Chapter III: Preface: To Vol. VIII (2)

Vne autrefois ayant vn assez long-temps discouru sur nostre creance à vne escouade, qui s'en retournoit chercher dequoy nourrir [80] leurs femmes & leurs enfans, ie leur conseillay, au cas qu'ils ne peussent rien trouuer, de se mettre à genoux, & de s'addresser à celuy qui a fait le Ciel & la terre, de luy promettre qu'ils croiront en luy, s'il les vouloit secourir: ils me promirent qu'ils le feroient; nous leur presentasmes à cet effect vne petite Image de nostre Seigneur Iesus-Christ, & les aduertismes de la façon qu'ils la deuoient placer dans leur[s] grandes necessitez, des prieres qu'ils deuoient faire à celuy qu'elle representoit, leur donnant bonne esperãce qu'ils seroient secourus. Ie mis cette Image entre les mains d'vn nommé _Sakapouan_, dont i'ay fait mention cy-dessus. Il me promit qu'il feroit de point en point ce que nous luy auions ordonné: mais le miserable ne tint pas sa promesse; car il n'osa iamais produire ceste Image, de [81] peur d'estre gaussé de ses Compagnons, voire mesme il se rioit auec les autres de ce que nous leur auions presché. Aussi Dieu le chastia-il, car il tomba malade, & fut contraint de venir rechercher les François; nous luy redemandasmes l'Image & la rendit. Interrogé pourquoy il n'auoit point prié le Fils du Tout-puissant, Ie m'en estois allé, respond-il, auec bonne volonté de le prier, i'auois conceu vne bonne esperance, qu'il nous donneroit à manger, i'auois mesme retenu la meilleure de toutes les oraisons que tu nous as enseigné: mais estant arriué à nos cabanes, i'ay eu peur que si ie produisois l'Image, qu'on ne s'en moquast, & que celuy qui a tout fait ne se faist chast cõtre moy, & nous fist mourir. En vn mot le respect humain retiẽt ce peuple. I'eus beau luy dire, que s'il eust esté fidele dans [82] ces gausseries, s'il n'eust point adheré à ces mocqueurs, que Dieu l'auroit puissamment assisté, Il faut, dit-il, parler à nos Capitaines. Et en effet qui les auroit gaignez, il auroit tout gagné. Ie reuiens tousiours sur mes brisées, qui sçauroit parfaictement la langue pour les accabler de raisons, & pour refuter promptement leurs niaiseries, seroit bien puissant parmy eux. Le temps apportera tout, & Dieu donnant sa benediction, _Populus qui est in tenebris videbit lucem magnam_.

Another time, having talked a long time upon our belief with a
squad of them, who had returned to seek food for [80] their wives
and children, I advised them, in case they could not find anything,
to fall upon their knees and to address themselves to him who has
made Heaven and earth, to promise him they would believe in him if
he would relieve them; they promised that they would do so; we gave
them for this purpose a little Image of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
instructed them in the way in which they were to place it in the
time of their great need, and in some prayers they were to make to
him whom it represented, giving them strong hope that they would
be helped. I placed this Image in the hands of a certain one named
_Sakapouan_, of whom I have spoken above. He promised me that he
would do everything just as we had directed; but the wretch did not
keep his promise, for he never dared produce this Image, lest [81]
he should be sneered at by his Companions; yes, he even laughed
with the others about what we had preached to them. And indeed God
chastised him, for he fell sick and was obliged to come seeking the
French; we asked for the Image and he returned it. When asked why
he had not prayed to the Son of the All-powerful, "I went away," he
replied, "with the good will to pray to him; I felt a strong hope
that he would give us something to eat, I had even kept in mind the
best of all the prayers thou hast taught us; but, when I arrived
at our cabins, I was afraid that if I brought out the Image they
would make sport of me, and that he who has made all would be angry
with me, and make us die." In one word, these people are restrained
by worldly considerations. It was in vain I told him that if he
had been faithful in [82] the midst of these mockeries, if he had
not clung to these mockers, God would have given him powerful
assistance; "It is necessary," he said "to talk to our Captains."
And, in fact, one who could gain them could gain all. I am always
retracing my footsteps, in saying, that one who knew the language
perfectly, so that he could crush their reasons and promptly refute
their absurdities, would be very powerful among them. Time will
bring all things; God giving his blessing, _Populus qui est in
tenebris videbit lucem magnam_.

Or pour vuider tout cét article; ie demanday à ce Sauuage, quelle estoit ceste Oraison qu'il preferoit aux autres. Tu nous dis plusieurs choses, me fit-il, mais ceste priere m'a semblé la meilleure de toutes. _Mirinan oukachigakhi nimitchiminan_: donne nous auiourd'huy nostre nourriture: donne nous à manger; [83] voyla vne excellente Oraison, disoit-il. Ie ne m'estonne pas de ceste Philosophie; _Animalis homo, non percipit ea quæ sunt Spiritus Dei_. Qui n'a iamais esté qu'à l'escole de la chair, ne sçauroit parler le langage de l'esprit.

Now to end this whole story, I asked this Savage what this Prayer
was that he preferred to all others. "Thou hast told us many
things," he replied; "but this prayer has seemed to me the best
of all: _Mirinan oukachigakhi nimitchiminan_, 'Give us to-day our
food, give us something to eat.' [83] This is an excellent Prayer,"
he said. I am not surprised at this Philosophy; _Animalis homo,
non percipit ea quæ sunt Spiritus Dei_. He who has never been at
any school but that of the flesh, cannot speak the language of the
spirit.

Le vingt-septiesme du mesme mois de Ianuier vn Sauuage me vint apprendre vn secret bien cogneu des Algonquains, mais non pas des Montagnais; aussi n'est-il pas de ce pays-cy, ains de bien auant dans les terres. Il me dit donc, que si quelqu'vn de nos François vouloit l'accompagner, qu'il s'en iroit pescher sous la glace d'vn grand estang, placé à quelque cinq mille pas au delà de la grande Riuiere, vis-à-vis de nostre Habitation. Il y alla en effet, & rapporta quelques poissons; ce qui consola fort nos François: car ils peuuent maintenant au plus fort [84] des glaces, tendre des rets dans cét estang. I'ay veu ceste pesche: voicy comme ils s'y comportent. Ils sont à grands coups de hache vn trou assez grandelet dans la glace de l'estang; ils en font d'autres plus petits, d'espaces en espaces, & auec des perches ils passent vne fiscelle de trous en trous par dessous la glace: ceste fiscelle aussi longue que les rets qu'on veut tendre, se va arrester au dernier trou, par lequel on tire, & on estend dedans l'eau toute la rets qui luy est attachée. Voyla comme on tend les filets pour la premiere fois, quand on les veut visiter, il est fort aisé: car on les retire par la plus grande ouuerture, pour en recueillir le poisson, puis il ne faut que retirer la fiscelle pour les retendre, les perches ne seruans qu'à passer la première fois la fiscelle. Quand Dieu aura beny ces contrées d'vne peuplade de François, [85] on trouuera mille biens, & mille commoditez sur le pays, que ces Barbares ignorent.

On the twenty-seventh of the same month of January a Savage came
to acquaint me with a secret well known among the Algonquains,
but not among the Montagnais; neither is it known in this part of
the country, but farther into the interior. He told me that, if
some one of our Frenchmen would accompany him, he would go and
fish under the ice of a great pond, located some five thousand
paces beyond the great River, opposite our Settlement. One of them
did, in fact, go there, and brought back some fish, which greatly
comforted our French people, for they can now, in the thickest [84]
ice, stretch their nets in this pond. I have seen them fish in this
way; now see how they do it. With great blows of the axe they make
a tolerably large hole in the ice of the pond; then at intervals
they make other smaller ones, and by the use of poles they pass a
cord from hole to hole under the ice; this cord, which is as long
as the nets they wish to stretch, stops at the last hole, through
which it is drawn, and they spread out in the water the whole net
which is attached to it. This is the way they spread the nets the
first time. When they wish to examine them, it is very easily done,
for they draw them out through the largest opening, to collect
the fish from them; then it is only necessary to draw back the
cord to respread the nets, the poles serving only to put the cord
through the first time. When God has blessed these countries with
a colony of French, [85] there will result a thousand benefits and
a thousand conveniences for the country, of which these Barbarians
are ignorant.

Le sixiesme de Feurier la grande Riuiere fut gelée tout à fait, en sorte qu'on passoit dessus en asseurance; elle gela mesme deuant Kebec, ce qui est fort extraordinaire, à raison que les marées sont là fort violentes. Il me semble que la rigueur de l'hyuer s'est fait sentir particulièrement en ce mois cy.

On the sixth of February, the great River was completely frozen
over, so that one could walk over it in safety; it even froze
opposite Kebec, which is very extraordinary, as the tides there are
very strong. It seems to me that the severity of the winter makes
itself especially felt during this month.

Le huictiesme de Mars mourut ceste femme Sauuage nommée Anne, dont i'ay parlé au Chapitre second: cõme les douleurs de la mort approchoient, elle disoit par fois toute seule, _nitapoueten, nitapoueten_, Ie croy, ie croy, _nisadkihau, nisadkihau_. Ie l'ayme, ie l'ayme: _ouaskoucki nioui itoutan_. Ie veux aller au Ciel: & vne fois elle me dit, comme ie la quittois, après l'auoir instruite & [86] visitée en sa maladie; Tu m'as seruy de père iusques icy, continuë iusques à ma mort, qui ne tardera pas; retourne moy voir au plustost, & si tu me vois si bas, que ie ne puisse parler, souuienne toy que ie penseray tousiours à ce que tu m'as dit, & que ie croiray tousiours en mon cœur. Vn Sauuage m'ayant informé qu'elle n'estoit point de ce pays-cy, ie l'interrogeay quelques iours deuant sa mort de sa patrie: elle me dit, que ceux de sa Nation s'appelloient _ouperigoue ouaouakhi_, qu'ils habitoiẽt bien auant dans les terres plus bas que Tadoussac, de mesme costé; qu'on pouuoit par des fleuues descendre de leur pays dans la grande riuiere de sainct Laurens; que ses Compatriotes n'auoient aucun commerce auec les Europeans; c'est pourquoy, disoit-elle, ils se seruent de haches de pierres; qu'ils ont des [87] Cerfs, & des Castors en abondance, mais fort peu d'Elans; qu'ils parlent le langage Montagnais, & qu'ils ne manqueroient de venir à la traitte auec les François, n'estoit que les Sauuages de Tadoussac les veulent tuer quand ils les rencontrent. Ie ne sçay si ce ne sont point ceux que nous appellons Bersiamites, dont quelques-vns ont esté cruellement massacrez cette année à Tadoussac. Ces perfides Sauuages les accueillirent fort humainement, & quand ils les eurent en leur puissance, ils les mirent à mort traistreusement.

On the eighth of March occurred the death of the Savage woman named
Anne, of whom I have spoken in Chapter second; as the anguish of
death approached, she said at times to herself, _nitapoueten,
nitapoueten_, "I believe, I believe;" _nisadkihau, nisadkihau_, "I
love him, I love him;" _ouaskoucki nioui itoutan_, "I wish to go
to Heaven;" and once she said to me, as I was leaving her after
having instructed and [86] visited her in her sickness; "Thou hast
been a father to me up to the present; continue so until my death,
which will not be long; come back and see me very soon, and if
thou seest me so low I cannot speak, remember that I shall always
think of what thou hast said to me, and that I shall always believe
in my heart." As a Savage had informed me that she did not belong
to this region, I asked her a few days before her death about her
native country: she told me that the people of her Nation were
called _ouperigoue ouaouakhi_, that they dwelt farther back in
the interior, below Tadoussac, and on the same side; that they
could descend through the rivers from their country to the great
river saint Lawrence; that her Countrymen had no commerce with the
Europeans; "that is why," she said, "they use hatchets made of
stone;" that they have [87] Deer and Beavers in abundance, but very
few Elk; that they speak the Montagnais language, and that they
would certainly come and trade with the French, were it not that
the Savages of Tadoussac try to kill them when they encounter them.
I do not know whether these are the ones that we call Bersiamites,
some of whom have been cruelly massacred this year at Tadoussac.
These perfidious Savages received them very kindly, and, when they
had them in their power, treacherously put them to death.

Le cinquiesme d'Auril vn Sauuage Montaignais vint rapporter au Pere Buteux, que nos Peres, & nos François qui les accompagnoient auoient esté delaissez dans les bois, & liez à des arbres par les Hurons qui les menoient en leur pays, lesquels [88] s'estans trouuez mal d'vne certaine epidemie qui affligea l'Automne passé toutes ces Nations, creurent que ceste maladie leur estoit causée par les François, ce qui les auoit reduits à les traitter de la sorte, & ce sauuage asseuroit auoir appris ceste nouuelle de la bouche de quelques Bissiriniens, voisins des Hurons. Nous remismes toute ceste affaire entre les mains de N. Seigneur, qui prendra nos vies dans les temps, & dans les occasions qu'il luy plaira. Nous auiõs desia appris, comme i'escriuy l'an passé des mauuaises nouuelles du P. Anthoine Daniel qu'on nous faisoit quasi mort: mais en fin la bonté de Dieu nous a consolez; car la pluspart de ces bruits se sont trouuez faux. Il est vray que le Pere Daniel, & tous les autres, ont souffert incomparablement en leur voyage, comme V. R. pourra veoir [89] par la Relation du Pere Brebeuf.

On the fifth day of April, a Montaignais Savage came to report to
Father Buteux that our Fathers and our Frenchmen who accompanied
them had been abandoned in the woods and tied to trees, by the
Hurons who were taking them to their country,--who, [88] falling
ill with a certain epidemic which last Autumn afflicted all these
Nations, believed that this malady was caused by the French, and
it was this which made them treat the French in this way; this
savage declared that he had heard the news from the lips of some
Bissiriniens, neighbors of the Hurons. We placed the whole matter
in the hands of Our Lord, who will take our lives at the time and
in the manner that shall please him. We had already learned, as I
wrote last year, the bad news about Father Anthoine Daniel, who had
been reported to us as almost dead; but at last the goodness of God
has comforted us, for most of these reports are found to be false.
It is true that Father Daniel and all the others have endured
incomparable sufferings in their voyage, as Your Reverence can see
[89] by the Relation of Father Brebeuf.

Le quatorziesme du mesme mois, toutes les glaces estant parties, ie m'embarquay dans vn canot auec vn de nos François, & vn Algonquain, pour aller veoir ce beau lac ou estang, dont i'ay parlé cy dessus, que i'auois veu tout glacé pendant l'hyuer. En chemin ie vis la chasse du Rat musqué; cét animal a vne fort longue queuë, il y en a de gros comme des lapins: quand il[s] paroissent sur l'eau les Sauuages les suiuent dans leurs petits canots; aussi-tost ces Rats se voyant poursuiuis se plongent en l'eau, & leurs ennemis s'en vont viste, où ils preuoyent qu'ils reuiendront au dessus pour prendre haleine: bref ils les poursuiuent tant qu'ils les lassent, en sorte qu'ils sont contraints de rester quelque tẽps au dessus de l'eau, pour n'estre suffoquez: alors ils les [90] assomment auec leurs auirons, ou les tuent à coups de fleches. Quand cét animal a gaigné la terre, il se sauue ordinairement dans son trou. On l'appelle Rat musqué, pource qu'en effect vne partie de son corps prise au Printemps sent le musc, en autre temps elle n'a point d'odeur.

On the fourteenth of the same month, as the ice was completely
broken up, I embarked in a canoe with one of our Frenchmen and an
Algonquain, to go and see the beautiful lake or pond of which I
have spoken above, and which I had seen all frozen over during the
winter. On the way, I saw a Muskrat hunt. Some of these animals are
as large as rabbits; they have very long tails. When they appear
upon the water, the Savages follow them in their little canoes;
these Rats, upon seeing themselves pursued, immediately dive into
the water, their enemies hurrying quickly to the place where they
expect them to come up again to take breath; in short, they pursue
them until they are tired out, so that they must remain above the
water a little while, in order not to suffocate; then they [90]
knock them down with their paddles, or kill them with arrows. When
this animal has gained the land, it usually saves itself by hiding
in its hole. It is called Muskrat because, in fact, a part of its
body smells of musk, if caught in the Spring,--at other times, it
has no odor.

Le vingt-vniesme, ie partis des trois Riuieres pour venir à Kebec, afin de m'y trouuer, selon le desir de nos Peres, à la venuë des vaisseaux. Nous les attendions de bonne heure, ils sont venus bien tard, le mauuais temps leur a causé vne rude trauerse; nous esperions de les veoir sur la fin de May, & nous n'en auons eu nouuelle que le vingt-cinquiesme de Iuin; auquel temps arriua vn canot enuoyé de Tadoussac, qui rapporta qu'vn vaisseau estoit à l'Isle du Bic, & qu'il en venoit encore cinq ou six, auec bonne [91] deliberation de combattre tous ceux qu'ils trouueroient dans la Riuiere sans Commission.

On the twenty-first, I left three Rivers to come to Kebec, in order
to be there, according to the wish of the Fathers, at the coming of
the ships. We expected them early, but they came very late, the bad
weather having caused them to have a rough passage; we hoped to see
them towards the end of May, and we had no news of them until the
twenty-fifth of June, when a canoe arrived, sent from Tadoussac,
which reported that a ship was at the Island of Bic, and that five
or six more of them were coming, with the firm [91] determination
to attack all those they found in the River without Commissions.

Le quatriesme de Iuillet, vne chalouppe enuoyée de la part de Monsieur du Plessis Bochart, general de la flotte, resioüit tous nos Frãçois, & nous asseura de sa venuë, & qu'il estoit suiuy de huict forts nauires, six pour Tadoussac, & deux pour Mifcou, sans ce que l'on enuoyoit au Cap Breton, & coste de l'Acadie à Mr le Com. de Razilly.

On the fourth of July, a shallop sent from Monsieur du
Plessis Bochart, commandant of the fleet, gladdened all our
French,--assuring us of his coming, and that he was followed by
eight strong ships, six for Tadoussac and two for Miscou, not
including the one sent to Cape Breton and the coast of Acadia, to
Monsieur the Commandant de Razilly.

Le dixiesme vne barque montant en haut, nous apporta le Pere Pijart. A mesme temps deux de nos François descendant des Hurons, nous presenterent les lettres de nos Peres qui sont en ce pays-là; c'estoit nous réjoüyr de toutes parts. D'vn costé le Pere nous témoignoit que V. R. nous enuoyoit 4. de nos Peres, & 2. de nos Freres pour renfort, [92] & deux autres Peres pour la Residẽce de S. Charles. Qu'vne infinité de personnes cherissoient ceste Mission, & que V. R. toute pleine de cœur, nous donneroit tous les ans autant d'ouuriers Euangeliques, que la Mission en pourroit nourrir; l'ardeur de venir souffrir quelques choses en ces contrées pour la gloire de nostre Seigneur, estant quasi incroyable. D'autre costé la sãté de nos Peres dans les Hurons, où on les faisoit morts, les bonnes dispositions de ces Peuples, pour receuoir les veritez Chrestiennes; l'affection qu'ils nous portent, nous faisoit benir le sainct Nom de Dieu, & luy rendre graces de tant de benedictions, qu'il va respandant sur ceste entreprise.

On the tenth, a bark which was ascending the river brought us
Father Pijart.[8] At the same time, two of our Frenchmen, coming
down from the Hurons. presented to us the letters of our Fathers
who are in that country; so we received cheering news from all
sides. On the one hand, the Father testified to us that Your
Reverence was sending us 4 of our Fathers, and 2 of our Brothers,
as a reinforcement, [92] and two other Fathers for the Residence of
St. Charles; that a vast number of people cherished this Mission,
and that Your Reverence, in the fulness of your heart, would every
year give as many Gospel workers as the Mission could support; the
zeal to come and suffer something in these countries for the glory
of our Lord, being almost incredible. On the other hand, the good
health of our Fathers among the Hurons, where they were reported
dead, and the good disposition of those Peoples to receive the
Christian truths, and the affection they bear us, make us bless the
holy Name of God, and render him thanks for so many blessings as he
is about to pour down upon this enterprise.

Le douziesme, Monsieur le Cheualier de la Roche-Iacquelin, commandant le nauire nommé le Sainct [93] Iacques, vint moüiller l'ancre deuant Kebec. Nostre Frere Pierre Feauté l'ayant remercié de sa bienueillance, nous vint veoir en nostre petite Maison de nostre Dame des Anges. Le lendemain nostre ioye s'accreut par la venuë du Père Claude Quantin & de nostre Frere Pierre Tellier, portez dans le vaisseau du Capitaine de Nesle.

On the twelfth, Monsieur the Chevalier de la Roche-Jacquelin,
commandant of the ship called "Sainct [93] Jacques," cast anchor
before Kebec. Our Brother Pierre Feauté,[9] having thanked him for
his kindness, came to see us in our little House of nostre Dame des
Anges. The next day our joy was increased by the arrival of Father
Claude Quantin[10] and of our Brother Pierre Tellier, who were
brought in the ship of Captain de Nesle.

Le vingtiesme, Monsieur le General nous rendit le Pere le Mercier, qu'il amena dans sa barque; tous ces iours nous estoient des iours de ioye & de contentement, voyant & nos François & nos Peres en bonne santé, apres beaucoup de tourmente sur la mer.

On the twentieth, Monsieur the General conveyed to us Father
Mercier,[11] whom he had brought in his bark. All these days were
for us days of joy and contentment, seeing both our French and our
Fathers in good health after much suffering upon the sea.

Le vingt-deuxiesme de Iuillet se fit vne Assemblée ou vn Conseil entre les François & les Hurons. Le Pere Buteux qui estoit descendu de la Residence de la Conception, & moy [94] y assistasmes. Apres les affaires communes, Monsieur de Champlain nostre Gouuerneur, recommanda auec vne affection energigue nos Peres, & les François qui les accompagnoient à ces Peuples; il leur fit dire, que s'ils vouloient conseruer & accroistre l'amitié qu'ils ont auec les François, qu'il falloit qu'ils receussent nostre creance, & adorassent le Dieu que nous adorons; que cela leur seroit grandement profitable: car Dieu pouuant tout, les benira, les protegera, leur donnera la victoire contre leurs ennemis; que les François iront en bon nombre en leur Pays; qu'ils épouseront leurs filles quand elles seront Chrestiennes: qu'ils enseigneront à toute leur nation à faire des haches, des cousteaux, & autres choses qui leur sont fort necessaires, & qu'à cet effet ils deuroient dés l'an prochain [95] amener bon nombre de leurs petits garçons, que nous les logerons bien, que nous les nourrirons, & que nous les instruirons & cherirons comme s'ils estoient nos petits Freres. Et pour autant que tous les Capitaines ne pouuoient des descendre en bas, qu'ils tiendroient Conseil sur ce sujet en leur Pays, auquel ils appelloient _Echom_, c'est ainsi qu'il[s] appellent le Pere Brebeuf: & là dessus leur donnant vne lettre pour luy porter, il adiousta: Voicy que i'informe le Pere de tous ces points. Il se trouuera en vostre Assemblée, & vous fera vn present que ses Freres luy enuoyent: là vous ferez paroistre si veritablement vous aymez les François. I'auois suggeré ces pensées à Monsieur nostre gouuerneur qu'il approuua; mais encore il les amplifia auec mille loüanges & mille tesmoignages d'affectiõ enuers nostre [96] Compagnie. Monsieur le General prit aussi la parole sur ce sujet, & fit tout son possible pour donner à cognoistre à ces Peuples, l'estime que sont les grands Capitaines de France des Peres qu'on leur enuoye; & tout cela pour les disposer à recognoistre le Dieu des François, & de tout l'Vniuers. A ce discours vn Capitaine repartit, qu'ils ne manqueroient pas de rendre ceste lettre, & de tenir Conseil sur les Articles proposez. Qu'au reste que toute leur Nation aymoit tous les François, & qu'il sembloit neantmoins, que les François n'aymoient qu'vne seule de leurs Bourgades, puisque tous ceux qui montoient en leur Pays la prenoient pour leur demeure. On leur respondit, que iusques icy ils n'auoient eu qu'vn petit nombre de nos François, & que s'ils embrassoient nostre creance, qu'ils en auroient [97] en toutes leurs Bourgades.

On the twenty-second of July, there was held an Assembly or
Council between the French and the Hurons. Father Buteux, who
had come down from the Residence of the Conception, and I [94]
participated therein. After public affairs, Monsieur de Champlain,
our Governor, very affectionately recommended our Fathers, and the
French who accompanied them, to these Tribes; he told them, through
an interpreter, that if they wished to preserve and strengthen
their friendship with the French, they must receive our belief
and worship the God that we worshiped; that this would be very
profitable to them, for God, being all-powerful, will bless and
protect them, and make them victorious over their enemies; that the
French will go in goodly numbers to their Country; that they will
marry their daughters when they become Christians; that they will
teach all their people to make hatchets, knives, and other things
which are very necessary to them; and that for this purpose they
must next year [95] bring many of their little boys, whom we will
lodge comfortably, and will feed, instruct and cherish as if they
were our little Brothers. And that, inasmuch as all the Captains
could not come down there, they should hold a Council upon this
matter in their Country, to which they should summon _Echom_,--it
is thus they call Father Brebeuf;[12] and then, giving them a
letter to bear to him, he added, "Here I inform the Father of all
these points. He will be in your Assembly, and will make you a
present that his Brothers send him; there you will show whether you
truly love the French." I suggested these thoughts to Monsieur our
governor, and he approved them; but he also amplified them with a
thousand praises and a thousand proofs of affection towards our
[96] Society. Monsieur the General also said a few words upon this
subject, and did all he could to let these Peoples know the high
estimation in which the great Captains of France hold these Fathers
that they send over to them; and all this was done to dispose them
to recognize the God of the French and of the whole Universe. To
this discourse a Chief replied that they would not fail to deliver
this letter, and to hold a Council upon the Matters proposed. That,
as to the rest, their whole Nation loved all the French; and yet,
notwithstanding this, the French loved only one of their Villages,
since all those who had come up to their Country selected that as
their dwelling place. They were answered that, up to the present,
they had had only a few of our Frenchmen; and that, if they
embraced our belief, they would have some of them [97] in all their
villages.

Au sortir du Conseil nous allasmes veoir ceux qui voudroient embarquer le P. le Mercier & le Pere Pijart auec leur petit bagage, pour les porter en leur Pays: le Pere Brebeuf m'en auoit assigné quelquesvns dans ses lettres, mais plusieurs se presentoient; ils regardoient les Pères attentiuement, les mesuroient de leurs yeux, ils demandoient s'ils n'estoient point meschants, s'ils rameroient bien, ils les prenoient par les mains, & leur faisoient signe qu'il faudroit bien remuer l'auiron.

At the conclusion of the Council, we went to see those who were
to take on board Father le Mercier and Father Pijart, with their
little baggage, to convey them into their Country; Father Brebeuf
had designated certain ones to me in his letter, but several
presented themselves. They gazed attentively at the Fathers,
measured them with their eyes, asked if they were ill-natured, if
they paddled well; then took them by the hands, and made signs to
them that it would be necessary to handle the paddles well.

En fin le vingt-troisiesme du mesme mois de Iuillet nos Sauuages bien contens, embarquerent nos deux Peres, & vn ieune garçon François, qui a desia passé vne année dans le pays: iamais ie ne vy personnes plus ioyeuses que ces bons Peres, on les fit mettre pieds nuds à l'entrée [98] de leur nauire d'escorce, de peur de les gaster, ils s'y mettent gayement, portans vn œil, & vn visage tout ioyeux, dans les souffrances qu'ils vont rencontrer. Ie me represente vn S. André volant à la Croix; on les separa en trois canots; celuy qui portoit le Pere Pijart estant le premier prest tira droit au bord, c'est à dire au vaisseau de Monsieur le Cheualier, pour luy donner le dernier adieu, & le remercier encore vne fois, des courtoisies fort particulieres qu'il auoit receu de luy, passant dans son nauire depuis la France iusques à Tadoussac. Apres l'auoir salüé Monsieur le Cheualier fit ietter des pruneaux dãs son canot pour les Sauuages qui le menoient, & fit tirer trois volées de canon par honneur. Ces pauures Barbares tressailloiẽt d'aise, mettant la main sur leur bouche en signe d'estonnement.

At last, on the twenty-third of the same month of July, our
Savages, well pleased, embarked our two Fathers and a young French
boy who has already passed a year in the country. I never saw
persons more joyful than were these good Fathers; they had to go
barefooted into the [98] bark ships, for fear of spoiling them,
and they did this gayly, with glad eyes and faces, notwithstanding
the sufferings they were about to encounter. I was reminded of St.
Andrew flying to the Cross. They were taken in three different
canoes; the one that carried Father Pijart being the first ready,
it went directly alongside, that is, of the ship of Monsieur the
Chevalier, to say to him his last adieus and to thank him once
more for very especial courtesies received from him while crossing
in his ship from France to Tadoussac. After having saluted him,
Monsieur the Chevalier had some prunes thrown into his canoe for
the Savages who were taking him, and had the cannon fired off
three times in his honor. These poor Barbarians were thrilled
with delight, placing their hands over their mouths as a sign of
astonishment.

[99] Le Pere le Mercier vint apres dans son canot, pour recognoistre les obligations qu'il a à Monsieur le General, & prendre congé de luy; il ne sçauoit en quels termes nous tesmoigner le soin qu'il a des nostres, qui passent auec luy dans son vaisseau. Apres les adieux, on ietta aussi des prunes à ses conducteurs, le canon du vaisseau & de la barque, faisant entendre aux Sauuages, qu'ils deuoient auoir grand soin de ceux que nos Capitaines François honoroient auec tant d'affection.

[99] Father le Mercier came afterward in his canoe, to acknowledge
the obligations he was under to Monsieur the General, and to take
leave of him; the latter did not know how to express the interest
he felt in those of our society who had come over with him in
his ship. After the farewells, they also threw some prunes to
his boatmen, the cannon of the ship and of the bark making these
Savages understand that they must take good care of those whom our
French Captains honored with so much affection.

Il arriua vne chose plaisante en ces entrefaites, le Pere Buteux en mesme temps remontoit aux trois Riuieres dans vn canot, les Sauuages qui le conduisoient, voyans l'accueil qu'on faisoit aux Peres, & aux Sauuages qui alloient aux Hurons, tirerent comme auoient fait [100] les deux autres canots au vaisseau où estoit Monsieur le General, & Monsieur le Cheualier. Le Pere Buteux leur crie, Ce n'est pas là où il faut aller, ie ne vay pas aux Hurons. Il n'importe, puis qu'on faisoit là du bien à ceux qui portoient nos Peres, ceux-cy en vouloient gouster aussi bien que les autres; aussi leur fit on la mesme courtoisie.

In the midst of these ceremonies a laughable incident occurred.
Father Buteux was starting at the same time to return to the three
Rivers in a canoe; the Savages who were taking him, seeing the
honors bestowed on the Fathers and the Savages who were going to
the Hurons, turned, as [100] the other two canoes had done, to the
ship where Monsieur the General and Monsieur the Chevalier were.
Father Buteux called to them, "You must not go there; I am not
going to the Hurons." It did not matter; since favors had there
been bestowed upon those who were taking our Fathers, these wished
to taste some of them, as well as the others; so they were shown
the same courtesy.

Le premier iour d'Aoust le Pere Buteux m'escriuit des trois Riuieres, ou il estoit allé, comme i'ay dit, que les Sauuages Montaignais auoient esleu vn nouueau Capitaine, celuy qu'ils auoient auparauant nõmé Capitanal estant mort dés l'Automne passé: ce Capitanal estoit vn homme de bon sens, grand amy des François; assemblant les Principaux de sa Nation à la mort, il leur enioignit de conseruer cette bonne [101] intelligence auec ses amis, leur disant que pour preuue de l'amour qu'il nous portoit, qu'il desiroit encore apres sa mort demeurer auec nous, & sur l'heure il se fit rapporter de delà le grand fleuue où il estoit, pour mourir auprés de la nouuelle Habitation. Il demanda aussi qu'il fust porté en terre par les mains de nos François, ausquels il destina vn petit present; bref il supplia, qu'on luy donnast sepulture auprés de ses amis. Tout cela luy fut accordé, Monsieur de Champlain a fait mettre vne petite closture à l'entour de son tombeau, pour le rendre remarquable. Si nous eussions esté pour lors aux trois Riuieres, ie ne doute point qu'il ne fust mort Chrestien: I'ay vn grand regret à la mort de cét homme: car il auoit témoigné en plein Conseil, que son dessein estoit d'arrester ceux [102] de sa Nation aupres du fort de la riuiere d'Anguien; il m'en auoit aussi donné parole en particulier, il estoit aymé des siens & des François: c'est ce Capitaine qui rauit il y a deux ans tous ses auditeurs en vne Harangue, dont ie fis mention pour lors. S'il viuoit encore, il fauoriseroit sans doute ce que nous allons entreprendre ce Printemps, pour les pouuoir rendre sedentaires petit à petit.

On the first day of August, Father Buteux wrote me from the three
Rivers,--where he had gone, as I have said,--that the Montaignais
Savages had elected a new Captain, the one whom they had formerly
called Capitanal having died the previous Autumn. This Capitanal
was a man of good sense, and a great friend of the French.
Assembling the Principal Men of his Nation at the time of his
death, he charged them to preserve this good [101] understanding
with his friends, telling them that, as a proof of the love he
bore us, he would like, even after death, to live with us; and he
straightway had himself carried from beyond the great river, where
he was, to die near the new Settlement. He also asked to be borne
to the grave by the hands of our French, for whom he designated a
little present; in short, he begged that he might be buried near
his friends. All this was granted him; Monsieur de Champlain has
had a little enclosure placed around his grave, to distinguish it.
If we had then been at three Rivers, I do not doubt that he would
have died a Christian. I was very sorry when this man died; for he
had shown in open Council that his purpose was to have the people
[102] of his Nation settle near the fort of the Anguien river;[13]
he had spoken to me also about this in private. He was loved by his
people and by the French; it was this Captain who delighted all his
hearers by a Speech he made two years ago, which I mentioned at the
time. If he still lived, he would without doubt favor what we are
going to undertake this Spring, to be able to make them, little by
little, a sedentary people.

Comme ainsi soit que ces pauures Barbares soient dés long temps accoustumez à estre faineants, il est difficile qu'ils s'arrestent à cultiuer la terre, s'ils ne sont secourus. Nous auons donc dessein de voir, si quelque famille veut quitter ses courses; s'il s'en trouue quelqu'vne, nous employerons au renouueau trois hommes à planter du bled d'Inde, proche de la nouuelle Habitation [103] des trois Riuieres, où ce peuple se plaist grandement. Si cette famille s'arreste pendant l'hyuer, nous la nourrirons de bled de nostre recolte & de la sienne; car elle mettra aussi la main à l'œuure: si elle ne s'arreste point nous retirerons nostre part, & la laisserons aller.

As it happens that these poor Barbarians have been for a long
time accustomed to be idlers, it is hard for them to locate and
cultivate the soil unless they are assisted. Our plan now is to see
if some family is not willing to give up these wanderings; if one
be found, we will in the spring employ three men to plant Indian
corn near the new Settlement [103] at the three Rivers, with which
these people are greatly pleased. If this family settles there
during the winter, we will maintain them with corn from our harvest
and from theirs, for they will also work; if they do not stay with
us, we will withdraw our assistance and let them go.

Ce seroit vn grand bien, & pour leurs corps, & pour leurs ames, & pour le trafique de ces Messieurs, si ces Nations estoient stables, & si elles se rẽdoient dociles à nostre direction; ce qu'elles feront comme i'espere auec le temps. S'ils sont sedentaires, & s'ils cultiueut la terre, ils ne mourront pas de faim comme il leur arriue souuent dans leurs courses; on les pourra instruire aisément, & les Castors se multiplieront beaucoup; ces animaux sont plus feconds que nos brebis de France, [104] les femelles portent iusques à cinq & six petits chaque année: mais les Sauuages trouuans vne cabane tuent tout, grands & petits, & masles & femelles: il y a danger qu'en fin ils n'exterminent tout à fait l'espece en ces Pays, comme il en est arriué aux Hurons, lesquels n'ont pas vn seul Castor, allans traitter ailleurs les pelleteries qu'ils apportẽt au Magazin de ces Messieurs. Or on fera en sorte que nos Montaignais, auec le temps, s'ils s'arrestent, que chaque famille prenne son cartier pour la chasse, sans se ietter sur les brisees de ses voisins: de plus on leur conseillera de ne tuer que les masles, & encore ceux qui seront grands. S'ils goustent ce conseil, ils auront de la chair & des peaux de Castor en tres-grande abondance.

It would be a great blessing for their bodies, for their souls,
and for the traffic of these Gentlemen, if those Tribes were
stationary, and if they became docile to our direction, which they
will do, I hope, in the course of time. If they are sedentary, and
if they cultivate the land, they will not die of hunger, as often
happens to them in their wanderings; we shall be able to instruct
them easily, and Beavers will greatly multiply. These animals are
more prolific than our sheep in France, [104] the females bearing
as many as five or six every year; but, when the Savages find a
lodge of them, they kill all, great and small, male and female.
There is danger that they will finally exterminate the species
in this Region, as has happened among the Hurons, who have not a
single Beaver, going elsewhere to buy the skins they bring to the
storehouse of these Gentlemen. Now it will be so arranged that,
in the course of time, each family of our Montaignais, if they
become located, will take its own territory for hunting, without
following in the tracks of its neighbors; besides, we will counsel
them not to kill any but the males, and of those only such as are
large. If they act upon this advice, they will have Beaver meat and
skins in the greatest abundance.

Quant aux hommes que nous desirons employer pour l'assistance [105] des Sauuages, Monsieur de Champlain nous a promis qu'il nous en accommoderoit de ceux qui sont en l'habitation des trois Riuieres, à raison que ne faisant point défricher pour nous là haut, nous n'y tenons point d'hommes, mais deux Peres tant seulement qui ont soin du salut de nos François. Nous satisferons pour les gages, & pour la nourriture de ces ouuriers, à proportion du temps que nous les occuperons à défricher & cultiuer auec les Sauuages: si i'en pouuois entretenir vne douzaine, ce seroit le vray moyen de gaigner les Sauuages: Nostre Seigneur pour lequel nous entrons dans ce dessein la veille benir par sa bonté, & ouurir les oreilles à ce pauure Peuple abandonné.

As to the men whom we wish to employ for the assistance [105] of
the Savages, Monsieur de Champlain has promised us that he would
let us have those who are at the settlement of the three Rivers;
for, as they have not cleared any land there for us, we do not
keep any workmen there, but merely two Fathers who care for the
religious needs of our French. We will arrange for the wages and
food of these workmen, according to the time we shall employ them
in clearing and cultivating the land with our Savages; if I had the
means of supporting a dozen, this would be the true way to gain the
Savages. May Our Lord, for whom we enter into this project, bless
it through his goodness, and open the ears of these poor abandoned
People.

Le dixiesme de ce mois le Pere Masse, & le Pere Buteux nous écriuent [106] de la Residence de la Conception, que le bruit est la haut, que les Hiroquois ont défait sept canots de la petite Nation des Algonquains; si cela est la paix dont i'ay parlé cy-dessus est desia rompuë: Car nos Montagnais alliez des Algonquains suiuront leur party.

On the tenth of this month, Father Masse and Father Buteux wrote
me [106] from the Residence of the Conception that it was reported
there that the Hiroquois had destroyed seven canoes of the petite
Nation of the Algonquains;[14] if this be true, the peace, of which
I have spoken above, is already broken, for our Montagnais allies
of the Algonquains will take sides with them.

On m'a rapporté, ie ne sçay s'il est vray, qu'vn certain Sauuage nommé la Grenoüille, qui fait icy du Capitaine, a dit que les Hiroquois, auec lesquels il auoit traitté la paix, les ont incité à tuer quelques Hurons, & de prendre guerre auec eux.

I have heard a report, I do not know how true it is, that a certain
Savage named "the Frog" [la Grenoüille], who acts as Captain here,
has said that the Hiroquois, with whom he had made a treaty of
peace, have incited them to kill some of the Hurons, and to make
war against them.

Les plus auisez croient que c'est vne ruse de ceux qui traittent auec ces Peuples, & qui s'efforcent par leur entremise, de diuertir les Hurons de commerce qu'ils ont auec nos François; ce qui arriueroit, si nos Montagnais leur faisoient la [107] guerre, & alors ils les attireroient à leurs Habitations, d'où s'ensuiuroit vn tres-notable detrimẽt pour Messieurs les Associez de la Compagnie de la Nouuelle France.

Those best informed believe that this is a ruse of those who trade
with these Tribes, and who are striving to divert, through their
agency, the Hurons from their commerce with our French; which would
happen if our Montagnais made [107] war against them; and then they
[the traders] would attract them to their Settlements, and there
would result a very considerable injury to the Associated Gentlemen
of the Company of New France.

Le dix-septiesme du mesme mois d'Aoust, le Pere de Quen arriua à Kebec dans vne chalouppe, qu'enuoyoit le Capitaine Bontemps pour donner aduis de sa venuë à Tadoussac. Or comme on a veu ceste année les glaces espouuantables sur la mer; vne entre autres de trente à quarante lieuës, d'autres disent de soixante lieuës d'estenduë; vn Pilote m'a asseuré qu'ils la costoierent trois iours & trois nuits ayans vn assez bon vent en poupe, & qu'en quelques endroits elle auoit des campagnes toutes rases, & en d'autres elle se releuoit en collines, & en hautes montagnes. De plus on a veu quelques vaisseaux Turcs, au sortir [108] de la Manche, & quelques nauires degradez voguer en mer çà & là sans vergues & sans voiles, qu'on croit auoir esté pris de ces infideles, lesquels abandonnent souuent les vaisseaux qu'ils rauissent, apres auoir enleué tout ce qui est dedans. Comme disie tous ces bruits couroient, nous auions tous perdu l'esperance de veoir le Capitaine Bontemps, la saison de voguer icy se passant; c'est pourquoy sa venuë inesperée a causé d'autant plus de ioye, qu'on eust esté marry qu'vn si braue Capitaine & vn si bel equipage se fust perdu. Le Pere de Quen nous raconta l'occasion de leur retardement, & nous donna sujet de loüer Dieu, qui les a tiré des ombres de la mort, les sauuant d'vn naufrage qui sembloit ineuitable.

On the seventeenth of the same month of August, Father de Quen[15]
arrived at Kebec in a shallop which Captain Bontemps sent to give
the news of his arrival at Tadoussac. Now as frightful icebergs
have been seen this year upon the sea,--among others, one from
thirty to forty, others say sixty leagues in extent, so large that
a Pilot has assured me that he coasted along it for three days and
three nights having a fair wind astern, and that in some places it
had level plains, in others it rose into hills and high mountains:
and since some Turkish vessels had been seen sailing out [108] of
the English Channel, and some damaged ships floating here and there
on the sea without masts and without sails,--which are believed to
have been captured by those infidels, who often abandon ships which
they plunder, after having robbed them of all they contain:[16] now
as all these reports were being circulated, we had all lost hope
of seeing Captain Bontemps, the season for sailing to this country
having passed. It was this that made his unexpected arrival give
us all the more joy, for we would have been sorry if so brave a
Captain and so fine a crew had been lost. Father de Quen related
to us the cause of their delay, and gave us reason to thank God,
who drew them back from the shades of death, saving them from a
shipwreck which seemed inevitable.

Le vingt-sixiesme du mesme mois [109] vn ieune homme qui est passé en la Nouuelle France, comme Soldat volontaire dans le vaisseau commãdé par Monsieur le Cheualier de la Roche Iacquelin, a abiuré publiquement les erreurs de Caluin, & embrassé les veritez Chrestiennes & Catholiques. Monsieur le Cheualier le voyant d'vn assez bon naturel, & l'ayant disposé à nous prester l'oreille, prit la peine luy-mesme de l'amener en nostre petite Maison, où par apres il m'est venu trouuer plusieurs fois luy tout seul, pour conferer auec moy; en fin apres luy auoir éclaircy les principaux points de nostre creance, il a voulu reporter à l'Ancienne France, le thresor de la verité que Dieu luy a fait trouuer en la Nouuelle.

On the twenty-sixth of the same month [109] a young man who came
over into New France as a volunteer Soldier, in the ship commanded
by Monsieur the Chevalier de la Roche Jacquelin, publicly abjured
the errors of Calvin, and embraced the Christian and Catholic
truths. Monsieur the Chevalier, seeing he had a very good
disposition, and having inclined him to lend us an ear, himself
took the trouble to bring him to our little House, where he
afterwards came to see me several times alone, to confer with me.
Finally, after having enlightened him upon the principal points of
our belief, he desired to carry back to Old France the treasure of
truth which God had led him to find in the New.

Le vingt-septiesme du mesme mois, nous auons veu sur les neuf [110] heures du soir ou enuiron vne grande éclypse de Lune, laquelle à mon aduis n'aura paru en France que sur les deux ou trois heures apres minuit.

On the twenty-seventh of the same month, we saw, towards nine [110]
o'clock in the evening or thereabout, a great eclipse of the Moon,
which in my opinion did not appear in France until two or three
hours after midnight.

Mais il est temps d'arrester ma plume, laquelle ne pourra pas cette année respondre à plusieurs lettres, qu'vne barque qui descend à Tadoussac nous apportera apres le depart des vaisseaux. Il arriue par fois, soit par oubliance ou autrement, qu'on nous rend les lettres quand la flotte a desia fait voile, ce qui fait qu'on ne peut enuoyer les responses la mesme année. Pour nos Francois, & pour nos Peres qui sont au pays des Hurons, on ne doit attendre la response des lettres qu'on leur enuoye de France que deux ans apres: voire mesme si on nous donne icy les lettres qu'on leur adresse [111] pour leur faire tenir, apres le depart des Hurons qui ne descendent à Kebec qu'vne fois l'an, les responses ne seront portées en France qu'au bout de trois ans. I'ay donné cét aduis tout exprés, pour nous excuser enuers plusieurs personnes qui nous font l'honneur de nous escrire, & qui ne voyent point de réponses la mesme année, & quelques-fois n'en voyent point du tout, les lettres ou les responses se perdans dans vne si grande longueur de temps & de chemin. Ie prie Dieu que celles-cy arriuent à bon port auec toute la flotte, elles porteront à vostre Reuerence, pour derniere conclusion, vne supplication tres-humble de se souuenir à l'Autel, & à l'Oratoire de nos pauures Sauuages, & de nous tous qui sommes ses enfans, & de moy particulierement [112] qui en ay plus de besoin que les autres, & qui me diray auec vostre permission, ce que ie suis,

MON R. P.

Elle nous permettra, s'il luy plaist, d'implorer les prieres de
tous nos Peres & de tous nos Freres de sa Prouince, ce que nous
faisons encore tous tant que nous sommes, moy qui suis

_En la Residence de nostre Dame des Anges, proche Kebec, en la
Nouuelle France, ce 28. d'Aoust 1635._

Vostre tres-humble, & tres-obligé seruiteur en nostre Seigneur,

PAVL LE IEVNE.

ET

P. Charles l'Allemant.
P. Iean Brebeuf.
P. Iean Daniel.
P. Ambroise d'Auost.
P. Anne de Noüe.
P. Enemond Masse.
P. Antoine Richard.
P. François Mercier.
P. Charles Turgis.
P. Charles du Marché.
P. Claude Quantin.
P. Iacques Buteux.
P. Iean de Quen.
P. Pierre Pijart.

Et nos Freres Gilbert Burel, Iean Liegeois, Pierre le Tellier, Pierre Feauté.