My host having invited all the neighboring Savages to the feast, when they had come and seated themselves around the fire and the kettle, waiting for the banquet to be opened, lo, the Sorcerer, who had been lying down opposite me, suddenly arose, not yet having uttered a word since the arrival of the guests. He seemed to be in an awful fury, and threw himself upon one of the poles of the cabin to tear it out; he broke it in two, rolled his eyes around in his head, looked here and there like a man out of his senses, then facing those [250] present, he said to them,Iriniticou nama Nitirinisin, "Oh, men, I have lost my mind, I do not know where I am; take the hatchets and javelins away from me, for I am out of my senses." At these words all the Savages lowered their eyes to the ground, and I raised mine to heaven, whence I expected help,—imagining that this man was acting the madman in order to take revenge on me, to take my life or at least to frightenme, so that he could reproach me afterwards that my God had failed me in time of need, and to proclaim among his people, that I, who had so often testified that I did not fear theirManitou, who makes them tremble, had turned pale before a man. So far was I from being seized by fear which, in the dangers of a natural death, makes me shrink within myself, that, on the contrary, I faced this furious man with as much assurance as if I had had an army at my side, reflecting that the God whom I adored could bind the arms of fools and madmen as well as those of demons; that besides, if his Majesty wished to open to me the portals of death by the hands of a man who was acting the devil, [251] his Providence was always loving and kind. This Thraso [braggart], redoubling his furies, did a thousand foolish acts of a lunatic or of one bewitched; sometimes he would cry out at the top of his voice, and then would suddenly stop short, as if frightened; he pretended to cry, and then burst into laughter like a wanton devil; he sang without rules and without measure, he hissed like a serpent, he howled like a wolf, or like a dog, he screeched like an owl or a night hawk,—rolling his eyes about in his head and striking a thousand attitudes, always seeming to be looking for something to throw. I was expecting every moment he would tear up one of the poles with which to strike me down, or that he would throw himself upon me; but in order to show him that I was not at all astonished at these devilish acts, I continued, in my usual way, to read, write and say my little prayers; and when my hour for retiring came, I lay down and rested as peacefully through his orgies, as I would have donein a profound silence; I was already as accustomed to go to sleep in the midst of his cries and the sound of his [252] drum, as a child is to the songs of its nurse.
My host having invited all the neighboring Savages to the feast, when they had come and seated themselves around the fire and the kettle, waiting for the banquet to be opened, lo, the Sorcerer, who had been lying down opposite me, suddenly arose, not yet having uttered a word since the arrival of the guests. He seemed to be in an awful fury, and threw himself upon one of the poles of the cabin to tear it out; he broke it in two, rolled his eyes around in his head, looked here and there like a man out of his senses, then facing those [250] present, he said to them,Iriniticou nama Nitirinisin, "Oh, men, I have lost my mind, I do not know where I am; take the hatchets and javelins away from me, for I am out of my senses." At these words all the Savages lowered their eyes to the ground, and I raised mine to heaven, whence I expected help,—imagining that this man was acting the madman in order to take revenge on me, to take my life or at least to frightenme, so that he could reproach me afterwards that my God had failed me in time of need, and to proclaim among his people, that I, who had so often testified that I did not fear theirManitou, who makes them tremble, had turned pale before a man. So far was I from being seized by fear which, in the dangers of a natural death, makes me shrink within myself, that, on the contrary, I faced this furious man with as much assurance as if I had had an army at my side, reflecting that the God whom I adored could bind the arms of fools and madmen as well as those of demons; that besides, if his Majesty wished to open to me the portals of death by the hands of a man who was acting the devil, [251] his Providence was always loving and kind. This Thraso [braggart], redoubling his furies, did a thousand foolish acts of a lunatic or of one bewitched; sometimes he would cry out at the top of his voice, and then would suddenly stop short, as if frightened; he pretended to cry, and then burst into laughter like a wanton devil; he sang without rules and without measure, he hissed like a serpent, he howled like a wolf, or like a dog, he screeched like an owl or a night hawk,—rolling his eyes about in his head and striking a thousand attitudes, always seeming to be looking for something to throw. I was expecting every moment he would tear up one of the poles with which to strike me down, or that he would throw himself upon me; but in order to show him that I was not at all astonished at these devilish acts, I continued, in my usual way, to read, write and say my little prayers; and when my hour for retiring came, I lay down and rested as peacefully through his orgies, as I would have donein a profound silence; I was already as accustomed to go to sleep in the midst of his cries and the sound of his [252] drum, as a child is to the songs of its nurse.
Le lendemain au soir à mesme heure il sembla vouloir entrer dans les mesmes fougues, & donner vne autrefois l'alarme au camp, disant qu'il perdoit l'esprit, le voyant desia demy fol, il me vint vne pensée qu'il pourroit estre trauaillé de quelque fiévre chaude, ie l'aborde & luy prens le bras pour luy toucher l'artere, il me regarde affreusemẽt, faisant de l'estõné, comme si ie luy eusse apporté des nouuelles de l'autre monde, il roule les yeux çà & là comme vn insensé: luy ayant touché le poulx & le front ie le trouuay frais comme vn poisson, & aussi éloigné de la fiévre comme i'estois de France, cela me confirma dans mon opinion qu'il faisoit de l'enragé pour m'estonner, & pour tirer à compassion tous ses gens qui dans nostre disette luy donnoient ce qu'ils pouuoient auoir de meilleur.
Le lendemain au soir à mesme heure il sembla vouloir entrer dans les mesmes fougues, & donner vne autrefois l'alarme au camp, disant qu'il perdoit l'esprit, le voyant desia demy fol, il me vint vne pensée qu'il pourroit estre trauaillé de quelque fiévre chaude, ie l'aborde & luy prens le bras pour luy toucher l'artere, il me regarde affreusemẽt, faisant de l'estõné, comme si ie luy eusse apporté des nouuelles de l'autre monde, il roule les yeux çà & là comme vn insensé: luy ayant touché le poulx & le front ie le trouuay frais comme vn poisson, & aussi éloigné de la fiévre comme i'estois de France, cela me confirma dans mon opinion qu'il faisoit de l'enragé pour m'estonner, & pour tirer à compassion tous ses gens qui dans nostre disette luy donnoient ce qu'ils pouuoient auoir de meilleur.
The next evening, at the same hour he seemed disposed to enter into the same infuriated state, and to again alarm the camp, saying that he was losing his mind. Seeing him already half-mad, it occurred to me that he might be suffering from some violent fever; I went up to him and took hold of his arm to feel the artery; he gave me a frightful look, seeming to be astonished, and acting as if I had brought him news from the other world, rolling his eyes here and there like one possessed. Having touched his pulse and forehead, I found him as cool as a fish, and as far from fever as I was from France. This confirmed me in my suspicion that he was acting the madman to frighten me, and to draw down upon himself the compassion of all our people, who in our dearth, were giving him the best they had.
The next evening, at the same hour he seemed disposed to enter into the same infuriated state, and to again alarm the camp, saying that he was losing his mind. Seeing him already half-mad, it occurred to me that he might be suffering from some violent fever; I went up to him and took hold of his arm to feel the artery; he gave me a frightful look, seeming to be astonished, and acting as if I had brought him news from the other world, rolling his eyes here and there like one possessed. Having touched his pulse and forehead, I found him as cool as a fish, and as far from fever as I was from France. This confirmed me in my suspicion that he was acting the madman to frighten me, and to draw down upon himself the compassion of all our people, who in our dearth, were giving him the best they had.
Le 20. du mesme mois de Nouembre ne se trouuans plus de Castors, ny de Porcs-espics en nostre quartier, nous tirasmes pays, & ce fut nostre deuxiesme station, on porta la femme du Sorcier [253] sur vn brancart, & la mit-on, comme i'ay desia dit, dessus la neige en attendant que nostre palais fût dressé, ce pendant ie m'approchay d'elle luy témoignant beaucoup de compassion: il y auoit desia quelques122iours que ie taschois de gagner son affection, afin qu'elle me prestast plus volontiers l'oreille, cognoissant bien qu'elle ne pouuoit pas viure long-temps, car elle estoit comme vne squelette, n'ayant quasi plus la force de parler, quand elle appelloit quelqu'vn la nuit, ie me leuois moy mesme, & l'éueillois, ie luy faisois du feu, ie luy demandois ce dont elle auoit besoin, elle me cõmandoit de petites chosettes, comme de fermer les portes ou boucher quelque trou de la cabane qui l'incõmodoit, apres ces menus discours & offices de charité, ie l'aborday, & luy demãday si elle ne vouloit pas bien croire en celuy qui a tout faict, & que son ame apres sa mort seroit bien-heureuse. Au commencement elle me répondit qu'elle n'auoit point veu Dieu, & que ie luy fisse voir, autrement qu'elle ne pouuoit croire en luy, elle auoit tiré ceste réponse de la bouche de sõ mary, Ie luy repartis qu'elle [254] croyoit plusieurs choses qu'elle ne voyoit pas, & qu'au reste son ame seroit bruslée pour vne eternité si elle n'obeïssoit à celuy qui a tout fait; elle s'adoucit petit à petit, & me témoigna qu'elle luy vouloit obeïr, ie n'osois l'entretenir long temps, mais seulement par reprises, ceux qui me voyoient me crians que ie la laissasse.
Le 20. du mesme mois de Nouembre ne se trouuans plus de Castors, ny de Porcs-espics en nostre quartier, nous tirasmes pays, & ce fut nostre deuxiesme station, on porta la femme du Sorcier [253] sur vn brancart, & la mit-on, comme i'ay desia dit, dessus la neige en attendant que nostre palais fût dressé, ce pendant ie m'approchay d'elle luy témoignant beaucoup de compassion: il y auoit desia quelques122iours que ie taschois de gagner son affection, afin qu'elle me prestast plus volontiers l'oreille, cognoissant bien qu'elle ne pouuoit pas viure long-temps, car elle estoit comme vne squelette, n'ayant quasi plus la force de parler, quand elle appelloit quelqu'vn la nuit, ie me leuois moy mesme, & l'éueillois, ie luy faisois du feu, ie luy demandois ce dont elle auoit besoin, elle me cõmandoit de petites chosettes, comme de fermer les portes ou boucher quelque trou de la cabane qui l'incõmodoit, apres ces menus discours & offices de charité, ie l'aborday, & luy demãday si elle ne vouloit pas bien croire en celuy qui a tout faict, & que son ame apres sa mort seroit bien-heureuse. Au commencement elle me répondit qu'elle n'auoit point veu Dieu, & que ie luy fisse voir, autrement qu'elle ne pouuoit croire en luy, elle auoit tiré ceste réponse de la bouche de sõ mary, Ie luy repartis qu'elle [254] croyoit plusieurs choses qu'elle ne voyoit pas, & qu'au reste son ame seroit bruslée pour vne eternité si elle n'obeïssoit à celuy qui a tout fait; elle s'adoucit petit à petit, & me témoigna qu'elle luy vouloit obeïr, ie n'osois l'entretenir long temps, mais seulement par reprises, ceux qui me voyoient me crians que ie la laissasse.
On the 20th of the same month of November, finding no more Beavers and Porcupines in our quarter, we resumed our journey, this being our second station. The Sorcerer's wife was carried [253] upon a stretcher, and they placed her, as I have already said, upon the snow until our palace was erected. Meanwhile I approached her, showing how greatly I sympathized with her; already for some days I had been trying to gain her affection, that she might more willingly listen to me; I knew that she could not live long, as she was like a skeleton, hardly having strength enough to talk. When she called some one in the night, I arose and awoke him, I made fires forher, I asked her if she was in need of anything; she had me do little things for her, such as closing the door, or stopping up a hole in the cabin which annoyed her. After these little conversations and acts of charity, I approached and asked her if she did not want to believe in him who has made all, so that her soul after death would be blest. At first she answered that she had not seen God, and that I should make her see him, otherwise she could not believe in him. She got this answer from the lips of her husband. I told her that she [254] believed in a great many things she had not seen, and besides, her soul would be burned through eternity if she did not obey him who has made all. She softened, little by little, and testified to me that she wished to obey him. I did not dare confer with her long, and only at intervals, for those who saw me would cry out that I should leave her alone.
On the 20th of the same month of November, finding no more Beavers and Porcupines in our quarter, we resumed our journey, this being our second station. The Sorcerer's wife was carried [253] upon a stretcher, and they placed her, as I have already said, upon the snow until our palace was erected. Meanwhile I approached her, showing how greatly I sympathized with her; already for some days I had been trying to gain her affection, that she might more willingly listen to me; I knew that she could not live long, as she was like a skeleton, hardly having strength enough to talk. When she called some one in the night, I arose and awoke him, I made fires forher, I asked her if she was in need of anything; she had me do little things for her, such as closing the door, or stopping up a hole in the cabin which annoyed her. After these little conversations and acts of charity, I approached and asked her if she did not want to believe in him who has made all, so that her soul after death would be blest. At first she answered that she had not seen God, and that I should make her see him, otherwise she could not believe in him. She got this answer from the lips of her husband. I told her that she [254] believed in a great many things she had not seen, and besides, her soul would be burned through eternity if she did not obey him who has made all. She softened, little by little, and testified to me that she wished to obey him. I did not dare confer with her long, and only at intervals, for those who saw me would cry out that I should leave her alone.
Sur le soir estãs tous dãs nostre nouuelle cabane, ie m'approchay d'elle, l'appellant par son nom, iamais elle ne me voulut parler en la presence des autres, ie priay le Sorcier de luy dire qu'elle me répondist, & de m'ayder à l'instruire, luy representant qu'il ne pouuoit arriuer que du bien de ceste action, il me répond non plus que la malade, ie m'addresse à l'Apostat le pressant auec de tres humbles prieres de me prester sa parole, point de répõse; ie retourne à la malade,124ie l'appelle, ie luy parle, ie luy demande si elle ne vouloit pas aller au Ciel, à tout cela pas vn mot: Ie solicite de rechef le Sorcier son mary, ie luy promets vne chemise & du petun, pourueu qu'il dise à sa femme qu'elle m'écoute, comment veux-tu, me dit-il, que nous [255] croyõs en ton Dieu ne l'ayãs iamais veu? ie t'ay desia respondu à cela, luy fis-je, il n'est pas temps de disputer, cette ame se va perdre pour vn iamais si tu n'en as pitié: Tu vois bien que celuy qui a faict le Ciel pour toy, te veut donner de plus grands biens, que d'aller manger des escorces en vn village qui ne fut iamais, mais aussi te punira il seuerement si tu ne crois en luy, & si tu ne luy obeis. Ne pouuant tirer aucune raison de ce miserable homme, ie pressay encor vne fois la malade, mon hoste me l'entendant nommer par son nom me tança, tais toy me dit-il, ne la nomme point, elle est desia morte, son ame n'est plus dans son corps. C'est vne grande verité que personne ne va àIesvs-Christque son pere ne luy tende la main, c'est vn grãd present que la foy, quãd ces pauures Barbares voyẽt qu'vn pauure malade ne parle plus, ou qu'il tombe en syncope, ou en quelque phrenesie, ils disent que son esprit n'est plus dans son corps, si le malade retourne en son bon sens, c'est l'èsprit qui est de retour: en fin quand il est mort il n'en faut plus parler, ny le nommer en aucune façon: pour conclurre ce point, il [256] me fallust retirer sans rien faire.
Sur le soir estãs tous dãs nostre nouuelle cabane, ie m'approchay d'elle, l'appellant par son nom, iamais elle ne me voulut parler en la presence des autres, ie priay le Sorcier de luy dire qu'elle me répondist, & de m'ayder à l'instruire, luy representant qu'il ne pouuoit arriuer que du bien de ceste action, il me répond non plus que la malade, ie m'addresse à l'Apostat le pressant auec de tres humbles prieres de me prester sa parole, point de répõse; ie retourne à la malade,124ie l'appelle, ie luy parle, ie luy demande si elle ne vouloit pas aller au Ciel, à tout cela pas vn mot: Ie solicite de rechef le Sorcier son mary, ie luy promets vne chemise & du petun, pourueu qu'il dise à sa femme qu'elle m'écoute, comment veux-tu, me dit-il, que nous [255] croyõs en ton Dieu ne l'ayãs iamais veu? ie t'ay desia respondu à cela, luy fis-je, il n'est pas temps de disputer, cette ame se va perdre pour vn iamais si tu n'en as pitié: Tu vois bien que celuy qui a faict le Ciel pour toy, te veut donner de plus grands biens, que d'aller manger des escorces en vn village qui ne fut iamais, mais aussi te punira il seuerement si tu ne crois en luy, & si tu ne luy obeis. Ne pouuant tirer aucune raison de ce miserable homme, ie pressay encor vne fois la malade, mon hoste me l'entendant nommer par son nom me tança, tais toy me dit-il, ne la nomme point, elle est desia morte, son ame n'est plus dans son corps. C'est vne grande verité que personne ne va àIesvs-Christque son pere ne luy tende la main, c'est vn grãd present que la foy, quãd ces pauures Barbares voyẽt qu'vn pauure malade ne parle plus, ou qu'il tombe en syncope, ou en quelque phrenesie, ils disent que son esprit n'est plus dans son corps, si le malade retourne en son bon sens, c'est l'èsprit qui est de retour: en fin quand il est mort il n'en faut plus parler, ny le nommer en aucune façon: pour conclurre ce point, il [256] me fallust retirer sans rien faire.
Toward evening, when we were all in our new cabin, I approached and called her by name. She never would talk with me in the presence of the others. I begged the Sorcerer to tell her to answer me, and to help me teach her, showing him that nothing but good could come of this action. He would not answer me any more than the invalid. I addressed the Apostate, urging him with very humble prayers to lend me his voice, but no answer; I return to the sick woman, I call her by name, I speak to her, I ask her if she does not wish to go to Heaven; to all this not a word. I again beg her husband, the Sorcerer; I promise him a shirt and some tobacco, if he will tell his wife to listen to me. "How canst thou ask us," he said, "to [255] believe in thy God,never having seen him?" "I have already answered that question for thee," I returned; "this is no time to argue, this soul is going to be forever lost if thou dost not have pity. Thou seest well that he who has made the Heavens for thee, wishes to give thee greater blessings than to go about eating bark in a village which never existed; but he will also severely punish thee if thou dost not believe in him and obey him." Not being able to draw any answer from this miserable man, I again urged the sick woman. My host, hearing me call her by name, chided me, saying, "Keep still, do not name her; she is already dead, her soul is no longer in her body." It is a great truth that no one goes toJesus Christuntil the father extends to him the hand. How wonderful a gift is this faith! When these simple Barbarians see that a poor invalid no longer speaks, or that he has fainted, or been seized by a frenzy, they say that the spirit is no longer in the body; and, if the invalid returns to his senses, it is the spirit which has returned. Finally, when he is dead, they must no longer speak of him, nor name him in any way. To finish this story, [256] I had to retire without accomplishing anything.
Toward evening, when we were all in our new cabin, I approached and called her by name. She never would talk with me in the presence of the others. I begged the Sorcerer to tell her to answer me, and to help me teach her, showing him that nothing but good could come of this action. He would not answer me any more than the invalid. I addressed the Apostate, urging him with very humble prayers to lend me his voice, but no answer; I return to the sick woman, I call her by name, I speak to her, I ask her if she does not wish to go to Heaven; to all this not a word. I again beg her husband, the Sorcerer; I promise him a shirt and some tobacco, if he will tell his wife to listen to me. "How canst thou ask us," he said, "to [255] believe in thy God,never having seen him?" "I have already answered that question for thee," I returned; "this is no time to argue, this soul is going to be forever lost if thou dost not have pity. Thou seest well that he who has made the Heavens for thee, wishes to give thee greater blessings than to go about eating bark in a village which never existed; but he will also severely punish thee if thou dost not believe in him and obey him." Not being able to draw any answer from this miserable man, I again urged the sick woman. My host, hearing me call her by name, chided me, saying, "Keep still, do not name her; she is already dead, her soul is no longer in her body." It is a great truth that no one goes toJesus Christuntil the father extends to him the hand. How wonderful a gift is this faith! When these simple Barbarians see that a poor invalid no longer speaks, or that he has fainted, or been seized by a frenzy, they say that the spirit is no longer in the body; and, if the invalid returns to his senses, it is the spirit which has returned. Finally, when he is dead, they must no longer speak of him, nor name him in any way. To finish this story, [256] I had to retire without accomplishing anything.
On tint conseil en ce lieu de ce qu'on deuoit faire pour trouuer à manger, nous estions desia reduits à telle extremité que ie fa[i]sois vn bon repas d'vne peau d'anguille boucannée, que ie iettois aux chiens quelques iours auparauant. Deux choses me toucherent126ici le cœur: jettant vne fois vn os, ou vne arreste d'anguille aux chiens, vn petit garçon fut plus habile que le chien, il se jetta sur l'os & le rongea & mangea: vne autre fois vn enfant ayant demandé à manger, comme on luy eust respõdu qu'il n'y en auoit point, ce pauure petit s'en prit à ses yeux, les larmes rouloient sur sa face grosses commes des pois, & ses souspirs & ses sanglots me touchoient de compassion, encor taschoit il de se cacher: c'est vne leçon qu'on fait aux enfans de se monstrer courageux dans la famine.
On tint conseil en ce lieu de ce qu'on deuoit faire pour trouuer à manger, nous estions desia reduits à telle extremité que ie fa[i]sois vn bon repas d'vne peau d'anguille boucannée, que ie iettois aux chiens quelques iours auparauant. Deux choses me toucherent126ici le cœur: jettant vne fois vn os, ou vne arreste d'anguille aux chiens, vn petit garçon fut plus habile que le chien, il se jetta sur l'os & le rongea & mangea: vne autre fois vn enfant ayant demandé à manger, comme on luy eust respõdu qu'il n'y en auoit point, ce pauure petit s'en prit à ses yeux, les larmes rouloient sur sa face grosses commes des pois, & ses souspirs & ses sanglots me touchoient de compassion, encor taschoit il de se cacher: c'est vne leçon qu'on fait aux enfans de se monstrer courageux dans la famine.
They took counsel in this place as to what they should do to get something to eat. We were already reduced to such extremities that I made a good meal on a skin of smoked eel, which a few days before I had thrown to the dogs. Here two incidents occurred which touched my heart. Once when I threw a bone or remnant of an eel to the dogs, a little boy, more nimble than they, threw himself upon the bone, and gnawed and bit into it. Another time, a childhaving asked for something to eat, when he was told there was nothing at all, the poor little fellow's eyes filled, and tears as big as peas rolled down his cheeks, and his sighs and sobs filled me with pity, although he tried to suppress them. One lesson they teach their children is to be brave in time of famine.
They took counsel in this place as to what they should do to get something to eat. We were already reduced to such extremities that I made a good meal on a skin of smoked eel, which a few days before I had thrown to the dogs. Here two incidents occurred which touched my heart. Once when I threw a bone or remnant of an eel to the dogs, a little boy, more nimble than they, threw himself upon the bone, and gnawed and bit into it. Another time, a childhaving asked for something to eat, when he was told there was nothing at all, the poor little fellow's eyes filled, and tears as big as peas rolled down his cheeks, and his sighs and sobs filled me with pity, although he tried to suppress them. One lesson they teach their children is to be brave in time of famine.
Le 28. du mesme mois, nous decampasmes pour la troisiesme fois, il neigeoit fort, mais la necessité nous pressant le mauuais temps ne peut nous arrester. Ie fus bien estonné en cette troisiesme demeure que ie ne vis point apporter la malade, ie n'osois demander ce qu'elle [257] estoit deuenuë, car ils ne veulent pas qu'on parle des morts: sur le soir i'accostay le Renegat, ie luy demanday parlant François où estoit ceste pauure femme, s'il ne l'auoit point tuée, voyant qu'elle s'en alloit mourir, cõme il auoit autrefois assommé à coups de bastons vne pauure fille qui tiroit à la mort, ainsi que luy mesme l'auoit raconté à nos François. Non, dit-il, ie ne l'ay pas tuée: qui donc, luy fis ie, est-ce le ieune Hiroquois? Nenny, me répond-il, car il est party de grand matin: c'est donc mon hoste, ou le Sorcier son mary; car elle parloit encor quand ie suis sorty ce matin de la cabane, il baissa la teste, m'aduoüãt tacitement que l'vn des deux l'auoit mise à mort: vn vieillard m'a ceneãtmoins dit depuis, qu'elle mourut de sa mort naturelle vn peu apres que ie fus party, ie m'en rapporte à ce qui en est, quoy que s'en soit ayant refusé de recognoistre le Fils de Dieu pour son Pasteur pendant128sa vie, il n'est que trop probable qu'il ne l'a pas recogneuë pour vne de ses oüailles, après sa mort.
Le 28. du mesme mois, nous decampasmes pour la troisiesme fois, il neigeoit fort, mais la necessité nous pressant le mauuais temps ne peut nous arrester. Ie fus bien estonné en cette troisiesme demeure que ie ne vis point apporter la malade, ie n'osois demander ce qu'elle [257] estoit deuenuë, car ils ne veulent pas qu'on parle des morts: sur le soir i'accostay le Renegat, ie luy demanday parlant François où estoit ceste pauure femme, s'il ne l'auoit point tuée, voyant qu'elle s'en alloit mourir, cõme il auoit autrefois assommé à coups de bastons vne pauure fille qui tiroit à la mort, ainsi que luy mesme l'auoit raconté à nos François. Non, dit-il, ie ne l'ay pas tuée: qui donc, luy fis ie, est-ce le ieune Hiroquois? Nenny, me répond-il, car il est party de grand matin: c'est donc mon hoste, ou le Sorcier son mary; car elle parloit encor quand ie suis sorty ce matin de la cabane, il baissa la teste, m'aduoüãt tacitement que l'vn des deux l'auoit mise à mort: vn vieillard m'a ceneãtmoins dit depuis, qu'elle mourut de sa mort naturelle vn peu apres que ie fus party, ie m'en rapporte à ce qui en est, quoy que s'en soit ayant refusé de recognoistre le Fils de Dieu pour son Pasteur pendant128sa vie, il n'est que trop probable qu'il ne l'a pas recogneuë pour vne de ses oüailles, après sa mort.
On the 28th of the same month, we broke camp for the third time. It was snowing hard; but, with necessity urging us on, the bad weather could not stop us. I was surprised, in this third halt, not to see them bring the invalid; but I did not dare ask what [257] had become of her, for they do not want any one to mention the dead. In the evening, I went to the Renegade, and asked him in French where this poor woman was,—if he had not killed her, seeing her about to die, as he had once before killed with blows from a club a poor girl who was on the point of death, which he himself had related to our French. "No," said he, "I have not killed her." "Who has then," said I, "is it the young Hiroquois?" "No, no," he answered, "for he went away very early this morning." "It is then my host, or the Sorcerer her husband, for she was still able to talk when I left the cabin this morning." He bowed his head, admitting tacitly that one of them had put her to death. But, since then, an old man has told me that she died a natural death a little while after I departed. I am unable to say which is correct; but, at all events, as she refused to recognize the son of God as her Shepherd during her life, it is no more than probable that he refused to recognize her as one of his flock after death.
On the 28th of the same month, we broke camp for the third time. It was snowing hard; but, with necessity urging us on, the bad weather could not stop us. I was surprised, in this third halt, not to see them bring the invalid; but I did not dare ask what [257] had become of her, for they do not want any one to mention the dead. In the evening, I went to the Renegade, and asked him in French where this poor woman was,—if he had not killed her, seeing her about to die, as he had once before killed with blows from a club a poor girl who was on the point of death, which he himself had related to our French. "No," said he, "I have not killed her." "Who has then," said I, "is it the young Hiroquois?" "No, no," he answered, "for he went away very early this morning." "It is then my host, or the Sorcerer her husband, for she was still able to talk when I left the cabin this morning." He bowed his head, admitting tacitly that one of them had put her to death. But, since then, an old man has told me that she died a natural death a little while after I departed. I am unable to say which is correct; but, at all events, as she refused to recognize the son of God as her Shepherd during her life, it is no more than probable that he refused to recognize her as one of his flock after death.
I'ay remarqué iusques icy de trois sortes de medecines naturelles parmy les [258] Sauuages, l'vne c'est leur suërie, dont i'ay parlé cy-dessus, l'autre consiste à se taillader legerement la partie du corps qui leur fait mal, la mettant toute en sang qu'ils font sortir de ces decoupeures en assez grande abondance, ils se seruirent vne fois de mon canif pour taillader la teste d'vn enfant de dix iours. La troisiesme de ces medecines est composée de racleure d'écorces interieures de bouleau, du moins cet arbre me sembloit tel, ils font boüillir ces racleures dans de l'eau, qu'ils boiuent par apres pour se faire vomir, ils m'ont souuent voulu donner ceste potion pendant que i'estois malade, mais ie ne la iugeois pas à mon vsage.
I'ay remarqué iusques icy de trois sortes de medecines naturelles parmy les [258] Sauuages, l'vne c'est leur suërie, dont i'ay parlé cy-dessus, l'autre consiste à se taillader legerement la partie du corps qui leur fait mal, la mettant toute en sang qu'ils font sortir de ces decoupeures en assez grande abondance, ils se seruirent vne fois de mon canif pour taillader la teste d'vn enfant de dix iours. La troisiesme de ces medecines est composée de racleure d'écorces interieures de bouleau, du moins cet arbre me sembloit tel, ils font boüillir ces racleures dans de l'eau, qu'ils boiuent par apres pour se faire vomir, ils m'ont souuent voulu donner ceste potion pendant que i'estois malade, mais ie ne la iugeois pas à mon vsage.
Up to the present I have observed three kinds ofnatural medicines among the [258] Savages. One of these is their sweat-box, of which I have spoken above; the second consists in making a slight gash in the part of the body where the pain is, covering it with blood which they make issue from these cuts quite abundantly. They once made use of my penknife to cut the head of a child ten days old. The third of these medicines is composed of the scrapings of the inside bark of the birch, at least it seems to be this tree. They boil these scrapings in water, which they afterwards drink to make them vomit. They often wanted me to drink this potion when I was sick, but I did not think it would agree with me.
Up to the present I have observed three kinds ofnatural medicines among the [258] Savages. One of these is their sweat-box, of which I have spoken above; the second consists in making a slight gash in the part of the body where the pain is, covering it with blood which they make issue from these cuts quite abundantly. They once made use of my penknife to cut the head of a child ten days old. The third of these medicines is composed of the scrapings of the inside bark of the birch, at least it seems to be this tree. They boil these scrapings in water, which they afterwards drink to make them vomit. They often wanted me to drink this potion when I was sick, but I did not think it would agree with me.
Le iour de sainct François Xauier, nostre pretendu Magicien ayant sur le soir battu son tambour, & bien hurlé à l'ordinaire, car il ne manquoit point de nous donner ceste aubade toutes les nuits à nostre premier sommeil, voyant que tout le monde estoit endormy, & cognoissant que ce pauure homme faisoit ce tintamare pour sa guarison. I'entray en discours auec luy, ie commençay par vn témoignage de grand amour [259] en son endroit, & par des loüanges que ie luy iettay comme vne amorce pour le prendre dans les filets de la verité. Ie luy fis entendre que si vn esprit capable des choses grandes comme le sien cognoissoit Dieu, que tous les Sauuages induis par son exemple le voudroient aussi cognoistre, aussi tost il prit l'essor, & se mit à declarer la puissance, l'authorité & le credit qu'il a sur l'esprit de ses compatriotes, il dit que dés sa ieunesse les Sauuages luy donnerent130le nom deKhimouchouminau, c'est à dire nostre ayeul & nostre maistre, que tout passe par ses aduis, & que chacun suit ses conseils, ie l'aydois à se loüer le mieux que ie pouuois: car il est vray qu'il a de belles parties pour vn Sauuage: enfin ie luy dis que ie m'estonnois qu'vn homme de iugement ne peut recognoistre le peu de rapport qu'il y a entre ce tintamare & la santé. Quand tu as bien crié & bien battu ton tambour, que fait ce bruit sinon de t'estourdir la teste, pas vn Sauuage n'est malade, qu'on ne luy batte les oreilles de ce tambour, afin qu'il ne meure point, en as-tu veu de dispensez de la mort; ie te veux faire [260] vne proposition: Escoute moy patiemment, luy dis-ie, bas ton tambour dix iours durant, chante & faits chanter les autres tant que tu voudras, fais tout ce qui sera en ton possible pour recouurer ta santé, si tu n'en guary dans ce temps-là, confesse que ton tintamare, que tes hurlemens, & que tes chansons ne te sçauroient remettre en santé, abstiens toy dix autres iours de toutes ces superstitions, quitte ton tambour, & tous ces bruits dereglez, demande au Dieu que i'adore, qu'il te donne sa cognoissance, pense & crois que ton ame doit passer à vne autre vie que celle-cy, efforce toy d'aymer son bien cõme tu ayme le bien de ton corps, & quand tu auras passé ces dix autres derniers iours en ceste façon, ie me retireray trois iours durant en oraison dans vne petite cabane qu'on fera plus auant dans le bois, là ie prieray mon Dieu qu'il te donne la santé du corps & de l'ame, toy seul me viendras voir au temps que ie diray, & tu feras de tout ton cœur les prieres que ie t'enseigneray; promettant à Dieu que s'il luy plaist de te rendre la santé, tu appelleras tous les Sauuages de ce132lieu, & en [261] leur presence tu brusleras ton tambour, & toutes les autres badineries dont tu te sers pour les amasser, que tu leur diras que le Dieu des Chrestiens est le vray Dieu, qu'ils croyẽt en luy, & qu'ils luy obeïssent, si tu promets cecy veritablement & de cœur, i'espere que tu seras deliuré de ta maladie, car mon Dieu est tout puissant.
Le iour de sainct François Xauier, nostre pretendu Magicien ayant sur le soir battu son tambour, & bien hurlé à l'ordinaire, car il ne manquoit point de nous donner ceste aubade toutes les nuits à nostre premier sommeil, voyant que tout le monde estoit endormy, & cognoissant que ce pauure homme faisoit ce tintamare pour sa guarison. I'entray en discours auec luy, ie commençay par vn témoignage de grand amour [259] en son endroit, & par des loüanges que ie luy iettay comme vne amorce pour le prendre dans les filets de la verité. Ie luy fis entendre que si vn esprit capable des choses grandes comme le sien cognoissoit Dieu, que tous les Sauuages induis par son exemple le voudroient aussi cognoistre, aussi tost il prit l'essor, & se mit à declarer la puissance, l'authorité & le credit qu'il a sur l'esprit de ses compatriotes, il dit que dés sa ieunesse les Sauuages luy donnerent130le nom deKhimouchouminau, c'est à dire nostre ayeul & nostre maistre, que tout passe par ses aduis, & que chacun suit ses conseils, ie l'aydois à se loüer le mieux que ie pouuois: car il est vray qu'il a de belles parties pour vn Sauuage: enfin ie luy dis que ie m'estonnois qu'vn homme de iugement ne peut recognoistre le peu de rapport qu'il y a entre ce tintamare & la santé. Quand tu as bien crié & bien battu ton tambour, que fait ce bruit sinon de t'estourdir la teste, pas vn Sauuage n'est malade, qu'on ne luy batte les oreilles de ce tambour, afin qu'il ne meure point, en as-tu veu de dispensez de la mort; ie te veux faire [260] vne proposition: Escoute moy patiemment, luy dis-ie, bas ton tambour dix iours durant, chante & faits chanter les autres tant que tu voudras, fais tout ce qui sera en ton possible pour recouurer ta santé, si tu n'en guary dans ce temps-là, confesse que ton tintamare, que tes hurlemens, & que tes chansons ne te sçauroient remettre en santé, abstiens toy dix autres iours de toutes ces superstitions, quitte ton tambour, & tous ces bruits dereglez, demande au Dieu que i'adore, qu'il te donne sa cognoissance, pense & crois que ton ame doit passer à vne autre vie que celle-cy, efforce toy d'aymer son bien cõme tu ayme le bien de ton corps, & quand tu auras passé ces dix autres derniers iours en ceste façon, ie me retireray trois iours durant en oraison dans vne petite cabane qu'on fera plus auant dans le bois, là ie prieray mon Dieu qu'il te donne la santé du corps & de l'ame, toy seul me viendras voir au temps que ie diray, & tu feras de tout ton cœur les prieres que ie t'enseigneray; promettant à Dieu que s'il luy plaist de te rendre la santé, tu appelleras tous les Sauuages de ce132lieu, & en [261] leur presence tu brusleras ton tambour, & toutes les autres badineries dont tu te sers pour les amasser, que tu leur diras que le Dieu des Chrestiens est le vray Dieu, qu'ils croyẽt en luy, & qu'ils luy obeïssent, si tu promets cecy veritablement & de cœur, i'espere que tu seras deliuré de ta maladie, car mon Dieu est tout puissant.
On the day of saint François Xavier, our pretended Magician began in the evening to beat his drum and to utter his howls as usual; for he did not fail to give us this entertainment every night at our first sleep. I saw that every one was asleep, and, knowing that this poor man made all this racket in order to cure himself, I entered into conversation with him. I began by expressing a great deal of affection [259] for him, and by heaping praises upon him, as bait to draw him into the nets of truth. I made him understand that if a mind as capable of great things as his was, should know God, that all the Savages, influenced by his example, would like to know him also. He immediately began to soar, and to talk about the power, the authority, and the influence he had over the minds of his fellow-savages. He said that since his youth they had given him the name,Khimouchouminau, meaning, "our sire and our master;" that everything was done according to his opinion, and that they all followed his advice. I helped in thisself-praise as well as I could, for he has indeed some good qualities for a Savage. I finally told him that I was surprised that a man of judgment could not realize that there was little connection between this uproar and health. "When thou hast screamed and beaten thy drum with all thy might, what good does it do except to make thy head dizzy? No Savage is sick, whose ears they do not deafen with this drum, to keep him from dying; yet hast thou ever seen it dispel death? I am going to make a proposal [260] to thee, listen to me patiently," I said to him. "Beat thy drum for ten days, sing and make all the others sing as much as thou wilt, do all thou canst to recover thy health, and if thou art not cured in that time confess that thy din, howls and songs cannot restore thee to health. Now abstain ten more days from all these superstitions; give up thy drum, and all these wild noises; ask of the God whom I adore that he give thee knowledge of himself; reflect, and believe that thy soul must pass to a life other than this; endeavor to interest thyself in its welfare as thou dost in the welfare of thy body; and when thou shalt have passed these last ten days in this way, I will withdraw for three days to pray in a little cabin that shall be made farther back in the woods. There I will pray my God to give thee health of body and of soul; thou alone shalt come to see me at the time I shall indicate, and thou shalt say with all thy heart the prayers I will teach thee—promising God that, if it pleases him to restore thee thy health, thou wilt call together all the Savages of the place, and in [261] their presence thou wilt burn thy drum and all the other silly stuff that thou usest to bring them together, sayingto them that the God of the Christians is the true God, that they must believe in him and obey him. If thou promise this truthfully and from thy heart, I hope that thou wilt be delivered from thy disease, for my God is all-powerful."
On the day of saint François Xavier, our pretended Magician began in the evening to beat his drum and to utter his howls as usual; for he did not fail to give us this entertainment every night at our first sleep. I saw that every one was asleep, and, knowing that this poor man made all this racket in order to cure himself, I entered into conversation with him. I began by expressing a great deal of affection [259] for him, and by heaping praises upon him, as bait to draw him into the nets of truth. I made him understand that if a mind as capable of great things as his was, should know God, that all the Savages, influenced by his example, would like to know him also. He immediately began to soar, and to talk about the power, the authority, and the influence he had over the minds of his fellow-savages. He said that since his youth they had given him the name,Khimouchouminau, meaning, "our sire and our master;" that everything was done according to his opinion, and that they all followed his advice. I helped in thisself-praise as well as I could, for he has indeed some good qualities for a Savage. I finally told him that I was surprised that a man of judgment could not realize that there was little connection between this uproar and health. "When thou hast screamed and beaten thy drum with all thy might, what good does it do except to make thy head dizzy? No Savage is sick, whose ears they do not deafen with this drum, to keep him from dying; yet hast thou ever seen it dispel death? I am going to make a proposal [260] to thee, listen to me patiently," I said to him. "Beat thy drum for ten days, sing and make all the others sing as much as thou wilt, do all thou canst to recover thy health, and if thou art not cured in that time confess that thy din, howls and songs cannot restore thee to health. Now abstain ten more days from all these superstitions; give up thy drum, and all these wild noises; ask of the God whom I adore that he give thee knowledge of himself; reflect, and believe that thy soul must pass to a life other than this; endeavor to interest thyself in its welfare as thou dost in the welfare of thy body; and when thou shalt have passed these last ten days in this way, I will withdraw for three days to pray in a little cabin that shall be made farther back in the woods. There I will pray my God to give thee health of body and of soul; thou alone shalt come to see me at the time I shall indicate, and thou shalt say with all thy heart the prayers I will teach thee—promising God that, if it pleases him to restore thee thy health, thou wilt call together all the Savages of the place, and in [261] their presence thou wilt burn thy drum and all the other silly stuff that thou usest to bring them together, sayingto them that the God of the Christians is the true God, that they must believe in him and obey him. If thou promise this truthfully and from thy heart, I hope that thou wilt be delivered from thy disease, for my God is all-powerful."
Or comme cét homme est tres desireux de recouurer sa santé, il ouurit les oreilles, & me dit, ton discours est fort bon, i'accepte les conditions que tu me donne; mais commence le premier, retire toy en oraison, & dis à ton Dieu qu'il me guarisse, car c'est par là qu'il faut commencer, & puis ie feray tout ce que tu m'as prescrit: ie ne cõmenceray point, luy reparty-ie, car si tu estois guary, pendant que ie prierois tu attribuerois ta santé à ton tambour, que tu n'aurois pas quitté; & non pas au Dieu que i'adore, lequel seul te peut guarir; non, me dit-il, ie ne croiray pas que cela vienne de mon tambour, i'ay chanté & fait tout ce que ie sçauois, & n'ay peu sauuer la vie à pas vn; moy-mesme estãt malade ie fais ioüer pour me guarir tous [262] les ressorts de mon art, & me voila plus mal que iamais; i'ay employé toutes mes inuentions pour sauuer la vie à mes enfans, notamment au dernier qui est mort depuis peu, & pour conseruer ma femme qui vient de trespasser, tout cela ne m'a point reüssi, & partant si tu me guaris, ie n'attribueray point ma santé à mon tambour, ny à mes chansons. Ie luy répondis que ie ne pouuois pas le guarir; mais que mon Dieu pouuoit tout, qu'au reste il ne falloit point faire de marché auec luy, ny luy prescrire des conditions comme il faisoit, disant qu'il me guarisse premierement, & puis ie croiray en luy:134dispose toy, luy fis ie, de ton costé, & sa bonté ne te manquera pas, que s'il ne te donne la santé du corps, il te donnera la santé de l'ame qui est incomparablement plus à priser. Ne me parle point de l'ame, me repart-il, c'est de quoy ie ne me soucie pas: voila (me monstrant sa chair) ce que i'ayme, c'est le corps que ie cheris, pour l'ame ie ne la voy point, en arriue ce qui pourra. As tu de l'esprit, luy fis-ie? tu parle comme les bestes, les chiens n'ayment que les corps; celuy qui a fait le Soleil [263] pour t'éclairer, n'a-il rien preparé de plus grand à ton ame, qu'à l'ame d'vn chien? Si tu n'ayme que ton corps tu perdras le corps & l'ame, si vne beste pouuoit parler elle ne parleroit que de son corps & de sa chair, n'as-tu rien par dessus les bestes qui sont faites pour te seruir? n'ayme-tu que la chair & le sang? ton ame est-elle l'ame d'vn chien que tu la traite auec vn tel mépris? peut estre que tu dis vray, me répond-il, & qu'il y a quelque chose de bon en l'autre vie: mais nous autres en ce pays-cy n'en sçauons rien, que si tu me rends la santé ie feray ce que tu voudras. Ce pauure miserable ne peut iamais releuer sa pensée plus haut que la terre: ne voyant donc aucune disposition en cét esprit superbe, qui croyoit pouuoir obliger Dieu, s'il croyoit en luy, ie le quittay pour lors, & me retiray pour reposer, car il estoit bien auant dans la nuit.
Or comme cét homme est tres desireux de recouurer sa santé, il ouurit les oreilles, & me dit, ton discours est fort bon, i'accepte les conditions que tu me donne; mais commence le premier, retire toy en oraison, & dis à ton Dieu qu'il me guarisse, car c'est par là qu'il faut commencer, & puis ie feray tout ce que tu m'as prescrit: ie ne cõmenceray point, luy reparty-ie, car si tu estois guary, pendant que ie prierois tu attribuerois ta santé à ton tambour, que tu n'aurois pas quitté; & non pas au Dieu que i'adore, lequel seul te peut guarir; non, me dit-il, ie ne croiray pas que cela vienne de mon tambour, i'ay chanté & fait tout ce que ie sçauois, & n'ay peu sauuer la vie à pas vn; moy-mesme estãt malade ie fais ioüer pour me guarir tous [262] les ressorts de mon art, & me voila plus mal que iamais; i'ay employé toutes mes inuentions pour sauuer la vie à mes enfans, notamment au dernier qui est mort depuis peu, & pour conseruer ma femme qui vient de trespasser, tout cela ne m'a point reüssi, & partant si tu me guaris, ie n'attribueray point ma santé à mon tambour, ny à mes chansons. Ie luy répondis que ie ne pouuois pas le guarir; mais que mon Dieu pouuoit tout, qu'au reste il ne falloit point faire de marché auec luy, ny luy prescrire des conditions comme il faisoit, disant qu'il me guarisse premierement, & puis ie croiray en luy:134dispose toy, luy fis ie, de ton costé, & sa bonté ne te manquera pas, que s'il ne te donne la santé du corps, il te donnera la santé de l'ame qui est incomparablement plus à priser. Ne me parle point de l'ame, me repart-il, c'est de quoy ie ne me soucie pas: voila (me monstrant sa chair) ce que i'ayme, c'est le corps que ie cheris, pour l'ame ie ne la voy point, en arriue ce qui pourra. As tu de l'esprit, luy fis-ie? tu parle comme les bestes, les chiens n'ayment que les corps; celuy qui a fait le Soleil [263] pour t'éclairer, n'a-il rien preparé de plus grand à ton ame, qu'à l'ame d'vn chien? Si tu n'ayme que ton corps tu perdras le corps & l'ame, si vne beste pouuoit parler elle ne parleroit que de son corps & de sa chair, n'as-tu rien par dessus les bestes qui sont faites pour te seruir? n'ayme-tu que la chair & le sang? ton ame est-elle l'ame d'vn chien que tu la traite auec vn tel mépris? peut estre que tu dis vray, me répond-il, & qu'il y a quelque chose de bon en l'autre vie: mais nous autres en ce pays-cy n'en sçauons rien, que si tu me rends la santé ie feray ce que tu voudras. Ce pauure miserable ne peut iamais releuer sa pensée plus haut que la terre: ne voyant donc aucune disposition en cét esprit superbe, qui croyoit pouuoir obliger Dieu, s'il croyoit en luy, ie le quittay pour lors, & me retiray pour reposer, car il estoit bien auant dans la nuit.
Now as this man is very desirous of recovering his health, he opened his ears, and said to me, "Thy discourse is very good, I accept the conditions that thou givest; but thou begin first, go away and pray, and tell thy God to cure me, for with that we must begin; then I will do all that thou hast prescribed for me." "I shall not begin it," I replied to him, "for if thou get back thy health while I would be praying, thou wouldst be attributing thy recovery to thy drum, which thou wouldst not have given up, and not to the God whom I adore, who alone can cure thee." "No," he replied, "I shall not think it has come from my drum; I have sung and have done all I could, yet I have not been able to save the life of one man; I myself am sick, and to cure myself have made use of all [262] the resources of my art; and behold I am worse than ever. I have used all my inventions to save the lives of my children, especially of the last one who died only a short time ago, and to save my wife, who has just passed away, yet all this has not succeeded; so if thou curest me I shall not attribute my health to my drum nor to my songs." I answered him that I could not cure him, but that my God could do all, and besides we must not make bargains with him, nor prescribe to him the conditions upon which he was to act, saying, "Let him cure me first, and then I will believe in him." "Prepare thyself," I continued, "on thy part, and hisgoodness will not fail thee; for, if he does not give thee health of the body, he will give thee health of the soul, which is of incomparably higher value." "Do not speak to me about the soul," he replied, "that is something that I give myself no anxiety about; it is this (showing his flesh) that I love, it is the body I cherish; as to the soul, I do not see it, let happen to it what will." "Hast thou any reason?" I asked, "thou speakest like a brute, dogs love only their bodies; he who has made the Sun [263] to shine upon thee, has he not prepared something better for thy soul than for the soul of a dog? If thou lovest only the body, thou wilt lose both thy body and thy soul. If a brute could talk, it would talk about nothing but its body and its flesh; hast thou nothing above the brute, which is made to serve thee? Dost thou love only flesh and blood? Thy soul, is it only the soul of a dog, that thou dost treat it with such contempt?" "Perhaps thou sayest truly," he replied, "and there is something good in the other life; but we here in this country know nothing about it. If thou restorest my health, I will do what thou wishest." This poor wretch is never able to raise his thoughts above earth. Seeing then no inclination in this haughty spirit, who thought he was obliging God by believing in him, I gave him up for the time being, and retired to rest, for it was well along into the night.
Now as this man is very desirous of recovering his health, he opened his ears, and said to me, "Thy discourse is very good, I accept the conditions that thou givest; but thou begin first, go away and pray, and tell thy God to cure me, for with that we must begin; then I will do all that thou hast prescribed for me." "I shall not begin it," I replied to him, "for if thou get back thy health while I would be praying, thou wouldst be attributing thy recovery to thy drum, which thou wouldst not have given up, and not to the God whom I adore, who alone can cure thee." "No," he replied, "I shall not think it has come from my drum; I have sung and have done all I could, yet I have not been able to save the life of one man; I myself am sick, and to cure myself have made use of all [262] the resources of my art; and behold I am worse than ever. I have used all my inventions to save the lives of my children, especially of the last one who died only a short time ago, and to save my wife, who has just passed away, yet all this has not succeeded; so if thou curest me I shall not attribute my health to my drum nor to my songs." I answered him that I could not cure him, but that my God could do all, and besides we must not make bargains with him, nor prescribe to him the conditions upon which he was to act, saying, "Let him cure me first, and then I will believe in him." "Prepare thyself," I continued, "on thy part, and hisgoodness will not fail thee; for, if he does not give thee health of the body, he will give thee health of the soul, which is of incomparably higher value." "Do not speak to me about the soul," he replied, "that is something that I give myself no anxiety about; it is this (showing his flesh) that I love, it is the body I cherish; as to the soul, I do not see it, let happen to it what will." "Hast thou any reason?" I asked, "thou speakest like a brute, dogs love only their bodies; he who has made the Sun [263] to shine upon thee, has he not prepared something better for thy soul than for the soul of a dog? If thou lovest only the body, thou wilt lose both thy body and thy soul. If a brute could talk, it would talk about nothing but its body and its flesh; hast thou nothing above the brute, which is made to serve thee? Dost thou love only flesh and blood? Thy soul, is it only the soul of a dog, that thou dost treat it with such contempt?" "Perhaps thou sayest truly," he replied, "and there is something good in the other life; but we here in this country know nothing about it. If thou restorest my health, I will do what thou wishest." This poor wretch is never able to raise his thoughts above earth. Seeing then no inclination in this haughty spirit, who thought he was obliging God by believing in him, I gave him up for the time being, and retired to rest, for it was well along into the night.
Le 3. de Decembre nous cõmençasmes nostre quatriesme station, ayans délogé sans trompette, mais non pas sans tambour: car le Sorcier n'oublioit iamais le sien, nous plantasmes nostre camp proche d'vn fleuue large & rapide, [264] mais peu profond, ils le nommentCa pititetchiouetz, il se va dégorger dans le grand136fleuue de sainct Laurens, quasi vis à vis de Tadoussac, nos Sauuages n'ayans point icy de viandes pour faire des festins, ils faisoient des banquets de fumée, s'inuitans les vns les autres, dans leurs cabanes, & faisans la ronde à vn petit plat de terre remply de Tabac, chacun en prenoit vne cornetée qu'il reduisoit en fumée, remettant la main au plat s'il vouloit petuner dauantage: l'affection qu'ils portent à ceste herbe est au delà de toute créance, ils s'endormẽt le cabanet en la bouche, ils se leuent par fois la nuit pour petuner, ils s'arrestent souuent en chemin pour le mesme sujet, c'est la premiere action qu'ils font rentrant dans leurs cabanes: ie leur ay battu le fusil pour les faire petuner en ramants dans vn canot, ie leur ay veu souuent manger le baston de leur calumet, n'ayans plus de petun, ie leur ay veu racler & pulueriser vn calumet de bois pour petuner, disons auec compassion qu'ils passent leur vie dans la fumée, & qu'ils tombent à la mort dans le feu.
Le 3. de Decembre nous cõmençasmes nostre quatriesme station, ayans délogé sans trompette, mais non pas sans tambour: car le Sorcier n'oublioit iamais le sien, nous plantasmes nostre camp proche d'vn fleuue large & rapide, [264] mais peu profond, ils le nommentCa pititetchiouetz, il se va dégorger dans le grand136fleuue de sainct Laurens, quasi vis à vis de Tadoussac, nos Sauuages n'ayans point icy de viandes pour faire des festins, ils faisoient des banquets de fumée, s'inuitans les vns les autres, dans leurs cabanes, & faisans la ronde à vn petit plat de terre remply de Tabac, chacun en prenoit vne cornetée qu'il reduisoit en fumée, remettant la main au plat s'il vouloit petuner dauantage: l'affection qu'ils portent à ceste herbe est au delà de toute créance, ils s'endormẽt le cabanet en la bouche, ils se leuent par fois la nuit pour petuner, ils s'arrestent souuent en chemin pour le mesme sujet, c'est la premiere action qu'ils font rentrant dans leurs cabanes: ie leur ay battu le fusil pour les faire petuner en ramants dans vn canot, ie leur ay veu souuent manger le baston de leur calumet, n'ayans plus de petun, ie leur ay veu racler & pulueriser vn calumet de bois pour petuner, disons auec compassion qu'ils passent leur vie dans la fumée, & qu'ils tombent à la mort dans le feu.
On the 3rd of December we began our fourth station, having broken camp without trumpets, but not without drums, for the Sorcerer never forgot his. We pitched our camp near a broad and rapid, [264] but rather shallow river, which they calledCa pititetchiouetz;it flows into the great river saint Lawrence, almost opposite Tadoussac. Our Savages, having no food for a feast here, made a banquet of smoke; each inviting the others to his cabin, they passed around a little earthen plate containing Tobacco, and every one took a pipeful, which he reduced to smoke, returning his hand to the dish if he wanted to smoke any more. The fondness they have for this herb is beyond all belief. They go to sleep with their reed pipes in their mouths, they sometimes get up in the night to smoke; they often stop in their journeys for the same purpose, and it is the first thing they do when they reënter their cabins. I have lighted tinder, so as to allow them to smoke while paddling a canoe; I have often seen them gnaw the stems of their pipes when they had no more tobacco, I have seen them scrape and pulverize a wooden pipe to smoke it. Let us say with compassion that they pass their lives in smoke, and at death fall into the fire.
On the 3rd of December we began our fourth station, having broken camp without trumpets, but not without drums, for the Sorcerer never forgot his. We pitched our camp near a broad and rapid, [264] but rather shallow river, which they calledCa pititetchiouetz;it flows into the great river saint Lawrence, almost opposite Tadoussac. Our Savages, having no food for a feast here, made a banquet of smoke; each inviting the others to his cabin, they passed around a little earthen plate containing Tobacco, and every one took a pipeful, which he reduced to smoke, returning his hand to the dish if he wanted to smoke any more. The fondness they have for this herb is beyond all belief. They go to sleep with their reed pipes in their mouths, they sometimes get up in the night to smoke; they often stop in their journeys for the same purpose, and it is the first thing they do when they reënter their cabins. I have lighted tinder, so as to allow them to smoke while paddling a canoe; I have often seen them gnaw the stems of their pipes when they had no more tobacco, I have seen them scrape and pulverize a wooden pipe to smoke it. Let us say with compassion that they pass their lives in smoke, and at death fall into the fire.
[265] I'auois porté du petun auec moy, non pour mõ vsage, car ie n'en prends point, i'en donnay largement selon que i'en auois à plusieurs Sauuages; m'en reseruant vne partie pour tirer de l'Apostat quelque mot de sa langue; car il ne m'eust pas dit vne parole qu'en le payãt de ceste monnoye, quand nos gens eurent consommé ce que ie leur auois donné, & ce qu'ils auoient en leur particulier, ie n'auois plus de paix, le Sorcier me pressoit auec vne importunité si audacieuse, que ie ne le pouuois souffrir, tous les autres sembloient me vouloir manger, quand ie leur en refusois: i'auois beau leur dire qu'ils n'auoient point de consideration, que ie leur en auois plus donné trois fois que ie ne m'estois reserué; vous voyez,138leur disois-ie, que i'ayme vostre langue, & qu'il faut que ie l'achepte auec cét argent, que s'il me manque on ne m'enseignera pas vn mot, vous voyez que s'il me faut vn verre d'eau, il faut que i'en aille chercher bien loing, ou que ie dõne vn bout de petun à vn enfant pour m'en aller querir; vous me dites que le petun rassasie, si la famine qui nous presse cõtinuë, i'en [266] veux faire l'experience, laissez moy ce peu que i'ay de reserue, il me fut impossible de resister à leur importunité, il fallut tirer iusques au bout, ce ne fut pas sans estonnement de voir des personnes si passionnées pour de la fumée.
[265] I'auois porté du petun auec moy, non pour mõ vsage, car ie n'en prends point, i'en donnay largement selon que i'en auois à plusieurs Sauuages; m'en reseruant vne partie pour tirer de l'Apostat quelque mot de sa langue; car il ne m'eust pas dit vne parole qu'en le payãt de ceste monnoye, quand nos gens eurent consommé ce que ie leur auois donné, & ce qu'ils auoient en leur particulier, ie n'auois plus de paix, le Sorcier me pressoit auec vne importunité si audacieuse, que ie ne le pouuois souffrir, tous les autres sembloient me vouloir manger, quand ie leur en refusois: i'auois beau leur dire qu'ils n'auoient point de consideration, que ie leur en auois plus donné trois fois que ie ne m'estois reserué; vous voyez,138leur disois-ie, que i'ayme vostre langue, & qu'il faut que ie l'achepte auec cét argent, que s'il me manque on ne m'enseignera pas vn mot, vous voyez que s'il me faut vn verre d'eau, il faut que i'en aille chercher bien loing, ou que ie dõne vn bout de petun à vn enfant pour m'en aller querir; vous me dites que le petun rassasie, si la famine qui nous presse cõtinuë, i'en [266] veux faire l'experience, laissez moy ce peu que i'ay de reserue, il me fut impossible de resister à leur importunité, il fallut tirer iusques au bout, ce ne fut pas sans estonnement de voir des personnes si passionnées pour de la fumée.
[265] I brought some tobacco with me, but not for myself, as I do not use it. I have given liberally, according to my store, to several Savages, saving some to draw from the Apostate a few words of his language, for he would not say a word if I did not pay him with this money. When our people had consumed what I had given them, and what they had of their own, I had no more peace. The Sorcerer was so annoying in his demands for it, that I could not endure him; and all the others acted as if they wanted to eat me, when I refused them. In vain I told them that they had no consideration, that I had given them more than three times as much as I hadreserved for myself. "You see," I said to them, "that I love your language and that I must buy it with this money, for if it is lacking no one will teach me a word; you see if I have to have a glass of water, I must go a long way to get it, or I must give a bit of tobacco to a child to get it for me; you tell me that tobacco satisfies hunger; if the famine which now presses us continues, I wish [266] to experiment with it, so leave me the little I have in reserve." It was impossible to resist their teasing, and I had to draw out the last bit, not without astonishment at seeing people so passionately fond of smoke.
[265] I brought some tobacco with me, but not for myself, as I do not use it. I have given liberally, according to my store, to several Savages, saving some to draw from the Apostate a few words of his language, for he would not say a word if I did not pay him with this money. When our people had consumed what I had given them, and what they had of their own, I had no more peace. The Sorcerer was so annoying in his demands for it, that I could not endure him; and all the others acted as if they wanted to eat me, when I refused them. In vain I told them that they had no consideration, that I had given them more than three times as much as I hadreserved for myself. "You see," I said to them, "that I love your language and that I must buy it with this money, for if it is lacking no one will teach me a word; you see if I have to have a glass of water, I must go a long way to get it, or I must give a bit of tobacco to a child to get it for me; you tell me that tobacco satisfies hunger; if the famine which now presses us continues, I wish [266] to experiment with it, so leave me the little I have in reserve." It was impossible to resist their teasing, and I had to draw out the last bit, not without astonishment at seeing people so passionately fond of smoke.
Le sixiesme du mesme mois, nous délogeasmes pour la cinquiesme fois, il m'arriua vne disgrace au départ, au lieu de prẽdre le vray chemin, ie me iettay dans vn autre que nos chasseurs auoient fort battu, ie vay donc fort loing sans prendre garde que ie me perdois, ayant fait une longue traitte, ie m'apperceu que mon chemin se diuisoit en cinq ou six autres, qui tiroient qui deçà, qui delà, me voila demeuré tout court, il y auoit vn petit enfant qui m'auoit suiuy, ie ne l'osois quitter, car auss[i]-tost il se mettoit à pleurer, i'enfilay tantost l'vn, tantost l'autre de ces sentiers, & voyant qu'ils tournoient çà & là, & qu'ils n'estoient marquez que d'vne sorte de raquette, ie concluds que ces chemins ne conduisoient point au lieu où mes Sauuages alloient cabaner, ie ne sçauois que faire du petit garçon: car s'estant apperceu de nostre erreur il ne m'osoit [267] perdre de veuë sans se pasmer; d'ailleurs n'ayant qu'enuiron six ans il ne me pouuoit pas suiure, car ie doublois mes pas: ie m'aduisay de luy laisser mon manteau pour marque que ie retournerois, si ie trouuois nostre vray chemin, luy faisant140signe qu'il m'attendist, car nous ne nous attendions pas l'vn l'autre: ie iettay donc mon manteau sur la neige, & m'en reuay sur mes brisées criant de temps en temps pour me faire entendre de nos gens, si tant est que le bon chemin ne fust pas loing de moy; ie crie, i'appelle dans ces grands bois, personne ne répond, tout est dans vn profond silence, les arbres mesme ne faisoient aucun bruit, car il ne faisoit point de vent: le froid estoit si violent que ie m'attendois infailliblemẽt de mourir la nuit au cas qu'il me la fallust passer sur la neige, n'ayant ny hache ny fusil pour faire du feu; ie vay, ie viens, ie tourne de tous costez, ie ne trouue rien qui ne m'égare dauantage: la derniere chose que l'homme quitte c'est l'esperance, ie la tenois tousiours par vn petit bout, me figurant à toute heure que i'allois trouuer mon chemin; mais enfin apres [268] auoir bien tourné, voyant que les creatures ne me pouuoient donner aucun secours, ie m'arrestay pour presẽter mes petites prieres au Createur dont ie voyois ces grands bois tout remplis aussi bien que le reste du monde: il me vint vne pensée que ie n'estois pas perdu, puis que Dieu sçauoit bien où i'estois, & ruminant ceste verité en mon esprit, ie tire doucement vers le fleuue que i'auois trauersé au sortir de la cabane, ie crie, i'appelle de rechef, tout le monde estoit desia bien loing; ie commençois desia à laisser cheoir de mes mains le petit filet de l'esperance que i'auois tenu iusques alors, quand i'aduisay quelques vestiges de raquette derriere des broussailles, ie m'y transporte,& vidi vestigia virorum, & mulierum & infantium, en vn mot ie trouue ce que i'auois cherché fort long-temps, au commencement ie n'estois pas asseuré que c'estoit là vn142bon chemin, voila pourquoy ie me diligentay de le recognoistre: estant desia bien auancé ie trouue l'Apostat qui nous venoit chercher, il me demanda où estoit ce petit enfant, ie luy repars que ie l'auois laissé [269] aupres de mon manteau: i'ay, me dit-il, trouué vostre manteau & l'ay reporté à la nouuelle cabane; mais ie n'ay point veu l'enfant: me voila bien estonné, de l'aller chercher, c'estoit me perdre vne autre fois; ie prie l'Apostat d'y aller, il fit la sourde oreille, ie tire droit à la cabane pour en donner aduis, où enfin i'arriuay tout brisé & tout moulu pour la difficulté & pour la longueur des chemins que i'auois fait sans trouuer hostellerie que des ruisseaux glacez: si tost que les Sauuages me virent ils me demandent où estoit le petit garçon, crians que ie l'auois perdu, ie leur raconte l'histoire, les asseurants que ie luy auois laissé tout exprez mon manteau pour l'aller retrouuer, mais ayant quitté ce lieu là, ie ne sçauois où l'aller chercher, veu mesmement que ie n'en pouuois plus, n'ayant point mangé depuis le grand matin, & deux ou trois bouchées de boucan tant seulement, on me donna pour reconfort vn peu d'eau glacée, que ie fis chauffer dans vn chaudron fort sale, ce fut tout mon souper: car nos chasseurs n'ayans rien pris il fallut ieusner ce iour là. [270] Pour l'enfant, deux femmes m'ayans ouy depeindre l'endroit où ie l'auois laissé, coniecturant où il auoit tiré, l'allerent chercher, & le trouuerent. Il ne faut pas s'estonner si vn François se perd quelquesfois dans ces forests, i'ay veu de nos plus habiles Sauuages s'y esgarer plus d'vn iour entier.
Le sixiesme du mesme mois, nous délogeasmes pour la cinquiesme fois, il m'arriua vne disgrace au départ, au lieu de prẽdre le vray chemin, ie me iettay dans vn autre que nos chasseurs auoient fort battu, ie vay donc fort loing sans prendre garde que ie me perdois, ayant fait une longue traitte, ie m'apperceu que mon chemin se diuisoit en cinq ou six autres, qui tiroient qui deçà, qui delà, me voila demeuré tout court, il y auoit vn petit enfant qui m'auoit suiuy, ie ne l'osois quitter, car auss[i]-tost il se mettoit à pleurer, i'enfilay tantost l'vn, tantost l'autre de ces sentiers, & voyant qu'ils tournoient çà & là, & qu'ils n'estoient marquez que d'vne sorte de raquette, ie concluds que ces chemins ne conduisoient point au lieu où mes Sauuages alloient cabaner, ie ne sçauois que faire du petit garçon: car s'estant apperceu de nostre erreur il ne m'osoit [267] perdre de veuë sans se pasmer; d'ailleurs n'ayant qu'enuiron six ans il ne me pouuoit pas suiure, car ie doublois mes pas: ie m'aduisay de luy laisser mon manteau pour marque que ie retournerois, si ie trouuois nostre vray chemin, luy faisant140signe qu'il m'attendist, car nous ne nous attendions pas l'vn l'autre: ie iettay donc mon manteau sur la neige, & m'en reuay sur mes brisées criant de temps en temps pour me faire entendre de nos gens, si tant est que le bon chemin ne fust pas loing de moy; ie crie, i'appelle dans ces grands bois, personne ne répond, tout est dans vn profond silence, les arbres mesme ne faisoient aucun bruit, car il ne faisoit point de vent: le froid estoit si violent que ie m'attendois infailliblemẽt de mourir la nuit au cas qu'il me la fallust passer sur la neige, n'ayant ny hache ny fusil pour faire du feu; ie vay, ie viens, ie tourne de tous costez, ie ne trouue rien qui ne m'égare dauantage: la derniere chose que l'homme quitte c'est l'esperance, ie la tenois tousiours par vn petit bout, me figurant à toute heure que i'allois trouuer mon chemin; mais enfin apres [268] auoir bien tourné, voyant que les creatures ne me pouuoient donner aucun secours, ie m'arrestay pour presẽter mes petites prieres au Createur dont ie voyois ces grands bois tout remplis aussi bien que le reste du monde: il me vint vne pensée que ie n'estois pas perdu, puis que Dieu sçauoit bien où i'estois, & ruminant ceste verité en mon esprit, ie tire doucement vers le fleuue que i'auois trauersé au sortir de la cabane, ie crie, i'appelle de rechef, tout le monde estoit desia bien loing; ie commençois desia à laisser cheoir de mes mains le petit filet de l'esperance que i'auois tenu iusques alors, quand i'aduisay quelques vestiges de raquette derriere des broussailles, ie m'y transporte,& vidi vestigia virorum, & mulierum & infantium, en vn mot ie trouue ce que i'auois cherché fort long-temps, au commencement ie n'estois pas asseuré que c'estoit là vn142bon chemin, voila pourquoy ie me diligentay de le recognoistre: estant desia bien auancé ie trouue l'Apostat qui nous venoit chercher, il me demanda où estoit ce petit enfant, ie luy repars que ie l'auois laissé [269] aupres de mon manteau: i'ay, me dit-il, trouué vostre manteau & l'ay reporté à la nouuelle cabane; mais ie n'ay point veu l'enfant: me voila bien estonné, de l'aller chercher, c'estoit me perdre vne autre fois; ie prie l'Apostat d'y aller, il fit la sourde oreille, ie tire droit à la cabane pour en donner aduis, où enfin i'arriuay tout brisé & tout moulu pour la difficulté & pour la longueur des chemins que i'auois fait sans trouuer hostellerie que des ruisseaux glacez: si tost que les Sauuages me virent ils me demandent où estoit le petit garçon, crians que ie l'auois perdu, ie leur raconte l'histoire, les asseurants que ie luy auois laissé tout exprez mon manteau pour l'aller retrouuer, mais ayant quitté ce lieu là, ie ne sçauois où l'aller chercher, veu mesmement que ie n'en pouuois plus, n'ayant point mangé depuis le grand matin, & deux ou trois bouchées de boucan tant seulement, on me donna pour reconfort vn peu d'eau glacée, que ie fis chauffer dans vn chaudron fort sale, ce fut tout mon souper: car nos chasseurs n'ayans rien pris il fallut ieusner ce iour là. [270] Pour l'enfant, deux femmes m'ayans ouy depeindre l'endroit où ie l'auois laissé, coniecturant où il auoit tiré, l'allerent chercher, & le trouuerent. Il ne faut pas s'estonner si vn François se perd quelquesfois dans ces forests, i'ay veu de nos plus habiles Sauuages s'y esgarer plus d'vn iour entier.
On the sixth of the same month we broke camp for the fifth time. I had a mishap at our departure, for, instead of taking the right road, I started upon another that had been well beaten down by our hunters, and so I went some distance without perceiving that I was lost. After a long stage, I observed that the way divided into five or six others, which led in several directions. So I was brought to a standstill. There was a little child who had followed me, and whom I did not dare to leave, for it would at once begin to cry. I followed first one and then another of these paths; and seeing that they wound here and there, and that they were marked by only one kind of snowshoe, I concluded that these ways did not lead to the place where my Savages were going to encamp. I did not know what to do with the little boy; for, having found out our mistake, he did not dare [267] lose me out of his sight without going into spasms; and besides, as he was only about six years old, he could not keep up with me as I increased my speed. I decided to leave himmy cloak, to show that I intended to return, if I found the right way, making him a sign that he should wait, for we did not understand each other. So I threw my cloak upon the snow, and retraced my steps, crying out from time to time to make myself heard by our people, in case the right road was not far away from me. I shout and halloo in these great forests, but no one answers; the silence is profound, for even the trees do not rustle, as there is no wind. The cold was so severe that I was sure I would die during the night, if I had to pass it upon the snow, having neither axe nor tinder with which to make a fire. I go, I come, I turn on all sides; but I find nothing which does not confuse me still more. The last thing that a man abandons is hope; I continued to hold on to it by the little end, imagining every moment that I was going to find my way; but at last, after [268] many windings, seeing that human beings could give me no help, I stopped in order to offer my little prayers to the Creator, with whom I saw these great woods all filled as well as the rest of the world. The thought came into my mind that I was not lost, since God knew where I was; and, turning over this truth in my mind, I slowly approached the river I had crossed on leaving the cabin. I cried out, I called again, but everybody was already far away. I was beginning to loosen my hold upon the little thread of hope that I had held up to that time, when I perceived some snowshoe tracks behind the brushwood. I betook myself thither,et vidi vestigia virorum, et mulierum et infantium. In a word, I found what I had so long been seeking. At first I was not sure this was agood road, hence I reconnoitred it very carefully. When I had advanced some distance, I met the Apostate, who was coming in search of us. He asked me where the little child was; and I replied that I had left it [269] near my cloak. "I have found your cloak," he said, "and have carried it to the new cabin; but I have not found the child." This was a great shock to me; to go in search of it would be to lose myself a second time. I prayed the Apostate to go, but he turned a deaf ear to my entreaties. I started directly for the cabin, to advise them of the matter, and finally reached it, sore all over and bruised from the hardships and length of the journey, which I had made without finding other hostelry than the frozen brooks. As soon as the Savages saw me, they asked where the little boy was, crying out that I had lost him. I told them the story, assuring them that I had left my cloak with him purposely, that I might go back and find him; but, as he had left that place, I did not know where to look for him, especially as I had no more strength left, having eaten nothing since early morning, and then only two or three mouthfuls of smoked meat. They comforted me with a little frozen water, which I melted in a very dirty kettle, and this was all the supper I had; for our hunters had not taken anything, so we had to fast that day. [270] As to the child, two women having heard me describe the place where I had left it, guessing where it had wandered, went in search of and found it. You must not be astonished if a Frenchman sometimes loses himself in these forests; for I have known some of our cleverest Savages to wander about in them more than a whole day.
On the sixth of the same month we broke camp for the fifth time. I had a mishap at our departure, for, instead of taking the right road, I started upon another that had been well beaten down by our hunters, and so I went some distance without perceiving that I was lost. After a long stage, I observed that the way divided into five or six others, which led in several directions. So I was brought to a standstill. There was a little child who had followed me, and whom I did not dare to leave, for it would at once begin to cry. I followed first one and then another of these paths; and seeing that they wound here and there, and that they were marked by only one kind of snowshoe, I concluded that these ways did not lead to the place where my Savages were going to encamp. I did not know what to do with the little boy; for, having found out our mistake, he did not dare [267] lose me out of his sight without going into spasms; and besides, as he was only about six years old, he could not keep up with me as I increased my speed. I decided to leave himmy cloak, to show that I intended to return, if I found the right way, making him a sign that he should wait, for we did not understand each other. So I threw my cloak upon the snow, and retraced my steps, crying out from time to time to make myself heard by our people, in case the right road was not far away from me. I shout and halloo in these great forests, but no one answers; the silence is profound, for even the trees do not rustle, as there is no wind. The cold was so severe that I was sure I would die during the night, if I had to pass it upon the snow, having neither axe nor tinder with which to make a fire. I go, I come, I turn on all sides; but I find nothing which does not confuse me still more. The last thing that a man abandons is hope; I continued to hold on to it by the little end, imagining every moment that I was going to find my way; but at last, after [268] many windings, seeing that human beings could give me no help, I stopped in order to offer my little prayers to the Creator, with whom I saw these great woods all filled as well as the rest of the world. The thought came into my mind that I was not lost, since God knew where I was; and, turning over this truth in my mind, I slowly approached the river I had crossed on leaving the cabin. I cried out, I called again, but everybody was already far away. I was beginning to loosen my hold upon the little thread of hope that I had held up to that time, when I perceived some snowshoe tracks behind the brushwood. I betook myself thither,et vidi vestigia virorum, et mulierum et infantium. In a word, I found what I had so long been seeking. At first I was not sure this was agood road, hence I reconnoitred it very carefully. When I had advanced some distance, I met the Apostate, who was coming in search of us. He asked me where the little child was; and I replied that I had left it [269] near my cloak. "I have found your cloak," he said, "and have carried it to the new cabin; but I have not found the child." This was a great shock to me; to go in search of it would be to lose myself a second time. I prayed the Apostate to go, but he turned a deaf ear to my entreaties. I started directly for the cabin, to advise them of the matter, and finally reached it, sore all over and bruised from the hardships and length of the journey, which I had made without finding other hostelry than the frozen brooks. As soon as the Savages saw me, they asked where the little boy was, crying out that I had lost him. I told them the story, assuring them that I had left my cloak with him purposely, that I might go back and find him; but, as he had left that place, I did not know where to look for him, especially as I had no more strength left, having eaten nothing since early morning, and then only two or three mouthfuls of smoked meat. They comforted me with a little frozen water, which I melted in a very dirty kettle, and this was all the supper I had; for our hunters had not taken anything, so we had to fast that day. [270] As to the child, two women having heard me describe the place where I had left it, guessing where it had wandered, went in search of and found it. You must not be astonished if a Frenchman sometimes loses himself in these forests; for I have known some of our cleverest Savages to wander about in them more than a whole day.
Le 20. de Decembre, quoy que les Sauuages ne se mettent pas ordinairement en chemin pendant le mauuais144temps si fallut-il decabanner durant la pluye, & desloger à petit bruit sans desieuner, la fin [faim] nous faisoit marcher, mais le mal est, qu'elle nous suiuoit par tout où nous allions; car nous ne trouuions par tout, ou fort peu, ou point de chasse: En ceste station, qui fut la sixiesme, le Renegat me vint dire que les Sauuages estoient fort espouuantez, & mon hoste m'abordant tout pensif, me demanda si ie ne sçauois point quelque remede à leur mal-heur, il n'y a pas, me disoit-il, assez de neige pour tuer l'Orignac, des Castors, & des Porcs-espics, nous n'en trouuõs quasi point, que ferons nous? ne sçais tu point ce qui nous doit arriuer? ne sens tu point dans toy-mesme ce qu'il [271] faut faire? Ie luy voulus dire que nostre Dieu estoit tres-bon, & tres-puissant, qu'il falloit que nous eussions recours à sa misericorde, mais cõme ie ne parlois pas bien, ie priay l'Apostat de me seruir de truchement; ce miserable est possedé d'vn diable muet, iamais il ne voulut parler.
Le 20. de Decembre, quoy que les Sauuages ne se mettent pas ordinairement en chemin pendant le mauuais144temps si fallut-il decabanner durant la pluye, & desloger à petit bruit sans desieuner, la fin [faim] nous faisoit marcher, mais le mal est, qu'elle nous suiuoit par tout où nous allions; car nous ne trouuions par tout, ou fort peu, ou point de chasse: En ceste station, qui fut la sixiesme, le Renegat me vint dire que les Sauuages estoient fort espouuantez, & mon hoste m'abordant tout pensif, me demanda si ie ne sçauois point quelque remede à leur mal-heur, il n'y a pas, me disoit-il, assez de neige pour tuer l'Orignac, des Castors, & des Porcs-espics, nous n'en trouuõs quasi point, que ferons nous? ne sçais tu point ce qui nous doit arriuer? ne sens tu point dans toy-mesme ce qu'il [271] faut faire? Ie luy voulus dire que nostre Dieu estoit tres-bon, & tres-puissant, qu'il falloit que nous eussions recours à sa misericorde, mais cõme ie ne parlois pas bien, ie priay l'Apostat de me seruir de truchement; ce miserable est possedé d'vn diable muet, iamais il ne voulut parler.
On the 20th of December, although the Savages do not usually take the road in bad weather, yet we had to break up during the storm, and move away quietly without any breakfast, for hunger drove us onward; the trouble is it followed us everywhere we went, for we found no game anywhere, or at least very little of it. At this station, which was the sixth, the Renegade came to tell me that the Savages were greatly terrified; and my host, addressing me seriously, asked if I did not know some remedy for their misfortune. "There is not," said he, "enough snow to kill Moose, Beavers, and Porcupines; we find almost no game; what shall we do? Dost thou not know what may happen to us? Dost thou not see within thyself what [271] ought to be done?" I wanted to tell him that our God was very good and very powerful, and we ought to have recourse to his mercy; but as I did not speak well, I begged the Apostate to be my interpreter, but this wretch is possessed of a mute devil, he never wants to talk.
On the 20th of December, although the Savages do not usually take the road in bad weather, yet we had to break up during the storm, and move away quietly without any breakfast, for hunger drove us onward; the trouble is it followed us everywhere we went, for we found no game anywhere, or at least very little of it. At this station, which was the sixth, the Renegade came to tell me that the Savages were greatly terrified; and my host, addressing me seriously, asked if I did not know some remedy for their misfortune. "There is not," said he, "enough snow to kill Moose, Beavers, and Porcupines; we find almost no game; what shall we do? Dost thou not know what may happen to us? Dost thou not see within thyself what [271] ought to be done?" I wanted to tell him that our God was very good and very powerful, and we ought to have recourse to his mercy; but as I did not speak well, I begged the Apostate to be my interpreter, but this wretch is possessed of a mute devil, he never wants to talk.
Le 24. Decembre, veille de la naissance de nostre Sauueur, nous decampasmes pour la septiesme fois, nous partismes sans manger, nous cheminasmes vn assez long temps; nous trauaillasmes à faire nostre maison, & pour nostre souper N. S. nous donna vn Porc-espic gros comme vn cochon de lait, & vn liéure, c'estoit peu pour dix-huict ou vingt personnes que nous estions, il est vray, mais la saincte Vierge & son glorieux Espoux sainct Ioseph, ne furent pas si bien traictez à mesme iour dans l'estable de Bethleem.
Le 24. Decembre, veille de la naissance de nostre Sauueur, nous decampasmes pour la septiesme fois, nous partismes sans manger, nous cheminasmes vn assez long temps; nous trauaillasmes à faire nostre maison, & pour nostre souper N. S. nous donna vn Porc-espic gros comme vn cochon de lait, & vn liéure, c'estoit peu pour dix-huict ou vingt personnes que nous estions, il est vray, mais la saincte Vierge & son glorieux Espoux sainct Ioseph, ne furent pas si bien traictez à mesme iour dans l'estable de Bethleem.
On the 24th of December, the evening before the birth of our Savior, we broke up for the seventh time. We departed without eating, and journeyed for a long, long time, then worked at house-building; and for our supper Our Lord gave us a Porcupine as large as a sucking pig, and a hare. It was not much for our eighteen or twenty people, it is true; but the holy Virgin and her glorious Spouse, saint Joseph, were not so well treated on the same day in the stable at Bethle[h]em.
On the 24th of December, the evening before the birth of our Savior, we broke up for the seventh time. We departed without eating, and journeyed for a long, long time, then worked at house-building; and for our supper Our Lord gave us a Porcupine as large as a sucking pig, and a hare. It was not much for our eighteen or twenty people, it is true; but the holy Virgin and her glorious Spouse, saint Joseph, were not so well treated on the same day in the stable at Bethle[h]em.