Truly there is reason to admire the secret judgments of God, for this infamous man certainly did not merit that honor; and to tell the truth we had hesitated much in resolving to make on this occasion a particular cemetery, and to transport to holy ground a body that had led so wicked a life in the country and given the savages such a wrong impression of the manners of the French. At first some thought hard of it that we should have this opinion and were offended, alleging that this being so they could not boast as they hoped among strange nations of being related to the French, otherwise it would be said to them that they did not have much appearance of it, since we had not wished to put the bones of our people with theirs. Afterwards, however, having heard all our reasons, they decided that we had acted prudently and that it was the best means of maintaining our friendship with each other.
Shall I finish for the present with this funeral? Yes; since it is a mark sufficiently clear of the hope of a future life which nature seems to furnish us in the minds of these people, as a good means of making them understand the promises of Jesus Christ. Is there not reason to hope that they will do this, and that as soon as possible? Certainly I dare to assert that with this prospect we have reason to fortify our courage and to say of our Hurons what St. Paul wrote to the Philippians: "Confidens hoc ipsum, quia qui cœpit in vobis opus bonum, perficiet usque in diem Christi Iesu." These poor people open their ears to what we tell them of the kingdom of heaven; they think it very reasonable, and do not dare to contradict it. They are learning the judgments of God in the other life; they are beginning to have recourse with us to His goodness in their necessities, and our Lord seems to favor them sometimes with some particular assistance. They procure baptism for those who they think are about to die; they give us their children to be instructed, even permitting them to come three hundred leagues for this purpose, notwithstanding the tender affection they have for them; they promise to follow them one day and show us that they would not give us such precious pledges if they did not desire to keep faith with us. You would say that they were waitingonly to see some one among them to be the first to take this bold step and dare to go contrary to the custom of the country. They are, finally, a people who have a permanent home (demeure arrestée), are judicious, capable of reason, and well multiplied.
I made mention, the past year, of twelve nations entirely sedentary and harmonious, who understand the language of our Hurons; and the Hurons make in, twenty villages, about 30,000 souls; if the rest is in proportion, there are more than 300,000 who speak only the Huron language. God gives us influence among them; they esteem us, and we are in such favor with them, that we know not whom to listen to, so much does each one aspire to have us. In truth we would be very ungrateful for the goodness of God if we should lose courage in the midst of all this, and did not wait for Him to bring forth the fruit in his own time.
It is true that I have some little apprehension for the time when it will be necessary to speak to them in a new way of their manners and to teach them "à clouër leur chairs" and restrain themselves in the honesty of marriage, breaking off their excesses for fear of the judgment of God upon their vices. Then it will be a question of telling them openly, "Quoniam qui talia agunt regnum Dei non possidebunt." I fear that they will prove stubborn, when we speak to them of assuming Jesus Christ, wearing his colors, and distinguishing themselves in the quality of Christians from what they have been formerly, by a virtue of which they scarcely know the name; when we cry unto them with the Apostle: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from fornication, that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor: not in the passion of lust, like the gentiles that know not God." There is, I repeat, reason to fear that they may be frightened with the subject of purity and chastity, and that they will be disheartened with the doctrine of the Son of God, saying with those of Capernaum, on another subject, "Durus est hic sermo et quis potest eum audire?" Nevertheless, since with the grace of God we have already persuaded them, by the open profession we have made of this virtue, neither to do or say in our presence anything which may be averse to it—even to threaten strangers when they forget themselves before us, warning them that the French and especially the "black robes," detest these intimacies—is it not credible that if the Holy Spirit touches them once, it will so impress upon them henceforth, in every place and at all times, the reverence which they should give to His divine presence and immensity, that they will be glad to be chaste in order to be Christians, and will desire earnestly to be Christians in order to be chaste? I believe that it is for this very purpose that our Lord has inspired us to put them under the charge of St. Joseph. This great saint, who was formerly given for a husband to the glorious Virgin, to conceal from the world and the devil a virginity which God honored with His incarnation, has so much influence over the "Sainte Dame," in whose hands His Son has placed, as in deposit, all the graces which co-operate with this celestial virtue, that there is almost nothing to fear in the contrary vice, for those who are devoted to Him, as we desire our Hurons to be, as well as ourselves. It is for this purpose, and for the entire conversion of all these peoples, that we commend ourselves heartily to the prayers of all those who love or wish to love God and especially of all our fathers and brothers.
Your very humble and obedient servant in our Lord,JEAN DE BREBEUF.
From the residence of St. Joseph, among the Hurons, at the village called Ihonatiria, this 16th of July, 1636.
[1]Ancient Monuments, p. 161.
[1]Ancient Monuments, p. 161.
[2]It is somewhat strange that Rev. J. P. MacLean, who has long resided in Ohio and has studied the mounds and other works of the southern portion of that State with much care, should follow almost word for word this and the next statement of Squier and Davis (Mound-Builders, p. 50) and adopt them as his own, without modification or protest, when in the appendix containing his exceedingly valuable notes on the "Archæology of Butler County" nearly all the facts given bearing on these points show them to be incorrect.
[2]It is somewhat strange that Rev. J. P. MacLean, who has long resided in Ohio and has studied the mounds and other works of the southern portion of that State with much care, should follow almost word for word this and the next statement of Squier and Davis (Mound-Builders, p. 50) and adopt them as his own, without modification or protest, when in the appendix containing his exceedingly valuable notes on the "Archæology of Butler County" nearly all the facts given bearing on these points show them to be incorrect.
[3]Ancient Monuments, p. 161.
[3]Ancient Monuments, p. 161.
[4]Antiquities of Wisconsin, p. 9.
[4]Antiquities of Wisconsin, p. 9.
[5]Smithsonian Report 1879, p. 337.
[5]Smithsonian Report 1879, p. 337.
[6]Smithsonian Report 1879, p. 343.
[6]Smithsonian Report 1879, p. 343.
[7]Antiquities of Wisconsin, p. 28.
[7]Antiquities of Wisconsin, p. 28.
[8]Pioneer Life.
[8]Pioneer Life.
[9]Potherie, Histoire de l'Amérique Septentrionale, II, p. 43.
[9]Potherie, Histoire de l'Amérique Septentrionale, II, p. 43.
[10]History of Indian Tribes of the United States, Part III, p. 193.
[10]History of Indian Tribes of the United States, Part III, p. 193.
[11]As Dr. Yarrow has described the burial customs of the North American Indians in the first Annual Report of the Bureau, I will omit further quotations and refer the reader to his paper.
[11]As Dr. Yarrow has described the burial customs of the North American Indians in the first Annual Report of the Bureau, I will omit further quotations and refer the reader to his paper.
[12]Antiquities of Wisconsin, p. 89.
[12]Antiquities of Wisconsin, p. 89.
[13]Pp. 90-92.
[13]Pp. 90-92.
[14]Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Sciences, Vol. I, pp. 118-122.
[14]Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Sciences, Vol. I, pp. 118-122.
[15]I wish it distinctly understood, that I do not by the use of this term, commit myself to the theory that these mounds or any others contain altars in the true sense of the term, as I very much doubt it.
[15]I wish it distinctly understood, that I do not by the use of this term, commit myself to the theory that these mounds or any others contain altars in the true sense of the term, as I very much doubt it.
[16]Brevis Narratio, Plate XXX. Admiranda Narratio, Plate XIX
[16]Brevis Narratio, Plate XXX. Admiranda Narratio, Plate XIX
[17]Mœurs des Sauvages, II, p. 4.
[17]Mœurs des Sauvages, II, p. 4.
[18]See "Early Notices of the Indians of Ohio" by M. F. Force, pp. 18-20.
[18]See "Early Notices of the Indians of Ohio" by M. F. Force, pp. 18-20.
[19]According to Drake, "Indians of North America," he died October 3, 1838.
[19]According to Drake, "Indians of North America," he died October 3, 1838.
[20]Ancient Monuments, p. 162.
[20]Ancient Monuments, p. 162.
[21]Brevis Narratio, Tab. XI.
[21]Brevis Narratio, Tab. XI.
[22]American Antiquarian, October, 1881, p. 14.
[22]American Antiquarian, October, 1881, p. 14.
[23]Pages 533-6.
[23]Pages 533-6.
[24]Smithsonian Report 1881, p. 537.
[24]Smithsonian Report 1881, p. 537.
[25]Counting from the southern end of the line.
[25]Counting from the southern end of the line.
[26]Ancient Monuments, p. 161. It may be remarked here that the statement that "urn burial appears to have prevailed to a considerable extent in the Southern States" cannot be sustained by facts.
[26]Ancient Monuments, p. 161. It may be remarked here that the statement that "urn burial appears to have prevailed to a considerable extent in the Southern States" cannot be sustained by facts.
[27]Smithsonian Report 1866, p. 359.
[27]Smithsonian Report 1866, p. 359.
[28]See, also, Smithsonian Report 1881, p. 596.
[28]See, also, Smithsonian Report 1881, p. 596.
[29]SmithsonianReport 1877, p. 264.
[29]SmithsonianReport 1877, p. 264.
[30]Page 598.
[30]Page 598.
[31]Page 35.
[31]Page 35.
[32]See 17th Report Peabody Museum, pp. 339-347.
[32]See 17th Report Peabody Museum, pp. 339-347.
[33]17th Report Peabody Museum, pp. 342-343.
[33]17th Report Peabody Museum, pp. 342-343.
[34]17th Report Peabody Museum, p. 344.
[34]17th Report Peabody Museum, p. 344.
[35]Early Notices of the Indians of Ohio, by M. F. Force, 1879, p. 3.
[35]Early Notices of the Indians of Ohio, by M. F. Force, 1879, p. 3.
[36]The circles and parallelograms in Figs. 32 and 33 have no other significance than to indicate the relative positions of the graves and the positions of the skeletons.
[36]The circles and parallelograms in Figs. 32 and 33 have no other significance than to indicate the relative positions of the graves and the positions of the skeletons.
[37]Mœurs des Sauvages Amériquains, II, pp. 447-445.
[37]Mœurs des Sauvages Amériquains, II, pp. 447-445.
[38]Jesuit Relations for 1636, pp. 128-139. For a translation of the lively description of the burial ceremonies of the Hurons by Father Brebeuf, see "Supplemental Note," at the end of this paper.
[38]Jesuit Relations for 1636, pp. 128-139. For a translation of the lively description of the burial ceremonies of the Hurons by Father Brebeuf, see "Supplemental Note," at the end of this paper.
[39]Smithsonian Report, 1871, pp. 404, 405.
[39]Smithsonian Report, 1871, pp. 404, 405.
[40]Smithsonian Report 1867, p. 401.
[40]Smithsonian Report 1867, p. 401.
[41]Smithsonian Report 1870, p. 378.
[41]Smithsonian Report 1870, p. 378.
[42]See, for example, Foster's "Prehistoric Races," p. 97; Squier and Davis's, "Ancient Monuments," p. 30; Baldwin's "Ancient America," p. 57; Bancroft's "Native Races," IV, p. 785; Conant's "Foot-Prints of Vanished Races," p. 38; Marquis de Nadaillac's "L'Amérique Préhistorique," p. 185, etc.
[42]See, for example, Foster's "Prehistoric Races," p. 97; Squier and Davis's, "Ancient Monuments," p. 30; Baldwin's "Ancient America," p. 57; Bancroft's "Native Races," IV, p. 785; Conant's "Foot-Prints of Vanished Races," p. 38; Marquis de Nadaillac's "L'Amérique Préhistorique," p. 185, etc.
[43]Sixteenth and Seventeenth Report Peabody Museum, p. 346.
[43]Sixteenth and Seventeenth Report Peabody Museum, p. 346.
[44]Referred to by Dr. Haven, Smithsonian Contributions, VIII, p. 25.
[44]Referred to by Dr. Haven, Smithsonian Contributions, VIII, p. 25.
[45]Transactions of the American Philological Society,Vol.III.
[45]Transactions of the American Philological Society,Vol.III.
[46]Archæology of the United States, Smithsonian Contributions, Vol. VIII, p. 31.
[46]Archæology of the United States, Smithsonian Contributions, Vol. VIII, p. 31.
[47]Page 253.
[47]Page 253.
[48]Vol. I, p. 353, 3d edition.
[48]Vol. I, p. 353, 3d edition.
[49]Ancient America, pp. 70-75.
[49]Ancient America, pp. 70-75.
[50]American Antiquities, p. 71.
[50]American Antiquities, p. 71.
[51]Prehistoric Races, p. 339.
[51]Prehistoric Races, p. 339.
[52]Tenth Report Peabody Museum, p. 75.
[52]Tenth Report Peabody Museum, p. 75.
[53]Travels, p. 365.
[53]Travels, p. 365.
[54]Memoirs of the Kentucky Geological Survey, Vol. II.
[54]Memoirs of the Kentucky Geological Survey, Vol. II.
[55]Natural and Aboriginal History of Tennessee, p. 225.
[55]Natural and Aboriginal History of Tennessee, p. 225.
[56]Ramsey. Annals of Tennessee, p. 51.
[56]Ramsey. Annals of Tennessee, p. 51.
[57]Natural and Aboriginal History of Tennessee, p. 223.
[57]Natural and Aboriginal History of Tennessee, p. 223.
[58]Discoveries, etc., p. 3, London edition, 1672.
[58]Discoveries, etc., p. 3, London edition, 1672.
[59]Discoveries, London edition, p. 20.
[59]Discoveries, London edition, p. 20.
[60]Pages 33-39.
[60]Pages 33-39.
[61]Jones, Southern Indians, p. 18.
[61]Jones, Southern Indians, p. 18.
[62]Page 169.
[62]Page 169.
[63]History of Carolina, Raleigh, reprint, 1850, p. 315.
[63]History of Carolina, Raleigh, reprint, 1850, p. 315.
[64]History of Virginia, London, 1705, p. 58.
[64]History of Virginia, London, 1705, p. 58.
[65]Page 423.
[65]Page 423.
[66]Antiquities of the Southern Indians, p. 400.
[66]Antiquities of the Southern Indians, p. 400.
[67]Page 228.
[67]Page 228.
[68]History of North America.
[68]History of North America.
[69]Page 19.
[69]Page 19.
[70]Page 324.
[70]Page 324.
[71]History of Florida, edition 1723, Lib. III, Cap. XX, p. 139, and edition of 1605.
[71]History of Florida, edition 1723, Lib. III, Cap. XX, p. 139, and edition of 1605.
[72]Jones's Antiquities of the Southern Indians, Chap. VI, Pl. 1.
[72]Jones's Antiquities of the Southern Indians, Chap. VI, Pl. 1.
[73]Smithsonian Report 1880, p. 624.
[73]Smithsonian Report 1880, p. 624.
[74]Science, April 11, 1884.
[74]Science, April 11, 1884.
[75]Science, April, 1884.
[75]Science, April, 1884.
[76]The Human Species, English translation, p. 307.
[76]The Human Species, English translation, p. 307.
[77]Referred to on p.71.
[77]Referred to on p.71.
[78]Translated from Relations des Jésuites, 1636, pp. 128-139, by Miss Nora Thomas.
[78]Translated from Relations des Jésuites, 1636, pp. 128-139, by Miss Nora Thomas.
Alexander, J. B., mounds on farm of74Allamakee County, Iowa, mounds26Altar mounds57,58Anderson, W. G., opened Wisconsin mounds16Anderson Township, Ohio, mounds49Andrews, E. B., on Ohio mounds47,48Appalachian mound district and mounds10,61-86Arkansas mounds11Armstrong, Thomas, on Wisconsin mounds16Ashland County, Ohio, mounds47Athens County, Ohio, mounds47Baldwin, J. D., on mound builders83Bartow County, Georgia, mounds96-104Bartram, William, description of Cherokee council house87Beverly on shell ornaments92Black Hawk's grave33,34Boulware, J. N., mounds on farm of44Branson, Judge, opening of Wisconsin mounds by18Brebeuf, Jean, on burial ceremonies of the Hurons71,110-119Brinton, D. G., on a burial mound39—, on Indians as mound builders84Brown County, Illinois, mounds39-41Buffalo Creek, Worth Carolina, mounds near68Burial mounds of the northern sections of the United States, by Cyrus Thomas3-119Burke County, North Carolina, mounds73Butler County, Ohio, archæology of13Caldwell County, North Carolina, mounds61-71Carr, Lucien, cited84,87,88,92Cartersville, Georgia, mounds near96-104Case, H. B., on Indian burial customs47Charleston, West Virginia, mounds near51,53,55Chattanooga, Tennessee, mounds near77Chelaque identical with Cherokee89Cherokee, the, probably mound builders60,87-107Cherokee and Tallegwi, relation of60Chillicothe, Ohio, mounds46Clarke, F. W., analyzed iron from mounds91Clarke County, Missouri, mounds43Clifton, West Virginia, mounds55,58Conner, Rebecca, mounds on farm of74Copper in use among Indians93,94,100-106Courtois group of mounds15Cowe, description of Cherokee councilhouse at87Crawford County, Wisconsin, mounds14,17,18,20Davenport, Iowa, mounds near24Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences, explorations by members of24—, pipes found by members of38Davis, E. H., and Squier on mounds12,13,38,45,48De Bry on Indian burial customs29,39Delaware Indian graves in Ashland County, Ohio47Des Moines River mounds33,34Drake, Samuel G., advocates Indian origin of mounds84Dubuque County, Iowa, mounds31,32Dunning, E. O., on stone grave mound in valley of the Little Tennessee78,79Eagle Point, Iowa, mounds32East Dubuque, Illinois, mounds34-38Eldon, Iowa, mounds33,34Elk River Valley, West Virginia, mounds55Emmert, John W., explorations of74-77Etowah, Georgia, mounds96-104,106,107Florida mounds12Force, M. F., on distribution of Indians59Fort Defiance, North Carolina, mounds near68Garcilasso de la Vega on Indian mounds95,96George Connet mound, Athens County, Ohio, description of47,48Grant County, Wisconsin, mounds19Grave Creek, West Virginia, mounds51Gulf mounds12Hardy and Scheetz on Missouri mounds42Harris, Thaddeus M., on mound builders82Haven, S. F., quoted82Haywood, John, on location of Cherokee89,90—, on European implements among Cherokee94Heart, Captain, on mound builders82Henderson, J. G., opening of Illinois mounds by39Henderson County, North Carolina, mounds74Holston Valley, Tennessee, mounds75-77Hoy, Philip, opening of mounds by14,20Hunt, Charles, mounds on farm of71Hurons, burial ceremonies of110-119Illinois mounds10,11Illinois or Upper Mississippi burial mound district24-44Indiana mounds10Iowa mounds10,24Iowaville, Iowa, mounds33,34Iroquois burial customs21Jones, C. C., on Indian pipes93Jones, Joseph, on mound builders83Jones, W. D., mound on land of66-68Kanawha Valley, explorations in51,53,57Kent, M. B., on Indian burial customs20Kentucky mounds10,11Kickapoo stone graves30Lafitau on Indian burial customs29Lane, H. P., mounds on farm of26Lapham, I. A., on Wisconsin mounds14,17,21,22Lawson on shell ornaments92Lederer, John, on copper among Cherokee91Lee County, Virginia, mounds87Le Moyne de Morgues on burial mounds39Lenoir, R. T., burial pit on farm of68-71Little Tennessee Valley mounds78,79Louisiana mounds11Lower Mississippi mounds11Lubbock, John, advocates Indian origin of mounds84McCulloch, J. H., advocates Indian origin of mounds84MacLean, J. P., on Ohio mounds13—, on mound builders83Madison, Bishop, on mound builders82,83Madison, Wisconsin, mounds near16Madisonville, Ohio, mounds near49Metz, C. L., on burial mounds49Middle Mississippi mounds11Middleton, James D., explorations by14Middleton, Jeff, mound opened by20Mississippi mounds, Upper10,24-44—, Middle and Lower11Missouri, mounds in10,11,41-44Mohawk burial customs21Mound builders, conclusions as to who were the9,58,79,80,86,97—, probably Cherokee87-107Mounds, burial3-119Naples, Illinois, mounds39Nelson, T. F., mounds on farm of61-66,90New Albin, Iowa, mounds near26Newark, Ohio, mounds46New York mounds10Norris, P. W., investigations of17,18,26,27,32,35,39,40,52,55North Carolina, mounds in10,61-75Ohio mound district45-60Ohio mounds10,12,13,45-60Peru, Iowa, monnds near31Pike County, Illinois, mounds39Pike County, Missouri, mounds43Pipes, soapstone93,94Potherie on Iroquois burial customs21Pottawattamie mounds34Powell, J. W., copper plate from Illinois mound obtained by105Powhatan, Virginia, site bought with copper94Putnam, F. W., on Ohio mounds49-51Quatrefages on appearance of Indians in the valley of the Missouri109Racine, Wisconsin, mounds near14Ralls County, Missouri, mounds42Read, M. O., on mounds near Chattanooga77,78Ripon, Wisconsin, mounds near16Rogan, J. P., explorations of61,71,72,97,98,104Sac and Fox, burial customs of20,21Scheetz and Hardy on Slissouri mounds42Schoolcraft, H. R., on Indian burial customs21—, advocates Indian origin of mounds84School-house mound48,49Shawnee, stone graves of30Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, mounds19Short, John T., on mound builders83Smith, B. H., mounds on farm of51Spainhour, J. M., opening of North Carolina mounds by61,73Spencer, J. W., on Indian burial customs21Squier and Davis on mounds12,38,45,48Squier, E. G., on Indian antiquities10Sullivan County, Tennessee, mounds75-77Tallegwi and Cherokee, relation of60Tallegwi as mound builders84Tennessee mounds10,11Tennessee River, mounds near77Thomas, Cyrus, paper by, on burial mounds of the northern section of the United States3-119Thomas, Nora, translation of description of burial ceremonies of the Hurons by110-119Tuscarora, neighbors of the Cherokee91Upper Mississippi mounds10,24-44Vernon County, Wisconsin, mounds14,20Virginia mounds10,87Wapello County, Iowa, mounds33Waukesha, Wisconsin, mounds near17Welch, Edward, mounds on farm of41West Virginia, mounds in10,51-60Wilkes County, North Carolina, mounds71,72Wisconsin, mounds in10,14-23