Chapter XIII (2)

Comme l'arc & la fleche semble des armes inuentées par la Nature, puis que toutes les Nations de la terre en ont trouué l'vsage, de mesme vous diriez qu'il y a de certains petits ieux que les enfans trouuent sans qu'on leur enseigne; les petits Sauuages ioüent à se cacher aussi bien que les petits François, ils font quantité d'autres traits d'enfance, que i'ay remarqué en nostre Europe, entre autres i'ay veu les petits Parisiens [233] ietter vne balle d'arquebuse en l'air, & la receuoir auec vn baston vn petit creusé, les petits Sauuages montagnards font le mesme, se seruans d'vn petit faisseau de branches de Pin, qu'ils reçoiuent ou picquent en l'air auec vn baston pointu: les petits Hiroquois ont le mesme passe-temps iettans vn osselet percé qu'ils enlassent en l'air dans vn autre petit os: vn ieune homme de ceste nation me le dit, voyant ioüer les enfans montagnards.

As the bow and arrow seem to be weapons invented by Nature,
since all the Nations of the earth have made use of them, so you
might say there are certain little games that children find out
for themselves without being taught. The little Savages play at
hide-and-seek as well as the little French children. They have a
number of other childish sports that I have noticed in our Europe;
among others, I have seen the little Parisians [233] throw a musket
ball into the air and catch it with a little bat scooped out; the
little montagnard Savages do the same, using a little bunch of Pine
sticks, which they receive or throw into the air on the end of a
pointed stick. The little Hiroquois have the same pastime, throwing
a bone with a hole in it, which they interlace in the air with
another little bone. I was told this by a young man of that nation
as we were watching the montagnard children play.

Mõ Sauuage & le Sorcier son frere, ayãt appris qu'il y auoit quãtité de Mõtagnais és enuirõs du lieu où ils vouloiẽt hyuerner, prirent resolution de passer du costé du Nord, craignans que nous ne nous affamassions les vns les autres: les voyla donc resolus d'aller où m'auoit promis mon hoste & le Renegat; mais à peine auiõs nous fait trois lieuës sur le grand fleuue pour le trauerser, que nous rencontrasmes quatre canots qui nous ramenerent au Sud, disans que la chasse n'estoit pas bonne du costé du Nord, si bien que ie fus contraint de demeurer auec le sorcier, & d'hyuerner au delà de la grande riuiere, quoy que ie peusse [234] alleguer au contraire. Ie voyois bien les dangers dans lesquels ils me iettoient, mais ie ne voyois point d'autre remede que de se confier en Dieu, & le laisser faire.

My Savage and the Sorcerer, his brother, having learned that there
were a great many Montagnais near the place where they wished to
pass the winter, decided to turn Northward, lest we should starve
each other. They decided to go to the place where my host and the
Renegade had promised me they would go; but we had scarcely made
three leagues in crossing the great river, when we met four canoes
which turned us back to the South, saying the hunting was not good
up North. So I was obliged to remain with the sorcerer, and to
winter beyond the great river, in spite of all I could [234] urge
to the contrary. I realized well the dangers into which they were
throwing me, but I saw no other remedy than to trust in God and
leave all to him.

Si tost que les nouueaux Sauuages venus dans ces quatre canots eurent mis pied à terre, mon hoste leur fit vn bãquet d'anguilles boucanées, car nous n'auions déja plus de pain. A peine ces conuiés furent-ils de retour en leur cabane, qu'ils dresserent vn festin de pois qu'ils auoient acheté passans à Kebec, mais afin que vous voyez les excez de ce peuple, au sortir de ce banquet, on vint à vn troisiesme, que le sorcier auoit preparé, composé d'anguilles, & de la farine que i'auois donnée à mon hoste: cet homme me pressa fort d'estre de la partie, il auoit fait faire vn retranchemẽt dans nostre cabane auec des peaux, & des couuertures, tous les conuiez entrerent là dedans, on me donna ma part dans vne petite écuelle, mais comme ie n'estois pas encor tout à fait accoustumé à manger de leur boüillies si sales & si fades, apres en auoir gousté i'en voulu donner le reste à la parẽte de mon hoste, [235] aussi tost on me dit K_hita_, K_hita_, mange tout, mange tout, _acoumagouchan_, c'est vn festin à tout manger, ie me mis à rire, & leur dis qu'ils ioüoient à se faire creuer, veu qu'ayans desia esté à deux festins, ils en faisoient vn troisiesme à ne rien laisser, mon hoste m'entendant me dit, que dis tu _Nicanis_? Ie dis que ie ne sçaurois tout manger, donne moy, ce fit-il, ton écuelle ie t'ayderay, luy ayant presenté il auala tout ce qui estoit dedans en deux tours de gueule, tirant vne langue longue de la main pour la lecher au fond & par tout, afin qu'il n'y restast rien.

As soon as these new Savages, who had come in the four canoes, had
landed, my host made them a banquet of smoked eels, for we were
already out of bread. Hardly had these guests returned to their
cabin, when they made a feast of peas which they had bought in
passing through Kebec. But that you may understand the excesses
of these people, [I will add that] in emerging from this banquet,
they went to a third, prepared by the sorcerer, composed of eels,
and of the flour I had given to my host. This man gave me a hearty
invitation to be one of the party. He had made a little apartment
in our cabin with skins and blankets, and all the guests entered
this place. They gave me my share in a little bark plate; but, as
I was not altogether accustomed to eating their mixtures, so dirty
and insipid, after having tasted it, I wanted to give the rest to
one of the relations of my host; [235] but they immediately cried
out, _Khita, Khita_, "Eat all, eat all," _acoumagouchan_. "It is an
eat-all feast." I began to laugh, and told them they were playing
a game of "burst themselves open," seeing they had already had two
feasts, and were making a third at which nothing was to be left.
My host, hearing me, said, "What art thou saying, _Nicanis_?" "I
am saying that I cannot eat all." "Give it to me," he answered,
"give me thy plate, I will help thee." Having presented it to him,
he gulped down all it contained in two swallows, thrusting out a
tongue as long as your hand to lick the bottom and sides, so that
nothing might remain.

Quand ils furent saouls quasi iusqu'à creuer, le Sorcier prit son tambour & inuita tout le monde à chanter, celuy là chantoit le mieux qui heurloit le plus fort; à la fin de leur tintamarre les voyans d'vne humeur assez gaye, ie leur demanday permission de parler, cela m'estant accordé, ie commençay à leur déclarer l'affection que ie leur portois, vous voyez, disois-ie, de quel amour ie fuis porté en vostre endroit, i'ay non seulement quitté mon pays, qui est beau, & bien agreable pour venir dans vos [236] neiges & dans vos grands bois; mais encore ie m'esloigne de la petite maison que nous auons en vos terres pour vous suiure & pour apprendre vostre langue. Ie vous chery plus que mes freres puis que ie les ay quittez pour vostre amour, c'est celuy qui a tout fait qui me donne ceste affection enuers vous, c'est luy qui creé le premier homme d'où nous sommes tous issus, voyla pourquoy n'ayans qu'vn mesme pere nous sommes tous freres, & nous deuons tous recognoistre vn mesme Seigneur & vn mesme Capitaine, nous deuons tous croire en luy, & obeïr à ses volontez, Le Sorcier m'arrestant dit tout haut, quand ie le verray, ie croiray en luy, autrement non, le moyen de croyre en celuy qu'on ne void pas? Ie luy répondis, quand tu me dis que ton pere, ou l'vn de tes amis a tenu quelque discours, ie croy ce qu'il a dit, me figurant qu'il n'est point menteur, & ce pendant ie n'ay iamais veu ton pere: de plus tu crois qu'il y a vn _Manitou_ & tu ne l'as pas veu. Tu crois qu'il y a des _Khichicoua_k_hi_, ou des Genies du iour, & tu ne les a pas veus: d'autres les ont veus, me dit-il, Tu ne me sçaurois dire, luy reparty-ie, [237] ny quand, ny comment, ny en quelle façon, ou en quel endroit on les a veus, & moy ie te puis dire commẽt se nommoient ceux qui ont veu le Fils de Dieu en terre, quand il l'ont veu, & en quel lieu, ce qu'ils ont faict, & en quels pays ils ont esté. Ton Dieu, me fit-il, n'est point venu en nostre pays, voila pourquoy nous ne croyons point en luy, fais que ie le voye, & ie croiray en luy. Escoute moy & tu le verras, luy repliquay-ie, Nous auons deux sortes de veuë, la veuë des yeux du corps, & la veuë des yeux de l'ame, ce que tu vois des yeux de l'ame peut estre aussi certain que ce que tu vois des yeux du corps: Non, dit-il, ie ne vois rien sinon des yeux du corps, si ce n'est en dormãt, mais tu n'approuue pas nos songes. Escoute moy iusqu'au bout, luy fis-ie, Quand tu passe deuant vne cabane delaissée, que tu vois encor toutes les perches en rond, que tu vois l'aire de la cabane tapissée de branches de Pin, quand tu vois le fouyer qui fume encore, n'est-il pas vray que tu cognois asseurément, & que tu vois bien qu'il y a eu là des Sauuages? & que ces perches & tout le [238] reste que vous laissez quand vous decabanez, ne se sont point rassemblées par cas fortuit? ouy, me dit-il, or ie dis le mesme quand tu vois la beauté & la grandeur de ce monde, que le Soleil tourne incessamment sans s'arrester, que les saisons retournent en leur temps, & que tous les Astres gardent si bien leur ordre, tu vois bien que les hommes n'ont point fait ces merueilles, & qu'ils ne les gouuernent pas, il faut donc qu'il y ait quelqu'vn plus noble que les hommes qui ait basty & qui gouuerne ceste grande maison: or c'est celuy là que nous appellons Dieu, qui void tout, & que nous ne voyons pas maintenant; mais nous le verrons apres la mort, & nous serons bien-heureux à iamais auec luy si nous l'aymons & si nous luy obeïssons. Tu ne sçais ce que tu dis, me repart-il, apprends à parler & nous t'entendrons.

When they were full almost to bursting, the Sorcerer took his drum
and invited everyone to sing. The best singer was the one who
howled the loudest. At the end of this uproar, seeing that they
were in a very good humor, I asked permission to talk. This being
granted, I began to affirm the affection I had for them, "You
see," I said, "what love I bear you; I have not only left my own
country, which is beautiful and very pleasant, to come into your
[236] snows and vast woods, but I have also left the little house
we have in your lands, to follow you and learn your language; I
cherish you more than my brothers, since I have left them for love
of you; it is he who has made all who has given me this affection
for you, it is he who created the first man from whom we have all
descended; hence see how it is that, as we have the same father,
we are all brothers, and ought all to acknowledge the same Lord
and the same Captain; we ought all to believe in him, and obey his
will." The Sorcerer, stopping me, said in a loud voice, "When I
see him, I will believe in him, and not until then. How believe
in him whom we do not see?" I answered him: "When thou tellest
me that thy father or one of thy friends has said something, I
believe what he has said, supposing that he is not a liar, and yet
I have never seen thy father: also, thou believest that there is a
_Manitou_, and thou hast never seen him. Thou believest that there
are _Khichicouakhi_, or Spirits of light, and thou hast not seen
them." "Others have seen them," he answered. "Thou couldst not
tell," said I, [237] "neither when, nor how, nor in what way, nor
in what place they were seen; and I, I can tell thee the names of
those who have seen the Son of God upon earth,--when they saw him,
and in what place; what they have done, and in what countries they
have been." "Thy God," he replied, "has not come to our country,
and that is why we do not believe in him; make me see him and I
will believe in him." "Listen to me and thou wilt see him," said I.
"We have two kinds of sight, the sight of the eyes of the body, and
the sight of the eyes of the soul. What thou seest with the eyes of
the soul may be just as true as what thou seest with the eyes of
the body." "No," said he, "I see nothing except with the eyes of
the body, save in sleeping, and thou dost not approve our dreams."
"Hear me to the end," I said. "When thou passest a deserted cabin,
and seest yet standing the circle of poles, and the floor of the
cabin covered with Pine twigs, when thou seest the hearth still
smoking, is it not true that thou knowest positively, and that thou
seest clearly, that Savages have been there, and that these poles
and all the [238] rest of the things that you leave when you break
camp, are not brought together by chance?" "Yes," he answered.
"Now I say the same. When thou seest the beauty and grandeur of
this world,--how the Sun incessantly turns round without stopping,
how the seasons follow each other in their time, and how perfectly
all the Stars maintain their order,--thou seest clearly that men
have not made these wonders, and that they do not govern them;
hence there must be some one more noble than men, who has built
and who rules this grand mansion. Now it is he whom we call God,
who sees all things, and whom we do not see; but we shall see him
after death, and we shall be forever happy with him, if we love and
obey him." "Thou dost not know what thou art talking about," he
answered, "learn to talk and we will listen to thee."

Là dessus ie priay l'Apostat de déduire mes raisons & de les expliquer en Sauuage: car i'en voyois de fort attentifs: mais ce miserable Renegat, craignant de deplaire à son frere, ne voulut iamais ouurir la bouche. Ie le prie, [239] ie le coniure auec toute douceur, en fin ie redouble ma voix, & le menace de la part de Dieu, luy protestant qu'il seroit responsable de l'ame de la femme de son frere le Sorcier, laquelle ie voyois fort malade, & pour laquelle i'estois entré en discours, esperant que si les Sauuages goustoient mes raisons, qu'ils me permettroient aisément de l'instruire; ce coeur de bronze ne flechit iamais, ny à mes prieres, ny à mes menaces; Ie prie Dieu qu'il luy fasse misericorde, mon hoste me voyant parler d'vn accent assez haut, me dit, _Nicanis_ ne te fasche point, auec le temps tu parleras comme nous, & tu nous enseigneras ce que tu sçais, nous te presterons l'oreille plus volontiers qu'à cet opiniastre qui n'a point d'esprit, auquel nous n'auons nulle creance, voila les eloges qu'il donnoit à ce Renegat. Ie luy repliquay, si ceste femme se portoit bien ie serois consolé, mais elle est pour mourir dans peu de iours, & son ame faute de cognoistre Dieu sera perduë, que si ton frere me vouloit prester sa parole ie l'instruirois en peu de temps, sa réponse fut que ie le laissasse, & que ie sçauois bien que c'estoit [240] vn lourdaut, pour conclusion on dit les mots qui terminent le festin, & chacun se retira, moy bien dolent de voir ceste ame se perdre en ma presence sans la pouuoir secourir: car le Sorcier ayant commencé à leuer le masque & l'Apostat à m'éconduire en sa cõsideration, toutes les esperances que ie pouuois auoir d'ayder ceste femme malade d'instruire les autres commencerent à s'éuanoüir, i'ay souuent souhaitté qu'vn Sainct fust en ma place pour operer en Sainct, les petites ames crient beaucoup & font peu, il se faut contenter de la bassesse: poursuiuons nostre voyage.

Thereupon I asked the Apostate to enumerate my reasons and to
explain them in the Savage tongue, for I saw that they were very
attentive; but this miserable Renegade, fearing to displease his
brother, would not even open his mouth. I begged him, [239] I
conjured him with all gentleness; finally I spoke harshly, and
threatened him in the name of God, insisting that he would be
responsible for the soul of the wife of his brother, the Sorcerer,
who I perceived was very sick, and for whose sake I had begun this
discourse, hoping that if the Savages approved of my explanations,
they would readily allow me to instruct her. This heart of bronze
melted neither at my prayers nor at my threats. I pray God that he
may be merciful to him. My host, seeing me speaking earnestly to
him, said, "_Nicanis_, do not get angry; in time thou wilt speak as
we do, and thou wilt teach us what thou knowest, we will listen to
thee more willingly than to this stubborn fellow who has no sense
and in whom we have no faith." These were the eulogies he passed
upon the Renegade. I replied to him that, if this woman were well,
I would feel consoled; but that she was going to die in a few days,
and her soul, not knowing God, would be lost; if his brother wished
to lend me his tongue I would instruct her in a little while. His
answer was that I should leave him alone, for I knew very well that
he was [240] a blockhead. In conclusion, they pronounced the words
which ended the feast, and we all withdrew; I very sad at seeing
this soul lost in my presence, without being able to help it. For
the Sorcerer having begun to lift the mask, and the Apostate to
refuse me his consideration, all the hopes I had of helping this
sick woman, and of teaching the others, commenced to vanish. I have
often wished that a Saint were in my place, to act the Saint; small
souls cry out a great deal, and do very little, but one must be
content with one's own insignificance. Let us continue our voyage.

Le douziesme de Nouembre nous commençasmes en fin d'entrer dedans les terres, laissans nos Chalouppes & nos Canots, & quelqu'autre bagage dans l'Isle au grand nom, de laquelle nous sortismes de mer basse, trauersans vne prairie qui la separe du continent: iusques icy nous auons fait chemin dans le pays des poissons, tousiours sur les eauës, ou dans les Isles, doresnauant nous allons entrer dans le Royaume des bestes sauuages, ie veux dire de beaucoup plus d'estẽduë que toute la Frãce.

On the twelfth of November we at last began to go into the country,
leaving our Shallops and Canoes, and some other baggage, in the
Island with the long name, which we left at low tide, crossing the
meadow which separated us from the mainland. Up to this time we
had journeyed through a country where fish abound, always upon the
water or on Islands. From this time on, we were going to invade
the Kingdom of wild beasts, I mean a country far broader in extent
than all France.

[241] Les Sauuages passent l'hyuer dedans ces bois, courans çà & là, pour y chercher leur vie; au commencement des neiges ils cherchent le Castor dans des petits fleuues, & le Porc-espic dans les terres quand la neige est profonde ils chassent à l'Orignac & au Caribou, comme i'ay dit.

[241] The Savages pass the winter in these woods, ranging here and
there to get their living. In the early snows, they seek the Beaver
in the small rivers, and Porcupines upon the land; when the deep
snows come, they hunt the Moose and Caribou, as I have said.

Nous auons fait dans ces grands bois, depuis le 12. Nouembre de l'an 1633. que nous y entrasmes, iusques au 22. d'Auril de ceste année 1634. que nous retournasmes aux riues du grand fleuue de sainct Laurens, vingt-trois stations, tantost dans des valées fort profondes, puis sur des montagnes fort releuées; quelque fois en plat pays, & tousiours dans la neige: ces forests où i'ay esté sont peuplées de diuerses especes d'arbres, notamment de Pins, de Cedres, & de Sapins. Nous auons trauersé quantité de torrens d'eau, quelques fleuues, plusieurs beaux lacs & estangs marchans sur la glace; mais descendons en particulier & disons deux mots de chaque station, la crainte que i'ay d'estre long me fera retrancher quãtité de choses que i'ay iugé assez legeres, [242] quoy qu'elles puissent donner quelque iour à ces memoires.

We made in these vast forests, from the 12th of November of the
year 1633, when we entered them, to the 22nd of April of this
year 1634, when we returned to the banks of the great river saint
Lawrence, twenty-three halts,--sometimes in deep valleys, then upon
lofty mountains, sometimes in the low flat country; and always in
the snow. These forests where I was are made up of different kinds
of trees, especially of Pines, Cedars and Firs. We crossed many
torrents of water, some rivers, several beautiful lakes and ponds,
walking upon the ice. But let us come down to particulars, and say
a few words about each station. My fear of becoming tedious will
cause me to omit many things that I have considered trifling, [242]
although they might throw some light upon these memoirs.

A nostre entrée dans les terres nous estions trois cabanes de compagnie, il y auoit dixneuf personnes en la nostre, il y en auoit seize en la cabane du Sauuage nommé Ekhennabamate, & dix dans la cabanne des nouueaux venus. Ie ne conte point les Sauuages qui estoient à quelques lieuës de nous, nous faisions en tout quarante cinq personnes, qui deuions estre nourris de ce qu'il plairoit à la saincte Prouidence du bon Dieu de nous enuoyer; car nos prouisions tiroient par tout à la fin.

Upon our entrance into these regions, there were three cabins
in our company,--nineteen persons being in ours, sixteen in the
cabin of the Savage named Ekhennabamate, and ten in that of the
newcomers. This does not include the Savages who were encamped a
few leagues away from us. We were in all forty-five persons, who
were to be kept alive on what it should please the holy Providence
of the good God to send us, for our provisions were altogether
getting very low.

Voicy l'ordre que nous gardions leuans le camp, battans la campagne, & dressans nos tentes & nos pauillons. Quand nos gens remarquoient qu'il n'y auoit plus de chasse à quelques trois ou quatre lieuës à l'entour de nous, vn Sauuage qui cognoissoit mieux le chemin du lieu où nous allions, crioit à pleine teste, en vn beau matin hors de la cabane, Escoutez hommes ie m'en vais marquer le chemin pour decabaner demain au point du iour, il prenoit vne hache & marquoit quelques arbres qui [243] nous guidoient: on ne marque le chemin qu'au commencement de l'hyuer: car quand tous les fleuues & les torrens sont glacez & que la neige est haute on ne prend pas ceste peine.

This is the order we followed in breaking up our camps, in tramping
over the country and in erecting our tents and pavilions. When our
people saw that there was no longer any game within three or four
leagues of us, a Savage, who was best acquainted with the way to
the place where we were going, cried out in a loud voice, one fine
day outside the cabin, "Listen, men, I am going to mark the way for
breaking camp to-morrow at daybreak." He took a hatchet and marked
some trees which [243] guided us. They do not mark the way except
in the beginning of winter; for, when all the rivers and torrents
are frozen, and the snow is deep, they do not take this trouble.

Quand il y a beaucoup de pacquets, ce qui arriue lors qu'ils ont tué grand nombre d'Eslans, les femmes en vont porter vne partie iuīqu'au lieu où l'on doit camper le iour suiuant; quand la neige est haute, ils font des traisnées de bois qui se fend, & qui se leue comme par fueilles assez minces & fort longues, ces traisnées sont fort estroites à raisõ qu'elles se doiuent tirer entre vne infinité d'arbres fort pressez en quelques endroits, mais en recompense elles sont fort longues. Voyant vn iour celle de mon hoste dressée contre vn arbre, à peine peus ie atteindre au milieu estendant le bras autant qu'il me fut possible. Ils lient leur bagage là dessus, & auec vne corde qui leur vient passer sur l'estomach, ils traisnent sur la neige ces chariots sans rouës.

When there are a number of things to be carried, as often happens
when they have killed a great many Elk, the women go ahead, and
carry a part of them to the place where they are to camp the
following day. When the snow is deep, they make sledges of wood
which splits, and which can be peeled off like leaves in very thin,
long strips. These sledges are very narrow, because they have to be
dragged among masses of trees closely crowded in some places; but,
to make up for this, they are very long. One day, seeing that of my
host standing against a tree, I could scarcely reach to the middle
of it, stretching out my arm as far as I could. They fasten their
baggage upon these, and, with a cord which they pass over their
chests, they drag these wheelless chariots over the snow.

Pour ne m'éloigner dauantage de mon chemin, si tost qu'il est iour chacun se prepare pour déloger, on commence [244] par le desieuner s'il y a dequoy; car par fois on part sans desieuner, on poursuit sans disner & on se couche sans souper, chacun fait son pacquet le mieux qu'il peut, les femmes battent la cabane pour faire tomber la glace & la neige de dessus les écorces qu'elles roulent en faisseaux, le bagage estant plié ils iettent sur leur dos ou sur leurs reins de longs fardeaux qu'ils supportent auec vne corde, qui passe sur leur front, soubs laquelle ils mettent vn morceau d'écorce de peur de se blesser; tout le monde chargé on monte à cheual sur des raquettes qu'on se lie aux pieds afin de ne point enfoncer dans la neige, cela fait on marche en campagne & en montagnes, faisant passer deuant les petits enfans qui partent bien tost & n'arriuent par fois que bien tard, ces pauures petits ont leur pacquet, ou leur traisne pour s'accoustumer de bonne heure à la fatigue, & tascheon de leur donner de l'emulation à qui portera ou traisnera dauantage, de vous depeindre la difficulté des chemins, ie n'ay ny plume ny pinceau qui le puisse faire, il faut auoir veu cét obiect pour le cognoistre, & [245] auoir gousté de ceste viande pour en sçauoir le goust, nous ne faisions que monter & descendre, il nous falloit souuent baisser à demy corps pour passer soubs des arbres quasi tombez, & monter sur d'autres couchez par terre, dont les branches nous faisoient quelques fois tomber assez doucement, mais tousiours froidement, car c'estoit sur la neige. S'il arriuoit quelque dégel, ô Dieu quelle peine! il me sembloit que ie marchois sur vn chemin de verre qui se cassoit à tous coups soubs mes pieds: la neige congelée venant à s'amollir tomboit & s'enfonçoit par esquarres ou grandes pieces, & nous en auions bien souuent iusques aux genoux, quelquefois iusqu'à la ceinture, que s'il y auoit de la peine à tomber, il y en auoit encor plus à se retirer: car nos raquettes se chargeoient de neiges & se rendoient si pesantes, que quand vous veniez à les retirer il vous sembloit qu'on vous tiroit les iambes pour vous démembrer. I'en ay veu qui glissoient tellement soubs des souches enseuelies soubs la neige, qui ne pouuoient tirer ny iambes ny raquettes sans secours: or figurez vous [246] maintenant vne personne chargée comme vn mulet, & iugez si la vie des Sauuages est douce.

But not to wander farther from my subject, as soon as it is day
each one prepares to break camp. They begin [244] by having
breakfast, if there is any; for sometimes they depart without
breakfasting, continue on their way without dining, and go to bed
without supping. Each one arranges his own baggage, as best he can;
and the women strike the cabin, to remove the ice and snow from the
bark, which they roll up in a bundle. The baggage being packed,
they throw it upon their backs or loins in long bundles, which they
hold with a cord that passes over their foreheads, beneath which
they place a piece of bark so that it will not hurt them. When
every one is loaded, they mount their snowshoes, which are bound
to the feet so that they will not sink into the snow; and then
they march over plain and mountain, making the little ones go on
ahead, who start early, and often do not arrive until quite late.
These little ones have their load, or their sledge, to accustom
them early to fatigue; and they try to stimulate them to see who
will carry or drag the most. To paint to you the hardships of the
way, I have neither pen nor brush that could do it; they must be
experienced in order to be appreciated, and [245] this dish must be
tried to know how it tastes. We did nothing but go up and go down;
frequently we had to bend halfway over, to pass under partly-fallen
trees, and step over others lying upon the ground whose branches
sometimes knocked us over, gently enough to be sure, but always
coldly, for we fell upon the snow. If it happened to thaw, Oh God,
what suffering! It seemed to me I was walking over a road of glass,
which broke under my feet at every step. The frozen snow, beginning
to melt, would fall and break into blocks or big pieces, into
which we often sank up to our knees, and sometimes to our waists.
If there was pain in falling, there was still more in pulling
ourselves out, for our raquettes were loaded with snow, and became
so heavy that, when we tried to draw them out, it seemed as if
somebody were tugging at our legs to dismember us. I have seen some
who slid so far under the logs buried in the snow, that they could
not pull out either their legs or their snowshoes without help. Now
imagine [246] a person loaded like a mule, and judge how easy is
the life of the Savage.

En France dans la difficulté des voyages encor trouue-on quelques villages pour se rafraischir, & pour se fortifier; mais les hostelleries que nous rencontrions, & où nous beuuions, n'estoient que des ruisseaux, encor falloit il rompre la glace pour en tirer de l'eau; il est vray que nous ne faisions pas de longues traites, aussi nous eust il esté tout à fait impossible.

In the discomforts of a journey in France, villages are found
where one can refresh and fortify one's self; but the inns that
we encountered and where we drank, were only brooks; we even had
to break the ice in order to get some water. It is true that we
did not make long stages, which would indeed have been absolutely
impossible for us.

Estans arriuez au lieu où nous deuions camper, les femmes alloient couper les perches pour dresser la cabane, les hommes vuidoient la neige, comme ie l'ay plus amplement déduit au Chapitre precedent: or il falloit trauailler à ce bastiment, ou bien trembler de froid trois grosses heures sur la neige en attendant qu'il fut fait, ie mettois par fois la main à l'œuure pour m'échauffer, mais i'estois pour l'ordinaire tellement glacé que le feu seul me pouuoit dégeler; les Sauuages en estoient estonnez: car ils suoient soubs le trauail, leur témoignant quelquefois que i'auois grãd [247] froid, ils me disoient, donne tes mains que nous voyons si tu dis vray, & les trouuans toutes glacées, touchez de compassion ils me donnoient leurs mitaines échauffées, & prenoient les miennes toutes froides: iusque là que mõ hoste apres auoir experimenté cecy plusieurs fois, me dit _Nicanis_ n'hyuerne plus auec les Sauuages, car ils te tuëront; il vouloit dire, comme ie pense, que ie tõberois malade & que ne pouuant estre traisné auec le bagage, qu'on me feroit mourir, ie me mis à rire, & luy reparty qu'il me vouloit épouuenter.

When we reached the place where we were to encamp, the women went
to cut the poles for the cabin, and the men to clear away the snow,
as I have stated more fully in the preceding Chapter. Now a person
had to work at this building, or shiver with cold for three long
hours upon the snow, waiting until it was finished. Sometimes I put
my hand to the work to warm myself, but usually I was so frozen
that fire alone could thaw me. The Savages were surprised at this,
for they often sweat under the work. Assuring them now and then
that I was very [247] cold, they would say to me, "Give us thy
hands that we may see if thou tellest the truth;" and, finding them
quite frozen, touched with compassion, they gave me their warm
mittens and took my cold ones. This went so far, that my host,
after having tried it several times, said to me, "_Nicanis_, do not
winter any more with the Savages, for they will kill thee." I think
he meant that I would fall ill, and, as I could not be dragged
along with the baggage, they would kill me; I began to laugh, and
told him that he was trying to frighten me.

La cabane estant faite, ou sur la nuit, ou vn peu deuant, on parloit de disner & de souper tout ensemble: car sortant le matin apres auoir mangé vn petit morceau, il falloit auoir patience qu'on fut arriué & que l'hostellerie fust faite pour y loger, & pour y manger, mais le pis estoit que ce iour là nos gens n'allans point ordinairement à la chasse, c'estoit pour nous vn iour de ieusne aussi bien qu'vn iour de trauail. C'est trop retarder venons à nostre station.

The cabin finished, either toward nightfall or a little before,
they began to talk about dinner and supper all in one, for as we
had departed in the morning after having eaten a small morsel, we
had to have patience to reach our destination and to wait until
the hotel was erected, in order to lodge and eat there. But,
unfortunately, on this particular day, our people did not usually
go hunting; and so it was for us a day of fasting as well as a day
of work. We have delayed long enough, let us come to our station.

Nous quittasmes les riues du grand fleuue le 12. de Nouembre, comme i'ay [248] desia dit, & vinsmes cabaner pres d'vn torrent, faisans chemin à la façon que ie viens de dire, chacun portant son fardeau. Tous les Sauuages se mocquoient de moy de ce que ie n'estois pas bon cheual de male, me contentant de porter mon manteau qui estoit assez pesant, vn petit sac où ie mettois mes menuës necessitez & leurs gausseries, qui ne me pesoient pas tant que mon corps, voila ma charge: mon hoste & l'Apostat portoient sur des bastons croisez en forme de brancard la femme du Sorcier qui estoit fort malade, ils la mettoient sur la neige en attendant que la cabane fut faite, où elle passoit plus de trois heures sans feu, & sans iamais se plaindre, & sans monstrer aucun signe d'impatience, ie me mettois plus en peine d'elle qu'elle mesme: car ie criois souuent qu'on fit faire pour le moins vn peu de feu aupres d'elle, mais la réponse estoit qu'elle se chaufferoit la cabane estant faite: ces barbares sont faits à ces souffrances, ils s'attẽdent bien que s'ils tombent malades qu'on les traittera à mesme monnoye. Nous seiournasmes trois iours en ceste station, pendant lesquels [249] voicy vne partie des choses que i'ay marqué dans mon memoire.

We left the banks of the great river on the 12th of November, as
I have [248] said, and pitched our camp near a torrent, traveling
in the way I have just described, each one carrying his pack. All
the Savages made sport of me because I was not a good pack horse,
being satisfied to carry my cloak, which was heavy enough; a small
bag in which I kept my little necessaries; and their sneers, which
were not as heavy as my body; and this was my load. My host and the
Apostate carried upon poles, crossed in the form of a stretcher,
the wife of the Sorcerer, who was very sick; they placed her on the
snow, while waiting for the cabin to be made, and there she passed
more than three hours without fire, and did not once complain nor
show any sign of impatience. I was more troubled about her than
she was about herself, for I often appealed to them to make at
least a little fire near her; but the answer was that she would get
warm when the cabin was made. These savages are hardened to such
sufferings; they expect if they fall sick to be paid in the same
coin. We sojourned three days at this station; and the following
[249] are some of the things I noted down in my memoirs during this
time.

C'est icy que les Sauuages consulterent les genies du iour, en la façon que i'ay couché au Chapitre quatriesme: or comme ie m'estois ris de ceste superstition, & qu'à toutes les occasions qui se rencontroient, ie faisois voir que les mysteres du Sorcier n'estoient que ieux d'enfans, m'efforçant de luy rauir ses oüailles pour les rendre auec le temps à celuy qui les a rachetées au prix de son sang, cét homme forcené fit le iour d'apres ceste consulte, que ie vay décrire.

It was here that the Savages consulted their genii of light, in the
manner I have described in Chapter four. Now as I had always shown
my amusement at this superstition, and on all possible occasions
had made them see that the mysteries of the Sorcerer were nothing
but child's play,--endeavoring to carry off his flock so that, in
time, I might deliver them up to him who had bought them with his
blood,--this unscrupulous man, the day afterward, went through with
the performance I am going to describe.

Mõ hoste ayãt inuité au festin tous les Sauuages nos voisins, comme ils estoiẽt desia venus, & assis à l'entour du feu & de la chaudiere, attendans l'ouuerture du banquet, voila que le Sorcier qui estoit couché vis à vis de moy se leue tout à coup, n'ayant point encor parlé depuis la venuë des conuiez, il paroist tout furieux, se iettant sur vne des perches de la cabane pour l'arracher, il la rompt en deux pieces, il roule les yeux en la teste, regardant çà & là comme vn homme hors de soy, puis enuisageant les [250] assistans, il leur dit _Iriniticou nama Nitirinisin_, ô hommes i'ay perdu l'esprit, ie ne sçay où ie suis, esloignez de moy les haches & les espées, car ie suis hors du sens. A ces paroles tous les Sauuages baissent les yeux en terre, & ie les leue au ciel, d'où i'attendois secours, me figurant que cét homme faisoit l'enragé pour se vanger de moy, en m'ostant la vie, ou du moins pour m'épouuenter, afin de me reprocher par apres que mon Dieu me manquoit au besoin, & de publier parmy les siens, qu'ayant si souuent témoigné que ie ne craignois pas leur _Manitou_, qui les fait trembler, ie pallissois deuant vn homme. Tant s'en faut que la peur qui dans les dangers d'vne mort naturelle me faisoit quelquefois rentrer dans moy-mesme, me saisit pour lors, qu'au contraire i'enuisageois ce forcené auec autant d'asseurance que si i'eusse eu vne armée à mes costez, me representant que le Dieu que i'adorois pouuoit lier les bras aux fols & aux enragez aussi bien qu'aux demons: qu'au reste si sa Majesté me vouloit ouurir les portes de la mort, par les mains d'vn homme qui faisoit l'endiablé, que [251] sa Prouidence estoit tousiours aymable. Ce Thrason redoublant ces fougues fit mille actions de fol, d'ensorcelé, de demoniaque, tantost il crioit à pleine teste, puis il demeuroit tout court comme épouuanté: il faisoit mine de pleurer, puis il s'éclattoit de rire comme vn diable follet; il chantoit sans regles ny sans mesures, il sifloit comme vn serpent, il hurloit comme vn loup, ou comme vn chien, il faisoit du hibou & du chathuan, tournant les yeux tout effarez dedans sa teste, prenant mille postures, faisant tousiours semblant de chercher quelque chose pour la lancer, i'attendois à tous coups qu'il arrachast quelque perche pour m'en assommer, ou qu'il se iettast sur moy, ie ne laissay pas neantmoins pour luy monstrer que ie ne m'estonnois pas de ses diableries, de faire toutes mes actions à l'ordinaire de lire, d'écrire, de faire mes petites prieres, & l'heure de mon sommeil estant venuë ie me couchay & reposay aussi paisiblement dans son sabbat comme i'eusse fait dans vn profond silence, i'estois déja aussi accoustumé de m'endormir à ses cris, & à ses bruits de [252] tambour, qu'vn enfant aux chansons de sa nourisse.

My host having invited all the neighboring Savages to the feast,
when they had come and seated themselves around the fire and the
kettle, waiting for the banquet to be opened, lo, the Sorcerer, who
had been lying down opposite me, suddenly arose, not yet having
uttered a word since the arrival of the guests. He seemed to be
in an awful fury, and threw himself upon one of the poles of the
cabin to tear it out; he broke it in two, rolled his eyes around
in his head, looked here and there like a man out of his senses,
then facing those [250] present, he said to them, _Iriniticou nama
Nitirinisin_, "Oh, men, I have lost my mind, I do not know where
I am; take the hatchets and javelins away from me, for I am out
of my senses." At these words all the Savages lowered their eyes
to the ground, and I raised mine to heaven, whence I expected
help,--imagining that this man was acting the madman in order to
take revenge on me, to take my life or at least to frighten me,
so that he could reproach me afterwards that my God had failed me
in time of need, and to proclaim among his people, that I, who had
so often testified that I did not fear their _Manitou_, who makes
them tremble, had turned pale before a man. So far was I from being
seized by fear which, in the dangers of a natural death, makes me
shrink within myself, that, on the contrary, I faced this furious
man with as much assurance as if I had had an army at my side,
reflecting that the God whom I adored could bind the arms of fools
and madmen as well as those of demons; that besides, if his Majesty
wished to open to me the portals of death by the hands of a man who
was acting the devil, [251] his Providence was always loving and
kind. This Thraso [braggart], redoubling his furies, did a thousand
foolish acts of a lunatic or of one bewitched; sometimes he would
cry out at the top of his voice, and then would suddenly stop
short, as if frightened; he pretended to cry, and then burst into
laughter like a wanton devil; he sang without rules and without
measure, he hissed like a serpent, he howled like a wolf, or like
a dog, he screeched like an owl or a night hawk,--rolling his eyes
about in his head and striking a thousand attitudes, always seeming
to be looking for something to throw. I was expecting every moment
he would tear up one of the poles with which to strike me down, or
that he would throw himself upon me; but in order to show him that
I was not at all astonished at these devilish acts, I continued, in
my usual way, to read, write and say my little prayers; and when
my hour for retiring came, I lay down and rested as peacefully
through his orgies, as I would have done in a profound silence; I
was already as accustomed to go to sleep in the midst of his cries
and the sound of his [252] drum, as a child is to the songs of its
nurse.

Le lendemain au soir à mesme heure il sembla vouloir entrer dans les mesmes fougues, & donner vne autrefois l'alarme au camp, disant qu'il perdoit l'esprit, le voyant desia demy fol, il me vint vne pensée qu'il pourroit estre trauaillé de quelque fiévre chaude, ie l'aborde & luy prens le bras pour luy toucher l'artere, il me regarde affreusemẽt, faisant de l'estõné, comme si ie luy eusse apporté des nouuelles de l'autre monde, il roule les yeux çà & là comme vn insensé: luy ayant touché le poulx & le front ie le trouuay frais comme vn poisson, & aussi éloigné de la fiévre comme i'estois de France, cela me confirma dans mon opinion qu'il faisoit de l'enragé pour m'estonner, & pour tirer à compassion tous ses gens qui dans nostre disette luy donnoient ce qu'ils pouuoient auoir de meilleur.

The next evening, at the same hour he seemed disposed to enter into
the same infuriated state, and to again alarm the camp, saying that
he was losing his mind. Seeing him already half-mad, it occurred
to me that he might be suffering from some violent fever; I went
up to him and took hold of his arm to feel the artery; he gave me
a frightful look, seeming to be astonished, and acting as if I had
brought him news from the other world, rolling his eyes here and
there like one possessed. Having touched his pulse and forehead, I
found him as cool as a fish, and as far from fever as I was from
France. This confirmed me in my suspicion that he was acting the
madman to frighten me, and to draw down upon himself the compassion
of all our people, who in our dearth, were giving him the best they
had.

Le 20. du mesme mois de Nouembre ne se trouuans plus de Castors, ny de Porcs-espics en nostre quartier, nous tirasmes pays, & ce fut nostre deuxiesme station, on porta la femme du Sorcier [253] sur vn brancart, & la mit-on, comme i'ay desia dit, dessus la neige en attendant que nostre palais fût dressé, ce pendant ie m'approchay d'elle luy témoignant beaucoup de compassion: il y auoit desia quelques iours que ie taschois de gagner son affection, afin qu'elle me prestast plus volontiers l'oreille, cognoissant bien qu'elle ne pouuoit pas viure long-temps, car elle estoit comme vne squelette, n'ayant quasi plus la force de parler, quand elle appelloit quelqu'vn la nuit, ie me leuois moy mesme, & l'éueillois, ie luy faisois du feu, ie luy demandois ce dont elle auoit besoin, elle me cõmandoit de petites chosettes, comme de fermer les portes ou boucher quelque trou de la cabane qui l'incõmodoit, apres ces menus discours & offices de charité, ie l'aborday, & luy demãday si elle ne vouloit pas bien croire en celuy qui a tout faict, & que son ame apres sa mort seroit bien-heureuse. Au commencement elle me répondit qu'elle n'auoit point veu Dieu, & que ie luy fisse voir, autrement qu'elle ne pouuoit croire en luy, elle auoit tiré ceste réponse de la bouche de sõ mary, Ie luy repartis qu'elle [254] croyoit plusieurs choses qu'elle ne voyoit pas, & qu'au reste son ame seroit bruslée pour vne eternité si elle n'obeïssoit à celuy qui a tout fait; elle s'adoucit petit à petit, & me témoigna qu'elle luy vouloit obeïr, ie n'osois l'entretenir long temps, mais seulement par reprises, ceux qui me voyoient me crians que ie la laissasse.

On the 20th of the same month of November, finding no more Beavers
and Porcupines in our quarter, we resumed our journey, this being
our second station. The Sorcerer's wife was carried [253] upon
a stretcher, and they placed her, as I have already said, upon
the snow until our palace was erected. Meanwhile I approached
her, showing how greatly I sympathized with her; already for some
days I had been trying to gain her affection, that she might more
willingly listen to me; I knew that she could not live long, as
she was like a skeleton, hardly having strength enough to talk.
When she called some one in the night, I arose and awoke him, I
made fires for her, I asked her if she was in need of anything;
she had me do little things for her, such as closing the door, or
stopping up a hole in the cabin which annoyed her. After these
little conversations and acts of charity, I approached and asked
her if she did not want to believe in him who has made all, so that
her soul after death would be blest. At first she answered that she
had not seen God, and that I should make her see him, otherwise she
could not believe in him. She got this answer from the lips of her
husband. I told her that she [254] believed in a great many things
she had not seen, and besides, her soul would be burned through
eternity if she did not obey him who has made all. She softened,
little by little, and testified to me that she wished to obey him.
I did not dare confer with her long, and only at intervals, for
those who saw me would cry out that I should leave her alone.

Sur le soir estãs tous dãs nostre nouuelle cabane, ie m'approchay d'elle, l'appellant par son nom, iamais elle ne me voulut parler en la presence des autres, ie priay le Sorcier de luy dire qu'elle me répondist, & de m'ayder à l'instruire, luy representant qu'il ne pouuoit arriuer que du bien de ceste action, il me répond non plus que la malade, ie m'addresse à l'Apostat le pressant auec de tres humbles prieres de me prester sa parole, point de répõse; ie retourne à la malade, ie l'appelle, ie luy parle, ie luy demande si elle ne vouloit pas aller au Ciel, à tout cela pas vn mot: Ie solicite de rechef le Sorcier son mary, ie luy promets vne chemise & du petun, pourueu qu'il dise à sa femme qu'elle m'écoute, comment veux-tu, me dit-il, que nous [255] croyõs en ton Dieu ne l'ayãs iamais veu? ie t'ay desia respondu à cela, luy fis-je, il n'est pas temps de disputer, cette ame se va perdre pour vn iamais si tu n'en as pitié: Tu vois bien que celuy qui a faict le Ciel pour toy, te veut donner de plus grands biens, que d'aller manger des escorces en vn village qui ne fut iamais, mais aussi te punira il seuerement si tu ne crois en luy, & si tu ne luy obeis. Ne pouuant tirer aucune raison de ce miserable homme, ie pressay encor vne fois la malade, mon hoste me l'entendant nommer par son nom me tança, tais toy me dit-il, ne la nomme point, elle est desia morte, son ame n'est plus dans son corps. C'est vne grande verité que personne ne va à +IESVS-CHRIST+ que son pere ne luy tende la main, c'est vn grãd present que la foy, quãd ces pauures Barbares voyẽt qu'vn pauure malade ne parle plus, ou qu'il tombe en syncope, ou en quelque phrenesie, ils disent que son esprit n'est plus dans son corps, si le malade retourne en son bon sens, c'est l'èsprit qui est de retour: en fin quand il est mort il n'en faut plus parler, ny le nommer en aucune façon: pour conclurre ce point, il [256] me fallust retirer sans rien faire.