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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
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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-
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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
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to North America, 185
- Jnhabitants, upon the account that he would find a
ereat dealof difficulty in preventing the Pillaging and
other Diforders ; That in order to avoid this Misfor-
tune, ‘twould be a prudential part in the Gover-
nour, tocome toa Compofition. 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 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.
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