CHAPITRE VI.

Whoever professes not to get angry, ought also to make a profession of patience; the Savages surpass us to such an extent, in this respect, that we ought to be ashamed. I saw them, in their hardships and in their labors, suffer with cheerfulness. My host, wondering at the great number of people who I told him were in France, asked me if the men were good, if they did not become angry, if they were patient. I have never seen such patience as is shown by a sick Savage. You may yell, storm, jump, dance, and he will scarcely ever complain. I found myself, with them, threatened with great suffering; they said to me, "We shall be sometimes two days, sometimes three, without eating, for lack of food; take courage,Chihiné, let thy soul be strong to endure suffering and hardship; keep thyself from being sad, otherwise thou wilt be sick; see how we do not cease to laugh, [104] although we have little to eat." One thing alone casts them down,—it is when they see death, for they fear this beyond measure; take away this apprehension from the Savages, and they will endure all kinds of degradation and discomfort, and all kinds of trials and suffering very patiently. Later, I shall give several examples of this, which I am reserving for the end of these chapters.

Ils s'entraiment les vns les autres, & s'accordent admirablement bien; vous ne voyez point de disputes, de querelles, d'inimitiez, de reproches parmy eux, les234hõmes laissent la disposition du mesnage aux femmes sans les inquieter; elles coupent, elles tranchent, elles donnent comme il leur plaist, sans que le mary s'en fasche. Ie n'ay iamais veu mon hoste demãder à vne ieune femme estourdie qu'il tenoit auec soy, que deuenoiẽt les viures, quoy qu'ils diminuassẽt assez viste. Ie n'ay iamais oüy les femmes se plaindre de ce que l'on ne les inuitoit aux festins, que les hommes mangeoient les bons morceaux, qu'elles trauailloient incessamment, allans querir le bois pour le chauffage: faisants les Cabanes, passans les peaux, & s'occupans en [105] d'autres œuures assez penibles, chacun fait son petit affaire doucement, & paisiblement sans dispute. Il est vray neantmoins qu'ils n'ont point de douceur ny de courtoisie en leurs paroles, & qu'vn François ne sçauroit prendre l'accent, le ton & l'aspreté de leur voix à moins que de se mettre en cholere, eux cependant ne s'y mettrent pas.

They are very much attached to each other, and agree admirably. You do not see any disputes, quarrels, enmities, or reproaches among them. Men leave the arrangement of the household to the women, without interfering with them; they cut, and decide, and give away as they please, without making the husband angry. I have never seen my host ask a giddy young woman that he had with him what becameof the provisions, although they were disappearing very fast. I have never heard the women complain because they were not invited to the feasts, because the men ate the good pieces, or because they had to work continually,—going in search of the wood for the fire, making the Houses, dressing the skins, and busying themselves in [105] other very laborious work. Each one does her own little tasks, gently and peacefully, without any disputes. It is true, however, that they have neither gentleness nor courtesy in their utterance; and a Frenchman could not assume the accent, the tone, and the sharpness of their voices without becoming angry, yet they do not.

Ils ne sont point vindicatifs entr'eux, si bien enuers leurs ennemis. Ie coucheray icy vn exẽple capable de confondre plusieurs Chrestiens. Dans les pressures de nostre famine, vn ieune Sauuage d'vn autre quartier nous vint voir, il estoit aussi affamé que nous; le iour qu'il vint fut vn iour de ieusne pour luy & pour nous, car il ny auoit dequoy manger: le lendemain nos chasseurs ayãs pris quelques Castors, on fit festin auquel il fut très biẽ traitté, on luy dit en outre qu'õ auoit veu les pistes d'vn Orignac, & qu'on l'iroit chasser le lendemain; on l'inuita à demeurer, & qu'il en auroit sa part, luy respõdit qu'il ne pouuoit estre dauantage; s'estant doncques enquis du lieu où étoit la beste, il s'ẽ retourna: Nos Chasseurs ayans trouué & tué le lendemain [106] cest Elan, l'enseuelirent236dãs la neige, selon leur coustume, pour l'enuoyer querir au iour suiuãt. Or pendãt la nuict mon ieune Sauuage cherche si biẽ, qu'il trouue la beste morte, & en enleue vne bõne partie sans dire mot, le larcin connu par nos gens, ils n'entrerent point en des furies, ne donnerent aucune malediction au voleur; toute leur cholere fut de se gausser de luy, & cependãt c'estoit presque nous oster la vie, que de nous dérober nos viures, car nous n'en pouuions recouurer. A quelque temps de là, ce voleur nous vint voir, ie luy voulus representer la laideur de son crime, mon hoste m'imposa silence, & ce pauure hõme rejettant son larcin sur les chiens, nõ seulement fut excusé, mais encore receu pour demeurer auec nous dans vne mesme Cabane. Il s'en alla donc querir sa femme, qu'il apporta sur son dos, car elle a les iambes sans mouuement; & vne ieune parente qui demeure auec luy apporta son petit fils, & tous quatre prirent place en nostre petit todis, sans que iamais on leur aye reproché ce larcin, ains au contraire on leur a tesmoigné tres-bõ visage, & les a-on traittez comme [107] ceux de la maison. Dites à vn Sauuage, qu'vn autre Sauuage a dit pis que pendre de luy, il baissera la teste, & ne dira mot: s'ils se rencõtrent par apres tous, ils ne feront nõ plus de semblant de cela, comme si riẽ n'auoit esté dit, ils se traitteront comme freres, ils n'ont point de fiel enuers leur nation.

They are not vindictive among themselves, although they are toward their enemies. I will here give an example that ought to confound many Christians. In the stress of our famine, a young Savage from another quarter came to see us, who was as hungry as we were. The day on which he came was a day of fasting for him and for us, for there was nothing to eat. The next day, our hunters having taken a few Beavers, a feast was made, at which he was well treated; he was told besides that the trail of a Moose had been seen, and that they were going to hunt for it the next day; he was invited to remain and to have his share of it; he answered that he could stay no longer, and, having inquired about the place where the animal was, he went away. Our Hunters, having found and killed this Elk the [106] next day, buried it in the snow, according to their custom, to send for it on the following day. Now, during the night, my young Savage searched so well, that he found the dead beast, and took away a good part of it without saying a word. When the theftbecame known to our people, they did not get into a rage and utter maledictions against the thief,—all their anger consisted in sneering at him; and yet this was almost taking away our life, this stealing our food when we were unable to obtain any more. Some time afterward, this thief came to see us; I wanted to represent to him the seriousness of his offence, but my host imposed silence; and when this poor man attributed his theft to the dogs, he was not only excused, but even received to live with us in the same Cabin. Then he went for his wife, whom he carried upon his back, for her legs are paralyzed; a young female relative who lives with him brought his little son; and all four took their places in our little hut, without ever being reproached for this theft; on the contrary they were received very kindly, and were treated as if [107] belonging to the family. Tell a Savage that another Savage has slandered him, and he will bow the head and not say a word; if they meet each other afterward, they will pretend not to know anything about it, acting as if nothing had been said. They treat each other as brothers; they harbor no spite against those of their own nation.

Ils sont fort liberaux entr'eux, voire ils font estat de ne riẽ aimer, de ne point s'attacher aux biẽs de la terre, afin de ne se point attrister s'ils les perdẽt. Vn chiẽ dechira n'a pas longtemps vne belle robe de Castor à vn Sauuage, il estoit le premier à s'en rire; l'vne de leurs grãdes injures parmy eux, c'est de dire cét238homme aime tout, il est auare: si vous leur refusez quelque chose, voicy leur reproche, comme ie remarquay l'an passé,KhisakhitanSaKhita, tu aime cela, aime le tant que tu voudras: ils n'ouurent point la main à demy quand ils donnent, ie dis entr'eux, car ils sont ingrats au possible enuers les estrangers. Vous leur verrez nourrir leurs parents, les enfans de leurs amis, des femmes vefues, des orphelins, des vieillards, sans iamais leur rien reprocher, leur donnans abondamment [108] quelquefois des Originaux tous entiers; c'est veritablement vne marque d'vn bon cœur, & d'vne ame genereuse.

They are very generous among themselves and even make a show of not loving anything, of not being attached to the riches of the earth, so that they may not grieve if they lose them. Not long ago a dog tore a beautiful Beaver robe belonging to one of the Savages, and he was the first one to laugh about it. One of the greatest insults that can be offered to them, is to say, "That man likes everything, he is stingy." If you refuse them anything, here is their reproach, as I remarked last year:Khisakhitan Sakhita, "Thou lovest that, love it as much as thouwilt." They do not open the hand half-way when they give,—I mean among themselves, for they are as ungrateful as possible toward strangers. You will see them take care of their kindred, the children of their friends, widows, orphans, and old men, never reproaching them in the least, giving them abundantly, [108] sometimes whole Moose. This is truly the sign of a good heart and of a generous soul.

Comme il y a plusieurs orphelins parmy ce peuple; car depuis qu'ils se sont adonnez aux boissons de vin & d'eau de vie, ils meurent en grand nõbre; ces pauures enfans sont dispersez dans les Cabanes de leurs oncles, de leurs tantes, ou autres parents, ne pensez pas qu'on les rabrouë, qu'on leur reproche qu'ils mãgent les viures de la maison, rien de tout cela, on les traitte comme les enfans du pere de famille, ou du moins peu s'en faut, on les habille le mieux qu'on peut.

As there are many orphans among these people,—for they die in great numbers since they are addicted to drinking wine and brandy,—these poor children are scattered among the Cabins of their uncles, aunts, or other relatives. Do not suppose that they are snubbed and reproached because they eat the food of the household. Nothing of the kind, they are treated the same as the children of the father of the family, or at least almost the same, and are dressed as well as possible.

Ils ne sont point delicats en leurs viures, en leur coucher, & en leurs habits, mais ils ne sont pas nets; Iamais ils ne se plaignent de ce qu'on leur donne, qu'il soit froid, qu'il soit chaud, il n'importe, quand la chaudiere est cuitte, on la partage sans attẽdre personne, non pas mesme le maistre de la maison, on luy garde sa part qu'on luy presente toute froide. Ie n'ay point oüy plaindre mon hoste de ce que l'on ne l'attendoit pas, n'estant qu'à deux pas de la Cabane. Ils couchẽt sur la terre bien souuent; à l'enseigne des [109] estoiles. Ils passerõt vn iour, deux & trois240iours sans manger, ne laissans pas de ramer, chasser, & se peiner tant qu'ils peuuent. L'on verra dans la suite de cette relation, que tout ce que i'ay dit en ce chapitre est tres-veritable, & neãtmoins ie n'oserois asseurer que i'aye veu exercer aucun acte de vraye vertu morale à vn Sauuage: Ils n'ont que leur seul plaisir & contentement en veuë, adjoustez la crainte de quelque blasme, & la gloire de paroistre bons chasseurs; voila tout ce qui les meut dans leurs operations.

They are not fastidious in their food, beds, and clothes, but are very slovenly. They never complain of what is given them; if it be cold, if it be warm, it does not matter. When the food is cooked, it is divided without waiting for any one, not even the master of the house; a share is reserved for him, which is given to him cold. I have never heard my host complain because they did not wait for him, if he were only a few steps from the Cabin. They often sleep upon the ground, at the sign of the [109] stars. They will pass one, two, and three days without eating, not ceasing to row, hunt, and fatigue themselves as much as they can. It will be seen in the course of this relation, that all I have said in this chapter is very true; and yet I would not dare to assert that I have seen one act of real moral virtue in a Savage.They have nothing but their own pleasure and satisfaction in view. Add to this the fear of being blamed, and the glory of seeming to be good hunters, and you have all that actuates them in their transactions.

242CHAPITRE VI.DE LEURS VICES & DE LEURS IMPERFECTIONS.LES Sauuages estans remplis d'erreurs, les õt aussi de superbe & d'orgueil. L'humilité naist de la verité la vanité de l'erreur & du mensonge; ils sont vuides de la connoissance de la verité, & par consequent tres remplis d'eux mesmes. Ils s'imaginent que par droit de naissance ils doiuent ioüir de la liberté de asnons Sauuages, ne rendant aucune subiection à qui que ce soit, sinon quand il leur plaist: Ils m'ont reproché cent fois que nous [110] craignõs nos Capitaines, mais pour eux qu'ils se mocquoient & se gaussoient des leur: toute l'authorité de leur chef est au bout de ses leures, il est aussi puissant qu'il est eloquent; & quand il s'est tué de parler & de haranguer, il ne sera pas obey s'il ne plaist au Sauuages.

242

DE LEURS VICES & DE LEURS IMPERFECTIONS.

LES Sauuages estans remplis d'erreurs, les õt aussi de superbe & d'orgueil. L'humilité naist de la verité la vanité de l'erreur & du mensonge; ils sont vuides de la connoissance de la verité, & par consequent tres remplis d'eux mesmes. Ils s'imaginent que par droit de naissance ils doiuent ioüir de la liberté de asnons Sauuages, ne rendant aucune subiection à qui que ce soit, sinon quand il leur plaist: Ils m'ont reproché cent fois que nous [110] craignõs nos Capitaines, mais pour eux qu'ils se mocquoient & se gaussoient des leur: toute l'authorité de leur chef est au bout de ses leures, il est aussi puissant qu'il est eloquent; & quand il s'est tué de parler & de haranguer, il ne sera pas obey s'il ne plaist au Sauuages.

CHAPTER VI.ON THEIR VICES AND THEIR IMPERFECTIONS.THE Savages, being filled with errors, are also haughty and proud. Humility is born of truth, vanity of error and falsehood. They are void of the knowledge of truth, and are in consequence, mainly occupied with thought of themselves. They imagine that they ought by right of birth, to enjoy the liberty of Wild ass colts, rendering no homage to any one whomsoever, except when they like. They have reproached me a hundred times because we [110] fear our Captains, while they laugh at and make sport of theirs. All the authority of their chief is in his tongue's end; for he is powerful in so far as he is eloquent; and, even if he kills himself talking and haranguing, he will not be obeyed unless he pleases the Savages.

ON THEIR VICES AND THEIR IMPERFECTIONS.

THE Savages, being filled with errors, are also haughty and proud. Humility is born of truth, vanity of error and falsehood. They are void of the knowledge of truth, and are in consequence, mainly occupied with thought of themselves. They imagine that they ought by right of birth, to enjoy the liberty of Wild ass colts, rendering no homage to any one whomsoever, except when they like. They have reproached me a hundred times because we [110] fear our Captains, while they laugh at and make sport of theirs. All the authority of their chief is in his tongue's end; for he is powerful in so far as he is eloquent; and, even if he kills himself talking and haranguing, he will not be obeyed unless he pleases the Savages.

Ie ne crois pas qu'il y aye de nation sous le ciel plus mocqueuse & plus gausseuse que la nation des Montagnais, leur vie se passe à manger, à rire, & à railler les vns des autres, & de tous les peuples qu'ils cognoissent; ils n'ont rien de serieux, sinon par fois l'exterieur faisans parmy nous les graues & les retenus: mais entr'eux sont de vrais badins, de vrais enfans qui ne demandent qu'à rire. Ie les [c]achois quelquefois vn petit, notamment le Sorcier, les appellant des enfans, leurs tesmoignãs que ie ne pouuois asseoir aucun jugement asseuré sur toutes leurs responses; car si ie leur demandois d'vn, ils me disoient244d'autre, pour trouuer suiet de rire & de gausser: & par consequent ie ne pouuois connoistre quand ils parloient serieusement, ou quand ils se mocquoient. La conclusion ordinaire de leurs discours & de leurs entretiens, est en verité nous nous sommes [111] bien mocquez d'vn tel.

I do not believe that there is a nation under heaven more given to sneering and bantering than that of the Montagnais. Their life is passed in eating, laughing, and making sport of each other, and of all the people they know. There is nothing serious about them, except occasionally, when they make a pretense among us of being grave and dignified; but among themselves they are real buffoons and genuine children, who ask only to laugh. Sometimes I annoyed them a little, especially the Sorcerer, by calling them children, and showing them that I nevercould place any reliance upon all their answers; because, if I questioned them about one thing, they told me about something else, only to get something to laugh and jest about; and consequently I could not know when they were speaking seriously, or when they were jesting. The usual conclusion of their discourses and conversations is: "Really, we did make [111] a great deal of sport of such and such a one."

I'ay fait voir dans mes lettres precedentes combien les Sauuages sont vindicatifs enuers leurs ennemis, auec quelle rage & quelle cruauté ils les traittent, les mageants apres leur auoir fait souffrir tout ce qu'vn demon incarné pourroit inuenter, cette fureur est commune aux femmes, aussi bien qu'aux hommes; voire mesme elles les surpassent en ce poinct. I'ay dit qu'ils mangent les poux qu'ils trouuent sur eux, non pour aucun goust qu'ils y trouuẽt, mais pource qu'ils veulent mordre ceux qui les mordent.

I have shown in my former letters how vindictive the Savages are toward their enemies, with what fury and cruelty they treat them, eating them after they have made them suffer all that an incarnate fiend could invent. This fury is common to the women as well as to the men, and they even surpass the latter in this respect. I have said that they eat the lice they find upon themselves, not that they like the taste of them, but because they want to bite those that bite them.

Ce peuple est fort peu touché de compassion, quand quelqu'vn est malade dans leurs Cabanes, ils ne laissent pas pour l'ordinaire de crier, de tempester, & de faire autant de bruit, cõme si tout le monde estoit en santé; ils ne sçauent que c'est de prendre soin d'vn pauure malade, & de luy donner des viandes qui luy sont bonnes: s'il demande à boire, on luy en donne, s'il demande à manger, on luy en presente, sinon on le laisse là: de l'inuiter auec amour & charité, c'est vn langage qu'ils n'entendent pas; tant qu'vn malade pourra manger, ils le porteront [112] ou le traisneront auec eux; cesse-il de manger, ils croient que c'est fait de sa vie, ils le mettent à mort, tant pour le deliurer du mal qu'il endure, que pour se soulager de la peine qu'ils ont de le porter quand ils vont en quelqu'autre endroit. I'ay admiré auec cõpassion la patiẽce des malades que j'ay veu parmi eux.

These people are very little moved by compassion. When any one is sick in their Cabins, they ordinarily do not cease to cry and storm, and make as much noise as if everybody were in good health. They do not know what it is to take care of a poor invalid, and to give him the food which is good for him; if he asks for something to drink, it is given to him, if he asks for something to eat, it is given to him, but otherwise he is neglected; to coax him with love and gentleness, is a language which they do not understand. As long as a patient can eat, they will carry [112] or drag him with them; if he stops eating, they believe that it is all over with him and kill him, as much to free him from the sufferings that he is enduring, as to relieve themselves of the trouble of taking him with them when they go to some other place.I have both admired and pitied the patience of the invalids whom I have seen among them.

246Les Sauuages sont mesdisants au de là de ce qu'on en peut penser; ie dis mesme les vns des autres, ils n'espargnent pas leurs plus proches: ils sont auec cela fort dissimulez; car si l'vn médit d'vn autre, il s'en mocquent à gorge desploiée: si l'autre paroist là dessus, il luy tesmoignera autant d'affection, & le traittera auec autant d'amour, comme s'il l'auoit mis iusques au troisiesme ciel à force de le loüer. La raison de cecy prouient à mon aduis de ce que leurs detractions & mocqueries, ne sortent point d'vn cœur enfielé, ny d'vne bouche empestée, mais d'vne ame qui dit ce qu'elle pense pour se donner carriere: & qui veut tirer du contentement de tout, voire mesme des mesdisances, & des gausseries: c'est pourquoy ils ne se troublent point; quoy qu'on leur die que d'autres se sont mocqués [113] d'eux, ou qu'ils ont blessé leur renõmée: tout ce qu'ils repartent ordinairement à ces discours, c'estmama irinisiou, il n'a point d'esprit, il ne sçait ce qu'il dit: & à la premiere occasion ils payeront leur detracteur en mesme monnoye, luy rendants le reciproque.

The Savages are slanderous beyond all belief; I say, also among themselves, for they do not even spare their nearest relations, and with it all they are deceitful. For, if one speaks ill of another, they all jeer with loud laughter; if the other appears upon the scene, the first one will show him as much affection and treat him with as much love, as if he had elevated him to the third heaven by his praise. The reason of this is, it seems to me, that their slanders and derision do not come from malicious hearts or from infected mouths, but from a mind which says what it thinks in order to give itself free scope, and which seeks gratification from everything, even from slander and mockery. Hence they are not troubled even if they are told that others are making sport of [113] them, or have injured their reputation. All they usually answer to such talk is,mama irinisiou, "He has no sense, he does not know what he is talking about;" and at the first opportunity they will pay their slanderer in the same coin, returning him the like.

La menterie est aussi naturelle aux Sauuages que la parole, non pas entr'eux, mais enuers les estrangers: en suitte dequoy l'on peut dire, que la crainte & l'espoir, en vn mot, que l'interest est la mesure de leur fidelité, ie ne me voudrois cõfier en eux qu'autãt qu'ils craindroient d'estre punis s'ils manquoient à leur deuoir, ou qu'ils espereroient d'estre recompensés s'ils estoient fideles. Ils ne sçauent que c'est d'estre secrets, de tenir leur parole, & d'aimer auec constance; notamment ceux qui ne sont pas de leur nation, car ils sont de bon accord parmy eux, & leurs mesdisances & railleries, n'alterent point leur paix, & leur bonne intelligence.

Lying is as natural to Savages as talking, not among themselves, but to strangers. Hence it can be said that fear and hope, in one word, interest, is the measure of their fidelity. I would not be willing to trust them, except as they would fear to be punished if they failed in their duty, or hoped to be rewarded if they were faithful to it. They do not know what it is to keep a secret, to keep their word, and to love with constancy,—especially those who are not of their nation, for they are harmonious among themselves, and their slanders and raillery do not disturb their peace and friendly intercourse.

248Ie diray en passant que les Sauuages Montagnais ne sont point larrons, l'entrée leur est libre dans les demeures des François, parce qu'ils ont la main seure: [114] mais pour les Hurons, si on auoit autant d'yeux qu'ils ont de doigts aux mains, encore ne les empescheroit-on pas de dérober, car ils dérobent auec les pieds: ils font profession de ce mestier, & en suitte d'estre battus si on les descouure. Car cõme i'ay desia remarqué, ils porteront les coups que vous leur donnerez patiemment; non pas en reconnoissance de leur peché, mais en punition de leur stupidité, s'estans laissez surprendre en leur larcin. Ie laisseray à parler d'eux aux Peres qui les sont allez voir, dont i'enuierois la condition, n'estoit que celuy qui nous assigne nos departemẽs est toujours aimable, & toujours adorable, quelque part ou portiõ qu'il nous dõne.

I will say in passing that the Montagnais Savages are not thieves. The doors of the French are open to them, because their hands can be trusted; [114] but, as to the Hurons, if a person had as many eyes as they have fingers on their hands, he could not prevent them from stealing, for they steal with their feet. They make a profession of this art, and expect to be beaten if they are discovered. For, as I have already remarked, they will endure the blows which you give them, patiently, not as an acknowledgment of their fault, but as a punishment for their stupidity in allowing themselves to be detected in their theft. I will leave the description of them to our Fathers who are going there, whose lot I would envy, were it not that he who assigns us our departments is always worthy of love and always adorable, whatever part or portion he may give us.

Il est du manger parmy les Sauuages, comme du boire parmy les yurognes d'Europe: ces ames seiches & toujours alterées, expireroient volõtiers dãs vne cuue de maluoisie, & les Sauuages dans vne marmite pleine de viande; ceux-là ne parlent que de boire, & ceux cy que de manger. C'est faire vne espece d'affront à vn Sauuage, de refuser les morceaux qu'il presente. Vn certain voyant que i'auois remercié mon hoste, qui me [115] presentoit à manger, me dit, tu ne l'aime pas, puis que tu l'esconduits: Ie luy dis que nostre coustume n'estoit pas de mãger à toutes heures, que neantmoins ie prendrois ce qu'il me donneroit, pourueu qu'il ne m'en donnast guieres souuent. Ils se mirẽt tous à rire, & vne vieille me dit, que si ie voulois estre aimé de leur nation, il falloit que ie mangeasse beaucoup. Quand vous les traittez250biẽ, ils témoignent le contentement qu'ils prennent en vostre festin par ces parolestapoué nimitison, en verité ie mange: comme si leur souuerain contentement estoit en cette action: & à la fin du banquet, ils diront pour action de graces,tapouénikhispoun, veritablemẽt ie suis saoul; c'est à dire, tu m'as bien traitté, i'en ay iusques à creuer; i'ay desia me semble remarqué cecy. Ils croyent que c'est bestise & stupidité de refuser: le plus grãd cõtentement qu'ils puissent auoir en leur Paradis, qui est le ventre. Ie m'écrierois volõtiers, ô iuste iugement de Dieu, que ce peuple qui met sa derniere fin à mãger soit tousiours affamé, & ne soit point repeu que comme les chiens, car leurs festins les plus splendides ne sont pour [116] ainsi dire, que les os & les reliefs des tables d'Europe; La premiere action qu'ils font le matin à leur resueil, c'est d'estendre le bras à leur escuelle d'escorce garnie de chair, & puis de manger. Au commencemẽt que ie fus auec eux, ie voulus introduire la coustume de prier Dieu deuant que de manger & de fait ie donnois la benedictiõ quand ils le vouloiẽt faire: mais l'Apostat me dit, si vous voulez prier autant de fois qu'on mangera dans la Cabane, preparés vous à dire vostreBenediciteplus de vingt fois auant la nuict. Ils finissent le iour comme ils le commencent, ils ont encore le morceau à la bouche, ou le calumet pour petuner, quand ils mettent la teste sur le cheuet pour reposer.

Eating among the Savages is like drinking among the drunkards of Europe. Those dry and ever-thirsty souls would willingly end their lives in a tub of malmsey, and the Savages in a pot full of meat; those over there, talk only of drinking, and these here only of eating. It is giving a sort of insult to a Savage to refuse the pieces which he offers you. A certain one, seeing that I had declined what my host [115] offered me to eat, said to me, "Thou dost not love him, since thou refusest him." I told him that it was not our custom to eat at all hours; but, nevertheless, I would take what he would give me, if he did not give it to me quite so often. They all began to laugh; and an old woman said to me that, if I wished to be loved by their tribe, I must eat a great deal. When you treat them well, they show their satisfaction with your feast in these words,tapoué nimitison, "Iam really eating," as if their highest content were in this action; and at the end of the banquet, they will say as an act of thanks,tapoué nikhispoun, "I am really full;" meaning, "Thou hast treated me well; I am full to bursting." It seems to me that I have spoken of this before. They believe that it is foolish and stupid to refuse; the greatest satisfaction that they can have in their Paradise is in the stomach. I do not hesitate to exclaim: Oh, how just is the judgment of God, that these people, who place their ultimate happiness in eating, are always hungry, and are only fed like dogs; for their most splendid feastings are, [116] so to speak, only the bones and the leavings of the tables of Europe! Their first act, upon awakening in the morning, is to stretch out their arms toward their bark dish full of meat, and then to eat. When I first began to stay with them, I tried to introduce the custom of praying to God before eating, and in fact I pronounced a blessing when they wanted it done. But the Apostate said to me, "If you want to pray as many times as they will eat in your Cabin, prepare to say yourBenedicitemore than twenty times before night." They end the day as they begin it, always with a morsel in their mouths, or with their pipes to smoke when they lay their heads on the pillow to rest.

Les Sauuages ont tousiours esté gourmands, mais depuis la venuë des Europeans, ils sont deuenus tellement yurognes, qu'encore qu'ils voyent bien que ces nouuelles boissons de vin & d'eau de vie, qu'on leur apporte depeuplẽt leurs pays, & qu'eux mesmes s'en252plaignent; ils ne sçauroient s'abstenir de boire, faisants gloire de s'enyurer, & d'enyurer les autres. Il est vray qu'ils meurẽt en grand [117] nombre, mais ie m'estonne encore comme ils peuuent si long temps resister, car donnez à deux Sauuages deux & trois bouteilles d'eau de vie, ils s'asseoiront, & sans manger boirõt l'vn apres l'autre, iusques à ce qu'ils les ayent vuidées. La compagnie de ces Messieurs est merueilleusement loüable, de defendre la traitte de ces boissons. Monsieur de Champlain fait tres sagement de tenir la main que ces deffences soient gardées. I'ay appris que Mõsieur le General du Plessis les a fait obseruer à Tadoussac. On m'auoit dit que les Sauuages estoient assez chastes, ie ne parleray pas de tous, ne les ayãt pas tous frequentez, mais ceux que i'ay conuersez sont fort lubriques, & hõmes & femmes. Dieu quel aueuglemẽt? quel bõ-heur du peuple Chrestien? que le chastiement de ces Barbares! au lieu que par admiratiõ nous disons assés souuent,Iesvsqu'est cela! mon Dieu qui a fait cela? ces vilains & ces infames prononcent les parties des-honnestes de l'homme & de la femme. Ils ont incessamment la bouche puante de ces ordures, & mesmes iusques aux petits enfãts, aussi leur disois-je par fois, que si les [118] pourceaux & les chiens sçauoient parler, ils tiendroient leur langage. Il est vray que si l'impudique Sorcier ne fust pas venu dãs la Cabane où i'estois, i'auois gaigné cela sur mes gens, qu'aucun n'osoit parler des choses des-honnestes en ma presence, mais cét impudent authorisoit les autres. Les femmes vn peu âgées se chauffent presque toutes nuës, les filles & les ieunes femmes, sont à l'exterieur tres-honnestement couuertes, mais entre elles254leur disscours sont puants, comme des cloaques. Il faut neãtmoins aduouër que si la liberté de se gorger de ces immondices estoit parmy quelques Chrestiens, cõme elle est parmy ces peuples, on verroit bien d'autres monstres d'excez qu'on ne voit pas icy; veu mesme que nonobstant les loix Diuines & humaines, la dissolution y marche plus à descouuert que non pas icy. Car les yeux n'y sont point offensez. Le seul Sorcier a fait en ma presence quelque action brutale, les autres battoient seulement mes oreilles, mais s'apperceuants que ie les entendois, ils en estoient honteux.

The Savages have always been gluttons, but since the coming of the Europeans they have become such drunkards, that,—although they see clearly that these new drinks, the wine and brandy, which are brought to them, are depopulating their country, of which they themselves complain,—they cannot abstain from drinking, taking pride in getting drunk and in making others drunk. It is true that they diein great [117] numbers; but I am astonished that they can resist it as long as they do. For, give two Savages two or three bottles of brandy, they will sit down and, without eating, will drink, one after the other, until they have emptied them. The company of these Gentlemen is remarkably praiseworthy in forbidding the traffic in these liquors. Monsieur de Champlain very wisely takes care that these restrictions are observed, and I have heard that Monsieur the General du Plessis has had them enforced at Tadoussac.19I have been told that the Savages are tolerably chaste. I shall not speak of all, not having been among them all; but those whom I have met are very lewd, both men and women. God! what blindness! How great is the happiness of Christian people! How great the chastisement of these Barbarians! In place of saying, as we do very often, through wonder, "Jesus!what is that? My God! who has done that?" these vile and infamous people pronounce the names of the private parts of man and woman. Their lips are constantly foul with these obscenities; and it is the same with the little children. So I said to them, at one time, that if [118] hogs and dogs knew how to talk, they would adopt their language. Indeed, if the shameless Sorcerer had not come into the Cabin where I was, I should have gained thus much from my people, that not one of them would dare to speak of impure things in my presence; but this impertinent fellow ruled the others. The older women go almost naked, the girls and young women are very modestly clad; but, among themselves, their language has the foul odor of the sewers. It must be admitted, however, that if liberty to gorge oneself in such filth existed amongsome Christians, as it does among these people, one would see very different exhibitions of excess from what are seen here; for, even despite the laws, both Divine and human, dissoluteness strides more openly there than here. For here the eyes are not offended. The Sorcerer alone has been guilty of any brutal action in my presence; the others only offended my ears, but, perceiving that I heard them, they were ashamed.

Or comme ces peuples connoissent bien cette corruption, ils prennent plustost [119] les enfans de leurs sœurs pour heritiers, que leurs propres enfans, ou de leurs freres, reuoquans en doute la fidelité de leurs femmes, & ne pouuãts douter que ces nepueux ne soient tirez de leur sang, aussi parmy les Hurons, qui sont plus sales que nos Montagnais; pource qu'ils sont mieux nourris, l'enfant d'vn Capitaine ne succede pas à son pere, mais le fils de sa sœur.

Now, as these people are well aware of this corruption, they prefer to take [119] the children of their sisters as heirs, rather than their own, or than those of their brothers, calling in question the fidelity of their wives, and being unable to doubt that these nephews come from their own blood. Also among the Hurons,—who are more licentious than our Montagnais, because they are better fed,—it is not the child of a Captain but his sister's son, who succeeds the father.

Le Sorcier me disant vn iour que les femmes l'aimoient, car au dire des Sauuages, c'est son genie que de se faire aimer de ce sexe. Ie luy dis que cela n'estoit pas beau qu'vne femme aimast vn autre que son mary; & que ce mal estãt parmy eux, luy mesme n'estoit pas asseuré, que son fils qui estoit là present, fut son fils. Il me repartit, tu n'as point d'esprit: vous autres François vous n'aimez que vos propres enfans, mais nous, nous cherissons vniuersellement tous les enfans de nostre nation, ie me mis à rire, voyant qu'il philosophoit en cheual & en mulet.

The Sorcerer told me one day that the women were fond of him, for, as the Savages say, it is his demon that makes the sex love him. I told him that it was not honorable for a woman to love any one else except her husband; and that, this evil being among them, he himself was not sure that his son, who was there present, was his son. He replied, "Thou hast no sense. You French people love only your own children; but we all love all the children of our tribe." I began to laugh, seeing that he philosophized in horse and mule fashion.

Apres toutes ces belles qualitez, les Sauuages en256ont encore vne autre plus onereuse que celles dont nous auons parlé, mais non pas si meschante; c'est [120] leur importunité enuers les estrangers. I'ay coustume d'appeller ces cõtrées lá, le pays d'importunité enuers les estrangers, pource que les mouches, qui en sont le symbole, & le hierogliphique, ne vous laissent reposer ny iour ny nuict: pendant quelques mois de l'Esté, elles nous assaillent auec telle furie, & si continuellement, qu'il n'y a peau qui soit à l'espreuue de leur aiguillõ: tout le monde leur paye de son sang pour tribut. I'ay veu des personnes si enflées apres leurs picqueures, qu'on croyoit qu'ils perdroient les yeux, qui ne paroissoient quasi plus: or tout cela n'est rien, car enfin cette importunité se chasse auec de la fumée, que les mouches ne sçauroient supporter, mais ce remede attire les Sauuages: s'ils sçauent l'heure de vostre disner, ils viẽnent tout exprez pour auoir à manger, ils demandẽt incessamment, mais auec des presses si reïterées, que vous diriez qu'ils vous tiennent tousiours à la gorge: faites leur voir quoy que ce soit, s'il est tant soit peu à leur vsage: ils vous diront l'aime tu? donne le moy.

With all these fine qualities, the Savages have another, more annoying than those of which we have spoken, but not so wicked; it is [120] their importunity toward strangers. I have a habit of calling thesecountries, "the land of importunity toward strangers," because the flies, which are the symbol and visible representation of it, do not let you rest day or night. During certain Summer months, they attack us with such fury, and so continually, that no skin is proof against their sting, and every one pays his blood as tribute. I have seen persons so swollen after being stung by them, that one would think they would lose their eyes, which can scarcely be seen; now all that is nothing, for this annoyance can be dispelled by means of smoke, which the flies cannot stand, but this remedy attracts the Savages,—if they know our dinner hour, they come purposely to get something to eat. They ask continually, and with such incessant urgency, that you would say that they are always holding you by the throat. If you show them anything whatever, however little it may be adapted to their use, they will say, "Dost thou love it? Give it to me."

Vn certain me disoit vn iour, qu'en son [121] pays on ne sçauoit point conjuguer le verbedo, au present, encore moins au preterit: les Sauuages ignorent tellemẽt cette coniugaison, qu'ils ne vous donneroient point la valeur d'vne obole, s'ils ne croient, pour ainsi dire, retirer vne pistole; ils sont ingrats au dernier point.

A certain man said to me one day, that in his [121] country they did not know how to conjugate the verbdo, in the present, and still less in the past. The Savages are so ignorant of this conjugation, that they would not give you the value of an obole,20if they did not expect, so to speak, to get back a pistole; for they are ungrateful in the highest degree.

Nous auons icy tenu & nourry fort long temps nostre Sauuage malade, qui se vint ietter entre nos bras pour mourir Chrestien, cõme i'ay remarqué cy-dessus: tous ces cõpatriottes estoient estõnez du bon258traittement que nous luy faisions, ses enfants en sa consideration, apporterent vn peu de chair d'Elan; on leur demanda ce qu'ils vouloient en eschange, car les presents des Sauuages sont des marchez: ils demanderent du vin & de la poudre à Canon, on leur repart qu'on ne leur en pouuoit donner; que s'ils vouloient autre chose que nous eussions, on leur donneroit tres volontiers, on leur donna fort bien à manger, & pour conclusion ils remporterẽt leurs viandes, puisqu'on ne leur donnoit ce qu'ils demandoient, menaçant qu'ils viendroient requerir leur pere, ce qu'ils firent; mais le bon hõme ne voulut pas [122] nous quitter; de cét échantillon, iugez de la piece.

We have kept here and fed for a long time our sick Savage, who came and threw himself into our arms in order to die a Christian, as I have stated above. All his fellow-savages were astonished at the good treatment we gave him; on his account, his children brought a little Elk meat, and they were asked what they wished in exchange, for the presents of the Savages are always bargains. They asked some wine andGunpowder, and were told that we could not give them these things; but that, if they wished something else that we had, we would give it to them very gladly. A good meal was given them, and finally they carried back their meat, since we did not give them what they asked for, threatening that they would come after their father, which they did; but the good man did not wish [122] to leave us. From this sample, judge of the whole piece.

Or ne pensez pas qu'ils se comportent ainsi entr'eux, au contraire, ils sont tres reconnoissants, tres liberaux, & nullement importuns enuers ceux de leur nation. S'ils se cõportent ainsi enuers nos François, & enuers les autres estrangers, c'est à mon aduis que nous ne voulons pas nous allier auec eux comme freres, ce qu'ils souhaitteroient grandement; mais ce seroit nous perdre en trois iours: cars ils voudroient que nous allassions auec eux manger de leurs viures tant qu'ils en auroient, & ils viendroiẽt aussi manger les nostres tãt qu'ils dureroiẽt: & quand il n'y en auroit plus, nous nous metterions tous à en chercher d'autres. Voila leur vie qu'ils passent en festins pendãt qu'ils ont dequoy; mais comme nous n'entendons rien à leur chasse, & que ce procedé n'est pas loüable, on ne veut pas leur prester l'oreille. C'est pourquoy ne nous tenants point comme de leur nation, ils nous traittent à la façon que i'ay dit. Si vn estrãger quel qu'il soit se iette de leur party, ils le traitteront comme eux. Vn ieune Hiroquois, auquel [123] ils260auoient donné la vie, estoit comme enfant de la maison; que si vous faites vostre mesnage à part mesprisants leurs loix, ou leurs coustumes ils vous succeront s'ils peuuent iusques au sang. Il n'y a mouche, ny guespe, ny taon, si importun qu'vn Sauuage.

Now do not think that they act thus among themselves; on the contrary, they are very grateful, very liberal, and not in the least importunate toward those of their own nation. If they conduct themselves thus toward our French, and toward other foreigners, it is because, it seems to me, that we do not wish to ally ourselves with them as brothers, which they would very much desire. But this would ruin us in three days; for they would want us to go with them, and eat their food as long as they had any, and then they would come and eat ours as long as it lasted; and, when there was none left, we would all set to work to find more. For that is the kind of life they live, feasting as long as they have something; but, as we know nothing about their mode of hunting, and as this way of doing is not praiseworthy, we do not heed them. Hence, as we do not regard ourselves as belonging to their nation, they treat us in the way I have described. If any stranger, whoever he may be, unites with their party, they will treat him as one of their own nation. A young Hiroquois whose [123] life they had spared, was like a child of their own family. But if you carry on your affairs apart from them, despising their laws or their customs, they will drain from you, if they can, evenyour blood. There is not an insect, nor wasp, nor gadfly, so annoying as a Savage.

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