Chapter M: DC XXXIV (5)

On the 14th of May, I baptized the little Negro of whom I spoke
last year. He was brought here by Englishmen from the island of
Madagascar, otherwise Saint Lawrence, which is not far from the
Cape of Good Hope, toward the East. It is a great deal warmer in
his country than here. These Englishmen gave him to the Kers,
who held Kebec; and one of the Kers sold him for fifty écus, I
am told, to a person named le Bailly, who presented him to this
estimable family that is settled here.[45] This child could not be
more contented than he is, and it has been a recreation for me to
teach him. Wishing to know whether the inhabitants of his country
were Mahometans or Pagans, I asked him if there were no houses
there in which they prayed to God, if there were no Mosques, if
they did not talk there [121 i.e., 122] of Mahomet. "There are,"
said he, "Mosques in our country." "Are they large?" I asked him.
"They are," he answered, "like those of this country." On telling
him that there were none in France nor in Canada, "I have seen
some," said he, "in the hands of the French and English who brought
them into our country, and now they use them to shoot with." I
perceived that he meant to say muskets, and not Mosques; I smiled,
and so did he. He is most ingenuous, and very attentive to Mass
and to the Sermon. He is the fourth that I have baptized since my
arrival; for, God having given a little child to Madame Coullart,
I administered this Sacrament to him, as I had done before to 2
little Savages.

Le 19. on nous vint apporter nouuelle qu'vn vaisseau Anglois estoit entré à Tadoussac depuis quelques iours: Nous ne sçauions si c'étoit [123] vn courreur, ou s'il y auoit quelque trouble entre la France & l'Angleterre; chacun bastissoit sur ses cõiectures, & tout le monde se tenoit sur ses gardes. Le Dimanche suiuãt, iour de la Saincte Trinité, estant allé dire la Sainte Messe au fort, on me dit que si nous entendions tirer deux coups de canon, que nous nous retirassions promptement auec nos François dans la forteresse.

On the 19th, news was brought that an English vessel had entered
Tadoussac a few days before; we did not know whether it was [123]
a trading vessel, or whether there was some trouble between France
and England. Each one formed his own conjectures, and every one was
upon his guard. The following Sunday, day of Holy Trinity, having
gone to say Holy Mass at the fort, I was told that, if we heard two
cannon shots, we should promptly withdraw with our French people
into the fortress.

Le lendemain 22. du mesme mois de May, nous oüysmes ioüer le canon de bon matin, sur l'incertitude de ce que ce pourroit estre.

The next day, on the 22nd of the same month of May, we heard the
sound of the cannon very early in the morning.

Le Pere de Nouë prend nostre Sauuage, & s'en va à Kebec: & sans y tarder, nous rapporte nouuelle que le sieur de Champlain estoit arriué: que le Pere Brebeuf s'en venoit incontinent en nostre petite maison. Nous allasmes remercier nostre Seigneur. Cependant voicy le Pere [124] Brebeuf qui entre, Dieu scait si nous le receusmes & embrassasmes de bõ cœur. Quelques Sauuages estãs chez nous, & voyãs nostre ioye à cét heureux rencontre, s'écrierent selõ leur coustume quand ils admirent quelque chose: _chteé! chteé!_ se resiouïssans auec nous de l'arriuée du Pere, lequel apres auoir salué nostre Seigneur en nostre petite chapelle, nous dit que le pere Masse estoit à Tadousac, que le Pere Daniel, & le Pere Dauost nous venoient voir du grand Chibou. Il m'apporta si grande quantité de lettres, que ie fus confus voyãt le souuenir & tesmoignage d'affection de tant d'honnestes personnes: _Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quæ retribuit mihi_: Qu'il soit beny pour vn iamais s'il veut, en recõnoissance de ses bien-faits: que nous beuuions son calice: _fiat, fiat_, ce nous sera trop d'honneur. Mais ie le prie d'appliquer [225 i.e., 125] en particulier vne seule goutte de celuy qu'il a beu pour ceux qui nous obligent tãt, pour les associez de la Compagnie de cette Nouuelle France, desquels Dieu se veut seruir pour sa gloire, pour V. R. pour toute sa Prouince, & pour tous ceux qui cooperent au salut de tant de pauures ames esgarées: Vne petite gouttelette de ce diuin calice nous enrichira tous: & puis que mes prieres sont trop foibles pour obtenir vn si grand bien, ie supplie V. R. d'interposer les siennes, & celles encore de tant d'ames sainctes qui sont dessous sa charge: Mais passons outre.

In the uncertainty as to what was going on, Father de Nouë took our
Savage and started for Kebec; and he brought back without delay the
news that sieur de Champlain had arrived, and that Father Brebeuf
was coming as fast as possible to our little house. We hastened
to thank our Lord. In the meantime, behold, Father [124] Brebeuf
enters. God knows whether we received and embraced him with glad
hearts. Several Savages were with us, and, seeing our joy at this
happy meeting, cried out, according to their custom when they
are pleased, _chteé! chteé!_ rejoicing with us over the arrival
of the Father, who, after having honored our Lord in our little
chapel, told us that father Masse was at Tadoussac and that Father
Daniel and Father Davost were also coming to see us from the grand
Chibou.[46] He brought me such a quantity of letters that I was
overcome upon seeing the souvenirs and testimonials of affection of
so many estimable people. _Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quæ
retribuit mihi_: Blessed be he forevermore, if it be his will that
in return for these benefits we should drink of his cup; _fiat,
fiat_, that would be too great honor for us. But I entreat him [225
i.e., 125] to apply one single drop of what he drank, especially to
those who have helped us so much, to the associates of the Company
of New France, of whom God wishes to make use for his glory,[47]
to Your Reverence, to all your Province, and to all those who
coöperate in the salvation of so many poor lost souls; a little
drop of this divine cup will enrich us all; and as my prayers are
too weak to obtain so great a blessing, I beg Your Reverence to
interpose yours, and those also of so many saintly souls who are
under your charge. But let us pass on.

Ayant sçeu l'arriuée de Monsieur de Champlain, ie l'allay salüer. Arriuant au fort, ie veis vne escoüade de soldats François armez de piques & de mousquets qui s'ẽ approchoiẽt tambour battant: si tost qu'ils y furent entrez, Monsieur de Caën remit [226 i.e., 126] les clefs du fort entre les mains de Monsieur du Plessis Bochard, qui les remit le lendemain entre celles de Monsieur de Champlain, pour entrer dans la conduite des vaisseaux, selon l'ordonnance de Monseigneur le Cardinal.

Having learned of the arrival of Monsieur de Champlain, I went to
greet him. Arriving at the fort, I saw a squad of French soldiers,
armed with pikes and muskets, who approached, beating their drums.
As soon as they had entered, Monsieur de Caën gave [226 i.e.,
126] the keys of the fort to Monsieur du Plessis Bochard,[34]
who delivered them the next day to Monsieur de Champlain, to take
command of the ships according to the decree of Monseigneur the
Cardinal.

Ie remerciay le mieux qu'il me fut possible Mõsieur de Champlain de la charité qu'il auoit exercée enuers nos Peres qui a esté très-grande, cõme me témoignoit le Pere Brebeuf.

I thanked Monsieur de Champlain, as well as I could, for the
kindness shown by him to our Fathers, for it was very great, as
Father Brebeuf has testified to me.[48]

Le 24. de May, dixhuict canots de Sauuages estans descendus à Kebec, le sieur de Champlain se doutãt qu'ils pourroient passer iusques aux Anglois, qui auoient trois vaisseaux à Tadoussac, & vne barque biẽ haut dans la riuiere, s'en alla dans les Cabanes de ces Sauuages, & leur fit parler fort à propos par le sieur Oliuier, truchement, honneste homme, & bien propre pour ce [227 i.e., 127] pays-cy. Il leur dit donc par la bouche de cét interprete, que les François les auoient tousiours aimez & defendus, que luy les auoit secourus en personne dans leurs guerres: qu'il auoit grandement chery le Pere du Capitaine auquel il parloit; lequel fut tué à ses costez en vn combat où luy-mesme fut blessé d'vn coup de fleche, qu'il estoit homme de parole; que nonobstant les incommoditez des mers, il les estoit reuenu voir cõme ses freres: qu'eux ayant desiré & demandé qu'on fit vne habitation de François en leur pays pour les defendre contres les incursions de leurs ennemis, qu'il auoit eu dessein de leur accorder, & que cela seroit desia mis en execution sans le détourbier des Anglois: qu'au reste il estoit pour le present occupé à la reparation des ruines qu'auoient fait ces mauuais hostes: qu'il ne manquera pas de leur [228 i.e., 128] donner contentement si tost qu'il aura pourueu aux affaires plus pressantes; que les Peres (parlant de nous autres) demeureroient parmy eux, & les instruiroient, cõme aussi leurs enfans. Cependant, nonobstant les grandes obligations qu'ils auoient aux François, ils estoient descendus en intentiõ d'aller voir des voleurs qui venoient pour dérober les François, qu'ils auisassent bien à ce qu'ils feroient, que ces voleurs estoient passagers, & que les François demeuroient au pays comme leur appartenant. Voila vne partie du discours que leur fit tenir le sieur de Champlain, autant que i'ay peu sçauoir, par le rapport qui m'en a esté fait par ceux qui estoient presents.

On the 24th of May, eighteen canoes of Savages having descended to
Kebec, sieur de Champlain, suspecting that they might go on to the
English, who had three vessels at Tadoussac and a bark far up the
river, went into the Cabins of these Savages, and made to them a
very suitable address through sieur Olivier the interpreter,[49]
who is an excellent man and well fitted for this [227 i.e., 127]
country. He said to them through the lips of this interpreter that
the French had always loved and defended them, that he had assisted
them in person in their wars; that he had greatly cherished the
Father of the Captain to whom he was talking, who was killed at
his side in a battle where he himself was wounded by an arrow;[50]
that he was a man of his word, and that, notwithstanding the
discomforts of the sea voyage, he had returned to see them again,
as if they were his brothers; as they had expressed a wish that
a French settlement should be made in their country, to defend
them against the incursions of their enemies, he contemplated
granting this desire, and it would already have been granted but
for the obstacles created by the English; he was, moreover, then
engaged in repairing the ruins that these wicked guests had left
behind them; that he would not fail to satisfy them [228 i.e.,
128] all as soon as he attended to the more urgent affairs; that
the Fathers (speaking of us), would remain among them and would
instruct them as well as their children. Yet, notwithstanding the
great obligations that they [the Savages] were under to the French,
they had descended the river with the intention of going to see
the thieves who came to pillage the French. He said they should
consider well what they were doing; that these robbers were only
birds of passage, while the French would remain in the country as
it belonged to them. This is a part of the discourse that sieur de
Champlain delivered to them, as far as I have been able to learn,
from the report made to me by those present.

Pendant cette harangue, le Capitaine & ses gens escoutoient fort attentiuement, luy entr'autres paroissoit profondement pensif, tirant [229 i.e., 129] de son estomach cette aspiration de temps en temps, pendant qu'on luy parloit, _hám! hám! hám!_ comme approuuant le discours du truchement: lequel estant acheué, ce Capitaine prend la parole pour respōdre, mais auec vne rhetorique aussi fine & deliée, qu'il en scauroit sortir de l'escolle d'Aristote, ou de Ciceron. Il gagna au commencemẽt de son discours la bienueillance de tous les François par vne profonde humilité, qui paroissoit auec bonne grace dans ses gestes & dans ses paroles.

During this speech, the Captain and his men listened very
attentively. He, among others, appeared to be in deep thought,
drawing [229 i.e., 129] from his stomach from time to time this
aspiration, while they were speaking to him, _hám! hám! hám!_ as
if approving the speech of the interpreter, which, when finished,
this Captain arose to answer, but with a keenness and delicacy of
rhetoric that might have come out of the schools of Aristotle or
Cicero. He won, in the beginning of his discourse, the good will
of all of the French by his profound humility, which appeared with
exceeding grace in his gestures and in his language.

Ie ne suis, disoit-il, qu'vn pauure petit animal qui va rampant sur la terre: Vous autres François vous estes les grands du monde, qui faites tout trembler. Ie ne scay comme i'ose parler deuant de si grands Capitaines: si i'auois quelqu'vn derriere moy qui me suggerast ce que ie dois dire, ie parlerois plus hardimẽt. [230 i.e., 130] Ie me trouue estonné, ie n'ay iamais eu d'instruction, mon pere m'a laissé fort ieune, si ie dis quelque chose ie le vais recueillant çà & là à l'aduanture, c'est ce qui me fait trembler.

"I am," said he, "only a poor little animal, crawling about on
the ground; you Frenchmen are the great of the earth, who make
all tremble. I do not know how I dare to talk before such great
Captains. If I had some one behind me who would suggest what I
ought to say, I would speak more boldly. [230 i.e., 130] I am
bewildered; I have never had any instruction; my father left me
very young; if I say anything, I go seeking it here and there, at
hazard, and it is that which makes me tremble.

Tu nous dis que les François nous ont tousiours aimez, nous le sçauons bien, & nous mentirions si nous disions le contraire. Tu dis que tu as tousiours esté veritable, aussi t'auõs-nous tousiours creu. Tu nous as assisté en nos guerres, nous t'en aimons tous dauantage, que veux-tu qu'on responde? tout ce que tu dis est vray.

"Thou tellest us that the French have always loved us; we know it
well, and we would lie if we said the contrary. Thou sayest that
thou hast always been true, and we have always believed thee. Thou
hast assisted us in our wars, we love thee all the more for it;
what dost thou wish that we should answer? All that thou sayest is
true.

Tu dis que les François sont venus habiter à Kebec pour nous defẽdre, & que tu viendras en nostre pays pour nos proteger. Ie me souuiens bien d'auoir ouy dire à nos peres que quand vous estiez là bas à Tadoussac, les Montagnaits vous allerent voir, & vous inuiterent à nostre deceu de monter çà haut, où nos peres [231 i.e., 131] vous ayant veu, vous aimerent, & vous prierent d'y faire vostre demeure.

"Thou sayest that the French have come to live at Kebec to defend
us, and that thou wilt come into our country to protect us. I
remember well to have heard our fathers say that, when you were
below at Tadoussac, the Montagnaits went to see you and invited
you, unknown to us, to ascend [the river] above here, where our
fathers, [231 i.e., 131] having seen you, loved you, and prayed you
to make your home there.

Pour l'habitation que tu dis que nous auons demandé aux trois riuieres, ie ne suis qu'vn enfant, ie n'ay point de memoire, ie ne sçay si ie l'ay demandée: vous autres vous auez vostre Massinahigan, (c'est à dire, vous auez cognoissance de l'escriture,) qui vous fait souuenir de tout: mais quoy que c'en foit, tu seras tousiours le bien venu. Remarquez la prudence de cét homme, à faire voir que non seulemẽt les Sauuages, mais encor que les François desirent cette habitatiõ; il poursuiuit son discours, disant: Quand tu viendras là haut auec nous, tu trouueras la terre meilleure qu'icy: tu feras au commencement vne maison cõme cela pour te loger (il designoit vne petite espace de la main:) c'est à dire tu feras vne [232 i.e., 132] forteresse, puis tu feras vne autre maison comme cela, designant vn grand lieu, & alors nous ne serons plus des chiens qui couchẽt dehors: nous entrerons dans cette maison, il entendoit vn bourg fermé: En ce temps-là on ne nous soupçonnera plus d'aller voir ceux qui ne vous aiment pas: tu semeras des bleds, nous ferons comme toy, & nous n'irons plus chercher nostre vie dãs les bois nous ne serons plus errans & vagabonds.

"As to the settlement thou sayest we have asked for at the three
rivers, I am only a child; I have no recollection, I do not know
that I have asked for it! You, you have your Massinahigan; (that is
to say, you have a knowledge of writing), which makes you remember
everything. But, however that may be, thou wilt always be welcome."
Note the discretion of this man, to make it plain that not only
the Savages, but the French, desire this settlement. He continued
his discourse, saying, "When thou shalt come up there with us thou
wilt find a land better than this; thou wilt make, to begin with, a
house like this to live in" (he indicated a little space with his
hand); "that is to say, thou wilt make a [232 i.e., 132] fortress.
Then thou wilt make another house like that," designating a large
space, "and then we shall no longer be dogs who sleep outside, we
shall go into that house." He meant to say an enclosed village.
"Then we shall no longer be suspected of going to see those who do
not love you. Thou wilt sow wheat; we shall do as thou dost, and
we shall no longer go to seek our living in the woods; we shall no
longer be wanderers and vagabonds.

Voila le sieur de Caën qui a creu que i'auois enuoyé des Castors vers les estrangers; i'ay enuoyé vers ce quartier là quelques peaux d'Orignac, non pour traitter, mais pour coupper les bras à nos ennemis. Tu scais que les Hiroquois ont de grãds bras, si ie ne leur couppois, il y a longtemps que nous seriõs tous pris: i'enuoye des presents aux nations qui [233 i.e., 133] leur sont voisines, afin qu'elles ne se ioignent pas auec eux; ce n'est pas pour offenser les François, mais pour nous conseruer.

"It was sieur de Caën, who believed that I had sent Beavers to the
foreigners; I sent to those quarters a few Moose skins, not in
trade, but to cut off the arms of our enemies. Thou knowest that
the Hiroquois have long arms; if I had not cut them, we should have
been taken by them long ago. I send presents to tribes who [233
i.e., 133] are their neighbors, to the end that they should not
unite with them; it is not to offend the French, but to preserve
ourselves.

Tu dis que nous voulons aller à l'Anglois, ie m'en vay dire à mes gẽs qu'on n'y aille point: ie te promets que ny moy, ny ceux qui ont de l'esprit n'iront pas: que s'il y a quelque ieune homme qui fasse vn sault iusques là sans estre veu, ie n'y sçaurois que faire, tu scais bien qu'on ne peut pas tenir la ieunesse. Ie le difendray à tous, si quelqu'vn y va, il n'a point d'esprit: tu peux tout, mets des chalouppes aux auenuës, & prends les Castors de ceux qui iront.

"Thou sayest that we wish to go to the English; I will tell my
men that they should not go there. I promise thee that neither I
myself, nor they who have any sense, will do that; but if there is
some young man who jumps over there without being seen, I shall not
know what to do; thou knowest well that youth cannot be restrained.
I shall forbid every one from going there. Any one who does so has
no sense. Thou canst do everything, place thy boats in the way and
capture the Beavers of those who attempt to go.

Tu nous dis que les Peres viuront parmy nous, & nous instruiront, ce bon-heur sera pour nos enfans, nous qui sommes desia vieux, nous mourrons ignorans, ce bien n'arriuera pas sitost que nous voudrions.

"Thou sayest that the Fathers will live among us, and will teach
us. This good fortune will be for our children; we, who are already
old, shall die ignorant. This blessing will not come as soon as we
should like to have it.

[234 i.e., 134] Tu dis que nous prenions garde à ce que nous ferons, tu nous pinse au bras, & nous fremissons: tu nous pinse puis apres au cœur, et tout le corps nous tremble. Nous ne voulõs point aller aux Anglois, leur Capitaine a voulu faire alliance auec moy, & me tenir pour son frere & ie n'ay pas voulu, ie me suis retiré disant, qu'il estoit trop grand Capitaine. Ie me souuenois bien d'vne parole que tu nous auois dit, que tu retournerois: ie t'attendois tousiours, tu as esté veritable, tu le seras encore en nous venant voir en nostre pays: ie n'ay qu'vne crainte, c'est qu'en ce commerce des François auec nos gens, il n'y ait quelqu'vn de tué, & alors nous seriõs perdus: mais tu scais que tout le monde n'est pas sage, les plus aduisez se tiendront tousiours dans leur deuoir.

[234 i.e., 134] "Thou sayest that we must be careful what we do;
grasp us by the arm, and we shudder; grasp us afterward by the
heart, and the whole body trembles. We do not want to go to the
English; their Captain wanted to make an alliance with me and take
me for his brother, and I did not desire it; I withdrew, saying
that he was too great a Captain. I bethought myself well of a word
that thou hadst said to us, that thou wouldst return; therefore I
always awaited thee. Thou hast been truthful, thou wilt still be so
in coming to see us in our country. I have but one fear; it is that
in the association of the French with our people, some one may be
killed, then we would be lost; thou knowest all are not prudent,
but that the wiser ones will always do their duty.

[235 i.e., 135] Voila à peu pres la response de ce Sauuage qui estonna nos François, lesquels m'ont tesmoigné qu'il releuoit sa voix selon les suiets qu'il traitoit, puis la rabbaissoit auec tant d'humilité, & vne posture ou action si soubmise, qu'il gagnoit l'affection de tous ceux qui le regardoient sans l'entendre.

[235 i.e., 135] This is about the answer of this Savage, who
astonished our French people. They told me how he raised his voice
according to the subjects he treated, then lowered it with so much
humility, and with such an attitude of submission, that he won the
hearts of all who looked at him, though they did not understand him.

La conclusion fut que le sieur de Champlain leur dit, quãd cette grãde maison sera faite, alors nos garçõs se marieront à vos filles, & nous ne serons plus qu'vn peuple: ils se mirẽt à rire; repartans: Tu nous dis tousiours quelque chose de gaillard pour nous resiouyr, si cela arriuoit nous serions bien-heureux. Ceux qui croient que les Sauuages ont vn esprit de plomb & de terre, cognoistront par ce discours qu'ils ne sont pas si massifs qu'on les pourroit depeindre.

The conclusion was that sieur de Champlain said to them: "When
that great house shall be built, then our young men will marry
your daughters, and we shall be one people." They began to laugh,
answering: "Thou always sayest something cheering to rejoice us. If
that should happen, we would be very happy." Those who think that
the Savages have dull and heavy intellects will recognize by this
speech that they are not so stupid as they may have been painted.

[236 i.e., 136] Ce Capitaine nous vint voir quelques iours apres en nostre maison, mais ie n'eus pas le loisir de l'entretenir cõmme ie desirois.

[236 i.e., 136] This Captain came to see us a few days later in our
house, but I did not have leisure to entertain him as I desired.

Le 29. le sieur de Champlain vint entendre la Messe en nostre petite chapelle, nous le retinsmes à disner: de bonne fortune nostre Sauuage nous auoit apporté vn petit morceau d'Ours, nous luy en presentasmes; en ayant gousté il se mit à rire, & me dit si on sçauoit en Frãce que nous mãgeons des Ours, on detourneroit la face de nostre haleine, & cependant vous voyez combien la chair en est bonne et delicate.

On the 29th, sieur de Champlain came to hear Mass in our little
chapel and we kept him for dinner. As good luck had it, our Savage
had brought us a small piece of Bear, which we presented to him.
Having tasted it, he began to laugh, and said to me: "If they knew
in France that we were eating Bears, they would turn their faces
away from our breath, and yet you see how good and delicate the
meat is."

Apres le disner, i'allay salüer le Capitaine de Nesle dãs son vaisseau, quantité de petits Sauuages me suiuoient. I'en pris seulement six ou sept auec moy, ie les fis chanter leur _Pater_ en Sauuage dans le Nauire: nos François y prenoient grand plaisir. [237 i.e., 137] Le bon pour eux fut que le Capitaine de Nesle leur fit donner du Cascaracona, & du toutouch pimi; c'est ainsi qu'ils appellent le biscuit & le formage. Au depart comme le Capitaine eut fait tirer vn coup de canon par honneur, ces enfans regardoient auec estonnement, & se monstroient si constans, que si on leur vouloit payer leur chanson en mesme monnoye, ils voudroient gagner leur vie en chantant.

After dinner, I went to greet Captain de Nesle in his ship, a
number of little Savages following me. I took but six or seven
with me, and had them sing their _Pater_ in the Savage Tongue
aboard the Ship. Our Frenchmen enjoyed it greatly. [237 i.e., 137]
The best of all for them [the little savages] was that Captain de
Nesle gave them some "Cascaracona," and some "toutouch pimi;" it
is thus they call biscuits and cheese. Upon our departure, as the
Captain had the cannon fired in our honor, the children looked on
with amazement, and showed themselves so happy that, if one would
pay for their songs in that way, they would like to gain their
livelihood by singing.

Le dernier iour de May, la Nasse nostre Sauuage nous vint dire qu'vn de leurs gens auoit songé qu'il y auroit des François tuez. Or soit que le Diable leur ait donné ce sentimẽt, soit que de plusieurs songes il s'en rencontre quelqu'vn de veritable par cas fortuit. Quoy que c'en soit, le 2 iour de Iuin les Hiroquois tuerent deux de nos Frãçois, & en blesserent quatre autres, dont l'vn mourut [238 i.e., 138] bien-tost apres: voicy comme arriua ce malheur. Vne barque & vne chalouppe montoient dans le grand fleuue de S. Laurens, la chalouppe passa deuant; & pour aller plus viste, quelques mattelots mirent pied à terre pour la tirer, auec des amares ou des cordes: comme ils vindrent à doubler vne pointe de terre, trente ou 40. Hiroquois qui estoiẽt en embuscade viennent fondre dessus eux, auec des cris espouuẽtables: ils tuënt d'abbord les deux premiers qu'ils ont à la rencõtre à coups de haches: ils decochent vne gresle de fleches auec vne telle vistesse & promptitude, que nos François ne sçauoient de quel costé se tourner, n'ayans pas preueu ce coup là. Ils eurent bien la hardiesse de vouloir aborder la chalouppe auec leur canots, & n'eust esté qu'vn François les coucha en iouë auec son harquebuse, & que la [239 i.e., 139] barque qui n'estoit pas loin, équippa viste vne chalouppe pour venir au secours, ayãt entẽdu les cris du combat, il est croyable que pas vn n'en fut échappé. Les Hiroquois voyant cette harquebuse, & ceste autre chalouppe qui venoit au secours, s'enfuirent, écorchant au preallable les testes de ceux qu'ils auoient tuez, & remportans ces peaux par brauade.

On the last day of May, la Nasse, our Savage, came to tell us that
one of their men had dreamed that some Frenchmen would be killed.
Now, either because the Devil had given them this sentiment, or
that among all their dreams there is now and then one that happens
perchance to be true, however that may be, on the 2nd day of
June the Hiroquois killed two of our Frenchmen and wounded four
others, one of whom died [238 i.e., 138] shortly afterward. This
catastrophe happened in this way: A bark and shallop were ascending
the great river St. Lawrence; the latter went ahead, and, to hasten
its speed, sailors went ashore to tow it with lines or cords. As
they came to double a point of land, thirty or 40 Hiroquois, who
were in ambush, fell upon them with horrible cries; they killed
the two men first encountered, with blows from their hatchets,
then discharged a storm of arrows so suddenly and unexpectedly that
our Frenchmen did not know which way to turn, not having foreseen
the attack. They even dared to try to board the shallop in their
canoes; and, had it not been that a Frenchman took aim at them with
his arquebus, and that the [239 i.e., 139] bark, which was not far
away, speedily equipped a boat to come to the rescue, having heard
the cries of the combat, it is probable that not one of them would
have escaped. The Hiroquois, seeing the arquebus, and the other
boat coming to their help, fled, first skinning the heads of those
whom they had killed and bearing away the scalps by way of bravado.

Le 8. de Iuin, le Pere Masse arriua de Tadoussac, il réueilla nostre ioye, voyant qu'apres auoir esté si long temps malade sur la mer il se portoit bien. Il nous dit que Pierre Pastedechouan estoit plus meschant que iamais. Que les Anglois qui estoient à Tadoussac l'auoient perdu par l'yurognerie: O que celuy-là sera coupable deuant Dieu, qui a introduict l'heresie en ces contrées! Si ce Sauuage auoit de l'esprit, estant comme il est corrompu par ces miserables [240 i.e., 140] heretiques, il seroit vn puissant obstacle à la publication de la foy, encore n'y apportera-il que trop d'empeschement, si Dieu ne luy touche le cœur. Il fait paroistre par ses deportemens qu'il nous estoit donné pour tirer de luy les principes de sa lãgue, & non pas pour le bien de son ame, puis qu'il se bande contre son Dieu & contre la verité.

On the 8th of June, Father Masse arrived from Tadoussac, and
caused us great joy, as he had been so long sick upon the sea,
and is now well. He told us that Pierre Pastedechouan[33] was
more wicked than ever; that the English who were at Tadoussac had
ruined him by drunkenness. Oh, how guilty before God will he be
who has introduced heresy into this country! If this Savage were
intelligent, corrupted as he is by these miserable [240 i.e., 140]
heretics, he would be a powerful obstacle to the spread of the
faith; even now, he will cause only too much injury to it, if God
does not touch his heart. To judge from his conduct, it would seem
that he was given to us to draw from him the principles of his
language, and not for the welfare of his soul, as he now leagues
against his God and against the truth.

Il fait icy des chaleurs si violentes en ce mois de Iuin, & vne si grãde seicheresse, que ie n'ay rien veu ny senty de semblable en France, tout brusle sur la terre, rien n'aduance par ce temps-là; & neantmoins il a gelé à glace en vn matin en la maison des Peres Recolets. La nuict fortifiant la fraicheur des bois, cause de ces gelées du matin; nous sommes voisins de cette maison, & cependant cela n'est point arriué chez nous, pource que nous auons vn plus grand air.

I have never experienced in France anything like the heat and
the drought which we have had here during this month of June.
Everything on the earth burns, and nothing prospers in such
weather; and yet it froze one morning in the house of the Recolet
Fathers. The night so intensifies the coolness of the woods as to
cause these morning frosts. We are near that house, and yet it did
not happen with us, because we are more exposed to the air.

[241 i.e., 141] Le 16 du mesme mois de Iuin, nous auons rendu l'vn de nos petits enfans à sa mere, vostre Reuerence nous ayant mandé qu'il n'y auoit pas encore dequoy establir vn seminaire: & par consequent n'ayant enuoyé ceux qu'elle destine pour auoir soin d'instruire les enfans que nous aurions peu auoir, craignant d'ailleurs que ceste femme ne retirast son fils en cachette, & s'enfuit dans les bois de peur qu'on ne fist passer en France: i'ay mieux aimé luy rendre franchement, afin de luy donner à cognoistre que si nous tenons des enfans, ce n'est point pour les dérober à leurs parẽts, ains pour leur propre bien: afin aussi qu'elle dise aux autres Sauuages qu'ils sont bien nourris auec nous, pour les induire à nous donner les leurs quand on aura moyen de les nourrir. Cette pauure femme me demanda pourquoy ie [242 i.e., 142] luy rendois son fils? & quand elle le rameneroit? Ie luy respondis que depuis la venuë des vaisseaux, ie l'auois tousiours veu en crainte qu'on ne l'enuoyast en France, nonobstāt les asseurances que ie luy auois baillé qu'il n'iroit point: & pour luy monstrer que nous estions veritables, cōme aussi pour luy oster toute crainte que nous luy remettions entre les mains: qu'aussi-tost que ie sçaurois la langue, & que nous seriōs bastis, que nous le reprendrions auec plusieurs autres. Au bout du compte la principale raison qui m'a induit à luy rendre, est que i'apprehendois qu'elle ne l'emmenast à nostre desceu: car alors elle eut forgé mille menteries parmy les Sauuages pour se couurir: & comme ie ne scay pas bien la langue, ie n'eusse peu nous iustifier: ce qui auroit induit les Sauuages à nous refuser leurs enfans quand il sera temps [243 i.e., 143] de les demander: ô que c'est vn grãd mal de ne pouuoir produire ses raisons! de ne parler qu'en begayant, & par signes!

[241 i.e., 141] On the 16th of the same month of June, we restored
one of our little children to its mother, your Reverence having
informed us that you did not yet have the means to establish
a seminary here, and consequently had not sent those who had
been appointed to look after the instruction of these children.
Apprehending, moreover, that this woman might take away her child
secretly, and fly with it to the woods, for fear that we might
send it to France, I preferred to restore it to her freely, that
she might understand that, if we kept children, it was not to hold
them by force from their parents, but for their own good; also that
she might say to the other Savages that the children were well
fed with us, and so lead them to let us have theirs, when we have
the means to care for them. This poor woman asked me why I [242
i.e., 142] gave up her child, and when she should bring it back. I
answered that, since the arrival of the ships, I had always noticed
that she was afraid we would send it to France, notwithstanding
the assurances I had given her to the contrary. [We did this] to
prove to her that we were true to our word, and also in order to
relieve her of all apprehension that we might not restore it to
her hands; that, as soon as I knew their language, and after we
had built, we would take it again with many others. But, in fact,
the principal reason which induced me to restore it to her is that
I feared she might take it unknown to us; and then she would have
forged a thousand lies among the Savages to excuse herself, and,
as I do not know their language well, I should not have been able
to justify ourselves! This would have caused the Savages to refuse
their children to us when the time comes [243 i.e., 143] to ask
them. Oh, what a great misfortune it is not to be able to give
one's reasons, to speak only stammeringly and by signs.

Le 23. du mesme mois, le sieur du Plessis nous enuoya dire que douze ou quatorze canots de la nation des sorciers estoient descendus iusques à Saincte Croix, quinze lieuës ou enuiron au dessus de Kebec, quelques iours auparavant nous en auions veu descendre vne douzaine d'vne autre nation nommée la nation d'Iroquet, du nom de leur Capitaine; Dieu soit beny, puis que la crainte des Hiroquois ne les a point empesché de venir. Ces sorciers, c'est ainsi que les François appellent ceste natiõ, pource qu'elle fait vne particuliere profession de consulter leur Manitou, ou parler au diable. Ces sorciers, dis-ie, sont venus iusques à Kebec; l'vn deux regardant fort attentiuement [244 i.e., 144] vn petit François qui battoit vn tambour, & s'approchant fort prés pour le mieux considerer, ce petit garçon luy donna vn coup de l'vn de ses bastõs, & le fit saigner par la teste à bon escient; aussi-tost tous ceux de sa nation qui regardoient ce tambour, voyant ce coup, s'offencerent: ils s'en vont trouuer le truchement François, & luy disent: voila l'vn de tes gens qui a blessé l'vn des nostres, tu scais bien nostre coustume, fais nous des presens pour cette blessure. Cõme il n'y a point de police parmy les Sauuages, si l'vn d'eux en tuë ou blesse vn autre, s'il peut euader, il en est quitte pour quelques presẽs qu'il fait aux amis du defunct, ou de l'offensé. Nostre truchement luy repartit; toy-mesme tu sçais bien nos façons de faire, quãd quelqu'vn de nous fait mal, on le chastie: Cét enfant a blessé l'vn de vos gens, il sera [245 i.e., 145] tout maintenant foüetté en ta presence. On fait venir le petit garçon; quand les Sauuages veirent que c'estoit tout de bon qu'on despoüilloit ce petit batteur de Sauuages & de tambour, & que les verges estoient toutes prestes, ils commencerẽt à prier qu'on luy pardonnast, alleguans que c'estoit vn enfant, qu'il n'auoit point d'esprit, qu'il ne scauoit pas encor ce qu'il faisoit; mais comme on le vouloit chastier à toute force, l'vn d'eux se met tout nud, iette sa robe sur l'enfant, s'écriant à celuy qui le vouloit frapper; touche sur moy, si tu veux, mais tu ne le frapperas point: voila comme le pauure petit euada. Toutes les nations Sauuages de ces quartiers, & du Brasil, à ce qu'on nous témoigne, ne scauroient chastier ny voir chastier vn enfant: que cela nous donnera de peine dans le dessein que nous [246 i.e., 146] auons d'instruire la ieunesse!

On the 23rd of the same month, sieur du Plessis sent word to us
that twelve or fourteen canoes of the tribe of sorcerers had gone
down as far as Sainte Croix, fifteen leagues or thereabouts above
Kebec.[51] A few days before, we had seen a dozen belonging to
another tribe called Iroquet, from the name of their Captain,[52]
also going down. God be blessed, since the fear of the Hiroquois
did not prevent their coming. These sorcerers,--it is thus that
the French call that tribe, because they make a special profession
of consulting their Manitou, or talking to the devil,[43]--these
sorcerers, I say, came as far as Kebec. One of them was looking
very attentively [244 i.e., 144] at a little French boy who was
beating a drum; and, going near to him so as to see him better,
the little boy struck him a blow with one of his drumsticks, and
made his head bleed badly. Immediately all the people of his tribe
who were looking at the drummer, seeing this blow given, took
offense at it. They went and found the French interpreter, and said
to him: "Behold, one of thy people has wounded one of ours; thou
knowest our custom well; give us presents for this wound." As there
is no government among the Savages, if one among them kills or
wounds another, he is, providing he can escape, released from all
punishment by making a few presents to the friends of the deceased
or the wounded one. Our interpreter said: "Thou knowest our
custom; when any of our number does wrong we punish him. This child
has wounded one of your people; he shall be [245 i.e., 145] whipped
at once in thy presence." The little boy was brought in; and when
they saw that we were really in earnest, that we were stripping
this little pounder of Savages and drums, and that the switches
were all ready, they immediately began to pray for his pardon,
alleging that it was only a child, that he had no mind, that he did
not know what he was doing; but, as our people were nevertheless
going to punish him, one of the Savages stripped himself entirely,
threw his blanket over the child, and cried out to him who was
going to do the whipping: "Strike me, if thou wilt, but thou shalt
not strike him;" and thus the little one escaped. All the Savage
tribes of these quarters, and of Brazil, as we are assured, cannot
chastise a child, nor see one chastised. How much trouble this will
give us in carrying out our plans [246 i.e., 146] of teaching the
young!

Le 24. du mesme mois, le Pere Daniel arriuant, nous apporta nouuelle de la venuë du Capitaine Morieult, dans le vaisseau duquel il auoit laissé le Pere Dauost à Tadoussac: ayant pris le deuant par le moyen d'vne barque qui montoit a Kebec.

On the 24th of the same month, Father Daniel,[53] arriving, brought
us news of the coming of Captain Morieult in the ship in which he
had left Father Davost[54] at Tadoussac; he having come up ahead,
by means of a bark which was going on to Kebec.

Le dernier iour de Iuin, le Truchement François qui a demeuré long-temps parmy ces sorciers, & qui en est reuenu nouuellemẽt, nous vint voir auec trois Sauuages ses hostes, nous leur donnasmes à mãger: Ils recognurent fort bien le Pere Brebeuf, ayant hyuerné auec luy aux Hurons: Nous les menasmes en nostre petite Chappelle, qui a commẽcé ceste année à s'embellir. L'an passé pour tableau de l'Autel c'estoit vn meschãt linceul, & deux petites images de carton: en vn mot il n'y auoit purement que ce qu'il falloit pour [247 i.e., 147] celebrer la Saincte Messe. Or comme on nous a enuoyé ceste année quelques petits ornemens, nous l'auons embellie le mieux que nous auons peu: ils regardoient tous fort attentiuement: iettans les yeux sur le ciel de l'Autel, ils veirẽt vn S. Esprit figuré par vne colombe, entourée de rayons: ils demanderent si cét oiseau n'estoit point le tonnerre, car ils croyent, comme ie remarquay l'an passé, que le tonnerre est vn oiseau; & quand ils voyent quelque beau panache ils demandent si ce ne sont point des plumes du tonnerre.

On the last day of June, the French Interpreter, who had been a
long time among these sorcerers, and who but recently came from
them, came to see us with three Savages who were his guests; we
gave them something to eat; they recognized Father Brebeuf at
once, having passed the winter with him among the Hurons.[55] We
took them into our little Chapel, which we have this year begun to
decorate. Last year, for Altar-piece, we had nothing but an old
sheet with two little card pictures upon it. In a word we had only
what was absolutely necessary for the [247 i.e., 147] celebration
of the Holy Mass. Now, as they have sent us this year a few little
ornaments, we have decorated it as best we could. The Savages
gazed at it with fixed attention; raising their eyes to the Altar
ceiling, and seeing the Holy Spirit pictured as a dove, surrounded
by rays of light, they asked if that bird was not the thunder; for
they believe, as I wrote last year, that the thunder is a bird;
and, when they see beautiful plumes, they ask if they are not the
feathers of the thunder.

Ie leur fis demander s'ils seroient bien contens qu'on les allast instruire en leur pays, & qu'on leur donneroit l'explication des images que nous leur faisions voir; ils témoignerent qu'ils en seroient bien contens.

I asked if they would be glad to have some one go and teach them in
their country, and give them an explanation of the pictures that we
showed them. They said that they would be very glad.

Le second iour de Iuillet, vn de nos François fut assommé lauant la lessiue [248 i.e., 148] en vn ruisseau voisin du fort, on creut que c'estoit quelque Hiroquois; on court, on cherche, on ne trouue rien. Le Pere Brebeuf & le Pere de Nouë estoient proche de l'habitation, dans vne cabane de Hurons: ils accoururent au bruit, ils vont voir le pauure blessé, qui n'a point parlé, & n'a suruescu que deux iours depuis les coups receus: En fin deux Sauuages Montagnaits ont donné aduis aux François du meurtrier, qui a esté pris & cõduit au fort; où il a confessé qu'il auoit fait ce meurtre: c'est vn Sauuage de la petite nation. Voicy le suiect qui l'a porté à cette cruauté; Vn sien parent s'en allant à la guerre, luy recommanda de tuer vn certain Sauuage qu'il luy nommoit: ce miserable auoit souuẽt tasché de le surprẽdre, & de le massacrer: mais voyant qu'il n'en pouuoit venir à bout, l'autre se tenant tousiours [249 i.e., 149] sur ses gardes: il a deschargé sa cholere sur le premier François qu'il a trouué à l'escart.

On the second of July, one of our Frenchmen was struck down while
washing some clothes [248 i.e., 148] in a brook near the fort. It
was believed to have been the act of some Hiroquois; there was
a great deal of running and searching, but nothing was found.
Father Brebeuf and Father de Nouë were near the settlement in a
cabin of the Hurons. On hearing the noise, they ran out and went
to see the poor man who had been wounded; he was speechless and
survived only two days after receiving the blows. Finally two
Savages, Montagnaits, informed the French who the murderer was.
He was seized and taken to the fort, where he confessed that he
had committed the crime. He is a Savage of the petite nation.[56]
This is what led him to the act of cruelty: One of his relatives,
upon going to war, recommended him to kill a certain Savage whom
he named. This wretch had often tried to surprise and kill him;
but, seeing that he had not accomplished it, the other being always
[249 i.e., 149] on the lookout, he vented his wrath upon the first
Frenchman whom he found alone.

Voila comme nos vies sont peu asseurées parmy ces Barbares: mais nous trouuons là dedans vne puissante consolation, qui nous met hors de toute crainte, c'est que mourans de la main des Barbares en venant procurer leur salut, c'est imiter en quelque façon nostre bon Maistre, à qui ceux-là mesme donnerent la mort, ausquels il venoit apporter la vie.

This shows you how unsafe our lives are among these Barbarians;
but we find therein exceeding consolation, which relieves us from
all fear; it is that dying at the hands of these Barbarians, whose
salvation we come to seek, is in some degree following the example
of our good Master, who was put to death by those to whom he came
to bring life.

Le 3. du mesme mois, le Pere Dauost arriua de Tadoussac, il fut contrainct de se faire apporter dans vn canot par des Sauuages, voyant que le vaisseau auquel il estoit ne pouuoit monter faute de vent, craignãt d'ailleurs que les Hurons ne descendissent, & ne s'en retournassent sans luy en leur pays. Dieu soit glorifié [250 i.e., 150] pour iamais, qui nous a rassemblez tous en nostre petite maisonette, auec vne grande ioye & vn grãd desir de luy offrir nos vies pour son seruice.

On the 3rd of the same month Father Davost arrived from Tadoussac.
He was forced to have himself brought down in a canoe by some
Savages, as his vessel could not come up the river, because there
was no wind; he also feared that the Hurons might come down, and
return to their country without him. May God be forever [250
i.e., 150] praised, who has brought us together in our own little
cottage, in great joy, and with a strong desire to give our lives
to his service.

Le 4. Louys Amantacha Hurõ qui a esté baptisé en France, & instruit par nos Peres, & qui auroit fait merueille en son pays s'il n'eut esté pris des Anglois, se vint confesser & communier en nostre petite Chapelle. Il y auoit deux iours qu'il estoit descendu à Kebec, nous venant visiter dés le commencement de son arriuée, ie l'inuitay à penser vn petit à sa conscience, il me promit qu'il le feroit, aussi n'y a-il pas manqué.

On the 4th, Louys Amantacha,[21] a Huron who was baptized in
France, and taught by our Fathers, and who would have done wonders
in his country if he had not been captured by the English, came to
confession and communion at our little Chapel. Two days before, he
had arrived at Kebec, coming to see us immediately. I asked him to
think about his conscience a little; he promised me that he would,
and he has kept his word.

Le 5. trois Capitaines de diuerses nations nous vindrent voir, nous leur mõstrasmes quelques tableaux, taschant de leur faire entendre ce qu'ils representoient, nous les fismes manger, puis ie leur fis present à [251 i.e., 151] chacun d'vn chappelet de rassade, ils estoient les plus contens du monde; ie leurs fis le meilleur accueil qui me fut possible scachant que nos Peres qui vont aux Hurons, deuoient passer par leur pays.

On the 5th, three Captains of different tribes came to see us. We
showed them several pictures, trying to make them understand what
they represented. We gave them something to eat and then I made
each one [251 i.e., 151] a present of a rosary of glass beads.
They were the happiest men in the world. I gave them as warm a
reception as I could, knowing that our Fathers who were going to
the Hurons would pass through their country.