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'[he Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents

TRAVELS AND EXPLORATIONS
OF TI IE JESUIT IVIISSIONARIES
IN NEW FRANCE

1610- 1791

THE ORIGINAL FRENCH, LATIN, AND ITAL-
IAN TEXTS, WITH ENGLISH TRANSLA-
TIONS AND NOTES; ILLUSTRATED BY
PORTRAITS, l\fAPS, AND FACSIMILES

EDITED BY

REUBEN GOLD THW AITES
Secretary of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin

Vol. XIV
HURONS AND QUEBEC: 1637 - 163 8

CLEVELAND: ttbc :f!3unows 3J3totbere
(Iompan
, PUBLISHERS. l\I DCCC XCVIII

COPYRIGHT, 1898
BY
THIC BURROWS BROTHERS Co

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Imþeria/ Press, Cleve/and

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor

REUBEN GOLD THW AITES
( FINLOW ALEXANDER
PERCY FAVOR BICKNELL
WILLIAM FREDERIC GIESE

Translators.

I CRAWFORD LINDSA V
WILLIAM PRICE

HIRAM ALLEN SOBER
Assistant Editor EMMA HELEN BLAIR
Bibliographical Adviser VICTOR HUGO PALTSITS

CONTENTS OF VOL. XIV

PREFACE TO VOLUME XIV
DOCUMENTS :-
XXIX. Relation de ce qvi s'est passé en la
Novvelle France, en l'année 16 37.
[Second installment of Part II.. com-
pleting the document. 1 FraJlfois
Josepille Mercier; Ihonatiria, June 21,
16 37 5
XXX. Relation de ce qvi s'est passé en la

ovvelle France, en l'année 16 3 8 .
[First installment, being Part I. of
the document.] Paul Ie Jeune; Three
Rivers, August 25, 1638 . II3
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: YOLUME XIY . 281
NOTES 28 5

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ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOL. XIV

1. Photographic facsimile of Du Quen's hand-
writing, selected from his copy of Chev-
alier de Sillery's donation to the Jesuits,
dated Paris, Feb. 22, 1639 .. Frontispiece
II. Photographic facsimile of title-page, Le
Jeune's Relation of 1638 . 116

PREFACE TO VOL. XIV

The greater part of Le Mercier's (Huron) contribu-
tion to the Relation of 1637 (Document XXIX.) was
presented in our VoL XIII. We now give the re-
mainder of the Huron report, which thus closes the
en tire document.
Le Mercier continues his record of missionary la-
bors among the plague-stricken Hurons, - nursing
the sick, consoling the afflicted, and baptizing dying
children and those adults who at the point of death
turned to this rite as a protection from the fires of
hell. In the intervals of these laboTs, the Fathers
learn what they can of the native language, " all the
secret of which," says the author, "consists in the
conjugations of verbs." In this they are greatly
aided by "some catechisms prepared for them last
year by Louis de Sainte-Foy, upon the mysteries of
the life, death, and passion of Our Lord."
In March, the missionaries submit to some of the
clans certain questions-whether they are ready to
believe in and accept the faith; whether they are
willing that some of the Frenchmen should become
allied to them by marriage; and if there is any prob-
ability of the reunion of the natives hereabout to
those of the Bear clan, from whom they had become
estranged. The second of these queries is readily
answered in the affirmative; but they hesitate as to
the others.

2

PREFACE TO VOL. XIV

In April, Garnier and some of the domestics spend
a fortnight in a trip to the neighboring Tobacco Na-
tion, during which they baptize fifteen sick pèrsons.
May 3, a fire occurs not far from the mission
house, in a cabin occupied by some orphans, whose
relatives had been carried off by the pestilence; not
only the villagers, but the missionaries, contribute
to a fund for the relief of these children, who thus
find themselves in better circumstances than before.
In this month of May, a new mission house is estab-
lished at Ossossané, under the charge of Pierre
Pijart, and here Garnier soon joins him.
In the final chapter of this report to Le J eune, Le
Mercier relates at length " the happy conversion of
Tsiouendaentaha, the first adult savage baptized in
good health in the Huron country," which event fills
the souls of the Fathers with gladness.
XXX. The Relation for 1638 consists of two parts:
Part 1., on the missions of New France in general,
by the superior, Le Jeune, and closed at Three Riv-
ers, August 25, 1638: Part 11., the annual report to
Le Jeune, from the Huron missions, by Le Mercier,
dated at Ossossané, June 9, 1638. In the present
volume, we publish Part I., reserving Part II. for
Vol. XV.
Le Jenne begins his Relatioll by naming " the four
batteries that shall destroy the empire of Satan,"
which the missionaries are now ranging against as
many defenses of that empire-superstition, error,
barbarism, sin. These engines of war are: the study
of the native languages, the establishment of a hos-
pital, seminaries for Indian children, and the substi-
tution among the savages of a sedentary for a nomad-
ic mode of life.

PREFACE TO VOL. XIV

3

The writer then recounts minutely the conversions
and baptisms of the past year. Notable among these
are: an Algonkin who, lying for months at the point
of death, is restored to health through the prayers of
the Fathers - not only is he baptized, and made a
catechumen, but his wife, sister, and three children;
two young men, pupils in the Huron seminary; the
wife and children of Pigarouich, the " sorcerer" with
whom the missionaries had so many encounters the
previous year. Pigarouich burned all the utensils
of his art, and since then has steadily refused to prac-
tice it, though many times tempted by valuable gifts
to do so. The religious experiences of a young AI-
gonkin catechumen, and the proofs of sincerity shown
by him, are also rehearsed.
A notable event now occurs,- the establishment of
the residence of St. Joseph de Sillery, four miles
above Quebec, through the munificence of Noël de
Sillery, a Knight of Malta, who, having become a
priest, dedicated his fortune to pious works. At this
residence are established two Algonkin families, com-
prising about twenty persons, who consent to settle
there and till the soil for their living ,- the begin-
ning of an Indian village, where the native converts
can be withdrawn from their savage associations, and
kept under French and Christian influences. Sillery
has by this time become a center for gathering the
vagrant savages of that region, and giving them
religious instruction.
Progress is also reported from the station at Three
Rivers; the savages eagerly bring their children for
baptism; "these sacred waters, having many times
saved the lives of entire families, are now in great
esteem among them." The medicine men are losing

4

PREFACE TO VOL. XIV

their influence; the" eat-all" feasts and consultation
of demons are no longer practiced.
After its early trials, the seminary for the Hurons
is now prospering. One of its pupils, converted to
the faith, returns to the Huron country with one of
the Fathers, to allay the excitement and discontent
of the people, who have been threatening the mission-
aries sent there-accusing them as sorcerers, who
have brought thither the pestilence for the ruin and
death of the natives. Besides the seminary for the
Hurons, others have been begun near Quebec, for the
A1gonkins and Montagnais; the mission has now in
charge fifteen of these Indian children, who must be
supported and educated.
Jerome La1eman t, Simon Ie Moyne, and François
du Peron arrive in the spring of 1638, and are forth-
with sent to the Huron country; on the way thither,
they meet with various annoyances and losses.

In addition to gentlemen already named, the fol-
lowing have recently rendered material assistance to
the editor: Père Colombier, S.]., librarian of l'Éco1e
de Sainte-Geneviève, and M. Girard de Rialle, direc-
tor of the Archives au Ministère des Affaires étran-
gères, Paris; Dr. Herbert Friedenwa1d, superintend-
ent of MS. department, Library of Congress, Wash-
ington; Rev. W. O. Raymond, president of New
Brunswick Historical Society, St. John, N. B.; Rev.
Oswald Mueller, S. J., of the College of the Sacred
Heart, Prairie du Chien, Wis.; Dr. G. Devron, New
Orleans; Dr. J. N. B. Hewitt, of the Bureau of Eth-
nology, Washington; and Dr. John G. Henderson,
Chicago.

R. G. T.

MADISON, WIS., January, 1898.

XXIX (concluded)

LE JEUNE'S RELATION, 16 37

RaUEN: JEAN LE BOULLENGER, 163 8

Part l. (Le Jeune's Relatioll proper, and his Dernière
Lettre) appeared in Volumes XI., XII. Part II. (Le Mer-
cier's Huron Relation) was commenced in Volume XIII.,
and is completed in the present volume.

6

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

[183] Pêdãt nofire feiour d'Offofanë Ie P S. & Ie P.
C. G. firêt vn petit voiage qui n'efi pas a obm.ettre.
Le 5. de ce mois ils baptiferêt 2, malades à Anon-
natea & Ie ledemain 6. aux Biffiriniês (qui hiuernoiet
à I. quart de lieüe) 1 petit enfãt tout fraifchemet nay.
Par vne prouidece de Dieu bië particuliere, ils auoient
efié iufques là dés Ie iour precedent, & auoient vifité
toutes les cabanes: mais nayant rien trouué qui fufi
capable de les yarrefier plus [184] long-temps, ils en
efioient partis à deffein de retourner dés Ie foir à la
maifon, à vn quart de lieuë de la its s'efioient apper-
ceus qu'vn chien qui les auoit íuiuis ne paroiffoit, vn
chien n'efi pas peu de chofe en ce pays, & cettuy-cy
fait beaucoup en ce rencontre, neantmoins ils ne s'en
efioient pas mis autrement en peine, fçachant bien
que ce n' efioit pas la premiere fois qu'il efioit retourné
tout feul; efiant aupres d' Aneatea [Anonatea] la neige
commenca à tomber fi efpaiffe qu'ils auoient affez de
peine à fe conduire, de forte qu'il leur fallut contre
leur deffein paffer la nuict en cette bourgade. Le
lendemain matin par vne prouidence particuliere de
Dieu, Ie chien ne fe trouuant point ils fe refolurent de
l'aller chercher iufques aux Biffiriniens, ils ne furent
pas plufiofi au village qu'on les auertit qu'vne femme
efioit accouchée la nuict, mais que fon enfant efioit
mort, c'efioit affez dire pour ne s'en remuer pas da-
uantage, neantmoins Dieu qui auoit deffein de fauuer
cette petite arne, les infpira d'aller voir la mere, ils
trouueret cette femme bien malade, & l'enfant encor
auec vn peu de vie, Ie P. Garnier Ie baptifa fans que
fes parents s'en apperceuffent, il auoit à ce deffein
par preuoyance trempe fon mouchoir dans l'eau [185]
auant que d'entrer dans la cabane, peut efire fi on

1637 - 38]

LE /EUNE'S Ri:!.'LA TION, I637

7

[183] During our sojourn at Ossosanë, the Father
Superior and Father Charles Garnier made a little
trip which is not to be overlooked. On the 5th of
this month, they baptized 2 sick persons at Anonna-
tea; and the next day, the 6th, with the Bissiriniens
(who were wintering a quarter of a league from there),1
a little newborn child. Bya very special providence
of God, they had gone as far as this place the day be-
fore, and had visited all the cabins, but, finding
nothing sufficient to detain them there [184] longer,
they had departed, intending to return in the even-
ing to their home. At a quarter of a league from
there, they perceived that a dog which was following
them had disappeared. A dog is no small thing in
this country, and this one performed an important
part in this case. However, they did not trouble
themselves any further about it, knowing well that
this was not the first time that it had returned all
alone. Being near Aneatea [Anonatea], the snow be-
gan to fall so thickly that they had considerable diffi-
culty in finding their way, so that, contrary to their
intention, they were obliged to pass the night in that
village. The next morning, through a special provi-
dence of God, the dog not being found, they resolved
to go in quest of it as far as the Bissiriniens. They
were hardly in the village before they were informed
that a woman had been delivered of a child during
the night, but that her child was dead. This was
enough to cause them to give no more heed to the
matter; but God, who intended to. save this little
soul, inspired them to go and see the mother. They
found this woman very sick, and the child still bare-
ly alive. Father Garnier baptized it without the
knowledge of its parents,- having, for this purpose,

8

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

euft confulté là deffus la mere eUe n'en euft pas efté
d'auis, les Algonquins ne font encor gueres capables
du fainct baptefme, peu de temps apres ce petit Ange
s'enuola au Ciel.
Le 20. nous apprifmes d' Anons [Aënons] vne nou-
ueUe opinion touchant la maladie qu'il couroit vn bruit
queUe eftoit venuë des Agniehenon qui l'auoient ap-
portée des AlldastoerhollOll qui eft vne nation vers la
Virginie. Ces peuples dit on en auoient efté infectez
par Ataentsic, qu'ils tiennent eftre la mere de celuy
qui à fait la terre, qu' eUe auoit pafsé par toutes les
cabanes de deux bourgs, & qu'au fecond on luy auoit
demandé, mais en fin pourquoy eft-ce que tu nous
fais mourir, & qu'eUe auoit fait cette refponfe, d'au-
tant que mon petit fils Iouskeha eft fafché contre les
hommes, ils ne font que fe faire la guerre & s'entre-
tuër les vns les autres, il eft maintenant refolu en
punition de cette inhumanité, de les faire tous mou-
rir. V oftre R. me permettra s'illuy plaift de retren-
cher d'orefnauant femblables contes auffi bien on me
preffe de tous coftez, & on me menace tous les iours
qu'on va mettre incontinant les canots à l'eau i'iray
iufques ou ie pourray, & efcriray [186] iufques au iour
de l'êbarquement, fi ie n'arriue au terme, quelque
autre s'illuy plaift, luy mandera Ie refte l'année pro-
chaine.
Depuis enuiron Ie 20. de Feuvrier iufques à la fe-
maine de la Paffiõ noftre principal employ fut l'eftude
de la langue. Le P. S. nous auoit deja cõposé quel-
que difcours qui nous auoient grãdemêt façõné dans
l'inftructiõ des Sauuages; & pedant Ie Carefme il
nous a expliqué quelques Catechifmes que Louys de
ste. Foy nous auoit tourné l'an paffé fur les mifiere

]637 -38]

LEJEUNE'S RELATION, I637

9

had the foresight to dip his handkerchief in water
[185] before entering the cabin. Perhaps if the mother
had been consulted thereupon, she would not have
been favorable to it; the Algonquins are as yet hard-
ly fit for holy baptism. Shortly afterwards, this
little Angel flew away to Heaven.
On the 20th, we learned from Anons [Aënons] a
new opinion concerning the malady,- that a report
was current that it had come from the Agniehenon,
who had brought it from the AndastoerllOnon, a nation
in the direction of Virginia. 2 These tribes, it is said,
had been infected therewith by Ataentsic, whom
they hold to be the mother of him who made the
earth; that she had passed through all the cabins of
two villages, and that at the second they had asked
her, " Now, after all, why is it that thou makest us
die? " and that she had made this answer, " Because
my grandson, Iouskeha, is angry at men,- they do
nothing but make war and kill one another; he has
now resolved, as a punishment for this inhumanity,
to make them all die." Your Reverence will permit
me, if you please, to shorten, from now on, stories
of this kind,-especially as they crowd me upon all
sides, and warn me eyery day that they are going to
launch the canoes immediately. I shall go as far as
I can, and shall write [186] up to the day of the em-
barkation. If I do not reach the end, some one else,
if you please, will acquaint you with the rest next
year.
From about the 20th of February up to Passion
week, our chief occupation was the study of the lan-
guage. The Father Superior had already composed
some discourses for us, which had accustomed us, in
great measure, to the' instruction of the Savages;

10

LES RELA TIOl'lS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. ]4

de la vie, mort & paffion de N. S. qui nous ont encor
grandemët aydé nõmement en ce point. N ous auiõs
deffein de trauailler cette année au Dictionnaire. 'mais
Dieu nous à mis dans la neceffité de nous contëter de
ce que nous auiõs; on na pas laiffé par fa ste. grace
de faire vn grand progrez en la langue, de forteq;
maintenãt s'il eft queftiõ de faire quelques petites
courfes pour vifiter & inftruire quelque Sauuage, Ie
P. S. trouue des persõnes toutes difposées a partir, &
ny en a pas vn de nous autres qui ne fe tienne heureux
d'al[l]er cooperer au falut de quelque ame Nous
auõs bien fuiet de remercier cette infinie bonté qui
nous donne vne fi grande affectiõ pour cette lãgue
barbare, apres nos exercices de deuotion nous n' a-
uõs point de [187] plus gran de confolatiõ que de
vaquer à cette eftude, ce font nos entretiës les plus
ordinaires, & nous recueillõs tous les mots de la bou-
che des Sauuages cõme autãt de pierres precieufes
pour nous en feruir par apres a faire éc1atter à leurs
yeux la beauté de nos s. myfteres. Depuis peu Ie P.
S. a trouué de belles ouuertures pour diftinguer les
cõiugaifons des verbes, en quoy confifte tout Ie fecret
de la langue, car la plus part des mots se coniuguent,
tãt plus on ira en auãt, on ira touiours decouurant
nouueau pays.
Le 2. iour de Mars vne vieille fëme mourùt en
noftre bourgade, Ie P. S. lauoit baptisée quelques
iours auparauant. Le lendemain il baptifa à Anno-
natea vn ieune enfant de 9. à 10 ans, la maladie y con-
tinuoit toùiours & n'en eft pas encore partie.
Le 7. on trouua vn ieune hòme roide mort étëdu
fur la neige à vne portée de moufquet de noi1re ca-
banne, Ie P. S. & F. Petitpré allãt du matin à Ouërio

1637 - 38]

LEJEUNE'S RELATION, I637

11

and during Lent he explained to us some Catechisms
that Louys de ste. Foy had translated for us last
year upon the mystery of the life, death, and passion
of Our Lord, which also greatly aided us, especially
in this respect. We had intended to work this year
upon the Dictionary, but God has placed us under
the necessity of contenting ourselves with what we
had. We have not failed, through his holy grace, to
make great progress in the language,-so that now,
if there is a question of making little trips to visit
and instruct some Savage, the Father Superior finds
persons all ready to go; and there is not one of us
who does not consider himself happy to go and co-
öperate in the salvation of some soul. We have
good reason to thank this infinite goodness which
gives us so great a liking for this barbarous language.
After our devotional exercises, we have no [187]
greater consolation than to devote ourselves to this
study; it is our most common subject of conversation,
and we gather up all the words from the mouths of
the Savages as so many precious stones, that we may
use them afterwards to display before their eyes the
beauty of our holy mysteries. Within a short time,
the Father Superior has discovered excellent meth-
ods of distinguishing the conjugations of the verbs,
in which the whole secret of the language lies; for
the greater part of the words are conjugated. How-
ever far we advance, we shall still continue to dis-
cover new lands.
On the 2nd day of March, an old woman died in
our village, whom the Father Superior had baptized
a few days before. The next day, he baptized at
Annonatea a young child between 9 and 10 years
old. The disease still continued there, and has not
yet departed thence.

12

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

auoient ouy fa voix còme d'vne perfonne qui fe mou-
roit, & efiãs en refolution de l'aller chercher s'il eùt
crié encor vne fois, mais les forces luyayans manqué,
& quelques Sauuages difans, les vns que c' efioit vne
ame qui fe plaignoit, les autres vn chien: ils auoient
continué leur chemin fans fe mettre dauantage en
peine, [188] Nos Sauuages difcoururent fort fur la
mort de ce pauure ieune homme, entre autres chofes
plufieurs attribuerent la caufe de fa mort à vn larcin
qu'il auoit fait aux Algonquins dont on Ie trouua
faifi, ce qui les faifoit parler de la forte n'efioit pas
la cognoifIance qu'ils ont que Dieu deffend & punit
Ie larcin, c'efi à quoy ils ne penfoient gueres, mais
ils fondoient leur opinion fur la parole du forcier
Tsondacoüane qui auoit dit quelque temps auparauant
que qui con que déroberoit les lignes des Algonquins
où les amorces de leurs ameçons, il ne manqueroit
point d'efire incontinent faifi de la maladie.
Le 9. Le Pere Superieur & Ie Pere Charles Garnier
allerent vifiter quelques malades au bourg d'Onnen-
tifati où ils baptiferent vn petit enfant.
Le 12. Le Pere Garnier & moy nous baptifames
vne femme à vne petite bourgade quenous appellons
Arendaonatia; ce fut auec vne confolation toute par-
ticuliere; de fait Dieu luyayant depuis rendu la fan-
té il Iuy efi demeuré vn grand efiime du fainct
baptefme, nous à tefmoigné beau coup de bonne vo-
lonté pour garder les commandemens de Dieu & à
feruy mefme à infiruire quelques aut res Sauuages.
[ 18 9] Le 15. i'accompagnay Ie Pere Superieur à
Allonatea, où i1 baptifa vne femme fort malade, de la
nous allafmes vifiter les Algonquins où nous auions
apris qu'il y auoit auffi quantité de malades; nous

1637 -38]

LE jEUNE'S RELA TIU
V, I637

13

On the 7th, a young man was found quite dead,
stretched out upon the snow, within musket-range
of our cabin. The Father Superior and François
Petitpré, going that morning to Ouenrio, had heard
his voice, as of a dying person, and resolved to go
and seek him if he had called once more; but as his
strength failed him, and as some of the Savages said
it was a soul complaining, and others that it was a
dog, they had continued on their way without giv-
ing themselves any further concern about it. [188]
Our Savages dwelt at length upon the death of this
poor young man, several attributing the cause of his
death, among other things, to a theft he had com-
mitted among the Algonquins, in which they hap-
pened to catch him. What made them talk in this
way was not the knowledge they possess that God
forbids and punishes theft,- that was something for
which they cared little: but they based their opinion
upon the word of the sorcerer TSOlldacoltallC, who had
said some time before that whoever stole the Algon-
quins' lines, or the baits from their hooks, would,
without fail, be immediately attacked by the disease.
On the 9th, the Father Superior and Father Charles
Garnier went to visit some sick people in the town of
Onnentisati, where they baptized a little child.
On the 12th, Father Garnier and I baptized a wom-
an in a little village that we call Arendaonatia, 3
doing so with a very special feeling of consolation.
In fact, God having since restored her health, she
has conceived a very high opinion of holy baptism,
and has evinced much good will in keeping the com-
mandments of God and even in aiding to instruct
some of the other Savages.
[189] On the 15th, I accompanied the Father Su-

14

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

vifmes entre autres vn nommé Oraoüandindo, qui
mourut deux où trois iours apres, nous auions vne
particuliere obligation à ce Sauuage. Le P. 3upe-
rieur fit tout fon poffible pour Ie rendre capable de
nos myfieres & du baptefme, de fait il fembloit du
commencement y vouloir prefter I' oreille, par apres
neantmoins fe voyant prefsé de refpondre diitincte-
ment il prit pour pretexte qu'il n'entendoit pas bien,
on fait venir vn Sauuage de fa nation qui en effet en-
tend & parle excellemment bien Huron qui luy repe-
toit fort fidelement en fa langue tout ce que difoit Ie
pere. Apres tout cela nous ne pûmes tirer autre
chofe de luy, finon qu'il ne fentoit aucune inclination
d'aller au Ciel veu qu'il n'auoit là aucune cognoif-
fance, & pour tout ce que Ie pere luy peut dire, iamais
il ne fit autre refponce. N ous eufmes toufiours cette
confolation que Ie Capitaine, & plufieurs qui efioient
là furent à cette occafion pleinement informez de ce
que nous pretendons en ce pays, & qui nous fommes,
car ils nous aduouërent [190J ingenuëment que iuf-
ques alors ils ne nous auoient pas pris pour des hom-
mes engendrez à l'ordinaire des autres, mais pour de
vrays demons incarnez, & nous dirent que ceux de
l'ifie les auoient mis dans cette creance. A entendre
les vns & les autres ie veux dire les Hurons & les
Algonquins, ces meffieurs la nous prefient fouuent
de femblables charitez.
Le 17. i'accompagné encor Ie P. S. à lahenhouton
ou demeure Ie chef du confeil de cette pointe, Ie fuiet
de ce voyage efioit pour leur faire 3. propofitions.
La I. s'ils n'eftoiêt pas enfin en refolutiõ de croire ce
que nous enfeignons, & d'embraffer la foy, la 2. s'ils
auroient pour agreable que quelques vns de nos Fran-

1637 -38]

Ll:: JEUNE' S Rl:.LA TION, .r637

15

peri or to Allonatea, where he baptized a very sick
woman; thence we went to visit the Algonquins,
where, we had learned, there were also a number of
sick people. We saw among others one Oraouandz"ndo,
who died two or three days afterwards. We were
under a special obligation to this Savage. The
Father Superior did all in his power to fit him for
our mysteries and for baptism; in fact, he seemed at
first willing to lend an ear; but afterwards, seeing him-
self pressed to answer definitely, he made a pretext
that he did not fully understand. They summoned a
Savage of his own nation who, in fact, understands
and speaks Huron extremely well, and who very
faithfully repeated to him, in his own tongue, all
that the father said. After all that, we could draw
nothing else from him except that he did not feel
any inclination to go to Heaven, seeing that he had
no acquaintances there; and to all the father could
say to him, he never made any other answer. We
always had this solace, that the Captain, and several
who were there, were upon this occasion fully in-
formed of what we are aiming at in this country,
and who we are; for they confessed to us [190] in-
genuously that until then they had taken us not for
men engendered in the fashion common to others,
but for real incarnate demons,- telling us that the
people of the island had led them into this opinion.
According to them,- I mean the Hurons and the
Algonquins,- those gentlemen often render us sim-
ilar kindnesses.
On the 17th, I again accompanied the Father Su-
perior to lahenhouton, where resides the chief of the
council of this place. The object of this journey was
to make them 3 propositions: 1st, whether they had

]6

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

çois fe mariafIët au plufiofi dans leurs pays, la 3. s'il
y auoit quelque apparence de reünion entre eux &
ceux d' OffofaJlé & de quelques bourgs circonuoífins.
Vofire R. fcait Ie fuiet de leur diuifion, nous luy en
efcriuifmes amplement l'an pafIé à l'occafion de la
fefie des Mors. Pour ce qui efi de la premiere pro-
pofitiõ nous n' eufmes pas toute la fatisfaction pos-
fible, ce Capitaine n'efi pas des plus grands efprits
du monde, au moins hors du tracas de leurs affaires,
pour [191] la feconde & la troifiefme ils la goufierent
fort, & tefmoignerent nous auoir beau coup d'obliga-
tion de cette fi etroitte alliance que nous voulions
faire auec eux, & de ce q; no us nous intereffions fi
fort pour Ie bien du pays. A cette occafion iis nous
aduouerent les mauuais defIeins qu'ils auoient eu cet
hyuer fur nos vies, aians appris à ce qu'ils penfoient
de bonne part, que I' oncle de feu Efiienne Bruilé,
en vengeance de la mort de fon nepueu, d'ont on n'a-
uoit tiré aucune fatisfaction, auoit ëtrepris la ruine
de tout Ie pays, & auoit caufé cette maladie conta-
gieufe. Et fur ce que Ie Pere témoigna qu'il fou-
haitteroit bien fort que ces articles fufIent propofes
en vne afIemblée generalle, il refpondit que la chofe
n'efioit pas impoffible, qu'ils en confereroient entre
eux, & nous en diroient par apres leur fentiment,
neãtmoins que pour ce qui efioit des mariages qu'il
n'efioit pas necefIaire de faire tant de ceremonies que
ceux des François qui efioient en refolution de fe
marier, auoient la liberté de prendre des femmes oU
bon leur fembleroit, que ceux qui f'efioient mariez
par Ie pafIé n'auoient point demandé vn cõfeil gene-
ral pour cela [192] mais qu'ils en auoient pris par où
ils en auoient voulu. Le Pere refpondit à cela qu'il

1637 -38]

LE JEUNE'S RELATION, z6.J7

17

not at last resolved to believe what we taught, and
to embrace the faith; 2nd, whether it would be ac-
ceptable to them that some of our Frenchmen should
marry in their country as soon as possible; 3 rd ,
whether there was any probability of a reunion be-
tween them and the people of Ossosallé and some of
the surrounding villages. Your Reverence knows
the cause of their division; we wrote to you about it
fully last year, on the occasion of their feast of
the Dead. 4 As regards the first proposition, we did
not gain all the satisfaction possible; this Captain is
not one of the most intelligent men in the world, at
least outside the little perplexities of their affairs;
as for [19 I] the second and third, they approved of
them heartily, and assured us that they were under
a great obligation to us for this so close alliance that
we wished to make with them, and for our great
interest in the welfare of the country. Upon this oc-
casion they confessed to us the evil designs they had
had this winter upon our lives,- having learned
from a reliable source, as they thought, that the
uncle of the late Estienne Bruslé, in revenge for the
death of his nephew, for which no satisfaction had
been obtained, had undertaken the ruin of the whole
country, and had caused this contagious disease.
And thereupon, as the Father declared that he
greatly desired to have these matters proposed in a
general assembly, he replied that the thing was not
impossible, that they would confer about it among
themselves and give us their opinion afterward;
however, concerning the marriages, it was not neces-
sary to go through so many ceremonies,-that those
Frenchmen who had resolved to marry were free to
take wives where it seemed good to them; that those

]8

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

efioit bien vray que les François qui s'efioiêt autre-
fois mariez dans Ie pays n'auoient point fait tant de
bruit, mais auffi que leur pretenfions eftoient. bien
efioignées des nofires, que leur deffein auoit efté de
fe faire barbares & fe rendre tout à fait femblables à
eux, & que nous au contraire nous pretendions par
cette alliance les rendre femblables à nous, leur don-
ner la cognoiffance du vray Dieu & leur apprendre à
garder fes faints commandemens, & que les mariages
dont nous parlions feroient [tables & perpetuels; &
leur propofa tous les autres auantages qu' ils en tire-
roient, ces efprits brutaux ne s'arrefterent gueres aux
spirituels; les temporels furent plus à leur gouts, ils
n'en euffent fouhaitté que des affeurances bien cer-
taines. Quelques iours apres ce Capitaine nous vint
trouuer en l'abfence, du Pere Superieur nous tefmoi-
gnant qu'ils auoient conferé entre eux touchant les
trois propofitions qui auoient efté faites, que les an-
ciens les auoient fort agrées, & qu'il eftoit venu pour
s'efc1aircir fur quelques doutes qu'ils auoient fur Ie
mariage, & premierement il nous dit qu'ils feroient
bien aife de fçauoir ce qu'vn mary [193] dõneroit à
fa feme, que parmy les Hurons la couftume eftoit de
dõner beaucoup, au refte c'eft à dire vne robe de
caftor, & pent eftre quel que collier de pourcelaine,
2. fi la femme auroit tout en fa difpofition, 3. s'il pre-
noit enuie au mary de retourner en France, s'il em-
meneroit fa femme auec foy, & an cas qu'elle demeu-
raft, queft-ce qu'il luy laifferoit à fon départ, 4. fi la
femme venoit a manquer, & que fon mary la chaffaft;
ce qu'elle emporteroit, tout de mefme, fi de fon plain
gré la fantaifie luy prenoit de retourner chez fes pa-
rens. Tontes ces queftions monftrent qu'ils yauoiêt

1637 - 38]

LE JEUNE'S RELA TION, I637

19

who had married in the past had not demanded a
general council for that purpose, [192] but that they
had taken them in whatever way they had desired.
The Father replied to this that it was very true that
the Frenchmen who had hitherto married in the
country had not made such a stir about it, but also
that their intentions were far removed from ours,-
that their purpose had been to become barbarians,
and to render themselves exactly like them. He
said that we, on the contrary, aimed by this alliance
to make them like us, to give them the knowledge
of the true God. and to teach them to keep his holy
commandments, and that the marriages of which we
were speaking were to be stable and perpetual; and
he laid before them all the other advantages they
would derive therefrom. These brutal minds gave
but little heed to the spiritual considerations; the
temporal were more to their taste, and of these they
wished to have very definite assurances. Some days
later, this Captain came to see us in the absence of the
Father Superior, assuring us that they had conferred
among themselves touching the three propositions
that had been made; that the old men were very
favorable to them. and that he had come in order to
be enlightened concerning certain doubts they had
about marriage. And first, he told us, they would
be very glad to know what a husband [193J would
give to his wife; that among the Hurons the custom
was to give a great deal besides,-that is to say, a
beaver robe, and perhaps a porcelain collar. 2nd,
whether the wife would have everything at her dis-
posal. 3rd, if the husband should desire to return to
France, whether he would take his wife with him;
and, in case she remained, what he would leave her

\

20

LES RELA TIONS D
--.s JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

'/

pensé. Nous fifmes ce que nous peufmes pour les
con tenter. Là deffus, luy tefmoignant au refie que
quãd il en auroit cõferé auec Ie P. Sup. qui l'e
pli-
queroit en bons termes, ils auroient tout fuiet de de-
meurer plainement fatisfaits de nofire procedé en ce
point. V oyla où nous en fommes de ces mariages;
quelque vns de nos François auoient bien eu la penfée
de paffer plus outre, & d' en venir à I' execution, & Ia
chofe femble efire bien auantageufe pour Ie Chrifiia-
nifme: mais quelques empefchemens fe font iettez à
la trauerfe. La chofe merite bien vne meure deli-
beration, il y à bien des confiderations a faire auant
que de [194] s'engager dans Ie mariage, fur tout par-
my des peuples barbares comme ceux-cy.
Pour ce qui regarde Ia reünion de toute cette
nation des Ours, c'efi vne affaire en cor indecife; Ie P.
Superieur a fait à ce deffein plufieurs voyages, foubs
I'efperance qu'on nous auoit donné d'vn confeil gene-
ral, illeur auoit mefme donné parole, que s'il n'efioit
quefiiõ que de quelque prefent, nous efiions refolus
de ne rien efpargner en cefie occafion: & tout fraifche-
ment efiant à OJJoJJanè, où quelques anciens tenoient
Ia chofe comme faite, i1 nous auoit mãdé que nous
Iuyenuoiaffions douze cens grains de pourcelleine,
pour prefenter aux deux parties qui deuoient s'affem-
bIer à Andiataé. De fait la plufpart des Capitaines
des bourgades de cette pointe, s'efioient mis en che-
min, mais celuy qui a efié l'autheur & Ie chef de Ia
diuifion, aiant refufé de s'y trouuer, l'affaire efi
demeurée penduë au croc, neantmoins on ne la tient
pas encor defefperée.
Le 21. nous allafmes à Ouenrio Ie P. Garnier &
moy où nous baptifames la femmes du Capitaine, fort

1637 - 38]

LE .IEUNE'S RELA TION, z637

21

on his departure. 4th, if the wife failed in her duty
and the husband drove her away, what she could
take away with her - and the same if, of her own
free will, the fancy seized her to return to her rela-
tives. All these questions show that they had
thought over the matter. We did what we could to
satisfy them thereupon,-assuring him besides that
when he should confer with the Father Superior,
who would explain it clearly, they would all have
good reason to be fully satisfied with our proceed-
ings in the matter. This is the situation in regard
to these marriages. Some of our Frenchmen had
thought seriously of going farther, and of carrying
out this plan, and the thing seems indeed to be ad-
vantageous to Christianity; but some obstacles were
thrown in the way. The matter certainly deserves
mature deliberation; many things are to be consid-
ered before [194] engaging themselves in marriage,
- above all, among barbarous peoples like these.
As regards the reunion of this whole nation of the
Bear, it is a matter still undecided. The Father Su-
perior has made several journeys with this in view,
in the hope they had given us of a general council;
he had even given them his word that, if it were only
a question of a present, we were resolved to spare
nothing to this end. And very recently, being at
Ossossanè, where some of the old men regarded the
matter as already accomplished, he had sent word to
us to send him twelve hundred porcelain beads to
present to the two parties which were to assemble at
Andz'ataé. In fact, the majority of the Captains of
the villages in that quarter started to go thither; but
the one who was the author and chief of this division
having refused to be present, the matter has remained

22

LES RÞ..LA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

aagée: fon mary tefmoigna en eftre affez content,
neantmoins craignant que Ie baptefme ne la fit mou-
rir: [195] il me dift, me monftrant trois de fes dòigts.
Mon neueu, regarde, trois iours font d'importance,
me donnant à entendre qu'il eftoit important qu'elle
ne mourut dans Ie troifiefme iour, autrement qu'ils
croiroient que nous ferions caufe de fa mort, & me
preffa de luy dire fi elle gueriroit. Ie lui refpondis
qu'il n'y auoit que Dieu qui Ie peuft dire affeure-
ment, qui feul eftoit Ie maifire de nos vies, & en dif-
pofoit à fa volonté, mais que ie l'affeurois bien d'vne
chofe, que Ie baptefme ne luy auanceroit point fes
iours, au contraire que Dieu, qui a vn foin particu-
lier de tous ceux qui font baptifez, luy pourroit bien
auffi rendre la fanté. De fait au bout de quelques
iours elle fut parfaitement guerie, & depuis nous à
beaucoup aydé pour en baptifer quelques autres. Le
26. Ie P. Pijart & Ie P. Garnier baptiferent deux
petits enfans à 01lnentifatJ.
Le vingt-neufiefme nous affemblafmes les princi-
paux de noftre bourgade, pour fçauoir premierement,
s'ils eftoient en refolution de paffer encor icy l'Hy-
uer: fecondement fi Ie deffein qu'ils auoient eu de fe
reünir auec ceux d'Olle1lrzO [196] efioit tout a fait
rompu, autrefois ce n'eftoit qu'vn bourg; troifiefme-
ment, fi enfin ils ne vouloiêt pas prefier l' oreille aux
propofitiõs qu'on leur auoit faites fi fouuent toufchant
leur falut. A ce dernier article ils refpondirent que
quelques vns d'entre eux croyoient ce que nous en-
feignions, que pour les autres ils n'en pouuoient pas
refpondre: au refte qu'ils n'eftoient pas encor en dif-
pofition pour cét année de changer Ie lieu de leur
delneure; & que l'année prochaine il ne tiendroit pas

1637 -38]

LE JEUNE'S RELA TION, z637

23

hanging on the hook. Nevertheless, it is not yet
regarded as hopeless.
On the 21St, we went to Ouenrio, Father Garnier
and I, where we baptized the very aged wife of the
Captain. Her husband seemed to be rather pleased
at this; nevertheless, fearing that baptism might
cause her death, [195J he said to me, showing me
three of his fingers, " My nephew, look; three days
are of importance," - giving me to understand that
it was important that she should not die on the third
day, otherwise that they would believe we were the
cause of her death; he urged me to tell him if she
would recover. I answered that no one but God
could tell that with certainty,-that he alone was
the master of our lives, and disposed of them at will ;
but that I would certainly assure him of one thing,
that baptism would not shorten her days,-on the
contrary, that God, who has a special care over all
those who are baptized, might indeed even restore
her to health. In fact, at the end of a few days she
had entirely recovered, and since then has helped
us a great deal in baptizing some others. On the
26th, Father Pijart and Father Garnier baptized two
little children at OnJlentz'satz',
On the twenty-ninth, we assembled the chief men of
our village, to know, first, if they had determined to
pass the vVinter here again; secondly, if the inten-
tion they had had of reuniting with the people of
Ouenrz"o [196] was altogether relinquished; formerly
this was all one village. Thirdly, if they would
not at last lend ear to the propositions that had so
often been made to them touching their salvation.
To this last point they answered that some among
them believed what we taught; as for the others,

24

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

à eux, qu'ils ne s'affemblaffent en vn mefme bourg
auec ceux d'Ouenrio, quoy que s'en foit nous fommes
refolus pour nous, d'eftablir ailleurs d'autres'refi-
dences.
Ce mefme 29. Le P. Sup partift pour aller à Tea-
naoßaz"aé auec Ie P. Garnier, afin qu'il peuft témoi-
gner fur Ies lieux aux parens de Louys de Ste. Foy
Ie reffentimet que nous auiõs de l'affiiction de leur
famille, & effuier par quelques petis prefes Ie refte
de leurs larmes, Ce voyage ne fut pas inutile pour
plufieurs, dont Ies vns receurent Ie S. baptefme, & Ies
autres eurent Ie bien d' eftre informez de nos faincts
myfteres, que nous aurons d'orefnauent plus de
commodité de leur prefcher, maintenant que nous
fommes [197] habituez à O.ffo.ffallé, qui eft comme Ie
cæur du pays. Au bourg de SCallOllaCllrat Ie P. Sup.
aiant ietté quelque propos de noftre croyance à noftre
hofte, quelques autres de la cabane s'approcherent,
& efcouterent fort attentiuement fans deftourner Ie
difcours aillieurs felon la couftume des Sauuages, mais
Iuy faifans plufieurs quefHons fort à propos. Entre
autres comment nous fçauions qu'il faifoit fi bon au
Ciel? ce qu'il falloit faire pour y aller? commet s'en-
tendoièt les commendemens de Dieu, que Ie Pere leur
propofoit? ils les gouftoient & approuuoient grande-
ment.
Le 3 0 . ils arriuerent à Tcmlaoßaíaé où ils recontre-
rent vne bonne partie des parens de Louys de Ste.
Foy, & à cette premiere entreueüe, fe renouueleret
les reffentÏ1nens de la perte qu'ils auoient faite; Ie
Pere leur témoigna d'abord quê"dés Ie mois d'Octobre
il auoit eu deffein de Ies aller confoler à la premiere
commodité, mais que la maladie de noftre maifon, les

1637 -38]

LE JEUNE'S RELA TION, r637

25

they could not answer for them.
Ioreover, they
were not yet inclined for this year to change the
place of their residence; and that next year it would
not be their fault if they did not meet in the same
village with the people of Ouenrio. Be that as it
may, we are resolved for our part to establish other
residences elsewhere.
On this same 29th, the Father Superior set out to
go to Teanaostaz"aé with Father Garnier, in order that
he might upon the spot testify to the relatives of
Louys de Ste. Foy the sympathy we felt for the
affliction of their family, and by means of some little
presents wipe away the rest of their tears. This
journey was not unprofitable for several persons, of
whom some received Holy baptism, and others had
the blessing to be informed of our holy mysteries.
How much greater will henceforth be our facilities
for preaching to them, now that we are [197] settled
at Ossossallé, which is, as it were, the heart of the
country. At the village of Scallollaellrat, the Father
Superior having made some remarks about our belief
to our host, some other inmates of the cabin ap-
proached and listened very attentively, without di-
verting the conversation to other subjects according
to the custom of the Savages, but asking him several
very pertinent questions. Among others. " how we
knew that it was so pleasant in Heaven?" U \Vhat
must be done, in order to go there?" "How were
the commandments of God that the Father proposed
to them to be understood?" They enjoyed and
approved them greatly.
On the 30th, they arrived at Temlaostaz'aé, where
they met a great many of the relatives of Louys de
Ste. Foy; and at this first interview they renewed

2G

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

occupations de tout l'hyuer, & les mauuais bruits qui
auoient couru par Ie pays, l'auoiêt faict differer, ce
voyage iufques en vn temps auquel la maladie" eftãt
diminuée de beaucoup, ils auroiêt moins de fuiet d'a-
uoir om brage de nous & de craindre [198] que ne leur
portaffions Ie mal: puis illes cõfola, & comme felon
la couftume du païs, vne perfonne qui eft dans l'affii-
ction ne s'eftime gueres confolée, fi vous ne luy don-
nez que des paroles, Ie Pere leur fit vn prefent de
4 00 . grains de pourcellene, & de 2. petites haches.
Vn des oneles de Louys de fainte Foy, nous auoit
voulu faire croire que Louys n'eftoit pas mort, i1 y
auoit plus de deux mois qu'il nous auoit dit en fe-
cret, qu'il auoit apris de bonne part qu'il ei10it encor
plein de vie, neantmoins la mere leur dit en cefie
occafion, qu'elle n'en croioit rien: elle a depuis changé
d'auis comme ie diray en fon lieu.
Le 3 I. au retour de Tcallaojlaz"aé, les Peres couche-
rent à Ekhiolldalt.faan, qui eft vn bourg affez beau &
affez peuplé; nofire hofte fit vne quefiion au P. Su-
perieur, que iamais aucun de nos Sauuages ne nous
auoit faite, illuy demanda pour que I vfage il yauoit a
l'entrée de noftre Chapelle de kebec, vn vafe plein
d'eau. Le P. leur dit qu'entre-autres vfages cét eau
feruoit à chaffer les diables, ils demanderent fi cette
eau leur pourroit feruir à mefme fin. Le P. Supe-
rieur leur refpondit qu'ouy, moyennant qu'ils creuf-
fent [199] en Dieu, & prift de là occafion de les in-
ftruire fur la croiance d'vn Dieu, & fur la fin de
1 'homme. 11s firent retirer toute la ieuneffe, qui
s'efioit amaffée à la foule pour voir les Peres, &
affemblerent les chefs du bourg pour conferer en-
femble fur ce fuiet. Tous conclurent qu'il falloit

1637 - 38]

LEJEUNE'S RELA TION, I637

27

their expressions of sympathy for the loss they had
sustained. The Father assured them, at the outset,
that since the month of October he had intended to
go and console them at the earliest opportunity; but
that the sickness of our household, the occupations
of the whole winter, and the evil reports that were
current through the country, had caused him to defer
this voyage until a time when, the sickness having
greatly abated, they would have less reason to take
umbrage at us, and to fear [198] that we might bring
them the disease. Then he consoled them, and as,
according to the custom of the country, a person
who is in affliction hardly considers himself com-
forted if you give him nothing but words, the Father
made them a present of 400 porcelain beads and 2
little hatchets. One of the uncles of Louys de sainte
Foy had tried to make us believe that Louys was not
dead; more than two months before he had told us,
secretly, that he had learned on good authority that
he was still alive and well. Nevertheless, his mother
told them on this occasion that she did not belieye
this at all; she has changed her mind since then, as
I shall relate in the proper place.
On the 31st, on their way back from Teanaostaz.aé

the Fathers slept at Ekltiolldaltsaall, a tolerably fine
and populous village. 5 Our host asked the Father
Superior a question that none of our Savages had
ever proposed to us; he asked him what was the use
of a vase full of water at the entrance to our Chapel
at kebec. The Father told him that, among other
uses, this water served to drive away the devils;
they asked if this water would serve the same pur-
pose for them. The Father Superior said "yes,' t
provided they would believe [199] in God; and he

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[VOL. 14

auoir de l'eau benifte, neantmoins trouuans quelque
difficu1té à ce que Ie Pere leur difoit, que Dieu nous
deffendoit de nous feruir de Arendioouallé, ou forciers,
en nos maladies, ils propofoient de s'affembler encor
Ie lendemain matin auant noftre depart. Mais Ie
Pere leur aiant fait entendre que Dieu ne defendoit
pas l'vfage des remedes naturels que prefcriroient les
Arcndioouané, ils fe tindrent pleinement fatisfaits, &
conclurent qu'il n'efioit point befoin de s'affembler Ie
lendemain, mais feulement de venir au plufiofi querir
de l'eau benifie. Nous les attendons encore; il y a
bien de l'apparence qu'ils ne s'en mettent plus gueres
en peine, maintenant qu'ils ne font plus dans l'ap-
prehenfion de la maladie, leur bourg en a yant efié
preferué iufques à prefent.
Le I. iour d' Auril efiant arriuez à Andz"ataé ils vi-
fiterent quelques malades, entre autres [200J vn ieune
enfant de 13. ans V o fire Reuerence aura de la confo-
lation d'entendre quelques particularitez de fon bap-
tefme, que nous auons tout fujet d'attribuer aux me-
rites de S. Iofeph. Les Peres Ie trouueret en tel
efiat que fes parents n'attendoient plus que l'heure
qu'il expirafi, tout ce qu'ils peuret faire pour lors,
fut de luy faire aualler vn peu d'eau fucrée, & de de-
mander à Dieu fon mne, ils firent vn væu à Dieu de
quelques Meffes en l'honneur de S. Iofeph. II y
auoit encor quelques autres malades dans Ie bourg;
Ie p, Superieur les alIa voir, & laiffa Ie Pere Garnier
aupres de cét enfant, afin que s'il reuenoit à foy il
peuft en efire auerty incontinent, cependant Ie Pere
Garnier ne laiffa pas de dire quelque bon mot aux
parents, & leur parler du Paradis & de l'Enfer. lIs
fembloient du commencement auoir quelque inclina-

1637 -38]

LE .IEUNE'S RELA TION, I637

29

took occasion therefrom to instruct them upon the
belief in one God, and upon the end of man. They
ordered the withdrawal of all the youth, who had
collected in a crowd to see the Fathers, and as-
sem bled the chief men of the village to confer to-
gether upon this subject. All decided that they
must have some holy water; but, finding some ob-
stacles in what the Father said, that God forbids us
to resort to A rendioouané, or sorcerers, in our sick-
nesses, they proposed to assemble again the next
morning, before our departure. But the Father,
having made them understand that God did not for-
bid the use of natural remedies which the Arelldz'ooll-
ani might prescribe, they were entirely satisfied, and
concluded it was not necessary to assemble the next
day, but only to come and get some holy water as
soon as possible. We are waiting for them yet; it
is quite probable that they do not concern them-
selves much further about it, now that they are no
longer in apprehension of the disease, their village
having been preserved up to the present.
On the 1st day of April, having arrived at Andiataé,
they visited some sick people, among others (200] a
child of 13 years. Your Reverence will have the
consolation of hearing some particulars of his bap-
tism, which we have every reason to attribute to the
merits of St. Joseph. The Fathers found him in
such a condition that his relatives were only waiting
for the hour of his death; all they could do then
was to make him swallow a little sweetened water,
and to ask his soul of God; they made a vow to God
of some Masses in honor of 8t, Joseph. There were
still some other sick people in the village; the
Father Superior went to see them and left Father

30

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

tion, que cét enfant allaft apres la mort où eftoiet íes
parents deffunts, neantmoins, Ie P. Superieur eftant
retourné fur Ie foir, & leur ayant demandé leur 'auis,
ils dirent qu'ils defiroient que leur fils allaft où il
faiíoit Ie meilleur, & leur aiant reípondu que c'efioit
au ciel où il faifoit Ie meilleur, ils dirent qu'ils defi-
roient donc qu'il y allaft. Or de peur de perdre
l'occafion [201] de mettre au Ciell'ame de ce pauure
malade Ie P. Superieur laiffa coucher aupres de luy
Ie P. Garnier. II s'entretint vne partie de la nuict
auec les parents, & fur tout auec vn fameux forcier,
fur Ia verité d'vn Dieu, & quelques autres bõs dií-
coul's, Ie malade paffa la nuict affez doucemèt, & la
nature mefme fit quelques efforts, de forte que Ie
iugement Iuy reuint, au grand contentement du pere
& de Ia mere, qui à cette occafion difoient meruelle
d'vn peu de fucre qu'on luy auoit dõné; Ie P. Garnier
ne perdit point de temps, mais fi toft qu'ille vift tant
foit peu à foy, il íe mift à 1'inftruire, pour Ie bapti-
fer, il n'acheua pas neantmoins, voyant qu'il y auoit
bien de l'apparence, qu'allant auertir Ie Pere Supe-
rieur ils Ie trouueroit encor en bõ iugement. Le
Pere vient, l'inftruit, & en vn mot Ie fait baptifer par
Ie P. Garnier. II fut nommé Iofeph en recognoif-
fance de Ia faueur qu'ils auoient receu de ce S. Patri-
arche; qui nous teflnoigne toufiours que c' eft à bonne
raiíon que nous I'auons pris pour noftre patron &
noftre Pere.
Le 2. iour d'Auril ils trouuerent auffi à Offoffallé,
vne ieune femme à l' extremité, elle auoit encor affez
de iugement; mais il ne leur fut pas poffible de Iuy
perfuader Ie baptefme, [202J nonobfiant toutes les
confideratiõs qu'on Iuy peufi reprefenter du Paradis

1637 - 38]

LEJEUNE'S RELATION, I637

31

Garnier beside this child, in order that, if he recov-
ered consciousness, he might be immediately ad-
vised thereof. :Meanwhile Father Garnier did not
fail to say a few good words to the relatives, and to
tell them of Paradise and of Hell. They seemed at
first somewhat inclined to have this child go after
death to the place where his dead relatives were;
nevertheless, the Father Superior having returned
towards evening, and having asked them their opin-
ion, they said they desired their son to go where it
would be best for him; and, having answered them
that it would be best for him in heaven, they said
that they wished him then to go there. N ow for fear
of losing the opportunity [20 I] of placing the soul
of this poor sick boy in Heaven, the Father Superior
left Father Garnier to sleep beside him. He con-
versed during a part of the night with the relatives,
and especially with a famous sorcerer, upon the truth
of the one God, and some other good subjects. The
patient passed the night very quietly, and nature it-
self made some efforts, so that consciousness returned
to him, to the great satisfaction of his father and
mother, who, when this happened, told wonders óf
a little sugar that had been given him. Father Gar-
nier lost no time, but as soon as he saw him even
slightly revived, he began to instruct hinl, in order
to baptize him; yet he did not finish, seeing that
there was every probability that, if he went to notify
the Father Superior, they would find the boy still
entirely conscious. The Father comes, instructs
him, and, in short, has him baptized by Father
Garnier. He was named Joseph in acknowledge-
ment of the favor they had received from this Holy
Patriarch, who is always showing us that it is with

32

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

& de renfer, elle mourut miferablement quelques
iours apres,
Le 5. vn Capitaine d'Offoffané enuoia inuiter l
P.
Superieur à vn confeil general qui s'y deuoit tenir,
il partir Ie 6. ie luy fis compagnie. En paffant par
Oüenrio, il fit affembler les ancies pour traitter de
leur reünion auec ceux de nofire bourgade; mais ils
ne refolurent rien, feulement ils promirent d'en con-
ferer entr'eux encor plus particulierement. Efians
arriuez à Offoffané, nous attelldifmes deux iours apres
Ie confeil, & apres eel a il nous en fallut reuenir
comme nous efiions allez, l' abfence du Capitaine du
bourg, Angouteus en fut la caufe. Cependant Ie
Capitaine d' Offoffané loüa fort Ie deffein que nous
auions de les rallier tous enfemble, que ce feroit vn
nouueau fuiet de nous faire aimer, & nous rendre
confiderables dans Ie pais, que fi la chofe reüffiffoit,
it en feroit par1é a iamais en toutes les affemblées
folemnelles, & aux Fefies des morts. Tandis que
nous eftions à attendre ce confeil; vn des gendres de
nofire hofie retourna de la chaffe de rOurs, mais à
l'entendre, ce qu'ils [203] auoient pris ne recompen-
foit pas la perte qu'ils auoient faite; nous eufmes du
plaifir à ce narré, il raconta la mort d'vn chien, qu'ils
croioient auoir efié deuoré d'vn Ours, fi pathetique-
ment, que vous euffiez prefque creu qu'il parlafi de
la mort d'vn des braues Capitaines du pais; illoüa
fon courage à pourfuiure rOurs, & à luy faire tefte,
il adioufia que l'aiant perdu de veuë, & l'aiant fuiui
long temps à la pifie, il1-fques à vne petite riuiere; il
s'efioit en fin arrefié, & auoit dit, en fichant fa hache
en terre: Quoy done, OÜatit (c'efioit Ie nom du chien)
es-tu mort? voila ma hache que ie rifque auec toy.

1637 -38]

LE .IEUNE'S RELA TION, r637

33

good reason we have taken him for our patron and
our Father.
On the 2nd day of April, they also found at Ossos-
sallé a young woman on the verge of death; she had
still enough understanding, but it was not possible
to persuade her to accept baptism, [202] notwith-
standing all the arguments that could be presented
to her about Paradise and hell. She died miserably

several days later.
On the sth, a Captain of Ossossané sent to invite
the Father Superior to a general council to be held
there; he departed on the 6th, I accompanying him.
In passing through Oltozrio, he had the old men as-
semble to treat of their reunion with the people of
our village; but they came to no conclusion, only
promising to confer again about it, more in detail,
among themselves. Having arrived at Ossossallé, we
waited two days for the council, and after that we were
obliged to return as we had come, the absence of the
Captain of the village Angouteus,6 being the cause
of this. However, the Captain of Ossossané greatly
praised our plan of bringing them all together, say-
ing that this would be a new occasion for endearing
ourselves, and rendering ourselves influential in the
country; that, if this affair were successful, it would
be mentioned forever in all the solemn assemblies,
and at the Feasts of the dead. While we were
awaiting this council. a son-in-law of our host re-
turned from Bear hunting; but, according to his
story, what they [203] had captured did not recom-
pense them for the loss they had sustained. We
enjoyed this narrative; he described the death of a
dog , which he believed had been devoured by a
Bear, so pathetically, that you would almost have

34

LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

Celuy à qui eftoit Ie chien efcoutoit ce difcours, auec
vn cæur fi faifi qu'iI euft trõpé ceux qui euffent igno-
ré Ie fuiet de fa douleur. Ah! iI eft vray (difoit-iI)
que i'aimois bien fort OÜatit, i'auois refolu de Ie gar-
der auec moy toute fa vie, il n'y auoit point de fonge
qui fuft capable de me porter à en faire fefiin, pour
rien du monde ie ne l'euffe donné; & encor me feroit-
ce maintenant quelque confoIation, fi on m'auoit ap-
porté vn petit Ours qui peufi prendre fa place, & por-
ter fon nom.
iais voicy vn fuiet plus ferieux, &
tout à fait plein de confolation.
[204J Le 13. à I'occafion de quelques vns de nos
domeftiques, qui alloient faire vn voyage à la nation
du Petun, qui eft à deux iournées de nous. Le P.
Garnier demanda au P. Superieur de leur faire com-
pagnie, fimplement pour y vifiter les malades, qui
ei10ient (à ce qu'on nous auoit dit) en affez bon nom-
bre. Ce voiage fut de 14. iours, Ie pere baptiía 15.
perfonnes malades, vn enfant à Arcllll, deux autres à
Offoffallé, qui moururent peu de iours apres, Ie refte
à la nation du Petun, fçauoir eft deux femmes fort
aagées, & dix petits enfans, dont deux moururent Ie
mefme iour de leur baptefme, Ce fut vne prouidence
de Dieu bien particuliere, nommement pour vn petit
garçon de dix ans, il y auoit trois ans qu'illanguiffoit,
& n'attendoit ce femble, que Ie bapteíme pour mourir.
Le 15. nous aprifmes qu'vn ieune hon1111e s'eítoit
empoifonné à OjJojJané, & à cette occafion quelques
Sauuages nous dirent, qu'vue des principales caufes
pourquoy ils víoiet d'vne fi gran de indulgence enuers
leurs enfans, c'eftoit d'autant que lors que les enfans
fe voioient traittez de leur parens auec quelque ri-
gueur, ils en venoient d'ordinaire à ces extremitez &

1637 -38]

LE .IEUNE'S RELA TION, I637

35

believed that he was relating the death of one of the
brave Captains of the country. He praised his cour-
age in pursuing the Bear, and in opposing him; he
added that, having lost sight of him, and having a
long time followed his tracks as far as a little river,
he had at last stopped, and had said, sticking his
hatchet into the ground, "How now, OuaNt" (this
was the name of the dog) "art thou dead? There is
my hatchet that I risk with thee." The owner of
the dog listened to this speech with so heavy a heart
that he would have deceived those who might not
know the cause of his grief. "Ah! it is true" (said
he) "that I dearly loved Ouatit J . I had resolved to
keep him with me all his life; there was no dream
that could have influenced me to make a feast of
him,- I would not have given him for anything in
the world; and yet it would be some consolation to
me now if they had brought me a little Bear, which
could take his place and carry his name. " But here
is a more serious subject, and one in every way full
of consolation.
[ 20 4] On the 13th, when some of our domestics
were going on a visit to the Tobacco nation, which
is a two days' journey from us, Father Garnier asked
the Father Superior's permission to accompany
them, simply to visit the sick there, who were (ac-
cording to what we had been told) quite numerous.
This journey lasted 14 days, and the father baptized
IS sick persons,-one child at Arcnté J ' two others at
Ossossallé, who died a few days afterward; the rest
in the Tobacco nation, namely, two very old women
and ten little children, two of whom died the day of
their baptism. This was a very special providence of
God, especially for a little boy of ten years; he had

36

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

fe pendoient, ou mangeoient [205J d'vne certaine ra-
cine, qu'ils appellent Andackienrra, qui efi vn poifon
fort prefent. .
Le 19. les Bzßirinz"ens voians les glaces rompuës,
& Ie lac ouuert, s'embarquerent pour retourner en
leur païs, & emporterent dans fept canots foixante &
dix corps, de ceux qui efioient morts pendant leur
hyuernement parmi les Hurons. Nous nous fer-
uifmes de cette occafion pour faire fçauoir de nos
nouuelles à vofire R. veu me[me qu'vn Sauuage nom-
mé Outaeté auoit deffein de tirer droit à Kebec.
Le 20. on fit mourir à OfJofJané vne femme en qua-
lite de forciere; parmi ces barbares moins que demi
preuue en cette matiere, fuffit pour vous faire fendre
la tefie. V oicy comme la chofe arriua: Celuy qui fe
croioit auoir efié enforcelé d'elle, l'enuoia querir fous
pretexte de l'inuiter à vn fefiin, elle n'efi pas fi tofi
arriuée, qu' on luy prononce fa fentence, fans autre
forme de procez. Cette pauure miferable voiant
qu'il n'yauoit point d'appel, nomma celuy qui luy
donneroit Ie coup de hache, en mefme temps on la
traifne hors la cabane, on luy bru:fle la face, & vne
partie du corps auec des efcorces [206J ardantes, & en
fin celuy qu'elle auoit pris pour parrain, luy fendit la
tefie; Ie lendemain fon corps fut bruí1é & mis en
cendre au milieu du bourg. Quelques vns difent
qu'elle aduoüa Ie fait, & mefme qu'elle nomma quel-
ques vns de fes cõplices, d'autres difent qu'elle parla
feulement en general, difant qu'ils s'efioient tous
accordez de ne fe point defcouurir l'vn I' autre, au cas
que quelqu'vn fufi pris fur Ie fait. AOlldacllckrz"ó, vn
des Capitaines voiant qu'elle efioit prife, fut d'auis
qu'on l'expediafi promptement, difant que les anciens

1637 -38]

LE .IEUNE'S RELATION, r637

37

been lingering for three years, and was waiting only
for baptism, it seems, to die.
On the 15th, "\ve learned that a young man had
poisoned himself at Ossossané J " and in reference to
this some Savages told us that one of the principal
reasons why they showed so much indulgence to-
wards their children, was that when the children
saw thelTIselves treated by their parents with some
severity, they usually resorted to extreme measures
and hanged themselves, or ate [205J of a certain root
that they call Alldacltiellrra, which is a very quick
poison.
On the 19th, the BÙsirÙlieJls, seeing the ice broken
and the lake open, embarked to return to their own
country, and carried away in seven canoes seventy
bodies of those who had died while they wintered
among the Hurons. We availed ourselves of this
opportunity to send news of ourselves to your Rev-
erence, especially as a Savage named Outaeté in-
tended going direct to Kebec.
On the 20th, a woman was put to death as a
sorceress at OssossaJlé. Among these barbarians less
than half proof in this matter suffices to have one's
head split. The affair occurred thus: The one who
thought he had been bewitched by her sent for her
under the pretext of inviting her to a feast; she had
no sooner arrived than her sentence was pronounced,
without other form of trial. This poor wretch, see-
ing there was no appeal, named him who was to give
her the hatchet stroke; at the same time she was
dragged outside the cabin, her face and part of her
body were burned with pieces of lighted bark, [206J
and finally the one she had taken for godfather split
her head. The next day her body was burned and

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LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

eftoient trop lafches, & que fi on la gardoit iufques
au lendemain, elle feroit pour auoir la vie fauue.
Le 2 I. on nous rapporta qu'vn Sauuage venu frai-
fchement de SOJlo1lfo1Ïall, auoit aduerti que nos Hurons
fe tinffent hardiment fur leurs gardes, & -que les en-
nemis leuoiêt vne armée, foit pour venir fondre dans
Ie pais, tandis qu'ils feront allez en traitte, foit pour
les attendre au paffage quand ils defcendront à Ke-
bec. Toutes les années en cette faifon on ne manque
pas de faire courir femblables bruits, qui font d'au-
tant moins croiables qu'ils font ordinaires, & d'au-
tant plus à craindre que nos Sauuages s'en mettent
[ 20 7J peu en peine. On dit que les anciens & les plus
confiderables du pais font fouuent les autheurs de ces
fauces alarmes, pour retenir toufiours dans les bourgs
vne bonne partie des ieunes gens, & de ceux qui font
capables de porter les armes, & empefcher qu'i1s ne
s'efcaTtent tous enfemble en mefme temps pour leur
trai tte.
Le 23. Ie P. Superieur nous enuoia Ie Pere Ifaac
Iogues & moy, vifiter les malades de deux ou trois
petites bourgades, nous baptifames quatre petits
enfans, deux moururent dés Ie lendelnain, & Ie troi-
fiefme peu de iours apres, queUe faueur du ciel pour
ces petits Anges! & quelle confolation pour nous de
voir que cette diuine bonté daigne fe feruir de nous
pour tirer des mains du diable tantd'amescréesàfon
image. & leur app1iquer les merites du fang de fon
fils! Que nous auons bien fuiet de dire en ces fi heu-
reufes occafions, Quis /1t1ll ego & quæ efl d011l1/.S paIns
mei, quia me dcduxzfli 'lifque flUe!
Le I. iour de 1Iay Ie P. Superieur partit auec Ie
P. Charles Garnier, pour aller à Oifoifané; Ie fuiet de

1637 -38]

LE .IEUNE'S RELA TION, I637

39

reduced to ashes, in the middle of the village. Some
say that she confessed the deed, and even that she
named some of her accomplices; others affirm that
she spoke only in a general way, saying that they
had all agreed not to expose one another, in case
anyone were taken in the act. AOJldacllcllrió, one of
the Captains, seeing that she was captured, was of the
opinion that she should be promptly despatched,-
saying that the old men were too lenient, and that, if
she were kept until morning, her life would probably
be spared.
On the 21st, it was reported to us that a Savage,
lately COlne from SOJlOntollall,' had warned our Hurons
to remain boldly upon the watch,-that the enemy
was raising an army, either to pounce upon the
country while they were away trading, or to await
them at the passage when they were going down to
Kebec. Every year at this season similar rumors
are sure to circulate, which are so much the less
credible that they are so common, and all the more
to be feared since our Savages give themselves [207]
little concern thereat. It is said that the old men
and those most influential in the country are often
the authors of these false alarms, in order to keep
always in the villages a good part of the young men
and of those capable of bearing arms, and to prevent
them from going away, all at the same time, to do
their trading.
On the 23rd, the Father Superior sent us, Father
Isaac J ogues and me, to visit the sick of two or three
little villages. We baptized four little children;
two died the next day, and the third a few days after-
ward. What a favor fronl heaven for these little
Angels! ...-\nd what a consolation for us to see that

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LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

ce voiage eftoit quelque efperance qu'on nous auoit
donnée d'vne affemblée generale qui fe deuoit tenir
[2081 au bourg d'A1ltliataé, mais Ie ciel auoit d'autres
deffeings, ce confeil fut remis, & les Peres eurent Ie
bien de baptifer en diuers endroits quatre malades,
vne femme qui mourut incontinent apres, fon mari
eftoit a l'extremité, mais il refufa opiniaftrement Ie
baptefme.
Le 3. Ie p, Pierre Pijart baptifa à Allollatea vn petit
enfan t de deux mois, en danger mal1ifefte de mort,
fans que fes parens s'en apperceuffent, n'aiant peu
obtenir leur confentement, voicy l'inuention dont il
fe feruit. Noftre fuite [sc. fucre] fait icy des mer-
ueilles, il fait femblant de luy vouloir faire boire vn
peu d'eau fucrée, & par mefme moien trempe Ie doigt
dans l'eau, & voiant que Ie pere entroit en quelque
defiance, & Iuy recommandoit fort de ne Ie pas bap-
tifer, il met Ia cueillier entre les mains d.vne femme
qui eftoit là aupres, & Iuy dit, faits luy prendre toy-
mefme; elle s'approche & trouua que l'enfant dor-
moit, & en Inefme temps Ie Pere fous pretexte de
voir fi en effet il dormoit, Iuy appliqua fon doigt
moüillé fur Ie vifage & Ie baptifa, au bout de deux
fois ving quatre heures il alIa au ciel. Quelques
iours auparauãt i1 s'eftoit ferui [209] à peu pres de la
mefme induítrie pour baptifer vn petit garçon de fix
à fept ans. S011 pere eftoit fort malade, & auoit re-
fufé plufieurs fois Ie baptefme: Ie Pere lui demanda
s'il ne feroit pas bien content que fon fils fuft bap-
tifé, à quoi ayant refpondu que non. Au moins dit
Ie Pere tu ne trouueras pas Inauuais que ie lui donne du
fucre; oui dea, mais ne Ie baptife pas: Ie Pere lui en
fait dõc prendre vne fois, deux fois, & à la troifiefme

1637 -38]

LEJEUNE'S RhLATION, I637

41

this divine goodness deigns to use us to wrest from
the hands of the devil so many souls created in his
image, and to apply to them the merits of the blood
of his son! How much reason have we to say upon
these so happy occasions, Quis sum ego et quæ est do-
11lUS patns mci, qzu'a me deduxisti usque fwc!
On the 1st day of May, the Father Superior departed
with Father Charles Garnier, to go to Ossossallé.
The reason of this journey was the hope that had
been given us of a general assembly that would be
held [208] at the village of Alldiataé. But heaven
had other designs. This council was postponed, and
the Fathers had the good fortune to baptize in vari-
ous places four sick persons,-one, a woman who
died immediately afterward; her husband was on
the verge of death, but he obstinately refused bap-
tism.
On the 3rd, Father Pierre Pijart baptized at Anona-
tea an infant two months old, in manifest danger of
death, without its parents being aware that he did
so; not having succeeded in obtaining their permis-
sion, he employed the following device: Our sugar
does wonders here; he made a feint of wishing to
give it a little sugared water to drink, and at the
same titne dipped his finger in the water; and seeing
that its father showed some distrust, and urgently
requested him not to baptize the child, he put the
spoon into the hands of a woman who was standing
by, and said to her, " Give it to him thyself." She
drew near and found that the child was asleep; and
at the same time the Father, under pretext of seeing
if it really slept, applied his wet finger to its face
and baptized it; at the end of forty-eight hours, it
went to heaven. A few days before, he had prac-

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cueilleree auant que cl'y mettre Ie fucre, laiffa tom-
ber de l'eau fur l'enfant en prononçant les paroles
Sacramentales. En mefme temps vne petite' fille
qui Ie regardoit faire, fe prit à crier, mon pere ille
baptife: ce pere fe met en peine, Inais Ie P. Pijart
lui dit, n'as tu pas bien veu que ie lui ai donné du
fucre. Cét enfant ne la fit pas longue, pour fon pere
Dieu lui a fait vne belle grace car il eft en cor plein
de fanté.
Ce mefme iour 3. de Mai fur les onze heures du
foir, Ie feu prit en noftre bourgade à vne cabane qui
n 'eftoit eíloignee de la noftre qu'enuiron de la por-
tee d'vn moufquet. II n'y auoit dedans que quatre
ou cinq pauures enfans, fept ou huict de leurs parens
eftoient morts de contagion pendant l'hyuer, ils for-
tirent tous nuds: encore eurent-i!s [210] affez de peine
à fe fauuer, Ie feu courut fi promptement qu'en moins
de rien la cabane fut toute embrafee, nous courufmes
pour les fecourir, mais ce ne fut que pour regarder
& tefmoigner que nous leur portions compaffion: Ie
vent qui eftoit Noroüeft, fe trouua graces à Dieu
grandement fauorable tant pour Ie refte des cabanes
des Sauuages que pour la nofire; autrement vn bourg
entier eft bien toft expedié & reduit en cendres, des
efcorces de cedre dont la plufpart des cabanes font
couuertes, prenant quafi auffi aifément feu que du
falpetre.
Le 4. les anciens s'affemblerent pour conuenir en-
femble de quelque contribution pour affifter ces pau-
ures orfelins: chaque cabane s'obligea à fournir trois
facs de blé, car on n' en auoit peu fauuer vn feul
grain: en vn mot chacun les aida de ce qu'il pût, qui
leur dõnoit vn plat, qui vne quaiffe, quelques vns

1637 - 38]

LEJEUNE'S RELATION, z637

43

ticed [209] very nearly the same ingenuity, in order
to baptize a little boy six or seven years old. His
father was very sick. and had several times refused
baptism; the Father asked him if he would not be
glad to have his son baptized, and he having an-
swered " no," to this, "At least," said the. Father,
"thou wilt not disapprove of my giving him some
sugar. "Certainly not, but do not baptize him."
Accordingly, the Father had him take it once and
again; and at the third spoonful, before putting the
sugar in it, he let some water fall upon the child
while pronouncing the Sacralnental words. At the
same time a little girl who was looking at him began
to cry out, " :My father, he is baptizing him." The
father was troubled, but Father Pijart said to him,
" Hast thou not seen plainly that I have given him
sugar?" The child did not survive long. As for
his father, God did him a great favor, for he is still
in excellent health.
On this same 3rd of 1Iay, towards eleven o'clock in
the evening, a cabin of our village, only about a
musket-shot distant from ours, took fire. There
were within only four or five poor children, seven or
eight of their relatives having died from the conta-
gion during the winter. They ran out entirely naked.
and even then had [210] considerable trouble to save
themselves. The fire spread so rapidly that in less
than no time the cabin was all in flames. We ran
to help them, but it was only to look on and show
that we had compassion for them. The wind, a
Northwester, proved, thanks to God, very favorable
both to the rest of the cabins of the Savages, and to
ours; otherwise an entire village is soon despatched
and reduced to ashes,- the cedar bark, with which

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mefme quelques robes de Cafior; nous les affifiames
auffi fort liberalement, il n'y eut gueres de nos do-
mefiiques qui ne leur fifi auffi quelque gracièuíeté.
De forte que ces pauures enfans fe trouuerent plus
riches au lTIoins en robes & en habits qu'ils n'efioient
a uparauant.
Le 5. Ie P. Chafiellain efioit allé auec Ie [2 I I] p,
Pijart vifiter quelques malades à Anendaonactz"a il bap-
tifa vn ieune homme qui efioit à I'extremité.
Le 10. Le P. Pijart partit pour aller chercher de
ieunes enfans pour mener à Quebec: fi tous ceux
dont il a quelque parole, fe refoluent d'y demeurer,
Ie íeminaire ne fera pas lTIal fourni pour vn commen-
cement: fi nous croyons les bruits qui courent ici dés
l'hiuer, il y en a deux de morts de ceux de l'an paffé.
Mais peut efire que ce ne font que des bruits: plufi
à Dieu que ceux qu' on a fait courir de la mort de
Louys de faincte Foy, ne fuffent pas plus affeurez, &
qu'au contraire, ce qui s'en dit maintenant, fufi auffi
veritable que nous efiimons les autres mal fondez.
Sa mere qui ne pouuoit auparauant efcouter ce qui
sten difoit, penfe maintenant auoir des affeurances
infaillibles qu'il efi parmi les Agnz"etz"rollons, on lui a
mefme nommé celui qui l'a adopté pour fon fils: fi
cela efi, nous auons quelque efperance que Dieu nous
Ie rendra par quelque voie que ce foit. Ie fçais bien
que s'il demeure en cefie captiuité, ce ne fera pas
faute d'auoir ici, & en France des perfonnes qui im-
portunent Ie Ciel de væux & de feruentes prieres
pour fa deliurance.
[212] Le 12. Le P. Charles Garnier & Ie P. Ifaac
Iogues baptiferent à Allonatea 3. perfonnes bien ma-
lades; entre autres vne pauure femme qui mourut

1637 -38]

LE JEUNE'S RELA TION, I637

45

the greater number of the cabins are covered, taking
fire almost as easily as saltpeter.
On the 4th, the old men assembled, in order to
agree together upon some contribution to assist these
poor orphans. Each cabin bound itself to furnish
three sacks of corn, for they had not been able to
save a single grain. In a word, everyone aided
them with whatever he could,- one giving them a
plate, another a chest, some even giying them Beaver
robes. \Ve also assisted them very liberally, and
there was hardly any of our domestics who did not
also show them some act of kindness; so that these
poor children found themselves richer, at least in
robes and clothing, than they had been before.
On the 5 th , Father Chastellain went with [211]
Father Pijart to visit some sick people at AlleJldaollat.;-
tz"a; he baptized a young man who was at the point
of death.
On the loth, Father Pijart departed to go in
search of some young children to take to Quebec.
If all those from whom he has some promise resolve
to remain there, the seminary will not be badly sup-
plied for a beginning. If we may believe the re-
ports that have been current here since winter, two
of those of last year are dead; but perhaps these are
only rumors. Would to God that those which have
been circulated about the death of Louys de sainte
Foy had as little certainty; and that, on the contrary,
what is now being said of him were as true as we
consider the other ones without foundation. His
mother, who could not listen to these rumors before,
now thinks she has infallible proofs that he is
among the Agnz'etz"rollolls;2 she has even been told
the name of the one who has adopted him for his

46

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

dés Ie lendemain. Et parce qu'vn de ceux-là auoit
efié baptifé fous condition, à raifon du peu de iuge-
ment que il faifoit paroiftre, Ie P. Chafiellain: y re-
tourna vn peu apres, & l'aiant trouué vn peu plus à
foi l'infiruifit derechef, & Ie baptifa auec les condi-
tions requifes.
Le 19. nous eufmes tout à fait vne iournee d'hiuer,
il tomb a pres d'vn demi pied de neige & gel a bien
fort la nuit fuiuante. Sondacouane perdit vn peu de
fon credit, en cefie occafiõ. Deux ou 3. iours aupa-
rauant, on s'eitoit tué de croffer en toutes les bour-
gades d'ici aut our ; ce forcier aiant affeuré que Ie
temps ne dependoit que d'vn ieu de croffe; auffi nos
Sauuages difoient à pleine bouche que ce n'efioit
qu'vn charlatan, & vn impofieur, cependant c'efi
grand cas que ces experiences ne les rendent gueres
plus fages.
Le 28. Le P. Charles Garnier, & Ie P. Iogues alle-
rent vifiter vn vieillard fort malade à Arontacll. On
no us auoit fait entendre que ceux de cette bourgade
auoient quelque auerfion du baptefme; neantmoins
ce [ 21 3] bon hOlnme à la premiere ouuerture qu'on lui
en fit tefmoigna des fentiments tous contraires, &
apres auoir efié fuffifamment infiruit, & receu Ie
fainct Baptefme i1 en remercia nos peres auec beau-
coup d'affection.
Le premier iour de I uin Ie P. Charles Garnier &
Ie Pere Chafiellain furent enuoiez à Ouenrio à l'occa-
fion d'vne femme qu'on nous auoit fait bien malade.
QueUe prouidence de Dieu! cette femme fe trouua
hors de danger, & fut en partie caufe que 3. autres
malades, qui moururent peu apres, receurent Ie bap-
tefme, dout Ie dernier mourut hier quatriefme de ce

163ì -38]

LE JEUNE'S RELA TION, I637

47

son. If this be true, we have some hope that God
will restore him to us in some way, whatever it may
be. I know very well that if he remain in this
captivity, it will not be for lack of having here and
in France persons who itnportune Heaven with vows
and fervent prayers for his deliverance.
[212J On the 12th, Father Charles Garnier and
Father Isaac Jogues baptized at AnoJlatca 3 very sick
persons,-among others, a poor woman who died
the next day. And because one of these had been
baptized conditionally, for the reason that he ap-
peared hardly in his right mind, Father Chastellain
returned to him a little while afterwards, and, hav-
ing found him somewhat more rational. instructed
him again, and baptized him with the requisite con-
ditions.
On the 19th, we had a real winter day; nearly
half a foot of snow fell and the following night it
froze very hard. S011dacoualle lost a little of his
repute on this occasion. Two or 3 days before, they
had tired themselves to death playing crosse in all
the villages around here, because this sorcerer had
affirmed that the weather depended only upon a
game of crosse; and now our Savages openly de-
clared that he is only a charlatan and an impostor.
It is worthy of note, however, that these experiences
render them but little wiser.
On the 28th, Father Charles Garnier and Father
Jogues went to visit a very sick old man at Arontaen.
We had been given to understand that the people of
that village had some aversion to baptism; neverthe-
less, this [2 I 3] good man, at the first proposal that
was made to him, expressed quite opposite senti-
ments; and after having been sufficiently instructed,

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[VOL. 14

mois. Voici comme la chofe arriua. Les Peres
efiant à Ouenrio apprirent qu'vn petit enfant efioit à
l'extremité; ils coururent & Ie baptiferent, illnourut
auant hier; de là ils allerent iufques à On/zentz/at}
pour vifiter vn nommé Ouozdiclt vn des premiers fup-
pofis du Sorcier Sondacollané; qui leur parla com me
vn homme qui efioit en efiat de fe guerir, & qui
n'auoit pas auec cela beaucoup de difpofition à rece-
uoir des auis touch ant fon falut. 1Iais fans doute
quelque Ange du ciel conduifoit leur pas, on leur
donna auis de fe tranfporter à vne petite cabane
dreffee à l'efcart dans les [2 14J champs, & qu'il yauoit
vne femme malade qui feroit bien aife de les voir:
il fe prefenta mefme vn ieune homme plein de bonne
volonté qui les y conduifit: mais Ie malade qu'ils
alloient voir efioit defia fur pieds. Ils efioient fur Ie
poinct de s'en retourner, lors qu'ils entendirent vne
voix plaintiue qui leur fit demander s'il y auoit quel-
que autre malade; on refpondit que ouï, qu'il y auoit
dehors vne femme qui tiroit à la fin. De fait ils la
trouuerent couchee fur quelques fueillages, & expo-
fee aux ardeurs du foleil: cefie pauure femme venoit
d'accoucher deuant terme d'vn enfant mort, il fem-
bloit qu'elle n'attendifi plus que Ie baptefme, dés Ie
lendemain elle mourut, Au retour ils pafferent par
Anonatea felon qu'ils auoient ordre du P. Superieur
pour vifiter encor vne femlne malade, mais elle efioit
morte dés Ie iour de la Pentecofie. Ils fe trouuerent
là tout à propos pour infiruire & baptifer vn pauure
vieillard que nous ne fçauions pas efire malade, nous
lui auions penfé trois ou quatre mois durãt quelques
vlceres qu'il auoit aux pieds, dont il commençoit à
fe mieux porter: il a efié emporté en peu de iours:

1637 -38]

LE JEUNE'S RELA TION, I637

49

and having received holy Baptism, he thanked our
fathers therefor with much affection.
On the first day of June, Father Charles Garnier
and Father Chastellain were sent to Ouenrz"o, on ac-
count of a woman who had been represented to us
as very sick. What a providence of God! this wom-
an was found to be out of danger, and was partly
the cause of 3 other sick people, who died shortly
afterwards, receiving baptism; the last of these died
yesterday, the fourth of this month. See how this
came to pass. The Fathers, being at Ouellrio, learned
that a little child was dying; they hastened and bap-
tized it, and it died the day before yesterday. Thence
they went to O}l}zelltisatz" to visit one OneJldz"ch, one of
the chief tools of the Sorcerer
ò1ldacouané. He
spoke to them like a man who was convalescent, and
who, besides, was not greatly disposed to receive
advice touching his salvation. But doubtless some
Angel from heaven guided their footsteps; they were
instructed to repair to a little cabin standing by itself
in the [214] field. and that there was a sick woman
there who would be very glad to see them; a young
man even presented himself, very willingly, and
conducted them thither. But the sick woman they
had gone to see was already on her feet. They
were upon the point of returning, when they heard
a plaintive voice, which made them ask if there was
any other sick person; they were answered "yes,"
-that there was a woman outside whose end was
drawing near; in fact, they found her lying upon
some leaves and exposed to the heat of the sun,
This poor woman had just been delivered, prema-
turely, of a dead child; it seemed as if she was only
waiting for baptism, as she died the next day, On

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

les Peres Ie baptiferent auec bien de la confolatiõ.
Cõme [215] les Peres lui demandoient s'il ne feroit
pas bien aife d'aller au ciel; heIas! dit iI, il Y a 'bien
Ioing & j'ai de bien mauuaifes iambes, comment
pourroi-ie y aller! nous receufmes hier les nouuelles
de fa mort. V ofire R. voit que nos pauures Sau-
uages ne font pas encor hors de maladie, fi Dieu par
la mifericorde n'y met bien tofi la main, les grandes
chaleurs qui regnent icy en cette faifon ne font pas
pour diffiper ce mauuais air. II y a deux bourgades
qui en font particulierement affiigees, Alldiataé &
Onllenti.fat.f où demeurent les deux plus grands for-
ciers du païs, fçauoir efi SOlldacoiiané & TellOrl'11hae-
gJlOll. Pendant l'hyuer ils auoient defia perdu vne
grande partie de leur credit aupres des malades des
autres bourgades, & maintenant ils font plus que
iamais dans la confufion, voians que leur fueries,
fefiins, breuuages & leurs ordonnances ne feruent de
rien à leur compatriotes. Depuis peu SaeoJldoÜane Ese.
SondacoÜallé] s'efi auifé de defendre aux malades la
neige de France, c'efi ainfi qu'ils appellent Ie fucre, &
a perfuadé à quelques vns que c'efioit comme vn
efpece de poifon, il efi aifé de iuger quïl eft Ie princi-
pal autbeur de ceíte defence. Le diable fçait affez
bien combien ces petites douceurs nous ont defia [216]
ferui, pour luy tirer des mains tant d'ames qu'il
tenoit captiues. II à fait tous fes efforts cét hyuer
pour nous fermer la bouche, & nous empefcher de
prefcher à ces peuples barbares les grandeurs & les
infinies mifericordies du maifire que nons feruons:
mais fes deffeins n'aians pas reüffi (car Dieu nous a
fait la grace de baptifer deux cens trente à quarante
perfonnes) il a depuis peu fufcité contre nous de nou-

1637 -38]

LEJEUNE'S RELATION, r637

51

their return they passed through Anonatea, according
to an order they had received from the Father Su-
perior to visit another sick woman, but she had died
on the day of Pentecost. They found themselves
there very opportunely to instruct and baptize a
poor old man, that we did not know was sick; we
had cared for him three or four months while he
had some ulcers upon his feet, from which he was
beginning to recover. He was taken off in a few
days, the Fathers baptizing him with much consola-
tion. When [215] the Fathers asked him if he would
not be very glad to go to heaven, " Alas! " said he,
"it is very far away, and I have very bad legs; how
shall I be able to go there?" vVe received the news
of his death yesterday. Your Reverence sees that
our poor Savages are not yet free from sickness; if
God does not mercifully interpose his hand, the
great heat which prevails here at this season is not
likely to dissipate this malaria. There are two vil-
lages which are especially afflicted, Andz"ataé and
Onnentzsati, where reside the two greatest sorcerers
of the country, namely, Sondacouané and Tehorenhae-
gnon. During the winter they had already lost a
great deal of their credit with the sick of other vil-
lages; and now they are more than ever discomfited,
seeing that their sweats, feasts, potions, and ordi-
nances are of no avail with their countrymen. Within
a short time Sacondouane [sc. Sondacouallé] has taken
it into his head to forbid to the sick the " French
snow," - thus they call sugar ,- and has persuaded
some that it is a species of poison. It is easy to see that
he is the chief author of this prohibition, The devil
knows well enough how much these little sweets
have already [216] aided us in wresting from his hands

52

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[VOL. 14

uelles tempefies. On dit encor prefque autant que
iamais que nous sõmes la caufe de la maladie; ces
bruits font en partie fondez fur ce qu'elle eft en
cefie faifon beaucoup plus mortelle qu'elle n'efioit
pendant les froidures de l'hyuer, & par confequent la
plus part de ceux que nous baptifons meurent. Auec
cela tout fraifchement vn certain capitaine Algo1lquzn
a fait entendre à nos Hurons, qu'ils fe trompoient de
pen fer que les diables les fiffent mourir, qu'ils ne de-
uoient s'en prendre qu'aux François, & qu'il auoit veu
comme vne femme Françoife qui empeítoit de fon
fouffie & de fon haleine tout Ie pays; nos Sauuages
s'imaginent que c'en la fæur de feu Efiienne Bruflé
qui fe venge de la mort de fon frere. Ce Sorcier
adioufie que nous nous meflons auffi nous mefme
d'enforceler, [2 17J que nous nous feruions à ce deffein
des images de nos faincts, qu'en les montrant il en
fort de certaines influences empefiees qui fe coulent
iufques dans la poictrine de ceux qui les regardent,
& ainfi qu'il ne faut pas s'efionner s'ils fe trouuent
par apres accueillis du mal; Les principaux & les
chefs du pays nous font affez paroifire qu'ils ne font
pas dans cette creance, mais neantmoins qu'ils crai-
gnent que quelque efiourdi ne faffe quelque mauuais
coup qui leur donne fujet de rougir. Nous fommes
entre les mains de Dieu; & tous ces dangers ne nous
font pas perdre vn moment de nofire joye, ce nous
feroit vn trop grand honneur de perdre la vie en
nous emploiant à fauuer quelque pauure ame; pour
tous ces bruis & toutes ces menaces, nous fommes
refolus dans la prudence & la difcretion, de ne rien
demordre de nos", fonctions & exercices ordinaires.
Si nous en faifions autrement, nous croirions faire

1637 -38]

LE JEUNE'S RELA TION, r637

53

so many souls that he held captive. He has made
-every effort this winter to close our mouths, and to
prevent us from preaching to these barbarous people
the grandeur and infinite mercy of the master whom
we serve; but his designs not having succeeded (for
God has granted us the favor of baptizing two hun-
dred and thirty or forty persons), he has recently
stirred up new tempests against us. They are still
saying, almost as much as ever, that we are the
cause of the malady. These reports are partly
founded upon the fact that it is in this season much
more fatal than it was during the severe cold of the
winter, and consequently the greater part of those
we baptize, die. Besides this, very recently a cer-
tain Algonquin captain has given our Hurons to un-
derstand that they were mistaken in thinking that
the devils caused them to die,- that they should
blame only the French for this; and that he had
seen, as it were, a French woman who was infecting
the whole country with her breath and her exhala-
tions. Our Savages imagine that it is the sister of
the late Estienne Bruslé, who is avenging her broth-
er's death. This Sorcerer added that we, even we
ourselves, meddle with sorcery; [217] that for this
purpose we employ the images of our saints,- that,
when we show them, certain tainted influences issue
therefrom which steal down into the chests of those
who look at them, and therefore they need not be
astonished if they afterwards find themselves as-
sailed by the disease. The prominent and chief men
of the country show us quite plainly that they do
not share this belief, but nevertheless intimate that
they fear some heedless fellow will commit some
foul deed that will cause them to blush. We are in

54

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

tort à la grace que Dieu nous a faite, degenerer de
nofire condition; & fe feroit fans doute ignorer que
les Apofires n'ont iamais planté la croix du fils de
Dieu que parmi les perfecutions, & en fin aux de-
pends de leur vie.
Le 4. de ce mois i' ai receu vne lettre du P. [2 18]
Pierre Pijart, qui efi maintenant au bourg d' OjJo/allé
où il a l'æi1 fur ceux qui trauaillent à dreffer nofire
cabane; puifque l'embarquement de nos Sauuages
efi encor differé pour quelques iours, ie me garderai
bien de trencher en deux mots ce qui ne peut qu'a-
porter beaucoup de confolation à V. R.

1637 -38]

LE JEUNE'S RELA TION, r637

55

God's hands, and all these dangers do not make us
forfeit a moment of our joy. It would be too great
an honor for us to lose our lives while employed in
saving some poor soul; as for all these reports and
all these threats, we have resolved, in prudence and
discretion, not to abate a whit from our usual func-
tions and occupations. If we did otherwise, we
would think we were doing wrong to the grace that
God has shown us, and falling below our estate; and
this would be, without doubt, to ignore the fact that
the Apostles never planted the cross of the son of
God save in the midst of persecutions, and finally at
the expense of their lives.
On the 4th of this month, I received a letter from
Father [218J Pierre Pijart, who is now at the village
of Ossosallé, where he has oversight of those who are
building our cabin. Since the embarkation of our
Savages is again deferred for several days, I shall
certainly refrain from cutting off with a few words
what can only afford Your Reverence great consola-
tion.

56

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

CHAPITRE VI.

DE LA RESIDENCE DE LA CONCEPTION DE NOSTRE
DAME AU BOURG D'OSSOSANÉ.

E N fin voicy nos defirs accomplis, ie ne donnerai
plus maintenant de fimples efperances à V. R,
on trauaille à bon efcient à nous dreffer noftre
cabane à OJJofané, & nous attendons qu'elle nous
enuoie, s'illui plaift, des ouuriers pour y baftir vne
chapelle en l'honneur de L'immaculee Conception
de noftre Dame.
[ 21 9] Le 17. de Mai Ie P. Super. fit ouuerture de
noftre refolution au Capitaine, à deffein de faire
mettre la main à l' æuure au pluftoft. Le Capitaine
fit affembler Ie Confeil; où la propofition fut receuë
auec beaucoup de contentement; ils s'obligerent de
nous faire vne Cabane d'enuiron douze braffes, nous
priant s'ils ne la faifoient plus grande de confiderer
que la maladie auoit emporté vne partie des jeunes
gens, & que Ie refte eftoient prefque tous al1ez en
traitte, ou à la pefche, & nous donnant parole de nous
la faire fi longue & fi ample que nous voudrions l'an-
nee prochaine. Le Confeil fini chacun prift fa hache,
& s'en allerent tous en troupe difpofer la place.
Le 2 I. Ie P. Pierre Pijart partit pour mettre en be-
fongne les ouuriers auec deux de nos domeftiques,
là il eut de l'exercice en toutes façons, les malades lui
ont donné dequoi exercer la charité, & ceux qui tra-
uailloient à no fire cabane vn beau fujet de pratiquer

1637 -38]

LE .IEUNE'S RELA TION, I637

57

CHAPTER VI.

OF THE RESIDENCE OF THE CONCEPTION OF NOSTRE
DA!\IE, AT THE HAMLET OF OSSOSANÉ.

A T last, behold our desires accomplished! I shall
now express no longer mere hopes to Your
Reverence, for they are working in earnest to
erect for us our cabin at Ossosané; and we expect that
you will send us, if you please, some workmen to
build there a chapel in honor of the Immaculate
Conception of our Lady.
[219J On the 17th of May, the Father Superior
broached the subject of our decision to the Captain,
in order to have the work begun as soon as possible.
The Captain summoned the Council to assemble,
where the proposition was received with much satis-
faction. They bound themselves to make us a Cabin
of about twelve brasses,- begging us, if they did not
make it larger. to consider that the malady had car-
ried off a part of the young men, and that the rest
were nearly all gone trading or fishing; and giving
us their word to make it as long and as wide as we
should wish, the following year. The Council over,
each one took his hatchet, and they all went away
in a crowd to prepare the site.
On the 21St, Father Pierre Pijart departed with
two of our domestics, to set the laborers to work.
There he had exercise of all kinds; the sick gave
him occasion to exercise charity, and those who were
working upon our cabin an excellent opportunity to

58

LES R.E.'LA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

la patience. Voici ce qu'il m'en efcrit du quatriefme
de Iuin.
Ie me trouue ici dans vn tracas bien extraordinaire;
i'ai d'vn cofté à faire trauailler à noftre cabane, & de
l'autre des malades à [220J vifiter: ceux-Ià ne font
qu'vne partie de ce qu'ils veulent, & aupres de ceux-
ci ie rencontre plus de forciers & d' Arendz"oouané que
d' occafions de leur parler de Dieu, & des affaires de
leur falut. Ie remercie mon Sauueur de la patience
qu'il me donne, & de ce que parmi tant de fujets de
diftractions, il ne me laiffe point fans confolation
interieure; autrement ce me feroit vn petit enfer de
me voir en cét eftat, & d'efire priué cõme ie fuis de
l'vfage des Sacremens. Ie me cõfole dans la pêfee
que i'ai que nous ne baftiffons pas ici vne fimple
cabane, mais vne maifon de noftre Dame, ou pluftoft
plufieurs belles chappelles aux principales bourgades
du païs, puis que c' eft icy où nous efperons auec
l'affiftance du Ciel jetter les femences d'vne belle &
plantureufe moiffon des ames. Depuis que ie fuis
ici Dieu m'a fait la grace de baptifer trois malades,
vn petit enfant, noftre hone, & fa fille; pour ce qui
eft de ceux-ci s'ils ne gueriffent, ce ne fera pas pour
auoir efpargné les remedes du pays. Ce bõ homme
a toufiours efté difpofé pour danfer, chanter & faire
l' Aoutacrollj pour les autres, en cette occafion ci on
n'a pas manqué de lui rendre la pareille; on nous a
fouuentesfois raconté des chofes prefque incroiables
[221J de ces feftins qu'ils appellent d'Aoutae1'ohj;
V oici ce que i' en ai veu de mes yeux.
Le 24. de May on fit vn de ces feitins pour fa fanté
& celIe de fa fille; ils danferent & heurlerent comme
des demons vne gran de partie de la nuict; mais ce

1637 -38]

LE .IEUJI;E'S RELA TION, r637

59'

practice patience. He wrote me thus about it, on
the fourth of June:
" I find myself here in the midst of extraordinary
confusion,-on one hand, I have to keep them at
work upon our cabin; and, on the other, I have
the sick to [220J visit; the former only do a part of
what they attempt, and I encounter near the latter
more sorcerers and A relldioouané than occasions to
speak to them of God and of the matter of their sal-
vation. I thank my Savior for the patience he gives
me, and that, among so nlany causes for distraction,
he does not leave me without internal consolation;
otherwise it would be for me a little hell to find my-
self in this condition, and to be deprived, as I am,
of the use of the Sacraments. I console myself
with the thought I have that we are not building
here a simple cabin, but a house for our Lady,-ur
rather many beautiful chapels in the principal vil-
lages of the country, since it is here that we hope,
with the aid of Heaven, to cast the seeds for a beau-
tiful and plenteous harvest of souls. .Since I have
been here God has granted me the favor to baptize
three sick persons,- a little child, our host, and his
daughter. As regards the latter, if they do not re-
cover, it will not be from having spared the native
remedies. This good man has always been ready
to dance, sing, and perform the AOlltaerolti for the
others; and on this occasion they have not failed to
render him like service. They have oftentimes re-
lated things to us that were almost incredible, [22 I J
concerning these feasts that they call Aoutaero/zi.
Here is what I have seen of them with my own eyes:-
,. Un the 24th of
Iay, one of these feasts was
made for his health and that of his daughter. They

60

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

qui nous efionna Ie plus fut qu'vn certain nommé
o fcouta prit de fa bouche vn gros charbon de feu tout
rouge, & Ie porta iufques aux malades qui eftoient
affez loing de lui, faifant force grimaces & grondant
comme vn ours à leurs oreilles: neantmoins la chofe
ne reüffit pas à fon gré. Ce charbon n'efioit pas
affez dur, & s'efioit rompu dedans fa bouche, ce qui
empefcha l'operation de ce remede: c'efi pourquoi i1
fut ordonné qu'on recommenceroit Ie lendemain, &
qu'on fe feruiroit de cailloux ardants au lieu de char-
bons. Cependant i' efiois en peine pour Ie malade
qui alloit en empirant, & ie fus prefque fur Ie point
de lui faire ouuerture du Baptefme: neantmoins aiant
recommandé la chofe à Dieu, ie penfai qu'il valloit
mieux attendre qu'il fufi au bout de toutes fes
fantafies, efperant qu'apres auoir recognu par ex-
perience Ie peu de foulagement qui fe tire en ces
extremitez de ces remedes, [222] imaginaires, ie Ie
trouuerois plus difpofé à m'efcouter & à ne mettre fa
confiance qu'en Dieu; Doncques Ie lendemain on fe
difpofe pour vn fecond fefiin d'Aoutaerohj, on apporte
force cailloux, pour les faire rougir on fait vn feu à
bruDer la cabane. l'auois eu quelque penfee de m'al-
ler retirer ailleurs pour cette nuict que fe deuoit faire
ce fabat, toutesfois ie iugai à propos de m'i trouuer
pour voir fi en effet tout ce que i'en auois ouï dire
efioit veritable. 24. perfonnes furent defignees pour
chanter & faire toutes les ceremonies: mais quel chant
&. quels tons de voix, pour moi ie croi que fi les de-
mons & les damnez chantoient dans l'enfer, ce feroit
à peu pres de cette forte, ie n'ouï iamais rien de plus
Ingubre & de plus effroiable. l'attendois toufiours
ce qu'ils feroient de ces cailloux qu'i1s faifoient

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LE .IEUNE'S RELATION, I637

61

danced and how led like demons a good part of the
night, but what astonished us the most was that a
certain man named Oscouta took in his mouth a great
red-hot coal, and carried it to the patients, who were
at some distance from him, making many grimaces,
and growling in their ears like a bear; nevertheless,
the performance did not result as he desired. The
coal was not hard enough, and broke within hi

mouth, which prevented the operation of the remedy.
Hence it was ordained that they should begin again
the next day, and that they should use red-hot stones
instead of coals. Meanwhile, I was troubled about
the sick man, who was growing worse, and I was al-
most upon the point of proposing Baptism to him;
nevertheless, having recommended the matter to
God, I thought it better to wait until he reached the
end of all his fancies,- hoping that, after he had
recognized by experience the little relief to be ob-
tained in such extremities from these imaginary
remedies, [222J I would find him more disposed to
listen to me, and to put his confidence only in God.
Accordingly, the next day they prepared for a second
Aoutaerolti feast. A number of stones were brought;
and, to make them red-hot, a fire was prepared hot
enough to burn down the cabin. I had had some in-
tention of retiring elsewhere for the night when this
witches' sabbath was to take place; but I judged it
wise to be present there to see if all I had heard
about it were really true. 24 persons were chosen to
sing and to perform all the ceremonies; but what
songs, and what tones of voice! For my part, I be-
lieve that if the demons and the damned were to sing
in hell, it would be about after this fashion; I never
heard anything more lugubrious and more frightful.

6l

LES RELATIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

chauffer & rougir auec tant de foin. V ous me croi-
rez puifque ie parle d'vne chofe que i'ai veu de mes
yeux, ils efcarterent les tifons, les tirerent du nìilieu
du feu, & aiant Ies mains derriere Ie dos les prirent a
belles dents, les porte rent iufques aux malades, &
demeurerent affez long temps fans lafcher prife,
fouffians fur eux & grondans à leurs oreilles; ie garde
vn de ces cailloux expreffement [223] pour vous Ie
n1onftrer; vous YOUS efionnerez comme vn homme
peut auoir la bouche fi bien fenduë, il eft enuiron de la
groffeur d'vn æuf d'oie. Cependant i'ai veu vn fau-
uage Ie mettre dans fa bouche en telle façon qu'il y
en auoit plus dedans que dehors, il Ie porta affez
loing, & apres cela il eftoit encor fi chaud que l'ayatit
ietté contre terre il en fortit des eftincelles de feu.
Ie m'oubliois de vous dire qu'apres ce premier feftin
d'Aoutaerollj vn de nos Francois eut la curiofité de
voir fi en effet tout cela fe faifoit fans que perfonne
fe brul1aft, il s'adreffa à cét Ofcouta qui auoit empli
fa bouche de charbons allumez, il lui fit ouurir & la
trouua fi faine & entiere fans aucune apparence de
brul1ure: & non feulement ceux-ci ne fe brul10ient
point, mais les malades mefme. I1s fe laifferent frot-
ter par Ie corps de cendres toutes rouges fans tefmoi-
gner aucun fentiment de douleur, & fans que leur
peau en paruft tant foit peu intereffee. Ce fefiin
acheué ils ne fe trouuerent pas au bout de leurs dou-
leurs, au contraire il yauoit plus d'apparence de dan-
ger: auffi fit on venir deux autres forciers, qui firent
mille cingeries autour de ces pauures malades: mais
tout cela n' eit rien au près de [224] ce que ie vous
viens de dire, voici vne chofe affez remarquable.
Le 26. fur Ie foir on difpofa vne fuerie qui fut fuiuie

1637 -38]

LE JEUNE'S RELA TION, z6.J7

63

I was waiting all the time to see what they would do
with those stones that they were heating and making
red-hot with so much care. You may believe me,
since I speak of a thing that I saw with my own
eyes,- they separated the brands, drew them from
the midst of the fire, and, holding their hands be-
hind their backs, took these between their teeth, car-
ried them to the patients and remained some time
without loosing their hold, blowing upon them and
grow ling in their ears. I am keeping one of the
stones expressly [223] to show you. You will be
astonished that a man can have so wide a mouth; the
stone is about the size of a goose egg. Yet I saw a
savage put it in his mouth so that there was more of
it inside than out; he carried it some distance, and,
after that, it was still so hot, that when he threw it
to the ground sparks of fire issued from it. I for-
got to tell you that, after the first Aoutaerohz' feast,
one of our Frenchmen had the curiosity to see if. in
reality, all this was done without anyone being
burned. He spoke to this Oscouta who had filled his
mouth with live coals; he had him open his mouth
and found it unhurt and whole, without any appear-
ance of having been burned; and not only those per-
sons, but even the sick people were not burned.
They let their bodies be rubbed with glowing cin-
ders, without showing any evidences of pain, and
without their skin appearing in the least affected.
This feast ended, they did not reach the end of their
sufferings; on the contrary, there was more appear-
ance of danger. Therefore two other sorcerers were
summoned, who played a thousand apish tricks
around these poor patients. But all these were
nothing in comparison with [224J what I have just

M

LES R
"LA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

d'vn fefiin. Ie ne vis de ma vie chofe pareille, i1 y
entrerent 20. hommes & s'entafferent prefque les vns
fur les autres, Ie malade mefme s'i traina quoi qu'a-
uec beaucoup de peine, & fut de la troupe, il chanta
auffi affez long temps, & au milieu des ardeurs de
cette fuerie il demanda de l'eau pour fe rafraifchir, il
en bùt vne partie & ietta Ie refie fur fon corps. V oi-
là vn excellent remede pour vn malade à l'extremité;
auffi Ie lendemain ie Ie trouuai. en bel efiat. De
fait ce fut vn bel efiat pour lui, puifque Dieu lui fit
pour lors la grace de conceuoir l'importance des af-
faires de fon falut, & à moy de me mettre en la bou-
che des paroles pour lui expliquer les principaux de
nos myfiere. Comme ie lui difois que Ie Baptefme
n'efioit pas vn remede pour la fanté du corps, nous
Ie fçauons bien me dit-il, lui, & vn des anciens qui
fe trouua lors que ie l'infiruifois, nous Ie fçauons
affes: c'efi vn grand auantage pour nous que dans ce
bourg ils font pleinement informez de ce que nous pre-
tendons par Ie Baptefme. La fille fuiuit bien toft
l'exemple de fon pere, qui l'exhorta lui mefme à de-
mander Ie Baptefme, [225J à l'occafion de la mort de
leurs enfans qui auoient efié baptifez. Le pere mou-
rut Ie iour de la Pentecofie, pour fa fille il femble
qu'elle fe porte vn peu mieux: i'auois bien de l'obliga-
tion à ce bon vieillard, de m'auoir amené en ce pais,
& ie me refioüis maintenant de ce qu'il a pleu à Dieu
fe feruir de moi pour Ie conduire dans Ie ciel. Ce
Sauuage auoit des qualitez qui Ie rendoient tout à fait
aimable: ie ne me fus iamais imaginé pouuoir trou-
uer en vn barbare tant de douceur & de debonnaireté,
pendant mon voyage il me traittoit comme fon propre
fils.

1637 -38]

LE .IEUNE'S RELA TION, z637

65

told you. Here is something quite remarkable:
Towards evening of the 26th, they prepared a sweat,
which was followed by a feast. I never saw any-
thing like it in my life; 20 men entered, and almost
piled themselves upon one another. Even the sick
man dragged himself thither, though with consid-
erable difficulty, and was one of the troop; he also
sang for quite a long time, and in the midst of the
heat of this sweat he asked for water with which to
refresh himself,-a part of which he drank, and the
rest he threw over his body. An excellent remedy,
forsooth, for a sick man on the verge of death! So
the next day I found him in a fine condition; indeed
it was a fine condition for him, since God then gave
to him the grace to conceive the importance of the
concerns of his salvation, and to me to put into my
mouth the words to explain to him our principal
mysteries. When I told him that Baptism was not
a remedy for the health of the body, 'We know that
well,' replied to me both he, and an old man who
was present when I was instructing him, 'we know
that well enough.' It is a great advantage to us that
in this town they are fully informed of what we
mean by Baptism. The daughter soon followed the
example of her father, who himself exhorted her to
ask for Baptism, [225] at the time of the death of
their children, who had been baptized. The father
died on the day of Pentecost; as for the daughter,
she seems to be a little better. I was under great
obligation to this good old man for having brought
me into this country; and I rejoice now that it has
pleased God to employ me to lead him to heaven.
This Savage had some qualities which rendered him
very lovable; I had never imagined that I could find

66

LES RELATIONS DES JÉSUITES

(VOL. 14

Le meíme iour que ie receu la prefente Ie P. Supe-
rieur & Ie P. Chaftellain retournerent d' OJJofallé, où
ils eftoient allez Ie iour precedent pour confoÌer par
quelque prefent les parents de noftre hofte: Ie bien
que nous auions receu d'eux pendant tout 1'hiuer, de-
mandoit de nous ce teímoignage du reffentimet que
nous auiõs de leur affiictiõ. 11s prirent auffi cefte
occafion pour s'affeurer des bruits qui couroient en
ces quartiers, qu'à raiíon de la mort de ce Sauuage,
on auoit tout a fait abandonné l'entreprife de noftre,
cabane pour n'y plus remettre la [226] main. Mais
en yallant ils pafferent par Arent! où ils trouuerent
les efprits vn peu aigris & rebutez du Baptefme, à
cauíe de la mort d'vn ieune enfant baptifé dans l' ex-
trémité depuis deux iours: fi qu'eftãs entrez dãs vne
cabane pour voir vne petite fille de cinq ans qui eftoit
en pareil danger, & qui auoit tefmoigné auparauant
par fes larmes & íes pleurs l'auerfion qu'elle auoit
du Baptefme, à la premiere ouuerture qu'ils firent
de ce Sacrement on les pria de n'en parler pas dauan-
tage: neantmoins l'eftat de cette petite malade leur
fit iuger qu'il falloit paffer par deffus Ie refus des
parents qui eftoient là en grand nombre. C'eft pour-
quoi Ie P. Pierre Chaftellain pria Ie P. Superieur de
parler vn peu de la fieure & de la maladie, à fin qu'il
euft occafion de faire Ie medecin, & tafter Ie poulx à
l'enfant, cependant il moüilla vn mouchoir Ie plus
íecrettement qu'il pût dans vn feau qui eftoit là, &
fit mine de s'en frotter Ie vifage: puis s'approchant
d'vne main illui tafta Ie poulx & de l'autre fous pre-
texte de voir fi elle auoit la tefte extraordinairement
eíchauffee, il la baptiía íans qu 'aucun des affiftans

1637 -38]

LE JEUNE'S RELA TION. -1637

67

in a barbarian so much gentleness and amiability;
during my journey he treated me like his own son."
On the same day that I received this letter, the
Father Superior and Father Chastellain returned
from Ossosané, whither they had gone the day before
to console the relatives of our host with a present.
The kindness we had received from them during the
whole winter demanded from us this evidence of the
sympathy we felt for their affliction. They also took
this occasion to assure themsel ves of the reports
which were current in these quarters, that, on ac-
count of the death of this Savage, the work of build-
ing our cabin had been altogether abandoned, to be
no more resumed. [226] But, in going thither, they
passed through Arenté, where they found the peo-
ple's minds somewhat embittered and prejudiced
against Baptism, on account of the death of a young
child, baptized in its last moments two days before;
so that when they entered a cabin to see a little girl
five years old who was in similar danger,-and who
had before shown, by her tears and sobs, the aver-
sion she had for Baptism, at the first overtures they
made of this Sacrament,- they were begged to speak
of it no more. Nevertheless, the condition of this
little patient made them decide that it was better to
disregard the refusal of the relatives, who were pres-
ent there in great numbers. Hence Father Pierre
Chastellain requested the Father Superior to talk a
little about the fever and the disease, in order that
he might have an opportunity to act the physician,
and to feel the child's pulse; meanwhile, he wet a
handkerchief as secretly as he could in a pail of wa-
ter which stood there, and made a feint to wipe her
face; then approaching, with one hand he felt the

68

LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

s'en aperceuft, quoi qu'ils euffent tous les yeux ou-
uerts fur ce [227] qu'il aUoit faire.
Eftans arriuez à OJJo/ané ils apprirent que Ies bruits
qui auoient couru eftoient faux, & que Ia feule abfence
du Capitaine eftoit caufe de l'interruption de l'ou-
urage; les Peres eurent moien de fçauoir de Ia bouche
mefme du CapitaÏ11e ce qui en eftoit, qui leur tefmoi-
gna des fentimens tout contraires, & mefme leur fit
entendre que les chefs & les principaux des dernieres
bourgades du pais, auec lefquels ils venoient de tenir
Confeil, lui auoient fait paroiftre beaucoup de con-
tentement de ce que nous nous approchions deux,
veu qu'ils auroient d'orefnauant plus de commodité
de nous venir vifiter, adiouftans qu'ils euffent à nous
donner toute forte de fatisfaction, & nous baftir vne
belle cabane. Le P. Superieur fit fes prefens aux
parens de noftre hofte deffunt, les remerciments s'en
firent fur l'heure & par apres en plein feftin.
Au retour ils eftoient defia au de-Ià du bourg d'An-
gouteus par lequel ils eftoient paffez, lors qu'ils ren-
contrerent vne femme qui s'en aUoit en fon champ,
& qui entre autres difcours leur parla d'vne fienne
petite fille qu'elle faifoit fort malade, priant Ie [228]
Pere de l'aller baptifer, ce qui les obligea à retour-
ner fur leur pas. Comme ils eftoient fur Ie point de
baptifer cét enfant, la grandmere voiant que la ieu-
neffe entroit à la foule pour les voir; & comment, leur
dit elle, n'auez vous iamais veu des François, ne fça-
uez vous pas que quand nos forciers viennent vifiter
les malades ils ne veulent point qu'on les voie, &
qu'on les interrompe, il n'en faUut pas dire dauan-
tage. Sur ces entrefaites on vint aduertir Ie Pere
qu'vne femme eftoit extremement malade, de fait i1

1637 -38]

LE .IEUNE'S RELA TION, I637

69

pulse, and with the other, under pretext of seeing if
her head were unusually hot, he baptized her without
any of those present perceiving it, although they all
had kept their eyes open to [227] what he was doing.
Having arrived at Ossosané, they learned that the
reports that had been circulated were false, and that
only the absence of the Captain had caused the in-
terruption of the work. The Fathers had an oppor-
tunityof learning from the lips of the Captain him-
self what there was in it. He assured them of quite
opposite sentiments, and even gave them to under-
stand that the chiefs and head men of the frontier
villages of the country, with whom they had just
held a Council, had evinced to him great satisfaction
because we were coming nearer to them, seeing that
they would hereafter find it easier to come and visit
us, and adding that they would have to give us all
manner of satisfaction and build us a fine cabin.
The Father Superior gave his presents to the rela-
tives of our deceased host, thanks being returned to
him therefor at the time, and afterwards in open
feast.
On their return, they had already gotten beyond
the village of Angouteus, through which they had
passed, when they encountered a woman who was
going to her field, and who, among other things,
mentioned to them one of her little girls, whom she
represented as very sick, begging the [228] Father
to go and baptize her, which obliged them to retrace
their steps. As they were upon the point of baptiz-
ing this child, the grandmother, seeing that the
children were crowding in to see them, said, " How
now, have you never seen Frenchmen? Do you not
know that when our sorcerers come to visit the sick

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l'a trouua en tel eftat qu'il iugea à propos de l'in-
firuire, elle eftoit bien contente d'efire baptife
, mais
quand on lui dit qu'il eftoit neceffaire de faire vne
ferme refolution de changer de vie, & de ne plus pe-
cher; elle s' efcria, eft-il poffible que ie ne peche
plus; il n'efi pas poffible. & en mefme temps fe cou-
urit Ie vifage de fa robe, donnant à attendre que cela
eftant, elle n'auoit que faire d'eftre baptifee. Le
Pere lui reprefenta qu'elle ne deuoit pas fe rebuter
pour cela, qu'il eftoit bien vrai que nous eftions tous
fujets au peché, auffi qu'il ne lui demandoit pas abfo-
lument [229J qu'elle ne pechaft plus, feulement
qu'elle prift vne bonne refolution de ne plus retourner
à fa vie paffee. Au refte que s'il arriuoit apres Ie
baptefme qu'elle pechaft, qu'elle ne penfaft pas pour
cela que tout fuft perdu; qu'illui enfeigneroit encor
vn autre moien par Ie lequelles pechez s'effaçoient.
Vne fienne parente prit là deffus la parole; courage,
lui dit-elle, puis que les pechez s'effacent, & ne
perds point vne fi belle occafion d'eftre baptifee; tu
as maintenant la commodité des François, regarde
qu'ils s'en vont & que peut eftre nous ne les reuerrons
de long temps. Elle la prefcha fi bien qu'elle fran-
chit ce pas, & prom it de faire fon poffible pour ne plus
pecher, & ainfi Ie Pere la baptifa.
Le feptiefme ie receu vne feconde lettre du Pere
Pierre Pijart. il m'efcriuit en ces termes. Depuis ma
derniere ie continuerai à vous mander l'eftat de noftre
nouuelle Refidence. Le cinquiefme de ce mois ie dis
la premiere Meffe en noftre maifon de la Conception
de noftre Dame, offrant ce tres fainct Sacrifice par vne
Meffe votiue de la tres-faincte Trinité à ces [230]
mefmes diuines perfonnes pour la difpofition des

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71

they do not wish anyone to see them and interrupt
them?" It was not necessary to say any more.
While this was going on, some one came to inform
the Father that a woman was extremely ill. In fact,
he found her in such a condition that he deemed it
advisable to instruct her; she was very glad to be
baptized, but when she was told that it was neces-
sary to make a firm resolve to change her manner of
life, and to sin no more, she exclaimed, " Is it possi-
ble for me to sin no more? It is not possible;" and
at the same time she covered her face with her robe,
giving us to understand that, this being so, she
would have nothing to do with baptism. The Father
represented to her that she ought not to refuse it on
that account; that it was very true we were all liable
to sin, and therefore he did not demand absolutely
[229] that she should sin no more,-on1y that she
should make a good resolution not to return to her
past life. Besides, if, after baptism, she should hap-
pen to sin, she need not think all was lost on that ac-
count; that he would teach her still another means
by which sins were blotted out. One of her rela-
tives thereupon began to speak: "Take courage,
since sins are blotted out," she said to her, "and
do not lose so fine an opportunity to be baptized;
thou hast now the advantage of having the French-
men here; consider that they are going away, and
that perhaps we shall not see them again for a long
time. " She preached to her so well that she re-
solved to take this step, promising to do her best not
to sin any more; and therefore the Father baptized
her.
On the seventh, I received a second letter from
Father Pierre Pijart, who wrote me in these terms:

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cæurs de ces pauures Sauuages, & pour l'heureux
fuccez des labeurs de ceux qui y feront emploiez. Le
lêdemain ie dis la Meffe de l'Immaculee Conception,
l'inuoquant comme patronne particuliere de cette
nouuelle habitation: vous pouuez penfer auec qu'elle
confolation de mon arne, & ie fus tellement foulagé
des petits trauaux & importunitez des Sauuages que
i'auois enduré les iours precedents, que ie m'imagi-
nois eftre en vne autre vie. Ie me trouuai fi plein
de courage qu'il me fembloit que Ie paffé auoit efté
fort peu de chofe en comparaifon de ce que ie fouhai-
tois endurer, ie me les reprefentois defia deuant les
yeux, & quoi que ie m'y fois toufiours confacré, ne-
antmoins ie m'y voüe main tenant par vne affection
plus particuliere de fuiure celui qui a tant enduré pour
nous.
Le quatriefme de ce mois ie baptifai vn petit en-
fant par vne particuliere prouidence de Dieu, Ie iour
precedent i'auois efté en la mefme cabane, & ne l'a-
uois point veu, de fait il n'y eftoit pas pour lors.
V n de nos François y eftan t allé par a pres, pour y
voir vn petit fan [23 I] qu'on vouloit vendre, Ie trou-
ua couché fur Ie dos, abandonné de fa mere qui n'at-
tendoit que l'heure qu'il expiraft, il me vint querir
promptement, ie Ie baptifai. Ie viens d'apprendre
qu'il y a des malades à Allgoutenc, cependant ie ne
fçaurois quitter ce bourg, i'ai baptifée ce matin vne
femme à l'extremité, ie l'auois inftruire dés hier au
foir: Dieu lui face mifericorde, qu'il foit à iamais
beni. Maintenant que i'efcris la prefente il ne refte
que dix efcorces pour acheuer la cabane, on les eft
allé querir, Ie foir s'en fera fait. Priez Dieu qu'il

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73

" I will send you further information of the state of
our new Residence since my last letter. On the fifth
of this month, I said the first Mass in our house of
la Conception de nostre Dame, offering this most
holy Sacrifice, through a votive Mass of the most
holy Trinity, to these [230J same divine persons for
the preparation of the hearts of these poor Savages,
and for auspicious results to the labors of those who
shall be employed here. The next day, I said the
Mass of the Immaculate Conception, invoking it as a
special patron of this new settlement. You can im-
agine with what consolation of soul I did this; and
it was such a relief from the petty cares, and the
importunities of the Savages, that I had endured
through the preceding days, that I imagined I was
in another life. I found myself so full of cour-
age that it seemed to me the past had been a very
trifling thing in comparison with the trials I desired
to endure,- I already pictured them before my eyes;
and, although I have always consecrated myself to
this work, I nevertheless dedicate myself to it now
from a more peculiar and affectionate desire to follow
him who has endured so much for us.
" On the fourth of this month, I baptized a little
child, by a special providence of God. The day be-
fore, I had been in the same cabin and had not seen
it,- indeed, it was not there at the time. One of
our Frenchmen having gone thither afterwards, to
see a little fawn [23IJ which they wished to sell him,
found the child lying upon its back, abandoned by
its mother, who was only awaiting the hour of its
death; he came promptly for me, and I baptized it.
I have just learned that there are some sick people at
Angoutenc, but I cannot leave this village. I bap-

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m'attire tout à foy & efiant parfaictement conuerti à
lui, croiez que vous n'aurez iamais trouué perfonne
qui foit dauantage vofire tout en Iefus. De la Refi-
dence de la Conception de N ofire Dame ce feptiefme
de I uin.

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LE .IEUNE'S RELATION, I637

75

tized this morning a woman who was at the point of
death; I had instructed her last evening; may God
have mercy on her and may he be forever blessed!
At the time I am writing this, there remain only ten
pieces of bark to finish the cabin; they have gone to
get them, and this evening it will be completed.
Pray God that he may make me all his own; and, be-
ing perfectly converted to him, believe that you will
never find anyone who is more entirely yours in
Jesus. From the Residence of la Conception de
N ostre Dame, this seventh of June."

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[232] CHAPITRE VII.

L'HEVREVSE CONVERSION DU TSIOUENDAENTAHA
PREMIER SAUUAGE ADULTE BAPTISE EN
ESTAT DE SANTÉ DAKS LE
PAYS DES HURONS.

E N mefme temps que Ie Diable femble auoir Ie
deffus, que Ie fainct Baptefme eft d'écrié en
deux ou trois bourgades d'ici aut our à raifon de
Ia mort de quelques baptifez, que les Sorciers, (dont
les paroles font receuës pour des oracles) defendent
aux malades l'vfage de quelques douceurs qui nous
donnoient entree aupres d'eux; que quelques anciens
qui font eftat d'eftre de nos amis tafchent de nous
perfuader de nous en retourner en France, & qu'on
crie de tous coftez que c'eft trop endurer de nous, &
[233] qu'il faut nous fendre la tefte. Vn Sauuage
aagé d'enuiron cinquante ans, homme d'efprit, des
plus iudicieux & des plus confiderables du pais, apres
y auoir penfé meurement depuis trois ans qu'il a
affifté à I' explication de la doctrine Chreftienne, &
aiant efté inftruit fort particulierement: depuis quel-
ques mois a demandé inftamment Ie baptefme, & Ie
iour de la tres faincte Trinité a efté baptifé publique-
ment & auec les ceremonies de L'Eglife en prefence
des principaux de cette bourgade, dont les vns ont
regardé cette action auec eftonnement, & les autres
auec vn defir de l'imiter.
La France à eu l'honneur & la gloire d'ouurir la

1637 -38]

LE JEUNE'S RELA TION, 16 37

77

[23 2 ] CHAPTER VII.

THE HAPPY CONVERSION OF TSIOUENDAENTAHA, THE
FIRST ADULT SAVAGE BAPTIZED, WHILE
IN HEALTH, IN THE COUNTRY
OF THE HURONS.

A T the very time when the Devil seems to have
the upper hand,- when holy Baptism is de-
cried in two or three villages around here on
account of the death of some of those baptized, when
the Sorcerers (whose words are received as oracles)
are prohibiting the sick from using a few sweetmeats
which give us access to them, when some old men
who pride themselves on being our friends are trying
to persuade us to return to France, and when the cry
is raised on all sides that our presence is unendura-
ble, and [233] that our heads must be split,- a Sav-
age about fifty years old, a man of intelligence and
one of the most discreet and influential persons in
the country, after having given the subject mature
consideration for three years, while he has been at-
tending the explanations of the Christian doctrine,
and having been very carefully instructed, earnestly
requested baptism a few months ago; and, on the
day of the most holy Trinity, he was baptized pub-
licly, and with the ceremonies of the Church, in the
presence of the chief persons of this village, some of
whom regarded this act with astonishment, and
others with a desire to imitate it.
France has had the honor and the glory to open

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(VOL. 14

porte de L'Eglife au premier de ces peuples barbares,
& s'attendoit qu'il deuft eftre vn des Apoftres du
pays. Mais Dieu ayant permis par les fecrets rerrors
de fa diuine prouidence qu'il foit tombé entre les
mains des ennemis, où il eft mort ou captif: il a plû
à cette infinie bonté nous en rendre auiourd'huy vn
autre, ce qui nous donne fuiet defperer qu'il fera fui-
ui de plufieurs. 11 eft vray que ce ieune homlne auoit
des qualitez qui Ie rendoient recommandable, [234]
comme il eftoit d'vn naturel fort docile, auoit l'efprit
affez bon, & vne fuffifante cognoiffance de noftre
langue, il pouuoit fans doute rendre de bons feruices
à Dieu, & nous aider gran dement en la predication
du S. Euangile; mais ie trouue en cettui-ci quelque
chofe dauantage, au moins de plus ferme & de plus
folide; Ce fut vne chofe pleine de confolation de voir
vn Sauuage tiré de fon pays en la fleur de fa ieu-
neffe, baptifé & reueftu de la robe d'innocence en vne
ville & vne affemblee des plus celebres de toute la
France: toutesfois i'eftime que plufieurs feront en
quelque façon plus confolez d'entendre qu'vn homme
fait, de bonne famille, qui eft en la reputation d'vn
hõme d'efprit & de iugement, en vn pays barbare
parmi fes parens encor infideles, en vn temps auquel
Ie Baptefme eft mefprifé, & les Predicateurs de l'E-
uangile regardés comme forciers & empoifonneurs,
ait produit auiourd'huy vne ferme refolution de viure
en Chreftien Ie refte de fa vie, & renoncé publique-
ment & pour iamais à toutes fes fuperftitions. 11 y
auoit defia long temps qu'il nous auoit tefmoigné
quelque de fir d'en venir à ce poinct, neantmoins Ie
[235] peu d'effets que nous voions de fes belles pa-
roles, & la cognoiffance que nous auons que cette na-

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79

the door of the Church to the first man of these bar-
barous peoples, and was expecting that he would be-
come one of the Apostles of the country. But God
having, through the secret workings of his divine
providence, permitted him to fall into the hands of
the enemy, where he is either dead or a captive, it
has pleased this infinite goodness to restore us to-day
another one in his place, which gives us reason to
hope that he will be followed by many more. That
young man certainly had some qualities which ren-
dered him commendable; [234] as he was of a very
docile disposition, and had a tolerably good mind and
a sufficient knowledge of our language, he was able,
no doubt, to render good service to God, and to aid us
greatly in preaching the Holy Gospel. But I find in
this man something more, at least something firmer
and more substantial. It was an event full of con-
solation to see a Savage taken from his country in
the flower of his youth, baptized, and clothed in the
robe of innocence, in one of the most celebrated cities
and assemblies of all France, Yet I judge that many
will be, in some respects, more consoled to hear that
a full-grown man, of good family, having the repu-
tation of a man of intelligence and judgment,- in a
barbarous country, among his still infidel kindred,
at a time when Baptism is despised, and the Preach-
ers of the Gospel regarded as sorcerers and poison-
ers,- has evinced to-day a firm resolution to live as
a Christian for the rest of his life, and has renounced
publicly and forever all his superstitions. For a long
time he had been showing us some disposition to take
this step, but the [235] meager effects we saw of his
fine words, and the knowledge we have that this na-
tion is perhaps one of the most deceitful upon the

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tion eft peut eftre vne des plus diffimulees qui foit
fur la terre, faifoit que nous ne nous preffions pas
bien fort de l' engager dans Ie Baptefme. Il . nous
auoit fait quelques traicts qui nous faifoient entrer
en deffiance & craindre qu'il n 'y euft bien du propre
intereft en fon fait; entre autres l'an paffé, ie ne fçai
fi nous l' auons mandé à voftre R. mais l' action eft
affez gentille. Apres auoir affifté a quelques Cate-
chifmes, où Ie P. Superieur auoit par1é amplement
contre leurs Superftitions, & où lui mefme auoit ap-
plaudi à tout ce qui s' eftoit dit: il tõba malade, quoi
qu'affez legerement, deux ou trois iours confecutifs
on ioüa au plat dans fa cabane, comme il eft croiable,
de l'ordonnance du medecin, ou en fuite de quelque
fonge, ce jeu eft vn des excellents remedes qu'ils
aient; au bout de fept ou huict iours qu'il euft tout
à fait recouuré fa fanté, il fembloit qu'il euft quel-
que honte de fe monftrer. Neãtmoins aiant rencon-
tré Ie P. Superieur, il lui dit qu'il auoit quelque
chofe à lui communiquer, & qu'il trouuaft bon quïl
vint paffer la nuict chez nous. Il ne [236] fut pas fi
toft entré qu'il nous dit qu'il auoit peché; nous voila
bien aife de Ie voir au moins dans quelque reco-
gnoiffance de fa faute, nous penfions defia qu'il s'al-
Iaft accufer d'auoir contreuenu à ce que Ie Pere leur
auoit enfeigné: mais quant il vint à s'expliquer, il fe
trouua que ce peché eftoit qu'on lui auoit defrobé
fon bonnet; il eft fort probable que Ie motif de cette
confeffion eftoit l'efperance qu'il auoit que pour peni-
tence on luy en rendroit vn autre. Le Pere prift la
parole & lui dit, que Ie larron auoit peché & non pas
Iui, & que pour lui s'il auoit peché c'eftoit en ce
qu'il auoit fait iouër au plat pour fa fanté; à cela

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81

earth, caused us not to be in great haste about invit-
ing him to Baptism. He had shown us some traits
that had caused us to distrust him, and to fear that
there was considerable self-interest in his conduct.
I do not know whether we informed your Reverence
of it last year, among other things, but one of his acts
was quite ridiculous. After having attended some
of the Catechisms, where the Father Superior had
spoken at length against their Superstitions, and
where he himself had applauded all that was said,
he fell sick, though not seriously; and for two or
three consecutive days the game of dish 8 was played
in his cabin,-probably by order of the doctor, or in
consequence of some dream. This is one of the ex-
cellent remedies they have. At the end of seven or
eight days, when he had entirely recovered his
health, it seemed that he was rather ashamed to show
himself. Nevertheless, having encountered the Fa-
ther Superior, he told him he had something to com-
municate to him, and that he would like to come and
pass the night with us. He [236] had no sooner
entered than he told us that he had sinned. Behold
us very glad to see him at least recognize his fault;
and at once we supposed that he was about to accuse
himself of having violated what the Father had taught
them. But when he came to explain himself, it was
found that this sin was that some one had stolen his
cap; it is very probable that the motive of this con-
fession was his hope that, for a penance, he would
be given another one. The Father addressed him,
saying that the thief had sinned, and not he; and
that, as for him, if he had sinned, it was in having
the dish game played for his recovery. To this he
did not lack an answer,-asserting that what he bad

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i1 ne manqua point de repartie, tefmoignant que ce
qu'il en auoit faict n'auoit pas efié qu'il creufi que
ceia lui deufi rendre la fanté, mais fimplement pour
fe diuertir.
Cette annee il a tefmoigné plus de fincerité en fes
paroles, & Dieu lui a fans doute touché Ie cæur. Cét
hyuer que nos Sauuages s'aiTemblerent en nofire ca-
bane, pour faire queIque priere pubIique à l' occafion
de Ia maIadie, ce fut lui qui fit paroifire Ie plus de
foi & de con fiance en Dieu; auffi [237] eft il encor Iui
& to ute fa famille à refíentir des effects de cette con-
tagion qui n'a quafi efpargné perfonne.
Le mercredy des Cendres il vint trouuer Ie P. Sup.
& lui demanda intlamment Ie Baptefme, Ie Pere lui
refpondit qu'il efioit bien aife de Ie voir dans cette
bonne voIonté, mais neantmoins que la chofe efioit
de telle importance qu'elle meritoit bien qu'il y pen-
fafi encor ferieufement quelques mois, pendant lef-
quels iI prendoit vn foin plus particuIier qu'aupara-
uant de l'infiruire de tout ce qui efi de nos faincts
myfieres. Vne grande partie du Carefme il venoit
nous voir tous les iours de grand matin, & Ie Pere
l'infiruifoit & lui racontoit les Euangiles de chaque
iour, il y prenoit vn grand plaifir; & ces cognoifíances
lui firent dés lors conceuoir vn grand eftime de nofire
Seigneur. Vn iour que Ie Pere Iui demandoit s'il
croioit fermelnent tout ce qu'il lui auoit enfeigné;
oüi dea, difi-il, ie Ie crois, il m'efi refié feuIement
quelque petit doute fur la propofition que tu me fis vn
iour que Ie Ciel tournoit autour de la terre, veu [238]
que i'ay remarqué que l'Efioille TllcaJldz"llar ne change
point de place; (il parloit de celIe que nous appellons
PoIaire) Ie Pere Ie contenta 111i monftrant que la fia-

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83

done was not done because he believed that it would
restore his health, but merely to divert himself.
This year he has shown more sincerity in his words,
and God has doubtless touched his heart. This win-
ter, when our Savages assembled in our cabin to offer
a public prayer on account of the malady, it was he
who showed the most faith and confidence in God;
therefore [2371 it is yet for him and all his family to
feel the effects of this epidemic, which has spared
hardly anyone.
. On Ash \Vednesday, he came to see the Father Su-
perior, and urgently asked him for Baptism; the Fa-
ther answered him that he was very glad to see him
so well disposed, but that, nevertheless, the matter
was so important that it well merited his giving it
serious thought for a few months more; during that
time, he took care to instruct him more minutely
than before in all that concerns our holy mysteries.
During the greater part of Lent, he came to see us
early every morning, and the Father instructed him
and narrated the Gospels for each day; he took great
pleasure therein, and the knowledge of these things
made hinl then conceive a high opinion of our Lord.
One day when the Father asked him if he firmly be-
lieved all that had been taught him, " Yes indeed! "
said he, "I believe it; I still have only some little
doubt about the infonnation thou gavest me one day
that the Sky turns around the earth,- seeing [238)
that I have noticed that the Star Tltcalldihar does not
change its place" (he was speaking of the one we call
" the Polar' '); the Father satisfied him by showing
him that the apparent fixedness of this star was not
contrary to the movelnents of the Heavens.
But of all our mysteries, the one which has always

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bilité apparente de cette efioille n' efioit pas contraire
aux mouuements des Cieux.
Or de tous nos myfieres celui qui lui a toufioùrs Ie
plus agreé & qui a fait Ie plus d'impreffion fur fon
efprit, ç'a efié Ie myfiere de la glorieufe Refurre-
ction de nofire Seigneur, car difoit-il fouuent, & quel-
quefois mefme aux Sauuages; ie ne trouue point de
marques plus infallibles de la diuinité de celui qu'on
nous preche que fa refurrection, comment eufi-il pû
refufciter s'il n'eufi efié Dieu. Mais ce qui nous
agree Ie plus en ce Sauuage c' en la liberté qu'il prend
de parler ouuertement de nos faincts myfieres deuant
les autres, & de la refolution qu'il a prife de viure
d'orefnauant en Chrefiien. Au commencement du
Printemps la maladie efiant tout a fait ceffee en no fire
bourgade, Ie p, Sup. affembla les principaux de ceux
qui efioient efchappez, pour leur declarer qu'il [239]
n'efioient point obligez, felon la promeffe qu'ils en
auoient faite à Dieu de lui bafiir vne petite chapelle,
puifque s'efiants adreffez aux forciers & mefme aux
demons, & aians mis toute leur confiance en leurs
fuperfiitions ordinaires, Dieu les auoit iugez indignes
de reffentir les effects de fa mifericorde, Et comme
illes exhortoit à recognoifire Dieu pour leur maifire,
à n'auoir recours qu'à lui, & fe plaignoit de ce qu'il
y en auoit fi peu qui creuffent ce que nous enfei-
gnions, pour moi dit Tfiouelldacntaha, ie croi tout ce
que vous croiez vous autres, & me trouue volontiers
en vofire cabane quand vous priez Dieu. Au refie
Echon tu ne dois pas t'efionner, fi quelques vns ne
croient point, & fe mocquent mefme de ce que tu en-
feigne; tu fçais bien que tous les hommes n' ont pas
creu au fils de Dieu pendant qu'il viuoit fur terre,

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pleased him most, and which has made the most im-
pression on his mind, was the mystery of the glorious
Resurrection of our Lord. "For I do not find more
infallible tokens of the divinity of him whom they
preach to us," he often said, and sometimes even to
the Savages, "than his resurrection; how could he
have been resurrected if he were not God?" But
what pleases us most in this Savage is the free-
dom with which he speaks, before the others, of our
holy mysteries, and of the resolve he has made to live
hereafter as a Christian. At the beginning of Spring,
the malady having altogether ceased in our village,
the Father Superior assembled the principal ones of
those who had escaped, to make known to them that
they [239] were not obliged to fulfill the promise they
had made to God to build him a little chapel,- be-
cause, having addressed themselves to sorcerers and
even to demons, and having put all their confidence
in their usual superstitions, God had judged them
unworthy of experiencing the effects of his mercy.
And, when he was exhorting them to acknowledge
God as their master, and to have recourse to him
alone, and was complaining because there were so
few of them who believed what we taught, "As for
me," said Tsz"ouendaelltaha, "I believe all that you
people believe, and am glad to be present in your
cabin when you pray to God. But, Echon, thou
shouldst not be astonished if some do not believe,
and even ridicule what thou teachest; thou knowest
well that all men did not believe in the son of God
while he lived upon the earth,- that many despised
his doctrine, persecuted him, and put him to death. "
Meanwhile, a certain man named Ihongouaha having
risen from his place to go out, he continued, " Now

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que plufieurs ont mefprifé fa doctrine, I'ont perfecuté
& mis à mort. Sur ces entrefaites vn certain nom-
mé, Illollgoiialla s'efiant leué de fa place pour fòrtir,
& bien dit-il EcllOll, ne t'auois ie pas bien dit que
Ih01zgoiiaha ne croioit point, & ne prenoit point plaifir
à tes difcours, fi tofi que [240] tu as ouuert la bouche
pour parler de Dieu, s'efi leué. Puis s'adrefíant à
lui mefme, IhoJlgOlïaha parle, & dis franchement ton
fentiment, fi tu n'agree pas ces difcours ne t'y trouue
point. Le P. Garnier Ie rencontra en fon voiage de
la nation du Petun, & ayant pris Ie temps pour dire
fon chapelet auec lui, Ie lendemain il Ie vint prier de
Ie Iui faire dire, & Ie Pere l'aiant entretenu de quel-
ques bons difcours, nommément fur la Paffion [sc.
l' Apparition] de no fire Seigneur aux Pelerins d'E-
maus; il en fit Ie recit lui mefme par apres à d'autres
Sauuages. Parmi toutes ces belles difpofitions nous
nous efionnions vn peu de ce qu'il ne prefíoit pas
fon baptefme auec plus d'infiance; neantmoins la
connance qu'il apportoit à nous venir voir tous Ies
iours pour efire infiruit, nous donnoit occafion de
croire qu'il procedoit en ce point auec beaucoup de
fimplicité. De fait Ie P. Super. lui aiant demandé
ce qu'il en penfoit, & s'il ne feroit pas bien content
d'efire baptifé, oüi dea, dit-il, mon nepueu, mais
attends encor vn peu ie te prie; fa raifon efioit, qu'il
n'en fçauoit pas en cor affez. Comme Ie pere lui ra-
contoit fouuent quelques hifioires tant du vieil que
du nouueau [241] teítament, il s'imaginoit qu'il fal-
loit tout fçauoir auant que d'efire baptifé, & fe plai-
gnoit fouuêt de fa memoire. Ie penfe, difoit-il, auoir
affez d'efprit, & cependant ie ne fçaurois bien rete-
nir, & fi ie n' en fçay d' auãtage COInment pourray-ie

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.'37

then, Echoll, have I not told thee that Ihongouaha did
not believe, and took no pleasure in thy discourses?
as soon as [240] thou hast opened thy mouth to speak of
God, he has risen." Then, addressing the man him-
self, he said: "lhongoualta, speak, and express thy
sentiments frankly; if thou dost not like these dis-
courses, do not come here." Father Garnier, on his
journey from the Tobacco nation, Inet this man, and
having taken time to say his rosary with him, the man
came next day to ask that he would exercise him in
saying it; and the Father having conversed with him
about some good topics, especially the Apparition of
our Lord to the Pilgrims of Emmaus, he afterwards
told the story himself to some other Savages. \Vith
all this good disposition, we were somewhat aston-
ished that he did not urge his baptism with more in-
sistence; however, the constancy he manifested, in
coming to see us every day for instruction, gave us
reason to believe that he was acting in this regard
with much sincerity. In fact, the Father Superior
having asked him what he thought of it, and if he
would not be very glad to be baptized, "Yes, indeed,
my nephew," said he; "but wait a little longer, I
pray thee." His reason was that he did not yet
know enough. As the father often related stories to
him from both the old and the new [24 I] testaments,
he imagined that he must know all before being bap-
tized, and often complained of his memory. "I
think I have sense enough, " said he, ., and yet I can-
not remember well; and, if I do not know any more,
how shall I be able to talk with myself all alone, as
the rest of you do?" He was generally present at
our house when \ve ,vere offering our prayers. But
the Father having finally made him understand that

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m'entretenir tout feul cõme vous faites vous autres,
il fe trouuoit d'ordinaire chez nous lors que nous fai-
fions nos oraifons. Mais enfin Ie P. luy ayant fait
entendre, que c'eftoit affez de bien fçauoir les articles
de noftre croyance, & que Ie principal eftoit d' auoir
vne ferme refolution de garder les commandemens
de Dieu, il prift pour terme de fon baptefme Ie iour
de la tres-fainte Trinité, 15. iours auparauant Ie Pere
l'inftruifit fur les principaux myfteres de noftre foy,
& les ceremonies & obligations du baptefme: pendant
ce temps là Ie P. Garnier à tafché de luyapprendre
Ie Pater & I'Aue, & quelques petites prieres. Ie dis
tafché: car il n' en à peu encor venir à bout; ce n' a
pas efté faute de diligence de part & d'autre. C'eftoit
vn plaifir de luy voir quelque fois eftudier fa leçon,
il vous repetoit trois ou quatre fois vne mefme chofe,
tenant fa tefte à deux mains, & fe bouchant les yeux,
Au refte il eftoit toufiours difpofé à prier Dieu, fou-
uent il preuenoit Ie Pere, & Ie venoit chercher pour
cét effect, quelquefois [242] il faifoit fes prieres à
deux genoux deuant Ie faint Sacrement, quelque fois
dans les champs, & (ce qui nous à pleu d'auantage)
en prefence des Sauuages; demandans luy mefme de
fon propre mouuement à prier Dieu. Vn iour Ie
Pere Garnier luy monftrant vn Crucifix, il Ie prit
entre fes mains, & fe mit à prefcher en prefence de
ceux de fa cabane, fur Ie myftere de noftre redemp-
tion, & en vn autre occafion que Ie Pere luy fit voir
vne image de noftre Seigneur fort bien faite, il com-
mença à l' apoftropher en ces termes, ha! dõne nous ta
benedictiõ, garde nous, aye pitié de nous, tu es Ie
maiftre de nos vies, tu nous as racheté. Ie luy ay veu
faire tout Ie méme de fon pro pre mouuemet en vne

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89

it was enough to know well the articles of our belief,
and that the principal thing was to have a firm deter-
mination to keep the commandments of God, he
chose for the time of his baptism the day of the most
holy Trinity. IS days before, the Father instructed
him upon the principal mysteries of our faith, and
the ceremonies and obligations of baptism. During
that time, Father Garnier tried to teach him the Pater
and the Ave, and some little prayers. I say" tried, "
for he has not yet succeeded; this has not been for
lack of diligence on the part of both. It was a pleas-
ure to see him, sometimes, studying his lesson; he
would repeat the same thing three or four times,
holding his head between his hands and closing his
eyes. Moreover he was always ready to pray to
God; often he anticipated the Father, and came to
seek him for this purpose. Sometimes [242J he
offered his prayers on his knees before the holy Sac-
rament, sometimes in the fields, and (what pleased
us more) in the presence of the Savages,- he himself
asking, of his own accord, to pray to God. One day,
when Father Garnier showed him a Crucifix, he took
it in his own hands, and began to preach in the pres-
ence of those of his cabin, upon the mystery of our
redemption; and another time, when the Father
showed him a very finely wrought image of our Lord,
he began to apostrophize it in these terms: "Ah,
give us thy benediction; keep us, have pity on us;
thou art the master of our lives, thou hast redeemed
us! " I saw him do exactly the same thing J of his
own accord, on a similar occasion. All this pleased
us greatly, yet we could not neglect to sound him
upon his willingness to renounce all his superstitions
and to live like a Christian. the rest of his life; in

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[VOL. 14.

femblable rencontre. Tout cela nous contentoit
grandement, neantmoins nous ne pouuions nous
laffer de Ie fonder fur la difpofition de fa volonté,
pour renoncer à toutes fes fuperfiitions & viure Chre-
ítiennement Ie refte de fa vie, enquoy il nous à tou-
fiours monfiré beaucoup de courage, difant que pour
ce qui eítoit des fuperHitions il n'auoit point de regret
de les quitter, puifque ce n'efioit que peché, & que
pour ce qui efioit des femmes, fon temps efioit paffé,
que ce ne feroit pas ce qui luy donneroit de la peine,
& Ie P. Superieur luy aiant expliqué à cette occafion,
comme [243] nous pouuons offencer Dieu par penfée.
Pour nloy, dit-il, ie ne fçay ce que c'eít que d'auoir
de mauuaifes penfées, nos penfées ordinaires font,
voylà ou ie feray, & maintenant que nous fommes
pour aller en traitte, ie penfe quelquefois que l'on me
feroit bien plaifir quand ie defcendray à Kebec de
me donner vne belle & grande chaudiere pour vne
robe que i'ay. Dieu Iuy fera la grace quelque iour,
s'il luy plaifi, de voir plus clair dans fon interieur.
Le terme de fon baptefme s'approchant, no us fouhait-
tiõs pour fon plus grand bien, & pour fa confolation
& Ia nofire, qu'il fi.ft publiquement ouuerture de fon
deíIein, afin que par apres il eufi plus de liberté de
changer de vie, & faire comme nous: il s'y accorda
tres volontiers, & fe propofa de faire vn fefiin, pour
aíIembler plus commodément tous ceux de no fire
bourgade, nous y affiítafmes, Ie Pere Superieur &
moy auec vn de nos d'omeltiques: là il ne fit point la
petite bouche, & declara nettement la refolution qu'il
auoit prife, Ia plufpart fe conioüirent auec luy, mais
pas vn ne par]a encor pour foy; pendant Ie fefHn i1
entretint la cõpagnie fur nos faints myfieres, illeur

1637 - 38]

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'JEUNE'S R
LA T101V, z637

91

this matter he always showed a great deal of cour-
age,- saying that, as far as the superstitions were
concerned, he did not regret giving them up, since
they were only sins; and that, as for women, his day
had passed, and that would not give him trouble.
When the Father Superior explained to him on this
occasion, how [243] we could offend God in our
thoughts, he said: "As for me, I do not know what
it is to have bad thoughts; our usual thoughts are,
, That is where I shall go,' and ' Now that we are go-
ing to trade, I sometimes think that they would do
me a great favor when I go down to Kebec, by giv-
ing me a fine large kettle for a robe that I have.' "
God win grant him the grace sonle day, if it please
him, to see more clearly into his own heart. The
time of his baptism approaching, we wished, for his
greater benefit, and for his and our consolation, that
he should publicly make a declaration of his purpose r
in order that he might afterwards have more liberty
to change his life and to do as we do. He agreed to
this very willingly, and proposed to make a feast, in
order to bring together more conveniently all those
of our village. \Ve were present, the Father Supe-
rior and I, with one of our domestics. Here, he did
not close his mouth, but frankly announced the reso-
lution he had taken; the majority rejoiced with him,
but not one spoke as yet for himself. During the
feast he entertained the company upon our holy mys-
teries, explaining to them that of the Annunciation
of our Lady, some of the miracles of Our Lord, his
death, and Passion. Finally the Father Superior
invited the [244] company to his baptism the next
morning, the day of the most holy Trinity. This
was perhaps one of the most beautiful days we have

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[VOL. 14

expliqua celuy de l' Annonciation de nofire Dame,
quelques miracles de N. S. fa mort & Paffion. En
fin Ie P. Super. inuita la [244] compagnie à fon bap-
tefme pour Ie lendemain matin iour de la tres-faincte
Trinité, cette iournée nous a efié peut-efire vne des
plus belles que nous ayons iamais eu en ce païs. Du
grand matin Ie P. Superieur baptifa vn vieillard fort
malade, qui mourut deux ou trois iours apres: de là
nous allafmes pour voir nofire catecumene, mais il
eítoit chez nous; Le Pere l'infiruifit encor auant la
ceremonie, nommément fur la communion. N ofire
Chapelle efioit extraordinairement bien ornée, elle
occupoit la moitié de nofire cabane, auffi n'y fifmes
nous point de feu ce iour là: nous auions dreffé vn
portique entortillé de feüillage, meílé d'oripeau, en
vn mot nous auions eftal1é tout, ce que vofire R.
nous a enuoié de beau, iamais on n'auoit rien veu de
fi magnifique en ce pays. Toutefois la piece la plus
rare eftoit noftre profelite, auffi toute l'affiftance auoit
les yeux arreftez fur luy: on auoit bien veu baptifer
quantité de petits enfans en noftre cabane, mais qu'vn
homme de fon aage, & en eftat de fanté fe prefentafi
pour receuoir Ie baptefme, c'eft ce qui ne s'eftoit
point encor veu. Au commencement de la ceremo-
nie il parut vn peu honteux, & trembloit de tout Ie
corps; & comme Ie p, Superieur 1'interrogeoit il fe
perdit, & luy dift tout bas EchOll ie [245] n'entends
rien à refpondre; neantmoins quand il n'eftoit
quefiion que d'vn oüy ou d'vn non, il parloit fi haut
& fi difiinctemët, qu'il vous ofioit tout fujet de dou-
ter de la fincerité de fon cæur, & mefme cette pudeur
qui paroiffoit fur fon front, nous faifoit voir comme
à decouuert, la droiture de fes intentions en vne

1637 -38]

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93

ever had in this country. Early in the morning, the
Father Superior baptized an old man, very ill, who
died two or three days afterward. Thence we went
to see our catechumen, but he was at our house. The
Father instructed him again before the ceremony,
especially upon the communion. Our Chapel was
remarkably well decorated; it occupied half of our
cabin, so we did not make any fire there that day.
We had arranged a portico, entwined with leaves
mingled with tinsel; in fact we had displayed every-
thing beautiful that your Reverence has sent us.
Nothing so magnificent had ever been seen in this
country, But the rarest piece was our proselyte, so
the eyes of all those present were fixed upon him.
True, they had seen many little children baptized in
our cabin; but that a man of his age, and in good
health, should present himself to receive baptism,-
this was something they had not seen before, At
the beginning of the ceremony, he appeared rather
bashful, and trembled all over; and when the Father
Superior questioned him, he was confused, and said
to him in a low tone, " Echon, I [245] do not know
what to answer." However, when it was only a
question of "yes" or" no," he spoke so loudly and
so distinctly as to remove all one's reasons to doubt
the sincerity of his heart; and even this modesty
which appeared upon his brow showed us unveiled,
as it were, the integrity of his intentions in an affair
of so much importance. Meanwhile, there was an
old man named Telldoutsahorz"né who could not refrain
from talking, and from saying aloud that it was much
better to be baptized like that than in sickness, which
often deprives us of judgment and understanding;
and he exhorted the whole assembly to imitate Tsz"-

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affaire de telle importance. Cependant i1 y eufi vn
vieillard nommé Tnldout.fahor1:nt, qui ne fe peut tenir
de parler, & de dire tout haut, que cela efioit bien
mieux d'efire ainfi baptifé, qu'en efiat de maladie,
qui nous ofie fouuent Ie iugement & l'efprit; &
exhorta toute l'affemblée à imiter, Tfiouendaentaha, &
fe faire baptifer comme luy au plufiofi. Du refie
nous eufmes affez de filence: vn peu d'apareil extra-
ordinaire y faifoit beaucoup. Simon Baron fut fon
parrain, & Ie nomma Pierre. Nous efperõs qu'il fera
comme la pierre fondametale du Chrifiianifme en ce
pays, que Dieu fe feruira de luy pour la conuerfion
de plufieurs, & que ce S. Aponre, dont il porte Ie
nom, prendra ces peuples en fa protection, & leur
ouurira la porte du ciel. Apres fon Baptefme Ie P.
Superieur difi la Meffe, qu'il entendit auec affez de
deuotion pour vn Sàuuage, de temps en temps ie luy
difois quelque petit mot, tanton ie luy faifois faire
vn acte de foy, tanton [246J demander à Dieu pardon
de fes pechez, tantofi ie luy difois qu'il s'entretint
interieurement fur les grandes obligations que nous
a uions à nofire Seigneur, à la fin de la Meffe i1 com-
munia auec beaucoup de modefiie, & Ie P. Superieur
Iuy aida par apres à faire fon action de graces, vne
heure ou deux apres nous fifmes vn feítin à tous ceux
de no fire bourgade pour nous conioüïr par enfemble
de la grace que Dieu venoit de faire à nofire Chre-
ftien, on fçait affez que tous les fefiins ordinaires
confifient en deux ou trois poiffons boucanez, & cuits
dans Ie blé du pais; il fe tint plufieurs bons difcours
touchant Ie baptefme & nos faints myfieres, nous
Iaiffafmes nofire Chapelle en mefme efiat tout Ie
long du iour: ce qui donna aux Sauuages dequoy ad-

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95

ouelldaeJltaha, and to be baptized like him, as soon as
possible. Apart from this, we had reasonable quiet,
the little extra decoration serving materially to this
end. Simon Baron was his godfather, and named
him Pierre. We hope that he will serve as a foun-
dation stone to Christianity in this country, that God
will employ him for the conversion of many; and
that this Holy Apostle, whose name he bears, will
take these peoples under his protection, and will
open to them the gate of heaven. After his Baptism
the Father Superior said 1-lass, to whicb he listened
with considerable devotion for a Savage. From
time to time I said a few words to him, having him
now perform an act of faith, now [246] ask God's
pardon for his sins; again, I told him to reflect in-
wardly upon the great obligations that we are under
to our Lord. At the close of the 1-lass, he received
communion very modestly, and the Father Superior
helped him afterwards to offer his thanksgiving. An
hour or two later, we made a feast for all the people
of our village, that we might rejoice together at the
grace that God had just shown to our Christian. It
is well known that all the ordinary feasts consist of
two or three smoked fish, cooked with the native
corn. Several profitable discourses were given, re-
garding baptism and our holy mysteries. We left
our Chapel in the same condition during the whole
day, -thus giving the Savages something to admire,
and ourselves a good subject upon which to instruct
them. An old man, looking at, our Crucifix, asked
me who that was who was fastened to it. Haying
told him, he began to speak to our Lord in these
words, Etsag01l 'z"hou{1tell etsagoll taollacaratat, " Cour-
age, nephew, courage, take care of us!" It is thus

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mirer, & à nous vn beau fujet de les infiruire: vn
vieillard regardant nofire Crucifix me demanda qui
efioit celuy qui y efioit attaché; & luy ayant expli-
qué, il fe mit à parler à nofire Seigneur en ces termes
Et.fagon -iholtaten et.fag01z taoltacaratat, courage, mon
neueu, courage, garde nous: c'efi ainfi que les vieil-
lards appellent les ieunes gens; ie luy fis entendre
qu'il efioit no fire pere à tous, & que c'efioit de luy
que nous tenõs l'e11re & la vìe; fa fimplicité le ren-
doit excufable. N os images & nos tableaux font
grandement defirez en quelques endroits, fur tout à
[247] Arent!. 11 arriua iufiement qu'vne femme de
cette bourgade nous vint vifiter ce iour là: elle fut mer-
ueilleufement furprife à l'entrée de nofire cabane;
elle s'arrefia quelques temps, n'ofant s'auancer &
paffer outre, ce fut vn plaifir de la voir dans ce com-
bat: car d'vn cofié elle fe fentoit puiffamment attirée
par la nouueauté de cét obiet, d'vn autre cofié la
crainte qu'elle auoit qu'aprochant de plus pres nos
tableaux, elle ne fut incontinent faifie du mal, la fai-
foit reculer en arriere. N eantmoins apres auoir bien
difputé, la curiofité l'emporta ça (dit elle) i1 n'y a
remede larifcon, il faut que ie m'hazarde, i1 faut que
ie voye, quand il m'en d'euroit coufier la vie. Cette
action en toucha plufieurs, & i'efpere (moyennant la
continuation des feruantes prieres de tant de fainctes
ames, qui s'emploient fi confiãmet aupres de Dieu,
pour Ie bien de ces peuples) que nous luy en mande.
rons l'année prochaine de bõs effets. Cét exemple
donna bien à fonger à Endz"t.faconc Capitaine d' Onllftz".
fati, c'efi vn fort bon efprit & curieux à merueille
d'entendre nos façons de faire de France; à l'occafion
d'vne image du iugement que nous auions expofée,

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97

the old men address the young men. I made him
understand that he was the father of us all, and that
from him we obtain being and life; his simplicity
rendered him excusable. Our images and our pic-
tures are in great demand in some places, especially
in [247] A rCllté. It so happened that a woman of
that village came to visit us that day. She was
wonderfully surprised at the entrance of our cabin;
she remained there for some time, without daring to
advance and cross the threshold. It was amusing to
see her in this struggle, for, on the one hand, she felt
herself powerfully attracted by the novelty of this
object; and, on the other, her fear, lest, in approach-
ing nearer our pictures, she would be immediately at-
tacked by the disease, made her draw back. Never-
theless, after a hard struggle, curiosity got the better
of her. "There is no help for it, lariscon" (she said);
" I must venture, I must see, even though it cost me
my life." This act affected many of them, and I
hope (by means of the continuation of the fervent
prayers of so many saintly souls, who exert them-
selves so continually in God's presence for the good of
these tribes) that we shall next year inform you of
some good results therefrom. This example gave
Enditsaconc, Captain of 01l1lclltzSati, much to reflect
upon. He is a man of great intelligence, and is
wonderfully curious to hear about our ways of doing
things in France. Once, when we showed him a
representation of the judgment, he inquired very
particularly of the Father Superior, who those were
who were going into hell, and what must be done to
go to heaven. The Father instructed him fully.
[248] Two days later, another family of our village
came to ask baptism from us, with great earnestness;

!."IS

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

il s'enquit fort particulierement du p, Superieur, qui
eftoient ceux qui alloiët aux enfers, & de ce qu'il fal-
loit faire pour aller au del, Ie Pere l'inftruifit ample-
ment. [248] Deux iours apres vne autre famille de
noftre bourgade s'en vint nous demãder Ie baptefme,
auec beaucoup d'inftance; Ie P. Superieur eft mainte-
nant apres à les inftruire. C' eft vn grand aduantage
que quelqu'vn ait commencé; & encore vne perfonne
de confideration comme eft Pierre Tfiouendaentaha; il
ne manque point de venir prier Dieu tous les iours,
& d' entendre la Meffe les Feftes & les Dimanches,
nous efperons que toute fa famille fuiura bien toft
fon exemple. Dieu foit infiniment benit: c' eft vne
grande confolation pour nous, d' auoir vn tel Chreftien
que celuy-Ià, qui faffe profeffion publique de noftre
faincte foy, en vn temps auquel fes myfteres les plus
adorables, font tenus pour fufpects, & ceux qui les
prefchent, regardez plus que jamais, comme autant
d'empoifonneurs & de forders.
Ce n' eft pas feulement dans ce pais que nous
fommes en cette reputation, ces faux bruits ont couru
iufques aux nations eftrangeres, qui nous prennent
comme les maiítres, & les arbitres de la vie & de la
mort. II n'y à pas long temps qu'vne nation Algon-
quine que nous nommons des Cheueux releuez, nous
enuoia vne ambaffade expres. auec des pre fens pour
nous fupplier de les efpargner dans ce commun de-
faUre, & d'auoir efgard [249] à l'affection qu'ils nous
portoient. N ous leur fifmes entendre que nous ne
pouuions receuoir ces offrandes, que ce n'eftoit pas à
nous qu'ils fe deuoient adreffer, & qu'il n'y auoit
qu'vn fouuerain Seigneur de la vie & de la mort, &
que c' eftoit à luy à qui ils deuoient auoir recours; que

1637 -38]

LE JEUNE'S RELA TION, 1637

99

the Father Superior is now engaged in instructing
them. It is a great advantage that some one has
made a beginning, and that, too, a person of influ-
ence, as is Pierre Tsz'ouelldaentaha
. he does not fail
to come every day to pray to God, and to hear Mass
on Feast days and Sundays. We hope that all his
family will soon follow his example. God be infi-
nitely blessed! It is a great consolation for us to
have such a Christian as he is, to make a public pro-
fession of our holy faith at a time when its most
adorable mysteries are looked upon with suspicion,
and those who preach them are regarded, more than
ever, as so many poisoners and sorcerers.
It is not only in this country that we have this
reputation, for these false reports have been carried
even to strange nations, who consider us as the mas-
ters and arbiters of life and death. Not long ago, an
Algonquin tribe that we call "men of the raised
Hair" 9 sent a special embassy to us with presents,
to beg us to spare them in this general calamity, and
to regard [249] the affection that they bore us, We
eXplained to them that we could not receive these
offerings, that it was not to us they should address
themselves; that there was only one sovereign Lord
of life and of death, and that it was to him they
should have recourse; that this was the only remedy
we had used in our sickness, and we had found it
very efficacious. They returned very well satisfied,
with the determination to follow our advice. N ever-
theless, the providence of God has, since then, per-
mitted them to be afflicted like the others, so that in
their village they count as many as seventy dead,
which gives them much to reflect upon. However,
after having investigated everything that they im-

100

LES RELA TI01VS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

c'efioit l'vnique remede dont nous nous efiions ferui
dans nos maladies, & dont nous nous eftions tres-
bien trouuez. Ils s'en retournerent bien s'atis-
faits, auec refolution de fuiure no fire confeil. Ne-
antmoins la prouidence de Dieu à perm is qu'ils ayent
efié depuis affligez comme les autres, fi qu'en leur
bourg ils comptèt iufques à foixante & dix n1orts, ce
qui leur donne bien à penfer; toutes-fois apres auoir
recherché tout ce qu'ils s'imaginoient pouuoir efire
la caufe de ce mal'heur, ils s'arrefierent enfin à vne
chofe, que la feule lumiere, que l'autheur de la na-
ture à imprimé fur Ie front de to us les hommes, leur
pouuoit découurir. Quelques-vns fe fouuindrent
qu'ils auoièt autre fois defrobé vn collier de 24 00 .
grains de pourcelleine à feu Efiienne Bruílé, ils fe
defererèt eux-mefmes aux anciens, qui à ces nou-
uelles s'affemblerent incontinent, & apres auoir tout
bien confideré, iugerent qu'ils auoient trouué la
fource de leur maladie, & ainfi que l'vnique moyen
d'y remedier [250J efioit d'en faire au pluttofi la
refiitution; & afin que la chofe reüffit mieux, ils fe
refolurent de venir en perfonne trouuer les Frãçois,
& fatisfaire au tort qu' on leur auoit fait, La refolu-
tion ne fufi pas fi tofi prife qu'ils fe mirent en che-
min. Ie laiffe à penfer à vofire R. fi nous fufmes
efionnez du fuiet de cette feconde ambaíIade, que
ces vieillards dec1arerent, auec des termes dignes de
compaffion; ils efiallerent fur vne natte les deux
mille quatre cens grains de porcellenne, qu'ils auoient
amaffé par vne contribution qu'auoient faite ceux qui
refioient dans leur bourg; ils nous coniurerent tres-
infiamment, & à diuerfes reprifes, de receuoir ce
collier en fatisfaction du larcin fait à vn François, d'a-

1637 -38]

LE JEUNE'S RELA TIO.iV, I637

101

agined might be the cause of their misfortune, they
at last fixed upon something which only the light
that the author of nature has impressed upon the
brow of all men, could reveal to them. Some re-
membered that they had once robbed the deceased
Estienne Bruslé of a collar of 2400 porcelain beads.
They accused themselves before the old men, who at
this news immediately assembled; and, having well
considered the whole matter, they decided that they
had found the source of their malady, and thus the
only means of remedying it [250J was to make resti-
tution therefor as soon as possible; and for the bet-
ter success of the affair they resolved to come in
person to see the French, and to satisfy them for the
wrong done to them. This decision was no sooner
made than they started on the journey. I leave your
Reverence to imagine how much we were astonished
at the cause of this second embassy, which these old
men made known in terms worthy of compassion.
They spread out upon a mat the two thousand four
hundred porcelain beads, which they had collected
by a contribution made by the survivors in their vil-
lage. They conjured us very earnestly, and at dif-
ferent times, to receive this collar in satisfaction for
the theft committed against a Frenchman, to have
pity on them, and to preserve the few whom the dis-
ease had spared up to that time, The Father Supe-
rior rejoined that it was very well-advised on their
part to wish to make this restitution,- that it was
an act of justice, and very right not to keep the
property of others; that, nevertheless, we could not
accept this collar, since it had not been stolen from
us, and he from whom it had been taken was dead,
and there was no one in the country who could re-

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

uoir pitié d'eux, & de conferuer ce peu que la mala-
die auoit iufques à prefent efpargné. Le P. Sûpe-
rieur refpondit que c'efioit tres-bien aduifé à eux,
de vouloir faire cette re, fiitution que c' efioit vne
action de iufiice, & tres-raifonnable de ne point retenir
Ie bien d' autrui; neantmoins que nous ne pouuions
pas accepter ce collier, puis qu'il ne nous auoit pas
efié defrobé, & que celuy à qui il auoit efié pris efioit
mort, & n'y auoit perfonne dans Ie pays qui Ie peufi
receuoir en fon nom. Ð'auantage [25 I] que c'efioit
vne chofe trop dangereufe pour nous, nommement en
ce temps; de receuoir des prefens de nations efiran-
geres; que ceux de ce pais, qui auroient bien tofi Ie
vent de cette affaire, ne prendroient pas cecy pour
vne fimple refiitution: mais plufiofi pour quelque
fecrette intelligence à leur defauantage; enfin qu'ils
deuoient fe contenter de s'efire mis en deuoir de
rendre ce qu'ils iugeoient ne leur appartenir pas,
qu'ils fatisfaifoient en cela fuffifamment à leur obli-
gation, & que I' acceptation que nous en ferions, fe-
roit tout à fait inutile pour eux, & nous pourroit efire
extremement dommageable, s'ils venoient à guerir
deformais; que fi au contraire Ie mal continuoit, ils
ne manqueroient pas de nous efiimer des trompeurs,
comme n'aians pas refpondu à leur attente. Ils fe
contenterent de ces raifons, & s'en retournerent auec
leur porcellenne, & mefme auec quelque petit pre-
fent. Mais ce n' efi iamais fait, ceux-cy ne font pas
fi tofi partis qu'en voici d'autres qui nous donnent
fuiet de chercher de nouueaux expediens pour fatis-
faire à leur imagination. Le iour du baptefme de
Pierre Tfiouendaentaha nous auions expofé vne fort
belle image du iugement, [252J où les damnez font

1637 - 38]

LE .IEVNE'S RELA TION. I637

103

ceive it in his name. More than this, [25 I] he said
that it was too dangerous a thing for us, especially
at this time, to receive presents from strange na-
tions; that the people of this country, who would
soon get wind of this affair, would not consider it as
a simple restitution, but rather as some secret un-
derstanding to their disadvantage; in fine, that they
should content themselves with having undertaken
to restore what they considered did not belong to
them,-that in doing so they had sufficiently dis-
charged their obligations, and that our acceptance of
it would be altogether useless to them, and might be
extremely injurious to us, if from that time they be-
gan to recover; that if, on the contrary, the sickness
continued, they would be certain to regard us as im-
postors for not having fulfilled their expectations.
They were satisfied with these arguments, and re-
turned with their porcelain and even with a little
present. But this thing is never ended; they had
no sooner departed than others came, who caused
us to search for new expedients to satisfy their im-
agination. On the day of the baptism of Pierre
Tsz'ouendaentaha, we had exhibited an excellent repre-
sentation of the judgment, [252] where the damned
are depicted,- some with serpents and dragons tear-
ing out their entrails, and the greater part with some
kind of instrument of their punishment. Manyob-
tained some benefit from this spectacle; but some
persuaded themselves that this multitude of men,
desperate, and heaped one upon the other, were all
those we had caused to die during this Winter; that
these flames represented the heats of this pestilential
fever, and these dragons and serpents, the venomous
beasts that we made use of in order to poison them.

104

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

depeints, les vns auec des couleuures & des dragons,
qui leur defchirêt les entrailles, & la plufpart -auec
quelque efpece d'infirumens de leurs fupplices. Plu-
fieurs tirerent quelque profit de cette veuë, neant-
moins quelques vns fe font perfuadez que cette mul-
titude d'hommes defefperez, & entaffez les vns fur
les autres, efioit tous ceux que nous auions fait mourir
cét Ryuer; que ces flammes reprefentoient les ardeurs
de cette fieure pefiilentielle, & ces dragons & ces
ferpens, les befies venimeufes, dont nous nous efiions
feruis pour les empoifonner. Cela fut dit en plein
fefiin à Ouenrz"o au rapport du Capitaine E1ldit.facon.
V n autre depuis nous demanda fi en effect il eftoit
vrai que nous nouriffions chez nous la maladie comme
vn animal domefiique, difant que c'efioit vne opinion
affez commune dans Ie païs. Et tout fraifchement
que ie retournois d' Offoffa1lé, vne femme qui venoit
de fon champ, prit vne fauterelle & me l'apporta, me
priant infiamment de luy enfeigner quelque inuen-
tion pour faire mourir ces befiioles, qui mangent les
bleds, adioufiant qu'on luy auoit dit, que nous efiions
paffez maifires en ce mefiier.
Le 9. nofire cabane d' Offoffané efiant tout à fait
acheuée, quarante à cinquante Sauuages, [253] tant
hommes que femmes, vindren t icy à Ihonattz"ria que-
rir vne partie de nofire bled, & quelques petits meu-
bles, les Capitaines efioient de la troupe. Ce font
des feruices qu'ils vous rendent gratuitement en ces
occafions.
Le 16. tomba malade de la contagion, vne ieune
fille, des parentes & de la cabane de nofire nouueau
Chrefiien. La fage prouidence de Dieu a des deffeins
que nous ne voions pas; tout l'Hyuer ils n'auoient

1637 -38]

LE /EUNE'S RELATION, I637

105

This was said in open feast at Ouenrz.o, according to
the report of Captain Elldz"tsacon. Another one after-
ward asked us if it were really true that we were
raising the malady in our house as if it were a do-
mestic animal, saying that this was quite a common
opinion in the country. And very recently, when
I was returning from Ossossané, a woman who was
coming from her field caught a grasshopper and
brought it to me, begging me earnestly to teach her
some contrivance for killing these little creatures
that eat the corn, adding that she had been told that
we were past masters in tbis art.
On the 9th, our cabin at Ossossané being entirely
finished, forty or fifty Savages, [253] both men and
women, came here to Ihonattz"rz"a to get part of our
corn and a few little articles of furniture, the Cap-
tains being in the crowd. These are services that
they render you gratuitously on these occasions.
On the 16th, a young girl, related to our new Chris-
tian and belonging to his cabin, fell sick of the con-
tagion. The wise providence of God has designs
that we do not see, All the Winter they had been
occupied solely in comforting the others; and now
they are the only ones in our village who are afflict-
ed. This shock is indeed rather violent for a new
plant, and for us a reason for adoring submissively
the secret judgments of God. She is now in the fifth
day of her fever. with Yery manifest signs of danger.
Therefore we have already prepared her for Holy
Baptism, to which she and her relatives have given
us their consent, with evidences of great faith and
resignation to the will of God. It is also a consola-
tion to us to see nothing in the cabin, up to the pres-
ent, contrary to the first promises and resolutions of

106

LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

efté occupez qu'a confoler les autres, & maintenant
les voila feuls de noftre bourgade dans raffiictiõ.
C'eft vne fecoufIe vn peu bië forte pour vne nouuelle
plante, & pour nous vn fuiet d'adorer auec foubmiffiõ
les fecrets iugemens de Dieu; la voila maintenãt
dans Ie cinquiéme iour de fa fiebure, auec des fignes
afIez manifefies de danger; auffi l' auõs nous defia
difpofée au S, Baptefme, pour lequel elle & fes pa-
rens nous ont donné leur confentement, auec des tef-
moignages d'vne grande foy & refignation à la volõté
de Dieu. Ce nous efi encor vne confolation de ne
rien voir dans la cabane iufques à prefent, de con-
traire aux premieres promefIes & refolutiõs du bap-
tefme. Pour luy il continuë confiamment depuis
fon baptefme, dans les deuoirs de Chreftien; i1 a chan-
gé de maifire, Ie Pere [254] Garnier eft à OJJoJJané;
maintenant Ie P. Chafiellain prend Ie foin de Ie faire
prier Dieu foir & matin. II ne manque pas defia de
perfonnes qui Ie perfecutent, il fe comporte neant-
moins courageufemët, Dieu luy donne Ie don de per-
feuerance, & continuë à toute fa famille l'inclination
qu'elle a à receuoir la foy. Dieu foit benit, nous ve-
nons tout maintenant de nous feruir de la bonne dif-
pofition que nous auions trouué dans cette cabane.
Le P. Chafielain vient de baptifer cette pauure ma-
lade, nous auons en cor exhorté fes parens à fe con-
former au bon plaifir de Dieu. Cette fille fait Ie So.
par deffus les deux cens que nous auons baptifez cette
année en ce pais, Vne partie refte encor en vie, &
bien nous en prend qu'ils ne font pas tous dãs Ie ciel,
i1 yauroit à craindre qu'ils ne fermafIent la porte à
beaucoup d'autres; quelques vns n'ont defia que trop
d'auerfion du S. Baptefme. Neantmoins ce nous eft

1637 -38]

LE JEUNE'S R
LA TION. I637

107

baptism. As for him, he continues steadfast since his
baptism in the duties of a Christian; he has changed
his teacher, as Father [254] Garnier is at Ossossanl;
now, Father Chastellain is careful to have him pray
to God evening and morning. There are not lack-
ing persons already who persecute him, but he com-
ports himself with courage. May God grant him the
gift of perseverance, and keep his whole family in
the inclination they now have to receive the faith!
Blessed be God; we have just now availed ourselves
of the good disposition we had found in that cabin,
for Father Chastelain has just baptized this poor sick
girl, and we have again exhorted her relatives to
conform to the good pleasure of God. This girl was
the 50th over and above the two hundred whom we
have baptized this year in this region. Some of
them are still alive, and it is well for us that they
are not all in heaven, for this would cause us to fear
that they might close the doors to many others; some
have already only too much aversion to Holy Bap-
tism. Nevertheless, it is a very sensible consolation
to us to have seen in this barbarism so many Savages
die with so evident signs of predestination. And if
we only had assurance of the eternal happiness of
thirty or 40 little children, who have been carried off
by this contagious malady after having received bap-
tism, we would consider that we had already received
[255] the reward for a thousand times more hardships
than we could suffer in seeking so many poor wan-
dering sheep, and in the conquest of this new world.
It is a part of the heritage of Jesus Christ, which bas
been righteously acquired by him. Postula a me et
dabo tz"bi gentes hæreditatem tuam. These are so many

108

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

vne confolation bien fenfible, d'auoir veu mourir en
cette barbarie vn fi grand nombre de Sauuages, auec
de grãdes marques de predeftination. Et quand
nous n'aurions que l'affeurance du bon-heur eternel
de trente à 40. petits enfans, qui ont efté emportez
par cette maladie contagieufe, apres auoir receu Ie
baptefme, nous eftimeriõs auoir defia receu [255] la
recompenfe de mille fois plus de trauaux que nous
n'en pouuons fouffrir à la recherche de tant de pau-
ures brebis efgarées, & à la conquefte de ce nouueau
monde. C' eft vne partie de l'heritage de Iefus
Chrift qui luy eft bien acquiefe. Pojlula a me & dabo
tibz' gentes Ilæredz"tatem tuam; ce font autant d'auocats
pour nous, pour tout Ie pais, & pour tous ceux qui
s'intereffent pour Ie falut de ces peuples; & vn motif
bien puiffant pour moienner la conuerfion des pa-
rents, qui n'ont rien tant à cæur que de fuiure leurs
enfans apres la mort.
Maintenant ie puis finir la prefente quand ie vou-
drai, puis que ie ne fçaurois laiffer voftre R. dans vn
fuiet de confolation qui luy puiffe agréer d'auantage,
auffi bien l'embarquement preffe, il y a deux iours
qu'vn de nos domeftiques eft parti; ie m'en vai à
noftre nouuelle Refidence, pour prendre la place du
P. Pijart, qui vient icy pour fe preparer au voyage.
Le P. Superieur l'enuoie à Kebec, pour pouuoir con-
ferer de bouche auec voftre R. de tout ce qui re-
garde Ie bien de cette miffion; Ie grand zele que nous
fçauons qu'elle a pour Ie falut de ces pauures ames,
nous feroit fouhaitter la voir icy en perfonne; au
moins il nous rêplit d'efperance [256] qu'elle nous
enuoiera toufiours de braues ouuriers, & qu'elle nous
aidera de ces bons confeils, pour commencer heureu-

1637 -38]

LE .IEUNE' S RELA lYON, I637

109

advocates for us, for the whole country, and for all
those who interest themselves in the salvation of
these peoples,-and a most powerful motive to oper-
ate in the conversion of the parents, who have noth-
ing so much at heart as to follow their children after
death.
Now I can finish the present letter when I please,
since I cannot leave your Reverence with a reason
for consolation which can be more acceptable to
you; moreover, the embarkation is urgent; one of
our domestics departed two days ago. I am going
to our new Residence to take the place of Father Pi-
jart, who is coming here to prepare for the voyage.
The Father Superior sends him to Kebec that he may
confer with your Reverence, by word of mouth, on
all that concerns the welfare of this mission. The
great zeal that we know you have for the salvation
of these poor souls makes us wish to see you here in
person; at least, it fills us with hope [256] that you
will always send us valiant workers, and that you will
aid us with good counsel to begin this new Church
auspiciously, after the establishment of which we are
going to work with more courage than ever. So
many adults escaped from death after baptism con-
strain us to do this; the war that the powers of dark-
ness have openly declared against us does not permit
us to remain without our weapons at hand; and so
many good sentiments that God inspires in us, and
in thousands and thousands of persons in France,
would accuse us of unfaithfulness if we should be-
have slothfully in the midst of so many excellent op-
portunities; and above all, the assurances we have of
aid from the holy prayers and holy sacrifices of your

110

LES RELATIONS DESJÉS(1ITES

[VOL. 14

fement cette nouuelle Eglife, apres I' efiabliffement
de laquelle nous allons trauailler plus courageuIemet
que iamais. Tant d'adultes efchapez de la mort a-
pres Ie baptefme nous y obligent, la guerre que nous
ont dec1aré ouuertement les puiffances des tenebres,
ne permettent pas que nous foions fans auoir les
armes au point, & tant de bons fentimens que Dieu
nous donne, & à mille & mille perfonnes qui font en
France, nous accuferoient d'infidelité fi nous nous
comportions lafchement parmi tant de fi belles occa-
fiõs; & fur tout les affeurances que nous auons fur Ie
fecours des fainctes prieres & faincts facrifices de
vofire R. aufquels nous nous confiõs tous, & moy par-
ticulierement qui fuis:
Mon R. Pere,
De la Refidence de S. Iofeph à Ihonattiria
aux pays des Hurons, ce 2 I. Iuin, iour du
bien heureux Gonzague 16 37.
V ofire tres humble & tres-obeïíIant
feruiteur en N. S. Iefus Chrifi.
FRANÇOIS IOSEPH LE MERCIER.

1637 -38]

LE .IEUNE' S RELA TION, I637

111

Reverence, in which we all put our trust, and par-
ticularly I, who am,
My Reverend Father,
From the Residence of St. Joseph at Ihonattiria,
in the country of the Hurons, this 21St of
June, day of the blessed Gonzague, 16 37.
Your very humble and very obedient
servant in Our Lord Jesus Christ.
FRANÇOIS JOSEPH LE MERCIER. 10

xxx

LE JEUNE'S RELATION, 16 3 8

PARIS: SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, 1 6 3 8

SOURCE: We reprint from the original of the first issue
(H. 6<)), in Lenox Library.
The document consists of two parts: Part I., by Le
Jeune, as superior, is given in the present volume; Part
II., by Le Mercier, touching on the Huron missions, will
appear in Volume XV.

!l E L \.

ON

7 'D E C E \
r S 'E S T F t\ S S r/
. ...
E N IJ I. 1.

1\JO'YVEI LE FF I.NCE
EN l'iNNEiE 1638.
Enuoyéc au
R
PER I. P 1{:0 V I r
C I A L
dcL
COll1p:lgnie de IE S V s cn
la Prouince de Francc

'f'.-tr Ie p.r A VLF. LEI E VNE d.:14 mrJ;"" CO"'f',tf'"fJ:rj
S'lptrJI.:tr 1fe lot l\jfidflJCC d, KEL'cr ...

A PARIS

Chez S E BAS TIE N CRAMO:. S.
t Irnpth'ne
t
oHliaairc du Roy ,ruë(aintt lacqueS J
aux Cicogncs.
M. DC. XXXVI

,ý/YBC fJRIYILiGE j)]I"
()L
........----....- .
- -....... .-.... ..".,p-

RELATION

OF WHAT OCCURRED
IN
NEW FRANCE
IN THE YEAR 1638.
Sent to the
REVEREND FATHER PROVINCIAL
of the Society of J E S U S in
the Province of France.

By FATHER PAULE LE ]EUNE of the same So-
ciety, Superior of tile ResÙience of Kébec.

PARIS,
S:E B A S'T IE N eRA MOl S Y, Printer in ordinary
to the King, ruë sainct Jacques,
at the Sign of the Storks.
M. DC. XXXVIII.
BY ROYAL LICENSE.

118

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

Table des Chapitres contenus en ce Liure.

R ELATION de ce qui s'ejl paJJé enla Nouuet/e
France en l' annie 1638. . page I.
Chapitre I. Des moyens que 1lOUS tenons pour
publÙr & amplifier la foy panny les
Sauuages. 2
Chap, II. Du Baptcfme d'vn Sauuage, & de quel-
ques-zJns de fa famille. 5
Chap. III. De quelques autres Sauuagcs baptifez. 15
Chapitre IV. D' autres per f01l1zes adultes baptz"zées
folen-ulellement. 20
Chap, V. De la Conuerjion & du Baptefme d'vn
ieune IlO1llme, & de qutlques autres Sauuages. 25
Chap. VI. Des gralldes difpofitions d'vne Catecltu-
mene Algonquz"n. 35
Chap. VII. De quelques Sauuages errans deuenus
fedentaires. . 4 I
Chap. VIII. De l' ejlat prefent des Sauuages
touchant la Foy. 49
Chap. IX. Du Seminaire des Hurons. 5S
Chap. X. Contz"nuation du Seminaz"re. 60
Chap. XI. Ramas de diuerfes chofes 69

1637 -38]

LEJEUNE'S RELATION, I638

119

Table of Chapters contained in this Book.

R ELA TION of what occurred in New France,
z'n the year 1 6 3 8 . ' ,page 1.
Chapter I. Of tlze means we employ to publislt
and spread tIle faith among tile Savages. 2
Chap. II. Of the Baptism of a Savage, and of some
ifhisftm
. 5
Chap. III. Of some otlter baptized Savages. 15
Chapter IV. Of otller adult pers01ls wlzo have been
solemnly baptized. 20
Chap. V. Of the Converszon and Baptism of a
young man, and of some other Savages. 25
Chap. VI. Of the excellent Ï1zclinatz.ons of an Al-
gonquÙI CatecllUmen. 35
Chap. VII. Of some wandering Savages who have
become sedentary. 4 I
Chap. VIII. Of the present condition of the Sav-
ages, touching tIle Faith. 49
Chap. IX. Of the Seminary for tIle Hurons. 55
Chap. X. Continuation of tIle Seminary. 60
Chap. XI. A collectz.on of varz.ous matters. 69

120

LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

R ELATION de ce qui s'efl paffé dans Ie
Pays des Hurons en l'année 1637. & 1638, I
Chap. I. Des perfecutions que nous auons
fouffert en l' anJlée 16 37. 3
Chap. II. AjJemblée generale de tout Ie pays OÙ on
delibere de nojlre mort. 14
Chap. III. Aßijlance particulz"ere de Dz"eu fur
nous dans nostre per fecutz"oll. 23
Chap. IV. Des Hurons baptz/és cette année 1638. 3 I
Chap. V. La COlluerfion de Iofeph CllÜlatenh
a,
natzf de ce bourg d' OjJofalle. 35
Chap. VI. La conduz'te de Dz'eu fur 1lojlre nouueau
a

.

Chap. VII. Iour de faz'nct Iofepll folemnel dans
les Hurons pour quelques circonjlances. 47
Chap. VIII. Nojlre employ pendant tout l' hyuer
quand ces peuples font plus fedentaz"res. 52
Chap, IX. La refidence de faz"nct Iofepll à Ihona-
tiria. 60
Chap. X. Bref Iournal des chofes qui n' ont peu
entrer dans les Chapz'tres precedents. 63

1637 - 38]

LEJEUNE'S RELATION, r638

121

R ELA TION of what occurred in the Country
of the Hurons, in the year 1637 and 1638. I
Chap. I. Of the persecutz"ons that we suf-
fered in lIte year 1637. 3
Chap. II. General Assembly of tlte wllOle country,
where our death is under delz"beratioll. 14
Chap. III. Specz"al assz"stance of God to us in our
persecutz"on. 23
Chap. IV. The Hurons baptized this year, 16 3 8 . 3 1
Chap. V. Tlte Conversz"on of Joseph Chiwatenhwa,
a native of this vz"llage of Ossosane. 35
Chap. VI. The guÙlance of God respectz"ng our new
Clzrz"stian. 4 0
Chap. VII. Day of saint Joseph a solemn one
among the Hurons, on account of certain cz"r-
cumstances. 47
Chap. VIII. Our occupations during tIle entire
winter, when these tribes are more sedentary. 52
Chap. IX. The resz'dence of saint Joseph at Ihona-
t&
.

Chap. X. Brief Journal of the things which could
not be entered in the preceding Cltapters. 63

122

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

[1] Relation de ce qvi s'eft paffé en la Novvelle
France en I'année 1638.

M ON REVEREND PERE,
Puis que nous ne pouuons auoir de treue
pour la Relation de ce qui fe paffe en ce nou-
ueau monde, & qu'il en faut encor payer Ie tribut
cette année, ie me comporterayenuers ceux qui la
fouhaittent, comme on fait en [uers] des eftomacs
defia raffafiés, aufquels on ne prefente que peu de
chofes, & encor bien delicates, de peur de les débau-
cher. On eft defia fi remply des façons de faire de
nos Sauuages, & de nos petits trauaux en leur en-
droit, que i'apprehende Ie degouft; c'eft pourquoy
ie diray peu de beaucoup, omettant des chapitres
entiers, de penr d'eftre accusé de longueur.

1637 -38]

LE /EUNE'S RELA TION, I638

123

[I] Relation of what occurred in New France, in
the year 1638.

M y REVEREND FATHER,
Since we can have no truce in the Relation
of what takes place in this new world, and as
the tribute must be paid again this year, I shan be-
have toward those who desire it as one does toward
stomachs already sated, to which one offers only a
few things, but very delicate ones, for fear of ruining
them. People are already so full of the customs of
our Savages, and of our little labors for them, that I
fear disgust; hence I shall say little of many things-
omitting whole chapters, lest I be accused of tedious-
ness.

124

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

[2] CHAPITRE 1.

DES MOVENS QUE NOUS TENONS POUR PUBLIER &
AMPLIFIER LA FOY PARMY LES SAUUAGES.

L A fuperftition, l'erreur, la barbarie, & en fuitte Ie
peché, font icy COlnme dans leur empire, nous
nous feruons de quatre grandes machines pour
les renuerfer; Premierement nous faifons des courfes
pour aller attaquer l'ennemy fur fes terres par fes
propres armes, c'eft à dire, par la cognoiffance des
langues Montagnefe, Algonquine, & Hurone. Quand
les portes nous feront ouuertes dans d'autres nations
en cor plus eí1oignées, nous y entrerons fi Dieu nous
prefte fecours. Or ie diray en paffant fur ce poinct,
que plufieurs n'attendoient rien des vieilles fouches
Sauuages. Toute l'efperance n'eftoit que dans la
ieuneffe; mais l'experience nous apprend qu'il n'y a
bois fi fec que Dieu ne faffe reuerdir, quand illuy
plaift. Nous commençons à voir dans les Hurons
[& p]army nos Montagnets & Algonquins, qu[elque]s
familIes profeffer publiquement la Foy, & frequen-
ter les Sacremens auec vne deuotion & modeftie qui
n'a rien de Sauuage que l'habit. Cette baffe eftime
qu'on auoit de nos pauures Sauuages errans, Ie doit
changer en des actions de grace & de benediction,
comme nous verrons cy apres.
Secondement comme ces peuples font attaqués [3]
de grandes maladies, nous procurons qu' on leur
dreffe vn hofpital. On y trauaille maintenant fort

1637 -38]

LEJEUNE'S RELATION, r638

125

[2] CHAPTER 1.

OF THE MEANS WE EMPLOY TO PUBLISH AND SPREAD
THE FAITH AMONG THE SAVAGES.

S UPERSTITION, error, barbarism, and conse-
quently, sin, are as if in their empire here.
We employ four great contrivances to over-
throw them. First, we make expeditions to go and
attack the enemy upon their own ground, with their
own weapons,-that is to say, by a knowledge of the
Montagnais, Algonquin, and Huron tongues. When
the doors shall be opened to us in nations still more
remote. we will enter there if God lend us his help.
Now I will say upon this point, in passing, that
many did not expect anything from the old Savage
stocks, all hope being placed only in the young; but
experience teaches us that there is no wood so dry
that God cannot make it become green again, when
it pleases him. We begin to see in the Huron coun-
try, and among the :Montagnais and Algonquins, a
few families publicly professing the Faith and fre-
quenting the Sacraments, with a devotion and modesty
which have nothing of the Savage except the dress.
This low opinion that people had of our poor wan-
dering Savages lllUst be changed into thanksgivings
and blessings, as we shall see hereafter.
Secondly, as these peoples are attacked [3] by seri-
ous diseases, we are obtaining for them the erection
of a hospital. The men are now hard at work there-
on, so far as the conditions of the country allow.

126

LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITE::'

[VOL. 14

& ferme, felon que Ie païs Ie peut permettre, Madame
la Ducheffe d' Aiguillon qui a jetté les fondemens de
ce grand ouurage, peut dés cette année goufier les
fruicts de fes liberalités. Car les hommes qui tra-
uaillent icy pour fon deffein, rendent cét hyuer quel-
que affifiance à de pauures Sauuages delaiffés, Dieu
les toucha tellement, qu'en verité ie fouhaitterois
vne femblable mort à celle qu'il a donnée à deux de
ces Barbares, deuenus enfans de Dieu dans Ie fang
de Iefus-Chrifi.
En troifiefme lieu, nous nous efforçons de com-
mencer des Seminaires de Hurons, d' Algonquins, &
de Montagnets. N ous en auons maintenant de ces
trois fortes à Kebec, i'en diray deux mots cyapres.
En quatriefme lieu, nous tachons d'arrefier les
Sauuages errans. Ie confeffe qu'il faut des chaines
d' or pour ce deffein, mais leurs ames font plus pre-
cieufes que l' or & que les perles, c' efi bien gagner
au chãge que de les prendre à cet appas. V ne per-
fonne de gran de vertu a commencé de leur tendre ce
piege. Ayant gagé quelques hommes pour ayder
ces pauures Barbares à fe bafiir, & à cultiuer la terre.
II a pris du premier coup à cette diuine attrappe
deux familles, compofées d' enuiron vingt perfonnes;
ie me trompe, il en a pris dauantage: car bien qu'on
n'ait encor logé que ces deux familIes, il y en a beau-
coup d'autres gagnées par ce miracle de charité.
C'efi vne benediction de voir ces pauures Sauuages
deuenus enfãs de Dieu, les vns en effet par Ie fainct
Baptême, [4] les autres par defir & par bonne volon-
té, nous en parlerons plus amplement en fon lieu.
Voyla les quatre batteries qui détruiront 1'empire
de Sathan, & qui arboreront le drapeau de Iefus-

1637 - 38]

LE JEUNE'S RELA TION, I638

127

Madame the Duchesse d' Aiguillon,ll who laid the
foundations of this great work, can after this year
enjoy the fruits of her liberality. For the men who
are working here to carry out her plan, having given
assistance this winter to some poor forlorn Savages,
God so touched them that in truth I would desire a
death similar to that which he has granted to two of
these Barbarians, who became children of God in
the blood of Jesus Christ.
In the third place, we are endeavoring to begin
Huron, Algonquin, and Montagnais Seminaries. We
have them now at Kebec, of these three kinds; I
will say a few words about them, hereafter.
In the fourth place, we are trying to fix the wan-
dering Savages. I confess that golden chains are
needed for this purpose; but their souls are more
precious than gold and pearls, and it is an advanta-
geous exchange to win them by this allurement. A
person of great virtue has begun to lay this snare for
them, having hired some men to aid these poor Bar-
barians to build for themselves, and to cultivate the
land,12 At the first setting of this divine trap, he
caught two families, composed of about twenty per-
sons. I am mistaken,- he caught more; for although
only these two families have yet been lodged, there
are many others that have been gained by this mir-
acle of charity. It is a blessing to see these poor
Savages become children of God,- some, indeed, by
means of holy Baptism, [4] the others through desire
and good will; we will speak of these more fully, in
the proper place.
Behold the four batteries which shall destroy the
empire of Satan, and shall unfurl the banner of Jesus
Christ in these regions. It is the hands and the

128

LES RELATIONS DES.lÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

Chrifi en ces quartiers. Ce font les mains & les
cæurs de quelques perfonnes cheries de Dieu qui
font ioüer ces machines par leurs bien-faits & par
leurs prieres. Les Chapitres fuiuans leur vont don-
ner fujet de croire que leurs oraifons font agreables
à Dieu, puis qu'il fe plaifi à les exaucer & par confe-
quent ie les coniure de nous cõtinuer ce grand fe-
cours. Ie confeffe ingenuëment ma pufillanimité, ie
ne m' attendois pas Ie refie de mes iours de voir de fi
puiffans efIets de la grace en des ames fi barbares.
Iufques icy quelque Sauuages approuuoient Ie Ba-
ptefme en leurs enfans, & en leurs malades: mainte-
nant ceux qui font en fanté, & qui demeurent vne
partie de l'année proche de nos habitations, l'hono-
rent & Ie pourchaffent auec affection pour eux-mef-
meso Ce changement a efié fi foudain & fi fenfible,
que ceux qui n' efperoient quafi rien de ces peuples
errans, on efié contrains de confeffer que Ie Dieu du
Ciel efioit auffi bien Ie Dieu des Barbares, que Ie
Dieu des François. Ie ne parle point des Sauuages
de Tadouffac; ce font les moins difpofez de tous,
mais de ceux qui fe retirent ordinairemêt à Kebec,
ou aux trois Riuieres. Nous en auons baptifé plus
de cèt-cinquãte cette année, fans compter ceux qui
ont e11:é faits Chrefiiens aux Hurons. Ie ne rappor-
teray pas tout ce qui s'efi paffé de remarquable en
ces Baptefmes; i'en diray peu, & ce peu r'affemblé,
approchera peut-efire plus pres de la lõgueur que ie
ne defirerois. Entrons en difcours.

1637 -38]

LEJEUNE'S Ri!.""LA TIUN, I638

129

hearts of a few persons, cherished by God, that put
these engines in motion by their benefactions and
their prayers. The following Chapters will give
them reason to believe that their prayers are accept-
able to God, since he is pleased to hearken to them;
and hence I conjure them to continue to us this great
help. I frankly confess my faint-heartedness; I did
not expect during the remainder of my days to see
so powerful effects of grace in these so barbarous
souls. Until now, some of the Savages approved
Baptism in their children and in their sick people;
now those who are in health, and who remain a part
of the year near our settlements, honor it, and eager-
ly and gladly seek it for themselves. This change
has been so sudden and so evident, that those who
expected almost nothing from these wandering tribes
have been obliged to confess that the God of Heaven
was as truly the God of the Barbarians as the God of
the French. I am not speaking of the Savages of
Tadoussac,- they show the least inclination of all,-
but of those who usually withdraw to Kebec or to
the three Rivers. We have baptized more than a
hundred and fifty of these, this year, without count-
ing those who have become Christians among the
Hurons. I will not report all the remarkable inci-
dents of these Baptisms,- I will say little of them;
and this little, all together, will approach nearer to
tediousness, perhaps, than I would desire. Let us
begin the relation.

130

LES RELA TIONS DES Jß;SUITES

[VOL. U

[5] CHAPITRE II.

DU BAPTESME D'VN SAUUAGE, & DE QUELQUES-VNS
DE SA FAMILLE.

I ' ESCRIUY 1'an paffé les entretiens que nous
auions eu auec vne efcoüade de Montagnets &
d'AIgonquins qui s'eftoient campés proche de
nous pendant l'hyuer, pource que la graine de l'E-
uangile ne germa pas fi toft que quelques vns atten-
doient, cela leur fit dire que c'eftoit peine perduë de
prefcher des Sauuages, veu mefme que celuy qui
tranchoit du Capitaine parmy eux, nommé MaKhea-
bichtichiou, n'auoit pas correfpondu à l'efperance
qu'on auoit eu de luy: C'eft chofe eftrange, qu'on
voudroit en vn moment introduire Ie Chriftianifme
dans l'infidelité, la politeffe dans la Barbarie, & il a
fallu des fiecIes pour établir noftre creance dans l'Eu-
rope parmy des nations fedentaires & policées! Or
ie puis dire que cette graine facrée qu' on ietta cét
hyuer dans leurs cæurs, a rapporté au centuple.
Premieremet ce Capitaine Makheabichtichiou n'eft
point dans Ie defefpoir de fon falut, ie croy qu'il a
la foy, quoy qu'il en foit, de la charité, i1 y a bien
de la difference entre croire, & obeir à Dieu. Nous
eftant venu voir ce Printemps, il n'ofoit entrer dans
noftre maifon, ie Ie tan cay vertement, il m'efcouta
patiemment, puis il me repliqua: Si tu fçauois Ie re-
gret qui me rõge Ie cæur, tu me porterois compaffion
au lieu de me tancer, ie penfois que tu m'interroge-

1637 -38]

LE JEUNi!.-"S RELA TION, 16,]8

131

[5] CHAPTER II.

OF THE BAPTISM OF A SAVAGE, AND OF SOME OF HIS
FAMILY.

I WROTE last year about the conversations we
had with a band of Montagnais and Algonquins
who had encamped near us during the winter.
Because the seed of the Gospel did not germinate as
soon as some expected, this made them say that it
was labor lost to preach to the Savages, seeing that
even the one who played the Captain among them,
named Makheabichtichiou, had not corresponded to
the hopes that had been entertained of him. How
strange it is that some should require, in a moment,
the introduction of Christianity into infidelity, refine-
ment into Barbarism,-when centuries have been
needed to establish our belief in Europe, among sed-
entary and civilized nations! Now I can say that
this sacred seed that was cast that winter into their
hearts, has yielded a hundredfold.
First, this Captain Makheabichtichiou's salvation
is not hopeless. I believe that he has faith; be that
as it may, in charity, there is a great deal of differ-
ence between believing and obeying God, Having
come to see us this Spring, he did not dare to enter
our house; I chided him vigorously; he listened to
me patiently, and then replied: "If thou knewest
the regret that gnaws my heart, thou wouldst have
compassion, instead of chiding me. I thought thou
wouldst question me upon the belief thou hast [6]

132

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

rois fur la creance que tu m'as [6] enfeignée, ie t'en
euffe rendu bonne raifon, car i'ay prié Dieu tout cet
hyuer, & au lieu de me monfirer bon vifage, tu me
reçois auec des reproches? Tu me dis que i'ay tou-
fiours plufieurs femmes? penfe-tu qu'on fe defa[u]ffe
fi aifément de fes vieilles habitudes? peut-efire que
vous autres aués eu aut ant de peine que nous de quit-
ter vos anciennes coufiumes, quand on a comlnencé
de vous annoncer la Foy? Prefcris moy laquelle tu
defire que ie retienne de mes femmes, & ie chaíIeray
les autres. En vn mot, il efi dans vne bonne difpo-
fition, ie n'en parleray neantmoins qu'en paffant,
iufques à ce que ie Ie voie Chrefiien, fi Dieu luy en
fait la grace.
En fecond lieu, Ie foreier nommé Pigarouïch, auec
lequel nous auions eu quelques prifes, comme ie l' ay
efcryen la Relation precedente, a brufié toutes les
vtenfilles de fon art, & iamais plus ne s'en efi voulu
mefier depuis, quoy qu'on l'en ait follicité plufieurs
fois en cachette, & par de grands prefens, s'efiant
fait plainement infiruire, il a fait des merueilles pour
la Foy, mais pource qu'il a terny ce lufire par quel-
ques actiõs de prõptitudes, que nous ne pouuons fup-
porter en vn Catechumene, ie n'en diray pas dauan-
tage, encor bien qu'il nous foit venu depuis peu
tefmoigner fes regrets iufques aux larmes; s'il conti-
nuë fortemët à frapper, on lui ouurira les portes de
l'Eglife.
En troifiefme lieu, la maladie s'efiant iettée fur
ces pauures peuples, tous ceux qui auoient affiíté aux
initructions que nous leur dõnafmes, fe trouuans faifis
de cette epidin1ie, fe font fait catechifer plus ample-
ment, & pas vn d'eux n'eft mort [7] fans Baptefme,
s'il a peu auoir accés à quelqu'vn de nos Peres.

1637 -38]

LE./EUNE'S RELA TION, r6.J8

133

taught me. I could have given thee a good account
of it, for I have prayed to God all this winter; and
instead of showing me a pleasant face, thou receivest
me with reproaches. Thou tell est me that I con-
tinue to keep several wives; dost thou think that a
person can so readily give up his old habits? Per-
haps you people had as much trouble as we to quit
your old customs when the Faith was first announced
to you. Tell me which one of my wives thou desir-
est me to retain, and I will drive away the others."
In a word, his inclinations are good; I will speak no
more of him. however, except incidentally, until I
see him a Christian, if God grant him that grace.
In the second place, the sorcerer named Pigarouich,
with whom we had some disputes, as I wrote in the
preceding Relation, has burned all the utensils of his
art, and has never again consented to tamper with it
since then,-although he has been often secretly so-
licited to do so, and with valuable presents. Having
been fully instructed, he has done wonders for the
Faith; but because he has tarnished this bright rec-
ord by some hasty actions, that we could not suffer
in a Catechumen, I will say no more about him, even
although he came to us a little while ago, and ex-
pressed his regret to us, even to tears. If he con-
tinue to knock loudly, the doors of the Church will
open to him.
In the third place, the malady having attacked
these poor peoples, all those who had been present
at the instructions we gave them, being seized by
this epidemic, have had themselves more fully cate-
chized; and not one of them died [7] without Bap-
tism, if he could have access to one of our Fathers.
But, finally, the one of whom I am about to speak

134

LES RELATIONS DES .I.J1SUITES

[VOL. 14

Mais en fin, celuy dõt ie vay parler efioit de cette
efcoüade, il fut touché viuement dés lors, quòy qu'il
n' en ait rien fait paroifire que cette année, ce feu
qui bruíloit fon ame ne luy donnant aucun repos, il
nous vint trotluer, & nous dit que dés les premieres
infiructions que nous donnafmes aux Sauuages, sõ
cæur auoit creu tout ce que nous difions de la gran-
deur de Dieu, & que pour ceia i1 enuoioit fes enfans
au Catechifme, leur recommãdant d'efcouter attètiue-
mèt ce qu'on leur enfeignoit: Ie n'ofois pas, faifoit-
iI, vous aborder, ny ne fçauois comment vous decla-
rer les penfées de mon arne, ie fouhaittois que vous
m'appellaffiés. En fin Negabamat (c'efi Ie nõ d'vn
Sauuage, fon amy) me parlant du deffein que vous
auiés de nous aider à deuenir fedentaires, ie luy dis
que ie defirois efire de la partie, non tant pour Ie fe-
cours temporeI que vous promettiés, que pour vous
entëdre parler du falut de no fire ame: I1 me femble,
difoit-il, que i'ay eu dés ma ieuneffe quelque petite
cognoiffance des chofes que vous enfeignés, ie pen-
fois ainfi à part moy, i1 y en a vn qui a tout fait, de
qui nous dependons, qui nous a donné la vie, & nous
fait trouuer dequoy la foufienir, & ceIuy-Ià haït les
mefchans. l'auois defir de Ie cognoifire, c'efi pour-
quoy ie me fuis beaucoup refioüy quãd ie vous en ay
oüy parler. En fin il nous prom it de venir paffer
l'hiuer aupres de nous pour efire plus particulieremët
infiruit. A peine efioit-il Catechumene, que Dieu
Ie mit dans de fortes efpreuues: il auoit vne belle &
groffe famille, la [8] maladie fe iette là dedãs, & en
Eure vne bõne partie à la mort: vne femme âgée fa
parente, qui gouuernoit fon mefnage, efi enleuée en
peu de iours: fa propre femme & deux de fes enfans

1637 -38]

LE /EUNE'S RELA TION, I638

135

was of this company. He was deeply touched from
that time on, although he gave no evidence thereof
until this year. This fire that burned his soul giv-
ing him no rest, he came to see us, and told us that
at the first instructions we gave to the Savages his
heart had believed all that we said of the greatness
of God, and that therefore he sent his children to the
Catechism, recommending them to listen attentively
to what was taught them. "I did not dare address
you, " said he, "nor did I know how to declare to you
the thoughts of my soul; I was wishing that you
would summon me. At last, when N egabamat"
(the name of a Savage, his friend)" spoke to me of
your intention to help us to become sedentary, I told
him that I would like to take part in this,- not so
much for the temporal aid you promised, as to hear
you talk about the salvation of our souls. It seems to
me," he said, " that I have had from my youth some
little know ledge of the things you teach; I was wont
to think thus when I was alone, 'There is one who
has made all, upon whom 'we depend, who gave us
our life, and causes us to find something with which
to sustain it; and that one hates evil-doers: I had a
desire to know him, hence I was greatly rejoiced
when I heard you speak of him." Finally, he prom-
ised to come and spend the winter near us, that he
might be more thoroughly instructed. Scarcely had
he become a Catechumen, when God put him to a
severe test. He had an interesting and large family;
the [8] disease invaded it, and delivered a good part
of it over to death. An old woman, a relative, who
managed his household, was taken off in a few days;
his own wife and two of his children died before his
eyes; some of his kindred and relations who were

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meurent deuant fes yeux, quelques-vns de fes parens
& alliez demeurans auec luy, font emportez en ìnefme
temps, il fe cõfoloit fur leurs Baptefmes, car i1 n'y
en eut pas vn qui ne prit à fa mort vne nouuelle
naiffance en I. C. Apres les auoir quafi tous enfeue-
lis de fes propres mains, luy-mefme eft terraffé, Ie
voila dans la mefme contagion que les autres: & pour
furcroift d'affliction, fon fils aifné Ie croiãt mort, fe
made contre fa volonté; c'eftoit pour accabler l'efprit
d'vn Geãt, & pour refueiller les pêfées que plufieurs
Sauuages auoient eu; que vouloir eftre Chreftien,
c'eftoit vouloir partir de ce monde. Mais Dieu qui
tient Ie fond de l'Ocean en repos durãt la furie des
vents, calma fon cæur dãs ces tempeftes. Ce pauure
hõme fe iette entre nos bras, qui ne luy eftoient que
trop ouuerts. Mr Ie Cheualier de Montmagny, noftre
Gouuerneur, voiant la bonté de ce Sauuage, n'efpar-
gne rien de tout ce qui luy pouuoit donner quelque
foulagement: il luy enuoye & perdrix & volailles, &
autres oifeaux qu'on gardoit pour fa table, ou plutôt
pour les malades; il n'efpargne ny les cõfitures, ny
Ie trauail, ny la boutique de fon Medecin & Chirurgië
tout enfemble. Veritablemêt ce grãd cæur eft loü-
able de n'auoir rien pour foy, que les cæurs & l'a-
mour de tous ceux qui font fous fon gouuernement, it
n'y a famille Francoife qui ne fe reffente de fes bon-
tez dans fon affliction. Au bout du cõte, nofire Ca-
tech. alloit toûjours s'affoibliffant, [9] en forte que fe
voyant à deux doigts de la mort, il fit venir Ie refte
de fes enfans, & leur dit: 1\Ies enfans, croyez en
Dieu, imitez en ce poinct voftre Pere. Ie croy en luy
auec autant d'affeurance que fi ie Ie voyois de mes
yeux, ne l'offencez point, & il vous aidera. Ie fuis

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living with him were carried off at the same time.
He consoled himself with their Baptism, for there
was not one of them who did not experience at his
death a new birth in Jesus Christ. After having
buried nearly all these with his own hands, he him-
self was stricken,- behold him seized with the same
contagion as the others; and, to increase his afflic-
tions, his eldest son, believing him dead, married
against his will. It was enough to crush the spirit
of a Giant, and to revive the ideas that many of the
Savages had entertained, that to intend to become a
Christian was to consent to depart from this world.
But God, who maintains peace at the bottom of the
Ocean during the fury of the winds, calmed his heart
in the midst of these tempests. This poor man threw
himself into our arms, which were only too wide
open for him. Monsieur the Chevalier de Montma-
gny, our Governor, seeing the goodness of this Sav-
age, spared nothing of whatever might give him
some relief. He sent him both partridges and poul-
try, and other birds that were kept for his table, or
rather for the sick; he spared neither the sweetmeats,
nor the services, nor the store of his Physician and
Surgeon together. Truly, this great heart is worthy
of praise for having nothing of his own, except the
hearts and the love of all those who are under his
government; there is not a French fan1ily which does
not experience his kindness in time of affliction. To
finish this story, our Catechumen grew continually
weaker, [9] so that, beholding himself within two
finger-lengths of death, he summoned the rest of his
children and said to them, " My children, believe in
God; imitate your Father in this respect. I believe
in him with as much certainty as if I saw him with

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defia mort, quand mon corps fera en terre, demeurez
aupres des Peres, & leur obeïffez. Ie ferols trop
long de rapporter tout ce qu'il leur dit. II tira les
larmes des yeux de ceux qui l'entendoient. Les ay-
ant fait retirer, il nous preffa de luy accorder Ie S.
Baptefme. Hafiez-vous, nous difoit-il, ie me meurs,
ie fuis preffé d'aller au Ciel. QueIquefois penfant
efire feul, nous l'efcoutions d'vn lieu voifin, faifant
fes prieres à Dieu auec vne tendreffe & vne deuotion
toute plaine de confiance. En fin Ie iour de la fefie
du glorieux Saint François Xauier, Mr Ie Gouuer-
neur, Mr Ie Cheualier de l'Ifle, & M. Gand efians
prefens, nous Ie fifmes Chrefiien. M. de rIfle Ie
nomma François Xavier. II tefmoigna tant de cæur
& tãt de fatisfaction de cette faueur, que ces Meffieurs
s' en retournerent tous confolez. A huict iours de
Ià,
1. Ie Gouuerneur & 11. de l'Ifle m'efians venus
prendre pour l'aller vifiter dans vne petite Cabane
où il s'efioit retiré pour mourir en paix & fans bruit,
il nous dec1ara auec vne fimplicité toute naïfue vne
gran de communication qu'il auoit eu auec Dieu.
Hier fur Ie foir, me difoit-il, penfant en Dieu, ie me
fuis veu entouré d'vne grande lumiere, i'ay veu Ies
beautez du Ciel, dont tu nous parIes; i'ay veu la mai-
fon de ce grand Capitaine qui a tout fait. r eitois
dans vn plaifir qui [10] ne fe peut exprimer. Cecy
difparoiffant tout à coup, ie rabaiffe mes yeux vers
la terre, & vis vn gouffre épouuentable qui m' a tranfi
de peur. II me femble qu'on me dit, ne va pas Ià, ie
n'auois garde de m'en approcher; car ie tremblois
comme la feüille fur l'arbre pouffée du vent. Cét
horreur s'euanoüiffant auffi bien que Ia beauté & la
lumiere qui m'auoit enuironné, ie fuis demeuré tout

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139

my eyes; do not offend him, and he will help you.
I am already dead; when my body is in the earth,
remain near the Fathers, and obey them." It would
take too long to report all he said to them; he drew
tears from the eyes of those who heard him, Hav-
ing directed them to withdraw, he urged us to grant
him Holy Baptism. "Hasten," he said to us; "I
am dying, I am in haste to go to Heaven." Some-
times thinking himself alone, we heard him from a
place near by offering his prayers to God, with a ten-
derness and devotion showing the utmost confidence.
Finally, on the feast day of our glorious Saint Fran-
çois Xavier, Monsieur the Governor, Monsieur the
Chevalier de I' Isle, and Monsieur Gand being pres-
ent, we made him a Christian. Monsieur de l'Isle
named him François Xavier. He displayed so much
feeling, and so much satisfaction for this favor, that
those Gentlemen returned greatly comforted. A
week afterwards, Monsieur the Governor and Mon-
sieur de l'Isle having come to take me to visit him,
in a little Cabin where he had retired to die in peace
and quietness, he declared to us, with altogether
naïve simplicity, a great communication he had had
with God. "Yesterday, towards evening," he said
to me, "while thinking of God, I saw myself sur-
rounded by a great light; I saw the beauties of
Heaven, of which thou tell est us; I saw the house of
that great Captain who has made all. I was in a
state of delight which [IOJ cannot be expressed. This
suddenly disappearing, I lowered my eyes toward
the earth, and saw a frightful gulf which paralyzed
me with fear. It seemed to me some one was say-
ing to me, , Do not go there!' I had no wish to ap-
proach it, for I was trembling like the leaf upon the

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efperdu, auec vn defir de croire & ò'obeyr à Dieu
toute ma vie, affeure nofire Capitaine que voila.-, que
ie croy du profód du creur. Or ie puis afíeurer V.
R. que nous auons fait noftre pomble pour defcouurir
fi ce n'efioit point vne fourbe ou vn fonge. Nous
l'auons fondé plufieurs fois & en diuers temps; iuf-
ques là que Ie croiant auoir l'ame fur les leures, nous
Ie fifmes fouuenir de cette vifion, Ie menaçant d'vn
rigoureux chafiiment s'il mentoit en chofe de telle
importance. Ce pauure homme eípouuenté, s'effor-
ça de fe leuer en fon feant, & nous dit d'vn reil con-
fiant; ie vous affeure en to ute verité que la chofe eft
comme ie vous l'ay defcrite. Ie ne vous ay pas men-
ty à la vie, ie ne vous mentiray pas à la mort. A
cela que peut-on dire autre chofe finon que Ie Dieu
du Paradis refpand fes benedictions auffi bien fur les
Barbares, que fur les Grecs.
1. Ie Gouuerneur &
11. de l'IOe Ie retournans encore voir vne autre fois
auec Ie fieur Marfolet, qui entend fort bien la langue
des Sauuages, furent fi fatisfaits, que Ie fieur Marfo-
let m'afíeura puis apres qu'il luyauoit penfé tirer
les larmes des yeux, Iuy demandant s'il n'auoit point
beíoin d'aucune chofe qui fuft en fon pouuoir. [I I]
Non, repart-il, finon que tu prie Dieu pour moy tous
les iours & tous les matins: Combien de fois s'a-
drefíant à Dieu, luya-il dit, vous efies mon Seigneur
& mon maiftre, ordonnez de ma vie & de ma mort,
ie fouhaitte la mort pour vous voir, & ie voudrois
viure pour Ie bien de mes enfans. Sa famille l'affli-
geant, i1 difoit. Que tout Ie monde me quitte, ie ne
vous quitteray pas. Eítre né Barbare & parler en
ces termes, c'eft publier les bontez du Dieu des Scy-
thes, & des Chreítiens.

1637 -38]

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141

tree shaken by the wind. This feeling of horror
vanished, as well as the beauty and light which had
surrounded me. I was left quite distracted with a
desire to believe and to obey God all my life; assure
our Captain of this, that I believe from the bottom
of my heart:' N ow I can assure Your Reverence that
we did all we could to discover whether this were an
imposture or a dream. We had sounded him sev-
eral times and on different occasions, until, believing
that he had his soul upon his lips, we reminded him
of this vision, threatening him with severe punish-
ment if he lied in a matter of so much importance.
This poor frightened man, trying to raise himself to
a sitting posture, said to us with a steadfast eye, " I
assure you in all truth that the thing is as I have
described it to you. I have not lied to you in life; I
will not lie to you at my death," Regarding this,
what can one say except that the God of Paradise
bestows his blessings upon the Barbarians as well as
upon the Greeks. :Monsieur the Governor and Mon-
sieur de l'Isle again returning to see him with sieur
Marsolet, who understands the language of the Sav-
ages very well, were so pleased, that sieur Marsolet
assured me afterwards that he had almost drawn
tears from their eyes; when he asked him if he
needed anything that might be in his power to give,
[I I] " No," he replied, "unless thou pray God for
me every day and every morning." How many
times, addressing God, did he say to him, " You are
my Lord and my master; order my life and my death;
I wish for death, that I may see you, and I would
gladly live for the good of my children." His family
mourning for him, he said, "Though all the world
forsake me, I will not forsake you." To be born a

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Sa maladie tirant en longueur. Car il fut plus de
trois mois, tantofi dans vn peu de vie, maintênant
quafi dans la mort, il appelloit ceux qui reftoient de
fa famille, & leur donnoit des confeils admirables.
En fin on fit tant de prieres pour luy, nos Peres s'a-
dreffans à Dieu par quelques væux & par quelques
mortifications, qu'au mefme temps qu'on l'auoit aban-
donné, & qu'on luy donnoit comme à vn mort tout ce
qu'il defiroit, Dieu luy renuoye fa fanté, Ie voila for-
ty du tombeau auec l'eftonnement des François &
des Sauuages. II s' en va chercher fa prouifion de
chair d'EOans dans les bois, i1 part en Mars apres
tous les Sauuages, & reuient en Auril, & cependant
il en rapporte plus que fix autres enfemble. Au re-
tour it eft accueilly d'vne tempefte dans les glaces,
il a recours à Dieu, fait prier fa famille, il fort du
peril qui l'alloit engloutir, & qui abyfma l'vn de fes
canots chargé de viande. Comme il vit que quelques-
vns de fes gens ne prioient pas de bon cæur, i1leur
dit, voicy que nous abordons la maifon des François,
où on a promis de me [2 i.e., 12] loger. Ie ne veux
perfonne auec moy qui ne croye en Dieu. Si quel-
qu'[v]n de vous autres n'a Ie cæur ferme, qu'il prenne
fa part de noftre prouifion, & qu'il fe retire ailleurs.
II auoit deux femmes auant fon baptefme, la plus
forte & la plus ieune mourut Chreftienne: L'autre
qui n'a guiere d'efprit fe monfiroit froide en la foy.
C'eft à celle-Ià qu'il parloit tacitement & à fa fæur;
celIe cy refpondit tout haut, qu'elle croioit defia dans
fon cæur; En effet elle fût baptizée peu de iours
apres. Pour fa femme, voyant qu'elle fe renge vn
petit, il ne l'a pas voulu repudier, quoy qu'elle ne Ie
foulage quafi point en fon mefnage. Noftre nouueau

1637 -38]

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143

Barbarian, and to speak in these terms, is to publish
the goodness of the God of the Scythians and of the
Christians.
His sickness was long and tedious, for he was ill
more than three months,-sometimes showing a
little life, and again almost in the grave. He called
those of his family who survived, and gave them
admirable advice. Finally, so many prayers were
offered for him, our Fathers addressing themselves
to God through vows and mortifications, that at the
very time when he had been abandoned, and all that
he desired had been given him, as to a dead man,
God sent him back his health. Behold him emerged
from the tomb, to the astonishment of the French
and of the Savages. He went into the woods, in
quest of his provision of Elk meat; he departed in
:March after all the other Savages, and returned in
April, and yet he brought back more of it than six
others together. On his return, he was assailed
amidst the ice by a tempest; he had recourse to God,
made his family pray, and emerged from the peril
that was about to engulf him, and which sunk one
of his canoes loaded with meat. When he saw that
some of his people were not praying from their hearts,
he said to them, "See, we are drawing near the
house of the French, where they have promised to
[2 i.e., 12] lodge me. I do not wish anyone with
me who does not believe in God. If anyone of you
has not a steadfast heart, let him take his share of
our provisions, and let him retire elsewhere." He
had two wives before his baptism: the strongest and
youngest of them died a Christian. The other one,
who had but little intelligence, showed herself cold
towards the faith. It was to this one and to her sis-

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Chrefiien profeffant hautement la foy, & publiant par
tout que Dieu luy auoit rendu la fanté du corps & de
l'ame, defira de s'approcher de la Sainte Table, i1 s'y
prepara auec vne grand pureté, il fit vne bonne Con-
feffion depuis fon Baptefme, ieufna la veille du Saint
Sacrement, iour defiiné pour fa premiere commu-
nion. Monfieur nofire Gouuerneur nous parla de
luy donner 1 'vn des bafions du Poële, foubs lequel on
portoit Ie Saint Sacrement, en prenant vn luy-mefme
par vne humilité vraymët genereufe. C'efioit vn
fpectac1e agreable au Ciel & à la terre, de voir ce
Neophite couuert d'vne modefiie vrayment Chrefii-
enne fous yne belle robbe de Sauuage, porter Ie dais
à la proceffion auec la premiere perfonne du pays.
Les Moufquetades & les canons venant à bruire & à
tonner, les Autels & repofoirs efiant bien parez,
donnoient ie ne fcay queUe deuotion que nofire nou-
ueau foidat goufioit auec vne douceur incroyable.
[13] En fin il receut celuy qui Ie venoit d'honorer
publiquement, ne fe pouuant faouler de Ie benir. II
dit par apres à l'vn de nos Peres, Ie ne me foucie
plus des chofes de la terre; II importe peu que ie
fois pauure ou riche, fain ou Inalade, puifque Ie Ciel
m'eft ouuert, & que mon vray Capitaine m'eft venu
vifiter. Quand vou
me chafferiez, quand voftre
Gouuerneur me rebuteroit, quand vous fortiriez tous
de noftre païs, ie ne quitterois iamais Dieu. Quel
changement! cét homme qui a mangé plufieurs fois
la chair de fes ennemis, reçoit maintenant IE S V s-
C H R 1ST. auec vn cæur plein de deuotion! le con-
feffe auec yne candeur toute naïfue! bref, il eft dans
l'exercice de la Religion, fe comportant en vray
Chreftien. Dieu luy face la grace de perfeuerer iuf-

1637 -38]

LE /EUNE'S RELATION, I6.J8

145

ter that he was speaking indirectly. The latter an-
swered aloud that she already believed in her heart;
in fact, she was baptized a few days afterward. As
for his wife, seeing that she gave way a little, he did
not wish to repudiate her. although she gives him
little comfort in his household. Our new Christian,
openly professing the faith, and proclaiming every-
where that God had restored to him health of body
and of soul, desired to approach the Holy Table.
He prepared himself for this with great purity, made
a good Confession after his Baptism, and fasted on
the eve of the Holy Sacrament, the day appointed
for his first communion. 1-.1:onsieur our Governor
suggested to us that we give him one of the poles of
the Canopy under which the Holy Sacrament was
borne,- he himself taking one, through a truly noble
humility. It was a spectacle agreeable both to Heav-
en and to earth, to see this
eoph yte - clad, under a
beautiful Savage robe, with truly Christian modes-
ty- bearing the canopy in the procession, with the
chief person in the land. The:M uskets and cannons
beginning to roar and thunder, and the beautiful
decorations of the Altars and resting places, caused
an indescribable spirit of devotion, which our new
soldier enjoyed with an incredible delight. [13]
Finally, he received him who came to honor him
publicly, and could not bless him profusely enough.
He said afterwards to one of our Fathers, cc I do not
care any more for the things of earth; it matters
little whether I am poor or rich, well or sick, since
Heaven is opened to me, and my true Captain has
come to visit me. If you were to drive me away,
if your Governor were to reject me, if you were all
to leave our country, I would never give up God."

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[VOL. 14

ques à fa mort. Difons deux mots de fes enfans, i1
auoit trois garçons & trois filles; Dieu prit l'\iTI de
fes garçons dans la contagion, & l'vne de fes filles
doüée d'vne grace non commune aux Sauuages.
Pour marque que la foy efioit dedans fon creur, voy-
ant vn Pere de nofire Compagnie qui la vifitoit à la
mort, elle s'efcria en refuant, car eUe auoit vne vio-
lente fiéure. Ah mon Pere! ie m'en yay dans les
feux, ie fuis damnée. Cela fit voir que la crainte
efioit dans fon arne, Ie Pere Iuy parlant de Dieu eUe
reuint à foy, fe r'affeura, & mourut dans l'innocence
de fon Baptefme.
Sa freur iumelle née à mefme iour, & quafi dans
Ies mefmes perfections naturelles, fe prefentant aux
fainctes Ceremonies du Baptefme, Monfieur nofire
Gouuerneur Ia voyant fi gentille, voulut efire fon par-
rain: & ayant appris que nofire [14] gran de Reine
iettoit par fois quelques regards vers Ie Ciel pour Ie
falut de nos pauures Barbares, qu'eUe auoit mefme
fouhaitté qu' on eOeuafi quelque ieune fille Sauuage
en Ia Foy en fa confideration, il luy fit porter fon
nom, l'appellant Anne. Cette nouueUe plante croifi
tous les iours en la foy, frequentant les Sacremens à
rimitation de fon pere: II arriua certain iour que
celuy qui Ia deuoit entendre de confeffion, l'infiruifant
auparauant, & Iuy recommandant la candeur, elle Ie
regarda comme efionnée, & Iuy dit; Ne m'auez-vous
pas enfeigné que c'efi à Dieu à qui on declare fes
pechez en Ia prefence du Pre fire ! Ie moyen done de
Iuy mentir, & de Iuy cacher quelque chofe, puis qu'il
fçait tout?
Entre ces trois enfans baptifez, l'vn des Peres que
V. R. nous a enuoyés cette année, mettant pied à

1637 -38]

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147

What a change! This man, who has many times
eaten the flesh of his enemies, now receives J E S us
C H R 1ST with a heart full of devotion, and confesses
him with a candor altogether naïve! In short, he is
practicing Religion, conducting himself as a true
Christian. 11ay God give him the grace to persevere
until his death. Let us say a few words of his chil-
dren. He had three boys and three girls; God took
one of his boys during the contagion, and one of his
girls, who was endowed with a grace not common to
the Savages. As an evidence of the faith that was
within her heart, seeing one of the Fathers of our
Society who was visiting her in her dying moments,
she exclaimed in her delirium, for she was in a vio-
lent fever, "Ah, my Father! I am going into the
fires; I am damned!" That showed that fear was
in her soul. Upon the Father speaking to her of
God, she recovered her senses, reassured herself, and
died in the innocence of her Baptism.
Her twin sister, born on the same day, and with
almost the same natural perfections, presented her-
self for the holy Ceremonies of Baptism. When
:Monsieur our Governor saw how amiable she was,
he wished to be her godfather; and having learned
that our [14] great Queen sometimes raised her eyes
toward Heaven for the salvation of our poor Barba-
rians, and that she had even wished some young Sav-
age girl to be brought up in the Faith on her account,
he had her take her name, calling her Anne. This
new plant grows daily in the faith, frequenting the
Sacraments in imitation of her father. It happened
one day that when the one who was to hear her con-
fession was instructing her beforehand, and recom-
mending sincerity to her, she looked at him as if in

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terre, a receu à mefme temps en l'Eglife de Dieu Ie
plus petit fils de noftre Neophyte: refte enCOl'e a ba-
ptizer fon fils aifné, & vne autre fille plus ieune, que
Dieu benira s'illuy plaift en fon temps.
Cette femme qui gouuernoit fa famille fe difpofant
au Baptefme, vit entrer la nuict en fa petite Cabane
vn animal gros cõme vn Ours. Croyãt que ce fuft vn
demon, elle euft recours à Dieu, & cette befte ou fan-
tofme difparut, Ie lendemain elle fut receuë dans
rEglife militante, & peu de temps apres dans la
triomphante.

1637 -38]

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149

astonishment, and said; "Have you not taught me
that it is God to whom one declares one's sins in the
presence of the Priest? How then can I lie to him,
and conceal anything from him, since he knows all?"
Of these three baptized children, one of the Fa-
thers whom Your Reverence has sent us this year, at
the very time of his landing, received into the Church
of God the youngest son of our Neophyte. There
still remains to be baptized his eldest son and an-
other younger daughter, whom God will bless, if it
please him, in his own time.
The woman who takes care of his family, while
preparing herself for Baptism, saw an animal as large
as a Bear enter her little Cabin, during the night.
Believing this to be a demon, she had recourse to
God, and the beast or phantom disappeared. The next
day she was received into the Church militant, and
a little while afterward into the Church triumphant.

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[15] CHAPITRE III.

DE QUELQUES AUTRES SAUUAGES BAPTISÉS.

V N ieune Sauuage fe voyant malade, demande Ie
Baptefme auec inftance, mais comme on Ie
tenoit dans les épreuues; Ne voyés-vous-pas,
nous fit-iI, qu'on me va mener à la mort? car mes pa-
rens me trainans apres eux dans les bois, ne manque-
ront iamais pour fe deliurer de la peine que ie leur
donneray de m'affommer, ou de m'abandonner feul
dans ces grandes forefts. Oüy, mais fi tu gueris, luy
dit on, perfeueras-tu dans Ia foy que tu profeffe main-
tenant? comme i1 eft d'vn naturel violent & affez
orgueilleux, nous craignons en luy l' Apoftafie; Ne
me parlés pas de guerifon, refpond-il, ie vous de-
mande Ie Baptefme comme vn homme qui s' en va à
la mort. Là deffus i1 fe leue en fon feant, prie qu'on
Ie face Chreftien; fa demande accomplie, on Ie vou-
lut faire recoucher, car il eftoit debile, attendés, dit-
iI, que i'aye vn petit remercié Dieu du grand prefent
que ie viens de receuoir. Apres fon Baptefme il fuft
traifné en mille endroits, on ne I' affomma pas, mais
on Ie fit bien fouffrir; i1 fut quelquefois delaiffé tout
feul au coin d'vn bois auec vn peu de viures qu'on
mettoit aupres de Iuy. Iamais ie ne vy homme tant
endurer, ie ne croy pas que lob fuft plus pauure; car
il n'auoit plus [16] que la peau colée fur fes os, &
vne mefchante efcorce d'arbre qui luy feruoit de lict,
de robe, & de maifon, il s'efcrioit par fois, ie hay

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151

[15] CHAPTER III.

OF SOME OTHER BAPTIZED SAVAGES.

A YOUNG Savage, finding himself sick, urgently
asked for Baptism; but, when he was kept on
probation, he said to us, " Do you not see that
they are taking me to my death? For my relations
dragging me after them into the woods will be sure
to free themselves from the trouble I shall give
them, by killing me, or abandoning me in these great
forests." " Yes, but if thou recover," was said
to him, " wilt thou persevere in the faith :that thou
dost now profess?" As he is of a violent and rather
haughty disposition, we feared Apostasy for him.
" Do not speak to me of recovery," he replied; "I
ask you for Baptism as a man who is going to his
death. " Thereupon he raised himself to a sitting
posture and begged to be made a Christian. His re-
quest fulfilled, they wished him to lie down again,
for he was very weak. " Wait," said he, " until I
have thanked God a little for the great gift I have
just received." After his Baptism he was dragged to
a thousand places; he was not killed, but was made
to endure great suffering. He was sometimes left
all alone in a corner of the woods, with a little food
placed near him. I have never seen a man endure
so much,-I do not think that Job was any more
wretched; for this man had nothing more [16] than
the skin adhering to his bones, and a wretched piece
of bark which served him as bed, blanket, and house.

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mon corps, ie ne crains point la mort, puis en pin-
çant fa peau toute noire & affreufe à voir, ce' n'eft
pas cette pourriture que i'aime, c'en Ie Ciel où mon
ame doit aller. Les Sauuages s' en voulans deffaire
firent courre vn bruit qu'il eftoit deuenu loup garou,
& qu'il vouloit manger tous ceux qui l'approchoient;
comme nous eufmes appris toutes ces belles nou-
uelles, nous Ie fifmes apporter, & Ie fecourufmes fi
bien, que cette carcaffe reprit corps, ce mort refufci-
ta; & ce pauure muet delia fi bien fa langue, que
c'eft vn plaifir de l'entendre maintenant benir Dieu;
il prefche fes gens, leur reproche leurs vices & leur
ingratitude auec vne liberté qui nous confole, & Ie
bon eft qu'il s'accufe Ie premier tout publiquement,
d'auoir autrefois commis les pechez qu'il reprend en
eux: il conçoit fi bien nos myfteres, que ie ne croy
pas que beaucoup de vieux Chreftiens procedent plus
fin cerement & plus nettement au Sacrement de Peni-
tence que ce Neophyte.
Vn autre plus ieune que luy fut auffi delaiffé dans
fa maladie, Ie Sauuage qui l'abandonna vint trouuer
vn de nos Peres, & Iuy dit, Vas-fen trouuer vn ieune
garçon que i'ay laiffé en tel endroit, pource que ie
m'en vay à la chaffe dans les bois, & ie ne Ie fçaurois
traifner apres moy; Cela dit, mon homme s'en va
fans autre ceremonie. Nous prifmes ce pauure en-
fant defia fait Chreftien par Ie Baptefme, nous luy
rendons toute l'affiftance poffible l'efpace de plus de
trois mois qu'il fuft en [17] noftre petite maifon;
Dieu Ie voulut appeller à foy, il fe confeffa & receut
Ie Sacrement de I' Extreme Onction. Vn peu deuant
fa mort, il nous demanda qui eftoient ceux qu'il auoit
oüy chanter fort melodieufement toute la nuict, ce

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153

He sometimes cried out, "I hate my body, I do not
fear death; " then, pinching his skin, all black and
frightful to look upon, " It is not this rottenness that
I love; it is Heaven, whither my soul is going."
The Savages, wishing to get rid of him, spread a
report that he had become a man wolf, and that he
would eat all those who came near him. When we
had learned all this fine news, we had him brought
to us, and succored him so effectually that this carcass
again became a body, this corpse was resuscitated;
and this poor mute tongue was so loosened that it is
a pleasure now to hear him bless God. He preaches
to his own people, reproaching them for their vices
and their ingratitude with a freedom that consoles
us; and the best of it is that he first accuses himself,
publicly, of having formerly committed the sins that
he reproves in them. He has so good a conception
of our mysteries that I do not think many old Chris-
tians proceed to the Sacrament of Penance more sin-
cerely and more frankly than this
eophyte.
Another one, younger than he, was also deserted
in his sickness. The Savage who abandoned him
came to one of our Fathers, and said to him, " Go
and find a young boy that I have left in such and
such a place, because I am going to the woods to
hunt, and I cannot drag him after me. ,. So saying,
my man went away without further ceremony. We
took this poor child, who had been already made a
Christian by Baptism. \Ve rendered him all the as-
sistance possible, during the space of more than three
months that he was in [17] our little house. God
wished to call him to himself; he confessed, and re-
ceived the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. Shortly
before his death, he asked us who those were whom

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LES R.E"'LA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

qui l'auoit recreé au poffible, il penfoit que nous Ies
auions entendu, comme il difoit cela; il fe mònfira
efionné, & nous dit, Ne voyez-vous pas ces gens là
fort épouuentables qui me regardent d'vn mauuais
reil? on Ie r'affeura auffi-tofi. Le foir dont il mourut
la nuict, il appella fort vn de nos Peres, qui accourut
incontinent; mais on ne pût fçauoir ce qu'il vouloit
dire, il s' efcrioit feulement. Le Pere Ie fçaura, Ie
Pere Ie fçaura; quelque temps apres il rendit fon ame
bien heureufe à nofire Seigneur.
I'ay par1é dans les Relations precedentes d'vn cer-
tain furnommé des François, Ie grand Oliuier, lequel
fit baptifer il y a deux ans fa fille, & puis apres fa
femme. fe promettant bien de mourir Chrefiien auffi
bien que les autres: Ce bõ-heur luy efi arriué non
fans vne faueur particuliere de Dieu, car il efioit fort
fuperfiitieux, & ne manquoit pas d'efprit pour deffen-
dre ces niaiferies; 11 fe méloit de deuiner. Or foit
que Ie diable fe communiquafi à Iuy par leur fre-
miffement de mammelle, foit qu'il Ie rencontrafi
quelquefois par hazard, ie l'ay veu affeurer qu'vne
certaine nOl1uelle qu' on attendoit arriueroit Ie lende-
main matin, & cela fut trouué veritable. Efiant
tombé malade, il nous fit appeller, nous y allafmes
troi:-; de compagnie; Ce bon homme defia conuaincu
fur fes fuperfiitions, nous dit: Ah mes chers amis!
[18] vous me faites plaifir, ie n' ay plus de paroHes
qu'al1tant qu'il en faut pour vous tefmoigner que ie
croy en Dieu; que ie renonce à nos badineries pour
embraffer la Foy que vous m'auez enfeignée. Là
deffus i1 fe voulut mettre à genoux, mais i1 n'eut pas
affez de force, on Iuy confera Ie pren1i
r Sacrement
de grace, & tout fur I'heure il paffa dans"la gloire.

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155

he had heard singing all night, very melodiously,
affording him the utmost delight; he thought that
we had heard them. As he told this, he assumed a
startled look, and said to us, ., Do you not see those
frightful people there, looking at me with evil eyes? "
We immediately reassured him. On the evening of
the night he died, he called loudly for one of our Fa-
thers, who immediately ran to him; but he could not
understand what the boy intended to say, as he only
exclaimed, "The Father will know it, the Father
will know it." Some time afterward, he rendered
up his blessed soul to our Lord.
I have spoken in preceding Relations of a certain
man surnamed by the French, "big Olivier," who
two years ago had his daughter baptized, and after-
wards his wife, fully resolving that he would die a
Christian, as well as the others. This good fortune
did not happen to him without a special favor of
God; for he was very superstitious, and did not lack
the ability to justify those foolish notions; he took
part in divination. Now either because the devil
communicated with him by means of their throb-
bings of the breast, or because he chanced to meet
him sometimes, I have known him to assert that cer-
tain news which was expected would arrive the next
morning, which proved to be true. Having fallen
sick, he had us summoned; three of us went to him.
This good man, already convinced of his supersti-
tions, said to us, " Ah! my dear friends, [18] you are
doing me a favor. I have no longer the power to
speak, except what is necessary to testify to you that
I believe in God, that I renounce our absurdities to
embrace the Faith that you have taught me. It There-
upon he tried to get on his knees, but he had not

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[VOL. 14.

N ous verrons quelques exemples bien plus notable
que celuy que ie vay deduire, comme i1 ne faut point
defefperer de la bonté de Dieu; nonobftant la barba-
rie des Sauuages. Vn de nos Peres abordant vne
ieune fille malade pour la difpofer au Baptefme, cette
pauure creature l'apperceuant, luy dit: fors d'icy, ie
ne te veux pas voir. Le Pere faifant femblant de ne
la pas entendre, luy dit, ma fille, ie voudrois bien
fçauoir où eft ta plus grande douleur, pour y appor-
ter quelque remede. La malade incitée par l'efprit
malin, fe tourne de l'autre cofté toute en colere, ce
que fa fæur qui la gardoit ayant apperceu, dit au
Pere; n'entends-tu pas qu'elle te dit que tu t'en aille,
& que tu luy romps la tefte. Les deux Peres qui
eftoient là recognoiffant la tentation du diable, ont
recours à Dieu, & Ie demon s'enfuit. Ma fille, dit
l'vn de fes Peres, nous te voudrions donner vn bon
eonfeil, & tu Ie mefprife; quoy done, fortirons-nous
fans que tu nous parle? à ces parolles elle fe tourne
la face, & s'efcrie: Ah mon Pere, ie me meurs! ie
n'en puis plus, c'eft fait de ma vie! Non ma fille,
vous ne mourez pas tout à fait, luy dit Ie Pere, fi
vous croiez en Dieu; car voftre ame ioüira d'vn plai-
fir eternel. Ie croy refpond-elle, [19] ie croy, ie fuis
marrie de l'auoir offenfé. On l'interroge fur les prin-
cipaux articles de nottre creance, comme eUe auoit
affiíté au Cathechifme, elle répondit, fort bien: On luy
demanda fi elle voudroit bien receuoir Ie S. Baptefme,
eUe répondit, non de paroles, mais par effect; car en-
core qu'elle fuft aux abois de la mort, elle fe foûleue
doucement, met vn plat d'écorce fous fa teíte, faifant
figne qu'on verfaft deffus ces eauës fanctifiantes pour
guerir les playes de fon arne, on luy obeyt, on la fait

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157

enough strength. The first Sacrament of grace was
conferred upon him, and almost at the same time he
passed into glory.
We shall see examples even more remarkable than
this I am about to describe, showing that the good-
ness of God must not be despaired of, notwithstand-
ing the barbarism of the Savages. One of our Fa-
thers approaching a young sick girl to persuade her
to Baptism, this poor creature perceiving him, said,
"Go away from here; I do not wish to see thee."
The Father, pretending not to hear her, said, " My
daughter, I would like very much to know where
thy greatest pain is, to bring thee some remedy for
it." The patient, incited by the evil spirit, turned
angrily to the other side; her sister, who was taking
care of her, seeing this, said to the Father, " Dost
thou not hear her tell thee to go away ,- that thou
art turning her brain?" The two Fathers who were
there, recognizing the temptation of the devil, had re-
course to God, and the demon fled. "My daughter,"
said one of these Fathers, "we wish to give thee good
counsel, and thou despisest it; how now, shall we go
away without thy speaking to us?" At these words
she turned her face and exclaimed, ., Ah, my Father,
I am dying! I can do no more, it is a question of my
life! .. "N 0, my daughter, you will not entirely per-
ish," the Father said to her, " if you believe in God.
for your soul will enjoy eternal pleasure," "I be-
lieve," replied she, [19] "I believe, I am sorry to
have offended him." She was questioned upon the
principal articles of our belief; as she had attended
the Catechism, she answered very well. She was
asked if she truly desired to receive Holy Baptism;
she answered not by words. but by actions; for, al-

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Chreftienne, & à mefme temps citoyenne du Paradis;
Car en rabbaiffant fon corps vers la terre, fon' ame
s' enuola dans les Cieux. C' eft vne faincte penfée de
mediter par fois quels font les eftonnemens & les
fainctes épouuentes, pour ainu. dire, qu'a l'ame d'vn
Sauuage, paffant en vn moment de l'extremité de la
barbarie, & de la baffeffe dans le fein de la gloire.
QueUe action de grace ne fait-eUe point à ceux qui
luy ont procuré cette grandeur, queUe benediction
du Ciel ne demande-eUe point à Dieu pour ceux qui
n'ont point épargné les biens de la terre, afin qu'on
luyappliquaft Ie fang de IESVS-CHRIST. Paf.
fans outre; i'ay peur d'eftre long.

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159

though she was on the verge of death, she gently
raised herself and put a bark plate under her head,
making a sign that these sanctifying waters should be
poured over her to cure the wounds of her soul; she
was obeyed; she was made a Christian, and at the same
time a citizen of Paradise,- for, in lowering her body
towards the ground, her soul flew away to Heaven.
It is a holy exercise of the mind to meditate at times
upon the wonder and holy terror, so to speak, that
the soul of a Savage experiences in passing, in one
moment, from the extreme of barbarism and degrada-
tion into the bosom of glory. What thanksgivings
does it not offer for those who have procured it this
greatness; what Heavenly blessings does it not ask
from God for those who have not spared their earth-
ly goods that they might apply to it the blood of
J E S use H R 1ST? Let us pass on; I fear this win
be too long.

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[20] CHAPITRE IV.

D'AUTRES PERSONNES ADULTES BAPTIZÉES SOLEM-
NELLEMENT.

L E feminaire des Hurons nous a donné cette année
deux ieunes hommes, auffi conftans en la Foy,
que leur nation eft variable & changeante. Ie
n'ay pas connoiffance du futur, mais ie fçay bien que
Ie fejour qu'ils ont fait parmy nous, les a fait iuger
tres-difpofez pour receuoir Ie caract ere du Chreftien.
Mr Ie Cheualier de Montmagnyen nomma vn Ar-
mand lean, du nom de Monfeigneur Ie Cardinal, iu-
geant qu'il eftoit à propos qu'vn Prince de l'Eglife
qui fauorife cette Eglife naiffante, en recueillit les
premiers fruits. Son compagnon eft celuy qui fe
fauua l'an paffé des mains des Hiroquois par vne
efpece de miracle. Monfieur Gand & Madamoifelle
de Repentigny, fes parain & maraine, l'appellerent
Iofeph, au nom de Meffieurs de la N ouuelle France.
Le Chapitre du Seminaire des Hurons nous fera voir
les bonnes difpofitions & les vertus de ces deux ieunes
hommes vrayment touchez de Dieu. I'ay par1é dans
les Relations precedentes d'vne ieune fille donnée à
vne famille Françoife pour deux ans, à condition que
ce temps expiré, el1e fe pourroit retirer aupres de fes
parens, fi el1e en auoit la volonté; Le terme appro-
chant, fon pere la preffa fort de Ie fuiure: [2 I] elle
fit la fourde oreil1e, 11 enuoye vn ieune homme pour
luy parler de mariage: Et afin de gagner plus forte-

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LE JEUNE' S RELA TION, r6.l8

161

[20] CHAPTER IV.

OF OTHER ADULT PERSONS WIIO HAVE BEEN SOL-
E.\INL Y BA.PTIZED.

T HE seminary for the Hurons has given us this
year two young men, as steadfast in the Faith
as their nation is unsteady and changeable. I
have no knowledge of the future, but I know well
that the sojourn they made among us has caused them
to be considered very well prepared to receive the
stamp of Christian. l\Ionsieur the Chevalier de Mont-
magny named one of them Armand Jean, the name
of Monseigneur the Cardinal, deeming it appropriate
that a Prince of the Church, who favors this rising
Church, should gather the first fruits thereof. His
companion is the one who escaped last year from the
hands of the Hiroquois by a sort of miracle. Mon-
sieur Gand and 11adamoiselle de Repentigny, his god-
father and godmother, called him Joseph, in the
name of the Gentlemen of New France. The Chap-
ter on the Seminary for the Hurons will show us the
good inclinations and virtues of these two young
men, truly touched by God. I have spoken in the
preceding Relations of a young girl given to a French
family for two years, on condition that when this
time expired she should be allowed to go back to her
parents, if she wished to do so. As the time drew
near, her father strongly urged her to follow him;
[21] she turned a deaf ear. He sent a young man to
speak to her about marriage, who, in order to more

16

LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES

[VOL. L4

ment fon amitié, & la diuertir des François, i1 luy
fait prefent de braffelets & de pendans d'oreille, &
d'vn colier de pourcelaine, ce font les perles & les
diamans du pays. Cette bonne Cathecumene agée
de 12 à 14 ans, répondit en fuyant, laiffa là fes pre-
fens, & celuy qui les offroit fans luy dire vn feul
mot. Ayans donc reconnu fa confiance, nous la dif-
pofafmes au Baptefme. Le diable s'y voulut oppo-
fer, car elle fut faifie d'vne efpece d'obfeffion fi vio-
lente, qu' en vn moment elle tournoit la tefie auec
vne deformité fort horrible, fon efiomac s' eí1euoit
demefurement: On la voyoit toute épouuentée fans
pouuoir dire autre parole, finon; i'ay peur, i'ay peur.
Cecy luy arriua par trois fois, & toufiours en des
temps que pas vn de nous ne pouuoit efire appellé
pour la voir en cét efiat. On preffa fort de luy faire
prendre quelque medecine, pour luy purger Ie cer-
ueau, difoit-on. N ous en auions la volonté, mais
l'oubly nous faififfoit incontinent. Le Baptefme la
deuoit guerir; car depuis que les eaux facrées l'eurent
faite enfant de Dieu, iamais plus Ie diable ne luy
donna cette épouuente; Elle fut appellée Magdelaine
de S. Iofeph. I'efpere qu'vne ame cherie de Dieu
luy trouuera fon mariage.
Le forcier Pigarouch, auec lequel nous eufmes tant
de prifes l'an paffé, comme i'ay defia dit, a infiruit
& fait baptizer fa femme, & trois de fes enfans à la
mort. V n fien frere fe rendant opiniafire, & fe moc-
quant des feux d'Enfer, ille preffa [22] fi fortement
qu'i1le fléchit. Comment, luy faifoit-il, tu crois que
ton ame n'aura aucune connoiffance apres ta mort?
Efi-ce toy qui l' a creé pour en parler auec cette opi-
niaítreté? Tu mets toute fon affeurance en tes ap-

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163

effectually gain her friendship and estrange her from
the French, made her a present of bracelets and ear-
rings, and a necklace of porcelain,- these are the
pearls and diamonds of the country. This good
Catechumen, between 12 and 14 years old, answered
by fleeing, leaving there his presents, and him who
offered them, without saying to him a single word.
Having now recognized her constancy, we prepared
her for Baptism. The devil tried to oppose this, for
she was seized by a sort of obsession, so violent that
she instantly turned her head around, with horrible
distortion, and her stomach grew enormously swollen.
We saw that she was utterly terrified, and unable to
utter a word, except," I am afraid, I am afraid."
This happened to her three times, and always at a
time when none of us could be called to see her in
this condition. There were urgent requests to have
her take some medicine, to clear her brain, they said.
\Ve were willing to do this, but negligence suddenly
seized us. Baptism was destined to cure her; for,
since the sacred waters have made her a child of
God, the devil has never caused her this fright. She
was called Magdelaine of 8t. Joseph. I hope that
some soul dear to God will find in her a wife.
The sorcerer Pigarouch, with whom we had so
many disputes last year, as I have already said, in-
structed and had his wife and three of his children
baptized at death. One of his brothers becoming ob-
stinate, and ridiculing the fires of Hell, he urged
him [22J so strongly that he convinced him. "What!"
said he to him, "dost thou think thy soul will have
no consciousness after death? Is it thou who hast
created it, that thou shouldst speak of it with this
obstinacy? Thou placest all thy dependence upon

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

prehenfions remplies d' erreur, & moy qui eroy en
Dieu, ie m'appuye fur fa parolle; e'efi luy qui a tiré
les ames du neant, & par eonfequent qui en peut par-
ler auee toute verité. La raifon t'apprend que eeluy
qui t'a donné l'efire en demande quelque reeonnoif-
fanee fur peine de ehafiiment. II fit fi bien, que ee
bon homme fe rendit, & fut nommé Chryfofiome.
Ayans baptisé vne bonne femme dans vne groffe ma-
ladie, en forte qu'elle répondoit auec vne entiere con-
noiffance à toutes les demandes qu'on luy fit, fans que
iamais elle parut extrauaguée, arriue qu' elle retourne
en fanté, nous luy demandafmes fi elle fe fouuenoit
bien du nom qu' on luy auoit donné. Non, dit-elle,
ie ne fçay pas feulement fi on m'a baptifée. Mais
ne te fouuiens-tu pas, luy difmes nous, des réponfes
que tu nous a faites touchant nofire creance. Non,
refpondit-elle, ie ne fcay ee que vous m'auez deman-
dé, ny ee que ie vous ay répondu, mais ie me fouuiens
bien qu'il me fembloit quand vous me parliez que Ie
Diable me vouloit tuer, & que ie difois en mon eæur;
e'efi bien à luy à m'offencer, puisque ie erois en
Dieu, il n'en fçauroit venir à bout. Ie me fenty par
apres déliurée de ce danger, ee fut fans doute par ee
Baptefme. Cette pauure femme fe comporte bien
maintenant, fort ioyeufe d'auoir efié malade, pour
auoir [23J reeeu vne faueur qu'on ne luy eut pas fi tofi
aecordée. Ie ne fçaurois me laffer de dire que eeux
qui defefperent de la conuerfion des Sauuages, font
vne iniure à la bonté de Dieu; Nous auons feeouru
cét hyuer vn ieune homme auec vne grande patience,
car fa maladie a duré plus de cinq mois: Apres toute
la eharité qu'on luy eut fait, & l'infiruction qu'on
luy eut donnée, Ie diable luy renuerfa quafi la cer-

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thy apprehensions. full of errors as they are; and I
who believe in God, I lean upon his word; it is he
who has drawn souls from nothing, and consequently
can speak of them with all truth. Reason teaches
thee that he who has given thee being demands some
acknowledgment thereof, on pain of punishment."
He argued so well that this good man yielded, and
was named Chrysostome.
Having baptized a good woman in a serious illness,
so that she responded with perfect intelligence to all
the questions put to her, without once appearing to
wander, it happened that she returned to health, and
we asked her if she remembered clearly the name
that had been given to her, "No," said she, " I do
not even know whether I have been baptized."
" But dost thou not remember," we said to her, " the
answers that thou didst make to us concerning our be-
lief? " "N 0," she answered, " I do not know what
you asked me, nor what I answered you; but I re-
member very well that it seemed to me, when you
addressed me, that the Devil tried to kill me, and
that I said in my heart, 'It is no wonder that he at-
tacks me, since I believe in God; but he cannot suc-
ceed.' I afterwards felt myself delivered from this
danger; it was no doubt through this Baptism." This
poor woman behaves well now, and is very glad that
she was sick, that she might [23J receive a favor that
would not have been granted to her so soon. I can-
not refrain from saying that those who despair of the
conversion of the Savages, offer an insult to the good-
ness of God. We have this winter succored a young
man, with great patience, for his sickness lasted
more than five months. After all the kindness that
had been shown him, and the instruction that had

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ueUe. Ce pauure miferable entre en fureur, blaf-
pheme contre Dieu, protefte qu'il ne croit plus en luy,
Tout l'hyuer faifoit-il, ie l'ay prié, & ie m'attendois
qu'il me gueriroit, & me voila plus mal que iamais,
qu'il me damne s'il veut, ie ne m 0 en foude pas.
Ceux qui entendent ces blafphemes creurent inconti-
nent que les Sauuages ne croyent que par intereft.
C'eft chofe eftrange que Ie mal eft mieux receu que
Ie bien. Tout Ie monde croit au premier recit to utes
les fimplicités que nous efcriuons de ces peuples, mais
fi on remarque quelque traict dOefprit. de bon fens,
en vn mot, quelque faueur de la nature, ou de la
grace, cela eft comme reuoqué en doute. Qui euft
iamais crû que noftre blafphemateur deuft chanter les
loüãges de Dieu. Nous Ie fifmes porter dans la Ca-
bane de quelques Sauuages fes parens; & au mefme
temps que nous ne luy donnions plus aucun fecours,
finon de luy remonftrer doucement fon peché, il fut
fi contrit, qu'il nous tira les larmes des yeux. 11
demanda Ie Baptefme, protefta qu'il eftoit marry d'a-
uoir offencé fon Seigneur, luy donne fa vie fans Ie prier
de la proionger d Ovn moment. Dit tout haut qu'il
croit & qu'il veut [24J croire à iamais en celuy qui
luya touché Ie cæur: on Ie baptize dans cette fer-
ueur: Ie Diable furuient à Ia trauerfe; vn fien frere
fonge que fi on mettoit vn bafton aupres de luy qui
reffemblaft à vne couleuure, quOil gueriroit: On en
fait vn auffi-toft, on Ie place aupres de fa tefte. Ay-
ant eu aduis de cette fuperfiition, nous l'allafmes
vifiter; comme nous Iuy demandions fi ce bafton n'a-
uoit point fait fon corps, puis qu'on Ie mettoit aupres
de Iuy pour Ie refaire, il Ie prit, & nons Ie donna.
Emportez-Ie, fit-il, afin qu'il n'en foit plus de nou-

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167

been given him, the devil almost turned his head.
This poor wretch, being in a fury, blasphemed God,
and protested that he no longer believed in him.
"All the winter," said he, " I have prayed to him,
and was expecting that he would cure me; and here
I am, worse than ever! Let him damn me if he will,
I do not care! " Those who hear these blasphemies
immediately conclude that the Savages believe only
through self-interest. Strange, how evil is better
received than good! Everyone believes, at the first
recital, all the simplicities that we write about these
peoples; but if we note some trait of intellect or good
sense,- in a word, some boon of nature or of grace,-
this is, as it were, called in question. Who would
ever have believed that our blasphemer was to sing
the praises of God? We had him carried into the
Cabin of some of his Savage relatives; and at the
very time that we were giving him no more assis-
tance, except to remonstrate gently with him about
his sin, he was so contrite that he drew tears from
our eyes. He asked for Baptism, protesting that he
was sorry to have offended his Lord; and offered him
his life, without praying him to prolong it for a mo-
ment. He said aloud that he believed, and that he
would [24] forever believe in him who had touched
his heart. He is baptized while in this fervor. The
Devil unexpectedl y comes across his path; one of
his brothers dreams that if a stick resembling a ser-
pent be put near him, he will recover. One is im-
mediately made, and placed near his head. Having
been notified of this superstitious act, we went to
visit him; when we asked him whether this stick had
made his body, since it was placed near him in order
to restore him, he took it and gave it to us. " Take

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uelle, ils l'ont mis aupres de moy fans que i'y aye
aucune creance. Ie l'enuoye à V. R. encore qu'il
n'ait autre rareté finon qu'il fera vn long voyage.
Ayant furuefcu quelque temps apres fon baptefme, i1
fe confeffa, & receut l'extreme-Onction auec vn tel
fentiment de deuotion, que fa face en eftoit toute épa-
noüie. Nous luy demandafmes, s'il ne craignoit
point la mort. Non, ie ne la crains plus depuis mon
baptefme, au contraire, ie defire fort d'aller voir mon
Pere & mon Dieu. Nous luy remifmes en memoire
quelques offences qu'il pourroit auoir faites depuis
qu'il eftoit Chreftien, afin d'en demander pardon à
Dieu: II penfa vn petit à part foy, puis il nous dit.
Non, ie ne fuis pas tombé dans ces pechez. Car me
prefentant au Baptefme, ie fis mon compte qu'eftans
enfant de Dieu ie ne Ie deuois plus offencer; & puis
il me femble que ceux qui font baptizés ne tombent
point dans ces offences. Sa mort eftonna ceux qui
auoient defefperé de fa conuerfion.

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169

it away," he said, " in order that I may hear no more
about it; they placed it near me without my having
any belief in it." I send it to Your Reverence, al-
though it is rare in no other respect except that it
will make a long journey. Having survived some
time after his baptism, he confessed and received ex-
treme Unction, with such sentiments of devotion that
his face was all aglow. We asked him if he did not
fear death. "No; I no longer fear it since my bap-
tism; on the contrary, I greatly desire to go and see
my Father and my God." We recalled to his mem-
ory some offenses that he might have committed since
he had become a Christian, so that he might ask
God's pardon for them. He thought within himself
a little; then he said to us, " No, I have not fallen
into those sins, for, when I presented myself for Bap-
tism, I considered that, being a child of God, I ought
no more to offend him; and then it seems to me that
those who are baptized do not fall into those offenses. "
His death astonished those who had despaired of his
conversion.

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[25] CHAPITRE V,

DE LA CONUERSION & DU BAPTESME D'VN IEUNE
HOMME, & DE QUELQUES AUTRES SAUUAGES.

N ON eft abbreuiata mallUS D011lÙzi vI j"aluare llequeat:
neque aggrallata eft aurzs eius vt non exaudiat.
Dieu u'a pas les mains plus foibles, ny les au-
reilles plus fermées qu'il auoit il y a mille ans. Ces
paroles nous feruiront de garend contre ceux qui
prendroient les faueurs que fa bonté commèce à faire
aux Sauuages pour des exagerations. Nous verrons
en ce ieune homme vn triõphe de la prouidence & de
la mifericorde du grãd Dieu. 11 y a tantoft deux ans
que Mr Gand, homme fort charitable enuers les pau-
ures Sauuages, recueillit ce miferable à demy mort
de faim, de froid, & de maladie, quoy qu'il fuft
tres-biè apparèté parmy les fiës, il l'habille, Ie loge,
luy procure des viures, & nous Ie met entre les mains
pour l'inftruire: on Ie preffe par diuerfes raifons; on
Ie fait prier Dieu foir & matin, il fçait la plufpart
de nos myfteres, mais il ne les croit qu'en apparence:
en vn mot, il cherchoit Ia vie du corps, & nõ de
l'ame. L'hyuer paffé, Ie froid cãtinuë dãs fon cæur,
dequoy nous apperceuãs, nous Ie chaffafmes cõme
vne persõne qui nous fuiuoit à Ia façõ des chiês, pour
auoir du pain, i1 paffe l'Efté auec fes compatriotes,
parlant toufiours honorablement de nous; fur r Au-
tomne i1luy arriue vne difgrace, faifant vne fuërie,
i1 tomba [26J fur Ies pierres ardentes qui efchauffoient

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171

[25] CHAPTER V.

OF THE CONVERSION AND BAPTISM OF A YOUNG MAN,
AND OF SOME OTHER SA V AGES.

N ON est abbre'lJiata manus Domini ut salvare nequeat:
lleque aggravata cst aurz"s ejus ut non ezaudiat.
God's hands are no weaker, nor his ears more
shut, than they were a thousand years ago. These
words will serve us as a guarantee against those who
would regard as exaggerations the favors that his
goodness is beginning to bestow upon the Savages.
We shall see in this young man a triumph of the prov-
idence and mercy of the great God. It is almost
two years since Monsieur Gand, a man who is very
charitable to the poor Savages, rescued this poor
wretch, half dead from hunger, cold, and sickness,
although he was very well connected among his own
people; he clothed him, lodged him, procured him
food, and put him in our hands to be instructed.
Different argulnents were urged upon him; he was
made to pray to God morning and evening, he knew
the greater part of our mysteries; but he believed
only in appearance. In a word, he sought the life
of the body, and not that of the soul. The winter
past, the cold continued in his heart,- perceiving
which, we drove him away as a person who followed
us, as a dog would, to get some bread. He passed
the Summer with his countrymen, always speaking
of us with respect. Toward Autumn, a misfortune
happened to him; when he was taking a sweat, he

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ces efiuues, il fe grilla & brul1a vne gran de partie du
corps; c'eftoit chofe affreufe de Ie voir. Le voila
donc auffi prés de la mort que de l'hyuer, car il con-
noit bien qu'il ne Ie paffera iamais, s'il n'eft. forte-
ment fecouru: ce qu'il n'attendoit point de fes gens,
qui ne fçauent non plus que c'eft. de charité que de
chirurgie: il nous iette plufieurs æillades, nous parle
de retourner auec nous: mais no us n' auions plus
d'oreilles pour luy, croians qu'il n'en auoit point pour
Dieu. En ce mefme temps nous reçeufmes lettres de
nos Peres des Trois riuieres, lefquels nous deman-
doient quelque ieune Sauuage pour paffer l'hyuer
auec eux, afin qu'en l'inft.ruifans ils fe formaffent
toufiours en la cognoiffance de leur langue. N ous
ne penfions guere à ce pauure corps tout rofty: mais
en fin apres en auoir trouué d'autres qui nous man-
querent de parole, nous fufmes contraints de leur
enuoier ce pauure miferable, qui n'auoit plus que la
moitié de fon corps. 0 mon Dieu, queUe prouidence!
ils Ie font penfer, ils Ie traittent auec toute forte d'a-
mour & de cæur; eftant gùery, cét homme de pierre
demeura toufiours froid cõme vne glace. En fin nos
Peres ne pouuans fouffrir cette langueur, ont recours
à Dieu, luy font quelques væux par l'interceffion du
glorieux Apoft.re S. Paul, prefentent Ie fainct Sacri-
fice de la 11effe Ie iour de fa conuerfion pour la con-
uerfion de cette ft.atuë infenfible. Chofe eft.range! Ie
voila changé en vn moment, fon cæur eft. plain de
regrets d'auoir fi lõg temps refifté à Dieu, il preffe
qu'on Ie baptize pour eft.re defchargé du fardeau de
fes pechez, il ieufne de [27] foy-mefme, faifant fem-
blant de manger, & remettant dextrement à l'écart
ce qu'on luy donnoit pour fon viure: il paffe dans la

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173

fell [26] upon the burning stones which heat these
baths, and scorched and burned a great part of his
body; it was something frightful to see. Behold
him, then, as near death as in the winter; for he
knew very well that he would never survive it if he
were not vigorously assisted; this he did not expect
from his own people, who no more know what chari-
ty is than they understand surgery. He cast many
glances at us, and spoke to us about returning to us;
but we had no longer ears for him, believing that he
hàd none for God. At this very time we received
letters from our Fathers at the Three rivers, who
asked us for some young Savage to pass the winter
with them, so that in giving him instruction they
might continue to improve their knowledge of their
language. We hardly gave a thought to this poor
badly roasted body: but finally, after having found
others, who failed to keep their word with us, we were
constrained to send them this poor wretch, who had
no more than half of his body. Oh my God, what a
providence! They had him cared for, they treated
him with every evidence of love and affection; hav-
ing recovered, this man of stone still remained cold
as ice. Finally our Fathers, unable to endure this
apathy, had recourse to God, made vows to him
through the intercession of the glorious Apostle St.
Paul, and offered the holy Sacrifice of the Mass
on the day of his conversion, for the conversion of
this insensible statue. Strange to say! behold him
changed in a moment; his heart is full of regret for
having so long resisted God; he urges them to bap-
tize him, that he may be relieved from the burden
of his sins; he fasts of [27] his own accord,-pre-
tending to eat, but dexterously putting to one side the

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rigueur de l'hyuer les heures entieres dans la Chap-
pelle, attiré par vne vertu fecrette qu'il adore fans la
connoître. Son efprit qui iufques alors auoit paru
maillf, & pefant comme du plomb, fe fubtilife en
forte qu'il conçoit fans peine tout ce qu'on luy en-
feigne de nos myfieres. Nos Peres s'en étonnans, i1
répondit: C' eft vne faueur de mon bon Ange, auquel
ie demande fecours autant de fois que vous m' appel-
lez pour eftre infiruit. Comme on luy vint à parler
de la prefence de Iefus-Chrift au Sainct Sacrement,
il fit vn gefte comme d'vn homme plein de ioye. Ie
ne m'étonne plus, fit-iI, fi ie prenois tant de plaifir
d'approcher de lAutel quand ie faifois mes prieres
en la Chappelle: plus i'en eftois proche, plus ie reffen-
tois de contentement dans mon arne, fans pouuoir
com prendre d'où cela procedoit.
Ses parens ayant rapporté force chair frefche de
leur chaffe pendant Ie Carefmc, on luy dit qu'il en
pouuoit manger, puis qu'il n'étoit pas encore baptisé,
II repartit, vous vous en abftenez pour vn bien, ie
defire me procurer ce bien à moy-mefme. Pour Ie
fonder, on luy fit entendre que Ie Baptefme luy fe-
roit peut-eftre occafion de mort. Dieu puniffant la
feintife de fon cæur par ce fupplice. II répondit en
ces termes. Si Ie Baptefme ne me doit faire mourir
qu'en cas de feintife, ie ne la dois pas craindre: mais
quand il tueroit abfolument mon corps, ie Ie deman-
derois pour faire reuiure ma pauure ame. Dieu eft
admirable dans [28] fes procedures: à mefme temps
qu'on promet Ie Sacrement de lumiere à ce pauure
Catechumene, il luy oUe les yeux du corps, vne de-
fluxion luy tombe en vn moment fur la veuë, & Ie
rend aueugle, ou peu s' en faut: car il ne voit pas

1637 -38]

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175

food that was given to him; he passes whole hours
in the Chapel, in the rigor of winter, attracted thither
by a secret virtue which he adores without recogniz-
ing it. His mind, which until then had seemed dull,
and heavy as lead, becomes so alert that he conceives
without any difficulty all that is taught him of our
mysteries. Our Fathers showing surprise at this, he
said, " It is a favor from my good Angel, of whom I
ask help every time you summon me to be instruct-
ed." When they came to tell him of the presence
of Jesus Christ in the Holy Sacrament, he made a
gesture as of a man full of joy. "I am no longer
astonished," said he, "that I took so much pleasure
in approaching the Altar when I offered my prayers
in the Chapel; the nearer I approached, the more
contentment I felt in my soul, without being able to
comprehend whence it proceeded."
His relatives having brought back an abundance
of fresh meat from their hunting during Lent, he
was told that he might eat of it, since he was not yet
baptized. He rejoined, "Y ou abstain from it for
some good, I desire to obtain this good for myself."
To try him, he was made to understand that Baptism
would perhaps be the occasion of his death, God
punishing the hypocrisy of his heart through this
affliction. He answered in these words: "If Bap-
tism is only going to cause my death on account of
hypocrisy, I need not fear it; but if it should abso-
lutely kill my body, I would ask it that I might cause
my poor soul to live again. God is admirable in [28]
his methods. At the same time that the Sacrament
of light is promised to this poor Catechumen, he takes
away from him the eyes of his body; an inflamma-
tion suddenly attacks his eyesight, and he becomes

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affez pour fe conduire. Ce coup ne l'efionna point,
il tint ferme dans fa refolution, Ie diable n'èuft pas
la force de réueiller dans fon ame l'erreur des Sau-
uages, qui s'imaginoient il n'y a pas long temps qu'ils
ne pouuoient procurer la vie de leur ame qu'en pen-
dant celIe du corps. Comme on Ie veit confiant dans
cette tentatiô, & dans cette épreuue que Dieu luy
donna, on Ie mit au nombre des enfans de Dieu, il
fut nommé Paul, fuiuant la promeffe qu'on en auoit
fait à ce grand Apofire.
Quelque temps apres fon Baptefme, nos Peres des
Trois Riuieres nous l'enuoyerent à Kebec auec vn
mot de lettre, dont voicy la teneur. Le peu de viures
que nous auons, & Ie grand nombre de Sauuages qui
ont befoin de nôtre fecours, nous ont fait refoudre
de vous enuoyer ce nouueau foldat de Iefus-Chrifi,
peut-efire encore luy pourra-on trouuer là bas quel-
que remede à fes yeux. Au refie, il efi vrayement
touché, il a vne humilité vraiment Chrefiiène, vne
grande refignation à la volôté de Dieu. Nous luy
auons fouuent demandé s'il ne s'affligeoit point d'a-
uoir perdu les yeux: il a toufiours refpondu que
n'efiant pas maifire de foy-même, il faUoit laiffer
agir Dieu, lequel efiant nofire Pere, cognoiffoit bien
ce qui nous efioit Ie meilleur. Tout de mefme,
difoit-il, que fi mon corps n'eufi efié bruf1é cét Au-
tomne, mon ame fufi tombée cét hyuer dans les feux;
car i'euffe [29J fuiuy les Sauuages, & perdu la vie auec
eux dans la foibleffe en laquelle ie me trouuois: de
mefme, peut-efire que ie perdrois ]a veuë du Ciel, fi
Dieu ne m' ofioit la veuë de la terre. La Foy luy a
fait perdre la honte de parler de Dieu deuant fes

1687 - 38]

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177

blind, or nearly so, for he does not see well enough
to guide himself. This stroke did not appal him, he
continued steadfast in his resolution; the devil had
not power to reawaken in his soul the error of the
Savages, who not long ago imagined that they could
only procure the life of their souls in destroying that
of their bodies. As he was seen to be firm in this
temptation, and in this trial which God made of him,
he was placed among the number of the children of
God; he was named Paul, in accordance with the
promise made to this great A postle.
Some time after his Baptism, our Fathers of the
Three Rivers sent him to us at Kebec, with a brief
letter, of which this is the tenor: "The small amount
of food that we have, and the great number of Sav-
ages who need our help, have made us decide to send
you this new soldier of Jesus Christ; perhaps, also,
may be found down there some remedy for his eyes.
It may be added that he is really touched; he has a
truly Christian humility, and great resignation to
the will of God. We have often asked him if the
loss of his eyes did not affiict him; he has always re-
plied that, not being master of himself, he must leave
it to God to act, who, being our Father, knew well
what was best for us. 'Just as,' said he, 'if my body
had not been burned this Autumn, my soul might
have fallen this winter into the fires,- for I might
have [29J followed the Savages, and lost my life with
them in the state of weakness in which I was; so,
perhaps, I would have lost the sight of Heaven, if
God had not taken away the sight of earth. ' Faith
has caused him to lose the shame he felt in speaking
of God before his countrymen. I trust that he will
give you consolation."

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[VOL. 14

compatriotes, i'efpere qu'il vous donnera de Ia con-
folation.
Auffi-tofi qu'il fut arriué, il fe confeffa & commu-
nia, & Ie iour mefme il tomba malade, mais fi bruf-
quement & fi fortement, qu'on me vint vifie appeller
pour Ie voir mourir. Efians aupres de luy, nous luy
demãdafmes en la prefence des Sauuages s'il crai-
gnoit la mort, il foufrit doucement, quoy qu'il fut ex-
tremement abatu. Ie fuis baptifé, repliqua-il, ie ne
crains plus ny la mort, ny Ie diable: Si ie ne croiois
pas en Dieu, i'aurois peur: mais Dieu efiant auec
moy, ie ne crains plus rien finon de l'offencer. N'efies
vous point trifie de mourir fi tôt, luy fifmes nous,
demandez moy plutofi, fi ie ne fuis pas bien ioyeux
d'aller au Ciel, que ceux-Ià s'attrifient de la mort,
qui n'ont point d'efperance en Dieu, pour moy ie
croy en fa parole, i'efpere en fa bonté, c'efi pour-
quoy ie ne fuis point trifie, ces paroles nous touche-
rent d'autant plus, qu'elles furent profitables à fes
gens qui admiroient ce grãd changement en vn ieune
homme de leur nation. 11s furent encor plus efton-
nez, quand à peu de iours de là ils Ie virent en fanté
contre leur efperance: i1 frequente maintenant les
Sacremens, voire mefme il goufie Dieu dans l'Orai-
fon, voila où la grace peut porter vn Sauuage, Dieu
luy donne la perfeuerance, car fi les efioilles tombent
du Ciel, perfonne ne vit en affeurance.
[30J Nous adiouterons à ce ieune homme la conuer-
fion d'vne famille plus heureufe pour Ie Ciel, que
fortunée fur la terre. Vn grand homme bien fait &
bien renommé parmy les Sauuages, apres nous auoir
vn affés lõg temps preíté l'oreille, nous aborda, pour
nous témoigner les fentimens de fon cæur: il nous

1637 -38]

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179

As soon as he arrived, he confessed and took com-
munion; and that very day he fell sick, but so unex-
pectedly and seriously, that I was summoned in haste
to see him die. Being with him, we asked him in
the presence of the Savages if he feared death. He
smiled gently, although he was extremely low. "I
am baptized," he replied: "I no longer fear death,
or the devil. If I did not believe in God I would be
afraid, but God being with me, I no longer fear any-
thing except offending him." "Are you not sad to
die so soon?" we asked him. "Ask nle, rather, if I
am not very glad to go to Heaven; let those who
have no hope in God be sad at the thought of death;
as for me, I believe in his word, I hope in his good-
ness; this is why I am not sad." These words af-
fected us all the more as they were profitable to his
own people, who wondered at this great change in a
young man of their nation. They were still more
astonished when a few days afterwards they saw him
in good health, contrary to their expectations. He
now frequents the Sacraments; yea, more, he even
en joys God in Prayer. Behold how far grace can
bear a Savage! May God give him perseverance;
for, if the stars fall from Heaven, no one lives in cer-
tainty.
[3 0 J We will add to the conversion of this young
man, that of a family, happier as to Heaven than it
was fortunate upon earth. A tall, well-built man,
and of excellent repute among the Savages, after hav-
ing listened to us for some time, approached us, to
make known the sentiments of his heart. He said to
us, on his return from burying one of his children,
" My soul is filled with sadness, not for the death of
my son, but because he died without baptism." Now

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dit, venant d'inhumer l'vn de fes enfans, i'ay l'ame
remplie de triíteffe, non de la mort de mon fils, .mais
de ce qu'il eft mort fans baptefme. Or comme il eut
appris que fon enfant eftant mort en bas âge ne
reffentoit point la peine du feu, pour n'auoir commis
aucun peché actuel, il nous remercia fort de luyauoir
enfeigné vne doctrine fi fauorab1e, difoit-il. Puis il
adioufia, il court vn bruit là haut que vous auez écrit
à vn grand Capitaine de France pour nous ayder à
loger à 1a Frãçoife, & à defricher la terre, cela eft-il
vray? Luy ayant répondu que ce1a eftoit veritable.
Souuenez-vous, dit-il, que ie fuis des premiers qui
me veux ranger fous vos drapeaux, ie ne feray pas
feul, ie vous en ameneray p1ufieurs auec may: mais
vn poinct, faifoit-il, me tiet en haleine, fi ce Capi-
taine auquel vous auez récrit vous enuoye vn mé-
chant papier, defifterez-vous de nous enfeigner. A
Dieu ne plaife, luy difmes nous, iamais nous ne vous
abandonnerons. Voila, repart-il, Ie meilleur de vos
difcours, car ie ne veux m'arrefter aupres de vous
que pour Ie falut de mon ame. Sur ces entrefaites,
fe preparant pour faire vn voyage à Tadouffac, i1
nous dit plufieurs fois; Vifitez fouuet ma famille, fi
quelqu'vn meurt fans baptefme, vous en répondrez,
car nous voulons tous croire en Dieu. Vn autre mien
fils eft [3 I] ma1ade, faites-1e Chreftien au p1uftoft, de
peur de furprife. Les iugements de Dieu font des
abyfmes, ce bon homme lequel nous refioüiffoit iuf-
ques au fond du cæur, non pour fa feule conuerfion,
mais pour l'efperance que nous auions que plufieurs
imiteroient fon exemple, tomba maladé Ie iour qu'il
fe deuoit embarquer, & dans quatre iours apres, il eft
baptifé & mis au tombeau. Trois iours apres fa fem- ..

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181

when he had learned that his child, having died in
infancy, did not feel the pains of hell, not having
committed any actual sin, he thanked us heartily for
having taught him a doctrine so favorable, he said.
Then he added, " A report prevails up yonder that
you have written to a great Captain of France that
he should aid us to settle in the French way, and to
clear the land: is that true?" Having told him that
it was, " Remember, JJ said he, " that I am one of the
first who wishes to place himself under your flags;
I shall not be alone, I shall bring several with me.
But one point, II said he. " nlakes me hesitate. If this
Captain to whom you haye written sends you a bad
paper, will you stop teaching us?" "God forbid,"
we replied; " we shall never forsake you. " " There, "
said he, " that is the best of your speeches: for I do
not wish to stay near you for anything except the sal-
vation of my soul. ,. Meanwhile, as he was prepar-
ing to make a journey to Tadoussac, he said to us
several times, " Visit my family often; if any of them
die without baptism, you wi11 answer for it, for we
all wish to believe in God. Another of my sons is
[3 I] sick; make him a Christian as soon as possible,
for fear of being taken unawares." The judgments
of God are unfathomable. This good Inan,- who
caused us to rejoice from the bottom of our hearts,
not only for his own conversion, but for the hope we
had that many would imitate his example,- fell sick,
the day on which he was to embark; and within four
days afterward, he was baptized and borne to the
grave. Three days later, his wife was seized by the
sanle malady; feeling that she was stricken with
death, she summoned us and said: "The love that
you bear TIle makes me believe that I cannot ùo bet-

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me efi faifie de mefme mal, fe fentant frappée à mort,
elle nous appelle, & nous dit: L'amour que vous ,nous
portez ma fait croire que ie ne peux mieux laiffer
mes deux petits fils qu'entre vos mains, puifque vous
avez chery Ie pere, cheriffez les enfans; Ie vous les
donne, efieuez-Ies en vofire creance, & me baptifez,
car ie fuis morte. Comme on les tranfportoit, cette
pauure Inere les regardant, leur dit d'vne voix dolête.
Adieu mes enfans, c' efi pour la derniere fois que
ie vous verray ça bas en terre. Cela dit, on la fait
Chrefiienne, & du Baptefme on la porte au tom beau,
fes deux enfans font deux petits germes du Semi-
naire. Sur ces entrefaites, fa freur arriue toute
malade, c'efioit l'vne des mefchantes femmes du pais,
elle fe mefioit de leur forcellerie, en quoy elle re-
üffiffoit mieux que les hõmes. L'affiiction ouure les
yeux de l'entendement, cette miferable demande Ie
Baptefme, crie mercy à Dieu, protefie qu'elle croit,
elle nous efionne par vn changement fubit, nous luy
accordons ce qu'on ne luy pouuoit refufer fans impi-
eté. A peine efi-elle purgée de fes offences qu'on la
met en terre, fon mary fe voiant chargé de fon en-
fant en cor fort ieune, nous Ie donne pour eftre mis
auec fes coufins. [32] La mort de ces deux pauures
creatures n'empefche pas que leur troifiefnle freur
ne fe face maintenant infiruire pour viure à Iefus-
Chrifi. En mefme temps vn ieu[ n Je homme bien in-
ftruit, frappé de la mefme contagion, recherchant Ie
falut de fon ame dans les eaux du Baptefme, y trouua
encor celuy du corps: car il guerit à mefme temps
qu'il fut Chrefiien. Cette guerifon bien foudaine
nous efionna, d'autant qu'il efioit aux abois quand
on Ie baptifa. Reuenu à foy, il nous donna fon

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183

ter than to leave my two little sons in your hands;
since you have cherished the father, cherish the chil-
dren. I give them to you, rear them in your belief;
and baptize me, for I am dead." As they were being
carried away, this poor mother, looking at them, said
in a mournful voice, (( Farewell, my children; this is
the last time I shall see you here below on earth."
This said, she was made a Christian, and from Bap-
tism was carried to the grave, Her two children are
two little germs of a Selninary. Meanwhile her sis-
ter arrived, very sick; she was one of the wicked
women of the country, taking part in their sorcery,
in which she succeeded better than the men. Afflic-
tion opens the eyes of the understanding; this wretch-
ed creature demands Baptism, cries to God for mercy,
protests that she believes; she astonishes us by a sud-
den change; we grant her what could not be refused
to her without impiety. Scarcely is she purged from
her transgressions than she is put in the ground.
Her husband, finding himself burdened with her still
very young child, gives him to us, to be placed with
his cousins. [32] The death of these two poor crea-
tures does not prevent their third sister from now
having herself instructed, that she may live in Jesus
Christ. At the same time, a young man, well in-
structed, stricken by the sanle contagion, seeking the
salvation of his soul in the waters of Baptism, found
therein also that of his body; for he recovered at the
same time that he became a Christian. This very
sudden recovery surprised us, inasmuch as he was
almost dead when baptized. Upon his recovery, he
gave us his little brother to be cast into the port of
safety, both for the body and for the soul. A Father
passing near a cabin without entering, a Savage

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petit frere pour Ie ietter au pour [sc. port] de falut,
tant pour Ie corps que pour l'ame. Vn Pere paffant
aupres d'vne cabane fans entrer dedans, vne femme
Sauuage luy dit en fe plaignant. Ie croy que tu ne
nous aime plus, puis que tu pafIe fans nous vifiter:
Ie Pere foufrit à cette plainte, entre dans la cabane,
y trouue vne pauure femme fort malade, qui luy dit,
fied toy vn petit aupres de moy, car ie me meurs,
puis en luy monítrant fon petit fils, elle luy demande
Ia larme à l'æil, s'il ne voudroit pas bien feruir
de pere au pauure petit enfant qu'elle alloit laiffer,
Ie Pere Ia confola bien-tofi, i1 fit emporter ce petit
innocent pour efire eí1eué auec les autres, puis com-
me cette femme efioit baptifée, il l' enquifi fi elle ne
feroit pas bien aife de fe confeffer des pechés qu'elle
auroit commis depuis fon baptefme, elle Ie fit auec
tant de preparation, & tant de candeur, que Ie Pere de-
meura quelques iours comme efionné, voiant comme
la Foy iettoit de profondes racines dans les ames de
ces pauures Barbares.
Quelque temps apres, vn Capitaine eftant tombé
malade, & ayant receu Ie fainct Baptefme, nous [33]
donna fa propre fille âgée d'enuiron trois ou quatre
ans, nous la faifons eí1euer chés vne famille Fran-
çoife, la mere de cét enfant ne la pouuoit quitter
qu'auec peine, mais ce bon Neophyte la preffa tant
qu'elle nous I'apporta elle mefme, cognoiffant bien
qu' elle feroit mieux dans nos maifons Françoifes, que
fous l'vne de leurs cabanes. I'obmets vn grand nom-
bre de baptefmes, pour ne paffer les limites que ie me
fuis propofé, encor qu'on y peut remarquer quelque
chofe de notable, quand ce ne feroit qu'vne proui-
dëce de Dieu tres-particuliere. Par exemple, quel-

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185

woman said to him complainingly, " I believe that
thou dost not love us anymore, since thou passest
without visiting us." The Father smiled at this com-
plaint, entered the cabin, and found there a poor
woman very sick, who said to him, " Sit thou near
me a little while. for I am dying." Then showing
him her little son, she asked, with tears in her eyes,
if he would not act as father to the poor little child
she was about to leave. The Father soon consoled
her; he had this little innocent taken away, to be
brought up with the others; then, as this woman had
been baptized, he asked if she would not like to con-
fess the sins that she might have committed since
her baptism. She did this with so much prepara-
tion, and so much candor, that the Father remained
bewildered, as it were, for several days, seeing how
deeply the Faith was becoming rooted in the souls
of these poor Barbarians.
Some time afterward, a Captain having fallen sick.
and having received holy Baptism, [33] gave us his
own daughter, about three or four years old. \Ve
are having her reared in a French family. The
mother of this child could hardly give her up; but
this good Neophyte urged her so strongly that she
herself brought her to us, knowing very well that
she would be better off in our French houses than in
one of their cabins. I omit a great many baptisms,
in order not to go beyond the limits I have set for
myself, although one can observe something remark-
able in them, if it be only a very special providence
of God. For example, one of us enters a cabin by
mere chance, sees a slight movement under an Elk
skin, finds a dying child, baptizes it, and sends it to
Heaven at the same time.

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qu'vn de nous entre par cas fortuit dans vne cabane,
voit vn petit rnouuement fous vne peau d'E11an,
trouue vn enfant mourant, Ie baptize, & l' enuoye au
Ciel à mefme temps.
Vn Sauuage vient querir vn de nos Peres pour aller
baptizer vn malade dans fa cabane, Ie Pere Ie fuit,
tous deux paffent fur Ie fleuue glacé: à peine font-
ils à l'autre bord que la glace fe creue, & s'en va à
vaux l'eau, s'ils euffent encor vn peu attendu, ils
efioiët morts. Entrés qu'ils font en la cabane, Ie P.
rencõtre vn enfãt qui n'a plus que ce qu'il faut de vie
pour receuoir Ie S. Baptefme: efiant fait enfant de
Dieu, il s'enuole au Ciel, & Ie P. retournãt fur fes
pas, trouue Ie pont fur lequel il auoit paffé mis en
pieces: il refioit encor vne groffe glace efchoüée fur
les bords du grand fleuue. il mõte deffus, appelle
tant qu'il peut, afin qu'on Ie vienne querir auec vn
canot: on l'apperçoit, on y court, il s'embarque, &
la glace qui Ie portoit fiotte aufiì-tofi qu'ill'a quittée,
& s'en va dans Ie courant de la riuiere, vous euffiés
dit qu'elle n'attendoit finon [34] que Ie P. fut en
lieu de fauueté. Toutes ces rencõtres font vn pro-
dige de la prouidence de Dieu.
Vn Pere defcendant à Kebec, arriue en rnefme
tèps que ceux qui alloient vifiter les Sauuages qui
efioient malades: il s'en va done luy-mefrne en leurs
cabanes, en baptize trois ou quatre à l' article de la
mort, s'en retourne d'où i1 efioit venu, fans qu'on
ait quafi peu cognoifire ce qui l'auroit peu appeller
au lieu où Dieu Ie conduifoit pour Ie falut de ces
ames. Quant fa majefié veut fauuer vne arne, tous
les demons ne la fçauroient perdre. Vne autre fois
les Sauuages vindrent encor querir vn de nous pour

1637 - 38]

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187

A Savage comes to seek one of our Fathers to go
and baptize a sick person in his cabin; the Father fol-
lows him; both cross over the frozen river. Scarce 1 y
have they reached the other bank, when the ice cracks
and floats away with the current; if they had waited
a little longer they would have been killed. Enter-
ing the cabin, the Father finds a little child who has
only enough life left to receive Holy Baptism. Hav-
ing been made a child of God, it flies away to Heav-
en; and the Father, retracing his footsteps, finds the
bridge upon which he had crossed broken to pieces.
There still remained an immense cake of ice, stranded
upon the shores of the great river; he climbs upon
this, calls as loudly as he can, so that they may come
after him in a canoe. He is perceived, they hasten
thither, embark him, and the ice which bore him
floats away as soon as he has left it, and goes off in
the current of the river. You might have said that
it was waiting for nothing else but [34J for the Fa-
ther to be in a place of safety. All these occurrences
are marvels of the providence of God.
A Father, going down to Kebec, arrives at the
same time as those who were going to visit the Sav-
ages who were sick. N ow he himself goes into their
cabins, baptizes three or four of them at the point of
death, returns to the place whence he had come,-
almost without anyone being able to recognize "\vhat
might have called him to the place where God led
him for the salvation of these souls. vVhen his maj-
esty wishes to save a soul, all the demons cannot
cause it to be lost. Another time, the Savages again
came to request one of us to go and visit their sick,
at several leagues from our dwellings. The Father
embarks with them; the devil, foreseeing the good

]SS

LES RELA TIOJllS DES /ÉSUITES

[VOL. ]4

aller vifiter leurs malades à quelques lieux de nos
demeures, Ie P. s'embarque auec eux, Ie diable preuo-
iant Ie bien qu'il deuoit faire, ramaffe tant de glaces
à l'entour de leur canot, qu'ils furent contraints
de fe defembarquer fur vne iOe noiée, & couuerte
d'vne feule glace. Les Sauuages trouuerent l'inuen-
tion de faire du feu fur ce foyer fans Ie fondre, ils
coupent vn grand arbre de bois blanc, lequel ne
bruile guere au feu, ils en font leur atre, allument
du feu deffus, & pour maifon & lÏct tout enfemble,
prennent des morceaux de bois fur lefquels ils fe cou-
chent auec Ie P. & y paffent la nuict, Le matin ils
fe r'embarquent: les glaces les enuirõnent derechef,
ils criët au fecours: les Sauuages du lieu où ils al-
loient les entendans, accourent, leur tendent de lõgues
perches, & les tirent des portes de la mort. Le P.
ayãt remercié Dieu de cette faueur, infiruit les fains
& les malades, en baptize quelques-vns, entre autres
vn enfant qui perdit la vie auffi-toft: cela fait, il s'én
retourne auec facilité, admirant dans fon ame les.
voyes que Dieu tient pour fauuer fes eileus.

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189

he is about to do, masses so much ice around their
canoe, that they are obliged to disembark upon an
island, overflowed, and covered only with ice, The
Savages found a contrivance for making a fire upon
this hearth without melting it. They cut a large
tree of green wood, which hardly burns in the fire;
they make a hearth of it, and light a fire thereon;
and, for house and bed all together, take pieces of
wood upon which they and the Father lie down, and
thus pass the night. In the morning, they reëmbark;
the ice again encompasses them, they call for help.
The Savages of the place whither they were going,
hearing them, hasten thither, hold out to them long
poles, and draw them from the gates of death. The
Father, having thanked God for this favor, instructs
the well and the sick, and baptizes some of them,-
among others, a child who immediately gave up its
life. This done, he returns with ease, admiring in
his soul the ways that God takes to save his elect.

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[35] CHAPITRE VI.

DES GRANDES DISPOSITIONS D'VN CATECHUMENE AL-
GONQUIN.

I E ne fcay pas bon gré à ceux qui ont crû qu' on ne
remarquoit dans l'efprit des Sauuages aucun pe-
tit rayon de lumiere, ny de connoiffance touchant
la Diuinité, I'ay autrefois efcrit contre cét erreur.
Voicy deux exemples qui combatent. Vne femme,
nous difoit-il, n'y a pas long-temps qu'efiant bien
malade, elle eut vne penfée qu'il falloit qu'il y eufi
quelqu'vn qui la peufi guerir, elle l'inuoque, recou-
ure fa fanté: à quelque temps de là, difoit-elle, ie
defcendis vers Kebec, ie vous entendis parler de Dieu
& de fa Toute-puiffance, auffi-tofi ie commençay à
dire en mon cæur, voyla celuy que i'ay prié, & qui
m'a guery, ie ne fçauois pas fon nom, ie ne Ie co-
gnoiffois pas, il faut que i'efcoute ce qu'on en dit
pour croire en luy.
Ce ieune homme dont ie vay parler eftant deliuré
d'une maladie qui en auoit enleué plufieurs autres,
philofophoit en cette forte: II faut bien qu'il y ait
dans I'Vniuers quelque puiffant genie qui m'ait con-
ferué: car ie n'ay rien apporté à ma guerifon, non
plus que les autres, & fi mon corps n'efi point d'vne
autre temps, ie voudrois bien cognoiftre ce bien-
f aicteur,
V ne autre fois efiant feul, & contemplant fa main,
il difoit: Ce n'efi pas moy qui ay compofé cette

1637 -38]

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191

[35] CHAPTER VI.

OF THE EXCELLENT INCLINATIONS OF AN ALGONQUIN
CATECHUMEN.

I A::YI not pleased with those who have believed
that in the mind of the Savages one did not ob-
serve any little ray of 1ight or knowledge touch-
ing the Divinity. I have previously written against
this error; behold two examples which oppose it. A
woman told us not long ago that, being sick, the
thought occurred to her that there must be some one
who could cure her; she invokes him, she recovers
her health. "Some time after that," said she, " I
went down to Kebec; I heard you speak of God and
of his Omnipotence; I immediately began to say in
my heart, 'This is he to whom I have prayed, and
who has cured me.' I did not know his name, I did
not understand him; I must listen to what is said of
him, in order to believe in him."
This young man of whom I am about to speak,
having been delivered from a sickness that had taken
off many others, philosophized in this way: "There
must certainly be in the Universe some powerful
spirit which has preserved me; for I have done noth-
ing for my recovery more than the others, and yet
my body is not made of a different material. I would
gladly know this benefactor."
Another time, being alone and contemplating his
hand, he said: "It is not I who have formed this
hand, or who stretched out these fingers; nor can

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main, ny efiëdu ces doigts, cela ne peut efire [3 6 ]
non plus attribué à mon pere ny à ma mer
; car
outre qu'ils n'auoient point de cognoiffance quãd ma
main fe formoit, ils ne fçauroient donner aucttn mou-
uement à leur ouurage: ils ne fçauroient faire ny
auiron, ny canot, ny autre manufacture qui s' ouure
& fe ferme par vn mouuement fecret comme font
mes doigts: fans doute il y a quelque grand ouurier
qui fait ces merueilles: fufi-il ainfi que quelqu'vn
m' en donnaft la cognoiffance. Ie prie V, R, de croire
que ie n'adioufie rien aux penfées de ce Sauuage.
Nous fommes dignes de reproche d'en auoir perdu
plufieurs femblables, pour ne les auoir marquées fur
Ie papier.
Ce bon ieune homme eftant dans cette difpofition,
defcëdit par cas fortuit vers nos demeures: car il eft
de l'Ifle, nation fort efloignée des Francois. Nous
ayant entendu parler du grand Architecte de l'V ni-
uers, fon cæur prend feu, il nous vient auffi-tofi trou-
uer en particulier; Ie voila touché, plus on luy parle
de Dieu, & plus il en veut oüir parler, il goufie à
longs traicts cette eau facrée qui altere en raffafiant,
il deuient importun, mais d'vne importunité qui nous
efioit fort agreable, on l'enfeigne tous les iours deux
fois, & apres vne groffe heure d'infiruction, il de-
mandoit permiffion d'aller à la Chappelle, pour de-
mander à Dieu la grace de retenir ce qu'on luy auoit
enfeigné; au fortir de là, il fe retiroit pour I' ordinaire
à l'efcart dans Ie bois pour ruminer à part foy ce
qu'il auoit appris: retournant en fa cabane, il en fai-
fait part aux fiens auec vne ardente affection, accom-
pagnée d'vne ancienne modefiie,
Quand il fe fentit fortifié dans la Foy, il fit vn [37]

1637 -38]

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193

this be [36] also attributed to my father or mother,-
for, besides that they did not know when my hand
was formed, they cannot give any motion to their
work; they cannot make a paddle, or a canoe, or any
other piece of work which opens and closes itself by
a secret impulse, as my fingers do. Without doubt
there is some great workman who performs these
wonders; if it be so, would that some one would give
me a knowledge of him!" I beg Your Reverence
to believe that I add nothing to the ideas of this Sav-
age. \Ve deserve to be reproached for having lost
many others like these, because we did not note them
down on paper.
This good young man, being in this state of mind,
came down, by mere chance, to our dwellings; for
he belongs to the Island Savages, a nation far distant
from the French. Having heard us speak of the
great Architect of the Universe, his heart takes fire,
he comes to see us immediately in private; 10, he is
touched. The more we talk to him of God, the more
he wishes to hear a bout him; he drinks in long
draughts this sacred water, which produces thirst in
quenching it; he becomes importunate, but with an
importunity that was very agreeable to us. Twice a
day, he was taught; and after a long hour of instruc-
tion he asked permission to go to the Chapel, to ask
God for the grace to retain what had been taught
him. On leaving there, he usually retired to a lonely
place in the woods, in order to meditate by himself
upon what he had learned; returning to his cabin,
he communicated it to his people with glowing en-
thusiasm, accompanied by a quaint modesty.
When he felt himself fortified in the Faith, he
made a [3ï] feast to all the Savages who were in the

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[VOL. 14

fefiin à tous les Sauuages qui efioiet dans les cabanes
voifines, pour leur décharger fon cæur: efiant afsè-
blés, il leur dit: lYies chers cõpatriotes, ie vous ay
fait venir pour vous declarer publiquemet que dés ce
moment ie quitte toutes les fottes coufiumes de nofire
nation, & pour preuue de mon dire, ie ne chanteray
point, ie ne feray point les cris & les bruits que nous
faifons à nos banquets, mais ie prieray Dieu & Ie be-
niray de ce qu'il nous a dõné ce que ie vous presete
à mãger de bõ cæur; V oiés fi vous Ie voulés prier
auec moy. A ces paroles les voila bien efiõnés, ils
baiffent les yeux, Ie fuiuent mot à mot dans les pri-
eres qu'il prefenta à Dieu.
Void vne autre preuue de fa foy; cõme nous luy
faifions quelque prefent pour gagner plus fortement
fon amitié, ille refufa, difant, qu'il ne croioit point
pour tirer aucune vtilité des François; tous vos biens
ne fauueront pas mon ame; c'efi la Foy feule que
i' attends de vous; fi ie prenois quelque autre chofe,
ceux de ma nation s'imagineroièt que ie ne croirois
pas en Dieu, mais en vous autres. Ie fouhaitterois
vne feule faueur, c'efi qu'on m'aidafi à deuenir fe-
dentaire, afin d'efire aupres de vous pour entendre
la parole de Dieu. On parle icy qu'on a defia bâty
vne maisõ prés de Kebec pour ce fujet. Mãdés, s'il
vous plaifi, au Pere qui en a la conduitte, qu'il me
fera plaifir de m'accorder la mefme courtoifie qu'il
pretend faire aux autres: mais faites luy bien en-
tedre, qu'encore qu'il m'efconduife, ie ne laifferay
pas de croire en Dieu. Ce n'efi pas luy qui a fait
mon arne, & qui luy doit pat-donner mes pechés: quãd
il n'y auroit plus aucun de vous autres fur Ie païs, ie
ne pourrois pas [38] quitter Dieu. II nous a dit iuf-

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neighboring cabins, that he might unburden his heart
to them. Being assembled, he said to them: "My
dear countrymen, I have summoned you to declare
to you publicly that from this moment I give up all
the foolish customs of our nation; and, as a proof of
what I say, I will sing no more, I will engage no more
in those cries and noises that we make at our ban-
quets, but I will pray to God and will bless him because
he has given us what I freely present to you to eat;
see if you wish to pray to him with me." At these
words, behold them indeed astonished! They lower
their eyes, and follow him word for word in the pray-
ers he offered to God.
Here is another proof of his faith: Once when we
gave him a present, to more completely gain his
friendship, he refused it, saying that he did not be-
lieve in order to derive some benefit from the French.
"All your possessions will not save my soul; it is the
Faith alone that I expect from you; if I took any-
thing else, the people of my nation would imagine
that I did not believe in God, but in you people. I
could desire only one favor; and that is that I might
be aided to become sedentary, that I might dwell
near you to hear the word of God. They are saying
here that a house has already been built near Kebec
for this purpose. Send word, if you please, to the
Father who has charge of it, to do me the favor to
grant me the same courtesy that he intends to show
the others; but make him understand clearly that,
although he refuse me, I will not cease to believe in
God. It is not he who created my soul, and who
must pardon my sins; if there were no longer any of
you people in the country, I could not [38] abandon
God," He even went so far as to say to us, " If all

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ques là, quand tous les François me traitteroient
auec rigueur, iufques à me frapper, & me menre en
pieces, ie n'abandõnerois point la Foy, car ce n'eft
pas en eux que ie croy, mais en Dieu. Cette foy eft
accompagnée d'vn grand zele qu'il a du falut de fes
compatriotes, i1les preffe inceffamment par viues rai-
fons, i1 nous les amene pour entendre la doctrine de
1. C. Que1ques-vns faisãt la fourde oreille, i1 dit vn
iour au P. qui les enfeignoit. Allons, mon Pere,
quittõs ces opiniaftres; allons parler de Dieu aux
nations plus éloignées, ie m'affeure que fi elles enten-
doiët ce que vous nous enfeignés ça bas, qu'elle
receuroient la Foy à bras ouuerts, & nous faifons les
retifs. Sa cõfiance en Dieu eft d'autant plus digne
d'admiration, qu'elle a commencé lors qu'i1 n'eftoit
encore que Catechumene. Eftãt bië eíloigné dans
les bois où il eftoit alIé à la chaffe, vne feme de fon
efcoüade tom ba malade: cela les incõmodoit fort de

dans leurs courfes d'abandonner cette pauure crea-
ture, c'eft ce qu'il ne pouuoit plus goufter, i1 s'a-
dreffe à fon mary, & luy dit; Tu as appris ce qu'on
nous enfeigne de la bonté & de la puiffance de Dieu,
il eft maiftre de noftre vie, i1 nous l'a donnée, i1
nous la peut rendre quand nous I' aurons perduë:
priõs-le qu'il gueriffe ta femme, mais prions-Ie de
bon cæur, & nous confions en luy. Ce bon homme
& toute la cabane y eftant accordée, i1 fait mettre
tout Ie monde à genoux, il inuoque la bonté de Dieu,
& tous les autres prient mot pour mot apres luy. Ce
n'eft pas tout, defirant d'efire exaucé, i1 paffa luy feul
vne partie de la nuit en prieres. N ofire Seigneur
foit beny à iamais. [39] Deuant que Ie iour fuiuant

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the French were to treat me harshly, even striking
me and tearing me to pieces, I would not give up the
Faith; for it is not in them I believe, but in God."
This faith is accompanied by great zeal for the salva-
tion of his countrymen; he is continually urging them
by keen arguments. and brings them to us to hear
the doctrine of Jesus Christ. As some of them paid
no attention, he said one day to the Father who was
teaching them, "Come, my Father, let us leave these
obstinate people; let us go and speak of God to more
distant nations. I am sure if they heard what you
teach us down here, they would receive the Faith
with open arms, while w.e show ourselves stubborn."
His confidence in God is so much the more worthy of
admiration as it began when he was still only a Cate-
chumen. Having gone far into the woods on a hunt-
ing trip, a woman of his party fell sick; this incom-
moded them greatly in their hunting, but to abandon
this poor creature was something which he could no
longer approve. He addresses himself to her hus-
band, and says to him, "Thou hast learned what they
teach us of the goodness and power of God: he is
master of our life,- he gave it to us, he can restore
it to us when we might have lost it; let us pray him
to restore thy wife to health, but let us do it heartily,
and let us trust in him. " This good man and all the
cabin having agreed to this, he makes all kneel down;
he invokes the goodness of God, and all the others
pray after him, word for word. This is not all; de-
siring to be listened to favorably, he passes a part of
the night alone in prayer. Our Lord be forever
blessed! [39J Before the following day was over, this
woman was working as cheerfully and was in as good
health as any of the others.

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fut paffé, cette femme trauailloit auffi gaiement, &
auec autant de fanté que toutes les autres.
II experimëta Ie fecours de Dieu dans fa chaffe,
tous les matins & tous les foirs il faifoit prier Dieu à
tous fes gens, & luy-mefme luy adreffoit ces paroles.
C'efi vous, ô mõ Dieu, qui m'auez fait, & par confe-
quent ie fuis à vous, vous pouuez difpofer de moy
cõme ie difpofe des petits meubles que i'ay fait.
Regardez-moy dõc cõme vne chofe qui vous appar-
tient: cõme l'vfage d'vn au iron que i'ay fait efi à
moy, auffi faut-il que I'vfage de mon corps & de mon
arne, & de toutes mes puiffances que vous auez ba-
fiies, foit à vous. Ie vous offre tout, & Ie corps &
l'ame, & toutes mes actions, ie me repofe fur vous de
ma chaffe, me fouuenãt que vous efies mon Pere, II
s' en aUoit auec cette cõfiance, & faifoit merueille,
iamais i1 ne difoit, i'ay pris, i'ay tué, mais Dieu m'a
donné telle chofe. Retournant certain iour de Ia
chaffe, il sõgeoit à part foyaux prieres qu'on luy
auoit enfeignée. Sur ces entrefaites, il apperçoit vn
Ours, Ie pourfuit & Ie tuë, efiant mort, il s'arrefie
tout court, cét animal n'efi pas à moy, faifoit-il, car
Dieu me l'a fait tuer, non par rnes merites, mais en
vertu des prieres que font Ies François. C'efi donc
à eux qu'il appartient, & non à moy: il l'apporte,
nous Ie prefente pour Ie difiribuer, difoit-il, à ceux
qui faifoiët bië leurs prieres.
Ie ne fçay pas s'il a la charité, mais ie fçay bien
qu'il en donne de grands indices. Entëdãt vn iour
vn de nos Peres parler de Dieu, il Ie deuoroit des
yeux; & pour conclufion Iuy dit. Que ne fuis-ie
eternellernent auec toy: c' efi la verité que ce Cate-
chumene [40] ne fe laffe iamais de femblables dif-

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199

He experienced the help of God in his hunting.
Every morning and evening he had all his people
pray to God; and he himself addressed to him these
words: "It is you, 0 God, who have made me, and
consequently I am yours; you can dispose of me as
I dispose of the little utensils I have made. Look
upon me, then, as a thing that belongs to you; as the
use of a paddle that I have made belongs to me, so
must the use of my body and my soul, and of all my
powers that you have created, belong to you. I offer
you all,- both body and soul, and all my actions; I
depend upon you in my hunting, remembering that
you are my Father." He went away in this confi-
dence, and accomplished wonders; never did he say,
"I have captured, I have killed," but, "God has
given me such a thing. ,. Returning one day from
hunting, he was meditating apart upon the prayers
that had been taught him. Meanwhile. he perceives
a Bear, pursues and kills it; it being dead, he stops
short; "This animal does not belong to me," he
says, "for God made me kill it, not through my own
merits, but in virtue of the prayers made by the
French; so it is to them it belongs, and not to me. "
He brings it, and presents it to us to distribute, he
says, to those who faithfully offer their prayers,
I do not know whether he has charity, but I do
know that he shows strong indications of it. Hear-
ing one of our Fathers speak of God, one day, he de-
voured him with his eyes, and at the conclusion said
to him, "Why am I not always with thee?" In-
deed, this Catechumen [40] never grows weary of
such discourses. Having passed three whole hours
there once, when he was sent away lest he become
tired of it, you would have said that the morsel wac:;

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cours, yayant paffé Ies trois heures entieres, cõme
on Ie reuoioit de peur qu'il ne s'ennuiafi, vous .euffiez
dit qu' on oftoit Ie morceau de la bouche à vn affamé.
Ne craignez pas, difoit-il, de me laffer, i'ay prou de
regret d'auoir paffé ma vie fans cognoiftre Dieu. Le
plus grand plaifir que i'aye au monde, c'eft d'en ouir
parler. 11 alla bien iufques dans cét excé
, qu'ayant
confommé toutes fes prouifions, il s'abfienoit d'aller
à la pefche, ou à la chaffe, de peur d'eftre priué de
nous venir voir, pour parler de Dieu & de noftre cre-
ance, paffant quelquefois quafi les deux iours fans
manger. Nous en eftans apperçeu, nous Ie reprifmes
de cette ardeur déregIée, Ie fecourant felon noftre
pouuoir. Ie fçay bien qu'à peine me croira-on, mais
ie ne fçaurois cacher les merueilles de Dieu.
11 n'y a pas long temps que regardant vn Huron
fort âgé, il nous dit: Helas, que Dieu eft bon! qu'il
eft bon! il y a peut-eftre foixante & dix ans qu'it
nourrit & qu'il cõferue ce vieillard, & ie m'affeure
qu'il ne luy a iamais rendu vne parole d'action de
grace! Si i'auois donné dix fois à manger à vn
homme fans qu'il en fit aucune recognoiffance, ie ne
Ie voudrois plus yoir dependons de Dieu en toutes
nos actions, & nous pëfons fi peu à luy.
II n'entreprëd iamais aucun voiage qu'il ne viëne
demander fecours à N. Seig. dans la Chapelle, & fe
recommander à nos prieres. Que vous eftes heu-
reux, dit-il par fois, d'auoir cogneu Dieu dés vôtre
ieuneffe, & de Ie fçauoir prier. Pour moy depuis
que i'en ay la cognoiffance, ie pëfe inceffamment en
luy. C'efi vne chofe bien remarquable, [41J que les
Sauuages fortement touchés, font ordinairement de-
uots à leurs bons Anges. Relifant les memoires de

163i -38]

LE .IE UNE , S RELA TION, f638

:Wl

being taken from the mouth of a famished person.
., Do not fear to weary me," said he, ., I feel great
regret at having passed my life without knowing
God. The greatest pleasure I have in the world is
to hear about him." Indeed, he went so far in this
excess that, having consumed all his provisions, he
refrained from going fishing or hunting, lest he might
be depri ved of coming to see us that he might talk
about God and our belief,- sometimes passing almost
two days without eating. Becoming aware of this,
we reproved him for this immoderate ardor, succor-
ing him as well as we could. I know very well that
I shall hardly be believed, but I cannot conceal the
wonders of God.
Not long ago, looking at a very aged Huron, he
said to us: ., Ah, how good God is, how good he is!
For perhaps seventy years he has nourished and pre-
served this old man, and I am sure he has never ren-
dered him a word of thanksgiving! If I had given
a man food ten times without his making anyac-
knowledgment, I would not wish to see him again.
We depend upon God in all our acts, and .we think
so little about him! "
He never undertook a journey without coming to
ask help of Our Lord in the Chapel, and commend
himself to our prayers. "How fortunate you are,"
he sometimes said, "to have known God from your
youth, and to know how to pray to him. As for
me, since I have a knowledge of him, I think of
him continually." It is a very wonderful thing [4 I ]
that the Savages, 'when strongly moved, are usually
devoted to their good Angels. In reading over again
the memoirs of our Fathers, scattered in different
regions, I have been astonished in seeing how the

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nos Peres, difperfés en diuers endroits, i'ay efié efion-
né, confiderant comme Ie fainct Efprit va donnant les
mefmes fentimens à ces Neophites. Car fans fe rien
communiquer les vns aux autres, ils demandent lu-
miere à leur bon Ange quand ils viennent pour efire
infiruicts: ils ont les mefmes efionnemens de la
grandeur & de la bonté de Dieu, quoy qu'ils les
expliquent diuerfement. N o fire Cathecumene en a
des fentimens fort doux; Ouy, mais dira quelqu'vn,
pourquoy retient-on encore au nombre des Catechu-
menes vn homme fi bien difpofé? Ie refponds qu'il
ne fe faut pas trop hafier dans les affaires d'impor-
tance. L'empreffement qu'apportent les yaiffeaux,
nous a fait differer fon baptefme iufques apres leur
depart, deuant qu'ils ayent ietté l' Anchre dans vos
haures, ce bon Catechumene fera Chrefiien.

1637 -38]

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203

holy Ghost gives always the same sentiments to these
Neophytes. For, without having any communica-
tion with one another, they ask light from their good
Angel when they come to be instructed; they feel
the same astonishment at the greatness and goodness
of God, although they express it differently; our
Catechumen has some very tender sentiments on this
subject. "Yes," some one will say, " but why still
retain among the number of Catechumens a man so
well disposed?" I answer that there must not be too
much haste in matters of importance. The activity
occasioned by the ships makes us defer his baptism
until after their departure; before they have cast
Anchor in your harbors, this good Catechumen will
be a Christian.

:!04

LES Rl:."LA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 14.

CHAPITRE VII.

DE QUELQUES SAUUAGES ERRÃS DEUENUS SEDE-
TAIRES.

C E Chapitre donnera de la confolation à V. R. &
à toutes les perfonnes qui prennent plaifir de
voir regner I E S V S - C H R 1ST dans nos grands
bois; car il nous met dans vne grande ef perance de
la conuerfion des Sauuages, fi tant eft qu'on les puiffe
fecourir à la façon que ie Ie yay deduire.
L'vn des plus puiffans moyens que nous puiffions
auoir pour Ies amener à IESVS-CHRIST, [42] c'efi
de les reduire dans vne efpece de Bourgade, en vn
mot de les aider à defricher & cultiuer la terre, & à
fe bafiir. Comme nous cherchions toufiours quelque
fecours pour faire cette entreprife, arriue qu'vne per-
fonne de vertu de vofire France bien cognuë au Ciel
& en la terre, & dont Ie nom ne peut fortir de ma
plume fans luy deplaire, me donna aduis d'vn deffein
qu'il auoit de feruir Noftre Seigneur en ces contrées.
II gage à cét effet quelques artifans & quelques hom-
mes de trauail pour commencer vn baftiment, & pour
défricher quelques terres, m' affeurant dans fes lettres
qu'il n'auoit point d'autre but en ce trauail que la
plus gran de gloire de Dieu: Nous mifmes fes ouuri-
ers dans vn bel endroit nommé à prefent la Refidence
de S. Iofeph, vne bonne lieuë au deffus de Kebec
fur Ie grand fleuue.
Ionfieur Gand auoit pris ce
lieu pour foy, mais il Ie confacra volontiers à vn fi

1637 -38]

LE .IEUNE'S RELA TION, /638

20õ

CHAPTER VII.

OF SOME WANDERING SAVAGES WHO HAVE BECOME
SEDENTARY.

T HIS Chapter will give consolation to Your Rev-
erence and to all persons who take pleasure in
seeing J E S U S C H R 1ST reign in our great
forests, for it inspires us with great hope for the con-
version of the Savages, so greatly can they be aided
in the way I am about to describe.
One of the most efficient means we can use to bring-
them to J E S US C H R 1ST [42] is to organize them into
a sort of Village,-in a word, to help them clear and
cultivate the land, and to build homes for themselves.
When we were continually seeking some help to ac-
complish this enterprise, it happened that a virtuous
person of your France, well known in Heaven and
upon earth, and whose name cannot go forth from my
pen without displeasing him, infonned me of a plan
he had for serving Our Lord in these countries. He
hired for this purpose some artisans and laborers, to
begin a building and to clear some lands,- assuring
me in his letters that he had no other object in this
work than the greater glory of God. We located his
workmen in a beautiful place, at present called the
Residence of St. Joseph, a good league above Kebec,
upon the great river. 12
Ionsieur Gand had taken
this place for himself, but he willingly consecrated
it to so good an object. Affairs being in this condi-
tion, we sent word to this good Seignior that he

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bon deffein. Les affaires eftant en cette difpofition,
nous mandafmes à ce bon Seigneur, qu'il ferol.t vn
grand facrifice à Dieu s'il vouloit appliquer Ie tra-
uail de fes hommes à fecourir les Sauuages. 11 fal-
loit attendre vne année pour auoir refponfe. Ce-
pendant il arriue que demandans à vn Sauuage fes
enfans pour les mettre au Seminaire, il nous refpon-
dit; c' eft trop peu de vous donner mes enfans, prenez
Ie pere & la mere, & toute la fami11e, & logez nous
aupres de voftre demeure, afin que nous puiffions
entendre vofire doctrine, & croire en celuy qui a
tout fait. Nous luy demandafmes s'il parloit fans
feintife. Ie vous parle nettement, refpond-il, felon
les penfées de [43] mon cæur. Cecy nous fit refou-
dre de luy offrir tout fur l'heure la maifon qu'on
bafiiffoit en la refidence de S. Iofeph, à condition
neantmoins que celuy à qui nous en auions refcrit
n' en efioit pas content, qu'il en fortiroit. Ce bon
Sauuage nommé des fiens Negabamat, nous dit qu'il
nous viendront voir pour parler de cette affaire, &
qu'il prendroit auec foy vn fien amy de mefme vo-
lonté, II s'a11ia d'vn nommé NenasKoumat. C'eft
noftre François Xavier dont i'ay parlé cy-deffus. IIs
nous vindrent trouuer tous deux en vn foir, & nous
dirent que les bonnes affaires fe faifoient bien mieux
dans Ie filence de la nuict, que dans Ie bruit du iour;
Et par confequent que nous leur donnaffions Ie cou-
vert pour traitter auec nous de ce que nous leur auions
parlé.
Le Soleil eftant couché, & tout Ie monde en repos,
N egabamat me fit cette harangue Pere Ie Jeune, tu
es defia aagé, & partant il ne t'efi plus permis de
mentir; Sus donc, prends courage, dis hardiment la

1637 -38]

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207

would make a great sacrifice to God if he would apply
the work of his men to succoring the Savages. We
must wait a year for an answer. Meanwhile, it hap-
pened that, upon asking a Savage for his children to
place them in the Seminary, he answered us: "It is
too little to give you my children; take the father
and mother, and the whole family, and lodge us near
your dwelling, that we may hear your doctrine and
believe in him who has made all." We asked him if
he was speaking sincerely. "I am speaking to you
. frankly," said he, " according to the thoughts of [43]
my heart." This made us resolve to offer him at
once the house that was being erected at the resi-
dence of St. Joseph,-on condition, however, that
if he to whom we had written were not satisfied
with this, he should go out of it. This good Sav-
age, named by his own people Negabamat, told us
that he would come to see us to talk over this mat-
ter, and that he would bring with him one of his
friends, of the same mind. He associated with him-
self a certain Nenaskoumat, our François Xavier of
whom I have spoken above. They both came to see
us one evening, and said to us that important affairs
would far better be transacted in the silence of the
night than in the noise of the day; and, consequent-
ly, that we should give them shelter, that they might
treat with us regarding the matter which we had
mentioned to them.
The Sun having set, and everyone having gone
to rest, N egabamat made me the following speech:
"Father Ie Jeune, thou art already old, and there-
fore it is no longer permitted to thee to lie. Come
now, take courage, and boldly speak the truth. Is
it not true that thou hast promised me to lodge us in

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LES R
LA TIO./VS DES ./ÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

verité. Eft-il pas vray que tu m'as promis de nous
loger en cette maifon qu'on baftit, & de nous ayder à
défricher, moy & vn autre famille? v"'oicy NenafKou-
mat auec lequel ie me fuis affocié, C'eft vn homme
paifible, tu Ie cognois bien. N ous venons voir fi tu
perfifte en tes parolles, tous les Sauuages à qui nous
auons par1é de ce deffein l'admirent, mais ils ne
croient pas que tu Ie mettes iamais en execution;
prends garde à ce que tu feras. Si tu veux mentir,
n1ents de bonne-heure, deuant que de nous engager
dans vne maifon pour nous en faire fortir. Nous
fommes en quelque credit parmy [44] ceux de noftre
nation, s'ils nous voyoient deçeus par vous autres, ils
fe moqueroient de nous, ce qui nous facheroit. Cette
harangue fi naïfue nous fit foufrire. Ie leur reparty
que cette maifon n' eftoit point à nous, que les hom-
mes qui la baftiffoient n' eftoient point à nos gages,
mais que i'auois refcrit en France à celuy qui auoit
entrepris ce deffein de l'appliquer pour Ie bien de
leur nation, & qu' eux fe prefentans les premiers pour
eftre fecourus, on les aideroit auffi les premiers, fi
nous auions de fauorables refpõces, qu'au refte ie me
promettois tant de la bonté de cét homme de Dieu,
qu'illeur accorderoit aifément cette grande & fingu-
liere faueur.
I1s nous firent là deffus mille queftions. Ce grand
homme à qui tu as refcrit, n' eft-il pas bien auffi bon
que vous autres? Bien meilleur, luy difmes-nous.
Voila qui va bien, repliquent-ils; car puifque vous
nous voulez du bien, & que vous nous en faites, fi ce
Capitaine eft meilleur que vous, il nous en fera
encore dauantage. Mais eft-il bien âgé. I1l'eft en
effet, leur fifmes-nous. N e mourra-il point bien toft?

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209

this house they are building, and to help us, me and
another family, to clear the land? Here is N enas-
koumat, with whom I am associated; he is a peace-
able man,- thou knowest him well. We come to
see if thou art firm in thy promises; all the Savages
to whom we have spoken of this plan admire it, but
they do not believe thou wilt ever put it into execu-
tion; take care what thou doest. If thou art going
to lie, lie soon, before getting us into a house only
to make us leave it. We have some influence among
[44] those of our nation; if they saw us deceived by
you people, they would ridicule us, and this 'would
anger us. This harangue, so ingenuous, made us
smile. I replied to them that this house did not be-
long to us, and that the men who were building it
were not hired by us; but that I had written to France
to him who had undertaken this enterprise, to use it
for the good of their nation, and that, as they were
the first to present themselves to be helped, they
would also be the first to receive assistance if we had
a favorable answer; that, moreover, I was promising
myself thus much from the goodness of this man of
God, that he would readily grant them this great and
especial favor.
Thereupon they asked us a thousand questions.
" This great man to whom thou hast written, is he
not as good as the rest of you?" ":Much better," we
replied. "That is very well," they rejoined, "for
since you wish to benefit us, and as you have already
done so, if this Captain is better than you, he will do
still more for us. But is he very old? ,. "He is, in-
deed," we answered them. "Will he not die very
soon?" " \Ve know nothing about that." "Does
he often pray to God?" " Very often." "It is

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nous n' en fçauons rien. Prie il bien Dieu? grande-
ment bien. S'en efi fait, dirent-ils, nous ferans fe-
courus; car s'il prie bien Dieu, Dieu I' aimera, fi Dieu
l'aime, il Ie conferuera, & s'il vit longtemps, il nous
aidera, puis qu'il efi bon. Vous pouuez penfer fi ce
raifonnement fi naïf nous confoloit. V oicy, firent-
ils pourfuiuant leur difcours, encore vn autre poinct
d'importance: comme nous tirons defia fur l'aage,
fi nous venons à mourir, ne chaiIerez vous point nos
enfans de cette maifon, [45] ne leur refuferez-vous
point Ie fecours que vous nous aurez donné. Leur
ayant expliqué comme parmy nous les biens des pa-
rens appartenoient aux enfans apres leur mort, ils
s'efcrierent. Ho, Ho, que tu dis de bonnes chofes, fi
tu ne ments point, mais pourquoy mentirois-tu, n'e-
fiant plus enfant.
Voila donc mes gens les plus contens du monde:
ils vont voir la maifon qu'on bafiiiIoit, ils ne fe fçau-
roient faouler de la regarder, ils demandent d'y loger
au Printemps, fi tofi qu'elle fera acheuée & meublée;
cependant, difoit N egabamat, nous irons faire nofire
chaffe durant l'hyuer. NenafKoumat qui penfoit au-
tant aux biens du Ciel, qu'au fecours de la terre, not.}s
dit tous bas, pour moy ie viendray paiIer l'hyuer
aupres de vous pour efire infiruit.
Les voila donc feparez, l'vn trauerfe Ie grand fleuue
pour aller chercher des Cafiors, l'autre fe vient ca-
baner tout pres de Kebec. Les affaires de Dieu ne
s'efiabliiIent que dans les difficuItés, ils tombent tous
deux fort malades à mefme temps. Qui n'eufi penfé
que tout ce deiIein efioit renuerfé? Nenaskoumat
trouua la vie de l'ame dans la maladie du corps; il
fut fait Chrefiien, & nommé François Xauier, comme

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211

done," said they, " we shall be aided; for if he prays
frequently to God, God will love him; if God loves
him, he will preserve him; and, if he lives a long
time, he will help us, since he is good. " You can
imagine how much this so artless method of reason-
ing consoled us. "There is still another point of
importance," said they, continuing their talk; "as
we are already getting old, if we happen to die, will
you not drive our children from this house,- [45]
will you not refuse them the help that you will have
given us?" Having explained to them how, among
us, the property of the parents belongs to the chil-
dren after their death, they cried out, " Ho, Ho, what
good things thou tell est us, if thou art not lying; but
why shouldst thou lie, being no longer a child?"
Behold, then, my men, the happiest in the world.
They go to see the house that is being built, they
cannot look at it enough; they ask to lodge there in
the Spring as soon as it shall be completed and fur-
nished. "11eanwhile," said Negabamat, "we will
go and do our hunting during the winter." Nenas-
koumat, who was thinking as much of the blessings
of Heaven as of worldly assistance, said to us in an
undertone, " For my part, I will come and pass the
winter near you, to be instructed."
So they are separated,- the one crossing the great
river to go in search of Beavers, the other coming to
encamp very near Kebec. The affairs of God are
established only in the midst of difficulties. They
both fall very sick at the same time. Who would
not have thought that all this project would be over-
thrown? N enaskoumat found the life of the soul in
the sickness of the body; he was made a Christian,
and named François Xavier, as I have already re-

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i'ay defia remarqué. Pour Negabamat, nous ne luy
pouuions donner aucun fecours, eftant trop ef10igné
de nous,
La bonté de Dieu qui a commencé cét ouurage, &
qui Ie mettra en fon dernier poinct, comme nous ef-
perons, nous rendit nos deux profelytes en bonne
fanté, non fans crainte, & fans beaucoup [46] de
væux & de mortifications qu'on luy prefenta. Le
Printemps venu, mes gens fe prefentent à la maifon
qui les attendoient, on les reçoit à bras ouuerts.
Leurs cæur eft tout plein de ioye, les autres Sauuages
d'étonnement, & nous de cõfolation, voyant les pre-
miers fondemens iettés d'vne bourgade, & en fuite
d'vne Eglife qui produit defia des fleurs & des fruicts
tres-agreables aux yeux des Anges & des hommes.
Ces deux familles font compofées d'enuiron vingt
perfonnes, dont la plufpart font defia baptifés, Ie refte
Ie fer a bien-toft s'il plaift à Dieu. De I 'heure que
i'efcris cecy, i1 y a defia plufieurs mois qu'ils font
enfemble dans vne chambre affez petite, & cepen-
dant ie puis dire auec verité que ie fuis encore à
remarquer la moindre querelle ou la moindre difpute
qu'ils ayent eu par entr'eux.
Les autres Sauuages circonuoifins fe vinrent Caba-
ner à l'entour de cette maHon, demandans la mefme
faueur, mais ils voyent bien qu'on ne les peut pas fi
toft fecourir, nos maifons ne fe dreffent pas en deux
heures commes leurs Cabanes.
Le bruit de cette affiftance qu'on vouloit donner
aux Sauuages fe refpandit incontinent dans toutes
les nations circonuoifines: cela les a tellement tou-
chées, que fi nous au ions les forces de leur donner
les mefmes fecours, on les reduiroit toutes en fort
peu de temps. Et rema[rJqués s'il vous plaift vne

1637 -38]

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213

marked. As for N egabamat, we could not give him
any help, as he was too far away from us.
The goodness of God, which began this work, and
which will bring it to completion, as we hope, re-
stored to us our two proselytes in good health,-not
without fear, and many [46J vows and mortifications
being offered to him. When Spring came, my peo-
ple presented themselves at the house which was
awaiting them; they were received with open arms.
Their hearts were filled with joy, the other Savages
with astonishment, and we with consolation, at see-
ing the first foundations of a village laid, and after
that of a Church which is already producing flowers
and fruits most acceptable in the sight of Angels and
of men. These two families are composed of about
twenty persons, the greater part of whom are already
baptized, and the rest will be soon, if it please God.
At the time I am writing this, they have already been
several months together in one rather small room;
and still I can say with truth that I have yet to no-
tice the least quarrel or the least dispute among them.
The other Savages of the neighborhood came to
Encamp around this house, asking the same favor,
but they see clearly that they cannot be assisted so
soon; our houses are not built in two hours, as their
Cabins are.
The report of this assistance that we intended to
give the Savages spread immediately in all the sur-
rounding nations; it has touched them so deeply that,
if we had the power to give them the same help,
they would all be subdued in a very short time. And
notice, if you please, a great blessing in this matter;
not one of them hopes to be lodged and assisted who
does not resolve to be an honest man, and to become

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[VUL. 14

gran de benediction en cette affaire, pas vn n' ef pere
efire logé ny fecouru qui ne fe refolue d'efire howme
de bien, & de fe faire Chrefiien, fi bien que c'eft vne
mefme chofe en [47] vn Sauuage de vouloir eftre
fedentaire, & de vouloir croire en Dieu.
Dans ces ioyes communes & publiques, vn poinct
tenoit no& deux profelytes en haleine. Le doute
qu'ils auoient toufiours que cét homme de bien qui
faifoit baftir cette maifon à fes defpens, ne nous en-
uoiaft point de bon papier comme ils parloient, c'eft
à dire, ne refpondit pas fauorablement à leur deffein;
ils fouhaittoient auec paffion la venuë des vaiffeaux.
.En fin en ayant eu nouuelles, ils nous vindrent trou-
uer, & nous demanderent fi Ie papier venu de France
efioit bon. Ils auoient belle peur qu'vn mot de Iettre
ne Ies fit fortir de leur demeure, qu'ils cheriffent ex-
trememen t ; N ous leur ref pondifmes que les Peres
qui apportoient ce papier eftoient en chemin, de Ta-
douffac à Kebec dans vne barque qui les amenoit.
Comme ils virent que Ie vent les pouuoit retarder,
ils me demandent vn mot de lettre pour Ies aller que-
rir dans leur canot; ie leur donne auffi-toft, & s'em-
barquent encore plus vifte: ils vont comme Ie vent,
abbordent la barque, enleuent les deux Peres, & nous
les amenent: Noftre ioye fut double, & de voir nos
Peres en bonne fanté, & d'apprendre les fainctes vo-
lontés de cét homme vrayment de Dieu, Iequel accor-
doit ce fecours aux pauures Sauuages auec vn cæur
11 denué & plein d' amour que nous en reftions tous
eftonnés, Si toft que i'en eus ouuert la bouche à nos
deux fedentaires, ils triomphent de ioye, font mille
actions de grace à leur mode, & me difent cent fois,
que ie n'eftois point menteur, que ce braue homme
eftoit vrayment Capitaine, [48] qu'ils connoiffent bien

1637 -38]

LE .fEUNE'S RELA TION, I638

21.')

a Christian,-so much so that it is the same thing in
[47] a Savage to wish to become sedentary, and to
wish to believe in God.
In these common and public rejoicings, one point
kept our two proselytes in suspense,-their continual
uncertainty whether that kind man who had this
house built at his expense, would send us good
paper, as they termed it,-that is to say, would look
favorably upon their plan; they ardently longed for
the coming of the ships. Having at last had news
of them, they came to see us, and asked us if the
paper that had come from France was good. They
had great fear that a written word would cause them
to leave their home, to which they were greatlyat-
tached. We answered them that the Fathers who
were bringing this paper were on the way, between
Tadoussac and Kebec, in a bark which was convey-
ing them hither. As they saw that the wind might
delay them, they asked me for a written message,
that they might go and bring them in their canoe: I
gave it to them at once, and they embarked still more
quickly. They went like the wind, came alongside
the bark, took the two Fathers out of it, and brought
them to us. Our joy was twofold,- that we saw our
Fathers in good health, and that we learned the holy
wishes of this man, truly a man of God, who granted
this help to the poor Savages with a heart so disin-
terested and full of love that we stood amazed at it.
As soon as I opened my lips to mention it to our two
settlers, they exulted with joy; they performed a
thousand acts of thanksgiving, after their fashion,
and told me a hundred times that I was not a liar,
that this kind man was truly a Captain; [48] that
they fully recognized that I was now of their nation,

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[VOL. 14

que i'efiois maintenant de leur nation, qu'ils alloient
dire par tout qu'ils efioient auffi. de la nofire, & que
ie ne manquaffe point d' efcrire vn bon papi
r en
France pour affeurer ce bon Capitaine qu'ils ne
mentiroient iamais en ce qu'ils nous auoient promis
de feruir I E S V S - C H R 1ST toute leur vie. N egaba-
mat tenoit ce difcours. Pour François defia Chre-
fiien, il me dit que fa grande ioye efioit de fe voir
aupres de nous pour pouuoir apprendre à mieux
prier Dieu.
Au fortir de là ils publient par tout que nous efiions
veritables, que nous efiions leurs peres, que nous vou-
lions refufciter leur nation qui s'en alloit mourant.
C'efi merueille, combien la charité de cét homme de
bien a de puiffans efIets fur ces Barbares: lIs nous
preffent maintenant, & nous ne pouuons fubuenir à
tous. La difficulté de bafiir en ce pays-cy, pour la
longueur de l'Hyuer, & pour les frais qu'il faut faire,
efiant extreme. S'ils voient iamais vn hofpital dreffé,
& leurs malades bien logez & bien fecourus, c'efi vn
autre efionnement qui les rauira tous. La pauureté
du pays foulage peu ou point les gran des defpenfes
qu'il faut faire pour ces entreprifes vrayment hero-
iques; mais pleufi à Dieu que ceux qui peuuent fauo-
rifer ces entreprifes viffent du moins vne feule fois
les exercices de deuotion qui fe font tous les iours en
la maifon de ces nouueaux fedentaires. Si ie n'auois
peur d'ennuyer, ie raconterois icy les grands defirs
qu'ils ont de bien cognoifire Dieu, leur naïueté, leur
bonté naturelle, leurs quefiions gentilles, Ie contente-
ment [49] qu'ils ont de fe voir logez non feulement
à 19. Françoife, mais encore infiruits en la Foy.
Nofire Seigneur les veilles tenir fous fa faincte pro-
tection. Ainfi foit-il.

1637 -38]

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217

and that they were going to tell everywhere that
they were also of ours; and that I should not fail to
write a good paper to France to tell this good Cap-
tain that they would never belie their promises to
serve J E S US C H R 1ST all their lives. Negabamat
made this speech. As for François, already a Chris-
tian, he told me that his great joy was to be near us,
so that he could better learn to pray to God.
In going thence, they published everywhere that
we were truthful; that we were their fathers,- that
we wished to revive their nation, which was rapidly
dying out. It is wonderful what potent effects the
charity of this good man has upon these Barbarians.
They are crowding around us now, but we cannot
supply the wants of all,- the difficulty of building
in this country, on account of the length of the Win-
ter and the expenses that must be incurred, being
extreme. If they ever see a hospital erected, and
their sick well lodged and cared for, that will be an-
other wonder which will delight them all. The pov-
erty of the country relieves but little, or not at all,
the great expenses that must be incurred for these
truly heroic enterprises. But would to God that
those who are able to favor these enterprises might
see, at least once, the devotional exercises that are
daily practiced in the house of these new settlers.
Were I not afraid of being tedious, I would relate
here the great desire they have to know God, their
ingenuousness, their natural goodness, their pleas-
ing questions, and the satisfaction [49] they experi-
ence in finding themselves not only lodged in the
French way, but also instructed in the Faith. May
it please our Lord to keep them under his holy pro-
tection. Amen.

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[VOL. 14

CHAPITRE VIII.

DE L'ESTAT PRESENT DES SAUUAGES TOUCHANT
LA FOY.

P OUR faire conceuoir à V. R. la difpofition dans
laquelle Dieu a mis nos Sauuages, ie luy diray
ce qui fe paffa au defembarquement des quatre
Peres qu · elle nous a enuoiés de renfort, lefquels font
tous arriuez en bonne fanté par la grace de Noftre
Seigneur. Mettant pied à terre, ils baptizerent tous
quelques Sauuages. 11ais ce qui les toucha plus vi-
uement; fut que les ayant menez à diuerfes reprifes
en la refidence de S. Iofeph. où demeurent ces deux
familes dont ie viens de parler, où s'eftoit encore re-
tiré quelque nombre de nos Sauuages, nous les fifmes
affifter aux prieres & à l'inftruction que nous don-
nons à ces pauures brebis égarées, qui ne demandent
finon qu · on leur ouure la porte du bercail; Le fignal
donné pour les affembler, ils viennent tous, hommes,
femmes & enfans, excepté fort peu, dont la plufpart
font malades, ou gardent les Cabanes. Ils quittent
fouuent leur fouper, on leur jeu, ou quelque autre
action que ce foit pour venir aux prieres. Entrant
en la Chapelle, [50] iis faluënt l' Autel. puis fe vont
retirer aupres des banes qu'on leur a preparé à cét
eifeL Eftans affemblés, Ie Pere qui les inftruit fe
met à genoux, fait les prieres propre du matin & du
foir, car iis s'affemblent deux fois Ie iour, ils fuiuent
tous Ie Pere mot apres mot, print auec Iuy les ge-

1637 -38]

LEJEUNE'S RELATION, /638

219

CHAPTER VIII.

OF THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE SA V AGES, TOUCH-
ING THE FAITH.

T o give Your Reverence some idea of the state of
mind in which God has placed our Savages, I
will tell you what occurred at the disembark-
ing of the four Fathers whom you sent us as rein-
forcements, all of whom, by the grace of Our Lord,
arrived in good health. Upon stepping ashore, they
all baptized some Savages. But they were more
deeply moved when we took them at various times
to the residence of St. Joseph, where reside those two
families of whom I have just spoken, and where also
a considerable number of our Savages have with-
drawn. We had them assist at the prayers and
instruction we give to these poor wandering sheep,
who ask for nothing but that the door of the fold be
opened to them; the signal given for them to as-
semble, they all come, men, women, and children,-
except a very few, who are mostly ill, or guarding
their Cabins. They often leave their supper, their
games, or other occupations, whatever they may be,
to come to prayers. Entering the Chapel, [50] they
salute the Altar, then withdraw to the benches which
have been placed there for them. When they have
assembled, the Father who instructs them kneels
down, offers the prayers suitable to the morning or
the evening,- for they meet twice a day; all follow
the Father word for word, kneeling on the ground

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[VOL. 14

noux en terre, & les mains jointes: apres les prieres
ils s'affeoient, & Ie Pere leur explique quelque poinct
de la doctrine de I E S V S - C H R 1ST, où refute quel-
qu'vnes de leurs fuperftitions, eux demeurans fort
attentifs, & faifans par fois quelques interrogations
pour eftre mieux éc1aircis. Apres ce difcours, ils
chantent tous, ou Ie Symbole des Apoftres, ou l'Orai-
fon Dominicale, au les Commandemens de Dieu, ou
quelque autre hymne en leur langage, auec vn accord
bien agreable: En fuite, ils fe remettent à genoux,
demandent à Dieu la grace de retenir ce qu'on leur a
enfeigné, font la reuerence à l' Autel, & s'en retour-
nent en leurs Cabanes. Les Peres nouuellement
arriués eftans dãs la Chapelle, & voyans cét agreable
fpectac1e, parlerent du cæur, des yeux, & de la bou-
che, & nous dirent; On ne croit pas en Frãce ce que
nous voions. Quoy que VOliS nous en ayez refcrit
quãd nous eftions encore à Tadouffac, il falloit fe fer-
uir de nos yeux pour voir vne fi grande benediction.
Nous voions bien maintenant que les miracles ne-
ceffaires pour conuertir ces pauures peuples, c'eft de
les aider à demeurer & viure par enfemble, & qu'en
leur faifant tirer leur nourriture de la terre, vous
leur ferez ioüir des biens du Ciel.
Or ce n'eft pas feulement en la refidence de S. 10-
feph qu'on fait prier les Sauuages, & qu'on les [5 I]
inftruit, Ie mefme fe fait aux trois Riuieres où ils fe
monftrent égallement affectionnés à nonre creance:
Hæc ejl11lutatz"0 dexteræ excelji, c'eft vn changement de
Dieu bien foudain: Car l'année paffée ils n'eftoient
point en cét eftat. V oicy vn exemple qui fait voir
Ie refpect qu'ils portent à nos prieres. Vne femme
eftant tombée en phrenefie par la violence de la fiéure,

1637 - 38]

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221

with him, and clasping their hands; after the pray-
ers, they sit down, and the Father explains to them
some point of the doctrine of J E S U S C H R 1ST, or
refutes some of their superstitions, they showing
close attention and occasionally asking some question
for better enlightenment. After this discourse, they
all sing, either the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's
Prayer, the Commandments of God, or some other
hymn in their language, in very agreeable hannony;
then they kneel down again, ask God for the grace
to retain what has been taught them, make a rever-
ence to the Altar, and return to their Cabins. The
newly-arrived Fathers, being in the Chapel, and wit-
nessing this agreeable spectacle, spoke with their
hearts, their eyes, and their lips, and said to us: "In
France, they do not believe what we see here. Al-
though you wrote about it to us when we were still
at Tadoussac, we had to use our own eyes in order
to see so great a blessing. We now see clearly that
the mirac1e necessary to convert these poor peoples
is to aid them to settle down and live together; and
that, in making them draw their sustenance from the
earth, you will make them enjoy the good things of
Heaven. "
N ow it is not only at the residence of St. Joseph
that the Savages are made to pray, and are [5 I] in-
structed; the same thing is done at the three Rivers,
where they show themselves equally interested in
our belief. Hæc est mutatz"o dexte-ræ excelsz"; it is a
very sudden change, and of God, for last year they
were not thus disposed. Here is an example which
illustrates the respect they have for our prayers. ...A...
woman, being attacked by delirium in the violence of
a fever, upset everything in the Cabin; a Father com-

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[VOL. 14

renuerfoit tout dans fa Cabane; vn Pere y arriuant
pour les faire prier Dieu, cette pauure incefée fe mit
à genoux aupres du Pere, fans donner aucune marque
de fa folie; & autant de fois qu'on alloit faire les pri-
eres, autant de fois paroiffoit-elle en fon bon fens,
hors de là elle eftoit phrenetique. Ie ne cognois plus
aucun Sauuage qui ait demeuré quelque teps aupres
de nos habitations, qui ofe publiquement refit1er à
noftre Foy. Ie ne dis pas que tous la fuiuent ou en
ayent enuie, mais J E S V S - C H R 1ST eft maintenant
fi cogneu parmy eux, que pas vn n'en oferoit parler
mal à propos deuant nous. 11 n'y a plus que ceux
qui ne nous ont point encore entendu qui faffent diffi-
culté de nous prefenter leurs enfans & leurs malades
au Bapteftne. Ces eaux facrées aiãt fauué la vie par
fois à quelques familIes entieres, font maintenant en
grand credit parmyeux.
Si plufieurs ne demandent pas Ie Baptefme, c'eft
qu'ils s'en iugent indignes; d'autres ne voulãt pas
quitter leur vices, approuuent noftre creãce, mais ils
la croyent facheufe & difficile. C'eft vne marque
que Ie S. Efprit eft l'Efprit de l'Eglife, puifque pas
vn Sauuage n'a pas plut1ot1la volonté d'y entrer, que
d'eftre homme de bien. Ils s'imaginent que ceux
qui font baptifez doiuent quitter leurs [52] pechez &
leurs vices, pour mener vne vie nouuelle, ce qui eft
veritable.
Les Sorciers & les Jongleurs ont tellement perdu
leur credit, qu'ils ne fouffient plus aucun malade, &
ne font plus ioüer leur tambour, finon peut-eftre la
nuict, ou en des lieux écartez; mais iamais plus en
noftre prefence. On ne voit plus de feftins à tout
manger, plus de confultes de demons: Tout cela eft

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223

ing there to have them pray to God, this poor fren-
zied creature kneeled beside the Father without
showing any indications of madness; as often as they
went there to offer prayers, so often did she appear
to be in her senses; but at other times she was in-
sane. I do not know any Savage now who has lived
for some time near our settlements who dares pub-
licly to resist our Faith. I do not say that all of
them follow it, or are inclined to do so; but J E S U S
C H R 1ST is now so recognized among them that not
one would dare speak ill of him before us. There
are no longer any, save those who have not yet heard
us, who object to offering us their children and their
sick for Baptism. These sacred waters, having some-
times saved the lives of whole families, are now in
great repute among them.
If some do not ask for Baptism, it is because they
deem themselves unworthy; others, not willing to
give up their vices, approve our belief, but consider
it inconvenient and difficult. It is a sign that the
Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Church; since no
sooner has a Savage a desire to enter it than he
wishes to become a virtuous man. They imagine
that those who have been baptized must give up
their [52] sins and their vices, that they may lead a
new life, which is true.
The Sorcerers and Jugglers have lost so much of
their credit that they no longer blow upon any sick
person, nor beat their drums, except perhaps at
night, or in isolated places,- but no longer in our
presence. No more eat-all feasts are seen, no more
consultations of demons: all these things are banished
from our sight. The other superstitions will be sup-
pressed, little by little. When anyone of them does

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banny de deuant nos yeux, les autres fuperftitions
s'efioufferont petit à petit. Quãd quelqu'vn d'eux
s'en fert, il fait ce qu'il peut, afin que nous n'en foy-
ons point aduertis, de peur d'efire tãçez. Si tous les
Sauuages eftoient arreftés cõme ces deux famines
fedentaires dont i'ay parlé cy-deffus, nous ne ferions
point difficu1té de les baptifer bien-toft. Car vous les
entendriez demãder à Dieu la grace de croire en luy,
de luy obeyr, & de iamais plus ne l'offencer. En vn
mot, c'en tout de bon que plufieurs de ces pauures
Sauuages pefent à leur falut. I1 n'eft pas iufques
aux enfãs même qui ne prenet plaifir d'eftre inftruits.
Vn Pere leur faifant vn iour Ie Catechifme à l'air, la
plu ye, furuenant, cinq ou fix petits garçons prirent
vne grande efcorce, qu'ils tafchoient d'efleuer fur la
tette du Pere pour le mettre à couuert. Cette actiõ
pleine d'innocence, monftre que noftre Seigneur prend
encore plaifir qu'on luy amene des enfans. Quelques
Sauuages des Attikamegues, de la natiõ des Porcs-
epics, & de l'Ifle, ont demandé Ie mefme fecours qu'on
donnoit aux autres, notamment pour eftre inftruicts.
Helas, fi Ie pays eftoit plus facile à faire reüffir, ou fi
plufieurs mains s'ouuroiet à ces pauures Barbares,
qu'õ feroit vne belle [53] Eglife! Ce que fait ce
grand homme dont i'ay parlé cy-deffus, en la refidence
de S. Iofeph, proche de Kebec, ille faudroit faire en-
core aux trois Riuieres, à la riuiere des prairies, &
aux nations plus hautes; Ce feroit Ie moien d'ame-
ner des ames à Iefus-Chriit, peut-eftre que nous
enuoierons à ce Printemps vn de nos Peres à l'Ifle, où
on dit que la petite nation des Algonquins s'eft reti-
rée. Voila en generall'eftat de cette Eglife naiffante.
Les chaftimens arriués à quelque mécreans, & les

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practice these, he does all that he can to prevent our
being informed of it, for fear of being reproved. If
all the Savages were settled, like those two seden-
tary families of whom I have spoken above, we would
not hesitate to baptize them quickly; for you will
hear them asking God's grace to believe in him, to
obey him, and never more to offend him. In a word,
it is entirely in earnest that many of these poor Sav-
ages are thinking of their salvation. There are none
of them, even to the very children, who do not take
pleasure in being instructed, One day, when one of
the Fathers was teaching the Catechism in the open
air, it began to rain; and five or six little boys took
hold of a large piece of bark, which they tried to raise
over the Father's head to shelter him. This act, so
full of innocence, shows that our Lord still takes
pleasure in having children brought to him. Some
Savages of the Attikamegues, of the Porcupine na-
tion,13 and of the Island, have asked for the same
help that was given to the others, and especially for
instruction. Ah, if the country were such as more
easily to ensure success, or if many hands would
open to these poor Barbarians, what a glorious [53]
Church could be formed! What that great man of
whom I have spoken above is doing at the residence
of St. Joseph, near Kebec, ought to be done also at
the three Rivers, at the river des prairies, and in the
nations higher up; this would be the means of lead-
ing souls to Jesus Christ. Perhaps we shall send
one of our Fathers, this Spring, to the Island, whith-
er it is said the petite nation 14 of the Algonquins has
retired. Such is, in general, the condition of this
infant Church. The chastisements that have over-
taken some unbelievers, and the favors granted to

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faueurs accordées à ceux qui ont eu recours à Dieu,
n'ont pas peu feruir pour en reduire quelqu'vns à leur
deuoir. Vn miferable Sauuage fe gauffant fort de
noftre creance, deuint phrenetique au milieu de fes
gaufferies. Comme il eftoit fale & impudent dans
fes folies, les Sauuages pour s'en défaire luy attache-
rent vne corde au col & au pied, qu'ils ramenent
contre fa cuiffe, afin que venant à s' eftendre & à ban-
der cette corde, il s'eftranglaft foy-mefme. Là deffus
ils font fa foffe, & difent qu'il eft mort: Nos Peres
furuenans, Ie voyent remuer fous vn bout de couuer-
ture, l'ayant defcouuert, couppent vifte la corde qu'il
auoit au col, mais trop tard, il eftoit déja eftouffé: il
mourut incontinent apres. V n autre refiítant pu-
bliquement à la Foy, donna vn coup de pied à vn de
nos Peres qui baptifoit vn enfant dans fa cabane; à
quelque temps de là il eft emporté par vne maladie
auffi fâcheufe côme elle eftoit eftrange. Les Sau-
uages ont mefme recognu en quelques vns que Dieu
leur dénioit Ie baptefme à la mort, dont ils s'eltoient
mocqués pendant leur vie. Laiffons ces triftes dif-
cours, [54] voicy quelque chofe de meilleur.
Deux ieunes Sauuages s' eftans embarqués cét hyuer
dans vn canot pour porter des viures à quelqu'vns
de leurs gens au delà du grand fleuue, furent telle-
ment affaillis des glaces, qu'en vn moment leur canot
& tout ce qui eftoit dedans fut froiffé & mis en pieces.
Eux fe iettent fur vne grãde glace portée auec im-
petuofité par Ie courãt de la marée. Us s'attendoient
à tous coups que cette glace venant à fe brifer, ou à
fe culbuter contre les autres, ils couleroient à fond.
De fecours, ils n'en pouuoiet efperer; car outre qu'il
eftoit nuict, la riuiere eftoit fi chargée de glaces,

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227

those who have had recourse to God, have not suc-
ceeded in bringing some back to their duty. One
wretched Savage, while mocking at our belief, be-
came insane in the midst of his jeers. As he was
foul and shameless in his madness, the Savages, in
order to get rid of him, fastened a rope to his neck
and his foot, which they drew up against his thigh,-
so that, when he came to stretch himself and to
tighten the cord, he strangled himself. There-
upon, they made his grave, and said that he was
dead. Our Fathers, coming just then, saw him move
under one end of the covering; and, having uncov-
ered him, they quickly cut the cord he had around
his neck,- but too late, he was already strangled;
he died immediately afterwards. Another one, pub-
licly opposing the Faith, gave a kick to one of our
Fathers who was baptizing a child in his cabin; some
time after that, he was carried off by a disease as
grievous as it was strange. The Savages have even
recognized that, in the case of some, God denied
them at death the baptism they had ridiculed during
life. Let us end this sad account; [54] here is some-
thing better.
Two young Savages having embarked this winter
in a canoe, to carry provisions to some of their people
beyond the great river, were so assailed by the ice
that in one moment their canoe and all within it was
crushed and broken to pieces. They leaped upon a
great cake of ice, that was swept impetuously along
by the current of the tide. They were expecting
every moment that this ice would break up, or over-
turn in striking against the other pieces, and they
would go to the bottom. As to succor, they could
not hope for it; for, besides that it was night, the
river was so charged with ice that no human being

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qu'homme du monde n'en euft ofé aborder. Se voy-
ant done pourmenez plus d'vne grande lieuë loi!l, plus
prés de la mort que de la vie, l'vn des deux dit à fon
compagnon qui fe meí10it de leurs forcelleries, ou de
leurs iongleries, fers toy maintenant de ton art pour
nous fauuer la vie. L'autre refpondit, i1 n'eft pas
temps de penfer à cela, mais bien à ce que les Peres
nous enfeignent. lIs difent que nous auons vn Pere
au Ciel qui peut tout, & qui voit tout, que t'en fem-
ble, fi nous Ie prions, feroit-ce pas bien fait.9 Son
camarade s'y accordant, celuy-cy fit la priere tout
haut, & à mefme inftant la glace qui les portoit au
mi1ieu du grand fleuue, tire à bard au trauers de quan-
tité d'autres, ils quittent d'vn plein faut ce pont flot-
tant; à peine eftoient-ils à bord, que cette glace qui
les auoit amené au port de falut, s'alla brifer entre
mille autres en vne pointe qui leur euft feruy de fe-
pulchre. Ces pauures gens bien eftonnés, publierent
par apres cõme ils auoiët efté fauués: L'vn d'eux eft
defia baptifé, & fa femme & fon enfant; Ie forcier a
quitté [55J toutes fes badineries, & nous a promis de
fe faire inftruire.
Dans la grande contagion qui a maííacré quafi tous
ces peuples, fans s'attacher, aux François, quelques-
vns ayans eu recours à Dieu tout de bon, font rechap-
pez des partes de la mort. Le Baptefme a fauué la
vie à plufieurs: Car en verité il n 'y auoit ailleurs au-
cune efperance de guerifon pour eux felon toutes les
raiíons humaines; Tout cela joint au fecours qu'on
donne à ces pauures Sauuages, a faict brêche dãs
leurs cæurs. I'obmets vne infinité de bans fentimens
que Dieu leurs donne pour trouuer la fin de ce
Chapitre.

1637 -38]

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LA TION, I6.J8

229

would have dared to venture upon it. Now seeing
themselves carried more than a good league away,
nearer to death than to life, one of the two said to
his companion, who participated in their sorceries or
their juggleries, (( Use now thy art to save our lives. ..
The other one answered, "This is no time to think
of that, but of what the Fathers teach us. They say
that we have a Father in Heaven who can do all and
who sees all; what dost thou think, would it not be
a good thing for us to pray to him?" His comrade
assenting to this, he offered a prayer in a loud voice;
and at the same instant the ice, which was bearing
them to the middle of the great river, floated towards
the shore through many other pieces, and with one
great leap they left this floating bridge. They were
hardly on shore ere this ice, which had brought them
to a port of safety, drifted away and was broken
among a thousand other pieces, at a place which
might have served them as a sepulchre. These poor
creatures, greatly astonished, afterwards proclaimed
how they had been saved. One of them is already
baptized, as well as his wife and child. The sorcerer
has given up [55] all his tricks, and has promised us
that he will be instructed.
In the great epidemic which has slain nearly all
these peoples, without getting any hold upon the
French, some who had recourse to God in earnest
were recovered from the gates of death. Baptism
saved the lives of many, for in truth there was no
hope of recovery for them in anything else, accord-
ing to all human considerations. All this, added to
the assistance given to these poor Savages, has made
a breach in their hearts. I omit an infinite number
of good sentim.ents that God is giving them, in order
to get to the end of this Chapter.

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CHAPITRE IX.

DU SEMINAIRE DES HURONS.

O N a toufiours bien iugé que les puiffances d'En-
fer banderoient toutes leurs forces contre Ie
deffein de ce Seminaire, & de leur femblables:
& que s'il auoit à reüffir comme on a beaucoup de
fujet de l'efperer, ce ne feroit qu'apres auoir foufte-
nu plufieurs batailles, & effay [sc. effuyéJ tout plein
de difgraces, N ous vifmes I' an paffé comme il penfa
eftre eftouffé dans fon berçeau: V oicy la fuitte des
efforts de ces malheureux efprits, qui veillent conti-
nuellement à la ruine des hommes.
Les ieunes Sauuages Hurons qui auoient paffé l'an-
née d'auparauant auec nous au Seminaire de Noftre-
Dame des Anges, en auoient dit tant de bien à leurs
compatriotes, defcendus l'année d'apres pour la re-
traite, qu'ils firent venir l'enuie à plufieurs de fe pre-
fenter pour y eftre receus; mais il ne fut pas poffible
de donner fatisfaction à tous [56J on fe contenta du
nombre de fix, l'vn defquels fut bien-toft apres def-
bauché par vn de fes parens qui Ie ramena au pays,
de forte qu'il n'en refta que cinq, les deux qui nous
eftoient demeurez de l'an paffé, & trois nouueaux.
Mais comme les deux anciens faifoient iugement du
bon heur de leur demeure en ce lieu, plus par Ie fuc-
cés & par Ie profit de l'efprit, que par l'agréemët de
la nature corrompuë; Les nouueaux venus au con-
traire, n'y pretendans que la fatisfaction de leurs plai-

1637 -38]

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231

CHAPTER IX.

OF THE SEMINARY FOR THE HURONS.

I T has always been rightly thought that the powers
of Hell would unite all their forces against the
project of this Seminary, and of similar ones;
and that if it were to succeed, as we have good rea-
son to hope it will, it would only be after having
sustained many battles and undergone abundant mis-
fortunes. 'Ve saw last year how it was nearly smoth-
ered in its cradle. Behold the continuation of the
efforts of those unhappy spirits who are constantly
watching for the ruin of men.
The young Huron Savages who had before passed
a year with us, at the Seminary of Nostre-Dame des
Anges, had said so many favorable things about it to
their countrymen, who had come down the following
year to trade, that they inspired many with a desire
to present themselves for admission thereto. But it
was impossible to satisfy all; [56J we contented our-
selves with six, one of whom was soon enticed away
by one of his relatives, who took him back to their
country; so only five were left,- the two from the
year before, and three new ones. But,- as the two
seniors measured the happiness of their life in this
place more by their spiritual success and profit, than
by the charms it had for corrupt nature; and these
newcomers, on the contrary, aimed at nothing but
the enjoyment of their pleasures and the gratification
of their senses,-the results in the two cases were

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firs & fenfualitiés, 1'iffuë des vns & des autres a efié
bien differente. Car ces nouueaux hofies s'emportans
felon leur coufiume au larcin, à la gourmandife, au
ieu, à la faineãtife, aux menfonges, & à femblables
defordres, ne purent fouffrir les aduertiffemens pater-
nels qui leur furent donnés de commencer à chãger
de vie, & fur tout les reproches tacites des exemples
de leurs compagnons, qui efioiêt autãnt dans la rete-
nuë, que ceux-cy efioient dãs Ie defordre & dans Ie
déreglemêt. Ce fut lors que Ie malin efprit prit fon
temps, & leur fit en fin prêdre la refolution de s'efuir;
Pour cela il falloit vn canot des viures, & dequoy en
auoir par les chemins: ils font fi bien par leurs lar-
cins, par leurs feintes, & par leurs diffimulations,
qu'ils {e trouuent fort bien equipés, & vn beau matin
ils s'en vont à la dérobée, enleuãt tout ce qu'ils peu-
rent fans qu'on en ait eu depuis aucune nouuelle.
Voila donc derechef Ie Seminaire reduit au petit
pied; & au nombre de deux: ce qui n'efi pas arriué
fans vne fpeciale prouidence de Dieu: Car d'vn cofié
les Sauuages du pais ayant efié malades extraordi-
nairement, on a eu Ie moien d'en affifier dauantage
qu'on n'eufi fait, & de [57J fauuer les corps & les
ames de plufieurs, reduits à l'extreme neceffité: De
l'autre les anciens Seminarifies demeurans feuls,
n'ont receu aucune alteration dans leur bonne difpo-
fition, par Ie Inauuais exemple & par les mauuais dif-
cours des autres; ce qui efioit quafi neceffaire pour
les efiablir dans l' efiat auquel en fin par la grace de
Dieu, on les a veu apres leur Baptefme auec edifica-
tion, & fatisfaction d'vn chacun: tout Ie monde
aduoüant qu' on ne pouuoir defirer plus de pieté, plus

1637 -38]

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233

altogether different. For these new guests, giving
themselves up, according to their custom, to thiev-
ing, gormandizing, gaming, idleness, lying, and sim-
ilar irregularities, could not endure the paternal
admonitions given them to change their mode of life,
and above all the tacit reproofs conveyed by the
example of their companions, who showed as much
restraint as they did lawlessness and immoderation.
It was then that the evil spirit seized his opportunity,
and finally caused them to decide to run away. For
this they needed a canoe-load of provisions, and the
means of obtaining them on the way. They ac-
complished so much through their thefts, their de-
ceits, and their dissimulations that they found them-
selves very well equipped: and one fine morning
they stole away, taking with them everything they
could, and nothing has been heard of them since.
Behold our Seminary again reduced to a small
scale, and to two inmates, which happened not with-
out a special providence of God. For on the one
hand, as the Savages of the country were suffering
unusually from sickness, we had the means to assist
them more than we would have had, and of [57] sav-
ing the bodies and souls of many who were reduced
to extreme necessity. On the other hand, the old
Seminarists, being alone, experienced no change in
their good dispositions through the bad example and
evil talk of the others. This was almost necessary
to establish them in the state of Inind which, finally,
by the grace of God, they made evident after their
Baptism, to the edification and satisfaction of all,
everyone acknowledging that no greater piety, gen-
tleness, and reserve could be desired in those who

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de douceur, & plus de retenuë dans des Chrefiiens de
naiffance: voicy ce qu' è efcrit leur infiructeur .
Armand-lean qui a efté baptifé Ie premier, a l' ef-
prit bon & Ie iugement affés ferme: ie ne l'ay point
veu chanceler depuis qu'il a conceu ce qui efi de
nofire creance, il eft porté à fe vaincre dans fon natu-
reI vn peu brufque, enquoy il n'a pas peu profiter.
Parlant vn iour auec fon compagnon de 1'indiffolu-
bilité du mariage, comme il voioit de grandes difficul-
tés parmy ceux de fa nation touch ant ce poinct, il
monfira d' efire fort en peine. Car ou nous nous
marierons, ou non, difoit-il, fi nous prenons femme, la
premiere quinte qui la prendra, elle nous quittera là,
& partant nous voila reduit à vne vie miferable,
attendu que ce font les femmes en nofire pais qui
fement, qui plantent, & qui cultiuent la terre, & qui
nourriffent leurs maris. De refuir Ie mariage parmy
les Hurons, c'efi ce qui demande vne chafieté que
nofire païs n'a iamais cogneu. Que ferons-nous
done? Pour moy, dit ce braue ieune homme, ie ne
prendray iamais de Huronne, fi ie n'y voy vne con-
fiance extraordinaire, [58J ie rechercheray vne Fran-
çoife, fi ie fuis écõduit, ie fuis en refolution de viure
& mourir chafie. Remarqués qu'il n'eftoit pas encore
baptifé. Pendant I 'hyuer il a bien Ie courage de fe
faire quelquefois violence, par Ie motif d'vne patièce
vraiement Chrefiienne, foit à tenir fes mains dans
l'eau glacée, foit à y entrer par fois iufqu'à la cein-
ture, fous pretexte de quelque neceffité qui s'en pre-
fente, foit trauaillant tefie nuë quand il pleut, lors
mefme que tous les autres fe mettent à couuert. Ce
n'efi pas là l'humeur des Sauuages qui ne cognoiffent
pas lefus-Chrift.

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235

were Christians by birth. Observe what their in-
structor writes about them:
" Armand Jean, who was baptized first, has a good
mind and vigorous judgment. I have not seen him
waver since he has conceived the true idea of our
belief; he is inclined to conquer his somewhat hasty
disposition, but has not been able to succeed.
" One day, in speaking with his companion upon
the indissolubility of marriage, when he observed the
great difficulties in regard to this among the people of
his nation, he showed himself much concerned thereat.
'For we shall either marry, or we shall not,' said he.
· If we take a wife, at the first whim that seizes her,
she will at once leave us; and then we are reduced
to a wretched life, seeing that it is the women in our
country who sow, plant, and cultivate the land, and
prepare food for their husbands. To forego mar-
riage among the Hurons is something which requires
a chastity our country has never known. What shall
we do then? As for me,' said this worthy young
man, ' I will never take a Huron woman, if I do not
see in her extraordinary constancy; [58J I will try to
find a French woman. If I am refused, I am re-
solved to live and die in chastity.' Observe that he
was not yet baptized. During the winter he really
had the courage to inflict suffering upon himself, im-
pelled thereto by a truly Christian fortitude,- either
holding his hands in ice-cold water, or going into it
sometimes up to his waist, under pretext of some
necessity which presented itseH, or working bare-
headed in the rain, even when all the others had
placed themselves under shelter. This is not the
mood of the Savages who do not know Jesus Christ.
"He sets an excellent example to our workmen,

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II eft de fi bon exemple parmy les ouuriers, que
iamais il ne mettra la main à l'æuure, qu'auparauant
i1 n'ait leué Ie cæur & les mains à Dieu pour luy de-
dier fon action. Au refte, il s'applique fi bien à tout
ce qu'on luy commande, qu'il n'y a trauail auquel il
ne reüffiffe paffablement.
Depuis fon baptefme il fe confeffe & fe communie
tous les huict iours auec vne deuotion & vne modeftie
qui nous fait recognoiftre en luy la prefence de la
grace. Sur tout il a vne auerfion grande du peché,
nommément de l'impureté. Il ne faut que fe figurer
les debordemens d'un Sauuage lubrique pour admi-
rer ce que ie yay dire: Se fentant attaqué la nuict
en fonge de quelque penfée meffeante, il fe leue en
furfaut, fe met à genoux pour prier Dieu iufqu'au
fon de quatre heures pour Ie leuer: Alors il me
vient trouuer auec tant de confufion & d'humilité,
qu'il Ine fut aifé de cognoiftre que Ie Prince des
fuperbes auoit quitté la place. II s'accufoit comme
coulpable d'vn grãd acte de vertu qu'il auoit exercé,
II defiroit fort ieufner [59] les Vêdredis & les Same-
dis de l'année, pour la deuotion fenfible que Dieu luy
communique à la paffion du Fils, & aux douleurs de
la Mere; mais nous Ie contentafmes fur ce que noftre
Seigneur auroit efgard à fa bonne volonté dans fon
trauail, voicy vn trait de fa gran de refignation. II
auoit vne iambe gelée, fon compagnon voulãt aIler à
la chaffe, & ne fçachant rien de fon incommodité, Ie
preffe de luy tenir compagnie, luy de peur de luy
déplaire, fe leue de grand matin, & fe difpofe comme
s'il euft deu partir quant & luy, durant la Meffe il
prie Dieu à ce qu'il infpire fon inftructeur ce qui fe-
roit de fa volonté, eftant tout preft de partir, fi on Ie

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237

for he will never put his hand to the work before he
has raised his heart and his hands to God to dedicate
to him his action. Moreover, he applies himself so
thoroughly to all that he is commanded to do, that
there is no work in which he does not succeed pass-
ably well.
"Since his baptism, he confesses and communes
every week with a devotion and modesty which makes
us recognize in him the presence of grace. Above
all, he has a great aversion to sin, especially to im-
purity. It is only necessary to imagine the lewdness
of a dissolute Savage, to admire what I am about to
say. One night, feeling himself assailed in a dream
by some unseemly thought, he started up out of his
sleep, knelt down, and prayed to God until the clock
struck four for the rising hour. Then he came to
see me with so much confusion and humility that it
was easy for me to perceive that the Prince of the
haughty had given up his post. He accused him-
self, as if guilty, of a great act of virtue he had per-
formed. He was very desirous of fasting [59] on the
Fridays and Saturdays of the year, impelled by the
evident devotion that God cotnmunicates to him at
the passion of the Son and the sorrows of the Mother;
but we satisfied him by assurances that our Lord
would have regard to his good will in his work.
Here is an example of his noble resignation: One of
his legs was frozen, and his companion, wishing to
go hunting, and not knowing that he was disabled,
urges him to go with him; he, for fear of displeasing
him, rises early in the morning, and makes prepara-
tions as if he were to depart with him. During Mass
he prays God to inspire his instructor according to his
will, being all ready to depart if it were considered

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iugeoit à propos, Dieu y pourueut, car de bõne ren-
contre, ie l'arreftay, aiant veu la mauuaife difpofition
de fa iambe.
Son compagnon femble vn peu plus morne, c'eft ce
pauure fugitif que Sainct Ignace nous ramena l'an
paffé, apres vn væu que nous luy fifmes pour fon re-
tour: Ie changement & la conftance d' Armand luy a
beaucoup feruy. Depuis qu'ille vit Chreftien, il fe
rangea de foy-mefme aux ieufnes de l'Eglife: il
a monftré vn defir extraordinaire du Baptefme, il
entend volontiers quand on l'aduertit de fes manque-
mens, il eft d'vne humeur affez affable & complai-
fante. N'eftant encore que Cathecutnene, il s'ab-
!tint de manger d'vn Efian qu'il auoit pris à la chaffe,
pendant Ie Carefme, nonobftant les fatigues de fes
courfes.
II fe pre para au fainct Baptefme I. par vn ieufne
extraordinaire, 2. par Ie retranchement des plaifirs
de la chaffe, où il eft fort enclin, 3. par vn recueille-
ment interieur, s'entretenant quelques fepmaines [60]
fur les Commandemens de Dieu.
Depuis qu'il a efté fait enfant de l'Eglife, on a re-
marqué en Iuy toute vne autre docilité, vne modeftie,
& vne honefteté exterieure, qui part d'vne pureté in-
terieure de l'ame, auec vne foubmiffion de fa volonté
à la conduite du fainct Efprit, & à la direction de fes
maiftres.
Ie ferme ce Chapitre, difant vn mot de l'vnion &
de Ia concorde qui fe retreuue entre ces deux ieunes
Sauuages, fi qu'on ne les a iamais veu fe quereler
l'vn l'autre: Ie fçay bien qu'il ya de la nature, &
qu'vne mefme langue, & les mefmes exercices leur
lient naturellement les cæurs, mais auffi s'appercoit-

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239

proper. God arranged the matter, for by a happy
chance I stopped him, having noticed the bad condi-
tion of his leg.
" His companion seems a little duller. He is the
poor fugitive whom Saint Ignace brought back to us
last year, after a vow that we had offered for his re-
turn. Armand's alteration and steadfastness are of
great service to him. Since he sees him a Christian,
he participates of his own accord in the fasts of the
Church; he has shown an extraordinary desire for
Baptism, and listens willingly when he is admonished
of his shortcomings; he is of an affable and compli-
ant disposition. As yet only a Catechumen, he ab-
stained from eating Elk meat that he had taken in
the chase, during Lent, notwithstanding the fatigues
of his expeditions.
" He prepared himself for holy Baptism, 1st, by an
extraordinary fast; 2nd, by diminishing the pleas-
ures of the chase, to which he is strongly inclined;
3rd, by inward reflection, meditating for several
weeks [60] upon the Commandments of God.
"Since he has been made a child of the Church,
there has been observed in him quite a new docility,
a modesty, and outward refinement which emanate
from internal purity of soul, together with a submis-
sion of his will to the guidance of the holy Ghost,
and to the direction of his superiors."
I close this Chapter with a few words on the union
and harmony that exists between these two young
Savages; so perfect is it, that they have never been
seen to quarrel with each other. I know very well
that nature, the same language, and the same occu-
pations naturally unite their hearts; but also grace
can be clearly perceived working within them, so

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[VOL. 14

on bien de la grace qui agit là dedans, en forte qu'ils
fe preuiennent r,yn l'autre auec des motifs d'yne ve-
ritable charité. Le Chapitre fuiuant fera voir COlnme
ils ant bien reüffy en leur pays.

163i -38]

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241

that they are prepossessed toward each other from
motives of true charity. The following Chapter will
show how well they have succeeded in their own
coun try.

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CHAPITRE X.

CONTINUATION DU SEMINAIRE.

A PRES Ie depart de la flotte de l' année paffée, les
nouuelles que nous receuiõs des Hurons a1-
loient toufiours de mal en pis, fi bien que nous
n'attendions qu'vn maffacre general de nos Peres &
de nos François en ce pais-là, ou quelque effect
extraordinaire de la douce prouidence du grand Dieu
en leur endroit, N ous auons paffé 1'hyuer dans ces
craintes & dans ces efperances, follicitans Ie Ciel de
refpandre fes benedictions fur ceux [61] qui nous
chargeoient de mille maledictions. En fin Ie prin-
temps venu, 1vIr Ie Cheualier de 1vIontmagny nofire
Gouuerneur, homme vraiement fage & prudent, vou-
lant conferuer la Religion en ces contrées, & Ie com-
merce de ces peuples auec nos Frãçois, fe delibere
d'yenuoyer quelques-vns de fes hommes, pour fça-
uoir en quel eftat eftoient les affaires: mais comme
on auoit peur qu'vn petit nombre de François ne
fuffent maffacrés des Hurons au cas qu'i1s nous euffent
dec1aré la guerre, nos Seminariftes fe prefenterent
pour rendre ce feruice à Dieu, à Mr noftre Gouuer-
neur, & à tous ces Meffieurs de la Nouuelle France.
On les fit promptement équipper auec vn ieune Fran-
çois bien courageux: & pour conferuer ces deux
ieunes Neophytes, nous enuoiâmes auec eux Ie p,
qui les auoit inftruit au Seminaire, afin de nous les
ramener, au cas que tous nos Peres & nos François

1637 - 38]

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243

CHAPTER X.

CONTINUATION OF THE SEMINARY.

A FTER the departure of the fleet last year, the
news we received from the Hurons continued
going from bad to worse; so that we expected
nothing but a general massacre of our Fathers and
our French people in that country, or some extraor-
dinaryeffect of the gentle providence of the great
God in their behalf. We have passed the winter in
these fears and hopes, soliciting Heaven to bestow
its blessings upon those [61] who were loading us
with a thousand maledictions. Finally, when spring
came, l'Ionsieur the Chevalier de 1Iontmagny, our
Governor, a truly wise and prudent man, wishing to
preserve Religion in these countries, and the com-
merce of these peoples with our French, decided to
send thither some of his men to ascertain the condi-
tion of affairs. But as they feared that a small num-
ber of Frenchmen might be massacred by the Hu-
rons, in case they had declared war against us, our
Seminarists presented themselves to render this ser-
vice to God, to Monsieur our Governor, and to all
those Gentlemen of New France. They were prompt-
ly equipped, together with a very courageous young
Frenchman; and, in order to preserve these two
young Neophytes, we sent with them the Father who
had instructed them at the Seminary, to bring them
back to us, in case all our Fathers and our French-
men should be put to death in a general conspiracy

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fuffent mis à mort par vne confpiration generale de
tout Ie pais. Que fi ce meurtre prouenoit fe
lement
de quelques particuliers, ils auoient ordre d'affeurer
les innocens de l' amitié des François. Les voila
done embarqués auec des Algonquins qui vont comme
Ie vent malgré Ie courant des eaux merueilleufement
groffes & rapides au Printemps, à raifon d'vne infi-
nité de neiges fonduës qui fe viennent ietter dans les
grands fleuues. Ie ferois trop long fi ie voulois rap-
porter toutes les particularités de ce voiage, ie me
contenteray d'en toucher quelques-vnes en paffant.
Comme nous auons fait publiquement prier Dieu
nos Sauuages, foit à Kebec, foit aux trois Riuieres,
foit en la Riuiere des prairies; Ie bruit de [62] cette
bonne action s'eftant refpandu par tout, les Algon-
quins voulurent eftre de la partie, ils prierent Ie Pere
de les inftruire: mais cõme il ne fçauoit pas la langue,
il prit quelques Litanies que nous auõs dreffées des
attributs de Dieu, & leur fit chanter tous les foirs, &
tous les matins, faifant Ie mefme dans les nations
qu'ils rencontroient. Ces peuples publians volon-
tiers en leur lãgue les grãdeurs du maiftre qu'ils ne
cognoiffent pas encor. Ils n'eftoient pas trop auan-
cés dans leurs voiages, qu'vne difgrace arriua à 1'vn
de nos deux Seminariftes nommé Armand: doublant
vne pointe, Ies bouillons d'eau comme d'vne groffe
marée, venant à choquer fon canot, Ie renuerferent,
& tout ce qui eftoit dedans, en forte qu'on croioit que
tout fuft perdu. Le ieune Algonquin qui n'auoit
rien que fon corps dans Ie canot, ne penfa qu 'à fe
fauuer; il fut bien-toft à bord hors du danger: mais
Armand voulant fauuer vne Chapelle que Ie Pere
portoit pour dire la faincte Meffe, & quantité de

1637 -38]

LE .IEUNE'S RELA TION, 1638

245

of the whole country. But, if this murder were only
the work of individuals, they had orders to assure the
innocent ones of the friendship of the French. Be-
hold them, then, em barked with some Algonquins,
who went like the wind in spite of the current of the
river, which is enormously swollen and rapid in the
Spring, on account of the vast quantity of melted
snow that is precipitated into the great rivers. It
would take too long if I tried to report all the details
of this voyage; I will content myself with touching
upon some of them in passing.
As we had had our Savages at Kebec, at the three
Rivers, and at the River des prairies offer public
prayers to God, the report of [62] this good action
having been spread abroad, the Algonquins wished to
participate in it; they begged the Father to instruct
them. But, as he did not know the language. he
took some Litanies that we had arranged, on the at-
tributes of God, and had them sing these every morn-
ing and evening, repeating this in all the nations
they encountered,- these peoples willingly publish-,
ing, in their own language, the greatness of the mas-
ter whom they did not yet know. They had not ad-
vanced far in their voyage, when the one of our two
Seminarists named Armand suffered a misfortune.
In doubling a point, the surging of the water, as of
a heavy tide, dashed against his canoe, and over-
turned it with all that was in it, so that they thought
that all was lost. The young Algonquin, who had
nothing but his own body in the canoe, thought only
of saving himself; he was soon on shore, out of dan-
ger. But Armand, wishing to save a Chapel that the
Father was carrying in order to say the holy Mass,
and a quantity of porcelain and other baggage, en-

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pourcelaine, & autre bagage renfermé dãs vne caifíe,
s'engagea fi auant qu'on Ie perdit de veuë: voila la
caiffe & Ie calice, & l'aube. & la chaíubIe, & tout fon
equipage abyfmé d'vn cofté, & luy de l"autre. Le
P. ne Ie voiant plus en terre ny fur Ies eaux, Ie cher-
che au Ciel, fe iettant à genoux au coing d'vn bois.
Ce pauure ieune Chreftien aiant combattu contre la
mort iufques à auoir les mains toutes écorchées, & Ie
corps tout brifé, fe trouue affis au fond de l' eau fur
vne roche: il en fait vne Chapelle plus fauorable que
celle qu'il venoit de perdre: ie veux dire qu'il s'a-
dreffe à Dieu du fond des abyfmes, non de la bouche
qu'il [63J tenoit bien fermée, mais du cæur, qu'il ref-
pandit deuant fa bonté. V ous eftes le Maiftre de la
vie, luy difoit-il, la mienne n'eft plus à moy, car ie
ne Ia fcaurois conferuer, vous pouués tout, Iaiffez-
moy mourir, faites-moy reuiure, vous eftes mon Dieu.
A peine fon ame auoit elle pouffé ces affectiõs, que
sõ corps fe vit e!1eué fur l' eau, où il recontre des
broffailles qu'i1 attrappe en telle forte, qu'i1 trouua
touuours dequoy fe retirer iufques au bord du torrent
malgré fa rapidité: fes cõpagnons l'aiant veu difpa-
roiftre, regardoient fi Ies ondes ne ietteroiet point vn
corps mort; quand iis en virent vn viuant, ils s'ef-
crierent de ioye, Ie P. accourt pour voir fon pauure
nourriffon reffufcité. La perte que ce ieune homme
venoit de faire des ornemens Ecc1efiaftiques, Ie ren-
doit confus, & Ie iettoit dans des excufes, quand Ie
P. l'embraffant, luy dit; C'eft affés, mon fils, c'eft
affés que vous foiés viuant, ne parlons point de noftre
perte, mais beniffons Dieu de ce qu'il vous a retiré
de Ia mort.
A peine ce ieune homme efioit-il retiré de ce dan-

1637 -38]

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247

closed in a chest, went down so far that he was lost
to sight. Behold the chest, the chalice, the alb, and
the chasuble, and all his outfit engulfed on the one
hand, and he on the other. The Father, seeing him
no more on land or on water, sought him in Heaven,
kneeling down in the corner of a wood. This poor
young Christian, having struggled with death until
his hands were all skinned and his body all bruised,
found himself at the bottom of the river, upon a rock;
he made of it a more favorable Chapel than the one
he had just lost. I mean to say that he addressed
himself to God from the bottom of the abyss,-not
from his mouth, which he [63J kept tightly closed,
but from his heart, which he opened to his goodness.
, , You are the Master of life, " he said to him; "mine
no longer belongs to me, for I do not know how to
preserve it; you can do all; let me die, or cause me
to live, you are my God." Hardly had his soul
uttered these affectionate sentiments, when his body
felt itself lifted to the surface of the water, where he
encountered some bushes, which he grasped in such
a way that he found at least something with which
to draw himself to the edge of the current, in spite
of its rapidity. His companions having seen him
disappear, looked to see if the waves would not cast
up a dead body. When they saw a living one, they
cried out with joy, and the Father ran to meet his
poor resuscitated foster child, This young man's loss
of the Ecclesiastical ornaments embarrassed him, and
caused him to begin making excuses; when the Fa-
ther, embracing him, said, " It is enough, my son, it
is enough that you are living; do not let us speak of
our loss, but let us bless God for rescuing you from
death. "

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[VOL. 14

ger, que Ie P. tombe dans vne autre. Les canots
s'efians feparés, celuy qui menoit Ie P. dem.eura Ie
dernier: comme ils arriuerent à vne iournée de rifle,
il fallut aller à pied, Ie pauure P. penfa mourir en ce
chemin; voicy comme i1 m'en refcrit. Nous par-
tifmes dés Ie grand matin fans boire ny manger, nous
cheminions à grand pas par vn tres-mauuais chemin,
& dans de grandes chaleurs; i' eftois chargé de mõ
petit bagage, ie croiois que mes gens s'arrefieroient
fur Ie Midy pour manger: mais ils me Iaifferent der-
riere, gagnant toufiours pais: ma foibleffe croiffant
auec [64J Ia chaleur du iour, ie demeure Ià comme
tout euanoüy, ie me iette à terre n'en pouuant plus;
puis aiant pris vn peu de repos, ie trouue trois ou
quatre grofeilles qui ne me foulagerent pas beaucoup,
car voulant reprendre mon chemin, ie fus contraint
de me coucher vne autre-fois, taut i'auois de mal à la
tefie, & de foibleffe par tout Ie corps. Ie me fouue-
nois affez de la pauure Agar, & du Prophete Elie,
que Dieu auoit fecourus dans leurs neceffités, mais
mes pechés me defendoient d'efperer cette faueur
temporelle: mon ame neãtmoins fe confoloit fe voi-
ant partir de ce monde par obeïffance, au cas qu'on
ne me vint point fecourir, ie demeuray vne heure ou
deux en cét état, quand mes gens s' efians apperçeu
que ie tardois trop, me vindrent chercher. ie leur
demanday vn peu à manger, mais ils me refpondirent
qu'ils n'auoient rien: ils prennent mon petit bagage,
& m'excitent à prendre cæur: nous trouuafmes vn
ruiffeau qui me rafraifchit, & qui me donna quelques
forces pour arriuer fur Ie foir à l'ifle, où ie trouuay
mes Seminarifies, & noftre François biê en peine;
car ils m'attendoient depuis deux iours: Ie fis ren-

1637 -38]

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249

Hardly had this young man been extricated from
this danger than the Father fell into another. The
canoes being separated, the one which carried the
Father was the last; when they had gone to within
one day's journey of the island. they had to walk,
and the poor Father almost died on the way; thus
he wrote me about it: "We departed early in the
morning, without eating or drinking; we journeyed
with long strides over a very bad road, and in ex-
tren1e heat; I was burdened with my little baggage;
I supposed my people would stop about Noon to eat
something, but they left me behind, continuing to
advance. My weakness increasing with [64] the heat
of the day, I stopped there, almost fainting, and
threw myself upon the ground, able to do no more.
Then having taken a little rest, I found three or four
gooseberries, which did not help me much,-for, at-
tempting to resume my way, I was compelled to lie
down again, as my head ached severely and I felt a
great weakness throughout my body. I well remem-
bered poor Hagar and the Prophet Elias, whom God
had helped in their necessity, but my sins forbade
me to hope for this temporal favor; nevertheless, my
soul was comforted in seeing itself depart from this
world through obedience, in case they should not
come to succor me. I remained an hour or two in
this condition, when my people, having noticed that
I delayed too long, came to look for me. I asked
them for a little food, but they answered that they
had nothing; they took my little baggage, and urged
me to take heart; we found a brook that refreshed
me, and gave me strength enough to get to the is-
land towards evening, where I found my Seminarists
and our Frendl1nan in great anxiety, for they had

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contre de quelques Hurons, parens de nofire Armand,
auec lefquels ie me retiray. Les Algonquins m' en-
uoierent querir fur Ie foir pour les faire prier Dieu,
& pour chanter les Litanies en leur langue dans leurs
cabanes. Ma debilité ne me pût empefcher de leur
donner ce contentement, qui m'efioit plus doux qu'à
eux mefme. En fin nous apprifmes icy que nos Peres
& nos François fe portoient bien aux Hurons, &
qu'ils nous raconteroient à nofire arriuée les dangers
qu'ils [65J auoient encourus pendant l'hyuer. Apres
nous efire rafraichis quelque temps dãs cette HIe,
nous nous em barquâmes auec les Hurons, quittans
les Algonquins en leur païs: à deux iours de là nous
trouuafmes les amis & les alliés de Iofeph The
athi-
ron qui defcendoient vers les François: ie fus d'ad-
uis qu'il fe mit en leur cõpagnie, pour paffer encor
vn hyuer à Kébec, afin de s'y fortifier dauantage en
la Foy. Bref, continuant nofire route, nous arri-
uafmes aux Hurons Ie 9. de Iuillet, efiãt partis de la
Riuiere aux [sc. desJ prairies Ie I I. Iuin, feite de S.
Barnabé, Voila vne partie des chofes que Ie Pere
m' efcriuoit. Dieu fçait quel contentement receurent
nos Peres à cette entreueuë, ils fe confoloient tous
comme des gens retirés du tõbeau, quoy qu'en di-
uerfes façons; ie ne racõteray point les perfecutions
qu'ils auoient fouffertes pendãt tout f-hyuer. La Re-
latiõ qu'ils m'ont enuoyée, & que i'adreffe à V
R. rap-
porte tout cela; ie diray feulement qu'ils furent bien
efionnez de voir les deportemens de nofire Semina-
rifie: ce ieune hõme s'efiant retiré dans fa bourgade,
deuient Predicateur, il loüe nofire foy, dit mille biens
de la liberalité des François, crie partout que nous
fommes les Peres de tous ces peuples, que nous leur

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251

been expecting me for two days. I met some Hu-
rons, relatives of our Armand, with whom I retired
to rest. In the evening, the Algonquins sent for me
to exercise them in prayer to God, and to sing the
Litanies in their own language, in their cabins. My
weakness could not prevent me from giving them
this satisfaction, which was more agreeable to me
than to them, At last we learned here that our
Fathers and our Frenchmen were prospering among
the Hurons, and that they would recount to us on
our arrival the dangers that they [65] had incurred
during the winter. After having refreshed ourselves
for some time at this island, we embarked with the
Hurons, leaving the Algonquins in their own coun-
try. Two days after this, we found the friends and
allies of Joseph Thewathiron, who were going down
to the French. I deemed it advisable for him to join
them, to pass one more winter at Kébec, that he
might further strengthen himself in the Faith. In
short, continuing our journey, we arrived at the Hu-
ron country on the 9th of July, having departed from
the River des prairies on the I I th of June, the feast
of St. Barnabas." These are some of the things that
the Father wrote me. God knows what satisfaction
our Fathers experienced at this meeting; they all
solaced themselves as people who had been rescued
from the grave, although in different ways. I will
not recount the persecutions they had suffered dur-
ing the whole winter; the Relation they have sent
me, and which I forward to Your Reverence, reports
all that. I will only say that they were greatly as-
tonished to see the behavior of our Seminarist. This
young man, having withdrawn to his own village,
becomes a Preacher. He praises our faith, says a

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[VOL. 14

venons annoncer des paroles de vie, il ne peut fouffrir
qu'on nous foupçõne d'auoir caufé leurs maladies: la
honte naturelle aux ieunes Sauuages deuant les vieil-
lards, eft bãnie de fon cæur, la foy Ie rend hardy
comme vn lion, fes gens l' efcoutent, admirent fes dif-
cours, quittent petit à petit les penfées noires qu'ils
auoient pris de nous. La vertu & la chafteté de ce
nouueau Predicateur les [66] rauit; voicy ce qu'en
mande vn de nos Peres. Priez Dieu pour noftre pau-
ure Armand, il fait merueille, mais il eft au milieu
des perils; il couche dans les cabanes des Hurons fes
parens, où les fiUes fõt gloire de rechercher les ieunes
hommes, il a rendu de grands cõbats & remporté de
fignalées victoires, il tefmoigne hautement qu'il eft
Chreftien, & qu'il fe veut comporter comme tel en
toutes fes actions; il fe vient confefíer & communier
tous les Dimanches en la bourgade où nous fommes,
elloignée d'vne bonne lieuë de la fienne: nous eftions
fi décriés dans cette bourgade, que plufieurs perfonnes
font mortes cét hyuer fans Baptefme, pource que nons
n'en ofions approcher, les enfans mefmes nous regar-
doient cõme des forciers, & comme des empoifon-
neurs, fi bien qu'vn Pere fe trouuant auec ce Neo-
phyte, vn petit enfant voyant qu' on luy faifoit bon
vifage, demanda à res parens fi les François ne fai-
foient plus mourir les Hurons. Que Ie Ciel donne à
iamais des benedictions à ceux qui ont fouftenu & qui
fouftiennent les Seminaires des Sauuages. Dites
moy, ie vous prie, toutes les grandes defpêfes qu'on
a faites iufques à prefent pour efiablir & pour confer-
uer ce Seminaire, & les autres, peuuent-elles efire
mifes en parangon auec Ie fruict que ce ieune homme
a commencé de faire? En verité nous fommes dans

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thousand good things of the liberality of the French,
and proclaims everywhere that we are the Fathers of
all these peoples, that we come to announce to them
the words of life; he cannot endure to have them
suspect us of having caused their sickness. The
timidity natural to the young Savages, before the old
men, is banished from his heart,-the faith makes
him as bold as a lion; his people listen to him, ad-
mire his speeches, and give up, little by little, the
black thoughts they had conceived of us. The vir-
tue and chastity of this new Preacher [66] delight
them. One of our Fathers thus writes us about him:
" Pray God for our poor Armand; he is doing won-
derfully well, but he is in the midst of perils. He
sleeps in the cabins of his Huron relatives, where the
girls boast of seeking the young men. He has fought
some great battles, and has won some signal victo-
ries. He openly proclaims that he is a Christian, and
that he wishes to conduct himself as such in all his
actions. Every Sunday he comes to the village
where we are, a good league distant from his own,
to confess and take communion. We were so de-
cried in that village that several persons died this
winter without Baptism, because we did not dare ap-
proach them; even the children regarded us as sor-
cerers and poisoners,-so much so that, a Father
happening to be with this Neophyte, a little child,
seeing that the Father was well treated, asked its
parents if the French no longer made the Hurons
die. Oh that Heaven may forever give its blessings
to those who have sustained and who are sustaining
the Seminaries for the Savages!" Tell me, I pray
you, can all the great expenses that have been in-
curred up to the present to establish and to preserve

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l' eftonnement & dans les benedictions de Dieu, voy-
ans ce que nous n'ofions attêdre d'vne plantE.' née au
milieu de la Barbarie, & fi nouuellement ent[r]ée en
l'Eglife de Dieu.
N os Peres des Hurons voyans Ie fruict que faifoit
[67] ce ieune homme, & cõme dés cét hyuer prochain,
peut-eftre deux de nos Peres iront demeurer auec luy
en fa bourgade, nous refcriuent que nous leur ren-
uoyaffiõs au pluftoft Iofeph The
athiron, pour auoir
vn autre Predicateur en fa ville ou bourgade bien
belle, & bië peuplée, nous coniurans de faire nos
efforts, d'arrefter autant que nous pourrions de ieunes
Hurons qui voudroient refter au Seminaire, qu'ils
n'auoient ofé en demãder fur Ie pais dans la difficu1té
du tëps, & pour les dangers qui font fur Ia riuiere
qui les doit apporter: nous y ferons nos efforts, on
nous en a defia donné quelques-vns; mais comme ce
peuple defcend cette année à la debandade, ie ne fçay
pas Ie nombre que nous pourrons auoir. II s'en pre-
fente affez de grands, & de fort aagez, mais nous
craignõs qu'ils n'enleuent les plus ieunes. Entre
ceux que nous auons rebutez, il s' eft trouué vn homme
aagé de plus de 40. ans, lequel a voulu demeurer à
toute force: voiant que nous luy fermions l' oreille,
i1 eft allé prier nos Frãçois de Ie receuoir auec eux,
s'adreHant tan toft à l'vn, tantoft à 1'autre Si on craint
que ie ne dérobe, difoit iI, tenez voyla mon bagage
que ie ne renuoye point au pais, ie ne fçaurois COffi-
mettre larcin qui vai1le cela, The
athiron que i'ay
rencontré en chemin (c' eft noftre Seminarifte Iofeph)
ro'a tant dit de bien des Frãçois & de leur creance,
que ie veux croire en Dieu, & demeurer auec eux
pour eftre inftruit. II tira vn Chapelet en noftre

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this Seminary, and the others, be cOlnpared with the
fruit that this young man has begun to produce? In
truth, we are in the midst of wonders and of the
blessings of God, seeing what we did not dare ex-
pect from a plant sprouted in the midst of Barba-
rism, and so lately grafted upon the Church of God.
Our Huron Fathers, seeing the results of [67] this
young man's work,-and as, this coming winter, per-
haps two of our Fathers will go and live with him
in his village,-wrote to us that we should send them
. Joseph Thewathiron as soon as possible, to have an-
other Preacher in his very flourishing and populous
town, or village, conjuring us to put forth all our
efforts to stop as many young Hurons as we could,
who would like to remain at the Seminary, since
they had not dared to ask for them through the coun-
try in those troublous times, and because of the dan-
gers ùpon the river which was to bear them. We
will strive to do so. Some have already been given
us; but as, these peoples are descending this year in
straggling parties, I do not know how many we shall
be able to get. Enough adults present themselves,
and very old men, but we are afraid they will take
the younger ones. Among those whom we have re-
jected is a man more than 40 years old, who insisted
upon remaining with us. Seeing that we closed our
ears to him, he went and begged our French people
to receive him among them, applying now to one,
now to another. "If you fear that I will steal," he
said, "here, take my bag-gage, which I will not send
back home; I cannot commit any theft that will be
equal to this in value. Thewathiron, whom I met
on the way" (this is our Seminarist, Joseph), "told
me so much that was good about the French and

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prefence que ce ieune Seminarifie luy auoit dõné
pour tefmoignage qu'il vouloit eftre ChrefUen, ne-
antmoins comme ces peuples font affez [68] diffimu-
1ez, nous l'auons laifíé aux trois Riuieres pour l'ef-
prouuer dauantage, Ce pauure homme nous faifoit
compaffion, car il preffoit la larme à l' reil. Si ces
compatriotes qui doiuent en cor defcendre ne l'efbran-
lent point, nous Ie receurons: nous n'auons que trop
de creur pour 1 u y, mais comme i1 eft aagé, & par
confequent plus attaché à fes volontez que les ieunes
gens, nous auons peur qu'il ne fe iette dans quelque
débauche.
Au refie, ie voy bien que fi Dieu nous en donne
beaucoup, nous ferons accablez; car au lieu d'vn Se-
minaire, en voyla trois fur pied dans peu de temps,
l'vn d' Algonquins, l'autre de Montagnets, & Ie troi-
fiefme des HUfons. On m'a donné fept petits en-
fans, tant Montagnets qu' Algonquins. HIes faut pour-
uoir: on m'en prefente encor 4. ou 5. autres pour
mettre au Seminaire, & on m' a promis d' en amener
encor au Printemps: ie ne fcay comment fatisfaire à
tout cela, ie me trompe, 1a main de Dieu eft grande,
fon creur eft plus grand que Ie noftre, tous les ans il
me femble que nous allons manquer de forces, & tous
les ans ie voy croifire à proportion que les occafions
d'exercer la charité fe prefentent, Confide in Domi-
no, & dabit tibi petitiones cordis tui Nous luy deman-
dons Ie falut de ces pauures Sauuages, dont nous en
auons quinze fur les bras, qu'il faut nourrir & fecou-
rir plus particulierement que les autres, aufquels i1
faut faire l'aumofne de temps en temps, iufques à ce
qu'ils foient en eUat de tirer leur vie de 1a terre,
Outre ceux-cy, on auoit donné deux enfans à Mon-

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257

their belief, that I wish to believe in God, and to re-
main with them to be instructed." He drew out a
Rosary, in our presence, that this young Seminarist
had given him, as a sign that he wished to be a
Christian. Nevertheless, as these peoples are rather
[68] deceitful, we have left him at the three Rivers
for further trial. This poor man aroused our com-
passion, for tears came to his eyes. If his country-
men, who are yet to come down, do not unsettle him,
we will receive him. We have only too much feel-
ing for him: but, as he is old, and consequently more
attached to his desires than young men are, we are
afraid that he may engage in some debauch.
Besides, I see plainly that if God gives us many
of them, we shall be overwhelmed; for, instead of
one Seminary J behold three of them started in a
short time,- one for the Algonquins, another for the
Montagnais, and the third for the Hurons. Seven
little children, both Montagnais and Algonquins, have
been given to me, and they must be provided for; 4
or 5 others have been presented to me to put in the
Seminary, and they have promised to bring me more
in the Spring. I do not know how to meet all this;
I am mistaken, the hand of God is strong, his heart
is greater than ours; every year it seems to me that
we shall lack means, and every year I see them in-
crease in proportion as the opportunities for exercis-
ing charity present themselves. Confide in D01nz"no,
ct dabz"t tz"bi petz"tiones cordis fuz". We ask him for the
salvation of these poor Savages, of whom we have
fifteen on our hands, who must be more carefully fed
and assisted than the others, and to whom we must
give alms from time to time, until they shall be in a
condition to draw their sustenance from the earth.

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fieur Gand, l'vn defquels eft monté au Ciel apres fan
Baptefme, i1 [69] fait efleuer l'autre auec v
grand
amour, i1 rend bien d'autres fecours à ces pauures
peuples. Le fieur Oliuier a auffi deux petites filles
Sauuages, & vn petit garçon, comme il eft icy Com-
mis au Magazin de Meffieurs de la Nouuelle France,
ie ne doute point que ces Meffieurs ne feruent de bras
droit à la charité qu'ils exercent enuers ces ieunes
plantes de l'Eglife de Dieu.

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259

Besides these, two children have been given to Mon-
sieur Gand, one of whom ascended to Heaven after
his Baptism; the [69] other one he is having brought
up with great and loving care. He gives a great
deal of other help to these poor peoples. Sieur Oli-
vier also has two little Savage girls, and a little boy.
As he is a Clerk here in the Store of the Gentlemen
of New France, I do not doubt that these Gentlemen
use his right hand in the charities they practice
toward these young plants of the Church of God.

2ao

LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

CHAPITRE XI.

RAMAS DE DIUERSES CHOSES.

L E iour de S. Barnabé nous auons eu vn tremble-
terre en quelques endroits, i1 fe fit fi bien fen-
tir, que les Sauuages eftoient bien eftonnez de
voir leurs plats d'efcorces fe choquer les vns les
autres, & l'eau fortir de leurs chaudieres. Cela leur
fit ietter vn grand cry plein d'eftonnement.
V oicy vne façon gentille de terminer vn procés.
Vn Sauuage s'eftant efloigné du pais pour ie ne fcay
quel fujet, fa femme fe voyãt recherchée dans fon
abfence, en efpoufe vn autre: quelques mois apres
ce fecondes nopces, Ie premier mary retourne & veut
rauoir fa femme: l'autre ne la voulant pas rendre,
les voyla en procés, Ie pere de cette femme iugea ce
differet en dernier reffort: i1 pred vn bafton, Ie porte
vn peu loin, Ie fiche en terre, puis s'adrefsãt aux
plaideurs, leur dit. Celuy qui rapportera Ie premier
ce bafton aura ma fille, eux de courre. La femme
fut adiugée à celuy qui auoit meilleures jambes, &
Ie procés fut tellemet [70] efteint, qu'il n'en fut plus
par1é que pour rire. Ce traict eft auffi gaillard que
l'inconftãce dans leurs mariages nous caufera de
trifteffe. Le lien fi ferré qui tient l'homme & la
femme fous vn mefme joug, aura bien de la peine
d'y arrefter les Sauuages. 1-1effieurs de la Nouuelle
France me femblet auoir apporté quelque cõmence-
ment de remede à ce malheur: veritablemet ils font

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261

CHAPTER XI.

A COLLECTION OF' VARIOUS MATTERS.

O N St. Barnabas's day, we had an earthquake in
some places; and it was so perceptible that
the Savages were greatly surprised to see their
bark plates collide with each other, and the water
spill out of their kettles. This drew from them a
loud cry of astonishment.
This is a fine way to end a lawsuit. A Savage
having absented himself from home, for I know not
what reason, his wife, being wooed in his absence,
married another. A few months after these second
nuptials, the first husband returned and wished to
have her back again; the other one not consenting
to give her up, a lawsuit results; the father of the
woman decides the contention without appeal. He
takes a stick, carries it a short distance away, and
sticks it in the ground; then, addressing the litigants,
he says, "He who shall first bring back that stick
shall have my daughter," and tells them to rUn. The
woman was assigned to hitn who had the better legs,
and the suit was so entirely [70J settled, that it was
never more spoken of except as a joke. This perfonn-
ance is as amusing as their inconstancy in marriage
is cause for sadness. The bond, so strong, which
holds man and wife under the same yoke. will be
very hard to fasten upon the Savages. The Gentle-
men of New France seem to me to have made some
beginning towards correcting this evil; they are truly

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[VOL. 14

loüables pour l'affection quïls portent au falut de ces
pauures peuples. I'apprend qu'ils ont donné cette
année quatre arpens de terre defrichée à deux ieunes
filles Sauuages qui fe marieroient à quelques Chre-
fHens, fans preiudice du fecours qu'ils pourront dõner
aux autres à l'aduenir. Ie les remercie de tout mõ
cæur de cette charité au nõ de deux Neophytes à qui
cette aumofne eft defia deftinée. Ce font deux ieu-
nes filles baptifées, dont les bons Anges ne feront
pas ingrats enuers ces Meffieurs. Vne honnefte Dame
dont on ne m'a point efcrit Ie nom, a fait prefent
d'vne bonne piece d'argent pour marier auffi quelque
fille Sauuage baptifée. Tout cela eft defia appliqué.
Dieu qui pouruoit aux petits oifeaux du Ciel, benira
ces ames d'eflite, puis qu'elles prennent les intere1ts
de Iefus Chrift fon Fils en la perfonne de ces nou-
ueaux enfans. Voila iuftement les moiens de rendre
les mariages des Sauuages ftables & indifiolubles.
Car vn mary ne quittera pas fi aifément vne femme
qui lui apporte vn honefte dot, & vne femme ayant
fes biens aupres de nos habitations Françoifes, ne
s' en efloignera pas facilement non plus que de fon
mary. . Adiouftez que s'eftãs donnez parole prez de
nos Autels, la crainte des loix [7 I] les retiendra dans
Ie deuoir. Les biens qu' on fait & qu' on procure à
ces pauures Neophytes, donne vn puiffant empire
fur eux à ceux qui les gouuernent, & vne grande
authorité à la foy Chreftienne pour fe faire rendre
obeïffance: En voicy vn exemple.
Quatre cabanes affligées de maladies, fe voyant vn
peu fecouruës par noftre entremife, fe font affem-
blées en cõfeil, où ceux qui sõt encor en fanté, ont
cõc1ud qu'il falloit croire en Dieu, & auoir recours à

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263

praiseworthy for the interest they take in the salva-
tion of these poor peoples. I learn that they have
this year given four arpents of cleared land to two
young Savage girls who would marry Christians,
without detriment to the help they Inay give to oth-
ers in the future. I thank them \vith all my heart
for this charity, in the name of the two Neophytes
to whom this alms is already assigned. They are
two young baptized girls, whose good Angels will
not be ungrateful to these Gentlemen. A worthy
Lady, of whose name I have not been informed, has
made a present of a goodly sum of money, also to
provide for the marriage of some baptized Savage
girl. All this has already been thus employed. God,
who provides for the little birds of Heaven, will
bless these chosen souls, since they take up the inter-
ests of Jesus Christ, his Son, in the persons of these
new children. This is the very best means to render
the marriages of the Savages permanent and indis-
soluble. For a husband will not so readily leave a
wife who brings him a respectable dowry; and a
woman, having her possessions near our French set-
tlements, will not readily leave them, any more than
her husband. Add to this that having given their
word at our Altar, the fear of the law [71] will hold
them to their duty. The good that is being done
and procured for these poor Neophytes gives a pow-
erful influence over them to those who govern them,
and strong authority to the Christian faith in making
them render obedience to its laws. Here is an ex-
ample of this:
Four cabins afflicted with sickness, finding them-
selves somewhat relieved through our agency, as-
sembled in council, where those who were still in

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LES RELATIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

fa bonté. Voila la premiere affemblée qu'ils ont faite
entre eux purement pour Ia Foy, d'autãt plus temar-
quable, qu'en même temps Mr nofire Gouuerneur
nous parloit de les fecourir fortement, & pour la foy
& pour leur maladie; fi bien qu' eux & nouS fans
fçauoir rien I'vn de l'autre, efiions affemblés pour Ie
mefme fujet. Depuis ce temps-Ià ils n'ont point mã-
qué, tant qu'ils ont efié proches de nos demeures, de
venir tous les iours foir & matin à la Chapelle pour
prier Dieu, & pour efire infiruits en fa doctrine. l' ap-
prend que Makheabichtichi
parla le premier en ce
confeil, & dit; Mes compatriottes, i'ay prefié l'oreille
vn lõg temps aux Peres, ce qu'ils m'ont enfeigné efi
tres-bon: ie leur auois promis de croire en Dieu, i'ay
manqué de parole, i'en fuis marry: c'efi à ce coup
qu'i1s feront preuue de ma confiãce. Sus, rangeons
nous tous fous la protection de celuy qui a tout fait;
ne perdõs point courage, fi quelqu'vn de vous luy
promet de croire en Iuy, qu'il tienne fa parole, &
n'imite pas mon inconfiance. En fuite de ces bõnes
refolutions, les Sauuages de ces quatre cabanes fe
trouuerent tous en [72] nofire maifon Ie iour de la
glorieufe Affomption de la Vierge, afin d'affifier à la
proceffiõ que nous fifmes pour recognoifire cette
grande Princeffe comme Superieure & protectrice de
I'vn & l' autre France, felon les fainctes affections de
nofire bon Roy, & en cor pour benir Dieu de ce qu'il
a pleu à fa bonté de luy dõner vn enfant de miracle
& de benedictiõ. :Mr nofire Gouuerneur n'oublia
rien de toute la magnificêce poffible pour honorer
cette proceffiõ. II faifoit beau voir vne efcoüade de
Sauuages marcher apres Ies François auec leurs robes
peintes, & figurées, tous deux à deux, & fort modefie-

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LE JEUNE'S RELA TION, I638

265

health concluded that they must believe in God and
have recourse to his goodness. This was the first
assembly they have held among themselves purely for
the Faith, and an the more remarkable as at the same
time Monsieur our Governor was talking with us
about aiding them vigorously, as regarded both the
faith and their sickness; so that they and we, with-
out knowing anything about each other's movements,
had assembled for the same purpose. Since that time
they have not failed, whenever they have been near
our dwellings, to come to the Chapel every evening
and morning, in order to pray to God and to be in-
structed in his doctrine. I learn that Makheabichti-
chiou was the first to speak in this council, saying,
" My countrymen, I have been listening for a long
time to the Fathers; what they have taught me is
very good. I promised them to believe in God; I
have failed to keep my word, but I am sorry for it;
it is at this time that they shall prove my constancy.
Come, let us range ourselves under the protection of
him who has made all; let us not lose courage; if
any of you promise to believe in him, keep your
word, and do not imitate my inconstancy." In con-
sequence of these good resolutions, the Savages of
these four cabins were all present in [72J our house
on the day of the glorious Assumption of the Vir-
gin,-in order to take part in the procession that we
made, to acknowledge this great Princess as Superior
and protectress of both old and new France, accord-
ing to the holy desires of our good King; and, be-
sides, to bless God that it has pleased his goodness
to give her a child of miracle and of blessing. 15 Mon-
sieur our Governor overlooked nothing of all the
magnificence that could be displayed, to do honor to

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[VOL. 14

ment. Les hayes de foldats en diuers endroits les
faluent de moufquetades, les canons qui efioíêt fur
la terre & fur I' eau, ioüans vn bel ordre, caufoient ie ne
fçay qu'elle refiouïffance, accompagnée d'vne faincte
deuotiõ que tous offroient à Dieu pour l' accompliffe-
ment des deffeins de nofire grand Roy, & pour Ie fa-
Iut de ces peuples. En ce mefme teps trois iongleurs
ou forciers, nous apporterent cinq tambours, dont ils
s'efioiet feruis dans leurs Sabbats, protefians par cette
action qu'ils abandonnoient Ie party de Belial pour
fuiure Iefus Chrifi. Comme ce Chapitre n'efi qu'vn
ramas de diuerfes chofes qui n'ont point de liaifon, i1
contiendra quelques articles bien differens les vns
des autres: voicy vne nouuelle affez fafcheufe.
Le Pere Hierofme Lalemant nous ayant quitté
pour aller aux Hurons, fit rencõtre en chemin de
quatre cabanes d' Algonquins de rIlle. Ies Hurons
qui Ies menoient mettans pied à terre, entrerent dans
l'vne de ces cabanes, & Ie Pere fe [73] retira à part
pour prier Dieu; mais on Ie fit bien-tofi appeller, &
on luy fit figne qu'il fe mit aupres d'vn certain Sau-
uage de mauuaife façon. Celuy-cy voyant Ie Pere,
entrer en cholere, & fe plaint de ce qu'vn Frãçois
paffé par là depuis peu de iours, auoit faigné l'vn de
fes malades, dont la mort s'en efioit enfuiuie: Là
deffus fe mettant en humeur & en furie, il nle monfire
vn licol, & vne hache (dit Ie P. qui m'a refcrit toute
cette tragi-comædie) me faifant figne qu'il failloit
mourir! En fuitte il difpofe ce cordeau par vn næud
courant, & auec vn action de furieux & d'enragé, il
me prend la tefie auec les deux mains pour me la
faire paffer dans ce Hcol; ie I' arrefie auec la main,
1uy faifant entendre mon innocece Ie mieux qu'il

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267

this procession. It was a beautiful sight to see a
company of Savages marching behind the French, in
their painted and figured robes, two by two, and very
modestly. The lines of soldiers in different places
saluting them with musket-shots, and the cannons
which were upon land and water being fired in excel-
lent order, caused an indescribable rejoicing, accom-
panied by a holy devotion, which all offered to God
for the accomplishment of the designs of our great
King, and for the salvation of these peoples. At the
same time three jugglers or sorcerers brought us five
drums, which they had used in their Orgies, protest-
ing by this act that they abandoned the party of
Belial to follow Jesus Christ. As this Chapter is only
a collection of various matters that have no relation,
it will contain articles on very different subjects.
Here is a rather unpleasant piece of news:
Father Hierosme Lalemant, having left us to go to
the Hurons, encountered on the way four cabins of
the Algonquins of the Island. The Hurons who were
conveying them, having gone ashore, entered one
of these cabins, and the Father [73] withdrew to one
side to pray to God. But they soon called him, and
motioned him to take his place near a certain evil-
looking Savage. This man, perceiving the Father,
fell into a rage, and complained that a Frenchman
who had passed that way a few days before had bled
one of his sick people, and death had followed,
"Thereupon, becoming angry and enraged, he
showed me a halter and a hatchet" (says the Father,
who wrote to me all about this tragic comedy),
"making me a sign that I must die! Finally, he
arranged this cord with a running knot; and with a
furious and violent gesture he seized my head with

268

LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

m'efioit poffible. Luy fe mocquant de tout cela, de-
uenoit toufiours plus furieux, & leuant la hache, me
donne à entendre que fi ie ne finiffois par l'vn, ie finie-
rois par l'autre. V oyant que Ie colet de ma fotanne
]'empefchoit de m'efirangler, il s'efforça de la de-
graffer. Dans cette contrafie nos Hurons petunoiët
fans dire vn feul mot; deux de nos François qui
eíl:oient hors la cabane coururent aux armes, mais ie
les arrefiay de peur de plus grand mal-heur, les aduer-
tiffant qu'ils agiffent plufiofi auec les Hurons qui
nous auoient pris en leur protection & fauuegarde.
Enfin ce barbare fit fortir nos Hurons de fa cabane,
& me tirant par vn pied, me retint prifonnier pour
m'expedier. Les Hurons venoient par fois regarder
dans la cabane ce qu'on y faifoit, difans qu'ils de-
meureroiêt là toute la nuict, pour auifer à ce qu'ils
auoient à faire, fe portans pour refpondant de ma
[74] perfonne, au cas qu'on me voulut deliurer; ce
qui fit que ce barbare me lafcha. Ie m' en retournav
dire mon breuiaire, & nos Hurons s'en vont au con-
feil, dans lequel ils arrefièt de faire des prefens à cét
homme forcené; ils Ie font venir en leur cabane,
pour luy donner des haches & vne lame d'efpee: Le
plus âgé de nos Hurons leuant ces haches ]'vne apres
l'autre, s'efcrioit à chacune; Voila pour deliurer les
François qui font auec nous. Ce barbare ayant re-
gardé toutes ces haches, dit: La penfee de tuer les
François commence à fortir de mon efprit; mais à
ce que ie fois content, & qu'elle forte toute à fait, il
me faut encore vne chaudiere: ne s'en trouuant point,
il demande en la place vne chemife; on la luy donne,
alors il tefmoigna d' efire parfaitement content; & fe
faifant apporter vn plat d'écorce plain d'eau, il en

1637 - 38]

LE .IEUNE'S RELA TION, r6.J8

26f1

both his hands to compel me to pass it into this noose.
I stopped him with my hand, explaining to him my
innocence as best I could. He ridiculed all this,
became still more enraged, and raising his hatchet,
gave me to understand that if I did not perish by the
one I would by the other. Seeing that the collar
of my gown prevented him from strangling me, he
tried to unhook it. During this struggle, our Hurons
smoked without uttering a word; two of our French-
men who were outside the cabin hastened to arm
themselves, but I stopped them for fear of a greater
misfortune,- advising them rather to negotiate with
the Hurons, who had taken us under their protection
and safe guidance. Finally, this barbarian made our
Hurons leave his cabin; and, holding me by one foot,
kept me a prisoner, with the intention of despatching
me. From time to time, the Hurons came and
looked into the cabin to see what was going on, say-
ing that they would remain there all night to consid-
er what was to be done, holding themselves respon-
sible for my [74] person, in case he consented to
release me; this caused the barbarian to let me go.
I returned to say my breviary; and our Hurons went
into council, where they decided to make presents to
this madman,-sending for him to come into their
cabin, to give him hatchets and a javelin-blade. The
oldest of our Hurons, raising these hatchets one after
the other, said with each one, 'This is to free the
Frenchmen who are with us.' This barbarian, hav-
ing looked at all these hatchets, said, 'The idea of
killing the Frenchmen is beginning to go out of my
mind; but that I may be satisfied, and that it may
go out altogether, I must have a kettle besides.'
There being none forthcoming, he asked for a shirt

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LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

laue fa face & fes yeux, puis aualant Ie refte; voila;
dit iI, pour effuyer mes larmes & chãger mon vifage:
voila pour aualer toute l'alnertume & Ie fiel de ma
cholere; ie ne fuis plus fafché. Là deffus s' en va
emportant les prefens. Eftant de retour en fa ca-
bane, il enuoya la chair d'vn Caftor à nos gens pour
tefmoignage de reconciliation. Nos Hurons m'ont
fort preffé defcrire cette hiftoire à Monfieur Ie Gou-
uerneur; Le defplaifir qu'ils ont de ce qui s'eft paffé
en a tellement irrité l'vn d'eux, qu'il penfa tuer ce
barbare d'vn coup de hache Ie lendemain matin. II
ne m'eft pas poffible d'efcrire dauantage, les ßilarin-
guoins ou coufins me maffacrent à milliaffe, ne me
donnant pas la permiffion d' efcrire vne feule fyllable
fans douleur. C'eft bien à ce coup qu'il me faut par-
donner [75] fi i'efcris mal, & m'excufer aupres de
Môfieur Ie Gouuerneur, dont ie ne vous puis dire la
charité pendant que i'ay eu l'hõneur d'eftre auec luy.
C'eft l'inuariable, & toufiours luy-mefme, & toufiours
1 'incompar
ble. Dieu Ie beniffe à iamais. Tout
cecy eft tiré des lettres du Pere. Ie me promets bien
que Monfieur Ie Cheualier de Montmagny ne man-
quera pas d'arrefter l'orgueil de cét Infulaire.
Le Pere Le Moine que nous enuoyons auffi aux Hu-
rons a couru vne autre fortune nõ moins dangereufe.
Ses gens ayãt gafpillé les viures qu'õ leur auoit don-
né, voir mefnle en ayant vêdu vne partie aux Algon-
quins, defembarquerent Ie Pere & deux Francois qui
efioient auec luy. D'autres François defcendans des
Hurons fe trouuerent à ce beau rencontre; & com me
ils tãçoient ces barbares de n'auoir pas conferué leurs
viures, ils repartirent qu'ils eftoiêt courageux, &
qu'ils pafferoient bien huict iours fans manger. Ces

1637 -38]

LE .IEUNE'S RELA TION, I638

271

instead; one was given to him, and he declared that
he was perfectly satisfied; then, causing a bark dish
full of water to be brought to him, he washed his
face and eyes, and, swallowing the rest, , This,' said
he, 'is to wash away my tears and to change my
countenance; this is to swallow all the bitterness and
gall of my anger; I am no longer angry.' There-
upon he went away, taking with him his presents.
Having returned to his cabin, he sent the flesh of a
Beaver to our people as an evidence of reconciliation.
. Our Hurons urged me strongly to relate this story
to Monsieur the Governor. The anger they felt at
what had taken place so irritated one of them that
he almost killed this barbarian, the next morning,
with a blow of his hatchet. It is impossible to
write any more, as the Mosquitoes or gnats are at-
tacking me by the thousands, not allowing me to
write a single syllable without pain. So for this time
you must pardon me [75] if I write badly, and excuse
me to Monsieur our Governor, whose charity, while
I have had the honor of being with him, I cannot
describe to you. He is invariable,- always him-
self, and always incomparable. May God bless him
forever. " All this is taken from the Father's letters.
I promise myself that Monsieur the Chevalier de
Montmagny will not fail to curb the pride of this
Islander.
Father Le Moine,16 whom we are also sending to
the Hurons, met with another adventure, not less
dangerous. His people having wasted the food that
had been given them, and having even sold some of
it to the Algonquins, put on shore the Father, and
two Frenchmen who were with him. Other French-
men, who were going down from the Hurons, hap-

272

LES RELATIONS DES.lÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

François fierent donner au Pere vn peu de bled & de
farine d'Inde pour viure dans Ie grand defert où il
efioit abandonné, en attêdant que l'vn des canots qui
defcendoiêt Ie prit en repaffant. Le pauure Pere
m'efcriuit fon defafire en peu de mots.
Ie ne fçay fi mes pechez me ferment la porte au
pays que i' ay tant defiré; mais quoy que s' en foit,
me voila dégradé & delaiffé à vne pointe de fable au
delà de la petite nation des Algonquins, n'ayãt point
d'autre maifon que Ie grand monde: II n'y a que trois
iours que l'vn des canots qui portoit nofire petit ba-
gage tourna dans I' eau; Nos paquets furen t em por-
tees par Ie courãt, nous en repechafme [7 6 ] vn auec
grande peine, l'autre fut perdu,. Dieu foit beny de
tout.
I'ay defia dit cõme Ie Pere qui remenoit les Semi-
narifies. Hurõs, auoit auffi perdu sõ equipage dans Ie
mefme chemin. Si les Sauuages fe riêt dedãs leurs
pertes, nous ne de deuõs pas pleurer dedãs les nofires,
puifq; Dieu les fçaura biê reparer.
Le Pere du Perron qui monte auffi là haut aura
peut-efire vn plus heureux fucces que ces trois pre-
miers, fa gayeté à fon depart, & l'honneur que luy fit
Monfieur nofire Gouuerneur auffi-bien qu'aux autres,
ietta les Sauuages dãs vne allegreffe qui nous promet
quelque chofe de bon; celuy qui Ie mene nous dit
en s'embarquant: Ie fuis Capitaine, il ne peut arri-
uer aucun mal au Pere en ma prefence, ils nous pro-
mirent de prendre en paffant Ie Pere Ie Moine, & les
François qui efioient auec luy.
Voicy vn bout de lettre du Pere que i'ay laiffé à
la refidence de S. Iofeph, où les Sauuages fe rendent
fedentaires. Apprenant qu'yne barque mõtoit aux

1637 -38J

LE .IEUNE'S RELATION, r638

273

pened to be present on this fortunate occasion; and
when they chided these barbarians for not having
kept their provisions, the latter replied that they
were courageous, that they could easily pass a week
without eating. These Frenchmen made them give
the Father a little corn and Indian meal to live upon,
in the great desert where he had been abandoned,
while waiting until one of the canoes that was going
down should take him on its way back. The poor
Father wrote me about his misfortune in a few words:
,. I do not know whether it is my sins that close to
me the gate of the country I have so greatly desired;
but at all events here I am. stripped and forsaken, on
a point of sand beyond the petite nation of the A1gon-
quins, with no other house than the great world.
Only three days ago, the canoe that carried our little
baggage upset in the water, and our packages were
carried away by the current; we fished up [76] one
of them with a great deal of trouble, but the other
was lost. God be blessed for all."
I have already told how the Father who was tak-
ing back the Huron Seminarists also lost his baggage,
traveling over the same route. If the Savages laugh
at their own losses, we should not weep over ours,
since God can fully retrieve them.
Father du Perron, 1. who is also going up there, will
perhaps be more successful than his three predeces-
sors. His cheerfulness at his departure, and the
honor shown by .:\Ionsieur our Governor to him as
well as to the others, put the Savages into so good a
humor that it promised us good results. The one
who took him said to us, in embarking, ., I am Cap-
tain; no harm can happen to the Father in my pres-
ence." They promised us that they would take up,

274

LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

trois Riuieres; ie dy aux Sauuages, que voulez-vous
que i' efcriue au Pere Ie Ieune par la barque qui doit
monter là haut: Tu luy manderas, me refpondirent-
ils vniuerfellen:ent, que no us defirons tous croire en
Dieu, que nous voulons tous efire baptifez, & que
nous Ie prions qu'il retourne au plufioft ça bas pour
nous donner Ie Baptefme. Ayant receu cette ref-
ponfe, ie me retiray plein de confolation,. n'en auois-
je pas bien fuiet? Ce font les propres mots du Pere.
Si toft que ie fuis defcendu à Kébec, ces bon Sau-
uages me vindrent voir, les Chreftiens fe confefferent
[77] & cômunierent ceux qui ne font pas encore ba-
ptifez me prefferent de leur dôner Ie Baptefme; Le
mefme Pere m'efcriuit vne autrefois en ces termes
MaKheabichtichiou, Pigarouich, OuchefKouetou, &
plufieurs autres Sauuages font arriues à S. Iofeph:
mettant pied à terre, ils font venus droit en ma cham-
bre pour les conduire en la Chapelle, afin de remercier
Dieu de ce qu'il les auoit conferuez dans leur voy-
ages,. ne m'ayant point trouué, ils ont efté prier vn
autre de nos Peres qui efioit icy, lequel s'excufant
fur Ie peu de connoiffance qu'il a de la langue, ils ont
pris Paul Ie bon aueugle, l' ont mené à la Chapelle,
& l'on[t] fait prier Dieu. Ce bon Neophyte leur a
fait faire les prieres qu'il recite foir & matin. Que
pouuez-vous efperer dauantage des Sauuages? On
croyoit que ces pauures errans feroient les derniers
à fe ranger, & ils fe prefentent des premiers, aidez-
les à cultiuer la terre, & à fe loger, & vous les aurez
tous.
Le Pere Charles Lalemant qui paffe en France pour
nos petites affaires au lieu du Pere Quentin, qui a

1637 -38]

LE .IEUNE'S RELATION, L638

275

on the way, Father Ie Moine and the Frenchmen
who were with him.
Here is part of a letter from the Father whom I
left at the residence of St. Joseph, where the Sav-
ages are fonning a settlement: "Learning that a
bark was going up to the three Rivers, I said to the
Savages, '\Vhat do you wish me to write to Father
Ie Jeune, to send by the bark that is going up there?'
, Thou wilt send him word,' they all answered, , that
we an desire to believe in God, that we all wish to
be baptized, and that we pray him to come down here
again as soon as possible, to give us Baptism.' Hav-
ing received this response, I withdrew, greatly com-
forted; had I not good reason to be? ., These are the
very words of the Father. As soon as I went down
to Kébec, these good Savages came to see me; the
Christians confessed [77] and took communion, and
those who were not yet baptized urged me to give
them Baptism. The same Father wrote me another
time in these words: "Makheabichtichiou, Piga-
rouich, Oucheskouetou, and several other Savages
have arrived at St. Joseph. As soon as they stepped
on shore, they came directly to my room for me, to
take them to the Chapel, in order to thank God that
he had preserved them in their voyages; not finding
me, they entreated another of our Fathers who was
here; but, as he excused himself upon the plea of
knowing so little about the language, they took Paul,
the good blind boy, led him to the Chapel, and made
him pray to God. This good Neophyte had them
offer the prayers that he says evening and morning.
What more can you expect from Savages? It was
thought that these poor wanderers would be the last
to fall in line, and they present themselves first.

276

LES RELA TIONS DES jÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

efté enuoyé à MifKOU, dira de bouche ce que ie ne
puis coucher fur Ie papier fans lõgueur.
II eft temps de tirer à la fin; Ie croy que ie n'ay
point contreuenu à la refolution que i'auois prife
d'eftre court, puifque i'obmets quantité de chofes de
peur d'eftre long. I'auray cette confolation cette
année que difant peu, il fe gliffera peu de fautes fous
Ie rouleau de la preffe.
La Relation de l'année paffee en eft remplie: il
faut que i'ê conte vne pour inuiter l'Imprimeur à
prendre quelque jaloufie de fon ouurage. Au [7 8 ]
Chapitre 8. page 145. où il s'agift de quelque prife
que i'eus auec vn forcier; au lieu de me feruir d'ex-
orcifmes contre Ie diable, l'Imprimeur me fait feruir
d'vne efpee. Voicy ce que i'auois couché dans l'ori-
ginal. En effet i'auois deffein de me feruir d'vne
efpece d' exorcifmes, l'Imprimeur a mis; En effect
i'auois deffein de me feruir d'vne efpee deformais.
Ie vous confeffe que ce beau rencontre m' a fait rire.
Quand on parle de fi loing, on ne fait pas fi bien en-
tendre fes penfees, l' efcriture eft vne parole muette,
qui fe change auffi facilement, qu'il en aifé de pren-
dre vn Caractere pour vn autre: on fait dire à vn
enfant ce qu'on veut quand fon pere eft abfent. C'eft
affez pour ce coup.
Cependant nous demanderons à Dieu fa grande be-
nediction pour ces ames d'eDite, qui par leurs mains
& par leurs væux attirent nos pauures Sauuages à
Iefus-Chrift. N OtiS coniurons tous V. R. & tous nos
Peres & nos Freres de fa Prouince, de ioindre vos
prieres auec les noftres, afin que noitre recognoiffance
aupres de Dieu attire les graces & les faueurs du Ciel,
& fur noftre Colonie, & fur nos Neophytes, & fur ces

1637 - 38]

LE /EUNE'S RELATION, z638

277

Help them cultivate the land, and give them a place
to lodge, and you will have them all. "
Father Charles Lalemant, who is going to France
to look after our little affairs instead of Father Quen-
tin, who has been sent to
liskou, will relate verbally
what I cannot record upon paper without tediousness.
It is time to draw to a close. I do not think I
have infringed upon the resolution I made to be brief,
since I omit many things lest I be tedious, I shall
have this consolation this year, that, in saying little,
few faults will slip under the roller of the press.
The Relation of last year is full of them; I must
mention one of them, in order to induce the Printer
to take some pride in his work. In [78] Chapter 8,
on page 145,-where some quarrel I had with a sor-
cerer is in question,- the Printer makes me, in place
of employing exorcisms against the devil, use a sword.
This is w hat I wrote in the original: "In fact I
intended to employ a sort of exorcism;" the Printer
made it: "In fact, I intended to use a sword here-
after." I must confess that this pretty witticism
made me laugh. When one speaks from so great a
distance, his thoughts are not so well understood.
W!"iting is a mute language, which is so easily changed
that it is easy to take one Character for another; a
child is made to say whatever one wishes, when its
father is absent. This is enough for this time.
Meanwhile, we shall ask God for his great blessing
upon those elect souls, who with their hands and
their vows draw our poor Savages to Jesus Christ.
\Ve all conjure Your Reverence, and all our Fathers
and Brethren of your Province, to join your prayers
with ours,- that our acknowledgments to God may
draw down mercies and favors from Heaven, upon

278

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 14

pauures peuples, & fur fes enfans, lefquels íe pro-
feffent tous en general, & moyen particulier: (;e que
ie f uis de tout mon cæur.
DE V. R,
Tres-humble & tres-obligé feruiteur
felon Dieu P A VL LE IEVNE.
Aux trois Riuieres en fa Refidence de
fa Conceptl:on, ce 25. d' Aoujl I638.

1637 -38J

LE /EUNE'S Rr..'LA TION, I638

279

our Colony, upon our Neophytes, upon these poor
tribes, and upon your children, who all profess them-
selves in general, and I in particular, what I am with
all my heart,
YOUR REVERENCE'S
Most humble and greatly obliged servant
in God, PAUL LE JEUNE,
From the three Rz"'vers, at the Residence of
fa Conceptz'on, th'Ù 25th of August, I638.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: VOL. XIV

XXIX

For particulars of this document, see VoL XI.
XXX

The Relation of 1638 (Paris, [638), is a composite,
. although for convenience classed by bibliographers
as Le Jeune's. His Relation proper, as superior of
the Jesuit missions in New France, occupies Part I.
of the document. I t is addressed to the provincial
at Paris, and signed at Three Rivers, August 25,
16 3 8 . Part II. consists of the usual Huron Relation,
rendered by Le Mercier to Le Jeune, and is dated at
Ossossané, June 9, 1638.
For the text of this document we have had re-
course to the original printed Relation (first edition),
at Lenox Library, which is there designated as " H.
69," because described in Harrisse's Notes, no. 69.
Collation (H. 69). Part I.: Title, with verso blank,
I 1.; "Table des Chapitres," pp. (2); text of Le
Jeune (I I chaps.), pp. 1-78. Part II. (separately
paged): Half-title, with verso blank, 1 1.; text of
Le :Mercier (Huron Relation, 10 chaps.), pp. 1- 6 7
(misnumbered 76); "Extraict du Priuilege du Roy"
(dated Paris, Dec. 14, 1638), and" Permifsion du P.
Prouincial" (dated Paris, March 26, 1638), on verso
of p. 67. Page 12 of Le J eune is mispaged 2. Har-
risse's line-title of this edition is incorrect.
There is a second edition of this Relatioll, known
as " H. 70," and it collates as follows:

282 LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES

Relation I de ce qvi s'est passé I en la I Novvelle
France I en l'année 1638. I Enuoyée au I R.. Pere
Provincial I de la Compagnie de Iesvs I en la Prouince
de France. I Par Ie P. Pavl Ie Ievne de la mefme
Compagnie, I Superieur de la Refidence de Kébec. I
[Cut, wz"th storks] I A Paris, I Chez Sebastien Cra-
moisy Imprimeur ordinaire du Roy, ruë fainct
Iacques, I aux Cicognes. I M. DC. XXXVIII. I Ayec
privilege dv roy. I Title, with verso blank, I 1.;
"Table des Chapitres," pp. (2); text of Le J eune,
pp. 1 - 7 8 ; half-title, with verso blank, I 1.; text of
Huron Relation, by Le Mercier, pp. I - 67, with
Privilege and Permission on the verso of p. 67. In
Le Jeune's Relation, pp. 23 and 35 are misnumbered
2 and 3, respectively.
That the second edition is an entire reset, is evi-
denced by variations on every page, in the head-lines,
line-endings, spelling, contractions, and typograph-
ical arrangement. The following particulars will be
sufficient to enable collectors to distinguish between
the two editions. In the first edition, the fifth line
of the title-page is in larger type than in the second
edition, and while in the former the eighth line ends
with " en," in the latter it ends with " IESVS." Le
Jeune's baptismal name is spelled" PAVLE '0 in the
first edition, but ,. PAVL" in the second. Other dif-
ferences, mainly of punctuation, may upon compari-
son be noticed in the title-pages. The head orna-
ment to the "Table des Chapitres" consists of
seventeen parts in the first edition, and of eighteen
parts, equally divided, in the second edition. The
initial R is much larger in the first edition than in the
other. In the Permission (which bears an earlier
date than either of the Relations), the signature,

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: VOL. XIV 283

misprinted "BSTIENNE EINET" in the first edition,
is corrected to "ESTIENNE BINET" in the second
edition. We have noticed many more differences or
corrections, as, e.g., " de cefte perfecutions" changed
to "de cefte perfecution," and" toufjour" to "touf-
jours. ' ,
Harrisse's Notes, p. 62, mentions a Latin version
" dans Ie recueil du P. Trigaut " (Cologne, 1653). He
doubtless here refers to the following Latin work, in
Izmo, 60 pp. :
Progressvs Fidei I Catholicae I in Novo Orbe. I I. I
Jn Canada, Sive I Noua Francia. I II. I In Cochin
China. I III. I In magno Chinensi I Regno: I De quo
R. P. Nicolaus Trigautius I Societ. Iesv libris V.
copiosè & accuratè I fcripfit. I I Coloniæ
Agrippinæ, I Apud Joannem Kinchium fub I Mono-
cerote veteri. I Anno M. DC. LIII. I Permiffu Supe-
rior. & Priuil. S. C. M. general. I
As the name of Trigaut appears so prominently
upon the title, the authorship of the entire work has,
in several catalogues, been attributed to him. A
close examination of the phraseology, however (note
the colon in the eleventh line), reveals that he is ac-
tually accredited only with Part III. The book is
merely a compilation: Part I. is a rather free transla-
tion into Latin, in condensed form, of the New France
Relatz"o1l of 1648 -49, by Ragueneau, which had orig-
inally been published in Paris, in 1650. On p. 3 of
the work it is called "Excerpta ex Relatione."
Doubtless both Parts II. and III. are by Trigaut, who
was a ] esuit missionary to China, and in his later
years an author of several publications relating to
that field; he died in 1628, twenty-five years before
this Cologne compilation. In making the above ref-

284 LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES

erence, Harrisse appears, curiously, to have confound-
ed the Relation of 1638 with that of 1648-49:, it is
evident, also, from the style of his citation on p. 9 6
of the Notes, that he had not examined the Progressus
Fidei, but had taken his title at second-hand. It is a
very rare book, the only copy known to us being in
the Brown Library.
Copies of the Relation of 1638 are in Brown (first
edition), Harvard College (second edition), Lenox
(both editions), and New York State libraries; in
Laval University, Quebec (second edition), and in the
British Museum (first edition).
For further references, see Harrisse, nos. 69, 70, 99,
and p. 62; Sabin. vol. x., nos. 39954, 39955, and vol.
xvi., p. 53 8 . Also, the following sales catalogues:
Dufossé's Libraire A1Iu!ricaÌ1ze, n.s., xxi e année. no.
28 9 8 , copy offered for 300 fro (he has also offered
copies of late years at 170 to 225 fr.); Dodd, Mead
& Co., April, 1896, no. 42, copy of second edition (a
Lenox duplicate) offered for $50; O'Callaghan, no.
1 21 7, second edition, but called there" first issue,"
sold for $45; Harrassowitz (1882), no. 25, priced at
125 marks.

NOTES TO VOL. XIV

(Figures in þarentheses, following number of note, refer to þages
of English text.)

I (p. 7).- Concerning the Bissiriniens (Nipissings), see vol. v.,
note 19 (but for" winter" read" summer t.).
2 (p. 9)'- For sketches of the Agniers (Mohawks) and the Andas-
tes, see vol. viii., note 34, pp. 300, 301.
3 (p. 13).-The small village of Arendaonatia, although in Tiny
township, was at some distance from the main trail connecting the
mission towns north and south.-A. F. HUNTER.
4 (p. I7).-Regarding the separation here referred to, see vol. x.,
pp. 279, 281, 3 0 7.
5 (p. 27).-Ekhiondaltsaan: see vol. xii., note 7.
6 (p. 33).- Angouteus is probably a misprint for Angoutenc (vol.
xiii., note IS).
7 (p. 39).- Sonontouan was the chief town of the Seneca tribe (vol.
viii., notes 21, 35).
8 (p. 81).-This game of the dish is described by Brébeuf in vol.
x., pp. 187, 189.
9 (p. 99),- Cheveux re!evez: a sedentary tribe living west of the
Petun or Tobacco Nation. according to Champlain's map of 1632.
The latter visited (1615) this people,-to whom he gave the above
name, on account of their peculiar mode of dressing the hair,- and
describes them at some length (Voyages. Laverdière's ed., pp. 512,
513, 546- 548), praising their enterprise, industry, and uncommon
domestic neatness. They were then at war with the Fire Nation
(Mascoutins), in which they were assisted by the Neutrals. Sagard
(Canada, p. 199) mentions the same tribe. under their Huron
appellation, Andatahouats; this name is derived from ondata
(" wood" or .. forest "), thus signifying II the people of the forest."
Sagard also met (p. 197) some Indians" of the gUtS du bois, a dis-
tant tribe, far towards the Southern sea, dependent on the Cheveux
re!evez, and, as It were, the same people." Laverdière (Cham-
plain, p. 512), says: .. From the word Ondalahoual is formed
Outaouat, or Ottawa - the name by which all the Upper Algonquins
were afterward designated. Champlain, in his large map
of 1632, places them west of the Petun nation, which leads to the be-

286

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

lief that they occupied the long point that juts into Lake Huron, to-
ward the Manitoualin islands. On the other hand, the Relation of
1640 locates on those very islands the Outaouan, 'people \vho came
from the tribe of Cþeveux-Relevés.' This agrees with the Relation
of 1671, where it is said (chap. ii., art. iii.) that the island of Ekaen-
toutan (Manitoualin) was formerly the land of the Outaouais; and
with Nicolas Perrot, who calls that island 'the island of the Outa-
ouaks' (Mémoire, Tallhan's ed., p. 126)." Du Creux's map also
locates the Cheveux-Relevés on Manitoulin.
All these citations would indicate that a Southern group of Algon-
kin clans-tillers of the soil, and marked by habits and customs
somewhat different from those of the Northern - were, at a very
early date, dwelling in the region between Lake Huron and the
western end of Lake Ontario; but that during the first half of the
seventeenth century - driven northward by the frequent attacks of
the fierce Iroquois - they retreated to the southern shore of Georgian
Bay, thence to the long peninsula N. W. of Owen Sound, and finally
to the Manitoulin Islands and to the mainland north of Georgian
Bay.
A. F. Hunter supplies the followmg information: "The Ottawas
of Manitoulin Island still form the greater part of the mixed Ind-
ian population there. They appear to have received more fugi-
tive Hurons, after the dispersion of that people, than did any other
Algonkin nation. The unusually large stature of many individuals
among the modern Ottawas, compared with that of other Eastern
Algonkins, would seem to support this view." A history of this
tribe ha.s been published, by an Ottawa chief, A. J. Blackbird,-HÙ-
tory of the Ottawa and Chiþþewa Indians of Michigan (Ypsilanti,
Mich.. 1887).
10 (p. 111).- For sketch of Le Mercier, see vol. viii., note II.
II (p. 127).- For sketch of the Duchess d' Aiguillon, see vol. viii.,
note 62.
12 (p. 127).-Noël Brulard (or Brulart), chevalier de Sillery, de-
scended from an old and noble Burgundian family, was born at
Paris, Dec. 25, 1577. At the age of eIghteen, he was sent to Malta,
where he served twelve years, gaining much renown as a military
officer, and high rank among the Knights of St. John (vol. xL,
note 3). Returning to France, he received the commandery of
Troyes, with an annual income of 40,000 hvres. He was sent as
ambassador to Madrid (1614) and to Rome (1622), and held impor-
tant State offices; his rank, wealth, and military renown rendered
him for many years a personage of distinction at the French court.
In the midst of this brilliant career (162S), he renounced the world
and embraced the religious life,-probably led thereto by the influ-

NOTES TO VOL. XIV

287

ence of his friend, Vincent de Paul,- and was ordained a priest at
the age of 57 (1634). By a special dispensation from Rome, he was,
however, allowed to retain possession of his still great fortune, that
he might personally expend it in pious and charitable works, He
was especially interested in Le Jeune's project for rendering seden-
tary the wandering IndIan tribes; and in J637 he gave to the Jesuit
missions in Canada the funds for establishing at Sillery (named for
its benefactor) their colony of Indian neophytes- the first in Xew
France of those .. reductlOns" which had already rendered the
missions in Paraguay so flourishing (vol. xii., noft> 28). Garneau
says (Canada, vol. i., p. 132) that the commander de Sillery
was interested in Canada, and induced to join the Hundred As-
sociates, by another member of his order, Isaac de Razilly (vol. viii.,
note 2). Brulard gave liberal aid also to other mIssion enterprises
in New France; and he lavished hIS wealth on the charitable under-
takings of Vincent de Paul. His death occurred Sept. 26, 1640.
Other members of the Brulard family were notable both in civil
and religious affairs. The father, Pierre, was a magistrate, highly
esteemed by Henry IV. Noël's eldest brother, Nicolas, marquis de
Sillery, was appointed by that monarch (1607) chancellor of France
and Navarre, and was interested in Canadian affairs. The second
son, François, caused a Jesuit college to be bUIlt at Rheims, and was
an archdeacon in the Church. A third brother, Jean Baptiste, was
a Capuchin pnest, and became commissary general of tl;1e houses of
his order in France. A sister, Catherine, was for many years abbess
of Longchamp, near Paris; and another sister founded a religious
order (the Hospital Nuns of St. Augustin) at Paris.-See SuIte's
Can.-Français, yol. ii., pp. 63, 64, where he gives a sketch con-
densed from the Abbé Bois's Le Chevalier de Sillery (Quebec, 1871).
Cf. Rochemonteix's.fésuites, vol. i., pp. 246-248.
13 (p. 22s).-Pon-éþzc (Porcupine): the French translation of
Kakouchac. the name (lD their own dialect, and referring to the
great abundance, in that region, of porcupines-Erethtzon dorsatus)
of a tribe dwelhng on the banks of Lake St. John. In July, 1647,
the Jesuit De Quen (vol. viii., note IS) made a journeyuptheSague-
nay from Tadoussac, to visit this tribe, whom he found receptive
to the faith, and most hospitable to himself; in his letter describing
this voyage (Relation of 1647, chap. xii.), he states that he .. was
the first Frenchman who had set foot on their soil." In September,
1671, Charles Albanel halted a few days among this people. on his
way to Hudson's Bay; he says of them (Relation of 1672, chap.
vi.): .. The Inhabitants have been greatly diminished in numbers
by the late wars they have carried on with the Iroquois, and by the
smallpox, which is the pest of the Savages: now they are beginning

288

LES RELA TIONS DES .fÉSUITES

to rehabilitate themselves through people from outside tribes, who,
since the peace, resort there from many quarters."
14 (p. 22s).-Regarding the Petite Nation, see vol. v., n
te 56.
15 (p. 265).-A child of miracle and blessing: the birth of the
Dauphin was considered miraculous. Anne of Austria had de-
spaired of giving the king a son and heir; she therefore made a vow
to her patroness, Ste. Anne. After the birth of the Dauphin, Anne,
in fulfillment of her YOW, sent ex voto gifts to the shrines of Ste.
Anne d'Auray, in Brittany; Ste. Anne d'Apt, in Provence; and Ste.
Anne de Beaupré, near Quebec. To the last-named, she sent a
chasuble worked by her own hands, which is still to be seen in that
shrme.- CRAWFORD LINDSAY.
16 (p. 271).-Simon Ie Moyne, at the age of eighteen, entered the
Jesuit novitiate at Rouen, Dec. 10, 1622; his studies were pursued
here, and at Clermont and La Flèche, and he was an instructor at
the Rouen college during 1627-32 and 1636-37. While a student at
Clermont, he was an active member of the "league of prayer for
the Canadian mission," to which belonged Le Jeune, the Lalemants,
and many others. Assigned to the mission in Canada, he went
thither in the spring of 1638, and at once departed to the Huron
country; by that people he was surnamed Wane. In the fonowing
year, he began (with Daniel) a mission among the Arendarhonons
(vol. viii., note 24), that of St. Jean Baptiste; and for several years
was in charge of this mission and of that at Teanaustayé (St.
Joseph). After the dispersion of the Hurons, he probably served at
Quebec and other posts on the St. Lawrence, until 1653, when he
was sent as an ambassador to the Iroquois, and likewise opened a
mission among the Onondagas. Much of his time during the next
five years was spent among the Iroquois tribes, by whom he was
known as Ondessonk-the appellation they had formerly bestowed
upon J ogues (vol. ix., note 41), and after the martyrdom of the latter
had conferred upon Le Moyne, in accordance with their custom.
While in the Iroquois country, Le Moyne visited New Amsterdam
(New York), and formed a strong friendship with the Dutch minis-
ter there, Jan Megapolensis, who had formerly aided Jogues in his
captivity. Le Moyne made a fifth journey to the Iroquois country
in 1661, and spent the following winter there; and again in 1663,
according to the .four. des .fésuites, went to Sonontouan. He died
Nov. 24, 1665, from a fever, at Cap de Magdeleine.
17 (p. 273).-François du Peron was born at Lyons, Jan. 26, 1610;
he became a Jesuit novice at Avignon, Feb. 23, 1627. He was, in
turn, both student and instructor at Dôle and Lyons; and while at
the latter college, was also superintendent of the Trinity boarding-
school. He was sent to Canada in 1638, and labored among the

NOTES TO VOL. XIV

289

Hurons (who named him Anonchiara) from that time until their dis-
persion by the Iroquois. In August, 1650, he made a voyage to
France; his name does not again appear until 1657, when he went
with Ragueneau to the Onondaga mission, escaping in the following
March from the hostile savages of that tribe (vol. ix., note 40). The
.fourn. des .fésuzïes mentions his arrival from France, June, 1665;
and, in the following November. his death at Fort St. Louis (Cham-
bly). where he was chaplain,