Chapter IV: Preface: To Vol. VIII (3)

But it is time to drop my pen, which will not be able this year to
answer several letters that a bark which goes down to Tadoussac
will bring us after the departure of the ships. It sometimes
happens, either from forgetfulness or for some other reason, that
they deliver the letters after the fleet has already set sail, so
that we cannot send the answers the same year. As to our Frenchmen
and our Fathers who are in the country of the Hurons, answers to
letters sent from France should not be expected until two years
afterwards; indeed, even if letters addressed to them are given to
us here [111] to hold for them, after the departure of the Hurons,
who come down to Kebec only once a year, the answers will not
be carried to France until the end of three years. I have given
this information purposely, so as to excuse ourselves to persons
who have done us the honor of writing to us, and who do not get
their answers the same year, and sometimes do not get them at all,
the letters or the replies being lost in so great a lapse of time
and so long a journey. I pray God that these may arrive safely,
together with all the fleet; they will bear to your Reverence, as
a final conclusion, a very humble supplication to remember, at the
Altar and in the Oratory, our poor Savages, and all of us who are
your children,--especially me, [112] who have more need of it than
the others, and who will call myself, with your permission, what I
am,

MY REVEREND FATHER,

You will permit me, if you please, to implore the prayers of
all our Fathers and of all our Brothers in your Province,--as,
moreover, do all of us,--I who am,

_At the Residence of nostre Dame des Anges, near Kebec, in
New-France, this 28th of August, 1635._

Your very humble and greatly obliged servant in our Lord,

PAUL LE JEUNE.

AND

Father Charles l'Allemant.
Father Jean Brebeuf.
Father Jean Daniel.
Father Ambroise d'Avost.
Father Anne de Noüe.
Father Enemond Masse.
Father Antoine Richard.[17]
Father François Mercier.
Father Charles Turgis.[18]
Father Charles du Marché.[19]
Father Claude Quantin.
Father Jacques Buteux.
Father Jean de Quen.
Father Pierre Pijart.

And our Brothers Gilbert Burel, Jean Liegeois,[20] Pierre le
Tellier, Pierre Feauté.

[113] Relation de ce qui s'est passé avx Hvrons, en l'année 1635.

_Enuoyée à Kebec au Pere le Ieune, par le P. Brebeuf._

MON R. PERE,

C'est pour vous rendre compte de nostre voyage en ce Pays des Hurons, lequel a esté remply de plus de fatigues, de pertes & de cousts que l'autre, mais aussi qui a esté suiuy & le sera, Dieu aidant, de plus de benedictions du Ciel.

[113] Relation of what occurred among the Hurons in the year 1635.

_Sent to Kebec to Father le Jeune, Father Brebeuf._

MY REVEREND FATHER,

I send you an account of our journey into this Huron Country. It
has been filled with more fatigues, losses and expenses than the
other, but also has been followed, and will be, God aiding, by more
of Heaven's blessings.

[114] Dés que l'an passé mil six cens trente quatre, nous arriuasmes aux trois Riuieres, où se faisoit la traitte, nous-nous trouuasmes dans plusieurs difficultez & perplexitez. Car d'vn costé il n'y auoit qu'onze canots de Hurons pour nous embarquer dix personnes que nous estions de surcroist, & qui pretendions aller en leur Pays. D'autre costé on estoit extremement en doute s'il en descendroit cette année là d'autres, attendu le grand eschet qu'ils auoient receu en guerre par les Hiroquois, nommez _Sonontrerrhonons_ au Printemps dernier, & la crainte qu'ils auoient d'vne nouuelle armée. Cela nous mettoit fort en doute, si nous deuions prendre l'occasion d'aller telle qu'elle s'offroit, ou en attendre vne meilleure.

[114] When last year, one thousand six hundred and thirty-four, we
arrived at the three Rivers, where the trading post was, we found
ourselves in several difficulties and perplexities. For, on the
one hand, there were only eleven Huron canoes to embark our ten
additional persons who were intending to go into their Country.
On the other, we were greatly in doubt whether any others would
descend this year, considering the great loss they had experienced
in war with the Hiroquois, named _Sonontrerrhonons_,[21] last
Spring, and the fear they had of a new invasion. This placed us
much in doubt whether we ought to take advantage of the opportunity
which was presented, or wait for a better one.

En fin tout bien consideré nous [115] resolusmes de tenter fortune, iugeans qu'il importoit du tout, d'auoir vn pied dans le Pays, afin d'en ouurir la porte, qui sembloit estroittement fermée à la Foy. Cette resolution fut encore plus aisée que l'execution, qui parauanture eust esté impossible sans le soin, la faueur & la liberalité de Monsieur du Plessis Bochard General de la flotte: car incõtinent après son arriuée, qui fut le cinquiesme Iuillet 1634. il fit tenir Conseil auec les Bissiriniens, ausquels il proposa le dessein qu'il auoit d'enuoyer quelques-vns auec eux, & de nous ioindre aux Hurons. Ils en firẽt plusieurs difficultez, & l'vn des Capitaines de l'Isle nommé la Perdrix par dessus tous; neantmoins les raisons & les presens les gagnerent.

At last, after full consideration, we [115] resolved to try our
fortune, judging that it was of vital importance to have a footing
in the Country in order to open the door which seemed firmly closed
to the Faith. This resolution was far easier than the execution
of it, which perchance would have been impossible without the
care, the favor, and the liberality of Monsieur du Plessis
Bochard, General of the fleet. For immediately after his arrival,
which was on the fifth of July, 1634, he held a Council with the
Bissiriniens, to whom he proposed the plan he had of sending some
men with them, and of joining us to the Hurons. They made several
objections, and one of the Chiefs of the Island, named "the
Partridge" [la Perdrix],[22] more than all the rest; nevertheless,
arguments and presents won them over.

Le lendemain matin l'Assemblée se fit de rechef, par le commandement [116] de Monsieur du Plessis Bochard, où les Bissiriniens & les Hurons se trouuerent. Le mesme dessein leur fut representé; mais pour respect les vns des autres ils resolurẽt tous ensemble de n'embarquer aucun François, & n'y eut pour lors aucune raison qui les peust fléchir. Surquoy nostre entreprise sembloit encore estre rompuë pour ce coup; mais au depart de l'Assemblée vn des _Attiguenongha_, me tirant à quartier, me dit que ie l'allasse veoir en sa cabane. Là il me fait entendre que luy & son camarade en embarqueroient trois; ie respons que nous ne pouuions aller moins de cinq, sçauoir nous trois, & deux de nos hommes.

The next morning, the Assembly met again, by the command [116] of
Monsieur du Plessis Bochard, and both the Bissiriniens and the
Hurons were present. The same plan was again presented to them; but
out of respect for one another they all agreed not to embark any
Frenchmen; and no arguments could, for the time being, move them.
Thereupon our enterprise seemed again cut off, by this action.
But, at the close of the Assembly, one of the _Attiguenongha_,[23]
drawing me aside, asked me to visit him in his cabin. There he gave
me to understand that he and his companion would embark three of
us. I replied that we could not go unless five went, namely, we
three and two of our men.

Sur cela les _Arendarhonons_ s'estant eschauffez à nous embarquer, nous trouuasmes place pour six; si bien que nous resolusmes de [117] partir, & laisser les deux petits garçons que nous deuions mener iusqu'à quelque autre occasion: aussi tost nous distribuasmes nos pacquets, & fismes des presens à vn chacun pour les encourager, & le lendemain septiéme du mois, Mr du Plessis Bochard leur en fit encore d'autres, en consideration seulement de ce qu'ils nous embarquoiẽt, & les festoya tous ensemble d'vn festin de trois grandes chaudieres. Mais la contagion qui a couru l'année passée parmy tous ces Peuples, auec de grands rauages, ayant en vn instant saisi plusieurs de nos Sauuages, & remply tout le reste de peur, nous causa derechef vne grande confusion, & nous mit en de grandes peines, veu qu'il falloit partir sur le champ. Nos six canots estans reduits à trois, & nos deux Peres & moy nous trouuans desembarquez; [118] il me falloit chercher de nouueaux hommes; reprendre nostre petit equipage; deliberer qui s'embarqueroit, & qui demeureroit; choisir entre nos pacquets ceux que nous porterions, & donner ordre pour le reste, & tout cela en moins de demye-heure, où il eust esté besoin des iournées entieres. Neantmoins recognoissans bien que nostre embarquement estoit vn coup de partie pour le Ciel, nous pensasmes qu'il falloit y faire tous nos efforts, pour resister à ceux de l'ennemy commun du salut des hommes, que nous ne doutions nullement s'estre meslé dans cét affaire. I'y fis tout mõ pouuoir, nous redoublasmes les presens, nous diminuasmes nostre petit bagage, & prismes seulement ce qui concernoit le sainct Sacrifice de la Messe, & ce qui estoit absolument necessaire pour la vie. Monsieur [119] du Plessis y interposa son authorité, Monsieur Oliuer & Monsieur Coullart leur industrie, & tous les François leur affection. Cependant ie vis par plusieurs fois tout renuersé & desesperé, iusqu'à ce que i'eus particulierement recours à nostre Seigneur +IESVS+, pour l'vnique gloire duquel nous entreprenions ce penible voyage, & que i'eus fait vn vœu au glorieux sainct Ioseph nouueau Patriarche des Hurons. Car aussi-tost ie vis tout se calmer, & nos Sauuages si contens, que ceux qui embarquerent le Pere Daniel l'auoient desia mis dans leur canot, & sembloit qu'ils l'alloiẽt emmener, sans auoir encore receu la paye ordinaire. Mais ledit Pere voyant qu'ils n'auoient point de capots comme les autres, sort du canot, m'en aduertit, & ie leur en fais donner.

Thereupon the _Arendarhonons_[24] became eager to embark us; we
found place for six, and so we resolved to [117] set out, and
leave until some other time the two little boys we were to take.
We began to distribute our baggage, and made presents to each one,
to encourage them; and on the morrow, the seventh of the month,
Monsieur du Plessis Bochard gave them still others, on the single
consideration that they would embark us, and feasted all of them
at a great feast of three large kettles. But the contagion which
spread among all these Tribes last year, with great destruction,
having suddenly seized several of our Savages, and filled the
rest with fear, again threw us into confusion, and put us to
great trouble, seeing that we had to set out immediately. Our six
canoes being reduced to three, and our two Fathers and I being
disembarked, [118] I had to find new men, to unload our slender
baggage, to decide who should embark and who should remain, to
choose among our packages those we were to carry, and to give
orders as to the rest,--and all this in less than half an hour,
when we would have needed entire days. Nevertheless, recognizing
clearly that our embarkment was a decisive stroke for Heaven, we
thought it necessary to put forth our utmost energies to resist the
efforts of the common enemy of man's salvation, who, we doubted
not, was mixed up in this matter. I therefore did everything I
could; we doubled the presents, we reduced the amount of our
baggage, and took only what belonged to the holy Sacrifice of the
Mass, and what was absolutely necessary for life. Monsieur [119]
du Plessis interposed his authority, Monsieur Oliver and Monsieur
Coullart their ingenuity, and all the Frenchmen their affection.
Yet several times I was completely baffled and desperate, until
I had special recourse to our Lord +JESUS+, for whose glory alone
we were undertaking this painful journey, and until I had made a
vow to glorious saint Joseph, the new Patriarch of the Hurons.
Immediately I saw everything become quiet, and our Savages so
satisfied that those who embarked Father Daniel had already placed
him in their canoe, and it seemed as if they were going to take him
without even receiving the ordinary pay. But the Father, seeing
that they had not cloaks like the others, stepped out of the canoe,
told me about it, and I had some given to them.

En fin donc apres auoir briéuement [120] remercié Mr du Plessis, luy auoir recommandé l'embarquement du reste de nos gens, si l'occasion se presentoit, & luy auoir dit adieu, & à tous nos François: Ie m'embarquay auec le Pere Antoine Daniel, & vn de nos hommes; les deux autres venoient auec les Algonquains. Monsieur du Plessis honora nostre depart de plusieurs canonnades, afin de nous rendre encore plus recommandables à nos Sauuages. Ce fut le septiesme Iuillet. Le P. Ambroise Dauost s'embarqua huict iours apres auec deux autres de nos gens. Le reste suiuit huict iours apres, pour prendre sa part des fatigues d'vn voyage tres fascheux, non seulement à raison de sa longueur, & de la mauuaise chere qu'on y fait, mais encore pour les circuits qu'il faut faire de Kebec iusques icy par les Bissiriniens & la petite Nation; ie [121] croy qu'il y en a pour plus de trois cens lieuës. Il est vray que le chemin est plus court par le Saut de S. Louys, & par le Lac des Hiroquois, mais la crainte des ennemis, & le peu de commodité qui s'y rencontre, en rẽd le passage desert. De deux difficultez ordinaires, la premiere est celle des sauts & portages. Vostre Reuerence a desia assez veu de sauts d'eau vers Kebec, pour sçauoir ce qui en est: toutes les riuieres de ces Pays en sont pleines, & notamment la riuiere de S. Laurens, depuis qu'on a passé celle des Prairies. Car de là en auant elle n'a plus son lit égal, mais se brise en plusieurs endroits, roulant & sautant effroyablement, à guise d'vn torrent impetueux, & mesmes en quelques endroits elle tombe tout à coup de haut en bas, de la hauteur de plusieurs brasses. Ie me souuenois [122] en passant des Catadoupes du Nil, à ce qu'en disent nos Historiens. Or quand on approche de ces cheutes ou torrens, il faut mettre pied à terre, & porter au col à trauers les bois, ou sur de hautes & facheuses roches, tous les pacquets & les canots mesmes. Cela ne se fait pas sans beaucoup de trauail, car il y a des portages d'vne, de deux & de trois lieuës, ioint qu'il faut en chacun faire plusieurs voyages, si on a tãt soit peu de pacquets. En quelques endroits, qui ne sont pas moins rapides que ces portages; mais neantmoins plus aisez à l'abord, les Sauuages entrans dans l'eau, trainent & conduisent à la main leurs canots, auec d'extremes peines & dangers; car ils en ont par fois iusques au col, si bien qu'ils sont contraints de quitter prise, & se sauuer comme ils peuuent de la rapidité de l'eau, qui emporte & [123] leur arrache le canot. Cela est arriué à vn de nos François, qui demeura seul dans le canot, tous les Sauuages l'ayans laissé aller au gré du torrent mais son adresse & sa force luy sauuerent la vie, & le canot aussi, auec tout ce qui estoit dedans. I'ay supputé le nombre des portages, & ie trouue que nous auons porté trente cinq fois, & traisné pour le moins cinquante. Ie me suis quelquefois meslé d'aider à mes Sa[u]uages: mais le fond de la riuiere est de pierres si tranchantes, que ie ne pouuois marcher long-temps estant nuds pieds.

At last, then, after having briefly [120] thanked Monsieur du
Plessis, having entrusted to him the embarkation of the rest of our
people, if opportunity presented itself, and having bid him and
all our Frenchmen adieu, I embarked with Father Antoine Daniel and
one of our men; the two others were coming with the Algonquains.
Monsieur du Plessis honored our departure with several volleys,
to recommend us still more to our Savages. It was the seventh of
July. Father Ambroise Davost embarked eight days later, with two
others of our people. The rest followed eight days after, to take
their part in the fatigues of a journey extremely wearisome, not
only on account of its length and of the wretched fare to be had,
but also on account of the circuits that have to be made in coming
from Kebec to this place by way of the Bissiriniens and the petite
Nation; I [121] believe that they amount to more than three hundred
leagues. It is true the way is shorter by the Saut de St. Louys and
the Lake of the Hiroquois; but the fear of enemies, and the few
conveniences to be met with, cause that route to be unfrequented.
Of two ordinary difficulties, the chief is that of the rapids and
portages. Your Reverence has already seen enough of the rapids
near Kebec to know what they are. All the rivers of this Country
are full of them, and notably the St. Lawrence after that of the
Prairies[25] is passed. For from there onward it has no longer a
smooth bed, but is broken up in several places, rolling and leaping
in a frightful way, like an impetuous torrent; and even, in some
places, it falls down suddenly from a height of several brasses.
I remembered, [122] in passing, the Cataracts of the Nile, as they
are described by our Historians. Now when these rapids or torrents
are reached, it is necessary to land, and carry on the shoulder,
through woods or over high and troublesome rocks, all the baggage
and the canoes themselves. This is not done without much work; for
there are portages of one, two, and three leagues, and for each
several trips must be made, no matter how few packages one has. In
some places, where the current is not less strong than in these
rapids, although easier at first, the Savages get into the water,
and haul and guide by hand their canoes with extreme difficulty and
danger; for they sometimes get in up to the neck and are compelled
to let go their hold, saving themselves as best they can from the
rapidity of the water, which snatches [123] from them and bears off
their canoe. This happened to one of our Frenchmen who remained
alone in the canoe, all the Savages having left it to the mercy of
the torrent; but his skill and strength saved his life, and the
canoe also, with all that was in it. I kept count of the number of
portages, and found that we carried our canoes thirty-five times,
and dragged them at least fifty. I sometimes took a hand in helping
my Savages; but the bottom of the river is full of stones, so sharp
that I could not walk long, being barefooted.

La deuxiesme difficulté ordinaire est pour le viure; souuent il faut ieusner, si l'on vient à perdre les caches qu'on a faites en descendant, & quand on les retrouue, on ne laisse pas d'auoir bon appetit apres s'y estre traicté. Car le manger ordinaire n'est que d'vn peu de bled d'Inde [124] cassé assez grossierement entre deux pierres, & quelquefois tout entier dans de l'eau pure. Cela n'est pas de grand goust. Quelquesfois on a du poisson, mais c'est hazard, excepté quand on passe quelque Nation où l'on en peut acheter. Adioustez à ces difficultez, qu'il faut coucher sur la terre nuẽ, ou sur quelque dure roche, faute de trouuer dix ou douze pieds de terre en quarré pour placer vne chetiue cabane; qu'il faut sentir incessammẽt la puanteur des Sauuages recreus, marcher dãs les eaux, dãs les fanges, dans l'obscurité & l'embaras des forests, où les piqueures d'vne multitude infinie de mousquilles & cousins vous importunent fort.

The second ordinary difficulty, is in regard to provisions.
Frequently one has to fast, if he misses the caches that were made
when descending; and, even if they are found, one does not fail
to have a good appetite after indulging in them; for the ordinary
food is only a little Indian corn [124] coarsely broken between
two stones, and sometimes taken whole in pure water; it is no great
treat. Occasionally one has fish, but it is only a chance, unless
one is passing some Tribe where they can be bought. Add to these
difficulties that one must sleep on the bare earth, or on a hard
rock, for lack of a space ten or twelve feet square on which to
place a wretched hut; that one must endure continually the stench
of tired-out Savages; and must walk in water, in mud, in the
obscurity and entanglement of the forest, where the stings of an
infinite number of mosquitoes and gnats are a serious annoyance.

Ie laisse à part vn long & ennuyeux silence où l'on est reduit. I'entends pour les nouueaux qui n'ont par fois en leur compagnie personne de leur langue, & ne sçauent [125] celle des Sauuages. Or ces difficultez comme elles sont ordinaires, aussi nous ont elles esté communes auec tous ceux qui viennent en ces Pays. Mais en nostre voyage nous en auons eu tous d'extraordinaires. La premiere a esté qu'il nous a fallu continuellement ramer, ny plus ny moins que les Sauuages: de sorte que ie n'auois le loisir de reciter mon Breuiaire sinon à la couchée, lors que i'eusse eu plus de besoin de repos que de trauail. L'autre a esté qu'il nous falloit porter nos pacquets, és portages, ce qui nous estoit aussi dur que nouueau, & encore plus aux autres qu'à moy, qui sçait desia vn peu ce que c'est que de fatigue. A chaque portage il me falloit faire au moins quatre voyages, les autres n'en faisoiẽt gueres moins. I'estois desia venu aux Hurõs vne autre fois, mais ie n'auois point manié [126] l'auiron, ny porté de fardeaux non plus que les autres Religieux, qui auoient aussi fait le mesme chemin. Mais en ce voyage il nous a fallu tous commencer par ces experiences à porter la Croix que Nostre Seigneur nous presente pour son honneur, & pour le salut de ces pauures Barbares. Certes ie me suis trouué quelquesfois si las, que le corps n'en pouuoit plus. Mais d'ailleurs mon ame ressentoit de tres-grands contentemens, considerant que ie souffrois pour Dieu: nul ne le sçait, s'il ne l'experimente. Tous n'en ont pas esté quittes à si bon marché.

I say nothing of the long and wearisome silence to which one is
reduced, I mean in the case of newcomers, who have, for the time,
no person in their company who speaks their own tongue, and who do
not understand [125] that of the Savages. Now these difficulties,
since they are the usual ones, were common to us as to all those
who come into this Country. But on our journey we all had to
encounter difficulties which were unusual. The first was that we
were compelled to paddle continually, just as much as the Savages;
so that I had not the leisure to recite my Breviary except when I
lay down to sleep, when I had more need of rest than of work. The
other was that we had to carry our packages at the portages, which
was as laborious for us as it was new, and still more for others
than it was for me, who already knew a little what it is to be
fatigued. At every portage I had to make at least four trips, the
others had scarcely fewer. I had once before made the journey to
the Hurons, but I did not then ply [126] the paddles, nor carry
burdens; nor did the other Religious who made the same journey.
But, in this journey, we all had to begin by these experiences to
bear the Cross that Our Lord presents to us for his honor, and for
the salvation of these poor Barbarians. In truth, I was sometimes
so weary that the body could do no more, but at the same time my
soul experienced very deep peace, considering that I was suffering
for God; no one knows it if he has not experienced it. All did not
get off so cheaply.

Le Pere Dauost, entre autres, a esté tres-mal mené; on luy a dérobé beaucoup de son petit equipage; on l'a contraint de ietter vn petit moulin d'acier, & quasi tous nos liures, quelques linges, & vne bonne partie [127] du papier que nous portions, dont nous auons grand besoin. On l'abandonna à l'Isle parmy les Algonquains, où il a eu dequoy souffrir à bonnes enseignes. Quand il arriua aux Hurons, il estoit si défait & abbatu, que de long-temps il ne pût se remettre.

Father Davost, among others, was very badly treated. They stole
from him much of his little outfit. They compelled him to throw
away a little steel mill, and almost all our books, some linen, and
a good part [127] of the paper that we were taking, and of which
we have great need. They deserted him at the Island, among the
Algonquains, where he suffered in good earnest. When he reached the
Hurons, he was so worn-out and dejected that for a long time he
could not get over it.

Le Pere Daniel fut delaissé & contraint de changer de canot, comme aussi pareillemẽt Pierre l'vn de nos hommes; le petit Martin fut bien rudement traitté, & en fin abandonné aux Bissiriniens, où il demeura si long-temps, qu'il fut quelques deux mois en chemin, & n'arriua aux Hurons que le dix-neufiéme de Septembre. Baron fut volé par les siens la mesme iournée qu'il arriua en ces contrées, & eust encore bien plus perdu, s'il ne les eust contraints par la peur de ses armes luy en rendre quelque partie. Bref [128] tous les François y ont souffert de grandes peines, fait de grosses dépenses, eu égard à leurs petites commoditez, & couru de notables dangers. Et quiconque montera icy haut, se doit resoudre à tout cela, & à quelque chose de plus; mesme à la mort, dont on voit à chaque moment l'Image deuant les yeux. Pour moy qui ne sçais point nager ie m'en suis veu vne fois fort proche: car au partir des Bissiriniens en descendant vn saut, nous-nous en allions tomber dedans vn precipice, si mes Sauuages n'eussent promptement & habilement sauté en l'eau, pour destourner le canot que le courant emportoit. Il est croyable que les autres en pourroient bien dire autant & plus, veu le nombre qu'il y a de semblables rencontres. Trois autres difficultez m'ont donné de la peine en mon particulier. La premiere, [129] l'importunité que mes gens me firent du commencement, pour cacher en quelque part vne quaisse qu'vn de nos François auoit mise dãs nostre canot. La seconde, le soing de ceux de nos gens, que nous auions laissé derriere. La troisiesme, que les Algonquains par où nous passions taschoient de nous intimider, disans que les Hurons nous tueroiẽt, comme ils auoient fait en la personne de Brulé, desirans de nous retenir chez eux, auec beaucoup de demonstration de bienueillance. Depuis nostre arriuée, i'ay appris que le Maistre de mon canot auoit ietté en auant de me degrader en quelque part, auec mon petit bagage; mais que sa proposition auoit esté aussi-tost rebuttée; aussi ne m'en fit-on iamais aucun semblant. Tout cela, Dieu mercy, ne me tourmenta pas beaucoup. Car leur ayant declaré [130] que ie porterois moy-mesme la quaisse dont il estoit question, quoy qu'ils en eussent receu le port; ie me resigné, quant au reste, à la volonté de Dieu, prest à mourir pour l'honneur de son Fils nostre bon Seigneur, & pour le salut de ces pauures Peuples.

Father Daniel was abandoned, and compelled to seek another canoe,
as also was Pierre, one of our men. Little Martin was very roughly
treated, and at last was left behind with the Bissiriniens, where
he remained so long that he was about two months on the road, and
only arrived among the Hurons on the nineteenth of September.
Baron[26] was robbed by his savages on the very day he arrived
in these regions; and he would have lost much more if he had not
compelled them, through fear of his arms, to give him back a part
of what they had taken. In short, [128] all the Frenchmen suffered
great hardships, incurred great expense, considering the few goods
they had, and ran remarkable risks. And whosoever will come up
here must make up his mind to all this, and to something more,
even to death itself, whose Image we see every moment before our
eyes. For myself, not knowing how to swim, I once had a very narrow
escape from drowning. As we were leaving the Bissiriniens, while
descending a rapid we would have gone over a precipice, had not
my Savages promptly and skillfully leaped into the water, to turn
aside the canoe which the current was sweeping on. It is probable
that the others might say as much, and more, considering the number
of such incidents there are. Three other difficulties gave trouble
to me in particular. The first [129] was the importunity of my men,
at the start, to hide somewhere a box that one of our Frenchmen had
put into our canoe. The second was anxiety for those of our men we
had left behind. The third, that the Algonquains, through whose
territory we were passing, tried to intimidate us, saying that the
Hurons would kill us as they had Brulé, and desiring to keep us
among them, with abundant demonstrations of good will. Since our
arrival, I have learned that the Master of my canoe had proposed
to land me somewhere with my little baggage, but that his proposal
had been at once repelled, and so I saw no sign of anything of the
kind. All that, thank God, did not trouble me much; for having
declared to them [130] that I would myself carry the box about
which the trouble arose, although they had received pay to carry
it, I resigned myself as far, as everything else was concerned, to
the will of God, ready to die for the honor of his Son, our good
Lord, and for the salvation of these poor Peoples.

Ie ne sçay pas quand on parla de me quitter; mais mes Saunages me témoignoient tãt d'affection, & disoiẽt tãt de bien de nous aux autres, qu'ils faisoiẽt enuie à tous les Hurõs que nous rencõtrions, d'embarquer quelqu'vn des nostres. Cela me fait douter, si ce qu'on m'a dit du Maistre de mon canot est vray. Car ceux qui auoiẽt embarqué le Pere Daniel & Baron, voulurent les quitter à l'Isle; mais le Maistre du canot où estoit le Pere Daniel, le voyant mescontent de cela, le fit aussi-tost embarquer, & le porta iusques à ce qu'ils eussent rencontré [131] le Capitaine de la Rochelle, lequel estant de la cognoissance du Pere, pour l'auoir voulu conduire l'an passé, le mit volontiers dans son canot, auec ses deux pacquets. Il luy fit plaisir, & aux Sauuages aussi; car le Pere eust eu encore bien de la peine dans vn canot fort chetif, qui n'auoit que trois hommes languissans, & dont la demeure estoit à douze lieuës loing de la nostre: là où ce Capitaine demeuroit au village, où nous auiõs quelque dessein de nous habituer, & assez proche du lieu où nous sommes; & d'ailleurs son canot estoit fort, & equippé de six puissans Sauuages tous sains & gaillards. Ce bon eschange luy arriua la veille de sainct Ignace au matin, ayant fait le iour precedent naufrage par deux fois. Pour Baron, n'eust esté le Capitaine de l'Isle qui fit remettre ses pacquets dans les canots, [132] il y fust demeuré. Encore ses gens ne luy furent pas si barbares, comme furent autresfois à vn de nos François, ceux qui le ramenoient des Hurons à Kebec. Ce ieune homme surnommé la Marche fust mort dans les bois, si nous n'eussions eu le soin & le credit de le renuoyer chercher plus d'vne lieuë loing du lieu où nous-nous en apperceusmes.

I do not know when they spoke of leaving me; but my Savages
exhibited so much affection for me, and said so much that is kind
about us to others, that they excited the desire in all the Hurons
we met to embark some one of our people. This makes me doubt the
truth of what has been said about the Master of my canoe. For those
who had embarked Father Daniel and Baron wished to leave them at
the Island; but the Master of the canoe in which Father Daniel was,
seeing him dissatisfied at that, caused him to embark at once, and
carried him until they met [131] the Captain of la Rochelle,[27]
who, knowing the Father from having wished to take him last year,
willingly received him with his two packages into his canoe. It
pleased him, and the Savages also; for the Father would have
still had much trouble in a wretched canoe which had only three
sick men in it, whose home was twelve leagues distant from ours;
this Captain lived at a village where we had some intention of
settling, and quite near the place where we are. Besides, his canoe
was strong, and manned by six powerful Savages, quite healthy and
good-natured. This happy exchange happened to him the morning
of the day before the festival of saint Ignace, he having been
shipwrecked twice the previous day. As to Baron, had it not been
for the Captain of the Island, who caused his baggage to be put
back into the canoes, [132] he would have remained there. Still,
his people were not so barbarous as formerly were those who brought
back one of our Frenchmen from the Hurons to Kebec. This young man,
surnamed la Marche, would have died in the woods, if we had not had
the care and the interest to send back in search of him more than a
league from the place where we missed him.

Il ne faut quelquefois qu'vn mot, quelquefois qu'vn songe, quelque fantaisie, ou la moindre pensée d'incommodité, pour faire dégrader ou mettre à terre, i'ose dire, pour faire massacrer vn hõme, ainsi qu'il arriua l'an passé à vn pauure Algõquain, qui fut abandonné en vn saut par son propre neueu: & il n'y a pas vn mois qu'vn pauure ieune homme aussi Algonquain, estant tombé dans le feu, fut tué auprés de nostre village par ceux de sa Nation, de peur qu'ils auoient [133] d'en estre incommodez dans le canot. Ce qui me persuade qu'ils l'assommerent, c'est la coustume qu'ils en ont; que les Hurons le disoient; & que le soir auparauant il mangeoit bien, & en bonne quantité de ce que nous luy donnions; outre que deux Algonquains nous asseurerent, qu'on estoit dans la pensée de le trépaner d'vn coup ou deux de hache. Vostre Reuerence a veu ou sceu de semblables cas en son hyuernement auec les Sauuages. En vn mot, il faut se resoudre à beaucoup de dangers euidens, & de grandes fatigues, qui veut venir icy. I'attribue neantmoins toutes ces difficultez extraordinaires à la maladie de nos Sauuages. Car nous sçauons assez combien les maladies alterent les humeurs, & les complexions mesmes des plus sociables. Ie ne sçay pas à quel prix nos François, & les Montagnais [134] en aurõt esté quittes. Biẽ sçay je que la pluspart des Mõtagnais qui estoient aux trois Riuieres quand nous-nous embarquasmes, estoient malades, & que plusieurs en mouroient; comme aussi, qu'il n'est quasi point reuenu de canot de la traitte, qui n'aye esté affligé de ceste contagiõ. Elle a esté si vniuerselle parmy les Sauuages de nostre cognoissance, que ie ne sçay si aucun en a euité les atteintes. Tous ces pauures gents en ont esté fort incommodez, notamment pendant l'Automne, tant en leurs pesches qu'en leurs moissons. Plusieurs bleds sont demeurez sous les neiges, grand nombre de personnes sont mortes; il y en a encore à present qui ne sont pas gueris. Cette maladie commençoit par des ardeurs violentes, qui estoient suiuies d'vne espece de rougeolle, ou petite verolle, differente [135] toutesfois de celle de Frãce, accompagnée en plusieurs d'aueuglement pour quelques iours, ou obscurcissement de veuë, & en fin se terminoit en vn flux de ventre, qui en a conduit plusieurs, & en conduit encore quelques-vns au tombeau.

Sometimes a word, or a dream, or a fancy, or even the smallest
sense of inconvenience, is enough to cause them to illtreat, or
set ashore, and I dare say to murder one,--as happened last year
to a poor Algonquain, who was abandoned in a rapid by his own
nephew; and, not a month ago, a poor young man, also an Algonquain,
having fallen into the fire, was killed near our village by his
own Tribesmen, for fear he might [133] be an inconvenience in the
canoe. What makes me believe they killed him is that it is the
custom among them; that the Hurons said so; and that, the evening
before, he ate heartily a good quantity of what we gave him;
besides, two Algonquains assured us that they had a mind to brain
him with one or two blows of an axe. Your Reverence has seen or
known of similar cases in your winter's stay among the Savages. In
a word, he who thinks of coming here must make up his mind to many
obvious dangers and to great fatigues. I attribute, nevertheless,
all these extraordinary difficulties to the sickness among our
Savages. For we know very well how sickness alters the disposition
and the inclinations even of the most sociable. I know not at what
price our French and the Montagnais [134] will have become rid of
it. I know, indeed, that the greater part of the Montagnais who
were at the three Rivers when we embarked were sick, and that many
of them died; and also that almost no one who returned by canoe
from trading, was not afflicted with this contagion. It has been
so universal among the Savages of our acquaintance that I do not
know if one has escaped its attacks. All these poor people have
been much inconvenienced by it, particularly during the Autumn,
as much in their fishing as in their harvesting. Many crops are
lying beneath the snow; a large number of persons are dead; there
are still some who have not recovered. This sickness began with
violent fever, which was followed by a sort of measles or smallpox,
different, [135] however, from that common in France, accompanied
in several cases by blindness for some days, or by dimness of
sight, and terminated at length by diarrhœa which has carried off
many and is still bringing some to the grave.

Parmy ces peines & dangers, nous auons de grandes obligations à la prouidence & bonté paternelle de nostre Seigneur: car ny par les chemins, ny dedans le Pays, pas vn de nous n'a esté pris de ce mal, ny cedé à la faim, ou perdu l'appétit. Quelques-vns ont eu du depuis quelque legere atteinte de maladie, mais cela s'est passé en peu de iours. Nostre Seigneur soit loüé à iamais, & la tres-immaculée Vierge, auec son tres-chaste Espoux, de cette singuliere faueur, qui nous a beaucoup aidé pour authoriser nostre Foy parmy ces Peuples.

Among these troubles and dangers, we owe much to the care and
fatherly goodness of our Lord; for neither on the journey hither,
nor while in this Country, has one of us been taken with this
sickness, nor yielded to hunger, nor lost appetite. Some have had
since then light attacks of sickness, but they have passed away in
a few days. Our Lord be forever praised, and the most immaculate
Virgin with her most chaste Spouse, for this singular favor, which
has aided us much in giving authority to our Faith among these
Peoples.

[136] I'arriué aux Hurons le cinquiesme d'Aoust, iour de nostre Dame des Neiges; ayant demeuré trente iours par les chemins, en continuel trauail, excepté vn iour de repos que nous prismes au pays des Bissiriniens. Tous les autres, excepté Robert le Coq & Dominique, demeurerent bien dauantage, quoy que d'ordinaire le voyage ne soit que de 20. iours ou enuiron. Ie pris terre au port du village de Toanché ou de _Teandeouïata_, où autresfois nous estions habituez; mais ce fut auec vne petite disgrace, nostre Seigneur nous voulant faire cognoistre dés l'entrée, qu'il nous appelle icy afin d'y endurer. Mes Sauuages s'oublians des caresses que ie leur avois fait, & de l'assistance que ie leur auois rendu, pendant leurs maladies, & outre cela des belles paroles & promesses qu'ils m'auoient faites, apres m'auoir [137] debarqué, auec quelques ornemens d'Eglise, & quelque autre petit equipage, m'abandonnerent là tout seul, sans viures, ny sans cabane, & reprindrent leur route vers leurs villages, distans de quelques sept lieuës; le mal estoit, que le village de Toanché auoit changé depuis mon depart, & que ie ne sçauois pas bonnement en quel endroit il estoit situé, & que ce riuage n'estant plus hanté, ie ne pouuois pas bien m'asseurer du chemin, & que quand ie l'eusse sceu, ny ma foiblesse ne m'eust pas permis de porter tout mon petit bagage à la fois, ny le hazard du lieu d'en faire à deux. C'est pourquoy ie priois mes Sauuages de m'accompagner iusques au village, ou au moins de coucher en ce bord pour cette nuiét, & garder mes hardes tandis que i'irois prendre langue. Mais leurs oreilles estoient sourdes [138] à mes prieres, & à mes remonstrances. Pour toute consolation ils me dirent que quelqu'vn me viendroit trouuer là. Il fallut auoir patience: ils partent, & ie me prosterne aussitost à genoux, pour remercier Dieu, nostre Dame, & sainct Ioseph, des faueurs & des graces que i'auois receu durant le voyage. Ie saluay l'Ange tutelaire du Pays, & m'offris à nostre Seigneur, auec tous nos petits trauaux, pour le salut de ces pauures Peuples, prenant esperãce que Dieu ne m'abandonneroit point là, puis qu'il m'auoit conserué & conduit auec tant de faueurs. Apres ayant consideré que cet abbord estoit desert, & que i'y pourrois bien demeurer longtemps, auant qu'aucun du village m'y vinst trouuer; ie caché mes pacquets dedans les bois, & prenant auec moy ce que i'auois de plus precieux, ie m'en allé chercher le [139] village, que ie rencontré heureusemẽt enuiron à trois quarts de lieuës, ayant en passant veu auec attendrissement & ressentiment le lieu où nous auions habité, & celebré le S. sacrifice de la Messe trois ans durant, cõuerty en vn beau champ; comme aussi la place du vieux village, où excepté vne cabane rien ne restoit que les ruines des autres. Ie vis pareillement l'endroit où le pauure Estienne Brulé auoit esté barbarement & traistreusement assommé; ce qui me fit pẽser que quelque iour on nous pourroit bien traitter de la sorte, & desirer au moins que ce fust en pourchassant la gloire de N. Seig. Dés aussi-tost que ie fus apperceu au village, & qu'on eust crié, voyla Echom reuenu, c'est ainsi qu'ils me nommẽt, tout le monde sortit pour me salüer & bienueigner, chacun m'appellant par mon nom, & me [140] disant: Quoy Echom, mon nepueu, mon frere, mon cousin, es tu donc reuenu? Mais sans m'arrester, parce que la nuict s'approchoit, ie prends logis, & m'y estant bien peu de temps rafraischy, ie sors aussi-tost auec vne bande de ieunes gens volontaires, pour aller reprendre mon petit bagage. Il estoit vne heure de nuict quand nous fusmes de retour au village. Ie me logeay chez vn nommé _Aouandoïé_, lequel est, ou au moins a esté vn des plus riches des Hurons. Ce que ie fis à dessein, par ce qu'vn autre moins fort eust pû estre incommodé du grand nombre de François que i'attendois, & qu'il falloit nourrir iusques à ce que nous fussions tous assemblez, & que nostre cabane fust faite. Vous pouuez vous loger où vous voulez, car ceste Nation entre toutes les autres, est fort hospitaliere enuers toute sorte [141] de personnes, mesmes enuers les Estrangers: & vous y demeurez tant qu'il vous plaist, tousiours bien traité à la façon du pays, & au partir de là vous en voyla quitte pour vn, _ho, ho, ho, outoécti_, ou vn grand mercy, au moins par entre-eux. Car des François ils attendent quelque recompense, à discretion toutesfois. Il est bien vray que tous ne sont pas également hospitaliers, il y a du plus & du moins. Mon hoste est des premiers en ceste vertu, & peut-estre est-ce pour ce sujet que Dieu l'a cõblé iusques à present de benedictiõs temporelles, & l'a preserué entre tous ses Concitoyens. Car leur village nommé _Teandeouïhata_, ayant esté bruslé par deux fois, il n'y a eu en toutes les deux fois, que sa seule maison exempte de l'embrasement. Quelques vns attribuent cela au fort; pour moy ie le rapporte à vne [142] cause plus noble; & si ie me souuiens d'vn bon trait, soit de prudence, soit d'humanité, dont il se seruit au premier embrasement; car l'enuie s'estant allumée contre luy, & quelques-vns voulant perdre sa cabane, que le feu auoit espargnée, aussi tost il fait mettre chaudiere haute, appreste vn bon festin, conuie tout le village, & les ayant assemblez, leur fait ceste harangue. Mes freres, i'ay vn tres-sensible déplaisir de l'accident qui est arriué; mais qu'y ferions nous, c'en est fait. Pour moy ie ne sçay pas ce que i'ay fait au Ciel, pour auoir esté espargné entre tous les autres. Or pour vous tesmoigner mon déplaisir, & le desir que i'ay de participer à la calamité commune, voyla deux quaisses de bled (elles tenoient pour le moins cent ou six vingts boisseaux) i'en donne vne de bon cœur à tout le [143] village. Cette action appaisa l'enuie, & esteignit les mauuais desseins que l'on couuoit desia contre luy. C'est faire sagement, que de perdre vne partie pour sauuer le reste.

[136] I arrived among the Hurons on the fifth of August, the day
of our Lady of the Snows, after being thirty days on the road
in continual work, except one day of rest, which we took in the
country of the Bissiriniens. All the others, except Robert le Coq
and Dominique, took much longer; although usually the journey is
only 20 days, or thereabout. I landed at the port of the village
of Toanché or of _Teandeouïata_, where we had formerly lived; but
it was with a little misfortune, our Lord wishing us to recognize
from the beginning that he is calling us here to suffer. My
Savages,--forgetting the kindness I had lavished upon them and the
help I had afforded them in their sickness, and notwithstanding
all the fair words and promises they had given me,--after having
[137] landed me with some Church ornaments and some other little
outfit, left me there quite alone, without any provisions and
without shelter, and resumed their route toward their villages,
some seven leagues distant. My trouble was that the village of
Toanché[28] had changed since my departure, and that I did not
know precisely in what place it was situated. The shore being no
longer frequented, I could not easily ascertain my way; and, if I
had known it, I could not from weakness have carried all my little
baggage at once; nor could I risk, in that place, doing this in
two trips. That is why I entreated my Savages to accompany me as
far as the village, or at least to sleep on the shore for the
night, to watch my clothes while I went to make inquiries. But
their ears were deaf [138] to my prayers and my remonstrances.
The only consolation they gave me was to tell me that some one
would find me there. I was obliged to be patient; they went away,
and I prostrated myself at once upon my knees to thank God, our
Lady, and saint Joseph, for the favors and mercies I had received
during the voyage. I saluted the tutelary Angel of the Country, and
offered myself to our Lord, with all our little labors, for the
salvation of these poor Peoples, taking hope that God would not
abandon me there, since he had preserved and led me with so many
favors. Then, having considered that this shore was deserted, and
that I might indeed remain there a long time before any one in the
village would come to find me, I hid my packages in the woods; and,
taking with me what was most precious, I set out to find the [139]
village, which fortunately I came upon at about three-quarters
of a league,--having seen with tenderness and emotion, as I passed
along, the place where we had lived, and had celebrated the Holy
sacrifice of the Mass during three years, now turned into a fine
field; and also the site of the old village, where, except one
cabin, nothing remained but the ruins of the others. I saw likewise
the spot where poor Estienne Brulé was barbarously and traitorously
murdered, which made me think that perhaps some day they might
treat us in the same manner, and to desire at least that it might
be while we were earnestly seeking the glory of Our Lord. As soon
as I was perceived in the village, some one cried out, "Why, there
is Echom come again" (that is the name they give me); and at once
every one came out to salute and welcome me, each calling me by
name and [140] saying: "What, Echom, my nephew, my brother, my
cousin, hast thou then come again?" But without stopping, for night
was approaching, I found a place to lodge; and, having rested a
short time, I quickly set out with a volunteer band of young people
to bring my slender baggage. It was an hour after sunset when we
returned to the village. I lodged with a man named _Aouandoïé_,
who is, or at least was, one of the richest of the Hurons. I did
this on purpose, because another with smaller means might have
been inconvenienced with the large number of Frenchmen whom I
was expecting, and who had to be provided with food and shelter
until we had all gathered together, and our cabin was ready. You
can lodge where you please; for this Nation above all others is
exceedingly hospitable towards all sorts [141] of persons, even
toward Strangers; and you may remain as long as you please, being
always well treated according to the fashion of the country. On
going away, one acknowledges their hospitality by a _ho, ho, ho,
outoécti_, or "many thanks!" at least among themselves; but from
Frenchmen they expect some recompense, always at one's discretion.
It is quite true that not all are equally hospitable, there are
some more and some less so. My host is one of the first in this
virtue; and perhaps it is on this account that God has crowned him
until now with temporal blessings, and has preserved him among all
his Fellow Countrymen; for their village, named _Teandeouïhata_,
having been burned twice, each time his house alone escaped the
conflagration. Some attribute this to chance; for myself, I ascribe
it to a [142] nobler cause, and so I recall a fine trait, call it
prudence or call it humanity, which he displayed on the occasion of
the first conflagration. For jealousy having been enkindled against
him, and some wishing to destroy his cabin that the fire had
spared, at once he caused a large cauldron to be hung, prepared a
good feast, invited the whole village, and, having assembled them,
delivered this harangue: "My brethren, I am very deeply grieved at
the misfortune that has happened; but what can we do about it? It
is over. For myself, I know not what I have done for Heaven, to be
spared before all others. Now, in order to testify to you my deep
grief and my desire to share in the common misfortune, I have two
bins of corn" (they held at least one hundred to one hundred and
twenty bushels); "I give one of them freely to the whole [143]
village." This action calmed their jealousy, and put an end to
their wicked designs which they were already forming against him.
It was a wise action, this losing a part to save the rest.

Ie me logeay donc chez cét homme, où ie demeuray auec nos deux Peres, & vn de nos gens, l'espace de plus d'vn mois & demy, iusques à ce que nous-nous transportasmes en nostre nouuelle cabane. Cependant ces pauures Sauuages nous faisoient toutes les caresses possibles, les vns portez par leur bon naturel, les autres par la consideration de quelques petits presens que ie leur auois fait, & l'esperance de quelques autres.

I lodged therefore with this man, and lived there with our two
Fathers and one of our people, for the space of more than a month
and a half, until we took possession of our new cabin. Yet these
poor Savages lavished upon us all possible kindnesses,--some
influenced by their good natural disposition; others, by a few
trifling gifts I made them, and the hope of some others.

Ie departis le reste de nos gens en vne autre cabane, pour éuiter l'importunité & l'incommodité, si nous eussions esté tous en vn seul logis.

I distributed the rest of our people in another cabin, to avoid the
annoyance and inconvenience of being all in one lodging.