CHAPITRE III.

Finally, after having instructed our good Joseph in the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, we administered it to him; and on that very day, Holy Saturday, his soul left the body and went to celebrate [20] Easter in Heaven. One of his sons-in-law, when he saw him very low, remained near him to see how we would bury him after death, wishing us to give him his Castelogne [blanket] and his tobacco pouch, for use in the other world; but, when he went to carry the news of this death to the wife of the deceased, we buried the latter according to the custom of the Catholic Church, showing as much honor as we could in the funeral ceremonies. Monsieur de Champlain, in order to give proof of the love and honor we bear those who die in the Christian Faith, had his people leave their work, and sent them to us to attend the services; we followed as closely as possible the ceremonies of the Church, which was very acceptable to the relatives of this new Christian. There was one thing, however, which displeased them; when we came to put the body in the grave, they noticed that there was a little water in the bottom, caused by the snow melting just then and dropping into it; thisstruck their imagination, and as they are [21] superstitious, saddened them a little. It will not be difficult to combat such errors, when we know their language well. These are, as far as I know, the first adult Savages in these countries who have been baptized and died firm in the faith.

Le troisiesme Sauuage baptisé cette année, estoit vn enfant âgé de trois à quatre mois seulement, son Pere estant en cholere contre sa femme, fille de nostre bon Ioseph, soit pource qu'elle le vouloit quitter, ou qu'il estoit touché de quelque ialousie, il print l'enfant & le ietta contre terre pour l'assommer: Vn de nos François suruenant là dessus, & se souuenant que nous leurs auions recommandé de conferer le Baptesme aux enfans qu'ils verroient en danger de mort, au cas qu'ils ne nous peussent appeller, il prit de l'eauë & le baptiza: ce pauure petit neantmoins ne mourut pas du coup, sa mere le reprit & l'emporta auec soy dans les Isles quittant son mary, qui nous a dit depuis qu'il croit que son fils est mort, sa mere estant tombée dans vne maladie qu'il iuge mortelle.

The third Savage baptized this year was a child only three or four months old: the Father, being angry at his wife, daughter of our good Joseph, either because she wanted to leave him, or because he had a touch of jealousy, took the child and threw it against the ground, to kill it. One of our Frenchmen happening along just then, and remembering that we had recommended them to administer Baptism to children whom they saw in danger of death, in case they could not call us took some water and baptized it; this poor little child did not die immediately, however; its mother took it and carried it away with her to the Islands, leaving her husband, who has since told us that he believes his child is dead, as its mother had been taken with a disease which he thought was mortal.

Le quatriesme estoit fils d'vn Sauuage [22] nommé Khiouirineou, sa mere s'appelloit Ouitapimoueou, ils auoiẽt donné nom à leur petit Itaouabisisiou ses parens me promirent qu'ils nous l'apporteroient pour l'enterrer en nostre cimetiere au cas qu'il mourut, & qu'ils nous le donneroient pour l'instruire s'il guerissoit, car il estoit malade, faisans ainsi paroistre le contentement qu'ils auoient que leur petit fils receut le sainct Baptesme: Ie le baptisay donc, & luy donnay le nom de Iean Baptiste, ce iour estant l'octaue de ce grand Sainct. Le sieur du Chesne Chirurgien128de l'habitation, qui vient volontiers auec moy par les Cabanes, pour nous aduertir de ceux qu'il iuge en danger de mort fut son parrain.

The fourth was the son of a Savage [22] named Khiouirineou, the mother's name was Ouitapimoueou, and they had named their little child Itaouabisisiou. His parents had promised me that they would bring him to us to be buried in our cemetery, if he died; and, if he recovered,—for he was very sick,—they would give him to us to be educated, thus showing their satisfaction that their little son should receive holy Baptism. So I baptized him and gave him the name Jean Baptiste, that day being the octave of this great Saint. Sieur du Chesne, Surgeon of the colony, who willingly comes with me throughthe Cabins, to advise us of those whom he considers in danger of death, was his godfather.

Le cinquiesme fut baptizé le mesme iour, son Pere auoit tesmoigné au sieur Oliuier truchement, qu'il eut bien voulu qu'on eust fait à son fils ce qu'on fait aux petits enfans François, c'est à dire qu'on l'eust baptizé, le sieur Oliuier m'en ayant donné aduis i'allay voir l'enfant, ie differay le baptesme pour quelques iours, le trouuant encore plein de vie; en fin le P. Buteux & [23] moy l'estans retournez voir, nous appellasmes Monsieur du Chesne, qui nous dit que l'enfant estoit bien mal. ie demanday à son Pere s'il seroit content qu'on le baptizât, tres-cõtent (fit-il,) s'il meurt ie le porteray en ta maison, s'il retourne en santé il sera ton fils, & tu l'instruiras. Ie le nommé Adrian du nom de son Parrain, il se nommoit auparauant Pichichich, son Pere est surnommé des François Baptiscan, il s'appelle en Sauuage Tchimaouirineou, sa mere Matouetchiouanouecoueou. Ce pauure petit âgé d'enuiron 8. mois s'enuola au Ciel, la nuict suiuante son Pere ne manqua pas d'apporter son corps, amenant auec soy dix-huict ou vingt Sauuages, hommes, femmes & enfans, ils l'auoient enueloppé dans des peaux de Castor, & pardessus d'vn grand drap de toile, qu'ils auoient achepté au magazin, & encore pardessus d'vne grande escorce redoublée. Ie déueloppay ce pacquet, pour voir si l'enfant estoit dedans, puis ie le mis dans vn cercueil que nous luy fismes faire, ce qui agrea merueilleusement aux Sauuages: car ils croyent que l'ame [24] de l'enfant se doit seruir en l'autre monde de l'ame, de toutes les choses qu'on luy donne à son depart, ie leur dis bien130que cette ame estoit maintenant dedans le Ciel, & qu'elle n'auoit que faire de toutes ces pauuretez neãtmoins nous les laissasmes faire, de peur que si nous les eussions voulu empescher, ce que i'aurois peu faire, (car le Pere chanceloit defia,) les autres ne nous permissent pas de baptizer leurs enfans quand ils seroient malades, où du moins ne les apportassent point apres leur mort. Ces pauures gens furent rauis, voyants cinq Prestres reuestus de surplis honorer ce petit ange Canadien, chantant ce qui est ordonné par l'Eglise, couurans son cercueil d'vn beau parement, & le parsemant de fleurs: nous l'enterrasmes auec toute la solemnité qui nous fut possible.

The fifth was baptized the same day. His Father made known to sieur Olivier, the interpreter,13that he would be very glad if they would do to his son what was done to little French children; meaning that they should baptize him. Having been informed of this by sieur Olivier, I went to see the child, but deferred baptism for a few days, as the child was still full of vitality. At last, Father Buteux and [23] I, having gone to see him, called Monsieur du Chesne, who told us that the child was very sick. I asked his Father if he would like to have us baptize him. "I should be very glad" (he answered); "if he dies, I will carry him to thy house; if he recovers, he shall be thy son, and thou shalt instruct him." I named him Adrian, after his Godfather; before this he was called Pichichich; his Father has been surnamed by the French Baptiscan,—he was called, in Savage, Tchimaouirineou, his mother Matouetchiouanouecoueou. This poor little child of about eight months flew away to Heaven. The following night, his Father did not fail to bring the body, having with him eighteen or twenty Savages, men, women, and children. They had wrapped it in Beaver skins, and over that was a large piece of linen cloth, which they had bought at the store, and over all a great double piece of bark. I unrolled the parcel to see if the child was inside; then I laid it in a coffin which we had made for it, and this pleased the Savages wonderfully, for they believe that the soul [24] of the child will use in the other world of souls all the things that have been given to it at its departure. I told them indeed thatthe soul was now in Heaven, and that it had no concern whatever with these trifling things. Nevertheless we let them go on, for fear that, if we tried to prevent them,—which I might have done (for the Father already wavered)—the others would not permit us to baptize their children when they were sick, or at least would not call us after they died. These simple people were enchanted, seeing five Priests in surplices honoring this little Canadian angel, chanting what is ordained by the Church, covering the coffin with a beautiful pall, and strewing it with flowers. We buried him with all possible solemnity.

Tous les Sauuages assistoient à toutes les ceremonies, quand ce vint à le mettre en la fosse, sa mere y mit son berceau auec luy & quelques autres hardes selon leur coustume, & bien-tost apres tira de son laict dans vne petite [25] escuelle d'escorce qu'elle brusla sur l'heure mesme. Ie demanday pourquoy elle faisoit cela, vne femme me repartit, qu'elle donnoit à boire à l'enfant, dont l'ame beuuoit de ce laict. Ie l'instruisis là dessus, mais ie parle encores si peu qu'à peine me pût elle entendre.

All the Savages were present during the entire ceremony. When it came to lowering him into the grave, his mother placed his cradle therein, with a few other things, according to their custom; and soon after she drew some of her milk in a little [25] bark ladle, which she burned immediately. I asked why this was done, and a woman answered me that she was giving drink to the child, whose soul was drinking this milk. I instructed her upon this point, but I still speak the language so poorly that I scarcely made her understand me.

Apres l'enterrement nous fismes le festin des morts, donnans à manger de la farine de bled d'Inde, meslée de quelques pruneaux à ces bonnes gens, pour les induire à nous appeller quand eux ou leurs enfans seront malades. Bref ils s'en retournerent auec fort grande satisfaction, comme ils firent paroistre pour lors, & particulierement deux iours apres.

After the burial we had the funeral feast, giving some Indian cornmeal mixed with prunes to these simple people, to induce them to call upon us when they or their children were sick. In short, they went away very much pleased, as they showed us then, and more particularly two days later.

Le Pere Buteux retournant de dire la Messe de l'habitation, comme il visitoit les Cabanes des Sauuages, il rencontra le corps mort du petit Iean Baptiste qu'on132enueloppoit comme l'autre, ses parents, quoy que malades, luy promirent de l'apporter chés nous. On m'a desia fait recit (dit la mere) de l'honneur & du bon traictement que vous faictes à nos enfans, mais ie ne [26] veux point qu'on deueloppe le mien. Là dessus le Pere du premier trespassé luy dist, on ne fait point de mal à l'enfant on ne luy oste point ses robbes, on regarde seulement s'il est dedans le pacquet, & si nous ne sommes point trompeurs, elle acquiesça & presenta son fils pour estre porté dans nostre Chapelle, dans laquelle le Pere Buteux nous l'amena en la compagnie de ses parens & des autres Sauuages; nous l'enterrasmes auec les mesmes ceremonies que l'autre, & eux luy donnerent aussi ses petits meubles pour passer en l'autre monde, nous fismes encores le festin qu'ils font à la mort de leurs gens, bien ioyeux de voir ce peuple s'affectionner petit à petit, aux sainctes actions de l'Eglise Chrestienne & Catholique.

Father Buteux, as he was visiting the Cabins of the Savages on his return from saying Mass at the settlement, saw the dead body of little Jean Baptiste, which they were wrapping up like the other. His parents, although sick, promised to bring him to us."They have already told me," (said the mother) "of the honor and kind treatment you show to our children, but I do not [26] wish mine to be unrolled." Thereupon, the Father of the one who had died first said to her, "They do no harm to the child; they do not take off any of its clothes; they only look to see if it is inside the parcel, and if we are deceiving them." She acquiesced, and presented her son to be carried into our Chapel, into which Father Buteux brought him to us, together with his relatives and other Savages. We buried him with the same ceremonies as the other, and they gave him also his belongings, to pass with him into the other world. We again held the feast that is made at the death of their people, very happy to see them, little by little, acquiring an affection for the holy offices of the Christian and Catholic Church.

Le quatorziesme de Iuillet ie baptizay le sixiesme, c'estoit vne petite Algonquine aagée d'enuiron vn an, ie ne l'eusse pas si tost fait Chrestienne, n'estoit qui ses parens s'en vouloient aller vers leur pays. Or iugeant auec Monsieur du Chesne, que cet enfant trauaillé d'vne fieure ethique, estoit en [27] danger de mort, ie luy conferay ce Sacrement, elle fut appellée Marguerite, on la nommoit en SauuageMemichtigouchiouiscoueou, c'[e]st à dire, femme d'vn European, son Pere se nomme en AlgonquainPichibabich, c'est à dire Pierre, & sa mere Chichip, c'est à dire vn Canard, ils m'ont promis que si cette pauure petite recouure sa santé qu'ils me l'apporteroient, pour la mettre entre les mains de l'vne de nos Françoises, comme ce peuple est errant, ie ne sçai maintenant où elle est, ie crois134qu'elle n'est pas loing du Paradis, si elle n'y est desia.

On the fourteenth of July, I baptized the sixth, a little Algonquin girl about a year old. I would not have made this child a Christian so soon, had it not been that its parents wished to go to their own country. Now, believing with Monsieur du Chesne that this child, who was suffering from hectic fever, was in [27] danger of death, I administered this Sacrament. She was called Marguerite; her Savage name wasMemichtigouchiouiscoueou, meaning, "wife of a European;" her Father was called inAlgonquain,Pichibabich, that is to say, "Stone," and her mother Chichip, meaning "a Duck." They have promised me that if this poor little child recovers its health, they will bring it to me, to be placed in the hands of one of our French Women. As this is a wandering tribe, I do not know now where she is; but I believe she is not far from Paradise, if she is not already there.

La septiesme personne que nous auons mis au nombre des enfans de Dieu, par le Sacrement de Baptesme, c'est la mere du petit Sauuage, que nous auions nommé bien-venu; elle s'appelloit en SauuageOuroutiuoucoueu, & maintenant on l'appelle Marie, ce beau nom luy a esté donné, suiuant le vœu qu'auoit fait autresfois le R. Pere Charles l'Allement, que la premiere Canadienne que nous baptizerions, porteroit le nom de la saincte Vierge, & le premier Sauuage, celuy de [28] de son glorieux Espoux sainct Ioseph, nous n'auions point cognoissance de ce vœu, quand les autres ont esté baptizés. I'espere que dans fort peu de iours il sera entierement accomply: mais pour retourner à nostre nouuelle Chrestienne, l'ayant trouuée proche du fort de nos François, abandonnée de ses gens, pource qu'elle estoit malade, ie luy demanday qui la nourrissoit, elle me respondit que les François luy donnoient quelque morceau de pain, & que quelques vns reuenans de la chasse, luy iettoient par fois en passant vne tourterelle, si vous vous voulez cabaner, luy dis-je, proche de nostre maison, nous vous nourrirõs, & vous enseignerons le chemin du Ciel; Elle me repartit d'vne voix languissante, car elle estoit fort mal, helas! i'y voudrois bien aller, mais ie ne sçaurois plus marcher, aye pitié de moy, enuoye moy querir dans vn Canot. Ie ny manquay pas le lendemain matin 23. Iuillet ie la fis apporter proche de nostre maison; la pauure fẽme me demãdoit bien si elle n'entreroit point chez nous, elle s'attẽdoit que nous luy feriõs la mesme [29] charité que nous auions fait aux deux premiers baptizés, mais ie luy respõdis qu'elle estoit fẽme, & que nous ne pouuions136pas la loger dãs nôtre maisõnette qui est fort petite, que neãtmoins nous luy porterions à manger dans sa Cabane, & que tous les iours ie l'irois voir pour l'instruire, elle fut contente. Quand ie commençay à luy parler de la saincte Trinité, disant, que le Pere, & le F[i]ls & le sainct Esprit, n'estoient qu'vn Dieu qui a tout fait: ie le sçay bien, me fit-elle, ie le crois ainsi; Ie fus tout estonné à cette repartie, mais elle me dit que nostre bon Sauuage Ioseph luy rapportoit par fois ce que nous luy disions, cela me consola fort, car en peu de temps elle fut suffisamment instruicte pour estre baptizée: i'estois seulement en peine de luy faire conceuoir vne douleur de sez pechez, les Sauuages n'ont point en leur langue, si bien en leurs mœurs, ce mot de peché: le mot de meschanceté & de malice signifie parmy eux vne action contre la pureté, à ce qu'ils m'ont dit: i'estois donc en peine de luy faire conceuoir vn deplaisir d'auoir offencé [30] Dieu, ie luy leus par plusieurs fois les Commandemens, luy disant que celuy qui à tout fait haïssoit ceux qui ne luy obeïssoient pas, & qu'elle luy dit qu'elle estoit bien marrie de l'auoir offencé: La pauure femme qui auoit bien retenu les deffences que Dieu a fait à tous les hommes de mentir, de paillarder, de desobeïr à ses parents, s'accusa tout seule de toutes ses offences par plusieurs fois: disant de soy mesme, celuy qui as tout fait aye pitié de moy,Iesvs, Fils de celuy qui peut tout, fais moy misericorde: ie te promets que ie ne m'enyureray plus ny que ie ne diray plus de paroles des honnestes, que ie ne mentiray plus, ie suis marrie de t'auoir fasché, i'en suis marrie de tout mon cœur, ie ne mens point, aye pitié de moy, si je retourne en santé, ie croiray tousiours138en toy, ie t'obeiray tousiours, si ie meurs aye pitié de mon ame; l'aiant donc veuë ainsi disposée, craignant d'ailleurs qu'elle ne mourust subitement, car elle estoit fort malade, ie luy demanday si elle ne vouloit pas bien estre baptizée, ie voudrois bien encore viure, me dit-elle, [31] ie cogneu qu'elle s'imaginoit que nous ne donnions point le baptesme qu'à ceux qui deuoient mourir incontinent apres; ie luy fist entendre que nous estions tous baptizés, & que nous n'estions pas morts, que le baptesme rendoit plutost la santé du corps, qu'il ne l'ostoit; baptise moy donc au plutost me fit elle: ie la voulus esprouuer, il estoit arriué quelques canots de Sauuages à Kebec, ie luy dis, voila vne compagnie de tes gens qui vient d'arriuer, si tu veux t'en aller auec eux, ils te receuront, & ie te feray porter en leurs cabanes; la pauure creature se mit à pleurer & à sanglotter si fort, qu'elle me toucha, me tesmoignant par ses larmes qu'elle vouloit estre Chrestienne, & que ie ne la chassasse point: enfin voiant son mal redoubler, nous prismes resolution de la baptizer promptement; ie luy fist entendre qu'elle pourroit mourir la nuict, & que son ame s'en iroit dans les feux, si elle n'estoit baptizée: que si elle vouloit receuoir ce sacrement en nostre Chappelle, que ie l'y ferois apporter dans vne couuerture, elle tesmoigna qu'elle [32] en estoit contente: ie m'en vay, luy disie, preparer tout ce qu'il fault, prends courage, ie t'enuoieray bien-tost querir: la pauure femme n'eut pas la patience d'attendre, elle se traisne comme elle pût, se reposant à tous coups, en fin elle arriua à nostre maison esloignée de plus de deux cent pas de sa cabane, & se jetta par terre n'en pouuant plus, estant reuenuë à soy, ie la baptizay en presence de140nos Peres, & de tous nos hommes: elle me respondit brauement à toutes les demandes que ie luy feis, suiuant l'ordre de conferer ce Sacrement aux personnes qui ont l'vsage de raison: Nous la reportasmes dans sa cabane toute pleine de joie, & nous remplis de consolation voiant la grace de Dieu operer dans vne ame où le diable auoit fait sa demeure si long temps. Cecy arriua le premier iour d'Aoust.

The seventh person whom we have placed among the number of the children of God, through the Sacrament of Baptism, is the mother of the little Savage whom we named "bien-venu;" she is called, in Savage,Ouroutiuoucoueu, and now her name is Marie. This beautiful name was given to her in pursuance of a vow once made by Reverend Father Charles l'Allement, that the first Canadian Woman whom we should baptize should bear the name of the holy Virgin; and the first Savage, that [28] of her glorious Spouse, saint Joseph. We did not know about this vow, when the others were baptized; I hope that in a very few days it will be entirely fulfilled. But to return to our new Christian. When I found her near the French fort, abandoned by her people, because she was sick, I asked her who fed her; she answered that the French gave her a few morsels of bread, and that, on their return from the chase, they occasionally threw her a pigeon. "If you wish to stay near us," I said, "we will care for you, and will teach you the way to Heaven." She answered me in a weak voice, for she was very sick, "Alas! I would indeed like to go there, but I can no longer walk; have pity upon me, send some one in a Canoe to fetch me." I did not fail to do this; and on the next day, the 23rd of July, I had her brought near our house. The poor woman asked me if she were not to go inside, expecting us to show her the same [29] charity that the first two who had been baptized had received; but I told her that, as she was a woman, we could not lodge her in our house, which is very small; that we would, however, carry her something to eat to her Hut, and that every day I would go to see and teach her. She was satisfied with this. WhenI began to speak to her about the holy Trinity, saying that the Father, the son, and the holy Spirit, were only one God, who has made all things, "I know that well," she replied, "I believe it." I was greatly astonished at this answer, but she told me that our good Savage Joseph occasionally reported to her what we told him. This was a great consolation to me, for in a short time she was sufficiently instructed to be baptized. My only trouble was to make her feel sorrow for her sins. The Savages have not this word "sin" in their language, though they certainly have it in their customs. The word for wickedness and malice, among them, means a violation of purity, as they have told me. So I was puzzled to know how to make her understand sorrow at having offended [30] God. I read her the Commandments several times, telling her that he who made all things hates those who do not obey him; and that she should tell him she was very sorry for having offended him. The poor woman, who well remembered that God forbids all men to lie, to be wanton, to disobey their parents, accused herself over and over again of all these offences. She said of her own accord, "Thou who hast made all things, have mercy upon me;Jesus, son of him who hath all power, have compassion upon me. I promise thee that I will not get drunk any more, that I will not utter bad words any more, that I will not lie any more. I am sorry for having angered thee, I am sorry with all my heart. I am not lying, have mercy upon me. If I recover, I will always believe in thee, I will always obey thee. If I die, have mercy upon my soul." As I saw her thus minded, and feared beside that she might die suddenly, for she was very ill, I askedher if she would not like to be baptized. "I would like to live longer," she replied. [31] I saw she imagined that we only gave baptism to those who were to die immediately afterwards. I made her understand that we were all baptized and we were not dead, that baptism restored health to the body rather than took it away. "Baptize me then as soon as possible," she answered. I wanted to try her. Some canoes of Savages having arrived at Kebec, I said to her: "Here is a company of thy people just arrived; if thou wishest to go away with them, they will receive thee, and I will have thee taken to their cabins." The poor creature began to weep and to sob so violently, that I was touched, proving to me by her tears that she wanted to be a Christian, and that she did not want me to drive her away. At last, when we saw that she was growing much worse, we decided to baptize her at once. I made her understand that she might die that night, and that her soul would go into the flames if she were not baptized; that if she wished to receive this sacrament in our Chapel, I would have her conveyed there in a blanket. She showed that she [32] was satisfied with this. "I am going away," I said to her, "to prepare what is necessary, take courage, I will send for thee soon." The poor woman did not have the patience to wait, but dragged herself along as well as she could, resting at every step, until at last she arrived at our house more than two hundred steps from her cabin, and threw herself upon the ground completely exhausted. When she recovered herself, I baptized her in the presence of our Fathers and of all our men. She answered confidently all the questions I put to her in following the order of the administrationof this Sacrament to persons who have the use of their reason. We bore her, all full of joy, back to her own cabin; and we ourselves were greatly comforted at seeing the grace of God working in a soul where the devil has so long made his habitation. This happened the first day of August.

Le lendemain quelques François m'estant venus voir, l'allans visiter, ils la trouuerent tenant vn Crucifix en main, & l'apostrophant fort doucement! Toy qui est mort pour moy, fais moy misericorde, ie veux croire en [33] toy toute ma vie, aye pitié de mon ame; Ie rapporte expressement toutes ces particularitez, pour faire voir que nos Sauuages ne sont point si barbares qu'ils ne puissent estre faits enfans de Dieu: I'espere que là où le peché a regné, que la grace y triomphera, cette pauure femme veit encores plus proche du Ciel que de la santé.

The next day, some French people, who came to see me, went to visit her, and found her holding a Crucifix in her hand, and addressing it in a low voice: "Thou who hast died for me, be merciful to me; I wish to believe in [33] thee all my life; have pity upon my soul." I report all these details purposely, that you may see that our Savages are not so barbarous that they cannot be made children of God. I hope that there, where sin has reigned, grace will triumph. This poor woman is still living, nearer to Heaven than to health.

Ie concluerray ce Chapitre par vn chastiment assez remarquable d'vne autre Canadienne, qui ayant fermé l'oreille à Dieu pendant sa maladie, semble auoir esté rejettée à sa mort. Le Pere Brebœuf l'ayant esté voir, pour luy parler de receuoir la foy, elle se mocqua de luy, & mesprisa ses paroles: sa maladie l'ayant terrassée, & les Sauuages voulans decabaner, la porterent à cette honneste famille, habituée icy depuis vn assez long temps; mais n'ayãt pas où la loger, ces Barbares la trainerent au fort, si nous n'eussions esté si esloignez, asseurément ils nous l'auroient amenée; car ie me doute qu'ils la presentoiẽt à nos François, voyans que nous auions receu auec beaucoup d'amour les deux Sauuages morts Chrestiens. [34]142Monsieur de Champlain voyant qu'il estoit desia tard luy fist donner le couuert pour vne nuict, ceux qui estoient dans la chambre où on la mit furent contraints d'en sortir, ne pouuans supporter l'infection de cette femme.

I shall finish this Chapter with an account of the very remarkable punishment of a Canadian Woman, who, having closed her ear to God during her sickness, seems to have been rejected at her death. When Father Brebœuf went to see her, to speak to her about receiving the faith, she laughed at him and scorned his words. Having been prostrated by sickness, and the Savages wishing to break camp, they carried her to this worthy family who have lived here for quite a long time; but, as they had no place to keep her, these Barbarians dragged her to the fort; if we had not been so far away, they would no doubt have brought her to us, for I am inclined to think that they presented her to our Frenchmen because we had received with so much kindness the two deceased Christian Savages. [34] Monsieur de Champlain, as it was already late, gave her shelterfor one night. Those who were in the room where she was placed, had to leave, as they could not bear the odor from this woman.

Le iour venu Monsieur de Champlain fist appeller quelques Sauuages, & leur ayant reproché leur cruauté d'abandonner cette creature qui estoit de leur nation, ils la reprirent & la trainerent vers leurs Cabanes, la rebutans comme vn chien, sans luy donner le couuert. Cette miserable se voyant delaissée des siens, exposée à la rigueur du froid, demãda qu'on nous fist appeller; mais cõme il n'y auoit point là de nos François, les Sauuages ne voulurent pas prendre la peine de venir iusques en nostre maison, esloignée d'vne bonne lieuë de leurs Cabanes, si bien que la faim, le froid, la maladie, & les enfans des Sauuages, à ce qu'on dit, la tuerent; nous ne fusmes aduertis de cette histoire tragique que quelques iours apres sa mort: s'il y auoit icy vn Hospital il y auroit tous les malades du [35] pays, & tous les vieillards, pour les hommes nous les secourerons, selon nos forces, mais pour les femmes il ne nous est pas bien seant de les receuoir en nos maisons.

In the morning, Monsieur de Champlain caused a number of the Savages to be called; and, being reproached by him for their cruelty in abandoning this creature, who was of their tribe, they took her and dragged her toward their Cabins, repulsing her as they would a dog, and giving her no covering. This wretched woman, finding herself abandoned by her own people and exposed to the severity of the cold, asked that we should be called. But, as there were no Frenchmen there, the Savages did not care to take the trouble to come all the way to our house, a good league from their Cabins; so that hunger, cold, disease, and the children of the Savages, as it is reported, killed her. We did not hear of this tragedy until some days after her death. If we had a Hospital here, all the sick people of the [35] country, and all the old people, would be there. As to the men, we will take care of them according to our means; but, in regard to the women, it is not becoming for us to receive them into our houses.

144CHAPITRE III.DES MOYENS DE CONUERTIR LES SAUUAGES.LE grand pouuoir que firent paroistre les Portugais au commencement dedans les Indes Orientales & Occidentales, ietta l'admiration bien auant dedans l'esprit des Indiens, si bien que ces peuples embrasserent quasi sans contreditte la creance de ceux qu'ils admiroient. Or voicy à mon aduis les moyens d'acquerir cet ascendant, pardessus nos Sauuages.

144

DES MOYENS DE CONUERTIR LES SAUUAGES.

LE grand pouuoir que firent paroistre les Portugais au commencement dedans les Indes Orientales & Occidentales, ietta l'admiration bien auant dedans l'esprit des Indiens, si bien que ces peuples embrasserent quasi sans contreditte la creance de ceux qu'ils admiroient. Or voicy à mon aduis les moyens d'acquerir cet ascendant, pardessus nos Sauuages.

CHAPTER III.ON THE MEANS OF CONVERTING THE SAVAGES.THE great show of power made at first by the Portuguese in the East and West Indies inspired profound admiration in the minds of the Indians, so that these people embraced, without any contradiction, the belief of those whom they admired. Now the following is, it seems to me, the way in which to acquire an ascendancy over our Savages.

ON THE MEANS OF CONVERTING THE SAVAGES.

THE great show of power made at first by the Portuguese in the East and West Indies inspired profound admiration in the minds of the Indians, so that these people embraced, without any contradiction, the belief of those whom they admired. Now the following is, it seems to me, the way in which to acquire an ascendancy over our Savages.

Le premier est d'arrester les courses de ceux qui ruinent la Religion, & de se rendre redoutable aux Hiroquois, qui ont tué de nos hommes, comme chacun sçait, & qui tout fraischement ont massacré deux cent Hurons, & en [36] ont pris plus de cent prisonniers. Voila selon ma pensée la porte vnique, par laquelle nous sortirons du mespris, où la negligence de ceux qui auoient cy-deuant la traicte du pays, nous ont ietté par leur auarice.

First, to check the progress of those who overthrow Religion, and to make ourselves feared by the Iroquois, who have killed some of our men, as every one knows, and who recently massacred two hundred Hurons, and [36] took more than a hundred prisoners. This is, in my opinion, the only door through which we can escape the contempt into which the negligence of those who have heretofore held the trade of this country has thrown us, through their avarice.

Le second moyen de nous rendre recommandables aux Sauuages, pour les induire à receuoir nostre saincte foy, seroit d'enuoyer quelque nombre d'hommes bien entendus à defricher & cultiuer la terre, lesquels se ioignants auec ceux qui sçauroient la langue, trauailleroient pour les Sauuages, à cõdition qu'ils s'arresteroient, & mettroient eux mesmes la main à l'œuure, demeurants dans quelques maisons qu'on leur feroit dresser pour leur vsage, par ce146moyen demeurants sedentaires, & voyants ce miracle de charité en leur endroit, on les pourroit instruire & gaigner plus facilement. M'entretenant cét Hyuer auec mes Sauuages, ie leurs communiquois ce dessein, les asseurant que quand ie sçaurois parfaictement leur langue, ie les aiderois à cultiuer la terre, si ie pouuois auoir des hommes, & s'ils se vouloient [37] arrester, leurs representant la misere de leurs courses, qui les touchoit pour lors assez sensiblement. Le Sorcier m'ayant entendu, se tourna vers ses gens, & leur dit, voyez comme cette robe noire ment hardiment en nostre presence; ie luy demandy pourquoy il se figuroit que ie mentois, pource, dit-il, qu'on ne voit point d'hommes au monde si bons comme tu dis, qui voudroient prendre la peine de nous secourir sans espoir de recompense, & d'employer tant d'hommes pour nous aider sans rien prendre de nous; si tu faisois cela, adjousta-il, tu arresterois la pluspart des Sauuages, & ils croiroient tous à tes paroles.

The second means of commending ourselves to the Savages, to induce them to receive our holy faith, would be to send a number of capable men to clear and cultivate the land, who, joining themselves with others who know the language, would work for the Savages, on condition that they would settle down, and themselves put their hands to the work, living in houses that would be built for their use; by this means becoming located, and seeing this miracle of charity in their behalf, they could be moreeasily instructed and won. While conversing this Winter with my Savages, I communicated to them this plan, assuring them that when I knew their language perfectly, I would help them cultivate the land if I could have some men, and if they wished [37] to stop roving,—representing to them the wretchedness of their present way of living, and influencing them very perceptibly, for the time being. The Sorcerer,14having heard me, turned toward his people and said, "See how boldly this black robe lies in our presence." I asked him why he thought I was lying. "Because," said he, "we never see in this world men so good as thou sayest, who would take the trouble to help us without hope of reward, and to employ so many men to aid us without taking anything from us; if thou shouldst do that," he added, "thou wouldst secure the greater part of the Savages, and they would all believe in thy words."

Ie m'en rapporte, mais si ie puis tirer quelque conclusion des choses que ie vois, il me semble qu'on ne doit pas esperer grande chose des Sauuages, tant qu'ils seront errants; vous les instruisés auiourd'huy, demain la faim vous enleuera vos auditeurs, les contraignant d'aller chercher leur vie dans les fleuues & dans les bois. L'an passé ie faisois le Catechisme en begaiant à [38] bon nombre d'enfans, les vaisseaux partis, mes oyseaux s'enuolerent qui d'vn costé qui de l'autre, cette année que ie parle vn petit mieux, ie les pensois reuoir, mais s'estans cabanez de là le grand fleuue de S. Laurens, i'ay esté frustré de mon attente. De les vouloir suiure, il faudrait autant de Religieux qu'ils sont de cabanes, encor n'en viendroit148on pas à bout; car ils sont tellement occupez à quester leur vie parmy ces bois, qu'ils n'ont pas le loisir de se sauuer, pour ainsi dire. De plus ie ne crois point que de cent Religieux, il y en ait dix qui puissent resister aux trauaux, qu'il faudroit endurer à leur suitte. Ie voulus demeurer auec eux l'Automne dernier, ie n'y fus pas huict iours, qu'vne fieure violente me saisit, & me fist rechercher nostre petite maison, pour y trouuer ma santé: Estant guary ie les ay voulu suiure pendant l'Hiuer, i'ay esté fort malade la pluspart du temps: ces raisons & beaucoup d'autres que ie deduirois, n'estoit que ie crains d'estre lõg, me font croire qu'on trauaillera beaucoup, & qu'on auancera fort peu, si on n'arreste ces Barbares, [39] de leur vouloir persuader de cultiuer d'eux-mesmes sans estre secourus, ie doute fort si on le pourra obtenir de long temps; car ils n'y entendent rien: De plus où retireront ils ce qu'ils pourront recueillir, leurs cabanes n'estants faites que d'escorce, la premiere gelée gastera toutes les racines & les citroüilles qu'ils auroient ramassées. De semer des poids & du bled d'Inde, ils n'ont point de place dans leurs todis; mais qui les nourrira pendant qu'ils cõmanceront à défricher; car ils ne viuent quasi qu'au iour la iournée, n'ayãt pour l'ordinaire au temps qu'il faut défricher aucunes prouisions. En fin quand ils se tueroiẽt de trauailler, ils ne pourroient pas retirer de la terre la moitié de leur vie, iusques à ce qu'elle soit défrichée, & qu'ils soient bien entendus à la faire profiter.

I may be mistaken; but, if I can draw any conclusion from the things I see, it seems to me that not much ought to be hoped for from the Savages as long as they are wanderers; you will instruct them to-day, to-morrow hunger snatches your hearers away, forcing them to go and seek their food in the rivers and woods. Last year I stammered out the Catechism to a [38] goodly number of children; as soon as the ships departed, my birds flew away, some in one direction and some in another. This year, I hoped to see them again, as I speak a little better; but, as they have settled on the other side of the great river St. Lawrence, my hopes have been frustrated. To try to follow them, as many Religious would be needed as there are cabins, and still we would not attain our object; for they are so occupied in seekingtheir livelihood in these woods, that they have not time, so to speak, to save themselves. Besides, I do not believe that, out of a hundred Religious, there would be ten who could endure the hardships to be encountered in following them. I tried to live among them last Autumn; I was not there a week before I was attacked by a violent fever, which caused me to return to our little house to recover my health. Being cured, I tried to follow them during the Winter, and I was very ill the greater part of the time. These reasons, and many others that I might give, were I not afraid of being tedious, make me think that we shall work a great deal and advance very little, if we do not make these Barbarians stationary. [39] As for persuading them to till the soil of their own accord, without being helped, I very much doubt whether we shall be able to attain this for a long time, for they know nothing whatever about it. Besides, where will they store their harvests? As their cabins are made of bark, the first frost will spoil all the roots and pumpkins that they will have gathered. If they plant peas and Indian corn, they have no place in their huts to store them. But who will feed them while they are beginning to clear the land? For they live only from one day to another, having ordinarily no provisions to sustain them during the time that they must be clearing. Finally, when they had killed themselves with hard work, they could not get from the land half their living, until it was cleared and they understood how to make the best use of it.

Or auec le secours de quelques braues ouuriers de bon trauail, il seroit aisé d'arrester quelques familles, veu que quelques vns m'en ont des-ja parlé, s'accoustumans d'eux mesmes petit à petit à tirer quelque chose de la terre.

Now, with the assistance of a few good, industrious men, it would be easy to locate a few families, especially as some of them have already spoken tome about it, thus of themselves becoming accustomed, little by little, to extract something from the earth.

150Ie sçay bien qu'il y a des personnes de [40] bon iugement, qui croyent qu'encor que les Sauuages soient errants, que la bonne semence de l'Euangile ne laissera pas de germer & de fructifier en leur ame, quoy que plus lentement, pource qu'on ne les peut instruire que par reprises. Ils se figurẽt encor que s'il passe icy quelques familles comme on a des-ja commencé d'en amener, que les Sauuages, prendrõt exemple sur nos François, & s'arresteront pour cultiuer la terre. Ie fus frappé de ces pensées au commencement que nous vinsmes icy, mais la cõmunicatiõ que i'ay euë auec ces peuples, & les difficultez qu'ont des hõmes habituez dans l'oisiueté, d'embrasser vn fort trauail, comme est la culture de la terre, me fõt croire maintenant que s'ils ne sont secourus, ils perdront cœur, notamment les Sauuages de Tadoussac. Car pour ceux des trois riuieres, où nos François font faire vne nouuelle habitation cette année, ils ont promis qu'ils s'arresteront là & qu'ils semeront du bled d'Inde; ce qui me semble n'est pas tout à faict asseuré, mais probable, pour autant que leurs predecesseurs ont eu autresfois [41] vne bonne bourgade en cet endroict, qu'ils ont quittée pour les inuasions des Hiroquois leurs ennemis.

I know well there are persons of [40] good judgment who believe that, although the Savages are nomadic, the good seed of the Gospel will not fail to take root and bring forth fruit in their souls, although more slowly, as they can only be instructed at intervals. They imagine also that, if a few families come over here, as they are already beginning to do, the Savages will follow the example of our French and will settle down to cultivate the land. I myself was impressed with these ideas, when we first came over here; but the intercourse which I have had with these people, and the difficulty that men accustomed to a life of idleness have in embracing one of hard work, such as cultivating the soil, cause me to believe now that if they are not helped they will lose heart, especially the Savages at Tadoussac. As to those of the three rivers, where our French People are going to plant a new colony this year, they have promised that they will settle down there and plant Indian corn; this seems to me not altogether assured, but probable, inasmuch as their predecessors once had [41] a good village in that place, which they abandoned on account of the invasions of their enemies, the Hiroquois.15

Le Capitaine de ce quartier là, m'a dit que la terre y estoit fort bonne, & qu'ils l'aimoient fort s'ils deuiennent sedentaires, comme ils en ont maintenant la volonté, nous preuoyons lá vne moisson plus feconde des biens du Ciel, que des fruicts de la terre.

The Captain of that region told me that the land there was quite good, and they liked it very much. If they become sedentary, as they are now minded to do, we foresee there a harvest more abundant in the blessings of Heaven than in the fruits of the earth.

Le troisiesme moyen d'estre bienvoulu de ces peuples, seroit de dresser icy vn seminaire de petits garçons, & auec le temps vn de filles, soubs la conduitte de quelque braue maistresse, que le zele de la152gloire de Dieu & l'affectiõ au salut de ces peuples, fera passer icy, auec quelques Compagnes animées de pareil courage. Plaise à sa diuine Majesté d'en inspirer quelques vnes, pour vne si noble entreprise, & leur fasse perdre l'apprehension que la foiblesse de leur sexe leur pourroit causer, pour auoir à trauerser tant de mers, & viure parmy des Barbares.

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