Chapter M: DC XXXIV (6)

Le 10. on nous donna aduis sur le soir qu'vn petit Sauuage estoit malade à la mort, il y auoit vne bonne demie lieuë de chemin à faire depuis nostre maison iusques à sa cabane. La nuict approchoit, la mort du dernier François a ietté quelque défiance dans l'esprit des autres, si bien qu'on se tient vn peu sur ses gardes: nonobstant cela, ie ne pouuois permettre que ce pauure petit fut abandonné: i'auois desir de l'aller baptiser moy-mesme, mais ayant esté indisposé, & ressenty quelques accés de fiéure depuis quelque tẽps: nos Peres trouuerent plus à propos que le Pere Brebeuf y allast. Il part [252 i.e., 152] donc auec le Pere de Nouë dans vn canot, ils rencontrerent vn François aupres des Cabanes, qui leur dit que ces Sauuages ne vouloient point monstrer leur enfant aux François, cela ne les arreste point, ils entrent dans la Cabane, & le Pere Brebeuf qui iargonne aussi bien que moy en Sauuage, leur fit entendre le mieux qu'il pût la cause de sa venuë: le Pere de Nouë courut incontinent vers le Truchement, pour le supplier de venir faire vn tour vers ce malade. Cõme il est fort honneste homme & bien vertueux, il quitte son soupper, & s'en vient trouuer les Peres, qui le supplient de declarer aux Sauuage pourquoy ils venoiẽt si tard: scauoir est qu'ils aimoient ce petit enfant, & que s'il mouroit sans baptesme, qu'il n'iroit point au Ciel: au contraire si on le baptisoit, qu'il seroit tousiours bien-heureux. Ils demandent en [253 i.e., 153] outre si ses parens ne seroient pas biẽ contens qu'on le baptisast: la mere respond que pour elle qu'elle en estoit tres-contente, que son mary estoit yure, & qu'il dormoit dans vne autre Cabane. Le Pere passe outre, & demande si au cas qu'il mourut, ils ne voudroiẽt pas bien l'apporter en nostre maison, pour l'enterrer en nostre Cimetiere: & s'il retournoit en santé, si elle ne voudroit pas bien nous le dõner pour l'instruire: elle respond que son fils estoit mort, & que s'il rechappoit, qu'aussi-tost qu'il pourroit marcher (car il n'a enuiron que six mois) qu'elle nous l'ameneroit. Vn Sauuage entẽdāt cela, courut voir le pere de l'enfant; & l'éueilla; luy ayant rapporté tout ce qu'auoient dit les Peres, il respōdit; encore que ie sois yure, i'entend biẽ tout ce que tu dis: va t'en, & dis à ces Peres qu'ils baptisent mõ fils? ie scay [254 i.e., 154] bien qu'ils ne luy feront point de mal; s'il meurt, c'est qu'il est mortel; s'il réchappe, ie leur donneray pour l'instruire. Le Messager rapporta la nouuelle, & le Pere Brebeuf enuoye querir de l'eau à la riuiere, cependant le Pere de Nouë & le Truchement se mettent à genoux, recitent l'Hymne _Veni Creator_; & le Pere Brebeuf baptise ce pauure petit, luy donnant le nom de François, en l'honeur de S. François Xauier: disant aux parens que d'oresnauant il le falloit nommer François, & que s'il mourroit, qu'il iroit tout droit au Ciel, où il seroit à iamais bien-heureux. Ces pauures gens témoignerent vn tres-grand contentement, reïterans souuent ce nom François, François: & faisans voir qu'ils auoiẽt pris vn singulier plaisir en cette action. L'vn des Sauuages de la Cabane se mit à dire que si le Sauuage qui a tué le [255 i.e., 155] François dernier mort estoit de leur nation qu'il auroyent prié le Capitaine des François de le faire mourir voulãt dõner vne preuue de l'amour qu'il portoit à tous les Frãçois. Enfin les Peres retournerent à dix heures du soir bien ioyeux, & comme ie demandois au Pere Brebeuf s'il n'estoit pas bien content d'auoir si bien conclud la iournée: helas! dit-il, ie viendrois tout exprés de France, & trauerserois tout l'Ocean pour gagner vne petite ame à N. Seigneur.

On the 10th, toward evening, we received news that a little Savage
was sick unto death. It was a good half league from our house to
his cabin. Night was approaching; the death of the last Frenchman
had caused some fear in the minds of the others, so much so that
we were on our guard. Notwithstanding that, I could not suffer
this poor little one to be abandoned. I wished to go and baptize
it myself; but, being indisposed, and having felt for some time a
slight attack of fever, our Fathers thought it best that Father
Brebeuf should go. So he started [252 i.e., 152] off with Father
de Nouë in a canoe. They encountered a Frenchman near the Cabins,
who said that these Savages did not want to show their child to
the French. That did not stop them. They entered the Cabin, and
Father Brebeuf, who can jargon as well as I can in Savage, made
them understand as best he could the cause of his visit. Father de
Nouë ran hurriedly to the Interpreter, to beg him to come and do
a service for the sick. As he was a very honest and worthy man,
he left his supper and joined the Fathers, who besought him to
inform the Savages why they had come so late; that it was because
they loved that little child, and that if it died without baptism
it would not go to Heaven; on the contrary, if it were baptized
it would be forever happy. They asked [253 i.e., 153] also if its
parents would not be very glad to have it baptized. The mother
answered that for her part she would be very well pleased, but
that her husband was drunk, and asleep in another Cabin. The Father
continued, and asked, if the child should die, if they would not
bring it to our house and bury it in our Cemetery; and, if it were
restored to health, if they would not give it to us to be educated.
She answered that her son was dead; but that if he revived, as soon
as he should be able to walk (for he was only about six months
old) she would bring him to us. A Savage, who heard this, ran to
the father of the child and aroused him; having reported to him
all that the Fathers had said, he answered: "Though I am drunk,
I understand very well all that thou sayest; go and bid those
Fathers baptize my son; I know [254 i.e., 154] very well that they
will do him no harm; if he dies, it is because he is mortal; if he
recovers, I shall give him to them to be educated." The Messenger
brought the news, and Father Brebeuf sent to the river for water,
while Father de Nouë and the Interpreter knelt down, reciting the
hymn _Veni Creator_; and Father Brebeuf baptized this poor little
one, giving him the name of François, in honor of St. François
Xavier, telling the parents that they must hereafter call him
François, and that if he died he would go straight to Heaven, where
he would be forever blest. These poor people gave evidence of their
great happiness, often repeating the name "François, François," and
showing that they had taken a great deal of pleasure in what we
had done. One of the Savages in the Cabin said that if the Savage
who had recently killed [255 i.e., 155] the Frenchman belonged to
his tribe, he would have prayed the Captain of the French to kill
him, wishing to give a proof of the love that they bore to all
Frenchmen. In short, the Fathers returned home at ten o'clock at
night very happy; and when I asked Father Brebeuf if he were not
glad to have ended the day so well: "Ah!" said he, "I would come
expressly from France, and cross the great Ocean, to reclaim one
little soul for Our Lord."

Il m'adiousta que le Pere de l'enfant s'appelloit la Grenouille, alors ie le cognus fort bien, c'est vn Capitaine des Algonquains; il nous est venu voir, ie luy ay quelquefois parlé de Dieu, i'en fais mentiõ cy-dessus: c'est luy qui me demandoit combien ie voulois d'enfans, & qui s'estonna quand ie luy repartis que nous en voulions vingt, & bien dauantage [256 i.e., 156] quand nous les pourrions nourrir.

He added that the Father of the child was called "la Grenouille"
[the Frog]. Then I knew him very well, as a Captain of the
Algonquains. He had been to see us, and I had spoken to him
sometimes of God. I have mentioned him above. It was he who asked
me how many children I wanted, and who was astonished when I
replied that we wanted twenty, and many more [256 i.e., 156] when
we should be able to feed them.

Au reste, c'est chose estrange combien les Sauuages sont addonnés à l'yurongnerie, nonobstãt les defenses du sieur de Champlain, il y a tousiours quelqu'vn qui leur traite, ou vend quelque bouteille en cachette: si bien qu'on ne voit qu'yurongnes hurler parmy eux, se battre & se quereler. Le Truchement m'a dit que les Sauuages de la nation de celuy qui est prisonnier au fort pour auoir tué ce François, luy reprochoiẽt que c'estoit l'eau de vie, & non ce Sauuage, qui auoit cõmis ce meurtre; voulant dire qu'il estoit yure quand il fit ce coup: Tiens ton vin & ton eau de vie en prison, disent-ils, ce sont tes boissons qui font tout le mal, & non pas nous autres. Ils pensent s'estre bien excusez du mal qu'ils ont fait, quand ils disent qu'ils estoient yures: ie ne voudrois pas les croire aisément [257 i.e., 157] en ce poinct, car ils feignent fort bien cette manie quand ils veulent couurir leur malice.

Further, it is very strange how these Savages are given to
drunkenness. In spite of the prohibition of sieur de Champlain,
there is always some one who trades with them, or who will sell
them a bottle now and then in secret. So that drunkards are
continually seen among them, shouting, fighting, and quarreling.
The Interpreter told me that the Savages of the tribe to which the
prisoner in the fort belonged who had killed the Frenchman, told
him reproachfully that it was brandy and not that Savage who had
committed this murder, meaning to say that he was drunk when he
struck the blow. "Put thy wine and thy brandy in prison," they say:
"It is thy drinks that do all the evil, and not we." They believe
themselves to be entirely excused from the crimes they commit, when
they say that they were drunk. I do not readily believe [257 i.e.,
157] in this, because they feign this madness very well when they
wish to hide their malice.

Pour retourner à cét enfant nouuellement baptisé, il mourut le lendemain au soir: & le iour suiuant le Pere Brebeuf allant au fort, veit les Sauuages qui trauersoient le grand fleuue S. Laurens, pour le porter en terre à l'autre port. Ie croy qu'ils ne l'apporterent pas chez nous pour auoir plus de liberté de faire festin sur sa fosse, selõ leur coustume. Quasi à mesme temps vn ieune garçon huguenot qui a passé dans les vaisseaux, & qui deuoit retourner auec eux, s'est noyé tout deuant le fort, estrange effect de la prouidence & predestination du bon Dieu! _vnus assumetur, alter relinquetur_.

To return to this newly baptized child: it died the next evening;
and on the following day Father Brebeuf, going to the fort, saw the
Savages crossing the great St. Lawrence river, to bury it on the
other side. I believe they did not bring it to us, because they
wanted to enjoy more liberty in feasting over the grave, according
to their custom. About the same time, a young huguenot boy who came
over in the ship, and who was to return with them, was drowned
right in front of the fort. Strange effect of the providence
and the predestination of the good God! _Unus assumetur, alter
relinquetur._

Le Pere Brebeuf ne laissa point d'entrer dans la Cabane d'où on auoit tiré cét enfant mort. Il y en [258 i.e., 158] trouua encor vn autre malade: il parla de le baptiser, sa grand'mere respondit; ie suis contente que tu le baptise, pourueu que tu le guerisse. Le Truchement des Algonquains qui se fait bien entendre des Montagnaits se trouuant là, le Pere leur fit vn petit discours du Baptesme, & de ses effects: Vous ne recherchez, leur disoit-il, que le corps, & nous recherchons l'ame, qui est purifiée par ce Sacrement, faisant approprier leurs paroles le mieux qu'il pouuoit à nos mysteres. Le Baptesme guarit tousiours l'ame, ne fait point de mal au corps: ains au contraire luy rend souuent la santé. Ils demanderent combien il falloit d'eau pour baptiser: Le Pere respond qu'on n'auoit point d'esgard à la quantité. La conclusion fut que les parẽs prirent eux-mesmes l'enfant, & le disposerent pour receuoir cette benediction: [259 i.e., 159] mais le Pere iugeant qu'il n'estoit pas en dãger de mort, ne se voulut point haster.

Father Brebeuf lost no time in going to the Cabin from which they
had taken the dead child. Here he [258 i.e., 158] found another
sick child; he spoke of baptizing him, when the grandmother
answered: "I shall be satisfied to have thee baptize him, provided
that thou canst cure him." The Interpreter of the Algonquains, who
makes himself readily understood by the Montagnaits, being present,
the Father gave them a little talk upon Baptism and its effects.
"You care only for the body," said he, "we care for the soul, which
is purified by this Sacrament," adapting their words as best he
could to our mysteries. "Baptism always cures the soul, and does no
harm to the body, but on the contrary often restores it to health."
They asked how much water it took for baptism. The Father answered
that no attention was paid to the quantity. The result was that the
parents themselves took the child, and prepared it to receive this
blessing. [259 i.e., 159] But the Father, thinking that it was not
in danger of death, did not wish to hasten matters.

Le lendemain noꝰ l'allasmes voir le Pere de Nouë & moy, la crainte que nous auiõs qu'il ne mourut sans estre baptisé, nous fit partir par vn temps tout à fait violent: les vents & la pluye sembloient vouloir tout rompre, & tout noyer. Ie voulois aussi aller entendre de confession vn Bengalois qui auoit esté blessé, & qui me demandoit: c'eft vn ieune homme amené des Indes Orientales, & fait Chrestien en Frāce, qui a hyuerné icy auec nous. Ie le veis, & le cõsolay le mieux que ie pûs. Pour le petit Sauuage m'estant presenté à l'vne des portes de sa Cabane, on me dit _aouesse_, retire toy: mais ayans ouy ma voix, ils me dirent que ie passasse par l'autre porte: i'entre donc pendant que le Pere de Nouë cherchoit le [260 i.e., 160] Truchement. Vne femme m'arresta au premier pas, me disant, _appitou_, sieds toy là. Ie luy responds, ouy, ie veux voir l'enfant. attend, attend, me dit-elle, tu le verras. Le plus grãd sorcier d'entr'eux, à ce que me dit le Truchement, qui arriua bien-tost apres, chantoit & souffloit cét enfant pour le guerir. Ils auoient fait vn petit retrenchement où estoit l'enfāt, i'en voulus deux ou trois fois approcher, mais on ne me le voulut pas permettre. Les Sauuages m'arrestoient à tous coups. Attendant que ce beau medecin eut traité son malade, l'enfant estoit nud comme la main, couché dans vn petit berceau d'écorce, sur de la poudre de bois pourry. Il auoit vne grosse fiévre qui le brusloit, & ce charlatan pour le guerir battoit & tournoit vn instrument remply de petites pierres, fait iustement comme vn tambour de [261 i.e., 161] Basque. Il chantoit auec cela à gorge desployée: en vn mot luy & sõ cõpagnon pour oster la fieure a ce petit garçon faisoient vn bruit capable de la donner à vn hõme biẽ sain. Le sorcier s'approchoit du malade, le souffloit par tout le corps, à ce que ie pouuois coniecturer, car ie ne le voiois pas, mais i'entendois son souffle tiré du profond de l'estomach: il battoit ce tambour à ses oreilles, cependant il y auoit vn grand silence parmy les autres Sauuages qui estoient dans la mesme cabane. Sa medecine donnée il m'appelle, & me dit que ie visse l'enfant, & que ie luy en disse mon aduis: pour luy qu'il croioit qu'il avoit ie ne sçay quoy de noir dans le corps, & que c'estoit cela qui le faisoit malade, voila le resultat de ce grãd bruit. Ie m'approche, ie touche le poulx de l'enfant, ie luy trouue vne grosse fieure, & leurs dy qu'il auoit vne maladie [262 i.e., 162] que nous appellions la fieure, & qu'il le falloit laisser reposer, & non pas le tuer auec ce grand bruit qui augmentoit sa maladie, & qui depuis peu i'auois eu quelques accés de fiéure, & que le repos m'auoit guery. Le sorcier me repart, cela est bon pour vous autres, mais pour nous c'est ainsi que nous guerissons les malades. Helas que les hommes qui ne cognoissent pas Dieu sont ignorans, voire mesme dans les choses naturelles! Pour cōclure ce point, nous nous en retournasmes par eau comme nous estions venus, sans baptiser l'enfant, ne iugeant pas sa maladie mortelle, la fiebure quoy que bien grande estãt intermittente.

The next day Father de Nouë and I went to see the child. Our fear
lest he should die without being baptized made us set out in
the midst of very stormy weather; the wind and rain seemed bent
on breaking and drowning everything. I also wanted to go and hear
the confession of a Bengalese, who had been wounded, and had sent
for me. He is a young man brought from the East Indies, who had
been converted to Christianity in France, and has been passing
the winter here with us. I saw him, and consoled him as best I
possibly could. As to the little Savage, having presented myself
at one of the doors of the Cabin, they said to me: _aouesse_, "go
away." But, having heard my voice, they told me to come in by the
other door; I went in, while Father de Nouë was seeking the [260
i.e., 160] Interpreter. A woman stopped me at the first step,
saying, _appitou_, "sit thee down there." I answered her, "yes, I
want to see the child." "Wait, wait," said she to me, "thou shalt
see him." The greatest sorcerer they have among them, according
to the Interpreter, who arrived shortly afterward, sang and blew
upon the child to cure him. They had made a little retreat where
the child was. Two or three times I tried to get near it, but was
not permitted. The Savages stopped me every time. I waited until
this fine doctor had treated his patient; the child, naked as one's
hand, lay in a cradle of bark, upon pulverized rotten wood. He
was burning with a high fever; and this charlatan, to cure him,
was beating upon and whirling around an instrument full of little
stones, made exactly like a [261 i.e., 161] tambourine. With all
this he howled immoderately. In a word, he and his companion, in
order to cure this little boy of a fever, made enough noise to
give one to a healthy man. The sorcerer approached the patient,
and blew all over the body, as I conjectured, for I could not see
what he was doing, but I heard his breath drawn from the depths of
his stomach. He beat the tambourine in the child's ears, during
which there was great silence among the other Savages who were in
the same cabin. His medicine having been given, he called me and
told me I might then see the child, and that I should give him
my opinion; as to him, he believed that the child had something
or other black in his body, and it was that which made him sick.
Behold the result of this great noise. I approach, I feel the pulse
of the child, I discover a raging fever; and I tell him that he has
a sickness [262 i.e., 162] which we call fever, that he must be
left to rest, and not be killed by this great noise which makes him
worse; that recently I had an attack of fever, and that rest had
cured me. The sorcerer replied: "That is very good for you people;
but, for us, it is thus that we cure our sick." Alas! how ignorant
are they who do not know God, indeed even in natural things! To
end this story, we returned by water as we came, without baptizing
the child, believing that the disease was not mortal; the fever,
although very high, being intermittent.

A quelques iours de là ie le retournay voir, ses parents nous ayans signifié qu'ils estoient bien aises que nous y allassions, i'y rencontray encor vn sorcier qui le souffloit, mais [263 i.e., 163] celuy cy n'entendoit pas si bien son mestier que l'autre, aussi est il plus ieune, il me laissa voir ses beaux mysteres, il battoit son tambour aux oreilles de ce pauure petit qui s'égorgeoit de pleurer, il luy souffloit sur la teste auec vn sifflement qu'il faisoit bruire entre ses dents: il tournoit son tambour deçà delà à ses costés, derrière son dos, puis le ramenoit sur l'enfant; En vn mot il se tuoit de bien faire, & ne faisoit rien qui vaille. Il n'entendoit rien à faire le iongleur à comparaison de l'autre. C'est chose estrãge que les Sauuages aient tãt de creance à ces charlatans! ie ne sçay comme le mensonge est plus adoré que la verité! Bref ce petit enfant se guerissant, son pere & sa mere nous sont venus voir, & l'õt apporté auec eux, nous remercians par cette visite de la peine que nous auions pris pour luy.

After a few days I returned to see him, his parents having made
known to us that they would be very glad if we should come. Again I
met a sorcerer who was blowing upon the body, but [263 i.e., 163]
this one did not understand his trade so well as the other; he was
also younger, and allowed me to see his beautiful mysteries. He
beat his tambourine in the ears of this poor little child, who was
almost choking with tears. He blew upon his head, with a whistling
sound made between his teeth; he turned his tambourine on this
side and that side of his ribs, behind his back, and then brought
it again over the child. In a word, he nearly killed himself with
exertion, but accomplished nothing of any account. He knew nothing
at all about playing the juggler, compared with the other. Strange
that the Savages have so much faith in these charlatans! I do not
know why falsehood is worshipped more than truth. In short, this
little child being cured, its father and mother came to see us and
brought it with them, thanking us by this visit for the trouble we
had taken for it.

[264 i.e., 164] I'en ay esté voir d'autres de puis au delà du grand fleuue Sainct Laurens, où vne partie des Sauuages s'estoient cabanés. Si ie continuë cet exercice les meres me tiendront biẽ tost pour medecin des petits enfans, car elles me disent desia leurs maladies, mais nous sommes appointés bien contraires: ils pensent seulement aux corps, & nous à l'ame.

[264 i.e., 164] Since then, I have been to see others beyond
the great Saint Lawrence river, where a company of Savages were
encamped. If I continue this business, the mothers will soon regard
me as the little children's physician, for they already come to me
with their ailments, but we have a much higher calling; they think
only of the body, and we of the soul.

Le 27 de Iuillet Louys de Saincte Foy surnommé des Sauuages Amantacha, duquel i'ay parlé cy dessus, retourna vers le sieur de Champlain qui l'auoit enuoié au deuãt de la grosse trouppe de Hurons qu'on attendoit de iour en iour: il en estoit desia venu quelques canots en diuers iours tantost sept ou huit, & tantost dix ou douze à la fois, mais en fin le 28. de Iuillet il en est arriué cent quarãte ou enuiron tout à la fois qui portoient biẽ cinq cens Hurons, d'autres disent [265 i.e., 165] 700 auec leurs marchãdises. Les Sauvages de l'Isle & les Algõquains, qui sont deux nations qu'on rencontre venant des Hurons à Kebec, les auoient voulu dissuader de venir iusques aux François, disans qu'on leur iouëroit vn mauuais party à cause de la mort d'un nommé Bruslé qu'ils auoient tué, & qu'vn Algonquain de la petite nation aiant tué vn François, on l'auoit pris prisonnier, & que c'estoit fait de sa vie, qu'on en feroit autant à quelque Huron. Leur dessein estoit de tirer toute la marchandise de ces Hurons à très-bas prix pour la venir par apres traiter eux mesmes soit aux François, soit aux Anglois. Louys Amantacha se rencontrant là dessus asseura ceux de sa nation de la bienueillance des Frãçois, protestant qu'il estoit content qu'on le mit a mort au cas que les François ne leurs fissent vn tres-bon [266 i.e., 166] accueil. Que pour Bruslé qui auoit esté massacré, on ne le tenoit point pour François, puis qu'il auoit quitté sa nation pour se mettre au seruice de l'Anglois. Enfin il a si bien fait que six ou sept cens Hurons sont venus iusques à Kebec; vn plus grand nombre s'estoit mis en chemin, mais les vns s'en sont retournés pour la peur qu'on leur donnoit, les autres pour auoir ioüé & perdu leurs marchandises, car les Sauuages sont grands ioueurs, & quelques-vns d'entre eux ne viennent à la traite auec les François que pour iouër, d'autres pour voir, quelques vns pour dérober, & les plus sages & les plus riches pour trafiquer. Ie ne croy pas qu'il y ait nation sous le ciel plus portée au larcin que la Huronne, il faut tousiours auoir les yeux sur leurs pieds & sur leurs mains quãd ils entrent en quelque endroit. On dit qu'ils dérobent [267 i.e., 167] des pieds aussi bien que des mains. I'en regardois vn chés nous qui auoit ietté les yeux sur vn des outils de la menuiserie de nostre frere, la pensée me venant qu'il s'en pourroit saisir, ie le veillay tant que ie peu, mais il fut plus adroit à prendre que moy à regarder. Il cache l'outil si dextrement que ie ne luy vy faire aucune action. Voiant neantmoins la place vuide ie me doubtay de ce qui estoit, i'en donnay aduis au Pere Brebeuf qui entend assés bien leur langue: il accoste mon homme qui voulut nier le fait au commencement, mais en fin il cõfesse la debte, rend son larcin en riant, tant il estoit contrit de son peché. Le Pere de Nouë en surprit vn autre qui enleuoit vn petit morceau de fer blanc qui seruoit d'aiguille à vn meschant quadran que i'ay tracé, vn autre déroba vne lettre par la fenestre de la chambre du Pere Masse. [268 i.e., 168] prendre & n'estre point decouuert estant vne marque d'esprit parmy eux. L'vtilité n'est pas tousiours le seul obiet de leur larcin. Vn François aiant ouy dire que les Sauuages de cette nation estoient grands larrons, se moqua de leur subtilité, disant qu'il leur donnoit tout ce qu'ils luy prendroient: quelques vns l'allerent voir, il leur presenta à boire, pour toutes actions de graces ils luy enleuerent sa tace, mais si finement qu'il ne s'en prit point garde qu'ils ne fussent partis.

On the 27th of July, Louys de Saincte Foy, surnamed by the Savages
Amantacha,[21] of whom I have spoken above, came back to sieur
de Champlain, who had sent him to meet a great crowd of Hurons
who were expected from day to day. Already a few canoes had
arrived on different days, sometimes seven or eight, sometimes
ten or twelve at a time; but at last, on the 28th of July, there
arrived about one hundred and forty all at once, carrying easily
five hundred Hurons--or [265 i.e., 165] 700, as some say--with
their merchandise. The Island Savages[57] and the Algonquains,
two tribes on the route from the Hurons to Kebec, had tried to
dissuade them from visiting the French, saying we would do them
a bad turn on account of the death of one Bruslé,[58] whom they
had killed; and that an Algonquain of the petite nation, having
killed a Frenchman, had been taken prisoner, and had been condemned
to death; also that the same would be done to some Huron. Their
design was to get all the merchandise from these Hurons at a very
low price, in order afterwards to come themselves and trade it,
with either the French or the English. Louys Amantacha, meeting
them above, assured those of his tribe of the good feeling of the
French toward them, declaring that they might put him to death if
the French did not give them a very warm [266 i.e., 166] welcome.
As to Bruslé, who had been murdered, he was not looked upon as a
Frenchman, because he had left his nation and gone over to the
service of the English. In short, he convinced them so thoroughly,
that six or seven hundred Hurons came to Kebec; a greater number
were on the way, but some of them went back because they had become
frightened, and others because they had lost their merchandise in
gambling. For these Savages are great gamblers, and some of them
come to trade with the French for this purpose alone; others come
to look on, some to steal, and the wisest and the richest to trade.
I do not believe that there is a people under heaven more given to
stealing than the Hurons. It is necessary to have your eye both on
their feet and on their hands, when they enter a place. It is said
that they steal [267 i.e., 167] with their feet as well as with
their hands. I saw one, at our house, casting his eyes on one of
the carpenter's tools of our brother. Thinking he might take it, I
watched him as well as I could, but he was more skillful in taking
than I was in watching. He concealed the tool so adroitly that I
did not see him make any movement. But seeing that the place was
empty, I suspected what had happened. I told Father Brebeuf of it;
and, as he understands their language tolerably well, he spoke to
my man, who tried to deny the theft at first, but at last confessed
and laughingly returned the property, showing how contrite he was
over his sin. Father de Nouë detected another, who stole a little
piece of tin which served as a needle to a poor quadrant that I
had fashioned; another stole a letter through the window of Father
Masse's room. [268 i.e., 168] To steal, and not to be discovered,
is a sign of superior intelligence among them. Utility is not
always the sole object of their thefts. A Frenchman, having heard
that the Savages of this tribe [the Hurons] were great thieves,
sneered at their boasted cunning, saying that he would give them
all they could steal from him; some of them called upon him and he
gave them something to drink; all their thanks was to steal his
cup, and so shrewdly did they do it that he did not miss it until
they were gone.

Ie ne scaurois dire comme cette nation porte les cheueux, chacũ suit sa fantaisie: les vns les ont longs & pendans d'vn costé comme les femmes, & courts & retroussez de l'autre, si bien qu'ils ont vne oreille cachée, & l'autre descouuerte. Quelques-vns sont iustement rasez à l'endroit où les autres portent vne longue [269 i.e., 169] moustache. I'en ay veu qui auoient vne grande raye toute rasée, qui leur trauersoit toute la teste passant par le sommet & venant rendre au milieu du front: d'autres portent au mesme endroit comme vne queuë de cheueux qui paroist releuée à cause qu'ils se rasent de part & d'autre de cette queuë. O que l'esprit des hommes est foible! Il y a plus de quatre mille ans qu'ils cherchent à s'embellir & à s'orner, & toutes les nations de la terre n'ont peu encore conuenir au point de la beauté & de l'ornement.

I could scarcely tell you how the people of this tribe wear their
hair; each one follows his own fancy. Some wear it long and hanging
over to one side like women, and short and tied up on the other, so
skillfully that one ear is concealed and the other uncovered. Some
of them are shaved just where the others wear a long [269 i.e.,
169] moustache.[14] I have seen some who had a large strip, closely
shaved, extending across the head, passing from the crown to the
middle of the forehead. Others wear in the same place a sort of
queue of hair, which stands out because they have shaved all around
it. Oh, how weak is the spirit of man! For over four thousand years
he has been seeking to ornament and beautify himself, and all the
nations of the world have not yet been able to agree as to what is
true beauty and adornment.

Le 29 du mesme mois de Iuillet ayant appris que les Hurons deuoyent tenir conseil où il se debuoit agir de nos Peres qui sont destinez pour leur pais, nous les allasmes voir le Pere Brebeuf & moy. Ie trouuay Louys Amantacha au fort, ie m'entretins auec luy de choses bonnes: & passant [270 i.e., 170] de discours en discours, il me témoigna qu'il estoit tres-contẽt de ce que nos Peres alloyent secourir sa natiõ. Il s'est employé pour trouuer qui les embarquast, ou plustôt pour les choisir; car vn grand nombre s'offroit au Pere Brebeuf, luy-mesme en vouloit prendre vn auec soy. Il nous promet merueille, & pour tesmoigner le sentiment qu'il a du secours que Vost. Reu. enuoye aux Hurons ses compatriotes, il luy rescrit de sa propre main, m'asseurãt qu'il retournera l'an qui vient à Kebec pour mener en son païs les autres Peres qu'õ y enuoyera. C'est trop peu (dit-il) de trois Religieux pour tant de milles ames qui se trouuent parmy nous. Il me demãdoit vn liuret d'images des mysteres de nostre Foy, pour les faire voir à ceux de sa nation, à fin de prendre de là occasion de les instruire: mais comme ie n'en auois point, il [271 i.e., 171] me dit qu'il en escriroit au sieur le Maistre. I'ay mis les lettres qu'il enuoye à V. R. auec celles-cy, ie prie Dieu qu'elle les reçoiue toutes. Ie croy que ce ieune homme luy est biẽ cogneu: il a esté conduit en France par nos Peres, baptise à Rouën par leur entremise: Monsieur le Duc de Longueuille fut son parain, & Madame de Villars sa maraine: il demeura entre les mains des Anglois par la prise qu'ils firent de la flotte Françoise & de tout ce païs cy: il estoit si bien instruit, que l'vn des Capitaines nommé Kers, peu affectionné à nostre Compagnie, comme estant heretique, témoigna publiquemẽt qu'il appartenoit aux Iesuistes de biẽ esleuer les enfans, voyant les deportemens de ce ieune Sauuage. Le sieur Oliuier Truchement des François m'a rapporté cecy cõme l'aiant ouy de la bouche mesme de ce Capitaine [272 i.e., 172] Huguenot. Depuis cette prise ce pauure ieune homme a esté quelque temps auec les Anglois, & puis auec les Sauuages de sa natiõ: Dieu vueille que la cognoissance de leur heresie & de leurs vices (car il auouë que les Anglois sont dissolus iusques au dernier point) n'empesche pas que la premiere semence qu'on a iettée dãs son ame ne produise les fruits que le Ciel attend, & que nous esperons. Mais venons au Conseil de sa natiõ. Estant assemblé, le sieur de Chãplain nous fit appeller. I'ay appris que Louïs XI. tint vn iour son conseil de guerre en la campagne, n'ayant pour throsne ou pour chaire qu'vne piece de bois, ou vn arbre abbattu qu'il rẽcontra par fortune au milieu d'vn champ. Voila le portraict du conseil des Hurons, excepté qu'ils sont assis encore vn peu plus bas, c'est à dire à platte terre, tous pesle-meslez sans [273 i.e., 173] aucun ordre, sinon que ceux d'vne nation ou village se mettent les vns pres des autres, pendant qu'on dispute en France de la preseance, & qu'õ s'amuse à presenter vne chaire à celuy qu'on iugeroit impertinent de l'accepter, on auroit acheué, & conclu trois cōseils parmy les Sauuages, qui au bout du conte ne laissent point d'estre fort graues, & serieux dans leurs harangues assez longues: ils estoient enuiron soixante hommes en leur assemblée sans conter la ieunesse qui estoit esparse çà & là. Chaqu'vn s'estant placé le mieux qu'il pût, vn Capitaine commença sa harangue, le sommaire estoit que la nation des Hurons, des Ours & autres estoient assemblées pour tenir cõseil auec les Frãcois. Sa harãgue finie tous les Sauuages pour approbation de ce discours tirerent du profond de l'estomach ceste aspiration, _ho, ho, ho_, releuant [374 i.e., 174] fort la derniere syllabe. Ceste harangue finie, & le conseil declaré legitimemẽt assemblé par cette belle approbation, le mesme Capitaine en recommença vne autre, qui ne vouloit dire autre chose sinon qu'ils estoyẽt venus voir leurs amis & leurs freres les François, & pour affermir ceste amitié & alliance, qu'ils offroient tous des presens à leur capitaine le Sieur de Champlain, & là dessus luy presenterent trois paquets de robbes de castor. La conclusion fut que tous les Sauuages approuuerent ceste harangue par leur aspiratiō de ho! ho! reïterée, & les François par l'acceptation des presens qu'on offroit. Le mesme capitaine poursuivãt son discours, disant que tous ces peuples se resiouïssoyent du retour du Sieur de Champlain, & qu'ils se venoyent tous chauffer à son feu: le bois qu'ils y mirent furent encore [275 i.e., 175] deux ou trois paquets de robbes de castor dont ils luy firent present. Sur l'heure mesme ce troisiesme discours fut approuué comme le second.

On the 29th of the same month of July, having learned that the
Hurons were to hold a council, when they would take some action
concerning our Fathers who were destined for their country, Father
Brebeuf and I went to see them. I found Louys Amantacha in their
midst. I had an interview with them about some serious matters;
and, passing [270 i.e., 170] from one subject to another, he told
me that he was highly pleased because our Fathers were going to
the help of his tribe. He was trying to find some one who would
take them, or rather to choose some one, for a great number had
offered themselves to Father Brebeuf; he himself wanted to take
one with him. He promised us wonders, and, as evidence of his
appreciation of the assistance Your Reverence is sending to the
Hurons, his countrymen, he writes to you with his own hand, also
assuring me that he will return the coming year to Kebec, to take
back to his country the other Fathers who will be sent there. "It
is too few," said he, "only three Religious for so many thousand
souls which make up our tribe." He asked me to give him a little
book containing the pictures of the mysteries of our Faith, that
he might show them to the people of his tribe, and thus take the
opportunity to teach them. But as I did not have any he [271 i.e.,
171] told me that he would write sieur le Maistre.[59] I have
enclosed the letters he sends to Your Reverence with these; I
pray God that you may receive them all. I believe that this young
man is well known to you. He was taken to France by our Fathers,
and baptized in Rouën through their agency; Monsieur the Duc de
Longueville was his godfather, and Madame de Villars his godmother.
He remained in the hands of the English, after they had taken the
French fleet and all this country. He was so well taught that one
of the Captains, named Kers,[45] who had but little liking for our
Society, as he is a heretic, publicly confessed that the Jesuits
know how to bring up children well, seeing the deportment of this
young Savage. Sieur Olivier,[49] the French Interpreter, reported
this to me as something which he had heard himself from the mouth
of this Huguenot [272 i.e., 172] Captain. After this capture
[of the French] this poor young man remained some time with the
English, and then with the Savages of his tribe. May God grant that
the knowledge of their heresy and of their vices (for he declares
that the Englishmen are in the highest degree dissolute) may not
prevent the first seed sown in his soul from bringing forth the
fruit that Heaven awaits, and for which we hope. But let us speak
of the Council of his tribe. After it had assembled, sieur de
Champlain had us summoned. I have been told that Louïs XI. once
held his council of war in the country, having for throne or chair
only a piece of wood, or a fallen tree, that he happened to find
in the midst of a field. This is the picture of the council of the
Hurons, only they are seated a little lower still, that is to say,
flat upon the ground, all pellmell without [273 i.e., 173] any
order, unless it be that the people of one tribe or village are
placed near those of another. While in France they are discussing
precedence, and amusing themselves in offering a chair to one whom
they would consider impertinent if he accepted it, here they will
have held and concluded three councils among the Savages, who,
upon the whole, do not cease to be very grave and serious in their
rather long speeches. There were about sixty men in their assembly,
without counting the young men who were scattered here and there.
Each one getting the best place he could find, a Captain began his
harangue, the substance of which was that the Huron tribe, the
tribe of the Bear, and others, had met for the purpose of holding
a council with the French. When this speech was finished, all the
Savages, as a sign of their approval, drew from the depths of their
stomachs this aspiration, _ho, ho, ho_, raising [374 i.e., 174]
the last syllable very high. When this speech was finished, and
the council had declared itself lawfully assembled by this fine
method of assent, the same Captain began another speech, adding
nothing to what he had said already, unless it were that they had
come to see their friends and brothers, the Frenchmen, and, to
strengthen this friendship and alliance, they all offered presents
to their captain, Sieur de Champlain, and thereupon they presented
to him three packages of beaver skins. The end was that the Savages
expressed their approval of this harangue by reiterating their
aspiration, ho! ho! and the Frenchmen by accepting the presents
offered. The same captain, continuing his speech, said that all
these people were rejoiced at the return of Sieur de Champlain, and
that they all came to warm themselves at his fire. The fuel they
brought to the fire was [275 i.e., 175] two or three more packages
of beaver skins, which they gave him as a present. This third
speech was immediately approved like the second.

Là dessus le sieur de Champlain prit la parolle, & leur fit dire qu'il les auoit tousiours aimés, qu'il desiroit grandement de les voir comme ses freres, & qu'aiant esté enuoié de la part de nostre grand Roy pour les proteger, qu'il le feroit très-volontiers: qu'il auoit enuoié au deuant d'eux vne barque & une chalouppe, & que les Hiroquois anoient tué trois de nos hõmes en trahison, que cela ne luy faisoit point perdre cœur, que les François ne craignoient rien, & qu'ils cherissoient grandement leurs amis: qu'ils ne creussent point ceux qui les voudroient diuertir de les venir voir, & que leur ayant donné leur parolle ils estoient veritables, ainsi qu'ils l'auoient [276 i.e., 176] peu remarquer par le passé qu'il recognoissoit encor les vieillards de leur nation pour auoir esté à la guerre auec eux: qu'il les remercioit de leurs presens, & qu'il sçauroit bien les recognoistre. Il adiousta que nos Peres les alloient voir en leur païs en témoignage de l'affectiō que nous leur portions, disant des merueilles en nostre faueur. Ce sont nos Peres, leur disoit-il, nous les aimons plus que nos enfans & que nous mesmes: on fait grand estat d'eux en France, ce n'est point la faim ny la disette qui les amene en ce païs cy: ils ne vous vont pas voir pour vos biens ny pour vos pelleteries. Voicy Louïs Amantacha de vostre nation, qui les cognoist, & qui sçait biẽ que ie dy vray: si vous aimez les François comme vous dites, aimez ces Peres, honorez les, il vous enseigneront le chemin du Ciel, c'est ce qui leur fait [177] quitter leur païs & leurs amis & leurs commodités pour vous instruire, & notamment pour enseigner à vos enfans vne si grande science & si necessaire.

Thereupon sieur de Champlain began to speak, and told them that he
had always loved them, that he wished very much to have them as
his brothers, and, having been sent in behalf of our great King
to protect them, he would do it very willingly; that he had sent
to meet them a bark and a shallop, and that the Hiroquois had
treacherously killed three of our men; that he did not lose heart
on that account, that the French feared nothing, and that they
cherished their friends very dearly; that they must not believe
those who would like to divert them from coming to see the French,
and that, having given them their word, they would keep it, as
they had been [276 i.e., 176] able to observe in the past; that he
still recognized old men among their people, from having gone to
war with them; that he thanked them for their presents, and would
know very well how to requite them. He added that our Fathers were
going to see them in their country, as a proof of the affection
which we bore them, telling marvelous things in our favor. "These
are our Fathers," said he, "we love them more than our children
or ourselves; they are held in very high esteem in France; it is
neither hunger nor want that brings them to this country; they do
not come to see you for your property or your furs. Here is Louïs
Amantacha, of your own tribe, who knows them, and who knows very
well that I tell the truth. If you love the French people, as you
say you do, then love these Fathers; honor them, and they will
teach you the way to Heaven. This is what makes them [177] leave
their country, their friends, and their comforts, to instruct you,
and especially to teach your children a knowledge so great and so
necessary.

Deux Capitaines haranguerent apres cela, ce fut à qui honoreroit le plus le sieur de Champlain & les François, & à qui nous tesmoigneroit de l'affection: l'vn d'eux disoit que les François n'estans plus icy, la terre n'estoit plus terre, la riuiere n'estoit plꝰ riuiere, le ciel n'estoit plꝰ ciel: mais qu'au retour du sieur de Champlain tout estoit retourné à son estre, la terre estoit deuenuë terre, la riuiere estoit deuenue riuiere, & le ciel auoit paru ciel. L'autre confessoit que les Sauuages estoyent tous craintifs & paoureux, mais que le sieur de Champlain estoit effroiable en ses regards; qu'estant en guerre il iettoit d'vne œillade la terreur dans le cœur de ses [178] ennemis; & apostrophant la ieunesse de son païs il luy disoit: Prenez garde maintenant, escoutez ce qu'on nous dit: ne dites pas qu'on n'a point parlé de tout cecy en plein conseil: ie vous aduertis, afin que par apres voꝰ obeyssiez.

Two Captains spoke after that. They vied with each other in trying
to honor sieur de Champlain and the French, and in testifying
their affection for us. One of them said that, when the French were
absent, the earth was no longer the earth, the river was no longer
the river, the sky was no longer the sky; but upon the return of
sieur de Champlain everything was as before; the earth was again
the earth, the river was again the river, and the sky was again
the sky. The other confessed that the Savages were very timid and
apprehensive, but that sieur de Champlain was frightful in his
looks; that, when he was in battle, a glance from his eye struck
terror into the hearts of his [178] enemies; and, apostrophizing
the youth of his tribe, he said: "Be careful now, listen to what
you are told; do not say we have not talked this all over in open
council; I warn you now, in order that you shall obey later."

La conclusion du conseil fut que le Pere Brebeuf leur dit en leur langue, que nous allions auec eux pour y viure & mourir: qu'ils feroyent nos freres, que d'oresnauant nous serions de leur nation: & que si nos Peres ne demeuroyent point dans tous leurs villages, ce n'estoit point qu'ils n'aimassent toute la nation, mais qu'ils ne pouuoyent pas habiter en tant de lieux, estans vn si petit nombre, que le temps viendroit que nos freres nous viendroyẽt secourir, & que noꝰ seriõs en chacune de leurs demeures: que nous leur enseignerions le moyẽ d'estre à iamais bien-heureux. Louys [179] Amantacha confirma tout cecy, & tous les Sauuages à leurs accoustumées tesmoignerent leur contentement par leur profonde aspiration ho ho ho ho! Puis entourant le Pere Brebeuf, c'estoit à qui l'embarqueroit, les vns me venoient prendre & me toucher en la main, & se disoient l'vn l'autre, regarde comme ils se ressemblent, parlans du Pere & de moy, ce sont deux freres: bref les hõmes du village où auoient demeuré nos Peres s'addressans au Pere Brebeuf luy dirent, ouure nous tõ cœur, ne cache, rien ou veux tu demeurer en nostre païs? Veux tu estre dans nos Cabanes, ou en auoir vne à part? I'en veux auoir vne à part, dit le Pere. Hé bien, repartent ils, nous irons tous nous cabaner à l'entour de toy, nous nous sommes separés, & auons rompu nostre village à la mort du François qui a esté tué en nostre païs: [180] chacun s'en est allé qui deçà qui delà. Si tost que tu auras pris place, nous reuiendrons tous auec toy, & tu nous defendras; car que serions nous sans toy? Voila comme nos Peres estoiẽt aimez de ce pauure peuple. O que ie dirois volõtiers mes sentimens voiãt ces pauures barbares caresser auec tant d'amour ceux qu'ils ne cognoissent pas! O s'ils penetroyent dans les desseins que nous auōs! Que Dieu soit beny pour iamais, ie le supplie de leur ouurir le cœur: pour moy i'espere que si vn seul village se couuertit, le feu ne tardera point d'en brusler beaucoup d'autres, & que les nations voisines qui sont fort peuplées, se voudront chauffer aussi bien que les Hurons à ce diuin brasier.