — with feven or eight hundred Men, but alter’d their Refolution, upon the apprehenfion, that there were fourteen or fifteen hundred Seamen ready to oppofe them; that they were of the opinion, that my fixty Bifcayans who difcover'd themfelves upon the fhoar | at la Fontaine, in {pite of all I could do, had no o- ther view but to draw ’em into an Ambufcade, by — tempting em to'come up. The 21/ they fet fail with a Notth-Eaft Gale, after having burnt all the Houfes at Pointe Verte, where the Governour had fent a Detachment by way of Precaution that fame very day ; but the ways were fo impradticable, that the Detachment could not get there in time to op- pofe the Enemy. This one may: juftly fay, that if ic had not been for the Captains of the Bifcay Ships that were then at Placentia, that place hadun- _ doubtedly fallen into the hands of the Englifh: And this I can convince you of, when you and I meet. In this bloody Expedition, the Englifh loft fix Men 3 and on our fide the Sieur Boat, Lieutenant of a Nantes Veffel, had his Arm fhot off. In fine, che — Englifh did all that Men could do, fo that nothing — can be faid againft their Conduct. sgn Odfober the 6th, I tock fhippingin purfuit of my Voyage to France, being accompany’d with feveral other Veffels: The Wefterly Winds were fo favou- able to usin our paffage, that we came toan An- | ¥ ils chor to North-America. FB chor on the 23d at St. Nazere, which lies but eight or nine Leagues for this place. I am to fet out immediately for Verfailles ; in the mean time, I am, SIR, Yours, &e-. Pro. tee RMT, Dated at Nantes May to. 1693. Containing an Account of Mr.¥rontenac’s Pro- ject, which was rejected at Court, and the rea- fon why it was rejected. The King gives the Author the Lieutenancy of the \fle of New- found-Land, &c. together with a free Inde- pendant Company. | SIR, Am now once more at Nantes, from whence I wrote to you in Odfober lat. I am now return’d from Court, where 1 prefented to Mr. Pontchar- train Mr. Frontenac’s Letters, and the Memorial I mention’din my laft. I wasanfwer’d, that it would not be proper to execute the Project I propos’d, be- caufe the forty Seamen which were neceflary for my purpofe, could not now be allow’d me, and befides the King had given Orders to Mr. Frontenac, to make Peace with the Ivoquefe upon any terms whatfoever. This Inconveniency alfo was found to attend the Project, that after the Forts which I intended to build upon the Lakes were intirely fi- nifh’d, the Savages that are our Friends and Con- federates, would rather feek after Glory, by making a Ware 188 Some New Voyages 4 War upon the Iroquefe, than take pleafure in Hunt- ing the Beavers, which would bea confiderable da- mage to the Colonies of Canada, that fubfift only as one may fay, by the trade of Skins, as I fhall thew — you more particularly in a proper place. The En- glifh will by no means take it ill, that wedo noe ‘build thefe Forts, for befides that, they are too much concern’d for the prefervation of the Iroque/e, they will always be ready to furnifh with Merchan- — dize the Savage Nations, that are our Allies, as they have donehiherto. I muft own my felf migh- tily oblig’d to the Exglifh, who attack’d us at Placen- gia the lalt year; they declar’d publickly, though without any juft ground, after they arrivd in Eng- land, that they would infailibly have taken’ thae place, if Thad not oppos’d their Defcent. Ihave already inform’d you, that I did not at all hinder them from Landing at the place where I was poft- ed with fixty Bifcayan Seamen : So that they attri- bute to mea glorious Action, in which I had no fhare, and by that means have done me fo much Honour, that his Majefty hath beftow’d upon me the Lieutenancy of the Ifle of Newfound-Land and Acadia, which I never defervduponthat fcore. _ Thus you fee, Sir, that many times fuch Perfons are preferr’d, who have no other Patrons in the World, but pure Chance. However, I fhould have been better pleas’d, if I could have put the abovemention’d Proje& in execution, for a folitary Life is moit grateful to me, and the manners of the Savages are perfectly agree- able to my Palate. The corruption of our Age is fo great, that it feems the Ewropeans have made a ' Law, to tear one another in pieces by cruel Ufage and Repreaches, and therefore you muft not think it ftrange, if I havea kindnefs for the poor Ameri- cans, who have done me fo many favours. I am eo fet out the next day after co Morrow, from this ae) ORs ages ee idee ~— t@ North-America, 189 place, in order to embark at St. Nazere. The Me- fieurs @ Angui, two Nantes Merchants, have taken upon them to maintain the Garrifon Of Placentia, upon condition of certain Grants made by the Court, who furnifhes them with a Ship, wherein I am to have my Paflage. Pray fend me your News by fome Ships of S. fobs de Luz, which are to fail from this place within two Months, in order to truck with the Inhabitants of Placentia. I cannot conclude this Letter, without giving you fome account of a Difpute I had very lately at my Inn, with a Portugueze Phyfician, who had made many Voyages to Angola, Brezil, and Gos. He maintain’d, that the People of the Continent of 4- merica, Afia, and Africa, were defcended from three different Fathers, which he chus attempted to prove. The Americans differ from the Afatics, for they have neither Hair nor Beard ; the features of their Face, their colour and their cufloms are different ; befides that, they know neither meum nor tuum, but have all things in common, without making any property of Goods, whichis quite contrary to the A/fiatic way of living. He added, that America was fo far diftant from the other parts of the World, that no body can imagine, how a Voyage fhould be made into this New Continent, before the ufe of the Compafs was found out; Thatthe Africans being black and flat Nos’d, had fuch monftrous thick Lips, fuch a flac Face, fuch foft woolly Hair on their Head,and were in their Conftitution, Manners, and Temper, fo different from the Americans, that he thought it im- poffible, that thefe two forts of People fhould de- rive their Original from Adam, whom this Phyfici- an would have to refemble a Twr& or a Perfian in his Air and Figure. Lanfwer'd hin prefently, that fup-_ pofing the Scripture did not give convincing evi- dence, that all Men in general are defcended from one firft Father, yet his reafoning would not befuf- ee : ficient ficient to prove the contrary, fince the difference that isfound between the People of America and Africa, proceeds fromno other caufe but the diffe. rent qualities of the Air and Climat in thefe two Continents: That this appears plainly to be true, becaufea Negro Man and Woman, or a Savage Man and Woman, being tranfplanted into Europe, will produce fuch Children there, who in four or five Generations, will infallibly be as white, as the moft ancient Europeans. The Phyfician deny’d this mat- ter of Fact, and maintain’d, that the Children def- cended from this ‘Negro Man or Woman, would be born there as black as they are in Guineas but chat afterwards the Rays of the Sun being more oblique and lefs fcorching than in Africa, thefe Infants would not have that black fhining Luftre, which is fo eafily diftinguifhed upon the Skin of fuch Negroes as are brought up in their own Country. ‘To con- firm his Hypothefis, he affur’d me, that he had feen many Negroes at Lisbon, as black asin Africa, tho’ their Great Grandfather’s Grandfather had been tranf- planted into Portugal many years agce. He added _alfo, that thofe who were defcended from the Portu- gueze, that dwelt at Angola, Cape Vert, Gc. about a hundred years agoe, are fo little tawn’d, that ‘tis impoffible to diftinguifh them from the Natives of Portugal: He further confirm’d his way of reafon- ing, from an unconteftable matter of fadt, for, fays he, if the Rays of the Sun were the caufe of the blacknefs of the Negroes, from hence it would fol- low, that che Brazilians being. ficuate in the fame degree from the Equator with the Africans, fhould be as black as they ares bue fo they are not, for ’tis certain their Skin appears to be asclear as that of the Portuguefe. But this was not all, he maintain’d farther, that thefe who are defcended from the firft Savages of Brazil, chat were tranfported into. Portu- gal, above an Age agoe, have as suai oie: ; DEar | to Ayortie Ametiea,: . -* 191 Beard as their Anceftors, and on the contrary, thofe who are defcended from the firft Portugueze, who peopl’d the Colonies of Brazil, are as hairy, and have as great Beards, as if they had been born in Portugal. But aticrall, continued he, though all that [have faid is abfolutely true, yet there are fome People, who rafhly maintain, that the Children of the Africans and Americans, will by degrees degene- rate in Europe. This may happen to thofe whofe Mothers receive the imbraces of Europeans, which is the reafon why we fee fo many Mullatto’s in the Ifles of America, in Spain, and in Portugal: Whereas if thefe Women had been as clofely kept up in Eas- rope, as the Portugueze Women arein Africa and A- mevica, the Children of the Brafilians would nomore degenerate than thofe of the Portugueze. Such Sir, was the reafoning of this Doctor, who hits the matter pretty juftly towards the end of his Dif- courfe; but his Principle is moft falfe, and moft ab- furd, for no Man can doubt, unlefs he be void of Faith, good Senfe and Judgment, but that Adam was the only Father of all Mankind. *Tis certain, that the. Savages of Canada, and all the other People of America, have not naturally either Hair or Beard ; that the features of their Face, and their colour ap- proaching to an Olive, fhow a vaft difference be- tween them and the Europeans. What is the caufe of thefe things I know not, and yet I cannot _be- lieve them to be the effe@& of their Air and Food. For at that rate, thofe who are defcended from the French, that firft fetled in Canada near a hundred years agoe, and for the moft part run up and down in the Woods, and live like the Savages, fhould have _ neither Beard nor Hair, but degenerate alfo by de- | grees into Savages, which yet never happens. Af- ter this Phyfician had alledg’d all thefe Reafons, he _ digrefs'd from this Subjeét, and having a mind to dif- cover his extravagant Opinions, ask’d me what I | ) thoughe 192 = Some New Voyages oan thought of the Salvation of fo many Americans, to whom in all probability theGofpel wasnever preach’d. You may very well believe, thac I made no fcruple to condemn them by wholefale to Eternal Fire, which he took very ill. ‘ How can you, faid he, ‘condemn thefe poor People with fo much affu- *rance: “Tis probable that their firft Father, having ‘never finn’d as our Adam did, had a good Soul, “and an upright Heart, fince his Pofterity do ex- ‘ adtly obferve the Law of natural Equity, whichis “exprefs'd in Latine in thefe well known words, * Alteri ne feceris quod tibi fieri non vis; and allow no * property of Goods, nor any Diftin@ion or Sub- * ordination among them, but live as Brethren, with- “out Difputes, without Suits, wichout Laws, and * without Malice. But fuppofing, added he, that “they were originally defcended from Adam, we * ought not to believe, that they are damn/d for their © ignorance of the Chriftian Doétrine, for who can “tell but God may impute to them the Merits of * Chrifl’s Blood, by ways fecret and incomprehen- ‘fible tous; and befides, ( fuppofing that Man has “aFree Will) his Divine Mayjefty without doubt * will have a greater regard to his moral Actions, ‘than to his Worfhip and Belief. The want of * Knowledge, continued he, is an Unhappinefs, but. * not a Crime, and who can tell but God has a mind © to be honour'd by infinite ways of paying him “Homage and Refpedt, as by Sacrifices, Dances, ‘ Songs, and the other Ceremonies of the Americans ? He had {carce made an end of his Difcourfe, when I fell foul upon him with all my might, as to the preceding Points; but after I had given him to un- derftand, that if among the ulti vocati, i.e. thofe who profefs the true Religion, whoare but a hand- ful of Men, there are found but Pauci electi, all the Americans muft be ina very deplorable condition : He anfwerd me impudently, that 1 was very rafh to determine who fhould be in the number of the robate (oe brah) “aD BB bh MAI a - o i ] be MS a» e Tj! | ob at the laft Judgment, and tocondemn t : without giving any Quarter; for, fays he, this isto infulc che Wifdom of God, andto make him deal as capricioufly by his Creatures, as Sr, Paul's Potter did by his two Veflels. Neverthelefs, when hefaw that I treated him like an impious, unbelieving Wretch, he to be even with me, re- ply’d in thefefoolifh words, Fidem ego hic que adbibe- tur Myfteriis facris interpello, [ed fidem illam que bone ments foror eff, queq; reclam rationem amat. From hence you may judge, Sir, whether this fine Phyfis cian was able to remove Mountains. Iam, SPR. Yours, &c. EET TE RK. XXY. Dated at Viana in Portugal Fanuary 31. 1694. The Author’s departare from France for Placen- tia. A Fleet of 30 Englith Ships came to feize upon that place; but is difappointed, and fheers off. The Reafons why the Englith have bad Juccefs in all their Enterprifes beyond Sea. The _ Author's Adventure with the Governour of Pla- centia. is departure for Portugal. Ax Ex: gagement with a Flufhing Privateer. ; | Do hot atall doubt but you will be fenfibly affeg- ed with my fad and fatal Mifadventure, which I atti now to give you an account of. And firft : O you 194 ~ Some New Voyages you mult know, that after we had waited for a fair Wind fifteen or twenty days at St. Nazere, we fer fail on the 12% of Aday laft. Our Paflage was neither long nor fhort, for we arriv’d at the Har- bour of Placentia the 20rh of “fune, having taken an Englifh Ship laden with Tobacco, on the edges of the Bank of Newfound Land. Afcer I landed, I went to falute Mr. Brouillon, Governor of Placentia, and declar’d to him how glad I was to obey the Orders of fo wife a Gommander. He anfwerd, that he was much furpriz’d to find, that I had fol- licited to be employ’d there, without acquainting him wich ic the preceding year; and that he now plainly perceiv’d, that the Project about the Lakes of Canada, ( which | had mention’d to him ) wasa miere fham pretence. 1 endeavour’d in vain to per- {wade him to the contrary 3 for ic was not poflible for me to undeceive him. Neverthelefs, I landed my Goods, and hir’d a private Houfe, till fuch time as I could build one for my felf, which I carried | on with fo much diligence, that it was finifh’d in September, by the affiftance of the Ship-Carpenters, who were lent me gratis, by all the Bi/cay Captains. The Sieur Berzy of St. Fobn de Luz, arrivdat Pla- centia on the 1815 of Fuly, with one of his Ships, and brought me a Letter, wherein you acquaint me, that in regard your Nephew defires to. vifie Canada the next year,you would be very glad to have a Dictionary of the Language of the Savages, to- gether with the Memoirs which I promis you. On the 16t) of September we perceiv’d an Englifh Fleet of twenty four Sail, which caft Anchor in the Road much about the time that it was difco- verd. It was commanded by Sir Franc Wheeler, who had gene to Martinico wich a defign to feize thacIfle, and in his recurn from thence had fail’d to New-England, totake in fome Forces and Am- munition there, in order co make himfelf Mafter of to North.America. 195) of Placentia ; but when he difcover’d a Redoubt of Stone lately buile upon the topof the Mountain, which I mention’d to you in my laft Letter but ote, he thought it more advifable to return quietly into Enrope, than to make a fruitlefs Attempt. We had planted four Canon upon this high Redoubt, which fo gaul’d theShips of his Fleer, that they were fosc’d to weigh Anchor, and hoift Sail fooner than they intended. The fault of the Englifh upon this occa- fion, was, that they did not enter the Harbour the fame day that they appear’d before the place. I have obferv’dit many times, that Attempts do com- monly mifcarry, by delaying them for a little while 3 and of this I could give you at leaft fifteen or fix- teen Inftances within the compafs of my own Knowledge. ButnowI return to the Quarrel the Governour had withme. _ | Fancying that Ihad follicited my Employments without taking notice of him, he treated me with all manner of Reproaches and Outrages, from thé time of my Landing, to that of my Departure, and was not fatisfy’d with appropriating to himfelf the Profits and Advantages of the free Company that was given me, but likewife ftop’d without any fcru- ple, the pay of the Soldiers that were eimploy’d itt the, Cod-fifhing by the Inhabitants, and made the teft work without Wages. I fhall cake no notice of his publick Extortion ; for tho’ he has fortrially counter- acted the ten Articles contain’d in the Orders of Lewz the roth, yet he hadfo many Friends in all the Courts, that he could not be found guilty : ‘There’s fome pleafure in making Prefents in his way, for by them he has made soooo Crowns fer fas co ne- fas; in the fpace of three or four years. I fhould never have done, if I offer’d to give you a particu- far account of all the trouble and vexation he gave me. J thal! only mention three Inftances which crown all che refi, | ‘ Ne @ 4 On 196 — Some New Voyages By On the 20th of November, i.e. a Month after our Fifhermen fet fail, while I was entertaining at Sup- per fome of the Inhabicants, he came Mask’d into my Houfe, with his Servants, and broke the glafs Windows, Bottles, and Drinking-Glaffes, and threw down the Tables, Chairs, Chefts of Drawers, and every thing that cameto hand. Before [had time to get into my Chamber, and take my Piftols, this ‘infolent Mob difappeard- very feafonably; for I would have loaded my Piftols and purfu’d them, if my Guelts had not hindred me. Next Morning his Servants fellupon mine, who expected nothing lefs than to be threfh’d to death with Clubs. This fe-’ cond infule having provok’d my Patience to the laft degree, I was meditating fome Revenge upon thefe Affaffins, when the Recollets came and remon- {trated to me, that [ muft diffemble my Refentment, to prevent any Innovation in the King’s Affairs. Then I refolv’dto fhute my felf up, and apply my felf to Study, to divert the vexatious Thoughts, of not being able to pull off my Mask. The third trick which he play’d me, at che endof three days, was this; he fene to arreft two Soldiers, whom I had imploy’d to cut downfome Grafs in the Meadows, about half a League from the Garrifon: They were feiz’d while they were Mowing, bound and carried | away Prifoners, under the pretence of being De- ferters, becaufe they had lain two Nights out of the Garrifon, without his leave ; and, which would have prov'd yet more fatal to thefe innocent Men, he had certainly causd ’emto be knock’d on the Head, on purpofe to vex me, if the Recollets, and his own Mif- {se, had not earneftly interceded on their behalf. — After this Accident, the Recollets advifed me to go . and feehim,and to entreathim to put an.end to allhis © Perfecutions,afluring him at the fame time,that I was entirely his Servane and Friend. Duras eft bic fermo. Whatever reluétancy Ihad to yield to an advice fo — con- "+ North Ametica. =—«197 contrary to nature, which, I muft confefs, ftrug- ‘gled furioufly within me, yet I offer'd fo much vi- . olence to my felf, thac I fubmitted to it. I was ac his Houfe, went into his Chamber, and being with him all alone, I fpoke tohim for a quarter of an hour in the moft fubmiflive Terms, that any Slave ‘could ufe. Tam afham’dto make this Confeffion toyou, for I blufh to my felf every time I chink of | fo mean a fubmiffion. However, inftead of his liftening to my Reafons, and treating friendly with me, he fell into a moft furious Paffion, and loaded me with a torrent of moft bitter Reproaches. In “¢his cafe, Sir, I preferr’d che Service of the King, before the Pundtilio’s of Honour, for I did nothing bat retir’d to my own Houfe,being well fatisfy’d that I was not affaffinated by his Domefticks: Bue the diforder which this Affair produc’d, would require a long Difcourfe. It will be more to the purpofe, to Come to matter of Fact; I do allure you, thar he would have laid me up, if che Inhabicants had appear dto be in his Intereft. He pretended that he had béen infalted, and confequently that he was in the right in revenging himfelf, whatever it coit him. But the tragical end of aGovernour, whofe Throat was cut in this Country about thirty or for- ty years agoe, furnifh’d him wich abundant matter of Reflexion. He jude’d it therefore his fafelt way to diflembie his Anger, being perfwaded, thar if I fhould have run him through with my Sword, the Soldiers and Inhabitants would have favourd my ' efcape to the Englifh, in the neighbourhood of Pla- centia. Inthe mean time the Recollets, who hada ‘mind to compofe thefe growing Differences, found no. great troubie in reconciling us, for they Remon- firated to him, of what confequence it would be for us to livein a good Correfpondence,and to avoid the troubles thar would enfue upon our quarrels. Lhis propofal of an Accommodation, was in ap- . Oe ((: Pearance PC ee ee 198 Some New Voyages pearance moft agreeable to him, and fo much the rather, becaufe he was glad to diflemble his Refent. ments by the external figns of Friendfhip. So we faw and embrac’d one another with mutual Pro- teftations of forgetting all chat had pafs’d be- © tween us. | | After this Reconciliation, I had reafon to believe, that his Heare would not give the lye to his Mouth, becaufe I thought he was not fo imprudent as to in- form the Court of fome Trifles, wherein he would appear to have proftitcuted his Honour; but I was deceiv’'d, for he took the pains ¢o add afterwards to the Verbal Procefs he had given in before our Ac- ceommodation, fome falfhoods which he ought to have conceal’d. °Tis needlefs to acquaint you, how by chance his Papers fell into my Hands; that In- difcretion might provea difadvantage to fome Per- fons, whom Heaven blefs. I fhall only tell you, that after the Recollets had:feen and read the Alle- gations contain d in his Papers, they made no feru- ple to advife me to take care of my felf, and inge- nuoufly declar'd to me, that they never intended to meddle any more in that Affair, becaufe they per- ceiv'd that they had innocently contributed to do mea prejudice, by reftoring peace between him and me. This wholfom advice made me perceive the danger to which J fhould be expos’d, if I continued any longer at Placentia, infomuch, that the fear I had of being fent tothe Baffile, afcer the arrival of the Ships from France, made me refolve to abandon all hopes of making my fortune here, and to throw up my Places. After the Inhabitants were acquaint- ed wich this News, all of ’em except three or four, came running to my Houfe, to affure me they were ready to fign my Verbal Procefs, in cafe I would change my Refolution: But inftead of ac- cepring their offer, I gave them to underftand, ha- ing thank’d them frft for, their Good-will, that ie 2 they f 4 ~ to North-America. 399 they would bring Mifchief upon themfelves, and . be look’d upon at Court as Seditious Perfons , and Difturbers of the publick Peace; fince by a deteftable principle of Politicks, an inferior Perfon is always judg’d to be in the wrong, whatever reafon he may have on his fide. Indeed [ wouid gladly have avoided this fatal neceffity of throwing up my Places, which feem’d infenfibly to Jead me to fome great Fortune; but at laft the con- finement in the Baffile, made fuch a deep impreflion upon my Mind, after I had ferioufly refle@ed upon the troublefom Circumftances of my Affairs, thae I made no fcruple to embark in a little Vefiel, which was the only one, and the laftthat was to £0to Frane. The Propofal I made tothe Captain of prefenting him with a 1000 Crowns, was fo well receiv’d, that he engag’d to land me upon the Coaft of Portugal for that Sum, upon condition that I fhould keep the Secret. The beft of the matter was, that my Enemy had ufed the precaution of writing to the Governors of Belle Ifle, of the Ifle of Re, and of Rochelle, to feize me as foon as I fhould | land. Hereckomd, and not without reafon indeed, that this Veffel would put into one of thefe three Ports: But three hundred Piftoles, dexteroufly con- vey d to the hands of fome People that are not much: accuftom’dto finger Gold, have a wonderful effect ; for that very Sum, which indeed I was loth to pare with, fav’d me my Liberty, and perhaps my Life. Purfuant to this Refolution, I imbarqu’d the rath of the laft Month, notwithftanding the rifque that one runs by failing in the Winter time, through fuch a Sea as lies between Newfound-Laud and France, ‘Tis needlefs to inform you, that I left at Placentia a great deal of Houfhold Furniture, which [ could neither fell nor carry off. ~Twill be more edify- ing for you to hear the Journal of our Voyage. We | incounter’d three terrible Storms in our Paffage , O 4 without 200 Some New V oyaes without any damage; and in the laft of thefe, which lafted three days, the Wind at North-Weft, we run a hundred and fifty Leagues without any. Sail. — This laft Storm was fo violent, that the Seamen im- | brac'd, and bid an eternal adieu to one another ; for every Minute they expected to be funk without relief. As this Storm alarm’d us, fo the contrary Winds from the Eaft and North-Eaft, that fprung — upon us ahundred Leagues to the Weftward of Cape Fimfrerre, oceafion’d an equal dread’s for we were oblig’d to traverfe the Sea for three or four and twen- iy days, after which we defery’d the Cape by ver- tue of our frequent tackings, and by a ftrange ac- cident, were actack’d by a Flufhing Privateer, which could not beard us, becaufe the Sea roll’d fo ‘high, but contented her felf with firing upon us, and that with fo litle effect, that we did not lofe one Man. Our Mafis and Rigging indeed was fo dammagd, thae after we were parted from the Privateer, by the help of the Night and a great Fog, we could dcarce make ufe of our Sails. However, we refit- red with all poffible diligence, and the Captain of the Ship having then‘a fair pretence to luft out of the direct courfe ftood to the South-Eaft in’ the Night-time. This -feign’d courfe did not fecure us from the Privateer, which might happen to fteer the fame courfe; fo that in the Night-time we put our felves in a readinefs to renew the fight in the Day-time. In effect, he did noe. pur- fue us, as we apprehended: But about Noon we cicap'd yet more narrowly, for we were purfu'd by a Sallyman in fight of the Coaft for four hours, and were within a hairs breadth of being taken, before wegot under the Canon of the Fort of this City. Had we been catch’d, the Governour of Placentia would have had fome ground for the joyful Excla- mation, Incidit in Scillam, &¢. But thank God we were only frighted. RE to North-Ametica. 200 ~ Asfoon as we cameto an Anchor, I paiddown my rooo Crowns to the Captain, who has reafon to look upon this Action, as one of the beft he ever did in his Life-time. The Long-boat was no fooner in the Water, than I went afhoar with all my Baggage; and as foon as I came into this City, I procur’d Ammunition and Provifions for the Ship with that Expedition, that the Cap- tain weigh d Anchor the very next day, and fo con- tinu’d his courfe to France. | As for the Memoirs of the Country of Canada, which you have fo oftendefir’d, I haveaddrefs’d “em to the Roche) Merchant, who convey’d your Letters to me all the while I was in Canada. To thefe J have tack’da {mall Catalogue of the moft neceflary words of the Algonkin Language; which, as I have often told you, is the fineft and the moft univerfal Language in that Continent. If your Nephew conti- nues his defign of undertaking a Voyage to that Coun- ‘try, I would advife him cto learn thefe words in the time of his Pafflage, that fo he may be able to ftay five or fix Months with the Algonkins, and under- ftand what they fay. Ihave likewife fence you an explication of the Sea-Terms, made ufe of in my Letters. ‘The making of this little Table, was a di- verfion to mein my Voyage; for in perufing my Letters, I drew out fome remarks which I defign co impart to you, if I find that the infuing Memoirs give you fatisfaction. | You will readily guefs, that from the year 1683, to this very day, I have renounc’d all manner of ties comy Country. The curious Adventures that I have related to you in Writing fince that time, will undoubtediy afford an agreeable diverfion to your Friends; provided they are not of the number of thofe unfufferable Devotees, who would rather be crucifi'd, than fee an Ecclefiaftick expos’d. Pray be fo kind as to write to me to Lisbon, and inform nic 202 Some New Voyages ae. me of what you hear, in reference to my concern, You have fuch good Correfpondents at Paris, that you cannot mifs of knowing how things go. I doubt not but my Adverfary feeds himfelf with the hopes, that his ufual Prefents would procure the ap- prehending of me in France, where he thinks] would . be the fool to land: But now to be fure he'll fret his Heart out, for chat he cannot gall me to his Withes. However, ’tisas much his intereft to fol- licit my Death, ( purfuant to his unjuft Charge a- gainft me ) as tis my Glory to procure him a long Life. Upon this foot, Sir, the langer he lives, the more revenge I fhall have ; and confequently I fhall have an opportunity of an eafie folace for the lofs of my Places, and the Difgrace I have met with from the King. Iam, | SIR, Yours, &C, Memoirs 203 MEMOIRS North-America, Containing a Geographical Defcription of that vat Continent ; the Cuftoms and Commerce, of the Inhabitants, &c. | Ca sie WN my former Letters, I prefented you with a ] view of the Englifh and French Colonies, the Commerce of Canada,the Navigation upon theRi- vers and Lakes of that Country, the courfe of failing from Europe to North-America, the feveral Attempts made by the Englifh to mafter the French Colonies, the Incurfions of the French upon New-England, and upon the Iroguefe Country: In a word, Sir, I have reveal d a great many things. that for reafons of State or Politicks, have been hitherto conceal’d; in- fomuch, that if you were capable of making me a Sacrifice to your Refentment, ’tis now in your ‘power to ruine me at Court, by producing my Letters. | oe | All that I writ in the foregoing Letters, and the whole fubftance of the Memoirs i now fend you, is truth as plain as the Sun-fhine. I flatter no Man, and I {pare no body. I fcorn to be partial; I beftow due praife upon thofe who are in no capacity to ferve © TS, REP eee eee Pinky tas! elt PAS Wy ‘ Dr A MOM aoe)» Yphr he eT ? eka 204 Some New Voyaces | : me, and I cenfure the Condu& of others, that are capable of doing me an injury by indire@ Methods. fam not influenc’d by that principle of Intereft and Party-making, that is the rule of fome folks words. I facrifice all to the love of Truth, and write with no other view, than to give youa juft © Reprefentation of things as they are. "Tis beneath me to mince or alter che matter of fa, contain’d either in the Letters I fent you fome ten or twelve years agoe, or inthefe Memoirs. In the courfe of my Voyages:and ‘Travels, I took care to keep parti- cular Journals of every thing ; but a minuté relati- oa of all Particulars, would be irkfom to you, be- iides, that the trouble of taking a copy of the Jour- nals, before | have an opportunity of fhewing you the Original, would require more time than I can well fpare. In thefe Memoirs youll find as much | as willferve to form a perfect Idea of the vaft.Con- tinentof North-America. Inthe courfe of ‘our Cor- refpondence from the year 1683, to this time, I fent you five and'twenty Letters, of ali which I ‘have kept a double very carefully. My only view in wri- ting of thefe Letters, was to inform you of the moft effential things ; for I was unwilling to perplex and confound your Thoughts, with an infinity of un- common things, that have happen’d in that‘Coun- try. Lf youll confule my Maps, as you read the zbovemention’d Letters, you'll find a juft Reprefen- tation of allthe piaces I have fpoke of. Thefe Maps are very particular, and I dare aflure you, they are the correcteft yet extant. My Voyage upon the Long. River, gave mean opportunity of making that lit- tle Map, which I fene you from MMifilimakinac in 1699, with my fixteenth Letter. °Tis crue, it gives only abare Defcription of that River, and the Ri- ver of the Adiffouris : But it requir’d more time than — ¥ could fpare, to make it more compleat, by a knowledge of the adjacent Countries, which have : hitherto ; ‘to North-America. = 205 > been unknown to all the World, as wellas sreat River, and which I would never have vi- fited, if Ihad not been fully inftructed in every thing that related to it, and convoy d by ageod Guard. ff Jhave plac'd the Map of Canada at the front of thefe Memoirs, and defire that favour of you, that you ‘would not fhew ic toany body under my Name. To the latter partI have fubjoyn’d an Explication of the Marine, and other difficult Terms, made ufe of in my Letters, as wellas in thefe Memoirs; which you'll. pleafe to confult, when you meet with a word that you do not underftand. | A fhort Defcription of Canada. You'll think, Sir, chat I advance a Paradox, when - Tacquaint you that New-France, commonly call’d _ Canada; comprehends a greater extent of Ground, than the half of Evrope: But pray mind what preot “(have for that Affertion. You know that Europe extends South and North, from the 35 to the 72 degree of Latitude, or if you will, from Cadiz to the North Cape on the confines of Lapland; and that it’s Longitude reaches from the 9th to the 94th Degree, that is, from the River Oly, to the Weft Capein Yflandia. But atthe fame tite, if we take the greatelt breadth of Europe, from Eaft to Welt, from the imaginary Canal, ( for Inftance ) berween the Zanais and the Volga, to Dinglebay in Ireland, it makes but 66 Degrees of Longitude, which con- tain more Leagues than the Degrees allotted to it towards the Polar Circle, though thefe are more. nu- merous, by reafon that the degrees of Longitude are unequal: And fince we are wont to meafure Pro- vinces, Iflands, and Kingdoms by the {pace of Ground, I am of the Opinion, that we ought to make ufe of the fame Standard, with refped co che four parts of the World. The Geographers who par- col 206 Some New Voyages cel out the Earth in their Clofets, according to their fancy ; thefe Gentlemen, I fay, might have been aware of this advance, if they had been more caré- ful. But, to come to Canada ; | | Allthe World knows, that Canada reaches from the 39th to the 65th Deg. of Latitude, that is, from the South fide of the Lake Errié, to the North fide of Hudfon’s Bay 3 and from the 284th, tothe 336th De- gree of Longitude, viz. from the River Adififipi, to Cape Rafe in the Ifland of New-Foundland. 1 af- firm therefore, that Europe has but 11 Degrees of Latitude, and 33 of Longitude, more than Canada, in which I comprehend the Ifland of New-Found- land, Acadia, and all the other Countries that lye to the Northward of the River of St. Laurence, which is the pretended great boundary that fevers the French Colonies from the Englifh, Were I toreckon in all the Countries that lye to the North-Weft of Canada, I fhould find ic larger than Exrope: But I confine my felf to what is difcover’d, known and ownd; I mean, to the Countries in which the French trade with the Natives for Beavers, and in which they have Forts, Magazines, Miflionaties, and {mall Settlements. ’Tis above a Century anda half fince Canada was difcover’d. Fobs Verafan was the firft Difcoverer, though he got nothing by it, for the Savages eat him up. ‘fames Cartier wasthe nexe that wene thither, but after failing with his Ship above Quebec, he ré- turn'd to France with a forry opinion of rhe Coun- ery. At laft better Sailors were imploy’d in the Dif- covery, and trac’d the River of Se. Laurence more — narrowly: And about the beginning of thelaft Cen- tury, a Colony was fent thither from Rouaz, which fetled there after a great deal of oppofition from the Natives. Ac this day the Colony is fo populous; that “tis computed to contain 180000 Souls. EF have ‘already given you fome account of that Country in my ae men ? to North-America. 207 my Letters, and therefore fhall now only point tothe moft noted places,and take notice of what may grati- fie your Curiofity beyond what you have yet heard. © Weare ata lofs tofind the Head of the River of St. Laurence, for tho’ we have trac’d it feven or eight hundred Leagues up, yet we could never reach its fource ; the remoteft place that the Coureurs de Bois go to, being the Lake Lenemipigon, which difimbogues into the Upper Lake, as the Upper Lake do’s into the Lake of Hurons, the Lake of Hurons into that of Evriz alias Conti, and thatof Errié, into the Lake of Fron- tenac, Which forms this laft great River, that runs for twenty Leagues with a pretty gentle Stream, and . {weeps thro’ thirty more with a very rapid Current, till it reaches the City of Adonreal; from whence itcon- tinues its courfe with fome moderation to the City of Quebec; and after that f{preads out, and inlar- ges it felf by degrees to its Mouth, which lies a hun= dred Leagues further. If we may credit the Nerth- Country Savages, this River takes its rife from the great Lake of the Affinipouals, which they giveout to be larger than any of the Lakes I mention’d but now, being fituated at the diftance of fifty or fixty Leagues from the Lake of Lenemipigon. ‘The River of Se. Laurence 1s 20 of 22 Leagues broad ac its Mouth, ia the middie of which there’s an Hfland call’d Jnti cofti, whichistwenty Leagues long. This Ifland be~ longs to the Sieur ‘Foliet a Canadan, who has buile a little fortify’'d Magazine upon it, to guard his Goode and his Family from the Incurfions of the Eski- | maux, of whom moreanan. He deals with the o- ther Savage Nations, namely, the Adontagnois, and the Papipanachois in Armsand Ammunition, by way of exchange for the Skins of Sea-Wolves or Sea- Calves, and fome other Furs. Over againft this Ifland, to the Southward of it, we find the Ifle call’d L’ Ife Percte, which isa greac ‘Rock with a paflage bord throggh it, in re . Bs | | ine 208 — Some New Voyages the Sloops can only pafs. In time of Peace the Bifcayans of France, and the Normans, us’d to filh for Cod at this place: Por here that Fifh are very plen- tiful, and at the fame time larger, and more proper for drying than thofe of New-Foundland. But there are two great Inconveniencies that attend che fifh- ing upon this Ifland ; oneis, that the Ships ride in great danger, unlefs they have good Anchors and {trong Cables; another Inconvenience is, that this place affords neither Gravel nor Flint-ftones to {tretch outthe Fifh upon before the Sun, and that the Fifhermen are forc’d to make ufe of afore of Hurdles. é There are other Fifhing-places befides this, which | lie fome Leagues higher up upon the fame fide of the River. Such is that call’d Ga/pé, where the Ships Crew fometimes trade in Skins with the Ga/pefians, — to the prejudice of the Proprietors of this River. The other places for.Cod-fifh lie toward Monts notre dame, in the little Bays or Rivers that empty them- felves into the River of St. Laurence. i, On.the other fide of the River,there lies the wideex- tended Country of Labrador,. or of the Eskimaux, who are fuch a wild barbarous People,that'no means what- foever, have hitherto been able to civilife °em. One would think that good old Homer had this People in his view, when he fpeaks of the Cyclopes; for the Character ofthe one, fuits the other admirably well, as it appears from thefe four Verfes, in the ninth Book of his Ody//ea, which are fo pretty, that I can- ‘not forbear inferting them in this place. Tolay SY st” dopa! Bsrnpdpos dre Deyn, Am ay” ULnAcr Opemy yeLobot KeNVE at 7 “Ey ow yAxPuporor® Qeuucever OF exaasns Tlaidwy “nd” aac jyev" go” aaanaAwy ALOT } Phat | “to North-America. 209 ‘Phat is; this People do not perplex themfelves ‘with voluminous Laws, and vexatious Suits; they ‘delight only in the tops of Mountains, and deep Caves, and every one confines his care to the ma- - fagement of his own Family, without troubling his Head about his Neighbour. ‘The Danes were the . firft difcoverers of this Country, which is full of Ports, Havens, and Bays, that the Quebec Barques refort to in the Summer, in order to truck with che: Savages for the Skins of Sea-Calves. The Com- merce I fpeak of, is carried on after this manners As foon as the Quebec Barques come to an Anchor, thefe Devils come on board of them in their lictle Canows made of the Skins of Sea-Calves, in the form of a Weavers Shattle, with a hole in the middle of it, refembling that of a Purfe, in which they ftow chemfelves wich Ropes, fitting fugat upon their Brech. Being fet in this fafhion they row with little Slices, fometimes to the Right, and fome- times to the Left; without bending their Body for fear of Over-fetting. As foon-as they are near the Barque, they hold up their Skins upon the end of the Oar, and at che fame time make ademand of fo _ many Knives, Powder, Ball, Fufees, Axes, Kettles, ec. In fine, every one fhews what he has, and men- _ tions what he expects in exchange: And fo when the Bargain is concluded, they deliver and receive their Goods upon the endof aStick. Asthefe pi- | _tiful Fellows ufe thé precaution of not going on board of our Boats, fo we take care not to fuffer too great a number of Canows tofurround us; for | they have carry’d off oftner than once, fome of _ourfmiall Vedfels, ata time when the Seamen were _. bufied in hauling in the Skins, and delivering out the — other Goods. Here, we are oblig’d to be very, vi-*. gilant in the Night-time, for they know how to- make great Sloops, that will hold thirty or forty Men, and tunas fafl as the Wind: And ‘tis for this P - reafon Beattie ‘oo EL” Coe ee i LR RATE Dy. 210 Some New Voyages Feafon that the Adalouins, who fith for’‘Cod at Petit Nord, and the Spaniards who follow the fame Fifhery at Pertochoua, are oblig’d to fit out long Barques to {cour the Coaft and purfue’em ; for almoft every year they furprife fome of the Crew on fhoar, and cut their Throats, and fometimes they carry off the Veffel. We areaffurd, that their number of Warriours, or Men that bear Arms, amounts to thirty tchoafand; bue they are fuch cowardly fel- lows, that five hundred Clitino’s from Hudfons Bay, ufed to defeat five or, fix thoufand of them. They are poffeis’d of a very large Country, extending from over againft the [fles of Mingan to Hudfons Streight. They crofs over tothe Ifland of Newfound- Land every day, at the Streightof Belle Ifle, which is not above feven Leagues over; -but they never came fo far as Placentia, for fear of meeting with .. other Savagesthere. é Hudfows Bay adjoyns to this Terra of Labrador, and extends from the s2d Degree and thirty Mi- nutes to the 63 of Latitude. The Original of its — hame was this. Captain Henry Hud/on, an Englifh Man by Birth, obtain’d aShip from the Datch, in order to trace a paflage to China through an imagi- nary Streight tothe Northward of North-dmerica. He had firit form’da defign of going by the way | of Nova Zemblas bat upon feeing the Memoirs of | a Danih Pilot, who wasa friend of bis, he drop’d that thoughe. This Pilot, namely , Frederick An- febild, haa {et ouc from Norway or Yflandia, fome - years before, with a defign co find out a Pailage to ‘fapan by Dava’sStreight, which is the Chimerical Streight {poke of. The firft Land he defery'd was Savage Bay, teated on the North fice of the Terra ot Labrador ; then {weeping along the Coali, he en- ter d a Streight, which about twenty or thirty years afterwards, was chriften’d Hud/on’s Streight. After that, itecving co the Wellward, he came upon fome Coalts.. to NorthAmerica. = =—s.2t8 -Coafts that run North and South; upon which he ftood to the North, flattering himfelf with the hopes of finding an open paflage to crofs the Sea of Feffo: but after failing to the Laritude-of the Polar Cir- cle, and running the rifque of perifhing in the Ice, I do notknow how often, without meeting with a- any paffage or open, Sea, he took up:a refoiution of turning back; but the Seafon was then fo far advanced, -and the Ice fo cover’d up the furface of the Water, that he was fore’d to putin to Hudfon’s Bay, and win- ter there ina Harbotir, where feveral Savages fur- nifh’d his Crew with Provifions and exceilent Skins. As foon as the Sea was open, he return’d to Den- mark. Now, Captain Hudfon being atterwards ac- -qguainted with this Daze, undertook upon his Jour- nals to attempt a paffage to ‘fapanm through the Streight of Dava; but the Enterprife fail’d, as well as that of one Button, and fome others. However, Hud/on put in tothe Bay that now goes by his name, where he receiv’d a great quantity of Skins from the Savages; after that, he difcover’d New Holland, which is now call’d New-York, and fome other Countries retaining to New- England: upon the whole, tis not fair to call this Streight and this Bay, by thename of Hudfon; in regard that the abovemen- tion’d Dane, Frederick Anjchild, was the firft difcoverer of them; he being the firlt European that defcry’d the Countriesof North. America, and chalk’d out the way to the others. Upon this Hud/on’s Journals, the Englifh made feveral attempts to fettle a Commerce with the Americans. ‘The great quancity of Beaver- $kins and other Furs that he purchas d of the Savages’ while he Winterdin the Bay, put che notion in- to the heads of fome Englifh Merchants, who there- upon form’d.a Company for the carrying on of this New Commerce. With this view, they fitted out fomre Ships under the command of Captain Nedfon, _ Swhe loft fome of ‘efi in the Ice not far from the : | P 2 oon Sererghigy 212 Some New Voyages Streight, having efcap’d narrowly himfelf. Howe-= ver, he enter’d the Bay, and. plac’d himfelf at the Mouth of a great River, which rifes towards the Lake of the A/mpouals, and fallsinto the Bay at a place where he builta Redoubt, and mounted fome Cannon upon it. In the {pace of thrée or four years after, the Engli{h made fome other little Forts near that River, which prov’d a confiderable baulk to the Commerce of the French, who found that the Savages who usd to deal with em in Furs on the - stig fide of the upper Lake, were not then tobe een. It came to pafsin procefs of time, but how I cannot tell, that one Ratiffon, and one Grozelier, met in that great Lake fome Clifino’s, who pro- misd to conduct ’em to the bottom of the Bay, where the Exglijb had not yet penetrated. In ef- — Fedt, the Clifino’s were as good as their word ; for they fhew’d ’em the place they {poke of, befides feveral other Rivers upon which there was a fair profpe&. of making fuch Settlements , as would carry On a great trade in Skins with feveral Savage Nations. Thefeewo Frenchmes return’d to the Up- per Lake, the fame way that they went, and from thence made the belt of their way to Quebec, where they offer’d to the chief Merchants of the place, to carry Ships to Hudfon’s Bay ; but their Project was rejected. In fine, having met with this re- “spulfe, they went to France, in hopes of a more fa- vourable hearing at Court: But after the prefenting of Memorial upon Memorial, and {pending a great deal of Money, they were treated as whimfical Fellows. Upon that occafionthe King of England’ Ambaffadour did not lofe che opportunity of per- — iwading them to go to London, where they met with — fuch a favourable Reception, that they got feveral » Ships, which they carry’d ta the Bay, not without difficulty, and built feyeral Forts in different he thac ~ AS, , sk” Se he | Reece tee ToS vie oad wi? bY as : € to North-America. 213 that did great fervice in promoting the Commerce. Then the Court of France repented, though too late, that they did not give ear to their Memorials; and finding no other remedy, refolv’d to diflodge the Englifh at any rate. In effect, chey attack’d ’em vigoroufly by Sea and Land, and difpoffefs’d ’em of all their Forts, excepting Fore Ne//on, where they could not expect fuch an eafie Conqueft. Some years after, the Englifh refolv’d to ufe their utmoft efforts to retake thefe Poftss and their refolution was crown’d with Succefs, for they diflodg’d the French in theirturn, and at this day the French are making preparations to repay “em in their own Coin. | | ‘That Country is fo cold for feven or eight Months of the year, that the Sea freezes ten Foot deep, the Trees and the very Stones {plit,che Snow is ten or twelve Foot deep upon the Ground, for above fix Months of the year, and during that feafon, no body can ftir out of Doors,ewithout running the rifque of having their Nofe, Ears and Feet mortifi- ed by the Cold. The paffage from Europe to that - Country is fo difficult and dangerous, by reafon of the Ice and the Currents, that one multbereduc’d to the laft degree of mifery, or be blind to a foolifh heighth, that undertakes fuch a wretched Voyage. 'Tisnow>time to pafs from Hud/on’s Bay, to the Superior or Upper Lake. “Tis eafier to make this Voyage upon Paper, than to go actually through ic ; for you muft fail almoft a hundred Leagues up the River of Machakandibi, which is fo rapid and full of Cataracts, that a light Canow work’d by fix Watermen, fhall not fail ’em under thirty or thirty five days. At the head of this River we meet with a little Lake of the fame name, from whence we areoblig’d to a Land-carriage of feven Leagues, to get attheRiver of Michipikoton, which we ran down in tenor twelve days, though atthe fame. | } eee! time 214 Some New Voyages time we have feveral Land-carriages upon it: For . going down this River we pafs feveral Cataradts, where we are oblig’d either to carry our Canows by Land, or codrag ’em back again. Thus we arrive at the Upper Lake, which is reckon’d to be five hundred Leagues in Circumference, including the windings of the Creeks, and little Gulfs. ‘This fitcle frefh-water Sea is calm enough from the be-— ginning of Aday, totheend of September. TheSouth fide is the fafeft for the Canows, by reafon of the many Bays, and little Rivers, where one may put. in in cafe of a Storm. There is no fetled Savage Nation upon the brinks of the Lake, that I know of. Tis true indeed, that in Summer feveral Nor- thern Nations come to Hunt and Fifhin thefe parts, | and bring with em the Beaver-Skins they have got in the Winter, in order to truck with the Coureurs ‘de Bois, who do not fail tomeet ’em there every year. The places where the Interview happens, are Bagouafch, Lemipifaki, and Chagouamigon. “Tis — fome years fince Mr. Dulbut built a Fort of Pales or Stakes upon this Lake, where’ he had large Ma- gazines of all forts of Goods. That Fort was call’d’ Camaniftigo;an, and did confiderable Difflervice to the Englifh Settlements in Hudfon’s Bay 3 by reafon that it fav’d feveral Nations the trouble of tranfporting their Skins tothat Bay. Upon that Lake wefind _. Copper Mines, the Mettal of which is fo fine and . plentiful, chat there is not a feventh part lofs from she Oar. Iehas fome pretty large Iflands, which ~ are replenifh’d with Elks and wild Affes ; but there’s » {carce any that goestohunt upon’em, by reafon of che danger of crofling over. In fine, this Lake abounds with Sturgeons, Trouts, and white Fifh. — ~The Climate is unfufferably cold for fix Months of . the year, and the Snow joyn’d to the Froft, com- monly freezes the Water of the Lake for ten or, ‘twelve Leacuesover 0 ee From , a to North-America. 215 “From the Superiour or Upper Lake, I fteer to that of Burons, to which T allot four hundred Leagues in Circumference. Now to make this Lake, you muft fail down by the fall call’d Saut St. Mary, which Tdefcrib’din my fifteenth Letter. This Lake is fitu- ‘ated in a fine Climate, as you'll perceive from, che “Map. The North fide of it is beft for the Naviga- | tion of Canows, by reafon of the frequency of Ifles which afford fhelter in bad Weather. The South fide is pleafanter, and more convenient for the - Hunting of Deer, which arethere very plentiful. The figureof this Lake comes near to an equilateral Tri- angle. OF all its Ifles, that call'd AZanitoualin, is the tmoft confiderable , being above twenty Leagues long, andten broad. In former times, the Outaouas of the Nations of Talon and Sabledweleinit; buc — the dread they were under upon theaccount of the \ Troguefe, oblig’d both them and their Neiglfbours to | retire to Mifilimakinac. ‘That part of the Conti- nent that faces this Ifland , is inhabited by the Nockés and the Mifftagues, in two different Viila- ges, which are twenty Leagues diftant, the one from the other. Towards the Eaft end of this I- fland, we fallin with che River des Hrancois, which | took notice of in my fixteenth Letter... ’Tis as broad as the Seine is at Paris, and runs not above for- | ty Leaguesin length’ from its fource in the Lake Nepicerini, to its Mouth. To the North-Weft of this River, there lies the Bay of Torante, which is twenty, or five and twenty Leagues long, and fif- teen broad at its Mouth. This Bay receives a Ri- _ yer that {prings froma lictle Lake of the fame name, and forms feveral Cataradts that are equally im- practicable both uponthe afcent and defcent. Up- on the fide of this River you'll fee a Man’s Head mark'din my Map, which fignifies a large Village of the Hurons, that was deftroy’d by the Iroque/e. You may go from the fource of this Riverto the | | P 4 eo hale Lake Frontenac, by making a Land-carriage tothe River of Tanaouate, that falls inte that Lake. Upon the South fide of the Bay of Toronto, you fee the Fort call’d Fort Suppofe, which I mention’d in my 234 Letter, and about thirty Leagues to the Southward of thar, you find the Country of Theonontate, which being formerly inhabited by the Hurozs, was en- tirely depopulated by the Iroguefe. a From thence I pafs direétly to my Fort, with- out amufing you with the different Landskips I met with inthe fpace of thirty Leagues. That Forte I have fpoke fo often of already, that without flop- ping there, I {hall run dire@ly to the Bay of Saki- mac, reckoning it needlefs at the fame time, to take any notice of the many Shelves and Rocks that lye hid under the Water fortwo Leagues off the Coaft. This Bay is fixteenor feventeen Leagues long, and fix broad at its Mouth: In the middle of which we meet with two little Iflands, that are very fervice- able to the Paffengers ; for if ic were not for the conveniency of putting in there, they would be ob- lig’d for the moft part, rather to march quite, round the Bay, thanto run the hazard of croffing direaly over ina Canow. The River of Szkinac falls into the bottom of che Bay. This River runs fixty Leagues in length, with a gentle Current, having only three — little Catarad@s that one may. fhoot without dan- ser. ~Lisas broad asthe Seime is at Seve Bridge. Oncein two years the Oxtaeuas and the Hurons,. are wont to hunt great quantities of Beavers upon the confines of the River of Sakimac. Between the Ri- ver I now fpeak of, and Adifilimekinac, we meet wich no place that is worth our regard. As for A@i/- (ilimakinac it felf, L have already imparted to you all chac I can fay of that Poft, which is of fo great importance to our Commerce, and atthe fame time fent you a draught of ic. I fhall therefore purfue my courfe to the Lake Evie, remembring that J gem <. G —— deferib’g i ie Oe. ite en ‘4 a eh i 19 A rhe a a HAY, ty is a am } ee ~—~*C~*é<“«é« Nort AKmgx ican, =” deferib’d the inefe Lake in my. fixteenth Letter. The Lake Errié is juftly dignified with the illu- firious mame of Conti; for affuredly *tis the fineft Lake upon Earth. You may judge of the goodnefs pf the Climate, from the Latitudes of the Countries that furroundit. Its Circumference extends totwo | hundred and thirty Leagues; but it affords every where fuch a charming Profped, that its Banks are deck’d with Oak-Trees, Elms, Chefnut-Trees, Wal- ‘nut-Trees, Apple-Trees, Plum-Trees, and Vines which bear their fine clufters up to the very top of the Trees, upon a fore of ground that liesas {mooth as one’s Hand. Such Ornaments as thefe, are fuf- ficient to give rife tothe moft agreeable Idea of a Landskip in the World. 1 cannot exprefs what vaft quantities of Deer and Turkeys are to be found in thefe Woods, -and in the vaft Meads that lye up- on the South fide of the Lake. At the bottom of the Lake, we find wild Beeves upon the Banks of two pleafant Rivers that difembogue into it, with- out Cataracts or rapid Currents. It abounds with Sturgeon and white Fifh; but Trouts are very {carce init, as well as the other Fifh that we take in the Lakes of Hurous and Iinefe. *Tisclear of Shelves, Rocks, and Banks of Sand; and has fourteen or ‘fifteen fathom Water. The Savages affure us, that tis never difturb’d with high Winds, but in the Months of December, ‘fanuary,. and February, and e- ven then but feldom, which indeed I am very apt to believe, for we had but very few Srorms, when I winterd in my Fort in 1688, though the Fort lay open to the Lake of Hurons. The Banks of this Lake arecommonly frequented by none but Warri- ~ ours, whether the Iroque/e, the Ilinefe, the Oumamis, gc. and ’tis very dangerous toftopthere. By this means it comes to pals, that the Stags, Roe-Bucks © and Turkeys, run in great Bodies up and down the thoar, allround the Lake. In former times the Er- ieee | Lier OHOUS, ¥ a8 Some NewVoyages rieronons, and the Blower B. 3 wy Ry : a ‘men ; 14 Indian Bay Qo pe nore 3 i = sas FP 3 Bay + c ee Fpl, - 3 a, = rv he v. Fg ha = = | ue =—— = =e ? . 2 4, Cisse == ee 2 | to North-America. 225 - twelve Foot. Thefe Rivers are bounded by plea- fant Meads, which in Spring and Autumn are co-_ verd with all forts of frefh Water-foul. In fine, Port-Royal is only a handful of Houfes two Story high, and has but few Inhabitants of any Note. It fubfifts upon the traffick of the Skins, which the Savages bring thither to truck for European Goods. In former times, the Farmers Company had Ma- gazins in this place, which were under the care of the Governours. I could eafily mention fome of ’em, if I were not apprehenfive that thefe Me- moirs may be feenby others befides your felf. | The Ifland of Newfound-Land, is three hundred Leagues in Circumference. It lies at the diftance of fix hundred and fifty Leagues from France, and forty or fifty Leagues from the Bank of the fame name. The South fide of the Ifland belongs to the French, who have feveral Settlements there for the fifhing of Cod. The Eaft fide is inhabited by the Englifh, who are poflefs’d of feveral confiderable Potts, ficuated in certain Ports, Bays, and Havens, which they have taken care to fortifie. The Weft of the Ifland is wafte, and was never yet poffefsd. The Ifland is of a triangular Figure, and full of Mountains, andimpracticable Forrefts.. It has fome great Meadows, or rather Heaths, which arecover- ed witha fort of Mofs inftead of Grafs. The Soil of this Country is good for nothing, as being a mixture of Gravel, Sand and Stones; fo that the Fifhery was the only motive that induc’d the French andthe Englifh to fettle there. It affords great ftore of Game, fur Water-fowl, Patridges and Hairs ; but as for the Stags, ’tis almoft impoffible to come at’em, by reafon that the Mountains are fo high, and the Woods fo thick. In this Ifland, as well as in that of Cape Breton, we find Porphyry of fe- veral colours; and carehas been taken to fend to France fome pieces of it for a Pattern, sas ae : Md | oun 226 Some New Voyages found to be very pretty, only they were hard tocut. T have feen {omeof ’em that were red ftreak’d with green, and feem’d to be extream fine 3 but the mif- chief is, icfplics fo when ’tis taken out of the Quar- y Wp rigs, that ic cannot be made ufe of, but by way of incruftation. This Ifland of Cape Breton affords likewife — black Marble, ora fort of Brefcbe with grey Veins, — which is hard, and not eafily polifh’d. This Stone. is aptto fplit, for tis mot equally hard, and it has knotsin it. There are no fetled Savagesin the I- fland of Newfound-Land. *Tis true, the Eskimaux do fometimes crofs over to it at the Streight of Belle I/le in great Slocps, withintent to furprife the Crew of the Fifhermen upon the Coaftcall’d Petit Nord. Our Sertlements are at Placentia, at the Ifland of St. Peter, and in the Bay of Trepaffex. From Cape Rafe to Cha- peau Rouge, the Coaft is very clean, but from Chapeau Rougeto Cape Rafe, the Rocks render it dangerous. There are twoconfiderable Inconveniences, that at- tend thelanding upon this Ifland. In the farft place, the Fogs are here fo thick in che Summer, fortwenty — Leagues off into the Main, that the ableft and moft expert Sailor dare not ftand into the Land while © they laff: Sothat all Ships are oblig’d to lye bye for a clear day, in order to make the Land. The fecond Inconveniency, which is yet greater, pro- — ceeds from the Currents which run to and again, without any perceivable variation, by which means the Ships are fometimes drove in upon the Coaft, — when they reckon upon ten Leagues offing. But, © which is wort of all, the infenfible motion of the © rowling Waves,throw’s ‘em infenfibly upon the Rocks, — which they cannoe poffibly avoid,for want of ground to anchor upon. “Twas by this means that the King’s Ship the Pretty was loft in 1692, as wellasa — great many others upon feveral occafions, to North- America. 227 OF all our Settlements in North- America, Placen- tia isthe Poft of. the greateft Importance and Ser- vice tothe King, in regard that ’tis a place of re- fuge to the Shipsthat are oblig’d to put into a Har- bour, when they goor come from Canada, andeven to thofe which come from South-America, when they want to take in frefh Water or Provifi-, ons, and have {prung their Mafts, or been dam- mag’d in aStorm. ‘This place is fituated in the La- titude of 47 Degrees, and fome Minutes, almoft at the bottom of the Bay that goesby the fame name. The Bay is ten or twelve Leagues broad, and twenty odd Leagues long. The Fort ftands upon the fide of a Neck or narrow Streight, which is fixty Paces over, and fix Fathoms water deep. The Ships that enter into the Port, are oblig’d to graze, ( fo to {peak ) upon the angle of the Baftions. The Pore. ot Harbour is a League long, and a quarter of a League over: Before the Port there’s a large, fine | - road, which isa League and a half wide; but lies {o bleak to the North-Weilt, and Weft-North-Weft Winds, the ftrongeft and moft boifterous Winds that are, that neither Cablesnor Anchors, nor large ftout Ships can withftand their furious fhocks; tho’ indeed thefe violent ftorms feldom happen but inthe lae- ter endof Autumn. The fame year thatthe Pretty was loft, the King loft another of 69 Guns call’d the Good, in this Road ; and if che four or five other Ships that belong’d to the fame Squadron, had not took the precaution of fteering into the Port, they had certainly underwent the fame fate. This Road then which is only expos’d to the North-Welt, and Weft-North-Weft Winds, has fome hidden Rocks | on the North fide, befides thofe at Poninte Verte, where — feveral of the Inhabitants are wont to fifh. All thefe things you may fee plainly upon the Plan that I fent you along with my 234 Letter. QO2 | Com- La Some New Voyages Commonly, there comes thirty or forty Ships — from France to Placentia every year, and fometimes fixty: Some come with intent to fifh, and others have no other defign than to truck with the Inha- biecants, who live in the Summer time on the other — fide ofthe Fort. The ground upon which their Hou- GEESE RAL ES fes ftand, is call’d La grand Grave, for in effet, they — have nothing but Gravel to fpread their Cod-fith upon, in orderto have *em dry’d by the Sun after they are falted. The Inhabitants and the French Fifher- men,fend their Sloops every day two Leagues offthe — Port to purfue the Fifhery ; and fometimes the Sloops return fo over-loaded, that they are in a manner bu- © ry d in the Water. You cannot imagine how deep they fink, and ’tis impoflible you fhould believe ir, unlefs youfaw it. The Fifhery commences in the | beginning of ‘fune, and is at an end about the mid- | dle of Auguf. In the Harbour they catch a little fort of a fifh, which they put upon their Hooks asa — bait for the Cod. | | Placentia isin great want of Gravel, which oc- cafions the thinnefs of the Inhabitants. 1f the Go- vernours prefer'd the King’s Service to Avarice, they might make it a confiderable Poft, and a great ma-_ ny would make gravel Walks at their own charge; : but as long as the Governours prey upon the for- tunes of private Men, under the fair pretence of - the King’s Service, which is always in their Mouths, I can’t fee that this Settlement will ever be in- larg’d or imprev'd. Do's not the Governour dif-_ srace his Prince, and fink the character of his Polit, in turning Fifherman, Merchant, Vintner, and act- ing inthe’ way of a thoufand meaner and more — Mechanical Trades? Is not this a piece of Tyran- ny? To force the Inhabicants to buy what Goods they want, out of fuch and fuch a Ship, and to felk - their Codto fuch other Ships as the Governour is — intercls‘d in, and that as a principal Owner: To appros ai to North-America. 129 appropriate tohimfelf the Rigging and Tackle of the Ships that are caft away upon the Coaft, to ftop the Crew of Merchantmen for his own Fifhery, to fell Habitations or Settlements, to ftifle the bidding up for Effects fold by way of Auction that he may in- grofsthem by his fole Authority,to change the Provi- fions laid up in Magazines for his Majefty’s Troops, to carry off the good Biskuit and put badin the room of it, to make fo much Beef and Bacon for the fubfiftance of the Garrifon, to force the Inha- bitants to fend their Servants and Carpenters to fome work, in which his Majelty’s Service is lefs concernd than his own Pocket: Thefe, I fay, are things that I take to be plain infractions of the Or- ders iffued forth by Lewis the XIV. Thefe are a- bufes that muft be redrefs'd, if we would have the King to be well ferv’d: And yet there’s nothing doneinit. For my part, fam unacquainted with the reafon of the delay; thofe that havea mind to know, had beft ask the Deputies of Monfieur de P * * *. Tam fully perfwaded, that all thefe Pyracies do not come tothe King’s Ear, for he’s too juftto fuffer “em. | To concludes; Placentia bears neither Corn, nor Rie, nor Peafe, for the Soil is good for nothing $ not to mention, thatif ic were as good and as fer~ tile asany in Canada, yet no body would give them- felves the trouble to cultivate ic ; for one Manearns -morein Cod-fifhing in one Summer, than ten would do inthe way of Agriculture, In the great Bay of Placentia, there are fome little Harbours, ( befides that of the Fort) which the Bi/cay Filhermen re- fortto. Such are the little and the great Burin, St. Laurence, Martir, Chapeau Rouge, &¢. Q3 4 230 Some New Ke oyages A Lift of the Savage Nations of Canada. —_— Tho'e in Acadia. The Abenakis, 1 The Micmac. | Thefe are all of ’em good War- the Canibas. | riours; they are more aétive and - The Mahingans. siefs cruel chan the Iroquefe. Their The Openangos. | Language differs a little from that The Soccoks. of the Algonkins. The Etechemins. 5 ibe Nations that lye upon the River of St. Laurence, from the Sea te Monreal. | | The AMountaneers. The Gafpefians : Lhe Hurons of Loreto, the Iroquefe Tongue. The Abenakis of Scilleri. : rae (0 The Algonkins. ; , The Algonkin Language. The Aguies of the Fall call’d Savt St. Louw they —fpeak the Iroguefe Language, and are good War- Tiours. Bie i | The Iroguefe of the Mountain of Monreal ; they {peak the Jroguefe Language, and area brave People. Thefe {peak the Algonkis Lan- ( guage. The Papinachais. Thofe upon the Lake of Fiurons. The Hurons, the Iroguefe Language. ‘The Cutaouas. ¥ : : The Nockes. & The AGififagues.f The Algonkin Language. | The Attikamek. : The Outchipoues, alias Sauteurs, good Warriours. 4 Upon . to North America, 231 Upon the Uinefe Lake, and the adjacent Coustry, Some Ilinefe at Chegakou.. The Oumams, good Warriours.? The Maskoutens. | They { The Kikapous, good Warriours. ey Ipeak the . AlgonkinLanguage, The Outagams, good Warriours. sand are a {prightly The Malomims. ig fort of Peo- The Ponteouatamiu:” The Ojatinons, good Warriours. | P™ The Saks. ~ 4 Ts the Neighbourhood of tha Lake of Frontenac. The coum | Thefe fpeak a different Lan- The Goyoguans. guage from the Algonkin. The Onnotagues. 3 The Onnoyoutes and Agnies, at a {mall diftance. . Near the River of the Outaouas. The Tabitibi. i The Monzoni. The ree Pie *kin Language, and all of The Nepifrini. em are very cowardly. The Zemiskamink. ee To the North of Miffifipi, and upon the Confines of the Upper Lake, and Hudfon’s Bay. The Nadoueffis. 7 The Afimpouals. | They fpeak the Algon- _ The Sonkaskitons. The Ouadbatons. ; The Atintons. ?Thefe fpeak Algonkin. Thecliftinos brave : : Warriour’s and active brisk Men. The Ekimaux. 5 Q4 8 232 Some New Voyages A Lift of the Animals of the South Countries f Ca: nada. | Wild Beeves. | | coe Lictle Stags or Harts. | Roebucks of three different Species. Wolves, fuch as we have in Europe. _ Lynx’s, fuch as we have in Europe. i Michibichi, a fort of baftard Tygre. Hg Fach as we have in Europe. Ath-colour’d Squirrels. Hares. { h h raf E | Feat ucn as We have in Aurope. Badgers, fuch as we have in Europe. White, Beavers, but very fcarce. Reddifh Bears. Musk Rats. Reddith Foxes, asin Exrope. Crocodiles in the 14 iffifipi. Oj, an Animal like a Hare, upon the Mifj [ipie A Lift of the Animals of the North Countries of Canada. Orignals or Elks. Caribous or wild Affes. Black Foxes. Silver colourd Foxes. . A fort of wild Cats, call’d Enfans du Diable, or the — Devil’s Children. | Carcaious, an Animal not unlike a Badger. Porcupines. Fontereaux, an Amphibious fort of little Pole- Mates: | Martins. Pole-Cats, fuch as we have in Harboe. lack Bears. “White — to North: America, 232 White Bears. | Siffeurs, an Animal that makes a whizzing noife. Flying Squirrels, : White Hares. Beavers, Otters. ~ Musk-Rats. Swuiffe Squirrels, or a fort of Squirrels, whofe Hair re- ~ — fembles a Swiffe’s Doublet. Great Harts. Sea-Wolves or Calves. A Defcription of [uch Animals or Beafts, as are not men- tion d in the Letters. Bie Michibichi is a fort of Tyger, The Animals only *tislefs than the common Ty- of the | Sout Mutries. ger, and not fomuch {peckl’d. Asfoon | as it defcriesa Man, it runs away, and climbs up the firft Tree it meets with: Ic attacks all brute Animals whatfoever, and conquers ’em with eafe ; and, which is very fingular and peculiar'to ic above all other Animals, ic runsin to the affiftance of the Savages, when they purfue Bears and wild Beeves ; upon fuch occafions it makes as if *twere affraid — of no body, and fally’s out with fury upon the hunted Animal. The Savages call thefe Animals a fort of Afanitous, thatis, Spirits that love Men; and *tis upon that fcore they efteem and ref{pec& ’em to fuch a degree, that they would choofe rather to die, than to kill one of ’em, | | | The wite Beavers are much valued, upon the ac- count of their being uncommon, though at the fame time, their Hair is neither fo large nor fo fine as that of the common Beavers. As there are but. few of thefe white Beayers, fo thofe which are quite black are very {carce.. hay ee aos The 234 _ Some New Voyages The Reddifh Bears are mifchievous Creatures, for they fall fiercely upon the Huntfmen, whereas the black ones fly from ’em. The former fort are lefs, and more nimble than the latter. The Crocodiles of Mifffipi, are exactly the fame with thofe of the Nile and other places. Ihave feen that Crocodile that is at Engolifma in Aquitaine, and find that it has the fame figure with thefe, on- ly cis fomewhat lefs. The moft ufual method that the Savages have for taking ’em alive, is to throw great Wreaths or Cords madeof the barks of Trees with a running knot, upon their Neck, the middie of their Body, their Paws, @&c. After they are thus ficz’d, chey fhur ’em up between ten or twelve Stakes, and there tie’em after their Belly is turn’d upwards. While they lie in this pofture, they flea “em without touching their Heador their Tail, and sive “ema Coat of Fir-bark, to which they fet fire, having cut the Ropes that keep'd ’em fait... Upon fuch occafions, thefe Animals make a fearful houl- ing and crying. To conclude, the Savages are fre- quently fwallow’d up by thefe Creatures, whether in {wimming over a River, or in fleeping upon its Banks. Arioffe in che 68 Diapafon of his 1574 Song, gives this Defcription of a Crocodile. Vive fub lito é dentro ala Riviera, Ei Corpi Umani fon le fue Vivande, De le Perfone mifere é incante, Di Viandanti é dinfelice naute. That is, it lives both in the River, and upon its Banks 3 it{quafhes People with its murdering Tooth ; ic feeds upon the Bodies of poor Travellers, of un- fortunate Paffengers, and Sailours. 3 ‘the Oja, are liccle Animals like Hares, and re- femble ’em in every thing, excepting the Ears and Hind-feer. They run, and cannot climb. Their Females “RST Ry ae ee are Py ime ENUAL Wid, } \ RR eee i fame fhape with thofe of Europe, to North-America. — 236 Females have a Bag under their Belly, where their young ones enter upon a purfuit, in order to fave themfelves along with the Mother, who immedi- ately betakes her felf to flight. The Silver-colour’d Foxes are of the The Animals as Beafts of the North Coun~ well as the black ones. The black , °°” ones are very fcarce, and whofoever , catches one, is fure to fell ic for its weight in Gold. This fpecies is met with only in the coldeft Coun-— tries. | The White Bears area monftrous Animal, and ex- _traordinary long; their Head has a formidable Af- pect, and their Hair is very large and thick; chey are fo fierce, that they'll come and attack a Sloop in the Sea, with feven or eight Men in it. “Tis faid, that they'll fwim fix or feven Leagues without being tyr’'d. They live upon Fifh and Shells upon» the Sea-fhoar, from whence they feldom ftraggle far. I neverfaw but one of ’em in my Life-time, which had certainly tore me to pieces, if I had not fpy’d ic at a diftance, and fo had time to run back tor fhelter to Fort Lews at Placentia. The Flying Squirrels are as big as a large Rat, and of a greyifh white colour. They are as droufie, as thofe of the other Species are watchful. They are — call’d Flying Squirrels, in regard that they fly from one Tree to anocher, by the means of a certain Skin which ftretches it felf out in the form of a Wing, when they make thefe lictle Flights. The WbhiteHares are only fuch in Winter,for as foon as the Spring comes on, they begin to turn grayith, ~ and by degrees recover the fame colour as our Hares vem, in regard that the Hair which covers their Bo- have in France, which they hold till the end of Autumn. | The Suiffe Squirrels are little Animals, refembling little Rats. The Epithet of Suiffe is beftow’d upon dy. 236 Some New Voyages dy, is ftreak’d with black and white, and refem- bles a Swiffe’s Doublet 3 and that thefe flreaks make a ringon each Thigh, which bears a great deal of refemblance toa Suiffe’s Cap. ie , : The large Stags are neither higher nor thicker,than thofe we have in Europe; but they are call’d large in proportion to two other Species of Harts that frequent the Southern Countries. The leffer fore affords the moft delicious Meat. | | The Sea-Wolves, which fome call Sea-Calves, are as big as Maflifis. They are almoft alwaysin the Water, or at leaft they never go far from the Sea fide. Thefe Animals donot walk fo much ag they . crawl, for when they raife chemfelves out of the Wa- ter, they only creep upon the Sand or Clay. Their Head has the form of an Otters Head, and their Feet, which have no Legs, refemble thofe of a Goofe. The Female kind bring forth their young ones upon the Rocks, or upon fome little Iflands, juft by the Sea. The Sea-~Wolves live upon Fifh, and refore to cold Countries. There’s a prodigious number of ?em about the Mouth of the River of St. Laurence, As for the remaining Animals of Canada, I gave you an account of ’em in my Letters. I will not offer to fhew you what methods the Savages take to catch or kill all thefe Animals, for fuch an under- taking would be endlefs. This Ican affure you of in the general, that they rarely go a Hunting to no purpofe, and that they make no ufe of their Dogs, but inthe Hunting of Elks, and fometimes in Hunt- ing of Beavers, as you fhall fee under the Head of the Diverfions of Hunting and Shooting among the Davages. | j to North-Ametica, 23 7 'A Lift of the Fowl! or Birds that frequent the South Coun- tries of Canada. Vultures. -Huards, a River-fowl as big as a Goofe. - Swans. Black Geefe. / Black Ducks.& Plungeons. \fuch as we have in Europe. Coots. - Rayles. Turkeys. Red Partridges. Pheafants. Large Eagles. Cranes. Blac fic as we have in Ewropa Thrubhes. Wood-Pigeonis. Parrots. Ravens. Swallows Several forts of Birds of Prey that are not known in Exrope. Nightingales,unknown in Euarope, as well as feveral other little Birds of different colours, particularly that call’d Oifeau Mouche, ‘a very little Bird refem- bling a Fly ; and great quantities of Pelicans. The Birds of the North Countries of Canada. Wan Geeta poh as we have in Europe. Ducks of ten or twelve forts. Teals. _ Sea-Mews, Grelans. Sterlets. ‘fuck as we have in Europe. 228 Some New V ayages Sea-Parrots. Moyacks. Cormorants. } Heath-Cocks. | Snipes. | | 2 Plungeons. | ) -Plovers. Lapwings. > Herns. | Courbeious. The Water- Fowl call’d Chevalier. 3 Beateurs de Faux, a Fowl as big asa Quail. White Partridges. Large black Partridges. Reddifh Partridges. Woodhens. Turtledoves. White Ortolans, a Bird no bigger than a Lark. Sterlings. Ravens. Vultures. Spar-Hawks.. Merlins. si ours in Europe. Swallows. Becs De fcie, a fort of a Duck. >fuch as we have in Ewrope. ‘$fach as we have in Europe. A Table of the Infetts that are found in Canada. Adders. Afps. Rattle-Snakes. Lowing Frogs. Gnats or Midges. Gad-Bees. | Brulots or burning Handworms. wie Oe oe Mere ere | : ‘ v oy > to North-America. — 239 A Defcription of fuch Birds as are not accounted for in my Letters. i i HE Huards are a Frefhwater-Fow}, The Fowl or as big as a Goofe, and as dull and Birds of the * Southern Couna heavy as an AfS. They have biack and ois es, eee white Feathers, a pointed Beak, anda | very fhort Neck. They only duck or divein the Sum- mer, for they cannot ufe their Wings; and in that Seafon, the Savages take the Diverfion of furround- ing ’em with feven or eight Canows, difpers'd here and there, and fo obliging ’em to dive down, when they offerto come upto take breath.. The Savages have Entertain’d me feveral times with this agree- able Amufement, during the courfe of the Voyages I made with them. The Red Partridges are wild and little, and much different from the Red Partridge we have in Europe, as well as the Pheafant, whofe Feathers being of a white colour with black fpecks, make avery agree- able diverfiry. — The largeft Eagles we find in this Country, are no bigger than Swans. ‘Their Head and their Tail is white, and they have frequent Ingagements with a fort of Vultures, that commonly have the better of ic. In our Voyages we had frequent occafi-: ons of feeing thefe Ingagements, which laft as long as the Eagle can keep up the force of its Wings. _ The Parrots are met with in the Iémefe Country, -and upon the River of AG/fjpi. They are very {mall, and are the fame with chofe thar we bring from Brazil and Cayenne. | . That fort of Nightingale that I faw, isof a pecu- liar form ; for ‘tis of a leffer fize thanthe European, and of a blewifh colour, and its notes are more di- verfified ; befides that, ic lodges in the holes of Trees, and four or five of ’em do commonly keep together 240 Some New Voyages together upon the thickeft Trees, and with joynt Notes Warble o’er their Songs. | The Fhlike Bird is no bigger than one’s Thumb, and the colour of its Feathers is fo changeable, — that ’tis hard to faften any onecolour upon it. They appear fometimes red, fometimes of a Gold colour, at other times they areblew and red; and proper- ly {peaking, ’tis only the brightnefs of the Sunthat makes us unfenfible of the change of its gold and red colours. Its beak isas fharp as a Needle. It flies from Flower to Flower, like a Bee, and by its fluttering fucks the flowery Sap. Sometimes about Noon it pearches upon the lictle branches of Plum- trees or Cherry-trees. I have fent fome of *emdead to France, it being impoflible to keep ’em alive, and they were look’d upon as a great Curiofity. There are ten or twelve forts of te ey ml Ducks in this Country. Thofe call’d Cheb: Branchus, are the fmalleft indeed, but they are much the prettyeft. The Fea- _thers upon their Neck looks fo bright, by vertue of the variety and livelinefs of their colours, that a Fur of that nature would be invaluable in Adufcovy or Turky. They owe the name of Branchus, to their refling uponthe branches of Trees. There’s ano- ther Species of Ducks in this Country,, that are as black as Jackdaws, only their Beak and the circle of their Eyes are red. The Seamews, Grelansand Srerlets, are Fowls that fly inceffancly over Seas, Lakes, and Rivers, in or- der to catch little Fifh. Their Flefh is good for no- thing, befides that, they have no fubftance of Bo- dy, though they feem to be as big as Pigeons. The Sea-Parrets bear the name of Parrois, upon the account that their Beak is of the fame form with that of the Land Parrot. They never quit the Sea or the Shoar; and are always flying upon the furface of the Water, in queft of little Filh, Theme —_-¢olour \ - . to North-Ametica. 244 colour is black, and their fizeis much the fame wich that of aPullet. There are great numbersof ’em upon the bank of Newfound-Land, and near the Coaft of the Ifland, which theSéamen catch with Hooks cover’d witha Cod’s Roe, and hung over the Prow of the Ship. . “The Moyacks are a fort of Fowl, as big as a Goofe, having a fhort Neck, and a broad Foot s and which is very ftrange, their Eggs are half as big again as a Swan’s, and yet they are all Yelk, and that fo thick, thatthey muft be diluted with Water, before they canbe us’din Pancakes. | The White Partridges, are as big as our red Par- tridges. Their Feec are cover'd with fucha thick down, that they refemble thofe of a young Rab- ber. They are only feenin the Winter time, and fome years they are fcarce feen at all, though on the other hand, in other years they are fo plenti- ful, that you may bay a dozen for Nine-pence. This is the moft ftupid Animal in the World; ie fits upon the Snow, and fuffers ie {elf to be knock’d on the head with a pole without offering to ftir. I am of the opinion, that this unaccountable num- nefs is occafion’d by its long flight from Greenland to Canada. This conjecture is not altogether ground- lefs, for ’tis obferv’d, that they never come in flocks to Canada, but after the long continuance of a North or a Norcth-Eaft Wind. The Black Partridges are truly very pretty. They are bigger than ours; and their beak cogether with the circle of the Eyes, and the Feet are red ; their plumage being of a fhining blackcolour. Thefe A- nimals are very proud, and feemto have a fenfe of their beauty as they walk. They are bur very | uncommon, as well as the reddifh Partridges, which refemble Quails in their buik and brisknefs, The White Ortolans are only met with in Winter $ but I am of the opinion, that their Feathers are na- | R, turally 242 _ Some New Voyages | turally of a white colour, and that they retrieve - their natural colour in the places they retireto, when they difappear in Canada. They are indifferent - good to eat when they are fat, but that they feldom are. In the Winter great quantities of "em are catch’d about the Barns, with Nets ftretch’d out upon the Straw. | A Defcription of the Infet?s of Canada. HE Adders of Canada do no harmat all. The BB Afps indeed are very dangerous,when the People bathe in the ftagnating Water towards the SouthCoun- tries. The Rattle-Snake or Sounding Serpent isfocall'd,in regard that at the extremity of its Tail, ic has a fore of a Cafe, containing certain bones which make fuch a noife when the Serpent creeps along, that *cisheard thirty Paces off. Thefe Serpents betake themfelves to flight when they hear the found of Mens Feet, and commonly fleep in the Sun either in green Fields, or open Woods. ‘They never fiing but when they are trod upon. The Lowing Frogs are fo call’d with refpect to their croaking, which founds like the lowing of an Oxe. Thefe Frogs are twice aslarge as thofe we have in Europe. The Canada Gad-Bees are a fort of Flies a- bout twice as big as Bees; but of the fame form with a common Fly. They fting only between Noon, -and three a Clock in the Afternoon; but then they doit fo vioiently, that they fetch Biood. However, *tis only upon certain Rivers that they are met with. The Brulots are a fore of Hand-worms, which cleave fo hard to the Skin, that their pricking occa- fions the fame fenfe, as if *twere a burning Goal, or a {park of Fire. Thefe little Animals are unper- ceivable, though at the fame time they are pretty mumerous. | The - to NorthAmerica, =» 24 | The Names of the Fifhin the River of St. Laurence, from its Mouth tothe Lakes of Ganada. Balenots or little Whales. A Fith almoft as big as a Whale, cal ‘d Souffle White Porpoifes. Salmon, fuch as we have in Europe. Eels. Maycrel, as in Europe. Herrings. Gafperots, a {mall Fifh like a Herring. Bafes. Shad-fifh. Cod-fifh. ’ Plaices. Smelts. Turbots. Mikes. The Gold-colour’d Fith. Roaches. Lampreys. Merles or Sea-Tench. Thornbacks. | ~Cungars. SeaHOows, a kind of Porpoifes. | : The Shell-Fifh. ~ Little tiatifters. - Crab-fith Cockles. Mulcles. The Fifh that are » foul in the Bibi of Canada, andi the esi that fakmn into “em. Sturgeons. The Armed Fith. i R 2 -Trouts, 244 Some New Voyages - "Frouts. White-Fith. A fort of Herrings. Eels. . Mullets. : | Tee ann Gull-Fihh. Gudgeons. The Fifh found in the River of Miflifipi. Pikes, fuch as we have in Exrope. Carps. Tench. Perches. Dabs, and feveral others that are not known in Europe. A Defeription of the Fifh that are not mention'd in the Letters. Thofe between HE Balenot is a fort of a Whale, she Mouth of only ’tis lefs and more flefhy, and the River, ana d ° ld Oil ° eae h Cop te oes not yield Oilin proportion to the | Northern Whales. This Filh goes fifty or fixty Leagues up the River. : | The Souffleurs are much of the fame fize, only they are fhorter and blacker. When they mean to take breath after diving, they {quirt out the Water through a hole behind their Head, after the fame manner with the Whales. Commonly, they dog the Ships in the River of St. Laurence. The White Porpoifes are as big as Oxen. They al-_ ways go along with the Current; and go up with the cidetill chey come at frefh Water, upon which they retire with the ebb Water. They are a ghaftly fore of Animals, and are frequently taken before Quechee. } The to North-America. 245° The Gafperots area {mall Fifh, not unlike a Her- ring. Inthe Summer time they make in to the fhoar in fuch fhoals, that the Cod-fifhers take as many of ’em asferves for Bait for that Fifhery. Thefe Fifhermen do likewife make ufe of Herrings, when the feafon obliges them to put into the fhoar to Spawn. In aword, all the Fifh that are made ufe of for a Bait to make the Codfifh bite at che Hook, are call’d Boete in the Fifhermens Dialed. The Gold-coléur’'d Fifh are nice Food. They are about fifteen Inches long ; their Scales are yellow, and they are valued very high. The Sea-Cows, which area fort of Porpoifes, are bigger than the Normandy Beeves. They have a fore of Paws cut like a Goofe’s Foot, their Head refem- bles that of an Otter; and their Teeth, which -are two Inches thick, and nine Inches long, are reck- on’d the fineft Ivory that is. ’Tis faid that they range wideof thefhoar, towards Sandy and Marfhy places. ; ; The Lobffers of this River feem to be exactly the fame withthofe we have in Europe. The Cockles are of a piece, with thofe we have upon the coaft of France, excepting that they are larger, and have a more agreeable tafte, though cheir Flefh feems to partake more of crudity and indigeftion. : The Mufcles of this River are prodigious large, and tafte very well; but tis next to an impoflibility to eat em without breaking one’s Teeth, by reafon of their being ftuff’d with Pear/; I call it Pearl, tho’ the name of Gravel or Sand may be more proper, with ref{pect to its value, for I brought to Paris fifty or fixty of the largeft and fineft, which were rated only at a penny a piece ; notwithftanding that we had broke above two thoufand Mafcles to make up chat mumber. | R 3 | The 246 Some New Voyages The Lake-Sturgeons are commonly five or fix Foot long: But I once faw one of ten Foot, and ano- ther of twelve in length. The Savages catch ’em with Nets in the Winter, and Grapples in the Sum- -mer.. ’Tis faid, they havea certain fort of Flefh a- bout their Head, that tafts like Beef, Mutton, and Veal; but I have eat of ic feveral times, and ne- ver could obferve any fuch thing, which makes me look upon the allegation as chimerical. | The Fifh in Armour, is about three Foot and a half long. °Tis defended by fuch ftrong and hard Scales, that ’tis impoffible for any other Fifh to hure it. Its Enemies are Trouts and Roaches, but °tis adinirably well provided for the repulfing of their _ Attacks, by vercue of its pointed Snout, which is a Foot long, and as hard as itsSkin. It eats very | well, and its Flefh or Subftance is as firm as “tis white. | The Lake Dabs or Sandings are not above a Foot long, bue they are very thick all over. They are call’d Barbues in French, with allufion to a certain fort of Beards that hang down from the fide of their Muzzle, and are as big as ears of Corn. Thofe which we. find in the River of AGfifpi, are of a monftrous fize. Both the one andthe other are _catch’d with a Hook, as well as: with a Net; and make very good Victuals, , | The Mififipi Carps are likewife of an extraordina- ry fize, and admirably well tafted. They are of the {ame form with ours. In the Autumn they put in towards the fhoar, and are eafily catch’d with a Net. i Dre Cites | The largeft Trouts we meet with in the Lakes, are five Foot and ahalf long, and of one Foot Diameter. Their flefh isred, and they are catch’d with great Hooks made faft to, pieces of Wire. : | baat The Fifh catch’d in the Lakes, are better than thofe we take at Sea, or in the Rivers, Rainey he Psd : tite ~ ‘to North-American = =—— 24 the white Fifth, which for goodnefs and nice Eat- ing, are far beyond all the other Species. The Sa- vages that live upon the fides of thofe little freth- water Seas, prefer the Broth of Fifh, to Meat-broth, when they areindifpos'd. This choice they ground upon experience; whereas the French on the other hand find that Venifon Broth is at once more fub- {tantial and reftorative. : The Rfvers of Canadaare replenifh’d with an in- finity of other fifhes, that are not known in Europe. The Fifh catch’d in the North-Country Rivers, are different from thofe of the South; and thofe caken in the Long River, which difimbogues into the Ri- ver of Adififipi, favour fo rank of Mud and Clay, that *tis impoffible to eat of “ems abating for a fore of little Trouts that the Savages take in the adjacent Lakes, which make a tolerable Mefs. eee The Rivers of the Orentats, and the Miffowra, pro- duce fuch odd fhap’d filhes, that ’tis impoffible to defcribe *em without they were drawn upon Paper. Thefe Fifhes tafts but forrily,and yet the Savages love it mightily, which I cake to proceed from their know- ing no better. The Trees aud Fruits of the South Countries of Canada, ee pfuct as we have in Europe. Bitter Cherry-trees. Maple-trees, Ath-trees. Eims. Linden-trees. _Nut-trees of two forts, Chefnut-trees, Apple-trees. buch as we have in Exrope, R ‘4, - Pear trees, 248 Some New Voyages Pear-trees. : Plum-trees. Cherry-trees. Hazel-crees, fuch as we have in Ewrope. Vines, A fore of Citrons. Water Melons. Sweet Citruls, Wild Goofeberries. Pine-apples. Tobacco, fuch as our Spanifh Tobacco. The Trees and Fruits of the North Countries of Canada. White Oak. Red Oak. Birch-trees. Bitter Cherry-trees. Mapple-trees. Pine-trees. Epinettes. Fir-trees of three forts. Peruffes. Cedar-trees. Afpin-trees. White Wood. Alder-trees. Maiden Harr. -Strawberries. Rasberries. Goofeberries. Bluets. A Defcription of the above-mention d Trees and Fruits. OU muft remark, that all the Wood of Canada is good of its kind. The Trees that ftand exposd to the North-Winds are apt to to North America, 249 to beinfluenc’d by the Froft, as it appears from the ¢hops and chinks that it occafions. The Bitter Cherry-tree, has a hard and whitifh Wood, witha grey Bark. Some of ’em are as tall as the loftyeft Oaks, and as big as a Hogfhead. ‘This Tree grows ftreight; it hasan oval Leaf, and is made ufeof in Beams, Rafters, and other Car- penter’s work. | 3 The Adapple-tree is much of the fame height and bulk ; but it has a brown Bark, and the Wood is reddifh. It bears norefemblance to that fore we have in Europe. It yieldsa Sap, which has a much plea- fanter tafte than the beft Limonade or Cherry-wa- ter, and makes the wholfomeft drink in the World. This Liquor is drawn by cutting the Tree two In- ches deepin the Wood, the cut being run floping to the length of ten or twelve Inches. At the lower end of this gafh, a Knife is thruft into the Tree flopingly, fo that the water running along the Cue or Gath, as through a Gutter, and falling upon the Knife that lies acrofs the Channel, runs out upon the Knife, which has Veffels plac’d underneath to receiveit. Some Trees will yield five or fix Bottles of this water a Day; and fome Inhabitants of Ca- nada, might draw twenty Hogfheads of it in one day, if they would thus cut and notch all the AZp- ples of their refpective Plantations, The gafh do’s noharm to the Tree. Of this Sap they make Su- gar and Syrup, which is fo valuable, that there can’t be a better remedy for fortifying the Stomach. ’Tis but few of the Inhabitants that have the patience to make Mapple-Water, for as common and ufual things are always flighted, fo there’s fcarce any bo- dy but Children that give themfelves the trouble of gafhing thefe Trees. Toconclude, the North-Coun- try Mapples have more Sap than thofe of the South Countries; but at the fame time the Sap is not fo fweet. | There 4; ° Some New Voyages rae There are two forts of Nut-trees in this Country, Fhe one bears round, and the other long, Nuts but neither of ’em is good for any thing, no more than the wild Chefnuts that grow in. the llinefe Country. se i The Apples that grow upon fome of their Ap- ple-trees, eat well when they are Codled, but they are good for nothing when they’re Raw. Upon the Adififipiindeed, there’s a fort of Apples that have a tafte not unlike that of fome European Apples. The Pears are good, but very {carce. : by The Cherries are fmall, and extream red; and though their tafte ismot good, yet the Roe-bucks ~ like ’emfowell, thatin the Summer time they {Ccarce ever mifs to lye under the Cherry-trees all Nighe Jong, efpecially if itblows hard. — : | _. This Country affords three forts of excellent Plums, which bear no refemblance to ours either in figure or colour. Some are long and f{mall, fome are round and thick, and fome very little. oy The Vines twine round the Treestothe very top s and the Branches of thofe Trees are fo cover’d with Grapes, that one would take the Grape to be the fruit of the Tree. In fome Countries of North- America, the Grape is little, but very well tafted ; but towards the Aifffipi, tis long and thick, and fo is the clufter. Therehas been fome Wine prefs‘ from the Grapes of that Country, which after long ftanding became as {weet as Canary, and as black as Ink. = : The Citronsof North-America are fo calld, only — becaufe their form refembles that of our Citron, Inftead of a Rind, they have only a fingle Skin. They grow upon a Plane that rifes three Foot high,and do’s not bear above three or four at atime, This Fruic is as wholfomas its Root is dangerous; for the one is very Healthy, and the juice of che other is_a mor-_ tal fubtile Poyfon. While I flay’d at Fort Fromte- BAC, to. North: America. se mac, in the year 1684, I faw an Iroquefe Woman take down this fatal Potion, with a defign to fol- low her deceas’'d Husband ; after fhe had took leave of her Friends, and fung the Death Song, with the Formalities that are ufual among thefe blind Wretch- es. The Poifon quickly work’d the defir’d effec ; for this Widdow, who in Europe would be juftly look’'d upon asa miracle of Conftancy and Fidel1- ty, had no fooner {wallowed the murdering Juice, than fhe fell into two or three fhivering Fits, and {fo expir'd. The Water-Melons, cal?d by the Spaniards Algiers _ Melons, are round and thick like a Ball; fome are red, and fome white, and the kernels, which are very large, are fometimes black, fometimes red. As for their tafte, *tis exadtly the fame with that of the Spanif or Portuguexze Melons. The Citruls of this Country are fweet, and of a different nature from thofe of Europe; and I’m in- form’d, that the American Citruls will not grow in Europe. ‘They are asbig as our Melons; and their Pulp isas yellow as Saffron. Commonly they are bak’d in Ovens, but the better way is to roaft °em under the Embers, asthe Savagesdo. Their tafte is much the fame with that of che Marmelade of Apples, only they are fweeter. One may eat as much of ’em as he pleafes, wichout fearing any dif order from ’em. . The wild Goofeberries are good for nothing, but for Confits: But that fort of Confits are feldom made, for Sugar is too dear in Canada, to be im- ploy’d for fuch ufes, pe 2§ 2 Some New Voyages _ A Defcription of the Trees and Fruits of the Northern Couns tries. H E Canad2 Birch-trees are much different from i thofe we havein fome Provinces of France ; both for bulk and quality The Savages make Ca- newsof the Bark, fome of whichis red, and fome whice; but both are equally proper for that afe. That which has the feweft Veins and Chops, is the beft ; but the red bark makes the fineft fhow. There are fome little Baskets made of the young Birches, that are much efteem’d in France; and Books nay be made of ’em, the Leaves of which will be as fine as Paper. ThisI can fpeak by experience, for I have frequently made ufe of ’em for want of Pa- per, in writing the Journal of my Voyages. Nay, i remember I have feen in a certain Library in~ France, a Manufcript of the Gofpel of St. Matthew, written in Greek upon this fore of Bark ; and, which is yet more furprifing, I was then told, that ic had been written above a thoufand years; and at the fame time I dare fwear, that “twas the Genuine Birch-bark of New-France, which in all appearance was not then difcover'd. | | The Piwe-trees are very tall, ftraight, and thick ; and are made ufe of for Mafts, which the King’s Pinks do ofcentimestranfport to France. Tis faid, that fome of thefe Trees are big enough, to ferve fora Maft to a Firft-rate Ship. The Epinette isa fort of a Pine, with a fharper and thicker Leaf. °Tismadeufe of in Carpenters work, and the matter which drains from it, {mells as {weet as Incenfe. There are three forts of Firsin thisCountry, which © are faw’d into Dales by certain Mills, that the Que- bec Merchants have causd to be built in fome places. The | to North-America, 253 The Peruje is the propereft of all green Woods for the building of Ships, upon the confideration that ris compacter, and has clofer Pores, fo that it do’s — not foak or drink in the moifture as much as others. _ Here aretwo forts of Cedar, namely, the white and the red ; butone mult view ’em narrowly be- fore he can diftinguifh ’em, by reafon that both of ‘em have much the fame fort of Bark. Thefe Trees are low, bufhy, and full of Branches and lic- tle Leaves, refembling the tagof aLace. The Wood of this Tree, is almoft as light as Cork ; and the Savages make ufe of it in the Wreaths and Ribs of their Canows. ‘The red fort looks admirably well, ~ and may be made into Houfhold-Goods, which will retain an agreeable {mell for ever. The Afpsare little Shrubs, which grow upon the fides of Pools cr Rivers; and in a word, in -moift and marfhy Countries. This Wood is the common food of the Beavers, who, in imitation of the Ants, take care to make a collection of it round their Huttsin the Autumn, which ferves’em for fuftenance when the Ice imprifons ’ém in Winter. The White Wood is a midiing fort of Tree, that’s neither toobig nor toolittle. “Tis almoft\as lighe as Cedar, and as eafily work’d upon. The Inha- bitants of Canada make little Canows of ir, for fifh- ing and crofling the Rivers. : Maidenbair is as common in the Forrefts of Cana- da, as Fern is in thofe of France, and is elteem’d be- yond that,of other Countries; infomuch, that the Inhabitants of Quebec prepare great quantities of its Syrup, which they fend to Paris, Nants, Rouan, and feveral other Ciciesin France. Strawberries and Rasberries, are wonderfully plenti- ful in Canada, and tafte extream well. We meee likewife with fome white Goofeberries in this Coun- try ; but they ferve for no ufe, unlefs ic be to makea fort of Vinegar of ’em, that is very firong. The 204 Some New Voyages The Blxets are certain little Berries, ‘not unlike {mall Cherries, only they are black, and perfe@ly round. The Plant upon which they grow, is as big asa Rasberry-bufh. Thefe Berries ferve for feveral ufes, afterthey aredry’d in the Sun, orin an Oven; for then they make Confits of ’em, or put ’em into ‘Pyes, or infufe ’emin Brandy. The North-Coun- ‘try Savages make a Crop of ’em in the Summer, which affords *%em very feafonable relief, efpecially when their hunting comes fhort. ce 4 General View of the Commerce of Canada. Come now to give a brief and general account of the Commerce of Canada, which I have al- ready touch'd upon in my Letters. The Normans were the firft chac fet up this trade, and ufually they , fer out from Havre de Grace, or Dieppe ; but the Ro- chellers have now work’d ’em out of it, for as much as the Rochel Ships furnifh the Inhabitants of that Continent with the neceflary Commodities. There are likewife fome Ships fent to Canada from Bour- deaux and Bayonne, with Wines, Brandy, ‘Tobacco, and fron. / The Ships bound from France to that Country, pay no Culftom for their Cargo, whether in clear- ‘ing in France, or in their entries at Quebec 5 abating - for the Brazil Tobacco which pays five Sols a pounds chat isto fay, a Roll of 400 pound weight, pays a hundred Livres by way of Encry, to the Office of the Farmers. General. Ne | Moft of the Ships go laden toCamada, and return light or empty. Some indeed bring horne Peafe when they are goed cheap in the Colony, and o- thers take in a Cargo of Planks and Boards: Others again go to the -Ifland of Cape Breton, and osirhs Ma fake | ; te Ae, | to North-America.. 255 “take in a Cargoe of Pit-Coal, which they carry to the Iflands of Martinico or Guardaloupa, where che refining of Sugars occafionsa great confumption of Coals. But thofe Ships which either belong, or are recommended to the topping Merchants of the Co- Tony, are fraughted with Skins, which turns to a great account. I have feen fome Ships unload at Quebec, and then fteer to Placentia, to take in Cod- filh which they purchas’d with ready Mony ; but generally {peaking, there’s more loft than got bythat way of trading. The Merchant that has carried on the greateft trade in Canada, is the Sieur Samuel Bernon of Rochel, who has great Ware-Houfes at Quebec, from which the Inhabitants of the other Towns are fupplied with fuch Commodities as they want. *Tistrue, there are fome Merchants at Que- bec, whoare indifferent rich, and fit out Ships upon their own bottom, that ply to and again between France and Canada; and thefe Merchants have their Correfpondents at Rochel, who fend out and take in every year the Cargoes of their Ships, There’s no difference between the Pyrates that - {cowr the Seas, and the Canada Merchants; unlefs it be this, chat the former fometimes inrich ’emfelves all of a fudden by a good Prize; and that the Jae- ter can’t make their fortune without trading for five or fix years, and thar without running the hazard of their Lives. Ihave known twenty little Ped- Jars that had not above a thoufand Crowns ftock when I arriv’d at Quebec, in the year 16835 and when I left that place, had got to the tune of twelve thoufand Crowns, ’Tis an unqueftion’d truth, that they get fifty per Cent upon all the Goods they deal in, whether they buy ’em up upon the arrival of the Ships at Quebec, or have’em from France by way of Commiflion; but over and above that, there are fome little gaudy Trinkets, fuch as Rib- bands, Laces, Embroideries, Tobacco-Boxes, Watch- | oe 256 Some New Voyages es, and an infinity of other baubles of Iron Ware, © upon which they get a hundred and fifty per Cent, all Cofts'tlear”* ; e In this Country a Hogfhead of Bourdeaux Wine, which contains 250 Bottles, is worth about forty French Livres, in timeof Peace, and fixty in time of War. A Hogfhead of Nants or Bayonne Brandy, will fetch 80 0r a roo Livres. In the Taverns a Bottle of Wine cofts fix French Sous, and a Bottle of Brandy is fold for twenty. As for dry Com- modities, their price rifes and falls upon occafion. Brazil Tobacco is worth 40 Sous a pound by way of Rerail, and 35 by Wholefale. Sugar will fetch at leaft 20 Sous a pound, and fometimes 25 or 3°. The earlieft Ships that come from France, fet ou commonly in the latrer end of April, or the beginning of May; but tomy mind, they might fhorten their Voyage by one half, if thev put to Sea about the middle of March, andthen {weep’d along the North Coaft of the Azores Iflands; for in thofe Seas the South and South. Eaft Winds commonly blow from the beginning of April, to the end of May. Lhave mention d this feveral times to the moft expert Pi- jlots; but they ftill pue me off with the piea, that they dare nor fteer chat Courfe for fear of fome Rocks: And yet thefe Rocks arenot to be met with bue in their Charts. I have read fome Defcripti- onsof the Ports, Roads, and Coalts of thefe Iflands, and of the adjacent Seas, done by the Portagueze, which make no mention of the Shelves that are chalk’d downin all our Charts : On the contrary, they affirm that the Coaft of thefe Iflands is alto- gether clear, and that for twenty Leagues off into the Main, thefe imaginary Rocks were never met — with. | As foon as the French Ships arrive at Quebec, the Merchants of that City who have their Factours in the other Towns, load their Barques wi a 3 oracr SRA RAIS ty 1 Do oda | KAN Fede to Seatore’ em to thefe other Towns. Such | Merchants as act for rhemfelves at Trois Riwieres, or Monreal,they come down in Perfon to Quebec to Mar- ket for themfelves,and then put their Effects on board of Barques,to be convey’d home. If they pay for cheir Goods in Skins, they buy cheaper than if they made their payments in Money or Letters of Exchange ; by reafon thatthe Seller gets confiderably by the Skins when he returnsto France. Now, you mult take notice, that all thefe Skins are bought up from the Inhabitants, or from the Savages, upon which the Merchants are confiderable Gainers. To give you an inftance of this matter. A Perfon that livesin the | Neighbourhood of Quebec, carries a dozen of Mar- tins Skins, five or fix Foxes Skins, and as many Skins of wild C Cats, to a Merchants Houfe, in order to fell em for Woollen Cloth, Linnen, Arms, Ammu- nition, @c. Inthe truck of thefe Skins, the Mer- chant draws a double profit, one upon the {core of his paying no morefor che Skins, than one half of what he afterwards fells °em forin the lump tothe Faéoursfor the Rochel Ships; and the other by the exorbitant rate he puts upon the Goods that the poor Planter takes in exchange for his Skins. If chis be duly weigh’d, we will not think ic ftrange that thefe Merchants havea more beneficial Trade, than a great many other Tradefmen in the World. In my feventh and eighth Letter, Irelated the particu- Jars of the Commerce of this Cevecy efpecially that which the Inhabitants carry on with the Sava- ges, who fupply ‘em with the Skins of Beavers, and other Animals. So that now it remains oniy to give you an Inventory of the Goods that are pro- per for the Savages, and of the Skins which they give in exchange, rogether with their neat Prices; fe naa Shere >A North: America. i vn 4 167 ve 2565 | ome INew /oyages cabiei ii f Short and light Fufees. a ae Powder. ) ce ae Ball and cut Lead, or Small-thot. | | Axes both great and fmall. hoe ea Knives with their Sheaths. a ae -Sword-bladesto makeDarts of. “a Kettles of all fizes. May Shoomakers Awls. Fifh-hooks, of all fizes. Flint Stones. Caps of blew Serge. a | Shirts made of the common Brittany Linnen., Woollted Stockins, fhore and coarfe. Brafit Tobacco. | Coarfe white Thread for Nets. Sewing Thread of feveral colours. Pack-thread. | Vermillion. : Needles, both large and {mall. Venice Beads. to ge Some Iron Heads for Arrows, but few of ‘em, ~ A fmall quantity of Soap. : 3 A few Sabres or Curtlaffes. Brandy goes off incomparably well. The Names of the Skins given in exchange, with their Rates. “HE Skins of Winter Beavers, alias Mufcovy Beavers, are worth per pound in the Farmer Ge- nerals Warehoufe. : 4 Livres. 10 Sous. The Skins of fat Beavers, the Hair of which falls off, while the Savages make ufe of ’em, per pound, oe ee OF Beavers taken in Autumn, per pound 3 IO Gum ba i ‘ieee fare if i DY OF dry or cothmon ee per pound 3 o Of Summer Beavers, per pound. ~— 3 The Skin of a white Beaver is not to be tn no more than that of a Fox that’s quite black. 3 ~ The Skins of Silver-colour’d Foxes a piece. 4/0 Of common Foxes, in good order, R28 Of the common Martins. ——- it 0a Of the prettyeft fort of Martins. 4 0 Of red and fmooth Otters. © ——- 2 0 Of the Winter and brown Otters; — 4 I9 Oormore. , OF the fineft black Bears. ———= 7 @ The Skins of Elks before they’re drefs’d, are wo orth: per pound about. —— rr o 12 The Skins of Stags are worth per pound about The wild Cats or Enfans de Diable; a pices ge sea Wolves —-— a piece. b..35 or more. ) Pole-Cats, and Weafels — 6: Musk Rats. ee ee a. 6 Their Tefticles. ~—— _ a Wolves. 2: Eo The white Elk-skins, 7. ¢. thofe drefs'd by the Sava- ges a piece —_—— Sor m. A dref’d Harts Skin is worth -— y or ms A Caribous | ee 6 A. Roe-buck’s = ene Te conclude, you muft take .notice that thefe Skins are upon fome particular occafions dearer ek, J rate ’em, but the difference is but very {mall, whether under or over. : Livres. 8 € An Account of the Government of Canada in Ge ner al. Bate A ae N Canada the Politick, Civil, Ecclefiaftical and & Military Government, are all in a manner one — thing, in regard, that the wifeft Governours have fubje@ted their Authority. to that of the Eecle/- afticks ; and {uch Governours as would not imbarque in that Incereft, have found their Poft fo uneafie, that they have been recall’'d with difgrace. 1 could. inftance in feveral, who for not adhering to the Sentiments of the Bifhop and the Jefuits, and for refufing to lodge their Power in the hands of thefe infallible Gentlemen, have been turn’d out, and treated at Court like hot-headed Incendiaries. Mr. de Frontenac was one of this number, who made fuch an unhappy exit; for he fell out with Mr. Duche/- mau, Intendant of that Country, who finding him- felf protected by the Clergy, induftrioufly infulted that illuftrious General ; and the General was force’d tO give way, under the weight of an Ecclefiaftical League, by reafon of the Springs they fet at work again{t him, in oppofition to ali the principles of Ho- nour and Confcience. ng The Governour ‘General that means to negle& no opportunity of advancing or inriching themfelves, do commoniy hear two Maflesa Day, and are ob- lig’d to confels once in four and twenty hours. He has always Clergy-men hanging about him where-ever he goes, and indeed properly fpeaking, _ they are his Counfellours. When a Goverhour is thus back’d by the Clergy 5 the Inrendants, the Un- der.Governours, and the Sovereign Council, dare’s not cenfure his Candud, let it be never fo faulty ; for che protection of the Eccleftafticks, fhelters him fron all che charges that can be laid againft him, The Governour General of @uebec, has twenty thoufand Crowns a year, including the pay his | | ee aS to NorthAmerica, == 268 Company of Guards, and the particular Govern- ent of the Fort. Over and above this Iricome, he Farmers of the Beaver-Skins make him a Pre- fent of a thoufand Crowns a year ; his Wines and ~ all his other Provifionsimported from France pay no Fraight ; not to mention that by certain ways and means he fucks as much Money out of the Coun- try, as all the above-mention’d Articles amount to. The Intendanf has eighteen thoufand Livres a year 5 but the Lord knows what he makes otherwife: I have no mind to touch there, for fear of being rank’d among thofe Detractors, who {peak the truth too fincerely. The Bifhops Incomes are fo fmall, that if the King were not gracioufly pleas d to add to his Bifhoprick fome other Benefices in France, that Reverend Prelate wou!d be reduced to as fhore Commons, asa hundred of his Chara- éter are in the Kingdom of Naples. The Major of Quebec has fix hundred Crowns a year, the Gover- nour of Trou Rivieres has a thoufand ; and the Go- ~ vernour of Monreal is allow’d twothoufand. A Cap- | tainhas a hundred and twenty Livresa Mont), Lieu- tenant ninety Livres, a reform’d Lieutenant is al- low’d but forty, and a common Soldier’s pay is fix Sous a Day, of the current Money of the Country. The People repofea great deal of confidence in the Clergy in this Country as well as eifewhere. Here the outward fhew of Devotion is firiGly ob- ferv’'d, forthe People dare not abfent from the great Maflesand Sermons, without alawful Excufe. Bute after all, ‘tis atthe timeof Divine Service, chat the married Women and Maids give their humours a full loofe, as being affur’d that their Husbands and Mothers are bufie at Church. The Priefts cail Peo- ple by their names in the Pulpit; chey prohibir un- _ der the pain of Fxcommunication, the reading of Romances and-Plays, as well as the ufe of Masks, and playing ac Ombre Bie ean The Jefu- ae We a | ic LR a Sa Caer Noe We oy Pe aiaka's pt a 262 Some New Voyages a its and the Recollets agree as ill as the Molinilts and the Janfenifls. The former pretend that the latter have no rightto confefs. Do but look back tomy eighth Letter, and there you'll fee fome in- | {tances of the indifcreet zeal of the Ecclefiafticks. ~The Governour General has the difpofal of all Military Pofts; He beftows Companies, ’ Lieute- nancies, and Under-Lieutenancies, upon who he pleafes, with his Mayjefty’s gracious Approbation ; but he is not allow’d to difpofe of particular Gover- nourfhips, or of the place of a Lord Lieutenant of a Province, or of the Major of any Town. He is’ impowerd to grant to the Gentry and the other In- habitants, Lands and Settlements all over Canada ; but thefe Grants muft be given in concert with the - Intendant. He is likewife authoris’d to give five and twenty Licences a yearto whom he thinks fit, for trading wich the Savage Nations of that vaft Con- tinent. He is invelted with the power of fufpend- ing the execution of Sentences againft Criminals ; and by vertue of this Reprieve, can eafily pro- cure ’ema Pardon,.if he has a mind to favour ’em. But hecan’t difpofe of the King’s Money, without the confent of the Intendant, who is the only Man that can call it out of the hands of the Treafurer of the Navy. Ce The Governour General can’t be without the fer- yice of che Jefuits, in making Treaties with the Go- vernours of New-England, and New-York, as well as “with the Iroquefe. Iam ata lofsto know, whether thefe good Fathers are imploy’d in fuch Services, upon the fcore of their judicious Counfels, and their being perfectly well acquainted with the Country, — and the King’s true incerefts; or upon the confi- deration of their {peaking to a Miracle, the Lan- euages of fo many different Nations, whofe inte- reft are quice oppofite; or out of a fenfe of chatcon- defcenfion and fubmiffion, that isdueto thefe worthy Companions of our Savicur. | | | The - a ‘North-America. 262 "The Members of the fupreme Council of Cana- da, can’t fell or convey their Places to their Heirs, or to any body elfe without the King’s approbation ; though at the fame time their places may be worth “mot fo much as the place of a Lieutenant to a Compa- ny of Foot. When they have nice points under their confideration, they ufually confult the Priefts or Jefuits: And if any caufe comes before ’em, in which thefe good Fathers are interefsd, they are fure not to be caft, unlefs ic be fo very black, that the cunningeft Lawyer can’t give ie a plaufible turn. I’ve been inform’d by feveral Perfons, that che Je- fuits drive a great trade in European Commodities, and Canada Skins; but Ican {carce believe it, or at leaft if ic be fo, they. muft have Correfpondents and Factors that are as clofe and cunning as themfelves ; which can never be. ) The Gentlemen of that Country, are oblig’d to be very cautiousin carrying even with the Ecclefi- afticks, in refpect of the good or harm thatthe good ‘Fathers can indirectly throw in their way. The Bifhop and the Jefuics have fuch an influence over the Governours General, .as is fufficient to procure places to the Childrea of the Nablemen or Gentle- men that are devoted to their Service, or to obtain the Licences that I fpoke of in my eighth Letter. Tis likewife in their power to ferve the Daughters of fuch Gentlemen, by finding *em agréeable and rich Husbands. The meaneft Curates muft be ma- nap’d cautioufly, for they can either ferve or differve the Gentlemen, in whofe Seignories they areno more than Mifionaries, there being no fix d Cures in Ca- gada, Which indeedisa grievance that oughtto be redrefs'd. The Officers of the Army are likewife oblig’d to keep up a good correfpondence with the Ecclefiafticks, for withouc that ’cis impollible for em to keep their ground. They muft not only take care that their own conduct be regular; but likewite He ele look 264 ~—- Some New Voyages , look after that of the Soldiers, by preventing : - Diforders they might commicin their Quarters. — Commonly the Troops are quarter'd upon the I habitants of the Cotes, or Seignories of Canada, from | Odober to May. The Mafter of the Houfe furnifhes as ry ¥ Me the | his Military Guefts only with Utenfils, and imploys | _ him all the while at the rate of ten Sous a Day befides . his Vidtuals, in the cutting of Wood, grubbing up of Grounds, rooting out Stumps, or the threfh-. ing of Corn in a Barn. The Captain gets likewife by theic work; for to make ’em difcount the half of their pay to him,.he orders ’em to come thrice a Week to exercife their Arms at his Quarters. Now, their Habitations being diftant four or five Arpents from one another, and one Core or Seignory being two or three Leagues in Front, the Soldiers choofe rather to give fhe Captain a fpill, than to walk fo far in the Snow and the Dirt: And the Captain takes it Very confcientioufly, upon the plea that Volenti non fit injuria. As for fuch Soldiers as are good -Tradefmen, he’s fare of putting their whole pay in his Pocket, by: verrue of a Licence that he gives ‘em to work in the Towns, or any where elfe. In fine, moft of the Officers marry in this Country, but God knows what fort of Marriages they make, in taking Girls with a Dowry, confifting of eleven Crowns, a Cock, a Hen, an Ox, a Cow, and fometimes a Calf. [knew feveral young Women, whofe Lov- ers, after denying the Fact, and proving before the Judges the fcandalous Converfation of their Miftref- fes, were forc’'d upon the perfwafion of the Eccle- feafticks to {wallow the bitter Pill, and take the very fame Girlsin Marriage. Some Officers indeed marry | well, burthere arefew fuch. The occafion of their marrying fo readily in that Country, proceeds from the difficulty of converfing with the foft Sex. After a Man has made four Vifits to a young Woman, he is oblig’d to unfold his Mind to her Father and Mo- — ther 3 Sinker to North-America. eae | ther; he muft then either talk of Marriage, or break off all Correfpondence ; or if he do’s nor, both he and fhe lies under a Scandal. In this Country a Man can’t vifit another Man’s Wife, without being cen- ~~ fur’d, as if her Husband was a Cuckold. In fine, a Mancan meet with no diverfion here, but that of reading, or eating, or drinking. Though after all, there are fome Intrigues carry’d on, but with the fame caution asin Spain, where the vertue of bts Ladies confifts only in difguifing che matter hand- omly. | Now, that I am upon the Subje& of Marriage, I can’t forbear toacquaint you with a comical Ad- venture that happen’d to a young Captain, who was pre{s‘d to marry againft his will, becaufe all his Companicnsand Acquaintances were already buck- led. This young Officer having made fome Vifies to a Counfellor’s Daughter, he was defir’d to tell what Errand he came upon; and M+. de Frontenac himfelf, being related to the young Lady, who is certainly one of the moft accomplifh’d Ladies of this Age, us’d his utmoft efforts to ingage the Cap- tain to marry her. The Captain being equally well pleas’d with a free accefs to the Governeur’s Table, and the company of the Lady whom he met there not unfrequently; the Captain, 1 fay, being equally fond of thefe two Advancages, en- deavourd to ward off the defign, by asking fome time toconfider of ic. Accordingly, two Months were granted him; and after that time was expird, ~ he had ftill a mind to Jet outhis Traces, and fode-- fird two Months more, which were granted him by the Bifhop’s interceflion. When the laft of thefe two was at an end, the Cavalier began to be appre- henfive that he was in danger ef lofing both his good Cheer, and the agreeable company of the La- dy. However, he was oblig’d to be prefent at a Treat that Mr. Ne/fon ( the Englifh aii es oy ne pokg 266 N) bind New Voyages | {poke of in my 234 Letter) gave to the two Lovers as wa well as the Governour, the Intendant, the Bifhop, and fome other Perfons of Note: And this gene- rous Exglifh Gentleman, having a kindnefs for the — young Ladies Father, and her Brethren, upon the fcoreof their trading with one another, made an offer of a thoufand Crowns to be paid on the Wed- ding Day, which added toa thoufand that the Bi- fhop offer'd, and a thoufand more which fhe had of her own, befides feven or eight thoufand that Mr. de Frontenac offer’d in Licences, not to mentf- on the certain profpe& of Preferment; all thefe Items, I fay, made the Marriage very advantageous to the Captain. After they had done eating, he was prefsd tofign the Contraa&, but made anfwer, thathe had drunk fome bumpers of heady Wine,and his Head was not clear enough for weighing the conditions of the Contra@; fo that they wereforc’d to put off the matter till che next day. Upon this delay he kept his Chamber till Mr. de Frontenac, at whofe Table he us’d to eat, fent for him in order to know his Mind immediately. Then there was no room left for fhuffing; there was.a neceflity of siving a pofitive anfwer to the Governour, who fpoke cohim in plain and precife terms, and at the fame time reminded him of the favour they had fhewn him, in allowing him fo much time to con- fider of the propos’d Marriage. The young Off- cer reply’d very fairly, that any Man that was Ca- - , pable of Marrying after four Months deliberation, — was a fool in buckling to. ‘I now fee, fays he, ‘what Iam; the eager defire I had of going to € Church with Mademoifelle D..;.has now con- ‘ vinc’d me of my folly ; if you havea refpedct for ‘the Lady, pray do not fuifer her to marry a * young Spark, that is fo apt totake up with extra-_ © vagant and foolifh things. As for my own part, Sir, | € I proteft fincerely, that the little reafon and free i to North-America. 267 © judgment that is lefe me, will ferve to comfort €meupon the lofs of her, and to teach me to re- « pent of having defir'd to make her as unhappy as €my felf. This Difcourfe furpris’d the Bifhop, the - Governour, the Intendant, and in general, all the | other Married Officers, who defir’d nothing more than that he fhould be catch’din the noofe as well as they; fo true itis, that Solamen mifers focios ba- buiffe dolor. As they were far from expecting any fuch retractation; fo the poor reform’d Captain fuf- fer’d for’t ; for fome time after Mr. de Frontenac did him a piece of Injuftice, in beftowing a vacant Company over his Head, upon Madam de Ponchar~ trains Nephew, notwithftanding that the Court had fent orders on his behalf; and this oblig’d him to go. for France along with me in the year 1692. To refume the thread of my Difcourfe: You muft: know that the Canadefe or Creoles, are a robuft braw- ny well made People; they are ftrong, vigorous, active, brave and indefatigable; in a word, they want nothing but the knowledge of polite Letters. They are prefumptuous, and vety full of them- felves ; they value themfelves beyond all the Nations of the Earth, and, which is to be regrated, they have not that veneration for their Parents that is, due. Their Complexion is wonderfully pretty. The Women are generally handfom ; few of them are brown, but many of ’em are at once wile and lazy. They love Luxury to the laft degree, and ftrive to out-do one another in catching Husbands in the trap. ‘ ) | | There’s an infinity of diforders in Canada, that want tobe reform’d. The firft ftep of a true Re- formation, muft be that of hindring the Ecclefi. afticks to vific the Inhabitants fo often, and to pry with fuchimpertinence into the minuteft affairs of the Family ; for fuch practices are frequently con- trary tothe good of the Society, and that for ee ons tere fons that you are not ignorant! of. The next thing to be done, is to prohibit the Officers to {top the Soldiers pay, and to injoyn ’em to Difcipline their Men every Holy-day, and every Sunday. In the third place, the Commodities ought to berated at — a reafonable price, fo that the Merchant may have his profit, wichout exacting upon the Inhabitants and the Savages. A fourth Article of Reformation, would confift in prohibiting the exporting from France to Canada, of Brocado’s, Gold and Silver Gal- loons or Ribbands, and rich Laces. In a fifth place, the Governour General ought not to fell Licen- ces for trading with the Savages of the great Lakes. Sixthly, there ought to be fix’d Courts. In the feventh place, they want to have their Mi- litia modell’d and difciplin’d, that upon occafion, they may be as ferviceable as the Regular Troops. For an eighth Article, the ferting up Manufacto- ries for Linnen, Stuffs, dc. would be very ufeful. But the moft important alteration would confiftin — keeping the Governours, the Intendants, the fu- preme Council,-the Bifhops and the Jefuits, from {plitting into Factions, and making Clubs one a- gainft another; for che confequences of fuch Di- vifions can’t but thwart his Mayefty’s Service, and — the Peace of the Publick. Were this but happily effected, that Country would be as rich. again as tis now. Nar | | I wonder that inftead of banifhing the Prote- fiants outof France, who inremoving to the Coun- cries of our Enemies, have done fo much damage to the Kingdom, by carrying their Money along with ’em, and fetting up Manufadturiesin thote Countries; I wonder, Ifay, that the Court did not think it more proper to tranfport ’em to Canada. Im convine’d, that if they had receiv'd pofitive affurances of injoying a liberty of Confcience, a— great many of ‘em would have made no f{cruple oo °©6—Cté‘ | . Coaft along, fee Sweep. _ ! Compafs of Variation. °Zis larger than the ordinary Compaljes, and serves to point out the inequal Motions of the Needle.which leans always to the Nortb-Eaft im the other Hensi[phere, whereas it [till plies to the North-Weft; in this, I mean on this fide the Equinoétial line : The Saree’ Needle oe. ATABLE - 299% Needle toucl’d with the Loadftone departs from the true North 4 certain number of Degrees to the right and left; and Mariners compute the Degrees of its departure by the means of an Albidada, and a thread which divides the Glafs of the Compafs into two equal parts, and fo | Shews the Variation of the Needle at Sun-fet, that being the true proper time for making the Obfer vation ; for at Sun-rifing, and at Noon, one may be deceev'd by Refrattions, &c. : ay Coureurs de Bois, i. e. Foret Rangers, are French or Ganadefe, fo call’d from employing their whole Life in the rough Exercife of tran{porting Merchandize Goods to the Lakes of Canada, and to all the other Countries of that Continent, in order to Trade with the Savages: And in vegard that they run in Canows a thoujand Leagues up the Country, notwithftanding the danger of — the Sea and Enemies, I take it, they fhould rather be cal- ~ ded Coureurs de Rifques, than Coureurs de Bois. E. Eddy, or boyling Water, is little Watery Mountains that rife at the foot of Water-falls or Cataracts, juft as we jee the Water plays in the Cifterns of Water-works. Edge of a Bunk, is the fhelving part of it that runs ficep slike aWall, | | F. Fathom, among the French is the meafure of fix foot. Feaft of Union, « Term usd by the Iroquefe to fignify the renewing of the Alliance between the five Troquete Nations. : Flats are a ridge of Rocks running under Water from one Station to another, and rifing within five or fix foot at beaft of the Surface of that Element, fo as to binder Ships, Barques, &Kc. to float upon em. Fright, jignijies in this Book the Cargo, tho im other _ Cafes it fignifies likewife the Hire or Fare. = : Furl the Sails, figuifies the drawing them upto a beat 2 Bae “ towards ack: OA TAB EE. by towards the Top-maff, not long ways as we dothe Cur- tains of a Bed, but from below upwards. This is done by — soo Ropes,that draw a the Sail as a String does a Pare H. Head-Bars are t2v0 round pieces of Wood, reaching on each fide from one end of a Canow to the ober: Thefe are she Supporters of the Canow, for the Ribs ana § aes are made faft upon them. K.. Keel of a Ship, is a long Piece of the prone Wood, or at teaft feveral pieces joyn’d together, to bear the great weight of all the other Timber. Kitcht Okima is the general Name for theGovernour Ge- neral of Canada among all the Savages, whofe Langua- ges approach to that of the Algonkins. Kitchi /ignifies Great, and Okima, Captain. The Troquefe and Hurons call the Governor General Onnontio. I. Latitude. Every Body knows that it imports the Ele~ _ vation of the Pole, or the diftance froma fix'd Point of the eAquator. Land- -cartiage fignifies the tran{porting of Canows by Land from the Foot to the Head of a Cataract, or from one River to another. _ Light he are {uch as are empty, without any Cage P. 3 | pie is the Stern or After-part of the Ship i in which the Rudder is fix'd. Precipice of a Bank, (ee Edge. Prow is the Head or Fore-part of a ai , which cuts es ' a Water Hf. Quarter. The’ the Word Ovariih ina Maritime ‘Sah, as not well a stead dj 1 put the iti a. it to by: seh e wo UA a ALE, 279 The North Quarter comprebends the {pace that lies be- ~ geen North-Weft and North-Eaft. The Eajt Quarter -yuns from North-Eaft to South-Eaft. The South Quar- ter comprebends that part of the Heavens that falls be- sween South-Eaft and South-Weft : And the Weft Quar- ter,ektends from Souh-Weft to North-Weft. : R. dada b Refitting of 2 Ship, fignifies the repairing and dreffing of it, and putting it into a Condition to fail, by putting im new Planks, caulking the Seams, &c. yt Ribs of a Canow, are much like thofe of a Pink, only there’s this difference, that they line the Canow only on the in-fide from one Head Bar to another, upon which shey are inchas d. They have the thickne{s of three Crowns, and the breadth of four Inches. Ruche, az Inférument for filhing, refermbling a Bee-bive. Scurvy, is 4 Corruption of the Mafs of Blood. There are two forts of it ; one call’d the Land Scurvy, which loads a Man with Infirmities that gradually bring him to bis Grave 5 the other is the Sea Scurvy, which infallibly kills a Manin 8 days unlefs be gets a-fhoar. Shieve, 1. €. Row the wrong way ,in order to affi/t the Stecr{~ wan to fteer the Boat,and to keep the Boat in the Channel. Shoot. To fhoot a Water-fall or Cataract, implies the rus- ning a Boat down thefe dangerous Precipices, following the fiream of the Water, and (teering very nicely. Sledges are a Conveniency for travelling, built in an ob- dong quadrangular form, wpon two pieces of Wood, which are 4 foot long, and 6 foot broad; uponthe Wood | there are (everal pieces of Cloath or Hide nail’d to keep the Wind off. Thefe two pieces of Wood are very bard, and well {mooth'd, that they may flide the better on Snow or Ice. Such are the Horfe Siedges. But thofe drawn by _ Dogs are open, and made of two little pieces of bard {mooth, and fhining Wood, which are half an Inch thick, 5 foot long, and a foot and a half broad. Spars, oe ee a Ds eee as Spars are little pieces of Cedar Wood, of the thicknefs of a Crown, and the breadth of 3 Inches, and as long as they can be made. They do the fame Service to aCa- ‘gow, that a good lining does to aCoat. og Stand ia for Land, fignifies to {ail diveétly towardsit, = Steer a Ship, izports the managing of a Ship dy the i means of a Rudder, (as we do a Horfe with a Bridle) ovhen there's Wind enough to work her ; but if there be no Wind, a Ship is more unmoveable than.aGouty Perfonin an Elbow Chair. be Stem a Tide or the Current of a River, i.e. to fail againft the Current, or to fteer for theplace from whence the Tides or Currents come. : Strike, to @rike the Sails or Flag fignifies the lowering of em, whether it be to fubmit to an Enemy,or by reafon of high W inds. : ) Sweep a Coaft, fignifies to fail along the Coaft fide at a vea- fonable diftance. Haan att a 4) Top-gallant-Malts are tao little Mafts fer upon the two Top-Mafts, and have two Sails fitted for *em. Top-Sails ave two Sails fitted for the twoTop-Mafts, which fiand directly above the two great Mafts. Traverfe. Jo traverfe fenifies failing Zigzag, or from fide to fide as a drunken Man reels, when the Wind is contrary, for then they are oblig’d to tack Jometimes to she right, and fometimes to the left, keeping as near to the Wind as they can, in order to make what way they can, or at leaft to prevent their lofing Ground. uf - Treeaf Peace, a Syubolick Metaphor fir Peace it felf-, FINLS. - A i ieee ity Alaccc,akecosans MiNi 5 Lee noe thw ny Pel re ; ee Ne eae LEP hL! ta! Na | re ghsnnati” We ee “ae a* aA a4 4g of with A eee La peaks: aa, An & LS by) —‘e has i Tyy 408" ee epe gankn” Reet ® f | A Raa, HARTA G4 erry wal! se ’Abopehtan “aNnilE a1 Nuaet panhel ass g(a tkalg 0, AA“ Metag, A° Bel Ny\, penta.) 1H a TTY nae | abAr. ne few ee PVE he ne 4AWMa hana. 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