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THE JESUIT RELATIONSANDALLIED DOCUMENTSVOL. LXVIII
The edition consists of sevenhundred and fifty setsall numberedNo.JdM
Copyright, 1900BYThe Burrows Brothers CoALL RIGHTS RESERVEDThe Imperial Press, Cleveland
EDITORIAL STAFFEditorTranslatorsAssistant EditorBibliographical AdviserReuben Gold ThwaitesFinlow AlexanderPercy Favor BicknellCrawford LindsayWilliam PriceEmma Helen BlairVictor Hugo Paltsits
CONTENTS OF VOL LXVIIIPreface to Volume LXVIII .Documents:—CCII. Relation du Saguenay,....1720 a 1730.Pierre Laure; ChekHtimi, March 13,1730CCIII. Lettre au Pere d'Avaugour, Procureurdes Missions de l'Am&riqne Septentrionale.Mathurin le Petit;Nouvelle Orleans, July 12, 1730.23120CCIV. Lettre au R. p. Richard, provincialde la province de Guyenne, a Bourdeaux.Luc Francois Nau; Quebec,October 20, 1734. ..224CCV. Lettre au R. P. H. faye. /. PierreAulneau; Quebeck, April 25, 1735 236CCVI. Lettre au reverend pere Bonin. /.Pierre Aulneau; Quebeck, April 29,. • •1735 .248CCVII. Lettre au reverend pere Bonin. /.Pierre Aulneau; Monreal, June 12,1735• • •.256CCVIII. Lettre au R. p. Bonin. Luc FrancoisNau; Sault St. Louis, October 2,1735. . . .260CCIX. Lettre au R. P. Bonin. /. PierreAulneau; Fort St. Charle, ches lesKriistinaux, April 30, 1736. 286
CCX. Epistola ad R. P. Franciscum Retz,Prsepositum Generalem SocietatisJesu, Romse. Mathurin le Petit;[Nouvelle Orleans, June 29, 1736] 308CCXI. Lettre a . Nicolas de Gonnor;Notre Dame de Laurette, [1736] 312Bibliographical Data: Volume LXVIII .321Notes . . . . ..325
PREFACE TO VOL. LXVIIIFollowing is a synopsis of the documents containedin this volume :CCII. Pierre Laure writes to his superior a report(dated March 13, 1730) of the Saguenay mission, ofwhich he has chargeit covers the nine years which;he has spent there. He begins with a generaldescription of the Saguenay region, which has butfour permanent posts— Tadoussac, Chicoutimi, theJ6r6mie Islets, and the Moisic River. Laure notesin detail the peculiar characteristics of the SaguenayRiver, and graphically describes some of his experiencesin traveling on' 'this capricious river ' ' instormy weather. He also describes Lake St. Johnand some of its tributaries— especially one whichrolls down in its waters many curiously-shapedstones. He gives an account of the Mistassin Indiansand their religious beliefs ; among them he finds atradition of the deluge, and the assertion that on oneof their mountains still lie some remains of " thegreat Canoe." Laure praises their gentleness andsimplicity, and especially admires their sobriety—for, unlike other savages, they neither desire norrelish " fire-water." One of the curiosities of theircountry is a cave of white marble, regarded withsuperstitious reverence by the savages. Thereare numerous medicine-men among this tribe, who
10 PREFACE TO VOL. LXVIIIpractice " 30 different kinds of jugglery." Whenquestioned by the missionary, they candidly admitthat their arts are fraudulent, and that they reallyhave not seen any demons.Laure, coming to the Saguenay in 1720, finds littletrace of the religious training that was given to theMontagnais by Crepieul and other early missionaries;and they are much corrupted in morals. Hefinds drunkenness and licentiousness prevalent to analarming extent. Unfortunately, these savages canhardly understand his Algonkin speech, and hecannot reach them with his instructions and rebukes." Without a house, without assistance, withoutconsolation, I pined away— solely through not beingable to express the bitterness of my heart, otherwisethan by the pallor of my countenance." In thisplight, Laure has recourse to his departed predecessor,Crepieul I went to the Church several times,;"and asked the venerable deceased to send me fromHeaven his montagnais tongue, which was no longerof use to him. But the saints desire us to take thesame trouble that they themselves have taken tobecome qualified to glorify God." He finds, however,a mortal instructor, who' 'directedmy studiesin a masterly manner." With this aid, he is ableto preach to the savages, and to compose catechismand hymns in their language. Becomingill in thewinter, he goes in the spring to Quebec but almost;immediately has a presentiment that he is needed inhis mission, and returns thither.The Montagnais chief is converted, and dies mostpiously, regretted by all, especially by his spiritualfather. This is the beginning of an epidemic of
PREFACE TO VOL. LXVIII 11illness which carries away over a score of savages,and gives the missionary little rest by day and night ;for he is continually called upon to comfort the sickand bury the dead. He relates the particulars ofsome conversions occurring in this sad time. Thevarious methods of sweating, the chief remedy ofthe savages, are carefully explained. After theepidemic is over, Laure is so prostrated by his arduouslabors that his recently-acquired knowledge of thelanguage temporarily forsakes him. The Indiansaccuse the French of selling them goods infectedwith contagion and the ;missionary thinks that thischargeis but too true, for the Frenchmen who openthe bales are at once attacked by fever, and onlythose savages die who use these goods.The Tadoussac mission, in its palmy days containingnearly 3,000 men, has been reduced by diseasesto but twenty-five families. The ruins of the formerJesuit residence and church are still visible whenLaure returns : he advocates the rebuilding of theseedifices. He describes with much detail the appearanceand habits of the seal, the manner in which itis hunted at Tadoussac, the usefulness of this animal,and the manufacture of the oil. Laure ascribes theruin of the Tadoussac mission to the jealousy ofsome Frenchmen who thought that the missionarywatched them too closely; they assigned the pretextthat the Indians " were kept at prayers day andnight, and were not allowed time to hunt." But thesavages themselves say that, ' ' as they go to confessiononly once a year, and no longer see a priest onthe rocks, they lose heart and do not venture to gofar from the shore, where alone the seals are to be
12 PREFACE TO VOL, LXVIIIfound." For this reason, the annual product ofseal-oil has diminished to a small fraction of theamount obtained when the mission was carried on.After leaving Tadoussac, Laure goes to the Jer6-mie Islets, among the Papinachois— whose origin"he ascribes to some Basque fisherman, who, shipwreckedon their shores with some Eve, has beentheir unfortunate Adam." Among these peopleLaure finds great interest in the gospel, and theutmost kindness toward himself. He undertakes toreestablish the Chicoutimi mission, in which he isgreatly aided by the cooperation and excellent judgmentof the clerk in the trading post there. A plainbut well-appointed church, and a house for the"missionary, are built (1726-28). A large numberof resident savages would complete his happiness; Mbut there is nothing for them to live upon. Hesuggests that the trading company would do well tosupport the Indians here, during three months of theyear, ' ' in order to prevent their completely destroyingthe summer beaver, whose fur is worthless."He also urges that a small fund be established forsupporting and instructing Montagnais childrenduring the winter, that they may become preachersof Christian doctrine among their relatives.Laure proposes to his superior the extension of theSaguenay mission. He desires to go to Labrador,* '' 'where I know that great results can be obtained ;a new missionary could take his place at Chicoutimi,with the aid of Laure' s Montagnais writings.CCIII. A letter from Mathurin le Petit to D'Avaugour(dated at New Orleans, July 12,1730) givesa report of the Louisiana missions. The event ofmost importance therein is the terrible massacre by
PREFACE TO VOL. LXVUI 13the Natches Indians (October 28, 1729) of the Frenchpeople settled among them, over two hundred innumber. The relation of this is preceded by anaccount of those savages, their character, customs,and religion.The Natches tribe " is the only one on this continentwhich appears to have any regular worship."They worship the sun, and their chief of highestrank styles himself " Brother of the Sun"— arrogatingto himself therewith despotic authority. At hisdeath, his servants are strangled, that they may followhim in that capacity to the other world. Theybelieve in the immortality of the soul, with rewardsor punishments in its future existence. Their cropsare planted together in one large field, and allassemble to collect the harvest. The first fruitsgathered are presented to the temple, and then distributedaccording to the orders of the great chief.Marriages are a matter of barter, the husband payinga stipulated price in peltries or goods. Polygamy isprevalent among — the chiefs the support of theirwives and children costing them nothing, becausethey have " the right to oblige the people to cultivate' "their fields, without giving them any wages.Le Petit gives a long account of the customsobserved by this people in carrying on their wars.The captives whom they bring home are madeslaves ; but, ifgiven to the relatives of dead warriors,the captives are burned to death. The medicine-menflourish here, as among other savage tribes ;11all their art consists in different juggleries" — indancing, singing, smoking tobacco, and invocationsto their fetiches. Other jugglers undertake, bysimilar means, to procure favorable weather. Both
14 PREFACE TO VOL. LXVIIIthese classes of conjurors are composed of old men,or those too indolent to work. When successful,their gain is considerable; but, if they fail, theirheads are cut off. Ambassadors from other tribesare received by the Natches Indians with numerousand elaborate ceremonies, in which the calumet, orpeace-pipe, is conspicuous.Having furnished this preliminary information, LePetit narrates the particulars of the terrible vengeancetaken by these savages for the injustice shown themby a tyrannical French commandant. They form aconspiracy, even with other tribes, to exterminate' 'the French settlers ;and in less than two hoursthey massacred more than two hundred of theFrench." Among these are the commandant at theNatches village, one of the earliest grantees on theMississippi estates, and the Jesuit priest Du Poisson.The savages spare two Frenchmen, a tailor and acarpenter; they kill such women as have nursingchildren, or are not in good health, and enslave allthe others. A few French fugitives escape, one ofwhom is aided to reach New Orleans by some YazooIndians whom he encounters. They assure him thatthey will remain faithful to the French; but nosooner do they return to their own village than theyform a plot to murder the Frenchmen there. OnDecember 1 1 , they murder their missionary, FatherSouel, and, on the next day, the garrison at theFrench post near their village. Soon afterward,they attack the Jesuit Doutreleau, on his way to NewOrleans, who narrowly escapes them with his life.As soon as Perrier, the governor at New Orleans,hears of the savages' treachery, he takes all possiblemeasures to defend the colony. All other French
PREFACE TO VOL. LXVIII 15posts along the Mississippi are warned;guns andammunition are distributed in the city and on theplantations two ships are despatched to the Yazoo;River; fortifications are erected not only at NewOrleans, but on the plantations; and companies ofmilitia are organized. All the available soldiers aremustered to proceed against the Natches. Meanwhile,Le Sueur conducts 700 Choctaw warriorsthither, to secure the release of the French prisoners;this is accomplished, on January 27, 1730,— theChoctaws taking the Natches village by surprise,and capturing and killing a considerable number oftheir men. On February 8, the French troops, withsome savage allies, arrive; but, finding many difficultiesin their siege of the village, a mutual agreementis reached (February 25), by which the Frenchreceive their remaining captives, and withdraw —building, however, a fort on a bluff near by, tosecure control of the great river. The Choctaw alliesfor theirgo to New Orleans, to receive paymentservices ; they disgust the French by their vanity,greed for gain, and insolence. The Natches hadbeen joined in their revolt by some negro slaves;three of these, the ringleaders, are abandoned to theChoctaws, who have H burned them alive, with adegree of cruelty which has inspired all the negroeswith a new horror of the Savages, but which willhave a beneficial effect in securing the safety of thecolony. Some ' 'Natches prisoners are also burnedby the savages allied to the French and the writer;adds, " Our own people, it is said, begin to be accustomedto this barbarous spectacle." The Frenchwomen enslaved by the Natches return to NewOrleans, and " many of them were in great haste to
16 PREFACE TO VOL. LXVIIIThe little girls made orphans by themarry again."massacre are placed in charge of the Ursuline nuns,since none ' ' of the habitants wish to ' 'adopt thesechildren. A warm eulogyis bestowed upon thesedevoted nuns, who, only seven in number, areoverloaded with cares and labors.The Chickasaw Indians are endeavoring to seducethe Illinois tribes from their loyalty to the French ;but they refuse to listen to these overtures, and evensend ambassadors to assure the French of their fidelityand devotion, and to offer their aid in fightingthe Natches. The piety of these ambassadors edifiesall the French people, and Le Petit admits that manyof the latter " are not so well instructed in religionas are these neophytes. One ' 'of these Illinois savageshas visited France, and his tribesmen refuse tobelieve the wonderful stories that he tells them, onhis return, about what he saw there.The Natches have fled to the Red River, anddwell there"in three forts. This war has retardedthe French colony; nevertheless, we flatter ourselvesthat this misfortune will be productive of benefit, bydetermining the Court to send the forces necessaryto tranquilize the colony and render it flourishing. ' 'Troops are now on the wayCCIV.from France.Luc Francois Nau, who has just arrivedin Canada, writes (October 20, 1734) to his provincial,describing the long and arduous voyage which heand several other priests have made. He narratesthe discomforts they endured from close and crowdedquarters the stench and;vermin proceeding from acrowd of military recruits, and another of releasedprisoners, who are being shipped to the Americancolonies ;the ship-fever which rages throughout the
PREFACE TO VOL. LXVIII 17vessel, and carries off many persons and the annoyancecaused to the officers and the priests by certain;abb£s of the bishop's suite— ignorant, conceited, andquarrelsome men, " whom he had collected from the'streets of paris. Nau relates various items of news'regarding the mission stations assigned to himself(Sault St. Louis) and to other priests; a proposedexpedition to the Western Sea; and rumors aboutwhite men who dwell in the great unexplored regionbeyond the Mississippi.CCV. Pierre Aulneau announces (April 25, 1735)to a friend his near departure for the West, wherehe is to undertake a mission among the Sioux. Hisfirst effort will be to learn the languages of theseand other Western tribes, who are almost entirestrangers to the French. He asks his friend to urgein France that more missionaries be sent to America,where they are greatly needed ;seven or eight ofthe missions there have been abandoned, for lack ofworkers. Aulneau praises the zeal and devotion ofthose who are engaged in this holy enterprise,and especially thus mentions the late Father Guesnier.The death of this priest is mourned by all,and his garments, and even his hair, are eagerlyseized as holy relics by the people of Quebec andvicinity.CCVI. Aulneau sends to another Jesuit, namedBonin, a similar letter, but giving more details of hisproposed Western journey, which is one of explorationas much as of missionary labors.CCVI I. A short letter (dated June 12, 1735) fromAulneau to the same friend, is written from Montreal,on his way to the West. News has arrived,after a silence of three years, from Guignas, who has
18 PREFACE TO VOL. LXVIIIrepeatedly been in danger of death from the Sacsand Foxes. He is worn out with hardships andsufferings but there is no one who can be sent to;relieve him. Aulneau asks his correspondent tosend him the computations for eclipses visible inFrance and America, that he may use them to determinelongitudes in the wilderness.CCVIII. Nau writes (October 2, 1735) to Bonin along account of the mission at Sault St. Louis (Caughnawaga).With this, he incidentally gives considerableinformation about the climate of Canada, thephysical and mental characteristics of the Iroquois inhis mission, their costumes, etc." The Iroquoisand hurons are more inclined to the practice ofvirtue than other nations ; they are the only savagescapable of refined feelings; all the others are to beset down as Cowardly, ungrateful, and voluptuous.If there were no french in Canada, we would haveas many saints in our mission as we now havechristians ;but the bad example and the solicitationsof the french are a Very great obstacle to thesanctification of our Iroquois." Notwithstandingthe punishments imposed on Frenchmen who sellliquor Indians,— to the flogging, the galleys, etc.,—" still our savages find all the brandy they want;and, as soon as they are drunk, they are capable ofany crime/'Nau isadopted by the tribe, and receives thename of Hateriata, " the brave man." He recountsthe pious exercises and duties of his mission, whichinclude his ministry to the French people settled atthe Sault. The savages are unusually proficient in' 'church music, even more so than the whites ;neitherCordeliers nor nuns ever sang as do our Iroquois men
PREFACE TO VOL. LXVIII I*and women," in both richness of tone and correctrendering of the notes. They raise domestic animals,as the French do ;the winters they spend inhunting. They aid the French in every quarrel withother tribes, but they still make war through stratagemand surprise. They send a party to the Foxwar ;but these warriors lose their way, and accomplishnothing. The slaves taken in war " furnishthe majority of the adults whom we instruct forbaptism in the village."The Iroquois tribes in their own countryu arevisibly on the decrease, on account of their incessantquarrels and the use of intoxicants supplied by theEnglish." Those at the Sault use Huron ratherthan their own language, in the church services.Nau is endeavoring to master both tongues, andmust also attempt to instruct the slaves who arebrought to the village, who seldom can learn theIroquois language. He relates what informationhe can give about the various missionaries in NewFrance.La Richardie has gathered at Detroit thescattered Hurons, and converted them all, sixhundred in number. At that post are now seventyFrench families, besides the fort and garrison;theR£collet Fathers are in charge there. Aulneau hasgone to the Northwest. Nau has seen La Verandrye,westerncommandant of that region, who says,' 'Thesea would have been discovered long ago, if peoplehad wished it. Monsieur the Count de Maurepas isright when he says that theofficials in Canada arelooking not for the western sea, but for the sea ofbeaver." As for the Ottawas and Sioux, the missionariesthere " have managed to convert but a fewold men and women who are beyond the age of
20 PREFACE TO VOL. LXVIIIsinning," and they baptize some children at thepoint of death but ' •those who recover seldom fail;later to fall away from the faith."CCIX.Another letter to Bonin, from Aulneau, iswritten (April 30, 1736) from Fort St. Charles amongthe" Crees, on the southwest side of lake of thewoods." He reaches that place by way of LakeSuperior, after a journey of four months from Montreal.He has spent the winter at Fort St. Charles,—a rough stockade, and a group—of wretched cabinsand he intends tosouthwest of Lake of the Woods;go for the summer to Lake Winnipeg, to evangelizethe Assiniboines and Crees. In the following December,he is planning to go with some of the formertribe to another savage nation, apparently dwellingon the Columbia River ;and he hopes thus to reachthe ocean.As for the savages northwest of Lake Superior," and especially the Kristinaux [Crees], I do notbelieve that, unless it be by miracle, they can everbe persuaded to embrace the faith;. . .theyare superstitious and morally degraded, to a degree. . .beyond conception. Both English andFrench, by their accursed avarice, have given thema taste for brandy, and have thus been instrumentalin adding to their other vices that of drunkenness ;so that brandy is their only topic of conversation,the sole object of their petitions; nor can they everbe counted upon unless they receive enough to getdrunk on." Those tribes have notions of heavenand hell ;but these are absurd and material to thelast degree. Aulneau is * ' the first missionary whohas as yet undertaken to systematize the language' 'of the Kristinaux ;but he has poor facilities for
PREFACE TO VOL. LXVIII 21learning it, as all the men have spent most of thewinter in an expedition against their enemies theSioux. Their only idol is the demon; and theirfear of him prevents them from paying homage tothe one God. Aulneau hopes that a fellow-workermay be sent him, another year. He has a presentimentthat death is near— which, as we shall see, wasfulfilled soon after he wrote this letter.CCX. Le Petit announces (June 29, 1736), to thegeneral of his order, the loss of two workers in theWestern missions: Gabriel Guymoneau, for twentyyears a minister to the Illinois tribes ;and AntoineSenat, a colleague of the former, who was, on PalmSunday, burned at the stake by the hostile Chickasaws.CCXI. Nicolas de Gonnor writes to a priest inFrance, announcing the death of Aulneau, who hasbeen murdered by a band of Sioux Indians, anddesiring his friend to tell this sad news to Aulneau'sfamily. Little more is known about his death thanthe fact that he and his party of twenty Frenchmenwere slain — probably surprised at night and that;other Frenchmen, passing that way, found the deadbodies.Madison, Wis., May, 1900.R. G. T.
ecuRelation du Saguenay, 1720-30Par le R. P. Pierre LaureChek8timi le 13° de mars 1730SOURCE : Wefollow the original MS. in the archives ofSt. Mary's College, Montreal.
24 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68Relation du Saguenay, 1720 a 1730, par leR. P. Pierre Laure.A Chekstimi le i3ede mars 1730.Mon Reverend Pere,P. X.V. R. n'ignore pas qu'on n'ecrit d'icy aQuebec qu'une fois rhyver. Tout tard que s'enpresente l'occasion, je vous conjure d'agr£er lesrespectueux hommages que je vous ai deja presentsde coeur au commencement de cette anne*e, que jerenouvelle aujourd'huy et que je continuerai devouf rendre jusqu'a la mort. Si Ton peut vousd£sirer quelque chose, je fais mille souhaits pourvous. Les votres sont et doivent etre pour moi desordres.Au lieu de me commander, vous m'avez commeprie, en me conduisant vouf-meme, par une extremebonte" jusqu'au rivage ou de la ville je devois m'embarquerl'automne dernier pour ma mission, de vous6crire ce que j'avois observe" de plus 6difiant parminos Montagnez. j'ai compris que vous souhaitiezune naive relation de ce qui s'6toit pass6 dans cettetriple Eglise depuis les neuf ans que la Providencem'en a confi6 le soin. Je vous obei's et pourrois-jebalancer un moment a contenter votre pieuse curiosit6,a vous donner du moins quelque foible marquede mon estime pour vous de ma soumifsion et de mareconnaissance pour toutes les bontez dont vous me
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 25Relation of the Saguenay, 1720 to 1730, byReverend Father Pierre Laure.Chekoutimi, march 13, 1730.My Reverend Father,Pax Christi.Your Reverence is aware of the fact that wewrite from here to Quebec only once every winter.However late the occasion, I beg you to accept therespectful homage which I already presented to youin my heart at the beginning of this year, which Irepeat to-day, and which I shall continue to renderyou until death. If anything can be desired for you,I offer a thousand wishes for you. Yours are andmust be orders, for me.Instead of commanding me, you, as it were, beggedof me— while yourself accompanying me, out ofexceeding kindness, to the beach where I was toembark on leaving the town last autumn for mymission — to write to you what I had found mostedifying among our Montagnais. I understood thatyou wished to have a simple narration of what hadoccurred in this triple Church during the nine yearsthat have elapsed since Providence confided the carethereof to me. I obey you; and could I, for a moment,hesitate to satisfy your pious curiosity, and togive you at least some slight proof of my esteem forfor all theyou, of my submission, and of my gratitudekindness that you have so long manifested toward me ?Without roaming the forests, you, My Reverend
26 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68faites refsentir depuis si long-terns les effets? Sanscourir les forets, vous vallez, Mon R P., plusieursmifsionnaires par lessoins que vous prenez en vraipere de vos enfants dispersez mais que vous porteztous reunis dans le coeur. Aussi que n'aurions nouspas a dire s'il s'agissoit de faire votre Eloge. Je vaisdone en abreg6 vous rendre compte de mes ann6es,heureux si j'avois une foule de vrais convertis apresenter a V. R. pour ses etrenes.Le Domaine du Roy qui comprendici toute laprofondeur de la cote du nord, et s'6tend depuis lebas de l'lle-aux-Coudres jusqu'aux Sept-Iles, n'a que4 postes solidement etablis Tadtffsak, Chek8timi,les Ilets-Jeremie ou Papinachois et la Riviere- Moisy.Dans ces differens endroits La Compagnie des fermesou d' Occident entretient des magasins, des commiset d'autres employez francois, pour chasser, et pourcommercer avec les Sauvages dependans de chaquedistrict. Depuis 20 ans, a bien dire on n'y avoitpoint vu de mifsionnaire, a la fin on en demanda un.Comme iln'y avoit alors que moi de desoeuvre* aucollege, ce fut sur moy que le sort tomba. Le R Pde la Chafse pour lorsSuperieur de nos mifsions,amine" de ce zele qui luy ayant fait ensevelir tantd'admirables talens qu'il a recu du ciel et soutenirtant et de si longs travaux parmi les Sauvages, luifait encore aujourdhuy regretter de se voir borne"aux seuls francois de la colonie me fit partir le i er dejuin 1720 pour Chek8timy.Ce postesitue" au nord et a 60 lieues pour le moinsde Quebec n'a rien qui le distingue sinon un certainnombre de sauvages qui de terns en terns, pourachepter leurs besoins y viennent apporter leurs
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 27Father, are equal to many missionaries through thecare that you, like a true father, take of your—childrenwho are scattered, but whom you bear, all united to-what would wegether, in your heart. Consequently,not say, had we to repeat your Praises? I shalltherefore render you a summary account of my years'labors, happyif I had a multitude of true convertsto present to Your Reverence as a new year's gift.The King's Domain — which here comprises thewhole depth of the north shore, and extends fromthe lower end of He aux Coudres to the SevenIslands — contains but 4 posts solidly established:Tadoussak, Chekoutimi, the Jeremie Islets or Papinachois,and the Moisy River. At these variouspoints The farming Company, or Company of theWest, maintains warehouses, clerks, and other frenchemployees, for the purpose of hunting and tradingwith the Savages belonging to each district. 1 For20 years, to tell the truth, no missionary had beenseen there ;at last, one was asked for. As I was theonly unemployed one at the college, the lot fell uponme. Reverend Father de la Chasse, then Superiorof our missions,— animated by that zeal which, afterleading him to conceal so manythat he has receivedadmirable talentsfrom heaven, and to endure somany and so protracted labors among the Savages,still makes him regret to-day that his duties areconfined solely to the french of the colony— made meleave on the 1st of June, 1720, for Chekoutimy.This post— which lies to the north, and at least 60leagues from Quebec— is not remarkable in anyway, except for a certain number of savages who,from time to time, for the purpose of purchasingwhat they need, come here with their rich furs from
28 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 68riches pelleteries de differens endroits par de petitesrivieres qui forment ce fameux Saguene" dont on nes'est pas encore avise\ a ce que je sache, de donnerune carte fidelle et entiere. II y auroit bien ducurieux a en dire, si ce que V. R. attend uniquementde moi ne me bornoit a mon sujet;je ne puis cependantme dispenser d'en donner quelqu'idee.Ce fleuve done prenant sa source au Lac Pi6ktfagami,que le Pere de Crespieuil dont les sueursapostoliques ont arrose" durant 30 ans les bois d'alentournomma Lac St Jean, ce fleuve, dis-je, n'aproprement jusqu'a Tadtfssac que 25 lieues, depuisune grande ance que forme une chaine de montagnesentrecoup6e de ruifseaux et de rivieres, au nordnord-Est desquelles se rencontre celle de Chek8timy,la quelle, formee par deux cascades qui sortant de lameme riviere et se separant font Tile que noushabitons, va a 9 lieues de ces chutes, grofsir de soneau douce le SagueneA Sale\L'embouchure de ce fleuve est la pretenduecapitale de la Province du Saguene" Je veux direTadtfssac, qui ne consiste qu'en une maison de boiset un magasin.II faut avouer pourtant que la situationen est tres belle et tres propre a y recevoir uneville. Le port est spatieux, sain, assure et a l'abryde tous les vents: les moyens batimens aux hautesmers mouillent jusqu'au pied de la cote; C'etoit laqu'autrefois 1'angloisSauvagesvenoit commercer avec les: on voit encore dans un rocher le trou ouils avoient plante un poteau pour amarer leurs vaisseauxet iln'y a que deux ans qu'on trouva dans lesable remue" par un coup de mer leur chaine de ferlongue d' environ 30 brafses et grosse a proportion.
1720-36] SAGUENA Y RELA TION 29various places, by the little rivers that flow into thisfamous Saguene— whereof no attempt has yet beenmade, to my knowledge, to draw an accurate and completechart. 2 Much that is curious might be said of it,did not the sole information which only Your Reverenceexpects from me, limit me to my subject. I cannothowever refrain from giving you some idea of it.This river, then, which takes its rise in LakePi6kwagami,— which Father de Crespieuil, whoseapostolic sweat for 30 years watered the surroundingforests, called Lake St. John — this river, I say, is,properly speaking, only 2 5 leagues in length as far asTadoussac, from a deep basin formed by a chain ofmountains, intersected by streams and rivers.Among these streams, to the north-northeast, is thatof Chekoutimy, which falls in two cascades— which,issuing from the same river and separating, form theIslandwhereon we dwell, — and then flows to add,at 9 leagues from these falls, its fresh water to theSalt Saguene\At The mouth of that river is the alleged capitalof the Province Saguene— of I mean Tadoussac,which consists of merely a wooden dwelling and astorehouse. It must be admitted, however, that itssituation is very fine, and very well suited for atown. The harbor is spacious, healthful, safe, andsheltered from every wind; medium-sized vesselsanchor, at high water, at the foot of the hill. Thiswas the place where the english formerly came totrade with the Savages. A hole in a rock, in whichthey had placed a mooring-post for their ships, isstill to be seen there ;and only two years ago therewas found, in the sand disturbed by a high wave,their iron chain about 30 brasses in length, and thick
30 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.68C'est la aufsi qu'avec impetuosity le Saguene" sedecharge dans le fleuve St Laurent, et que le rleuveSt Laurent aux marges montantes le remplit si vitequ'apres bien des observations on a remarque* qu'aurerlus la mer etoit a un quart-d'heure pres, egalementhaute et a Tadtffsac et a Chektftimi qui en esteloigne* de 30 lieues pres. II ne faut pas s'etonnerque malgre cette distance cela arrive.Le Saguene, etant pres d'une lieue de large encertains endroits de son embouchure et sans fonds,le reflux de la mer qui y entre avec une extremerapidite" comme dans un goufre dont l'entree estles eauxplus evas6e, repousse si pr^cipitemmentdescendantes que succefsivement refoulees, elles setrouvent hautes a Chektftimi ou le fond est plus platet le lit de la riviere plus etroit, presqu'aussitot qu'aTadtffsac, ou elles montent plus lentement et ou ilfaut un plus grand volume d'eau pour remplir lesvastes ances, qui s'y rencontrent, et la capacite de lariviere qui a plus de 8 a 10 lieues de large en cetendroit la.Les montagnes entre les quelles le Saguene" coulesont si hautes et si escarpees que les plus monstrueuxarbres qui sont sur leurs sommet ne paroissent gueresd'en bas plus gros que la jambe et vers les 7 heuresdu soir en et£ pour peu qu'on renge la terre du sudou qu'on ne soit tout a fait au large, on a peine a lireen canot. Dans certaines fentes de ces rochers oune donne jamais le soleil on voit plusieurs veines desalpetres tres fin et tres blanc il ne se passe gueresde printems ou il ne s'y fafse quelqu'eboulement pardes causes naturelles qui font plus de bruit qu'uncoup de canon et qui rependent aux environs une
1720-36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 31in proportion. Here also the Saguene* falls impetuouslyinto the river St. Lawrence; and with therising tides the St. Lawrence fills it so rapidly that,after many observations, it has been remarked thatduring flood-tide it is high water at Tadoussac andChekoutimi within about a quarter of an hour ofthe same time, although the distance is nearly30 leagues. It is not surprising that this shouldhappen, in spite of the distance.The Saguene* being nearly a league wide at certainparts of its mouth, and so deep that it cannot besounded, the flood-tide, entering with excessiverapidity,— as if into a chasm with a wider entrance,—pushes back the descending waters with great force.Accordingly, as these are forced back in succession,it is high—tid,e at Chekoutimi where the bottom isshallower, and the bed of the river narrower—almost at the same time as at Tadoussac, where thewater rises more slowly, and where a greater volumeis needed to fill the deep bays there, and the fullbreadth of the river, which is more than 8 or 10leagues wide at that place.The mountains between which the Saguene runsare so high and so steep that the largest trees ontheir summits do not appear from below to be thickerthan one's leg; and about 7 o'clock in the eveningin summer, if one be at all near the shore on thesouth side, or unless one be far out, it is difficult toread in a canoe. In some of the clefts of the rocks,where the sun never shines, are many veins of veryfine and very white saltpeter. Hardly a springpasses without some landslides happening throughnatural causes ;and the noise they make is louderthan the report of a cannon, while they diffuse in the
32 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68vraye odeur de poudre. Les chaleurs entre ces deuxchaisnes de montagnes, la pluspart pelves et inaccefsiblessont si excefsives que la gomme des canotsfond souvent a la surface de l'eau. La nature sembley avoir menage d'heureux et de commodes entrepofpour les voyageurs. A Texception d'un seul coursde 4 a 5 lieues, au quelil seroit dangereux de seconfier trop legerement et d'ou en cas de quelqu'oragesubit, il seroit comme impofsible de se sauver encanot d'ecorce, nat[ure?— la MS. torn here] trouve detemps en terns de petits ports de sable ou Ton metcommodernent a travers. Ces sortes de debarquementsse trouvent plus a main a la cote du nord.Partout presque se rencontrent des mouillages pourles batiments les ;plus gros vaisseaux dans un besoinse trouveroient heureux de pouvoir s'y refugier, ainsique firent, l'annee que les Anglois afsiegerentinutilement Quebec les navires francois qui venoient,mais trop tard au secours et dont on voit encore lesrestes des casernes et des batteries a 2 lieues en decade Tadtffsac. Aux mers basses on a plus de peinea debarqueril faut porter son bagage quelquefoistres loin parmi les cailloux gliffans et couverts de cesherbes limoneuses que nous appellons goimon, maisaussi en recompense la providence a place* danspresque tous les endroits du bois de chauffage et depetits ruisseaux qui decoulants des marets qu'habitele castor, tombent du haut des caps, desalterent etrejouifsent les voyageurs fatiguez.Le noroist et le nord-est seuls reignent dans leSaguene; les autres vents ou s'y font peu sentir oudu moins n'y sont jamais furieux. Depuis que je lepratique assez souvent je n'ay gueres vu que les 2
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 33neighborhood an odor exactly like that of gunpowder.The heat between these two chains of mountains,most of which are bare and inaccessible, is sogreat that the gum on the canoes often melts at thesurface of the water. Nature seems to have contrivedfavorable and convenient stopping-places fortravelers. With the exception of a single stretch of4 or 5 leagues, to which it would be dangerous toconfide oneself too headlessly, and whence in theevent of a sudden storm it would be well-nigh impossibleto escape in a bark canoe, nature provideshere and there small sandy ports, where one canconveniently put in. These landings are moreaccessible on the north side. Anchorage for vesselscan be found almost everywhere ; the largest ships,in case of need, would be fortunate to find refugethere — as, during the war, when the English unsuccessfullybesieged Quebec, did the french ships thatarrived too late to be of use. The remains of theirbarracks and their batteries can still be seen, 2 leaguesthis side of Tadoussac. At low tide, it is more difficultto disembark ;it is sometimes necessary to carryone's baggage a very long distance, over slipperystones covered with those slimy plants that we callu sea-wrack." But on the other hand, as a compensation,providence has at nearly all these spots placedfire-wood;and little brooks,— which, flowing from theswamps where the beaver dwell, fall from the topsof the cliffs, to refresh and rejoice tired travelers.The northwest and northeast winds are the onlyones that blow on the Saguene" the others are either;but slightly felt or at least are never violent. Duringthe many journeys that I have made, I have seenonly the 2 former exceedingly treacherous, stormy,
34 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 6&premiers extremement traitres orageux et durablef.a peine Tun et l'autre prend il qu'on s'en doit defierquelque propice qu'il soit, surtout si le ciel se couvreet qu'il y ait apparence d'orage, car alors comme enpleine mer l'onde bruit, s'agite, 6cume et par lescombats de mille vagues qui se poursuivent sechafsent ou se rompent succefsivement les unes dansles autres elle avertit lef canoteurs de nager fort etde gagner vite terre. Oserois-je, mon R P vous endonner un ou deux egsps [i.e., exemples— A. E. J.]Ma premiere ann6e de million, entre les voyagesque je fis a TadSffac pour la consolation de mesneophites, on me vint chercher un jour pour unmalade qui prefsoit n'ayant point encore l'experiencedu danger qu'il y avoit a courrir dans ce fleuve capricieuxje voulu me prefser et quoy que je n'eufsequ'un vieux canot de 4 placef II me fallut marcherla nuit. Le terns £toit beau et la lune dans son pleinne donnoit aucun signe de bourasque mes 2 cano-;teurs Sauvages cependant s'endormoient. Ennuy6de les reveiller a chaque instant, je les laisse enfinsuccomber au sommeil prens un aviron nage gouverneme laissant emporter au fil de la maree quiA m'aidoit.quelque terns dela un de mes hommes se reveillereprend son aviron, et comme c'eft la maniere defentre eux deSauvages souverainement independansne se jamais rien dire en fait de travail de peur dese choquer, me il pria d'eveiller l'autre Jele fis et amon tour acable de fomeil voyant une heureusenavigation je m'appuye la tete et les bras sur unedes barref du canot. A peine someillois-je que sansn'entendant encor que quelques mots du manegemontagnez je cru que mes gens disputoient je me
1720 - 86] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 35and lasting. As soon as either of these winds beginsto blow, caution is necessary, however favorable itmay be,— especiallyif the sky be overcast, and therebe any appearance of a storm. For then, as at sea,the waters roar, rise, and foam; and, by the conflictsof a thousand waves, pursuing and following oneanother, or breaking successively one after another,they warn the canoemen to paddle vigorously, andreach land quickly. May I venture, my ReverendFather, to give you one or two instances of it?During the first year of my mission, between thethat I made to Tadoussac for the consolation oftripsmy neophytes, I was called one day to go to a sickman in urgent need. As I had, as yet, no experienceof the danger to be encountered on this capriciousriver, I wished to hasten my journey ; and,although I had only an old canoe for 4 paddles, Ihad to travel at night. The weather was fine, andthe moon at its full showed no sign of a squall.Meanwhile my 2 Savage canoemen were fallingasleep. Tired of awakening them at every moment,I at last allowed them to give way to slumber. Itook a paddle, and paddled and steered, allowingthe current of the tide, which helped me, to drift mealong. Some time afterward, one of my men awoke,and took his paddle and, as it is the custom of the;Savages, who are exceedingly independent amongthemselves, never to say anything to one anotherabout work, for fear of giving offense, he beggedme to rouse the other. I did so, and being in myturn overcome by drowsiness, and seeing only aneasy navigation, I rested my head and arms on oneof the thwarts of the canoe. I had barely fallenasleep when — as I understood as yetbut a few
36 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68leve, parle et ne vois plusni ciel ni eauni rochers,mais une nuit profonde causae par un orage quis'etoit eleve* soudain au nord-oist. Nous sommesperdus, mon pere, me crierent ilsdebarquons vite,mes enfans, leur repliquai-je: aucun debarquement neparoifsoit tant la nuit etoit obscure, et outre que nousetions au plus profond du Saguene, le nuage s'epaississants'embloit nous joindre et gronder derier nous;nous touchions aux rochers par bonheur et sur lepremier venu je voulu me sauver;en debarquant lepie*me glisse je tombe a l'eau et le canoteur, quietoit manchot, de son moignon quimain et qu'il fourra precipitemment sous mon aisselleme retira et me jeta sur une pointe de caillou. Lanous plaeames notre canot. J'admirai mes 2 Sauvagesqui dormirent tranquillementlui valloit unele reste de lanuit, tandis que je sentois le sang couler d'une jambequi avoit un peu trop fort heurte* contre une roche etqu'il etoit impossible de penser faute de feu. Toutema crainte alors etoit que la tempeste n'emportatnotre canot, car alors que serions-nous devenus, maisla bont6 divine eut pitie du pere et des enfans quin'etoient point encore murs pour le ciel; 1'oragepafsa au large, le jour etant enfin venu, je fus surprisde nous voir dans espece de niche et ne pus m'empescherde rire de notre heureux malheur. Quoyque la mer toute bafse nous eut laifs6 a plus de 10 adouze pies au dessus d'e l'eau nous descendimes notrecanot la Chapelle et le reste du bagage par une petitecoulee ou nous glissants doucement nous rembarquames;De la nous arrivames a Tadtffsac; lemissionnaire y administra les derniers sacremens au
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 87words of the montagnais language respecting themanagement of canoes — I thought that my peoplewere quarreling.I arose, and spoke ;but I saw nolonger either sky, or water, or rocks,— nothing butprofound darkness, caused by a storm which arosesuddenly from the northwest. "We are lost, my"father," they called out to me.Let us land quickly,my children," I replied. We could see no landing-place,owing to the darkness of the night; andmoreover we were at the deepest part of the Saguene\The storm-cloud grew denser, and seemed about totouch us while it rumbled behind us. We fortunatelywere near the rocks ; but, when I tried to landon the first one we touched, my foot slipped and Ifell into the water. The canoeman, who had butone arm, hastily shoved the stump, which was asgood as a hand, under my armpit, drew me out, andthrew me on a point of rocks whereon we placed ourcanoe. I was astonished to see my 2 Savages sleepingpeacefully during the remainder of the night,while I felt the blood flow from a leg which hadbeen injured by striking too hard against a rock ;andI could not dress the wound, because there was nofire. My sole fear was that the storm would carryaway our canoe; for, in that case, what would havebecome of us ? But divine goodness took pity on thefather and on the children, who were not yet ripefor heaven. The storm passed, at a distance ;andwhen day came I was surprised to see ourselves in akind of niche, and could not help laughing at ourfortunate misfortune. Although the falling tide hadleft us from io to twelve feet above the water, wecarried down our canoe, the Chapel, and the remainderof the baggage, by means of a small gully down
38 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68malade Sauvage qui mourut quelques jours apres.Je m'en retournai ensuite a Ch6ktftimi au milieu dela meme riviere le nord-est accompagne" de pluyenous prit si violemment qu'avant de pouvoir joindreterre deux barres du canot se rompirent, presquesubmergez je fus sur le point de donner l'absolutiona mes deux hommes qui connaifsant mieux le dangerque moy avoient aussi plus de peur et m'exhortoienta leur faire bien prier Dieu. j'avoue que c'est aleur foy et a leur confiance en la ste vierge et au BRegis que nous fumes redevables de notre conservation.Je refserai vite le canot avec ma ceinture etmes jartieres, je gouvernai la voile, nous fendionsles lames qui de terns en terns nous inondoient;Enfin nous gagnames une cabane sauvage ou Tonvuida et racommoda le canot et tandis nous nousrimes secher aupres d'un grand feu que ces chersneophites nous firent avec des demonstrationsd'une compassion sincere. Ainsi bien instruit dece qu'on avoit a craindre dans ce fleuve arrivai-jea mon Eglise, faufsement resolu d'etre plus sagea Tavenir, je dis faufsement, car en certains casil est de la prudence de n'en pas trop avoir. Latimidite feroit manquer quelque bonne ceuvre etune heure de retardement a degrade* long ternset affame des voyageurs presque dans le port cen'est pas qu'il ne faille prendre de sages precautions;La temerity a fait perir icy plusieurs francoiset sauvages.J'ai eu rhonneur de vous dire d'abord, Mon RdPere que le Saguene* prenoit sa source au Lac StJean ;or pour achever de vous donner une idee juste
1720-36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 39From therewhich we slid gently, and reembarked.we proceeded to Tadoussac; and the missionaryadministered the last sacraments to the sick Savage,who died a few days afterward. I then returned toChekoutimi, in the middle of the same river. Thenortheast wind, accompanied by rain, assailed us sotwo thwarts of the canoe were brokenviolently thatbefore we could land. As we were almost submerged,I was about to give absolution to my twomen — who, knowing the danger better than I did,were also more frightened, and exhorted me to makethem pray well to God. I confess that to their faithand confidence in the blessed virgin and the BlessedRegis we were indebted for our preservation.Iquickly tightened the canoe with my girdle and mygarters; I handled the sail, and we drove throughthe waves that, at times, broke over us. Finally, wereached a savage cabin, where our canoe was emptiedand repaired, while we dried ourselves near a greatfire— which those dear neophytes made for us, withmanifestations of sincere compassion. Being thuswell informed of what was to be dreaded on thatriver, I reached my Church, wrongly resolved tobe wiser in future. Isay " wrongly," because incertain cases it is prudent not to be too prudent.Timidity might cause the failure of some good work;and an hour's delay has compelled travelers who hadalmost reached their destination to be kept back andto suffer from hunger. Not that it is unnecessary totake wise precautions. Temerity has caused thedestruction of many here, both french and savages.I had the honor of telling you in the first place,Saguene took its riseMy Reverend Father, that thein Lake St. John. Now, to finish giving you an
40 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68de ces endroits-cy, le Lac St Jean eloigne d'environ30 lieues de Chektftimi tirant a l'oist et situe" dans laprofondeur de ces hautes montagnes que vous voyezau nord de Quebec n'a pas plus de 30 lieues decircuit. II n'est pas profond et dans V6t6 ses eauxextremement bafses decouvrent une belle greve desable fin. II est poifsonneux,les environs en sontbeaux, la vue agreable, les terres bonnes mais lapluspart des grains, surtout le bled d'Inde, n'y scauroientvenir a maturity acause des frequens nord-oistqui de bonne heure y sont tres piquans et donnentde la neige vers la fin d'aoust quelquefois. Unepartie de Tancien etablifsement des mifsionnaires ysubsiste encore ou Ton voit qu'il y avoit un grandjardin et une chapelle ou fut enterre" notre frereMalherbe sur la fosse du quel j'ay fait planter unecroix.A la hauteur du Lac ily a une riviere fort curieusepar les diverses petites pierres modifiers qu'elleroule dans son lit. La nature sembleroit s'etre6tudi6e a donner la des modeles pour tous les arts,oyseaux, animaux, vases outils de tous metiers fortreconnaif sables, tout s'y voit a l'eau. La difficulteest de les ramasser il faudroit faire ce voyage expr£s,se donner le terns de choisir les pieces soi-meme lessauvages n'en etant pas capables. Or pour cela lecurieux n'auroit qu'a payer et nourrir deux canoteursqui le conduiroient. J' en conserve ici, une de cesraretez. Si vous la mettez debout, cette pierregrisatre et dure, c'est une espece de singe ou de chatsans oreilles assis sur sa queue et ses pates tenantdans sa gueule une petite boule :Si vous la situez delong elle me paroit comme un oyseau qui porte la
1720-36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 41accurate idea of these localities, Lake St. John—which is distant about 30 leagues from Chekoutimiin a westerly direction, and situated in the depths ofthe high mountains that you see to the north ofQuebec— is no more than 30 leagues in circumference.It is not deep, and in summer its waters,which are very low, lay bare a beautiful beach of finesand. It is well stocked with fish; its environs arebeautiful; the scenery agreeable; the soil good.But most kinds of grain, especially Indian corn, cannotripen, owing to the prevalence of the northwestwind— which blows very strongly early in theseason, and sometimes brings snow at the end ofaugust. A portion of the old establishment of themissionaries is still in existence ;one can see thatthere had been a large garden, and a chapel, inwhich our brother Malherbe was buried. I had across erected over his grave. 3At the upper end of the Lake is a river, which isvery curious on account of the variously-shaped smallstones that it rolls down its bed. Nature would seemto have applied itself there to giving models for allthe arts :birds, animals, vases, tools for all tradesare easily recognizable;all these are visible in thewater. The difficulty lies in collecting them. Ajourney would have to be made expressly for thepurpose, and one would have to take time to selectthe pieces oneself, as the savages are not capable ofdoing so. Now, for that purpose, the curiosityseekerwould have only to pay and feed two canoemento take him there. I have one of these raritieshere. If you place it upright, this grayish and hardstone resembles a sort of monkey, or an earless cat,sitting on its tail and haunches, holding a little ball in
42 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68bech6e; d'un cote* de la tete on apercoit une petitetache oblonge qui represente assez bien un oeil.Cette figure n'a qu'un pouce de large sur un et demide long. Du reste cette riviere industrieuse ne payeaucun tribut de ses tresors au Lac St. Jean dansle quel elle se precipite comme plusieurs autresqui viennent de la hauteur des terres et que fournitle Lac Katfitchitfit le quel de lac en lac va jusqu'aulac du pere Albanel ainsi appelle parce que ce mifsionnaireen fit le premier la decouverte environa 80 lieiies Est-nord-est de la Baye d'H[u]dson etassez pres du grand Lac des Mistafsins le quelrecevant l'eau du Lac Albanel se decharge dans lamer du Nord.C'est dans cet endroit la qu'habitent les Michtaffiniou en Francois Mistaffins. Ce nom compose de michtagrand et d'a/sini, pierre, leur vient d'une grosferoche qui se rencontre dans leur riviere; c'est cellela meme qui produit les bijoux dont je viens deparler.lis ont en veneration ce rocher ;ce seroit uncrime pour eux que de passer proche fans y laisserquelque marque de leur superstition envers Tchigig8tch6tfle dieu du beau et du mauvaif tenis, quiselon leurs fables y a choisy par predilection sademeure. D' ordinaire leur encens est un peu detabac noir ou quelque galette quelques os de caftorou de poifson qu'ils mettent defsus. Mais d'autressauvages moins devots et affamez de fumer, enleventsouvent en passant le tabac au bon ou mauvais Geniequi n'a pas eu soin de profiter de la deVotion de sesadorateursC'eft vers la aussi qu'ils pretendent qu'apr^s ledeluge (car ils en ont a leurs contes pr6s,la meme
1720-36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 43its mouth. If you lay it down at its length,it seemsto me like a bird carrying something in its beak ;onone side of the head is an oblong stain which looksa good deal like an eye. This figure is only an inchwide by one and a half in length. Moreover, thisindustrious river paysno tribute of its treasures toLake St. John, into which it falls,— as do many othersthat flow from the watershed and are fed by LakeKawitchiwit. This, from lake to lake, reaches as faras father Albanel's lake,— so called because it wasfirst discovered by that missionary,— about 80leagues East-northeast from Hudson's Bay, and quitenear the great Lake of the Mistassins ;the latter, onreceiving the waters of Lake Albanel, dischargesinto the Northern sea. 4In that quarter dwell the Michtassini or, inFrench, Mistassins. They derive this name — which" llcomes from michta, great," and assinz, stone"—from a great rock in their river. It is the same asthat which yields the curiosities I have just mentioned.They have a veneration for that rock; itwould be a sin for them to pass near it without leavingsome token of their superstitious reverence forTchigigoutcheou, the god of fine and weather,—of badwho, according to their myths, has by preferencechosen his residence there. As a rule, their incenseconsists of a little black tobacco, a piece of sea-biscuit,or some beaver or fish bones, which they placeupon the rock. But other savages, less devout, andhungry for smoking, often while passing take thetobacco from the good or evil Spirit, who has nottaken care to benefit by the devotion of his worshipers.They also claim that near this spot, after thedeluge (for, according to their account, they have
44 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68id6e que nous) le grandCanot vint s'6chouer sur unehaute montagne qu'ils montrent, certains memeafsurerent comme un article de leur foy y avoir vusouvent un viel homme, d'une hauteur demefur£e lequel arm6 d'arc et de fleches se promene aux environset semble garder les respectables debris de cecanot dont, a ce qu'ils pretendent, restent encorquelques varangues incorruptibles. Ces reveriesentre mille autres qui ne meritent point, Mon R Pvotre attention, et auxquelles pourtantla eruditionprofonde du P. Lafiteau que nous regretterions icida vantage si fon merite trop connu ne l'eft faitrappeller en France auroit donne un jour merveilleux,sont si communes parmi ces peuples qu'il n'eftpoint d' enfant qui ne sache l'histoire du grand Canotet du grand fauvage, le venerable grand pere Mechtf.Au reste cette nation qui se reduit a peu de gensdont une partie se range ici au printems, V autre auxAnglois, pour leurs besoins est d'une douceur etd'une simplicity qui pafse les idees qu'on se peutformer de la bonte. II ne seroit pas difficile de lesfaire bons Chretiens s'ils voyoient de plus pres etplus long terns un mifsionnaire qui fut moins gesne*en un mot au quel on donnat plus de facilite* et plusde liberte" de les instruire eux et leurs compatriotes.Bien differens des autres sauvages ceux-ci n'aimentpointcommunement 1' eau-de-vie et si le francoisplus avide de leur butin que de leur salut malgre* lesdefenses reiter^es de nos roys a force" leur repugnancenaturelle pour cette liqueur enyvrante, ils n'enboivent gueres qu'avec de ridicules grimaces, aussine reviennent ils jamais a la charge d'eux-memes,leur raison est qu'on cesse honteusement d' avoir de
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 45about the same idea of it as we have), the greatCanoe grounded on a high mountain which theypoint out. Some even assert, as an article of theirfaith, that they have often seen there an old man ofenormous height, armed with bow and arrows,who stalks about in the neighborhood and seems toguard canoe,— the venerable relics of that sometimbers of which, they claim, still remain undecayed.These idle fancies, among a thousand others whichare unworthy of your attention, My Reverend Father,and upon which the profound erudition ofFather Lafiteau — whose departure we would regretstill more here, had not his too well-known meritscaused him to be recalled to France— would cast amarvelous light, are so common among these peoplesthat there is not a child who does not know the storyof the great Canoe and of the tall savage, the venerableancestor Mechou. Moreover this tribe, reducedto a small number of people,— a portion of whomcome here in the spring, while the others go to theEnglish for what they require,— are of a gentlenessand simplicity beyond any idea of goodness that canbe conceived. It would not be difficult to makegood christians of them, if they could only see livingin closer and longer intimacy with them a missionarywho was hampered,— less in a word, one who wouldbe given greater facility and freedom to teach themand their countrymen. Very different from theothers, these savages do not, as a rule, like brandy ;and if the frenchman,— more eager for their goodsthan for their salvation,— in spite of the repeatedprohibitions of our kings, overcomes their naturalrepugnance for that intoxicating liquor, they drinkit only with ridiculous grimaces, and never return
46 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 681' esprit, pour m'exprimer en leur langage, quand ilest une fois tue* par la boifson de feu. a cetteheureuse sobriete ils joignent une docilite* admirable,quoy qu'il leur en coute. II y a quelques ann6es quele mifsionnaire envoya a leur chef extremementvieux et qui n' etoit pas baptise quelque petit presentde devotion pourle convier a venir enfin se faireinstruire. Malgre* son grand age, la longueur duvoyage les fatigues du canot et des portages, il ob6i't,Voila, mon pere, dit-il,vient, se presente al'Eglisece viellard que tu desirois voir. Chaque jouril sefaisoit instruire pour se disposer au bapteme, voulutmeme se confefser afin de jetter comme ils disent,plus ouvertement tous ses pechez et recut avecedification sur la fin de sa vie la grace qu'il etoit venuchercher de plus de 250 lieiies ou pour mieux dire,qui elle meme 1' etoit alle" chercher si loin.Les mistafsins vivent de poisson dont leurs lacssont abondans,IIy a peu de castor chez eux, maisle caribou par bandes les dedomage. Presque toutesleurs superstitions se reduisent a ne pas laifsermanger a leurs chiens certains os qu'ils respectentde peur qu'ils ne soient profannes et qu'ils nepuifsent plus rien tuer apres, ils ont 1' attention deles jetter ou au feu ou a la riviere. Cet acte dereligion n'a surement d'autre principe que la craintequ'ils avoient jadis, comme nos chasseurs francois,que leurs chiens ne se cafsassent les dents les sensez;parmi eux en conviennent. Rarement entre eux ilsboivent ou mangent sans donner etent [sc. avant—A. E. /.] aux morts une petite portion de leurs metsqu'ils jettent au feu: c'est le benedicke" qu'ilsapprennent a leurs enfants.
1720-36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 47to the charge of their own accord. Their reasonis,— to use their own language,— that the mind isshamefully lost when once it has been killed by firewater.To this blessed sobriety they add admirabledocility, whatever trouble it may cost them. Someyears ago, the missionary sent to their chief, anexceedingly old man who was not yet baptized, alittle devotional present, to invite him to come to beinstructed. Notwithstanding his great age, thelength of the journey, and the fatigue caused by thecanoe and by the portages, he consented he came and;presented himself at the Church. ' ' Here, my father, ' '"he said, is the old man thou didst wish to see." Hecaused himself to be instructed every day, in order toprepare himself for baptism he wished also to confess,—;in order, as he said, to cast off all his sinsmore openly. And, at the end of his life, he receivedwith edification the grace that he had come to seekfrom a distance of over 250 leagues— or, to speakmore truly, which had itself gone so far to seek him.The mistassins live on fish, with which their lakesare well stocked. There are but few beaver amongthem, but herds of caribou compensate for that.Nearly all their superstitions are reduced to notallowing their dogs to eat certain bones which theyrespect,— for fear of profanation, and lest theymight be unable to kill any other animal afterward.They are careful to throw these bones into the fire orinto the river. This religious act is assuredly due tono other reason than the fear that they formerly had,like our french hunters, that their dogs might breaktheir teeth.Among themselves, theySensible people among them admit it.seldom drink or eat untilthey have offered to their dead a small quantity of
48 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68La plus remarquable de toutes les curiositez qui sevoyent dans ces bois la en tirant du cote* de Nemisktf,est un antre de marbre blanc, qu'il semble queTouvrier ait travaille' et poly1' entree en est ais6eet eclaire les dedans la voute par son brillant reponda ses appuys.II y a dans un coin une croute de lameme matiere mais un peu brute qui sailliffant faitune espece de table comme pour servir d'autel aufsices sauvages pensent que c'est une maison de priereet de conseil ou les Genies s'assemblent. C'eft pourquoytous ne prennent pas la liberty d'y entrer maisles jongleurs qui sont comme leurs Pretres vont enpafsant y consulter leurf oracles.Ce n'est pas que j'osasse afsurer qu'il y eiit auxMistafsins de fins forciers non plus que parmi lesautres Montagnez qui sont au plus de gromers charlatans;du moins autant qu'a force de les etudier j'aypu appercevoir, c'est que par leurs prestiges imaginairesils voudroient bien se rendre respectables etredoutables. a l'aide de leurs 30 sortes de differencesjongleries tous ces forciers reuffissent rarement dansleurs pretentions malheureusement il suffit qu'ilsayent une fois au hazard dit vrai pour etre tou jourscru deformais sans se croire souvent eux-memes, carj'en ai vu qui pafsoient parmi eux pour des maitresm'avouer bonnement que leur art n'etoit que mensongeet qu'il etoit faux qu'ils eussent jamais vu nidiable ni Atchdne^ c'est a dire de ces fantomef sanstete, sans mains, &c. Que ce n'etoit qu'afin deleurrer les plus credules; que leurs ancetres qu'ilsavoient autrefois debite* ces fables pour se faire valloiret regarder comme des hommes privilegiez inspirez etau dessus du vulgaire.D'autres m'ont assure qu'ils
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 49their food or beverage, which they throw into the fire.This is the benedicite that they teach their children.The most remarkable of all the curiosities to beseen in these woods, in the direction of Nemiskou,is a cave of white marble, which looks as if a workmanhad carved and polishedit. The apertureiseasy of access, and lights up the interior. Thevault corresponds, by its brilliancy, to its supports.In one corner is a slab of the same substance, butsomewhat rough, which projects, forming a kind oftable as if to serve as an altar. Consequently thesavages think that it is a house of prayer and council,wherein the Spirits assemble. Therefore all donot take the liberty of entering it but the; jugglerswho are, as it were, their Priests, go there in passingto consult their oracles.Not that I would venture to say that there areclever sorcerers among the Mistassins, or among theother Montagnais; for, at best, they are but clumsycharlatans. At least, as far as I have been able tostudy them, it is by their imaginary spells that theygreatly desire to make themselves respected anddreaded. Even with the aid of their 30 differentkinds of jugglery,all these sorcerers seldom succeedin making good their pretensions. Unfortunately,it is sufficient that they should tell the truth once,by accident, to be always believed in future— often,without believing themselves. For I have seensome who passed among them for masters, who candidlyadmitted to me that their art was but a falsehood;and that it was not true that they had everseen either the devil or AtchJne,— that is to say,any of those headless and handless phantoms, etc. 5They said that it was solely with the object of
50 LES RELA TIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol. 68avoient vu des feux extraordinaireset des monstressurnaturels mais que depuis qu'ils avoient embrafse" lechristianisme, ils ne voyoient plus rien quoy qu'ilsmarchafsent souvent la nuit. Un plus obstin6 ayantaffirme qu'il avoit vu le mauvaif esprit on lui demanda;sur le champ comment il etoit fait, s'il eftoit noir oublanc: tout confus il se prit a rire et n'eut rien arepondre. Par une admirable providence de Dieuqui veut detromper les autres, ces malheureux vraisou pretendus sorciers, dont les lourdes et impurespratiques sont tou jours condamnables apres avoirpersiste dans leur scandaleuse opiniatret6 meurentd' ordinaire tou jours miserablement dans T operationcriminelle ou en punition de leurs extravagantesmedecines, Ainsi que j'en ai vu quatre exemplesterribles et dont j'ay eu deja occasion d'ecrire a V.R. a l'egard de ce fameux jongleur du Lac qui toutjeune venoit de mourir pitoyablement avec sa femmeplus superstitieuse encore que lui. Exemple, entreautres, dont Dieu tirera sa gloireMais apres vous avoir donne, MRP. une abbregeepeut etre meme ennuyeuse notion de ce pays seme deMontagnes de Rochers de lacs de rivieres d'yvrogneset de jongleurs je reviens a l'etat dans le quel jetrouvai a ma premiere arrived cette miffion abandonneedepuissi long terns, car quoy que le P. Andredans sa vieillesse, apres la mort du P de Crespieuil yeut fait quelques legeres incursions apeine cependantaucun sauvage avoit-il d' autre teinture de notre SteReligion qu'un grand desir d'en apprendre lesprincipes. Les jeunes gens n'en avoient jamaisentendu discourir les plus agez marmotoient quelquestestes confus du pater seulement et de l'Ave de leurs
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 51deluding the most credulous that their ancestors hadformerly related these fables, in order to give themselvesimportance and to be looked upon as privilegedmen, inspired by heaven and superior to the vulgar.Others have assured me that they had seen extraordinaryfires and supernatural monsters; but that,since they had embraced Christianity, they no longersaw anything, although they frequently traveled atnight. When one who was more obstinate affirmedthat he had seen the evil spirit, he was at once askedhow that spirit was made, whether he was black orwhite. He became quite confused, began to laugh,and was unable to answer. Through the admirableprovidence of God, whose will it is that the othersbe undeceived, these wretched sorcerers, true orpretended, whose gross and impure practices are everdeserving of condemnation, nearly always after persistingin their scandalous obstinacy, die a miserabledeath, in the midst of their criminal actions, or as apunishment for their foolish medicines. Thus Ihave seen four terrible examples, of which I havehad occasion to write to Your Reverence, in connectionwith that famous juggler of the Lake who,while still quite young, had died a pitiable deathwith his wife, who was still more superstitious thanhe. From this example among others will Godderive his glory.But after having given you, My Reverend Father,a summary and perhaps even tedious description ofthis country interspersed with Mountains, Rocks,lakes, rivers, drunkards, and jugglers, I return tothe condition in which, on my first arrival, I foundthis long-abandoned mission; for although FatherAndre, in his old age, had, after Father de Crespieuil'sdeath, made some short expeditions to it,.
52 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.68ancetres. La licence souveraine[me]nt dominanteentre eux, la poligamie, pins encore l'yvrognerie,en un mot tous les desordres qu'enfante le plusgroffier libertinage etoient les idoles qu'adoroientuniquement ces pauvres aveugles qui justifioientleurs conduite desordres par les funestes scandalesque leur avoient autrefois donnez les Francois pafsansou employez. Sortant done de notre cher et paisiblecollege j 'arrive ici. La joye 6clata par plusieursdecharges de fusils. Ces rejouifsances d'abord mefurent de bon augure mais apres avoir pris pof sefsiond'une vieille chapelle toute delabr6e le premierspectacle qui parut a mes yeux fut des sauvagesyvres a l'excez, d'autres en train et qui avec un airbenin s'en venoient m'embrafser et me demander ase confefser a un pareil abord qui se seroit pucontenir !Le montagnez benin, facile, paisible se fait ais6-ment a ce qu'on veut, pourvu qu'on le garde, cr6dulesans repliqueil veut tout ce qu'on veut, timide ilobel't, pauvre icy par ignorance du prix de ses richespelleteries ailleurs, il espere qu'on l'aidera et e'estce que je commencai par leur faire assez entendre enAlgonkin pour les gagner ou mieux pour les attirera J C. lis parurent entrer dans mes pensees, horsla boifson. II est surprenant que parmitant dedifferentes nations, Chek8timiens Piektfagamiens,N6ktfbaui'stes Chomouchtfanistes Mistafsins Tad8fsacienset Papinacheois il ne se trouva qu'un seulyvrogne qui me brutalisat. Mon unique chagrindurant cef premiers orages etoit de ne me pouvoirpas aisement faire entendre dans cette terre etrangere.La langue purement Algonkine ne me servoit
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 53nevertheless hardly a savage had retained any otheridea of our Holy Religion than a great desire tolearn the principles thereof. The young people hadnever heard of it. The older ones merely mumbledsome undistinguishable fragments of the pater andof the Ave of their forefathers. Licentiousness, whichprevailed to the utmost degree among them,polygamy, and, still more, drunkenness,— in a word,all the evils born of the grossest profligacy,— werethe sole idols worshiped by these poor blind people.They alleged, as a justification for their misconduct,the melancholy scandals formerly set before themby the French, who sojourned temporarily or whoremained among them as employees. Thus Iarrived here after leaving our dear and peacefulcollege. The savages manifested their joy byseveral discharges from their guns. At first, theserejoicings seemed to me an augury of good. But,after I had taken possession of an old dilapidatedchapel, the first spectacle my eyes witnessed wasthat of some savages who were excessively intoxicated,and of others who were tipsy, and who witha maudlin air came to embrace me, and to ask me toconfess them. Who could have restrained himselfat such approaches?The montagnais who ismild, affable, and peacefulis easily led to do what is desired, provided he belooked after. Being credulous and not addicted toretorting, he wishes all that we wish ;being timid,he obeys; being poor, through ignorance of thevalue of his furs elsewhere, he hopes to be assisted ;and this Ibegan to make them fairly understand, inAlgonkin, to win them, or rather to attract them, toJesusChrist. When not under the influence ofliquor, they seemed to enter into my thoughts. It
54 LES RELA TIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol. 68presque de rien ici. Sans maison, sans secours, sansconsolation je s6chois uniquement de ne pouvoirmarquer l'amertume de mon coeur que par la palleurde mon front. Seulement occupe* de voir un si beanchamp sans etre en etat de l'ensemencer je recouroisau P DeCrespienil, j'allois plusieurs fois a l'Egliseet je demandois a ce venerable defunct de m'accorderdu Ciel sa langue montagnese qui lui etoit deformaisinutile; mais les faints veulent qu'onpeine qu'ils se sont donnee eux memes pourse donne lase mettreen etat de glorifier Dieu! Le parti done que jechoisi fut de prendre pour m'instruire une bonnesauvagefse anciennement chretienne, cette Mariedont j'ay deja eu occasion de parler ailleurs a V. Ret qui apresavoir hureufement acheve" de m* aider afinir mes livres montagnez, comme elle le souhaittoittermina Tan pafse" ses jours par une precieuse mort.En maitre elle conduisit mef etudes et d6s le premiermot qu'elle m'entendit prononcer, e'en est fait, ditelle aux autres, notre pere a parle" notre langue, jene lui parlerai plus francois. malgre mes instanceselle garda sa parole ; et a force de le faire devinerelle mit son ecolier en etat de prescher a Noel lemystere sans papier.Presque tous les fauvages s'6toient avec uneedification consolante rendus icipour aflister auxdivins mysteres et se confefser a la messe de minuit.L'automne, ils s'ecartent ordinairement fort au loinles uns cent, 200 lieues les autres plus ou moins pourleur chafse et reparoifsent denuez de tout, maigres al'excez, et toujours avec cette entree immanquableni-paska-bagtfanan nous mourons de faim. Pour lesrafsasierd'unpain plus spirituel, le celebrant leur fit
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 55is surprising that among so many —different tribespeople from Chekoutimi, Pi6kwagami, Nekoubau,and Chomouchwan of Ta-;Mistassins, the peopledoussac, and Papinacheois— the there was but asingle drunkard who ill-treated me. My sole regretduring these first troubles was that I could not easilymake myself understood in this strange land. Thepure Algonkin tongue was of hardly any use to mehere. Without a house, without assistance, withoutconsolation, I pined away — solely through not beingable to express the bitterness of my heart, otherwisethan by the pallor of my countenance. Absorbedmerely in looking at so fine a field, without beingable to sow in it, I had recourse to Father DeCrespieuilI went to the Church several times, and asked;the venerable deceased to send me from Heaven hismontagnais tongue, which was no longer of use tohim. But the saints desire us to take the sametrouble that they themselves have taken to becomequalified to glorify God. The means that I selected,therefore, was to secure a good savage woman, whohad formerly been a christian, to instruct me. ThisMarie, of whom I have already had occasion to speakto Your Reverence elsewhere, after having successfullyfinished helping me to complete my montagnaisbooks as she desired, ended her days last year by aprecious death. She directed my studies in a masterlymanner; and, at the very first word that sheheard me pronounce, she said to the others: " Thatwill do ;our father has spoken our language I will;no longer speak french to him." Notwithstandingmy entreaties, she kept her word; and by dint, ofmaking her pupil divine her words, she enabled himto preach on the mystery of Christmas without havingthe paper before him.
56 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68un petit discours d'environ 3 quarts dheure a l'Evangile.les dispositions dans les quelles ils parurentsortir de la chapelle firent concevoir aux francoispr6sens que Dieu, quand il veut, tire sa gloire deslangues les plus muettes. Les fetes suivantez onentreprit de les instruire des principes de la foy etde la morale a condition qu'un viellard plus instruitreprendroit le nouveau Catechiste a chaque barbarismemontagnezEnsuite les chefs avec leurs bandes s'etant dispersezdans leurs bois, le missonnaire s'appliqua lereste de l'hyver a composer un rudiment et quelqueshymnes en sa nouvelle langue. Indispose*il se fitmener des le petit printems a Quebec ou il avoitdefsein de passerquelque terns, mais apeine y etoitil arrive et en eut il goute* l'air que par je ne scais quelsecret mouvement, il se sentit press6 de retourner a samission contre l'avis de tous ceux du college, quicharitablement le prefserent mais en vain d'attendrele batiment qui dans peu devoit transporter les besoinsdes postes. Durant mon absence le chef principaletoit revenu a Chek&timi :ayant appris que, d£gout6et desesperant de les convertir, ainsi que leur avoitfait accroire un bon sauvage, j'avois tourne mes vuesailleurs, et les avois abbandonne* ;il fitreponse qu'ilm'iroit lui-meme chercher et qu'en attendant Tonavoit qu'a m'ecrire qu'il scauroit bien mettre ordrea la d6bauche et user de son authorite pour arreterdesormais qui oseroient s'ecarter du devoir; IIy avoit quelques jours qu'il s'en etoit retourn6joindre sa jeunefse lorsque je reparu; je fus console*d'apprendre que quelques paroles qui m'6toient6chapp6es a mon depart avoient ete* hureusement
[720-36] SAG UENA Y RELATION 57Nearly all the savages had, with consoling edification,come here to assist at the divine mysteries, andto confess themselves at midnight mass. In theautumn, they generally scatter for their hunting toa great distance,— some one hundred or 200 leagues,the others more or less ;and they reappear destituteof everything, exceedingly thin, and always withthe invariable greeting: ni-paska-bagwanan, "Weare dying of hunger. To supply them with more' 'spiritual food, the celebrant gave them a short sermon,about 3 quarters of an hour long, at the Gospel.The dispositions which seemed to animate them asthey left the chapel led the french who were present toconceive that God, when he wills, derives his gloryfrom the mutest tongues. On the following feastdays,we undertook to teach them the principles offaith and morality, on condition that an old man whowas better instructed should check the new Catechistat every barbarism in the montagnais language.Afterward, when the chiefs with their bands haddispersed in the woods, the missionary devoted therest of the winter to composing an elementary catechismand some hymns in his new language. Beingtaken sick, he had himself conveyed early in thespring to Quebec, where he intended to spend sometime. But hardly had he arrived there and breathedthe college— who urgedits air than, through I know not what secret inspiration,he felt impelled to return to his mission, contraryto the advice of all inhim kindly, but in vain, to wait for the vessel whichwas shortly to convey supplies to the posts. Duringmy absence the principal chief had come to Chekoutimi.On learning that— disgusted, and despairingof converting them, as I had made a good savagebelieve — I had turned my regards elsewhere, and
58 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68rapportees aux fauvages allarmez et avoient produitune crainte salutaire qui ne pouvoit avoir qu'unbon effet.Cette nation extremement volage n'aime pas etretrop menagee: elle a befoin de terns en terns qu'onla fafse refsouvenir de sa dependance. Naturellementcraintive pourtant elle previent souvent parune retenue forc£e les reproches qu'elle sent qu'onfaire. D'ailleurs comme ce seroit unelui pourroithonte pour eux d'etre les seuls Sauvages sansmissionaire on les retient du moins un peu en lesmenacant de se retirer s'ils refusent davantage deprofiter des instructions qu'on leur fait.Au bout de quelques jours apres son retour deQuebec, le pere vit avec un plaisir sensible arriverces pauvres gens les uns chargez de leurs paquets decastor, de martes de loups cerviers les autres deleurs canots, les femmes de leurs enfans leurs ecorcesa cabaner, des utansilles de menage, de bois, pourle feu, de branches de sapin pour leurs lits, &c.Tous les hommes ranges a leur maniere se dechargentau lieu du campement, font 3 ou 4 salves de leursfusils pour saluer la chapelle et les francois quirepondent de leurcot£: revetu d'un surplis, je lesrecois a l'Eglise leur fais une courte pri ere apres leveni creator montagnez puis une petite exhortationensuite de quoyils allerent se refraichir a la maisonfrancoise, dela faire leurs cabanes, ou plutot,pour preparer V. R a ce qui va suivre leurs lits demort.Tous a 1'exception d'un jeune enfant atteint des6crouelles, se portoient a merveille; ce qui mepromettoitde les voir afsidus aux differens exercices
1720-36] SAG VENA Y RELA TION 59had abandoned them, he replied that he would himselfgo to get me and that meanwhile word was to;be sent me that he would know well how to suppressdebauchery, and to use his authority to check, infuture, those who should dare to deviate from duty.Some days after he had gone to join his young men,I reappeared.I was consoled on learning that a fewwords that I had said at my departure had happilybeen repeated to the alarmed savages, and hadproduced a salutary fear that could but have agood effect.This nation is very volatile and does not like to betreated with too much consideration. From time totime it needs to be reminded of its dependence.Naturally timid, it nevertheless by forced discretionoften forestalls the reproaches that it feels might beaddressed to it. Moreover, as it would be a shamefor them to be the only Savages without a missionary,they are restrained, at least to a slight extent, by ourthreatening to withdraw if they refuse to profit anymore by the instructions that are given them.A few days after his return from Quebec, thefather observed with lively pleasure these poorpeople arriving— some laden with their packages ofbeaver-, martin-, and lynx-skins; the others withtheir canoes. The women carried their children,the bark for their cabins, the kitchen utensils, firewood,fir branches for their beds, etc. All the men,on laying down their burdens at the camping-place,formed in line, according to their custom, and fired3 or 4 volleys from their gunsas a salute to thechapel; the french, on their side, replied to it. Ireceived them, before the Church, vested with asurplice; I recited for them a short prayer, afterthe montagnais vent creator, and then gave a brief
60 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68de lamiffion que je leur preparois, mais bientot je visque le desir que j'avois eu de precipiter mon retourn'etoit rien moins que l'effet de l'humeur, car apeinele chef, quiselon la coutume de la nation se mit lepremier a coupper et a planter les perchesde lacabane, eut-il acheve* avec les autres l'ouvrage qu'ilse trouva indispose* il ne fit;qu'en soufrire d'abordet s'accuser de paresse; a son air malade je le pressaide se laifser tirer un peu de sang, me deffiant dequelque pleuresie. leur maniere de se saigner estcruelle. lis choisissent le plus gros vaisseau qui serencontre sur la main, percent la chair avec unealaisne au dessous de la veine qu'ils elevent ensuite etfont leur ponction ou plutot l'incision avec un couteausouvent mal amle\ rarement il sort beaucoupde sang et tou jours il se fait des troncus qui en onteftropie* plusieurs. Le chef ne se laissa saigner,mais a la frangoise, que le lendemain encore apresavoir affiste a la meffe. Deja ageil avoit vu autrefoisles missionnaires Montagnez et avoit conserve,je puis dire, avec l'horreur de toutes sortes desuperstitions un certain fond de religion qui lui avoitfait continuer toujours la pratique de prier autantqu'il scavoit soir et matin avec sa famille; le malredouble mais ne l'abbat pointil eut meme le couragealors de poursuivre avec ardeur et de reduire deuximportuns qui vouloient forcer le Commis de leurdonner a boire. Sa juste colere augmenta sa fievre.II me demanda a se confesser. Pour ne point agirimprudemment n'entendant pas assez la langue, dansles commencemens, j'avois deja d'avance 6prouv6chaque sauvage par une double confeflion generale,eme remettant a la 3 qui devoit achever de me
1720-36] SA G CIENA V RELA TION 61exhortation. After that, they went to the frenchhouse for refreshments, and thence to make theircabins, or rather— to prepare Your Reverence forwhat is to follow — their death-beds.All, with the exception of a young child attackedby scrofula, were in wonderful health. This led meto expect that I should see them assiduously attendthe various exercises of the mission, which I waspreparing for them but I soon saw that the desire;that I had had to hasten my return was nothing lessthan the result of humor for, hardly had the chief—who, according to the custom of the nation, was thefirst to cut and set up— the poles of his cabin finishedhis work with the others, than he found himself ill.At first he merely laughed at it, and accused himselfof being lazy. Seeing that he was sick, I urged himto allow a little blood to be taken from him, for Ifeared pleurisy. Their manner of bleeding is cruel.They select the largest blood vessel that lies on thehand; they pierce the flesh with an awl beneath thevein, which they afterward raise. They make thepuncture— or, rather, the incision — with a knife thatis often blunt; it seldom happens that much bloodflows and mutilations are always caused, which haveThe chief allowed me to bleed him,as well as he knew how. Thecrippled many.but in the french fashion, on the following day only,and not until he had assisted at mass. Being alreadyadvanced in years, he had formerly seen the Montagnaismissionaries and; had, I can assert, retained,with a horror for superstitions of all kinds, a certainground-work of religion which had always led himto continue the practice of praying night and morningwith his family,sickness increased, but did not prostrate him. Heeven then had the courage to hotly pursue and
62 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68les demasquer. Celuy cy plussincere et moinsepais que les autres se confessa, me charma etassez instruit voulut etre porte* a la chapelle poury faire sa premiere communion, ce n'etoit gueresla coutume alors des sauvages de se mettre agenoux; ils s'asseioyent sur leurs talons, ceiui cyau baluftre, n'en pouvant plus, se tint dans uneposture chretienne admirable jusqu'a ce que metournant je lui fissigne de s'afseoir craignantsans doute quelque foiblesse.Durant sa maladie qui ne dura que 8 jours on nescauroit £crire combien par sa patience il nous edifia,presque a chaque instant il faisoit appeller lemissionnaire. C'etoit au plus fort des chaleurs etde ces piquantes mouches qu'on nomme maringouins,Brulots, mousticks. Lors qu'on lui disoit qu'ilauroit du rester a la cabane, au lieu de s'exposerdehors a ces insupportables moucherons, il r£pondoitdoucement qu'il n'avoit plus ni la force ni le couragede faire d' autre penitence Tanc tcht tchichikamasX'iancegX eh comment done pourraye-je payer pour moy;yce sont ses termes que je ne scaurois oublier. Leterns approchoit et retournant au cimetiere ou jevenois d'enterrer le petit enfant 6crouelle dont j'aydeja parle* on m'appella de la part du malade qui necefsoit pas de se confefser, je m'appercu qu'il n'iroitpas loin, je lui donne les ftes huiles ah, mon pere,dit il au mifsionnaire que je suis heureux de mourirainfi, quelques mefses apres mon decez et e'est latout ce dont j'ay befoin, je ne doisrien a personne.puis durant la recommandation de l'ame en regardantavec confiance le crucifix prononcant hautement lestt. noms de Jesus Marie Josephilexpira a ce que je
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 63silence two importunate savages who wished to forcethe Clerk to give them liquor; but his just angerheightened his fever. He asked me to confess him.In order not to act imprudently at the beginning, inconsequence of my slight knowledge of the language,I had already tested each savage by a double generalconfession, waiting for the 3rd which was to finishunmasking them to me. This one, who was moresincere and less dull than the others, made hisconfession, and delighted me; and, being sufficientlyinstructed, he wished to be carried to the chapel, tomake his first communion there. It is not the customof the savages to kneel; they squat upon their heels.This one while at the altar-rails, exhausted as he was,remained in an admirable christian posture, until Iturned around and made him a sign to sit down, forI feared that he would be overcome by weakness.During his illness, which lasted only 8 daysit isimpossible to describe how he edified us by hispatience. He had the missionary called almost everymoment. This was in the hottest season when thosestinging flies that are called mosquitoes, Midges, andgnats are at their worst. When he was told that heshould have remained in his cabin, instead of exposinghimself outside to those unbearable insects, hegently replied that he had neither strength norcourage to perform any other penance. Tanc tchttchichikamasw'ianc egou, " How then can Ipay formyself?" I can never forget these words. Thetime was drawing near, and on returning from thecemetery where I had just buried the little scrofulouschild whom I have already mentioned, I wassummoned on behalf of the sick man, who ceasednot to confess. I saw that he could not last long,and I administered the holy oils. u Ah, my father,'
64 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 68crois de la mort des predeflinez. Sentant bien ceque la religion naissante perdoit a la mort de Maratchikatikqui veut dire le mtchant fro?it, c'est ainsique s'appelloit mal, ce chef, je ne fisque mouillerde mes larmes mon rituel pendant les obseques, etdans ramertume de nos coeurs nous ne pumesabsolument chanter ni latin ni sauvage, tous lesfrancois pleurant eux memes a la vue seule du mauzoleequ'on lui avoit drefse\ L'autel tendu de noirplusieurs flambeaux allumez, sur un beau drapmortuaire le sabre et le fusil du defunct en sautoir,son habit de chef couronnant le tout firent impressionsur 1' esprit de ceux qui croyoient que lhommemouroit tout entier.Je m'imaginois que Dieu etoit content de cettevictime mais il en manquoit d'adultes encore 24.Ann de vous epargner, Mon R P l'ennuy d'un longdetail qui tout edifiant qu'il pourroit etre sans figuresm'ennuyeroit moy meme, j'aurai l'honneur de vousdire en abbrege qu'apeine durant 3 semaines un seuljour et une seule nuit, le missionnaire eut le ternsde se reconnoitre. Presque tou jours revetu de sonsurplis, le crucifix et les ftes huiles a la main, sonbreviaire fous le bras du reste sans dimculte de faireproduire en montagnez les actes ordinaires Lesfrancois, sans soulagement, ne pensant plus alorsqu'a leur propre peur. une partie du jour au confefsional,n'interrompant presque jamais ni lescatechismes a midy, ni la priere du soir pour laconsolation des survivants le pere vivoit en verite dela craintive ferveur de ses neophites. Chaque jouravoit un enterrement et plusieurs moribonds presqueabandonnez ensorte que le matin sonnant les clas de
1720-36] SAGUENA Y RELA TION 65he said to the n missionary, how happyI am to diethus !Say some masses for me after I am dead, andthat is all I need, for I owe nothing to anyone."Then during the recommendation of the soul, lookingconfidently at the crucifix, and pronouncingaloud the holy names of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,he died, as I consider, the death of the predestined.Fully realizing that the nascent faith would loseby Maratchikatik,— the death of which means michantfront [" evil countenance"]; thus was the chiefmiscalled,— I did nothing but water the ritual withmy tears during the obsequies. Indeed, in thebitterness of our hearts we absolutely could singneither in latin nor in the savage tongue ; for allthe french themselves wept at the very sight of themausoleum that had been erected for him. Thealtar was draped in black ; many tapers were lighted;on a handsome pall the sword and gun of thedeceased were laid crosswise,— the coat that he hadworn as chief, crowning the whole. These ritesproduced an impression on the minds of those whobelieved that the man was utterly dead.Iimagined that God would be content with thisvictim, but 24 others were also needed. To spareyou, My Reverend Father, the tediousness of protracteddetails,— which, however edifying theymight be without figures, would be wearying tomyself also,— I shall have the honor of telling youin a few words that for 3 weeks the missionary hadbarely a single day or night to look about him he;was nearly always vested with his surplice, havingthe crucifix and the holy oils in his hands, his breviaryunder his arm, — and, moreover, finding nodifficulty in getting the usual acts recited in themontagnais language. The french, being without
66 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.68Tun, car il falloit etre bedeau comme de tous lesmetiers, on m'appelloit ou pour un expirant ou pourquelqu' autre qui souhaittoit qu'on l'aidast a prier.L'embarras le plus effrayant etoit de voir maladesdes adultes qui n'etoient point encore baptisez.Entre autres un certain Nekoubaiiiste de ces gensendurcis et de la race du fugitif cam, m'embarrafsoitle plus. Une pleurisie et une indigeftion compliqueesle mettoient aux derniers abois je me prefsoisde l'instruire des principaux mysteres, lors que, mecachant d'un cote son indigeftionil me prefsa de lesaigner, je le fis et dans l'operation je le cru expirantune sueur froide qui lui decoulloit du front me parucomme les derniers symptomes, ne sachant plus quefaire j'allai lui chercher une prise de teriaque pourle faire revenir et le baptiser ensuite. Toute safamille sortit de la cabane, je m'apercu qu'ils alloientle jongler; lis obeirent aux defenses qu'on leur enfit, rentrerent et furent t6moins eux-memes de laprompte operation de la medecine qui remit sur pieddes le lendemain le malade. De grand matin entrantchez lui lorsqu'ils dormoient encore, le chef de labande se leva presque tout nu en criant Voilaqu'entre celuy qui a opere" ce que nous admirons.Tous s'etant accroupis sans trop de vergogne commedes singes sur leur sapin prirennent leurs pipes enchargent une pour le malade guery, me remercient.Du premier compliment on prit occasion de leur faireentendre que le maitre de la vie et de la mort etoitce seul et grand Dieu createur qu'adorent toutes lesnations, a 1'exception d'eux Que ce n' etoit pointni au m£decin ni a ses remedes qu'ils devoientattribuer cette guerison mais a celuy qui a tout fait
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 67relief, thought only of their own fright. Spendinga portion of the day in the confessional, hardly everomitting the catechism at noon, or the eveningprayer for the consolation of the survivors, thefather's life was in truth animated by the timorousfervor of his neophytes. Every day had its funeraland saw many dying persons almost despaired of;so that, while tolling the knell of one in the morning,—for I had to act as beadle, as well as man ofall trades,— I would be summoned to attend eithersome one about to expire, or another who desired tobe helped to pray. The most frightful trouble wasto see, among the sick, adults who had not yet beenAmong these, a certain man from Nekou-baptized.bau — one of those hardened people, and of the raceof the fugitive cain — caused me most perplexity.An attack of pleurisy, complicated with indigestion,reduced him to the last extremity. I hastened toinstruct him in the principal mysteries, when, concealinghis indigestion from me, he urged me tobleed him. I did so, and thought that he wouldexpire during the operation. A cold sweat pouringfrom his forehead seemed to me one of the lastsymptoms. Not knowing what to do, I went for adose of theriac to revive him that Imight afterwardbaptize him. The whole of his family went out ofthe cabin, and I saw that they were going to treathim by jugglery. When forbidden to do so, theyobeyed; they reentered, and were themselves witnessesof the prompt effect of the medicine, whichenabled the sick man to get up the very next day.Early the following morning, I entered his cabinwhile they were still asleep. The chief of the bandrose, in a state of almost complete nudity, and called
68 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68et qui par la leur faisant voir sa puissance leurmontroit que la priere ne tuoit point, les hommescomme ils le pretendoient. Ces raisonnemens neles frapperent point assez jusqu'au malade tous nefirentque de steriles promefses dont l'effeteft encorea venir.D'un autre cote, bien plus consolant ily avoit unefamille entiere de miftafsins predestinez et dontl'aimable candeur attiroit 1'davantage attention dumissionnaire. Fallut les aller chercher a une lieuedu village 5 ou 6 petits sauvages en chantant descantiques me conduifirent a l'endroit. La j'appereuun jeune enfant d' environ onze ans qui s'en alloitmourant, je lui inculque sans peine nos mysteres mepromettant bien de l'instruire a fond s'il en rechapoit.II repondit succintement a mes queflions n'ajoutantqu'il ne scavoit pas, mais qu'il croyoit ce que jecroyois moi-meme. ravi, je ne hezitai pas a l'ondoyer.une matrone que j'avois baptisee avec sesdeux enfans a Noel et qui mit tellement en usagecette grace qu'elle se sacrifia et mourut genereusementau fervice des malades en queftion acourutapres nous se chargea de m'apporter l'enfant lelendemain vif ou mort, car alors il etoit nuit, pleuvoit,et les chemins tres difficiles. Le lendemain effectivementvoyant de loin paroitre sur les epaules de cettecharitable chretienne l'enfant, j'y couru, elle s'endecharge Et comme si Dieu ne lui eut prolong^les quarts d'heure que pour me remercier, le jeuneenfant me regarde fourrit leve lesyeux aux ciel (jeparle sans figure) expire ensorte qu'il n'eut jamaiseu le terns d'etre meme ondoye, si malgre les raisonsqu'on m'allega pour me retenir je ne l'etois pas
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TIONout: " Here enters he who has done what weadmire." All squatted like monkeys on the firbranches,without much shame; they took theirpipes, filled one for the sick man who was cured, andthanked me. At the very first compliment, I seizedthe opportunity to make them understand that theaster of life and death was the sole and great God,=the creator, who is adored by all nations except bythem that the cure was to be attributed neither to;the physician nor to his remedies, but to him who hasmade all,and who, by thus manifesting his power,showed them that prayer did not kill men, as they pretended.These arguments did not strike them withsufficient force ; all, even to the sick man, made onlybarren promises, the effect whereof has yet to be seen.Here, on the other hand, is something much moreconsoling. There was an entire family of truly predestinedmistassins, whose lovable candor attractedthe missionary's attention still more. It was necessaryto go to seek them a league from the village ; 5or 6 little savages, singing hymns, guided me to thespot. There I saw a young child about eleven yearsold, who was dying. I taught him our mysterieswithout any trouble, promising myself to instruct himthoroughly if he recovered. He replied conciselyto my questions, adding that he did not understand,but that he believed what Imyself believed. Iwas delighted, and did not hesitate to baptize himprivately.A matron whom I had baptized at Christmas,with her two children, and who made such useof the grace she had received that she sacrificedherself, and generously died in the service of the sickin question, hastened after us, and undertook tobring me the child on the following day, alive or
70 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68alle* chercher la veille qui etoit le jour meme dela fete de mon patron St. Pierre {crossed out inMS.'].Quel agreable bouquet MRP. pour n'aj outer riende plus!Son aisne" ege" de 19 a 20 ans nous combla encorede plus pures delices je l'avois deja vu auparavantet instruit d'autant plus volontiers qu'il paroifsoitdavantage affectionne a l'etre. Jusque la pourtantle bapteme lui avoit ete differe. II tombe maladeauffi, on le prepare tout de bon, voyant qu'il n'enreviendra paf on le baptiseil est nomme PierreRegis, je lui apporte auffitot apres le St viatique etdurant que je lui fais faire son action de graces ilrend a Dieu son ame epuree. Oncle, tantes, soeurfrere il les avoit vu mourir chr^tiens, il ne lui restoitplus que sa mere vielle veuve qui n' etoit point encorebaptised, les traits de zele qu'il fitparoitre pour ellenous edifierent extremement, car, s'oubliant lui memeil n 'avoit autre chose a me recommander sinond' avoir pitie*de sa mere, de la baptiser vite de peur desurprise. 20 fois du moins il renouvella ces instanceset il avoit raison car 3 jours apres son baptesme ellealia probablement rejoindre ses enfans qu'on appelloiticy la Ste famille. lorage nnit la ;les autres maladesen rappellerentCertains se firent suer (sans leurs superstitionsordinaires) lis font rougir au feu des cailloux qu'ilsrenferment tout brulans dans un petit cabanotd'6corce bien bouche. Alors tout nu le sueur s'yenferme s'assied sur du sapinage et de terns en terns,pour reveiller la chaleur il jette sur les pierres del'eau froide, meme en boit, de la une extreme abondancede sueur l'inonde; mais comme il ne respire
1720-36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 71dead ;for it was then dark, rain was falling, and theroads were very difficult. In fact, on the followingdayI saw from afar the child, carried on the shouldersof that charitable christian woman. I ran tomeet them; she laid down her burden, And, as ifGod had prolonged his last moments merely that hemight thank me, the young child looked at me,smiled, lifted his eyes to heaven (I speak withoutmetaphor), and expired. Thus he would never havehad time to be baptized, even without the rites, hadI not, in spite of the reasons alleged to hinder me,gone to him on the day before — which was the veryday of the feast of my patron, St. Peter {crossed outin MS.]. What an agreeable gift for my name-day,My Reverend Father, to add nothing more !The eldest son of the family, 19 or 20 years ofage, also filled us with the purest delight. I hadpreviously seen him, and had instructed him all themore willingly because he appeared to be moreanxious for it. Until then, however, his baptismhad been deferred. He also falls ill, and I preparehim in earnest. Seeing that he cannot recover, Ibaptize him, and name him Pierre Regis. I bringhim the Holy viaticum immediately afterward ; and,while I am making him say hisact of thanksgiving,he gives up his purified soul to God. He had seenhis uncle, his aunt, his sister, and his brother diechristians ;and there remained only his mother, anold widow, who was not yet baptized. The evidencesof zeal that he displayed for her edified usexceedingly, because, forgetting himself, he hadnothing else to recommend to me except to havepity on his mother, and to baptize her soon, for fear ofaccident. He repeated his entreaties at least 20 times,
72 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68aucun air nouveau je croirois qu'il reboit ses sueurset se fait plus de mal que de bien, et iln'y a pointde doute que cette maniere de suer avec ces caillouxne leur desseche beaucoup et ne leur brulent lapoitrine. On leur a enseigne une autre faeon deprendre ce remede qui eVacuant toutes les mauvaiseshumeurs les laiffe s' evader au dehors et {crossed out inMS.] ne sauroit faire que beaucoup de bien. C'estde faire bouillir dans une grande chaudiere de petitesbranches d'epinette avec quelques autres herbes aromatiquesparmi les quelles on met de ces arbrisseauxonctueux qu'on ne nomme icy poivriers que parce queleur fruit dont se fait la cire verte a effectivement,sinon la consistance et la durete\ du moins assez laressemblance du poivre, on prepare une cuve ou Tonmet d'abord une planche en travers pour servir desiege, puis en dehors on cloue aux cercles de la cuve4 ou 5 petites perches pliantes dont le haut bout vaaboutir a un moien cercle qu'on met a la hauteur ducol de celuy qu'on veut y aff[e]oir en sorte que sa tetepassant dehors on a soin de bien couvrir le reste ducorps a l'aide des perches qui ne servent qu'a soutenirles couvertures de peur quelles ne portent sur lesepaules. Tout prepare* ainsi on met d'avance lachaudiere bouillante dans le fond de la cuve et sousle siege, pour soutenir les pieds du captiff ma?* {i.e.,malade — A. E. J.] on place sur la chaudiere unbout de planche crainte de la brulure. Le patientenvelopp6 seulement d'un linceuil se fourre doucementdans la surie avec un petit baton qui lui sert aremuer la medecine a mesure que la chaleur serallentit on reste dans cet etat jusqu'a ce qu'on sentela sueur diminuer :puis reprenant vite une chemise
1720 - 36] SAG UENA Y RELA TION 73and he was right; for, 3 days after her baptism, shedeparted this life, probably to join her children,who were here called ' ' the Holy family. ' 'The afflictionended there, and the other sick people recovered.Some caused themselves to be sweated (withouttheir usual superstitions). They heat stones red-hotin the fire, and place them in a small, well-closedbark hut. Then the person who is to be sweated,shuts himself up in it entirely naked, and sits down,on fir-branches ;and from time to time, in order toincrease the heat, he throws cold water on the stones,and also drinks some. This causes him to breakout into a profuse perspiration ; but, as he breathesno fresh air, I would think that he drinks his ownsweat over and over again, and does himself moreharm than good. Indeed, there is no doubt thatthis method of sweating themselves with stones hasa very withering effect upon them, and parches theirlungs. They have been taught another way ofthe noxioususing that remedy, which, by ejectinghumors, allows them to escape outside and {crossedout in MS.] can but do much good. It consists inboiling in a large kettle spruce-twigswith aromaticherbs, among which are placed some of those oilyshrubs that are here called the " pepper-plant,"because their fruit, from which green wax isobtained, has in fact, if not the consistency and hardness,at least the appearance of pepper. A tub isprepared, across which a board is laid to serve as aseat ; then, on the outside, to the hoops of the tubare nailed 4 or 5 small sticks, and their pliant topsare tied to a medium-sized hoop. This hoop isplaced as high as the neck of him who is to sit in thetub, so that his head is outside, and the remainder
74 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68chaude on s'en va reffuer dans de bonnes robbes decastor ou dans un bon lit bien baffine\ a qui le peutavoir. Cette maniere de forcer les sueurs est souverainepour les lafsitudes, les rhumatismes, les enfluresles maux de cote\ les inquietudes, En un motelle vaut plusieurs bains, je croirois que ce sont lales purifications legales de nos sauvages. Quoyqu'il en soit plusieurs de nos moribonds s'en servirenta propos et les francois des pofles n'usent gueresd' autre remede.Or, il est a remarquer que la barque fur la quelleon pretendoit que je m'en retournasse de Quebecn'arriva a Chektftimi qu'apres les funerailles ! vousle dirai-je, M R P ou je ne me compris plus, c'estque soit accablement ou chagrin, ou que Dieu n'eutprete* a son ministre que pour ce terns la de se faireentendre en montagnez, il est vray de dire qu' incontinentapres la mortality et dans V interval de repos,ilme fut comme impoffible de parler juste quatre motsde suite de la meme langue et je me semblay avoiroubli6 meme le peu que j'en scavois auparavant.Remarque au refte qui ne m'echappe que pour mefaire refsouvenir qu'un ouvrier Evangelique doittenter, si jose m'exprimer de la sorte, Dieu pourDieu, osant beaucoup, entreprenant tout, ne sedefiant memes pas trop de ses propres forces et neredoutant rien tant dans l'oeuvre du Seigneur quela pusillanimityPour finir cette narration funebre les sauvagesattribuerent cette espece de contagion aux marchandiseset quoy qu'on tachast de les detromper,neanmoins ily a quelqu'apparence qu'elles seressentoient un peu de la peste de Marseille, puisqu'a
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 75of the body is well covered by means of the sticksthat hold up the blankets and prevent their restingon the shoulders. When everythingis thus prepared,the boiling kettle is put in the tub under theseat. A piece of board is put upon the kettle, tosupport the captive's [patient's] feet and prevent theirbeing burned. The patient, wrapped up only in asheet, slips gently into the sweating-bath, with asmall stick which he uses to stir up the medicine asthe heat abates. He remains thus until he feels theperspiration diminish; then quickly putting on awarm shirt, he goes to sweat once more in good robesof beaver-skin, or in a good and well-warmed bed,when he has one. This method of producing perspirationis a sovereign remedy for languor, rheumatism,inflammation, pains in the side, and minor aches ;ina word, it is worth many baths. I should considerthese the legal purifications of our savages. At allevents, several of them who were dying made useof it to advantage; and the french of the postshardly ever have recourse to any other remedy.Now, it is to be observed that the barque on whichit was intended that I should return to Quebecarrived at Chekoutimi only after the funerals. ShallI tell you of it, My Reverend Father? Either I nolonger understood myself, through despondency orgrief, or God had permitted his minister to makehimself understood in the montagnais language onlyfor that time; but the truth is that, immediatelyI wasafter the mortality, and in the interval of rest,as if unable to speak four consecutive words of thatlanguage correctly; and I seemed even to haveforgotten the little that I previously knew. Yetthis remark escapes me solely as a reminder that a
76 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68la seule ouverture des ballots, le commis avec quelques-unsde ses domestiques eurent un prompt accezde fievre et qu'il n'y eut gueres de sauvages maladesque ceux qui venoient d'achepter des hardes D'ailleurscertains etoient furieux a Her; une femme endelire me donna un foufflet qui, comme on dit, mefit voir cent chandellef ;alors selon la coutume dessauvages on les attachoit sur leur lit les pieds etles mains a 4 pieux plantez en terre; n' ay ant quequelques vomitifs et ne pouvant seul survenir a touf ,je m'avisai d'en donner a certains qui vivent encore.La seule peur de mourir en tua surtout un manifestement.c'etoit un homme robuste et ag6 d'environ50 ans. la fievre ne lui prit qu'uneheure avantfa mort IIn'y eut qu'un homme et sa femme quifuirent leur vrai bonheur, se retirant malgre" mesinstances dans leurs forets ou sans nul secours ilsmoururent. Les autres Idolatres par une extravagantesuperstition en s'en retournant, tiroient le boutdu fusil en arriere comme pour intimider [ou] arreterla mort et l'empesclier de les poursuivre,telle estcertainement leur pens6e.N'6tant done plus occupe* de ceux cyil fallut allervisiter a leur tour les Tad8flaciens qui attendoientdepuis longtems et qui revirent avec joye leur pere.Cette mifsion qui 6toit autrefois de pres de trois millehommes et gouvern£e par 3 Jesuites mais que lesdifferentes mortalites ont reduits a 25 families auplus, n'a presque rien de sauvage. Toujours aubords de la mer, dans une agreable perspective, surun beau platon [coteau] gazonne" et seme* de millefieurs, de petits fruits naturels, au grandair a la
1720-36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 77Gospel laborer must, if I may venture so to expressmyself, tempt God for God's sake,— daring much,undertaking everything, being not too distrustful ofhis own strength, and dreading nothing so much aspusillanimity in the Lord's work.To conclude this funereal narration, the savagesattributed this species of contagion to the goods and,;although we tried to undeceive them, there is neverthelesssome probability that they were slightlycontaminated by the plague of Marseilles. 6 For,merely on opening the bales, the clerk and some ofhis servants were quickly attacked by fever; andthere were hardly any savages ill, except those whocame to buy the clothes. Moreover, some were sofurious that they had to be tied. A woman in herdelirium struck me a blow that made me " see ahundred candles," as the saying is. Then, accordingto the custom of the savages, they were tied ontheir beds, with their feet and hands bound to 4stakes driven into the ground. As I had only a fewemetics, and could not attend to all, Igave aportion of them to some persons who are still living.The fear of death, alone, evidently killed one, inespecial. He was a robust and strong man, about50 years of age. The fever attacked him only anhour before his death. Only one man and onewoman fled from their true happiness, by withdrawing,in spite of my entreaties, into the woods, wherethey died without any assistance. The other Idolaters,through a ridiculous superstition,fired theirguns backward while retiring, as if to intimidate orarrest death, and preventit from pursuing them.Such is certainly their idea.Being no longer busy with these people,it was
78 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68vue des passans et des vaifseaux, les habitans habilleza la francoise mais assez grotesque et degoutante ysont un peu moins grossiers et plus rafinez que lesautres Sauvages des terres. De vielles masures depierres dont les fondements la cave le four et unpignon subsistent encore, nous montrent qu'il y avoitla une fort jolie Eglise et une tres commode maison.Cette chapelle etoit dediee sousacausele nom de Ste Croixde la veneration qu'avoient eu anciennementpour ce venerable signede notre salut tous lesSauvages de la mer, ainsi que me le racontoit iln'ya encore que quelques mois une vielle femme de presde cent ans, Elev£e par les peres Briet [Bruyas? —A. E. /.], et Albanel. La concefsion de ce terrainqui fut accord6 aux J6suites par la Reine mere enl'ann^e [blank in MS.] se voit en parchemin dans lesarchives du College de Quebec.77 seroit a souhaiter {crossed out in MS.], et je ned£sespere pas meme que mon premier successeur neporte la compagnie du Domaine a relever ce batimentd'environ 60 pieds; la pierre, l'ancien four a chauxse trouvant sur le lieu,II seroit de la gloire du Royet des interets de MM rs les fermiers que cela fe fit.Le poste principal de sa Majeste* se peut il passerd'une chapelle et d'une maison qui ne reviendroientpas ensemble a 1500 Is et par la n'attirerat on pas uneinfinite de sauvages montagnez du Nord et du Sudqui remplifsant les greniers du pere de famille, grossiroientsans doute les profits de la ferme sur lepenchant de sa ruineet attireroient de plus en plusles benedictions du ciel sur notre auguste et pacifiquemonarque.
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 79necessary to go to visit, in their turn, the peopleof Tadoussac, who had long awaited their father,and who were rejoiced to see him again. This mission—which formerly consisted of nearly three thousandmen, and was directed by 3 Jesuits, but whichhas been reduced by various fatal diseases to 25families at most— has nothing savage about it, situatedas it is on the seashore, and with an agreeableprospect. It stands on a fine plateau [slope] clothedwith turf, and covered with flowers and small wildfruits;it is in full sight of those who pass by, andof the ships. The inhabitants, dressed in the frenchfashion,— but rather grotesquely, and withouttaste,— are slightly less uncouth and more refinedthan the other Savages from the interior. Oldruined stone buildings, whereof the foundations,cellar, bake-house, and a gable still exist, show that avery neat Church and a very comfortable house onceexisted there. This chapel was dedicated under thename of Ste. Croix, on account of the reverencethat all the Savages of the seacoast had for thatvenerable symbol — of our salvation 7 as was relatedto me, but a few months ago, by an aged womannearly a hundred years old, Instructed by[Bruyas?— fathersBriet A. E. /.] andAlbanel. The grantof land conceded to the Jesuits by the Queenmother in the year [blank in MS.] 8 is still to be seenon parchment in the archives of the Quebec College.It would be desirable {crossed out in MS.] I do noteven despair that my successor will induce the companyof the Domain to raise again building,—thiswhich was about 60 feet long,— as the stone andan old lime-kiln are still on the spot. It would beto the glory of the King, and in the interest of
80 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68Apres que la maison des peres, qui servoit auffiaux commis, fut brulee en leur absence, les francoistraiteurs se batiront ailleurs sur le meme coteaumais au Nord-est d'un ruisseau profond et tres fraisqui separe le terrain des jesuites de celuy de la ferme.c'efi tantot sur ce verdoyant gazon dans les beauxterns, tantot dans ces cabannes quele missionnairesurpris de la memoire et de la docilite* de ses jeunnesplantes les catechisoit, leur apprenoit peu a peu lesprieres generales lesfaisoit chanter et par de petitspresents les encourageoit a se surpafser les uns lefautres. Les plus agez se rangeoient aufli de leurcote\ Ceux qui paroissoient distraits pouvoients'attendre a etre interrogez des premiers et relevezcharitablement dans la suite en cas de rechute.Le malheur etoit des lors comme encore aujourdhuyde n' avoir dans cette pretendue capitale duSaguene* pour toute chapelle qu'une cabane d'6corceperce*e de tous cotez et ou faute d'ornements il seroitimpossible d'inspirer a ces sortes de Chretiens naissansqui ne voyent tout que par des yeux charnels,ni id6e de nos mysteres ni veneration pour la saintete"cached qu'ils representent. Que d'ajustementssuperflus, s'ecrioit on de terns en terns, que demeubles inutiles, que de soyeries d'eto fifes condamn6esaux tenebres en proye aux mittes dans descoffres antiques qui, si on les ouvroit au corps adorablede J C qui doit etre apres tout Teternelle recompensede notre generosite envers ses membres adouciroientpar des linges sanctifiez la paille de la creche, etla dure croix de ce Sauveur qui nous attend. Ahque ne suis-je en pouvoirde la relever cette
1720-36] SAGUENA Y RELA TION 81Messieurs the farmers to do this. Can his Majesty'sprincipal post dispense with a chapel and a house,which together would not cost 1,500 livres? Andwould they not attract thither an infinite number ofmontagnais savages from the North and from theSouth?— who, while filling the granaries of thefather of the family, would doubtless swell the profitsof the farming, which is on the verge of ruin ;andcall down, more and more, heaven's blessings uponour august and pacific monarch.After the fathers' house, which was also used bythe clerks, was destroyed by fire during theirabsence, the french traders built a house for themselves;it is on another site, on the same plateau, butto the Northeast of a deep and very cool brookwhich divides the Jesuits' land from that of the farm.Here— sometimes on the green turf, in fine weather;sometimes in the cabins — the missionary, surprisedat the memory and docility of his young plants,catechized them, gradually taught them the generalprayers, made them sing, and by little presentsencouraged them to surpass one another. The olderones also ranged themselves on their own side.Those who seemed inattentive might expect to bein thefirst questioned and to be charitably lifted upevent of a fall.The misfortune then, as now, was that in thispretended capital of the Saguene there was no otherchapel than a bark cabin, open on all sides in such;a placeit would be impossible, for lack of ornaments,to inspire these nascent christians— who see nothingexcept through the eyes of the body— with eitheran idea of our mysteries, or veneration for thehidden sanctity which they represent. " What
82 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68-croix a Tadoufsac sur ses anciennes mines, de luidonner un nouvel eclat et de la faire briller dans unsantuaire nouveau Bientot parces dehors elle segraveroit dans des coeurs qui, tout sauvages qu'onles nomme ne sont pourtant pas eloignez du Royaumede Dieu.En effet je vis ces bonnes genssi bien disposez auchristianisme que je ne pus me dispenser de passerl'hyver avec eux. Ce fut a 8 lieues au-dessous deTadoufsac vers rEskoumin que nous hyvernames;L'endroit se nomma Notre Dame-de bon defir. Lase firent jusqu'au printems les exercices de la religiondurant 5 mois. 120 adultes qu'on avoit ramafsezcomposoient cette petite eglise edifiante. Avant lejour souvent se disoit la messe dans une masurefrancoise et les sauvages s'y trouvoient regulierement.dela ils alloient sur le fond, c'est-a-dire a lachasse du Loup marin dans le fleuve St Laurent quidans cet endroit la s'elargissant tou jours vers le golfea de large plus de 1 5 lieues.Vous scavez M. R. P. que c'est a ce metier quece font les huiles a bruler dans ce pays et a pafserles peaux en Europe. souffrez que m'expliquantdavantage j'entre dans un petit detail qui ne peutque vous delafser de trop d' occupations ennuyantes.Jusqu'apresent, du moins que je sache on n'a parl6de ce poisson qu'en pafsant. Quelques uns semblentle confondre avec le chien marin ou Requin ce quiest tres different. Le chien marin, il eft vrai, aafsez la figure du loup marin. Un nez plat et noirde gros yeux ronds et saillants des levres epaifses etgrisatres un museau oblong une gueule fendue
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 8asuperfluous fittings!" some would exclaim, fromtime to time." What useless furniture, what silks,what stuffs condemned to darkness, and a prey tothe moths, in antique chests that, if opened to theadorable body of Jesus Christ,— who, after all, mustbe the eternal reward of our generosity toward hismembers,— would soften, by sanctified altar linen,the straw in the manger and the cruel cross of theSavior who awaits us !' 'Ah!whyam I not in aposition to erect again that cross at Tadoussac on itsformer ruins, to give it fresh brilliancy, and make itshine in a new sanctuary? By these externals itwould soon deeply impress itself in hearts which,although we call them savage, are nevertheless notfar from God's Kingdom.In truth I found those good people so well disposedto Christianity that I could not help passing thewinter with them. We wintered 8 leagues belowTadoussac, near the Eskoumin; The place wasnamed Notre Dame de bon desir. There, untilspring, religious exercises were performed during 5months. This small and edifying church consistedof 120 adults who had been gathered together.Mass was said before daylight in an old ruinedfrench house ;and the savages attended it regularly.From there they went to the hunting grounds— thatis, to hunt Seals on the river St. Lawrence, whichcontinues from that point widening as it descends tothe gulf, and is there over 15 leagues in width.You are aware, My Reverend Father, that thistrade supplies the oil used for light in this country,and for dressing hides in Europe. Allow me, whilegiving still further explanation, to enter into someminor details which can but afford you diversion
84 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68jusqu'aux oreillespresqu'imperceptibles,des barbescomme un chat mais outre que le chien eft plusguerrier et tres a craindre c'est qu'il a la peau toutedentelie de sorte que sechee elle ne sauroit servirqu'a pollir les ouvrages de sculpture de tour et demenuiserie cet animal n'a point d'autre chair qu'unespece de tendron ou cartilage semblable a unemamelle ce qui le fait appeller en montagnezTtttXchXmtfgtty le poifson qui n'est que mamelle. En£crivant il me vient en pens£e qu'on en pourroit fairede la colle forte comme de l'eturgon. Je n'en aipoint vu manger aux Sauvages au lieu que le loup:marin moins racourci, moins rengorge timide,toujours aux aguets, replongeant a la moindre allarmene fait point de guerre aux navigateurs les fuit autantqu'il peut fe contentant d'eplan et de quelquesautres mediocres poifsons, memes decertains vers quise trouvent dans les goimons attachez aux rochesa eu souvent 1' occasion d'en faire laainsi qu'onremarque. Sa peau qui se passe en maroquin maisqui a le grain moins fin ou qui sert a faire des souliersdes habits Sauvages ou a couvrir des caffettes eftcouverte d'un poil afsez ras et mouchete\ Celuyqu'ils apportent en naiflant et qu'ils conserventdurant qu'ils tetent eft d'un blanc argente" sansaucune tacheor a mesure que croit le petitilprend lateinture de fa mere, change, brunit, grisonne noircitet par mille differentes bigarrures veloutees represanteun fond grisatre seme d'une admirable variet6de representations.IIy a des loups marins dede la memeplusieurs sortes, toujours pourtantphysionomie je crois que vous en avez vu deja une
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 85amid your too numerous and tedious occupations.Hitherto, as far as I am aware, this fish has beenspoken of only incidentally. Some seem to confoundit with the dogfish or Shark, which isverydifferent. It is true that the head of the dogfishsomewhat resembles that of the seal : a flat and blacknose; large, round, and projecting eyes; thick andgrayish lips an oblong muzzle, a mouth open to the;ears, which are almost imperceptible and whiskers;like those of a cat. But, in addition to the fact thatthe dogfish is fiercer and greatly to be dreaded, ithas a rough skin which, when dried, can be usedonly for polishing carvings, articles turned in a9lathe, and joiner-work. The flesh of this animalconsists solely of a sort of tendon, or cartilage, similarto the flesh of the breast, which has obtained forit the montagnais name Toutouchourntgou,l 'that is nothingbut breast.' 'the fishWhile writing this, itoccurs to me that glue might be made from it, asfrom sturgeon.I have never seen the Savages eatit. On the other hand, the seal— less stunted, andwith a longer neck; timid, always on the watch, anddiving at the least alarm — does not attack sailors,avoids them as much as possible, and is content withsmelt and other small fish — and even with certainworms that are found in the seaweed clinging to therocks, as we have often had occasion to observe.skin, which when dressed is like morocco, but has notso fine a grain, and which is used for making Savageshoes and clothes, or for covering boxes, is coatedwith hair, very thick and spotted. That with whichthey are born, and which they retain while suckling,is of a silvery white, without any spots. As the littleseal grows, it assumes the mother's color; it changes.Its
86 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68ample description avec le [un petit] tableau quej'envoyai autrefois a Monsieur Begon ce genereux etconstant ami comme vous scavez de Notre Compagniele quel durant les douze ann6es qu'il fut Intendanten Canada, et digne heritier des vertus de feu monsieurson pere et de concert avec sa charitableEpouse a fait autant d'honneur au roy par son raredesinteressement par sa magnificence, ses aumonesque de bien aux missionnaires, qui se feront toujoursgloire de lui conserver avec le souvenir de ses bont6sde son zele et de sa pi£te" une bonne part a la recompensede leurs travaux apostoliquesDu reste les meres portent 10 mois.La denominationdes lunes de 7bre etde juin parmi les gens dela mer le prouve, car tous nos astrologues sauvagesqui ne comptent que par les lunes, n'ont tire" les nomsdifferens des mois que des dirferentes operations desanimaux terrestres ou aquatiques, aux quels ils sontaccoutumez. Ce qui se trouve d' admirable c'estT instinct de ces meres a retrouver et a distinguer,comme font les brebis, leurs petits emportez au loinsur des bancs de glacepar les vents ou la mar6e.II est rare qu'elles en ayent plus d'un, a la fois maisil est certain qu'elles n'en ont jamais plus de deux.La viande [chair] du Loup marin eft extrem 1 noiregrofsiere et chargeante; c'est peut-etre l'animal leplus fourni de sang mais d'un sang noir epais et sichaux, que dans les froids extremes, il fume encoreet se fait sentir des 15 ou 16 heures apres la mort dela bete qu'on ouvre. Les sauvageffes et les enfanscourrent au rivage aussi tot que quelque canot charge*aborde et partagent en paix, les ralingues les cote-
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 87becoming browner, grayer, and blacker; and with athousand different variegations of velvety shades, itpresents a grayish background covered with anadmirable variety of figures. There are seals ofvarious kinds, all with the same features. I thinkyou have already had an ample description of themwith the [a little] picture that I once sent to MonsieurBegon,— that generous and constant friend of OurSociety, as you know,— who, during the twelveyears while he was Intendant in Canada, a worthyheir to his late father's virtues, and in concert withhis charitable Spouse, did as much honor to the kingby his rare disinterestedness, by his munificence,by his alms, as he did good to the missionaries and;they will ever glory in giving him a good share inthe reward of their apostolic labors, in remembranceof his kindness, his zeal, and his piety.The female seals carry their young io months.The names of the moons of September and June,among the people of the coast, prove this; for allour savage astrologers, who count entirely by moons,have derived the various names of the months solelyfrom the various actions of the land or aquaticanimals to which they are accustomed. These mothers,like ewes, possess admirable instinct for findingand distinguishing their young, when these arecarried far out on ice-floes by the winds or by thetide. They seldom have more than one at a birth,but it is certain that they never have more than two.The Seal's meat [flesh] is exceedingly black, coarse,and heavy. It is probably the animal best suppliedwith blood; but the latter is black, thick, and sowarm that it smokes even in extremely cold weather ;and it can be smelled 15 or 16 hours after the death
88 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68lettes, les pates les nageoires et la tete. Le coeureft le moins mauvais morceau, tout cela se met ou ala chaudiere on a de petites broches de bois planteesdevant le feu et se mange ensuite sans sel ni d'autrefepices. On commence d'abord par Scorcher lavictime, puis on leve toute la graifle tout d'une piece.Le lard dont on fait 1'liuile e[s]t de 3 a 4 poucesquelquefois plus quelquefois moins. Ces graisses encertains endroits toutes rafsembl£es se jettent confusementdans le charnier, c'est a dire dans une efpecede pressoir ou peu a peu se liquefiant elles fournissentdes huiles plus onctueuses qui semblent meilleurespour la tannerie. II est naturel quepourries au soleil elles sentent mauvais.fondues etII n'en eftpas ainsi de celles qui se font au feu dans de grandeschaudieres. Elles sont moins epaifses, plus claires,servent aux lampes et a la friture, ne sont ni sipuantes ni si bonnes a pafser, puis que le Tawneursde france estiment davantage, dit-on, les huillesgrossieres de marsouin. Celles cy dans des phyolesimitent assez la couleur d'une belle liqueur blanche -atre ce sont les moins cuites et les moins proprespour les lampes mais les meilleurs pour des playesde feu dont elles adoucissent la vivacity. D'autressont plus fonc6es plus rougeatres ce sont cellesqui ont ete~ plus au feu et ou les fondeurs ont faitcuire quelques galettes ou croccinolles qui ce mesemble en attirent toute lacrafse en un mot et sansmystere ces huiles se font ainsi que le syndoux a1'exception que l'huile se fermentant dans la bariqueveut de bonnes futailles sans quoy elle transpire,s'evapore coule et force plus que toutef les autresliqueurs
1720-36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 89of the animal when it is cut open. The savagewomen and children rush down to the beach, as soonas a laden canoe touches it, and peacefully divide theloins, ribs, feet, flippers, and head. The heart isThe whole is boiled inthe least objectionable part.a kettle, or is broiled on small wooden spits plantedin front of the fire ;and is afterward eaten withoutsalt or other condiment. In the first place, the skinof the victim is removed, and all the blubber is takenThe fat, from which the oil is pro-off in one piece.cured, is from 3 to 4 inches thick— sometimes more,sometimes less. This blubber, being all collected incertain places, is thrown into a tub, that is, into akind of press,— where itgradually liquefies andfurnishes the most fatty oils, which seem the bestfor tanning. It is natural that, when liquefied anddecomposed in the sun, they should smell bad.Such is not the case with those rendered in largekettles placed on the fire. These are not so thick,are clearer, and used in lamps and for frying, do notsmell so bad, and are not so good for tanning; andthe Tanners in franee are said to prefer the coarserobtained from the marsouin [white porpoise, oroils,white whale]. The former oils, when placed inphials, greatly resemble in color a fine whitish liquor.They are the ones least boiled, and are least suitablefor lamps but are the best for burns, whose stinging;pains they soothe. Others are darker and ruddier;these have been longer on the fire, and the personswho rendered them cooked therein cakes or crullers— 10 which, it seems to me, collect all the scum.In a word, and without any mystery, these oils arerendered like hog's lard,— except that, as the oilferments in the cask, it needs good barreling; for
90 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68De quel tour d' elocution me serviray-je, M n .R. P.,pour justifier que cette huile eft excelente pour lafriture? Je n'en scais rien, il faudroit devenir poetepour le faire accroire, tout ce que je scais, c'est quej'ay vu des francois assez delicats pour ne point citerdes Sauvages tou jours de bon appetit frire dansV huile pure de loup marin leur poifson avec cetteprecaution pourtant qu'on fait d'abord bouillir dansla poele cette huile, et qu'on y jette d'un peu loin ethors la maison crainte du feu environ une chopined'eau froide a diverfes reprises la quelle purifiantcertainement l'huile lui ote tellement toute son odeurnaturelle que le poifson frit n'en sent non plus rienque s'il avoit ete cuit dans l'huile ordinaire.Pardonnez moy cette grafse remarque qui en toutcas ne pourroit donner que du debit aux huiles duDomaine, et enrichir, puis que nous sommes redevablesa tous, quelques pauvres traiteurs.Afin d'assaisonner leur sagamite (mot par paranthese,qui mal pris ne signifia jamais ce qu'on lui aprete faute d'en entendre le sens) puisqu'il ne veutdire autre chose sinon l'eau ou le bouillon est chaud,tchi sagamiteX. les sauvages gardent de cette huilebien rafsise dans des 8ik8e, ainsi s'appelle la vessiedu Loup marin. Ces vefsies font d'une afsez plaisantefigure. Souffl£es elles ont un cou d'une extremelongueur, le milieu considerablement elargi est ovaleet se termine par un bout recourbe et replie a peupres comme un termomettre ou un alambique. IIen eft qui tiennent jusqu'a 5 ou 6 pots, d'autres 10ou 12 pour n'exag6rer pas, car je n'ai jamais vu deces monstrueux loups marins, qui ne quittent gueresle golphe St Laurent. Le lard de certains fait une
1 720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 91otherwise it exudes, evaporates, leaks, and forces itsway out, more than any other liquid.What figure of speech shall I make use of, MyReverend Father, to prove that this oil is excellentfor ?fryingI know not. One would have to becomea poet to make it believed. What I do know thatI have seen frenchmen who were squeamish,—ratherto say nothing of the Savages, who always have agood appetite,— fry their fish in pure seal oil. Theytake the precaution, however, first to boil the oil inthe frying-pan and to throw into it, from time totime,— from afar, and outside of the house, for fearof fire,— about a pint of cold water. This certainlypurifies the oil, and so completely removes its naturalodor that the fried fish no more smells of it than ifcooked in ordinary oil.Pardon my making remark,— this unctuous which,in any case, can only facilitate the sale of the oils ofthe Domain; and, since we are indebted to all, enrichsome poor traders.To season their sagamite (a word, by the way,which is not understood, and never had the significationgiven to it through a misconception of its sense ;for it means nothing but "the water"— or "thebroth— is hot," tchisagatniteou), the savages carefullywhen it has settled, in wikwds— this iskeep this oil,the name of the Seal's bladder. These bladders arerather pleasing in shape. When blown out theyhave a very long neck, the middle of which is considerablyenlarged, oval, and terminating in a curvedend, bent back somewhat like a thermometer or analembic. Some hold from 5 to 6 pots, others from10 to 12, without exaggeration; for I have never seenthose monstrous seals that never leave the gulf of
92 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68barrique d'huile mais icy d' ordinaire il en faut 3 ou4 quelquefois jusqu'a 6 ou 7 pour la remplir.Vous vous imaginez sans doute l'affreuse figurede ceux qui fondent ces huiles [graifses] parmi lesgraifses et les nuages epais d'une etoufante fum6e;ce sont presque toujours les femmes qui preparentavec autant d'adrefse que de patience, et coupenten petits morceaux les lards que leurs maris fontbouillir ensuite dans des chaudieres, placets sur desfourneaux, car les seuls montagnez bien differensdes autres nations, qui regardent comme esclavesleurs femmes, imitent dans leurs menagefmaniere francoise et la plus raisonable quitoute laest des' aider de concert lun et l'autre tellement que1'homme se reserve toujours ce qu'il y a de pluspenible pour lui, et laisse a sa femme et a ses enfansce qu'il y a de moins fatiguant jusqu'a se priver poureux de son necefsaire dans des terns de disette;avec cette distinction toutefois qu'il eft servi etmange toujours le premier En effet quoy que lesMontagneses puissent en comparaison avec les Sauvagefses6trangeres etre regardees comme des reineset souveraines elles ont une vraie deference pourleurs maris aufsi leurs maris les dedifsent ils rarement.le sort des projets, des entreprises desvoyages des hyvernements est presque entre lesmains de la menagere.Je ne scais ce qu'on doit le plus admirer ou desfatigues de ces bonnes gens ou des perils qu'ilscourrent sur le fleuve, ou de leur invincible courage ;froids orages neges glaces rien ne les empeschoit des'exposer si au large que le plus souvent ils perdoientde vue la terre ; heureux, si survenant quelqu'un de
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 93St. Lawrence. The blubber of one of these yields abarrelful of oil; but here, as a rule, 3 or 4, andsometimes 6 or are 7, required to fill one.You no doubt imagine the horrible appearance ofthose who render these oils [fats] amid the greaseand the dense clouds of suffocating smoke. Innearly every instance the women prepare, with asmuch skill as patience, and cut into small pieces,the blubber, which their husbands afterward try outin the kettles placed on furnaces for the; montagnaisalone— very different from the other nations, wholook upon their women as slaves — imitate in theirhouseholds the french and more rational custom ofmutually helping one another. To such an extentis this done that the man always reserves the morearduous task for himself, and leaves the less fatiguingto his wife and children, and even, in times ofscarcity, deprives himself of — what he needs withthis distinction, however, that he is always helped,and eats first. In truth, although the Montagnaiswomen, as compared with the women of otherSavage nations, may be looked upon as queens andsovereigns, they have true deference for their husbandsand; consequently the latter seldom gainsaythem. The choice of plans, of undertakings, ofjourneys, of winterings, lies in nearly every instancein the hands of the housewife.Iknow not whether we should most admire thefatigues endured by these worthy people, the dangerthey run on the river, or their invincible courage.Cold, storms, snow, ice— nothing prevented themfrom exposing themselves so far out that, in mostinstances, they lost sight of land ; they were fortunateifthey escaped when any of those snow-storms arose
94 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68cef tourbillons de neige que nous appellons icypoudrerie, Ton pouvoit se sauver. Durant les 4 ansque j'ay hyverne' avec eux, plusieurs engagez tropavant et arretez dans les glaces, aveuglez par la negene pouvant se debarasser se sont vus obliges de semettre avec leurs canots sur quelque banc de glaceet de se laifser emporter aux courants de l'eau.J'ay vu une jeune chr6tienne aufsi intrepide quefervente dont la mort precoce a paru precieufedevant Dieu, revenir a pied du large de glace englace jusqu'au portavec son mari en traisnant leurcanot, mais entre autres je ne puis oublier un jeunesauvage qui de grand matin s'etant embarque* pourcette chafse avec sa mere deja ag6e se trouva insensiblementvers le soir a mi-riviere tout entoure" demonceaux de glaces sans pouvoir absolument s'yfaire pafsage Qu'auroient-ils pu faire pour rangerterre en pleine nuit, leur canot brise, se regardantslivrez a une mort certaine tant a cause du froidviolent qu'a cause d'un gros vent qui les poussoithors de leur route; lis tirent cependant plusieurscoups de fusil pour avertir par hazard, heureusementnos sauvages les entendirent, on leur reponditvite par un coup de boete et plusieurs coups de fusil.Le missionnaire de toutes ses forces leur cria entout cas de se recommander a Dieu par rintercefliondu B Regis, a leur voix eloignee on comprit qu'ilsperifsoient, qu'ils n'imploroient plus que le secoursdu Ciel et qu'ils etaient contrits de leurs pechez.Tous les amstants eurent ordre de se mettre sur lechamp a genoux et de demander a Dieu la conservationde ces deux pauvres {crossed out in MS.] malheureuxqui recurent l'absolution.II se fit a l'instant un
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 95that here we call poudrerie |" blizzards "]. Duringthe 4 years while I wintered among them, many whohad ventured too far were caught in the ice ; beingblinded by snow, and unable to extricate themselves,their canoes on anthey were compelled to haul upice-floe, and let themselves drift with the current.saw a young christian woman — as intrepid as shewas fervent, and whose early death seemed to havebeen precious in the sight of God — return on footfrom afar out on the river, making her way to theshore from ice-floe to ice-floe with her husband,dragging their canoe with them. But, among others,I cannot forget a young savage who embarked, earlyin the morning, to go hunting with his mother, anaged woman and; who, at nightfall, without havingperceived it, found himself in the middle of theriver, completely surrounded by great masses of ice,through which it was absolutely impossible for himto make his way. What could they do to reach land,at night, with a broken canoe? They thought thatthey— were destined to certain death on accountboth of the excessive cold and of a strong wind whichblew them out of their way. They however firedseveral gunshots, in the hope of attracting attention.Fortunately our savages heard them, and quicklyreplied by a shot from a petard and by several gunshots.The missionary called out to them, as loudlyas he could, to commend themselves in any case toGod through the intercession of the Blessed Regis.From their distant voices we understood that theythat they implored only Heaven'swere perishing;assistance, and that they repented their sins. Allpresent were ordered to kneel at once, and ask Godto save the two poor {crossed out in MS.] unfortunates,I
96 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68petit eclairci ou chemin entre les glaces. a la lueurdes feux qu'on avoit allumez sur les rochers quelquesunsde leurs proches se jetterent a la hate dans tincanot et par nne providence admirable tomberent justeen criant de part et d'autre sur les naufragans qu'ilsramenerent sain et sauf a notre-Dame de bon Desir,ou bien joyeux et pleins de reconnaifsance ils seconfefserent le lendemain, promettant bien au restede n'y plus retourner si temerairement.Un si bel etablifsement auroit du tou jours durer;la religion soutenant les interets des bourgeoiscommencoit a y fleurir ;on avoit le loisir d'instruireles enfans, tandis que leurs peres etoient occupez aleur chafse et dans les mauvais tempson visitaitceux-cy: Chaque jour se faisoit la priere publiqueaux flambeaux et une instruction sans presque jamaisy manquer. Les Dimanches et les fetes, lors qu'ilsn'avoient pas beaucoup r6iifsi certains nombre dejours dans la semaine, on leur permettoit d'aller auloup marin arm de se dedomager apres la mefse etles vepres qu'on avancoit pour cela. Mais gensjaloux et ennuyez du mifsionnaire dont ils secroyoient 6clairez de trop pres et du quel ils auroientmoins redout61a presences'ils n'avoient eu rien a sereprocher, abusants de la credulite* de leurf maitref,ont renverse cet edifice qui promettant une abondantemoiffon portoit ombrage a l'ennemi du salut desnations et qui n' avoit pas laisse* que de couter biendes peines. Le pr£texte d'en eloigner le mifsionnairefut que la derniere ann6e on y fitpeu d'huileet Ton allegua tres faufsement qu'on ne les occupoitjour et nuit que de la priere sans leur donner le ternsde chafser ;mais Dieu qui ne laifse rien d'impuni tot
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 97who received absolution.At that moment a smallpassage or lane opened among the ice-floes. By thelight of the fires that had been kindled upon therocks, some of their kindred hurriedly threw themselvesinto a canoe, and through an admirable effectof providence, guided by cries uttered on both sides,they reached those who were about to be wrecked,and brought them in safety to notre Dame de bonDesir— where, full of joy and gratitude, theyconfessed themselves on the following day, andvowed never again to be so rash.So fine an establishment should have lasted forever:religion, which supported the interests of thetraders there, was beginning to flourish; we hadleisure to instruct the children while their fatherswere engaged in hunting; and we visited the latterin bad weather. Prayers were said publicly Everynight, by torch-light, and instructions were givenwith hardly an interruption. On Sundays and holydays, when they had been unsuccessful on a certainnumber of days in the week, they were permitted asa compensation to go seal-hunting after mass andwhich were celebrated at an earlier hour onvespers,that account.But jealous people, weary of the missionary,—by whom they considered they were tooclosely watched, and whose presence they would havedreaded less had they had less occasion to reproachthemselves,— abusing the credulity of their masters,frustrated the undertaking, which, as itpromised anabundant harvest, gave umbrage to the enemy of thesalvation of nations, who had not failed to causemuch trouble. The pretext for having the missionaryremoved was, that but little oil had been obtainedthe previous year and it was most;falsely alleged
98 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68ou tard, a fait voir que la calomnie retomboit sur sesautheurs et que de la croire trop facilement c'ests'exposer son interet propre au contre coup car depuisles 4 ans que je m'en suis retire il est inouy qu'on yait fait, la meilleure annee, plus de 3 a 4 barriquesd'huile, au lieu qu'auparavant c'6toit des 48, 66 etdes cent s'il on avoit bien voulu. Quand on endemande la raison aux sauvages ilsrepondent quene se confefsant qu'une fois l'ann^e et ne voyantplus sur les rochers de pretre, ils perdent coeur etn'osent plus aller chaffer au large ou seulementse trouve le loup marin. De sorte done qu'apresentmaison recente et chapelle ruinees, il ne nousreste plus que le seul souvenir que J C a ete prech6servi et auroit du tou jours etre glorifie*dans ceposte delabre et meconnoissable a de si tristes;revers doit se preparer la d'avance tout missionnairenaissant.C'etoit de ce poste [crossed out in MS.] qu'apres laToufsaint et au pr interns je me rendois aux Ilets deJeremie a 30 lieiies au Nord Est de Tadtfffac vers lariviere des Bersiamites assez connue dans nos cartes,laquelle est aufsi large mais bien moins profonde quele Saguene. Depuis cet endroit jusqu'a LaBrador leshabitans au fond montagnez s'appellent Papinachoisdu mot sauvage qui repond a leur carractere Ni-papinachje ris un peu PXpapinachettets, j'aiment a rire unpeu. Effectivement ce sont d'aimables gens pourleur inalterable gayete\ Plut a Dieu qu'ils pufsentcommuniquer de leur temperament a leurs intraitablesvoisins les Esquimaux qu'on n'aprivoiserajamais sans miracle parce qu'enfoncez dans leursrochers naturellement creusez et imprenables ou ils
1720 - 36] SA G UENA V RELA TION 99that they were kept at prayers day and night, andwere not allowed time to hunt. But God — whonever lets anything go unpunished, sooner or later —has made it evident that the calumny recoiled uponits authors ;and that to believe it too readily exposesone's own interests to the counter-shock. For, duringthe 4 years that have elapsed since I withdrewfrom there, not more than 3 or 4 barrels of oil havebeen known to be obtained; while formerly therewere 48, 66, and even one hundred, if desired.When we ask the savages the reason of this, theyreply that, as they go to confession only once a year,and no longer see a priest on the rocks, they loseheart and do not venture to go far from the shore,where alone the seals are to be found. Accordingly,now that the house recently erected and the chapelare in ruins, there remains nothing save only theremembrance that Jesus Christ has been preachedthere, and should always have been glorified in thatdilapidated and unrecognizable post. Every missionary,on beginning his labors, must preparehimself for such sad reverses.From this post [crossed out in MS.] I proceeded,after All Saints' day and in the spring, to the JeremieIslets, 30 leagues to the Northeast of Tadoussac,toward the Bersiamites river— a stream very wellknown on our maps, which is as wide as, but muchshallower than, the Saguene. From that place toLaBrador, the inhabitants— who are, in reality,montagnais— are called Papinachois, from the savageword that describes their character: Ni-papinach,M Ilaugh a little ' '; Poupapinachewets, * * I like to laugha little." Indeed, they are lovable people, onaccount of their invariable gaiety. Would to God
100 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68ne respirent que par un petit soupirail qui leur sertegallement de fenetre et de porte tou jours en defianceils ne fe laifsent jamais approcher d'aucune nationfut-elle basque, car on ne doute presque plus quequelque basque pecheur naufrage* sur ces cotes avecquelque Eve n'ait £te leur infortune Adam.Or nos papinacheois que je regarde plus disposezau royaume de Dieu que leurs autres compatrioteseloignez, ont aux terminaisons pres des mots lameme langue que ceux de Chektftimi, et tous cesdifferens idiomes approchent aussi un peu, horsl'accent, de l'algonkin Anciennement ils avoientune jolie chapelle situ6e avec leur village dans unegrande baye a 4 lieues du nouvel etablifsement desIlets. Elle s'appelle encore aujourdhuy la baye desPapinacheois. Avertis du terns au quel je dois merendre chez eux ils depechent un canot pour mevenir chercher a Tadtfflac sur la fin de la miffion encet endroit. Arrive chez eux il est incroyable combienles hommes et les femmes avec leurs enfanss'emprefsent de se rassasier du pain de la paroledivine. Plus ilsimportunent pour se faire instruire,plus ils donnent de consolation. Dans une pauvrecabane d'ecorce fait a leur maniere percee exposeeaux vents a la pluye, et dont le pave" n'efl que debranches d'un sapin extremement entetant se fonttous les exercices de la miffion. J'ai deja eu l'honneurde mander a V. R quel fruit ily auroit aesperer pour la religion et le domaine si le Roy leuraccordoit un missionnaire resident qui attireroitplusieurs etrangers qui iroit voir a leur tour lesfrancois employez a la Riviere Moysi, aux 7 lies etleurs Sauvages. Ceux des Ilets sont bien instruits
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 101that they could communicate their temper to theirintractable neighbors, the Esquimaux, who willnever be tamed, except through a miracle, because,ensconced in their naturally hollow and impregnablerocks,— where they breathe only through a smallair-hole, which also serves them as a window and adoor,— and ever suspicious, they never allow anynot even if he beperson of any nation to approach, a basque for there is now hardly any doubt that;some basque fisherman, shipwrecked on their shoreswith some Eve, has been their unfortunate Adam.Now our papinacheois— whom Iconsider betterthan are their otherdisposed toward God's kingdomdistant countrymen— have, excepting in the terminationsof the words, the same language as the savagesof Chekoutimi ;and all these different idioms alsoresemble algonkin to some extent, except for theaccent.Formerly they had a pretty chapelin theirvillage, which is situated on a large bay, 4 leaguesfrom the new establishment of the Islets. It is stillcalled ' ' the bay of the Papinacheois. As ' 'they havebeen notified of the time when I am to come to them,they send a canoe to get me at Tadoussac, when themission at that place is ended. On arriving amongthem, it is incredible how the men and women, withtheir children, hasten to satisfy their hunger for thebread of the divine word. The more they importunefor instruction, the more consolation do they give.All the exercises of the mission are performed in apoor bark cabin, made in their fashion,— open andexposed to every wind and to the rain its floor con-jsists of branches of fir, the odor of which causes giddiness.I have already had the honor of writing toYour Reverence the results that we might hope to
102 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68et se font un devoir de s'instruire les uns les autreset ceux le moins depai'sez voudroient bien l'etre, maisen attendant conservent leurs superstitions. Cetteardeur qu'ils montrent pour la priere, sans qu'il yparoifse certainement ni crainte, ni interet ni hypo-et de sicrisie, marque assez ce qu'avec la gracebonnes inclinations Ton en pourroit faire.A peine la messe a la quelle ils afsistent avec unadmirable respect et a genoux (ce qui leur est difficile)est elle finie que les hommes et les femmes a partoubliants leurs enfant et leur propre nouriture 6pientle moment que j'aye acheve" mon actions de gracespour se faire instruire, apprendre leur catechisme eta chanter. Persuadez que ce n'est qu'un delafsementpour moy. J'ay eu la consolation d'en voirme boucher agr£ablement la porte de leur cabannepour m'empescher d'en sortir et me forcer a leurfaire repeter les prieres quinze fois dans une matineejusqu'a ce que les Francois vinsent m'arracher.agreable violence, bon Dieu! Mon R. P. [crossed outin MS,']Comme le sauvage ne s'occupe gueres que d'unechose a la fois ilsapprennent et retiennent avec unefacilite 6tonnante. Mais le sexe partout devot pourla memoire l'emporte. Les hommes ont un certainusage de la memoire artificiele. Un d'entre eux,pour apprendre en sa langue le Veni Creator se fitpour chaque couplet de petites figure sur une ecorcequi lui remettoit en idee ce que chaque strophesignifioit, j'observai par hazard dans sa bizarre6criture sur Vhostem repellas longius un espece de petitdiablotin qui le faisoit refsouvenir du verset MatchimanitX,&c, le mauvais esprit notre ennemi.:Un
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 103obtain for religion and for the domain, if the Kinggranted them a resident missionary who wouldattract many strangers; these would, in turn, visitthe french employed at the Moysi River, and at the7 Islands, and their Savages. Those of the Isletsare well taught, and make it their duty to instructone another ;while those who are the least depaganizedwould like to be also instructed, but meanwhileretain their superstitions. This ardor which theymanifest for prayer— certainly without any fear,interest, or hypocrisy being apparent in it — sufficientlyproves what, with grace and so good dispositions,might be expected from them.Hardly is mass ended, at which they have assistedwith admirable respect and on their knees (a difficultposture for them), when the men and women separately,forgetful of their children and of their food,watch the moment when I have finished my thanksgiving,that they may be instructed, and learn to saytheir catechism and to sing for ; they are convincedthat it is only a recreation for me. I have had theconsolation of seeing some who pleasantly closed thedoor of their cabin, to prevent my going out and tomake me hear them repeat their prayers, fifteentimes in one morning, until the French came to tearme away. A pleasing violence, good God! MyReverend Father {crossed out in MS.'].As the savages occupy themselves with but onething at a time, they learn and remember with astonishingfacility. But the women, everywhere devout,have a better memory. The men make use, to acertain extent, of artificial aids to memory. One ofthem, in order to learn the Vent Creator in hislanguage, made some small figures for himself on a
104 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68autre me surprit, 1'annee derniere. Avant de seconfefser pour ses paques, il se prepare, s'examineet a chacun de ses pechez il encoche un petit bois, desorte que sur ce pretendu livre il ne hesita ni sur lenombre ni sur les circonstances qu'une seule fois ens' accusant depuis un an. a qui frequente et aime cesespeces d'hommes tout en ce genre paroit spirituel.Je me demandois si c'etoit St Ignace qui lui avoitappris ce mysterieux secret.Leur docilite" n'est pas moins charmante, il y avoitplus de 10 ans qu'un de ces gens la avoit abandonnesa legitime femme et en avoit pris une autre dont ilavoit des enfans; craignant a Texcez qu'on ne luienlevat sa concubine encore payenne,il n'osoitpresque paroitre D'ailleurs bon chafseur, on lemenageoit le missionnaire de son cote" pour l'obligera reprendre sa legitime et renvoyer celle cy qui avoittant d'envie d'etre baptis6e qu'elle scavoit toutes leset le catechisme faisoit a ce mal-prieres les hymnesheureux mille protestations d' affection et de zele.Sur ces entrefaites Dieu decida de 1' affaire, car [cettedouble] la bonne vielle apres s'etre confefs6e meurten peu de jours. II n'y eut penitence Canonique ala quelle ce criminel Sauvage anciennement instruitne se soumit de bonne foy, ainsi qu'ilfitpubliquementa la porte de la chapelle sans parler dessatisfactions secretes. La femme, sans etre encoresujette aux lois de TEglise vouloit subir les memespeines si Ton ne 1' avoit pas fait retirer: on ne luiaccorda que la consolation de se confesser avant sonbapteme, Elle le recut fondant de joye avec sesfut reliability. Ce traitpetits enfans et le mariageque je n'explique qu'a demi est digne de remarque
1720-36J SA G UENA Y RELA TION 105piece of bark for each verse, which reminded him ofthe meaning of each strophe.I saw by accident inhis curious writing, at the hostem repellas longius,a sort of little imp, which reminded him of theversicle: Matchi-manitoti, " etc., the evil spirit, ourenemy." Another astonished me last year. Beforemaking his confession for easter, he prepared himselfand examined his conscience ;and at each of hissins he cut a notch on a small stick. By referringto this stick, which answered for a book, he hesitatedbut once with regard to the number of and the circumstancesattending the sins committed during theyear, of which he accused himself. Everything ofthat kind seems spiritual to him who associates withand loves men of that sort. I asked myself whetherit were St. Ignatius who had taught him this11mysterious secret.Their docility is no less charming. One of thesepeople had abandoned his lawful wife more than 10years before, and had taken another, by whom hehad children. Being exceedingly afraid that hisconcubine, who was still a pagan, would be takenfrom him, he hardly ventured to show himself.Moreover, as he was a good hunter, he was treatedleniently. On his side, the missionary, in order tocompel him to take back his lawful wife, and sendaway other,— the who was so anxious to be baptizedthat she learned all the prayers, the hymns, and thecatechism,— gave this unfortunate man a thousandmanifestations of affection and zeal. Meanwhile,God decided the matter for; [this double] the good oldwoman died, a few days after making her confession.There was no Canonical penance to which this guiltySavage, who had formerly been instructed, did not
106 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68dans un riche sauvage qui ne devant rien a personne,et comme ils disent, maitre de son corps. Ainsi secomporta le plus a craindre de tous les papinacheois[qui ne chercha plus qu'a prevenir le pere par sespetits services] : juges des autres qui ne font point[qu'on ne fcauroit] inquiette [MS. torn here]Je ne finirois jamais si je voulois parler des Montagnezde la mer, les quels on doit distinguer de cescoureurs mikmaks qui ne sachant ou donner de latete vont gater la plupart des mifsions ou mandierdu pain dans les cotes et a Quebec. On n'aeu quetrop sujet de se repentir d'en avoir laifse" hyvernera Bon Desir.Mais puis que je reviens a ce poste ruin£, que pourme consoler de sa perte,il fallut penser tout de bona etablir celuy de Chektftimi. La providence m'avoitdonne" un commis aufsi pieux et fidelle qu'obligeantdesinteress6 et adroit. En un mot c'etoit le S rMontandre des Grondines dont le nom la conduite etla probite ne vous sont point inconnus. II commencapar regler judicieusement la boifson des sauvages,tou jours ferme sans les choquer. II arrangea monpetit menage. II entreprit de faire ma chapelle, outandis que se chanteront les louanges de Dieu, cegenereux franeais aura part. C'est le moindretribut de reconnaissance que la religion lui doit.Quoy que cette Eglise, dedie sous les noms de St.fr. Xavier et du B Regis ne soit que de pieces surpieces, elle a sa beaute. enduite de chaux, bienvitree, une voute et un retable peints elle a presquetous ses meubles, j'ose dire toutes ses commodites.Fafse le Ciel qu'on en voye bientot une semblable aTadSffac et aux Ilets.
1720 - 36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 107submit in good faith; and he publicly performedthem all at the door of the chapel, in addition to thereparation he made in secret. The woman, althoughnot yet subject to the laws of the Church, wouldhave undergone the same penalties, had she notbeen obliged to retire ;she was merely granted theconsolation of confessing herself before her baptism.She received it with tears of joy, at the same time asher little children ;and the marriage was rehabilitated.This action, which I only half explain, isworthy of remark in a rich savage who owed nothingto any one, and who, as the saying is, was master ofhis own body. Such was the behavior of him whowas most to be dreaded among the papinacheois [andwho thenceforward sought only to show attention tothe father by little services]. You may judge of theothers, who are not, [whom we cannot] disturb [MS.torn here],I would never end, were I to speak of the Montagnaisof the seacoast; and they must not be confoundedwith those mikmak runners who, not knowingwhich way to turn, spoil most of the missions, orbeg their bread along the banks of the river and inQuebec. We had but too good a reason to repenthaving allowed some of them to winter at Bon Desir.But, since I returned to this ruined post only toconsole myself for its loss, it was necessary to thinkin earnest about establishing that of Chekoutimi.Providence had given me a clerk as pious and faithfulas he was obliging, disinterested, and skillful.In a word, he was the Sieur Montandre des Grondines,whose name, conduct, and probity are notunknown to you. He began by judiciously regulatingthe quantity of liquor to be allowed the savages,
108 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68II ne manquoit plus qu'une maison an missionnaireproche son Eglise c'eft ce qui, pour un etablifsementsolide, vient de se faire. Un grand nombre desauvages residens acheveroit son bonheur, mais nibled d'Inde ni poix &c. ne pouvant y venir a maturity,a cause des frequents nord-oist de quoy sesoutiendroit un village,a la bonneheure si MM. duDomaine voulant regarnir de Castors leurs terresdeja ruinees, faisoient la depense modique d'entreteniricy 3 mois tout an plus sous les yeux du francoisles sauvages voisins afin de les empescher de detruiretout a fait le castor d'ete dont le bas poil ne sert arien. Le profit qu'on en retireroit l'hyver payeroitgrafsement la d6pense, qui ne consisteroit qu'aquelques barriques de bled d'inde, de poix et degrosse farine. je soutiens meme qu'au lieu de lesrendre paresseux cela les rendroit d'autant plusagissans dans la bonne saison qu'ils sont meilleurschafseurs, et qu'ils auroient et6 retenus plus longterns. On les occuperoit a faire des canots, d'autresouvrages et a cultiver de petits champs de bledd'inde en lait. Scavoir apresents'ils consentiroienteux-memes a ce projet.Le meilleur expedient qu'on auroit pour etendreet perpetuer dans ces bois et ces montagnes lareligion, ce seroit d' avoir un petit fond capabled'entretenir modiquement et a la sauvage quelquesenfans les quels gardez durant un hyver par debonnes vielles, sans d'ailleurs incommoder les francoisdu poste, succefsivement instruits iroient auprintems faire part a leurs parens de leur doctrine ;je ne parle qu'apres en avoir heureusement faitI'experience. Sachant de quoy vivent et s'habillent
1720-36] SA G (JENA Y RELA TION 109and was ever firm without giving offense. Hearranged my few articles of furniture ;he undertookto put up my chapel and this generous frenchman;shall have a share in the prayers as long as God'spraises are sung in it. This is the least tribute ofgratitude that religion owes him. Although thisChurch, dedicated under the names of St. francisXavier and the Blessed Regis, consists only of logslaid one upon another, it has its beauty. Plasteredwith mortar, well glazed, with painted ceiling andaltar-screen, it possesses nearly—all its furnitureand, I might say, every convenience. May Heavengrant that similar ones be seen before long atTadoussac and at the Islets.All that the missionary lacked was a dwelling nearhis Church and this;has just been built, as a permanentestablishment. A 12large number of residentsavages would complete his happiness; but, asneither Indian corn nor peas, etc., can ripen here,owing to the prevalence of the northeast wind, onwhat could a village subsist? It would be well andgood if the Gentlemen of the Domain, wishing torestock their already ruined lands with Beaver, wouldincur the slight expense of keeping the neighboringsavages here for 3 months, at most, under the eyesof the french, in order to prevent their completelydestroying the summer beaver, whose fur is worthless.The benefit that would be derived therefromin winter would amply repay expense— the whichwould consist merely of a few barrels of indian corn,of peas, and of coarse flour. I even maintain that,instead of making them lazy, it would make themall the more active in the proper season, when theyare better hunters and would have been longer
110 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68ces sortes de gens,il en couteroit peu pour enentretenir 5 on 6 avec lenrs gardiennes. Ce seroitmeme nn avantage ponr le poste, ces pauvres veuvespafseroient des peanx, feroient des robbes, des capotsde castor des souliers sanvages les raquettes etrendroient a la maison les antres services dont ildifficile qu'elle se pafse en hyver.estC'etoit la an vraila simple pens6e d'nn de mes predecefsenrs, et c'estce qni se pratique ailleurs, ainsi qu'on le voit dansquelques lettres edifiantes. II ne s'agiroit pointicy de batiments ni de seminaire. Nos sauvagesqui portent avec eux leurs maisons se plaisentmieux sous leurs 6corces et sur leur sapin quesous les lambris dorez et sur le duvet. Les Enfansrenfermez s'ennuyeroit bientot, et leurs parens qui lesidolatrent les sachants trop gesnez, les retireroientd'abordCe n'est pas qu'il ne se trouve parmi eux certainsperes et meres raisonnables qui ne s'en rendentmaitres et ne sachent avec fermete s'en faire obeirou s'en voir privez. J'en connois de ce carracterecertaines families entre les quelles le chef deChek8timi et sa femme viennent tout recemment denous donner un bel exemple. L'un et Tautre avoienteleVe* dans la pi6te 2 garcons qui [MS. torn here;formaient?— A. E. /.] l'esperance de la famille etdont l'aifne* 6toit marie* et avoit un enfant. 1' autred'environ 12 ansettout a fait aimable, une fille de 10ans la consolation de sa mere et un autre de quelquesmois, tous ces enfans, jusqu'au petit fils meurentici coup sur coup en peu de temps. Quel desastrepour un !sauvage La femme qui aimoit tendrementmais en mere chretienne pleura chaque mort,
1720-36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 111restrained. They would be kept occupied in makingcanoes and in other work, and in cultivating indiancorn in the milk. The question is: would theythemselves consent to this plan ?The best way ofdisseminating and perpetuatingreligion amid these forests and mountains would beto have a small fund, sufficient to support cheaplyand in the savage manner some children who, afterbeing kept for a winter by good women,— old without,moreover, troubling post,—the french of theand after being successively instructed, would go inthe spring to teach their parents their doctrine. Ispeak only after having had a happy experience ofit.Knowing how these people live and dress, Iconsider that it would cost but little to support 5 or6, with their guardians. It would even be anadvantage to the post ;for these poor widows woulddress the furs, make robes and coats of beaver-skins,and moccasins and snowshoes — and would performother services in the house, with which it can withdifficulty dispense in winter-time. This, in truth,itis the simple idea of one of my predecessors ;andis practiced elsewhere, as may be seen in some lettresedifiantes. There would be no question here ofbuildings or of a seminary. Our savages, who carrytheir houses with them, are more content under theirbark and fir-branches than they would be under giltcanopies and on down. The Children would soon beweary, if shut up in buildings; and their parents,who idolize them, would soon withdraw them whenthey found them too closely confined.Not that there are not some reasonable fathers andmothers among them who master the children, andwho can be firm in making themselves obeyed, or
112 LES RELATIONS DES jUSUITES [Vol. 68neanmoins elle eut le courage de nous aider a chanteraux obseques. 1'homme supportant de meme cescoups redoublez fitparoitre quelque tristefse mais toutle tribut de ses larmes fut de recommander a mesprieres ses enfans en m'ajoutant qu'il auroit tort dese plaindre de la conduite de Dieu a son egard puisqu'il6toit maitre de nos vies. II vient d'apprendredepuis peu que sa fille marine a TadtffTac se mouroitaussi, et a Noel son dernier enfant age de 15 jours,qu'on m'apporta chez moy vers minuit me parut sibien mort que je me retirai apres quelques parolesde consolation II revint pourtant un quart d'heureapres de sa letargie ou plutot d'une espece d'yvrefsecaufsee par une prise de Theriaque qu'on lui avoitdonnee indiscretement pour le rhume. Toute moninquietude en pareille occasion est que nos superstitieuxvont dire que c'est infailliblement la prierequi a tu6 cette famille. Quoy qu'ils en puissentiongler c'eft une recolte afsur6e. L'aisne" a et6 3 moismalade, sans nous marquer le moindre signe d'ennuy.Son cadet que je destinois a etre un jour chef de lapriere apres de longues langueurs qui m'avoientoblige* de lui /aire [avancer] sa premiere communion,se fitrapporter icy de fort loin pour y recevoir enfinses derniers sacremens forcant son pere et fa mere amarcher de nuit leur disant incefsemment qu'il etoitEffectivement le lendemain a mesterns de se hater.yeux il expira en baisant tendrement et de lui memeun de ces crucifix dont v. R me fitpresent pour euxl'automne derniere.En voila trop MRP. II ne me reste plus qu'avous communiquer un nouveau defsein qui ne sauroitne tendvenir que de Dieu, ce me semble, puis qu'il
1720-36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 113when they are deprived of them. I know somefamilies of this character; among others, the chiefof Chekoutimi and his wife have quite recently givenus a fine example. Both had reared in a piousmanner 2 sons,— who were the hope of the family,and the elder of whom was married and had a child ;while the other was 12 years old, and quite lovable,—a little daughter 10 years of age, her mother's consolation,and another, a few months old. All thesechildren, even to the grandson, died one after theother within a short time. What a disaster for aThe woman, who loved tenderly, but as asavage !christian mother, wept at each death ; nevertheless,she had courage enough to help us in chanting atthe obsequies. The man, who bore these successiveblows in the same manner, manifested some sorrow ;but the whole tribute of his tears consisted in recommendinghis children to my prayers,— adding thathe would do wrong were he to complain of God'sconduct toward him, since he is the master of ourlives. He has just learned that his daughter, whowas recently married at Tadoussac is also dying and;at Christmas his last child, 15 days old, who wasbrought to me about midnight, seemed to me sotruly dead that I withdrew after a few consolatorywords. A quarter of an hour afterward, however, itrecovered from lethargy— its or, rather, from aspecies of intoxication, caused by a dose of Theriacthat had been given it without discretion for a cold.My sole anxiety on this occasion is lest our superstitiousones may say that it is, beyond a doubt, prayerthat has caused the deaths in this family. Howsoeverthey may juggle,it is a sure harvest. Theeldest was ill for 3 months, without manifesting the
114 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68qu'a sa gloire, et qui m'occupe depuis long terns, ceseroit d'etendre notre mission plus loin ;car enfin dese borner simplement a Chekotimi a Tadtffac et auxIlets, c'est un petit objet; je m'appercois d'ailleursque les nouveaux etablifsements qu'on a faits auxMiftafsins, et qu'on vient de faire pour la traite dulac St- Jean ont empesche* et empescheront bien desSauvages a demi Chretiens de descendre ici desormaistrouvant la plus que leur necefsaire;Je croirois qu'ilseroit bon que V. R me permit d'aller a Labradorou je scais qu'il y auroit bien du fruit a faire sansneanmoins abandonner cette mifsion-cy, ou un nouveaumiffionnaire, aid6 de mes livres montagneztiendroit ma place en s'instruifant tranquillement.J'en ecris a M r Broac ou a M. Chare\ qui ne manquerontpas Tun ou l'autre d'en conferer avec vous, s'ilsont, comme je le crois, autant de zele qu'on m'en aaflure\ et dont je ne puis douter par les instancesr6iter6es qu'ils m'ont fait jusqu'apresentde leurenvoyer un extrait de mes prieres Sauvages ce que jen'ai pu faire. Tous les voyageurs francais m'ontprotests que j'aurois la de quoy m'exercer tantaupres des Sauvages que des employez soit canadiens,soit pescheurs malouins, qui manquent souvent desecours spirituels. Ce ne seroit qu'un efsay d'abordet en tout cas le montagnez reviendroit soullagerson collegue. II est digne cet efsay de zele que vousavez MRP pour la propagation de la foy. C'eftaux inferieurs a proposer respectueufement, et auxsuperieurs plus eclairez a disposer. Peut etre queces lumieres que je prens la liberte de vous donnerpour la gloire de Dieu toucheront la tendresse devotre bon coeur. Si vous ne les suivez pas, je ne
1720-36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 115least sign of impatience. His younger son,— whomI destined to be, some day, the chief of prayers,—after a long weakness which compelled me to make[hasten] his first communion, caused himself to bebrought back here from a very great distance, toreceive at last the sacraments of the dying he compelledhis father and mother to travel at night and;without resting, saying to them that it was time tohurry. In fact, on the following day he expiredbefore my eyes,— tenderly and of his own accordkissing one of the crucifixes that your Reverencegave me as a present for them last autumn.This letter is too long, My Reverend Father. Ihave now but to communicate to you a new design—which, it seems to me, can come but from God sincethis tends only to his glory and which has occupied;my mind for some time. It is, to extend our missionstill farther ; for, in truth, to confine ourselves merelyto Chekotimi, Tadousac, and the Islets is a smallmatter.I observe, moreover, that the new posts atthe Mistassins — which have just been established forthe lake St. John trade — have prevented and willprevent many Savages who are half christians fromcoming down here in future, as they will obtainthere more than they need. I think that it wouldbe a good thing if Your Reverence would permit meto go to Labrador, where I know that great resultscan be obtained — without, however, abandoning thismission, where a new missionary, with the assistanceof my montagnais books, could take my place whilequietly learning.I am writing about it to MonsieurBroac or to Monsieur Char6, both of whom will notfail to confer with you on the subject if, as I believe,they are as zealous as I am assured they are.Indeed,
116 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68m'en allarmeray point. Je ne propose ce dessein quedans la crainte que j'ay depuis long terns qu'un seulsauvage adulte ou enfant de 1 Abrador ne me reprocheun jour son malheur eternel. Je ne pretens quesatisfaire aux cris de ma confcience deja trop embarrafs6epour ne le pas assez etre. II ne s'agit que demettre ici en ma place le premier jesuite venant defrance. Dans les commencements nous nous aideronsTun T autre pour la langue; puis je m'embarqueraipour le Golfe et j'aurai l'honneur d'etre la comme aChektftimi et partout ailleurs avec toute sorte dereconnaifsance et de respectde v.RLe T. H. S rLaure.
1720-36] SA G UENA Y RELA TION 117I cannot doubt it, by the repeatedentreaties whichthey have hitherto made to me to send them anextract from my prayers in the Savage tongue this;I have been unable to do. All the french voyageurshave assured me that I would have plenty of employment,both among the Savages and amongemployees,— thewhether Canadians, or fishermen fromSt. Malo, who are often in need of spiritual assistance.At first, it would be only an experiment;and in any case the montagnais missionary wouldreturn to relieve his colleague. Such an experimentis worthy of the zeal which you, My Reverend Father,have displayed for the propagation of the faith. Itis for the inferiors to respectfully propose, and forthe more enlightened superiors to dispose. Perhapsthis information, which I take the liberty of givingyou for the glory of God, will touch the kindness ofyour good heart. Should you not adopt my views,I shall not be alarmed. I submit this project onlythrough the fear that I have long felt that a singlesavage, either adult or child, of l'Abrador might oneday reproach me with his eternal unhappiness. Iwish merely to still the clamors of my conscience,which is already too embarassed to allow of its beingmore so. All that need be done is to put in myplace the first Jesuit who may come from franee. Atthe beginning, we shall help one another as regardsthe language then I shall embark for the Gulf, and;I shall have the honor to be there, as at Chekoutimiand everywhere else, with all gratitude and respect,your Reverence'sVery Humble Servant,Laure. 14
CCIII — ccvThree Letters, 1730, 1734, 1735CCIII.— Lettre du Pere le Petit, Missionnaire, au Pered' Avaugour, Procureur des Missions de l'AmeriqueSeptentrionale. A la Nouvelle Orleans,le 12Juillet, 1730CCIV.— Lettre du p e Nau, missionaire du Canada, au R. p.Richard, provincial de la province de Guyenne, aBourdeaux. A Quebec, 20 Octobre, 1734CCV.— Lettre du reverend pere Aulneau, missionnairede laJesuite, ecrite du canada au R. P. Fayememe Compagnie. De Quebeck, 25 Avril, 1735SOURCES : We obtain Doc. CCIII. from Lettres edifiantes,t. vii., pp. 1-59; the translation, we take fromKip's Early Jesuit Missions in North America, with afew emendations to secure accuracy. In publishing Docs.CCIV. and CCV., we follow apographs in the archives ofSt.Mary's College, Montreal; for our translation of these twodocuments, we follow in the main an English version byFather A. E. Jones.
120 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68Lettre du Pere le Petit, Missionnaire, au Pered'Avaugour, Procureur des Missions del'Amerique Septentrionale.MonR£v£rend PereLepaixVous n'avez pu ignorer lequi a d^sole* cette partieA la Nouvelle Orleans,le 12 Juillet 1730.de N S.triste eVenementde la Colonie Francaise6tablie aux Natchez, sur la droite du fleuve de Mississipi,a cent vingt lieues de son embouchure. Deuxde nos Missionnaires, occup6s a la conversion desSauvages, ont 6t6 compris dans le massacre presqueg£n6ral que cette Nation barbare a fait des Francais,dans le temps meme qu'on n'avait nulle raison de seUne sigrande perte que vientd6fier de sa perfidie.de faire cette Mission naissante, sera long-tempsl'objet de nos plus vifs regrets.Comme vous n'avez pu savoir, que d'une maniereconfuse, les suites d'une si noire trahison, je vaisvous en deVelopper toutes les circonstances ; maisauparavant je crois devoir vous faire connaitre lecaractere de ces perfides Sauvages appel£s Natchez.Quand je vous aurai d6crit la Religion, les mceurs,et les coutumes de ces barbares, je viendrai al'histoire du tragique eVenement dont j'ai dessein devous entretenir, et je vous en raconterai toutes les
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 121Letter from Father le Petit, Missionary, toFather d'Avaugour, Procurator of theMissions in North America.At New Orleans,the 1 2th of July, 1730.My Reverend Father,The peace of Our Lord.You cannot be ignorant of the sad eventwhich has desolated that part of the French Colonyestablished at Natchez, on the right bank of the Mississipiriver, at the distance of a hundred and twentyleagues from its mouth. Two of our Missionarieswho were engaged in the conversion of the Savages,have been included in the almost general massacrewhich this barbarous Nation made of the French, ata time too when they had not the least reason tosuspect their perfidy. A loss so great as this infantMission has sustained, will continue for a long timeto excite our deepest regrets.As you could only have learned in a confusedmanner the events of this dark treachery,I willendeavor to relate to you all the circumstances but;first I think that it would be best to make youacquainted with the character of these perfidiousSavages, called the Natchez. When I have describedto you the Religion, the manners, and the customsof these barbarians, I will proceed to the history ofthe tragical event which Idesign to narrate, and
122 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68particularity dans un detail, dont je m 'assure quevous n'avez eu nulle connaissance.Cette Nation de Sauvages habite un des plus beauxet des plus fertiles climatsde TUnivers: ce sont lesseuls de ce continent-la qui paraissent avoir un culter6gl
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 123will in detail recount all those circumstances, ofwhich I am certain you have hitherto had no knowledge.This Nation of Savages inhabits one of the mostbeautiful and fertile countries in the World, and isthe only one on this continent which appears tohave any regular worship. Their Religion incertain points is very similar to that of the ancientRomans. They have a Temple filled with Idols,which are different figures of men and of animals,and for which they have the most profound veneration.Their Temple in shape resembles an earthenoven, a hundred feet in circumference. They enteritby a little door about four feet high, and not morethan three in breadth. No window is to be seenthere. The arched roof of the edifice is coveredwith three rows of mats, placed one upon the other,to prevent the rain from injuring the masonry.Above on the outside are three figures of eaglesmade of wood, and painted red, yellow, and white.Before the door is a kind of shed with folding-doors,where the Guardian of the Temple is lodged all;around it runs a circle of palisades, on which areseen exposed the skulls of all the heads which theirWarriors had brought back from the battles in whichthey had been engaged with the enemies of theirNation.In the interior of the Temple are some shelvesarranged at a certain distance from each other, onwhich are placed cane baskets of an oval shape, andin these are enclosed the bones of their ancientChiefs, while by their side are those of their victimswho had caused themselves to be strangled, to followtheir masters into the other world. Another
124 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68peintes, ou se conservent leurs Idoles: ce sont desfigures d'hommes et de femmes faites de pierres etde terre cuite, des tetes et des queues de serpensextraordinaires, des hiboux empailles, des morceauxde cristaux, et des machoires de grands poissons. IIy avait en l'ann6e 1699 une bouteille et une patte deverre qu'ils gardaient pr6cieusement.lis ont soin d'entretenir dans ce Temple un feuperpetuel, et leur attention est d'empecher qu'il neflambe : ils ne se servent pour cela que de bois secde noyer ou de chene. Les anciens sont obliges deporter, chacun a son tour, une grosse buche dans1' enceinte de la palissade. Le nombre des Gardiensdu Temple est fixe\ et ils servent par quartier.Celui qui est en exercice est comme en sentinellesous l'appentis, d'ou il examine si le feu n'est pas endangerde s'6teindre: il l'entretient avec deux outrois grosses buches, qui ne brulent 1'que par extremity,et qui ne se mettent jamais l'une sur l'autre,pour eviter la flamme.De toutes les femmes, il n'y a que les sceurs dugrand Chef qui aient la liberte d'entrer dans leTemple: cette entree est d^fendue a toutes lesautres, aussi-bien qu'au menu peuple, lors memequ'ils apportent a manger aux manes de leurs parens,dont les ossemens reposent dans le Temple. Lesmets se donnent au Gardien, qui les porte a cote* dela corbeille ou sont les os du mort : cette c£remoniene dure que pendant une lune. Les plats se mettentensuite sur les palissades de l'enceinte, et sontabandonnes aux betes fauves.Le Soleirest le principal objet de la v£n£ration de
1720 - 36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 125separate shelf supports many fiat baskets verygorgeously painted, in which they preserve theirIdols. These are figures of men and women made ofstone or baked clay, the heads and the tails ofextraordinary serpents, some stuffed owls, somepieces of crystal, and some jaw-bones of large fish.In the year 1699, they had there a bottle and the footof a glass, which they guarded as very precious.In this Temple they take care to keep up a perpetualfire, and they are very particular to preventits ever blazing ; they do not use anything for it butdry wood of the walnut or oak. The old men areobliged to carry, each one in his turn, a large log ofwood into the enclosure of the palisade. Thenumber of the Guardians of the Temple is fixed, andthey serve by the quarter. He who is on duty isplaced like a sentinel under the shed, from whencehe examines whether the fire is not in danger ofgoing out. He feeds it with two or three large logs,which do not burn except at the extremity, andwhich they never place one on the other, for fear oftheir getting into a blaze.Of the women, the sisters of the great Chief alonehave liberty to enter within the Temple. Theentrance is forbidden to all the others, as well as tothe common people, even when they carry somethingthere to feast to the memory of their relatives,whose bones repose in the Temple. They give thedishes to the Guardian, who carries them to the sideof the basket in which are the bones of the dead ;this ceremony lasts only during one moon. Thedishes are afterward placed on the palisades whichsurround the Temple, and are abandoned to thefallow-deer.
126 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68ces peuples: comme ils ne concoivent rien qui soitau-dessus de cet astre, rien aussi ne leur parait plusdigne de leurs hommages; et c'est parla memeraison que le grand Chef de cette Nation, qui neconnait rien sur la terre au-dessus de soi-meme,de frere du Soleil : la cr6dulite desprend la qualite"peuples le maintient dans l'autorite* despotique qu'ilse donne. Pour mieux les y entretenir, on eleve unebutte de terre rapportee, sur laquelle on batit sacabane, qui est de meme construction que le Temple :la porte est exposed au Levant. Tous les matins, legrand Chef honore de sa presence le lever de sonfrere aine\ et le salue de plusieurs hurlemens desqu'il parait sur l'horizon; ensuite il donne ordrequ'on allume son calumet, et il lui fait une offrandedes trois premieres gorg£es qu'il tire; puis elevantles mains au-dessus de la tete, et se tournant de1'Orient a l'Occident, il lui enseigne la route qu'ildoit tenir dans sa course.IIya dans cette cabaneplusieurs lits a gauche enentrant: mais sur la droite iln'y a quegrand Chef, orne* de diff6rentes figures peintes. Celit ne consiste que dans une paillasse de Cannes et dele lit dujoncs fort durs, avec une biiche carr£e qui lui sertde chevet. Au milieu de la cabane on voit unepetite borne: personne ne doit approcher du lit qu'iln'ait fait le tour de la borne. Ceux qui entrentsaluent par un hurlement, et avancent jusqu'au fondde la cabane, sans jeter les yeux du cote* droit ou estle Chef : ensuite on fait un nouveau salut, en elevantles bras au-dessus de la tete et hurlant trois fois.c'est une personne que le Chef considere, ilr£pondSi
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 127The Sun is the principal object of veneration tothese people ; as they cannot conceive of anythingwhich can be above this heavenly body, nothing elseappears to them more worthy of their homage.Itis for the same reason that the great Chief of thisNation, who knows nothing on the earth more dignifiedthan himself, takes the title of brother of theSun, and the credulity of the people maintains himin the despotic authority which he claims. To enablethem better to converse together, they raise a moundof artificial soil, on which they build his cabin,which is of the same construction as the Temple.The door fronts the East, and every morning thegreat Chief honors by his presence the rising of hiselder brother, and saluteshim with many howlingsas soon as he appears above the horizon. Then hegives orders that they shall light his calumet; hemakes him an offering of the first three puffs whichhe draws ;afterward raising his hand above his head,and turning from the East to the West, he showshim the direction which he must take in his course.There are in this cabin a number of beds on theleft hand at entering but on the right is only the:bed of the great Chief, ornamented with differentpainted figures. This bed consists of nothing but amattress of canes and reeds, very hard, with a squarelog of wood, which serves for a pillow. In themiddle of the cabin is seen a small stone, and no oneshould approach the bed until he has made a circuitof this stone. Those who enter salute by a howl,and advance even to the bottom of the cabin, withoutlooking at the right side, where the Chief is.Then they give a new salute by raising their armsabove the head, and howling three times. If it be
128 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68par un petit soupir, et lui fait signe de s'asseoir; onle remercie de sa politesse par un nouvel hurlement.A toutes les questions que fait le Chef, on liurle unefois avant que de lui r6pondre: et lorsqu'on prendconge de lui, on fait trainer un seul hurlementjusqu'a ce qu'on soit hors de sa presence.Lorsque le grand Chef meurt, on demolit sacabane; puis on eleve une nouvelle butte ou Tonbatit la cabane de celui qui le remplace dans sadignite, et qui ne loge jamais dans celle de sonpredecesseur. Ce sont les anciens qui enseignentleurs Lois au reste du peuple: une des principalesest d'avoir un souverain respect pour le grand Chef,comme etant frere du Soleil, et le maitre du Temple ;ils croient l'immortalite de l'ame;lorsqu'ils quittentce monde, ils vont, disent-ils, en habiter un autre,pour y etre recompenses ou punis. Les recompensesqu'ils se promettent consistent principalement dansla bonne chere, et le chatiment dans la privation detout plaisir. Ainsi ils croient que ceux qui ont 6t6fideles observateurs de leurs lois, seront conduitsdans une region de delices, oil toutes sortes deviandes les plus exquisesleur seront fournies enabondance; qu'ils y couleront des jours agr
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 129any one whom the Chief holds in consideration, heanswers by a slight sigh and makes a sign to him tobe seated. He thanks him for his politeness by anew howl. At every question which the Chief putsto him, he howls once before he answers, and whenhe takes his leave, he prolongs a single howl untilhe is out of his presence.When the great Chief dies, they demolish hiscabin, and then raise a new mound, on which theybuild the cabin of him who is to replace him in thisdignity, for he never lodges in that of his predecessor.The old men prescribe the Laws for the rest ofthe people, and one of their principles is to have asovereign respect for the great Chief, as being thebrother of the Sun and the master of the Temple.They believe in the immortality of the soul, andwhen they leave this world they go, they say, to livein another, there to be recompensed or punished.The rewards to which they look forward, consistprincipally in feasting, and their chastisement inthe privation of every pleasure. Thus they thinkthose who have been the faithful observers ofthattheir laws will be conducted into a region of pleasures,where all kinds of exquisite viands will befurnished them in abundance that their delightfuland tranquil days will flow on in the midst offestivals, dances, and women; in short, they willrevel in all imaginable pleasures. On the contrary,the violators of their laws will be cast upon landsunfruitful and entirely covered with water, wherethey will not have any kind of corn, but will beexposed entirely naked to the sharp bites of themosquitoes, that all Nations will make war uponthem, that they will never eat meat, and have no
130 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68jamais de viande, et qu'ils ne se nourriront que dela chair des crocodiles, de mauvais poissons, et decoquillages.Ces peuples obelssent aveuglement aux moindresvolont6s du grand Chef : ils le regardent comme lemaitre absolu, non-seulement de leurs biens, maisencore de leur vie, et iln'y a pas un d'eux qui osatlui refuser sa tete lorsqu'il la demande. Quelquestravaux qu'il leur ordonne, il leur est d6fendu d'enexiger aucun salaire. Les Francais, qui ont souventbesoin de chasseurs ou de rameurs pour des voyagesde long cours, ne s'adressent qu'au grand Chef.Celui-ci fournit tous les hommes qu'on souhaite, etrecoit le paiement sans en faire part a ces malheureux,a qui il n'est pas meme permis de se plaindre.Un des principaux articles de leur Religion, sur-toutpour les domestiques du grand Chef, est d'honorerses fun£railles en mourant avec lui pour aller leservir dans 1' autre monde ces ; aveugles se soumettentvolontiers a cette loi, dans la folle persuasionou ilssont, qu'a la suite de leur Chef, ils vont jouir du plusgrand bonheur.Pour se faire une idee de cette sanglante cer6monie,il faut savoir que, des qu'il nait au grand Chef unh6ritier pr^somptif, chaque famille qui a un enfant ala mamelle doit lui en faire hommage. Parmi tousces enfans on en choisit un certain nombre, qu'ondestine au service du jeune Prince, et des qu'ils ontl'age competent, on leur donne un emploi conformea leurs talens: les uns passent leur vie ou a la chasse,ou a la peche, pour le service de sa table ;les autressont employes a T agriculture; d'autres ne servent
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 13>nourishment but the flesh of crocodiles, spoiledfish, and shell-fish.These people blindly obey the least wish of theirgreat Chief. They look upon him as absolute master,not only of their property but also of their lives,and not one of them would dare to refuse him hishead, if he should demand it; for whatever laborshe commands them to execute, they are forbiddento exact any wages. The French, who are often inneed of hunters or of rowers for their long voyages,never apply to any one but the great Chief. Hefurnishes all the men they wish, and receivespayment, without giving any part to those unfortunateindividuals, who are not permitted even to complain.One of the principal articles of their Religion, andparticularly for the servants of the great Chief, isthat of honoring his funeral rites by dying with him,to serve him in the other world.that they may goIn their blindness they willingly submit to this law,in the foolish belief that in the train of their Chiefthey will go to enjoy the greatest happiness.To give an idea of this bloody ceremony,it isnecessary to know that as soon as an heir presumptivehas been born to the great Chief, each familythat has an infant at the breast is obliged to payhim homage. From all these infants they choose acertain number whom they destine for the serviceof the young Prince, and as soon as they are of acompetent age, they furnish them with employmentssuited to their talents. Some pass their lives inhunting, or in fishing, to furnish supplies for thetable; others are employed in agriculture, whileothers serve to fillup his retinue. If he happen todie, all these servants sacrifice themselves with joy
132 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.68qu'a lui faire cortege: s'il vient a mourir, tous cesdomestiques s'immolent avec joie pour suivre leurcher maitre. lis prennent d'abord leurs plus beauxajustemens, et se rendent dans la place qui est vis-avisle Temple, et ou tout le peuple est assemble ;apres avoir danse et chante* assez long-temps,passent au cou une corde de poil de bceuf avecun nceud coulant, et aussitot les Ministres pr6pos6sils sea cette sorte d' execution, viennent les etrangler,en leur recommandant d'aller rejoindre leur maitre,et de reprendre dans l'autre monde des emploisencore plus honorables que ceux qu'ils occupaienten celui-ci.Les principaux domestiques du grand Chef ayant6t6 Strangles de la sorte, on decharne leurs os, surtoutceux des bras et des cuisses; on les laisse sedess6cher pendant deux mois dans une espece detombeau, apres quoi on les en retire pour les renfermerdans des corbeilles, et les placer dans le Templea cote de ceux de leur maitre. Pour ce qui est desautres domestiques, leurs parens les emportent chezeux, et les font enterrer avec leurs armes et leursvetemens.Cette meme c6r6monie s'observe pareillement a lamort des freres et des sceurs du grand Chef. Lesfemmes se font toujours etrangler pour les suivre, amoins qu'elles n'aient des enfans a la mamelle; caralors elles continuent de vivre pour les allaiter. Onen voit n£anmoins plusieurs qui cherchent des nourrices,ou qui etranglent elles-memes leurs enfans,pour ne pas perdrele droit de s'immoler dans laplace selon les ceremonies ordinaires, et ainsi que laloi l'ordonne.
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 133on allto follow their dear master. They first puttheir finery, and repair to the place opposite to theTemple, where all the people are assembled. Afterhaving danced and sung a sufficiently long time,they pass around their neck a cord of buffalo hairwith a running knot, and immediately the Ministersappointed for executions of this kind, come forwardto strangle them, recommending them to go torejoin their master, and render to him in the otherworld services even more honorable than those whichhad occupied them in this.The principal servants of the great Chief havingbeen strangled in this way, they strip the flesh offtheir bones, particularly those of their arms andthighs, and leave them to dry for two months, in akind of tomb, after which they take them out to beshut up in the baskets which are placed in theTemple by the side of the bones of their master.As for the other servants, their relatives carry themhome with them, and bury them with their arms andclothes.The same ceremony is observed in like manner onthe death of the brothers and sisters of the greatChief. The women are always strangled to followthe latter, except when they have infants at the breast,in which case they continue to live, for the purposeof nourishing them. And we often see many whoendeavor to find nurses, or who themselves strangletheir infants, so that they shall not lose the right ofsacrificing themselves in the public place, accordingto the ordinary ceremonies, and as the law prescribes.This Government is hereditary ; it is not, however,the son of the reigning Chief who succeeds hisfather, but the son of his sister, or the first Princess
134 LES RELA TIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol. 68Ce Gouvernement est h£r6ditaire ;mais ce n'estpas le fils du Chef regnant qui succede a son pere,c'est le fils de sa sceur ou de la premiere Princessedu sang. Cette politique est fondle sur la connaissancequ'ils ont du libertinage de leurs femmes. lisne sont pas surs, disent-ils, que les enfans de leursfemmes soient du sang Royal, au lieu que le fils dela soeur du grand Chef Test du-moins du cote" de lamere.Les Princesses du sang n'£pousent jamais que deshommes de famille obscure, et n'ont qu'un mari;mais elles ont la liberte* de le cong6dier quandil leurplait, et d'en choisir un autre parmi ceux de laNation, pourvu qu'il n'y ait entr'eux aucune alliance.Si le mari se rend coupable d'infidelite, la Princesselui fait casser la tete a l'instant: elle n'est pointsujette a la meme loi; car elle peut se donner autantd'Amans qu'elle veut, sans que le mari puisse ytrouver a redire. II se tient en presence de sa femmedans le plus grand respect; il ne mange point avecelle, et il la salue en hurlant, comme font ses domestiques.Le seul agrement qu'il ait, c'est d'etreexempt de travail, et d'avoir toute autorite" sur ceuxqui servent la Princesse.Autrefois la Nation des Natchez £tait considerable :elle comptait soixante Villages et huit cens Soleils ouPrinces; maintenant elle est reduite a six petitsVillages et a onze Soleils. Dans chacun de cesVillages il y a un Temple ou le feu est toujoursentretenu comme dans celui du grand Chef, auqueltous ces Chefs obeissent.C'est le grand Chef qui nomme aux charges lesplus considerables de 1'Etat; tels sont les deux Chefs
1720-86] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 135of the blood. This policy is founded on the knowledgethey have of the licentiousness of their women.They are not sure, they say, that the children of thechief's wife may be of the blood Royal, whereas theson of the sister of the great Chief must be, at leaston the side of the mother.The Princesses of the blood never espouse anybut men of obscure family, and they have but onehusband, but they have the right of dismissing himwhenever it pleases them, and of choosing anotheramong those of the Nation, provided he has notmade any other alliance among them. If the husbandhas been guilty of infidelity, the Princess mayhave his head cut off in an instant ;but she is notherself subject to the same law, for she may have asmany Lovers as she pleases, without the husbandhaving any power to complain. In the presence ofhis wife he acts with the most profound respect,never eats with her, and salutes her with howls, assatisfaction heis done by her servants. The onlyhas is, that he is freed from the necessity of laboring,and has entire authority over those who serve thePrincess.In former times the Nation of the Natchez was verylarge. It counted sixty Villages and eight hundredSuns or Princes; now it is reduced to six littleVillages and eleven Suns. In each of these Villagesthere is a Temple where the fire isalways keptburning as in that of the great Chief, whom all theother Chiefs obey.The great Chief nominates to the most importantoffices of the State ;such are the two war-Chiefs, thetwo Masters of ceremony for the worship of theTemple, the two Officers who preside over the other
136 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 68de guerre, les deux Maitres de cer£monie pour leculte qui se rend dans le Temple, les deux Officiersqui president aux autres ceremonies qu'on doitobserver, lorsque des Strangers viennent traiter de lapaix ; celui qui a inspection sur les ouvrages ; quatreautres charges d'ordonner les festins dont on regalepubliquement la Nation, et les Etrangers qui viennentla visiter. Tous ces Ministres qui executent lesvolont£s du grand Chef, sont respected et ob£is,comme il le serait lui-meme, s'il donnait ses ordres.Chaque annee le peuple s'assemble pour ensemencerun vaste champ de ble d'Inde, de feves, decitrouilles et de melons.On s'assemble de la mememaniere pour faire la recolte: une grande cabane,situee dans une belle prairie, est destinee a conserverles fruits de cette recolte.Chaque ete, vers la fin deJuillet, le peuple se rassemble par ordre du grandChef, pour assister au grand festin qui se donne.Cette Fete dure trois jours et trois nuits; chacun ycontribue de ce qu'il peut y fournir ;les uns apportentdu gibier, les autres du poisson, etc. Ce sont desdanses presque continuelles ;le grand Chef et sasceur sont dans une loge61evee et couverte de feuillages,d'ou ils contemplent la joie de leurs sujets;Princes, les Princesses, et ceux qui, par leurs emplois,ont un rang distingue, se tiennent assez pres duChef, auquel ils marquent leur respect et leursoumission par une infinite de ceremonies.Le grand Chef et sa sceur font leur entree dans lelieu de l'assemblee sur un brancard porte" par huitdes plus grands hommes : le Chef tient a la main ungrand sceptre orne de plumes peintes tout le peuple;danse et chante autour de lui en t6moignage de lales
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D'AVA UGO UR 137ceremonies which are observed when foreigners cometo treat of peace, another who has the inspection ofthe public works, four others charged with thearrangement of the festivals with which theypublicly entertain the Nation, and such Strangers ascome to visit them. All these Ministers, whoexecute the will of the great Chief are treated withthe same respect and obedience as if he personallygave the orders.Each year the people assemble to plant one vastfield with Indian corn, beans, pumpkins, and melons,and then again they collect in the same way to gatherthe harvest. A large cabin situated on a beautifulprairie is set apart to hold the fruits of this harvest.Once in the summer, toward the end of July, thepeople gather by order of the great Chief, to bepresent at a grand feast which he gives them. ThisFestival lasts for three days and three nights, andeach one contributes what he can to furnish it ;somebring game, others fish, etc. They have almostconstant dances, while the great Chief and his sisterare in an elevated lodge covered with boughs, fromwhence they can see the joy of their subjects. ThePrinces, the Princesses, and those who by their officeare of distinguished rank, are arranged very nearthe Chief, to whom they show their respect andsubmission by an infinite variety of ceremonies.The great Chief and his sister make their entrancein the place of the assembly on a litter borne byeight of their greatest men : the Chief holds in hishand a great scepter ornamented with paintedplumes, and all the people dance and sing about himin testimony of the public joy. The last day of thisFeast he causes all his subjects to approach, and
138 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68joie publique. Le dernier jour de cette Fete il faitapprocher tous ses sujets et leur fait une longueharangue, par laquelle il les exhorte a remplir tousles devoirs de la Religion ; il leur recommande surtoutes choses d'avoir une grande veneration pour lesesprits qui resident dans le Temple, et de bieninstruire leurs enfans. Si quelqu'un s'est signal^par quelque action de zele, il en fait publiquementl'eloge. C'est ce qui arriva en l'ann6e 1702. Letonnerre etant tombe" sur le Temple, et Tayant r6duiten cendres, sept ou huit femmes jeterent leurs enfansau milieu des flammes pour appaiser le courroux duCiel. Le grand Chef appela ces heroines, et donnade grandes louanges au courage avec lequel ellesavaient fait le sacrifice de ce qui leur 6tait le pluscher ;il finit son pan^gyrique en exhortant les autresfemmes a imiter un si bel exemple dans unesemblable conjoncture.Les peres de famille ne manquent point d'apporterau Temple les pr6mices des fruits, des grains et desil;legumes en est de meme des presens qui se fonta cette Nation;ils sont aussitot offerts a la porte duTemple, ou le gardien, apres les avoir etal6s et pre*-sentes aux esprits, les porte chez le grand Chef quien fait la distribution ainsi qu'il le juge a propos,sans que personne t6moigne le moindre m6contentement.On n'ensemence aucune terre que les grains n'aientete*pr6sent£s au Temple avec les ceremonies accoutum6es.Des que ces peuples approchent du Temple,ils levent les bras par respect, et poussent trois hurlemens,apres quoi ils frottent leurs mains a terre, etse relevent par trois fois avec autant de hurlemens
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 139makes them a long harangue, in which he exhortsthem to fulfill all their duties to Religion he recommendsthem above all things to have a great venera-;tion for the spirits who reside in the Temple, andcarefully to instruct their children. If any one hasdistinguished himself by some act of zeal, he is thenpublicly praised. Such a case happened in the year1702. The Temple having been struck by lightningand reduced to ashes, seven or eight womencast their infants into the midst of the flames toappease the wrath of Heaven. The great Chiefcalled these heroines, and gave them great praisesfor the courage with which they had made thesacrifice of that which they held most dear; hefinished his panegyric by exhorting the other womento imitate so beautiful an example in similar circumstances.The fathers of families do not fail to carry to theTemple the first of their fruits, their corn andvegetables. It is the same even with presents whichare made to this Nation; they are immediatelyoffered at the gate of the Temple, when the guardian,after having displayed and presented them to thespirits, carries them to the house of the great Chief,who makes a distribution of them as he judges best,without any person testifying the least discontent.They never plant their fields without having firstpresented the seed in the Temple with the accustomedceremonies. As soon as these peopleapproach the Temple, they raise their arms by wayof respect, and utter three howls, after which theyplace their hands on the earth, and raise themselvesagain three times with as many reiterated howls.When any one has merely to pass before the Temple,
140 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68r£it6r6s. Quand on ne fait que passer devant leTemple, on s'arrete simplement en le saluant lesyeux baiss6s et les bras lev£s. Si un pere ou unemere s'apercevait que son filsmanquat a cettec£r6monie, il serait puni sur-le-champ de quelquescoups de batons.Telles sont les c6r6monies des Sauvages Natchez,par rapport a la Religion. Celles de leurs mariagessont tres-simples. Quand un jeune homme songe ase marier, il doit s'adresser au pere de la fille, ou, ason d£faut, au frere ain6 : on convient du prix, quise paie en pelleterie ou en marchandises. Qu'unefille ait mene* une vie libertine, ils ne font nulledifficult^ de la prendre, pour peu qu'ils croient qu'ellecbangera de conduite quand elle sera marine. Dureste, ils ne s'embarrassent pas de quelle famille elleest, pourvu qu'elle leur plaise. Pour ce qui est desattention est de s'in-parens de la fille, leur uniqueformer si celui qui la demande est babile chasseur,bon guerrier ou excellent laboureur. Ces qualit^sdiminuent le prix qu'on aurait droit d'exiger d'euxpour le mariage.Quand les parties sont d'accord, le futur £poux vaa la chasse avec ses amis: et lorsqu'il a, ou en gibier,ou en poisson, sufnsamment de quoi r6galer les deuxfamilies qui contractent alliance, on se rassemblechez les parens de la fille on sert en;particulier lesLenouveaux mari6s, et ils mangent au meme plat.repas 6tant fini, le nouveau marie* fait fumer lesparens de sa femme et ensuite ses propres parens,apres quoi tous les convi£s se retirent. Les nouveauxmari6s restent ensemble jusqu'au lendemain, et alorsle mari conduit sa femme chez son beau-pere, et il
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 141he only pauses to saluteraised arms.itby his downcast eyes andIf a father or mother see their son failin the performance of this ceremony, they willpunish him immediately with repeated blows of astick.Such are the ceremonies of the Natchez Savageswith regard to their Religion. Those of marriagevery simple. When a young man thinks ofmarrying he has only to address himself to the fatherof the girl, or if she have none, to her eldest brother,and they agree on the price, which he pays in skinsor merchandise. When a girl has even lived a licentiouslife, they make no difficulty in receiving her,if there is the least idea that she will change herconduct when she is married. Neither do theytrouble themselves as to what family she belongs,provided that she pleases them. As to the relativesof the girl, their only care is to inform themselveswhether he who asks her is an able hunter, a goodwarrior, and an excellent workman. These qualitiesdiminish the price which they have a right toask on the marriage.When the parties have agreed, the future husbandgoes to the chase with his friends ;and whenhe has sufficient either of game or of fish, to feastthe two families who have contracted the alliance,they assemble at the house of the parents of the girl.They particularly serve the newly married pair, whoeat from the same dish. The repast being ended,the bridegroom smokes the calumet toward theparents of his wife, and then toward his own parents,after which all the guests retire. The newly marriedpeople remain together until the next day, and thenthe husband conducts his wife to the residence of
142 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68y loge jusqu'a ce que la famille lui ait fait batir unecabane parti culiere. Pendant qu'on la construit, ilpasse toute la journ£e a la chasse pour fournir auxrepas qu'il donne a ceux qui y travaillent.Les lois permettent aux Natchez d' avoir autant defemmes qu'ils veulent: cependant ceux du petitpeuple n'en ont d' ordinaire qu'une ou deux. LesChefs en ont da vantage, parce qu'ayant le privilegede faire cultiver leurs champs par le peuple, sans luidonner de salaire, le nombre de leurs femmes neleur est point a charge.Le mariage de ces Chefs se fait avec moins decer6monie; ils se contentent d'envoyer qu6rir lepere de la fille qu'ils veulent epouser, et ils luid£clarent qu'ils la mettent au rang de leurs femmes.Des-lors le mariage est fait ils ne laissent ;pas n£anmoinsde faire un present au pere et a la mere.Quoiqu'ils aient plusieurs femmes, ils n'en gardentqu'une ou deux dans leurs cabanes les autres restent;chez leurs parens, ou ils vont les voir lorsqu'il leurplait.II y a de certains temps de la lune ou les Sauvagesn'habitent jamais avec leurs femmes. La jalousiea si peu d' entree dans leurs cceurs, que plusieursne font nulle difficult^ de preter leurs femmes aleurs amis. Cette indifference dans 1' union conjugalevient de la liberte qu'ils ont d'en changer quandbon leur semble, pourvu n£anmoins qu'elles ne leuraient point donne" d'enfans: car, s'il en est n6de leur mariage, il n'y a que la mort qui puisse less6parer.Lorsque cette Nation fait un d^tachement pour laguerre, le Chef du parti plante deux especes de mai
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 143her father-in-law, where they live until the familyhasbuilt for him a cabin of his own. While theyare constructing it, he passes the whole day in thechase to furnish food, which he gives to those whoare employed in this work.The laws permit the Natchez to have as manywives as they choose, nevertheless the commonpeople generally have but one or two. This howeveris not the case with the Chiefs, their number isgreater, because having the right to oblige thepeople to cultivate their fields, without giving themany wages, the number of their wives is no expenseto them.The marriage of the Chiefs is made with lessceremony. They content themselves with sendingto fetch the father of the girl whom they wish toespouse, and they declare to him that they willgive her the rank of their wives. They do not failhowever, as soon as the marriage is consummated,to make a present to the father and mother.Although they have many wives, they keep but oneor two in their own cabins ;the rest remain at thehouses of their parents, where they go to see themwhen they wish.At certain periods of the moon these Savagesnever live with their wives. Jealousy has so littleplace in their hearts, that many find no difficulty inlending their wives to their friends. This indifferenceto the conjugal union results from the libertythey have of changing when it seems good to them,provided however that their wives have never bornechildren to them, for ifany have been born of themarriage, nothing but death can separate them.When this Nation sends out a detachment for war,
144 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 68bien rougi depuis le haut jusqu'au bas, orne* deplumes rouges, de fieches et de casse-tetes rougis.Ces mais sont piques du cote* ou ils doivent porter laguerre. Ceux qui veulent entrer dans le parti, apress'etre par£s et barbouill6s de differentes couleurs,viennent haranguer le Chef de guerre. Cetteharangue, que chacun fait Tun apres 1' autre, et quidure pres d'une demi-heure, consiste en mille protestationsde service, par lesquellesils l'assurent qu'ilsne demandent pas mieux que de mourir avec lui ;qu'ils sont charmed d'apprendre d'un si habileguerrier Tart d'enlever des chevelures ;et qu'ils necraignent ni la faim ni les fatigues auxquelles ilsvont etre exposes.Lorsqu'un nombre suffisant de guerriers s'estpr^sente* au Chef de guerre,il fait faire chez lui unbreuvage qu'on appelle la meMecine de guerre: c'estun vomitif compos6 d'une racine qu'on fait bouillirdans de grandes chaudieres pleines d'eau. Les guerriers,quelquefois au nombre de 300 hommes, s'e*tantassis autour de la chaudiere, on leur en sert a chacunenviron deux pots. La c£r6monie est de les avalerd'un seul trait, et de les rendre aussitot par la boucheavec des efforts si violens, qu'onloin.les entend de fortApres cette c6r£monie, le Chef de guerre fixe lejour du depart, afin que chacun prepare les vivresn6cessaires pour la campagne. Pendant ce temps-lales guerriers se rendent soir et matin dans la place,ou, apres avoir bien danse" et raconte" en detail lesactions brillantes ou ils ont fait 6clater leur bravoure,ils chantent leurs chansons de mort.
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 145the Chief of the party erects two kinds of polespainted red from the top to the bottom, ornamentedwith red plumes, and arrows and tomahawks, alsopainted red. These poles are pointed to the side towhich they are to carry the war. Those who wishto join the party, after having ornamented anddaubed themselves with different colors, come toharangue the war-Chief. This harangue, which onemakes after the other, and which lasts nearly half anhour, consists of a thousand protestations of service,by which they assure him that they ask nothingmore than to die with him, that they are charmed tolearn from so able a warrior the art of taking scalps,and that they fear neither the hunger nor fatiguesto which they are going to be exposed.When a sufficient number of braves have presentedthemselves to the war- Chief, he causes to be made athis house a beverage which they call the ' ' warmedicine." 15 This is an emetic, which they makefrom a root they boil in large kettles full of water.The warriors, sometimes to the number of 300,having seated themselves about the kettle, they serveeach one with two pots of it. The ceremony is toswallow them with a single effort, and then to throwthem up immediately by the mouth, with efforts soviolent that they can be heard at a great distance.After this ceremony, the war-Chief appoints theday of departure, that each one may prepare provisionsnecessary for the campaign. During this time,the warriors repair evening and morning to the placebefore the Temple, where, after having danced andrelated in detail the brilliant actions in which theirbravery was conspicuous, they chant their deathsongs.
146 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68A voir 1' extreme joie qu'ils font paraitre en partant,on dirait qu'ils ont d6ja signale" leur valeur par quelquegrande victoire mais il faut bien ;pen de chosepour d6concerter leurs projets. lis sont tellementsuperstitieux a regard des songes, qn'il n'en fantqu'un senl de manvais angure pour arreter 1' executionde leur entreprise, et les obliger de revenir surleurs pas quand ils sont en marche. On voit despartis qui, apres avoir fait toutes les ceremonies dontje viens de parler, rompent tout-a-coup leur voyage,parce qu'ils ont entendu un chien aboyer d'une faconextraordinaire: a 1' instant leur ardeur pour la gloirese change en terreur panique.Dans leur voyage de guerre, ils marchent tou jourspar files: quatre ou cinq hommes des meilleurspistons prennent le devant, et s'eloignent de l'arm^ed'un quart de lieue pour observer toute chose, et enrendre compte aussitot. Ils campent tons les soirs kune heure de soleil, et se couchent autour d'un grandfeu, ayant chacun son arme aupres de soi. Avantque de camper, ils ont soin d'envoyer une vingtainede guerriers a une demi-lieue aux environs du camp,afin d'eViter toute surprise. Jamaisils ne posent desentinelle pendant la nuit; mais aussitot qu'ils ontsoup6, ils eteignent tous les feux. Le soir le Chefde guerre leur recommande de ne point se livrer a unsommeil profond, et de tenir toujours leurs armesen 6tat. On indique un canton ou ils doivent serallier en cas qu'ils soient attaqu6s pendant la nuit,et mis en d£route.Comme les Chefs de guerre portent toujours aveceux leurs idoles, ou ce qu'ils appellent leurs esprits,bien enferm6s dans des peaux;le soir ils les sus-
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 147To see the extreme joy which they show at theirdeparture, we should say that they had alreadysignalized their valor by some great victory, but avery small thing alone is necessary to disconcerttheir plans. They are so superstitious with respectto dreams, that a single one of evil augury can arrestthe execution of their enterprise, and oblige themto return when they are on the march. We seeparties, who after having gone through with all theceremonies I have mentioned, immediately break offfrom their expedition, because they have heard adog bark in an extraordinary manner : in an instanttheir ardor for glory is changed into a perfect panic.When on the war-path, they march in single file :four or five men who are the best walkers lead theway, and keep in advance of the army a quarter of aleague, to observe everything, and give immediatenotice. They encamp every evening an hour beforesunset, and lie down about a large fire, each onewith his arms near him. Before they encamp, theytake the precaution to send out twenty warriors tothe distance of half a league around the camp, forthe purpose of avoiding all surprise. They neverpost sentinels during the night, but as soon as theyhave supped, they extinguish all the fires. At nightthe war-Chief exhorts them not to give themselvesup to a profound sleep, and to keep their arms alwaysin a state of readiness. He appoints a place wherethey shall rally in case they areattacked during thenight and put to flight.As the war-Chiefs always carry with them theiridols, or what they call their spirits, well secured insome skins, at night they suspend them from a smallpole painted red, which they erect in a slanting
148 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68pendent a une petite perche rougie qu'ils plantent debiais, en sorte qu'elle soit pench6e du cot6 desennemis. Les guerriers, avant que de se coucher,le casse-tete en main, passent les uns apres les autresen dansant devant ces pr^tendus esprits, et fesant degrandes menaces du cote* ou sont leurs ennemis.Lorsque le parti de guerre est considerable, etqu'il entre sur les terres ennemies, ils marchent surcinq ou six colonnes. Ils ont beaucoup d'espionsqui vont a la decouverte. S'ils s'apercoivent queleur marche soit connue, ilsprennent ordinairementle parti de revenir sur leurs pas ; iln'y a que quelquepetite troupe de dix ou de vingt hommes qui ses6parent, et qui tachent de surprendre quelquesChasseurs 6cart6s des Villages; a leur retour ilschantent les chevelures qu'ils ont enlevees. S'ilsont fait des esclaves, ils les font chanter et danserpendant quelques jours devant le Temple, apres quoiils en font present aux parens de ceux qui ont6t6 tu6s. Les parens fondent en pleurs pendantcette c6r6monie, et essuyant leurs larmes avec leschevelures qui ont 6t6 enlev6es; ils se cotisentpour r6compenser lesguerriers quiont amene* cesesclaves, dont le sort est d'etre bruits.Les Natchez, comme toutes les autres Nations de laLouisiane, distinguent par des noms particuliers ceuxqui ont tu6 plus ou moins d' ennemis. Ce sont lesanciens Chefs de guerre qui distribuent les nomsselon le me*rite des guerriers. Pour m&riter le titrede grand tueur d'hommes, il faut avoir fait 10esclaves ou enleve* 20 chevelures. Quand on entendleur langue, le nom du guerrier fait connaitre tousses exploits. Ceux qui, pour la premiere fois, ont
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 149position, so that it may be bent on the side ofthe enemy. The warriors, before they go to sleep,with war-club in hand, pass one after the other ina dance before these pretended spirits, at the sametime uttering the fiercest threats toward the sideon which are their enemies.When the war-party is considerable, as it entersthe enemy's country, they march in five or six columns.They have many spies, who go out onscouting expeditions. If they perceive that theirmarch is known, they ordinarily adopt the resolutionof retracing their steps, leaving a small troop offrom ten to twenty men who detach themselves, andendeavor to surprise some Hunters at a distancefrom the Villages on their return ;they chant theirsongs with reference to the scalps they have taken.If they have taken any prisoners, they force them tosing and dance for some days before the Temple,after which they present them to the relatives ofthose who have been killed. These relatives aredissolved in tears during this ceremony, and dryingtheir eyes with the scalps which have been taken,they contribute among themselves to recompensethe warriors who have taken these captives, whoselot is to be burned.The Natchez, like all the other Nations of Louisiana,distinguish by particular names those whohave killed a greater or less number of the enemy.The old war- Chiefs distribute these names accordingto the merit of the warriors. To deserve the title ofa great man-slayer,it is necessaryto have taken 10slaves or to have carried off 20 scalps. When aperson understands their language, the name itselfof a warrior enables him to learn all his exploits.
150 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68enleve* une chevelure ou fait tin esclave, ne couchentpoint a leur retour avec leurs femmes, et ne mangentd'aucune viande; ils ne doivent se nourrir quede poissons et de bouillie. Cette abstinence duresix mois. S'ils manquaient a l'observer,ils s'imagineraientque Tame de celui qu'ils ont tue* lesferait mourir par sortilege, qu'ils ne remporteraientplus d'avantage sur leurs ennemis, et que lesmoindres blessures qu'ils recevraient leur seraientmortelles.On a un extreme soin que le grand Chef n' exposepoint sa vie lorsqu'il va a la guerre. Si sa valeurl'emportait, et qu'il vint a etre tue, les Chefs duparti et les autres principaux guerriers seraient misa mort a leur retour; mais ces sortes d' executionssont presque sans exemple, par les precautions quise prennent pour le preserver de ce malheur.Cette Nation, comme les autres, a ses M6decins; cesont pour 1' ordinaire des vieillards qui,sans 6tudeet sans aucune science, entreprennent de gu6rirtoutes les maladies ;ils ne se servent pour cela ni desimples, ni de drogues; tout leur art consiste endiverses jongleries; c'est-a-dire, qu'ils dansent,qu'ils chantent nuit et jour autour du malade, etqu'ils fument sans cesse en avalant la fum£e dutabac. Ces Jongleurs ne mangent presque point toutle temps qu'ils sont appliques a la guerison de leursmalades; mais leurs chants et leurs danses sontaccompagn£s de contorsions si violentes que, bienqu'ils soient tout nus, et qu'ils doivent souffrir dufroid, leur bouche est toujours £cumante. Ils ont unpetit panier ou ils conservent ce qu'ils appellent leursesprits, c'est-a-dire, de petites racines de diff^rentes
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 151Those who, for the first time, have taken a scalp ormade a captive, do not sleep at their return withtheir wives, and do not eat any meat ; they oughtnot to partake of anything but fish and thickenedmilk. This abstinence lasts for six months. If theyfail to observe it, they imagine that the soul of himwhom they have killed will cause them to diethrough sorcery, that they will never again obtainany advantage over their enemies, and that theslightest wounds they may receive will prove fatal.They take extreme care that the great Chief shallnot in any way expose his life when he goes to war.If, carried away by his valor, he should happen tobe killed, the Chiefs of the party and the other principalwarriors would be put to death on their return ;but executions of this kind are almost withoutexample, on account of the precautions they take topreserve him from this evil.This Nation, like the others, has its Medicinemen;these are generally old men, who withoutstudy or any science, undertake to cure all complaints.They do not attempt this by simples, or by drugs ;all their art consists in different juggleries ; that isto say, that they dance and sing night and day aboutthe sick man, and smoke without ceasing, swallowingthe smoke of the tobacco. These Jugglers eatscarcely anything during all the time that they areengaged in the cure of the sick, but their chants andtheir dances are accompanied by contortions soviolent that, although they are entirely naked andshould naturally surfer from cold, yet they are alwaysfoaming at the mouth. They have a little basket inwhich they keep what they call their spirits, that isto say, small roots of different kinds, heads of owls,
152 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68especes, des tetes de hiboux, de petits paquets depoil de betes fauves, quelques dents d' animal, depetites pierres ou cailloux, et d'autres semblablesfariboles.II parait que, pour rendre la sante* a leurs malades,ils invoquent sans cesse ce qui est dans leur panier.On en voit qui ont une certaine racine, laquelleendort et 6tourdit, par son odeur, les serpens. Apress'etre frotte" les mains et le corps de cette racine, ilstiennent ces animaux sans craindre leur piqiire, quiest mortelle. D'autres incisent, avec une pierre afusil, la partie afflig6e du malade, puisils en sucenttout le sang qu'ils peuvent tirer; et, en le rendantensuite dans un plat, ils crachent en meme-temps unpetit morceau de bois, de paille ou de cuir qu'ilsavaient cache sous la langue ; et, en le fesant remarqueraux parens du malade: voila, disent-ils, lacause de son mal. Ces M6decins se font tou jourspayer d'avance. Si le malade gu£rit, leur gain estassez considerable: mais s'il meurt, ils sont stirsd' avoir la tete cass6e par les parens ou par les amisdu mort. C'est a quoi Ton ne manque jamais, etles parens meme des M6decins n'y trouvent point aredire, et n'en temoignent aucun chagrin.II en est de meme de quelques Jongleurs quientreprennent de procurer de la pluie ou du beautemps; ce sont d'ordinaire des vieillards fain6ans,qui, voulant se soustraire au travail que demandentla chasse, la peche et la culture des campagnes,exercent ce dangereux metier pour faire subsisterleur famille. Vers le printemps, la Nation se cotisepour acheter de ces Jongleurs un temps favorableaux biens de la terre. Si la r^colte se trouve
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 153small parcels of the hair of fallow-deer, some teethof animals, some small stones or pebbles, and othersimilar trifles.It appears that to restore health to the sick, theyinvoke without ceasing that which they have in theirbasket. Some of them have there a certain root,which by its smell can put serpents to sleep andrender them senseless. After having rubbed theirhands and body with this root, they take hold ofthese reptiles without fearing their bite, which ismortal. Sometimes they cut, with a flint, the partaffected with the malady, and then suck out all theblood they can draw from it, and in returning itimmediately into a dish, they at the same time spitout a little piece of wood, or straw, or leather, whichthey have concealed under the tongue. Drawing toit the attention of the relatives of the sick man," **There," say they, is the cause of the sickness."These Medicine-men are always paid in advance. Ifthe sick man recovers, their gain is very considerable,but if he should die, they are sure to have theirheads cut off by the relatives or friends of thedeceased. This never fails to be done, and eventhe relatives of the Medicine-man find nothing atall of which to complain, and do not testify anyconcern.There is the same rule with some other Jugglers,who undertake to procure rain or fair weather.These are commonly indolent, old men, who, wishingto avoid the labor which isrequired in hunting,fishing, and the cultivation of the fields, exercisethis dangerous trade to gain a support for theirfamilies. Toward spring, the Nation taxes itself topurchase from these Jugglers favorable weather for
154 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68abondante, ilsgagnent consid6rablement ;mais si elleest mauvaise, on s'en prend a eux, et on leur cassela tete.Ainsi, ceux qui s'engagent dans cette profession,risquent le tout pour le tout. Du reste, leurvie est fort oisive;jeuner etils n'ont d'autre embarras que dede danser avec un chalumeau a la bouche,plein d'eau et perce* comme un arrosoir, qu'ilssoufflent en l'air du cot6 des nuages les plus £pais;ils tiennent d'une main le sicicouet, qui est uneespece de hochet, et de l'autre leurs esprits, qu'ilspr6sentent au nuage en poussant des cris affreux,pour Tinviter a crever sur leurs campagnes.Si c'est du beau temps qu'ils demandent, ils ne seservent point de leurs chalumeaux, mais ils montentsur les toits de leurs cabanes, et du bras ils font signeau nuage, en soufflant de toutes leurs forces, de nepoint s'arreter sur leurs terres, et de passer outre.Lorsque le nuage se dissipe a leur gr6, ils dansent etchantent autour de leurs esprits, qu'ils posent proprementsur une espece d'oreiller: ils redoublent leurjeune, et quand le nuage est passe\ ils avalent de lafum6e de tabac, et pr^sentent leurs pipes au Ciel.Quoiqu'on ne fasse point de grace a ces Charlatans,lorsqu'on n'obtient pas ce qu'on demande, cependant,le profit qu'ils retirent, quand, par hasard, ilsre"ussissent, est si grand, qu'on voit un grand nombrede ces Sauvages qui ne craignent pas d'en courir lesrisques. II est a observer que celui qui entreprendde donner de la pluie, ne s'engage jamais a donnerdu beau temps. C'est une autre espece de Charlatansqui a ce privilege; et quand on leur endemande la raison, ils r£pondent hardiment que leursesprits ne peuvent donner quel'un ou l'autre.
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 155the fruits of the earth. If the harvest proveabundant, they gain a handsome reward, but if it isunfortunate, they take it from them, and cut off theirheads. Thus those who engage in this professionrisk everything to gain everything. In other respectstheir life isvery idle; they have no other conveniencethan that of fasting and dancing with apipe in their mouth, full of water and pierced like awatering-pot, which they blow into the air on theside where the clouds are thickest. In one hand theyhold the sicicouet, which is a kind of rattle, and inthe other their spirits, which they stretch out towardthe clouds, uttering frightfulburst 16upon their fields.cries to invite them toIf it is pleasant weather for which they ask, theydo not use these pipes, but they mount on the roofof their cabins, and with their arms make signs tothe clouds, blowing with all their strength, that theyshall not stop over their lands, but pass beyond.When the clouds are dissipated according to theirwish, they dance and sing about their spirits, whichthey place reverently on a kind of pillow; theyredouble their fasts, and when the cloud has passed,they swallow the smoke of tobacco, and hold uptheir pipes to the Sky.Although they never show any favor to these Charlatans,when they do not obtain what they ask, yetthe profit they receive is so great, when by chancethey succeed, that we see a great number of theseSavages who do not at all fear to run the risks. Itis to be observed that he who undertakes to furnishrain never engages to procure pleasant weather,There is another kind of Charlatans to whom thisprivilege belongs, and when you ask them the reason,
156 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68Lorsqu'un de ces Sativages meurt, ses parensviennent pleurer sa mort pendant un jour entier;ensuiteon le couvre de ses plus beaux habits, c'esta-dire,qu'on lui peint le visage et les cheveux, etqu'on l'orne de ses plumages, apres quoi on le portedans la fosse qui lui est pr£paree, en mettant a sescot6s ses armes, une chaudiere et des vivres. Pendantl'espace d'un mois, ses parens vont, des lepoint du jour et a l'entr£e de la nuit, pleurer pendantune demi-heure sur sa fosse. Chacun nomme sondegre* de parents. Si c'est un pere de famille, lafemme crie: mon cher mari, ah! que je te regrette!les enfans orient: mon cher pere! d'autres, mononcle, mon cousin, etc. Ceux qui sont parens aupremier degre\ continuent cette c6remonie pendanttrois mois; ils se coupent les cheveux en signe dedeuil; ils cessent de se peindre le corps, et ne setrouvent a aucune assembled de r6jouissance.Lorsque quelque Nation 6trangere vient traiterde la paix avec les Sauvages Natchez on envoie descourriers pour donner avis du jour et de l'heurequ'ils feront leur entr6e. Le grand Chef ordonneaux Maitres de ceremonie de preparer toutes chosespour cette grande action. On commence par nommerceux qui doivent nourrir chaque jour les Strangers ;car ce n'est jamais le Chef qui fait cette defense;sont toujours ses sujets. On nettoie ensuite leschemins; on balaie les cabanes; on arrange lesbancs dans une grande halle qui est sur la butte dugrand Chef a cote de sa cabane. Son si£ge, qui estsur une 61eVation, est peint et orne* ;le bas est garnide grandes nattes.ce
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D'A VA UGOUR 157they answer boldly that their spirits can give butthe one or the other.When one of these Savages dies, his relatives cometo mourn his death during an entire day, then theyarray him in his most beautiful dresses, they painthis face and his hair, and ornament him with plumes,after which they carry him to the grave preparedfor him, placing by his side his arms, a kettle, andsome provisions. For the space of a month, hisrelatives come at the dawn of day and at the beginningof the night, to weep for half an hour at hisgrave. Each one names his degree of relationship.If he were the father of a family, the wife cries," My dear husband, ah! how I regret you!" The"children cry, My dear father! " The " others, Myuncle !my cousin ' 'etc. The nearest relatives!continue this ceremony for three months;they cutoff their hair in sign of grief, they abstain frompainting the body, and are never found at anyassembly for festivity.When any foreign Nation comes to treat of peacewith the Natchez Savages, they send their couriers togive notice of the day and hour when they shallmake their entrance. The great Chief orders theMasters of ceremony to prepare all things for thisthose whogrand occasion. They begin by namingduring each day should support the strangers, forthe expense never falls upon the Chief, but alwayson his subjects. Then they clear the roads, theysweep the cabins, they arrange the seats in a largehall which is on the mound of the great Chief bythe side of his cabin. His throne, which is on anelevation, is painted and ornamented, and the bottomis furnished with beautiful mats.
158 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.68Le jour que lesAmbassadeurs doivent faire leurentree, toute la Nation s' assemble. Les Maitres deceYemonie font placer les Princes, les Chefs desVillages et les anciens Chefs de famille pres du grandChef, sur des bancs particuliers. Quand les Ambassadeursarrivent, et qu'ils sont a cinq cens pas dugrand Chef, ils s'arretent et chantent la paix. Cetteambassade est ordinairement de trente hommes etde six femmes. Six des mieux faits, et quiont lesmeilleures voix, marchent de front; ils sont suivisdes autres qui chantent pareillement, r6glant lacadence avec le sicicouet: les six femmes font ledessus.Quand le Chef leur fait dire de s'approcher, ilsavancent; ceux qui ont les calumets chantent etdansent avec beaucoup de \6g6ret6, tournant tantotautour les uns des autres, et tantot se pr6sentant enface, mais toujours avec des mouvemens violens etdes contorsions extraordinaires. Quand ils sontentr6s dans le cercle, ils dansent autour du si£ge,sur lequel le Chef est assis ;ils le frotten t de leurscalumets depuis les pieds jusqu'a la tete; puis ilsvont a reculons retrouver ceux qui sont a leur suite.Alors ils chargent de tabac un de leurs calumets et;tenant du feu d'une main, ils avancent tous ensembleaupres du Chef, et le font fumer: ils poussent lapremiere gorg£e vers le Ciel, la seconde vers laTerre, et les autres autour de l'horison: apres quoiils presentent sans c£r6monie la pipe aux Princes etaux autres Chefs.Cette cer^monie £tant achev6e, les Ambassadeurs,en signe d'alliance, vont frotter leurs mains surl'estomac du Chef, et se frottent eux-memes tout le
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 159On the day that the Ambassadors are to make theirentrance, all the Nation assembles. The Masters ofceremony place the Princes, the Chiefs of theVillages, and the old Chiefs of quality near the greatChief on particular seats. When the Ambassadorsarrive, and are within five hundred steps of the greatChief, they stop and chant the song of peace. Theambassage ordinarily consists of thirty men and sixwomen. Six of the best made, and who have thefinest voices, march in front; they are followed bythe others who chant in like manner, regulating thecadence with the sicicouet.The six women are thelast.When the Chief has directed them to approach,they advance ;those who have the calumets, chantand dance with much agility, now turning aroundeach other, and now presenting themselves in front,but always with violent movements and extraordinarycontortions. When they have entered thecircle, they dance about the chair on which theChief is seated, they rub him with their calumetsfrom his feet even to his head, and after that goback to find those who belong to their suite. Thenthey fill one of their calumets with tobacco, andholding the fire in one hand, they advance alltogether before the Chief and smoke it :they directthe first puff of smoke toward the Heavens, thesecond toward the Earth, and the others around thehorizon, after which they without ceremony presentthe pipe to the Princes and to the other Chiefs.The ceremony having been finished, the Ambassadors,as a token of alliance, rub their hands on thestomach of the Chief, and rub themselves over thewhole body;they then place their calumets before
160 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 68corps puis ils posent leurs calumets devant le Chef;sur de petites fourches : celui des Ambassadeurs quiest charg6 particulierement des ordres de sa Nation,harangue pendant une grosse heure. Quandil a fini,on fait signe aux Strangers de s'asseoir sur des bancsranges pres du grand Chef, qui leur r£pond par undiscours d'une egale duree. Ensuite le Maitre deceremonie allume un grand calumet de paix, et faitfumer les Strangers qui avalent la fumee du tabac.Le grand Chef leur demande s'ils sont venus, c'esta-dire,s'ils se portent bien. Ceux qui l'environnentvont les uns apres les autres leur faire la memepolitesse.Apres quoi on les conduit dans la cabanequ'on leur a preparee, et on les regale.Le soir au Soleil couchant, les Ambassadeurs, lecalumet a la main, vont en chantant chercher legrand Chef, et le chargeant sur leurs £paules, ils letransportent dans le quartier ou est leur cabane. Ils6tendent a terre une grande peau ou ils le fontasseoir. L'un d'eux se place derriere lui, et posantles mains sur ses 6paules, il agite tout son corps,tandis que les autres assis en rond par terre, chantentleurs belles actions. Apres cette c6r£monie qui sefait soir et matin pendant quatre jours, le grand Chefretourne dans sa cabane. Lorsqu'il rend la dernierevisite aux Ambassadeurs, ceux-ci plantent un poteauau pied duquel ils s'asseyent: Les Guerriers de laNation ayant pris leurs plus beaux ajustemens,dansent en frappant le poteau, et racontent a leurtour leurs grands exploits de guerreils font ensuite:aux Ambassadeurs des presens, qui consistent en deschaudieres, des haches, des fusils, de la poudre, desballes, etc.
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 161the Chief on small forks, while the person amongthe Ambassadors who is particularly charged withthe orders of his Nation, delivers a harangue whichlasts for an entire hour. When he has finished, theymake a sign to the strangers to be seated on thebenches ranged near the great Chief, who respondsto them by a discourse of equal length. Then theMaster of ceremonies lights the great calumet ofpeace, and makes the strangers smoke, who swallowthe tobacco smoke. The great Chief inquires ofthem whether they arrived safe,— that is, whetherthey are well, and those who are around them goone after the other to discharge the same office ofpoliteness. After which they conduct them to thecabin which has been prepared for them, and wherethey are feasted.That same evening at Sunset, the Ambassadors,with the calumet in their hands, go with singing tofind the great Chief, and having raised him on theirshoulders, they transport him to the quarter in whichtheir cabin is situated. They spread on the grounda large skin, on which they cause him to sit down.One of them places himself behind him, and puttinghis hands on the Chief's shoulders he agitates all hisbody, while the others, seated in a circle on theground, chant the history of their distinguisheddeeds. After this ceremony, which is repeatednight and morning for four days, the great Chiefreturns to his cabin. When he pays his last visit tothe Ambassadors, these place a stake at his feet,about which they seat themselves : The Warriors ofthe Nation having arranged themselves in all theirfinery dance around, striking the stake, and in turnrecounting their great exploits, then follows the
162 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68Le lendemain de cette derniere c6r
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 163giving of presents to the Ambassadors, which consistof kettles, hatchets, guns, powder, balls, etc.The day following this last ceremony, it is permittedto the Ambassadors to walk through thewhole Village, which before they were not able todo. Then every evening they give them spectacles,—that is to say, the men and women in theirmost beautiful dresses assemble at the public place,and dance until the night is far advanced. Whenthey are ready to return home, the Masters of theceremonies furnish them with the provisions necessaryfor the journey.After having thus given you a slight idea of thecharacter and customs of the Natchez Savages, Iproceed, my Reverend Father, as I have promisedyou, to enter on a detail of their perfidy and treason.It was on the second of December of the year 1729,that we learned they had surprised the French, andhad massacred almost all of them. This sad newswas first brought to us by one of the planters, whohad escaped their fury. It was confirmed to us onthe following day by other French fugitives, andfinally, some French women whom they had madeslaves, and were forced afterward to restore, broughtus all the particulars.At the first rumor of an event so sad, the alarmand consternation was general in New Orleans.Although the massacre had taken place more thana hundred leagues from here, you would havesupposed that it had happened under our own eyes.Each one was mourning the loss of a relative, afriend, or some property; all were alarmed for theirown lives, for there was reason to fear that theconspiracy of the Savages had been general.
164 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.68Octobre vers les neuf heures du matin. Quelquesujet de m6contentement que les Natchez crurentavoir de Monsieur le Commandant, et l'arriv6e deplusieurs voitures richement chargers pour la garnisonet pour les habitans, les d6terminerent abrusquer leur entreprise, et a faire leur coup bienplutot qu'ils n'en etaient convenus avec les Nationsconjurers. Voici comment ils ex£cuterent leurprojet: d'abord ils se partagerent, et mirent dans leFort, dans le Village, et dans les deux concessions,autant de Sauvages qu'il y avait de Francais danschacun de ces endroits: ensuite feignant de partirpour une grande chasse, ils se mirent a traiter avecles Francais de fusils, de poudre et de balles, oflrantde les payer comptant, et meme plus cher qu'aavait aucunel'ordinaire: et en effet, comme iln'yraison de soupconner leur fidelite, on fit au mememoment l'echange de leurs poules et de leur mais,avec quelques armes, et des munitions dont ils seservirent avantageusement contre nous. II est vraique quelques-uns temoignerent de la defiance, maison la crut si peu fondle, qu'on les traita de trembleursqui s'eflrayaient de leur ombre. On 6tait bien engarde contre les Tchactas; mais pour les Natchez, onne s'en d£fiait nullement, et ceux-ci en 6taient tenementpersuades, que c'est ce qui augmenta leurhardiesse :s'£tant ainsi posted en diff^rentes maisonsavec nos armes, ils attaquerent en meme-tempschacun leur homme, et en moins de deux heures ilsmassacrerent plus de deux cens Francais; les plusconnus sont M. de Chepar, Commandant du poste;M. du Codere, Commandant des Yazous; M. des
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 165This unlooked-for massacre began on Monday,the 28th of October, about nine o'clock in the morn-Some cause of dissatisfaction which the Natchezing.thought they had with Monsieur the Commandant, 17and the arrival of a number of richly-loaded boatsfor the garrison and the colonists, determined themto hasten their enterprise, and to strike their blowsooner than they had agreed with the other confederateTribes. And it was thus that they carriedtheir plan into execution. First they divided themselves,and sent into the Fort, into the Village, andinto the two grants, as many Savages as there wereFrench in each of these places then; they feignedthat they were going out for a grand hunt, andundertook to trade with the French for guns,powder, and ball, offering to pay them as much, andeven more than was customary; and in truth, asthere was no reason to suspect their fidelity, theymade at that time an exchange of their poultry andcorn, for some arms and ammunition which theyused advantageously against us. It is true that someexpressed their distrust, but this was thought tohave so little foundation, that they were treated ascowards who were frightened at their own shadows.They had been on their guard against the Tchactas,but as for the Natchez, they had never distrustedthem, and they were so persuaded of their good faiththat it increased their hardihood. Having thusposted themselves in different houses, provided withthe arms obtained from us, they attacked at thesame time each his man, and in less than two hoursthey massacred more than two hundred of theFrench. The best known are Monsieur de Chepar,Commandant of the post, Monsieur du Codere,
166 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68Ursins, Messieurs de Kolly, pere et fils; Messieursde Longrays, des Noyers, Bailly, etc.Le P. du Poisson venait de faire les obseques deson compagnon le Frere Crucy, qui 6tait mort presquesubitement d'un coup de Soleil: il s'6tait mis enroute pour consulter M. Perrier, et prendre avec luides mesures propres a faire descendre les Akensas surle bord du Mississipi pour la commodity desvoyageurs. II arriva chez les Natchez le 26 Novembre,c'est-a-dire, deux jours avant le carnage. Le lendemain,qui 6tait le premier dimanche de l'Avent, ildit la Messe paroissiale, et precha en 1' absence duCure\ II devait retourner l'apres-midi a sa Missiondes Akensas •,mais il fut arret6 par quelques maladesauxquelsil fallait administrer les Sacremens. Lelundi, il venait de dire la Messe, et de porter le saintViatique a un de ces malades qu'il avait confesse laveille, lorsque le massacre commenca. Le Chef a lagrosse jambe le prit a brasse corps, et l'ayant jetepar terre, il lui coupa la tete a coups de hache. LePere ne dit en tombant que ces paroles: ah monDieu! ah mon Dieu! M. du Codere tirait son 6p6epour le defendre, lorsqu'il fut tu6 lui-meme d'uncoup de fusil par un autre Sauvage qu'il n'apercevaitpas.Ces barbares n'epargnerent que deux Francais,un Tailleur et un Charpentier qui pouvaient lesservir dans le besoin : ils ne maltraiterent point lesEsclaves Negres ou Sauvages quivoulurent serendre; mais ils ouvrirent le ventre a toutes lesfemmes enceintes, et ils 6gorgerent presque toutescelles qui allaitaient des enfans, parce qu'ils 6taient
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D'A VA UGOUR 167Commandant among the Yazous, Monsieur des Ursins,Messieurs de Kolly, father and son, Messieurs deLongrays, des 18Noyers, Bailly, etc.Father du Poisson had just performed the funeralrites of his associate, Brother Crucy, who had diedvery suddenly of a Sunstroke he was on his;wayto consult Monsieur Perrier, and to adopt with himproper measures to enable the Akensas to descend tothe banks of the Mississipi, for the accommodationof the voyageurs. He arrived among the Natchezon the 26th of November, that is, two days beforethe massacre. The next day, which was the firstSunday of Advent, he said Mass in the parish andpreached in the absence of the Cur6. He was tohave returned in the afternoon to his Mission amongthe Akensas, but he was detained by some sickpersons, to whom it was necessary to administer theSacraments. On Monday, he was about to say Mass,and to carry the holy Viaticum to one of those sickpersons whom he had confessedthe evening before,when the massacre began ; a gigantic Chief six feetin height, seized him, and having thrown him to theground, cut off his head with blows of a hatchet.The Father in falling only uttered these words,"Ah, my God! ah, my God! " Monsieur du Coderedrew his sword to defend him, when he was himselfkilled by a musket-ball from another Savage, whomhe did not perceive.These barbarians spared but two of the French, aTailor and a Carpenter, who were able to serve theirwants. They did not treat badly either the NegroSlaves, or the Savages who were willing to givethemselves up but; they ripped up the belly of everypregnant woman, and killed almost all those who
168 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68importunes de leurs cris et de leurs pleurs. lis netuerent point les autres femmes, mais ils en firentleurs Esclaves, et les traiterent de la maniere la plusindigne pendant deux ou trois mois qu'ils en furentles maitres. Les moins malheureuses 6taient cellesqui savaient coudre, parce qu'on les occupait a fairedes chemises, des habits, etc. Les autres etaientemployees a couper et a charrier le bois pour la chaudiere,et a piler le mai's dont se fait leur sagamite\Mais deux choses sur-tout augmentaient la honte etla rigueur de leur esclavage: c'6tait en premier lieud 'avoir pour maitres ceux-la meme qu'elles avaientvu tremper leurs mains cruelles dans le sang de leursmaris ;et en second lieu, de leur entendre dire continuellementque les Franeais avaient 6te traites de lameme maniere dans tous les autres postes, et que lepays en etaient entierement d£livre\Pendant le massacre, le grand Chef des Natchez6tait tranquillement assis sous le hangar a tabac dela Compagnie. Ses Guerriers apporterent a ses piedsla tete du Commandant autour de laquelle ilsrangerentcelles des principaux Franeais du poste, laissantleurs cadavres en proie aux chiens, aux carencros,et aux autres oiseaux carnaciers.Quand ils furent assures qu'il ne restait plus aucunhomme dans le poste Franeais, ils se mirent a pillerles maisons, le magasin de la Compagnie des Indes,et toutes les voitures qui Etaient encore chargers aubord de la riviere. Ils employerent les Negres atransporter les marchandises ;ils les partagerententr'eux a la reserve des munitions de guerre qu'ilsmirent en surete dans une cabane particuliere. Tantqu'ils eurent de 1' eau-de-vie, dont ils trouverent une
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 169were nursing their children, because they weredisturbed by their cries and tears. They did not killthe other women, but made them Slaves, and treatedthem with every indignity during the two or threemonths that they were their masters. The leastmiserable were those who knew how to sew, becausethey kept them busy making shirts, dresses, etc.The others were employed in cutting and carryingwood for cooking, and in pounding the corn of whichthey make their sagamite\ But two things, aboveall, aggravated the grief and hardness of theirslavery; it was, in the first place, to have for mastersthose same persons whom they had seen dippingtheir cruel hands in the blood of their husbands;and, in the second place, to hear them continuallysaying that the French had been treated in the samemanner at all the other posts, and that the countrywas now entirely freed from them.During the massacre, the great Chief of theNatchez was seated quietly under the tobacco shedof the Company. His Warriors brought to his feetthe head of the Commandant, about which theyranged those of the principal French of the post,leaving their bodies a prey to the dogs, the buzzards,and other carnivorous birds.When they were assured that not another Frenchmanremained at the post, they applied themselvesto plunder the houses, the magazine of the Companyof the Indies, and all the boats which were still loadedby the bank of the river. They employed theNegroes to transport the merchandise, which theydivided among themselves, with the exception of themunitions of war, which they placed for security ina separate cabin. While the brandy lasted, of which
170 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68bonne provision, ils passerent les jours et les nuits aboire, a chanter, a danser, a insulter de la manierela plus barbare aux cadavres et a la m6moire desFrancais; les Tchactas et les autres Sauvages 6tantde leur complot, ils 6taient tranquilles, et necraignaient point qu'on se portat a la vengeance quem6ritait leur cruaut6 et leur perfidie. Une nuitqu'ils 6taient plong6s dans l'ivresse et dans lesommeil, Madame des Noyers voulut se servir desNegres pour venger la mort de son mari et desFrancais: mais elle fut trahie par celui a qui elleconfia son dessein, et il s'en fallut peu qu'on ne labrulat toute vive.Quelques Francais se d^roberent a la fureur des Sauvagesen se refugiant dans les bois, ou ils souffrirentextremement de la faim et des injures du temps.L'un d'eux en arrivant ici soulagea un peu l'inqui£tudeou Ton 6tait, sur le poste que nous occuponschez les Yazous, qui n'est qu'a quarante ou cinquantelieues au-dessus des Natchez par eau, et a 15 ou 20seulement par terre. Ne pouvant plus register aufroid extreme dont il 6tait saisi, il sortit du bois a lafaveur de la nuit pour aller se r6chauffer dans unemaison Frangaise. Lorsqu'il en fut proche, il yentendit des voix de Sauvages, et il delib6ra s'ilentrerait. II s'y d6termina neanmoins, aimantencore mieux p6rir de la main de ces barbares, quede mourir de faim et de froid. II fut agr£ablementsurpris lorsqu'il vit ces Sauvages s'empresser a luirendre service, le combler d'amiti6s, le plaindre, leconsoler, lui fournir des vivres, des habits, et unepirogue pour se sauver a la Nouvelle Orleans.C'6taient des Yazous qui revenaient de chanter le
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 171they found a good supply, they passed their daysand nights in drinking, singing, dancing, and insultingin the most barbarous manner, the dead bodiesand the memory of the French. The Tchactas, andthe other Savages being engaged in the plot withthem, they felt at their ease, and did not at all fearthat they would draw on themselves the vengeancewhich was merited by their cruelty and perfidy.One night when they were plunged in drunkennessand sleep, Madame des Noyers wished to make useof the Negroes to revenge the death of her husbandand the French, but she was betrayed by the personto whom she confided her design, and came verynear being burned alive.Some of the French escaped the fury of theSavages by taking refuge in the woods, where theysuffered extremely from hunger and the effects ofthe weather. One of them, on arriving here, relievedus of a little disquietude we felt with regard to thepost we occupy among the Yazous, which is not morethan forty or fifty leagues above the Natchez bywater, and only from 1 5 to 20 by land. Not beingable longer to endure the extreme cold from whichhe suffered, he left the woods under cover of night,to go to warm himself in the house of a Frenchman.When he was near it he heard the voices ofSavages and deliberated whether he should enter.He determined, however, to do so, preferring ratherto perish by the hand of these barbarians, than todie of famine and cold. He was agreeably surprisedwhen he found these Savages eager to render him aservice, to heap kindnesses upon him, to commiseratehim, to console him, to furnish him with provisions,clothes, and a boat to make his escapeto New
172 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68calumet aux Oumas. Le Chef le chargea de dire aM. Perrier qu'il n'y avait rien a craindre de la partdes Yazous, qu'ils ne perdraient pas l'esprit, c'est-adirequ'ils demeureraient tou jours attaches auxFrancais; et qu'il partirait incessamment avec satroupe, pour avertir toutes les pirogues Francaisesqui descendraient le fleuve, de se tenir sur leursgardes contre les Natchez.Nous crumes long-temps que les promesses de ceChef etaient bien sinceres, et nous ne craignionsplus rien de la perfidie Indienne pour le poste desYazous. Connaissez, mon R. P., quel est le g6niedes Sauvages, et si Ton peut se fier a leurs paroles,lors meme qu'elles sont accompagndes des plusgrandes demonstrations d'amitie. A peine furentilsrendus dans leur village, que charges des pr6sensqu'ils recurent des Natchez, ils suivirent leur exemple,et imiterent leur trahison. Se joignant aux Corroys,ils convinrent ensemble d'exterminer les Francais :ils commencerent par le P. Souel leur Missionnairecommun, qui demeurait au milieu d'eux dans leurpropre Village. La fidelite" des Ofogoulas, qui etaientalors a la chasse, n'a pas 6te ebranlee, et ils fontmaintenant Village avec les Tonikas.Le 1 1 de D6cembre, le P. Souel revenant sur le soirde visiter le Chef, et se trouvant dans une ravine,recut plusieurs coups de fusils,et tomba mort sur laplace. Les Sauvages vinrent fondre aussitot sur sacabane pour la piller. Son Negre qui fesait toute sacompagnie et toute sa defense, s'arma d'un couteaude bucheron pour empecherle pillage,et blessameme un Sauvage. Cette action de zele lui couta lavie. Heureusement ily avait peu de mois qu'il
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 173Orleans. These were the Yazous, who were returningfrom chanting the calumet at Oumas. The Chiefcharged him to say to Monsieur Perrier, that he hadnothing to fear on the part of the Yazous, thatV they would not lose their sense," that is, that theywould always remain attached to the French, and thathe would be constantly on the watch with his tribeto warn the French pirogues that were descendingthe river to be on their guard against the Natchez.We believed for a long time that the promises ofthis Chief were very sincere, and feared no moreIndian perfidy for our post among the Yazous. Butlearn, my Reverend Father, the disposition of theseSavages, and how little one is able to trust theirwords, even when accompanied by the greatestdemonstrations of friendship. Scarcely had theyreturned to their own village, when, loaded withthe presents they received from the Natchez, theyfollowed their example and imitated their treachery.Uniting with the Corroys, 19they agreed together toexterminate the French. They began with FatherSouel, the Missionary of both tribes, who was thenliving in the midst of them, in their own village.The fidelity of the Ofogoulas, who were then absentat the chase, has never been shaken, and they nowcompose one Village with the Tonikas.On the nth of December, Father Souel wasreturning in the evening from visiting the Chief,and while in a ravine, received many musket-balls,and fell dead on the spot. The Savages immediatelyrushed to his cabin to plunder it. His Negro, whocomposed all his family and all his defense, armedhimself with a wood-cutter's knife, to prevent thepillage, and even wounded one of the Savages.
174 LES RELA TIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol. 6 8avait recu le Bapteme, et il menait une vie treschr£tienne.Ces Sauvages qui jusques-la avaient paru sensiblesa l'affection que leur portait le Missionnaire, sereprocherent sa mort des qu'ils furent capables dereflexion ;mais revenant a leur feYocite" naturelle, ilsprirent la resolution de mettre le comble a leur crimeen d6truisant le poste Francais. «Puisque le Chefnoir est mort, s'ecrierent-ils, c'estcomme si tous lesFrancais 6taient morts; n'en 6pargnons aucun.»Des le lendemain ils ex£cuterent leur barbareprojet; ils se rendirent de grand matin au Fort quin'etait eloigne" que d'une lieue. On crut qu'ilsvoulaient chanter le calumet au Chevalier des Roches,qui commandait ce poste en V absence de M. deCodere. II n'y avait que dix-sept hommes qui nesoupconnaient aucune mauvaise volonte" de la partdes Sauvages ; ils furent tous 6govg6s, et pas unn'£chappa a la fureur de ces barbares. Ils accorderentneanmoins la vie a quatre femmes et a cinqenfans qu'ils y trouverent, et dont ils firent leursesclaves.Un de ces Yazous ayant depouille* le Missionnaire,se revetit de ses habits, et annonga bientot auxNatchez, que sa Nation avait tenu sa parole, et queles Francais 6tablis chez elle, etaient tous massacres.On n'en douta presque plus dans cette ville, quandon y apprit ce qui venait d'arriver au Pere Doutreleau.Ce Missionnaire avait pris le temps del'hivernement des Sauvages pour venir nous voir,ann de regler quelques affaires de sa Mission. IIet ne6tait parti le premier jour de cette annee 1730,croyant pas pouvoir arriver a temps pour dire la
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 176This zealous action cost him his life, but, happily,he had received Baptism less than a month before,and was living in a most Christian manner.These Savages, who even to that time had seemedsensible of the affection which their Missionary borethem, reproached themselves for his death as soonas they were capable of reflection; but returningagain to their natural ferocity, they adopted theresolution of putting a finishing stroke to their crimeby the destruction of the whole French post." Since the black Chief is dead," said they," it isthe same asif all the French were dead — let us notspare any. ' 'The next day, they executed their barbarous plan.They repaired early in the morning to the Fort,which was not more than a league distant, and whoseoccupants supposed, on their arrival, that the Savageswished to chant the calumet to the Chevalier desRoches, who commanded that post in the absence ofMonsieur de Codere. He had but seventeen menwith him, who had no suspicion of any evil designon the part of the Savages, and were therefore allmassacred, not one escaping their fury. They,however, granted their lives to four women and fivechildren,whom they found there, and whom theymade slaves.One of the Yazous, having strippedthe Missionary,clothed himself in his garments, and shortlyafterward announced to the Natchez, that his Nationhad redeemed their pledge, and that the Frenchsettled among them were all massacred. In this citythere was no longer any doubt on that point, as soonas they learned what came near being the fate ofFather Doutreleau. This Missionary had availed
176 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68Messe chez le P. Souel dont ilignorait la destined,il prit le parti de la dire aupres de 1' embouchure dela petite riviere des Yazous, ou il avait cabane\Comme il se pr£parait a une si sainte action, onvit aborder une pirogue de Sauvages; on leurdemanda de quelle Nation ils 6taient: Yazous,camarades des Francais, repondirent-ils, en fesantmille auntie's aux voyageurs qui accompagnaient lesMissionnaires, et en leur pr6sentant des vivres.Pendant que le Pere dressait son autel, ilpassa unecompagnie d'outardes sur laquelle les voyageursd£chargerent les deux seuls fusils qu'ils eussent, sanspenser a les recharger, parce qu'on allait coramencerla Messe. Les Sauvages le remarquerentils se;mirent derriere les voyageurs, comme s'ils avaientdessein d' entendre la Messe, quoiqu'ils ne fussentpas Chretiens.Au temps que le Pere disait le Kyrie eleison, lesSauvages firent leur d£charge. Le Missionnaire sesentant bless6 au bras droit, et voyant un des voyageurstu6 a ses pieds, et les quatre autres en fuite,se mit a genoux pour recevoir le dernier coup de lamort qu'il regardait comme certaine. Dans cetteposture il essuya deux ou trois d6charges. Quoiqueles Sauvages tirassent sur lui presque a bout portant,ils ne lui firent point de nouvelles blessures. Sevoyant done comme miraculeusement 6chapp6 a tantde coups mortels, il prit la fuite ayant encore seshabits sacerdotaux, et sans autre defense qu'unegrande confiance en Dieu dont il venait d'£prouverla protection toute particuliere.II se jetaal'eau;ayant avance* quelques pas, il saisit la pirogue danslaquelle s'enfuyaient deux des voyageurs, qui le
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D >A VA UGO UR 177himself of the time when the Savages were engagedin their winter occupations, to come to see us, forthe purpose of regulating some matters relating tohis Mission. He set out on the first dayof thisyear, 1730, and not expecting to arrive at the residenceof Father Souel, of whose fate he was ignorant,in time to say Mass, he determined to sayit at themouth of the little river of the Yazous, where hisparty had cabined.As he was preparing for this sacred office, he sawa boat full of Savages landing. They demandedfrom them of what Nation they were. "Yazous,comrades of the French," they replied, making athousand friendly demonstrations to the voyageurswho accompanied the Missionary, and presentingthem with provisions. While the Father was preparinghis altar, a flock of bustards passed, and thevoyageurs fired at them the only two guns they had,without thinking of reloading, as Mass had alreadycommenced. The Savages noted this and placedthemselves behind the voyageurs, as if it was theirintention to hear Mass, although they were notChristians.At the time when the Father was saying the Kyrieeleison, the Savages made their discharge. TheMissionary perceiving himself wounded in his rightarm, and seeing one of the voyageurs killed at hisfeet, and the four others fled, threw himself on hisknees to receive the last fatal blow, which heregarded as inevitable. In this posture he receivedtwo or three discharges. But although the Savagesfired while almost touching him, yet they did notinflict on him any new wounds. Finding himself,then, as it were, miraculously escaped from so many
178 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68croyaient mort de tous les coups qu'ils avaiententendu tirer sur lui. En montant dans la pirogue,et tournant la tete pour voir si on ne le suivait pasde trop pres,il regut dans la bouche un coup deplomb a outardes, la plupart des grains s'applatirentcontre ses dents, quelques-uns entrerent dans lesgencives et y resterent long-temps; j'y en ai vudeux moi-meme. Le Pere Doutreleau, tout bless6qu'il e*tait, se chargea de gouverner la pirogue, etses deux compagnons se mirent a ramer. MalheureusementTun d'eux avait eu en partant la cuissecassee d'un coup de fusil, dont il est demeur6estropie\Vous jugez bien, mon ReVerend Pere, que leMissionnaire et ses compagnons ne penserent plus kremonter la riviere ;ils descendirent le Mississipi leplus vite qu'ils purent, et perdirentenfin de vue lapirogue de leurs ennemis, qui les avaient poursuivispendant plus d'une heure, en fesant un feu continuelsur eux, et qui se vanterent au Village de les avoirtu6s. Les deux rameurs furent souvent tentes de serendre; mais encourages par le Missionnaire, ilsfirent peur a leur tour aux Sauvages. Une vieillearme qui n'6tait point chargee, ni en 6tat de Tetre,qu'ils leur montrerent de temps-en-temps, leur fit fairesouvent le plongeon dans leur pirogue, et les obligeaenfin de se retirer.Des qu'ils se virent d^barrasses de leurs ennemis,ils panserent leurs plaies comme ils purent, et jetantdans le fleuve tout ce qu'ils avaient dans leurspirogues, pour s 'eloigner plus ais6ment de cetterive meurtriere, ils ne conserverent que quelquesmorceaux de lard cru pour leur nourriture.
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 179mortal blows, he took to flight, having on still hispriestly garments, and without any other defensethan an entire confidence in God, whose particularprotection was given him, as the event proved. Hethrew himself into the water, and after advancingsome steps, gained the pirogue in which two of thevoyageurs were making their escape. They hadsupposed him to be killed by some of the many ballswhich they had heard fired on him. In climbingup into the pirogue, and turning his head to seewhether any one of his pursuers was following himtoo closely, he received in the mouth a discharge ofsmall shot, the greater part of which were flattenedagainst his teeth, although some of them entered hisgums, and remained there for a long time. I havemyself seen two of them there. Father Doutreleau,all wounded as he was, undertook the duty of steeringthe pirogue, while his two companions placed themselvesat the paddles. Unfortunately, one of them, atsetting out, had his thigh broken by a musket-ball,from the effects of which he has since remained acripple.You may well imagine, my Reverend Father, thatthe Missionary and his companions had no thoughtsthe river. Theyof ascendingdescended the Mississipiwith all the speed possible, and at last lost sightof the pirogue of their enemies, who had pursuedthem for more than an hour, keeping up a continualfire upon them, and who boasted at the Village thatthey had killed them. The two paddlers were oftentempted to give themselves up, but encouraged bythe Missionary, they in their turn made the Savagesfear. An old gun which was not loaded, nor in acondition to be, which they pointed at them from
180 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68Leur dessein 6tait de s'arreter en passant auxNatchez; mais ayant apercu les maisons francaisesou abattues ou brulees, ils ne jugerent pas a proposd'6couter les complimens des Sauvages, qui du borddu fleuve les invitaient a mettre pied a terre: ilsgagnerent au plus vite le large, et par-la ils eviterentles coups qu'on tira inutilement sur eux. C'est alorsqu'ils commencerent a se defier de toutes ces Nationssauvages, et qu'ils r6solurent de n'approcher de laterre qu'a la Nouvelle Orleans, et meme, suppose*que ces barbares s'en fussent rendus les maitres, dedeliver jusqu'a la Balize, ou ils esperaient trouverquelque vaisseau francais a portee de recueillir lesdebris de la Colonie.En passant devant les Tonikas, ils s' eloigneren t leplus qu'ils purent de leur bord; mais ils furentd^couverts, et une pirogue qu'on avait depechee pourles reconnaitre, ne fut pas long-temps sans les approcher.Leur crainte et leur defiance se renouvellerent,et ils ne prirent le parti de s'arreter, que quand ilss'apercurent qu'on parlait fort bien francais danscette pirogue alors ils revinrent de leur f rayeur, et;dans l'abattement ou ils etaient, ils furent bienconsoles de pouvoir mettre pied a terre.Ils y trouverentla petite armee frangaise qui se formait, desOfficiers compatissans et tout-a-fait gracieux, unChirurgien et des rafraichissemens : ils se refirentun peu apres tant de dangers et de miseres, et ilsprofiterent des le lendemain d'une pirogue qu'on6quipait pour la Nouvelle Orleans,Je ne puis vous exprimer, mon Reverend Pere,quel fut mon saisissement, quand je vis le Pere
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 181time to time, made them often dodge in their boat,and at last obliged them to retire.As soon as they found themselves freed from theirenemies, they dressed their wounds as well as theycould, and for the purpose of aiding their flight fromthat fatal shore, they threw into the river everythingthey had in their boat, preserving only some piecesof raw bacon for their nourishment.It had been their intention to stop in passing atthe Natchez, but having seen that the houses of theFrench were either demolished or burned, they didnot think it advisable to listen to the compliments ofthe Savages, who from the bank of the river invitedthem to land. They placed a wide distance betweenthem as soon as possible and thus shunned the balls;which were ineffectually fired at them. It was thenthat they began to distrust all these savage Nations,and therefore resolved not to go near the land untilthey reached New Orleans, and supposing that thebarbarians might have rendered themselves mastersof it, to descend even to the Balize, where theyhoped to find some French vessel provided to receivethe wreck of the Colony.In passing the Tonikas, they separated themselvesas far as possible from the shore, but they werediscovered, and a pirogue which had been despatchedto reconnoiter them, was not a long time in approaching.Their fear and distrust were renewed, andthey did not decide to stop, until they perceived thatthe persons in that boat spoke very good French,when they overcame their fears, and in the weakstate they were, gladly availed themselves of theopportunity to land. There they found the littleFrench army which had been formed, the Officers
182 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68Doutreleau le bras en echarpe, arriver de plus dequatre cens lieues, n'ayant que sa soutane qui ne futpoint d'emprunt. Ma surprise augmenta au r6cit deses aventures ;je le mis aussitot entre les mains dufrere Parisel, qui visita ses plaies, et qui les a pans6esavec un grand soin et un prompt succes.Le Missionnaire n'6tait point encore entierementgu6ri de ses blessures, qu'il partit pour aller servird'Aumonier a l'armee Francaise, comme il l'avaitpromis a Messieurs les Officiers qui Ten avaient prie\II partagea avec eux les fatigues du si6ge de Natchez,et ily donna de nouvelles preuves de son zele, de sasagesse, et de son courage.A son retour des Natchez, il vint se delasser icipendant six semaines, qu'il trouva bien longues, etqui me parurent bien courtes. II 6tait dans l'impatiencede retourner a sa chere Mission ;mais il mefallut l'6quiper gen^ralement de tout ce qui estn£cessaire a un Missionnaire, et il fut oblige"d'attendre le convoi pour les Illinois. Les risquesqu'on courait sur le fleuve durant ce soulevement desSauvages, porterent M. le Commandant a d^fendreaux voyageurs d' aller par bandes s6par£es. II partitle 1 6 Avril avec plusieurs autres en assez grandnombre, pour n'avoir rien a craindre des ennemis.J'appris en effet qu'ils s'6taient rendus au-dessus desAkensas, sans qu'il leur fut arrive" aucun accident.Le plaisir de voir le Pere Doutreleau pour lapremiere fois, et de le voir echappe" a tant de perils,fut bien trouble par la vive douleur que je ressentaisde la perte de deux Missionnaires, dont vous connaissiezaussi-bien que moi le m6rite. Vous savez qu'aun tres-aimable caractere, ils joignaient les qualit£s
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 183compassionate and every way kind, a Surgeon, andrefreshments. After recovering a little from thegreat dangers and miseries they had endured, theyon the next day availed themselves of a piroguewhich had been fitted out for New Orleans.I cannot express to you, my Reverend Father, thegreat satisfaction I felt at seeing Father Doutreleau,his arm in a scarf, arrive after a voyage of more thanfour hundred leagues, all the clothes he had on havingbeen borrowed, except his cassock. My surprisewas increased at the recital of his adventures. Iplaced him immediately in the hands of brotherParisel, who examined his wounds, and who dressedthem with great care and speedy success.The Missionary was not yet entirely cured of hiswounds, when he departed to act as Chaplainto the French army, as he had promised Messieursthe Officers, in accordance with their request. Heendured with them the fatigues of the campaignagainst the Natchez, and there gave new proofs of hiszeal, his wisdom, and his courage.On his return from the Natchez, he came to recruithimself here for six weeks, which he found verylong, but which appeared to me very short. Hewas impatient to return to his dear Mission, but itwas necessary for me to fit him out generally witheverything proper for a Missionary, and he wasobliged to wait for the escort which was going to theIllinois. The risks which they ran on the riverduring this insurrection of the Savages, inducedMonsieur the Commandant to forbid voyageurs goingin separate companies. He set out, therefore, on the16th of April, with many others, in a body sufficientlylargeto relieve them from all fear of their
184 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68propres des hommes apostoliques qu'ils 6taient;tres-affectionn6s a leur Mission; qu'ils parlaient d6jaassez bien la langue des Sauvages que leurs premiers;travatix produisaient de grands fruits, et en auraientproduit bien d'autres, puisque Tun et l'autre n'avaientgueres que trente-cinqperte quia trente-six ans. Cettem'occupe uniquement, ne me permet pasnous avons faite dememe de penser a la perte queleurs Negres et de leurs effets, quoiqu'elle derangebien une Mission qui ne fait que de naitre, et qui estdans des besoins que vous connaissez mieux quepersonne.Au reste, il n'est rien arriv6 a ces deux excellensMissionnaires que nous pleurons, a quoi ils ne sefussent prepares, lorsqu'ils se consacrerent auxMissions des Sauvages de cette Colonie. Cette seuledisposition, ind^pendamment de tout le reste, a missans doute une grande difference aux yeux de Dieuentre leur mort et celle de tant d'autres, qui ont 6teles martyrs du nom Francais. Aussi suis-je bienpersuade que la crainte d'un sort semblable ne rallentirapoint le zele de ceux de nos peres qui auraientla pens6e de nous suivre, et ne detournera pas nosSup6rieurs de se rendre aux saints desirs qu'ilsauront de venir partager nos travaux.Pere, la vigilanceConnaissant comme vous faites, mon Rev6rendet les vues de M. notre Comman-endormi dansdant, vous jugez bien qu'il ne s'est pasles tristes conjonctures ou nous nous trouvions.On peut dire sans flatterie qu'il s'est surpasse" luimemepar les mouvemens continuels qu'il s'estdonn£s, et par les sages mesures qu'il a prises pour
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 185enemies. I learned, in fact, that they had proceededabove the Akensas, without any accident.The pleasure of seeing Father Doutreleau for thefirst time, and seeing him, too, after his escape fromsuch imminent perils, was much impaired by thevivid grief I felt for the loss of two Missionaries,with whose merit you were as well acquainted asmyself. You know that to a most amiable disposition,they united the appropriate qualifications forapostolic men, that they were very much attached totheir Mission, that they had already become wellacquainted with the language of the Savages, thattheir earliest labors had produced great fruits, andthey gave the promise of still greater results, sinceneither of them was more than thirty-five or thirtysixyears of age. This deprivation, which entirelyoccupied my thoughts, gave me no time for thinkingof the loss we had sustained of their Negroes andtheir effects, althoughit very much deranged aMission which had just been commenced, and whosenecessities you know better than anyBut nothing has happenedone else.to these two excellentMissionaries for which we should mourn, or forwhich they were not prepared when they devotedthemselves to the Savage Missions in this Colony.This disposition alone, independent of everythingelse, has without doubt placed a great difference inthe eyes of God between their death and that of theothers, who have fallen martyrs to the French name.But I am well persuaded that the fear of a similarfate will not in the least diminish the zeal of thoseof our fathers who had thought of following them,neither will it deter our Superiors from responding tothe holy desires they may have of sharing our labors.
186 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68venger le sang Francais, et pour prevenir les malheursdont presque tous les postes de la Coloniee*taient menaces.Aussitot qu'il eut appris1'irruption impreVue desSauvages Natchez, il en fit porter la nouvelle danstous les postes, et jusqu'aux Illinois, non par la voiedirecte et ordinaire du fleuve, qui 6tait ferm6e, maisd'un cote" par les Natchitoches et les Akensas; et del'autre par la mobile et les Tchicachas;il invita lesvoisins nos allies, et particulierement les Tchactas,a venger cette perfidie;il fournit d'armes et demunitions toutes les maisons de la Ville et des habitations;il fit monter deux vaisseaux; savoir, le Duede Bourbon et l'Alexandre, vers les Tonikas. Cesvaisseaux 6taient comme deux bonnes forteressescontre les insultes des Sauvages, et en cas d'attaque,deux asiles assures pour les femmes et pour lesenfans;il fit faire un fosse d'enceinte autour de laVille, et ilplaca des corps-de-garde a ses quatreextr6mit£s; il forma pour sa defense plusieurscompagnies de milice bourgeoise, qui continuent demonter la garde tous les soirs. Comme il y avaitplus a craindre dans les concessions et les habitationsque dans la Ville, on s'y est fortifie" avec plus desoin : ily a de bons forts aux Chapitoulas, aux CannesbrAties, aux Allemands, aux Bayagoulas, et a la Pointecoupe" e.D'abord M. notre Commandant n'£coutant queson courage, prit le dessein de se mettre a la tetedes troupes, mais on lui repre"senta qu'il ne devaitpoint quitter la Nouvelle Orleans oil sa presence 6taitabsolument n^cessaire; qu'il y avait a craindre qu'il
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 187Knowing, as you do, my Reverend Father, thevigilance and the foresight of Monsieur our Commandant,you can well imagine that he did not sleepin this sad crisis in which we now found ourselves.We may say without flattery that he surpassedhimself by the rapid movements he made, and bythe wise measures he adopted to revenge the Frenchblood which had been shed, and to prevent the evilswith which almost all the posts of the Colony werethreatened.As soon as he was apprised of this unexpectedattack by the Natchez Savages, he caused the newsto be carried to all the posts, and even as far as theIllinois, not by the direct and ordinary route of theriver, which was closed, but on one side by the Natchitochesand the Akensas, and on the other by Mobileand the Tchicachas. He invited the neighbors whowere our allies, and particularly the Tchactas, toavenge this perfidy. 20 He furnished arms andammunition to all the houses of this City and to theplantations. He caused two ships, that is, the Duede Bourbon and the Alexandre, to ascend the river asfar as the Tonikas, These ships were like two goodfortresses against the insults of the Savages, and incase of attack, two certain asylums for the womenand children. He caused a ditch to be dug entirelyaround the City, and placed guard-houses at the fourextremities. He organized for its defense manycompanies of city militia who mounted guard duringthe whole night. As there was more to fear in thegrants and in the plantations than in the City, hefortified them with the most care. He had goodforts erected at Chapitoulas, at Cannes brtile'es )at lesAllemandsy at Bayagoulas, and at Pointe coupe'e.
188 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68ne prit envie aux Tchactas de tomber sur la Ville, sielle £tait d^garnie de troupes, et que les Negres,pour s'affranchir de l'esclavage, ne se joignissent aeux, ainsi que quelques-uns s'etaient joints auxNatchez. D'ailleurs ilpouvait etre tranquille sur laconduite des troupes, M. le Chevalier de Loubois,dont il connaissait 1'experience et la bravoure, ay ant6t6 charge de les commander.Pendant que notre petite arm6e se rendait auxTonikas, sept cens Tchactas ramass6s et conduits parM. le Sueur, marchaient vers les Natchez; on futinforme* par un parti de leurs gens, que ces Sauvagesn'^taient nullement sur leurs gardes, et qu'ilspassaient toutes les nuits a danser. Les Tchactas lessurprirent, et vinrent fondre sur eux le 27 Janvier ala pointe du jour; en moins de trois heures ilsdelivrerent 59 personnes, tant femmes qu'enfans,avec le Tailleur et le Charpentier, et 106 Negres ouNegresses avec leurs enfans;esclaves, et enleverent 60 chevelures ;ils firent 18 Natchezils en auraientenleve" davantage, s'ils ne s'6taient pas attaches adelivrer les esclaves, comme on leleur avait recommande.Ils n'eurent que deux hommes de tu6s, etsept ou huit de blesses. Ils se camperent avec leurprise a la concession de Sainte-Catherine, dans unsimple pare ferine" de pieux. La victoire eut €t€complette, s'ils eussent attendu l'arm^e Francaise,ainsi qu'on en 6tait convenu avec leurs Deputes.Les Natchez se voyant attaques par les formidablesTchactas, regarderent leur d6faite comme certaine;ils se renfermerent dans deux forts, et passerent lesnuits suivantes a danser leur danse de mort. Dans
1720 - 30] LE PETIT TO D'AVA UGO UR 189At first,Monsieur our Commandant, listening onlyto the dictates of his own courage, adopted thedesign of placing himself at the head of the troops,but it was represented to him that he ought not toquit New Orleans, where his presence was absolutelynecessary,that there was danger of the Tchactasdetermining to fall upon the City, if it should bedeprived of its troops; and the Negroes, to freethemselves from slavery, might join them, as somehad done with the Natchez. Moreover he could feelperfectly easy with regard to the conduct of thetroops, as Monsieur the Chevalier de Loubois, withwhose experience and bravery he was well acquainted,had been appointed to command them.While our little army was repairing to the Tonikas,seven hundred Tchactas mustered, and conducted byMonsieur le Sueur, marched toward the Natchez.We were informed by a party of these people thatthe Savages were not at all on their guard, butpassed all their nights in dancing. The Tchactas tookthem thereforeby surprise,and made a descent onthem on the 27th of January, at the break of day.In less than three hours they had delivered 59persons, both women and children, with the Tailorand Carpenter, and 106 Negroes or Negro women withtheir children ; they made 1 8 of the Natchez prisonersand took 60 scalps.They would have taken more,ifthey had not been intent on freeing the slaves, asthey had been directed. They had but two menkilled and seven or eight wounded. They encampedwith their prizes at the grant of Sainte Catherine, ina bare cattle-yard enclosed with stakes. The victorywould have been completeifthey had waited for thearrival of the French army, as had been agreed uponwith their Deputies.
190 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68leurs harangues on les entendait reprocher auxTchactas leur perfidie, de ce qu'ils s'6taient d6clar6sen faveur des Francais, contre la parole qu'ils leuravaient donn£e de s'unir a eux pour les detruire.Trois jours avant cette action, le sieur Mesplexarriva aux Natchez avec cinq autres Francais: ilss'6taient oflerts a M. de Loubois, pour aller leurporter des paroles de paix, afin de pouvoir sous cepr6textes' informer de leurs forces et de leur situationpresente. En descendant de la barque, ilsrecontrerent un parti, qui, sans leur donner le tempsde parler, leur tua trois hommes, et fit les trois autresprisonniers. Le lendemain ils renvoyerent un deces prisonniers avec une lettre, par laquelle ilsdemandaient pour otage le sieur Broutin, qui avaitautrefois commande* chez eux, et le chef des Tonikas:de plus ils exigeaient pour la rancon des femmes,des enfans et des esclaves deux cens fusils, deuxcens barrils de poudre, deux cens barrils de balles,deux mille pierres a fusil, deux cens couteaux, deuxcens haches, deux cens pioches, vingt quarts d'eaude-vie,vingt barriques de vin, vingt barrils devermilion, deux cens chemises, vingt pieces delimbourg, vingt pieces de toile, vingt habits galonn£ssur les coutures, vingt chapeaux horde's avec desplumets, et cent habits plus simples. Leur dessein6tait d'egorger les Francais qui apporteraient cesmarchandises.Des le meme jourils brulerent avecla derniere inhumanity le sieur Mesplexet soncompagnon.Le 8 Fevrier, les Francais avec les Tonikas, etquelques autrespetites Nations qui sont vers le bas
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO URThe Natchez seeing themselves attacked by theformidable Tchactas, regarded their defeat as certain,and shutting themselves up in two forts, passed thefollowing nights in dancing their death-dance. Intheir speeches we heard them reproaching the Tchactasfor their perfidy, in declaring in favor of theFrench, contrary to the pledge they had given, tounite with them for our destruction.Three days before this action, the sieur Mesplexlanded among the Natchez with five other Frenchmen.Monsieur de Loubois toThey had volunteered tocarry to the Savages negotiations for peace, that theymight be able under this pretext to gain informationwith regard to their force, and their present situation.But in descending from their boat, they encountereda party, who without giving them time to speak,killed three of their men, and made the other threeprisoners. The next day they sent one of theseprisoners with a letter, in which they demanded ashostages the sieur Broutin, who had formerly beencommandant among them, and the chief of theTonikas.Besides, they demanded as the ransom forthe women, children, and slaves, two hundred guns,two hundred barrels of powder, two hundred barrelsof balls, two thousand gun-flints, two hundred knives,two hundred hatchets, two hundred pickaxes, twentyquarts of brandy, twenty casks of wine, twenty barrelsof vermilion, two hundred shirts, twenty piecesof limbourg, twenty pieces of cloth, twenty coatswith lace on the seams, twenty hats bordered withplumes, and a hundred coats of a plainer kind.Their design was to massacre the French who shouldbring these goods. On the very same day, withevery refinement in cruelty they burned sieurMesplex and his companion.
192 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68du Mississipi, arriverent aux Natchez. lis s'emparerentde leur TempleL'impatience etcomme presque tous lesdedie* an Soleil.rindocilite* des Tchactas, lesquels,Sauvages, ne sont capablesque d'un coup de main, et ensuite se retirent; lese trou-trop petit nombre de soldats Frangais quiverent accables de fatigues; le manque de vivresque les Sauvages volaient aux Frangais le d6faut de;munitions dont on ne pouvait rassasier lesTchactas,qui en d6pensaient une partie inutilement, et quimettaient V autre en reserve pour la chasse; la resistancedes Natchez qui s'£taient bien fortifies, et quise battaient en d6sesp6r£s; tout cela d^termina a6couter les propositions que firent les assi6g6s apressept jours de tranche^ ouverte. lis menagaient, sinous persistions dans le si£ge, de br tiler ce qui leurrestait de Frangais, etils s'offrirent de les rendre, sinous voulions retirer nos sept pieces de canons, qui,dans lefond, faute d'un bon cannonier, et dans lescirConstances pr6sentes, n'6taient guere propres qu'aleur faire peur.Les propositions furent accepters et accomplies depart et d'autre. Le2 5 FeVrier, les assi6g6s remirentfidelement tout ce qu'ils avaient promis, et lesassi£geans se retirerent avec leurs canons dans unpetit fort qu'on eleva promptement sur l'Escoreaupres du fleuve, pour inqui6ter tou jours les Natchez,et pour assurer le passage aux voyageurs. M.Perrier en donna le commandement a M. Dartaguette,pour reconnaitre V intrepidity avec laquelle,durantle si£ge, il s'exposait aux plus grands dangers,et bravait par-tout la mort.
1720-86] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 193On the 8th of February, the French, with theTonikas, and some other small Tribes from the lowerend of the Mississipi, arrived at the Natchez, andseized their Temple dedicated to the Sun.The impatience and intractability of the Tchactas,who like almost all Savages are capable of strikingonly one blow, and then disperse the small number;of French soldiers who found themselves worn downby fatigues ; the want of provisions which the Savagesstole from the French ;the failure of ammunitionwith which they were not able to satisfy theTchactas, who wasted one part of it, and placed theother in reserve to be used in hunting the resistanceof the Natchez, who were well fortified, and;who fought in desperation,— all these things decidedus to listen to the propositions which the besiegedthe trenches had been opened for sevenmade, afterdays. They threatened, if we persisted in the siege,to burn those of the French who remained, while onthe other hand, they offered to restore them, if wewould withdraw our seven pieces of cannon. These,in reality, for want of a good gunner, and underpresent circumstances, were scarcely in a fit state togive them any fear.These propositions were accepted, and fulfilled onboth sides. On the 25th of February, the besiegedfaithfully restored all that they had promised, whilethe besiegers retired with their cannon to a smallfort which they had hastily built on the Escore[bluff] near the river, for the purpose of alwayskeeping the Natchez in check, and insuring a passageto the voyageurs. Monsieur Perrier gave the commandof it to Monsieur Dartaguette, as an acknowledgmentof the intrepidity with which, during
194 LES EELA TIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol. 68Avant que les Tchactas se determinassent a donnersur les Natchez, ils 6taient alles chez eux porter lecalumet. Ils y furent recus d'une maniere asseznouvelle: ils les trouverent, eux et leurs chevaux,pares de chasubles et de devants d'autel: plusieursportaient a leur cou de patenes, buvaient et donnaienta boire de V eau-de-vie dans des calices et desciboires. Les Tchactas eux-memes, quand ils eurentpille nos ennemis, renouvelerent cette profanationsacrilege, en fesant dans leurs danses et dans leursjeux le meme usage de nos ornemens et de nos vasessacr6s. On n'en a pu retirer qu'une petite partie.La plupart de leurs chefs sont venus icipour se fairepayer des chevelures qu'ils ont enlev6es, et desFrancais ou des Negres qu'ils ont d61ivres. Ils nousont fait acheter bien cher leurs petits services, etne donnent guere envie de les employer dans lasuite, d'autant plus qu'ils ont paru beaucoup moinsbraves que les petites Nations, dont ils ne se fontredouter que par leur grand nombre. Les maladiesdiminuent tous les ans cette Nation, qui est maintenantr£duite a trois ou quatre mille guerriers.Depuis que ces Sauvages ont fait connaitre ici leurcaractere, on ne peut plus les sourfrir; ils sontinsolens, feroces, degoutans, importuns et insatiables.On plaint et on admire tout-a-la-fois nos Missionnaires,de renoncer a toute soci6t6, pour n' avoirque celle de ces Barbares.J'ai renouvele* connaissance avec Paatlako un deschefs, et avec un grand nombre d'autres Tchactas.Ils m'ont rendu beaucoup de visites int£ress£es, etm'ont souvent r6p6te" a-peu-pres le meme complimentqu'ils me firent ily a plus d'un an, lorsque je
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 195the siege, he had exposed himself to the greatestdangers, and everywhere braved death. 21Before the Tchactas had determined to fall uponthe Natchez, they had gone to them to carry thecalumet, and were received in a very novel manner.They found them and their horses adorned withchasubles and drapery of the altars, many worepatens about their necks, and drank and gave todrink of brandy in the chalices and the ciboria.And the Tchactas themselves, when they had gainedthese articles by pillaging our enemies, renewed thisprofane sacrilege, by making the same use of ourornaments and sacred vessels in their dances andsports. We were never able to recover more than asmall portion of them. The greater part of theirchiefs have come here to receive paymentscalps they have taken, and for the French andNegroes whom they have freed. It is necessary forus to buy very dearly their smallest services, and wehave scarcely any desire to employ them again,particularly as they have appeared much less bravethan the small Tribes, who have not made themselvesfor thefeared by their great number. Every year diseasediminishes this Nation, which is now reduced tothree or four thousand warriors. Since these Savageshave betrayed their disposition here, we have notbeen able to endure them longer. They are insolent,ferocious, disgusting, importunate, and insatiable.We compassionate, and at the same time, we admireshould renounce allour Missionaries, that theysociety, to have only that of these Barbarians.I have renewed my acquaintance with Paatlako,one of the chiefs, and with a great number of otherTchactas. They have made me many interesting
196 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68les quittai. «Nos coeurs et ceux de nos enfanspleurent, m'ont-ils dit, depuis que nous ne te voyonsplus; tu commencais a avoir de 1' esprit comme nous;tu nous entendais, et nous t'entendions; tu nousaimes, et nous t'aimons ; pourquoi nous as-tu quitted?Que ne reviens-tu? Allons, viens-t-en avec nous.»Vous savez, mon Reverend Pere, que je ne pouvaisrepondre a leurs desirs: ainsi je leur dis simplementque je les irai rejoindre des que je le pourrai; qu'aprestout je ne suis ici que de corps, et que moncceur est demeure* chez eux: «cela est bon, repartitun de ces Sauvages, mais cependant ton cceur nenous dit rien, il ne nous donne rien. » C'est tou joursla qu'ils en reviennent; ils ne nous aiment, et nenous trouvent de V esprit qu'autant que nous leurdonnons.II est vrai que Paatlako a combattu avec beaucoupde valeur contre les Natchez; il y a meme recu uncoup de fusil dans les reins pour le consoler de sa:blessure on l'a recu avec plus d'estime et d'amitie*que les autres. A peine s'est-il vu dans son Village,qu'enfle" de ces 16geres marques de distinction, il adit au Pere Baudouin, que toute la Nouvelle Orleansavait ete* dans d'etranges allarmes au sujet de samaladie, et que M. Perrier a inform e* le Roi de sabravoure et des grands services qu'il a rendus dansla derniere expedition. A ces traits, je reconnais legenie de cette Nation; c'est la preemption et lavanite" meme.On a abandonne aux Tchactas trois Negres desplus mutins, et qui s'6taient declares le plus pour lesNatchez; ils les ont bruits vifs avec une cruaute* quia inspir6 a tous les Negres une nouvelle horreur des
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D *A VA UGO UR 197visits and have often repeated to me very nearly thesame compliment which they paid me more than a"year ago when I left them. Our hearts and thoseof our children weep," they said to me, " since weshall not see you more; you were beginning to havethe same spirit with us, you listened to us, and welistened to you, you loved us and we loved :you whyhave you left us? will you not return? come, go withus!" You know, my Reverend Father, that I wasnot able to yield to their wishes. I therefore merelysaid that I would come to rejoin them as soon as itwas in my power, but that after all, I should be hereonly in the body, while my heart was with them." That is good," replied one of these Savages, " but,nevertheless, your heart will say nothing to us, itwill give us nothing. Thus ' ' it is that everythingcomes to that point ; they do not love us, and do notfind us of the same spirit as themselves, except whenwe are giving them something.It is true that Paatlako has fought with muchcourage against the Natchez, and has even received amusket-ball in the loins, while to console him forthis wound he has had more esteem and friendshipshown him than the rest. Scarcely was he seen inhis Village, when, inflated with these trifling marksof distinction, he said to Father Baudouin, 22 that allNew Orleans has been in a wonderful state of alarmon account of his illness, and that Monsieur Perrierhad informed the King of his bravery and the greatservices he had rendered in the last expedition. Inthese traits I recognize the genius of this Nation it:is presumption and vanity itself.They had abandoned to the Tchactas three Negroeswho had been most unruly, and who had taken the
198 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68Sauvages il en peut r£sulter un bien pour la surete:de la Colonie. Les Tonikas et les autres petitesNations ont remporte* de nouveaux avantages surles Natchez, et y ont fait plusieurs prisonniers: ilsont brul6 trois femmes et quatre hommes, apresleur avoir enleve la chevelure. On dit que lepeuple commence a s'accoutumer a un spectacle sibarbare.On ne put s'empecher d'etre attendri, lorsqu'onvit arriver en cette Ville les femmes Francaises, queles Natchez avaient fait leurs esclaves: les miseresqu'elles ont souffertes etaient peintes sur leursvisages: cependant il parait qu'elles les ont bientotoubli£es: du-moins plusieurs d'entr'elles se sont fortpress£es de se remarier, et on assure qu'il y a eu degrandes d6monstrations de joie a leurs noces.Les petites filles que nul des habitans n'a vouluadopter, ont grossi le troupeau int6ressant des orphelinesque les Religieuses elevent. Le grand nombrede ces enfans ne sert qu'a augmenter leur charite* etleurs attentions. On leur a fait une classe separ£e,et on leur a donne deux maitresses particulieres.II n'y en a pas une de cette sainte Communaute,qui ne soit charmed d'avoir passe les mers, ne dutellefaire ici d' autre bien que celui de conserver cesenfans dans 1' innocence, et de donner une educationpolie et chretienne a de jeunes Francaises quirisquaient de n'etre gueres mieux elevens que desesclaves. On fait esp6rer a ces saintes filles, qu'avantla fin de l'ann^e elles occuperont la maisonneuve qu'on leur destine, et apres laquelle ellessoupirent depuis long-temps.Quand elles y seront une fois log£es, a l'instruction
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 199most active part in behalf of the Natchez. Theyhave been burned alive with a degree of crueltywhich has inspired all the Negroes with a newhorror of the Savages, but which will have a beneficialeffect in securing the safety of the Colony. 23The Tonikas and other smaller Tribes have gainedsome new advantages over the Natchez, and havetaken many prisoners, of whom they have burnedthree women and four men, after having taken theirscalps. Our own people,it is said, begin to beaccustomed to this barbarous spectacle.We could not forbear being affected, when we sawthe French women whom thearrive in this CityNatchez had made slaves. The miseries which theyhad suffered were painted on their countenances.But it seems as if they shortly forgot them at; least,many of them were in great haste to marry again,and we are told there were great demonstrations ofjoy at their weddings.The little girls, whom none of the inhabitantswish to adopt, have greatly enlarged the interestingcompany of orphans whom the Nuns are bringingup. The great number of these children only servesto increase their charity and attentions. They haveformed them into a separate class, and have appointedtwo special matrons for their care.There is not one of this holy Community but isdelighted at having crossed the ocean, nor do theyseek here any other happiness than that of preservingthese children in their innocency, and giving a polishedand Christian education to these young Frenchmen,who are in danger of being almost as degraded asthe slaves. We may hope, with regard to these holywomen, that before the end of the year they will
200 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68des pensionnaires, des orphelines, des filles du dehorset des Negresses, elles ajouteront encore le soin desmalades de l'hopital, et d'une maison de refuge pourles femmes de vertu suspecte:peut-etre meme que,dans la suite, elles pourront aider a donner r6gulierementchaque annee la retraite a un grand nombre dedames, selon le gout que nous leur en avons inspire\Tant d'ceuvres de charite* sumraient pour occuperen France plusieurs communautes et des institutsdifferens. Que ne peut point un grand zele ! Cesdivers travaux n'6tonnent point sept Ursulines, etelles comptent de les soutenir avec la grace de Dieu,sans que l'observance religieuse en souffre. Pourmoi je crains fort que, s'il ne leur vient pas dusecours, elles ne succombent sous le poids de tantde fatigues. Ceux qui, avant que de les connaitre,disaient qu' elles venaient trop tot, et en trop grandnombre, ont bien change de sentimens et de langage :t^moins de leur conduite 6difiante, et des grandsservices qu' elles rendent a la Colonie, ils trouventqu'elles sont venues trop tard, et qu'il n'en sauraitvenir de la meme vertu et du meme merite.tropLes Tchikachas, Nation brave, mais perfide, et peuconnue des Francais, ont tache" de d£baucher laNation Illinoise : ils ont meme sonde* quelques particuliers,pour voir s'ils ne pourraient pas l'attirer auparti des Sauvages ennemis de notre Nation. LesIllinois leur ont r6pondu qu'ils sont presque tous dela priere (c'est-a-dire, selon leur maniere de s'exprimer,qu'ils sont Chretiens), et que, d'ailleurs, ilssont inviolablement attaches aux Frangais, par lesalliances que plusieurs de leur Nation ont contract6esavec eux, en 6pousant leurs filles.
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 201occupy the new mansion which is destined for them,and which they have for so long a time desired.When they shall once be settled there, to theinstruction of the boarders, the orphans, the girlswho live without, and the Negro women, they willadd also the care of the sick in the hospital, and ahouse of refuge for women of questionable character.Perhaps they will even at length be able to aid inaffording regularly each year the retreat to a largenumber of women, in accordance with the taste withwhich we have inspired them. 24So many works of charity would, in France, besufficient to occupy many associations and differentinstitutions. But what cannot great zeal effect?These different labors do not at all startle sevenUrsulines, and by the grace of God they are able tosustain them, without infringing at all on theobservance of their religious rules. But for myself,I very much fear that, if some assistance do notarrive, they may sink under the weight of suchgreat fatigues. Those who, before they were acquaintedwith them, said they had come out too soonand in too great a number, have entirely changedtheir views and their language witnesses of their;edifying conduct and the great services which theyrender to the Colony, they find that they have notarrived soon enough, and that there could not cometoo much of the same virtue and the same merit.The Tchikachas, a brave Nation but treacherous, andlittle known to the French, have endeavored to seducethe Illinois Tribes from their allegiance: theyhave even sounded some particular persons to seewhether they could not draw them over to the partyof those Savages who were enemies of our Nation.
202 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68«Nous nous mettrons toujours, ajouterent-ils, audevantdes ennemis des Francais;il faudra nouspasser sur le ventre pour aller a eux, et nous frappernous-memes au coeur avant que de leur porter unseul coup.»Leur conduite s'est soutenueet n'a point de'mentileurs paroles. A la premiere nouvelle de la guerredes Natchez et des Yazous, ils sont venus ici pleurerles Robes noires et les Francais, et offrir les servicesde leur Nation a M. Perrier, pour venger la mortdes Francais. Je me trouvai au gouvernement aleur arrivee, et je fus charm e" des harangues qu'ilsfirent. Chikagou, que vous avez vu a Paris, etait ala tete des Mitchigamias; et Mamantouensa, a la tetedes Kaskakias.Chikagou parla le premier.II etendit dans la salleun tapis de peau de biche, horde" de pore-epic, surlequel il mit deux calumets, avec divers agremenssauvages, qu'il accompagna d'un present a l'ordinaire.«Voila, dit-il, en montrant ces deux calumets,deux paroles que nous t'apportons; Tune deReligion, et 1' autre de paix ou de guerre, selon quetu l'ordonneras. Nous ecoutons avec respect lesCommandans, parce qu'ils nous portent la parole duRoi notre Pere; et plus encore les Robes noires,parce qu'ils nous portent la parole de Dieu meme,qui est le Roi des Rois. Nous sommes venus debien loin pleurer avec toi la mort des Francais, ett'offrir nos Guerriers pour frappersur les Nationsennemies que tu voudras nous marquer. Tu n'asqu'a parler. Quand je passai en France, le Roi mepromit sa protection pour la Priere, et me recommandade ne la quitter jamais: je m'en souviendrai
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 203The Illinois have replied to them that they werealmost all " of the prayer" (that is, according totheir manner of expression, that they are Christians) ;and that in other ways they are inviolably attachedto the French, by the alliances which many of thatNation had contracted with them, in espousing theirdaughters.1 'We always place ourselves, added ' ''they, before'the enemies of the French ;it is necessary to passover our bodies to go to them, and to strike us tothe heart before a single blow can reach them."Their conduct is in accordance with this declaration,and has not in the least contradicted theirwords. At the first news of the war with theNatchez and the Yazous, they came hither to weep forthe black Robes and the French, and to offer theservices of their Nation to Monsieur Perrier, toavenge their death. I happened to be at the governor'shouse when they arrived, and was charmedwith the harangues they made. Chikagou^ whomyou saw in Paris, was at the head of the Mitchigamias,and Mamantouensa at the head of the Kaskaskias,Chikagou spoke first. He spread out in the hall acarpet of deerskin, bordered with porcupine quills,on which he placed two calumets, with differentsavage ornaments, accompanying them with a presentaccording to the usual custom. " There," said he,in showing these two calumets, " axe two messageswhich we bring you, the one of Religion, and theother of peace or war, as you shall determine. Wehave listened with respect to the Governors, becausethey bring us the word of the King our Father, andmuch more to the black Robes, because they bringus the word of God himself, who is the King of
204 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68tou jours. Accorde-nous aussi ta protection pournous et pour nos Robes noires. » II exposa ensuiteles sentimens 6difians dont il e*tait pen^tre" sur laReligion, que 1'Interprete Baillarjon nous fit a demientendreen tres-mauvais Francais.Mamantouensa parla ensuite; sa harangue e'taitlaconique, et d'un style bien different de celui desSauvages, qui r^petent cent fois la meme chose dansle meme discours.«Voila, dit-il,deux jeunesen adressant la parole a M. Perrier,esclaves Padoukas, quelques pelleteries,et d'autres bagatelles; c'est un petit present que jete fais; mon dessein n'est pas de t'engager a m'enfaire un plus grand: tout ce que je te demande,c'est ton cceur et ta protection; j'en suis plus jalouxque de toutes les marchandises du monde et;quandje te la demande, c'est uniquement pour la Priere.Mes sentimens sur la guerre sont les memes queceux de Chikagou, qui vient de parler: vainementr£p6terais-je ce que tu viens d'entendre.»Un autre vieux Chef, qui avait l'air d'un ancienPatriarche, se leva aussi: il se contenta de dire qu'ilvoulait mourir, comme il avait tou jours v6cu, dansla Priere. «La derniere parole, ajouta-t-il, quenous ont dite nos Peres, 6tant sur le point de rendrele dernier soupir, c'est d'etre toujoursattaches a laPriere, et qu'il n'y a point d'autre moyen d'etreheureux en cette vie, et bien plus encore dans 1 'autres'abandonna aux mouvemens de son cceur,apres la mort.»M. Perrier, qui a de grands sentimens de Religion,ecoutait avec un sensible plaisir ces harangues sauvages:ilsans avoir besoin de recourir aux devours et aux
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 205Kings. We have come from a great distance toweep with you for the death of the French, and tooffer our Warriors to strike those hostile Nationswhom you may wish to designate. You have butto speak. When I went over to France, the Kingpromised me his protection for the Prayer, andrecommended me never to abandon it. I will alwaysremember it. Grant then your protection to us andto our black Robes." He then gave utterance to theedifying sentiments with which he was impressedwith regard to the Faith, as the Interpreter Baillarjonenabled us to half understand them in hismiserable French.Mamantouensa spoke next. His harangue wasshort, and in a style widely different from that whichis usual among the Savages, who a hundred timesrepeat the same thing in the same speech." There," said he, addressing Monsieur Perrier," are two young Padouka slaves, 26 some skins, andsome other trifles. It is but a small present which Imake you nor is it at all; my design to induce youto make me one more costly. All that I ask of youis your heart and your protection. I am much moredesirous of that than of all the merchandise of theworld, and when I ask this of you, it is solely forviews of the war are the same asthe Prayer. Mythose of ChikagoUy who has already spoken. It isuseless therefore for me to repeat what you havejust heard."Another old Chief, who had the air of an ancientPatriarch, then rose. He contented himself withsaying that he wished to die as he had lived, in thePrayer." The last words," added" he, which ourFathers have spoken tous, when they were on the
206 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68deguisemens qui sont souvent necessaires quand ontraite avec le commun des Sauvages. A chaqueharangue, il fit une r6ponse telle que ces bons Chretienspouvaient la souhaiter : il les remercia de leursoffres de service pour la guerre, 6tant assez fortscontre les ennemis qui occupent le bas du fleuve ;mais il les avertit de se tenir sur leurs gardes, et deprendre notre defense contre ceux quihabitent lehaut du meme fleuve.On se defie toujours des Sauvages appeles Renards,quoiqu'ils n'osent plus rien entreprendre, depuisque le Pere Guignas a d^tache* de leur parti lesNations des Kikapoux et des Maskoutins. Vous savez,mon Reverend Pere, qu'6tant en Canada, il eut lecourage de p£n£trer jusques chez les Sioux, Sauvageserrans vers la source du Mississipi, a environ huitcens lieues de la Nouvelle Orleans, et a six cens lieuesde Quebec. Oblig6 d'abandonner cette Missionnaissante, par le mauvais succes qu'avait eu l'entreprisecontre les Renards, il descendit le fleuve pourse rendre aux Illinois. Le 15 Octobre de l'ann£e1728, il fut arrete a mi-chemin par les Kikapoux etles Maskoutins. Pendant cinq mois qu'il fut captifchez ces Sauvages, il eut beaucoup a souffrir et touta craindre. II vit le moment oil il allait etre brule"vif ,et il se preparait a finir sa vie dans cet horribletourment, lorsqu'il fut adopte par un vieillard, dontla famille lui sauva la vie, et lui procura la liberty.Nos Missionnaires, qui 6taient chez les Illinois, nefurent pas plutot instruits de sa triste situation,qu'ils lui procurerent tous les adoucissemens qu'ilspurent. Tout ce qu'il recut, il l'employa a gagnerles Sauvages: il y rSussit, jusqu'a les engager meme
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 207point of yielding up their last breath, were to bealways attached to the Prayer, and that there is noother way of being happy in this life, and muchmore in the next which is after death."Monsieur Perrier, who has the deepest Religiousfeelings, listened with evident pleasure to thesesavage harangues. He abandoned himself to thedictates of his own heart, without taking the precautionto have recourse to the evasion and disguiseswhich are often necessary when one is treating withthe generality of Savages. To each harangue hemade such an answer as good Christians shoulddesire. He declined with thanks their offers ofservice for the war, since we were sufficiently strongagainst the enemies who lived at the lower end ofthe river, but advised them to be on their guard,and to undertake our defense against those whodwelt on the upper part of the same river.We always felt a distrust of the Renard Savages,although they did not longer dare to undertake anything,since Father Guignas has detached from theiralliance the Tribes of the Kikapous and the Maskoutins.You know, my Reverend Father, that, beingin Canada, he had the courage to penetrate even tothe Sioux, wandering Savages near the source of theMississipi, at the distance of about eight hundredleagues from New Orleans, and six hundred leaguesfrom Quebec. Obliged to abandon this infantMission, by the unfortunate result of the enterpriseagainst the Renards, he descended the river to repairto the Illinois. On the 15 th of October in the year1728, he was arrested when half-way, by the Kikapousand the Maskoutins. For five months he was acaptive among these Savages, where he had much to
208 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.68a le conduire chez les Illinois, et a yvenir faire lapaix avec les Francais et les Sauvages de ce quartier.Sept ou huit mois apres la conclusion de cettepaix, les Maskoutins et les Kikapoux revinrent encorechez les Illinois, et emmenerent le Pere Guignaspour passer l'hiver avec eux, d'oii, selon lesapparences, il retournera en Canada. Ces fatigansvoyages l'ont extremement vieilli; mais son zele,plein de feu et d'activite, semble lui donner denouvelles forces.Les Illinois n'eurent point d'autre maison que lanotre, pendant les trois semaines qu'ils demeurerentdans cette ville : ils nous charmerent par leur piete,et par leur vie 6difiante. Tous les soirs ils recitaientle chapelet a deux chceurs, et tous les matins ilsentendaient ma Messe, pendant laquelle, sur-tout lesDimanches et les Fetes, ils chantaient difT£rentesprieres de l'Eglise, conformes aux differens Officesdu jour; a la fin de la Messe, ils ne manquaientjamais de chanter de tout leur cceur la priere pour leRoi. Les Religieuses chantaient le premier coupletlatin sur le ton ordinaire du chant Gregorien, et lesIllinois continuaient les autres couplets en leurlangue, sur le meme ton. Ce spectacle, qui etaitnouveau, attirait grand monde dans l'Eglise, etinspirait une tendre devotion.Dans le cours de lajournee, et apres le souper, ils chantaient souvent,ou seuls ou tous ensemble, diverses prieres del'Eglise, telles que sont le Dies irce, etc., Vexilla Regis,etc., Stabat Mater, etc. Ales entendre, on s'apercevaitaisement qu'ils avaient plus de gout et de plaisira chanter ces saints Cantiques, que le commun desSauvages et meme beaucoup de Fran$ais n'en
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 209suffer and everything to fear. The time at lastcame when he was to be burned alive, and heprepared himself to finish his life in this horribletorment, when he was adopted by an old man,whose family saved his life, and procured him hisliberty. Our Missionaries, who were among theIllinois, were no sooner acquainted with his sadsituation, than they procured him all the alleviationsthey were able. Everything which he received heemployed to conciliate the Savages, and succeededeven to the extent of engaging them to conduct himto the Illinois, and while there to make peace withthe French and the Savages of that region. Sevenor eight months after this peace was concluded, theMaskoutins and the Kikapous returned again to theIllinois country, and took away Father Guignas tospend the winter with them, from whence, in allprobability, he will return to Canada. He has beenexceedingly broken down by these fatiguing journeys,but his zeal, full of fire and activity, seems to27give him new strength.The Illinois had no other residence but with us,during the three weeks they remained in this city.They charmed us by their piety, and by their edifyinglife. Every evening they recited the rosary inalternate choirs, and every morning they heard mesay Mass; during which, particularly on Sundaysand Feast-days, they chanted the different prayersof the Church suitable to the Offices of the day. Atthe end of the Mass, they never fail to chant withtheir whole heart the prayer for the King. TheNuns chanted the first Latin couplet in the ordinarytone of the Gregorian chant, and the Illinois continuedthe other couplets in their language in the
210 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68trouvent achanter des chansons frivoles et souventdissolues.On serait 6tonn6, comme je l'ai et6 moi-meme enarrivant dans cette Mission, de voir qu'on grandnombre de nos Francais ne sont pas, a beaucouppres, si bien instruits de la Religion que le sont cesNeophytes ils n'ignorent presqu'aucune des histoires:de 1'ancien et du nouveau Testament : ils ont d' excellencesmethodes d'entendre la sainte Messe et derecevoir les Sacremens; leur Catechisme, qui m'esttombe entre les mains, avec la traduction litteralequ'en a faite le Pere Boullanger, est un parfaitmodele pour ceux qui en auraient besoin dans leursnouvelles Missions. On n'a laisse ignorer a cesbons Sauvages aucun de nos Mysteres et de nosdevoirs: on s'est attache" au fond et a l'essentiel dela Religion, qu'on leur a expose d'une maniere6galement instructive et solide.La premiere pens6e qui vient a ceux qui connaissentces Sauvages, c'est qu'il en a bien du couter, etqu'il en coute bien encore aux Missionnaires, pourles former de la sorte au Christianisme. Mais leurassiduity et leurpatiencesont abondamment recompenseespar les benedictions qu'il plaita Dieu der£pandre sur leurs travaux. Le Pere le Boullangerme mande qu'il est oblige^ pour la seconde fois,d'augmenter considerablement son Eglise, par legrand nombre de Sauvages qui, chaque ann£e,regoivent le Bapteme.Le premier jour que lesIllinois virent les Religieuses,Mamantouensa, apercevant aupres d'ellesune troupe de petites filles, «je vois bien, leur dit-il,que vous n'etes pas des Religieuses sans dessein.»
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 211same tone.This spectacle, which was novel, drewgreat crowds to the Church, and inspired a deepdevotion. In the course of the day, and after supper,they often chant, either alone or together,different prayers of the Church, such as the Dies irce tetc., Vexilla Regis, etc., Stabat Mater, etc. To listento them, you would easily perceive that they tookmore delight and pleasure in chanting these holyCanticles, than the generality of the Savages, andeven more than the French receive from chantingtheir frivolous and often dissolute songs.You would be astonished, as I myself have been,on arriving at this Mission, to find that a greatnumber of our French are not, by any means, so wellinstructed in Religion as are these Neophytes they;are scarcely unacquainted with any of the historiesof the old and new Testament ;the manner in whichthey hear the holy Mass and receive the Sacraments,is most excellent; their Catechism, which has falleninto my hands, with the literal translation made by28Father Boullanger, is a perfect model for those whohave need of such works in their new Missions.They do not leave these good Savages to be ignorantof any of our Mysteries, or of our duties, but attachthem to the foundation and the essentials of Religion,which they have displayed before them in a mannerequally instructive and sound.The first thought which is suggested to those whobecome acquainted with these Savages is, that itmust have been at great cost of labor to the Missionaries,and that it will be still more so, to form theminto any kind of Christianity. But their assiduityand patience isabundantly recompensed by theblessings which it has pleased God to pour out upon
212 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68II voulait dire qu'elles n'etaient pas de simplessolitaires qui ne travaillent qu'a leur propre perfection.«Vous etes, leur ajouta-t-il, comme les Robesnoires, nos Peres; vous travaillez pour les autres.si nous avions la-haut deux ou trois de vousAh !autres, nos femmes et nos filles auraient plus d'esprit,et seraient meilleures Chre'tiennes. He" bien! luirepondit la Mere Superieure, choisissez celles quevous voudrez. Ce n'est point a nous a choisir,repondit Mamantouensa; c'est a vous qui les connaissez.Le choix doit tomber sur celles qui sont leplus attachees a Dieu, et qui raiment davantage.»Vous jugez, assez, mon ReVerend Pere, combiences saintes filles furent charmees de trouver dansun Sauvage des sentimens si raisonnables et siChretiens. Ah! qu'il faudra de temps et de peines,pour apprendre aux Tchactas a penser et a parler de lasorte. Ce ne peut etre que l'ouvrage de celui quisait, quand il lui plait, changer les pierres en enfansd' Abraham.Chikagou garde precieusement, dans une boursefaite expres, la magnifique tabatiere que feu Madamela Duchesse d' Orleans lui donna a Versailles.Quelque offre qu'on lui en ait faite, il n'a jamaisvoulu s'en defaire ;attention bien remarquable dansun Sauvage, dont le caractere est de se degouterbientot de tout ce qu'il a,ce qu'il voit et ce qu'il n'a pas.Tout ce que Chikagou a racont6et de desirer passionnementde la France a ses«On t'a pay6,compatriotes, leur a paru incroyable.lui disait-on, pour nous faire accroire toutes cesbelles fictions. Nous voulons bien croire, luidisaient ses parens, et ceux a qui sa sincerite 6tait
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 213their labors. Father le Boullanger has written meword that he is obliged, for the second time,considerably to enlarge his Church, on account ofthe great number of Savages who each year havereceived Baptism.The first time that the Illinois saw the Nuns,Mamantouensa, perceiving before them a troop oflittle girls, remarked, M I see, indeed, that you arenot Nuns without an object." He wished to say,that they were not mere " solitaries, laboring only" forYou are," he added, liketheir own perfection.the black Robes, our Fathers ; you labor for others.Ah! if we had above there two or three of yournumber, our wives and daughters would have moresense, and would be"better Christians." Ah, well! "the Mother Superior answered him, " choose thosewhom you wish." "It is not for me to choose,"said Mamantouensa, " it is for you who know them.The choice should fall on those who are mostattached to God, and who love him most."You may well imagine, my Reverend Father, howmuch these holy women were charmed to find ina Savage sentiments so reasonable and Christian.Alas! it will take time and pains to teach theTchadas to think and speak in this way. Thisindeed can only be the work of him, who knowshow, when it pleases him, to change the stones intochildren of Abraham.Chikagou guards most carefully, in a bag madeexpressly for the purpose, the magnificent snuff-boxwhich the late Madame, the Duchess d' Orleans, gavehim at Versailles. Notwithstanding all the offersmade to him, he has never been willing to partit,— witha degree of consideration very remarkable in a
•214 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.68moins suspecte, que tu as vu tout ce que tunous dis; mais il faut qu'un charme t'ait fascine* lesyeux; car il n'est pas possible que la France soittelle que tu nous la depeins.» Lorsqu'il disait qu'enFrance ily a cinq cabanes les unes sur les autres,et qu'elles sont aussi elevens que les plus grandsarbres; qu'il y a autant de monde dans les ruesde Paris, que de brins d'herbes dans les prairies,et de maringouins dans les bois;qu'on s'y promene,et qu'on fait meme de longs voyages dans descabanes de cuirs ambulantes; on ne le croyaitpas plus que lorsqu'il ajoutait qu'il avait vu delongues cabanes pleines de malades, ou d'habilesChirurgiens fesaient les plus belles cures. «Ecoutez,leur disait-il plaisamment vous; manque-t-il unbras, une jambe, un ceil, une dent, une poitrine;sivous 6tiez en France, on vous en remettrait d'autres,sans qu'il y parut.» Ce qui a le plus embarrasse"Mamantouensa, quand il a vu des vaisseaux, c'estde savoir comment, de la terre ou Ton construitces vaisseaux, on peut les lancer a l'eau, et ou Tonpeut trouver assez de bras pour jeter, et sur-toutpour lever des ancres d'un poids si 6norme.On lui expliqua l'un et 1' autre, et il admira legenie des Francais, qui 6taient capables de si bellesinventions.Ces Illinois partirent le dernier jour de Juin: ilspourront bien se joindre aux Akensas, pour tombersur les Yazous et sur les Corroys. Ceux-ci s'6tantmis en chemin pour se retirer chez les Tchikachas,ou ils portaient les chevelures franchises qu'ils avaientenlev6es, furent surpris en route par les Tchatchoumaset par quelques Tchactas, qui leur enleverent dix-huit
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 215Savage, whose characteristic generally is, to be in ashort time disgusted with anything he has, andpassionately desire whatever he sees, but does notown.Everything which Chikagon has related to hiscountrymen, with regard to France, has appearedto them incredible.M They have bribed you," saidsome to him, ' ' to make us believe all these beautifulfictions." "We are willing to believe," said hisrelatives, and thoseby whom his sincerity was leastdoubted, u that you have really seen all that youtell us, but there must have been some charm whichfascinated your eyes, for it is not possible thatFrance can be such as you have painted it. ' ' Whenhe told them that in France they were accustomedto have five cabins, one on top of the other, and thatthey were as high as the tallest trees, that therewere as many people in the streets of Paris, as therewere blades of grass on the prairies, or mosquitoesin the woods, and that they rode about there andeven made long journeys in moving cabins of leather,they did not credit it any more than when he addedthat he had seen long cabins full of sick people,where skillful Surgeons performed the most wonderfulcures. Hear ! he would say to them in' ' "sport," you may lose an arm, a leg, an eye, a tooth, abreast, if you are in France, and they will supplyyou with others, so that it will not be noticed."What most embarrassed Mamantouensa, when he sawthe ships, was to know how it was possible to launchthem into the water after they had been built onland, where arms enough could be found for thisand above all to raise the anchors with theirpurpose,enormous weights. They explained both these
216 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.68chevelures, et delivrerent les femmes francaises avecleurs enfans. Quelque temps apres, ils furent encoreattaques par tin parti d'Akensas, qui leur enleverentquatre chevelures, et firent plusieurs femmes prisonnieres.Ces bons Sauvages rencontrerent a leurretour deux pirogues de chasseurs Francais :ils lesfrolerent, selon leur coutume, depuislatete jusqu'auxpieds, en pleurant la mort des Francais et celle deleur Pere en J6sus-Christ. Ils jurerent que, pendantqu'il y aurait un Akensa au monde, les Natchez et lesYazous ne seraient point sans ennemis. Ils montrerentune cloche et quelques livres, qu'ils apportaient,disaient-ils, pour le premier Chef noir qui viendradans leur Village. C'est tout ce qu'ils avaient trouvedans la cabane du Pere Souel.J'6tais en peine de savoir ce que ces barbaresavaient fait du corps de ce Missionnaire : mais unefemme francaise, qui 6tait alors leur esclave, m'aappris qu'elle les a enfin engagesa lui donner lasepulture. «Je l'ai vu, m'a-t-elle dit plusieurs fois,couche sur le dos dans les Cannes assez pres de samaison ;on ne lui avait ote que sa soutane. Quoiqu'ilfut mort depuis quinze jours, il avait la peauaussi blanche et les joues aussi vermeilles que s'ileut 6te simplement endormi. Je fus tent£e d'examinerou il avait regu le coup mais le respect arreta;ma curiosite: je me mis un moment a genoux, etde lui.»j'emportai son mouchoir qui 6tait aupresLes fideles Akensas pleurent tous les jours, dansleur Village, la mort du P. du Poisson : ils demandent,avec les dernieres instances, un autre Missionnaire:on ne peut pas se dispenser de Taccorder aune Nation si aimable, et de tout temps tres-attachee
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 217points to him, and he admired the genius of theFrench who were capable of such beautiful inventions.The Illinois departed on the last day of June;they were to unite with the Akensas, for the purposeof falling upon the Yazous and upon the Corroys.These last having set out on their retreat to theTchikachas, whither they were carrying the Frenchscalps they had taken, were met on the way by theTc/iaUkoumas 29 and by some Tchactas, who in theircontest with them took eighteen scalps and deliveredsome French women with their children. Sometime afterward, they were again attacked by a partyof the Akensas, who took from them four scalps, andmade many of their women prisoners. These goodSavages encountered on their return two pirogues ofFrench hunters ; they passed their hands over themfrom head to foot, according to their custom, intestifying their sorrow for the death of the French,and of their Father in Jesus Christ. They madea solemn oath that, while one Akensa should beremaining in the world, the Natchez and the Yazousshould never be without an enemy. They showeda bell and some books, which they were taking home,they said, for the first black Chief who should cometo their Village. These were all that they had foundin the cabin of Father Souel.I was in pain to learn what these barbarians haddone with the body of this Missionary, but a Frenchwoman who was then their slave, has informed methat she at last induced them to give it burial. H Isaw him," she would often say to me, ''lying onhis back in the canes very near his house ;they hadnot taken from him anything but his cassock.Although he had been dead fifteen days, his skin was
218 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68aux Francais;d'une pudeur queles autres Nationsignorent, et qui n'a d'obstacle particulier au Christianisme,que son extreme penchant pour la jonglerie.Vous ne devineriez pas, mon Reverend Pere, qu'ona tache" de nous consoler dans notre juste douleur,en nous felicitant de ce que notre perte n'avait pas 6t6plus g£n6rale. En effet, les deux chers Missionnairesque nous pleurons, ne paraissaient pas a beaucouppres etre aussi exposes a la cruaute des Sauvages,que le sont plusieurs autres, et sur-tout le Pere deGuyenne, et encore plus le Pere Baudouin.Celui-ci est sans aucune defense au milieu de lagrande Nation des Tchactas. On a tou joursune grande defiance de ces Sauvages, meme dans letemps qu'ils fesaient pour nous la guerre aux Natchez,Maintenant ils sont devenus si fiers de leur pretenduevictoire, que nous avons encore plus de besoin detroupes pour reprimer leur insolence, et les contenirdans le devoir, que pour achever d'exterminer nosennemis declares.Le Pere de Guyenne, apres bien des contradictionsde la part des Sauvages du voisinage de la Caroline,ete* danss'e*tait fait batir deux cabanes dans deux difiterensVillages, pour etre plus a ported d'apprendre leurlangue, et de les instruire; elles viennent d'etreabattues. II sera enfin oblige* de borner son zele auFort Francais des Alibamons, ou de chercher unemoisson plus abondante sur les bords du Mississipi.II ne me reste plus, Mon ReVerend Pere, qu'a vousinformer de la situation de nos ennemis.Ils se sontreunis aupres de la riviere des Ouachitas, sur laquelleils ont trois forts. On croit que les Natchez sontencore au nombre de 500 guerriers, sans compter leurs
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGO UR 219still as white, and his cheeks as red as if he weremerely sleeping.I was tempted to examine wherehe had received the fatal blow, but respect stoppedmy curiosity; Iplaced myself a moment at hisknees, and have brought away his handkerchiefwhich was near him."The faithful Akensas mourned every day in theirVillage the death of Father du Poisson, and withthe most earnest entreaties, demanded anotherMissionary. We could not excuse ourselves fromgranting this request to a Nation so amicable, and atall times so attached to the French, possessing, too, adegree ofof which the other Nations weremodestyignorant, and among whom there exists no peculiarobstacle to Christianity, except their extremeattachment to jugglery.But we have endeavored, my Reverend Father,to console ourselves in our grief with an argumentof which you would never think. It is, that we maycongratulate ourselves that our loss has not beenmore general. In fact, the two dear Missionariesfor whom we mourn, did not appear to be by anymeans as much exposed to the cruelty of the Savagesas are many others, particularly Father de Guyenne,and still more Father Baudouin.The latter is without any defense in the midst ofthe great Nation of the Tchactas. We have alwayshad a great distrust of these Savages, even at thetime when they were making war for us upon theNatchez. Now they have become so inflated withthat we have much moretheir pretended victory,need of troops to repress their insolence, and tokeep them in their duty, than to finish the destructionof our open enemies.
220 LES EELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68femmes et leurs enfans: ils n'£taient guere que 700avant la guerre: il n'y a pas plus de quarante guerriersparmi les Yazous et les Corroys. Ils ont seme* dumais entre deux petites rivieres qui coulent aupres deleurs forts : il ne faudrait que leur couper ce maispour les affamer pendant l'hiver mais;la chose n'estpas ais6e, a ce que disent les petites Nations qui lesharcelent continuellement. Ce Pays est coupe" deBayouks, et rempli de Cannes, ou la quantite incroyablede maringouins ne permet pas de se tenir longtempsen embuscade.Les Natchez qui s'6taient cantonn6s dans leurs fortsdepuis la derniere expedition, commencent a reparaitre.Outr6s de ce qu'un parti d' Oumas et deBayagoulas leur a enleve une pirogue, ou il y avaitsept hommes, une femme et deux enfans, ils sontalles en grand nombre pres d'un petit fort, ou ils ontsurpris dix Francais et vingt Negres. IIn'y a euqu'un petit Soldat avec deux Negres, qui se soientsauves. Le soldat avait 6chappe au massacre quefirent les Natchez, en se cachant dans un four : il leura 6chapp6 cette fois-ci en se cachant dans un troncd'arbre.Vous jugez bien, mon R6v6rend Pere, que cetteguerre retarde l'6tablissement frangais cependant on:se flatte que ce malheur produira un plus grand bien,en determinant la Cour a envoyer les forces necessairespour tranquilliser la Colonie et la rendrenorissante. Quoi qu'il n'y ait rien a craindre a laNouvelle Orleans, ni des petites Nations voisines, dontnos seuls Negres viendraient a bout dans une matinee,ni meme des Tchactas, qui n'oseraient s'exposersur le Lac en grand nombre :cependant une terreur
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D 'A VA UGOUR 221Father de Guyenne, after much opposition on thepart of the Savages in the neighborhood of Carolina,succeeded in building two cabins in two differentVillages, to be near at hand to learn their languageand to instruct them but; they were both demolished.He will be obliged at last to confine his zeal to theFrench Fort of the Alibamons^ or to seek a moreabundant harvest on the banks of the Mississipi.It only remains, My Reverend Father, to informyou of the situation of our enemies. They are unitednear the river of the Ouachitas, on which they havethree forts. We 31 believe that the Natchez are as yetin number about 500 warriors, without counting theirwomen and children ;700 before the war. Amongthey were scarcely more thanthe Yazous and theCorroys there are not more than forty warriors.They have planted their corn between two littlerivers which run near their forts. It would only benecessary to cut off this corn, to starve them duringthe winter, but the thing is not easy to effect, fromwhat the smaller Tribes inform us, who harass themcontinually. The Country is cut up by Bayouks[bayous], and filled with canebrakes, where theinconceivable quantity of mosquitoes would notpermit an ambuscade to be established for any lengthof time.The Natchez, who were shut upin their forts sincethe last expedition, have begun again to show themselves.Incensed that a party from Oumas andBayagoulas had captured one of their pirogues, inwhich were seven men, a woman, and two children,they went in great numbers near a small fort, wherethey have surprised ten Frenchmen and twentyNegroes. There was but one small Soldier with two
222 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68panique s'est empar£e de presque tous les esprits,sur-tout des femmes; mais elles seront rassur6es al'arriv6e des premieres troupes de France, que nousattendons incessamment. Pour ce quiest de nosMissionnaires, ils sont tres-tranquilles les : perilsauxquels ils se voient exposes, semblent augmenterleur joie et ranimer leur zele. Souvenez-vous d'euxet de moi dans vos saints Sacrifices, en V uniondesquels je suis avec respect, etc.
1720-36] LE PETIT TO D %A VA UGOURNegroes who were able to save themselves. He hadformerly escaped the massacre made by the Natchezby concealing himself in an oven, and this time heescaped by hiding in the trunk of a tree.You can well believe, my Reverend Father, thatthis war has retarded the French colony; nevertheless,we flatter ourselves that this misfortune willbe productive of benefit, by determining the Courtto send the forces necessary to tranquillize the Colonyand render it flourishing. Although they havenothing to fear at New Orleans, either from thesmaller neighboring Tribes, whom our Negroesalone could finish in a single morning, or even fromthe Tchactas, who would not dare to expose themselveson the Lake in any great numbers, yet a panicterror has spread itself over almost every spirit,particularly with the women. They will, however,be reassured by the arrival of the first troops fromFrance, whom we are now constantly expecting.As far as our Missionaries are concerned, they arevery tranquil. The perils to which they see themselvesexposed seem to increase their joy and animatetheir zeal. Be mindful then of them and of me inyour holy Sacrifices, in the union with which I am,with respect, etc.
224 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68Lettre du peNau missionaire du Canada auR. p. Richard provincial de la provincede Guyenne a Bourdeaux.Mon R. Pere P C..nous nous embarquames le 29 de may sur leRuby commande par M r Le chevalier de Chaon, etnous restames deux jours en rade, pour attendre lesbons vents, ces deux jours suffirent de reste pournous faire concevoir quel serait l'ennuy de notrenavigation. La seule viie de la S te Barbe ou nousdevions coucher pendant la traversed, nous deconcertatous, moy le premier. C'est une chambregrande, comme la Rhdtorique de Bordeaux, ou Tonvoit suspendu en double rang des cadres, qui devointservir de lit aux passagers, aux passageres, auxofficiers inferieurs et aux canoniers. nous £tionsdans ce lieu obscur et infect comme despressessardines dans une Barique. nous ne pouvions nousrendre a nos lits sans nous heurter vingt fois la teteet les jambes.la biens6ance ne nous permettoit pasde nous deshabiller. nos habits a la longue nousbrisoint les reins. Le roulis de mon toit, d£montoitunenos cadres, et les mesla les uns avec les autres.fois ie fus emporte" avec mon cadre, sur un pauvreofficier du Canada que ie pris sans moy comme unquatre de chiffre. Jefus ainsi demiquart d'heure sanspouvoir me tirer de mon lit.Cependant1* officier
20-36]NAU TO RICHARDLetter from father Nau, missionary in Canada,to Reverend father Richard, provincialprovince of Guyenne,of theat Bourdeaux.My Reverend Father,Pax Christi.We embarked, may 29, on the Ruby, tinderthe command of Monsieur The chevalier de Chaon ;and we remained two days in the harbor, waitingfor favorable winds. For that matter, those twodays were quite sufficient to give us a foretaste ofthe tediousness of our voyage. The mere sight ofthe Ste. Barbe, 32 where we were to sleep whilecrossing the sea, was a revelation to all, but to memore than the others. It is a room about the sizeof the Rhetoric class-room at Bordeaux, where adouble row offrames was swung up, which were toserve as beds for the passengers, subaltern officers,and gunners. We were packed into this dismal andsardines in a Barrel. Wenoisome hold like so manycould make our way to our hammocks only afterCanadian officer,sustaining sundry bumps and knocks on limbs andhead. A sense of delicacy forbade our disrobing,and our clothes, in time, made our backs ache. Therolling and pitching loosened the fastenings of ourhammocks and hopelessly entangled them. On oneoccasion I was pitched out with my bed upon a poorwhom I caught, although unintentionally,as if I had been a rat-trap. It was quite atime before I could extricate myself from ropes and
226 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68£touffoit et avoit a peine la force de jurer. desle tepremier jour la S Barbe fitr£pandre des pleurs aun de nos missionnaires. Le R. p. De Lauzon craignitque nous ne fussions obliges de descendre aterre, parceque le pleureur n'aurait jamais voulurevenir a bord autre ;d6sagrement, la compagnie quenous aurions jour et nuit.Monseigneur notre Evesque se rendit a LaRochelle, lorsqu'on ne l'y attendoit plus, et s'embarquaavec nous, il amena une douzaine d'abbes, qu'ilavait ramasse* sur le pave de paris, et aux portes desEglises, gens, la pluspart, ignorants, et sans Education,que se croyoint en droit d'insulter tout lemonde, qui se querelloint continuellement entre eux,et qui osoint attaquer jusques aux officiers du vaisseau;ils se seroint fait mettre aux fers sans laconsideration qu'on avait pour le prelat, nous evitionsces gens la, autant que nous pouvions, et noustachions de faire bande a part avec trois pretres deS 1 Sulpice hommes d'esprit, et d'une rare pi6te\messieurs les officiers ont eu pour nous toutes lesattentions possibles: aussi leur etions nous recommandEsde la bonne faeon par Monsieur de Maurepas,ils mettoint une grande difference entre nous et lasuite de L'eveque. Le prelat convenait qu'ils avointraison troisieme d£sagrement la vermine et1' infection.nous avions a bord une centaine de soldats de nouvelleLev6e, dont chaqu'un avoit avec soy unRegiment entier de picardie. En moins de huitjours ces picards affiam6s se repondirent partout;personne ne fut Exempt de leurs morsures, pasmeme l'Eveque ni le capitaine. toutes les fois que
1720-36] NAU TO RICHARD 227counterpane; meanwhile the officer had scarcelybreath enough left to give vent to his profanity.After the very first day's experience of the Ste.Barbe, one of the missionaries broke down, andReverend father De Lauzon began to fear that if wewere obliged, by the rough weather, to go ashore,the disconsolate man could never bring himself toset foot on board again. Another disagreeablefeature was the company we were thrown in with,day and night.Monseigneur our Bishop 33 reached La Rochelle,after people there had ceased to expect him, andembarked with us. He brought a dozen abb£s,whom he had collected from the streets of paris,and at the doors of the Churches— people, most ofwhom were ignorant and uneducated, who thoughtthat they had a right to insult every one else.They quarreled continually among themselves, andeven dared to assail the ship's officers; and theywould have been placed in irons, if it had not beenfor the respect entertained for the prelate. Weshunned those people as much as possible, andbanded together with three priests of St. Sulpice,men of intelligence and of rare piety. Messieursthe officers were very attentive. We were indeedbearers of many recommendations to them fromMonsieur de Maurepas. They made a great differencebetween us and the suite of The bishop and;the prelate admitted that they had reason to do so.A third disagreeable feature was the vermin and thestench.We had on board a hundred soldiers freshlyEnrolled, each one of whom carried with him awhole Regiment of " picardie." In less than a
228 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68nous sortions de l'Entrepont, nous nous trouvionscouverts de pous. J'en ay trouve* jusques dans meschaussons. autre fourmillere de pous, et sourced'infection: c'etoint quatre vingt faux sauniers, quiavoint langui pendant un an dans les prisons, cesmiserables auroint fait pitie*aux plus barbares desTurcs. ils 6toint demi-nuds couverts d'ulceres, etquelques uns meme rong6s tous vifs parles vers,nous nous cottisames et rimes une quite dans le vaisseau,pour leur achetter des chemises des matelots, quien avoint de reste, nos soins ne les empecherent pasde mettre dans le navire, une espece de peste donttout le monde a ete" attaqu£, et qui nous a fait mourirvingt hommes a la fois, que les officiers et les passagersqui se portoint bien etoint obliges de faire lamanevre a la place des matelots. Le R. p. de Lausonfut fait contre-maitre des Ecclesiastiques. Cesmalades offrirent une belle matiere a notre zele. lep. Aulneau s'est distingue par son assiduite* a servirles malades. Dieu luy conserva la sant6 a la traversedpour le bien du vaisseau, mais a peine fut-ila terrequ'il eut son tour, il fut conduit a deux differentesreprises jusqu'aux portes de la mort. on ne diroitpas maintenant qu'il ayt 6t6 malade. je suis le seulJesuite qui n'ait pas 6t6 incommode pus meme dumal de mer.nous n'arrivames a Quebec que le i6e d'aoust, c'esta dire que le quatrevingtieme jour depuis notreembarquement. c'est une des plus longues navigationsqui se soit faite de france en Canada, ce quinous a retenu si longtemps sur mer, c'est que nousavons toujours eu les vents contraires, et si violents,nous d^mattames de notre mats hune de devantque
1720-36] NAU TO RICHARD 229week, those ravenous "picards" migrated in alldirections. No one was Free from their attacks, noteven the Bishop or the captain. Every time wewent on Deck, we could see that we were coveredwith this vermin. We found them even in ourshoes. Another center for the lice, and a source ofinfection, were eighty smugglers who had alreadypassed a twelvemonth in the prisons they also sent;out swarms of marauders. These wretched beingswould have caused the heart of a Turk to melt withpity. They were half naked and covered with sores ;some even were eaten alive with worms. Weclubbed together and made a collection on board tobuy them shirts from the sailors who had them tospare. All that we could do did not prevent theoutbreak among them of a kind of pest, which spreadthroughout the ship, attacking all indiscriminately,and which carried off twenty of our men at a stroke.So those of the officers and passengers who were notdown with it were obliged to work the ship insteadof the sailors. Reverend father de Lauson wasmade boatswain's mate for the Ecclesiastics. Thissickness afforded a fine field for our zeal. FatherAulneau 34 distinguished himself by his assiduityin serving the sick. God preserved him in healthduring the passage across, for the good of theship, but scarcely had he set foot on shore, whenin turn he was stricken down and brought by twodifferent attacks to death's door. No one could tellnow that he had been sick. I was the only Jesuitwho had nothing to suffer, not even from seasickness.We reached Quebec on the 16th of august, that isto say, the eightieth day from the time of ourembarking.It is one of the longest trips on record
230 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68vers les abors du grand banc, nous avons et6 huitjours sans pouvoir porter de voiles la mer se joiioitde notre navire comme d'une chaloupe, et les vaguesun Angloissautoint a bord comme dans une barque,ou un forban auroit eu bon marche* de nous s'il nousavoit attaque* dans le temps que nous avions tant demalades. mais nous n' avons eu rien a craindre de cecote" Id. La grandeur de notre navire faisait peur atous ceux que nous rencontrions, meme a un vaisseaudu Roy que nous remontrames au grand banc,il nousappercut 7 heures plus tot que nous ne l'appercumes.aussitot il fit fausse route, mais comme le vent ne leservait pas a souhait, et que nous marchions mieuxque luy, nous le joignimes vers les 3 heures du soir,et le rasseurames ;c'etoit la Charante commanded parM r de la Sauzaie il nous envoya un officiers avec desrefraichissements de marin, c'est a dire des liqueurs:nous rimes beaucoup de leur peur, mais s'ils eussentetes ennemis, ils auroint eu plus de raison de semocquer de nous car ils 6toint ;pr6par£s au combatdes huit heures du matin, et nous n' avions pas uncanon en etat de tirer.Enfin les fatigues et les dangers de la mer sontpasses ils ne me reste plus que des douceurs, Le:R. p. de Lauzon m'a destine* a la mission de Saut S*.Louis, ou il a" lui meme passe* 17 ans. Je m'y rendraydans 15 jours d'ici. C'est la plus agr6able et la plusrlorissante mission du Canada, on y compte pr6s dedouze cents sauvages Chretiens lie*je seray avec lep. Labretonniere et un frere Le p. Degonner quitele Saut ou il est assez inutile, parcequ'il n'a pas vouluse donner la peine d'apprendre la langue Iroquoise.Le p. Aulneau passera Thyver a Quebec pour y
1720-36] NAU TO RICHARD 231from france to Canada. What kept us so long at seawas that we always had contrary winds and so violentthat we had to change our f oretopmast when off shorenear the grand bank. We were eight days tempesttossed,unable to carry a shred of sail our; ship, like abecame the plaything of the billows, andmere skiff,the seas dashed over the gunwale as if it had been ashell. A pirate or an English man-of-war wouldhave made short work of us, had they attacked usat the time we had so many sick on board. Weseemed, however, safe from alarms of that kind.The size of our ship struck fear into all whom wemet; we frightened even one of the King's vesselswe came across at the grand bank. They caughtsight of us 7 hours before we noticed them. Theyimmediately bore away; but the wind was not totheir liking, and as we sailed faster we overhauledthem about 3 in the afternoon, and relievedthem of further apprehension. Their ship was theChar ante, commanded by Monsieur de la Sauzaie.He sent an officer with ' ' naval refreshments, ' ' thatis, liqueurs. We had a good laugh over their fright ;but had they been enemies they would have hadmore reason to make fun of us, for they had had thedecks cleared for action since eight in the morning,and we had not a cannon in position to fire.At last the fatigues and dangers of the sea arepast, and nothing but what is pleasant awaits me.Reverend father de Lauzon means to send me to themission of Saut St. Louis, where he himself spent17 years. I shall reach there in a fortnight. It isthe most agreeable and flourishing mission ofCanada. The number of christian savages there isnearly twelve hundred. I will be associated with
232 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68preparer son examen de la 4 e ann£e peut etre ira-t-ilau printemps prochaine a la decouverte de la merd'oiiest;car la cour veut absolument avoir ladessusplus que des conjectures. Les francois, qui sontrevenus cette ann6e des pays d'en haut, nous ontrapporte" que les sauvages leur avoint dit, qu'ils yavoient a onze cents lieiies de Quebec des peuplesblancs et barbus soumis a un Roy, que ces peuplesbatissaient leurs maisons a la francoise, qu'ils avointdes chevaux et d'autres animaux domestiques. neseroit ce point des Tartares ou des echapp6s desjapponois? Les Sauvages ont parle" des francois a cespeuples qui ont et£s charmez d'apprendre qu'il [y] eutdans le Canada une nation blanche et barbtie, commela leur. Les francois sont apparemment nos freres,disent-ils, et nous voudrions bien les voir, invitez lesa venir chez nous. Si ce recit est vray, voila unebelle porte ouverte a l'Evangile. mais on se defie fortde la sincerity des Canadiens qui ont fait ce rapport,car il n'est point de pays au monde, ou Ton menteplus qu'en Canada. La guerre continue tou jourscontre le reste des Renards, et les peuples qui les ontpris sous leur protection. Le p. Guignas n'a point€t€ pris comme on le craignoit, mais il a beaucoup asouffrir, parcequ'on ne peut rien lui envoyer avecsurete. voila deux ans de suite que les provisionsqu'on luy envoyoit sont tomb6es entre les mains desennemis. Le p. Deblonfont qu'on attendoit de laprovince de Lyon, et qui en etoit parts pour serendre a la Rochelle, n'a point paru en Canada, onne scait ce qu'il est de venu on conjecture que le p.de Laneuville l'aura d6bauch6 pour les missions desiles. nous avons pourtant grand besoin d'ouvriers:
1720-36] NA U TO RICHARD 233father Labretonniere 35 and a brother. FatherDegonner 36 leaves the Saut, where his services arenot of much use, as he has great difficulty in applyinghimself to the study of the Iroquois language.Father Aulneau is to pass the winter at Quebec,there to prepare his examination of the 4th year [ofset out with antheology]. He may next springexpedition to discover the western sea, for the courtis absolutely determined to have concerningit morethan a mere conjecture. The french who returnedthis year from the upper country have informed usthat the savages told them that, eleven hundredleagues from Quebec, there are white people wearingbeards who are subjects of a King that;thosepeople built their houses like those of the french ;that they had horses and other domestic animals.Might they not be Tartars or stragglers from japan?The Savages spoke about the french to these nations,and they were delighted to learn that in Canadathere was a white nation bearded like themselves.M The french, to all appearance, are our brothers/'they " said, and we would like to see them. Invitethem to come here among us." If this story be true,there is there another grand opening for the Gospel.But we cannot count much on the sincerity of theCanadians [Indians] who have spread this report,for there is no country in the world where morelyingis done than in Canada. The war is stillcarried on against what remains of the Renard nation,and against the other tribes which have taken themunder their protection. Father Guignas was nottaken, as it was feared, but he has had much to suffer,for nothing can be sent him safely. For two consecutiveyears the provisions sent him have fallen
234 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68s'il nous en venoit tme douzaine l'an prochain, il n'yen auroit pas trop. Je vais battre la quaisse dans laprovince par mes lettres, arm d'avoir une bonnerecriie.J'ecris a quelques Jesuites de bonne volonte\qui m'ont autre fois parl6 de leur vocation pour lesmissions Etrangeres. Je suis persuade* qu'ils trouverontaupres de votre Reverence toute sorte de facilitypour exequuter leur dessein. J 'ay besoin autant quejamais du secours de vos S tes prieres, je vous ledemande instament, et vous prie d'etre persuade queje seray toute ma vie avec tout le Respect possiblemon R. p.deV. R.a Quebec ce 20 Octobre 1734.le tres humble ettres obeissant serviteurNaude la comp e de J6sus.
1720-36] NAU TO RICHARD 235into the enemy's hands. Father Deblonfont, whomwe expected from the province of Lyons, and who hadset out from that city for la Rochelle, has not madehis appearance in Canada. We do not know whathas become of him. It is surmised that father deLaneuville has enticed him away to the mission ofthe islands. We stand, however, in much need oflaborers: if a dozen came over next year, we wouldnot have too many.I intend to stir them up in thehome province by my letters, so as to have a goodlevy. I am writing to some of the willing onesamong our Jesuits who formerly spoke to me abouttheir vocation to the missions Etrangeres. I amsure that they will have every facility with yourReverence in carrying out their design. I stand asmuch in need of your Holy prayers as ever, andearnestly ask you for them. I beg you to believethat I will be for life, with the most profoundRespect,my Reverend father,Your Reverence'smost humble andQuebec, October 20, 1734.obedient servant,Nau,of the society of Jesus.37
LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68Lettre du reverend pere Aulneau missionnaireJesuite ecrite du canada au R. P.faye de la meme CompagnieDe Quebeck Le 25 Avril 1735.Mon Reverend Pere,La paix de N. S. J-C.Je profite avec plaisir des derniers momentsque j'ai a passer a Quebek pour vous donner de nouvellemarque de mon respect et de mon attachementet pour vous remercier d'avance des lettres, desnouvelles et des autres chauses que je vous avaispri6 de m'envoyer de france. Je supose que mamere vous aura fait toucher cens francs et que vousaures pu vous acquiter sans vous fatiguer de la commissionque 'avais bien j la liberte" de vous donner parma seconde lettre. si vous n'aves pu le faire. Jevous en ays toujours la meme obligation. Je suis surle point de m'eloigner de vous encore de plus de1200 lieiies. le reverend pere de Lauzon m'envoyeseul a la decouverte de nouveaux sauvages qu'on aencore jamais vu, et dont on a de connaissance quepar les assiniboels et les cristinaux qui en sont encoreeloigned de plus de 300 lieiies ce sera parmi cesderniers que je passerais l'hyver a 900 lieiies deQuebek, parce que je n'auray pas le temps de penetrerplus avant, ils appellent les sauvages qui doiventetre le terme de ma mission ouant chipouanes c'est adire qui habitent dans des trous. Jusqu'ici ils ont
1720-36] AULNEAU TO FAYE 237Letter from reverend father Aulneau, Jesuitmissionary, written from Canada to ReverendFather faye, of the same Society.Quebeck, April 25, 1735.My Reverend Father,The Peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ.I am happy to take advantage of the lastmoments I am to pass at Quebek to send you onemore token of my respect and attachment, and tothank you beforehand for all the letters, news, andwhatever else I asked you to send me over fromfranee. Isuppose that my mother sent you the onehundred francs; and that you were able, withoutputting yourself out too much, to make the purchaseI had taken the liberty to trouble you with in mysecond letter. Should you not have been able to doso, I am not the less sensible of your kindness. Iam about to add 1,200 leagues to the distance whichalready separates us. Reverend father de Lauzonsends me alone to discover other savages whom notone of us has yet set eyes on, of whom we haveheard only through the assiniboels and cristinaux,and who dwell 300 leagues beyond the two latternations. It will be among the last mentioned,however, that I shall pass the winter, 900 leaguesfrom Quebek, as it will be impossible before then topush farther into the heart of the country. To thetribe which is to be the ultimate object of my mission,they have given the name of ouant chipouanes—
238 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68demeur6s inconnus au reste des hommes, ainsi si lebon Dieu le veut et me conserve la vie je serai lepremier qui leur annoncera l'evangile, vous pouvesbien vous imaginer que je ne seray pas en etat detravailler sitot avec fruit a leurs instructions il mefaudra auparavant apprendre la langue et je nayaucun secours pour cela, et ce ne sera qu'a force deconverser avec eux que je pourrai avec le secours duSeigneur en venir a bout et dresser des grammairesqui pouront servir aux missionnaires qui viendrontapres moy. Je suis charge* d'en faire autant pourLa langue des cristinaux et des assiniboels parmilesquels on est que depuis quelques temps et quin'ont presque jamais entendu parler de Jesus Christ,parcequ'ils n'ont vu que quelques francois quin'ontjamais pu scavoir que peu de mots de leurs langues,on ne veut pas que je m'arrete parmi ces dernierssauvages parce qu'ils sont errants et qu'ils n'ont pointde demeures fixes ;au lieu que les ouant-chipoiianessi ce qu'ils en disent est vray sont fixes et par consequentil y a plus d apparence de faire du bien parmieux, voila mon reverend pere l'entreprise dont on mecharge, elle est certainement Beaucoup au dessus demes forces, et demanderait beaucoup plus de vertu queje n'en ay, car me voila au moins pour trois ou quatreans sans le moindre secours spirituel et eloigne" detout pretre de plusieurs centaines de lieiies, vousn'av£s pas de peine a comprendre que c'est la plusrude 6preuve que je puisse avoir de ma vie, je vousavoue que je n' envisage ma situation qu'en fremissantsur mon salut, ce qui me rassure, c'est que cen'est point de mon choix que je m' expose ainsi a tantde dangers,J'ai meme fait ce que jay pu pour avoir
1720-36] A ULNEA U TO FA YE 239"that is, those who dwell in holes; " until now, theyhave remained unknown to the rest of men. Thus,if our good God so wills it, and preserves my life,I shall be the first to bear to them the tidings of thegospel. You can easily imagine that I shall not bein a position to undertake with any hope of success,at the outset, their instruction. I must first set aboutlearning their language, and I have nothing whichcan be of any assistance to me in that study. It willonly be by dint of frequent conversation with themthat I shall, with our Lord's help, manage little bylittle to compile grammars which may be of use tothe missionaries who will come after me. I havebeen commissioned to do the same for The languageof the cristinaux and assiniboels, among whom thefrench have been but a short time, and who havescarcely ever heard mention made of Jesus Christ,for they have come in contact with but a few of thefrench, and these few have picked up here and therebut a word or so of their language.I am directednot to remain permanently with these tribes, becausethey rove about and have no fixed dwelling-place.On the contrary, the ouant-chipouanes,if what issaid of them be true, have permanent establishments,and consequently there is a better promise of doinggood among them. Such, my reverend father, isthe undertaking confided to my care. It is certainlybeyond my strength and would call for a degree ofvirtue far higher than I possess; for there Iwill be for at least three or four years without theleast spiritual succor, and removed several hundredleagues from any other priest. You will not find itdifficult to comprehend that it is the severest trial Icould meet with in life. I confess that I can only
240 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68avec moy un autre missionnaire mais je n'ai pugangner autre chose sinon qu'on m'en envoysil en venait de franee, on en attend quelques unseroit uncette annee, nous avons actuellement sept ou huitmissions qu'on a 6t6 oblige d'abandonner fauted'avoir des ouvriers pour y envoyer, et d'autres ouun seul ne suffit pas pour y faire du fruit, si voustrouv£s T occasion mon reverend pere plaide" enfaveur de nos missions, quoy que les missionnairesny trouvent peut etre pas autant d'agrement et deconsolations en travaillant au salut des ames que dansplusieurs autres pays, ils n'en manquent cependantpas et il y a ici plus que tout ailleurs des occasionsde souflrir et de se rendre semblable a J. C. crucifiedaussi mon reverend pere, la pluspart de ceux que laprovidence emploie au salut des pauvres Barbaressont des hommes en qui on voit toutes les vertues etla sainctete* que la compagnie admire dans les plussaincts de ses enfans, je les ai presque tous vus cethiver, et les grands exemples qu'ils m'ont donnes dezele, de recueillement, de mortification, d'espritinterieur, ont, par la misericorde du Seigneur excit6dans mon cceur un veritable et sincere desir de fairetout ce que je pourrais pour les imiter. Je voudroispouvoir vous dire tout ce que je scais d'edinant dequelques uns d'eux et je suis persuade que vous seriestouche jusqu'aux larmes. J 'en connois un entreautres a qui j'ay ouvert mon cceur et qui a bien voulum'ouvrir le sien, qui m'a fait admirer en lui tout ceque j'avois lu ou entendu dire des plus grands sainctsde notre compagnie.nous avons perdu cet hiver le pere Guenier de laprovince de france nous le pleurons encore, et si sa
1720-36] A ULNEA U TO FA YE 241look upon my destination with fear and tremblingfor my eternity.What reassures me is that it is notthrough any choice of mine that I find myself thusexposed to so many dangers.I even did what Icould to have another missionary appointed to accompanyme. I succeeded to the extent of having onepromised me, ifthey send one over from f ranee, andsome are expected this year. Seven or eight of ourmissions had lately to be suppressed for want ofevangelical laborers, and there are others where thereis but one missionary, and one is not enough to workwith fruit. When an occasion presents itself, pleadhard, my reverend father, in behalf of our missions,for although missionaries here do not find as muchcomfort and consolation as in many other countries,these are not wholly wanting, while they will findhere more numerous occasions than elsewhere ofsuffering and of becoming more like their model,Jesus Christ crucified. So true is this, my reverendfather, that most of the persons of whom providencemakes use for the conversion of the poor Barbarians'are men in whom we see reproducedall that virtueand saintliness which the society admires in the mostholy of her children. I have met with them nearlyall this winter, and the striking example they havegiven me of zeal, recollectedness, self-denial, andinterior union with God has, through our Lord'smercy, awakened in my heart a true and sinceredesire to make every effort I can to imitate them.Would that it were possible for me to make knownto you all that has edified me in the lives of someof them, for I am sure you would be moved even totears.myI know one among others to whom I openedheart and who honored me also with his
242 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68saincte vie ne nous donnait une ferme confiance qu'ilest maintenant au ciel occup6 a prier pour nous nousdonnerions encore un plus librecours a nos larmes.II etait d'un zele infatiguable, d'une grande mortification,homme d'oraison, il avoit la plus tendredevotion envers la saincte Vierge, on peut dire quec'est en quelque sorte son devourment a la mere deDieu que a 6t6 cause de sa mort, accable* de fatigueset de travaux, on fit ce qu'on put pour 1' engager aprendre un peu de repos et a se decharger sur unautre du sermon de l'assomption de notre dame, maisil persista toujours a vouloir le prescher, apportantpour raison qu'il croyoit que c'etait le donner sermonde sa vie, et qu'il etait bien aise avant de mourir dedonner encore a la saincte vierge quelques preuvesde son attachement et de son amour. J'eus lebonheur de 1' entendre deux jours apr£ts notredebarquement, ce fut un sermon des mieux dits desplus Beaux, et des plus touchans que jaye jamaisentendus, il a 6t6 en effet le dernier qu il ait precheet le peu de temps qu'il a vecu apres, il I'd passe" anous donner des exemples de toutes sortes de vertus,J 'ay eu le bonheur de le veiller deux nuits pandantsa derniere maladie et d'etre par la meme temoin deses Beaux sentimens, ils etoient tels mon reverendpere quevous les av
1720-36] A ULNEA U TO FA YE 24aconfidence. I had occasion to admire all that I hadheard and read of in the lives of the most eminentfor sanctity in the society.We lost during the winter father Guenier, 38 ofthe province of france. We still deplore his loss,and if the sanctity of his life did not inspire us withthe utmost confidence that he is now engagedpraying for us in heaven, we should give a freervent to our tears.He was a man of unwearied zeal and of greatmortification and prayer. He had a most tenderdevotion to the blessed Virgin, and itmight besaid that it was in some sort his very devotedness tothe mother of God which was the cause of his death.Worn out with fatigue and labors, persuasion wasused to induce him to take some rest and to intrustto another the duty of preaching on the feast of theassumption of our lady. But he gave for reason ofhis persistent desire to preach that he believed thatit would be the last sermon of his life, and that hewould be happy before dying to give once more somefurther proof to the blessed virgin of his devotionand love. I had the happiness of listening to him,two days after we landed, and it was one of the bestdelivered, most Beautiful, and impressive sermonsthat I ever heard. It was indeed the last hepreached, and during the short time he passed onearth after it, he set us the example of every kindof virtue. It was my privilege to watch at hisbedside for two nights during his last illness, andconsequently to be witness of the Admirable sentimentsto which he gave expression. They weresuch, my reverend father, as we read of in the livesof St. Louis de Gonzague [Aloysius] and St.
244 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.68empecher qu'on en levats une partie et qu'on luicoupat presque tous les cheveux, il a fallu malgrenous donner presque tout ce qui avait ete* a sonuzages et le distribuer au public, pries dieu, monreverend pere, qu'il maccorde une mort aussiprecieuse a ses yeux. Que nous avons lieu d6spererque la mort de ce saint Jesuite la 6t6. Je vais e*treexpose* a bien des dangers lev£s quelques fois lesmains au ciel pour m'obtenir les graces qui me sontnecessaires pour souffrir toutes les peines que laprovidence me menagera pour ma sanctification. Jesuis mon reverend pere avec un profond respect etdans l'union de vos saincts sacrifices.Votre tres humble ettres obeissant serviteurJ.P. Aulneaude la compagnie de Jesus.
1720-36] A ULNEA U TO FA YE 245Stanislaus. The whole country round mourned forhim as for an apostle. During an entire day that helay exposed after death, there was no one who did notcome to bedew the coffin with his tears, or to beghim to be an intercessor in his behalf before God.Had a watch not been set, his clothes would havebeen cut up for relics. As it was, and in spite ofevery precaution, this could not altogether beprevented, and he was shorn of nearly all his hair.We were obliged, willingly or not, to take everythinghe had ever made use of and distribute it among thepeople. Pray God, my reverend father, to grantme a death as precious in his sight as we havereason to believe was that of this saintly Jesuit. Ishall be exposed to many perils ; raise your handssometimes to heaven to obtain for me all necessarygrace to undergo the hardships which providencemay hold in reserve for me for my sanctification.I remain, my reverend father, with profound respect,and in union with your holy sacrifices,Your very humble andvery obedient servant,J. P. Aulneau,of the society of Jesus.
ccvi — ccixFour Letters to Father Bonin1735-1736CCVI.— Lettre du Reverend Pere Aulneau, missionnairede la compagnie du jesus, ecritte du Canada aureverend pere Bonin de la meme compagnie.Quebek, le 29 avril 1735CCVII.— Lettre du pere Aulneau au reverend pere Bonin.A monreal, le 12 Juin 1735CCVIII— Lettre du reverend pere nau, missionnaire de lacompagnie de jesus, ecritte au R. p. Bonin dela meme compagnie. Au Sault S*. Louis, le 2octobre 1735CCIX.— Lettre du reverend pere Aulneau de laCompagniede Jesus au R. P. Bonin. Au fort S* Charle,ches les Kriistinaux, le 30 Avril 1736ASOURCES : We follow apographs in the archives of St.Mary's College, Montreal for our translation;of these fourdocuments, we follow in the main an English version byFather A. E. Jones.
248 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68Lettre du Reverend Pere Aulneau missionnairede la compagnie de jesus ecritte duCanada au reverend pere Boninde la meme. compagnie.MonReverend Pere.La paix de notre Seigneur Jesus christ.La part que vous aves toujours pris a ce quime regardoit Lorsque j'etais en franee, me fait croireque vous ne ser6s pas fache d'aprendre qu'elle est madestination maintenant que je suis eloigne de vous.Je ne scais si elle ne vous fera pas trembler, autantque moy sur mon salut, ce qui me rassure un peu,e'est que je n'y ay contribue* en rien, et Le reverendpere de Lauzon, mon superieur a dispose de moypour La mission ou il m'envoie sans me prevenir, etmalgre" mes repugnances, dieu en soit Benit. Luypeut d£sarmais faire toute ma consollation, et je n'aiplus d'autres ressources que celles que me peut fournirJesus mourant sur la croix. Je suis done monreverend pere sur le point de partir pour aller a douzecens lieiies chercher des sauvages qui n'ont jamais vuny francais ny missionnaires, je ne pourai pas merendre ches eux de cet €t€, je serai forc6 de passerl'hyver prochain a neuf cens lieiies d'ici, en partieavec les christinaux, en partie avec les assiniboelssauvages errans, qui dans leurs courses ont disent ilsrencontre ces sauvages que je vais chercher, ils lesappellent dans Leur Langue, ouant chipouanes, e'est
1720-36] AULNEAU TO BONIN 249Letter from Reverend Father Aulneau, missionaryof the society of jesus, written fromCanada, to reverend father Bonin,of the same society.My Reverend Father,The peace of our Lord Jesus christ.The lively interest you always took in whatconcerned me While I was in france encourages meto think that you will be glad to learn what mydestination is, now that I am so far from you. Itmay be that it will make you tremble as much as Ido for my salvation. If anything gives me confidenceit is that I have had no hand in itmyself.Reverend father de Lauzon, my superior, has singledme out for The mission, to which he sends mewithout consulting me, in spite of my naturalrepugnance. God's holy will be Praised; for healone will now be my consolation, and whateverhelp I count upon will be derived from Jesusexpiring on the cross. I am, then, my reverendfather, about to set out on a journey of twelvehundred leagues, to go among savages who havenever yet met a frenchman or a missionary. Icannot reach their country this summer; I shall beobliged to pass the coming winter nine hundredleagues from here, part of the time with thechristinaux and part of the time with the wanderingtribes of the assiniboels, who, in their expeditions,so they tell us, have met these savages whom I
250 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68a dire hommes qui habitent dans des trous, j'auraisans doutte, dans toutes ces courses bien des peinesa essuyer elles aurait €t€ Bien adoucies si on avaitJuge" a propos de me donner un Jesuite pour m'accompagner,mais on m'envoye seul parmi des peuplesdont on ignore egalement et la langue et les moeurs,je vous avoiie, mon reverend pere, qu'ilm'en a coutepour me determiner a ob6ir, dieu veuille accepter lesacrifice que je Luy fais en obeissant, de ma vie et detoutes les consollations humaines, en expiation demes p6ches. J'espere qu'il ne m'abandonnera pas,et Je trouve dans Jesus christ crucifix de quoy m'animera suporter toutes les peines, et surmonter toutesles dificult£s que la providence me menagera. Jeserai eloigne de tout pretre de plusieurs centaines delieiies, et voila ce que je trouve de plus dur danstoute ma mission, parcequ'il s'en faut bien que jen'aye asses de vertu pour oser me promettre den'avoir pas Besoin de laver souvent mes pech6s dansle sang de J£sus christ, mais dieu semble exiger demoy que je Luy sacrifie cette consollation. Lame*me, je ne puis Le Luy refuser que son saint nomsoit a jamais Benitmission Je doy traverserpour me rendre au terme de maL'amerique septentrionalepresque toute entiere, de belle sorte cependant qu'aulieu de passer par Le fleuve Mississipi quand je seraiune fois a missilimakinac, ou est Le per[e] Saint pe, jeprendrai Le nordoiiest, et traverserai tous ces grandsLacs qui dont en deca et au dela des sources dupour me rendre au Lac des assiniboels.Mississipi,d'ou je ne partirai que Le printemps prochain pouraller a trois ou quatre cens Lieiies de La ches lesouant chipouanes.Je marcherais alors au sudoiiest.
1720-36] AULNEAU TO BONIN 251am to seek out. They call them in Their Languageouant chipouanes, which means " dwellers inholes." 39 Doubtless in all this traveling about Ishall have to undergo many hardships they would;have been more than Welcome had it been Deemedadvisable to give me as companion another Jesuit,but I am to be sent alone among these tribes, whoselanguage as well as whose manner of living areunknown. I humbly confess, my reverend father,that it was not without a pang that I brought myselfto obey. May God accept the sacrifice I maketo Him of my life and of all human consolationsfor the expiation of my sins. My hopeis that hewill not abandon me, while I find in the considerationof Jesus christ crucified enough to strengthenme to bear with all the hardships, and to overcomeall the difficulties which providence may have instore for me. I shall be removed several hundredleagues from any other priest, and in that lies thegreatest hardship of all my mission, because I amfar from flattering myself that I shall seldom Needto cleanse my soul in the blood of Jesus christ.But God seems to require of me the sacrifice of thisvery consolation. I can refuse Him nothing; lethis holy name be forever Blessed. To reach myfinal destination I shall have to cross nearly thewhole of north america ;but my course is so orderedthat, instead of passing by The Mississipi river, whenI have got as far as missilimakinac, where fatherSaint p^ 40 is stationed, I shall take A northwestdirection, and shall traverse all the great Lakeswhich lie on this side and beyond the sources of theMississipi, until I come to the Lake of the assiniboels.I shall leave that post only in The spring, to journey
252 LES RELA TIONS DES jASUITES [Vol. 68Voila mon R. pere la route que je dois tenir pourarriver a un terme comme vous voy6s fort incertain,puisque tout ce qu'on en sgait n'est fonde" que sur leraport des autres sauvages, qui pour L' ordinaire nese font pas un grand scrupule de parler autrementqu'ils ne pensent,si ce qu'ils ajoutent sur Le Lieuou sont places les ouant chipouanes, est vrai, je croisqu'ils ne doivent pas etre fort eloigned de LaCalifornie, car si on les veut croire, ils sont sur lesCotes d'un grand fleuve qui a flux et reflux, ce quiprouve que la mer n'en est pas fort eloigned, quel estce fleuve, c'est ce qui n'est pas aise a deviner, Jeconjecture cependant que c'est cette grande riviereAllemand dans unedon[t] parle le pere Kino Jesuitecarte qu'il a faittes de ces parties de L'amerique quisont au nord de La californie, ilLapelle rio Colorado6 del norte* voi6s le cinquieme reciieil des Lettresedifiantes. Quoy qu'il en soit de ces conjectures,et du lieu ou sont situes ces sauvages, Je suis chargede les aller chercher, et d'etablir parmi eux unemission, s'il est possible, tout cela mon reverendpere est bien au dessus de mes forces, aussi me suismis et tout le succes de mon entreprise entre lesmains du Seigneur, conjures Le de disposer a toutselon sa tres sainte et divine volonte, n'oublies pasaussi de donner a mon ame quelque nourriture, rienne me peut faire plus de plaisir que ce que vouspaur6s me suggerer, pour m'assimer a servir et aimercelui qui seul merite nos Services et notre amour,Le pere Nau est fixe a La mission Iroquoise du SaultS*. Louis, pres monreal. nous craignons Beaucoupque Le p. Guignas n'ait 6t6 pris et brule* par lessauvages nommes renards, mais dans ces pauvres
1720-36] AULNEAU TO BONIN 253on three or four hundred Leagues beyond, in questof the ouant chipouanes, so that my course thenwill be southwest. Such, my Reverend father, isthe route I shall follow toward an objective pointwhich you see is very indefinite and uncertain, sinceall we know about it is founded on the reports ofother savages, who, for The most part, have littlescruple in speaking differently from what theythink. If what they add concerning The Placewhere the ouant chipouanes dwell be true, I shouldsay that these cannot be very far from California,for, if we are to believe their reports, the ouantchipouanes dwell on the Shores of a great riverwhere there is an ebb and flow in the stream, whichwould go to show that the sea cannot be very faroff. It is not easy to determine what river this is.I am led to surmise, however, that it is no other thanthe great river which father Kino, a German Jesuit,mentions in the map which he traced of the regionslying to the north of California, and Which he callsthe "rio Colorado" or "del norteV' See the fifth1collection of the Lettres edifiantes* Whatever be thetruth relative to these conjectures and to the placewhere these savages dwell, I am deputed to go inquest of them, and to establish a mission amongthem if it be possible. All this, my reverendfather, is much beyond my strength, wherefore Ihave placed myself and whatever betides my enterprisein the hands of our Lord. Beg Him toprepare me for every eventuality according to hisholy and divine will. Do not forget, either, to sendme some nourishment for my soul; nothing couldplease me more than what you might suggest, byway of encouragement, to animate me to serve and
254 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68contr6es on doit bien peu estimer une vie qu on estsi souveut expose* a perdre. heureux si j'etois jug6digne de la sacrifier pour celuy de qui je Lai reciie.Je me recommande a vos S ts . Sacrifices et cest dansleurs union que je suis mon reverend perede votre reverenceLe tres humble eta Quebek le 29 avril 1735.tres obeissant serviteurAulneau.Jesuite missionnaire,
1720-36] A ULNEA U TO BONIN 255love him who alone deserves our Service and ourlove. Father Nau is permanently stationed at TheIroquois mission of Sault St. Louis, near monreal.has beenWe are Much afraid that father Guignastaken and burned by a tribe of savages called theregards ;but in this unfortunate country we shouldset little value on our own lives which are so oftenin peril. I should deem myself happy were I judgedworthy of laying mine down for the one from whomI received It. I commend myself to your HolySacrifices, in union with which I am, my reverendfather,Quebek, april 29, 1735.your reverence'svery humble andvery obedient servant,AULNEAU,Jesuit missionary.
256 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68Lettre du pere Aulneau au reverend pereMonBonin.Reverend PereLa paix de N. S. J c.Je pronte avec plaisirde quelques momensqui me restent a passer a monreal pour vous ecrireune seconde foy, et se sera peutetre la derniere dema vie, Je pards demain pour aller m'enfoncer dansles Bois, dans ma premiere lettre Je vous ai marqu6quelreverend pere que je la recommande de nouveaux ae'tait le terme de ma mission souffres monvos saincts sacrifices,pour ce qui est du missionaireJe suis Bien persuade que vous ne ly oubliere pasnous avons receu depuis quelques jours des nouvellesdu pere Guignas, on en avoit pas eu depuis 1732, iln'en peut plus la faim qu'il a eii a souffrir, lesdangers d'etre massacre par les sakis et les renardsauxquels il a presque tou jours et6 expos6 et milleautres travaux qu'il a soufferts de la maniere la plusheroique l'ont reduit a ce point, que les sauvagesmeme qui ne nous plaignent gueres ne peuvent luirefuser des sentiments de compassion, ou est pourtantencore dans l'impossibilite de le soulager accausede missionaires, pries dieude la disette ou Ton estmon reverend pere d'envoyer des ouvriers dans cettepauvre mission, le pere Nau a eu ce printemps uneviolente ataque de goute, ce qui nous afflige beaucoup.Je vous prie de m 'envoy er le calcul de quelques
1720-36] A ULNEA U TO BON/N 257Letter from father Aulneau to reverend fatherBonin.My Reverend Father,The peace of Our Lord Jesus christ.I eagerly take advantage of the remainingmoments I have to spend in monreal to write to youa second, and perhaps the last, time in my life. Ileave to-morrow for the Woods. In a former letterI told you what was to be the object of my mission ;allow me, my reverend father, to commend itagainto your holy sacrifices. As for the missionary, I amwill not be unmindful of him at theconvinced youaltar. We received, a few days ago, news of fatherGuignas; since 1732 he had not been heard from.He is in a helpless state. The hunger he has had toendure, the imminent danger to which he has beencontinually exposed, of being massacred by the sakisand the renards, and numberless other hardships,borne heroically, have brought him so low, thateven the savages, who have little pity for us, areforced to look upon him with feelings of compassion.We are, however, in the impossibility of attemptinganything for his relief, owing to the scarcity ofmissionaries. Pray God, my reverend father, tosend laborers to this needy mission. Another causeof anxiety for us is that father Nau was laid up lastspring with a violent attack of the gout. I beg youto send me the reckonings of the eclipses of sun andmoon visible in france and america. You will thereby
258 LES EELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68eclipses de soleil et de lune qui seront visibles enfranee et en amerique. Je vous en auray Beaucoupd* obligation, Je tacherais d'en faire usage de monmieux pour determiner les Longitudes des nouveauxpays ou la providence m'envoyera, Je vous feraipart exactement de tout ce que Je pourai remarquerqui puisse vous faire plaisir, au reste, je ne pourairecevoir ce que je prend la libertes de vous demenderque dans trois ou quatre ans accause de mon eloignement.Je suis mon reverend pere avec un tresprofond respect et dans 1'union de vos sainctssacrifices.a monreal le12 Juin 1735.Votre tres humble ettres obeissant serviteurJ.P. AULNEAUJ. M. J.
JO -36] A ULNEA U TO BONIN 259Greatly oblige me. I shall endeavor to turn themto account, to the best of my ability, in determiningthe Longitudes of the new regions to which providenceis sending me. I shall communicate whateverobservations I may think likely to be received byyou with satisfaction. For that matter, I cannotexpect to receive before three or four years what Inow take the liberty of asking from you, owing to thegreat distance which separates us. I remain, myreverend father, with the most profound respect,and in union with your holy sacrifices,Your most humble andmost obedient servant,Monreal,June 12, 1735.J. P. Aulneau,Jes., Ind. Miss.
260 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68Lettre du reverend pere nau missionnaire dela compagnie de jesus ecritte au R. p.Bonin de lameme compagnie.MonReverend Pere.La paix de notre Seigneur Jesus christ.Je doute fort que La Lettre que j'eus l'honneurde vous ecrire L'an passe, vous ait fait plus deplaisir que la votre ne m'ena fait, plusieurs vaisseauetoit deja arives de f ranee, et avoient apporte"des lettres a presque tous nos missionnaires, sansqu'il y eut un seul mot d'ecrit pour moy qui suis undes plus voisins de Quebec, Jug6s de la joye que jeressentis Lorsque Ion maporta une lettre de lapersonne du monde que jestime leplus et a qui jaiLe plus d' obligation. Les sentimens avantageuxque vous aves de moy me couvrent de confusion etm'exitent a travailler a me rendre tel que voussupposes que je suis, et que je devrois etre en effet.J'ay Besoin qu'on m'anime sans cesse a mon devoir,quoyque je sois parmi de saints missionnaires, etque jaye continuellement devant les yeux Les plusgrands exemples de vertu, je n'en suis pas moinsplus de deffauts. Je puis cette annee vous parlerdu Canada avec bien plus de certitude que L'anpasse; L'air y est sain, Les terres excelentes, leshabitans paresseux, L'hiver n'y est passi rudequ'on Le dit en france, Jamais on ne voit plus de 3ou 4 jours de suitte d'un froid Bien piquant. Les
1720-36] NAU TO BON/N 261Letter by reverend father nau, missionary ofthe society of jesus, written to Reverendfather Bonin, of the same society.My Reverend Father,The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.I question much whether The Letter I hadthe honor of writing you last year gave you morepleasure than yours afforded me. Several ships hadalready arrived from france, and had brought lettersto nearly all our missionaries, and not one broughtis onea single word to my address, although my postof the nearest to Quebec. Imagine my joy When aletter was handed me from the one of all personsin the world whom I esteem most, and to whom Iam most deeply indebted! The good opinion youentertain of me covers me with confusion andstrengthens my endeavors to become all that youthat Ifondly suppose me to be already, and, in fact,should be.I feel the Need of being spurredon inthe accomplishment of my duties. Although I amhere surrounded by holy missionaries, and havecontinually before my eyes perfect models of virtue,I am still full of defects. This year, I am in aposition to speak to youof Canada with morecertainty than last year. The climate is salubrious,the quality of The soil excellent, but the natives areindolent. The winter is not so severe as we aretold in france. We Never experience more than3 or 4 days in succession of extreme cold. The
262 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68degels ont 6t6 si frequens cette ann6e, quon a eu dela peine a trainer le Bois de chaufages, nousprenons ici Beaucoup plus de precautionscontre lefroid quon en prend en france, nous sommes habill6sass6s chaudement, et nos chambres sont echaufee pardes poeles, en un mot jay eu tous les ans plus defroid en france que je n'en ai eu en Canada. Masante seroit excellente sans une violente attaque degoute que jay eue apres paque, et qui ma arreteL'espace d'un mois et demi, j'en ressens encoretous les jours quelque atteinte, mais cela ne m'emp£chepas d'aller et de venir, ce n'est point Le froidqui m'a attire* cette goute, J'en avais deja rassentiquelque chose en france. A proprement parler, ilny a ici que deux saisons, L'hiver et L'et6, dansnotre mission L'hiver est plus court d'un grandmois qu'a Quebec, aussi sommes nous a quaranteslieues plus au midi. Les cartes geographiques nemarquent point le Sault Saint Louis, cela n'est passurprenant, notre mission nest devenue considerableque depuis que les cartes sont faites, nous sommesici par le 45 e degre 30 minutes de Latitude, a troislieues et demies de la ville de Monreal que nousavons au nord-est La riviere entre deux. On s'imagineen france que les Iroquois qui onts autres foistant exerc6s de cruautes sur les francois quilsprenoient en guerre, doivent etre des hommesaffreux don la seulle viie fasse peur aussi bien quele nom, c'est une erreur. il n'est point au mondede si beaux hommes generalement parlant. LesSauvages sont beaucoup mieux faits que les francois,mais auprets des Iroquois Les autres sauvagesparoissent petis, presque tous les hommes de notre
1720-36] NAU TO BONINthaws have been of such frequent occurrence thisyear that the drawing of fire-Wood was accomplishedwith difficulty. More precautions against the coldare taken here than in franee. We are warmly clad,and our apartments are heated with stoves. All inall, I suffered every year more from cold in franeethan in Canada. My health is of the best, were itnot for a violent attack of goutI suffered aftereaster, and which laid me up for a month and a half.Even now I have a twinge every day, but that doesnot prevent me from going about, nor was it Thecold that brought it on. I had alreadyfelt itsapproach while yet in franee. To speak correctly,we have but two seasons here, — winter and summer.In this mission The winter is shorter by a full monththan at Quebec. We are in fact forty leagues moretoward the south. Sault Saint Louis 42 is not to befound marked on the maps this is not; surprising,as it is only since these maps were made that ourmission has grown into an important village. OurLatitude is 45 degrees and 30 minutes, and we aredistant three leagues and a half from the town ofMonreal, which lies to the northeast, on the otherbank of The river. It is imagined in france thatthe Iroquois, who formerly treated with so muchcruelty the french whom they made captives in war,must be of ferocious aspect, and that their veryand name would strike terror into all whosightencounter them. This is pure fancy. Generallyspeaking, you could find nowhere finer looking men.The Savages are of better build than the french,but side by side with the Iroquois other savagesseem dwarfed. Nearly all the men of our missionare nearer six feet in height than five. Their
264 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68mission approchent plus de six pieds de haut que decinq. Le visage repond a La taille, ils ont tous Lestraits reguliers,les enfants surtout sont de vraiesmignatures; il ne leur manque que la Blancheur,Leurs tein est un peu olivatre moins pourtant queceluy des autres nations et a peu pres tel que celuides portugais, J'ai vu meme a bourdeaux uneinfinited'hommes plus bruns que Les Iroquois, ilsseroient communement aussi blancs quesans la Boucane continuelle de leurs cabanes, Lafumee y est si epaisse que je ne comprends pascomment ils n'en per dent point La viie, Lesles francoistout a fait comme lesIroquois ne s'habillent pasautres nations sauvages, Les hommes ont Lachevelure semblable a celle des peres recollets, Ladifference quil y a cest quils redressent Les cheveuxde leurs couronne comme avec une espece de ciremele*e de vermilion et quils Laissent sur le haut dela t6te 3 ou 4 poils pour y atacher un grain deporcelaine ou une plume de quelque oiseau rare.Par dessus la chemise ils ont ordinairement un habita la franeoise galonne sur toutes les coutures, Lesjours froids et dans les ceremonies ils se couvrentencore d'une piece d'etoffe d'une aulnes et demie enquarre\ dont le bas est garni de 8 ou 9 rangs depassements, Leurs mitasse, ce sont leurs Bas, sontornee de rubans et de diverses fleurs qu'ils font avecdu poil d'orignal teint en rouge ou en jaune, et assesjustes a la jambe pour qu'on en voie toute la finesse.Leurs souliers sans talons sont d'une peau de chevreuilpassee a la fumee, quelques uns ont des Bas de soieou des souliers a la franeoise avec des bouchesd' argent, Les femmes sont habiltees de la meme
1720-36] NAU TO BONIN 265countenance is in keeping with Their stature, andtheir features are regular. The children especiallyare diminutive types of the picturesque, Transparencyof color being alone wanting. Their complexion isas that of otherof an olive tint, but not so tawnytribes, not differing much from that of the Portuguese.I have met even in the streets of bourdeaux anynumber of men darker than Our Iroquois. Theywould for the most part be as clear-complexionedas the french, were it not for the effects of theSmoke in their cabins, which is so dense that I failto understand how they do not lose Their sight. Thecostume of the Iroquois is different from that of theother savage tribes. Their hair is trimmed somewhatlike that of the recollet fathers, with This difference,that they raise in a bunch The hair of the crown bymeans of a kind of wax mixed with vermilion, andAllow 3 or 4 hairs to protrude above, to which theyfasten a porcelain bead or so, or a feather of somebird seldom met with. Over the shirt they usuallywear a garment of french fashion, with lace sewedon all the seams. When the weather is cold, or ongala-days, they wear a cloth mantle, an ell and a halfsquare, the lower border of which is trimmed with8 or 9 bands of lace. Their mitasse, that is theirLeggings, are adorned with ribbons and a varietyof flowers embroidered with elk-hair dyed red oryellow. These are made to fit closely, the betterto show off the elaborate finish of the work. Theirmoccasins are of smoke-dried deerskin. Some wearsilk Stockings and shoes of french make and silverbuckles. Among The savage nations all the womenare dressed alike. You have no doubt seen Thelikeness of the holy maiden, Catherine Tegah-Kouita,
266 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68facon, parmi tous Les nations sauvages, vous av£svu sans doute Le portrait de la sainte fille CatherineTegah-Koiiita morte en odeur de saintete* toutes lessauvagesses sont habillees comme elle.pour ce qui est des meurs Les Iroquois et leshurons ont plus de disposition a la vertu que Lesautres nations, ce sont les seuls sauvages qui aientdes sentimens, tous les autres sont estimes pour desLaches ingrats et voluptueux, s'il ny avoit point defrancais en Canada nous aurions autant de saincts ennotre mission que nous y avons de Chretiens, mais lemauvais exemple et les sollicitations des francoissont un obstacle Bien grand a la sanctification denos Iroquois, quoy que L'on ait fait deffences sousles peines les plus rigoureuse de donner de L'eau devie au sauvages et que Ton ait vu depuis deux moisla punition exemplaires de quatre francois dont l'una 6t6 condamne" aux galeres deux fouch^s par lamain du Boureau et un autre attache* au carcan pouravoir fait ce commerce deffendu nos sauvages trouventencore de l'eau de vie tant qu'ils en veullent et desquils sont yvres ils sont. capables de toute sorte demal, il ny a pas encore trois mois qu'un algonquindans L'ivresse tua de trois coups de couteau unpauvre soldat qui travailloit tranquilement dans unemaison de monreal, L' algonquin qui fut saisi surle champ crut en 6tre quite pour dire qu'il etoit yureet qu'il ne scavoit pas ce quil faisait, mais on nelaissa pas de le condamner a £tre pendu, et parceque Le boureau etoit absent on luy cassa la tete.Quand quelqu'un de nos sauvages a paru yvre dansLe village, on luy fait faire une penitence publiquequi consiste a ce tenir a genoux hors de l'eglise
1720-36] NAU TO BONIN 267who died in the odor of sanctity; all the savagewomen are similarly dressed.As for the question of morality, The Iroquois andhurons are more inclined to the practice of virtuethan other nations; they are the only savagescapable of refined feelings all the others are to be;set down as Cowardly, ungrateful, and voluptuous.If there were no french in Canada, we would haveas many saints in our mission as we now havechristians; but the bad example and solicitationsof the french are a Very great obstacle to the sanctificationof our Iroquois. Althoughit be forbiddenunder the severest penalties to give brandy to thesavages, and although, during the last two months,exemplary punishment has been meted out to fourfrenchmen, one of whom was condemned to thegalleys, two to be whipped by the public Executioner,and the other to be fastened to the carcan for havingcarried on this illicit trade, still our savages find allthe brandy they want, and as soon as they are drunkthey are capable of any crime. Not three monthsago, an algonquin, in A drinking-bout, killed withthree stabs of a knife a poor soldier who was quietlyworking in a house at monreal. Arrested on thespot, the algonquin thought he would escape punishmentbecause he was drunk and did not know whathe was doing. He was condemned notwithstandingto be hanged but as The executioner was; away hewas killed by a blow on the head. Should any oneof our savages make his appearance in The villagewhile in a state of intoxication, he is obliged tosubmit to a public penance. He is to remain kneelingoutside the church during mass, and the otherprayers made in common, for 10 or 12 days, according
268 LES RELA TIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol. 68durant la messe et les autres prieres pendant 10 ou12 jours selon Le scandale quil a donn£, L'ivrognerieest le plus grand deffaut de nos sauvages, maispar la grace de Dieu nous en avons Beaucoup qui neboivent jamais aucune Liqueur ennivrante, ceux quien Boivent ne Le font pas souvent et a tous egardsnos Iroquois sont beaucoup meilleurs Chretiens quenos francois.avant de vous parler des exercices de notre missionJe vous racontrais, mon reverend pere, comment Jefus incorpore* a La nation Iroquoise, c'est une ceremonien6c6ssaire, car un missionnaire ne seroit pasagreable au vilagesil. n'etoit membre de la nation,deux mois apres mon ariv6e a La mission Je r6gal6les anciens du vilage,il en coute un Beuf du paindeux boisseaux de paix et du tabac. Lorsque toutle monde fut assemble Le R. p. de Lauzon qui ademeur£s plusieurs ann£es dans cette mission, fitune Longue harangue pour moy, trois orateursIroquois y r^pondirent tout a tour Les haranguesfinies, un des anciens se leva et dit quil falloit donn6un nom a la robe noire c'est ainsi qu'ils appellent lesmissionnaires Jesuitte. Aprets avoir rappelle tousles noms des anciens missionnaires, il combat que jem'appelleroisdesormais hat6riate cest sous ce nomque Ton me connait. dans le vilage. demandes adieu qu'il me fasse la grace de remplir ce nom danstoute L'etendiie de sa signification, hateriata enIroquois signifie Le Brave, l'homme de cceur, ilfallut ensuitte m' assign er un cabanne et m'incorporerdans une famille, on me fitl'honneu[r] de me mettredans La famille de Tours, nous n'avons dans le vilageque trois families, celle de Tours, celle du loup, et
1720-36] NA U TO BON/N 269to the gravity of The scandal given. Drunkennessis the great vice of the savage ; but, thank God, wehave Many who never touch intoxicating Liquor ofany kind. Those who do Drink do not do So often,and, taking all into consideration, our Iroquois aremuch better christians than the french.Before giving you an account of the exercises ofour mission, I must tell you, my reverend father,how I was adopted into The Iroquois nation. It is anecessary formality, for a missionary would not bean acceptable person in the village were he not amember of the tribe. Two months after my arrival,I invited the elders to a banquet. The spreadconsisted of a whole carcass of Beef, bread inproportion, two boisseaux of peas, and a quantity oftobacco. When all were assembled, Reverend fatherde Lauzon, who had lived many years in thismission, made a Long speech for me. Threeorators answered in turn. When theIroquoisspeechmaking was over, one of the elders arose andannounced that a name must be given to the ' ' blackrobe," for this is the appellation by which the Jesuitmissionaries are known. After having gone over allthe names of former missionaries, he determinedthat I should hereafter be called hatenate, and Inow go by no other name in the village.Ask Godin your prayers to give me the grace of realizing toThe fullest extent of signification,— its for hateriatain Iroquois means " The Brave,"— the magnanimousman. It now remained to assign me to a lodge, andto adopt me into a family. I had the honor of beingenrolled in The family of the bear. You must knowthat in the village there are three families : that ofthe bear, that of the wolf, and that ofthe tortoise.
270 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 68celle de la tortiie, tous les nouveaux venus deviennentmembre de L'une de ces trois families,La famille de la tortiie est si nombreuse qu'on a et6oblige* de la, partager en grande et en petite tortiie.Voici les exercices de notre mission, a la pointedu jour, Soit l'ete" soit L'hiver, Le pere de laBretonniere dit la premiere messe, a laquelle assisteceux qui doivent aller travailler aux champs ilsrecitent La priere du matin ensuite Le chapelet adeux chceurs. une heure apres je dis la messecommune pendant Laquelle on chante a deux chceurs.La priere et les hymnes de l'eglise convenables autemps, apres ma messe je rassemble tous les enfansdans L'eglise je leur fais reciter la priere du matin,et j'aprends aux garcons a servir La messe. sur lesneuf heures Le pere de la Bretonniere fait le cathechismeaux adultes que ne sont pas encore Baptises.Le reste du jour nous visitons les malades et terminonsles differends dans Les cabanes. une heureavant le coucher du soleil je rapelle les enfants al'eglise pour faire la priere du soir. Je leur faisensuite La cathechisme des que les pe tes ont finiLes hommes et les femmes viennent a L'eglisepour faire la priere en commun, les dimancheset les fetes. Je suis au confessionnal jusqu'a dixheures que je dis la grand messe, apres Laquelleje preche aux francois car je suis charge d'uneparoisse de francois qui n'ont point d'autre egliseque la notre Les autres francois qui viennentde tous cotes au tombeau de la servante de dieuCatherine Tegah Kouita pour remplir les vceux qu'ilsont faits dans leurs maladies, me donnent encoreasses doccupation, a une heure apr£s midi Le pere
1720-36] NAU TO BONIN 271All new-comers are made members of one of thesethree families. The family of the tortoise hasbecome so numerous that it has been divided intothe great and the little tortoise.And now let me say something about the exercisesof the mission. At daybreak, Be it in winter orsummer, father de la Bretonniere says the first mass,out to theat which all those assist who have to gofields to work. They recite Their morning prayers,and then The beads, in two choirs. An hour later,I say the every-day mass, for the whole village,of the churchduring Which The prayers and hymns in keeping with the season are sungin two choirsalso. After the mass, I gather the children togetherin The church and make them recite their morningprayers, and then teach the boys how to serve mass.About nine o'clock, father de la Bretonniere putsthe adults who have not yet been Baptized throughtheir catechism. The remainder of the day is spentgoing about visiting the sick and in decidingdisputes which may have arisen in The cabins. Anhour before sunset, I assemble the children again inthe church for their evening prayers and for therecitation of Their catechism. As soon as thechildren are dismissed The men and women repairto The church for the recitation of their prayers incommon. On Sundays and festivals I am in theconfessional until ten in the morning, when I singhigh mass, after Which Ipreach to the french, forI have charge of a french parish, and there is noother church than that "of the mission. Othermembers of our french population, who flock fromall sides to the tomb of the servant of God,Catherine Tegah Kouita, to accomplish the vows
272 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.68de la Bretonniere rassemble alternativement lessauvages qui sont de La congregation de La saintevierge, et ceux qui sont de la sainte famille et leurfait une exortation. nous avons dans ce vilage deuxassociations, comme vous le voyi^s, La congregationet la saincte famille, il faut avoir passe par la congregationet s'y etre distingue par sa ferveur pour etrereceu dans La saincte famille, qui est composee deveritables devots et devotes, qui valent bien pour lemoins ceux de france, plusieurs font des mortificationsqui effrayeroient Bien des religieux. sur les quatreheure du soir on chante vepres:apres quoy on donnetoujours la benediction du S 1 .Sacrement, rien de simodeste que nos sauvages a l'eglise, et dans lesautres exercices de pi6te, Leur viie seulle inspirentde la devotion. Le pere Aulneau qui se trouva ici ala fete de dieu ne fitque pleurer de joye et de devotionpendant toute la procession, tous nos guerriersetoient sous les armes a L' exception de ceux quipartoient le dais, et des chantres, Les femmes etles enfans suivoient dans un ordre charmant, on avoitou le sainct Sacrement s'arretadresse trois reposoirs,et a chaque pause on fit une decharge de mousqueterieet de cinq Boi'tesII faut necessairement du chant pour nos sauvagesqui ne sont pas communement capables dune grandeapplicationdesprit, c'est pourquoi toutes les prieresse font en chantant, aussi seroit-il grand dommagequ'ils ne chantassent pas, ils y reiissisent trop bien.J' ay souvent souhaitte que le R. p. Landreau qui estsi touche* du chant de l'eglise lorsqu'il est bienexecut6 put assister a nos grandes messes, il ygouteroit le plus grand plaisir qu'il ait jamais ressenti.
1720-36] NAU TO BONIN 273made in time of sickness, keep me quite busy.At one in the afternoon, father de la Bretonniereassembles in turn the savages who are members ofThe sodality of The blessed virgin and those whobelong to the congregation of the holy family, togive them a short exhortation. We have, as yousee, in the village two associations,— The sodalityand the holy family. To be qualified to become amember ofThe holy family, one must have passedthrough the sodality and have given unmistakableproofs of fervor, for its members are all reallydevout souls and, to say the least, are as worthymembers as are those in franee. Several practiceausterities which Many a religious would hesitate toundergo. At four in the afternoon vespers aresung, after which benediction of the BlessedSacrament is always given. There could be nothingmore decorous than the behavior of our savageswhile in church and during their other devotionalexercises; the very sight inspires devotion. FatherAulneau, who happened to be here on the feast ofCorpus Christi, could not restrain his tears of joyand devotion while the procession lasted. All ourwarriors were in their war accouterments with Theexception of the bearers of the canopy and thechanters. The women and children followed insymmetrical order, most pleasing to the beholder.Three shrines had been prepared at intervals wherethe blessed Sacrament was set down, and at eachhalt a volley of musketry was fired and five Mortarsdischarged.For our savages singingis a necessary adjunct, asthey are incapable of prolonged mental application,and it is on this account that all their prayers are
274 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES'[Vol.68Les hommes qui chantent Le premier verset luirepresenteroient tme centaine de Cordeliers dans tinchceur. et les femmes qui repondent Lui sembleroientetre La plus nombreuse communaute dereligieuse mais que :dis-je, ni cordeliers, ni religieusen'ont jamais si bien chante que nos Iroquois et nosIroquoises, ils ont la voix egalement douce et pleine,et on[t] L'oreille si fine, qu'ils ne manquent pas unedemie note dans tous les airs d'eglise qu'ils saventtous par cceur nos sauvages sont tous s6dantairesainsi que toutes les autres nations a l'exception desSioux, nos gens ont des chevaux, des cochons, despoules et d'autres animaux domestiques tout commeles francois, Les hommes nous laissent a la fin deseptembre, pour aller chacun de son cote* a La chassedu chevreuil et du castor, d'ou ils ne reviennentqu'au mois de fevrier. d'autres vont en guerres.nous avons actuellement quarante hommes qui sontalles faire coup sur difTerents nations, nos gensont tou jours Les armes a La main, parcequ'ilsepousent toute que elle des francois contre Les autressauvages, aussi Les Iroquois du Sault S l . Louispassent-ils pour les plus Belliqueux des americains,cela ne prouvent pas qu'ils soient fort Braves, Leursguerres ne sont que ruses et surprises, Leurs combatsde vrais assassinats, ils ne se battent bien que dansla necessity de vaincre ou de mourir, nous avonstou jours guerre avec La nation des Sauvages qu'onappelle les renards, elle ne guere de succes, il n'estpas possible de Les joindres avec des troupes suffisantespour Les detruire, L'an passe quatre ving[t]dix de nos gens se joignirent aux francois, pour alleraux renards, mais apres des fatigues inconcevables
1720-36] NAU TO BONIN 275-set to music; really, it would be a great pity wereit not so, they succeed so admirably.I often wishedthat Reverend father Landreau, who is so fond ofwell-executed church music, could be present at ourhigh masses it would be a;greater treat for him thananything he has yet listened to. The men who leadoff with The first verses he might take for a choirof a hundred Cordeliers, and the women for somegreat community of nuns. But what am I saying?Neither cordeliers nor nuns ever sang as do ourIroquois men and women. Their voices are bothmellow and sonorous, and Their ear so correct thatthey do not miss a half-tone in all the church hymns,which they know by heart. Our Iroquois, like allthe other savage tribes, with the exception of theSioux, are sedentary. They raise horses, pigs,poultry, and other domestic animals as do our ownpeople. The men leave us about the end of September,each taking his own road to The huntinggroundsof the deer and beaver, nor do they returnto the village before the month of february. Othersgo on the war-path. We have actually forty warriorsout on expeditions to strike at other tribes. Theirweapons are ever ready, for they take the part ofthe french in every quarrel with The other savagenations,— indeed, The Iroquois of Sault St. Louisare looked upon as the most Warlike of all theamerican tribes ;but this is no proof of their Valor.Their mode of warfare is but stratagem and surprise,Their encounters are mere attempts at assassination..They fight bravely then only when they know thatthe sole alternative lies between victory or death.Our people have a war on their hands this longtime with A Savage tribe called the renards. It has
276 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68et plus de sept cens lieiies de chemin, Leurs guidesles egarerent et ils furent obliges de revenir sansavoir vu L'ennemi seullement un parti de vingttroissauvages presque tous de notre mission, et de septfrancois s'etant separ6s du gros de L'arm6e, se trouvatout a coup investiede deux cens renards, nos gensetoient perdu sans La resolution du capitaineIroquois, nous sommes morts, Leur dit-il si nousnous rendons. point d' autre parti a prendre que devendre cherement notre vie. faisons voir auxrenards que nous sommes Iroquois et francois aussitot,il Les mene a L'ennemi qui ne put soutenir lepremier chose, et qui se sauva par la fuite dans unfort ily eut trente renards etendus sur la place etdix prisonniers, nous n'y perdimes que deuxfrancois et un sauvage.La plus part des adultes que nous instruisons dansle village sont des esclaves pris en guerre, J'ai euLa consollation d'en baptiser deux. Le R. p. de laBretonniere en a baptise* quatre depuis environ unan, il en reste encore une douzaine, qui receveront LeBapteme a Noel, ainsi ce sont nos guerriers quiaugmentent Le plus La mission, Les cinq nationsIroquoise qui sont aux Anglois deperissent a vued'ceil, par les querelles continuelles et par Les Boissonsennivrantes que L' anglois Leur fournit, ce quidetermine Les plus senses a quiter un pays ou ils nepeuvent vivre tranquilles et a venir s'etablir avecnous, d'autres qui sont accuses d'etre sorciers, sontpareillement obliges de lever le pied, et de venir auSault S* Louis, sans quoy ils seroient tu6s a Lapremiere occasion, une famille d' Iroquois agniesvient tout recemment de s'etablir dans notre village,
1720-36] NAU TO BONIN 217been in a very slight degree successful, through theimpossibility in which our troopsare ofever overtakingThem in sufficient numbers to destroy Them.Last year, ninety of our young men joined thefrench expedition against the renards; but afterinconceivable hardships and a journey of more thanseven hundred leagues, Their guides led themastray, and they were obliged to make their wayback without having caught sight of The enemysave in one instance. A party of twenty-threesavages, nearly all of our mission, and seven frenchmenhad somehow become separated from The mainbody when they found themselves suddenly surroundedby a war-party of two hundred renards.Our men would have been destroyed, had it notbeen for The resolution of the Iroquois captain.MWe are all dead men," he said," ifwe surrender.There is no help for it ;we have to sell our lives asdearly as we can. Let us show these renards thatwe are Iroquois and frenchmen." Whereupon heled his Warriors to the attack. The enemy could notwithstand the first onslaught, but retreated precipitatelyto their fort. Thirty renards were laid lowand ten taken prisoners; our party lost but two43frenchmen and one savage.The majority of the adults whom we instructforbaptism in the village are slaves taken in war. Thad The consolation of administering this sacramentto two, and Reverend father de la Bretonniere tofour, during the past year; a dozen or so yetremain, who will receive Baptism at Christmas.It thus happens that it is our warriors who contributeMost to the increase of The mission. The five
278 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68Le demon devient ainsi Lui meme malgre lui L' occasiondu saint de ces panvres refugies qni se fontChretiens sans difficultes L' instruction des esclaves«st celle qui nous coute Le plus parcequ'ils n'apprenentpresque jamais Bien La Langue, et qu'il nousest tres difficile de Leur faire entandre ce que nousvoulons Leur dire, nous avons depuis dix ans dansLa mission une sauvagesse renarde que ne scait pasencore parler, T Iroquois et le huron sont Les seullelangue difficiles. II faut pourtant Les scavoir toutesLes deux dans notre mission, parce que toutes nosprieres sont en huron, ces deux Langues ont Lameme origine et sont aussi diff£rentes L'une deL'autre que Le francois L'est de L'espagnol, nossauvages entendent tous le huron et L'estiment plusque L Iroquois, quoique La prononciation n'en soitpas si douce de La vient qu'ils ne veulent pas fairede prieres en Leur Langue naturelle, Je vous ai ditque je faisois Le cathechisme aux enfans. Le papiera la main cela s'entend car apres dix mois d'6tude Jene puis etre fort habile en Iroquois, Je commencepourtant a entendre, et me faire entendre, mais jen'oserais me risquer a parler en public.vous souhaites mon reverend pere que je vous disetout ceque je puis scavoir des Jesuitesde notreprovince qui sont en Canada, Le voici en peu demots, R. p. de Lauzon superieur general est dansune estime universelle et il La m6rite il a fait cequ'il a pu aupres de notre reverend pere generalpour obtenir La permission de se demettre de lasuperiority qui Lui est a charge par bien des endroitsmais on veut quil remplisse Le temps ordinaire qui-est de six ans ainsi nous ne L'aurons dans notre
1720-86] NA U TO BONIN 279Iroquois nations, who are with the English, arevisibly on the decrease, on account of their incessantquarrels and the use of Intoxicants supplied by Theenglish. It is for this reason that The moreprovident abandon a country where they cannotlive peaceably, and come to settle among us.Others who are accused of witchcraft are also obligedto take refuge at Sault St. Louis, otherwise theywould be put out of the way at The first opportunity.A family of agnie Iroquois have come but lately tosettle in our village. It is thus that the devilHimself unwillingly becomes The occasion of thesalvation of these wretched fugitives by making itless difficult for them to embrace Christianity. Theinstruction of the slaves is our hardest task, for theyseldom learn The Language Well, and it is veryhard to make Them understand what we would haveThem know. We have had here in The mission forthe last ten years a savage woman of the renardtwo difficultnation, and she does not yet know how to speak Iroquois.Iroquois and huron are The onlylanguages; we must, however, be familiar withThem both in our mission, because all the prayersare in huron. These two Languages have A commonorigin, but differ from each other as much asfrench and Spanish. All our savages understandhuron, and prefer It to Iroquois, although Thepronunciation is not so pleasingto the ear. Henceit is that they do not care to recite their prayersin Their own native Tongue. I told you that Itaught the children Their catechism, manuscript inhand of course, for after ten months of study I cannotbe very proficient in Iroquois. I am beginning
280 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol. 68mission que dans six ans dici,Le pere Chardon estdepuis deux ans a La residence de monreal avec lareputation d'un des plus saincts Jesuites qu'on aitvu en canada Le pere Guignas est au pays des Siouxdans un petit fort francois n'ayant que six hommesavec Lui. iln'y a qu'un mois que monsieur Lemarquis de Beauharnois gouverneur general de Lanouvelle france fitpasser vint deux hommes dansquatre canots pour Luy porter des provisions dont ilmanquoit absolument, Les Sioux ne veulent pasLui fournir des vivres, on ne scait pas tropsi Leconvoi arrivera a Bon port, car il doit passer prochedes renards. Le pere Saint p6, qui a pour compagnonLe pere du Jaunay, autre fois mon condisciple anantes, descendra L'an prochain de missilimakinac,pour faire La congregation des messieurs a monreal,Le pere de La Richardie a passe" l'hiver a Quebecou ilsde deuxa fait des Biens infinis par le moyenretraites publiques qu'il a donnees, a l'occasionde ce R. p. il faut que je me d£dise de ce que je vousavois £crit l'an passe*n£tant pas suflisament instruitde ce qui regarde les hurons, Je disais qu'il n'yavait pas dautres hurons Chretiens que ceux deLorette ily a sept ans qu'effectivement il ny en avaitpas d'autres, mais Le pere de La Richardie a trouvemoyen de rassembler au detroit Les hurons dispersesqu'il a tous convertis. La mission est de six censChretiens. Le detroit est au quarante deuxiemedegre de Latitude entre Le Lac huron et Le Lacherie c'est le plus Beau pays du canada il n'y apresque point d'hiver toutes sortes de fruits y viennentaussi bon qu'en france on pense a y Batir uneville. ily a deja soixante dix families francoises,
1720 -36J NAU TO BONIN 281nevertheless to understand and to make myself understood,but I would not dare yet to speak in public.You expressed the wish, my reverend father, thatI should give you all the information possibleconcerning the Jesuits of our province who are nowmissionaries in Canada. I shall not be long.Reverend father de Lauzon, superior-general of themission, is universally esteemed, and with reason.He did his best with our reverend father general tobe allowed to resign his office, which is a real burdento Him for more reasons than one, but it was decidedthat he should complete The ordinary term ofsixyears. So we shall not have Him back in ourMission before their expiration. Father Chardonhas been stationed for the last two years at Theresidence of monreal ;he is looked upon as one ofthe most holy Jesuits sent out to Canada. FatherGuignas is in the Sioux country, at a little frenchfort with but six men with Him. Scarcely a monthago The marquis de Beauharnois, governor-generalof new france, sent twenty-two men in four canoeswith supplies of which he stood absolutely in need,for Him. It is notfor The Sioux refuse to provideat all certain that The relief -party will reach himwithout molestation, their route lying close to thecountry of the renards. Father Saint pe\ whohas for companion father du Jaunay, an old fellowstudentof mine at nantes, will return next yearfrom missilimakinac, to take charge of the men'ssodality at monreal. Father de La Richardie u spentthe winter at Quebec, where he did a world of Goodby the two general retreats he preached. Themention of this Reverend father's name remindsme that I must take back what I wrote you last year
282 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68un fort et une garnison dont les reverends peresrecollets sont aumoniers, Le pere de gonor est aLa mission de Lorette il est sujet a de frequentesmaladies. Le pere Aulneau aussi robuste que courageuxest parti pour La mer de L'oiiest, ou il nepourra arriver que L'6te* prochain, Le premiermissionnaire qui arrivera de franee ira L'accompagnersans quoi il ne peut rester Longtemps seul eloignede quatre cens Lieiies du pere Guignas qui est sonplus proche voisin. J'ai eu une ass£s Longueconversation avec M r La Verandrie qui commandeles trois forts Les plus occidentaux. Jai comprispar son entretien qu'il ne faut pas faire grand fondsur ce qu'il dit des sauvages Blancs et barbus, Lamer d'oiiest seroit decouverte depuis longtempssion L'avoit voulu M r Le Comte de Maurepas a raisonde dire que Les officiers du Canada ne cherchentpas La mer de L'oiiest, mais La mer du castor.Je souhaitte que le pere aulneau trouve des sauvagesplus dociles que ne sont Les outaoiiais et Les Sioux,parmi lesquels Le pere Saint P6 et Le pere Guignasne font pas grand fruit, ils ne convertissent quequelques vieillards et quelques vieilles femmes quine peuvent plus p6cher. Le plus grand Bien qu'ilsfassent e'est de Baptiser Les enfans quils croyent6tre sur le point de mourir, aux qui reviennent deleurs maladies ne manquent gueresd'etre autantd'apostats. marques moy tous les points sur quoivous voudr6s etre instruit touchant le Canada et notremission en parti eulier, J'aurai soin de satisfaire votrepieuse curiosity, il ne se passe point de jour que jene prie Le Seigneur de repandre ses graces Les pluschoisies sur celui qui ma procure* Le plus grand des
1720-36] NAU TO BON/N 283when as yetI was not well informed of whatconcerns the hurons. I said that there were noother christian hurons than those of Lorette. Infact, seven years ago there were no others; butfather de La Richardie found means to gathertogether at detroit The dispersed hurons, all ofwhom he converted. The mission numbers sixhundred christians. Detroit, at the forty-seconddegree of Latitude, is situated between Lake huron,and Lake he'rte. This stretch of country is the Finestin canada ;there is scarcely any winter, and all kindsof fruit grow there as well as they do in france.There is question of Building a town there. Seventyfrench families are already on the spot, and there isa fort and garrison of which the reverend recollet45fathers are chaplains. Father de gonor is at Themission of Lorette, but he is subject to frequentattacks of sickness. Father Aulneau, as robust as heis courageous, has set out for The western sea he will;arrive there only next summer. The first missionarywho lands from france will go to keep Him company,otherwise he would not be able to remain there Longalone, as he will be four hundred Leagues distantfrom father Guignas, who is his nearest neighbor. Ihad a pretty Long conversation with Monsieur LaVerandrie, who is in command of The three mostwestern forts. 46 I understood from the interviewthat not much reliance can be placed on what hesays concerning White, bearded savages. Thewestern sea would have been discovered long agoif people had wished It. Monsieur The Count deMaurepas is right when he says that The officialsin canada are looking not for The western sea butfor The sea of beaver. It is to be hopedthat father
284 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68Biens, en me faisant recevoir dans la Compagnie,pri6s Le aussi incessament pour moy et pour mamissionJ 'ay L'honneur d'etre avec un tres profond respectdans L'union de vos saincts sacrificesMon reverend pereVotre tres humble ettres obeissant serviteur,L. F. Naude la Compagnie de Jesus,au Sault S*. Louis le 2 octobre 1735.
1720-86] NA U TO BONIN 285aulneau will find more docile savages than The outaouaisand The Sioux, among whom fathers Saint P6and Guignas are laboring with little success. Theyhave managed to convert but a few old men andwomen who are beyond the age of sinning. Thegreatest Good they can effect is to Baptize childrenwhen they think they are on the point of death ;those who recover seldom fail later to fall away fromthe faith. Let me know on what particular pointsyou desire information concerning Canada and ourmission more especially, and I shall endeavor tosatisfy your pious curiosity. Not a day goes bywithout my begging Our Lord to shower down hison the one who was instrumental inchoicest gracesprocuring for me The greatest of Blessings, — inhaving me received into the Society. Pray for mein turn unceasingly, and for my mission.I have The honor to remain with the most profoundrespect, in union with your holy sacrifices,My reverend father,Your most humble andobedient servant,L. F. Nau,SaultSt. Louis, October 2, 1735.of the Society of Jesus.
286 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68Lettre du reverend pere Aulneau de la Compagniede Jesus au R. P.Borrin.MonReverend Pere.A11 Fort S t Charle. ches lesKiristinaux, le 30 Avril 1736—P. Ch.Les lettres que j'eus l'honneur de vousescrire l'ann6e derniere 1735, vous aurons sans doutesurpris. Je prends la liberte" de vous y demanderdes choses que mon peu d' experiences dans lesmissions ou la Providence m'a apele* et je ne sayquelle fantaizie ont peu me determiner a vousdemander, aussy ne seray-je nullement surpris syvous n'avez eu aucun esgard a mes demandes. Jevous prie seullement de voulloir me pardonner lapeine et l'embarras qu'elles auraient peu vous causer.La vie errante qu'il me faut mener m'empesche detraisner avec moy autre chose que ce qui est absolumentnecessaire. D'ailleurs, 1'argent qu'on devaitvous remettre aurait, sans doute a peine suffit pourachetter la quatriesme partie de ce que je demandoisa votre reverance. Encore une fois, mon R. Pere,excuses mon indiscretion.Je suis arrive" au fort S*. Charle le 23 e . 8 be .1735.J'6tois party de la mission des Iroquois du Saut SaintLouis le 2i e .Juin, jour de Saint Louis de Gonzaguesous la protection de quy, je creu que la Providencevoulait que je me misse en permettant ainsy que le
1720-36] AULNEAU TO BONIN 287Letter from reverend father Aulneau, of theSociety of Jesus, to Reverend Father Bonin.Fort St. Charle, among theKiristinaux, April 30, 1736.My Reverend Father,Pax Christi.The letters I had the honor towrite to youlast year, 1735, caused you, no doubt, some surprise.I therein took the liberty of asking you for certainthings which my lack of experience in the missions,whither Providence has called me, and I know notwhat fancy, alone could have suggested, nor shouldI be at all surprised if you paid no attention to thoserequests. Let me ask you to pardon me for all thetrouble and annoyanceI may have caused you. Thewandering life I must needs lead would prevent mefrom carrying about anything but what is strictlyindispensable. Moreover, the money which was tobe remitted to you would have scarcely sufficed tobuy a quarter of all I asked your reverence. Oncemore, my Reverend Father, pardon me my wantof discretion.I reached fort St. Charle October 23rd, 1735. Ihad set out from the Iroquois mission of Saut SaintLouis, June 21st, the feast of Saint Louis deGonzague, under whose protection I believe Providenceintended that I should place myself, and thusforeordaining that the day of my departure and ofmy complete separation from all that could afford me
288 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 68de mon entiere separation dejour de mon depart ettout ce quy pouvait encore me faire plaisir, fustcontre toutes les apparances prolong^ jusqu'au jourde la feste de ce grand saint. Avecq le secours d'unaussy puissant protecteur, j'ay fait tout mon voyageen parfaite sante\ II a et£ a compter de . . .cents lieues, presque tout pareau et en canot.. . .J'ai passe* ch6z le Pere Saint Pe aMissilemakina. . . .Je suis retourne* quinzelieues sur mes pas pour aller reprandre la route dulac superieur. J'ay costoye ce lac 1'espace de deux. . . suivant a 1' ordinaire le nord, quelquefoisToiiest et le soroiiest . . . du lac superieur.J'ai entr6 dans les terres qui sont au nord du lac. . . et apres avoir march6 presque tou joursa pied 1'espace de deux ou trois jours, j'ai fait routetantost a l'ouest, tantost au sorouest, quelquefoismesme au sud, Au travers de plusieurs lacs parsem6s.Plusieurs de ces lacs ont plus de cent lieues de tour.On compte du haut du lac superieur au fort SaintCharle d'ou j'ay l'honneur de vous escrire, trois centlieues. Je les ay fait presque toujours au traversdes flammes et etouffe* par une 6paisse fum6e qui nenous a jamais permis de voir une seule fois la lumieredu soleil. C'estoit les sauvages quy dans leurschasses avaient mis le feu dans les bois, sans croirecependant qu'il deut faire un sy horrible embrasement,une si longue route faite en tout autre pays,aurait fourny bien des objets divertissants et capablesde piquer la curiosity, mais tout ce qu'on voit dansces vastes contrees se termine a des lacs, des rochers,des forests immenses, des sauvages et quelquesbestes feroces. Ainsy, mon R. Pere, je ne puis vous
1720-36] A ULNEA U TO BONIN 289any satisfaction should, contrary to all probabilities,be delayed until the festival of that great saint.With the assistance of so powerful a protector Ienjoyed perfect health to the end of my journey.There are, counting from . . .47hundred leagues,nearly all by water and canoe. ... I stopped withFather Saint Pe at Missilemakina. ... I wentback fifteen leagues on the distance already covered,so as to take the route by lake superior. I coastedalong the lake for the space of two usually. . .following the north, sometimes the west and southwest... of lake superior. I struck inland intothe region which lies to the north of lake . . .and after having journeyed nearly always on foot,for the space of two or three days,I headed sometimestoward the west, sometimes toward the southwest,and sometimes even toward the south, threading myway among a profusion of lakes. Several of theselakes have a circumference of more than a hundredleagues. From the upper extremity of lake superiorto fort Saint Charle, whence I have the honor ofwriting to you, the distance is set down at threehundred leagues. I journeyed nearly all the waythrough fire and a thick stifling smoke, whichprevented us from even once catching a glimpse ofthe sun. It was the savages who in hunting hadset fire to the woods, without imagining, however,that it would result in such a terrible conflagration.So long a journey through any other country wouldhave been diversified by a number of interestingfeatures calculated to awaken one's curiosity, but allthat was to be met with in this vast region waslimited to lakes, rocks, immense forests, savages,and a few wild animals,— so that, my ReverendFather, I can communicate nothing to you deserving
290 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 68faire part de rien qui m6rite votre attention. Cependantsur les bords d'tm grand lac, que nos francoisappellent le lac de la Croix et quy est a environ sixvingt lieues d'icy, je cms voir la lune clyps6e.C'etait le premier d'octobre Sy ce n'etait pas de lafum6e et que ce fust v6ritablement une 6clypse, ellefinit sur les neuf heures du soir, J'ay aussy aperceuplusieurs fois, surtout dans le lac Huron, de grandeslumieres boreales, mais mon incapacit6 plus encoreque la lassitude ne m'a pas permis de les observerd'une maniere a vous en donner une juste id6e, nousaurons eu icy tout l'hyverle meme spectacle et il nes'est passe* presque aucune nuit sans que le nord neparut en feu et avecq les mesmes lumieres. Pour cequi est, mon R. Pere du fort saint Charle ou j'aypasse* rhiver ce n'est autre choze que quatre rangsde pieux de douze a quinze pieds de haut quyforment un quarre* long au millieu duquel sont renferm^esquelques mechantes cabannes de pieces debois et de terre glaise couvertes d'ecorce. II estenviron a un lieue dans . . . de 60 a 70lieues au Soroiiest du lac des Bois. Ce lac mesurequarante lieues de tour sa plus grande longueurest nord ... II communique par plusieursrivieres dans d'autres lacs, quy tous se deversentdans un autre que les sauvages disent plus grandque le lis V appellent ouinipignon. Ce. . .dernier forme ensuite trois . . . rivieres quyont leurs embouchures dans la mer au-dela (ainsique je puis conjecturer de ce qu'en disent les kristinaux)du port Nelson. C'est sur les bords de cedernier lac, environ a cent cinquante lieues d'icyque je compte aller passer une partie de Teste
1720-36] AULNEAU TO BONIN 291of attention. On one occasion, however, while onthe shores of a large lake which our french call lakede la Croix, and which is about one hundred andtwenty leagues from here, Ithought I saw a lunareclipse; it was October,— on the first of If it weretruly an eclipse and not merely an effect of thesmoke. It ended about nine o'clock at night. Inoticed also, on several occasions, especially whileon lake Huron, grand displays of the auroraborealis ;but incapacity, even more than lassitude,did not admit of my taking observations withsufficient accuracy to give you an adequate idea ofthem. We have witnessed here throughout thewinter the same phenomenon, and scarcely a nighthas passed but the northern skies have been allaglow with the aurora borealis. And what, myReverend Father, of fort saint Charle, where I havean inclosure madepassed the winter? It is merelywith four rows of posts, from twelve to fifteen feetin height, in the form of an oblong square, withinwhich are a few rough cabins constructed of logs andclay and covered with bark. It is about a league inthe . . . from 60 to 70 leagues, on the Southwestside of the lake of the Woods. 48 This lake is fortyleagues in circumference. Its greatest length isnorth . . . Several streams putit in communicationwith other lakes, all of which empty intoanother which the savages say is larger than . . .They call it ouinipignon. This latter, farther on,gives rise to three . . . rivers which empty intothe sea (as well as I can conjecture from what thekristinaux say) beyond port Nelson. It is on theshores of this last lake, about one hundred andfifty leagues from here, that Ipurpose passing apart of the summer with the Assiniboels, who
1292 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.68prochain et de l'automne avec les Assiniboels quyoccupent toutes les terres quy sont an sud de ce lac.Les autres parties de ce lac sont occupies par lesKristinaux qui tiennent non seulement presques toutle nord jusqu'a la mer mais encore une 6tendue depays immense a commencer depuis le lac des boisquy est tout entier de leur domination, j usque bienavant au dela de I'ouinipignon. Vers la toussaint,si c'est la volontie du bon Dieu, je compte avec ceuxdes francois qui voudront courir les mesme perilsque moy, me joindre aux Assiniboels, quy tous lesans partent sur les premieres glaces, pour allerchercher du bled d'inde ch6s les kaotiouak ou Autelsipounes,pour lesquels mes Superieurs me font fairece long voyage; de l'Ouinipignon chez eux oncompte deux cent cinquante lieues mais comme nousne marcherons qu'en chassant nous en ferons peutestre plus de quatre-cents. Sy j'y puis arriver debonne heure, je ne me contenteray pas de voir lespremiers villages du Koatiouak mais je m'avancerayle plus long que je pourray, le long de la rivierequ'ils occupent dans laquelle nos kristinaux disentavoir vu des loups marins ce qui serait une preuvequ'elle ne serait pas bien esloign^e dela mer. Versle millieu de Mars je partiray pour retourner sur lesbords de I'ouinipignon. J'oubliais de vous dire,mon R. Pere que le fort S*. Charles est, selon Monsieurde la Jesmeraye enseigne dans le detachementde la marine de ce pays, par les 48 d .5 minutes.Voila mon reverend pere tout ce que je puis vousdire pour le present, de ces pauvres pays, peut-estremesme, me suis je mal exprime* sur bien des choses,mais je suis bien persuade" que vous m'excuser6s.
1720-36] AULNEAU TO BONIN 29$occupy all the land to the south of it. The landson the remaining sides are taken up by the Kristinaux,who occupy not only all the northern partas far as the sea; but all the immense stretch ofcountry beginning at the lake of the woods andextending far beyond lake ouinipignon also belongsto them. Some time about the feast of all saints, ifit be the will of our good Lord, I intend, with asmany of the french as are willing to encounter thesame dangers, to join the Assiniboels, who startevery year, just as soon as the streams are frozenover, for the country of the kaotiouak or Autelsipounesto procure their supply of indian corn.It isto evangelize these tribes that my Superiors sendme here. From lake Ouinipignon to their countrythe distance iscomputed to be two hundred and fiftyleagues, but as the party engage in the hunt as theyadvance, in all likelihood we shall go over morethan four hundred. If we manage to reach there inthe firstseason, I shall not be satisfied with visitingvillages of the Koatiouak, but shall push on as faras I can along the shores of the river where theydwell and where the kristinaux say they have seenseals. This would be a sure sign that they arenot very far from the sea. Toward the middle ofMarch, I shall leave this place to return to theshores of ouinipignon. I omitted to tell you, myReverend Father, that fort St. Charles, according toMonsieur de la Jesmeraye, 49 ensign of the detachmentof the marine quartered in this country, is situatedat 48 degrees 5 minutes. This is all the information,my reverend father, I am able to give you atpresent, concerning this wretched country. It maybe that I have not expressed myself correctly, butyou will pardon me I am sure. In any case, I do
294 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68D'ailleurs je ne vous garantis pas tout ce que je vousay rapporte" et que je ne scais pas par moy-mesmemais seulement sur le temoignage des sauvages etde quelques francois dont 1'experience est un peuplus grande que la mienne. peut estre qu'un jourviendra ou je pourray vous donner des connaissancesplus certaines de ces vastes pays si peu conneus. Jen'ay hazarde* de vous parler de ces contr^es que dansle dessein de vous faire plaisir Pour ce quy est dessauvages de ces contrees et en particulier des Kristinaux,je ne crois pas que sans un miracle on puissejamais les engager a embrasser la religion, outre qu'ilsn'ont point de demeures fixes et qu'ils & vivent toujourserants dans les bois et s6par£s les uns des autres.lis sont superstitieux et debauches a un point qu'onne saurait exprimer. Ce qu'il y a de plus deplorablec'est que le desmon se sert mesme de ceux quidevraient tacher de les en retirer, pour les retenirdans les fers. Les Anglois et les Francois par laplus damnable avarice les ont mis dans le goust del'eau de vie et ont ainsy est6 cause qu'ils ont adjoute*a leurs autres vues, celuy de leur ivrognerie de tellesorte que l'eau de vie est tou jours l'ame de leurconversation et l'objet de leur demande et qu'on nepeut compter sur eux que autant qu'on leur donnede quoy s'ennivrer. Le bon Dieu a desja puniplusieurs de ceux des Francois qui font ces infamescommerces en permettant qu'ils s'y ruinassent, maisla perte des biens temporels, ny la crainte de perdreDieu mesme pour une 6ternite\ n'a encore peuaboller un sy honteux negoce et voila mon R. pere,une des plus grandes croix qu'ayent a souffrir dansce pays-cy les missionnaires et ce quy a fait detruire
1720-36] A ULNEA U TO BONIN 295not vouch for the truth of all I have told you, andwhich I have not learned from personal observationhut from the reports of the savages and a few frenchmen,whose experienceis but slightly more extensivethan my own. At some future date, perhaps,I shall be in a position to give you something morereliable on this vast extent of territory so littleknown. If I have risked speaking to you at allabout these wilds, it was merely to gratify you. Asfor the savages who dwell here, and especially theKristinaux, I do not believe that, unless it be bymiracle, they can ever be persuaded to embrace thefaith ;for even not taking into account the fact thatthey have no fixed abode, and that they wander aboutthe forests in isolated bands, they are superstitiousand morally degraded to a degree beyond conception.What is most deplorableis that the demon makesuse of the very men who should endeavor to breaktheir bondage to rivet their fetters more firmly.Both English and French, by their accursed avarice,have given them a taste for brandy, and have thusbeen instrumental in adding to their other vicesthat of drunkenness; so that brandy is their onlytopic of conversation, the sole object of theirpetitions, nor can they ever be counted upon unlessthey receive enough to get drunk on. The goodGod has already chastised more than one of ourfellow-countrymen engaged in this infamous trafficby visiting them with financial ruin but neither the;loss of temporal goods nor the fear of losing God ineternity has as yet availed to abolish so shameful atrade. This, my Reverend father, constitutes oneof the greatest crosses which the missionaries haveto endure here ;it has brought about the destruction
296 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68plusieurs belles missions et fait abandonner la religiona plusieurs sauvages. IIy a encore parmi les Monsonisvoisins des Kristinaux, et parmi les Sauvages,dans le haut du lac superieur, plusieurs sauvages quiont recu le saint Bapteme et que 1'ivrognerie areplong^s dans leur ancienne superstition. Je doispourtant rendre cette justice aux Francois avecq quyj'ay voyage qu'ils n'ont pas fait cet infame traficq,et que malgre" les demandes que leur ayent faites lessauvages, lis ont ayme mieux refuser les avancesqu'ils leur avaient faites pour des echanges que deleur donner de l'eau de vie. Malgre les vues honteuxde ces pauvres infidelles Dieu a permis qu'ilsconservassent encore parmi eux certaines id6es quypouraient peut-estre servir a les ranger a la religion,lis reconnaissent 1' immortality de leurs ames. Apresla separation du corps, elle va joindre celle des autressauvages morts mais celles-cy n'ont pas toutes lamesme demeure. les unes sont dans des prairiesenchanters ou on voit toutes sortes de bestes qu'ellestuent sans peine et de la viande desquelles elles seregallent perpetuellement les unes les autres, aussyne voit-on dans ces prairies que chaudieres sur le feu,que danses, que jeu. Voila leur paradis. Mais ily aun pas bien dangereux a passer pour y parvenir.Pour cela, il faut traverser un large fosse* quy d'uncoste est plain d'une eau bourbeuse puante et pleined'ecume, et de l'autre, de feu et de flammes terribles.tout le secours que Ton a pour faire ce passage estun sapin appuy6 par les deux bouts sur les cot6s dufoss6; l'ecorce du sapin est tou jours fraichementlavee et d'un bout a l'autre il est couvert d'unegomme aussy glyssante que la glace. Sy les ames
1720-36] AULNEAU TO BONIN 297of several flourishing missions, and has inducedmany a savage to cast aside every semblance ofreligion. There were a certain number of Monsonis,neighbors of the Kristinaux, and not a few otherSavages among those who dwell about the upperend of lake superior, who had received holy Baptism,and who have been replunged through drunkennessinto their former superstitions. I must, however,say, in justice to the French with whom I havejourneyed, that they have not mingled in thisinfamous traffic ;and that in spite of all the reiterateddemands of the savages They have preferred toignore all offers of barter from the tribes thangive them brandy in exchange. Notwithstandingthe shameful vices of these poor infidels, God hasallowed them still to retain certain notions which,perhaps, might help to determine them to rangethemselves on the side of religion. They acknowledgethe immortality of the soul. After its separationfrom the body it goes to join those of the otherdeceased savages; but these have not all the samedwelling-place— some inhabit enchanting prairies,where all kinds of animals are to be found. Thesethey have no trouble in slaying, and with the viandsof the chase they are perpetually regaling oneanother. No wonder ifeverywhere, on theseplains, you see kettles swung over the fire, anddances and games,— all told, that is their paradise.But before reaching it, there is a spot of extremeperil,— the souls have to cross a wide ditch. Onone side of the way, it is full of muddy water,offensive to the smell and covered with scum while;on the other the pit is filled with fire, which rises infierce tongues of flame. The only means of crossing
298 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.68qui veulent aller dans les prairies enchantees, ont lema[l]heur de tomber dans cette dangereuse traversed,iln'y a plus de ressource; elles sont condamn£espour tou jours ou a boire de cette £cume bourbeuzeet puante, ou a bruler dans les flammes, selon lecoste ou elles tombent, voila leur enfer. Voilaquelque idee obscure de ce qu'il en doit couterpour aller au ciel.Je ne vous parle point de mille autres extravagancesque je ne fais encore qu'entrevoir, parceque je n'entendspas encore ass6s bien leur langue. Sy celavous fait plaisir, je pourray dans la suite vous entretenir.Je suis le premier missionnaire quy aitencore entrepris de deehiffer la langue des Kristinaux.Tous p. . .je n'y suis pas encorefort habille. Je n'en apprends que peu dans touscet hyver ayant tous 6t6 en guerre contre lesMaskout6poels ou scioux des prairies. lis en ontdetruit quelques cabanes et quelques uns d'eux sontvenus avec quelques uns d'eux et quelques chevalurresquy sont les plus pr6tieux trophees de leursvictoires Cette guerre a ete" cause que nous avonsbeaucoup a souffrir cet hyver n' ayant eu autre chosepour nous nourrir que d' asses mauvais brochetsbouillis ou sech6s au feu. Les kristinaux ne sontpas a beaucoup pres aussi nombreux queles assiniboels,mais ils sont beaucoup plus braves ou plustotplus feroces et plus cruels ils se tuent les uns les;autres sur le moindre soupcon, la guerre et la chasseest toute leur occupation. Ils n'ayment pas aapprendre leurlangue, de sorte que le peu que j'enscay, c'est malgre* eux que je l'ay appris. J'esperecependant estre en estat avant mon depart pour les
1720-36] AULNEAU TO BONIN 299it is on a fir-tree, the ends of which rest on either bank.Its bark is ever freshly moistened and besmearedwith a substance which makes it as slippery as ice.If the souls who wish to cross to the enchantingplains have the misfortune to fall at this dangerouspassage, there is no help left; they are doomedforever to drink of the foul, stagnant water, or toburn in the flames, according to the side on whichthey fall. Such is their hell, and such is theirobscure notion of what efforts must be made tosecure heaven.I leave untold a thousand other vagaries, of which,from the little said, you may form a faint idea, noram I sufficiently versed in the matter, having but avery imperfect knowledge of their language. If it bepleasing to you, I may revert to the subject later on.I am the first missionary who has as yet undertakento systematize the language of the Kristinaux. All. . I am not very skillful at it. I have pickedup but littleduring the winter, as all have been outon a warlike expedition against the Maskout6poe*lsor prairie scioux. They destroyed a few cabins,and some have returned with a few scalps, which areprized as the most precious trophies of their victories.This war was the occasion for us of much sufferingduring the winter, as we had no other nourishmentthan tainted pike, boiled or dried over the fire.The kristinaux are not nearly as numerous as theassiniboels, but they are much braver, or rathermuch more fierce and cruel. They massacre eachother on the most trivial pretext. The war and thehunt are their sole occupations. They are averse toteaching their language to others, so that what littleI know has been picked up in spite of them. I
300 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68Koatiouaks de leur annoncer l'evangile.Le demonest 1'unique idolle qu'ils reconnaissent et c'est a luyque se determinent toujours leurs bizarres sacrifices,quelques uns d'eux m'ont ditl'avoir veu plusieursfois visiblement, ils le craignent beaucoup parcequede leur aveu il ne leur fait que du mal, et c'estpourquoy ils l'honorent au lieu qu'ils ne pensent pasmesme a Dieu parce qu'il ne leur fait que du bien.Ils avouent qu'ils ont tout recu de luy et qu'il estl'auteur de tout, aussy ne sont-ils pas surpris quandon leur parle des prodiges qu'il a souvent operas,la resurrection d'un mort n'a rien mesme qui lesestonne; et un jour un Monsouis, entendant parlerde celle du Lazare, dit: « Belle merveille que Dieul'ait ressuscite\ Je luy avoit d6ja donne une fois lavie, il pouvoit encore bien luy donne" une seconde.Quand on leur parle de la religion chrestienne, unede leurs grandes ressources pour ne pas l'embrasserc'est que les Sauvages ne sont pas faits pour cettereligion,mais la vraye raison, qu'ils ne veulent pasavouer c'est la crainte qu'ils ont du demon et lanecessity ou ils seroient de renoncer a ce qu'ilsappellent leur religion auxquels ils s'imaginent nepouvoir renoncer sans estre sur le change, frapp^sde mort. Pri6s le Seigneur, mon R. Pere, de vouloirbien eclairer ces malheureux esclaves de l'enferet de leur toucher le cceur. Conjur6s-le surtoutd'envoyer dans ses vastescontr6es de zeles ouvrierspour leur annoncer l'evangile et les forcer avecqle secours du ciel d'aymer et d'embrasser unereligion qu'ils ne peuvent s'empecher de respecter.Je suis persuade" que sy on estoit cinq ou six missionnairesdans ces pays, on y pourroit faire quelque
1720-36] A ULNEA U TO BONIN 301hope, nevertheless, to announce the gospel to them,before my departure for the Koatiouaks. Thedemon is the only idol they acknowledge, and it isto him that they offer their outlandish sacrifices.Some have assured me that he has visibly appearedto them. They are in great dread of him, as,according to their own avowal, he is the author ofnothing but the ills which befall them. It is for thisreason they honor him, while they do not give athought to God, since he sends them nothing butblessings. They acknowledge having receivedeverything from him, and that he is the author ofall things. Wherefore they manifest no surprisewhen told of his wondrous works. Even the raisingof the dead to life would not astonish them. Oneday, a Monsouis, listening to the story of Lazarus,exclaimed: "Wonderful indeed, that God raisedhim to life ! He had already given life to him once,Whencould he not giveit to him a second time ?' 'we speak of Christianity to them, one of theirstanding reasons for not embracing it is, that theSavages were not made for that religion; but thetrue reason, which they do not wish to avow, is theirfear of the demon, and the necessity in which theywould be placed of renouncing what they call theirreligion, which they imagine they could neverabandon without immediately being stricken withdeath. Beg our Lord, my Reverend Father, toenlighten these poor bondsmen of hell, and to touchtheir hearts. Conjure him especially to send intothese vast regions zealous laborers, to announce thegospel to them, and to oblige them, with heaven'shelp, to cherish and embrace a religion that theycannot help respecting. I am convinced that if
302 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68fruit, surtout parmis les Assiniboels et les koatiouaksbeaucoup plus dociles que les autres mais que peutfaire un seul homme dans une etendue de pays donton ignore encore les limites? A peine a-t-on parl6a un de la religion, et a-t-on conceu quelque faiblelueur d'esperance, qu' oblige pour vivre, d'errerdans les Bois le demon luy suscite mille supostsquy Ten detournent et quy luy font honte d' avoirmesme escoute* ce qu'on luy a dit sur la religion.Au lieu que plusieurs missionnaires disperses dedifferents cost£s, les tiendraient comme bloqu6s eta peine seroient-ils sortes des mains de luy qu'ilsretomberoient dans celles de 1' autre d'ailleurs jesuis trop faible et trop miserable pour commencerun ouvrage qui demanderoit un homme d'une saintete"consommee. J 'ay eu beau le repr6senter avantmon depart on n'a pas vouleti m'escouter. On m'apromis qu'on m'enverroit quelqu'un cette annee sion me tient parole, j'espere de la misericorde dubon Dieu que dans quelques anne*es je pouray vousdonner quelques nouvelles quy vous feront plaisir.Avant qu'il puisse me joindre, je compte savoirpassablement la langue des Kristinaux et un peucelle des Assiniboels. Le Bon Dieu m'a donne*asses de facility pour comprendreces bizarresjargons. Enfin, mon Reverend Pere, toute lareussite" de ces projets est comme de Dieu seul, peutestrequ'au lieu d'apprendre la nouvelle de 1 'executionvous apprendr^s la nouvelle de ma mort.La route, qui me reste a faire est une route de. . . lieues sans trouver de tristes restes dela barbarie et de la fureur des sauvages de ces contr£es,il en sera comme il plaira au bon Dieu ;du
1720-36] A ULNEA U TO BONIN 803there were five or six missionaries in this region,their efforts would not be fruitless, especially amongthe Assiniboels and the koatiouaks, who are muchmore tractable than the others. But what can onepoor mortal do in such an extent of country, thevery limits of which are as yet unknown ?Scarcelyhave we fairly entered upon the question of religionwith some one of the natives, and commenced toentertain some faint hope of his conversion, than,confronted with the necessity of supplying the wantsof life, he has to betake himself to a wanderinglife in the Woods. There the demon invents athousand subterfuges to turn him from his purpose,and makes him ashamed that he ever lent an ear towhat was said to him about religion. Were thereseveral missionaries here, it would be otherwise.They would be stationed at different points, andcould head off, as it were, the roving savage, who,if he escaped from one, would fall into the hands ofanother. But independently of this, I am altogethertoo weak and too unworthy to inaugurate a work whichwould require a missionary of consummate holiness.I submitted this to my superiors before my departure,but my representations were not deemed of anyA promise, however, was made to send meweight.a companion this yearif one comes, Ihope through;the mercy of God that in a few years I shall be ableto give you news which will be satisfactory. Beforethe new missionary can reach me here, I think thatI shall have acquired a pretty complete knowledge ofthe language of the Kristinaux and a smattering ofthat of the Assiniboels, for Providence has endowedme with a certain facility in mastering these oddjargons. After all, my Reverend Father, what the
304 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.68meilleur de mon cceur je luy feray le sacrifice de mavie. II y a de*ja trop longtemps que je l'emploie al'outrager; II ne scaurait se venger trop tot de mesperfidies. Je vous prie, mon reverend Pere, et mejette en esprit a vos genoux pour vous conjurer devous souvenir dans vos SS. SS. du plus indigne detous les hommes. C'est dans leur union que je suisde votre R e .le tres humble etobeissant serviteurJ.P. AULNEAUJ. M. J.mon R. P. d' assurer de mon respectJe vous priele R. P. superieur et tous nos R. Peres; je merecommande a leur SS. SS. Cependant comme nosderniers canots partent et que apparemment, jen'auray plus d' occasion pour ecrire sy tots je mebate et Je finis presse par ceux qui doivent portercette lettre. Daignez me recommander souvent aDieu dans vos saints sacrifices et croyez qu'on nepeut estre avec plus de respect.Mon reverand Pere
1720-36] A ULNEA U TO BONIN 305issue of all these projects will be is known to Godalone; and, who can tell, perhaps instead of receivingthe announcement of their realization you mayhear the news of my death.The journey yet beforeme is one of . . .leagues, even should I notchance to meet with any barbarous treatment or incurthe fierce resentment of the savages of the countriesthrough which I have to pass. I place all in God'shands. I am disposed to offer him with a lightheart the sacrifice of my life. It is already toolong that I continue to offend him, so it will neverbe too soon for him to chastise me. I beseech you,my reverend Father, and in spirit I cast myself atyour feet to conjure you to remember me in yourHoly Sacrifices, me, the most unworthy of creatures.It is in union with these sacrifices that I remain,your Reverence'smost humble andobedient servant,J. P. Aulneau,Jesuit Missionary.I would beg you, my Reverend Father, to conveythe expression of my respect to Reverend Fathersuperior and to all our Reverend Fathers. I recommendmyself to their Holy Sacrifices also. As thelast canoes are on the point of leaving,I shall notfor a long time have another opportunity of writing.I reluctantly close this letter, importuned as I am tofinish by those who are to carryit. Please torecommend me often to our Lord at the Holy Sacrificeof the Mass, and be assured that no one can bemore respectfully attached to your Reverence thanyours, My reverend Father.
CCX, CCXITwo Letters of 1736CCX.— Epistola Patris Mathurin le Petit ad R. P.Franciscum Retz, Praepositum Generalem SocietatisJesu, Romas. [Nouvelle Orleans, 29 Juin1736]CCXI.— Lettre ecrite par le R. P. Nicolas de Gonnor. AN. Dame de Laurette, [1736]SOURCES :For the text of Doc. CCX., we have recourseto an apograph in the archives of St. Mary's College,Montreal. In publishing Doc. CCXI., we follow an apographin the archives of St. Mary's College, Montreal ; for ourtranslation, we follow in the main an English version byFather A. E. Jones.
308 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68Epistola Patris Mathurin le Petit ad R. P. FranciscumRetz, Praspositum GeneralemSocietatis Jesu, Romae.RA. P.. Missio Ludovisiana luget duobus hoc annoorbata Missionnariis. Patrem GabrielemGuymoneau e provincia franciae post 20 annos inMissione Illinensi transactos sex dierum pleuritis evivis sustulit die 6 a februarii, magno omnium etquidem Indorum desiderio quorum aos [animos]eximio morum candore et virtutum oium apostolicarumexemplo jam pridem demulserat.Patrem Senat e provincia tolosana quiregione alteramin eademIllinensium missionem a 18 mensibustanturn sed magna jam linguae peritia et majoristudio excolebat, belli casus nobis preripuit diedominica palmarum. Exercitum nostrum ex galliset indis conflatum adversus Barbaros nomine tchikakashujus colon iaehostes comitabatur auxilii spiritualiscausa. Infelix fuit hujus belli exitus. Nostriab hostibus caesi sunt aut in fugam versi.PotuissetP. Senat, ut multi, saluti suae fuga consulere: sedequum sibi oblatum dedignatus maluit se barbarorumexercitus ducemfurori permittere quam generosumet alios gallos quos videbat prae vulneribus humi
1720-36] LE PETIT TO FATHER GENERAL 309Letter of Father Mathurin le Petit, to ReverendFather Franciscus Retz, General of theSociety of Jesus, at Rome.Very Reverend Father,The Louisiana Mission mourns, for it hasthis year been deprived of two Missionaries.On the 6th day of february, Father GabrielGuymoneau, of the province of f ranee, after 20 yearsspent in the Illinois Mission, was carried off by anattack of pleurisy days,— that lasted six to the greatregret of all, even of the Indians, whose nature hehad already softened by the remarkable purity of hismorals, and the example of all his apostolic virtues.On palm Sunday the fortune of war took from usFather Senat, of the province of toulouse; he hadbeen in charge of another mission of the Illinois inthe same country for 18 months only, but wasalready skilled in the language, and was still moreremarkable for his zeal. For the purpose of givingspiritual assistance, he accompanied an armycomposed of french and indians against Barbarianscalled tchikakas, who are enemies of this colony. Theresult of this was unfortunate. Our men were eitherslain by the enemy or put to flight. Father Senatmight, as many had done, have sought safety inflight; but, refusing a horse that was offered him,he preferred yielding to the fury of the barbarians,rather than leave without Spiritual succor the bravehead of the army and the french, whom he saw
310 LES RELA TJONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68Stratos aut ab hostibus abreptos absque ulloSpiritual!auxilio relinquereCaritatis hue et hie circumjacentiumvulneratorum vocibus: Pater carissimenosne deseres? non potuit resistere. Qui in iliumdum flexis genibus oraret turmatim irruerunt barbari,visi sunt multis fustibus captivum suum statimimpetere et sic supplicio longe graviori praeludere.licet nihil certi adhucNulli enim hodie dubium est,ad nos pervenerit, quin banc caritatis et zeli victimamBarbari pro suo more contumeliis omnibusindigne affecerint.igne eo crudeliori quoquadro affixum suspenderint etlentiori imolaverint suae inGallos vindictae. Testatus fuerat saepius P. Senatnihil se habere ardentius in votis quam ut se pro deiGloria et animarum salute aliquando devovaretRupellae in portu antequam navim in hanc regionemconscenderet, auditus erat in febris aestu et pio quasidelirio has in voces erumpere: Ergo ne hie moriarDeus mi !non dabis in carissimam missionem pervenireet earn sanguine meo irrorareMathurin Le Petit. S.J.[Endorsed: " Lettre du P. Mathurin Le Petitau t-R. P. G. nouvelle Orleans 29 Juin 1736. Le P.Lepetit 6tait alors sup r . de toutes ces missions."]
1720-36] LE PETIT TO FATHER GENERAL 311Stretched on the ground through their wounds, orcarried off by the enemy. He could not resist thevoice of Charity, or the words of the wounded lying' 'here and there : Dearest Father, will you forsakeus?" The Barbarians, who rushed upon him in abody, as he was kneeling in prayer, were immediatelyseen showering blows from clubs upon their captive,the prelude to a much greater torture. For no onedoubts, although nothing certain has so far reachedus, that the Barbarians, according to their custom,shamefully insulted in every manner that victim ofzeal and charity; they suspended him, bound, to aframe, and, out of revenge against the French, theyimmolated him by fire, which was all the more cruel50because it burned more slowly. Father Senathad often declared that he desired nothing moreardently than to sacrifice himself, some day, for theGlory of God and the salvation of souls. At the portof La Rochelle, before he embarked for this country,he was heard in the heat of fever, and in a sort ofpious delirium, to break out into the following"exclamations: Must I die here? My God! Wiltthou not grant me to reach my dearest mission, andwater it with my blood? "Mathurin Le Petit, S.J.' '[Endorsed Letter of Father Mathurin Le Petit:to the very Reverend Father General, 51 new Orleans,June 29, 1736. Father Lepetit was then superior ofall these missions."]
312 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68Lettre ecrite parle R. P. Nicolas deGonnor.MonReverend PerePlusieursraisons m'engagent aujourd'huia prendre la liberte" de votts escrire, c'estpremierement pour vous assurer que j'ay toujoursconserve pour votre Reverance une estime quy vajusqu'a la veneration, et que mon respecq et mondevouement pour vous sont au dessus de toutes mesexpressions; je me suis desja reproche bien des foisde ne vous avoir pas plus tot. temoigne* mes sentimentsa cet egard et d' avoir tant difere" a m'acquitterde mon devoir et a vous marquer la reconnaissanceque j'aurais toujours pour toutes les bont£s que vousavez eues pour moy en plusieurs occasions et enparticulier lorsque j'estaisdans le Seminaire deLucon que vous gouvernez depuis sy longtemps avecautant de sagesse que de succes. C'est ensuite pourvous prier de faire seavoir de la maniere que vousjugerez la plus convenable a la mere du P. Aulneau,la mort de son cher fils que nous avons seu depuispeu avoir est£ massacre au mois de May dernier, pardes sauvages errants nomm6s scioux des prairies.Comme il allait de sa mission a une autre pour seconfesser, et consulter sur des embarras que luycausaient sa grande delicatesse de conscience. II a6t6 g6n6ralement regrette et parmy nous et parmy
1720-36] LETTER BY DE GONNOR 313Letter written by Reverend Father Nicolas deGonnor.My Reverend Father,Several reasons have induced me towriteyon this letter: First, to assnre yon that Ihave always borne for yonr Reverence an esteembordering on veneration, and that my respect anddevotedness for yon personally are beyond expression.I have more than once reproached myselfwith not having sooner given yon some token of mysentiments in this respect, and for having deferredthe accomplishment of this dnty. I wish now toexpress my lasting gratitude for your kindness to meon many occasions, especially while I was an inmateof the Seminary of Lucon, which you governed forso long a time with as much wisdom as success.Another reason for writing you is to beg you tobreak as gently as possible to Father Aulneau'smother the news of the death of her dear son, who,we have learned but lately, was slain last May by aparty of wandering savages, called the scioux of theprairies, While he was journeying from his own toanother mission, with the intention of going toconfession and of seeking advice on troubles towhich his extreme delicacy of conscience had givenrise. He is universally regretted by both themembers of the society and by seculars, for he wasuniversally esteemed. Last year, he preached during
314 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 68les seculiers parce qu'il etait geneYalement estim6de tout le monde. IIprecha Tan passe" au Carnavalavecq l'applaudissement de toute la ville de Kebecquy estoit a son sermon on quy en entendit fairel'eloge a cenx quy y estoient. «La foule cependantquy y assista, l'ecouta toujours avec grande attentionet temoigna ensuite en estre fort satisfait quelque:temps apres, il soutint son quatriesme examen avectoute la facilite et le succes possible quand il futnomme pour lade toutesmission la plus esloign^ecelles du Canada et par consequent la plus rude et laplus destitute de tout secours humain, puis que lesannees prec6dentesily estoit mort deux ou troishommes de faim. II sentit une repugnance extresmeparce qu'il falloit y aller seul de missionnaire n'yen ayant pas assez pour en mettre deux dans chaqueposte ny mesme pour les remplir tous, cependant, ilsurmonta par zele et par obeissance cette repugnanceavec une generosity quy charma ceux quy savaientses peines et fit croire aux autres quy n'en savaientrien, qu'il avait naturellement beaucoup de plaisird 'aller a la decouverte d'un nouveau pays. En unmot, mon R. P. c' estoit un vrai Jesuite et un hommevraiment apostolique. J'en puis mieux parler cfu'unautre parceque ayant €t€ comme vous savez, monescolier des qu'il fut arrive" en Canada, nous nousattachames l'un a l'autre sy etroitement que nousn'avions rien de cache entre nous; je le regretteinfinement et comme missionnaire et comme amy,toute notre mission est afflig£e de sa perte mais jesuis plus amige qu'aucun de la mission. Ce qui meconsole, c'est que je suis persuade que Dieu n'a
1720-36] LETTER BY DE GONNOR 315the Carnival at Kebec, to the great satisfaction ofall, those who were not able to attend forming theirjudgment of him from the testimony of those whowere present. The crowd who followed eagerly hissermons were outspoken in their praise. Shortlyafter, he underwent his fourth year examination[in theology] with ease and all possible success.was then that he was named to take charge of themost remote and consequently the hardest and themost utterly destitute of all human resources amongthe various missions of Canada, so much so thatduring the preceding years two or three persons haddied there of hunger. He felt a great repugnancefor this post, as he would have to go there alone,unaccompanied by any other missionary, there beingtoo few to spare two for each mission, while someposts even were left vacant he; generously overcamethis reluctance through zeal and a love of obedience,much to the admiration of those who knew howpainful the sacrifice was; those, on the contrary, whowere ignorant of it fancied that he was delighted atthe idea of discovering new regions. In fine, myReverend Father, he was a true Jesuit, and a trulyapostolic man. I can speak with more certainty onthis point than another, for, as you know, he wasmy pupil. From his first landing in Canada webecame intimate friends, so that we had nothinghidden from each other. I deeply deplore his lossboth as a missionary and as a friend. Every one inthe mission is in great affliction at losing him, butno one as much as myself. What consoles me isthe conviction that if God has cut short his careerit is the sooner to crown his apostolic virtues. HeIt
316 LES RELA TIONS DES jlSUITES [Vol. 68abrege sytots ses jours que pour recompenser plustot ses vertus apostoliques. II semble mesme luiavoir reveler qu'il recevrait bientot le prix de sestravaux car il m'escrivoit quinze jours avant sa mort:continuez, mon tres cher Pere, a prier Dieu pourmoy et a me recommander a la sainte Vierge,J'espere bientot finir ma carriere mais je crains dela mal finir. II a ete* surpris avec vingt autres Francois,on ne scait pas comment ils ont 6t6 tu6s on n'aapercu aucun signe de defiance on n'a pas vu nonplus que les barbares les ayent tourmentes commeils font ordinairement a Ceux qu'ils prennent enguerre. On conjecture qu'ils les ont surpris dans lesommeil et assomm6s tout d'un coup apres quoy ilsles ont a tous separe* la teste du reste du corps,dit pourtant qu'a la situation, ou on a trouve leoncorps du pere il est a croire qu'il estoit a genouxlorsqu'on luy a tranche* la teste c'est pourquoy unde ceux quy l'ont trouve* a pres sa calotte disant tout:pauvre que je suis je ne la donnerais pas pour milleescus. Quoique nous ne doutions pas de son bonheur6ternel, cependant je crois que vous luyaccorderez et luy procurerez les sufrages ordinairesde la compagnie, sy vous voyezdefunt ou sy vous luy escrives, jela mere du chervous prie de luytemoigner la part que je prends a son affliction queje suis trop arfiige moy-mesme pour pouvoir la consolerautrement qu'en priant le Dieu des consolationsde luy accorder touttes les gracesbesoing pour soutenir un sy rude coup.dont elle auraPermettesmoy de finir icy M. R. P. car je sans que je ne puisplus tenir contre la douleur qui me presse. Je suis
1720-36] LETTER BY DE GONNOR 317even, it would seem, revealed to him that he wouldsoon receive the reward of his toil, for the Fatherwrote to me but a fortnight before his death inthese terms:u Continue, my dear Father, to prayto God for me, and recommend me to the blessedVirgin ; Ihope soon to finish my course, but dreadlest I finish itbadly." He was surprised withtwenty other Frenchmen, but it is not known howthey were put to death. No premonitory sign ofdistrust on the part of the savages was noticed, norwere the victims tortured, as they are wont to bewhen prisoners are taken in battle. It is conjecturedthat they were surprised while asleep, and receivedtheir death-blows unawares. The heads of all werethen severed from the bodies. It is said, however,that from the position in which the father's bodywas found, he must have been on his knees whenhe was decapitated; and one of the party who foundhim took possession of his calotte, remarking that,poor as he was, he would not part with it for athousand escus. Although we entertain no doubtsof his eternal happiness, we trustnevertheless thatyou will give him the benefit of the customarysuffrages of the society. If you should yourself seethe mother of the dear departed, or if you shouldwrite to her, I beg of you to make her understandthe share I bear with her in this deep affliction, andthat my own grief is too great toallow my offeringher any consolation otherwise than by beseechingthe God of all comfort to bestow on her the gracesshe stands in need of to bear the weight of so heavya blow. Allow me, My Reverend Father, to closehere, for my distress overwhelms me. I am, with
318 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.68avecq un profond respect dans 1' union de vos S. S.S. S. PrieresMon Reverend PereVotre tres humble ettres obeissant serviteur.Degonnor, J.Missionnaire des Hurons,a N. Dame de LauretteMes tres humbles assurances de respecq a tous lesR. P. du seminaire et en particulier au P. Bonin, auestre sansP. Moreau et au P. Pillex qu'on m'a dit youblier le Pere Faure s'ily est encore comme on mel'a dit. Je salue aussy tres humblement les Regentset tous vos messieurs.
1720-36] LETTER BY DE GONNOR 319the most profound respect, in union with your HolySacrifices and Prayers,My Reverend Father,Your most humble andmost obedient servant,Degonnor, Jesuit,Missionary of the Huronsat Notre Dame de Laurette.Convey, I beg you, the assurance of my greatrespect to all the Reverend Fathers of the seminary,and in particular to Father Bonin, Father Moreau,and Father Pillex, as I am told they are with you,—without forgetting Father Faure, if he be still there,as I am told.I also very humbly salute the Regentsand other gentlemen of the house.
ouBIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA :VOL LXVIIIecuPierre Laure's Relation du Saguenay, 1J20 a i?jo,was dated at Chicoutimi, March 13, 1730. Theoriginal MS., in French (a folio of 18 pp.), now restsin the archives of St. Mary's College, Montreal. TheMS., while written in a clear hand, was evidentlyintendedas a first draft, having numerous erasuresand interlineations ;the writer shows an almost totaldisregard for accent-marks. This Relation was firstpublished in 1889, by Father Jones, as the initialnumber of his series of Documents Rates ou Inidits;"the following title is a description: DocumentsRares In6dits I Mission du| || Saguenay RelationIn£dite Du R. P. Pierre Laure,|| S.J., 1720 a1730I prec£dee de | quelques notes biographiquessur ce missionnaire| par le P. Arthur E.| Jones,S.J." I''Montreal|Archives du College Ste Marie| 1889."Collation: Title, with verso blank; "Notes Biographiqueset Chronologiques sur le Pere PierreLaure, S.J.," signed " Arthur Edouard Jones, S.J.College Ste- Marie, Montreal, Decembre 1889," pp.3-25; text of Relation, pp. 26-72; "Table des"Matieres," pp. i., ii. ; Errata," with verso blank.Paper-covered, 8vo.In the present publication, we have followed theoriginal MS.
LES RELA TIONS DES J^SUITESCCIIIThis letter of Mathurin le Petit to D'Avaugour,dated at New Orleans, July 12, 1730, we obtain fromLettres e'difiantes (Toulouse ed.), tome vii., pp. 1-59.CCIV-CCIX, CCXIDoc. CCIV. is a letter of Luc Francois Nau,addressed to one of the provincials of the order(Quebec, October 20, 1734); CCV. is a letter (datedQuebec, April 25, 1735) by J. Pierre Aulneau to H.Faye; CCVI. and CCVII. are letters written (Quebec,April 12, and Montreal, June 12, 1735, respectively)by Aulneau to Father Bonin; CCVIII. is a letterfrom Nau to Bonin (Sault St. Louis, October 2, 1735);CCIX. was written by Aulneau to Bonin, from theCree country, April 30, 1736; CCXI. is a letter byNicolas de Gonnor to an unknown brother- Jesuit,from Notre Dame de Lorette, apparently in 1736.All seven of these letters are selected from a considerablecollection of apographs made, in 1889, forthe archives of St. Mary's College, Montreal, fromthe originals, which are in the possession of theAulneau family, at Bournezeau, Vendue, France. InAugust, 1892, Father Jones, archivist of St. Mary's,began the publication of an English translation ofthe letters, in The Canadian Messenger (vol. ii., No. 8),a monthly magazine edited by him. The same typehas been used, with a revised Introduction, in makingup a pamphlet which appears as the second numberof Father Jones's Documents Rares ou Ine'dits, previouslynoticed. So far as published, the following is' *a description of this issue : Rare or| | UnpublishedDocuments. II The Aulneau Collection|| | |1734-1745. IEdited| by the Rev. Arthur E.| Jones, of|
ArchivesBIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: VOL. LXVIII 323the Society of Jesus. Montreal. of St.| |"Mary's College | 1893. |Collation: Title, with verso blank; introductionby Father Jones, pp. 3-7; text of letters, pp. 7-160.Paper-covered, 8vo.CCXThis is a letter written in Latin by Mathurin lePetit to the father general, dated at New Orleans,June 29, 1736. We follow an apograph in thearchives of St. Mary's College, Montreal.
NOTES TO VOL LXVIII(Figures in parentheses, following number of note, refer to pagesof English text.)i (p. «7).— The reference here is evidently to the trading companyfounded by Law, called the " Western Company," which was afterward" styled Company of Indies " (vol. lxvii., note 37) ;to this associationwas entrusted the farming of the revenues in both Franceand the colonies.2 (p. 29).— Laure himself made, later, a map of the Saguenayregion (vol. lix., note 5). Cf. the missionary map reproduced by usin vol. lxv.3 (p. 41).— See sketch of Malherbe in vol. xlvi., note 11. Themission station here referred to is that of Metabetchouan (vol. lx.,note 31).4 (P- 43)-— The river here described is apparently the Peribonca (a**name defined by Lovell as singular, or curious "), one of the chieftributaries of Lake St. John. Lake Albanel is one of the divisionsof Lake Mistassini (vol. lvi., note 14).5 (p. 49). — Cf. with this the Iroquois belief in " False-faces" (vol.lxiii., note 29).6 (p. 77).— In June, 1720, a vessel from Sidon brought to Marseillesthe infection of the Oriental plague, which quickly extended notonly over the city, but throughout the entire province.alone the pestilence destroyed over 50,000 lives.In Marseilles7 (p. 79).— This veneration for the cross is described at length bythe Recollet Le Clercq {ReI.Gaspesie, pp. 169-199); but Dionnethinks {facques Cartier, p. 237) that the missionary was imposedupon by the savages. Cf. Emmanuel Jumeau's map of EasternNew Brunswick (1685), reproduced by Ganong in his " Cartographyof New Brunswick" (Canad. Roy. Soc. Proc, newser., vol. iii., sec.2, pp. 363, 364) the title of the; map mentions the cross as " divinelyreceived from heaven, long before the arrival of the French in thatcountry." But cf. also our vol. lix., note 19; and vol. lxi., note 7.8 (p. 79).— On the MS. is written in French, on the margin: " Tobe seen in the room of the father procurator."
-326 LES RELA TIONS DES j£S UITES9 (p. 85).— Requin is the term applied to the great shark, Carcharinusglaucus. "Dog-fish" is a popular appellation for variousspecies it is difficult to;identify the one described by Laure.10 (p. 89).— Croccinolle: a sort of fritter, fried in oil or fat.Clapin {Diet. Canad.-Fran., p. 101) spells the word croquecignole,apparently a provincial usage for the French croquignole.11 (p. 105).— Reference is here made to the directions given by St.Ignatius for the daily examination of conscience by persons who" make retreat " — that is, practice the "spiritual exercises." Headvises that lines be drawn on a sheet of paper, two for each day ofthe week and that on these lines be noted;down, by marking pointsthereon, the faults committed during the day by the person thusexamining himself. These lines are shorter each day in succession,"it being reasonable that the number of faults should decreasedaily. There ' ' are two kinds of this exercise— the particular andthe general examination of conscience. The former "is so calledbecause it is used in a special manner to extirpate a single vice ordefect; " the latter " is used against all the vices or sins into whichman can fall. The ' ' particular examination is to be made twicedaily, and the number of times when a certain sin or fault is committedare to be noted, as above. The record thus formed is to beexamined from day to day, and compared with each of the precedingdays' accounts the; penitent can thus estimate the progress of hisdaily and weekly amendment. The general examination shouldalways occur at least once a day (but twice as often during retreat) ;a method — for this is prescribed, containing five points thanksgivingfor benefits received, prayer for divine grace, a searching examinationof one's soul for faults, entreaty for pardon, and resolutionsfor amendment. St. Ignatius himself observed the rules prescribedby him, " with the most minute exactness during his whole life, evento the very day of his death."12 (p. 109).— According to Laure's journal (some extracts fromwhich are published in Missions du Diocese de Quibec, March,1864, pp. 44-46), the church at Chicoutimi " was completed (invitaMinerva) on the 28th of September, 1726. ' ' The missionary's housethere was built in 1728; he says," I did nearly all the inside workwith my own hands, for the benefit of my successors,— asking themto pray for me, and wishing them a most peaceful life."13 (p. in).— See full account of Lettres tdifiantes in BibliographicalData for vol. lxvi., pp. 298-334.14 (p. 117).— Pierre Laure was born atOrleans, Sept. 17, 1688, andof nineteen. In 1711, while yet aCanada, and spent the next four years as anbecame a Jesuit novice at the agestudent, he came to
NOTES TO VOL. LXVIII 327instructor in the college of Quebec. "In 1716 he had charge of thelibrary that is the first time when such occupation is noted in the;status of the College." His theological studies completed, Laurewas ordained a priest on June 23, 1719. In the following year, hewas sent to reopen the Saguenay— missions which, for lack of missionaries,had been abandoned for a score of years. The remainderof his life was spent in that field; he died there Nov. 22, 1738. Tohis work as a cartographer (vol. lix., note 5), Laure added muchexercise in the art of painting {Bull. Rech. Hist., May, 1900, pp. 152,153).15 (p. 145).— Gatschet {Migration Legend, pp. 181, 182) says thatthis war-medicine, or " war-physic," was a decoction of the buttonsnakeroot; but he neglects to state whether he means Liatris orEryngium, to both of which genera the above popular name isapplied. The custom of drinking this medicine is mentioned alsoby Charlevoix {Journ. Hist., p. 425). Gayarre {Louisiana: FrenchDomination, vol. i., p. 317) says that it was " a fermented liquor,made with the leaves of the Cassia berry tree. ' '16 (p. 155).— Sicicouet: evidently the Algonkin word— written alsochichikoue" and cicikwan (Cuoq)— used to designatethe rattle orsmall drum used by Indian medicine-men in their incantations (vol.xx., note 3). See Cuoq's Lexique Algon., p. 87; and Ferland'sCours d'Histoire, t. i., p. 112, note 1.— 17 (p. 165). Vivier states much more forcibly (in his letter datedNov. 17, 1750) the cause of the revolt of the Natches, as " the tyrannyof the French commandant " at their village, one Chopart. Dumont,in his Mimoires historiques de la Louisiana (translated by Frenchin La. Hist. Colls., part 5), describes (pp. 62-72) Chopart's characterand conduct, and the resulting massacre of the French. Seealso Gayarre's Louisiana: French Domination, vol. i., pp. 396-423.18 (p. 167 ).— Marc Antoine de la Loire des Ursins came toLouisiana as early as 1713, and was afterward an official of theCompany of the Indies; in 1722, he was in Illinois, and later owned aconcession near Natchez. The concessionary Koli (Kolly) ismentioned by Du Poisson in his letter of Oct. 3, 1727 (vol. lxvii.,of the concession of Terrep. 281). Des Noyers was managerBlanche, near Natchez ;itbelonged to one Le Blanc, French ministerof war (Dumont, ut supra, pp. 19, 22).19 (p. 173).— The Koroas (Corroys) were a tribe living, when visitedby La Salle and other early explorers, on the west side of the Mississippi,above the Natches ; later, they were found on the Yazoo River.They were finally merged in the Choctaws, although their languagewas unlike that of the latter.— See Gatschet's Migration Legend,pp. 47, 48.
328 LES RELA T10NS DES jASUITES20 (p. 187).— The tribes here named belong to the chief branch ofthe Maskoki (Muskhogee) family. The Cha'hta (Tchactas, Choctaws)were the original group of tribes,— in historic times, settled inthe middle portions of the State of Mississippi; from them hadearlier migrated (vol. lxvi., note 28) the Chicasa (Tchicachas,Chickasaws) people, who settled in Northern Mississippi, and varioussmaller tribes (vol. lxv., note 29), who wandered to the west andsouth. Both these nations are now located in Indian Territory,where they cultivate the lands allotted to them, and are prosperousand fairly civilized. The Chicasa language served as a medium ofcommercial and tribal intercourse to all the tribes of the Lower4 'Mississippi it; is, accordingly, usually styled the Chicasa tradejargon." — Gatschet's Migration Legend, pp. 52, 90-109.For interesting early maps of New Orleans, see Waring andCable's report on the social statistics of that city, in Tenth U. S.Census.21 (p. 195).— Diron d'Artaguette had come to Louisiana in 1708, asroyal commissioner, in which or similar capacity he acted for manyyears. As early as 1719, he owned a concession at Baton Rouge.The reference in the text is to Pierre d'Artaguette, a son (or, accordingto some writers, a younger brother) of the commissioner he was;an officer in the French troops, and served with distinction in bothIllinois and Louisiana. He was commandant in the former districtfrom 1734 until the time of his death. That was a tragical event for;in 1736 he came to the South, with a body of Illinois warriors, to aidBienville in an attack upon the Chickasaws. Wounded in battle, hisIllinois savages fled; and D'Artaguette, with several other Frenchmen,including the Jesuit Antoine Senat, were burned at the stakeby their Chickasaw captors.22 (p. 197).— Michel Baudouin was born in Canada March 8, 1692(according to the Catalogues), and entered the Jesuit novitiate atthe age of twenty-one. Coming to Louisiana in 1726, he was soonassigned to the Choctaw mission, where he spent eighteen years.From 1749 until the expulsion of the Jesuits from the colony, Baudouinwas superior of the Louisiana missions. When that event tookplace (1763), he was allowed to remain, instead of being sent toFrance, a planter in the colony having offered the aged priest ahome on his estate.Were it not for the different date of birth (March 27, 1691) givenby Tanguay, and his omission of mentioning the man as a priest,this Jesuit could be identified as a son of Gervais Baudouin, a physicianat Quebec {Diet. Gonial., t. i., end of p. 30).— 23 (p. 199). This was done in the fear that the negro slaves in thecolony would everywhere revolt.
NOTES TO VOL. LXVIII24 (p. 201).— In Europe it is customary for persons at particularseasons to retire for a time from the world, to give themselves upentirely to prayer and meditation. Some part of the season of Lentis generally selected for this purpose, and many, for the sake of moreentire seclusion, take up their residence during this time in somereligious house. This is called going into " retreat," and is the customto which Father le Petit here refers.— Kip's Jesuits in America,p. 302, note *.25 (p. 203).— Chikagou, the Illinois chief here mentioned, wasinduced by Beaubois to go, with several other chiefs of Westerntribes, in company with him to Paris, in 1725. The U. S. CatA.Hist. Mag. reprints (vol. iii., pp. 160-166) from the London PostMan of Jan. 27, 1726, an account of the visit of these " four Savagesof Mississippi," reporting the speeches made by them, and the giftsof the Indies. Cf citation frommade to them by the .CompanyMercure, referred to in our vol. lxvii., note 41.26 (p. 205).— Padouka (Paduca): the early name of several tribesdwelling in the great interior basin of the United States, S. W. ofthe Missouri River ; they are considered by modern writers as mainlybelonging to the Shoshonean family, and include the Shoshones (orSnake Indians), Utes, Comanches, and others. In 1724, Bourgmontvisited one of these tribes, apparently the Comanches, on the UpperKansas River see account of his;expedition in Margry's Dicouv. etitabl., t. vi., pp. 386-449. Later in the eighteenth century, theyceased to be known under the name Padouka it is; probable that, toescape their enemies, they migrated northward, and broke up intovarious bands bearing the names of subdivisions of the Padoukanation. The north branch of the Platte River has also borne thename of Paducas Fork ;and a town in Kentucky is called Paducah.The family appellation Paduca is, among modern writers, usedmainly by R. G. Latham (cited by Powell in U. S. Bur. Ethnol.Rep., 1885-86, p. 108), who thus designates a number of tribes belongingnot only to the Shoshonean family but to others. — SeeCoues's Lewis and Clark Expedition, pp. 60, 478.27 (p. 209).— Michel (Louis Ignace, according to Shea) Guignaswas born at Condom, France, January 22, 1681, and became a Jesuitnovice at Bordeaux, Dec. 9, 1702. He came to Canada in the summerof 1716; and, after spending a year at Quebec, was sent to theOttawa mission at Mackinac. In 1727, Guignas undertook to begin anew mission, that among the Sioux of Minnesota he ; accompaniedthe expedition sent by Governor Beauharnais in 1727, to build a fortat Lake Pepin, Minnesota. In the following !year, the French wereobliged to leave this post, on account of the hostility of the Foxes ;
330 LES RELA TIONS DES j£S UITESbut they returned to it a few years later (1735), after the renewal ofpeace. Guignas, while descending the Mississippi from Fort Beauharnais,was captured (Oct. 15, 1728) by the Mascoutens and Kickapoos,then located on the lower Wisconsin and the Mississippi ; theykept him in captivity for five months, and he narrowly escaped beingburned at the stake. He finally acquired such influence over thesesavages as to induce them to conclude a peace with the French andthe Illinois, and to conduct him to the country of the latter. Hespent the winter of 1729-30 with his former captors; later, was againat Fort Beauharnais ;and remained in the West, laboring sometimesamong the Sioux, sometimes at Mackinac, until 1739. He was thensent to the Saguenay mission, but remained there only one year.The rest of his life was spent at Quebec, where he died, Feb. 6,1752.— See Neill's Hist. Minnesota, pp. 849-855; Margry's Decouv.et itabl.,\. vi., pp. 541-580; and Jones's Aulneau Coll., p. 26, note*.28 (p. 211).— Jean le Boullenger began his missionary labors inNew France in 1703; so far as is known, he was in the Illinois mission,most of the time at Kaskaskia— where, as the records show, heministered until at least 1729.29 (p. 217).— Tchatchoumas (also written :Chactioumas) apparentlya Maskoki tribe, dwelling on the Yazoo River in the eighteenthcentury. — See Gatschet's Migration Legend, pp. 98, 99.30 (p. 221).— This " fort of the Alibamons " (vol. lxvii., note 44) wasalso called Fort Toulouse.31 (p. 221).— After the massacre of the French by the Natchez(1729), a body of troops was sent (February, 1730) from New Orleansto attack those savages. The latter, during a truce, fled from theirvillage some took ;refuge with the Chickasaws, but the greater partcrossed the Mississippi, and settled on the Washita or Black River,—as Gatschet thinks {Migration Legend, p. 38), near the presentTrinity City, La. A French army was sent against them in January,1 73 1, which assaulted their village, capturing the chief withforty warriors, and nearly 400 women and children. These captiveswere sold in the West Indies as slaves, for the benefit of the Companyof the Indies. A remnant of the Natches still exist in Indian Territory,dwelling with the Creek and Cherokee nations.32 (p. 225).— Ste. Barbe: a name applied to the gun-room of a ship,because St. Barbara was the patron saint of cannoneers, and becauseher statue or picture was placed in that room (Littre).33 (p. 227).— This bishop was Pierre Dosquet, a native of Lille,France. He was, in 1725, consecrated as a bishop, and appointedcoadjutor of Bishop Mornay; he came to Canada in 1729, andremained there three years. Returning to France in 1732, he was
NOTES TO VOL. LXVIII 331later appointed bishop of Quebec, as successor to Mornay. Dosquetcame back to Quebec in August, 1734, but remained only one year;his successor was not appointed, however, until 1 739. Tltu says ofthis bishop (Palais Epis. QuJdec, -p. 57): M Monseigneur Dosquethad a considerable personal fortune, and he lived as a grand seigniorduring the entire time which he spent in this country;" and contrasts" his aristocratic tastes and somewhat luxurious requirements" with the simple and apostolic lives of Laval and St. Vallier.34 (p. 229).— Jean (?) Pierre Aulneau was born April 21, 1705, inVendee, France. After nearly completing his studies as a Jesuitpriest, he came to Quebec, in 1734, and spent his fourth year oftheology in the college of Quebec. In the following year, he wassent to begin a new mission, among the savages dwelling about theLake of the Woods, where a French fort had been erected by LaVerendrye, leader of the expedition which Aulneau accompanied ;the priest was also expected to utilize his scientific knowledge in theexploration of that hitherto unknown region. The period fromOctober, 1735 to June, 1736 was spent by Aulneau at Fort St. Charles,where he devoted himself to the study of the Cree language ;at theend of that time, he set out with a party of twenty Frenchmen forMackinac. They had gone but a little distance from the fort whena party of Sioux surprised them, murdering Aulneau and all whoaccompanied him. — See Father Jones's Aulneau Collection, pp.3-7, 90-96, for such information as is available regarding thismissionary.35 (P- 233).— Jacques Quintin de la Bretonniere was born at Meaux,France, May 5, 1689, and entered the Jesuit novitiate at the age oftwenty-one. Coming to Canada in 1721 (1714, according to Tanguay'sRepertoire, as cited by Suite, Canad.-Fran., t. vi., p. 86),he was assigned to the mission at Sault St. Louis, where he spentmost of his life in Canada. He accompanied the Iroquois warriorsof that mission on their expeditions against tribes hostile to theFrench— notably those against the Foxes (1728) and the Chickasaws(1739). He died at Quebec, Aug. 1, 1754.36 (p. 233).— Nicolas (Flavien, according to Suite) de Gonnor wasborn Nov. 19, 1691, and became a Jesuit novice Sept. 11, 1710. In1725, he came to Canada; and, two years later, accompanied Guignasto the Sioux mission. After his return from that country, he wasstationed for a time at Sault St. Louis, but did not remain therelong, as he found great difficulty in learning the Iroquois language.He spent several years at the Lorette mission, and was again atSault St. Louis (about 1750-55); another year was spent at Montreal,and the rest of his life (1756 to Dec. 16, 1759) at Quebec, wherehe died.
332 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES37 (P- 235).— Luc Francois Nau was one of the Jesuits arriving inCanada in 1734, and was missionary at Sault St. Louis from 1735 to1743. His health gave way, and he returned to France, probably in1744. His subsequent life is unknown.38 (p. 243).— Francois Bertin Guesnier came to Quebec in the summerof 1732; he desired to go as a missionary among the Eskimosavages, but his superiors, instead, assigned to him the post oftheological professor in the college of Quebec. His frail health wasinadequate to even that task, and he died on Dec. 18, 1734, agedabout forty years.39 (p. 251).— This was probably Julien Bonin, long a professor inthe Jesuit seminary at Lucon; he was born there in 1686, and diedat Bordeaux, Dec. 21, 1760. In regard to the tribe here mentioned,Ouant Chipouanes, Father Jones intimates (Aulneau Coll., p. 48,note *J that they may be a California — tribe citing Father Picolo'sreport on the missions of that country {Let Ires idif., Toulouse ed., t.viii., p. 51), which states that those savages live, during winter, inholes dug in the earth. It is probable, however, that the tribe whichAulneau was to visit was located much farther north; and thethat heetymology of the name which he applies to them suggestsrefers to the nation now known as Chepewyans, a leading branch ofthe Athapascan family, which extends from Hudson Bay to thePacific, and southward to Mexico. Elsewhere, Aulneau mentionsthe same people as Kaotiouak— a name which, after allowing for itsAlgonkinized form, enables us to state the probability that hereferred to the Oregon tribe called Ku-itc, belonging to the Yakonanfamily. They dwelt, in the nineteenth century, on the lower UmpquaRiver, on the upper waters of which were located several villages of— Athapascan savages, a vicinage which would naturally cause, inthe mind of a stranger, confusion in the identity of the two groups ;but it is probable that, at the time when Aulneau wrote, both theUmpquas and the Ku-itc were located much farther east thanOregon.40 (p. 251).— Jean Baptiste de Saint-Pe was born Oct. 21, 1686, andentered the Jesuit novitiate when barely seventeen years of age.Joining the Canada mission, he was stationed among the Miamis,and probably remained with them (or with the Ottawas at Mackinac,where he was in 1735-36) untilto Montreal. In September, 1739, ^e became superior of the Canadianmissions, a position in which he spent nine years and to which;he was again appointed in October, 1754. From 1748 until the latterdate, he was superior of the Montreal residence.1736, when he was transferred41 (p. 253).— Eusebe Francois Kino (or Chino) was born near
NOTES TO VOL. LXVIII 333Trente, Aug. 10, 1644; and, upon attaining his majority, became aJesuit novice. In 1678, he came to America; two years later, he wasin Mexico, and then went to Lower California and New Mexico,where he established several missions among the native tribes. Healso made extensive explorations in that region, and demonstratedthe fact that Lower California was a peninsula, not an island. Kinodied at Magdalena, March 15,1711. He had, according to Sommervogel,during his missionary labors ' 'baptized 40,000 idolators. The' 'map referred to in the text shows the upper part of the Californianpeninsula and gulf, northwestern Mexico, and part of Arizona. Itis found in Lettres idif., facing Picolo's report, as cited in note 39,ante.42 (p. 263).— Regarding the name and seigniory of Sault St. Louis,see vol. xii., note 11. See Chauchetiere's history of the mission, invol. lxiii., pp. 141-245.43 (p. 277).— Reference is here made to the last French expeditionsent against the Sacs and Foxes. It left Montreal in August, 1734,and found those savages intrenched on the banks of the Des MoinesRiver, in Iowa. The attack was a failure, and finally ended withsome negotiations for peace, half-hearted on both sides the French;expedition returned to Montreal without having accomplished anydefinite result. It was commanded by Nicolas Joseph de Noyelle,of Montreal. In 1735, a peace was concluded between the Frenchand those tribes, after a war which had lasted twenty-five years.See Hebberd's Wis. under Dom. of France, p. 142.44 (p. 281).— Armand de la Richardie was born at Perigueux, Jan.4 (June 7, according to the Catalogues), 1686; and entered the Jesuitorder at Bordeaux, Oct. 4, 1703. His studies were pursued atLimoges, Bordeaux, and Marennes; he was an instructor at LaRochelle, Lucon, and Saintes successively (1705-14); and, after hisordination in 1719, at Angoul&me for six years. In 1725, he came toCanada, and apparently spent two years at the Lorette mission. In1728, he was sent to the Hurons at Detroit, who " had had no missionaryfor 14 years " (Rochemonteix's /&«//*.?, t. i., p. 345, note 2) ;his labors with them were long fruitless, but by 1735 he couldannounce that they were all converted. He remained among themtill about 1753, his last years being spent at Quebec, where he diedMarch 23, 1758.45 (p. 283).— Le Detroit," the Strait," was the name given to theshores on both sides of the river.— A. E. Jones, S.J.When Cadillac founded Detroit in 1701 (vol. lxv., note 36), a R6-collet priest went with him as chaplain for his troops and pastor forthe colonists— a post which was filled by Recollets during the entire
334 LES RELA TIONS DES /ASUITESFrench r6gime.See Shea's sketch of the Detroit church and neighboringmissions, in his Church in Colon. Days, pp. 619-635.Regarding the early history and settlers of Detroit, see Lanman'sHist, of Michigan (N. Y., 1839); Farmer's Hist, of Detroit andMichigan (Detroit, 1884) Hubbard's Memorials;of a Half-Century(N. Y., 1887); and Hamlin's Legends of le Ditroit (Detroit, 1884).At the end of the last-named work are sketches of the French familieswho first came to the colony. Cf. also Denissen's Navarre(Detroit, 1897) — an account of the descendants of Robert Navarre, aroyal officer at Detroit from 1709.46 (p. 283).— Pierre Gautier, sieur de la Verendrye, was a son ofRene Gautier (seigneur de Varennes), and grandson of Pierre Boucher,governor of Three Rivers (vol. xxviii. ,note 18). Pierre was bornat Three Rivers in 1685 ;he entered the military service, and wondistinction among the Canadian officers of his time ;he also servedin France during 1708-10. In 1712, he married Marie Anne Dandonneau,by whom he had six children. During many years, hemaintained a trading post at La Gabelle, near Three Rivers. In1726, Governor Beauharnais made La Verendrye commandant of theNorthwest. He spent the next seventeen years in that region, notonly in charge of the French interests there, but making extensiveand important explorations. He traversed the region north andwest of Lake Superior, as far as Lake Winnipeg, opening communicationand trade with the savages, and establishing French posts.By the end of 1737, he had four forts— St. Pierre, on Rainy Lake;St. Charles, on the Lake of the Woods; Maurepas, at Lake Winnipeg;and Rouge, at the mouth of the Assiniboine River. In 1738,he built Fort la Reine, farther toward Lake Manitoba ;and from thispost he and his sons made long voyages of exploration to the westand south.In 1742-43, his eldest son, Pierre, accompanied only byhis brother and two other Frenchmen, made the memorable discoveryof the Rocky Mountains, and took possession of the MissouriValley for France. Notwithstanding all his achievements, theFrench government long neglected La Verendrye, and refused toaid him; and in 1744 he was obliged to surrender his position asNorthwestern commandant. Finally, in 1748, he was restored to thatoffice, and —promoted from the rank of lieutenant to that of captainthrough the influence of Governor Beauharnais, who had alwaysbeen his friend. At once La Verendrye began to plan further explorationsbut he was attacked by an illness, from which he died on;Dec. 6, 1749. For detailed account of his career and achievements,see Suite's Canad.-Fran., t. vi., pp. 137-158, and t. vii., pp. 3-12;therein are found copious extracts from the memoirs left by theexplorer. These papers, with other documents relating to the
NOTES TO VOL. LXVIII 336subject, are published by Margry, in Dicouv. et itabl., t. vi., pp.583-634. See also Neill's Hist, of Minnesota, pp. 857-862; andParkman's " Discovery of the Rocky Mountains," in Atlantic Mo.,vol. lxi., pp. 783-793-— 47 (p. 289). Passages in this document marked with leaders,thus : . . .,are torn off or defaced in the original MS .48 (p. 291).— The probable site of Fort St. Charles was about fourmiles up the bay called Northwest Angle Inlet, west of AmericanPoint and Bucket6 Island.— A. E. Jones,S.J.49 (p. 293).— Christophe Dufros de la Jemerais (Jesmeraye), anephew of La Verendrye, was born about 1708, the son of a Frenchofficer at Montreal. From early youth he shared his uncle's adventurousand arduous career,— the privations and hardships of whichbroke down La Jemerais's constitution, and he died in 1736. A mapdrawn by him, indicating the discoveries and establishments madeby La Verendrye between Lakes Superior and Winnipeg, is citedby Suite (Canad.-Fran,, t. vii.., p. 10, noteJ as in the ParliamentLibrary at Ottawa.50 (p. 311).— Jean Charles (also mentioned as Gabriel) Guymonneauspent twenty years in Illinois, and died on Feb. 6, 1736.Regarding the expedition in which Senat lost his life, see note 21,ante.51 (p. 311).— Franciscus Retz was born at Prague, Sept. 13, 1673;and entered the Jesuit novitiate at the age of sixteen. After fillingvarious important offices within the order, he became its general onNov. 30, 1730— a post which he filled during nearly twenty years,dying at Rome, Nov. 19, 1750. The notable occurrences of hisadministration were the opposition of the Jansenists in France, andthe persecutions directed against the Jesuits and their converts inUruguay and Paraguay.Retz was the successor of Michelangelo Tamburini, who was bornat Modena, Sept. 27, 1648, and entered the Jesuit order Jan. 16, 1665.He became general of the Society in January, 1706; and died atRome, Feb. 28, 1730. During his term occurred fierce persecutionsof the native Christians in China.
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