f BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF Henrg W. Sage 1891 3 1924 092 207 368 I I Date Due im^ asonr -iiGV^ ocr^^^^s^^ (Wf Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://archive.org/details/cu31924092207368 THE JESUIT RELATIONS AND ALLIED DOCUMENTS VOL. LIU The edition consists of sev- en hundred and fifty sets all numbered No. JM. The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents Travels and Explorations OF THE Jesuit Missionaries IN New France 1610-1791 THE ORIGINAL FRENCH, LATIN, AND ITAL- IAN TEXTS, WITH ENGLISH TRANSLA- TIONS AND NOTES ; ILLUSTRATED BY PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND FACSIMILES EDITED BY REUBEN GOLD THWAITES Secretary of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Vol. LI 1 1 Lower Canada, Iroquois: 1669- 1670 CLEVELAND: ttbe JButtows JBrotbeta CompatlB, PUBLISHERS, MDCCCXCIX A< I a-^ 5Tj Copyright, 1899 BY The Burrows Brothers Co ALL EIGHTS RESERVED The Imperial Press, Cleveland \ EDITORIAL STAFF Editor Translators . Assistant Editor Reuben Gold Thwaites FiNLOw Alexander Percy Favor Bicknell Crawford Lindsay William Price Emma Helen Blair Bibliographical Adviser Victor Hugo Paltsits CONTENTS OF VOL LIIl Preface to Volume LIII . .9 Document: — CXXVI. Relation de ce qvi s'est pass6 .... en la Novvelle France, les ann6es 1669. & 1670. [Chaps, i.-vi., and part of Chap, vii., being the first install- ment of the document.] Frangois le Mercier, n.p., n.d. ; Charles Al- banel, n.p. , n.d. ; Pierre Joseph Marie Chaumonot, [Nostre-Dame de I'An- nonciation], n.d. ; Jean Pierron [Agni6], n.d. ; Jacques Bruyas, [Onneiout], August 14, 1669, to June 17, 1670; Pierre Millet, Onnon- tagu6, June 15, 1670 . • 19 Bibliographical Data: Volume LIII . 301 Notes ...... 303 ILLUSTRATION TO VOL LIII I. Photographic facsimile of title-page, Relation of 1669-70 . . . 22 PREFACE TO VOL LIIl Following is a synopsis of the contents of the present volume : CXXVI. This volume is entirely occupied by the Relation of 1669-70, of which we herewith publish Chaps, i. -vi., and part of Chap. vii. ; the remainder will appear in Vol. LIV. A preliminary note by Le Mercier exultantly announces that "all the Iroquois Nation is on the eve of embracing the Christian reli- gion. ' ' Another important item of news is the return of the intendant Talon, accompanied by R6collet priests, who now reenter Canada for the first time since it was surrendered to the French by Kirk. The Iroquois are so humbled by their fear of the French army that they dare not attack the colonists, or even interfere with the missionaries who are now laboring in all the tribes. The French now enjoy peace; but, knowing the savage nature of the In- dians, recognize the possibility that war may again occur, and every precaution is being taken to strengthen the colony for possible defense. The first chapter of the Relation gives the proceed- ings of " a council held at Quebec for adjusting the differences between the Iroquois and Algonquins," in which the French governor, Courcelles, and the Onondaga chief Garakonti6 are the leading figures. The Senecas have attacked an Algonkin village, and carried away all its women and children ; this threat- 10 PREFACE TO VOL. LIII ens a general war between the two nations, conse- quently involving the French. Garakonti6 at once sends envoys to all the Iroquois tribes, urging them to meet the Upper Algonkins at Montreal, and there settle their difficulties, in the presence of Onontio. He is the only Iroquois chief present at the council — even the Senecas not appearing, although they are most concerned in the matter. Onontio decides that both parties are to blame ; and that the Senecas must restore the Algonkin captives, or incur the hostility of the French. After this council, Garakonti6 is solemnly baptized and confirmed in the cathedral, by Laval, with Courcelles as his godfather. Letters from Albanel are given, regarding the Montagnais mission near Tadoussac. Cold, fanzine, and pestilence have ravaged the tribes; the fearful suffering occasioned by these evils has been the greatest of all the Father's many trials. The first to die is the man who had not long ago succeeded the Sillery chief Tekwerimat. Albanel pronounces a eulogy upon his virtues and ability, and relates the particulars of his pious death. He also commends the goodness, piety, and resignation of Tekwerimat's wife, who is "an example to the wives of French Christians." Albanel goes about among the sick and dying, aiding them with religious ministra- tions, — and, when he can, with food and medicine, — and burying the dead. All this is in the dead of winter, and he suffers great hardships from cold, fatigue, and hunger, — besides those arising from his labors with the smallpox victims. The heroic mis- sionary spends six months in these arduous and perilous toils ; he finally contracts the disease, but is cured by the effects of a vow made to St. Francis PREFACE TO VOL. LI I I 11 Xavier. The Tadoussac mission is almost mined by its severe afflictions, but Albanel consoles himself by the pious deaths of many of its members, and the zeal and courage displayed by those who remain. The savages of that region are now convinced that they must hold firmly to the Christian faith and prayer. Albanel visits the tribes below Tadoussac, among whom Nouvel had labored, and finds them in better condition, both temporal and spiritual, than those with whom he has wintered. They " jour- neyed two hundred leagues to come and be instructed, and received me as an Angel from Heaven." "All da}- long they were at my side, to receive instruction ; and even at night they did not give me any rest. He baptizes forty-five, children and adults. Some account is given, in a letter by Chaumonot, of the little Huron church still remaining at Quebec, now established in a village near that town. Ivlost of this chapter is occupied with details of the pious deaths of Christian Indians there — especially of one man, a chief, whose piety is unusually great. He is honored bj- Laval with a solemn funeral service in the cathedral at Quebec; and Chaumonot recounts many details of the man's virtues and piety. These Hurons take especial pleasure in rescuing souls from purgatorj' ; ' ' there are even some who would let themselves die from hunger, sooner than pawn or sell certain articles that they have set aside for the assistance of relatives who shall die before them ; ' ' and, of the furs that they obtain in hunting, " they use a good part in buying Porcelain, which they keep in reserve, in order to apply it to these good works." This little community of neophytes receives a pre- cious gift — a statue of the Virgin, made from an oak 12 PREFACE TO VOL. LI 11 in Belgium in which had been found, many years before, a similar statue, of miraculous origin. The little church in which this image is kept becomes a shrine to which pilgrims resort, from even the most distant French settlements. A large part of this Relation is devoted to the Iroquois missions — among these, especially, that to the Mohawks. Pierron, in charge of that mission, describes its condition and progress. The Mohicans attack (August, 1669) the leading Mohawk village; but, after considerable loss on both sides, the assailants are repulsed. Ten of their number are captured, and, later, burned to death by the Mohawks, — but not before Pierron is able to instruct and baptize them. He notes the injury sustained by the Mo- hawks in their wars, even when successful ; and, in cheering contrast, the rapid increase and the prosperity of the French colonies. By way of retaliation for the attack on the Mohawk village, four of the Iroquois tribes undertake to capture a Mohican fort far down the Hudson ; but they are repulsed, and compelled to return home without any spoil. In one of the Mohawk villages, Pierron finds a large cross erected in its midst, " through the agree- ment of all the Inhabitants." He learns that their chief soothsayer had dreamed that this must be done, to protect the village. The Father has found ' ' only two persons, in all our villages, who were unwilling to listen to me on these important matters, and one of them has died a reprobate." The pious senti- ments and holy deaths of some converts are related. Among these is an old woman, who has been " the firmest support of this new-born Church. ' ' The neighborhood of the Dutch is a serious PREFACE TO VOL. LI I I 13 hindrance to the missionaries' efforts — through their sale of brandy to the Indians, and their opposition to the Catholic doctrines. Some of the Iroquois women boldly proclaim their faith among the Dutch, who try, in every imaginable way, to turn them from it ; but these zealous neophytes are filled with ' ' right- eous indignation at such impious discourse, ' ' and so vigorously confute the arguments of the heretics that the latter are routed in confusion. One of these women so charms the Dutch by her piety that ' ' some begged her to teach them her way of praying to God ; ' ' and others, that she will sell them her little statue of the Virgin — which, however, she " will not part with, except with her life." These women show invincible courage, when threatened by those of their own tribesmen who are infidels; of this, numerous instances are related, which greatly comfort the missionary. He has bap- tized, in the last eight months, fifty-three persons, "nearly all of whom have gone to Heaven." He describes his methods of work, — catechisms, sermons, and exhortations, reinforced with the paintings of heaven and hell. He has used " mildness and force, threats and prayers, labors and tears, to build up this new Church and convert these poor Savages." He teaches the children to read and write, but soon finds that this work takes too much of his time. ' ' God inspires him ' ' with an idea which ' ' produces great results among these peoples. It is a game, in order to catch our Savages by means of what they most love." This game is composed of emblems, representing the sacraments, the virtues, the com- mandments, the principal sins, etc. This game is called " from Point to Point " — i.e., " from the point 14 PREFACE TO VOL. LIII of birth to the point of Eternity." Pierron intends to have this game engraved, with " directions for playing it given at the bottom of the card on which it will be printed." The Iroquois learn it easily, and like it so well that the Father and his catechu- mens pass " the Easter Feast-days agreeably with this game, which is equally holy and profitable." Pier- ron has " invented another Game, — a worldly one, — for destroying all the superstitions of our Savages, and giving them some excellent themes for con- versation." He attends the Iroquois " ceremony for the dead," — at which the savages recount to one another their old traditions and superstitions. The Father derides these, and is consequently obliged to leave the company. Later, however, the leading men apologize to him for this slight, and "conjure him not to get them into trouble with Onnontio." A series of councils are held, representing all the Mo- hawk villages, to consider this matter, and Pierron 's threat to leave them and return to Quebec. The result is, that this fierce and haughty tribe answer him thus : ' ' We make thee the absolute Master of our bodies and of our souls ; we believe what thou believest, and we renounce all that thou hast warned us to abandon," — dances, medicine-men, and invoca- tions to Agreskoue. At the time of writing this letter, Pierron records their apparent intention and effort to carry out these promises, and his strong hope for their conversion, " although their natural inconstancy still divides my heart between fear and joy." Pierron makes a journey to Quebec, and Beschefer and Nicolas are sent to aid him in this mission. PREFACE TO VOL. LI II 15 The mission to the Oneidas is in charge of Bruyas, from whose journal extracts are given. Rumors come from Montreal that certain men of this tribe have been murdered by Frenchmen; this irritates the savages, and places the mission in danger. Some of them return from a trading expedition to the Dutch, bringing sixty kegs of brand}'; this looses Pandemonium, as it were, and so much disorder arises in the village that Bruyas, although still weak from a fever, is obliged to go away, to visit a fish- ing camp beyond. An ambassador of peace comes from one of the Mohican tribes ; but he ' ' takes flight, frightened by the drunkards. ' ' The mission- aries among all the Iroquois tribes hold a conference at Onondaga; upon Bruyas's return to Oneida, he finds that his French servant has been so maltreated by these drunkards that he has been obliged to leave the village, and take refuge from them in the fields. Three months after the brandy had been brought to the village, the supply gives out, and the Father writes : " It seems to me that I am now in an earthly Paradise." The young men all go hunting, or to war, and ' ' the women who remain betake themselves assiduously to the Catechism." At Christmas, he is obliged to preach nearly the entire day to the sav- ages who throng his little chapel. A fortnight later, the people gather daily at the house of a woman, — "mad, or possessed," — who claims to have had an interview with the chief Iroquois divinity, in conse- quence of which she utters prophecies for the future. In February, it is reported that large Iroquois bands have gone to attack the Ottawas. A few weeks later, Garakontid, ever zealous for peace, urges the Oneidas to meet the Ottawas at Montreal, and " light 16 FREFACE TO VOL. LIII the fire of peace." Just before Easter, the traders bring to Oneida forty kegs of brandy ; the debauches recommence, and poor Bruyas is compelled to take refuge with Milet at Onondaga. The latter missionary sends to Le Mercier an ac- count of his own work. Twice a day, he summons — by his voice, in default of a bell — the people to prayers in the chapel. " Sometimes I called out, ' Fire ! fire ! ever-burning hell-fire ! ' At other times, ' To Heaven ! to Heaven ! where are found all kinds of blessings, with eternal happiness. ' " He describes his methods of instruction, and his efforts to wean the people from their reliance upon dreams, and their invocations to the devil ; he is aided therein by Garakonti6. In a few weeks, crowds attend the instructions given in the chapel, and the village is stirred to great interest in the new religion. At Christmas, an impressive service is held in the chapel, in honor of Christ's birth, which most of the elders attend. " It seemed to me that I was not among Savages and Barbarians, but rather in the midst of a country of Christians, — so much piety and devotion did I remark in the people." Some time afterward, Milet exhorts the Oneidas to cease their trust in dreams; almost to his own surprise, they consent to his proposals, and ' ' pledge themselves to obey dreams no longer." They consent to give up their " eat-all " feasts and impure rites. This great victory of truth over infidelity overjoys the mission- ary; but he is well aware of the difficulties that still lie in the way of the savages, in carrying out this decision of the council. He next puts certain medi- cine-men to open confusion, and also exposes them in a public assembly. Not only Garakonti6, but PREFACE TO VOL. LIU 17 other elders come to Milet, promise to do all in their power to support him in his efforts, and beg for further instruction in religion. R. G. T. Madison, Wis., August, 1899. CXXVI Relation of 1669-70 Paris: SEBASTIEN MABRE-CRAMOISY, 1671 Source : We follow a copy of the original Cramoisy, in Lenox Library. Owing to the length of the document, we publish herewith only chaps, i.-vi., and part of chap. vii. The second and final installment will appear in Volume LIV. RELATIO]> D E C E OJ/ 1 Si: S T PASS E' DE PLVS REMARQVABLE AVX'mISSIONS DES PERES dc I.i Coi«p.-.i;r!\c de I k sy s, E N L A M OWE LL E fiPvANCE, lesaniiecs i66:).& 1670, Bnucyee 4H R. P. Estjenne DechaMPS j^to'viiicid ik U Province de France^ A PARIS, Chez S EB A ST. MabRE-CrAMOIS Y; Impnmeiu" do Roy , mc S, lacqucs aux Cicoenes. M. DC. LXXl7" Ava- rrivile^e dcfa Majefie. RELATION OF WHAT OCCURRED MOST REMARKABLE IN THE MISSIONS OF THE FATHERS of the Society of Jesus, I N NEW FRANCE, in the years 1669 and 1670. Sent to Rev. Father Estienne Dechamps, Provincial of the Province of France. PARIS, Sebastien M ab r e-C r a mo I s y, Printer to the King, rue St. Jacques, at the Sign of the Storks. M. DC. LXXI. By Royal License. 24 LES RELA TIONS DES jASUITES [Vol. 53 Av Reverend Pere Eftienne Dechamps, Pro- vincial de la Compagnie de Iesvs dans la Province de France. MON R. PERE, r envoy e h Vojlre Reverence la Relation de ce qui s'eji paff^ de plus conjiderable dans les MiJSions de la Nouvelle France: i'efpere qu'on y trouvera dequoy contenter la curiojit^ de ceux qui prennent plaijir \ toute baign6e de fes larmes. Ce fpedlacle toucha fi viuement les afliftans, qu'ils ne purent s'empefcher d'en paroitre attendris. Mais Ignace n'en fut pas plus 6meu, que s'il n'eut point eft6 fon pere : tant elloit grande la paix de fon coeur. Ie I'exbortois de temps en temps k recevoir la mort avec une refignatio parfaite aux ordres de Dieu, & luy difois qu'il ne devoit nullement douter qu'elle ne luy deuft fervir de paffage "k une meilleure vie. Et comme il me r6pondoit toujours qu'il n'apprehen- doit rien: Sa femme craignant qu'il n'euft quelque fentiment de prefomption, luy dit, Ignace, prend 1669-70] RELATION OF ib(x)-yo 103 which those good people soon made his Cabin a place of prayer. I never went into it without finding several persons at prayer, devoutly reciting their Rosaries, and thus changing into holy exercises of devotion the tears which they at first bestowed on their friend's afiiiction. " His daughter, who was twelve years old, and his son, who was only three, [75] both kneeling before their father, when he was in the death-agony, in order to ask his blessing, received it in these few words, which formed, so to speak, the Testament of that holy man : ' My dear children, remember that I die a Christian; and give me the consolation, after my death, of seeing you live and die in the same Faith.' The daughter could not hear these words without bursting into tears, and breaking forth into pitiful lamentations. But the mother, recalling the distress that the patient had shown at seeing himself wept over in a condition wherein he deemed himself so happy, drove her out of the Cabin, saying: ' Go and weep away from this place. Dost thou not know that this weeping is displeasing to thy poor father ? ' At these words the child went out immedi- ately, [76] all bathed in tears. This spectacle touched so keenly those who were present, that they could not avoid showing that it affected them. But Ignace was no more moved by it than if he had not been her father, so great was the peace in his heart. " I exhorted him from time to time to receive death with perfect resignation to God's decrees, telling him he should in no wise doubt that it would serve him as a passage to a better life. But, as he always answered me that he had no apprehension, his wife, fearing that he had some sentiment of pre- 104 LES RELA TIONS DES jASUITES [Vol. 53 garde qu'il n'y ait de la vanity k dire, je ne crains point la mort. A quoy il repliqua, interroge un peu ceux qui m'ont veu au {yj'X pais des Iroquois au mi- lieu des tourmens, & fur le point d'eftre brul6 k petit feu; & tu fgauras d'eux £1 j'ay iamais fait paroiflre la moindre foibleffe pour toutes les cruautez qu'on exergoit fur mon corps. Or fi pour lors ie ne craignois point la mort, quoy que ie ne fuffe pas fi bien inftruit de la vie future, & que ie n'eulfe pas I'afQflance d'un Pere, & des Sacremens del'Eglife; pourquoy pref entement apprehenderois-ie de mourir ! me voyant fl. puiffamment apuy6, & Dieu m'ayant donn6 une ferme efperance de revoir bien-toft dans le Ciel mes enfans, qui font morts depuis peu, comme des Saints. II invoquoit fouvent fa fille qui eftoit morte depuis deux ans en opinion de f aintet6 ; & luy difoit, Gaoii- endit6 ma fille, fouviens toy [78] que tu m'as promis "k rbeure de ta mort, que tu viendrois me fecourir k la mienne, voicy I'heure qui s'approcbe, n'oublie pas ton pau[v]re pere. II avoit grande confiance ^ Saint Michel: il luy difoit fouvent, Grand Saint, c'eft vous qui nous avez heureufement conduit au lieu oil nous demeurons ^ cette heure ; nous fommes fur vos terres, regardez- moy comme un de vos fujets, & comme tel deffendez moy des malins Efprits. Quoy qu'il implorafl fou- vent le f ecours de plufleurs autres Saints ; neantmoins fa plus grande confiance eftoit en la fainte Famille de lEsvs, de Marie & de Saint Ioseph: &ilne ceffa de reciter leur Chapelet jufqu'k ce qu'il expira. I'admiray fur tons les excellens [79] adtes de vertu, que faifoit ce bon homme lors qu'il fe voyoit proche 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 106 sumption, said to him, ' Ignace, take heed lest there be some vanity in saying, " I do not fear death." ' To which he replied : ' Put a few questions to those who have seen me in the \_T]^ country of the Iro- quois, — in the midst of the torments, and on the point of being burned over a slow fire, — and thou shalt know from them whether I have ever shown the least weakness in the face of all the cruelties that were exercised on my body. Now if I did not fear death then, — although I was not so well instructed in the future life, and had not the help of a Father and of the Sacraments of the Church, — why should I fear to die now, when I see myself so powerfully sustained, and when God has given me a firm hope of soon seeing again, as Saints in Heaven, my children who died a short time ago? ' " He often invoked his daughter, who had died two years before with the reputation of sanctity, saying to her : ' Gaouendit^, my daughter, remember [78] that thou didst promise me, at the time of thy death, that thou wouldst come and succor me at mine. That time is now at hand ; do not forget thy poor father. ' " He had great confidence in Saint Michael, and would often say to him : ' Great Saint, it is you who have safely led us to the place where we now dwell. We are on your lands; regard me as one of your subjects, and, as such, protect me from the evil Spir- its.' Although he often implored the aid of several other Saints, yet his greatest trust was in the holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Saint Joseph ; and, up to the moment of his death, he ceased not to tell his Beads to them. " I admired above all the excellent [79] acts of ]06 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.53 de fa fin ; & ie ne puis douter que ce ne f ufl un e£Eet tout vifible de raffiftance toute extraordinaire que la fainte Vierge luy donnoit a cette derniere heure. Tantoft avec vne profonde humilit6 il demandoit pardon de fes pechez: il offroit k la iuftice divine pour effacer la peine qui luy eftoit deue, le mal qu'il fouffroit: & tantoft il vniffoit fes douleurs h. celles du Sauveur mourant; il luy difoit: 3eroit-il raifon- nable, 6 men I E s v s ! que vous feul euffiez fouffert, & qu'vn pecheur tel que ie fuis, n'endurat rien? Non certes, il faut que le criminel foit puny, puis qu'il a fait le mal. D'autres fois il baifoit le Crucifix qu'il tenoit en main, & luy difoit, helas Seigneur! fans vous ie m'aurois iamais 6vit6 [80] les peines de I'En- fer: fans vous ie n'aurois iamais eu aucune efperance du Ciel. Ah combien vous ay-je couft6 de fang! all combien avez-vous fouffert pour me meriter la vie eternelle: mais helas! combien ay-ie eu de recon- noiffance pour des bien-faits fi fignalez. Ie brule du defir d'aller au Ciel promptement pour vous en remercier durant toute vne eternity. Dans I'accablement du mal oh. il eftoit, comme il ne pouvoit plus porter S, fa bouche le Crucifix, il le tenoit C0II6 fur fa poidtrine : & n'ayant pas aflez de force pour faire le Qgne de la Croix, comme on le fait d' ordinaire, il le faifoit continuellement fur fon coeur. D6s que ie luy eu fuggere qu'il y avoit Indul- gence pleniaire pour ceux qui h. I'article de la mort invoquent, ou de [81] bouche, ou au moins de coeur, le facr6 nom de I E s v s , il commenga auffi toft &, le prononcer ; & il le faifoit fi fouvent, que toutes les fois qu'il refpiroit ce faint Nom fortoit de fa bouche : & on remarqua que ce fut la derniere adtion que fit fon ame, au moment qu'elle fortit de fon corps. 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g -70 107 virtue performed by this good man, when he saw himself near his end ; and I cannot doubt that this was a very perceptible effect of the quite extraordi- nary aid rendered him by the blessed Virgin in this last hour. Now he would ask pardon for his sins, with profound humility, offering up to the divine justice the affliction he was then suffering, to offset the future punishment that was his due ; and again he would unite his sufferings with those of the dying Savior, and say to him : ' Would it be reasonable, O my Jesus, that you alone should have suffered, and that a sinner like me should endure no pain? No, certainly ; the criminal must suffer, since he has done wrong.' At other times, he would kiss the Crucifix that he held in hand, and say to it : ' Alas ! Lord, without you I would never have escaped [80] the torments of Hell; without you I never would have had any hope of Heaven. Ah, how much blood I have cost you! Ah, how much you suf- fered, in order to earn for me the life eternal! But, alas ! how much gratitude have I felt for such signal benefits ? I bum with desire to go to Heaven at once, that I may thank you for this throughout all eternity.' ' ' In the extreme weakness which he suffered from his illness, as he could no longer carry the Crucifix to his lips, he held it clasped to his bosom ; and, not having strength enough to make the sign of the Cross as it is ordinarily done, he made it continually on his heart. As soon as I suggested to him that there was plenary Indulgence for those who, at the point of death, invoke — either with [81] their lips, or at least in their hearts — the sacred name of Jesus, he began at once to pronounce it ; and he 108 LES RELATIONS r>ES j£SUITES [Vol. 58 Comme il fe fentit baiff6 notablement, il dit k fa femme, bon Dieu que le Pere me differe long-temps I'Extreme-Ondtion. Va luy dire, ie te prie, qu'il fe hafte, car ie crains de n'avoir pas k temps ce Sacrement: eft-ce qu'il penfe que m'eftant confeff6 & communis, ie n'ay pas befoin de ce fecours, pour I'entiere abolition de mes crimes? Ah! que Dieu voit bien en moy d'autres pechez, que ceux dont ie me fuis confeff6. C'eft ce qui me porte de [82] deG- rer avec ardeur de recevoir ce dernier Sacrement, afin que par fa vertu le refle de mes fautes foit effac6. Comme il difoit ces parolles, i'entray dans fa Cabane avec la fainte Hoflie, & les faintes Huiles, pour luy donner le Viatique & I'Extreme-Ondtion. Ce fut alors qu'on vit un ^panoulffement fur fon vifage, & vne ioye toute extraordinaire; & qu'aprds avoir receu fon Seigneur avec vne admirable piet6, il fe difpofa luy-mSme k recevoir les faintes Ondtions. II forma au£Q de luy mefme les prieres par lefquelles il demandoit pardon k Dieu des fautes qit'il avoit commifes dans chacune des parties du corps auf- quelles on appliquoit les Huiles facr6es. Fort peu de temps apr6s il tomba en agonie qui dura I'efpace de deux heures, pendant laquelle il demeura [83] tolijours immobile, les mains iointes fur la poitrine, fans aucune violence ; aulTi doucement qu'vne lampe, qui s'efteint lors que I'huile luy manque : & enfin il f erma de luy mefme les yeux en rendant les derniers foflpirs. La bont6 de la fainte Vierge qui avoit eu un foin C extraordinaire de I'aider h. faire vne fi belle mort, porta encore plus loin fon affiftance: car auffi tofl que Ton elit port6 k Quebec les nouvelles de foni 1669-70] RELATION OF r66g-7o 109 did this so often that, every time he breathed, this holy Name issued from his lips. It was remarked that this was the last action his soul performed, at the moment of its leaving his body. "As he felt himself very notably reduced, he said to his wife : ' Good God, how long the Father delays giving me Extreme Unction! Go, I pray thee, and tell him to make haste; for I fear I shall not have this Sacrament in time. Does he think that now, when I have confessed and received commun- ion, I have no need of that aid for the entire remis- sion of my crimes? Ah, how well God sees in me other sins than those that I have confessed ! That is what makes me [82] ardently desire to receive this last Sacrament, in order that by its virtue the rest of my faults may be effaced. ' While he was uttering these words, I entered his Cabin with the sacred Host and the holy Oils, to give him the Viaticum and Extreme Unction. It was then that there was seen a brightening of his countenance, and a quite extraordinary joy; and that, after receiving his Lord with an admirable piety, he himself made ready to receive the holy Unction. He also, of his own ac- cord, uttered the prayers by which he asked pardon from God for the faults that he had committed in each part of his body to which the sacred Oil was applied. ' ' A very short time afterward, he fell into the death-agony, which continued for the space of two hours, during which he remained [83] constantly motionless, his hands clasped on his breast, without any violence — as gently as a lamp that goes out when the oil is exhausted. And at last he closed his eyes, of himself, as he breathed his last sighs. ' ' The kindness of the blessed Virgin, who had no LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol. 53 tr6pas; elle infpira k Monfeigneur I'Evefque de luy faire un fervice folennel dans la grande Eglife Paroiffiale. Auffi toft il donna ordre k un de nos Peres, de me mander que ie fiffe apporter le corps ^ Quebec, pour I'y enterrer, apr6s qu'on y auroit celebr^ la fainte Meffe pour le defifunt. Le lendemain vingt-deuxi6me [84] de Fevrier Noftre Seigneur modera la rigueur du froid qui avoit dur6 plufieurs iours ; mais iuftement autant de temps qu'il en falloit pour apporter ce corps "k Quebec, luy faire le fervice, & I'enterrer. Puis le froid & le mauvais temps recommencerent tout de nouveau. lis n'y eut quali pas vn Habitant du Bourg des Hurons qui n'acompagnaft le corps de leur bon Capitaine. Les bommes, les femmes & les enfans, tons voulurent luy rendre les derniers devoirs. Mais lors qu'ils arriverent k Quebec, ils furent furpris de voir I'apareil avec lequel on fit le fervice. 11^ y avoit"quantit6 de torches allum6es autour du corps; tout le Clerg6 affifta k la grande Meffe des morts, qu'on cbanta avec les ceremonies les plus f olemnelles ,: de';r Eglife. Mais [85] fur tout, la prefence de Monfeigneur I'Evefque, & la devotion avec laquelle il prioit pour le defunt, ravit tellement ces pauures gens, qu'ils ne fgavoient s'ils devoient plutoft pleurer de ioye pour I'lionneur qu'on rendoit k un de leurs compatriotes ; que de trifteffe, pour fa mort. Apr6s qu'on eiit mis le corps en terre, fa femme qui avoit affift6 a toute la ceremonie, me tira k part, pour me mettre un grand collier de Pourcelaine de plus de quatre mille grains, avec vne peau d'Orignac tres bien peinte k leur fagon, me difant : Mon Pere, 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 111 taken such extraordinary pains to aid him in dying so beautiful a death, carried its aid still farther. For, as soon as the news of his decease had been carried to Quebec, it inspired Monseigneur the Bishop to hold for him a solemn service in the great Parish Church. He at once ordered one of our Fathers to commission me to have the body brought to Quebec, for burial there, after holy Mass should have been celebrated in that place for the deceased. " On the following day, the twenty-second [84] of February, Our Lord moderated the severity of the cold, which had lasted for several days; but it was only for the exact length of time required for bringing this body to Quebec, performing the service, and burying it. Then the cold and stormy weather began anew. " There was hardly an Inhabitant of the Huron Village, who did not accompany the body of their good Captain. Men, women, and children, all wished to render him the final respects. " But, when they arrived at Quebec, they were surprised at seeing the solemnity with which the service was conducted. There were a great many lighted torches around the body, and all the Clergy took part in the high Mass for the dead, which was chanted with the most solemn ceremonies of the Church. But, [85] above all, the presence of Mon- seigneur the Bishop, and the devoutness with which he prayed for the deceased, so charmed those poor people that they knew not whether they ought rather to weep with joy at the honor rendered to one of their compatriots, or with sadness at his death. ' ' After the body had been laid in the ground, his wife, who had been present during all the ceremony. 112 LES RELA TIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol. 53 ie n'ay iamais graces 'k Dieu, recherch6 des biens de la terre, mais ie vous advoiie que tnaintenant ie vou- drois en avoir, pour les diftribuer aux gens de bien, pour les engager 'k procurer au plus toft par leurs prieres, l'entr6e du Paradis [86] \ mon mary. Ce Collier eft pour la maifon de Monfeigneur I'Evefque, & pour la voftre ; & cette peau pour les Religieufes Vrfulines & Hofpitalieres, afin que tout ce que vous eftes de ferviteurs & de fervantes de Dieu, vous continuiez k fecourir de vos prieres I'ame du pauure defunt. Deux iours apr6s I'enterrement eftant all6 dans fa Cabanne pour la confoler, ie fus furpris de voir dans vne femme fauvage, tant de tendreffe enuers fon defunt mary, & comme un deflrinfatiablede I'affifter dans Ie befoin qu'il pourroit auoir des fuflfrages des gens de bien. Elle avoit de refte quelques hardes du defunt ; des raquettes, vne belle ceinture, & un beau plat : elle me prefente ces chofes, me fuppliant de les donner k quelque Franjois que ie fceuffe eftre homme de bien, [87] pour I'obliger par reconnoif- fance, k contribuer de fes prieres \ la deliurance de fon cber mary, fi peut-eftre il eftoit encore dans Ie Purgatoire. Ce bon cceur me toucba fi fort, que i'eus de la peine k retenir mes larmes; & j'avois vne mer- ueilleufe confolation de trouver parmy la Barbarie, tant de piet6 enuers I'ame d'vn mary defunt. Ie ne doute nuUement que 11 elle eUt herit^ de luy des trefors, tels que les grands Seigneurs en laiffent k leurs heritiers en mourant, elle ne les euft pas moins diftribuez pour Ie foulagement de fon ame, qu'elle fit ce petit meuble qu'il luy avoit laiff6. lis s'entraimoient chreftiennement, & avec vne 1669-70] RELATION OF 1669-70 113 drew me aside in order to put on me a great collar of more than four thousand beads of Porcelain, together with a Moose-skin, very well painted after their fashion, — saying to me: ' My Father, I have never, thank God, sought worldly goods; but I confess to you that now I would like to have some, in order to give them out to good people, that I may engage them to procure by their prayers, at the earli- est moment, my husband's entrance into Paradise. [86] This Collar is for Monseigneur the Bishop's house and for yours, and this skin for the Ursuline and Hospital Nuns, — in order that all of you who are servants of God, both men and women, may continue to aid with your prayers the soul of the poor departed. ' " Two days after the burial, going into her Cabin to comfort her, I was surprised to see in a savage woman so much tenderness toward her deceased husband ; and an insatiable desire, so to speak, to help him in the need that he might have of the suffrages of good people. She had remaining some of the dead man's clothes, his snowshoes, a beautiful belt, and a handsome dish. These things she presented to me with the request that I should give them to some Frenchman whom I knew to be a good man, [87] in order to oblige him, out of gratitude, to contribute his prayers to the deliverance of her dear husband, if perchance he were still in Purgatory. This good heart so deeply moved me that I had difficulty in restraining my tears; and I felt a marvelous consolation at finding amid Barbarism so great piety toward the soul of a departed husband. I have not the slightest doubt that, if she had inher- ited from him treasures such as great Lords leave to 114 LES RELATIONS DES JjlSUITES [Vol.53 telle deference runenuersl'autre, qu'elle m'a affeur6 qv'en vingt ans, qu'ils avoient vefcu enfemble, iamais ils n'avoient [88] eu le moindre m^contentement I'un de I'autre. Elle avoit remarqu6 en luy vne li grande douceur pour tout le monde, qu'ayant fouuent efl6 affez mal traits par des perfonnes emport6es iamais il ne s'en eftoit relTenty, quoy qu'il fuft tres coura- geux, & intrepide dans le peril. Et il r6pondoit a ceux qui I'acufoient de ricliet6 en ces rencontres, que la generofit6 chreftienne ne nous apprend pas "k nous vanger autrement de nos ennemis, qu'en faifant du bien k ceux de qui nous auons receu du mal. Tous les Hurons & les Frangois qui connoiffoient ce bon Ignace, le regretent beaucoup k caufe de fes belles qualitez, qui 6clatoient particulierement depuis trois ans, qu'il fut cre6 le Capitaine de fa Nation. II feroit difficile d'expliquer combien [89] il s'eft digne- ment acquit6 de cette charge ; tant en ce qui regar- doit le culte divin, qu'en ce qui eftoit de la Police. II ne perdoit aucune occafion de parler en faveur de la Foy dans toutes les allembl6es qu'il convoquoit pour deliberer des affaires publiques. Ce qu'il faifoit particulierement quand il y avoit des Iroquois, ou d'autres eflrangers encore infideles. Nous avons fceu par les Lettres de nos Peres qui font aux Iroquois que des Ambaffadeurs venus de leur pais k Quebec, avoient affeur6 k leur retour, qu'apres avoir entendu Ignace parler de la Foy Chreflienne, ils eftoient demeurez convaincus de la verit6 de noflre Religion, & qu'ils ne pouvoient plus douter de ce que nous leur difions. Au refte, il n'entretenoit pas ces [90] eflrangers des veritez de I'Evangile indifferemment en tout 1 669 - 70] RELA TION OF i6bg -70 115 their heirs at death, she would have distributed them for the relief of his soul, not less than she did that little outfit that he had left her. " They loved each other with Christian affection, and with such deference, the one toward the other, that she assured me that, in the twenty years they had lived together, they had never [88] had the least discontent with each other. She had remarked in him so great gentleness for every one that, although he had often been maltreated by quick-tempered persons, he had never resented it, although he was very courageous and intrepid in danger. And he would reply to those who accused him of cowardice on these occasions, that Christian generosity does not teach us to take vengeance on our enemies in any other way than by doing good to those from whom we have received injury. ' ' All the Hurons, and the French who knew this good Ignace, mourn him greatly because of his fine qualities, which had shone out particularly during the last three years, during which he had been Cap- tain of his Nation. It would be difficult to explain how [89] worthily he acquitted himself of this trust, both in matters of divine worship and in those that had to do with Government. He lost no opportunity to speak on behalf of the Faith in all the assemblies that he convoked to deliberate on public affairs. And this he would especially do when there were Iroquois present, or other strangers who were still unbelievers. We have learned, through the Letters of our Fathers who are among the Iroquois, that some Ambassadors who came from their country to Quebec had, on their return, asserted that, after hearing Ignace speak on the Christian Faith, they 116 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 53 temps: mais il choififfoit particulierement la nuit, lorfqu'ils efloient debarraffez des affaires & des vifites; C'efloit en ce temps de repos que ce pieux Capitaine prenoit plaifir de paffer deux ou trois heures entieres de la nuit h. leur expliquer nos myfteres, fans que jamais ils s'ennuyaffent de I'entendre : au contraire I'impatience qu'ils avoient de fgavoir la fuite de ce qu'ils avoient commenc6, leur faifoit fouhaitter la nuit du lendemain pour entendre Ignace. D'abord qu'il vid une Eglife dans fon Bourg, baftie en rbonneur de la fainte Vierge, il montra un defir nonpareil de. faire contribuer fes Compatriotes k fa decoration: & pour leur en donner I'exemple, il [91] commenga tout le premier h. payer tres-exac5tement les dixmes de ce qu'il avoit recueilly: en quoy il fut fuivy de tout le refte des babitans du Bourg. Ce fut luy aufii qui s'eftant apperceu que les Frangois tons les Dimanches, offroient un pain benit avec quelque pen d'argent, folicita tons les Hurons de les imiter, & de donner k I'ofFrande, au lieu d'argent, de la pourcellaine qui eft la monnoye de leur pai's. Lors qu'un flambeau eft fur le point de s'efteindre, il iette ordinairement une clart6 plus lumineuf e ; ainli le bon Ignace, un mois auparavant qu'il tombaft dans la maladie dont il eft mort, donna des marques de fa piete tout k fait 6clatantes. Comma il m'efit entendu dire une fois dans une exhortation qu'il falloit faire pendant la [92] fant6 le plus de bonnes oeuvres que Ton pouvoit, parce que durant la maladie on a de la peine k penfer mefme h. d'autres chofes qu'k fon mal ; il profita tellement de c6t advis, que deflors il commenga k augmenter notablement fes prieres, tant 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i6(x)-yo 117 had been convinced of the truth of our Religion, and could no longer entertain doubts in regard to what we told them. He did not, however, talk to these [90] strangers on the truths of the Gospel without discrimination, or at all times; but chose especially the night-time, when they were freed from business and visits. It was in this time of rest that that pious Captain took pleasure in passing two or three entire hours of the night in explaining our doctrines to them, without their ever growing tired of hearing him; on the contrary, the impatience they felt to know the sequel of what they had begun, made them wish for the next night, in order to hear Ignace. " As soon as he saw a Church in his Village, built in honor of the blessed Virgin, he showed an unparal- leled desire to have his Compatriots contribute to its decoration; and, in order to set them the example, he [91] began the very first to pay, with great exact- ness, the tithes of what he had earned. In this he was followed by all the rest of the inhabitants of the Village. It was he also who, perceiving that the French offered every Sunday a blessed loaf, with a little money, urged all the Hurons to imitate them, and to give as an offering, instead of money, porce- lain, which is the currency of their country. " When a torch is on the point of dying out, it ordinarily casts a more brilliant light ; so the good Ignace, a month before he was taken with the illness of which he died, gave some altogether remarkable tokens of his piety. As he had once heard me say, in an exhortation, that one must, during his [92] health, perform as many good works as he can, — be- cause, in time of sickness, one finds it hard even to 118 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.53 dans I'Eglife que dans fa Cabanne. II fembloit k le voir, dit fa femme, qu'il fifl comme des gens, lef quels avant que d'entreprendre un long voyage, ont un empreffement extraordinaire S, fe pourvoir de quan- tity de proviGons, qui leur font neceffaire fur le chemin. Les neuf derniers iours de fa vie, fa Cabanne efloit toujours pleine de monde, tat de Sauvages, que de Frangois, qui venoient pour le confoler: & tons en retournoient grandement edifiez de la patience & de la douceur avec laquelle ils le voyoient [93] fouffrir fon mal, lequel efboit 11 violent, qu'il I'empefclioit mefme de refpirer. Jamais on ne I'entendit fe plaindre; iamais il ne refufa ny feign^e, ny mede- cine, ny autres remedes, pour amers & pour difi&ciles qu'ils fuffent; iamais il ne fit paroiflre aucun chagrin fur fon vifage, au contraire, on remarquoit en luy une 6galit6 qui eftoit inalterable. Quelques Hurons en confervent encore k prefent une fi douce memoire, qu'ils me difent de temps en temps, 6 que ie meure comme Ignace ! 6 mon Pere, comment pourray-ie mourir de la mort de ce faint. Vne bonne Cbreftienne nomm6e Helene, me difoit aujourd'liuy, j'ay veu en la perfonne d' Ignace la verity de ce que vous difiez il y a quelque temps, que I'on meurt [94] comme on a vefcu. Ignace a toii- jours vefcu dans les fentimens d'une piet6 exemplaire envers Dieu, d'une cliarit6 ardante k I'^gard de fes freres, & d'une extraordinaire bont6 pour tout le monde: & c'eft avec ces difpofitions que nous I'avons veu mourir. Ceux qui ont plus profits de fa mort, font fes parens : il les appella tons un pen avant que de perdre 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g -70 119- think of otlier things than one's disease, — he profited by this advice to such an extent that from that hour he began to make a notable increase in his prayers, in the Church as well as in his Cabin. ' To look at him, ' said his wife, ' it seemed as if he were doing as people do who, before undertaking a long journey, exercise an extraordinary diligence in pro- viding themselves with a great store of provisions that are necessary for them on the way.' " During the last nine days of his life, his Cabin was always full of people. Savages as well as French- men, who came to comfort him; and all returned thence greatly edified at the patience and gentleness with which they saw him [93] endure his suffering, which was so violent that it even prevented him from breathing. Never was he heard to complain; never did he refuse either bleeding, or medicine, or any other remedies, however bitter or hard to endure they might be. Never did he show any fretfulness in his countenance ; on the contrary, there was observed in him an even temper that was imperturbable. ' ' Some Hurons preserve, even now, so sweet a remembrance of him that they say to me from time to time : ' Oh, may I die like Ignace ! Oh, my Father, how shall I be able to die the death of that saint ? ' " A good Christian named Helene said to me to- day : ' I saw in the person of Ignace the truth of what you said some time ago, — namely, that one dies [94} as one has lived. Ignace has always lived in senti- ments of exemplary piety toward God, of ardent charity in regard to his brothers, and of extraordinary goodness toward all the world; and it is in this disposition that we saw him die. ' " Those who profited most by his death are his 120 LES EEL A TIONS DES jESUITES [Vol. 53 la parole, pour leur dire; C'eft k cette heure, mes chers parens, que ie connois avoir mal employ6 mes affedlions, en aimant le bien de la terre : Ie ne vois rien maintenant d'aimable S. ma mort, que le peu de bonnes oeuures de ma vie paff6e. Rien ne me donne prefentement de la confolation, que de certains petits fervices que j'ay rendus k Dieu, & 'k mon procbain. Defabufez [95] vous k mes d6pens, mes bons amis, n'aimez & ne recbercbez rien en ce monde, que ce qui pourra vous r^jouir k voflre mort. Ce peu de mots a fait vne telle impreflion fur I'efprit de ces pauures Sauvages, qu'ils ne parlent quaQ d'autres chofes, que de m^prifer tons les biens de fortune, & de n'eftimer que les bonnes acftions qui nous peuuent ^doucir les amertumes de la mort. Le frere du defunt me vint trouver dans I'Eglife, un peu apr^s qu'il eut expir6, pour me prier de prendre le mefme foin pour luy, & pour fes autres parens, que j'avois pris pour Ignace, qu'ils efloient bien refolus de I'imiter, & de correfpondre k mes foins, autant qu'avoit fait celuy dont Dieu avoit difpof6. Sa charity pour le procbain a efl6 remarquable: lorfque les Hurons [96] n'avoient point de champs k femer leur bled d'Inde, ayant eft6 cbaffez par les Iroquois, de ceux qu'ils auoiet defricbez 'k I'lfle d' Or- leans: quantity d'habitans Fran9ois en offroient au bon Ignace; car ils I'aimoient. II acceptoit volon- tiers leurs offres, avec beaucoup de civilit6 & de remercimens: mais le plutoft qu'il le pouvoit, il diftribuoit ces terres aux pauures vefves, & aux families les plus incapables de s'en procurer; & il ne s'en refervoit pour luy, qu'apres que tout le monde 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 121 relatives, all of whom he called to him, a little before losing his speech, to say to them : ' Now it is, my dear relatives, that I am conscious of having used my aflEections ill in loving worldly good. I see nothing worth loving, now that I am dying, except the few good deeds of my past life. Nothing gives me any consolation at present, except certain little services that I have rendered to God and to my neighbor. Undeceive [95] yourselves at my expense, my good friends ; love and seek for nothing in this world except what can give you joy at your death.' These few words made such an impression on the minds of those poor Savages, that they speak of almost nothing else than contempt for all the bless- ings of fortune, and esteem for only the good deeds that can sweeten for us the bitterness of death. " The brother of the deceased came and sought me in the Church, a little after his death, in order to beg me to take the same pains in his behalf, and in behalf of his other relatives, as I had for Ignace, — saying that they were fiolly resolved to imitate the latter, and to respond to my efforts to the same extent as had he of whom God had made disposition. " His charity toward his neighbor was remarkable. When the Hurons [96] had no fields for sowing their Indian com, having been driven out by the Iroquois from those that they had cleared on the Island of Orleans, a great many Frenchmen offered some to the good Ignace; for they loved him. He, with much civility and many thanks, willingly accepted their offers ; but distributed these lands, so far as he could, to poor widows and to the families least able to procure any for themselves, — reserving some for himself only after every one had been provided for. 122 LES RELATIONS DES jiSUITES [Vol.53 en eftoit pourveu. Lors qu'il revenoit de la chaffe, il diftribuoit quaQ tout ce qu'il en rapportoit k ceux qui en avoient befoin, & particulierement aux ma- lades. Si quelques habitans Frangois s'adreffoient ^ luy, pour achepter de fon bled pour femer, il n'en vouloit iamais rien prendre, s'eftimant [97] trop heu- reux d'auoir occafion en ce peu de cbofe, de recon- noiftre 1' amour que tous les Frangois luy portoient. Quand il arrivoit quelque querelle entre ceux de fa Nation, il n'eft pas croiable avec combien de zele il s'employoit "k les accommoder, & k empefcher le defordre qui en pouvoit arriver. Toutes les Feftes & tous les Dimancbes fa Cabanne eftoit pleine de Frangois, qui eftant venus de loin pour affifter k la Meffe, s'y alloient cbauffer en atten- dant qu'on la commen§aft. Cela I'incommodoit tellement, que le plus fouvent ny luy, ny fa femme, ny fes enfans, ne pouvoient s'aprocher du feu, qui eftoit occupy par tant d'6trangers ; fans que pourtant il montraft iamais la moindre froideur k ces boftes importuns ; [98] non pas mefme eftant au lit de la mort ; lors qu'vn Frangois eftant venu pour fe cbauffer k r ordinaire, & ne f9acbant pas I'eftat de noftre malade, il fe mit deuant luy, & fans y prendre garde, fecoiia fur luy toute la neige dont il eftoit convert; fans que iamais Ignace en fit paroiftre aucun m^con- tentement. QUELQUES AUTRES REMARQUES TOUCHANT CETTE MISSION HURONE. LA petite verolle a depuis un an furieufement defol6 cette colonie. Les Montagnais & les Algonquins en font quafi tous morts. Nos Hurons 1669-70] RELA TION OF i66g -70 123 Whenever he returned from the chase, he distrib- uted almost all that he brought back among those who had need of it, and especially among the sick. If some French settlers made application to him to buy some of his corn for planting, he would never take anything for it, esteeming himself [97] too happy to have an opportunity, in this small matter, to acknowledge the affection that all the French bore him. ' ' Whenever any quarrel arose among those of his Nation, it is incredible with what zeal he engaged in reconciling the disputants, and checking the disorder that might arise from the strife. " On every Feast and Sunday, his Cabin was full of Frenchmen, who, coming from a distance to attend Mass, went there to warm themselves while waiting till the service should begin. This incon- venienced him so greatly that, most often, neither he nor his wife nor his children could get near the fire, there being so many strangers around it. And yet he never showed the least coldness to these annoying guests, [98] even when he was on his death- bed, and a Frenchman — coming in to warm himself, as usual, and not knowing our patient's condition — took his place before him, and, without giving any heed to the matter, shook upon him all the snow with which he was himself covered. Ignace never showed any displeasure at this." SOME OTHER REMARKS TOUCHING THIS HURON MISSION. ^ ^ A YEAR ago, the smallpox terribly ravaged this r\ colony; and the Montagnais and the Algon- quins almost all died from it. Our Hurons, who 124 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.53 qui en ont eft6 prefque tous atteints, attribuent leur guerifon 'k Noflre Dame de Foy, qui ayant daign6 choifir leur petite Eglife, pour le lieu de fa demeure, a bien [99] voulu les prendre aufll tous a fa protedtion. le n'ay perdu que quatre perfonnes en tout le temps qu'S, dur^ cette contagion. De ce petit nombre a eft6 Mathieu Atarannoiienta, lequel d'Efau que nous I'apellions autrefois, ^ caufe de fa fiert6, efloit devenu un lacob durant fa mala- die, qui a dur6 fix mois, & qui luy caufoit des incom- moditez incroyables. le I'ay veu environ un mois tellement couvert de petite veroUe, qu'il n'avoit aucune partie de fon corps qui en full exempte. II a paff6 un autre mois d^poiiill6 de fa peau. qui luy f ut enlev6e par la violence de ce mal : & il demeura ainfi tout en fang, au milieu des gprands froids, & prefque tout nud. Apres cela il fuft attaqu6 d'vne pleurifie ; en f uite d'un aftme qui le fuffoquoit, & luy olloit la [100] refpiration. Neantmoins parmy de fi grands maux, ie n'ay iamais pu d6couurir en luy aucune marque d'impatience : & luy eftant 6chap6 un iour de dire ces paroles; 6 mon Dieu, que mes douleurs font de longue duree! Incontinent il fe reprit foy mefme, en difant, pardon, mon Seigneur, que viens-je de dire? n'y ayez point d'6gard. Oiiy, mon Dieu! ft ce n'eft pas affez de fouflErir encore tout le Printemps prochain, pour I'expiation de mes pechez: prolongez mes douleurs autant qu'il vous plaira. Vne nuit que i'eftois coucli6 dans fa Cabanne, pour I'afllfler; ie I'entendois apoflropber le Crucifix, en ces termes. O I E s v s mon Sauveur, que de peines vous auez pris pour moy, vous qui eftiez Q faint! 1 669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g -70 125 ■were nearly all attacked by this disease, attribute their recovery to Our Lady of the Faith, who, having deigned to choose their little Church for the place of her abode, was [99] pleased also to take them all under her protection. I lost only four persons in all the time during which this contagion lasted. ' ' Of this little number was Mathieu Atarannouenta, who, from being an Esau, — as we used to call him formerly, because of his haughty bearing, — had become a Jacob during his illness, which continued six months, and caused him incredible sufferings. For about a month I saw him so completely covered with smallpox that he had no part of his body free from it. He passed another month bereft of his skin, which was taken from him by the violence of this disease, and he remained thus, all covered with blood and almost entirely naked, in the midst of intense cold. After that, he was attacked with a pleurisy; and then with an asthma, that suffocated him and made him unable to [100] breathe. Never- theless, amid such great afflictions I was never able to detect in him any sign of impatience ; and one day when there escaped from him these words, ' O my God, how long my sufferings last!' — immedi- ately he checked himself, saying, ' Pardon, my Lord ; what have I just said? Do not heed it. Yes, my God, if it is not enough to suffer all next Spring also, in expiation of my sins, then prolong my pains as long as it shall please you.' ' ' One night, when I had gone to bed in his Cabin, in order to aid him, I heard him address the Crucifix in these terms : ' O Jesus, my Savior, how much suffering did you take upon yourself for me, you 126 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.53 Faut-il done que ie fois li fenQble aux [loi] fouf- frances, moy qui ne fuis q[u]'vn grand peclieur. Ce qu'il prongoit avec tant de devotion, en baifant fon Crucifix, qu'il eufl attendry les cceurs les plus endur- cis de ceux qui I'auroient veu. Ie ne puis obmetre ce que fit Marie Gandigonhra, ^ la mort de ce ieune homme ; EUe & fa mere avoient eu toute la charge de ce pauure chreftien, durant tout Ie cours de fes maladies, fans aucune efperance de gain, ny fans aucune obligation que celle que nous impofe la charity du prochain : & cependant k caufe feulement qu'il efloit mort dans leur Cabane, elles auoient de la peine h. laifiCer enlever fon corps hors de chez elles, pour luy donner la fepulture, fans luy ofifrir quelque chofe pour faire prier Dieu pour Ie repos de fon ame. Cette bonne fille [102] deflina ^ cette oeuure de cliarit6 vne belle couverture de ratine rouge, dont elle s'babilloit les bones feftes: mais fa mere eut de la peine k y confentir. I'eus connoiffance de cette petite difpute, & y voulus reme- dier en cette forte. Ie dis h. la mere que ie ne vou- lois point que fa fille fe privaft de I'vnique habille- ment honnefte qu'elle pouvoit auoir: mais qu'elle donnaft plutoft un Collier de Pourcelaine, afin que I'on priaft Dieu pour I'ame du defunt; & que fous main ie Ie leur rendrois, fans que pourtat Ie defunt y perdift rien, pour lequel ie dirois, & ferois dire les Mefles qu'il falloit. La mere fut ravie de ce petit accommodement ; mais I'ayant propof^ ^ fa fille, elle la renuoya bien loin. Comment, ma mere, luy dit- elle, n'aurions-nous point de honte au iour du iuge- ment [103] de pafler pour des hypocrites? Pourrions- nous fouffrir Ie reproche que nous feroit noftre 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66q -70 127 who were so holy ! Ought I, then, to be so sensitive to [loi] suffering, — I, who am only a great sinner?' He uttered these words so devoutly, kissing his Crucifix the while, that he would have softened the most hardened hearts in those who might have seen him. " I cannot omit what Marie Gandigonhra did, at the death of this young man. She and her mother had had entire charge of this poor Christian during the whole course of his maladies, — without any hope of gain, and without any obligation other than that which charity toward our neighbor imposes upon us. And yet, simply because he had died in their Cabin, they could not bear to let his body be taken away from their home for burial, without offering for him something to secure prayers to God for the repose of his soul. That good girl [102] set aside for this deed of charity a fine red ratteen blanket, in which she was wont to attire herself on high feasts; but her mother would hardly consent to it. I gained a knowledge of this little dispute, and wished to settle it in this wise. I told the mother that I was unwill- ing her daughter should deprive herself of the only decent garment that she was able to have ; but that she should rather give a Porcelain Collar, in order that prayers might be offered to God for the soul of the departed ; and that I would give it back to them privately, — without, however, any loss as far as the deceased was concerned, for whom I would say and cause to be said the necessary Masses. The mother was delighted with this little arrangement; but, upon proposing it to her daughter, the latter spurned her indignantly. ' How, my mother ? ' said she ; ' would we not be ashamed, on the day of judgment, 128 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.53 luge, d'avoir voulu paroiftre liberales & mifericordi- eufes envers le pauure trepaff^, quoy qu'en effet nous n'euflios rien donn6 pour luy? Non, non, ma mere, il ne faut point vfer de ces adreffes ny des fuperche- ries avec Dieu. le fuis d'advis que nous donnions tout de bon au Seigneur de nos vies, ce que nous auons de plus cher, afin qu'au plutoft il ayt piti6 de I'ame du pauure Mathieu. La mere fe laiffa vaincre par le zele de la fille, & la charity I'emporta par deffus r^pargne qu'elle vouloit faire en cette occaflon. Au refte cette devotion envers les ames du Purga- toire fait vne telle impreffion fur le coeur de nos Hurons, qu'ils ne craignent plus [104] maintenant la pauuret^ pour les incommoditez qu'elle leur apporte; mais feulement h. caufe qu'elle leur ofteroit le moyen de faire des prefens pour honorer la mort de leurs proches, & leur procurer des Prieres & des Meffes. II y en a mefme qui fe laifferoient plutoft mourir de faim, que d'engager ou de vendre certains meubles qu'ils ont deflin6 au foulagement de ceux de leur famille qui doivent mourir avant eux. Quand ils reviennent de la chalfe, i'ay fouvet remarqu6 que des peaux qu'ils en raportent, ils en employent vne bonne partie k achepter de la Pourcelaine qu'ils mettent en referve, pour I'apliquer ^ ces bonnes oeuures. Quelques perfonnes de piet6 ont remarqu6 qu'il n'eft guere de villes parmy les Chreftiens, ou il n'y ayt [105] quelque Eglife ou Chapelle, dans laquelle le Fils de Dieu prend plaifir d'honorer fa fainte Mere, par vne infinite de graces qu'il y accorde k ceux qui y viennent implorer le fecours de cette grande Reyne. C'eft ce qu'on gprouue prefentement h. Quebec. 1669-70] RELATION OF i66<)~7o 129 [103] to pass for hypocrites? Could we bear the reproach, which our Judge would make us, of having tried to seem liberal and compassionate toward the poor deceased, although in reality we had given nothing for him? No, no, mother, we must not use these tricks and frauds with God. I am of opinion that we should give the Lord of our lives the dearest thing we have, in all sincerity, — in order that he may, at the earliest moment, take pity on the soul of poor Mathieu. ' The mother allowed herself to be overcome by her daughter's zeal, and charity gained the victory over the economy which she wished to practice on that occasion. " As for others, this devotion for the souls in Pur- gatory makes such an impression on the hearts of our Hurons that they now no longer fear [104] pov- erty for the sufferings that it causes them, but simply because it would deprive them of the means of mak- ing presents, to honor the deaths of their relatives, and procure them Prayers and Masses. There are even some who would let themselves die from hunger, sooner than pawn or sell certain articles that they have set aside for the assistance of relatives who shall die before them. When they return from the chase, I have often noticed that, of the skins that they bring back, they use a good part in buying Porcelain, which they keep in reserve, in order to apply it to these good works. ' ' Some persons of piety have remarked that there are scarcely any towns, among Christians, where there is not [105] some Church or Chapel in which the Son of God takes pleasure in honoring his holy Mother by an infinite number of favors that he there grants to those who come thither to implore this ]30 LES RELATIONS DES jiSUITES [Vol.53 L'an paff6 on envoya \ noftre R"' Pere fuperieur vne ftatue de la bien heureufe Vierge, faite du chefne dans lequel il y a plufieurs ann6es qu'on trouva vne Image miraculeufe de Noftre Dame de Foy, pr6s de la ville de Dinan, au pais de Liege: & comme ceux qui envoioient cette ftatue avoient t^moign^ qu'ils fouhaitoient qu'elle fuft plac^e en quelque Chapelle oil les Sauvages font ordinairement leurs exercices de piete, afin qu'ils y puiffent honorer la Mere de Dieu, & luy [io6] demander les graces neceffaires pour la converGon de tout ces peuples de la Nouvelle France ; Le R. Pere fuperieur ne douta point que la Divine Providence ne luy euft m6nag6 ce precieux don, pour vne petite Eglife qu'on venoit d'achever dans vne Bourgade des Hurons, 61oign6e d'vne lieue & demie de Quebec, que Monfeigneur notre Evefque avoit voulu qu'on dediaft ^ Noftre-Dame, fous le titre de I'Annonciation. Cette Image de la fainte Vierge fut folemnellement expof 6 le iour de la Natiuit6 de la tres fainte Vierge, que la premiere Mefle fe dit en cette Chapelle, & tout ce qui y eftoit de Sauvages luy offrirent en mefme temps, & cette petite Eglife, qu'ils luy avoient baftie, & leurs coeurs pour un temple vivant de fon Fils Iesvs-Christ. [107] Cette Mere de mifericorde nous a fait voir clairement qu'elle avoit agre6 I'offrande de ces bonnes gens, & le defir qu'ils ont fait paroiftre de la voir lionnor6e en ce lieu. Et certes on auroit de la peine k croire combien en fuite cette Chapelle fut frequent^e. Les Dimanches & les Feftes il y vient de toutes parts tant de Pelerins, des habitations Frangoifes, qui font mefme les plus 61oign6es, q^e 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 131 great Queen's aid. That is now being experienced at Quebec. ' ' Last year there was sent to our Reverend Father superior a statue of the most blessed /Virgin, made from the oak in which, many years before, was found a miraculous Image of Our Lady of the Faith, near the town of Dinan, in the district of Liege. As those who sent this statue had manifested their desire that it should be placed in some Chapel where the Savages ordinarily perform their exercises of piety, — in order that they might there honor the Mother of God, and [io6] ask from her the grace needful for the conversion of all those peoples of New France, — the Reverend Father superior doubted not that Divine Providence had procured him this precious gift for a little Church that had just been completed in a Village of the Hurons, a league and a half distant from Quebec, which Monseigneur our Bishop had desired that we should dedicate to Our Lady, under title of the Annunciation. " This Image of the blessed Virgin was solemnly unveiled on the day of the Nativity of the most blessed Virgin, — when the first Mass was said in that Chapel, and all the Savages who were there offered her, at the same time, both that little Church which they had built for her, and their hearts as a living temple to her Son Jesus Christ. [107J " That Mother of mercy made us see clearly that she had accepted the offering of those good people, and had approved the desire they manifested to see her honored in that place. And certainly one would hardly believe how that Chapel has been frequented since then. On Sundays and Feasts there come hither from all parts so many Pilgrims, even 132 LES RELA TIONS DES jASUITES [Vol. 53 fouvent ils ne peuvent pas tons y entrer. Plufieurs y font des neufaines entieres, & d'autres qui ne pen- vent pas qnitter pour un fi long temps leur m6nage, fubflitn[t]ent en leur place de bons Chrefliens Hurons, pour rendre ^ la fainte Vierge durant neuf iours, les refpedts qu'ils voudroient eux-mefmes luy prefenter. Cette devotion envers la Vierge [io8] ne fe termine pas feulement k reciter en fon honneur quelques prieres : elle paffe iuf ques aux ef3fets. II n'y a quafi pas un des Habitans de cette cofte, pour pauvre qu'il foit, qui ne fe foit efforc^ de luy prefenter quelque chofe. La Mere de mifericorde a trop de bont6 pour ne pas reconnoiftre la ferveur de ces bonnes gens, par des faveurs toutes extraordinaires. Comme le detail de fes graces, & de la devotion de ces bonnes gens feroit trop long k faire, nous le referverons pour quelque autre occaGon. Fin de la premiere partie. 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g -70 133 from the French settlements that are farthest dis- tant, that often they cannot all find entrance. Some observe there entire novenas ; and others, who can- not leave their domestic affairs for so long a time, substitute in their places good Huron Christians, to pay to the blessed Virgin, during nine days, the respects which they themselves would like to render her. " This devotion toward the Virgin [108] does not end merely in reciting some prayers in her honor ; it goes even to actual deeds. There is hardly one of the Inhabitants of that region, however poor he may be, who has not exerted himself to present something to her. ' ' The Mother of mercy has too much kindness not to acknowledge the fervor of those good people, by favors that are quite extraordinary. As the account of her graces, and of the devotion of those good people, would be too long to give, we will reserve it for some other occasion." End of the first part. 134 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.53 De la Miffion des Martyrs dans le Pais d'Agnie ou des Iroquois Inferieurs. 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g - 70 135 Of the Mission of the Martyrs in the Country of Agnie, or of the Lower Iroquois. 136 LES RELATIONS DES jiSUITES [Vol.53 [III] CHAPITRE V. DE LA MISSION DES MARTYRS DANS LE PAIS D'aGNI6 OU DES IROQUOIS INFERIEURS. §. I. DE LA GUERRE DES AGNI^S AVEC LA NATION DES LOUPS. LE Pere lean Pierron qui a le foin de cette Miffion, a luy mefme 6crit ce qui fuit : Vne des chofes des plus conliderables que i'aye ^ efcrire, eft I'attaque de Gandaoiiagu^, qui eft I'une de nos meilleures Bourgades, & la plus avanc6e vers le pai's ennemy. Le dix-huiti^me d'Aouft 1669. trois cens de la Nation des Loups, qui habitent le long de la Mer, vers Bafton dans la nou- velle Ang[l]eterre, fe pref enterent devant la Palliffade d6s la pointe du iour, & commencerent "k faire une 11 furieufe decharge [112] de fuzils, que les balles per- jant & les pieux & les cabannes, 6veillerent bien-toft les hommes, les femmes & les enfans, qui eftoient alors quaG tous profondemet endormis. Les hommes prirent auffi-toft le fuzil & la hacbe en main, & pendant qu'ils deffendoient la palliffade, les femmes eftoient les unes "k faire des balles, & les autres k s'armer de coufteaux & d'armes deffenlives, s'il arrivoit quelque irruption. Quatre Iroquois furent tuez d'abord dans la chaleur du combat, & deux bleffez, dont I'un mourut fort pen de temps apres. Le Bourg voifm allarm6 prend la fuitte de toutes parts, & porte la nouvelle k 1669-70] RELA TION OF i66g- 70 137 [III] CHAPTER V. OF THE MISSION OF THE MARTYRS IN THE COUNTRY OF AGNIE, OR OF THE LOWER IROQUOIS. §1. OF THE WAR OF THE AGNIES WITH THE NATION OF THE LOUPS. FATHER Jean Pierron, who has charge of this Mission, has himself written what follows : " One of the most important things I have to write is the attack on Gandaouagti6, which is one of our best Villages, and situated nearest to the enemy's country. On the eighteenth of August, 1669, three hundred of the Nation of the Loups — who live along the Sea, toward Baston, in new Eng- land — presented themselves at daybreak before the Palisade, and began to make so furious a discharge [112] of musketry that the balls, piercing both the stockade and the cabins, soon awakened men, women, and children, almost all of whom were, at the time, sound asleep. The men at once took gun and hatchet in hand ; and, while they defended the pali- sade, the women began, some to make bullets, and others to arm themselves with knives and defensive weapons, in view of an irruption. " Four Iroquois were killed at the outset, in the heat of the combat; and two were wounded, one of whom died a very short time afterward. The neighboring Village, alarmed, took flight in all direc- tions, and carried to Tionnontoguen, distant four leagues from those first two Forts, the news that the 138 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Voi.. 53 Tionnontoguen, efloign6 de quatre lieues de ces deux premiers Forts, que tout le pais eftoit perdu, que Gandaoiiagu^ eftoit affieg6 par una arm^e de Loups, que toute la ieuneffe eftoit d^ja par terre, & que peut eftre Gandagaro, qui eft le Fort voifm, eftoit k prefent k rextremit6. Cette nouvelle s'eftant r6pandue par tout le pais, d^s les huits heures du matin nos Guerriers fans fe troubler, s'habillent [113] promptement de tout ce qu'ils ont de plus precieux, felon la couftume qu'ils obfervent en ces rencontres: & tous, fans aucun autre chef; qui les commande que leur propre courage, donnent avec force fur I'ennemy. le fus des premiers 'k marcher, pour voir fi parmy tout le carnage qui fe faifoit aux pallillades du Bourg, & oti tant d'ames infidelles fe perdoient, ie ne pourrois pas en fauver quelqu'une. A noftre arriv^e nous n'entendifmes que des cris lugubres, fur la mort des plus braves de ce Bourg: I'ennemy s'eftoit d^ja retire apres deux heures envi- ron de combat fort opinionaftre de part & d'autre. II n'y eut qu'un feul guerrier de la Nation des Loups qui demeura fur la place ; & ie vis qu'un Barbare, luy ayant coup6 les mains & les pieds, I'^corcha, & enleva la chair de deffus les os, pour en faire un deteftable repas. Tous nos guerriers eftant arrives, & ne trouvans plus I'ennemy, firent faire promptement des farines, pour le pourfuivre dans fa retraite. Les provifions eftant preftes, ils fe mirent auffi toft en [114] Canot fur noftre riviere qui eft fort rapide, & comme ils fuivoient le courant de I'eau, ils faifoient vne fort grande diligence : Mais la nuit les ayant furpris dans 1669 - 70] RE LA TION OF i66g -70 139 wliole country was lost, that Gandaouagu6 was besieged by an army of Loups, that all the young men had already fallen, and that perhaps Gandagaro, which is the neighboring Fort, was at present in desperate straits. " When this news had spread through all the district, at eight o'clock in the morning our Warriors, without becoming disconcerted, dressed themselves [113] promptly in all the most precious things they had, according to the custom observed by them on these occasions ; and all, without any other chief to command them than their own courage, advanced on the enemy with force. " I was among the first to march, in order to see whether, amid all the carnage that was going on at the palisade of the Village, where so many infidel souls were being lost, I could not save some one of them. ' ' At our arrival, we heard only mournful outcries over the death of the bravest of this Village. The enemy had already retreated, after about two hours of very obstinate fighting on both sides. There was only a single warrior of the Nation of the Loups left on the place, and I saw that a Barbarian, having cut off his hands and feet, skinned him and separated the flesh from the bones, in order to make from it a detestable repast. ' ' All our warriors, arriving and finding the enemy no longer there, promptly had cornmeal prepared, that they might pursue him in his retreat. The provisions being ready, they immediately embarked in [114] Canoes on our river, which is very swift; and, as they followed the current of the stream, they made very good progress. But, night overtaking them on their march, they had some of their people 140 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.53 leur marclie, ils firent avancer quelques-uns de leurs gens pour aller en quefte de I'ennemy, & d6couurir fans bruit le lieu oti il s'efloit camp6. Comme ces avancoureurs y furent arrivez, ils voulurent pour en remarquer mieux la lituation, s'en approcher de fort prez ; mais ils ne le purent faire fi doucement, que quelqu'un des Loups qui eftoient poftez affez pr6s d'eux, ayant entendu du bruit, ne criafl felon leur couftume, Kou6, Kou6 : (c'eft le qui va la des Sau- vages) cependant comme on ne r^pondit rien, & qu'il ne piit auiii rien d6couurir, il ne iugea pas k propos de donner I'alarme. Les efpions s'en eflant retournez, ayans fait leur raport de I'eftat oh. eftoit I'ennemy, on prit refolu- tion, non pas de I'ataquer dans fon reduit, oil il paroiffoit trop bien retranch^, mais de luy dreffer un embufcade fur la route qu'on croyoit qu'il devoit tenir. [115] Pour executer ce deffein, I'lroquois prend un grand d6tour, va dreffer fon embufcade dans un lieu efcarp6 & fort avantageux, d'oti Ton commandoit tout le cliemin qui mene aux Hollandois. Le matin les Loups decampent, & comme ils marchoient dans un defile, felon la couftume des Sauvages, douze d'entre-eux s'engagent fans y penfer dans I'embuf- cade. Vne grefle de balles dont ils fe virent tout d'un coup accueillis, mit auffi-toft en fuite ceux que le hazard avoit efpargn6. Des cris 6pouventables s'^leverent auffi-toft de toutes parts dans la forefl ; & les Loups s'eftant ralliez au mefme lieu oti ils avoient camp6, I'lroquois les y pourfuivit avec clialeur. Les ayant joints, ils livrerent un furieux affaut: d'abord les Loups firent vne vigoureuf e refiftance : mais la 1 669 - 70] RELA TION OF i6bg -70 141 go forward to searcli for the enemy, and discover, without any noise, the place where he lay encamped. When these scouts had reached this spot, they wished, in order better to observe its situation, to approach very close to it ; but they could not do this so quietly that one of the Loups, who were posted tolerably near them, did not hear a noise, and cry out, according to their custom, Koud, Kou^ — (the Savage equivalent of ' Who goes there? '). However, as there was no answer, and as he could discover nothing, he did not think best to give the alarm. " When the spies had returned, and had made their report on the situation of the enemy, it was resolved not to attack him in his redout, where he seemed too strongly intrenched; but to lay an ambuscade for him, on the route that it was thought he must take. [115] " To execute this plan, the Iroquois made a wide detour, and went to lay their ambuscade in a place that was precipitous — a very advantageous spot, from which all the road leading toward the Dutch was commanded. In the morning, the Loups broke camp; and, as they were marching in single file, according to the custom of the Savages, twelve of their number became involved unawares in the ambuscade. A shower of balls, with which they saw themselves all at once received, immediately put to flight those whom chance had spared. Frightful yells at once arose on all sides in the forest, and the Loups, having rallied on the same spot where they had encamped, were hotly pursued thither by the Iroquois, — who, upon overtaking them there, made a furious assault upon them. At first the Loups made a vigorous resistance; but, the cowardice of some of their number forcing them to yield to the 142 LES RELATIONS DES j£:SUITES [Vol. 5a lacliete de quelques-uns d'entre eux les ayant obligez de ceder k la fureur des Iroquois, dix de toute la troupe s'enf oncer ent dans la terre, pour fe deffendre jufqu'^ la mort. Ce nouveau retranclieinent fatigua horriblement nos Agni^s : mais comme ils font gens infatigables & vaillans; ils ne perdirent ny [ii6] le courage, ny I'efperance de les y forcer: & pour le faire avec moins de peril, ils fe fervirent d'un vieux arbre qu'ils trouverent \k, & qu'ils porterent devant eux pour fe couvrir: ce qu'ils pouvoient faire, ne montant qu'un h. un au lieu oil Tennemy s'etoit forti- fi6. Neantmoins cette adreffe leur fut inutile; car nonobftant cette macbine, les Loups ne laifferent pas de faire grand feu de toutes parts; de tuer & de bleffer quantity de nos gens : & le combat aff eur^ment leur auroit eft6 encore beaucoup plus funefle, fi la nuit qui furvint ne I'eut terming. Nos Sauvages avoient pris d'abord quatre femmes des ennemis, de vingt-quatre qui eftoient venues en cette expedition ; & fix hommes en fuite, dans la cbaleur du combat. Le lendemain matin comme ils revenoient k la charge, ils trouverent que I'ennemy s'eftoit fauv^ la nuit, & qu'il les avoit lailTez maiflres du champ de bataille. Les vidtorieux, fuivant la couftume des Sauvages, couperent les tefles de ceux des Loups qui eftoient demeurez fur la place, pour en enlever les chevelures : [117] & en fuite ils prirent le foin d'enterrer ceux de leurs gens qui eftoient morts dans la bataille. On dit qu'il y eut pres de cent Guerriers du coft6 des ennemis, qui perirent, on par le fer dans la mefl6e, ou dans I'eau en fuyant. Fay toiijours eu peine k croire que le nombre en fufl fi grand, parce que les 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF 1669 -70 143 fury of the Iroquois, ten from out the entire band intrenched themselves in the earth, in order to de- fend themselves to the last. This new intrenchment caused our Agni^s terrible vexation ; but, as they are a tireless and valiant people, they lost neither [116] courage nor the hope of dislodging them. And, in order to do it with less danger, they made use of an old tree that they found there, which they carried before them, to shield themselves, — which they could do, going up only one by one to the place where the enemy had fortified himself. Nevertheless, that manoeuver was of no use to them, — for, in spite of this device, the Loups ceased not to keep up an active fire on them from all sides, and to kill and wound a great many of our people ; and the combat would assuredly have been much more disastrous to them, had not night overtaken them, and put an end to it. Our Savages had, in the beginning, taken four women of the enemy, out of twenty-four who had come on this expedition ; and afterward six men, in the heat of the combat. " On the following morning, when they returned to the charge, they found that the enemy had taken flight in the night and had left them masters of the battle-field. The victors, following the custom of the Savages, cut off the heads of those of the Loups who had been left on the place, in order to remove the scalps from them; [117] and then they took care to bury those of their own people that had died in the battle. " It was said that there were nearly a hundred Warriors, on the side of the enemy, that perished — by being either slain in the engagement, or drowned in the flight. Yet I found it difficult to believe that 144 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol. 59 Iroquois ne rapporterent que dix-neuf chevelures de cette defaite. I'ay appris depuis peu, des Loups qui s'eftoient trouvez k ce combat, qu'ils avoient perdu feulement cinquante hommes, & les Iroquois pr6s de quarante; tant de ceux que les Loups tuerent dans leur marche, avant le liege de leur Bourgade, que dans le Gege, & dans le combat qui fe donna quelques iours apr6s. On tient neantmoins qu'ils n'en perdirent que treize fur le champ de bataille. Tandis que ces cbofes fe paffoient, i'eftois k Gan- daouagu6, d'oil ie me difpofois "k faire ma viCte ordi- naire dans le Bourg voiGn ; n'ayant pas iug6 "k propos de fuivre nos Sauvages dans I'incertitude [ii8] d'un evenement dangereux: mais auffi-toft que i'appris la vidtoire, ce fut environ trois heures apr6s midy, ie partis moy feul pour aller trouver nos Guerriers, pour voir fi ie ne pourrois pas en porter quelques- uns "k reconnoiftre celuy de qui ils tenoient I'lieureux fuccez de leurs armes. Ie fis une telle diligence, que i'arrivay encore avant la nuit au lieu oti le combat s'eftoit donn6, & qui efloit efloigne de noflre Bourg de pr6s de huit lieues : Ie leur t^moignay la part que ie prenois k leur vidtoire ; dequoy ils t6moi- gnerent m'eftre fort obligez; & chacun d'eux s'em- preffoit k me raconter toutes les particularitez d'une iourn^e qui leur efloit fi glorieufe. Mais comme mon principal deffein efloit de viGter les bleffez, pour tacher de les rendre capables des veritez de noflre Foy, par I'efperance que ie leur donnerois d'une vie eternelle, & bien-beureuf e ; ie les vis tous exadte- ment; apr^s quoy i'eux permiffion de parler aux captifs, & ie tachay de les inflruire en ce lieu-Ik. 1669-70] RELATION OF ibb<)-70 145 t-heir number was so great, because the Iroquois brought back only nineteen scalps from that defeat. " A short time ago, I learned, from some Loups who had been in this combat, that they had lost only fifty men ; and the Iroquois nearly forty, counting those that the Loups killed, — on their march before the siege of the Iroquois Village, in the siege, and in the fight that occurred some days later. Never- theless the Iroquois hold that they lost only thirteen on the battle-field. " While these things were taking place, I was at Gandaouagu6, whence I was preparing to make my customary visit to the neighboring Village — not having thought it best to follow our Savages, in the uncertainty [ii8] of a dangerous issue. But as soon as I learned of the victory, — it was about three o'clock in the afternoon, — I set out alone to go to find our Warriors, to see if I could not induce some of them to acknowledge him from whom they obtained the fortunate success of their arms. I made such haste that I arrived, even before night, at the place where the fight had occurred, which was nearly eight leagues distant from our Village. I testified to them the interest I took in their victory, for which they showed themselves greatly obliged to me ; and each one of them was eager to tell me all the particulars of a day that had been so glorious for them. But as my principal purpose was to visit the wounded, to try to render them capable of receiving the truths of our Faith, through the hope I should give them of an eternal and blessed life, I saw every one of them. After this, I had permission to speak to the captives, and I tried to instruct them on that very spot, for fear I would not be able to do 1*6 LES RELA TIONS DES j£sUJTES [Vol. 53 mefme ; de peur que ie ne le puffe pas f aire li com- mod6ment dans nos Bourgs, &, cause du [119] mauvais traittement que Tanimofit^ de tout le monde leur preparoit. I 'en trouvay deux qui m'entendirent affez volon- tiers ; mais Dieu me favorifa tellement le lendemain, que leur ayant parl6 fort amplement de nos myfleres, ie remarquay qu'ils y prenoient plaifir, & qu'ils n'eftoient pas fort 61oignez du Royaume de Dieu. Nous partifmes deux iours apres le combat, en compagnie d'un grand nombre, tant de ceux qui s'efloient trouvez au combat, que de ceux qui les efloient venus voir. Les vidtorieux portoient les chevelures bien peintes, au bout des baftons faits pour fouflenir ces trophies : Les Ef claves partagez en plufieurs bandes, marcboient en cbantant: & comme ie m'apperceus qu'une des femmes captives avoit un enfant malade, qu'elle portoit k la mamelle; ie crus que ie ferois bien de le baptifer, le voyant en danger de mourir: ainfi m'approchant de luy, au temps que nous paffions un ruiffeau, ie le baptifay. II fembloit que ce pauvre enfant n'attendoit plus que cette grace pour partir de cette vie: [120] car il mou- rut bien-toft apr6s pour vivre eternellement au Ciel. Vous pouvez iuger fi ie ne m'eflimay pas bien recompenf6 des fatigues de mon voyage, d'avoir eft^ affez beureux que d'arracber au Demon une proye qu'il efperoit d'enlever. Mais le Baptefme que tous les prifonniers me demanderent pen de iours apr^s, fut pour moy un furcroift de confolation, & de joye, qui paffe tout ce que Ton en pent s'imaginer. Apres done que i'eus laiff6 un peu amortir le feu de la colere & de Tanimolit^ des Iroquois, ^ r6gard 1669 - 70] RELA TJON OF i66g - 70 147 it SO conveniently in our Villages, because of the [119] ill treatment being prepared for them by the animosity of each and all. " I found two of them that heard me willingly enough; but God so favored me on the following day that, having spoken to them very fully about our mysteries, I observed that they took pleasure therein, and that they were not far removed from the King- dom of God. " We set out two days after the battle, in company with a great number, both of those that had been in the fight and of persons who had come to see them. The victors carried the scalps, finely painted, on the ends of poles made to bear these trophies. The Slaves, divided into several bands, sang as they marched ; and, as I perceived that one of the captive women had a sick child, which she carried at her breast, I thought I would do well to baptize it, see- ing it in danger of dying. Therefore approaching it, at a time when we were crossing a brook, I bap- tized it. This poor child seemed only to have been waiting for that grace, to depart this life; [120] for it died soon afterward, to live eternally in Heaven. " You can judge whether I did not esteem myself well rewarded for the fatigues of my journey, in having been so fortunate as to snatch from the De- mon a prey that he was hoping to carry off. But the Baptism which all the captives asked me for, a few days later, was to me a crowning consolation and joy, exceeding all that can be imagined concerning it. " Accordingly, after I had allowed a little abate- ment to the fire and wrath of the hatred of the Iroquois toward these wretched persons, seeing that they had been left alone on the scaffold where they 148 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.53 de ces miferables, voyant qu'on les avoit laiffez feuls fur r6chafaut oil ils venoient d'eftre tourmentez, & oil ils eftoient encore environnez de toutes les cheve- lures de leurs compatriotes, qui fervoient comme de troph^e k la gloire des vidlorieux, ie m'approcliay d'eux, & les ayant faits defcendre de I'^chafaut, ie les menay dans une Cabanne voifme, pour les y difpo- fer 'k une mort Chreflienne. Comme ie leur parlois fortement de leur falut, i'entendois quelques-uns des Iroquois, qui £e difoient les uns aux autres, [121] voy-tu comme il ayme nos ennemis? & d'autres qui adjouftoient, que ie devois laiffer auffi bruler dans I'enfer, des gens qui leur avoient fait tant de maux: mais il s'en trouva parmy eux qui advoiioient que ie faifois bien de les inftruire, & que la vengeance de rbomme ne devoit pas porter fon reffentiment jufqu'au delk des bornes de la vie de fon ennemy. Ie pris de 1^ occafion de dire a nos Agni6s, que i'aimois leurs ennemis; mais du mefme amour que Iesvs-Christ nous aime tons, parce que ayant une ame immortelle, & auffi capable d'eftre beureufe dans Ie Ciel; il eftoit du devoir d'un Chreftien, de leur procurer "k tous Ie mefme bonheur : qu'au refte nous ne devious faire dans Ie Paradis qu'une belle famille, de veritables amis; parce qu'il n'y a qu'un Dieu, qui nous aymant tous d'un mefme amour, unit en luy tous nos coeurs; & que c'efloit ce qui m'obli- geoit d' aimer leurs ennemis: mais que pour eux, outre cette obligation commune qui m'engageoit &. aymer tous les hommes de cette forte; i'avois encore pour eux un amour tout particulier, parce [122] que Iesvs-Christ qui eft Ie Maiftre de nos vies, m'a- voit envoy6 cbez-eux, pour leur monftrer Ie cbemin 1669-70] RELATION OF 1669-70 149 had just been tormented, — and where they were still surrounded with all their countrymen's scalps, which were serving as trophies to the glory of the victors, — I approached them; and, making them descend from the scaffold, led them into a neighbor- ing Cabin, in order to prepare them there for a Chris- tian death. While I was earnestly talking to them about their salvation, I heard some of the Iroquois say- ing to one another, [121] ' Seest thou how he loves our enemies? ' and others adding that I ought to let people who had done them so many injuries bum in hell also. But there were some among them who acknowledged that I was doing well to instruct them ; and that man in his vengeance ought not to carry his resentment beyond the limits of his enemy's life. ' ' Thereupon I embraced the opportunity to say to our Agni^sthat I loved their enemies — but with the same love wherewith Jesus Christ loves us all — because, as they had souls that were immortal, and so capable of being happy in Heaven, it was part of a Christian's duty to procure the same happiness for them all ; that, besides, we were to form in Para- dise only one beautiful family of true friends, because there is only one God — who, loving us all with the same love, unites in himself all our hearts; and for that reason I was under obligation to love their enemies. But, I added, as for them, besides that common obligation that bound me to love all men in that wise, I had also a very special love for them, because [122] Jesus Christ, who is the Master of our lives, had sent me into their country to show them the way to Heaven, and not into the country of the Loups, their enemies. I said in conclusion that it was just that I should love them more than the 150 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 53 du Ciel ; & non pas chez les Loups leurs ennemis. Et qu'enfin il eftoit jufte que ie les aimaffe plus que les Loups, puifque ie vivois de leurs biens, qu'ils me connoiffoient, & qu'ils fouflfroient que ie demeuraffe en paix au milieu d'eux: & que ie ne fgavois pas fl les Loups avoient potir moy les mefmes bontez. I'eflendis ce petit difcours avec Ie plus de force que ie pu, & ie m'arreftay particulierement fur la defcription de I'Enfer, dont ie leur reprefentay vive- ment les tourmens effroyables, pour leur donner quelque compaffion de ces miferables vidtimes, qu'ils alloient faire mourir dans les fupplices. Mes paroles aid6es de la grace, firent une telle impreffion fur ces Barbares, que tous me dirent que ie faifois bien de les inftruire. Ie commengay done de leur faire une inftrudtion fort ample, de tout ce que ie iugeois necellaire pour les rendre capables de la Foy Chreftienne : & ils m'6couterent avec un filence admirable. II [123] efl vray que ie receus vne affi fiance tout extraordinaire de Dieu, qui me fournit alors de parolles propres, & de puiffantes raifons, qui fuppl6erent h. la honte qu'avoit rinterp[r]ete dont ie me fervois, d'enfei- gner devant Ie monde, ce qu'elle n'avoit pas encore bien appris. D6s que I'inflrudtion fut achev^e, ie vis vne femme des captifs, qui de fon propre mouvement, commenfa d'adreff er vne longue priere klESVS-CHRiST, pour luy demander fon falut. En fuite un des plus braves & des plus grands guerriers de cette Nation, qui dans Ie combat avoit tu6 de fa propre main pluCeurs Iroqu9is, fit auffi publiquement h. Dieu fa priere. Ie me fervis beureufement de la ferveur naiffante de ces Neophytes : & apres avoir port6 tous les autres k 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g -70 151 Loups, since I was being maintained by them ; since tbey were acquainted with me, and suffered me to live in peace in their midst; and since I did not know whether the Loups felt the same kindness toward me. " I prolonged this little discourse with all the emphasis I was able, and dwelt particularly on the description of Hell, the frightful torments of which I depicted to them in lively colors, in order to inspire in them some compassion for those wretched victims whom they were about to put to death with torture. My words, aided by grace, made such an impression on these Barbarians that they all told me that I was doing well to instruct the prisoners. ' ' I accordingly began by giving them very full instruction in all that I deemed necessary to render them capable of receiving the Christian Faith ; and they heard me in admirable silence. It [123] is true, I received an altogether extraordinary help from God, who furnished me then with fitting words and powerful arguments, — which made good the deficiencies caused by the shame that the interpreter whom I used felt at teaching in public what she had not yet well learned herself. ' ' As soon as the instruction was ended, I saw one of the captive women begin, of her own accord, to address a long prayer to Jesus Christ, for the purpose of asking from him her salvation. Then one of the bravest and greatest warriors of that Nation, who had, with his own hand, killed several Iroquois in the fight, also offered his prayer to God in public. I made a happy use of the new-bom fervor of these Neophjrtes ; and after I had induced them all to follow the example of those first ones, and had, by means of the ceremonies that I made them perform. 152 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol 53 fuivre I'exemple de ces premiers, & que tous eurent efl6 difpofez au faint Baptefme, par les adtes que ie leur fis faire, ie les baptifay. Apr6s vne telle confolation, qui eftoit capable d'adoucir toutes les peines & les fatigues de mon employ ; Ie bon Dieu m'en donna vne autre qui me combla de [124] joye. I'appris qu'une autre bande de guerriers venoit d'arriver k une Bourgade affez peu 61oign6e du lieu oil i'eftois, & qu'ils avoient une femme captive. Ie m'y tranfportay auffi-toft, pour voir fi ie ne pourrois pas gagner cette ame ^ Dieu. II arriva Ie plus heureufement du monde, qu'au mi- lieu des cruautez qu'on exer§oit fur elle, i'eus tout Ie loifir de I'inflruire entierement de nos Myfleres, parce qu'elle m'6coutoit avec tant de plaiCr & de joye, qu'il me fembloit voir fur fon vifage des marques certaines de fa Predeflination : & comme elle ne refpiroit que Ie Paradis ; fon Baptefme fans doute luy en ouvrit Ie chemin; eftant morte auffi-toft qu'elle I'eut receu. Que la Providence de Dieu efl admi- rable fur fes Predeflinez, & qui auroit cru que cette femme deuft trouver fon falut dans fa captivity ; & au milieu des feux de I'lroquois, une gloire eternelle, qu'elle n'eufl poffible iamais obtenue 11 elle euft toujours demeur6 dans fon pais. Pendant toutes ces grandes occupations, il me vint une Lettre d'Onnontagu6, oh. nos Peres me prioient de m'y [125] rendre au plutoft. Cette nouvelle m'obligea de retourner promptement fur mes pas k Agni6, & de vifiter tous les blelfez, dans les fix Bourgs qui eftoient de ma Miffion. II faut advoiier que Dieu fgait bien adoucir quand il luy plaift, les amertumes & les travaux des Miffionnaires. I'avois fait en dix iours plus de cent lieues; pour tacher 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g - 70 153 prepared thern all for holy Baptism, I baptized them. " After sucli a consolation, which was capable of alleviating all the pains and fatigues of my occupa- tion, the good God gave me another, which crowned me with [124] joy. I learned that another band of warriors had just arrived at a Village tolerably near the place where I was, and that they had a captive, a woman. I betook myself thither immediately, to see whether I could not win over this soul to God. It happened by the greatest good fortune in the world that, in the midst of the cruelties that were being inflicted on her, I had abundant leisure to instruct her fully in our Mysteries, because she listened to me with so much pleasure and joy that I seemed to see on her countenance sure signs of Predestination ; and as she longed only for Paradise, her Baptism undoubtedly opened to her the way thither, her death occurring immediately after she had received it. How admirable is God's Providence toward his Pre- destined ones ! Who would have believed that that woman was destined to find her salvation in her cap- tivity; and, in the midst of the fires of the Iroquois, an eternal glory that she never could have obtained, had she always remained in her own country? " During all these engrossing occupations, there came to me from Onnontagu6 a Letter, in which our Fathers besought me to [125] repair thither as soon as possible. This news obliged me to retrace my steps promptly to Agni6, and to visit all the wounded in the six Villages belonging to my Mission. One must needs confess that God well knows how to alle- viate the bitterness and toil of the Missionaries, when he so chooses. In ten days I had accomplished more than a hundred leagues, that I might try, amid these 154 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.63 parmy ces forefts & ces affreufes folitudes, de ren- contrer quelques ames que i euffe pH gagner S, Dieu : & comme fi fa bont6 m'euft voulu recompenfer de ce peu de peine que i'avois prife, en me donnant ce que ie fouhaitois le plus ardamment; Outre les Loups, & cette femme captive que i'eus le bien de baptifer, ie conferay encore le mefme Sacrement k vingt- quatre perfonnes, trois iours avant que ie partiffe pour me rendre "k Onnontagu6; parmy lefquels ie trouvay des enfans, qui n'attendoient plus que c6t heureux moment- pour aller au Ciel, & qui moururent prefque tous apres y avoir efl6 difpofez par le Baptefme. Ces guerres affoibliffent terriblement I'Agnieron- non, & fes vicSloires mefmes, [126] qui luy couftent tofljours du fang, ne contribuent pas peu ^ r6puifer. Au contraire i'apprens que nos Colonies Franjoifes fe fortifient tous les iours, par le grand nombre de families qui s'eftabliffent, & par le fecours qu'on envoye tous les ans de France : de forte que fur les connoiffances que i'ay des deux pais, ie puis dire avec verit6, que c6t ancien & redoutable ennemy n'efl plus tant k craindre aux Frangois, qu'il efloit: qu'au contraire il apprehende maintenant nos Armes, & n'a que du refpedt pour ceux qu'il m6prifoit auparavant : ce qui nous efb merveilleufement avan- tageux pour leur converfion. §. II, ENTREPRISE DE QUATRE NATIONS IROQUOISES SUR UN FORT DES LOUPS LEURS ENNEMIS. LA vidtoire de nos Agni6s fur les Loups leur a efl6 plus glorieufe que profitable, k caufe qu'ils font tres peu de monde en comparaifon de leurs ennemis, qui peuvent leur oppofer cinquante [127] hommes 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g -70 155 forests and frightful solitudes, to meet some souls whom I might be able to win over to God ; and — as if his goodness had chosen to reward me for what little suffering I had undergone, by giving me what I was most ardently desiring — besides the Loups and that captive woman whom I had the good fortune to baptize, I conferred the sarue Sacrament on twen- ty-four more persons, three days before setting out for Onnontagu6. Among these last, I found children who were only waiting for that happy moment to Sfo to Heaven, and who almost all died after being prepared therefor by Baptism. ' ' These wars weaken the Agnieronnon terribly ; and even his victories, [126] which always cost him bloodshed, contribute not a little to exhaust him. On the contrary, I leam that our French Colonies are becoming stronger every day, by reason of the great number of families that are settling there, and the aid sent over every year from France. So, from the knowledge I have of the two countries, I can say with truth that that old and redoubtable enemy is no longer so greatly to be feared by our French people as he was ; that, on the contrary, he now fears our Arms, and has only respect for those whom he despised before — which is a marvelous advantage for his conversion." §11. ENTERPRISE OF FOUR IROQUOIS NATIONS AGAINST A FORT OF THE LOUPS, THEIR ENEMIES. i ( 'X'he victory of our Agni6s over the Loups was 1 more glorious than profitable, because they are very few in numbers, compared with their ene- mies, who can bring against them fifty [127] men to their one. Yet it did not fail to inspire them with 156 LES RELATIONS DES JASUITES [Vol.53 contre un. Cependant elle n'a pas laiff6 de leur enfler le courage; & fans conliderer que leurs vidtoires mefmes les affoibliffent, & qu'ils perdoient beau coup plus dans un feul de leurs guerriers, que leurs enne- mis ne perdoient dans cinquante des leur, lis prirent Tefolution de fe vanger de I'affront qu'ils croyoient avoir receu des Loups : & les quatre Nations Inf erieures s'eflant iointes, comme intereff^es dans cette com- mune cauf e, on fit vne troupe de quatre cens guerriers : & on prit deffein d'attaquer un des Forts de I'enne- my, fitu6 proche de Mannate, & de s'en faiCr plutoft par quelque llratageme, que par force ouverte. Leur deffein eftoit concerts de la forte : vne bande de buit ou neuf ieunes guerriers devoit aller faire quelque meutre proche la Palliffade, ou Fort; afin qu'au bruit de ce maffacre, I'ennemy fortift hors de la place, & que I'ayant attir6 dans I'embufcade, ils piiffent fans peine fe rendre maiftres du Fort, lors qu'il feroit d^pourveu de fa garnifon. Eflant done arrives k la veue du Fort, ils difpo- ferent I'embufcade, & envoyerent [128] faire les premiers approcbes k la Palliffade : mais comme ils virent que perfonne ne fortoit, & que tout le monde fe tenoit retrancb6 dans le Fort; ils refolurent d'en venir k vne guerre ouverte, & d'ataquer la place de la mefme maniere, que les Loups avoient attaqu6 Gandaoiiagu6 : mais certes ce fut avec beaucoup moins de fuccez : car ayants rencontre vne Palliffade impenetrable k tous leurs coups, ils defefperent de la pouvoir forcer, & furent enfin obligez de fe retirer avec bien de la confuflon, fans avoir tu6, ny bleff6 aucun des ennemis, & deux d6s leur ayant efi;6 bleffez. 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g - 70 157 courage ; and — without considering that even their victories weaken them, and that they lose much more in a single one of their warriors than their eneraies do in fifty of theirs — they came to the resolution to avenge themselves for the affront which they thought they had received from the Loups. The four Lower Nations having joined forces, as being interested in this common cause, a troop of four hundred warriors was made up ; and the plan was formed to attack one of the Forts of the enemy situated near Mannate, and to seize it rather by some stratagem than by open force. Their plan was concerted in this wise : a band of eight or nine young warriors was to go and make some murderous assault near the Palisade or Fort, in order that, at the noise of this massacre, the enemy might make a sortie from the place and be drawn into the ambuscade, and the other side be en- abled to make themselves masters of the Fort without difficulty, when it should be stripped of its garrison. " Accordingly, arriving in sight of the Fort, they laid the ambuscade, and sent [128] men to make the first approaches to the Palisade ; but as they saw no one come out, and as every one kept himself in- trenched in the Fort, they resolved to proceed to open war and to attack the place in the same manner that the Loups had attacked Gandaouagu6. But, in truth, it was with much less success; for meeting with a Palisade impervious to all their blows, they despaired of being able to force it, and were at length obliged to retire in much confusion, without having killed or wounded a single one of the enemy, while two of their own number had been wounded. ' ' At the time when these four hundred men were coming back without having succeeded in their 158 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.53 Au temps que ces quatre cens hommes retournoient fans avoir reuffi dans leur entreprife; vne petite bande compof^e feulement de cinq guerriers, arriua d'un autre quartier, toute glorieufe d'en avoir raport6 vne chevelure & amen6 un prifonnier. le n'eflois pas pour lors k Gandaoiiagu6 pour le difpofer au Baptefme : mais vne de nos Chrefliennes nomm6e Marie Tfmoiientes, qui auoit d6ja quelque- fois fait I'ofi&ce de Catechifte avec bien du [129] fuccez, s'eflant rendue au lieu oii efloit ce captif, elle fut fort furprife de voir qu'il faifoit fa priere ^ Dieu, felon ce qu'il avoit apris par my des Sauvages Chreftiens, inflruits par ceux de nos Peres qui out foin des MifTions Algonquines : Elle s'aprocha de luy, & I'inftruifit de nos myfteres. Ce pauure homme tout remply de confolation remercia cette genereufe Chreflienne de ce qu'elle luy rendoit cette charity, dans un pais ennemy, oh il avoit cru ne pouvoir trouver autre chofe, qu'une cruelle mort. En effet il fut mis 'k mort quelques iours apr6s: mais il mourut comme un predeflin6, ayant efl6 baptif^ un peu auparavant. Ce font comme les premices de cette Nation fi nombreufe des Loups, oh. i'efpere qu'un iour Dieu donnera entree h. la foy, & que quelques enfans de ce pais, qui font allez au Ciel par un heureux Baptefme, y attireront fur leurs parens les benedictions du Ciel, & les lumieres de la Foy. [130] §. III. DE l'estat du christianisme parmy LES AGNIES. COMME ie faifois un iour la vifite des Bourgades qui font du reflCort de ma Miffion; ce que ie fais tons les buit iours, k moins que le mauvais temps 1669-70] RELATION OF i6bg-yo 159 undertaking, a little band composed of only five war- riors arrived from another direction, all boastful at having brought back a scalp and led home a prisoner. ' ' I was not, at that time, at Gandaouagu6, to prepare him for Baptism ; but one of our Christian women, named Marie Tsinouentes, — who had already some- times performed the office of Catechist, with much [129] success, — repairing to the place where this prisoner was, was greatly surprised to see that he was offering his prayer to God, according to what he had learned among Christian Savages, who were instructed by those of our Fathers who have charge of the Algonquin Missions. She drew near him and instructed him in our mysteries; and that poor man, quite filled with consolation, thanked this generous Christian for showing him such charity in a hostile country, where he had thought that he could find nothing else than a cruel death. In fact, he was put to death some days afterward; but he died as one predestined, having been baptized a little while before. These are the first-fruits, so to speak, of that numerous Nation of the Loups, where I hope God will some day give entrance to the faith ; and I also hope that some children of that country, who have gone to Heaven by means of a happy Baptism, will there secure for their relatives the blessings of Heaven and the light of the Faith." [130] §111. OF THE STATE OF CHRISTIANITY AMONG THE AGNIES. ^ ^ A s I was one day visiting the Villages that are i\ within the province of my Mission, — a thing which I do every week, unless the bad weather makes it impossible for me, — I was strangely surprised at 160 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.63 ne me mette dans rimpoffibilit6 de le f aire : ie fus eftrangement furpris de voir au milieu de la place d'un de ces Bourgs, vne grande Croix qu'on venoit d'y planter. D'abord ie me mis k genoux devant cette Croix, tant pour adorer mon Sauveur qui venoit prendre poffefllon de ce pais, que pour en donner de la veneration aux Habitans : apr^s quoy ie demanday qui eftoit celuy dont la piet6 s'eftoit port^e k planter cette Croix. On me r^pondit que la cbofe s'eftoit faite par le confentement de tons les Habitans, & qu'on I'avoit iug^e de tres-grande importance pour rvtilit6 publique. Vne devotion tout enfemble & G nouvelle parmy ces peuples, & fl generalement receue, me combla de ioye; & me porta k me faire inftruire du motif [131] qu'ils avoient eu de I'eftablir. On me dit que celuy qu'ils reconnoiffoient tons comme le prophete du pais, avoit apris en fonge, qu'il falloit planter vne Croix au milieu du Bourg, parce qu'elle les protege- roit & les defendroit- contre leurs ennemis, qui ne pourroient iamais les vaincre, tant qu'elle fubfifte- roit. Que cette Croix eftoit la maiftreffe de la vie. Vous pouvez penfer combien ce difcours me furprit, & iufqu'oii alia mon raviffement, de voir que I'ennemy mefme de la Foy eftoit le premier ^ I'^tablir. Ie pris de Ik fujet de les inftruire du myftere de la Croix, & de leur confirmer ce que leur prophete clairement leur avoit dit, qu'elle eftoit adorable, & veritablement la fource de la vie. Ie ne fgeus pour lors que penfer d'un fonge fl extraordinaire, auquel nos Sauvages, qui felon leur couftume le prennent pour vne Divinit6, avoient fi promptement & fl fidelement obey, finon que quoy 1669-70J RELATION OF j66g-7o 161 seeing, in the middle of the open space in one of these Villages, a large Cross that had just been erected there. I immediately knelt before this Cross, not only to adore my Savior who had just taken pos- session of this country, but to inspire in the Inhab- itants veneration for the Cross ; after which I asked who was the man whose piety had led him to erect it. They answered me that the thing had been done through the agreement of all the Inhabitants, and that it had been deemed of great importance for the public good. " A devotion so new among those tribes, and at the same time so generally received, overwhelmed me with joy, and prompted me to inquire into the motive [131] which they had entertained in its estab- lishment. I was told that he whom they all recog- nized as the prophet of the country had learned, in a dream, that a Cross must be planted in the middle of the Village, because it would protect them and defend them against their enemies, who would never be able to conquer them as long as it stood there ; and that this Cross was the master of life. You can imagine how much this speech surprised me, and to what length my delight went at seeing that the very enemy of the Faith was the first to establish it. I thereupon took occasion to instruct them in the mystery of the Cross, and to confirm before them what their prophet had clearly told them, — that it was adorable, and truly the source of life. ' ' I knew not at that time what to think of so extraordinary a dream, — to which our Savages, regarding it, according to their custom, as a Divinity, had rendered such prompt and faithful obedience, — unless that, although it was the Demon himself who 162 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.53 que ce fufl le Demon mefme qui euft donn6 ce fage confeil au faux prophete de cette Bourgade, j'avois quelque forte de raifon d'en efperer un bon [132] fuccez: par ce que ie voyois que le Royaume de Sathan s'alloit d6truire par luy mefme. En effet li la Croix eft ador6e comme le fouftien & I'apuy du pais, il eft fans doute que le Chriftianifme y regnera bien toft : fi la prophetie fe trouue fauffe, j'auray fujet de deftruire le faux Dieu du pais, en decreditant le fonge, pour y eftablir la Foy du vray Dieu de toute la terre. Ie loue fa bont^ infinie de Touverture qu'il nous donne pour entrer fi aifement dans le coeur de tons nos Sauvages, & de la facility que nous en avons k leur infpirer les parolles de la vie & du falut. Ie n'en ay trouv6 que deux dans toutes nos Bourgades, qui ne m'ayent pas voulu 6couter fur ces matieres importantes: I'un defquels eft mort comme un reprouv^. En huit mois i'en ay baptifay cinquante trois, dont la pluf-part eftoitent des enfans, qui font morts auffi-toft apres auoir receu le Baptefme. Car come nous nous defions iuftement de leur inconftance naturelle, i'en ay pen baptif6 hors du danger de mort. La grande moiffon qui commence k meurir, nous fournira [133] comme i'efpere, dequoy travailler les deux annees fuivantes. I 'invite k vne recolte fi abondante les ames genereufes & pleines de zele. §. IV. LES EFFETS D'UNE PROVIDENCE ADMIRABLE DE DIEU SUR LE SALUT DE QUELQUES SAUVAGES. DiEV fouvent m'a conduit tout "k propos pour le falut de quelques-uns, auf quels il ne reftoit de vie, qu'au tant qu'il en falloit pour les difpofer au Baptefme. 1669 - 70] RELA TJON OF 1669-70 163 had given this sage counsel to the false prophet of that Village, I had some reason to hope for a good [132] result therefrom; because I saw that the King- dom of Satan was about to be destroyed even by himself. Indeed, if the Cross is worshiped as the stay and support of the country, it is beyond doubt that Christianity will soon reign there; but if the prophecy prove false, I shall have ground for de- stroying the false God of the country by discrediting dreams, in order to establish there the Faith of the true God of all the earth. ' ' I praise his infinite goodness for the opening he gives us for entering so easily into the hearts of all our Savages; and for the facility which we enjoy from him, in inspiring in them the words of life and of salvation. I have found only two persons, in all our Villages, who were unwilling to listen to me on these important matters, and one of them has died a reprobate. In eight months, I have baptized fifty- three persons, of whom the greater part were children who died immediately after receiving Baptism ; for, as we justly distrust their natural inconstancy, I have baptized few who were not in danger of dying. The great harvest that is beginning to ripen will furnish us, [133] as I hope, a field for labor during the next two years. I invite souls generous and full of zeal to a harvest so abundant." §IV. THE EFFECTS OF AN ADMIRABLE PROVIDENCE OF GOD ON THE SALVATION OF SOME SAVAGES. i i /'"> OD has often guided me quite opportunely for V_J the salvation of some persons in whom there was left only so much life as was necessary to prepare them for Baptism. 164 LES RELATIONS DES jtSUITES [Vol.53 Le fecond de Novembre 1669. ayant iug6 k propos d'aller viCiter mes Sauvages, qui eftoient ^ la pefclie k dix lieues du Bourg oii ie demeure, eflant arriv6 au lieu oti ie les auois veu I'Eft^ paff6, ie fus fort furpris de n'y trouver perfonne. Mais comme ie m'en retournois pour aller paller la nuit fous quelques ^corces que j'avois remarqu6es en pallant, ie fus infpir^ de fuivre un petit fentier que ie rencontray k r^cart, il me vint vne forte penf6e, [134] que ie trouvois infailliblement ce que i'eftois venu chercher de fi loin. Les feuls pas d'une perfonne que i'aper- ceus fraicliement imprimez fur la neige, me porterent "k m'abandonner "k cette route inconnue. Ie penetray done tout feul dans ces vaftes Forefls : ce n'eftoit pas neantmoins fans quelque forte inquietude, k caufe que la nuit n'efloit pas fort 61oign6e: enfin apres deux grandes lieues de chemin i'arivay heureufement le Soleil coucli6, au lieu oti les Sauvages avoient dreff6 leurs Cabannes. Si tous ces pauures Sauvages furent ravis de me voir ; ie vous affeure que ie le fus encore beaucoup plus, de les avoir trouvez : mais tout le bon accueil qu'ils me firent, en me regalant de quelques petits poiffons, n'aporta pas tant d'adouciffement aux fatigues de mon voyage, que le Baptefme que ie donay k un petit enfant, qui quitta auffi tofl apr6s la terre pour aller au Ciel ; & la penitence heureufe d'un moribond, qui auoit vefcu depuis long temps dans le libertinage affez ordinaire k ces peuples. Ie crus auoir eft6 affez bien recompenf^ de mes peines, que d'avoir contribu^ au [135] falut de ces deux ames, qui auroient fans doute efl6 perdues pour toute eternity, fi la providence de Dieu ne m'euft conduit d'vne maniere merveilleufe, oii elles efloient. 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g -70 165 " On the second of November, 1669, thinking it best to go to visit my Savages who were fishing, ten leagues away from the Village where I dwell, I was greatly surprised, on arriving at the place where I had seen them in the preceding Summer, not to find any one there. But as I was turning back to go and pass the night under some pieces of bark that I had noticed in passing, I was inspired to follow a little path upon which I chanced at one side, — conceiving a strong expectation [134] that I should infallibly find what I had come so far to seek. Merely the steps of some person, which I perceived freshly im- printed in the snow, induced me to abandon myself to this unknown route. I accordingly penetrated all alone into those vast Forests, but not without some strong anxiety, for night was not far distant. At length, after a journey of two long leagues, I safely arrived, at Sunset, at the place where the Savages had erected their Cabins. If all those poor Savages were delighted to see me, I assure you I was still much more so at having found them. But all the kind reception that they gave me, regaling me with some little fishes, did not afford so great alleviation to the fatigues of my journey as the Baptism that I gave a little child, — who immediately afterward left the earth, to go to Heaven, — and the fortunate repentance of a dying man who had, for a long time, lived the licentious life that is common with these peoples. I thought myself sufficiently rewarded for my pains, in having contributed to the [135] salva- tion of those two souls, — who, without doubt, would have been lost for all eternity, had not God's provi- dence conducted me in a marvelous manner to the place where they were. lt)6 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol, 53 Vn guerrier qu'on rapportoit dangereufement malade, en paffant par le Bourg oil i'eflois, y coucha feulement vne nuit: Comme i'en fus aduerty, ie me tranfportay auffi toft dans la Cabanne oil il eftoit, fon mal me paroiffoit eftre fans remede. Ie luy parlay fortement de fon falut, & ie fus affez heureux pour en eftre 6cout6 avec plaifir. Ie le difpofe, en luy faifant faire des prieres 'k Dieu, ^ en obtenir la grace du Baptefme, & d'une bonne mort, & I'ayant quitt6 pour vne affaire preffante, avec deffein de revenir dans un moment, pour achever fon inftrudtion, & pour le baptifer, ie retournay auffi toft, & ne le trou- vat plus, ie fus faifi d'vne frayeur horrible, dans la crainte qu'il ne fuft mort fans le Baptefme, par ma faute: mais i'apris qu'on I'avoit tranfport6 dans un autre Bourg, eloign^ de celuy oil il avoit paffe la nuit, d' environ deux lieues & demie. Ie m'y rends en diligence, & par [136] le plus grand bon-heur du monde, ie le trouvay encor en vie. Mon nepveu, luy dit un de fes oncles, qui eftoit de mes amis, voicy celuy qui porte la parolle de Dieu, qui te vient cher- cher f9aclaant le danger on tu es : & comme il veut te procurer un bon-heur eternel, 6coute bien ce qu'il te dira, & ne manque pas de I'executer. II t6moigna qu'il m'^couteroit volontiers. Ie luy parlay done de Dieu, & des grandes efperances que nous donne la Foy Chreftienne. Ie le fis prier avec moy, & en fuitte ie le baptifay avec vne ioye incroyable. Ce fut la veille de fa mort, & de fon bon-heur eternel. I'en rencontray un autre en faifant mes vifites ordinaires, que la mifere avoit rendu auffi pale & auffi defait qu'un mort. Ie le faliiay, & I'encourageay "k fouffrir fon mal avec patience, n'ayant pas pour lors 1669-70] RELATJON OF i66g-70 167 " A warrior who was being carried home danger- ously ill, on passing the Village where I was, slept there one night only. When I was informed of this, I repaired immediately to the Cabin where he was. His illness seemed to me beyond remedy. I spoke to him earnestly about his salvation, and was so for- tunate as to be listened to with pleasure. Causing him to offer up prayers to God, I prepared him to obtain from him the grace of Baptism and of a good death ; then leaving him, to attend to an urgent mat- ter, — and purposing to return in a moment, in order to finish his instruction and baptize him, — I came back very soon, and, finding him no longer there, was seized with a horrible fright, in the fear lest he had died without Baptism, through fault of mine. But I learned that he had been conveyed to another Village, distant about two leagues and a half from that in which he had passed the night. I repaired thither in haste, and, by [136] the greatest good luck in the world, found him still alive. ' My nephew,' one of his uncles, who was a friend of mine, said to him, ' here is the man who bears the word of God ; he has come to seek thee, knowing the danger thou art in ; and, as he wishes to procure thee an eternal happiness, listen well to what he will tell thee, and fail not to put it in practice. ' He declared that he would willingly listen to me; and I accordingly spoke to him of God, and the great hopes given us by the Christian Faith. I made him pray with me, and then baptized him with incredible joy. This was the eve of his death and of his eternal happiness. "I met another man, while paying my ordinary visits, whom poverty had rendered as pale and ema- ciated as a corpse. I saluted him, and encouraged 168 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.53 le loifir de rentre[te]nir. D6s le lendemain matin ie I'alay voir pour luy parler de fon falut, k quoy il prit tant de plaifir, qu'il me pria de ne le point aban- donner dans vne affaire fi importante. Peu de iours apres fe trouvant affez inftruit, & fort touchy, il m'enuoya un de [137] fes parens pour me prier de le venir baptifer. Quand ie le vis fl refolu de faire tout ce que ie luy avois dit; & fur tout de ne point fe iamais fervir de ceux qui invoquent les Demons dans leurs remedes, ie le baptifay, quoy que le danger de fa maladie ne paruft pas encore li euident ; mais afin qu'il profitaft du peu de temps qui luy reftoit h. viure. En effet plus fon mal s'augmentoit, & plus il penfoit ^ I'autre vie, & avoit moins de peine k quitter celle- cy. Si ie ne I'allois vifiter trois fois le iour, il m'en- voyoit querer. Ca, mon frere, difoit-il prions Dieu : & il avoit fi fort k coeur I'exercice de la priere, que fi ie luy donnois quelques petites douceurs, que i 'avois couftume de donner aux malades, il n'en vouloit point prendre, qu'il n'eufb rendu auparavant ce petit bommage k Noftre Seigneur. Voicy fes bons fenti- mens, & fes prieres ordinaires qu'il faifoit pendant fa maladie. I E s v s , difoit-il, toy qui es le Maiftre de ma vie, ie te remercie d'avoir eu piti6 de moy. Ie fgais maintenant que tu m'as aim6: car fi ie fuffe mort k la guerre, oh i'ay eft6 fi fouvent, ie brulerois k prefent [138] dans les feux d'enfer, qui ne s'eftei- gnent point. Tu as eu la bont6 de me prolonger la vie, pour quelque temps, & de m'envoyer un de ceux qui portent ta parolle, & qui vont prefcber la Foy par tout le monde, afin de m'inflruire & de me baptifer : apr^s quoy tu veux me faire quitter la terre pour me conduire au Ciel, oh. ie dois eftre eternelle- 1669 -70] RELA TION OF i66g-7o 169 him to suflFer his affliction with patience, having at that time no leisure to enter into discourse with him. On the next morning, I went to see him, in order to speak to him concerning his salvation, — wherein he took so much pleasure that he begged me not to leave him in so important a matter. A few days later, finding himself sufficiently instructed, and deeply moved, he sent one of [137] his relatives to me, to beg me to come and baptize him. When I saw him so resolved to do all that I had told him, and, above all, never to employ those who invoke the Demons in their remedies, I baptized him, although the dan- ger of his disease did not yet appear so evident; but I did so, that he might profit by the little time there was left to him to live. In truth, the more his dis- ease increased, the more he thought about the other life and the less difficulty he had in leaving this. If I did not go to visit him three times a day, he would send for me. ' Corae, my brother,' he would say, ' let us pray to God ; ' and he had the exercise of prayer so much at heart that, if I gave him some little sweets that I was accustomed to give to the sick, he was unwilling to take any until he had first rendered this little homage to Our Lord. I give here his good sentiments and his customary prayers, which he was wont to oflFer during his illness. 'Jesus,' he would say, ' thou who art the Master of my life, I thank thee for having taken pity on me. I know now that thou didst love me ; for, had I died in the war, where I have so often been, I wotild be burning at this moment [13S] in the fires of hell, which are never extinguished. Thou hast had the goodness to prolong my life for some time, and to send me one of those who bear thy word and go all 170 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 53 ment heureux. le te remercie, Iesvs, de t'eftre fouvenu de moy : ie me fouviendray auffi de toy tant que ie viuray : Ie t'offre de tout mon cceur ce que ie fouffre : tu as fouffert pour moy, parce que tu nous aimois: & moy ie fouffre pour toy, parce que i'ay pecli6. Aye done piti6 de moy, oublie toy de mes pecliez, & ne permets pas qu'ils m'entrainent dans les enfers. Ces prieres me donnoient de la devotion, & m'o- bligeoient k Taller voir autant de fois qu'il le defire- roit, auant que de mourir. II appella le peu de parens qu'il avoit, & leur dit, ie veux qu'on f9aclie que ie fuis Chreftien. Ainfi qu'on 6coute la voix de ce Pere qui m'a baptif6, & qui m'ouvre le chemin du Ciel oti eft le bon-heur [139] eternel. Faites tout ce qu'il ordonnera pour mon enterrement ; car ie veux eftre enterr^ comme les Chreftiens, & fi vous m'aimez, vous ferez tous comme moy, & mour6s tous Chreftiens. II fit venir en fuite la plus fervente de nos Chrefti- ennes, afin qu'elle publiaft ce qu'il venoit de dire: & il luy donna le petit meuble qu'il avoit, crainte qu'on ne I'enteraft avec luy, felon la couftume du pais. II demanda d6s-lors k eftre tranfport6 dans noftre Chapelle, afin d'y mourir & d'y eftre enterr6. Pour fa confolation ie I'entretins dans cette efperance, tant qu'il vefcut: mais ie ne pus luy accorder qu'une par- tie de ce qu'il demandoit, il y fut enterre. A chaque vifite il me reiteroit fouvent cette priere, difant que puis qu'il eftoit tout k Dieu, il ne pouvoit mieux mourir que dans la maifon de Dieu. Ie le veillay jufqu'k deux heures apres minuit. II rendit fon ame k Dieu le 27. lanvier, & il eftoit age 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g- JO 171 over the world to preach the Faith, in order that he might instruct and baptize me; after which thou wilt make me leave the earth, to conduct me to Heaven, where I am to be eternally happy. I thank thee, Jesus, for having remembered me ; I will also remember thee as long as I live. With all my heart I offer thee my sufferings : thou didst suffer for me because thou lovedst us, and I, on my part, suffer for thee because I have sinned. Have pity on me, then ; forget my sins, and suffer them not to dra^ me down to hell. ' " These prayers inspired me with devotion, and obliged me to go to see him as often as he wished, before he should die. " He summoned the few relatives he had, and said to them : ' I wish it to be known that I am a Christian. Therefore let the voice of this Father be heard, who has baptized me, and who opens for me the road to Heaven, where there is eternal happiness. [139] Do all that he shall order for my burial; for I wish to be buried like the Christians. And if you love me, you will all do as I have done, and will all die Christians.' " He then had the most fervent of our Christian women come to him, in order that she might publish what he had just said; and he gave her the few personal effects he had, for fear lest they might be buried with him, according to the custom of the country. He then asked to be carried into our Chapel, in order to die and be buried there. For his consolation, I kept him in this hope as long as he lived, but could grant him only a part of what he asked ; he was buried there. This petition he often repeated to me at each visit, — sa3dng that, since he 172 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Voi,. 53 de trente huit ans, n'ayant vefcu qu'tin mois apres f on baptefme ; & il paffa tout ce temps avec autant de piet6 qu'euft pii faire un tres-fervent [140] Religieux pour fe difpofer k la mort. II fit auffi paroiftre vne patience admirable dans des douleurs tres-violentes qu'il fouffroit durant fa maladie. II s'appelloit TegannahKoiialifen ; ie luy avois donn6 le nom de lean au baptefme. Ie le fis apporter dans noflre Chapelle apres fa mort, oil ayant demeur6 expof6 quelque temps, nos Chreftiens le porterent en terre avec le plus de folem- nit6 qu'il nous fufl poffible. On portoit vne Banniere qui marquoit 1' innocence baptifmale qu'il avoit port6e dans le Ciel. I'allumay tout ce que i'avois de Cierges, pour luy faire comme vne Chapelle ardente. La foulle du ^peuple y fut fi grande, que noftre Cba- pelle ne pouvoit tous las contenir. Ie trouvay que c'eftoit vne occalion favorable de prefcher, mefme aux Infidelles qui s'y trouverent en grand nombre. Mes Freres, leur difois-je, vous pleurez, & vous eftes accablez de trifteffe k la mort de vos parens: mais nous autres Ciireftiens, nous cbantons & nous nous rejouiilons, lorfque quelques-uns des noftres meurent, [141] ainfi que vous voyez maintenant. Les ames bien-heureufes qui font au Ciel, ont d6ia receu avec ioye celle de cet homme dont vous voyez Ik le corps : elle y eft combl6e d'vne ioye qui ne finira iamais. Ces Cierges que vous voyez allumez, font comme des eftoilles du Ciel, oii il eft k prefent couronn6 de gloire; & cette belle eftoffe dont ie I'ay convert, n'eft qu'vne foible reprefentation de la robe admirable & 6clatante dont Dieu I'a reveftu. Au refte, nous ne fommes venus icy, & nous n'avons quitt6 nos 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 173 ■was wholly God's, he could not die better than in the house of God. " I watched with him until two hours after mid- night. He gave up his soul to God on the 27th of January, at the age of thirty-eight years, having lived only a month after his baptism, all of which time he passed with as much piety as could have been shown by a very fervent [140] Religious in prep- aration for death. He also showed an admirable patience, in very violent pains suffered by him dur- ing his illness. He was called Tegannahkouahsen; I had given him the name of Jean at baptism. " I had him carried into our Chapel after his death ; and, after remaining exposed there for some time, our Christians bore him to the grave with all the solemnity that was possible for us. A Banner was borne, as emblem of the baptismal innocence that he had carried to Heaven. I lighted all the Candles I had, to make for him, a sort of Chapelle ardente. The crowd of people there was so great that our Chapel could not hold them all. I found that it was a favorable opportunity to preach, even to the Infidels who were present in great num- bers. ' My Brothers,' I said to them, ' you weep, and you are overcome with grief at the death of your relatives ; but as for us Christians, we sing and rejoice, just as you see us doing now, when any of our people die. [141] The blessed souls that are in Heaven, have already received with joy that of this man, whose body you see there. It is crowned with a joy that will never cease. These Candles which you see lighted are as stars of Heaven, where he is now crowned with glory; and this fine stuff with which I have covered him, is only a feeble represen- 174 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.53 parens, nos biens & la douceur de noftre patrie, que pour vous procurer k tous le mefme bon-heur que ie vous promets de la part de Dieu, & qui vous fera infaillible, ft vous 6coutez fa parolle, & fl vous obeifTez ^ fa loy avec fidelit6. Apres ce petit difcours, le Convoy marcba, & nous le fuivions en chantant des Pfeaumes, iufqu'au lieu oh. ce corps devoit eflre enterr6. Pen de iours apr6s un petit enfant de fes proclies parens fut baptif6, & s'alla ioindre avec luy dans le Ciel. [142] Dieu fe fervit de cette beureufe mort, pour toucher G fortement fa mere, qu'elle vint publique- ment me preffer de I'affocier k la compagnie de nos Chreftiens : mais quoy qu'elle euft efl6 fort inftruite, toutesfois ie voulus differer encore fon baptefme, ne pouvant k mon advis apporter trop de precaution pour accorder cette faveur, qui eft d'autant plus eftim6e, qu'elle coufte plus k obtenir. Dans la mefme Cabanne, fix perfonnes, tant adultes qu'enfans, moururent fort peu de temps apr6s, ayans tous receu le faint Baptefme. Heureufe Cabanne d' avoir eft6 le fejour de tant de predeftinez, vous meritez d'eftre cent fois plus prif6e, que tous les Palais des Grands. Ie finiray par le recit d'vne mort qui ne fut pas ttioins precieufe devant Dieu. II eft vray qu'elle me fut aifez f enfible, parce que ie perdois le plus ferme appuy de cette Eglife naiffante. C'eftoit d'vne ancienne Chreftienne, qui avoit toUjours conferv6 vne rare innocence, au milieu du libeititlage & de rimpiet6 de [143] ceux de fon pais. Son plus grand vice, eftoit de fe mettre quelque fois en colere coiitr& 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 175 tation of the admirable and shining robe with which God has clothed him. Moreover, we have come hither and have left otir relatives, our property, and the comfort of our native land, only to procure for you all the same happiness, — which I promise you in God's name, and which will infallibly be yours if you listen to his word and obey his law with faith- fulness. ' ' ' After this little discourse, the funeral Procession set forth ; and we followed it, singing Psalms, to the place where the body was to be interred. " A few days afterward, a little child, one of his near relatives, was baptized, and went to join him in Heaven. [142] " God made use of this blessed death to touch the man's mother — so powerfully, that she came publicly to urge me to associate her with the company of our Christians. But, although she had been well instructed, I nevertheless wished to defer her baptism still longer, as it was my opinion that I could not use too much precaution in granting this favor, — which is the more esteemed, the more it costs to obtain it. " In the same Cabin six persons, adults as well as children, died very soon afterward, having all received holy Baptism. Happy Cabin, to have been the abode of so many predestined ones ! You deserve to be a hundred times more prized than all the Palaces of the Great. " I will finish with the account of a death that was not less precious before God. It is true, it was the cause of much grief to me, because I lost the firmest support of this new-born Church. It was the death of an old Christian woman, who had always preserved 176 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 53 ceux qui parloient mal de noftre Foy. Son zele efloit fi grand pour I'augmenter, qu'elle prefchoit par tout oh elle rencontroit des auditeurs : mais elle efloit plus admirable lorfqu'elle s'acquittoit de cet employ dans la Chapelle, & qu'elle y expliquoit les tableaux qu'on y expofoit pour ce fuiet. Elle me venoit quelquefois trouver avec neuf ou dix ieunes filles, qu'elle avoit gagn^es k la Foy. Tiens, mon frere, me difoit-elle, voilk de braves enfans que ie t'amene, enfeigne leur bien les principes du Chrifli- anifme, & acbeve ce que i'ay commence. Elle com- men9oit & finiffoit ordinairement fes entretiens, par leur repref enter fortement qu'il n'y avoit rien au monde de plus important que la Foy, & le fervice de Dieu. Auffi eftant malade ^ la mort, c'eftoit prefque I'unique fentiment qu'elle imprimoit k fes deux j&Ues; & elle le faifoit avec tant de zele & d'ondlion, que fes paroles penetroient leur coeur, & les remplilToient d'vne confolation G fenfible, que furvenant [144] quelquefois lorfqu'ils eftoient dans ce faint entretien, ie trouvois la mere & les filles toutes baign6es de larmes. Quoy qu'elle fut fi fort incommodee, qu'^ peine pouvoit-elle fortir de fa cabanne; toutefois elle ne manquoit iamais de venir tendre fes petits devoirs i Nofbre Seigneur, au foir & au matin, dans la Chapelle ; quelque vive douleur qu'elle reffentift, & quelque mauvais temps qu'il put faire : & elle y demeu- roit ordinairement vne demie-beure, h. chaque fois. Depuis qu'elle eut conceu I'efperance d'vne vie immortelle, elle n'eut plus d'attacbe pour celle-cy, quoy qu'il foit naturel aux Sauvages d'eflablir leur felicit6 dans fa confervation. Dieu eft le Maiftre de 1669-7 0] RELA TION OF 1669 - 70 177 a rare innocence in the midst of the licentiousness and impiety of [143] the people of her country. Her greatest vice was, that she sometimes became angry with those who spoke ill of our Faith. Her zeal was so great for its extension that she used to preach wherever she found auditors; but she was more worthy of admiration when she discharged this func- tion in the Chapel, and explained the pictures there that were shown for this purpose. She sometimes came to find me, with nine or ten young girls that she had won over to the Faith. ' Here, my brother,' she would say to me, ' here are some fine children whom I bring to thee ; teach them well the principles of Christianity, and finish what I have begun. ' She commonly began and ended her talks by represent- ing, with great earnestness, to her hearers that there was nothing in the world of greater importance than the Faith and the service of God. So when she was sick unto death, this was almost the only sentiment that she impressed on her two daughters, — doing it with so much zeal and unction that her words pene- trated their hearts ; and filled them with such tender consolation that, coming upon them [144] sometimes when they were engaged in this holy intercourse, I used to find mother and daughters all bathed in tears. " Although she was so seriously indisposed that she could hardly leave her cabin, yet she never failed to come, morning and evening, to pay her little respects to Our Lord in the Chapel, however intense the pain that she felt, and however bad the weather might be; and she commonly remained there half an hour each time. ' ' Since she had conceived the hope of an immortal life, she felt no longer any attachment for this one, 178 LES RELA TIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol. 53 nos vies, difoit-elle, ie fuis toufiours prefle de luy rendre quand il luy plaira, celle qu'il m'a donn6e. L'amour de la puret6 que la Foy fit naiftre en fon ame, eftoit fi admirable, qu'au moindre mot qu'elle entendoit qui put bleffer cette vertu, Ne fcavez-vous pas, difoit-elle aux plus libertins, que ie fuis Chre- ftienne, & que la Foy [145] m'eft plus precieufe mille fois que la vie. EUe s'eftoit rendue la prefence de Noftre Seigneur fi familiere, qu'elle continua des'entretenir avec luy, iufqu'k ce qu'elle luy rendift fon ame. Elle mourut apres avoir receu tons les Sacrements qu'on admi- niftre en cette extremit6; & elle nous laiffa tout enfemble & Ie regret de fa perte, & la confolation du bon-heur dont ie croy qu'elle iouit dans Ie Ciel. §. V. DU ZELE ADMIRABLE QUE NOS CHRESTIENNES ONT MONTR^ DANS LA DEFFENSE DE LEUR FOY, PAR LES DISPUTES CONTRE LES HOLLANDOIS, & DE LEUR FERVEUR EN D'AUTRES RENCONTRES. IL n'eft pas croyable combien Ie voifinage des Hol- landois nuit k la Foy, foit k caufe de I'eau-de-vie qu'ils vendent k nos Sauvages, qui leur eft vne fource eternelle de debauches, foit parce qu'ils tachent de leur donner de mauvaifes. impreffions de noftre Reli- gion. II [146] eft vray que depuis quelque temps ils font plus refervez en cette matiere, parce qu'ils ont fouvent 6prouv6 que la fermet^ & la capacity mefmes de nos Cbreftiens leur oftoient toute efperance de pouvoir les 6branler. I'en rapporteray quelques exemples, qui feront voir tout enfemble & rimpiet6 de ces Heretiques, & la piet6 de nos Cbrefliens. 1669-70] RELATION OF 1669-70 179 although it is natural for the Savages to base their happiness on its preservation. ' God is the Master of our lives, ' she would say ; ' I am always ready to give back to him, when he pleases, that which he has given me.' " The love of purity which the Faith caused to spring up in her soul was so admirable that, at the least word that she heard which could wound this virtue, she would say to the more licentious ones : ' Do you not know that I am a Christian, and that the Faith [145] is a thousand times more precious to me than life ? ' " She had rendered Our Lord's presence so famil- iar to her that she continued to talk with him up to the moment of rendering up her soul. She died after receiving all the Sacraments that are administered in case of extremity, leaving with us at the same time regret at her loss, and consolation at the happi- ness which I believe she is enjoying in Heaven." §V. OF THE ADMIRABLE ZEAL WHICH OUR CHRIS- TIAN WOMEN SHOWED IN THE DEFENSE OF THEIR FAITH, BY DISPUTES WITH THE DUTCH, AND OF THEIR FERVOR ON OTHER OCCASIONS. f ^ T T is beyond belief how much the neighborhood 1 of the Dutch injures the Faith, — both on account of the brandy that they sell to our Savages, which is to the latter an unending source of debauch- ery, and because they try to give them bad impres- sions of our Religion. It [146] is true that for some time the Dutch have been more guarded in this matter, because they have often found by experience that the firmness and ability even of our Christians took 180 LES RELATIONS DES JASUITES [Vol.53 Vn iour que ces ennemis de la Foy s'apperceurent qu'vne bonne femme portoit par tout oil elle alloit, vne image de la fainte Vierge, pour ne perdre iamais de veuS celle en qui elle avoit apres Iesvs-Christ, toute fon efperance; ils firent tout I'iniaginable pour la deftoumer de cette fainte pratique : & comme ils virent en mefme temps que la pieufe couftume de nos Cli[r]efliennes efloit de porter un Cliapelet]au;col, pour faire vne profeffion publique de leur Religion, ils tacherent de les en d6tourner par des paroles arti- ficieufes, & color^es d'vne fauffe apparance de piet6. N'eft-ce pas idolatrer, leur difoient-ils, que de rendre k vne creature I'lionneur, qui n'efl deu qu'^ Dieu feul: [147] & que vous efles mal-beureufes d'eflre tombdes entre les mains de gens, qui au lieu de vous retirer de I'idolatrie, vous y engagent tout de nouveau? En quel lieu de I'Efcriture ont-ils veu que Dieu nous ordonne de le prier fur quelque petits morceaux de bois, tels que vous les portez fur vous? Ces cbofes font des ouvrages de I'efprit humain, & non des loix du Seigneur. Vne de nos Chreftiennes qui efloit prefente, ne put fouflfrir un difcours fi impie vne iufte indignation luy fit prendre auffi toft la parolle pour toutes les autres, & la porta k r^pondre aux Heretiques en ces termes. Certainement vous montrez ou que vous auez bien peu d'efprit, ou que vous croyez que nous fommes bien peu 6clair6es dans noflre foy. Penfez-vous que nous lionnorions la fainte Vierge comme la MaiftreUe de nos vies ? Vous vous trompez : nous f 9avons trop bien le culte que nous devons k Dieu, pour le rendre k vne creature. Nous n'ignorons pas que c'eft luy feul qui a cre€ toutes chofes; & qu'ainfi c'efl luy 1669-70] RELATION OF t66g-7o 181 from their opponents all hope of being able to shake them. I will relate some examples of this, which will show at the same time the impiety of those Heretics and the piety of our Christians. " One day when those enemies of the Faith per- ceived that a good woman wore, wherever she went, an image of the blessed Virgin, that she might never lose sight of her in whom, next tojESUS Christ, she reposed all her hope, they did everything im- aginable to make her discontinue this holy practice. And when they saw, at the same time, that it was the pious custom of our Christian women to wear a Rosary at the neck, in order to make a public profes- sion of their Religion, they tried, by words that were guileful and colored with a false appearance of piety, to turn them from this practice. ' Is it not worshiping idols,' they asked them, 'to render to a created being the honor that is due to God alone ? [147] And are you not unfortunate in having fallen into the hands of people who, instead of reclaiming you from idolatry, engage you in it anew? In what passage of Scripture did they see that God orders us to pray to him over some little pieces of wood, such as you wear upon you? These things are works of the human mind, and not laws of the Lord. ' " One of our Christian women who was present could not suffer such an impious discourse ; a right- eous indignation made her immediately take the word, on behalf of all the rest, and prompted her to answer the Heretics in these terms : ' You certainly show either that you have very little sense, or that you believe us to be very little enlightened in our faith. Do you imagine that we honor the blessed Vir- gin as the Mistress of our lives? You are deceived. 182 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol.53 feul que nous devons honnorer comme [148] noftre f ouverain Seigneur : Mais comme il a voulu f e faire homme, pour nous fauver, & qu'il a choifi Marie pour eftre fa Mere, n'eft il pas raifonnable que nous I'hon- norions en cette quality. Si Iesvs-Christ fon Fils la luy mefme lionnor^e, fi les Anges & les Saints luy rendent leurs ref pedts dans le Ciel ; pourquoy ne luy rendrons-nous pas nos devoirs fur la terre ? Au refte ce Chapelet que nous portons, nous fert pour luy rendre tons les iours un nombre regl6 de nos hommages. Son image que nous avons fi fouvent devant les yeux, la reprefente elle mefme k noflre efprit, & renouvelle dans nos coeurs I'amour, la confiance & le refpedt que nous devons avoir pour la Mere de nofhre Sauveur. Cefl ainfl que le zele de cette bonne Chreflienne triompha de la malice de ces Heretiques, qui n'oferent plus s'expofer vne autre fois k la confuCon qu'ils venoient de recevoir. La mefme chofe arriva 'k quelques autres Hollan- dois, qui s'efforcerent de decrediter dans 1' efprit de nos bonnes Sauvages, I'ufage qu'elles avoient de [149] porter un Crucifix ^ leur col. Vous efles bien Cmples, leur difoient-ils, de croire qu'il faille honorer du bois & de I'airain : comme fi c'eftoient les maiftres de nos vies. A quoy vne des plus zel^es de nos Chreftiennes r6pondit en ces termes. Quad nous prions proflernez devat cette Croix, nous ne nous adrefsos pas k ce bois, ou k ce cuivre, comme k celuy qui nous a fait ce que nous fommes : car nous fjavons trop bien que Dieu qui eft I'auteur de nos vies, eft un pur efprit, qui ne fe pent voir des yeux du corps, que nous ne verrons comme il eft, que dans le Ciel. 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g - jo I8g We know too well the worship that we owe to God, to bestow it on a creature. We are not ignorant that it is he alone who has made all things ; and that therefore it is he alone whom we ought to honor as [148] our sovereign Lord. But as he was willing to make himself man for our salvation, and as he chose Mary to be his Mother, is it not reasonable that we should honor her in that capacity? If Jesus Christ, her Son, has himself honored her, if the Angels and the Saints pay her their respects in Heaven, why shall not we render her our homage on earth? As for the rest of your reproaches, this Rosary that we wear aids us in paying to her every day a fixed number of our acts of devotion. Her image, which we have so often before our eyes, re- calls her herself to our minds, and renews in our hearts the love, the confidence, and the respect that we ought to have for our Savior's Mother.' "It is thus that the zeal of that good Christian woman triumphed over the malice of those Heretics, who dared not expose themselves a second time to the confusion which they had just experienced. " The same thing happened to some other Dutch- men who endeavored to discredit, in the minds of our good Savage women, the custom that they had of [149] wearing a Crucifix at the neck. ' You are very simple-minded,' they said to them, ' to believe it necessary to pay honor to wood and brass, as if they were the masters of our lives. ' To this one of the most zealous of our Christian women made an- swer as follows : ' When we pray, prostrated before this Cross, we do not address ourselves to this piece of wood or copper, as to him who has made us what we are; for we know too well that God, who is the 184 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.53 Nous n'ignorons pas que le bois & le cuivre font bien moins que nous, & qu'ils ne peuvent rien : mais nous portons ce Crucifix, parce qu'en le voyant nous nous xeffouvenons que Iesvs-Christ a eft6 attach^ k vne Croix, & qu'il y eft mort pour nous donner la vie, & nous meriter le Paradis: c'eft pour ce fuiet que nous I'aimons & I'adorons en cette Croix, comme nous I'adorons dans le Ciel. Vne r6ponfe fi fage, & fi pleine de piet6, toucha quelques-vns de ces Heretiques, [150] & ferma la boucbe aux autres, & ils furent tous contraints par la force de la verity, de leur dire qu'elles avoient raifon den agir ainfi, & qu'elles efloient fort bien inflruites. Nos Cbreftiennes neantmoins ne fe contenterent pas d' avoir ainfi vaincu les ennemis de noftre Foy; mais pour les empefcher de leur tenir vne autre fois de tels difcours, la plus fervente d'entre-elles, nom- m6e Marie, les entreprit bautement, & leur dit avec T^ne force digne de f on zele ; vous nous prefl!ez de ne pas 6couter la voix de ceux qui nous portent la parole de Dieu. Eft-ce vous que nous 6couterons? Vous •dis-ie, qui ne nous avez iamais enfeigfn6 qu'k mal faire? Vous qui ne cbercbez que nos Caflors & non pas le falut de nos ames? Vous qui nous cbafl!ez mefme du lieu de vos prieres, lorfque nous y voulons entrer, comme fi nous le devious profaner? Vous «nfin que le feul interefl attire en ce pai's, & non le zele de la Foy? Les Peres qui nous inftruifent n'eftant venus cbes nous que pour nous enfeigner la verity, & le chemin du Ciel, n'ont quitt6 [151] leur pals & leurs amis, que pour travailler au falut de nos ames: c'eft ce qu'ils cherchent vniquement: ils ne 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g- 70 185 author of our lives, is a pure spirit who cannot be seen with the eyes of the body, and whom we shall not see as he is except in Heaven. We are not ignorant that wood and copper are far inferior to our- selves, and that they have no power ; but we wear this Crucifix because, at sight of it, we are reminded that Jesus Christ was fastened to a Cross, and that he died there, to give us life and earn Paradise for us. That is why we love and adore him on this Cross, as we adore him in Heaven.' ' ' An answer so wise and full of piety touched some of those Heretics, [150] and closed the mouths of the others ; and they were all constrained, by the force of truth, to tell the women that they were right to act thus, and that they were very well instructed. " Our Christian women, however, did not content themselves with having thus vanquished the enemies of our Faith; but, in order to prevent them from uttering such words to them a second time, the most fervent among them, named Marie, took them boldly in hand, and said to them, with an energfy worthy of her zeal : ' You urge us not to listen to the voice of those that bear the word of God. Is it you that we shall listen to — you, I say, who have never taught us anything but wrong-doing ? You, who seek only our Beavers, and not the salvation of our souls? You, who even drive us away from the place of your prayers, when we wish to enter there, as if we would profane it? You, in fine, whom interest alone attracts to this country, and not zeal for the Faith ? The Fathers who instruct us, having come to our country only to teach us the truth and the way to Heaven, have left [151] their country and their friends only to work for the salvation of our souls ; 186 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.53 nous parlent iamais ny de Caftor, ny de Pourcelaine, ny de tout ce que nous eftimons le plus, finon pour nous porter k les m^prifer, & S, n'eftimer que le Ciel. C'eft dans cette vetie qu'ils nous difent 11 fouvent, que tous les biens de cette vie font peu ftables, qu'il les faudra quitter k la mort, & qu'il faut defirer vniquement vne vie eternelle, & les biens du Paradis que nous ne perdrons iamais. lis nous traitent mefnae avec refpedt, & iamais ils ne font plus aifes que quand nous allons k la Chapelle pour nous y faire inftruire : ainfi comme ils nous donnent les biens du Ciel, fans nous demander ceux de la terre ; il eft claire que nous devons leur donner toute creance, pMtoft qu'k. vous. Nous fommes tous refolus de leur obei'r, & de croire tout ce qu'ils nous diront; parce qu'ils ne nous diront rien qui ne foit pour le falut de nos ames; & que nous voulons eftre bien-beureux avec eux dans le Ciel. Pour vous autres, vous ferez tous damnez; car ie fgay que [152] vous ne valez rien, & que vous ne tachez qu'k nous corrompre. Sgachez done qu'apres voftre mort, I'Enfer fera voftre partage, comme ileft I'etemelle demeure des m6cbans que vous imitez. Ces Heretiques furpris de la fennet6 de cette femme, fe contenterent de luy dire, que s'ils faifoient des fautes, ils en demandoient pardon k Dieu. Oiiy mais, adjoufta cette Cbreftienne, vous ne vous con- fellez pas: & c'eft neantmoins le feul remede qui efface les pecbez. Dans le temps de cette difpute, comme la Cloche eiit fonn6 pour aller au Prefcbe cette femme y entra avec les Heretiques qu'elle venoit de vaincre, & s'eftant plac^e au milieu de I'affembl^e, telle fe mit 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g -70 187 that is what they seek solely, never speaking to us of Beaver or Porcelain, or anything that we value most highly, except to persuade us to despise these things and to value Heaven alone. It is with this view that they tell us so often that all the good things of this life are of little stability, and that we shall be forced to give them up at death ; and that we must desire solely an eternal life and the blessings of Para- dise, which we shall never lose. They even treat us with respect, and are never more pleased than when we go to Chapel to receive instruction. There- fore, as they give us the good things of Heaven, without asking us for those of earth, it is clear that we are bound to give our entire trust to them, rather than to you. We are all resolved to obey them, and to believe all that they shall tell us ; because they will tell us nothing that is not for the salvation of our souls, and because we wish to be blessed with them in Heaven. As for you people, you will all be damned; for I know that [152] you are worthless, and that you try only to corrupt us. Know then that, after your death. Hell will be your lot, as it is the eternal abode of the wicked men whom you imitate.' " The Heretics, surprised at that woman's firm- ness, contented themselves with telling her that, if they committed faults, they were wont to ask pardon of God. ' Yes, but you do not practice confession,' added this Christian woman ; ' and that is, after all, the only remedy that wipes out sins.' " During this debate, as the Bell had rung for Divine worship, the woman went to it with the Here- tics whom she had just worsted; and taking her place in the midst of the assembly, she knelt down 188 LES RELATIONS DES jtSUITES [Vol.53 auffi toft k genoux, k la veuS de tout le monde : com- menga de reciter fon Chapelet, ce qu'elle fit avec vne grande devotion tout le temps que le Miniftre prefcha: en fuite dequoy, comme elle vit qu'on alloit par le Temple recueillir les charitez du peuple, elle y contribua comme les autres. Vne conduite fi fainte & fi genereufe ravit telle- ment les Hollandois, que les [153] uns la prioient de leur enfeigner la maniere dont elle prioit Dieu: d'autres la prioient inftamment de leur vendre la petite ftatue de Noftre-Dame qu'elle avoit, & que la Mere Superieure des Vrfulines de Quebec luy avoit envoy6e: mais elle protefta toufiours qu'elle ne s'en deferoit iamais, qu'auec la vie: & comme on la preffoit de dire comment elle honoroit la Sainte Vierge; Voicy, r^pondit-elle, ce que ie luy dis: Marie, qui es Vierge, tu as Iesvs-Christ pour Fils: ainfi exhorte-le de nous accorder ce que nous luy demandons. Remarquez, adjoiita-t'elle, que par \k ie ne dis pas qu'elle foit Dieu; mais feulement qu'elle prie Dieu pour nous, afin qu'il nous faffe la grace de bien mourir. Or Dieu ne luy refufera rien, parce que c' eft fa Mere, & une Mere qu'il aime feule, plus que tons les bommes enfemble. Ainfi Marie s'adreffe k fon Fils Iesvs-Christ, & luy dit, mon Fils, ie veux faire du bien k ceux qui implorent mon affiftance : c'eft pourquoy ie vous prie de me donner ce que ie vous demande pour eux. Alors le Fils dit, ma Mere, [154] difpofez de mes graces en faveur de qui vous le voudrez : tout eft k vous. Comme elle eut dit ces chof es, k ces Heretiques : une femme HoUandoife, qui I'avoit 6cout6e, la mena dans fa maifon, & luy dit, continue comme tu fais, 1669-70] RELATION OF i6b()-7o 189 at once, in sight of all the people, and began to recite her Rosary, which she continued with great devo- tion all the time while the Minister preached. After this, as she saw some one going through the Temple collecting the people's alms, she contributed thereto like the others. " A demeanor thus holy and noble-minded so charmed the Dutch that [153] some begged her to teach them her way of praying to God; and others besought her earnestly to sell them the little statue of Our Lady that she had, which the Mother Supe- rior of the Ursulines of Quebec had sent her ; but she always protested that she would never part with it, except with her life. When she was urged to tell how she honored the Blessed Virgin, she answered : ' This is what I say to her : ' ' Mary, thou who art a Virgin, thou hast Jesus Christ as a Son ; there- fore exhort him to ^ grant us what we ask of him." Observe,' added she, ' that by this I do not say that she is God, but only ask her to pray to God for us, in order that he may grant us the grace of a good death. Now God will not refuse her anything, because she is his Mother, and a Mother whom alone he loves more than all the people taken together. And so Mary addresses her Son Jesus Christ, and says to him : ' ' My Son, I wish to do a kindness to those who are imploring my aid ; that is why I pray you to grant me what I ask you for in their behalf." Then the Son says: " My Mother, [154] dispose of my favors for the benefit of whomsoever you shall desire; all is yours." ' " When she had said these things to those Here- tics, a Dutch woman, who had listened to her, led her into her house and said to her: ' Continue, as 190 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.53 ^ bien deffendre la foy Cafholique: c'eft rvnique creance & la veritable. le n'ay point d'autre Reli- gion que la tienne : 6coute touQours celuy qui t'en- f eigne. En fuite elle luy montra des Images, des Crucifix & des Chapellets qu'elle auoit. C'eft pour te faire voir, luy dit elle, que ie prie comme toy, & que ie croy ce que tu crois. Apres ce petit entretien, qui combla de joye cette bonne Sauvage, la Hollan- doife la regala de quelques fruits. II eft arriv6 plufieurs fois que quelques-uns ayant nienac6 nos Clireftiennes,que leur zele dans la foy leur pourroit bien coufter la vie ; elles r6pondoient toutes avec une generofit6 6gale k celle des Martyrs ; Que la vie ne leur eftoit plus rien depuis qu' elles I'avoient confacr6e k Dieu dans le Baptefme. Marie Tfiaoiientes adjouta, que quant on devroit luy couper les bras & las jambes, [155] on luy arracberoit pluftoft la vie, que la foy ; elle donna bien-toft apr6s des preuves d'une fi genereufe refolution. Quatre determinez refolurent de I'enyvrer. On r invite pour cet effet k un feftin qui fe faifoit dans le Bourg, & oil I'on devoit boire de I'eau de vie: elle y va, fans rien f§avoir du mauvais deffein qu'on avoit concert6. Tons les conviez eftans affis k terre fur des nattes, ^ leur ordinaire, on commence k boire. Son tour vint: elle refufa de prendre de I'eau de vie. I'ay fait, adjoHta-t'elle, affez de follies en cette matiere, avant mon baptefme: Ie fuis refoluS d'eftre plus fage, que je ne I'ay eft6 fur ce point. On la preffe : elle refufe conftamment de le faire. On la menace de la maltraiter: elle dit qu'elle ne craint rien au monde que le pecli6. Des menaces on en vient aux effets : elle f oiitient toutes les infultes avec 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF 1669 -70 191 you are doing, to defend the Catholic faith well ; it is the only and the true belief. I have no other Religion than thine. Always listen to him who teaches thee. ' Then she showed her some Images, Crucifixes, and Rosaries that she had. ' It is to let thee see,' said she to her, ' that I pray as thou dost, and that I believe what thou believest. ' After this little talk, which filled that good Savage woman with joy, the Dutch woman regaled her with some fruits. " It several times happened that, when some people had threatened our Christian women, saying that their zeal in the faith might well cost them their lives, they would all answer, with a noble spirit equal to that of the Martyrs, that life was no longer anjrthing to them, since they had consecrated it to God in their Baptism. " Marie Tsiaouentes added that, even if one were to cut off her arms and legs, [155] he would wrest her life from her sooner than the faith. Soon afterward, she gave proofs of such a high-spirited resolution. " Four determined men resolved to make her drunk. To this end she was invited to a feast which was given in the Village, at which brandy was to be drunk. She went, without knowing anything about the evil design that had been concerted. When all the guests had taken their seats upon mats on the ground, in their usual manner, the drinking began. Her turn came, and she refused to take any brandy. ' I had,' she added, ' committed enough follies in this matter before my baptism. I am resolved to be more discreet than I have been in this respect.' They pressed her, but she steadfastly refused to do it. On being threatened with ill treatment, she said 192 LES RELATIONS DES jtSUITES [Vol.53 vn courage invincible : enfin ces quatre d6bauchez la prennent, I'un par les bras, I'autre par la tefte, & le troifi6me par le milieu du corps, pendant que le dernier tache de luy verfer de I'eau de vie dans la bouche; mais elle tint les dents [156] £L ferries qu'il leur fut impoffible de luy en fair avaller une feule goute. Ce n'eft pas la feule occafion oti cette genereufe Chreflienne a donn6 des preuves de fon courage ; & fon exemple a tellement anim6 toutes les autres, qu'il n'eft point d'infultes ny de violences qui puifTent 6branlef leur femiet6. Vn iour quelques-unes ayant eft6 invitees k un feftin, oti elles avoient tout fujet de croire que tout feroit dans I'ordre, & que I'on ne fouffriroit rien qui put bleffer I'innocence & la puret6 du Chriftianifme ; parce que ce feftin fe faifoit chez une Chreflienne defia avanc6e en age. Mais elles furent bien fur- prifes d' entendre que le Sorcier qui pr6fidoit k ce feftin, declara d'abord qu'il eftoit ordonn6 pour retablir la fant6 d'une perfonne malade. Au mefme teps Marie Tliaoiientes fe leve, & dit tout haut, qui eft vray Cbreftien qu'il me fuive, & qu'il forte avec moy: Pour ceux qui ne le font que de nom, ils peuvent demeurer ^ ce feftin fuperftitieux. Elle fut fuivie de quatre ou cinq des convives. Vne refolu- tion fi ferme & fi extraordinaire en ce pais, donna de r6tonnement [157] & de I'admiration k toute la com- pagnie, qui ne pouvoit affez s'^tonner comme des femmes avoient of6 faire une chofe qui paffe chez ces Peuples pour une faute capable de diffamer celuy qui y tombe; c'eft pour ce fujet qu'on les traite comme des perfonnes qui n'ont ny jugement ny 1 669 -70] RELA TION OF i66g -70 193 she feared nothing in the world but sin. From threats they proceeded to deeds. She bore all their insults with an invincible courage. Finally those four dissolute men seized her, one by the arms, another by the head, and the third around the waist, while the last tried to pour some brandy into her mouth; but she kept her teeth [156] so tightly closed that it was impossible for them to make her swallow a single drop of it. " That is not the only occasion on which this noble-spirited Christian has given proofs of her cour- age ; and her example has so animated all the others that there are no insults or acts of violence that can shake their firmness. ' ' One day some of them were invited to a feast, where they had every reason to believe that all would be orderly, and nothing allowed that could wound the innocence and purity of Christianity ; for the feast was held at the house of a Christian woman already advanced in years. But they were much surprised to hear the Sorcerer who presided at this feast declare, at the opening, that it was ordered for restoring health to a sick person. At the same time, Marie Tsiaouentes arose, and said aloud : ' Whoever is a true Christian, let him follow me, and go out with me. As for those who are such only in name, they can remain at this superstitious feast.' She was followed by four or five of the female guests. A resoluteness so firm, and so unusual in this country, caused astonishment [157] and admiration in all the company, — who could not sufficiently wonder how women had dared to do a thing which passes, among these Peoples, for a fault that is sufficient to make infamous the one who commits it. It is on this 194 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.53 honneftetg dans leur conduite, & qui ne f9avent pas vivre: On dit qu'elles ne doivent pas s'^tonner £1 elles font pour la plus part, ou pauvres, ou captives, ou abandonn6es de tout le monde : mais ces bonnes Chreftiennes n'oppofent k tons ces reproclies qu'une patience & une fermet6 qui furprend tous ceux qui tachent en vain de les 6branler. On nous a appris, difent-elles ordinairement en ces occafios, que I. Clirift & les premiers Cbreftiens, n'ont pas efl6 mieux traitez que nous; il ne nous pent rien arriver de £1 fafcheux, que nous ne foyons prefles de le recevoir de la main de Dieu, il nous fuffit que noftre pauvret6 ne luy d6plaift pas, & qu'elle ne nous empefcbera pas d'eftre bonnes Chre- ftiennes : cela feul nous la rend agreable. Nous n'at- tendons pas de ceux qui nous inftruifent, & [158] qu'ils nous donnent les ricbeffes de la terre; nous nous contentons qu'ils travaillent h. nous mettre en poffeffion de celles du Ciel. Pour ce qui eft des Couftumes de noftre pais, nous ne refufons pas de nous accommoder k celles qui font conformes k la raifon, & k la Loy de Dieu: mais nous ne pouvons nous refoudre d'obferver celles qui bleHent I'une & r autre. II n'eft pas concevable combien le zele de ces bonnes Chreftiennes m'a donn6 de confolation, & combien il m'a anim6 k les ayder, au peril mefme de ma vie. II femble mefme que les meres infpirent cette gran- deur d'Ame k leurs petits enfans. Vn d'entr'eux recemment baptif6 tenant un iour un Crucifix en la main, & fe reffouvenant des infultes & des outrages que fa mere recevoit ordinairement pour la Foy 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g - 70 195 score that they are treated as persons having neither judgment nor honesty in their conduct, and not knowing how to order their lives. It is said that they must not be surprised if they become, for the most part, either poor, or captives, or are abandoned by every one ; but those good Christian women offer to all these reproaches only a patience and firmness that surprise all who try, in vain, to make them waver. " ' We have been told,' they usually say on these occasions, ' that Jesus Christ and the first Christians were not better treated than we. Nothing can hap- pen to us so grievous that we are not ready to receive it from God's hand; it suf&ces for us that our pov- erty is not displeasing to him, and that it does not hinder us from being good Christians ; that fact alone makes it agreeable to us. We do not expect from those who instruct us, [158] that they will also give us earthly riches ; we are content that they labor to put us in possession of those of Heaven. As far as the Customs of our country are concerned, we do not refuse to adapt ourselves to those that are in conformity with reason and the Law of God ; but we cannot make up our minds to observe those that violate both.' " It is inconceivable how much consolation the zeal of these good Christian women has given me, and how much it has animated me to aid them, even at the peril of my life. ' ' It even seems that the mothers inspire this great- ness of Soul in their little children. One of the latter, recently baptized, holding a Crucifix in his hand one day, and remembering the insults and outrages that his mother was accustomed to receive for the Christian Faith, said to our Lord : ' O Jesus, 196 LES RELA TIONS DES jASUITES [Vol.. 53 Chreflienne, difoit \ noflre Seigneur: O lefus, toy qui eft le maiftre de nos vies, tu as bien fouffert; car on t'a clou6 k una Croix, on t'a couronn6 d'6- pines, & enfin on t'a fait cruellement mourir; la mefme chofe qui ta cauf6 la mort, eft ce qui caufe "k ma mere [159] de fi grans d6plaiflrs. Cette bonne mere eftoit dans un coin de la cabanne, d'oii fans eftre veue de I'enfant, elle entendoit avec une joye incroyable le pieux entretien qu'il avoit avec fon Dieu ; & ce f ut elle-mefme qui me le rapporta peu de jours apres. le ne baptifay qu'k Pafque dernier cette femme Cbreftienne ; & comme ie faifois difficult^ d'accorder la mefme grace k fes enfans ; elle, & fa mere qui eftoit prefente, m'en firent des prieres Q preffantes, que ie me laiffay vainer e ^ leur piet6. Tu voy, me difoient-elles, nos enfans, que nous aimons comme nous mefmes, & k qui nous ne voulons pas moins de bien qu'k nous, tu f9ais les dangers de mort ott nous fommes tous les iours k caufe de I'ennemi qui nous tuS par tout oti il nous rencontre, & qui peut eftre viendra bien-toft nous affieger iufques dans noftre Bourg : tu fais cependant de la difficult^ de baptifer ces petits innocens: fgacbe que s'il arrive qu'ils meurent fans baptefme, tu en r^pondras devant Dieu, & que nous nous 61everons alors contre toy pour te le reprocher: parle, qu'eft-ce [160] qui t'em- pefche de leur faire le mefme bien qu'k nous? tu fgais qu'ils le meritent mieux que nous; car nous avons pech6; & eux n'ont point encore affez de rai- fon pour eftre capables d'offenfer Dieu. Si tu nous as aim6 iufqu'^ nous procurer un il grand bien, tu dois aimer encore plus ces innocens, & ne le leur pas 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF 1669 -70 197 thou who art the master of our lives, thou hast, indeed, suffered; for thou wast nailed to a Cross, crowned with thorns, and at last cruelly put to death. The same thing that caused thy death, is what causes my mother [159] such great afflictions.' That good mother was in a corner of the cabin, where, without being seen by the child, she heard with an incred- ible joy the pious intercourse that he had with his> God ; and it was she herself who reported it to me a few days after. ' ' It was only last Easter that I baptized this Chris- tian woman; and as I showed some reluctance to grant the same favor to her children, she and her mother, who was present, petitioned me so urgently to do so, that I allowed myself to be overcome by their piety. ' Thou seest our children, ' said they to me, ' whom we love as ourselves, and to whom we wish well no less than to ourselves. Thou knowest the mortal dangers we are in every day because of the enemy, who kills us wherever he chances upon us, and who will perhaps soon come to lay siege to us here in our Village ; and yet thou raisest objec- tions to the baptizing of these little innocents. Know that, if it come to pass that they die without baptism, thou shalt answer for it before God, and we will rise up against thee to reproach thee with it. Speak, what is it [160] that prevents thee from conferring on them the same blessing as on us? Thou knowest they deserve it more than we; for we have sinned, while they have not yet sufficient rea- son to be able to offend God. If thou didst love us enough to procure us so great a good, thou shouldst love these innocent ones still more, and not refuse it to them.' This speech alike surprised and touched 198 LES RELATIONS DBS jtSUITES [Vol.53 xefufer. Ce difcours me furprit, & me toucha 6gale- ment ; de maniere que ie f us contraint de baptif er las deux plus jeunes de fes enfans, & de differer les autres, iufqu'au temps oil ils feroient fufi&famment inftruits. Le premier de ces jeunes enfans, ag6 de quatre ans, qui eft celuy dont ie viens de parler, fut nomm6 Athanafe; & 1' autre ag6 feulement de deux ans, recent le nom d'Andr6, & il fait defia paroiftre tant d'ardeur pour la Foy, que comme il ne pent pas encore parler, il fait fuppl6er fa main an defaut de fa langue, allant luy-mefme prendre le bras de ceux qu'il voit manquer k faire le Ggne de la Croix, & le leur portant au front, il les oblige k s'acquiter de ce devoir. Ie I'ay veu de mes yeux avec plaifir. [l6l] §. VI. DU NOMBRE DES AGNI^S BAPTISEZ, DES MOYENS DONT ON SE SERT POUR LEUR CONVER- SION, & DES GRANDES ESPERANCES QU'lLS EN DONNENT PAR LE CHANGEMENT TOUT EXTRAORDINAIRE QUI S'EST FAIT DANS LEURS ESPRITS. Novs ne fommes pas au temps des Apoftres, & de I'Eglife naiffante, lors que pour 6tablir la foy de I Esvs- Christ dans I'efprit des peuples, Dieu operoit des prodiges dans toute la nature, & que les gfraces du Chriftianifme trouvoient des coeurs difpofez par les miracles ^ recevoir vne loy fi merveilleufe. Vn Sermon de faint Pierre fut fuivy de la converfion de trois mille bommes ; & les difcours des Apoftres auoient tant de force & de pouvoir fur les efprits, qu'il n'eftoit rien de plus ordinaire, que de voir des gens convaincus & toucbez de ce qu'ils avoient 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 199 me, so that I was constrained to baptize the youngest two of her children ; and to defer the others until such time as they should be sufficiently instructed. " The first of these young children, aged four, who is the one of whom I have just spoken, was named Athanase. The other, aged two only, received the name of Andr6 ; and he already shows so great ardor for the Faith that, as he cannot yet talk, he makes his hand supply the defect of his tongue. He himself goes and takes the arm of any one who, as he sees, fails to make the sign of the Cross; he raises it to that person's forehead, and compels him to acquit himself of this duty. I have, with pleasure, seen this with my own eyes." [l6l] §VI. OF THE NUMBER OF THE AGNIES BAP- TIZED, OF THE MEANS THAT ARE USED FOR THEIR CONVERSION, AND OF THE GREAT HOPES THERE- OF WHICH THEY GIVE, THROUGH THE QUITE EXTRAORDINARY CHANGE THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THEIR DISPOSITIONS. it "\ A /"e are not in the time of the Apostles and of VV the nascent Church, when, in order to establish the faith of Jesus Christ in the minds of the people, God wrought prodigies in all nature ; and when the graces of Christianity found hearts disposed by means of the miracles to receive so mar- velous a law. A Sermon by saint Peter was followed by the conversion of three thousand people ; and the discourses of the Apostles had so much force and power over men's minds, that there was nothing more ustial than to see people, convinced and touched by what they had heard, strip themselves of all their possessions, in order to follow Jesus Christ. 200 LES RELATIONS DES jiSUITES [Vol.53 entendu, fe depoliiller de tous leurs biens pour fuiure Iesvs-Christ. [162] Nous ne fommes plus dans le temps ny des grands miracles, ny des converflons fi merveilleufes. La Foy s'inCnue doucement dans les efprits, fans les ^bloiiir. C'efl-ce qui eft caufe que des peuples auffi barbares & auffi groffiers que le font nos Sauvages, ne fe rendent pas tout d'un coup aux veritez qu'on leur prefche ils n'y voient rien qui ne foit la prof- cription de tous leurs attachemens criminels, rien qui ne foit au dellus des fens & de la raifon: de maniere qu'ils ont bien de la peine k s'en laiffer con- vaincre, & k f e foumettre aux loix du Chriflianifme. Le plus grand miracle que puiffe faire un Miffion- naire en ce pais, c'eft de ioindre au zele qu'il apporte d' Europe, vne douceur qui entre avec adrelle dans I'efprit de ces barbares, & vne patience qui ne fe rebutte iamais de leur mauvaife bumeur. Sans ces deux qualitez il ne luy eft pas poffible, ny de faire aucun fruit dans ces Miffions, ny d'y perfeuerer mefme long temps. II faut fgavoir manager ces efprits, il faut attendre de Dieu feul le fruit de nos travaux, c'eft k luy rendre [163] feconde la terre que nous cultivons, & que nous aroufons de nos fueurs & de nos larmes. Quand il luy plaift, il nous donne la confolation de voir que nos peines ne font pas inutiles; & il prend plaifir d'adoucir I'amertume de nos travaux par quelques miracle de fa grace. Depuis huit mois i'ay baptif6 feulement cinquante trois perfonnes, qui font pref que toutes all6es au Ciel. Quant ie n'aurois contribu6 qu'au falut d'vne feule ame, ie m'eflimerois trop bien pay6 de toutes mes peines, puifque Iesvs-Christ a donn6 fon fang pour elle. 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF ibtx) - 70 201 [162] " We are no longer in the time either of the great miracles, or of such marvelous conversions. The Faith insinuates itself gently into the mind, ■without dazzling it. That is the reason that peoples as barbarous and gross as our Savages do not surrender themselves at once to the truths that are preached to them. They see therein nothing that is not the proscription of all their criminal attachments, nothing that is not above the senses and reason; so that they experience much difficulty in suffering themselves to be convinced, and in submitting to the laws of Christianity. " The greatest miracle that a Missionary can perform in this country is to join to the zeal that he brings from Europe a gentleness which adroitly makes its way into the minds of these barbarians, and a patience that is never rebuffed by their ill humor. Without these two qualities, it is impossible for him either to produce any fruit in these Missions, or even to persevere here a long time. We must know how to manage these dispositions, and must look to God alone for the fruit of our labors; it is for him to render [163] the soil fertile, which we cultivate and water with our sweat and with our tears. When it pleases him to do so, he gives us the consolation of seeing that our pains are not useless ; and he takes pleasure in sweetening the bitterness of our labors by some miracles of his grace. " In the last eight months I have baptized only fifty-three persons, who have nearly all gone to Heaven. Although I should have contributed to the salvation of only a single soul, I would esteem myself too well paid for all my pains, since jESUS Christ gave his blood for that soul. 202 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUJTES [Vol.53 le n'ay baptif6 que trois femmes adultes, apres les avoir long-temps 6prouv6es. I'efpere qu'elles feront de ferventes Chrefliennes. Peut eftre que les hommes refentiront dans quelque temps les mefmes impreffions de cette grace, qui ne peut fouffrir d'atache volontaire au pecli6: fans quoy nous ne conferons iamais le Baptefme aux adultes, de crainte qu'ils ne tombent dans I'apoflafie. Et bien que pre- fentement il y en ayt un aflCez grand nombre qui demandent le Baptefme, & qui ont eft6 fuffifamment inftruits [164] dans les myfleres de noflre Foy; le differe cependant de leur accorder cette grace, iufqu'k ce que ie les voye hors du peril oti ils font de s'engager tout de nouveau dans leurs debauches, & dans les fuperftitions du pais. Ie me fuis ferui de toutes les induflries que Dieu m'a infpir6 pour lesobliger de renoncer k leurs mau- vaifes habitudes : car pour convertir ces peuples, il faut commencer par toucher leurs coeurs, avant que de pouvoir convaincre leurs efprits. C'eft dans ce deffein que i'ay fait des peintures fpirituelles tres- devotes, qui ont puiffamment ferui k leur inftrudlion. I'ay fait des Catechifmes deux fois le iour, avec tout le fuccez que Ton pouvoit attendre de ces pauvres Sauvages: & fouvent mefme i'eflois furpris des impreffions tout extraordinaires que la parolle de Dieu faifoit fur leurs ames. I'ay attaqu6 I'yurognerie & la debauche, qui font comma les Divinitez de ce pai's, parceque ces peuples y font furieufement attachez. I'ay combatu ces vices par la crainte du lugement de Dieu, & tout enfemble par la terreur des armes [165] d'un grand Roy, dont le feul nom efl capable de les tenir dans leur devoir. 1669-70] RELA TION OF i66g- 70 203 " I have baptized only three adult women, after giving them a long probation, and I hope that they will be fervent Christians. Perhaps, after some time, the men will feel the same impressions of that grace which cannot suffer voluntary attachment to sin ; otherwise we shall never confer Baptism upon grown raen, for fear lest they fall into apostasy. And although, at present, there are a tolerably large number who are asking for Baptism, and who have been sufficiently instructed [164] in the mysteries of our Faith, yet I postpone granting them this grace until I see them out of the danger in which they now are, of engaging anew in their debaucheries and in the superstitions of the country. ' ' I have made use of all the ingenuity with which God has inspired me, to oblige them to renounce their bad habits ; for in order to convert these peo- ples, one must begin by touching their hearts, before he can convince their minds. It is with this design that I have made some paintings, spiritual and very devout in their nature, which have been of powerful aid in their instruction. I have given instruction in the Catechism twice a day, with all the success that could be expected from these poor Savages ; and I was even often surprised at the quite extraordinary im- pressions that the word of God made on their souls. " I have attacked drunkenness and debauchery, — which are, as it were, the Divinities of this country, because these peoples are madly attached to them. These vices I have combated by the fear of God's Judgment, — and, at the same time, by the dread of the arms [165] of a great King, whose name alone is able to hold them to their allegiance. With all imagin- able gentleness, and in familiar intercourse, I have 204 LES RELATIONS DBS J&SUITES [Vol.53 Fay tach6 de les gagner par toute la douceur, & toute la familiarity imaginable. le leur ay reprefent^ cent fois, avec toute la force que Dieu m'infpiroit, les peines & les recompenfes eternelles de I'autre vie. le les ay fouvent menacez que Dieu fe lalTeroit enfin, de leur duret6, & que fa iuftice eftoit prefle de leur faire reffentir, mefme d6s cette vie, les calamitez ■dont il a couftume de punir les peuples obftinez dans leur aueuglement, & dans leurs vices. le leur ay fait craindre que s'ils ne fe convertiffoient bien-toft, Dieu leur fufciteroit quelque puiffant ennemy pour les exterminer. Enfin i'ay employ^ la douceur & la force, les menaces & les prieres, les travaux & les larmes, pour baflir cette nouvelle Eglife, & pour convertir ces pauures Sauvages. II ne refte plus qu'k verfer mon fang pour leur falut, ce que ie foubaite de tons les defirs de mon coeur. Mais apres tout, ie ne remarque pas encore en eux ces grands cbangemens que le faint Efprit opere en ceux des [i66] Payens qu'il veut mettre au nombre des Fideles. Ie loiie Dieu de ce qu'il me fait voir que la converfion des hommes efl f on ouvrage ; & que nous n'y devons rien pretendre, que le bon-heur de le fervir avec fidelit6. II y a d'heureux momens qui ne font connus qu'k luy feul, dont depend le falut des bommes. C'eft "k luy k manager leurs coeurs, pour triompber de leur duret6. Ie fuis bien aife de remarquer icy un moyen que i'ay reconnu eftre fort vtile & fort eflicace pour convertir ces Barbares. D'abord j'avois iug6 que pour ^tablir folidement le Cbrillianifme parmy ces peuples, il eftoit neceffaire d'y employer la ledture & I'efcriture, qui font deux 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF 1669-70 205 tried to win them over. I have represented to them a hundred times, with all the force with which God inspired me, the eternal punishments and rewards of the other life. I have often threatened them, say- ing that God would finally be weary of their obdu- racy ; and that his justice was ready to make them feel, even in this life, the calamities wherewith he is wont to punish those peoples that are obstinate in their blindness and their vices. I made them fear that, if they did not become converted soon, God would raise up some powerful enemy to exterminate them. In short, I have used mildness and force, threats and prayers, labors and tears, to build up this new Church and convert these poor Savages. It remains only to shed my blood for their salvation, — which, with all the desires of my heart, I long to do. " But, after all, I do not yet remark in them those great changes that the holy Ghost works in such of the [166] Pagans as he chooses to place in the number of the Faithful. I praise God for making me see that man's conversion is his work; and that we are to lay claim to nothing therein but the happiness of serving him faithfully. There are fortunate moments, known to him alone, whereon depends the salvation of men. It is for him to prepare their hearts, in order to triumph over their obduracy. " I am very glad to note here a means that I have found to be very useful and effective in the conver- sion of these Barbarians. ' ' At first I had thought that, in order to establish Christianity on a solid basis among these peoples, it was necessary to make use of reading and writing, which are two things wherein the Savages are utterly ignorant. I had accordingly applied myself, for the 206 LES RELATIONS DES /JSSUITES [Vol.53 chofes dont les Sativages n'ont aucune connoiffance ; ie m'eftois done appliqu6 I'efpace d'un mois, k enfei- gner I'un & I'autre, aux petits enfans de nos Iroquois, & quelques uns avoient defia profit6 de telle forte, qu'ils 6crivoient & lifoient affez bien: mais le peu de moyens que i'ay de fournir aux petites recompenfes qu'il faut donner k ces enfans pour les attacher [167] k c6t employ, & le peu de temps qui me refloit pour les devoirs effentiels de ma Miffion, m'ont enfin oblig6 de penfer k quelque autre indullrie, qui ne fut pas moins efficace, & qui me laiffafl plus de temps pour m' employer aux obligations de mon miniflere. Dieu m'en infpira vne quelques iours apres, qui efl beaucoup plus facile, & qui fait un grand fruit parmy ces peuples. C'eft un jeu, pour prendre nos Sauvages, par ce qu'ils ayment le plus; car le jeu fait toute leur occu- pation, lors qu'ils ne font point ^ la guerre : & ainfi i'efpere leur faire rencontrer leur falut, dans la chofe mefme qui contribuoit fouvent h. leur perte. Mon deilein efl de d6truire par ce moyen I'^trange ignorance oh ils vivent pour tout ce qui regarde leur falut, & de fupl^er au defaut de leur memoire. Ce jeu parle efficacement par fes peintures, & inftruit folidement par les emblefmes, dont il eft remply. Ceux qui veulent s'y diuertir, n'ont qu'k le voir, pour apprendre tout ce qu'ils doivent faire [168] afin de vivre chreftiennement, & pour retenir tout ce qu'ils auront appris, fans le pouvoir iamais oublier. II n'eft rien de plus aif6 que d'apprendre ce jeu. II eft compof6 d'emblemes, qui reprefentent tout ce qu'vn Cbreftien doit fgavoir. On y voit les fept Sacremens, tons depeints, les trois Vertus Theolo- 1669-70] RELA TION OF i66g - 70 207 space of a month, to the teaching of both of these to the little children of our Iroquois; and some had already profited to such an extent that they wrote and read fairly well. But the small means that I have for furnishing rewards for the little ones, — which must be given to these children, in order to hold them [167] to this pursuit, — and the little time that remained to me for the essential duties of my Mission, at last obliged me to think of some other expedient, which should be not less efficacious, and which should leave me more time for occupying myself in the duties of my ministry. " God inspired me with one, some days later, which is much easier, and produces great results among these peoples. "It is a game, in order to catch our Savages by means of what they most love, — for gaming consti- tutes their whole occupation, when they are not at war; and thus I hope to make them find their salva- tion in the very thing that used often to contribute to their destruction. " My design is, by this means, to do away with the strange ignorance in which they live touching all that concerns their salvation, and to make good their defects of memory. This game speaks to good effect through its paintings, and gives sound instruc- tion through the emblems with which it is filled. Those who wish to divert themselves with it have only to see it, to learn all that they have to do [168] in order to live Christian lives ; and to remember all that they have learned, without ever being able to forget it. " There is nothing easier than learning this game. It is composed of emblems which represent all that a 208 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.53 gales, tous les Commandemens de Dieu, & de I'Eglife, avec les principaux pechez mortals ; les pechez mefme veniels qui fe commettent ordinairement y font expri- mez dans leur rang, avec des marques de I'liorreur qu'on en doit avoir. Le pecli6 original y paroifl dans vn ordre particulier, fuivy de tous les maux qu'il a caufez. I'y ay reprefent6 les quatre fins de I'home, la crainte de Dieu, les Indulgences, & toutes les ceuvres de mifericorde : La Grace y eft dep[e]inte das une Cartouche fepar6e : La confcience dans une autre ; la liberty que nous auons de nous fauver ou de nous perdre ; le petit nombre des Eleuz : en vn mot, tout ce qu'un Cbreflien eft oblig6 de fyavoir, s'y trouve exprim6 par des emblemes qui font le portrait de chacune de ces chofes. [169] Tout y eftfi naturel, & fi bien depeint, que les efprits les plus grofliers n'ont nulle peine de s'eflever h la connoif- fance des chofes fpirituelles, par des Images corpo- relles qu'ils en ont devant les yeux. C'eft ainfi que nos Sauvages apprennent en joiiant, k fe fauver; & que i'ay tach6 de ioindre ce qu'ils ajrmoient avec tant de paffion, k ce qu'ils devoient aimer encore davantage, afin qu'ils ne trouvaffent aucune peine h. fe faire inftruire. Ce jeu s'appelle du Point au Point, c'eft h. dire du point de la naiflance au point de rEtemit6. Nos Iroquois le nomment, Le cbemin pour arriver au lieu oh Ton vit tou jours, foit dans le Paradis, foit dans I'Enfer. L'adreffe & la methode de ce jeu fe pourra voir au bas de la carte, oil il fera imprim6. le pretens le faire graver, afin d'en avoir plufieurs exemplaires, & de pouvoir rendre de la forte nos myfteres intel- 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g -70 209 Christian has to know. The seven Sacraments are all seen depicted there, the three Theological Virtues, all the Commandments of God and of the Church, together with the principal mortal sins; even the venial sins that are commonly committed are there expressed in their order, with marks of the horror that ought to be felt for them. Original sin, fol- lowed by all the ills that it has caused, appears there in a particular order. I have represented there the four ends of man, the fear of God, the Indulgences, and all the works of mercy. Grace is depicted there in a separate Cartouch, conscience in another; the freedom that we have to obtain salvation or destruc- tion, the small number of the Elect, — in a word, all that a Christian is obliged to know is found expressed there by emblems which portray each of these things. [169] All is so natural there, and so well depicted, that the coarsest minds have no difficulty in rising to the knowledge of things spiritual, by means of the material Images of these, which they have before their eyes. "It is thus that our Savages learn by playing to effect their salvation ; and that I have tried to join what they loved so passionately to that which they ought to love still more, in order that they might find no difficulty in getting themselves instructed. " This game is called, ' from Point to Point,' — that is to say, from the point of birth to the point of Eternity. Our Iroquois name it, ' The way to arrive at the place where one lives forever, whether in Paradise or in Hell. ' " Directions for playing this game will be given at the bottom of the card on which it will be printed. I intend to have it engraved, that I may have many 210 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol. 53 ligibles k ceux mefmes h. qui ie ne pourray pas me faire entendre. II y a de nos Iroquois k qui ie ne I'ay [170] en- feign6 que deux fois, & qui Tent appris parf aitement ; d'autres ^ qui ie I'ay monflr6 quatre fois feulement & qui s'y font rendus fi habiles, qu'ils m'ont oblige d'y joiier avec eux. Nous paffames agreablement les Fefles de Pafques k ce jeu, 6galement faint & profitable. Tous nos Sauvages ont une extreme paffion de I'apprendre, & d'y joiier, foit par ce qu'ils y font parol fire de la vivacit6 h. concevoir aif6ment des cbofes fi difl&ciles, foit ^ caufe qu'ils voient bien que ce jeu les inftruit fans peine, de ce qu'ils doivent fjavoir pour fe fauver. L'experience que i'ay de cette nouvelle methode, & I'approbation que plufieurs perfonnes tres-fages luy ont donn6e, font que ie I'eflime beaucoup. Peut- eftre que les Miffionnaires de la France s'en pour- roient fervir avec bien du fruit k regard des gens de la campagne ; tant pour leur faire paiTer faintement quelques heures des Dimanches & des Fefles, & agreablement tout enfemble, que pour leur enfeigner d'vne maniere 6galement aif6e & folide, toutes les vertus du Chrillianifme. [171] Chaque cartouche & chaque embleme peuvent fournir de tres profitables difcours qu'on feroit au peuple : ainfi que ie Ie fais voir dans Ie petit Livre que i'en ay fait, & que i'aurois envoy6 en France d^s cette ann^e, fans une maladie qui m'a empefcli6 de Ie mettre en eftat. I'efpere I'envoyer I'ann^e prochaine; avec vn autre leu du monde, que i'ay invents, pour d^truire toutes les fuperftitions de nos Sauvages, & leur donner de tres-beaux fujets d'entre- 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 211 copies of it, and be enabled, by this means, to render our mysteries intelligible even to those by whom I cannot make myself understood. " There are some of our Iroquois to whom I have [170] taught it only twice, and who have learned it perfectly ; and others to whom I have shown it only four times, who have made themselves so skillful in it that they have obliged me to play it with them. We passed the Easter Holidays agreeably with this game, which is equally holy and profitable. All our Savages have an extreme passion for learning it and playing it, — either because they display in it quick- ness in easily understanding things that are so diffi- cult ; or because they see clearly that this game instructs them, without difficulty, in what they must know in order to be saved. " The experience that I have had with this new method, and the approval that several very wise persons have given it, make me esteem it highly. Perhaps the Missionaries of France could use it with excellent results among the country people, — both in order to make them pass, in a holy as well as agreeable manner, some hours of Sundays and Holy days; and also to teach them, in a manner equally easy and sound, all the virtues of Christianity. [171J " Each cartouch and each emblem can furnish very profitable talks that might be given to the people, — as I show in the little Book that I have written thereon, — which I would have sent to France this year, had it not been for an illness which pre- vented me from putting it in proper shape. I hope to send it next year with another Game, — a worldly one, — that I have invented for destroying all the superstitions of our Savages, and giving them some 212 LES RELA TTONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 53 tien, qui les degouteront du plaifir qu'ils prennent ^ s'entretenir de leurs fables. Nos anciens m'ayant invito k leur ceremonie des morts, qui fe devoit faire k Gandaoiiagu6 ; ie m'y en allay "k deffein de les gratifier. L'affenibl6e eftoit compof^e des Onnontagu6, de quelques Onneiouts, & de tous les plus confiderables d'Agni^. Les uns eftoient feparez des autres felon la couftume. En attendant que rOnnontagu6 parlaft, nos Agni6s s'en- tretenoient de leurs fables, & de leurs fuperflitions. Ie me joignis "k eux ; & meflant adroitement k leurs menfonges, quelques difcours de la verity ; [172] ie leur fis voir clairement combien leurs fuperflitions eftoient ridicules. Vn Capitaine de mes amis ayant de la peine k fouffrir cette efpece d'infulte, me voulut impofer filence: mais ie crus qu'en matiere de Reli- gion, & dans une coniondlure de cette importance ie ne devois pas fouffrir que qui que ce fuft me fermaft la bouche: & d'ailleurs comme ie n'ignorois pas I'autoritg que j'ayois parmy ce peuple, ie dis k ce Capitaine avec affez de fermet^; Sgais-tu bien que tu me fais un affront Ie plus fenfible que ie puiffe recevoir iamais? mais qui es-tu, pour me commander de me taire? & fuis-ie venu icy pour t'obeir? fi ie t'avois traitt^ de la forte "k Quebec, n'aurois-tu pas fuiet de t'en plaindre? mais en quoy ay-ie mal parl6 pour me fermer ainfi la bouche? & fi ie dis la verity, pourquoy ne veux-tu pas qu'on I'^coute? Ce Capitaine fut fort furpris de ce que ie t^mpi- gnois eftre clioqu6 d'vne parolle, dont il fe fervoit affez ordinairement, mefme k regard de fes amis: & il ne me r^pondit autre chofe, linon que c' eftoit leur couftume en ces occafions de [173] s'entretenir de 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-ro 213 excellent themes for conversation, which shall' make them lose all the pleasure they now take in enter- taining one another with their fables. ' ' Our elders having invited me to their ceremony for the dead, which was to take place at Gandaoua- gu6, I repaired thither on purpose to gratify them. The assembly was composed of the Onnontagu^, of some Onneiouts, and of all the more important men of Agni6. Each tribe was separated from the others, according to their custom. While waiting for the Onnontagu6 to speak, our Agni^s were telling one another their fables and superstitions. I joined them and, mingling adroitly some words of truth among their lies, [172] I made them see clearly how ridicu- lous their superstitions were. A Captain who was a friend of mine, finding it hard to brook this sort of insult, wished to impose silence on me; but I be- lieved that in a matter of Religion and in a crisis of such importance, I ought not to suffer any one to close my mouth. As, furthermore, I was not ignorant of the authority I had among these people, I said to this Captain, with considerable firmness: ' Art thou well aware that thou offerest me the keen- est affront that I can ever receive? But who art thou, to bid me be silent, and did I come here to obey thee? If I had treated thee in this way at Que- bec, wouldst thou not have reason to complain of it? But wherein have I spoken amiss, to close my mouth in this manner? And if I told the truth, wherefore art thou unwilling that it should be heard ? ' " The Captain was greatly surprised at my show- ing that I was offended by a word that he was wont to use very often, even to his friends; and he made me no answer, except that it was their custom 214 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.53 leurs fables. le repris encore cette paroUe, & luy dis avec toute la force qui me fut infpir^e, c'eft voflre couftume de vous enyurer : de bonne f oy, cette couftume eft-elle bonne? & la dois-je approuuer? C'efl voftre couftume de d6rober; dois-ie dire que vous faites bien? C'eft voftre couftume de vous abandonner k toutes fortes de debauches, de violer toutes les loix de la raifon, & de viure comme des befles; Penfez-vous qu'il n'eft pas de mon devoir de vous reprendre de tous ces vices, & de tacher de vous en donner de I'liorreur? & cependant vous m'impo- fez (ilence, lorfque ie veux vous en parler. Cela efl-il raifonnable? Si ces couftumes eftoient faintes & bonneftes; on auroit du refpedt pour elles, & ie ferois tout 1' imaginable pour vous obliger de les rete- nir. Mais de vous voir paffer toute voftre vie dans des crimes fi execrables, c'eft h. quoy ie ne puis me refoudre. Le mefme Capitaine me donna encore vne autre occaGon de luy parler un peu fortement, en me difant affez brufquement, que i'euffe k me retirer de leur compagnie; [174] parce qu'ils alloient chanter felon leur couftume. II eft vray que ie n'entendois rien h. leur chant, & que ie ne voulois pas mefme y contribuer: mais neantmoins comme ie n'eftois pas homme h. troubler leur muGque, ie crus qti'il avoit tort de me faire ainli retirer: & comme d'ailleurs il ne faut rien pardonner h. ces fortes de gens, lors qu'ils font des fautes, qu'ils doivent eux-mefmes iuger eftre telles, ie leur dis que ie ne troublerois pas la fefte en demeurant paifible au lieu oti i'eftois; qu'au refte il n'eftoit pas de la bien-feance que ie quitalle le cercle des hommes, pour me mettre en celuy des 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF ibbg -70 216 on these occasions to [173] tell their fables to one another. I again took the word and said, with all the force that was inspired in me : ' It is your cus- tom to get drunk; in good faith, is that a good custom, and am I to approve it? It is your custom to steal ; am I to say that you do well ? It is your custom to abandon yourselves to all sorts of debauch- ery, to violate all the laws of reason, and to live like brutes ; think you it is not a part of my duty to repri- mand you for all these vices, and try to give you an abhorrence for them? And yet you bid me be silent when I wish to speak to you about them. Is that reasonable ? If these customs were holy and virtuous, they would be respected, and I would do everything imaginable to oblige you to retain them. But to see you pass all your lives in such execrable crimes, that is what I cannot make up my mind to do.' ' ' The same Captain gave me still another occasion to speak to him a little severely, when he told me rather rudely that I must withdraw from their com- pany, [174] because they were going to sing, accord- ing to their custom. It is true, I did not understand a word of their song, and did not wish even to coun- tenance it; but, nevertheless, as I was not one to disturb their music, I thought he was wrong to make me retire in that manner. As, furthermore, one must not pardon any offense in this kind of people, when they commit faults which they themselves ought to reckon as such, I told them that I would not disturb the feast by remaining quiet in the place where I was ; and that, besides, it was not becoming for me to leave the men's circle to join the women's, or to go among other persons whom I did not know. However, as I saw they were very urgent that I 216 LES RELATIONS DES jASUJTES [Vol.53 femmes, ou parmy d'autres perfonnes que ie ne con- noiffois pas. Cependant comme ie vis qu'on me preffoit fort de fortir, ie Ie fis, de crainte de las choquer, & me retiray au cartier des Onnontagu6, au Capitaine defquels ie t^moignay mon m6contente- ment, qu'il iugea eftre tres-raifonnable. Apres la ceremonie qui dura I'efpace de cinq lieures, ie m'en retournay au Bourg, fans attendre Ie refte de cette folennit6, qui fe devoit terminer par nos [17s] Agni^s; ils fceurent mon deplaifir, & ils creurent Ie devoir craindre, dautant plus que quelque temps auparavant i'avois fait courir Ie bruit que ie voulois aller "k Quebec. Tout ce qu'ils efloient d'Agni6s blafmerent 1' imprudence du Capitaine qui m'avoit clioqu6, & furent extr6mement facbez de I'aflfront qu'il m'avoit fait; & luy-mefme ayant bien- toft reconnu fa faute, il ne tarda guere k me venir voir pour m'en faire des excufes. Mon frere, me dit-il, ie ne veux pas croire, bien que tout Ie monde I'affeure, que tu aye I'efprit irrit6 & Ie coeur plein d'amertume "k mon 6gard, puifque tu ne pens ignorer I'amour que i'ay pour toy, & I'eflime que i'ay touliours faite de ton merite. lufqu'k cette beure nous n'avons eu tons deux qu'un coeur, & qu'une ame; & nous nous fommes traitez iufqu'k prefent comme les deux meilleurs amis du monde. Alors me mettant la main fur Ie coeur ; dis-moy done franchement, m'adiouta-t-il, en quelle difpofition efl ton ame? au refle ne me deguife rien. On dit que tu vas k Quebec, & que tu ne [176] veux plus venir demeurer avec nous. Quoy qu'il en foit, ie te cojure de ne nous point attirer de mauvaifes affaires au- pres d'Onnontio, car ce feroit une confufion pour 1669 - 70] RELA TfON OF 1669 - 70 217 should withdraw, I did so, for fear of offending them, and retired to the quarters of the Onnontagu6, — to the Captain of whom I declared my displeasure, which he considered very reasonable. " After the ceremony, which lasted five hours, I returned to the Village without waiting for the rest of that solemnity, which was to be concluded by our [175] Agni6s. They knew my displeasure, and believed there was ground for fearing it, — the more so that, some time before, I had caused the report to be spread abroad that I intended to go to Quebec. The whole body of Agni^s blamed the imprudence of the Captain who had offended me, and were ex- tremely sorry for the affront that he had offered me. He himself, too, having soon recognized his fault, came to see me with very little delay, to offer me excuses for it. " ' My brother,' said he to me, ' I am unwilling to believe, although every one asserts it, that thou art irritated in mind, and full of bitterness of heart, because of my action ; for thou canst not but know the love I bear thee, and the high opinion I have always had of thy worth. Up to this time, we two have had only one heart and one soul, and we have treated each other hitherto like the two best friends in the world.' Then, putting his hand on my heart, ' Tell me, then, frankly, ' he added, ' in what disposi- tion is thy soul ? As to other matters, hide nothing from me. They say that thou art going to Quebec, and that thou [176] wilt not come to live with us any more. However that may be, I conjure thee not to get us into trouble with Onnontio ; for it would be a cause of confusion for thyself, if so many old men and young men, who love and honor thee so greatly, 218 LES RELATIONS DES JASUITES [Vol.53 toy-mefme, fi tant de vieillars & de ieunes gens qui t'aiment & t'honnorent fi fort, venoient k eftre mal traitez k ton occafion. Dis-moy done, en quel eflat eft ton coeur, & quels font tes fentimens. Durant tout ce difcours, ie me tenois fur un grand ferieux, contre mon ordinaire, & voyant qu'il atten- doit ma r6ponfe avec impatience, ie luy parlay en ces termes. On t'a dit que i'avois I'efprit irrit6, & Ie coeur plein d'amertume. Cela eft veritable; & tu fjais bien que c'eft toy qui en es la caufe. Si i'ay affift6 aux ceremonies de ton pais; ce n'a eft^ que pour te complaire, & pour fatisfaire au deCr que tu me t^moignois en avoir : & cependant tu m 'as trait6 toy-mefme avec la derniere indignit6. Tu as bien os^ m'impofer filence, lorfque ie parlois de la Foy, qui eft la chofe du monde que tu n 'ignore pas que i'ay Ie plus k coeur. Si tu m'euffe voulu donner quelque marque [177] de ton amiti6, tu m'euffe 6cout6 du moins avec patience : oil tu y euffe pris plaifir, ce qui m'euft eft^ infiniment agreable. Et bien loin d'avoir pour moy cette bont6, tu m'as com- mand6 de me taire. De plus, pouvois-tu me faire un affront plus fenfible que de me chaffer honteufement de la compagnie de ceux que ie fuis venu chercher de fi loin, & chez qui ie me fuis Stably, pour tacher de les obliger k fe rendre eternellement heureux, N'as-tu pas eu de la confufion, de me voir fi bien receu des Onnontagu6 que ie ne connois point, & cliaff6 par ceux qui veulent paffer pour eftre de nos amis? Ce reproche eftoit un peu fort: mais Dieu s'en eft fervy pour en tirer un bien que ie n'ofois efperer. Ce Capitaine m'ayant ^cout6 avec affez de patience, 1669-70] RELATION OF ibtg-jo 219 came to be ill-treated on thy account. Tell me, then, in what state is thy heart, and what are thy sentiments ? ' " During all this speech I maintained great serious- ness of demeanor, contrary to my custom, and seeing that he awaited my answer with impatience, I spoke to him as follows : ' They told thee I was irritated in mind, and full of bitterness of heart. That is true, and thou knowest well that it is thou who art the cause thereof. If I have been present at the cere- monies of thy country, it has been only to please thee, and to satisfy thy manifest desire therefor; and yet thou thyself hast treated me with the last indignity. Thou hast, forsooth, dared to impose silence on me, when I was 'speaking of the Faith, which is the one thing in the world that, as thou knowest, I have most at heart. If thou hadst wished to give me some mark [177] of thy friendship, thou wouldst have listened to me, at least with patience ; or wouldst have taken pleasure therein, which would have been infinitely agreeable to me. Well, then, far from showing me this kindness, thou didst com- mand me to be silent. Moreover, couldst thou have offered me a graver affront than to drive me igno- miniously out of the company of those whom I came so far to seek, and with whom I have taken up my abode, to try to make them win eternal happiness for themselves? Wast thou not ashamed to see me so well received by the Onnontagu6, whom I did not know, and driven out by those who try to pass for friends of ours ? ' " This reproach was a little severe; but God made use of it to obtain therefrom a good result that I dared not hope for. This Captain, after hearing me 220 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.53 prit en fuite la parole, & me dit avec beaucoup de iincerit6 ; mon frere, ie vols bien quel eft le fond de cette querelle; C'eft que nous ne fommes pas encore Chreftiens : mais li tu veux me confier le f oin de cette grande affaire, ie t'en promets un fuccez favorable. Voicy [178] la maniere dont il faut que tu t'y con- duife. Premierement, tu nous affembleras tous, & en fuite nous ayant oflfert trois brafCes de Pourcelaine pour nos trois families, fur cbacun de ces prefens tu nous diras ce que tu as dans I'ame. Apres quoy laiffe-moy f aire ; ie me charge de tout le refte ; & i'efpere que tout ira bien. Ie luy t6moignay qu'il ne pouvoit pas me faire un plus fenfible plaiflr, qu'il eftoit entr6 parfaitement dans le fond de mes penf6es, & que ie fuivrois le bon confeil qu'il venoit de me donner. Nous nous quittafmes en fuite fort contens I'un de I'autre. Ce Capitaine qui avoit une fort grande autorit6 parmy les Sauvages, & qui eftoit capable de manager adroitement une grande affaire, embraffa celle-cy avec tant d'ardeur, qu'il va luy-m6me trouver les plus confiderables du pais, pour leur faire ouverture de ce grand deffein : mais comme il luy falloit paffer un torrent qui pour lors n 'eftoit pas gayable, il differa d'y aller jufqu'au lendemain: mais il vint le m6me iour me [179] trouver pour m'affeurer qu'il penfoit fort ferieufement k executer ce qu'il m'avoit promis: Ie iugeay par la diligence qu'il venoit de faire, qu'il pourfuivroit I'afifaire avec chaleur. Car un vieillard ag^ comme luy de foixante cinq ans, n'avoit qu'k commander k fes neveux d'aller trouver les An- ciens de fa part, fans f e donner luy-m6me cette peine. Le lendemain il retourna au torrent, le pafTe, & 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 221 quite patiently, took the word then and said to me, with much sincerity : ' My brother, I see clearly what is, at bottom, the reason of this quarrel: it is that we are not yet Christians. But if thou wilt entrust the care of this important matter to me, I promise thee a favorable issue thereof. This [178] is the way thou must play thy part in it. First, thou wilt gather us all together; and then, oflEering us three brasses of Porcelain for our three families, with each one of these presents thou wilt say what thou hast on thy mind. After that let me manage it; I take charge of all the rest, and hope that all will go well.' ' ' I assured him that he could not give me a keener pleasure, that he had entered perfectly into my inmost thoughts, and that I would follow the good advice he had just given me. Then we parted, highly pleased with each other. " This Captain, who had very great authority among the Savages and was capable of conducting a great affair with address, embraced this with so much ardor that he himself went in quest of the most important men of the country, in order to broach this great project to them. As, however, he had to cross a torrent which, at that time, it was impossible to ford, he postponed his journey until the next day ; but he came to see me on the same day, [179] to assure me that he thought very seriously of carrying out what he had promised me. I judged by the dili- gence he had just shown that he would pursue the affair with ardor. For an old man — sixty years of age, as he was — had only to order his nephews to bring the Elders for him, without taking that trouble himself. On the next day, he returned to the torrent, crossed it, and brought back all the more 222 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUJTES '[Vol.53 tn'ameine tout ce qu'il y avoit de plus confiderable dans les Bourgades des Agni6s. On s'affemble dans ma cabanne. le commengay alors ^ leur faire un difcours le plus fort qu'il me fut poffible, fur leurs fauffes Divinitez, fur leurs Sorciers, & fur toutes leurs fuperflitions. Mes freres, leur dis-ie, ie fuis ravy de joye de vous voir icy tous affemblez. On vous a rapports que ie m'en allois ^ Quebec, & il efl vray : mais ie ne veux pas vous d6rober mon corps, en me retirant k voftre infceu; ny mon ame, en vous celant mes penf6es : ie veux vous d6couvrir tout le fond de mon coeur. Ie n'ignore pas que vous n'ap- prebendiez que ie ne retourne plus avec [i8o] vous. & que vous foubaiteriez fort que i'y reftaile, pour maintenir la paix que vous avez avec les Frangois : Ie ne fuis venu ici que pour y mourir : vous fgavez que depuis trois ans que nous vivons enfemble, bors des troubles de la guerre, ie n'ay 6pargn6 ny mes peines, ny ma fant6, ny ma vie pour vous affeurer un bonheur eternel. Fay quitt6 toutes mes commo- ditez que i'avois en France, pour vous enricbir des biens du Ciel ; & Iesvs qui eft le Seigneur de nos vies, m'ayant infpir^ de vous inftruire, & de vous rendre dignes du Paradis. I 'ay facrifig toutes chofes pour vous procurer ce grand bien. Vous fgavez tout ce que i'ay fait pour vous delivrer de I'Enfer, oh. vous vous precipitiez par un aveuglement & une opini- aftret6 invincibles. Apres tant de travaux, tant de courfes & tant de fatigues, dans le deffein de vous inftruire du moyen d'eftre eternellement beureux. Apres tant de foin que i'ay pris de vous affifter dans vos maladies, & de vous faire tout le bien que i'ay pii: Apres m'eftre priv6 moy-m6me de ce qui 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF 166^-70 223 considerable men in the Villages of the Agni6s. I then began to deliver them a speech, which I made as emphatic as I could, upon their false Divinities, their Sorcerers, and all their superstitions. ' My brothers,' I said to them, ' I am filled with joy to see you all assembled here. You have received word that I was going away to Quebec, and it is true. But I will not deprive you of my bodily presence by departing without your knowledge, or of my spirit- ual by concealing my thoughts from you ; I will open my heart to you without reserve. I am not unaware that you fear lest I shall not return to [180] you again, and that you greatly desire to have me remain here, to maintain the peace that you enjoy with the French. I have come hither only to die here ; and you know that, in the three years while we have lived together away from the disturbances of war, I have spared neither my exertions, my health, nor my life to assure you an eternal happiness. I left all my comforts that I had in France, to enrich you with the good things of Heaven ; and Jesus, who is the Lord of our lives, having inspired me to instruct you and render you worthy of Paradise, I sacrificed everything to procure you this great good. You know all that I have done to deliver you from Hell, into which you were rushing with an invincible blindness and obstinacy. After so many labors, so many journeys and fatigues, on purpose to instruct you how to become eternally happy; after so much care as I have taken to help you in your illnesses, and to do you all the good in my power; after depriving myself of what I needed, in order to aid therewith [181J those of your brothers who were in want, — I see that I have been unable to make any 224 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.53 m'eftoit neceffaire pour en accommoder [i8i] ceux de vos freres qui eftoient dans la neceffit6 ; le voy que ie n'ay pfi. rien gagner fur vos efprits, & que vous ne pouvez vous refoudre de confentir "k voflre bonheur. C'efl ce qui m'a donn6 la penf^e de cher- cher quelque autre pai's, & des peuples plus dociles, qui feront comme i'efpere, plus d'eflat & plus de profit de mes paroles, & qui recevront la Foy que vous refufez depuis tant de temps. Vous avez veu les Loups vos ennemis fe faire inftruire, & qu'ils trouvoient chez vous un bonheur que vous m6pri'fez. Quoy les feuls Iroquois feront-ils eternellement mal- heureux? ne pourront-ils fe refoudre d'ouurir les yeux ^ la verity ? de quitter cette vie de befle, qui les deshonore, & de fuiure les lumieres de la raifon. Vous fouhaitez que ie demeure icy avec vous, afin de maintenir la paix, & vous m'apportez fouvent pour m'y obliger, que vous ne faites plus qu'un corps & une ame avec le Gouverneur des Fran9ois, & avec moy. Avez- vous raifon de parler ainfi? vous qui n'avez ny les monies fentimens, ny les m6mes incli- nations, ny la m6nie conduite que [182] nous. Com- ment eft-ce que mon ame pourroit eftre la voftre? moy, qui fuis perfuad6 que la mienne eft un pur efprit immortel, & femblable au Maiflre de vos vies : & vous, qui croyez que la voftre eft, ou un ours, ou un loup, ou un ferpent, ou un poiffon, ou un oyfeau, ou quelque autre forte de befte que vous avez veu en fonge. De plus, voftre ame & la mienne ont des fentimens bien oppofez. Vous penfez que le Maiftre de la vie eft un Demon, que vous appellez Agref Koti6 ; & moy, ie dis que voftre AgrefKoii6 eft un efclave, que Dieu qui eft le Maiftre de nos vies tient enchaln6 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF 1669 -70 225 impression on your minds, and that you cannot resolve to consent to your own happiness. That is what has given me the thought of seeking some other country, and people who are more docile, — who will, as I hope, make more account of my words and gain greater profit from them, and who will receive the Faith that you have so long been refusing. You have seen how the Loups, your enemies, had them- selves instructed, and found, in your country, a hap- piness which you despise. What ! shall the Iroquois alone be eternally wretched ? Will they not be able to make up their minds to open their eyes to the truth, to leave this beastly life that dishonors them, and to follow the light of reason? You wish me to remain here with you, in order to maintain the peace ; and, to oblige me to do so, you often allege to me that you are now one, in body and in soul, with the Governor of the French and with me. Have you any reason to say this, — you, who have neither the same sentiments, the same inclinations, nor the same behavior as [182] we? How is it that my soul could be yours, when I am convinced that mine is a pure spirit, immortal, and like to the Master of your lives ; while you believe that yours is either a bear, a wolf, a serpent, a fish, a bird, or some other kind of animal that you have seen in a dream? Moreover, your soul and mine have very opposite sentiments. You think that the Master of life is a Demon, whom you call Agreskou6, and I, for my part, say that your Agreskou6 is a slave whom God, who is the Master of our lives, keeps chained in Hell as a proud and wicked spirit. You believe in an infinite number of fables, as so many truths, and I regard them as so many lies. If, then. 226 LES RELATIONS DES JJ^SUITES [Vol.53 dans I'Enfer, comme un efprit fuperbe & m^chant. Vous croyez une infinite de fables, comme autant de veritez, & ie les regarde comme autant de menfonges. Si done nos ames ont de fi grandes oppoQtions, com- ment eft-ce qu'il pent y avoir une paix folide & veri- table entre I'ame des Fran9ois, & I'ame des Agni6s? Les Frangois voyant que vous ne croyez pas ce qu'ils croyent, auront tout fujet de fe d6fier de vous, & de penfer que I'Agni^ eft un trompeur & un perfide, [183] puifqu'il ne croit pas avoir les m^mes obliga- tions d'eftre fidele, & qu'il n'a point de loy qui rempefcbe de rompre la paix, avec la m6me infidelity qu'ils la rompoient autrefois. Si vous n'avez point de Foy pour Dieu, qui eft le Maiftre de nos vies, comment en aurez vous pour les hommes? Soyez done perfuadez que nous ne croirons iamais que vous voulez toiijours vivre de bonne intelligence avec nous, iufqu'k tant que vous ferviez le m6me Maiftre que nous fervons : & que tant que vos efprits n'entre- ront pas dans tons les fentimens que nous avons de la vertu & du Ciel, nos coeurs ne peuuent eftre unis. Ainfi, mes freres, pour avoir une paix folide & in6branlable comme vous la foubaitez, il faut que vous foyez comme moy, & que vous croyez ce que ie croy, &. pour lors Onnontio dira; c'eft maintenant que ie croy que I'Agni^ eft fmcere & fidele, & que ie I'aime comme un de mes enfans: tons les Frangois fe r6joiiiront de fjavoir que vous eftes leurs freres, & par tout oil ils vous trouueront ils vous feront mille amitiez & mille careffes; [184] toute la France pren- dra part ^ voftre bon-heur ; toute la terre le f 9aura, & tout le Ciel en fera combl6 de joye : Dieu mefme, oily, ce grand Maiftre de nos vies, qui a fon Palais 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g - 70 227 otir souls have such greatly opposite qualities, how can there be any firm and true peace between the soul of the French and the soul of the Agni6s ? The French, seeing that you do not believe what they believe, will have every reason to mistrust you, and to think that the Agni6 is a deceiver and a perfidious person, [183] since he believes hinaself freed from the obligations that bind the French, and since he has no law that prevents him from breaking the peace with the same lack of faith with which he broke it before. If you have no Faith in God, who is the Master of our lives, how will you have any in men? Therefore be assured that we shall never believe, until you serve the same Master that we serve, that you still wish to live on good terms with us ; and that, as long as your minds do not embrace all the sentiments that we hold concerning virtue and Heaven, our hearts cannot be united. " ' So, my brothers, in order to have a firm and immovable peace, as you wish, you must be like me, and believe what I believe ; and then Onnontio will say: " Now it is that I believe the Agni6 to be sincere and faithful ; and now do I love him as one of my children." All the French will rejoice to know that you are their brothers, and wherever they meet with you, they will bestow on you a thousand acts of friendship and a thousand endearments. [184] All France will be interested in your good fortune, all the world will know about it, and all Heaven will be filled with j oy thereat. God himself — yea, that great Master of our lives, who has his Palace in Heaven — will not fail to prepare for the Agnie, if he becomes a Christian, a happiness that will never end.' " After this speech, I threw down a great brasse 228 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 53 dans le Ciel, ne manquera pas de preparer k V Agn.\6, s'il fe fait Chreftien, un bonheur qui ne finira iamais. Apres ce difcours, ie iett6 une grande braffe de Pourcelaine, difant, Agni6, mon frere, s'il eft vray que tu veiiille m'6couter, voila ma voix, qui t'av6rtit & te prie tout enfemble de renoncer k I'AgrefKoti^, & de ne iamais plus parler de luy, d'adorer le vray Dieu, & de fuiure la Loy. Cette premiere parole fut receiie avec vn grand cry d'applaudiffement, & il me fembla que ces Sauvages eftoient touchez de mon difcours. Ie iettay en fuite une autre braffe de Pourcelaine, pour obliger les longleurs de ne plus invoquer les Demons pour la guerif on de leurs malades : mais de fe fervir des remedes naturels, dont ie leur avois fouvent montr6 la force & la vertu. Ie m'^tendis fort fur ce poindt, parce que c'eft une des fuperfli- tions k laquelle [185] ils donnent plus de creance. Apres quoy i'entendis un fecond cry de joye, par lequel toute raffembl6e, & les longleurs mgmes, qui eftoient prefens, me t6moignerent qu'ils efloient difpofez h. faire fur ce fujet tout ce que ie voudrois. Le dernier prefent que ie fis pour exterminer la fuperftition des Danfes, fut receu avec la m6me acclamation. Apres quoy on me dit en deux mots, que Ton me feroit r6ponfe dans un confeil. Ce fut ainfi que fe paffa cette premiere entreveue, qui nous donna de grandes efperances de la converlion de ce peuple. Quelques iours apres on fit deux r^ponfes k ce que i'avois dit, en deux differentes aflembl6es, qui fe tinrent fur le mefme fuiet. La premiere fut en la prefence de tons les Onnontagu6, qui retournoient 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g - 70 22^ of Porcelain, saying: ' Agni6, my brother, if it i& true that thou wilt listen to me, there is my voice, which warns thee and begs thee, all in one, to renounce Agreskou6 and never to speak of him again ; to adore the true God, and to observe the Law.' This first speech was received with a great cry of applause, and it seemed to me that those Savages were moved by my discourse. " Then I threw down another brasse of Porcelain, to oblige the Jugglers to cease invoking the Demons for the cure of their sick, and to make use of natural remedies, whose power and virtue I had often shown them. I dilated with emphasis on this point, because it is one of the superstitions to which [185] they give most credence. Thereupon, I heard a second cry of joy, — with which all the assembly, and even the Jugglers who were present, testified to me their disposition to do all in this matter that I should wish. ' ' The last present that I made, to do away with the superstition of Dances, was received with the same acclamation. "After this I was told, in a few words, that an answer would be given me in a council. Thus passed off that first interview, which gave us great hopes of this people's conversion. ' ' Some days later, two answers were given to what I had said, in two different assemblies that were held on the same subject. The first was in the presence of all the Onnontagu6, who were returning from the Dutch Colony, whither they had gone to trade. I was sent for, accordingly, by the Elders, to hear what reply they had to give me, and to see it confirmed more solemnly in the presence of their new guests. 230 L£S RELA TIONS DES jtSUITES [Vol. 58 de la Colonic des Holandois, oh. ils eftoient allez en traite. On me vint done querir, de la part des Anciens, pour 6couter ce qu'on avoit S. me r^pondre, & pour le voir confirmer plus folennellement, en prefence de leurs nouveaux holies. [i86] D6s que ie fus entr6 dans la Cabanne oh. le Confeil fe tenoit, on me prefenta un gros morceau de viande, pour me regaler & me bien difpofer k cette grande adtion. Ie le partageay auffi-toll entre mes voifins. Apres quoy 1' Iroquois qui eftoit le plus conliderable & le plus habile de tout le pais, s'eflant lev6 pour parler, s'adreffa en ces termes au brave GaraKonti6, qui venoit de leur parler. Mon frere, luy dit-il, tu nous dis dernierement des merveilles, & tu vis quel applaudiffement nous donnafmes k ton difcours. Aujourd'huy ie fuis oblige de te dire que nous ne t'6coUtons plus; & que ce ne font point tes paroles qui nous ont touch6. Voicy un Fran9ois (dit-il en me montrant) qui a chang6 luy feul noflre coeur & noftre ame ; de forte que fes penf^es & fes deUrs font maintenant les noftres, & que nous n'avons plus qu'un mefme efprit. En fuite il repeta avec une fidelity & un effort de memoire admirable tout ce que ie leur avois dit dans le Confeil: il adjoufla k mon difcours tant d'eloquence naturelle, & des embeliffemens li agreables pour refuter [187] les mefmes erreurs que i'avois condamnez, que i'en eftois charm6. Apres quoy il fit en peu de mots les prefens qu'ils avoit k faire. GaraKontie Capitaine des Onnontagu6 f e levant ^ fon tour, luy r^pondit en ces termes: Mon frere, tu me iette dans la confufion de reieter ainfi ma voix, eft-elle de fi peu de confideration que tu luy doiue 1669-70] RELA TION OF ibbg-yo 231 [i86] "As soon as I entered the Cabin wliere the Council was being held, some one presented me with a great piece of meat, — to regale me, and make me favorably disposed to that great procedure. I immediately shared it among those nearest me. After this, the Iroquois who was the most important and the ablest of all the country, rising to speak, addressed in the following terms the valiant Gara- kontie, who had just spoken to them : " ' My brother,' he said to him, ' thou didst lately tell us some marvels, and didst see what applause we gave thy speech. To-day I am obliged to tell thee that we listen to thee no longer, and that it is not thy words that have touched us. Here is a Frenchman ' (said he, pointing to me), ' who has, himself alone, changed our heart and our soul, so that his thoughts and desires are now ours, and we henceforth have only one mind. ' Then he repeated, with an admirable accuracy and exercise of memory, all that I had said to them in the Council. He added to my speech so much native eloquence and so many pleasant embellishments, for the refutation [187] of the same errors as I had condemned, that I was charmed. After this he offered, with a few words, the presents that he had to give. " Garakontie, Captain of the Onnontagu6, rising in his turn, answered the other in these words: ' My brother, thou thro west me into confusion by reject- ing my voice in this manner. Is it of so little importance that thou oughtest to prefer to it that of this Frenchman who has come to teach thee? What will my Onnontagu6 think when I report to them the contempt in which thou boldest their speech ? ' But, all at once, changing the tone of his voice, he 232 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.53 preferer celle de ce Frangois qui eft venu t'enfeigner? Que penferont mes Onnontagu6, lorfque ie leur f eray raport du m^pris que tu f ais de leur parole ? Mais tout d'un coup, changeantle ton de fa voix, il adioufta fort obligeament. Ne penfe pas, mon frere Agni6, que ie fois facli6 de ce que tu as dit : au contraire, ie te remercie de m6prifer ainfi ma voix, & de luy pre- ferer celle d'un homme qui fe facrifie pour ton falut, & qui t'aporte la voix de Dieu. Ce qu'il ta dit, & ce qu'il t'enfeigne, font des veritez importantes, ^ ton bon-heur ; elles font entries dans mo cceur : fi tu es fage, tu ne les negligeras pas; & fi tu veux eftre etemellement heureux, tu fuiuras tout ce qu' elles te prefcrivent. [i88] Ce que GaraKonti6 difoit, auoit d'autant plus de poids qu' outre la grande autorit6 & la reputation d'un excellent efprit qu'il s'eft acquife parmy toutes les Nations Iroquoifes.il fe declaroit encore hautement pour la Foy de Iesvs-Christ,& ne faif oit nulle difficult6 de prier en public, & devant tout Ie monde. II y a tout fuiet d'efperer, qu'eftant zel6 autant qu'il eft, il ne contribuera pas peu k I'avancement de la Religion Chreftienne dans tout Ie pais. Ie fortis de I'affembl^e combl6 d'une joye qui ne fe pent pas expliquer: & comme c'eftoit Ie iour de I'Annonciation que ce Confeil fe tenoit, ie tiray de Ik un fort bon augure de la converfion de ces Infideles, de laquelle ie voyois naiftre de fi beaux commence- mens, au iour mefme que Ie Sauveur s'eftoit incamd pour Ie falut des hommes. Le lendemain nos Anciens s'eftant ailemblez un feconde fois, me rendirent une feconde r6ponfe, qui ine parut eftre encore plus precif e que la premiere ; 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 233 added very kindly : ' Think not, my brother Agni6, that I am angry at what thou hast said ; on the contrary, I thank thee for thus despising my voice and preferring to it that of a man who sacrifices him- self for thy salvation, and brings thee the voice of God. What he has told thee, and what he teaches thee, are important truths for thy welfare; they have entered my own heart. If thou art wise, thou wilt not neglect them ; and if thou wouldst be eter- nally happy, thou wilt follow all that they prescribe.' [i88] "What Garakonti6 said had all the more weight from the fact that, besides the great authority and the reputation for an excellent intelligence that he has acquired for himself among all the Iroquois Nations, he was also wont to declare himself boldly for the Faith of Jesus Christ, and did not hesitate to pray in public, and before all the people. There is every reason to hope that, being so zealous as he is, he will contribute not a little to the advance- ment of the Christian Religion throughout the country. " I went forth from the assembly, filled with a joy that cannot be explained ; and as it was on the day of the Annunciation that this Council was held, I drew therefrom a very good augury for the conver- sion of these Infidels, — a conversion of which I saw so propitious beginnings take birth on the very day when the Savior had become incarnate for the salvation of mankind. ' ' On the following day, our Elders, assembling a second time, gave me a second reply, which seemed to me to be still more precise than the first; and the same Captain of whom I have spoken before addressed me as follows: ' My [189] brother, it is an 234 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.53 & le mefme Capitaine dont i'ay parl6 cy-devant me parla en ces termes. Mon [189] frere, c'eft line affaire d'importance que nous traitons prefentement, Tu nous demande des chofes qu'il nous eft bien rude de t'accorder; car enfin n'eft-il pas bien facheux de rompre tout d'un coup avec des habitudes oil nous avons efi:6 nourris ; de quitter abf olument des cbofes dont nous fommes, en poffeffion d6s le commencement du monde : Comme neantmoins nous fommes refolus de te con tenter en toutes chofes, & de te faire voir le grand deGr que nous avons de t'6couter, Nous te fai- f ons le Maiftre abfolu de nos corps & de nos ames ; il n'eft point d'obftacle que nous ne furmontions, pour nous rendre dignes du bonheur que tu nous veux procurer. Ainli nous te fupplions de nous inftruire, & de croire que tu trouveras en nous des efprits f oumis k tout ce que tu voudras leur ordonner. Nous te t^moignons que nous te parlous avec fin- cerit6 ; nous te declarons que nous croyons ce que tu crois, que nous condamnons ce que tu condamne, & que nous renongons k tout ce que tu nous as averty de quitter. Au refte s'il arrive que quelque efprit mal [190] fait invoque 1' Agrefkoii^, ou contrevienne ^ ce que nous te promettons de garder, fgache que ce ne fera pas de noftre confentement. Si nous avions autant de pouvoir fur les efprits de nos jeunes gens, que des anciens en doivent avoir, nous pourrions t'affeurer que tes ordres y feroient univerfellement fuivis de tout le monde. Au refte, nous te recom- mandons nos malades, puifque tu nous ofte tout ce que nous avons cril iufqu'k prefent pouvoir fervir k leur fant6. Difpofe de ta Chapelle de telle forte que nous y puiffions tous aller pour recevoir tes 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g - 70 235 affair of importance that we are now discussing. Thou askest things of us which it is very hard for us to grant thee. For, in short, is it not very diffi- cult to break all at once with the habits in which we have been brought up, to abandon absolutely things of which we have been in possession since the begin- ning of the world ? Nevertheless, as we are resolved to please thee in all things, and to show thee the great desire we have to listen to thee, we make thee the absolute Master of our bodies and of our souls. There is no obstacle that we will not surmount, to render ourselves worthy of the happiness that thou desirest to procure for us. So we implore thee to instruct us, and to believe that thou wilt find in us spirits submissive to all that thou shalt choose to demand from them. We assure thee that we speak to thee with sincerity ; we declare to thee that we believe what thou believest, that we condemn what thou condemnest, and that we renounce all that thou, hast warned us to abandon. As for the rest, if it happen that some evil spirit [190] causes Agreskou6 to be invoked, or violate what we promise thee ta observe, know that it will not be with our consent. If we had as much power over the minds of our young people as elders ought to have, we could assure thee that thy orders herein would be univer- sally followed by every one. Furthermore, we com- mend our sick ones to thee, since thou takest from us all that we have hitherto thought could contribute to their health. Arrange thy Chapel in such manner that we can all go there to receive thy teachings, which we know to be the explanation of God's will.' " After this speech, I was presented with as muchi Porcelain as I had given them. I declared to all the 236 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.53 inftruEST la feconde Nation des Iroquois, tirant vers leur grand Lac, nomm6 Ontario. Le Pere Bruyas qui a foin de cette Million en a 6crit un loumal, dont ce qui fuit a eft6 extrait. Le 14. Aoufl 1669. Nouvelle arrive de Montreal que quelques Pran9ois ont tu6 traiteufement des Onneiout au retour de leur chaffe, pour fe rendre maiftres des peaux de Caftor & d'Orignac qu'ils avoient pris. On adjoiite que 1' Onneiout mis en prifon par les Franjois de Montreal, eft encore aux fers: & qu'un autre y a eft6 battu de telle maniere, qu'il en eft mort peu de temps apres, Toutes ces nouvelles vrayes ou fauffes ne laiffent pas d'irriter les efprits, & aifement le contrecoup en tombera icy fur nous. [194] Le 16. on retourne de traite avec foixante barils d'eau de vie apportez de la nouvelle HoUande. Vn yvrogne rompt la porte de ma Chapelle, en me reprochant I'infolence de nos Frangois. Vn autre frappe £i rudement mon compagnon, qu'il en porte les marques. De ces defordres qui font dans ce Bourg, ie prens occallon d'aller faire un tour vers noftre Lac, oil il y a quelques pefcheurs, quoy que ie fois encore bien foible d'une fievre tierce, qui par la grace de Dieu ne m'a pas arreft6, ny empefch^ d'agir pour I'inftrudlion de mon petit troupeau. La 1669-70] RELATION OF 1669-70 241 [193] CHAPTER VI. OF THE MISSION OF ST. FRANCOIS XAVIER AT ONNEIOUT. THIS is the second Nation of tlie Iroquois as you go toward their great Lake called Ontario. Father Bruyas, who has charge of this Mission, has written a Journal about it, from which the following is taken. " Augfust 14, 1669. News arrives from Montreal that some Frenchmen have treacherously killed some Onneiouts, upon their return from the chase, in order to get possession of the Beaver- and Moose-skins that they had taken. It is added that the Onneiout who was imprisoned by the French of Montreal is still in irons ; and that another one has been flogged there in such a manner that he died a short time afterward, from the effect of the punishment. All these tidings, true or false, fail not to irritate the feelings, and the consequences will probably fall upon us here. [194] " The 1 6th. People return from trading, with sixty kegs of brandy brought from new Holland. A drunken man breaks in the door of my Chapel, reproaching me for the insolence of our Frenchmen. Another strikes my companion, with such violence that he bears the marks of it. Owing to the disor- ders that are prevailing in this Village, I take occa- sion to go on a trip toward our Lake, where there are some fishermen, — although I am still very weak from a tertian fever which, by the grace of God, has not stopped or hindered me from working for the 242 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 53 plus pefante croix que i'aye, eft celle des yvrognes, i'ay bef oin de toute ma petite vertu pour la fupporter patiemment : cela rompt tout nos exercices, toutes nos inftrudtions, & empefche que Ton ne puiffe venir dans la Chapelle y faire les prieres foir & matin, chacun ne penfant qu'k fuir, & k f e cacher pour 6viter la violence de ces furieux. Le 20. Vn Ambaffadeur d'une certaine Nation des Loups, qui ont la paix avec les Iroquois, arrive icy avec vingt colliers, dont il fait fes prefens pour arrefter [195] les adtes d'hoftilit6. Cela enfle bien le coeur k nos Onneiout, de fe voir ainfi recbercliez, quoy que tout fraichement ils euffent eft6 en guerre ce Printemps, contre cette Nation-Ik, nonobftant la paix faite avec eux. lis en amenerent un liomme captif. Le 23. r Ambaffadeur s'enfuit, 6pouvent6 par les yvrognes. Le 25. la difette d'affaifonnement, qui donne quel- que gouft a leur farine de bled de Turquie boiiillie dans I'eau, oblige une grande partie du Bourg d'al- ler cbercher du poiffon k dix lieues d'icy; oil ils dardent le Saulmon k coups d'efp^e, lorfqu'il nage dans I'eau. Le 26. de deux ieunes hommes, qui eftoient allez en guerre h. Andaftogu6, I'un y a eft6 pris & a eft6 brul^ : car ils font G ardens k faire quelque meurtre dans le pais ennemy, que quelquefois mefme un feul homme ira faire un coup de proiieffe, entrant de nuit dans une Bourgade ennemie, & y maffacrant un ou plufleurs de ceux qu'il y trouvera endormis, f e fauvant apr6s k la fuite, quoy qu'il foit pourfuivy de trente & quarante [196] ennemis, qui fe feront r^veillez au 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g - 70 243 instruction of my little flock. The heaviest cross that I have is that of the drunkards ; and I have need of all my little virtue to bear it patiently. It breaks up all our exercises, and all our teaching; and pre- vents the people from coming to Chapel to say their prayers, morning and evening, — each one thinking only of running away and hiding, in order to avoid the violence of those furious men. " The 20th. An Ambassador from a certain Na- tion of the Loups who are at peace with the Iroquois, arrives here with twenty collars, with which he makes his presents, for the purpose of arresting [195] the acts of hostility. This greatly elates our Onnei- outs' spirits, to see themselves thus sought after, — although quite recently, this Spring, they had been at war with that Nation, notwithstanding the peace made with them. They had led one of their men home a prisoner. " The 23rd. The Ambassador takes flight, fright- ened by the drunkards. " The 25 th. The scarcity of seasoning, for giving some taste to their Turkish wheat boiled in water, obliges a large part of the Village to go in quest of fish, at a place ten leagues from here, — where, with their javelins, they pierce the Salmon as it swims in the water. " The 26th. Of two young men who had gone to Andastogu6 with hostile intent, one has been cap- tured there and burned; for they are so eager to commit some murder in the enemy's country that sometimes even a single man will go and execute a stroke of prowess, — entering a hostile Village at night, and murdering one or several of those whom he finds asleep there; making his escape afterward 244 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES fVoi.. 5» bruit du meutre. Les chevelures qu'.ils en rappor- tent, qu'ils arrachent promptemeat de la tefte de ceux qu'ils auront tu6, font les marques aHeur^es de leuT vidtoire. Mais fouvent auffi ils y font pris, & y font brulez cruellement. Le 28. le Pere Pierron arrive d'Agni6, pour me prendre en paffant, pour nous rendre k Onnontagu6, oti nous arrivames le lendemin, tous les Miffionnaires des Nations Iroquoifes s'y eflant rendus en mefme temps. Quelle joye de nous revoir & de nous embraffer, & de conferer par enfemble des moyens d'avancer le falut des ames, & la gloire de Dieu en nos Miflions. Cette affembl6e nous eftoit neceffaire, & k moy particulierement. Le fixi6me iour de Septembre, ie retourne avec le Pere Pierron k Onneiout, qui paffa outre dans fa Million d'Agni^. I'apprens que les yvrognes durant mon abfence ont fi mal traitt6 I'homme qui eft avec moy, qu'il s'eft veu oblig6 de fortir, & de demeurer k la campagne pour 6viter leur infolence. II faut que [197] nous foyons icy difpofez ^ tout, k la mort autant qu'k une vie toiiiours perfecut6e: mais c'efl una grande confolation que ce foit pour I'amour de Dieu, & le falut des ames. Le 8. vn Onneiout retourne des Ontoiiagannha qui font k deux cent lieues d'icy. II nous apprend que deux de fes camarades, avec un Onnontagu^ & un Tfonnontotien, ont efl6 faits prifonniers par quelques guerriers de la Nation des N6s-percez, Ces quatre Iroquois retournoient de leur petite-gfuerre, oh. ils avoient pris deux ennemis; mais ayant efl6 rencontrez par foixante OutaoiiaKs, ils furent vaincus dans leur vidtoire, & eux-mefmes furent pris captifs. 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF 1669 - 70 24& by flight, although he may be pursued by thirty or forty [196] of the euetny, who have awakened at t;he noise of the assault. The scalps which they bring back, and which they quickly snatch from the heads of those they have killed, are the sure signs of their victory. But often, too, they are captured in these assaults and cruelly burned. " The 28th. Father Pierron arrives from Agni6, to take me in passing, that we may repair to Onnon- tague, where we arrive on the following day, — all the Missionaries of the Iroquois Nations having gath- ered there at the same time. What joy for us to see one another again, to embrace, and confer together on the means of advancing the salvation of souls and the glory of God in our Missions ! This meeting was necessary for us, and especially so for me. " The sixth day of September. I return with Fa- ther Pierron to Onneiout, he going on to his Mission at Agni6. I learn that during my absence the drunk- ards so maltreated the man who is with me, that he found himself obliged to leave and take up his abode in the fields, in order to avoid their insolence. We here are obliged [197] to be ready for anything, — for death, as well as for a life of constant persecution ; but it is a great consolation that it is for the love of God and the saving of souls. " The 8th. An Onneiout returns from the On- touagannha, who are two hundred leagues from here. He informs us that two of his comrades, together with an Onnontagu6 and a Tsonnontouen, were taken prisoners by some warriors of the Nation of the N6s-percez. These four Iroquois were returning from their skirmishing, in which they had taken two of the enemy; but being met by sixty Outaouaks, 246 LES RELATIONS DES JJ&SUITES [Vol.53 Voila bien des femences de guerre, C Dieu n'y met ordre. Sagocchiendaget6 retourne^de Montreal affez content: les OutaoiiaKs luy ont donn6 dix peaux de vaclies fauvages bien enricbies de leurs peintures, pour affeurer les Anciens qu'au Printemps ils fe trouveront k Montreal, pour y planter I'arbre de paix, afin d'arrefter tous ces adtes d'hoftilit6. Le 9. une bande de buit guerriers part [198] vers Andaftogu6: une autre bande de cinq les avoit devancez il y a quinze iours. Le 10. i'ay trouv6 un enfant mort, qui beureufe- ment avoit eft6 baptif6. Le falut de cette petite ame adoucit toutes mes amertumes, & me fait oublier tout le mal que m'ont fait les yvrognes. Le 20. nos guerriers partent au nombre de Cx- vingts, y compris cinquante Onnontagu6, & dix Oio- goiien qui s'eftoient ioints ^ eux. Si nos Onneiout eftoient ramaffez, ils pourroient mettre fur pied cent foixate bommes de guerre. Le 21. il y a grand nombre de malades. Vn enfant baptif^ s'en va en Paradis, ioindre la troupe innocente de ceux qui y font d6ja. C'eft le vingti^me depuis que ie fuis h. Onneiout, Que cela eft confo- lant: ie fuis afleur6 d 'avoir autant de protedteurs aupres de Dieu. Le fecond iour d'Odtobre, un Onneiout yvre tuS un de fes camarades "k Agni6. Le 3. ie croy que Dieu a receu en fon Paradis une femme ag6e de trente ans, qui vient d'expirer, ayant receu faintement [199] le Baptefme depuis quatorze iours. Le 6. un enfant baptif6 s'envole au Ciel. La 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i6(x} - 70 247 they were vanquished in their victory, and were themselves taken captive. Here are seeds, indeed, of war if God do not restore harmony. Sagocchien- daget6 * returns from Montreal fairly well pleased. The Outaouaks gave him ten wild-cows' skins, well adorned with their paintings, as assurance to the Elders that they would repair to Montreal in the Spring, to plant th6 tree of peace there, in order to put a stop to all these acts of hostility. " The gth. A band of eight warriors sets out [198] toward Andastogu6, another band of five having preceded them two weeks ago. "The loth. I found a child dead, who had for- tunately been baptized. The salvation of this little soul sweetens all my bitterness, and makes me forget all the injury that the drunken men did me. " The 20th. Our warriors depart, to the number of six-score, — including fifty Onnontagu^ and ten Oiogouen, who had joined them. If our Onneiout were gathered together, they could put into the field a hundred and sixty warriors. " The 2 1 St. There are a great many sick people. A child that has been baptized goes to Paradise, ta join the innocent band of those already there ; it is the twentieth since my coming to Onneiout. How consoling that is! I am sure of having so many protectors with God. ' ' The second day of October. A drunken Olmeiout kills one of his comrades at Agni6. "The 3rd. I believe that God has received into his Paradise a woman aged thirty years, who has just died, and who piously received [199] Baptism a fortnight ago. " The 6th. A child that has been baptized takes M8 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 53 tnere vent fuivre fon enfant, me preffant de la baptifer, y ayant un an que ie rinftruits, & fon coeur eflant dit-elle, oti eft fon fils. Le II. voila encore un petit Ange qui s'en va an Ciel. II y a une providence de Dieu particuliere fur ces petits innocens. Comme i'ouvrois ce matin la porte de ma Chapelle, deux femmes s'y eftant rencon- tr6es paffant chemin, I'une a demand^ ^ I'autre en quel efl'at eftoit le malade de fa Cabanne : il va mou- lir, luy a-t'elle r6pondu: i'ay appris que c'eftoit un enfant, i'y fuis allay, & i'ay trouv6 ce petit innocent qui fembloit m'attendre pour recevoir le faint Baptefme, apres lequel il eft mort. Le 25. I'apprens la mort d'un ancien Chreftien, baptif6 il y a plus de vingt ans dans le pai's des Hurons. II eftoit icy depuis environ dix ans, toujours malade. Ie le confeffay avant qu'on I'emportaft aux pefches, oil Dieu I'a pris k foy. On m'a dit qu'eflant proche de la mort, il ne difoit autre cbofe, finon ie vais an Ciel; [200] il y a long-temps que ie fuis Cbre- ftien ; & qu'il fit lever le toidt de la Cabanne au deffus du lieu oti il eftoit coucli6, afin de donner paffage h. fon ame vers le Ciel. Le 20. Novembre, II me femble que je fuis main- tenant dans un Paradis terreftre. Le manque de boiffon me fait ioiiir d'un grand repos, & donne k ceux qui font de bonne volenti la libert6 entiere de venir prier Dieu. Le nombre de ceux qui fe font inftruire augmente tous les iours; fur tout depuis que i'ay commence k faire le Catechifme. Si i'avois une Cloche, cela me foulageroit beaucoup, ie fuis contraint, pour y fuppleer, d'aller faire le cry par les Tu6s de ce Bourg. 1669-70] RELATION OF i66()-jo 249 flight to Heaven. The mother wishes to follow her child, and urges me to baptize her, as she has been under my instruction for the past year ; and as her heart is, she says, where her son is. ' ' The I ith. Another little Angel gone to Heaven. There is a special providence of God over these little innocents. When I opened my Chapel-door this morning, two women met there by chance, as they were passing ; and one asked the other how the sick one in her Cabin was. ' He is going to die,' was the reply. I learned that it was a child and repaired to the place, where I found that little innocent appar- ently waiting for me, in order to receive holy Baptism, — after which he died. " The 25th. I learn of the death of an old Chris- tian who was baptized more than twenty years ago in the country of the Hurons. He had been here for about the last ten years, always ill. I confessed him before he was taken away to the fisheries, where God took him to himself. I have been told that, when he was near to death, he repeated only these words : ' I am going to Heaven ; [200] for a long time I have been a Christian ; ' and that he had the Cabin-roof removed, over the place where he was lying, in order to give his soul passage Heavenward. ' ' November 20. It seems to me that I am now in an earthly Paradise. The lack of drink makes me enjoy a great rest, and gives those that are well in- clined entire freedom to come and pray to God. The number of those who are receiving instruction increases every day, especially since I have begun to ask the Catechism. If I had a Bell, it would help me gfreatly, as I am obliged, for want of one, to go through the streets of this Village and call the people. 260 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.53 Vn Onneiout yvre a tu6 un Agni6. S'ils ne s'6par- gnent pas entre eux, que ne devrions-nous pas craindre, fi Dieu n'efloit noftre deffenfe? Le 5. Decembre. Fay baptif6 un enfant d'une Chreftienne: c'eft la fille de Felicit6, qui continue de bien faire. Toute la leunelle va h, la chaffe du Cerf du co£l6 d'Andaflogu6. Cependant [201] les femmes qui reflent f e rendent affiduSs au Catecbifme ; oh. ie les interroge fouvent, fans qu'elles ayent honte de r6pondre. II m'en coufle quelque chofe; mais cela n ' eft pas mal employ^. Qui f gait repeter le Dimaache tout ce qui s'eft dit pendant la femaine, a pour recompenfe une corde de raffade, ou deux petits tuyaux de verre, ou deux bagues de leton. Le 20. Fay baptif^ un enfant qui fe meurt. La neige commence k tomber. II a fait jufqu'^ maintenant un temps doux comme en Automne. Le 25. iour de Noel, i'ay baptif^ une femme marine avec les ceremonies ordinaires. C'efl le premier baptefme folemnel que i'ay fait icy. I'efpere qu'elle fera une bonne Cbreftienne ; il y a deux ans qu'elle m'en a donn6 des preuves fi fortes, que ie n'ay pH differer plus long-temps fon baptefme; fur tout depuis la mort de fon enfant. I'ay eft6 oblig6 de prefcher quafl tout le long du iour, h. caufe du grand concours des Sauvages dans noflre Cliapelle: oh. il m'a fallu contenter [202] la devotion de quelques-uns, & la curiolit6 des autres. Le 28. I'ay donn6 le Baptefme k un enfant, dont la mere efl fort affidue h. la priere. Le premier iour de lanvier 1670. Pour bonne Eflrenne, un petit d'un an efl all6 au Ciel. 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g - 70 251 " A drunken Onneiout has killed an Agni6. If they spare not one another, what would not we have to fear, if God were not our defense? " December 5. I have baptized a Christian wom- an's child: it is the daughter of Felicity, who continues to do well. " All the Youth go in the direction of Andastogu6, to hunt the Stag. Meanwhile [201] the women who remain betake themselves assiduously to the Cate- chism, — in which I question them often, without their being ashamed to answer. It costs me some- thing, but that is not ill spent. The one who can repeat, on Sunday, all that has been taught during the week, has for reward a string of colored glass beads, or two little glass tubes, or two brass rings. " The 20th. I baptized a dying infant. " The snow is beginning to fall. Until now the weather has been as mild as in Autumn. " The 25th, Christmas day. I baptized a married woman with the ordinary ceremonies. It is the first solemn baptism I have administered here. I hope that she will be a good Christian : two years ago she gave me such strong proofs of it that I have been unable to defer her baptism longer, especially since the death of her child. I was obliged to preach almost all day long, on account of the great throng of Savages in our Chapel, where I was forced to satisfy [202] the devotion of some and the curiosity of others. " The 28th. I gave Baptism to a child whose mother is very assiduous in prayer. " The first day of January, 1670. For a good New- Year's gift, a little babe, a year old, went to Heaven. " The loth. The Demon, seeing the fruit of our 252 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.53 Le lo. le Demon voyant le fruit denos inftrudlions, a fufcit6 une femme de ce Bourg pour les inter- rompre. Elle affeure avoir veu le grand Dieu des Iroquois, Teharonhiaoiiagon, qui luy a revel6, dit- elle, que les Andaftogu6 viendront affieger ce Bourg au Printemps; qu'un des plus conliderables de leurs ennemis, nom.m.6 Hocliitagete, fera pris & brul6 par les Onneiout : On affeure avoir oily la voix de cet Andaflogu6, qui du fond d'une chaudiere iettoit des plaintes femblables aux cris de ceux qui font brillez. Cette foUe ou poffed^e eft crue en tout ce qu'elle dit: tons les iours on s'affemble chez elle, ce ne font que danfes, chanteries & feflins ; ce qui d^tourne puiffam- ment nos prieres. Le 27. deux Anciens d'Onnontagu6 [203] appor- tent la nouvelle du retour de leurs guerriers, avec neuf captifs d'Andaflogu6 furpris h. la chaffe. On en a donn6 deux k Onneiout; un ieune homme de vingt ans, & une femme. Ce[t]te femme-cy a efl6 baptif^e h. Onnontagu6 par le Pere Millet. Le 30. on commence h. la briiler k petit feu, & I'on prolonge fon fupplice I'efpace de deux iours & de deux nuits; parce que celuy pour qui elle a efl6 donnee, a efle brul6 k Andaflogu6 pendant autant de temps. Le premier iour de Fevrier ayant trouv6 I'occallon d'inllruire ce pauvre ieune bomme captif, ie le fis tout publiquement, en prefence des Anciens & de beaucoup de monde, qui m'6coutoient volontiers; mais plus qu'aucun, celuy qui eftoit condamn6 h. eflre brul6. Ie le baptifay heureufement. Quelques Anciens vouloient m'empefcher de luy procurer ce bonbeur: mais ie leur ay dit, que c'eftoit noflre 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF jb6g - 70 253 instructions, has incited a woman of this Village to interrupt them. She affirms that she has seen the great God of the Iroquois, Teharonhiaouagon,^ — who has revealed to her, she says, that the Adasto- gu6 will come to besiege this Village in the Spring, and that one of the most powerful of their enemies, named Hochitagete, will be captured and burned by the Onneiout. It is asserted that the voice of that Andastogu6 was heard ; from the bottom of a kettle he uttered wailing cries, like the cries of those who are being burned. This woman — mad or pos- sessed — is believed in all that she says. Every day there is a gathering at her house, where there is nothing but dancing, singing, and feasting, — a power- ful deterrent to our prayers. " The 27th. Two Elders from Onnontagu6 [203] bring the news of the return of their warriors, with nine Andastogu6 captives that were surprised while hunting. Two of them were given to Onneiout, — a young man of twenty, and a woman. This woman was baptized at Onnontagu6 by Father Millet. " The 30th. They begin to burn her over a slow fire, and prolong her torture for the space of two days and two nights, — because he for whom she was given was burned at Andastogu6 for that length of time. " The first day of February. Having found an opportunity to instruct that poor young man who was taken prisoner, I did so with entire publicity, in presence of the Elders and many people, who listened to me willingly, — but, more so than any one else, the one who was condemned to be burned. I suc- ceeded in baptizing him. Some Elders wished to prevent me from procuring him this happiness ; but I told them that it was our custom to pray to God with 254 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol.53 couftume de prier Dieu avec ceux que I'on faifoit mourir, & qu'ils devoient fe contenter de le faire fouffrir en cette vie. L'efperance du Paradis [204] eft une douce confolation "k ces pau[v]res miferables. Le lendemain matin i'y retournay, & ie le trouvay tres-bien difpof^ pour le Ciel ; On acheva de le bru- ler, & ie luy vis rendre fon ame k Dieu. On m'a dit qu'il me reclamoit le foir precedent, au milieu des flammes, mais on luy refufa cette confolation que i'aurois pH luy donner. Le 4. ie baptifay il n'y a que deux iours une ieune fille de fix k fept ans, qui aujourd'buy eft all6e au Ciel. Le 5. quatorze guerriers vont chercher leurs en- nemis de la Nation des Loups, qui font leur cbafl^e vers Montreal. I'apprens en mefme temps que fix cents, tant de Tfonnontoiien que d'Oiogoiien, font allez en guerre vers le pais des OutaoiiaK, oil le Pere Alloiies doit biverner. Le 3. iour de Mars. Fay baptif6 un ieune homme de vingt cinq ans, a I'extremit^. Au commencement de fa maladie il avoit refuf6 tous les remedes fuper- ftitieux, oil les Demons font invoquez: mais enfin fa mere luy ayant perfuad^ [205] d'y avoir recours; les Sorciers du pais, ou pour mieux dire les longleurs 6prouverent fur luy tous les fecrets de leur Art; mais fans aucun effet : ce qui les obligea eux-mefmes d'abandonner le malade; que ie n'abandonnay pas, & que Dieu me fit la grace de gagner & de le difpofer k mourir cbreftiennement. Le 4. GaraKonti6 Capitaine d'Onnontagu6 eft venu icy, avec quarante fix beaux colliers, pour afl^eurer I'Onneiout qu'il fera toufiours uny avec luy. 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66<) - 70 255 those who were put to death, and that they must con- tent themselves with making him suffer in this life. The hope of Paradise [204] is a sweet consolation to these poor wretches. " On the following morning, I went back there and found him very well prepared for Heaven. They finished burning him, and I saw him render up his soul to God. I was told that he called for me on the previous evening, in the midst of the flames ; but he was refused the consolation that I might have been able to give him. " The 4th. Only two days ago, I baptized a young girl, between six and seven years old, who to-day went to Heaven. " The 5 th. Fourteen warriors go to seek their enemies, of the Nation of the Loups, who are hunting in the direction of Montreal. I learn at the same time that six hundred men, both Tsonnontouen and Oiogouen, have gone on the war-path toward the country of the Outaouak, where Father Alloues is to spend the winter. " The 3rd day of March. I baptized a young man of twenty-five, who was critically ill. In the begin- ning of his sickness, he had refused all the supersti- tious remedies in which the Demons are invoked. But at length his mother persuaded him [205] to have recourse to them; and the Sorcerers of the country — or, rather, the Jugglers — tried all the secrets of their Art on him, but without any effect. They were accordingly obliged to abandon the sick man, whom I did not forsake, and whom God gra- ciously suffered me to win over, and prepare for a Christian death. " The 4th. Garakonti6, Captain of Onnontagu^, 256 LES RELATIONS DES J£SUITES [Vol.53 II a parl6 avantageufement de la Foy, & a exhorts nos Anciens k venir k la priere k fon exemple. II a auffi fait un prefent pour les inviter h. allumer le feu de paix ^ Montreal, au tetnps que les Outaoiiaks y feront defcendus. Le 1 6. vn petit enfant eft all6 aujourd'huy au Ciel croiflre le nombre des Predeflinez. Le 3. d'Avril. Nos traitteurs retoumerent avec quarante barils d'eau de vie. C'eft pour troubler noflre devotion les Fefles procbaines de Pafque. Le 4. vn yvrogne met le feu ^ une Cabane, tout y fut brul6 en moins d'un [206] quart d'beure: & £i le vent euft donn6 d'un autre cofl6, la moiti6 du Bourg auroit efl6 reduit en cendres. Quand nos Sauvages ont receu quelque tort d'un autre, ils s'enyvrent h. demy, & font impun6ment tout ce que la paffion leur fuggere. Toute la fatisfadtion qu'on en regoit, ce font deux mots; il eftoit yvre, il avoit perdu la raifon. Voyant tous ces def ordres, i'ay eft6 paffer les Fefles de Pafque avec le Pere Millet h. Onnontagu6. Le 20. ie trouve k mon retour vne vieille Cbre- ftienne que Dieu avoit appell6 h. foy. Le premier iour du mois du May, ie donne le Baptefme k un enfant, qui s'envola incontinent en Paradis, trois autres le fuivirent de prez. Le 26. i'ay paff6 les Fefles de la Pentecofle h. Onnontagu6 oti le Pere de Carbeil s'efloit aufTi rendu de fa Million Doiogoiien. Le 6 iour de luin, un enfant mort apres fon Baptefme, va iouir de Dieu. Le 17. vne pauure femme vient d'expirer deux iours apres fon Baptefme. Ie [207] n'en ay pu rien 1669-70J RELA TION OF ib6g-yo 267 has come here with forty-six fine collars, to assure the Onneiout that he will always be at one with him. He spoke in favor of the Faith, and exhorted our Elders to attend prayers, after his example. He also gave them a present, as an invitation to light the fire of peace at Montreal, at the time when the Outaouaks come down there. "The i6th. A little child went to Heaven to- day, to swell the number of the Predestined. " The 3rd of April. Our traders returned with forty kegs of brandy. That is to disturb our devo- tions during the coming Easter Holy days. " The 4th. A drunken man set fire to a Cabin, and everything in it was burned in less than a [206] quarter of an hour. If the wind had been in another direction, half of the Village would have been re- duced to ashes. When our Savages have received an injury from any one, they get half drunk and do with impunity all that passion suggests to them. All the satisfaction one receives from them is embraced in two words: ' He was drunk; he had lost his reason.' ' ' Seeing all these disorders, I went and passed the Easter Holy days with Father Millet, at Onnontagu6. " The 20th. I found on my return that God had called to himself an old Christian woman. " The first day of the month of May. I gave Baptism to a child, who straightway took flight to Paradise ; three others followed it closely. " The 26th. I passed the Whitsuntide Feast-days at Onnontagu6, whither Father de Carheil had also gone from his Mission at Oiogouen. " The 6th day of June. A child, dying after its Baptism, goes to enjoy God. 258 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 53 tirer qu'k rextremit6, i'allois la viQter trois & quatre fois le iour, & la trouvois toiijours indifpof^e au faint Baptefme. Enfin heiireufement ie trouvay le moment que Noflre Seigneur luy voulut faire mife- ricorde. La patience & la longanimity font bien neceff aires ^ un Miffionnaire, & la confiance aux merites de Iesvs-Christ. 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 259 " The i7tli. A poor woman has just died, two days after her Baptism. I [207] could not gain any response from her until near the end ; I went to visit her three or four times a day, and found her un- favorably inclined toward holy Baptism. At last, I happily found the moment when it was Our Lord's will to show her mercy. Patience, long-suffering, and confidence in the merits of Jesus Christ are very necessary for a Missionary." 260 LES RELATIONS DES JASUITES [Vol. 53 CHAPITRE VII DE LA MISSION DE SAINT lEAN BAPTISTE A ONNON- TAGU6. CI EST la troili6me Nation des Iroquois. On connoiftra I'eftat de cette Miffion par vne Lettre du Pere Millet qui en a eu le foin, enuoi6e au R. P. le Mercier Superieur general des Millions de la Nouvelle France. [208] jy yi ON R. Pere, iVl Pax Chrijli. V. R. m'a command^ dans fa derniere Lettre de I'informer de ce qui s'efl paff6 de plus confiderable en cette Miffion: le luy obei'ray autant qu'il me fera poffible, & que le peu de loifir que i'ay prefentement me le pent permetre. Le lendemain du depart d'Ateriata qui vous a port6 mes premieres Lettres, ie commengay de faire le cry ordinaire le matin, par lequel on avertit le peuple de venir k la Chapelle ; & comme ie fuis dans la Miffion de faint lean Baptifte, ie crus que Dieu demandoit de moy que i'imitaffe ce grand Saint, en criant comme luy dans ces deferts & dans ces bois. Ie continuay ce mefme cry les iours fuivans au foir & au matin, principalement durant 1' Advent. Ie criois tantoft au feu, au feu d'enfer, quines'efteintiamais: tantoft au Ciel, au Ciel, ou on trouve toutes fortes de biens, avec un bon-heur etemel. Quelquefois ie leur criois, 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF j66g - 70 261 CHAPTER VII. OF THE MISSION OF SAINT JEAN BAPTISTE AT ONNON- TAGU6. THIS is the third Nation of the Iroquois. The state of this Mission will be learned from a Letter sent by Father Millet, who has had charge of it, to the Reverend Father le Mercier, Superior-general of the Missions of New France. [208] |\/lY Reverend Father, i V 1 Pax Christi. Your Reverence commanded me, in your last Letter, to inform you of the more notable occur- rences in this Mission. I will obey you, as far as it shall be possible, and as the little leisure that I have at present will permit. On the day after the departure of Ateriata, who carried you my first Letters, I began in the morning to gfive the ordinary cry by which the people are summoned to Chapel ; and as I am in the Mission of saint Jean Baptiste, I thought that God demanded of me an imitation of that great Saint by crying in these deserts and forests, after his example. I kept up this same cry, morning and evening, during the following days, principally during Advent. Some- times I called out, ' ' Fire ! fire ! ever-burning hell- fire!" At other times, "To Heaven! to Heaven! where are found all kinds of blessings, with eternal happiness." Sometimes I called out to them, " There 262 LES RELATIONS DES JJ^SUITES [Vol.53 il n'y a qu'un Dieu, il n'y a qia'un [209] Dieu, qui eft le Maiftre de nos vies. D'autres-fois, lESVS eft le Maiftre, I e s v s eft le Maiftre de nos vies, venez I'adorer, venez "k lapriere. Ces cris, & d'autres fem- blables, felon que ie les iugeois plus propres "k diffiper raffoupiffement de nos Sauvages en ce qui regarde leur falut, eftoient fuivis d'vne petite inftrudtion que ie tachois de leur rendre fenfible, & tout enfemble facile "k retenir. Durant vne femaine ie leur mettois devant les yeux diverfes cordes de pourcelaine, pour marquer le nombre & la diverllt6 des chofes que ie leur enfei- gnois. Et pendant la femaine fuivante i'etendois vne corde, & i'y attacbois divers colliers de fil, dont les Sauvages lient & encbainent les captifs qui font pris en guerre, pour les conduire ainli au feu qui leur eft prepare ; & par ce fymbole ie leur reprefentois les chaines cruelles des pecbez, dont le Demon les cbar- geoit pour les entrainer dans les feux d'enfer. D'autres fois ie fufpendois k la mefme corde un beau collier de pourcelaine devant I'Autel de ma Chapelle, pour leur enfeigner qu'il n'y avoit qu'un Dieu ? ^ Vne carte [210] de tout le mode, pour montrer qu'il avoit tout fait; ^Vn petit miroir pour marquer qu'il connoifToit tout; ^Quelques cordes de raffade, pour exprimer la liberalit6 dont il ufe k recompenfer toutes les bonnes adtions? & quelques inftrumens de la luftice des bommes, pour leur exprimer celle que Dieu exerce dans les flammes de 1 Enfer : Ie tacbois fur tout de leur faire concevoir par I'excez des fouf- frances de Iesvs-Christ combien la luftice de Dieu eft terrible, & quelles peines doit attendre un pecbeur pour le cbaftiment de fes crimes, puifque le 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 263 is only one God, there is only one [209] God, who is the Master of our lives ! " And again, "Jesus is the Master, Jesus is the Master of our lives ; come and worship him, come to prayers!" These cries, and others like them, — according as I judged them most suitable for dispelling the drowsiness of our Savages in what pertains to their salvation, — were followed by a little lesson, which I tried to make appeal to them and at the same time to render easy of retention. For a week, I put before their eyes various strings of porcelain beads, to mark the number and variety of the things I taught them. And during the fol- lowing week I stretched a cord, and attached to it various collars, made of twine, with which the Sav- ages fasten and chain the captives taken in war, to conduct them thus to the fire which is prepared for them. By this symbol I represented to them the cruel chains of sin wherewith the Demon loaded them, to drag them into the fires of hell. At other times I hung to the same cord a handsome porcelain collar, before my Chapel Altar, to teach them that there was only one God ; (2) a map [2 10] of the whole world, to show that he had made all things ; (3) a little mirror, to signify that he knew all things ; (4) some strings of glass beads, to express the liberal- ity with which he rewards all good actions ; also some instruments of human Justice, to express to them that which God exercises in the flames of Hell. I tried, above all, to make them conceive, by the excess of Jesus Christ's sufferings, how terrible God's Justice is; and what torments must await a sinner, for the punishment of his crimes, since the Son of God had suffered so great pains for the 264 LES RELATIONS DES jtSUITES [Vol.53 Fils de Dieu en avoit fotiflfert de fi grandes pour r expiation des noftres. En fuite ie leur montrois que le Sauveur & le Maiflre de nos ames ne pouvoit pas nous donner des marques plus ^clatantes de fon amour, qu'en fe chargeant de nos peines, & en nous achetant de tout fon fang un bonheur eternel. I employay la premiere femaine de I'Advent k leur parler de la maniere dont Dieu a cre6 le monde, la deuxi^me, ie les entretins des trois perfonnes de la tres fainte Trinity. La troill6me du Verbe [211] incarn6, & des grandeurs de I'Homme-Dieu; La quatri^me, de fa nailTance ; & pour leur rendre fen- fibles ces myfleres ineffables, ie les leur reprefentois fous des fymboles differens, que ie portois mefme quelque fois dans les rues, pour les leur rendre fami- liers; & que les enfans interpretoient le Dimanche fuivant 'k tous ceux qui fe trouvoient ^ I'inflrudtion. En mefme temps que ie tacbe de faire connoiflre le vray Dieu k nos Sauvages, ie m'6tudie particuliere- ment "k decrediter dans leurs efprits leurs faulles Divinitez, fgavoir le Songe, rAgrifkoii6; afin d'efta- blir la verit6 fur la mine du menfonge & des fables, & comme ie crus que ie devois moy-mefme travailler k d6truire cette couftume deteflable, m'eflant trouv^ un iour k un feftin o^ i'avois efl6 convi6, ie me levay au commencement, & dis d'une voix haute le Bene- dicite, dans le langage du pais ; & comme ie vis qu'un adtion fi extraordinaire les avoit tous furpris, ie leur adjoutay que dans les feftins qu'on faifoit en France, la couftume eftoit que les Preftres [212] qui s'y trou- vent commengalf ent par ces fortes de prieres : & pour me mettre en poffelEon d'une fi fainte couftume qui les empefchoit d'invoquer le Demon, ainfi qu'ils font 1669-70] RELATION OF i66()-7o 265 expiation of ours. Then I showed them that the Savior, the Master of our souls, could not have given us more striking proofs of his love, than by taking upon himself the burden of our sins, and purchasing for us, with all his blood, an eternal happiness. The first week of Advent I employed in talking to them on the way in which God created the world ; during the second, I told them about the three persons of the most holy Trinity ; in the third, about the incarnate Word [211] and the grandeur of the Man- God; and during the fourth, about his birth. Also, in order to render these ineffable mysteries sensible to them, I represented them under different symbols — which I sometimes even carried in the streets, to make them familiar to the people; and which the children would interpret, on the following Sunday, to all those who were present at the lesson. At the same time that I try to give our Savages a knowledge of the true God, I study especially to dis- credit in their minds their false Divinities, — namely Dreams, and Agriskou6, — in order to establish the truth on the ruins of falsehood and fables. Think- ing that I ought myself to labor at the destruction of that detestable custom, being one day at a feast to which I had been invited, I rose when it began, and, in a loud voice, pronounced the Benedicite in the language of the country; and seeing that such an unusual proceeding had surprised them all, I added that at the banquets held in France the custom was for the Priests [212] in attendance to begin with this kind of prayer. In order, also, to gain possession of so sacred a custom, — which should prevent their invoking the Demon, as they do at all their feasts, — at the conclusion of this one at which I was present 266 LES RELATIONS DBS jtSUJTES [Vol. 53 dans tous leurs feflins, celuy oh. i'eftois eflant finy, ie dis les Graces, & les priay de ne point faire d'oref- navant d'autres prieres dans leurs feftins. Vn des Anciens leur dit que i'avois raifon; & depuis ce temps-lS. ils font convaincus que de m'inviter au feflin, c'eft m'inviter k faire la priere. II arriva un iour qu'un de leurs Capitaines m'ayant voulu prevenir, commenga d'invoquer ce Demon: mais ie m'y oppofay fortement, & i'affeuray que rAgrifKoii6 ne pouvoit rien de tout ce qu'il luy avoit demand^, que i'allois moy-mefme en prier Ie vray Dieu, qui eft Ie createur de I'Vnivers; & de qui feul ils devoient efperer toutes chofes : apres quoy ie dis Benedicite, & les Graces en fuite, ^ la fin du repas, fans que perfonne ofafl m'interrompre ; & Ie Capi- taine qui avoit parl6 d'Agrifkoii6 vint Ie foir mefme "k la priere, Mais Dieu qui f 9ait manager toutes [2 1 3] les occa- fions favorables ^ noftre falut, m^en fit naiftre une auffi avantageufe que ie la pouvois fouhaiter pour I'inftrudtion de nos Anciens & de nos Capitaines. Garakonti6 me reprefenta un iour en la prefence de quelques autres dont il eftoit accompagne, qu'il n'eftoit pas iufte que ie donnaffe tout mon temps & tous mes foins "k I'inftrudtion des enfans, fans que leurs peres y euffent part; qu'il falloit commencer par inflruire les anciens, afin qu'ils puflent par leurs paroles, & par leurs exemples, contribuer eux-mefmes k. former les ieunes gens : & qu'ainfi il eftoit S, propos que ie prifle les Dimanches pour leur parler des myfleres de noftre Foy & des devoirs d'un Chreftien. Ie luy t6moignay que i'eftois ravy de l'ouv6rture d'un fi beau defCein ; que la chofe du monde que ie 1669-70] ' RELATION OF ib6g-jo 267 I said Grace, and begged them in the future not to offer any other prayers at their feasts. One of the Elders told them that I was right; and ever since that time they have understood that to invite me to a feast was to invite me to make the prayer. It happened one day that one of their Captains, intending to anticipate me, began to invoke that Demon of theirs. But I made strenuous opposition to this, and declared that Agriskou6 could do nothing of all that he had asked from him ; and that I myself was going to pray therefor to the true God, who is the creator of the Universe, and from whom alone they must look for all things. Thereupon, I said the Benedicite; and afterward, at the close of the repast, I said Grace, without any one's daring to interrupt me. And the Captain who had spoken of Agriskou6 even came in the evening to prayers. But God, who knows how to manage all [213] op- portunities favorable to our salvation, caused one to present itself to me, — one as advantageous as I could have desired for the instruction of our Elders and our Captains. Garakonti^ represented to lae, in the presence of some others by whom he was accompanied, that it was not just for me to give all my time and all my care to the children's instruction, without their fathers, having a share of it. He told me that I ought to begin by teaching the elders, in order that they might, by their words and examples, them- selves contribute to the education of the young people ; and that, accordingly, it was fitting for me to take Sundays for speaking to them on the mysteries of our Faith and the duties of a Christian. I assured him that I was delighted at the proposal of so excellent 268 LES RELA TIONS DES jtSUITES [Vol. 53 fouhaittois davantage eftoit de travailler pour le falut de tout ce qu'ils eftoient; qu'il y avoit d6ja long-temps que ie concertois le deffein d'affembler les Anciens, & leur parler ; & que s'ils le vouloient bien, nous commencerions d6s le Dimanche fuivant: & comme il efloit important de [214] les gagner, ie priay GaraKonti6 de les inviter k un f eflin que ie leur voulois faire ce iour-lk, ce qu'il me promit d'executer fidellement. Pour m'accommoder en quel que forte 'k la couflume des Sauvages, qui chantent en preparant leur feftin ; le matin du Dimanche affign6 ie chantay en difpofant celuy que ie leur allois faire, les mifericordes de Dieu, la venue du Sauveur au monde, & la vidloire qu'il a emport6e fur les Demons : & pour fraper leur imagination par quelque efpece d'appareil, i'attachay un beau grand collier de pourcelaine au milieu de la Cabanne, & ie I'accompagnay d'un cofl6 d'une carte du Monde, & de I'autre de I'lmage de Saint Loui's Roy de France ; ie pla9ay dans un autre endroit les portraits du Roy & de Monfieur le Daupbin. Au deffous du collier de pourcelaine i'avois mis la Bible fur un pulpitre couvert d'une belle gtoffe rouge, au deffus duquel on voyoit I'lmage de Noftre Seigneur, qui avoit k fes pieds tous les fymboles des fuperllitions & des defordres dans ces pais ; comme pour marquer qu'il les avoit vaincus. [215] Tout le monde s'eflant affemblg, GaraKontig leur ayant declare I'occaGon & le fujet du feflin, ie leur fis quelques complimens, avec les prefens ordi- naires, & apres avoir fait publiquement une priere au milieu de la Cabanne ; ie leur fis connoiftre que ce collier que i'avois Ik fufpendu, eftoit pour lettr 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 269 a plan; that the one thing in the world I most desired was to work for the salvation of their entire number; that already, for a long time, I had been forming the plan to call the Elders together, to speak to them ; and that, if they were willing, we would begin on the following Sunday. As, furthermore, it was important to [214] win them, I begged Gara- konti^ to invite them to a feast that I wished to give them on that day, — a commission which he promised me to execute faithfully. To adapt myself in some sort to the custom of the Savages, who sing while preparing their feasts, on the morning of the Sunday assigned, while preparing that which I was going to give them, I sang the mer- cies of God, the coming of the Savior into the world, and the victory that he gained over the Demons. And, in order to strike their imaginations by some kind of formal display, I hung up a fine large porce- lain collar in the middle of the Cabin, placing on one side of it a map of the World, and on the other the Image of Saint Louis, King of France. In another place, I put the portraits of the King and Monsieur the Dauphin. Beneath the porcelain collar I had put the Bible, on a desk covered with a handsome red cloth, below which was to be seen the Image of Our Lord, — who had at his feet all the symbols of the superstitions and dissoluteness of these countries, as if to indicate that he had overcome them. [215] When all had assembled, and Garakonti6 had announced to them the occasion and purpose of the feast, I made them some compliments, with the ordinary presents. Then, after offering a prayer publicly in the middle of the Cabin, I let them know that the collar which I had hung there was meant to 270 LES RELATIONS DES jtSUITES [Vol. 5» marquer qu'il n'y avoit qu'un Dieu qui eftoit le Sou- verain Maiftre de nos vies, le createur du Ciel & de la terre, le Dieu de la guerre & de la paix, de la chaffe & de la pefclie; que c' eftoit une verit6 que toutes les creatures nous prefclioient ; & que les Demons avoient tach6 par toute la terre d'obfcurer, pour fe faire adorer en la place du vray Dieu. Mais que pour fe faire mieux connoiftre aux hommes, il s'eftoit rendu vifible & s'eftoit fait homme comme eux, pour les inftruire du deflein qu'il avoit de les fauver, qu'il avoit pris le nom de I e s v s , qu'il leur avoit monftr6 par fes miracles qu'il eftoit vrayment Tout-Puiffant, & le Fils de Dieu, rendant la veue aux aveugles, guerilfant les maladies de toutes fortes, refufcitant les morts par une feule de fes [216] paroles, & apres avoir enfeign^ aux hommes le chemin du Ciel, il y eftoit mont6 k la veue de cinq cens perfonnes, pour les y recevoir: que nous confervions les Efcritures faintes oti fes exemples & fa dodlrine nous eftoient merveilleufement exprim^es ; que toutes les Nations de la terre I'avoient receue avec refpedt, & que c'eftoit ce que nous venions leur enfeigner : Que nos Roys adoroient ce mefme Dieu, fuivoient fa loy, embraf- foient fa docStrine, obfervoient fes commandemens. En fuite ie les leur expliquay en detail, & ie les ex- hortay S, rendre leur pais fiorilfant & paifible par la conformity de Religion qu'ils auroient avec les Fran- fois ; & k f e rendre eux-mefmes heureux en renon- gant 'k toutes leurs fuperftitions, & aux pecbez que Dieu a deffendu, fous des peines fi terribles. Ie leur marquois cbaque chofe par fon fymbole, afin de les inftruire d'vne maniere plus fenfLble; & enfin ie ter- minay ce difcours par la priere & par la Benedidtion 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF 166^-70 271 signify to them that there was only one God, who was the Sovereign Master of our lives, the creator of Heaven and earth, the God of war and of peace, of the chase and of fishing ; that this was a truth which all creatures preached to us, and which the Demons had tried to obscure throughout all the world, in order to have themselves worshiped in place of the true God. I added that, for the purpose of making himself better known to men, he had rendered him- self visible and had made himself a man like them, to instruct them in the plan he had for saving them. I told them that he had taken the name of Jesus, and had shown them by his miracles that he was truly All- Powerful and the Son of God, — restoring sight to the blind, healing diseases of all kinds, and raising the dead by a single one of his [216] words; and that, after teaching men the way to Heaven, he had ascended thither in the sight of five hundred persons, in order to receive them there. That we preserved the holy Scriptures, wherein were miraculously written for us his examples and his doctrine; that all the Nations of the earth had received him with respect; and that this was what we were coming to teach them. That our Kings worshiped this same God, followed his law, embraced his doctrine, and observed his commandments. These I then explained to them in detail, and exhorted them to render their country flourishing and peaceful by making their Religion conform to that of the French; and to render themselves happy by renouncing all their superstitions, and the sins which God has forbidden under such terrible penalties. I designated each thing to them by its symbol, in •order to instruct them in a way that would most 272 LES RELA TIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol. 53 que ie donnay au feftin ; apres lequel nous remer- ciafmes Dieu: & nos Anciens me t6moignerent qu'ils [217] m'eftoient fort obligez du bon accueil que ie leur avois fait, & du foin que ie prenois de leur falut. Garakonti6 eftoit fi ravy de joye, qu'il ne fgavoit en quels termes me t^moigner la part qu'il prenoit au fuccez d'une £L grande affaire: & pour moy ie crus que ie devois tout k I'heure-mefme remercier Dieu d'une faveur 11 flgnal^e, & Ie fupplier de nous continuer fes graces, pour achever ce qu'il avoit fi heureufement commence. Cinq ou fix iours devant Noel, noflre Chapelle n'eftant pas affez vafhe pour recevoir Ie monde qui venoit en foule aux inftrudlions, ie fus oblig6 de les partager en deux bandes, & faire deux Catecbifmes Ie mefme iour. I'empruntay pour cet effet une Clocbe qu'ils avoient eue il y a treize ou quatorze ans, de ceux de nos Peres qui eftoient en cette Miffion lorfque la guerre s'y r'alluma. Cette Clocbe me fer- voit pour affembler les Anciens ; comme ie me f ervois- d'une plus petite, pour appeller les enfans. Ie remarquay que nos Sauvages s'eftoient un peu reueillez de I'affoupiffement [218] oh. ils eftoient, par Ie bruit des Clocbes, des cris, & des Catecbifmes : on entendoit perpetuellement les petits enfans cbanter dans les rues & dans les cabannes, ce qu'ils m' avoient entendu dire aux Catecbifmes : par tout oil on alloit, on entendoit ces parolles: Iln'y h. qu'un Dieu, qui eft Ie Maiftre de nos vies ; On trouve dans Ie Ciel toutes fortes de biens, & un bon-beur qui ne finit iamais; & dans I'Enfer, des feux & des tourmens eternels. I 'avois eu quelques iours auparavant un demefl6- avec quelques Sorciers ou longleurs du pais, que 1669-70] RELA TION OF 1669 - 70 273 sensibly affect them. Finally I closed this speech with prayer and the Blessing that I pronounced over the feast; after which, we rendered thanks to God, and our Elders testified to me the [2 1 7] great obligations they were under to me for the kind recep- tion that I had given them, and for the care I took for their salvation. Garakonti6 was so carried away with delight that he knew not in what terms to show me the interest he took in so important an affair; and as for myself, I believed that I ought, without the least delay, to thank God for so signal a favor, and to implore him to continue to show us the signs of his grace, in order to finish what he had so propitiously begun. Five or six days before Christmas, as our Chapel was not large enough to receive the people who came in crowds to the instructions, I was obliged to divide them into two bands, and hold two Catechisms on the same day. For this purpose I borrowed a Bell — which they had received, thirteen or fourteen years before, from those of our Fathers who were in this Mission when war again broke out here. This Bell served me for calling the Elders together, as I used a smaller one for summoning the children. I noticed that our Savages were somewhat aroused from the drowsiness [2 1 8] in which they were sunk, by the sound of the Bells, the cries, and the Cate- chisms. The little children were constantly heard singing, in the streets and in the cabins, what they had heard me say at Catechism. Wherever one went were heard these words : ' ' There is only one God, who is the Master of our lives. In Heaven are found all sorts of good things, and a happiness that never ends; and, in Hell, everlasting fires and torments." 274 LES RELATIONS DES j£.SUITES [Vol.53 i'avois rencontr6 dans la cabanne d'un malade, pour lequel ie me fuis donn6 bien de la peine, mais que ie n'ay iamais pu gagner ^ Dieu, Quelques anciens avoient pris Ie parti de ces longleurs, & m'avoient fait fermer par deux diverfes fois la porte de cette cabanne. Ie m'en plaignis k quelques-uns des prin- cipaux de la Nation, qui m'y firent eux-mefmes entrer, & blamerent ouvertement dans Ie Confeil, remportement & Ie peu de conduite de ceux qui m'avoient choqu6: Mais comme ie t6moignay [219] n'eftre pas encore fatisfait de cette reparation, parce qu'apprehendant les fuittes de cette infulte, & qu'on ne fe mit en polleffion de me refufer I'entr^e des Cabanes oti' i'allois vifiter les malades, pour tacher de les porter k f e rendre dignes du Paradis ; Gara- konti6 comme Ie Capitaine general de cette Nation, tint Ie Confeil, oti m'ayant appell6 il me fit prefent de deux colliers, I'un pour m'appaifer, &rautre pour me prier de ne pas faire mes plaintes k Onnontio, dont Ie m6contentement ne pourroit eftre que funefle. ; : Toutes chof es me paroiff oient eftre dans une fort bonne difpofition pour celebrer avec piet6 la Fefle de Noel qui s'approchoit; & pour paffer ce faint iour avec toute folemnit6, i'ornay la Chapelle autant qu'il me fut poffible, & preparay un throne "k lESVS- Christ, afin qu'il y recent au moment de fa naiffance I'hommage de ces nouveaux fujets qui de- voient y venir I'adorer. Sur Ie minuit nos Chrefliens & nos Cbreftiennes luy rendirent leurs devoirs, tandis que i'allay chanter quelques Motets en leur [220] langue, & fonner la Cloche pour 6veiller Ie monde par tout Ie Bourg, & I'inviter k venir ^ la Chapelle. La preffe fut grande tout Ie matin, & les Anciens s'y 1«69 - 70] RELA TION OF T66g -70 275 Some days before, I had had a strife with some Sorcerers or Jugglers of the country, whom I had met in the cabin of a sick man for whom I had taken a good deal of trouble, but whom I had never been able to win to God. Some elders had taken the part of these Jugglers, and had caused the door of that cabin to be shut in my face on two separate occasions. I complained of it to some of the chief men of the Nation, who themselves procured my admission to the cabin, and openly censured, in the Council, the rashness and ill behavior of those who had offended me. But as I declared myself [219] not yet satisfied with this reparation, — because I appre- hended the consequences of this insult, lest others should claim the right to refuse me admission to the Cabins, where I went to visit the sick, that I might try to prevail on them to render themselves worthy of Paradise, — Garakonti6, as the Captain-general of this Nation, called the Council; and, inviting me to it, made me a present of two collars, — one to appease me, and the other to beg me not to make my complaints to Onnontio, whose displeasure could only be harmful. All things appeared to me to be in a very good condition for a pious celebration of the Christmas Festival, which was approaching. In order to pass this holy day with all solemnity, I adorned the Chapel as well as I could; and prepared a throne for Jesus Christ, in order that he might, at the moment of his birth, receive there the homage of these new subjects, who were to worship him in that place. Toward midnight, our Christians of both sexes paid him their devotion, while I proceeded to sing some Motets in their [220] language, and ring 276 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 53 rendirent comme en corps, pour honorer par leurs refpedls & par leurs hommages le Fils de Dieii. Nous venons, me dit un d'entre eux, k la porte de la Chapelle, faluer & adorer I E s v s qui vient de naiflre. Sur le midy ie baptifay avec les ceremonies ordi- naires de I'Eglife, trois petits enfans, & quelques autres les Feftes fuivantes, iufqu'au nombre de douze; que i'offris k Nollre Seigneur, comme autant de d^poiiilles remport^es fur le Demon, & autant de vidlimes innocentes qui fans doute luy efloient fort agreables. II me fembloit que ie n'eftois pas parmy des Sauvages, & des Barbares, mais plutoft parmy un pais de Chrefliens, tant ie remarquois de piet^ & de devotion dans les efprits. Toutes les Confeffions que i'avois entendues devant & apres la Fefte de NoSl; le faint Sacrement de I'Eucliariflie que i'avois adminiftre; les mariages que i'avois heureufement [221] renou6, la docilit6 avec laquelle nos fauvages m'6coutoient fur le fuiet mefme de leurs erreurs & de leurs fuperflitions, leur alTiduit^ aux prieres & aux inflrudlions, la cliarit6 & le zele de quelques-uns, qui les portoit k fe transporter dans les Cabanes de la campagne pour exhorter les malades ^ prier Dieu ; tout cet air & ces acflions de piet6 me faifoient voir comme 1' image de la ferveur & de la devotion des premiers Chreftiens. Mais afin d'affermir encore davantage le bien qu'il avoit plu ^ Dieu de commencer en ce pais, pour en bannir entierement tout le commerce qu'on y a avec le Demon ; ie ref olus de declamer fortement contre la creance folle & fuperftitieufe qu'ils ont k leurs fonges: Ie leur montray que ce n'efkoit pas le vray Dieu, createur du Ciel & de la terre qui leur parloit 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF 1669 -70 277 the Bell, to awaken the people all through the Village and invite them to come to Chapel. The throng was great all the morning, and the Elders attended in a body, to honor the Son of God by their respects and homage. " We come," said one among them to me at the Chapel-door, "to salute and worship Jesus , who has just been bom." Toward noon, I baptized three little children, with the usual ceremonies of the Church ; and some others during the following Holidays, up to the number of twelve, — whom I oflEered to Our Lord as so many spoils won from the Demon, and so many innocent victims who, without doubt, were very agreeable to him. It seemed to me that I was not among Savages and Barbarians, but rather in the midst of a country of Christians, — so much piety and devotion did I remark in the people. All the Confessions that I had heard before and after the Christmas Festival, the holy Sacrament of the Eucharist which I had administered, and the marriages that I had happily [221] performed anew; the docility with which our savages listened to me, even on the subject of their errors and superstitions ; their assiduity in attending prayers and lessons; the charity and zeal of some, which prompted them to go into the outlying Cabins to exhort the sick to pray to God, — all these acts and this air of piety made me see the image, so to speak, of the fervor and devotion of the first Christians. But — in order to put on a still firmer basis the good which God had been pleased to begin in this country — for the purpose of banishing from it entirely all the commerce that is therein held with the Demon, I resolved to declaim strongly against the foolish and superstitious belief that they have in 278 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 63 dans le fommeil, mais que c'eftoient les Demons d'Enfer, des tyrans & des ennemis de leur falut, qui vouloient fe faire obeir, comme s'ils eftoient leurs legitimes Seigneurs. Mes freres, leur dis-ie dans un confeil [222] oti i'avois affembl6 les Anciens, vous n'ignorez pas que ce que vos fonges vous ordonnent de faire, eft fou- uent tres-impie & tres-abominable ; eft-il rien de plus execrable que tous vos feftins d'impuret6, & ceux qui ont pour loy de tout manger, & oti il fe commet des excez qui vous caufent fouvent des maladies? peuvent-ils fe faire par les ordres d'un bon Genie? II eft clair que I'auteur de tant de crimes ne pent eftre que tres-m^chant. II ne faut que fgavoir ce que c'eft que Dieu, pour iuger qu'il nous deffend des cbofes fi mauvaifes, & fi contraires k la raifon & fi preiudiciables au bien public. Ce n'eft done pas Dieu qui vous parle dans vos fonges: mais plutoft quelque Demon d'Enfer? qui vous feduit & li cela eft, pourquoy eftes vous aflez aveugles que de luy obeir? eft-ce le Demon qui vous a faits? eft-ce luy qui eft le Maiftre de vos vies? eft-ce luy qui vous deftine un bonheur eternel, fi vous luy obeiffez? n' eft-ce pas le vray Dieu qui a toutes ces qualitez? & pourquoy done aimez vous mieux vous perdre en vous foumettant au premier, que vous [223] fauver en obeiffant au fecond? Si un enfant fongeoit dans f on fommeil qu'il doit tuer f on pere & fa mere ; me diriez-vous que Dieu qui vous a creez feroit I'auteur de ce fonge? ne I'auriez-vous pas en horreur? Vn pere voudroit-il tuer fon enfant? & une mere vou- droit-elle bien I'^touffer, lorfqu'elle le met au monde? quoy qu'elle I'euft fong6. II eft done vifible que 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g - 70 279 their dreams. I showed them that it was not the true God, creator of Heaven and earth, who spoke to them in sleep ; but that it was the Demons of Hell, — t5n:ants, and enemies to their salvation, who wished to make themselves obeyed as if they were their legitimate Lords. " My brothers," said I to them in a council [222] where I had assembled the Elders, " you are not ignorant that what your dreams order you to do is often very impious and very abominable. Is there anything more execrable than all your indecent feasts, and those where the rule of eating everything is followed, where excesses are committed which often cause you fits of sickness? Can these be held by the orders of a good Spirit? It is clear that the author of so many crimes must be very wicked. It needs only to know what God is, to judge that he forbids our doing things so evil, so contrary to reason, and so prejudicial to the public good. It is not God, then, who speaks to you in your dreams, but rather some Demon of Hell who seduces you ; and if that is so, why are you so blind as to obey him ? Is it the Demon who made you ? Is it he who is the Master of your lives? Is it he who destines you for eternal happiness if you obey him ? Is it not the true God who has all these qualities? And why, then, do you choose to destroy yourselves by submitting to the former, rather than [223] save yourselves by obeying the latter? If a child dreamed in his sleep that he must kill his father and mother, would you tell me that God, who has created you, was the author of that dream ? Would you not hold him in horror ? Would a father wish to kill his child, and would a mother consent to stifle him when she brings him into the 280 LES RELA TIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol. 53 d'obeir h. fon fonge eft une folie, fi nous fongeons des chofes extravagantes ; & que c'eft un crime, li les chofes que nous fongeons font criminelles. A la fin ie leur fis un prefent d'un collier de pource- laine, pour les exhorter h. ne plus donner foy k leurs fonges, mais plutoft ^ les regarder comme les enne- mis de leur falut; & ^ ne plus obei'r qu'k Dieu feul, s'ils vouloient eftre eternellement heureux. Ie me retiray en fuite dans ma Chapelle, affez incertain de la r^ponfe qu'ils me feroient: car ceux mefmes des anciens qui eftoient les plus portez pour la priere, & pour la piet6, avoient apprehend^ I'eve- nement de ce confeil. Mais ie Ie iugeois abfolument necefCaire, tant pour [224] I'^tabliffement du Chrifti- anifme, que pour obliger quelques anciens qui me demandoient Ie Baptefme, de fe declarer ouvertement pour Ie party de la Foy : car ils fe deliuroient par ce moyen d'une infinite d'occafions dangereufes, oil ils fe trouvoient engagez dans I'exercice de leur charge, qui les oblige de procurer I'execution des chofes qui font ordonn6es par Ie fonge. Apres vne longue conference qu'ils eurent enfemble fur ce fujet, ils me firent appeller: & GaraKonti6 parlant au nom de tous les autres, me dit que tout Ie monde recevoit ma voix, qu'on eftoit perfuad6 de la verity de mes paroles, qu'on renongoit aux fuperfti- tions que i'avois prefcrites, & qu'on s'engageoit de ne plus obei'r au fonge ; Que ie fgavois bien qu'ils ne parloient d6japlus d'AgrifKou6 dans les feftins; que lorfque ie m'y trouvois, c'eftoit moy qui faifois la priere, & qu'en mon abfence ils prioient Dieu comme moy : & qu'ils ne luy demandoient pas feulement les biens de la terre, mais beaucoup plus la grace d' eftre 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 281 world, because she had dreamed of doing it? It is clear, then, that to obey one's dream is a folly, if we dream extravagant things ; and that it is a crime, if the things we dream are criminal. ' ' In closing I made them a present of a porcelain collar, in exhortation not to repose faith any longer in their dreams, but rather to regard them as the enemies of their salvation; and no longer to obey any but God alone, if they wished to be eternally happy. I then withdrew into my Chapel, rather uncertain as to the reply they would make me ; for even those of the elders who were best disposed toward prayer and piety, had apprehended the result of this council. But I deemed it absolutely necessary, both for [224] the establishment of Christianity, and to oblige some elders, who were asking me for Baptism, to declare themselves openly on the side of the Faith ; for, by this means, they freed themselves from a great many dangerous occasions in which they found themselves involved, in the discharge of their office, which obliges them to procure the execution of the things ordered by dreams. After a long conference which they held together on this subject, they had me summoned; and Gara- konti6, speaking in the name of all the others, told me that they all received my voice, that they were persuaded of the truth of my words, renounced the superstitions that I had ordered them to renounce, and pledged themselves to obey dreams no longer. He added that I well knew they had already ceased to speak of Agriskou6 at feasts ; that, whenever I was present, it was I who offered the prayer, and that in my absence they prayed* to God just as I did, — not 282 LES RELATIONS DES jiSUITES [Vol.53 bien-heureux dans le Ciel; qu'il n'y [225] auroit plus d'orefnavant de feftin d'impuret^, qu'on n'y excede- roit plus au boire, ny au manger, que dans les jeux, dans les danfes, dans les allembl6es publiques, k la pgcbe ny k la cbaffe, il ne fe parleroit plus de fonge : Que li tout le monde ne venoit pas encore prier Dieu comme ie le foubaittois, que i'euffe un peu de patience, que bien-tofl ils feroient tons Cbreftiens, & pour me donner des affeurances de la verit6 de leurs promelles, il me fit prefent d'un collier de pource- laine, que ie receus, & que i'ofifris en fuite ^ Dieu, comme le gage de la converiion de nos Barbares. II n'eft pas poffible d'exprimer la ioye que i'ay reffentie d'une vidtoire £i grande que la Foy venoit de remporter fur rinfidelit6. Ce n'eft pas que ie n'aye encore tout fuiet de craindre que ces cbofes n'ayent eft6 plus facilement refolues qu'elles ne feront execut^es; foit parce qu'il n'y a pas de police icy comme en France, pour affuietir les particuliers aux refolutions d'un confeil; foit k caufe que nos Sauvages ont bien de la peine k [226] oublier entiere- ment leurs anciennes couftumes, & comme ils font ordinairement inconftans, & infideles k leurs pro- meffes, i'ay befoin de toutes les prieres des perfonnes faintes & zel^es pour le falut des ames, afin de leur obtenir de Dieu la fermet6 neceffaire pour ne pas retomber dans leurs anciennes habitudes. Le fuccez de cette fainte entreprife ayant auffi furpalI6 toutes mes efperances, ie cms que ie ne devois point perdre de temps, & qu'il falloit me fervir de la bonne difpoGtion oti eftoient tons les efprits. Ie commen5ay done de me declarer ouvertement contra les longleurs, ie tachay de les decrediter, en 1669-70] RELATION OF ibbg-yo 283 asking him merely for the good things of earth, but much more for the grace of being blessed in Heaven. He assured me that there [225] would thenceforth be no more impure feasts, and no more excess in eating or drinking; and that in the games, dances, and public assemblies, in fishing and in hunting, there would be no further talk of dreams, — adding that, if every one did not yet come to pray to God, as I wished, I must have a little patience, and soon they would all be Christians. To give me assurances of the sincerity of their promises, he made me a present of a porcelain collar, which I received, and then offered to God as the pledge of the conversion of our Barbarians. It is impossible to express the joy that I felt at so great a victory as the Faith had just won over infi- delity. It is not that I have not still every reason to fear lest these things have been more easily resolved upon than they will be executed, — both because there is no government here, as there is in France, to make private individuals obey the resolutions of a council ; and because our Savages experience much difficulty in [226] forgetting entirely their ancient customs. As, moreover, they are commonly inconstant and faithless in their promises, I need all the prayers of holy and zealous persons for the salvation of souls, in order to obtain for them from God the firmness necessary to keep them from falling back into their old habits. The success of this holy undertaking having thus surpassed all my hopes, I thought that I ought not to lose any time, and that I must make use of the good disposition existing in all minds. I accordinglj- began to declare myself openly against the Jugglers ; 284 LES RELATIONS DBS /^SUITES [Vol.53 toutes rencontres, & ie cms que li ie pouvois leur ofter la confiance & I'attachement que ces peuples ont pour leurs fortileges, i'6tablirois bien-toft avec la grace de Dieu Ie Chrifkianifme fur les mines de I'l- dolatrie. Dieu m'avoit d6ja fourni deux occaQons oil ie les avois entierement deconcertez, & decouvert leur mauvaife foy. Voicy ce qui fe paffa dans la premiere. Vn iour •m'eftant rencontr6 dans une [227] Cabanne, ou dix ou douze de ces Sorciers eftoient alTemblez autour d'un homme qui n'avoit qu'un mal fort leger k I'oreille, ils me firent d'abord force civilitez, & me firent approcher, bien qu'ils m'euffent voulu voir fort 61oign6 d'eux. Ie regarday quelque temps fans rien dire, ce qu'ils faifoient, bien que leurs ceremo- nies ridicules & extravagantes m'indignaffent beau- coup. Ils prenoient dans leur bouclie une certaine eau myfterieufe, & la foufHoient avec de grands efforts, fur les joiies & fur les temples du malade: & celuy qui eftoit comme Ie chef de cette bande, leur ordonnoit de jetter encore cette eau fur les cheveux & fur la tefle, & mefme fur la natte oh ce pauvre homme eftoit couch6. II falloit que tout fufl arrof6 pour chaffer Ie Demon de la maladie qui eftoit dans I'oreille de ce Sauvage. Ie remarquay qu'en fuite ils beurent tons de cette mefme liqueur, & qu'ils prenoient la medecine qui devoit guerir Ie malade. Toutes ces fottifes me faifoient gemir fur I'aveugle- ment de ces pauvres Idolatres, qui fe laiffent ainfi feduire par Ie Demon. Apr6s [228] que i'eus regar- d6 quelque temps I'operation de ces habiles ges, ie m'approchay du malade pour luy demander oh eftoit fon mal, & en quel eftat il fe trouvoit. Les 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 285 I tried to bring them into disrepute on all occasions ; and I believed that, if I could deprive them of that confidence in and attachment to their sorcery which these tribes entertain, I would soon, by the grace of God, establish Christianity on the ruins of Idolatry. God had already furnished me two occasions on which I had utterly disconcerted them, and exposed their bad faith. Here is what occurred at the first one. One day, when I had chanced to enter a [227] Cabin where ten or twelve of these Sorcerers were gathered around a man who had only a very slight earache, they straight- way offered me a thousand civilities, and made me draw near, although they would have liked to see me at a great distance from them. For some time I looked on at what they were doing, without sa3nng anything, although their ridiculous and extravagant ceremonies made me very indignant. They took into their mouths a certain mysterious water, and blew it with violence over the sick man's cheeks and temples; and he who acted as chief of this band ordered them to throw some of this water also on the hair and head of this poor man, and even on the mat where he was Ijring. It was necessary that every- thing should be sprinkled, to drive away the Demon of the disease in this Savage's ear. I noticed that they then all drank of this same liquor, and that they took the medicine that was to cure the sick man. All these stupidities made me groan at the blindness of those poor Idolaters, who let themselves be thus seduced by the Demon. After [228] I had watched the operation of these clever people for some time, I approached the sick man to ask him where his ailment was, and how he felt. The Jugglers, taking the 286 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol.53 longleurs prenant auffi-tofb la parole me dirent qu'il efloit d6ja forti de fon oreille deux petits Demons, & qu'il n'en refloit plus qu'un, qui eftoit plus opini- aftr6 que les autres. Cela eft merveilleux, leur dis-ie, & ie ferois bien aife de voir fortir le troifi^me : continuez done de le preffer, car ie veux eftre fpec5tateur d'une cure fi prodigieufe. II y a long- temps que i'ay la curiofit^ de voir fortir quelqu'un de ces demons immondes, qui tourmentent ainft que vous dites, les malades du Canada ; car Dieu mercy ils ne font point fi medians en France. Mais ie vous alTeure que ie feray fi attentif k la fortie de ces De- mons que vous dites avoir des corps & eftre vifibles, qu'il ne pourra 6cliapper k ma veue. Ie ne fgay fi ces impofteurs reconnurent que ie me mocquois d'eux, & que ie n'ignorois pas leurs tromperies, mais ils me parurent tellement deconcertez & interdits, qu'ils n'en purent iamais revenir: & [229] comme ie les preffois d'achever cette merveilleufe operation, qui devoit donner la fuite au Diable ; ils me dirent, mon- trant quelques petits facs ou efloient des drogues, que c'eftoit Ik ce qui chaffoit les Demons des corps malades. He bien, dis-ie, k celuy qui eftoit comme le Maiftre longleur, c'eft toy qui te vantes d'eftre I'exterminateur des grands & des petits Demons; qui t'empefche prefentement en ces rencontres de faire fortir de ce malade celuy que tu dis y eftre reft^. Ie f^avois bien que leur adreffe ordinaire efloit qu'ils avoient dans leur bouche ou une petite pierre, ou un morceau de fer, ou quelque piece de cuir; ou un petis OS, & qu'en fuccant fortement la partie du corps oil le mal eftoit, ils difoient en avoir tir6 heureufe- ment ce qu'ils avoient en leur bouche, & qu'ils 1669-70] RELATION OF f66g-7o 287 word immediately, said that two little Demons had already come out of his ear, and now only one was left, who was more obstinate than the others. " That is wonderful," I said to them, " and I would be very glad to see the third one come out ; so go on urging him, for I wish to be a spectator of so prodi- gious a cure. For a long time, I have been curious to see the exit of one of those unclean spirits that, as you say, torment the sick people of Canada; for, thank God, they are not so raischievous in France. But I assure you that I shall be so watchful for the exit of these Demons, which you say have bodies and are visible, that this one will be unable to escape my scrutiny. ' ' I know not whether those impostors saw that I was making fun of them, and that I was not ignorant of their tricks, but they appeared to me so disconcerted and confused that they could not recover themselves; and [229] when I urged them to finish that marvelous operation which was to put the Devil to flight, they said to me, showing some little bags in which were drugs, that therein was what expelled the Demons from sick bodies. " Well then," said I to him who acted as Master- Juggler, ' ' thou art he who vauntest thyself as the exterminator of Demons, large and small ; who is preventing thee in the pres- ent instance from causing to come out of this sick man the one that thou sayest is still left in him?" I well knew that it was their usual trick to have in their mouths either a little stone, or a bit of iron or leather, or a little bone; and that, sucking hard at the part of the body where the ailment was, they would say that they had successfully extracted that which they had in the mouth, — which they spit out before the eyes of the sick man, declaring that this 288 LES RELA TIONS DES jASUITES [Vol. 63 crachoient aux yeiix du malade, affeurant que c'efloit un veritable Demon qui eftoit cauf e de fa douleur : ainfi ie les avertis que i'eftois bien inform6e de leurs fourberies & qu'il eftoit difficile de me tromper, & que ie n'eftois pas homme k predre du fer ou du cuir pour un Demon. [230] Ce fut alors que ie vis des gens bien embarraffez. Les uns m'avertilToient qu'il eftoit temps d'aller faire la priere ; les autres me coniuroient d'aller prier Dieu dans la Chapelle pour la fant6 du malade ; quelques-uns mefme pour fe d6faire de moy, me promettoient de m'y fuivre au plutoft, & de fe faire Chreftiens. Mais ie n'eus garde de les quitter que ie ne les euffe obligez d'avoiier eux-mefmes qu'ils eftoient impofteurs : & pour leur en donner toute la confuflon, ie perfiftay k leur de- mander qu'ils me fiffent voir ce troifi^me Demon qui eftoit reft6 dans Ie corps de ce malade ; & qu'apres qu'ils m'auroient donn6 cette fatisfadtion, ie les laifferois en repos. Mais ce fut en vain que ie les prellay, ils n'en voulurent rien faire, & ils furent enfin forcez de m'avoiier que ce troiG6me Demon n'y eftoit plus, & que Ie malade fe portoit bien, avant mefme qu'ils I'euffent guery: & ce qui me parut encore plus ridicule, c'eft que ce pauvre homme fut aflez bon que de croire qu'il avoit eft6 guery du mal qu'il n'avoit iamais eu; & de me dire en fe levant de deffus fa natte, qu'il [231] eftoit guery. Ie racontay en fuite cette hiftoire k quelques-uns de nos Sau- vages, & ie leur fis voir manifeftement I'erreur & renchantement ou ils eftoient, d'avoir tant de con- fiance k d'auffi grands impofteurs qu'eftoient leurs Medecins. L'autre occafion que Dieu me fournitde decrediter Ie Songe, fut celle-cy. Vne fille ag6e de quinze ou 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 289 was a veritable Demon, which was the cause of his pain. So I warned them that I was well aware of their wiles, and that it was hard to deceive me, and that I was not one to take iron or leather for a Demon. [230] Then it was that I saw some very embarrassed people. Some informed me that it was time to go and hold prayers ; others begged me go and pray to God in the Chapel for the health of the sick man; and some even, in order to get rid of me, promised me that they would follow me immediately and become Christians. But I took care not to leave them until I should have forced them to confess, in person, that they were impostors; and in order to cause them all possible confusion thereby, I persisted in asking them to let me see that third Demon that was left in this sick man's body, — saying that, after they had given me that satisfaction, I would leave them in quiet. It was in vain, however, that I pressed them ; they would do nothing of the kind ; and they were at length forced to confess to me that this third Demon was no longer there ; and — even before they had cured him — that the sick man was well. And what seemed to hie still more ridiculous is, that this poor man was simple enough to believe that he had been cured of an ailment which he had never had ; and to say to me, as he rose from his mat, that he [231] was cured. I told this story afterward to some of our Savages, and made them see clearly the error and bewitchment they were in, to have so much confidence in such thorough impostors as their Medicine-men. The other opportunity that God furnished me, for bringing Dreams into disrepute, was the following. A girl of fifteen or sixteen years of age having gone 290 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES fVoi.. 63 feize ans, s'eftant 6gar6e dans les bois, y avoit d6-ja paff^ deux nuits, fes parens en efloient fort en peine. On fit venir les longleurs pour f 9a voir ce qu'elle efloit devenue. Ces habiles Devins commencerent k faire leurs fortileges pour en apprendre des nou- velles. La premiere chofe qu'ils font eft de fauter, de danfer & s'agiter de telle forte qu'ils font bien- toft tout en fueur. Apres cela ils battent du baflon & de la tortue ; ils chantent, ils orient, ils confultent & interrogent leur Demon qui ne leur r^pond iamais : & apres avoir bien fu6, apres s'eftre bien tourmentez pour apprendre en quel eftat pouvoit eftre cette fille ; ils difent hardiment qu'elle avoit efl6 tu6e par trois Andail;oguez, qui luy avoient [232] enlev6 la cbeve- lure, d'une grandeur ^gale "k un petit cercle qu'ils tracer ent de leurs doigts fur une 6corce, aux yeux des alTiftans ; & qu'elle efboit expir6e iuftement au lever du Soleil. Apres une prophetic auffi exadte & aufli bien marquee comme celle-lk, nos Sauvages cuffent fait fcrupule de douter de la mort de cctte fille : c'eft pourquoy la Cabanne de fes parens & tout le Bourg en fuite fut remply de pleurs & de gemilfe- mens: tout le monde efloit en deuil, bors les lon- gleurs, qui pour fe d6dommager des peines extraor- dinaircs qu'ils avoient cues k confultcr leur Demon, mangeoient de tres-bon appetit tout ce qu'on leur avoit prepar6 pour les regaler, comme on a de cou- ftume de le faire en ces rencontres. lis eftoient pleins du fuccez qu'avoient eu leurs iongleries, & de I'eftime qu'on faifoit de leur babilet6: mais ils furent bien furpris, lors qu'eftant S, peine fortis de la Ca- banne ou on les avoit fi bien traitez, ils y virent entrer la fille qu'ils avoient fait morte fi conftamment, fans 1669-70] RELATION OF i66g-7o 291 astray in the woods, and passed two nights there, her relatives were in great anxiety on her account. The Jugglers were called, in order to learn what had become of her. These clever Diviners began to put their sorcery in operation, to learn some news of her. The first thing they do is to leap, dance, and shake their limbs, with such energy that they are soon all in a perspiration. After that they beat with stick and tortoise-drum ; they sing, they shout ; and they consult and question their Demon, who never answers them. After they had perspired well and tormented themselves, to learn in what condition that girl might be, they boldly declared that she had been killed by three Andastoguez, who had [232] scalped her, — cutting the scalp of the size of a small circle which they traced with their fingers on a piece of bark, before the eyes of the bystanders; and that she had died precisely at Sunrise. After so exact and well-defined an oracle as this, our Savages would have been scrupulous to doubt the death of that girl. Accordingly, her relatives' Cabin, and then all the Village, became filled with weeping and lamenta- tions. Every one was in mourning except the Jugglers, — who, to compensate themselves for the extraordinary exertions they had put forth in consult- ing their Demon, ate with a very good appetite all that had been prepared for regaling them, as is cus- tomarily done on these occasions. They were puffed up with the success that had attended their incanta- tions, and with the esteem in which their skill was held. But they were much surprised when, having barely left the Cabin where they had been so well treated, they saw enter it the girl whom they had so positively declared to be dead, — without her having 292 LES RELA TIONS DES jASUITES [Vol. 53 qu'elle euft rencontr^ d'Andafloguez, ny receu des bleffures : s'ils euffent [233] efper6 pouvoir convaincre ces bonnes gens, que ce n'efloit qu'un fantome, ils n'euffent pas 6pargn6 les menfonges pour fouflenir leur credit, que cette impoflure efloit capable de ruiner. Mais les parens ayant reconnu leur fiUe, changerent leur trifteffe en joye, & les gemiffemens de tout le Bourg en des acclamations publiques, Cette hiftoire me fut rapport^e par la mere mefme de cette fille qui s'eftoit 6gar6e : & comme elle avoit reconnu en cette occafion la fourberie de ces Jon- gleurs: elle m'en d6couvrit encore plufieurs autres aufquelles c6t accident luy avoit fait faire reflexion. Elle me dit que ces habiles Medecins ordonnoient quelquef ois k un malade de fe faire un bon feflin qui le gueriroit, pourveu qu'ils fufl!ent bien regalez; & qu'il arrivoit cependant afCez fouvent que le lende- main il mouroit. le me fervis avantageufement de toutes ces trom- peries, dans le confeil que ie fis tenir contre les Jongleurs, quelques iours apres la promeffe folennelle que nos Sauvages m'avoient faite de renoncer [234] ^ toutes ces fuperflitions. Ce fut 1^ que ie d6couvris toutes leurs fourbes & toutes leurs impoftures, le pen d' intelligence qu'ils avoient dans la Medecine, I'inutilite de leurs remedes fuperftitieux, & pour la concluCon du difcours ie fis un pref ent de pourcelaine, pour obliger les anciens d'apporter un prompt remede ^ ces defordes qui ruinoient leur pais, par la mort de leurs enfans & de leurs nepveux, & qui leur faifoient en mefme temps perdre le bon-heur de la vie eter- nelle. Quelque temps apres que ie fus forty du confeil. 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66q - 70 293 met with any Andastoguez, or received any wounds. If they had [233] had any hope of being able to con- vince those simple people that it was only a phantom, they would have spared no lies to sustain their credit, which this imposture was capable of ruining ; but the parents, recognizing their daughter, changed their grief into joy, and the lamentations of all the Village into public acclamations. This story was related to me by the lost girl's mother herself; and as she had, on that occasion, recognized the trickery of these Jugglers, she dis- closed to me several other instances of it, on which this event had caused her to reflect. She told me that these clever Medicine-men sometimes ordered a sick man to prepare himself a good feast, which would cure him, provided they were well regaled; and that, nevertheless, it happened often that he would die on the next day. I made advantageous use of all these deceptions in the council that I caused to be held against the Jug- glers, some days after the solemn promise made me by our Savages to renounce [234] all these supersti- tions. It was there that I exposed all their knavish tricks and all their impostures, the little intelligence they had in Medicine, and the worthlessness of their superstitious remedies ; and, to conclude my speech, I made a present of porcelain, to oblige the elders to apply a prompt remedy to these disorders which were ruining their country, by the death of their children and nephews, and at the same time were making them lose the happiness of the life eternal. Some time after I had left the council, in order to leave it at liberty to deliberate on my demands, I was recalled, and Garakonti6, speaking in the name of all 294 LES RELATIONS DES JASUITES [Vol.53 pour luy laiffer la libert6 de deliberer fur mes demandes, on me rappela, & Garakonti6 qui parloit au nom de tous les autres, apres m'avoir renouvell6 la proteftation folennelle qu'ils avoient faite de re- noncer abfolument aux fonges, I'AgrifKoii^, & aux feftins de debauchers; me dit qu'ils reconnoiffoient de bonne foy qu'ils avoient eft6 iufqu'^ prefent dans I'erreur, qu'ils m'eftoient fort obligez de ce que ie les avois detrompez, qu'ils entroient dans tous mes fen- timens, & qu'ils efloient refolus [235] de porter les longleurs k fe fervir feulement des remedes naturels, ainfi que ie le foubaitois, fans y m61er aucune fuper- flition. En fuite, pour marque de leur engagement & de la paroUe qu'ils m'en donnoient; ils me firent un prefent de pourcelaine. Ie leur t6moignay &, quel point ie me fentois oblig^ d'une reponfe fi favorable; & comme ie commengois de leur faire concevoir com- bien cette refolution leur efloit avantageufe ; Gara- konti6 m'interompant: Nous fommes, me dit-il, dans la trifle He & dans 1' abatement pour vne facbeufe nouvelle que nous venons de recevoir ; qui porte que le Pere Garnier vient d'eftre affafline. D'abord ie fus frappe d'eftonnement pour vne fi trifte nouvelle; & pour m'6claircir de ce qui en eftoit, ie voulus parler moy-mefme k celuy qui I'avoit apport6e: mais comme ie reconnus qu'il n'en avoit que des con- iecitures affez foibles, i'allay promptement dire "k nos anciens pour les raffurer, que ce n'eftoit qu'vne faulTe allarme; lis t^moignerent m'eftre tout k fait obligez du foin que ie prenois de 1' inquietude & du chagrin [236] qu'un accident fi funefle leur avoit caufe: en effet on fgeut peu de temps apres que cette nouvelle eftoit faufe k r6gard du Pere Garnier; mais qu'il s'en 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g - 70 295 the Others, — after renewing to me the solemn protes- tation that they had made to renounce absolutely dreams, Agriskou6, and feasts of debauchery, — told me that they recognized, in good faith, that they had been hitherto in error, and they were greatly obliged to me for having undeceived them ; that they shared all my sentiments, and were resolved [235] to induce the Jugglers to use only natural remedies, just as I wished, without joining therewith any superstition. Then, as a token of their pledge, and of the promise that they gave me in the matter, they made me a present of porcelain. I testified to them how greatly obliged I felt at a reply so favorable ; and as I was beginning to give them some conception of the benefit this resolution was to them, Garakonti6 interrupted me, and said: " We are in sadness and dejection on account of sorrowful news that we have just received, to the efifect that Father Garnier has just been assassinated." At first, I was struck with surprise at so sad a piece of news, and wished to speak in person with the bearer of it, in order to inform myself of the real facts in the case ; but when I found that he had only conjectures, which were weak, I went promptly to tell our elders, for their reassurance, that it was only a false alarm. They testified their great obligation to me for the care I was taking to relieve the anxiety and sorrow [236] which so calamitous an accident had caused them. In fact, it was learned, a short time afterward, that this news was false in regard to Father Garnier, but had lacked little of being true in respect to Father Fremin, — who was almost killed by a drunken man at Tsonnontouen, a Village some days' journey distant from this one ; for a long time he 296 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.53 eftoit peu fallu qu'elle n'euft eft6 veritable dans la perfonne du Pare Fremin, qui faillit k eftre tu6 par un yvrogne k Tfonnontoiien, qui eft un Bourg 61oign6 de celuy-cy de quelques iourn6es, & qui a long-temps port6 au vifage les marques de la fureur de ce Sauvage. C'eft k quoy nous fommes tous les iours expofez en ce pais de Barbares, qui fe portent fouvent ^ de femblables excez, dans leurs debauches: mais i'ofe dire que c'eft en cela mefme que noftre condition nous paroift fort beureufe, puis qu'elle nous engage % porter durant toute noftre vie un eftat de vidtimes toutes preftes d'eftre facrifi^es pour I'amour de celuy qui s'eft luy mefme immol6 pour noftre falut. C'eft dans de femblables perils que les Apoftres & les Chreftiens de I'Eglife naiffante fe trouvoient tous les iours; & c'eft ce qui nous rauit de ioye de pouvoir mener comme eux vne vie expof^e k mille morts. [237] Nos Onnontaguez ne font pas G emportez ny fi brutaux dans leur yurognerie. La plufpart, lors mefme qu'ils font en c6t eftat, ne nous font que des careffes; & fi quelques-uns font des plaintes, c'eft pour me reprocher que ie ne les aime pas allez. Apr6s que i'eus fait quelques prieres dans la Cha- pelle, pour remercier Dieu du fuccez tout extraordi- naire qu'il avoit donn6 k noftre deflein ; Ie me retiray dans ma cabanne, oil ie trouvay encore plulleurs anciens, qui me prierent d'achever ce que j'avois fi heureufement commence, & de les affermir dans la refolution oil ils eftoient de renoncer k toutes leurs f uperftitions : que ie f9avois bien que des erreurs dans lefquelles on a veilly font tres-difficiles k quitter; qu'ils apprebendoient que Ie Demon ne les 16ti9 - 70] RKLA TION OF i66g - 70 297 carried on his face the marks of this Savage's fury. That is what we are exposed to every day in this country of Barbarians, who often go to similar excesses in their debauches; but I venture to say that it is in that very respect that our condition seems to us a blessed one, — since it compels us during all our lives to bear the lot of victims, wholly prepared to be sacrificed for the love of him who voluntarily sacrificed himself for our salvation. It was in like perils that the Apostles and Christians of the nascent Church were placed every day ; and we are overcome with joy at being able, like them, to lead a life exposed to a thousand deaths. [237] Our Onnontaguez are not so hot-headed or so brutal in their drunkenness. The greater part, even when they are in that condition, bestow on us only caresses ; and if some make complaints, it is to reproach me with not loving them enough. After I had offered up some prayers in the Chapel, to thank God for the quite extraordinary success he had given our plan, I withdrew into my cabin, where I found several more elders, — who begged me to complete what I had so happily begun, and to strengthen them in the resolution which they held to renounce all their superstitions. I well knew, they said, that errors in which one has g^own old are very hard to abandon ; that they feared the Demon would cast them anew into their old dreams; that they came to me to arm themselves against that enemy. Therefore, they begged me to instruct them in the falsity of two or three of the old ideas wherein they had been nurtured, — as, for example, that their souls became separated from their [238] bodies dur- ing sleep ; that dreams were the arbiters of the good 298 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 53 iettaft tout de nouveau dans leurs anciennes reveries ; qu'ils venoient k moy pour s'armer contre c6t ennemy, & qu'ainfi ils me prioient de les inftruire fur la fauffet6 de deux ou trois des vieilles ideas, dans lef- quelles ils avoient efl6 nourris : Comme par example que leur ama fe feparoit du [238] corps durant le fommeil; que le fonge efloit I'arbitra da la bonne ou de la mauvaife fortune qu'ils avoient dans la guerre, ou k la chaff e; & pourquoy ayant eu un fonge qui leur marquoit qu'ils auroient du fuccaz dans I'vn ou dans I'autre da ces exercices, il na leur avoit prafque iamais manque : & au contraira ayant fouvent pri6 la vray Diau pour un fuccaz, ils avoient fouvent eft6 fruftrez de leur attenta : le repondis h. tout le mieux qu'il me fut poffible, & ils demeurerent H fatisfaits de mes r6ponfas, qu'ils m'affaurerent an m'en remar- ciant, que i'avois chaff 6 de leur efprit tons les nuages que le Damon y avoit r^pandus pour les perdre, & que i'y avois rendu la verity vidtorieufe du manfonge. la leur fis entendre que c' efloit k Dieu k qui toute la gloira an efloit deue, & que c' efloit uniquement fon ouvrage. 1669 - 70] RELA TION OF i66g -70 299 or the bad fortune that they had in war or in hunting. They also asked me why, after having a dream to the effect that they would be successful in one or the other of those occupations, it had scarcely ever proved false ; while, on the contrary, after often pra3dng to the true God for some success, they had frequently been disappointed in their expectation. I answered every question as well as I could ; and they were left so well satisfied with my replies that, in thanking me, they assured me that I had dispelled from their minds all the clouds with which the Demon had over- spread them for their perdition, and that I had made the truth victorious there over falsehood. I made them understand that it was to God that all the glory for this was due, and that it was solely his work. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA : VOL LIII CXXVI In reprinting the Relation of 1669-70 (Paris, 1671), we follow a copy of the original Cramoisy edition in the Lenox Library. It is prefaced by an undated letter from Frangois le Mercier to the provincial in France. There is no printed " Permission " in the volume ; but the ' ' Privilege ' ' of the Relation of 1665-66 (Paris, 1667), granted to the elder Sebastien Cramoisy, is used ; and the dates have been changed to read, rather ambiguously, " les ann6es 1669. & 16670." This annual is no. 135 of Harrisse's Notes. The Barlow copy, which was purchased in 1890 by, and is now in, the Lenox Library, differs from that library's other copy in having pp. 161 -176 of Part II. printed in the following disorder: pp. 161, 166, 167, 164, 165, 162, 163, 168, 169, 174, 175, 172, 173, 170, 171, and 176. The explanation of this peculiarity in the paging is found in the fact that, after the outer form of the sheet (a common sheet of octavo) was printed correctly, the sheet was turned in such manner that the whole inner form was printed in reverse, — p. 161 being backed by 166 instead of 162; 176 by 171, instead of 175; and so on. In other words, the peculiarity is the result of carelessness in laying the sheets, preparatory to making the inner impression — not to incorrect arrangement in laying on form. 302 LES RELA TIONS DES jtSUITES Collation: Title, witli verso blank, i leaf; Le Mer- cier's prefatory epistle, pp. (7); " Privilege," p. (i); " Avant-propos," pp. 3-8; text of Part I. (Chaps, i.-iv.), pp. 9-108; half -title to Part II., on p. 109; p. no blank; text of Part II. (Chaps, v.-ix.), pp. 1 1 1 - 3 1 8 ; one blank leaf ; half-title ' ' Relation des Missions avx Ovtaovaks," with verso blank, i leaf; text (Chaps, x.-xii.) by Dablon, Marquette, and Allouez, pp. 3-102. Signatures: A- V in eights, Vg being blank ; sig. * in four, inserted between Aj (the title-page) and A^ (the first page of the " Avant- propos"); a-f in eights, g in four, g^ being blank. Page 79 of the second series of paging is mispaged 57, and sig. aij is misprinted a. A partial English translation of the ' ' Relation des Missions avx Ovtaovaks ' ' is printed in William R. Smith's History of Wisconsin (1854), vol. iii., pt. ii. pp. 51-75- Copies have been sold or priced as follows : Squier (1876), no. 1961, sold for $10.75; Dufoss€, no. 2176, priced at 200 francs; O'Callaghan (1882), no. 1245, with last leaf injured, sold for $20, and had cost him $15; and Barlow (1890), no. 132 1, bought by Lenox Library for $11. It is represented in the following libraries : Lenox, two forms ; New York State Library ; Harvard ; Brown (private) ; Ayer (private) ; Laval Uni- versity (Quebec); Library of Parliament (Ottawa); and Bibliothfeque Nationale (Paris). NOTES TO VOL. LIII (Figures in parentheses, following number of note, refer to pages of English text.) 1 (p. 27). — The R6collet missionaries (vol. ii., note 0,^, and vol. iv.), it will be remembered, were not allowed by Richelieu to return to Canada in 1632 ; and it was not until 1669 that they obtained permis- sion to resume their missionary labors there. In that year, they sent several priests for this work; but the vessel which carried these men was shipwrecked, and their project had to be given up. In 1670, however. Talon (vol. xlix. , note 14) took with him to Canada a party of R6collets, headed by Father Germain Allart. Frontenac's instructions, signed by the king and Colbert, advise the new govern- or to protect both the Sulpitians at Montreal, and the R6collets at Quebec, — " it being necessary to support these two Ecclesiastical bodies in order to counterbalance the authority the Jesuit fathers might assume to the prejudice of that of his Majesty " {N. Y. Colon. Docs., vol. ix., pp. 88, 95). Rochemonteix thinks (Jisuites, t. iii., p. 88) that Talon wished to bring the R^coUets to Canada to aid him in opposing Laval and the Jesuits. A memorial to the king, dated itS/i (M.a.TgTy'& D^couvertes des Frangais, t. i., pp. 18-33), claims that the people of Canada desired and needed the return of the R6- coUets " for the freedom of their consciences.'' Faillon (Colon. Fran., t. iii., pp. 198-201) regards the king's action in sending these priests to Canada as an evidence of his zeal for religion, and his desire for the spiritual good of the colony. He granted the R6collets sent thither a pension of 1,200 livres a year, and forbade them to solicit alms. — Cf. Le Clercq's Establ. of Faith (Shea's ed.), vol. ii., pp. 67-72; Parkman's Old Rigime, pp. 335, 353; Suite's Canad.- Fran., t iv., pp. 104-107. 2 (p. 49). — Concerning the Ontouagannha, see vol. xlvii., note 9. 3 (P- 237). — For a description of these drums, see vol. xx., note 3. 4 (p. 247). — Regarding this chief, see vol. xli., note 2. 5 (p. 253).— The myths regarding this divinity, and their inter- pretation, are noticed in vol. viii., note 36; and vol. x., note 12. K ■ « ~~M .m m m -a _■ .m .jmJtt