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.

THE JESUIT RELATIONS

AND

ALLIED DOCUMENTS

VOL. XVIII

The edition conszSts of sev-
en hundred and fifty sets
all numbered

No.
J d, -.-

.

. /' ,

.if
.

' . $2..r

The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents

11

TRAVELS AND EXPLORATIONS
OF THE JESUIT MISSIONARIES
IN NE\V FRANCE

1610- 1 79 1

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

EDITED BY

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

Vol. XVIII
HURONS AND QUEBEC: 1640

CLEVELAND: ttbe :muttOWa :mrotbers
COmpan\?, PUBLISHERS, M DCCCXCVIII

COPYRIGHT, 1898
BY
THE BURROWS BROTHERS Co

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Tlte Imþerial Press, Cleveland

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor

REUBEN GOLD THWAITES
! FINLOW ALEXANDER
PERCY FAVOR BICKNELL
WILLIAM FREDERIC GIESE
CRAWFORD LINDSAY
WILLIAM PRICE

Translators .

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

CONTENTS OF YOLo XYIII

PREFACE TO VOLUME XVIII I
DOCUMENTS :-
XXXVIII. Lettre au T. R. P. Mutio Vitelleschi,
Général de la Compagnie de J ésus,
à Rome. Joseplt-MarÙ Chaumonot;
Pays des Hurons, May 24, 1640 10
XXXIX. Lettre au R. P. Philippe Nappi,
Supérieur de la Maison Professe,
à Rome. Joseplt-fi-farÙ Chaumonot;
Pays des Hurons, May 26, 1640 14
XL. Lettre au R. P. Philippe Nappi,
Supérieur de la
faison Professe,
à Rome. Joseph-fi-farÙ Clzaumonot;
Sainte-ßfarie aux Hurons, August
3, 16 4 0 3 6
XLI. Relation de ce qvi s'est passé en la
N ovvelle France, en l'année 1640.
[Chaps. i.- x. of Part I.] Paul Ie
Jeune; Kébec, September 10, 16 4 0 47
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: Y"OLU:\IE XVIII . 25 I
NOTES . 255

ILLUSTRATION TO VOL. XVIII

1. Photographic facsimile of title-page, Relation
of 16 40 . 50

PREFACE TO VOL. XVIII

Following is a synopsis of the documents contained
in the present volume:
XXXVIII. Joseph Marie Chaumonot writes to
the Father General (May 24. 1640) a brief letter,
sketching the state of the Huron mission. It has
thirteen priests, with several donnés; it comprises
thirty-two villages, " in which not a single cabin re-
mains where the Gospel has not been proclaimed. It
The missionaries have been frequently persecuted,
but none have yet perished.
XXXIX. Two days later (May 26), Chaumonot
writes to Father Nappi, of Rome, a more detailed
account of the mission,- the manner in which the
Fathers live, their methods of work, the characteris-
tics of the savages, the persecution experienced from
them, and the ravages of the epidemic. He then nar-
rates the miraculous cure of two blind persons by
one of the missionaries, and the details of several
baptisms. The death of an Iroquois prisoner, by
torture, is described; and allusion is made to the
possibility that some of the missionaries may meet
similar treatment from the Iroquois. Chaumonot
sends greetings to many of his friends by name, and
closes by asking for some masses and communions,
of which the missionaries are often deprived.

2

PREFACE TO VOL. XVIII

XL. This is another letter by Chaumonot to N ap-
pi, dated August 3 of the same year. The writer
describes a missionary journey made by him with
Brébeuf to a tribe where the Gospel has not before
been preached. Here they are met with distrust and
aversion, arising from the same calumnies that had
so endangered them among the Hurons. Their
books are considered as repositories of magic spells;
and the missionaries are suspected of concocting
these spells even when they kneel in prayer. They
are repeatedly threatened with death; but God pro-
tects them from their enemies. This mission has
little effect, except that they succeed in baptizing
many sick children, without the knowledge of their
relatives; many of these are now in heaven. Chau-
monot does not give the name of this tribe; but,
from the Huron Relation of 1641 (chap. vi.) we learn
that it was the Attiwandaronk or Neutral Nation.
The letter closes by relating several acts of heroism,
among the Hurons, remarkable in "poor infidels
without morality. II
XLI. The Relatz"oll of 1640 is a composite. In
1639, Barthélemy Vimont succeeded Le Jeune as
superior of the order in New France, and his name
appears on the title-page of the annual volume. He
seems, however, to have only edited the Relation, or
perhaps only forwarded the matter to Paris for pub-
lication by the provincial; for Part I., the Quebec
portion, is still from the pen of Le J eune (dated Sep-
tember 10); and Part II., the Huron report, is by
Jerome Lalemant (dated May 27, with a postscript
written August 3). In our present volume, we pub-
lish the first ten chapters of Part I., by Le J eune.
The report opens with a synopsis of Father
fé-

PREFACE TO VOL. XVIII

3

nard's account of the voyage made by the French
fleet this year, which also brought over Joseph du
Peron and some lay brethren, and additional nuns
for both convents at Quebec; all these were heartily
welcomed there. The writer warns the nuns who
desire to come to Canada that the country is not
ready for them, and that they must await its devel-
opment. The great object of the missionaries now
is, to render the savages sedentary; four families of
them are at present living in the cabins built for
them by the French.
Le J eune praises the virtue and piety of the colo-
nists. He relates that a plague of grasshoppers and
other insects \vas immediately driven away by some
prayers and processions. The people enjoy good
health; the soil is prolific; peace and content pre-
vail. By way of diversion for the people, and honor
to the infant Dauphin of France, Montmagny has a
miracle play or "tragi-comedy" performed, under
the charge of :Martial Piraubé. For the benefit of
the savages, there is introduced therein "the soul
()f an unbeliever, pursued by two demons, who finally
hurl it into a hell which vomits forth flames. The
struggles, cries, and shrieks of this soul and of these
demons, who speak in the Algonquin tongue, so deep-
ly penetrates the hearts of some," that a savage, two
days later, tells of hideous dreams, inspired by the
spectacle.
Now that the epidemic of smallpox (described in
the Relation of 1639) is over, the savages reassemble
at St. Joseph (Sillery), and resume their effort to
become sedentary. Those who are converted decide
among themselves to drive away from this settlement
all who do not believe as they do. Acting on the

4

PREFACE TO VOL. XVIII

advice of the Fathers and a suggestion from Montma-
gny, the governor, they elect, by secret ballot, some
chiefs to rule over them,- the head of these being
Etinechkavat, a Christian. They not only make all
necessary arrangements for the conduct of their
affairs, but summon the women to a council and
admonish them to be forthwith baptized - the disin-
clination of the latter to that rite having been" the
cause of all their misfortunes." The women are
warned that hereafter they must obey their hus-
bands; one of them, having run away, is caught, and
the chiefs ask the Fathers if she would not better
be chained by one foot, and whether four days and
nights of fasting would be sufficient penance for her
fault.
The Indians have now begun to cultivate the land.
Father Vimont, the new superior, is residing at Sil-
lery, in order to aid them; and the French colonists
have also done much in this direction. Some Algon-
kins also are settling at Three Rivers. At both set-
tlements, the converts desire to interest their tribes-
men in their undertaking, and to gather them into
the colonies, to be aided by the French, and to have
but one God. Several instances are given of the
faith, obedience, and virtue displayed by these neo-
phytes. The chief difficulty anticipated by the Fa-
thers is, in the enforcement of single marriage, to
which the savages are unaccustomed. In this, as in
all other matters,
fontmagny aids the missionaries
to the utmost,- causing three marriages of Sillery
Indians to take place at Quebec, with a magnificent
feast and rich gifts for the bridal party. :Many of
the young Indians come to the Fathers" in private,
and ask us to find them wives, or to speak for them

PREFACE TO VOL. XVIII

5

to those whom they desire to marry; some widows,
and even some young girls, ask us secret! y to find
them husbands, confiding in us more than in those
of their own nation." All the converts show great
solicitude to avoid the sins they have abandoned,
especially the licentious acts and speech so prevalent
among their countrymen; and the girls drive away
their pagan suitors with firebrands.
Madame de la Peltrie comes to Sillery at Christ-
mas, to attend the midnight mass with the savages;
the latter go to escort her thither, and" vie in caress-
ing her." She often visits them, at other seasons,
and takes with her some Indian girls from the Ursu-
line seminary, who have learned to sing very sweet-
ly, both in their own language and in French. The
converts show great zeal,-they refuse to eat on
fast days, even when in great need; they thank
God when successful in hunting; they are very con-
trite for their faults, and even for their evil dreams.
The children are ready to fight one another for their
belief. A young man is severely punished by the
Sillery converts, for having married an unbaptized
girl; and" two boys, who came late to prayers in the
morning, were punished by having a handful of hot
cinders thrown upon their heads, with threats of
greater chastisement in case the offense were repeat-
ed." Another man gives up tobacco, when reproved
by a priest. Pigarouich, erstwhile a medicine man,
is immediately cured of an illness, by prayer; and
the same agency enables him to make a canoe (the
first he had ever built), " as well as the most expert
person could have done." Even the unbelieving
Indians show the utmost respect for the Christian
mysteries and belief, and imitate the actions of those

6

PREFACE TO VOL. XVIII

who have been converted; some even have visions
of heaven. A young Christian, having lost at gam-
bling, confesses to the priest with great contrition;
and" with charming simplicity" adds, " I will stake
nothing hereafter, except some article of small value."
Buteux sends to his superior similar accounts from
the residence at Three Rivers.
lany widows and
orphans, made such by the fatal epidemic of last
year, have come hither, to seek aid from the French.
The missionaries aid these, as far as their own
poverty will allow, and, in the spring, set them to
raising corn for their supplies.
Le J eune relates a terrible tragedy occurring
among a household of savages who had been attacked
by smallpox in the forests. Most of them died; the
head of the family,-who had recently married in
the savage fashion, without waiting for the Church's
benediction, and whom, in consequence, " God was
sharply pursuing with his judgments, "_ill and help-
less, was murdered by his sister, to avoid further
care for him, and to flee with her own son. She at
first abandoned her brother's children, but afterward
compelled the elder of these to strangle his own little
sister. "But God, in whose sight all this fatal trag-
edy was played, willed that this Proserpina should
play one act of it. He struck her with the contagion
from which she was fleeing; and, before reaching the
place where she wished to bring her son, she died
like a beast. Finally, her son was brought to the
hospital, where he died in an intolerable stench, but
with strong indications of salvation."
Le Jeune proceeds to enumerate the Indian tribes
of whom the French have knowledge, from Labra-
dor to Hudson Bay, and from the :Mississippi to

PREFACE TO VOL. XVIII

7

Virginia. This survey reveals a boundless field for
missionary labor, and he asks the aid of Christians
in France to help spread the Gospel therein.
In this connection he states an interesting oc-
currence - the arrival on the St. Lawrence of an
Englishman, brought hither by Abenaki Indians, who
is " searching for a route through these countries to
the sea of the North," in which quest he has" for
two years ranged the whole Southern coast, from
Virginia to Quinebiqui." :Montmagny sends him to
Tadoussac, that he may return to England by way
of France.

R. G. T.

MADISON, WIS., March, 1898.

XXXVIII-XL

THREE LETTERS BY JOSEPH MARIE CHAUMONOT

XXXVIII.- Au T. R. P. Général de la Compagnie de Jésus;
Pays des Hurons, 24 Mai, 1640
XXXIX.- Au R. P. Philippe Nappi, Supérieur de Ia Maison
Professe, à Rome; Pays des Hurons, 26 Mai,
16 4 0
XL.- Au même; Sainte-Marie aux Hurons, 3 Août,
1640

SOURCE: The originals were in Italian, and deposited in
the archives of the Society in Rome. Father Martin copied
them there in 1858, and translated them into French; these
translations being published in Carayon's Première lJ;/Ùsion
des Jésuites au Canada, pp. 195-215. We follow Carayon
for the French text, and our English translations are there-
from.

10

LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSU1TES

[V OL. 18

[195J Lettre du P. Joseph-Marie Chaumonot, au
T. R. P. Mutio Vitelleschi, Général
de la Compagnie de Jé-
sus, à Rome.

(Traduile de l'itallen sur l'original conservé à Rome.)

Du pays des Hurons, 24 mai 1640.
M ON TRÈS-RÉvÉREND PÈRE,
Pax Christi.
Le 10 de septembre 1639, j'arrivai dans Ie
pays des Hurons en la Nouvelle-France, après une
navigation de trois mois très-pénible et très-dange-
reuse, qui fut suivie d'un voyage d'un autre mois sur
les rivières, les lacs et à travers les forêts.
N ous sommes ici treize Pères, to us français, avec
quelques jeunes gens qui se donnent à nous pour Ie
soin du temporel, et qui nous tiennent lieu de frères
coadjuteurs. Notre manière de vivre paraîtra en
Europe très-étrange et très-pénible, mais nous la trou-
vons fort douce et fort agréable. Nous n'avons ni
sel, ni huile, ni fruits, ni pain, ni vin, excepté celui
que nous gardons pour la messe. Toute notre nour-
riture se compose d'un grand [196J plat de bois rem-
pli d'une espèce de soupe faite de blé d'Inde, écrasé
entre deux pierres ou pi1é dans un mortier, et assai-
sonnée avec quelques poissons fumés. Notre lit est
la terre, couverte d'une écorce d'arbre ou tout_au
plus d'une natte.
L'étendue de notre mission comprend cette année

1640]

CHA UJIONOT TO THE GENERAL

11

[195J Letter from Father Joseph Marie Chaumonot
to the Very Reverend Father Mutio Vi-
telleschi, General of the Society
of Jesus, at Rome.

(Translatedfrom the Italian original þreserved at Rome.)

From the Huron country,
1ay 24, 1640.
M y VERY REVEREND FATHER,
Pax Christi.
I arrived in the Huron country, in New
France, on the loth of September, 1639, after a very
painful and dangerous voyage of three months, which
was followed by a journey of another month upon
rivers and lakes, and through forests.
There are thirteen Fathers of us here, all French,
with some young men who are given to us for the
care of temporal matters, and who with us take the
place of lay brethren. Our manner of living will
seem in Europe very strange and full of hardship,
but we find it quite easy and agreeable. We have
neither salt, oil, fruits, bread, nor wine, except what
we keep for the mass. Our entire nourishment con-
sists of [I 96J a sort of soup made of Indian corn,
crushed between two stones, or pounded in a mor-
tar, and seasoned with smoked fish,- this served in
a large wooden dish. Our bed is the ground, cov-
ered with a piece of bark, or, at the most, with a mat.
The extent of our mission comprises this year
thirty-two hamlets or villages, in which not a single

12

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

trente-deux bourgs ou villages, dans lesquels il ne
reste pas ttne seule cabane OÙ l'Évangile n'ait été
annoncé. Beaucoup de sauvages ont reçu Ie baptême.
La plupart, victimes d'une épidémie qui a ravagé
tout Ie pays, sont au del, nous l' espérons. Cette ma-
ladie a été 1'occasion de bien des calomnies et de per-
sécutions exdtées contre nous sous Ie prétexte que
nous étions les auteurs du fiéau. Toutefois aucun
de nous n'a péri dans cette tempête, bien que quel-
ques-uns aient été bâtonnés et que d'autres aient vu
la hache levée sur eux, et bien près de leur tête.
N ous avons tous besoin du secours de vos prières;
c'est pourquoi nous nous recommandons humblement
à vos saints Sacrifices.
J e suis,
de V otre Paternité,
Le très-indigne serviteur et fils en
Notre-Seigneur.
JOSEPH-MARIE CHAUMONOT.
Du pays des Hurons, Ie 24 mai 1640.

1640]

CHA UMONOT TO THE GENERAL

13

cabin remains where the Gospel has not been pro-
claimed. Many savages have received baptism; most
of these, the victims of an epidemic which has
ravaged the whole country, are in heaven, we hope.
This malady has been the occasion for many calum-
nies and persecutions, excited against us under the
pretext that we were the authors of the scourge.
None of us, however, have perished in this tem-
pest, although some have been beaten, and others
have seen the hatchet raised over them, and very near
to their heads.
We all have need of the help of your prayers,
hence we commend ourselves humbly to your holy
Sacrifices.

lam

Your Paternity's
Very unworthy servant and son in
Our Lord,
JOSEPH MARIE CHAUMONOT.l
From the country of the Hurons, May 24, 1640.

14

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

[197J Lettre du P. Joseph-Marie Chaumonot au
R. P. Philippe Nappi, Supérieur de la
Maison Professe à Rome.

(Traduite de l'italien sur l'original conser-vi à Rome.)

MON

Du pays des Hurons, 26 mai 16 4 0 .
RÉVÉREND PÈRE,

Pax Christi.
J e ne pourrai jamais remercier assez la di-
vine bonté de la faveur qu'elle m'a faite, en me
conduisant à travers tant de dangers, dans Ie lieu Ie
plus favorable qui soit au monde, pour perfectionner
un religieux. J e dois en faire part à V otre Révérence,
afin qu'elle veuille bien m'aider à en remercier Ie
bon Dieu. L'année dernière, j'ai écrit que, après trois
mois d'une navigation très-pénible, je suis arrivé
dans la Nouvelle-France, mais qu'i! me fallait encore
m'avancer trois cents lieues plus loin dans Ie désert.
V oici Ie récit de ce voyage.
La veille de saint Laurent, je m'embarquai dans
un canot de sauvages Hurons (ainsi s'appelle ce peu-
pIe) sur la grande rivière, qui porte Ie nom de [19 8 J
ce glorieux martyr; dans quelques endroits, elle est
large de dix, treize, vingt lieues. Pendant cent
lieues de son cours, ses eaux sont salées, et Ie flux et
reflux s'y font sentir: aussi est-elle sujette, vu sa
largeur, à des tempêtes, comme l'Océan.
Le P. Poncet s'embarqua en même temps que moi;
mais quatre jours après Ie départ, nous fûmes obli-

1640]

CHAUMONOT TO NAPPI

15

[197] Letter of Father Joseph Marie Chaumonot
to the Reverend Father Philippe Nappi, Supe-
rior of the Professed House at Rome.

(Translated from the Italian original þreserved at Rome.)

From the country of the Hurons, May 26, 1640.
M y REVEREND FATHER,
Pax Christi.
I shall never be able sufficiently to thank the
divine goodness for the favor that it has done me,
by leading me through so many dangers into the
most favorable place in the world for perfecting a
religious. I am obliged to acquaint Your Reverence
therewith, to the end that you may kindly consent to
aid me in thanking the good God for it. Last year,
I wrote that after three months of very difficult navi-
gation I arrived in New France, but that I still had
to proceed three hundred leagues further into the
wilderness. Here follows the account of this journey.
On the eve of saint Lawrence, I embarked in a
canoe of Huron savages (thus this people is called),
on the great river which bears the name of [198J that
glorious martyr; in some places it is ten, thirteen,
twenty leagues wide. For a hundred leagues of its
course its waters are salt, and the flow and ebb of
tides is there perceptible: it is also subject, by reason
of its width, to storms, like the Ocean.
Father Poncet embarked at the same time with
me; but four days after the departure we were obliged

16

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

gés de nous séparer, laissant notre premier canot
pour monter séparément dans deux autres. Nous
devions cependant aller de compagnie, de telle sorte
que presque chaque soir, nous nous trouvions en-
semble pour souper et passer la nuit, avec les conduc-
teurs de nos canots d'écorce, et souvent même nous
avions la grande consolation de dire la sainte messe,
Ie matin, avant de partir; mais ce fut la seule pen-
dant tout Ie voyage, qui fut de trente jours pour moi
et de trente-deux pour Ie P. Poncet: voyage on ne
peut plus laborieux. . . . .
Arrivé au but de ce voyage, je trouvai onze de nos
Pères, distribués dans trois Résidences pour être plus
près des bourgs importants, qu'ils veulent instruire
et civiliser. N os habitations sont d' écorce, comme
cel1e des sauvages, sans divisions intérieures, excepté
pour la chapelle. Faute de table et d'ustensiles de
ménage, nous mangeons par terre et nous buvons
dans des écorces d'arbres. Tout l'appareil de notre
cuisine et de notre réfectoire [199J consiste dans un
grand plat de bois, plein de sagamité, à laquelle je ne
vois rien de plus semblable que la colle qui sert à
tapisser les murs. La soif ne nous gêne guère, soit
parce que nous ne nous servons jamais de sel, soit
parce que notre nourriture est touiours très-liquide.
Pour moi, depuis que je suis ici, je n'ai pas bu en tout
un verre d'eau, quoiqu'il y ait déjà huit mois que je
sois arrivé. Notre lit est formé d'une écorce d'arbre,
sur laquelle nous mettons une couverture, épaisse à
peu près comme une piastre de Florence. Pour les
draps, on n'en parle pas, même pour les malades.
Mais la plus grande incommodité, c' est la fumée qui,
faute de cheminée, remplit toute la cabane et gâte

1640]

CHAUMONOT TO NAPPI

17

to separate, leaving our first canoe in order to get
into two others, singly. We were, however, to go in
company, so that almost every evening we found
ourselves together to sup and pass the night with the
guides of our bark canoes; and often we even had
the great consolation of saying the holy mass in the
morning before starting; but this was the only con-
solation during the whole voyage, which was thirty
days for me and thirty-two for Father Poncet,- the
most laborious journey possible. . . . .
Having arrived at the end of this voyage, I found
eleven of our Fathers, distributed in three Residences
in order to be nearer to important villages, which
they desire to instruct and civilize. Our habitations
are of bark, like those of the savages, and without
interior partitions, except for the chapel. For want
of a table and household utensils, we eat on the
ground, and drink from the bark of trees. The
whole apparatus of our kitchen and of our refectory
[199] consists of a great wooden dish, full of saga-
mité, whereto I see nothing more similar than the
paste which is used in covering walls. Thirst hard-
ly annoys us,- either because we never use salt, or
because our food is always very liquid. As for Ine,
since I have been here, I have not drunk in all a glass
of water, although it is now eight months since I
arrived. Our bed is made with a piece of bark, upon
which we put a blanket nearly the thickness of a
Florentine piastre. Respecting sheets, there is no
mention of them, even for the sick. But the great-
est inconvenience is the smoke, which, for want of a
chimney, fills the whole cabin and spoils everything
that one would keep. When certain winds blow, it
is no longer possible to stay therein, because of the

18

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

tout ce qu'on voudrait garder. Quand certains vents
souffient, il n'est plus possible d'y tenir, à cause de
la douleur que ressentent les yeux. En hiver nous
n'avons pas la nuit d'autre lumière que celIe du feu
de la cabane, qui nous sert pour réciter notre bré-
viaire, pour étudier la langue et pour toute chose.
Le jour, nous nous servons de l'ouverture laissée au
haut de la cabane, et qui est à la fois cheminée et
fenêtre. Voilà la manière de vivre dans notre rési-
de nee ; pour celle que nous gardons quand nous allons
en mission, Votre Révérence doit savoir d'abord que,
quoique ces sauvages observent entre eux certaines
règles d'hospitalité, avec nous ils ne [200J les obser-
vent pas. Nous sommes done obligés de porter avec
nous quelques petits couteaux, des aleines, des
bagues, des aiguilles, des pendants d' oreille et choses
semblables, pour payer nos hôtes. Nous portons en
outre une couverture en guise de manteau, qui sert
à nous envelopper la nuit.
La manière d'annoncer la parole de Dieu aux sau-
vages n'est pas de monter en chaire et de prêcher
sur une place publique; il nous faut visiter chaque
cabane en particulier, et auprès du feu, exposer à
ceux qui veulent nous écouter les mystères de notre
sainte foi. lIs n'ont en effet aucun autre lieu de
réunion pour traiter leurs affaires, que la cabane de
quelqu'un de leurs capitaines.
J e ne me serais jamais imaginé une d ureté comme
celIe d'un cæur sauvage élevé dans l'infidélité. Quand
ils sont convaincus de la folie de leurs superstitions
et de leurs fables, et qu'on leur a prouvé la vérité et
la sagesse de la foi, il faudrait, pour achever de les
gagner, leur promettre que Ie baptême" leur donnera

1640]

CHAU1110NOT TO NAPPI

19

pain felt by the eyes. In winter, we have no other
light by night than that of the cabin fire, which serves
us for reciting our breviary, for studying the lan-
guage, and for everything. By day we use the open-
ing left at the top of the cabin,- which is at once
chimney and window. Such is the manner of living
in our residence; as for the one that we observe when
we go on a mission, Your Reverence must know, to
begin with, that although these savages practice
among themselves certain rules of hospitality, with
us they [200J apply them not. We are, therefore,
obliged to carry with us a few little knives, awls,
rings, needles, earrings, and such like things, to
pay our hosts. We carry furthermore a blanket in
the guise of a cloak, which serves to wrap us in at
night.
The way of announcing the word of God to the
savages is not to mount a pulpit and preach in a pub-
lic square; we must visit each cabin in private, and
beside the fire expound, to those who are willing to
listen to us, the mysteries of our holy faith. They
have, in fact, no other place of meeting, for transact-
ing their affairs, than the cabin of some one of their
captains.
I should never have imagined a hardness like that
of a savage heart, brought up in infidelity. When
they are convinced of the folly of their superstitions
and of their fables, and when one has proved to
them the truth and the wisdom of the faith, it would
be necessary, in order to finish winning them, to
promise them that baptism will give them prosperity
and long life,- these poor peoples being susceptible
only to temporal goods. That does not result from

20

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

prospérité et longue vie, ces pauvres gens n'étant sen-
sibles qu'aux biens ternporels: cela ne vient pas de
stupidité; ils sont rnême plus intelligents que nos
campagnards, et il y a certains capitaines, dont nous
admirons l'éloquence, acquise sans beaucoup de pré-
ceptes de rhétorique. [201J Leur obstination dans
l'infidélité est produite par la difficulté qu'ils croient
trouver dans l' observation des cornman dements et
surtout du sixième.
Le petit nornbre de fidèles, que Notre-Seigneur
s'est choisi, est une preuve de ce que peut la grâce
dans les cæurs les plus barbares de la terre. J'en
connais un qui, cette année, au moment OÙ les hosti-
lités contre la religion étaient plus vives, n'a pas
craint de parcourir en apôtre presque tous les vil-
lages. II allait dans les assemblées et les conseils
des capitaines, lorsqu'ils traitaient quelque affaire,
et blâmait hardiment leurs folies. II exaltait la soli-
dité de la doctrine, que les robes noires (c'est ainsi
qu'ils nous appellent) étaient venus leur enseigner,
protestant qu'il était prêt à donner sa vie pour la
défendre. Ses auditeurs applaudissaient alors à ses
discours; rnais ils n ' em brassaien t pas pour cela la
vérité, qu'ils reconnaissaient. Ce même Sauvage de-
manda à fa ire les exercices, et il en profita si bien,
que Ie Père, qui lui donnait les méditations, en était
étrangement émerveillé. Si on écrit dans la Rela-
tion française ses réfiexions spirituelles, elles pour-
ront servir de leçon, même aux religieux les plus
pieux et les plus fervents. II avait dans sa famille
une nièce, attaquée de je ne sais quelle rnaladie, qui,
la nuit, lui faisait pousser des cris effrayants, comme
si elle avait vu quelque spectre. [202J Pour la déli-

1640]

CHA UMONOT TO NAPPI

21

stupidity; they are even more intelligent than our
rustics, and there are certain captains whose eloquence
we admire,-acquired without many precepts of
rhetoric. [201] Their obstinacy in infidelity is pro-
duced by the difficulty which they think to find in
the observance of the commandments, and especially
of the sixth.
The small number of faithful ones whom Our Lord
has chosen for himself, is a proof of what grace can
do in the most barbarous hearts on the earth. I know
one who this year, at the moment when the hostili-
ties against religion were most keen, did not fear to
make the round, as an apostle, of nearly all the vil-
lages. He went into the assemblies and the councils
of the captains, when they were transacting some
business, and boldly censured their follies. He ex-
alted the solidity of the doctrine which the cc black
gowns" (thus they call us) had come to teach them;
protesting that he was ready to give his life to de-
fend it. His hearers then applauded his remarks; but
they did not therefore embrace the truth which they
acknowledged. This same Savage requested to make
a retreat, and he profited by this so well that the
Father, who gave him the meditations, was strangely
amazed thereat. If his spiritual reflections be writ-
ten in the French Relation, they may serve as a les-
son even to the most pious and to the most fervent
religious. He had in his family a niece, attacked by
some sickness or other, which at night caused her to
utter frightful cries, as if she had seen some spectre.
[202] To relieve her, he put his chaplet about her
neck, saying to her: cc Remember that thou art a
Christian, and that thou belongest no more to the de-
mon; and make the sign of the cross." She did so,

22

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

vrer, il lui mit au cou son chapelet, en lui disant:
(< Rappelle-toi que tu es chrétienne, et que tu n'ap-
<< partiens plus au démon, et fais Ie signe de la croix.))
Elle Ie fit, et à partir de ce moment, elle n'a plus été
tourmentée de semblable mal.
II serait trop long de raconter tous les exemples
héroïques de constance que ce Sauvage et quelques
autres de nos convertis, bien qu' en petit nombre,
nous ont donnés. :Mais c'en est assez pour montrer
à Votre Révérence que Dieu ne refuse pas sa grâce,
même aux plus sauvages des hommes, et que ces
peuples sont capables de recevoir la doctrine de
l'Evangile, malgré la très-grande difficulté qu'il ya à
l'expliquer, à cause de la pauvreté de la langue; car
ils n' ont ni vignes, ni troupeaux, ni tours, ni villes,
ni sel, ni lampes, ni temples, ni maîtres d'aucune
science ou art. lIs ne savent ni lire ni écrire, et nous
avons beau coup de peine à leur faire comprendre les
paraboles qui sont sur ces matières dans Ie saint
Evangile. II est vrai que ce défaut et cette pauvreté
de leur langue n'a jamais été cause du retard de leur
conversion; car les Pères qui savent leur langue,
leur font assez bien connaître ce qui est nécessaire
pour Ie salut, sans ce servir de ces comparaisons.
L'hiver dernier, il n'y a pas eu une seule cabane
[203] dans nos trente-deux bourgs, où la parole de
Dieu n'ait été portée; mais les fruits ont été plus
grands pour l'Eglise triomphante que pour l'Eglise
militante. Comme il régnait une maladie conta-
gieuse qui n'épargnait ni âge ni sexe, tout notre soin
était de catéchiser les malades, pour leur donner à
la fin de leur vie un passe-port pour Ie ciel. Le plus
grand nombre de ceux que cette maladie a enlevés,
après Ie saint baptême, étaient les petits enfants. . . . .

1640]

CHAU1lfONOT TO NAPPI

23

and from that moment forward, she was not again tor-
mented by the like trouble.
It would be too tedious to relate all the heroic
examples of constancy which this Savage and some
others of our converts, though in small number, have
given us. But this is enough to show Your Rever-
ence that God does not refuse his grace, even to the
most savage of men, and that these peoples are cap-
able of receiving the doctrine of the Gospel, notwith-
standing the very great difficulty of explaining it,
on account of the poverty of the language; for they
have neither vineyards nor flocks, nor towers nor
cities, nor salt, nor lamps, nor temples, nor masters
of any science or art. They can neither read nor
write, and we have much difficulty in making them
understand the parables which are related to these
matters in the holy Gospel. It is true that this de-
fect and this poverty of their language has never been
a cause of the delay in their conversion; for the
Fathers who know their language enable them to
understand well enough that which is necessary for
salvation, without using these comparisons.
Last winter, there was not a single cabin [203J in
our thirty-two villages into which the word of God
was not carried; but the results have been greater
for the Church triumphant than for the Church mili-
tant. As there prevailed a contagious disease which
spared neither age nor sex, all our care was to cate-
chize the sick, in order to give them at the end of
their life a passport for heaven. The greatest num-
ber of those whom this malady carried off, after holy
baptism, were the little children. . . . .
The Savages have held several very crowded as-
semblies, to consider means for compelling us to

24

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

Les Sauvages ont tenu plusieurs assemblées très-
nombreuses pour aviser aux moyens de nous forcer à
quitter Ie pays. Beaucoup de capitaines ont voté
notre mort; mais pas un n' a osé s' en faire l' exécu-
teur, et jusqu'à présent Dieu nous a préservé de leurs
coups. Pendant tout l'hiver nous nous attendions
chaque jour à apprendre la mort de quelqu'un de
nos missionnaires, et chaque jour en disant la sainte
messe, nous faisions la communion, comme devant
nous servir de viatique. Tout s'est borné à quelques
coups de bâton, et au chagrin de voir renverser les
croix que nous avions dressées, et réduire en cendres
une de nos cabanes. Un seul des nôtres a vu couler
son sang, sed non usque ad mortem. . . . .
Quand nous visitons ces pauvres gens, s'ils n'ar-
rivent pas à temps pour nous fermer la porte [ 20 4J
au nez, ils se bouchent les oreilles et se couvrent la
figure de peur d'être ensorcelés. Tout cela nous
donne beaucoup d'espérance qu'un jour la foi fleurira
dans cette malheureuse terre, puisque les persécu-
tions dont Dieu se sert pour l'établir et la cultiver ne
nous font pas défaut.
La moisson promet beaucoup, non pas seulement à
cause du nombre de nos Sauvages, mais parce qu'il
y a bien d'autres nations répandues dans ces im-
menses solitudes. N ous connaissons déjà les noms de
plus de vingt, qui sont dans la direction de la mer du
Nord, toutefois peu considérables: on nous fait espé-
rer qu'au-delà, nous trouverons des contrées plus
peuplées. Pour yarriver il faudra souffrir encore
plus que nous ne l'avons fait pour venir ici.
Avant de finir, je veux raconter à Votre Révérence
quelques faits extraordinaires arrivés cette année.

1640]

CHA UMONOT TO NAPPI

25

leave the country. Many captains have voted our
death; but not one has dared to become the execu-
tioner therein, and hitherto God has preserved us
from their attacks. During the whole winter we
were expecting every day to learn the death of some
one of our missionaries; and each day, while saying
the holy mass, we received the communion, as if it
were to serve as viaticum. Everything ended in a
few blows from a club, and in the vexation of see-
ing the crosses overturned which we had set up, and
one of our cabins reduced to ashes. A single one of
ours has seen his blood flow, sed non usque ad mor-
tem. . . . .
When we visit these poor people, if they do not
arrive in time to close the door [204J to our noses,
they stop their ears and cover their faces, for fear of
being bewitched. All that gives us much hope that
one day the faith will flourish in this unhappy land,
since the persecutions which God uses to establish
and cultivate it are not wanting for us.
The harvest promises much, not only on account
of the number of our Savages, but because there are
many other nations spread abroad in these immense
solitudes. We already know the names of more than
twenty, which are in the direction of the Northern
sea,- not at all considerable, however; we are led to
hope that, beyond, we shall find more populous re-
gions. To arrive there, it will be necessary to suffer
still more than we have done in order to come here.
Before finishing, I wish to relate to Your Rever-
ence some extraordinary incidents which happened
this year. A poor man, baptized in his sickness,
having recovered health, was attacked with an in-
flammation which deprived him of sight. One of our

26

LES RELA TI01VS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

Un pauvre homme, baptisé dans sa maladie, ayant
recouvré la santé, fut attaqué d'une fluxion qui le
priva de la vue. Un de nos Pères, Ie félicitant un
jour d'avoir échappé à la mort, eut pour réponse que
maintenant la vie était pour lui un fardeau, puisqu'il
était aveugle. Le Père lui lava les yeux avec de
l'eau bénite, en disant: ((Que Ie Père, Ie Fils, et Ie
Saint-Esprit, en qui tu crois, te guérissenb>, et au
même moment la fluxion cessa, [205J et Ie lendemain
la vue lui fut rendue complétement.- Une femme
n'ayant pas voulu se soumettre à certaines supersti-
tions, fut frappée de cécité par Ie démon, pour la
punir. Le même Père l'engagea à mettre sa con-
fiance en Dieu, et à se laver avec de l' eau bénite, et
elle recouvra parfaitement la vue.- Un jeune hom-
me, ayant été à la pêche avec son jeune frère, et
quelques autres, fut attaqué par les ennemis de leur
nation. Comme i1 craignait plus la mort de son jeune
frère que la sienne, i11e couvrit de son corps, Ie pro-
tégeant ainsi contre les coups qu'il reçut lui-même.
On Ie ramena demi-mort à son village. Un de nos
Pères s'y trouvait. Voyant qu'il était sans mouve-
ment et sans parole, i1 ne pouvait pas l'aider à bien
mourir. Malgré cela, il ne perdit pas courage, et fit
væu de quelques messes en l'honneur de saint Fran-
çois-Xavier, pour Ie soulagement de ce pauvre infi-
dèle. Au même moment la langue du moribond se
délie, ses yeux s'ouvrent et regardant Ie ciel, il s'é-
crie ((Aondeckiclziai Taz"tene. Toi qui as fait la terre,
aie pitié de moi.>> Aussitôt Ie Père 1 'instruit, Ie bap-
tise, et il mourut peu après.- Un autre jeune homme
avait, je ne sais par quel dépit, mangé une racine
vénéneuse pour se donner.la mort, et i1 était déjà

1640]

CHA UMONOT TO NAPPI

27

Fathers, congratulating him one day for having es-
caped death, received the answer that now life was a
burden for him, since he was blind. The Father
washed his eyes with holy water, saying: " May the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, in whom thou
believest, heal thee; " and at the same moment the
inflammation ceased, [205J and the next day his sight
was completely restored. A woman having been
unwilling to submit to certain superstitions, was
struck with blindness by the demon, to punish her.
The same Father persuaded her to put her confidence
in God, and to bathe herself with holy water, and
she perfectly recovered sight. A young man, hav-
ing been fishing with his young brother and certain
others, was attacked by the enemies of their nation.
As he feared more for his young brother's death than
his own, he covered him with his own body, thus pro-
tecting him against the blows that he himself re-
ceived. He was led back half dead to his village. One
of our Fathers happened to be there. Seeing that he
was without motion and without speech, he could not
aid him to die well. Notwithstanding that, he did
not lose courage, and vowed some masses in honor
of saint François Xavier, for the relief of this poor
infidel. At the same moment the dying man's
tongue is loosed, his eyes open, and looking at heav-
en, he exclaims: Aondecldckiai Taitene, "Thou who
hast made the earth, have pity on me." Immediate-
ly the Father instructs and baptizes him; and he died
soon afterward. Another young man had, from I
know not what chagrin, eaten a poisonous root, in
order to commit suicide; and he was already tor-
mented by the violence of the poison when he came
to our cabin. Having there succumbed, he flings

28

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

tourmenté par la violence du poison quand i1 vint à
notre cabane. Rendu là, il se jette à terre, en [206]
écumant, avec tous les signes d'une mort prochaine.
Interrogé sur la cause de son mal, pour toute ré-
ponse, il présente Ie reste de la racine qu'il avait
mangée, en disant de la montrer à ses parents après
sa mort. Nos Pères, avertis par quelques Sauvages
que ce poison était mortel, s'empressent d'instruire
au plus vite ce malheureux, et le baptisent, après
avoir pris toutes les precautions nécessaires, quand i1
s'agit du baptême des adultes. Environ une demi-
heure après, il mourut en chemin, pendant que ses
parents Ie reportaient à sa cabane.- Un homme,
attaqué par la contagion et voyant 1'inefficacité des
remèdes des médecins du pays, c'est-à-dire des sor-
ciers (vrais ou faux), se donna plusieurs coups de
couteau dans la poitrine. Un des Nôtres entre alors
par hasard dans sa cabane, et aussitôt celui-ci l'ap-
pelle et lui demande Ie baptême. Le Père Ie caté-
chise et Ie baptise sans tarder. Le nouveau chrétien
lui dit: <<Ne crois pas que j'aie demandé Ie baptême
dans l' espérance de prolonger ma vie, puisque je suis
presque déjà mort; regarde mes blessures, et vois s' il
est possible d'échapper; ce n'est que l'espérance du
ciel qui m'a poussé à me faire baptiser.)) Le Père
l' engagea à faire un acte de regret de s' être donné la
mort. Peu de temps après, il mourut.
Nos Sauvages prirent, il n'y a pas un mois, un [207]
de leurs ennemis; mais avant d'être mis à mort, il
fut baptisé par un des Nôtres, qui venait par hasard
d'arriver dans Ie village. Pendant que les Sauvages
tourmentaient ce captif, il chantait qu'il devait aller
au ciel. J e voudrais pouvoir décrire les supplices

1640]

CHAUMONOT TO NAPPI

29

himself to the ground, [206] foaming, with all the
signs of an approaching death. Being questioned
about the cause of his trouble, his only answer was
to present the remainder of the root that he had eat-
en,- bidding to show it to his parents after his death.
Our Fathers, warned by some Savages that this poi-
son was deadly, make haste to instruct this wretch
as quickly as possible, and baptize him, after having
taken all the precautions necessary when it is a
question of the baptism of adults. About half an
hour later, he died by the wayside, while his parents
were carrying him back to his cabin. A man, at-
tacked by the contagion, and seeing the inefficiency
of the remedies of the physicians of the country-
that is to say, wizards (true or false)-stabbed him-
self several times in the breast. One of Ours then
enters by chance into his cabin, and straightway this
man calls him and asks him for baptism. The Fa-
ther catechizes him, and baptizes him without delay.
The new Christian says to him: " Do not believe
that I have asked for baptism in the hope of prolong-
ing my life, since I am already almost dead,-look
at my wounds, and see if it is possible to escape it;
it is only the hope of heaven which has impelled me
to become baptized." The Father induced him to
offer an act of regret for having caused his own
death. Soon afterward, he died.
Our Savages captured, less than a month ago, one
[207] of their enemies; but, before being put to
death, he was baptized by one of Ours, who by
chance had just arrived in the village. While the
Savages were tormenting this captive, he sang that
he was to go to heaven. I would I could describe
the tortures which they inflict upon those of the ene-

30

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

qu'ils font souffrir à ceux des ennemis qui tombent
entre leurs mains; mais il n'est pas possible de voir
en ce monde quelque chose qui représente mieux la
manière dont les démons tourmentent les damnés.
Dès qu'ils ont fait un prisonnier, ils lui coupent les
doigts des mains, ils lui déchirent avec un couteau
Ies épaules et Ie dos, ils Ie garrottent avec des liens
très-serrés, et Ie conduisent en chantant et en se mo-
quant de lui, avec tout Ie mépris imaginable. Arri-
vés à leur village, ils Ie font adopter par quelqu'un
de ceux qui ont perdu leur fils à la guerre. Ce
parent simulé est chargé de caresser Ie prisonnier.
V ous Ie verrez venir avec un collier en fer chaud, et
lui dire: <<Tiens, mon fils, tu aimes, je crois, à être
bien orné, à paraître beau.)) En Ie raillant ainsi, i1
commence à Ie tourmenter depuis la plante des pieds,
jusqu'au sommet de la tête, avec des tisons ardents,
avec la cendre chaude, en perçant ses pieds et ses
mains avec des roseaux ou des pointes de fer. Quand
la faiblesse ne permet plus au captif de se tenir de-
DoUt, on lui donne à manger, et puis [208] on Ie fait
marcher sur les charbons de plusieurs brasiers placés
en rang. S'il est épuisé, ils Ie prennent par les mains
et les pieds, et Ie portent sur ces brasiers. Enfin ils
Ie conduisent hors du village, et Ie font monter sur
une estrade pour que to us les Sauvages, Ie voyant
dans ce pitoyable état, puissent satisfaire la rage de
leur cæur. Au milieu de tous ces supplices, ils l'in-
vitent à chanter, et Ie patient chante afin de ne pas
passer pour lâche. Très-rarement ils se plaignent de
la cruauté qu'on exerce sur eux. Pour couronner
toute cette rage infernale, ils enlèvent la peau de la
tête à ces infortunés. Après leur mort, ils mettent

1640]

CHAUM01"/OT TO NAPPI

31

mies who fall into their hands; but it is not possible
to see in this world anything that better represents
the way in which the demons torment the damned.
As soon as they have taken a prisoner, they cut off
his fingers; they tear his shoulders and his back
with a knife; they bind him with very tight bonds,
and lead him,-singing, and mocking at him with
all the contempt imaginable. Having arrived at
their village, they have him adopted by some one of
those who have lost their son in the war. This
feigned parent is charged with caressing the prisoner.
You will see him come with a necklace in the form
of hot iron, and say to him: "See here, my son;
you love, I am sure, to be adorned, to appear beauti-
ful." While thus deriding him, he begins to tor-
ment him from the sole of the feet even to the crown
of the head, with firebrands, with hot cinders,-pierc-
ing his feet and his hands with reeds or with sharp
irons. When weakness no longer permits the cap-
tive to stand upright, they give him to eat, and then
[208] they make him walk over the coals of several
fires placed in a row. If he is exhausted, they
take him by the hands and the feet, and carry him
over these fires. Finally, they conduct him outside
the village, and make him ascend a platform, so that
all the Savages, seeing him in this lamentable plight,
may satisfy their heart's rage. In the midst of all
these tortures, they invite him to sing, and the suf-
ferer sings in order not to pass for a coward. Very
rarely do they complain of the cruelty which is prac-
ticed upon them. To crown all this infernal rage,
they remove the scalp from these unfortunates.
After their death, they cut their bodies to pieces,
and give to the principal captains the heart, the

32

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

leurs corps en pièces, et ils donnent aux principaux
capitaines, Ie cæur, la tête, etc. Ceux-ci en font pré-
sent à d'autres pour assaisonner leur soupe, et pour
s'en nourrir, comme si c'était la viande de quelque
cerf ou autre animal sauvage.
Nous courons maintenant Ie danger d'être pris et
traités de la même manière que les Hurons, avec qui
nous vivons: car nous passons chaque année, soit en
descendant à Québec, soit en remontant, par les lieux
mêmes, où les ennemis de nos Sauvages sont à l' affût
pour les saisir dans leur voyage; et il n'y a [presque]
pas d'année où plusieurs Hurons ne soient pris ou
tués, comme je viens de dire.
V. R. voit par là que nous avons besoin de secours
[209] spirituels pour être à l'abri de tant d'ennemis
domestiques et étrangers, visibles et invisibles que
nous rencontrons au milieu de ces peuples féroces.
Je devrais écrire à beaucoup de Pères qui sont dans
votre Province; mais Ie papier et Ie temps me man-
quent. C'est pourquoi je conjure V. R. de suppléer
à ce silence, en montrant la présente à ceux qui de-
manderont de mes nouvelles, mais surtout à N. T. R.
P. Général et au P. Assistant de France, à qui j'a-
dresse cette lettre; mais faites-moi la charité de la
corriger auparavant, et en suite de la faire copier
par quelqu'un, car elle est trop mal écrite pour être
présentée à sa Paternité.
V. R. voudra bien me rappeler au souvenir du R.
P. Pensa, Provincial, du P. Oliva, des PP. Zucchi,
Caravita, Gottefroid, Lampugnano, Fieramonti, Ara-
ña, Oddone, Conti, Giustino, Ricci et autres, outre
les PP. de Magistris et Finetti.
Mon Révérend Père, demandez pour moi quelques

1640]

CHA Ul
IONOT TO NAPPI

33

head, etc. The latter make presents of the same to
others, to season their soup, and to feed themselves
therewith, as if it were the meat of some stag or
other wild animal.
We now run the risk of being captured and treated
in the same manner as the Hurons, with whom we
live; for we pass, each year,- either while going
down to Québec, or in coming up,- by the very
places where the enemies of our Savages are on the
watch to seize them in their journey; and there is
hardly a year when several Hurons are not captured
or killed as I have just described.
Your Reverence thereby sees that we have need of
spiritual aid, [209] in order to be sheltered from so
many enemies, domestic and foreign, visible and
invisible, whom we encounter in the midst of these
ferocious tribes.
I ought to write to many Fathers who are in your
Province; but the paper and the time fail me.
Wherefore I beseech Your Reverence to make good
this silence, by showing this to those who shall ask
about me: but especially to Our Very Reverend Fa-
ther General, and to the Father Assistant for France,
to whom I address this letter; but do me the kindness
of correcting it beforehand, and of then having it
copied by some one,- for it is too badly written to
be presented to his Paternity.
Your Reverence will be kind enough to remember
me to the Reverend Father Pensa, Provincial; to
Father Oliva, Fathers Zucchi, Caravita, Gottefroid,
Lampugnano, Fieramonti, Araña, Oddone, Conti,
Giustino, Ricci, and others; besides the Fathers de
Magistris and Finetti.
:My Reverend Father, ask for me some masses and

34

LES RELA TIONS DES jÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

messes et quelques communions, pour l'amour de
Dieu; car, dans cette
1ission, nous sommes expo-
sés à en être souvent privés.
J e suis, de V otre Révérence,
Le très-indigne serviteur en ]ésus-Christ,
JOSEPH-MARIE CAL VONOTTI (CHAUMONOT).
Au Pays des Hurons, dans la Nouvelle-France, Ie
26 mai 1640.

1640]

CHA U.lVIONOT TO NAPPI

35

some communions, for the love of God; for, in this
Mission, we are liable to be often deprived of them.
I am Your Reverence's
Very unworthy servant in Jesus Christ,
JOSEPH
IARIE CAL VONOTTJ2 (CHAUMONOT).
In the Country of the Hurons, in New France, the
26th of May, 1640.

36

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

[210) Lettre du P. Joseph-Marie Chaumonot, au
R. P. Philippe Nappi, Supérieur de la
Maison Professe de Rome.

(Traduite de l'italzelt sur l'original conservé à Rome.)

MON

De Sainte-1Iarie aux Hurons, 3 août 1640.
RÉVÉREND PÈRE,

Pax Christi.
J'ai reçu en même temps, l'année dernière,
deux lettres de Votre Révérence, l'une de l'année
1638, l'autre de l'année 1639. La première m'appre-
nait trois choses: d'abord qu'elle se souvenait de moi
à l'autel et qu'elle a célébré la sainte Messe pour moi
sur Ie tombeau du B. Louis de Gonzague, comme je
l'en avais priée. En second lieu, que Son Eminence
Ie cardinal Pallotto continue sans relâche à propager
la dévotion à la sainte maison de Lorette ou mieux à
la sainte Famille qui l'a sanctifiée. Enfin que Ie P.
Ange de Magistris est parti pour Ie Paraguay, aussi-
tôt après son ordination et sa première messe, célé-
brée dans l' église de Lorette dite de Rzpetta. . . . .
[211] Pour reconnaître en quelque façon la charité
que vous avez de me donner des nouvelles de Rome,
je vous tiendrai au courant des choses capables
d'intéresser votre curiosité, et de plus je presserai Ie
P. Bressani de traduire en italien la Relation entière
que chaque année nous envoyons à notre Père Assis-
tan t.
L'année dernière, j'accompagnai l'un des Nôtres

1640]

CHA U1IJONOT TO NAPPI

37

[210] Letter of Father Joseph Marie Chaumonot
to the Reverend Father Philippe Nappi, Supe-
rior of the Professed House at Rome.

(Tra1lslated from the Italian original þreserved at Rome.)

From Sainte Marie of the Hurons, August 3, 1640.
M y REVEREND FATHER,
Pax Christi.
I received at the same time, last year, two
letters from Your Reverence: one of the year 1638;
the other, of the year 1639. The first apprised me of
three things: to begin with, that you remembered
me at the altar and that you celebrated holy Mass for
me on the tomb of the Blessed Louis de Gonzague,3
as I had begged you to. In the second place, that
His Eminence the cardinal Pall otto continues, with-
out relaxation, to propagate the devotion to the holy
house of Lorette; or better, to the holy Family
which sanctified it. 4 Finally, that Father Ange de
Magistris started for Paraguay directly after his or-
dination and his first mass-celebrated in the church
of Lorette called de Ripetta. . . . .
[2 I I] To acknowledge in some fashion your char-
ity in giving me news of Rome, I will keep you in-
formed of the matters likely to interest your curiosi-
ty; and, moreoyer, I will urge Father Bressani to
translate into Italian the whole Relation which we
send each year to our Father Assistant.
Last year, I accompanied one of Ours (Father de

38

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

(Ie P. de Brébeuf) dans un pays OÙ l'Evangile n'avait
pas encore été annoncé. Partant de notre Résidence
au pays des Hurons, nous fîmes six jours de route,
toujours dans les bois, et sans trouver aucun en droit
pour nous reposer ou réfugier. N ous étions 0 bligés
de porter à dos tout ce qui nous était nécessaire pour
notre nourriture. Les sentiers de ces forêts sont
très-difficiles, étant fort peu battus, remplis de brous-
sai11es et de branches, coupés de marais, de ruisseaux,
de rivières sans autres ponts que quelques arbres,
brisés par l'âge ou par Ie vent. L'hiver est la meil-
leure saison pour voyager, parce que la neige rend
les sentiers plus unis. 1Iais il faut qu'elle soit dur-
cie, comme nous l'avons trouvée à notre retour, à
l' exception de deux journées: sans cela, on enfonce
à chaque pas. II y a encore un avantage à voyager
en hiver: c' est que les cours d' eau sont glacés, et
que nous avons pu, pendant soixante milles, traîner
nos bagages. [212] II est vrai qu'on ne trouve aucun
abri contre les vents qui sont très-violents et très-
froids. Mais, grâce à Celui à qui la mer et les vents obl-
z"ssent, nous avons marché courageusement et joyeuse-
ment, malgré Ie froid, la fatigue et des chutes sans
nombre sur la glace; ce dont mes genoux ont conser-
vé bon souvenir. Mais qu'est-ce que cela en compa-
raison de ce que Notre-Seigneur a souffert pour moi?
Je m'estimerais heureux de me briser bras et jambes
à son service.
Les petits enfants en danger de mort ont recuell1
les premiers fruits de notre apostolat. Nous en
avons baptisé un grand nombre à l'insu de leurs pa-
rents, qui s'y seraient opposés certainement. Beau-
coup de ces enfants sont déjà partis pour Ie ciel.

1640]

CHA UJl-fONOT TO NAPPI

39

Brébeuf) to a country where the Gospel had not yet
been announced. Starting from our Residence in
the land of the Hurons, we made six days' route,
continually in the woods, and without finding any
place in which to rest ourselves or to take refuge.
We were obliged to carryon our backs whatever was
necessary to us in the way of our food. The paths
in these forests are very difficult, being very little
worn,-filled with brushwood and branches; cut up
with swamps, brooks, and rivers, without other bridges
than a few trees, broken off by age or by the wind.
The winter is the best season for traveling, because
the snow renders the paths more even. But it must
needs be hardened, as we found it on our return,
with the exception of two days: otherwise, one sinks
in at every step. There is still another advantage in
traveling in winter,-namely, because the water-
courses are frozen, and we were able to drag our bag-
gage for sixty miles. [2 12] It is true that one finds
no shelter from the winds, which are very violent
and very cold. But thanks to Him Wl101Jl the sea a1ld
the winds obey, we proceeded bravely and joyfully,
despite the cold, the fatigue, and countless falls on
the ice, whereof my knees have retained a goo d re-
minder. But what is that in comparison with what
Our Lord has suffered for me? I should esteem my-
self happy to break my arms and legs in his service.
The little children in danger of death have reaped
the first fruits of our apostolate. "VVe have baptized
a great number of them without the knowledge of
their parents, who would certainly have opposed it.
:Many of these children have already departed for
heaven. As for the adults, not only have they not
been willing to listen to the good news, but they even

40

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

Quant aux adultes, non-seulement ils n' ont pas vou-
lu écouter la bonne nouvelle, mais ils nous empê-
chaient d'entrer dans leurs bourgades, nous mena-
çant de nous tuer et de nous manger, cornme ils font
à leurs plus crue1s ennemis. La cause de cette
grande aversion venait des calomnies propagées par
quelques mauvais habitants du pays d'où nous ve-
nions. Par suite de ces calomnies, ils étaient con-
vaincus que nous étions des sorciers, des imposteurs
venus pour s'emparer de leur pays, après les avoir
fait périr par nos sortiléges, lesquels étaient enfer-
més dans nos écritoires, dans nos livres, etc.; de
[2 13J sorte que nous n'osions pas, sans nous cacher,
ouvrir un livre ou écrire quelque chose. Non-seule-
ment nos livres et .nos papiers étaient suspects de
magie, mais encore nos moindres gestes et mou ve-
ments. J e voul us une fois me mettre à genoux dans
une cabane, où nous nous étions retirés pour prier
avec plus de recueillement. Aussitôt Ie bruit se
répandit que Oronhiaguehre, c' est-à-dire, porte-ciel
comme ils m'appellent, avait passé une partie de la
nuit à faire ses sorti1éges et qu'en conséquence to us
devaient se mettre en garde et se défier de lui.
1Iais, en dépit du diable et de ses suppôts, nous
avons pu employer tout notre hiver à parcourir les
bourgades des sauvages, les menaçant de l'enfer,
s'ils ne se convertissaient, sans que personne ait osé
toucher un seul de nos cheveux. Chacun d' eux
cependant désirait notre mort et excitait les autres à
nous tuer, mais aucun n'avait Ie courage de Ie faire,
quoique cela fût la chose la plus facile du monde:
nous n' étions que deux hommes faibles, sans armes,
loin de tout secours humain; Dieu seul était pour

1640]

CHA UMONOT TO NAPPI

41

prevented us from entering their villages, threatening
to kill and eat us, as they do with their most cruel
enemies. The reason of this great aversion arose
from the calumnies disseminated by some evil inhab-
itants of the country from which we came. In con-
sequence of these calumnies, they were convinced
that we were sorcerers, impostors come to take pos-
session of their country, after having made them per-
ish by our spells, which were shut up in our ink-
stands, in our books, etc. ,- [2 13] insomuch that we
dared not, without hiding ourselves, open a book or
write anything. Not only were our books and our
papers suspected of magic, but even our slightest
gestures and motions. I once attempted to kneel down
in a cabin, where we had withdrawn in order more
collectedly to pray. Straightway the noise spread
that Oronhiaguehre - that is to say, heaven-bearer,
as they call me-had spent a part of the night in
devising his spells, and that in consequence all were
bound to put themselves on guard and distrust him.
But, in spite of the devil and of his imps, we have
been able to spend our whole winter in making the
round of the savages' villages,- threatening them
with hell if they would not be converted,-and
nobody has dared to touch a single one of our hairs.
Each one of them, however, was desiring our death
and exciting the others to kill us; but none had the
courage to do so, although that was the easiest thing
in the world,- we were only two weak men, without
weapons, far from all human assistance. God alone
was for us, and he paralyzed the ill-will of so many
enemies. May Your Reverence help me to thank the
Lord for having preserved me from so many trials
and dangers.

42

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

nous, et i1 a paralysé Ie mauvais vouloir de tant
d'ennemis. Que Votre Révérence m'aide à remer-
cier Ie Seigneur de m'avoir préservé de tant d'é-
preu ves et de dangers.
L'automne prochain, j'espère passer un second
hiver au milieu de ces pauvres sauvages: aussi [214]
je compte obtenir Ie secours de vos prières. . . . . .
Pour finir cette lettre j'ajouterai trois faits assez
remarquables arrivés cette année, vu surtout qu'il s'a-
git de pauvres infidèles, sans moralité. Le premier
fait est celui d'un jeune homme qui, voyageant par
un grand froid avec sa sæur et la voyant près de suc-
comber, se dépouilla d'une grande peau qui Ie cou-
vrait pour l'en revêtir; puis l'encourageant à hâter Ie
pas afin d'éviter la mort qui la menaçait, il resta avec
Ie mauvais vêtement de sa sæur. La jeune fille Ie
laissant, se mit à courir jusqu'à son village, et pen-
dant ce temps-là son pauvre frère mourait de froid,
victime de son héroïsme fraternel. Soixante autres
environ, durant cet hiver, périrent dans Ies neiges.
Le second fait est celui d'un petit enfant de h uit à
neuf ans qui, jouant sur la glace, tomba dans l'eau.
Un de ses frères, à peu près du même âge, se jeta
dans Ia rivière par Ie trou où son frère avait disparu,
Ie saisit, et nageant sous la glace, eut l'adresse de
remonter avec son fardeau par une autre ouverture
assez éloignée de la première et lui sauva ainsi la
vie. Ce fait arriva dans un village où nous nous
trouvions.
Le troisième est un fait de guerre. Nos sauvages,
étant allé combattre, furent surpris par l'ennemi
dans une embuscade. V oyant l'impossibilité de se
[215J défendre, Ies anciens dirent aux plus jeunes:

1640]

CHAU
JI0NOT TO NAPPI

43

N ext autumn I h ope to spend a second winter in
the midst of these poor savages; accordingly, [214]
I count on obtaining the help of your prayers. . . . . .
To conclude this letter, I will add three quite
remarkable occurrences which happened this year,-
especially since they concern poor infidels without
morality. The first is that of a young man who,
traveling during intense cold with his sister, and see-
ing her almost succumb, stripped himself of a great
skin which covered him, in order to clothe her with
it; then, encouraging her to quicken her pace in
order to avoid the death which was threatening her,
he stayed behind, with his sister's thin garment.
The young girl, leaving him, began to run even to
her village, and during that time her poor brother
was dying of cold, the victim of his fraternal hero-
ism. About sixty others, during this winter, per-
ished in the snows.
The second instance is that of a little child of eight
or nine years who, playing on the ice, fell into the
water. One of his brothers, of almost the same age,
jumped into the river through the hole where his
brother had disappeared, seized him, and swimming
beneath the ice, had the skill to come up again with
his burden, through another opening quite distant
from the first, and thus saved his life. This deed
happened in a village where we chanced to be.
The third is an incident of war. Our savages, hav-
ing gone to fight, were surprised by the enemy in an
ambush. Seeing the impossibility of [2 I 5] defend-
ing themselves, the elders said to the younger men:
" Since you can render services to our nation, take
flight, while we shall check the enemy." This is
what happened: those old savages were taken, led

44

LES RELATIONS DES J-';SUITES

[VOL. 18

<<Puisque vous pouvez rendre des services à notre
nation, prenez la fuite, pendant que nous arrêterons
l'ennemi.>> C'est ce qui arriva: ces vieux sauvages
furent pris, emmenés captifs, cruellement tourmen-
tés, brûlés, rôtis et dévorés, selon la coutume de cette
contrée, habitée par des anthropophages, comme je
vous l'ai déjà écrit.
N'ayant rien autre chose à raconter à Votre Révé-
rence, je finis, en la priant, si elle trouve quelque
chose dans ma lettre qui puisse intéresser notre T.
R. P. Général, de vouloir bien Ie lui communiquer,
mais de bouche seulement, ma lettre étant écrite trop
misérablement pour la mettre sous les yeux de Sa
Paternité. Que Votre Révérence veuille bien l'assu-
rer que je ne dis jamais la sainte messe sans la recom-
mander à Notre Seigneur.
J e suis, de V otre Révérence,
Ie très-humble serviteur en Notre-Seigneur.
JOSEPH-MARIE CHAUMONOT.
De la résidence de Ste-Marie aux Hurons, Ie 3
août 1640.

1640]

CHAUMOJllOT TO NAPPI

45

away captive, cruelly tormented, burned, roasted,
and devoured,- according to the custom of this coun-
try, inhabited by cannibals, as I have already writ-
ten to you.
Having nothing else to relate to Your Reverence,
I close; requesting you, if you find anything in my
letter which can interest our Very Reverend Father
General, to be so kind as to make it known to him:
but orally alone,-my letter being written too
wretchedly to put it beneath His Paternity's eyes.
Will Your Reverence kindly assure him that I never
say holy mass without commending him to Our Lord?
I am Your Reverence's
very humble servant in Our Lord.
JOSEPH MARIE CHAUMONOT.
From the residence of Ste. Marie among the
Hurons, the 3rd of August, 1640.

XLI

RELATION OF 1640

PARIS: SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, 1641

SOURCE :1: We reprint from the original edition (H. 76), in
Lenox Library.
The document consists of two parts: Part I., by Le Jeune,
dated at Quebec, September 10, 1640; Part II., by Jerome
Lalemant, dated in the Huron country, May 27, 1640, with
a postscript dated August 3. In the present volume, we give
chaps. Í.- x. of Part I.; this part will be concluded in our
Volume XIX., and Part II. commenced; Volume XX. will see
the conclusion of the entire document.

1

RE LA T ION
"DE C.E,QYI S'EST PASSE'
""") EN LA
NOVVElLE FRANCÉ
EN L'ANNEE M. DC. XL.
,.
Enuoyéc au R. P. Prouincia'l de la Conl-
pagnie de I E. S V
de la PrclÚncc
de France.
P dr Ie P. Barthelemy VTmont 'J de If'
1i Je fmeComp,-tgnie;, Superieur de la
ReJidciice'de K.. éhec.
,

J

RELATION
OF WHAT TOOK PLACE
IN
NEW FRANCE
IN THE YEAR M. DC. XL.

Sent to the Reverend Father Provincial
of the Society of J E S us of the
Province of France.

By Father Barthelemy Vimont, of the
same Society, Superior of the
Residence of Kébec.

PARIS,
S E BAS TIE N C RAM 0 I S Y, Printer in
ordinary to the King, ruë St. Jac-
ques, at the Sign of the Storks.
M. DC. XLI.
By Royal License.

,

52

LES RELATIONS DES.lÉSUITES

(VOL. 18

Extraiét du Priuilege du Roy.

P AR grace & Priuilege du Roy, il eft permis à
SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, Marchand Libraire Iuré,
Imprimeur ordinaire du Roy, Bourgeois de
Paris, d'imprÜner ou faire imprimer vn liure intitulé,
Relation de ce qui s' eft paJJé en la nouuelle France en
/' année 1640. enuoyée au Reuerend Pere Prouz"nâal de la
CompagnÙ de IESVS en la Prouince de France, par Ie Pere
Barthelemy VÙnont de la me.fme Compagnie, SuperÙur
de la Refidence à Kébec: & ce pendant Ie temps & efpace
de quinze années confecutiues: Auec defences à tous
Libraires & Imprimeurs d'imprimer ou faire impri-
mer ladite Relation fous pretexte de déguifement ou
changement qu'ils y pourroient faire, à peine de con-
fifcation, & de l'amande portée par ledit Priuilege.
Donné à Paris, ce 20. Septembre 1640. Par Ie Roy
en fon Confeil, Signé,

CEBERET.

1640]

RELA TION OF r640

53

Extract from the Royal License.

B y the grace and License of the King, permis-
sion is granted to SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, Book-
seller under Oath, Printer in ordinary to the
King, Citizen of Paris, to print or to have printed a
book entitled Relation de ce qui s' est passé en fa nouvelle
France en I' année 1640. envoyée au Reverend Pere Pro-
vz"ncial de la Compagnie de JESUS en fa Province de France,
par Ie Pere Barthelemy VÙnont de fa mesme Compagnze,
SuperÙur de fa Residence à Kébec/ and this during the
time and space of fifteen consecutive years. Pro-
hibiting all Booksellers and Printers from printing
or having printed the said Relation under pretext of
disguise or change that may be made therein, on
penalty of confiscation, and of the fine provided by
the said License. Given at Paris, this 20th of Sep-
tember, 1640. By the King in Council. Signed,
CEBERET.

54

LES RELA TIONS DES /É'SUITES

[VOL. 18

Permiffion du P. ProuinciaL

N OVS IACQVES DINET Prouincial de la Compagnie
de IESVS en la Prouince de France: Auons
accordé pour l'aduenir au Sieur SEBASTIEN
CRAMOISY Marchand Libraire, Imprimeur ordinaire
du Roy, l'impreffion des Relations de la Nouuelle
France. FAIT à Paris, Ie 12. Decembre 1640.
IACQVES DINET.

1640]

RELA TION OF I640

55

Permission of the Father Provincial.

W E, JACQUES DINET, Provincial of the Society
of JESUS in the Province of France, have
for the future granted to Sieur SEBASTIEN
CRAMOISY, Bookseller, Printer in ordinary to the
King, the printing of the Relations of New France.
DONE at Paris, this 12th of December, 16 4 0 .
JACQUES DINET.

56

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

Table des Chapitres contenus en cette Relation.

R ELA TION de ce qui s' eft paßé en la nouuelle
France en l' année 1640.. . pag. I .
Cllapz"tre I. Du voyage & de l' arrillée de la
flotte en la nouuelle France. 3.
Chap. II. De l' eftat general de la Colonie Franfozfe,
& de la conuerfion des Sauuages. 16
Chap. III. Les Sauuages.fe r' affemblent à S. Io.feph
apres la maladÙ, eflzfent quelques Capitaines,
& font paroijlre leur Zele pour la Foy. 22
Chap. IV. Des Sauuages baptzj"ez, & des bonnes
aélions de cette nouuelle Eglife. 44
Chap. V. Contz"llllation du me.fme dzj"cours. 58
Chap. VI. Continuation du me.fme .fujet. 72
Chap. VII. ContÙluatz"on des afìi01ls de nos 1lOuueaux
ChreSliens. 91
Chap. VIII. De la bonne difpofition de quelques
Sauuages non encore baptzfez. 105
Chap. IX. De la prouÙlence de Diett au chozx de
quelques-vns, & au rebut de quelques autres. I 17
Chap. X. De l' esperance qu' on a de la conuer fion de
Plufieurs Sauuages. 128
Chap. XI. De l'hospital. 146
Çhap. XII. Du Jommaire [sc. .fcminaireJ des Meres
Vr.fulines. 168
Chap. XIII. Diuer.fes cho.fes qui n' ont pa eSlre
rapportées aux Chapitres precedens. 187

1640]

RELA TION OF I640

57

Table of the Chapters contained in this Relation.

R ELA TION of what occurred Í1l new France
tOn the year 16 4 0 .. . . page I.
Chapter I. Of the 'voyage of the fleet, and its
arrival in new France. 3.
Chap. II. Of the general COllditz"on of tile French
Colony, alld the conversz"on of the Savages. 16
Chap. III. The Savages reassemble at St. Joseph
after tIle epidemic, elect se'veral Captains, and
show their Zeal for the Faith. 22
Chap. IV. Of tIle Sa'i'ages baptized, and the good
deeds Ùl thÚ new Ckurch. 44
Chap. V. Continuation of the same subject. 58
Chap. VI. Contz"nuatz"on of the same subject. 7 2
Chap. VII. Continuation of tIle actions of our new
CllrÚtz"ans. 9 I
Cllap. VIII. Of the good dÚposz"tion of some Savages
not ),et baptized. 105
Chap. IX. Of the providence of God tOn the choice of
some, and the rejection of others. I 17
Chap. X. Of tile hope we have for the conversion of
many Sa'l/ages. 128
Chap. XI. Of the hospital. 14 6
Chap. XII. Of tIle seminary of tIle Ursulz"ne Motlters. 168
Chap 0 XIII. Various tllÙZgS which could not be re-
ported in the preceding Chapters. 187

5

LES RE'LA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[V OL. 18

Table des Chapitres contenus en la Relation de
ce qui s'eft paffé dans le pays des
Huron en l'année 1640.

C HAPITRE I. De l'eflat du pays. pag.
Chap-itre II. Des perfecutions excz"tées contre
1lOUS.
Chap. III. De l' eflat general du Cllrt.slz"anifme en
ces c01ztrées.
Chap. IV. De la Refidence fixe de fainéte MarÙ.
Chap. V. De la mzßz.on de fainfle 51àrie aux Ata-
roncllr01lO1ls.

4.

II.

33.
4 2 .

68.

Chap. VI. De la refidcllce & 11lzßion de S. Jofeph
aux AttÙlgneenongnahac. 79.
Chap. VII. De la mzßioJl de la Conception aux Atti-
gnaouentan. 99
Chap. VIII. Des ChreflÙns de cette mefme 1Itzßion
de la Conception. . I 18.
Chap. IX. De la miffion de faÙzfl lean Baptijle aux
A rendaronons. . 145 .
Chap. X. De la mzßion furnommée des Apoflres aux
Khionontateronons. 16 4.
Lettre efcritte au P. VÙnont depuzS la Relatz"on. . 19 2

1640J

RELA TIOiV OF I6.,.o

59

Table of the Chapters contained in the Relation
of what took place in the country of
the Hurons, in the year 1640.

C HAPTER I. Of the COllditz"on of the coun-
try. . . . . page 4.
Chapter II. Of the persecutz"olls exÚted against
us. I I.
Chap. III. Of the general condÜion of Christz"anÜ}'
ill these countries. 33.
Chap. IV. Of the permanent Residellce of saÙlte
MarÙ. 4 2 .
Chap. V. Of the mission of saillte lIfar'Ìe to the Ata-
roncllronons. 68.
Chap. VI. Of the residcnce and missioll of St. Joseph
to the Attillgneenongnahac. 79.
Clwp. VII. Of the mission of la COllceptz"on to tlze
Attz"gnaouentan. 99
Chap. VIII. Of the Clzristz"ans of this same mission
of la Conception. . 1 18.
Chap. IX. Of tlte mission of saint Jeall Baptiste to
the Arendaroll01zs. 145.
Chap. X. Of the mission surnamed "of the Apos-
tles, JJ to tile Khiollontateronons. . 16 4.
Letter written to Father Vimont after the Relation
was finished. . . 19 2

60

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

[1] Relation de ce qvi s'eft paffé en la Nouuelle
France, en l' Année 1640.

M ON R. PERE,
Ie croyois qu'efiant defchargé du fardeau
de la Superiorité, ie ferois en fuite deliuré des
foins de la Relation que V. R. exige de nous, &
qu'vne grande partie de la France attend auec quel-
que paffion: mais nofire R. P. Superieur ma fait
veoir que cefie confequence n'efioit point neceffaire,
fi bien que nonobfiant qu'illa pût dreffer auec auan-
tage ayant defia vne grande cognoiffance du pays &
des Sauuages, i1 s'efi encor repofé fur moy pour [2]
cefie année dans l'empreffement de fes affaires du
tribut dont les affeétions de V. R. & d'vne infinité
de perfonnes de merite & de condition nous rendent
redeuables. Ie doute fort fi nous aurons vn affez
grand fond pour faire cefie rente annuelle, fi ce n'efi
qu'on ayme les redites car les fubiets fe trouuans fort
femblables, les difcours ne fçauroient pas auoir vne
gran de diuerfité quand les fauuages fe feront tous
reduits comme i1 arriuera quelque iour fi on les
fecoure fortement ie ne fçay plus ce qu'on pourroit
remarquer finon leurs bonnes aétiõs qui pour auoir
beaucoup de reffemblances pourroient caufer du
degoufi. Pleut à Dieu que nous fuffions dans cefie
peine, & que tous ces pauures Barbares fuffent au
point que nous les fouhaittons, à peine de ne pro-

1640]

RELATION OF 1640

61

[I] Relation of what occurred in New France,
in the Year 1640.

M y REVEREND FATHER,
I thought that, when I was relieved from
the burdens of a Superior, I would conse-
quently be freed from the responsibility of the Rela-
tion which Your Reverence exacts from us, and
which a large part of France awaits with some eager-
ness. But our Reverend Father Superior has shown
me that this is not a necessary consequence; and so,
although he could have done it advantageously, as
he has already an extensive knowledge of the coun-
try and of the Savages, there again devolves upon
me [2] this year, in the pressure of his business, the
tribute which Your Reverence's affection and that of
an infinite number of persons of merit and rank make
it incumbent upon us to render. I doubt very much
whether we shall have enough material to make up
this annual rent, unless our readers like repetitions.
For as the subjects are very similar, the narratives
cannot have a great variety when the savages shall
all be converted,-as will happen some day, if they
are energetically aided. I do not know what one can
record then, unless it be their good actions, which,
from their great similarity, may cause some feeling
of surfeit. Would to God that we might have this
difficulty, and that all these poor Barbarians were at
the point where we wish them to be, reluctant to make
known their actions except to the sight of Heaven,

62

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. ]8

duire leurs aétions qu'à la veuë du Ciel, & de n'en
parler qu'à celuy auquel on ne les peut cacher, mais
entrons en difcours.

1640]

RELA TION OF .1640

63

and to speak of them except to him from whom they
cannot be concealed. But let us begin our nar-
rative.

64

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[V OL. 18

[3] CHAPITRE PREMIER.

DU VOYAGE & DE L' ARRIUÉE DE LA FLOTTE EN LA
NOUUELLE FRANCE.

L E Pere René Menart eftant arriué à Kebec nous
a raconté quelques particularitez du Voyage
de la Flotte de cefte année, lefquelles m'ont
femblé tres-dignes de compofer ce premier chapitre.
Nos vaiffeaux, difoit-il, fe mirent en Rade Ie vingt-
fixiefme de Mars. Madame la Ducheffe d' Aiguillon
ayant augmenté la fondation de fon Hofpital en la
N ouuelle France, & defirant en fuite que deux Reli-
gieufes de la maifon de la Mifericorde eftablie à
Dieppe vinffent donner du fecours à leurs bonnes
fæurs, Monfeigneur l' Archeuefque de Roüen leur
accorda leur congé auec autant d'amour & d'affeétion
qu'il defire l'accroiffement de la gloire de noftre Sei-
gneur en la conuerfion des pauures Sauuages: [4] la
Mere de fainéte Marie & la fæur de fainét Nicolas
toutes deux profeffes de ce Monafiere furent choifies
auec vne tres-fenfible confolation de leur bon-heur,
& auec les regrets de quantité d'autres qui foufpi-
roient apres cefte croix qu'ils enuifageoient comme
vn Paradis. Madame de la Pelletrie fondatrice d'vn
Seminaire de petites filles fauuages & des Religieufes
Vrfulines qu'elle à fait paffer en ces contrées, defi-
rant qu'on leur amenaft vne Profeffe du Conuent de
Paris, Monfeigneur l' Archeuefque s'intereffant dans
la caufe de Dieu, & voulant auoir part à 1'inftruétion

16401

RELA TION OF r640

65

[3] CHAPTER FIRST.

OF THE VOYAGE OF THE FLEET, AND ITS ARRIVAL
IN NEW FRANCE.

F ATHER René Menart, 5 having arrived at Kebec,
related to us some details of the V oyage of
the Fleet this year, which seem to me very
worthy to compose this first chapter. "Our ships,"
said he, " set out from their Anchorage on the twen-
ty-sixth of March. Madame the Duchess d' Aiguil-
Ion having increased the endowment of her Hospital
in New France, and desiring, consequently, that two
Nuns of the house of Mercy established at Dieppe
should come and give some help to their good sis-
ters, Monseigneur the Archbishop of Rouen granted
them their dismissal, with a love and affection pro-
portionate to his desire for the increase of the glory
of our Lord in the conversion of the poor Savages.
[4] Mother de sainte Marie and sister de saint Nicho-
las, both professed nuns of this Monastery, were
chosen, with very keen appreciation of their good
fortune, and with regrets for the many others who
were sighing for this cross, which they regarded as
a Paradise. As Madame de la Pelletrie, foundress
of a Seminary for little savage girls and for the Ur-
suline Nuns whom she has had cross over into these
countries, desired that there should be brought to
them a Professed Nun of the Convent of Paris,6 and
as Monseigneur the Archbishop, who interests him-
self in the cause of God, and wishes to participate in

66

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

& au falut des ames que ces bonnes filles cultiueront,
ne iugeant pas à propos qu'vne feule fortit de fon
Conuent en enuoya deux, fçauoir efi la Mere Anne
de fainéte Claire, & la Mere Marguerite de fainéte
Athanafe qui enleuerent auec elles tous les cæurs de
cefie grande Maifon. Voyla donc quatre Religieufes
embarquées dans Ie vaiffeau nommé 1'Efperance,
conduit par Monfieur de Courpon fort honefie Gentil-
homme, lequel à obligé ces [5J bonnes ames au der-
nier point: ie ne fçay fi les demons preuoyoient
quelque grand bien de ce paffage, mais il femble
qu'il nous ayent voulu abyfmer dé
la rade, ils
foufleuerent tout l'Ocean, defchainerent les vents,
exciterent des tempefies fi horribles & fi continuës
qu'elles nous penferent perdre à la veuë de Dieppe:
nous fufmes dans ces dangers racontoit Ie Pere,
depuis Ie vingt-fixiefme de Mars iufques au vingt-
huiétiefme d' Auril battus de pluye & de neige auffi
pres de la mort que nous l'efiions des cofies de France,
vn vaiffeau de fainét Valery qui efioit en rade auec
nous fe détachant de fes ancres s'alla brifer à nos yeux,
tout ce qui efioit dedans fe perdit, les hommes furent
engloutis dans les ondes & de vingt ou enuiron qu'ils
efioient dans ce Nauire il ne s'en fauua que trois, la
mort qui moiffonnoit ces corps fembloit nous attendre à
tous moments pour nous deuorer, i'entendois plufieurs
perfonnes detefier 1 'heure & Ie moment que la penfée
leur efioit venuë en l'efprit [6J de monter fur mer, &
de confier leur vie à la mercy d'vn cable, la vertu
anime puiffamment vn cæur, ces bonnes filles qui en
autre temps auroient tremblé dans vn bafieau deffus
la Seine, fe mocquoient de la mort, & de fes appro-
ches, en effet il importe peu qu'on meure fur la terre

1640]

RELA TION OF .1640

67

the instruction and salvation of the souls that these
good sisters will cultivate, did not judge it proper for
one alone to leave her Convent, he sent two, namely,
Mother Anne de sainte Claire and Mother 1vlarguerite
de sainte Athanase, and all the hearts of this great
House went with them. Accordingly, there were
four Nuns who embarked in the vessel called the
.. Esperance," under the command of Monsieur de
Courpon, a very honest Gentleman, who favored
these [5] good souls to the utmost. I do not know
whether the demons foresaw some great blessing
from this passage, but it seems as if they desired to
engulf us from the time we left the roadstead. They
raised up the whole Ocean, unchained the winds,
and excited such horrible and continuous tempests
that they almost made us perish in sight of Dieppe.
We were in the midst of these dangers," related the
Father, "from tbe twenty-sixtb of Marcb until the
twenty-eighth of April, beaten upon by rain and
snow, as near to death as we were to the coasts of
France. A ship of saint Valery, which was in the
roadstead with us, detaching itself from its anchors,
went to pieces before our eyes, everything that was
within being carried away. The men were engulfed
in the waves; and, of twenty or thereabout who were
in this Ship, only three were saved. The death that
reaped these bodies, seemed at every moment wait-
ing to devour us. I heard many persons cursing the
hour and the moment when the thought entered
their minds [6J to go upon the sea, and to entrust their
lives to the mercy of a cable. Virtue animates a
heart powerfully. These good sisters, who, at other
times, would have trembled in a boat upon the Seine,
mocked at death and its approaches. In fact, it mat-

68

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

ou dans les eaux, pourueu qu'on meure auec Dieu.
Cefie tempefie efiant paffée i1 s'en eDeua vne autre
auffi furieufe que la premiere comme on la vit naifire
dans l'air, nos mariniers ietterent Ie fecond ancre qui
nous fauua la vie, car Ie cable du premier qui nous
auoit tenu iufques alors fe rompit en vn moment, &
nofirc vaiffeau fe fufi perdu fans refource, fi Ie
fecond ancre ne l' eufi arrefié. Si nous euitions vn
peril nous tõbions dans l'autre, Ie cable manquant à
nofire Vice-Admiral vn coup de mer Ie ietta fur nous
auec vne telle fureur que les plus cõfians penfoiet
efire perdus, iamais ie n'ay enuifagé la mort de fi
prés, i'eu recours au grand fainét Iofeph, patron des
contrées ou nous voulions aller, fi ce vaiffeau fe fufi
auancé de vingt pas nous nous fuffions brifés, & 1'0-
cean [7] nous auroit enfeuelis dedans fes ondes. Au
point que ie prefentois mes væux à Dieu par 1'entre-
mife de ce grand Sainét, on nous vint dire que Ie
vent auoit efcarté ce vaiffeau, Dieu conferua les trois
de nofire Flotte qui efioient en rade fans autre perte
que d'vn cable & d'vn bafieau que la tempefie nous
enleua, quelques vns auoient fait courre Ie bruit qu'vne
des Religieufes efioit morte, & que l'autre eftoit à
l' extremité. Ie defcendy en terre, difoit Ie Pere,
pour affeurer du contraire; il eft vray qu'elles eurent
de l'exercice vn grand mois durant pendant ces tem-
pefies, que Dieu efprouua leur confiance, mais pas
vne ne recula en arriere. Ah! qu'il fait bon fe ietter
entre les bras de fa douce prouidence, & receuoir
auec amour les coups que fa main nous donne, les
Anges conferuoient nofire Flotte par les mefmes
tempeftes que les demons excitoient pour la perdre,
ie ne fçay fi depuis cent ans on a veu des vaiffeaux fi

1640]

RELA TION OF I640

69

ters little whether one die upon the land or upon the
sea, provided one die with God. This tempest hav-
ing passed over, another arose as furious as the first.
As they saw it arising in the air, our sailors cast the
second anchor, which saved our lives; for the cable
of the first, which, until then, had secured us, broke
in a moment, and our ship would have been hope-
lessly lost if the second anchor had not held us fast.
If we avoided one danger, we fell into another. Our
Vice Admiral missing the cable, a wave dashed it
upon us with such fury that the most steadfast
thought they were lost. Never have I confronted
death so near. I had recourse to the great saint
Joseph, patron of the countries where we wished to
go. If this ship had advanced twenty paces, we
would have been dashed to pieces, and the Ocean [7]
would have swallowed us in its waves. At the
moment when I was offering my vows to God through
the medium of this great Saint, they came to tell me
that the wind had passed by this vessel. God pre-
served the three of our Fleet which were in the road-
stead, without other loss than that of a cable, and of
a boat that the tempest carried away from us. Some
had circulated the report that one of the Nuns was
dead, and that another was dying. I landed," said
the Father, "to assure them of the contrary. It is
true they were in some anxiety during the long
month of these tempests when God was proving
their constancy, but not one of them drew back.
Ah! how good it is to cast oneself into the arms of
his sweet providence, and to receive with love the
strokes that his hands give us! The Angels pre-
served our Fleet through the same tempests that the
demons excited to destroy it. I do not know that

70

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

long temps en rade ny batus de vents fi fortement
contraires, cefie furie nous enchaifnãt près du port
nous deffendoit [8] contre des fregates ennemyes
équipées en guerre qui nous att
ndoient au paffage,
fi bien que fi nous euffions leué l'ancre vn iour deuant
nofire defpart, nous fuffions infailliblement tombez
entre les mains de l'ennemy. Madame Ia Ducheffe
d' Aiguillon ayant eu aduis de cet embufcade fit en
forte que Monfeigneur Ie Cardinal de Richelieu com-
manda aux vaiffeaux du Havre de nous donner
efcorte, comme nous nous mettions en deuoir de les
aller ioindre, nous rencontrafmes cinq fregates Dun-
querquoifes, auffi tofi on met la main aux armes, on
iette les canons hors des fabors, chacun fe difpofe au
combat, Monfieur de Courpon nofire Admiral s'a-
uance, mais ces fregates efiant embaraffées de deux
vaiffeaux Hollandois qui nous auoient quittez la nuiét
precedente, & qui venoient d'efire pris vn peu auant
que nous paruffions s'efcarterent de nous voyans à
nofire contenance que nous eftions pour leur difpu-
ter fortement la viétoire, nous arriuafmes au Havre
incontinent apres, où nous trouuafmes cinquante Na-
uires à l'ancre [9] qui nous attendoient, Ie vent nous
fauorifant Monfieur de Beaulieu qui commandoit la
flotte RoiaIe, nous fit entourer de quarante vaiffeaux.
Ie ne penfois pas eftre en mer, difoit Ie Pere, me
voyãt enuironné de tant de bois, comme nous vogui-
ons dans cette affeurance, les vaiffeaux du Roy def-
couurirent huiét fregates ennemies aufquelles ils don-
nerent la chaffe; mais elles euaderent à la faueur du
vent, l'efcorte Royale nous voyans hors de la manche
& hors du danger nous quitta. Voila comme les
tempeftes nous voulant perdre au port nous prote-

1640]

RELA TION OF I640

71

for a hundred years vessels have been seen so long
anchored, or assailed by winds so very contrary.
This fury, chaining us near the port, defended us [8]
against hostile frigates equipped for war, which were
awaiting us at the passage,- so that, if we had
weighed anchor one day before our departure, we
would infallibly have fallen into the hands of the
enemy. Madame the Duchess d' Aiguillon, having
been advised of this ambuscade, so arranged that
Monseigneur the Cardinal de Richelieu ordered the
ships of Havre to convoy us. As we were about
to go and join them, we encountered five Dunkirk
frigates. Immediately the weapons are grasped, the
cannons are thrust out of the portholes,- everyone
is ready for the combat. Monsieur de Courpon, our
Admiral, advances. But these frigates- being em-
barrassed by two Dutch ships that had left us the
previous night, and which had just been captured a
little while before we appeared - turned away from
us, seeing in our faces that we were ready stubbornly
to dispute the victory with them. We reached Havre
directly afterwards, where we found fifty Ships at
anchor [9] which were awaiting us. The wind fa-
voring us, Monsieur de Beaulieu, who commanded
the Royal fleet, had us surrounded by forty ships. I
did not think that I was upon the sea," said the Fa-
ther, " seeing myself encompassed by so much wood.
As we floated along in this security, the ships of the
King discovered eight hostile frigates, to which they
gave chase. But they escaped, owing to a favorable
wind. The Royal escort, seeing us out of the chan-
nel and out of danger, left us. Thus the tempests,
ready to destroy us in the port, protected us against
our enemies. As soon as we were upon the high

72

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

geoient contre les ennemis, fi-tofi que nous fufmes
en haute mer les vents nous fauoriferent pour la
plufpart du temps, nous eufmes quelques petites bou-
rafques; mais de peu de durée. Ie n'ay point veu
plus de deuotion fur la terre que fur la mer, les prin-
cipaux de nofire flotte, les paiIagers & les mate lots
affifioient au diuin feruice que nous chantions fort
fouuent, ils frequentoient les Sacremens, fe trou-
uoient aux prieres & aux leétures publiques qu' on
faifoit en fon temps, mais la deuotion fut tres-fen-
fible & tres-remarquable [10] Ie iour du fainét Sacre-
met, on pre para vn autel magnifique dans la chambre
de noftre Admiral, tout l' equipage dreiIa vn repofoir
fur l'auant du vaiiIeau, noftre Seigneur voulant efire
adoré fur cet element fi mobile, nous donna vn calme
fi doux que nous penfions voguer fur vn efiang, nous
fifmes vne proceffion vrayement folemnelle, puis que
tout Ie monde y affifia & que la pieté & la deuotion
la faifoient marcher en bel ordre toute à l'entour du
vaiiIeau, nofire frere Dominique Scot reuefiu d'vn
furplis portoit la croix, aux deux cofiés de laquelle
marchoient deux enfans portans vn flambeau ardent
en la main, fuiuoient les Religieufes auec leurs
cierges blancs & vne modeftie Angelique, apres Ie
Preftre qui portoit Ie fainét Sacrement marchoit
l' Admiral de la flotte, & en fuitte tout l' equipage, les
canons firent retentir l'air & les ondes de leur ton-
nerre, & les Anges prenoient plaifir d'entendre les
loüanges que nos cæurs & nos bouches donnoiet à
leur Prince & à noftre fouuerain Roy. 11 n'y eut
que fept perfonnes qui n'approchaffent [II] de la
íainéte table, & encor s'efioient ils repus vn peu
auparauant de cette viande facrée; enfin apres auoir

1640]

RELA TION OF I640

73

sea, the wind favored us during most of the time;
we had some slight squalls, but they were of short
duration. I have not seen more devotion upon the
land than there was upon the sea; the chief person-
ages of our fleet, the passengers, and the sailors
attended divine service, which we celebrated very
often. They frequented the Sacraments, and were
present at prayers and the public readings that were
given at suitable times. But the devotion was most
profound and most conspicuous [10] on the day of
the blessed Sacrament. A magnificent altar was pre-
pared in the chamber of our Admiral; the whole
crew erected an altar at the prow of the ship; our
Lord, desiring to be adored upon this so unstable
element, gave us a calm so peaceful that we could
imagine ourselves floating upon a pond. We formed
a procession truly solemn, since everyone took part
in it, and their piety and devotion caused them to
march in fine order all around the ship. Our broth-
er Dominique Scot, wearing a surplice, bore the
cross, on either side of which marched two children,
each bearing a lighted torch in his hands; the Nuns
followed with their white wax tapers, in Angelic
modesty; after the Priest, who carried the blessed
Sacrament, walked the Admiral of the fleet, and
then the whole crew. The cannons made the air
and the waves resound with their thunder, and the
Angels took pleasure in hearing the praises that our
hearts and our lips gave to their Prince and to our
sovereign King. There were only seven persons
who did not approach [II] the holy table, and yet
they had feasted upon this sacred food a little while
before." Finally, after having enjoyed very fair
weather after this act so imbued with piety, the Ad-

74

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

iouy d'affez beau-temps depuis cette aétion, toute
plaine de pieté, l' Admiral arriua à TadouíIac Ie der-
nier de Iuin, où Ie fainét Iacques efioit entré deux
iours auparauant, Ie Pere Menard s'embarquant dans
vne chalouppe auec nofire frere Dominique Scot,
laiffa Ie Pere Iofeph Duperron & nofire frere Iaques
Ratel auec les Religieufes, pour nous venir donner
promptement nouuelles de 1'arriuée de la flotte, bref Ie
Dimanche au matin Ie fainct Iacques commandé par
Ie Capitaine Ancelot, vint moüiller l'ancre deuant
Kebec, Monfieur nofire Gouuerneur defcendit fur Ie
port auec noítre R. P. Superieur, pour receuoir nos
Peres & pour conduire ces filles vrayement genereufes
en leurs maifons, au fortir du vaiffeau elles fe iettent
à genoux, baife la terre tant defirée, chantent vn
Laudate Dominum 011l1ZeS Gentes, & Madame de la Pel-
letrie accompagnée de fes petites Seminarifies genti-
ment vefiuës, embraffe ces bonnes Religieufes, [12]
les conduit premierement en la Chappelle des Vrfu-
lines, comme efiant la plus proche du Quay, noftre
Eglife & nofire maifon ayant efié bruílées, on les
mena en cette Chappelle pour adorer nofire Seigneur,
& pour Ie remercier des faueurs qu'elles auoient
receuës de fa bonté, delà elle vont faluer Monfieur
nofire Gouuerneur en fon fort, puis on les mena cha-
qu'vnes dans leurs maifons, où la ioye & la charité
leur donna entrée, elles fortirent du vaiffeau plus
faines qu'elles n'y efioient entrées, la pauureté & les
incommoditez des maifons bafiies fur la terre, femble
des palais & des richeffes à ceux qui fortent d'vne
maifon de bois flottante au gré des vents & des vagues,
Ie landemain on les conduifit à S. Iofeph, pour leur
faire veoir les Sauuages, qui les ont attirées en ce

1640]

RELA TION OF I640

75

miral arrived at Tadoussac on the last of June, where
the" saint Jacques" had entered two days before.
Father Menard, embarking in a shallop with our
brother, Dominique Scot, left Father Joseph Duper.
ron and our brother Jacques Ratel with the Nuns,
that he might promptly come to give us news of the
fleet's arrival. In brief, on Sunday morning the
"saint Jacques," commanded by Captain Ancelot,
came and cast anchor opposite Ke bec; Monsieur our
Governor went down to the wharf with OUT Rever-
end Father Superior, to receive our Fathers, and to
escort these truly generous sisters to their houses.
Upon leaving the ship they fell upon their knees,
kissed the ground so long desired, and sang the Lau-
date Domi1'lum omnes Gentes; and Madame de la Pelle-
trie, accompanied by her little Seminarists, neatly
dressed, embraced these good Nuns, [12J whom she
conducted first to the Chapel of the U rsulines, this
being the nearest to the Quay, as our Church and
house had been burned. They were taken to this
Chapel to adore our Lord, and to thank him for the
favors they had received from his goodness. Thence
they went to salute Monsieur our Governor in his
fort; then they were taken to their own houses,
where joy and love welcomed them. They left the
ship in better health than when they had entered it.
Poverty and discomfort, in houses that are built upon
the land seem palaces and riches to those who come
forth from a house of wood floating at the will of the
winds and the waves. The next day, we took them
to St. Joseph, to show them the Savages who have
attracted them to this new world. They were pres-
ent at prayers, and at the instruction that was being

76

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

nouueau monde, elles affifierent aux prieres & à l'in-
firuétion qu'on leur fit. La ioye deroboit leurs cæurs
& leurs yeux, ce pauure peuple admiroit la genereufe
eonfianee de ces ieunes Amazones, qui malgré 1'0_
eean viennent chercher Ie [13J falut de ces barbares
en ees derniers confins du monde, bref ayant vifité
les pauures demeures de ce peuple; elles fe retire-
rent en leur c1ofiure, pour la garder fuiuant leurs
Reigles & leurs Infiituts. Quelques iours apres leur
arriuée, la Mere de fainéte Marie Hofpitaliere efi
tombée malade, e'efi vn petit agneau tout difpofé
pour entrer dans Ie bercail du vray Berger, il femble
neantmoins que Dieu luy veille rendre la fanté.
Pour conc1ufion de ce Chapitre, ie diray ces deux
mots à vne infinité de Religieufes, qui bruílent d'vn
defir de fuiure celles qui font paffées. Ce n'efi pas
tout d' efire enuoyées de la France, i1 faut efire
appellée de la nouuelle, pour faire icy plus de fruiét
que de bruit. Les filles ne fçauroient penetrer dans
les Nations plus éloignées & plus peuplées; i1 en eft
venu tres-fuffifamment pour les occupations qu'elles
peuuent auoir dans vn païs qui ne fait que de naifire.
Celles à qui l'humilité. l'obeyffance & l'appel leurs
ont [14J donné des patentes, ont efié receuës à bras
ouuerts des Anges gardiens de ees eontrées, elles co-
operent fainctement auec ees bien-heureux efprits au
falut de ces peuples, en effet & les Hofpitalieres & les
Vrfulines font dans la ioye, elles ont paffé l'année
dãs vne profonde paix, eheries des François & des
Sauuages, tres-zelées pour les fonétions de leur infii-
tut. Ce bon-heur n'en doit point attirer dauantage,
puis qu'vn plus grand nombre n'efi pas de faifon, Ie
païs fe faifant tous les iours ouurira en fon temps la

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RELATION OF r640

77

given. Joy stole away their hearts and their eyes.
These poor peoples admired the noble constancy of
these young Amazons, who, in spite of the Ocean,
came to seek the [13] salvation of these barbarians in
these farthest confines of the earth. In brief, having
visited the poor dwellings of these people, they
retired to their own sed usion, to observe it according
to their Rules and their Institutes. Some days after
their arrival, Mother de sainte Marie, a Hospital
Nun, fell sick. Here was a dear lamb all ready to
enter the fold of the true Shepherd. It seems, how-
ever, that God willed her to be restored to health.
As a conclusion to this Chapter, I will say these
few words to a vast number of Nuns, who burn with
a desire to follow those who have crossed over. It
is not everything to be sent from France; one must
be called by new [France], in order to produce more
fruit here than noise. The sisters cannot penetrate
into the more distant and more populous Nations;
those who have come are amply sufficient for the
occupations they can have in a country which has
accomplished only its birth. Those to whom humil-
ity, obedience, and vocation have [14J given diplo-
mas, have been received with open arms by the
guardian Angels of these countries. They coöperate
piously with those blessed spirits in the salvation of
these peoples. In fact, both the Hospital Nuns and
the U rsulines are full of joy. They have passed the
year in profound peace, cherished by the French and
Savages, very zealous in the functions of their order.
This happiness ought not to attract more of them,
since a greater number would be unseasonable; as
the country grows every day, it will, at the proper

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

porte aux autres. 11 faut pour Ie prefent bander to us
nos nerfs pour arrefter les Sauuages, au commence-
ment que nous vinfmes en ces contrées, comme nous
n'efperions quafi rien des vieux arbres, nous erl1ploi-
ons toutes nos forces à cultiuer les ieunes plãtes,
mais noftre Seigneur nous donnant les adultes nous
cõuertiffons les grãdes def peces, que nous faifiõs
pour Ies enfãs, au fecours de leurs peres & de leurs
meres, les aydant à cultiuer la terre & à fe loger
dans vne maifon fixe & permanente, nous retenons
neantmoins encor auec nous quelques [15] petits or-
phelins delaiffés. Mais noftre plus grand effort doit
tendre à rallier ces pauures brebis egarées, fans cela
il n'y a point d' occupation en ces contrées pour des
Religieufes, notamment pour les Vrfulines, il n'en
eft pas de mefme de nous autres; car nous penetrons
és nations fedentaires, où les filles n' ont aucun accés,
tant pour l'eloignement de nos François qui les
conferuent, que pour l'horreur des chemins, &
pour les grands trauaux & dangers qui furpaiIent
leur fexe, les filles & Ies femmes ne fçauroient
monter plus haut que l'Ille de Montreal, où Ie
fault fainét Louys: or eft il que depuis l'embouchure
du fleuue S. Laurens iufques à cette Ille, tous les
Sauuages font errans, i1 les faut done reduire à vne
vie fedëtaire, fi on veut auoir leurs enfans, ceux qui
prenoient plaifir de fecourir noftre feminaire feront
confoIés, voyant que les depenfes qu'on faifoit pour
des enfans, eftant employées à faire vne petite mai-
fon, arrefient & gaignent à Iefus-Chrift Ie pere, la
mere & les enfans. N ous auons fait quatre petits
logemens cette année, voila pour quatre [16] familIes,
ces bonnes gens font rauis voyant cette charité, Ie

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RELA TION OF I640

79

time, open the door to the others. At present, we
must strain every nerve to arrest the Savages. When
we first came into these countries, as we hoped for
scarcely anything from the old trees, we employed
all our forces in cultivating the young plants; but,
as our Lord gave us the adults, we are turning the
great outlay we made for the children to the succor
of their fathers and mothers,- helping them to cul-
tivate the land, and to locate in a fixed and perma-
nent home; we still retain with us, however, some
[15] little abandoned orphans. But our strongest
efforts ought to tend towards rallying these poor lost
sheep. Without this, there is no occupation in these
countries for Nuns, especially for the Ursulines. It is
not the same with us; for we penetrate into the sed-
entary nations, where the sisters have no access,-
not only on account of the remoteness of our French
who have charge of them, but of the horrors of the
roads, and the great hardships and dangers, which
are beyond their sex. The girls and women cannot
go up farther than the Island of Montreal, or the
sault saint Louys. Now it happens that from the
mouth of the river St. Lawrence up to this Island,
all the Savages are wanderers; hence they must be
brought to a sedentary life, if we wish to have their
children. Those who took pleasure in assisting our
seminary will be consoled by seeing that the outlays
made for the children, being employed in erecting a
little house, arrest and win for Jesus Christ the
father, the mother, and the children. We have built
four little lodgings this year, and in these there are
four [16] families. These good people are delighted
at seeing this charity. The whole may amount to

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

tout peut reuenir à quatre ou cinq cens efcus, helas!
ce n'efi qu'vn COUp de dez en France, ou vne fimple
collation, & dans nos grands bois c'efi Ie falut de
quatre pauures familIes, qui peut efire ne verroient
iamais Dieu fi on ne leur prefioit ce fecours.

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RELA TION OF I640

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four or five hundred écus. Alas! it is only one throw
of the dice in France, or one simple collation; and
in our great woods it is the salvation of four poor
families, who perhaps would never see God if this
aid were not lent them.

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

CHAPITRE II.

DE L'ESTAT GENERAL DE LA COLONIE FRANÇOISE, &
DE LA CONUERSION DES SAUUAGES.

L A, paix, 1'amour & la bonne intelligence regne
parmy nos François. La foy s'eftend & iette
de profondes racines parm y les Sauuages, ces
quatre paroles fuffiroient pour monftrer que nous
viuons icy dans vn fiec1e d'or.
Ceux qui nous ont par1é des fiec1es dorés, ne les
embeliffoient pas des mines du Perou, mais d'vne in-
nocence preferable aux richeffes de l'vn & de 1'autre
hemifphere. [17] Si bien que nous pouuons quafi
dire que l'vfage de fer, rend les fiec1es d'or, & l'v-
fage de l'or fait les fiec1es de fer. II eft vray qu'on
vit en ces contrées dans vne gran de innocence, la
vertu y regne comme dans fon empire, Ie vice qui la
pourfuit inceffamment, n'y paroît qu'en cachette & à
la derobée, ne fe produifant iamais fans confufion.
Les principaux habitãs de ce nouueau monde, defi-
reux de conferuer cette benediétion du Ciel, fe font
rangés fous les drapeaux de la fainéte Vierge, à
l'honneur de laquelle ils entendent tous les Samedis
la fainéte Meffe, frequentent fouuet les Sacremens
de vie, prefte l' oreille aux difcours qu' on leur fait
des grandeurs de cette Princeffe, & du bon-heur de
la paix & de l'vnion qui les allie ça bas en terre,
pour les rendre vne mefme chofe auec Dieu dedans
les Cieux, cette deuotion a banny les inimitiés & les

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RELA TION OF I640

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CHAPTER II.

OF THE GENERAL CONDITION OF THE FRENCH COLO-
NY, AND THE CONVERSION OF THE SAVAGES.

P EACE, love, and good understanding reign
among our French people. The faith is
extending, and taking deep root among the
Savages. These few words might suffice to show
that we are living here in a golden age.
Those who have told us about golden ages did not
embellish them with Peruvian mines, but with an
innocence preferable to the riches of either hemi-
sphere; [17] so that we can almost say that the use
of iron renders the ages golden, and the use of gold
makes the ages iron. Verily, one lives in these
countries in great innocency ,- virtue reigns here as
if in its empire; vice, which pursues it incessantly,
only appears secretly and by stealth, never introduc-
ing itself without humiliation. The principal inhab-
itants of this new world, desiring to preserve this
blessing of Heaven, have ranged themselves under
the banner of the blessed Virgin, in whose honor they
hear the holy Mass every Saturday, often frequent
the Sacraments of life, and lend ear to the discourses
that are given them on the dignities of this Princess,
and on the blessedness of the peace and union that
bind them here below on earth, to render them one
with God in Heaven. This devotion has banished
enmities and coldness; it has introduced pure dis-
course in the place of too licentious language; it has

84

LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[V OL. 18

froideurs, elle a introduit de bons difcours, au lieu
des paroles trop libertines, elle a fait reuiure la cou-
flume de prier Dieu publiquemet foir & matin dans
les familIes, elle a donné des affeétions de la pureté
à quelques [18] perfonnes dans Ie mariage, iufques à
prefenter leurs væux par mutuel accord, à l'integrité
de la fainéte Vierge, & les renouueller de temp en
temps, pour receuoir plus fainétement fon fils bien
aymé dedans leurs cæurs. L'année paffé les che-
nilles, les fauterelles & les autres vermines, man-
geant tout ce qui fortoit de la terre, on fit quelques
proceffions & quelques prieres publiques pour cet
effet, chofe eftrange, Ie iour fuiuant ces beftioles
moururent & difparurent en telle forte, que telle per-
fonne a recueilly plus de trente poinffons de froment,
n'en efperant pas dix boiffeaux.
Au refte nous viuons icy fort contens & fort fatis-
faits, les François font en bonne fanté, l'air du pays
leur eft bon, auffi eft-il pur & fain, la terre commence
à leur donner des grains abondamment, les guerres,
les procez, les debats & les querelles ne l'empeftent
point, en vn mot, Ie chemin du Ciel femble plus court
& plus affeuré de nos grands bois, que de vos grandes
villes, il eft vray que nous ne penfons point eftre
feuls dans vn pays eftranger, auffi n'y fommes nous
[19] pas, puis que nous n'auons tous qu'vn mefme
Prince & qu'vn mefme Roy, que nous aymons & que
nous honorons vniquement, nous fifmes l'an paffé des
feux de refiouyffance pour la naiffance de Monfeigneur
Ie Dauphin, nous priafmes Dieu par vne proceffion
folemnelle, de rendre cet enfant femblable à fon
pere, noftre ioye & noftre affeétion, ne s' eft pas con-
tenuës dans les limites d'vne année, Monfieur Ie Che-

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revived the custom in families of publicly praying to
God, evening and morning; it has given desires for
purity to some [18] persons in marriage, even to
offering their vows by mutual accord to the chastity
of the blessed Virgin, and to renewing these, from
time to time, that they may more holily receive her
well-beloved son in their hearts. Last year, the
caterpillars, grasshoppers, and other insects eating
all that came out of the earth, some processions and
public prayers were made on this account; strange
to say, the following day these little animals died,
and disappeared so entirely, that a certain person
reaped more than thirty puncheons of grain. though
not expecting over ten bushels.
Moreover, we live here in great contentment and
satisfaction. The French are in good health; the
air of the country agrees with them. as it is pure and
salubrious; the soil is beginning to yield them
grain in abundance; wars, lawsuits, disputes, and
quarrels do not infect them. In a word, the road to
Heaven seems shorter and surer from our great for-
ests than from your large cities. True, we do not
think of ourselves as being alone in a strange coun-
try; nor are we so, [19] since we all have only one
and the same Prince and the same King , whom alone
we love and honor. Last year, we made bonfires for
the birth of Monseigneur, the Dauphin; we entreated
God, by a solemn procession to make this child like
his father. Our joy and our affection were not kept
within the bounds of one year; Monsieur the Cheva-
lier de Montmagny, our Governor, wishing to prolong
it, has had a Tragi-comedy represented this year, in
honor of this newborn Prince. I would not have be-
lieved that so handsome apparel and so good actors

86

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

ualier de Montmagny noftre Gouuerneur la voulant
prolonger, à fait reprefenter cette année vne Tragi-
comedie en l'honneur de ce Prince nou ueau né, ie
n'aurois pas creu qu'on eut peu trouuer vn fi gentil
appareil, & de fi bons acteurs à Kebec, Ie fieur
Martial Piraubé qui conduifoit cette aétion & qui en
reprefentoit Ie premier perfonnage, reuffit auec excel-
lence; mais afin que nous Sauuages en peuffent reti-
rer quelque vtilité, Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur doüé
d'vn zele & d'vne prudence non commune, nous in-
uita d'y Ineíler quelque chofe qui leur pût donner dans
la veuë & frapper leurs oreilles, nous fifmes pour-
fuiure fame d'vn infidelle par [20] deux demons,
qui en fin la precipiterent dans vn enfer, qui vomiffoit
des flames, les refiftances, les cris & les hurlemens
de cette ame & de ces demons, qui parloient en
langue Algonquine, donnerent s'y auant dans Ie cæur
de quelques vns, qu'vn Sauuage nous dit à deux iours
de là, qu'il auoit efté fort efpouuanté la nuiét par vn
fonge tres-affreux, ie voyois difoit-il, vn gouffre hor-
rible, d' où fortoient des flames & des demons, il me
fembloit qu'ils me vouloient perdre, ce qui me donna
bien de la terreur, bref ce pauure peuple fe vient
rendre à Iefus-Chrift de iour en iour, Ie fecours
qu'on leur donne pour defricher & pour cultiuer la
terre les encourage fi fort, que c' eft vne benediétion
de les voir prier & trauailler [en] fon temps.
. Les bons exemples des principaux de cette colonie
les gagnent puiffamment, :Monfieur noftre Gouuer-
neur approche par fois de la fainéte table auec eux,
il les honore de fa prefence, les venant vifiter à S.
Iofeph, ayant appris que ces bons Neophites deuoient
communier Ie iour de fefte de noftre Pere & Patri-

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RELATION OF I640

87

could be found in Kebec. Sieur Martial Piraubé,7
who had charge of this performance, and who repre-
sented the chief personage, succeeded excellently;
but in order that our Savages might derive some
benefit from it, }'fonsieur the Governor, endowed
with uncommon zeal and prudence, invited us to put
something into it which might strike their eyes and
their ears. vVe had the soul of an un believer pur-
sued by [20] two demons, who finally hurled it into
a hell that vomited forth flames; the struggles, cries,
and shrieks of this soul and of these demons, who
spoke in the Algonquin tongue. penetrated so deeply
into the hearts of some of them, that a Savage told
us, two days afterward. that he had been greatly
frightened that night by a very horrible dream. "I
saw, " said he, " a hideous gulf whence issued flames
and demons. It seemed to me that they tried to
destroy me, and this filled me with great terror." In
brief, these poor peoples are giving themselves up to
Jesus Christ from day to day; the help that is given
them in clearing and cultivating the land encourages
them so greatly, that it is a blessing to see them
praying and working, each in due time.
The good examples of the chief men of this colony
strongly influence them; Monsieur our Governor
sometimes approaches the holy table with them; he
honors them by his presence, coming to visit them
at St. Joseph. Having learned that these good N eo-
phytes were to receive communion on the day of the
feast of our Father and Patriarch, St. [2 I] Ignace,
he came to perform his devotions with them in our
Chapel of St. Joseph. Madame de la Peltrie was
there at the same time, to be godmother to some chil-
dren that were to be baptized. 'Vas it not beautiful

88

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

arche S. [21J Ignace, il vint faire fes deuotions auec
eux en noftre Chapelle de S. Iofeph, Madame de la
Peltrie s'y trouua en mefme temps, pour eftre mar-
raine de quelques enfans qu'on deuoit baptifer, ne
faifoit-il pas beau voir ces perfonnes de merite & de
qualité, meí1ées parmy des Sauuages approcher tous
enfemble de Iefus-Chrift, cette innocence nous fait
vn fiec1e d'or.
II y a quelque temps que nous difions aux Sauuages,
que des perfonnes de condition auoient defiré d'eftre
recommandés à leurs prieres quand ils communie-
roient, que la Royne mefme auoit fouhaitté qu'ils
priaffent Dieu pour fon Dauphin, comme ie ray ap-
pris de bonne part, cela les eftonne & les confole, &
donne vne apprehenfion de la grandeur de Dieu, &
vne eftime des prieres, voyãs que des perfonnes fi
releuées en font tant d'eftat, leur difant que cette
bonne Princeffe auoit fait quelque aumofne pour les
fecourir, que d'autres Dames ou femmes de Capitaines
faifoient Ie mefme, qu'on prioit Dieu pour eux par
toute la France, ils admiroient la bonté [22J & la no-
bleffe du chriftianifme, qui abbaiffe les chofes grandes
& releue les plus baffes. Quelques vns d'eux me
dirent que tous les iours ils ne manquoient pas de
prier pour les perfonnes qui les affiftoient, me nom-
mant fort bien ceux qui ont eftably quelque fecours
folide, pour les tirer de leurs grandes miferes. Les
Chapitres fuyuans donneront de la confolation à ceux
qui ont cooperé au fang de Iefus-Chrift, dont la vertu
paroit auec eftonnement en ces pauures barbares.

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to see these worthy and titled persons, mingling with
the Savages,- and all together approaching Jesus
Christ? This simplicity creates for us a golden age.
Some time ago, we told the Savages that persons
of rank had desired to be recommended to their pray-
ers when they received communion,-that even the
Queen had wished them to pray to God for her Dau-
phin, as I have learned on good authority. This
surprises and consoles them, and gives them an idea
of the greatness of God, and an esteem for prayer,
seeing that personages so eminent value it so high-
ly. Upon telling them that this good Princess had
given some alms to succor them, that other Ladies
or wives of Captains had done the same, that pray-
ers for them were offered to God throughout all
France,-they admired the goodness [22] and lofty
character of Christianity, which abases great things
and exalts the most humble. Some of them told me
that they would not fail to pray daily for the persons
who helped them, naming to me very well those who
have given substantial help to draw them out of their
great miseries. The following Chapters will afford
some consolation to those who have coöperated with
the blood of Jesus Christ, the virtue of which appears
wonderfully in these poor barbarians.

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LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

CHAPITRE III.

LES SAUUAGES SE RASSEMBLENT À SAINCT JOSEPH APRES
LA MALADIE, ELISENT QUELQUES CAPITAINES, &
FONT P AROISTRE LEUR ZELE POUR LA FOY.

I ' A Y veu quelquefois des pigeons effarez battus
d'vn faucon, ces pauures oyfeaux voloient qui
deçà qui delà à [23] lentour de leur colombier
fans y entrer, puis leur ennemy venant à difparoifire
ils venoient fondre tout à coup dans leur petite mai-
fon, voila iufiement l'idée du pitoyable efiat auquel
fe trouuoient l' an paffé nos Sauuages, la maladie les
pourfuiuoit comme à tire d'aifies, ils tournoient à l'en-
tour de la maiíon S. Iofeph, pafíoient & repafíoient
dans leurs petites gondoles & canots, & voyant encor
l'ombre du Vautour qui les chafíoit, ils s'enfuyoient
derechef, mais enfin ce fleau venant à cefíer, ils fe
font venus rejetter dans la demeure qu'ils ont choifis,
Et Deus fecit cum telltatz"one prouentll111, Dieu leur a
donné plus de courage qu'auparauant. Au temps
qu'ils fe rafíembloient Ie R. P. Vimont nofire Supe-
rieur, montant aux trois Riuieres en rencontra quel-
ques vns en chemin, deíquels il m'eícriuit en ces
termes, Nous arriuafmes hier fur Ie midy chez Mon-
fieur de la Poterie, nous n' en pourrons partir que ce
iourd 'huy prefque à mefme heure, pource que nos
mattelots ont laifíé eíchouër nofire chalouppe trop
haut, ie n'ay peu trouuer de canot pour gaigner Ie
deuant, [24] car i1 n'y en a icy que deux; dont l'vn

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CHAPTER III.

THE SAVAGES REASSEMBLE AT SAINT JOSEPH AFTER
THE EPIDEMIC, ELECT SEVERAL CAPTAINS, AND
SHOW THEIR ZEAL FOR THE FAITH.

I HAVE sometimes seen frightened pigeons at-
tacked by a hawk. These poor birds would fly
here and there [23] around their dovecote, with-
out entering it; then, their enemy happening to dis-
appear, they would suddenly dart into their little
home. This is precisely the image of the pitiable
condition in which our Savages were last year. The
malady pursued them with flapping wings, as it
were; they hovered around the house of St. Joseph,
passed and repassed in their little gondolas and
canoes, and, still seeing the shadow of the Vulture
that pursued them, they again took flight; but final-
ly, as this scourge began to abate, they came and
took refuge in the dwelling they have chosen, Et
Deus fecit cum telltatione proventum, God has given
them more courage than before. At the time they
were reassembling, the Reverend Father Vimont,
our Superior, going up to the three Rivers, encoun-
tered some of them on the way, of whom he wrote
me in these terms: ""VV e reached 110nsieur de la
Poterie's8 house yesterday about noon; we shall not
be able to leave until to-day at about the same hour,
because our sailors have let our shallop run aground
too far up. I could not find a canoe, to go on ahead
of it, [24] for there are only two here,-one of which

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s'en va à S. Iofeph, l'autre doit feruir à trente Sau-
uages ou enuiron, que ie rencontray icy hier au foir,
ie les fis prier Dieu & les enfeignay Ie mieux que ie
peu, ils me forcerent de chanter Irinitik, (c'efi vn
Cantique compofé en leur langue) Dieu fçait comme
ie m' en acquité, ie paffay pourtant iufques au bout
auec les Litanies, ie leur expofay comme vofire Re-
uerence & moy, leur auions procuré la Gribane, pour
mener leur petit bagage à S. Iofeph, & que Monfieur
Ie Gouuerneur leur accordoit cette faueur pour les
obliger à defricher la terre, ils s'y tefmoignerent fort
portez, apres que i'eu par1é, ils me dirent d'eux
mefmes qu'ils efioient parens du Capitaine de l'Ifle;
mais cependant qu'ils ne l'aymoiët pas, pource qu'ils
fçauoient bien qu'il ne fe montroit affectionné à la
culture de la terre & à l'infiruétion qu'en apparence,
prenant congé d'eux ie les affeuray que ie prefferois
mon voyage, pour les venir prendre au retour & me
fa ire leur Capitaine iufques à S. Iofeph, i' ay veu
quelques vieilles femmes infirmes & [2SJ quelques en-
fans, qui pourront augmenter l' occupation des meres
Hofpitalieres & des meres Vrfulines, ie defire auec
paffion de retourner bien vifie, & de contribuer quel-
que chofe à l'arrefi de ces pauures Sauuages, i'oubliois
vn mot qui me confola bien fort, ils adioufierent à
leur harangue, qu'ils n'auoient point d'efprit pour
retenir ce qu'on leur enfeignoit, pource qu'ils n'e-
fioient point baptifez, & qu'ils fçauoient bien que Ie
baptefme ayde à bien comprendre & à bien retenir, &
que s'ils efioient baptifez ils auroient plus de force &
plus d'efprit, pour apprendre les chofes de la foy,
& pour faire comme les François, ie vous prie faluer
de ma part V. Ces bonnes gens & plufieurs autres de

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goes to St. Joseph, the other must serve about thirty
Savages whom I encountered here last evening. I
had them pray to God, and taught them as well
as I could. They made me sing the lrinitik (a Song
composed in their language). God knows how I
acquitted myself of this; however, I proceeded to
the end with the Litanies. I eXplained to them how
your Reverence and I had procured for them the
Gribane, 9 to take their little baggage to St. Joseph,
and that Monsieur the Governor was granting them
this favor, in order to induce them to clear the land.
They declared themselves very favorably inclined to
this. After I had spoken, they told me that, as for
themselves, they were relatives of the Captain of the
Island; but that, however, they did not like him,
because they knew very well that he showed himself
interested in the cultivation of the land and in the
instruction, only in appearance. Upon taking leave
of them, I assured them that I would hasten my
journey, in order to come and take them on my
return, and make myself their Captain as far as St.
Joseph. I saw some infirm old women and [25] some
children, who may give the Hospital mothers and the
Ursuline mothers more occupation. I desire ear-
nestly to return very soon and contribute something
towards the permanent settlement of these poor Sav-
ages. I forgot one thought which consoled me very
much. They added, in their address, that they had
not the sense to retain what was taught them, be-
cause they were not baptized,- that they were well
aware that baptism aids in comprehending clearly and
in remembering well; and that, if they were baptized,
they would have more strength and more intelligence
to learn the things pertaining to the faith, and to do

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diuers endroits fe font enfin raffemblez à S. Iofeph,
où ils ont fait ce que ie vay dire, tous les Chrefiiens
qui font les principaux d'entre eux, firent vn com-
plot, fans nous en rien dire, d'affembler les Sauuages
pour les induire fortement à croire que fi quelqu'vn
fe monftroit formellement ennemy de la foy, ils pri-
rent refolution de la chaffer de la bourgade qu'ils
[26] commencent. Nous ayant donné aduis de leur
deffein, nous iugeafmes qu'il les falloit laiffer faire,
& que cette aétion fi extraordinaire aux Sauuages,
qui ne fe contredifent quafi iamais, s'eftimãs tous
auffi grands feigneurs les vns que les autres, pouuoit
prouenir de l'efprit de Dieu. L'affemblée faite trois
Chreftiens haranguerent, Ie premier fut Eftienne Pi-
garouik, iadis fameux forcier parmy eux, il aigrit vn
petit les efpris de quelques payens par fa ferueur,
car apres auoir tefmoigné qu'il ne craignoit point la
mort, qu'il tiendroit à faueur qu'on Ie maffacraft pour
la foy, il dit qu'il falloit bannir Ie diable de leur nou-
uelle refidence, & que les mefcreans Ie retenoient
auec eux, notamment ceux qui vouloiët auoir deux
femmes, & par confequent qu'il falloit ou croire ou
fe feparer, & que ceux qui auoient du courage de-
uoient dire franchement leurs penfées fur ce fujet.
Apres celuy-cy Noel N egabamat parla; mais plus
moderement. L'experience fit iI, nous apprend que
Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur, que les Peres & tous les [27]
François nous ayment, vous voyez qu'ils ne fecourent
pas feulement ceux qui font baptifez, ils nous aydent
tous à cultiuer la terre & à nous loger, ils nous foula-
gent en nos maladies, ils fubuiennent à nos difettes
fans nous rien demander, n y fans attendre de nous
aucune recompenfe, vous approuuez tous ces bonnes

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as the French do. I beg you, salute for me Yours."
These good people, and many others from various
places, finally gathered at St. Joseph, where they
did what I am about to tell. All the Christians
who are prominent among them mutually agreed,
without telling us anything about it, to get the Sav-
ages together and offer them strong inducements to
believe; if anyone showed himself an open enemy
to the faith, they resolved to drive him away from
the village that they [26] are beginning. Having
informed us of their intention, we judged that it was
best to let them proceed, and that this action J so
extraordinary among the Savages, who hardly ever
contradict one another, each considering himself as
great a lord as the other, might proceed from the
spirit of God. The people being assembled, three
Christians addressed them. The first was Estienne
Pigarouik, formerly a famous sorcerer among them.
He somewhat irritated the minds of some of the
pagans by his fervor; for - after having testified that
he did not fear death, that he would consider it a
favor if they should murder him for the faith - he
said that they must banish the devil from their new
residence, and that the unbelievers retained him
with them, especially those who wished to have two
wives; and, consequently, that it was necessary either
to believe or to separate, and that those who had
courage ought frankly to express their opinions upon
this subject.
After this one, Noel Negabamat spoke, but more
moderately. "Experience," he began, " teaches us
that Monsieur the Governor, that the Fathers, and
all the [27] French love us. You see that they suc-
cor not only those who are baptized, they aid us all

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aétions, vous dites tous, cela eft bien, ces gens là nous
ayment; mais íçachez que fi ce qu'ils font eft bon, ce
qu'ils enfeignent eft encore meilleur, ils ne diíent
pas qu'ils iront tous íeuls au Ciel, ils difent que nous
fommes tous freres, que nous n'auons qu'vn meíme
Pere, que les plaifirs de l'autre vie font auffi-bien
pour nous que pour eux, vous fçauez ce qu'ils enfei-
gnent, vous les efcoutez tous les iours, il me femble
que nous deurions nous vnir tous d'vne meíme
creance, puis que nous voulons nous raffembler dans
vne mefme bourgade.
lean Baptifte Etinechkadat qui eft Capitaine d'ex-
traétion, parla Ie dernier. Vous fçauez (dit-il) que ie
ne fuis pas grand diícoureur, que ma langue tient
[28] mon palais, & qu' à peine ma bouche eft elle
percée, ie fuis defia âge, ie commance à pen fer plus
qu'à parler: or ie vous affeure que i'ay bien confidere
la Foy deuant que de l'embraffer, ie ne me fuis pas
rendu à la premiere femonce, mais i'en fuis mainte-
nant fi fatisfait que plus ie la confidere, & plus ie
l'ayme, & par confequent fi vous auez quelque cre-
ance en moy ne craignez point de l' em braffer, ie
croy que l'vnique moyen de reffufciter voftre nation
qui fe va perdre c'eft de vous r'affembler tous, & de
croire en Dieu, non par feintiíe, mais du fond du
cæur; & comme i1 eft bon, & qu'il peut tout, il nous
fera reuiure, & nous conferuera. V oyla ce que dirent
nos Chreftiens en cefte premiere affemblée qui fe fit
la nuiét en laquelle nous ne nous trouuafme point
non plus qu'aux autre íuiuantes, nos Neophytes ou
pluftoft noftre Seigneur conduiíoit tout cet affaire.
Vn Payen feul, homme arrogant, mais qui la autre-
fois efté dauantage, prit la parole apres ces trois

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to cultivate the land, and to furnish ourselves with
lodgings; they relieve us in our sicknesses, they pro-
vide for us in our want, without asking us for any-
thing. nor expecting any recompense from us. You
all approve of these good actions; you all say' That
is good, those people love us.' But know that if
what they do is good, what they teach is still better.
They do not say that they all will go alone to Heav-
en; they say that we all are brothers, that we have
only one and the same Father, that the pleasures of
the other life are for us as well as for them. You
know what they teach,-you listen to them every
day. It seems to me we all ought to unite in one
and the same belief, since we wish to assemble in
one and the Salne village."
Jean Baptiste Etinechkavat, who is a Captain by
descent, spoke last. " You know" (said he) "that
I am not a great talker,-that my tongue clings
[28] to my palate, and that it is hard to open my
lips. I am already old, I am beginning to think
more than to speak. Now I assure you that I con-
sidered the Faith well before embracing it, I did not
yield to the first invitation; but I am now so satisfied
that, the more I consider it, the more I love it; and
consequently, if you have any faith in me, do not
fear to embrace it. I believe that the only means of
restoring your nation, which is going to destruction,
is for you all to assemble and to believe in God,-
not hypocritically, but from the depths of your hearts;
and as he is good, and as he can do all, he will re-
store and preserve us." That was what our Chris-
tians said in this first assembly, which took place at
night; we were not present there, nor were we at the
following ones. Our Neophytes, or rather our Lord,
conducted this whole affair.

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[VOL. 18

harangues. Ie voy bien, dit-il, qu'on nous veut
chaffer, il efi vray qu'on ne s'attaqua pas fi direéte-
ment [29] à moy qu'à vn tel, qui efi mon parent,
mais il faut qu' on fçache qu' on ne Ie peut heurter
fans me choquer, on crie qu'il ayme deux femmes,
n'auons nous pas cefie liberté depuis vn long temps
d'en prendre tant que nous voudrons? Si on penfe
no us faire fortir de force, il faut ioüer à qui l'empor-
tera, celuy qui perdra la partie cedera: N ous efcou-
tons tous les iours les Peres, nous n'improuuõs pas
ce qu'ils difent, mais nous ne croyõs pas pouuoir re-
tenir ce qu'ils enfeignent, ny garder ce qu'ils recom-
mandent, i1 ne fe faut pas hafier les forces viennet
auec l'âge: I'ay eu de grands degoufis de ce qu'ils
prefchent, ie me fuis autrefois mocqué d'eux, ie les
ay querellez & menacé, ie n'auois que la bouche en
ce temps-là, maintenant ie commence à auoir des
oreilles, fi elles ne font pas encore fi bien percées que
les vofires, ce qu'on dit ne laiffe pas d'y entrer:
Pour moy fi i'efiois parent des François comme vous
qui auez receu leur creance, ie ne voudrois pas pour-
tant offencer mes compatriotes, la conc1ufion fut
qu'on penferoit à cet affaire. Nos Chrefiiens [30] ne
quitterent pas leur poinéte, ils nous vindrent prier
d'agir fecrettement auec Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur,
afin qu'il les portafi à créer quelques Chefs pour les
conduire dans leurs petites affaires, iugeãs bien que
Ie petit nombre des Chefs efiant gagné tout Ie refie
fuiuroit aifement apres. Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur
qui ne laiffe efcouler aucune occafion d'amplifier la
Foy & Ie Royaume de Iefus-Chrifi, fit appeller les
principaux, & apres les auoir loüez, les vns d'auoir
receu Ie fainét Baptefme, les autres de fe difpofer à

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RELATION OF r640

99

One Pagan alone-an arrogant man, but who had
formerly been more so- began to speak after these
three harangues. "I see clearly," said he, "that
they wish to drive us away. True, they do not
attack me so directly [29] as they do such a one, who
is my relative. But it must be known that one can-
not strike him without hurting me. They cry out
that he loves two women; have we not had the priv-
ilege for a long time to take as many of them as we
wish? If they think to make us go out by force, we
shall have to play at ' who shal1 fetch?' and the one
who loses the game shall give up. We listen every
day to the Fathers,-we do not disapprove what they
say; but we do not think that we can remember what
they teach, or observe what they recommend; we
must not be in haste, strength comes with age. I
did feel great distaste for what they preach,- I used
to make sport of them, I have quarreled with and
threatened them; I had nothing but a mouth at that
time, but now I am beginning to have ears; if they
are not yet so sensitive as yours, nevertheless, what
is said goes into them. As for me, if I were related
to the French as you are who have received their
belief, I would not be willing, however, to offend my
countrymen." The conclusion was that they would
think the matter over. Our Christians [30] did not
give up their point. They came to beg us to treat
secretly with Monsieur the Governor, that he might
prompt them to appoint some Captains to lead them
in their little affairs,- judging rightly that, the few
Captains being gained over, all the rest would readily
follow. Monsieur the Governor, who does not let
slip any occasion for extending the Faith and the
Kingdom of Jesus Christ, had the principal ones

100

LE
RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

Ie receuoir, apres les auoir exhortez à tenir ferme
dans la refolution qu'ils ont prHe, & qu'ils ont defia
mis en praétique de culti uer la terre & de s' arrefier.
Apres auoir recommandé aux Chrefiiens la confiance
en leurs mariages, il leur fit entendre qu'il feroit à
propos qu'ils eíleuffent quelques chefs pour les gou-
uerner, & que fi les femmes & la ieuneffe viuoient
dans l'independance, que ce n'efioit pas Ie moyen de
fe conferuer, ils promirent tous de s'affembler à S.
Iofeph fur ce fubjet.
A trois iours delà ils nous vindrent [3 I] trouuer en
nofire maHon, & nous demãderent comme ils proce-
deroient en cefie affaire, leur ayant expliqué comme
cela fe pourtoit faire par bul[le ]tins fecrets, ils con-
clurent tout fur l'heure qu'il falloit qu'ils entraffent
l'vn apres l'autre en la chambre de l'vn de nous pour
nommer au Pere qui feroit là trois des principaux
qu'ils iugeroient plus propres pour commander; cela
fe fifi fur l'heure, Ie Pere efcriuit leur voix fecrete-
ment, puis illeur de clara tout haut combien chacun
d'eux auoit de fuffrages, fans nommer ceux qui les
auoient donnez, les Chrefiiens l'emporterent par
deffus les Payês, Ieã Baptifie Etinechkadat n'entra
point dans l'eíleétion; car efiant Capitaine d'ex-
traétion chacun luy dõna Ie premier rang, vn feul
Payen approcha du nombre des voix qu'eurent les
Chrefiiens.
L'eleétion faite ils fe regardoient l'vn l'autre bien
efionnez, n'ayans iamais procedé en cefie façon, pas
vn ne prenoit la parole, en fin vn Chrefiien efiro-
piat d'vne iambe qui s'efioit trouué auec les autres
s'efcria, A quoy penfons nous? pourquoy perfonne
ne parle-il? voyla vofire [32] ouurage, c'efi nous qui

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called together; and - having praised them. some
for having received holy Baptism, others for prepar-
ing themselves to receive it; having exhorted them
to hold fast to the resolution they have taken, and
which they have already put into practice, to culti-
vate the land and to settle down j and having recom-
mended to the Christians constancy in their mar-
riages-he gave them to understand that it would
be well if they should elect some chiefs to govern
them; and that, if the women and the youth lived
independently, this was not the way to preserve them-
selves. They all promised to assemble at St. Joseph
to consider this matter.
Three days afterward they came [3 I] to our house
to see us, and asked us how they should proceed in
this affair. Having explained to them how it could
be done through secret votes, they immediately con-
cluded that they must enter, one after the other, the
chamber of one of us, to name, to the Father who
should be there, three of the principal men whom
they might consider best qualified to command. This
was done without delay; the Father wrote their
votes secretly, then he declared to them aloud how
many ballots each of them had, without naming those
who had given them. The Christians prevailed over
the Pagans. Jean Baptiste Etinechkavat did not
compete in the election, for, being a Captain by
descent, everyone gave him the first rank. One
Pagan alone approached the number of votes that
the Christians had.
The election over, they looked at one another in
great astonishment, never having proceeded in this
manner. No one broke the silence. Finally a Chris-
tian, crippled in one leg, who happened to be present

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

venons de conc1ure qu'il faut que tels & tels comman-
dent, où plufiofi c'efi Dieu qui la ainfi ordonné, it
a conduit nos voix & nos fuffrages, il ne refie plus
qu'à obeyr, puis fe tournant vers nous, ie voy bien
chacun regarde fon compagnon à qui commencera de
parler, mes Peres, nous dit-il, permettez nous de nous
retirer en quelque endroit hors de vofire maifon; afin
que nous puiffions nous confulter les vns & les autres,
fur ce que nous venons de faire, & qu'vn chacun dife
librement ce qu'il en penfe, on les congedia fur Ie
champ, eux s'efians affemblez en l'vne de leur
cabanes à part, ce boiteux pouffé comme ie croy, de
l'efprit de Dieu, parla d'vne fi gran de ferueur des
grandeurs de la Foy, & fur tout des biens de l'obe-
ïffance, qu'il les eftonna tous, ils parlementerent
entr' eux & conc1urent. Premierement que ce
pauure boiteux, qui parloit fi bien de Dieu, feroit
Capitaine des prieres, qu'il feroit efcouté, qu'il
apprendroit de nous tout ce qu'il pourroit des veri-
tez de nofire creance pour leur expliquer, [33] & que
chacun fe difpoferoit à la receuoir.
Secondement ils en deftinerent deux, qui tien-
droient la ieuneffe dans leur deuoir, l'vn efioit Chre-
íHen & l'autre encore Payen.
En troifiefme lieu ils conc1urent, que les trois qui
auoient eu plus de voix determineroient de leurs
affaires, auec lean Baptifie def-ja Capitaine, & que
ces nouueaux Magiftrats ne feroient qu'vn an en
charge, leur terme expiré qu' on procederoit à vne
nouuelle eí1eétion.
En quatriefme lieu, ils confirmerent la refolution
qu'ils auoient prife de cultiuer la terre, cela faiét ils
allerent trouuer Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur pour luy ren-

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with the others, exclaimed, " What are we thinking
about? Why does no one speak? This is your own
[32] work. It is we who have just concluded that
such and such persons should command, or rather it
is God who has so ordered it,- he has guided our
opinions and our ballots; nothing more remains but
to obey." Then, turning toward us, " I see plainly
that each one is looking at his companion to see who
will begin to speak. :Ivr y Fathers," he said to us,
" permit us to withdraw to some place outside of your
house, that we may consult among ourselves upon
what we have just done, and that each one may say
freely what he thinks of it." They were immedi-
ately dismissed, and, having assembled apart in one of
their cabins, this lame man, urged on, as I believe, by
the spirit of God, spoke with so great fervor of the
grandeurs of the Faith, and above all of the blessings
of obedience, that he astonished them all. They
parleyed among themselves, and concluded: First,
that this poor cripple, who spoke so well of God,
should be Captain of prayers; that he should be lis-
tened to; that he should learn from us what he could
of the truths of our belief, to explain these to them;
(33] and that each one should dispose himself to
receive it.
Secondly, they appointed two of them, who should
keep the young men to their duty; one was a Chris-
tian, and the other still a Pagan.
In the third place, they concluded that the three
who had received the most votes should decide their
affairs, with Jean Baptiste, already a Captain, and
that these new :Magistrates should be in charge only
one year; that, when their term expired, they sho:uld
proceed to a new election.

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[VOL. 18

dre raifon de leur procedé, & pour Ie fupplier d' au-
thorifer ceux qu'ils auoient eíleus, illeur promit de les
maintenir, & comme il fait rendre obeyffance à chaque
pere de famille dans fa maifon, qu'il tiendra la main
s'ils l'en requierent, que leurs compatriottes obeyffent
à ce qu'ils ont conclud par entr'eux. Quand tout fut
arrefté, la ieuneffe paffant l'arquebufe [34] fur l'ef-
paule à l'entour de la cabane, où les Capitaines auoient
efté et1eus, fit vne gentile falue pour les honnorer.
Le lendemain l'vn de nous interrogeant vn Payen
affez eíloigné de la foy s'il ne penfoit point à fe faire
inftruire. N'auez vous pas, dit-il, ouy ces coups
d'arquebufes qu'on tira hier au foir, ce bruit vous
affeuroit de Ia volonté que i'ay de croire en Dieu;
car nous conclumes tous qu'il falloit vous efcouter,
& embraffer vos façons de faire.
Comme tout cecy s'eftoit paffé feulement entre
Ies hommes, iIs refolurent d'affembler les femmes
pour les preffer de fe faire infiruire, & de receuoir
Ie fainét Baptefme, on les fit donc venir, & les ieunes
gens aum, Ie bon fut qu'on les prefcha fi bien, que
Ie iour fuiuant vne partie de ces pauures femmes ren-
contrant Ie Pere de Quen luy dirent, où eft vn tel
Pere, nous Ie venons prier de nous baptifer, hier les
hommes nous appellerent en Confeil, c'eft la pre-
miere fois que iamais Ies femmes y font entrées; mais
Us nous traiéterent fi rudement, [35] que nous en
eftions toutes eftonnées, c'efi vous autres nous di-
foient-ils, qui efies caufes de tous nos malheurs, c'eft
vous qui retenez les demõs parmy nous, vous ne
preffez point pour efire baptifées, il ne fe faut pas
contenter de demander vne feule fois cette faueur
aux Peres, iI les faut importuner, vous eftes paref-

1640]

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In the fourth place, they confirmed the resolution
they had made to cultivate the land. This done,
they went to see Monsieur the Governor to give him
an account of their proceedings, and to entreat him
to authorize those whom they had elected. He prom-
ised them that he would support these; and, as he
has obedience rendered to every head of a family in
his own house, that he would lend a helping hand if
they required it of him, to the end that their coun-
trymen should obey what they have mutually con-
cluded. When all was resolved upon, the young
men, passing, with arquebuses [34] upon their shoul-
ders, around the cabin where the Captains had been
elected, fired a neat salute in their honor.
The next day, when one of us asked a Pagan, who
was somewhat averse to the faith, if he were not
thinking of being instructed, " Did you not hear the
arquebus shots last evening?" said he. " That
noise assured you of my willingness to believe in
God; for we all concluded that we must listen to
you, and embrace your customs. "
As all this took place only among the men, they
resolved to call together the women, to urge them
to be instructed and to receive holy Baptism. Ac-
cordingly, they were brought together, and the young
people also. The best of it was that they preached
to them so well that the following day some of these
poor women, encountering Father de Quen, said to
him, " Where is such a Father? we have come to beg
him to baptize us. Yesterday the men summoned
us to a Council, the first time that women have ever
entered one; but they treated us so rudely [35] that
we were greatly astonished. 'It is you women,'
they said to us, ' who are the cause of all our misfor-

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feufes d'aller aux prieres, quant vous paffez deuant
la croix, vous ne la falués point, vous voulez eftre
independantes, or fçachez que vous 0 beïrez à vos
maris, & vous ieuneffe vous obeïrez à vos parens &
à nos Capitaines, & fi quelqu'vn y manque nous auons
conclud qu'on ne luy dõneroit point à manger. Voila
vne partie du fermon de ces nouueaux Predicateurs,
lefquels à mon aduis font d'autant plus eftonnans
qu'ils font nouueaux, & tres-eíloignez des façons d'a-
gir des Sauuages. Ie croy bien qu'ils n' entreront pas
tout d'vn coup dans cette grande foufmiffion qu'ils fe
promettent; mais il en fera de cet article comme des
autres, ils l'embrafferont petit à petit. Vne ieune
femme vn peu apres ces eíleétions, s' en eftant fuye
dans [36] Ie bois ne voulant pas obeyr à fon mary,
les Capitaines la firent chercher, & nous vindrent
demander fi l'ayant trouuée il ne feroit pas bon de
l'enchainer par vn pied, & fi ce feroit affez de la faire
ieufner quatre iours & quatre nuiéts fans manger,
pour penitence de fa faute.
II arriua au mefme temps vn traiét d'edification,
deux femmes aueugles, ayans ouy dire qu'il falloit
honorer la croix qui eftoit entre leurs cabanes & la
Chappelle, la cherchoient auec leurs baftons quant
elles venoient à la Meffe, & comme elle eft plantée
dans vne palliffade de pieux, ils paffoient leurs bas-
tons fur ces pieux, fe doutãt bien que cette croix eftant
plus haute, elles la rencontreroient, quelques vns de
nos François les voyans fi attentiues à chercher, s'ar-
refterent pour veoir ce qu'elles vouloient faire, apres
auoir bien fuyui la palliffade, enfin elles rencontrerent
la croix, & toutes deux luy firent vne grande reue-
renee, cela fit rire nos Francois, qui ne laifferent

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tunes,- it is you who keep the demons among us.
You do not urge to be baptized; you must not be sat-
isfied to ask this favor only once from the Fathers,
you must importune them. You are lazy about go-
ing to prayers; when you pass before the cross, you
never salute it; you wish to be independent. Now
know that you will obey your husbands; and you
young people, you will obey your parents and our
Captains; and, if any fail to do so, we have concluded
to give them nothing to eat.' " This is a part of the
sermon of these new Preachers, who, in my opinion,
are so much the more wonderful as they are new and
very far removed from the Savage methods of action.
I believe, indeed, that they will not all at once enter
into this great submissiveness that they promise
themselves; but it will be in this point as in others,
they will embrace it little by little. A young woman
having fled, shortly after these elections, into [36]
the woods, not wishing to obey her husband, the
Captains had her searched for, and came to ask us,
if, having found her, it would not be well to chain
her by one foot; and if it would be enough to make
her pass four days and four nights without eating,
as penance for her fault.
There occurred at the same time an edifying inci-
dent. Two blind women having heard that they
must honor the cross which was between their cabins
and the Chapel, felt for it with their staffs when they
came to Mass; and, as it is planted within a palisade
of stakes, they passed their staffs over these stakes,
wondering if, this cross being higher, they could
touch it. Some of our Frenchmen, seeing them so
earnestly searching, stopped to see what they in-
tended to do. After having carefully followed the

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pas d'efire bien ediffiez de la fimplicité de ces bonnes
gens.
En fuite de toutes ces conc1ufions, ils [37] fe mi-
rent à trauailler à leurs deferts, de verité ie croy que
leurs Anges fe refiouyffoient bien fort, les voyant fi
feruens dans vne occupation fi innocente & fi vtile,
pour Ie bien de leurs corps & de leurs ames, no fire
Reuerend Pere Superieur qui auoit paffé l' H yuer à
Kebec, voulut iouyr de cette confolation, il s'en vint
demeurer à S. Iofeph, & fit merueille pour les fecou-
rir. Nous sõmes extremement obligez à V. R. de
nous auoir enuoyé vn homme fi prudent, fi charitable
& fi zelé pour Ie falut des pauures Sauuages. Non-
obfiant les diuertiffemens de fa charge, il a tellement
aduancé en la cognoiffance de la langue qu'il fe faict
defia entendre, expliquant Ie catechifme auec fruiét,
il s'en alloit luy-mefme auec nos hommes fecourir
ces bons Neophites, leur donnant par fois à manger
à la fin de leur trauail, leur procurant du bled d'Inde
pour ferner, ie vous laiffe à penfer fi ces pauures
Sauuages efioient confolez, voyans ces grands aétes
de charité.
Quelques François voulans participer à ce bon
æuure, donnerent auffi [38] quelques iournées de
leurs hõmes pour aduancer cet ouurage, & ayder ces
pauures gens à femer leurs bleds, la graine de chari-
té, produit des fruiéts de gloire.
A mefme temps qu'on trauailIoit ça bas auec fer-
ueur, quelques Algonquins de l'Ifle faifoient Ie
mefme aux trois riuieres, Ie defert qu'ils ont fait, efi
l'vne des plus fortes chaifnes qui les puiffent arre-
fier, ils auoient donné parole à N. R. P. Superieur
qui les alIa vifiter, de fe faire infiruire, & de cultiuer

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palisade, they finally encountered the cross, and both
made a deep reverence to it. This made our French-
men laugh, yet they were great! y edified at the sim-
plicity of these good people.
In consequence of all these conclusions, they [37]
set to work at their meadows. In truth, I believe that
their Angels rejoiced greatly, seeing them so fervent
in an occupation so innocent, and so useful to the wel-
fare of their bodies and their souls. Our Reverend
Father Superior, who had passed the Winter at Kebec,
, wishing to enjoy this consolation, came to live at St.
Joseph, where he did wonders in aiding them. We
are extremely obliged to Your Reverence for having
sent us a man so prudent, so charitable, and so zeal-
ous for the salvation of the poor Savages. Notwith-
standing the distractions of his office, he has so.
advanced in the knowledge of the language that he
already makes himself understood, eXplaining the
catechism profitably. He went himself with our
men to succor these good Neophytes, sometimes giv-
ing them food at the end of their work, and procur-
ing Indian corn for them to plant. I leave you to
imagine whether these poor Savages were comforted,
at seeing these great acts of charity.
Some Frenchmen, wishing to participate in this
good work, also gave [38] a few days' labor of their
men to advance it, and to help these poor people
plant their corn. The seed of charity produces fruits
of glory.
At the same time that they were working down
here with fervor, some Algonquins of the Island
were doing the same thing at the three rivers. The
clearing they have made is one of the strongest chains
that can hold them there. They had given their

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

la terre, ie croy qu'ils la garderont, fi la crainte de
leurs ennemis ne les faiét quitter prife. Le Pere
Iacques Buteux & Ie Pere Charles Raimbault qui
trauaillent en cette refidence, les gaignent fortement
à nofire Seigneur.
Quand nos Sauuages eurent enfemencé leur champs,
ils nous diret qu'ils auoient deffein de defcendre à
Tadouffac, en partie pour aller en marchandife aux
peuples du Saguene; mais principalement pour inui-
ter Ie Capitaine de Tadouffac & fes gens, d'em-
braffer la foy & de venir demeurer aupres d'eux, &
pource [39] qu'en telles occafions les prefens parlent
plus que la bouche, ils amafferent quantité de porce-
laine, pour prefenter à ce Capitaine, nous y cãtribu-
afmes quelque chofe de noftre part, ils nous dirent
encore que fi ceux de Tadouffac fe rangeoient auec
eux, qu'ils iroient inuiter les autres nations plus
eíloignées à faire Ie mefme; afin adiouftoient ils que
nous n'ayons tous qu'vn Dieu, & qu'vne façõ de faire,
nos paroles difoient les Chreftiens, ne feront point
nouuelles; car Ie bruit de noftre creance fe refpend
defia par tout, ha! qu'il eft vray que, Deus 1l0jler ignÙ
con.fumens ejl, que Dieu eft vn feu confommant, & que
Nemo ejl qui.fe ab.fcondat à calore eius, qu'il n'y a mar-
bre qu'il n'echauffe. Euffay-ie iamais creu, que des
Barbares nés dans la cruauté, nourris de chair hu-
maine, fuffent deuenus Predicateurs de Iefus-Chrift,
ie puis affeurer que ie ne fçache perfonne qui leur ayt
donné ces penfées, d'aller inuiter les autres nations
de croire en Dieu, c' eft vn pur ouurage du fainét
Efprit, & afin qu'on voye que c'eft l'efprit. Qui
contz"net omnia & replet orbem terrarum .fcz"entz"am [4 0 ]
habens vods. V oyci ce qu'il a fait dire aux Sauuages

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word to Our Reverend Father Superior, who went to
visit them, that they would receive instruction, and
would cultivate the land; I believe that they will
keep it, if the fear of their enemies does not cause
them to let go the prize. Father Jacques Buteux
and Father Charles Raimbault, who labor in this resi-
dence, exert a strong influence upon them for our
Lord.
When our Savages had planted their fields, they
told us that they intended to go down to Tadoussac,
partly to trade with the peoples of the Saguene, but
principally to invite the Captain of Tadoussac and
his people to embrace the faith and to come to live
near them; and since [39J on such occasions presents
speak louder than words, they collected a quantity
of porcelain to present to this Captain. We con-
tributed something thereto, on our part. They told
us, besides, that if the people of Tadoussac ranged
themselves on their side, they would go and invite
the other more distant nations to do the same, "In
order," they added, " that we may all have only one
God, and one way of doing things." "Our words, ,.
said the Christians, " will not be new, for the report
of our belief is already spread everywhere." Ah,
how true it is that Deus noster zgnÙ consumens est, that
God is a consuming fire; and that Nemo est qui se
abscondat à calore ejus, that there is no marble that it
does not heat. Would I ever have believed that
Barbarians born in cruelty, and fed upon human
flesh, would become Preachers of Jesus Christ? I
can assure you that I do not know anyone who has
given them these ideas of going to invite other
nations to believe in God,-it is purely the work of
the holy Spirit; and, In order that it may be seen

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des trois Riuieres. Quelques canots d' Attikamegues
(ce font peuples qui habitent ordinairement au deffus
du fieuue des trois Riuieres) efiãs defcendus vers nos
François, les Algonquins les inuiterent de venir de-
meurer auec eux pour auoir la cognoiffance de Dieu,
leur difant mille biens du fecours que nous leur ren-
dons felon noftre petit pouuoir, ces nouueaux hofies
ne repartirent rien à cela; mais s'en allans trouuer Ie
Pere Buteux, ils luy tefmoignerent qu'ils auoient vn
grand defir d'eftre infiruiéts, & de cultiuer la terre,
non pas auec les Algonquins, à raifon qu'ils efioient
differens d'humeur & de langue, Ie Pere leur deman-
da s'ils ne voudroient pas bien choifir vne place, vne
iournée de chemin ou enuiron, dans Ie fieuue Meta-
ber
tin, que nous appel1õs les trois Riuieres, & que
là deux Peres de no fire Cõpagnie les iroient inftruire,
helas! firent ils, c'eft bien ce que nous fouhaitte-
rions. V oicy les propres termes de la lettre du Pere
Buteux, qui nous refcriuit ces bonnes nouuelles,
affeure toy, me [41J dit Ie Capitaine de cette nation,
que ie feray ce que ie pourray enuers mes gens; afin
que cela fe faffe, tu en fçauras des nouuelles deuant
l' Automne, afin qu'on fe puiffe difpofer pour defer-
ter au Printemps, prends courage, moy & mon oncle
que voila parlerons fortement de cet affaire, cet oncle
dont il parloit & qui eftoit là prefent, efi vn bon
vieillard que ie baptifay ran paffé, & que Ie fieur
Marfolet nomma Nicolas, ie luy auois dit qu'il taf-
chafi de fe venir confeffer au Printemps, il n'y a pas
manqué, il a rompu expres Ie deffein qu'il auoit d'al-
ler plus haut, cet homme eft fort affectionné à la
fainéte Foy, ce qui luy donne vne gran de con fiance
en Dieu, dont en voicy vn effeét qu'il me raconta lors

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that it is the spirit, Quz. contÙzet omnia et replet orbem
terrarum sâentz"am [40J habens voâs, behold what it
has caused the Savages of the three Rivers to say.
Some canoes of Attikamegues (these are tribes that
live ordinarily above the river of the three Riv-
ers) ha ving come down towards our French, the
Algonquins invited them to come and live with them,
in order to obtain a knowledge of God,- telling them
a thousand good things about the help that we ren-
der them according to our limited power. These
new guests answered nothing to this; but, going to
see Father Buteux, they testified to him that they
had a great desire to be instructed and to cultivate
the land,- but not with the Algonquins, because
they were of different natures and language. The
Father asked them if they would not like to choose
a place, distant one day's journey or thereabout, on
the river Metaberoutin, which we call the three
Rivers, and that there two Fathers of our Society
would go to instruct them. "Ah," they replied,
"that is just what we would like." Here are the
exact words of the letter of Father Buteux, who
wrote us this good news: '" Rest thee assured,' [4 I J
the Captain of this nation said to me, ' that I shall
do what I can with my people, in order that this may
be accomplished; thou shalt hear news of it before
Autumn, so that arrangements may be made to clear
the land in the Spring. Take courage! I and my
uncle, whom you see, will speak urgently of this
matter.' This uncle of whom he spoke and who was
present there, is a good old man whom I baptized
last year, and whom sieur Marsolet named Nicholas.
I had told him that he should try to come and con-
fess in the Spring. He did not fail to do so, purposely

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

que ie Ie voulois congedier, apres s'eftre confeffé,
attend encor vn petit me dit-il, ie te veux dire ce
que m'a fait nofire Pere, c'eft ainfi qu'il appelloit
Dieu, les neiges n' ont pas efté bonnes cette année, ce
qui a efié caufe qu'à la fin de l'Hyuer ie me fuis
trouué vne fois bien en peine, ie n'auois rien à man-
ger, & ie n'efperois pas d'en trouuer auec mes iambes
defia vieilles, [42J veu que de meilleurs chaffeurs que
moy perdoient courage, ie m'addreffay pour lors,
comme ie fay en toutes mes neceffités à no fire Pere,
& luy dis i'efpere en toy, tu és Ie maifire de tout,
ayde nous, fais ce qu'il te plaira, quelque têps apres
ma priere, ie rencontray inopinement deux Orignaux,
doni i'en tuay vn fur Ie champ, & donnay charge à
de ieunes gens d'aller tuer l'autre, ce qu'ils firent,
ainfi i'efpere que celuy qui efi bon me logera au ciel
auec luy. Ie puis dire en verité que Ie P. R[a]im-
bault & moy voyans comme ce bon homme s' eftoit fi
bien conferué dans les forefts & parmy des Barbares,
n'ayant eu que fort peu d'infiruétion, n'admirafmes
la bõté de Dieu; Ie fainét Efprit eft vn grand maiftre.
Nos Algonquins font allez en traiéte vers vne na-
tion qui fe nomme les Vtakd'amivek [sc.
tak
'ami-

ekJ, ceux-cy traiétent auec d'autres qui viennent du
Nord, & qui s'appellent Papiraga
'ek, ils ont vn ren-
dez-vous, où ils s'affemblêt au mois d'Aoufi, il fait
s'y froid au pays de ceux-cy que les arbres ne vien-
nent pas à iufie grandeur, pour donner de l'efcorce
fuffifante pour [43J leur faire des canots, qu'ils achep-
tent des autres peuples, i'efpere que la Foy fera por-
tée dans ces nations, qu'on pourra attirer & arrefier
ça-bas auec Ie temps. Ce font les paroles du Pere,
Dieu Ie veille exaucer.

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breaking off his plan of going farther up. This man
takes a deep interest in the holy Faith, and this
gives him great confidence in God, of which here is
one result that he related to me when I would have
dismissed him. After having confessed, he said to
me, ' Wait a little longer; I wish to tell thee what
our Father has done for me' - it is th us he called God-
'The snows have not been favorable this year, which
caused me once at the end of the Winter to be in
great distress; I had nothing to eat, and I did not
expect to find any game with my legs already old,
[42J seeing that better hunters than I had lost cour-
age. I addressed myself then, as I do in all my ne-
cessities, to our Father, and said to him, "My hope
is in thee, thou art the master of all; help us; do
what shall please thee." Some time after my pray-
er, I encountered unexpectedly two Moose,- one of
which I killed immediately, and charged some young
men to go and kill the other one, which they did.
So I hope that he who is good will lodge me in
heaven with him.' I can say truly that Father
R[aJimbault and I, seeing how this good man had
been preserved in the forests and among Barbarians,
though he had had but very little instruction, admired
the goodness of God. The holy Ghost is a great
master.
"Our Algonquins have gone to trade in the vicin-
ity of a nation called the Outakw'amiwek. 10 The
latter trade with others who come from the North,
and who are called Papiragaw'ek. ll They have a
rendezvous where they assemble in the month of
August. It is so cold in the country of the latter
that the trees do not attain the proper size to furnish
them bark enough for [43J making their canoes,

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LES RELATIONS DES JÉSUITE'S

[VOL. 18

I'ay defia dit, qu'vne piece de cent efcus eft capable
d'arrefter & de conuertir toute vne famille, par vne
petite maifonnette qu' on luy dreffe, partie à la Fran-
çoife, partie à la façon des Sauuages, pleuft à Dieu
que la fuperfiuité des baftimens de France, fut
conuertie en ces petits edifices, & que la deuotion
d'arrefter & fixer ces pauures peuples, entraft dans
le cæur des puiffans du monde. Qui reduit vne
famine conuertit tous fes defcendans, & fait vn petit
peuple Chreftien.

1640]

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which they buy from other tribes. I hope the Faith
will be carried into these nations, that we may be
able to attract and locate them down here in the
course of time. " These are the words of the Father;
may God hearken to them.
I have already said that the sum of a hundred écus
is sufficient to hold and convert an entire family, by
means of a little house that is built for it, partly
in the French way, partly in the fashion of the
Savages. Would to God that the superfluity of
buildings in France were converted into these little
edifices; and that zeal to render these poor peoples
permanently settled would enter the hearts of the
mighty ones of the earth. He who civilizes one family
converts all its descendants, and makes a miniature
Christian people.

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LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

[44] CHAPITRE IV.

DES SAUUAGES BAPTISÉS, & DES BONNES ACTIONS DE
CETTE NOUUELLE EGLISE.

N OUS auons baptifé cette année enuiron douze
cens Sauuages, tant aux Hurons qu'icy bas,
ceux qui ont receu ce Sacrement és refidences
de Kebec, de S. Iofeph, & des trois Riuieres, font la
plufpart perfonnes adultes, qui ont embraffé la Foy
de Iefus-Chrift. dans vne bonne fanté, apres vne fuffi-
fante inftruétion qu' on leur a donnée, ils viuent
maintenant dans vne ioye & dans vne innocence tres-
aymable. Ie ne m'arrefieray pas à d'efcrire les par-
ticularités de leurs baptefmes, ie me contenteray de
coucher quelques vnes de leurs bonnes aétions, &
des bons fentimens que Dieu leur donne. C'eft main-
tenant qu' on peut dire que, Samarz"a recipit Verbum
[45] Dez", qu'il n'y a point de barbarie à l'efpreuue
des bontés de Dieu, les ames fainétes qui ont arroufé
ces nouuelles plantes de leurs larmes, & qui les ont
fait germer & pouffer par leurs fainctes prieres, &
par leurs fecours chari tables: goufterõt auec plaifir
ces fruiéts du fang de Iefus-Chrifi, que ie leur pre-
fente de tout mon cæur.
N ous auons done en la refidence de fainét Iofeph,
vne nouuelle Eglife de Sauuages, qui fe raffemblent
petit à petit en ce lieu là, tant pour efire inftruiéts,
que pour cultiuer la terre. N ous en auõs vn autre
aux trois Riuieres, qui pour eftre plus ieune n'a pas

1640]

RELA TION OF I640

119

[44] CHAPTER IV.

OF THE SAVAGES BAPTIZED, AND THE GOOD DEEDS
IN THIS NEW CHURCH.

W E have baptized this year about twelve hun-
dred Savages, including those among the
Hurons as well as those down here. Those
who have received this Sacrament at the residences
of Kebec, St. Joseph, and the three Rivers, are for
the most part adults, who have embraced the Faith
of Jesus Christ in good health, after they have been
given sufficient instruction. They are living now in
most delightful happiness and innocence. I will not
stop to describe the particulars of their baptisms,
but will content myself with mentioning some of
their good actions and some of the good sen timen ts
that God gives them. It is now that we can say,
Samaria recipz"t Verbum [45] Dei, there is no barbarian
condition that is proof against God's goodness. The
pious souls who have watered these new plants with
their tears, and who have made them germinate and
grow by their holy prayers and by their kindly assist-
ance, will taste with pleasure these fruits of the
blood of Jesus Christ, which I present to them with
all my heart.
We have, then, at the residence of saint Joseph, a
new Church of Savages, who are gradually collecting
in that place, both to be instructed and to cultivate
the land. We have another at the three Rivers,
which, being younger, is not as yet so strong. The

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LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

encor tant de force. Les principaux Sauuages d'icy-
bas íont defia Chreftiens, les autres afpirent à cette
faueur, c'eft vne coníolation bien douce de veoir la
candeur de ces nouueaux enfans de Dieu.
Premierement il n'y a nulle difficulté de porter ces
bons Neophites, à frequëter les Sacremens les iours
qu'on defire qu'ils s'en approchent, vn [des] Peres s'en
va la veille par les cabanes, ou bien leur dit aux pri-
eres, & à l'inftruétion qu'on leur [46] fait tous les
íoirs en la Chappelle, où ils s'affemblent, demain ne
manqués pas de vous venir confeffer, & ceux à qui
on accord era la íainéte Communion la receuront auec
reuerence, ho! reípondent-ils, cela fait tenez vous
prefts fi vous voulez des quatre heures du matin; car
vous ne manquerez pas de voir des Sauuages à vofire
porte, tous prefts de íe confeffer, cette 0 beyffance eft
elle pas bien aymable?
Comme on leur recommande de ne laiffer croupir
dans leur cæur aucune offence qu'ils iugent tant íoit
peu griefue; i'en ay veu s'en venir dés Ie point du
iour en noftre maHon, & dire à l'vn de nous, mon
Pere, mon cæur eft mechant, i'ay faché Dieu, i'ay
fait telle offence, dHant tout haut leur peché, par
exemple, i'ay fait vn feftin à tout manger, Ie Diable
ma trompé, ie me viens confeffer, ie n'auray point
de repos que ie n'aye vomy la malice de mon ame;
s'eftans confeffez ils s'en vont íoulagez, íe croyans
purifiez dans Ie íang de Ieíus-Chrift qui leur eft
appliqué par ce Sacrement, dont its conçoiuent fort
bien la vertu.
[47] II Y en a qui ne manquent point de íe con-
feffer tous les huiét iours, & de íe communier autant
de fois qu'on leur permet, car ils ne Ie font point
íans congé.

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principal Savages down here are already Christians,
and the others aspire to this grace. It is a very
sweet consolation to see the candor of these new chil-
dren of God.
First, there is no difficulty in inducing these good
Neophytes to frequent the Sacraments on the days
when they are desired to approach them. One of
the Fathers goes through the cabins, the evening
before, or says to them at prayers, and at the in-
struction that is [46] given them every evening, in
the Chapel where they assemble, "Do not fail to
come to-morrow to confess; and those to whom the
holy Communion shall be granted, shall receive it
with reverence." Ho! they respond. This done,
hold yourselves in readiness, if you please, at four
o'clock in the morning, for you will be sure to see
Savages at your door, all ready to confess. Is not
this obedience very pleasing?
When they were urged to allow no offense, how-
ever insignificant they might consider it, to stagnate
in their hearts, I have seen them come to our house
at the break of day, and say to one of us, " My Father,
my heart is wicked; I have offended God; I have
committed such an offense, " naming their sin aloud,-
for example, "I have made an eat-all feast; the
Devil has deluded me. I am going to confess; I
shall have no rest until I have vomited forth the
malice of my soul. " Having confessed, they go
away relieved, believing themselves purified in the
blood of Jesus Christ, which is applied to them
through this Sacrament, the virtue of which they
very well comprehend.
[47] There are some who do not fail to confess
every week, and to receive communion as many

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l' ay defia remarqué aux Relations precedentes,
que plufieurs quittent leur ieu, ou leur difner, ou leur
fouper, c'efi à dire leur manger, quand on les appelle
aux prieres où à l'infiruétion qui fe fait tous les iours
vne fois ou deux à l' Eglife, quand ils ne font point
à la chaffe.
Vn de nos François efiant venu certain iour de
grand matin à Sillery, & ayãt ietté les yeux par les
cabanes, vit encor les Sauuages tous endormis, là
deffus on fonne la premiere Meffe, laquelle affez
fouuent fe dit deuant que Ie Soleil fe leue. En vn
moment il vit la plufpart des Chrefiiës debouts, & en
vn tour de main s' efians en ueloppez de leurs cou-
uertes qui leur feruët de robbes & de lids, ils s'ë vin-
drët droit à la Chappelle en cet equipage fans mot
dire, ce bon homme qui les regardoit refia tout efion-
né les ayant plufiofi veu en la Maifon de Dieu qu'vn
François ne fe feroit habillé, la plufpart [48] des
Chrefiiens font ialoux d'entendre tous les iours la
Meffe, cet auãtage qu'ils ont par deffus les Payens de
pouuoir affifier à ces myfieres facrez les confole
fort.
Nous auons efié long-temps en doute fi nous bap-
tizerions les ieunes gens prefis de fe marier deuant
qu'ils ayent pris party. L'experience nous fait veoir
que la grace du Baptefme opere puiffamment dans
vn cæur, la loy qui deffend au Chrefiien de s'allier
d'vne infidelle eft fi bien receuë parmy ces bonnes
gens, que fi vn ieune homme Pay en recherche vne
fille Chrefiienne, pour l'ordinaire il s'addreiIera à
nOllS pour efire infiruit, & pour receuoir Ie Baptefme
deuant que parler à la fille, car il fçait bien qu'elle
Ie mefprifera comme vn infidele, où fi elle a quelque

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times as they are permitted, for they do not do so
without leave.
I have already remarked in the preceding Rela-
tions that many quit their games, or their dinner or
supper,-that is to say, their food,-when they are
called to prayers, or to the instruction that is given
once or twice every day in the Church, when they
are not away hunting.
One of our Frenchmen having come to Sillery one
day, early in the morning, and having glanced
through the cabins, sawall the Savages still sleep-
ing. At that moment the bell was rung for the first
Mass, which is often said before the Sun rises. In
a moment, he saw the greater part of the Christians
upon their feet; and in the turn of one's hand they
had wrapped themselves in their blankets, which
serve as garments and as beds; they came straight to
the Chapel, in this costume, in complete silence.
The good man who was looking at them was greatly
astonished at seeing them in the House of God
before a Frenchman would have been dressed. The
majority [48] of the Christians are anxious to hear
Mass every day. The advantage they have over the
Pagans, of being able to attend these sacred mys-
teries, consoles them greatly.
We have been long in doubt whether we should
baptize young people of marriageable age before
they have made their choice. Experience has shown
us that the grace of Baptism operates powerfully in
a heart. The law which forbids the Christian to
ally himself with an unbeliever is so well received
among these simple people that, if a young Pagan is
seeking a Christian girl, he will usually apply to us
to be instructed and to receive Baptism before speak-

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bonne inclination pour luy elle ne manquera pas de
luy dire qu'elle ne fe peut pas marier fans Ie confen-
tement du Pere qui l'aura baptifée ou inftruiéte.
Nous viuons maintenant dans vne profonde paix,
la Foy eft refpectée des Payens mefme, les nouueaux
Chreftiens font dans la ferueur, il eft vray que Dieu
[49] a efprouué ces pauures peuples par de grandes
calamitez, mais comme la nuiét retourne apres Ie
iour, & l'Hyuer apres l'Efté, ie m'attend bien qu'il
s'eíleuera quelque tempefie apres cefie bonace. Ie
me perfuade quafi que ces bourrafques prouiendront
des mariages faits à la façon des Chreftiens, les Sau-
uages font depuis plufieurs fiec1es dans la poffeffion
d'vne pleine liberté brutale changeans de femlnes
quand illeur plaifi, n'en prenant qu'vne ou plufieurs,
felon leur paffion, maintenant qu'ils fe font Chrefiiens,
il faut qu'ils baiffent Ie col fous Ie ioug d'vn mariage,
qui peut eftre leur fëblera vn iour bien rude, il eft
vray qu'il ne s'eft iamais trouué au monde d'alliances
plus fainétes & plus parfaictes, & plus propre pour
conferuer l' amitié, que celles des Chreftiens; mais
cela n' empefche pas que les mariés tribulatz"onem carllzS
habeant, ne foient affez fouuent troublés dans leurs
mefnages, & que ce ne foit vne efpece de martyr,
d'eftre lié infeparablement auec vn homme ou vne
femme, qui aura plus d'âpreté qu'vn [50] chardon,
& moins de douceur qu'vne épine.
Or ce n'eft pas que iufques à prefent nous ayons
grand subiet de nous plaindre de nos N eophites en
ce point, au contraire, ie dirois volõtiers que l' amour
que fe portent ceux que nous auons mariés en face
de l'Eglife, apres la publication des banes [sc. bans],
& Ie defir qu'ils ont de perfeuerer iufques à leur

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ing to the girl; for he knows very well that she will
scorn him as an unbeliever, or, if she be well inclined
toward him, she will not hesitate to tell him that she
cannot marry him without the consent of the Father
who may have baptized or instructed her.
We are living now in profound peace; the Faith
is respected even by the Pagans, and the new Chris-
tians are fervent. True, God [49] has tried these
poor people by great calamities; and, as night returns
after day, and Winter after Summer, I am expecting
with certainty that he will raise up some storm
after this calm. I am almost persuaded that these
tempests will arise from the marriages made in the
Christian way. The Savages have been for many
ages in possession of a complete brutal liberty, chang-
ing wives when they pleased,- taking only one or
several, according to their inclinations. N ow that
they have become Christians, they must bend their
heads under the yoke of single marriage, which per-
haps will, some day, seem to them very hard. It is
true that no alliances have ever been found in the
world more holy and more perfect, and better adapted
for preserving affection, than those of Christians.
But that does not prevent that those who are married
trz"bulatz"onem carnzS habeant, and be often annoyed in
their households, and that it should be a sort of
martyrdom, to be inseparably bound to a man or a
woman who may have more sharpness than a [50]
thistle, and less softness than a thorn bush.
N ow it is not that, hitherto, we have great reason
to complain of our Neophytes in this matter. On
the contrary, I can readily say that the love which
inspires those who have married with the rites of
the Church, after the publication of the banns, and

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LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

mort dans cette amitié, eft vn miracle de la Religion
Chreftienne, it eft bien vray que deuant que de les
baptifer, & par apres deuant que de les marier, nous
leur faifons fortement apprehender les loix du ma-
riage, leur faifant voir l'importance qu'il y a d'obeïr
aux ordonnances de Dieu & de fon Eglife, & la dif-
grace qu'ils encourreroient de choquer l'authorité de
Monfieur Ie Cheualier de Montmagny noftre Gouuer-
neur, lequel ne manqueroit pas de faire punir feu ere-
ment ceux qui rebuteroient leurs femmes pour en
prendre d'autres.
Veritablement Dieu nous a fauorifé d'vn homme
felon fon cæur, tres zelé [5 I] pour fa gloire & pour
fon feruice, comme il voit l'importance qu'il y a
d' authorifer ce Sacrement, & de Ie rêdre venerable
parmy ces peuples, il defira que la ceremonie de trois
mariages que nous auons publiés à Sillery, fe paffât
à Kebec, & voulut luy mefme faire vn magnifique
fefiin à tous les conuiés aux nopces, Madame de la
Pelletrie & quelques autres Dames Françoifes prirent
charge d' accommoder les époufées, & pour les hom-
mes on les fit richement veftir, portans les dons pre-
cieux, que fa Maiefté fit l'an paffé à quelques vns de
nos Sauuages, les principaux de nos François les con-
duirent auec honneur iufques à l'Eglife, ayant receu
Ie Sacrement de mariage, ils les menerent en vne
fale, où ils furent tres-bien traictés. Les Sauuages
voyant cet appareil eftoient rauis, nos François bien
edifiés, & les cieux prenoient plaifir à vne aétion qui
fe faifoit pour la gloire de celuy qui les a baftis.
Quelques Montagnets & Algonquins, non conuiés
aux nopces, regardoient ces ceremonies auec eftonne-
ment, & leurs femmes voyant les ieunes filles & [52]

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their desire to persevere until death in this affection-
ate relation, is a miracle of the Christian Religion.
It is indeed true that before baptizing them, and
afterwards before marrying them, we clearly ex-
plain to them the laws of marriage, showing them
the importance of obeying the ordinances of God
and of the Church, and the disgrace they incur by
clashing with the authority of Monsieur the Cheva-
lier de Montmagny, our Governor, who would not
hesitate to have those severely punished who should
discard their wives in order to take others.
Truly, God has favored us with a man after his
own heart, very zealous [5 I] for his glory and for
his service. As he saw the importance of authoriz-
ing this Sacrament, and of making it reverenced
among these peoples, he desired that the ceremony
for three marriages that we had published at Sillery
should take place at Kebec, and wished himself to
make a magnificent feast for all those invited to the
nuptials. Madame de la Pelletrie and some other
French Ladies took charge of dressing the brides;
and as for the men, we had them richly clothed,
wearing the precious gifts which his Majesty made
last year to some of our Savages. Our leading
Frenchmen conducted them with honor to the Church,
and, after they had received the Sacrament of mar-
riage, took them into a hall, where they were hand-
somely entertained. The Savages, when they saw
this ceremoniousness, were enraptured, and our
French people greatly edified; and the heavens took
delight in an act which was done for the glory of
him who built them. Some Montagnais and Algon-
quins, not invited to the wedding, regarded these
ceremonies with astonishment; and their wives, see-

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femmes qu'on alloit marier reuefiuës des petites
richeffes du pays, dont ils font grande eftime, fe di-
foient l'vne à l'autre, on cognoift bien que ces épou-
íées ne font point orphelines, que leurs peres ne font
pas morts, elles ne feroient pas fi braues fi elle
n' auoient de bons parens, loüant par cette admiration
Ie íoin qu'on a de ces nouuelles plantes du iardin de
l' Eglife. I'entendy de mes oreilles ces paroles fortir
de la bouche de quelques vns de nos François, nous
n' attendions pas cette benediétion de nos iours, en
verité c'eft vne confolation bien fenfible, de voir vn
Barbare eí1eué dans la liberté qu'ont les ames [sc. ânes]
íauuages, fe captiuer doucement fous Ie ioug de
Iefus-Chrift noftre Sauueur.
L'vn de ces mariés eftoit Vincent Xauier, fils de
deffunét François Xauier N enaskvmato, ieune homme
âgé d'enuiron vingt deux ans, fe voyant priué de fon
pere & de ía belle mere, emportés de l'epidemie com-
mune, nous vint dire qu'il auoit befoin du fecours
d'vne femme, qui luy fes raquettes & fes robes, bref
qui prit garde à íon mefnage, i'ay de [53] l'affeétion,
difoit-il, pour vne ieune fille, ie vous prie d'affembler
mes parens, & de considerer fi elle m'eft propre, fi
vous iugés que ce foit mon bien ie l'efpouferay,
finon ie fuiuray voftre confeil: fes parens & fes amis
conclurent que ce party luy eftoit fortable. Or
comme l' Aduent approchoit, nous luy difmes qu'à la
verité il fe pouuoit bien marier en ce fainét temps,
mais que les plus fages Chreftiens ne Ie faifoit pas,
ouy, mais difoit-il, Ie temps me preffe d' aller à la
chaffe, vous me remettez à quarante iours d'icy, qui
me fera mes raquettes, priez en vofire promife, luy
difmes nous, il fe mit à rire, ie me feray refpondit-

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ing the young girls and [52J women who were about
to be married arrayed in the small treasures of the
country, which they greatly value, said to one an-
other, "One could easily tell that these brides are
not orphans, that their fathers are not dead; that
they would not be so fine if they did not have good
parents, " praising by this admiration the care that
is taken of these new plants in the garden of the
Church. I heard with my own ears these words
come from the lips of some of our French people,-
" We did not expect this blessing in our time; in
truth, it is a very touching consolation to see a Bar-
barian, reared in the freedom of the wild asses, bring
himself meekly under the yoke of Jesus Christ, our
Savior. "
One of these bridegrooms was Vincent Xavier, son
of the deceased François Xavier N enaskumato, a
young man about twenty-two years old. Finding
himself deprived of his father and stepmother, who
were carried off in the general epidemic, he came to
tell us that he needed the help of a woman to make
his snowshoes and c1othes,-in brief, to take care of
his household. "I am [53J in love with a young
girl," said he; " I beg you to call my relatives to-
gether, and to consider whether she is suitable for
me. If you decide that it is for my good, I will
marry her; if not, I will follow your advice." His
relatives and friends decided that this choice would
be a suitable one for him. Now as Advent was draw-
ing near, we told him that, in truth, he could very
properly marry at this holy season, but that the most
prudent Christians did not do it. "Yes," said he,
" but I am in a hurry to go hunting. If you put me
off until forty days hence, who will make my snow-

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LES RELA TI01VS DES jjÇ:SUITES

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iI, gauffer de moy: car ce n' eft pas la couftume de
noftre nation d'emploier les filles deuant leur ma-
riage, mais il n'importe fit iI, quoy que Ie terme que
vous me donnez foit bien long, il vaut mieux attendre
& fe mettre en danger d'eftre moqué que de ne pas
vous obeïr, ce bon ieune homme attendit, & fe com-
porta auec vne innocence vrayement Chreftienne pen-
dant tout ce tëps-là, fe confeffant fort fouuent, pour
fe [54] fortifier contre les embufches de fathan, qui
ne dort pas en telles occafions.
Ie ne fçay fi ce que ie vay dire, ne fera point trou-
ué ridicule en voftre France; mais il eft icy & dans
l'innocence & dans la bien-feance. Les Sauuages
qui vont à l'entour de nos habitations, s'addreffent à
nous pour tous leurs petits negoces, comme feroient
des enfans à leurs peres, ils viennent par fois deman-
der s'ils iront chaffer en tel endroit, s'ils prendront
medecine, s'ils feront fuerie, s'ils danceront, s'ils fe
marieront, les ieunes gens nous viennent trouuer en
particulier & nous prient de leurs trouuer femme, ou
de parler pour eux à celles qu'ils defirent époufer,
quelques femmes veufues, & mefme encor quelques
filles nous prient en fecret de leurs trouuer mary, fe
confians plus en nous qu' à ceux de leur nation, & nous
difent fort bien que nous agiffions comme de noftre
part, fans faire femblant qu'ils nous ont parlé, Ie tout
gift à f e com porter en forte dans ces offices de cha-
rité, qu'eux mefmes fe lient & qu'ils concluent leurs
affaires fans nous engager, finon à les [55J conduire
dans les voyes des enfans de Dieu. Les Payens
mefme qui ont quelque inclination à la Foy, fe com-
portent ainfi enuers nous.
II y a quelque temps qu'vn ieune Sauuage non

1640]

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131

shoes? " "Ask your promised bride to do it," we
said to him. He began to laugh, and replied, " I
shall make myself a laughingstock, for it is not the
custom in our country to employ girls before their
marriage; but it does not matter," he continued;
cc although the term you set me is a very long one,
it is better to wait, and to risk being made sport of,
than not to obey you." This good young man wait-
ed, and behaved with a truly Christian innocence
during all that time,- confessing very often, in order
[54] to fortify himself against the snares of satan,
who does not sleep at such times.
I do not know if what I am going to say will not
be considered absurd in your France, but it is looked
upon here as both innocent and proper. The Sav-
ages who come about our settlements apply to us in
all their little affairs, as children would to their fa-
thers. They come sometimes to ask if they shall go
hunting in such a place, if they shall take medicine,
if they shall have a sweat, if they shall dance, if they
shall marry. The young men come to see us in
private and ask us to find them wives, or to speak for
them to those w horn they desire to marry; some
widows, and even some young girls, ask us secretly
to find them husbands, confiding in us more than in
those of their own nation, and tell us emphatically
that we are to act as if on our own account, without
making it appear that they had spoken to us. The
whole point lies in so behaving in these offices of
charity that they themselves become intimate and
conclude the affair without involving us, except in
[55] leading them in the paths of the children of
God. Even the Pagans who are well disposed towards
the Faith behave thus toward us.

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LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[V OL. 18

encor baptifé, nous fit demander par quelques vns de
fes parens Chrefiiens, fi nous trouuerions bon qu'il
fe mariât à vne fille qu'il nommoit. Or comme ny
l'vn ny l'autre n'efioient pas Chrefiiens, nous ref-
pondifmes que nous n'entrions point dans ces co-
gnoiffances, & que nous ne nous meílions point des
manages, finon pour prendre garde qu'ils fe traiétent
à la façon des Chreftiens quand on eft baptifé, ce
ieune homme ne paffa pas outre. L'ayant rencontré
à quelques iours de delà, ie luy demanday s'il n'e-
fioit point marié, ie n' ay garde fit-il, de me marier
fans vofire confentement, vous efies mon pere, c'eft
à vous non feulement de me dire fi vous trouués bons
que ie me marie, mais encor de m' affigner Ie iour
que ie Ie dois faire, ouy, mais luy dy-ie, vous n'efies
pas Chreftien? ie ne Ie fuis pas encor repartit-il, mais
i'ay gran de enuie de l'efire, & [56] celIe que ie
recherche à la mefme volonté, c'efi pourquoy ie vous
fupplie de nous baptifer tous deux deuant noftre ma-
riage, nous attendrons tant qu'il vous plaira, fi nous
ne fommes pas encor affez infiruiéts. Les ames
fainétes, qui prient pour la conuerfion de ces peuples
& qui fe voient exaucées, pourront elles ouïr parler
de cette candeur fans que leurs cæurs s'amolliffent
ou fe fonde dãs Ie cæur de Dieu. Comme nous voy-
ons que noftre Seigneur va beniffant les mariages de
ces bons Neophites, nous baptifafmes ces deux ieunes
gens, bien inftruiéts, & puis les mariafmes en face
de l'Eglife, nous auons fait plufieurs autres mariages,
ils font tous par la grace de nofire Seigneur dans vne
bonne refolution de ne fe point quitter iufques à la
mort, excepté vn ou deux, qui commencent à tous
donner de la peine.

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133

Some time ago a young Savage, not yet baptized,
had us asked by some of his Christian relatives if we
would approve of his marrying a girl whom he named.
N ow as neither the one nor the other was a Chris-
tian, we replied that we would not take part in such
connections, and that we did not meddle with mar-
riages, except to see that they live in a Christian
manner when they have been baptized. This young
man did not press the matter farther. Having met
him some days later, I asked him if he were not mar-
ried. "I have no inclination," he replied, " to mar-
ry without your consent. You are my father; it is
for you not only to tell me whether you approve
my marrying, but also to appoint the day when I
shall do so." "Yes," I said to him, "but you are
not a Christian." "I am not one yet," he replied,
" but I am very desirous of becoming one, and [56J
the girl whom I am seeking has the same desire;
this is why I beg you to baptize us both before our
marriage. \Ve will wait as long as you please, if
we are not yet sufficiently instructed." Can the
holy souls who pray for the conversion of these peo-
ples, and who feel that they are heard, hear of this
candor without their hearts softening or melting in
the heart of God? As we see that our Lord keeps
blessing the marriages of these good Neophytes, we
baptized these two young people, well instructed,
and then married them with the rites of the Church.
We have arranged several other marriages. All
these pairs are, by the grace of our Lord, firmly re-
solved not to forsake each other until death,-except
one or two, who are beginning to cause us some
trouble.

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Quand i1 arriue quelque different entr'eux, i1 nous
viennent trouuer, ou nous en font donner aduis, vne
femme Chreftienne apprenant qu'on faifoit ie ne fçay
quels ieux ou recreations publiques dans vne cabane,
s'y voulut trouuer, fon [57] mary tefmoigna qu'il ne
l'aggreoit pas, elle ne laBIa pas d'y aller contre fa
volonté, eftant de retour fon mary luy dit, fi ie n'e-
fiois pas Chreftien, ie vous dirois que fi vous n'auez
point d' affeétion pour moy, que vous cherchaffiez vn
autre mary à qui vous rendiffiez plus d' obeïffance;
mais ayant promis à Dieu de ne vous point quitter
iufques à la mort, ie ne fçaurois vous tenir ce langage
quoy que vous m' offenciés, cette pauure femme luy
demanda pardon tout fur 1 'heure, & des Ie matin du
iour fuiuant, elle s'en vint trouuer Ie Pere qui la bap-
tifée, & luy dit mon Pere, i'ay faché Dieu, ie ntay
pas obey à mon mary, i'en ay Ie cæur tout trifte, ie
voudrois bien m'en confeffer, cette candeur eft rauif-
fante. C'eft affez pour ce Chapitre, paffons à quel-
ques autres aétions de ces bons N eophites.

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135

When some difference occurs among them, they
come to see us, or have us give them some advice.
A Christian woman, learning that I know not what
games or public recreations were in progress in a
cabin, wished to be present there; her [57J husband
declared that he did not approve this; she went,
however, against his wish. Having returned, her
husband said to her, " If I were not a Christian, I
would tell you that, if you did not care for me, you
should seek another husband to whom you would
render more obedience; but, having promised God
not to leave you until death, I cannot speak to you
thus, although you have offended me." This poor
woman asked his forgiveness, without delay, and on
the following morning came to see the Father who
had baptized her, and said to him, " My Father, I
have offended God, I have not obeyed my husband;
my heart is very sad; I greatly desire to make my
confession of this." Such frankness is delightful.
Enough for this Chapter; let us pass on to some
other acts of these good Neophytes.

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[58] CHAPITRE V.

CONTINUATION DU MESME DISCOURS.

V N ieune Sauuage malade, ayant efté abandonné
de fes gens enuiron dix lieuës au deffus de la
refidence S. Iofeph, Ie Pere de Quen, qui a
gran dement trauaillé toute cette année en cette refi-
dence, prit vn François auec foy & s' en alIa chercher
ce pauure malade, l'ayant trouué auec bien de la
peine, Ie fit amener à l'Hofpital, où ce pauure garçon
fut fi bien affifté, qu'il en guerit, la charité fait des
miracles, elle change les Sauuages en enfans de Dieu,
ce ieune Sauuage voyant vn fi grand amour en fon
endroit, fe fait in ftruire , preffe qu'on Ie baptife, on
en fait quelque difficu1té, pource qu'eftant preft à fe
marier, on craignoit qu'il ne s'alliaft de quelque infi-
dele, s'il ne pouuoit trouuer de fille Chreftienne; i1
promet de garder toutes les loix de Dieu & de fon
Eglife, [59] tant qu'illuy fera poffible, mais ille pro-
met de fi bonne grace, & d'vn fi bon cæur, qu'on Ie
baptife, la grace à de puiffans effeéts, depuis ce
temps-là ce ieune homme ne s'eft iamais dementi de
fa parole, il n'a pas la feule penfée d'epoufer vne
in fide Ie , il eft fi ennemy des diffolutions de la ieu-
neffe, qu'vn certain iour quelques Sauuages eftans
arriués du pays des Algonquins, i1 nous vint dire en
fecret, & fur Ie foir, ie vous fupplie de me donner Ie
couuert cette nuit & les autres fuiuantes, tant que ces
ieunes gens ferõt parmy nous, pource que ie ferois

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[58] CHAPTER V.

CONTINUATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT.

A s a sick young Savage had been abandoned by
his people about ten leagues above the resi-
dence of St. Joseph, Father de Quen, who has
labored diligently all this year in this residence, took
a Frenchman with him and went in search of this
poor sufferer. They found him after a great deal of
trouble, and had him brought to the Hospital, where
the poor boy was so well cared for that he recovered.
Charity works miracles; it changes Savages into chil-
dren of God. This young Savage, seeing so great
love toward him, received instruction, and urged us
to baptize him. There were some objections to this,
because, being of a marriageable age, it was feared
that he might ally himself with some unbeliever if
he could not find a Christian girl. He promised to
obey all the laws of God and of his Church, [59J in
so far as it should be possible to him; and he prom-
ised it with such good grace and so good a heart,
that he was baptized. Grace has powerful effects.
Since that time this young man has never belied his
promise,- he has no thought of marrying an unbe-
liever, and is such an enemy of the dissoluteness of
the young men that one day, when some Savages
arrived from the Algonquin country, he came toward
evening, and said to us, secretly, " I entreat you to
give me shelter this night and the following ones,
as long as these young men shall be among us; for

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obligé par bien-feance de les accompagner, & comme
ils ne font pas baptifez, ils pourront faire quelque
chofe que Dieu hayt, & moy ie ne fçauroit plus
l'offencer, car c'eft tout de bon que ie croy, & que ie
luy ay dit que ie luy obeyrois.
Vn autre ieune homme nous difoit que fon bap-
tefme luyauoit bouché les oreilles, ie n'entends plus
faifoit-il
les paroles diffoluës que quelques eftourdis
proferent par fois en noftre cabane, mon cæur eft fi
content de fe voir libre de fes offences, qu'il ne fe
peut comprendre, [60J ie fçay de bonne part ce que
ie vay dire, vn ieune homme âgé d'enuiron vingt-
cinq à trente ans, paffant chemin coucha dans vne
cabane de Sauuages; la nuit vne femme l'aborda,
luy voyant fon deffein, courut au deuant de la tenta-
tiõ, retirés vous luy dit-il, car ie fuis Chreftien, ceux
qui prient Dieu ne commettent point ces pechez-là.
I'ay defia dit ailleurs, que les ieunes Sauuages qui
cherchent femme, vont voir la nuit leur maiftreiIes,
nous crions fortement contre cette couftume tres-
pernicieufe. car encor que pour l'ordinaire tout fe
paffe dans vne grande honefteté, neantmoins Ie dan-
ger d' offencer Dieu y eft trop grand.
Or tout auffi-toft qu'il arriue quelques ieunes Sau-
uages de dehors, nos Chreftiens nous en donnent
aduis, afin que nous tenions la main que tous fe con-
tiennent dans leur deuoir, eux mefmes crient contre
la ieuneiIe qui s'emancipe, leurs reprochans qu'ils
appellent les demons dans leurs cabanes, & qu'ils
attirent la malediétion de Dieu deiIus leurs teftes.
II eft arriué vne chofe bien [61J remarquable en cet
en droit, vn ieune homme non encor baptifé recher-
chant vne fille Chreftienne l'alla voir la nuit; cette

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I shall be obliged by courtesy to accompany them,
and, as they are not baptized, they will be likely to
do something that God hates; and, for my part, I
can no more offend him, for it is in earnest that I
believe, and that I told him I would obey him."
Another young man told us that his baptism had
stopped his ears. (( I no longer hear," said he, (( the
licentious words that heedless youths sometimes utter
in our cabin. It is impossible to understand how
glad my heart is to see itself free from its sins." [60]
I learned from good authority what I am about to
relate. A young man between twenty-five and thir-
ty years old, while pursuing his way, lay down to
sleep in a cabin of Savages. In the night, a woman
approached him. He, perceiving her purpose, antici-
pated temptation by saying to her, (& Go away, for
I am a Christian; those who pray to God do not
commit such sins."
I have said elsewhere that the young Savages who
are seeking a wife go to visit their mistresses at
night. We forcibly denounce this most pernicious
custom; for although, in general, all is done with
great decency, yet the risk of offending God is too
great.
Now, when any young Savages arrive from out-
side, our Christians immediately inform us of it, that
we may watch and see that all keep within the
bounds of duty. They themselves rebuke the young
men who take too much liberty, reproaching them
with calling the demons into their cabins, and with
drawing down the curse of God upon their heads.
There happened a very [61] remarkable thing in re-
gard to this. A young man not yet baptized, who
was wooing a Christian girl, went to see her at night.

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[VOL. 18

fille ne Ie rebuta point de prime abord, elle l'efcouta
difcourir, ce qui fcandalifa tellement les Chrefiiens,
que nous en fufmes incontinens aduertis, nous la
fifmes venir & la tançafmes vertement, luy repro-
chant qu'elle fe comportoit comme vne perfonne aban-
donnée, qui ne croyoit point en Dieu, & que les
feules careffes de ce ieune homme en tel temps,
efioient coulpables. Cette pauure fille bien efionnée
repartit au Pere qui la tançoit; mon Pere il eft vray
que i'ay efcouté ce ieune homme, mais il ne m'a
point careffée, ie ne fuis point Françoife, i'ay veu des
François badiner auec des filles, & les careffer & bai-
foter: ce n'efi point nofire coufiume, ceux qui nous
recherchent, nous parlent feulement & puis s'en
vont, croyés moy difoit elle, quand ce ieune homme
me parloit ie me fouuenois fort bien que i' efiois
Chrefiienne, & que ie ne voulois pas offencer Dieu,
ie luy ay dit feulement qu'il s'addreffât à vous pour
cet affaire, Ie [62] bruit efi cependant luy dit Ie Pere,
que vous ne vous efies pas bien comportée, ceux qui
prient Dieu refpondit elle, ne diront pas cela; car ie
vous affeure que ie n'ay fait autre mal que de l'efcou-
ter, me comportant felon nofire ancienne façõ de
faire. Là deffus, vn certain qui voulut rire, & tout
enfemble s'affeurer de l'innocence de la fille en fa
fimplicité, ie fçauray bien luy dit-il, fi ce ieune
homme vous a trompée, car ie vous feray prendre
vn breuage qui vous fera vomir tout fur Ie champ
s'il vous a touchée, ne vomiray-ie point, dit-elle, au
cas qu'il ne m'ait point touchée? point du tout: ça
donc donnez Ie moy tout maintenant, & vous verrez
mon innocence, Ie compagnon luy donne vne ceuil-
lerée de firop fort noir, elle Ie prend d'vn vifage tout

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At first this girl did not rebuff him, but listened to
his conversation, which so scandalized the Christians
that we were immediately informed of it. vVe sum-
moned her and reprimanded her sharply, reproach-
ing her with behaving like a profligate who did not
believe in God, and telling her that even the caresses
of this young man at such a time were sinful. This
poor girl, greatly surprised, replied to the Father
who chided her, " :My Father, it is true that I have
listened to this young man, but he did not caress me.
I am not French; I have seen Frenchmen trifling
with girls, caressing and kissing them, but this is not
our custom,-those who seek us only talk to us, and
then go away. Believe me," said she, "when this
young man was speaking to me I remembered very
well that I was a Christian, and that I was unwilling
to offend God. I merely told him that he should
address himself to you in this matter." "The [62]
report is, however," said the Father, " that you did
not behave properly." "Those who pray to God,"
she replied, "will not say that. For I assure you
that I have done nothing wrong, beyond listening
to him, conducting myself according to our ancient
customs." Thereupon, a certain person, for the
sake of a joke and also to assure himself of the gen-
uineness of the girl's simplicity, said to her, " I shall
know truly whether this young man has deceived
you, for I will have you take a potion that will make
you vomit immediately if he has touched you."
" Shall I not vomit," said she, " unless he has touched
me?" "Not at all." "Well, then, give it to me
now and you will see my innocence." His compan-
ion gave her a spoonful of very black syrup, which
she took with a very cheerful face, and swallowed

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[VOL. 18

guay, l'auale auec affeurance, fi ie ne do is point vo-
mir s'efcrie elle, qu'au cas que i'aye commis quelque
mal ie ne crains rien. Elle fut loüée de fa confiance,
marque de fa pureté; mais on luy fit fi bien entendre
Ie mal que c'efioit de fcandalifer fon prochain, & de
fe mettre en danger d'efire trompée [63] du diable,
qu'elle & fes compagnes en profiterent. Et à quel-
ques fepmaines delà, d'autres ieunes gens les efians
venus rechercher la nuit, elles leur dirent auffi-tofi
qu'ils fe retiraffent, & qu'elles efioient Chrefiiennes,
qu'ils s'addreffaffent aux Peres qui les auoient bap-
tifées, pour parler de mariage s'ils en vouloiët épou-
fer quelques vnes, ces ieunes gens ne s'en allans
point, elles prirent des tifons de feu & les menacerent
de leur porter à la face s'ils ne fe retiroient, efire né
dans la barbarie & faire ces actions, c'efi prefcher
hautement Iefus-Chrifi.
Vne femme Chrefiienne croyant qu'vn François luy
donnoit vn coufieau affez gentil, qu'il luy prefioit
feulement, Ie retint, Ie François s'en oublia pour lors,
fi bien qu'il creut l'auoir perdu, mais l'ayant reco-
gnu entre les mains de cette femme, i1 luy voulu
ofier, elle refifie, protefiant qu'il luy a donné, la
diuerfité de langage fait affez fouuent de fauffes
ententes, en fin cette femme entre fi bien en colere,
qu'elle fit conieéturer au Pere de Quen, qui efioit là
prefent, que la Foy n'eítoit pas profondement enra-
cinée [64] dans fon arne, c'efi pourquoy illuy demanda
fi elle auoit voulu tromper Dieu en fon baptefme, à
ces paroles elle entre en foy mefme & luy dit, mon
Pere c'efi la colere qui m'a tranfportée, fay faché
Dieu, ie m'iray confeffer, ce n'efi pas l'amour que ie
porte au coufieau, mais la peur que i'ay eu que vous

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confidently. "If I do not vomit," she exclaimed,
" except in case I have done wrong, I fear nothing."
She was praised for her firmness, a sign of her puri-
ty. But she was made to understand so clearly the
harm there was in scandalizing her neighbor, and
placing herself in danger of being deluded [63] by
the devil, that she and her companions profited by
it. And a few weeks afterwards, when other young
men came to visit them at night, they straightway
told them that they should go away,-that they were
Christians, and that, if the men wished to marry any
of them, they should address themselves on that sub-
ject to the Fathers who had baptized the girls. But,
as these young men did not go away, the girls took
firebrands and threatened to thrust them in their
faces if they did not leave. To be born in barbar-
ism and act in this manner, is to preach Jesus Christ
boldly.
A Christian woman, believing that a Frenchman
gave her a very pretty knife, that he had only loaned
her, kept it. The Frenchman forgot it for the time,
so that he thought he had lost it. But having recog-
nized it in the hands of this woman, he tried to take
it away. She resisted, protesting that he had given
it to her. A difference in language often results in
misunderstandings. Finally, this woman became so
angry that she made Father de Quen, who was pres-
ent, imagine that the Faith was not deeply rooted
[64] in her soul. Hence he asked her if she had
wished to deceive God in her baptism. At these
words, she recovered herself and said to him, " My
Father, I have been carried away by my anger. I
have displeased God, I will go and confess. It was
not my love for the knife, but the fear I had that

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[V OL. 18

ne me tinfiés pour vne larronnefIe, ie vous afIure que
i'ay procedé de cæur deuant Dieu en mon baptefme,
& c'efi ce qui m'afflige, qu'on croie que ie commette
les pechés que ceux qui font baptifés ne commettent
point, là-defIus elle fe mit à prefcher les ieunes filles
qui efioient là, leurs declarant ce qu' elles deuoient
quitter, au cas qu' elles voulufIent efire Chrefiiennes.
Quelques Sauuages nous ont propofé ces cas de
confcience bien aifés à refoudre, par exemple, fi c'e-
fioit vn grand peché de fonger la nuit quelque mal,
quoy qu'en dormant mefme on y refifiafi. Quand le
diable nous porte à croire nos fonges, fi nous les re-
jettons, difoient-ils, la penfée que nous auons euë de
les croire, efi-elle vn grand mal? I'ay eu peine [65]
quelque fois de demander certains pechés à quelques
Sauuages, de peur de leur faire entendre que des
perfonnes baptifées les pouuoient commettre.
On baptifa certain iour cinq vieilles femmes en-
femble, dont la plus ieune auoit plus de foixante ans,
apres Ie baptefme l'vne de ces bonnes Neophites prit
Ie Pere qui les auoit baptifées par la main, & luy dit
mon :fils tu nous as fait reuiure, nofire cæur efi tout
refiouy, il nous dit que tes paroles font veri tables, &
que nous irons au ciel, l'autres s'efcrioit ô que ie prie-
ray Dieu maintenant de bon cæur! en effet fi-tofi
qu'on parloit de Dieu dans leurs cabanes, elles fe
mettoient à genoux & ioignoient les mains, la plus
âgée difoit à fes gens, i1 me femble que nos An-
cefires croyoient quelque chofe de ce qu'enfeignent
les Peres, car i1 me fouuient, qu'efiant bien ieune,
mon pere fort âgé nous racomptoit que celuy qui a
tout fait, & qui donne à manger, fe fafchoit quand

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you might look upon me as a thief. I assure you
that I acted sincerely before God in my baptism; and
what afflicts me is that it should be thought that I
commit sins that those who are baptized do not com-
mit. " Thereupon, she began to preach to the young
girls who were present, declaring to them what they
would have to give up if they wished to be Chris-
tians.
Some of the Savages have proposed to us these
cases of conscience, which are very easy to solve,-
for example, if it be a great sin to dream some-
thing wrong at night, although even in dreaming
one should resist it? "If the devil incline us to be-
lieve our dreams, if we reject them," they ask, " is
the thought we had, of believing them, a great sin?"
I have been troubled [65] sometimes in asking Sav-
ages about certain sins, lest I might cause them to
infer that baptized persons could commit these.
One day five old women were baptized together,
the youngest of whom was more than sixty years old.
After baptism, one of these good Neophytes took the
Father who had baptized them by the hand, and said
to him, " My son, thou hast made us live again; our
hearts are full of joy,-they tell us that thy words
are true, and that we shall go to heaven." The
others cried out, " Oh, how fervently I will now pray
to God!" In fact, as soon as one spoke of God in
their cabins, they fell upon their knees, and clasped
their hands. The most aged one said to her people,
41 It seems to me that our Ancestors believed some-
thing of what the Fathers teach; for I remember
that when I was quite young, my father, who was
very old, related to us that he who has made all, and
who provides our food, was displeased when any

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LES R
LA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

on faifoit quelque mal, & qu'il haïffoit les mefchans,
& qu 'illes puniffoit apres leur mort.
Apres Ie baptefme de ces bonnes [66] vieilles,
comme nous renuoions vn grãd homme bien fait,
rejettans fon baptefme en autre temps pour ne nous
fembler affez infiruiét, il parut fort trifie, ie fuis
affiigé nous difoit-il, vous me dites que ie ne fuis pas
encor affez infiruiét, n'en fçay ie pas autant que ces
bonnes vieilles que vous auez baptifées? permettez
moy que ie reuienne de main matin, & vous m'exa-
minerés encor vne fois, nous luy permifmes & ce bon
homme, iadis fort orgueilleux, mais maintenant fort
bon Chrefiien, fe faifoit infiruire par vn enfant, des
principaux articles du Catechifme, enfin il nous preffa
fi bien, alleguãt qu'il s'en alloit faire vn voiage, &
qu'il n'ofoit partir fans efire defchargé de fes pechés,
que nous Ie baptifafmes auec quelques autres qu'on .
fit Chrefiiens à mefme temps, vn pen de cognoiffance
Chrefiienne auec vne bonne volonté, vaut plus que
toute la Philofophie d' Arifiote.
Le feiziefme de Ianuier, ayant appris qu'vne pau-
ure vieille femme efiant partie de la refidence de S.
Iofeph, pour aller aux trois Riuieres, efioit demeurée
malade [67] en chemin auec deux enfans, incapables
de la fecourir, nous enuoiafmes deux Sauuages pour
l'amener à l'Hofpital, comme ils n'auoient point de
traifnes ils amenerent les deux enfans, & laifferent
la malade toute feule au milieu des bois, nous tançaf-
mes fort ces deux meffagers, & leur difmes qu'il falloit
retourner querir cette pauure creature, l'vn d'eux qui
n'efioit pas encor Chrefiien, entendant parler de re-
tourner, efquiue au plufiofi, celuy qui efioit baptifé,
rebrouffe chemin auec vn de nos Peres & nofire frere

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one did wrong, and that he hated the wicked and
punished them after their death."
After the baptism of these good [66] old women,
as we were sending away a tall, well-formed man,-
postponing his baptism until another time, because
he did not seem well enough instructed,-he ap-
peared very sad. "I am grieved," he said to us.
, , You tell me that I am not yet sufficiently instructed;
do I not know as much as these simple old women
whom you have baptized? Permit me to return to-
morrow morning, and examine me once more." We
allowed him to do so, and this good man, once very
proud, but now a very good Christian, reconciled
himself to be instructed by a child in the principal
articles of the Catechism. Finally, he urged us so
strongly - alleging that he was going away on a
journey, and that he dared not depart without being
freed from his sins-that we baptized him, with a
few others who were made Christians at the same
time. A little Christian knowledge, together with
good will, avails more than all the Philosophy of
Aristotle.
On the sixteenth of January, having learned that a
poor old woman, who had left the residence of St.
Joseph to go to the three Rivers, was lying ill [67]
by the wayside, with two children who were incapable
of helping her, we sent two Savages to bring her to
the Hospital. As they had no sleds, they brought
the two children, and left the sick woman all alone
in the depths of the woods. We chided these two
-messengers severely, and told them that they must
return and get this poor creature. One of them who
was not yet a Christian, hearing us say" return,"
stole away as quickly as possible. The one who was

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lean Ligeois, arriuées qu'ils furent OÙ efioit la malade,
ils la trouuerent en vn trou fait dans la neige, couchée
fur quelque branche de pin, fans autre abry que Ie
Ciel, elle n'auoit point d'ecorces pour fe deffendre de
l'iniure de l'air, il fallut coucher en cette mefme
hofiellerie, où on ne trouue rien a foupper que ce
qu'on y porte, Dieu donna vn nouuel abry à ces nou-
ueaux hofies, il neiga tant to ute la nuit, qu'ils eftoient
couuerts & enfeuelis dans la neige de taus cofiés. Ces
trauaux qui paroiffent grands en France, [68] paffent
icy pour legers, en effet on les fouffre fans peine, Ie
iour venu la malade fe confeffe, on la lie fur vne petite
traifne, nofire frere Ligeois & ce bon ieune Sauuage
la tirent & la pouffent tant qu'ils peuuent, mais comme
Ie temps efioit fafcheux & qu'elle auoit beaucoup
enduré, elle mourut deuant que d'arriuer à l'Hofpital,
fi ces aétions touchent les Sauuages, elles touchent
auffi Ie Ciel, qui dat niuem ficut lanam, qui fait trouuer
vn manteau de neige auffi chaud qu'vn manteau de
laine.
C'efi vne chafe affez ordinaire aux Chrefiiens de
fe mettre à genoux fi-toft qu'ils ont tué quelque ani-
mal, & d'en remercier Dieu fur Ie champ, vne bonne
vieille femme fçachant cette couftume la prattiqua à
fa mode s'en allant chercher des racines pour man-
ger, en ayant trouué elle fe mit à genoux fur la neige,
tenant ce difcours à nofire Seigneur, grand Capitaine
c' eft vous qui auez fait Ie ciel & la terre, & ces
racines, vous les auez faiétes pour noftre nourriture,
vous me les auez enfeignés afin que i' en mangeaffe,
ie vous en remercie, fi vous m'en [69] voulés encor
donner ie les prendray, finon ie ne laifferay pas de
croire en vous, voila fa priere.

1640]

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baptized retraced his steps, with one of our Fathers
and our brother Jean Ligeois. When they reached
the place where the sick woman was, they found her
in a hole made in the snow, lying upon a few branches
of pine, with no shelter but Heaven, and with no
bark to protect herself from the wind. They had to
sleep in this same hostelry, where nothing was to be
found for supper except what they brought with
them. God gave a new shelter to these new guests;
it snowed so hard, all night, that they were covered
and shrouded in snow on all sides. These hardships,
which seem great in France, [68] are considered here
as light,- in fact, they are easily borne. When
morning came, the sick woman confessed; they
bound her to a little sled, and our brother Ligeois,
and this good young Savage hauled and pushed her
as well as they could. But, as the weather was very
severe, and as she had suffered a great deal, she died
before reaching the Hospital. If these actions touch
the Savages, they also touch Heaven, qui dat nivttn
sicut lanam, who causes a mantle of snow to be found
as warm as a mantle of wool.
It is a very common practice with the Christians
to fall upon their knees as soon as they have killed
some animal, and to thank God for it upon the spot.
A good old woman, knowing this custom, practiced it
in her own way. Going in search of some roots to eat,
and finding some, she knelt upon the snow and ad-
dressed these words to our Lord: " Great Captain, it
is you who have made heaven and earth, and these
roots. You have made them for our nourishment,
you have shown them to me that I might eat them.
I thank you for them; if you [69] are willing to give
me more, I will take them; if not, I will not give up
believing in you." This was her prayer.

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[V OL. 18

Vn Sauuage paffant fur Ie bord du grand fleuue,
C011lme les vents fouffioiêt auec violence vne affez
belle tortuë pouffée par la tempefie, fortit du fond
de l' eau & fut iettée à fes pieds comme vne pierre,
luy la voyant fe met à genoux, & leuant les yeux au
Ciel dit ces paroles; Mon Pere ie vous remercie, c' efi
vous qui m' auez donné cet animal, vous l' auez fait
pour me nourrir, & maintenant vous me Ie prefentés,
ie vous en remercie.
De verité ces bonnes gens ont vne candeur bien
aymable, ce feroit vne chofe bien nouuelle en France,
fi quelqu'vn des auditeurs affemblés pour entendre
la predication, arrefioit Ie predicateur au milieu de
fon difcours, ou pour luy parler, ou pour luy deman-
der l' explication de quelque point de fa doétrine,
cela fe fait tous les iours icy fans mefeance. Quel-
qu'vn de nous prefchant de la confeffion, & declarant
l'importance qu'il y a de purifier fon cæur dans ce
Sacremet, [70] & de ne rien cacher à Dieu, vn Capi-
taine s' efcria tout haut, mon Pere on ne fait que iouër
dans nos cabanes, efcoutés ieuneffe, entendez-vous
bien ce que nous dit Ie Pere, vous ne faiétes pas bien,
amandez-vous, vous ioüez trop, venez-vous confeffer,
& gardez- vous bien de celer aucun de vos pechez,
cette parenthefe fermée, Ie Predicateur continuë fon
dif cours.
V ne autrefois Ie Pere parlant de la Communion, &
difant que Ie Fils de Dieu fe cachoit fous la blan-
cheur du pain pour efprouuer no fire foy, vne bonne
vieille leuant fa voix, dit aux autres femmes qui
efioient là, nous auons beau nous deguifer, il vient
exprés en nofire cæur pour voir tout ce qui s'y paffe,
i1 cognoifi bien fi nous croyons par feintife ou non,

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As a Savage was passing along the bank of the
great river while the wind was blowing violently, a
very fine turtle, stirred up by the tempest, came forth
from the depths of the water, and was thrown at his
feet like a stone. When he saw it, he fell upon his
knees and, raising his eyes to Heaven, uttered these
words, "My Father, I thank you. It is you who
have given me this animal. You have made it to
nourish me, and now you present it to me. I thank
you for it."
Verily, these good people possess a truly engaging
candor. It would be a very novel thing in France if
one of the audience assembled to hear a sermon were
to stop the preacher in the middle of the discourse,-
either to talk with him, or to ask him for the ex-
planation of some point of his doctrine. This hap-
pens here every day without any impropriety. One
of us preaching on confession, and declaring the im-
portance of purifying one's heart in this Sacrament,
[70] and of concealing nothing from God, a Captain
exclaimed aloud, "My Father, they do nothing but
gamble in our cabins. Listen, young men, do you
understand clearly what the Father is telling us?
You are not doing right; mend your ways ! You
gamble too much; come and confess, and be careful
not to hide any of your sins." This parenthetical
speech finished, the Preacher continued his sermon.
At another time,-when the Father was speaking
of the Communion, and saying that the Son of God
concealed himself under the whiteness of the bread
to try our faith,-a good old woman, raising her
voice, said to the other women who were there, " It
is in vain for us to hide anything; he comes into our
hearts purposely to see all that is going on there.

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c'efi pour cela qu'il fe cache, afin de defcouurir fi nous
auons de la malice en l'ame.
Quand on dit quelque chofe qu'ils approuuent fort,
ils Ie tefmoignent par fois tout au milieu de la predi-
cation ho-ho, difent-ils, ou bien, mi ki, voila qui va
[71] bien: ou bien encor, mi ke t'iang, nous ferons cela.
Vous en verrez qui diront au Predicateur, mon
Pere n'allez pas fi vifie, parlez plus doucement, fi Ie
Pere ne fe fert pas bien à propos de quelque mot en
leur langue, ils luy fuggerent Ie vray mot qu'il faut
dire, & perfonne ne trouue cela efirange. I'ay autre-
fois remarqué, que les Sauuages pour fe faire beaux,
fe rougiffent ou fe noirciffent la face, ou fe la pei-
gnent d'vne autre couleur, or comme quelqu'vn de
nous cryoit certain iour contre cette mauuaife cou-
fiume. L'vn de fes auditeurs indigné contre ceux qui
la retenoient, s' efcria, mon Pere il n'y a que les
difformes & les malotrus qui fe peignent, nous autres
qui fommes beaux naturellement, nous auons quitté
cette vieille mode, voila leur franchife. Mais remar-
quez s'il vous plaifi, qu'il n'y a que les principaux de
l'auditoire qui fe donnent l'autorité de parler, c'efi
affes pour ce Chapitre.

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153

He knows very well whether we are only pretending
to believe,- it is for this purpose that he conceals
himself, to discover whether we have any malice in
our souls. ' ,
When one says something which they greatly ap-
prove, they show it sometimes in the very midst of
the preaching. Ho-ho, they say, or mi hi, " that is
[71] good;" or, again, mi ke t'iang, " we will do that."
There are some who will say to the Preacher, " My
Father, do not go so fast; speak more slowly." If
the Father does not correctly use some word of their
language, they will suggest to him the right word
that he should use, and no one finds this strange. I
have previously remarked that the Savages, to adorn
themselves, redden or blacken their faces, or paint
them in some other color. Now as one of us rebuked
this mischievous custom on a certain day, one of his
auditors, indignant at those who retained it, ex-
claimed, ,. My Father, it is only the deformed and
the uncouth who paint themselves. The rest of us,
who are naturally handsome, h3.ve given up this old
custom." See how frank they are. But observe, if
you please, that it is only the chief persons of the
audience who assume authority in speaking. This
is enough for this Chapter.

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[72] CHAPITRE VI.

CONTINUATION DU MESME SUJET.

V N ieune homme Chrefiien s'efiant mis en colere
battit fa femme, qui l'auoit infolemment pro-
uoqué, il n'efioit pas encor hors de fougue, que
fe repentant de fon peché, i1 fe gliffe en nofire chap-
pelle pour en crier mercy à Dieu, il y rencontra Ie
Pere de Quen auquel i1 dit, ie fuis trifie, ie viens de
fafcher Dieu, priez-le pour moy, or comme eel a s'e-
fioit fait deuant plufieurs perfonnes, il s'eí1eue vne
grande rumeur dans les cabanes, plufieurs Chrefiiens
& plufieurs Payens tous enfemble, s'en viennent
chez nous fe plaindre de ce fcandale, ces gens là ne
refpeétent pas leur baptefme, difoient les Chrefiiens,
ils viuent comme s'ils ne croyoient pas en Dieu. Les
infideles nous reprochoient que nous ne les baptifions
pas, & qu'ils faifoient mieux que plufieurs qui l'efioiet,
[73] on leur enfeigne du bien, difoient-ils, & ils ne
Ie font pas: ils prient Dieu & cependant ils fe met-
tent en colere, ils font baptifés & neantmoins ils ne
laiffent pas de fe battre, comme nous leurs eufmes dit
que nous les aduertirions de leur deuoir, ils les allerent
querir tout fur l'heure, fans attendre dauantage, ils
furent vefperizés comme il faut, notamment la fem-
me, qui efioit plus coulpable que fon mary, cette con-
fufion leur feruit, & ne fit point de mal aux autres;
les infideles ne fçauroient fupporter les deffauts des
Chrefiiens, ils croyent qu'ayant embraffé vne Loy fi

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155

[72] CHAPTER VI.

CONTINUATION OF THE SA1tE SUBJECT.

A YOUNG Christian, getting into a passion, beat
his wife, who had insolently provoked him.
He had not yet recovered from his rage, when,
repenting of his sin, he slipped into our chapel to
cry to God for mercy; encountering Father de Quen
there, he said to him, " I am sad, I have just offended
God, pray to him for me." Now as that had hap-
pened in the presence of several persons, a great
clamor arose in the cabins,-many Christians and
Pagans coming together to us, to complain of this
scandal. "Those people do not respect their bap-
tism," said the Christians; "they live as if they did
not believe in God." The unbelievers reproached
us with not having baptized them, when they be-
haved better than many who were baptized. [73]
" They are taught what is right," said these, " and
they do not do it. They pray to God, and yet they
get angry. They are baptized, and yet they do not
hesitate to beat one another." When we had told
them that we would admonish those persons con-
cerning their duty, they went and brought them
without delay, waiting for nothing more. They
were properly reprimanded, especially the woman,
who was more guilty than her husband. This humil-
iation was useful to them, and did no harm to the
others. The un believers cannot tolerate the faults
of the Christians; they believe that, having em braced

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fainéte, ils doiuent efire exempts de toute fragilité,
il efi vray que la grace du baptefme fait d'efiranges
metamorphofes, quand on y correfpond.
Vn Sauuage Chrefiien, voulant entrer en quelque
maifon, vn François Ie repouffa auec violence, ils fe
parloient tous deux fans s'entendre, Ie Sauuage fe
voyant mal traiété, difoit, fi ie n'efiois baptifé ie t'ac-
commoderois bien, ie fuis plus grand & plus fort que
toy, ie t'aurois bien-tofi renuerfé par terre, mais Ie
[74] Pere qui m'a baptifé m'a dit que la colere ne
valoit rien, & qu'il ne falloit point faire de mal,
mefme à ceux qui nous en faifoient, c' efi pourquoy
ie me retirera y.
Vn ieune Neophite ayant fait rencontre d'vn cari-
bou, Ie tua d'vn coup d'arquebufe, auffi-tofi il fe mit
à genoux pour en remercier Dieu, coufiume qu'il
gardoit mefme deuant que d'efire baptifé, mais ce
qu'il fit en fuitte efi fort remarquable; premierement
i1 enuoya aux pauures malades de l'Hofpital, vne
partie de fa chaffe, offrant ces premices à nofire Sei-
gneur, fecondement comme il auoit tué cet animal Ie
Ieudy au foir, & qu'il en deuoit faire fefiin Ie iour
fuiuant felon la coufiume du pays, i1 voulut attendre
iufques au Dimanche, de peur que les Chrefiiens ne
mangeaffent de la chair les iours deffendus, i1 voyoit
bien que la neceffité en laquelle ils efioient les difpen-
foient affez, on luy difoit auffi que les hommes de-
uoient partir Ie Samedy pour aller à la chaffe, &
qu'ils ne goufieroient point de fon fefiin s'il ne fe
hafioit de Ie faire, nonobfiant tout cela, [75] il tint
ferme, aymant mieux plaire à Dieu qu'aux hommes.
La veille de N oël quelques Sauuages non encor bap-
tifez, efians arriués à S. Iofeph firent fefiin de greffe

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157

a Law so holy, the latter ought to be exempt from all
frailties. It is true that the grace of baptism causes
strange transformations, when one acts in accord
with it.
A Christian Savage, who wished to enter a certain
house, was violently repulsed by a Frenchman. They
both talked, but neither understood the other. The
Savage, finding himself badly treated, said, "If I
were not baptized, I would thrash thee well. I am
larger and stronger than thou art,- I would soon
have thrown thee to the ground; but the [74] Father
who baptized me told me that anger avails nothing,
and that one must not do evil even to those who have
done it to us; hence I will go away."
A young Neophyte, having encountered a caribou,
killed it with a shot from his arquebus. He imme-
diately fell upon his knees and thanked God for it,-
a custom which he observed even before his bap-
tism; but what he did afterward is very remarkable.
First, he sent to the poor sick persons at the Hospi-
tal a portion of his game, offering these first fruits to
our Lord. Secondly, as he had killed this animal
Tuesday evening, and as he ought to make a feast of
it the following day, according to the custom of the
country, he wished to wait until Sunday, lest the
Christians would not eat meat on the forbidden days.
He saw, indeed, that the necessity in which they
found themselves sufficiently dispensed them; and
he was also told that the men were to leave on Sat-
urday, to go hunting, and that they would not taste
his feast if he did not hasten to give it. N otwith-
standing all this, [75] he held firm, preferring to
please God rather than man. On Christmas eve,
some Savages, not yet baptized, having arrived at St.

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d'ours, ce font leurs grandes delices, comme on y
inuitoit quelques vns de nos Chrefiiens, l'vn deux
refpondit, encor que veritablement nous foyons dans
la neceffité, neantmoins nous ne mangerons point de
chair auiourd'huy, nous ieufnons tous, c'efi pourquoy
nous n'irons point au fefiin, nous aprifmes cette
refponce quelques iours apres par cas fortuit, cela
nous ediffia & confola dautant plus que ces pauures
gens foufroient de la difette.
Madame de la Pelterie fondatrice des Vrfulines,
tres-zelée pour les Sauuages, voulut venir à fainct
Iofeph à la fefie de Noël, pour fe trouuer à la Meffe
de minuiét auec eux, elle a vne ioye & vne confola-
tion nompareille quand elle peut communier auec
ces bons Neophites, elle fe trouua certain iour entou-
rée de plus de quarante Sauuages, qui approchoient
tous de la fainéte table auec elle, cela ne fe paffa pas
fans larmes de [76] ioye, auffi faut-il auoüer que Ie
changement fi fubit de ces pauures barbares, donne
bien du contentement au cæur qui ayme Iefus-Chrifi.
Quand les Sauuages Chrefiiens eurêt aduis qu'elle
leur vouloit faire cet honneur de les venir vifiter à
cette bonne fefie, ils I' allerent querir hommes, fem-
mes & filles, auec vne telle ardeur que nous en efiions
efionnés, c'efioit à qui la carefferoit dauantage, fi par
fois elle les vient vifiter par eau, ces bonnes gens luy
font vne petite falue d'arquebuzades lors qu'elle fe
defembarque, l'accompagnant iufques à leurs mai-
fons ou cabanes, auec beau coup d'a:ff'eétion, elle amene
toufiours auec foy quelques petites filles Sauuages
feminarifies bien gentiment couuertes, ce qui agrée
fort aux Sauuages, or comme ces enfans entendent
tous les iours la fainéte Meffe auec fes Religieufes, &

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159

Joseph, made a feast of bear's fat, which is their
great delicacy. When some of our Christians were
invited to this, one of them replied, .. Although we
are truly in need, nevertheless we will not eat meat
to-day. We are all fasting, and for that reason we
shall not go to the feast." We learned of this an-
swer a few days later by mere chance, and it edified
and consoled us all the more, because these poor
people were suffering from want.
Madame de la Pelterie, foundress of the U rsulines,
very zealous in behalf of the Savages, wished to
come to saint Joseph at the Christmas feast, in
order to be present with them at the midnight Mass.
She experiences a matchless joy and consolation
when she can receive communion with these good
Neophytes. She found herself one day surrounded
by more than forty Savages, who all approached the
holy table with her, and this did not take place with-
out tears of [76] joy. Indeed, it must be confessed
that the so sudden change in these poor barbarians
gives great satisfaction to the heart that loves Jesus
Christ.
When the Christian Savages learned that she
wished to do them the honor of visiting them at this
blessed feast, they went to bring her,-men, women,
and girls,-with an ardor that greatly surprised us.
They vied with each other in caressing her. When
sometimes she comes by water to visit them, these
good people fire a little arquebus salute for her when
she disembarks,-accompanying her as far as their
houses or cabins, and showing her great affection.
She always brings with her some little Savage semi-
nary girls, very prettily dressed, which greatly
pleases the Savages. Now as these children hear the

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[VOL. 18

qu'elles les entendent chanter pendant l'eleuation du
fainét Sacrement, e1les ont fi bien retenu vn de leurs
motets, qu'elle Ie chanterent brauement à S. Iofeph
deuãt tous leurs parens Chrefiiens, lors qu'on [77]
leuoit la fainéte Hofiie à la Meffe de minuiét, e1les
chanterent auffi deuant la fainéte Meffe vn Cantique
fpirituel compofé en leur langue, fur la Naiffance du
Fils de Dieu, tous les Sauuages reprenoient genti-
ment Ie firophes, chantans les vns apres les autres
auec vn bon accord, Dieu fçait fi ces bons Neophites
efioient contens auffi-bien que leurs enfans, & fi Ma-
dame de la Pelterie qui en efi plus ialoufe que leurs
pauures meres, efioit confolée. Deux chofes aug-
menterent fa ioye, La premiere fut, qu'entrant fur Ie
foir en la maifon de N oël N egabamat, où elle fe reti-
roit, elle Ie trouua à genoux auec toute fa famille, fai-
fant leurs prieres, elle fut bien efionnée & les Peres
auffi qui l'accompagnoient, d'entendre les longues
oraifons qu'ils faifoient, nonobfiant qu'ils euffent
affifié aux prieres communes, qu' on fait faire ordi-
nairement aux Sauuages en Ia Chappelle.
En fecond lieu, voulant faire fefiin aux Sauuages
qui l'auoient tant ediffiée, elle fit prefenter à Noel
Negabamat ce qu'elle leur donnoit, mais Noël dit au
[78] Pere qui luy parloit, mon Pere il y a icy quel-
ques Sauuages qui s'en võt aux trois Riuieres, i'ap-
prends que ceux qui font là font efbranlés & qu'ils
ont enuie de croire, il feroit bon que Madame de la
Peltrie fit ce prefent à ces Sauuages qui font fur leur
depart, pour les gagner, afin qu'ils parlent bien de
la Foy, & qu'ils portent leurs compatriotes à l'em-
braffer. Ie n'aurois pas attendu cette refponce ny ce

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RELA TION OF I640

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holy Mass every day with the Nuns, and as they hear
them sing every day during the elevation of the
blessed Sacrament, they have remembered one of
their motets so well that they sang it finely at St.
Joseph, in the presence of their Christian relatives,
when [77] the sacred Host was elevated at the mid-
night Mass. They sang also before the holy Mass
a spiritual Song, composed in their own language,
upon the Birth of the Son of God. All the Savages
took up the strophes finely, and sang them one after
another in good time. God knows how happy these
good Neophytes were, and their children too, and
w hat consolation Madame de la Pelterie experienced,
who is more solicitous about them than are their
poor mothers. Two circumstances added to her joy.
The first was that, entering toward evening the
house of Noël Negabamat, where she was staying, she
found him upon his knees with all his family, say-
ing their prayers. She was greatly astonished, and
the Fathers also who accompanied her, to hear the
long prayers they were offering, notwithstanding the
fact that they had assisted at the general prayers
that we usually have the Savages offer in the Chapel.
In the second place, wishing to make a feast for
the Savages who had so greatly edified her, she had
what she was going to give them offered to Noel
N egabamat; but N oël said to the [78] Father who
spoke to him, " My Father, there are some Savages
here who are going to the three Rivers. I learn that
those who are there are moved, and are inclined to
believe. It would be well for Madame de la Peltrie
to make this present to these Savages who are about
to leave, in order to win them to speak well of the
Faith, and to influence their compatriots to embrace

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zele d'vn homme, qui ne fait que de naifire en Iefus-
Chrifi.
II n'efi pas iufques aux enfans, qui n'ayent quel-
que affection pour leur creance, fi vn d'entr'eux voit
faire quelque mal à fon compagnon, illuy dit qu'il
faut qu'il fe confelIe, & qu'il a mal fait, il y a quel-
ques iours que deux ieunes garçons, l' vn Chrefiien &
l'autre Payen, fe penferent gourmer à bon efcient
pour leur creance, Ie Chrefiien parlant à celuy-cy
nouuellement arriué, l'inuitoit de prier Dieu, illuy dit
comment veux tu que ie Ie prie ne Ie voyant pas,
l'autre Ie menace d'aller en enfer s'il ne Ie prioit,
penfe-tu dit 1 'infidele, que ce que difent les Peres foit
vray? nous irons [79] nous autres apres nofire mort où
Ie Soleil fe couche, nous n'irons point dans la terre,
les Peres font des menteurs, non, fit Ie Chrefiien, ils
ne mentent pas, ceux qui croyent & qui obeyffent à
Dieu irõt au Ciel, les autres iront au feu, cela n'efi
pas vray repart fon compagnon, Ie Chrefiien refifie,
l'autre luy tient tefie, bref ils s'animent fi bien, que
fi on ne fut venu pour les feparer. ils s'alloient battre
bien ferré, ie trouue ce zele d'autant plus admirable
que Ies Sauuages font froids comme glace, & ennemis
des difputes & des querelles, ce n'efi pas qu'ils n'ay-
ent de la colere, mais ils la cachent mieux que nous,
auffi leur fait elle plus de mal, en voicy vn exemple.
Vne ieune femme, fe voyant preffée d'efpoufer vn
homme qu'elle n'aymoit point, entre en telle fureur
fans Ie faire paroittre au dehors, qu'elle fe voulut
étrangler, on court incontinent, on Ia trouue demie
morte, on coupe Ie licoI, on la reporte toute pafmée
en fa cabane, auffi-tofi vn Chrefiien nous en vient
donner aduis, nous y courufmes, l'vn de nous Ia voy-

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it." I would not have expected this answer or this
zeal from a man who had only just been born in
Jesus Christ.
There are none, even among the children, who
have not some affection for their belief; if one of them
sees any fault in a companion, he tells him that he
must confess, for he has done wrong. A few days
ago, two boys, one a Christian and the other a Pagan,
were about to fight in earnest, on account of their
beliefs. The Christian, speaking to the other, who
had just arrived, invited him to pray to God. The
latter said to him, " Why dost thou ask me to pray
to God, when I do not see him?" The other threat-
eningl y replied that he would go to hell, if he did
not pray. "Dost thou think," said the unbeliever,
" that what the Fathers say is true? We shall go
[79J after our death to the place where the Sun sets,-
we shall not go into the ground; the Fathers are
liars. ,. , , No, .. returned the Christian, " they do not
lie; those who believe and obey God will go to
Heaven, the others will go into the fire." "That
is not true," retorted his companion. The Christian
insisted, the other was obstinate: in short, they be-
came so excited that if some one had not come and
separated them, they would have fought very fierce-
ly. I found this zeal all the more admirable, because
the Sa vages are as cold as ice, and opposed to dis-
putes and quarrels. Not that they do not experience
anger, but they conceal it better than we do, and it
also does them more harm. Here is an example of
this.
A young woman, finding herself urged to marry a
man whom she did not love, became so enraged,
without showing any outward indications of it, that

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ant en cet efiat deplorable, [80] fit fecrettement vn
væu à la plus fainéte & plus adorable famille qui fut
iamais, de Iefus, de Marie & de S. Iofeph, priant Ie
chef de cette augufie maifon, d'empefcher que cette
ame ne fe perdit, elle reuint à foy, & nous donna
tout Ie contentement que nous euffions peu efperer
d'vne ame qui fortoit des portes de l'enfer, nous luy
demandafmes fi elle ne craignoit point d'efire d'am-
née, ie ne penfois point à cela, difoit-elle, mais feule-
ment à me deliurer de l'ennuy de cet homme.
Vn ieune Chrefiien ayant ioüé, & perdu quelque
chofe notable de fon petit meuble, fe douta bien que
nous en feriõs mefcontens, i1 s'en vint trouuer l'vn
de nous & luy dit, mon Pere, ie vous prie ne foyés
point mefcontent de ce que i'ay fait, ie ne Ie feray
plus, i'ay perdu beaucoup au ieu, i'ay mal fait, ie ne
fuis pas trifie de ma perte, mais de vous auoir mef-
contenté; car ie fçay bien que cela vous deplaifi, &
que Dieu ne l'aggrée pas, ie ne ioüeray plus que
chofe de petite valeur, cette fimplicité efi aimable.
[81] Vne femme Chrefiienne ayant fongé qu'elle
voyoit Ie diable, nous vint trouuer dés Ie matin, i'ay
penfé venir dés cette nuit, difoit-elle, Ie mefchant
manitou m'efi venu voir, il m'a voulu donner à man-
ger, ie l'ay refufé, i'efiois fi epouuantée me fouue-
nant de ce que vous nous auez enfeigné, que ce mef-
chant nous vouloit perdre, que m'efiant eueillée en
furfault, ie voulois courir en vofire maifon de peur
qu'il ne me trompafi: on l'affeura que fi elle efioit
forte en la Foy, qu'il ne luy pourroit faire aucun
mal, notamment fi elle ne croyoit plus en fes fonges,
ie les hais mefme en dormant, difoit cette pauure
creature. V oicy vn point d' edification, les neiges

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she tried to hang herself. People ran to her at once;
they found her half dead; they cut the noose, and
carried her, entirely unconscious, to her cabin.
A Christian came straightway and informed us of
this; we ran thither, and one of us, seeing her in
this deplorable state, [80J secretly made a vow to the
most holy and adorable family that ever existed,-
that of Jesus, Mary, and St. J oseph,- praying the
head of that august house to prevent this soul from
being lost. She came to herself, and gave us all the
satisfaction that could have been expected from a
soul which was coming forth from the gates of hell.
We asked her if she was not afraid of being damned.
" I was not thinking of that," said she, " but only of
freeing myself from the annoyance of that man."
., A young Christian gambled, and lost something
valuable from his little property. Wondering, right-
ly, if we would not be displeased with him, he came
to see one of us and said, " My Father, I pray you
not to be displeased with what I have done; I will
not do so any more. I have lost much in play; I
have done wrong. I am not sad about my loss, but
because I have displeased you; for I know very well
that you are dissatisfied, and that God is not pleased.
I will stake nothing hereafter, except something of
small value." This simplicity is charming.
[81J A Christian woman having dreamed that she
saw the devil, came to see us the next morning. "I
almost came in the night," said she; "the wicked
manitou came to see me, and wished to give me some-
thing to eat, but I refused him. I was so frightened
when I recalled what you have taught me,- that this
evil one desired to ruin us,- that, waking with a
start, I wished to run to your house, lest he should

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efiant vn peu hautes, nos Sauuages s'en allerent dans
les bois pour faire leurs prouifions de chairs d'Elan;
comme ils deuoient eftre long-temps nous donafmes
aux Chrefiiens vn calandrier pour recognoifire les
Dimãches, afin de faire leurs prieres vn petit plus
longues ces iours-là; or comme ils ne fçauent ny lire,
ny efcrire, on auoit difiingué les iours & les Lunes, &
les Fefies par diuerfes marques, [82] leur donnans
ce papier comme à l'auenture, pour voir s'ils s'en
pourroient feruir, ie vous affeure que nous fufmes
bien efionnes à leur retour, car nons efians venus
voir, apres auoir remercié Dieu en la Chappelle, ils
nous apporterent leur papier, & nous dirent, voyez fi
nous ne nous fommes point mefcontés, voila le iour
où nous penfons efire, firent ils, ils ne s'efioient pas
mefpris d'vn feul iour, voila adiouftoient-Ï1s les iours
de Dimanches, nous les auons gardez tous, excepté
celuy-là, qu'ils monfiroient, nous l'auons marqué ex-
pres pour vous Ie monfirer, nous difmes qu'il falloit
vous en aduertir, Ie degel nous contraignit de trauail-
ler ce iour-là, nous en efiions bien marris, mais nous
efiions en danger de perdre nos prouifions: les iours
de Fefies nous nous affemblions & prions Dieu dans
vne cabane, & nous chantions ce que nous fçauons,
les autres iours chacun prioit Dieu chez foy.
Le quinziefrne de Ianuier, quelques Sauuages nous
vindrent trouuer de plus d'vne lieuë loin pour fe con-
fefIer, deuant [83] que de s'engager plus auant dans
les terres, entre autres vne femme nous toucha, ie
n'ay point encor communié, difoit-elle, ie ne fçay fi
ie vous reuerray iamais, accordez moy la Communion
deuant mon defpart, on l'interrogea & l'ayant trouuée

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beguile me." She was assured that, if she were
strong in the Faith, he could do her no harm, espe-
cially if she no longer believed in her dreams. "I
hate them even in my sleep," said this poor creature.
In the following, there is matter for edification. The
snow being rather deep, our Savages went into the
woods to provide themselves with Elk meat; as they
were to be gone a long time, we gave the Christians
a calendar, that they might know the Sundays, so
that they could make their prayers somewhat longer
on those days. Now as they can neither read nor
write, we had distinguished the days and the Months
and the Feasts by different marks. [82J Giving them
this paper at random, as it were, to see if they could
use it, I assure you that we were greatly astonished
upon their return; for when they came to see us,
after having thanked God in the Chapel, they brought
us their paper, and said, "See if we have counted
wrongly; there is the day where we think we are,"
they continued. They were not mistaken by a single
day. "There, " they added, " are the Sundays; we
have kept them all except that one," which they
indicated; "we have marked it purposely to show it
to you, for we said that we must tell you about it.
The thaw obliged us to work that day; we were
sorry about it, but we were in danger of losing our
provisions. On the Feast days, we assembled and
prayed to God in one cabin, and sang what we knew.
On the other days, each prayed to God by himself."
On the fifteenth of January, some Savages came
to us from more than a league away, to make con-
fession, before [83] getting still farther into the inte-
rior. Among others, a woman touched our hearts.
" I have not yet received communion," said she; "I

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afIez infiruiéte, on luy donna l'accomplifIement de
fon defir.
V oicy quelques parolles tirés des lettres que la
Mere Superieure de l'Hofpital m'efcriuoit, renuoy-
ant les malades à S. Iofeph. Cette fille qui retourne
à S. Iofeph, & que nous auons penfée en nofire Hof-
pital, efi l'vne des plus modefies que i'aye veu, non
feulement parmy les Sauuages, mais auffi parmy les
Françoifes, elle s'efi comportée auec vne tres-grande
retenuë parmy tant de perfonnes qui font en l'Hofpi-
tal, dans vne autre lettre. Plufieurs Sauuages vin-
drent hier en no fire maHon, comme il efioit tard, ils
ont couché à l'Hofpital, ils m' ont extremement edi-
fiée, au premier mot des prieres qu'on fait Ie foir, ils
fe mirent à genoux, & les firent auec vne deuotion
qui me touchoit, ie crains que mes offences [84] ne
me rendent indigne d'ayder ce pauure peuple.
Vne autrefois elle efcriuoit en ces termes, les ma-
lades que vous nous enuoyez font extremement pa-
tiens, ils m' efionnent, ils prient Dieu fort volontiers,
nous les faifons entrer en nofire Chappelle pour prier,
ils Ie font auec grande affeétion.
I'ay dit cy-deffus, que les Sauuages auoient creé
vn certain ieune Chrefiien fort feruent, Capitaine des
prieres, c'efi à dire qu'il auroit foing de faire faire les
prieres en nofire abfence, & de fe faire infiruire foy-
mefme, pour rapporter à fes gens ce qu'on luyauroit
enfeigné, or i1 arriua que les Sauuages s' en efiant
allez à quelques lieuës de fainét Iofeph, pour faire
des canots, ce Capitaine les fuiuit, & quelques iours
apres il nous vint retrouuer, & nous tint ce difcours,
nos Capitaines m'ont enuoyé vers vous, pour efire
infiruiét, felon que nous auiõs conuenu par enfemble,

1640]

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do not know whether I shall ever see you again;
grant me the Communion before my departure."
She was questioned, and, being found sufficiently
instructed, she was granted the fulfillment of her
desire.
Here are some sentences taken from the letters
that the 1vlother Superior of the Hospital wrote me
when she sent the patients back to St. Joseph:
" This girl who is returning to St. Joseph, and whom
we have cared for in our Hospital, is one of the most
modest girls I have ever seen, not only among the
Savages, but also among the French. She has con-
ducted herself with very great reserve among the
many persons who are in the Hospital." In another
letter, "Several Savages came to our house yester-
day; as it was late, they slept in the Hospital. They
edified me greatly. At the first word of the prayers
that were offered in the evening, they knelt down
and said them with a devotion that touched my heart.
I fear that my own transgressions [84] render me
unworthy of aiding these poor people."
At another time, she wrote in .these terms: "The
sick whom you have sent are extremely patient; they
astonish me. They pray to God with great willing-
ness; we had them enter our Chapel to pray, which
they did very gladly. JJ
I have said above, that the Savages had created a
certain young and very fervent Christian, " Captain
of prayers," -that is to say, he was to see that the
prayers were said in our absence, and was to be him-
self instructed, that he might report to his people
wbat had been taught him. Now it happened that,
the Savages having gone some leagues away from
saint Joseph to make canoes, this Captain followed

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LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

ie leur ay enfeigné tout ce que ie fçauois, ie m'en
viens à l'eícole pour apprendre quelque autre choíe
de noftre creance, afin de leur enfeigner, [85J ils
font tous extremement contens de la Foy qu'ils ont
embraffée, c'eft tout de bon qu'ils croyent en Dieu, on
ne fait maintenant non plus d'eftat de nos vieilles
couftumes, & de nos vieilles fuperftitions anciennes,
dans les cabanes de ceux qui font baptifés, que de
cette pierre. Quelques Sauuages de Tadouffac nous
font venus voir pour eftre inftruiéts, & pour demeu-
rer auec nous, & pour cultiuer la terre, ils nous ont
eftonnés, tant ils tefmoignent de defir d'eftre Chre-
ftiens, ils nous ont dit iufques à ces paroles, fi vous
nous voyez chanceler dans la refolution que nous
auons prife de nous faire baptifer, nous vous permet-
tons de nous frapper, & de nous chaffer d'auec vous.
V oicy vn mot de lettre du P. de Quen, touch ant
ces bons Neophites, lean Baptifte Etinechkavat &
Eftienne Pigarvich, me vindrent voir hier tout expres
pour fçauoir quand il feroit Dimanche ils me dirent
qu'i1s eftoient triftes de n'auoir pas ouy la Meffe
depuis qu'ils eftoient partis de S. Iofeph, ie leur ay
donné vn papier, où i'ay marqué les [86J iours, afin
qu'ils peuffent fçauoir quand il fera Dimanche, ils
m'ont promis qu'ils ne manqueroient pas de venir à
la Meffe ce iour
là, quoy qu'ils foient eiloignés d'icy
enuiron trois lieuës, en effeét, ils n'y ont pas man-
qué, ils m'ont affeuré qu'on prioit Dieu dans vne
cabane, où tous les Sauuages Chreftiens s'affem-
bloient, & qu'ils allumoient vne écorce deuant l'i-
mage de noftre Seigneur, mais pource que I' écorce
fe confomme trop toft, ils m'ont prié de leur donner
vn cierge, ils font tous dans vn contentement incroy-

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RELATION OF I640

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them; and some days afterward, coming to see us,
he discoursed in this manner: "Our Captains have
sent me to you to be instructed, according to what
we have agreed upon together. I have taught them
all I knew. I am coming to school to learn some-
thing else about our belief, in order to teach them.
[85] They are all entirely satisfied with the Faith that
they have embraced. It is in earnest that they be-
lieve in God. Our old customs and ancient supersti-
tions are now no more valued, in the cabins of those
who are baptized, than this stone. Some Savages of
Tadoussac have come to us to be instructed, and to
remain with us and cultivate the land. They have
astonished us, so great a desire do they show to be
Christians. They have even said these words to us,
· If you see us waver in the resolution we have made,
to be baptized, we will let you beat us, and drive us
away from you.' "
Here is part of a letter from Father de Quen,
touching these good Neophytes. "Jean Baptiste
Etinechkavat and Estienne Pigaruich came to me
yesterday, expressly to know when it would be Sun-
day. They told me they were sad at not having
heard Mass since they had left St. Joseph. I gave
them a paper whereon I marked the [86] days, that
they might know when Sunday came. They prom-
ised me that they would be sure to come to Mass that
day, although they are about three leagues distant
from here; and, in fact, they did not fail to come.
They assured me that prayers were offered to God
in a cabin where all the Christian Savages gathered,
and that they lighted a piece of bark before the im-
age of our Lord; but, as the bark burned out so soon,
they begged me to give them a taper. They are all

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LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[V OL. 18

able d'auoir embraffé la Foy, nous chaftions difoient-
ils, les defobeïffans: vne ieune fille n'ayant pas voulu
aller à la rets, où fon pere l'enuoyoit, fut deux iours
fans manger en punition de fa defobeïffance: deux
ieunes garçons eftans venus trop tard aux prieres du
matin, furent punis par vne poignée de cendres
chaudes qu'on leur ietta fur la tefte, auec menace de
plus grand chaftiment en cas de recidiue, Ie Sauuage
qui me racomptoit cette hiftoire me fit rire, eftant
difoit-il, aux prieres auec les autres, la face tournée
vers l'image de noftre [87J Seigneur, iauois grande
enuie de voir fi ces deux ieunes gens que ie venois
d'eueiller eftoient venus aux prieres; mais me fou-
uenant que vous recõmandiez 1a modeftie, & l' atten-
tion quand on parle à Dieu, ie n'ofois me mouuoir,
enfin voulant recognoiftre fi tout Ie monde eftoit en
fon deuoir, ie me 1aiffay aller, ie tournay la tefte;
mais tant foit peu & bien fagement, ie croy, faifoit-
iI, qu'il n'y a point de mal en cela, cette candeur me
fit rire.
V oicy vne aétion qui m'a gran dement touché: vn
ieune homme Chreftien, âgé d'enuiron vingt-deux
ans, n'ayant peu trouuer femme à S. Iofeph, s'en
alIa en marchandife vers vne autre nation, dans les
terres d' où il ramena vne ieune fille, auec 1e fcan-
dale des nouueaux Chreftiens, qui ne veulent pas
qu'vn ieune homme baptifé époufe vne Payenne, il
demeuroit auec elle comme eftant marié à la façon
des Sauuages, fi-toft qu'i1 parut aux trois Riuieres, on
la luy fit quitter, l'ayant quitté il s'en reuint à S.
Iofeph tout plain de confufion. Nous affemblafmes
les principaux Chreftiens [88J pour fçauoir comme
on fe comporteroit en cet affaire, ils conc1uoient

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RE'LA TION OF I640

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in an incredible state of satisfaction at having em-
braced the Faith. 'We punish the disobedient,' said
they. A young girl who would not go to the nets,.
where her father sent her, was two days without food
as a punishment for her disobedience. Two boys,
who came late to prayers in the morning, were pun-
ished by having a handful of hot cinders thrown
upon their heads, with threats of greater chastise-
ment in case the offense were repeated. The Sav-
age who related this next story to me made me
laugh. 'Being at prayers with the others,' said he,
· having my face turned towards the image of our [87]
Lord, I had a great desire to see if these two young
men whom I had just awakened had come to pray-
ers; but remembering that you recommended mod-
esty and attention when one is speaking to God, I
did not dare move. Finally, wishing to find out if
everyone was doing his duty, I yielded. I turned
my head, but ever so little, and very discreetly; I
believe,' he added, ' that there was no harm in that.'
This candor made me laugh."
Here is an act which has greatly touched me. A
young Christian, about twenty. two years old, not
having been able to find a wife at St. Joseph, went
to trade with another nation in the interior, whence
he brought back a young girl, to the scandal of the
new Christians, who do not allow a baptized man to
marry a Pagan. He lived with her as if married, in
the fashion of the Savages. As soon as he appeared
at the three Rivers, they made him leave her; and,
after having given her up, he returned to St. J 0-
seph, greatly humiliated. We assembled the prin-
cipal Christians, [88J to ascertain what action would
be taken in this matter. They summarily decided

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

nettement qu'il Ie falloìt chaffer & luy deffendre de
iamais plus demeurer auec les Chreftiens pour auoir
fait vne fi mauuaife aétion, nous repartifmes que
cette rigueur feroit bonne en cas qu'il voulut perfe-
uerer dans fa malice, mais que Dieu eftant plein de
mifericorde, il Ie falloit receuoir à pardon s'il reco-
gnoiffoit fon offenfe, auffi-toft fut ordonné qu'il crie-
roit mercy à Dieu publiquement de fon peché, voicy
comme la chofe fe paffa, vn Dimanche matin la pluf-
part des Chreftiens eftans affemblés en l'Eglife pour
ouyr Ia fainéte 1vleffe, ce pauure ieune homme fe tint
à l' entrée de la porte, & parlant tout haut dit au
Pere qui fe difpofoit pour celebrer; mon Pere me
voulez vous permettre l' entrée de l'Eglife, Ie Pere
Iuy reprocha qu'il auoit commis vn grand fcandale,
& que s'il en vouloit demander pardon à Dieu qu'il
entraft, il entre done, fe met à genoux deuant l' Au-
tel, & de foy-mefme parlant tout haut il s'efcrie, mon
Dieu faiétes moy mifericorde, ie vous ay offencé,
ie vous en demande [89] pardon, ayés pitié de moy,
i'ay commis vn grand peché, mais vous eftes bon,
faites moy mifericorde, ie ne commettray plus iamais
cette offence, ie me confefferay, ayés pitié de moy,
& vous autres qui eftes icy affemblés, priés pour
moy, afin que Dieu me faffe mifericorde, ie fuis
bien marry de 1'auoir faché, cela dit, il fe profterna
baifant la terre, & vn Capitaine Chreftien s'écria,
prions pour luy afin que Dieu luy face mifericorde,
tout Ie monde fe mit auffi-toft à genoux priant tout
haut noftre Seigneur d' auoir pitié de ce pauure peni-
tent, ie confeffe ingenuement que cette aétion me
perça Ie cæur, ce n' eft pas tout, ce ieune homme
m'eftant venu voir fur les trois heures apres midy,

1640]

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175

that he should be driven away and forbidden ever to
live again with the Christians, for having been guilty
of so bad an action. We replied that this severity
would be proper in case he intended to persevere
in his evil course; but that, as God was full of mer-
cy, he should be received and pardoned if he ac-
knowledged his offense. It was immediately decreed
that he should publicly entreat God for mercy upon
his sin. The affair occurred thus: One Sunday
morning, the greater part of the Christians having
assembled in the Church to hear the holy Mass, this
poor young man, remaining near the open door, and
speaking loudly, said to the Father who was prepar-
ing to officiate, "
1y Father, will you permit me
to enter the Church? " The Father reproached him,
saying that he had caused a great scandal, and that,
if he would ask God's pardon for it, he might enter.
He came in, then, knelt down before the Altar, and
of his own accord, speaking in a loud voice, cried,
"
1y God, have mercy upon me; I have offended
you, I ask you [89] for pardon; have pity upon me;
I have committed a great sin, but you are good,-
have mercy upon me. I will never be guilty of this
offense again; I will confess; have pity upon me.
And you who are here assembled, pray for me, that
God may show me mercy; I am very sorry to have
offended him." This said, he prostrated himself,
and kissed the ground; and a Christian Captain
exclaimed, " Let us pray for him, that God may show
him mercy." All immediately fell upon their knees,
praying aloud to our Lord to have compassion on this
poor penitent. I confess frankly that this act pierced
me to the heart. This is not all. This young man
coming to see me, about three o'clock in the after-

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

me toucha plus qu'il n'auoit fait Ie matin, mon
Pere, me difoit-il, i'ay eu vn fi grand regret de ma
faute que ie n'ay ofé aborder aucun Chreftien depuis
mon retour, ie n'oferois feulement les regarder, on
m'auoit bien dit que vous me tanceriez fi ie reuenois
à fainét Iofeph, ie n'ay pas laiffé de vous venir trou-
uer, ie vous affeure que depuis que i'ay quitté cette
femme, i'ay ieufné tous [go] les iours, ne mangeant
qu'vne fois Ie iour & encore pas, tant i'ay de douleur
d'auoir fafché Dieu, ie n'ay ofe me retirer aux ca-
banes des Chreftiens, ie paffe deuant eux la tefte
baiffée fans mot dire, ie les iray voir quand ie feray
confeffé, voyla comme la chofe paffa, mais voicy ce
qui me ietta dans vn profond eftonnement, quand ce
bon Neophite eut fatisfait pour ce fcandale, ie luy
demanday comme il eftoit laiffé aller à vn fi grãd
peché, ie ne luy auois point voulu parler deuant fa
penitence, i'examinay diligemment fon procedé, ie
Ie trouuay fi peu coulpable deuãt Dieu, que ie fremis
quelque temps en moy-mefme d'vne fainéte horreur,
i1 eft vray qu'il auoit amené cette ieune fille, ayant
defia donné parole à vne autre, il eft vray qu'il de-
meuroit auec elle comme s'il euft efté marié, & voyla
Ie fcandale, mais il eft vray auffi que la crainte qu'il
auoit d'offencer Dieu & Ie refpeét qu'il portoit à fon
bapt
fme, l'auoient empefché de la toucher, quoy
qu'il en fut fortement follicité, defirant qu'elle fut
Chreftienne deuant que de luy tefmoigner fon [gl]
amitié, voyla à mon aduis ce qui paffe l'eftonnement,
eftre dans Ie feu & ne pas bruner, faire vne aétion
prefque innocente deuant Dieu, & en porter la peni-
tence auec amour deuant les hommes.

1640]

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noon, affected me more than he had done in the
morning. "1vly Father," said he, " I have so deeply
regretted my fault that I have not dared to approach
any Christian since my return; I would not dare even
to look at them. I was told, indeed, that you would
chide me if I returned to saint Joseph; but I have
come, nevertheless, to see you. I assure you that,
since I left this woman, I have fasted every [go]
day,-eating only once a day and not more,-so
much have I grieved for having offended God. I
have not dared to take shelter in the cabins of the
Christians; I pass before them in silence, with bowed
head; I shall go and see them when I have con-
fessed." Thus the incident passed over, but now
see what caused me profound astonishment; when
this good Neophyte had atoned for this offense, I
asked how he had come to yield to so great a sin; I
had been unwilling to speak to him before his pen-
ance. I carefully examined his behavior; I found
him so little guilty before God that I shuddered with-
in myself for some time with a holy horror. It is
true that he had taken this young girl, having al-
ready given his word to another; it is true that he
lived with her as if they were married, and that was
the offense. But it is true also that his fear of offend-
ing God and his respect for his baptism had pre-
vented him from touching her, although he .was
urgently solicited to do so,- desiring that she should
become a Christian before showing her the evidences
of his [gl] affection. This, in my opinion, is what
passes wonder,-to be in the fire, and not be burned;
to do an act almost innocent before God, and patient-
ly to bear the penance for it before men.

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CHAPITRE VII.

CONTINUATION DES ACTIONS DE NOS NOUUEAUX
CHRESTIENS.

C ONCEPTUM fermonem tenere qut"s poterz"t. Puis
que ie fuis en train de parler des aétions de
nos Chreftiens, il faut que ie couche en ce
Chapitre Ie refte des petites remarques que i'en ay
faiétes, ou qu'on m'en a données.
Vn Sauuage de l'Ifle eftant defcendu à S. Iofeph
pour trouuer femme à fon fils, & recherchant la fille
de deffunét François Xauier N enaskvmat, N oël N e-
gabamat à qui cette fille a efté fort recommandée,
parla en ces termes au pere du ieune homme; nous
ne fommes [92] plus ce que nous auons efté, nous
auons quitté nos anciennes façons de faire pour en
prendre de meilleures, celles que nous auons prifes
nous aggreent, no us les aymons & nous les voulons
garder iufques à la mort, c'eft pourquoy nous ne pou-
uons donner cette fille, qui croit en Dieu, & qui eft
baptifée, qu'à vne perfonne de mefme creance, autre-
ment Dieu fe fafcheroit, & nous ne voulons pas
l'offencer, Ie barbare ne repartit rien à ce difcours, il
diuertit Ie propos, & s'entretint pour lors de toute
autre chofe; mais Ie landemain matin i1 retourna
auec vn grand colier de pourcelaine, qu'il prefenta à
Noël N egabamat, & luy dit, voyla qui parle pour
moy, & qui vous affeure que ie veux croire en Dieu,
& que ie veux embraffer les façons de faire que vous

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CHAPTER VII.

CONTINUATION OF THE ACTIONS OF OUR NEW CHRIS-
TIANS.

C ONCEPTUM sernzonem tenere quÙ poterit.? Since
I am speaking of the actions of our new Chris-
tians, I must set down in this Chapter the
remainder of the little observations that I have made
of them, or that have been communicated to me.
A Savage of the Island, who went down to St.
Joseph to find a wife for his son, asked for the daughter
of the deceased François Xavier Nenaskumat. Noël
Negabamat, to whom this girl had been carefully
entrusted, spoke in these terms to the father of the
young man: "Weare no [92J longer what we once
were,-we have given up our old customs, to accept
better ones. Those that we have adopted please us;
we love them, and wish to observe them until death.
Hence we cannot give this girl, who believes in God
and is baptized, except to a person of the same belief.
Otherwise, God would be angry, and we do not wish
to offend him." The barbarian answered nothing to
this speech; he changed the subject, and conversed
for the time about some other matter. But, the
next morning, he returned with a large porcelain
collar, which he presented to Noël Negabamat, say-
ing to him, " This will speak for me, and will assure
you that I wish to believe in God, and that I wish
to embrace the customs that you so cherish. There-
fore, do not raise any difficulties about granting this

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cherifíez tant, & par confequent ne faites nulle diffi-
cu1té d'accorder cette fille à mon fils; car il fe fera
baptifer, & moy auffi, Noël Negabamat bien eftonné
de cette aétion repartit, nous ne voulons rien con-
c1ure touchant ce mariage fans l'aduis de noftre
Pere, il eft allé faire vn tour à Kebec [93J nous l'at-
tendons ce soir, fi-toft qu'il fera de retour ie luy por-
teray ce colier, qui luy fera entendre vos intentions,
il n'y manqua pas, à peine Ie Pere eftoit il entré dans
fa chambre, que Noëlluy prefente cette pourcelaine
& luy expofe toute l' affaire, ie fçay de bonne part
que ce ieune Sauuage preffa fort la fille pour fçauoir
fi elle l'aggreoit, mais encor qu'elle eut de l'affeétion
pour luy, neantmoins elle ne refpondit autre chofe
fin on , qu'il ne falloit pas s'addreffer à elle pour cet
affaire, mais au Pere qui l' a inftruiéte & à fes parens.
Or ce Sauuage fe voyant éconduit de ce cofté-là,
pour des iuftes raifons, rechercha vne ieune femme
Payenne qui venoit de quitter fon mary, & comme
celle-cy eftoit parente de lean Baptifte Etinechkavat
il s'addreffeà luy, Ie tireà l'écart, luy fait fes prefens
& fa demande, lean Baptifte luy répondit en cette
forte, ie tiens cette ieune femme comme ma fille, mais
ie ne te celeray point que les eaux du baptefme
n'ayant pas encor paffé fur fa tefte, elle a peu d'efprit,
i'ay prié fouuent vn tel Pere de la baptifer. [94J
comme il recognoiffoit qu'elle n'aymoit pas fon mary,
& qu'elle Ie pourroit quitter, comme elle a fait, il ne
l' a pas voulu faire, fi elle eftoit baptifée ie ne la don-
nerois iamais qu'à vn Chreftien, puis qu'elle ne l'eft
pas, ie te l' accorde, fi e1le en eft contente. Au refte
encor que Ie Pere qui fçait la valeur des eaux qu'il
verfe fur nous, ne l'ait point voulu baptifer, il ne la

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girl to my son; for he will be baptized, and I also."
Noël Negabamat, greatly surprised at this act, re-
plied, "We will conclude nothing about this mar-
riage without the advice of our Father. He has gone
on a journey to Kebec; [93] we expect him this
evening. As soon as he returns I will carry him
this collar, which will make him understand your
intentions. " He did not fail to do so; and the
Father had scarcely entered his chamber before Noël
presented him this porcelain. and eXplained the
whole matter to him. I know upon good authority
that this young Savage importuned the girl exceed-
ingly, to find out if she would accept him; but,
although she felt some affection for him, she would
nevertheless give him no other answer than that he
must not apply to her in this matter, but to the
Father who had instructed her, and to her relatives.
N ow this Savage, seeing himself put off in this
quarter for good reasons, sought a young Pagan
woman who had just left her husband; and as she
was a relative of Jean Baptiste Etinechkavat, he
addressed the latter; taking him aside, he proffered
him his presents and his request. Jean Baptiste an-
swered him thus: "I look upon this young woman
as my daughter; but I will not conceal from thee
that, as the waters of baptism have not passed over
her head, she has little sense. I have often begged
such a Father to baptize her; [94] as he saw that she
did not love her husband, and that she probably
would leave him, as she has done, he was not will-
ing to do so. If she were baptized, I would never
give her to anyone but a Christian; as she is not,
I will give her to thee, if she is willing. Moreover,
although the Father, who knows the value of the

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pas entierement éconduite, mais i1 nous à dit feule-
ment, quïl falloit attendre qu'elle fut mieux difpo-
fée, c' eft pourquoy ie te fupplie de la faire inftruire
là haut par les Peres qui font aux trois Riuieres, &
de luy procurer Ie baptefme, & à ton fils auffi, ce font
Ies paroles de ce bon N eophite.
I'ay parlé cy-deffus d'vn Chreftien eftropiat d'vne
iambe, ie puis dire que la grace fait vn miracle en
ce ieune homme; ie penfe auoir defcrit fon baptefme
aux relations precedentes, mais cela n'empefchera
pas que ie ne touche icy vne ou deux de fes aétions
en paffant, il eft d'vn naturel prompt & altier, mais
fi Ie fang amolit les diamants, la grace dompte les
cæurs, i1 nous racomptoit [95] vn iour, qu'eftant allé
à la guerre, il fe vit pourfuiuy par trois grands Hiro-
quois, comme lors il auoit de bonnes iambes illes
deuançoit auec aduantage, enfÌn s'eftant apperceu
qu'ils n'eftoient pas tous trois enfemble, il tourne
vifage, attaque Ie premier & l'arrefte d'vn coup de
fleche; cela fait, il fait femblant de fuïr, les autres
Ie pourfuiuans, il fe retourne vne autrefois, tranf-
perce Ie plus proche, puis ayant ietté fon arc & fon
carquois, i1 court apres Ie troifiefme l'efpée à Ia main,
mais comme il craignoit d'en rencontrer quelques
autres, i1 fe retira bien ioyeux, d' auoir euité vn tel
danger.
11 auoit pour lors vn corps de fer, pour ainfi parler,
& vne ame de feu, mais les grandes maladies qui
l'attaquerent par apres luy firent bien voir qu'il eftoit
bafty de fange & de bouë, comme Ie refte des hom-
mes; il attribuë toutes fes difgraces à fon orgueil, il
dit hautement deuant fes compatriotes qu'à mefme
temps qu'il s' eft veu plongé dans quelque efiime de

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waters that he pours upon us, was not willing to bap-
tize her, he did not entirely refuse her, but merely
told us that it was necessary to wait until she were bet-
ter disposed. Hence, I beg thee to have her instructed
up there by the Fathers who are at the three Rivers,
and to procure baptism for her and for thy son also."
Such were the words of this good Neophyte.
I have spoken above of a Christian who was lame in
one leg. I can say that grace effected a miracle in
this young man. I think I have described his bap-
tism in preceding relations, but that will not prevent
me from incidentally mentioning here one or two of
his actions. He is of a hasty and proud disposition;
but, if blood softens diamonds, grace subdues hearts.
He related to us [95] one day that, having gone to
war, he saw himself pursued by three stout Hiro-
quois. As he then had good legs, he considerably
outran them. At last, perceiving that they were
not all three together, he turned around, attacked the
first one and stopped him by an arrow shot. This
done, he pretended to flee, and the others pursued
him; he turned again, and pierced the nearest one
through; then, having thrown down his bow and
quiver, he ran after the third, javelin in hand; but
as he was afraid of encountering others, he withdrew,
greatly rejoiced at having escaped such danger.
He had then a body of iron, so to speak, and a
soul of fire. But the severe illnesses that afterward
attacked him made him see plainly that he was built
of clay and mud, like the rest of humanity. He
attributes all his misfortunes to his own pride. He
says boldly before his countrymen that whenever he
has found himself plunged in self-admiration, at that
very time some misfortune has overtaken him. We

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foy-mefme, à mefme teps quelque malheur l'a ac-
cueilly, nous l'auons [96] fecouru quelques années
dans fes miferes, en fin la maifon de charité & de mi-
fericorde efiant efiablie on l'y fit porter, comme i1 efi
vrayement touché de Dieu, i1 profitoit grandement
aux autres malades. Ayant appris cet Hyuer que
les Peres de la refidence de S. Iofeph fe retiroient,
ou comme parlent maintenant les Sauuages qui nous
cognoiffent, fe cachoient pour parler à Dieu dans
leurs exercices fpirituels, il pria infiamment qu'on l'y
fit porter, n'ayant plus d'autre incommodité que fa
iambe, dont il ne fe peut feruir, la mere Superieure
de l'Hofpital m'en efcriuit ces mots, Pierre Trigatin
(c'efi ainfi qu'il fe nomme) me voyant donner ma
lettre à vn Sauuage, ma obligée de mander à V. R.
qu'il defire auec paffion d'aller à S. Iofeph, pour
efire enfeigné à prier Dieu, & faire queIque retraiéte,
i1 fut hier vne heure & demie en nofire Chappelle
en oraifon, & toutes les fois qu'il en fort, on voit
bien qu'il efi tout remply de Dieu, nous tefmoignant
vn mefpris de tout, mefme du boire & du manger,
i1 efi foufmis à tout, on diroit [97] d'vn predicateur
Ie voyant enfeigner les autres, l'affection luy faifant
faire tous les gefies qu'il faut pour leur imp rimer ce
qu'il dit, ie croy que les ames qui ayment Dieu fer-
uemment ont des confolations nompareilles voyans
ces bons N eophites, ce font les paroles de la Mere.
Enfin nofire R. P. Superieur Ie fit apporter ou
plufioft traifner à la façon du païs, il conceuoit fort
bien les chofes de Dieu, gardoit Ie filence, fe retiroit
en vn petit coing pour faire fes oraifons & fes medi-
tations, il s' efionnoit de l' ignorance des hommes, &
deploroit la mifere de fes compatriotes, nous ne

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have [96] aided him for several years in his suffer-
ings; the house of charity and mercy being finally
established, we had him carried there, and, as he is
really touched by God, the other patients profited
greatly by his presence. Having learned this Win-
ter that the Fathers of the residence of St. Joseph
went into retreat,- or, as the Savages who know us
now say, hid themselves to speak to God in their
spiritual exercises,- he begged earnestly that he
should be carried there, his only impediment being
his leg, which he could not use. The mother
Superior of the Hospital wrote me thus about him:
" Pierre Trigatin" (this is his name), "seeing me
give my letter to a Savage, has constrained me to
send this message to Your Reverence, that he pas-
sionately desires to go to St. Joseph to be taught to
pray to God, and to go into retreat. Yesterday he
was an hour and a half in prayer, in our Chapel; and,
every time he issues therefrom, it is very evident
that he is filled with God, testifying to us a con-
tempt for all things, even for food and for drink; he
is submissive to all; one would call him [97] a
preacher, seeing him teach the others,- his enthu-
siasm causing him to make all the gestures necessary
to impress upon them what he is saying. I believe
that the souls who ferventl y love God experience
incomparable consolation in seeing these good N eo-
phytes." These are the :Mother's words.
Finally, our Reverend Father Superior had him
brought, or rather dragged, in the fashion of the
country. He very well understood the things of God,
kept silent, and withdrew to a little corner to offer
his prayers and meditations. He expressed astonish-
ment at the ignorance of men, and deplored the

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fommes difoit-il, que des chiens, nous ne penfons
qu'à cette vie, quand on me parle de Dieu mon ame
eft repeuë, il me femble qu'elle eft comme vn
homme qui a grand appetit, auquel on donne bien à
difner.
Le Pere qui Ie conduifoit Ie voyant petuner, luy
demanda pourquoy il petunoit, il demeura court fans
refpondre, fi Dieu vous difoit pourfuit Ie Pere, ren-
dez compte de vos aétions, pourquoy [98J auez vous
pris du tabac? que diriez-vous? ie ferois bien en
peine; car ie n' en ay iamais pris que pour Ie plaifir
que i'y fentois, mais pourquoy adioutoit-il, ne m'a-
uez vous pas auerty pluftofi de cette action dereglée?
ie n'en prendray iamais plus; en effet il s'en paffa
fort long-teps, iufques à ce qu'vne perfône luy dit
qu'il feroit à propos qu'il en prit vn peu pour fa fan-
té, ceux qui fçauent de queUe manie les Sauuages &
quelques François font portés à prendre la fumée du
tabac, admireront cette abftinence en vn Canadois,
les grands yurongnes n' ayment pas tant Ie vin que
les Sauuages ayment Ie petun.
Ayant fait vn tour ce Printemps aux trois Riuieres,
Ie Pere Buteux refcriuit de luy ces paroles au Pere
Claude Pijart, Pierre Trigatin eft ça haut de fort
bonne edificatiõ, il ne laifíe pas d'auoir enuie de cou-
rir tout boiteux qu'il eft, il y a quelque iours qu'vn
François nous vint donner l'alarme des Hiroquois,
Pierre auffi-toft fe prefente pour aller decouurir l' en-
nemy, & quoy que ie luy peufíe aUeguer, il defira
s'embarquer dans vn canot [99J de quatre perfonnes,
qu'il gouuernoit au commancement auec 1'vne des
potences dont il fe fert pour marcher, & puis auec vn
auiron, ils s' en allerent done dans Ie lac S. Paul, où

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misery of his countrymen. "We are only dogs,"
said he; "we think of nothing but this life. When
one speaks of God, my soul is fed; it seems to me it
is like a man who has a great appetite, to whom is
given a good dinner."
The Father who had charge of him, seeing him
smoking, asked him why he smoked. He stopped
short, and did not answer. "If God said to you,"
pursued the Father, '" Render an account of your
actions; why [98] did you take tobacco?' what would
you say?" "Indeed I would be at a loss; for I have
never taken it except for the pleasure I felt from it.
But why," he added, ,( have you not informed me
sooner of this disorderly action? I will never again
take it." In fact he dispensed with it for a long time,
until some one told him that it would be proper for
him to take a little of it for his health. Those who
know what a mania the Savages and some Frenchmen
have for smoking tobacco, will admire this abstinence
in a Canadian. Intemperate drinkers are not so fond
of wine as the Savages are of tobacco.
As he made a trip to the three Rivers this Spring,
Father Buteux wrote these words about him to
Father Claude Pijart: " Pierre Trigatin affords very
great edification up here; he even wishes to run,
lame as h
is. A few days ago, a Frenchman came
to give us the alarm about the Hiroquois. Pierre
immediately presented himself to go and discover the
enemy; and, however much I might argue with
him, he desired to embark in a canoe [99] with four
persons, which he guided at first with one of the
staffs which served him in walking, and then with
a paddle. They went, then, to lake St. Paul, where
a noise had been heard. As night drew on, they per-

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on auoit entendu du bruit, comme la nuit approchoit
ils apperceurent comme vn canot, auffi-tofi croyans
que c'eftoit l'ennemy, Pierre fit defembarquer les
Sauuages & vn François qui efioient auec eux les fait
mettre à genoux, pour prier Dieu, & leur priere
eftant faite ils fe rembarquent, s'en vont donner fur
ce canot pour Ie combattre, mais en l'approchant ils
trouuerent que c'eftoit vn arbre qui flottoit fur l'eau,
s'il ne combattit point ce ne fut pas faute de courage,
mais d'occafion, il s'eft icy confefíé & communié &
Louis Nichvtenfis auffi, les deux Dimanches qu'ils y
ont efté. II a bonne enuie de reuenir encor enfeigner
fes gens, en verité ie n'eufíe pas creu qu'il euft eu
la hardiefíe qu'il a monfiré à l'endroit de ceux qu'il
enfeignoit, prindpalement en ce qu'il leur difoit,
qu'il cheriffoit tous les hommes; & mefme les Hiro-
quois en Dieu, & que s'il auoit vn prifonnier il [100]
auroit plus de foin de luy bruí1er Ie cæur de l'amour
de Dieu, que de tourmenter fon corps, à mon aduis il
n'y a que la grace qui puiffe faire dire cela, notam-
ment à vn homme de fon humeur, voila ce que porte
la lettre du Pere.
I'ay par1é bien amplement aux années precedentes
d'vn certain forder tres-fameux panny les Sauuages,
maintenant bon Chrefiien, il fut baptifé des l'année
pafíée, i'en diray deux mots pour Ie prefent, il fe
nomme Eftienne Pigarovich, il arriua à S. Iofeph Ie
vingt-troifiefme d' Auril retournant de fa chaffe de
l'Eí1ã, voicy ce qu'il nous raconta à diuerfes ren-
contres. V oyant que la petite verole attaquoit ceux
auec lefquels il s' eftoit ioint premierement, il reprit
les incredules de n'auoir pas prefté l'oreille aux dif-
cours de la foy que nous leur auions faiéts, en apres

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ceived something like a canoe,- and, at once sup-
posing that it was the enemy, Pierre had the Savages
and a Frenchman who was with them disembark,
and made them kneel and pray to God. Their pray-
er finished, they reëmbarked and proceeded to attack
this canoe; but, upon approaching it, they perceived
that it was a tree floating upon the water. If he
did not fight it was not for lack of courage, but of
opportunity. He confessed and received communion
here, and Louis Nichutensis also, the two Sundays
they were here. He has a great desire to return
again, to teach his people. In truth, I would not
have believed that he possessed the fearlessness he
has shown toward those whom he was teaching,-
principally in saying to them that he cherished all
men, even the Hiroquois, in God; and that, if he
had a prisoner, he [100] would care more to burn his
heart with love for God, than to torture his body.
In my opinion, nothing but grace can inspire such
words, especially in a man of his nature." Such are
the contents of the Father's letter.
I have spoken very fully in former years of a cer-
tain sorcerer very famous among the Savages, now
a good Christian. He was baptized during the past
year. I will say a few words concerning him at this
time. His name is Estienne Pigarouich. He ar-
rived at St. Joseph on the twenty-third of April, on
his return from Elk-hunting. Here is what he related
to us at various times: Seeing that the smallpox was
attacking those whom he had first joined, he re-
proved the unbelieving for not having lent ear to the
discourses that we had given them on the faith; then
he exclaimed, " If anyone wishes to pray to God, let
him join me; I hope that he will help us! " Some

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il s'efcria fi quelqu'vn veut prier Dieu qu'il fe ioigne
à moy, i'efpere qu'il nous fecourera, quelques infi-
deles fe ietterent de fon party, tous les foirs & tous
les matins ils faifoient leurs prieres à genoux, ils
les prononçoit tout haut & les autres Ie fuiuoient
[101] mot apres mot, chofe eftrange pas vn deux ne
fut attaqué de cette maladie peftilente, qui emporta
to us ceux que l'infidelité ou Ie refpeét humain em-
pefcherent d'auoir recours à Dieu.
II nous racomptoit que Ie Capitaine de Tadouffac,
nommé Etovait, auec lequel il s'eftoit retiré, difoit
par fois deuant fes gens, ie hay la foy & les prieres,
ny moy ny mes enfans ne croirons iamais ce que di-
fent les François de l'autre vie, ie m'efionnois faifoit
ce bon N eophite, de cette malice, Dieu ne la pas
laiffé long-temps impunie, car luy, fa femme & tous
fes enfans & ceux qui eftoient auec luy furent pris
du mal commun & enleués en vn inftant, Ô que i'e-
ftois trine difoit-il, de voir mourir ces pauures mife-
rabIes fans baptefme. Apres que nous fufmes deli-
urés de ce fleau commun ie tombay malade bien
auant dans 1'Hyuer, & dans les bois, en forte que ie
n'en pouuois plus, tous ceux qui eftoient auec moy
me tenoient pour mort, dans cette affiiétion ie me fou-
uins que i'eftois baptifé & que Dieu eftoit mõ Pere,
ie luy dis pour lors en mon cæur, tu peux tout [102] tu
fçais bien que ie n'en puis plus, & que i'ay la tefte
fi foible que ie vay perdre l' efprit, fi tu veux tu me
peux guerir, determine neantmoints & faiéìs ce que
tu voudras, mais ie croy que tu es tout puiffant, & que
fi tu voulois tout maintenant tu me guerirois, comme
ie priois en mon cæur, faifoit-il, ie me fenty guery
en vn inftant kaiafikat, kaiafikat, tout à coup, tout à

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unbelievers went over to his side, and every evening
and morning they said their prayers on their knees,-
some pronouncing them aloud, and the others fol-
lowing them. [101] word for word. Strange to say,
not one of them was attacked by this pestilential
malady, which carried off all those whom infidelity
or fear of public opinion prevented from having
recourse to God.
He related to us that the Captain of Tadoussac,
named Etouait, with whom he had taken shelter,
said sometimes before his people, " I hate the faith
and prayers; neither I nor my children will ever
believe what the French say of the other life." "I
was surprised at this malice," said this good N eo-
phyte. God did not leave him long unpunished; for
he, his wife, and all his children, and those who
were with him, were seized by the common malady
and carried off in a moment. "Oh ! how sorry I
was," said he, " to see these poor wretches die with-
out baptism. After we were delivered from this
common scourge, I fell sick late in the Winter, and
far in the woods,- so that I was utterly helpless, and
all those who were with me regarded me as a dead
man. In this affliction I remembered that I was
baptized and that God was my Father. I said to
him then in my heart, , Thou canst do all, [102] thou
knowest well that I can do no more, and that my
head is so weak that I am about to lose my mind: if
thou wilt, thou canst heal me. Decide, however,
and do what thou wilt; but I believe that thou art
all-powerful, and that, if thou wilt, thou canst at this
moment heal me.' While I was praying in my
heart," he continued, "I felt myself cured in an
instant, kaiasikat, kaiasikat, suddenly, suddenly; I

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coup, ie me leuay tout fur l'heure & mangeayauec
l'eftonnement de ces gens que tu vois, monftrantceux
qui l'accompagnoient pour lors, non eJl perj"ollarum
acceptatio apud Deum, Dieu ne regarde point fi on eft
Grec ou Barbare, qui a plus de confiance & plus
d'amour eft Ie mieux venu aupres de fa Majefté.
V oicy vn autre traiét de fa prouidence, ayant fait
ma prouifion de chair d'Elan, difoit ce bon N eophite,
ie me trouuay bien en peine comme ie la porterois à
fainét Iofeph, car nous n'auions pas affez de canots
pour nous & pour noftre bagage; ie penfois dans
mon efprit fi ie ne pOUITois pas bien faire vn caieux
de bois, fur lequel ie mettrois [103] mon equipage,
mais les marées font fi fortes, les vents fi dangereux,
& les caieux fi pefans, que toute ma prouifion s' en
fut allée à vaux I' eau, ne fçachant quel confeil pren-
dre, ie dy à ma femme, prions Dieu, nous fommes
baptifés, il nous infpirera ce qu'il faut faire, apres
noftre priere, ie me fenty porté à faire vn canot, ie
n'en auois iamais fait, & ie defefperois deuant ma
priere d'en pouuoir faire, mais ayant dit à Dieu que
tout ce qu'il nous auoit donné à manger feroit perdu
s'il ne nous aydoit, ie creu que i'en viendrois à bout,
en effet nous en fHmes auffi bien que les plus experts.
Ce bon homme eft fi zelé, que quand il fçait quel-
que defordre parmy fes gens, il nous en vient don-
ner aduis pour y remedier; luy mefme va voir ceux
qu'il croit faire mal & leur donne bon confeil, il
prend vn tres-grand plaifir d' oüir parler de Dieu, &
de grandes recompenfes & des grands chaftimens de
l'autre vie, il a fi peu de refpeét humain qu'il ne
craint ny petit ny grand, & par fois il nous tefmoi-

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arose without delay, and ate something, to the aston-
ishment of these people that thou seest ,. - pointing
to those who then accompanied him. Non est perso-
narum acceptatz"o apud Deum. God cares not whether
one is a Greek or a Barbarian; he who has the most
confidence and love is the most welcome to his
Majesty.
Behold another example of his providence. "Hav-
ing obtained my supply of Elk meat," said this good
Neophyte, " I was quite at a loss how I should carry
it to saint Joseph, for we did not have enough canoes
for ourselves and our baggage. I wondered if I could
not easily make a wooden raft, upon which I could
put [103] my goods; but the tides are so strong, the
winds so dangerous, and the rafts so heavy, that all
my supplies might go to the bottom of the river.
Not knowing what course to take, I said to my wife,
C Let us pray to God; we are baptized,- he will in-
spire in us what must be done.' After our prayer,
I felt myself prompted to make a canoe; I had never
made one, and I despaired, before my prayer, of
being able to do so; but having told God that all he
had given us to eat would be lost, if he did not help
us, I believed that I could accomplish it. In fact,
we made one as well as the most expert persons could
have done."
This good man is so zealous that, when he knows
of some irregularity among his people, he comes to
inform us of it that it may be remedied. He himself
goes to see those whom he believes to have done
wrong, and gives them good advice. He takes a
very great pleasure in hearing conversation about
God, and about the great rewards and severe punish-
ments of the other life. He has so little regard for

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gne [104] qu'il voudroit bien fouffrir la mort pour fa
creance.
C'eft vne confolation bien fenfible d'entendre auec
queUe innocence ces bonnes gens rendent compte de
leurs confciences quand ils retournent des bois apres
cinq ou fix mois d'abfence, ils fe conferuent pour la
plufpart auec vne pureté rauiffante, encor qu'ils
foient auec des barbares, & qu'ils n'ayent autre fe-
cours que du Ciel, comme ils ne font pas polis à l'ex-
terieur, i1 n'y a que ceux qui entendent leur langue
& qui les conuerfent qui ayent cognoiffance de ces
vrais biens incognus aux yeux des hommes; mais
bien cognus de Dieu.

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worldly considerations that he fears neither small
nor great; and he sometimes declares to us [104J that
he would willingly suffer death for his belief.
It is a very touching consolation to hear with what
innocence these good people render an account of
their consciences when they return from the woods,
after five or six months of absence. They maintain
themselves, in most cases, in a delightful purity, al-
though they are with barbarians, and have no other
aid than that of Heaven. As they are not outwardly
polished, it is only those who understand their lan-
guage and converse with them who have a knowl-
edge of these truly good persons,-unknown to the
eyes of men, but well known to God.

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[VOL. 18

[105J CHAPITRE VIII.

DE LA BONNE DISPOSITION DE QUELQUES SAUUAGES
NON EKCOR BAPTISÉS.

D ANS les grandes refiftences que les Sauuages
nous faifoient au commencement que nous
leur parlions de la foy, ie fuppliois fouuent
noftre Seigneur de me faire cefte grace qu'auãt ma
mort ie peuffe voir deux familIes lauées dedãs fon
fang, profeffer publiquement & cõftamment la Reli-
gion Chreftienne, fa bonté ayant donné cefte confo-
lation à mes yeux, ie fouhaittois quafi de chanter Ie
Cantique de S. Simeon, tant cefte faueur me fem-
bloit grande, mais Dieu qui ne mefure pas fes dons
à la petiteffe de noftre cæur, a voulu que ie viffe en-
trer en fon Eglife, non feulement ces deux premieres
familIes, mais plufieurs autres, & que i'euffe ce con-
tentement bien doux de les voir profeffer courageufe-
ment la foy de Iefus-Chrifi; ce n'eft pas [106] tout,
ce Dieu des mifericordes a telIement difpofé les Sau-
uages non encor baptifez, qu'il femble que fa Ma-
jefté veut changer ce pauure peuple, & faire reluire
fes lumieres dans les tenebres. Difons deux mots
des fentiments qu'il donne à quelques vns de ces
Infideles.
Plufieurs fe viennent recommander à nos prieres
quand ils entreprenent quelque voyage; cet hyuer
dernier, voulans trauerfer la grande riuiere toute
heriffée de glaces, ils nous venoient trouuer, & l'vn

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[105] CHAPTER VIII.

OF THE GOOD DISPOSITION OF SOME SAVAGES NOT
YET BAPTIZED.

I N the great resistance the Savages made to us,
w hen we first spoke to them of the faith, I often
supplicated our Lord to grant me this favor,-
that before my death I might see two families washed
in his blood, publicly and steadfastly profess the
Christian Religion. His goodness having granted
this consolation to my eyes, I almost desired to sing
the Canticle of St. Simeon, so great did this favor seem
to me. But God, who does not measure b is grace by
the littleness of our hearts, has willed that I should
see enter his Church not only these first two fami-
lies, but several others; and that I should have the
satisfaction, truly sweet, of seeing them boldly pro-
fess the faith of Jesus Christ. This is not [106] all;
this God of mercy has so disposed the Savages not
yet baptized, that it would seem that his Majesty
wishes to transform this poor people, and to make
his light shine in the darkness. Let us say a few
words about the sentiments he has given to some of
these Unbelievers.
Many come to commend themselves to our pray-
ers, when they are undertaking a journey. This last
winter, wishing to cross the great river all blocked
with ice, they came to see us; and one of them, ad-
dressing the Father that he knew, said to him, "
ly
Father, when you see us embark, look at us; raise

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

deux s'addreffant au Pere qu'il cognoiffoit, luy difoit,
Mon Pere, quand vous nous verrez embarquez regar-
dez nous, leuez les yeux au Ciel, dites à Dieu ces
paroles, gardez-les, ouurez leur paffage, efcartez les
glaces, deliurez les du peril ou plufieurs perdent la
vie, ne nous perdez point de veuë tandis que nous
ferons fur la riuiere, difoient ces bonnes gens, &
quand nous ferions efloignés de vous dedans les bois,
penfez à nous quand vous prierez Dieu.
Vn autre Sauuage dont la mere & la fille efioient
baptifées, & fe nommoient Magdelaine & Dorothée,
faifoit cefie [107J priere à Dieu quand il alloit à la
chaffe, vous qui auez tout fait regardez :Magdelaine
& Dorothée vos enfans, elles veulent manger, don-
nez leur dequoy, i' en vay chercher pour elles, vous
les aymez, car elles font baptifées. Ce bon homme
empruntoit les noms de fa mere & de fa fille pour
induire nofire Seigneur à luy donner bonne chaffe,
faifant voir par cefie action l'efiime qu'il faifoit du
baptefme, qu'il receura bien-tofi s'il plaifi à Dieu.
Vn Sauuage nous difoit que dés fa ieuneffe il regar-
doit Ie Ciel & la terre auec efionnement, mais qui
pourroit bien auoir fait tout cela, difoit-il? cela n'a
pas efié fait en vain & fans deffein.
Vn autre nous racontoit qu'efiant malade cet Au-
tomne, il auoit veu dans Ie Ciel vn ieune François
de fa cognoiffance trefpaffé depuis peu, ie la vy, di-
foit-il, dans vne beauté & dans vn lieu Ie plus rauif-
fant du monde, ie voulu m'auancer pour aller en ce
lieu de delices, mais il me demanda fi i'efiois baptifé,
ayant refpondu que non, il me dit, retire toy, tu ne
fçaurois voir Ie grand Capitaine du Ciel, [108J ny
venir auec moy, fi tu n'es laué dans les eaux du bap-

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199

your eyes to Heaven, and say to God these words:
'Preserve them; open the way for them, and part
the ice; deliver them from a danger wherein many
lose their lives.' Do not lose us from sight while
we shall be upon the river," said these good people;
'" and, when we shall be far away from you in the
woods, think of us when you pray to God."
Another Savage, whose mother and daughter were
baptized and were named 11agdelaine and Dorothée,
Qffered this [107] prayer to God when he went hunt-
ing: "You who have made all, look down upon
Magdelaine and Dorothée, your children. They
wish to eat, give them food. I am going away to
seek something for them; you love them, for they
are baptized." This good man borrowed the names
of his mother and daughter, to induce our Lord to
give him successful hunting,-showing by this act
the esteem in which he held baptism, which he will
receive soon, if it please God.
A Savage told us that, ever since his youth, he
had looked upon the Sky and the earth with wonder.
" Now, who can have made all that?" said he, " it
has not been made in vain, and without a purpose."
Another related to us that, being sick this Au-
tumn, he had seen in Heaven a young Frenchman of
his acquaintance who had died a little while before.
'" I saw him," said he, "in most ravishing beauty
and in the most delightful place imaginable. I
wished to go forward and enter this place of delight,
but he asked me if I were baptized. "VVhen I told
him I was not, he said to me, , Retire, thou canst
not see the great Captain of Heaven, [108] or come
with me, if thou art not washed in the waters of bap-
tism.' This amazed me greatly, and, at the same
time, what I saw disappeared."

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

tefme, cela m'eftonna fort, & à mefme temps ce que
ie voyois dif parut.
Quoy qu'il en foit de cefte vifion, ce Sauuage a
fouftenu publiquement deuant ceux de fa nation que
Ies ames pouuoient aller au Ciel, & qu'il y feroit def-
ja s'il euft efté baptifé. Vn certain Algonquin racon-
toit cet hyuer qu'vn Sauuage de ces pays plus haut
eftoit refufcité; on l'auoit enfeuely, difoit-il, on eftoit
tout preft de Ie mettre en terre quand il commença à
fe remuer, on fe met à decoudre viftement les robes
dans lefquelles on l'auoit enueloppé, ce bon homme
fe leue à fon feant, racontent qu'il vient du pays des
ames, lequel eft fitué ou Ie Soleil fe couche, aíIeure
qu'il n'a veu là aucun François, ce lieu eHant deftiné
feulement pour les Sauuages, il eft en ma puiffance,
difoit-il, de viure encore en terre, mais i'ayme mieux
m'en aller au pays des ames que refter parmy les
hommes, cela dit, il fe couche, meurt derechef, on
Ie renueloppe & Ie met-on en terre. Le Sauuage qui
a eu la vifion dont [109] ie viens de parler, enten-
dant cefte fable, dit tout hault qu'il n'en croyoit rien,
& que ce qu'il auoit veu eftoit fi admirable qu'il ne Ie
pouuoit ofter de fon efprit, affeurant toufiours que
Ies ames pouuoient aller au Ciel.
Mais remarquez s'il vous plaift que Ie Diable deçoit
ce pauure homme, donnant vne fauffe interpretation
aux parolles qu'il a entenduës, car comme ce Frãçois
qu'il affeure auoir veu dans vne grande gloire, luy
dit qu'il n'entreroit point au Ciel qu'il ne fut bap-
tifé, il a cõc1ud delà qu'auffi toft qu'il fera baptifé i1
mourra pour y aller, fi bien qu' il retarde de iour en
iour ne pouuant fe refoudre à quitter fi toft la terre,
i'efpere qu'on luy oftera bien toft cet erreur. II a
fait defia baptifer fa femme & fes enfans.

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201

Whatever there may be in this vision, this Savage
has publicly maintained before those of his nation that
souls can go to Heaven, and that he would already
be there if he had been baptized. A certain Algon-
quin related this winter that a Savage of those coun-
tries farther up had been resuscitated. "They had
shrouded him," said he, " and were all ready to put
him in the ground when he began to move. They
quickly set to work to undo the robes in which they
had bound him. This good man, sitting up, related
that he had come from the country of souls, which
is situated where the Sun sets, and that he had not
seen any Frenchman there,-this place being des-
tined only for Savages. "It is in my power," said
he, "to live again upon earth; but I prefer to go
away to the country of souls, rather than to remain
among men;" so saying, he lay down and died again.
He was a second time en veloped, and placed in the
ground. The Savage who had the vision of which
[ 10 9] I have just spoken, hearing this tale, said boldly
that he did not believe it at all, and that what he had
seen was so wonderful that he could not get it out of
his mind,- continuing to assert that souls could go
to Heaven.
But observe, if you please, that the Devil deludes
this poor man, giving a false interpretation to the
words that he heard. For, since this Frenchman
whom he declares to have seen in great glory said to
him that he could not enter Heaven if he were not
baptized, he has concluded therefrom that, as soon as
he shall be baptized, he will die in order to go there:
so that he delays from day to day, not being able to
resolve upon leaving the earth so soon. I hope he
will speedily be freed from this error. He has
already had his wife and children baptized.

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LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

II y a des Sauuages non encor baptifez qui nous
viennent donner aduis des fuperftitions qui fe com-
mettent en fecret dans les cabanes, difans que ceux
qui croyent encor à ces refueries, retiennent les de-
mons parmy eux, il eft vray que les Infideles n'ofe-
roient quafi plus diuulguer ces vieilles fottifes qui fe
vont tous [110] les iours aboliffant à S. Iofeph.
Vn Sauuage, encor payen, auoit procuré Ie bap-
tefme à vne fienne petite fille, cet enfant venant à
mourir nous I' enterrafme honorablement en noftre
Cimetierre, ce qui Ie toucha fort, mais cõme nous
luy eufmes par1é de la gloire dont iouyffoit fon
enfant, il en fut fi aife qu'il s'efcria, mon cæur eftoit
efiouffé, & vous luy auez donné de l'air, puis que ma
fille eft fi heureufe, ie veux aller auec elle, & puis
que vous auez logé fon corps aupres de voftre maifon,
logez moy auffi aupres de vous, car d'orefnauant ie
tiendray ce lieu-cy pour mon pays, & ie m'arrefieray
auec les autres qui veulent compofer vne bourgade,
inftruifez moy tous les iours & ma femme auffi, elle
a volonté d'eftre baptifée auffi bien que moy, comme
on les inftruifoit s'i! arriuoit que Ie pere qui en auoit
pris charge s'abfentaft quelquefois, ils luy difoient
au retour, vofire abfence nous attrifte & noftre cæur
eft refiouy quand vous efies de retour, car vous eftes
noftre pere.
Vne femme Sauuage ayant racommodé quelque
chofe pour nofire maifon; [III] quelque canot ou
chofe femblable, nous luy demãdafmes ce qu'elles vou-
loit pour fa peine, helas! dit-elIe, ie ne demãde rien
finon que vous vous fouueniez que ie ne fuis pas bap-
tifée, ie craignois cet hyuer de mourir dans les bois
fans baptefme, au moindre mal mon cæur trembloit,

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203

There are Savages not yet baptized who come to
inform us of superstitious rites which are performed
secretly in the cabins,-saying that those who still
believe in these delusions retain the demons among
them. In truth, the Unbelievers would hardly dare
divulge these ancient follies any more, which are
[110] daily being abolished at St. Joseph.
A Savage, still pagan, had procured baptism for
one of his little girls. This child happening to die,
we buried her with honor in our Cemetery, which
deeply touched him. But, when we spoke to him of
the glory his child was enjoying, he was so pleased
that he exclaimed, " My heart was suffocating, and
you have given it air. Since my child is so happy,
I wish to go with her; and since you have placed her
body near your house, lodge me also near you,-for
henceforward I shall look upon this place as my
country, and shall settle with the others who wish
to form a village. Instruct me every day, and my
wife also. She wishes to be baptized, as well as I."
While they were being instructed, if it happened
that the father who had taken charge of them occa-
sionally absented himself, they would say to him on
his return, "Your absence saddens us, and our
hearts are rejoiced when you have returned, for you
are our father."
A Savage woman, having mended some article for
our house,- [I II] a canoe, or something of the
kind,- we asked her what she desired for her trouble.
"Ah," said she, "I ask nothing, except that you
remember that I am not baptized. I was afraid of
dying in the woods this winter without baptism; my
heart trembled at the least sickness. Do not let me
go away from you any more burdened with my sins."

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LES RELA TIOJVS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

ne me laifIez plus eiloigner de vous chargée de mes
offenfes.
Deux autres femmes s'efiant efgarées du chemin
fur la nuit, efioient en danger de mourir de froid fur
les neiges, car elles n'auoient point de raquettes ny
de hache ny de fufil, & ne fe portoient pas trop bien,
fe voyans dans cefie angoiffe elles ont recours à
Dieu, l'vne efioit Chrefiienne & l'autre non; ayant
fait leur priere elles crient à l'auenture pour voir fi
elles ne feroient point entenduës de quelqu'vn; à
mefme temps vn canot conduit par deux Chreftiens
pafIoit fur Ie grand fleuue à l'endroit ou efioient ces
femmes, ils ref pondent à leurs cris, les appellent, les
font defcendre au bord de l'eau, & les embarquent,
ces bonnes femm"es admiroient ce rencontre, & di-
foient auec efionnement, Dieu nous a [112] prompte-
ment fecouruës.
Vn forder de Tadouffac fort efiourdy efiant venu
à S. Iofeph nous Ie traiétafmes rudement de paroles,
i1 nous difoit nettement que fon art luy auoit fauué
la vie, & que s'il croyoit en Dieu qu'il ne pafferoit
pas rEfié, nous recommandafmes à N oël N egabamat
de luy parler en fecret, il ny manqua pas, il pafIoit
quafi les nuids à luy parler de noftre creance. En
fin cet homme quoy que mechant fut touché des dif-
cours de ce bon Neophyte, & des bons exemples des
nouueaux Chrefiiens, en forte qu'il nous vint prier
de baptifer fon fils, & nous afIeura qu'i! fe feroit in-
ftruire, ie voy bien, dit-il, que ie ne fay pas bien, ie
veux quitter Ie Diable, & croire en Dieu, ie m'en vais
faire vn tour à Tadouffac, bien toft vous me verrez
de retour. Ie ne fçay pas ce qui en fera tous ceux
que Dieu appelle ne refpondent pas à fa voix, cet
homme à bien des liens à rompre.

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205

Two other women, who lost their way towards
nightfall, were in danger of dying from cold upon
the snow, for they had no snowshoes, hatchets, or
tinder box, and besides, were not very well. See-
ing themselves in this extremity, they had recourse
to God. One was a Christian, and the other not.
When they had offered their prayers they shouted,
to see if, perchance, they would not be heard by
some one; and at the same time a canoe, paddled by
two Christians, made its way over the great river
towards the place where these women were. They
answered their cries, called to them, had them come
down to the edge of the water, and took them on
board. These good women wondered at this encoun-
ter, and said with astonishment, "God has [112]
promptly aided us."
A sorcerer of Tadoussac, a very reckless fellow,
having come to St. Joseph, we took him sharply to
task. He told us bluntly that his art had preserved
his life, and that if he should believe in God he
would not survive the Summer. We requested Noël
Negabamat to speak to him privately. He did not
fail to do so; he almost spent nights in talking to
him of our belief. Finally this man, although
wicked, was touched by the discourse of this good
Neophyte, and by the good example of the new
Christians, so that he came and pleaded with us to
baptize his son, and assured us that he would be in-
structed. "I see clearly," said he, " that I am not
doing right; I will quit the Devil, and believe in
God. I am about to make a trip to Tadoussac, but
you will soon see me back again." I do not know
how it will turn out; not all those whom God calls,
respond to his voice. This man has many ties to
sun der.

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

I'ay defia remarqué qu'il y a des Sauuages non
encor baptifez qui ne fe veulent pas marier fans
noftre aduis, d'autres ne manquent point de fe met.
tre à genoux [113] fi-toft [ils] ont tué quelque animal
& d'en remercier Dieu, cela fe va mettre en couftume
parmy eux, d'où naiftra vn grand bien, car s'ils ont
recours à Dieu fa bonté ne les abandonnera pas.
Vn Payen allant voir la nuit vne femme veufue
pour l'époufer, celle-cy luy dit ne fçais tu pas que
les Peres crient contre cette coufiume, de plus tu as
def-ja vne femme, en voudrois tu auoir deux toy qui
fais eftat d' approuuer les prieres? fi vn tel Pere (di-
foit-elle) te trouuoit icy que dirois-tu? cet importun
continuant de la molefier les autres nuits, elle luy dit
tu me contraindras de m'en aller ailleurs, & de de-
couurir ta malice aux Peres, ne crains tu point l' en-
fer? fçache que ie veux efire Chreftienne, & que ie ne
veux époufer qu'vn Chreftien, ne me parle plus, tu
perds tes peines, ie veux obeïr à Dieu.
II n'y a cæur fi dur que la parole de Dieu n'amo-
liffe à la longue, vn efprit rude & fuperbe, me difoit
i1 y a quelque temps, ie me fuis moqué cent fois des
difcours du Pere de Quen, i'ay refifié au Pere Bu-
teux Ie voulant empefcher de [114] nous infiruire,
pour toy ie ne te pouuois fupporter, ie prenois plaifir
de te quereller, & quand ie l'auois fait ie l'allois ra-
compter par les cabanes comme vne gran de proüeffe,
mais maintenant vos paroles me femblent bonnes,
elles defcendent petit à petit dans mon cæur, ie croy
que mes oreilles fe feront à les écouter.
V oicy quelques remarques du Pere Buteux en-
110yées des trois Riuieres, ces pauures gens font dans

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207

I have already remarked that there are Savages not
yet baptized who will not marry without our advice.
Others always fall upon their knees [113] as soon as
they have killed some animal, and thank God for it.
This is getting to be a custom among them, whence
will arise great good,- for, if they have recourse to
God, his goodness will not abandon them.
A Pagan went to see a widow one night, to marry
her, when she said to him, " Dost thou not know
that the Fathers rebuke this custom? and besides,
thou hast already a wife; wouldst thou have two,-
thou, who pretendest to approve prayers? If such a
Father JJ (said she) " found thee here, what wouldst
thou say?" This troublesome fellow continuing to
annoy her on other nights, she said to him, I' Thou
wilt compel me to go somewhere else, and to expose
thy malice to the Fathers. Dost thou not fear hell?
Know that I intend to be a Christian, and that I will
not marry anyone but a Christian. Do not speak
to me any more; thou hast thy trouble for nothing;
I wish to obey God."
There is no heart so hard that the word of God
does not soften it in time. A rude and haughty fel-
low said to me some time ago, " I bave a hundred
times made sport of the speeches of Father de Quen;
I have opposed Father Buteux, trying to prevent
him from [114] instructing us; as for thee, I could
not endure thee,- I took pleasure in quarreling with
thee, and, when I had done so, I went through the
cabins and spoke of it as a great feat. But now your
words seem good to me; they are going down little
by little into my heart; I believe my ears will get
accustomed to hear them. "
Here are some observations of Father Buteux, sent

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Ia creance que la maladie les doit accueillir cet Efté,
its ne laiffent pas de fe difpofer pour Ie baptefme,
ils font fort portés à prier Dieu, quãd nous entrons
dans leurs cabanes, ils demandent fi c'eft pour faire
Ies prieres, fe mettans à genoux fi-toft qu' on les
commance.
L'vn de nous allant faire prier Dieu dans Ies
cabanes, vn peu eíloignées de noftre habitation, ren-
contra vn vieillard qui s'en alloit faire des traifnes il
demanda au Pere où il alloit, ie vay faire prier tes
gens, Iuy dit Ie Pere, ie n'y pourray affifter, dit ce
bon Sauuage, mais prions icy, Ià deffus il fe met à
genoux fur la neige, [I I 5J par vn temps tres-rigou-
reux, Ie Pere Ie fit prier Dieu, cela fait ce bon homme
s'en alIa tout content à fon trauail.
Vne femme me difoit qu'eftant dans la neceffité au
milieu des bois, fon mary fit mettre ceux de fa cabane
à genoux, & leur dit, or fus addreffons nous à celuy
qui nous peut nourrir, il eft bon, affeurement it nous
fecourera fi nous Ie prions de bon cæur, ce qu'ils
firent & incontinent apres ils firent fort bonne chaffe
d ' ours.
V oicy ce qui eft arriué depuis peu, dit Ie Pere, vn
Sauuage de confideration parmy les fiens, me vint
dire qu'il auoit veu Ie manitou, & qu'il me prioit d'al-
ler chez luy faire les prieres inftituées pour Ie chaf-
fer, il y fallut aller quoy qu'il fut nuit, ie portay
auec moy vn crucifix, que chacun adora, apres les
auoir affurez ie laiffay Ie crucifix dans leur cabane,
quelque temps apres ce Sauuage qui m'eftoit venu
querir fe trouua oppreffé d'vn mal de cofté, caufé du
trop grand trauail qu'il auoit pris à fon champ, ce
pauure homme ne fçachant à qui auoir recours, s'ad-

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RELA TION OF I640

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from the three Rivers: "These poor people still be-
lieve that the malady is to attack them this Summer.
They do not cease to prepare themselves for bap-
tism; they are strongly inclined to pray to God;
when we enter their cabins they ask if it is to offer
prayers, falling upon their knees as soon as these
are begun.
"One of us, going into the cabins at a little dis-
tance from our settlement to offer prayers, met an
old man who was going away to make sleds. He
asked the Father where he was going. 'I am going
to get thy people to pray,' replied the Father. 'I
cannot be present,' said this good Savage, 'but let us
pray here.' Thereupon he knelt down upon the
snow, [115] in the severe cold; the Father had him
pray to God, and, this done, the good man went off
to his work, very happy.
" A woman told me that, being in want while in
the depths of the woods, her husband had those of
his cabin kneel down, and said to them, ' Come, let
us address ourselves to him who can feed us; he is
good,- he will certainly help us, if we pray to him
sincerely.' This they did, and directly afterwards
were successful in bear-hunting.
" Here is something that happened a little while
ago," says the Father. "A Savage, of high stand-
ing among his own people, came and told me that
he had seen the manitou, and pleaded with me to go
home with him to offer the prayers appointed to drive
him away. I was obliged to go, although it was
night, taking with me a crucifix, which everyone
adored. After having reassured them, I left the
crucifix in their cabin. Some time afterward, this
Savage who had come to get me, finding himself

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LATIONS DESJÉSUITES

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dreffa à celuy qu'il croyoit auffi puiffant [116] pour
chaffer Ia maladie que les diables, illuy demanda Ia
guerifon, qu'il receut plainement & foudainement.
Vn ieune homme nous a fort edifié demandant
Ie baptefme, ie confeffe, difoit-il, que ie fuis vn
coureur, que ie n'ay point d'arrefi, mais depuis que
vous m'auez par1é de l'autre vie, ie porte toufjours
vos paroles dans mon cæur, i'ay beau aller ça & Ià,
ce que vous m 'auez dit me fuit par tout, il me femble
qu'on l'a efcrit dans mon cæur, ie difois l'autre iour
au fieur Oliuier, que ie croyois tout de bon, & que
i'auois pris refolution de m'arrefier, ce n'efi pas luy
difoy-ie, que i'efpere qu'on me fera meilleur marché
au magazin fi ie fuis baptifé, non ie ne penfe point à
vos marchandifes, ie penfe à quelque chofe de meil-
leur, voila, Iuy monfi[r]ant Ie Ciel, ce que ie penfe,
c'eft cela qui efi efcrit dedans mon cæur, & qui me
fait craindre de mourir auparauant que mes pechez
foient emportés par les eaux du baptefme, Dieu luy
donne Ia perfeuerance.
II y a trois iours qu'vne femme non en cor baptifée
demeuroit à Ia porte de [117J l'Eglife pendant Ia
Meffe, mais comme fon petit fils efioit Chrefiien, &
qu'il n'efi permis qu'aux Chrefiiens d'entendre la
:Meffe, elle plantoit ce petit enfant tout debout atta-
ché à fon berceau à l'entrée de la Chappelle, atten-
dant dehors que la Meffe fut ditte pour Ie prendre
faifant voir par cette aétion l'efiime qu'elle faifoit du
bon-heur de fon fils, qu'on luy accorderoit à elle
mefme n'efioit Ia crainte qu'on a qu'elle époufe vn
Payen, fon mary l'ayant laiffée fort ieune.

1640]

RELA TION OF I640

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oppressed by a pain in his side, caused by too hard
work he had done in his field,- the poor man, not
knowing to whom he should apply, addressed himself
to him whom he believed to be as powerful [116] to
drive away sickness as devils. He asked him for his
recovery, which he received completely and suddenly.
" A young man greatly edified us in his request
for baptism. 'I confess,' said he, , that I am a rover,
that I have no abiding-place; but, since you have
spoken to me of the other life, I al wa ys bear your
words in my heart; it is vain for me to go here and
there,-what you have said to me follows me every-
where; it seems as if it had been written in my heart.
I said the other day to sieur Olivier that I believed
sincerely, and that I had resolved to settle down,-
" not," I said to him, " because I hope they will give
me things cheaper at the store if I am baptized; I
am not thinking of your merchandise, I am thinking
of something better; that '-indicating the Sky-' is
what I think of, it is that which is written in my heart,
and which makes me afraid to die before my sins are
carried away by the waters of baptism.'" May God
give him perseverance.
" Three days ago a woman, not yet baptized, re-
mained at the door of [117] the Church during Mass.
As her little son was a Christian, and as none but
Christians are allowed to hear Mass, she set this little
child,- standing upright, bound to his cradle,- at
the entrance to the Chapel, waiting outside until
1fass was over, to take him; showing by this act the
value she attached to her son's good fortune, which
would be granted to her also were it not for the fear
that she will marry a Pagan, her husband having
left her very young."

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CHAPITRE IX.

DE LA PROUIDENCE DE DIEU AU CROIX DE QUELQUES
VNS, & AU REBUT DE QUELQUES AUTRES.

Q VELQUES Sauuages fe conuertiffent quelque-
fois fi foudainement, & par des occafions fi
peu premeditées, qu'il femble qu'vn hazard
les mene au [118] Ciel, & cependant ils n'y entrent
que par vne fage conduite, & par vne affurée proui-
dence du grand Dieu.
Vn Capitaine Sauuage s'efioit cabané au deffus de
S. Iofeph en pleine fanté, Ie voila tout à coup d'vne
grande maladie, arriue qu'vne femme paffant deuant
nofire maifon dans fon canot, nous dit deux mots fans
fe defembarquer, comme elle pourfuiuoit fon che-
min, l'vn de nous luy erie, n'y a-il point de malades
en vofire eabane, helas! fit elle, ie m'oubliois de
vous dire qu'vn tel Capitaine eft tombé ee matin
dans de grandes conuulfions, auffi-toit Ie Pere de
Quen entendant cela court, prend fa couuerture &
vn moreeau de pain pour tous viure & s'embarque,
i1 arriue fur la nuit, trouue cet homme en vn pitoy-
able efiat, l'inftruit, Ie confole, i1 demande Ie bap-
tefme, erie mercy à Dieu de fes peehez, Ie Pere ne
Ie croyant pas fi mal, fe retire en la eabane voifine
pour faire fes prieres & prendre vn peu de repos,
mais Dieu qui vouloit auoir cette ame l' empefcha fi
bien de dormir, qu'il fut cõme cõtraint de fe leuer &
d'aller voir sõ malade, [119] chofe eftrãge, ille trouue

1640]

RELA T/ON OF 1640

213

CHAPTER IX.

OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD IN THE CHOICE OF
SOME, AND THE REJECTION OF OTHERS.

C ER T AIN Savages are sometimes converted so
suddenly, and by means so little premedi-
tated, that it seems as if chance takes them
to [II 8] Heaven; and yet they do not enter it with-
out a wise leading and a definite providence of the
great God.
A Savage Captain had encamped above St. Joseph,
in good health, when all at once he was attacked by
a serious illness. It happened that a woman passing
before our house in her canoe said a few words to
us without disembarking; as she continued on her
way, one of us called to her, " Are there not some
sick people in your cabin?" "Oh," said she, "I
forgot to tell you that such a Captain fell sick this
morning, with violent convulsions." Upon hearing
this, Father de Quen immediately ran, seized his
blanket, and a piece of bread for his only food, and
embarked. He arrived toward nightfall, and found
this man in a pitiable condition j he instructed and
consoled him; the latter asked for baptism, and cried
to God for mercy for his sins. The Father, not sup-
posing him so ill, withdrew to a neighboring cabin,
to offer his prayers and take a little rest. But God,
who intended to have this soul, so kept him from
sleeping that he was constrained, as it were, to arise
and go to see his patient. [119] Strange to say, he

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[V OL. 18

aux abois, n'ayant plus de vie qu'autant qu'il en
falloit pour demander & pour receuoir Ie fain& Bap-
tefme, Ie Pere bien eftonné luy donne, & l'enuoie
tout fur l'heure en Paradis: vous diriez que cet
homme s' eft fauué par hazard, & que d' autres fe
damnent par accident, mais il nya ny hazard nyacci-
dent deuant Dieu, fa bonté & fa iuftice s'accordent
bien auec fa prouidence.
Ce n' eft pas tout, quelques enfans eftoient malades
dans ces mefmes cabanes, Ie Pere les veut baptifer,
les parens s'y oppofent, vne femme plus inftruite
que les autres fe trouuant là plaide pour Ie baptefme
de ces pauures enfans, & Dieu gagna fa caufe, car
ils furent fai&s fes enfans, qu'il foit beny à iamais,
laudent eum cæli & terra & omnia quæ in eis Junt. L'vn
de nous, eítant allé dire la fainéte Meffe à l'Hofpi-
tal, trouue vne femme nouuellement apportée bien
malade, il luy vint vne forte penfée de la difpofer
tout fur l'heure au baptefme, mais comme i1 eftoit
preffé & qu'il auoit quelque indifpofition pour Iors,
il voulut differer, [120J fe promettant bien de la
reuenir voir dãs peu de temps, comme ilIa quittoit, il
fentit ce reproche en fon cæur, fi cette femme meurt
fans baptefme à qui en fera la faute? i1 retourne vers
la malade, luy touche Ie poux, & Ie trouuant affez
bon à fon aduis, la quitte encor vne fois, il n'eftoit
pas forty qu'vn remords luy fait prendre refolution
de ne point quitter cette pauure creature, qu'il ne la
vit en eftat de receuoir ce Sacrement de falut, i1
s'arrefte, l'inítruit, la laiffe dans vn grand defir d'eftre
Chreftienne, & dans des regrets d'auoir offenfé fon
Dieu & fon Pere, il ne fut pas loing qu'on luy vint
crier que cette pauure femme expiroit, il retourne,

1640]

RELA TION OF I640

215

found him in a desperate condition, having no more
life than was necessary for him to ask and receive
holy Baptism. The Father, greatly surprised, gave
it to him, and sent him straightway to Paradise.
You might say that this man had escaped by chance,
and that others damn themselves by accident. But
there is neither chance nor accident with God; his
goodness and justice harmonize with his providence.
This is not all. Some children were sick in these
same cabins. The Father wished to baptize them,
the parents opposed him; a woman, better instructed
than the others, being present, pleaded for the
baptism of these poor children, and God gained his
cause, for they were made his children. May he be
forever blessed, laudent eum cælt" et terra et omnia quæ
in eÙ sunt. One of us having gone to say holy Mass
at the Hospital, found a woman who had been just
brought there very sick. A strong impulse prompted
him to dispose her immediately to baptism, but as he
was in haste, and felt some indisposition at the time,
he wished to defer it, [120] promising himself that
he would certainly return and see her in a little
while. As he left her, he was conscious of this
reproach in his heart, "If this woman dies without
baptism, whose fault will it be?" He returned to
the sick woman, felt her pulse, and finding her well
enough, in his opinion, left her again. He had not
gone out before remorse made him resolve not to
leave this poor creature, until he saw her in a condi-
tion to receive this Sacrament of salvation. He
stopped, instructed her, and left her with a great
desire to be a Christian, and with regret at having
offended her God and Father. It was not long
before they came to him, exclaiming that this poor

2]6

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

la baptife, elle meurt donnant des indices tres-grands
de fa predefUnation, Ie Pere fe fouuenant de ce qui
s'eftoit paffé en fon cæur, refta tout épouuanté: voy-
ant qu'il ne s'en eftoit quafi rien fallu qu'elle ne fut
morte fans baptefme, i1 eft vray qu'à fon regard Ie
falut de cette ame paroiffoit n'auoir efté attaché qu'au
petit filet fort aifé à rom pre, mais Dieu Ie tenoit
auec vne chaifne bien forte.
[12 I] Voicy quelques remarques tirées des me-
moires du P. Buteux, vne troupe d' Algonquins traif-
nans quant & eux beau coup de pauures veufues &
orphelins, fe font venus ietter entre les bras de noftre
charité, qui n'eftoient que trop ouuerts pour les rece-
uoir, i1 faut que ie confeffe que voyant l'extreme
difette de ces pauures barbares, foit pour leurs viures,
foit pour leurs habits, iamais ie n'eus plus d'enuie
d'eftre riche, la premiere cabane où i'entray, fut de
deux pauures veufues bien âgées lefquelles auoient
recueillyenuiron dix ou douze enfans, & pour toute
prouifion n'auoiêt pas la valeur d'vn fac de bled
d'Inde, c'eft pour lors que ie regrettay les viures
qu' on nous enuoyoit, lefquels ont efté perdus dans la
barque qui nous venoit voir, i'entrois dans quelque
deffiance voyant tant de pauures creatures fur nos
bras auec fi peu de viures qui fe rencontroient en
noftre maifon, mais celuy qui nourrit les oyfeaux du
Ciel, n'abandonne pas ceux pour lefquels il a crée
les oyfeau, & les poiffons & tous les animaux. Ie
ne fçay par quel miracle de fa prouidence [122] cela
s' eft fait, mais ie fçay bien que ces pauures gens ont
tous paffé l'Hyuer fains & gaillards, & fa bonté nous
a fait trouuer dequoy les fecourir, nous en auons bap-
tifé quelques vns qui nous confolent, entre autres vne

1640]

RELATION OF I640

217

woman was expiring; he returned, and baptized her;
and she died, giving very marked indications of her
predestination. The Father, recalling what had
passed in his own heart, was filled with consternation,
considering how near she was to dying without bap-
tism. True, in his eyes, the salvation of this soul
seemed only attached by a fine thread, very easy to
break; but God held it with a very strong chain.
[121J Here are some observations taken from the
memoirs of Father Buteux: "A band of Algonquins,
dragging with them many poor widows and orphans,
came to throw themselves into the arms of our char-
ity, which were only too wide open to receive them.
I must confess that, when I saw the extreme poverty
of these poor barbarians, both as to their food and
their clothes, I never had a greater desire to be rich.
The first cabin I entered was that of two poor wid-
ows, well advanced in age, who had gathered togeth-
er about ten or twelve children, and for their sole
provision had not the value of a bag of Indian corn.
It was then I regretted the supplies that were sent
us, which had been lost in the bark that was coming
to see us. I had some misgivings when I saw so
many poor creatures upon our hands, with so little
food to be found in our house; but he who feeds the
birds of the Air, does not abandon those for whom
he has created the birds, the fish, and all the animals.
I do not know by what miracle of his providence
[122J this was done; but I do know well that these
poor people all passed the Winter well and happy,
and his goodness enabled us to find something with
which to assist them. We have baptized some of
them who are a comfort to uS,-among others, a
good widow, who seems to have been reserved for

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

bonne veufue, qui femble auoir efié referuée pour Ie
Ciel par vne particuliere prouidence de nofire Sei-
gneur: les Hiroquois venãt faire la guerre en fon
pays l' enleuerent en fa petite ieunelTe auec quelques
autres prifonniers, elle fut efleuée parmyeux & repu-
tée par apres comme vne femme de leur nation;
efiant defia grande les Algonquins allans en guerre
auec deffunt Monfieur de Champlain, & fe iettans fur
vne bourgade d' Hiroquois où efioit cette femme,
maffacroient tous ceux qu'ils auoient à la rencontre,
cette pauure creature fe trouuant dans la mélée, vou-
lut faire entendre aux Algonquins qu'elle efioit de
leur nation, mais elle auoit oublié fa langue, excep-
té ce mot feul, qu'elle reïteroit de toutes fes forces,
nz"r, nir, nz"r, moy, moy, moy, ce mot luy fauua la vie,
vn Algonquin l'ayant tirée à part, elle luy fit enten-
dre comme [123] elle pût, qu'elle auoit efié prife en
fa ieuneffe par l'ennemy, on la remene en fon pays,
où s'efiant mariée elle a veu mourir fon mary, fes
enfans, grand nombre de fes parens & Dieu l'a con-
feruée dans la gran de mortalité qui a fort affiigé fa
nation, la referuant pour luy donner entrée en fon
Eglife, & pour exciter fes compatriotes à deferter la
terre, car elle feule, auec cinq petits enfans qu'elle
a conferuez dans la calamité publique, n'ayant de
viure que ce que nofire pauureté luy fournit, a defia
fait vn beau grand champ de bled d'Inde, elle me fit
grande pitié l'autre iour, entrant fur Ie foir en fa
cabane, ie la trouuay toute abbatuë & toute éplorée,
luy en demandãt la raifon elle me dit, ie ne puis
tenir mes larmes, iettant les yeux fur ces pauures
orphelins, pour moy il y a long-temps que ie fuis
accoufiumée à paffer les iournées entieres fans man-

1640]

RELA TION OF I640

219

Heaven by a special providence of our Lord. The
Hiroquois, coming to make war against her country,
carried her off in her childhood with some other
prisoners. She was reared among them, and after-
ward reputed as a woman of their nation. Once,
after she had grown up, the Algonquins went to war
in company with the deceased Monsieur de Cham-
plain,12 and throwing themselves upon a Hiroquois
village where this woman was, massacred all those
whom they encountered. This poor creature, find-
ing herself in the conflict, tried to make the Algon-
quins understand that she was of their nation; but
she had forgotten her own language, except this one
word, which she reiterated with all her might, 1dr,
nir, 1Zir, ' me, me, me.' This word saved her life.
An Algonquin drawing her aside, she made him un-
derstand, as well as [123] she could, that she had been
captured in her youth by the enemy. She was sent
back to her own country, where, having married, she
saw her husband, her children, and a great many of
her relatives die. But God preserved her in the
midst of the great mortality which has heavily
afflicted her nation,- reserving her, in order to give
her admission to his Church, and to stimulate her
compatriots to clear the land; for she alone, with five
little children that she has saved in the public calam-
ity, and having nothing to live upon except what
our poverty furnishes her, has already prepared a
fine, large field of Indian corn. She aroused my deep
compassion, the other day. Entering her cabin to-
wards evening, I found her quite despondent and in
tears. Upon asking the reason of this, she said to
me, ' I cannot restrain my tears when I cast my eyes
upon these poor orphans. As for me, I have for a

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LES RELATIONS DES.lÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

ger, comme i'ay fait tout auiourd'huy trauaillant à
mon champ fans rien prendre, mais ie ne puis enten-
dre ces enfans crier à la faim fans eftre touchée,
voila difoit-elle, Ie fubieét de mes larmes, de vous
importuner ie [124] n'oferois, car depuis l' Automne
iufques à maintenant vous nous auez toufiours fecou-
rües confommant les viures qui vous font grand
befoin. Si eft-ce luy dif-je que i'ay donné ce matin
dequoy vovs faire vne fois à manger auiourd'huy, ie
n' en ay rien veu, repart elle, enfin Ie Pere trouua
que Ie Sauuage à qui il auoit donné cette commiffion
ayant de quoy difner ce iour-Ià, auoit referué cette
aumofne pour Ie lendemain; la bonté & la iuftice
font les deux bras de la grande prouidence de Dieu,
nous auons veu des effeéts de fa mifericorde, voyons
vn coup de fa iuftice.
Vn Sauuage ayant efté baptifé en danger de mort
auec de grands fentimens de l'autre vie, reuint en
fanté. II eftoit d'vn affez bon naturel, mais 1'amour
d'vne femme Ie perdit, il1'aymoit paffionnement, &
n'ayant pas Ie loifir qu'elle fut inftruite & baptifée,
i1l'époufa à la façõ des Sauuages, fans attendre la
benediétion de 1'Eglife, nous Ie menaçafmes des
chaftimens de Dieu, qui Ie fuiuirent de bien prés, ce
miferable s'en eftant allé à la chaffe du caftor auec
fa famille [125] affez nombreufe, vit mourir fa femme,
& les enfans qu'elle auoit d'vn autre lit fans bap-
tefme, fes parens faifis du mefme mal furent bien
toft emportez, en fin il tombe malade auec vn fien
fils âgé d' enuiron vingt ans, & vne fienne fille Chre-
fiienne âgée de douze, fa fæur qui eftoit veufue
depuis quelques années & qui auoit pour fils vn grãd
ieune homme excellent chaffeur, foignoit tous ces

1640]

RELA TION OF r640

221

long time been accustomed to pass whole days with-
out eating,-as I have done during this day, working
in my field and taking nothing,- but I cannot hear
these children cry with hunger, without being
touched. This,' said she, , is the cause of my tears.
To importune you I [124] would not dare; for, since
Autumn until now, you have always helped us, using
up your supplies, and thus leaving yourselves in
great want.' 'Yet I gave you food,' said I, 'in order
that you might eat once to-day.' 'I have seen none
of it,' she replied." Finally, the Father found that
the Savage to whom he had given this commission,
having something to dine upon to-day, had reserved
this gift for the morrow. Goodness and justice are
the two arms of the glorious providence of God. We
have seen some effects of his mercy; let us see a
stroke of his justice.
A Savage who had been baptized while in danger
of death, with admirable sentiments regarding the
other life, was restored to health. He had a good
enough disposition, but love for a woman ruined
him. He loved her passionately; and, not having
the time to wait until she was instructed and bap-
tized, he married her in the Savage fashion, without
waiting for the benediction of the Church. We
threatened him with the punishments of God, which
followed very closely upon him. This unhappy man,
having gone to hunt the beaver with his numerous
family, [125] saw his wife, and her children by a
previous marriage, die without baptism. Her par-
en ts, seized by the same malady, were soon carried
away. Finally, he fell sick, together with one of his
sons, about twenty years of age, and one of his daugh-
ters, a Christian, twelve years old. His sister-who

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malades dans les bois, mais comme elle vit fon fils
faifi de cefte contagion, elle prit vn eftrange confeil
pour luy fauuer la vie, Ie voulant amener vers les
demeures de nos François pour trouuer quelque re-
mede à fon mal, & ne pouuant embarqu[e]r fon frere,
qui eftoit ce miferable apoftat que Dieu pourfuiuoit
viuement, elle l'afIomme à grands coups de baftons
en la prefence de fes deux enfans de fon nepueu, &
de fa niepce, qui n' ofoient branler de peur que cefte
megere ne leur en fit autant, eel a fait elle embarque
fon fils malade & laifIe à l'abandon fon nepueu & fa
niepce qui fortoient de maladie leur crians qu'ils
priffent vn canot qu'elle leur monftroit [126] s'ils fe
vouloient fauuer, ces pauures enfans ne pouuans pas
mettre à l'eau ce canot ny Ie gouuerner dans leur foi-
blefIe, quittant leur pere qu'on venoit d'affommer,
fuiuent vn iour en tier leur tante fur Ie bord de l'eau
fans manger, cefte proferpine les regardoit fans com-
paffion, en fin eftant lafIé de ramer elle defcendit en
terre pour fe repofer, fon nepueu la prie d'auoir pitié
de luy & de fa pauure fæur, cefte cruelle repart, fi
tu veux que ie te fauue la vie tuë ta fæur, car ie ne
vous fçaurois pas embarquer tous deux: de plus pro-
mets moy que tu ne parleras iamais de ce que i'ay
fait à ton pere, ah! Dieu que fera ce pauure ieune
homme, de tuer fa fæur c' eft cruauté, de refter auec
elle, c'eft choifir la mort fans luy pouuoir donner la
vie, c'eft deux pauures enfans fe regardoiet l'vn l'au-
tre parlans des yeux, car leurs cæurs n'auoient pas
affez de forces pour donner du mouuement à leurs
langues: en fin cefte tigreffe prefIa ce pauure ieune
homme d'eftre Ie bourreau de fa propre fæur. Ma
plume ne peut fans horreur trencher Ie mot, il prend

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had been a widow for some years, and who had a son
who was a tall young man and an excellent hunter-
took care of all these patients in the woods. But
when she saw her son assailed by this contagion, she
took a strange course in order to save his life. De-
siring to bring him to the dwellings of our French to
find some remedy for his disease, and not being able
to take on board her brother,-the miserable apostate
whom God was sharply pursuing,- she beat the
latter to death with heavy blows from a club, in the
presence of his two children, her nephew and her
niece, who did not dare stir lest this Megera would
do as much to them. This done, she embarked her
sick son, and deserted her nephew and niece who were
recovering from the illness,- calling to them to take
a canoe that she showed them, [126] if they wished
to save themselves. These poor children,- not be-
ing able to launch this canoe, or to guide it in their
weakness,-leaving their father who had just been
beaten to death, followed their aunt a whole day
along the edge of the water, without eating. This
Proserpina looked at them pitilessly. At last, being
weary of paddling, she came ashore to rest. Her
nephew begged her to have pity upon him and his
poor sister. This cruel woman replied, "If thou
wishest me to save thy life, kill thy sister, for I can-
not embark you both. Promise me, besides, that
thou wilt never speak of what I have done to thy
father." 0 God, what will this poor young man
do? To kill his sister is cruel; to remain with her is
to choose death, without being able to give her life.
These two poor children look at each other, speaking
with their eyes, for their hearts have not enough
strength to give motion to their tongues. Finally,

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vne corde, la paffe au col [127] de fa fæur, iette cefie
pauure innocente par terre, met vn pied fur Ie bout
de ce licol & tire l'autre bout tant qu'il peut des deux
mains immolant à la cruauté de ceíte louue cefie
pauure viétime innocëte. Quand ce miferable frere
fut de retour ie luy demandois fi fa fæur ne l'auoit
point fupplié de luy laiffer la vie, nõ fit-il, elle ne
m'en parla point, ny ne s'enfuit de moy, elle me
regarda d'vn æil pitoyable, & me laiffa exercer vne
cruauté qui me deuoit fauuer la vie, ce meurtre com-
mis, ce ieune homme s'embarque auec cefie megere,
mais Dieu à la veuë duquel fe ioüoit toute cefie
funefie tragedie, voulut que cefie proferpine en fit
vn aéte, il la frappa de la cõtagion qu'elle fuyoit, &
auant que d'arriuer où elle vouloit mener fon fils, elle
mourut comme vne befie. En fin fon fils fut appor-
té à l'hofpital où i1 efi mort dans vne puanteur into-
lerable, mais auec de grands indices de fon falut,
nous en parlerons en fon lieu.

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225

this tigress urged the poor young man to be the ex-
ecutioner of his own sister. My pen cannot set down
the word without horror. He takes a cord, passes it
around [127] his sister's neck, throws this poor inno-
cent to the ground, puts one foot upon the end of
this noose, and draws the other as tightly as he can
with both hands,-sacrificing to the cruelty of this
she-wolf this poor innocent victim. When this
wretched brother had returned I asked him if his sis-
ter had not entreated him to spare her life. "No,"
he replied, " she did not speak to me, nor flee from
me; she looked at me pitifully, and left me to exer-
cise a cruelty which was to save my life." This
murder committed, the young man embarked with
this Megera, but God, in whose sight all this fatal
tragedy was played, willed that this Proserpina should
play one act of it. He struck her with the contagion
from which she was fleeing; and, before reaching
the place where she wished to bring her son, she
died like a beast. Finally, her son was brought to
the hospital, where he died in an intolerable stench,
but with strong indications of salvation. We shall
speak of him in the proper place.

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[128] CHAP. X

DE L'ESPERANCE QU'ON A DE LA CONVERSION DE
PLUSIEURS SAUUAGES.

I ' AURA Y de la peine à declarer mes penfées dans
ce Chapitre, mon efprit croit plus qu'il n'en
fcauroit dire, faifons Ie denombrement de quel-
ques nations en partie voifines des riues du grand
fleuue, & puis ie tafcheray de m'enoncer.
A l' entrée du grand golfe de S. Laurent du cofié
du Nord on trouue les Efquimaux peuples bien bar-
bares & grãds ennemis des Europeans à ce qu'on dit
fuiuant la mefme cofié du Nord en mõtant on ren-
contre les peuples de Chifedech & les Berfiamites, ce
font petites nations dont on a peu de cognoifIance,
Iefquelles ont commerce auec d'autres qui font de-
dans les terres. En fuite on trouue les Sauuages de
TadoufIac, qui ont cognoifIance auec la nation du
Porc Epic, & par 1'entremife de
ceux-cy auec [129J
d'autres Sauuages encore plus retirez dedans les
terres. Montant toufiours on arriue à Kebec, & puis
aux trois Riuieres. Les Sauuages qui frequentent
ces deux habitations vont en marchandife aux At-
tikamegues, & ceux-cy à trois ou quatre petites
nations qui font au Nord de leur pays.
Quand on arriue au premier faut qui fe rencontre
dans Ie grand fleuue S. Laurent, que nous appellons
Ie fault fainét Louis, on trouue vn autre fleuue nom-
mé la Riuiere des Prairies. Ce fleuue fe nomme

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RELA TION OF I640

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[128] CHAP. X.

OF THE HOPE WE HAVE FOR THE CONVERSION OF
MANY SA V AGES.

I SHALL be at a loss to make known my thoughts
in this Chapter, for my mind thinks more than
it can express. Let us enumerate some of the
nations partly adjacent to the banks of the great river,
and then I will try to express my thoughts.
At the entrance to the great gulf of St. Lawrence,
on the Northern shore. we find the Esquimaux
tribes,- very barbarous, and hostile to the Europeans,
it is said; following the same Northern shore up-
wards we find the Chisedech and Bersiamite peo-
pIes; these are insignificant nations, of whom we
know little, who have dealings with other inland
tribes. Then we find the Savages of Tadoussac, who
bave intercourse with the Porcupine nation, and
through them with [129] other Savages farther in-
land. Continuing up the river we reach Kebec, and
then the three Rivers. The Savages who frequent
these two settlements go to trade with the Attika-
megues, and these with three or four other small
nations which are North of their country.13
\Vhen we reach the first rapid found in the great
river St. Lawrence, which we call "sault saint
Louis," we come to another stream called the" River
des Prairies." This river is thus named because when
a certain Frenchman named des Prairies, charged with
piloting a bark to the sault St. Louis,came to this junc-

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LES RELA TIONS DES .fÉSUITES

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ainfi, pource qu'vn certain François nommé des Prai-
ries ayant charge de cõduire vne barque au fault S.
Louis, quãd il vint à cet affour ou rencontre de ees
deux fleuues au lieu de tirer du cofié du Süd, ou eft
Ie fault fainét Louis i1 tira au Nord vers cet autre
fleuue qui n'auoit point encore de nom François, &
qui depuis ce temps là fut appellé la Riuiere des
Prairies.
10ntãt done fur cete riuiere on rencontre
les Ouaouechkairini, que nous appellons la petite
nation des Algonquins. Montant toufiours plus haut
-on trouue les Kichefipirini, les Sauuages [130] de
l'Ifle qui ont à cofté dans les terres au Nord les Kota-
koutouemi. Au Sud de 1'IOe font les Kinounchepi-
rini, les Mataouchkarini, les Ountchatarounounga,
1es Sagahiganirini, les Sagnitaouigama, & puis les
Hurons qui font à l'entrée de la mer douce. Ces fix
nations derniere font entre Ie fleuue de fainct Lau-
rens & la Riuiere des Prairies. Quittant la Riuiere
des Prairies quand elle tire droit au Nord pour aller
au Surouefe on va trouuer Ie Lac Nipifin ou font les
Nipifiriniens: Ceux-cy ont au Nord les Timifcimi,
les Outimagami, les Ouachegami, les Mitchitamou,
les Outurbi, les Kiriftinon qui habitent fur les riues
de la mer du Nord ou les Nipifiriniens vont en mar-
chandife. Reuenons main tenant à la mer douce.
Cefte mer n'eft autre chofe qu'vn grand Lac lequel
fe venant à eftreffir à l'Oüefi, ou l'Oüeft Nord-oüeft
fait vn autre plus petit Lac, qui puis apres fe va elar-
giffant en vn autre grand Lac ou feconde mer douce.
Voicy les nations qui bordent ces grands Lacs ou ces
mers du eofié du Nord.
I'ay dit qu'à l'entrée du premier de [131] ces Lacs
fe rencontrent les Hurons, les quittans pour voguer

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RELATION OF I640

229

tion or meeting of these two rivers, instead of coast-
ing along the Southern shore, where the sault saint
Louis is, he turned to the North, towards the other
river which as yet had no French name, and which,
since that time, has been called the" River des
Prairies." Going up this river, then, we find the
Ouaouechkaïrini, which we call the " petite nation"
of the Algonquins. Going still farther up the river
we find the Kichesipirini, the Savages [130] of the
Island, who have adjacent to them, in the territory
to the North, the Kotakoutouemi. To the South of
the Island are the Kinounchepirini, the 1fataouchka-
rini, the Ountchatarounounga, the Sagahiganirini,
the Sagnitaouigama, and then the Hurons, who are
at the entrance to the fresh-water sea. 14 These last
six nations are between the river saint Lawrence and
the River des Prairies. Leaving the River des Prai-
ries when it turns directly to the North, that we may
go to the Southwest, we come to Lake Nipisin, where
the Nipisiriniens are found. These have upon their
North the Timiscimi, the Outimagami, the Ouache-
gami, the 11itchitamou, the Outurbi, the Kiristinon,
who live on the shores of the North sea whither
the Nipisiriniens go to trade. 15 Let us return now
to the fresh-water sea. This sea is nothing but a
large Lake which, becoming narrower in the West,
or the \Vest Northwest, forms another smaller Lake,
which then begins to enlarge into another great Lake
or second fresh-water sea. Such are the nations that
border these great Lakes or seas of the North.
I have said that at the entrance to the first of [131]
these Lakes we find the Hurons. Leaving them, to
sail farther up in the lake, we find on the North the
Ouasouarini; farther up are the Outchougai, and still

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LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

plus haut dans Ie lac, on trouue au Nord les Ouafoua-
rini, plus haut font les Outchougai, plus haut encore
à l'embouchure du fleuue qui vient du Lac Nipifin
font les Atchiligoüan. Au delà fur les meflnes riues
de cefte mer douce font les Amikoüai, ou la nation
du Caftor. Au Sud defquels eft vne HIe dans cefte
mer douce longue d'enuiron trente lieuës habitée des
Outaouan, ce font peuples venus de la nation des
cheueux releuez. Apres les Amikouai fur les mefmes
riues du grand lac font les Oumifagai, qu'on paffe
pour venir à Baouichtigouian, c' eft à dire, à la nation
des gens du Sault, pource qu'en effeét il ya vn Sault
qui fe iette en cet endroit dans la mer douce. Au
delà de ce fault on trouue Ie petit lac, fur les bords
duquel du cofté du Nord font les Roquai. Au Nord
de ceux-cy font les Mantoue, ces peuples ne nauigent
guiere, viuans des fruiéts de la terre, paffant ce plus
petit lac on entre dans la feconde mer douce, fur les
riues de laquelle font les Maroumine, plus auant en-
core fur les [132J mefmes riues habitent les Ouinipigou
peuples fedentaires qui font en grand nombre, quel-
ques François les appellet la Nation des Puans, à
caufe que Ie mot Algonquin ouinipeg fignifie eau
puante. Or ils nomment ainfi l' eau de la mer falée,
fi bien que ces peuples fe nommet Ouinipigou, pource
qu'ils viennent des bords d'vne mer dõt nous n'auons
point de cognoiffance, & par confequent il ne faut
pas les appeller la nation des Puans, mais la nation
de la mer, és enuirons de cette nation font les Na-
dvefiv, les Affinipour, les Eriniouaj, les Rafaouakoue-
ton, & les Pouutouatami. Voila les noms d'vne
partie des nations qui font au delà des riues du grand
fleuue fainét Laurent, & des grands lacs des Hurons

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RELA TION OF r640

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farther up, at the mouth of the river which comes
from Lake Nipisin, are the Atchiligouan. Beyond,
upon the same shores of this fresh-water sea, are the
Amikouai, or the nation of the Beaver. To the
South of these is an Island in this fresh-water sea
about thirty leagues long, inhabited by the Outaouan;
these are people who have come from the nation of
the raised hair. After the Amikouai, upon the same
shores of the great lake, are the Oumisagai, whom
we pass while proceeding to Baouichtigouian,- that
is to say, to the nation of the people of the Sault,
for, in fact, there is a Rapid, which rushes at this
point into the fresh-water sea. Beyond this rapid
we find the little lake, upon the shores of which, to
the North, are the Roquai. To the North of these
are the Mantoue, people who navigate very little,
living upon the fruits of the earth. 16 Passing this
smaller lake, we enter the second fresh-water sea,
upon the shores of which are the 11aroumine; and
still farther, upon the [132] same banks, dwell the
Ouinipigou, a sedentary people, who are very numer-
ous; some of the French call them the" Nation of
Stinkards," because the Algonquin word" ouinipeg "
signifies" bad-smelling water," and they apply this
name to the water of the salt sea,-so that these peo-
ples are called Ouinipigou because they come from
the shores of a sea about which we have no knowl-
edge; and hence they ought not to be called the
nation of Stinkards, but the nation of the sea. In the
neighborhood of this nation are the Naduesiu, the
Assinipour, the Eriniouai, the Rasaouakoueton, and
the Pouutouatami. 17 These are the names of a part
of the nations which are beyond the shores of the
great river saint Lawrence and of the great lakes of

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

du cofté du Nord. Ie vifiteray tout maintenant Ie
cofté du Sud, ie diray en paffant que Ie fieur Nicolet
interprete en langue Algonquine & H uronne, pour
Meffieurs de la nouuelle Frãce, m' a donné les noms
de ces nations qu'il a vifité luy mefme pour la
plufpart dans leur pays, tous ces peuples entendent
l' Algonquin, excepté les Hurons, qui ont [133] vne
langue à part, comme auffi les Ouinipigou ou gens de
mer. On nous a dit cette année qu'vn Algonquin
voyageãt au delà de ces peuples, a rencontré des
nations extremement peuplées, ie les voyois difoit-il
affemblés comme dans vne foire, achepter & vendre,
en fi grand nombre qu'on ne les pouuoit compter, il
donnoit vne idée des villes d'Europe, ie ne fçay pas
ce que s' en eft. Vifitons main tenant Ie cofié du Sud
du grand fleuue S. Laurent.
Depuis fon embouchure iufques au fault S. Louis,
on trouue les Sauuages du Cap Breton, les Souricois
font plus auãt dans les terres, on rencontre les Sau-
uages de Mifcou & de Gafpe, entre les riues de la
mer de l' Acadie, & Ie grand fleuue font les Eteche-
mins, les Pentagouetch, les Abnaquiois, les Nahiga-
niouetch, & quelques autres nations, mais elles font
toutes bien petites.
Depuis Ie fault S. Louis montant toufiours fur ce
grand fleuue, on trout1e de belles nations au Sud, &
toutes fedentaires, & fort nombreufes, comme les
Agneehrono, les Oneiochronon, Ie [134] Onontaeh-
ronon, les Konkhandeenhronon, les Oniouenhronon,
les Andaftoehronon, les Sonontouehronon, les Ando-
ouanchronon, les Kontareahronon, les Ouendat, les
Khionontatehronon, les Oherokouaehronon, les Aon-
dironon, les Ongmarahronon, les Akhrakvaeronon,

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RELA TION OF I640

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the Hurons on the North. I will now visit the
Southern shores. I will say, by the way, that
sieur Nicolet, interpreter of the Algonquin and
Huron languages for the Gentlemen of new France,
has given me the names of these nations, which
he himself has visited, for the most part in their
own country. All these peoples understand Algon-
quin, except the Hurons, who have [133] a lan-
guage of their own, as also have the Ouinipigou, or
people of the sea. We have been told this year that
an Algonquin, journeying beyond these peoples, en-
countered nations extremely populous. "I saw them
assembled," said he, " as if at a fair, buying and sell-
ing, in numbers so great that they could not be
counted;" it conveyed an idea of the cities of Eu-
rope. I do not know what there is in this. Let us
now visit the Southern coast of the great river St.
Lawrence.
From its mouth up to the sault St. Louis are to be
found the Savages of Cape Breton. The Souricois
are farther inland; we also meet the Savages of Mis-
cou and Gaspe; between the shores of the Acadian
sea and the great river are the Etechemins, the Pen-
tagouetch, the Abnaquiois, the Nahiganiouetch, and
a few other nations, but they arè all very small. I8
Continuing to ascend this great river from the
sault St. Louis, we find to the South very flourishing
nations, all sedentary and very numerous,-such as the
Agneehrono, the Oneiochronon, the [134] Onontaeh-
ronon, the Konkhandeenhronon, the Oniouenhronon,
the Andastoehronon, the Sonontouehronon, the An-
doouanchronon, the Kontareahronon, the Ouendat,
the Khionontatehronon, the Oherokouaehronon, the
Aondironon, the Ongmarahronon, the Akhrakuaero-

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LES RELATIONS DES JÉSUITES

[V OL. 18

les Oneronon, les Ehreffaronon, les Attiouendaronk,
les Eriehronon, les Totontaratonhronon, les Ahriot-
taehronon, les Ofcouarahronon, les H vattoehronon,
les Skenchiohronon, les Attiftaehronon, les Ontarah-
1;onon, les Aoueatfiouaenhronon, les Attochingoch-
ronon, les Attiouendarankhronon. Toutes ces na-
tions font fedentaires, comme i'ay defia dit, elles
cultiuent la terre, & par confequent font remplies
de peuples, i'ay tiré leurs noms d'vne carte Huronne,
que Ie Pere Paul Ragueneau m'a communiqué, il n'y
a point de doute que ces peuples ne foient au Nord
de la Virginie, de la Floride, & peut eftre encore de
la nouuelle Mexique, voila vn beau champ pour les
ouuriers Euangeliques & bien parfemé de Croix, la
plus [135J part de ces peuples entendent la langue
H uronne.
Le vingt-quatriefme iour de Iuin eft arriué icy vn
Anglois auec vn fien feruiteur, conduits dans des ca-
nots par vingt Sauuages Abnaquiois, il eft party du
lac ou fleuue Quinibequi en Lacadie, où les Anglois
ont vne habitation, pour venir chercher quelque paf-
fage par ces contrées vers la mer du Nord, Monfieur
le Gouuerneur en ayant ouy nouuelle, ne luy permit
pas de venir à Kebec, il l'enuoya garder par quelques
foldats, luyenioignant de preffer fon retour, il s'en
mit en deuoir, mais quelques vns des principaux Sau-
uages qui 1'auoient amenez eftans tombez malades,
& les riuieres ou ruiffeaux par où il auoit paffé eftãt
affeichées, il fe vint ietter entre les mains des Fran-
çois, pour euiter la mort qu'il ne pouuoit quafi pas
euiter au retour, tant ces chemins font horribles &
épouuantables, Monfieur de Montmagny Ie fit con-
duire à Tadouffac, pour aller rechercher l' Angleterre
par la France.

1640]

RELA TION OF I640

235

non, the Oneronon, the Ehressaronon, the Attiouen-
daronk, the Eriehronon, the Totontaratonhronon, the
Ahriottaehronon, the Oscouarahronon, the Huattoeh-
ronon, the Skenchiohronon, the Attistaehronon, the
Ontarahronon, the Aoueatsiouaenhronon, the Atto-
chingochronon, the Attiouendarankhronon. All
these nations are sedentary, as I have already said. 19
They cultivate the land, and consequently are very
populous. I have taken their names from a Huron
map that Father Paul Ragueneau sent me. There
is no doubt that these peoples are at the North of Vir-
ginia, Florida, and perhaps even new Mexico. Here
is a glorious field for Gospel laborers, and well strewn
with Crosses. The greater [135] part of these tribes
understand the Huron language.
On the twenty-fourth day of June, an Englishman
arrived here with one of his servants, brought in
canoes by twenty Abnaquiois Savages. He departed
from the lake or river Quinibequi in Lacadie, where
the English have a settlement, to search for some
route through these countries to the sea of the North.
Monsieur the Governor, having learned of this, did
not permit him to come to Kebec; he sent him away,
guarded by some soldiers, enjoining him to hasten
his return. He set about doing so, but some of the
principal Savages who had brought him having fallen
sick, and the streams or brooks by which he had
journeyed having dried up, he came and threw him-
self into the hands of the French to avoid the death
that he could scarcely escape on his return, so
horrible and frightful are the roads. 1Ylonsieur de
Montmagny had him taken to Tadoussac, that he
might return to England by way of France.
This good man related some wonderful things to

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

Ce bon homme nous racontoit des merueilles de la
nouuelle Mexique, i'ay [136J apris difoit-il qu'on
peut nauiger en ce pays là par les mers qui luy font
au Nord, il y a deux ans que i'ay rodé toute la cone
du Sud, depuis la Virginie iufques à Quinebiqui,
pour chercher fi ie ne trouuerois point quelque grande
riuiere, ou quelque grand lac qui me conduifit à des
peuples qui euffent cognoiffance de cette mer qui eft
au Nord du Mexique, n'en ayant point trouué ie fuis
venu en ces pays cy, pour entrer dans Ie Saguené, &
pour penetrer fi ie pouuois auec les Sauuages du
pays iufques à la mer du Nord; ce pauure homme
eufi perdu cinquante vies s'il en eufi eu autant,
deuant que d'arriuer en cette mer du Nord, par Ie
chemin qu'il fe figuroit, & quand il auroit trouué
cette mer, i1 n'auroit rien decouuert de nouueau, ny
rencontré aucune ouuerture au nouueau :IYlexique, il
ne faut pas eftre grand Geographe pour recognoiftre
cette verité.
Mais ie diray en paffant que nous auons de grandes
probabilités, qu'on peut defcendre par Ie fecond
grand lac des Hurons, & par les peuples que nous
[137] auons nõmés dans cette mer qu'il cherchoit, Ie
fieur Nicolet qui a Ie plus auant penetré dedans ces
pays fi efloignés, m'a affeuré que s'il eufi vogué trois
iours plus auant fur vn grand fleuue qui fort de ce
lac, qu'il auroit trouué la mer, or i'ay de fortes con-
ieétures que c'efi la mer qui refpond au Nord de la
nouuelle Mexique, & que de cette mer, on auroit en-
trée vers Ie Iapon & vers la Chine, neantmoins comme
on ne fçait pas ou tire ce grand lac, ou cette mer
douce, ce feroit vne entreprife genereufe d'aller def-
couurir ces contrées. Nos Peres qui font aux

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us about new
Iexico. "I have [136] learned," said
he, " that one can sail to that country through seas
that are North of it. For two years I have ranged
the whole Southern coast, from Virginia to Quinebi-
qui, seeking to find some great river or great lake
that might lead me to peoples who had some knowl-
edge of this sea which is to the North of :Mexico.
Not having found any, I came to this country to en-
ter the Saguené, and penetrate, if I could, with the
Savages of the country, to the North sea." This
poor man would have lost fifty lives, if he had had so
many, before reaching this North sea by the way he
described; and, if he had found this sea, he would
have discovered nothing new, nor found any passage
to new Mexico. One need not be a great Geographer
to recognize this fact.
But I will say, in passing, that it is highly prob-
able one can descend through the second great lake
of the Hurons, and through the tribes that we [137J
have named, into this sea that he was seeking. Sieur
Nicolet, who has advanced farthest into these so dis-
tant countries, has assured me that, if he had sailed
three days' journey farther upon a great river
which issues from this lake, he would have found the
sea. Now I have strong suspicions that this is the
sea which answers to that North of new 1Iexico, and
that from this sea there would be an outlet towards
Japan and China. Nevertheless, as we do not know
whither this great lake tends, or this fresh-water sea,
it would be a bold undertaking to go and explore
those countries. Our Fathers who are among the
Hurons, invited by some Algonquins, are about to
extend their labors to the people of the other sea, of
which I have spoken above. 20 Perhaps this voyage

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Hurons inuités par quelques Algonquins, font fur Ie
point de donner iufques à ces gens de l'autre mer,
dont i'ay parlé cy-deffus, peut eftre que ce voyage fe
referuera pour l'vn de nous qui auons quelque petite
cognoiffance de Ia langue Algonquine.
On voit par ce que ie viens de dire, la grande eften-
duë de pays, & Ie grand nombre de peuples qui n'ont
point ouy parler de Iefus-Chrift.
Et me femble que Ie temps viendra & qu'il eft
defta venu, auquel Dieu fe veut [138J faire cognoiftre
à vne partie de ces nations, on ne peut reuoquer en
doute que Ie Pere Eternel ne veille mettre fon Fils
en poffeffion de l'heritage qu'il luy a promis, dabo tibi
gentes hæreditatem tuam, dominabÜur à mari eofque [see
ufque] ad 'mare, il commandera depuis la mer du
Nord, iufques à la mer du Sud, & à flumine eofque [se.
ufque] ad ter11linos orbÚ terra rum, & depuis Ie grand
fleuue de S. Laurens, qui eft Ie premier de to us les
fleuues, iufques aux derniers confins de la terre, iuf-
ques au dernieres limites de l' Amerique, & iufques
aux HIes du Iapon, & vltra, & au delà, omnes gentes
feruÙnt ez", toutes les nations luy rendront hommage,
animas pauperu11l faluas faciet. i1 fauuera les ames des
pauures Sauuages, 011mes gentes magnijicabunt eum,
tous les peuples Ie magnifieront, & replebÜur Maz"eflate
eÙls omnÚ terra, fa Majefié remplira toute la terre,
fiat, fiat. Et il y a de l'apparence, que nous en
fommes là, veu Ie changement des cæurs, que Dieu
fait en ces qua[rJtiers, en eftant follicité par vne infi-
nité de fainétes ames, qui iour & nuiét employent
leurs væux & leurs prieres, aupres de fa diuine Ma-
jefié pour [139] ce fubiet. Le zele auffi & la ferueur
de ceux qui y contribuent, & s'offrent à y contribuer

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will be reserved for one of us who has some little
knowledge of the Algonquin tongue.
One sees, from what I have just said, the great
extent of the country and the great number of peo-
ples who have never heard of Jesus Christ.
And it seems to me that the time will come, and
that it has already come, when God will [138J make
himself known to a part of these nations. We cannot
call in question the truth that the Eternal Father
wishes to put his Son into possession of the heritage
that he has provided him; dabo tz"bi gentes hæredi-
tatem tuam, dominabÜur à mari usque ad mare, he shall
rule from the North sea to the South sea, et à flumine
usque ad terminos orbis terrarum, and from the great
river St. Lawrence, which is the chief of all rivers,
to the remotest confines of the earth, even to the
farthest boundaries of America and to the Islands of
Japan, et ultra, and beyond; onmes gentes servÙnt ei,
all the nations shall render him homage; animas
pauperum salvas fadet, he shall save the souls of the
poor Savages; omnes gentes magmficabunt eum, all
peoples shall magnify him, et replebÜur Majestate eJus
omnis terra, his Majesty shall fill all the earth; fiat,
fiat. And it seems that we are attaining this, con-
sidering the change of hearts that God is effecting in
these quarters, being solicited thereto by an infinite
number of saintly souls, who day and night employ
their vows and their prayers before his divine 1Iajes-
ty, for [139J this purpose. Moreover, the zeal and
the fervor of those who contribute to this, and offer
to contribute more and more, also give us strong
assurance of this. It is not without design that God
inspires so many good souls to assist with their means
this infant Church, which cannot ascend towards

240

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[VOL. 18

de plus en plus, nous en dõne auffi de grandes affeu-
ranees. Ce n'efi pas fans deffein, que Dieu infpire
tant de bonnes ames, à affifier de leurs moyês cette
Eglife naiffante, qui ne peut s'efleuer vers Ie del, fi
elle n'eH: foufienuë fur terre, ie veux dire, fi les biens
temporels n'y font employés, & ne feruêt d'attrait aux
Sauuages, pour les retirer du milieu des bois, & leur
donner quelque efperance de mieux en des demeures
arrefiées, où ils puiffent efire infiruiéts. Ie n' ofe
icy fpecifier ce que plufieurs y font, parce qu'ils m'ont
fait entendre, qu'ils ne veulent auoir que Dieu pour
tefmoin. Ceux qui auront deuotion de les imiter,
ont par delà Ie P. Charles Lalemant Procureur de
toutes nos miffiõs, qui fçaura bien leur dire ce qui
fera Ie plus expedient, lors qu'il fera aduerty de leurs
bonnes intentions. Mais fi nous nous promettons Ie
fecours des Princes & liberalitez des viuants, nous
n'auons pas moins de fujet d'efperer que ceux qui
nous ont honorez de leurs affeétions [140J & offerts
leurs væux à Dieu pour nous, durant Ie cours de
cette vie, continuerõt cet exercice dans Ie del; & ce
d'autant plus volontiers, qu'ils en cognoitront mieux
la neceffité. C'efi-icy que ie fens mon cæur atten-
dry, & fe renouuellent tous les fentimens dont il fut
faify à la nouuelle du deces de Monfieur Foucquet
d'heureufe memoire, duquel il n'y a que Dieu, qui
comprit les têdreffes pour nos pauures Sauuages,
l'eftime qu'il faifoit de cefie entreprife, Ie zele & les
liberalitez auec lefquelles il en procuroit l'execution,
ie ne doute point que la perte d'vn homme, fi vtile à
l'Efiat, & dont les aétions ont merité vne approba-
tion fi vniuerfelle, n'ayt efié extraordinairement fen-
fible à l'ancienne France, mais elle me permettra de

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241

heaven if it is not sustained upon earth,- I mean, if
temporal benefits are not employed to serve as an
attraction to the Savages, to draw them out of the
woods, and give them some hope of better things in
established dwelling places, where they can be in-
structed. I dare not specify what several are doing
in this matter, because they have given me to under-
stand that they wish God to be their only witness.
Those who have the devout wish to imitate these
have over yonder Father Charles Lalemant, Procuror
of all our missions, who can very well tell them what
will be most advisable, when he is informed of their
good intentions. But if we promise ourselves the
aid of Princes and the liberality of the living, we
have no less reason to hope that those who have
honored us with their kind interest [140] and offered
their vows to God for us, during this life, will con-
tinue this exercise in heaven, and all the more will-
ingly as they will then better know the need for it.
Here I feel my heart softened, and all those tender
feelings are renewed with which it was filled at the
tidings of the death of l\10nsieur Foucquet,21. o f happy
memory, whose tenderness for our poor Savages, the
value he placed upon this enterprise, the zeal and
liberality with which he procured its execution, are
comprehended by no one but God. I do not doubt
that the loss of a man so useful to the State, and
whose actions have merited so universal approbation,
has been deeply felt by old France, but she will per-
mit me to say that it has not been less felt by the new.
The consolation of both is that uno avulso, non deficit
alter
. he has left a heritage not only of his reputation
and offices, but also of his virtues, and especially of
his zeal for the service of God in these countries.

242

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[VOL. 18

dire qu'elle ne l'a pas moins efié à la nouuelle, la
confolation de l'vne & de l' autre efi que, vno auulfo,
non deficÜ alter, i1 a laiffé vn heritier non feulement
de fa reputation & de fes charges, mais auffi de fes
vertus, & particulierement de fon zele pour Ie feruice
de Dieu, dans ces contrées. La crainte que i'ay de
faire fouf!rit la modefiie des [141J viuans, & de violer
Ie fecret dont l'obligation dure mefme apres la mort,
ne me permettra dans d'en dire dauantage.
Quant à Meffieurs de la Nouuelle France, qui font
de grand frais tous les ans, pour faire paffer en ces
contrées fi efloignées de l'Europe, les chofes necef-
faires pour y fubfifier; ils nous obligent toufiours
infiniment en cela; comme auffi en ce qu'ils ont ac-
cordé mefme faueurs aux Sauuages Chrefiiens, qui
fe rendront fedentaires qu'aux François, ie les en re-
mercie de tout mon cæur, & les coniure de perfeuerer
dãs leurs faueurs. Et fur ce propos, ils me permet-
tront s'il leur plaifi, de leur dire icy quatre petites
paroles, la plus faine partie de leurs corps s'efi iettée
dans leur affociation, non tant pour retirer les biens
periffables de ce nouueau monde, que pour cooperer
puiffamment au falut de ces peuples, or puifque
Dieu fauorife leur premier deffein, appellant ces
pauures barbares à foy par leur entremife, il me fem-
ble qu'ils ont fubiet de fe refiouïr, & de benir celuy
qui leur accorde la fin plus noble qu'ils pretendoient,
les choififfant pour [142J procurer vn fi grand ou-
urage. Que fi les fruicl:s de ces grandes terres que
Ie Roy leur a donnée ne correfpondent pas à leurs
defpenfes exceffiues, ie ne croy pas que Ie Dieu du
ciel, duquel ils ont procuré & procureront encor la
gloire, s'oublie d'eux.

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My fear of offending the modesty of the [141] living,
and of violating the secret which continues binding
even after death, will not permit me to say more.
As for the Gentlemen of New France, who every
year are at great expense in bringing over to these
countries so remote from Europe, the supplies neces-
sary for subsistence here, they always infinitely
oblige us in this matter, as also in their having ac-
corded the same favors to the Christian Savages who
shall make themselves sedentary, as to the French.
I thank them for this with all my heart, and adjure
them to persevere in their favors. And in regard to
this they will permit me, if they please, to say here
a few modest words. Their best energies are lav-
ished upon their association,-not so much for the
sake of deriving perishable goods from this new
world, as to coöperate efficiently in the salvation of
these peoples. Now since God favors their chief
purpose, calling these poor barbarians to himself
through their agency, it seems to me that they have
reason to rejoice and to bless him who grants them
the most noble object for which they are striving,
choosing them to [142] accomplish so great a work.
And if the fruits of these broad lands that the King
has given them do not correspond to their excessive
outlay, I do not think that the God of heaven, whose
glory they have procured and will procure, will for-
get them.
How the spirit of God is working! I was wishing
that some one would do at the three Rivers what we
were doing at St. Joseph near Kebec. Several Algon-
quins presented themselves to form a settlement, and
we lacked the means for this. The God of heaven,
who saw our weakness, inclined toward us the arms

244

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[VOL. 18

Que 1'efprit de Dieu eft agiffant, ie fouhaittois que
quelqu'vn fit aux trois Riuieres, ee que nous faifons
à S. Iofeph proche de Kebec, plufieurs Algonquins
fe prefentoient pour s'arrefter, & nous manq1.1ions de
forces, Ie Dieu du del qui voyoit nos foibleffes, nous
difpofoit des bras d'amour & de eharité, vne perfonne
de merite & de condition, a faiét paffer cette année
quatre hommes, à ce deffein, pour défrieher & pour
baftir.
Reftoit encor à pouruoir à la Riuiere des prairies
on croit icy que fi on dreffe là quelque habitation,
plufieurs Sauuages y aborderont de diuers endroits.
Nous apprenons par la fiotte de cette année, que
des perfonnes de vertu & de courage, font en refolu-
tion d'y enuoier nombre d'hommes l'an prochain, ils
ont defia fait paffer des viures pour ce deffein, [143]
n'eft-il pas done vray que Dieu fraie Ie chemin aux
pauures Sauuages, pour les attirer dans les filets de
l'Euangile. Guy, mais dira quelqu'vn cette entre-
prife eft plaine de depences & de difficultez, ces
Meffieurs trouueront des montagnes où ils pëfent
trouuer des val1ées, i'ay defia dit cent fois, que tous
ceux qui trauaillent fous l' eftendart de Iefus-Chrift,
pour luy amener des ames, fe11lina1lt in lacrÙnz"s, ie
ne diray pas à ces Meffieurs qu'ils trouueront des
chemins parfemés de rofes, la croix, les peines & les
grands frais, font les pierres fondamentales de la mai-
fon de Dieu. Au refte fi iamais les François s'efta-
bliffent en cet endroit, ïefpere que les Sauuages qui
ont autrefois habité cette contrée, & qui font montés
plus haut pour la crainte de leurs ennemis, retourne-
ront dans leur ancien pays, où ils trouueront la vie
de l'ame, n'y cherchans que la vie du corps.

1640]

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of love and charity; a personage of merit and rank
has caused four men to be brought over this year for
the purpose of clearing and building.
It remains now to provide for the River des prai-
ries. It is thought here that if a habitation is erected
there, many Savages will come to it from different
places.
We learn, through this year's fleet, that some brave
and virtuous persons have resolved to send hither a
number of men next year, having already sent over
supplies for this purpose. [143J Is it not true that
God opens the way to the poor Savages, to attract
them into the Gospel nets? ' , Yes," some one will
say, " but this enterprise is full of expenses and diffi-
cuI ties; these Gentlemen will find mountains where
they expect to find valleys." I have already said a
hundred times that all those who work under the
standard of Jesus Christ, to lead souls to him, semi-
nall! in lacrimis. I will not tell these Gentlemen that
they will find the way strewn with roses; the cross,
hardships, and great expenses are the foundation
stones of the house of God. Moreover, if ever the
French establish themselves in this place, I hope that
the Savages who formerly inhabited this region, and
who have gone farther up the river, for fear of their
enemies, will return to their old country, where they
will find the life of the soul, while seeking only the
life of the body.
This is not all. If ever we are at peace with the
tribes of the South, -which will be very easily
effected if some Hollanders cede what they have
usurped [144J in Acadia upon the territory of his
Majesty, for this coast belongs to new France,-the
settlement which will be found at the River des prai-

246

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

Ce n'efi pas tout, fi iamais nous fommes en paix
auec les peuples du Midy, ce qui fe fera bien ayfe-
ment, fi quelques Hollandois cedent ce qu'ils ont
vfurpé [144J en l' Acadie fur les terres de fa :Majefié,
car cette co fie efi de la nouuelle France, l'habitation
qui fe fera en la Riuiere des prairies, donnera vn
facile accez à tOllS ces peuples qui font en nombre &
fedentaires. Madame la Ducheffe d' Aiguillon m' en
efcrit de fa grace, & me promet de s'y emploier,
comme elle a defia commancé; d' où reuffira vn bien
nompareil pour ces pauures contrées; & i1 n'y aura
que Dieu feul qui foit capable de recompenfer cette
fainéte & forte entreprife.
C'efi ce qui faiét que nous nous portons à de nou-
uelles decouuertures, nos Peres qui font au pays des
Hurons, combattans tous les iours contre la mort, &
contre les demons, ne fcauroient s'arrefier, ils par-
lent d'aller à la nation du petun, à la nation neutre,
à la nation des gens de mer, ceux qui trauaillent
pour les Algonquins veulellt efire de la partie, Dieu
leur prefente des Sauuages qui fauorifent leurs def-
feins, i1 remuë leurs cæurs, & anime leur courage.
II me femble que quand ie mis Ie pied en ces con-
trées, i1 y auoit moins d'apparence [145J que les Sau-
uages qui ont receu Iefus-Chrifi, [e deuffent arrefier
& fe foufmettre à fes loix que ie n'en voy, pour vne
partie des nations dont i'ay fait mention cy-deffus.
Pourquoy done les defefperons-nous? ouy, mais tout
Ie monde n'efi pas dans ces fentimens là, ie refpond
excepté ceux qui ne voyent les Sauuages qu'en
paffant, & au lieu où ils ne font pas encor inítruiéts,
excepté quelques efprits mefcontens, & malfaits qui
blafphemant, quæcumque ignorant, qui condamnent ce

1640]

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ries will give an easy access to all these tribes, "\vhich
are numerous and sedentary. Madame the Duchess
d' Aiguillon has graciously written to me, and prom-
ised to interest herself therein, as she has already be-
gun to do,-whence will arise a matchless good for
these poor countries. There is no one save God
alone who is capable of rewarding this holy and brave
en terprise.
It is this that impels us to new discoveries. Our
Fathers who are in the Huron country, combating
daily against death, and against the demons, cannot
rest. They talk of going to the tobacco nation, to
the neutral nation, to the nation of the people of the
sea. Those who work among the Algonquins wish
to participate in this \vork. God presents them Sav-
ages who favor their designs; he stirs their hearts,
and animates their courage.
It seems to me that when I set foot in these coun-
tries there was less probability [145] that the Sav-
ages who have received Jesus Christ would settle
down and submit to his laws, than I see in regard to
a part of the nations I have mentioned above. \Vhy,
then, shall we despair of them ? Yes, but not every
one entertains such sentiments. I answer that,- ex-
cept those who see the Savages only for a short time,
and in places where they are not yet instructed, and
except some discontented and perverse minds, who
blaspheme quæcumquc ignorant, who condemn what
they do not see, and what they think they see,-
there is no one here who does not admire and bless
God in the conversion of the Savages. Do you wish
me to speak plainly? 'Vhen I regard, with my own
eyes of flesh, the innumerable expenses that must be
incurred in order to succeed in this enterprise, the

248

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 18

qu'ils ne voyent pas, & qu'ils penfent voir, il n'ya
perfonne icy qui n'admire & ne beniffe Dieu dans la
conuerfion des Sauuages. V oulez-vous que ie vous
parle nettement, quand ie regarde auec mes yeux de
chair, les frais innombrables qu'il faut faire pour ve-
nir à bout de cette entreprife, les peines, les trauaux,
les fouffrances, les croix, les dangers, les morts, les
calomnies qui fe rencontrent, & qui fe rencontreront
de plus en plus, & de toutes parts, en ce chemin où
nous nous iettons, quand ie contemple auec ces mef-
mes yeux la legereté, l'inconfiance, & la barbarie
[146J des Sauuages, ie tremble, ie fuis foible comme
vn rofeau, ie n'ay plus de cæur, tout me femble bafiy
fur Ie fable mouuant, mais quand ie releue ma pen-
fée & que ie la iette en Iefus-Chrifi, & que ie l'enui-
fage auec les yeux de la foy, & de la confiance, quand
ie confidere ce qu'il a fait, & ce qu'il fait tous les iours
pour fauuer ces pauures ames, ie fuis tout puiffant,
ces difficultez m'animent, & tout cet ouurage me
femble fondé fur la pierre viue, petra autem erat Clzrz"-
jius, ie parle dans les fentimens de tous ceux que
Dieu a appellé à cette vigne, dont ie fuis Ie moindre.

1640]

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249

pain, the labors, the sufferings, the crosses, the dan-
gers, the deaths, the slanders that must be encoun-
tered,- and that will have to be encountered more
and more, and from all sides, in this road where we
have cast ourselves,-when I contemplate with these
same eyes the frivolity, the inconstancy, and the
barbarity [146J of the Savages, I tremble,- I am as
weak as a reed, I have no more heart; all seems to
me to be built upon the shifting sand. But when I
lift up my thoughts, and cast them upon Jesus Christ,
and when I look at him with the eyes of faith and
confidence, when I consider what he has done, and
what he is doing every day to save these poor souls,-
I am all-powerful,- these difficulties animate me;
and all this work seems to me to be founded upon
the living rock, þetra aute11l erat Christus. I express
the sentiments of all those whom God has called to
this vineyard, of whom I am the least.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: VOL. XVIII

XXXVIII - XL

These three documents are letters in Italian, sent
to Rome, from the Huron country, by Father Joseph
Marie Chaumonot,- the first (May 24, 1640) to the
Father General, the other two (May 26 and August
3. 1640) to Father Philippe Nappi. superior of the
professed house at Rome. In 1858, Father Felix
Martin found them in the Society archives, then pre-
served in Rome, and made copies of them; but these
apographs cannot now be found with the other Martin
papers in the archives of St. Mary's College, Mont-
real. We follow the French translation, made by
Martin, and published in Carayon' s Premz"ère 1V1ÙÚon
des JésuÜcs au Calzada, where they are numbered xiv.,
xv., and xvi. respectively; our English translation is
from the French.

XLI

The Relatz"on of 1640 (Paris, 1641), although having
only Vimont's name on the title-page, is in reality
a composite. His share in the publication seems to
have been solely that of editor. He succeeded Le
J eune as superior in 1639, and became responsible
for the Relatz"ons until 1645, when he was in turn suc-
ceeded by Jerome Lalemant. Part I. was prepared
by Le J eune, and is signed "A Kébec, en la nou-
uelle France. ce 10 de Septembre 1640." Part. II.
is the report on the Huron mission by Jerome Lale-

252 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

mant, which is dated" Des Hurons, ce 27 de 1Iay
16 40," and contains a postscript that is dated" Des
Hurons, ce 3. d' Aoull 1640."
For the text of this annual, we have had recourse
to a copy of the original Cramoisy edition in the
Lenox Library. The Relation is usually designated
as "H. 76," because described in Harrisse's Notes,
no. 76.
CollatÙm: Title with verso blank, I leaf; "Priui-
lege" (signed 20th September, Le Jeune's letter of
loth September having, of course, not yet arrived in
Paris), with "Permiffion JJ on the verso, I leaf;
" Table" to Part I., pp. (2); "Table" to Part II.,
pp. (2); Le Jeune's Relatz"on, pp. 1- 197, with the verso
of p. 197 blank,-followed by Lalemanfs Huron
Relation, which consists of: half-title, with verso
blank, I leaf; text, pp. 1-196, as numbered; one
blank leaf. The signatures are: ã in four, A- Iv! in
eights, N in four, aa-mm in eights, nn in four, the
last leaf being a blank. There is no mispaging in
Le Jeune's section; but in Lalemant's, pp. 9, 80, and
193 - 19 8 are misnumbered 10, 74, and 191 - 196. We
have examined several copies which agree even with
regard to turned letters, e.g., Part 1., p. I 13, 1. 17-
" l'enfe.r. JJ But we have discovered the following
peculiarity in Le Jeune's Relation-p. 154, 1. 26,
reads in one copy: " Itavichpich nous a grandement,"
and in the other: "Itaovichpich nous a grãdement."
Copies of this Relation may be found in the follow-
ing libraries: Lenox (both variations), Harvard, Brown
(private), Laval University (Quebec), and British Mu-
seum. Copies have been sold or priced as follows:
Harrassowitz (1882), no. 27, priced at 125 marks;
O'Callaghan (1882), no. 1219, sold for $15-ithad

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DA TA: VOL. XVIII 253

cost him $26; Quari tch, General Catalogue, vol. v., no.
30005, priced at LIS; Dufossé (1891), priced at ISO
francs; Chadenat, of Paris, priced (1892 and 1897) at
160 and 150 francs, respectively.

NOTES TO VOL. XVIII

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

I (p. 13).- Pierre Joseph Marie Chaumonot was born Mar. 9, 161 I.
in a village of Burgundy, France. While a lad, he wandered into
Italy, and finally, at the age of twenty-one, resolved to enter the
Jesuit order, in which he became a novice May 18, 1632, at Rome.
In that city his priestly studies were pursued, interrupted by two
years (1635-37) spent as an instructor at Fermo. In 1639, he was
assigned to the Canadian mission, and immediately went to the Hu-
ron country. In November, 1640, he undertook, with Brébeuf, a
mission to the Neutral Nation, where they remained five months,
until- suffering the utmost hardships, and threatened on every side
with death.- they were obliged to return to Ste.
Iarie. Chaumo-
not then labored at the missions, successively, of St. Jean Baptiste,
St. Michel, and La Conception; of the last-named, he had charge
when the Hurons were dispersed by the Iroquois (1649), whereupon
he followed his disciples in their flight to Isle St. Joseph' (now
Charity Island), in Lake Huron. Finding this retreat no longer
safe from their enemies, the Hurons, in the summer of 1650, took
refuge at Quebec; and, in March following, they were established
on the isle of Orleans by the Jesuits, on an estate purchased by
them from Eléonore de Grandmaison (vol. xi., note 12). This
colony was under Chaumonot's care; it numbered at first about 400,
but was soon increased, by other refugees, to about 600 souls. In
September, 1655, Chaumonot went with Dablon to the Onondaga
mission. and labored among the Iroquois tribes during the next
three years. Returning to Quebec, he again took charge of his
Huron colony-remaining in this post thirty-five years longer, ex-
cept one year in Quebec (1663-64), and two years (1664-66) at Fort
Richelieu as chaplain of its garrison. In the autumn of 1692, he
was compelled to give up his charge and retire to Quebec, by a
IJngering illness which finally ended his life, Feb. 21, 1693.
By the command of his superior, Chaumonot wrote his autobiog-
raphy (1688), which will be given in this series. He is best known
by his works on the Huron language, in which he was unusually
proficient. An English translation (by Wilke) of his Huron gram-

256

LES RELATIONS DES /ÉSUITES

mar (written in Latin) was published in Quebec Lit. and Hist. Soc.
Trans., vol. ii. (1831), pp. 94-198.
2 (p. 35).-This name-Calmonotti, as misprinted by Carayon-
was simply an Italianized form of Chaumonot's name, the root of
which means" bald" (Lat. calvus).-A. E. JONES, S.J.
3 (p. 37).- Luigi de Gonzaga was born at Castiglione, Italy, in
1568, and became a Jesuit at the age of eighteen. He did not live,
however, to complete his training for the priesthood; for in 1591, an
epidemic appearing in Rome, he so devoted himself to the care of
the sick and dying that he fell a victim to the pestilence. He was
canonized in 1626, under the name of St. Aloysius.
4 (p. 37).- The holy house of Lorette: the Santa Casa,-accord-
ing to tradition, the house of the Virgin Mary at Nazareth, which
was discovered by Empress Helena, about 308 A. D.; upon the ruin
and subjugation of Palestine by the Turks, this house was miracu-
lously transported (May, 1291) to Tersate, in Dalmatia, and again
(1294) in like manner to Loreto, its present location. This is a city
of about 8,000 population, in the Marches of Italy, 13 miles N. E. of
Macerata, and three miles from the Adriatic. The Santa Casa
stands within a magnificent church, and its original rough bricks
are entirely encased in white marble, exquisitely sculptured. Rich
and costly gifts have been lavished upon it, and" its treasury of
offerings is one of the richest in the Western world." Among these
are certain gifts presented in 1684 by the Christian Hurons of Cana-
da. In this house is a statue of the Virgin, in cedar wood, said to
have been made in the time of the Apostles. About 40,000 pilgrims
visit it annually. This shrine and its devotions were especially
favored by the Jesuits.- See McClintock & Strong's Bibl. Cycloþ.,
art. .. Loretto;" and" Maison de Lorette," in L'Abeille, vol. viii.
(1860), nos. 27-29.
5 (p. 65).-René Ménard was born at Paris, Sept. 7, 1605, and
became a Jesuit novice Nov. 7, 1624. He was a student at Paris,
La Flèche, Bourges, and Rouen, successively; and an instructor at
Orléans (1629 - 32) and Moulins (1636- 39). In 1640, he came to Cana-
da; and, after spending a year in the study of Algonkin, accom-
panied Ragueneau to the Huron country. Upon Raymbault's
return from Sault Ste. Marie (vol. xi., note 16), Ménard started with
him to the country of the Nipissings, but they were driven back by
storms. In April, 1642, however, Ménard and Pijart succeeded in
reaching that tribe, with whom they remained till Sept., 1643. Mé-
nard was connected with the Huron mission until its destruction in
1649, after which he was stationed at Three Rivers, becoming supe-
rior of that residence in June, 1651. From May, 1656, to March, 1658,
he was a laborer in the Iroquois mission,- at the latter date, being

NOTES TO VOL. XVIII

257

compelled, with the other missionaries, to flee for their lives to Quebec.
In August, 1660, Ménard was sent with a party of Ottawa Indians
who were returning from Montreal to their home on Lake Superior.
He spent the winter with them, probably in the neighborhood of the
present L' Anse, Mich., suffering great hardships and privations,-
harshly treated by most of the Indians, though converting a few of
them and baptizing some at the point of death. Hearing, in the
following spring, that some Hurons who had fled from their Iroquois
foes had encamped about the headwaters of the Black River in
Wisconsin, Ménard set out to visit the
. Near the end of the jour-
ney, he became separated from his French companion, and was
seen no more,-doubtless perishing of hunger in the unknown forest
(August, 1661).-See Campbell's excellent monograph on Ménard,
Parkman Club Pubs. (Milw.), no. II.
6 (p. 65).-Concerning the relations between the Ursulines of
Paris and of Tours, cf. vol. xvi., pp. 15-17; also Chapot's Marie de
l'Incarnation, t. i., pp. 318-320,354,355.
7 (p. 87).- Piraube was royal notary at Quebec, during the years
16 39-43; other information about him is not available.
8 (p. 91 ).- For sketch of De la Poterie, see vol. viii., note 58.
9 (p. 93).- Gribane: .. a bark with mast and sails, of 50 or 60
tons, in use along the coasts of Normandy and Picardy, and in the
navigation of the lower Seine, from Rouen to Havre" (Littré).
10 (p. II5).-Outakw'amiwek (Outagoumois): a tribe living in
the vicinity of Lake Outakouami, N. E. of L. Mistassini, as indicated
on various maps of that time. Some of these make it the source of
the Peribonca River; in which case, it would be the modern Lake
Ouichtagani (Bouchette's map, 18-16).
II (p. II5).-Paþiragaw'ek: the Papinachois, a Montagnais
tribe located far to the N. E. of Lake St. John, mainly about the
headwaters of the Betsiamites River. They were at various times
visited by Jesuit missionaries from the Tadoussac mission; and
Nouvel spent several years among them (1664-67).
12 (p. 219).-Concerning Champlain's attacks on the Iroquois, see
vol. v., note 50.
13 (p. 227).-Concerning Eskimos, see vol. ii., note 10; Brinton's
American Race (N. Y., 1891), pp. 59-64; and Bur. of Eth1tol.
Reþ., 1884-85, 1887-88.
Bersiamites: a :Montagnais tribe, dwelling on the northern trib.
utaries of the St. Lawrence, below Tadoussac. Le J eune mentions
some of them (vol. viii., p. 41) as having been perfidiously slain
(1635) by the savages of Tadoussac. A missionary (probably Jacques
de la Place) wrote in the Relation of 1646 that" a mortal hatred
existed between the Bersiamites and the savages of Acadia and

258

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

Gaspé;" he was present, in that year, at a conference held between
these tribes, at which a treaty of peace was concluded. The mis-
sionaries found the Bersiamites gentle and docile; Bailloquet visited
them in 1661-62, and probably, in subsequent years, other priests
from the Tadoussac mission. The tribe was also known as Ouma-
mi wek.
Peuþles de Chisedech: dwelling near the Bersiamites. and allied
to them.
Regarding the Porc-Épics. see vol. xiv., 1tote 13.
14 (p. 229),- Concerning the Petite Nation, the Island tribe, and
the Iroquets (here named Ountchatarounounga), see vol. v., notes
52, 56, 57.
"Ouaouechkairini: these were the Algonkins proper, and prob-
ably were ca1led · Petite Nation' on account of their low stature.
The Petite Nation River in Ottawa county, Que., and the Little
Nation River in Prescott county. Ont.,-tributaries of the Ottawa
from opposite sides,-preserve the name of this tribe, and show
their original location. "-A. F. HUNTER.
Kotakoutouemi: Laverdière conjectures this to be the Outaou-
kotwemiwek mentioned in Relation of 1650. chap. v., "whose lan-
guage is a medley of Algonquin and Montagnais." Apropos of this
linguistic feature, Ferland says (Cours d'Histoire, vol. i., p. 91):
.. There existed, among the AlgonqUlns and :\:lontagnais, a sort of
patois, by means of which they held communication among them-
selves without the Europeans being able to understand them."
lI-Eataouchkarini: the Relation of 1672 mentions this tribe as then
living near Hudson Bay, apparently having fled thither for refuge
from their enemies. Their earlier habitat, as indicated by their
name, was the Madawaska River of Ontario.
" Sagahiganirini: their location may have been near the Rideau
range of lakes, where numerous remains exist. Dr. T. W. Beeman
of Perth, Ont., who has examined these remains, says: · Every
small lake shows one or more village sites.' One of considerable
size existed at Rideau Lake itself, where the Tay River empties
into it. Here have been found evidences of an extended occupa-
tion, lasting down to the arrival of white traders, as a few traces
of European intercourse are found there. See Beeman's accounts
in Onto Arch. .J.
fus. Ann. Reþ. (Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth).
.. Kinou1tcheþirini: the situation of these was probably in Ren-
frew county, Ontario, where the valleys of tributaries of the Ottawa
River contain remains of former Indian towns. A number of relics
from that district are in the Ontario Archæological Museum at
Toronto."-A. F. HUNTER.
15 (p. 229).-These Algonkin tribes extended from Lake Temis-

NOTES TO VOL. XVIII

259

earning westward to Hudson Bay. The largest and most important
was the Kiristinon or Cristinaux, a name afterward shortened to
that now given them, Cri or Cree. Druillettes and Dablon estab-
lished a mission among them in 1661, and Allouez was there in 1667.
Brinton says (A mer. Race, p. 74) that this tribe" retained the lan-
guage of the stock in its purest form. "
.. Ti11liscimi: a name deri ved from that of Lake Temiscaming (te11lis
gamz: 'deep lake'). Remains of early Indian occupation are found
near the Old Fort, at the northern end of this lake; but the above
name has not been continuously retained by any distinct tribe."-
A. F. H {jI"TER.
16 (p. 231).-The Atchiligouan, at the mouth of French River,
were visited by Garreau and Claude Pijart in 16-t6.
The Oumisagai (now Mississaguas) were in 1670-73 a part of the
Sault Ste. Marie mission; and Nouvel and André were then laboring
among them. A. F. Hunter says: "This is the earliest reference
to the
1ississaguas. They are now settled in Eastern Ontario, at
New Credit, Alnwick, and other points, and number in all about
800." - See Chamberlain's account of this tribe, in Jourlz. A mer.
Fol1.:-Lore, vol. i., pp. 150- 160.
Baouichtigouian: called by the French Gens du Saut, or Sau-
leurs, because of their residence about the Sault de Ste. Marie;
no\V known as Ojibwas, or Chippewas. The Relation of 1670 says
that, becoming reduced to the number of 150, they formed a union
with three other neighboring tribes, the Nouquet, Outchibous, and
Marameg. A. F. Hunter says: "A band of Algonkins, now at
Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., is known as the Batchewaung tribe.-this
being still the native name of that town (written also Pow-e-ting).
It is not probable, however, that these Indians are the descendants
of those mentioned in the text,- few tribes, owing to wars, migra-
tions, and other causes, retaining their originaJ locations. It is
thought by some writers that the Sauteux of Lake Superior, and
westward, are the descendants of the original Nation du Sault; see,
for instance, Maclean's Calladimz Savage Folk (Toronto, 1896),
p.17 1 ."
Concerning the Amikouai (Beavers), see vol. X., note 6; the Otta-
was, vol. xiv., 1lote 9.
17 (p. 23 1 ).-Ouinipigou= Winnebagoes (vol. xv., note 7): Nadue-
siu= Sioux; Assinipour= Assiniboines. All these are branches of
the Dakota stock.
Maroumine = l\Ienomonees; Eriniouai = Illinois; Pouutouatami =
Pottawatomies,- all Algonkin tribes. Rasouakoueton is probably
equivalent to Mascoutins, R being a misprint for .J.Jf.
18 (p. 233).-Concerning the tribes of Gaspé, Acadia, and Maine,

260

LES RELA TI01VS DES JÉSUITES

see vols. i.- iii. of this series. Souricois = .Micmacs; Pentagouetch =
Penobscots; Etechemins=Tarratines. On the Abenakis, see vol.
xii.. 1tOte 22.
Nahiganiouetch: the Mahicans or Mohicans, occupying the ter-
ritory between the Connecticut and Hudson Rivers, and allied with
the Pequots; of Algonkin stock.
19 (p. 235).- For sketches of the Huron-Iroquois tribes, see vol.
viii., 1tOte 34.
Kontareahronon: apparently the inhabitants of the Huron vi1lage
of Contarea (vol. X., 1tOte 8). Ouendat (Wyandot): the general
appellation of the Huron clans (vol. ii., note 58 and vol. v., note 17).
" A ondironon: that part of the Neutrals who lived nearest to the
Hurons; destroyed by the Senecas in 1648 (Relatio1l of 1648).
011g11larahr01t011 [apparently a misprint for OnguiarahrononJ: the
Niagara portion of the Neutrals. Oner01t011: probably the \Ven-
rohronons, part of whom took refuge with the Hurons in 1639'''-
A. F. HUNTER.
A ttioue11daronk: the Neutrals (vol. viii., note 41). Sanson's
map (1656) gives two locations for this tribe,-one, west of the Nia-
gara; the other, far south of Lake Erie, and west of the Alleghany
Mountains. This, and the similar duplication of names in the pres-
ent text, suggest the possibility that a part of this nation had fled
southward, to escape the Iroquois.
Totontaratonhronon: Laverdière conjectures that this may be
the Atontrataronnons, an Algonkin tribe who, a little later, fled
from the St. Lawrence to the Huron country. Among them, :\lé-
nard established the mission of Ste. Elizabeth (Huron Relation of
1644, chap. viii.).
In any attempt to identify the names of Indian tribes. as recorded
at so remote a time, there are many difficulties. which must not be
forgotten by the modern reader of an enumeration like that here
given by Le Jeune. No Indian tongue was written, at the time of
the missionaries' arrival; and they, in their attempts to learn and
write a language utterly different from any they had hitherto
known, were met by almost insuperable obstacles,- as we are told
by Biard (vol. ii., pp. 9- 13; iii., pp. 193-197), and by Le Jeune in
earlier Relations (vol. v., pp. 111-115; vii., pp. 21-33). :Many of
the tribes enumerated in the text were known to the French only
through the reports of wandering Indians, fur traders, or coureurs
de bois ,- most of them ignorant men; and these names could be
only phonetically noted,- with great liability to misunderstand-
ing, on the part of both Frenchman and Indian. At the same time.
as may be seen in the text, these names were often transmitted
through other tribes, especially the Huron; and when we add to all

NOTES TO VOL. XVIII

261

these complexities the frequent shifting of residence, on the part of
the tribesmen, it will be seen that great caution is necessary in
attempting to identify either tribes or locations through their names
alone.
20 (p. 237).-This refers to the voyage of Jogues and Raymbault
to Sault Ste. Marie (vol. xi., note 16).
21 (p. 241).-This was François Fouquet, viscount de Vaux, who
was born in 1587, and died Apr. 22, 1640. He was a member of the
royal council, and also of parliament; and, for his integrity and
ability, was held in high esteem by Louis XIII. and Richelieu, who
employed him in many State affairs of importance. He was father
of Nicolas Fouquet, the noted minister of finance under Louis XIV.

1-..

.