They think it hears, especially when, for a joke, some one of our Frenchmen calls out at the last stroke of the hammer, "That's enough," and then it immediately becomes silent. They call it the Captain of the day. When it strikes, they say it is speaking; and they ask when they come to see us how many times the Captain has already spoken. They ask us about its food; they remain a whole hour, and sometimes several, in order to be able to hear it speak. They used to ask at first what it said.We told them two [161] things that they have remembered very well; one, that when it sounded four o'clock of the afternoon, during winter, it was saying, "Go out, go away that we may close the door," for immediately they arose, and went out. The other, that at midday it said,yo eiouahaoua, that is, "Come, put on the kettle;" and this speech is better remembered than the other, for some of these spongers never fail to come at that hour, to get a share of our Sagamité. They eat at all hours, when they have the wherewithal, but usually they have only two meals a day, in the morning and in the evening; consequently they are very glad during the day to take a share with us.
They think it hears, especially when, for a joke, some one of our Frenchmen calls out at the last stroke of the hammer, "That's enough," and then it immediately becomes silent. They call it the Captain of the day. When it strikes, they say it is speaking; and they ask when they come to see us how many times the Captain has already spoken. They ask us about its food; they remain a whole hour, and sometimes several, in order to be able to hear it speak. They used to ask at first what it said.We told them two [161] things that they have remembered very well; one, that when it sounded four o'clock of the afternoon, during winter, it was saying, "Go out, go away that we may close the door," for immediately they arose, and went out. The other, that at midday it said,yo eiouahaoua, that is, "Come, put on the kettle;" and this speech is better remembered than the other, for some of these spongers never fail to come at that hour, to get a share of our Sagamité. They eat at all hours, when they have the wherewithal, but usually they have only two meals a day, in the morning and in the evening; consequently they are very glad during the day to take a share with us.
A propos de leurs admirations, i'en pourrois icy coucher plusieurs faites au sujet de la pierre d'aymant; en laquelle ils regardoient s'il y auoit [162] de la colle, & d'vne lunette à onze facettes, qui leur representoit autant de fois vn mesme obiet, d'vne petite114phiole dans laquelle vne pulce paroist comme vn hanneton, du verre triangulaire, des outils de menuiserie. Mais sur tout de l'escriture; car ils ne pouuoient conceuoir comme ce qu'vn de nous, estãt au village leur auoit dit & couché en mesme temps par escrit; vn autre qui cependant estoit dans la maison bien esloignée, le disoit incontinent en voyant l'escriture. Ie crois qu'ils en ont fait cent experiences. Tout cela sert pour gaigner leurs affections, & les rendre plus dociles, quand il est question des admirables & incomprehensibles mysteres de nostre Foy. Car la croyance qu'ils ont de nostre esprit & de nostre capacité, fait que sans replique ils croyent ce qu'on leur annonce.
A propos de leurs admirations, i'en pourrois icy coucher plusieurs faites au sujet de la pierre d'aymant; en laquelle ils regardoient s'il y auoit [162] de la colle, & d'vne lunette à onze facettes, qui leur representoit autant de fois vn mesme obiet, d'vne petite114phiole dans laquelle vne pulce paroist comme vn hanneton, du verre triangulaire, des outils de menuiserie. Mais sur tout de l'escriture; car ils ne pouuoient conceuoir comme ce qu'vn de nous, estãt au village leur auoit dit & couché en mesme temps par escrit; vn autre qui cependant estoit dans la maison bien esloignée, le disoit incontinent en voyant l'escriture. Ie crois qu'ils en ont fait cent experiences. Tout cela sert pour gaigner leurs affections, & les rendre plus dociles, quand il est question des admirables & incomprehensibles mysteres de nostre Foy. Car la croyance qu'ils ont de nostre esprit & de nostre capacité, fait que sans replique ils croyent ce qu'on leur annonce.
Speaking of their expressions of admiration, I might here set down several on the subject of the lodestone, into which they looked to see if there was [162] some paste; and of a glass with eleven facets, which represented a single object as many times; of a little phial in which a flea appears as large as a beetle; of the prism, of the joiner's tools; but above all of the writing, for they could not conceive how, what one of us, being in the village, had said to them, and put down at the same time in writing, another, who meanwhile was in a house far away, could say readily on seeing the writing. I believe they have made a hundred trials of it. All this serves to gain their affections, and to render them more docile when we introduce the admirable and incomprehensible mysteries of our Faith; for the belief they have in our intelligence and capacity causes them to accept without reply what we say to them.
Speaking of their expressions of admiration, I might here set down several on the subject of the lodestone, into which they looked to see if there was [162] some paste; and of a glass with eleven facets, which represented a single object as many times; of a little phial in which a flea appears as large as a beetle; of the prism, of the joiner's tools; but above all of the writing, for they could not conceive how, what one of us, being in the village, had said to them, and put down at the same time in writing, another, who meanwhile was in a house far away, could say readily on seeing the writing. I believe they have made a hundred trials of it. All this serves to gain their affections, and to render them more docile when we introduce the admirable and incomprehensible mysteries of our Faith; for the belief they have in our intelligence and capacity causes them to accept without reply what we say to them.
[163] Reste maintenant à dire quelque chose du pays, des meurs & coustumes des Hurons, de la disposition qu'ils ont à la Foy, & de nos petits trauaux.
[163] Reste maintenant à dire quelque chose du pays, des meurs & coustumes des Hurons, de la disposition qu'ils ont à la Foy, & de nos petits trauaux.
[163] It remains now to say something of the country, of the manners and customs of the Hurons, ofthe inclination they have to the Faith, and of our insignificant labors.
[163] It remains now to say something of the country, of the manners and customs of the Hurons, ofthe inclination they have to the Faith, and of our insignificant labors.
Quant au premier, le peu de papier & de loisir que nous auons, m'oblige à vous dire en peu de mots ce qui pourroit faire vn iuste volume. Le pays des Hurons n'est pas grand, sa plus longue estenduë se peut trauerser en trois ou quatre iours, l'assiette en est belle, la plus part toute en plaines. Il est environné & entrecoupé d'vne quantité de tres-beaux lacs, ou plustost mers, d'où vient que celuy qui leur est auNord, & auNord-nordouest, est appellé mer douce. Nous passõs par là en venāt des Bissiriniens. Le sol de ce pays est tout sablonneux, quoy que non esgalement. Cependant il produit quantité de tres-bon bled d'Inde, & peut-on [164] dire, que c'est le grenier de la plus part des Algonquains. Il y a vingt Bourgades, qui disent enuiron trente milles ames, sous vne mesme langue, & encore assez facile à qui a quelque maistre. Elle a distinction de genres, de116nombre, de temps, de personnes, de mœuds, & en vn mot tres-parfaite & tres accomplie, contre la pensée de plusieurs. Ce qui me resioüit, c'est que i'ay appris que cette langue est commune à quelques douze autres Nations toutes sedentaires & nombreuses. Sçauoir est auxConkhandeenrhonons, khionontaterrhonons, Atiouandaronks, Sonontoerrhonons, Onontaerrhonons, Oüioenrhonons, Onoiochrhonons, Agnierrhonons, Andastoerrhonons, Scahentoarrhonõs, Rhiierrhonons, & Ahouenrochrhonons. Les Hurons sont amis de tous ces peuples, excepté desSonontoerrhonons, Onontaerrhonons, Oüioenrhonons, Onoiochrhonons[165]& Agnierrhonons, que nous comprenons tous sous le nom d'Hiroquois. Encore ont ils desia la paix auec lesSonontoerrhonons, depuis qu'ils furent par eux défaits l'année passée an Printemps.
Quant au premier, le peu de papier & de loisir que nous auons, m'oblige à vous dire en peu de mots ce qui pourroit faire vn iuste volume. Le pays des Hurons n'est pas grand, sa plus longue estenduë se peut trauerser en trois ou quatre iours, l'assiette en est belle, la plus part toute en plaines. Il est environné & entrecoupé d'vne quantité de tres-beaux lacs, ou plustost mers, d'où vient que celuy qui leur est auNord, & auNord-nordouest, est appellé mer douce. Nous passõs par là en venāt des Bissiriniens. Le sol de ce pays est tout sablonneux, quoy que non esgalement. Cependant il produit quantité de tres-bon bled d'Inde, & peut-on [164] dire, que c'est le grenier de la plus part des Algonquains. Il y a vingt Bourgades, qui disent enuiron trente milles ames, sous vne mesme langue, & encore assez facile à qui a quelque maistre. Elle a distinction de genres, de116nombre, de temps, de personnes, de mœuds, & en vn mot tres-parfaite & tres accomplie, contre la pensée de plusieurs. Ce qui me resioüit, c'est que i'ay appris que cette langue est commune à quelques douze autres Nations toutes sedentaires & nombreuses. Sçauoir est auxConkhandeenrhonons, khionontaterrhonons, Atiouandaronks, Sonontoerrhonons, Onontaerrhonons, Oüioenrhonons, Onoiochrhonons, Agnierrhonons, Andastoerrhonons, Scahentoarrhonõs, Rhiierrhonons, & Ahouenrochrhonons. Les Hurons sont amis de tous ces peuples, excepté desSonontoerrhonons, Onontaerrhonons, Oüioenrhonons, Onoiochrhonons[165]& Agnierrhonons, que nous comprenons tous sous le nom d'Hiroquois. Encore ont ils desia la paix auec lesSonontoerrhonons, depuis qu'ils furent par eux défaits l'année passée an Printemps.
As to the first, the little paper and leisure we have compels me to say in a few words what might justly fill a volume. The Huron country is not large, its greatest extent can be traversed in three or four days. Its situation is fine, the greater part of it consisting of plains. It is surrounded and intersected by a number of very beautiful lakes or rather seas, whence it comes that the one to the North and to the North-northwest is called "fresh-water sea" [mer douce].33We pass through it in coming from the Bissiriniens. The soil of this country is quite sandy, although not equally so. However, it produces a quantity of very good Indian corn, and one may [164] say that it is the granary of most of the Algonquains. There are twenty Towns, which indicate about 30,000 souls speaking the same tongue, which is not difficult to one who has a master. It has distinction of genders, number, tense, person, moods; and, in short, it is very complete and very regular, contrary to the opinion of many. I am rejoiced to find that this language is common to some twelve other Nations, all settled and numerous; these are, theConkhandeenrhonons, khionontaterrhonons, Atiouandaronks, Sonontoerrhonons, Onontaerrhonons, Oüioenrhonons, Onoiochrhonons, Agnierrhonons, Andastoerrhonons, Scahentoarrhonons, Rhiierrhonons, andAhouenrochrhonons.34The Hurons are friends of all these people, except theSonontoerrhonons,Onontaerrhonons,Oüioenrhonons,Onoiochrhonons[165] andAgnierrhonons, all of whom we comprise under the name Hiroquois. But they have already made peace with theSonontoerrhonons, since they were defeated by them a year past in the Spring.
As to the first, the little paper and leisure we have compels me to say in a few words what might justly fill a volume. The Huron country is not large, its greatest extent can be traversed in three or four days. Its situation is fine, the greater part of it consisting of plains. It is surrounded and intersected by a number of very beautiful lakes or rather seas, whence it comes that the one to the North and to the North-northwest is called "fresh-water sea" [mer douce].33We pass through it in coming from the Bissiriniens. The soil of this country is quite sandy, although not equally so. However, it produces a quantity of very good Indian corn, and one may [164] say that it is the granary of most of the Algonquains. There are twenty Towns, which indicate about 30,000 souls speaking the same tongue, which is not difficult to one who has a master. It has distinction of genders, number, tense, person, moods; and, in short, it is very complete and very regular, contrary to the opinion of many. I am rejoiced to find that this language is common to some twelve other Nations, all settled and numerous; these are, theConkhandeenrhonons, khionontaterrhonons, Atiouandaronks, Sonontoerrhonons, Onontaerrhonons, Oüioenrhonons, Onoiochrhonons, Agnierrhonons, Andastoerrhonons, Scahentoarrhonons, Rhiierrhonons, andAhouenrochrhonons.34The Hurons are friends of all these people, except theSonontoerrhonons,Onontaerrhonons,Oüioenrhonons,Onoiochrhonons[165] andAgnierrhonons, all of whom we comprise under the name Hiroquois. But they have already made peace with theSonontoerrhonons, since they were defeated by them a year past in the Spring.
Les deputez de tout le Pays sont allez àSonontoenpour cõfirmer cette paix, & dit on que lesOnontaerhonons, Ouioenrhonons, Ouiochrhonons & Agnierrhonons, veulẽt entrer en ce party. Mais ce n'est pas chose asseurée; que si cela est, voila vne belle grande porte ouuerte à l'Euangile. On m'a voulu mener auditSonontoen, mais ie n'ay pas iugé à propos d'aller encore en aucune part, iusques à ce que nous ayons icy mieux estably les fondemens de la Loy Euangelique, & que nous y ayons tiré vn crayon, sur lequel les autres Nations qui se conuertiront se puissent reigler. Ie voudrois bien n'aller en aucũ lieu qu'on [166] ne nous recogneust aussi tost pour Predicateurs de Iesus-Christ.
Les deputez de tout le Pays sont allez àSonontoenpour cõfirmer cette paix, & dit on que lesOnontaerhonons, Ouioenrhonons, Ouiochrhonons & Agnierrhonons, veulẽt entrer en ce party. Mais ce n'est pas chose asseurée; que si cela est, voila vne belle grande porte ouuerte à l'Euangile. On m'a voulu mener auditSonontoen, mais ie n'ay pas iugé à propos d'aller encore en aucune part, iusques à ce que nous ayons icy mieux estably les fondemens de la Loy Euangelique, & que nous y ayons tiré vn crayon, sur lequel les autres Nations qui se conuertiront se puissent reigler. Ie voudrois bien n'aller en aucũ lieu qu'on [166] ne nous recogneust aussi tost pour Predicateurs de Iesus-Christ.
The deputies of the whole Country have gone toSonontoen35to confirm this peace, and it is said that theOnontaerhonons,Ouioenrhonons,OuiochrhononsandAgnierrhononswish to become parties to it. But that is not certain; if it were, a noble door would be open to the Gospel. They wanted me to go to thisSonontoen, but I did not judge it wise to go yet into any other part, until we have better established here the foundation of the Gospel Law, and until we have drawn a line by which the other Nations that shall be converted may guide themselves. Indeed, I would not go to any place where [166] we would not be immediately recognized as Preachers of Jesus Christ.
The deputies of the whole Country have gone toSonontoen35to confirm this peace, and it is said that theOnontaerhonons,Ouioenrhonons,OuiochrhononsandAgnierrhononswish to become parties to it. But that is not certain; if it were, a noble door would be open to the Gospel. They wanted me to go to thisSonontoen, but I did not judge it wise to go yet into any other part, until we have better established here the foundation of the Gospel Law, and until we have drawn a line by which the other Nations that shall be converted may guide themselves. Indeed, I would not go to any place where [166] we would not be immediately recognized as Preachers of Jesus Christ.
Il est si clair & si euident, qu'il est vne Diuinité qui a fait le Ciel & la terre, que nos Hurons ne la peuuent entierement mécognoistre. Et quoy qu'ils ayent les yeux de l'esprit fort obscurcis des tenebres118d'vne longue ignorance, de leurs vices & pechez, si est-ce qu'ils en voyent quelque chose. Mais ils se méprennent lourdement, & ayant la cognoissance de Dieu, ils ne luy rendent pas l'honneur, ny l'amour, ny le seruice qu'il conuient: car ils n'ont ny Temples, ny Prestres, ny Festes, ny ceremonies aucunes.
Il est si clair & si euident, qu'il est vne Diuinité qui a fait le Ciel & la terre, que nos Hurons ne la peuuent entierement mécognoistre. Et quoy qu'ils ayent les yeux de l'esprit fort obscurcis des tenebres118d'vne longue ignorance, de leurs vices & pechez, si est-ce qu'ils en voyent quelque chose. Mais ils se méprennent lourdement, & ayant la cognoissance de Dieu, ils ne luy rendent pas l'honneur, ny l'amour, ny le seruice qu'il conuient: car ils n'ont ny Temples, ny Prestres, ny Festes, ny ceremonies aucunes.
It is so clear, so evident that there is a Divinity who has made Heaven and earth, that our Hurons cannot entirely ignore it. And although the eyes of their minds are very much obscured by the darkness of a long ignorance, by their vices and sins, they still see something of it. But they misapprehend him grossly, and, having the knowledge of God, they do not render him the honor, the love, nor the service which is his due. For they have neither Temples, nor Priests, nor Feasts, nor any ceremonies.
It is so clear, so evident that there is a Divinity who has made Heaven and earth, that our Hurons cannot entirely ignore it. And although the eyes of their minds are very much obscured by the darkness of a long ignorance, by their vices and sins, they still see something of it. But they misapprehend him grossly, and, having the knowledge of God, they do not render him the honor, the love, nor the service which is his due. For they have neither Temples, nor Priests, nor Feasts, nor any ceremonies.
Ils disent qu'vne certaine femme nomméeEataentsic, est celle qui a fait la terre & les hommes. Ils luy baillent pour adioint vn certain appelléIouskeha, qu'ils disent estre son petit fils, auec lequel elle gouuerne [167] le monde; cestIouskehaa soin des viuans & des choses qui concernent la vie, & par consequent ils disent qu'il est bõ:Eataentsica soin des ames, & parce qu'ils croyent qu'elle fait mourir les hommes, ils disent qu'elle est meschante. Et ce sont parmy eux des mysteres si cachez, qu'il n'y a que les vieillards qui en puissent parler auec credit & authorité, pour estre creus. D'où vient qu'vn certain ieune homme m'en ayant discouru, me dist en se ventant, Ne suisie pas bien sçauant? Quelques vns me disent que la maison de ces deux Diuinitez est au bout du monde vers l'Orient. Or chez eux le monde ne passe point leur Pays, c'est à dire l'Amerique, d'autres les logent au milieu.
Ils disent qu'vne certaine femme nomméeEataentsic, est celle qui a fait la terre & les hommes. Ils luy baillent pour adioint vn certain appelléIouskeha, qu'ils disent estre son petit fils, auec lequel elle gouuerne [167] le monde; cestIouskehaa soin des viuans & des choses qui concernent la vie, & par consequent ils disent qu'il est bõ:Eataentsica soin des ames, & parce qu'ils croyent qu'elle fait mourir les hommes, ils disent qu'elle est meschante. Et ce sont parmy eux des mysteres si cachez, qu'il n'y a que les vieillards qui en puissent parler auec credit & authorité, pour estre creus. D'où vient qu'vn certain ieune homme m'en ayant discouru, me dist en se ventant, Ne suisie pas bien sçauant? Quelques vns me disent que la maison de ces deux Diuinitez est au bout du monde vers l'Orient. Or chez eux le monde ne passe point leur Pays, c'est à dire l'Amerique, d'autres les logent au milieu.
They say that a certain woman namedEataentsic36is the one who made earth and men. They give her an assistant, one namedJouskeha, whom they declare to be her little son, with whom she governs [167] the world. ThisJouskehahas care of the living, and of the things that concern life, and consequently they say that he is good.Eataentsichas care of souls; and, because they believe that she makes men die, they say that she is wicked. And there are among them mysteries so hidden that only the old men, whocan speak with credit and authority about them, are believed. Whence it comes that a certain young man, who was talking to me about this, said boastingly, "Am I not very learned?" Some told me that the house of these two Divinities is at the end of the world to the East. Now with them the world does not pass beyond their Country, that is, America. Others place their abode in the middle.
They say that a certain woman namedEataentsic36is the one who made earth and men. They give her an assistant, one namedJouskeha, whom they declare to be her little son, with whom she governs [167] the world. ThisJouskehahas care of the living, and of the things that concern life, and consequently they say that he is good.Eataentsichas care of souls; and, because they believe that she makes men die, they say that she is wicked. And there are among them mysteries so hidden that only the old men, whocan speak with credit and authority about them, are believed. Whence it comes that a certain young man, who was talking to me about this, said boastingly, "Am I not very learned?" Some told me that the house of these two Divinities is at the end of the world to the East. Now with them the world does not pass beyond their Country, that is, America. Others place their abode in the middle.
Ce Dieu & cette Deesse viuent comme eux, mais sans disette; font des festins comme eux, sont lascifs aussi bien qu'eux: bref ils se les figurent [168] tous tels qu'ils sont eux mesmes. Et encor qu'il[s] les facent hommes & corporels, ils semblent neantmoins leur attribuer vne certaine immensité en tous lieux. Ils disent que cetteEataentsicest tombée du Ciel, où il y a des habitans comme icy, & que quand elle tomba, elle estoit enceinte. Que si vous leur demandez qui a fait le Ciel & ses habitans, ils n'ont autre repartie,120sinon qu'ils n'en sçauent rien. Et quand nous leur preschons vn Dieu, Createur du Ciel & de la terre & de toutes choses: de mesme quand nous leur parlons d'vn Enfer & d'vn Paradis, & du reste de nos mysteres; les opiniastres respondent, que cela est bon pour nostre Pays, non pour le leur; que chaque Pays a ses façons de faire: mais leur ayant monstré par le moyen d'vn petit globe que nous auons apporté, qu'il n'y a [169] qu'vn seul monde, ils demeurẽt sans replique. Ie trouue dans leur mariage deux choses qui me plaisent fort; l'vne qu'ils n'ont qu'vne femme, l'autre qu'ils ne se marient point à leurs parens en ligne directe ou collaterale, pour esloignez qu'ils puissẽt estre. Il y a assez d'ailleurs à y reprendre, quand ce ne seroit que le frequent changement que les hommes font de leurs femmes, & les femmes de leurs maris: ils croyent l'immortalité des ames, qu'ils feignent estre corporelles. Toute la plus grande partie de leur Religion consiste en ce poinct. Ce ne sont d'ailleurs que superstitions, que nous esperons auec la grace de Dieu changer en vraye Religion, & comme despoüilles enleuées sur l'ennemy, les consacrer à l'honneur de nostre Seigneur & en profiter pour leur soulagement particulier. Certes si [170] estãs vn iour Chrestiens, ils viennent à les aider à proportion de ce qu'ils sont à present pour elles en vain; il faudra que nous leur cedions, ou que nous les imitions; car ils n'y espargnent rien, non pas mesmes les plus auaricieux. Nous en auons veu quelques-vns dénuez, ou peu s'en faut, de toutes leurs commoditez, pour ce que plusieurs de leurs amis estoient morts, aux ames desquels ils en auoient fait largesse. Au surplus les chiens, les cerfs, les poissons & autres animaux ont des ames immortelles & raisonnables à leur dire: Pour122preuue dequoy les vieillards racontent certaines fables qu'ils font passer pour veritez; ils ne font mention ny de peine ny de recompense au lieu où vont les ames apres la mort; aussi ne mettent-ils point de distinction entre les bons & les mauuais, les vertueux & les vicieux, [171] & ils honorent également la sepulture des vns & des autres: ainsi que nous auons veu en celle d'vn ieune homme qui s'estoit empoisonné du déplaisir qu'il auoit conceu, à raison qu'on luy auoit osté sa femme. Ils ont vne infinité de superstitions, leurs festins, leur[s] medecines, leurs pesches, leurs chasses, leurs guerres; bref quasi toute leur vie ne roule que sur ce piuot; les songes sur tout ont icy grand credit.
Ce Dieu & cette Deesse viuent comme eux, mais sans disette; font des festins comme eux, sont lascifs aussi bien qu'eux: bref ils se les figurent [168] tous tels qu'ils sont eux mesmes. Et encor qu'il[s] les facent hommes & corporels, ils semblent neantmoins leur attribuer vne certaine immensité en tous lieux. Ils disent que cetteEataentsicest tombée du Ciel, où il y a des habitans comme icy, & que quand elle tomba, elle estoit enceinte. Que si vous leur demandez qui a fait le Ciel & ses habitans, ils n'ont autre repartie,120sinon qu'ils n'en sçauent rien. Et quand nous leur preschons vn Dieu, Createur du Ciel & de la terre & de toutes choses: de mesme quand nous leur parlons d'vn Enfer & d'vn Paradis, & du reste de nos mysteres; les opiniastres respondent, que cela est bon pour nostre Pays, non pour le leur; que chaque Pays a ses façons de faire: mais leur ayant monstré par le moyen d'vn petit globe que nous auons apporté, qu'il n'y a [169] qu'vn seul monde, ils demeurẽt sans replique. Ie trouue dans leur mariage deux choses qui me plaisent fort; l'vne qu'ils n'ont qu'vne femme, l'autre qu'ils ne se marient point à leurs parens en ligne directe ou collaterale, pour esloignez qu'ils puissẽt estre. Il y a assez d'ailleurs à y reprendre, quand ce ne seroit que le frequent changement que les hommes font de leurs femmes, & les femmes de leurs maris: ils croyent l'immortalité des ames, qu'ils feignent estre corporelles. Toute la plus grande partie de leur Religion consiste en ce poinct. Ce ne sont d'ailleurs que superstitions, que nous esperons auec la grace de Dieu changer en vraye Religion, & comme despoüilles enleuées sur l'ennemy, les consacrer à l'honneur de nostre Seigneur & en profiter pour leur soulagement particulier. Certes si [170] estãs vn iour Chrestiens, ils viennent à les aider à proportion de ce qu'ils sont à present pour elles en vain; il faudra que nous leur cedions, ou que nous les imitions; car ils n'y espargnent rien, non pas mesmes les plus auaricieux. Nous en auons veu quelques-vns dénuez, ou peu s'en faut, de toutes leurs commoditez, pour ce que plusieurs de leurs amis estoient morts, aux ames desquels ils en auoient fait largesse. Au surplus les chiens, les cerfs, les poissons & autres animaux ont des ames immortelles & raisonnables à leur dire: Pour122preuue dequoy les vieillards racontent certaines fables qu'ils font passer pour veritez; ils ne font mention ny de peine ny de recompense au lieu où vont les ames apres la mort; aussi ne mettent-ils point de distinction entre les bons & les mauuais, les vertueux & les vicieux, [171] & ils honorent également la sepulture des vns & des autres: ainsi que nous auons veu en celle d'vn ieune homme qui s'estoit empoisonné du déplaisir qu'il auoit conceu, à raison qu'on luy auoit osté sa femme. Ils ont vne infinité de superstitions, leurs festins, leur[s] medecines, leurs pesches, leurs chasses, leurs guerres; bref quasi toute leur vie ne roule que sur ce piuot; les songes sur tout ont icy grand credit.
This God and Goddess live like themselves, but without famine; make feasts as they do, are lustful as they; in short, they imagine them [168] exactly like themselves. And still, though they make them human and corporeal, they seem nevertheless to attribute to them a certain immensity in all places. They say that thisEataentsicfell from the Sky, where there are inhabitants as on earth; and, when she fell, she was with child. If you ask them who made the Sky and its inhabitants, they have no other reply than that they know nothing about it. And when we preach to them of one God, Creator of Heaven and earth, and of all things, and even when we talk to them of Hell and Paradise and of our other mysteries, the headstrong savages reply that this is good for our Country and not for theirs; that every Country has its own fashions. But having pointed out to them, by means of a little globe that we had brought, that there is [169] only one world, they remain without reply. I find in their marriage customs two things that greatly please me; the first, that they have only one wife; the second, that they do not marry their relatives in a direct or collateral line, however distant they may be. There is, on the other hand, sufficient to censure, were it only the frequent changes the men make of their wives, and the womenof their husbands. They believe in the immortality of the soul,37which they believe to be corporeal. The greatest part of their Religion consists in this point. There are, besides, only superstitions, which we hope by the grace of God to change into true Religion, and, like spoils carried off from the enemy, to consecrate them to the honor of our Lord, and to profit by them for their special advantage. Certainly, if, [170] should they some day be Christians, these superstitions help them in proportion to what they do for them now in vain, it will be necessary that we yield to them, or that we imitate them; for they spare nothing, not even the most avaricious. We have seen several stripped, or almost so, of all their goods, because several of their friends were dead, to whose souls they had made presents. Moreover, dogs, deer, fish, and other animals have, in their opinion, immortal and reasonable souls. In proof of this, the old men relate certain fables, which they represent as true; they make no mention either of punishment or reward, in the place to which souls go after death. And so they do not make any distinction between the good and the bad, the virtuous and the vicious; [171] and they honor equally the interment of both, even as we have seen in the case of a young man who had poisoned himself from the grief he felt because his wife had been taken away from him. Their superstitions are infinite; their feasts, their medicines, their fishing, their hunting, their wars,—in short, almost their whole life turns upon this pivot; dreams, above all, have here great credit.
This God and Goddess live like themselves, but without famine; make feasts as they do, are lustful as they; in short, they imagine them [168] exactly like themselves. And still, though they make them human and corporeal, they seem nevertheless to attribute to them a certain immensity in all places. They say that thisEataentsicfell from the Sky, where there are inhabitants as on earth; and, when she fell, she was with child. If you ask them who made the Sky and its inhabitants, they have no other reply than that they know nothing about it. And when we preach to them of one God, Creator of Heaven and earth, and of all things, and even when we talk to them of Hell and Paradise and of our other mysteries, the headstrong savages reply that this is good for our Country and not for theirs; that every Country has its own fashions. But having pointed out to them, by means of a little globe that we had brought, that there is [169] only one world, they remain without reply. I find in their marriage customs two things that greatly please me; the first, that they have only one wife; the second, that they do not marry their relatives in a direct or collateral line, however distant they may be. There is, on the other hand, sufficient to censure, were it only the frequent changes the men make of their wives, and the womenof their husbands. They believe in the immortality of the soul,37which they believe to be corporeal. The greatest part of their Religion consists in this point. There are, besides, only superstitions, which we hope by the grace of God to change into true Religion, and, like spoils carried off from the enemy, to consecrate them to the honor of our Lord, and to profit by them for their special advantage. Certainly, if, [170] should they some day be Christians, these superstitions help them in proportion to what they do for them now in vain, it will be necessary that we yield to them, or that we imitate them; for they spare nothing, not even the most avaricious. We have seen several stripped, or almost so, of all their goods, because several of their friends were dead, to whose souls they had made presents. Moreover, dogs, deer, fish, and other animals have, in their opinion, immortal and reasonable souls. In proof of this, the old men relate certain fables, which they represent as true; they make no mention either of punishment or reward, in the place to which souls go after death. And so they do not make any distinction between the good and the bad, the virtuous and the vicious; [171] and they honor equally the interment of both, even as we have seen in the case of a young man who had poisoned himself from the grief he felt because his wife had been taken away from him. Their superstitions are infinite; their feasts, their medicines, their fishing, their hunting, their wars,—in short, almost their whole life turns upon this pivot; dreams, above all, have here great credit.
Tout ce pays, & ie crois qu'il en va de mesme ailleurs, ne manque pas d'hommes meschans, lesquels par enuie ou par vengeance, ou autre motif, empoisonnent ou ensorcellent, & en fin tost ou tard font mourir ceux qu'ils entreprennent. Quand telles gens sont surpris, on les execute sur le champ, sans autre forme de procés, & il n'en est autre bruit. Pour les autres meurtres ils [172] les vengent sur toute la Nation du meurtrier; aussi ne sçay-je que cette sorte de gens qu'ils facent mourir impunément. I'ay bien connu vne fille larronnesse, qui fut aussi tost assommée sans aucune recherche, mais ç'auoit esté par son propre frere: s'il paroist quelque traistre qui machine la ruine du Pays, ils taschent en commun de s'en défaire au plustost; mais ces accidens sont fort rares.
Tout ce pays, & ie crois qu'il en va de mesme ailleurs, ne manque pas d'hommes meschans, lesquels par enuie ou par vengeance, ou autre motif, empoisonnent ou ensorcellent, & en fin tost ou tard font mourir ceux qu'ils entreprennent. Quand telles gens sont surpris, on les execute sur le champ, sans autre forme de procés, & il n'en est autre bruit. Pour les autres meurtres ils [172] les vengent sur toute la Nation du meurtrier; aussi ne sçay-je que cette sorte de gens qu'ils facent mourir impunément. I'ay bien connu vne fille larronnesse, qui fut aussi tost assommée sans aucune recherche, mais ç'auoit esté par son propre frere: s'il paroist quelque traistre qui machine la ruine du Pays, ils taschent en commun de s'en défaire au plustost; mais ces accidens sont fort rares.
This whole country, and I believe it is the same elsewhere, is not lacking in wicked men, who, from motives of envy or vengeance, or from other cause,poison or bewitch, and, in short, put to death sooner or later those whom they wish to injure. When such people are caught, they are put to death on the spot, without any form of trial, and there is no disturbance about it. As to other murders, they [172] are avenged upon the whole Nation of the murderer; so that is the only class I know about that they put to death with impunity. I knew indeed a girl that stole, who was at once killed without any inquiry, but it was by her own brother. If some traitor appears, who is planning the ruin of the Country, they endeavor in common to get rid of him as soon as possible; but these accidents are very rare.
This whole country, and I believe it is the same elsewhere, is not lacking in wicked men, who, from motives of envy or vengeance, or from other cause,poison or bewitch, and, in short, put to death sooner or later those whom they wish to injure. When such people are caught, they are put to death on the spot, without any form of trial, and there is no disturbance about it. As to other murders, they [172] are avenged upon the whole Nation of the murderer; so that is the only class I know about that they put to death with impunity. I knew indeed a girl that stole, who was at once killed without any inquiry, but it was by her own brother. If some traitor appears, who is planning the ruin of the Country, they endeavor in common to get rid of him as soon as possible; but these accidents are very rare.
Ils disent que ces Sorciers les ruinent; car si quelqu'vn a reüssy en quelque entreprise, si la traitte, si la chasse luy a succedé; aussi-tost ces méchans l'ensorcellent, ou quelque autre de sa maison, afin qu'il consomme tout en Medecins & Medecines. Aussi pour remedier à ces sorts, & autres maladies, il y a vne infinité124de Medecins qu'ils appellentArendiouane. Ces gens à [173] mon aduis son[t] vrays Sorciers, qui ont accez au Diable. Les vns ne font que iuger du mal, & ce en diuerses facons, sçauoir est, par Pyromantie, par Hydromantie, Negromantie, par festins, par danses & chansons. Les autres s'efforcent de guerir le mal par souflemens, breuuages & autres singeries ridicules, qui n'ont aucune vertu ny efficacité naturelle. Mais les vns & les autres ne font rien sans grands presens, & sans bonnes recompenses.
Ils disent que ces Sorciers les ruinent; car si quelqu'vn a reüssy en quelque entreprise, si la traitte, si la chasse luy a succedé; aussi-tost ces méchans l'ensorcellent, ou quelque autre de sa maison, afin qu'il consomme tout en Medecins & Medecines. Aussi pour remedier à ces sorts, & autres maladies, il y a vne infinité124de Medecins qu'ils appellentArendiouane. Ces gens à [173] mon aduis son[t] vrays Sorciers, qui ont accez au Diable. Les vns ne font que iuger du mal, & ce en diuerses facons, sçauoir est, par Pyromantie, par Hydromantie, Negromantie, par festins, par danses & chansons. Les autres s'efforcent de guerir le mal par souflemens, breuuages & autres singeries ridicules, qui n'ont aucune vertu ny efficacité naturelle. Mais les vns & les autres ne font rien sans grands presens, & sans bonnes recompenses.
They say that the Sorcerers ruin them; for if any one has succeeded in an enterprise, if his trading or hunting is successful, immediately these wicked men bewitch him, or some member of his family, so that they have to spend it all in Doctors and Medicines. Hence, to cure these and other diseases, there are a large number of Doctors whom they callArendiouane. These persons, in [173] my opinion, are true Sorcerers, who have access to the Devil. Some only judge of the evil, and that in divers ways, namely, by Pyromancy, by Hydromancy, Necromancy, by feasts, dances, and songs; the others endeavor to cure the disease by blowing, by potions, and by other ridiculous tricks, which have neither any virtue nor natural efficacy. But neither class do anything without generous presents and good pay.
They say that the Sorcerers ruin them; for if any one has succeeded in an enterprise, if his trading or hunting is successful, immediately these wicked men bewitch him, or some member of his family, so that they have to spend it all in Doctors and Medicines. Hence, to cure these and other diseases, there are a large number of Doctors whom they callArendiouane. These persons, in [173] my opinion, are true Sorcerers, who have access to the Devil. Some only judge of the evil, and that in divers ways, namely, by Pyromancy, by Hydromancy, Necromancy, by feasts, dances, and songs; the others endeavor to cure the disease by blowing, by potions, and by other ridiculous tricks, which have neither any virtue nor natural efficacy. But neither class do anything without generous presents and good pay.
On void en ce Pays quelques Deuins, qu'ils appellent encoreArendiouane, & qui se meslent de faire tomber ou cesser la pluye, & predire les choses futures. Le Diable leur reuele quelques secrets, mais auec tant d'obscuritez, qu'on n'a garde de les arguer de mensonge: témoin vn du village deScanonaenrat[174] lequel vn peu auparauant l'embrasement des bourgades cy dessus mẽtionnées, auoit veu en songe trois flammes qui tomboient du Ciel sur lesdites bourgades. Mais le Diable ne luy auoit declaré le sens de cet enigme: car ayant obtenu du village vn chien blanc pour en faire festin, & en impetrer l'intelligence, il demeura aussi ignorant apres comme auparauant.
On void en ce Pays quelques Deuins, qu'ils appellent encoreArendiouane, & qui se meslent de faire tomber ou cesser la pluye, & predire les choses futures. Le Diable leur reuele quelques secrets, mais auec tant d'obscuritez, qu'on n'a garde de les arguer de mensonge: témoin vn du village deScanonaenrat[174] lequel vn peu auparauant l'embrasement des bourgades cy dessus mẽtionnées, auoit veu en songe trois flammes qui tomboient du Ciel sur lesdites bourgades. Mais le Diable ne luy auoit declaré le sens de cet enigme: car ayant obtenu du village vn chien blanc pour en faire festin, & en impetrer l'intelligence, il demeura aussi ignorant apres comme auparauant.
There are here some Soothsayers, whom they call alsoArendiouaneand who undertake to cause the rain to fall or to cease, and to predict future events. The Devil reveals to them some secrets, but with so muchobscurity that one is unable to accuse them of falsehood; witness one of the village ofScanonaenrat38[174] who, a little while before the burning of the villages before mentioned, had seen in a dream three flames falling from the Sky on those villages. But the Devil had not declared to him the meaning of this enigma; for, having obtained from the village a white dog, to make a feast with it and to seek information by it, he remained as ignorant afterward as before.
There are here some Soothsayers, whom they call alsoArendiouaneand who undertake to cause the rain to fall or to cease, and to predict future events. The Devil reveals to them some secrets, but with so muchobscurity that one is unable to accuse them of falsehood; witness one of the village ofScanonaenrat38[174] who, a little while before the burning of the villages before mentioned, had seen in a dream three flames falling from the Sky on those villages. But the Devil had not declared to him the meaning of this enigma; for, having obtained from the village a white dog, to make a feast with it and to seek information by it, he remained as ignorant afterward as before.
Dernierement comme i'estois chez Louys de saincte Foy, vne vieille sorciere ou deuineresse dudit village, dist qu'elle auoit veu ceux qui estoient allez à la guerre, qu'ils reuenoient, & amenoient vn prisonnier. Nous verrons si elle a dit vray: son procedé est par pyromantie: elle vous figure en sa cabane le lac des Hiroquois, puis d'vn costé elle fait autant de feux comme il y a de personnes qui ont marché en [175] campagn[e]; & de l'autre costé encore autant de feux, qu'ils ont d'ennemis à combattre. Puis si son sort reüssit, elle donne à entendre que les feux de deça ont126trauersé, & cela signifie, que les guerriers ont desia passé le lac. Vn feu qui y esteint l'autre, marque vn ennemy défait, que si il l'attire à soy sans l'esteindre, c'est vn prisonnier pris à mercy. C'est ainsi, pour finir ce discours, qui seroit trop long, si ie voulois tout dire, que le Diable amuse ce pauure peuple, substituant ses impietez & superstitions, en la place de la conformité, qu'ils deuroient auoir à la prouidence de Dieu, & du culte qu'ils luy deuroient rendre.
Dernierement comme i'estois chez Louys de saincte Foy, vne vieille sorciere ou deuineresse dudit village, dist qu'elle auoit veu ceux qui estoient allez à la guerre, qu'ils reuenoient, & amenoient vn prisonnier. Nous verrons si elle a dit vray: son procedé est par pyromantie: elle vous figure en sa cabane le lac des Hiroquois, puis d'vn costé elle fait autant de feux comme il y a de personnes qui ont marché en [175] campagn[e]; & de l'autre costé encore autant de feux, qu'ils ont d'ennemis à combattre. Puis si son sort reüssit, elle donne à entendre que les feux de deça ont126trauersé, & cela signifie, que les guerriers ont desia passé le lac. Vn feu qui y esteint l'autre, marque vn ennemy défait, que si il l'attire à soy sans l'esteindre, c'est vn prisonnier pris à mercy. C'est ainsi, pour finir ce discours, qui seroit trop long, si ie voulois tout dire, que le Diable amuse ce pauure peuple, substituant ses impietez & superstitions, en la place de la conformité, qu'ils deuroient auoir à la prouidence de Dieu, & du culte qu'ils luy deuroient rendre.
Lastly, when I was in the house of Louys de saincte Foy, an old woman, a sorceress, or female soothsayer of that village, said she had seen those who had gone to the war, and that they were bringing back a prisoner. We shall see if she has spoken the truth. Her method is by pyromancy. She draws for you in her hut the lake of the Hiroquois;39then on one side she makes as many fires as there are persons who have gone on [175] the expedition, and on the other as many fires as they have enemies to fight. Then, if her spell succeeds, she lets it be understood that the fires from this side have run over, and that signifies that the warriors have already crossed the lake. One fire extinguishing another marks an enemy defeated; but if it attracts it to itself without extinguishing it, that is a prisoner taken at mercy. It is thus,—to finish my discourse, which would be too long if I tried to say everything,—that the Devil amuses this poor people, substituting his impieties and superstitions in place of the compliance they ought to have with the providence of God, and the worship they ought to render him.
Lastly, when I was in the house of Louys de saincte Foy, an old woman, a sorceress, or female soothsayer of that village, said she had seen those who had gone to the war, and that they were bringing back a prisoner. We shall see if she has spoken the truth. Her method is by pyromancy. She draws for you in her hut the lake of the Hiroquois;39then on one side she makes as many fires as there are persons who have gone on [175] the expedition, and on the other as many fires as they have enemies to fight. Then, if her spell succeeds, she lets it be understood that the fires from this side have run over, and that signifies that the warriors have already crossed the lake. One fire extinguishing another marks an enemy defeated; but if it attracts it to itself without extinguishing it, that is a prisoner taken at mercy. It is thus,—to finish my discourse, which would be too long if I tried to say everything,—that the Devil amuses this poor people, substituting his impieties and superstitions in place of the compliance they ought to have with the providence of God, and the worship they ought to render him.
Quant à ce qui concerne les mœurs, les Hurons sont lascifs, quoy qu'en deux chefs moins que plusieurs Chrestiens, qui rougiront [176] vn iour deuant eux. Vous n'y verrez point de baisers, ny de caresses deshonnestez; & dans le mariage vn homme y demeurera les deux & trois ans entiers, sans cognoistre sa femme, tandis qu'elle est nourrice. Ils sont gourmands iusques à rendre gorge: vray est que cela n'est pas souuent, mais seulement en quelques festins superstitieux. Encore ne s'y trouuent-ils pas volontiers; & d'ailleurs ils supportent beaucoup mieux la faim que nous; si bien qu'apres auoir ieusné les deux ou trois iours entiers, vous en verrez encore ramer, porter, chanter, rire, gausser, cõme s'ils auoiẽt biẽ disné. Ils sont fort faineants, menteurs, larrons, importuns demandeurs. Quelques-vns les estiment vindicatifs; mais pour moy ie crois que ce vice est plus notable ailleurs qu'icy. On y voit reluire d'assez belles vertus [177] morales. Vous y remarquez en premier lieu vne grande amour & vnion, qu'ils sont soigneux de cultiuer par le moyen de leurs mariages, de leurs presens, de leurs festins, & de leurs frequentes visites. Au retour de leur pesche, de leur chasse, & de leur traitte, ils s'entredonnent beaucoup: s'ils y ont pris quelque chose d'exquis, ou mesme s'ils l'ont128acheté, ou si on le leur a donné, ils en font festin à tout le village: l'hospitalité enuers toute sorte d'estrãgers y est remarquable. Ils leur presentẽt en ces festins ce qu'ils ont preparé de meilleur, & cõme i'ay desia dit, ie ne sçay si ailleurs il se recontre rien de pareil en ce sujet. Il me semble auoir leu dans les vies [des] Peres, qu'vne armée Payenne se conuertit, voyant la charité & l'hospitalité d'vne ville Chrestienne, dont les habitans s'efforçoient à l'enuy de [178] caresser & festoyer les Estrangers. Iugeant bien que ceux-là deuoient professer la vraye Religion, & adorer le vray Dieu Pere commun de tous, qui auoient vn cœur si benin, & faisoient indifferemment tant de bien à toute sorte de personnes. Nous auons aussi esperance que nostre Seigneur donnera en fin la lumiere de sa cognoissance, & communiquera l'ardeur de ses graces à cette Nation, qu'il semble y auoir disposée par la pratique de cette belle vertu. Ils ne refusent iamais la porte à vn Estranger; & l'ayans receu vne fois en leur maison, ils luy font part de ce qu'ils y ont de meilleur: ils ne luy donnent iamais son congé; & quand il le prend de soy-mesme, il en est quitte pour vn simple grand-mercy. Cela me fait esperer, que si vne fois il plaist à Dieu de les illuminer, ils correspondront parfaictement [179] aux graces & aux inspirations de son Fils. Et puis qu'il est venu comme Estranger en sa propre maison, ie me promets que ces bonnes gens le receuront à toutes heures en leur cœur, sans le faire attendre à la porte par trop de dureté; sans luy rien espargner en toute l'estenduë de leurs affections: sans le trahir & le chasser dehors par quelque faute signalée, & sans rien pretendre en son seruice que son honneur & sa gloire: qui est tout ce130qu'on peut souhaitter de fidelité en vne ame, pour le bon vsage & sainct employ des faueurs du Ciel.
Quant à ce qui concerne les mœurs, les Hurons sont lascifs, quoy qu'en deux chefs moins que plusieurs Chrestiens, qui rougiront [176] vn iour deuant eux. Vous n'y verrez point de baisers, ny de caresses deshonnestez; & dans le mariage vn homme y demeurera les deux & trois ans entiers, sans cognoistre sa femme, tandis qu'elle est nourrice. Ils sont gourmands iusques à rendre gorge: vray est que cela n'est pas souuent, mais seulement en quelques festins superstitieux. Encore ne s'y trouuent-ils pas volontiers; & d'ailleurs ils supportent beaucoup mieux la faim que nous; si bien qu'apres auoir ieusné les deux ou trois iours entiers, vous en verrez encore ramer, porter, chanter, rire, gausser, cõme s'ils auoiẽt biẽ disné. Ils sont fort faineants, menteurs, larrons, importuns demandeurs. Quelques-vns les estiment vindicatifs; mais pour moy ie crois que ce vice est plus notable ailleurs qu'icy. On y voit reluire d'assez belles vertus [177] morales. Vous y remarquez en premier lieu vne grande amour & vnion, qu'ils sont soigneux de cultiuer par le moyen de leurs mariages, de leurs presens, de leurs festins, & de leurs frequentes visites. Au retour de leur pesche, de leur chasse, & de leur traitte, ils s'entredonnent beaucoup: s'ils y ont pris quelque chose d'exquis, ou mesme s'ils l'ont128acheté, ou si on le leur a donné, ils en font festin à tout le village: l'hospitalité enuers toute sorte d'estrãgers y est remarquable. Ils leur presentẽt en ces festins ce qu'ils ont preparé de meilleur, & cõme i'ay desia dit, ie ne sçay si ailleurs il se recontre rien de pareil en ce sujet. Il me semble auoir leu dans les vies [des] Peres, qu'vne armée Payenne se conuertit, voyant la charité & l'hospitalité d'vne ville Chrestienne, dont les habitans s'efforçoient à l'enuy de [178] caresser & festoyer les Estrangers. Iugeant bien que ceux-là deuoient professer la vraye Religion, & adorer le vray Dieu Pere commun de tous, qui auoient vn cœur si benin, & faisoient indifferemment tant de bien à toute sorte de personnes. Nous auons aussi esperance que nostre Seigneur donnera en fin la lumiere de sa cognoissance, & communiquera l'ardeur de ses graces à cette Nation, qu'il semble y auoir disposée par la pratique de cette belle vertu. Ils ne refusent iamais la porte à vn Estranger; & l'ayans receu vne fois en leur maison, ils luy font part de ce qu'ils y ont de meilleur: ils ne luy donnent iamais son congé; & quand il le prend de soy-mesme, il en est quitte pour vn simple grand-mercy. Cela me fait esperer, que si vne fois il plaist à Dieu de les illuminer, ils correspondront parfaictement [179] aux graces & aux inspirations de son Fils. Et puis qu'il est venu comme Estranger en sa propre maison, ie me promets que ces bonnes gens le receuront à toutes heures en leur cœur, sans le faire attendre à la porte par trop de dureté; sans luy rien espargner en toute l'estenduë de leurs affections: sans le trahir & le chasser dehors par quelque faute signalée, & sans rien pretendre en son seruice que son honneur & sa gloire: qui est tout ce130qu'on peut souhaitter de fidelité en vne ame, pour le bon vsage & sainct employ des faueurs du Ciel.
As regards morals, the Hurons are lascivious, although in two leading points less so than many Christians, who will blush [176] some day in theirpresence. You will see no kissing nor immodest caressing; and in marriage a man will remain two or three years apart from his wife, while she is nursing. They are gluttons, even to disgorging; it is true, that does not happen often, but only in some superstitious feasts,—these, however, they do not attend willingly. Besides, they endure hunger much better than we,—so well that after having fasted two or three entire days you will see them still paddling, carrying loads, singing, laughing, bantering, as if they had dined well. They are very lazy, are liars, thieves, pertinacious beggars. Some consider them vindictive; but, in my opinion, this vice is more noticeable elsewhere than here. We see shining among them some rather noble moral [177] virtues. You note, in the first place, a great love and union, which they are careful to cultivate by means of their marriages, of their presents, of their feasts, and of their frequent visits. On returning from their fishing, their hunting, and their trading, they exchange many gifts; if they have thus obtained something unusually good, even if they have bought it, or if it has been given to them, they make a feast to the whole village with it. Their hospitality towards all sorts of strangers is remarkable; they present to them in their feasts the best of what they have prepared, and, as I have already said, I do not know if anything similar, in this regard, is to be found elsewhere. I think I have read, in the lives of the Fathers, that a Pagan army was converted on seeing the charity and hospitality of a Christian town, the inhabitants of which vied with each other in [178] caressing and feasting the Strangers,—judging well that those must profess the true Religion and worship the true God, the common Father of all,who had hearts so benign and who did so much good to all sorts of persons, without distinction. We have also hope that our Lord will give at last the light of his knowledge, and will communicate the fire of his graces, to this Nation, which he seems to have disposed thereto by the practice of this noble virtue. They never close the door upon a Stranger, and, once having received him into their houses, they share with him the best they have; they never send him away, and, when he goes away of his own accord, he repays them by a simple "thank you." This makes me hope that, if once it pleases God to illumine them, they will respond perfectly [179] to the grace and inspiration of his Son. And, since he has come as a Stranger into his own house, I promise myself that these good people will receive him at all hours into their hearts without making him wait too long on account of their hardness, without withholding from him anything in the whole range of their affections, without betraying him or driving him outside by any serious fault, and without claiming anything in his service other than his honor and glory; which is all the fidelity one can ask in a soul for the good use and holy employment of the favors of Heaven.
As regards morals, the Hurons are lascivious, although in two leading points less so than many Christians, who will blush [176] some day in theirpresence. You will see no kissing nor immodest caressing; and in marriage a man will remain two or three years apart from his wife, while she is nursing. They are gluttons, even to disgorging; it is true, that does not happen often, but only in some superstitious feasts,—these, however, they do not attend willingly. Besides, they endure hunger much better than we,—so well that after having fasted two or three entire days you will see them still paddling, carrying loads, singing, laughing, bantering, as if they had dined well. They are very lazy, are liars, thieves, pertinacious beggars. Some consider them vindictive; but, in my opinion, this vice is more noticeable elsewhere than here. We see shining among them some rather noble moral [177] virtues. You note, in the first place, a great love and union, which they are careful to cultivate by means of their marriages, of their presents, of their feasts, and of their frequent visits. On returning from their fishing, their hunting, and their trading, they exchange many gifts; if they have thus obtained something unusually good, even if they have bought it, or if it has been given to them, they make a feast to the whole village with it. Their hospitality towards all sorts of strangers is remarkable; they present to them in their feasts the best of what they have prepared, and, as I have already said, I do not know if anything similar, in this regard, is to be found elsewhere. I think I have read, in the lives of the Fathers, that a Pagan army was converted on seeing the charity and hospitality of a Christian town, the inhabitants of which vied with each other in [178] caressing and feasting the Strangers,—judging well that those must profess the true Religion and worship the true God, the common Father of all,who had hearts so benign and who did so much good to all sorts of persons, without distinction. We have also hope that our Lord will give at last the light of his knowledge, and will communicate the fire of his graces, to this Nation, which he seems to have disposed thereto by the practice of this noble virtue. They never close the door upon a Stranger, and, once having received him into their houses, they share with him the best they have; they never send him away, and, when he goes away of his own accord, he repays them by a simple "thank you." This makes me hope that, if once it pleases God to illumine them, they will respond perfectly [179] to the grace and inspiration of his Son. And, since he has come as a Stranger into his own house, I promise myself that these good people will receive him at all hours into their hearts without making him wait too long on account of their hardness, without withholding from him anything in the whole range of their affections, without betraying him or driving him outside by any serious fault, and without claiming anything in his service other than his honor and glory; which is all the fidelity one can ask in a soul for the good use and holy employment of the favors of Heaven.
Que diray-je de leur estrange patience dans leur pauureté, disette & maladies? Nous auons veu cette année les villages entiers sur la litiere, nourris d'vn peu de sagamité insipide, & cependant pas vn mot pour se plaindre, pas vn mouuement [180] d'impatience. Ils reçoiuent bien plus constamment la nouuelle de la mort, que ces Messieurs & Dames de la Chrestienté, à qui on en oseroit ouurir la bouche. Nos Sauuages l'entendent non seulement sans desespoir, mais sans se troubler, sans pallir ou blesmir tant soit peu. Nous auons sur tout admiré la constance de nos nouueaux Chrestiens: le penultiéme qui est mort, nommé IosephOatija demeuré sur la dure l'espace de quatre ou cinq mois, tant deuant qu'apres son Baptesme, si décharné qu'il n'auoit que les os; dãs vne cabane si chetiue, que les vents y souffloient de tous costez, couuert pendant les froidures de l'hyuer d'vne peau fort legere, de bestes noires ou d'escurieux noirs, nourry fort pauuremẽt. On ne l'a cependant iamais ouy faire aucune plainte. Nostre Seigneur Iesus-Christ soit à iamais [181] loüé. C'est sur ces dispositions & fondemens, que nous esperons auec la grace de Dieu bastir l'edifice de la Religiõ Chrestienne parmy ce peuple, qui desia d'ailleurs nous est grandemẽt affectiõné, & a vne grãde opinion de nous. C'est à nous maintenãt à correspõdre à nostre vocatiõ, & à la voix de N. S. qui nous dit,videte regiones, quoniam albæ sunt iam ad messẽ. Il est vray, mon R. P. quemessis multa, operarij pauci, & de plus nous nous trouuõs fort foibles pour vne si grãde entreprise; au moins moy; & partant ie supplie nostre R. P. Prouincial & V. R. de nous enuoyer du secours. Sur quoy ie m'escrierois132volõtiers au bon Dieu,mitte quem missurus es; car pour nous, nous sõmes des enfans qui ne faisons que begayer. Cependant nous confians en la bonté de N. Seign. & non en nos propres forces & industries, voicy ce que [182] nous auons fait pour la conuersion de ce Peuple, depuis nostre arriuée. Premierement nous-nous sommes employez en l'estude de la langue, qui à cause de la diuersité de ses mots composez est quasi infinie. On ne peut neantmoins rien faire sans cét estude. Tous les François qui sont icy s'y sont ardemment portez, ramenant l'ancien vsage d'escrire sur des escorces de bouleau faute de papier. Les P. Dauost & Daniel y ont trauaillé par dessus tous. Ils y sçauẽt autant de mots que moy, & peut-estre plus. Mais ils n'ont pas encore la prattique pour les former & assembler promptement; quoy que le Pere Daniel s'explique desia passablement. Pour moy qui y fais leçon à nos François, si Dieu ne m'assiste extraordinairement, encor me faudra-il aller long temps à l'escole des Sauuages, telle est la fecondité [183] de leur langue. Cela n'empesche pas que ie n'entende quasi tout ce qu'ils disent, & que ie ne leur face assez comprendre mes conceptions, mesmes dans l'explication de nos plus ineffables mystres. Apres cela, nous nous sommes employez à la visite, sollicitation & instruction des malades, qui ont esté comme i'ay dit en tres-grand nombre; ç'a esté dãs ce pieux exercice que nous auons acquis des ames à nostre Seigneur, iusques au nombre de treize. La premiere fut vne petite fil[l]ette de ce village aagée seulement de quatre ou cinq mois, elle mourut vn quart d'heure après son baptesme, auquel elle fut nõmée Iosephe, pour accomplir vn vœu que i'auois faict de donner ce nom au premier que nous regenererions des sainctes134eaux, en recognoissance de tant de faueurs que nous auons receu & receuons [184] par l'entremise de ce grand Sainct. Ce fut le sixiesme Septembre 1634. La deuxiesme, fut vne autre petite fille d'enuirõ deux ans, que nous baptisames le lendemain; elle mourut l'onziesme du mesme mois & an, ayant esté nommée Marie.
Que diray-je de leur estrange patience dans leur pauureté, disette & maladies? Nous auons veu cette année les villages entiers sur la litiere, nourris d'vn peu de sagamité insipide, & cependant pas vn mot pour se plaindre, pas vn mouuement [180] d'impatience. Ils reçoiuent bien plus constamment la nouuelle de la mort, que ces Messieurs & Dames de la Chrestienté, à qui on en oseroit ouurir la bouche. Nos Sauuages l'entendent non seulement sans desespoir, mais sans se troubler, sans pallir ou blesmir tant soit peu. Nous auons sur tout admiré la constance de nos nouueaux Chrestiens: le penultiéme qui est mort, nommé IosephOatija demeuré sur la dure l'espace de quatre ou cinq mois, tant deuant qu'apres son Baptesme, si décharné qu'il n'auoit que les os; dãs vne cabane si chetiue, que les vents y souffloient de tous costez, couuert pendant les froidures de l'hyuer d'vne peau fort legere, de bestes noires ou d'escurieux noirs, nourry fort pauuremẽt. On ne l'a cependant iamais ouy faire aucune plainte. Nostre Seigneur Iesus-Christ soit à iamais [181] loüé. C'est sur ces dispositions & fondemens, que nous esperons auec la grace de Dieu bastir l'edifice de la Religiõ Chrestienne parmy ce peuple, qui desia d'ailleurs nous est grandemẽt affectiõné, & a vne grãde opinion de nous. C'est à nous maintenãt à correspõdre à nostre vocatiõ, & à la voix de N. S. qui nous dit,videte regiones, quoniam albæ sunt iam ad messẽ. Il est vray, mon R. P. quemessis multa, operarij pauci, & de plus nous nous trouuõs fort foibles pour vne si grãde entreprise; au moins moy; & partant ie supplie nostre R. P. Prouincial & V. R. de nous enuoyer du secours. Sur quoy ie m'escrierois132volõtiers au bon Dieu,mitte quem missurus es; car pour nous, nous sõmes des enfans qui ne faisons que begayer. Cependant nous confians en la bonté de N. Seign. & non en nos propres forces & industries, voicy ce que [182] nous auons fait pour la conuersion de ce Peuple, depuis nostre arriuée. Premierement nous-nous sommes employez en l'estude de la langue, qui à cause de la diuersité de ses mots composez est quasi infinie. On ne peut neantmoins rien faire sans cét estude. Tous les François qui sont icy s'y sont ardemment portez, ramenant l'ancien vsage d'escrire sur des escorces de bouleau faute de papier. Les P. Dauost & Daniel y ont trauaillé par dessus tous. Ils y sçauẽt autant de mots que moy, & peut-estre plus. Mais ils n'ont pas encore la prattique pour les former & assembler promptement; quoy que le Pere Daniel s'explique desia passablement. Pour moy qui y fais leçon à nos François, si Dieu ne m'assiste extraordinairement, encor me faudra-il aller long temps à l'escole des Sauuages, telle est la fecondité [183] de leur langue. Cela n'empesche pas que ie n'entende quasi tout ce qu'ils disent, & que ie ne leur face assez comprendre mes conceptions, mesmes dans l'explication de nos plus ineffables mystres. Apres cela, nous nous sommes employez à la visite, sollicitation & instruction des malades, qui ont esté comme i'ay dit en tres-grand nombre; ç'a esté dãs ce pieux exercice que nous auons acquis des ames à nostre Seigneur, iusques au nombre de treize. La premiere fut vne petite fil[l]ette de ce village aagée seulement de quatre ou cinq mois, elle mourut vn quart d'heure après son baptesme, auquel elle fut nõmée Iosephe, pour accomplir vn vœu que i'auois faict de donner ce nom au premier que nous regenererions des sainctes134eaux, en recognoissance de tant de faueurs que nous auons receu & receuons [184] par l'entremise de ce grand Sainct. Ce fut le sixiesme Septembre 1634. La deuxiesme, fut vne autre petite fille d'enuirõ deux ans, que nous baptisames le lendemain; elle mourut l'onziesme du mesme mois & an, ayant esté nommée Marie.
What shall I say of their strange patience in their poverty, famine, and sickness? We have seen this year whole villages prostrated, their food a little insipid sagamité; and yet not a word of complaint, not a movement [180] of impatience. They receive indeed the news of death with more constancy than those Christian Gentlemen and Ladies to whom one would not dare to mention it. Our Savages hear of it not only without despair, but without troubling themselves, without the slightest pallor or change ofcountenance. We have especially admired the constancy of our new Christians. The next to the last one who died, named JosephOatij, lay on the bare ground during four or five months, not only before but after his Baptism,—so thin that he was nothing but bones; in a lodge so wretched that the winds blew in on all sides; covered during the cold of winter with a very light skin of some black animals, perhaps black squirrels, and very poorly nourished. He was never heard to make a complaint, however. May our Lord Jesus Christ be ever [181] praised. It is on such dispositions and foundations that we hope, with the grace of God, to build the edifice of the Christian Religion among these people, who, besides, are already affectionately inclined toward us and have a great opinion of us. It is now our part to correspond to our vocation, and to the voice of Our Savior, who says to us,videte regiones, quoniam albæ sunt iam ad messem. It is true, my Reverend Father, thatmessis multa, operarii pauci, and, besides, we are very weak for so great an enterprise, at least I am, and therefore I beseech our Reverend Father Provincial and Your Reverence to send us help. For this I could cry willingly to the good God,mitte quem missurus es; as for us, we are children, who can only stammer. Yet see what we, trusting in the goodness of Our Lord, and not in our own strength and skill, [182] have done for the conversion of this People since our arrival. In the first place, we have been employed in the study of the language, which, on account of the diversity of its compound words, is almost infinite. One can, nevertheless, do nothing without this study. All the French who are here have eagerly applied themselves to it, reviving the ancient usage of writing on birch-bark,for want of paper. Fathers Davost and Daniel have worked at it, beyond all; they know as many words as I, and perhaps more; but they have not yet had practice in forming and joining them together promptly, although Father Daniel already explains himself passably well. As for me, who give lessons therein to our French, if God does not assist me extraordinarily, I shall yet have to go a long time to the school of the Savages, so prolific is [183] their language. That does not prevent me from understanding almost all they say, and from making them fairly understand my meaning, even in the explanation of our most ineffable mysteries. In addition, we have employed ourselves in visiting, entreating, and instructing the sick, who have been, as I have said, very numerous. It has been in this pious exercise that we have won souls for our Lord, to the number of thirteen. The first was a little girl of this village, only four or five months old; she died a quarter of an hour after her baptism, in which she was named Josepha, to fulfill a vow I had made to give this name to the first that we should regenerate with the holy waters,—in gratitude for so many favors that we have received and are receiving [184] by the interposition of that great Saint. This was on the sixth of September, 1634. The second was another little girl, about two years of age, whom we baptized on the next day. She died on the eleventh of the same month and year, having been named Marie.
What shall I say of their strange patience in their poverty, famine, and sickness? We have seen this year whole villages prostrated, their food a little insipid sagamité; and yet not a word of complaint, not a movement [180] of impatience. They receive indeed the news of death with more constancy than those Christian Gentlemen and Ladies to whom one would not dare to mention it. Our Savages hear of it not only without despair, but without troubling themselves, without the slightest pallor or change ofcountenance. We have especially admired the constancy of our new Christians. The next to the last one who died, named JosephOatij, lay on the bare ground during four or five months, not only before but after his Baptism,—so thin that he was nothing but bones; in a lodge so wretched that the winds blew in on all sides; covered during the cold of winter with a very light skin of some black animals, perhaps black squirrels, and very poorly nourished. He was never heard to make a complaint, however. May our Lord Jesus Christ be ever [181] praised. It is on such dispositions and foundations that we hope, with the grace of God, to build the edifice of the Christian Religion among these people, who, besides, are already affectionately inclined toward us and have a great opinion of us. It is now our part to correspond to our vocation, and to the voice of Our Savior, who says to us,videte regiones, quoniam albæ sunt iam ad messem. It is true, my Reverend Father, thatmessis multa, operarii pauci, and, besides, we are very weak for so great an enterprise, at least I am, and therefore I beseech our Reverend Father Provincial and Your Reverence to send us help. For this I could cry willingly to the good God,mitte quem missurus es; as for us, we are children, who can only stammer. Yet see what we, trusting in the goodness of Our Lord, and not in our own strength and skill, [182] have done for the conversion of this People since our arrival. In the first place, we have been employed in the study of the language, which, on account of the diversity of its compound words, is almost infinite. One can, nevertheless, do nothing without this study. All the French who are here have eagerly applied themselves to it, reviving the ancient usage of writing on birch-bark,for want of paper. Fathers Davost and Daniel have worked at it, beyond all; they know as many words as I, and perhaps more; but they have not yet had practice in forming and joining them together promptly, although Father Daniel already explains himself passably well. As for me, who give lessons therein to our French, if God does not assist me extraordinarily, I shall yet have to go a long time to the school of the Savages, so prolific is [183] their language. That does not prevent me from understanding almost all they say, and from making them fairly understand my meaning, even in the explanation of our most ineffable mysteries. In addition, we have employed ourselves in visiting, entreating, and instructing the sick, who have been, as I have said, very numerous. It has been in this pious exercise that we have won souls for our Lord, to the number of thirteen. The first was a little girl of this village, only four or five months old; she died a quarter of an hour after her baptism, in which she was named Josepha, to fulfill a vow I had made to give this name to the first that we should regenerate with the holy waters,—in gratitude for so many favors that we have received and are receiving [184] by the interposition of that great Saint. This was on the sixth of September, 1634. The second was another little girl, about two years of age, whom we baptized on the next day. She died on the eleventh of the same month and year, having been named Marie.
Le 26. du mesme mois ie baptisay MarieOquiaendismere du Capitaine de ce village, ayeule de l'autre Marie. Celle-cy vit encore, & attribuë sa guerisõ à la vertu du S. Baptesme, le publiant par tout. En effet elle estoit quasi aux abois, & dés qu'elle fut lauée de ces sacrées eaux, elle commença à se mieux porter. Le 20. d'Octobre, ie partis pour aller à la Nation du Petun: en ce voyage Dieu me fit la faueur de baptifer & enuoyer au Ciel trois petits enfans, l'vn desquels entre autres alloit ietter les derniers souspirs quãd i'arriuay dãs sa cabane, où à peine eus-je le loisir [185] de l'ondoyer. Au retour du voyage, ie trouuay que le P. Daniel auoit baptisé IosephIoutaya, qu'on croyoit deuoir expirer sur le chãp. Ie l'auois instruit auparauãt. Il a suruécu long temps, tousiours languissant, & faisant beaucoup d'actes de vertu. Nous l'auons assisté corporellement & spirituellement; si bien que luy & toute sa cabane n'attribuoient la prolongatiõ de sa vie, qu'au double secours qu'il a receu de nostre part. En fin estant mort heureusement dãs la cõfession & inuocatiõ du vray Dieu, & dans la repentãce de ses pechez, nous l'enterrasmes solẽnellement comme il l'auoit desiré. Nous auõs admiré le soin, la charité & la perseuerãce de sa fẽme, dãs les deuoirs & seruices qu'elle luy rẽdoit pendãt vne fort longue, fort salle, & fort puãte maladie. Elle & toute sa cabane (où nous en auons déja baptisé136trois) nous est demeurée [186] fort affectionnée, & ils m'ont protesté plusieurs fois qu'ils seroient tous à la vie, à la mort, & au delà en nostre disposition. Mais nous ne les iugeons pas encore assez instruits. C'est en ceste cabane où demeure le premier Huron que i'aye iamais baptizé qui fut l'an mil six cens vingt-neuf, auant nostre depart de ce Pays. C'estoit vn petit enfant tenu pour mort, lequel sembla renaistre & reuiure doublement dans les eaux viuifiantes du sainct Baptesme. Il vit encore aagé d'enuiron cinq ans, & est fort gentil.
Le 26. du mesme mois ie baptisay MarieOquiaendismere du Capitaine de ce village, ayeule de l'autre Marie. Celle-cy vit encore, & attribuë sa guerisõ à la vertu du S. Baptesme, le publiant par tout. En effet elle estoit quasi aux abois, & dés qu'elle fut lauée de ces sacrées eaux, elle commença à se mieux porter. Le 20. d'Octobre, ie partis pour aller à la Nation du Petun: en ce voyage Dieu me fit la faueur de baptifer & enuoyer au Ciel trois petits enfans, l'vn desquels entre autres alloit ietter les derniers souspirs quãd i'arriuay dãs sa cabane, où à peine eus-je le loisir [185] de l'ondoyer. Au retour du voyage, ie trouuay que le P. Daniel auoit baptisé IosephIoutaya, qu'on croyoit deuoir expirer sur le chãp. Ie l'auois instruit auparauãt. Il a suruécu long temps, tousiours languissant, & faisant beaucoup d'actes de vertu. Nous l'auons assisté corporellement & spirituellement; si bien que luy & toute sa cabane n'attribuoient la prolongatiõ de sa vie, qu'au double secours qu'il a receu de nostre part. En fin estant mort heureusement dãs la cõfession & inuocatiõ du vray Dieu, & dans la repentãce de ses pechez, nous l'enterrasmes solẽnellement comme il l'auoit desiré. Nous auõs admiré le soin, la charité & la perseuerãce de sa fẽme, dãs les deuoirs & seruices qu'elle luy rẽdoit pendãt vne fort longue, fort salle, & fort puãte maladie. Elle & toute sa cabane (où nous en auons déja baptisé136trois) nous est demeurée [186] fort affectionnée, & ils m'ont protesté plusieurs fois qu'ils seroient tous à la vie, à la mort, & au delà en nostre disposition. Mais nous ne les iugeons pas encore assez instruits. C'est en ceste cabane où demeure le premier Huron que i'aye iamais baptizé qui fut l'an mil six cens vingt-neuf, auant nostre depart de ce Pays. C'estoit vn petit enfant tenu pour mort, lequel sembla renaistre & reuiure doublement dans les eaux viuifiantes du sainct Baptesme. Il vit encore aagé d'enuiron cinq ans, & est fort gentil.
On the 26th of the same month, I baptized MarieOquiaendis, the mother of the Captain of this village, grandmother of the other Marie. She is still living, and attributes her recovery to the virtue of Holy Baptism,publishing it everywhere. In truth, she was almost gone; and as soon as she was washed with the sacred waters she began to improve. On the 20th of October, I set out to go to the Tobacco Nation.40In this journey God granted me the favor of baptizing and sending to Heaven three little children, one of whom, among others, was about to give forth his last breath when I reached the lodge and had scarcely time [185] to sprinkle him. When I returned from the journey I found that Father Daniel had baptized JosephJoutaya, who was believed to be at the point of death. I had instructed him previously. He survived a long time, in a languishing condition, and doing many acts of virtue. We helped him both bodily and spiritually; so well that he and all his family attributed the prolongation of his life to nothing but the double assistance he had received from us. At last, having happily died in the confession and invocation of the true God, and in repentance for his sins, we solemnly interred him as he had desired. We admired the care, the charity, and the perseverance of his wife in the duties and services she rendered to him during a long, very dirty, and very disgusting sickness. She and all her house, (where we have already baptized three) have continued [186] warmly attached to us; and they have often protested to me that they will all be, in life, in death, and beyond, at our service. But we do not judge them yet sufficiently instructed. It is this cabin where lives the first Huron I ever baptized, which was in the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-nine, before our departure from this Country. It was a little child, looked upon as dead, who seemed to be born and live again in a double sense, in thelife-imparting waters of holy Baptism. He still lives, being about five years of age, and is very gentle.
On the 26th of the same month, I baptized MarieOquiaendis, the mother of the Captain of this village, grandmother of the other Marie. She is still living, and attributes her recovery to the virtue of Holy Baptism,publishing it everywhere. In truth, she was almost gone; and as soon as she was washed with the sacred waters she began to improve. On the 20th of October, I set out to go to the Tobacco Nation.40In this journey God granted me the favor of baptizing and sending to Heaven three little children, one of whom, among others, was about to give forth his last breath when I reached the lodge and had scarcely time [185] to sprinkle him. When I returned from the journey I found that Father Daniel had baptized JosephJoutaya, who was believed to be at the point of death. I had instructed him previously. He survived a long time, in a languishing condition, and doing many acts of virtue. We helped him both bodily and spiritually; so well that he and all his family attributed the prolongation of his life to nothing but the double assistance he had received from us. At last, having happily died in the confession and invocation of the true God, and in repentance for his sins, we solemnly interred him as he had desired. We admired the care, the charity, and the perseverance of his wife in the duties and services she rendered to him during a long, very dirty, and very disgusting sickness. She and all her house, (where we have already baptized three) have continued [186] warmly attached to us; and they have often protested to me that they will all be, in life, in death, and beyond, at our service. But we do not judge them yet sufficiently instructed. It is this cabin where lives the first Huron I ever baptized, which was in the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-nine, before our departure from this Country. It was a little child, looked upon as dead, who seemed to be born and live again in a double sense, in thelife-imparting waters of holy Baptism. He still lives, being about five years of age, and is very gentle.
Le vingt-vniesme d'Octobre fut baptizé IosephSondaarouhané, aagé d'enuiron quarante ou cinquante ans; il auoit vne grande bonté & douceur naturelle, & m'estoit de longue main affectionné; il rendit son bienheureux esprit à Dieu le vingtiesme Nouembre. Le mesme [187] iour fut baptisé IoachimTsindacaiendoua, vieillard de 80. ans. C'estoit vn des Hurons du meilleur naturel que i'aye connu, le lendemain il quitta cette vie pour en commencer vne meilleure, comme nous croyons: nous l'enterrasmes solemnellement en vn lieu separé. Cette ceremonie attira sur nous les yeux de tout le village, & causa à plusieurs le desir qu'on honorast leur sepulture de cette façon, notamment à IosephIoutaia, cy dessus mentionné: lequel apres les obseques acheuées me dit qu'il eust esté bien aise que nous eussions passé au trauers de sa cabane en l'estat que nous estions habillez, pour nous veoir du lieu où la maladie le tenoit attaché: car on luy en auoit fait tant de cas, qu'il declara authentiquement vouloir estre enterré de nos mains, ce qui fut fait.
Le vingt-vniesme d'Octobre fut baptizé IosephSondaarouhané, aagé d'enuiron quarante ou cinquante ans; il auoit vne grande bonté & douceur naturelle, & m'estoit de longue main affectionné; il rendit son bienheureux esprit à Dieu le vingtiesme Nouembre. Le mesme [187] iour fut baptisé IoachimTsindacaiendoua, vieillard de 80. ans. C'estoit vn des Hurons du meilleur naturel que i'aye connu, le lendemain il quitta cette vie pour en commencer vne meilleure, comme nous croyons: nous l'enterrasmes solemnellement en vn lieu separé. Cette ceremonie attira sur nous les yeux de tout le village, & causa à plusieurs le desir qu'on honorast leur sepulture de cette façon, notamment à IosephIoutaia, cy dessus mentionné: lequel apres les obseques acheuées me dit qu'il eust esté bien aise que nous eussions passé au trauers de sa cabane en l'estat que nous estions habillez, pour nous veoir du lieu où la maladie le tenoit attaché: car on luy en auoit fait tant de cas, qu'il declara authentiquement vouloir estre enterré de nos mains, ce qui fut fait.
On the twenty-first of October, was baptized JosephSondaarouhané, about forty or fifty years of age. He had great goodness and natural sweetness, and had been attached to me for a long time. He yielded up his blessed spirit to God, on the twentieth of November. On the same [187] day was baptized JoachimTsindacaiendoua, an old man of 80 years. He was one of the best-natured Hurons I have ever known. The next day he left this life, to begin a better one, as we believe; we interred him solemnly in a separate place. This ceremony attracted upon us the eyes of the whole village, and caused several to desire that we should honor their burial in the same way,—notably JosephJoutaia, the one above-mentioned, who, after the obsequies were over, told me that he would have been very glad if we had passed through his cabin in the style in which we were dressed, so that he might see us from the place in which sickness kept him bound; for they had talked so much to him about the matter that he declared of his own will that he wished to be interred by our hands, which was done.
On the twenty-first of October, was baptized JosephSondaarouhané, about forty or fifty years of age. He had great goodness and natural sweetness, and had been attached to me for a long time. He yielded up his blessed spirit to God, on the twentieth of November. On the same [187] day was baptized JoachimTsindacaiendoua, an old man of 80 years. He was one of the best-natured Hurons I have ever known. The next day he left this life, to begin a better one, as we believe; we interred him solemnly in a separate place. This ceremony attracted upon us the eyes of the whole village, and caused several to desire that we should honor their burial in the same way,—notably JosephJoutaia, the one above-mentioned, who, after the obsequies were over, told me that he would have been very glad if we had passed through his cabin in the style in which we were dressed, so that he might see us from the place in which sickness kept him bound; for they had talked so much to him about the matter that he declared of his own will that he wished to be interred by our hands, which was done.