Chapter XIII (1)

CONTAINING A JOURNAL OF THINGS WHICH COULD NOT BE SET FORTH IN THE
PRECEDING CHAPTERS.

IF this Chapter were the first in this relation, it would throw
some light upon all the following ones; but I have given it
the last place, because it will continue to increase every day
until the departure of the ships, through the occurrence of more
noteworthy events which may happen. It is only a memoir, in the
form of a Journal, of all the things that could not be given in the
preceding Chapters.

Apres le depart de nos François qui sortirent de la rade de Kebec, le 16. d'Aoust de l'an passé 1633. pour tirer à Tadoussac, & de là en France, cherchant [210] l'occasion de conuerser auec les sauuages, pour apprendre leur langue; ie me transportay delà le grand fleuue de sainct Laurens dans vne cabane de fueillages, & allois tous les iours à l'escole dans celles des sauuages, qui nous enuironnoient, alleché par l'esperance que i'auois, sinon de reduire le Renegat à son deuoir, du moins de tirer de luy quelque cognoissance de sa langue: ce miserable estoit nouuellement arriué de Tadoussac, où il s'estoit mõstré fort contraire aux François, la faim qui pressoit l'Apostat & ses freres, les fit monter à Kebec pour trouuer dequoy viure: estãs donc occupez à leur pesche, i'estois fort souuent en leur cabane, inuitant par fois le Renegat de venir vne autre fois hyuerner auec nous dans nostre maisonnette, il s'y fust aysément accordé n'estoit qu'il auoit pris femme d'vne autre nation que la sienne, & qu'il ne la pouuoit pas renuoyer pour lors: voyant donc qu'il ne me pouuoit pas suiure, ie luy iettay quelque propos de passer l'hyuer auec luy, mais sur ces entrefaictes vne furieuse tempeste nous ayant battu en ruine certaine nuict, le [211] Pere de Noüe, deux de nos hommes, & moy, dans nostre cabane, ie fus saisy d'vne grosse fiéure, qui me fit chercher nostre petite maisonnette pour y trouuer la santé.

After the departure of our French,--who left the roadstead of Kebec
on the 16th of August of last year, 1633, to sail for Tadoussac and
thence to France,--in order to have [210] opportunity of conversing
with the savages, and thus learning their language, I crossed the
great saint Lawrence river to a cabin of branches, and went every
day to school in those of the savages, who were encamped around
me,--allured by my hopes, if not of bringing the Renegade to a
sense of his duty, at least of drawing from him some knowledge of
the language. This poor wretch had newly arrived from Tadoussac,
where he had shown great repugnance to the French. The famine which
afflicted this Apostate and his brothers caused them to come up to
Kebec in search of food. Now, as they were occupied in fishing,
I was very often in their cabin, and occasionally invited the
Renegade to come again and pass the winter with us in our little
house. He would very readily have agreed to this, had he not taken
a wife from another nation than his own, and he could not send her
away then. Therefore, seeing that he could not follow me, I threw
out some hints about passing the winter with him; but during these
negotiations, a furious tempest having one night swept down upon
us, [211] Father de Noüe, two of our men, and myself, in our cabin,
I was seized with a violent fever, which made me go back to our
little home to recover my health.

L'Apostat ayant veu mon inclination traicta de mon dessein auec ses freres, il en auoit trois, l'vn nommé Carigonan, & surnommé des François l'Espousée, pource qu'il fait le grand comme vne espousée, c'est le plus fameux sorcier, ou _manitousiou_, (c'est ainsi qu'ils appellent ces iongleurs) de tout le pays, c'est celuy dont i'ay fort parlé cy-dessus: l'autre se nómme Mestigoït, ieune homme âgé de quelque trente-cinq ou quarante ans, braue Chasseur, & d'vn bon naturel: le troisiesme se nommoit Sasousinat, c'est le plus heureux de tous: car il est maintenant au Ciel, estãt mort bon Chrestien, comme ie l'ay fait voir au Chapitre second. Le sorcier ayant appris du Renegat que ie voulois hyuerner auec les Sauuages, me vint voir sur la fin de ma maladie, & m'inuita de prendre sa cabane, me donnant pour raison qu'il aymoit les bons, pource qu'il estoit bon, qu'il auoit [212] tousiours esté bon dés sa tendre ieunesse: il me demanda si Iesus ne m'auoit parlé de la maladie qui le trauailloit: viens, me disoit-il, auec moy, & tu me feras viure maintenant: ie suis en danger de mourir: or comme ie le cognoissois comme vn homme tres-impudent, ie l'éconduy le plus doucement qu'il me fut possible, & tirant à part l'Apostat, qui taschoit de m'auoir de son costé, ayant tesmoigné au Pere de Noüe quelque desir de retourner à Dieu, ie luy dy que i'hyuernerois volontiers auec luy, & auec son frere Mestigoït, à condition que nous n'irions point de la le grand fleuue, que le sorcier ne seroit point en nostre compagnie, & que luy qui entend bien la langue Françoise m'enseigneroit: ils m'accorderent tous deux ces trois conditions, mais ils n'en tindrent pas vne.

The Apostate, seeing how I was inclined, discussed my plan with
his brothers. There were three of them; one named Carigonan, and
surnamed by the French the Married Man, because he made a great
deal of the fact that he was married. He was the most famous
sorcerer, or _manitousiou_, (thus they call these jugglers) of all
the country; it is he of whom I have spoken above. The other was
called Mestigoït, a young man about thirty-five or forty years
of age, a brave Hunter, and endowed with a good disposition. The
third was called Sasousinat, who is the happiest of all, for he is
now in Heaven, having died a good Christian, as I stated in the
second Chapter. The sorcerer, having learned from the Renegade
that I wished to pass the winter with the Savages, came to see
me toward the end of my sickness, and invited me to share his
cabin,--giving me as his reason that he loved good men, because
he himself was good, and had [212] always been so from his early
youth. He asked me if Jesus had not spoken to me about the disease
which tormented him. "Come," said he, "with me, and thou wilt make
me live now, for I am in danger of dying." But as I knew him for
a very impudent fellow, I refused him as gently as I could; and,
taking the Apostate aside, who also wished to have me, as he had
shown to Father de Noüe that he had some desire to return to God,
I told him that I would be glad to winter with him and with his
brother Mestigoït, on condition that we should not go across the
great river, that the sorcerer should not be of our party, and that
he, who understood the French language well, would teach me. They
both agreed to these three conditions, but they did not fulfill one
of them.

Le iour du départ estant pris, ie leur donnay pour mon viure vne barrique de galette, que nous empruntasmes au magazin de ces Messieurs, vn sac de farine, & des espics de bled d'Inde, quelques pruneaux, & quelques naueaux, [213] ils me presserent fort de porter vn peu de vin, mais ie n'y voulois point entendre, craignant qu'ils ne s'enyurassent: toutesfois m'ayans promis qu'ils n'y toucheroient point sans ma permission, & les ayant asseuré qu'au cas qu'ils le fissent, que ie le ietterois dans la mer, ie suiuy l'inclination de ceux qui me conseillerent d'en porter vn petit barillet; ie promis en outre à Mestigoït que ie le prenois pour mon hoste: car l'Apostat n'est pas Chasseur, & n'a aucune conduite, que ie luy ferois quelque present au retour, comme i'ay fait: c'est l'attente de ces viures qui leur fait desirer d'auoir vn François auec eux.

On the day of our departure I gave them, for my support, a barrel
of sea biscuit, which we borrowed from the storehouse of those
Gentlemen, a sack of flour, some ears of Indian corn, some prunes,
and some parsnips. [213] They urged me very strongly to take a
little wine, but I did not wish to yield to them, fearing they
would get drunk. However, having promised me they would not touch
it without my permission, and having assured them that, if they
did, I would throw it into the sea, I followed the advice of those
who counseled me to carry a little barrel of it. Also I promised
Mestigoït that I would take him for my host, for the Apostate is
not a Hunter, and has no management; but I promised to make him a
present upon our return, which I did. It was the expectation of
this food which made them wish to have a Frenchman with them.

Ie m'embarquay donc en leur chalouppe, iustement le 18. d'Octobre, faisant profession de petit écolier à mesme iour que i'auois autrefois fait profession de maistre de nos écoles, estãt allé prendre congé de Monsieur nostre Gouuerneur, il me recommãda tres-particulieremẽt aux Sauuages, mon hoste luy repartit, si le Pere meurt ie mourray auec luy, & iamais plus on ne me reuerra en ce pays icy, nos Frãçois me tesmoignoient [214] tout plein de regret de mon depart, veu les dangers esquels on s'engage en la fuitte de ces Barbares. Les Adieu faits de part & d'autre, nous fismes voile enuiron les dix heures du matin, i'estois seul de François auec vingt Sauuages, comptant les hommes, les femmes, & les enfans, le vent & la marée nous fauorisans, nous allasmes descendre au delà de l'Isle d'Orleans dans vne autre Isle nommée des Sauuages _Ca ouahascoumaga_k_he_, ie ne sçay si la beauté du iour se respandoit dessus ceste Isle, mais ie la trouuay fort agreable.

So I embarked in their shallop on the 18th of October precisely,
making profession as a little pupil on the same day that I had
previously begun the profession of master of our schools. When I
went to take leave of Monsieur our Governor, he recommended me
very particularly to the Savages; and my host answered him, "If
the Father dies, I will die with him, and you will never see me
in this country again." Our French people showed [214] the most
profound regret at my departure, knowing the dangers that one
encounters in following these Barbarians. When all our Farewells
were said, we set sail about ten o'clock in the morning. I was the
only Frenchman, with twenty Savages, counting the men, women and
children. The wind and tide were favorable, and we turned to go
down past the Island of Orleans to another Island called by the
Savages _Ca ouahascoumagakhe_; I know not whether it was the beauty
of the day which spread over this Island, but I found it very
pleasant.

Si tost que nous eusmes mis pied à terre, mon hoste prend vne harquebuse qu'il a acheté des Anglois, & s'en va chercher nostre souper: cependant les femmes se mettent à bastir la maison où nous deuions loger. Or l'Apostat s'estãt pris garde que tout le monde estoit occupé, s'en retourna à la chalouppe qui estoit à l'anchre, prit le petit barillet de vin & en beut auec tel excez, que s'estãt enyuré comme vne souppe, il tomba dedans l'eau, & se pensa noyer: enfin il en sortit apres auoir bien barbotté, il s'en vint vers le lieu où on dressoit la cabane, [215] criant & hurlant comme vn demoniaque, il arrache les perches, frappe sur les écorces de la cabane, pour tout briser: les femmes le voyant dans ces fougues s'enfuyent dans le bois, qui deçà qui delà, mon Sauuage que ie nomme ordinairemẽt mon hoste, faisoit boüillir dans vn chauderon quelques oyseaux qu'il auoit tuez: cet yurogne suruenãt rompt la cramaillere, & renuerse tout dans les cendres: à tout cela pas vn ne fait mine d'estre fasché, aussi est ce folie de se battre contre vn fol, mon hoste ramasse ses petits oyseaux, les va luy-mesme lauer à la riuiere, puise de l'eau, & remet la chaudiere sur le feu, les femmes voyant que cét homme enragé couroit ça & là sur le bord de l'Isle, écumant comme vn possedé, viennent viste prendre leurs écorces, & les emportent en vn lieu écarté, de peur qu'il ne les mette en pieces comme il auoit commencé: à peine eurent-elles le loysir de les rouler qu'il parut aupres d'elles tout forcené, & ne sçachant sur qui descharger sa fureur: car elles disparurent incontinent à la faueur de la nuict qui commençoit à nous cacher, il s'en vint [216] par le feu qui se descouuroit par sa clarté, & voulant mettre la main sur la chaudiere pour la renuerser vne autre fois, mon hoste son frere, plus habile que luy, la prit & luy ietta au nez toute boüillante comme elle estoit, ie vous laisse à penser quelle contenance tenoit ce pauure homme, se voyant pris à la chaude, iamais il ne fut si bien laué, il changea de peau en la face, & en tout l'estomach, pleust à Dieu que son ame eust changé aussi bien que son corps: il redouble ses hurlemens, arrache le reste des perches, qui estoient encor debout: mon hoste m'a dit depuis qu'il demandoit vne hache pour me tuer, ie ne sçay s'il la demanda en effect, car ie n'entendois pas son langage, mais ie sçay bien que me presentant à luy pour l'arrester il me dit, parlant François, Retirez-vous, ce n'est pas à vous à qui i'en veux, laissez-moy faire, puis me tirant par la sotane, Allons, disoit-il, embarquons-nous dans un canot, retournons en vostre maison, vous ne cognoissez pas ces gens cy, ce qu'ils en font, c'est pour le ventre, ils ne se soucient pas de vous, mais de vos viures, [217] à cela ie répondois tout bas à part moy, _in vino veritas_.

As soon as we had set foot on land, my host took an arquebus he
had bought from the English, and went in search of our supper.
Meanwhile the women began to build the house where we were to
lodge. Now the Apostate, having observed that every one was busy,
returned to the boat that was lying at anchor, took the keg of
wine, and drank from it with such excess, that, being drunk as a
lord, he fell into the water and was nearly drowned. Finally he
got out, after considerable scrambling, and started for the place
where they were putting up the cabin. [215] Screaming and howling
like a demon, he snatched away the poles and beat upon the bark of
the cabin, to break everything to pieces. The women, seeing him in
this frenzy, fled to the woods, some here, some there. My Savage,
whom I usually call my host, was boiling in a kettle some birds
he had killed, when this drunken fellow, coming upon the scene,
broke the crane and upset everything into the ashes. No one seemed
to get angry at all this, but then it is foolish to fight with a
madman. My host gathered up his little birds and went to wash them
in the river, drew some water and placed the kettle over the fire
again. The women, seeing that this madman was running hither and
thither on the shores of the Island, foaming like one possessed,
ran quickly to get their bark and take it to a place of security,
lest he should tear it to pieces, as he had begun to do. They
had scarcely had time to roll it up, when he appeared near them
completely infuriated, and not knowing upon what to vent his fury,
for they had suddenly disappeared, thanks to the darkness which had
begun to conceal us. He approached [216] the fire, which could be
seen on account of its bright light, and was about to take hold of
the kettle to overturn it again; when my host, his brother, quicker
than he, seized it and threw the water into his face, boiling as
it was. I leave you to imagine how this poor man looked, finding
himself thus deluged with hot water. He was never so well washed.
The skin of his face and whole chest changed. Would to God that his
soul had changed as well as his body. He redoubled his howls, and
began to pull up the poles which were still standing. My host has
told me since that he asked for an ax, with which to kill me; I do
not know whether he really asked for one, as I did not understand
his language; but I know very well that, when I went up to him and
tried to stop him, he said to me in French, "Go away, it is not you
I am after; let me alone;" then pulling my gown, "Come," said he,
"let us embark in a canoe, let us return to your house; you do not
know these people here; all they do is for the belly, they do not
care for you, but for your food." [217] To this I answered in an
undertone and to myself, _in vino veritas_.

La nuict s'auançant bien fort ie me retiray dedans le bois pour fuir l'importunité de cet yurongne, & pour prendre quelque repos; comme ie faisois mes prieres aupres d'vn arbre, la femme qui faisoit le ménage de mon hoste me vint trouuer, & ramassant quelques feüilles d'arbres tombées, me dit; couche toy là, & ne fais point de bruit, puis m'ayant ietté vne écorce pour me couurir, elle se retira: voila donc mon premier giste à l'enseigne de la Lune qui me découuroit de tous costez, me voila passé Cheualier dés le premier iour de mon entrée en ceste Academie, la pluye suruenant vn peu auant minuict, me donna quelque apprehension d'estre moüillé, mais elle ne dura pas long temps: le lendemain matin ie trouuay que mon lict, quoy qu'on ne l'eut point remué depuis la creation du monde, n'estoit point si dure qu'il m'empeschat de dormir.

As the night was coming on rapidly, I retired into the woods, to
escape being annoyed by this drunkard, and to get a little rest.
While I was saying my prayers near a tree, the woman who managed
the household of my host came to see me; and, gathering together
some leaves of fallen trees, said to me, "Lie down there and make
no noise," then, having thrown me a piece of bark as a cover, she
went away. So this was my first resting place at the sign of the
Moon, which shone upon me from all sides. Behold me an accomplished
Chevalier, after the first day of my entrance into this Academy.
The rain coming on, a little before midnight, made me fear that I
might get wet, but it did not last long. The next morning I found
that my bed, although it had not been made up since the creation of
the world, was not so hard as to keep me from sleeping.

Le iour suiuant ie voulu ietter le barillet & le reste du vin dans la riuiere, comme ie leurs auois dit que ie ferois, [218] au cas qu'on en abusast, mon hoste me saisissant par le milieu du corps, s'écria _eca toute, eca toute_, ne fais pas cela, ne fais pas cela, ne vois tu pas que _Petrichtich_ (c'est ainsi qu'ils nomment le Renegat par derision) n'a point d'esprit, que c'est vn chien, ie te promets qu'on ne touchera plus au barillet que tu ne sois present: ie m'arrestay auec resolution d'en faire largesse, afin de me deliurer de la crainte qu'vn peu de vin ne nous fit boire beaucoup d'eau: car s'ils se fussent enyurez pendant que nous faisions voile, c'estoit pour nous perdre.

The next day I wanted to throw the barrel, with what was left of
the wine, into the river, as I had told them I would do, [218] in
case any one abused it; but my host, seizing me around the waist,
cried out, _eca toute, eca toute_, "Do not do that, do not do
that. Dost thou not see that _Petrichtich_" (it is thus they call
the Renegade in derision) "does not know anything, that he is a
dog? I promise thee that we will never touch the barrel unless
thou art present." I yielded, and made up my mind to distribute it
liberally, in order to free myself of the fear that a little wine
might make us drink a great deal of water; for, if they were to get
drunk while we were sailing, we would be lost.

Nous voulions sortir le matin de ceste Isle; mais la marée se retirant, plustost que nous ne pensions, nostre Chalouppe s'échoüa: si bien qu'il fallut attendre la marée du soir, en laquelle nous nous embarquasmes, & voguans à la faueur de la Lune aussi bien que du vent, nous abordasmes vne autre Isle nommée _Ca ouapascounagate_. Comme nous arriuasmes sur la minuict, nos gens ne prirent pas la peine de nous bastir vne maison, si bien que nous couchasmes au mesme lict, & logeasmes à la mesme enseigne que la nuict precedente, [219] abriez des arbres & du ciel.

We intended leaving this Island in the morning; but the tide fell
sooner than we expected, and stranded our Boat. Hence we had to
wait for the evening tide, upon which we embarked, and sailed away
by the aid of the Moon as well as of the wind. We reached another
Island, called _Ca ouapascounagate_. As we arrived about midnight,
our people did not take the trouble to make a house; and we slept
in the same bed and lodged at the same sign as the night before,
[219] under the shelter of the trees and sky.

Le lendemain nous quittasmes ceste Isle pour entrer dans vne autre appellée _Ca chibariouachcate_, nous la pourrions nommer l'Isle aux Oyes blanches, car i'y en vis plus de mille en vne bande.

The next day we left this Island to go to another one, called _Ca
chibariouachcate_; we might have called it the Island of the white
Geese, for I saw there more than a thousand of them in one flock.

Le iour d'apres nous la voulions quitter, mais nous fusmes contraints pour le mauuais temps de relascher au bout de ceste mesme Isle, elle est deserte comme tout le pays, c'est à dire qu'elle n'a des habitans qu'en passant, ce peuple n'ayant point de demeure assurée: elle est bordée de rochers si gros, si hauts, & si entrecouppez & peuplée neantmoins de Cedres & de Pins si proprement, qu'vn Peintre tiendroit à faueur d'en auoir la veüe pour tirer l'idée d'vn desert affreux pour ses precipices, & tres agreable pour la varieté de quantité d'arbres qu'on diroit auoir esté plantez par la main de l'art plustost que de la Nature. Comme elle est entre-taillée de bayes pleines de vases, il s'y retire si grande quantité de gibier & de plusieurs especes que ie n'ay point veu en France, qu'il le faut quasi voir pour le croire.

The following day we tried to leave, but the bad weather compelled
us to land again at the end of this same Island. It is a solitude,
like all the country; that is, it has only temporary inhabitants,
for these people have no fixed habitation. It is bordered by rocks
so massive, so high, and so craggy, and is withal covered so
picturesquely with Cedars and Pines, that a Painter would consider
himself favored to view it, in order to derive therefrom an idea
of a desert frightful in its precipices and very pleasing in the
variety and number of its trees, which one might say had been
planted by the hand of art rather than of Nature. As it is indented
by bays full of mud, there hides here such a quantity and variety
of game, some of which I have never seen in France, that it must be
seen in order to be believed.

[220] Sortans de ceste Isle au gibier nous nauigeasmes tout le iour & vinsmes descendre sur la nuict dans vne petite Islette nommé _Atisaoucanich etagoukhi_, c'est à dire lieu où se trouue la teinture, ie me doute que nos gens luy donnerent ce nom, pource qu'ils y trouuerent de petites racines rouges, dont ils se seruent pour teindre leurs _Matachias_. I'appellerois volontiers ce lieu l'Islette mal-heureuse: car nous y souffrismes beaucoup huict iours durant que les tempestes nous y retindrent prisonniers. Il estoit nuict quand nous l'abordasmes, la pluye & les vents nous attaquoient, & ce pendant à peine peut on trouuer cinq ou six perches pour seruir de poultres à nostre bastiment, qui fut si petit, si estroit, & si decouuert, & par vn temps si fascheux, voulant euiter vne incommodité on tomboit dans deux autres, il se falloit racourcir, ou se rouler en herisson, sur peine de se brusler la moitié du corps pour nostre souper, & pour nostre disner tout ensemble: car nous n'auions point mangé depuis le matin, mon hoste fit ietter à chacun vn morceau de la galette que ie luy auois [221] donnée, m'aduertissant que nous mangerions sans boire, car l'eau de ce grand fleuue commence en ce lieu d'estre salée, le lendemain nous recueillismes de l'eau de pluye, tombée dans des roches fort sales, & la beusmes auec autant de plaisir qu'on boit le vin d'Aï en France.

[220] Leaving this Island of game, we sailed all day and toward
nightfall landed at a small Island, called _Atisaoucanich
etagoukhi_, that is, place where dyes are found; I am inclined to
think that our people gave it that name, for they found there some
little red roots which they use in dyeing their _Matachias_.[1]
I would like to call it the Isle of misfortune; for we suffered
a great deal there during the eight days that the storms held us
prisoners. It was night when we disembarked; the rain and wind
attacked us, and in the meantime we could scarcely find five or
six poles to serve as beams for our house,--which was so small, so
narrow, and so exposed for such weather as this, that in trying to
avoid one discomfort we fell into two others. We had to shorten
ourselves, or roll up like hedgehogs, lest we scorch the half of
our bodies. For our supper, and dinner as well, because we had
eaten nothing since morning, my host threw to each one a piece of
the biscuit I had [221] given him, informing me that we were not
to drink anything with our food, as the water of this great river
began to be salty in this place. The next day we collected some
rainwater, which had fallen into dirty rocks, and drank it with as
much enjoyment as they drink the wine of Aï in France.

Ils auoient laissé nostre Chaloupe à l'anchre dans un grand courant de marée, ie les aduerty qu'elle n'estoit pas bien, & qu'il la falloit mettre à l'abry derriere l'Islette; mais comme nous n'attendions qu'vn bon vent pour partir, ils n'en tindrent conte. La nuict la tempeste redoublant, on eust dit que les vents deuoient deraciner nostre Islete, mon hoste se doutant de ce qui arriua éueille l'Apostat, & le presse de le venir ayder à sauuer nostre Chaloupe, qui s'alloit perdre: or soit que ce miserable fust paresseux, ou qu'il eust peur des ondes, iamais il ne se voulut leuer, donnant pour tout réponse, qu'il estoit las: dans ce retardement les vents rompent l'amare, ou la corde de l'anchre, & en vn instant font disparoistre nostre Chaloupe, mon hoste voyant ce beau [222] ménage, me vint dire _Nicanis_, mon bien-aymé, la Chalouppe est perduë, les vents qui l'ont enleuée la briseront contre les roches qui nous enuironnent de tous costez. Qui n'eust entré en verue contre ce Renegat, dont la negligence nous iettoit dans des peines inexplicables, veu qu'il y auoit quantité de paquets dans nostre bagage, & beaucoup d'enfans à porter. Mon hoste cependant, tout barbare & tout sauuage qu'il est, ne se troubla point à cet accident, ains craignant que cela ne m'attristast, il me dit, _Nicanis_, mon bien-aymé, n'es-tu point fasché de ceste perte, qui nous causera de grands trauaux? ie n'en suis pas bien ayse, luy repartis-ie, ne t'en attriste point, me fit-il: car la fascherie ameine la tristesse, & la tristesse ameine la maladie, _Petrichtich_ n'a point d'esprit, s'il m'eust voulu secourir ce malheur ne fust point suruenu, voyla tous les reproches qu'on luy fit. Veritablement cela me confond, que l'interest de la fanté arreste la cholere, & la fascherie d'vn Barbare, & que la loy de Dieu, que son bon plaisir, que l'espoir de ses grandes recompenses, que la crainte de ses [223] chastimens, que nostre propre paix & consolation ne puisse seruir de bride à l'impatience & à la cholere d'vn Chrestien.

They had left our Shallop at anchor in a strong tidal current. I
told them it was not safe, and that it ought to be placed under
shelter behind the Island; but, as we were only waiting for a
good breeze in order to depart, they did not heed me. During the
night the tempest increased, so that it seemed as if the winds
were uprooting our Island. Our host, foreseeing what might occur,
roused the Apostate, and urged him to come and help him save our
Shallop, which threatened to go to pieces. Now either this wretch
was lazy, or he was afraid of the billows; for he did not even try
to get up, giving as his only reason that he was tired. During this
delay, the wind broke the fastening, or cable of the anchor, and
in an instant carried away our Shallop. My host, seeing this fine
[222] management, came and said to me, "_Nicanis_, my well-beloved,
the Shallop is lost; the winds, which have loosened it, will break
it to pieces against the rocks which surround us on all sides."
Who would not have been vexed at that Renegade, whose negligence
caused us untold trials, considering that we had a number of
packages among our baggage, and several children to carry? Yet my
host, barbarian and savage that he is, was not at all troubled at
this accident; but, fearing it might discourage me, he said to me,
"_Nicanis_, my well-beloved, art thou not angry at this loss, which
will cause us so many difficulties?" "I am not very happy over it,"
I answered. "Do not be cast down," he replied, "for anger brings
on sadness, and sadness brings sickness. _Petrichtich_ does not
know anything; if he had tried to help me, this misfortune would
not have happened." And these were all the reproaches he made.
Truly, it humiliates me that considerations of health should check
the anger and vexation of a Barbarian; and that the law of God,
his good pleasure, the hope of his great rewards, the fear of his
[223] chastisements, our own peace and comfort, cannot check the
impatience and anger of a Christian.

Au malheur susdit en suruint vn autre, nous auions outre la Chaloupe vn petit Canot d'écorce, la marée se grossissant plus qu'à l'ordinaire par le souffle des vents nous le déroba, nous voila prisonniers plus que iamais, ie ne vis ny larmes ny plaintes, non pas mesme parmy les femmes, sur le dos desquelles ce desastre tomboit plus particulierement, à raison qu'elles sont comme les bestes de voiture, portant ordinairement le bagage des Sauuages, au contraire tout le monde se mit à rire.

The above misfortune was soon followed by another. In addition
to the Shallop, we had a little bark Canoe, and the tide, rising
higher than usual through the force of the wind, robbed us of
that; and there we were, more than ever prisoners. I neither saw
tears nor heard complaints, not even among the women, upon whose
shoulders this disaster fell more particularly, as they are like
beasts of burden, usually carrying the baggage of the Savages; on
the contrary, everybody began to laugh.

Le iour venu, car ce fut la nuict que la tempeste commit ce larcin, nous courusmes tous sur les riues du fleuue, pour apprendre par nos yeux des nouuelles de nostre pauure Chaloupe, & de nostre Canot, nous vismes l'vn & l'autre échoüez fort loing de nous, la Chaloupe parmy des roches, & le Canot au bord du bois de la terre continente, chacun pensoit que tout estoit en pieces: si tost que la mer se fut retirée les [224] vns courrent vers la Chaloupe, les autres vers le Canot, chose estrange; rien ne se trouua endommagé, i'en demeuray tout estonné: car de cent vaisseaux fussent-ils d'vn bois aussi dur que le bronze, à peine s'en sauueroit-il pas vn dans ces grands coups de vent & sur des roches.

When morning came, for it was at night when the tempest committed
this theft, we all ran along the edge of the river, to learn with
our own eyes some news of our poor Shallop and our Canoe. We
saw both of them stranded a long distance from us, the Shallop
among the rocks and the Canoe along the edge of the woods of the
mainland. Every one thought they were all in pieces; as soon as
the sea had receded [224], some ran toward the Shallop, and others
toward the Canoe. Wonderful to relate, nothing was harmed; I was
amazed, for out of a hundred ships made of wood as hard as bronze,
scarcely one would have been saved in those violent blasts of wind,
and upon those rocks.

Pendant que les vents nous tenoient prisonniers dans ceste malheureuse Islete, vne partie de nos gens s'en allerent visiter quelques Sauuages qui estoient à cinq ou six lieuës de nous, si bien qu'il ne resta que les femmes & les enfans, & _L'hiroquois_ dans nostre cabane. La nuict vne femme estant sortie s'en reuint toute effarée criant qu'elle auoit oüy le _Manitou_, ou le diable, voila l'allarme dans nostre camp, tout le monde remply de peur garde vn profond silence, Ie demanday d'où procedoit ceste épouuente: car ie n'auois pas entendu ce qu'auoit dit ceste femme, _eca titou, eca titou_, me dit on, _Manitou_, tais-toy, tais-toy, c'est le diable: ie me mis à rire, & me leuant en pied ie sors de la cabane, & pour les asseurer i'appelle en leur langage le _Manitou_, criant tout haut que ie [225] ne le craignois pas, & qu'il n'oseroit venir où i'estois: puis ayant fait quelques tours dans nostre Islete, ie rentray, & leur dis, ne craignez point, le diable ne vous fera aucun mal tant que ie seray auec vous, il craint ceux qui croyent en Dieu, si vous y voulez croire il s'enfuïra de vous. Eux bien estonnez, me demandent si ie ne le craignois point, ie repars pour les deliurer de leur peur, que ie n'en craignois pas vne centaine, ils se mirent tous à rire, se rasseurans petit à petit: or voyant qu'ils auoient ietté de l'anguille dans le feu i'en demanday la raison, tais-toy, me firent-ils, nous donnons à manger au diable afin qu'il ne nous fasse point de mal.

While the wind held us prisoners in this unhappy Island, a number
of our people went to visit some Savages who were five or six
leagues from us, so that there only remained in our cabin the
women and children, and the _Hiroquois_. During the night, a woman
who had gone out, returned, terribly frightened, crying out that
she had heard the _Manitou_, or devil. At once all the camp was
in a state of alarm, and everyone, filled with fear, maintained a
profound silence. I asked the cause of this fright, for I had not
heard what the woman had said; _eca titou, eca titou_, they told
me, _Manitou_, "Keep still, keep still, it is the devil." I began
to laugh, and rising to my feet, went out of the cabin; and to
reassure them I called, in their language, the _Manitou_, crying
in a loud voice that I [225] was not afraid, and that he would not
dare come where I was. Then, having made a few turns in our Island,
I reëntered, and said to them, "Do not fear, the devil will not
harm you as long as I am with you, for he fears those who believe
in God; if you will believe in God, the devil will flee from you."
They were greatly astonished, and asked me if I was not afraid of
him at all. I answered, to relieve them of their fears, that I was
not afraid of a hundred of them; they began to laugh, and were
gradually reassured. Now seeing that they had thrown some eels
in the fire, I asked them the reason for it. "Keep still," they
replied; "we are giving the devil something to eat, so that he will
not harm us."

Mon hoste à son retour ayant sceu ceste histoire, me remercia fort de ce que i'auois rasseuré tous ses gens, me demandant si en effet ie n'auois point de peur du _Manitou_, ou du diable, & si ie le cognoissois bien, que pour eux qu'ils le craignoient plus que la foudre; Ie luy répondis, que s'il vouloit croire, & obeïr à celuy qui a tout fait, que le _Manitou_ n'auroit nul pouuoir sur luy: pour nous qu'estans assistez de celuy que [226] nous adorions, le diable auoit plus de peur de nous, que nous n'auions de luy; il s'estonna, & me dit qu'il eust bien voulu que i'eusse eu cognoissance de sa langue: car figurez vous que nous nous faisions entendre l'vn l'autre plus par les yeux, & par les mains, que par la bouche.

My host, upon his return, having learned this story, thanked me
very much for giving courage to his people, and asked me if I
really had no fear of the _Manitou_, or devil, and if I knew him
very well; as for them, they feared him more than a thunderbolt. I
answered that, if he would believe and obey him who had made all,
the _Manitou_ would have no power over him; that for ourselves,
being helped by him whom [226] we adored, the devil had more fear
of us than we had of him. He was astonished, and told me that he
would be very glad if we knew his language, for you must be aware
that we were making each other understand more through our eyes and
hands than through our lips.

Ie dressay quelques prieres en leur langue, auec l'ayde de l'Apostat: or comme le Sorcier n'estoit pas encore venu, ie les recitois le matin, & auant nos repas, eux-mesmes m'en faisans souuenir, & prenans plaisir à les ouīr prononcer; si ce miserable Magicien ne fust point venu auec nous ces Barbares auroient pris grand plaisir de m'écouter: mon hoste me faisoit mille questions, me demandant pourquoy nous mouriõs, où alloient nos ames, si la nuit estoit vniuerselle par tout le monde, & choses semblables, se monstrant fort attentif à mes réponses. Changeons de discours.

I arranged a few prayers in their language, with the help of the
Apostate. Now, as the Sorcerer had not yet come, I repeated them
in the morning and before our meals, they themselves reminding me
of them, and taking pleasure in hearing them pronounced; if the
wretched Magician had not come with us, these Barbarians would
have taken great pleasure in listening to me. My host asked me a
thousand questions,--why we died, where our souls went, if night
was universal all over the world, and similar things,--and was very
attentive to my answers. Let us change the subject.

Ie remarquay en ce lieu cy, que les ieunes femmes ne mangent point dans le plat de leurs marys: i'en demanday la raison, le Renegat me dit que les ieunes [227] filles à marier, & les femmes qui n'auoient point encore d'enfans, n'auoient rien en maniement, & qu'on leur faisoit leur part comme aux enfans, de là vient que sa femme mesme me dit vn iour, Dis à mon mary qu'il me donne bien à manger: mais ne luy dis pas que ie t'ay prié de luy dire.

I observed in this place that the young women did not eat from the
same dish as their husbands. I asked the reason, and the Renegade
told me that the young [227] unmarried women, and the women who had
no children, took no part in the management of affairs, and were
treated like children. Thence it came that his own wife said to me
one day, "Tell my husband to give me plenty to eat, but do not tell
him that I asked you to do so."

Pendant certaine nuict, tout le monde estant dans vn profond sommeil, ie me mis à entretenir ce pauure miserable Renegat, ie luy fis voir qu'estant en nostre maison, rien de tout ce que nous auions ne luy manquoit, qu'il y pouuoit passer sa vie doucement, & qu'en quittant Dieu il s'estoit ietté dans vne vie de beste, qui enfin abboutiroit à l'enfer, s'il n'ouuroit les yeux, que l'eternité estoit bien longue, & que d'estre à iamais compagnon des diables, c'estoit vn long terme. Ie voy bien, me fit-il, que ie ne fais pas bien; mais mon malheur est que ie n'ay pas l'esprit assez fort pour demeurer ferme dans vne resolution, ie croy tout ce qu'on me dit; quand i'ay esté auec les Anglois, ie me suis laissé aller à leurs discours; quand ie suis auec les Sauuages ie fais comme eux; [228] quand ie suis auec vous ie tiens vostre creance pour veritable, pleut à Dieu que ie fusse mort quand i'estois malade en France, ie serois maintenant sauué, tant que i'auray des parens ie ne feray iamais rien qui vaille: car quand ie veux demeurer auec vous, mes freres me disent que ie pouriray demeurant tousiours en vn endroit, cela est cause que ie quitte tout pour les suiure. Ie luy apportay toutes les raisons, & luy fis toutes les offres que ie peus pour l'affermir: mais son frere le Sorcier qui sera bien tost auec nous renuersera tous mes desseins, car il manie comme il veut ce pauure Apostat.

One night, when every one had sunk into a deep sleep, I began to
talk to this poor miserable Renegade. I showed him that while he
was in our house he had lacked for nothing of whatever we had,
and that he might have spent his life there peacefully; that in
forsaking God he had rushed into the life of a brute, which would
finally end in hell if he did not open his eyes; that eternity was
very long, and to be a companion of devils forever was a long term.
"I see clearly," he replied, "that I am not doing right; but my
misfortune is that I have not a mind strong enough to remain firm
in my determination; I believe all they tell me. When I was with
the English, I allowed myself to be influenced by their talk; when
I am with the Savages, I do as they do; [228] when I am with you,
it seems to me your belief is the true one. Would to God I had
died when I was sick in France, and I would now be saved. As long
as I have any relations, I will never do anything of any account;
for when I want to stay with you, my brothers tell me I will rot,
always staying in one place, and that is the reason I leave you to
follow them." I urged all the reasons and made him all the offers
I could to strengthen him; but his brother, the Sorcerer, who will
soon be with us, will upset all my plans, for he does whatever he
wills with this poor Apostate.

Le trentiesme iour d'Octobre nous sortismes de ceste malheureuse Islete, & vinsmes aborder sur la nuict dans vne autre Isle qui porte vn nom quasi aussi grand comme elle est, car elle n'a pas demy lieuë de tour, & voicy comme nos Sauuages me dirẽt qu'elle se nommoit, _Ca pacoucachtecho_k_hi_ _chachagou achigani_k_hi_, _Ca pa_k_hitaouananioui_k_hi_, ie croy qu'ils forgent ces noms sur le champ, ceste Isle n'est quasi qu'vn grand rocher affreux, comme elle n'a point de fontaine d'eau douce nous fusmes contrains de [129 i.e., 229] boire des eauës de pluyes fort sales que nous ramassions dans des fondrieres, & sur des roches; on ietta le voile de nostre chalouppe sur des perches quand nous y arriuasmes, & nous nous mismes à l'abry là dessous, nostre lict estoit blanc & verd, c'est à dire qu'il y auoit si peu de branches de pin dessous nous, que nous touchiõs la neige en plusieurs endroits, laquelle auoit commencé depuis trois iours à couurir la terre d'vn habit blanc.

On the thirtieth day of October, we went away from this unhappy
Island, and toward nightfall disembarked at another Island
which bears a name almost as big as it is, for it is not half a
league in circumference; and this is what our Savages tell me
it is called, _Ca pacoucacktechokhi chachagou achiganikhi, Ca
pakhitaouananiouikhi_; I believe they forge these names upon the
spot. This Island is nothing but a big and frightful rock; as there
was no spring of fresh water, we had to [129 i.e., 229] drink very
dirty rainwater that we collected in the bogs and upon the rocks.
The sail of our shallop was thrown over some poles, on our arrival
at this place, and this formed our shelter; our beds were white
and green, I mean there were so few pine branches under us that in
several places we touched the snow, which three days before had
begun to cover the earth with a white mantle.

Nous trouuasmes en ce lieu la cabane d'vn Sauuage, que nostre hoste cherchoit, nommé Ek_hennabamate_, il apprit de luy que son frere le Sorcier estoit passé depuis peu, & qu'ayant eu le vent contraire, il n'estoit pas loing, il n'attendit pas qu'il fut iour tout à fait pour le suiure, son Canot poussé par trois rameurs alloit comme le vent: bref le beau premier iour de Nouembre dedié à la memoire de tous les Saincts, il nous ramena ce Demon, i'entends ce Sorcier. Ie fus bien estonné quand ie le vis: car ie ne l'attendois pas, me figurant que mon hoste estoit allé à la chasse, fut-il ainsi, & que ceste miserable proye [230] luy eust eschappé des mains.

We found here the cabin of a Savage, named _Ekhennabamate_, whom
our host was seeking. He learned from him that his brother, the
Sorcerer, had passed, a short time before; and that, having the
wind against him, he had not gone far. He did not wait until broad
daylight to follow him; his Canoe, paddled by three men, went like
the wind; and, in short, on the first of November, a beautiful day,
dedicated to the memory of all the Saints, he brought back this
Demon, I mean the Sorcerer. I was very much surprised when I saw
him, for I was not expecting him, imagining that my host had gone
hunting; would that he had, and that this miserable prey [230] had
escaped from his hands.

Si tost qu'il fut arriué ce n'estoient plus que festins dans nos cabanes, nous n'auions plus que fort peu de viures de reste, ces Barbares les mangeoient auec autant de paix & d'asseurance, comme si les animaux qu'ils deuoient chasser eussent esté renfermez dans vne estable.

As soon as he came, there was nothing but feasting in our cabins;
we had only a little food left, but these Barbarians ate it with as
much calmness and confidence as if the game they were to hunt was
shut up in a stable.

Mon hoste faisant vn iour festin à son tour, les conuiez me firent signe que ie haranguasse en leur langue, ils auoiẽt enuie de rire: car ie prononce le Sauuage comme vn Alemant prononce le François, leur voulant donner ce contentement, ie me mis à discourir, & eux à s'éclatter de rire: eux bien aises de gausser, & moy bien ioyeux d'apprendre à parler: Ie leur dis pour conclusion, que i'estois vn enfant, & que les enfans faisoient rire leurs peres par leur begayement: mais qu'au reste ie deuiendrois grand dans quelques années, & qu'alors sçachant leur langue ie leur ferois voir qu'eux-mesmes sont enfans en plusieurs choses, ignorans de belles veritez, dont ie leur parlerois, & sur l'heure mesme ie leur demãday si la Lune estoit [231] aussi hautemẽt logée que les Estoilles, si elle estoit en mesme Ciel, où alloit le Soleil quãd il nous quittoit, quelle figure auoit la terre, (si ie sçauois leur langue en perfection ie leur proposerois tousiours quelque verité naturelle deuant que de parler des points de nostre creãce: car i'ay remarqué que ces curiositez les rendent attentifs) pour ne m'éloigner de mon discours, l'vn d'eux prenant la parole apres m'auoir ingenuëment confessé qu'ils ne pouuoient répondre à ces questions, me dit: mais comment pourrois-tu toy mesme cognoistre ces choses, puis que nous les ignorons? ie tiray aussi tost vn petit cadran que i'auios dans ma pouche, ie l'ouure, & luy mettant en main, ie luy dis: nous voyla dans la nuict profonde, le Soleil ne nous paroist plus, dis moy maintenãt enuisageant ce que ie te presente, en quelle part du monde il est; designe moy le lieu où il se doit demain leuer, où il se doit coucher, où il sera en son midy, marque moy les endroits du Ciel, où il ne va iamais: mon homme répondit des yeux me regardant sans dire mot: ie prens le cadran & luy fais [232] voir en peu de mots tout ce que ie venois de proposer, adioustant en suitte; hé bien comment se peut-il faire que ie cognoisse ces choses, & que vous les ignoriez? i'ay bien d'autres veritez plus grandes à vous dire quand ie sçauray parler. Tu as de l'esprit, me dirent-ils, tu sçauras bien tost nostre langue, ils se sont trompez.

One day, when my host had a feast in his turn, the guests made me
a sign that I should make them a speech in their language, as they
wanted to laugh; for I pronounce the Savage as a German pronounces
French. Wishing to please them, I began to talk, and they burst out
laughing, well pleased to make sport of me, while I was very glad
to learn to talk. I said to them in conclusion that I was a child,
and that children made their fathers laugh with their stammering;
but in a few years I would become large, and then, when I knew
their language, I would make them see that they themselves were
children in many things, ignorant of the great truths of which I
would speak to them. Suddenly I asked them if the Moon was [231]
located as high as the Stars, if it was in the same Sky; where the
Sun went when it left us; what was the form of the earth. (If I
knew their language perfectly I would always propose some natural
truth, before speaking to them of the points of our belief; for I
have observed that these curious things make them more attentive.)
Not to let me wander from my speech, one of them beginning to
speak, after having frankly confessed that they could not answer
these questions, said to me: "But how canst thou thyself know
these things, since we do not know them?" I immediately drew out
a little compass that I had in my pocket, opened it, and, placing
it in his hand, said to him, "We are now in the darkness of night,
the Sun no longer shines for us; tell me now, while you look at
what I have given you, in what part of the world it is; show me
the place where it must rise to-morrow, where it will set, where
it will be at noon; point out the places in the Sky where it will
never be." My man answered with his eyes, staring at me without
saying a word. I took the compass and explained [232] to him with
a few words all that I had just asked about, adding, "Well, how is
it that I can know these things and you do not know them? I have
still other greater truths to tell you when I can talk." "Thou art
intelligent," they responded; "thou wilt soon know our language."
But they were mistaken.

Ce que i'escris dans ce iournal n'a point d'autre suitte, que la suitte du temps, voila pourquoy ie passeray souuent du coq à l'asne, comme on dit, c'est à dire que quittant vne remarque ie passeray à vne autre qui ne luy a point de rapport, le temps seul seruant de liaison à mon discours.

What I write in this journal has no other order except that of
time, and hence I shall frequently be telling cock-and-bull
stories, as the saying is; that is, I shall pass from one
observation to another which has no connection with it, time alone
serving as a link to the parts of my discourse.