Chapter XIII (3)

Toward evening, when we were all in our new cabin, I approached and
called her by name. She never would talk with me in the presence
of the others. I begged the Sorcerer to tell her to answer me, and
to help me teach her, showing him that nothing but good could come
of this action. He would not answer me any more than the invalid.
I addressed the Apostate, urging him with very humble prayers to
lend me his voice, but no answer; I return to the sick woman, I
call her by name, I speak to her, I ask her if she does not wish to
go to Heaven; to all this not a word. I again beg her husband, the
Sorcerer; I promise him a shirt and some tobacco, if he will tell
his wife to listen to me. "How canst thou ask us," he said, "to
[255] believe in thy God, never having seen him?" "I have already
answered that question for thee," I returned; "this is no time to
argue, this soul is going to be forever lost if thou dost not have
pity. Thou seest well that he who has made the Heavens for thee,
wishes to give thee greater blessings than to go about eating bark
in a village which never existed; but he will also severely punish
thee if thou dost not believe in him and obey him." Not being able
to draw any answer from this miserable man, I again urged the sick
woman. My host, hearing me call her by name, chided me, saying,
"Keep still, do not name her; she is already dead, her soul is no
longer in her body." It is a great truth that no one goes to +JESUS
CHRIST+ until the father extends to him the hand. How wonderful a
gift is this faith! When these simple Barbarians see that a poor
invalid no longer speaks, or that he has fainted, or been seized by
a frenzy, they say that the spirit is no longer in the body; and,
if the invalid returns to his senses, it is the spirit which has
returned. Finally, when he is dead, they must no longer speak of
him, nor name him in any way. To finish this story, [256] I had to
retire without accomplishing anything.

On tint conseil en ce lieu de ce qu'on deuoit faire pour trouuer à manger, nous estions desia reduits à telle extremité que ie fa[i]sois vn bon repas d'vne peau d'anguille boucannée, que ie iettois aux chiens quelques iours auparauant. Deux choses me toucherent ici le cœur: jettant vne fois vn os, ou vne arreste d'anguille aux chiens, vn petit garçon fut plus habile que le chien, il se jetta sur l'os & le rongea & mangea: vne autre fois vn enfant ayant demandé à manger, comme on luy eust respõdu qu'il n'y en auoit point, ce pauure petit s'en prit à ses yeux, les larmes rouloient sur sa face grosses commes des pois, & ses souspirs & ses sanglots me touchoient de compassion, encor taschoit il de se cacher: c'est vne leçon qu'on fait aux enfans de se monstrer courageux dans la famine.

They took counsel in this place as to what they should do to get
something to eat. We were already reduced to such extremities that
I made a good meal on a skin of smoked eel, which a few days before
I had thrown to the dogs. Here two incidents occurred which touched
my heart. Once when I threw a bone or remnant of an eel to the
dogs, a little boy, more nimble than they, threw himself upon the
bone, and gnawed and bit into it. Another time, a child having
asked for something to eat, when he was told there was nothing at
all, the poor little fellow's eyes filled, and tears as big as peas
rolled down his cheeks, and his sighs and sobs filled me with pity,
although he tried to suppress them. One lesson they teach their
children is to be brave in time of famine.

Le 28. du mesme mois, nous decampasmes pour la troisiesme fois, il neigeoit fort, mais la necessité nous pressant le mauuais temps ne peut nous arrester. Ie fus bien estonné en cette troisiesme demeure que ie ne vis point apporter la malade, ie n'osois demander ce qu'elle [257] estoit deuenuë, car ils ne veulent pas qu'on parle des morts: sur le soir i'accostay le Renegat, ie luy demanday parlant François où estoit ceste pauure femme, s'il ne l'auoit point tuée, voyant qu'elle s'en alloit mourir, cõme il auoit autrefois assommé à coups de bastons vne pauure fille qui tiroit à la mort, ainsi que luy mesme l'auoit raconté à nos François. Non, dit-il, ie ne l'ay pas tuée: qui donc, luy fis ie, est-ce le ieune Hiroquois? Nenny, me répond-il, car il est party de grand matin: c'est donc mon hoste, ou le Sorcier son mary; car elle parloit encor quand ie suis sorty ce matin de la cabane, il baissa la teste, m'aduoüãt tacitement que l'vn des deux l'auoit mise à mort: vn vieillard m'a ceneãtmoins dit depuis, qu'elle mourut de sa mort naturelle vn peu apres que ie fus party, ie m'en rapporte à ce qui en est, quoy que s'en soit ayant refusé de recognoistre le Fils de Dieu pour son Pasteur pendant sa vie, il n'est que trop probable qu'il ne l'a pas recogneuë pour vne de ses oüailles, après sa mort.

On the 28th of the same month, we broke camp for the third time. It
was snowing hard; but, with necessity urging us on, the bad weather
could not stop us. I was surprised, in this third halt, not to
see them bring the invalid; but I did not dare ask what [257] had
become of her, for they do not want any one to mention the dead. In
the evening, I went to the Renegade, and asked him in French where
this poor woman was,--if he had not killed her, seeing her about
to die, as he had once before killed with blows from a club a poor
girl who was on the point of death, which he himself had related
to our French. "No," said he, "I have not killed her." "Who has
then," said I, "is it the young Hiroquois?" "No, no," he answered,
"for he went away very early this morning." "It is then my host,
or the Sorcerer her husband, for she was still able to talk when I
left the cabin this morning." He bowed his head, admitting tacitly
that one of them had put her to death. But, since then, an old man
has told me that she died a natural death a little while after I
departed. I am unable to say which is correct; but, at all events,
as she refused to recognize the son of God as her Shepherd during
her life, it is no more than probable that he refused to recognize
her as one of his flock after death.

I'ay remarqué iusques icy de trois sortes de medecines naturelles parmy les [258] Sauuages, l'vne c'est leur suërie, dont i'ay parlé cy-dessus, l'autre consiste à se taillader legerement la partie du corps qui leur fait mal, la mettant toute en sang qu'ils font sortir de ces decoupeures en assez grande abondance, ils se seruirent vne fois de mon canif pour taillader la teste d'vn enfant de dix iours. La troisiesme de ces medecines est composée de racleure d'écorces interieures de bouleau, du moins cet arbre me sembloit tel, ils font boüillir ces racleures dans de l'eau, qu'ils boiuent par apres pour se faire vomir, ils m'ont souuent voulu donner ceste potion pendant que i'estois malade, mais ie ne la iugeois pas à mon vsage.

Up to the present I have observed three kinds of natural medicines
among the [258] Savages. One of these is their sweat-box, of which
I have spoken above; the second consists in making a slight gash
in the part of the body where the pain is, covering it with blood
which they make issue from these cuts quite abundantly. They once
made use of my penknife to cut the head of a child ten days old.
The third of these medicines is composed of the scrapings of the
inside bark of the birch, at least it seems to be this tree. They
boil these scrapings in water, which they afterwards drink to make
them vomit. They often wanted me to drink this potion when I was
sick, but I did not think it would agree with me.

Le iour de sainct François Xauier, nostre pretendu Magicien ayant sur le soir battu son tambour, & bien hurlé à l'ordinaire, car il ne manquoit point de nous donner ceste aubade toutes les nuits à nostre premier sommeil, voyant que tout le monde estoit endormy, & cognoissant que ce pauure homme faisoit ce tintamare pour sa guarison. I'entray en discours auec luy, ie commençay par vn témoignage de grand amour [259] en son endroit, & par des loüanges que ie luy iettay comme vne amorce pour le prendre dans les filets de la verité. Ie luy fis entendre que si vn esprit capable des choses grandes comme le sien cognoissoit Dieu, que tous les Sauuages induis par son exemple le voudroient aussi cognoistre, aussi tost il prit l'essor, & se mit à declarer la puissance, l'authorité & le credit qu'il a sur l'esprit de ses compatriotes, il dit que dés sa ieunesse les Sauuages luy donnerent le nom de _Khimouchouminau_, c'est à dire nostre ayeul & nostre maistre, que tout passe par ses aduis, & que chacun suit ses conseils, ie l'aydois à se loüer le mieux que ie pouuois: car il est vray qu'il a de belles parties pour vn Sauuage: enfin ie luy dis que ie m'estonnois qu'vn homme de iugement ne peut recognoistre le peu de rapport qu'il y a entre ce tintamare & la santé. Quand tu as bien crié & bien battu ton tambour, que fait ce bruit sinon de t'estourdir la teste, pas vn Sauuage n'est malade, qu'on ne luy batte les oreilles de ce tambour, afin qu'il ne meure point, en as-tu veu de dispensez de la mort; ie te veux faire [260] vne proposition: Escoute moy patiemment, luy dis-ie, bas ton tambour dix iours durant, chante & faits chanter les autres tant que tu voudras, fais tout ce qui sera en ton possible pour recouurer ta santé, si tu n'en guary dans ce temps-là, confesse que ton tintamare, que tes hurlemens, & que tes chansons ne te sçauroient remettre en santé, abstiens toy dix autres iours de toutes ces superstitions, quitte ton tambour, & tous ces bruits dereglez, demande au Dieu que i'adore, qu'il te donne sa cognoissance, pense & crois que ton ame doit passer à vne autre vie que celle-cy, efforce toy d'aymer son bien cõme tu ayme le bien de ton corps, & quand tu auras passé ces dix autres derniers iours en ceste façon, ie me retireray trois iours durant en oraison dans vne petite cabane qu'on fera plus auant dans le bois, là ie prieray mon Dieu qu'il te donne la santé du corps & de l'ame, toy seul me viendras voir au temps que ie diray, & tu feras de tout ton cœur les prieres que ie t'enseigneray; promettant à Dieu que s'il luy plaist de te rendre la santé, tu appelleras tous les Sauuages de ce lieu, & en [261] leur presence tu brusleras ton tambour, & toutes les autres badineries dont tu te sers pour les amasser, que tu leur diras que le Dieu des Chrestiens est le vray Dieu, qu'ils croyẽt en luy, & qu'ils luy obeïssent, si tu promets cecy veritablement & de cœur, i'espere que tu seras deliuré de ta maladie, car mon Dieu est tout puissant.

On the day of saint François Xavier, our pretended Magician began
in the evening to beat his drum and to utter his howls as usual;
for he did not fail to give us this entertainment every night at
our first sleep. I saw that every one was asleep, and, knowing that
this poor man made all this racket in order to cure himself, I
entered into conversation with him. I began by expressing a great
deal of affection [259] for him, and by heaping praises upon him,
as bait to draw him into the nets of truth. I made him understand
that if a mind as capable of great things as his was, should know
God, that all the Savages, influenced by his example, would like to
know him also. He immediately began to soar, and to talk about the
power, the authority, and the influence he had over the minds of
his fellow-savages. He said that since his youth they had given him
the name, _Khimouchouminau_, meaning, "our sire and our master;"
that everything was done according to his opinion, and that they
all followed his advice. I helped in this self-praise as well
as I could, for he has indeed some good qualities for a Savage. I
finally told him that I was surprised that a man of judgment could
not realize that there was little connection between this uproar
and health. "When thou hast screamed and beaten thy drum with all
thy might, what good does it do except to make thy head dizzy? No
Savage is sick, whose ears they do not deafen with this drum, to
keep him from dying; yet hast thou ever seen it dispel death? I am
going to make a proposal [260] to thee, listen to me patiently,"
I said to him. "Beat thy drum for ten days, sing and make all the
others sing as much as thou wilt, do all thou canst to recover thy
health, and if thou art not cured in that time confess that thy
din, howls and songs cannot restore thee to health. Now abstain
ten more days from all these superstitions; give up thy drum, and
all these wild noises; ask of the God whom I adore that he give
thee knowledge of himself; reflect, and believe that thy soul must
pass to a life other than this; endeavor to interest thyself in
its welfare as thou dost in the welfare of thy body; and when thou
shalt have passed these last ten days in this way, I will withdraw
for three days to pray in a little cabin that shall be made farther
back in the woods. There I will pray my God to give thee health of
body and of soul; thou alone shalt come to see me at the time I
shall indicate, and thou shalt say with all thy heart the prayers I
will teach thee--promising God that, if it pleases him to restore
thee thy health, thou wilt call together all the Savages of the
place, and in [261] their presence thou wilt burn thy drum and
all the other silly stuff that thou usest to bring them together,
saying to them that the God of the Christians is the true God,
that they must believe in him and obey him. If thou promise this
truthfully and from thy heart, I hope that thou wilt be delivered
from thy disease, for my God is all-powerful."

Or comme cét homme est tres desireux de recouurer sa santé, il ouurit les oreilles, & me dit, ton discours est fort bon, i'accepte les conditions que tu me donne; mais commence le premier, retire toy en oraison, & dis à ton Dieu qu'il me guarisse, car c'est par là qu'il faut commencer, & puis ie feray tout ce que tu m'as prescrit: ie ne cõmenceray point, luy reparty-ie, car si tu estois guary, pendant que ie prierois tu attribuerois ta santé à ton tambour, que tu n'aurois pas quitté; & non pas au Dieu que i'adore, lequel seul te peut guarir; non, me dit-il, ie ne croiray pas que cela vienne de mon tambour, i'ay chanté & fait tout ce que ie sçauois, & n'ay peu sauuer la vie à pas vn; moy-mesme estãt malade ie fais ioüer pour me guarir tous [262] les ressorts de mon art, & me voila plus mal que iamais; i'ay employé toutes mes inuentions pour sauuer la vie à mes enfans, notamment au dernier qui est mort depuis peu, & pour conseruer ma femme qui vient de trespasser, tout cela ne m'a point reüssi, & partant si tu me guaris, ie n'attribueray point ma santé à mon tambour, ny à mes chansons. Ie luy répondis que ie ne pouuois pas le guarir; mais que mon Dieu pouuoit tout, qu'au reste il ne falloit point faire de marché auec luy, ny luy prescrire des conditions comme il faisoit, disant qu'il me guarisse premierement, & puis ie croiray en luy: dispose toy, luy fis ie, de ton costé, & sa bonté ne te manquera pas, que s'il ne te donne la santé du corps, il te donnera la santé de l'ame qui est incomparablement plus à priser. Ne me parle point de l'ame, me repart-il, c'est de quoy ie ne me soucie pas: voila (me monstrant sa chair) ce que i'ayme, c'est le corps que ie cheris, pour l'ame ie ne la voy point, en arriue ce qui pourra. As tu de l'esprit, luy fis-ie? tu parle comme les bestes, les chiens n'ayment que les corps; celuy qui a fait le Soleil [263] pour t'éclairer, n'a-il rien preparé de plus grand à ton ame, qu'à l'ame d'vn chien? Si tu n'ayme que ton corps tu perdras le corps & l'ame, si vne beste pouuoit parler elle ne parleroit que de son corps & de sa chair, n'as-tu rien par dessus les bestes qui sont faites pour te seruir? n'ayme-tu que la chair & le sang? ton ame est-elle l'ame d'vn chien que tu la traite auec vn tel mépris? peut estre que tu dis vray, me répond-il, & qu'il y a quelque chose de bon en l'autre vie: mais nous autres en ce pays-cy n'en sçauons rien, que si tu me rends la santé ie feray ce que tu voudras. Ce pauure miserable ne peut iamais releuer sa pensée plus haut que la terre: ne voyant donc aucune disposition en cét esprit superbe, qui croyoit pouuoir obliger Dieu, s'il croyoit en luy, ie le quittay pour lors, & me retiray pour reposer, car il estoit bien auant dans la nuit.

Now as this man is very desirous of recovering his health, he
opened his ears, and said to me, "Thy discourse is very good, I
accept the conditions that thou givest; but thou begin first, go
away and pray, and tell thy God to cure me, for with that we must
begin; then I will do all that thou hast prescribed for me." "I
shall not begin it," I replied to him, "for if thou get back thy
health while I would be praying, thou wouldst be attributing thy
recovery to thy drum, which thou wouldst not have given up, and
not to the God whom I adore, who alone can cure thee." "No," he
replied, "I shall not think it has come from my drum; I have sung
and have done all I could, yet I have not been able to save the
life of one man; I myself am sick, and to cure myself have made
use of all [262] the resources of my art; and behold I am worse
than ever. I have used all my inventions to save the lives of my
children, especially of the last one who died only a short time
ago, and to save my wife, who has just passed away, yet all this
has not succeeded; so if thou curest me I shall not attribute my
health to my drum nor to my songs." I answered him that I could
not cure him, but that my God could do all, and besides we must
not make bargains with him, nor prescribe to him the conditions
upon which he was to act, saying, "Let him cure me first, and then
I will believe in him." "Prepare thyself," I continued, "on thy
part, and his goodness will not fail thee; for, if he does not
give thee health of the body, he will give thee health of the soul,
which is of incomparably higher value." "Do not speak to me about
the soul," he replied, "that is something that I give myself no
anxiety about; it is this (showing his flesh) that I love, it is
the body I cherish; as to the soul, I do not see it, let happen
to it what will." "Hast thou any reason?" I asked, "thou speakest
like a brute, dogs love only their bodies; he who has made the Sun
[263] to shine upon thee, has he not prepared something better for
thy soul than for the soul of a dog? If thou lovest only the body,
thou wilt lose both thy body and thy soul. If a brute could talk,
it would talk about nothing but its body and its flesh; hast thou
nothing above the brute, which is made to serve thee? Dost thou
love only flesh and blood? Thy soul, is it only the soul of a dog,
that thou dost treat it with such contempt?" "Perhaps thou sayest
truly," he replied, "and there is something good in the other
life; but we here in this country know nothing about it. If thou
restorest my health, I will do what thou wishest." This poor wretch
is never able to raise his thoughts above earth. Seeing then no
inclination in this haughty spirit, who thought he was obliging God
by believing in him, I gave him up for the time being, and retired
to rest, for it was well along into the night.

Le 3. de Decembre nous cõmençasmes nostre quatriesme station, ayans délogé sans trompette, mais non pas sans tambour: car le Sorcier n'oublioit iamais le sien, nous plantasmes nostre camp proche d'vn fleuue large & rapide, [264] mais peu profond, ils le nomment _Ca pititetchiouetz_, il se va dégorger dans le grand fleuue de sainct Laurens, quasi vis à vis de Tadoussac, nos Sauuages n'ayans point icy de viandes pour faire des festins, ils faisoient des banquets de fumée, s'inuitans les vns les autres, dans leurs cabanes, & faisans la ronde à vn petit plat de terre remply de Tabac, chacun en prenoit vne cornetée qu'il reduisoit en fumée, remettant la main au plat s'il vouloit petuner dauantage: l'affection qu'ils portent à ceste herbe est au delà de toute créance, ils s'endormẽt le cabanet en la bouche, ils se leuent par fois la nuit pour petuner, ils s'arrestent souuent en chemin pour le mesme sujet, c'est la premiere action qu'ils font rentrant dans leurs cabanes: ie leur ay battu le fusil pour les faire petuner en ramants dans vn canot, ie leur ay veu souuent manger le baston de leur calumet, n'ayans plus de petun, ie leur ay veu racler & pulueriser vn calumet de bois pour petuner, disons auec compassion qu'ils passent leur vie dans la fumée, & qu'ils tombent à la mort dans le feu.

On the 3rd of December we began our fourth station, having broken
camp without trumpets, but not without drums, for the Sorcerer
never forgot his. We pitched our camp near a broad and rapid, [264]
but rather shallow river, which they called _Ca pititetchiouetz_;
it flows into the great river saint Lawrence, almost opposite
Tadoussac. Our Savages, having no food for a feast here, made a
banquet of smoke; each inviting the others to his cabin, they
passed around a little earthen plate containing Tobacco, and every
one took a pipeful, which he reduced to smoke, returning his hand
to the dish if he wanted to smoke any more. The fondness they have
for this herb is beyond all belief. They go to sleep with their
reed pipes in their mouths, they sometimes get up in the night to
smoke; they often stop in their journeys for the same purpose, and
it is the first thing they do when they reënter their cabins. I
have lighted tinder, so as to allow them to smoke while paddling a
canoe; I have often seen them gnaw the stems of their pipes when
they had no more tobacco, I have seen them scrape and pulverize a
wooden pipe to smoke it. Let us say with compassion that they pass
their lives in smoke, and at death fall into the fire.

[265] I'auois porté du petun auec moy, non pour mõ vsage, car ie n'en prends point, i'en donnay largement selon que i'en auois à plusieurs Sauuages; m'en reseruant vne partie pour tirer de l'Apostat quelque mot de sa langue; car il ne m'eust pas dit vne parole qu'en le payãt de ceste monnoye, quand nos gens eurent consommé ce que ie leur auois donné, & ce qu'ils auoient en leur particulier, ie n'auois plus de paix, le Sorcier me pressoit auec vne importunité si audacieuse, que ie ne le pouuois souffrir, tous les autres sembloient me vouloir manger, quand ie leur en refusois: i'auois beau leur dire qu'ils n'auoient point de consideration, que ie leur en auois plus donné trois fois que ie ne m'estois reserué; vous voyez, leur disois-ie, que i'ayme vostre langue, & qu'il faut que ie l'achepte auec cét argent, que s'il me manque on ne m'enseignera pas vn mot, vous voyez que s'il me faut vn verre d'eau, il faut que i'en aille chercher bien loing, ou que ie dõne vn bout de petun à vn enfant pour m'en aller querir; vous me dites que le petun rassasie, si la famine qui nous presse cõtinuë, i'en [266] veux faire l'experience, laissez moy ce peu que i'ay de reserue, il me fut impossible de resister à leur importunité, il fallut tirer iusques au bout, ce ne fut pas sans estonnement de voir des personnes si passionnées pour de la fumée.

[265] I brought some tobacco with me, but not for myself, as I
do not use it. I have given liberally, according to my store,
to several Savages, saving some to draw from the Apostate a few
words of his language, for he would not say a word if I did not
pay him with this money. When our people had consumed what I had
given them, and what they had of their own, I had no more peace.
The Sorcerer was so annoying in his demands for it, that I could
not endure him; and all the others acted as if they wanted to
eat me, when I refused them. In vain I told them that they had
no consideration, that I had given them more than three times as
much as I had reserved for myself. "You see," I said to them,
"that I love your language and that I must buy it with this money,
for if it is lacking no one will teach me a word; you see if I
have to have a glass of water, I must go a long way to get it,
or I must give a bit of tobacco to a child to get it for me; you
tell me that tobacco satisfies hunger; if the famine which now
presses us continues, I wish [266] to experiment with it, so leave
me the little I have in reserve." It was impossible to resist
their teasing, and I had to draw out the last bit, not without
astonishment at seeing people so passionately fond of smoke.

Le sixiesme du mesme mois, nous délogeasmes pour la cinquiesme fois, il m'arriua vne disgrace au départ, au lieu de prẽdre le vray chemin, ie me iettay dans vn autre que nos chasseurs auoient fort battu, ie vay donc fort loing sans prendre garde que ie me perdois, ayant fait une longue traitte, ie m'apperceu que mon chemin se diuisoit en cinq ou six autres, qui tiroient qui deçà, qui delà, me voila demeuré tout court, il y auoit vn petit enfant qui m'auoit suiuy, ie ne l'osois quitter, car auss[i]-tost il se mettoit à pleurer, i'enfilay tantost l'vn, tantost l'autre de ces sentiers, & voyant qu'ils tournoient çà & là, & qu'ils n'estoient marquez que d'vne sorte de raquette, ie concluds que ces chemins ne conduisoient point au lieu où mes Sauuages alloient cabaner, ie ne sçauois que faire du petit garçon: car s'estant apperceu de nostre erreur il ne m'osoit [267] perdre de veuë sans se pasmer; d'ailleurs n'ayant qu'enuiron six ans il ne me pouuoit pas suiure, car ie doublois mes pas: ie m'aduisay de luy laisser mon manteau pour marque que ie retournerois, si ie trouuois nostre vray chemin, luy faisant signe qu'il m'attendist, car nous ne nous attendions pas l'vn l'autre: ie iettay donc mon manteau sur la neige, & m'en reuay sur mes brisées criant de temps en temps pour me faire entendre de nos gens, si tant est que le bon chemin ne fust pas loing de moy; ie crie, i'appelle dans ces grands bois, personne ne répond, tout est dans vn profond silence, les arbres mesme ne faisoient aucun bruit, car il ne faisoit point de vent: le froid estoit si violent que ie m'attendois infailliblemẽt de mourir la nuit au cas qu'il me la fallust passer sur la neige, n'ayant ny hache ny fusil pour faire du feu; ie vay, ie viens, ie tourne de tous costez, ie ne trouue rien qui ne m'égare dauantage: la derniere chose que l'homme quitte c'est l'esperance, ie la tenois tousiours par vn petit bout, me figurant à toute heure que i'allois trouuer mon chemin; mais enfin apres [268] auoir bien tourné, voyant que les creatures ne me pouuoient donner aucun secours, ie m'arrestay pour presẽter mes petites prieres au Createur dont ie voyois ces grands bois tout remplis aussi bien que le reste du monde: il me vint vne pensée que ie n'estois pas perdu, puis que Dieu sçauoit bien où i'estois, & ruminant ceste verité en mon esprit, ie tire doucement vers le fleuue que i'auois trauersé au sortir de la cabane, ie crie, i'appelle de rechef, tout le monde estoit desia bien loing; ie commençois desia à laisser cheoir de mes mains le petit filet de l'esperance que i'auois tenu iusques alors, quand i'aduisay quelques vestiges de raquette derriere des broussailles, ie m'y transporte, _& vidi vestigia virorum, & mulierum & infantium_, en vn mot ie trouue ce que i'auois cherché fort long-temps, au commencement ie n'estois pas asseuré que c'estoit là vn bon chemin, voila pourquoy ie me diligentay de le recognoistre: estant desia bien auancé ie trouue l'Apostat qui nous venoit chercher, il me demanda où estoit ce petit enfant, ie luy repars que ie l'auois laissé [269] aupres de mon manteau: i'ay, me dit-il, trouué vostre manteau & l'ay reporté à la nouuelle cabane; mais ie n'ay point veu l'enfant: me voila bien estonné, de l'aller chercher, c'estoit me perdre vne autre fois; ie prie l'Apostat d'y aller, il fit la sourde oreille, ie tire droit à la cabane pour en donner aduis, où enfin i'arriuay tout brisé & tout moulu pour la difficulté & pour la longueur des chemins que i'auois fait sans trouuer hostellerie que des ruisseaux glacez: si tost que les Sauuages me virent ils me demandent où estoit le petit garçon, crians que ie l'auois perdu, ie leur raconte l'histoire, les asseurants que ie luy auois laissé tout exprez mon manteau pour l'aller retrouuer, mais ayant quitté ce lieu là, ie ne sçauois où l'aller chercher, veu mesmement que ie n'en pouuois plus, n'ayant point mangé depuis le grand matin, & deux ou trois bouchées de boucan tant seulement, on me donna pour reconfort vn peu d'eau glacée, que ie fis chauffer dans vn chaudron fort sale, ce fut tout mon souper: car nos chasseurs n'ayans rien pris il fallut ieusner ce iour là. [270] Pour l'enfant, deux femmes m'ayans ouy depeindre l'endroit où ie l'auois laissé, coniecturant où il auoit tiré, l'allerent chercher, & le trouuerent. Il ne faut pas s'estonner si vn François se perd quelquesfois dans ces forests, i'ay veu de nos plus habiles Sauuages s'y esgarer plus d'vn iour entier.

On the sixth of the same month we broke camp for the fifth time.
I had a mishap at our departure, for, instead of taking the right
road, I started upon another that had been well beaten down by our
hunters, and so I went some distance without perceiving that I was
lost. After a long stage, I observed that the way divided into five
or six others, which led in several directions. So I was brought
to a standstill. There was a little child who had followed me, and
whom I did not dare to leave, for it would at once begin to cry. I
followed first one and then another of these paths; and seeing that
they wound here and there, and that they were marked by only one
kind of snowshoe, I concluded that these ways did not lead to the
place where my Savages were going to encamp. I did not know what to
do with the little boy; for, having found out our mistake, he did
not dare [267] lose me out of his sight without going into spasms;
and besides, as he was only about six years old, he could not keep
up with me as I increased my speed. I decided to leave him my
cloak, to show that I intended to return, if I found the right way,
making him a sign that he should wait, for we did not understand
each other. So I threw my cloak upon the snow, and retraced my
steps, crying out from time to time to make myself heard by our
people, in case the right road was not far away from me. I shout
and halloo in these great forests, but no one answers; the silence
is profound, for even the trees do not rustle, as there is no
wind. The cold was so severe that I was sure I would die during
the night, if I had to pass it upon the snow, having neither axe
nor tinder with which to make a fire. I go, I come, I turn on all
sides; but I find nothing which does not confuse me still more. The
last thing that a man abandons is hope; I continued to hold on to
it by the little end, imagining every moment that I was going to
find my way; but at last, after [268] many windings, seeing that
human beings could give me no help, I stopped in order to offer my
little prayers to the Creator, with whom I saw these great woods
all filled as well as the rest of the world. The thought came into
my mind that I was not lost, since God knew where I was; and,
turning over this truth in my mind, I slowly approached the river
I had crossed on leaving the cabin. I cried out, I called again,
but everybody was already far away. I was beginning to loosen my
hold upon the little thread of hope that I had held up to that
time, when I perceived some snowshoe tracks behind the brushwood.
I betook myself thither, _et vidi vestigia virorum, et mulierum et
infantium_. In a word, I found what I had so long been seeking. At
first I was not sure this was a good road, hence I reconnoitred
it very carefully. When I had advanced some distance, I met the
Apostate, who was coming in search of us. He asked me where the
little child was; and I replied that I had left it [269] near my
cloak. "I have found your cloak," he said, "and have carried it to
the new cabin; but I have not found the child." This was a great
shock to me; to go in search of it would be to lose myself a second
time. I prayed the Apostate to go, but he turned a deaf ear to my
entreaties. I started directly for the cabin, to advise them of
the matter, and finally reached it, sore all over and bruised from
the hardships and length of the journey, which I had made without
finding other hostelry than the frozen brooks. As soon as the
Savages saw me, they asked where the little boy was, crying out
that I had lost him. I told them the story, assuring them that I
had left my cloak with him purposely, that I might go back and find
him; but, as he had left that place, I did not know where to look
for him, especially as I had no more strength left, having eaten
nothing since early morning, and then only two or three mouthfuls
of smoked meat. They comforted me with a little frozen water, which
I melted in a very dirty kettle, and this was all the supper I had;
for our hunters had not taken anything, so we had to fast that
day. [270] As to the child, two women having heard me describe the
place where I had left it, guessing where it had wandered, went in
search of and found it. You must not be astonished if a Frenchman
sometimes loses himself in these forests; for I have known some of
our cleverest Savages to wander about in them more than a whole day.

Le 20. de Decembre, quoy que les Sauuages ne se mettent pas ordinairement en chemin pendant le mauuais temps si fallut-il decabanner durant la pluye, & desloger à petit bruit sans desieuner, la fin [faim] nous faisoit marcher, mais le mal est, qu'elle nous suiuoit par tout où nous allions; car nous ne trouuions par tout, ou fort peu, ou point de chasse: En ceste station, qui fut la sixiesme, le Renegat me vint dire que les Sauuages estoient fort espouuantez, & mon hoste m'abordant tout pensif, me demanda si ie ne sçauois point quelque remede à leur mal-heur, il n'y a pas, me disoit-il, assez de neige pour tuer l'Orignac, des Castors, & des Porcs-espics, nous n'en trouuõs quasi point, que ferons nous? ne sçais tu point ce qui nous doit arriuer? ne sens tu point dans toy-mesme ce qu'il [271] faut faire? Ie luy voulus dire que nostre Dieu estoit tres-bon, & tres-puissant, qu'il falloit que nous eussions recours à sa misericorde, mais cõme ie ne parlois pas bien, ie priay l'Apostat de me seruir de truchement; ce miserable est possedé d'vn diable muet, iamais il ne voulut parler.

On the 20th of December, although the Savages do not usually
take the road in bad weather, yet we had to break up during the
storm, and move away quietly without any breakfast, for hunger
drove us onward; the trouble is it followed us everywhere we went,
for we found no game anywhere, or at least very little of it. At
this station, which was the sixth, the Renegade came to tell me
that the Savages were greatly terrified; and my host, addressing
me seriously, asked if I did not know some remedy for their
misfortune. "There is not," said he, "enough snow to kill Moose,
Beavers, and Porcupines; we find almost no game; what shall we do?
Dost thou not know what may happen to us? Dost thou not see within
thyself what [271] ought to be done?" I wanted to tell him that our
God was very good and very powerful, and we ought to have recourse
to his mercy; but as I did not speak well, I begged the Apostate to
be my interpreter, but this wretch is possessed of a mute devil, he
never wants to talk.

Le 24. Decembre, veille de la naissance de nostre Sauueur, nous decampasmes pour la septiesme fois, nous partismes sans manger, nous cheminasmes vn assez long temps; nous trauaillasmes à faire nostre maison, & pour nostre souper N. S. nous donna vn Porc-espic gros comme vn cochon de lait, & vn liéure, c'estoit peu pour dix-huict ou vingt personnes que nous estions, il est vray, mais la saincte Vierge & son glorieux Espoux sainct Ioseph, ne furent pas si bien traictez à mesme iour dans l'estable de Bethleem.

On the 24th of December, the evening before the birth of our
Savior, we broke up for the seventh time. We departed without
eating, and journeyed for a long, long time, then worked at
house-building; and for our supper Our Lord gave us a Porcupine
as large as a sucking pig, and a hare. It was not much for our
eighteen or twenty people, it is true; but the holy Virgin and her
glorious Spouse, saint Joseph, were not so well treated on the same
day in the stable at Bethle[h]em.

Le lendemain iour de resiouyssance parmy les Chrestiens, pour l'enfant nouueau né, fust pour nous vn iour de ieusne, on ne me donna rien du tout à manger; la faim qui fait sortir le loup du bois, m'y fit entrer plus auant, pour chercher [272] des petits bouts d'arbres que ie mãgeois auec delices, des femmes ayant ietté aux chiens par mesgarde ou autrement, quelques rongneures de peaux dont on fait les cordes des raquettes, ie les ramassay, & en fis vn bon disner, quoy que les chiens mesmes, quand ils auoient tant soit peu à manger, n'en voulussent pas gouster: I'ay souuent mangé, notamment ce mois cy, des raclures d'escorces, des rongneures de peaux, & autres choses semblables, & cependant ie ne m'en suis point trouué mal.

The next day, a day of rejoicing among Christians on account of the
newborn child, was for us a day of fasting. I was given nothing at
all to eat. Hunger, which makes the wolf come out of the woods,
made me go farther in to seek [272] the little ends of the trees,
which I ate with delight. Some women, having thrown to the dogs,
either unintentionally or otherwise, some bits of hide from which
they make the strings for their snowshoes, I gathered them up and
made a good dinner of them; although the dogs themselves, when they
have ever so little else to eat, will not touch them. I have often
eaten, especially during that month, scrapings of bark, bits of
leather, and similar things, and yet they have never made me ill.

Le mesme iour de Noël ie m'en allay sur le soir visiter nos voisins, nous n'estions plus que deux cabanes, celle du Sauuage Ekhenneabamate auoit tiré d'vn autre costé depuis cinq ou six iours, à raison qu'il n'y auoit pas assez de chasse pour nourrir tout le monde, ie trouuay deux ieunes chasseurs tout tristes, pour n'auoir rien pris ce iour là, ny le precedent, ils estoient comme tous les autres maigres & defaits, taciturnes & fort pensifs, comme gens qui ne pouuoient mourir qu'à regret, cela me toucha le cœur, apres leur auoir dit quelque parole de consolation, & donné quelque [273] esperance de chose meilleure, ie me retiray en ma cabane pour prier Dieu, l'Apostat me demãda quel iour il estoit? il est auiourd'huy la feste de Noël, luy respondis-je; Il fut vn peu touché, & se tournant vers le Sorcier, il luy dit, qu'à tel iour estoit né le Fils de Dieu que nous adorions nommé IESVS: Remarquant en luy quelque estonnement, ie luy dis que Dieu vsoit ordinairement de largesse en ces bons iours, & que si nous auions recours à luy qu'il nous assisteroit infailliblement; à cela point de parole, mais aussi point de contrarieté: prenant donc l'occasion au poil, ie le priay de me tourner en sa langue deux petites Oraisons, dont i'en dirois l'vne, & les Sauuages l'autre. Esperant que nous serions secourus, l'extremité où nous estions reduits luy fit accorder que de bond, que de volée ce que ie demandois. Ie composay sur l'heure deux petites prieres, qu'il me tourna en Sauuage, me promettant en outre qu'il me seruiroit d'interprete si i'assemblois les Sauuages, me voila fort content. Ie recommande l'affaire à N.S. & le lendemain matin ie dresse vn petit Oratoire, ie pends aux [274] perches de la cabane vne seruiette que i'auois portée, sur laquelle i'attachay vn petit Crucifix & vn Reliquaire, que deux personnes fort Religieuses m'ont enuoyé: ie tire encore quelque Image de mon Breuiaire, cela fait ie fais appeller tous les Sauuages de nos deux cabanes, & ie leur fais entendre tant par mon begayemẽt, que par la bouche d'vn Renegat, que la crainte de mourir de faim faisoit parler, qu'il ne tiendroit qu'à eux qu'ils ne fussent secourus, ie leur dis que nostre Dieu est la bonté mesme, que rien ne luy estoit impossible, qu'encore bien qu'on l'eust mesprisé, que si neantmoins on croyoit, & si on esperoit en luy d'vn bon cœur, qu'il se monstreroit fauorable: Or comme ces pauures gens n'auoient plus d'esperance en leurs arcs, ny en leurs flesches, ils me tesmoignerẽt vn grand contentement de ce que ie les auois assemblez, m'asseurant qu'ils feroient tout ce que ie leur commanderois; ie prens mon papier & leurs lis l'Oraison que ie desirois qu'ils fissent, leur demandant s'ils estoient contens d'addresser au Dieu que i'adorois ces paroles de tout leur cœur, & sans feintise; ils me [275] respondent tous _nimiroueritenan, nimiroueritenan_, nous en sommes cõtens, nous en sõmes contens. Ie me mets le premier à genoux, & eux tous auec moy, iettans les yeux sur nostre petit Oratoire, le seul Sorcier demeuroit assis, mais luy ayant demandé s'il n'en vouloit pas estre aussi bien que les autres, il fit comme il me voyoit faire, nous estions testes nuës, ioignans tous les mains & les esleuans vers le Ciel, ie commençay donc à faire ceste Oraison tout haut en leur langue.

In the evening of this same Christmas day I went to visit
our neighbors. We were now only two cabins, as the Savage
Ekhenneabamate had gone off in another direction five or six days
before, because there had not been enough game for all of us. I
found there two young hunters, in deep distress at not having
captured anything that day, nor the one before. They were like all
the others, wasted and thin, silent and very sad, like people who
parted with life regretfully. It made my heart bleed to see them.
After having said a few words of consolation, and cheered them
with the [273] hope of better things, I withdrew into my cabin to
pray to God. The Apostate asked me what day it was. "To-day is the
Christmas festival," I answered him. He was slightly touched, and,
turning toward the Sorcerer, said that on this day was born the
son of God, called JESUS, whom we adored. Observing that he showed
some wonder, I told him that God was generally very bountiful
on these days; and, if we had recourse to him, he would surely
help us. To this there was not a word, neither was there any
opposition. So seizing the opportunity, I begged him to translate
for me two little Prayers into his language, and I would say one of
them and the Savages the other. Hoping that we would be succored,
the extremity to which we were reduced made him grant, in pure
recklessness, what I asked. I immediately composed two little
prayers, which he turned into Savage, promising me besides that he
would serve me as interpreter if I would call the Savages together,
so I was very happy. I commended the matter to Our Lord and the
next morning I erected a little Oratory. I hung to the [274] poles
of the cabin a napkin I had brought with me; to this I attached a
small Crucifix and a Reliquary that two very Religious persons had
sent me, also I took from my Breviary one of the Pictures. When
this was done, I had all the Savages from our two cabins called,
and made them understand, partly through my stammering and partly
through the lips of the Renegade, whom the fear of dying from
hunger made speak, that it depended upon them alone whether or not
they should be relieved. I told them that our God was goodness
itself, that nothing was impossible to him; that even though a
person had despised him, yet if he believed in him and hoped in
him with a sincere heart, he would show himself favorable. Now as
these poor people had no more hope in their bows or arrows, they
showed much gladness that I had thus called them together, assuring
me they would do all I commanded them. I took my paper and read
to them the Prayer I wished them to offer, asking if they were
content to address to the God whom I adored these prayers from
their hearts, and without dissimulation. They all [275] responded,
_nimiroueritenan, nimiroueritenan_, "We are satisfied, we are
satisfied." I knelt down first and the others followed, fixing our
eyes upon our little Oratory. The Sorcerer alone remained seated;
but, when I asked him if he did not wish to be like the others, he
did as he saw me do. We were bareheaded, our hands all clasped and
raised toward Heaven; and in this attitude I began to repeat the
following Prayer aloud in their language.

Mon Seigneur qui auez tout fait, qui voyez tout, & qui cognoissez tout, faites nous misericorde. O +IESVS+, fils du Tout-puissant, qui auez pris chair humaine pour nous, qui estes né pour nous d'vne Vierge, qui estes mort pour nous, qui estes resuscité & monté au Ciel pour nous, vous auez promis que si on demandoit quelque chose en vostre nom que vous l'accorderiez: ie vous supplie de tout mon cœur de donner la nourriture à ce pauvre peuple, qui veut croire en vous, & qui vous veut obeïr, ce peuple vous promet entierement que si vous le secourez qu'il croira parfaitement en vous, & qu'il vous obeïra [276] de tout son cœur, Mon Seigneur, exaucez ma prieré, ie vous presente ma vie pour ce peuple tres content de mourir à ce qu'ils viuent, & qu'ils vous cognoissent. Ainsi soit-il.

"My Lord, you who have made all, who see all and who know all, have
pity upon us. O +JESUS+, son of the All-powerful, you who have
taken human flesh for us, who were born of a Virgin for us, who
have died for us, who were resurrected and ascended into Heaven
for us, you have promised that if anything is asked in your name,
you will grant it. I beseech you with all my heart to give food
to these poor people, who wish to believe in you and to obey you.
These people promise you faithfully that, if you will help them,
they will believe entirely in you, and that they will obey you
[276] with all their hearts. My Lord, hearken to my prayer; I offer
you my life for these people, content to die that they may live and
acknowledge you. Amen."

A ces paroles de mourir pour eux que ie proferois pour gagner leur affection, quoy qu'en effect ie le disois de bon cœur, mon hoste m'arresta & me dit; retranche ces paroles, car nous t'aymons tous, & ne desirons pas que tu meure; ie vous veux témoigner, leur repartis-ie, que ie vous ayme, & que ie donnerois volontiers ma vie pour vostre salut, tant c'est chose grande que d'estre sauué. Apres que i'eus faict ceste Oraison, chacun d'eux à mains iointes, teste nuë, & les genoux en terre, comme i'ay remarqué, profera la suiuante, que ie prononçois deuant-eux fort posément.

At these words, "to die" for them, which I used to gain their
affection, although really I said it with a sincere heart, my
host stopped me and said, "Take back those words, for we all love
thee, and do not wish thee to die for us." "I wish to show you,"
I answered, "that I love you, and that I would willingly give my
life for your salvation, so great a thing is it to be saved." After
I had offered this Prayer, all of them with hands joined, heads
bare, and knees upon the ground, as I have observed, repeated the
following, which I pronounced to them with great solemnity.

Grand Seigneur qui auez fait le ciel & la terre, vous sçauez tout, vous pouuez tout, ie vous promets de tout mon cœur (ie ne sçaurois vous mentir) ie vous promets entierement, que s'il vous plaist nous donner nostre nourriture, que ie vous obeïray cordiallement, que ie croiray asseurément en vous, ie vous [277] promets sans feintise, que ie feray tout ce qu'on me dira deuoir estre fait pour vostre amour, aydez nous, vous le pouuez faire, ie feray asseurément ce qu'on m'enseignera deuoir estre fait pour l'amour de vous, ie le promets sans feintise, ie ne ments pas, ie ne sçaurois vous mentir, aydez nous à croire en vous parfaictement, puis que vous estes mort pour nous. Ainsi soit il.