The NATURAL and CIVIL HIS TORY 0 F T H E FRENCH DOMINIONS I N North and South America. Giving a particular Account of the Climate, -4Soil, Minerals, Animals, Vegetab les, Manufactures, Trade, Commerce, AND Languages, TOGETHERWITH The Religion, Government, Genius, Charate, Manners and Cuftoms of the Indians and other Inhabitants. ILLUSTRATED'BY Maps and Pirns of the principal Places^ Collefted from the beft Authorities, and engraved by T. j E F p E R y s, Geographer to his Royal Highnefs the Prince of Wal e s. P A R T I. Containing A Defcription of Canada and Louifiana. LONDON, Printed for Thqwas Jefferys at Charing-Cro|s. MDCCLX. To the Honourable GEORGE TOWNSHEND, Brigadier-General Of His Majesty’s Forces inNoRTH-AMERicA,' And Colonel of The Twenty-eighth Regiment of Foot. SIR, A Natural and civil hiftory of the French empire in Noith- America, publiftied by a fubje 6 t of this kingdom, could fcarce appear with propriety, at this time, if it was not addrelTed to General Townshend, who, by the redu 6 tion of Quebec, the capital of that empire, has fubjeded the whole to the domi¬ nion of Great-Britain. It is not however necelTary on this oc- cafion. either to relate the event, or to particularize the virtues that effeded it. The event is neceffarily known by its impor¬ tance, and the addition of fo great an extent of territory, and fo many thoufand fubjeds to the Britifti crown, are memorials which can neither be overlooked nor forgotten, and which ren¬ der all others, not only unnecelTary but impertinent 5 neither can it be necelTary to'tell the world, that he is eminent for courage, adivity, and fpirit, who, when he was in a civil capacity, fur- rounded by the luxuries of peace, with a fortune by which they were belt fecured, and at an age when they are moll enjoyed, went a volunteer in the fervice of his country, to traverfe the wilds of America, and expofe his life to dangers not common even to war; to ambulhes which vigilance can feldom efcape, tofavages who attack without being feen, and inftead of taking prifoners, the wounded or unarmed, murder them in cold blood, and carry, off their fcalps as atrophy. That General Town¬ shend has an undoubted claim to this merit, and that one of the bell concerted, yet moft daring enterprifes that military ge¬ nius D E D I C A T I ON. nius ever formed, was by him carried into ejcecufion, cam^ot fail to be recorded iii that, period of the feitifh hiftory, which will do us more honour than any other, as it will include a greater number of events, in the nigheft degree glorious and important, the editor of this work therefore can only hope to do hirnfelf honotitby taking this opportunity to fubfcribe him- ielf, . • ' ' Sir, Your moft Obedient and Devoted Hurnble Servantj Thomas JefferyS* I N T R 0 D U G T I O N, T H E PolTeffions of the French upon the Continent of North America^ were always an interefting Objed to Great-Britain^ as it is always neceffary to know the Situation, Strength and Refources of contigu¬ ous Dominions that belong to a powerful State, whofe Oppofition of Intereft makes her a natural Enemy, and whofe military and commercial Knowledge makes Her formidable as well in Peace as in War.:;; But the Knowledge of this Territory is now become yet more important, as Provi¬ dence has thought fit by a Series of SuccelTes almoft miraculous, to make it our own. It is hoped therefore that this Work needs no Recommendation as to its Defign, as to the Execution, if it Ihould be found to deferve Recom¬ mendation, it will elFedually recommend itfelf: It has been compiled with the utmoft Diligence and Attention from the beft Accounts that are already extant, either in our own or other Languages, and improved by Materials that have from Time to Time been communicated to the Editor, by Perfons whofe Names, if he was at Liberty to mention them, would do him Honour; it contains therefore in one View, a more regular, c'omprehenfive and parti¬ cular Account of the Subjed than has hitherto appeared, and as fuch is fub- mitted to the Candour of the Public, CONTENTS T 0 PART 1 Climate, Soil, Mines, Rivers, Lakes Page i Gulf and River of St. Laurem, Anticolli, Sept, files and Point des Mont Peles 2 TadoulTac, He aux londres. He of Orleans, Tides and Va¬ riation of the compafs 3 ^ebec. Harbour, City, principal Buildings and Fortifications defcribed J American Loretto, Point aux Trembles, Be9ancourt g Tra/j Rhiitres, Lake St. Peter, Richlieu Hes and Sorel River Plu.mb, Goofeberry, Atoca, White Thorn, Cotton-Tree, and Account of the Navigation of the River St. Laurence from Lake Ontarioto the He of Anticolli 17 Saguitiaf, and Outa^ah Rivers, Laki Saptrior t8 A Defcription of eight new Forts erefled by the French to the Wellward of Lake Superior, Michilimakinac 19 A’nW mpry rf CANAnA , 20 Salt made there, Sword-filh, Sea Wolves, Sea Cows, Porpoi- fes, Whale Filhery, Lencornet, Haddock, Lobllers, Sal¬ mon Trout and Turtles 2t Beaver minutely defcribed 26 Hunting the Beaver - 30 Religious Preparations, folemn Fealls and Invocations for Suc- cefs before they hunt the Bear 31 Elk, Virtues of the Hoof, Ufes of his Hair, Skin and Flelh Stag of Canada, Buffalo, Mulk Buffaloe or Roe-buck, Wild Cat, Black Fox, Polecat, Flying Squirrel, Porcu¬ pine 33 nirds of Caiada, Eagles, Hawks, Raven, Water Fowl, Thrulh, Goldfinch, lingingOrtolan, Cardinal, and fly Bird 38 Timhir and trait frees of Canada. Pine Trees, Firs, Cedars, Oak, Maple. Alb, Walnut, Beach, Elms and Poplar 40 Manners, and Cajlams of the different Natksis inhabiting Ca- Elkimaux, Sioux Alliniboels, Algonkins, Roundheads, Sal- tuers, Malhommes, Hurons 42 mjlory of the Difeoniery and Settlement of Canada 97 Quebec founded, Canada how called New France gg Conquer’d by the Englilh tSag. loi French Oefign againll New-York mifearries 11: Englilh Expedition againll Quebec in i6go, commanded by Sir William Phipps, mifearries , III Expedition againll Quebec in 1712, mifearries ug Capb Breton and Harbourof LouiJbiurgAtkiis.i ng Canada improved by Cape Breton, Louilbourg built. Cape Breton taken by the Englilh in 1710, and ceded to the _ French by the Treaty of Utrecht 122 Siege and Conquell of Louilbourg and Cape Breton in 174;, by tbe New England troops 123 Rcllored to the French in tyqS. I2j Siege and Rcdudlion of Cape Breton in ryeS, bv the Britiiti Fleet and Army 126 Siege and Reduftion of Quebec by the Britilh Fleet and Army in 17,-9. 131 LoutsiANA deferib'd ,33 Inland Navigation from Canada to Lonlliana, Silver and Cop. per. Mines, Indian Nations of Louiliana, Spanilh Colony P A Pv, T CONTENTS. PART 11. D ISCOVERYofthe AatHIis, or Weft-hulits, why they were fo called Page i French Antillei 2 HISPANIOLA, its Importance,Extent and Situation, In- conveniences. Soil, Mountains, Mines, Salt-pits and Rivers, antiently divided into five Kingdoms 3 Origin of the different Inhabitants of the Antilles 8 Himher of the original Inhahitantj of Hifpaniola. ~ —• 8 Their Conffitution, Charafter and Traditions, Manners, Ho- MARTIN, Soil, ProduSions, firff fettled by the Spaniards, and abandon'd, afterwards divided between the • French and Dutch, who are expelled by the Spaniards, they return, and the French chufe for Governor a Surgeon, who afts as Prieft and Judge 75 Ifand o/ Sr. B A R T H 0 L O M E W, Soil and ProduSions, Spaniards firff fettled, and evacuate it, French fettle, and are deftroyed by the Natives, a new Colony of Irilh Catholics under a French Governor fpitality, Government, Wars, and Hunting, their Prepa- ^ando^'GUAD ALOUPE,Extent, Situation,Climate, Soil rations to look for Gold, Hulbandry, Canoes, Religion, Produce 79 Antiquities, and Funerals 8 Bajfe 7 erre deferibed, taken by Sir W. Codrington, Les Habi- Crnehj of the Spaniard, flourilhing State of their Colonies, tans, Goyave, Great Cul de Sac 82 and decay i6 Gsand Terre, Fort Louis, Los Abymes, Le Goffer, and The French firff Settlement on Hljpanhla, Rife of the Bucca- St. Anns deferibed Cabfefterte, Marigot, &c. 86 neers and Freebooters. i8 Mineral Plants, Shrubs, Plants, and Infefts 88 JrrArga deferibed, Le Vaffeur appointed Governor, repulfes the Wild Hogs and Devil Bird Qi Spaniards, becomes a Tyrant, and is affaffinated. The Firf Settlement of Guadaeoupe, the Progrefs of il Illand regained by the Spaniards, and retaken by the ments, its Revolutions, &c. French . i8 TheEnglilhin 17031^08, and take the Fort, ar< State of the French oa Hifpaniola, the Buccaneers, their Man- by Sicknefs to reimbark, they attack and cot Imptove- compellll s. Laws, Religion, Apparel, Arms, Hunting, and Dif- 1759 ir, gains 0 ad Death it the Freebooters, their Succeffes, ■ ^anJ of Ma IJIand of Desiderada deferibed, conquered by the Englilh in, deferibed, conquer'd by the Englilli French Ships at Petit Guave burnt by the Dutch, &c. 33 Tfe IfanJt of Los Santos, or the Sainli deferibed, conquered Infurreflion of the Negroes, fuppreffed by the Buccaneers, by the Englilh in r759. 115 Commotions, Peace, Increafe and Decay of the French ifand of Martinico, Extent, Boil, Divifions, Exports, Im- Colony 33 ports Jt8 Freebooters obnoxious to the Englilh, French and Spaniards, Fort St. Peter _ 119 and declared Pirates 35 Journal of two Mifilonaries 121 The Colony remonftrates againft the Tobacco-farm, cultivate Fort Royal, Cul de Sac Robert, Cul de Sac Francois, &c. Indigo and Sugar, &c. 36 ... '*> Council and Courts of Jullice effablilh’d 36 fhe firft fettling «/ Martinico, with the various Difputes, Petit Guave furprized by the Spaniards, the Colony diffreffed Wars, and moft material Tranfaftions _ iz8 for want of Trade, rife in arms, their Leader executed Englilh attack Fort St. Peter in 1667, make Defeents in 1693, 1697, 1704, and 1759. St. Jago delos Cavalleros burnt by the French, and ate routed by the Spaniards 38 -Englilh attempt a defeent, particular furvey of the French Co¬ lony in 1691, the Englilh intend to Invade it, but are pre¬ vented by an Earthquake and fepulfed 39 Spamatds join them in a Deffgn againff this Colony, which of Grenada deferibed 149 Purchafed by Count de Cerillac, advantageous Charaaer of this Place by Le Terre in 1657. Cerillac obliged toTeUh'is Property 152 This Illand ceeded to the Crown of France 155 The Grenadillos deferibed J57 .»v.—,. T- Natural Hifiory of Antilles. Ducaffe the Governor makes a Defeent on Jamaica, and ra- Chap. I. Of the Air, Seafons, Winds, Mines, Set. 157 vages that Illand 43 Chap. II. Of Pulfe, Plants, Shrubs, &c. 157 Englilh and Spanilh Fleet cannonade Cape Francois, land their Chap. III. Of Trees 161 Forces, and plunder the Colony at Diferetton. St. Louis, Chap, IV. Of (^adrupeds. Serpents, Infefts, Ac. 166 Port de Paix taken, line Retreat of the French, their Settle- Chap. V. Of Birds 168 ments reduced 44 Chap. VI. OfFilhes ^ 17* The Negroes at Cape Francois revolt 54 Chap. VII. Of the Original Inhalitcats cf the Antillei 179 The Englilh furprize Petit Guave and retreat. Attempt to land Chap. VIII. Of the Negroe Slams of the Antilles 186 at de la Petit Ri-Jere, but are prevented 55 Defeription of the Ifand and Colony of Cayenne. Hie Avache fettled by a Company 57 Chap. I. Of the Me of Cayenne in general 193 French and Spaniards unite againff the Englilh, Admiral Bern- Chap. II. Of the Revolutions in the Colony of Cayenne 195 bowdeftroys the French Ships at Leogane, and dies of his Chap. HI. State of the Colony of Cayenne m 1726 203 Wounds 59 Chap. IV. A more particular Defeription of the Illand of A chief Jullice and Intendant appointed, EccleCaftic Regula- Cayenne, and the Continent of Guiana, from M. Milhaua tions, Meafures taken to prevent Freebooting, who com- ■Memoirs 204 mence Inhabitants 60 The moff confiderable Rivers in Cayenne 208 , Sudden decay of all the Cocoa Trees, this Colony fuffers by Plan of a Settlement on the River Oyapok, begun in 1726. ' an exclufive Priviledge for furnilhing the Illand with Ne- _ 210 grocs,'and other Grants, which occafioned infurreftions Ecclefiallical Government 219 61 Military Government 220 Number of Inhabitants in 1726, Charafter of the french Cre- Civil Government 'd'A olians, their Hofpitality, and Charity 64 The King's Domain 2zi Defeription of Cape Francois, Port Margot, Port de Paix, Commerce and Manufaftures 222 Cul de Sac, Ac. 65 Quadrupeds in Cayenne and the neighbouring Contment 226 State of Cape Francois in 1743 69 Birds great and fmall 229 Pott Ixjuis taken by the Englilh 70 Filhes of Sea and Rivers 230 Engagement between the French and Englilh Fleet ib. The Inhabitants and Planters of Cayenne 231 Plain of Leogane, Petite Riviere, le Grand and Petit Guave, Charafter of the Gnyanefe Indians 234 fcc. defcr&’d 72 A D E S C R I P T I O^N O F NEW FRANCE; 0 R T H E French Dominions in North America. T he Country fubjed: to the Crown of France on the Continent of North America, which is larger than the Roman empire ever was, in its moft flourilhing times, is divided into two parts, the Northern named Canada, and the Southern Louifiana ; both of them under the direftion of a Governor- General, Intendant, and Supreme Council of New France, refiding at ^leiec, CANADA. C ANADA, in the Indian language, fignifies the Month of the Country, from Cz;;,’ Mouth, and Ada, the Country. Under the name of Canada, the French would Canada, ac-' comprehend all that part of Nbr//6 America fituated between 40 and 55 degrees North latitude, and 42 and 75 of longitude Eaft from Ferro, including great part of : New England, and New York, and almoft the whole of the province of Nova Scotia. ' CAN AT) A, according to the Englijh account, is bounded on. the North by the cwa.ac- Flighlands; which feparates it from the country about JSzf^zz’s Bayj Labrador, or Nfw“niing-othe Britain, and the country of the EJkimeaux, and the Chrifiinaux ; on the Eaft, by the - , river St Laurence ; and on the South, by the Outawai River, the country of the Six Nations, and Louifiana, its limits towards the Weft extending over countries and na¬ tions hitherto undifcovered. ■ The -foil of this country is generally very fruitful, but the winter, for fix months of the year, is ■ extremely feyere; the fnow is always fix feet deep, and, what contributes to give the people of a, worfe'notion of this country than it aftually deferves, this feafoirconies on juft.before thefliips fet fail RxFfance and other places on this fide the Atlantic,.2xA that fo fuddenly that in two or three days.the riyers are full of vaft llioals of ice, a.11 the beauties of nature are hid, and the'eye is pained with an iiniver- fal whitenefsj there is no longer any difference between land and water, the trees are covered with iticles, which are even dangerous to thofe that ftand under them ; there is no more ftirring out of doors, without being wrapped up in fur, and, in fpite of this precaution, not a winter pafles without lofs, of limbs by the benumbing cold, and thoiigh Severity of the weather is fomewhat,milder, when the wind gets into 'the South or.Eaft quarter, • yet during that time: there is'always a prodigious fall qffnovy, fo that you cannot fee ten paces before you. There blows fo piercing.a'.Weil wind that it almoft peels the fkin off the face^j in fliort, during this terribje feafdn, which is attended .with the pureft and fereneft Iky. imaginable, tlie cold is fo fliarp and intenfe that even the bears dare not ftir out of their dens. -. ' ; " ■ B In 2 ^description In -return for fo many incoveniencies, there is fuch an amazing abundance of game, mut¬ ton, poultry, beef, and fifh of all forts, that one almoft regrets the return of the fpring, which, after a long delay,’begins to appear towards May, and which is fo much the more ■charming as it fucceeds to a 'very fevere feafon. Add to this the heat of their fummer in •this country, which enables them to reap their crops in four months from the fowing of the feed; and the mildnefs of the autumn, during which there is a moft beautiful and un¬ interrupted ferenity, fuch as is rarely feen in the finefl; parts of Europe, fo that one can¬ not wonder the Canadians fliould even prefer this country to that of Old France. The long continuance of the fnow upon the ground ; the great number of mountains, forefts, rivers, and lakes, and the natural humidity of the foil; together with the vaft Caufes of the quantity of ice on the Northern Ocean; and the high lituation of the lands in this traft, •exccffivecoid. probably the caufes of this exceffive feverity of the weather, during this feafon, in Canada, though under the fame climates with the moft temperate provinces of Europe. It has been obferved, that, for the four years laft paft, the winters have gradually abated of their feverity, and probably the weather here will continue to grow milder, in pro¬ portion as the country is cleared of its vaft quantity of woods, and as it begins to be cultivated, drained, and peopled. There is a chain of mountains running Eaft and Weft more than four hundred leagues, from Tadoufac as far as Lake Superior, which is probably the caufe of fuch extraordinary quantities of fnow as fall in this country. Corn thrives to admiration in thofe grounds that have been cleared, but fuch fruits Plenty of as require any great degree of heat feldom fucceed here, probably becaufe nipped by Canada. jj^g There are great numbers of wild vines j greens of all forts cpme to great perfedlion ; the lakes are well ftored with fifti, and their banks are almpft covered with water-fowl and other game, belides beavers, martins, fables, &c. not to mention an infinity of other birds and quadrupedes, which abound in this country. The conftant ferenity of the air in this province, where it feldom or never rains,' renders it extremely wholefome to European conftitutions; and an author of credit Its falubrity. alTures US, that he knew upwards of fixty French, and thofe of very delicate complex¬ ions, and but indifferently provided with wholefome food, belides inconceivable, other hardlhips and inconveniences they had to undergo, during a refidence of lixteen years among the Hurons, all furviving after fo long and wearifome a term ; a circumftance^ which fufficieiitly proves the falubrity of the climate. Befides the great plenty of ftags, elks, bears, foxes, martins, goats, wolves, wdld fowl, and other game, with which, as I have obferved, this country abounds, the meadow Fertility of grounds which are all plentifully watered, yield excellent grafs, and feed great herds of large and fmall cattle; and lands in tillage produce the moft plentiful crops. The Mines mountains abound with mines of coal, and are not deftitute of filver, iron, and other minerals, though-not worked, or at leaft with any great advantage; and the marfliy grounds, which are a great part of this country, fwarm with beavers,. otters, and other amphibious animals. Amongft the great number of rivers which water Canada, the moft confiderable are,’ Rivers. j]jg j.jygj. Laurence, which crolTes it from South-weft to North-eaft, and is twenty-feven leagues in breadth, where it empties itfelf into the Gulf of St Lawrence ; the river • Bourbon, which has its opening in Hudfon’s Bay ; the rivers Saguenay and Cutaway, which falls into the river St Lawrence ; and the MiJJiJJiipi, or river St Louis, the fource of which is generally placed in about forty-five degrees of latitude, and 74 of longitude 'Weft from Ferro, which waters the Weftern parts of Canada from North- Weft to South-eaft, and afterwards fi-om North to South. Late. There are alfo a great number of lakes, and, amongft them, feveral of very great extent; as for inftance. Lake Superior,, of five hundred leagues circuit. There are three great lakes befides, ftill higher than Lake Superior, all of them crolfed by the ftreani that runs into The Rioier; St LAWRENCE. This river has its fource, as is commonly thought, in the lake of the Ajiniboels ; a point, which, however, is fer from being decided, though its courfe has been Gulf of S/ furveyed for between feven and eight hundred leagues. It empties itfelf into the Gulf iavirmt. Lawrence, and exceeds in beauty and greatnefs all the rivers of Canada. The Gulf of St Lawrence is four-fcore leagues in length, and the currents in it are fo frrong, that it has been failed over in twenty-four hours with a favourable wind. „ -. About of C A N A B A, 3 About half way over are the Ijles des Oifemix, or Bird Ijlands, two rocks, which rife in the (hape of a fugar-loaf, about fixty foot from the water’s edge, the greatcft not above three liundred paces in circumference. The quantity of water-fowl on thefe rocks, which are covered and coloured all over with their ordure, is aftonifliing. Se¬ veral floops have been loaded with their eggs, and on firing a cannon, which alarms tlie whole body of this feathered commonwealth, they rife in fuch numbers, as to form an impenetrable cloud, which hides the Iky for two or three leagues round. The entrance of the river Lawrence is properly reckoned from Cape Rofiers in Cape Rcjk,s. Nova Scotia, where it is about twenty-feven leagues broad. Three leagues to South of this are the Bay and Point of Gaffe, or Gacbafe. Three leagues below this Bay is the IJle Percee, or Bored Ifland, fo called from a rock rifing in form of an arch, ^ ^ ^ thro’ which a filhing bark may pafs under fail. This has the appearance of a ruined wall. ' Navigators know when they are near this part, by a flat mountain, called Rowland's Lable. A league from this ifland is that of Bonaventure, or Good Fortune ; and at ten leagues diflance from hence is the Ifland Mifcou, which is eight leagues round, and has Bma-jemm-i an excellent harbour. Near this ifland is a fountain of frefli water, which rifing from the middle of the fea, fprings into the air to a confiderable height. All thefe parts are ex- tremely well fituated for the fiOiery, which are very plentiful in the neighbouring parts of the Gulf and River; on which account, fome intelligent French writers regret their not having fettlements here for that branch of commerce, which they juftly prefer to the fur trade, for which, this of the fifhery in thofe parts has been neglected. In the middle of the mouth of the River St Lawrence lies the Ifland of Natijkotek, corruptly called Anticojii, about twenty-feven leagues in length, but very narrow, and of no manner of utility, being deftitute of wood, barren, and without fo much as a lingle harbour, where Ihips can remain with any degree of fafety. .Its coafts, how¬ ever, abound in fifh. It was imagined, that this ifland was not deftitute of mines j but, from trials that have been made, this opinion appears entirely without foundation. - After paffing this ifland, you fee the land on both fides. On the left Ihore, in Nova Scotia, appears a chain of very high mountains, called Monts Notre Dame, and Mount Louis, betvveen which are fome valleys, formerly inhabited by favages. In the neigh¬ bourhood of Mount Louis the foil is very good, and there are fome French habitations. This place is efteemed well fituated for a fettlement, to carry on the whale fifliery, and would alfo be very convenient for fupplying flrips from Europe with neceffaries. On the oppofite fliore, in latitude 50° 8', lie the Sept Ifes, or Seven Ijlands, among which are feveral good roads, with anchorage fit for flflps of large burthen, in which Sept i/iesi ; they may ride fafe in bad weather. Thefe iflands the French navigators endeavour to make, as foon as they have palled by Anticojii, taking care to avoid the rocks about Egg Ijands, where Admiral Walker's fleet, in the expedition to Canada, was loft, ' through the ignorance of the pilot, AuguJ 23, 1711. Seventeen leagues to the South-weft of the Seven Ijlands is a promontory, called la Point des Monts Pelees, or Point of Bald Mountains, and, hy fome authors, Armont, and ‘Trinity Point, which navigators leave at large on their right, and for which it is proper Fowl dn to keep a good look out. Another land-mark on the Southern Ihore is, the double- headed mountain, called Les Mamelles de Matane, or Paps of Matane, about two leagues within land, in the wildeft country that can be imagined, being an entire medley of faud, rocks, and impenetrable woods, but well watered, and abounding.in game. • On the other fide of the river, about fix leagues from the Bald Mountains, is St Ni¬ cholas', or Englijh Harbour, a very fit place for merchant Ihips in bad weather. Nine leagues from this are the dangerous breakers of Manicouagan, projedling two leagues Dangeram from land, and famous for Ihipwrecks. They take their name from a river, which Breakers, rifes among the mountains of Labrador, and afterwards forms a pretty large lake of Ae fame name, but more commonly known by that of Lake St Barnabe, and difeharges itfeif into the river acrofs thefe breakers. In fome maps it is called la Riviere Noir, or the Black river. As far as this, and near fixteen leagues higher, the tides are hardly perceivable. Thirty-two leagues higher up is the River Saguenay, which is capable of receiving Sagmmy Ri- Ihips of the greateft burthen twenty-five leagues above its mouth, in entering of which ver. you leave the port of Tadoujj’ac on the right hand, where moft geographers have placed a city, though there is only one French houfe, and fome huts of the favages, who bring them, .at the time of felling their furrs and other commodities, and carry them off like flails at a fair when they go away. Formerly, this port was for a long time the refort B 2 ” and 4 Green IJlam Moulin Baud Ijle Rouge. lie nun Con- Sc PanlBiy. Cap Tcnrment Me of Or/e- J DESCRIPTION and chief mart of iht indians lying towards the North and Eaft. The French reforted hither as foon as the navigation of the river was open, both from France unA from Cana¬ da 5 and the miffionaries took this opportunity to traffic in their own way. The fair be¬ ing ended, the merchants returned to their feveral habitations, and the favages retired •with the miffionaries, who followed them home in order to take a better opportunity to finiffi their converfion. FadouJIac is an excellent harbour, the anchoring good, theentrance very eafy, and they fay it is capable of affording ffielter to five and .twenty men of war againft all the winds that can blow. It is almoft round, and furrounded oia all fides with rocks of a prodigious height, from which iffues a fmall rivulet capable of fupplying the (hipping vvith frefli water. The whole country abounds in marble, but .its greateft riches, fays Charlevoix, would certainly be the whale fiffiery. The Bafque'i, (inhabitants of Bayonne, and other Southern parts of Gafeony) in France, formerly carried on this trade with fuccefs, and there are (fill to be feen on a little ifland which bears their name, the remains of their furnaces, and the ribs of whales. This fifiiery carried on thus within the banks of a river, muft be attended with great advantages above that dif- tant and hazardous way of going to the coaft of Greenland, at fo much expence. I But before this I (hould have mentioned an anchoring place under the Green Ijland, on the oppofite (hore of Nova Scotia, where is plenty of all forts of provifions, and ,^fome French habitations; and that on the North fhore, at Moulin Baude, fo called from a rivulet of frefh water, which iffues from a rock, and is capable of turning a mill, but the counpry about this latter is faid to have the moft frightful appearance, and to be ut¬ terly uninhabitable, for men or beafts, nor is any living creature to be feen. From Fadoujfac you come to the paffage of Ifle Rouge, which is very difficult. In order to do this with fuccefs, you muft foft fteer full on this ifle. in order to clear the point called Aux Allouettes, or Larks Point, which is at the entry of the Saguenay on the left, and advances a good way into the river, and afterwards you turn quite ftiort; the South paflage is much the fafeft. The Ipe Rouge, or Red IJland, is no more than a rock of this colour, lying level with the water’s edge, and has been the occafion of feve¬ ral ffiipwrccks. At the diftance of eighteen leagues above Fadouffac, and the fame diftance below %c- . bee, is the Ifle aux Coudres, the paffage of which is on the left, and very dangerous when the wind is in the lead: unfavourable ; it is extremely rapid, narrow, and a good quarter of a league in breadth. Before 1663, it was much eafier, but fince that an earthquake tore up a mountain by the roots, and threw it upon the IJle aux Coudres, which made it more than one half bigger, and in the place where the mountain flood there appeared a lake, which is now called the Whirlpool, and not to be approached without danger. It is alfo practicable to take the South paffage of the Ijle aux Coudres, which bears the name of M. Iberville, who firft attempted it with fuccefs, and is both eafy and without any danger, but the general cuftom is to take the North channel. Higher up appears the Bay of St Paul, where begin the habitations on the North fide of the river; Here are alfo -forefts of pine-trees, which are much efteemed, efpecialiy the red-pine, which is very beautiful and never breaks. The members of the feminary of ^ebec are the proprietors of this Bay, where they have lately difeovered an exceeding good lead mine. Six leagues farther is a promontory of a prodigious height, which terminates a chain of mountains running more than four hundred leagues to the Weft ward; this is called Cap Fourment, or Stormy Cape, The anchorage is exceeding good here, fince the num¬ ber of iflands of all fizes which furround it, make it a place of very good (heiter. The moft confiderable of thefe, is the Ifle of Orleans, the fields of which ate extremely well cultivated, and as they rife in the (hape of an amphitheatre, prefent the eye with a moft pleafing profpeft. This ifland is about fourteen leagues round, and was in 1676, ereft- ed into an earldom, under the name and title of St Laurent, in favour of Francois Ber- thelot, fecretary general to the artillery, who bought it of Francois de Laval^ firft Billrop of ^ebec. It had in 1720, four villages, and they now reckon in- it fix very populous parifhes. Of the two channels which this ifland forms, the South is only navigable for (hips, for even floops cannot pafs l|r the North channel except at high water. Thus from Cape Fowment, you muft traverfe the river to go to ^ebec, and this way has its difficulties. There are moving fands in the way, which often want water for the largeft (hips, fo that they dare not engage with them till the tide begins to flow. This em- barraffment might be (hunned by taking the pafs of M. Iberville. Cape Fourmente, whence they take their departure to make this traverfe, is at a hundred and ten leagues ' ’...''.‘ . diftance of C A N A D A. 5 diftancc from the fea, and the water of the river ftill continues brackifli, and doc? not begin to be fit for drinking till the entrance of the two pafTages, or channels, of the file alOrleam-, a phenomenon difficult enough tobefolved, on account of the great rapidity of the river, even after making confidcrable allowances for the width of it. The tides here flow regularly five hours, and ebb feven. At Tadoufac they ebb and flow fix hours alternately; and the reflux increafes and the flux diminiflies in proportion as you go higher up the river. Twenty leagues above ^cbcc the flux is of three hours continuance, and the reflux nine; higher up the tides are not perceivable. When it is Tid'.- half tide, or half high water, in the }^o:toA££oming the object of a very lucrative commerce in the gulph of St Laurence, and yic mgpro t ^ confiderable way up the river of that name. The fea-wolf The Sea-wolf owes its name to its cry, which is a fort of howling j for as to its lhape it by no means refembles that of a wolf, nor of any known land animal whatfoevCr. Lefcarbot iays, he has heard thofe creatures cry like the mewing of a cat; but what he fpeaks of mull in all probability be the cry of the young ones, whofe voice was not yet come to its full pitch and flrength of tone, which thefe animals have when mature. We need not, however, make any fcruple to clafs this creature with filhes, though it dif¬ fers from that genus in that it is not dumb, is brought forth at land, on which it lives, at leaft as much as in the water, is covered with hair, and, in Ihort, that it is in every refpedt an animal truly amphibious. As it would be a vain piece of fingularity and per- verfenefs to oppofe the received notions and ways of fpeaking, the war carried on againft this creature, though it be as commonly on land as in water, the weapons in ufe being clubs or bludgeons,, is known in this part of the world by the name of filhing, whilft that carried on againft the beavers, tho’ in the water, and with nets, is Called hunting- Befaibed;- The head of the. fea-wolf fomewhat refembles that of a dbg ; it has four very Ihort legs, efpecially thofe behind, and is in all other refpefts a filh. It rather crawls than walks upon its feet; the fore feet are armed with claws or nails, thofe behind are made like fins; its llcin is hard, and covered v/ith lliort hair of dilFcrent colours, There are fome of thofe animals entirely white, and all of them are fo when young; fome become black and others red as they grow older, whilft others again are of all thofe colours together. Several fpe- The fifliermen diftinguifh feveral fpecies of fea-wolves • the largeft weigh twa ces. thoufand pounds, and this fort is faid to have much lharper nofes than the reft; fome of them are called by the French failors brajfeurs. A fecond fpecies is diftin- guilhed by the name of Nau, the reafon and etymology of which are equally unknown. A third has the appellation of Great-heads. The young ones are very alert, and ex¬ tremely dextrous in cutting the nets that are fpread for them; they are fpotted, full of play, and beautiful, at leaft, for animals of their lhape. The Indians accuftom them to follow their footfteps like dogs, tho’ they eat them without fcruple or regard to their fondnefs. There are two forts of fea-wolves on the coafts of Nom Scotia, and the young of one 'TntiaXa thele fpecies are as big as hogs of the largeft fize. This filhery is carried on in the fpaies. month of February, before the young, which are the chief objedl of it, have been much ufed to take the water. The old ones fly at the firft attack, making a great noife, as a fignal for the young to follow them, which they do with great fpeed, unlefs prevented by the fifliermen, who kill them by a flight blow on the fnout. The number of thofe ani¬ mals mull needs be vaftly great, fince, as iomz French author? relate, eight hundred of their young have been killed in one day. Seconil fpe- The fecond fort are very fmall, one. of them producing no more oil than its bladder ties. will contain. They never venture far from the Ihore, and have always a centinel Hand¬ ing watch. At the firft fignal he gives, the whole body ruflies into the fea, and fome- time after they return, railing thenflelves on their hind legs, to fee whether the coaft be clear. There are, however, great numbers of them taken, tho’ it be only pradlicable while they are on fliore. The 23 Of CANADA. The flefli of this animal is excellent food, but their oil turns to much better account, and is obtained, by a very eafy procefs, that is boiling the flefli, which diflblves over oilof thefea- the fire. And oftentimes no more is required than the ufe of what they call charniers, '™'f- or large fquare of boards, on which is fpread the flit of a number of fea wolves: It melts of itfelf, and the oil difcharges itfelf through an opening made in the frame of boards for the purpofe. This oil, when new and frefh, is very good for culinary ufes, but that of the young ones grows very foon rank, and the other fort, if kept the leaf!; while, be¬ comes too thin, and in that cafe is ufed for burning, or for curriers work. It preferves its clearnefs a long time, has no fmell, and leaves no impurities in the bottom of the barrel. In the infancy of the colony, the French naade ufe of the fklns of the fea-wolves, for muffs; fince that they are out of fafliion; the fkins are chiefly employed to cover trunks and cloak bags; when tanned, they have a grain much like Morocco or Furky leather. They are not indeed fo fine, but are lefs apt to crack, and they preferve their freflinefs much longer. Very good flioes are made of them, and a fort of bools impe¬ netrable to the water, not to mention various other ufes. They are tanned in Canada with the bark of the fpruce fir, and to dye them black, they ufe the powder of certain ftones found on the banks of rivers, called thunder ftones, being a mineral mar- Thunder caffite. Sea-wolves couple, and the females bring forth their young upon the rocks; they have commonly two at a time, and tho’ they fometimes fuckle them under water, yet they more generally do it at land. To teach them to fwim, they take them upon their fhouldcrs, leave them in the water for a Ihort time, then take them up again, con¬ tinuing this exercife, till tliey are capable of fwimming alone; a very Angular property Singular phe- in an aquatic animal, fince terreftial animals have generally no need of this inftitution, mofl: of them being naturally fwimmers. The fea-wolf has very acute fenfes, and tho’ this is the only thing with which nature has furnifhed thefe animals for their defence, they are however very often furprized, in the manner we have already mentioned, tho’ the mofl: common way is deferibed as fol¬ lows : It is ufual with thofe creatures to come with the tide into creeks of the rivers. When the fifhers have difeovered any of thofe creeks where confiderable numbers ufed to haunt, they enclofe them with nets and piles, leaving only a fmall opening for the fea- o*" wolves to enter. This opening is fhut up at high water, fo that at ebb they are left dry, and there is no further trouble but to knock them on the head. They alfo give chace to them in the water, in canoes, when the moment they lift their heads above water, they fire at them. If they happen only to wound them, they are however eafily taken ; but if they are killed dead, they fink to the bottom like the beaver. The fifhers have large dogs, that fetch them up in feven or eight fathom water. Charlevoix tells a circumftance, which however he vouches not for fad, and indeed the flory carries strange foiy; not too many marks of probability j that a failor having one day furprized a prodigious number of thofe animals, drove them all home before him with a fwitch, like a herd of cows, and that he and his companions killed nine hundred of them. - The Sea-cow is another marine animal taken by the French fifhermen on the coaft xhe fo-cow. of the gulph of St Laurence, but in fmall numbers, and I am not certain whether they are to be feen elfewhere, 'The EngUJli are faid formerly to have had a fifliery of this fort at the illand Sable j but this effablifhment was attended, in all probability, with ve¬ ry little profit to the undertakers. This animal, in fhape, differs very little from the fea-wolf, but is fomewhat larger. It is provided with a very Angular fort of weapon, which is, two teeth, thick and long r. r •. j as a man’s arm, a little bent upwards, and at a diflance appearing like horns, from ' ‘ whence it is likely they have obtained the name of fea-cows. The French failors know them by the Ample appellation of the fifh with the long teeth. This tooth is, however, a mofl: beautiful ivory, as well as all thofe in the jaws of this fifh, which are four fingers in length. There are alfo Porpoifes in the river St iar/rarre, and thofe of two colours. Thofe Porpoifes of in the fait water part of the river, which reaches almoft as high as the Ille of Orleans, differ very little from fuch as are found in the fea: In the frefh water part, on the con¬ trary, they are entirely white, and of the lizeof an ordinary cow. The firfl: appear ge¬ nerally in flocks or fhoals 5 ’ whether the fame may be faid of the white fort is not cer-' G 2 tain. 24 NATURAL HISTORY tain. There are none of them to be feen above ^ebec, but great numbers of both kinds on the coafts of Nova Scotia ; fo that the difference of their colour is not owing to the fait or frefh water in which they live, and therefore they muft be two different fpecies. One white porpoife yields a hogfhead of oil, of much the fame quality as that extradfed from the fea-wolf. The flefh of this animal is not eaten, bpt that of Grey porpoi-the fpeeies called pourcelles, or the grey porpoife, is reckoned tolerable food, fes eaten. They make puddings and faufages of the guts ; the harflet is fitid to be excellent fricaffeed, and the head, tho’ inferior to a calf’s, is however, efteemed beyond that of a fheep. The Heins of both forts are tanned, and dreffed like Morocco leather. At firft it feems tender like hogs lard, and is about an inch thick. They continue fhaving it down Ufe of the jjjj {^mjfparent and very thin, tho’ it Hill retains a vail ftrength, aswhenufed in waillcoats or breeches, and fome affirm it mulket-proof. There are many of them eighteen feet in length, and nine broad, and nothing is fitter, they fay, for covering the tops of coaches. The French have two porpoife fifheries below ^ebec j one in the bay of St Paul, Porpoife fa. the other feven or eight leagues lower, near a plantation called Camourajea, from certain rocks rifing confiderably above water. The expence of this filhery is but moderate, and the profits would amount to a confiderable fum, were it not for the inllindl or ca¬ price of thofe animals, which often breaks the meafures of the filhermen, by taking a road very different from the accullomed, or where the filhers expedl them to come. Two incon- This filhery is moreover attended with two inconveniencies; The firll is that it en- venicnces. riches none but the undertakers; and in the fecond place, it has confiderably diminilli- ed that of eels, which ufed to be a very great refource for the poorer fort of inhabitants of this capital. For the porpoifes being dillurbed below ^ebec, have retired elfewhere; and the eels finding the palfage clear of thofe large fifties, defeend the river without any obllacle; from whence it is, that between and the Trots Rivieres, v/herc they formerly took large quantities, there are now fcarce any to be found. The manner of taking porpoifes is little different from that of the fea-wolf. When the tide is low, they fix piles or Hakes in the mud or fand, at moderate intervals, to which they tie threads in the nature of toils, the opening of which is confiderably large, in fuch manner, as that the fifti once entered cannot retreat. They take care to garnifti the tops of the llakes with green boughs. When the tide flows, thefe fifties purfuing the herring > ftioals, which conftantly make to the Ihore, and attraded by the fight of the verdure or Mannerofta- boughs, with which they are highly delighted, find themfelves entangled in the net. As kmgporpoifa ^ fifticrs have the entertainment of viewing their confufion, and ufelefs efforts to make their efcape. In the end they are left dry, and often heaped one over another, fo that two or three have been killed with the fame blow. It has been alferted, that fome of the white fort have weighed three thoufand pounds. Every one knows the manner in which the whale is caught, for which reafon I ftiall fay nothing of it here. They tell us, that the Bafques, who formerly carried on this fifliery in the river St Laurence, quitted it for the fur trade, which was capable of being Whalcfiiliery managed at a much lefs expence, with infinitely lefs fatigue, and with much quicker and unprofitable, abundantly larger profits, at leaft at that time. And befides it mult be acknowledged they wanted many conveniencies for this trade, which might now be had, by means of fome fettlements pretty far down along thecoalls of the gulf. With this view fome at¬ tempts have been fince made to reftore this branch of commerce, but without fuccefs; the undertakers either wanting the necelfary funds for carrying it on, or not having per- feverance or patience to wait the proper time for the return of their dilburfements. It appears, however, that this fiftiery might become a very confiderable article in the trade of this colony, as it may be carried on with much lefs hazard and expence than on the coaftsof Greenland-, and might even become a fettled and, in fome meafure, a domellic branch of commerce, according to the prppofal of M. Denys, a French gentleman, who has wrote on this fubjecl. The other fifties taken in the fait water part of the river St Laurence, or from Cape Tourment to the gulf, and which are capable of adding to the wealth, convenience, and commerce of this colony, as well as of the mother country, are the falmon, tunny, j/the'rivlr.^ Iliad, trouts, lampreys, fmelts, fea-eel, mackerel, foies, herrings, anchovies, pilchards, turbots. 25 of C A N A D A. turbots, and almoft every fifli found in any part of the ocean, and among thofe many altogether unknown in Europe; all thefe are caught with dragging or with nets. In the gulf are fcates; thornbacks; and thofe of three forts, the common, the curled, of a better tafte than thofe in France, Jand that called the Poll, not much valued j lencornets, a kind of cuttle lilh; the haddock, or St Peter’s filh; plaice; requiems j fea-dogs, a fpecies of the requiems, lefs mifchievous in their lifetime, and much preferable when dead j and plenty ^ , of oyllers during the winter feafon, efpecially on the coafts of Nova Scotia ; the man- ner of filliing for which is lingular enough. A hole is made in the ic,e, thro' which they put two poles tied together fo as to clap like pincers; thefe are feldom brought up without oyllers. The Lencornet is a fpecies of cuttlc-filh, tho’ very different in lhape from the com¬ mon cuttle. It is quite round, or rather oval; a little above the tail is a fort of bor¬ der, or ledge, which ferves him for a buckler; and its head is furrounded with whif- kers, which he makes ufe of to catch other filhes. There are two forts of them, dif¬ fering only in magnitude, one as large as a hoglhead, the other not above a foot in length; the latter are the only fort taken, and are caught with a torch. They are very howcasght. fond of a light, which being Ihewn them from the Ihore, they make towards it, and run themfelves aground. The lencornet, whether boiled, roafted, or fryed, is very good eating, but it makes the fauce quite black. The Haddock refembles a fmall cod, has much the fame falle, and is dried in the fame m.anner. It has two black fpots, one on each fide the head, and the filhermen " fay this is the filli in which St Peter found the piece of money to pay the emperor’s tribute for himfelf and our Lord, and that thefe fpots are the places by which the Apollle held it. Hence it has been called St Peter’s fijh. The fea plaice has much firmer llelh, and a better talle, than thofe taken in rivers. It is caught, as well as the houmarts, or lobllers, by means of long poles, iobfters^''how armed at the point with a lharp iron, and barbed to hinder the filh from difen- ““gi'o ' gaging itfelf. In feveral places, efpecially towards Nova Scotia, the pools are full of falmon trouts, Salmon trout, a foot in length, and of turtles, or tortoifes, two feet in diameter, the flelh of which is excellent, and the upper fcale llriped with white, red, and blue. Amongll the filhes that abound in Lake Champlain, and the rivers that fill into it, Champlain mentions one of a very Angular fort which he calls Chaoufarou, probably the ci,3oufarou a name given it by the Indians. It is a particular kind of armed filh, found in feveral Unguiarfidi. other parts, pretty much of the form of a fpit, and covered with a fcale impenetrable to a dagger. Its colour is a filver grey, and there projedts from under the throat a bony fubllance, flat, indented, hollow, and perforated at the end ; whence it is reafonable to think, that it breathes this way. This bone is covered with a tender Ikin, and its length is in proportion to the filli, of which this makes one third part. The Indians affured Champlain, that they had feen of thofe fillies from eight to ten feet long; but the largell he faw did not exceed five, and were about as thick as a man’s thigh. This animal is a true pirate amongll other fillies, but, what is very furprizing, he is alfo an enemy to the birds, which, like an expert fowler, he catches in this manner: He conceals himfelf among the reeds, fo that nothing can be difeovered but his wea¬ pon, rifing perpendicularly above the furface of the water. The birds that light His way of near him take it for a flick, or withered reed, and perch upon it without the leall apprehenfion of what is concealed beneath. That moment the foe in ambulli opens his mouth, and feizes his prey with all the rapidity imaginable. The teeth on both fides of this bone are pretty long, and very lliarp, and, as the Indians pretend, are a fqvereign remedy for the head-ach, and that by pricking the part moll affedled, the pain is immediately diflipated. The llurgeon here is both a frelh and a falt-water filh, being taken both in the lakes and on the coalls of Canada. There are of thefe filhes from eight to ten, and even twelve feet long, and thick in proportion. I omit to deferibe this filh, which is well known in Europe. The Indians catch them in this manner; Two men Hand, one at each end of a canoe; he at the Hern fleers, whilll the other at the head Hands ready with a dart tied to a cord, the other end of which is made fall to the boat. As foon as he perceives the llurgeon, he darts it at him, endeavouring as much as he can to diredl 26 NATURAL HISTORY It contrary to the inclination of the fcaki. The moment he perceives hlmfelf wound¬ ed, he feuds away with all his fpeed, dragging the boat after him with an amazing rapidity. After running about two hundred paces in this manner, he generally dies, and is taken. Fi(h in vaft ^ word, that I may make an end of this article, the river S( Laurence breeds plenty and feveral fiflies entirely unknown in Prance ; the mod: efteemed of thefe are the Achi- variety. Gilthead. The other rivers of Canada, and efpecially thofe of Nova Scotia, are no lefs replenifhed than this river, which abounds with the greateft plenty and variety of the mod: excellent fort of fifhes of any other perhaps on the globe, there being, in fome feafons, fidi fufficient to maintain all the inhabitants of the colony. Beaver, a lin- As to quadrupeds, the mod: dngular, and what excites the curiodty of the reader gukr quadru- aJjgye gny other in this country, is the caftor, or beaver. The fpoils of this animal have ^ ' hitherto been the chief objeft of the commerce to this colony. This creature is belides in itfelf a miracle of nature, and there is not to be found, perhaps in the whole creation, fo ftrikingan example of forefight, induilry, cunning, and patience in labour. Empian The caftor, or beaver, was probably not unknown in Europe before the difeovery of beaver. ^ertca ; and there are now to be feen, amongd: the ancient charters of the hatters of Paris, regulations for the manufadture of beaver hats. The beaver, or caftor, is undoubtedly the fame animal j but whether it is, that the European beaver is grown very fcarce, or that its fur is not of fo good a quality as that of the American, this lat¬ ter is the only fort now in repute, the other being never fo much as mentioned, except with relation to the dmple called cajioreum. It is not improbable, that the European beaver is a fort of land beaver, which is very different from the other. Jmtruanben- The beaver of Canada is an amphibious animal, incapable of remaining any confi- ver defenbed. jerable time in water, and very able to fubfift without it, provided it has now and then the convenicncy of bathing. The larged: beavers are fomew'hat lefs than four feet in length, by fifteen inches in breadth from haunch to haunch, and weigh fixty pounds. The colour varies according to the different climates where they are found. In the mod didant Northern parts they are generally quite black, though white ones are fometimes to be feen in the fame region, They are brown in more tempe¬ rate climates, their colour growing lighter in proportion as you advance South¬ wards, In the country of the Ilinois they are almoft quite yellow, and fome have been found here of a pale or draw-colour. It has been remarked, that the lighter the colour, the thinner commonly the fur, and confequently the black is mod efteemed, nature fortifying them in this manner againft the feverity of the weather. There arc two different forts of fur all over the body, excepting near the feet, where there is but one fort, and that very fliort. The longed is from eight to ten lines, and even to two inches on the back, diminifhing towards the tail and head. This fort of hair is coarfe, thick, {hilling, and is what gives the animal its colour. Seen through a microfeope, tiie middle is found lefs opaque, whence it is natural to fuppofe it hollow, and therefore this fort is not in ufe. The other is an extremely fine down, very clofe, and an inch at mod in length j and this fort is what is commonly ufed. It was formerly known in Europe by the name of Mufeovp wool. This is properly the garment of the beaver, the other ferving only for ornament, and perhaps to affift him in fwimming. The fem.'Je It has been afferted, that this animal lives from fifteen to twenty years, that the female beaver. gQgg young four months, and that die generally brings forth four at a time, and fome travellers have increafed the number to eight; but this mud happen very rarely. She has four teats, two between the fecond and third pair of long ribs, and two others about four fingers higher. Anatnmy of The niufcles of this animal are extremely ftrong, and thicker than its bulk feems to the beaver, require. On the contrary, its inteftines are exceeding ilelicate, its bones very hard, and its two jaws, which are nearly equal, have a vaft force. Each jaw is fet with ten teeth, two of them incifive, or cutters, and eight molar, or grinders. The upper inci- fives are two inches and a half long, the lower fomething above three, fuited to the inclination of the jaw, which give them a force aftonilhing in fo fmall a creature. It has been remarked, that the two jaws are not exactly correfpondent, the upper jutting out beyond the lower, like the blades of a pair of feiffars; and, laftly, that the length of every tooth is exaftly one third of its root. The of Canada. 27 The head of the beaver is much like that of the mountain rat j the muzzle forae- External parts what long; the eyes little j the ears very Ihort, round, hairy without, but fmooth within i the legs fliort, efpecially the fore legs, being not above four or five inches long, and very much refemWing thofe of the badger. The nails are cut floping, and hollow like goofe-quills. The hind feet are quite different, being flat, and provided with mem¬ branes between the toes. Hence the beaver walks but aukwardly, and very fiowly, but fwims with the fame facility as other aquatic animals. In refpedt of his tail, he is a perfed filb, and has been judicially declared fuch by the College of Phyficians at ^arh ; and the faculty of divinity have, in confequence of this declaration, pronounced it lawful to be eaten on days of fading. This fort of food is, however, at too great a diftance from the French to enable ConfidcreJ as them to profit by this toleration, and they very rarely'meet with any that is eatable. The Miam keep it by them, after curing it in the chimney, but it is, by all accounts, intolerably bad. And, even when it is frefh, you are obliged to give it a boiling, to make it lofe a little of the difagreeable tafte it naturally has, after which it becomes very good eating j and no fort of flefh, they fay, exceeds it in delicioufnefs or lightnefs of digeftion ; it is even afferted to be as nourifhing as veal. When boiled, it wants fomething to give it a relilli 5 but, when roafted, it is very good, without any thing of that kind. The mod remarkable part belonging to this animal is its tail. It is almoft oval, a- singular te.v- bout four inches broad near the root, five in the middle, and three at its extremity; but tureoftheuil thefe mealures are to be underftood of the largeft fort of beavers j it is about an inch in thicknefs, and a foot long. Its fubftance is a firm fort of fat, or a tender cartilage, being much like the flefli of a porpoife, but grows harder, when kept for any time. It is covered with a fcaly Ikin, the fcales of which are of an hexagonal form, half a line in thicknefs, by three or four lines in length, and laid over one another, like thofe of all fiflies. A very delicate pellicle ferves to fupport them, and they are inferted in it in fuch a manner, as to be eafily parted from it after the death of the animal. The true tefficles of this animal were entirely unknown to the ancients, probably Tellldes. becaufe they are very final!, and much hid under the haunches. They gave this name to the receptacles of the calhretim, which are very different, and in number four, be- . ing fituated in the lower venter of the beaver. The two foremoft, called the upper, becaufe higher than the others, are in the lhape of a pear, and communicate one with the other, like the pockets of a knapfack ; the other two, called the lower, are round towards the bottom. Thefe four receptacles contain a refinous, foft, and adhefive li¬ quor, mixed with fmall fibres, of a greyifli colour on the outfide, yellowifli within, of a firong, penetrating, and difagreeable fmell, and very inflammable j and this is the true cojloretm. It grows hard after being a month expofed to the air, and becomes brow'n, brittle, and Iriable. If there be occafion to harden it fooner, it may he done by hang¬ ing it in the chimney. It is pretended, that the c^jforeiim which comes from Dantzic is preferable to that of Canada. The bags of this laft fort are allowed to be much fmaller than the others, CaitOTeum. and, even in Canada, the largeft are much more efteemed. It is required befides in calicreum, that, the bags be heavy, of a brown colour, of a penetrating and ftrong fmell, and full of a hard, brittle, and friable matter, of the fame, or of a yellowilh colour, interwoven with a very fine membrane, and of a fliarp or acrid tafte. The medical virtues of this drug are, to attenuate vifeous matter, fortify the brain, ^Micinal difpel vapours, provoke the menfes, prevent mortification, and evacuate'ill humours by perfpiration. It is alfo ufed with fuccefs againft the epilepfy, or falling ficknefs, palfy, apoplexy, and deafnefs. The inferior bags contain an undtuous and fattifli liquor, which refembles honey. Its colour is a pale yellow, its fmell difagreeable, little differing from that of the cajiorcum, but weaker than that. It thickens with time, and takes the con- fiftence of tallow. The notion ot thofe who believe that this animal, when he is clofely purfued, bites Ancient i.oti- off thofe imagined tefticles, abandoning them to the hunter, to preferve his life, is an on exploded, error now univerfally exploded, the moft valuable part of this animal being, beyond comparifon, his fur; and even the fkin of the beaver, after the fur has been taken off, is not without its ufes, as it ferves to make gloves and fpatterdaflies. Many other things ' H 2 may 28 NATURAL HISTORY may be made of it, but as it is very difficult to take off the hair without cutting it, the Ikin of the land beaver is only ufed, and for the purpofes aforefaid. Two forts of There are two forts of caftor, the dry and the fat. The firft is the llcin of this ani- mal, before any ufe has been made of it. The other, or fat caftor, is the fame ikin, after it has been worn by the Indians, who, after they have well rubbed and worked it on the infide, with the marrow or fat of certain animals, to render it more pliable, fow feveral Ikins together, with which they cover themfelves as with a robe, with the out- fide inwards; this they conftantly wear in the winter, without ever putting it off, night or day. The ftrongeft hair falls off prefently, but the down remains, and by be¬ ing worn in that manner, becomes much litter for the hatter’s bufinefs. The dry caftor cannot be ufed without the mixture of a little fat. It is even pretended, that to have the Ikins in their utmoft perfedtion; they ought to be worn eighteen months at leaft. Stuffs made of There have alfo been fluffs made of this fur, with a mixture of wool amongft it, fur and cloths, flannels, ftockings, and fuch like, but with very little fuccefs 5 and there ftill fubfifts a manufadlure of this fort in Holland but as they are obliged to mix more than one half of wool with the fur, there is little or nothing to be gained by it. The cloths and druggets which the Hutch make of this fort are very dear, and do not wear well. The caftor very foon parts from the wool, and forms a fort of pile on the fur- face of the fluff, which entirely fpoils the look of it 5 and the ftockings which the French make of it have the fame defedt. Admirable The Induftry, forefight, order, and unanimity of thefe animals are perfedtly furpri- fhfbelvel ^^”2’ exhibiting to mankind a leffon of thofe virtues no way inferior to that of the ant or bees, fo juftly admired. It is uncertain how they are governed, whether by a king or a queen, if it be true, that they have any magiftrates at all; nor is there any more grounds to believe that there is any one who takes the chief command upon him, when they are at work, to punifli the lazy. Thus much, however, is undoubted, that by means of that admirable inftindl wherewith providence has endowed them, each of them knows what he is to do, and every thing is carried on in the exadteft, order imaginable, and without the leaft embarrafsment or confufion. Choice of ha- When they propofe to build a new habitation, they firft affemble, to the number of biiauon. tjjjgg Qj Pqjjj. hundred one place, forming a fmall republic, or ftate, apart by them¬ felves. The firft bill they pafs is, to make choice of a fetdement, where they may find plenty of provifions, with all the materials neceflary for the intended edifice. The main thing neceffary is to fecure a fupply of water ; and | if they are not happy enough to find either lake or pool within their territories, this defedt is remedied by flopping the courfe of fome rivulet, or fmall river, by means of,a dyke. In order to effedl this, they fet about felling of timber, and this always abovelthe place where they are refolved to build, for the more commodious tranfporting it. Three or four beavers fet about felling a large tree, which they very foon effedl by means of their teeth, which ferve them for faws and axes, as well as for feveral other carpenter’s tools. They never forget to make it fall on the fide towards the water, in order to fhorten the land carriage after they have cut it into proper lengths, wffiich are afterwards rolled to the water fide, and thence floated to the place where they are to be employed. Manner and Thefe pieces are more or lefs in thicknefs or length, as the nature and fituation of the Stif^on require ; for thefe architedts forefee every thing. Sometimes they make ufe of trunks of large trees, which they lay lengthwife; at others, the mound is compofed of pieces of timber no thicker than a man’s thigh, and even fometimes not fo thick, which are fupported by very good flakes, and interwoven with fmall branches, and the void places are every where flopped up witha fat or clayey fort of earth, and that fo well wrought as not to admit the fmallefl drop of water. This loam, or mortar, the beavers prepare and temper with their fore feetj the trowels they make ufe of are their tails, which, however, are not confined to this ufe only, but alfo ferve them as a dray, or wheelbarrow, to convey their mortar from place to place.' As foon as they arrive at the water fide, they take hold of this clayey matter with their teeth, and, in order to lay it on, they make ufe firft of their feet, and afterwards plaifter or fmooth it with their tails. Siruaure of • generally ten or twelve feet thick at the foundation, diminifhing flill tCdyke. ° proportion as they rife in height, till at laft they come to the thicknefs of two or three. Good proportion is their particular care and concern, and every thing is done with as much exadtnefs, as if the ablell artift had performed it with his rule and compaffes. 29 of CANADA. compaffes, One thing remarkable is, that the fide of the building towards the water is always built with a talus, or dope, that on the other being exadly perpendicular. In a word, nothing can poffibly be more folid or regular than the works of this moll fagacious animal. The conUruftion of their cabbins is no lefs wonderful. Thefe are commonly built on piles in the middle of tliofe fmall lakes, which arc formed by the dykes abovemen- tioned, and oftentimes on the bank of fo.me river, or at the extremity of fome point that advances into the water. Their figure is round, or oval, and they are arched in manner of a balket. The walls are two foot thick, the materials being tlie fame as thofe of their dams, but lefs fubllantial. The whole is fo well llucco’d with clay, as not to admit the leaft breath of air. Two thirds of the building are above water, and in them every beaver has his particular place alfigned him, which he takes care to flrew well with leaves, or fmall branches of fir. The lead filth is never feen ; for, be- fides the common entry of the cabbin, and another outlet by which thofe animals go out to bathe, there are alfo feveral other openings, by which they go todifeharge them- felves. Thefe cabbins are generally capable of lodging eight or ten beavers, and fome have been obferved to contain no lefs than thirty ; but this is very rare. All of them, hov/ever, are near enough to each other to have a very eafy communication. The winter never furprizes the beaver: All the works I have mentioned are finiflied Jheir provi- by the latter end of September, when each individual lays up his winter provifion. Whilft they continue to frequent the w'oods or fields, they live on fruits, and on the bark and leaves of trees. They alfo catch cray-fifli, and fome other fifli; and nothing comes araifs to them at that feafon. But when the time comes, in which they are to provide againfi: the barrennefs of the cold feafon, they are fatisfied with woods of a tender fubflance, fuch as the poplar and tlie afp, and the like. Thefe they lay up in piles, difpofing them in fuch manner as to have thofe pieces which have been deeped in water neared at hand. It has been obferved, that thefe piles are always greater or lefs in proportion as the enfuing winter is to be more or lefs long or fevere; and this is to the Indians the mod infallible prognodication, which has never been known to deceive them, with refpeft to the duration of the cold weather. The beavers, before they eat progndiic. this wood, cut it into very fmall pieces, which they carry into their apartments; for there is but one magazine for the whole inhabitants, or family of each cabbin. When the melting of the fnow is at the highed, at which feafon there are always very great land floods, the beavers quit their cabbins, which are then utterly uninhabita- ble, every one going where he thinks fit. As foon as the waters are fallen the females return, and then they bring forth their young. The males keep the fields till tow'ards the month of July, when they aflemble in order to repair the breaches made by the wa¬ ters in their cabbins, or dykes; if they happen to be dedroyed by the hunters, or if they are not worth repairing, to eredl new. But they are often, and for very good rea- fons, obliged to change the place of their abode : The mod common is, the want of provifions; and fometimes they are obliged to take this method by the hunters, or cer¬ tain carnivorous animals, againd which they have no other defence than flight. There are certain places of which the beavers are particularly fond, and will never Attached to abandon, even ihould their fafety ever fo much require it. On the road from ilferett/ to Lake Huron, near the great river, we never fail to difeover a fettlement every year in the very fame place, which thefe animals repair or re-build condantly every dimmer. For the fird thing the travellers who arrive earlied fet about is, to dedroy the cabbin, as well as the dyke which conveys the water to it. Had not this dyke retained the water,' they would never have been able to continue their journey, but neceflitated to take a trip over land. Hence thofe beavers feem as if they had feized on this fpot only to be of fervice to thofe who travel that way. I have been told, that near ^ebec there is much fuch an indance, where the beavers, by means of their dam, fupply water to a faw-mill. The Indians were formerly of opinion, that the beavers were a fort of reafonable hiimn notiou creatures, with a language, laws, and form of government peculiar to themfelves; and°*^'^'-'“''‘^'- that this amphibious comirionwealth chofe governors, whofe office it was to affign each ■ private beaver his feparate talk, place centinels to give tiie alarm on fight of the enemy, and to puniffi or banifh the drones. Thofe pretended exiles were probably no other than the land beavers, who really live gf ttc feparate from the others, do no manner of work, and lodge under ground, where they beaver. I ' have 30 NATURALHISTORY have no other care but to make themfelves a fecret paffage to the water. Thcfe are known by the thinnefs of the fur upon their backs, which is, no doubt, occafioned by their rubbing themfelves continually againft the earth of their holes: befides, they*are always’lean, the natural confequence of their lazinefs, and are much more frequent in hot than in cold countries. I have already remarked, that our beavers here in Europe refemble this latter much more than the former fort, as they retire into the holes and caverns they find on the banks of rivers, efpecially in Poland. They are alfo found in Germany, along the Elb ; and, in France, on the PJjone, the Ifere, and the Oife. What is certain is, that you do not difeover that wonderful fagacity in the European beavers, for which thofe of Canada are fo juftly celebrated. It does not appear, that the Canadian Indians gave thefe creatures much difturbance Beaveri bro’t before the arrival of the Europeans in their country. The Ikins of thefe animals were into cfccra not then fo much worn by them as they have fince been, and the fleflr of bears, and fome other wild beafts, was much more in requeft with them than that of beavers. They were, however, even then accuftomed to hunt them, and this hunting had its fixed feafon and its eftablilhed form and ceremony; but as it was only the effedi: of pure neceffity, and not of luxury, the havock made by it was very infignificant. For this reafon, there was an amazing quantity of thofe animals when the F?'ench firft entered Canada. Hunt ng the The hunting of the beaver is not at all difficult, as this animal has neither ftrength to ber.ver. defend himfelf, and as the cunning he difeovers in building his habitation totally for- fakes him when he is attacked by any enemy. The winter is the feafon in which the Indians declare war againft him, then it is that his fur is thickeft, and the fkin much thinner than at any other feafon. This hunting is performed, in four different manners, which are that of the net, the Net and gun gun, the tranche, and the trap. The firft is rarely put in execution, and the fecond fddomufed feldom or never ufed, as the eyes of this creature, though extremely fmall, are fo pier¬ cing, and his hearing fo quick, that it is very difficult to get near enough to fhoot him, before he has reached the water, and he never goes far from it at this feafon, and plunges to the bottom the moment he difeovers any danger near. And even if he fliould hap¬ pen to be wounded, the hunter wmuld be equally at a lofs, as he never fails to run to the water, and never comes up again after he has once dived, flrould he chance to die of the wound. The tranche and the trap are therefore the methods moft in ufe in this exercife. Notwithftanding the beaver lays up his ftore of provifion for the winter, he now and then makes excurfions into the neighbouring woods in queft of more tender and deli- Method of cate food; and this luxury often cofts him his life. The Indians lay fnares in his way, the trap, much refembling the figure 4, which they bait with fmall pieces of wood that is tender and newly cut. The beaver no fooner touches it, than his back is broke with a huge log which falls upon him, and the hunter inftantly coming up, foon difpatches him. .^nd tranche tranche requires greater precaution, and is managed as follows: when the ice is as yet but about half a foot thick, an opening is made in it with a hatchet, and the beaver makes to this opening for the fake of breathing a little frefli air j the hunter, who waits for him, eafily knows when he is coming, as his breathing caufes an unufual motion in the water, and it is very eafy to knock him on the head the moment he raifes it above it. To prevent his difeovering the hunters, they ftrew over the hole with reeds, or with the ears of reed-mace, and when they ffind the animal within reach, they feize him by one of his feet, and throw him upon the ice, where they difpatch him before he is recovered from his furprize. Nathowufed burrow happens to be near fome ftream, the bufinefs is ftill eafier. The way “ ° ‘ is then to cut the ice quite acrofs from fide to fide, in order to lay a net in it, and then fall to breaking down the neft or cabbin The beavers never fail to run to the wa¬ ter, where they are taken in the net laid for them. There is, however, fome danger in letting it remain too long, in which cafe thefe creatures foon find means to recover their liberty. Thofe who inhabit the lakes have, at the diftance of about three or four hundred ^Suntfn water fide, a fort of country houfes, where they retire fometimes for the 0 unting. qP jjjg jjj jjjg hunters divide into two bodies, one of which beats up the quarters of thofe in the country, wbilft the others fall upon the habitations of . the lake. ,Now the beavers in the former abode, for the fportfmen generally take the time of C A N A D. y/. 31 time when they‘are all in the country, fly for fanctuary to the other, where tliey find nothing but ruin and a cloud of duit, raifed on purpofe to blind them, and to nuke them an ealier prey to their enemies. In lome places they content theml'elvcs with ’ digging a hole in their dams, by which means the ditch that furrounds them is foon drained, their illand is robbed of its chief defence, and they mull: fubmit to fate. Or, in cafe they ihould ftrive to remedy the evil, as they often do, the cauie of which is entirely unknown to them, they fall generally into the hands of the enemy. It has been laid, that when the beavers find themfelves purfued by hunters, or fome rartimhr-.Vs of thofe beads of prey that generally make war againft them, they rulli into the water, rd'tcd of which they lalh with their tails in fuch a manner that the noife is heard at half a league diftance. The reafon of this is probably to give the alarm to their friends, who may be abroad in the fame manner, without knowing their danger. They are faid alfo, to have fo quick a feent, as to difeover a canoe at an immenfe diftance; but that, like the hare, they fee only fideways, which defedt often occafions their falling into the hands of thofe they ftriveto fliun. There is another particularity related of the beaver, which would malce us believe, that, in imitation of the turtle, after lofing his female, he never coha¬ bits with another; fo that fecond marriages, it feems, are as much in abomination among beavers, as they were formerly among the primitive Chriftians. There is alfo another fmall animal in Canada, of much the fame nature with the Mnfe.rptdcf. beaver, and which appears in fome refpeas to be the fiime fort of quadruped, bat of a cr‘l>-d fmaller fpecies; I mean the Mufk-Rat. This creature has, in faft, all the qualities of the beaver j the ftrufture of the body and efpecially of the head is in both fo very much a- lilce, that one would naturally take the mulk -rat for a fmall beaver, if the tail of the firft be excepted, as it is much like that of ours in Europe, as alfo the tefticles, which contain a perfume of an exquifite odour. This animal, which weighs about four pounds is very- like the Mm Alpinus, of Mr Ray. ’ . The_mufk-rat takes the field in the month of March, and its nourilhment is then Hi, food, fome pieces of wood, which he peels before he eats them. After the melting of the fnows he lives on roots of nettles, and afterwards regales himfelf with the ftems and le.aves of this plant. In fummerhe touches nothing but brambles and ftrawberries, to which fuccecd the other fruits peculiar to the autumn. During all this time it is very rare to find the male and female apart from each other. At the coming on of winter they feparate, each going his own w'ay to take up his lodging in fome hole or hollow of a tree, without any provifioiv and the Indians afiure us, that they maintain a perfedl abftinence as long as the cold lafts. They alfo build huts nearly in the fame form as the beavers, but far inferior workmanfliip. As to the fitua- tion. It is always near the water, fo that they are under no necefiity to build dams. It is faid that the fur of the mulk-rat is ufed in the making of hats mixed with that of Ufe of in fur the beaver, without doing any prejudice to the manufadure; the flelh is tolerably good, except in time of rut, at which feaibn it is impoflible to remove from it foraethino- of the tafte of mullc, which is by no means fo agreeable to the palate as it is to the fmelt The Bear was formerly the animal moft in vogue araongft the Indians oi North Arne- r mertea, till the arrival of the Europeans turned the fcale in favour of the beaver. Hunt- ‘ the'bir. ting the bear was a kind of religious folemnity, and fuperftition had a great fliare in this exercife, the manner whereof, among fuch ot the Indiani as have not been converted to chnftianity, is as follows: , It is always fome warrior chief, that appoints the time of hunting, and who is to invite Religiouspm- the hunters. This invitation, which is performed with a great deal of ceremony, is fol- P-*®'™”- lowed by a fall: of ten days continuance, during which they are not to take fo much as a drop of water This whole time, notwithftanding the extreme weaknefs to which they are reduced by it, is employed in finging. The intention of this rigorous ceremony. L r" ° j tile knowledge of the place where the greateft number of bears are 0 be found. There are feveral of them who endure ftill more, in order to obtain this pcej and fomeofthemhavebeen known to cut their flefli in different parts of their bodies, with a view to render thofe Genii propitious. But it is to be remembered, that to overcome thofe furious animals; it fuffices that they know the places of their abode. ''It,’ their vows to the manes, or fouls of the defund , . tbeTr^ Itfitligb and as this is the only fubjeft of obfT'ucL ,their meditation during thefe vigils, they naturally from the emptinefs of their ftomachs, 2 dream 32 NATURAL HISTORY dream of thofe animals. This however is not yet enough to determine tliem, for every man of the canton, or at lead much the gre.ater part of them, mud alfo have dreamt of feeing bears, and that in their own didrid. Now it is next to impodible fo many dreams Ihould agree; to bring this to pafs therefore is the next embarraffment, which is gene¬ rally removed, when fome huntfman of reputation happens to dream two or three times fucceflively of feeing thofe beads in a certain place. Whether thro’ complaifance, or hearing the fame thing often repeated, they allprefently fall to dreaming after him, or at lead pretend to do fo, and that quarter is immediately iixt upon for the place of hunting. Solemn .‘'-il hunting agreed upon, the chief eledl who is to have the command in it, gives a magnificent repad to all thofe who are to be of the party, and no perfon dares to prefent himfelf at it, before he has fird bathed himfelf, which is generally by throwing himfelf into the river, provided only it be not frozen, let the weather be never fo fevere. They are not obliged at this fead to eat up every thing, as in fome others, and they all obferve great fobriety. He who does the honours touches nothing, his foie employment, whild the others are at table, is to make the panegyric of And invoca- Jjjj own feats in former huntings. Thefedival ends with new invocations of the mar;ss of the bears departed. They then take the field all daubed over with black in the fame manner as when they go to war, amidd the acclamations of the whole village, n.'nhrg in 'j'Ijoj hunting is in no lefs reputation amongd the Indimts, than war ; and an ’alliance with a good huntfman is more coveted, than that of a famous warrior, becaufe this ex- ercife furnifijes tlie family with all the necefliiries of life, at lead, with all that they • reckon as fueb, that is, with food and cloathing. But this charadler of a great huntfman is not eafily acquired, for before you are reckoned fo, you mud have killed at lead twelve large beads in one day. The Indians have two confiderable advantages beyond us in Europe ; for, in the lird rabk hunters. p]a(;e, no obdacle is capable of dopping them, neither thickets, ditches, marfoes, nor rivers. Their way is always the neared, that is, forwards in a diredl line. Then there is no animal, how fleet foever, which they cannot overtake by mere fwiftnefs of foot. And we are told, that it is common enough for them to come home leading a drove of bears into their village like a flock of flieep; and that the fwifted deer, though I will not venture this on my own authority, is not fwifter than they. Ancientgene- Formerly the hunter had little benefit from his abundance; every one took what rofiiy in de- Qf jjje fpQji fjg pleafed, leaving the proprietor little befides the glory of labour^ ing for the public advantage. He was, however, at liberty to make his own family a prefent of the fird fruits. This was the cudom formerly, till the arrival of the Eu- 7-Dpeans, whofe ill example has in a great meafure dedroyed this ancient and mod com¬ mendable fpirit of difinteredednefs, leaving them their own felfilhnefs in exchange. Lodgment of feafon for hunting the bear is in the winter, when thefe animals retreat into the bears. hollows of trees, or, when they find them fallen down, make themfelves a den with the root, the entry of which they fill with branches of fir, where they are perfedlly fecure from the feverity of the weather. If they fhould fail of either of thofe conveniencies, they dig themfelves a hole in the earth, taking particular care, after they have retired into it, to flop the mouth; and this they do fo well as fometimes to elude the clofed fearch. But, however they happen to be lodged, it is certain, they never once dir out Their fafting whole winter. It is equally true, that they carry in with them no manner of pro- the^vhoIe vifion; fo that all this long feafon the bear neither eats nor driiiks. All he does is con- winter. flantly licking his paws, which are faid by fome to afford a fubdance from whence he draws all his nourifhment. Every one, however, is at liberty to judge of it as he thinks fit, though it is undeniably true, that the experiment has been made by chaining upi one of thofe animals for a whole winter, without affording him the lead noiirifliment, and at the end of fix months he has been found as fit as in the beginning, uf There is no need of much courfing to take the bear; the only thing required is to untmg t em retreat in any confiderable number. When the hunters ima¬ gine they have difeovered their haunts, they form a large circle of a quarter of a league round, more or lefs, in proportion to the number of hunters. They afterwards advance drawing nearer one another, every one making drift fearch as he goes for the retreat of thefe animals. Hence, if there be any lodged in all this fpace, it is difficult for them to efcape, the Indians being excellent ferrets. On the morrow the bunting begins after the fame manner, and fo continues from day to day while the feafon lads. As of C A N A D A 33 As foon as a bear is killed, the hunter puts the end of his lighted pipe into his mr .-Hi. and blowing at the head of it till the bear’s throat and wind-pipe are full of the uuoke, conjures his fpirit not to be angry for what injury he has done his body, and not to oppole hisfuccefs in his future huntings. The huntfman, to know whether his requeft is granted, cuts the firing or membrane under the tongue of the bear, which he keeps till he returns to the village, when all of the party, after many invocations, ■and a deal of ceremony, throw thofe expiations into the fire. If thofe membranes crackle and fhrink, as how fliould it be otherwife, it is looked upon as a certain fign that the ■angry fpirits of the bears are appeafed j if otherwife, it is concluded they are ftill wroth, and that the hunting of the enfuing feafon will be unprofperous, at lead till they have found means to render them propitious; for there is no inconvenience v/hich they cannot remove by fome religious ceremony. The hunters live well while the feafon lalls, and if they have any fuccefs at all, they Prcfitabie bring home fufficient to feall their friends, and to maintain their families for a confi- derable time. The flefti of this animal, fmoked in the chimney, is efteemed good eating by the Indians, tho’ it would hardly go down with an European. The reception the fportfmen meet with on their return, is every way worthy of the high notion they entertain of this exercife. Nothing is to be heard but the praifes of thofe heroes, who wear fuch an air of importance and felt-fufficiency, as if they were returning loaden with the fpoils of a conquered enemy. A grand repaft is given Tlie chief on this occafioo', and to leave none of'the viands-ferved in it, affords another ffrong fubjedt of vanity and panegyric. The perfon who had the honour to be the diredtor of the hunting, is the difpenfer of this treat, and the firft di(h is the bear of the largeft lize, w'hich is ferved up whole, with his entrails, and without fo much as flaying it, for they chufe to drefs the flelh in the flein, as we do that of hogs. This feaft is de¬ dicated to a certain genius, whofe wrath they believe they fliouid incur, were they to leave the leafl morfel. They are not fo much as to leave the broth in which the car- cafe has been boiled, tho’ it be nothing but the fat melted and reduced to a perfedl oil. Nothing can be worfe food than this, which always proves mortal to one or other of the guefts on this occafion, and many of them find themfelves very much indifpofed after thefe unwholefome repafts. ■ The bear is not a dangerous animal in Canada, except when he is hungry, or after Bears not he has been wounded. It is proper, however, to be always upon your guard when “ you approach him. They are feldom known to attack any perfon, and they ge- nerally take to flight on feeing a man, a dog being all that is neceffary to drive them to a great diftance. ■ In the month of July the bear is in rut, at which time his flefli is fo lean, and of fo Thefr flcdi difagreeable a tafte and fmell, that even the Indians, who have not the moft delicate palates, will fcarce touch it. He is alfo at this time fo fierce, that it is dangerous to come near him. After this he recovers his complexion, by means of the fruits he then finds every where in .the woods, and of which he is extremely greedy. The grape in particular is his favourite difh, for which he will climb to the top of the tallefl: trees ; but fliould a hunter perceive him, he is fure to pay for it with his life. After he has fed a confiderable time on thofe fruits, his flefli acquires an excellent relifli, which it preferves till the fpring, though it has always a remarkable defea, from its extreme oilinefs, which, if not ufed with great moderation, never fails to occafion the dyfentery. It is, however, very nourifliing, and a bear’s cub is reckoned, by thofe who have eat of this fort of food, not at all inferior to lamb. The Indians always carry a great number of dogs with them when they go a hunting, , which are the only domeftic animals they keep, and are deftined for this ufe only. ofX gaml Thefe, in appearance, are all of the fame fpecies, with ered ears, their muzzle fome- what long, like that of the wolf, and remarkable for their fidelity and aftedion to their mafters, who never carefs,and, in other refpeds, take but very ill care of them. They are trained early to the exercife for which they are intended, and are indeed excellent hunters. The Elk is an animal formerly common in North America, and of as much utility, Elk deferibed with refped to trade, as the beaver itfelf, had they not been extirpated, or at lead driven very far from the European colonies by thofe who went to fettle in thofe parts. What IS called in Canada the elk, goes by the name of the Elan, or Great Beall, in Germany^ 'Pohnd.,m 6 . RtiJ/ta. This animal is of the lize of a horfe, or of a mule of An- vergne in France ; is very broad over the hind parts; his tail no longer than one’s K finger; 31 NATURAL HISTORY finger; the haunches very high, with the legs and feet of a flag ; the witiiers,. neck, and upper part of tfie thighs are covered with long hair 5 the head is more than two foot long, which he firetches out lengthwife before him, giving himfelf by that means a v'ery ungraceful appearance j the muzzle is thick, and bends downwards al- moll: like that of the camel; and the noftrils are fo prodigioufly wide, that you may thruft your fill; and half your arm into them. His antlers are as long as thofe of the Hag, and much more fpreading; they are flat and forked, like thofe of a doe, and flioot anew every year. Virtues ofhis fubjeft to the epilepfy, or falling ficknefs, and that, hoof. when the fit feizes him, he recovers himfelf by fcratching his ear with his left hind foot till the blood comes. This tradition probably gave occafion to believe the hoof of this animal a fpecific againfl: that diforder. It is applied to the heart of the patient, which is alfo pradtifed to cure an extraordinary palpitation. It is alfo given into the patient’s left hand, to rub his ear with it in like manner; though I fliould think it requifite, in order to expeft the fame elfedf as in the cafe of the animal, to rub it, as he does, till the blood comes. This hoof, when taken in powder, or infufed in water, is reckoned very good for the pleurify, colic pains, the flux, vertigo, and purples. It is faid, that the Algonquim, who formerly fed on the flefii of this ani¬ mal, were very fubjedt to the falling ficknefs, but that they did not make ufe of this remedy, probably becaufe they were acquainted with a better. Ufes of his The flcin of the elk is a mixture of a light grey and a dark red. The hair of it huiT.ikin,and becomes hollow, as the beaft grows old, and never flreds, nor lofes its elaflic or fpringy virtue j for let it be dcprefled with ever fo much care, it always rifes up again ; it is commonly ufed for matrafles, and ftufiing of faddles. The flefli of the elk is of an ex- quifite relifli, light, and very nourilhing, and it W'ould really be a matter much to be regretted, did it communicate the king’s evil, as feme have imagined. The French hunters, who have lived whole winters on it, declare they never felt the fmallefl: incli¬ nation to tliis diforder. His flcin is very flrong, and of an oily foftnefs j it is dreffed like fhammy leather, and makes excellent buff-coats, which are very light. Mian notion The Indians look upon the elk as an animal of good omen, and believe that thofe of the elk. dream often of it will be very long lived. They have a very different notion of the bear, except when they are going to hunt thofe animals. They have alfo a tradition amongfl them, which is lingular enough, that there is one of thofe elks fo much in fize above all others, that, in co.mparifon of him, the reft appear like fo many pifmires. His legs, fay they, are fo tall, that eight feet of fnow is no manner of in¬ convenience to him. His fkin is proof againft all forts of v/eapons, and he has an arm proceeding from one of his fhoulders, which he ufes in the fame manner as a man. He is never without a great number of other elks in his retinue, who form his court, and do him all manner of fervices. Thus the ancients had their Pkienix and Pegafus, and the Chinefe and Japanefe their Kirin, tlieir Foe, their Water Dragon, and Bird of Paradife. The elk loves cold countries; he grazes the field in fummer, and in winter he gnaws the bark of trees. When the fnows are deep, thofe animals affem.ble in herds in fome pine-wood, in order to fhelter themfelves from the feverity of the weather, where Huntin the ''^kile there is any food for them. They are eafily hunted down at this ^^nung t e enough to melt the fnows: for, as the froft in the night forms a hard cruft on the furface of thofe fnows which have been melting in the day time, the elk, who is very heavy, breaks it with his hoof, and wounds his limbs in it, which he is fcarce able to extricate from the holes he has made. Ex- , cept at thefe times, and efpecially when the fnows are not deep, it is very difficult and even dangerous to come near himj for when he is wounded, he is very.furious, and will turn boldly on the hunters, and knock them down with his hoofs. The way to efcape from him is to throw him your coat, on which he will difeharge all his venge¬ ance, whilft the hunter concealing himfelf behind fome tree, takes an opportunity to difpatch him. The common pace of the elk is a hard trot, which is almoft as fwift as a buffalo can run. He holds out a long time, but the Indians are ftill better runners than he. It is faid, that he falls down on his knees when he drinks, eats, and when, he goes to lleep j and they add, that he has a fmall bone in his heart, w'hich being reduced to powder, and taken in broth, brings forward the birth, and mitigates child-bed pains. The of C A N A D A. 35 The moft northerly Indians Q^ Canada have a way of hunting the elk, whicli is very llraplc, and not at all dangerous. The hunters divide into two bodies; one embarks “ on board canoes, keeping at lome diftance from tlie other, and forming together a pretty large femicircle, tire extremities of which touch the banks; the other body which remains afliore, range themfelves pretty much in the fame form, and at lirft furround a conliderable fpace of ground. The hunters then let loofe their dogs, which raife all the elks within thofc bounds, drive them towards the canoes, and at laft force them into the river, or lake, where they inftantly receive the fire of all the canoes, fo that very rarely fo much as one of them efcapes. Champlain fpeaks of another way of hunting not only the elk, but even ftags and Another me- caribous, that has fome relation to this. They inclofe, fays he, a certain portion of the foreft with flakes, or piles, interwoven with branches of ti-ecs, leaving only one narrow' entrance, in wliich they flretch thongs of raw hides. This inclofure is of a triangu¬ lar form, and from the angle where the entrance is, another triangle is conftrixfled, much larger than the former ; thus thefe two enclofures communicate one w'ith the other, by the two angles. The two fides of this fecond triangle are furrounded with piles in the fame manner, and the hunters, drawn up in one line, form the bafe of it. They afterwards advance, but take care not to break the line, drawing nearer and nearer to each other, with loud fliouts, and beating fome inflrument which makes a prodigious noife. The beafls, thus drove from one fitie, and finding no way of efca- ping to the right or left, and befidcs being flunned and flartled by the noife, have no other way left them to efcape, but into the other inclofure, and many of them are caught by the neck or horns in this paflage. They make prodigious efforts to extri¬ cate themfelves; fometimes they break or carry away the thongs, and fometimes they ftrangle themfelves, or at leaft, the hunters, by this delay, have time to flioot them*. Thofe who efcape this fnare are flill in as much danger as ever, and have too little room, in this fmaller enclofure, to llrun the arrow's that are fliot at them from all fides. The elk has other enemies, that make as cruel a w'ar upon him as the Indians. The Carojou, e- mofl dreadful of thefe is the Carcajou, or Quincajou, a fpecies of the cat kind, the tail of which is fo long as to wind feveral times round his body ; his hair is of a brownifh ’ red. As foon as this hunter comes up with the elk, he leaps upon him, fixes on his neck, round which he twines his long tail, and then cuts his jugular. The elk has but one way left to Ihun this difafter, which is by throwing himfelf into the water the moment he finds himfelf in the hands of this terrible enemy. As the carcajou can¬ not endure the water, he immediately quits his hold j but if the water be too far off, he has time to deflroy his prifoner before he reaches it. As this animal is not en¬ dowed with the moft acute fmell, he generally carries three foxes along with him, which he fends out on difeoveries. As foon as they get feent of an elk, two of tlxem place themfelves one on each fide, and the other diredly behind him ; and in this manner they manage matters fo well by harrafling the prey, till at laft they force him to betake himfelf to the place where they left the Carcajou, with whom they after¬ wards fettle their different proportions of the fpoil. The Carcajou has flill another flra- tagem to catch his prey, which is to climb a tree, where laying himfelf flat along fome propending branch, he waits till fome elk pafles, and throws himfelf upon him the mo¬ ment he perceives him w'ithin reach. The fhg oi Canada is in all refpeds the fame with ours in Europe, only fomewhat stag of larger. The Indians however feem not to trouble themfelves much about them, at leafl I do not find that they make war upon the flag in form, and with the fame ceremony as wlien they hunt the bear and elk. The Caribou is an aniiml not quite fo tall as the elk, has more the appearance of an afs than a mule, and is as fwift as the flag. There was formerly one of them drupca. leen on Cape Diamond, near Slueke, which had probably been purfued by the hunters; but he was not long in perceiving that he was in no place of fafety, fo he made but one leap thence into the river, which he fwam over with the fame facility, but all to no purpole, being killed by fome Canadians, who were going to war, and then en¬ camped at Point Levi, on the oppofite fide. The tongue of this animal is much eiteemed. Its true country is probably in the neighbourhood of Hudfon'$ Bay ; for the bieur Jfremie, who paffed feveral winters in thefe Northern parts, fays, that be¬ tween DamJioRmr and Port Ne/fon, thcr, are prodigious numbers all the fummer,' K 2 vr-hich 36 NATURAL HISTORY which being driven from the woods by the fwarms of gnats and gad-flies, come to re- frefli themfelves by the fea fide, and that for the fpace of forty or fifty leagues together you continually meet with herds of them of a thoufand in a herd at leaft. It does not appear that the caribous have multiplied greatly in the moft frequented pla¬ ces of Canada ; elks, on the contrary, were to be met with every where in prodigious numbers, and might have made a very confiderable branch of trade, as well as a great conveniency to the inhabitants, had they been better managed. But this has been fad- ly neglefted, and whether it is by the multitudes killed, or that by hunting they have obliged them to remove to other parts, nothing is rarer to be met with than an elk. Hunting the In the weftern and Ibuthern parts of Canada, on both fides the Mijjifippi, the hunting bufFolo. in vogue, is that of the Buffalo, which is done in the manner following. The hunters draw up in four lines, forming a very large fquare : they begin by fetting fire to the grafs, which is dry at that feafon, and very rank: afterwards, as the fire gets ground, they advance, conftantly drawing nearer and nearer to each other. The buffaloes, which are extremely afraid of the fire, fly before it, till at laft they are pent up in fo narrow a fpace, that few or none of them efcape; feldom a party returns from hunt¬ ing the Buffalo, without, as we are told, killing fifteen hundred, or two thoufand of thofe animals. But left the different companies of hunters fhould incommode one ano- thei", they agree upon the place of hunting before they fet out. There are even ftated penalties for fuch as tranfgrefs thefe regulations, as well as for thofe who by deferring their poft fufter the prey to efcape. Thefe penalties are in general, that every perfon fliall have a right to deprive the delinquent of his fhare of the fpoil, and even to take his arms from him, v.'hich is reckoned the greateft affront that can poflibly be given to an - Indian, and to deftroy his hut. The Indian chiefs are equally fubjeded to thole i punifhments with the reft of the company, and thofe who fhould attempt an exemp- ! tion, would probably kindle a war that would not eafily be extinguifhed. ■ BuiSioofCa- The Buffalo of Canada is larger than ours in Europe ; its horn's are low, fhort, and ! iWadefcrib’d black; a long hairy beard defeends from its muzzle, and another from the crown of its ! head, which falls over its eyes, and gives the creature a moft hideous look. It has on ' its back a bunch, beginning from the haunches, and increafing towards the fhoulders. i The front of this bunch is higher by a cubit, than the hinder part, and three fingers > broad, and the whole bunch is covered with long reddifh hair. The reft of the bo- f dy is cloathed with a black wool, which is highly valued. It is faid that the wool of ! a Buffalo weighs eight pounds. This animal is very broad at the cheft, pretty flender i at the loins, has a very fhort tail, and almoft no neck ; but its head is much bigger I than the European Buffalo’s. He commonly flies the moment he difeovers a man, . ■ and a dog will drive a whole herd before him. He has a very quick feent, and you mull: always be to leeward of him, before you can get near enough to flioot him, ; without being difeovered. But after he is wounded, he grows furious, and turns upon the hunter; and he is no lefs dangerous when the females have newly brought forth ! their young. The flefli of this animal is very good, but that of the cow Buffalo is only eaten, the bull’s being too hard. As for the hide, nothing can exceed itj it is [ eafily dreffed, and tho’ it is exceeding ftrong, becomes full as fo/t and fupple as the ! bell: fort of fliammy. The Indians make targets of it which are extremely light, and i almoft mufket proof. There is another fpecies of the buffalo in the neighbourhood of Hudfon’s Bay, the i fkin and wool of which is no lefs valuable than thofe of the buffaloes I have juft now L mentioned. The account which M. Jeremie gives of them is, that at fifteen leagues ! from the Danifi River is the River oj Sea Wolves, fo called from the great number of thofe animals that frequent it. .Between thefe two rivers is a fpecies of buffaloes, called Muik buffalo. Mufk Buffaloes, from their fmelling fo ftrong of that perfume at a certain time of the year, that their fleCh is not eatable. They are covered with a very fine wool, and longer than that of the flieep in Barbary, I carried, fays he, fome into France, in the year 1708, of which I caufed fome pairs of ftockings to be made, which were even finer and more beautiful than thofe of filk. Thefe buffaloes, though fmaller than ours in Europe, have much thicker and longer, horns, the roots of which meet on the crown of their head, and coming down clofe by the eyes, almoft as low as the throat, the i ends of them afterwards turn upwards, and form a kind of crefeent. I have, fays M. Jeremie, feen a pair of horns which weighed fixty pounds when feparated from the fcull. They have very fhort legs, fo that, when they walk, their wool trails upon the ground, which t. of G A N A D A. 37 which renders them fo unfhapely, that at a diftance you are at a lofs_ where to look for the head. As there is ho great number of thofe animals, the fpecies would foon be- come extindi:, were the Indians to be employed in hunting them. Befides,^ the Ihort- nefs of their legs makes it eafy to kill them with launces, when the fnow is deep, in which cafe they cannot polTibly efcape. ■ The moll common quadruped in Canada is the Roe-buck, which differs in nothing from ours. This creature is faid to Ihed tears when he fees himfelf reduced to extremities by the hunters. When he is young, his llcin is marked with flripes of different colours length- wife ; afterwards, this hair falls off, and in place of it grows another fort, which is of the common colour of this animal. He is not at all fierce, is eafily tamed, and is natu¬ rally fond of man. The tame females, when proud, will go into the woods, and, after fhe has had the male, will return to her mailer’s houfe. When fhe is ready to bring forth her young, flie retires to the woods again, whence, after fome time fpent in fuck- ling, fhe comes back in the fame manner. She is conflant in her vifits to her ofl- fpring; the mailer follows her when he fees fit, and takes the young, which fhe after¬ wards nurfes in the houfe. It is fomething flrange, that every houfe in Canada is not fupplied with a large flock of thefe creatures; the Indians hunt them only occafionally. There are alfo in the forefls of Canada a great multitude of Wolves, or rather Wild- at. Cats, for they have nothing of the wolf, except the howling of that animal; in every other refpeft they are of the feline kind. They are naturally hunters, living folely on the flefh of what other animal they are able to catch, and which they purfue to the tops of the tallefl trees. Their flefh is white, and good eating; their hair and fkin are well known in France, and make one of the finefl furs of all this country, as well as the mofl confiderable article in its commerce. But a greater value flill is put on a fort of black fox, that lives in the mountains, in the north part of this province. I have however heard, fays my author, that the fur of the Ruffian black fox, and of thofe in the North of Europe, are in flill greater requeft. They are, however, ex¬ tremely rare, even in Canada, probably becaufe of the difficulty of catching them. The mofl common forts here, are thofe who have black or grey hairs mixed with Foxes of va: white 5 others of them arc entirely grey, and others of a carrotty red. There is a fort of them found about the Upper Miffifipi, '\Et fkin of which is of a filver white, and extremely beautiful. There are alfo tigers found in thefe parts, and wolves inferior in fize to ours. The foxes hunt the water-fowl in a very fagacious manner. They ad- Sjgjci,y of vancea little into the water, then they retire, making a thoufand antic motions on the the fox. banks. Duck."!, buflards, and fuch like fowl, are taken with this amufement, and draw near the fox, who, to lull them into a flill greater fecurity, remains very quiet at firfl, only making a few motions with his tail to draw them flill nearer. The moment he thinks himfelf fure of them, he flies at them, and rarely fails of fuccefs. The Indians have bred up dogs to the fame exercife, which they perform with admirable dexteri¬ ty ; thofe dogs, too, make a very cruel war on the foxes. There is a kind of Pole-Cat, called. Enfant du diable, or Bete puante, that is, the de- Pole-nt. vil’s imp, or flinking beaft, becaufe its urine, which it difeharges when purfued, taints the air for half a quarter of a league round, for in other refpedls it is a very beautiful crea¬ ture, of the fize of a fmall cat, but thicker, its hair fhining or glofly, of a greyifh cafl, with two flrokes of white forming an oval from the neck to the tail, which is bufhy like that of a fox, and carried eredt over the back, juft like that of the fquirrel. The fur of this animal, as alfo that of the Pekan, another creature of the wild-cat kind, al- oAerieiTer moll of the fame fize with thofe of that of the otter, the common pole-cat, furry animals, the ftote, the wood-rat, the ermine, and martin, are what is called the Menue Pek- terie, or lelTer furs. 'The Ermine is of the fize of our fquirrel, but not fo lorig; the fur of it is of a beautiful white, and it has a long tail, the tip of which is jet black. The Martin is not fo red as thofe of France, but the hair of it is much finer. They generally keep in the middle of the woods, out of which they never ftir, but once' in two or three years, and then always in large bodies. The Indians are perfuaded that the year in which thefe animals are feen to come abroad, will be a good hunting year, that is, there will be a large fall of fnow. The Ikin of the martin is fold in Canada for a French crown, even the moft ordinary fort, for fuch as are brown fetch twenty- four livres and upwards. The 38 NATURAL HISTORY aoie. Yhe Stote differs from the pole-cat in this only, that the hair of the former is blacker, longer, and thicker. Thefe two animals prey upon the birds, and even upot^ thofe of the largeft fize, and make vaft deftrudion in hen-roofts and pidgeon-houfes. Wood rat wood-rat is twice as large as the rat of Europe. The tail of this creature is bufliy, ° ’ and the hairs of it of a beautiful filver grey. There are even fome of them entirely white, and that of an extremely beautiful colour. The female has a bag under hef belly, which (he opens and fhuts at pleafure : In this bag Are enclofes her young when fhe is purfued, and flies with the burden for fafety. Squirrel,three As for the Squirrel, there are vail numbers of them in this country, as they are ne- ver molefted. They are diftinguilhed into three forts; the red, which differs nothing from ours; thofe called Suijj'es, which are fomewhat fmaller, and are fo called becaufe their fkin is marked with red, black, and white flripes lengthwife, not unlike the riying fquir- Pope’s Swifs guards; and the flying fquirrel, of much the fame fize with the Swifs, the rci dcicribed. ikin of which fort, is a dark grey. They are called flying fquirrels, not that they ac¬ tually fly, but from their fpringing from one tree to another, at the diflance- at leafl of forty paces, and when they leap from a fuperior height, they will flioot double that diflance. What gives them this extraordinary agility is two membranes reaching between the fore and hind legs of the fame fide, about two inches broad, very thin, and covered with a very thin down, inflead of hair. This animal is very eafily tamed, and very lively, when he is not afleep. But this is very feldom, as he makes his laire wherever he can, in your pockets, lleeves, and cuffs of your coat. He generally gives his mafler the preference, and will fingle him out from a fcore of people. Porcapinedc- The Porcupine of Canada- is of the fize of a middling dog, but fhorter, and not quite faibed. Pq jg inches long, of the thicknefs of a llender llraw, white, hollowj.and very llrong, particularly that on the back. This hair is all the weapons he has, whether of the offenfive or defenfive kind ; he darts it at once at whatever attempts his life, and if it pierce ever fo little the flefh, it mufl be drawn out immedi¬ ately, otherwife it penetrates to its whole length, for which reafon hunters are very cautious of letting their dogs come near this animal. Its flefh is very good eating; a roafled porcupine being accounted not at all inferior to a pig. Hare .and The Hare and Rabbit of this country are exadlly the fame with ours in Europe, rabbit. excepting that their hind legs are yet longer. Their fkins are of little or no confe- quence, as the hair is always coming off, which is a real lofs, as their fur is very fine, and might be ufefully employed in the making of hats. In the winter feafon, thefe animals turn grey, and rarely are. feen to come out of their holes, where they live on the tenderefl branches of the birch-tree; in the fummer their hair is red. The fox makes a continual war on thofe animals j and the Indians catch them in winter on the fnow with gins, when they go forth in quefl of food. The Rattle-Snake is the only reptile worthy of notice in this country, but fo well known that we fhall pafs it over, and proceed to the birds that are inhabitants of Canada. Birds of Cr- The forefls of Canada are by no means fo well provided in birds, either witli naia. refpedt to numbers or variety, as the feas, lakes, and rivers, are with fifhes. There are fome however which have their merit, and are peculiar to North America. Here Eagles of hvo are eagles of two forts j the largeft have their necks and heads almoft white j they kihu.. giyg chace to the hares and rabbits, which they carry off in their pounces to their nefts. The other fort are grey, and prey upon birds only. Both kinds are excellent Hawts. fifhers. The falcon, gofs-hawk, and taffel-hawk, are exaftly the fame with thofe in Europe ; there are befides a fecond fort of falcons, that live entirely on filh. The Partridges, partridges of Canada, are of three forts; the grey, red, and black ; thefe laft are the three forts, valued of the three, having too much the flavour of the grape, juniper, and fir- tree. Thefe have alfo the head and eyes of a pheafant, and their flefh is of a brown- ifti colour, with long tails, fpreading like a fan or the tail of a turkey-cock, and of an extraordinary beauty, fome of them being mixt with red, brown, and grey, and others a mixtpre of light grey and brown. All thefe forts of partridges are however larger than ours in Europe, but fo remarkably tame, that they fuffer you not only to Ihoot at them, but to come very near them. Snipes and Befides fnlpes, which are excellent in this country, and the fmaller fort of water- woodcocks. fovvl, which is found every where in the greateft abundance, you fometimes meet with wood-cocks near fprings, but in no great numbers. In the country of the Binois, and all over the fouth parts of Canada, they are in greater plenty. M. Denps, Of C A N A D A, M. Denys, a French writer, who refided fome time on this continent, affures tls, that the Raven oi Canada is quite as good eating as a hen; which may be true of Acadia, Raven, tho’ doubtful with refpedl to other parts of Canada. The ravens are fomething lar¬ ger than ours in Europe, blacker, and have a different cry. The Ofprays, on the con¬ trary, are fmaller, and their note by no means fo difagreeable to the ear. The Owl of Canada differs from the European only in that it lias a fmall white ring round its neck, with a peculiar fort of cry. The flefli of this bird is good eating, and many prefer it to a barn-door fowl. The winter provifion of thefe owls confifts of field-mice, in which they obferve a Angular piece of ceconomy in breaking their legs, and after¬ wards fattening them for ufe on occafion. The Bat of this country is larger than thofe R«- of Europe, the martins and fwallows here are birds of paffage as in our hemifphere. Swalloi The firftare not black like ours, but of a brownilh red. There are three forts of Larks, the fmalleff of which is of the fize of a fparrow; and this laft differs alfo from our fparrows, and tho’ it retains the fame qualities, has however a very difagreeable afpedt. Dudes are found in prodigious numbers in this country; of thofe birds they reckon two and twenty Afferent kinds. The moft beautiful, and beft to eat, are ^ what the Fs-ench call branches canards, from their perching on the branches of trees. Their plumage is moff beautifully diverfified, and the colour extremely bright and vivid. Swans, turkies, moor-hens, cranes, teal, geefe, buftards, and other large wa- Water- ter-fowl, are found every where in the greateft abundance, except in the neighbourhood ' of plantations, where they never come. There are Magpies of two colours; fome are all white, and others of a light grey; pjes. and both make excellent foups. The Wood-peckers are beautiful to admiration, vvood ■ There are of them of all colours, others entirely black, or quite of a dark brown, except- the head and neck, which are of a moft beautiful red. The Thrufli of Canada is very like ours in Europe, as to ftiapc, but has only half Tliruft. the charms of the other’s mufic. The Goldfinch has not near fo beautiful a head as coidfii i the European, and all its feathers are overfpread with a mixture of yellow and black j / I can fay little of its note, as having never feen one in a cage. The forefts of Canada are full of a bird of the fize of a linnet, which is quite yel- ' low, has a very flender neck, and a very ihort fong, with little variety in it; 'This ft bird has no other name than that of its colour. But the beft mufician of all the Canadian groves, is a fort of ortolan, the plumage of which is of an afti-colour on Singin h the back, and a white on the belly, whence it is called the white-bird, yielding nothing V to the pipe of the thrufli in Europe ; but the male is the only fong-bird, the female re- maining mute even in a cage. This little creature has a very charming outfide, and % for its relifli well deferves the name of Ortolan. It is not certain to what quarter I he retires in the winter-feafon, but he is always the firft harbinger of the fpring. I The fnow is fcarce melted when thefe birds are found in great multitudes in fome I parts, at which time you may take what quantity you pleafe. J' About a hundred leagues fouth of Chambly you begin to meet with the bird called cardi f Cardinal, fome of which fort have been brought, over to Paris, The fweetnefs of his 'J- I long, and the beauty of his plumage, which is of a fine carnation, and a little tuft which I he has on his head, not unlike the crowns with which painters adorn Indian S “ kings, feem fufficient to entitle him to hold the feeptre amongft the feathered kind. He has, however, a rival in this country, capable of engaging every vote, were the charms of his mufic equal to thofe of his outward appearance, I mean what they f call in our country I'Oifeau Mouche, or Humming Bird. This name is given him for two I reafons, the firft is, his diminutive fize; for with all his feathers, he is no bigger fingu Sthan a common May-bugg. The fecond is the great buzzing noife he makes “'• with his wings, not unlike that of a large fly. His legs, which are an inch in^ length, are like two needles. His bill is no thicker than his limbs, and from I this he thrufts a tongue, or rather a fting, with which he pierces the flowers, ex- , traffing the juice, which is his common nourifliment. The female has nothing gau¬ dy in her outfide, is of a beautiful white below the belly, and a light afli-colour every where elfe; but the male is a perfedl jewel. From the top of his head riles a fmall tuft of^ black, the breaft is red, the belly white, and the back, wings, and tail of a vivid green, with fpecks of gold difperfed over all his plumage, which L 2 gives NATURAL HISTORY gives it an aftoniOiing beauty in conjundtion with an imperceptible down that forms the fofteft and fweeteft dyes imaginable. Coiivr)’ bird, Some travellers have confounded this bird with the Colivry j and indeed this ap- accounc of. ^ fpecies of thofe birds; but the Colivry of the ifles is fomewhat larger, has a much brighter plumage, and the bill recurved or bending downwaids. This bird is faid to have a very melodious pipe ; which, if true, is a great advantage over the Oifeau Mouche, or humming bird, which has no fong at all. He has alfo a very ftrong and nimble flight; now you fee him on a flower, and a moment after he fprings almoll perpendicularly up into the air. He is alfo a declared, and indeed a very dan¬ gerous enemy to the raven: On feeing one of them he quits his food, darts himfelf into the air like lightening, gets under his wing, and pierces him with his fling, fo that, whether by the fall, or by the wounds, he tumbles dead to the ground. Thefe birds are very tender, and are therefore very careful to prevent the firfl coming of the frofls. They probably retire towards Carolina, where they are faid to be feen only in winter. They build however in Canada, hanging their nefls on the boughs of trees, in fuch manner, that they are fheltered by their pofition from all the inclemency of the air. Nothing can be neater than thofe nefls; the bottom is compofed of little bits of wood, interwoven together like balket-work, and the infide is lined with a lilky fort of down. Their eggs are of the fize of peafe, with yellow fpots on a white ground; they are generally faid to lay three at a time, and fometimes they go as far as five. ForefUofCa- forefls of Canada, which cover almofl the whole continent, they feem mda. to be as ancient as the world itfelf. Nothing can be nobler than the profpedi: they afford, the trees piercing the very clouds, and in fuch variety, that there is per¬ haps no man living acquainted with half the different fpecies to be found'in thofe parts. As to the ufes they are capable of ferving, they are fo many that it is impoflible to e- numerate them. . Thofe kinds which flrike the eye of a ftranger mofl, on his firfl coming into this Pine-irees Country, are the pine, the fir, and the cedar, all which are of an height and thicknefs per- two forts.’ feftly aflonilhing. There are two forts of pines in this country, both very proper for making of pitch and tar. The white pine, at leaft, fome of this fort, produce at their apex, a fort of mufliroom, like tinder, which the natives call Gmrigue, ufed by the Indians againft diforders of the breafl, and the dyfentery. .The red pine is more gum¬ my or refinous, and of a flronger fubflance, but not fo large as the white. The lands which produce both forts are not the mofl favourable for corn, being chiefly compo¬ fed of gravel, fand, and clay. Firs, 4forts. There are four forts of firs in Canada ; the firfl refembles ours in Europe-, the three others are the white-prickly, the red-prickly, and the fpruce fir. The fecond ■ and fourth forts grow to a prodigious height, and are excellent for mafls, efpecially Whiteprickly white-prickly fir, which is alfo very proper for carpenters work. This tree grows generally in moifl and black foils, and fuch as after being drained are capable of bear¬ ing all forts of grain. Its bark is fmooth and Ihining, and is overfpread with exu¬ dations or fmall bliflers, of the fize of a kidney bean, which contain a fort of tur¬ pentine or balfam, a fovereign and fpeedy remedy for wounds, and alfo extremely beneficial in cafe of fradtures. It has been afferted that it expels fevers, and cures pains in the breafl and belly. The way to ufe it is by mixing two drops of it with broth or loup. It has alfo a purgative quality; this is what is called in Europe white balfam. Rtd-prickly, The red-prickly fir is nothing like the white j the wood of the red is heavy, and : and fpruce fir. may be ufefully employed in fliip-building, and in carpenters work. Thefe trees grow commonly in clayey and gravelly foils. The fpruce fir produces gum, but not in any quantity worth extrafting; the wood of this tree lafls a long time under ground without rotting, fo that it is extremely proper for making fences for enclofures: The'bark of it is very good for tanning, and the Indians dye a colour with it fome- thing like a deep blue. The lands where this tree grows are for the mofl part clayey, tho’ there are fometimes good numbers of them to be feen in fandy places j but pof- fibly under that fand may be layers of a clayey, or perhaps a richer mould. Ccdari, white The Cedar of Canada is of two forts, the white and the red. Thefe laft are of the and red. largeft growth, and generally ufed for paling and pipe-flaves, on account of its lightnefs. There is a fort of incenfe that diflils from it, but it yields no fruit like the cedars of Mount Libanus, The red cedar is not only not fo tall, but alfo flenderer than the white, in proportion to its height. The mofl remarkable difference, however, is that the odour 41 of CANADA, odour' of the white is entirely in the leaves, and that of the other which is much pre¬ ferred, in the wood only; neither of thefe trees, and efpecially the white will grow in any but the belt of foils. There are two forts of oaks found over all Canada, difUnguilhed in like manner in- white to the white and red oak. The firft; are often met with in low, humid, and fertile lands, and fuch as are proper for producing of corn and pulfe. The red fort, the wood of which is alfo lefs valued, grows, on the contrary, on dry iandy places j both forts bear acorns. The Maple is alfo very common in Canada, fome of which grow to a prodigi- Maple, ous thicknefs, and very good pieces of furniture are made of the wood. They gene¬ rally grow in high lands, and fuch as are very proper for fruit trees. What they call the Rbene in this country, is the female maple, the wood of which is much clouded, but paler than the male fort j in other refpecSs it has the fliape and all the properties of that tree ; but it thrives only in moift and fat lands. This tree affords great quantities of a cooling and whoiefome liquor, from which they make a fort of fugar by a much fhorter procefs and a lefs expence than that of the JVeJt Indies j this is alfo reckoned a good peftoral, and very balfamic. The cherry tree (bearing a fmall bitter cherry) found amongfl maples and white wood, is very proper for furniture; this tree produces much more liquor than the maple, but it is bitter, and the fugar made of it, never lofes its difagreeable tafle. The In¬ dians ufe the bark of it as a remedy for certain diforders, incident to the fair fex. There are three forts of afli trees in Canada, that called Francy, the meftizzo or Afli, 3 forts, mongrel, and the baflard afli. The firft fort, which grows amongft maples, is proper for the carpenters trade, and for ftaves for dry cafks. The fecond has the fame u- fes and qualities, and like the baftard, grows only in low fat lands. They reckon alfo three forts of walnut trees in this province ; the hard, the foft, or tender, and the third fpecies, which has a very thin bark. The hard walnut tree*’'"®' produces very fmall nuts, pleafant to the tafte, but which lye long and heavy on the ftoraach; the wood of this is only fit for burning. The foft walnut tree has an ob- long fruit, of the fize of a French walnut, with a very hard fhell; the kernels of thefe are excellent to eat. The wood is not quite fo fine as ours in Europe, hut in return it is almoft incorruptible either in the earth or under water, and ex- . tremely difficult to be burnt. The third fort produces a nut of much the fame fize with the firft, but in greater quantities, bitter, and enclbfed in very thin fhells. Thefe nuts yield an excellent oil 5 there diftils from the tree, a water much richer in lugar than that of the maple, but in fmall quantities. This, as well as the foft fort of walnut trees, grows only in the richeft foil. Beech trees abound in thofe parts on particular fpots. Sometimes they are found y on fandy hillocks and at others on the richeft low-lands. Thefe bear great quantities bitter of maft, from which it would be no difficult matter to extradt the oil; the bears and partridges fubfift chiefly on this fruit. The wood of thefe trees is extremely foft, arid and. very fit to make oars for boats or galleys, tho’ oars of canoes are made of maple. White-wood, a fpecies of the poplar which grows among maples, and the bitter cher¬ ry tree, are very plentiful. Thefe trees grow very thick and ftreight, the wood is ve- ^ even, eaffiy worked, and fawed, makes excellent boards, and thick planks, and alfo ItuTO for cafts. The Indians make ufe of the bark to thatch their cabbins. The elm is very common in every part of this province. The kinds are the white Elms, and the red; tne wood of the-red is harder, and much more difficult to work, but if ' IS alfo much more lafting. It is the bark of the red elm of which the Indians make tneir canoes; fome of which made of one Angle piece, are capable of containing twenty pcrlons Some of thefe trees are alfo hollow, and it is in thofe cavities that the wild cats and bears take , up their lodgings from the month of November io April The’^"'’''*' po^ar IS commonly found along the banks of rivers, and in marffiy places. ihe woods afford great numbers of plumb trees, loaden with fruit of a very (harp Humb t,role.r m " fl^rub with a very large pith, which Vineg projces a ffiarp kind, of fruit growing in clufters, of the colour of bullock's blood. necutnol'? ^ 'The planted: meadovls\i-’'n‘'°m 7’growing along the fides of rivulets, and in Me thSS"f There three forts of goolberry trees, natives of this country,3nd exadilv fueft as thofe oiFrance. M ■ The 42 Of the Origin, Language, Religion, Government, &c. -The fort called bleuet grow, here, as in Europe, in woods or groves. The fruit is a fovereign and moft efficacious remedy for the dyfentery, which it removes in very little time. The Indians dry or preferve them in the fame manner as we do cher¬ ries in Europe, Atoca, wliite The atoca is a fruit growing in pods, of the fize of a cherry. This plant which thorn, and creeps along- the ground in marffiy places, produces its fruit in the water. It has a cotton-ttee. confedions. The white thorn is found on the banks of ri¬ vers. and produces plenty of fruit with three ftones, which is the food of feveral wild • hearts. What they call here the cotton tree, is a plant which fprouts, like afparagus, to the height of about three feet, and is crowned with feveral tufts of flowers j thefe are ftiaken early in the morning before the dew is off them, when there falls from them with the dew; a kind of honey, which is reduced into fugar by boiling; the feed is contained in a pod, which enclofes alfo a very fine fort of cotton. ■ , Sun-flower. ; The Heliotrope, or fun flower, is a plant very common in the fields hdonging to the Indians, and grows to the height of feven or eight feet; its flower, which is very ; large, refembles very much that of the marigold, and its feed is difpofed exaiffly in the fame manner. The Indians by boiling it, extraft an oil, with which they anoint their hair. The Maiz,kidney-legumes,'Or greens, which the Aborigines, or ancient inhabitants of Canada moft , ions" cultivate are, maiz, or Lurkey-corn, kidney-beans, pompions, and melons. ’ They have a kind of pompion much fmaller than ours in Europe, but very fweet to the tafte. Thefe they boil whole in w'ater, or roaft in the afhes, and fo eat them without any aditional feafoning. The Indians knew the ufe of both common and water-melon, before the arrival of the Europeans in this country. The firft was full as good as thofe of France, efpecially at Chambly, where they are in great abundance. The hops, and capilaire, or maiden hair, are alfo the produftion of Canada, and this latter grows to a greater height, and is much preferrable to that of France. Vines of Cl- In the Southern parts of Canada, are multitudes of vines; it is about the entry of the Lake Ontario, where you firft meet with them,^and tliat in fuch numbers, that there is fcarce any tree without a vine, W'hich climbs to the top of the higheft of them. Vines abound as much, we are affured, all over the country as far as Mexico, The branches fpring from a very thick ftem, and bear multitudes of grapes; but no bigger than a pea, which is owing to their want of pruning and cultivation. When ripe they afford a plentiful repaft for the bears, who mount in queft of them, to the tops of the ■ loftieft trees. Yet they have only the fragments left by the birds, who very foon reap the vintage of whole forefts. As to fimples, there is a great variety, and amongft thofe many which are peculiar to Canada ; but to give the detail of them all Would fwell this accounr to too great'a bulk, and would require a volume to themfelves. Of the Origin^ Languages,, Religion, Government, Genius, Ghar’a&er, Manners, and Cufiotns, of the different Indian Nations inhabiting Canada. - HE firft Indian nation we meet with in our voyage frona Europe to Canada na- ; ' H . 'is that of the -Efiiwtiux, a people inhabiting the immenfe and frightful foli- : fudes of Labrador, fituated on 'the North .fide of the Gulph of St Laurence, i ,r . .-and of the ifland of: Nmjoundla)id, whither they make:annual excurfions, it ■ -bein^ dpubted, whether there are any other, inhabitants, befides thofe flying colonies of 'the EJkimauxi to be found on that ifland. Here they pafs the greateft part of the year^ and' efpecially the fumm'er, . being employed in the common exercifes of fayages, hunting, and fi.(hing, which conftitute all the arts known or pradtifed among' them. '-The EjkmauxyHsovi^ fcarce numerous enough to people two or three forry villages,: poffefs, or rather range through, an immenfe extent of country, lying between xmt.St,Laurence, CanadaySsndL the Northern Ocean ; and fome of them have, been jmet with as far as the msr Bourbon, which, flowing from the Weft, dif- c.harges .itfelf-into. Say. . . . 'The Of the different Indiari Nations inhabiting Canada. 43 • The origin cf this name of EJkimaux is doubtful, though the moft probable etymo- Oftheimame •logy of it is from the Algonquin word Efquimantfic, that is, Eaters of raw flefi. In fad, the EJkimaux are the only Indians we know, who feed on raw fielh, though they are not, however, ignorant of the manner of roafting it, or, at leaft, drying it in the fun. It is alfo certain, that of all the known nations of America^ there is none that aafwer the notion we in Europe at firft entertain of the manners and qualities of fa- folpion. -^ages, more than this. . They are alfo almoft the foie people in America who have any beards, which they have naturally fo thick, that their face is covered with hair up to the very eyes, and it is with difficulty one is able to diftinguilh .the fmalleft feature or lineament of a human countenance in them. Their air is-, moreover, to the laft de¬ gree hideous; little and haggard eyes j black, and fometimes flaxen hair, kept in the moft frightful diforder imaginable j and their whole outfide very much like that of brute animals. . . Their manners and charaders are fuch as, in every refpedr, juftify the impreflion^^™^®'™* one receives of them from this horrible phyfiognomy ; they are fierce, favage, reftlefs, fufpicious, and extremely defirous of doing mifchief to ftrangers, who can never be fufficiently upon their guard againft them. As for their genius, and the qualities of the mind, we have fo little communication with this nation, that we are not fufficiently qualified to make a juft eftimate of them. They have, however,- a- bundance of addrefs in doing mifchief; They have been often known to cut the cables of fhips at anchor in the night, in order to make them fufter fliipwreck on their ooaft, that they might reap advantage from their diftrefs. They are even bold enough to attack them in the face of day, if they happen to difcover the crew to he weak. •It has always been impoffible to civilize them, fo that there is no dealing with them but at the end of a long pole. They not only keep at a diftance from Europeans, but even refufe to eat of any thing prefented by them, and in every thing take fo many precautions with refpedl to them, as not only to betray an infinite diftruft and fufpi- cion on their fide, but alfo to give grounds for the fame fears from themfelves. The EJkimaux are tall of ftature, and indifferently well made, and their Ikin is quite as fair as that of the Europeans, owing to their never going naked, fummer or winter, let the heat be never fo exceffive. Some derive their pedigree from Greenland. Their flaxen hair, their beards, the Their origin, whitenefs of their Ikin, their fmall commerce and refemblance with their neighbours, leave no room to doubt their having a different original from the other Americans. This conjedture therefore is not improbable ; as we may fuppofe no nation will much value themfelves on the honour of an alliance with a people, who are as inhofpitable and uncultivated as the country they inhabit. Their cloathes confift of a fhirt, made of the bladders or entrails of fiflies cut into breadths, and tolerably well fewed together, over which they wear a fort of cloak, made of the llcins of bears, or other wild beafts, and even fometimes of the Ikins of fowls. A fort of cowl, or cap, of the fame fluff with their fhirt, and fowed to it, covers the head, and from the top of it rifes a tuft of hair, which falling down hides their foreheads. The fhirt reaches to the loins only, and the cloak hangs down before as far as the thighs, and behind terminates in a point fomewhat below the waifl. The women however wear it hanging down on both fides as far as the mid-leg, and fallen it with a belt, from which hang fmall bones. The men wear breeches made of fkins, with the hair inwards, and covered on the outfide with ermine, or fome fuch fur. They wear alfo flockings made of Ikins, with the hairy fide inwards, in the fame manner, and over thefe, fur-boots, with the hair as the firft, then a fecond pair of flockings, and another pair of boots above- that; and thofe flockings and boots, it is faid, fometimes trebled and quadrupled, which, with all their encumbrance, hinder not thofe Indians from being very nimble. Their arrows, which are their only arms offenfive or defenfive, are pointed with the teeth of the fifli called the fea-cow, to which they alfo add iron, when they can get it. In fummer they are known to live night and day in the open air : In winter they live in caverns under ground, where they are crouded one over another, probably for the better keeping out the cold. We are very little acquainted with the Indians, living round and above Hud- Four Man Jon's Bap. On the Southern parts of that bay indeed they carry on a trade with the MiJlaJfms, Monjonis, Crijlinatix, and Afniboels, thefe laft lie very remote, and M 2. inhabit 44 Of the Origin, Language, Religion, Gomefmnent, &c. inhabit the banks of a lake lying to the North, and North-Weft of the &kux, a dialed of whofe language they.fpeakj the three others talk the language. The Crijlinaux, or Killijlimus, come from the countries lying on the North fliore of Lake Superior. Sa-vamu na- The Indians in the neighbourhood of the rivers Bourbon and St Therefa, have no affinity in point of language with either; they may poffibly underftand the Efqumaux, who have been feen very high above the mouth of the river. Thefe Indians are obferved to be extremely fuperftitious, and never to perform their worfliip without fome fort of facrifice. Thofe who have moft frequented their country, affirm them to have, ■ like their brethren in Canada, notions of good and evil genii; that the fun is their principal deity and that, when they are about to deliberate upon any affair of importance, they caufe him to be fmoked ; a ceremony which is performed in the Smoking the manner following. They affemble at day break in the cabbin of one of their chiefs, who, after lighting his pipe, offers ori prefents' it to the rifing fun, then guiding it with both hands from Eaft to Weft,’ implores that planet to be propitious to the nation. This done, all thofe who compofe the affembly, fmoke by turns in the fame pipe. All thefe Indians, tho’ there be adually five or fix different nations of them, are jeomprehended by French authors, under the general apellation of Savanois, from the nature of the country they inhabit, which is low, fwampy, and ill-wooded, thofe drowned barren lands, being called Savanes in Casiada. Mmofthe Higher up the bay Northwards, you. meet with two rivers, one called/a nwere im -.m. Q|. Danes river, the other la rivere de Loup Marin or Sea-Wolves river. On the banks of thefe live certain Indians, called, for what reafon it is hard to fay, by the'name or rather by the nick-name of Plats cotee de Chiens, that is, Lo^vland Dogs. They are often at war with the Savanois, tho’ neither of thefe nations treat their pri- foners with that cruelty, common to the Canadian Indians, being fatisfied with making Haves of them. The Savanois are fomctimes reduced .by famine to inconceivable hardfliips, whe¬ ther owing to their natural lazinefs, or to the barrennefs of their lands in fome feafons, in vyhich their harveft fails them. When thefe inconveniences are attended with a fcarcity of game, and a bad filliing feafon, as they are then in perfedt want of fuf- tenahce, foraie have made no fcruple to affirm, that in this conjundture they eat one another. The coward is generally the firft vidlini to neceffity, and, it is faid, it is fomsfnd^opi- cuftomaty among them, when they come to fuch an age as to be no longer in a condi- nions of the.tion to’be fer.viceable to their families, for the perfon in thefe circumftances to tie a Javra/j. j-gpg about.his neck,,prefenting the ends of it at the fame time to the child that is deareft to him, who ftrangles him with all the quicknefs he can exert, and believes he has per¬ formed a meritorious adtion, not only in putting an end to the fufferings of his father, but alfo by promoting his happinefs j , it being an article of faith among thofe Indians, that thofe who die old are born again, and take, upon them a fecond life on earth, begin¬ ning at the ftate of infancy as before, and that he, on the contrary, who finiflies his life betimes, and before he is old, becomes fo on, his arrival in the other world, or, as they, call it, in the country of fouls. Marrages. The young Women amohgft the Savanois,vs\my not till their parents think fit, who alfo make choice of him they are to'efpoufe ; and the fon in law is obliged to live with his father in law, in entire, lubjedlion to his will and pleafure, till he has chil¬ dren of his own. The young,men quit their father’s houfe betimes, in order to fhift Fancrais. for tlieir Uvelyhood.. The bum ■ the bodics of their dead, and enclofe their allies in the hark of trees, which they afterwards bury in the earth; They then e- redf a fort of monument made with poles, to which they tie tobacco for the ufe of Huntinein ths deceafed in the other world. If the departed were a hunter, his bow and arrow honour.®^ are fufpended on i.t,.'in honour of him. The .time of mourning of a mother for her children lafts the fpace of twenty four days, during which, prefents are made to the father, who returns this compliment by giving; a repaft. War is much lefs in ho¬ nour among them than hunting; .but, in order to acquire the reputation of an able hun¬ ter, the candidate for this diftindion . is to , faft .three days fucceffively, without tailing any thing, and to have his face daubed with black all the while. The fall ended,' he offers as a facrifice to. the grand fpirit, a morfel' of each wild beaft he has been accuf- ' tomed to hunt, and it is commonly the tongue and the fnout, or muzzle, which, except on thefe occaffonS only, are the portion of the huntfman htmfelf. , His relations . ■. i ' touch 45 Of the different Indian Nations inhabiting Canada. touch notliing, and would fooner die of hunger, than eat of it j he is to treat no penon whatever with it, but liis friends or ftrangers. in other refpedfs, it is affirmed, thofe Indians are perfedtly difintereftedj and of an incorruptible fidelity ; that they abominate a lie, and hold all rnanner of de- ° celt in the utmnft horror and deteftation. Such are the manners of the Northern In¬ dians, with whom the French nation have never had any ellabliflied trade, and confe- qu.chdy are greater ftrangers to their manners than thofe of the nations following. Thefe may be diftinguifhed into three different piaffes, or languages, each of which has its peculiar genius and charadler. In all that vaft extent of country, which is " more particularly known by the name of New France, and whofe liniits on the North extend to tfie Highlands near Hndfo?i’s Bay, which was fettled and confirmd by the treaty of Utrecht j and is bounded on the Eaft by the BritiJIs colonies j by Lmifiana towards the South-eaft ; and by the Spanijls dominions on the Weft, there are but three mother languages, from whence all the reft are derived ; namely, that qf the Sioux, the Algonkin, and the Huron languages. The firft ot thefe nations is little known, no more than hpw far their name or Ian- of ti,o giiage may poffibly reach. The French have as yet had no manner of commerce, except Smx. Ac. with the Sioux and the Aljiniboels, and that not without frequent interruptions. The miffionaries attempted to make a fettlement ampngft the firft of tftefe nations; but tho’ this endeavour was not accpmplillied, the people appeared extremely docile. The ill fuccefs of this enterprife is the more to be regretted, as no nation coujd poffibly afford better lights, with refpe(ft to the unknown countries lying tp the Norfii-tyeft of the Mijifippi, becaufe they traffic with all the nations inhabiting thofe vaft regions. Thefe people dwell, for the moft part, in Savannas, pr meadows, in very capacious tents, made of Ikins, and very ingenioufly contrived. Thpir cominon fpod is \yild oats, which grow in great plenty in their marflies, and on ffie banks of their rivers j and the fleffi of buffaloes, which are covered with wool, and graze in prodigious multi¬ tudes in thofe meadows. They have no fixed abode, but travel from pkce to place in lai-ge companies, like the Tartars, ftopping no longer in one place, tfian the plpnty of game to be found in it will allow. The French geographers diftinguiffi this nation into fhe Sioux, the Sioux of the Savannas, the Eafiern, and the Wefiern Sioux ; a diftindtion, in the opinion of the s/m.v. forne writers verfed in thofe matters, not too well founded. All thpfe Sioux liye ex- adlly in the fame manner, fo that a tribe, or clan, which has refided laft year on ffie Eaftern fliore of the Mififipi, will be found next on its Weftern bank ; and thole per¬ haps who have been feen for fome time paft on the River St Peter, lhall ppw inhabit fome Savanna at a confiderable diftance from it. The name of Sioux, which has been given by the French to thofe Indians, is en- of the name tirely of French extradlion, or rather it is no more than the two laft fyllables of the word NadoueJJioux, the name given them by feveral nations ; others call them NadoueJJis, This nation is by far the moft numerous of any we know in all Canada, and for- peopienume. merly very peaceable and unwarlike, till the Hurons and Outawais took fanduary a- rous and mongft them, when they fled from the fury of the Iroquois, or Five nations; thefe people laughed at the fimplicity of the Sioux, and foon inftruded them in tire art military at their own coft. The Sioux have a plurality of wives, and punlfli adultery with extraordinary feverity. This is done by cutting off the extremity of the nofe of the delinquent, and by cutting terers. the Ikin in form of a circle on the crown of the head, and afterwards tearing it off. Charlevoix fays, he has fpoken with fome perfons who are perfuaded, that the Sioux have the fame accent in pronouncing the words of their language with the Chi- nefe, and it would be no difficult matter for any French gentleman, who knew both ti'on" iikr ilie languages, to determine whether this nation derives its original from that ancient cUmji. oriental people. Thofe who have had any intercourfe with the Ajfiniboels affirm, that they are tall of ftature, well made, vigorous, adtlve, inured to .cold and all manner of fatigues; defcribed. that they pierce their bodies in every part, which they adorn with figures of ferpents or other animals; and that they undertake journeys of a prodigious length. There is nothing, however, in this defcription much differing from other Ftdimis of this conti- 46 Of the Origin., Latiguage, Religion, Gmermnent, &c. nent known to us: But the great charadleriftic of this nation is, their phlegmatic temper, which appears to an extraordinary degree, when compared with the Crijli- naux, with whom they traffic; who are, on the contrary, endowed with an extra¬ ordinary vivacity arid fpirit, always dancing and finging, and fpeaking with fuch a vo- lubility of tongue, and fuch a torrent of expreffion, as is rarely to be found in any o- ther Indian nation. Reraarkabie country of the Afimboek is in the neighbourhood of a lake of that name lake of Affi- which is Very little known. The common, tho’ uncertain opinioti is, that this lake is Ms. fix hundred leagues in circumference; that all the roads leading to it are almoft impafla- ble; that its (bores on all fides are mod: delightfully pleafant; that the air is very mild and temperate, tho’ it is commonly placed on the north fide of Lake Su¬ perior, where the cold is extreme j and that it contains fuch a number of iflands, that its common name in thefe parts is the lake of IJlands, Some Indians call it Michini- pi, that is, the Great Water ; and in fad it appears to be the bafon, or refervoir, of a multitude of very large rivers, as well as of all the lakes in North America. From this lake, fay they, flows Bourbon river, which falls into Hudfon’s Bay ; the river St Lau¬ rence, which carries its waters to the ocean; the Mi 0 pi, which empties itfelf into the Gulf of Mexico-, the Mijouri, which mixes its waters with this laft, and is not at all inferior to it before their jundlion ; and a fifth, which, they tell us, flows Weft- ward, and therefore undoubtedly difembogues itfelf into the’ Southern or Pacific ocean. It is pity this lake is not known to thofe literati who have fearched every where for the Terreftrial Paradife, which would have been at leall as properly fixed here as in Scandinavia. I will not take upon me to juftify all the accounts which travellers have given us, and (till lefs what certain Indians relate, who pretend, that in the neighbourhood of this lake of the Ajjiniboels are men refembling us Europeans, and living in-a country where gold and filver are fo common, as to he employed in the moll: trifling utenfils. Father Marquette, who difcovered the Mfiijipi in 1673, tells us, in the account he has left us, that certain Indians had not only told him of that river, which takes its rife from this lake, and flows Weftwards, but added, that they had feen large (hips at,its mouth. It further appears, that the Ajjiniboels are the fame people marked in certain old maps under the name of Poualaks, whofe country, ac¬ cording to fome relations, adjoins to that of the Crijlinaux, or Killfiinous. Mgmim and The Algonkin and Huron languages divide almoft all the nations of Canada between itarmtongues them, with whom the French . have any fort of commerce; and he who (hould be mafter of both,' might travel over a tradl of country more than fifteen hundred leagues in extent, without any interpreter, and might alfo make himfelf underftood by upwards of a hundred different nations, who yet have each their peculiar and diftinO: language. The Algonkin in particular comprehends an immenfe fpace of country: It begins at Acadia, or Nova Scotia, in the neighbourhood of the Gulf of St Laurence, and ■makes'a circuit of twelve hundred leagues, fetching a compafs from the South-eaft by the North to the oppofite point in the North-weft. It is pretended alfo, that the Wolf n-ation, or Makingans, and mod of the Indians of New England and Virginia, fpeak a dialed of the Algonkin language. hsUmtaCmK The Abenaquis, or Canibas, on the confines of New-England, have for their next and'itira's/ ^'^^^ours the Etechemins, or Malecites, on the lands adjacent to the river Pentago- tsmremt. tt j and further eaftwards are the Micmacs, or Souriquois, whofe country is proper¬ ly Acadia or Nova Scotia, being the extended coaft along the gulf of St Laurence reaching as far as Gafpe, from whence a certain author has given them the name of Gafpeftans, and the iflands in its neighbourhood. From hence, as far up the river St ■Laurence as Saguinay, there is no Indian nation to be found ; tho’ when Canada was firft difcovered, and a great many years afterwards, they reckoned feveral nati¬ ons within this fpace, who fpread themfelves over the ifle of Anticojli, towards the Monts Notre Dame, and along the Northern (hore of the river. Thofe moft com¬ monly mentioned in the antient relations are the Berfiamites, the Papinachois, and the Montagnez. They were alfo called, and efpecially thefe laft, the Lower Algonkins, from their inhabiting along the lower part of the river, with refpeft to ^lebec. The others are, for the moft part, reduced to a few draggling families, which wander ■from place- to place, without any fixed refidence. There were alfo fome Indian nations who ufeJ to frequent Canada, coming from the Of the different Indian Nations, inhabiting Canada^ 47 the Northern parts, fometimes by way of the river Saguenayy but more commonly Nations of by the three Rivers j but it is long fince we have heard of thems Amongft others, the Attikamegues, an Indian nation very remote and furrounded by other nations, nacrf. reaching to the neighbourhood of Lac Saint Jean, or St John’s Lake, and even as far as the lakes of the MiJlaJJins, and Nemifcan. Almoft all of them have been exter¬ minated by the Iroquois, or Five Nations, or by difeafes, the confequence of famine ; a diftrefs to which they have been reduced thro’ fear of thofe barbarians. They are the more to be cqmmiferated, if the charadler they bear in the French writers be true, that they were without vice, remarkably good natured, and exceedingly dif- pofed to embrace Chriftianity. Their hearty and inviolable attachment to the French, in whofe interefts they were, and their regard to treaties, are alfo qualities extreme¬ ly worthy of our efteem and commendation. Between ^ebec and Montreal, there are alfo towards the Three Rivers, fome of the Algonkin nation, who are not, however, incorporated in one village; they traffic with the French. If what the French writers tell us is to be credited, this nation, in the infancy of the colony, occupied all the Northern ffiore of the river, from ^ebec, vyhere Champlain found one of their fettlements, and made an alliance with them as far as Lake St Peter. From the ifland of Montreal, following always the North coaft, you meet with fome villages of the Flipijjings, Temijeamings, Fetes de boule, or round-heads. Ami- Natlous a- couis, and, laftly, Outavsais, or, as fome pronounce and write, Outaouaks. The firft who are the true Algonkins, and who alone have preferved the Algonkin tongue in its" ’’ original purity, have given their name to a fmall lake lituated between lake Huron, and the river of the Outawais. The Temifeamings occupy the banks of another fmall lake, which alfo bears their name; and appears to be the true fource of the river of the Outawais, The Round-Heads live not far from thefe, and take their SW/Ws. names from the figure of their heads, which they do efteem a very great beauty, and, for this reafon, it is believed that the mothers take great care to form the heads of their children into this fhape when they are in the cradle. The Amikouis, called alfo the nation of the Beaver, are almoft reduced to nothing; Nations ai- the remains of them now are feen in the Ifland Manitoualan, fituated towards the North part of Lake Huron. The Outawais, formerly a very numerous nation, in¬ habited the banks of the great river which bears their name, and of which they pretend to be rightful lords. There are now no more than three villages of them, and thofe very thin of inhabitants, of whom fome account will be given hereafter. In the Narrows, or ftrait between the lakes Huron and Superior, and in the place where one of thefe lakes, that is, the Superior, empties itfelf into the other, we meet with a rapid rift, formerly mentioned under the appellation of le Sault St Marie, or the fall of St Mary. The neighbourhood of this place was formerly poflefled by an Indian sahmi na- nation, who came, as is Arid, from the Southern fliore of Lake Superior, and were tion. called Saulteurs, that is the nation living near the fall j a name which w'as very probably given them to avoid the trouble of pronouncing their real name, which they fay is impoffible to be exprefled under two or three breathings, fomewhat refembling PAUOIRIGOUEIOUHAK. No Indian nation, as I am informed, from the French authors, inhabits the banks of hike, Superior, tho’ the French, in the polls or forts they have built near this lake, traffic with the Chriftinaux, a nation coming from the North-Eaft, and fpeaking the Algonkin tongue, and, with the Affmiboels, lituated towards the North-Weft. On the Weft of Lake Michigan there is a great bay, which extends twenty eight leagues Nmions in towards the South, called la Baye des puants, or limply, the Bay. The entry of'l’“ this bay is very wide, and is a fort of archipel, fome of the iflands of which are from fifteen to twenty leagues in circuit. Thefe were formerly inhabited by tlie Poutewatamis, whofe name they Hill retain, excepting a few which you leave on your right hand, at prefent inhabited by certain Indians called Noquets. The Poutewatamis now polTefs the leaft of thefe ifles, which formerly belonged to them, and have befides two other villages, one fituated on St Jofeph’s .river, and another at the Narrows. Towards the bottom of the bay are the Sakis and Otchagras-, thefe latter are called by the difagreeable epithet of Puans, Stinkards, the reafon of which ■ N 2 is ^8 Of the Origin.^ Language, ^ Religiony Gmenment, 8cc. tuan: and is. iiot as yef difcovcre'd j but before you arrive in their country, you leave on the Maihmmcs ^ fmall nation called Malhommes, Moon-calves, or Foltes Avoines, that is, nations. Addk-Heads. A fmall river, very much interrupted with falls, or catarafts, difcharges itfelf into Renard! na- the bottom of the bay, and is known by the name of la Riviere des Renards, or the River of Foxe.s, on account of the neighbourhood of the Outagamis, commonly called Renards, or Foxes. All this country is extremely pleafant, and that which ftretches , Southvvard, as far as the river of the Ilinois, is ftill more charming. It is, however, but ill peopled, being only inhabited by two weak nations, the Kikapous and Mafcou- tins. Some geographers have thought fit to diftinguifti thefe laft by the name of the Nation ofiire Nation of Fire, and their country by that of the Land of Fire ; an appellation which owes its rife to an equivocal term in the language of that people. , Mtam na- It is eighty years fince the Miainis have been fettled on the Southern extremity of Som''' Lake Michigan, in a place called Cbicagou, from a fmall river of this name, which throws itfelf into the lake, and has its fource not fer diftant from that of the Ilinois. Thefe people are now divided into three cantons, one of which is on the river St Jofeph ; a fecond on a river which bears their name, and difcharges itfelf into Lake F^rie j and the third on the river Ouabache, which carries its waters into the Mijjifipi : Thefe laft are better known under the name of Ouyatanous, from the great affinity in language ; and there is fcarce room to queftion that the Ouyatanous were, not long ago, one people with the Ilinois. In Ihort, the greateft part of the Algonkin nations, if you except thofe more advanced towards the South, are very little employed in the cultivation of the ground, but live almoft entirely by hunting and fifhing; hence their dilpofition and manner of life are far from being fedentary, and yet they are by no means on the increafe; but, on the contrary, diminifh daily. Not one nation among all thofe of this tongue is capable of reckoning fix thoufand fouls; fome amount not to two thoufand. Hum, Ian- The Huron language is very far from being as extenfive as the Algonkin, and the St’ reafon doubtlefs is, hecaufe the nations who fpeak the former are not of fo wandering a difpolition as the others. The French writer, whom I follow in this place, tells us, that fome pretend the language fpoken by the Iroguois, or the Five Nations, to be the mother tongue. Be that as it will, all the Indians, living South of the river St Laurence, from the river Sorel as far as ’ the extremity of Lake Frie, and even the confines of Virginia, talk in this language; and he who knows the Huron tongue is capable of underftanding that of all the nations within this extent. There is, however, a great variety of different dialefts, even almoft as many as there are dif¬ ferent cantons. The Five Nations, or cantons, who compofe the Iroquois republic, have each of them their own peculiar dialed; nor have all thofe nations that bear the name of Hurons, always fpoken the fame language in former times. The fame author fays nothing of the language of the Cherakees, a pretty nume¬ rous nation living amongft thofe vaft favannas that lye betw'een Lake Erie and the Miffijlpi. Remarks on ft will, fiowever, be proper to obferve, that as the greateft part of the Indians of Ca- always from time to time in trade with one another, being fome- 0 mada. fometimes enemies, tho’ the three mother or original languages I have been mentioning have no fort of affinity or analogy, thefe nations find means, in fpite of this obftacle, to traffic together, without any neceffity of an interpreter : whether it be that long and antient cuftom has taught them to communicate their thoughts by figns; or that they have formed a fort of common jargon, which they acquire by repeated ufe. I fhall now lay before the reader the nature and charafter of the languages of iht Indians, as they occur in authors mofi worthy of credit, and on whofe judgment we have reafon to rely. Thofe who pretend to have ftudied thofe languages, affirm S'tonwf abovementiorted has all the charadtereftics of primitive or o- riginal tongues, What is certain is, that they are of a very different original: This may be proved from the bare pronunciation. The Siou Indian rather hiffes than fpeaks. The Huron cannot pronounce any of thofe letters called labial, or which are fpoken only by means of the lips; but fpeaks through the throat, and every fylla- ble is uttered with what the grammarians call an Afpirate before it. The Algonkin pronounces 49 Of the different Indian Nations inhabiting Canada; pronounces his 'words with more foftnefs, and fpeaks much more naturally, as well as fmoothly. As to the firft of thefe languages I have been able to procure but very flight information; but, with refped to the two others; as the French miffiona- ries have ftudied them with great application, I lhall give what Charlevoix fays he had from the mouths of thofe who had applied themfelves to this ftudy with moll fuccefs. The Huron language, fays that learned miflionary; for copioufnefs; energy; and no- charaflcr of blenefs of exprefiion, exceeds all the languages in the world j and thofe that fpeak it, tho’ but a handful of people, Hill preferve a dignity of foul, and aii elevation (jf fentiment, which agrees much better with the majefty of their language, and, he might have added, with what they have in times pall been, than with what they now are in their prefent fallen and dillrefsful condition. Some pretend to derive their language from the Hebretu, which is alfo, as they derivation fay, the fource from whence the Greek likewife flows. Every body knows what to expl^'" think of this etymology, lince whatever is moll ancient and bell, mull all fpring ded. from the farhe fountain, without which there is no peace in Ifrael, The reader will gain but very little light on this fubjed by confulting the vocabulary of Gabriel Saghard, a Recollet of much elleem, cited by fome in fupport of this rnofl: orthodox fyftem; and frill lefs from thofe of Jacques Cartier, and the barpn La Hontan. Thefe authors took at a venture a few expreflions, fome from the Huron, and others from the Algonkin tongues, which they very ill remembered, and which had often a quite contrary fignification to what they imagined to be the fenfe and meaning of them ; an error common enough among the fuperficial writers of travels. We will therefore pafs over the frivolous arguments they adduce On this topic, and proceed to what is founded, in my opinion, on much better authority. The Algonkin has not the frrength of the Huron tongue, but it is infinitely more Tongues fmooth and elegant. Both are however very rich in a great variety and different turns of exprefiion, together with a propriety and regularity, which are perfedtly afronilhing. But what is frill more furprifing is, that nobody frudies his language amongll thofe illiterate na; barbarians, or ever knew the ufe of letters or writing, and yet an ill chofen eXprefli- tions fpeak on, or an improper term, or a fault againft the rules of Syntax, is what is never known amongft them ; and that children, in their moft familiar difcourfe, fpeak with the'greatefr purity and propriety. It is fomething wonderful that this fhould be the cafe with nations very little cultivated ; and the fame, as I have been told by thofe who are allowed to be good critics, may be faid of the Spaniards, ahd of thofe Scotch who have retained their antient language, which is a dialedl of the old Celtic ; and that you can never diftinguilh the condition of the lowefr peafant or fliepherd, from that of perfons of the highefr quality, by his fpeech or difcourfe, But to return from this fliort digreffion, the manner in which thofe. Indians ani- hjiaoi un- mate every thing they fay, leaves no room io doubt but that they undetftand the force and value of all the expreflions they ufe, and all the beauty and delicacy of their language. The different dialefts derived from either of the mother tongues, have preferved DialeSs de- neither the beauty nor force of their originals. The Ffonnonthouans, for infrance, of the cantons of the Iroquois or Five Nations, are thought, by the other Indians, to fpeak after a very rude and unpolithed manner. In the Huron language every word is declined, and they have a Angular method, conibuflion but what is at the fame time very difficult to exprefs, to mark the difference of of the a™ verbs, nouns, pronouns, and the other parts of fpeeCh. Simple verbs have a double Grammar, conjugation, the one abfolute and the other reciprocal: The third perfons have two genders, this language having no neuter gender. As to numbers and tenfes, there are the fame differences as in the Greek ; as, for infrance, in fpeaking of going a journey, you exprefs yourfelf differently if that journey be by land, from what you do if it be by water. There are as many different kinds of adlive verbs as there are tilings expreffed by them; for example, the word to eat, has as many variations as there are different forts of eatables. In fpeaking of any living creature, you exprefs the verb quite different from what you do in fpeaking of an inanimate thing. Thus, when you fpeak of feeing a man, and again of feeing q fione, you make ufe of two O different 5 ° Of the Origin, Language, Religion, Government, Sec. different verbs. To fpeak of ufing a thing vi'hich is your own, and of what belongs to another, the verb is quite different. ■ There is fomewhat pretty much like this in the Algonkin tongue, tho’ differing in af Mai the manner, the detail of which is of very little confequence after what has been faid languagee. of the Huron, If the great richnefs and variety of expreffion in thofe two languages render them extremely difficult to be learned, there is no lefs inconvenience arifing from their exceeding poverty and barrennefs in fupplying terms for our ideas and conceptions. For as thofe nations, when the Europeans firft began to have any deal- ings with them, were almoft entirely ignorant of every thing but what was in ufe a- mong themfelves, and what fell immediately under the cognizance of their fenfes, ■they wanted terms to exprefs other notions, or, if they once had fuch terms, they had by degrees forgot the ufe of them. Thus having no regular form of worfhip, and forming but very indiftinft notions of the deity, and of every thing relating to religion, and never making any reflexions, except on fuch things as were perceptible to the fenfes, or what related to their affairs, and thofe very much limited j and un- accuftomed to fpeak of the virtues, paflions, and many other topicks of common con- verfation with us; being entirely ignorant of all arts, except thofe that were neceffary to their ftate and condition, and which are reducible to a very fmall number; having no knowledge of the fcicnces, and obferving only what was within their reach, and being entirely ignorant of the fuperfluities or refinements of poliffied, life ; when there was occafion to difeourfe of all thefe points, then it was that the vaft de- feds, of their language were difeovered; fo that you were obliged to make ufe of numberlefs circumlocutions, which were extremely tedious and perplexing to You, and not a little puzzling, not to fay almoft unintelligible to Them. Hence you were firft of all obliged to learn Their language, and afterwards to teach Them another, partly compofed of their own terms, and partly of thofe of the European languages, and thofe again transformed and modelled after the Huron or Algonkin manner, in order to facili¬ tate the underftanding of it, as well as its pronunciation to them. As for letters they had none, the want of which they fupplied by a kind of hieroglyphics; and they were quite confounded to fee the Europeans read their thoughts as quick, and explain themfelves with the fame facility in writing, as they could in fpeaking. Original If it is alked, how we come to know the Sioux, the Huron, and the Algonkin to be mother languages, and not thofe which we look upon as dialedts, the anfwer is, that nothing can poflibly be more eafy : All thefe nations have fomewhat of the manner and genius of the AJiatics in their way of fpeaking, which confifts in giving a figu¬ rative turn to their thoughts and expreffions; from whence fome have probably been led to believe they draw their origin from Afia, a conjedture rational enough, and deducible from a variety of circumftances. oi^Xral:er nations of the Huron language are always more employed than the other Indians of the ®^out the cultivating of their lands and in country affairs; they are alfo lefs difperfed abroad, nadons. This ftate and management have produced two effedts; for, in the firft place, they are better fettled, better lodged, better fortified, have always a much better police, and a more diftindt form of government, the dignity of the chief, at leaft among the Tion- nontates, who are the true Hurons, being hereditary. And, fecondly, th'eir country, at leaft before their wars with the Iroquois, of which Charlevoix fays he was an eye witnefs, was much more populous, tho’ polygamy was never allowed or known among them. They have alfo the charadter of being much more induftrious, more expert in their bufinefs,. and more prudent and provident in their condudt. All thefe good qualities can only proceed from the fpirit of fociety, which they have better maintained than the other Indian nations. This is chiefly obfervable amongft the Hurons, who, tho’ they fcarce deferve the name of a nation at prefent, and are reduced to two indiffe¬ rent villages, and thofe confiderably diftant from one another, are, however, the life and foul of all their affemblies and councils, in which the public bufinefs is debated. Refemblance It is alfo true that with all this difference, which is not perceivable at the firft whenre ^ refemblance in the qualities of the mind, in the manners, ■ and in the cuftoms of all the Indians of Canada, which is undoubtedly owing to their intercourfe, and to the traffic they have conftantly carried on with one another, from the remoteft antiquity. . , Thus, much may fuffice .with refpeft to the languages fpoken by the different. i«- Jian nations in Canada : We will next give, in as few words as poflible, what relates Of the different Indian Nations inhabiting Canada. 51 to their manner of declaring and making wan The declaration of war, according to Cbiirkvoix is in this manner: About ten or eleven at night, fays that writer, as ll'hgwarr*' was going to bed, I heard a fhouting, which I was told was the war-cry, and foon after ! faw a company of MiJJiffagiiez make their entry into the fort near the bay called I’Anfe de la Famine. Some years ago thofe Indians having engaged in the war which the Five Nations made on the Cberokees, a numerous people, occupying a very fine country to the South of Lake Erie, three or four of thofe bravos equipped as for mafquerades, with their faces daubed over, fo as to infpire the fpedfators with horror, and followed almoft by all the Indians living in the neighbourhood, after ha¬ ving rambled over every hut or cabbin, finging their war fongs to the found of an inftrument they call Chichikoue, being a great gourd filled with pebbles, .came to per¬ form the fame ceremony , through the different parts of the fort, by way of compli¬ ment to the commandant and other officers. I mull; confefs, fays Charlevoix, that this ceremony has fomething extremely horrible in it, the firll: time one fees it efpecially, and before I recollefted I was amongft barbarians. Their fongs have a difmal and melancholy air, with a mixture of horror and affright, occafioned perhaps by the darknefs of the night, and by the pageantry of the feftival, for this is really fuch amongft the Indians. All this was intended as an invitation to the Iroquois, who be¬ ing weary of the charge of the war, or perhaps becanfe they were not in a humour for it, afked fome time to confider of it, and fo departed each to his home. It appears that they invoke in thefe fongs the god of war, called by the Hurons, the Arejkoni, and hy the.' Iroquois, Agrejkoue ■, but we are not informed what name he S'”* has amongft the Algonkin nations. The relation of this name to that of .the™'" Greek name for that god, is very Angular: For Aregouen in the Huron and ^Iroquois language fignifies to make war, and is conjugated thus: Garego, I make war; Sa- rego, thou makeft war; Arego, he maketh war. Befides, Arejkoni is not only the Mars of thofe'nations, but alf'o the fovereign of the gods, or, as they exprefs them- felves, the Great Spirit, the creator and mafter of the univerfe, the genius who go¬ verns all things, but he is chiefly invoked in military expeditions, as if the moft ho¬ nourable attribute of the deity were that of being intitled the God of Armies. The fhouting of this name is what makes the war-cry before the fight begins, as ^ well as in the heat and fury of the battle; and it is often repeated too on a march, as well to encourage themfelves to undergo the fatigues with chearfulnefs, as to im¬ plore this god’s fupport and afliftance. To lift up the hatchet is another form of declaring war j and every individual Lifting ap the has an inconteftable right to this privilege, except amongft the Hurons and Iroquois, / ■tvhere the matrons make peace and war at their pleafure. We fhall fee in its proper ° place, how far their authority extends among thefe nations. If a matron has a mind to engage any one, however independent of her, to ferve Matrons en- in the war, whether to appeafe the manes of her hufhand, fon, or near relation, foUiers. or whether it is only that flie may have fome prifoners to replace thofe fhe might have loft by death or captivity, fhe is firft to prefent him with a collar of porce¬ lain, or fea-fhells ; and it is very rarely known that this gratification is without effed. When the bufinefs concerns making war in form between two or more nations, fhe expreflion, or fymbol, on this occafion, is, to hang the chaldron, or kettle, over Hanging the the fire j and this no doubt derives its original from the barbarous cuftom of eating kettle over their prifoners, as well as the flain, after boiling them. They plainly fay, in their Ample manner, that they are preparing to'eat fuch a nation, to fignify that they in-bo/.' ^ tend to make a cruel war againft them, and they generally fulfil their promife. When they intend to engage their ally in the quarrel, they fend him a porcelain, that is, a large fliell, to invite him to drink the blood, or, as the terms literally import, the foup or broth made of the flefh of their enemies. After all, this pradice may be very ancient, tho’ it by no means follows from hence, that thofe nations have al¬ ways been anthropophages, or cannibals; and perhaps it is only an allegorical way of fpeaking, of which the feriptures afford us feveral examples. David’s enemies, it is likely, were not ufed to eat human flefh, tho’ he fays, Dum approperant fuper me nocentes, ut edant carnes ineas. When the wicked, even mine enemies came upon me to eat up my flefh. Thus at laft, it feems, certain nations, grown quite favage and brutal, fubftituted the reality for the figure. Thefe 5 2 Of the Origin, Language, Religion, Govermnent, &c. Porcelaincs, Thefe porcelains, or what they cal! Wampum, as before mentioned, are certain fliells doTand'Iit. on the coafts of New England and Virginia ; they are long, fluted or chanelled, ’ of an oblong acute figure. Without ears, and moderately thick. The flefli of the ani¬ mal contained in them is bad eating, but their infide is of fo beautiful a luflre, and the colours are fo vivid, that art is capable of producing nothing comparable to it. In thofe times when the Indians went quite naked, thefe fhells ferved them for the fame ufes as Adam’% fig-leaf, when he became fenfible of his guilt and fhame together. I’hey alfo wore them at their ears like pendants, and ftill efteem them as their greateft wealth, and fineft ornament; and, in fhort, they have exaftly the fame idea of them that we have of gold, filver, and precious flones. Jacques Cartier, in his memoirs, fpeaks of a fort of fhell-work made in form of cornices, which he fays he found in the ifland of Montreal. He calls it Efurgni, and affirms it had a virtue in it of flopping bleedings at the nofe. It is not unlikely this work confifls of the fame fhells with thofe here mentioned; but there are none fuch to be found on the banks of the Ifland of Montreal, and it is not pretended that thofe fhells have the virtue at¬ tributed to the fhell-work of Cartier. There are two forts of thefe fhells; tlie one white, and the other of a violet colour. The firfl are the moft common, and pofli- bly, on that account, lefs Valued : The fecond feems to take a fine polifh; and the deeper, the more valuable they are efteemed. Both of them, however, are made into fmall oblong or cylindrical beads, which are bored and flringed together, and thefe are called necklaces, or belts of Wampum. Thefe necklaces are no other than four or five threads or thongs of fkins, about a foot in length, flrung with thofe beads of porcelain, The collars are made in form of fillets, or diadems, compofed of thofe necklaces, bound together with threads fo as to make a contexture of four, five, fix, or feven rows of beads of a due proportion in length. All thefe circumflances are regulated according to the importance of the bufinefs to be negociated, and the rank and quality of the perfons to whom the collar is to be prefented. PotceLiines different mixture of thofe beads of various colours, they form any charaiSef the tteafme pleafure, and this often ferves to diflinguilh the bufinefs in agitation. They and archives are alfo fometimes painted j at leall, it is certain the red collars are often fent ° ' ” when war is upon the tapis. Thefe collars are preferved with care, and not only com- pofepart of the public treafury, but are alfo in the nature of annals and regillers, which thofe to whom the care of the archives, which are depofited in the chief’s cabbin, is entrufted, are to make the fubjeft of their fludies. When there happen to be two chiefs of equal authority in one village, the care of the archives and treafury devolves upon them by turns, and each has his oWn night, which night, as it is taken at prefent, is fuppofed to lafl a whole year. None but affairs of great confequence are tranfadled by means of thofe collars; for thofe of lefs importance, they make ufe of brooches, or necklaces of porcelain, fkins. Bloody flag Goverings, maiz, or Indian corn, either in grain, or flower, and fuch like matters, for ‘"''all thefe conflitute'part of the public treafury. When the bufinefs is to invite fome village or nation to enter into a league, or alliance with them, a flag dipped in blood is fometimes fent inftead of a collar. But this cuflom is modern, and there is reafon to think that the Indians have taken the firfl hint of it from the red flags of the Englijh. Some affert that the French firfl ufed thefe red enfigns in tranfadling with the Indians, who from thence have taken the hint to flain their flags with blood when they mtend to de¬ clare war. Of the calu- The calumet, or pipe, is no lefs facred among thofe nations than the collar of por- met. cel’ain, and is, according to their notion, even of divine original, for they are per- fuaded that it was a prelent made them by the Sun. This inftrument is more in ufe among the Southern and Weflern nations, than thofe of the North and Eafl, and is inbfe commonly ufed in treaties of peace than in war. As to the name of calumet, which the French give it, it is a Norman word, fignifying a reed, ov pipe ; and - the calumet of the Indians is properly the tube, fhaft, or funnel, of a tobacco- pipe, though both the fhaft and the pipe together are commonly meant by this word. In the catomets, or pipes, of flate or ceremony, the tube is very long, and the pipe in form of one of our, battle-axes; It is commonly made of a reddifh marble, very eafy to work, and is found in the country of the Aiouez, beyond the Mijiftpi. The funnel is of light wood, painted with different colours, and adorned with the heads, tails, and feathers of the moll beautiful birds; but this is probably for ornament fake only. The of the different Irv^i^LXX Natibnl inhahitinf^^^ .‘53 , The caftom is to fmoke'jn'this pipe when the propbfar'is^accepted, and itus -fare, or perhaps witliout example, that the obligation^ini'pofed by': this acceptance has"“'° ““ -ever-been violated. "Xht Indians are perfuaded, that the foyereign fpirit would never ■fuffer fuch'an infradion'topafs unpunithed.' If an enemy'in th'e-^midft of anengage- •ihent prefent's the; pipe,- it-'is lawful to■-rejed ■ the offer;:;''but-''if-it is-'onee accepted, 'fhb party confenting muft that- moment re/rain from' all:hdftilitie^. -'There are pipes for'all the variety of treaties that may be broughf'upon-the-'tapis; eVen in-co'm- .'merce with one another, .after the agreement-is "made,' the pipe -is prefented to ratify‘the tranfodiooi and'this ceremony -gives'it'the .femp and Taihdion of religion. When the bufinefs is concerning war, not only the pipe then ufed, but alfo the fea¬ thers with which it is adorned, are red : Sometimes thofe on'dne fide only are of this ■colour; and it is pretended, that by the mariner ■in-Whieh: the ornaments are difpbfed, you may difcover what nation 'is ’defigned-'tb'-be attacked'by thofe'‘who prefent thfe ;inftniment. ■ .-pn.'.■ . - There is no manner' of queftion, but ' that' the hidtdhi^ by inducing thofe,- whofe al- Rc,ifon? and liance or commerce they follicit, to' fmoke^in the pfpe,'-intend to 'make the Sun thew'^jof witnefs and guarantee of the treatyV fof 'they hever fail to puff the fitioke towards thalt luminary : but to fay that, from this pradice, as welKas' from the common ufe of thole pipes, 'we are to infer, as-fome have done',' that this pipe is the Grifarra.f, or wand of Mercury, -is the lefs probable,- as this'wand had no relation to the Sun.- And fince there has nothing been found-’in 'thb traditibri's'ofthe--Tnt/wnr that can juftify this cpn- jediire,- and much lefs to prove they cauld'hfive any-kribwledge of the-Greek imytho- Jogy,. it would be much more .natural tb'fuppofe, that thofe nations, inftruded by'ex¬ perience that the fmoke of their-tobacco-diiripates the vapours of the brain, and dif- pbfes'the perfon that ufes it for' debating, on'public affairs, and has therefore been-in¬ troduced into the public councils; where'tHey have always their pipes -in .their mouths- they could not im.agine a m'ore'proper fy'mbol' to' confirm' what has beeif refolved, than this iriftrument,'-which has"had'fo'great a (hare in the public deliberations' "It will perhaps appear more obvious ftill to 'irhagine that thofe people believed the moff natural type oif an indiflbluble unipn 'was to'fmoke-in the fame pipe, and'efpeciall;jr if that fmoke were- offered'to fome' divinity, 'to confer on it the fandibn of ;religion‘. Thus fmoking in the fame pipe is equivalent'to drinking in one cup, which has beert an-immeniorial cuftom among many nations j and thefe are cuftoms'too natural 'td the mind of man, to fearch for any, hidden myftery in them. The iargenefs arid ornaments of thofe pipes which are prefented to perfons of dif- tlriflion, and bn' occafions ■of'importance'i'-have nothing very myfterious in them. Itaiamet ir¬ is to the Pa«/r,'airiation fettled on the banks of the Miffoiiri, and extending Very far -■ towards the confines Of New Mexico, to whom the pretend they pipe was given as a-'pfeferit by the Sun. Thus this cuftom, which they were the firft to introduce, has been raifed to the rarik of a miracle, and all that can be conjeftured from this, tradi- tion is,- that poffibly the Fanis have been more anciently .accuftomed to pay divine lio'- nours to the Sun, than the other Indian nations on this part of the continent of Ame¬ rica,-iindt that they, were, the firft who made ufe of the pipe as a fymbol of the inviolable obligation of treatiek . It is very rarely that thefe-Jrrr/wvi tefufe to engage in a war,'to which, they have been invited by their allies'--on the contrary, they feldom wait till they. are.called to take up arms, the leaft motive being-fufficient to determine them to it. But the third .of vengeance is the predominant motive with them, and they have always fome recent or ancient injury to revenge, no length of time being capable of healing thofe wounds, though of the llighteft kind. Thus you can never be fure of a lading peace between two nations that' have been at variance for any confiderable time j and, on the other hand, the defire of replacing their dead flaves by taking of prifoners, or of appealing the manes of the .deceafed; the caprice of fome individual, a dream, which every one interprets after his own fancy, with other reafons or pretexts equally frivolous, occafion ,your frequently feeing a corripany fet out on an expedition to-day, who but yefterday had no thought of hbftilities;-' - It is true, that thofe fmaller expeditions, which are carried into execution without vv ysofmo- the advice of the council, have generally no-great confequences; and as they require dt.Mting the riot any great preparations, they are riot the objedi: of public concern. But; in general; the graver fenators are far from being diffatisfied to fee the youth keep themielves in yjSJh? ' " P breath. 54 Of rthe Oripny 'Langt^gey. Religion^ Goiiemnent, 6cc. breath, and exercife their warlike -geniuSf; and there mnft be very extraordinary reafons tp curb their natur^ ardour, before they are reftrained j and the public authority is befides very leldotn employed to this end, every one being, matter of his own refolu- tions and aftions'amongft the Indians. When they difapprove of their projeitt, tliey try to .intimidate them, partly by, fpreading, .falfe reports; others they win over under¬ bid j and it is no veiy difficult, matter to indu,ee the leader to give over the enterprize by prefents; Sometimes a,drea.ni,;true Or felfe, no; matter which, is all thatiis wanted for the. purpofe. In foine nations the. kft, refouree is to apply to the matronsj and this is feldom without elefftj though never made ufe of except in matters of great importance. ; - Prdiminaries ' A War in whjch the whole nation js foterefted is not fo eafily refolved, but weighed war. with great deliberation, putting the inconveniences into the fcale as well as the advan¬ tages'} and all the while the aftair is-under deliberation, the utmoft care is taken to keep their deiigns from the ears of the enemy. The war once refolved, the firft thing to be done is, to provide proyifions; fpf, ffie campaign, and to equip the warriours, . which kkes up ho great length of-time. -jThe dances, fongs, feafts, together with cer¬ tain fuperftitious ceremonies, which yary confiderably according to the ufe of different nations, require a much longer time, t Ceremonious The perfon appointed to coinmand never thinks of leyying foldiers till after a fall ^of feveral days, during which he, is bedaubed with black, has noconverfe with any perfon, and calls night and day -,on his tutekr genius; .but, above all, is very careful to obferye his dreams, which the perfuafion, that foe .is marching to a certain viftory ne- yer foils to render favourable. i The fell, once ended, he convenes his friends, and, .with a belt of wampum in his hands, addreffes^ them in thefe words. “ My bre¬ thren, the fovereign fpirit autfaorifesimy defigns, and infpires me with my prefect re- folutions. The blood of fuch a one has not been wiped off} his corpfe has not been covered, and I, am going to difcharge this office towards him.” After expatiating on the other motives which have determined him to take up arms, he then proceeds; ‘‘ I am therefore refolved- to march, to fuch.a place, to take fcalps, or to make.pri- foners ” } or, “ I am going to eat fuch a nation. If 1 fall in this glorious enterprife, or if-any of thofewho Ihdl accompany me fliall lofe his life in it, this belt will fcrve to receive .us, that we may uot remain: hid in the dull or mud.” By this feems ito he meant, that this belt is to be the property of, him who lhall bury or avenge the llain. Having pronounced ffiefe words, he throws the belt upon the ground, and he that takes it up declares himfelf his lieutenant, for. which he receives the thanks of the ge¬ neral for the zeal he thus teftifies to avenge his brethren, or to fupport the honour of ■ the nation. The company then fet about heating water, to walh the chief from the His equiii. daubing with which he has been fmeared, after which they comb and anoint, or paint locks. His face is then painted with different colours, and he is attired in his moll fplendid apparel. Thus equipped, he chaunts, with a hollow and difmal tone of voice, the'fong of death} his foldiers, I mean all thofe who have offered themfelves as volun¬ teers in the expedition, (for no perfon is compelled to go) bawl out one after another the war-fong; for each individual has one peculiar to himfelf, which no perfon -befides is permitted to-ling } and there are alfo fongs appropriated to certain families. After this preliminary, which is tranfafted in fome remote place, and oftentimes in a hut, the. chief goes to communicate his projeft to the council, which fits to delibe¬ rate upon its .expediency, without admitting the author of the fcheme to be prefent at their debates, As foon as the projedt is accepted, the general gives a repaii, in which the chief,: and fometimes the foie viands is a dog. Some pretend, that this animal is offered to the god of war before he is put into the chaldron, or kettle} and this may poffibly be cuftomary with fome nations: What is certain is, that on this occalion.th^ make repeated invocations to all the genii, whether good or evil, and, above all, to the god of war. All this ceremony lalls foine days, or rather is repeated for feveral days fucceffively 5 but amidft this univerfal attention to what paffes on this occalion, every faiiiily keeps fight of its particular interefts, arid is very follicitous and intent, on taking meafures for fecuring PrlToners of Ae prifoners of war, eiAer to replace the ,flave, they may have loft by MpsTSd mortality, or to aveiige the dead. In this view they give prefents to the chief, who on his TOr-keitic, part gives his word as.a pledge for Ae performance of his promife. In the default of . \ . . ' prifonerS) 55 ef the different Indian Nations inhaUting Canada. prifoners, their next demand is to have fcalpsj which is more eafily granted, In fome particular places, as among the Iroquois, as foon as any military expedition has been refolvedj the war-kettle is fet over the fire, and the allies are required to fend fomewhat to it, to fliew their approbation of the enterprife, and to fignify their r^folution to bear a part in it>,:: ■All thofe who enroll theihfelves give alfo to the chief, as a fymbol of their engage-War fymboi. ment, a bit of wood, with their, mark upon it j and whoever after this Ihould draw back, would be in danger of his life, or at leaft would certainly be, difgraced for ever. The party or company, once formed, the war-chief prepares a new feaft, to which all the village is invited, and where, before any thing is tafted, he, or an orator for him, and, in his name ,pronounces'thefe w'drds: My brethren, I know that as yet I am al- * together unworthy of the honpiif of being efteemed a man; but you yourfelves can bear me witnefs, that I have however feen the fece of.an enemy, We have been llain, the bones of fuch and fii'ch perfons remain yet unburied, they cry out againft us, and they muft have.fatisfadlioni They were men; how then were, we able fo foon to forget them, and to remain fo'long'quiet on our mans ? In fliort, the' genius, who is watchful for my glory, has ihfpifed me with therefolution to avenge them'. Youth,! take courage, trim your locksj paint your'vifage, fill your quivers, and caufe your fo- reftsdo refound vvith your waf-fongs ; let, us relieve the departed, and Ihew them that thdir avengers are ready at hand.” ' After this harangue, and the applaufes with which it never fails to be attended, the chief advances into the middle of the .affembly, with his battle-ax in his hand, and there fings his forig, all hisfoldiers make fefponfes finging, and fwear to fecond him^^^.. to the, utmoft of their power, or to die in the caufe. All this is accompanied with ^ geftures highly exprelSve of their firm refolution never to give ground before an enemy. . , ’ But it is to be obferved, that not a word efcapes from any foldier that difcovers the Military oUi- leaft dependance., The whole of their engagement confifts in promifing to adl with the faioft perfedt union. And, befides, this very engagement requires great returns on the part of the chief. For example, whenever any Indian, in the public dances, ftri- king with his battle-ax upon a pillar ereded for that purpofe, recalls to the remenilMance of the audience his, noblefl: feats of arms, the chief under whofe conduct he has performed them is obliged to make him a prefent; at leaft this is the cuftom amongft fome nations. The fongs are follovved by dances; fometimes they are only a fierce fort of march, Military but always in' cadence; and at other times very animated motions, figurative of the o- perations of a campaign, and always too in cadence : In fine, the feaft ends the cere- monyi The war-chief is no more than a fpedtator in it, with his pipe in his mouth; and it is even common enough for him who gives the repaft, and does the honours of it, not to touch any thing. The following days, and till the march or departure of the warriors, are fpent in tranfadions no way interefting, and not at all uniform or conftant. But I ought not , to forget a cuftom which is fingular enough, and with which the Iroquois efpecially never difpenfe. It appears to have been contrived to difcover thofe who are endowed with uons of good fplidgood fenfe, and who are capable of governing themfelves; for thofe people whom^"jJ^g"^ we treat as barbarians, cannot conceive that a man can be animated with trae courage, who is not mafter of his paffions, and who knows not how to bear every thing, even the fliarpeft tryal, that can happen to him. The oldeft warriors of the company deftined for the campaign play all the tricks h inlhtimy of raaginable to the youths, and efpecially to fuch as have never as yet feen an enemy. They throw hot embers on their heads, make them the moft cruel and provoking patfence and reproaches, load them with all manner of injuries; and even puCh this farce to dreadful extremities. The young volunteers are however obliged to bear all this pain and pro¬ vocation with the moft perfed indifference, and even infenfibility; for to difcover the fmalleft fign of impatience, would be fufficient to expofe them to the cenfure of being declared incapable of carrying arms for the future But. when this ceremony is pradifed amongft perfons of the fame age, which very often happens, the aggreffor muft take care to do nothing that denotes the leaft tendency to an infult, otherwife it is fure to be revenged as.foon as the game is ended. For all the time it continues, they are to bear every thing without the leaft murmur, though this paftime often 56 O'f'iM Origin, 'Ldnguagi} 'Religwii, '&di'&nmerii, '&c. goes fuch lengths as throwing'fire-brands at one ahothers" heads, and' giving, one ano¬ ther great blows Mh cudgels. ' Ariifires of . /'As the ' hope''bf being 'cured of their 'wounds'comributfes rnuch to engage M^quacks the braveft of thefe youths to expofe'themfelveS to'Vthe greateft''dangers, ' after what has_been, related they fet about preparing the mediciiies'witK'which 'their.^phyfi- ■ ■ ' ' clans ■o'r'jorigieura are .loaded. . The whole canton 6emg;affembled, ,b^^^^^ quadks declares tha't he'isigbing to communicate,io the robts andljjjants, 6f which lie.has amaffed a'fufficipt-quintityj 'the virtue of healing' all forts of';itfpuhds,'- ahd even of reftoring the dead'tp''life;';'That ihftaht heibeginS to fing, the'Bther'guacks''pf;:the order, make . refppnfes,, and it is believed'that, during the Boricert, -which'is hone of the moft'melo- hipus, but accompanied with many grimaces hh’the'ijart.bf .the'adtors in the farce, the medicmai, or-healing quality is'difmfed over thpfe flip i The 'principal jbtf.. gleur,-which is thb-'name for thefe qiiackS in' myautfibi;f,'thdmtakes'upon'him to prove their'efficacy;, and begins by.caufing his lip's'tb"bleedf‘hil .this he applies' the remedy he has prepated/fgr it; immediately the blood,, which,tlns'h'edge-doiftor fucks with'a- buhdahcfe of artf^'be'afes to flow, oh which all the affiftafit^' cry oMi a miracle \ This donephe takes'ahead animal, fets it before the'aflembly,;'alio,wing them; time fufficient' to 'cxatnjne.'whether it is entirely fuch aS it appears.; He then caufes dt to move' by means of a canule" or pipe, which he had taken care td' ihfCrt in' its tail, blowing up,' at' the, fame time, his dpfe of the herbs, by virtue of .which this miraculous reffirreaion is to he performed,' bn which the cries of wonder and aftonifhmeht are redoubled. To "clofe a'llj' the; compapy'pf jongleurs .niakc' the tpUr of the hufS,' finging 'as 'ihey march' the 'praifes'of the'virfuekof thbfe wonderful;.remedies. Thefe artifices are'',howevef.'faf from inipofing;''up'pn; the natural good fenfe of the ' 7 «i/w»r, they ferve howeyer mufe the'multitude, “and every body knows'the force'df'Cuftom. ■ ' - ' ' " /w/nafoienm -The following.folemnity, which is extrafted from, the memoirs of a firfsed gentle- “■ man, vyhpwasnitnfelf an eye witnefs'to it;'is pradtifed amdngft the tq'vyhpm- it is probably common with fome othe'r- 7 Kdw« nations living in the neighbourhood of Lpuifaiia. After a foleihn feaft, the figure' of pagods m^e of bear-fkins,'and their heads painted,^green,'are placed on a kind of ;altaf .before which'all the Indians pafs, makingi ge'nuflexions,‘ their jongleurs leading the band;'and holding in their hands' a bag,'filled' ■with ,all the utenfils commonly ufed in their invocations'. 'He that mates the greateft contbffio'ns of hody,‘and everyone ih proportion as he'diftinguidfes himfelf in this exercife,. is applauded with prpdigious acclamations. The. firft homage thus render-' ed fo.the idols, all the' company dance in'great confufioh, to'the found .of a drum, and a Chichicoue, during which, fome jongleurs feem as if employed about enchant-' in'g-;a number of Indians, who appear to expire under th'elr incantations, but are af¬ terwards happily brought to life, agairi by the application of a certain powder to the' lips.' After the farce has lafted fbm'e time, the prefident of the feaft, attended by two„,men and two women walking, on each fide, paffes through all the huts,' , and advertifes the IW/aw that the. facrifices'are ready'tip begin.' If he meets any, onb; in his way, he' places both hands on, Ms head, whilft tne other embraces his knees. The'yiftims offered are always dogs,' arid nothing is heard but the cries of thofe ani- , ■, inals which they are ftraingling, arid the bowlings of the Indians, who feem to mock' of 'make'fefponfes to them. When the viands are ready, they are firft offered to their pag'bfts,; after which they are eaten, and the bones aftervyards burnt. In the mean time thejorigleurs are buffed in raifihg the dead, and the vvhole is termiriated by making ■ prefents.to thofe,quacks of whatever they moft defire of all that the village dr'can-' • ton affords. ■ Pteparctions, ■ . .Sfoifi th-e time of the refoliiti'ori, of, li'iaking war to the departure of the warriors for. of iv,ir. the campaign, the' nights are paffed in finging, and the days in making the riecelfary prer paratjohs. Warriors and others are deputed tolling the war-fong amongft their neigh- bpurs. and allies, whom they often take care to prepare before hand, by means offe-, cret .fiegpeiations., ; If the expedition is to be undertaken by water, they build new, or repair ; the old canoes: If it be in the winter feafori, they provide raquets or fnow- flipes',;;and fleds." “ ' ' Sno\y-ftoes ^.THe fifft'.'o'f. thefe, which are iabfolutely'nece'irary, to .walk upon the fnbw, area-' defcribed. bdut thfeeToot iprigj and fifteen of.fixteen inches wide yvhere broadeft; they are of an oyal,figure, exceptiri'g only that the hinder extremity always erids in a point. Small faftened 'acr'ofs, about five of fix inches fr'dih either end, ferve'to ftrengtheri '' them 57 df the different Indian Nations inhabiting Canada. > them, the foremoft being like the firing of an opening in. the fhape of a bow,, which receives the foot, and is tied, down with thongs. The texture of the raquette or fnow- Ihoe, confifts of ftraps of leather about two lines in breadth, bordered with fome light wood hardened in the fire. To walk well on thefe fnow-lhoes you tnuft turn your knees fomewhat inwards, keeping your legs afunder at the fame time. It is difficult enough to learn the ufe of them, but afterwards you walk as ealily and with as little fatigue as if you had nothing on your feet. It is impolTible to make ufe of thefe with common Ihoes, and you are obliged to take thofe of the Indians, which are a fort of focks made of dried hides, folded over the extrfemity of the foot, and tied with cords. The lleds which ferve for tranfporting the baggage, and in cafe of need the fick and Defcription wounded, are two fmall and very thin boards, each about fix inches broad, and from fix to feven feet in length; The foreparts are fomewhat raifed, and the fides bordered with fmall tenter-hooks, to which are fixed thongs for fattening down whatever is laid on the carriage. One Indian will draw a fled, however loaded, with eafe, by means of a long leathern ftrap, which is fattened to him, coming over his bread, ani which they call a collar. The lleds are alfo ufed for carrying burdens, , and mothers make ufe of them likewife for tranfporting their children, with their cradles j but in this latt cafe, they pafs them over their foreheads and not over their breafts as in the former. Every thing being ready, and the day appointed for their departure come, they take their farewell with many and ttrong marks of the mott unfeigned affeSion. Every wTemareb; one is willing to have fomething which has been ufed or worn by the warriors, giving them at the fame time pledges of their own friendlhip, and aflurances of an eternal re¬ membrance. As for the warriors they go into no hut, where they are not obliged to leave their robe, which they always exchange for a better, and never without one at leaft as good. At latt they all meet at the apartment of, the chief, whom they find armed as on the day when he firtt propofed the expedition to them, and as he appears in public from that day forwards. The warriors have their faces painted, every one ac¬ cording to his fancy, and all of them generally fo as to ttrike terror. The chief, af¬ ter a lliort harangue, leaves his cabbin, finging the fong of death as he goes; all of tiiem follow him in file, or one by one, obferving a profound filence, and the fame is done every morning when they begin or continue their march. Here the wonieri go before with the provifions, and when joined by the warriors, they deliver all the baggage into their hands, themfelves remaining almott naked, at leatt: as much as thh feafon will permit. . The weapons of the Indians were formerly the bow and arrow, and a kind of jaye- Arms of Ae lin, headed or pointed, as well as the arrow, with bone worked into various ftiapes, of- and the battle-ax, or, as they call it, the break-head. This weapon was a fmall club of a deMve"'^ very hard wood, which had a round head and an edge on one fide. The greatett part of them had no defenfive arms, fave only that they covered their bodies all over with fiiiall boards of a light fubttance. Some wore a fort of cuirafs made of rulhes interwoven, or of fmall pliable rods very neatly worked. In antient times they were not without pieces for the arms and thighs made of the fame materials; but as this armour w'as found not to be proof againtt fire arms, they have laid it entirely afide, and haVe fince fubttituted nothing in its place. The Wettern Indians, however. Hill ufe a fort of bucklers made of bulls hides, which are very light, and, fays my author, mulket proof. It is fomewhat odd that the other Indians never bethought themfelves of this piece of armour. What is very Angular, when they make ufe of our fwords, they handle theih like a pike: But when they can procure mulkets, powder, and ball, they lay afide their bows and arrows, and are excellent markfmen. The Dutch of New Tork, when that colo¬ ny was in their pofleflion, are faid to have been the firtt who fupplied the Indians with fire arms, and to have taught them the ufe of them. The French followed their example, by arming their Indian allies after the European manner. The Indians, have TteV enfigns alfo a kind of enfigns or colours to dittinguifli their own people, and to help theiii to rally; Thefe are fmall pieces of bark, cut into a round form, which they fatten to the end of a pole, and on which is drawn the mark of their village or nation. If. the party be numerous, every tribe or family has its own enfign with , its dittin- Q guifliing 5$ Of the Origin, Language, Religion, Government, 8cc. piflilng mark. Their arms are alfo ornamented with different figures, and fome- times with the peculiar mark of the chief in the expedition. But there is fomewhat of which they are ftill lefs forgetful than even of their arms, tturrymbot which they are infinitely more careful to preferve, and that is their manitous, which a^e fo many fymbols reprefenting the tutelar genius, or familiar fpirit of each individual. Thefe they put altogether into a bag made of ruflies, and painted with .different colours; and oftentimes, to do honour to the chief, this bag is placed on the prow of his galley, that is, his canoe. If there are too many manitous to be contain¬ ed in one bag, they are diftributed into feveral, which are committed to the care of the lieutenant, and a guard compofed of the elders of each family. To thefe are joined the prefents which have been given in order to receive prifoners in exchange, and the tongues of all the animals killed in the campaign, which are to be offered up as a facrifice to the fpirits on their return. Mark of dif- On a march by land, the chief carries his own bag, which he calls his matt; but tindUoo. he may lay his burden on whom he thinks proper, and this is never fcrupled, being looked upon as a mark of diflinftion, and communicating, in ,fome fort, a right of furvivorfhip to the fupreme command, fhould the chief and his lieutenant happen to fall before the campaign is ended. March of the When they are to proceed by water, as foon as the warriors are embarked, the ca- ‘®noes move gently onwards, keeping always in a line in clofe order; then the chief rifesup, and holding in his hand his chichlcoue, he lings aloud the war-fong peculiar to himfelf, his foldiers anfwering with three He’s, for that is their manner of fliouting, fetched with all their might from the bottom of their breafts. The elders and chiefs of the cpuncil, who remain on the fhore, next exhort the warriors to difcharge their duty like men, and above all things to take care of being furprized. This of all in- jundlions is what an Indian Hands moft in need of, and of which thefe people are the leaft mindful. This exhortation does not however interrupt the chief, who Hill con¬ tinues his long. Laftly, the vyarriors, on their part, conjure their relations and friends never to forget them; then, after fending forth in a body the moft horrible Ihouts, they fet out at once, and with fo much fpeed, that they difappear in an inftant. Their pro; ”^ 1 ?^ Hurons mi. Iroquots ufe not the chichicou6, but give it to their prifoners, fo cecdings. that this inftrument, which is a warlike fymbol to the other Indians, feems to be a mark of flavery with them. The warriors never make fliort marches, efpecially when in any confiderahle body. Every thing is an omen of good or bad fuccefs with them; and the jongleurs, whofe office it is to explain thefe omens, haften or retard the marches at their pleafure. While they are not in a fufpedted country, they take no manner of precaution, and fometimes they are fo difperfed in hunt¬ ing, Aat you will fcarce find two or three warriors together; but however fcattered they may be on their inarch, they are always fure to re-aflemble pundtually at the time a,nd' place appointed f6r the rendezvous. Invocation of They encamp a confiderahle while before fun-fet, and their way is commonly to theinnanitous leave a confiderable fpace before the camp, which is furrounded with a palifade, or rather a fort of lattice work, on which they place their manitous, .turned towards the way their march or rout lies. Thefe fymbols are then invoked during the fpace of an hour, and the fame adt of devotion is performed every morning before they decamp. This done, they imagine they have nothing to fear, being perfuaded that the genii or fpirits take upon them the office of centinels, and the whole army repofes in fecurity under their fafe-guard. No experience is able to undeceive or deter them from this idle and dangerous confidence, which takes it rife from a lazy and indolent difpofition, which nothing can overcome. Endeyment The Warriors hold as enemies all they meet on their march. If they fhould hap- ofaUies. however, to meet with allies, or with parties nearly of equal force with them- felve,s, and of nations with whom they have no particular quarrel, they make a coa¬ lition. If thofe allies happen to have been making war on the fame nation, the chief of the ftronger body, or that which has firft taken up arms, gives the other fome fcalps, of which they never fail to make provifion for thofe occafions, with thefe words •. “ You are our affociates in this caufe; you have fulfilled your engagements; “ your honour is fecured; and you are free to return home.” But this is to be under- ffopd only in cafe of an accidental rencounter, and provided they have not promifed to go out with them, and that the others have no need of any re-inforcement. When of the differe}it Indian Nations inhahiting Canada. When they are on the point of entering the enemies country, they make a halt, MilitaTcerc in order to perform a ceremony which is Angular enough. In the evening a great feaft is given, after which they go to fleep. When all of them are awaked, thofe who have had any dreams go from fire to fire, finging their death fong, in which they take care to infert their dream after a dark and enigmatical manner.. Every one does his utmoft to explain it j and, if nobody fucceeds, the dreamer may return home if he pleafes. After this, new invocations are made to the genii, gnd they animate themfelves to attempt the moll dangerous enterprizes, fvyearing to e^h other mutual afliftance. At lall they begin their march again; and, if they have brought their canoes thus far, they now quit them, taking all the care imaginable to conceal them. Were all the injunftious prefcribed on thefe occafions obferved, it would fcarce he poffible to furprize a party of Indians whilft in the enemies country. After this they mull make no more fires, and refrain from fliouting or hunting, and even fi-om ipeaking, except by figns. Thefe laws are however very ill obferved, it being next to . ■ iropolfiblq for an Indian to bear the leaft curb or rellraint. They negledl not, how¬ ever, fending out fcouts every night, who fpend two or three hours in traverfing the country, If nothing is difcovered, they fleep in the greatell fecurity, leaving the guard of their camp to the manitous. Upon difcovery of the enemy, they fend fome to reconnoitre them, on whofe re- MethoS of part they hold a council of war. The attack is generally made at day-break, the e^ nemy being then fuppofed to bq in the moll profound lleep; and all the night they continue with their faces flat upon the ground without the leaft motion. They ap¬ proach the enemy in the fame pofture, creeping upon their feet and hands, till within arrow-fliot. Then ftarting up at once, the chief gives the fignal by a faint hollow flrout, to which the whole body anfwer by the moll hideous bowlings, naakipg, at the fame time, their firft difcharge: Afterwards, without leaving the enemies time to recover from their furprife, they fall upon them with their battl.e-axes. Thefe renr counters, fince they have exchanged their wooden hatchefs for thofe pf iron, have her come much more bloody. The adion once over, they fcalp the dead and dying' and never think of taking any prifoners till the enemy has given over making refiftance. If they find the enemy on his guard, or too llrongly entrenched to be attacked Defpcrate with any probability of fuccefs, they retire, if they can, without being difcovered, If otherwife they take a refolution to conquer or die, and jn this cafe' there is often much blood fpilt on both fides. A camp that has been forced is the very image of fury; the favage cruelty of the conquerors, and the wild defpair of the conquered, who know what they have to exped, fhould they fall alive into the hands of their enemies, caufes both parties to make incredible efforts. The figure of the combat- tants, befmeared over with black and red, augments the horror of the fray, which, fays my author, would be a very lively copy, from which one might form a pidure of the horrible condition of the damned in hell. The vidory being pnce fure, the vic¬ torious firft difpatch all thofe that would, in their opinion, be cumberfome to them in their march, making flaves only of fuch as they imagine capable of undergoing fatigue. The Indians are naturally intrepid, and preferve, in fpite of their brutal fiercenefs, a great deal of cool blood, even in tlie heat of the combat. They are never willing, on any account whatever, if they can avoid it, to engage on open plains. Their reafon is, that they hold a vidory purchafed with much blood of the conquerors unworthy of being called a vidory, and that the glory pf a chief confifts principally in brmging back unhurt all who follow him to the campaign. It has been faid, that when two enemies, who are at the fame time acquaintances, meet in the heat of an adion, they hold conferences with one another like the heroes in Homer ; and that, on thefe occafions, they challenge or perhaps admonifli their antagonift. Their art of w'ar confifts almoft wholly in furprifes, or ftratagem, in wliich they hSwn .n: of are genendly fuccefsful enough ; for if the Indians are negligent in taking the ne- cefery_ precautions againft a fiirprife, they are no lefs vigilant and dexterous at fur- prizes in their turn. They have alfo a wonderful faculty of knowing whether an e- nemy has palled any particular w.ay, difeovering by the marks or prints of their „ ^ foot ilepSj and the manner of their dirediion, whether on the grafs, mould, or- fand, ^ and even upon rocks themfelves, which way the perfons who have travelled that Way are gone; nay more they will tell you, from the fize and figure of the foot- Q 2 fteps. 6o Of the Origin, Language, Religion, Government,: ht, fleps, by their diftance from each other, by their manner of treading, whether they are men or women, or of what nations they are who have left thofe traces. This is unanimoufly afferted by all who have lived amongll the Indians, fo that there feems reafon to doubt its being fad. If any of their prifoners, by reafon of their wounds, is not in a condition to be tranfported, they burn them upon the fpot; and as this is generally done in the firft tranfports of their fury, and whilft they are under the neceffity of retiring with expedition, fuch prifoners meet with milder-tor¬ tures, than thofe who are referved to be tormented at their leifure. Indian tio- Amongft fome nations the cuftom is, for the chief of the vidtorious party to leave phies. his hatchet on the field of battle, on which he takes care to delineate the mark of the nation, that of his family, and his own portrait, that is, an oval, within which are drawn all the figures with which his face is painted. Others again paint all thofe marks on' the trunk of fome tree, or on a piece of bark, with charcoal pounded and ground with other colours. To thefe are added certain hieroglyphical charafters, by means of which, paffengers may learn the fmalleft circumftance, not.only of the adti- on, but of every particular event of the campaign. The chief is diftinguifhed in this table by the above-mentioned marks; the number of his exploits, by fo many matts j his Toldiers, by fo many lines; the prifoners, by an equal number of fmall marmourets ■ which bear a ftaff, or chichicoue; of the dead, by an equal quantity of human' figures without heads, befides thofe particularities which diftinguilh men, women, and chil¬ dren. Thefe infcriptions are not, however, always near the fpot where the adfion has been; for when a party are afraid of being purfued, they place thefe trophies out of their rout, on purpofe to lead the putfuers out of the right way. Treatment of The conquerors are very expeditious in their retreat out of the enemy’s country; captives. and,' left they ftiould be retarded by the wounded, they either carry them by turns on a fort of litter, or, if it is winter, they tranfport them on fleds. When they re-im- bark on board their canoes, they caufe their prifoners to fing, and this is pradlifed every time they happen to meet any of their allies. This honour is purchafed at the expence of a feaft to be given by thofe who receive it, and of fomething worfe than the trouble of finging to the unhappy captives. On thofe occafions they invite their ally to carefs them as they call it, that is, to do them all the mifchief that comes into their head, of to beat them after fuch a crael rate, as fometimes to maim them for ever. Some chiefs are, however, more humane to their prifoners, not fufi'ering them to be quite fo cruelly treated, but they are at the fame time highly atten¬ tive to guard them. In the day-time, they are tied by the neck and arms to one of the benches of the canoe, and, if the march is by land, there is always one to keep hold of them. In the night they are ftretched along the ground quite naked, their neck and arms tied down, by means of tenter hooks fixed in the earth, fo that they tannot move ; their hands and feet are moreover faftened by means of long cords, in fuch manner as to prevent their making the fmalleft movement, without awaking the Indians who fleep on thefe cords. • - Tidi of warriours arrive within a certain diftance of the village from. whence thecMp^'gntf'sy oiib they make a halt, and the chief fends to give notice of his approach. Amongft fome nations the melfenger, as foon as he is conie within cry, makes different Ihouts, fo as to give fome notion of the fuccefs and principal adventures of the cam¬ paign, Firft, he fignifies the number of their killed, by fo many death-fhouts. Upon this, the youth approach him to gain more certain information, and fometimes the whole village pours out; but only one perfon accofts the meffenger, to learn from him the particulars he brings. As the former relates each Angle adventure, the other turns himfelf and repeats it aloud to the company, who anfwer him by fo many acclamations, or cries of lamentations, as the news he relates happens to be joyful, or qtherwife. Lamematiom The envoy is then condufted into a hut, where the elders put the fame queftions -for th'e flain. as had been already afked. After this a public crier invites the whole body of the youth to go forth to meet the warriours, and the women to carry them refrefh- ments. At firft they are entirely taken up with lamenting the llain, the envoy conti¬ nually repeating the death-cry. No perfons is fuffered to approach him ; but when he enters the village, he finds the people affembled, he relates to them in brief, all that'has happened, and then retires to his hiitt, where they bring him fomething to eat, and for fome time all are employed in bewailing the deceafed. of the different Indian Nations mhabiting Canada. 6 if The time allotted for wailing being expired, they make another cry to denote the vidlory. Then every body dries his tears and nothing is to be feen but univerfal joy. Something like this is pradtifed at the return of the hunters: The women, as foon as they have been advertiled of their approach, go out to meet them j and, before they infmm themfelves of the fuccefs of the hunting, lignify, by their tears, what perfons have died in the village fmee their departure. To return to the warriors, from the moment the women have joined them, the punifliment and fufferings of the prifoners com¬ mence. When any of the captives are to be adopted, which, however, is not cuftom- avy among all the Indian nations, thofe who are to become their parents go, after notice given them, to a farther diftance to receive them, but take care to condudl them to their cabbins by ibme round-about way. The captives are generally long ignorant of their fu¬ ture fate, and few efcape the firfl tranfports of the fury of the women, to which all thofe craelty of who ate doomed to die are entirely given up. The courage with which they receive theuommto this florin of barbarous rage and cruelty is quite afloniihing. Above all. Ihould a- ‘ ny one of thefe furies happen to have loft a fon, a hulband, or any other perfon who was dear to her, were it even thirty years ago, flie difeharges her vengeance on the firfl fire meets; and it is quite inconceivable to what height fhe w'ill carry her rage. No regard, either to modefty or humanity, has the leaft reftraint on her, and, at every blow llie fetches, you would certainly conclude the vidlim mull fall dead at her feet; and it is to the laft degree wonderful, with what ingenuity they prolong the moft fliocking torments. The whole night is pafl in the camp of warriors in this manner. , The next day is .appointed for the triumph of the conquerors; the Iroquois and fome other Indian nations affeft great modefty, and ftill greater difintereflednefs on thofe occafions. The chiefs firfl make their entry into the village alone, without any other marks of vidlory, obferving a profound filence, and retire to their cabbins, without fignifying that they have the leaft right or pretenfion to any of the prifoners. Amongft other nations the cuftom is entirely di&rent; the chief marches at the head of his corps, with the air and port of a conqueror; next follows hislieutenant, preceded by a crier, whofe office is to renew the death-cries. The warriors follow two and two, the prifoners in the middle crowned with flowers, their hair and vifage painted, holding a flaff in one hand, and a chichicoue in the other, their iJody al- mofl naked, their arms tied with a rope above the elbow,- of which the warriors hold the ends; finging inceflantly their death-fong to the found of the chichicoue. This mufic has fomething mournful and- difdainful at the liime time, the captives difeovering nothing that has the leaft air of a prifoner, or of a perfon under afflidion. The following is nearly the purport of their fongs. “ I who am brave and undaun- Songoftri- ted, fear neither death nor the crueleft torments. Let cowards who- are lefs than women dread them; the brave hold life in no fort of efteem, in comparifon of hoe nour. May fury and defpair choak my enemies I Why cannot I devour them, and quaff the .laft drop of their blood.” The prifoners are made to halt from time to time, when the Indians croud' round them, dancing, and caufing the captives to dance with them : Thefe feem to do it with great chearfulnefs, relating, at the fame time, their moft remarkable exploits, and Bravery of mentioning,- by their names, all thofe who have been killed or burnt by their hands. p-ifc”'''- But, efpecially, they take care to remark thofe who have been moft dear to die affif- tants, and one would conclude they were folely intent on provoking the fury of the tormentors. Thefe bravados have conftantly the effedl that ought naturally to be ex- pedled from them, exciting the utmoft tranfports of rage in all who hear them, fo that their vanity cofts them extremely dfear, though, bythe' manner' in which' they receive thefe tortures, you would imagine, riiat, ko put them to the moft e'xquifite pain, were doing them the moft fenfible pleafure. ■ Sometimes-they oblige them to run between two rows- of Indians, wlio are armed with Hones and cudgels-, and lay upon' them as if they would difpatch them at the Thdr ervef firfl blow. They, however,, are never known to-fiill under'this-operation, thofe- lava- ges, even in their greateft rage, taking care never to ftrike on any part where' the •blow might prove mortal. In this courfe, or march, any one has a' right to- flop- the fufferer, who is alfo permitted to aft in his own defence, though generally to- no purpole.. On- the arrival of the captives- in- the- village, they' are' condudled- frc'rh cabhin to cabbin, and every where made'to. pay-for their reception in the fime R humane 62 Of the Origin, Language, Religion, Government, &.c. humane manner. In one tliey pluck ofF a nail; in a fecgnd they take off a finger, either with their teeth, or with a knife that refembles a faw, rather than an edge too!. An old man then tears off their flefli till the very bones are feen; a child pierces them with an awl where he can; a woman fcourges them with the moft infenfible brutality, till her arms are weary with whipping. But all this while there is no warrior, not even their mafters, who lays a hand upon them. They are not, how¬ ever, permitted to maim them, without the permiffion of thofe whofe property they are, which is rarely granted. Excepting this, they have a right to inflift what punilh- ments and cruelties they think fit, and, if they are led through feveral villages, whe¬ ther of their allies, friends, or of their own nation, and at their delire, their reception is every where the fame. TieirdUtri- They next fet about dividing the captives, whofe fate depends on the will and bution. pleafure of thofe to whom they are diftributed. As foon as the council, in which their fate is decided, breaks up, an herald, or crier, invites all the people to affem- ble in the fquare, where the diftrubution is always made without the leall; clamour or difpute whatfoever. Thofe women who have loft their children, or hulbands, in the war, are commonly the firft provided. Afterwards they take care to difeharge their promifes to thofe who have given them collars; if there are not a fufficient number of captives for this purpofe, the deficiency is made good by fcalps, which are worn for ornament on feftivals and rejoycing days, and afterwards hung up at the doors of their cabbins. If, on the contrary, the number of prifoners exceed that of thofe who have any pretenfions, the furplus is fent to their allies. A chief is made good only by a chief, or by two or three Haves, who are always burnt, even tho’ the chief had'died of ficknefs. The Iroquois never fail to fet apart a number of their prifoners for the public ufe, in which cafe the council difpofes of them as they fee fit; tho’ the mothers may yet annul their fentence, as being abfolute fovereigns of the life and death of thofe who have been condemned or abfolved by the council. Their fete by Amongft fome nations the warriors never part with the right of difpofing of their deathoftoves prifoners, and thofe in whofe favour the council has diftributed them are obliged to or adopuon. tjjem back into their hands, if fo required. But this is feldom done, and, when it happens, the warriours are obliged to give up the pledges of thofe to whom the prifoners had been given. If a warrior, on his arrival, declares bis intention in this point, it is generally not oppofed. The greateft part of the prifonprs of war are ufiially condemned to die, or to a ftate of flavery, which is extremely rigorous, their lives depending on the pleafure of their mafters. Sometimes they are adopted, in which cafe their fituation differs nothing from that of children of the nation, of which they are become members, they enter into the full enjoyment of all the rights and privileges of thofe whofe places they fupply, and oftentimes they become fo very zealous on the behalf of the nation that has adopted them, as to go to war againft their own country. The Iroquois have hitherto been fupported folely by this piece of policy; for as they have been in war, for time immemorial, againft all the circumjacent Indian nations, they mull: have been long lince reduced to nothing, had they not taken care to naturalize a confiderable number of their prifoners of war. It fometimes happens that inftead of fending the furplus of their prifoners to their allies, they bellow them upon private perfons who made no demands of that fort, in which cafe, they ate either obliged to alk the opinion of the chiefs of the council what they are to do with them, or otherwife they are under the neceffity of adopt¬ ing them. In the firft cafe, he to whom a Have has been prefented fpnds fame perfon of his own family to bring him home; he then ties him to the door of his cabbin; this done, he affembles the chiefs of the council, informs them of his own intentions, and alks their opinion, which is commonly agreeable to his willies. In the fecond circumftance, the council, after placing the prifoner in the hands of him Form of a; for whom they intend him, addrefs, him in the following manner. “ It is now a long time fince we have been deprived of fuch a one, your relation, or friend, who was the fupport of our village: ” Or, “ We regret the fpirit of fuch an one whom you have loft, and who, by his great wifdom, maintained the public repofe and tranquili¬ ty; he mull this day be made to appear again; he was too dear to us, and too va¬ luable, to defer, any longer the bringing him again to life; we therefore replace him upon his matt in the perfon of this captive.’j Some 63 of the different Indian Nations inhabiting Canada. Some private perfons, on account of their fuperior credit and eftimation, haVC a prifoner given them, without any reftridtion or referve, and with full power to dif- pofe of him at their pleafure. In this cafe the council in delivering him into their hands, exhorts them in thefe words: “ Behold wherewithal to repair the lofs of h be. fuch an one, and to glad the heart of thy father, of thy mother, of thy wife, flowing pri- and of thy children, whether thou flialt choofe to caufc them to drink of the broth offo""-'- this ilelh, or that thou'loveft rather to replace the departed upon his matt in the perfon of this captive. Thou mayeft difpofe of him as feemeth right in thine own eyes.” When a prifoner has been adopted, they condudl him to the cabbin where he is to re- Bsncfie of a- main, and begin by loofing his bands. Next they fet on water to warm, in order to walh him; then they probe his wounds, if he has any, and he is foon cured were they even full of worms. Nothing is forgotten to make him lofe the memory of what he has undergone; they then fet meat before him, and, iaftly, they cloath him in good and decent appa¬ rel, In fliort, they do all that could be done for a child of the nation, or even for the very perfon he brings to life again, as they exprefs themfelves. Some days after a feail is made, in which the name of the perfon he reprefents is given him with a- bundance of folemnity 5 and he then not only enters into full poffeffion of all his rights and privileges, but alfo enters into all his contradls or obligations. Amongft the Iroqttois and Hurons, thofe who have been deftined to the flames are Captives de- fometimes treated at firll, and even till the moment of their execution, with as much lenity and indulgence as thofe who have been adopted. Thefe are probably viftims which they fatten for facrifice, being adlually offered to the god of war. The foie difference between thefe and the other captives is, that they fmear their faces with black. Except this, they give them the bell; food, fpeak to them with an air of huma¬ nity, and even friendfliip, giving them the title of Ion, brother, or nephew, according to their relation to the perfon whofe manes is to be appeafed by the facrifice; and fometimes they give them their pleafure of the women, who are in the nature of wives to them during the time they have yet to live. To prevent their endeavouring to efcape, they conceal as much as poflible the fate they are to undergo. The moment. every thing is ready for the execution, they are delivered up to a woman, who, from a mother degenerates into a very fury, palling, from the tendereli: and moll endearing careffes, to the lall tranfports of rage and mad- nefs. She begins by calling upon the lliade of him whom Ihe is about to avenge, in terms fuch as thefe : “ Approach, whilll I am about to appeafe thee, and Sentence by a whim I prepare thee a repall: Drink large draughts of this broth which is ready preSa^f to be poured out before thee : Receive the vidlim which I prepare for thee in the to execuUon. perfon of this warrior: Him will I burn, and put into the chaldron : Burning hatchets will foon he applied to his flelli: They are ready to flea off his hair: They will'drink out of his Ikull: Leave, therefore, thy complaining : Thou lhalt have thy vengeance fully fatisfied.” This formula, which is properly the fentence of death, varies confiderably in the expreffion, but is always the fame in fubllance. A crier then caufes the captive to come from the cabbin, proclaiming aloud the intentions of him or her to whom he belongs, and clofes the proclamation by exhorting the youth to do their parts well. Next advances a fecond herald, who addreffes himfelf to the fufferer in thefe terms. “ Take courage, brother, thou art going to be burnt.” He again anfwers coolly; “ It is well, I thank thee.” Then the whole village fet up a fhout, and the prifoner is condudled to the place of execution. The captive is commonly tied to a poll by the hands and feet, but fo as to fuffer him to turn quite round it. Sometimes, however, when the execution is to be in fome cabbin, whence their is no danger of his efcaping, they omit tying him, and leave him to run from one end of the hut to the other. Before they be¬ gin to burn him, he fings his death-fong for the laft time ; next he makes the recital oftheSer.” his valiant feats, and almoft always in the manner that is moil infulting to the by-ftand- ards. He then befeeches them not to Ipare him in the leaft, but to remember he is- a man, and a warriour. Thus he goes on finging chearfully in the midll of torments, infulting and defying his executioners to the laft vroan. The tormentors are generally as many as there are fpedlators or inhabitants in the village, men, women, and children, who feem to vye with each other who fliall ex¬ ceed in all manner of cruelty. The Inhabitants of the hut, in which the prifoner R 2 has 64 Of the Origin^ Language^ Religion.) Government^ &c. has been kept, are the only perfons who have no hand' in thefe afts of brutality ^ Burnt in tire this is the ptaffice affiongft feme nations. They generally begin with moll tortu- burning the feet, then the limbs,,afeending by degrees to the head; and fometimes ring manner, protraft thdfe fufferingS for a whole week,- as it happened to a Canadian gentle- nran who had fallen into the hands of the Iroquois. Thole who are the lead: fpared, are fuch who, after having been adopted, or fet at liberty, have made their efcape, and havn been taken a fecond time : Thefe are looked upon as unnatural children, and as ungrateful perfons, who have made war upon their relations and benefaftors, and to fuch no fort of favour is fliewn. Sometimes the fuflerer is left loofe, even wheh the execution is npt in a cabbin, and he is alfo allowed to Hand upon his own defence, which he does not fo much from any hope or profpedl of faving, his life, as to ayenge his death before hand, and to have the glory of dying like a man of cou¬ rage. There haye been many inftances to prove what a prodigious degree of ftrength and fortitude fuch a refolution is capable ot infpiring, of which the following, attef- ted by perfonS'worthy of credit, who were eye witnefles, is one very remarkable: An Iroquois captain of the canton called Qnmyouth, chofe rather to expofe himfelf to thq wofft that could happen, than to diflaonour himfelf by flying, which he look¬ ed upon as ftill the more unworthy of a hero from the ill example lie fnufi: there¬ by give the youth under his command. He fought a long time like one refolved to die with his arms in his hands, but the Hurons his enemies, were refolved on taking him, if poflible, alive. He was condufted together with thofe who were take? prifoners, at the fame time, into, a canton where they were converted and bap¬ tized by fomq French miflionaries, and all burnt a few days after, giving marks of an ailptiifhing conftancy. The Iroquois commander believed he might lawfully do ips enemies all the mifehief in his power, and retard the hour of his death as much as pqfliWe, They had eaufed him to afeend a ftage or theatre, where they began by burnipg Ifls body in every member without the leaft mercy, himfelf appearing ^S rnuch infenlible as if he .were not in the leaft fuffering. But on perceiving one of his companions, who, was tortured juft by him, difeover fome fign of weaknefs, he tef- tified much uneafinefs at it, oihitted nothing that might encourage him to bear up under his calamities, from the hopes of a happy immortality in heaven, and fhewed vaft fttisfaftion to fee him die at laft not only like a brave man but a Chriftian. ^-b had thus put his companion to death fell upon him with fuch rage, vivadt^Ld ss, if they would tear him to pieces. He appeared not at all moved at it, and refiibace.Md they vvcre now at-a lofs to find any part of his body that was fenfible to-pain, when “ 6" • one pf his. Quecutioners, after ma.king an incifion in the flein quite round the head, tore it entirely oft', by mere- force and violence. The pain made him fall into a fwoon, when, the tormentors, believing him dead, left him. A moment after he. recovered from his fwopn, and- fteing notliing near him, but the corps of his §iend, be took up a fire-brand with both hands, fcorched and flead as they- were, defying his. executioners to. come nigh. him. This uncommon refolution'- ftruck terror iptp them, they niade hideous, flaouts, ran to arms, fome laying hold of burning coals, and othets.feizing redrhot irons, and all at once poured upon him-. -Hb- ftood the btnnt of their fury, with the courage of defpair, and even made them retire: The fire that furrounded himferved him for an intrenchment, which he compleated- with ladders, they had: ufed to, qfeend the fcaffold, and thus fortifying himfelf, and- ma- hing ? iprt of citadel, of hisTuneraJi pile, which was now become the theatre of his bravery, and armed,with the inftruments. of'his-torture, he was for a confiderable fyiine the terror, of a whole-cantonj and notone had the heart to approach him thp’ h§ Wt(s rngje than, half-burnt to death, and the blood trickled from all parts of his bpfjyi 'A. flip of the. foot in fliiinning a fire-brand darted at-him, delivered him once mArq into, the hands of his, enemies; who, as you may well imagine; made him pay, extremely dear for tire fears he had occafioned them. After wearying- themfelves with, tprrnenting him, they threw him into the-middle of a great coal-fire, in full confidence: that he would never rife from-it. But they were deceived-; for, when lb.?y.lsaftllhonghfcof it, they beheld him again, armedWith fire-brands running-towards the village, as if he were going to fet it, on fire. All hearts were frozen- wdth fear, ajid no perfou; dared to -fece: him; when, juft as he had almoft reached- the firft cabbiiis, a flick thrown, at him, and falling-betweenTis legs, brought him to tBe gro.un4; and they laid, hold of him before he could recover himfelf. Here, firft they 65 of the different Iridiaii, Nations inhabiting Canada.' they cut off liis hands and feet and rolled him upon burning embers, and then,threw him below the burning trunk of a tree, the whole village gathering round him to enjoy the fpcdticle. He loft fuch a quantity of blood as almoft to extinguifli the fire; fo that they had now no manner of apprehenfion remaining of any future at¬ tempt. He made, however, another, w'hich ftruck terror into the moft undaunted. He crept on his knees and elbows with fo much vigour, and with fuch a threatning countenance, as aftonilhed, if not affrighted them. In this ftate, the miffionaries ap¬ proaching him, in order to difpofe him to bethink himfelf of the ftate of his foul, at that dreadful moment which was at hand, he feemed to iiften with attention, and to have his thoughts occupied folely with fuch meditations, when one of his executioners, taking his opportunity, ftruck off his head. If thofe nations make war like barbarians, we muft, however, allow that in trea-Talents of the ties of peace, and generally in all their negociations, they difeover fuch a dexterity; tndmm for addrefs, and elevation of foul, as might do honour to the beft policed nations. They never think of making conquefts, or of extending their power and dominion. Some of thofe nations know no manner of dominion or fovereignty; and thofe who have never left their native country, and who look upon themfelves as the lords and fovereigns of the foil, are not fo jealous of their property as to hinder new comers from fettling on it, provided they attempt not to moleft them. The points which are the only fubjedls of their treaties, are, to make alliances againft powerful enemies; to put an end to a war which may have become burthenfome to both parties; or, rather, to treat of a fufpenfion of hoftilities, for every war or diffention is cverlafting amongft the In¬ dians, when they fall out between different nations. Thus there is little ftrefs laid on a treaty of peace, whilft any of the parties are capable of molefting or giving unea- linefs to the other. During the whole time of the negociation, and even before it commences, their ma- chief care is, that they may not feem to make the firft advances, or, if they do, nagementand they ufe all their addrefs to make their enemy believe that the overtures proceed not from fear or neceffity; and this laft is managed very artfully. A plenipotentiary ^ keeps up an air of haughtinefs, even when the affairs of his nation are in the wotft fituation; and he is generally fortunate enough to perfuade thofe with whom he is treating, that it is their intereft to put an end to hoftilities, however fuccefsful they may have been. On this account, he avails himfelf of every thing that may contri¬ bute to his fuccefs, employing all the eloquence and addrefs imaginable. For lliould his propofals happen not to be relilhed, he is obliged to keep well on his guard, a blow of the hatchet being often , the foie reply made on fuch occalions; and it is not even enough to have efcaped the firft furprife, he has alfo grounds to fear being purfued, and burnt if taken, if any pretext can be found, as, for inftance, that of reprifals, for fuch proceeding. Thus it happened to fome French amongft the Iroquois, to whom they hid been fent on the part of the governor general; and the Jefuits who refided amongft thofe Indians, and were a fort of agents for the colony, were always expeding to be facrificed to fome ancient grudge, or mifunderftanding,' or to the re- monftrances of the governor ' of New York. It is furprifing, in fliort, that nations who never make war from motives of inte¬ reft, and who even carry their difintereftednefs to fuch a height, that their warriors ne¬ ver load themfelves with the plunder and fpoil of the conquered, and, if they bring Refidents home any booty, abandon it to the firft that pleafes to take it, and, laftly, who take ““‘"“ined a- up arms for glory, or to revenge themfelves on their enemies; it is, I fay, quite afto- nifhing to fee them fo well verfed and pradtifed in the greateft refinements and in¬ tricacies of ftate policy, and even fo as to keep minifters, refiding amongft their ene¬ mies, at the public expence. They have one cuftom with refpedl: to thefe. a-Odd cuftom gents, which appears fufficiently extravagant, though it may be reckoned prudent enough, at the fame time, which is, that they never lay any ftrefs on any. in- ° telligence they receive from thofe penfioners, if the advice be not accompanied with fome prefent. Their policy here arifes, no doubt, from this confideration, th^, in order to give an entire credit to any piece of intelligence, it is not only ne- ij ^ communicates it have nothing to hope from it, but even that It Ihould be attended with fome expdnce to him, both becaufe the public, and not any private intereft, ought to be his only motive for fending it, and alfo that he may S not 66 Of the Origin, Language, Religion, Government, See. not raflily, or before he has well weighed the importance, trouble them with trif. ling and fuperficial matters. Government The nations on the continent of 'North America have, for the moft part, a kind oftheW/aarof ariftocratical form of government, the modes of which are almoft infinite. For oi Canada. canton has its own chief, independant of all the other cantons of the nation, on whom the fubjefts have full as little dependance, there is, however, no matter of importance tranfafted without the advice of their elders. Amongft thofe nations that live towards Acadia, or Nova Scotia, their fagamos were more abfolute, and it does not appear that they were obliged to make largelTes to their people as the chiefs are accuftomed to do almoft every where elfe. On the contrary, they levied a kind of tribute on their fubjedts, and their grandeur did by no means confift in their difinte- reftednefs, and in keeping nothing for themfelves; but it is probable that the difper. fion of the Acadian Indians, and it may be their commerce with the French, may have contributed much to the change of their ancient form of government in this particular, the detail of which may be found in Champlain and Lefcarbot. Amongft feveral nations there are three tribes, or clans, which are reckoned chief or Clans, titles, fuperior to the reft, and which are probably as old as the nation itfelf. They have, and diiiin- however. One common ftock ; but there is one of thefe three branches which is held the firft in rank, and has a pre-eminence over the other two j and thofe of this tribe, or femily, have the quality or honorary title of brethren given them, whereas they give - others only that of coufins. Thefe tribes are mixed without however being confounded, each having its particular chief in the village, and, in affairs which concern the whole nation, thefe chiefs affemible, and are the council which deliberates upon them. Nations and Each tribe bears the name of fome animal, and the nation in general has one of own which diftinguiflies it from others, the figure of which is its mark, or, nimais. what is the fame thing, its enfigns armorial. When they fign any treaty, the figure of this animal is always drawn on it, except, in fome particular cafes, when they make ufe of different fignatures. Thus the Huron nation is the nation of the Porcupine ; Its firft tribe bears the name of the Bear, or the Roebuck, for authors are not agreed on this point; the two next in rank have taken for their animals, the Wolf and the '■ Tortoife j in Ihort, every canton has its peculiar animal, and it is this variety which has probably mifled the writers of feveral'erroneous relations. It is alfo proper to take notice that, befides thefe diftinftions of nations, tribes, and cantons, by different animals, there are alfo other differences which arife from certain events, or from fome particu¬ lar cuftoms. The Hurons called Fionnontatez, for inftance, who are of the firft tribe, are commonly diftinguiftied by the title of the nation of Petun; and there is yet in being a treaty of \hok Indians with the French, to which they have affixed as their mark the figure of a Beaver. The Iroquois, or Five Nations, have the fame animals with the Huron Indians, a colony of whom they have been reckoned by fome French wri¬ ters, with this difference, however, that amongft the former the family of the Tor¬ toife Is divided into the Great and the Little Tortoife. Titles of The chief of each family or clan bears its name, and is known by no other title Sfs°aiid' puWic tranfadlions j the cafe is precifely the fame with the chiefs of villages, villages. ^ut befides this title, which is only, as we may fay, a fort of reprefentative one, they have another which diftinguiflies them more particularly, and is in the nature of a mark of honour. Thus one is called Moji Noble, another Ancient, and fo of the reft. Laftly, they they have a-third title, which isperfpnal; but this is probably in ufe amongft thofe nations only where the quality of chief is hereditary. Titles con- Thefe titles are conferred .with a great de'al of ceremony : The new , chief, or, revivtl.^^ if he fliould not be of age, his reprefentative, is to give a repaft, to beftow lar- geffeSj- to make the elogium, or panegyric, of his predeceffor, and to fing his fong. There are, however, inftances where a certain name is had in fuch veneration, that no perfon afterwards dares to take it, or at leaft, not,before it is in a man¬ ner antiquated, in which cafe they call it, reftorlng the perfon who formerly bore it to life. Dignity of ' In the Northern parts, and in general wherever the Algonkin language prevails, the chiefeleflive. dignity of the chief is elective ; But then the whole ceremony of election and in- ftSllation confifts'in feafting, accompanied with dances and fongs. The chief eleCt never omits to make the panegyric of his predeceffor, and to invoke his genius. Amongft of the different Indian Nations inhabiting Canada^ 67 Amongft the Hurom, where this dignity is hereditary, the fucceffion is thro’ the >>=- females; hence, on the death of a chief, it is not his own fon, but the fon of his fitter 'who fucceeds to the chief-fliip j or, in default of fuch ilTue, the neareft of the feiHale males, line, if the whole branch, or line, thould happen to be extind, the nobleft matron of the tribe or nation makes choice of the fubjed who is moll to hef liking, and declares him chief. In cafe of a minority, the hereditary chief has a regent appointed for him, who state of a re- exercifes all his authority, but always in the name of the minor. Thefe chiefs are gew a mi- diftinguitlied by very little external marks of refped, and if they are generally obeyed, it is becaule they know how to confine their commands within the limits of their power. Thus they rather fignify their defire, or limply propofe what they would have done, and as their authority is very limited, and their power is but of fmall influence, they are very careful not to Itretch them beyond the bounds of modera¬ tion. Thus the reafonablenefs of the fervice, and not the will or influence of the chief enforces obedience j and this is always more chearfully performed by the fub- jeds, as their adions are free and properly Ipeaking their own, and as they can have no apprehenlions of the degeneracy of their conftitution into tyranny and arbitrary government. Each family, tribe, or clan, (which are names for the fame thing) has moreover a Councellots right to choofe a councellor, and an afliftant to the chief, who is to watch over their particular interefts, and without whole advice the chief can undertake or execute no-' thing. Thefe councellors are efpecially to have an eye over the public treafury, and it is theirs particularly to affign the ufes to' which it is to be applied. The formali¬ ty of their reception is prefcribed in the general council, but the Indians never ac¬ quaint their allies with their admiflions, as it is ufual with them in notifying the elec¬ tion and inftallment of their chiefs. Amongft the Hurons the women name thofe councellors, and they often choofe pe/fons of their own fex for thefe employments. This body, or college of chiefs, is the firll in power above all the others; The of fecond is of the elders or fenators, confilling of fuch as have attained the age of manhood, chiefs^idc™, the precife year of which is uncertain : The third and lall is.that of the warriors, "’“‘ws. which comprehends all capable of bearing arms. This body have often the chief of the nation, or canton for their head j but before he is capable of enjoying this honour, he mull have dillinguilhed himfelf by fome remarkable feat of arrns; other- wife he is obliged to ferve in quality of a fubaltern, that is, as a Ample centinel j for there is no diftindion of rank or quality in the Indian militia. In efiedt a large body may have feveral chiefs, this title being common to all who have once commanded; but thefe chiefs are entirely fubjedt to the orders of the com¬ mander in chief of the party, who is a fort of general without rank, or authority, being neither capable of rewarding or punilhing, for even his foldiers may quit the Bsft of fervice at their pleafure with impunity ; and yet this lhadow of a gfeneral is almoft “ never difobeyed: So true it is, that amongft men who are governed by reafdn, and * condudted by a principle of honour, and the love of their country, independency and fubordination are perfedtly confillent, and that a free and voluntary obedience is the bell fupport and fecurity to a general. The other qualities requifite to accomplilh a war-chief, are, that he be brave, didnterelled, and fortunate; and it is no wonder that a general endowed with all thefe qualities fliould be well obeyed. Amongft all the nations of the Huron tongue, if you except the Iroquois canton of , , Onnejouth, ^ongft whom the power refides alternately in either fex, the women rity"re.Mes in have the chief authority. But tho’ this may poffibly be their original conftitution, women. It is found, however, to be very feldom true in pradtice : For the males, contrary to the original contradl, and to the Magna Chart a of free-bom Indians^ never acquaint the other fex, who are, the barons of the Hurons, with any but trifling affairs, tho’ all IS carried on and executed in their name, and by the chiefs/ who are no more than meu lieutenants. Thus the adtual authority of the Huron fair is little more than a a ow. It is, however, affirmed by foiiie, that the women are the firfl: who lit upon - whatever is propofed in council, and that they fend down their refolves to the chiefe, who make the report to the council general, that is, the council of elders or fena- ors; tho’ all this probably ferves only for form fake, and with the reftridtions juft mentioned. The warriors alfo hold confultations among themfelves on affairs of their 3wn province; but nothing of importance, or which concerns the nation or canton, can S 2 be 68 Of the Origin, Language, Religion, Government, 8cc. be refolved in this council. All is fubje'ift to be revifed and confirmed in the court of feniors, whofe determinations are decifive. Wifdom, pri. Some writers make no fcruple to affure us, that in thofe aflemblies every thing yacy, and po- jg managed with, fo much wifdom, mature deliberation, dexterity, and, in general, oSnrpSc with fo much probity, as would have dorie honour to the fenate, or to the aflemblies. Areopagus of Athens, in the happieft and bell times of thofe republics. Here no¬ thing is done precipitately, and thofe violent and tyrannical paffions of private ambi¬ tion and interell, which have fo much changed, or rather disfigured the face of go¬ vernment, and public bufinefs amongft thofe who call themfelves polite nations, have not, as yet, prevailed, amongft thofe whom we very unjuftly call favages, over the good of the common wealth. Thofe who are concerned in the event of thofe deliberations never fail to fet abundance of fprings in motion, and employ fo much addrefs and fuch a fine and fubtle kind of politics to accomplifli their defigns, as are perfedly aftonilliing in men of fo Ample and an almoft barbarous appearance. They are particularly great mailers in the art of diffimulation, and no people exceed them in an artfulnefs, which is peculiar to them, of covering their defigns; and, what flows from the fame fountain of natural fagacity, when- they take the field, Motives to in concealing their march from the enemy none are to compare with them. The point of honour, and the glory of the nation, are the chief motives of going to war, joined to, what is much lefs excufable, an infatiable and moll ungovernable thirft of revenge, for in this they believe their honour is concerned in a peculiar manner. They may think perhaps too, that good policy and felf prefervation require that they Ihould not teach their enemies to infult or injure them, by fuffering them to do it with impunity. Public orators Each tribe has its orator in the village or canton, who only has a right to fpeak in the public councils, and in their general aflemblies. Thefe orators are; obferved to fpeak always well, and to the point in debate : And, hefides this natural eloquence, which no perfons, who have frequented their meetings, has ever denied them, they have a thorough knowledge of the interefts of their conftituents, with an inexpref- fible and Angular talent at fetting them in their bell light. ' The women have al- fo an orator on fome occafions, who.fpeaks in their name, and as if he was only the interpreter of their fentiments. Eufy temper . One .would naturally imagine that nations who may be confidered as in fome fort oftheijaiflw without property, whether public or private, and who have no ambition to extend their territory, would have few differences to unravel with one another. But the reft- lefs nature of the human mind, which is incapable of fubfifting without adlion, is ingenious in finding out matter of employment. Thus thofe favages are eternally bulled in treating, and are never without a multitude of affairs on the carpet; fuch as concluding new or renewing old treaties, tenders of fervice, mutual congratulati¬ ons, new alliances, invitations to become parties in a war, compliments on the death of fome chief, or great perfonage, and other matters of the fame nature j all this bufinefs is tranfadled with an attention and capacity, not only in every refpedl capa¬ ble of managing the moll important affairs, ^t alfo oftentimes much greater than it appears to be ; thofe who are deputed for this purpofe being frequently charged with fecret inUruftions, the apparent motive of their commiflions being only a veil to cover their real and more ferious defigns. Valour and The Iroquois nation, commonly called the Fm_ Nations, has made the greateft policy of the figure for two centuries in this part of North America. Their fuccefs in war has njum. giyeu them an incontefted fuperlority over all the others, fo that from quiet and pa¬ cific, as they formerly were, they are now become to the laft degree turbulent and intriguing. But nothing has more contributed to render them formidable than their advantageous lituation, of which they were not long infenfible,- and which they have turned to their bell advantage. As they are fituated within the colonies of Great Bri¬ tain, near thofe of France, they were foon confeious of their being neceffary to both nations, and both, in effedl, have ufed their utmoft efforts to engage them either to come over to their own fide, or at leaft to remain neuter. Perfuaded as they were, that Ihould either of thefe nations happen to fupprefs the other, themfelves mull' become the Haves of the conquerors, they turned all their thoughts to preferve the balance between both, in which we mull confefs they have fucceeded to a miracle, if 6g ■ t)f the different Indian Nations inhabiting Canada; we Confider that all their forces conjoined have never exceeded five or fix thoufand combattants, and that they have long fince beon diminifhed above one half. As to what concerns private perfons and the inferior government of villages, their fairs are reduced to very few, and thofe tranladled in very little time. The authority of" " the chiefs feldom or never intermeddles with them, fo that, generally fpeaking, perfons,who have any degree of credit, are entirely taken up with the management of public affairs. One fingle point, tho’ of fmall importance, is long under deliberation : All is conclu¬ ded with wonderful coolnefs, and nothing is decided till it is fully underftood by all who are pleafed to aflift in it. On making an elder a private gratification, you are al¬ ways fure of his vote, if he accepts the prefent, tho’ they are not eafily brought to receive fuch favours, and there is fcarce any infianpe of an Indian who has failed to perform his obligations in this refpedt; nor are they ever known to receive with both hands. The youth become early acquainted with public affairs, whence they become grave yo„,|, and ripe, at an age in which European nations are ftill children, as having feldom politicians/ an opportunity of being fo much as fpea.itors of any thing that relates to public bu- finefs. This admiflion gives them a ftrong love for the public good, even from their earlieft youth, and infpires an emulation which they are very careful to fo¬ ment, and from which every thing may be hoped. The greateft defedt of this government is an almoft total want of criminal juftice want of cri- in this country; this defedt, however, is far from being attended with the fame con- minaljniuce. fequences it mull certainly be amongft Europeans, as private intereft, the great fpring of our paffions, and the chief fource of all thofe diforders which are fo pernicious to fociety, has no power over men who never think of growing rich, nor take any care for to morrow. We might alfo find fault with their manner of educating their children, for their indulgent e- extreme' indulgence will not fuffer them to be chaftifed on any account. Whilft ducation. they are children, their excufe is, that they have not the ufe of reafon, and the In¬ dians are of opinion that the underftanding is never improved by punilhment. When they are. grown up, their anfwer is, that they are mailers of their own adtions, and tlierefore refponfible to none. They even carry thefe two maxims to fuch an ex¬ travagant length, as to fuffer themfelves to be abufed by perfons who are intoxicated with liquor, and without fo much as defending themfelves for fear of hurting them, “ For why, fay they, Ihould one hurt perfons who know not what they do.” In Ihort, thofe Americans are perfedlly of opinion, that man is' born free, that L'bpfy of A no power on earth has any right to infringe his liberty, and that nothing is capable fo'7re”f dif. of compenfating the lofs of it. Their defires are more bounded than ours, becaufe orders, their fprings are fo too, and as they covet only the neceffaries of life, with which nature has abundantly provided them, they fcarce fo much as think of its fuperflui- ties. This toleration and impunity is, however, the occafion of great diforders, and is itfelf no fmall one. They have almoft no fubordination in public, ftill lefs in private life, every one living as he lifts, father, mother, and children, cohabiting like fo many perfons who had come together by accident, and as if they were linked by no ties of nature, the'children ordering the affairs of the family, without fo much as con- fulting their parents any more than if they were utter ftrangers, brought up in a total independance from their infancy, and unaccuftomed both to the voice of nature, and to the moll indifpenfahle obligation of human life, and of civil fociety. The moll horrid crimes, even parricide itfelf, are fuffered to go unpuniflied, fo that Horrid crimes when they happen, they are lefs, in fome meafure, to be afcribed to the perfon who commits them, than to the public which fuffers them. There are, however, fome ex¬ ceptions from this cuftom, which is perhaps the greateft piece of barbarity that can be objefted to the natives of this part of America. I am myfelf inclined to think that crimes perpetrated by perfons intoxicated only meet with this indulgence, and the reafon they give for it, is, that fuch perfons know not what they do, and there¬ fore are to be treated as lunaticks. ■ They feem to rank women and children in the fame clafs with perfons in liquor, as they hold it unworthy of men to defend themfelves againft them, provided al-nua’ted'! ' ways, that no attempt be made againft their lives, or that there be no danger of be- mg maimed, in which cafe they endeavour if poffible to avoid the danger by flight. Bui. ftiould an Indian kill any perfon belonging to the fame cabin, if he be found T to 70 Of the Origin^ Language, Religion, Government, &c. ! have been in liquor, which the criminals often feign, when they meditate an affiffi. nation, they content themfelves with lamenting the fate of the defundt as an un¬ happy accident } for as to the perfon who committed the murder, he knew not, fay they, wh^ he did. In cafe it fliould happen that the murderer were found to have done ■ it in cold blood, they make no hefitation to extenuate or rather defend the crime, ' by faying, he muft certainly have good grounds for fo doing. If it be proved that the aggrefer had no caufe of complaint againft the deceafed, the punilliment of the murder is left entirely to thofe of liis own cabin, who have power to judge him to death, which indeed feldom happens, without any form of juftice, whence this pu- nifliroent has more the air of private revenge, than of the execution of public juftice. And fometimes the chief is glad of any opportunity to pt rid of a trouble- fome fubjefti In fhort, crimes are puniftied in fuch a way, as neither to fatisfy com¬ mon and natdral juftice, nor to eftablifli the public peace and fecurity. Panilhment The murder of a perfon who has a numerous kindred, committed by one who left to lela- has the fame connexions, is always attended with unhappy confequences, and is fometimes capable of railing a combuftion in the whole canton, or even in the en- ! tire nation. For this reafon, the council of feniors is very attentive, on fueh occafi- ' ons, to accommodate matters betimes, and the public generally makes the prefents, and perform every other neceffary formality towards the offended family. The imme- diate puniftiment of the offender would be fufficient to appeafe the whole ftorm, and the relations of the deceafed have a right to infliX what puniftiment they think pro¬ per, provided they get him into their power. But his own cabin think it a difgrace to themfelves to fuffer him to be punilhed, and the village or canton frequently re- ' fufe to compel them to give him up to juftice. Muraer how The Burms are faid by fome miffionaries, who had long refided in their country, punilhed by (g punifli murdef in the following manner: They ftretch the dead body upon poles the Hurm, gppgj. p^j-j. gf Cabin, and oblige the affaffin to remain under it for fe- veral days together, and to receive not only on himfelf, but alfo on what is allowed him for bis fuftenaiice, all that falls from the putrid carcafs; unlefs he can prevail with the relations of the defunX, by means of a certain gratification, to have his food preferved from the putrefaXion. But Father Brebeuf, from whom this ac¬ count is extraXed, does not fay whether this puniftiment was in confequence of the fentence of the laws, and an exertion of the public juftice of the nation, or infliXed by way of reprifal only by the relations of the dead, in the cafe of the murderer’s falling into their hands. peitous flain Be this as it will, the moft common method of indemnifying the relations of the replaced by flain, amongft thofe Indians, is to replace him by a prifoner of war. In this cafe the 8 op“0"- captive is generally adopted into the place of the party that has been killed, when he enters into the full enjoyment of all his advantages, fo that both the dead and the quarrel are foon forgotten. Witchcraft There are, however, certain odious crirnes which are punilhed with immediate capital. death, at leaft amongft fome nations; fuch as, for inftance, wizzards or magicians, for ill offices, which they are fuppofed to exercife towards certain perfons by means of certain arts. Whoever is fufpeXed of witchcraft or magic, can never be fafe any where, they even compel them to undergo a kind of rack or torture to make them difcover their accomplices, after which the criminal is. condemned to the fame fort of death as the prifoners of war, but the confent of his family muft firft he had, which is only for form fake, or in compliance with ancient cuftom, for they dare by no means run the rilk of a refijfal, Thofe who are leaft obnoxious are commonly ftunned before they are burnt. Aialfodiflio- Thofe who dilhonour their families, that js, who are guilty of theft, are alfo to fMuiiy^by' puniftiment •, and it is commonly the family who executes the thefe fentence, and rights themfelves in that manner. Amongft the Hurons, who. were formerly much addiXed to thieving, and who perfor¬ med it with a dexterity and addrefs which would have done honour to our moft ac- complilhed pick-pockets, it was lawful on diftovering the thief, not only to take back what he had robbed, but alfo to carry off all the goods and chatties of hh cabin, and to ftrip hi^ wife, children, and himfelf ftark naked, without their daring to anake the kaft refiftance, . 71 of. the different Indian Nations mhaUting Canada. Ill other cafes, in order to (hun all difputes on filch occafions, they agreed on cer¬ tain maxims, from which they never departed. For example, every thing loft, but an inftant before, became the property of the finder, if the lofer had not already reclaimed it. But the lead fraud on the part of the former, was fufficient to found a claim of reftitution, which occafioned fometimes vehement and moft vexatious conteftations. ^ ^ . I muft not omit one particular, with refpect to the crime of murder. It has been " related above, that, in order to prevent the fatal eifeifts of fuch crimes, the public frormurder. took upon itfelf the charge of making the neceflary fubmiflions, and paying the pre- fents for the flayer. But what is furprifing enough to us, this very circumftance is more efficacious to prevent murder, and all its fatal conlequences, in this country, than the fevereft laws, and the moft exemplary punifliments. For as thofe forts of fatisfactions, or compenfations, are extremely cliargeable to thofe Indians^ whofe extreme haughtinefs furpaffes all imagination, the criminal is more affeded by this burden, and by the ftain to which he fubjcdts the public, then he could poffibly be on his own account; and their zeal for the honour of their country, lays a greater reftraint upon them than death, or the cruelleft torments. This impunity, however, feems to be but of a later original amongft them. Crimes more fince the firft miffionaries who went amongft them found many footfteps of the antient feverity, and of the rigour with which crimes were pumflied. Theft, in par-times, ticular, has always been deemed an indelible ftain on the honour of a family, and any one had a right to wafli it out in the blood of the offender. One of thofe miffionaries. Father Brebeuf, perceiving one day, a young Humi who was difpatch- ing a young woman, ran towards him to prevent an adlion which appeared fo atro* 'Joe clous, alking him what could provoke him to fo horrid a violence. “ She is my theft.' After, faid the other, and a thief, and I am now going to expiate the injury done me and ail our family, by the death of the v.n-etch wlio is the occafion of it.” The Indians, at leaft amongft feveral of the Algonkhi nations, allow of a plura- rality of wives, and the general cuftom is to marry all the fifters together, from a perfuafion that fifters are more likely to agree together, than mere ftrangers. In this hulbamU. cafe, all the wives are of equal rank, and on the fame footing; but among the true AlgonUns they are of two different ranks, the fecond being mere flaves to the others. In fome nations the lafhion is to have a wife in every quarter where they commonly refort in the hunting feafon; and, this cuftom, we are told, has been lately introduced amongft the Hurons, who, in former times, were known to have been contented with one wife. But there is a much greater diforder ftill which prevails in the Iroquois canton of TJonnonthouan, who allow of a plurality of hufbands. Both Hurons and Iroquois are, however, remarkably fcrupulous as to the degrees of Amongft kindred or affinity in their marriages. They tolerate not the remoteft degree of con- what perfons fanguinity between the parties, in which refpeft adoption has the fame force as affi- nity. The hulband, however, in cafe of the death of his wife, is obliged to marry her After; and the wife is obliged to obferve the fame rule with refpetft to her huf- .“of band’s brother, in cafe of his deccafe without iffue by her, and provided fhe is ftill S^don. capable of. having children. The reafons they alledge are precifely the fame with thofe of the Levitical law in Deut. xxV. 5. Sufcitabit femen fratri fuo. The hulband who refufes to comply with this law of marrying the filler, or near relation of his de- ceafed wife, fubjedts himfelf to all the outrages of the party rejedted, and he is obliged to endure all without murmuring. When, through any deficiency of relations, the widow is permitted to marry out of her hufband’s family, they are obliged to make her prefents, as a public acknowledgement and teftimony of her prudent deportment; and this is what llie may lawfully claim, provided Ihe has behaved herfelf difcreetly and virtuoufly ail the time of her married Hate. Amongft all thefe nations, and particularly amongft the Algonkins, are certain fami- MarriageieU lies of eminent rank and quality, which are not at liberty to intermarry with any others, i" tionuur, The Hate of marriage is generally held facred and inviolable in this country, and con - cubinage, or marriages contradled for a certain fpace of time only, are commonly held grarefui. as tranfgreffions againft good order and found policy. A hulband who Ihould aban¬ don his wife muft expeft many ill offices from her relations; and a wife who flioiild abfent herfelf from her hulband, muft be content to endure much moreVof fhe fame fort of treatment, Amongft ^2 Of the Origin^ Language^ Religion, Gonoermrmit, &c. Elopement, Amongft the Miamis it is cuftomary for the hulband to cut off the nofe of a wife riot b’’that elopes from him; but with the Eurom and Iroquois the married couple may tISJnfent quit the fociety of each other by mutual confent. This is done without any noife, and the feparated parties are at liberty to contraft new engagements. Their reafon for this condud generally is, what one of them faid one day to a milfionary, “ My wife and I cannot agree together ; my neighbour is exadtly in the fame fituation ; we have changed wives, and now we are all four content. What can be more reafonable than to make one another mutually happy, efpecially when it can be done at fo little expence, and without the leaft detriment to any one ? ” This cuftom is, however, re- gardedboth as an abufe and a novelty, which laft it certainly is, at lead among the Iroquois. Jealoufy fre-' But the great difturber of domeftic peace amongft the Indians of Canada is jealoufy, quent, and of which commonly rages amongft both parties alike. The. Iroquois, however, ufed to que“re*'' Boaft, that they are free from this evil; but, befides that fomewhat of this fort is in- feparable from human nature, if both parties happen to love each other, thofe who have frequented their company afliire us, that they are no lefs fubjedt to this paffion. than the reft of their countrymen on the fame continent. When a woman difcovers that her hulband entertains any liking to another, the rival muft be very much upon her guard, and the rather as the hulband, who is guilty of this adt of infidelity, dares not ftir in her defence or protedlion. A hulband who lliould ufe his wife ill on that account would incur eternal infamy. Cuftomsrela- The parents fettle all marriages between themfelves, the parties never appearing in ring to mar- them, but abandoning themfelves blindly to the will of thofe on whom they depend. Nothing is, however, concluded without their confent, though this be a mere piece of formality. The firft advances are made by the matrons; but it is never known that the friends of the future bride make any overtures. If a young woman has flood long in the market, it is not unufual for the relations to try what they can do to get her a man. But this muft be done under-hand, and with a great deal of cunning and ad- drefs to cover their defign. In fome parts the girls are never forced to marry, and are permitted to make as many elTays of marriage as they think proper, previous to a Hate which the ceremony, they think, ferves only to render the more infupportable. Rematlable The behaviour of the young folks during the courtfhip, or rather the bargain, is for rew'Sed^ the moft part extremely modeft, though the fame, it feems, cannot be faid in praife of £0^1™“”“ ancient times. There is one circumftance related by good authors, which Charlevoix, who Ihould be a judge of what men are capable in point of continency, thinks abfo- lutely impoffible, which is, that in feveral places the new married couple cohabit a whole year without knowing each other, fo that a woman with child, in the firft year of her marriage, would be looked upon as a perfon who had loft her charadler j and juftly, becaufe, fay they, perfons Ihould marry out of friendfliip, and not to fatisfy their paflions. Hence Platonic love feems not confined to our continent, and thofe pure flames of that refined and celeftial paffion, which is, however, much more talked of every where than felt, make themfelves perceived, even among the favage philofophers of America. We will not enter into the detail, which, as that good father, to whom I owe this particular, thinks, rather weakens than augments the probability of what is here affirmed. After what has been faid, we ought to be lefs fcrupulous in believ¬ ing what is related of the behaviour of the young couple during their abode in thofe places, where they are permitted to converfe together in private. For tho’ cuftom allows them much fecret familiarity,' yet in thofe habitations where modefty is expo- fed to the greateft dangers, and ever under the covert of the night, it is pretended that nothing ever pafles that is capable of wounding the chafteft imagination. Ptefents pre- The future bridegroom is to make all the prefents, in which, as indeed in every liminary to Other particular of his behaviour, he takes care to ffiew his intended fpoufe all the refpeift imaginable. In fome places, the young man is contented with fitting down by the fide of his beloved in her cabin; which, if fhe fuffers, and remains in her place, it is taken as her confent, and the marriage is concluded. However, amidft all this outward deference, he gives her intimations that he is very foon to become her lord and mafter. Amongft the prefents he beftows, fome are rather to be regarded as fo ma¬ ny marks and fymbols of her future flavery, than as teftinionies of the refpedl of a lover: Such as the collar, the chaldron.or kettle, and the faggot, which are brought -into her cabin, to ffiew that it is her part to carry burdens, to provide fuel for of the differetit Indian Nations hihabitmg Canada. 73- her houfe, and to drefs her hufband’s vidluals. And it is even cuftomary, in fonie parts, for the bride to bring into the cabin beforehand all the wood to be confumed in it the following winter. , , • It is remarkable befides, that in every one of the above particulars there is no man- Remark on ner of variation between fuch nations where the women have all the authority in their hands, and thofe where they are of no weight in public bufinefs; for even the women who are, at leaft in appearance, the miftreffes and fovereigns of the ftate, and make the chief body of the nation, when they have reached a certain age, and have children ca¬ pable of caufing them to be refpefted, yet have no manner of deference paid them be¬ fore, and are, at the fame time, the very flaves of their hulbands, in what relates to the management of their domeftic affairs. There is perhaps no nation under the fun that, in general, defplfe the fex more than the Indians ; and to call one of them a woman, is the greateft infult. The chil- ,□ wivd dren, however, which is at the fame time odd enough, belong only to the mother, and and mothers, acknowledge her authority alone. The father is regarded as no more than an alien, in relation to them, with fuch reftridion however, that if he is not treated as a father, he is always refpeded as mailer of the cabin. It is not certain whether this be univerfally the cafe in Canada, no more than what is found in good memoirs, that the young women, befides what fervices their hulbands have a right to demand of ^ them, with regard to their domeftic affairs, arc alfo obliged to provide for their own ; relations, which is probably the cafe, when fuch relations have no other perfon left to ' do thefe fervices,. and when their great age or infirmities have rendered them inca¬ pable of helping themfelves. However this be, the new hulband has alfo his peculiar funftions. Befides hunting Officet and and fidiing, obligations which laft as long as his life, he is firft of all to make a ma- ™ploymem trafs for his wife, build her a cabin, or elie to repair one for her reception; and vvhilft he remains with his father and mother in law, he is to bring thither all the produce of his hunting. Amongft the Iroquois, the woman never goes out of the cabin, becaufe flie is deemed the miftrefs, or at leaft the heirefs of it. Amongft other nations flie goes, two or three years after their marriage, to live with her mother in law. The Canadian women are commonly delivered without hard labour or afliffance ; Some are, however, much longer in travail than others, and fuffer extremely. When women in la- ‘ this happens, the youth are firft acquainted with it, who, all of a hidden, and when [ the fick woman leaft of all fufpedls it, fet up a loud fliout at the door of her cabin, I the furprife of which caufes a fpeedy delivery. The women never lye-in in their 1 own cabins; they are frequently furprifed with their pains, and delivered when at i. work, or on a journey. As for others, who take more care of themfelves, they ge- 1 nerally build them a hut without the village, where they remain forty days after being ; brought to bed. This is, however, faid to be pradlifed only when they lye in of their firft child. This term being expired, all the fires of the cabin to which they are to return are extinguiflied, all the baggage fliaken, and a new fire kindled on their entrance. Much the fame formalities are obferved, with refpedl to all the fex, at ceruiin times, which are peculiar to them, and not only fo, but alfo whilft they are pregnant, and in time of fuckling. They commonly fiickle three whole years, du¬ ring which, and their pregnancy, their hulbands never approach them. This cuftom : occafions frequent infidelities on both fides; and it is affirmed, that the women in ; thole countries make common ufe of certain fimples, with which they are acquainted, : to prevent the confequences of thofe irregularities. Nothing can exceed the fondnefs of mothers towards their children, whilft in the MoLhcrs.kow cradle.; but, from the moment they are weaned, they abandon them entirely to their feat tiieir : own condudt, not from any indifference, or hardnefs of heart, for they never lofe their maternal tendernefs while they live, but, from a perfuafion that it is better to let nature work her will in them, and that Ihe ought to be reftrained in nothing. The ad by which they conclude their age of infancy is the giving them their Ceremony of name, which, amongft thefe nations, is a thing of no fmall importance. This cere- naming the mpny is performed in a feaft, at which are prefent none but perfons of the fame fex with the child to be named. During the repaft, the child is held on the knees of his “lother, who never ceafe invoking and recommending him to the genii,', and, above all, to the genius who is to be his guardian ; for they believe that every.. U one 74 - Of the Origin^ Language, Religion, Government, &c. one has his own tutelar fplrit, though not when he is born. They never invent hew names, but each family has a certain number which are properly its own, and whicli they ufe by turns, and in rotation. Sometimes too they change them as they grow older, and fome may not be born after a certain age, though this cuftom is believe! to prevail only amongft certain nations. And as it is ufual amongft fome nations, on taking any name, for the perfon who takes it to fucceed in place of him who lali bore it, it often happens, that a child is treated as a grandfather by a perfon who for age might very well be his own. They never falute or accoft any perfon by his own name in familiar difcourfe 5 this would be a great piece of uncivilly. They always give him the quality he bears with refpeft to the perfon who addreffes him ; and if there be neither affinity nor relation between the two, they falute one another by tbe name of brother, uncle, nephew, or coulin, according to their age, or the degree of refpedt they would Ihew the perfon to whom they fpeak. Motives for It may be further remarked, that it is not fo much with a defign to perpetuate rwrai of jjames, that' they chufe to revive them, as from a defire, that thofe on whom they are bellowed ftiould imitate the virtues and exploits of thofe who bore them, or revenge their deaths, if they have been killed or burnt, or, laftly, to comfort their families for their lofs. Thus a woman who has loll her hufband, or fon, and fo be¬ comes deftitute of all fupport, delays not to bellow the name of the deceafed on fome perfon to fill his place. In Ihort, there are feveral other reafons why they change their names, which it would be too tedious to mention ; a dream, the prefeription of fome quack, or fome other reafon equally frivolous, being fufficient for that pufpofe. As dancing is an ad of great confequence amongft the natives of Canada, being an eflential in treaties, and feveral other matters of high moment, a defeription ol fome of thofe moll noted may help to convey a more diftind, as well as curious bance of the entertaining idea, of the nature of [thofe people. Of thefe the chief feems Calumet, or to be the dance of the Calumet, which is performed with abundance of variation, f'P^- according to the occafion and people who exhibit the folemnity. It is properly a military feftival, in which the foie adtors are foldiers, and one would imagine it were only a contrivance to give them an opportunity of difplaying and defcanting on their exploits. Some have believed that this ceremony had its rife from the wand of Mercury, and that in its firft inftitution it was elleemed the fymbol of peace. All who danced this dance, fays Charlevoix, an eye-witnefs 5 all who fung, and who beat the drum, and played on the chichicoue, were young perfons, equipped as when they go to war. Their faces were painted with all manner of colours, their heads adorned with feathers, which they alfo held in their hands, like fans. The calumet, or pipe, was alfo ornamented with them, and fet up in the moll confpicuous place, which was furrounded by the band of mufic and dancers. The fpedlators were divided into fe¬ veral groups, or feparate bodies, the women apart from the men, and attired in their bell apparel, which at a diftance made a very pleafant fight. Between the orcheftra and the French commandant of the poll where this ceremony was performed, who was feated in the porch of his own apartment, they had fixed a poll, which, after every dance, one of the warriors approached, and llruck with his battle-axe. After this fignal given, there enfued a profound filence, when this hero related alourl fome of his principal feats, and thofe for which he moll valued himfelf, and, after receiving the cullomary applaufe, went to take his place, and then the play began again in the fame manner. This ceremony, which was performed by the Sa& and OBchagrac, two Indian nations, lafted two full hours for each nation, in whicli, {■ays Charlevoix, I took very little delight, not only becaufe of the monotony and difagreeablenefs of the mufic, but alfo becaufe this dancing confifted only in fome contorfions of body, exprelfive of nothing, and void of all meaning, , and very far from being any way diverting.' Rematks. This feaft, that writer proceeds, was made in honour of the new French coar mandant, in which, he fays, he faw none of thofe ceremonies mentioned in fome authors, fuch as placing the commandant on a matrafs, making him prefents, placing a crown of feathers on his head, and prefenting him the calumet; nor were there any naked men, painted all over, adorned with feathers and collars of porcelain, and holding in their hands the calumet. Perhaps this is not the cuftom of thofe particular favages, 75 ■of the different Indian Nations inhabitmg Canada. favages, and perhaps alfo M. de Montigny had difpenfed with this part of the cere¬ monial. I obferved only, that here and there alL the affiftants made great fliouts of applaufe in honour of the dancers, and efpecially during the dance of the OSlchagras, who, of the two nations, diverfified their play more, fljewed an extraordinary agility, are lighter and better made, and, in fliort, bore away all the honours of the day. The dance of the Difcovery is probably more entertaining. It has not only more adion in it, but is alfo more expreffive of the fubjed, which it reprefents, than the former. It is properly a lively reprefentation of all the particulars of a campaign j and as thefe Indians turn all their thoughts to furprife their enemy, as before ob¬ ferved, their whole art military confifts only in ftratagem ; hence, probably, this dance has obtained the name of the Difcovery. Be this as it will, one man alone dances; at iirft he advances flowly into the middle of the place, where, after remain¬ ing fome time without motion, he reprefents, one after another, the departure of the warriors for the campaign, the march, their encampments, the fetting out on the difcovery, the approach towards the enemy, and the halt as if to recover breath. Then, all of a hidden, tranfporting himfelf into a fury, you would imagine he were going to kill all the world; after this, recovering from the fit, he feizes on one of the affiftants as if he were taking him prifoner of war; fliews the manner of ufing the battle-ax with regard to another; takes aim at a third; and, laft of all, falls a run¬ ning with his utmoft fpeed. He then paufes and recovers his former coolnefs, which lignifies the retreat; then, by different cries, he exprefies the various fituations of his own mind during his laft campaign; and, laftly, clofcs the fcene with the recital of all the fine adions he had performed during the war. When the dance of the calumet, or pipe, has, as ufual, the conclufion of fome „ treaty, or the making fome alliance againll the common enemy for its objed, they cXme° o' engrave in that cafe a ferpent on its funnel, or ftem, and befide it they place a P'Pfi wi* board, on which are reprefented two men of the two confederate nations, with an e- nemy under their feet, who is known by the mark of his nation. Sometimes, in place of the pipe, they make ufe of a battle-ax. But if the bufinefs be only a fimple al¬ liance, they reprefent two men holding each other by one hand, and carrying the pipe of peace in the other, and each having the mark of their own nation befide them. In all treaties they give pledges on both fides, fuch as collars of porcelain, calumets, Treaties at- or pipes of ceremony, flaves, fometimes deer-lkins or elk-lkins, well dreffed, and ad- orned with figures made of hair of porcupines; and it is on thofe flcins that the a-^' bove-mentioned reprefentations are made with this hair, or elfe with fimple colours. There are other dances of a Ampler kind, in which their foie view is to give the warriors occafion to relate their exploits. The Indians are particularly fond of this Ordinary cuftom, and never tired of it. He who gives the repaft invites all thofe of the fame village by tuck of drum, and they affemble in his cabin, if it be capable of containing all the gueffs. The warriours dance one after another, then ftriking on a poll; a filence enfues, when every one fays what he can for himfelf, and now •and then flops to receive the congratulations of the audience, who are far from be- ing fparing of their praifes. But Ihould any of them be found bragging of a feat which is not true, any one prefent is at liberty to fmear his head with earth or afties, or to play him any other roguilh trick he thinks proper. The general way is to black his face, faying to him, “ What I now do is that I may hide thy lliame, for the firft time thou feeft an enemy thou wilt certainly turn as pale as allies;” Thus all nations agree in the opinion that no boafter can poffibly be a brave man. He who has punilhed the vain-glorious in this manner takes his place, and if he falls into the fame fault, the other is fure to have his revenge in kind. The greateft chief amongft them would not be free from this cenfure, and muff endure it with patience ; this dance is always in the night time. In the Weftern parts there is a different fort of dance which they call the Buffalo Suffab dance. The dancers form themfelves into feveralcircles, and the fymphony, which is ways compofed of the drum and the chichicoue, is placed in the middle of the fpace. ihey take care nof to feparate thofe of the fame family; and never join hands, but arms. Thofe circles turn not all the lame way, 'and 0 ley caper very much, and fpring to a great- height, they never lofe the meafure r cadence of the mufic. The chief prefents his buckler from time to time, U 2 each 76 Of thi Origin, Language, Religion, Government, kc. each of the affiftants ftrike on it, and at every blow they repeat fome of their war¬ like exploits. He then cuts fome tobacco from a pod, where it is always carefully hung on thefe occafions, and prefents it to his friends. If any one of the reft can make it appear that he has performed finer things than the prefent pretender, or that any part of the praife of the deeds he has boafted belongs properly to hira- felf, the chief has a right to retake the tobacco he has cut and prefented, and to be- ftow it on fome other. The dance is accompanied or followed with a feaft. The original of the name of this feftival is quite unknown, unlefs perhaps it comes, as Charlevoix conjedlures, from the bucklers they carry in it, which are made of hides of buffaloes. I (hould be apt to imagine too, that the circles were originally intend¬ ed to reprefent the manner of hunting thofe animals, which are inclofcd and taken by hemming them round. Dances for There are alfo dances preferibed by their phyficians or quacks, as a cure for cer- dirafiLr'* difeafes; but thefe exercifes are commonly performed after a very wanton and lafeivious manner. Some dances are intended merely for diverfion, and relate to no¬ thing elfe. Thefe are always in a round form to the found of the drum and chichi- coue, and the women by themfelves. The men dance w'ith their arms in their hands, and, tho’ they join not hands, take care not to fpoil the figure, which is a circle. The mufic of the Indians confifts only of two or three notes, on which they are per¬ petually chiming, fo that one of us foon grows weary of fuch entertainments, and efpecially the firft time, both on account of their extreme tedioufnefs, for they lail very long, and alfo becaufe one hears nothing but the fame founds repeated with- Gameof the°“’^ end. Platter.” ‘ ' Amongft the games of the Indians one of the moft frequent, and to which they are moft addidled, is called the Game of the Difli or Platter. This is moft in vogue amongft the Hurons, who are fo befotted on it, as to facrifice all the peace of their lives, and reafon itfelf, to its allurements. They often rillc their all at it, and cannot be perfuaded to leave it off, even after lofing all their goods and furniture of their cabins, and ftripping themfelves naked. Some have flaked their liberty for a certain time, a circumftance, which fets the ardency of their paffion for it beyond all doubt, fince no people under heaven fets a greater value on their, liberty than thofe nations. This game, which we fhall call the game of the Platter, can only be played between two perfons, each of whom has fix or eight little bones, fomewhat refembling,' both in fize and figure, the ftones of apricots. Thefe have fix faces of unequal dimenfions, the two chief of which are painted, the one black and the other of a pale yellow, or ftraw colour. Thefe bones are made to hop or leap into the air, by .ftriking the ground or table with a round hollow difli, in which thefe bones are firft placed, and then lhaken or rattled. When they cannot get a platter, they are for¬ ced to be content with tolTing their bones with their hands. If on falling they all prefent the fame colour, he to whom it falls, gets fix points. The party is forty, and in proportion as the other gets, the winner difeounts fo many points from thofe he gained before. Five bones of a colour give only one point for the firft time, but af¬ ter throwing them a fecond time they fweep the board, any lefs number is reckoned no¬ thing. He that wins the party continues the game, but the lofer yields his place to fome other, who is named by the perfon who marks his party. For they all take their different parties from the beginning, fo that the whole village is often concerned in the game, and even fometimes one village plays againft another. Each party choo- fes its own .marker, who gives up at pleafure, which happens only when his own fide has the worft. Every ftroke that is plaid, and efpecially if it be decifive, is attended with a prodigious fliout. The players feem as if tranfported, and the fpec- tators are feized with the fame frenzy. All of them make a thoufand different con- torfions, befpeak the bones, and load the genii of the oppofite party with impreca¬ tions, and the whole village refounds with hallooing and bellowing. If all this be not enough to recall their luck, the lofers have it in their power to put off the party till the morrow, on paying the expence of a very forry treat to the company. They then prepare to return to the fight, each invokes his own guardian genius, throwing at the fame time tobacco into the fire to his honour ; above all they beg of him to grant them happy dreams, and, as foon as day appears, they recommence the game. Great parties laft generally; five or fix days, and often-times the interve¬ ning' night gives them no interruption. In the mean time, as all the affiftants, at leall 77 of the different Indian Nations inhahiting Canada. leaft thofe interefted in the game, are tranfported with eagernefs, and as quarrels fre¬ quently arife, which are never known to happen amongft the Indians, but either when they are drunk or at play, it is eafy to guels how much both parties ftand in need of reft at the end of a game. Tliefe parties at play, are fometimes ordered by tiie prefcription of fome phyfici- an, or at the prayer of fume fick perfon; and a dream of either is fufficient for that to the game, piirpofe. This dream is always taken for the command of fome genius, in which cafe they prepare for the game with uncommon care. They affemble feveral nights fucceffively to make a preliminary trial, and to fee who is like to have the happieft fortune, or luckieft hand at a throw. They confult their genius, they faft, and, if they are married perfons, abftain from their wives, and all this to obtain a favourable dream. Every morning they relate thofe they have had, and amongft all thofe things they could poffibly have dreamt, and which they imagine to have fome lucky inter¬ pretation, they make a colledlion which they inclofe in fatchels and carry about them. If any one has the reputation of being more fortunate than another, which is equi¬ valent, in the opinions of thefe people, with having a more powerful genius, and more difpofed to grant them his protection, they never fail to make him ftand near the perfon who holds the platter. They will even fometimes go a great way to feek fuch a perfon, and if old age or fome other infirmity lliould happen to difable him from coming on his own legs, they will carry him on their flioulders. They have often invited the miflionaries to be prefent at thofe parties, out of a Story of a belief, that their genii w'cre more powerful than their own. It happened that afick^ woman, in one of the Huron villages, having called one of their pretended phyficians, this quack ordered the game'of the platter, diredling, at the fame time, another village for the feene of this tranfaftion. The patient fent without delay to aftc the per- miflion of the chief of it, which was granted, and the game being finiflied, the woman made them a thoufand acknowledgments for her cure. She was fo far, however, from being recovered, that flie was much worfe than ever j but they are obliged to counterfeit an eafe and fatisfiiftion, even when they have leaft grounds. ' The ill nature of this wench, and of her relations, difeharged itfelf on the mifliona- ries,_ for refufing to be prefent at the game, reproaching tliem, for that fince their coming into the country the genii of the Indians had no longer the fame power as in former times. On thefe religious remonftrating to them the weaknefs of their pretended divinities on this occafion, they anfwered them cooly, “ You have your Gods, and we have ours; only we are the worft off of the two, becaufe ours are not fo powerful as yours.” The game of Straws _ is_ another Indian diverfion, praffifed amongft the MiatnisCmcof and Ponteouatamis. This is played, fometimes at leaft, in the chief’s cabin, and in the fquare before it. Thefe ftraws are fmall ruflies of the thicknefs of a ftalk of corn, and of the length of two fingers. They take a parcel of thefe, containing com¬ monly two hundred and one, and always an odd number. After they have ffuffled them very well, making, at the fame time, a thoufand contorfions, and invoking their genii, they divide them by a fort of awl, or pointed bone, into packets of ten ; every one takes one at a venture, and he to whofe lliare the packet with the eleven falls, gains fuch a number of points, according to an agreement made before-hand The party is fixty, or four-fcore. They have alfo different ways of playing the fame game, in which it is obferved h that dexterity has full as large a fliare as chance; that the Indians are, in Befides the great, or fovereign fpirit, of whom, as well as their other principal di- 9 ““'* . vinities, with refpeft to the origin of the world, they have a thoufand abfurd traditi- ; ons, which it would be too tedious to relate in this place, they have alfo an infinity ? of good and evil genii, or inferiour fpirits, who are the foie objefts of their private ! worfliip. The Iroquois place Atabcnjic at the head of all the good, as they make • JouJkeka t\\Q chief of the others, and fometimes confound him with that god who drove i his grandmother from heaven, for fulFering herfelf to be feduced by a mortal. They ad- ] drefs themfelves to their evil genii only to prevent their doing them ill turns, and they I believe the others defigned to be the guardians of mankind, each of whom has his own ( tutelar genius. Thefe ate called in the Huron language Okkis, and in the Algonkin ■j Manitous. To them they have recourfe in all dangers and undertakings, or when 1 they want any extraordinary favour. There is even nothing however unreafonable \ or contrary to good manners, which they think they may not lawfully aik of them. ? They are however far from believing they have any right to their proteftion at their ! birth; in order to merit it, they muft firft of all be expert in the ufe of their bow and arrows: This favour is even received with much preparation, and is properly the moft important article in their whole lives: The chief circumftances in this ceremo¬ ny are as follows. They begin with blacking the vifage of the child ; then they caufe him to obferve a fall of eight days, without eating fo much as a morfel of anything, in which engagin^the time of purification his genius is to appear to him in his dreams. The empty 8°“'^ 8®"“=- brain of a child cannot fail of producing fuch dreams, which they are very careful to make him repeat every morning. They are however obliged to put an end to the farce before the lawful time, few children having ftrength enough to fupport it fo long, tho’ this caufes little inconvenience, as thefe folk are not like fome others altogether unacquainted with the comimodidus methods of difpenfations. The I tutelar genius is always, or at leaft for the moft part, the fubjeft of the infant’s dreams, 1 'v phantom or image is regarded as the fymbol, or figure, under which ! the fpirit appears. Tho’ it happens to thofe Indians as it does to the greateft part ! of mankind, to attach themfelves to the figure, whilft they entirely lofe fight of the ^ lubllance. . j j o _ Thefe fymbols, however, have no fignification by themfelves; and fometimes the Symbols of fymbol is a bird, fometimes the foot of fome animal, or a piece of wood; in flrort, the moft common and worthlefs thing, in. the world. They are, however, preferved with the fame care that the ancients had of their dit penafes, or houlbould gods, leie IS even nothing in all nature, if we credit thofe Indians, which ha? not its 8 © Of the Vrigin, Language.) Religion^ Government, &c. fpirit, fho’ thefe fpirits are of all ranks and clalTes, and all of them have not an equal Nbiing power or virtue. When they find themfelves at a lofs to comprehend any thing, they without Its attribute it to fome fuperior genius; and then their way of expreffing themfelves is, ’ by faying, this is a Jfirit. The fame is faid, and with more grounds, of men of extraordinary or. of fuperior talents, or who perform any thing beyond common, they are fpirits j which is equivalent to faying, they have a tutelar genius of an order fuperior to the common run of mankind. Religious im-. Some of them, but efpecially their quacks, endeavour to perfuade the multitude poftors. that they fuffer tranfports, and are in extafies, or, in other words, that they are fik led with a divine ^ enthufiafm, the parent, fays Charlevoix, of all falfe religions. And the natural vanity of man, or, what might be faid with more juftice, their felfiflinels has not been able to difeoyer any machine more capable of governing the ignorant] and the multitude at laft-draws thofe who value themfelves moft on their fuperior underllanding along with them down the ftream of popular error ; an obfer- vation juftified by the experience of all ages. The American impoftors are not -beholden to any other nation in regard to this point, and none are better acquainted with the fecret of drawing every poffible advantage from the holy craft, The quacks above’ all take care to make the people believe that, in thofe exta- fies, their genii reveal the fecrets of the moll: diftant events that lie hid in the womb of futurity. And as they fometimes have the good luck to guefs tolerably well, they by this means acquire infinite credit, and are believed to be infpired wdth fome genius of the firft order. declared to a child what he is to look upon as his tutelar genin'r'^ genius, from that time forth they inftruft him carefully with refpeft to the obli¬ gation laid on him, to honour him, to follow all the advice he may receive from him in dreams, to merit his favour, to put his whole trull: and confidence in him, and to' dread the elfedts of his wrath, Ihould he negleft to acquit himfelf of hiS du- ty. This ceremony terminates in a feaft, and it is alfo cuftomary to prick on the body of the child, the figure of the Okli or Mannitou, to whole proteftion he has been recommended. So folemn an engagement, the mark of which can never he erafed, mull needs, one would imagine, be moll inviolable ; tho’ a very trifle, they fay, is fufficient to deltroy it. Genius Indians are not eafily induced to allow themfelves to be in the wrong, even changes. ><1 affahs in which the honour of their gods is concerned, and make no manner of difficulty of juftifying themfelves at the expence of their divinities. Thus, on any fault committed, the blame is alway'S thrown upon their tutelar genius, for whicli too they look out for fome other without ceremony, which is done with the fame precautions as. at firll. The women have alfo their Manitous, or Okkis, but are far from paying them the regard which the men Ihew them, becaufe perhaps they have not fo much bufinefs for them. They offer up different forts of gifts, or, it you will, facrificesto thefe fpirits. They , throw into the lakes and rivers tobacco, or birds, firft ftrangled, in order to propitiate the gods of the waters. In honour of the fun, and’ fometimes of inferior divinities, they throw into the fire all manner of-things ufeful in common life, and what they believe they derive from thofe infe¬ rior beings. This is fometimes done out of gratitude, and by way of acknowledge¬ ment, but oftner like fome others, from views of intereft. And even thofe acknowledge- meiits are made with an eye to fome advantage, thofe nations being entirely unac¬ quainted with fentiments of love towards their gods. We may obferve alfo a fort of libations amongft the Indians, and all this. accompanied with invocations, couched in very myfterious terms, which they have never been able to explain to the Europeans, whether it be that they have really and at bottom no meaning at all, 'or that'the fenfe has not been tranfmitted in the fame tradition which conveyed the words 3 and perhaps they are willing we. Ihould never comprehend the meaning of them at all. Falls. Some pretend that their fafts have no other end befides accuftoming them to en- .dufe hunger 5 and probably this motive may have fome influence on them. But every circumftance with which they are accompanied leaves no room to doubt that, , religion is the chief thing regarded in them. We need nothing elfe to perfuade lis of this, befides their attention to obferve their dreams at thofe times, fuch dreams being coniidered as fo many oracles and revelations of the divine will- , ' ’Vows 8r of ihe different Indian Nations inhabiting Canada. Vows are alfo afts purely religious amongft thofe nations, in which their cuftom correfponds exadfly with thole of the other parts of the world. As, for inftance, in a fcarcity of provilions, a circumftance which often happens in their voyages and hun¬ tings, they vow to their genii to give to one of their chiefs in honour of them, a proportion of the lirft beaft they fliall kill, and oblige themfelves not to eat meat till they have performed their promife. If the thing becomes impoffible, on account of the too great diftance of the chief, they burn the part allotted for him, and thus it becomes a fort of liicrifice. The Indians, in the neighbourhood of Acadia, had formerly, in a particular part of their country, which bordered on the fea, a very old tree, of which they relate very wonderful things, and which was always loaden with offerings. The fea having laid open all its roots, it fupported itfelf a long time almoft in the air, againft the united violence of winds and waves, which confirmed the Indians in the notion of its being the refidence of fome great fpirit; and even its fall was not capable of undeceiving them, for fo long as the end of any branch of it was to be feen above water they ftill continued the ufual offerings to it. Moll; part of their feafts, fongs, and dances, have alfo probably their origin in reli- Indian gion, of which they preferve feveral traces, which has induced fome, tho’ upon very flight grounds, to believe the Indians defcended from the antient Kebrenas. There are in fad fome of them who never ufe any knife in certain repafts, and are very care* fill not to break the bones of the beafts that are eaten on thofe occafions. Some think too their living apart from their women, in the time of certain diforders peculiar to their fex, and the found of a word often ufed in fome of their fongs which is the fame, or very near it, with that of the alkluja, are fo many arguments in favour of this pedigree. But it might, with equal reafon, be alledged that,..the cuftom of piercing their ears and noftrils is obferved in compliance with the law of circumcifion, the ufe of which is known to be much more ancient than the promulgation of the law of Mount Sinai. The feaft, on the return from the chace, in which nothing is to be left, has alfo been taken for a kind of holocaufte, or for one of the rites of the Jew- ijb paflover, and the rather, as it is ufual with the Indians, when they find themfelves unable to manage their lliare, or portion, to make ufe of the ftomachs of their neighbours, as the Jews did, in the cafe when a family was not fufficient to con- fume the. whole pafchal lamb by themfelves. An ancient miflionary, who refided for a long time among the Outaouais, writes, Unjuiiiy that an old man officiates as prieft in the feftivals of the Indians juft now men- w'* tioned. He begins with offering them their thanks for the fuccefs they have had In hunting, after which fome other Indian takes a loaf of tobacco, breaks it in two, and then throw's it into the fire. From hence, my author concludes, that thofe who have cited this nation as a proof of the poffibility of atheifm, properly fo called, are really ignorant of their manners and notions. They never indeed difpute about re¬ ligious matters, and their extreme indolence in this refpeft, by which I fuppofe he means their unwillingnefs to enter into fuch difcuffions, is the greateft obftacle that has obftruaed their converfion to Chriftianity. But it cannot, with any juftice, be con¬ cluded from this circumftance that they are void of all notions of a God. Indolence is faid to be their predominant inclination, which is even invincible in their moft in- terefting affairs, tho’, in fpite of this vice, and even of that fpirit of independancCj in which they have been educated, there is no nation that live in a ftate of greater dread, confided as their notions are of the divinity, never afcribing any thing to chance, and determining every thing by certain omens, which they look upon as fo many warnings from heaven, and revelations of the divine will. It has^ been affirmed by feveral writers, who have left memoirs of the natives of the continent ox North America, that there were formerly amongft them certain young women, living apart from all commerce and knowledge of man, and who never marrieffi Thefe veftals, fay they, were held in great veneration, tho’ the moft anti¬ ent mifliomnes take no notice of them. There have adually been amongft the /ro- gum and Hurons, and that not long fince, certain reclufes, who preferved their virgi- to this day, fhew you certain plants, which, according to tiiOT, have no manner of virtue or efficacy, unlefs employed by virgin hands. e belief of the immortality of the foul is moft firmly rooted amongft the Ame- Mam he rtcans ot this part of the continent. They conceive of it however not as a fubftance Y t immorul. purely 82 Of tk Origin, Language, Religion, Government, 8 cc. purely fpiritual, no more than their genii, being incapable of giving any clear and diftiuft notion of either. When they are afked what they thiiik of iouls, they anfwer, that they are a kind of living (hadows, and images of the body, and by confequence de¬ rived from the fame principle. They believe that every thing in the univerie is ani¬ mated and informed with a foul. It is there lore, from tradition only, they hold that the foul never dies. In the di.derent ways of exprefling themfelves on this head, they often,confound, the foul with its faculties, and the faculties with their operations, tho’ they are not ignorant of tlie difference between them, when they pleafe to e.x- prefs thetafelves with greater exadlnefs. Notions of They are alfo of opinion that the foul preferves the fame inclinations after it lias feparntc fouls, been feparated from the body, which it had before the feparation, for which reafon, they bury with their dead every thing made ufe of by them when alive. They are all'o perfuaded that the fouls hover about the carcafe till the feaft of the dead, after which, it goes into the country of fouls, or tranfmigrates, according to fome, into a tur¬ tle dove. Two fouls in Others of them acknowledge two different fouls in man, to one they afcrlbe all that one body, has been juft now mentioned, and pretend that the other never quits the body, except to inform or animate lome other, tho’ this, according to their fyltem, happens only to infants, who having enjoyed but a fmall portion of human life, have leave granted them to begin a fecond cotirfe of life. For this caufe they bury children along their high ways, that the women may colleft their fouls as they pafs. Thefe fouls, which are fo very faithful companions to their bodies, are at the lame time to be fupported and fed, and it is todifeharge this pious duty, that they carry viduals to their tomb; this pradice, however, is of fhort continuance, whence the fouls are to accuftom them¬ felves by degrees to longer fafts, fince they often find it difficult enough to provide for the living, without fupplying thofe who have left their focicty for that of the dead. Prefentsmade There is One circumflance which they never forget, even in the greatefl extremi- to the dead. ties. As it is ufual with us for the living to flrip the deceafed of every thing, the Indians, on the contrary, not only carry every thing that belonged to them to their tombs, but prefents are alfo made them by their relations and friends. And this is the reafon they were fo much fcandalifed at the French, who opened their fepulciiers in order to rob the dead of their beaver robes. Tombs are held fo facred in this country, that to prophane them is reckoned one of the greatefl ads of hoflility that can be committed againft any nation, and the moll undoubted proof, that they are refolved to obferve no meafures with them for the future. Region of The region which, according to them, is to become the everlafling abode of their fouls. fouls, after feparation from their bodies, is fituated at a great diflance Weft wards, fo that their fouls are feveral months on their journey thither. They have even fur- prifing difficulties to furmount, and are expofed to prodigious hazards, before they are able to reach it. They take notice above all of a certain great river they are to pafs, on which feveral have been fhipwrecked ; of a dog, from whom they have much ado to defend themfelves j of a place of fuffering, that is their purgatory, where they expiate their faults; of a cave, in which the fouls of thofe prifoners of war who have been burnt are tormented, and where they arrive after making all poffible delays. Vain opini- notion is the caufe why, after the death of thofe uhhappy perfbns, they are onsand fables Very Careful to fearch every place, llriking inceffantly with rods, and making at ths °voAi hideous cries, to drive away their fouls, which they are afraid would o- ■ therwife continue to hover about their cabins. The Iroquois fay, that Atahenjic maks his ordinary abode in this Tartarus, where his conftant employment is to fetluce ■fouls to their utter ruin: But that JouJkeka leaves no ftone unturned to fortify them a- gainll the wicked defigns of his grandfether. Amongfl the fabulous ftories of what pafles in the other world, which are fo like thofe of Homer and Virgil, there is one feems copied from that of Orpheus and Eurydice, fo much to the life that there needs nothing but changing the names to make it exadlly the fame. Mm Para-. Moreover, the happinefs with which the Indians flatter themfelves in their el)'- •i'"' fium, is not confidered merely as the reward of a virtuous life ; for to have been i good hunter, brave in war, happy in all undertakings, and to have killed and burned a great number of enemies, are' the foie titles they plead to be admitted into their paradife, the felicity of -which confifts in an unexhauftible plenty of game and fifliingi of the differeJtt Indian Natiotis inhabiting Canada. 8 3 an eternal fpring, vail: abundance of all things, without being obliged to work, and the full and moft exquifite gratification of all the fenfes. Thus the foundations of every nation’s belief, in regard to a future ftate, are, we fee, exadtly the fame, even of thofe h'ftems which are held moft metaphyfical, propofing all foits of happinefs of whicli we have any idea, or perhaps are capable, and that, without end, for the good ; and, for the vicious, every thing that is the reverfe of this felicity. Nor is the oblervation of Charlevoix perfedtly juft in this place, where he fays, that a virtuous life is not what gives a title to the Indian clyfium ; by wdrich, I fuppofe, he means the virtues of private life ; for fifliing and huiiting are ceconomical virtues in this country ; and as for the merit drawn from the number of enemies killed, every body fees the conneftion this has with the public good, and the defence and fecurity of the community. Thefe temporal bleffings are alfo the foie objedf of their prayers. All their Objeas of fongs, which are originally their forms of prayer, turn only upon the good things of this world, there being no mention in them, no more than in their vows, of any thing relating to another. The fouls of hearts have al.ft) a place in the lower, or rather in the Weftern re- souisofbratcs gions of the Americans^ and are full as immortal as ours. They alfo allow them a immor:.’.!. kind of reafon, and not only every fpecies, but even every individual animal, has, according to them, its peculiar guardian fpirit. In fhort, they make no difte- rence between the brutes and men, except in degree only, man being, according to them, no more than the king of animals, who have all the fame faculties, though he poflelfes them in a fuperior degree. They hold alfo, that there are in hell models of fouls of all forts, though they trouble themfelves very little with diving further into thofe matters, as well as with every other topic of ptire fpeculation. As to dreams, they vary very much in their manner of explaining themfelves on this or the nature topic. Sometimes it is the reafonable foul, which walks abroad, whilft the fenfitive foul dreams,ac. continues to.animate the body. Sometimes it is the familiar genius, who gives wholefome advice with refped to what is to happen ; now it is a vifit paid by the foul of the perfon of whom they are dreaming. But in whatever way the dream be conceived, it is always regarded as a thing lacred, and as the means the gods moft commonly ufe to make known their will to mankind. They cannot conceive it poffible for the Europeans to mdke fo light of them, and, for the moft part, look upon dreams as the defires of a foul infpired by fome fpirit, or as an order from him. Hence they make it a reli¬ gious duty to comply with it. Thus an Lidian having dreamt of cutting off a finger, caufed the fame to be aftually chopped off, after having prepared himfelf for this im¬ portant adfion by a feaft. Another feeing himfelf, in a dream, prifoner amongft his enemies, was much perplexed ; but, after confulting the quacks, he w'as, by their advice, tied to a port, and burnt in feveral parts of the body. The Indians have happy and unhappy dreams. To dream, for inftance, of feeing a great number of elks, is a fign of long life ; but to dream of bears, is a fign of dy¬ ing foon, except when this happens, as has been faid, at the time when they are fetting out to hunt thofe animals. To fliew to what an extravagant degree they carry thefe fuppolitions, I fliall lay before the reader a •faft attefted by irreproachable witnefles, who were themfelves fpedlators of it. Two miflionaries were on a journey with fome Indians, and one night as all were stnry o.r an afleep, one of their guides ftarted up, quite out of breath, and trembling with fear, making efforts to cry, and beating himfelf, as if portelfed with a devil. Every body was foon awake with the noifej at firft they believed the perfon feized with fome frenzy; they laid hold of him, and tried every method that could be thought of to reduce him to a lettled temper, but all to no purpofe; the madnefs getting the better wa more,^ fo that being unable to confine hirh, they were obliged to 1 e ad arms from him for fear of fome accident. Some time after this it was propok'd to give him a potion made with certain herbs of great virtue j but when key were leaft aware of him, the patient leapt into the river. He w^as immediately rawn out, and tho he could not conceal what he fulfered from the cold, he could no e perluaded to come near the fire, which was kindled mn purpofe, but fat himfelf own at the foot of a tree, where, appearing fomewhat calmeti they brought him lome broth which they had prepared for him ; he told them they muft give it to Y 2 this 84 Of the Origin, Language, Religion, Gaoertiment, &c. this child, by which they meant a bear’s {kin which they had (luffed with ffraw; they complied with his requell, pouring the broth down the throat of that animal. Then .they afee' him the occafion of his diflemper. “ I dreamt, faid he, I had a fcreech-owl in my beliy.” They all fell a laughing, but however the bufinefs was how to cure his dilordered imagination which was done in the following manner : Method of pretended all of tncm to be afflidled with the fame diforder, and crying out 'a!rc.° ° as loud as they could, that they had each fome animal in their belly, adding that they ' did not like throwing themfelves into the river to unhoufe the creature becaufe of the exceffive cold ; and that they thought fweating much the bettf r way of the two. The Hypocondriac relilhing this propofal, they immediately fet about eredting a (love, which they all went into with loud cries, and afterwards fell every one to imitate the animal he pretended he had in his belly, one counterfeiting a goofe, another a duck, this a buftard, that a frog, and the dreamer his owl. But what w'as peculiarly diverting in this farce was, that they all beat time on the back and llioulders of the patient, in order to weary him into a fleep, tho’ the fame prefeription would keep a- ny but an Indian from clofing his eyes for feveral days to come. They fucceeded however in their intention, the patient fell into a fleep, which held him a confidera- ble time, and when he awaked found himfelf perfedly cured, not perceiving the fweat, which muff certainly have exhaufted him, nor fenfible of the blows and bruifes he had received, having loft all remembrance of the very dream which had coft him fo much terror and pain together. Obligations But not the dreamer alone is to difeharge the obligations to which they imagine of dreams, themfelves fubjedted by their means, and it would be highly criminal for any perfon confulted by the patient in this cafe, to refufe performing any thing he may require; a circumftance, which, amongft any other people than Indians, might have very trou- blefome confequences. But as they are perfeiftly free from views of intereft, and are all equally fubjedt to the fame inconveniences, they abufe this cuftom lefs than any other fort of men would probably do, where the fame frets prevailed. If the thing, required be of fuch a nature as that it cannot be afforded by the perfon of whom it is demanded, the public takes the burden on itfelfj and if it fhould be neceffary to go five hundred leagues to find it; and let it coft what it will, it muft at all events be had. This boon is preferved with the utmoft care, and if it be an inanimate thing, their anxiety about it is but moderate, but if it be fome animal, the death of it fills them with the moft dreadful apprehenfions. Cifficnlt cafe Si^ould an Indian dream of killing another, the affair becomes ftill more ferious, for he will certainly in that cafe be the death of him, if he can accomplifli it by any means whatever. But wo to the dreamer, fhould any other take it into his head to dream that he revenges the deceafed. With a little precaution, however, one is eafily extricated from this embarrafsment, and a dream which feems to oppofe and contradift the firft is all that is requifite for the purpofe. In this cafe he whofe dream is prior, fays, “ I fee and am fatisfied, that your fpirit (or familiar) is much fu- perior in ftrength to mine, for which caufe we will infill: on it no longer.” Some indeed are more difficult to be fatisfied on this head, but there are very few who may not be contented, and their genii appeafed by fome prefent. Mad feaft of Whether religion was ever concerned in the feftival called the feajl of dream, dreams. or, which the Iroquois, and fome other nations, have much better termed the feaft of tin turning of the brain, cannot eafily be afeertained. This is a kind of Bacchanalian feftival, which lafts generally fifteen days, and is celebrated towards the end of winter. There is no fort of folly which is not committed on thofe occafions, every one running Ifom cabin to cabin, difguifed in a thoufand ridiculous manners: They break and throw down every thing, and no body dares to hinder them. If any perfon he de- firous of fhunning this confiifion, and to get out of the reach of a thoufand affronts, which muft otherwife be endured, there is no way left for him but to defert the village for a time. On meeting any perfon, the firft greeting is to give him fome dream to interpret, and if he can unravel it, it is to his coft, for he is to give the dream¬ er the fubjeift of his dream. On the conclulion of the mafquerade, every thing is reftored, a great feaft is made, and every one thinks how the fad effeds of their madnefs may be repaired ; and this is often attended with no fraall inconveniencies, or rather mifehiefs, as time and occafion, which v/as longed for in filence, in order of the different Indian Nations inhahiting Canada. 85 to have amends of thofe who might have given them an abufe, now offer themfelvcsj but all is to be forgotten as foon as the feaft is over. The defeription of one of thefe feafts, from the memoirs of a miffionary who was Defcribcd. prefent at it fore againft his will, is as follows: It was held at Omontagid, and pro¬ claimed by the fenators, or elders, with the fame folemnity as if it had been an affair relating to the ftate. Scarce had they returned to their different places of abode, when, all of a fudden, men, women, and children turned out naked, notwithftanding the extreme cold. At firft they vifited every cabin, after whicl\they ftrolled about from place to place, without knowing whither they went, or what they wanted, and a. Ipedlator would have concluded them perfons tranfported befides themfelves with drunkennefs or madnefs. Some confined their extravagance within more moderate bounds; but others were for making ufe of all the indulgencies of this carnival, during which they are reputed non compos, and, by a fundamental maxim in the Indian laws, deemed not refponfable for their adlions, and at full freedom to revenge their private grudges. On fome they threw buckets of water, which freezing inftantaneoully with the intenfe cold, ftruck to the very heart of thofe on whom it was thrown ; others they faluted with volleys of hot embers, and filth of all kinds; fome difeharged fire¬ brands at the head of the firft perfon they met ■ and others again broke and demoliflied all the furniture of the cabins, and falling upon thofe to whom they bore any ill will, loaded them with blows. In lliort, there was no deliverance from this fort of perfe- cution, but by interpreting their dreams, which were abfurd and inconceivable to the laft degree. The miffionary and his companion were upon the point of being fomething more than mere fpedators of what pafled. One of thefe furies entering a cabin, in which of dre^ers" they had feen them take fandtuary, at the beginning of the hubbub, and had juft left, and not finding them there, cried out to explain his dream, and, upon hefitation, faid he would kill a Frenchman, when immediately the mafter of the hut threw a fuit of French cloathes upon the floor, which the dreamer again and again ran through with a fword. Upon this, he who had thrown down the cloathes, falling into a fit of tranfport in his turn, faid he was for revenging the Frenchman, and that he was going to reduce the whole village to allies. He began by adlually fetting fire to his own cabin, in which this feene happened, and where, after every body had left it, he ffiut himfelf up. The fire was already kindled in feveral places within, but did not as yet difeover' itfelf without, when one of the miffionaries returning, and being told what had been done by his landlord, made what hafte he could to break open the door, feized the Indian, whom he thruft out, extinguiflied the fire, and fliut himfelf up in the cabin. His hoft, in the mean time, ran over the whole village, crying out that he would fet fire to every thing ; upon which they threw out a dog to him, in hopes he would glut his vengeance on that animal j but he in- fifted, that the offering was not fufficient to expiate the death of his gueft, who had been murdered in his houfe. Then they threw him a fecond dog, which he tore to pieces, and then all his rage fubfided, and he recovered his former tranquility. This Indian had a brother, who was alfo willing to bear his part in the play. He drefled himfelf in much the fame manner as we reprefent the Satyrs, covering himfelf Bacchanalian from head to foot with the leaves of maiz. He caufed two women to be attired 'v™'"' like Megeras, or Furies, their faces blacked, their hair diffievelled, with a wolf’s flein over their bodies, and bills in their hands. Thus efcorted, he vifited all the cabins, howling and fliouting with all his might, climbing on the roofs, and playing a thou- fand aiitics, with an agility equal to that of the moft farrious rope-dancer; then ma¬ king hideous cries, as if fome vaft misfortune had befallen him, he at laft defeended, and walking with a folemn pace, preceded by his two Bacchanalians, who becoming tranfported in their turns, overturned with their bills every thing that came in their way. They were fcarce recovered from their trance, when another woman took meir place, and entering the hut where fat the two Jefuits, armed with a mufquet ,lhe had got by caufing lome perfon to expound her dream, fung the war-fong, making a thoufand imprecations upon herfelf, if ftie did not bring home prifoners. A warrior followed clofe after this Amazon, with a bow and arrow in one hand, o,,,„ and a bayonet in the other. After he had made himfelf hoarfe with hallooing, he of diftraaion lell, all of a fudden, on a woman, who little thought of any fuch attach, and Z holding 86 P Of the Origin^ Language, Religion, Government, &c. holding his bayonet to her throat, and twilling his hands iii her hair, cut off one of her ha'nds, and went his way. 0ne of the jongleurs then made his appearance, bearing in his hand a flaff adorned with feathers, by means of which, he boafted, he could divine the moll hidden fecrets. An Indian woman attended this perfonage, holding a vafe full of a certain liquor, of which Ihe now and then gave the quack to drink. He no fooner tailed of it, than he fpit it out, blowing on his hands and llaff, and at each time he explained fuch riddles as were propofed to him. Two women followed, indicating, that they wanted fomething. One fpread a matrafs, or covering, by which it was conjedtured, that llie allied for filh, which were accordingly given her. The other having a hoe in her hand, they concluded Ihe wanted a field to cultivate ; Ihe was therefore immediately led out of the village, and fet to work with her hoe, A chief had dreamt, it feems, of feeing two human hearts; his dream was difficult to interpret, and this caufed a general uneafinefs. He made a great deal of noife ; the feall was therefore prolonged for another day, but all to no purpofe, and it was ah- folutely neceffary that he Ihould be appealed. Sometimes were feen bands of armed men, who threatened to come to blows; at others, troops of buffoons, playing all manner of fltrces. This madnefs lalled for four days, the games being reduced to this length from the accullomed time of fifteen, probably out of refpedl to the Jefuits, towards whom they carried their complaifance fo far as not to molell them, nor the Chrillian Indians, in the exercife of their fundtions- and religious duties. Witchcraft in Indians have recourfe to none but the good genii ; the wizards only, and thofc abliorrence. who are addifted to witchcraft, are thought to be in compaft with the evil genii; and the women are chiefly fufpefted of following this abominable practice. Their jon¬ gleurs, or priefts, who are alfo their phyficians, not only refrain from it, at leaft open¬ ly, but make it a particular part of their profefTion to qualify themfelves for difeoverinj thcfongleurl witchcraft, and preventing its pernicious eftedls. All that is related to this purpofe is mere quackery ; for fometimes they make ufe of the venom which they extradl from ferperits; fometimes of herbs gathered in certain feafons, and whilft they are mutterinj fome particular words; or, laftly, of certain animals, which they ftrangle, and of which they throw fome parts into the fire. inJiam in Amongfl the Illinois, and fome other nations, they make an odd kind of human f- dread of ma- to reprefent fuch perfons as they intend to deflroy, and which they pierce to the h heart. Sometimes they take a flone, and, by virtue of certain incantations, pretend to form fuch another in the hearts of their enemies. The Indians have fiich dread- jj ful apprehenfions of magic, that the flightefl fufpicion of pradlifing it expofes one to i be torn to pieces j and yet we find every where perfons who follow this dangeroffi \ employment. i Prctenfionsof ^he quaclcs of Canada make'profeflion of correfponding with the genii whiclt | thcjonglenrs. they call and pretend to know, by their means, what pafles in the moil ■ remote regions, as well as what is to happen in the mofl diflant futurity j that they can t difeover the caufe and nature of the moil hidden or complicated diflempers, with thdr [ method of cure; determine what is to be done in the mofl difficult and perplexinj affairs; explain the mofl obfeure dreams; procure fuccefs in the mofl difficult under- | takings and negociations j and, laflly, render the gods propitious to their hunters and warriors. They are even faid to perform things capable of impofing on more ’ than the multitude; and when they fhut themfelves up in their floves, in order to raife a fweat, one of their mofl ordinary preparatives, they refemble exaftly what we f Enthufialb. read in the poets of the ancient Pithias, {Priepjfes of Jpollo) on the tripod, enterin; into all their convulfions and enthufiafm, with the fame tone of voice, and performing j adlions feemingly beyond human power, and infpiring the fpedlators with an awe and | terror which they cannot refill. Thefe jongleurs are alfo the only perfons to whom j it is lawful to conjure or raife up fpirits on occafion of public tranfadions. j Preparation, Thefe quacks are not permitted to exercife their profeflion, till they have firf initiation,and entered into a fort of treaty, or compad, with the genii, for which they qualify “”^0^™'-themfelves by long and rigorous falling, during which they are continually weeping, fmoking, howling, finging, and beating the drum. This initiation is afterwards per¬ formed in a fort of Bacchanal, with extravagant ceremonies, and a flrange enthufiafm. Their office is reflrained to prophecying, or interpreting the wills of the gods, the chiefs being their foie priells, who offer fiicrifices to the gods in all public ceremonies, and the mailers of families in domeflic worfln’p. The chief, or at leafl moll profitahk employment of the different Indian Nations inhabiting Canada. employment of their quacks is that of phyfic, the principles of which are founded on the knowledge of fimples, on experience, qnd on the different fituations of the patient, but always with a confiderable mixture of quackery and fuperftition, at the expence of the vulgar. The chief ufe they make of fimples is in wounds, fradlures, diflocations, luxations, and ruptures. They blame large incifions, and extrad: not only the pus, but even ticeof fplinters, ftones, iron, and all other noxious matter from w'ounds, by a mixture of the juice of different plants, which is alfo the diet of the patient, till the wound is cured j and he who probes it, fwallows fome of it before he proceeds to fuck the wound, when there is a neceffity for this method j but this is feldom done, the moft common way being to injed the juice into the wound with a fyringe. They are allowed, however, to have excellent remedies, and very valuable fecrets, for the cure of certain diftempers, and particularly for the palfy, dropfy, and venereal difeafe. In fome countries, as foon as the fick perfon is given over, the way is to difpatch DifTet him, that he may not languifli. In the canton of Onnontague they bury children un- , weaned with their mothers, from a perfuafion, that no other women could bring them up. And fome nations, when their fick are in a defperate ftate, are faid to leave them to die of hunger and third:. Others, we are told, fliut the eyes and mouth of the dying perfon, that they may not fee the diftortions of their features in their lad: agonies. When the fick perfon finds himfelf going the way of all fiedi, he affumes a ftoical B.-i.av heroifm, and beholds himfelf on the point of reparation from thofe who are deareft to him without the lead: emotion. As foon as the fentence of death is pronounced by the mouth of the quack, he makes an effort to harangue the by-ftanders; and, if he happens to be the head of a family, he makes a fort ot funeral lermon on himfelf be¬ fore-hand, which he clofes with his bed: counfel to his children ; then, after taking leave of all the people, he orders a feaft to be given, in which all the provifions in the houfe are to be ferved up, when he receives the prefents of his family. In the mean time, they cut the throats of all the dogs they can find, that their fouls may carry the news to the netlier world, that fuch an one is juft upon fettiug out for thofe regions, all the carcafes being thrown into the chaldron, to increafe the repaft. The feaft being ended, the tears begin m dow, which are afterwards interrupted to bid the lad: farewel to the fick man, to widi him a happy voyage, to comfort him for the lofs of his.friends and relations, and, laftly, to affure him that his children will fuppoit the glory of his great adtions. ^ The cool blood with which they face the king of terrors is perfedly admirable, no Indian having ever been alarmed to hear that he had only a few hours to live Nothing f IS to be feen but dancing, finging, invocations of the genii, feafts which are prefcribed by tlie pliyficians and remedies, according to our way of thinking in Europe, more ikely to finiQi than cure a fick perfon, who, if he happens to recover, afcribes all the honour to the fpirits. ^ Their generofity and affedion towards the dead are no lefs wonderful. Here you Tl'cir w, I (ee nmtners preferve the bodies of their children for whole years, without being able to ftir from them, and others drawing the milk from their breafts, and fiiedding It upon the tombs of their infants. In cafe of a fire in any village, where there are dead ' bodies, they are always the lirft objed of their care. They even ftrip themfelves of tiieir richeft gaiments to cloathe the dead, uncovering their tombs, from time to time to • renew their cloathes and depriving themfelves of their neceffary food, to lay it’ on heir fepulchres, and in places where they imagine their fouls are to haunt. In lliort, tlie expence they are at for their dead far exceeds what is beftowed on the liviiw. wafc ‘°be heard but Ho„o„ tf d k ^ rT fThe corps of the de- Sted bi a "‘^heft robe, his vifage 5 en hid LTr' K f^^V'Page by his fide, and in the pofture he is to be in the woS Tu the fame with that of a child in -re fdd ^.^'I women hired, whofe bufinefs it is to lament the deceafed, who a'ly butfoL'liMtnTfffinging, weeping, and dancing continu- Afierthe intermpL lefien theforrowof the relations, which is real and unfeigned. nt, which is in a fort of cell, hung with furs inftead of tapeftry, and 2 2 much 88 , Of the Origin, Language, Religion, Government, See. much neater than any cabin, they eredt' a pillar, or pile, on the tomb, on which h hung every thing they conceive capable of doing honour to the decealed. Sometimes too they affix his portrait, with a fort of baffo relievo, informing the paffenger who lies interred there, with the particulars of his life moft to his advantage. Thither they bring frefli freffi provifion every morning, and if any animal eat of it, they believe it to be the foul of the dead, who appears in that ffiape. The interment is followed bv making prefents to the family, in the name of the village, and fometimes of the whole nation; even the allies fend their quota when the deceafed happens to be of diftia- guiffied rank. But before this the family give a repaft in the name of the defundl, accompanied with games, and prizes for fuch as diftinguifli themfelves in them. Thefe games are a kind of jufts, or tournaments, races, and fliooting at a mark, the whole ending with fongs and cries of viftory. Moumin of family of the deceafed bear no part in the diverfions, and are obliged hence- the family, forth to obfervc a fort of mourning, which is very fevere. It confifts in cutting off their hair, blacking their faces, and keeping themfelves ftanding, with their heads wrapt in a covering. At the fame time, they are to look at no perfon, make no vi- fits, eat nothing hot, abftain from all manner of pleafures, wear no cloaths, and ne¬ ver to warm themfelves by the fire, even in the midft of winter. After this mour¬ ning, which lafts for two years, there is a fecond, lefs irkfome, which lafls two or three years more, and is alfo capable of a little relaxation. But no abatement is to be made without the confent of the cabin to which the widow or widower belongs, and fuch indulgences are never obtained without the charge of a feaft. Singular no- Indians have a very fingular notion, that fuch perfons as die a violent death, tion of the though in the fervice of their country, have no communication with the reft in the hiiam. Qjjjgj. Yforld, for which caufe, they burn or bury them the moment they expire, and fometimes even before, never laying their bodies with thofe of their other dead, nor allowing them any fhare in their great ceremony, which is renewed every eighth year amongft fome nations, and every tenth amongft the Hurons and Iroquois. Feaft of the This is Called the feaft of the dead, or of fouls, and is by far the moft celebra- dead. ted and folemn aft of religion known amongft thofe nations. The firft thing is to fix the place of aflembly, and then to choofe the king of the feaft, who is to prefide in it, and to invite the neighbouring villages. The day appointed being come, they meet together, and march in proceffion, two and two, to the burying- place, where, after digging up the dead bodies, they remain fome time in dumb contemplation. The women are at firft to break in upon this religious filence, raifing moft lamentable cries, which augments the horror of the fpeftacle. This firft aft over, they take the carcaffes and gathering together the fcattered and loofe bones, lay them on the flioulders of thofe appointed to carry them, taking care to wafh and cut off the rotten parts and other impurities, from fuch bodies as are not intirely putri- fied, wrapping the other remains in new robes of beaver. They return to the village in the fame order they came out, where every one depofits his load in his own cabin. During the march, the women continue their wailings, the men difeovering the fame marks of fadnefs, as on the day of the death of the perfon, whofe remains they are carrying. This is followed by a feaft in every cabin, in honour of their dead. The next day is allotted for public feafting, accompanied as on the day of interment, with dancing, games, and combats, for which there are alfo prizes propofed. Front time to time, they utter certain cries, called the Cries of Souls, giving and receiving pre¬ fents of the ftrangers prefent, fome of whom come from a great diftance. On thele occafions they treat alfo of other affairs, and fometimes eleft their chiefs at tliefe meetings. All this is performed with remarkable decency, order, and modefty, every one appearing filled with fentlments proper for the occafion, the very fongs and dan¬ ces infpiring a certain fadnefs, and the whole fpeftacle being capable of filling the moft infenfible hearts with forrow. The tall fu- Some days after they repair in proceffion to the great council-room prepared on purpofe, netal procef- where they hang up the bones and carcaffes againft the walls, in the fame order as telLTnc. burying place, and where they expofe to public view the prefents deftined for the dead. And if, amongft all thofe fad remains, there happen to he thofe of a chief, his fucceffor gives a great repaft in his name, and fings his fong. In feveral places the carcaffes are carried from canton to canton, and every where re¬ ceived with great demonftrations of the moft lively forrow, always accompanied with 89 of the different Indian Nations inhabiting Canada. brefents. At laft they carry the relics of mortality to the place where they are to re¬ main for ever. All thefe proceflions move along to the .found of inllriiments, accom¬ panied with the fined voices, the attendants all obferving jufl; time and meafure in every ftep. This laft and general burying-place is a large vault, lined with the fineft furs, and every other valuable thing. The prefents for the dead are placed a- part, and the families in the fame order as the proceffion arrives take their places on a fort of fcaffolding ercdfed round the vault; the moment the corps are depofited the women fet up a frefli wailing and weeping; then all the attendants defcend ^ into the vault, and every one takes a fmall quantity of its earth, which is preferved ^ with great care, as fuppofed to have a virtue of procuring good luck at play. The I bodies and bones being laid in order, covered with new lurs, overfpread with the i bark of trees, on which are laid, ftones, wood^ and laftly earth, every one returns to i his own home, only the women continue for fome time to vifit this maufoleum of ; the nation, watering it with their tears. t There is no difference in the drefs of the I/idiM nations, in the hot feafon, their foie brefs of /«- i garment, at fuch times, being generally a fort of frock, or hanyan. In the winter they 1 wear more or fewer clothes in proportion to the climate. They wear on the feet a « kind of focks, made of doe-lkin dried in the fmoke j for ftockings they wear alfo I fkins, or pieees of ftuff, wrapt round their legs. A waiftcoat of fidn covers their j bodies down to their middle, and above that they wear a fort of cloak when they I can afford it, if not, they make themfelves a robe of bear-lkins, or of feveral Heins ; of beavers or otters, or fuch like furs, with the hairy fide inwards. The tunics, or i vefts, of the women reach below the knees, and in cold weather, or when they are f on a voyage or journey, they Wrap their heads in their mantle or robe. Some wear ; fmall bonnets, and others a capuchin joined to their vefts. They have alfo a piece of ftuff or fkin, which ferves them inftead of boddice, and covers them from the waift down to the mid-leg. They are vaftly fond of white fliirts, which they wear over their vefts till they are foul, and then only next their fkin, where it remains till it fails off with rottennefs. Their tunics of fkin are generally prepared in the fmoke like their focks, which is done by firft fuffering them to be thoroughly feafon- • ed with the fmoke, and afterwards rubbing them, when they wafh like lin- nen. They are alfo dreffed by fteeping them in water, and then rubbing them till they grow dry and fupple ; they are, however, much fonder of our fhirts. Many of them, as the Fi^s did form.erly, paint, or prick their bodies all over. Painting of others in fome parts only. This pradice is not only for ornaments fake, but is al- lb a very good defence againft the cold, and the biting of the gnats. In Canada however, thofe who live near the Britifi fettlement, inftead of painting their bodies all over, arc content with making the figures of certain birds, or ferpents, or other animals, and foraetimes of leaves, and fuch like, without any order or proportion, ' fometimes on the face, and fometimes on the eye-lids only, each according to his particular fancy; and many women paint their cheeks over the jaws, as a prefervative from the tooth-ach. ^ This operation, which is not very painful, is jierformed in this manner. They ■ begin by tracing the contour of the figure they intend on the fkin, ftretching it well at the lame time; then with the bones of the fins of fifties, or with needles, they prick It in lines till the blood comes; and, laftly, they rub it with charcoal and other colours pounded very fine. Thefe powders infinuate themfelves into the fkin, and can ne¬ ver be extrafted. The fkin afterwards fwells, becomes inflamed with an itchino-, and 1 a_ fever happens, which is common enough in hot weather, when the operafton is earned too fir, they are fometimes in great danger of their lives. The colours wth which they paint their faces are faid to produce the fame ad- ntages in refpea: to the cold, and are no lefs ornamental than the pundlure This' operation IS performed by the warriors on fetting out for the campaign, to ftrike ter- 0. into the enemy; and by the youth, to give themfelves the fame air with the ve- e am, as well as to heighten the charms of their faces ; in which laft cafe the co- A a The 90 Of the Origin^ Language^ Religion^ Governments 6 cc The colours ufed on thofe occafions, are the fame they employ in dreffing theif drefs. fkins, being either extradled from the bark of certain trees, or from earths of vari. ous forts, which if not lively are at leaft extremely durable. The men add to thefe ornaments down of fwans or other birds, with which they powder their hair after it has been anointed with fat. To thefe they add feathers of various colours, and tufts of the hair of different animals, all arranged in a very fantaftical manner. The difpolition of the hair, fometimes briftling on one. fide, and fmooth and flattened on the other, and frizzled in twenty different manners equally extravagant; pendants in their ears, and fometimes in their noftrils; a great Ihell of porcelain, or, as they call it, wampum, at their neck or breaft ; crowns of rare and curious feathers, with the claws, talons, feet, beaks, and heads, of birds of prey; with the antlers of flags, are fo many parts of the Indian drefs, and the furniture of their wardrobes, the moft prc. cious and magnificent part of which is employed in adorning the unhappy captives when led to execution, or on their firft entring the village of the conquerors. It is obfervable that the drefs of the men is for the mofl part connfined to their heads. Ornamental ^ is quite the reverfe with that of the women, who beftow on their heads hardly drefs of wo- any ornament at all, being extremely jealous of the beauty of their hair, and deem. ing it an intolerable difgrace to have it clipped. Thus on the death of a relation, the greatefl mark of forrow they can fliew, is to cut off part of their hair in token of honour to the deceafed. To preferve its charms, they frequently anoint it with fat, and powder it with the bark of the fpruce-fir pulverifed, and fometimes with ver¬ milion, wrapping it afterwards in an elk’s or ferpent’s fkin, and forming it into treffes, which hang down to their middle. The ornaments of the face confill in drawing fome lines on them with vermilion or fome other colour. They never pierce their noftrils, and it is only cuftomary with certain nations to pierce their ears, When this is the cafe, they infert into them or hang beads of wampum at them, like the men. When they have a mind to be very fine, they drefs themfelves ia robes with all forts of figures painted on them, with fmall collars or belts of wam¬ pum faftened to them, at random, without order or fymmetry, and a kind of border worked tolerably neat with hair of porcupines, which they alfo paint with different colours. They adorn in the fame manner their childrens cradles, which they load Indian huf manner of gew-gaws. bLd^the" Befides the care of the houlhould affairs, and the providing wood for fuel, tlie employment hulbanflry falls almoft entirely to the fhare of the women. As foon as the fnows Lm' melted, and the waters fufiiciently drained off the lands, they begin to prepart the ground, by burning the ftubble of the maiz, or Turky corn, and other herbage, which has remained fince the laft crop, and then till it with a crooked piece of wood which has a very long handle. Befides the nature of the corn that the Indim cultivate, which is all fummer corn, the particular nature of the foil will not per¬ mit their fowing any thing before winter; i though the true reafon feems to k that their corn will never fprout if fown in autumn, becaufe the winter would kil it, or it would rot on the melting of the fnows. And it is alfo conjedlured that tb wheat of Canada, though brought originally from Old France, may have acquired the fame quality of fummer corn, which has not ftrength like that of Eurofi, ti fprout feveral times when fown in the months of September and Odlober. Beans, or what the French call fevetoles, [a fmall round bean] is a favourite article p^s^’mC liidian hufbandry, the ftem of which ferves to fupport them, and is exactly Iff. ’ the fame with thofe of France. They make no ufe of peafe, though they tbrire much better in Canada than in Europe. Tourn-fols, or fun-flowers, water-melons, and pompions, areplanted apart, and, before tranfplanting, are nurfed for fome time in a kind of hotbed, made of a light and black mould. Culture of In the Northern quarter, they fow but little, and in fome parts none at all, and what maiz they ufe, they get by bartering for it with other commodities. This kind of piilfe is very wholefome, light, and nourifhing, though fome are of opinion, tkat the liquor in which it* is boiled, at leaft what the French ufe, gives it a corrofiH quality, the effeds of which are found in time. When the maiz is in the ear and green, fomeroaftit on the grid-iron, when it is very pleafant to the palate j tk' Canadians call it Bled Groule [bulky corn]. There is a particular kind of it whick opens as foon, laid on the fire, called Bled feuri [blown corn] and is very delicious This is prefented to perfons of diftindtion on their arrival in any village, with muck 9 of the different Indian Natiom inhabiting Canada* the fame intention and formalities as when they prefent them with the freedom of a town in Europe, Of this vegetable is made what they call fagamit^ the favourite food of the Sagamitei an Indians of Canada. This is prepared by firft roafting the maiz, then beating it and peeling off the hulks, after which it is boiled, and makes a .taftelefs kind of broth, When there is no meat boiled with it, or forae plums to give it a relifli. It is fome- times made into flower, called farine froid [taftelefs meal] in thefe parts, and is the belt and moft commodious provifion for thofe who undertake long journeys or voyages; thofe who travel on foot carry no other. Maiz is alfo boiled in the hulk when it is yet green and tender, then, after roafting it a little, they peel off the hulks and dry it it in the fun; thus prepared it will keep a long time, and the fa- gamite made of it has an excellent reliih. The Indian women make a kind of bread of maiz, which though it be nothing Bread of maiz but a lump of ill-kneaded and unleavened dough, and roafted under the embers, yet is reckoned a delicacy amongft thefe people, and as fuch is prefented to their friends j but it is to be eaten hot, and will not keep cold. Sometimes they mix with it beans, different forts of fruit, oil, and, what they love moft of any thing, fat. The tount-fols, or fun-flowers, ferve only to produce an oil with which the rub themfelves. This oil is oftncr extrafted from the feed, than from the roots of ° ‘ this plant, which are fomewhat different from our Jerufalem artichokes. The conftant ufe which all the Indians of Canada make of a fort of tobacco, that grows naturally all over the country, has given rife to a belief that thefe people Tobacco of fwallowed the fmoke of it, and lived upon it; a miftake owing to their long faf- tings. They prefer, however, the tobacco which the French and Englijh cultivate to their own, and Canada, by a proper choice of foil, is capable, as I am informed, of producing it in great perfedtion. From what has been faid of the food of the Indians, it is eafy to guefs they are far from being delicate in this particular. Fat, or greafe, is their chief delicacy, and io-’ the principal ragout in all their feafts, when they can get it. And fome pounds candles, in a chaldron of fagamite are, in their opinion, a vaft improvement of the charms of this difli., , The utenfils of the kitchen among the Southern nations were only of earthed ware; in the Northern parts they make ufe of wooden kettles, which they caufed to CuUnary uJ boil by putting red-hot ftones in the water. Both however now ufe iron pots, which is one of the beft articles you can bring to trade with them. Amongft the Weftern nations wild oats fupply the place of maiz, and are equally wholefome, and, if lefs nourifliing, the buffalo hunting, which is plentiful in thefe parts, wiH oat«, more than compenfates that defeft. food. Amongft the wandering Indians, who cultivate no land, under a fcarclty of fifti and game, their whole, refource is a fort of mofs which grows on certain rocks, ex- tremely infipid, and far from being nourifliing, but juft fufficient to keep them alive. What is more ftrange, _we are affured by perfons worthy of credit, that the Indians are peculiarly fond of maiz laid to rot like hemp in ftanding water, where it becomes nj^izmacera- black and ftinking; and that they will not fo much as lofe one drop of the water, ted, a delicacy or ilime, which drops from it, though the very fmell of it be fufHcient to turn an ordinary ftomach. The leffer employments of the Indian women, which commonly take up their at¬ tention within doors, are making a fort of thread of the inner membranes of the bark of a tree called white wood, which is dreffed much like hemp with us. The Wo- women, men alfo dye their ftuffs and other things, and make feveral other works of the bark of trees, as well as feveral pieces of embroidery with the hair of the porcupine, befides cups and other utenfils in wood j they alfo paint and embroider their deer- ikins, and work belts and garters of the wool of buffaloes. The men, on the contrary, feem to glory in their idlenefs, pafling more than half their tme without any employment whatfoever, firom a perfuafion that conftant la- g,,,, our degrades a man, and is properly the province of the women. It is His bu- of Ln. linefs fay they, to fifli, hunt, and goto war. It belongs to them, alfo to prepare all_ the neceffary utenfils for thofe exerclfes; fuch as arms, nets, all the hunting e- qmpage, together with their fifliing-tackle, their canoes with their furniture, fnow- flioes,' 92 Of the Orighi., Langitage^ Religion^ Government^ 8 cc. flioes, and the building and repairing of the cabins. They are often indeed affifted by the women, who in like manner, tho’ in their country affairs they commonly help one another, yet in reaping time, have fometiraes recourfe to the men, who never fcruple lending a hand. /».//■«»harvcil The harvelt ends with a feftiVal and a repaft, which lafts a whole night, the and barns, corn and other fruits being laid up in their proper repofitories, which are holes dug in the earth, and lined with large pieces of the bark of trees. Many of them make the fame place a barn for the Waiz in the ear, which they make into bunches like onions with us, and fometimcs fpread them on long poles over the entry of ca¬ bins ; others chufe to threfli out the grain, and lay it up in large bafkets made of bark, bored on every fide, to preferve it from heating.' But when they are afraid of an irruption of the enemy, or determined to be' long abfent from horire, they fecrete it under ground, in large quantities, where it keeps perfeftly Well. The Chrif- tian Indians are indeed a little mOre induftrioiis, but one may eafily difeover "by the air of penitence, which appears in their fates, that they Work againft the grain, and from a force put upon nature. yw/ancar- The Indians were formerly at a lofs in the felling of their timber, wliich they did pemry. generally by fetting fite to the foots of trees; and to cleave or cut it, they made ufe of hatchets made of flints, which were not eafily broke, though' it cofl; tlieni a great deal of time to grind them down to an edge. To make a handle to their., they cleft the head of forae fapling, as if to graft upon it, and inferred into the fifliire the head of the hatchet; Hence when the tree came to grow about the head, it Was fo firmly fixed, as to be perfectly immoveable. Then they had no more to do hut to cut the tree to the length required, and the inftrument was quite finiflied, and ready to he ufed out of hand. hiSan archi- The Indian villages were formerly of a round figure ; at prefent they are no more tediurc. than a confufed number of huts of bark, fupported by polls, and varying much in their form, and, in Ihort, built with much lefs art, neatnefs, and folidity, than the cabins of the beavers. The Indian cabins or houfes are froin fifteen to twenty feet broad, and fometimes an hundred long, in which cafe they have feveral fires, thirty feet being the fpace allotted for each fire. When the floor is incapable of containing all the inha¬ bitants, the young folks lie Upon a fort of bulk or llall, carried quite round the ca¬ bin, about five foot from the ground; and over this bulk are the moveables and pro- vifions, laid upon boards placed acrofs next the roof. Before the cabin is common¬ ly a kind of porch, or lobby, where the young people lleep in the fummer, ‘ and which ferves alfo for a woodhoufe in the winter. The doors are pieces of bark, hung like window curtains, and never Ihut clofe.. Thefe palaces have neither chimney, nor windows, but only an opening in the middle of the roof, by which part of the fmoke gets vent, 1'his hole however they are obliged to fliut, when it either rains or fiiows, and then, toO, they are forced to put out the fire, or be choaked with the fmoke. PortifiMtion. The Indians underft:and military better than civil architeflure, their villages being en- clofed with a good paliflade and redoubts, where they always take care to lay up good llore of water and Hones. This paliflade is fometimes double, and even triple, the laft row of piles being commonly adorned with battlements. Thefe piles are inter¬ woven with branches of trees, which leave no void fpaces. Before the ufe of fire¬ arms, thefe forts were capable of holding out a long time. In every village there is a place of arms, though generally in bad order. The Iroquois formerly excelled the other Indians in the architedlure of their cabins, as well as in what they build themfelves at prefent. There were figures of relievo, though of a rude manner, to be feen in forne of their cabins. But as all their cantons have been for the moll part reduced' to allies in feveral campaigns, they have never fince thought of redo- ring them. Haraihips of Indians are little felicitous about the conveniences of life in the ordinary places of their abode, they are Hill more unconcerned with refpedt to their winter voyage."^ quarters. Their own country is rough and wild enough, but that where they go to hunt is much more' uneven and difmal. The journey thither colls them a long ' time, during which they are obliged to carry all neceflaries for five or fix months, through ways fo rugged, that one would wonder how the wild bealls could make their palfage over them. The bark of trees, with which they are under an indifpenfabk 93 oj- the diffennt Indian Nations inhabiting Canada* indifpenfable neceflity to provide thenifelves, is all their flielter from the rain and fnow. Tliey flrift better when they have reached their journey’s end, that is, they are not for ever expofed to all the feverity of the weather. Every one is obliged to lend a hand to build the cabins, the miflionaries them- felves not being allowed a feparate one, but forced to take up their quarters in the Q^ir .." " fir/l where they are made welcome. Thefe cabins, or huts, are moftly of a round form, and terminate in a cone; and poles fixed in the fnow is all their fupport. Thefe are tied together at the extremities, and thatched with bark of trees very ill joined, and as badly fattened, fo that the keen wind penetrates on all fides. In little more than half an hour the edifice is finiflied, branches of pine-trees fupplying the place of carpets and beds. They have this advantage, however, that you may change them every day. The whole is furrounded by a wall of fnow, which helps to keep out the wind, and affords a llielter, under which they deep as found as on the fofteft of down. The fmoke is a fad mortification to fuch as are not accuttomed to this fort of Annoyances life, where you cannot Hand upright without having your head wrapt in a cloud of it, though the Indians are not in the leaft affefted with it. Thus one fide free¬ zes, whiltt the other is broiling, and there is no breathing, nor often feeing any thing above three feet from the ground ; and if you have a mind to breathe a little frelh air, you mutt Hand without, expofed to a continual fnow, and to a dry and piercing wind, which peels the fkin off the face, and caufes the trees in the forefts to crack. To all thefe perfecutlons, that of the dogs is no fmall addition. Thefe are always in great numbers to fupply fuch as are killed by the wild beads, but lean and ill-fed, and thin of hair, which renders them very chilly, fo that they are always about the fire, which is little enough for themfelves. And when they cannot get near that, they will lye upon the firft perfon that comes in their way, .and it is not an unufual thing to awake almoft choaked with three or four great dogs lying upon you, and in the day time it is ftill worfe, for they are ready to fnatch the morfel from your mouth, and ten or a dozen great curs are leaping o- ver and trampling upon you continually. This is but a fmall part of the miferies which attend this way of life, for there is a worfe too, and more infupportable than all the red, which is hunger; it is no worii of evils.' uncommon thing to be in want of provifions, at a time when no game is to be found. The Indians are accuttomed to long fatting, and proportionably negligent in making proper provifions for thefe rude campaigns. The millionary who gives the account of it was reduced to the neceflity of eating the fkin of eels and elks, v.dth which his veil was lined, and when they were fpent, to feed on the fhoots and the fofteft parts of the bark of trees, and what is furprifing enough not only furvived thofe hardllups, but kept his health well all the time. The Indians are very natty in their cabins, and never change nor clean the furniture fordid of their beds till worn to tatters. In the dimmer they bathe every day, but at the ““'re- fame time take care alwap to anoint themfelves with oil or fat of a very bad flavour. In the winter they remain wrapped in their coat of greafe, fo that nothing can be more naufeous and abominable than the fmell of their huts. They are fo llovenly in eating, and the fight of their meals is fo fliocking, that Courfe pa- one would wonder at the difference between their palates and ours. They have, however, improved in this article fince the arrival of the French, efpecially thofe who live in the colony. The gnats are fo troublefome and vexatious in the fummer, that the inconveniencies of the fmoke are the letter evil, and they are often obliged to raife it to get free from the ftings of the gnats. The care which mothers take of their children whiltt yet in the cradle is beyond Tendernefs expreflion. They never leave them, but carry them every where with them, and “f Mothers, when they are ready to link under the weight of their burdens, the additonal load of the child not only goes for nothing, but is confidered as a kind of relief and com- ■ fort m their fatigues. Nothing can be more neat than thofe cradles, which are both foft and commodious. 1 he child is fwathed only from the middle downwards, whence the head and body bend forwards; which, contrary to what one might naturally imagine, renders their bodies both aflive and well lliaped. - B b Children 94 Of the' Origm^ Language, Religion, Government, &c. Children after quitting their parents are under no fort of confinement, but left (g crawl on hands and feet, through woods, waters, mire, and fnow, thus rendering their bodies proof againft all injuries of air and weather. The diforders incident to the bread and ftomach are thought however to proceed from this over-hardy way of education. In the fummer they are conftantly fwimming or paddling in the water. They are early taught the ufe of the bow and arrow, whence they become excellent mariefinen. Wrellling is alfo a favourite exercife amongft them. itdian tiwi- The firll: and almoft foie objeCt of an Indian'^ education is to inftil into the mind a principle of honour, which lafts as long as life, and is cultivated by the parents with the greateft care. This is efte&d always in an indired manner, fuch as relating the noble exploits of their countrymen or anceftors. The youths take fire at ■ the recital, and ligh for fome occafion to imitate them. To correft their faults they employ tears and entreaties, and never menaces, which have ho effedf on the minds of Indians, it being a maxim with them, that none has a right to ufe the lead coercive means towards them, and chadifements are never praftifed, but by fuch as have become converts to Chridianity. The tears and reproaches of a mother, by fayinu, ■ for indance, to her daughter, Ilhou art a difgrace to me, are more prevalent than any punifhment, the highed degree of which is throwing water in the face of the child, which is looked upon as an heinous offence. Slight as thefe chadifements feem to us, yetfo great is their pow'er over fuch minds, that a daughter has been known to dran- gle herfelf out of domach and refentment for a few drops of water cad in her face by her mother, taking her final leave with thefe threatning words. Ton fiall foon k \ rid of your' daughter. From fuch an education we diould be apt to promife bat i little good; but experience, the bed midrefs, fliews us its falutary e&cls. The ! Indians by this means become early compofed and maders of therafelves, reafoii ? being generally their guide, and they are by no means propenfe to any kind of 1 lewdnefs or debauchery. ; Indians of a Indians of Canada are generally well made, and tall of dature, and a deformed! robXhJbi * perfon is rarely to be feen amongd them. They are alfo of a robud, vigorous, and' of body. healthy habit of body, and naturally very long livers, though their forced marche',; and long fadings, ruin many naturally excellent conditutions ; and the ufe of brandy,' which they drink always with a view to intoxicate themfelves, has contributed not a ^ little to unpeople this country, the inhabitants of which are now reduced to lefs; than one twentieth part of what they were one hundred and fifty years ago. Early indured Their bodies are not fwathed and draitened in the cradle like ours; and nothing j to hardfliips. is more proper to give them fhat wonderful agility in all their members than this i liberty, and the exercifes to which they are accudomed from their earlied infancy. | Their mothers fuckle them fometimes feven years, though they negledt not giving them I other food from the fird year. They are almod continually expofcd;to the open air, and made to undergo the greated fatigues, but gradually, and in proportion to their drength. Their food is Ample and natural, which, with the red, contributes to render their body robud, and capable of enduring incredible harddiips, though many of them die under this management before they arrive at their full-growth. Excel £»«- Amongd the advantages they have over us, the fird and chief is the acutenefs pans in a- and perfeftion of all their fenfes and faculties of mind and body. Their fight, a- fofo anf dazzles them, and in fpite of the fmoke which blinds them feculties. ■ for fix months of the year, is diatp and drong. Their hearing is extremely quick, and their fmell fo delicate, that they perceive fire long before they are capable of feeing it. Hence they cannot endure the fmell of mulk, nor of any other perfume, and fome among them pretend that every fmell difguds them except that of eatables. Their innate Their imagination is amazing, and if they have 6nce feen a place, they retaia quality of re- the idea of it in perpetual remembrauce. They traverfe the vaded and mod unfrequented foreds_ without ever miffing their way. And the inhabitants of A- cadia, or Nova Scotia, have made voyages of above forty leagues in the open fea, without chart or compafs, in canoes of bark, to find out the EJkimaux with whom they were at war. The mod exadt quadrant is not capable of fliewing the fun’s height with greater .exaftnefs than they will with their naked eye; and no dratagem could ever make them lofe their wriy in any part of the continent. ^They are born with this quality, which is common even to the very children, who 95 of the different Indian Nations inhabiting Canada. travel with the fame furenefs as the moft adult, fo that this property may be juft- ly faid to be innate in them. ■ The beauty of their imagination is equal to its livelinefs, which appears in all Their lively 'their difconrfes. They are quick at repartees, and all their harangues are full of Alining paAages, which would have been applauded at Rome or Athens. Their elo- quence has a Arength and neatnefs, and a virtue of moving the paffions, which Aows from nature, and not from rules of art, and vvhich the Greeks fo much admired in the Barbarians. Their memory is no lefs wonderful 5 their way of relating things is neat, concife, and amidft the number of allegories, and other figures which they ufe, extremely animated, and embelliAied with all the beauties of which their languages are fuf- ceptible. Their judgment is juft and folid, tending always towards the chief point under de- Their judg- liberation, without deviating from the proper objeft, and free from hefitation or fick- lenefs in determining. As they hold all manner of labour in contempt, except what is Lsof intercft abfolutely neceffary to their fubfiAence, and Ample way of life, it is no wonder they are backward in learning the arts. And even as to fpiritual knowledge, which has little or no connedion in their opinion. with their prefent Aate, they give themfelves not the leaA trouble. As to what abfolutely concerns them, there is no nation more Aiarp fighted; at fuch a jundture they neither negledl nor precipitate any meafure, and if they are Aow in refolving, they difcover no lels quicknefs in the execution j a quality, which is remarkable amongA the Hurons and Iroquois beyond others. They have generally a greatnefs of foul, and an elevation of fentiment, together with Magnanimity a conAancy of mind, which we, with all our religion and philofophy, hardly ever attain, and, in the moA hidden Aiocks, they are always fo much maAers of themfelves, that you cannot difcover the leaA change in their countenance. Their conAancy in torments is .beyond all exprefiion. A young woman Aiall be Conitancy a whole day in the pains of child-birth without fo much as a Angle Airiek; and the leaA weaknefs would caufe her to be thought unworthy of the name of mother, and capable only of bringing cowards and poltroons into . the world. Nothing is more common than to fee perfons of all ages and fexes endure, not only for hours, but alfo for fcveral days together, all the tortures which fire or their tormentors are ca¬ pable of infiiding without a groan j and their only thought during their fufferings is, how they may exafperate their executioners, by the moA galling reproaches. With fo much firmnefs of foul, and fentiments fo noble, it is no wonder to find FouiaiJe. them calm and unmoved in the greateA dangers, and endowed with a courage proof againA.every trial. In the wars, however, they expofe themfelves as little as poffible, as they place their chief glory in never buying a viftory too dear ; and it is a maxim with them to weaken themfelves as little as pofiible, fince their nations are far from being numerous. But when there is any neceflity to give battle, they fight like lions, and the fight of their blood ferves only to increafe their ardor in the combat. And, in Aiort, all who have feen them engage, make high encomiums of their behaviour. But, what is abundantly furprifing, under an outfide which promifes none but the civility, ho- moA barbarous manners, they treat one another with a civility and a refpeft un- fpiulifyima-v- known to the moA dvilifed nations. Such a carriage proceeds from their want of property, where the words sneum and tuum have not extinguifhed fentiments of charity, and benevolence, and humanity in their breaAs. The eafy and unaffedted gravity which appears in every adtion, and in their whole behaviour, even in their diverfions, the re- fpedl they drew to their equals, and reverence towards old age, are equally admirable. The maxim, that every man is independant of any other, makes them cautious not to injure any perfon. Friendfhip, compaffion, gratitude, their care of orphans, widows, and fick perfons, and that moA admirable hofpitality they exercife towards one ano¬ ther, are not fo much, in them, the efiedts of inAindt or fentiment, as of a perfuafion that amongA men all things ought to be in common. In a people deAitute of all manner of cultivation, it is no wonder if we find fome . . pleraiQies, where we muA acknowledge fo many things truly worthy of commenda- DruTkcSs tion. AmongA their vices, drunkennefs may be faid to hold the firA rank. They never drink but with defign-to get drunk, and then they are tranfported with fury, and carried to fuch exceffes as are frightful to behold. The Europeans, however, are the caufe of this evilj which has almoA depopulated this continent. In 96 Of the Origin^ Language, Religion, Government, &:c. | In the Southern countries of Canada, men and women promifcuoufly are given fo the moft fhameful lewdnefs, and the contagion has even fpread itfelf amongft the Indians of the Northern parts.' The Iroquois, in particular, once a fober people, and ' Lifciviouf- incontinence of that kind, have fince caught the infeftion by their commerce [' with the Ilinois and other nations bordering on Louijiana, amongft whom, it is laid, . their lafcivioufncfs flows from a principle of religion. It is indeed no wonder that their country fhould be thinly peopled; for, befides this reafon, though the women s are healthy and robufl, they are, however, far from being fruitful. If we confider alfo their cuftom of long fuckling, of abftaining from the company of their hufbands , during that time, the hard labour to which they are fubjeded, let their condition i’ be what it will, the cuftom of proftituting the young women before marriage, which i prevails in feveral parts, and the extreme diftrefs to which they are often reduced, i which makes them far from defiring children ; all thefe caufes, in conjundion with i the ravages made by the fmall pox, and other difeafes imported amongft them by tiie : Europeans, contribute to depopulate the country. ^ i Pride and haughtinefs is another vice natural to thofe people, and almoft infepara- ! Satiof'”ie-ble from them. Thofe nations which we look upon as fo very contemptible, have yet a j venge.difre- fovereign contempt of all others. The Hurons, before they were humbled by the 1' fpeft to pa- who fuccceded to their pride, as it were by right of conqueft, were the i haughtieft of mortals. And they ftill retain their pride, which was always their pre- I' dorninant vice, with a certain mixture of brutilhnefs. They are alfo extremely fufpicious [. and miftruftful of the Europeans ; a fault which may admit of fome alleviation, confidering ■ the treatment they often undergo from them. They are great mafters of the art of ! diffimulation, and cherifti a thirft of revenge, which, like an inheritance, they re- i ceive of their fathers, and tranfmit from generation to generation to their lateft j pofterity, or at leaft till an occafion offer to fatiate it. The difrefped too of children ; to their parents is what juftly Ihocks ,all mankind. ; The colour of the Savages is a tawny red, or copper colour, efpecially that of - the nations inhabiting the Southern parts of North America. But this complexion is ofAtn«w,not natural to them,' but acquired by frequent rubbing with unfightly colour!, howcaufed. continual abode in the fmoke, or expofing themfelves to the hotteft rays of the fun. It is not fo eafy to afllgn the caufe why they have no hair, except on their heads and eye-brows, which is always jet-black, a diftinguiftiing mark of all the Americmn. ■ Some of them pluck out the hair of their eye-brows. What makes this fingularily the more remarkable, is, that their children are born with long thin Jiair all over j* their bodies, which falls off at the end of eight days. There is alfo a down on tlie : chins of the old men, fuch as that of fome women with us after arriving at a certain age. Some aferibe this property to the purity of their blood, others will have it produced by their conftant cuftom of fmoking tobacco. Whatever be lie caufe, the want of hair is efteemed by all thefe nations a principal beauty, fo that as foon as any appears they pluck it out by the roots, and they could not help loo!;- ing on the firft Europeans they faw as monfters, and with a kind of horroi L c of their beards, which it was then the fafhion to wear long. The white complexion of the Europeans is equally difagreeable in their eyes, and it is reported that the flclii of the French and Englijh had a difagreeable relilh, becaufe, it feems, it had a faliiOi tafte. Atowhy If the lives which the lead appear at firft fight to be fomewhat diffonant happieft of to our manners and conceptions, we Ihould confider that all happinefs is relative, anl mortals. depends more on opinion than on any thing without us. Befides cuftom, which is a fecond nature, the liberty which they enjoy is more than fuflicient to compenfate fa all the inconveniences they feem to us to fuffer. The condition of ftrolling beggars, as well as that of moft indolent people, who prefer this darling of mankind to all the conveniences of life in exchange, proves, beyond all queftion, that men may fr happy in the very arms of indigence. The Indians are the happieft of all mortal.-, and that for thefe two reafonsFirft, becaufe they believe themfelves to be fo; and, fecondly, becaufe they are in full and peaceable poffeflion of the moft valuable thinj in nature, which is liberty. To thefe we may add a third, which is, that they nei¬ ther know, nor defire to know, thofe falfe enjoyments which we purchafe with fo much pains, and with the lofs of that which is folid and real. And their moft admirable quality is that truly philofophical way of thinking, which makes them contemn o'l 57 of the different Indian Nations inhabiting Canada. the parade of our wealth and magnificence, fo that fome of the Iroquois, after they had been fliewn all the fplendor of the royal palaces in France, preferred their forefts and cottages to all they had feen; admiring nothing in Paris fo much as the plenty of all forts of vidluals they faw in the fhops of the cooks in the ftreet de la kichetfe. Hence not ignorance, or want of experience, as trial and obfervation indu¬ ced them to treat our manners and way of living with the utmoft contempt. There is, perhaps, no fubjeft more curious, or what has more employed the re- origin of /- fearches of the learned, than the origin of the nations inhabiting the different parts of the New World. And here, as in all fubjeds of this nature, the great diffi¬ culty is to reconcile the various conjedures on this point with the account of things in the facred writings. Without entering into that controverfy, concerning which many books have been written, fome deriving the Indians of America from the anti- ent Ccltes, others from the Chinefe, and fome from the Ifraelites, and, laftly, fome from Scandinavia, an abridgement of which would fill a moderate volume, I will content myfelf with giving what, in my humble opinion, is the moll: probable con- jedure concerning the origin of the Fidians in that part of America I have been juft now deferibing, which is, that of our countryman Brerewood, who derives their pedi¬ gree from Fartary, and efpecially, if it be true, that the continent of America is fe- parated from that of the Afiatic fartary only by narrow inlets of the fea. The proofs with which this learned gentleman fupports his hypothefis, are fuch as flow from a fund of fagacity, and folidgood fenfe. The firft is, that this continent has always been better peopled on the fide towards Afia, than on that towards Europe. In the fecond place, the genius and manners of the Americans, in thefe parts, have a great and flriking refem- blance with thofe of the Fartars, and all of them have the fame contempt for me¬ chanic arts. Thirdly, their colour and complexion are almoft the fame, and what little difference there may be, proceeds from that of the climates, and from the cuftom of the Americans in rubbing themfelves with different ointments. In the fourth and Jaft place, the wild beafts found in America could only have come from Fart ary, as ^ it is impoffible that thefe animals fliould traverfe the ocean in their way to the new world, and Fartary is the only country from whence they could come without this traverfe. The di&rence in that the Fartars circuracife themfelves is no material objedfion, thofe people having never known the ufe of this rite, till they had em¬ braced the doftrine of Mahomet. Every one is free to think as he pleafes, but, for my part, if we muff derive them from fomewhere, inftead of what is perhaps the beft conjedlure of all, which is, that they are Aborigines, I cannot fee what can rea- fonably be oppofed to circumftances fo full of conviftion. Hiftory of the Difeovery and Settlement of Canada. ^ H 0 U G H the Englijh claim a right to all No}-tb America, from the Dif¬ eovery of it by Cabot in 1497, to which he gave no name but that of the Neicfoundland,. yet the Erench pretended claim of this part of the world is Frend fiiii founded as early as the year 1504, when, as they fay, the fiftiermen of‘*'‘‘°''"‘“‘ Bayonne, Normandy, and Bretagne, ufed to fifli for cod on the great bank of New- joundland j and, to confirm it, that in 1506, Jean Denys oi Honjleur made a map of the gulph known at this day under the name of St Laurence. In 1508, Fhornas Aubert, a pilot of Dieppe, brought fome of the Indians of North America to France. The kings of France, however, feem not to have turned their atten¬ tion towards till the year 1523, when Francis I. defirous to promote the DiTcoverles trade and navigation of his kingdom, ordered John Verazani, who was then in his^"'®""'- lervice, to fail on difeovery of thofe countries, of which much talk began to be made at t is time. Verazani fet out, in 1523, for North America, with four ftiips, but \\it w lat fuccefs we are not told, except only that he brought back his four drips late into port. Towards the end of the year following, he armed a diip in order to continue his difcoveries. In the month of March he difeovered the land of Flo- ' ^ ‘I’ coafting along Ihore 50 leagues to the Southwards, found himfelf 111 34 North latitude j then, turning Northwards, he coafted the continent 98 tiifiory of the Difcovery and Settlement o(. North America is high as an ifland, which the J'ra/ci writers tell us had tee.il difcovered by the inhabitants of Bretagne, and is probably the fame with Newfom^, land. The fuccefs of his third voyage is not fo well known, though the Spanijh ters will have it that Verazani was taken near the Canaries by their countryiueiij! and hanged as a pirate. ’ i c«r/;,r’5 dif- Ten years after wards; Philip Chahot, admiral oi Prance, engaged the king to re. I cpveties. fyjjjg the defign of fettling a colony of French in America, and prefented- Captain “Jac. j ques Cartier of St Male, as a fit perfon to condudl that affair. The king yielded to this i requeft, and, in April 1534, Cartier fetout on his expedition. On the 10th of il'/flji I15 j had fight of Newfoundland, where he could not land for the ice; wherefore, ftecring i Southward ten degress, he came to an anchor in a port which he called St CatheriniX I Thence, afeending Northward, he made the Ifes des Qifeaux, or Bird JJlands. After! coafting moft part of Newfoundland, he fteered his courfe Southwards, and after vjj. | ting great part of the coafts of the gulph, and taking polfeflion in the name of his • m^er, he returned into France, full of the advantages his country would probably reap [ from his difeoveries. The moft zealous perfon for the fettlement of a colony ia j thofe parts, at the French court, was the Sieur de la Mailleraye. This gentleman obtain. | ed a commiflion for Cartier, who fet out with three lliips, accompanied by ftvcral; young gentlemen as volunteers, and, on the tenth of Auguji, entered the gulph, to which I he gave the name of St Lawrence, from the Saint whofe feftival is celebrated on that dsv.: This name has fince been given to the river that difeharges itfelf into it, which before | that time had alw'ays been called Canada by the natives. He difcovered the ifland | of Anticojli, or Natifeofek, which he called the ifland of AJumption ; and afcciid. 1 ing the river 80 leagues as high as the Saguenay, and continuing his voyage 90 league | higher, as far as Hochelaga, a krge village of the Indians, gave it the name of Mmt -; royal, now called Montreal, as well as the whole ifland in which it ftands. Biiij the names which Cartier gave to the iflands, rivers, capes, and places, in the maps f he has left us, are hardly intelligible, and even the terms he mentions are no longer | to be found in the languages of Canada. \ JtsWa&on. For fome time after this France feemed to have no thoughts of Canada, till 1540 ,1 ro"*of cZa Franpis de la Roque, Seigneur de Roberval, at his own requeft, obtained a 'il. &e. commiflion, and was afterwards, by letters patent, created lord of Norimbegne, and viceroy and king’s lieutenant general in Canada, Hochelaga, Saguenay, Newfoml- land. Belle ijle, Carpon, Labrador, the Great Bay, and Bacalaos. Next year Rokr- ml fet fail with five fhips, on board of which w'as Cartier, in quality of firft pilot, and built a fort, according to fome, on the river of St Laurence, or, as others fay, on the ifland of Cape Breton, leaving Cartier as his lieutenant with a numerous garri- fon. Roberval made fevcral other voyages, in the laft of which he perifhed witli all on board, and with them all the hopes of France of fettling this part of ttc new world. De laRoth . After-fifty years of civil wars, France feemed to refume her former intention of fet- fails to fettle ling colonies in America, and, in 1598, the Marquis tfe la Roche, a gentleman of »colony. Bretagne obtained of Henry IV. the fame powers and commiflion which M. It Roberval nad under Francis 1 . and Henry III. The firft land he arrived at, ms Ifle de Sable, or Sandy JJle, a barren and inhofpitable ifland, where, if w'e may believe the French accounts, the Baron de Lery had endeavoured to fettle a colony as early as the year 1508. Afterwards M. de la Rode vifited the coaft of Acadia on the neighbouring continent 5 and, after making what obfervations he judged necefliity for his defign, he fet fail for France. The great expence he was at to make it fuc- ceed proving fruitlefs, he is faid to have died of grief. The ill fuccefs of the marquis hindered not an eager follicitation for his coni- miflion. M. de Chauvin, and M. de Chatte, fucceeding each other in this fervice a- bout 1600, 1602, and 1603. About this time a gentleman of Saintonge, a grave and experienced captain, at the follicitation of Governor de Chatte, made a voyage to Co- “P Laurence as far as Sault St. Louis, where Cartiir difeoveries had been before; but the village of Hochelaga was now no more. On his return *>/to France he found that de Chatte was dead, and a new governor appointed in his room. This was Peter du Guajl, Sieur de Monts of Saintonge, gentleman of ths king’s bedrchamber, and governor of Pons, who had obtained the exclufive privilege of 99 i,f C A N A tof trading for furs from 44 to 54 degrees of North latitude with powir to gtaht hnrashiehas4C degrel, and with letters patent creating him vrce^admiral and heutenant generJ ovef all this trad. De Monts was of the reformed reljgion and he king had granted him the full exercife of it in Aminca, on condition he fhodd people L country, and fettle the Roman catholic religibn amongft ^e Mrrwr This Lileman who was a man of honour, and zealous for the foccefs of the fettlemen^ had maintained the company formed by his predeceffor, and alfo ftrengthened it by the acceffion of feveral merchants of the principal ports of efpeciaUy thofe of Rochelle The armament fitted out on this occafion furpalled all that had been before but his exclufive privilege raifed him abundance of enemies, who traverfed all his’ defigns, and ruined him at laft. However he, together with Samuel Champ¬ lain and Jean de Biencour, afterwards his lieutenant, finilhed their incroachments Hi Acadia b^un by the Marquis de la Roche, and next in that part of the continent of America lying to the North-Weft of the Bape France, which the French pretend to be a part of Canada. The fame year, 1604, they made a fettlement at the ifland of St Croix, and the winter following Champlain extended his incroachments as fat as the River of Penobfcot, where Fentagoet was built. _ . In 1605, the fame gentlemen intruded as far as ^inibequt, now khoViin by the name of Kennebecl River; thence to Cape Malebar, near the Cape Called by the French, Cape Blanc, and by our Writers Cape Cod, in the neighbourhood 6^ BopU. . The French writers alfo tell us, that Champlain planted a Crofs on Cape Malebar, and took poffeflion of it in the name of his maftef. Three years afterwards, that to/., is in 1608, the fame Champlain founded the city bf ^iebec, the capital of Neil) France, on the third of July, oh the Northern bank of the river St Laurence. Iii 16 n Champlain penetrated into the province of New Fork to the country of the Iro¬ quois, and, in his way, feized on Corleur Lake, aild changed its harhe to that Of Champlain. In the winter of 1613, he fan over the country of the Hutons. The firft hoftilities between the Fn^lijh and FteUch nations, in thefe parts, cOmitien-Commence, ced about the year 1613, when Captain Samuel Argal fetting fail from Virginia torment of hofti' tht Newfoundland iiCaexy, about the .J?? of the defart mountains, heating that fome ftrangers had fettled near Pentagoet, attacked and carried that fettlefnent; and foine Eaglifi. time after the governor of Virginia fent out Argal, With a commiflioii to drive the Fresich out of Acadia, or No^oa Scotia, in confdquence of the grant of James 1 . He proceeded to Pentagoet, which he found abandoned; frofti thence he went tO die Ifle of St Croix, where he deraoliflied the plantation, of de Monts, and thence fteer- ing for Port Royal in Novit-Scotia, fet fire to it, and in two hours deftrOyed wliat had coft the French more than a hundred thoufand CrOwns, befides the lofs of three years labour. It was about this time, in 1613, on Champlain’s return to' France, that Canada obtained the name of New France. Charles de Bourbon, Count of SoijfonS, taking upon himfelf called A'w the protedtion of the colony, made Champlain his lieutenant, who, after the Count’s death, was continued in his employ by his fucceflbt in the chief diteftion: This was the Prince of Conde, under whofe aufpices he returned to ^ebf, whefe he found every thing in a very flonrilhing condition. Some time afte'r, the court’s negledting the colony, and abandoning the proprietors and perfouS interefted in the conipariy to their own narrow views, and the troubles, which arofe in tFrance, created many obftrudtions to its growth, fo that Champlain loft ftioft of his time in voyages to Eu¬ rope to follicit fuccours, which were feldoni or never granted him in featon, when opportunity or need required. The jealoufy of the iherchants Was no fmall addi¬ tion to thofe evils. The Prince of Conde, in 1620, yielded his viceroyalty of New France to the Martoal de Montmorency, and Chaniplaui ftill continued in the go¬ vernment of the colony as his lieutenant The year following the Iroquois attacked the French fettlements in three Bodies, colon)- ati one of which carried fire and fword to the gates of Quebec ; this confideratiori, tacked by the with a rumour that the Hurons were on the point of breaking their alliance with the French, and joining the Iroquois, made Champlain tollicitous for' fecuring the ca¬ pital, the inhabitants of which, at this time, though to much had been done to people the colony, I arn affured, did not exceed fifty perfons, including woriieh and ■children. lOO tlijlory of the D'fcovery aftd Settlement children. And commerce was far from being open, though there was a very fioa- rifliing trade at Ttadoiiljac, and a good mart at the Three Rivers, 25 leagues above Quebec. For thefe reafons Champlain, in i623,caufed the fortificatins of that capital to be built with ftone; this done, he returned into France with his family, where he found the Marflial de Montmorency engaged in a treaty with his nephew the Duke de Ventadour for furrendering to him the viceroyalty of New France, which was foon after concluded. This year, .or the year before, on remonftrances made to the king that the company negledted the colony, thein privileges were taken from them, and given to two private perfons, William and Emeric de Caen. Cardinal Fom" after this. Cardinal Richelieu, defirous of advancing the Fre?ich com- Sicbiieulotmi fioerce in Canada, fince the Sieurs de Caen thought of nothing but enriching theni- Pelves, like their predeceffors, formed a new company, on terms which the French Writers extol as highly advantageous to that colony, and which would have render- ed it the moft powerful fettlement k America, had they been carried into execution. The firft year of their privileges, which was 1628, they were to carry over two 0: three hundred workmen of different trades, and, before, fifteen years fliould expire, they obliged themfelves to augment the number of inhabitants to fixteen thoufand, to provide them lodging, and a fufficiency of all neceffaries for three years, and, after that, to alfign them as much land'to clear as would be fufficient to fubfifl; them, and to furnilh them with feed to fow it. All the labourers were to be natives of France, and no foreigner, or heretic, was to be fuffered to fet foot in the colony. In each fettlement were to be at leaf!: three priefts, whofe expences, as well as thofe of their funftion, were to be born by the company during ffieen years, after which they vvere to fubfifl; on cleared lands to be affigned them. PriviTeges To indemnify or fatisfy the company for this expence, the king granted to them granted to it. gffignj for gyer the fort and fettlement of Quebec, all the country of New France, Florida included, the whole courfe of the great river, with the other rivers which flow into it, or which difeharge themfelves into the fea within this fradt, together with all its iflands, ports, rivers, fifheries, Gfc. conformable to the ordinance : The king only prefervirig. to^ himfelf the duties of fealty and homage, with a crown of gold of the weight of eight marks, at every fucceflion to the throne, and the falaries of the officers of juftice, who fhould be named and prefen- ted by the company when they fhould think fit to appoint any fuch court. They had alfo poWer to caft cannon, build and fortify places, make all forts of arms and weapons ofFenfive and defenfive, and in general to do every thing neceflary for the defence and fecurity of the colony and its commerce ; alfo power to make grants of lands in fuch quantities as they fhould judge proper, and to qualify them with fuch titles, honours, rights, and privileges, as they fhould fee fit, and accor¬ ding to the rank, condition, and merits of the perfons to whom they fliould be granted, and with fuch incumbrances, referves, and conditions, as to them fliould feem meet; except only that in cafe of eredtions of lands into dutchies, marquifates, earldoms, or baronies, they fliould take out letters of confirmation on the prefentation . of Cardinal Richelieu, grand mafter, chief, and fuperintendant of the navigation and commerce of Fratice. His majefty alfo revokes all former conceffions, granting the entire trade for furs, hides, and other peltry, to the aflbeiates for fifteen years only, to commence from the January 1628, till the laft day of December 1643, with all other commerce, whether by land or fea, within the faid countries, in the moll extenfive manner that may be, referving only the cod and whale fifheries, which the king leaves free to all his fubjeds; and provided, alfo, that all French fettled in thofe parts, and not fubfifted at the company’s expence, (hall be entitled to trade for furs with the Indians, on condition that they (hall only fell fuch furs to the company’s fadors at the general rate of forty fous tournois each. The king further prefents the company with two (hips of war from two to three hundred tuns burthen, which the company (hall be obliged to maintain, and in cafe of lofs to replace, except they (haU happen to be taken by his majefty’s enemies in open war. The company, in cafe of failure, by not carrying over , fifteen hundred perfons of both fexes in the fir(t ten years, were obliged to refund the coll of the two (hips of war; and, in cafe of failure, by not tranfporting the like number in the five remaining years, to forfeit their charter. The company had leave . to tranfport on the faid (hips what officers t!-C A N A t) A, '■ officers and- troops they ffiould fee fit, provided only that all captains fo tranfported, as well as commanders of places and forts, which now are, or lhall hereafter be builti flwll take his majefty’s commiffions or provifions. Ill order to induce perfons to fettle in New France, and to eredt all forts of Encoarme- manufaSures there, it is ordered; that all artifans who fliall engage with the company, "'ents oircred and who ffiall follow their profeffions there for fix years, on returning into France, fhall be free to follow their feveral trades and crafts in Paris, and other cities through¬ out the kingdom; that all merchandize, and efpecially fuch as fhall be manufac- i- tured by the French in that province, fhall be exempt from all impofis and duties within the kingdom for fifteen years to come, as well as all ftores, provifions, and • warlike ammunition, which fhall be deftined for the faid province; that all perfons, i of whatever rank or condition, may enter into the faid company, without deroga- 1 fion to the honours or privileges annexed to their orders, his majefty engaging' to ? grant letters of noblefs to twelve of the company, in cafe fo many fliall be found who I ffiall not be of that rank, the which nobility or honour ffiall defcend to all their [ lawful iflue; that all the defcendants of French refiding in New France, as well as all \ Indians who fhall be converted to the faith, fhall be held and reputed legitimate French, \ with power to inhabit, acquire, devife, fucceed, and accept donations and legacies, in \ the fame manner as natural French, without neceffity of taking out letters declaratory of i naturalization. 5 Thefe articles were figned the 19th of Jpril 1627, by Cardinal Richelieu^ and by Company en.' thofe who had prefented the projedl, and approved, of by the king, by an edidt in the ntIedMf«n. ; month of May, of the fame year, dated in the camp before Rochelle : This, done, the Duke de Ventadour refigned his place of viceroy. The company took the title of the , Company of New France, amounting to the number of 107 perfons, whereof Card, ■ Richelieu and Marffial Defiat were the chief, being joined by feveral other per¬ fons of quality, and the reft confifting of many of the richeft merchants and. citi¬ zens of Paris and other trading cities. Thus this colony was likely to become ' worthy of the public attention, being fupported by fo powerful a company. The beginnings of this eftablifhment were far from being fortunate. The firft vef- fels fent by the company u'ere taken by an Englif fleet under the command of Capt. Kirk, who after a firft attempt without fuccefs, and making himfelf mafter of a French fquadron, which carried feveral French families, and provifions for the garrifon, paid it an¬ other vifit in 1629, when he took ^ebec, by which he made a conqueft of all Canada-, \ and it remained in the hands of the Englifi, the French inhabitants continuing in their cw.7 con ; habitations, till 1632, when it was reftored to F/-^7«ce,-together with Acadia and the gnetcdby the , illand of Cape Breton, at the peace of St Germain’s en Laye. From the death and Champlain, which happened about this time,’I find nothing very interefting, excep- ting that the company of the hundred aflbciates, following the footfteps. of their pre- decefibrs, fuffered the colony to languiffi; and that the miffionaries were bufied on all hands in converting the hdians j and that the irruptions of the Iroquois made it neceflary for the new governor to think of fecuring the colony againft any future attempts. This was the occafion of their intrufion in building Richelieu fort at the mouth of the/- roqtiois river, fince called Richelieu river. That Indian nation ftill continued their ra- vages till 1645, when a peace was concluded with them, and ratified by all the can- tons. In 1647, Chevalier de Montmagny, Champlain’s fucceflbr in the government of New France, was recalled, on account of a new regulation made by the court, that no governor of any French colony (hould continue above three years in office, the occafion of which^ was the refufal of a governor general of the Ifles to admit a fucceflor, and his maintaining himfelf in his government Montmagny was fucceeded by M. d’Mleboufi, who had commanded at the fhree.iu,, Rivers. He refembled his predeceflbr in his prudent adminiftration, in taking pro-govcmof. per meafures to gam and preferve the afFeftions and efteem of both French and In¬ dians, mi m a perfeft knowledge of the province and its neceffities, T oihexFrench fettlements in Canada, now enjoyed a calm, and all Embaffyfrom Indians, who were accuftomed to live among them, partook of the fame tranquillity. 1 he trade confifted chiefly m furs, and was carried on principally at the Fhree Rivers n ^ a. oujjac, whither the Indians reforted for that purpofe. The Iroquois continued leir incm ions upon the Hurons, allies of - the French, with their wonted fuccefs. But one ot the moft extraordinary events was an embafly from iVew England, propofing a perpetual alliance between the two colonies, independent of any ruptures that might D d happen 102 Whyfraitlefs. Huram bro¬ ken by the I- Ravages, de- folations, and ctnelty of the fame barbari- laid/oK go- Irifuii vic¬ torious. Hijlory of the Difcovery and Settlement happen betwixt the two crowns. The French governor was highly pleafed with this propofal, and for that purpofe, with advice of the council, font Father Dreuil kites to Bojton, in quality of plenipotentiary, to conclude and fign the • treaty; but on condition the Englijh Ihould join their forces with them againft the Iroquois, llie fuccefs of this nrft negociation is uncertain ; all that we know of it is, that after languifliing for fome time, it was refumed with more w'armth in 1651 j and that it came to nothing, becaufe the people of New England were unwilling to agree to commence hoftilities againft the Iroquois; whether it was, that they had nothing to fear from them, or that thofe Indians were then in alliance with them, I know not. This year too the Huron nation was almoft entirely deftroyed by the Iroquois, particularly the cantons of Sf Igssatius, and of St Lewis, with moft p.irt of the warriors of St Mary. And, in - about eight days time, moft of the cantons in the neighbourhood of this laft were abandoned, the inhabitants removing to the little ifland of St Jofeph, where, negleding to fow the land, and their hunting and fifliing falling ftiort, they fuffered inconceivable hardfliips, being reduced to the neceflity of eating dead bodies, which they dug up after they had been half confumed with rottennefs. The hiftory of the remaining part of Ailkbotsjl’s government contains nothing re¬ markable, except the deftrudion of the Hurmis of St John, a populous canton, con¬ taining not lefs than fix hundred families, with the death of their two miffionaries alfo by the Iroquois ; a confpiracy of the Hurons of the canton of St Matthew, efpecially thofe who were ftill idolaters, againft the French, from a belief that they owed all their misfortunes to them, and to the new religion introduced by them, and difconcerted by the vigilance of their miflionaries; and the defertion of the Ifle of St Jcfepb, occali- oned by the famine above mentioned, part of the inhabitants tranfporting themfelves to ^ebec, and the others retiring, fome into the countries of other hulian nations, on whom they brought the arms of the Iroquois ; fome taking fanduary amongS the Englifi of Pessfylvasiia-, and others, again, particularly the cantons of St Jok Baptijl and St Michael, taking ftielter amongft the Iroquois themfelves, who, contrary to expedation, gave them a good reception j thofe, in the laft place, who continued to wander through woods and deferts, being all taken and butchered. From thefe events it was, that not only the Hurons trembled at the name of the In- quois, but alfo, from a like terror, all the banks of the river of the Outamli, which but the year before were fo full of inhabitants, were almoft totally abandoned, none knowing what became of thofe Indians j and the French themfelves were filled with no lefs dread of thofe mercilefs favages. We find, alfo, an expedition of the Hurons, who had taken fanduary under the cannon of Quebec, againft the Iroqmis, which mifcarried, moft of the party in it being either killed, or taken and burnt. And, laftly, we find, recorded the progrefs of the miflionaries in converting the natives in fpite of all obftacles, fleath and the cruelleft torments not excepted, the chief intention of France being evidently direded towards that end, from a notion that, in order to fecure the afiedions of the Indians, they muft begin by infpiring them with an ardent zeal for their religion. About the end of 1650, famous in the annals of Canada for the deftrudion of al¬ moft all the Huron nation, M. de Laufon, one of the principal members of tbe company of Canada, was named to the government .of New Frasice in the room of M. d’AllebouJl, whofe three years were now expired; but did not arrive till the year after. This gentleman had always been uncommonly adive in the affairs of the cplony, and it was owing to him principally that ^lebec was reftored by the Englijh to the French. He had heard of the decline of the colony, but, on his ar¬ rival, found its affairs in a worfe pofture ftill than had been reprefented to him. The Iroquois continued their ravages, and being grown fierce by their vido- ries, no longer refpeded the French forts as checks to their incurfions, but fpread themfelves over all the country, fo that no perfon could think hirafelf fafe in his own houfe, and the French governor of the ‘three Rivers was killed by them at the head of His troops, and in his own poft. The Northern country felt the fame fury and Syllery, ho longer accounted fafe within its retrenchment of palifades, was inclofc^ with a wall mounted with cannon. The country in New England and Nova Scotia, occupied' by the Abenaqf nations, where Father Drsuillettes had foivti the feeds gf the Roman catholic reli- of CAN A D A. gion, ^nd gained them over to the French intereft, were the only countries which the Iroquois never dared to invade. The people oi New England felt b Bad policy of the fequel the ill effeds of fuffering the French to gain and fecure the friendihip thofe Indians by the ties of religion. About this time I find a miffion eftablifhed amongft the Attikamegues, the miffionary appointed to this work being killed by the Iroquois, who were bloody enemies to them and their caufe, fo that fcarce a year paffed but one or other died a martyr to his profeffion. Mofitreal fuffered nolefs from the incurfions of the Iroquois, than the other quarters of New France. And M. de Maifonneuve, after going to Paris for fuccours, which he could not otherwife obtain, returned in 1653, with a reinforcement of a hundred men, and, what was reckoned a greater acquifition, with Margaret Burgefs, a native of Lan- gres, foundrefs of the inftitution of the Daughters of the Congregation, and famous throughout all the colony for her eminent virtues. This year alfo a peace was con¬ cluded with the Iroquois, though not long kept, being broken and cemented a-ain a- frelh the year following, and miffionaries fettled amongft feveral of the Iroouois cantons. ^ Much about this time th& Iroquois compleated the deftrudlion of the Eries, or Fate of the Cat Induins, After driving the Hurons from their country, the Iroquois next march- ed againft their allies, and particularly the Outawais, who finding themfelves not jn a condition to refift thofe who had conquered the braveft and moft powerful na¬ tions of all this continent, thought proper not to wait at home till their fhroats fhould be cut, and their villages reduced to afhes. Soma of them had therefore already retired into to the bay of Sagmnan, others into the Anfe de Tonnerve, both of them m lake and numbers into the iflands of and Michillimakinac. But the bulk of the nation had remained on the banks of the great river, which bears their name, till the total deftrudlion of the Huron cantons. On this they joined themfelves to the Hurons called Fionnontatez, with whom they penetrated far into the Southern countries. At firft they made an alliance with the Sioux, with whom they afterwards quarrelled, and, thus, trained up to war, at their own coft, k regarded as very unwarlike, and fcarce ever heard of op this fide the MiJJJipt. Then, feparating themfelves into feveral bands, by the mifery to which they were reduced they carried every where the termr of the naS of feve™lT7wblrrb‘‘‘ and reparations into fmall bodies, feveral of which have never fmee been heard of, they have diminiffied to fuch a degree, th^ there fcarce at preftnt ffibfifts the twentieth part of what they formerly were. lon?coSilaSce Fof?n of no War renewed Tt^fnrh K ' \ 1657, they had come to a refolution to extirpate the by a general maffacre of all that were in their country, but being difeo- % ffiat eTO.° " ” “ began with greater^nimo- - Jnl f ^'^’'genfon,iht new governor ge-EceleMic neral landed at who, by his vigorous meafures in repreffing the infults^f the Iroqms, fettled the repofe of the colony for fome time. In i6cq we am to b SarLTrcal°^-’^'''"^'a^ ofPrfr^ir, wfth’the Pope’s in the and with him feveral other ecclefiaftics, who were fetSed they arr£r ThT“’ by the Jefuits, in order iS "4*1 ta .r:: and m i66v M d/> P / hrft proprietors of this illand : “I4 ., lMe« of *0 44 .he ereflio, of a' ‘reftors ^of which the tithes whok colony, and to the di- ■teenthforthe revenS rf^^^^ and the whole to be taxed ata-fhir- the fupreme council of New Frant\ff>tf Complaining of this burden, be taxed at the twenty fixth Lt ’ • '^^ 7 . P^daining the tenths to fliould pav hothina rila- 1 be paid m gram, and that new-cleared lands inoma pay nothing, which arret was accordingly put in execution. The’ colony af¬ terwards 103 104. Hiflory ofr\the Difcovery and Settlement terwards increafing, new curacies were eftabliflred, and the tithes clainred as tlicir ri’ghtj"which was fettled by a rbyal edift in; Afoy 1679. Five,years after, ^ebec.ww eredted into a biihop’s fee/confirming .the, proyifional arret of the;fupfeme..,council .with refpeft to either, and prOTidefirthatj if the tenths fhould be Toun'd infiifiicient for the maintenahce .of thb curacies,' the deficiency fliould be made good, by the lords and inhabitants, which hds,''however, never been allowed, the king .granting opt. of his own domain the fum qf-,7666 liyres yearly towards the fubfiftence of curates The fum for the maintenance of a curate was afterwards regulated by the king at 400 livres yearlf; dnd, in 1707, his ,ifiajefty. befides the above fum of 7600 livres, grants the additional fum of dopo livres, y.early, for the fupport of Tuch as, by the reafon of their great age,, or other, infirmities, were unable to ferve .their cures; which fum was to be divided into fix portions, of. 300 livres each, and one of 200. There are moreover two firms of 1^50 livres-each, one for the benefit of the faid curates, and for building parochial churches, the patronage of which was to refide in the bi- . fhop,'and not, as hitherto, in the lords, which churches were alfo to be built of ftone, and all thofe firms to be'in the difpofal of the biftrop. The chapter of thp ca- thedral is compofed of a dean, a,.head chanter, or precentor, a chief archdeacon, a divine, and twelve canons. The king nominates thofe of the firft rank, and the bilhop the reft. Hofpital To' return to Montreal, the direftors of the feminary of St Sulpicius firft of ail foun^atim fet about building an hofpital, to which feveral pious perfons- largely contributed, forgi'ls. be ferved by the daughters of the Hotel dieu of the fame city, an inftitution fince erefted into an order. At the fame time was founded the inftruftion of the daugh¬ ters of the congregation for the education of young perfons of the tender fex of all conditions, which equals any thing of the kind in Europe in every refpeft. The firft defign was to make nuns of the pupils, but this was laid afide on the ediff in 1709, which forbids their entering a cloifter, or taking any vow. They remonftrated, defiring to be permitted to take upon them fimple and not folemn vows; but this was alfo rejefted by the council as a thing of pernicious confequence to the colony. The Urfelins of ipebec had the fame objedt in their inftitution, though with little effea without the walls, all their precepts vanilhing out of mind ancT memory, as foon as the pupils get amongft their Indian relations, where tliey take to their old way of living. ’ . We are to place here alfo the difcovery of fome Indian nations about the North and Weft of Lake Huron, as well as fome new miflions amongft the Menaepuit, and Ejkimaux, and the firft vifits of the French to the Sioux, a wandering, but very populous nation on the banks of the Mijjifipi to the weft of Canada, from whole mild difpofition, and natural good fenfe, they promifed themfelves many advantages. About this time I find the French colony reduced to great extremities from the hofti- lities of the Iroquois, and the want of fuccours from France, fo that none durft ftir from the forts without an efcort. Thefe evils were ftill augmented by the aceeflion of an epidemical dlftemper, which particularly carried off a great number of young children, I pafs over many particulars relating to the hoftilities of the Iroquois, and the negociations for a peace, with the various turns and hopes occafioned by thofe tranfaftions, the fuccefs and fate of the miffionaries, bufied on all hands in conver¬ ting the Indians, at the hazard and often with the lofs of their lives. Account of I cannot, however, help taking notice of one of the moft extraordinary earth- adreadfui quakes that has happened almbft in any country in the memory of man, whether eathijuake, confider the vaft extent of land which felt its (hocks, or the Angularity of its afto- niftiingeffeas. F. Charlevoix’s account of it, is what I am about to give, and that chiefly for the fake of thofe who are fond of the marvellous. He introduces his relation with remarks on the pernicious influence of the trade of felling fpirituous liquors to the In¬ dians, the effeds of which were a total diffolution of manners, and a difregard to the renionftrances of the bilhop, preachers, and confeflbrs, as well as to the thunders of the church, and the menacings of the divine wrath. The bilhop of Quebec, by an application to court, put a ftop to this infamous traffic, which produced fuch horrible diforders; but, fays that learned miflionary, heaven had already prevented bis cares', and, by one of thofe events which ftrike terror into the moft obdurate and li¬ centious, the greateft part of the colony were brought back to the right way from which they had wandered. The matter of fad, fays he, has been attefted by the con- ftant and vmanimotjs teftimony of a whole colony; andtheeffeds, which ftill fob- of CANADA. 105 fift, put it beyond the cavils of the mofl: fceptical. He does not, however, pretend to vouch it in all its circumftances. After this he proceeds as follows : Durin" the autumn in 1663, a number of bodies of fire, of different figures, but all of them extraordinary, were feen in the air. Oyer ^ehec and Montreal appeared in the night a,globe of fire, extremely fhining, only sA Montrealk feemed as if it proceeded from the moon, and w^s accompanied with a noife, like the difcharge of a cannon, and after gliding through the air for about three leagues, it vanifhed be¬ hind the mountain ydience tlie ifland takes its name. On January 7, the following year, there arofe an almofl: imperceptible vapour from the great river, which, after it was ftruck with the fun’s rays, became tranfparent, but with body, fufficient to fupport two parahelions, which appeared by the fide' of this meteor. Thus appeared at the fame time, three funs, in a line parallel to the horizon, foms fathoms diftant from each other, each of them with a rainbow, the colours of which varied every inftant, now appearing like an ordinary rainbow, then of a bright whitenefs, as if there had been a great fire. behind it. This fight lafled two full hours, and was repeated on the 14th, though lefs perceptible. In the beginning of February, a rumour went, that an earthquake would very Eathqu-.te foon happen, fuch as had never happened in the memory of man, taking its rife from the admonitions of certain perfons eminent for piety, warning every foul to make their peace with God, and try to appeafe the divine wrath, juftly kindled againfl New France. On the night of the 13th of the fame month, an Algonldn woman, a very fervent Voice fore- chriftian, being awake, and fitting on her bed, heard a voice, faying, that within two days "'""‘"E- wonderful things fliould happen. Next day, as flie was in the foreft with her fifter, making her provifion of wood, fhe heard the fame voice, predifting that on the morrow, between four and five in the evening, the earth would quake in a terrible manner. A young maiden of the fame nation, whofe piety had obtained the miraclous cure®'“^“'’^ of a difeafe, dreamt on the night between the 4th and 5th inftant, that the VirgitN'^^' Mary appeared to her, and told her the hour, and all the circumftances of this earth¬ quake. On the evening of the 5th, immediately before the earthquake began, llie appeared as if Ihe were befides herfelf, crying out, with all her force, Now it is jujl coming, to the great aftonifliment of all W'ho heard her. Laftly, on the fame day, mother Mary of the Incarnation, the illuftrious foundrefs of the vWonofMo- Urfuline nuns of New France, who was far from being a weak perfon, after feveral Mary. warnings from heaven of the impending event, which fhe communicated to F. Lalle- uiant her diredlor, about half an hour after five in the evening, as Ihe was in prayer thought file faw our Lord wroth with Canada, and that flie was moved by fopie fuper- natural power t 5 demand juftice of him for all the crimes committed in this pro¬ vince ; and that all Are could do to obtain fome mitigation of this punifliinent, was, to put up fervent prayers that the fouls might not periflr with the bodies. Immedi¬ ately afterwards, flie felt an inward aflurance that the divine wrath was on the point of breaking out, and that the contempt of the ordinances of the church, was the chief caufe why it was kindled. She perceived almoft, in the fame inftant, four devils at the four corners of the city of ^ebec, agitating the earth with great violence, and a per¬ fon of a majeftic prefence, who from time to time let loofe the reins to their fury, and then withheld them. At the fame moment, the heavens being perfeftly ferene, a noife was heard all 0- Drfcription ver the city, like that of a great fire, which frightened all the people out of their dwellings. Then all the houfes were fhaken and rocked to fuch a degree, that they almoft touched the ground, fometimes on one fide, fometimes on the other, the doors opening and flhutting of themfelves with a mighty noife, all the bells ringing without hands, and the timber of the palifades bounding to and fro; the walls were fplit, the beams fell out and were bent, and the domeftic animals made the moft frightful bowlings; the furface of the earth had a motion like that of the fea, the trees were twifted together, and many of them torn up by the roots, and toffed to a great diftance. With thefe fights were heard all forts of noifes; fometimes of a raging fea breaking its dykes, fometimes of a great num¬ ber of chariots and carriages rolling over the pavement, and fometimes of mountains of E e rock io6 Hijlory of the Difcovery and Settlement rock or marble opening and fplitting. A thick duft arofe like fmoke, fo that an univerfal conflagration was apprehended; fome imagined they heard the cries of In¬ dian, and apprehended the Iroquois were falling upon all parts of the colony. Various he- general, that both men and animals appeared as if nomraa! ^ ftruck with thunder; nothing was to be heard but flirieking lamentations; people fled every where without knowing whither they went; and on which fide foe- ver they pafled, met what they ftrove to flrun. The fields prefented every where precipices and gulphs, and people expeded the earth to open under them every mo¬ ment, whole mountains were plucked up by the roots, and thrown to a diftance and placed in new fituations; fome were carried into the midfi: of rivers, and flopped their courfe, and others were funk fo deep that the tops of the trees on their lum- mits were not to be feen. Trees were tofled upright into the air, as if a mine had fprung under them, and fome re-planted with their branches in the ground and their roots aloft. There was no more fafety on water than on land. Several fprings and rivulets were dried up, the waters of others were impregnated with ful- phur, and the beds where fome had flowed could no longer be feen. Here the wa¬ ters were turned red, there yellow, and thofe of the great river from ^lebec to 7 h- doujfac, that is, for the fpace of thirty leagues, were grown perfeflly white. Nothing was to be heard but a continual din, and people imagined they faw goblins and phantoms of fire with lighted torches in their hands. Flames arofe which took all forts of fhapes, as of pikes, launces, and burning brands, and fell upon the tops of houfes with¬ out fetting them on fire. Cries of wailing and lamentation augmented the horror from time to time. Porpoifes and fea cows were heard to howl near the ‘Three Ri¬ vers, where never any fuch fifhes had been feen j and thefe bowlings had no refem- blance to the cries of any known animal. To conclude, for a tradl of three hundied leagues from Eaft to Weft, the earth, the rivers, and the fea-coafts were long, but at different intervals, in the vaft motion mentioned by the prophet, fpeaking of the wonders which accompanied the coming up out of Egypt. Effbas, num- The effefls of the earthquake were various to an infinite degree, and never was S/of reafon to fear that nature was deftroying her works, and that the end of ao*s-° the world was at hand. The firft fhock lafted half an hour almofl without interrup¬ tion, but began to abate after a quarter of an hour. Towards eight in the evening of the fame day, there was another fhock, equally violent with the firft, and in half an hour two more. Some reckoned to the number of thirty two the night following, fome of which were very violent. It is poflible that the horror of the night and the general confufion might increafe their number, and caufe them to appear more confi- derable than they really were. Even in the intervals of the fhocks people tvere in the fame condition as in a velfel at anchor; which might alfo be the efteft of a difordered imagination. What is certain, is, that many perfons felt the fame fqueamifhnefs and giddinefs which are ufual at fea with fuch as are not accuf- tomed to this element. On the morning of the fixth, about three of the clock, was a very rude and long fhock. At Tadoujfac it rained aflies for three hours together; in another place the Indians, who had left their cabins at the beginning of theie a- gitations; on their return, found a large pool of water in their places. Half way be¬ tween Quebec and Tadoitjac ; two mountains were laid level with the ground, and the earth that fell from them formed a cape projedting half a quarter of a league into the great river. Two Frenchmen coming from Gajpe felt nothing of it till they came over againft the Saguenay, when, though there was not a breath of wind, their flial- lop was tofled as if on a ftormy fea. Not being ablj to conjedture whence this could S roceed, they caft their eyes towards the fbore, when they perceived a mountain tipping, in the language of the prophet like a ram, and which, after fome time, whirling round like a whirlwind, funk down, and at laft entirely difappeared. A fhip, vvhich followed the fhallop, was no lefs agitated, and the oldeft Tailors could not ftand but by a hold, as it happens when a fhip rolls greatly ; and the captain or¬ dering to caft anchor, the cable broke. Sarprifingcir- Within a fmall diftance of Sluebec, a fire, a full league in length, appeared in broad cumihnccs day-light, which coming from the North, afterwards crofted the river, and difllip- andeffetls. jj^g j£g gf Or/eanf. Oppofice Cape Tourmente floods of fubterraneoiis waters 107 of CANADA. waters ruflied from the tops of the mountains, and carried all before them. A- bove a river left its channel, part of which became dry, its higheft banks in fome parts linking to a level with the water, which continued mixed with mud and of the colour of fulphur above three months. New England and New Holland (now New Tork) fuffered in the general confufion, and, as did all this vaft extent of country, with this particularity, that in the time of the greateft Ihocks they perceived a kind of pulfution like that of an intermitting pulfe, with unequal beatings, but be¬ ginning every where precifely at the fame inftant. Sometimes the lliocks were a fort of elevating, at other times a fort of balancing motion, more or lefs violent; fome- times very brillc, and at others increafmg by degrees, and none of them ending with¬ out fome fenfible effeft. In places where the great river had rapid falls it became perfedlly ftill water, and in others the reverfe. Rocks arofe in the midft of rivers, and a man walking in the fields, perceived all of a fudden the earth opening behind him, and as he fled, the yawnings feemed to run after him. The agitation was ge¬ nerally lefs on the tops of mountains, but an incelTant rumbling was heard in thofe places. What is perfedlly aftonilhing, is, that amidft fo dreadful a wreck, not a foul pe- Produaions' rillied, God being willing, fays my author, not to deftroy, but to convert finners. Thus nothing was to be feen but an univerfal repentance, every one making the e.x- amen of their confcience with tears and compundlion of heart, the moft fcandalous finners declared openly the abominations of their pad lives, enemies were reconciled, all criminal familiarities were at an end, and the traffic of fpirituous liquors, the firft fpring of all the evil, abandoned, falling, alms, pilgrimages, with the frequenta- tion of the facraments, were all the feudy, and, in fhort, nothing was omitted to dif¬ arm the wrath of heaven, which at at laft relented. The fears of a general llerility and epidemical diforders, which many apprehended, Things reco- were foon found to be groundlefs, and the earth by degrees recovered its former Hate, where the appearance of it had not been totally changed by fo many violent concuffions. The Iroquois ftirred not-all this while, and when the confufion ceafed, they made new propofals of peace, which were interrupted by fome evil reports, that had got footing among the cantons. The bifhop of Peirea, and M. de Mef)\ appointed to relieve the Baron d’Avaugour New govcr- in the government of New France, had newly arrived at ^ebec with troops. They were accompanied by the Sieur Gaitdais, appointed commifliary on the part of the king to take pofleffion in his name of all New France, which the company of Canada had yielded up to him February 4, 1663 ; by a hundred families to people the country; and by feveral officers civil and military. The commiflary begun with taking the oaths of fidelity of all the inhabitants, and afterwards regulated the police, and made feveral ordinances with regard to the admi- niftration of juftice. Before this time there had properly been no court of juflice in Canada, the governours general judging caufes in an abfolute or fovereign manner. No body ever thought of appealing from their fentences, but thefe were feldorii pronounced without a previous recourfe to the method of arbitration, and their deci- fions were always diflated by that beft and moll fupreme of all laws, good fenfe and the law of nature. Befides, the natives of Canada were far from being litigious, and chofe rather to lofe fomewhat of their right than their time and money at law. At firft indeed they feemed to have every thing in common, at leaft it was very long be¬ fore any thing was known to be kept under lock for fecurity. Thus the precautions which the prince took- for the eftablilhing of juftice were the epoch of its ruin, by introducing the fpirit of chicanery, and the love of law-fuits. ■ It is true that as early as the year 1640 there had been a Grand Senefchal of New Coarb of' France, and at the Fbree Rivers was a tribunal fubordinate to that of the military magif-^“‘''“’ trate, who, however, appears to have been wholly dependant on the governours ge¬ neral, who were always invefted with the right of adminiftring juftice in their own perfons, in cafes of appeal, which were common enough. In matters of moment they aflembled a kind of council, compofed of the grand fenefchal, the fuperlor of the Je- fuits, who, before the arrival of the biffiop, was the only fuperior ecclefiaftic in the country, and fome of the principal inhabitants, to whom they gave the quality of counfellors. Thus io8 Hiftory of the Difcovery and Settleimnt Eftabiiihment Thus, in 1651, when the Skur Godefroy was fent, withF. Dreueilleites to Ne:o England, to treat about a perpetual peace between the two colonies. He had the title ' of councellor in the council of New France given him in his letters of credence, though this council was not permanent, but eftablilhed by the governor general,- by virtue of the power given him by the king, and by him changed as often as he judged proper. It was then in the year 1663, and not before, that the king cau- fed the council of Canada to be fixed by an edid in March of the fame year, order¬ ing that the council fhould confift of M. de Mejy, governor general. M. ds Laval, bilhop of Petrea, apoftolical vicar of New France, M. Robert, the intendant, and of four counfellors to be appointed, continued, or removed, at the pleafure of thefe three minifters. M. Robert, counfellor of ftate, had been named this very year inten- oS anT dant of juftice, police, finances, and marine for New France. But, as he never went to Canada, M. Falon, who arrived here in 1665, is the firft who exerciled this office. M. Duchefneau, who fucceeded him in 1675, brought an order of the king, by vir¬ tue of which the intendant was to officiate as firft prefident in the council, leaving, however, the firft feat to the governor general, and the fecond to the bifhop. Two more counfellors were added at the fame time, and all the members of the council had commiffions from the court. Newcoim This empowering the intendant to aft as firft prefident, was much refented by the fellor’sfala- govemor general, whofe remonftrances on this fubjedl were not regarded. And, by • an arret of the council of ftate in 1680, it was ordered that in all deeds and writings of the council, the governor and intendant Ihould affume no other quality befides that of their office. In 1704, four new councellors were created, one clerk, and three laymen : So that at prefent they are twelve in number, including the bifhop. The perfon intitled the firft councellor, has double the falary of the others, he is named by the court, and his place is only confidered as honorary, having no particular fuinftion. His-annual falary is eight hundred livres, the five oldeft counfellors have four hun¬ dred, and the reft nothing, and they take no fees. The procurator general, and head regifter, have alfo falaries, but very moderate. Council regu- The couhcil is held regularly every Monday in the palace, which is the refidence the intendant, whofe office it is alfo to fix the day and hour of their meeting, on extraordinary ocCafions, and to notify the fame to the governor general by the chief ufher. Juftice is adminiftred here according to the ftatutes of the kingdom, and cuftoms of Paris. In June 1679, the king made fome regulations in the council by an edia, which has fince bore the name of Fhe ReduBion of the Code, in that coun¬ try. Some new difficulties were afterwards ftarted with refpeft to judging in cafes of challenges, or exceptions at law, which were explained by another edifl of March 1685, in which it was further declared, that the adions in which any officer of the council was interefted, fhould be removed at the requeft of one of the parties, be¬ fore the intendant, who fhould determine, in fuch cafes, with judges fummoned by him for that purpofe: Laftly, by the fame edift, the council was authorifed to judge criminal cafes, and five of the counfellors were to make a quorum. Inferior There are moreover three inferior courts of juftice in Canada, which fit at courts of juf- bee, the Three Rivers, and Montreal. Thefe are compofed of a lieutenant general, a fub- lieutenant, and the king’s procurator. Their appointments were made by a declara¬ tion of May 12, 1578. The notaries, ufhers, and ferjeants, have alfo falaries, without which they could not fubfift, their fees being next to nothing in fo poor and thinly peopled a colony. Siiccerdedto Till the year 1692, the criminal jurifdidion of Mw/rerz/belonged to the fuperi- theking. ors of St Sulpicius, in quality of the lords of the foil. But then they yi Ided it up to the king, on condition, that they fhould continue the fame power within the precinds of their feminary, and their farm of St Gabriel, with the perpetual and un- aliable property of the regifterfhip of the royal criminal tribunal, which fliould af¬ terwards be eftablilhed in the ifland, together with the nomination of the firft judge. This had the royal aflent fignified by the edid, which eftabliflied the new court, dated in March the year following, except the laft article, which was fro hoc tempore for this time only. The fupreme council of S>uebec, ferved for a model to thdfe of the iflands of Martinico and St Domingo, .and of the country of Louifmna. Canada, oj G A N A Ti A. 105 We have feen in what a weak and languifhing condition the colony was left by the Company of coiapany ot the hundred alfociates incorporated, in 1628, for the fettlement of da, tii(.ugh one of the moft powerful that ever was formed, whether with regard to the number and rank of its members, or to the privileges granted them. They foon grew weary ot the expence ; and,, from the year 1644, they abandoned the fur trade, which was almolt the only advantage they reaped from it, to the inhabitants, refer- ving to themfelves, for their right of lordihip, an annual homage of a thoufand beavers. At iaft, finding themfelves reduced to the number of forty five affociates, they made RcCgn their a total refignation of all their rights in 1662 to the king, who fome time after in-‘■#'”0*= eluded Ne-w France in thogrant which he mauv. of xFt French colonies in Amenca,^""^' iiv favour of the Well India company, with the right of naming governors and other officers. It is true that, as this new company were not acquainted with perfons proper for filling the chief polls, .they requelled the king to provide them, till they Ibould be in a condition to make ufe of the privilege he had granted them j in confequence of which requeft M. de Mefy was named governor general, and M. Ro¬ bert iutendant of New France. De Mefy was fucceeded by M. de Courcelles, who had orders to tranfport inhabitants, and the regiment ol Carigeian Salieres, in or¬ der to reduce the Iroquois to reafon. A great number of families, with a great mul- Sve^fup- titude of mechanics, and hired fervants, the firll horfes ever feen in Canada, withpl>“' cattle, llieep, and, in fliort, a more confiderable colony than that which they were going to lupply was tranfported on this occafion. The viceroy loll no time, but placing himfelf at the head of the troops, led them to the entry oi Richelieu, in the province of New York, where he employed themFombS in building three (everal forts at the fame time. The firll was placed on the fpo't where that of Richelieu had formerly Hood, fince called, as alfo the river, by the name of Sorel, from a captain of the regiment of Carignan, who had the charge of building it. The fecond was ereded at the foot of the rift, or water-fall, formerly mentioned, as you fail up the. river. This was called Fort St Lewis ; but M. d'e Chavibh, captain of the fame regiment, having fince bought the land on which it was fituated, the whole canton, together with the Hone fort fince built on the ru¬ ins of the old fort, bear the name of Chambly. M. de Salieres took upon himfelf the condud of the third, called St Lherefa, from the fellival upon which it was finifh- ed. It Hands three leagues higher than the fecond, and this the colonel chofe for his own poll. Thefe works were compleated with great expedition, and the- Iro¬ quois were at fitft. greatly terrified at their ereftion, but foon recovered from their conllernation; and though their paflage into the colony this way was intercluded, they prefently opened themfelves feveral others. That of Chambly, however, covers the colony of Canada fufficiently on the fide of New lork, and the lower Iroquois. I find about this time a remonllrance of M. Talon, the intendant, to the king, Remonflran. complaining of the mifehiefs that the colony underwent by leaving it to the manage- ment of a company, and declaring the advantages that would refult from the king’s refumption of it into his own difpofal; as alfo an order from Court, by M. Colbert, for keeping the .habitations as clofe together as pofiible, in order to ftrengthen the co¬ lony, which was weakened, as they imagined, by feparating them at too great a diftance, and reducing the dwellings as much as pofiible into the form of the pariflies of Old France ; and, lailly, the difeovery of two iron mines in the neighbourhood of Cbatiip- lain and Cape Magdalen, two pariflies fitnated beyond the Three Rivers. They had great expedlations alfo, from a tannery, the firft trial of which was abundantly fuc- cefsful. But what moil flattered their hopes, was, the freedom of comrherce publifhed in the year 1668. This year is alfo famous for a number of miflions fettled amongll the different Fidian nations, particularly the Iroquois. New France now enjoyed perfeft repofe for the firft time fince its fettlement, its colony at governors neglefting nothing that might contribute to its advancement. 1 he beft part and of the regiment of Carignan Salieres had remained here, and almoft all the foldiers^'“^^“°“' were become planters, having had their difeharge on that condition. Six compa¬ nies of the fame regiment, which had returned to France after the Iroquois war, were ordered back, not only to ftrengthen the moft important polls, but to inercafe the number of inhabitants. Several of the officers had grants of lands, with the right of lordlliip. Almoft all of them fettled and married in the country, where their pof- F f terity no Hifiory of the Difcovery and Setih'/ncnt terlty ftlll fuWifts. Moft part of them were gentlemen, whence New France lias a more numerous noblefs than any other French colony, and perhaps more than all the reft taken together. Laftly, the lands, in every part where cleared, were found to be very rich. Thus the new inhabitants, vying with each other in virtue, induftry, and the love of labour, were foon in a condition to fublift, and the colony received great acceflions of ftrength, and numbers of inhabitants. 5»fJ«cmade In 1670, the church of ^ebec was eredted into a bilhopric. The great difputes a bilhopric. vvhich arofe about its immediate dependance on the holy fee, on which the Pope was inflexible, occafioned that affair to remain fo long undetermined. This, however, hinders not the bilhopric ol ^ehec from being like thatofPr/y, which holds imme¬ diately of the Pope, in fome fort united to the ecclefiaftical eftablilhment of France. The king, for the endowment of the new bilhopric and chapter of the cathedral, united to them two months, or one fixth of the revenue of the abbey of Maubec ; and M. de Ft Vallier, fuccelTor to M. de Laval, has fince further obtained the rc-union of the abbey of Beneventum, partly to the billiopric, and partly to the chapter. Great morta. The fame year an epideinical diftemper made fad devaftation in Canada, and al- totally depopulated thole vaft countries. The Attikamegim particularly have ne- “ ver appeared fince, and if any of them remain, they muft have mixed with other nations with whom the French are altogether unacquainted. At the fime time Fa- doufac, where had never appeared fewer than twelve hundred Indians in trading time, began to be totally deferted, as well as the Three Rivers, whence the Algmi- quins removed to Cape Magdalen, where the French have ftill a poll:, but Fadctijfac remains defolate, and entirely abandoned. The fmall pox was the chief caufe of this mortality, and feveral years afterwards the town of Syllery was quite depopulated. Of fifteen hundred perfons feized with that diftemper, not one efcaped. In this year alfo we are to date the foundation of the Huron village of Loretto. IrojmUmS- following year was fettled the Iroquois milTion of the Fall of St Lewis, a fioZ colony of that nation converted by the French miflionaries, and defirous of fettling a- mongft them for the fake of religion. On the other hand, many nations of the Al¬ gonquin language, who had formerly been protedled by the French colony from the ravages of their enemies, expreffing their gratitude and attachment to them in a more extraordinary manner at this time, that politic people, always awake to their own intereft, laid hold of this opportunity to eftabliih the rights of that crown over the moft diftant parts of Canada. Ptrnt With this view one Perrot, a man of good family and fenfe, and fome tlnifture French agent of learning, and befides accuftomed to travel, was felefted to execute this important * commiflion. His neceflities had thrown him into the fervice of the Jefuits, which gave him frequent opportunities of dealing with the Indians, and learning their lan¬ guage. He had acquired their efteem, and by degrees fo effeaually infinuated himfelf into their affedions, that at laft he could perfuade them into any thing as he pleafed. After he had got the neceflary inftrudions, he took his progrefs and vifited all the Northern nations with whom the French had any commerce, whom he invited to come in the fpring following to the Fall of St Mary, where the great Ononthio of the French was to fend them one of his captains, who fliould declare his pleafurc. They all gave confent to fend deputies, according to his defire. He then proceeded further Weftward, and turning towards the South purfued his journey into the Britifi territories as far as Chicagou at the bottom of lake 'Michigan, where the Miamis In¬ dians then held their refidence. French take people, who was able to bring into the field an army of between formal poflef. four and five thoufand men, gave him a good reception, and prefented him with tlie fionofcoun- pipe, employing the Poutewatamis, another Indian nation, to aft as his deputies in the general alfembly, at which moft of the Indians, at lead thofe in the French inter¬ eft, appeared by their deputies. On this occafion the Sieur de St Lujfon, as fubdelegate of the intendant of New France, by virtue of a fpecial commiflion, pretended to FociFrmit- take poflcflion of all thefe countries for the French king. Next year was built the built, fort at Cataraqui, otherwife Fort Frontenac. Two different bodies of men, the laft of them confiderable, had been tranfported from Old France, though not enough to fecure the Canadians from the fears of the Five Nations. The Fort des Sables, and that at Niagara, were built on this occa¬ fion. The Foquois however began their ufual incurfions next year into Canada, fpreading Ill of CANADA. fpi-eadiii? everv w'-erc fucli terror and defolatioii, that the French governor, in a letter to to. M-oi.i.s ./? Seigneky, lays that nothing but the extraordinary provi- dence or "iti. A..inr.icy eoaid poifibly have faved-from deftruftion. I find onaries. that thi v.'iio.t tax'c which C/i'ui.k was capable of raifing this year, was only eight hin.!) -: men, hefi les tiie regulars, of whom they made but fmall account, as they Were '.rceriy unacquainted with the Indian manner of fighting, which confifted in an- no'-iug tiie enemy, wiiillt they lecured themfelves from their Ihot, by flculking be- hni l trees and thicKecs. Tiicir miilionaries, however, did what all the French m FI.rth America eouid never have cfFedcd, by difarming the fury of the Five N.itions. I'iie revolution happening in the mean time, war was declared againll France, Fratidefign where a defign waS torined to begin hofiilities in America with the conquefl: of iVfw ierf. Fortins effedt Count was made governor general oi Canada, xht pi./.ecl-ihcn in agitation, and the ftate of affairs in that country, requiring at their h.-..,i a perfon ol experience and refolution, acquainted with the places, and fit to ti. iii.'xl matters with the Indians. His inftruclions related to the driving the En- ghf: from Idiidfon’s Bay and Acadia, but chiefly to the enterprife againll New iv/A.’, Tnis plan, otherwife in all appearance too well digelled to have filled, was however difcuncerted by two things, which it is impoflible to guard againll, the in- conffincy of the winds, and the unexpedled obflacles occurring to thole who were to exxcutc the dillcrcnt parts of it, which prevented them firom bringing things to bear in good time, fo as to adt with union. H.jllilities llill continued between the French and Iroquois, though with mod advan-expe- tage on the fide of the former, till 1690, when Count Frontenac was informed that an “2™*^ Iroquois and Enghjh army was employed at Lake St Sacrament, in making preparations to attack Montreal ■, on which advice nothing was omitted to put the place in a good pufture of defence. Almoll at the fame time news was brought, that a fleet of thirty Ihips had fet fail from Bofton, in order to attack ^ebec by the river of St Laurence, and had been out upwards of fix weeks, which cauled the more furprife, as the French had never lo much as heard of the equipment of an armament at that place. The governor had fcarce embarked, when he was acquainted that the Englijh fleet, to the number of tiiiitv four fail, were already at the Ifle au Cottdres, fifteen leagues from ^ebec. And liime French authors are of opinion that had the governor delayed but three days longer his arrival at that capital, he would have found it in the hands of the Englifh ; or, that, if their fleet had not been detained by contrary winds, or had been better provided with good pilots, that city had certainly been taken before they could have any information at Montreal that it was befieged. If this be true, as there is all the reafon in the world to believe, we are not to wonder at the encomiums which . the French writers bellow on Count Frontenac-, and it is faid, with great jullice, that never did furprife do greater honour to a general, or cover with more lliame thofe who ought to have made their advantage of it. The firll thing the governor did, after the confirmation of this news, was to or- Preparation der the Chevalier de Caillieres to'hallen to ^ebec with all poflible diligence, with all his troops, except fome companies left for the defence of Montreal, and to caufe'™''" all the inhabitants he could poflibly get together on his way to follow him. The count then marched without halting to ^ebec, where he arrived in the night of OSlober 14, and learnt that the Englijh fleet was at the lower end of the paflage of the IJle of Orleans. He was entirely fatisfied with the difpofitions the fort major had made, and the condition in which he had put the place. This officer had got into it a confi- derable number of inhabitants in the neighbourhood, who tellified much courage and refolution, and, though he had no more than five days to repair the fortifications, he had, however, left not one weak place in all the city, which he had not fecured againll any furprife. The general caufed fome additional intrenchments to be made where necelfary, and repeated the orders which the major had fo judicioufly given, for a body of militia, which covered ^ebec towards the road, not to quit their polls, till fuch time as they Ihould fee the enemy make a defeent, and attack the body of the place, in which cafe they Ihould hold themfelves in readinefs to march upon the firll notice. M. de Longueil had been fent, with a body of Hurons and Abenaquis Indians, to obferve the motions of the fleet. All the upper banks of the river of St Laurence were well lined with troops, the inhabitants Ihewing very II2 Hiftory of the Difcovery and Settlement every where a firm refolution to exert themfelves with vigour. Thus the Englifi could not fend fo much as a Angle boat to fhore, without being expofed to the fire of their mufquetry. And, laftly, bodies of militia were conftantly arriving from Montreal and the Three Rivers, and all equally refolute with thofe in the neighbour¬ hood of the capital. On the fifteenth, the Chevalier de Vaudreiiil, commander of the troops, fet out Mi”re morning to go on the difcovery, and to charge the enemy if they fliould giijh fleet, make an attempt to land, with exprefs injunftions from count Frontenac not to lofe fight • of tlism, and to fend him advice continually of all their motions; all which he executed perfedtly well. As they expefted fome fliips from France, and as it was . very reafonably apprehended that they might inadvertently fall into the hands of the enemy, the governor general difpatched, the fame day, two canoes well manned through the lelfer channel of the Ife of Orleans, with orders to fail as far down the river as polfible, to meet thofe fhips, and to warn them of their danger in the pre- fent conjundture, Augment He caufed men to work, at the fame time, with all expedition on a battery of their fottiflea-eight pieces of cannon on the eminence near the citadel, which was finilhed on the morrow. Hence the fortifications, begun at the palace, on the banks of the ri¬ ver St Charles, afeended towards the high town, which they inclofed, and ended at the mountain on the fide of Cape Diamond. There was alfo raifed a palifade, which reached from the beach to the cloylter of the feminary, where it was terminated by inacceflible rocks, called the Sailor’s leap, near which was a battery of three guns. A fecond palifade was alfo eredled above the former, and ended at the fame place, in order to cover the mufqueteers. In the lower town were two batteries, each of 'three eighteen pounders, difpofed in the intervals of the batteries of the high town. The avenues of the place, not defended by gates, were barricaded with maffy beams, and gabions, mounted with pattereros. The road which winds from the low to the high town, was cut by three different intrenchments with gabions, and a kind of chevaux de frize. In the courfe of the liege a fecond battery was ereded at the Sailor’s leap, and a third at the gate which leads to the river St Charles. Laftly, fe- veral pieces of cannon were difpofed at proper diftances round the high town, and particularly on the mount of a windmil, which ferved for a cavalier. 2i!g!ipha On the morning of the fixteenth Vaudreuil returned to ^eke, and reported that ' EngUP) fleet three leagues from the city, at anchor, in a place called the withered tree, and indeed it was plainly feen from the heights after day light. It confifted of thirty four fail, of different force and dimenfions, and, according to re¬ port, had on board three thoufand land forces. In advancing up the ftream, the fmaller velfels ftretched along the Beaupre fhore, between the ille of Orleans and the Defer River, the others keeping-the middle of the channel; and about ten the whole fleet came to an anchor. _ Admiral fum- Immediately a boat was difpatched from the fleet, carrying a white flag, and a monsthe trumpet, who was met half way, blind-folded, and in that manner condufted into ^ the fort. He was then, after being uncovered, led into a magnificent apartment, in which were alfembled the governour general, the bilhop, and the intendant, fur- rounded by a crowd of officers, which threw the melfenger into fome confufion, oc- cafioned, according to the French writers, not only by the fight of fo brilliant a com- £ ny, but alfo on feeing a place in fo warlike a pofture, which, from the report of me prifoners, had been reprefented, but a few days before, as without either gene¬ ral, troops, or fortifications; fo that Brigadeer Phipps made no doubt of lleeping in ^ebec the night after cafting anchor before it, as he expreffed himfelf to his men with abundance of prefumption. But it ought to be obferved that the trumpet, be¬ fore he arrived at the place where the governor was, had been carried quite round the place, where every one was thoroughly bufy, and hard at work, to make him con¬ ceive the higher opinion of its ftrength. 'The fummons, requiring the furrender of the place, was delivered in the name of their majefties King William and Queen Mary. Anfwerofthe anfwer was in terms teftifying the higheft indignation; and fome of the com- oiEcersand pany Were for treating the bearer of the fummons as the meflenger of a pirate, not sovemor. only, faid they, on account of Phipps’z being in arms againft his lawful fovereign, meaning fames II. but alfo as that general had violated the capitulation of Fort . of G A M A D A ii3 Uowl, which he had lately taken, hy retaining prifoners feme of the garrifon, contra¬ ry to'his faith given, and to the law of nations. The anfwer of Count Frontenac, though more moderate, was no lefs fmart. And turning to the trumpet, who had given him an hour to make his anfwer, “ I will not, faid he, caufe you to wait long for my anfwer, which is this: “ I know not any king of the name of William j but I know the Frince of Orange to be an ufurper, who has violated the moll facred rights, both of blood and of religion, by dethroning the king his father-in-law. I know no other lawful fovereign in England, but James II. Sir William Phipps ought not to be furprifed at the hoftilities committed by the French and their allies; as he ought to have known that the king my mafter, having received the king of England under his protedtion, would order me in confequence to make war on a nation who have rebelled againft their lawful fovereign. Could he think, had he even offered me more tolerable terms (thofe were to furrender at difcretion) that I could have been capable of accepting them ? Could he believe that fo many brave men would have conferited to them, and advife me to trull the word of a man who has violated the capitulation made with the governor of Jcadia 5 who is wanting in point of fidelity to his lawful prince ; who has forgotten all his almoft numberlefs favours, to follow the caufe of a foreigner, who, whilfl he would perfuade the world that he has no o- ther view than to become the deliverer of England, and the Defender of the Faith, has deflroyed the laws and privileges of the kingdom, and overturned the Church of England ; and which I make no doubt but the divine juflice, which Phipps calls to witnefs, will one day punifh with fignal feverity ?” The trumpet defiring to have this anfwer in writing, Frontenac faid, “ I am going to fend your mafter my anfwel from the mouths of my cannon, he lhall know what it is to fend a man of honour fuch a fummons.” When he had done fpeaking, he made a fignal for blind folding the trumpet, who was inftantly difmilfed, and the moment he had got on board began the fireingdifiniffd. from one of the batteries of the lower town; fo that the Englijh general faw him- felf obliged to befiege a place in form, which, he concluded, would not have had the boldnefs to make any defence. What might be looked upon as an ill omen, the firft fliot ftruck down the admiral’s flag, which being born along by the tide, fome Cana- dians threw themfelves into the river, and feized it, in fpite of a continual fire made up- ■*“' on them fi'om the fleet, and carried it in triuniph to the cathedral, where, if I am rightly informed, it Hill remains. The chief objedt of the governor was to draw && Englijh to crofsthe river fi'/siratagempf Charles, in hopes of attacking the place on the only fide which offered any probabili- the Frmb ty of fuccefs. The reafon of his policy was, that as this river was only fordable at®™'”’ low water, when once the Engli/h troops had pafled it, they might be engaged in order of battle without any great hazard j and, ihould they be obliged to give ground, they could never be able to rally, being under a neceflity of marching hSf a league up to the knees in mud, before they could get to their boats. Should the French, on the other hand, crofs the river to attack the enemy, they muft, as the governor well faw, be expofed to the fame difadvantage and hazard. The former reafoning might alfo be retorted, by fnppofing that, had the French been beaten under their walls, and on the fide next the city, fhe conquerors might have entered it pell mell with the runaways. The' general, however, was fo confident of the bravery of his troops, that he never apprehended this inconvenience j befides, as he . did not intend to leave the place intirely without troops, he would always be able to fupport his own peo¬ ple, and make good his retreat under any difadvantages. What happened foon after, juftified his opinion. On the eighteenth, at noon, the boats with about fifteen hundred men rowed to the fliore, and landed them without oppofitionj on which Count Frontenac iwA a detach-an'flinniih. ment of the militia, to the number of about three hundred, to harafs them. As the ground that way is fwampy and boggy, and intangled with Ihrubs and underwood, and rough with rocks, as the tide was out, and they muft march through the mud to get at the enemy, tliey could only attack them by platoons, and by way of flcirmifli- ing : The fame inconveniences lay in the way of the Engli[h. Both fides therefore were obliged to fight in the Indian manner, which, as I am told, not a little embar- raffed the troops which had landed, the French fhifting and Ikulking from rock to rock in places which were perfectly familiar to them, and mightily galling the Engli/h, . G g ' who. Hijiory of the Difcovery and Settlement who, as they were drawn up in batallions, could not ftir from their place, whilft tlie others, who took aim, and fcarce ever miffed, could not be feen. As this kind of fight¬ ing had put the troops of the invaders in lome diforder, it was judged proper to beat the retreat for that day. The French, however, were not without fome lofs of men, amongft whom were fome perfons of conliderable note. The fame evening the four largeft fhips in the navy came to an anchor before MdesSjf rear-admiral, with the blue flag, was ftationed on the left, oppolite to the Sailor’s leap, the admiral to the right of him, and the vice-admiral fomewliat lower, while the fourth, with the flag of admiral in chief, advanced towards Cape Diamond. On this a great fire enfued on both fides, the fleet direfting their cannon chiefly againft the high town, but with little damage. About eight o'clock at night the fire ceafed, and began again the next morning, though with lefs brifknefs on the part of the fleet. Some time after the fhip of the rear-admiral had been fo dama¬ ged by the batteries at the Sailor’s leap, and the battery under it in the lower town towards the left, that Ihe was obliged to withdraw. The admiral was not long beiiind her, having received feveral Ihot under water, and above twenty in her hull, her rigging cut to pieces, her main-maft almoft carried away, and many of her peo- pie killed or wounded. The two other fhips held out fome time after,, but at noon they gave over firing, and at five in the evening drew off to take fhelter out of the reach of the guns of the fort in the bay of Mothers, behind Cape Diamond. They did not, however, remain long in that liation, where they were expofed to the fire of the mufquetry, which killed them a great many men, and obliged them to withdraw to a greater diftance. Aflions of The Englijh troops remained quiet in their camp till the twentieth, the French the land ceafing to molefl: them, when, after beating to arms, and remaining in order of bat- tie till two in the afternoon, they made fome motions as if they would march to¬ wards the city, with platoons on their wings, and Indians in their van. They coafled for fome time the River St Charles in good order, when they were oppofed by a body of volunteers, who cut them fhort, and fkirmifhed as they had done on the firft attack. The fire of thefe troops made them retire to a wood, whence they fired very brifkly, and the French retired in good order, but with the lofs of fome of their beft officers. During this adtion Count Frontenac advanced at the head of three batallions of his troops, and drew them up on the banks of the leffer river, determi¬ ning to crofs it, if the volunteers had been too much preffed. The Englijlo received five field pieces from on board the fhips in the night following, and the next day they ffSSn forwards with a defign to batter the city in breach, but were met by feveral in vain. bodies of militia and volunteers, who, after feigned retreats in order to draw them into ambufeades, which they had laid for them, at laft took poll in a houfe which had been fortified with palifades, and was advantageoufly feated on an eminence, where they made fo brifk a fire, that the army was obliged to halt. The Englifi then fet about battering the houfe with their artillery; but their cannon, it feems, were fo ill ferved, that it did little or no damage. They continued, however, firing till night, both With artillery and fmall arms, during which time they were anfwer- ed by the battery which commanded the leffer river. After this they retired, and, as we are told, with confiderable lofs, and at firft in tolerable good order, till the great bell of the cathedral ringing as if it had been the fignal for all the troops in the place to fally out upon them, they were feized with a panic, and made what hafte they could to regain their camp. Whilft thefe things palled on the fide of the little river, two men of war that were above Quebec fell down with the tide to their old ftation, and as they paffed the city exchanged fome Ihot with it. toecamp. ' On the night of the twenty firil the Englijh imiie ufe of the extreme darknefi, and the rain which then fell to break up their camp, and get on board, leaving their cannon behind them. What probably difconcerted the Englijh general, was his feeing all the troops of d^appoiM- colony affembled at ^ebec, whereas he had greatly depended on a ftrong di- ment defeat- verfion in his favour on the fide of Montreal. He had fome grounds for this ex- “I pedlation, fince there was a body of three thoufand men, confifting of Englifl}, Jro- quois, and Mahingans, appointed to fall upon the territory of Montreal, whilft ^lebec Was bcfieged by the Englijh fleet. There was realbn enough to conclude that Cana¬ da, weakened by its great Ioffes the preceding years, would be forced to yield to two fuch powerful of CANADA. 115 powerful efforts, and we may fafely fay that nothing but providence pfevehted its fal¬ ling into the hands of the Englifi. The caul'e of this difappointment was afcribed to the fmall pox, which got among the Mahingan Indians, they were marching to the place of rendezvous ; whence the Iroquois, difgufted with the delay occafioned by it, and, dreading the ef¬ fects of that fttal diftemper, which was almoft new to them, left the camp. And their apprehenfions were but too well founded, fince they loft above three hundred of their people who had contradted the infedlion, and hence it came to pafs that the whole army was difperfed. Another caufe is faid to be occafioned by the refu- fal of the Englifh to embark on board the canoes of the Iroquois, which are made of flight materials, as of the bark of trees, for fear of drowning. The B'oquois re¬ proached them with cowardice, and refufed to have any further dealings With fuch daftards. The true caufe, however, feems rather to be the policy of thofe Indians, PoKcyof /«- who would willingly hold the balance between the two great European potyerS, ?“>'• whom they equally dread, and prevent as much as poflible the one from entirely exterminating the other, juftly concluding that they themfelves muft become the next viftims to the ambition of the conqueror': Thefe difappointments, with the failing of a diverfion on the fide of Mb/z-m/, siege of %- and the impradicablenefs of forcing a way to ^ebec crofs the river St Charles', maderaifed. General Fhipps think of raifing the fiege, which he did, and fet fall, on the evening of the twenty third, having loft in the three aftions, according to fome accounts, near fix hundred of his men, and exhaufted all his ammunition of every fort, to¬ gether with moft part of his own fortune. The year following the Englifi of New York made preparations for attacking Mont-Mmtrtalhn, real, which was now in a condition to defend itfelf, by the raifing of the fiege of‘'‘“““”>“'‘‘ §uebec. This fort flood thirty paces from the river, on a fteep rock, fituated betwixt two meadows, one of which is cut by a fmall river within gun Ihot of the fort, and a little further by a hollow j and between them there is a ftream, with a mill on it. On this fide, to the left of the fort, the militia were encamped, with fome Indians, who then happened to be at Montreal, The regular troops encamped On the righ^ and the officers had pitched their tents on a rifing ground oppolite to them. About an hour before day break the enemy were difcovered, by a centinel, falling ^ in between the firft river and the hollow; but after this they had gained the banks oiemEngu/. the river, and finding the quarters of the militia unprovided, had driven away the few that remained in it, and taken poffeffion of it. On the alarm made by the cen¬ tinel, the commander marched at the head of the troops, one part of whom took the way of the beach, and the other that of the meadow, marching round the fort. The battalion commanded by the pldeft officer arrived firft in fight of the quarter of the militia, and as he fufpefted all was not well, he halted in order to make what difco- veries he could, when he received a difchafge of mufquetry, in which he was mor¬ tally wounded. The . fame inftant the other battalion came up, and fell upon the e- nemy, who, after a vigorous refiftance againft fuperior .numbers, made their retreat in good order, with very iiiconfiderable lofs 'on the part of the Englijh, but more on that of the French who had the advantage. The former perceiving a fmall French detachment, which followed them' pretty clofe,' laid an arabufcade for them, in which every man perifhed. Grown more confident vvith this fuccefs, they took the fame way by which they came, when their fcouts difcovered the advanced guard of a body of troops coming to the relief of the place; and, concluding they had no RepuiTeJ by more than the handful they faw to deal .with, they fell upon them without hefitation. There happened to be the trunks of two large trees lying on the ground, behind, which the French officer, with much fagacity, drew up his men, ordering them to . lie flat on their faces till the firft fire of the enemy was fpent. Then rifing up, he formed them into three bodies, and charged the enemy fo fiercely, that they Were e- very- where obliged to give way. After, however, rallying twice, and returning to the fight, which lafted an hour and half, they were forced to betake themfelves to flight in great confufion, leaving fix-fcore dead on the fpot, and twice that nunaber wound¬ ed, with the lofs of colours and baggage. The French allow themfelves to have had fixty killed, and as many wounded; in this Ihort but lharpadtion. Thus was Canada rendered powerful and flourifhing, in comparifon of what it had keen but two years ago, through the vigilance, adtivity and firmnefs of Count Fron- tenac. ii6 Hiftory of the Difeovery and Settlement tenac. There feemed but little caufe of apprehending any attempt from E?igtatid, and the incurfions of the Iroquois rather made the inhabitants uneafy, than did them any real detriment. In the year 1695 arrived a deputy from the Sioux, demanding protedtion of the governor general, the ceremonial of which is worth relating. Approaching the Count with a very difmal air, and placing both his hands on his knees, he conjured him with tears in his eyes to have conipaffion on. him; adding that whereas all the other nations had their father, yet he for his part had none, be¬ ing in the condition of a child that had been abandoned and deferted by its parents. Then extending a robe of beaver-lkin on the ground, he placed on it two and twenty arrows, and, taking them up one after another, named at each arrow the name of fome village, for which he, at the fame time, demanded the general’s protedtion. The Count confented j though no care has fince been taken to preferve that nation in the French intereft, and though a great profit might be got from the hides and wool of the'buffaloes, with which their vaft plains have been already faid to abound. In 1696 the fmc/j formed a projedt of invading the provinces of New England rciiemeofia»and New Tork. By the plan of operations, their army was to march from Montreal, take Many, and from thence proceed to New Tork, and, with the afliftance of a French fleet, to reduce Bojlon, the chief difficulty of which they feemed to place rather in the extreme uncertainty of the jundtion of all the troops neceffary for fuch an undertaking, the vaft expence of time requifite for fuch a defign, and, laftly, the difficulty of carrying provilions for an army on board of canoes, which was looked upon as almoft nnfurmountable. The fleet deCgned againft Bojlon was to confift of ten fhips of the line of battle, one frigate, and two fire (hips, commanded by the Marquis de Normand, who, after joining with a fquadron fitting out at Rochfort, un¬ der the command of M. de Magnon, was to proceed with all diligence to the Bay of Placentia, in hopes to be early enough to prevent the Englijh from reconquering what they had loft the year before in Newfoundland. And if he found them be- fieging Placentia,, his orders were to attack them, and, in cafe of fuccefs, to fet fail for Pentagoet in Acadia, and thence to difpatch a veffel to Sluebec, to haften the de¬ parture of Count Frontenac, who was to rep^r to him with 1500 men. This jundtion made, and the troops embarked, they were to fail inflantly for Boflon, and, after taking it, to fcour all the coaft as far as Pefcadoue, ruining all the plantations as high up the country as poflible. If this fucceeded, they were to attempt Mawhatts, if the feafon permitted, and, after reducing that city, to leave behind the troops of Canada, who, in .their return home, were to ravage the colony of New Tork. The failure of carrying this vaft projedl into execution Father Charlevoix aferibes folely to want of diligence. But an Englijhman will take occafion, from this bold and mifehievous, and, as it is imagined, well laid fcheme, to refledf with joy and trembling on the late danger of his colonies from the much more flourifhing and formidable ftate of Canada in thefe .later times. But what has he ftill to expedt, if the French be fuffered to poffefs and people Louifiana, a country larger than Europe, fituated under the fineft climates, and at the back of his plantations ? He will fee no way to remove his juft apprehenfions, from the thriving progrefs of the enemy in thofe parts, but by the conqueft oi Canada. To this we have now an open door, which the French will never be. able to flint while we have Louijbourg in our hands, the reftoration of which has fince appeared only juftifiable by the neceffity of extricating our faithful allies from their difficulties, and procuring them good and honourable terms of peace. ^ A peace having been concluded in Ears/f, commiffioners were appointed to fettle .f w" the limits of the territories belonging to the two crowns in America, which had been Ae occafion of much wrangling and bloodflied. According to this fettlement, the limits of Canada, in which Acadia feems to h.ive been comprehended, were affigned at die river of St George, fituated almoft at an equal diftance from Kinibequi and Peiita- goef whereas they had formerly been extended as far as the firft of thofe two places. Nothing was determined with refpedt to the country of the Iroquois, thofe Indians pre¬ tending to an abl’olute independance on eitlier nation All Hudjbn’s Bay was ulfo left in the hands of the French, who were in the adlual poffeffion of it, as well as of the ifland of Cape Breton, being then of fmall confeqncnce, and the fettlement there being too incon- fiderable to give any caufe of uneafinels to the Englijh ; but the war, which broke out foon after betweeii the two crowns, remitted the decifion of boundaries to the fate of arms. ■ ./ CASA D A. 1.7 ■ M. de CailUrres fucceeding Count Frontenac in the government, of GjW;?, was Genera!af- willing to take advantage of the favourable, difpofitipn of the 7 rcyao/r. towards a peace and, in Ipite of the oppofition oi the governor of Tofk, h.e. fueceeded fo well, that, for peace, in i'70i, the deputies of the Giiiogbum, IdJonnontbonim, Onnoiitagues, O.nnsyoutbs, and Jgniers, the five nations included under the general name of Iroquois, in,, the Britipj colonies, and better known by the names of .Sewfar, Onondagoes, Q- i I’ieda’s., and Mohawks, arrived at Montreal. .They were foon followed by thofe of the Indian nations in the French intereft, when.the Rat, who was the orator and chief of the deputation of the Enrons of Michilimakinac, made ithe governor a very fine com¬ pliment in the name of all the reft. . . . . ^ This treaty had been effedfed by the negociations of :the Sieur de Courtemanche, and of Father Jngelran, who had been fent with a commiffibn for that purpofe. In their ation. progrels, on their arrival at Michilimakinac, F!\e.y iosssii almoft all the JWwsi abfent, at hunting; wherefore, after difpatching meffengers to inform them of the caufe of their arrival, the Count left his collegue to tranfadl matters with the Eurons and Outa- wais, and repaired to the river of St Jofepb, where , he met the Miamis, and parties of the Foutewatamis, Sokokis, Outagamis, Eurons, and Mahingaw Indians. Hence he proceeded to the Ilinois, and, in his return to Chicagou, vifited the Oyyatanous, a nation of the Miamis. In May following he took a progrefs to the country of the Mafeou- tlns, and, continuing his journey towards Eudfon’s Bay, met feveral bodies of the Sakis, Otchagras, Malhomines, Outagamis, Foutewatamis, and Kikapous. Thence returning to Michilimakinac, he found the negociation happily concluded by the zeal and addrefs of Father Angelran. On the Count’s arrival the father fet out for Montreal, leaving the Count at Machilimakinac, where his- prefence was neceffary for removing fome fcruples that arofe with refpedf to the reftitution of prifoners, which thofe nations had taken from the Iroquois, fome being defirous of retaining them, in order to treat fe- parately with the cantons of that people, whilft others wanted only to embroil matr ters. Cowtemanche had many difficulties to encounter, moft of thofe nations being in arms againft the Iroquois, and many of them one againft another; but he had the good fortune to furmount them all, and at laft embarked for Montreal, with a fleet of i8o canoes. ■ Before the meeting of the general afiembly of the Indians abovemeptioned, the go- Difficulties vernor held private conferences with the deputies apart, though there had been alrea- dy a preliminary debate, in which the deputies chiefly infifted on lowering the price of commodities, and purchafing all their lefler peltry, beaver Ikins beginning to grow fcarce. At laft every thing being fettled with the deputies in particular, it remained only to fign the articles, and proclaim the peace. For the performance of this folemnity a large plain was chofen without the city, furrounded with a double inclofure, at one end of which was erebted a canopy for the f/wigover. ladies and principal perfons of the place. The troops were drawn up round the lifts, and the Indians, in number 1300, were drawn up within them in beautiful order, puties. The governor, attended by M. de Champig7iy, the Chevalier de Vaudreuil, and the prin¬ cipal officers, placed himfelf fo as to be feen and heard by all the people, and addref- fing himfelf to the Indians told them, in few words, that he had the year before e- ftabliflied a peace between all the nations. But as none of the Northern and Wefi- tern people, except the Eurons and Outawais, had been prefent at the treaty, he had acquainted the others with his defire, that they ftiould fend deputies, at whofe ge¬ neral aflembly he might folemnly take the hatchet out of their hands, and declare to all thofe who Ihould acknowledge him for their father, that he took upon him to be, for the time to come, the arbiter of all their differences. He therefore advifed them to forget all that was paft, and intruft all their concerns to his management, in whieh he would take care to fee ftrid juftice done. He added, that they had reafon to be weary of the war, which had been equally unprofitable to all of them ; and that therefore he doubted not to receive their thanks, as foon as they fliould have tafted the fweets of peace. This fpeech of the governor, being repeated to the feveral natrons by their inferr preters, was anfwered with general acclamations, and belts, and robes, were at theportmentof, fame time diftributed among the chiefs, who rifing up one after another, and march^ lr.diars. ing with a grave and folemn pace, clothed in their robes of beaver ffiins, prefen-r ted their prifoners to the governor, together with belts, the meaning of which was explained to him. All of them fpoke with great politenefs, and in a very fenfible man- H h ner; 'll8 Hijtory of the Difcovery and Seitleme?it ljut their principal aim was to inforce a belief that they were facrificing their own inte. reft to the love of peace, and to their great deference to the will of their father, at the fame time infinuating how little they had to fear on the part of the hxquoh, tho’ they had fmall reafon to depend on their lincerity. This ceremony, ferious as it was, afforded matter of much merriment to the French fpedtators, many of the Indian nations appearing in a very ridiculous drefs, which contrafted with the folemnefs of their deportment, excited laughter beyond all ftp! preffion. The chief of the Jlgonkhis, a tall handfome youth, was dreffed like a Canadian traveller, with his hair done up with red feathers, which formed a fort of crown refembling a cock’s comb. This hero, who had performed fome admirable feats againft the Ircquois, advancing towards the governor, with a noble and unaffec- DrelTesand ted air, faid “ My father, if my reputation as a councellor is but fmall, let it be re- fpeeches. membred that I have ever made it my maxim to obey thee in all things; and fmce thou haft fettled peace, I bury all my refentment in oblivion”. The chief of the Pouteouatamh wore a fort of bonnet or calket, made of the Ikin of a bull’s head, the horns hanging over his ears. This perfonage paffed for a man of folid judgment, joined to great fweetnefs of temper, and a ftrong affeflion to the French-, his fpeech is faid to have been well fpoken, and in a very obliging manner. The Outogamian orator had his face painted red, and on his head an old fcare crow wig, of which he feemed particularly vain, all covered with powder, but fhockingly dreffed, which gave him an air at once ridiculous and hideous. As he had neither hat nor cap, and was delirous to falute the governor after the French manner, he pulled off his pe- ruke, on which the affembly broke out into a peal of laughter, at which he was not in the leaft difconcerted, but probably took it for applaufe. He told the general that the reafon why he had brought no prifoners was becaufe they had all made their efcape, and that his principal hoftilities had been committed againft the Sioux, and not againft the Iroquois. The SauUeur chief had on his head an ornament of feathers, formed into a kind of rays refembling the flowers of the auricula. He faid that he had already given his prifoners their liberty, and that he conjured his father to grant him his friendlhip. The Iroquois inhabitants of the colony, and the Algonlins fpo.ke laft, exprefling much zeal for the growth and profperity of the French fettlements. Then all the fpeftators, calling their eyes on the orator of the Iroquois cantons or Five Nations, who had not as yet fpoken, he faid, in brief, that thofe he had ’the honour to reprefent, would foon convince all the other nations of the wrong they did them by their diftruft, and that they would fatisfy the moft incredulous among them of their fidelity, fincerity, and refpeft for their common father. The treaty was then produced, and figned by 38 Indian deputies, after which the great pipe was brought forth. The governor firft fmoaked in it, then the French officers of greateft dhlindlion, with all the Indian chiefs and deputies in their turn, leaty ,^^lJich Fe Deum was fung. Three whole oxen were boiled in their caldrons,’ and every one was ferved with his portion, all pafling with much order and decency! Thefe tranfaftions were followed by giving audience to the Upper Indians and Iroquois-, Subfequent the acceffion of the Agniers otherwife Mohawks to the treaty j the fending milTiona-’ traniidiion). j.jgs to the Five Nations at their own requeft, not to convert but to watch over their pro¬ ceedings, and to fruftrate the negociations of the Englif-, the hoftilities of the Englip in the breaking out of the war -, their threats againft New France ; the projed for fettling a miffion in Acadia-, fome proceedings of the Indians in the French colony prejudi¬ cial to their intereft; the death of Gt/VZ/Vm fucceeded by Vaudreuil-, a deputation from the Tfonnonthonans or Cayugas -, and, laftly, an expedition into New England hq the Sieur de Beaubafin at the head of a body of Abenaquis, with the flaughter of about 300 of that province, which was revenged by an inroad into Acadia, the country of thole In¬ dians-, and laftly another furprife of New Englanders by the fame Indians, in which many were killed, and 150 taken prifoners. ’ In 1706, the governor of Canada propofed to the king’s council a permiflion for the inhabitants to cultivate hemp and flax, and to manufadture them in that coun- "^en to fuch an advanced fanada. price, that the poorer fort were obliged to go half naked. The anfwer of the mi- nifter was, that the king, his mafter, was extremely pleafed to find that his ftbjeds of Canada had at laft acknowledged their fault in neglefting the cultivation of their lands for the fur trade. And particularly he approved of their deCgn of growing hemp of C A N A B A. . 119 hemp and flax, hoping that in time they might alfo come to build flflps in CmsJj, id thofe much cheaper tlian in Old France, as well as fettling lilherics fo advanta- treous to the nation. Wherefore nothing fliould be omitted to encourage and aflift Stem, but that it was not for the intereft of Old France tliat maiiuadlures fliould be fct up in America, though he was not abfolutely again/!: fuffering luch as were of fiiull confequence, for the relief of the poorer inhabitants of the colony. This per- niiflion has been fince employed to e/lablifli manufadtures of linen and druggets, which are very advantageous to the country. Soon after, the Englifi, with a body of twothoufand men, fet about eredinganew fort at the extremity of Lake Sacrament, (now Lake George) and fortifying a port on Lake Vain aitem Champlain, within two days march of the French fort at Lhatnhlp But they were obligeo to defift and decamp, after deftroying their works, and lofing a great part of their «trad thei troops by the treachery of the iroqueis, who poifoned their water. 'wnwr. The next thing we find in tlie liiflorics of Canada worthy of notice is the expe¬ dition againft 9luebec, in 1712, by an Englifi fleet under Sir Hovenden Walker, whil/l General Nicbolfon, with a confiderable body of troops, was to make a diverfton on the fide of Montreal. The mifearriage of this enterprize feems to have been entirely cgainti owing to the ill condudt of the Englifi admiral, who kept failing on towards the Seven Ijlands, on the North fliore of the River of St Laurence, and, through the ignorance of the pilots, was cafl: away on Egg TJland, with feven others of his largeft vef- fels, in a fudden fquall of wind, in which, befides the lofs of his fliips, cannon, and other effefts, three thoufand of his men periflied. The land army, after the hear¬ ing of this difa/fer, had nothing more to do but to make their retreat. In the year following, the Englifi again menacing Quebec, the merchants of that capital made a voluntary prefent of fifty thoufand crowns, to be laid out on additional uqLgn. fortifications. The negociations for fettling the peace of Utrecht were not yet concluded, when the governors of New England and Nnu France received orders from their refpedfive courts to ceafe hoftilities; and Lewis XIV. yielded up Acadia, Newfoundland, and Hudfon's Bap, together with all his pretenfions to the country of the Iroquois, or Five Nations, to the crown of Great Britain. And as there now remained nothing to France in thofe feas but the ifland of Cape Breton, which they referved as proper for eftablifliing a fifliery, a principal objeft with the French about this time, a defeription ofcnZ Bn this important fpot of land, on account of its clofe relation to Canada, will not, it is pre- fumed, be altogether unacceptable to the reader, and may very properly be introduced here before we conclude our defeription and hiftory of the Northern part of New France. CAPE B R EF 0 N, called by the French L'l S L E RO T A L E, Is fituated between 45 and 47 degrees of North latitude, and forms the Weftern coaft Geography of the entry of j:he gulph of St Laurence, as the ifland of Newfoundand does that on of the Eaftern, the diftance between them being fixtecn leagues. The ftrait which fepa-””' rates it from Acadia, or New Scotland, is about five leagues long, and one broad, and is called the gut of Caiifo, or Pafs of Frcnfac. Its length from N. E. to S. W. is not quite fifty leagues, and its greateft breadth from E, to W. not more than thirty three. Its figure is very irregular, being fo interfedled with lakes and rivers that the two principal parts of it are only joined by an ifthmus eight hundred paces broad, which feparates the bottom of Port Fhouloufe from feveral lakes, called by the general name of Labrador, Thefe lakes fall into the fea by two channels of unequal breadth, formed by the ifland of Verderonne, or de la Bourlarderie, feven leagues in length. The climate of Cape Breton is much like that of Fluebec, and though fogs are much more frequent in the former, there are, however, lew complaints of its unwhole- fomenefs. The land is generally unfertile, yet produces trees of all kinds; fucii as oaks of a prodigious fize, pines for mafts, with all forts of timber fit for building, the mod common are the oak, cedar, afli, maple, plane tree, and poplar. Fruits, e- Vegetables; fpccially apples, legumes, or pulfe, wheat, with all other forts of ufeful grain, hemp, flax, though in lefs quantity, are, however, equal in goodnefs to thofe produced in Canada. It has been remarked that the mountains are capable of culture, even to their tops ; that the good lands lie open to the South, and are cover¬ ed from the North, and North Weft winds by the mountains which lie towards the gulph of St Laurence. A!! 120 Hifiory of the Dijeovery and Sctilentcnt Animals. All forts of domellic animals, horfes, horned cattle, hogs, Qieep, deer, and poui. try find abundance of provender. Hunting and fifoing are alone able to maintain the inhabitants for a confiderable part of the year. There are alfo feveral rich mines of excellent coal, and thofe lying high on mountains, and therefore may be wrought at a fmall expence ; there k alfo found plafter like that dug up near Paris. It is affirmed- that'no part in the world affords greater plenty of cod fifc, and, with more conveniences of all forts for curing them. This ifland was formerly well flocked with wild game, but it has lately become very fcarce, efpecially the elk. The par¬ tridge is of the fize of a pheafant, rcfembling it alfo very much in the colour of its feathers. Laftly, no place can be better fituated for the fifliery of the fea wolf, por- poife, and whale, which are found in great plenty in thofe feas. Ports. •' All its portsare open towardsthe eaft, foiiiewhat inclining to the South, vrithin the fpace of fifty five leagues, beginning with Porte Dauphine as far as Porte Plmlotife, fituated almoft at the entrance of the ftraits, or gut, of Fronfac. Every where elfe you hard¬ ly find any anchoring ground, except pnly for fmall veffels in the creeks and between the-iflets. The whole Northern coaft is very high, and almoft ihaccefiible j audit is equally difficult to find any landing place on the Weft, till you come to the ftraits of Fronfac, in your courfe from which you immediately meet with Port Fhouhiife, for¬ merly known by the name of Porte St Peter, and fituated between a fort of gulph, called Little St Peter, and the illands of St Peter, oppofite to the ifles Madame, o- therwife Maurepas. From thence returning tow'ards the South Eaft, you difeover the Bay of Gaborous, the entry vyhereof, which is about twenty leagues diftant from the illands of St Peter, is a league in breadth, lying between iflands and rocks. All thefe iflands may be approached, and fome of them run out with capes a league, and Port of Im- Jialf into the fea. The bay is two leagues deep, and the anchorage very good. ijlmrg, and The harbour of Louijbourg, formerly Englifo Harbour, is no more than a league SnimMaC tlffiant, and one of the principal ports in all America. It is near four leagues in cir- bed. cuit, and has every where from fix to feven fathoms water. The anchorage is excel¬ lent, and lliips may be run affiore on the mud without danger. The entry is no mote than two hundred fathoms wide, between two fmall iflands, and is eafily known at fea by Cape Lorembec, fituated near it, towards the North Eaft. Two leagues higher is Porte de la Baleine, or Whales Port, the entry of which is very difficult on account of fome rocks, which lie hid under water when the fea runs high. This harbour is capable of no larger veffels than that of three hundred tun, for want of deeper water, though it be very fecure when once entered. Two leagues hence is the Bay of Panadou or Menadou, the entry of which is about a league in breadth and the bay itfelf two leagues in depth. Almoft oppofite is the ifland of Scatari, formerly Little Cape Breton, above two leagues in length. The Bay of Mire is feparated from it only by a very narrow ifthmus. Its entry is near two leagues broad, and the bay itfelf eight in depth. It contradls as you advance within it, and feveral ftreams or rivulets dif- charge themfelves into it. Large veffels may fail fafely till they are got fix leagues within it, where is good anchorage, and ffielter from winds. Befides the iflands of Sca¬ tari, there are feveral leffer, as alfo rocks, which are never covered, but difcernible at a great diftance; the largeft is called the Porillon, The bay of Morienne is higher, and feparated from Miri by Cap Brule, and higher ftill, is I’ljle Plate, or Flat I- Jland, otherwife IJle d Pierre, that is d fti fal, or Flint-ftone Ifland, exactly in forty fix de¬ grees eight minutes North latitude. There is good fhelter amongall thefe iflmuds and rocks, and they may alfo be approached without danger. Thence afeending three leagues further towards the North Weft, you come to an excellent harbour for fmall veffels, called I’Indiane. From Plndiane to the Bay des Epagnols, or Spanip Bay, are two leagues; this bay has alfo a very fine harbour. The entry of it does not exceed one thoufand paces in breadth, growing broader by degrees. A league from its en¬ trance it ffivides forming two arms of a competent depth three leagues higher. Both arms make excellent harbours, and might be 'much improved at a trifling ex¬ pence. From this bay to the leffer entry of Labrador you have two leagues, and to the ifland which divides the leffer from the larger entry two leagues more. Labra¬ dor is a gulph of above twenty leagues in length, and from three to four leagues in breadth where broadeft. They, reckon but a league and half from the great entry of Labrador to Port Dauphin, or St Anne, The anchorage is an open ro.id be¬ tween of CANADA mouth of the harbour, leaving only room for one flrip to pafs at a time. The port is tffo leagues in circumference, in which veffels hardly feel the wind, becaufe of the height of the lands and mountains with which it is furrounded, tho’ they may ride as clofc as they pleafe to the fliore. All thcfe harbours and ports lie fo contiguous to one another, that it would be very cafy to cut roads between them, which would he of infinite fervice to the inhabitants, in facilitating their mutual correfpondence, and fave them the trouble of fetching a compafs by fea in the winter feafon. Whilft the French remained in polleffion of Acadia, or Nevi Scotland, and the Sou¬ thern coaft of Newfoundland, they made lit(]e account of the ifland of Cape Breton. The Sieurs "Rennudot were the firll who took upon them to recommend it to the at- Memorial of tcntion of French miniftry in 1706, on account of its utility to New ivw/cf. tiic sieurs For this purpofe they tranfmitted a memorial to court, in which they intimate that fince the chief and almoft foie view in eftabliihing the colony of Canada, at lead: of thofe concerned in it as members and proprietors of a company, had been the traffic of furrs, principally beaverfkins, thofe interefted ought to have reflefted .ind forefeen, that one day this commodity muft be in a great meafure exhaufted, or elfe too common, and, confequently, far from fufficient for the fupport of a colony of fo much confequence ■, that the lafl; of thefe evils, the low price of beaver- Iblns, had aftually come to pafs, and that thofe who had got enough to live at cafe in Old France were, for that very reafon, lefs concerned what became of New prance. Then they obferve that this trade can never employ any confiderable number of people, and never can fuffice alone to maintain or enrich a whole colony 5 of the furr and that, even fuppofing the confumption of thofe commodities certain, the evil laft mentioned could only be avoided by running into the firft; for want of making thefe leflexions, the inhabitants of New France had almoft entirely addided themfclves to this commerce, never confidering the impoffibility of finding a general fale for beaver, as they might undoubtedly for cod and other fifli; that they had been fo accuftom- cd to long and fatiguing journeys, and to a life of wandering and ftrolling through forefts and woods, and crofling of lakes, that tho’ the value of beaver was funk fo low as not to be worth their pains, they could not yet, without great difficulty, be brought to fubjedl themfelves to any more profitable but more confined way of life. The Englifi, on the contrary, fay they, liave obferved quite another method, and, in- jnduflryofthe Jlead of amufing themfelves with long and uncertain peregrinations, have made it their 'A bufinefs to cultivate their lands, have eftablifhed manufadlures, eredted glafs-works, dif- covered iron mines, followed fliip-building, .and have never regarded the furriery but as an acceffiiry and not a principal article of commerce. Indeed neceffity has at lafl: opened the eyes of the Canadians, and they have been cw/ot/ obliged to turn their hands to cultivate hemp and flax, to making of fails, and of fome forced upon ordinary druggets of tire wool of their old cloaths mixed with thread; but the long habit of doing of nothing had not, as yet fuftered them to overcome their lazy indo- tuces. fence. That if all of them had corn and cattle fufficient for their fubfiftence, yet Hill multitudes want cloaths, and are under a neceffity of paffing very long and (liarp winters with no other than fuch as are made of doelkins. The king is at a yearly expence of a hundred thoufand crowns towards the stock in trade fupport of this colony; the fkins, or furrs, amount to about two hundred and fourfeore of CnWa. thoufand livres ; oils and other inferior articles return about twenty thoufand Jivres; the penfions which lie upon the royal treafury, what the king allows private perfons, and the revenues of the bifhop and feminaries, paid by Old France, amount to fifty thoufand livres more; making in all fix hundred and fifty thoufand livres, [reckoning three livres to the crown] whicli is the whole of the value or flock in trade, of the whole country. A very inconfiderable matter indeed, with refpeft to tlie fubfiflence of five and twenty thoufand fouls, and providing them alfo with all neceflaries from the mother country. Formerly the king beflowed a much greater fum on the colony, the returns then coionyJrain,- amounted to near a million in beaverfkins, and at a time when that province was not vt near fo populous; but as flie was never able to make returns equal to her receipts from Europe, her credit diminiflred, and at lafl funk entirely, fo that no goods were to be had in France, till the merchants had paid for them with ready money, or by a con- fiderable confignment. Thus, as well as by the fall of the price of beaverfkins, all the money of Canada was drained into France-, whence it has been affirmed that at I i certain 122 Hijtory of the Settlenmit of the Ifa 7 id certain times there were not a thoufand crowns in fpecie to be found in the whole colony. Thus far they proceed in reprefeuting the ftate of affairs in Canada. They next take the liberty to offer propofals to render the colony more flourifliing, and to prevent or remedy all future complaints. Cmaia ira- Canada has, fay they, fufficient commodities to drive on a very lucrative commerce, proved by fuch as fait fiefli, mafts, deal boards, fide-planks, fmall and great timber for fliip. ping, pitch, tar, whale oil, and oil of porpoifes and fea-wolves, codfifli, hemp, flax, copper and iron. All that is neceffary to be done, is to find a market for the confump. tion of thefe commodities, and to lower the price of labour, and of the commodities of Old France. Cape Breton was therefore judged the propereft place for a mart, or ftaple, between France and Canada, for carrying on the mutual commerce of both coun¬ tries, as well as for a nurfery of feamen, it being the moll advantageoufly fituated, and even abfolutely neceffary for the cod and whale fifliery, as well in the gulf of Sf Laurence, as elfe where in the neighbouring feas. idandconve- Such was the fubllance of the memorial and of the propofals it offers. But there "mu'bn was another advantage which the French promifed themfelves from fettling Cape Bre- mugging. refulting from its mofl commodious fituation for fmuggling brandies, wines, linen, filks, and other French commodities into the E?iglifi colonies, not only of North America, but alfo of their iflands, which muff be a confiderable diminution of the cafh, and detriment to the manufadlures, of Great Britain. The illand is alfo confider¬ able with refpeft to the value of its native produce, as coals, plafler, codfilh, oils, timber and lumber, as well for ferving France as their iflands in the Weft Indies ; and as a convenient flrelter for fliips in diflrefs, and a refuge under purfuit of an enemy. fettling this illand, which the French had referved to themfelves by the peace of harbour, and Utrecht, after they had renounced all claims to Acadia and Newfoundland, the firll nfe of the city (.jjjpg deliberation was to make choice of a harbour on which to build a city. The opinions were a long time divided betwixt Englijh Harbour and Port St Anne. For the former were urged the vafl quantities of cod which frequented it, and might be conveniently caught from April to the end of December. But this argument in its favour feemed counterbalanced by the want of a beach, or convenient flwre, for any great number of fifhing-veffels, the barrennefs of the country round it, and the immenfe fums it mull cofl to fortify it. They who were for the harbour of St Anne, befides the fhelter it affords to fhips from the height of its banks and the neigh¬ bouring mountains, and the eafy accefs of all forts of veffels near the beach, added, that it might be fortified at a trifling expence, fince as much work might be done here for two thoufand livres, as at Englifto Harbour for two hundred thoufand, becaufe it’ afforded all forts of materials proper for building and fortifying a great city. Be¬ fides the beach was as large as that of Placentia, and no lefs tire quantity of filh. To thofe advantages might be added the vafl variety of timber, fuch as maple, beech, cherry-trees, and, above all, oaks for flfip-building, and malls, marble in great quan¬ tity, the lands excellent, efpecially thofe of the greater a.nd \t&r Labrador, which are alfo capable of maintaining a great number of inhabitants; and that it is no more than four leagues from Spanifto Bay, an excellent harbour, the adjacent lands of a rich foil, and producing much timber fit for lliip-building. There was, however, one main and overbalancing inconvenience attending St Anne's Harbour, and that is, the diffi¬ culty of getting into it, which, after much wavering between the two, gave at lafl the preference to Englifto Harbour, fince named Louijhourg, on account of its ea¬ fy accefs. We think ourfelves obliged, before we conclude our account of this important fpot of earth, to give an hiflorical relation of the feveral revolutions it has of late years un¬ dergone, which the reader will find in the following order. C(ipi Brtim Breton, and the other iflands in the bay of St Laurence, which, together with ceded to Nova Scotiu, had been reduced by the Englijh m 1710, were, by the peace of Utrecht, Fiamt. given to the French in exchange for Placentia in Newfoundland, and all other right and tide to that illand, with a referve, , however, of liberty, for the French and Sfa- niards to catch and cure fifli in its Northern harbours. By the fame treaty. No¬ va Scotia, called by the French Acadia, whofe undetermined bounds, together with Other claims, unfettled by that and other fucceeding negociations, have given occafion of C J P E BRETON. 123 to the prefent war, were left in pofleffion of the Englifli. While this peace was un¬ der debate at the EngIi(I} board of trade and plantations, and the importance of Cape Breton was ftrongly urged, A. M—re, one of the commiffioners, took up the matter diort with a decilive queftion in favour of his good friends, faying, “ And what fliall the Vrench then have nothing ?” In 1717 the Frefich of Canada., alarmed at the advancement of the Englifi fettle- ments towards the North of New England, follicited the Abenaquis Indians, by Father thrinj/pr" Ralk, their Jefuit miffionary at Kenebec, to claim- fome lands occupied by the new and fettlers. Influenced by his perfuafions, and affuring them that thefe lands were given by God, un-alienably, to the Indians and their feed for ever, they began to murmur, and, after fome time, gave the Englijh formal warning to leave the lands within a fet time. When that term was expired, they began their depredations by deftroying cattle and other flock. However the fmall pox, v/hich the Indians, witli good reafon, dread, prevailing in New England, and the governor of Canada'^ expectations of particular inftruftions concerning the affiiirfrom France, prevented a declared rupture. In 1721 M. Croizes from Canada, M. St Cajlecn from Penobfeot, Rolle and de la Chajje, French nfiffionaries, with about three hundred Indians, made a general appearance at Arrowjick, an ifland of Sagadahock, threatning, that if the Englip did not remove from the claim¬ ed Indian lands in three weeks, they would kill the people, burn their houfes, and deftroy their cattle. Accordingly, at Merrymeeting hay on Kenebec viver, June 13, 1722, the Indians made a beginning, and took feveral captives. July 3, 1722, the governor oi MaJJachufetts Bay proclaimed the Indians enemies and rebels, and ordered 100/. per fcalp to volunteers fitted out at their own charge, and afterwards 4 s. per day be- fidcs. The moft confiderable adlion againft them was at Noridgwoag by Kenebec ri¬ ver, Augujl 12, 1724. Their fighting men being juft returned from flouting, Capt. Barman, with 200 men in 17 whale boats went up the river and furprifed them, bringing off 26 Indian fcalps, and that of Father Ralle j the killed and wounded a- mounted to eighty. On the other hand. Captain Lvcel, a volunteer, who had done- great fervice, was intercepted in his way from OJJipi pond to Pigocket, by a party of about 70 Indians, and killed with 14 of liis men volunteers out of 44, befides many wounded. November 17, 1723, arrived in Bojkn a captain and lieutenant of ma¬ rines, with a meffage from the governor of Canada. And in January, 1725, two co¬ lonels and a gentleman were fent from New England with a meffage to expoftulate with the government of Canada, concerning their inviting and affifting the rebellious Indians. After much fkirmiflring and blood flied, the Indians begged and obtained a cellation of arms, December 15, 1725, and in May following, a peace was concluded, by which the Indians of Noridgwoag, Penobfeot, St John’s, and Cape Sables, who fign- ed the treaty, were fecured in the poffeflion of all their lands not hitherto conveyed, with the privilege of hunting, fowling, and fifliing, as formerly. In 1744, the war declared feveral years before between England and Spain, after War dedarei long mifunderftanding, and fome previous adls of hoftility, drew on another of England with France, which appeared to have taken Spain under her proteiftion. France pro- Engiund. claimed war March 26, N. S. and England April 2 ; but at Boflon, in New England, war was not proclaimed till June 13. On May 24, Du Vivier, a French officer, who had early intelligence, with a few armed fmall veffels, and about 900 regular troops and militia from Louipourg takes Casifo in Nova Scotia without refiftance, and carries the garrifon and inhabitants to that fortrefs. After this he blockaded Annapolis for feveral weeks, but on the arrival of fuccours from New England retired to Minas, a town in the heart of that country, peopled by the French in fubjedlion to the E?t- pp, but difpofed, on all occafions, to favour the attempts of their countrymen. On February 1745, N. S. at an affembly of the reprefentatives of Mafachufetts-^Kgswi Bay, the moft. powerful and leading of the four provinces of New England,* it was conqueiiof concluded, by the majority of one vote, that, confidering the imminent danger and an- noyance to ills majefty’s Northern colonies, in time of war, from the neighbouring ftrong and moft commodioufly fituated harbour and garrifon of Louipourg, an attempt fliould be m-ade to reduce that fortrefs. The governor of New England at that time was Mr Shirley, a man of the law, of great abilities and merit, and in¬ timately acquainted with Colonel Pepperell, chief officer of the militia, one of the lar- * The other provinces are CttmSiat, Nivi liarnypin, and Rhidt IJtmid. geft Account of the taking of the If and of Cape Breton in 1745. geft traders in Boflon, and univerfally beloved for bis integrity and affability. In confidence of his friendfliip and extenfive intereft, the governor propofes to him the com¬ mand of the expedition. The colonel, after much hefitation, and long declining the offer, as requiring a perfon of great military knowledge, at laft yields to the inftances of the governor, and intreaties of his friends, and accepted the charge. Wherefore, on February 1^, inliftments began for volunteers, andfuch was the iniiucaice of the popular affedion and refpeft to the .general, that the levies foon amounted to 3600 effeftivc men. At the end of March the fleet failed with thefe forces to Cmifo, where it remained three weeks, becaufe the Ihore of Cape Breton was all that time inacceflible through ice. May 10, the fleet proceeded from Canfo, and next day an-' chored at Chapeau Rouge or Gaboroufe Bay, a little S. of Louijbourg, where the troops re- pulfed the French, who oppofed their landing, with the lols of eight killed and 20 pri- foners, without lofing a man. A detachment burnt St Peter’s, a fmall French-Mkmm. A day or two after a battery of fome few fmall cannon, and three mortars of 13, u, and 9 inches, was.ereded on the green hill, at 1550 yards diftance from the king’s baftion, called the citadel. May 13, 4000 men marched, under covert of the hills, to North Eaft harbour, and burnt the ftore-houfes and filh-ftages, on which the troops on the grand battery retired into the town to ftrengthen the garrifon, after nailing their cannon, in number about 30, of 36 and 42 pound balls, which were foon drilled; and fer- ved againft the place. The befiegers dragged their heavy cannon upon fledges over moraf- fes, impradicable by horfes or oxen. No regular approaches were made by trenches carri¬ ed on by parallels and zigzags, but the town was bombarded and battered at random, by which the houfes were much damaged, and the W eft fide of the citadel, with its ajoining flank and curtain, was greatly defaced, but no pradicable breach made. May 18, a battery was eredted at 900 yards diftance, and the town was fummoned. Next day' the befieged made an infignificant fally. A body of French Indians did execution- on a party of ftragglers. On the 27th, 100 men in boats landed in the night, near the Light Houfe point, to furprife thofe eredling a battery to play upon that in the illand, but were timely difcovered, and purfued to the woods, where they were joined by fome Indians, and had feveral fkirmifhes with the outguards of the befiegers. On' the 28th, a battery was advanced to 250 yards diftance from the Weft gate. On the 30th the Vigilante, a French fhip of 64 guns for Louijbourg, with men and ftores, was taken by Commodore Warren, who, with the Superbe of 60 guns, and the Lan- cefton and Mermaid of 40, covered the fiege by fea, and was afterwards reinforced by two Ihips of 60 guns, one of fifty, and three of forty. On the 31ft, waserefted, on- the further fide of a creek, a battery of five 42 pounders, called Tidcomb's battery; to play upon the circular battery and magazine. June 5, about 500 men in whale boats made an attempt on the illand battery where was bad landing, 30 cannon 28 pounders, and 180 men in garrifon, and were repulfed with the lofs of 60 men killed and wounded, and 116 taken prifoners. June 23, the Canterbury and Sunderland of 60 guns each arriving, it was refolved with thefe and the reft there before, confifting of one 64, two 60, one 50, and three 40 gun drips, to ftorm the town the 29th by’ fea, while the forces from the camp made an attack by way of diverfion on the land," though the ditch was 80 feet wide, the rampart eighty feet high, and the fcaliiig ladders 10 feet too fliort. But the garrifon, compofed of 600 regulars, with about, 300' militia, perceiving the preparations, thought it bell to capitulate on the 28th, and were' allowed th'' honours of war, not to ferve for twelve months, and to be tranfported to' France at the charge of England. The French had expended two millions of livres in fortifying the place, and it had when taken, cannon mounted on the town walls 64,' and on the grand and illand batteries as before mentioned, and no want of ammuni* tion and ftores. - The lofs of the befiegers did not exceed 150 men. This expedition refulted greatly, and almoft folely, to the honour of the people of '-’■ 'New England. “ When I refleft, fays a writer of that time, on the fagacity and' bravery of Mr Pepperell mi of the New Englif engineer who left his Ihop-boardf and the intrepidity of the reft of the New Englijhmen in this undertaking; when L confider the coolnefs and bravery, with which they marched to adtion, and their rf' turn from .vidtory to their feveral occupations, I form in my mind the image of ths' antient Rsmam leaving the plough for the field of battle, and retiring after their con-' quells to the plow again. ” And a French officer obferved that in all hiftory he had never met with fuch a bold inllance as of 4300 raw undifeiplined men laying fiege B ' Haebour of LouisburgM aidi E atteries //iatdefmJed,i(}, [M ou?io// on nf/tif/i/ t/ifn/ Encamped J || Ea,st 125 CAP E B RETO N rcfiorcd to the French in 1748. to fo ftrong and well fortified a city, with fuch a garrifon, batteries, as lie thought niight have held out againft an army of 30,000 men; that he never heard of fuch intrepidity in men, who regarded neither lire nor bombs; was quite furprifed to fee batteries railed in a night's time, particularly the faliine battery, within twenty five roods of the city wall, to which guns of forty two pounders were dragged by the be- fiegers two miles through a very rough road. The news of this fuccefs was received with great rejoicings in Eiighwd, and the Dcb::e nnj conqueft was thought fo important, that at a court of aldermen of Lcndoii it was mo- ved by aldermen R—71 that it fliould be an inftruftion to the committee for drawing “'acXr'r; up an addrefs of congratulation to defre his mnjejly that he would mojl gracionjly be pktijy td not to fuffer it to be given up by a general peace. But to this it was objected by bir J-.-ii ij—t^that it was quite improper to the minifiry, and more unjiill fiill to tie them down in making a peace. At lafl: it was agreed in their addrefs, after grateful returns to licaven for the conqueft of Cape Breton, as fecuring to his majelly’s fubjeCis a free and uninterrupted trade to Ancrica, and protedling them from the infults of a dangerous and ravenous enemy, to exprefs their minds in tiie following moll refpecl- ful and unexceptionable claufe. And we entirely rely on your royal patronage and pro- tcclion to feciire to your kingdoms the perpetual enjoyment of this valuable acquifition. The place however was, with infinite regret, elpeci.illy of the Engli/h Northern co¬ lonies, reftored to the French by the Vth article of the treaty of Aix la Chapelle in 1748, by which it was provided that all conquefls made during the war, Ihould be reciprocally reftored; and by the IXth, two Englijh noblemen of the fni’r diftindtion was lent to France as hoft.iges with certain advice of their evacuations. In vain had the trooDS of the colonies which had been Ic.'itd by order of the fccretary of Hate, kept the field all the next fummer of 1746, in expectation of a licet and army for the reduftion of Canada, which tiiey were made to hope. Very probably the Englip miniftry might, upon deliberation, confider fuch an expedition, befides the ha¬ zard, of no benefit to the common caufe, fince, if it fucceeded, they would be un¬ der a neceflity of reftoring fuch conquefts for the fimc reafon as they did Louifbeurg,' in exchan'^e for the Aujlrian Netherlands and MadraJ's. Wherefore orders were re¬ ceived in October 1747 for dilbanding the troops of the colonics, and the Englip navy and land forces made an unfuccefsful attempt upon Port L'orient. VVe pafs over flightly fome intermediate events of lefs confequence, as fome fhiitlefs at¬ tempts of the French upon Annapolis ; the furprife -of a party of New Enpip by .-i body of French and Indians in Minas, through the treachery, as it was laid, of the French inhabitants, with the lofs of Colonel Noble and many other private men ; the expedition of the French admiral d’Anville, with a ftrong fquadron againft Nova Scotia, which, through licknefs and other difappointraents, proved abortive; and the niifcarriage of anotiier French fquadron deftined for Nova Scotia and Canada, which was intercepted by the admirals Anjon and IVarrcn, May 3, 1747; juft to mention the fix other men of war taken by Admiral Hawke out of a fquadron of eiglit, on Oclo- kr 14, of the fame year. In 1755, the hoftilities committed the year before by the French near the Ohio, made the preparation of war on each fide quite necelfary, thougli as yet without a declaration, wherefore in confequence of advice that a French fleet was failed witli men and ftores for Canada, Admiral Bojeavsen was fent with a fquadron to intercept tliem. He came up with them the loth of pine, and after fome refiftance took the Jlcide of fixty four guns and four hundred and eighty men, and the Lys pierced for fixty five guns, but mounted only twenty two, and carrying eight companies of land forces, both feparated from the fleet by a fog, under favour of which the reft efcaped. • On'September 6, orders were ilfued by the Britip comt to all the fleets, fquadrons, and Angle llfips then out, to make reprifals of French fliips. On May 17, 1756, England declared war againft France, alledging for motives tire encroachment of the French, particularly in Nova Scotia, the depofleffing the Englp of a fojt on tlie 0 - iio, in April 1754, the reparation of Dunkirk, and the invaflon of Minorca. This was foon followed by the iv-cw/a. king’s declaration, in which he labours hard to prove the aggrelfor. . -cn-n In r757 it was rcfolved to give a decifive blow, , and the reduiftion of Cape Breton was propofed as the firft ftep, and moft likely, to produce either an honourable peace, or the total redudlion of Canada. The Earl of Loudoun was appointed Captam General K k of i.’6 Account of the Siege and ReduBion ' of the American forces, who, after having made proper conveniences at Halijax^ for die recovery of the fick and wounded men, in cafe the attack of Loiiilhurg ihould take place, on 9, Admiral Holbourn arrived vvith the forces from En¬ gland, and now there was a glorious appearance at Halifax ; for the whole armament was computed at eleven thoufand, effedtive land forces, feventeen flrips of the line, four- teen frigates and floops, two bomb veffels, and one fire flfip, befides about one hun¬ dred and eighty tranfports, with three general officer and two admirals. The land forces were divided into three brigades under Majors General Abercrombie, Hopfon, and Lord Charles Hay, and fince it would be unjuftifiable to carry, the forces agairift Louijbotirg without proper intelligence of the enemy’s ftrength, and whether a defeent was prafticable or not, the Captain General, m order to enure the men, exercifed them in (ham fights and mock fieges. But it feems thefe meafures were condemned by fome “ as keeping the courage of the foldiers at bay, and expending the nation's wealth in making lham fights, and planting cabbages when they ought to have been attacking or fighting the enemy of their king and country in reality.” A council being called jfa/y 31, and the tendency of fuch public reflexions on the conduX of affairs well confidered, it was thought fit to order Lord Charles Hay to whom they were aferibed Under arreft. However on Augujl thefirft and fecond the troops em¬ barked, and orders were given to rendezvous at Gabarous bay, two leagues Weft of Louijbourg. But on the fourth was brought in a French prize fehooner, on board of which were letters direXed to Old France, with an account of the arrival of a large fleet, and that there were then in the harbour feventeen Ihips of the line and twelve frigates, with four thoufand regulars, befides three thoufand men belonging to the garrifon. A council of war being called, the former orders were immediately countermanded, all the faffine Ihips were fent to Sr George'z illand to unload; Blakeney's, Murray's, and Kennedy's regiments were ordered to the bay of Fundy under the command of gover¬ nor Lawrence 5 all the reft had orders to return to New York, except the firft and fe¬ cond battalion of Royal Scots, which, with Bragg's regiment, were left at Halifax, The Earl of Loudoun failed with the reft of the troops from Halifax on Augujl 16, and receiving on his pafiagethe unwelcome news of the lofs of fort William Hai¬ ry, arrived on the thirtieth at New York, where the men were immediately put on board fmall vefliels, and fent up to Albany. Admiral Holbourn failed to block up the harbour of Louifiurg, in hopes that as thefeafon was approaching when the French fleer would be obliged to return home, he Ihould be able to give a good account of diem. He remained off Louifiourg till September 24, when his fleet was difperfed by a-violent ftorm, with the lofs of the Tilbury of fixty guns, and molt of her. men. Thus ended this unfeartunate campaign to the Englijh in North America, not without Conduftof die refentment of fome great perfons againft the commanders for not attempting a n"de”'jur- ‘Jehtent ow Cape Breton. But it ought to be confidered, that, befides the ftrong garri- tillable. fon at Louijbourg, the naval force was not only at bell but little fuperior to the French, as indifputably appeared afterwards by the airivd of feventeen Ihips of the line, though indeed with very fickly crews, on November 25, from Louilbourg at Brejl, but was alfo ' difpatched too late in the year; whereas all hopes of fuccefs in an attempt upon Lou¬ ijbourg depend on attacking it early m the fpring before it can receive fupplies from Europe or ^lebec. This alfertion feems fufficiently juftified by the fuccefsfiil fieges of that fortrefs jn 1745 before defcribed, and of 1758 about to be related, boft undertaken as early as the feafon would admit, and with the advantages of numbers * by fea and land. To this we might add that the firft was unexpeXed, and the place, in a-manner-unprovided for defence; in this laft the naval force in the harbour, though not one third of what is now confidered, was yet fufficient greatly to annoy the men in the trenches, and obftruX the progrefs. What then could be expeXed from fo for¬ midable an armament but repulfe with lhame and detriment, and confequences not to be imagined without horror ? Siege and In 1^8, after extraordinary preparations, which from paft experience appeared to during the winter. Admiral Bofeawen, appointed to command in a new 1758. wpedition a^inft Cape Breton, failed fo early as February 19, with five large Ihips of war, three fngafes, and two fire Ihips for North America. March 12, a general em- b^o was laid on all (hipping at New York $ the Earl of Loudon was fuperfeded in his conamand by Major General Abercrombie, and, on June the firft arrived at PoriJinoUtb. About the latter April a French-tassa of war, two frigates, and of CAPE BREPON, m tk Tear 1.758. two pinks, with a battalion of foreign volunteers, ammunition, provilions, and flores, arrived at Louijbourg. On May 28, Admiral Bojcawen failed from Halifax with the fleet and troops, and was met by Major General Amberjl^ appointed to the command of the land forces. The whole fleet confifted of one hundred and forty feven fail, and on June 2, came in fight of Louifiourg, and anchored in Gaharon bay. The French had a chain of pofts from point Noire to the Flat Point, and polled irregulars from thence to the bottom of the bay, and thrown up works at all places where it appeared prac¬ ticable to land, and fome batteries. From the fecond to the fixth the high wind and furf, or a great fwell and fog would not fuffer the troops to attempt landing, during which time the French reinforced their pofts, added to their works, and cannonaded and threw fliells at the fhips. On the eighth the troops aflembled in the road before day¬ break in three divifions, and Commodore Durell giving his opinion that the troops might land without danger from the furf, the left divifion began to fire, and was fol¬ lowed by the centi-e and right. When the fire had continued about a quarter of an hour, the boats on the left rowed to the fhore under the command of Brigadier Ge¬ neral Wolfe, whofe detachment confifted of the four oldeft companies of grenadiers, followed by the light infantry (a company of five hundred and fifty men, chofen as irarkf- men from the different regiments)' commanded by major Scott, and the companies of rangers fupported by the Highland regiment, and that by the eight remaining compa¬ nies of grenadiers. The divifion on the right commanded by Brigadier General Whit- more, and compofed of the royal regiment and thofe of Lafcelles, Moonckton, Forbes, Jnjlruther, and Webb, rowed to the right by the Wleite Point, as if intending to land there. The center divifion, commanded by Brigadier General Lawrence, and formed of Amherfl\ Hopfon’&, Otway's, Lawrence's, and Warburton's regiments, made a fhow at the fame time of landing at the White Cove. This drew the enemies attention in every part, and prevented their troops, polled along the coaft, from joining them on their right. They very wifely faved their ammunition till the boats were near in fhore, and then direfted the whole fire of their cannon and mufquetry upon them. But iii fpite of this, and the violence of the furf. Brigadier Wolfe purfued his point, and landed juft at the left of the cove, took poll, attacked the enemy, and forced them to retreat. Many boats ovcrfet, feveral broke to pieces, and all the men jumped into the water to get on fhore 5 about one hundred and ten boats were loft, in landing the troops and provilions. As foon as the left divifion was landed, the center and right divifion rowed alfo to the left as faft as the boats could fetch them from the fhips, and got on fhore, which took up a great deal of time. The lofs of the Englijh was a captain, four lieutenants, an enfign, four ferjeants, a corporal, and forty fix men killed, among them twenty four grenadiers of Jmherjl's regiment, eight of whom were fhot, and the reft drowned in trying to get afhore. The wounded were five lieutenants, four ferjeants, a corporal, and fifty two private men. The French had an officer with an Indian chief, and feveral others killed ; and two captains of grenadiers, two lieutenants, and about feventy men taken, with three twenty four pounders, feven nine pounders, feven fix pounders, two mortars, and fourteen fwivels, with ammunition, tools, and flores of all kinds. The prifoners gave information that the garrifon con¬ fifted of five regiments, befides feven hundred Canadians. The ninth and tenth the weather proving bad, and the furf great, only fome tents could be got on fhore. On the 11 th the light fix pounders with fome artillery flores were landed. On the 12th, on intelligence that the French had deftroyed the grand battery, and called in theft out- polls, Brigadier Wolfe- was detached with twelve hundred men, four companies -of grenadiers, three companies of rangers, and fome light infrntry round the North Eaft harbour, to the lighthoufe point, with an intention to filence the ifland battery, and attempt to deftroy the fhips in the harbour; but the enemy had abandoned the light¬ houfe'point, and all the pofts on that fide the harbour, leaving feveral cannon rendered ufelefs, with implements, and a great quantity of fifti at Loretnhec, On the 13th the befiegers began a communication from the right to the left, and to eredt three redoubts on the moft advantageous ground in the front of their camp. The befieged made a fally but were foon repulfed with the lofs of five men killed and forty wounded. The 14th, the fleet under Sir Charles Hardy, which had appeared the day before, was in the night blown off to fea. The 15th, four more mortars were fent to the lighthoufe; and the i6th, being tlie firft fine weather, twelve days provifion; arid many other things, but no artillery were nor could be yet landed. The 17th . the ge¬ neral Account of the Skge and Re'dticiion neraVwith Colonel Wiiliamfon, Major Mackellar, and Col. Baftide, chief engineer, re¬ connoitred the ground, and Baftide was deterinined in his opinion of making approaches by .the Qreenhill, and confining the demolition of the fliips in the harbour to the light, houfe batteries; on which eight, one inch mortars, and three royals were added to.them. The i8th fine weather, the Indians took three of the tranfports men, who' had landed at the bottom of Gaiaron bay contrary to orders; the road for the artillery was'.pufhed on, and three twenty four pounders were got on Ihorc. On the 19th, the Echo,. a Ei-enih frigate of tliirty two guns bound to ^ebec, was brought in; the had got out on the 13th at night, and informed us that the Bizarre frigate had got out the day .the troops landed, and the Comette frigate fince our arrival off the har¬ bour. On the 20th, the ifland battery, and fhips, began to fire at the batteries on the fhore, .which had begun their fire the night before; the befieged burnt an old fliip at the ,bottom of the harbour. On the 21ft, the French canonaded the befiegers, ma¬ king the road for the artillery, and threw fome fliot into the left of the canip; an advanced redoubt towards Greenhill was thrown up at night. The 22d was employed on the roads, and getting up a block houfe on the left, by the Mir ay road, to fecure the communication with the North Eaft harbour , and lighthoufe point, and to hin¬ der any parties from getting, into the town. On the 23d the befiegers had.on fhore twelve twenty four pounders, and fi.x twelve pounders. Colonel Mejjervey and mofi: of his carpenters were taken ill of the fmall pox, to the very great detriment of the army. Gabions and fafeines were landed to make an epaulment on Greenhill. On the 24th the befieged played on the lighthoufe batteries from the town and dripping; and, from the town, on the advanced redoubt which was finifhed. On the 25th, the cannona¬ ding continued night and day. In the evening the lighthoufe batteries filenced the ifland battery, its. own fire helping to break down part of the works; fafeines and ga¬ bions were forwarded to Greenhill the befieged fired much at tire advanced redoubt. On the 26th the garrifon fallied, and got up to the block-houfe not quite finiflied, with a barrel of pitch to fet it on fire, and two of the men got into it; but a detach¬ ment was fent out fo quick to fupport the guards that they were forced to a precipi¬ tate. retreat into the town ; three hundred pioneers were ordered to Greenhill; Ad¬ miral Bofeawen landed two hundred marines, who took pofl: at Kennington cove, which was a great eafe to the army; four tliirty two pounders, and two twenty four pounders .were. defired of the admiral (and landed the night of the 27th) for the lighthoufe, to. keep the ifland .battery in. ruins, that Brigadier Wolfe, having a proper number of men there intrenched, might with his detachnient be able to come round the harbour, bringing his artillery with him, and try to deftroy the flripping and advance towards the Weft gate. .On .the 27th a brafs twenty four pounder was loft in twelve fathom wator, by flipping off the catamaran (a kind of raft much ufed at fea). On the aStli thc'.poft . at Greenhill \sAng covered, a road was begun over the bog by throwing up an epaulmerit. Colonel Mejfervey arid his fon both died, and of his company of one hundred and eight carpenters, all lay ill of the fmall pox except fixteen, who attended the fick. ■ On the 29th the frigate fired conftantly at the epaulment; the working on the road, which coft much labour was purfued. At night the befieged funk four fliips in the harbour; the Apollo a two decked one, la Fidelle thirty fix guns, and la Cheve and h Biche of fixteen guns each, and cut off mpft of their mafls. On the 30th the fi-igate fired.all night at the epaulment, as the men worked in the night-time. On fuly i, the befieged Tallying out in the morning to get fome old pallifades and wood, were puflied in by Brigadier Wolfe, and Major Scott’s light infentry with a very brifk fire. The brigadier took poft on the hills, from whence, it was intended to try to demolifli the fldpping. The trenches were advanced to the right, and the befieged forced, back to Cape Noire with a fmart fire. On the 2d the epaulment and road went on heavily from the extreme badnefs of the ground. The befieged continued their cannonading, and threw fome fhells, Ikirmifliing all day with parties out of the town. On the 3d a great cannonading from the; town and fldpping on the batteries. Brigadier Wolfe was making an advanced work to the right, at fix hundred and fifty yards from the covered way, for eredting a. battery to deftroy the defences, of the place. On the 4th a great fog; when there was any gloom of light the cannonading was renewed; five hundred nien kept continually making fafeines'. The 5th very bad weather; the- e- paulment fwallowed .up an immenfe number of fiifcines, and coft fome men, as the frigate cannonaded it inceffantly.; On. the 6.th a floop failed out of the harbour with CAPE BRETOIV, in 1758 . Haff of truce to fir Charles Hardy, to carry fome things to their wounded officers and prifoners. 7. Very foggy weather, cannonading all day. 8. An attack, intended on lome advanced poll at Cape Noir, did not take place, • Col. Bapde gor a contufion by a mulket ball on his boot, which laid him up in the gout. 9. At night the be- fieged made a fally from Cape Noir with 5 picquetf, fupported by 600 men, upon brig. Lawrence’s quarters, and furprifed a company of Forbes’s grenadiers, command¬ ed by Col. Dundonald, who was killed, with one corporal and 3 men. Lieutenant Few was wounded and taken prifoner. Capt. Bontein of the enginers was allb taken pri- foner, 17 others were wounded, and a ferjeant and 11 others milfing. Major Murray, who commanded 3 companies of grenadiers, immediately detached one, which ealily repulfed the enemy, who had one captain, chtwiXizV de Chanvelm, and 17 men killed, a lieutenant and 4 other, wounded and taken prifoners, befides what they carried away, of whom a captain died immediately. The befieged fent out a flag of truce to bury their dead, which done, the cannonading was renewed. The frigate was lo hurt that hie hauled clofe to the lliore ; the fliips fired very much againfl brigadier Wolfe's bat¬ teries. 10. The attack at the epaulment went on a little better, ii. A waggoner was carried oft by forae Indians between the blockhoufe, and the left of the N. E. harbour. 12. It rained very hard all night, an advanced work to Greenhill was made; the waggoner made his efcape ; the citadel baflinn fired very fmartly. 13. The befieged threw a number of fhells, and worked at Cape Noir to keep pofTeffion of that poll, which was of no confequence; the befiegers perfedled their works with all poffible fpeed, had rainy weather. Deferters informed us that a party from Miray had got in 3 days ago. 14. Batteries had been traced out the night before for placing twenty 24 pounders, in four divilions, to dellroy the defences, and a batte¬ ry of 7 mortars with fome 12 pounders, to ricochet * the works and the town, i y.The befieged tried to throw fome flidls into the camp, intended againfl the powder maga¬ zine. At 10 at night the lighthoufe battery fired fome rockets as a fignal of fhips fail¬ ing out of the harbour. Sir C/brzr/fi anfwered it; but a frigate got out, and Hardy’s fleet got under fail and went to fea. Before daybreak Capt. Sutherland, polled at the end of N. E. harbour, was attacked by 100 men from Miray, where they left lA.de Boipert, who had on the other fide of the water 300 nien with boats ready to pafs. The grenadiers of Wolfe’s corps, and all the light infantry were fent to fullain him, but the aftion was over before they could come up, the general en¬ camped a corps forward. 16. Towards night brigadier Wolje took pofTeffion of the hill, in the front of the Barafoy, and made a lodgment there ; the enemy fired very brilkly from the town and ffiipping. 17. It was refolved to extend the pa¬ rallel from right to left. 18. All lalt night the enemy fired mufketry from the covered way, and tried to throw fliclls into the camp. 19. The trenches were relieved by 14 battalions forming 3 brigades; a fmart fire from the covert way; the batteries on the left played upon the baflion Dauphine with great fuccefs. 21. One of the fhips in the harbour had fome powder blown up in her, which made?, great explofion, and fet her on fire. The flames f'oon caught the fails of two fhips more, and they burnt very fafl, while the befiegers kept firing at them to hinder affif- lance from the town. The 3 burnt fhips were the Entreprenant of 74 guns, and the Cii/in«Vax and CeMre of 64 guns each. 22. The batteries on the right opened with thirteen 24 pounders, and another of 7 mortars, and fired with great fuccefs; the enemy fired very well from the town for fome time, and threw fhells into the works of the camp ; the fhells of the befiegers put the citadel in flames. The ge* ncral ordered col. Williamfon to confine his fire as much as poffible to the defences, fparing the houfes. A lieutenant of the Royal Americans going his rounds, on an advanced pofl, loll his way, and was taken prifoner near Cape Noir-, a battery was begun on the left for four 24 pounders. 23. The cohorns and French mortars fent to throw flones into the trenc 'es were ufed at night. The befiegers fired all forts of old iron, and fluff they could pick up. Col. Baftide was out for the firfl time fince be received the contufion; at night the fhells fet fire to the barracks of the garrifon, and they burned with great violence. 24. The fire of the befiegers was very brifk, and that of the garrifon decreafed. The admiral fent 400 men to help work at the batteries, and 100 miners to be added to a corps of 100 already eflablifhed, in order to ’ From the French word Ricccliet, “ a (kipping or bounding,” is to throw a ball where intended, after firfl grjzing and bounding, as a flat ftone hurled aflant (kips on the furface of water, occafioned by a defi- vient charge of powder, defigned for ftriking anobjedtin that manner. L 1 niake '129 130 Acount of the Siege and make quick work. 1 he four gun batteries opened, and another of five was on ereftion, The Bienfaijant fired on the trenches at high water, and the citadel and the baftioii Dauphine fired againft the five gun battery; but the men firing fmall arms into tht ■ embrafures, beat the befieged off their guns. 25. The miners and workmen wenton very well with their approaches to the covered,way, tho’ they had a continued and very fmart fire from it, with grape ftiot, and all forts of old iron from the guns of the ramparts. The befiegers kept an inceflant fire and ricochet. In the night between tht 2oth and iifi, the admiral detached the boats of his fquadron in two divifions, under Captains Leforey mi Balfour againft the Prudence of 74 guns, and the Bienfaijant of 64 guns, the only remaining Fretich fhips in the harbour. They fucceeded fo well as to burn the Prudence, it being aground, and to tow off the Bienfaijant into the N. E, harbour, with the lofs only of 7 men killed, and 9 wounded, though expofed to tht fire of the cannon and mufketry of the ifland battery, being favoured by a dark night, and an inceffant fire from all the batteries into the works, to keep the enemy’s atten¬ tion to the land. 26. The admiral came on fliore, and intimated his intention to fend fix fliips into the harbour the next day. At this inftant the general received 3 letter from the Chevalier Drucour, governor of the tov.m, offering to capitulate. And they agreed to furrender to Admiral Bofcaiven and Maj. Gen. Amherfl, the town of Louijbourg, and the iilands of Cape Breton and St. Johns, and their appurtenances, with all the artillery, ammunition, arms, and provifions; the g.irrifon of Louiskmi to be prifoners of war, and tranfported to England in Britijlo fhips; the governor to give his word that the troops in the ifland of St. John’s, and its appurtenances, fhall »o aboard fuch fhips as the admiral fhall fend to receive them; the gate called I’crh Dauphine to be given up at 8 o’clock the next morning, and the garrifon, including all that carried arms, to be drawn up there on the efplanade, or great fquare, where ■ they fhall lay down their arms, colours, implements, and ornaments of war, and go on board in order to be carried to England, at a convenient time; the fame care to Is taken of the Cck and wounded in the hofpitals, as of thofe belonging to his Britannk majefty; the merchants and their clerks, who have not carried arms, to be fent'to France in fuch manner as the admiral fhall think proper. Lofs of the The number of the garrifon, including 214 officers, and 443 lick and wounded, garrifon and amounted to 3031; and of feamen and marines, inclufiveof 135 officers, and 1347 befiegers. ^nd wounded, was 2606; total 5637. Of the befiegers were killed, 2J com- miffion and non-commifiioned officers, 146 private men, i gunner, and 3 matrofftS] wounded, 30 commiffion and non-commiffion officers, 2 drummers, and 3 r 5 private men; of the artillery, i corporal, i gunner, and 3 matroffes. Inventory of hi the fertrefs were found iron ordnance, compleatly mounted, from 36 to 4 warlike ftores pounders, 2i8; brafs mortars, in beds, 12 and half inches, 3; 3 inches i 3 6 and a in the place. ^ jnortars, on beds, 12 and a half inches 6, ii-45 9 and a half-1; •mufquets with accoutrer- ,cuts, 75003 powder, whole barrels, 6003 cartridges, 80,000; balls, 13 ton; fliells, 1053; of which 850, 13 inches; round fliot, from 36 to6 pounders, 9602; grape fhot, ditto 733; cafe fliot, 24 pounders, 53 ; double headeii 24 pounders, 245 ; 12 pounders, 153; lead in pig and fheet, 22 ton ; iron of all forts, 6 ton 3 wheelbarrows, 600; fhovels wooden, 600, and iron 400 ; pickaxes, 822; witli plenty of other warlike'implements, befides ii colours, whole and torn. This fiege, confidering its obftacles, appears to have been conduced with the great- eft fkill, and vigour; and the news of the capture of this important place, the Lim- -kirk of America, diffufed an univerfal joy throughout the Britijh dominions. The colours, after fome time of expofal to publick view, were carried in triumphal proceflion, to the cathedral of St. Pauts, and there fufpended, adding to its fplendor, the ho¬ nour and ornament of a trophy. And addreffes of congratulation came pouring in upon the throne, from every quarter; in fome of which, particularly from Lwii/efland * St. John's ifland, after great reluflance, and fome weak refiftance of the governor of a fort that defenkJ it, who pretended he was not bound by the capitulation of Louijbourg, fubmiited to Lieut. Col. Kollo^ fentto receive it; and the inhabitants, in number, at Point to Prince 700, N. E. river 2000, St. Petiri 700, North Point 500, W. and N. river 200, brought in their arms, and were after fome time tranfported to Pmtn as many.as efcaped fhipwreck in their paflage. This ifland had fupplied §uihec with corn and beef ever fince the war, having onTt above 10,000 horned cattle, and many of the inhabitants growing each 12CO bulhcls of corn annually. It has alfo been an afylum for the French inhabitants of Nova'Seotio-, anil from this ifland the Iniiiam had carried on the inhuman practice of killing \.\io Englijh inhabitants ol Nova Scotia, for the fake of bringing their fcalps to the French, who paid them for the fame; and feve- ral fcalps were found in the governor’s quarters when Lieut. Col. Rotlo took pofleflion. ReduBion of EB E C, 1759 . the loyal votaries could not forbear, in the fulnefs of their hearts, to exprefs in a dutiful manner, their honeft vi'iflies, to fee this invaluable acquifition made an infeparable part of the Britijb empire. The grand objed of the American war being now attained by the conqueft of the I Hand ol ^ape Breton, and the capture of the enemy’s principal forts on the conti- I inent, we fliall conclude this hiftory of Canada with an account of the fiege of ^eiec, j (he capital of all their fettlements in that part of the world, and the magazine from I whence the reft of their fortrefles derived their ftores j fo memorable an event cannot 1 he paft over without the moft particular notice, as every ftep was taken to effed it, 1 and every difficulty that threatned to retard its accomplilhment cannot but be inter- I effing, ns well as to thofe who concerted the enterprize, and direded the execution, I jsto every fubjed of Great Britain. I The fifth of May 1759, Admiral DureUs fquadron, confifting of feven fail of the line, failed from Louisbourg for the river ^i.Laurence; the paffage of which was found not nigh fo hazardous as was generally imagined, they arrived at the Ijlt aux Coudres the 27th, and there came to anchor. The Admiral fent Capt. Gordon in the Devonfiirc, with two more fail of the line and a frigate, to go through the traverfe and anchor between the IJle of Orleans and (he Main, and ftationed the Princefs of Orange at the IJle aux Coudres. On the 23d. of June, General IVolfe sxn\tA with great part of ths Grand Fleet, and went up immediately to 0 /leasts. For the remainder of the proceedings of the Britifls fleet and army, we ftiall refer to the fevcral letters written by the commanders in chief on that expedition, beginning with the celebrated letter from Maj. Gen.lVolfe, brought by Lieutenant Perc/w/ of the Miey cutterto Mr. Secretary Pitt, perhaps the beft written performance of the kind thap has appeared this war. The clearnefs with which it is written, the difficulties that are forefeen and reprefented, the manly fortitude that is notwithftanding exprefled, in order to furmount thefe difficulties, and the refignation with which the general per- fillsiu rifquing the greateft dangers for the honour of his country, will leave a monu¬ ment to his memory, more durable than marble, and more fplendid than titles. His death, in leading on his valiant troops, in the laft adlion that determined the fate of war in that country, is a circumftance greatly to be deplored. , Head garters at Montmorenci, in the River St. Laurence, September 2, 1759. SIR, I Wifh I could, upon this occafion, have the honour of tranfmitting to you a more favourable account of the progrefs of his majefty’s arms; but the obftacles we have met with, in the operations ot the campaign, are much greater than we had reafon to expeft, or could forfee; not fo much from the number of the enemy, (though fuperior to us) as from the natural ftrength of the country, which the Marquis de Montcalm ftems wifely to depend upon. When 1 learned that fuccours of all kinds had been thrown into ^ebec ; that five battalions of regular troops, compleated from the beft inhabitants of the country, lome of the troops of the colony and every Canadian that was able to bear arras, be- I fides feveral nations of favages, had taken the field in a very advantageous fituation; I could not flatter myl'elf that I fliould be able to reduce the place. I fought however an occafion to attack their army, knowing well, that with thefe troops I was able to light, and hoping that a vidlory might difperfe them. We found them incamped along the fhorc of Beaufort, from the river St. Charles to the falls of Montmorenci, and intrenched in every acceffible part. The 27th of June we landed upon theifle of Orleans-, but receiving a meffage from the admiral, that there was reafbn to think that the enemy had artillery, and a force upon the point ofifw, detached brig. Monckton with four battalions to drive them from thence. He faffed the river the 2yth at night, and marched the next day to the point; he oblig¬ ed the enemy’s irregulars to retire, and pofleffed himfelf of that poll: the advanced parties upon this occafion had two or three skirmilhes with the Canadians and In- iim, with little lofs on either fide. f Cel. Carletcn marched with a detachment to the weftermoft point of the ifle of Oeleeiis, fiom whence our operations were likely to begin. 131 Account of the Siege dnd It .was abfolutely neceflary to poffefs thefe two points, and fortify them, becaufe, from cither the one or the other, the enemy might make it impoflible for any fhip to lie in the bafon of ^ebec, or even within two miles of it. Batteries of cannon and mortars were erefted with great difpatch near the point of Levi, to bombard the town and magazines, and to injure the works and batteries; the enemy perceiving thefe works in fome forwardnefs, paffed the river with ifico men to attack and deftroy them. Unluckily they fell into confufion, fired upon one another, and went back again; by which we loft an opportunity of defeating thij large detachment. The effeift of this artillery had been fo great, (though acrols tbe river) that the upper town is confiderably damaged, and the lower town entirely dc- ftroyed. The works, for the fecurlty of our hofpitals and ftores on the ille of Orkam, being finifhed, on the pth of Jt/ty, at night, we paffed the N. channel, and incampedneit the enemy’s left, the river Montmorenci between us. The next morning, Capt. Danh company of rangers, pofted in a wood to cover fome workmen, were attacked and defeated by a body of Indians, and had fo many killed and wounded, as to be alnioll difabled for the reft of the campaign : the enemy alfo fuffered, in this affair, and were in their turn driven off by the neareft troops. The ground, to the eaftward of the falls, feemed to be (as it realfy is) higkt than that on the enemy’s fide, and to command it in a manner whicli might be mads ufcful to us. There is befides a ford below the falls, which may be paffed for fonij hours in the latter part of the ebb and beginning of the flood tide ; and I had hopes, that poffibly means might be found of pafling the river above, fo as to fight M. Mmt- calm, upon terms of lefs difadvantage than diredly attacking his intrenchments. In reconnoitring the river Montmorenci, we found it fordable at a place about thtie miles up; but the op'pofite bank was intrenched; and fo fteep and woody, that itmt to no purpofe to attempt a paffage there. The effort was twice attacked by th Indians, who were as often repulfed; but in thefe rencounters we had 40 (oflicett and men) killed and wounded. The 18th of July, two men of war, two armed floops, and two tranfports wiilt fome troops on board, paffed by the town without any lofs, and got into the uppti river. This enabled me to reconnoitre the country above, where I found the fara attention on the enemy’s fide, and great difficulties on our’s, arifing from the.natnri of the ground, and the obftacles to our communication with the fleet. But whit I feared moft, was, that if we fhould land between the town and the river Cape Roup, the body firft landed could not be reinforced before they were attacked by the ent- my’s whole army. . , ■ Notwithftanding thefe difficulties, I thought once of attempting it at St. Michuth, about 3 miles above the town; but perceiving that the enemy were jealous of tit defign, were preparing againft it, and had adlually brought artillery and a mortal (which, being fo near to ^lebec, they could increafe as they pleafed) to play up¬ on the lliipping: and as it muft have been many hours before we could attack them, (even fuppofing a favourable night for the boats to pafs by the town unhurt) it feem- ed fo hazardous that I thought it bed to defift. ■ . However, to divide the enemy’s force, and to draw their attention as high up tk river as ppflible, and to procure fome intelligence, 1 fent a detachment under the com¬ mand of Col. Carleton, to land at the Point delrempe, to attack whatever he migkl 'find there, bring off fome prifoners, and all the ufeful papers he could get. 1W been informed that a number of the inhabitants of, Quebec, had retired to that place, and that probably we fhould find a magazine of provifions there. The colonel was fired upon by a body of Indians the moment he landed, but they were foon .difperfed and driven into the woods, he fearched for magazines, but to no 'purpofe, brought off fome prifoners, and returned with little lofs. ■ After this bufinefs, I came back to Montmorenci, where I found that brig. Thu®/- Joend had, by a fuperior fire, prevented the French from eredling a battery on the bank of the river, from whence they intended to cannonade our camp. I now refolvedm take the firft opportunity which prefented itfelf, of attacking the enemy, thoujli pofted to great advantage, and every where prepared to receive us. As the men of war cannot (for want of a futficient depth of water) come neat enough to the enemy’s ,intrenchments, to annoy them in the leaft, the admiral haf prepared two tranfports (drawing but little water) which upon occafions could be run a-grouiw Of Quebec hi i75g.' 129 a-OTOund, to favour a defcent. With the help of thefe veffels, which I underliooti Tvould be carried by the tide clofe in fliore, 1 propofed to make myfelf mafter of a detached redoubt near to the water’s edge, and whofe fituation appeared to be out of jirafket (Imt of the intrehchment upon the hill: If the enemy fupported this detached piece, it would necelfarily bring on an engagement, what we moftwiQiedfor; and if not; Idiould have it in my power to examine their fituation, fo as to be able to determine where we could belt attack them. Preparations were accordingly made for an engagement. The gill in the forenoon, the boats of the fleet were filled with grenadiers, and a part of Brig. Monck- Wii’s brigade from the point of Levi: The two brigades under the brigadiers Tow/i- Lnd and Murray, were ordered to be in readinefs to pafs the ford, when it lliould be thought ncceflary. To facilitate the pallage of this corps, the admiral had placed the Centurion iii the channel, fo that flie might check the fire of the lower battery which commanded the ford: This (llip was of great ufe, as her fire was very judici- oully dircdledi A great quaniity of artillery was placed upon the eminence, fo as to batter and infilade the left of their intrenchments. From the veficl which .run a-ground neareft in, I obferved that the redoubt was tod much commanded to be kept Without very ghat lofs j arid the more, as the two arm’d Ihips could not be brought near enough to cover both with their artillery and mufle- quetry, which I at firft conceived they might; But as the enemy feemed in fome confufion, and we were prepared for an adtion, 1 thought it a proper time to make an attempt upon their intrenchment. Orders were fent to the brigadiers general to be ready with the corps tinder their command: Brig. Monckt’on to land, and the Brigs, and to pafs the Ford. At a proper time of the tide, the fignal was made, but in rowing towards the Ihore many of the boats grounded upon a ledge, that runs off a confiderable diftance; This accident put us into fome diforder, loft a greatdeal of time, and obliged me td end an officer to flop Brig. ‘LownJJ.viid’s march, whom I then obferved to be in mo¬ tion. While the feamen were getting the boats offj the enemy fired a number of iliell's and fliot, but did no confiderable damage. As foon us this diforder could be fet: a little to rights, and the boats were ranged in a proper manner, fome of the officers of the navy^went in with me to find a better place to, land : We took one flat-bottom¬ ed boat with us to make the experiment, and as foon as we had found a fit part of tlie flibre, the troops were ordered to difembark, thinking it "not yet too late for the 13 companies of grenadiers, and 200 of the fccohd toya\ Jmeriedn battalion; got fitfton ftrore. The grenadiers were ordered to form themfelves into fourdiftindt bodies, and to begin the attack, fupported by Biig. ilf««r&®’s corps, as foon as the troops had pafled the ford, and were at hand to aflift. But whether from the noife and hunt at landing, or from fome other caiife, the grenadiers, inftead of forming them¬ felves as they were diredled, ran on impetuoufly towards the enemy’s intrenchments in the utmoll diforder and confufion, without waiting for the corps which were td fuftain them, and join in the attack. Brig. Moncton was not landed, arid Brig, fovin- jhend was ftill at a confiderable diftance, tho’ upon his march to join us; in very great order. The grenadiers were checleed by the enemy’s firft fire, and obliged to (lieltef themfelves in our about the redoubt, which the Frc?ich abandoned upon their ap¬ proach. In this fituation they continued for fome time, unable to form under fo hot a foe aiid having many gallant officers wounded; who (carelefs of their perfdns) had teen folely intent upon their duty. I faw the abfolute neceffity of calling them off; that they might form themfelves behind Brig. Moncton^ corps, which was nOw land¬ ed, and drawn up on the beach, in extream good order. , ,, „ By this new accident, and this fecond delay, it was near riight, a hidden ftoriri cafneori, and the tide begin to make; fo that I thought it moft advifeable, not to per- fevere In fo difficult, an attack, leaft (in cafe of a rcpulfe) the retreat of tod'storps might be hazardous and uncertain. , , Our artillery had a great effea upon the enemy’s left. Where Brigs, Lmnfbmd^rA Murray were to have attacked; arid it is probable, that if thofe accidents I have fpo- ken of, had not happened, we fliould have penetrated there, whilft our left and center (more remote from our artillery) muft have bore all the violence of their mufquetry; L 1 * The 130 Account of the Siege md RedtiSiioH Tlie Tdrench did not attempt to interrupt our march. Some of their Savages came down to murder fuch wounded as could not be brought off, and to fcalp the dead as their cuftom is. The place, where the attack was intended, has thefe advantages over all others hereabout. Our artillery could be' brought into ufe. The greateft part, or even the whole of the troops, miglit ad: at once; and the retreat (in cafe of a repulfe) was fecure, at lead for a certain time of the tide. Neither one or other of thefe advan¬ tages can any w'here elfc be found. The enemy were indeed polled upon a com¬ manding eminence. The beach upon which the troops were drawn up, was of deep mud, with holes, and cut by feveral gullies. The hill to be afcended, very lleepj and not every where-pradicable. The enemy numerous in their intrenchments, and their fire hot. If the attack had fucceeded, ourlofs mull certainly have been great, and theirs inconfiderable, from the llielter which the neighbouring woods aftbrded them. The river of Charles Hill remained to be pafled, before the town was in- vefted. All thefe circumllances I confidered; but the defire to ad in conformity to the king’s intentions, induced me to make this trial, perfuaded that a vidorious army finds no difficulties. Immediately after this check, I fent Brig. Murray above the town with 12co men, direding him to affiftrear admiral Holmes in the deftrudion of the French Ihips, (iS they could be got at) in order to open a communication with General Jmherjl. The Brig, was to feek every favourable opportunity of fighting fome of the enemy’s de¬ tachments, provided he could do it upon tolerable terms, and to ufe all the means'in his power to provoke them to attack him. He made too different attempts to land upon the north fliore without fuccefs; but in a third w'as more fortunate. He landed unexpededly at de Chambaud, and burnt a magazine there, in which were fome provi- fions, fome ammunition, and all the fpare ftores, clothing, arms, and baggage, of their army. The prifoners he took informed him of tile furrender of the fort of Niagara; and we difeovered, by intercepted letters that the enemy had abandoned .Gtr/Z/cn and Crown Point, were retired to the ille Hux Noi'x ; and that General Amberjl was mak¬ ing preparations to pafs the lake Champlain, to fall upon M. Bourlemaque's corps, which confills of 3 battalions of foot, and as many Canadians as make the whole amount to 3000.' The admiral’s difpatches and mine would have gone eight or ten days fooner, if I had not been prevented from writing by a fever. I found myfelf fo ill, and am Hill fo weak, that I begged the general officers to confult together for the public utility. They are all of opinion that, (as more fliips and provifions have now got above the town) they Ihould try, by conveying up a corps of 4 or 5000 men, (which is nearly the whole ftrength of the army, after the points of Levi and Orleans are left in a pro¬ per Hate of defence) to draw the enemy from their prefent fituation, hnd bring them to an adion. I have acquiefeed in their propofal, and we are preparing to put it in «xecution. The admiral and I have examined the town, with a view to a general affault; bufi after confulting with the chief engineer, who is well acquainted with the interior parts of it, and, after viewing it with the utmoft attention, we found, that though the batteries of the lower town might be eafily filenced by the men of war, yet the bufinefsof analfault would be little advanced by that, fince the few paffages that lead from the lower to the upper town, are carefully intrenched; and the upper batteries cannot be affeded by the fltips, which mull receive confiderable damage from them and from the mortars. The admiral would readily join in this, or in any other mea- fure for the public fervice; but I could not propofe to him an undertaking of fo dan¬ gerous a nature, and promifing fo little fuccefs. To the uncommon ftrength of the countryj the enemy have added (for the defence of the river) a great number of floating batteries and boats. By the vigilance of thefe and the Indians round our different polls, it has been impoffible to execute any thing by furprize. We have had almoft daily fkirmilhes with thefe favages, in which they .are generally defeated, but not without lofs on our fide. By the lift of difabled oflicers (many of whom are of rank) you may perceive. Sir, that the army is much weakened. By the nature of the river, the moll formid¬ able part of this armament is deprived of the power of afting, yet we have almoft the : ’ whole ^D PRIlSrCIPAL Seckjetart oe state &c ; C^'Zy^ud./l/adiyu SndcrSed' ' / I /uddn<>tp&0^>^.^d//aii/// ^ .■■mi VjijterJiwerof STEaukekce r,,r 1 ■ -.- . ., [ 1 ^ CluirleboinT^'or ■ ■' ''f“lc Petit-VaUa-ro IKPENCKS oi QUEIIEC. ftc ric s N? of (iiw... ;3Ioit' CUmld. ... fi :...o .. Clergy en JSarlvIte. ..2ti. ...j ‘W ledg . •MMterymerke. ■ . \f pointed Ifuv fruSaiterp m G./rwinml. o, ' JiitUtery at (he upper i • ' iPlM •t ^die Juripj j/nf?..-a. . ^.o Baltertf at the lower -: » , * t^the Knpe ^: r.V „. ,;■ alJiatrei'p.^ . .../0...-0- ,- p/ujtJiattcty . W ..-....-0 ac ^>"31 J I I £ug)’j,l/iat ■'. daAir’iltlieXnem'^.eeiif- . l^laiiiuc/taelleatjiSs^.. Ajv Authe^j TI c Elak rfOier BirjEii STLa. mmurcE Silleij, to fheFall ofMontmorenci, SIEGe'^T Q.UEBEC under ifir GimnuinJiof Hce AdmlS aunders feMajor GeJWolfe divunto t7ieff. )Knmly a CAPTAIN iuhis MtgeftieslJa:^ Of E B E C hi iyS9'‘ ^viiole force of Canada to oppofe; In this fituation, there is fuch a choice of difScul- ties, that I own myfelf at a lofs how to determine. The affairs of Great Britain, I know, require the moft vigorous meafures; but then the courage of a handful of brave'men fhould be exerted only, where there is fome hope of a favourable event. However, you may be alfured, Sir, that the fmall part of the campaign which re¬ mains, fhall be employed (as far as I am able) for the honour of his majefty and the intereft of the nation, in which I am fure of being well feconded by the Admiral and by the Generals. Happy if our efforts here can contribute to the fuccefs of his ma- iefly’s arms in any other parts of America. I have the honour to be, with the great- ell refpeft, Sir, your moft obedient, and moft humble fervant, James WoLlFE* Return of the Med, wounded, and miffing. Killed. Wounded. Miffngi Officers, — — — t— t— — n 46 0 Serjeants —' — — — — — ' 9 26 0 Drummers — — — — — 0 7 0 Rank and file — — — — — 162 572 17 fatal 182 651 17 Stirling Caflle, off Point Levi, Sept. f. , SIR, I N my letter of the 6th of June, I acquainted yoti I was then off Scaiari, {land¬ ing for the river ^vLaurence. On the 26th, I had got up, with the firft divifion of the fleet and tranfporfs, as far as the middle of the ifle of Orleans, where I immedi¬ ately prepared to land the troops, which I did next morning. The fame day the fe- cond and third divifions came up, and the troops from them were landed likewife. I got thus far without any lofs or accident whatever; but, diredlly after landing the troops, a very hard gale of wind came on, by which many anchors and fmall boats were- loft, and much damage receiv’d among the tranfports by driving on board each other. 'The flflps that loft moft anchors I fupplied from the men of war, as far as I was able,. and, in all Other refpedts, gave tlicm the beft affiflance in my power. On the 28th at midnight, the enemy fent down from ^ebec 7 fireftiips; and tho’ dur fliips and tranfports were fo numerous, and necelfarily fpread fo great a part of the channel, we tow’d them all clear and a-grour.d, without receiving the leaft damage from them. The next night Gen. Monckton crofled the river, and landed with his brigade on the S. fhore, and took poll at Point Levi-., and Gen. Wolfe took his on the weftermoft point of the ifle of Orleans. On the firft of July I moved up between the points of Orleans and Levi ; and, it being refolved to land on the N. fliore, below the falls of Montmorenci, I placed, on the 8th inftant, iht Porcupine Hoop, and the Bofeawen armed velTel, in the channel between Orleans and the North lliore, to cover the landing, which took place that highti On the 1.7th. 1 ordered Capt. Rous of the Sutherland, to proceed, with the firil fair wind and night-tide, above ^ebec, and to take the Diana and Squirrel, with two armed floops, and two catts armed and loaded with provilions. On the 1 8th at night they all got up, except the Diana, and gave Gen. Wolfe an opportunity of reconnoit¬ ring above the town; thofe fhips having carried fome troops with them for that pur- pofe. The Diana ran afliore upon the rocks of Point Levi, and received fo much damage that I have fent her to Bofon, with 27 fail of American tranfports, (thofe. which received moft damage in the gale of the 27th of June) where they are to be difeharged; and the Diana, having repaired her damage, is to proceed to England, taking with her the maft-fhips, and what trade maybe ready to accompany her. On the 28th, at midnight, the enemy fent downa raft of fire ftages, of near a hun¬ dred radeaux, which fucceeded no better than the fire-fhips. * j 22 AccomU of the Siege and ReduElm 'On the 31ft, Gtn:Wolfe determined to land a number of troops above tiie falls Montmorenci, in order to attack the enemy’s lines; to cover which, I placed the Cen¬ turion in the channel, between the ifle of Orleam and the Falls, and ran on (hore, at high water, 'two catts which I had armed for that purpofe, againft two fmall batteries and two redoubts, where our troops were to land. About fi-v in the evening they landed, but the general not thinking it proper to perfevere in the attack, part of them fcon after, re-embarked, and the reft crolTed the Falls with Gen.uponwhichj to prevent the two catts from falling into the enemy’s hands (they being then dry on Ihore) I gave-orders to take the men out and fet them on fire, which was accordingly done. - On the 5th'()f ■Augujl, in the night, I fent 20 flat-bottomed boats up the river, to x\it Sutherland, to embark 1260 of the troops with Brig. Gen. Murray, from a poll \ve had taken on the South fhore. 1 fent Admiral Holmes up to the Sutherland, to aift in concert with him, and give him all the afliftance the iliips and boats could afford. At'the fame time I diredted Adm. Holmes to ufe his beft endeavours to get at, -and deftroy. the enemy’s fliips above the town; and to that purpofe I ordered the ■Lowefieffe, and S/n/er lloop, with two armed floops and two catts, with provifions, to pafs^^tf^ff and join Sutherland-, but the w'ind holding wefterly, it was the 27th of Jugilfl before they got up, which was the fourth attempt they had made to gain their paffage. • ■ - On the 25th, at night, Adm. Hclmes i'ai Gen. Musray, with part of the troops, returned; they had met with, and deftroyed a magazine of the enemy’s cloathing, fome gunpowder, and other things; and Adm. Holmes had been ten or twelve leagues above the town, hut found it impradlicahle at that time to get further up. Gen Wolfe being refolved to quit the camp at Montmorenci, and go above the town, m hopes of getting between the enemy and their provifions, (fuppofed to be in the fhips"there) and by that means force them to an adlion, I fent up,- qn the 29th at night, the Seahorfe and two armed floops, with two catts laden with provifions, to join the reft above ^eke ; and having taken off all the artillery from the camp of Montmorenci, on the 3d inftant in the forenoon the troops embarked from thence and landed at Point ifw'. The 4th at night I fent all the flat-bottomed boats up, and this night a part of the troops will march up the South fhore, above the town, to be embarked in the fliips and veffels there, and to-morrow night the reft will follow. Adm, Holmes is alfo gone up again to aflift in their future operations, and to try, if, with the afliftance of the troops, it is pradicable to get at the enemy’s fliips. As Gen. Wolfe writes by this opportunity, he will give you an account of his part of the operations, and his thoughts what further may be done for his majefty’s fer- vice. The enemy appear numerous, and feem to be ftrongly pofted j but let the event be what it will, we fliall remain here as long as the feafon of the year will per¬ mit, in order to prevent their detaching troops from hence againft Gen, Amberft-, and J fliall leave cruizers at the riioutli of the river to cut off any fupplies that may be fent them, with ftridl: orders to keep that ftation as long as poffible. The town of ^ehec is not-habitable, being alraoft entirely burnt and deftroyed. Twenty of the vidluallers that fail’d from England, with the Echo, are arrived here, one unloaded at Louijburgh, having receiv’d damage in her paffage out, and another I have heard nothing of. No fliips of the enemy have come this way, that I have had any intelligence of, finee my arrival in the river, except one, laden with flour and brandy, which Capt Drake of the Lizard took. Before Adm. Durell got into the river, 3 frigates, and 17 fail, with provifions,’ ftores, and a few recruits, got up, and,are thofe we are fo anxious, if poffible, to deftroy. Yefterday I received a letter from Gen. Amherfl (to whom 1 have had no opportu¬ nity of writing fince I have been in the river) dated, camp at Crown Point, Aug. wherein he only defires I would fend tranfports and a convoy to New York to carry to England 607 prifoners taken at Niagara. . I fliall very' foon fend home the great Ihips, and have the honour to be, with the • greateft refpedt, SIR, Tour moji obedient and mojl humble Servant, Charles Saunders, Two *33 Of E B E C in 1759 . Two days after this excellent letter was received at court, and which put an end to all our hopes of compleating for this year the conqueft of Canada j to the aftonifli- jiient of the world and the inexpreffible joy of the nation, another exprefs arrived with an account of a lignal viftory gained by us over the French in that quarter of the world, which Was attended with the reduftion of ^ehec., and confequently with the abiblute ruin of the French upon the American continent; the fatisfadlion with which the news infpired us was damped by our being told Central Wolfe fell in the adlion, hav*ing received 3 fliots in different places, and left behind him a charafter both as a man, and an officer, that raifes him to a level with the moft renowned commanders. General Monckton was alfoffiot through the lungs, but his wound was not mortal. We were happy in having the command devolve upon General George 7 ow!ijlxnd, whofe letter will here fpeak better, than any language we ffiould attempt to ufe. hotter from the Honourable General Monckton to the Right Honourable Mr, Secretary Pitt, dated Camp at Point hts\, Sept. 15, 1759. SIR, I Have the pleafure to acquaint you, that, on the 13th inftant, his majefty’s troops gained a very fignal viftory over the French, a little above the town of ^ebec. Gen. Wolfe, exerting himfelf on the right of our line, received a wound pretty early, of which he died foon after, and I had myfelf the great misfortune of receiving one in my right bread: by a ball, that went through part of my lungs (and which has been cut out under the blade bone of my ffioulder) juft as the French were giving way, which obliged me to quit the field. 1 have therefore, Sir, delired Gen. Townfiend, who now commands the troops before the town (and of which I am in hopes he will be foon in poffeffion) to acquaint you with the particulars of that day, and of the operations carrying on, I have the honour to be, &c. Rob. Monckton. P. S. His majefty’s troops behaved with the greateft fteadinefs and bravery. As the furgeons tell me there is no danger in my wound, I am in hopes that I ffiall be foon able to join the army before the town. Letter frotn the Honourable Brigadier General Townffiend to the Right Honourabk Mr. Secretary Pitt, dated, Camp before Q^htc, Sept. 20, 1759. SIR, I Have the honour to acquaint you with the fuccefs of his majefty’s arms, on the 13th inftant, in an aiftion with the French, on the Heights to the weftward of this town. It being determined to carry the operations above the town, the pofts at Point Levi, and /’ yie d' Orleans being fecured, the general marched, with the remainder of the force, from Point Levi the jth and 6th, and embarked them in tranfports, which had paffed the town for that purpofe. On the 7th, 8th, and 9th, a movement of the Chips was made up, by Adm. Holmes, in order to amufe the enemy now pofted along the north ffiore; but the tranfports being extremely crowded, and the weather very bad, the general thought proper to cantoon half his troops on the South fliore; where they were refrelhed, and reimbarked upon the 12th at one in the morning. The light infantry, commanded by Col. Howe, the regiments of Bragg, Kennedy, Lafcel- les, and Jnjlruther, with a detachment of Highlanders, and American grenadiers, the whole being under the command of Brigadiers Monckton and Murray, were put into the flat-bottomed boats, and after fome movement of the fliips made by Adm. Holmes, to draw the attention of the enemy above, the boats fell down with the tide, and landed on the North ffiore, within a league of Cape Diamond, an hour before day¬ break : The rapidity of the tide of ebb carried them a little below the intended place of attack, which obliged the light infantry to fcramble up a woody precipice, in order Mm* to Account of the Siege and ReduSlion to fecure the landing the troops, by diflodging a captain’s poft, which defended the fmall intrenched path the troops were to afcend. After a little firing, the light infan.- try gained the top of the precipice, and difperfed the captain’s poft; by which means, the troops, with a very little lofs from a few Canadians and Indians in the wood, got up, and were immediately formed. The boats, as they emptied, were fent back for the fecond embarkation, which I immediately made. Brig. Murray,, who had been detached with Jnjiruthers battalion to attack the, four gun battery upon the left, was recalled by the general, who now faw the French army crofling the river St Charles, Gen. Ifolfe thereupon began to form his line, having his I'ight covered by the Louif, hourgh grenadiers j on the right of thefe again he afterwards brought Otway’s, to the left of the grenadiers were Bragg’s, Kennedy’s, Lafcelles’s, Highlanders, and Anfiruc ther’s j the right of this body was commanded by Brig. Monclton, and the left by Brig. Murray ; his rear and left were protefted by Col. Hswe’s light infantry, who was returned from the four, gun battery before mentioned, which was foon abandon* ed to him. Gen. Montcalm havingcollefted the whole of his force from the Beauport fide, and advancing, fliewed his intention to flank our left, where I was immediately ordered with Gen. Amherfi’s battalion, which I formed en Potence, My numbers were foon after increafed by the arrival of the two battalions of Royal Americans ■, and W^ebb’s was drawn up by the General, as a referve, in eight fubdivifions with large in¬ tervals. The enemy lined the bullies in their front, with 1500 Indians and Canadians, and I dare fay had placed moll of their bell markfmen there, who kept up a very galling, though irregular, fire upon our whole line, who bore it with the greatell pa¬ tience, and good order ; referving their fire for the main body, now advancing. This fire of the enemy was however checked by our polls in our front, which pro- tefted the forming our own line. The right of the enemy was compofed of half the troops of the colony, the battalions of La Saare, Languedoc, and the remainder of their Canadians and Indians. Their centre was a column, and formed by the bat¬ talions of Bearn and Guienne. Their left was compofed of the remaining troops of the colony, and the battalion of Royal Roufillon. This was, as near as I can guefs, their line of battle. They brought up two pieces of fmall artillery againll us, and we had been able to bring up but one gun j which being admirably welllerved, gall¬ ed their column exceedingly. My attention to the left will not permit me to be very exaft with regard to every circumllance which pafled in the center, much lefs to the right; but it is moll certain that the enemy formed in good order, and that their at¬ tack was very brilk and animated on that fide. Our troops referved their fire, till within fqrty yards, which was fo well continued, that the enemy every where gave way. It was then our General fell at the head of Bragg’s, and the Louljbourgh gre¬ nadiers, advancing with their bayonets: About the fame time. Brig. Gen. Monckta received his wound at the head of Lafcelles’s. In the front of the oppofite battalions fell alfo M. Montcalm j and his fecond in command is fince dead of his wounds on board our fleet. Part of the enemy made a fecond faint attack. Part took to fome thick copfe wood, and feemed to make a Hand. It was at this moment that each corps feemed in a manner to exert itfelf, with a view to its own peculiar cha'radler. The grenadiers, Bragg’s, and Lafcelles’s, prefled on with their bayonets. Brig. Msr- ray advancing with the troops under his command brilkly, compleated the route on this fide J when the Highlanders, fupported’ by Anjlruther’s, took to their broad fwords, and drove part into the town, and part to the works at their bridge on. the met St Charles, The aftion, on our left and rear, was not fo fevere. The houfes, into which the light infantry were thrown, were well defended, being fupported by Gol..Hiiwe, who taking poll with two companies behind a fmall copfe, and frequently fallying. upon the flanks of the enemy during their attack, drove them often into heaps, ^nll the front of which body I advanced platoons of Amherjl’s regiment, which totally prevented the right wing from executing their firll intention. Before this, one of the Royal American battalions had been detached to preferve our communication with oat boats, and the other being fent to occupy the. ground which Brig. Murray's mover ment had left open, I remained with Amherfl's to fupport this difpofition, and to keep the enemy’s right, and a body of their Savages, which waited llill more towards our rear, oppofite the polls of our light infantry, waiting for an opportunity to fall upon our rear. 35 Of E B E C in 1755 . 1 This, Sir, was the fituation of things, when I was told, in the adlion, that I commanded: I immediately repaired to the centre, and finding the purfuit liad put part of the troops in diforder, I. formed them as foon as poflible. Scarce was this elfedcd, when M. de Bougainville, with his corps from Cape Rouge, of 2000 men, appeared in our rear. I advanced two pieces of artillery, and two battalions towards him ; upon which he retired. You will not, I flatter myfelf, blame me for not quitting fuch advantageous ground, and rilking the fate of fo decifive a day, by feek- ing afrefli enemy, polled perhaps in the very kind of ground he could vviili for, viz. woods and fwamps. We took a great number of French officers upon the field of battle, and one piece of cannon. Their lofs is computed to be about 1500 men, which fell chiefly upon their regulars'. I have been employed, from the dav of ac¬ tion, to that of the capitulation, in redoubting our camp beyond infult, in making a road up the precipice for our cannon, in getting up the artillery, preparing the batte¬ ries, and cutting off their communication with their country. The 17th, at noon, before we had any battery eredled, or could have any for two or three days, a flag of truce came out with propofals of capitulation, which I fent back again to the town, allowing them four hours to capitulate, or no farther treaty. The admiral had, at this time, brought up his large Ihips as intending to attack the town. The French officer returned at night with terras of capitulation; which, with the Admiral, were confidered, agreed to, and figned at eight in the morning, the 18th inftant. The terms we granted, will/ I flatter myfelf, be approved of by his majefty, confidering the enemy aflfembling in our rear, and, what is far more formidable, the very wet and cold feafon, which threatened our troops with ficknefs, and the fleet with fome accident; it had made our road fo bad, we could not bring up a gun for fome time 5 add to this, the advantage of entering the town, with the walls in a defenfible ftate, and the being able to put a garrifon there ftrong enough to prevent all furprize. Thefe, I hope, will be deemed fufficient confiderations for granting them the terms I have the honour to tranfmit to you. The inhabitants of the country come into us fall, bringing in their arms, and taking the oaths of fidelity, until a general peace determines their fituation. I have the honour to inclofe herewith, a lift of the killed and wounded; a lift of the prifoners, as perfeft as I have yet been able to get it ■, and a lift of the artillery and ftores in the town, as well as of thofe fallen into our hands at Beauport in confequence of the vidtory. By deferters we learn, that the enemy are re-aflembling what troops they can, behind the Cape Rouge ; that M. de Levy is come down from the Montreal fide to command them; fome fay he has brought two battalions with him j if fo, this blow has already afllfted Gen. Anherji. By other deferters, we learn, that M. de Bougainvelle, with 800 men, and provifions, was on his march to fling himfelf into the town the 18th, the very morning it capitulated, on which day we had not'com- pleated the inveftiture of the place, as they had broke their bridge of boats, and had defachm'ents in very ftrong works on the other fide the'river St Charles. 1 fliould not do juftice to the Admirals, and the naval fervice, if I negledted this occafion of acknowledging how much we are indebted for our fuccefs to the conftant afliftance and fupport received from them, and the perfedl harmony and correfpon- dence, which has prevailed throughout all our operations, in the uncommon difficul¬ ties, which the nature of this country, in particular, prefents to military operations of a great extent, and which no army can itfelf folely fupply; the immenfe labour in artillery, ftores, and provifions; the long watchings and attendance in boats 5 the drawing up our artillery by the feamen, even in the heat of the adtion; it is my duty, fhort as my command has been, to acknowledge, for that, how great a fliare the navy has had in this fuccefsful campaign. 1 have the honour to be, &c. Geo. Townshend. jlrticles Account of the Siege and ReduEiion Articles of Capitulation agreed on, between General Townlhend and M. de Ramzey, Commander of Qi^bec. ’ Art, I. M. de Ramzey demands the honours of war for his garrlfon, and that it ihall be condudted back to the army in fafety by the fliorteft road, with their, arms baggage, fix pieces of brafs cannon, two mortars or howitzers,, and la rounds. ’ ’The garrifon of the town, compofed of land forces, marines, and failors, fiall march out with their arms and baggage, drums beating, lighted matches, with two pieces of cannon, and twelve rounds, and fall be embarked as conveniently as pojpble, in order to be landed at the firjl port in France. II. That the inhabitants fhall be maintained in the pofleffion of their houfes, goods, effefts, and privileges. Granted, provided they lay down their arms, III. That the faid inhabitants fliall not be molefted on account of their having borne arms for the defence of the town, as they were forced to it, and as it is cuftomary for the inhabitants of the colonies of both crowns to ferve as militia. Granted, IV. That the effeds belonging to the abfent officers, or inhabitants, lhall not be touched. Granted, V. That the faid inhabitants fhall not be removed nor obliged to quit their houfes until their condition fhall be fettled by a definitive treaty between their moll Chriftian and Britannick majeflies. Granted, VI. That the exercife of the Catholic Apollolic and Roman religion fhall be pre. ferved, and that fafe-guards fhall be granted to the houfes of the clergy, and to the monafieries, particularly to the Bifhop of ^ebec, who animated with zeal for religion, and charity for the people of his diocefs, defires to refide conllantly in it, to exercife freely and with that decency which his charadler and the facred myfleries of the Ca. tholic, Apoftolic, and Roman religion require, his epifcopal authority in the town of ^ebec, wherever he fhall think it proper, until the poflelRon of Canada fhall have been decided by a treaty between their moll Chriftian and Britannic majeflies. The free exercife of the Roman i-eligion. Safe-guards granted to all religious perfons, ns well as to the bifiop, who fhall be at liberty to come and exercife freely and with decency the funBions of his office whenever he ffiall think proper, until the poffiffion of Canada jhd have been decided between their Britannic and moft Chriftian majefties. VII. That the artillery and warlike ftores fhall be delivered up honafde, and an inventory taken thereof. Granted. VIII. That the fick, wounded, commiflaries, chaplains, phyficians, furgeons, apothecaries, and other perfons employed in the hofpitals, fhall be treated agreeable to the cartel fettled between their moft Chriftian and Britannic majefties on Feb, 6, 1759. Granted. IX. That before delivering up the gate, and the entrance of the town, to the Bnglijh forces, their general will be pleafed to fend fome foldiers to be placed as fafe- guards at the churches, convents, and chief habitations. Granted. X. That the commander of the city of ^ebec fhall be permitted to fend advice to the Marquis de Vaudrueil, governor general, of the redudlion of the townj as alfo that this general fhall be allowed to write to the French miniftry to inform them thereof. Granted. XI. That the prefent capitulation fhall be executed ,according to its form and tenor, without being liable to non-execution under pretence of reprifals, or the non-execu^ tionof any preceding capitulation. Granted. ^he prefent treaty has been made and fettled between us, and duplicates fgn'd attk. Camp before Sepr. 18, 1759. C.. Saunders, G. Fownffiend, De Ramefay, 137 * Of M B E C in 1759 . Killed, Wounded, and Miffing, h the Battle of the i^th. ^ . Killed. Wounded. Miffing. Officers —— — q jj o Seijeants i-; — — — — 25 o Drummers —— ° 4 o Rank and file rr p- ~ ^ — 45 506 3 ‘ffotal 588 3 'Artillery. _ ^ ^ ^ Killed, Wounded, Miffing. Engineers — i o Gunners —~ — .i i o Bombardiers — o i o Matroffes 5 o ‘Total i ' 8 Jin Account of the Guns, &c, found in Quebec on its Surrender to his Majeffy’s Troops. Brafs guns 6 pound. I Brafs mortars 13 In. I 4 3 Do howitzers 8 3 2 2 Iron mortars 13 9 Iron guns 36 10 10 I 24 4 ^ 8 3 18 18 7 2 12 13 Shells 13 Inches 770 8 43 10 >50 6 66 . 8 and? 4 30 6 S 90 3 7 Brafs petards with a confiderable quantity of powder, ball, finall arms and intrenching tools, &c. the number of which cannot be ascertained. There have been alfo 37 guns and one mortar found on feveral batteries between k Charles river and Beauport. Letter from Vice-Admiral Saunders, to the Bight Honourdhle Mr. Secretary Pitt, Sept. 20, 1759. SIR, T Have the greateft pleafure in acquainting you, that the town and, citadel of ^ebec 1 . furrendered on the i8th inftant, and I inclofe you a copy of the articles of capi¬ tulation. The army took pofl'effion of the gates on the land fide, the fame evening, andfent fafe guards into the town to preferve order, and to prevent any thing being deftroyed; and Capt. Piz/Zj/Jr, with a body of feamen, landed in the lower town, and did the fame. The next day, our army marched in, and near a thoufand French officers, foldiers, and feamen, were embarked on board ibme Engliffs catts, who ffiall foon proceed for France, agreeable to the capitulation. I had the honour to write to you the jth inftant, by the Rodney cutter: The troops 'mentioned in that letter, embarked on board the thips and veflels above the town, in the night of the 6th inftant, and at four in the morning of the 13th began to land on the north fliore, about a mile and a half above the town. Gen. Montcalm, with his whole army, left their camps at Beauport, and marched to meet him. A little before ten both armies were formed, and the enemy 'began the attack. Our troops received their fire, and referved their own, advancing till they ,were fo near as to run *138 Account of the Siege and ReduBion, Of E B E C in 1759 , in upon them, and pu(h them with their bayonets; by which, in a very little time, the French gave way, and fled to the town in the utraoft diforder, and with great lofs; for our troops purfued them quite to the walls, and killed many of them upon the glacis, and in,the ditch; and if the town had been further off, the whole Prari army muft have been deftroyed. About 250 French prifoners were taken, that day, among whom are ten captains, and fix fubaltern officers, all of whom will go in the great Ihips to England. I am forty to acquaint you, that General Welfe was killed in the adtion 5 and Gen, Monchon Ihot through the body; but he is now fuppofed to be out of danger. Gen, Montcalm, and the three next French officers in command, were killed; but I muft refer you to Gen. ‘Imnjhend (who writes by this opportunity) for the particulars of this adlion, the ftate of the garrifon, and the meafures he is taking for keeping pof- feffion of it. I am now beginning to fend on ffiore the ftores they will want, and provifions for 5000 men ; of which I can furniffi them with a fufficient quantity. The night of their landing. Admiral Holmes, with the ffiips and troops, was about three leagues above the intended landing-place: General Wolfe, with about half his troops, fetoff in boats, and dropped down with the tide, and were, by that means, lefs liable to be difeovered by the French centinels, polled all along the coafl. The Ihips followed them about three quarters of an hour afterwards, and got to the land¬ ing-place juft in the time that had been concerted, to cover their landing; and con. lidering the darknefs of the night, and the rapidity of the currant, this was a very critical operation, and very properly and fuccefsfully conduced. When Gen. Wolf and the troops with him, had landed, the difficulty of gaining the top of the hill i; fcarce credible: It was very fteep in its alTent, and high, and had no path where two could go a-breaft: but they were obliged to pull themfelves up by the Humps and boughs of trees, that covered the declivity. Immediately after our vidlory over their troops, I fent up all the boats in the fleet with artillery, and ammunition 5 and on the 17th went up with the men of war, in a difpofition to attack the lower town, as foon as Gen. ‘lownjlmd ffiould be ready to . attack the upper; but in the evening they fent out to the camp, and offered terms of capitulation. I have the farther pleafure of acquainting you, that, during this tedious campaign, there has continued a perfedt good underftanding between the army and navy. 1 have received great affiftance from Admirals Durell and Holmes, and from all the cap tains; indeed every body has exerted themfelves in the execution of their duty; even the tranfports have willingly affifted me with boats and people on the landing the troops, and many other fervices. 1 have the honour to be, &c, Charles Saundem It appears all through this expedition, that great part of its fuccefs was owing to the patriot unanimity that fublifted between the land and fea officers. None of thofe bickerings and difputes reigned among them that had been the ruin of many well concerted fchemes in a former WAR, and if there was any contention it was in who fliould be foremoft to (hew his love for his country’s glory, by being foremoft in his duty. Admiral launders who commanded at fea, was always 'ready to affift the ope¬ rations by land, and he was nobly feconded, by the Admirals Holmes and DurilL The death of the brave General Wolfe, abated nothing of this confidence, and indeed fuch was the tenor of all the officers condufl: through the whole, that the wifdom and valour of the britifti councils and arms, by their intrepidity and courage have i tseen eftablilhed the capital of Netts France. A Description description L 0 u I s I ^ N J. T he province of Lotiifmna, or the Southern part of New France, extends, ac- bi,u„Js of cording to the French geographers, from the gulph of Mexico, in about 29 de- Uu^ma. grees, to near 4 5 degrees of North latitude, on the Weftern fide, and to near 3 9 degrees on the Eaftern j and fi-om 86 to near loo degrees W. longitude from London. It is bounded on the N. by Canada ; on the E. by the Britijh colonies of New York, Fenfihania, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and by the peninfula of Florida ; on the South, by the gulph of Mexico j and, laftly, on the Well by New Mexico. It contains, properly, the French fettlements on both fides the Mijjif- f!j)i, and is, by fome, faid to be the nobleft and richeft province of all North America. In that part which lies between the fea coaft and Point Coupe, a trad of about eighty two leagues, the air is not very wholefome, becaufe of the inundations of the Miffipi, which overflows regularly every year from the end of March to the beginning of July, du- feafois. ring which all the country near the river is entirely under water. It has been remarked that the winters have been more fevere, for fome years pall, than they were commonly known to be at the time when the Fretich firll fettled here, occafioned, as is thought, by clearing the lands of the woods, or perhaps by fome otlier unknown caufe. The win¬ ter begins in this country about the end of November, and lafts till the end of Febru¬ ary. During this feafon there blows a flrong and piercing North Wind, and, whenever it changes from this point, the cold is interrupted by fome intervals of moderate wea¬ ther, and the (harpnefs of the winter begins to diminilh. They remark three forts of climates in this country: Towards the capital, and as high as Point Coupd, it fome- times freezes very hard, but feldom or never fnows: From Point Coupe, as far as the country of the Akanjas, the air is milder and more temperate'; but towards the coun¬ try of the Ilifiois, at about five hundred leagues above New Orleans, the cold is ex- treamly piercing; the river MiJiJJipi, and others in its neighbourhood, are generally frozen to fiich a degree as to be palTable by carriages. But, though the winter be fevere, it is by far the moll preferable feafon in this province, becaufe of the great plenty of wild cattle, goats, and,game of all forts; whereas, in the fummer, the inhabitants are forced to be cpntentecl with filli, which is however exceeding plentiful, as are alfo fruits and greens. This feafon lafts in Louifiana from Mairh to September, with exceffive heats, and thofe . j. often followed by prodigious hurricanes. Thefe ftorms are commonly accompanied with hail and thunder, and, in a country compofed of woods, lakes, hills, and valleys, the continual echoes are very terrible. In the year 1737, at New Orleans, on a Sunday, fell a llrower of hailftones, fome of which were as large as hen’s eggs. Another incon¬ venience attending the fummer in this country is, that in this feafon the nights are as hot as the days, and t!ie people are fubjedl to fuch terrible funburns as have been known to prove mortal, or elfe caufe a peeling of the Ikin from the whole part affeded. Louifiana has Icarce any autumn, and the burning heats of fummer are immediately fucceeded by white frufts, which appear towards the middle of September, and yet, what is more fingular, obftrudl not in tiie Icaft the growth of fallads and other garden fluff common in that feafon. , M m The 124 ' Hifiory of the Dijcovery and Setthnent ciimatcdiffe- The climate of Louifiana varies in proportion as it extends towards the North. In S/of#n- general, its fouthern parts are not fcorched lilce thofe under the fame latitudes in Africa, caaiid£arii^« though its northern regions are colder than thofe of Europe under the fame parallels. New Orleans, fituated in thirty degrees, which is the latitude of the northern coafts of fie^bary and Egypt, enjoys the fame temperatute of climate with Languedoc. Two de- grees higher, in die country of the Natchez, the climate is much more temperate than at New Orleans: And in the country of the llinois, which lies in thirty five and thirty fix de¬ grees, the fummer is no hotter than at Rochelle in France, though the ice is ftronger, and the falls of fnow much greater, in the winter. Difference of This difference of climate from what is. found in Africa and Europe is attributed to Ses'*'°'" caufes: The firll: is, the great quantity of wood, and the number of rivers in this country; the former of which prevents the fun’s heat from reaching the furface of the earth, and the other occafions the great humidity of the atmofphere. To thefe we may add the vafc extent of country ftretching towards the North, thofe winds which traverfe large tradls of land being found by experience to be much colder than fuch as eome from the fea, or meet with large portions of that element in their paffage. Hence it is no wonder that a North wind fliould caufe the inhabitants to put on more deaths, even in the fummer, or that a South wind in the winter fhould have a contrary effed. Several days often pafs in Louifana without feeing the fun. There is no rain, however, but violent fhowers, fuch as accompany thunder; but this bad weather never continues long, and in half an ipur the heavens refume their natural ferenity. The dews are in fuch abun¬ dance, as to fupply the want of rain in this country. Hence its fa we may eafily account for the extraordinary wholefomnefs of the air, and con- lubrity. ' fequently for the juft temperature of the blood, and that the inhabitants enjoy perfed health, free from acute difeafes in their younger years, and retaining extraordinary vi¬ gour in old age; fo that the fpan of life is no where extended to a greater length, nor v/ith a happier ftate of health, than in Louifana. The fame order will be obferved in giving an account of the nature and fituation of Louifana, as in that of Canada. The defcription of this province will therefore properly begin with the country of the Eiottx on the banks of the Mijifipi, and by giving tlie moft fatisfadory account of the country on both fides that noble river to its mouth that can be found, not from hearfay, but from fuch as have travelled over it, and who, as they lived upon the fpot, had all the necelfary opportunities and advantages for that purpofe, and who have made it their bufinefs to examine and illuftrate the fubjed now be¬ fore us. Of the great The the chief of all the rivers of Louifiana, which it divides almoft into river Miff- two equal parts, was firft difcovered by Col. Wood, who fpent almoft ten years, or from f'l''- 1654 to 1664, in fearching its courfe; as alfo by Capt. Bolt in 1670, and in 1698 Dr Cox of New jerfey fent two Ihips, that difeovered the mouth of this river, and failing up 100 miles, took poffeflion of the country, and called it Carolana. In] 1699 the French firft found this river, and called it Colbert River, in honour of their great minil- ter, naming the country Louifana. Some of the Indian nations in the Northern parts term it M^ajfepi, or the ancient Father of Rivers, whence comes the name of Mifjfifh They who inhabit the lower parts of the country call it, for what reafon I know not, the Balbaucha or Barbaucha, but the name which the French fometimes give it, is the St Louis, and, by way of pre-eminence, Le Fleuve, or the River. Vain atempts Several attempts have been made by travellers, to difcover the fource of this river, itsfolrcr' voyagers, fent by M. de la Salle for this purpofe, fay that it takes its rife beyond • . the 50th degree'of North latitude, in the country of the Jffatis an Indian nation, whofe country lies to the Weft of Canada. According to them, it fprings firom a large fountain, fituated at the top of a rifing ground, and by jundtion of the waters of five or fix other rivers is increafed fo as to carry boats at no more than four or five leagues from its head. But the moft fatisfadory account of it is that of M. de Chai-leville, a native of Cana¬ da, and nephew of M. de Biainville, general commandant in the colony when the French firft fettled it. This gentleman, moved by curiofity alone, undertook to trace this river to its fource. For this purpofe he fitted out a canoe, and fet out with two for guides, fome wares for traffic, provifions for the voyage, and ammu- tbiy. . Thus equipped, he failed up the Mififipi, three hundred leagues above the Ilinois river, as far as the famous catarad, called the fall of St Anthony. This caf- cade 135 of L 0 U I S I A N .A. cade is formed by a flat rock, which crofles the river from fide to fide, and is from ei^ht to ten feet in heiglit. Here Charleville was obliged' to carry his canoe and efFefls on fliore. When he had pafled the Fall, he reimbarked, and continued his voyage up the river a hundred leagues higher, and arrived amongft fome hunting parties of the Si- oux Indians, inhabiting both fides of the Mijiffi-pi, who told him, in their manner, that from the Fall of St Antlmiy, to the fource of the Great River, the diftance was as great as from thence to the Great Water, meaning the Sea ; adding further, that the countries Head of Mij. vvhich lay in his way thither, were quite barren, and wholly deftitute of game or any one thing neceflary for the iiipport or conveniency of human life. This conjedture with refpedf to the remotenefs of the fource of the Mi/JiJJipi, is the more probable, as fcveral very confiderable rivers difcharge their waters into it far above this Fall, and be- caufe, even higher than this place, the river is found to have from thirty to thirty five fathom water, and breadth in proportion ; a convincing proof of its coming from a very confiderable diftance. To this might be added the opinions of the natives, who all aoree in this opinion, and, no doubt, have it from other Indians living neareft to its head. Though this gentleman could not vifit the fprings of Hat Mijjijjipi, he learnt, how-Keceives a ever, that many rivers fell into it, even above the Jail of St Anthony, and faw feveral of them himfelf, which, after a courfe of a hundred leagues, and more, difcharge themfelves into it on both fides. As little is known, befides this general account, of the rivers which run into the MiffiJIipi above the Fall j we lhall therefore content ourfelves with giving a defcription of tire chief of thofe which difcharge themfelves into it, from this famous cataradt, downwards to the fea. The firft of thefe, on the Weft, is St Peter’s River, the banks J of which are inhabited by the Sioux ; and it enters the Great River, near the fall of™^^' St Anthony. Some leagues further, on the Eaft, is La Riviere de Sainte Croix, Holy siCniz met Crops river, coming from the neighbourhood of Lake Superior j near its mouth copper is laid to have been found. Three leagues farther is ^le Pele'e, or the Bald IJland, fo PeUe iile.; called from its barrennefs of all forts of trees. Lower down the river widens, forming a lake called Lac de Bon Secoiirs, or Lake of Good Help, one league broad, and feven in tacJi Sm circuit, furrounded with meadows. On the Weft fide of this lake Nicholas Perrot built a fort, in a very pleafant meadow, which the French have often made the center of their commerce with the Weftern quarters, and where they have even wintered, the country all round it affording plenty of all forts of game. On the Weft, 20 leagues lower, is the Oiiifconing, and on the fame fide with that river begins a meadow, fixty leagues in length, and furrounded with mountains, which afford a moft delightful profpeft. There is fuch another on the left fide, but not quite fo extenfive. By this river Father Marquette and the Sieur Joliet entered the MiJJiJJipi, when they made their firft difeovery of that river. Here dwell the Ai- ouez Indians, whofe country lies in 43 deg. 30 min. North latitude. They are reputed /w;. to be gre.it travellers, and will march, as it is affirmed, from 20 to 30 leagues in one ‘""• day, when free from the incumbrance of their families. Thefe Indians fay that at three d-ays journey farther are the habitations of the Omans, a nation of a fair complexion, Oman Indians efpecially the women, and with light hair. They likewife tell us that thefe Indians are always at war with the Panis, and other Weftern Indians, by whom they have been informed of a great lake at a vaft diftance, in the neighbourhood of which live a peo¬ ple drefled like Europeans, with buttons on their deaths, inhabiting cities, exercifed in the chace of the buffalo, .mounted on horfes covered with the Ikins of thofe beafts, but without the ufe of any other arms than bows and arrows. Ten leagues below the Ouifeoning are the lead mines, formerly difeovered by the l-vad mines. Sieur Perrot, and ftill bearing his name. On the Eaft fide is the AJenifipi, by the Ajenififima French called la Riviere a la Roche, Rock River, fo named from a mountainous rock op- pofite to it, which ftands in the channel of the MiJfJjipi, and is faid to contain a quar¬ ry of rock cryftal. Seven leagues lower you meet with two falls in the MiUiUipi, making fo many carrying places; and eight leagues lower, on the W. fide, enters the M.ingan ri- ver, iffuing from a vaft and noble meadow, abounding with buffaloes and other wild river, game. This river is but {hallow at its entry into the Mifjifipi, and befides very narrow, notwithftanding its long courfe of a hundred and fifty leagues'from the North Weft. It is faid to take its rife from a lake, and to form another after it has- run a- bout fifty leagues from the firft. From this fecond lake it runs towards, la Riviere Ver- te, a branch of St Peter’s River, and fo named from the green colour of its bottom. The 136 Hijlory of the Difcovery and Settlement The banks of the Mohigom are well ftoved with coal. At fifty leagues, from its moutk is a large cape, or promontory, near which the waters are red, and of an offenfive fmel!, owing, as it is faid, to the large quantities of mineral ore, and, in particular, of anti- mony, found near this cape. At fome diftance from the Moingona, on the Weft, is the Riviere au Boetifs, or Buffalo River ■, between this river and that of the lUimis, on the Eaft fide of the Miljiffipi, have been difcovered fome very good fait mines or fprings. The next confiderable river running into the Mijijjipi is the Ilimis ; but, before this is defcribed, it may not be improper to fay fomewhat of thofe other rivers which fall into it in its courfe. In travelling fi-om Canada to the country of the Itinois, by way of lake Michigan, tliere are two different routs ; The firft is by coafting the South fliore of that lake, and then O/Mi-oariver going up the Chicagon river five or fix leagues, whence paffengers get into the river Chico, gou, a branch of the llinois, after palling two carrying places, over land. The longeft of thefe is not above a league and a quarter, but as the river fbmetimes in the fummer has not wa¬ ter fufiicient to carry a canoe, the other way is generally preferred. In this, leaving the fort of St Jofeph's river, fix leagues up the ftream, and then landing on the fouth- ern bank, is a carrying place a league and a quarter by the water fide, and afterwards a vail meadow is to be crofted, beautified with groves of wood, which render .the pro- fpedt extremely pleafing. This is called Buffalo's, Head meadow, from the head of one of thofe animals, of an enormous fize, found in it. A league farther over the meadows is a kind of mere, or lake, which communicates with feveral others, the largeft: not above a hundred paces in circuit, which are the fources of the river llheakiki, from Tbeak, figni^-. ing, in fome of the Indian tongues, a Wolf, becaufe the Machingans, or Wolf Indians, had Courfe of the formerly taken Ihelter here. The 1 ‘heakiki is fo narrow and full of turnings and windings niahh. canoes are often in danger of breaking, which makes the navigation of the Theakiki very tedious, fo that after failing ten or twelve leagues very little progrefs has been made. The banks are covered with game, and every where produce vines, which bear great quanti¬ ties of very large grapes. The courfe becomes gradually ftraiter, and at fifty leagues from its fource, though Hill very narrow, the fliores on both fides fliow wonderfully plea- fant, being covered with lofty trees, which, when they happen to fall into the water, obftruft the navigation. A little beyond this it widens into a fmall lake, the country is one continued meadow, to which the eye can find no bounds, where wander infinite herds of buffaloes, and nothing, in general, can furpafs the richnefs of the profpefl. The Theakiki lofes in depth what it gains in breadth, fo that travellers are often obliged to carry their canoes over land, where, without a guard, they run great rifques from the Sioux and Qiitagami Indians, drawn hither by the mortal hatred they bear the Ilimk What makes this fmall depth of water in the Theakiki the more furprifing, is, that it re¬ ceives confiderable rivers in its courfe, and particularly that called the river of the Iroquois. The Foris P^nks, or the jundlion of the Theakiki with the Ilinois, the former lofes its name. The reafon of which is, no doubt, that the Ilinois river takes its name from an Indian nation fettled on its banks. Few rivers in Europe, the Rhine and the Banube excepted, excel the Ilinois after rnmi! river, this junftion, and no where can there be feen a finer or richer country than that which it waters, at leaft as far down as Pimitoui. Fifteen leagues below the Forks, it acquires a depth proportional to its great breadth, and in this fpace receives the waters of feveral Fipuom rivet ^ivcrs, the chief of which is called Pijlicoui, flowing from the fine country of the cLi-Pit Mafeoutins towards the North. This river has at its mouth a cataraft, called the Coal- otaradi. pit, from the vail quantities of that mineral found in its neighbourhood. All this way are vail meadows, interfperfed with groves and thickets, and covered with grafs, fo very rank, that the paffenger is in danger of lofing himfelf in it, were it not for a multitude of beaten paths made over it, by the numberlefs droves of bufiiiloes, and herds of deer which traverfe it. ne Rod. A league below the Coal-pit, on the right, is a round rock of a vail height, and its fum- mit in .form of a terrafs, called, from a village of thofe Indians near it, the Fort of the FortofiKf- p^iarnis’, and about a league further, another on the left, called fimply the This is the extremity of a riling ground, which runs winding about two hundred paces along . the fide of the river, grown confiderably wider in this place. It is fteep on all fides, and at a diftance has the appearance of a fortrefs. Here are Hill to be feen the re¬ mains of the palifade of an intrenchment made formerly, by the Ilinois, an 4 eafy to be repaired in cafe of an irruption of enemies. Their *37 of LOUISIANA, Tlie Indian village is feated at the foot of the Rock, in an ifland, which, with feveral others, all wonderfully fruitful, divide the river into broad channels. The top of the mountain is i level terrafs, where ten men with arms might hold out againftall theiW/- am of Canada, were it but provided with water, there being none nearer than the river, which it is impoffible to come near, without being expofed to an enemy. The country here abounds with parrots, being the moft northerly place where thefe birds are to be feen, and if they are fometimes found on the banks of the Theakiki, it is in the fummer only. Hence to Lake Pimiteoui is 12 leagues, which is only a wi¬ dening of the river, is about three leagues long and one broad. At the weftern extremity is another village of the Ilinoh, about fifteen leagues from that of the Rock. From hence they reckon twenty leagues to the Miffiffipi. The firft of thefe villages Courfeof the is in forty one degrees of latitude, and the entry of the Jlinois in forty. From the Rock^‘‘’'°‘‘' the river runs weftward, and fomewhat foutherly ; there are alfo feveral iflands, fome of them confidcrably large. The banks are in feveral places very low, fo that both fides are under water in the fpring, and afterwards covered with very long grafs. The whole courfe of it is faid to abound in fifh, and in the adjacent meadows are vaft num¬ bers of deer and buffaloes, which latter make no difficulty of fwimming the river, when purfued by the hunters. The next river which falls into ihs. Ilinoh downwards is the ^agnimont, a large river flowing frem the South ; and five or fix leagues lower that oisaguimont the Macopincs, coming from the fame quarter, but not quite fo large, and taking its name from certain roots fo called, which, if eaten raw, are a rank poifon, but boiled over a gentle fire, for five or fix days or longer, have no noxious quality. Between thofe two rivers you find the marffi called Machoutin, exadly in the middle, between the Machmtm Village of Pimiteoui and the Mijjiffipi. Here may be difeerned, after paffing Macopine river, the banks of the Great River, which are very high, and fituated at about twenty four hours lail from this river, this delay being occafioned by the winding of the Ilinois river in this place, where it alters its courfe from Weft to South by Faff, and thence to Eaff South Eaft, in which diredtion at laft, after abundance of meanders, and with a feeming reluffance, it mixes its waters with thofe of the Mijfiffipi. In this country, which belongs to the confederate Indians, and is efteemed by the rmmrmas French geographers part of Loui/iana, is a French poll:, or fettlement, at the village called village. Tamarciias. The country of the Ilinois is an excellent foil, abounding in buffaloes and of other game. And here you meet with the firft elks to be feen in this part of the tho country world. Swans, and all other fort of water fowl, are alfo in great plenty in thefe parts. This is efteemed the beft of all the French fettlements in Louijiana for producing corn, barley, and fuch fort of grain. All the hufbandry required, is to ftir the ground (lightly before it be fown, which will alone fuffice to produce an excellent crop; and it has been affirmed, that in a fcarcity of corn at New Orleans, which happened du¬ ring the laft war, the Ilinois imported upwards of eight hundred thoufand weight to that capital. They alfo cultivate tobacco; but this thrives but indifferently, and ri¬ pens with great difficulty. All the plants which have been carried over from France, as alfo all manner of European fruits, fucceed to a miracle. The firft French difeoverers of Louijiana came down by the river of the Ilhiois, Inland navi- in their way from Canada to the MiJJiljipi, as all thofe who have any bufinefs in the country of the Ilinois only ftill do; but fuch as intend for the Lower Louifiana, uffima. * or the Ides, defeend, by the river of the Miamis, into the Wabache, and from that through the Ohio, into the MiffiJIipi. There are feveral filver mines in this country, particularly one called la Mine de la Matte, SUver which has been affiyed, as have alfo two others of lead, fo plentiful in ore, that they vegetate within a foot and half of the furface. The country North of the Ili~ mis is faid to have a great many mines. Near the mouth of the Ilinois, on the right, is a vaft favannah, or meadow, which ^ • is faid to contain copper in great quantities. This coaft is perfeftly charming, and very different from that oppofite to it, which is a high ridge of rocky mountains, adorned with cedars, that hide the view of the beautiful meadows behind them. It is to be remarked further, with refpedt to the Ilinois, fo often mentioned, that Origin of the fome have afferted, what feems confirmed by the information of a Mijourite woman, that thofe Indians, as well as the Miamis, come originally from the borders of a fea very far diftant towards the Weft, where it has been prefumed they had their firft fta- tion, and before they came down into the country they now inhabit, on the banks of 138 ■ Hijlory of' the Difcovery and Settlement the Mohigona ; atleaft it is certain that one of their tribes bears a name of this importance. A Miatnis woman, taken by the Sioux, told Father Pe, fuperior of the miflions of Nm France, that flie had been conduced by the Sioux to a village of her own nation, (i. tuated very near the fea. The other tribes of the Sioux are known under the name of the Peouarius, 1 ’amarouas, Cahokias, and Kajkaijkas ; and the two illages which bear their names confift almoft entirely of Tamarouas and Metchigamias, and foreign nations coming from the banks of a fmall river falling lower down into the MiJJiJJipi, and adop. ted by the Kajkajkias. Advantarcsof colony of the Ilhiois, and the French poll or fettlement, among them has two thefraclfet-advantages, one of which no other poll of this country can difpute with it, and theo- -th™™'necelfaiy to all the reft of the province. The firft is its commodious fitua- t IS country. tueans of which a communication is maintained between the colonies of Canak and Louifiana, equally beneficial to both. The fecond is its fertility, which renders it tie granary of Louifa 7 ia, and capable of fupplying it with corn in abundance, were it e- ven peopled to the fea. • The foil here is not only excellent for bearing wheat, but other neceffaries for the fupport of human life. The climate is mild and temperate, being in 38 deg. 39 min. North latitude. Cattle might here be reared with the greateft eafe ; and even the vail herds of buffaloes tamed, and tlie flelli, hides, and wool of thofe beafts made a very valuable article in the commerce of the colony. The air is healthful, and the difeafes, which are fometimes known to prevail here, may, at leaft in part, be owing to the in¬ digence and libertinifm of the inhabitants, and perhaps to the new breaWng up and clearing of the lands j an inconvenience, which can have no long continuance. And in a colony once eftabliftied, the climate can have no fort of effeft upon fuch as are bom in it, though of European parents. For thefe reafons the French have found means to attach the Ilinois to their interefts more than any other Indian nation, the Abenaquis of Acadia only excepted. They are now almoft all chriftians, that is, zealous Roman ca¬ tholics, andarefaid to be of a very mild difpofition. Temperature voyage down the MiJJiJJipi is very tedious, and the inconveniencies of it not a ofthedimate little'heightened by the extreme cold in the winter feafon, even in the Southern parts. The windings of the river make this voyage a courfe of four hundred leagues, and tho’ there are no falls or rapid currents, as in the rivers of Catjada, it neceffarily takes up much time, and paffengers make even lefs way than on the lakes where they are not favoured by any current. The caufes of the cold are much the fame with thofe in the Englifi Southern colonies. Confluence of leagues below the conflux of the Ilinois river is the mouth of the Mijfouri^ the Miffouri by which it difeharges itfelf on the North North Weft into the MiJJiJJipi, making, whh the A/i/-perhaps, the nobleft jundion of two rivers on the face of the earth. Both are nearly Iw- ^ league in breadth, but the Mijfouri is much the more rapid of the two, and feems to enter the MiJJiJJipi with the air of a conqueror, carrying its white waters unmixed to the oppofite fliore, and communicating its colour to the other, which retains it all the remainder of its precipitate courfe to the fea. Near this conflux is an Ilinois village, inhabited by the tribes of that nation called Cc- ^ hokias and Tamarouas, which form one very numerous canton. It ftands on a fmall ri-; ver coming from the Eaftern parts, and is without water, except in the fpring at the diftance of half a league. The reafon they give why they built their town in fo incom¬ modious a fituation,. is, that when they firft fettled here, the MiJfiJJipi wallied the walls of their cabins, but that in three years time it had loft half a league of ground, and that they were then thinking of removing it to fome other place, which, with the Indians, is a matter of no great' difficulty. It will not be improper to mention the other rivers which fall into the Mifouri, to¬ gether with the Indian nations inhabiting the adjacent country^ and the qualities of the foil. The Miffouri receives feveral other rivers in its courfe, particularly that of the Cantu ma. Canfcs, which has a courfe of above one hundred and fifty leagues. The opening of the Mijfouri into the Mijfjppi is faid to lie five hundred leagues from the fea, three hun¬ dred from the Fall of St Anthony, and from the mouth or opening of the Ohio into the fame river one hundred leagues. Maramsg leagues below the Mijfouri is the river Marameg, where, after many trials, the river. mine company of this place difeovered, in 1719, a vein of lead two foot below the , ' furface, 139 ' of L 0 V 1 S 1 A N A. furfce, :ind running quite along a chain of mountains, with fome hopes of finding fil- ver; the event of which is yet unknown. Among the nations inhabiting thofe countries are the Ofages, a numerous people, dwelling by the banks of a river of the fame name, which falls into the Mijfmtri atfor-^"f“f“‘j;, ! ty leagues from its junftion with the Mijfifipi, and who fend regularly once or twice a )'ear om.'" t to perform the ceremony of the pipe amongft the Kafkafiias. And fourfcore leagues from this opening is the nation of the Mipurites, from whom the French have given name to this river, for want of knowing the true one. Higher up, is the nation of the Canfez, tlien the Oclatas, by fome called the MaBotatas, afterwards the Aiouez, next to them the Pants, a very numerous people, divided into feveral cantons, bearing very dif¬ ferent names. The Mipuri is faid to take its rife among very lofty and bare moun¬ tains, behind which is another river, probably flowing from the fame, and running Weftward. This account ought to be of the greater weight, as no Indian nation is fo i much addidled to travel as the Miffourites. All the nations now mentioned inhabit the I Weftern banks of the Mipuri, except the Aiouez, who refide on the Eaftern, and are ' neighbours and allies to the 5 ioux. The foil through which the Mijfouri flows is faid to be meadow, for the mofl: part Soil. ; level, fat, and without a ftone, which is the caufe why its waters are always thick and i muddy, whereas thofe of the Mpfipi, flowing through a fandy firm foil, are perfeftly ; tranfparent. The Mipuri is faid to be altogether unknown to the French any higher ! than two hundred leagues from its mouth, and moft of the countries about 1 it, and rivers which fall into it have been but imperfedtly furveyed, and the country North of it is faid to be wholly undifcovered. The French had formerly a fettlement on the Eaftern point of an ifland fome leagues Fan Orhuna. long, oppofite to the chief village of the Miffotiri, called Fort Orleans j and the Chevalier Bourgmont, who commanded in it, acquired the efteem and confidence of the Indians in the neighbourhood of that river, fo as to reconcile thofe who had before been all of them at enmity and embroiled in wars one with another. Amongft thefe people, thofe who inhabited the Northern parts had the greateft reputation for military prowefs. Af¬ ter the departure of this commiflary the natives cut the throats of the garrifon, fo that not a Frenchman efcaped. Some authors mention, in their account of this country, feveral other Ittdian nations Other nationj on the banks of the Mpouri, which are, according to them, the Mpourians, from whom the river takes its name, the Canfes, the Othouez, the two nations of the Fanis, white and black, the Panimakas, the Aiaouez, and the Ofages, and, laftly, the Pa- doucas, by far the moft confiderable of them all, as the Othoiies, Ofages, and Aiouez are the leaft numerous, and the others but indifferently powerful. The Spaniards, jealous of the neighbourhood of the French, formed a defign to e- ftablifh themfelves on the Mijfouri, at about forty leagues from the poll of the Ilimis, on purpofe to ftraiten the French boundaries on that fide. In purfuit of their plan, they had determined, with the afiiftance of the Ofages, to exterminate the Mipurians, to whom the others are mortal enemies. With this intent they affembled at Santa Fe a body of men, with families proper for a fettlement, and provided them with a Jacobin for chaplain, befides horfes,-cattle, and other neceflaries for an infant colony, cob; the whole under command of an engineer. The multitude fet forward, but milling ““tiered, their way, inftead of their allies the Ofages, fell in with the Mpurians, to whofe chief the Spanifi leader, taking him to be the head of his own friends, without farther ferutiny, addrelfes the harangue he intended, and probably got by heart, for the chief of the Ofages, acquainting him with the caufe of his coming, which was to eftablilh a lalling peace with the people, and with their afiiftance to deftroy the Mpotirians. The Mipurian chief, diliembling his real defigns, feemed to accept of the offer with great alacrity, propoling even means for the accomplilliment of the defign, and at the fame time inviting the Spaniards to indulge themfelves with two or three days reft, after the fatigue of their journey, before they attempted to put it into execution, adding, that it would be necellary for him to confult with his warriors and feniors on the mat¬ ter propofed. During this interval the Mpotirians gave their guefts the moft mag¬ nificent entertainment in their power, and in the night, which was to have been the eve of their departure, fell upon the camp of the Spaniards, and cut them all off, man, woman, and child, only fparing the Jacobin, whom, whether out of refpcdl to his condition, or from the fingularity of his habit, they faved from the general carnage, amufing 140 Hijlory of the Difcovery and Settlement amufing theinfelves afterwards, in good weather, with caufing him to (h6w his dexterity in horfemanihip. But the Friar one day, taking his advantage of their fecurity, gal. lopped oiF towards the Spanijli fettlements. This ftory comes from the Mtjfoiirians themfelves, who afterwards fold the holy inftruments and habits, and other fpoil a. mongll the Ilinois. Ofagumi Amongftthe rivers which run into the Mijfotiri the moil: known is that of the imjis rivers. OJages, fo Called from the Indians of this name, inhabiting its banks, and near neigh¬ bours to the confluence of this river with the Mijfouri. But the moft confiderable of all is tlie river of the Canfes, which runs a courfe of two hundred leagues through a moil pleafant country. Before we leave the Mijfouri, it may be proper to add fomewhat relating to the man- nersof the Padoucas, the moft powerful Indian nation dwelling on this river. Thofe of them who live at a diftance from the Spaniards cultivate no fort of corn, but live by hunting, which they follow winter and fummer. They have large villages conipo. fed of great cabins, capable of very numerous and almoft patriarchal families. Here they make their ordinary abode, and hence you may fee ifluing forth at one time, a Huntingand hundred hunters on horfeback, with bows and arrows. About four days journey from curing of the their dwellings, they meet with large herds of buffaloes. They carry their baggage, buffalo. children, and tents, on the lame horfes with them; a man on horfeback leading the convoy, by which means men, women, and children, travel light, and without em- baraffment or fatigue. After their arrival in the hunting country, they encamp neara rivulet, and always in a woody place, where they tie their horfes to a long rope whilft they graze. Next day they mount each on his horfe, and make to the firft herd of buffaloes, and always from the windward, that the beafts may fmell them, which they never fail to do, having a moft exquifite feent. The hunters purfue them on the gallop till the buffaloes are fo fatigued as to loll out their tongues, and fall from run- ning to walking, when the hunters leap from their horfes, and let fly their arrowsj each killing his heifer, and foraetimes more, for they never deftroy the males. Then tying'their horfes to fome tree, they flea the prey, take out the entrails, and cut the body in two, leaving all the reft, as the head, feet, and inwards, to the wolves and other beafts of prey. The flein is laid next the horfe, and the carcafs upon it, and the reft, if any, over that. Part is dreffed on their arrival for immediate ufe, and the reft broiled, in order to be kept good for fome days after. In two days the fame »hing is repeated, and then they bring back the meat with the bones taken out to the camp, The women and young people dry it in the fmoke, whilft the men continue their hunting in the fame manner as before. This meat fo cured is brought laftly to the village, where they leave their horfes to reft for three or four days, when fome others, who had remained at home whilft their fellows were on the hunting party, take their places. This manner has given occafion, to fome mifinformed perfons, to conclude the Padoucas to be a wandering nation. As this people knows nothing, or very little of hulbandry, the Spaniards, who fupply them with horfes, bring them always loaded with tobacco, garden fluff, and Indian cosa, which they barter for buffalo fldns, fer- ving them for coverlids. Paluca bdi- The Padouca Indians are a very numerous people, inhabiting a country near 200 leagues am. in extent, their villages reaching as far as the Spanijh^ fettlements in New Mexico. They are acquainted with the value of filver, and, according to what they told thz French 00. fome occafion, they adlually worked fome mines j and, at the fame time, they informed them in what manner they proceeded. Thofe dwelling in villages, at a diftance from Flintbatcbctsthe have hatchets and knives made of flint; with the largeft of the former and knives. f]jgy fgij unjer^vood, and with the others they flea and cut up the beafts People of they kill. Thefe people are far from a favagenefs of difpofition, and it is no difficult raid difpoli- niatter to get acquainted with them, as they have long frequented the Spaniards, and in the fhort acquaintance the French have had with them, they have become very fami¬ liar j and in one of their villages, compofed of 140 cottages, the dwellings ofabout 800 warriors, 1500 women, and at leaft 2000 children, in which the French concluded a peace with feveral Indian nations of thefe parts, the inhabitants were defirous to have fome of that nation amongft them, promifing to take great care of them. Polyga- Polygamy feems to be in ufe among the Padoucas, and fome of them have to the tay.i^c. number of four wives. When they want horfes they make ufe of great dogs, brought up on piirpofe, to tranfport their baggage, The men for the moft part wear breeches of L 0 U 1 S 1 A N A. HI of dreffed fkins, with ftockings of the fame piece-, like the Spaniards. Tlie women allb DrcK. wear boddices, to which their waiftcoats, which are made of the drefled ikins, are tied : Their waiftcoats are adorned with a fringe of fleins. This nation is at prefent almoft entirely deftitute oiEuropean goods, and feerns to have but a very flight knowledge of them. The people were wholly unacquainted .'fe'ith Are- arms, till the Frenc/j firft brought fome amongft them, and are extremely fearful of them, fo that they will tremble and cfouch on hearing a muAeet fired. They commonly go to war on horfeback, equipping their horfes with ftrins prepared and hung round with pendants, to fave them from the flrot of arrow's; In other refpeds their manners are entirely the fitme with thofe of the other Indians of Louifiana, in which they difcover nothing barbarous, exxept in war, but are endowed with greater magnanimity, gratitude, and obfervance of their word and minifters, and are left trea¬ cherous, and Ampler in their diet, than thofe others. As to the foil of this country, our author, in this place, fajs, that from its excellent qualities that of Louifiana^ even to its utmoft boundafie's, ;mdy-.hefeen, The commerce that might be carried on by m.eans of the fur trade,' which is atlhe fame time highly lucrative, and without hazard, is very great, ' . ^ From the manners and charafters of thofe nations this Wtrfef cOhcludesj that thofe Mannas, Northern Indians of America muft certainly derive their origin from the country of the ■ Scfhians. For if we go back two or three thoufand years, and look into times of re-'Ant!ent%- : mote antiquity, we .llrall find a perfedl fimilitude of cuftoms and genius with thofe of the ; antient Scphians, fince called Tartars. An antient Greek author, who had frequented Nmihem A- '[ tlieir country, and was certainly a judge in this point, tells us that the Scythians ac- mmans. knowledge one fupreme God, the creator of heaven and earth, to whom they offered facrifice, and wcrfliipped under the image of the fun. They live, fays he, in perfedt innocence of manners, and are very unjuftly deemed barbarous, fince they follow the pure didlates of nature, and know no other defires than fuch as are capable of being fatisfied with the fruits cf the earth, and with fuch animals as ferve them for food, keeping their promifes to each other inviolate, maintaining great kindnefs and mutual ■ affedion in their families, exercifing much hofpitality towards ftrangers, and an unbound¬ ed humanity towards all mankind, and juftly preferring that happy fimplicity to our po- litenefs, or rather falfe refinements, and thofe ancient and beneficent manners, which they derive from the firft mortals, to all the enjoyments of that luxury and effeminacy which have corrupted the other countries of Afia. Frugality with them is the parent of juf- tice, and as they are void of covetoufnefs, they never make war to invade the property of others, and having no need of gold and filver,- they have no paffion for thofe falle riches. Nature, which is their miftrefs, teaches them leffons of morality, to which all the pride and arrogance of the Greek philofophers could never attain ; ignorance of vice performing more in them than the fpeculative knowledge of virtue in nations under a better polity. To return from this beautiful lelfon of morality in Herodotus, the father of hiftory, to RwAmiffi- the defeription of Louifiana: The next place wortliy of notice from the Mifouri down the Mifjijjipi, is the village of Kaskafquias, where the Jefuits have a very flourilhing miffi- on, now divided into two, fince the reparation of this canton into two villages. The moft numerous is that next the Mijjilfipi-, under the direftion of two Jefuits in fpiritual matters. Further down is fort Chartres, at about a mulket Ihot from the Great River, and the whole fpace between the fort and river is now fettled with French families. Four leagues ftill furtherj and a league from the river, is another large French town^ almoft en- firely fettled with Canadians, with a Jefuit for curate. The fecond Ilinoh village is feated two leagues further up the country, and is alfo under the diredtion of a Jefuit. The French here are in good circumftances; a Fleming, who was a domeftic to the Jefuits, file wed them how to fow wheat, which fucceeds very well ; they have alfOoft'uWr both horned cattle and poultry. The Binois likewife till the ground their own way, and are wool- very induftrious, breeding great numbers of poultry, which they' fell to the French. Their women too are very dextrous in fpinning the wool of the buffalo, which they comb to an equal perfedtion with the Englifi wool, and work it to fuch a finenefs that you Would be apt to take it for real filk. Of this they make ftuffsi which they dye black, yellow, and of a deep red, and make robes of them, which they few with the guts of deer, worked and fpun into thread in a veiy Ample manner. After the gut has been Well cleared of the flefliy parts, they lay it in the fun for fome days; when it is dry, 142 Hijioty of the Difcovery and Settlement they beat it, and out of it very eafily make a thread, equal in finenefs, and much fupeii rior in ftrength, to that of Mechlin. own. The French town is bounded on the North by a river, the' banks of whicli are fo high that, though the water fometimes rifes twenty five feet, it feldom overflows. All this country is open, conflfting of immenfe meadows, feparated only by fmall tufts of trees, all excellent in their kind; but the moll: common is the white mulberry, which, to the great detriment of the colony, the inhabitants are fuftered to fell for building their houfes, though they are in no want of other timber, equally fit for this ufe. The river here has been known to freeze fo hard as to carry waggons though nTonOie''- ^ league in breadth, and more rapid than the Rhone. This "^is very furprifing, as the winter in this country is fcarce perceptible, except fome flight frofts, when a North or North Wefl: wind blows. The change of climate is not ve¬ ry quick, on account of the flow navigating here, which in a bark canoe becomes ve¬ ry dangerous, from the great quantities of trees falling from this and the other rivers that run into it, which are often ftopt againfl fome points of land, and thereby inter¬ rupt the courfe of this river. Hence it is that, inftead of canoes, they make ufe of pirogues, that is, hollowed trunks ■ of trees, which, though not fubjeft to thefe inconveniences, are, however, very hea¬ vy, and not eafily managed, and fome of them are fo narrow as to be incapable of a fail; befides, the rowers, accuftoraed to paddle in canoes, are not very dexterous at that exercife. And again, if the wind ever happen, to blow high, which is general¬ ly the cafe in winter, the boat is always in danger of filling with water. The rivet of the Kajkajquias is very fmall. Short fummer country than in Europe, and are much later in bud¬ ding than with us, not beginning to Ihoot till towards the latter end of Map. The caufe is by fome afcribed to the number of trees which lhade the ground, and inter¬ cept the rays of the fun, whence it is long before the earth acquires heat enough tu caufe the fap of plants to circulate, and fprout forth in buds and leaves. Canes. ' Eight leagues lower, on the left, is Cape St Anthony, Here are feen the firfl: canes, which are much like thofe that grow in Europe, only longer and thicker. It is af- ferted by fome, that thefe canes grow only on good land ; but moifture likewife is re¬ quired. and fuch lands are more proper for rice than wheat. They are not at tliu trouble to grub them up when they defign to clear the grounds where they grow, which would be a very difficult talk, becaufe their knotty roots are very long, and fpread to a great diftance. Thefe roots have a fine natural glofs, or varnifli, like the bamboos of Japan, of which thofe fine canes are made which the Dutch fell un¬ der the name of rattans. Clearing When therefore they intend to cultivate a field covered with thefe canes, they cut and manuring them clofe by the root, and leave them to dry; when dried, they fet fire to them, a field. Pgj.yg jfgj. jnanure, and the fire opens the pores of the earth, which is firfl: nightly broken, and then fown with any kind of feed they think proper, fuch as rice, maiz, water-melons, and, in general, all forts of grain or pulfe, except wheat, which in thofe fat lands run, all to ftalk and leaves, producing no feed at all. This defeft might eafily be remedied by fpreading the ground with a good quantity of fund, and fowing maiz on it for the firfl two or three years. As for high grounds, and fuch as are not expofed to the inundations of the river,' ® condition to bear corn ; and if the firfl attempts made to cultivate wheat have failed by blights, it mufl be afcribed to the negledl of clearing the country of the woods, whence the air could not have free accefs to difperfe the fogs which en¬ gender thofe blights. In proof of this may be Ihewn the country of \htEinois, in which being generally meadow land, the wheat fprouts. and ripens as well as in any part of Europe. Seven leagues further, after very dangerous failing, on account of the Cherokeiu Outagmnh, Sioux, and which infefl it, who are enemies to the Erwrei, and othtirer. have never made any peace with that nation, is the fine river Ohio, which may be navigated as far as the countiw of the Iroquois, when the waters are high. This ri¬ ver at its entry into the Mififfipi, is at leafl a quarter of a league broad ; and no place can polfibly be more proper for a fettlement than where thefe rivers meet. A fort here, Charlevoix fays, would effedlually bridle the Cherohees, at prefent the moft populous nation in all this continent. Six ■ of L 0 U I S 1 A N A 143 . Six leagues from the Ohio, on the Eaft, is a very high coaft, which is of a yellow I™" earth, and faid to contain iron mines. It is infeftcd with a kind of wild cats, called tviUcats. Pirns, very like ours in Europe, but larger. They are remarked to have fome of them Sorter, and others much longer and thicker tails. They are alfo of a very fierce appearance, and are faid to be very carnivorous, and excellent hunters. The forefts are full of walnut-trees, fuch as thofe in Canada, the roots of which have feveral proper- Alcdidn.-J ties peculiar to thofe of this country. They are very tender, and the bark of them is ufed for dying black; but their principal virtues are medicinal, as they are good'for Ifopping a flux, and an excellent emetic. "It is to be remarked of the Mijjiffipi, that the farther it runs the more winding it Mijpfflfi grows, and, what is lingular enough, the wind follows the direiSion of all thofe wind-^ inos. They reckon fourfcore leagues from the narrow river of the Chicachas, on the Eaft fide, to the Kajkafquias, though by land the diftance is not aboye one half. The river is divided, from fpace to fpace, by a number of iflands, fome of confiderable bignefs, into many beautiful channels, where the greatefl: fhips may pafs; and it is afiirmed that they find 60 fiithom water, at a hundred and fifty leagues from the fea. The river Margot runs into the Mijpjfipi on the Eaft. A French general comman-* dant, having landed in this river, in his expedition againft the Chicafaws, built a fort on li a\kd JJumption Fort; but it was razed next'year, when a peace with thofe Indi- am v.'is concluded. On the Weft fide the river St Francis enters the Mifftfipi ; here the French, when Port. attVarwith the Natchez, built a fort to ferve for a ftorehoufe to their troops, which were marching againft thofe Indians. As to the forefts of Louijiana, with which this vaft province is almoft entirely covered, there is nothing in nature comparable to them, vyhether we regard the bulk and height of imifima. of the trees, the variety of kinds, or the ufes which may be made of them. For, excepting the dying woods, which grow only in hotter climates, and between the tro¬ pics, we cannot mention any fpecies of timber which this country does not produce, There are woods of cyprefs from eight to ten leagues in extent; and the height and bulk of this fpecies are always in a due proportion, and both exceed the dimenfions of the largeft timber in Europe. It is not long fince the Europeans obferved an evergreen laurel, called the FuUp- tree, from the figure of its flower. This plant rifes to a greater height than our In- " '''* diau chefnut, and is adorned with more beautiful flowers. The Copalm-tree is higher and thicker than the tulip-tree, and diftils a balfam, very little inferior to the Peruvian. All the known fpecies of walnut-trees, and all forts of trees proper pjemy of for carpentry, or joiner’s work, abound every where. But great caution is to be ufed in timber, the choice of timber, not to chufe fuch as grows on the banks of rivers, nor in any place fubjeft to the inundations of the Mijjijipi, fuch timber being not only too heavy, but, from having its roots always in the water, is very fubjedt to rot, and decays prefently. The next place is the firft village of the Akanfas, built in a fmall meadow on the Villages of Weftern banks of the Mijjijjipi- There are three more within the fpace of eight leagues, each inhabited by a particular tribe or canton. There is a village which contains two tribes, but however difpofed, they all go by the general name of Akan- [as. One of thefe tribes is particularly diftingui/hed under the denomination of Oi/ya- fes, or Wiapes. The French Weft India company had fome time ago a warehoufe here, with a clerk, who palfed his time in a difmal folitude. houfe. The river of the Akanfas, which, as is pretended, comes from a very gteat diftance, and at 120 leagues from its mouth is faid to precipitate itfelf from a high chain of mountains, making a fall eighty feet high, which M. Ttumont advifes as a proper and convenient place from which to let out in order to difcover the Weftern ocean, which he fays is but 120 leagues diftant, difcharges itfelf into (he Miftiftpi by two channels, four leagues from each other. This river takes its rife, as is faid, in the country of the Panis, probably the fame with thofe called Panis ricaras. The navigation of the Akanfas is very difficult, becaufe of its frequent falls, and rapid currents, its fmall depth of water, and great number of carrying-places. The Fork of the two branches is feven leagues diftance from the fecond opening, and buttwo from the firft. This is the river to which M. /a was fent to make the difcovery of a rock of emeralds. It receives the waters of a beautiful ftream coming from the country of the Ofages^ called La Riviere Blanche, or White River, Two 144 ' Hijlory of the Dlfiovery and Settlemejit Av/wsnitions Two Icagucs higher are the ‘horimas and Topingas, making between both but one vil, lage. Two leagues above this are the Sothouis, and a little further ftill the Koppas^ a nation very numerous in the time 'of Ferdinand Soto, and even fo late as when M. Laws grant to their village may be feen the fad remains of Law’s Grant which fell to the diare of the company. One hundred and twenty leagues from the French poft is a navigable river which the French have failed up, and where the Sieur de Fillemont, who came hither by the way of the Black River of the Akanfas, had a grant, Colon dif thoufand Germans, raifed in the Palatinate, were deligned to appointed of ^e fent; but, to the great prejudice of the colony, tliefe induftrious peafants never did Pahiines. arrive. There is, perhaps, no country in all Louifiassa, next to that of the Ilimh, more proper .for railing all forts of corn as well as for rearing of cattle, SSifpox^ In 1721 the village of the Wyapes was fallen to utter decay. Some time before a Frenchman palling this way was feized with the fmall-pox, which foon infedled the ftrongell natives, and fpread itfelf through the whole canton. The burying ground had the appearance of a forell of poles and polls newly eredted, according to the Indian manner, and hung with all manner of trinkets. This is alfo reckoned the proper place whence to fet out in fearch of the place marked in De I’JJles maps, as being lituated on the Wellern ocean. Jhnfn! Akanfas pafs for the tallell and handfomeft of all the Fndians of America, and liandfome: are therefore called by way of diftindlion the Handfome Men. For this reafon they are thought to have the faine original with tlie Canfes on the MiJJ'oiiri, and the Pow- tewatamis of Canada. The lirft branch of the river Akanjas feems not above live hundred paces in breadth, and the fecond is much narrower. Pomte Coupee is a high promontory, advancing into the river from the Weil. It has been cut by the river, whence it has obtained this name, and fo is become an illand; but the new channel is not as yet navigable, except when the water is much fwelled, The dillance from hence to the greater branch of the Akanfas is computed at two and twenty leagues, though the diredl courfe be fcarce above ten ; for the Mijfiffipi turns and winds, in an extraordinary manner, between the village of the Wyapes and the river of the Tazou Indians, which is 70 leagues dillance. Taam river. The entry of the Tazotis river lies North Well and South Ball, and is about 20Q feet in breadth. Its waters are red, and, as fome pretend, give the bloody flux; and the air in the neighbourhood is very unwholefome. Three leagues hence is the French fort, which was fome time lince intended to have been tranfported from this place to Mim ^ healthy lituation, in a line meadow, clofe by a village inhabited by a medley Viltiges; Tazous, Coitroas, and Ofogoula Indians, who together may be able to. muller about two hundred warriors. The French are, however, very dillrullful of thofe Indians, on account of their connexions with the Englifi. Six leagues from its mouth, is the Grant of M. le Blanc, who had a fort and garrifon here, dellroyed by the Indians in 1730. A league from this place is an pidian village, and near it an hill, on which are to be feen the remains of an Englijh fort. This river is navigable 45 leagues above its mouth, after which it divides into two branches, and abounds with Crocodiles, crocodiles, from twelve to fifteen feet long. They are never heard to cry but in the night, and their bellowing lb exaXly refembles that of a bull, as to be eafily millaken for it. The French, however, bathe here with as much fecurity as in the Seme at Paris-, and though thofe animals never fail to furround them all the time they continue in the water, they are, however, not in the leall apprehenfive of them, as tlie crocodiles never attempt to molell them while they are in the river, only watching the moment they come out of it to furprife them. The way to fave themlelves, in this cafe, is to beat the water with a Hick, which they never omit to carry with them, and by this means are in perfeft fecurity. The company have what they call a warehoufe d’Attente [that is, an occa- fional one] in this fettlement, as well as in that on the Akanfas j but the fort and ground on which it Hands belonged to a fociety of Fresich gentlemen. It is not eafy to guefs what made them chufe the river of the Tazous lor their Grant, when they had it in their power to fix on a fpot of better land, as well as a more proper lituati- frmfiimpor- on. What probably determined their choice, was the importance of commanding this ment,'' *' ^hich rifes in the Englifh. colony of Carolina, for keeping a bridle on the Ta¬ zous, who are allies of the Cherokees, an Itidian nation under the proteXion of the crown of Great Britain. Below of LOUISIANA. 145 Below the Tazous is a gulfj or whirl-pool, fo dangerous that Father Charlcvoix''^'^'‘k°o^- tells us that, had it not been, for a NatcM Indian, the only perfon with liim who knew any thing of it, he had been certainly loft in it. For, before you can perceive it, you are fo far engaged as to be under an utter impoffibility of extricating yourfelf. This dangerous gulf lies under a high cape on the left, containing, as they fay, good quarries of ftone which, in general, is fcarce enough in Louifmna ; but that defed is amply fupplied by the great conveniency for making brick. The next country is that of tlie Natche Indians, the moll: beautiful, fruitful, and populous of all Loiiifiana, forty leagues diftant from the Tazous, and lituated on the fame fide of the river. The landing-place is oppofite to a high and fteep cliff, at the foot of which runs a ftream navigable for pirogues and fliallops. After this firft height is a fecond tolerably eafy,' and on its top, a fort of redoubt inclofed within palilades, . which, in this country, is called a fort. M. de Iberville, the firft Frenchman who entered the Miffifipi by the fea, failed up as high as the country of the Natchez, and found it fo delightful, and advantageoully lituated, that • he concluded it the fitteft place that could be found for erefting a metropolis of the whole colony. Wherefore he drew the plan of a city, to which he gave the name of Rofalie, after the lady of the chancellor Pont Chaiirain. This projed, how- RopUemme ever, appears not to have been carrieddnto execution, though the name of this city is re- mut tained in moft maps, and particularly by D'Mvilk is called Fort Rofalie. Father Charlevoix, though of opinion that the chief emporium in tlie firft times, of the colony, at leaft, would be more properly feated nearer the fea, yet thinks that in cafe the eolony which he believes likely enough to thrive, Ihould ever arrive at any high de¬ gree of wealth and populoufnefs, this place would be as fit a fpot as any to fupport a capital. It is not fubjed to be overflowed by the river, the air is pure and wholefome, the country cxtenfive, fruitful in all forts of grain, pulfe, and herbage, and, what is of vaft advantage, extremely well watered. Befides, it is at no fuch immenfe diftance from the fea, but that fbips may eafily fail up to it. And laftly, it is within a proper diftance of all thofe places on which the French propofe to fettle, which he feems to think a principal point. The French had here, in 1721, a warehoufe, with a chief fac- tor, who had no great bufinefs on his hands. Amongft the many Grants in this territory, which, at the time now mentioned, were Frimb grants already in a good way, we find two of a large extent, cohfifting of a fquare of four leagues. One of thefe belongs to the people of St Makes, and the other to the com- pany, who have fent labourers hither from Clerac to plant tobacco. Thefe two Grants are lituated fo as to form,' with the fort, an equilateral triangle the fides of which are a league in length j half way between the angles is the great village of the Natchez. The gran¬ ted lands are both watered by a fine river, which difcharges itfelf at two leagues diftance into the Great River j and a noble wood of cyprefs-trees ferves for a fcreen to the company’s plantation. The cultivation of tobacco fucceeded perfeftly well, though moft of the workmen of Clerac are long fince returned to France, The cul-' tivation of indigo and cotton was undertaken much about the fame time. The great village of the Natchez has been long fince reduced to a very fmall num- Wmcapiol her of cabins; and the reafon given for it is, that the great chief has a right to feize at pleafure all the effedts of his fubjeds, who, to avoid his rapine, take the firft opportu¬ nity to defert him ; the revolters forming feveral hamlets, or cantons, at fome diftance from the great village, which, as it is befides the refidence of the court, is refpeded as the capital of the nation. Hhe Sioux Indians, allies to the Natchez mA French, are al- fo fettled in a canton in the neighbourhood. Four leagues from the Natchez is a fmall river, where the MiJJiJjipi makes a circular fiveep of fourteen leagues. Forty leagues farther down is another river, where the boats lie to in the night, and where the noife of the multitudes of fifh tliat gambol in the river is prodigious. Two leagues farther is the river of the Tunicas, which, though but a rill at its mouth, at the diftance of a mulket {hot up the country forms a con- River of 7 »- lidcrable lake. The river of the Itmicas is reprefented by D'Jnvtlle as croffing a neck of land, and, by joining with the MiJJiJJipi, Ihortens the paflageof that river 10 leagues. The village of the Tunicas ftands on the other fide of the lake, on a confiderable e- Village of niinence ; the air is faid to be but indifierently wholefome, which is aferibed to the quality of the water, or, perhaps with more juftice, to the ftagnatiou and putrefadion of the waters P P of . 1^6 Hijlory of the Difcovery and Settlement of the lake. The village itfelf is of a round form, with a large fquare in the mid¬ dle, without walls, ands but indifferently peopled. The chief’s cabin is highly ornamented on the outfide for the refidence of an Indian : There are figures in relief graven upon it, and of more tolerable workmanfhip than one would naturally expeft in fuch a place. The infide is, however, but ill lighted, and without any of thofe cof¬ fers which, as fome travellers tell us, were filled with fluffs and filver. The chief ap- RcMence, pears in a French or European drefs, with an air perfedtly free and unaffedled. 'The (irefs, aiiii’ French officers jn Louifiana place their chief trufl and confidence in this perfonage, vvho is inuch attached to that nation, which, on the other hand, flrives to repay his good fervices with intereft ; a juft piece of policy, and worthy the imitation of all who would do their country any fervice amongft the natives of America. He trafficks alfo with that people, furniffiing them with horfes and poultry, and is faid to have good notions of trade. He has alfo learnt of the Europeans to hoard up money, and pafies for a man of fubftance in that part of the world. The other cabins of this vil¬ lage are partly of a fquare fortn, like that of their chief, and partly round, in imita- tionof thofe of the Natchez-. The fquare on which they are all built is about an hundred paces diameter. Two other villages of the fame nation, at a fmall diftance from this, are all the remains of a nation once very numerous. The Tunicas FniitltBzeal had formerly a miffionary amongft them, of whom they were extremely fond; but of amiffio- Pqj burning their temple, which, however, they have been at no pajns to rebuild, nor have they rekindled their facred ffie ; whence v/e may judge of their zeal for tlieir own, or indeed for any religion. Some time afterwards they recalled their miffionary from his exile 5 but their native indolence got fo much the afeendant over all his preaching, that he was obliged to abandon them in his turn. .4 carrying- At the bottom of the lake of the Tunicas, is a carrying-place of about two leagues, that faves ten leagues of the way by the Great River. Two leagues from the Red and Tunicas is the'i?ro Colorado, or the Red River, formerly called ia Riviere di black rivets. Marne, theOumas, zxA la Riviere Sabloniere, w eXIoiXst River oitht Natchitoches, Alts the Indians inhabiting its banks; but it retains only the name of Red River from the colour of its fands: The French built a fort here in 1745, 36 leagues from the Mijif- fpi. Tile Indians fay that this river runs from a lake, on which they never fail on account of the great fwelling of its waves. From the fame lake proceeds the river Noire, or Black River, which, after a courfe of 120 leagues, difeharges itfelf into the Red Ri. ver. It was hither the Natchez Indians retired in 1730, after having deftroyed all the French in thpii: country. The jRer/river is only navigable for canoes, or pirogues, for forty leagues, afterwards it is nothing but unpaffable moraffes. Its opening appears to be about two hundred pa¬ ces broad. Ten leagues above its mouth it receives on the Weft la Riviere Noire, or the Black River, otherwife'called the River of the Ouatchitas. This flows from the North, and is quite dry for feven months of the year. Though here are feveral grants, yet not one of grants appears in a fair way of thriving, fince their only motive was the neighbourhood of and hopes, the Spaniards, at all times a fatal bait to t\sf French of Louifiana ; for, in hopes of car¬ rying on a trade with that nation, the bell lands are uncleared and uncultivated. The Natchitoches are fettled on the Red River, and the French have thought fit to build a Fort. fort in their country, to prevent, the Spaniards from fettling in the neighbourhood of the colony. m-w-cut Twelve leagues below the. mouth of the Red River is a fecond Fomte Coupee, or New- ifland. ; the Great River makes a large winding in this place. Some Canadians, by'.opening a fmall gut that lay behind a point, let in the waters of the Miftffipi, which pouring through it with great impetuofity finiffied the canal about thirty feet fathom Remark on deep,' by which travellers fave fourteen leagues. The bed of the river is now become the Mijjij/tpi, ejuite dry,, except in time of an inundation; a manifeft proof, that the MiJfiJJipi preffes towards the Eaftern fide in this place; a particular to be carefully remarked by fuch as intend to fe,ttle on the banks of that river. P To the North of this cut, and on the fame fide, is another grant, or fettlement, called dements!' La ConceJJtm deSteReyne, in a very unthriving condition ; and a league South is another, exp.ofed to the fame danger with the preceding. The foil on which this laft ftands is eXcelleht, but the. building, of neceflity, eredled at a quarter, of a league diftance from the river fide, behind a cyprefs wood, the bottom of which is fwampy, though capa¬ ble of producing rice and gardeurftuff. Two leagues within the vyood is a lake two leagues ‘47 of L 0 V 1 S I A N A. 1 leairues in circuit, abounding with wild fowl, and its waters might be made produdlive Lake. I uf plenty of lifli, by deftroying the crocodiles which fwarm in it. I The male cyprefs bears a fort of berry, or knob, which, if gathered green, affords a Medicinal I balfam, which is a fovereign cure for cuts. That which diftils from the copalma, be- bai&ms and iides its other virtues, is alfo faid to cure thc.dropfy. The root of the great cotton- tree, formerly mentioned, and which is to be found the whole way from Lake Onta¬ rio, is an affured remedy for burns and fcalds of all forts. They take the inner pellicle, or bark, and boil it in water, then bath the wound with this water, and af- ' terwards ftrew on it the afhes of the fame pellicle burnt for that purpofe. Three leagues farther is the well fituated grant of M. Diron d'Artaguetie, where are fonoi. tortoifes of a monftrous fize, and fo very ftrong that they are faid to break a thick bar of iron with their paws. This fpot is called the grant of the Baton Rouge, or Grant of ihe Staff. Twelve leagues below are the Bayagotila Indians, the ruins of Whofe village PMiaf are Hill to be feen. About fifty years ago it was very populous, when part of the, in- Inbitants were carried off by the fmall-pox, and the reft fcattered and difperfed by their I fears, and have never been heard of lince, fo that it is much doubted whether there bd I a Angle family of them now in being. The fettlers here have long applied fhem- I felves to the cultivation of filk, and for that purpofe have planted great numbers of I mulberry trees. They have allb cultivated tobacco and indigo, which have long fhri- Culture, i ved wonderfully. i The next place is the little village of the Oumas, fituated on the Eaft fide of the I river, and containing fome French houfes; the great village ftands a quarter of a league \ higher up the country. This nation is allied, and zealoufly affedted to the French. I Two leagues above this the Miffffipi divides into two ftreams, making what is called i a Fork in this country, by working and hollowing out to itfelf on the right, upon i which it continually preffes in thefe,parts, a channel called the Fork of the Chetimachds, \ or Stimachds, which, before it pours its waters into the fea, forms a lake of modefatd i extent. The Chetimacha Indians are now almoft entirely deftroyed, thofe who rerhairt of them ferving as Haves in the French colony. Six leagues below the Oumas is the grant of the Marquis d'Anfenis, moft delight¬ fully fituated, but fince reduced to nothing by fire and fome other fatal accidents. The Cokpiffas had formed a fmall village in this place, which fubfifted no long time. Be- Grcatviitige I low is the great village of that nation, much the pleafanteft and fineft of all Louifa- : na, though it mufters only two hundred warriors, but all of them of undaunted bra- ^ very. Their cabins are in form of a pavilion, like thofe of the Sioux, and they verjf feldom ufe any fire in them. They have double hangings, that "on the infide confift-i i ing of a texture of the leaves of the latanicr, and the outer compofed of matts. The : chiefs cabin is thirty fix feet in diameter, one of the greateft any where to be feen, that of the fun among the Natchez having only thirty. Five leagUfes further is feated the grant called the Burnt Canes, between which and the Colapiffas the ground on which Burnt can« formerly refided the Taenfas nation, which, in M. de la Salle’s time, made a great gure in this country, but has fometime fince entirely difappeared. Next in coiirfe is mehtl the place called the Cbapitou/ds, two leagues from New Orleans, which, as well as fome neighbouring habitations, are in a Very profperous way. The land is fertile, and, and what is more, has fallen into the hands of very iriduftrious perfohs. Ten leagues before the ftream reaches New Orleans is the fettlement of the, Germans, who, after the difgrace of Mr Law, abandoned his plantation at Arkanjas, and obtained leave of the council to fettle in this country. Here, by means of their application and induftry, they have got extremely well cultivated plantations, and are'j„du(i,y of the purveyors of the capital, whither they bring, weekly, cabbages, fallads, fruits,'ii= greens, and pulfe of all forts, as well as vaft quantities of wild-fowl, Lit pork, and ma- ny excellent forts of fiflr. They load their veflels on the Friday evening, towards fun-' fet, ■ and then placing themfelves two together in a pirogue, to be carried down by the current of the river, without ever ufing their oars, arrive early on Saturday morning oiNew Orleans, where they hold their market, whilft the morning lafts, along' tlie banks of the river, felling their commodities for ready money. After tliis is done, and when they have provided themfelves with what neceifaries they want, they embark again on their return, rowing their pirogues up the river againft the ftream, and reach their plantations in the evening with provifionS, or the money arifing from the prodhee of their labours. New 1^8 Hijlory of the Difcovery and Settlement Xr-M Or/tsa . Orleans, the famous metropolis of Louiftana, is the firft city which this king of rivers, the Mlffijlpi, ever beheld upon its banks. The accounts given of the eight hundred fine houfes, in five parilhes, before the year 1722, appear much exag¬ gerated, this place confifting then of about a hundred forry barracks, difpofed with no great regularity, a great wooden warehoufe, and two or three houl'es, which would be efteemed common and ordinary buildings in an European village. There is, however, reafon to believe that New Orleans may in after times become a great and opulent city, if we confider the advantages of its fituation, thirty leagues from the fea, which, according to fome authors, requires no more than a courfe of twenty four hours, on a noble river, in a moll fertile country, under a moll delightful and wholefome climate inhabited by people extremely induftrious, within fifteen days fail of Mexico by fca^ and Hill nearer the Englip, French, and Spanps iflands in the JFeP Indies ; all which are much more than fiifficient to enfure the future wealth, power, and profperity of this city. As the face of this metropolis has been inuch changed fince the time in which the preceding defeription was made, it has been thought proper to fubjoin the follo\vln» firom much later memoirs. Krx Ork::!:! At firll Ncw Orleans confifled of a few inconfiderable houfes, fcattered up and down, L its more without any order or regularity, which had been built by fome travellers, come from modem flete. country of the lUnois. When a refolution therefore was taken by the comman¬ dant in Louijiana in 1720, to build a capital, M. de la Four an engineer was fent, who made choice of this as a proper place, and began with clearing the adjacent lands of the woods, and afterwards, traced the llreets and quarters which were to compofe the new city, advertifing the inhabitants that, upon prefenting a petition to the council, proper fpaces fliould be allotted them for building. Each lot was ten fitthoms in front, by twenty in depth j and, as each quarter contained a fquare of fifty fathoms, Ihould contain twelve lots, whereof the two in the center Ihould have ten fathoms, in front, by twenty five in depth. It was ordered that fuch as Ihould obtain lots, lliould be obliged to inclofe them within palifades, leaving quite round a void fpace of three feet in breadth at lead, below which fliould be dug a ditch for draining off the waters in the feafon of the river’s inundation. Befides thefe leffer drains, or defences, againft the overflowings of the MiJiJJipi, a dike, or bank, of earth, 16 leagues in length, was raifed on both fidcs the river, firom Englipman's creek to ip leagues above the city, and behind that a ditch in the fame manner. The buildings were at firft only of wood, being properly fo many cabins ■, but fince brickworks have been erefted, they are all of thofe mate¬ rials, fo that the governor’s houfe, the church, the barracks, and almofl all the houfes are of brick, or h^ brick and half wood. IB fitmaon New Orleans on the Eaft bank oFtht MiJJiJipi, in 29 deg. 57 min. North lati- ani more re- {mjg . and Js faid to be placed in a fituation much inferior to many others which might have been chofen, on account of its vicinity to the Mobile, the chief fettlement of the colony in its beginnings. Veffels of a thoufand tons may ride here with their fides clofe to the banks at low water. It is only a league hence to the Creek of St John, where perfons palling through die Lake of St Louis embark for the Mo¬ bile. The place of arms is an open fquare towards the river, in the bottom of which Hands the parochial church, dedicated to St Louis, and ferved by the Ca¬ puchins.- On the left of the church is the houfe of thofe monks; on the right is the prifon and guard-room; and the two fides of the fquare are taken up with barracks for the troops. All the ftreets are ftrait, and crofs each other at right angles, dividing the city into forty three iflands, eleven in length along the river fide, and four in depth. The intendant’s houfe is behind the barracks, that of the governor’s Hands adjacent to the place of arms. The new convent of the Urfuline Nuns is at the extremity of the city towards the right, at the corner of Rue de Chartres, next the place of arms. In this city is the council, held commonly on Fhurfdays and Fridays. It is com- pofed of fix counfellors, a procurator or attorney for the king, and an intendant, who ads alfo in quality of commiftary, ordonnateur, or diredor of the works ; there arc befides a regifter and fecretary to the council. Caufes are tried here without advocates, or attorneys, and therefore without any charge, every man being his own council and follicitor. The market Hands on the bank on the left, and a little above tlie intendant’s, and oppofite of L 0 U I S I 4 A. 14.9 oppofite to that fide of the fquare or place of arras, where the raagazines are, is the andioring place, where the fliips lie with their fides clofe to the bank. The, powder magazine is at fome diftance from the city, for fear of accidents. In a word, nothing is wanting to this capital, excepting fortifications. In other refpefts, tliere are a number of fine brick buildings, and many houfes from, four to five ftories. The banks of the river, for fixteen leagues on both fides, are covered with plantati¬ ons not far from each other, each inhabitant raifing a dike to fecure his own dwel¬ ling from the inundation, which happens, as 10 Egypt, regularly every year in the fprhig, when fuch fliips as happen to be at New Orleans take care to fet lail, for fear of being prevented by the vaft quantity of trees that the river carries along with it, wliich would break the ftrongeft cables. New Orleans, in 1720, made a very contemptible figure, being only, as C&ar/rtiw'x sme of AWu tells us, an encampment of two hundred people on the banks of a great river, fent to Or/wmin build a city, and thinking of nothing farther than barely how' to fcreen themfelves from the inclemency of the weather, till a plan Ihould be fettled, by which they would be regulated in building their houfes. There is nothing very remarkable in the neighbourhood of New Orleans : With re- Advanoge- fpcft to the advantages or difadvantages of the fituation of that capital, opinions are di- ousfimation vided. They who maintain the former, alledge the conveniency of its communicati- on with the fea, by means of a fmall river, fome time fince difcovered, about a league Tom the place towards the North Eaft, called le Bayoiic de St Jean, or St John’s creek. This way, fay they, a very fafe trade may be eafily carried on between the metropolis and the Mobile, Biloxi, and the other French ports fituated along the fea.. They moreover obferve that the river makes a great circuit below the city, called the Bnglijlman'% creek, which, by retarding the progrefs of veffels in their way to New Orleans, fecures it effedtually from being furprifed by an enemy. The gentlemen, who are of another opinion, alledge that thefe reafons are rather Objeftions. fpecious than folid. For, in the firft place, fay they, thofe who argue in this man¬ ner admit that the river is only capable of fmall veffels. Now on this; fuppofition, they afk, what need has the capital, if ever fo little fortified, need to fear a furprife, lince it is thus granted that it can be attacked only with fmall craft, utterly incapable of heavy ordnance ? However, fay the fame opponents, let the city be placed where it will, the mouth of the river is, at all events, to be fecured with a fort and good bat¬ teries, which would, at leaft, ferve to give timely notice to the capital to prepare for the reception of the enemy. Secondly, they alk where lie the great advantages of a communication which can only be kept open by means of fliallops, and with, ports which, in cafe of an attack, could not be defended, and whence but feeble affiftance, of no manner of utility, could be drawn in return. To thefe objedtions they add, that when a veffel is going up through Englijhman’s creek, it ftands in need of a change of wind almoll every minute, which is enough to detain it whole weeks in a paffage of no more than feven or eight leagues. A little below New Orleans the land begins to be very low, on both fides the Peninfula river, crofs the country, and gradually declines as it approaches nearer the .fea. This point of land is, to all appearance, of no long date ; for upon digging ever fo little below the furface, you come to the water. Befides, the number of beaches,, or break¬ ers, and iflets formed within the lafl: half century at all the feveral mouths of the ri¬ ver, leaves no room to doubt that this peninfula has been entirely formed in the fame manner. And it is very certain that when M. de la Salle failed down the MiJjiJIipi to the fea, the opening of that river was very different from what it,is at prefent. , The nearer you approach to the fea, the truth of what is here faid becomes more Wands form, vifible. The bars which crofs the moft part of thofe fmall channels, which the ,ri- ver has opened for itfelf, have been multiplied only by means of the trees carried ^ down by the current, one of which, flopped by its roots or branches, in places of lhallow water, vvill retain a thoufand more in the fame place. Charlevoix fays he has feen gatherings of trees, formed in this manner, two hundred leagues from this capi¬ tal, one of which, alone, would have filled all the timber and fuel yards iii Baris. As no human force is, in this cafe, able to remove them, the mud carried. dovvji by -.flie river ferves to bind and cement them together, till, by. degrees, it entirely covers them. Every inundation' leaves a new }ayer, or bed, and, after ten years time, canes Q q . . . '.. ■ 'and tlijlory of -the Difcovery and Settlement and fhtubs begin to grow a-top of them, thus forming points and iflands, which fre. quently oblige the fiver to fliift its bed, and take a rieW courfe. Between New Orleans' and the fea you find no grants, on account of the final! Landun- breadth of land 5 fo that all you fee in this route is only a few private habitations, yyith public warehoufes for fupplying the large grants with necefiaries, ■Behind one of thefe habitations, and immediately below the Engliliman’s cree{ were formerly fettled the Chawacbas, the ruins of whofe village are fiill to be fees, CWtte The Chiefs cabin was not unlike the cottage of fome-Frenc/a peafant, excepting onlj Indians. ' fbat it-had no windows. It was built of branches of trees, the void places between which virere filled with the leaves of the latanier. The roof was conftrufted in the fame manner ; this chief is abfolute, like all thofe of Floruk ; he hunts only fe his pleafure, his fubjedls being obliged to fupply him with game out of what they take for themfelves. The village now Bands on the other fide of the river, and a league lower down, whither the Indians have tranfported even the very bones of thek dead. A little below their new abode the coaft is much higher than any where clfe this Charlevoix’s opinion, is the beft place for building fis s ijfsjfiis. which would then be but twenty leagues from the fea; fo, that with a modens breeze of wind at South Eaft, a ftiip might eafily reach it in fifteen hours. Lower is a other winding ;of the river, called le detour mix Piakiniines, or Piakimine tree Cmi. Soon after gteat care mult be taken in navigating amidft the Channels of the ilf//#, for fear of falling into a wrong channel, in which cafe it is paft all poffibility of ever extri- eating the veffel. Thefe channels, for the molt part, are but fmall llreams, feme of which are only fepdrated by means of the bottom, which rifes in ridges above the fin- face t)f the water, occafioned by the choaking. up of its courfe with mud and tree, the bar of the MiHiJfipi multiplying thofe channels by flopping the vent of the watc, and fo forcing it to break out into new openings, through the foftefl and newefl-form. ed earth near it; and it might happen in time, if great care be not taken to preveat it, that all the paffeS fliould become alike impradicable, at leaft for fliips. Maud of Pppofite to the bar is the IJJand of Plmlouje, formerly called Ife de la Baltfe, (IllatJ ibosshsift. of the fea-mark) from a fea-mark, fome time fince ereded here for the conveniency of fliipping. This illand is about half a league round, including another ifland fep- rated flOm it by means of a channel always wet. It is every where very low land, cs- cpt in one place, which is never covered with the inundation, and comprehends fufficient foOta to contain the fort and magazine. Here fliips may unload, when otlierwife unableio get over' the bar. The bottom is hard, clayey ground, w'ith five or fix fmall fpriej! ilTuing from it, which leave a very fine kind of fait on the furface. When the rivet is 'at the loweft, or during the three hotteft months, the water is fait round this iflani; but in he time of inundation perfedly frefli, and retains this quality a full league oat Waters of the at fea; at Other times it isbrackifli after palling the bar. Hence what we are toll of the Mijfjfpi’s preferving its, waters unmixed with the fea, for twenty leagues, isJ meer fable. Prindpal ■ The following is the ftate of the principal channel of the Mijjilfipi, as examineJ channel, fjy the Pilot Kerlaiiio in 1722. This opening runs North Weft and South Eaft fa the fpace of three hundred fathoms, it is 250 broad, afeending from the fea to llie ifland of Phouloufe, oppofite to which are three fmall iflands, which, though confider- ably elevated above the level of the water, had no herbage. All this way the depth xif the channel in the middle is eighteen feet, on a bottom of foft mud: but fuchas are not acquainted muft always have the lead in their hand. Afeending from hence four hundred fathoms more, in the fame direftion North Weft, there is ftill fifteen ■feet water, and the- fame bottbrn, with good anchorage all the way, and flreltered ] from all winds, except the South and South Eaft, which might caufe the driving of ■the ihips from their anchors when it blows a ftorm; but without danger, fince they e mutt ft'rike on the bar, which is foft mud. Afterwards the courfe is North Weft, one ■ quarter North Eaft, for five hundred fathoms. The river at the bar is 250 fathoms broad between low lands covered with bulhes, and has twelve feet depth; and at half low ■ water great caution muft be taken, becaufe of banks in the way.- Infailingfhrough fhe Eaftern channel, which is 250 fathoms broad; and from 41015 Mem dm- £eep,'they fleer ftfll'Weft for aleague, and then all of a hidden find nobottom. Then en¬ tering the great channel, after leaving the bar, they fail ftill North Weft for the fpace of • tilt:? af L 0 Ur I ^ I A N A. three hundred'fathoms, conftantly in forty five feet water. • On the left, is ■ what the pmcb call the Pafe a Sauvole, by which fliqllops may go to Biloxi, fleering their, courfe Northwards. This channel takes its nanie from an officer, left by M. as commandant in the colony, when he returned to France, ■ ‘ ' Then turning Weflward.one quarter North Wefl, for fifty fathoms, and on the left hand, is a bay, at the end of which are three channels, one on the Sijuth Eaft, another on the South, and a third on the Weft South Weft quarter. This bay has no iqore than ten fathoms in breadth, and one in diameter ; and all thefe channels have, very little water. Following the fame courfe, fifty fathoms further, lies another bay, which is twenty paces in diameter, and fifty in depth within land. It contains two fmall channels, though they are hardly reckoned in that number, fince a canoe of bark can fcarce make its way through them. From hence, you fleer Weftward five hundred fathoms, to the PaJ[e a Loutrc, or 0/-, ter Channel. This is on the right hand, and runs towards the South Eaft. It is five hun., dred fathoms broad, but is only capable of receiving pirogues. Afterwards youf.iil South Weft twenty fatlioms, and then ftanding Weftward three hundred, after that Wefl one quarter North Wefl, for a hundred more; again as much Weft North Weft, .then North Weft eight hundred, to the Pap au Sud, or the Southern Pajs, two hundred and fifty fathoms in breadth, which has nine fathoms water at its entry intq the MiM'pi, and only two feet where it falls into the fea. Two hundred and fifty fathoms .farther! is the Paje au Sud Ouejl, or South Weft pafs, of the fame breadth nearly, and never lefs than from feven to eight feet water. Near the entrance of the river, and on the Fall of the Southern paflage, are the a eh iflands called yies de Chandcleur, on, which, are fouqd va'ft,,quantities of eggs of .^11 iilaSJ manner of fea fowl. It is believed that between thefe iiiapds and the land there is a paffage for flrips of the greateft burthen, and that it would be no difficult matter to make an excellent port here. The paflage is .bounded on the left by a feries of fmall lakes, fituated towards the extremity ol^ that of the Cheiitnacbas, and on the right, as above, by the Ifies de Ghandeleur, or Cnndlemas IJlands. Earge barks may go up as high as the lake of the Chetiinachas, where they .may freely cut fine oaks, with which all this coaft is covered. Near this gut the lands begin to’be lefs marfhy, though they are drowned four months in the year. All along the baijks of the river, thus far you fee ■ nothing but fand and canes. It is alfo remarkahle that, for the fpace of eleven leagues Tworcmaik- •• up the river, the banks are fo. bare and naked as to produce hut two trees, both on able trees, the Eaft fide, and at a league diftance from each other : The one is called I'ar'kre a huteille, or the bottle tree, from a. bottle- hpug on it when firft difcovered by ffiie French, and inclofing. a letter from fome perfon informing his fellow'travellers which way he had gone. The fecond is called laPmce d Picard, or Picard’s gallowf, and owes this ill omened appellation to a faying pf pne Picard, who, palling by this tree in a pirogue, faid, if ever it were his. fortune; to bo hanged, he wiftied it might be either on this tree, or at.leaft on fuch another. Here too the banks begin to be covered with lofty trees, and. thofe in fuch numbers, and fo thick, as to becalm the ftiips that pafs, fo that they are often obliged to warp tlieir way with tlie windlafs from point to point; whence it fometimes happens that they take up two months time to make the nineteen leagues hence to the capital. Were it not for this difficulty, fiiips might-with eafe fail up the above five' hundred leagues; and this might be removed.by.clearing its banks of the wood.. Some have been of opinion that the beft way would be to ’fliut up all the'paf-R,d„f,i„„,f fes except the principal one, .by conveying the trees whiph are 'continually floating the hWa from above into the offier channels. The advantage arifiiig from. this improvement would, in the firft place, be this; that, by - rendering the river inacceffible even to fniall vell'ds and canoes themfelves, the colony, would be almoft effea.ually 'fecureq. from any furprife. The; fecond is,, that all the waters of .ffie Mipjjipi, -having beep thus conveyed into one and the only remaining chmSel, .would naturally/ and’of themlplves, by-degrees, hollow its bed, and poffibly,. in time, remove ffie bar itfclf; ‘ What has adlually happened in regard to the two PointeiCoupet^ already taken notice pf, renders this notion far from, being unreafonable. All that would ftten remain to be dope, would be to keep the channel clear of . any cmbar.raCments from floating trpes’a ,matter of no inlurmountable difficulty. As to the breadth of the river between.-ffie pafles, iffiat .is, for four leagues, .diflanpe Different from the ifland of the Phoidoufe to the South Weft pafs, it never exceeds fifty fathoms, bitadth of ~ ^ ^ t«t M.MW- 1^2 Hijlory of -the- D'ifcovery ~ and Settletnent But juft above this pafs the Mijpjfipi recovers infenfibly, and by flow degrees, its or. dinary breadth, which is never under a mile, and feldom above two miles. Its depth in- creafes in like manner, from the bar upwards, contrary to what is in other rivers, which generally have their greateft depth meareft the fea. Plantation It appears that the plantations would be better placed, at leaft a quarter, if not half a diftant from league from the banks, than clofe by the river, from the inconveniences of living on which is always moift, and where with ever fo little digging you come prefent- ly to water, and confequently can have neither cellar nor vault. Perhaps too it might be no fmall benefit to remove farther off, and leave the intermediate grounds and fettlements free to the inundations, which might poflibly contribute much to their improvement. The mud, which remains after the waters are fallen, renews and fat- tens the foil, part qf which might be employed in pafture, and on the other might ■, be fown rice, pulfe, and, in general, fuch plants as profper beft in fat, moift lands. The banks of the Miffijftpi might be made to produce, from its gardens, meadow and pafture ground, not only a ftock of prdvifions fufficient to fupport the inhabitants, but might fiirnilh articles in commerce proper for the iflands and neighbouring colonies. Thofe who have failed down this river, and gone on Ihore twice or three times every day, fay that almoft every where at the fmalleft diftance from the banks are rifing grounds, where houfes and other buildings may be erefted on folid and durable foundations, and where wheat would grow very well, provided the timber was felled, and ■ by that means the • grounds left open to the falutary effe'dts of the free circulation of the air. Narigation As to the navigatipn of the river, this will always continue to be attended with,diffi. of th•ej|^ij^-Culty in its afcenfion, on account of the ftrength of the current, which even-obliges perfons to be very careful when defcending, as it often carries them upon the points which projeft into the river, and upon the breakers or beachesl Hence, to navigate with fafety, they will be under Ae neceffity of ufing fuch veffels as are proper for failing and rowing at the fame time. Befides, as it is impoffible to purfue Aeir way in the night, when dark weather, Aefe voyages mUft confequently be always very tedious and expenfive, at leaft till fuch time as the banks of Ae river become better and more clofe- ly peopled through its whole courfe, Aat is, from the river llinois to Ae fea. ^rfna The coaft of Louijiana is bounded, according to iht French writers, on Ae Weft by St Bernard's Bay, where M. de k Salle landed, imagining it to be Ae mouA of the Mijpjjipi. Into this Bay falls a fmall river, with feveral others, as into.Bay; the inhabitants of the colony fcarce ever vifit this coaft.- -Towards the Eaft Ae coaft ShptnSJii. is, by Ae fame writers, faid-tobe bounded by Rio Pei-dido, corruptly termed, by the Frinch, Riviere aux Perdrix, or Partridge River. The Spattiards call it Rio Perdiii, or, the River -which lojes itfelf, from its running under ground, and afterwards emer¬ ging, and continuing its courfe till it falls into Ae fea, a fmall diftance Eaftward Mchik from the Mobile, where Ae French of this colony had their firft fettlement. The coaft, the Ifland of Fhouloufe to the IJle aux FaiJJeaux, oppofite to Biloxi, is fo very ifles that merchants dare not approach nearer than four, and barks than two leagues of i-iiamVaif- Ae Aote; and even Aefe latter muft keep at a greater diftance when Ae wind is North /f‘«w- Qr North Weft, or, elfe they will run aground, as it fometimes happens- The road lies along Ae Aore iof the Ifland aux Vaijjeaux, extending a Aort league from Eaft to Weft, and very narrow. f tDmphim Eaft from-this ill-^nd is IJle Dauphine, formerly Majfacre IJland, fo called from the fcribed. great quantity of human bones found in it on its firft difcovery, where the French had their firft fettlement in theie parts. Its lengthfrom Eaft to Weft is about 17 leagues, and its breadth from North to South one large league. It is conftantly expofed to the burning heat of the fun, and the foil fo barren as to be fcarce produdtive of fallads and other greens. The foil confifts of little more than fand, which near the fea is fo white and glittering, that when the rays of the’fun fall diredlly upon it, Ae eye cannot be¬ hold it without great-pain j and feme have been obliged to leave it on account of this inconvenience, which endangered Aeir fight/. Though this ifland be entirely furrounded by Ae fea, it has Ais very great advantage, that by digging in the fand,.. at a very fmall diftance from the Aore, you meet with the greateft plenty of the fineft freA water. The/ anchoring place is at two leagues diftance'from Ae-ifland, becaufe .of-Ae fand banks. The feas about it abound wiA ftore of excellent-fiA. ,, With refpedt to trees, the moft cornmon are, ,Ae pine and Ae firr, with feme (hrubs, and great quantities of a plant, which bears a fruit called Pomnits de rdtpueitei [Racket Apples] which is a fovcrcign. re- S3 of L 0 U I S - IAN A. medy againft the dyfentery and bloody flux. Sun-burns are nlfo extremely frequent in (Ills ill.md. Here was anciently a commodioas harbour, but deflroyed by having its entry choalted with fund in two hour’s time by a hurricane. To the VVelhvard ot IJle aux Vaifaux lie I'IJlc de Chats, or Cat-If.and, otherwife Cto 2 kn-cilL’ Ijl nd, if.ss de la Chandekur, or Crjidleinnfs IJl.mls, and to the Eafl: are I'lfe d ^ : or Hsmed IJl.w.d, and the ]Jle Dauphine. On tlie cjutineot oppolite to the If.e au-x Vaipp'cmtx arc tire Old and Ne’iO Biloxi, two oWani places rematlcable for their having been fucceflivcly the cliief fettlements of tlie Fn’)ich^'‘'-'-'- after their abandoning the IJle DiWphinc, and fo called from an Indian nation anciently redding in this place, and fince removed higher up the country towards tlie NorthWefl:,- , on the banics of a little river called la rhiere de Pci'les, or Pearl river, from the great ‘'‘'’cr. quantity of pearls, of an ordinary quality, found in it. The fituation of the NavBiloxi is fo New nihxi bad that a woric could nut have been lound, both an account of the diliiculty of its being approached by the (hipping, for reafons already mentioned, and bccaufe the road has two greatinconvaiiiencies, viz. the extreme badnefs of the anchorage, and the fwarmsof worms which dedroy the fhipping, its foie ufe being to (lielter (liips from the violence of hur- ric.;nes in cafe of their Handing in fur tlie mouths of the Mididipi when they want water- inj, it being dangerous, on account of tlie flatnefs of tlie coaft, to appro.ich it other- wii'e. It is no better in relpect of its Jitu iliuii with regard to the iaiiJ ; the foil conlifts i only of land, and produces nothing but pines and cedars, and the cafline, otherwdfe called Calilne plant, tilt /Ipalachine p’aiit, wliich fpriiigs up every where in greit abundance. The heats are . here prodigious in the funimers, efpecially a. ter the f.in has fet the finds on fire, if Imay.md latitude. , is rermitt.d fo to fpeak. And we are aliured that were it nut Lr the fea breezes, v.'iii.h arife regularly every day between nine and ten in the morning, this part would k .ibU.'lutely uninhabitable. N.id Biloxi ftaiids in thirty degrees fif ecu minutes North hiiiude, as the mouth of tlie ALJil/ipidots in twenty nine. The cold here in Feiruaiy is pretty (li.irp, when the wind comes from the North or North Weft, but iafts no long time, , aid iseven fonietim.s followed with confiderable heats, ftorms, and thunder, fo that in ; ih; morning you are in the winter,'andin the afternoon in the I’umnier fcafons, withinter- ■: wis of tbriug and autumn. The breeze comes regularly always from the Eaft, aiid when : it proceeds irom the Nortli it is only the refle.xiun of the wind, and is lefs refreftiing,' ■' hit always welcome, as without wind here is no breathing at all. ! Coafting along this Ihore, the profpecl is alw.iys agreeable to the eye, but coming near Sandy crun- it the feene is quite changed ; the whole is a fandy bottom as at Biloxi, and nothing but try- ' gloomy w'oods are to be found. : Thirteen or fourteen leagues E'aftward from Biloxi is the Mobile, on Maubik, called i by the Natives and Engh'lh Cbicafaiv river running from North to South, one of the : principal rivers of Loailiana, on account of tlie French fettisments on it, and falling into i the fea oppofite to IJlc Daulhine. Tiiis river takes its rife in 3 ftreams at the foot of a chain of niouiitains in the country of the Cbicajlnm, and after a courfe of a hundred ; and thirty, or, as others fry, three hundred leagues falls into a bay of the fame name, i at the dilhnce of four fcore leagues by fea from that of the Mlljiljipi, at the Weftern entrance of the river is lituated le Fort Conde de la Mobile, buiit of brick witli four kftions, befides half moons, a good ditch, cover’d ways and glacis, in the method of Veiiban-, witli a magazine andcazeriis for the foldiers of the garrifin, which is always Wry luim.-n us. Twelve leagues to the North on the fame fide of the river. Is the I'mch Fort ozWtd Fort Louis de la Mobile, built in 1702, and deferted in 1711. The bed f the Mobile is very narrow', and winding, and at the fame time very rapid, but is Jiavig hie ijrdy for piragnes wdien the waters are low. The French fort on this river ivi-for a l-.ing time the chief fettlement of the whole colony. It is moll valued on - account ot its ferving to keep in awe the Chaliavos, a numerous nation, forming a good barrier to the French agaiiift tlie Chicafaw, and otlier Indian nations, in the province Ccrohna. .Srmis fay that a ftone quaiTV lias been difeovered near this place, which rosy be made of great fervice. 'i he foil near this river is faid to be extremely banen, hut tlie interiour parts, and fnch as are at a greater diftuice from it, are tolera¬ bly fertile. A hundred and forty lea.jues higher is the Fort of Tcmbxhe, buiit in 1735, lo lerve as a communicuion in the war with the Chicafaws. Tombeche is a kind pf mnuntain, confiding of a white, loft ftone, and is the canton w'hich mod: abounds "1 cedars ot the wliole province; the earth here is ailb very proper for potters work. About (isty Itag’ics from the mouth of the Mobile it receives on the left the waters ot the river Allb.vno'.is, on which, at tlie diftance of fi.vty le.igncs from its opening, Hijlory of the Difco'Very and Setilemefit in the Country of the Creek Indians jn South Carolina the French have built ftr; loulotife. This canton is faid to be one of the iineft countries in the whole world. The foil on the coaft, from Rio Perdido as far as St Louis Bay , is a vcrj ' fine fand, as white as fnow, and produces pines, cedars, and fome green oaks. Tfe river Mobile, whofe bed is of a fine fand is far from being equal in plenty of |, An unfertile fource to the fea are equally unfertile, bcin, fcil. nothing but gravel, with a fmall mixture of earth; and, though not abfolutely lil ren, its produdfions differ extremely from that of fuch lands as lie contiguous to tot great river. This country is in fome parts mountainous, though it. is not certainlj known whether they have any quarries of Hone fit for building. The lands are font, what better about the river of Alibamous. Camraunica- The lands and water of the Mobile are extremely unfertile, not only in plaotj T^nn^s to'^' fifhes, but, as the quality of both thefe contributes much to the decrfaf. women. of animals, the fame effedl happens with refpedt to the Inhabitants, many of it. women having become barren on their fettling in thefe parts; as, on the contrarf, they have recovered on removing to the banks of the Mijiffipi, The intcrii* parts of this country rauft be exempted from this quality common to many parts ntai the fea. Natural History of LOUISIANA. Introduflion. 'T' O ftudy can be.more pleafing than that of Natural Hiftory, every advia I therein difpofes the mind to adore the Almighty providence, whole pana, 1 the more immediately it is examined, appears ftill more wonderfuhnl ' beneficent: every new difcovery is a frefh gratification to the curious iniji rer, and its ufes are manifeft both in commerce and medicine. Louifmna, it mud It confefled, affords a large field for the purfuit of this fcience, which has been the oljiS of our careful attention, taking du Pratz, for our principal guide baiting with hints the molt remarkable places, though without ftaying too long at one ftage, or ing the time in ncedlefs excurfions, or too circumftantial defcriptions. SeautSul The Inland country of Louifsana affords as great a variety of beautiful landlkips, ti country. jjjg imagination can form; the fields are diverfified with the fweeteft flowers, and til Hopes conveniently covered with woods, where the beafts find a fore Ihelter from tii dews which fall here very heavily. Herds of -As you advance the country becomes pleafanter and more fertile. Game abounii beeves. on every hand, and it is not uncommon to meet with five or fix hundred beeves fcci ing in a herd. When you fire upon one, the refl: runaway; but if the creatures whom the hunter aimed, is not difabled, he turns with infinite fury upon his affailatt. Dter, roe- Deer are every where feen in numbers, and large roe-bucks, which fometimes marcb bucis.. under the diredion of a white one of their own fpecies, whom they all feera to rt- Natural, fpeft, treading exadly in his fteps, and none prefuming to advance before him. yifSigib’ds. woods are many forts of fong-birds, that delight the ear, nor is their conceit diffurbed by the hawk, or any other bird of prey. In travelling, if a man chances to be necelfitated to pitch his tent near a large lake or river, he is not to expeft mucli reft; for the fereaming of the flamingos, the cranes, herons, wild geefe, ducks, aid Water-fowl, other water fowls are fore to keep him waking. mints mi mi- Here are mines of gold, filver, copper and lead, with good coals, and water near at mrait, hand to render the working them cheap. In fome places they find rocks of hard crj- ftal, marble, a fubftance refembling porphyry, fait, falt-petre, and fometimes (tone | fit for building. But thefe laft are in many parts fo fcarce as not to be found in a fpace of too leagues. (Inin mi European grains and pulfe thrive here very well. They have alfo various forts of maiz, and what we call Turkey corn, which is natural to this country, fhoots up a ftalk 7 or 8 feet high, with 6 or 7 beards, each perhaps 2 inches in diameter, and containing 6 or 700 grains. This grain flourilhes bell in a light, loofe foil, is good nourifhnient 155 of LOUISIANA. pounfhment both for men and beafts, and efpeclally fattening to fowl. They have beans of diflerent colours, as red, black, &c. called the forty days bean, as it runs up in that time, and is good food, and the apalachene bean, which is delicate eatisg, but rather infipid, if not vrell drcffed. The latter was either brought from Guinea, or from the PjJgHfh at Carolina. The ftalk creeps the length of 4 or 5 feet on theground, and the leaf refembles that of ivy. Their pompions are of two forts, one of which is round, and but little regarded; Pompion. the other has a firm pulp with few feeds: and being cut in form of a pear, or of any other fruit, is laid by to keep in jarrs, covered with fugar, of which it requires but little, being naturally fweet and plealant; it is alfo ufed to give a relifh to fricaffeeS, foups, and fauces. Melons of every fort are found in Loufiana, but all much better Melons. I (ban tbofe of Europe of the fame fpecies. The water melon is here particularly fine, I ttanfcending that of Africa, and is perhaps the moft delicious in the world. It I fometimes weighs jolb. is very light and refrelhing, melts in the mouth like fnow, i and may be given without any danger to the lick. The feed is flat and oval, fome- !■ times black, fometimes red; but the former produces the beft fruit, if Town in a light 1 foil, which is the moft proper, otherwife it degenerates, and the melon it produces, ^ contains a reddifh kind of feed. They have alfo fine potatoes, from which the 4 French diftil a ftrong fpirit, fo that they afford both meat and drink. Vines are here fo plenty that a man cannot go too yards from the coaft for 500 Vines. •' leagues to the North, without meeting with a vine circling round a tree j but fo i lliaded from the heat of the fun that the grapes feldom attain any degree of ripenefs. But with proper management our author thinks good wine might be made of themi ) and betakes notice ofa vine here bearing two crops of fruit within the fealon. Among i them he thinks he found the currant, the Burgundy, and the Mufcadillo grape. Here is Afort of f a fort of medlar, called by the French Placminier, or Piacminier, the flower of Which breadf' f is white j compofed of y petals. The fruit is rather fweeter and more delicate than the ! medlar, which it otherwife refembles, being however as large as an hen’s egg. , The I natives make it up in cakes, a foot and half long, a foot broad, and an inch high, carefully Ifeparating from them the fldn and feed, and dry them in the fun or with a gentle |heat, 'the former is the better way of preparation, as it preferves the flavour. The IFrmchbMY this cake, which is good againft the dyfentery and gripes after a proper Icathartic. But in this cafe it muft be taken not at random, hut medicinally, being of Ian aflringent nature,, and the fruit of which it is made Ihoold be gathered ripe. I Here is a pleafant violet plum, which in a garden might be made tributary to the Plum. I table’s elegance; and another of a bright cherry colour, ftnall, but too four to be I eaten. It is common to meet with a fmall cherry, which communicates a pleafant (rclilh to brandy, and may perhaps be the fame with what is ufed for that purpofe in j England, and diftinguiflied by the name of mazarine. The bluet is a ftirub producing flirub. 1 a blue, fweet fruit, like a goofeberry, which agrees well with brandy, and is faid I to have fome good phyfical qualities. I The black mulberry is not found in Louifiana, but they have the red, and two forts Mulberries, r of white, one of which is very fweet and palatable. The firft of thefe makes good '.vinegar, provided it be kept in a fliady place, and clofe flopped. As the mulberry is ’extremely common, the manufidture of filk might be eafily introduced, the leaf ! being the nourilhmeat of the filk-worm. ‘ The olive here is a fine tree growing often to the height of 30 feet, yielding pa-Olives, datable fruit, and excellent oil. Among other kinds of walnuts, this country pro-Walnuts. ; duces one as big as a large egg, which is pleafant enough, but the fhell fo hard, that jtbe getting at it is fcarcely worth the pains. The natives bruife the nut, and then . ; throwing it into water continue ftirring it, till the fkin and oil being quite feparated from the pulp, the two former fwim upon the furface, and of the latter, which finks to the bottom, they make a cake. There is a fmaller nut of this kind, fo very bitter, Smaller Sort, that none will meddle with it but the perroquet, to whom it feems a flioft delicious morfel; if we can judge, by his adlivity and noife, whild upon the tree. This nut is hnaller than ours, and the (hell is foft. Of the bark, which is white, and clofe grain¬ 'd, the natives make a fort of fpade to ufe in the fields. Hazel-nuts require a lefs Hazle-nut. fertile foil, and therefore are not here in great plenty. The copalm is very common, and the balm which diftils from it has an infinity of Copaim. good qualities. The bark of this tree is black and hard; its timber too foft for any ffe; befides, it always runs into fplinters, fo that there is no working of it. A fmall quantity 15 ^ Hiftory of the Dfcovery and Etttlement quantity of it thrown- on the fire yields a moft charming odour, but thierc tvoiild be i,., bearing much of it without fuffbcation ; its leaf is a pentagon pointed like a flar. Tpe Vi; rues of its balm of this tree is -a wonderful friend to human nature; the quantity of .0 or u drops taken in a dilh of tea is a febrifuge. It cures a green wound in two day., 3,|j is equally efficacious in all forts of ulcers, provided the fore be .firll nreparej l.y j plaifter of bruifed ground-ivy. It cures confumptions, removes obftrudtioi.s, rtlmt; the cholic, and all diforders of the bowels, and cheers the heart. Cularndand The red and white cedar, according to our author, are both incorruptible, fo foft thit they are eafily wrought, and their odour, which is exquifite, is Efficiently ftrnnoio deliroy infedls. Thecyprefs ranks, next to the cedar in value, and is by fnme held abo;.. corruption. This is certain that neither one nor yet 2 centuries will corrupt it; was obferved from one found 20 feet under ground at iVfto Orleans, which tho' barie-J 200 years, was yet not in the Icaft impaired. Out of the trunk of one of thefe trees, it is ufed to hollow a canoe of not more than an inch in thicknefs, which fliall carry 1 or 4000 weight. The branches of the cyprefs are few, the leaves fmail and flsnder, and iw-tUuH-- wsod of a beautiful reddifli colour, foft, light, yielding and compaft. trii. The laurel-tulip, which is entirely unknown in Europe, grows to the height and thicknefs of a common wall-nut, the top of it is round, and fo framed as to be inicea:. trable both to fun and rain. It’s leaves are pretty thick about ’ inches broad and 4 long: the upper part of a fine fea-green, the under white. 1 he bark is tough, a»i of a dark-brown ; the wood foft, white and flexile. It takes it’s name from a hrje white flower, that adorns it in the fpring, and has a fine effedl at a diftancc. The faihn flower is fucceeded by a fruit refembling the pine apple; and it’s grain changes to br-gl red, at the firft; return of the cold feafon. The parroquets, are fond of it, as it is veq bitter, and fome efteem it a febrifuge. Saflafras, well known among the faculty, is a large, thick tree with a coath, chapped bark, and a cinnamon-colour wood, which is .eafily worked and has a pkia fmell, particularly when burning. But it muft be affifted by fome other wood iaiis conflagration; for as foon as the auxiliary fuel fails, it goes cut, as if water had ken call upon it. Maph and . far to the Northward the maple grows upon the high lands, and yields a fyrup IfJ ■uax-im. jjg gjj excellent ftomachic. The wax-tree muft be efpecially ufeful in this ccmtij where the bees are obliged to depofit the fruits of their labours under ground, to pro- tedl them from the bears, their great enemy. At firft fight the bark leaf, and lieiptt Ji'j/iuii. of this tree will impofe it on you for the laurel. But the leaf is lefs briglit and not fa thick. Its fruit comes in clufters and produces a tail about 2 inches long, tu which h;.n;i a fmall almond, inclofed in a nut covered with wax. This wax is of two for!;, 1 yellowifti white, and a green; of which the former bears more than double th.e price 0! the latter. It is gathered by throwing the nut into boiling water, whereby the wK is totally feparated from the Ikin, fwims at top, and is eafily fkimmed oft', and madei.w cakes for ufe. This tree is not delicate in its fituation, it grows as well in the deep fins of the wood, as in open fun-fliine, in a dry as a warm foil, and is equally cominoaia New Orleans as in fome parts of Canada, where'the weather is as cold as in Da:- mark. This wax bleaches quickly and well, and makes as folid and as good c.;!ilcs as any in Europe. aiiin-im. The cotton tree of this climate has but little title to that name ; it has a pentaponsl leaf, and a fruit about as large as a nut containing its feed. The wood is yellow, foli|l . hardilh, and ufeful to joiners. The bark is fine and compadl; that of it’s root will ftain red, and is fovereign in cuts. Aach. The inhabitants look upon the wood of the Jeada to be perennial. Of it they nn'te their bows, a ufe for which it is very proper, on account of it’s toughnefs; and itlcrfcs Oaks. the French in.houfe building. The black oak takes it’s name from the colour ofii> bark. The wood is hard, of a deep red, and may perhaps be hereafter found iikf”' in dying; this our author infers from it’s communicating a red colour to Inch rain ai falls upon it. Befides the black, they have red,white and green oaks, and the laft has been found as good in workmanfliip as any other. , Other fort of You find alfo good elm, beech, elder, willow, &c. of which they make v.'hsti'j which there is no neceffity of binding with iron in a country where is neither gr.;«' nor ftones, and where you may travel fome hundred of leagues without tiieeting witli any. We Ihould have remarked that the gardens are not deflitute of lemons, orang‘-b citrons, and peaches. , of L 0 U I S 1 A N A. 157 The ayac-vvcod is a llirub with a leaf refembling the laurel, but yielding a much Ayac-wooJ. ]£(s pleafng fmell;a yellowifli water, which the natives ufe in colouring their fkins. b IS of a glutinous quality, and rtiight grow to fome height, did they not take care to curb its growth by lopping. The leaf of the raachoueti, or vinegar-tree, refenible? the beech, and mixed by the iiadv.-S with their tobacco for fmoaking, as it takes off* fome of its acrimony, it has an : afttingent quality. The leaf of the apalachine taken as tea is a Itomachic, and the ApaUdum. ; natives by boiling it procure an intoxicating fpirit, of which they arc very fond. It i prows generally to the height of 15 feet, has a fmooth bark, a dole wood, and bears a ; [i.jj on which black-birds like to feed. I Love-wood [hois d’Amourette) grows 10 or 12 feet high, and of a moderate bulk. ! It is fenced with fliort, thick prickles, which are eafily removed, and contains a pith i like that of elder, whofe leaf it alfo refembles. This Ihrub has 2 barks, the exterior of : a dulky hue, the interior of a very pale red. The bignefs of a pea ftripped from the Liter and chewed, gives eafe in the toothach. : The natives hold in high eftimation a flirub called the pafilon-thorn, which is co- Paffian-thorn vtred from the root to the branches all round with prickles fliaped like a crofs, fo that ■ one mull be cautious in touching it. Du Pratz knows nothing of its virtues, and here . he clofcs his account of the arborific produdions of Louijlana, with obferving that th'j’ he has deferibed every thing that came to his knowledge, yet lie has not fo much I of the traveller about him as to go'farther. He takes notice however, in this chapt. ■ of a kind of agaric, or champignon, that grows under the w.all-nut tree, particularly Agauc. : when fallen, which the inhabiiants, who are very choice in their food, gather carefully, ■ and having boiled in water, mix with their gruel. It is delicate, a little infipid, but cafdymade relifhing. There is another excrefcence called Spanifi beard, found flicking to the branches : trees near the fides of lakes and rivers. It is of a greyilh colour, but when dried, the ^ : enter fkin falls off, and difeovers a flcain of long, black threads, as flrong as horfe- ; kir. This excrefcence may be ufed in flufling quilts, couches &c. The French on ! their firfl coming found it a good ingredient in their mud for building. It is faid to be : incorruptible, and derives its name from the refemblance the natives found betv.'een it, , and the beards of the Spaniards, who were the firfl Europeans they faw. Among the variety'of creeping plants, which the richnefs of the foil renders very common, the barbed creeper is not the leafl remarkable in that it has fucH a liking to per. tk copalm, or balm-tree, that it will pafs by any other to attach itfelf to this. It de¬ rives its name from being covered with an hairy excrefcence, about an inch long, hooked at the end, and no thicker than a herfe-hair. A decoeftion of this creeper is a certain cure for a fever, and tho’ bitter, if excels quinquina in as much as it fortifies the ftomach, whereas the latter is accufed of having a contrary effedl. This country yields as good farfaparilla as any in the world, and here is a fhrub very like it, bearing a finall nut, fmooth on one fide, and rough on the other, like the cowrie ‘■ Ihells that pafs as money on the Guinea coafl. Our author is filent as to it’s pro¬ perties, which he hints to be fomething myflerious, faying, ‘ the ufe of thefe nuts ‘ is too well known to the women and girls of Louifiana, who have recourfe to them ' oftener than they fliould. Reader! make thine own inference. L’ef.juine is a kind of thorny bramble, found among canes, wdth a fliining, hard flalk, and a fpungy, root. It is a famous fudorific; and a conflant waflfing of the head 'vith a ftrong decodion of it, contributes fo much to the growth of hair, that it will bring it down 10 tlie ancle. Of canes or Reeds here are 2 forts. What is found in marflay places the natives work into mats, fieves, hats, bafltets, and various other kinds of things. The produce of the dry grounds is not fo l-irge, but fo very hard that, before the coming of the fmcb, the natives ufed thern in cutting their viduals. At the end of a certain number (if years thefe canes, having attained full maturity, produce a crop of grain, every way ™gcr than oats, which the inhabitants carefully gather, and make into bread. The Heed then dies, and it is^a good while before another fprings up in it’s place. _ ^ The Plat de Eois, the Wooden Platter, is highly efteemed by the native phyficians for Its fudorific effedls. It bears, upon a ftrong ftalk 16 or 17 inches high, a cinnamon coloured leaf, about 2 inches long, and one broad, with a bloflbm like broom, it’s feed lies within a fort of crowned calix cup. L'kerbe 1-8 Hifiory of the Difcovery and Settlement R.iirli;-r:.a!.e. LUi/rle a fcrpent a corncttes, the rattle-fnake-root, called in the language ofil,, country OtJla coutilogouiUe, grews about 3 feet high, and bears a purple flower \vi;l,! petals, about an inch-broad, and formed like a cup. This flovvc'r, falling off whtj ripe, fliews a fort of nut, divided into 4 feparate apartments, each containing a fojH black feed. If you fhake this nut it founds exaftiy like a rattle-fnakc, as if naiuij thus wifely gave it voice to proclaim it’s virtue; it is an abfolute remedyagainfl thefej of that dangerous reptile, by applying it chewed to the injured part ; for in 5 or j CmmJ-ky, hour’s it entirely draws out the venom. A plaiftcr of the ground-ivy of Lottifiana bij hr I'm clo.^'e to the flcull gives prefent eafe in the headach; and our author cured a Iriend, ijj hadach. minutes, of a megrin, by making him fnufl:' up falts extrafied from this herb. Achetcciiy. The achetchy is a very valuable plant, found generally in tlie fliade of the forclb and growing not more than 6 inches high. The natives boil the root, and theiilj fqiietzing it hard obtain a beautiful red dye, which they apply variouily. Sirnv.hnie!, ]n tlic beginning r.f y^pril appear whole fields covered with the flnefi: ftrawberrie, kmf.j.n.v. grows fpontaneoufly, and the flax-feed that has been brought from Europe tlinj;; exceedingly. The plains are covered all the fumraer with diverfity of fine flowers, oi v/hich if our author declines an account, it is becaufe he rather applied himfdfij matters that might be ufefu! to fociety, rather than to thofe of mere curiofity. He isbi Urn's tniuib. notice however of one flower called the lion’s mouth {gimtle delion) wfiich is, hefajs,, nofegay in itfelf, on account of it’s beautiful colours and durability; as it feldom di;Sij lefb than 3 or 4 months. In this country, they alio raife, indigo, cotton, tobacco. Ilk and fafifon. The wolves of Louifiana are feldom more than 14 inches high and every way pj. portioned, they are fo tame that they come down to the habitations in fearch of fsj, and retire without hurting any body. If the huntfman when he encamps at nigljtii:;; a river, difeerns a wolf lurking in the environs, he may affure liimfelf that there iu 1 herd of cattle not far off; and the wolf ferves as a guide to them, being rewarded sia the offals. Thefe animals ftimulated by hunger, attack the wild cattle before sd behind. In the latter they fliew fome cunning for the creature looks about him jeJ Hands upon his defence. When they have brought down one beafl they Hrangle kia, and then proceed to another ; for they deflroy as many as they can, without regarin what will ferve their turn. Story. It happened that-2 men, failing up a river in LouHiana, went a ihcre at nigh! [j lie, and covered themfelves clofely from the rain, having brought every thing or fliore from the canoe, which they faftened to a flake in the ftrand, with thongs ofea hide infle,ad of rope. One of them, more careful, rofe as loon as he waked to look aftetik; canoe, and when he came to the water faw it was gone. As they were 50 leajEii from any habitation, the accident alarmed and made him very uneafy. Heroiifed hiscoai- panion with the unhappy tidings, and both repaired to the beech, where foon afteriii! moon Alining out with a good degree of clearnels, (hewed them their little veflel fniosai- ly dancing down with the current. One of them immediately ftripped and focncair.: up with it, nor was he intimidated from boarding it inftantly, tho’ he found a flranjet at the helm who glared upon him with a moA menacing afpeft, then leaped intoia W'ater, and left him clear pofleffion.Thisftranger was a wolf, which duting their Cetf, had climbed into the velTel in fearch of proviflon; but finding nothing elfe madeftei W'ith the cable, and then put off from fliore, without meaning any harm. lil.-ickwolves. Two large black wolves, of a much flronger fpecies, and more c.irniverous thffl thofe common to the country were killed here in our author’s time. They w'cre fr- pofed to come from fome diftant climate, the okieft inhabitant never remembfiiign have feeii any of them before ; one of them was a female, big with young. As we have dwelt largely on the bear, bi.ffalo, elk, and fome other quadrupeili in our account of Canada, the reader would blame us to repeat them. Wherefore welluH confine ourfelves generally to the notice of fuch as have not been before nientioncil. Small tiger. Among thefe is a fmall tiger, fcarcely more than twenty indies high, and every "'ay proportionable. His Ikin is of a bright bay colour, but has none of thofe marks lb render it in other countries valuable, it is very quick and adlive. but no way, daiing.fo it will run from the fight of a man, and increafe it’s fpeed if fliouted after. This «i' author affirms from bis own knowledge, having one time refeued his dog, and anotliei Plchou. time hisi pig, from this animal’s voracious jaws. What he calls the pichou which, h' fays, is as high as the tiger, with a moft beautiful coat, and an enemy to poultiy, nn'j be perhaps the leopard. of L 0 U I S I A N A. 159 Xhe foxes here think the farmer’s yard beneath their notice, as they find fufiicient Foxes, fublifence in the woods. 1 heir hair is thick, fmooth, of a deep brown colour; un¬ derneath It IS long, and filver coloured, which has a pleafant efteft, they are vafriy nu- tnemus among the woods of the fmall hills, and here alfo the t'ger and pichou moft commonly inhabit, nothing but hunger bringing them down to the farms. The wild cat of Louifiana is very different front that o^C(Inad;J, or indeed from any "'‘U-cac. i other of the fpecies, and very improperly fo named, it having nothing of a cat about it, I butiis nimblenefs. It is ealily farailiarifed to a houfe, and then it becomes larger and I fatter; but its Ikin is notfo beautiful as that of a fox. It is not above b or 10 inches I high, fometimes 15 long, and when tamed full of diverting tricks. This animal is I foinctimes ferved up to table, and not bad food. It lives upon fruit and vegetables, and is not fond of game; to catch which its fhort claws were never formed by na- I tare. I The head and tail of the wood-rat are like thofe of the common rat, only his V/ooJ-rac. I tail has hardly any li.iir upon it, if you take hold of it, it winds about your finger. It is a ] flow, lazy animal, which Icarceiy any thing can put out of its common pace; but it J has cunning enough on apprehenfion of danger, to counterfeit death fo well, that the 1 deceit was not to be dii'covcrcd, nor will it ftir, though yoii flio dd tofs it about till you I a e weary. It is very common, and eafily taken. Nothing can be more defcncelefs; and sf theugh it is a violent enemy to poultry; the blood of which it fucks, one would ima- I gine it had no enemies among the brute creation. The down is thin, greyifli and fronvh; the natives fpln it, and makes girdles of it, which they die red. It climbs 1 wcN, and fecks its prey in the night. 'The fleflh is very good food, tafting like young •i pig; the fat is laid to .allay the pain of the rheumatifm and fciatica. See more particu- -• Ur°s of this lithe animal, and our account of fquirrels, porcupines, &c. in the Natural illiftory of Canada, p. 3H. i The beavor, hedge-hog, crocodile, and fome land tortoifes are found in thefe re-Otherliealls. f gions, with frogs a foot and half long, the croak of which is loud and horridly difa- < gree.ible. In the woods and Savannahs are fever.il forts of ferpents, none of which is i lo much to be feared as the rattle fnake, whofe tail, in whicli is a rattle, proclaims the Rattle fnake. jcanger of his coming, and that plant which is an antidote againft his poifon, is always I found near him. We have here alfo chamelions, various other forts of lizards, and iyery large fpiders. We diall now proceed fo the birds and filhes peculiar to this part of the world, in which our author confines hirafelf, with his ufual fi.lelity, to delcribing fuch only as fiihes. he had art Opportunity of knowing; and thefe, he obferves, are very few in compari- fon with what the country affords. The eagle is not here fo large as m Europe-, itSj: feathers are white edged with black, vaftly efteemed by the natives, and ufed in adorning their calmut, or fignal of peace. They have alfo feveral forts of hawks; but Hawks, their birds of prey rather level their rage againft hares, rabbits, fquirrels, and other qua¬ drupeds, than againft their own fpecies. 'Their fwan is large, fat, and good eating; and its feathers in high eftimation fors^^.J„_ adorning crowns, and making head-dreffes for women, and tippets. It flies high, and is larger than ours. The faw bill fo named from part of its bill being indented like a faw, lives only, as Saw-bill, it is laid, on flirimps, which it picks from the fliell, after breaking it with its bill. The crook-bill [kc-croebe'] is as large as a capon ; its feathers are white, and its flefti, Crook-bilf. though red, good eating. It feeds on cray-fifli. The hatchet-bill t/e-AaeZir] takes its name from the refemblance of its bill, which is red, to the edge of a hatchet, it I fometimes called red-foot, the legs and feet being of a beautiful red. It hunts by the I ka-fide in fearch of fliell-fifli, on which it fubfifts, and its retreat within land is an in- I fallible fign of a ftorm. The king-fiflier differs from that in Europe only by the King-fifiicr. I beauty of his plumage, which difplays all the colours of the rainbow, i Our author obferves, that when the booby, the man of war-bird, and chefs bird, I (one fcemingly of the fame fpecics, but fwifter flighted, and chequered with brown ' and white) fly low, they are fure pr<'gnoftics of a ftorm; whereas the appearance of a Prognollicks halycon is quite the reverfe ; an obfervation known to all the world. He deferibes of a iFimi. the laft as foniewhat larger than a fwallow, with a longer bill, and the fineft violet feathers, with twoftreaks of yellowifli brown near the extremity of its wings, and one coming over the back. He 16o Hiftory of the Dfcovery and Settlement Uift.cp. ir.r.as. c " Bees. rifl-.es. He fays that one of them, to the great joy of the failors, fo'ilcAved the Chip, in wfiij, he returned to fiVc/if for 3 days, dining which time it often dived, to pick up, asi; fuppofed, (uch infects as chanted to drop from the fides or bottom ; and role t‘xa;iL where it difappeared. As it made no ufe ot iis legs or feet in thi-- fiibnn i fion, lii-; other aq.iatic birds, he fuppofes it to have been aflirted in its modon by tire fiiaian of the !hip ; and he was confirmed in this opinion by its taking wing when it lef t d'em. The parroquets are eafily taught to fpeak, btit, like the natives arc lc!d m lieirj. They are moftly of a fine fia-green, witii a AifFron-colour iiead, rcddifli n ar the bj, The corbijeaii is very common, and as large as the woodcock; the feathers exhibitj plcafing variety of colours; the beak is crocked, long and reddilli, which :s alfo the o. lour of its feet. The author prefers its fielli to that of the woodcock; he alfo HHij the meat of the pheafant, which is however, in his eye, the moll beautiful bird heei'tt fiw ; but he has omitted to deferibe it; and his figure of the flamingo is fo incornff, that we may venture to aflirm it was never drawn from the life, or, if it was, theaitifi raufl have bten a fad bungler. The number of wood-pigeons which fw'arm h.rsi] winter, and in Canada, where they remain till autumn is aftomihing; in Lohifmi they feed upon acorns, in Canada they do much mifehief by devouring the They m.-.y be taken by finding out their recelTcS, and fumiguing them with brimfee in the night. Ey this means they fall from ihe brandies in heaps, and torches flioay alfo be provided to frighten them, and afford light .at the fame time for colkaing then, V/e have already I'poken of the cardinal; and ought to beg pardon of his in!a!!j|;i. lityfor not bavin? given precedence to the pope, a bird with red and black feathers, hi of a grave afpedt. When it fings, which is rare, its notes are foft and weak, asiiit were old. We fliould be wanting in refpeftto the dignity of the two laft mentioned ecclefiafticql we took no notice of an inferior order of clergy provided to attend them ; wherefore la naturalifts have appointed them a bifliop. He is not fo large as a finch, and fieii upon a fort of millet, natural to this foil; his wings are of a deep violet, and theidl of his plumage a dark blue. His fong is fo harmonious, and his notes fo foft andn- ribus, that thofe who hear him fcruple not to fet him in compaition with ih nightingale. It continues it here a quarter of an hour, without feeming to breath; t then paufes, and when once he begins feldoin ceafes, exce,Dtio reft, in lets than 2 Iioib, One of thefe birds was wont to vifit M. du Pratz every evening, which in the al had like to have almoft literally verified the proverb, and have brought an old Ii.iii: about the good father’s ears. A large oak, on which his vifiiaiit was wont to perch,id of which he was therefore very careful, came thundering down one ftormy night cp- on his roof, and went near to deraolifli it. Befides thefe, and many others, of which we have no account, they have herelh flamingo, the carion-crow cf the Antilles, the grand-goficr, loinctimes called a-ptis can, cormorants, cranes, wild geefe, wild ducks, tea], widgeon, divers, wild nt keys, herons, egrets, fpatulas, golains, bitterns, gulls, fea-pies, fnipes, p.iiri(i?s, owls large and white, fwallows, martins, wood-pcckers, ortolans, turtles, nightiiigifcj black-birds, flnehes, wrens, and humming birds. Among the moft remarkable infefts is the filk-worm, one called the tobacco wotnt, which is very deftrudlive to that flirub, and caterpillars; the latter are indeed feiV, bat produce butterflies of incomparable beauty. In the meadows are black graflwppct-i or locufts, which feldom- leap, and feldomer take wing. They are often 3 inches long, I and as thick as ones finger, with a head like a horfe, and have beautiful purple wing;. Cats feed on them with great avidity. The beais fearch eagerly for honey, v.'itli- out regarding the ftings of the bees, which its rough fiiirs prevents from feeling. Tk bees here either burrow under ground, or retire to depofir their honey in the depth d the foreft, whither their enemies fddom penetrate. The green fly is larger than the common bee, and his back is covered with a beaulifd green armour, which- has a pleafing eftedl. The fire or lanthorn-fiy abounds liere, as alto cantbarides, w'hich inflames the fkin that they touch, and may be fed with alh-lcafcs. Brimftone burned morning and; evening is fure to drive away t'iie mufliettoes, as out author has. e.xperieneed. Here are many other forts of troublTom creatures, too tefi- , ous to mention. Of fifli we have' here the furgeon and fardinia- fifli, barbies 3 or 4 feet long, carp, e.il, oifters, miifcles, and many others, which have been either delcribed above, orlw'to not come under the infpeflion of the authors whom w'e h.ive ccnfulted. of LOUIS i A N A. ihi I 0 / Sii Origin, Manners, Cuffc,ns, Lavss, asid Religion of the mickni •J hshahitants of LOUISIANA. I I AD we underti'iken a complete account of a country which had preferved its introduftiorf; I i M annals and records from ags to age, and had undergone, as well as moll ' I II others, revolutions in liter-iture, we doubtlefs (liould begin its hiftory : ^ ^ ^vith tracing the origin of the people. But, as we have no lights from an- ' i tient hiftory or tradition to Ihesv us the direft w.ty, we are obliged to take a contrary ‘ coarfe, and from conlidering the manners, cuftoms, laws, and religion of the different 1 nations or rathertribes, of this vjft traft of land, and comparing them with thofe of other nations, endeavour to deliver feme probable conjefture concerning their firfl: origin and ! extriftion : the necefiity of this manner of proceeding will we hope excufe our feem- ‘ iiig defeft in point of method. The induftry of the inhabitants of Louifiana extends no farther than their neceffities: Indolence of j to fupply themfelvcs with lubfiftence, and provide fecurity againft the inclemency of the feafons, is the utmoft extent of their invention. To cut down trees for fuel and i building, they h.id fuch a fort of hatchet as that ufed by the natives of Canada-, their knives were formed out of a reed, which is very common; their bows were made ’ of Acacia, and lirungfirft with a tough bark of a tree, but exchanged in procefs of I time for thongs twilled of the skins of the hearts which they hunted down ; the fe .thers I of birds afforded them ornament, and their utenfils, drefs &c. as were miich the fame I as has been already deferibed in the hiftory of Canada. I The continent of America appears to have been very populous before the arrival of /immca very Spaniards as is evident, both from tradition, and the hiftories of their difeoveries P'’?"'®”- land conquefts. The deftrudlion made among thefe people by the Spanif arms is too Unpeopled Iwell known to need in this place a recapitulation. " oFtheStot I VVe are .affured alfo that many tribes, both in Peru and Mexico, devoted thenifelves ’gjU Ivoluntarlly as I'acrifices to the manes of their fovereign, who perillied either by nature By fuicide. lot the fword , while others, preferring fuicide to flavery, fell the vidims to liberty By : their own hands, to efcape the tyranny of the Spaniards. ] The warlike difpofition alfo of fame of thefe people has helped to thin them con-civil wars, fiderably. For while inftigated by revenge, aniraofity, or feme other paflion, they ; waged long and bloody wars with their neighbours, they weakened themfelves very ' much, though even crowned with conqueft. They have been alfo vifited by two difeafes, whlcli have made confiderable ravage among them, and againft which their phylicians, or cunning men, have no defence, though in other cafes often woiidei fully skilful. Thefe diftelnpers are the fmah-poXgj^^jj land colds. They fall’-'efore the fmall-pox like grafs under the" feythe ; for they live ' all under one roof, and neither light nor air can enter but through the door, which is fcllom more than four feet high, and two broad. This diforder no fooner feizes one, but the whole f.nn ly, not even the oldell excepted, contraft the infedlion. As they are naturally clean-skinned, and well made, confequentlygreatly alarmed at the erupti- |ons ofthe puftules from this diftempef; they fly to the water, to wa(h them off, if ipoflible, and though they know it to be a fatal refource, they will perfift, unlefs pre- Ivcnteil by fome of their fiends. I Our author defires us to obferve, that in the maps and charts of Louifiana there will Miftakes of jbe found many more nations named, than he takes notice of in his hiftory: but this S^srapliers. jbe defires the reader will not impute to his neglcd, but to the carelefsnefs of travellers, iWho have taken many things upon truft, and given imaginary fituations to nations, with I'vbofe bare names they were onlv acquainred: fome of thefe perhaps no longer exift, (and others have been fwallowed up by their more powerful neighbom's, among whorh itbeir name is intirely loft. Upon the whole, he fays, it is certain, that their number ,'s greatly dimlniftied, and that fcarcely more than one third of the country, marked in dbe maps as populous, is at prefent inhabited-. On the firft eftabliflrments, made by the Fmrr/j in this country, they carried on' i-AUham-as ffiendly correfpondence, drove fome trade with the Alibamous, who are no friends Englif]}, and lie North of the Apalachins. They are a powerful people, but oiSff T t late i62 Hijlory of the Difcovery and Settlement late the intercourfe with them has been dropped, as being too far removed from tlij Mijjijip river on the banks of which the colony is fettled. a-ants natl- our author gives a fuccindt hiftory of the nations inhabiting the banks of the river Mobile, from its mouth upward. The Chatots conlifting of about 40 hamlets, are neareft the fea; they profefs themfelves Roman catholics, ^ and endeavour to flaew the French every adl of kindnels in their power. The French colony of Louis lies near them to the North. Tlomiz. A little North of the fort are the Thomez, a fmall catholic nation, wliofe lenii,. lanfu. friendlhip often makes them troublefome. The Taeiifas conlifting of about loo ham- lets,, are a litde more to the North. They are derived from the Natchez, and com. mit the care of the eternal lire to young men ; being flrongly perfuaded that womeii would never faciifice their liberty to it. But more of this hereafter. Near the bay nation, is found the A/cto/// nation, called by the French Mobile, whofe name is alfo given to riverand bay. j French on their arrival here found all the fmall n.itions at peace, in which they ftill continue, being covered on the Eaft by other nations, which ftani as bulwarks between them and the Iroquois. The Chickafaws regard thefe nations as brethren, becaufe they fpeak the fame tongue, which is the language of thofe border¬ ing on the Eaft of the Mobile. Pacha-cghuas The Pacha-oglouas, or the nation of bread, confiding of about 30 hamlets,' lia nation. Weft of thc Mobile, near a'bay bearing the fame name. Among them are mmj fome Canadians, who live with them as brethren. For as they are naturally of an eafy temper, and well acquainted with the charadlers of the different people, thy know how to deport themfelves amicably among any of the Indian nations. Unguages. The have preferyed among them their native tongue, which is that oftlit Natchez, but they fpeak a corrupted Chickafaws, called by the French, the AMilm language. The Chat-kaws, who, in comparifon of the Chickafaws, are mere mo- derns, preferve alfo their own tongue intermixed with fome Chickafaw words; andcor author difeourfed with them in the latter tongue. Thefe people are dependant on Great Britain. Vijfa, There is a fmall nation within a league of New Orleans, and North of the like, ration. vvith which the Fretich have no great communication; they fpeak a fort ofChickafiivs, and have about twenty hamlets, or rather huts. They are called Aqueloa piffas, whidi lignifies a nation that can both hear and fee; the French call them Colapijfas. On the Eaft coaft of the MifiJJtpi river lies the Oumas, or red nation. Some Fad who were at firft fixed here,' did them great prejudice, by allowing them an immode¬ rate ufe of ftrong waters. New Orleans is about ao leagues diftant. 'Itnkm. The Tonicas a fragment of a nation always upon good terms with the French, at fituated up along the river Mififfipi, oppofite the Red River. They ufed to a® the French in their w'ais, and their chief was ftrongly attached to their intereft, whicli being properly reprefented at Verfailles, the king, by brevet, appointed him biiji- dier of his armies, and fent him a gold headed cane, and a blue ribbon, to whicli was hung a filver medal reprefenting his marriage. And thejieverfe w'as a view of Paris. Of thefe fignal marks of friendfliip the Indian was very oftentatlous. The To- nicas differ in fome particulars, and a little in their language from the. neighboaims nations: as for inftance, in ufing the letter R, to which the others are ftrangers. Tkii natthz. chief abovementioned was wounded in affifting againft the Natchez, who were for¬ merly one of the moft refpeftable of all thefe nations, both with refpedl: to their cit- ftoms and behaviour. In j 720 the Natchez, were fettled on and about a fmall river, to which they name, They had among them two nations, who had implored, and obtained iheif Grisra!. proteflion; one of thefe the French call Grigras, from their frequent uttering thefe two fyllables. But this name will hardly appear confiftent with our author’s obfervaliMi that thofe people were eafily diftinguifhed by ftrangers among the Natchez, as bcioS incapable of pronouncing the letter R. Their language is nearly the fame with tW n'mx. of the Chickafaws. The other nation fettled among the. Natchez is the remainder of ik Lhioux, a people once very formidable, warlike, and reftlefs, by which means tkf drew upon themfelves the indignation of the Chickafaws, whom they refilled 'vit defperate obftinacy, and never gave way till they were no longer able to oppole tn arms of their enemies. of L 0 U 1 S I A A. 163 Thefe three nations together can now mufter about 1200 men, whereas- tradition informs us, that the Natchez were formerly the moft powerful nation in all North ■iwrf/«> refpefted by all others as their fuperiors. They formerly flretched from \lmcbare, which is 50 leagues from the fea, to the river Waiache, at the diftance of.w,/,,- f,„.. ’ Among them were 500 princes, whom they called funs, {foleils] nothing could mcrly pov.-c-.-- Ixce'ed the vanity of thefe grandees, in preparing the deteftablc cuftom of permitting eople to facrifice themfelves upon their funeral bier; a deftrudion which men and \vomen voluntarily, nay gladly embraced, imagining by this adion to fecure to them- lelves a happy fituation in a future world; that they (hould be retained in the fervice of their prince, without fear or punifliment, that they lliould not fuffer by hunger, tliitft, heat, or cold; that they diould have every fort of food they could wilh; and ty and credu- ' to crown all, they fliould neither fuffer nor die. It muft however be obferved that two branches of thefe people, whole princes were more humane than the reft, withdrew from the main body, and with fome few followers fettled upon diftant lands to preferve their people from falling a prey to this defperate barbarity. Thefe are the Taenfas, of whom we have juft now fpoken, and the fchitimachas, whom the Natchez always re¬ garded as brethren. Forty leagues North keeping the great river on the Eaft, are the Tazoiix, poffe^ing natt- about 100 huts on the banks of a river, to which they give name; and farther upon this river are the Coroas in about 40 huts; who pronounce R. ttona, nati- The ChaSliotmas, or red lobfters, have about 50 huts on the fame river. The Oufi- alaimmai cmics about 60, and the fafoujfas not more than 25. ofcuff Wth of the river IVabache, near the banks of the Miffifipi are the Illinois, who “"‘I give name to a river, along the fides of which they are fcattered in feveral villages, near | one of which, called 'Tamarouas, there is one of the moft confiderable French fettle- lamanaa'., meiits polfelled by fome Can-W/rzOT.- for thefe people have been alw.ays ftanch to Fend] intereft, .and affifted them as much as poffible in their difcoveries, particularly of Lmiifiana, nor is that complaifance, which gives them fo eafy an ingrefs among other American people, any mark of their want of courage, which has been often tried and approved. The Renards lie farther North, and are a large nation, who have for a long time RasrJs. been in peace, tho’ they were formerly fond of war. The Sioux are a vaft way hc-Swx. yond thefe, without any intermediate nation, and are difperfed Eaft and Weft, on both bdes of the great river. In going from the fea North, keeping Weft of the river Miffipi, the firft nation we find is a very fmall one, known by the name of cks, and Onachas, the laft being a fmall village united to it. It lies between the“ river Mijjiffipi, and the lake. In this neighbourhood are alfo the remains of the Fchtimachas, who from a nu- rdti!r.aiha!. nierous people are dwindled into nothing. Many of them w'ere deftroyed by the In- ilans in alliance with the French, whom they therefore hate, and prefer living folita- ry and remote from other people, and efpecially declining all correfpondence with thofe Europeans, to whom they would by no means be obliged. The firft occafion of this difference was their murder of a miflionary, who was going down the river. His death was revenged: and hence hoftilities commenced on bothwr.rwith lides. This nation, which is not of a martial turn, loft many of its braveft peo- the Fra.-^. pie; in confequence of which they fued for peace, and it was granted them, on conation of their bringing in the head of the aflaflin. They did fo, and at the fame time prefented the calmut to the French governor. Along the weftern coaft, not far from the fea, there is a nation of men-eaters, who canlbals. are fuppofed to feed upon their enemies. The French call them Atac-affas, but our author fays they have fome more proper appellation, which be could never learn. They correfpond with other Indian nations, but have no communication with Euro- flam. The adventures of an officer of fome confideration, who in the infancy of the of colony fell into the hands of thefe Anthropophagi, may not be thought perhaps amifs an ofScer a- in this place, as it may afford proper caution to people, whofe fortune may lead “■ them into this part of the world. A veffel from France coming to an anchor at the bottom of the river Miffifipi, the captain-genera! fent down a brigantine, on board which was Mr. Charlevitle, a Canadian, perfeiftly well acquainted with all the Indi- nn nations, among whom he had often travelled, with orders to the raafter to fup- ply the brigantine with an officer and a few foldiers, to proceed on difcoveries; but the 164- Hifiory of the Difcovery and Settlement t’ne pnrticular orders our author has not noted. The mafter, in compliance with ili; governor's ordeis, fetit an ofrieer, named Belle-JJe, a ferjeant called Silvej'icr, and 10®; men on board the brigantine, with whom Are proceeded to St. Bernard's B.y. the crew went aftiore, pleafed with the beauty of the couivry, which abounded wiili game, whereby they were tempted to walk in the woods, farther than prudence ihoulj have fuggefted ; nor were all the remonftrances of M. Charleville, whofe experience had taught him that the confequences might be fatal, of force to diffuade the® from a proceeding of which in the end they Itad reafon heartily to rcp;ni; when they left the (hip, the mailer warned them not to wander too far, and deCreJ they would return early in the evening. He alfo told them that if they cid not rci«u back that night, he would fire too warning guns in the morning, and fet fail in two hours after, if the wind continued fair; promifing moreover, that, if they (liould tot appear betim.es in the evening, he would fire a gun for diredling them to il; fea-fide. He kept his word, and they heard the difeharge. at the time appointed but imagined fronr the revetbera ion, that it came from a contrary quarter; fot'njt wliat w’as intended fof their perfervation, led tliem farther aftray. in the mondng,tlit fignal guns of departure were fired from the brigantine, and the Captain waited t; them, till he ahnoll loft !iis tide, to no purpofc; the next day, ammunition begiimia, to run fliort, CLorlrlHe ftruck off to the £. ly found out a new rout to the Indies round the Cape of Good Hope, formed the plan of another to the fame country, by a weflern courfe acrofs the Atlantic ocean. This plan, after being rejedted by many fovereign princes and ftates of Europe, among others by our Henr^ VII. was at laft, after many difagreeable delays, approved by the crown of Caflile, and the difcovery of the iflands called the Antilles, or IFeJi Indies, was the firfl: fruits of fo bold and hazardous an enterprize. Many were the reafons, which might have induced Columbus to conclude tliat a con¬ tinued weftern courfe muft at laft bring him to the Mies, allowing the earth to be a fpherical body, which the manifeft convexity of what was already known, feemed fuf- thematicni & licicntly to prove beyond the probability of a bare hypothefis.—For if it were not a fphere, phjiical. it muft be a portion of one ; and, certainly, there was more reafon to think, that it was the former, than the latter. The only objedion to the firft, was the feeming abfurdity of fuppofing heavy bodies diametrically oppofitc; but the fame objedion would lie a- gainft the probability of heavy bodies remaining at reft on horizontal planes in difte- tent parts of the earth already difeovered, tho’ thefe horizontal planes were known to have a confiderable obliquity one to the other. Befides, if the earth were not globu¬ lar, the feas muft be infinite, or they muft not: If they were infinite, how Ihould the fun and other heavenly bodies perform their courfe f If they were not infinite, might not thefame power which held water, a heavy body, to the portion ofa globe, hold all heavy bodies to a whole globe ? The only found objedion,therefore, that could be made againft Ciltimbus’s plan, was the length of the voyage : But it feems he gave the Eajl Indies a confmedb)- greater extent than tliey really have. He was alfo encouraged in his projed by antient tra- anci™ jjadi- ditions,and by obfervations that feemed to confirm thefe traditions. Plato, fpeaking of‘'°"- an ifland called the Atlantis, beyond Hercules’s Pillars, much larger than any yet known, which had been fwallowed up by an inundation, attended with a dreadful' artliquake, added, that beyond this great ifland there was a vaft number of fmall ones, and a little beyond thefe again a continent larger than Europe and Afa put together, waflied on tire oppofite fide by a boundlefs ocean. And this affirmation probably gave rife to the Phule of the ancients, as well as to the prophecy of Seneca, and a paflage in Tacitus, but lately obferved, both pretty much to the fame purpofe. kicographers themfelves, for fome few centuries preceding Columbus’s difcovery, the “ Portuguefe efpecially, gave a place in their maps to an ifland called Aitille, probably from the word Thule, 200 leagues Weft of the Azores, They likewife called it the ifland of the Sewn Cities, from a popular tradition, im- Fting, that when the Moors invaded Spam, feven bifliops with their flocks had ’taken “lipping to avoid the perfecution of thefe infidels; and that, after having been for a long tme tofled about by winds and waves, they at laft landed on a part of the Antilie, "’here, after burning their fliips, each bifliop and Ins flock built themfelves a feparate ci- B ty. i Account of tk D'fcovery of the Antilie Ifands. ty. This tradition was fo deeply rooted in the minds of the people, that feveral “Pdr. tuguefe,^ Spaniards, either beggared themfelves, or periflied in atteniptinat,) find this ifland. ° Portuguefe authors add, that towards the middle of the fifteenth century, vvhea the infant Don Henry, Count of Vifeo, put all his country in motion to difcover a new rout to the Lidies, a Portuguefe veflel was forced by a ftorm on the coaft: of the Jsitilh and that the Count being informed of this adventure, wanted to fend back the pilot thithv' who for fear of being obliged to undertake fo long a voyage, efpeciaily as he had not carefully obferved the courfe he fleered in his return home, deferred his country. No» as Columbus was too well read not to be acquainted with all the written traditions I relating to this matter, he was likewife too inquifitive to be ignorant of thofe that were merely oral. Thefe traditions and reports, with fome other of the fame import, were confirmed by eonfiS^by obferving that the waves, after a weftern wind, often threw on the coafts of the Madehi obfervations. Canary, and jlzore iflands, pieces of vvood and reeds of an unknown fpecies, and even dead bodies, which, as it was apparent by many figns, did not belong to Europe at Afri¬ ca. For confidering that the winds blow more generally ftom the call than the well in high latitudes, if thefe bodies came from lands at the dUlanGe weft from Europe, wheit the liidies were fuppofed to terminate, they could notpoffibly haveany marks of diftinftiot, AmnUt why After the foregoing account of the firft difcovery of the Antilles, or JVeJl Indies, or tb fo called, motives which induced Columbus to attempt it, we need not fay much to account & their etymology. To obtain the former name, it was fufficient that they were foml pretty near the fpot where the old geographers had placed their Antille •, and to beh[a noured with the latter, the conftant opinion of Columbus and others till the Pacific Ocia Wh nam d ^ifcovered, that the continent of America was nothing but a continuation of tk w. Indies, was fufficient. Some indeed would derive the word Antilles from the Greek pa. tide d-vf), and others from the Latin, ante, as expreffing, according to the former, iflaco oppofite to the continent, or, according to the latter, iflands in the way to the contineclj but the firft derivation from the antient Lhule feems to be the moll natural. Thefe iflands lie between tlie loth and 28th degrees of latitude, and the 59th and 8{ii degrees of longitude Weft from London, and 42 and 67 degrees Weft from Ferro. Tb^ are generally divided into the Great and Little Antilles. The Great Antilles are but foir, which are Cuba, Hifpaniola or St Domingo, Jamaica, and St John or Portorico-, fe the Little Antilles zee many in number. The winds, which in thefe feas blow cot- Handy from the eaft, or within a few degrees of it, have given room to another diviCa by the Spaniards, a great deal more in ufe than the former, tho’ as yet geographers areiit well agreed in dividing them by it. According to this fyflem, the mofl eafterly iflands 2 Other deno Windward fiands, and the others the Leeward Iflands ; or, to keep to the Spa 4 minations. names made ufe of by all ancient authors, the firft are called the iflands of Sotto Fento, ad the others, the iflands of Barlo Fento. Some ancient maps give the firft name to fuch ont, as compofe a chain of little iflands near the lerra Firma, between the mouth of ti great river Oronoco, and that of the lake Maracaibo, among which are the iflands & bagua, formerly called the Ifle of Pearls, and Curacao, or Coracol ; but it appears i prefent, that the iflands of Mto Fentohe^o with the ifland of Santa Cruz, and that ill thofe to the fouth of Santa Cruz are known by the name of Barlo Fento iflands. PfM haps, it would have been much more reafonable, to divide the Antilles according to tit different charadters of their original inhabitants, of which fome were Carribeans, oil Cannibals, a fierce and anthropophagous generation and the reft, who had no particuli name, were remarkably mild and peaceable, and detefted the pradtice that prevailed a- mong the others, of feeding on human fleflr. He FRENCH Part of St Domingo. La Fortue or Fortuga. La Gonave. Ifle a Facbe. St Bartholemew., Part of St Martin. A N T I L L E S ar«? Guadeloupe, La Defirade. (Dcfert.) Marie-Galante. Les Saintes. Martinico. Becouya or Little Martinico. Defer Les Grenadins or Grenadillos, La Grenade. Santa Cruz was fold by the French to the Danes about the year 1733, for75,ooo4 jit’ 3 B^fcription of Hispaniola, or St Domingo; alfo Tortuga, La Go- nave, and Ifle a Vachc. T his ifland is, next to Cuba, the chief in extent of the Antilles ; but, in point of im- in^.d of Hi- portance, .s i'uperior to them all. Hence it firft drew, or in amanner engroffed, all.^‘'''=L. the attention of the Spaniards who difeovered thefe iflands; nor could any other ifland enable them to make folid eflablifliments in countries feparated from all others, then j,. known, by fo great an extent of ocean. And it may be truly faid, that this ifland has tancc. proved the mother of all the Spanifi colonies in the new world. ^ Its iirft inhabitants called it ^lifqueia, and Haiti: The firft of thefe names fignifies Primitive alartre country, and the fecond a mountainous one; but the ifland has loft both, by changing its mafters; for, at prefent, it is never mentioned by any other names, than thofe we have given it. Cdumbus, from fome refemblance he fancied between it and Spain, called it Spanijl) 1 - -,p. flani, and the generality of Spanijb authors give it no other name, but that and Efpagnola, pciirtion!. both which have been latinized into the diminutive Hifpaniola. The name of St Domingo it owes to the French, who called it fo after its capital San Domingo. We OmHcn ills niuft not confound with another of the Antilles, named D'/m/mVr?, from its being difeovered on a Sunday, called Dies Dominica in the Roman ritual. If we may believe Dom Peter Martyr d'Anglcrie, this ifland was firft peopled by Sa- 'Vhcncc pco- vages, who came thither from Martinico, otherwife called Matinino, and aftonillied at ' ' its extent, immediately concluded it was the largcft country in the world, and called it ^lifqueia, from the word S>!iifqiiey, which, in their language, fignified all. After this, on observing the long ridges of mountains, which take up almoft all the heart of the coun¬ try, and reach many of them from one end to the other, they called it Haiti, w'hich figni¬ fies a rugged mountainous country. At laft they found among thefe mountains, fome that pretty much rcfembled thofe of their own ifl.ind, which in their native language was named Cipangi, whence they gave the new difeovered ifland the name of Cipanga. The ifland is i6o leagues in length from Eaft to Weft; its mean breadth from North to Its extent. South is 30 leagues; and its circumference, meafured by tracing the coaft, may amount to near 600 leagues. Its fituation, with refpedl to the reft of tlie Antilles, is the moft advantageous imagi- , nable, as it ftands, you may fay, in the center of this great clufter of iflands, and looks as if intended by nature to give laws to them. The other three Great Asitilks, efpecially, ilie in fuch a manner, as to prove its fuperiority, and their owm dependance; for it has jthree points of land, correfponding refpedVively to each ifland. Cape Fiberon, the land’s [end to the South Weft, is but 30 leagues from J<7OT<7/cfl. There are but 18 between Fortorico and Cape Ejpada, its eafternmoft point; and 12 between Cuba and Mole St Ni- \alas to the North Weft. It is befides furrounded with a multitude of fcattered ifles, which are as fo many ornaments to fet it off, and arc befides capable of be¬ ing rendered beneficial to it. The moft confidcrable are la Saona, la Beata, Sainte ia- therine, Altavela, I'ljle Avache, la Gonavc and Tortuga, befides la Na-cazza, and la Mona, the firft; of which lies 10 leagues from Cape Tiberon towards Jamaica, and the fecond halfway between Cape Ejpada and Portorico. Moreover, bounteous nature feems to have been as careful to provide for the fafety of this ifland, as for its convenience and dignity. It is encompafled by numbers of rocks, which render it not cafy of accefs. The North fliore efpecially is bordered with fhoals and little iflands fo very low, that it would be the height of imprudence to atai's. Venture among them, without a thorough knowledge of their pofition. The air of this ifland, as well as of the reft of tlie Antilles, and indeed of all iflands tempera- fituated between the tropics, is not near fo warm as one would at firft be apt to con- dude; and fo far from being dry, that you find it moift to the laft degree. Its temperature, in point of heat, is owing to certain winds, which blow conftantly Of hca from Eaft to Weft, from about 9 or lo in the morning till near fun-fet, and in the night "**=''•«• time from the land towards the fea. The firft of thefe winds muft be attributed to tlie diurnal rotation of the globe from Eaft to Weft; and the fecond, to the fuperior folidity of earth above that of water, in confequence of which, the heat received by the former in the day time becomes permanent, whereas the heat received by the water immedi¬ ately rifes into the atmofpherc, with fuch particles of water as it has feized, in form of a very fubtilc vapour. By this means, the lurface of the land rauft be much warmer at A DESCRIPTION of the ISLAND the approach of night, than that of the fea, and therefore communicate to the fupet, incumbentair an extraordinary quantity of heat, fo as to rarify it, and make it flow towards the fea, where the air is cooler, lefs elaftic, and therefore ready to give it admittance, This theory is confirmed by obierving, that the night is calmer in the inland parts of the illand than on the coafls. And this is not the only advantage the coafts have over the inland parts, for when the latter have fpent all the heat they received in the day time they remain fo long without a new recruit, on account of the circumjacent mountains, which fo interrupt the fun’s rays, that the inhabitants are often under a neceffity of nu¬ king fires to fupply their abfence. Of nioitture As to the'moifture of thefe intra-tropical climates, it is plainly owing to the pcrpendicu- howcaufed. diredtion of the fun’s rays on the vaft furface of water within their fphere of affion and the volubility of this element, in confequence of which it is impolTible that the at- mofpherefliouldnotbe conftantly replete with a moift vapour, ready to refolve itfelfinto rain or dew, on its meeting with any bodies capable of condenfing it. Thefe bodies are, on land, chiefly hills and mountains, which, by prefenting a greater furface to the fun’s rays than any horizontal feftion of them would do, muH be ftruck by a fmaller quantity of them in proportion, and even refiedl into the circumjacent plains moft of thofe that flrike them in this manner. Its jood and But whatever may be the caufes of this moifture, and of the dews and rains produced by bad effea». both which ferve to foften and fertilize the land, and the latter efpecially to refrelh the air, their other effedls are very mifchievous. It is no eafy matter to keep meat in this climate for fofmall a time as twenty four hours, and the dead mufl: be buried when the breath has fcarceleft their bodies. Moft fruits pulled ripe immediately rot; and thofe which have been pulled before they are quite ripe, are fcarce more lafting. Bread, unlefs baked as hard as bifcuit, grows mouldy in two or three days. Moft wines turn four in a very Ihorttime. Iron utenfils, fcowered in the morning, are rufty before night; and it re¬ quires the greateft care to keep rice, Indian corn, and bean feed, from one year to an¬ other. In fhort, it is computed that there often falls more rain here in a week, tlian in Paris in a whole year. Difference of the.moft'furprifing peculiarities of this ifland, is the great variety of foils that thewcatherincompofe its furface; for we can aferibe to nothing elfe the great difference in point of St Domingo,It weather, between parts of it which are even contiguous. Thus fome fpots lhall fcarce ever Its ca es. Pig ppgg adjoining are almoft perpetually dry, the clouds flopping lliort the moment they reach their borders, and juft detaching a few vapours, which produce fome drops, and immediately difappear. There is alfo a great difference in refpetft of weather, between the North and South coafts of the ifland ; for, in fome feafons of the year, while one fide is deluged with conftant rains, and fhook with thunder, the other fhall be free from both, or rather in Caufe of the the greateft want of. the former. But this difference may be accounted for by the fun’s lying fometimes on one fide, and fometimes on the other of the mountains, which ad- and s. parts, vance into the air between the two coafts, intercept the fun’s rays, and condenfe the clouds driven againft them. What ferves greatly to confirm this theory, is, that this difference in the weaSier is chiefly, if not only, fenfible during the fix months that'the fun is on the North fide of the line, when the difference between the diredlion of the fun’s rays with , regard to the two coafts, as the ifland lies between the line and the tropic of Cancer, muft be much greater in proportion than during the other half year. Hence little thunder is heard in this ifland till the fun is declined fo far north, as to be within as many de¬ grees of the ifland, as the ifland itfelf is of the adjoining tropic. Though the weather is fo very moift here, the air is however very clear, as the vapours raffed by the exceffive heat remain but a very Ihort time in that ftate where they become vifible in the form of clouds. For the fame reafon, a day feldom paffes without fun- briX^nightt ^®rs and moon in cloudlefs nights give light enough, the former to tra- withcaufti. vel by, and the latter for reading -the fmalleft charadters, fometimes forming rainbows. But this extraordinary light afforded by the moon, muft be attributed in a great meafure to the more direft incidence of her rays upon the atmolphere, in their paflage to thofe parts of the globe thatlie within her orbit, and confequently their reaching them in greater numbers, Aan where many of them, on account of their obliquity, are loft to us by refledtion. But it is not fo eafy to give a reafon why the ftars at or near the zenith Ihould be here vifible at noon day, as we are told by Charlevoix j fince the fame caufcs which render them more brilliant here than elfewhere, having the fame effedtupon 5 of HISPANIOLA or St DOMINGO. the fiin, it but reafonable to conclude that the fuperior light of the fun llwuld juujlly’eclipfe that of the liars. To this little conformity, however, that is to be found between the weather in different parts of the ifland, muff be afcribed the difagreeraent between the inhabitants in what J," [hey call winter and fummer. Thofe who live in the wellern and foutherly dillridls, and fofon"!”^ ° in the heart of the country, give the name of winter to the feafon in which llorms infeft ihe ifland, lading from April to November. Thofe on the northern coaft come nearer to us in their diltinflion of the feafons, tho’ few of either quarter have any notion of a fpringor autumn. ^ Some indeed, who are more attentive to what happens, divide the year in the follow¬ ing manner: Winter, they fay, begins with November and ends yvith February. Du¬ ring this interval, the evenings and mornings are in fome degree cold, vegetables grow but° flowly, and plants receive but little nourilhment, tho’ it be the feafon for heavy Divifion of rains. Thefe circumftances are often the caufe of a murrain among cattle. Spring follows, and lafts till May ; nature at this period, feems to revive; the meadows put on a new livery; the fap rifes in trees -, plants produce flowers, which perfume the air with their fweets. The drought that fucceeds, and puts an end to all thefe charms, is but too e.v'ad: a pifture of fummer, for it is a fummer of the torrid zone. This feafon lafts till the end of Augujl. To conclude, the llorms, which after fome interruption now again begin to difcharge their fury, from the wane of the Augujl mpon to the month of iVs- mber, give this quarter fome refemblance to our autumn. From what has been faid, it follows, that a man mijft have a very good conftitutipnj and befides live very foberly, or elfe have been naturalized to this climate, to haye a Inconvenien- chance of living long in it. Hence very few Europeans, after haying fpent fome ye.,rs in this colony, find not their ftrength confiderably impaired, The heat by its cpnftancy ^ infenfibly, undermines the molt vigorous bodies, unaccuftomed to it, and dries up by little and little, what the phyficians call the radical moifture, there beiiig no winter for nature to repair the forces loll by an immoderate perfpiration. Hence the florid co¬ lour of the face lofes its brightnefs, and the llomach a great part of its natural heat. Hence the blood drawn by venoefeftion, even by way of precaution, appears quite li¬ vid, an indifcreet bleeding is fufficient to bring on a dropfy, and the inhabitants, when heated, have not that greedinefs for cooling liquors remarkable in thofe of more tem- porate regions, but rather feek after what will cherilh warmth. Hence, in Ihort, it is, that people grow old before the time, and that children born of European parents are not fo llrong or perfeft in their bodily frame as others, and that fuch numbers die in their infancy. But a great, part of thefe evils is owing to the little care people in general take of owing their health, and to exceffes of debauchery or labour. Befides, in proportion as the totheraceffb Oeales are more remote from their European extradlion, they become lefs fubjedt to thefe inconveniencies. The ancient iflanders enjoyed good health, and were long lived ; the Negroes here are flout and llrong, and enjoy a conllant Hate of good health, as well as the defcendants of the Spaniards fettled here two hundred years ago. Nay, it is no uncommon thing to fee people among them 120 years old. In Ihort, if people grow old here fooner than elfewhere, they continue old longer than elfewhere, without feel¬ ing the inconveniencies of extreme old age. It was obferved that the difference of the weather in Ibme meafure, at leaft in diffe- Difference of rent parts of this ifland, was owing to the difference in foils, of which, indeed, there is here every variety of kind and colour. The moll efteemed is of a duflcy black, a little intermixed with fand, which ferves to make it light, friable, and porous. But there is no land, or very little, that may not be turned to fome account. One half of the ifland confifts of mountains, but thefe mountains may be cultivated to their very tops, and none of them can be called barren, except a few very fteep, and of an extraordi¬ nary height; thofe, for inllance, in the neighbourhood of Cape Fiberon, from whofe Mountams of lofty fummits, Charlevoix fays, St Martha may be feen, tho’ i So leagues dill.ant. Some a prodigious on the coafts ferve for dikes to check the fury of the waves, and woe to thofe Ihips that a gull of wind Ihould happen to force upon Ihores without banks, where nothing is to be feen but bfty rocks, rifing perpendicularly out of the water, and forming what for that reafon are jullly called Cotes de fer, or iron coalls : Such in particular is that Ihore, whofe eallern extremity terminate* at Cape Francois, thence named, and weftern reaches to Port de L'Acul. There 6 A DESCRIPTION of the ISLAND Mines and Macoris. Tague Hattibouu There is no ifland in the world, as yet difcovered, where fucli rich mines of gold hav^ been found. There are not wanting alfo mines of fdver, copper, and iron, befides others of talc, rock-cryftal, antimony, tinglafs, briraftone, and pitcoal; quarries of white mar- ble and jafper, and many other kinds of ftone. The commonefl are pierre a fine, or fap-ftones, fome of which are as white as cryllal, with fljarp points like a diamond which they alfo referable by their brightnefs, and even hardncls, fince they cut glafs’ There are likewife pumice Hones, hones, and what is called the eye-ftone, (in Latin Umbilicus marinus) on account of its virtue in purging the eyes of any filth that might have entered them. There are natural fait pits in many places along the coaft, and mineral fait in a moun- tain near the Lake Xaragua, much harder and more corrofive than fea-falt, the breaches of which, it is faid, are not to be repaired in lefs than a year, Oviedo adds, that the whole mountain is but one mafs of very good fait, as bright as cryftal, and no ways inferior to that of Catolonia. If to all thefe advantages, we add another that is univerfally allowed, namely, the I'fi- prodigious multiplication of ufeful animals tranfported from Europe, and in confequence of which, a flieep has been often.fold for a real, a cow for a caftillan, and the fineft horfe for three or four : If we confider befides the quantity and variety of preciops goods to be meirioned hereafter, which this ifland could fupply were it fufficiently inhabited; if we refleft in the laft place, that no country in the world produces more delicious fruits, roots, and other efculent. vegetables, or a greater variety of them, we cannot hut allow, that there is no great exaggeration in the praifes bellowed upon it by the Spani¬ ards, and efpecially Oviedo, who fpent the bell part of his life in this ifle. The feas hereabouts are generally calm, the reafon of which is evident from what has been faid of the winds that prevail here.. But like fome perfons hard to put in a paf- fion, and whofe tranfports are as furious, as they are rare ; when it grows angry, it is very terrible. It bre^s over its bounds, deluges the country, carries off every thing that oppofes it, and leaves every where it paffes the moll lliocking marks of its fury. It is after thefe ftorms, known by the name of Hurricanes, that the lliores of St Di- mingo and the other Antilles are covered with lliells, wdiich" greatly furpafs in beauty and brilliancy the fineft of Europe. This ifland is interfedled by a prodigious number of rivers, but few of them'are betterthan torrents,, or very rapid rivulets. The waters are every where very whole- fome, and even falutary, but fo cold and piercing, that they ought to be drank with gre.at caution ; and, as for bathing, it is very dangerous to make ufe of them for that purpofe. We are told that tliere are fifteen of them as broad as the Charente at Rock- „„_forf, exclufive of the fix principal ones. Thefe fix arethe Ozama, whofe mouth forms the port of San Domingo ; the Neyva, which has nothing remarkable, but the great number of channels by which it falls into the fea, and labours under one very great incon- veniency, namely, that of often Ihifting its bed; the Macoris, which is the moll navigable river of- the ifland, and the bell fupplied with filh, but then its courfe is very lliort; the Tague,ox river of MonieChriJio, at whofe fource there has been difcovered a fine gold mine, of which it every where Ihews famples intermixed with its litnd ; the Tuna, which is very rapid, and rifes at a place where there is a very rich copper-mine ; and, laftly, f- the Hattibonite, commonly called the Artibonite, which is the moll confiderable in length and breadth amongll them all. Of thefe fix rivers, the three firll empty themfelves into the fea on the South, the next on the North, the fifth on the Ball, and the lall on the Well coall. Jake of at Guide Sac is a lake, or pool of the fame name, of an irregular JesL ° ' form, whofe greatell length exceeds not 4 leagues, and its breadth is but one and a half, and in many places much lefs. It extends from North-Well to South-Ball, its waters are fweet but very infipid. To the Ball of this lake, is a plain known by the name of Plaint JiiVir. la Plaine des Verrettes,3bo\it four leagues long, and terminated at both ends by mountains. THUS. rpjjg breadth of this plain,which is but 3 leagues, leparatesLake Ctd de Sac &om another which is larger, and called by the Spaniards, Rigid lie, and by the French, Etang Sale or the Sah Laic, Lake. This fecond lake is 8 leagues long from Eall-South-Ball to Weft-North-Wefl, and lies to the Ball of the Plaine des. Verrettes-, the greatell breadth is but two leagues. Its waters, tho’ called fait, are fcarce more than brackiCh, thefe lakes are lull of crocodiles. It is commonly thought that the Salt Lake has a communication with the fea ; but tlii» fuppofition 7 of HI S P A NIOL A, or St DO M1 N GO, f,p0o&eiSLAND but were very far from handling them with equal dexterity, and accordingly their de-- fence confifts chiefly in flight. It is very probable, however, that the continent of America was inhabited before the SffSe adjacent iflands. The difficulty is to determine whence thofe came, who firft peopled of the inhi- this ifland ; neither is it very eafy to aflign reafons, why the inhabitants of the Great btants of the ffiould have been fo very mild, and fo peaceable a people, and thofe of the Anu es. Antilles fo fierce, fo warlike, and fo inhuman. Befides, both the Cannibals, their neighbours to the South, and the Floridians, their neighbours to the North, fed equally on human flefh, tho’ there is fcarce any room to doubt, that the original inhabitants of St Domingo were defcended from one or the other, or perhaps from both. But what, ever fentiment we follow, we lliall ftill be under a neceflity of accounting for the diffe¬ rence in the manners and charadters of thefe people. The inhabitants found on this Numkrof ifland, when the Europeans firft landed here, are made by fome authors to amount to kkbimnu of millions, by others to one only. The laft perhaps fay too few, but it is very pro. bable that the firft make them too many, and that we ought to take a mean between thefe two opinions. Thefe iflanders wer^ in general of a middle ftatute, but well made. Their complexi¬ on was very fv/arthy, their flein reddifh, their features coarfe and even hideous, their noftrils very wide, Aeir hair, of which they had none but on their head, very long their forehead fo low as fcarce to deferve that name, their teeth foul and rotten, anj their eyes particularly fierce and louring. But all thpfe properties were not equally natural. The rednefs of their fkin pro- ceeded, in fomemeafure, from the Rocou, with which they ufed frequently to rub it; to this caufe we may add the exceffive heat of the fun, againft which they had no cloathes to defend themfelves. And as to the fingular conformation of their heads, which they confidered as a great beauty, they effedted it by art. , For this purpofe, the mothers, took care to prefs together with their hands, or with two little boards, the crown of the head in their new-born infants, in order to flatten it by degrees, and hence the flcull comprefled, and in a manner bent back upon itfelf, became fo hard, thatthj Spaniards have often broke their fwords in ftriking thofe unhappy creatures on the licaii with them. Now it is eafy to judge, that the above operation mull have given a turn to all the features, and confequently contributed to the wildnefs obfervable in the coun¬ tenance of thefe people. Tck' naked, and took but little pains to hide what Ihould not be fen, rafler. ^ The women wore a kind of petticoat, which in women of quality reached no lower than the knees j the girls had no manner of covering whatfoever. Both fexes wereol a weakconftitution, aphlegmetic temper, fomewhat melancholy, and lived alraoft up¬ on nothing. A crab or a burgot ferved them a whole day, whence they could not but be feeble, and deftitute of vigour and ftrength, they never worked, gave themfelves no concern about any thing, and paft their lives in the moft indolent manner imaginable, After fpending part of the day in dancing, if they were at a lofs for fomething elfe to bo, they went to fleep. But then they were the fimpleft, the mildeft, and the moft humane mortals upon the face of the earth, and if they had not, they at lead feemed to have,tbe fmalleft (hare of reflexion and memory, without gall, without bitternefs, without ambition, , and in a manner without patlions of any kind. In Ihort, more like children than men. They neither knew, nor defired to know any thing. It could not therefore'be expeded they fliouldgive any rational account of their origin ; for which realbn, as we can fay nothing on that fubjeft, but from their own reports, our conjeftures mull be very tveak and ill. grounded. Their traditi- Befides, they had neither the art of writing, nor any thing that could fupply tbe ons. place of it, except fongs. But thefe fongs were altered at the death of their princes, and therefore it is impoffible from a few ill digefted fables, and thefe too from time to time fubjeS to alterations, to derive very antient traditions. Of the oriffin judgement, by what they related of the origin of mankind of mankind. The firft men, they faid, iflued from two caverns of the ifland. The fun, incenfed at their appearance, changed the guardians of thefe caverns into ftones, and transformed tbe men newly efcaped from their prifons into trees, frogs, and feveral other kinds of am' mals. The world, however, was foon flocked with inhabitants. mLn' ^ Another tradition affirmed, that both fun and moon had iflued from a grotto of fame ifland, in order to give light to the world. And the inhabitants ufed to go in pm grimage to this grotto, which was adorned with paintings, and its mouth guarded by Hifpaniola. Theirout- Accidental 9 of HISPANIOLA or St DO Ml N GO. Demons, to \vhom the Pilgrims were obliged to pay their refpects before they were crmitted to advance further. Thefe fables fliow, that the iflanders made no doubt but that the reft of the earth owed its inhabitants to their ifland; and there are few nations of America, that have not difcovered the fame prevention in favour of their ^'^'oAedo complains greatly, that no one tiiought of informing himfelf of the manners, Manners of cuftoms, and religion of the ancient inhabitants of this ifland, till they had been in a the original manner extirpated. Some authors reprefent them as very loofe, and to this attribute the diftemper commonly called tlie French difeafe, that raged among them, and foon communicated itfelf to the Spaniards. The iflanders could not make a complete cure ofit,tho’ they often greatly weakened its fury by the ufe of Guaiacum. This people had a great averfion to any thing that looked like avarice, fo that Their difmte- nothing could difturb the tranquillity of the ifland. Accuftomed to confine them- felves to the mere necelfaries of life, they never entertained any thoughts of hoarding, ^ ’ and what the earth produced, almoft without cultivation, was in a'manner looked upori as every .man’s property; at leaft, thofe who happened to be in eafy circumftances, never denied their affiftance to the indigent. They were likewife moft religious ob- fervers of hofpitality, and that towards all comers without exception. It was not re- qnifite to be known in a houfe, to be weli received in it, and the greateft ftrangers met with as hearty a welcome, as the beft friends could expedt. The Princes of this ifland were all defpotical. The lives, the goods, and even the religion of the fubjedts were all at the difpofal of their fovereigns, who, however, made no ill ufe of this their extenfive authority. The fubjedts, on their fide, were very du¬ tiful, pundtually executing the orders of their Caciques, and chearfully fubmitting to ; their determination in affairs of every kind. I Their laws were few, and mild ; theft or robbery, however, were confidered as a I moll grievous offence, and punilhed accordingly. The criminal was empaled without' ' Miilindlion of rank, and left expofed in that condition to the eyes of the publick; it i was not even lawful for any one to intercede for him. This great feverity produced the I defired effedt. Few perfons ventured to engage in fo dangerous a bufinefs; and confi- S dering alfo that thefe iflanders did not know what it was for one man to make an at- 1 tempt upon anothers life, they all lived in the greateft peace and fecurity. 1 All the principalities of the ifland were hereditary, but when a Cacique died without Orfpr obfer- 1 iffiie, the children of his fifters fucceeded him preferably to thofe of his brothers. The reir.o" ofthek 1 rcafon of this cuftom was the fame with that which eftabliflied it in fo many other princes. 1 countries, efpecially iti America ; namely, that the fifters children are more certainly of E tlie uncle’s blood, than thofe of a brother. For the fame reafon they fhould have fet I allde the children of the prince himfelf, but cuftom interpofed in their favour. In fome provinces, the widows of the Caciques were obliged to follow their hufbands by way of company into their graves, on pain of paffingfor women that had been unfaithful to them during their lives. And when a woman happened to be too eafy about her charadter to fccure it at fo dear a rate, her children were excluded the fuccefiion, this behaviour of ters being confidered as a tacit acknowledgement of her offspring’s illegitimacy. * When the Caciques happened to differ, which was feldom knowm but on occafion ofxheirwars. their fifliing parties, the quarrel was foon terminated, and almoft always without the cffufion of blood'. And indeed their arms were ill contrived for that purpofe, being nothing more than flicks, or a kind of clubs, which they called Mancanas, about two fingers broad, terminating at one end in a point, and at the other in a handle like the hilt of a fword. They had likewife javelins, of the fame fubftance, that is, a very hard kind of wood, which they lanced with great dexterity. After all it muft be allowed, that thefe arms were fufficient for people who went quite naked, and made ufe of no defenfive Weapons, The worft circumftance that attended wounds made with this wood, which "Was very brittle, was its often leaving fplinters behind it. For as they wanted fkill to extradl them, the confequences generally proved fatal to life or limb. The inha¬ bitants of the Eaftern .provinces had the ufe of bows and arrows, which they no doubt borrowed from their inveterate enemies the Caribes, ■ who inhabited the Little Antilles, The common food of our iflanders was maiz, which in Europe is called Thr/ley-wheat, ’^beir food, or great millet, potatoes andcaffava ; the public may expedt a full account of all thefe socles in a very laborious work now preparing for the prefs. Hunting, fowling, and filing formed another great refource; but the beft of the game was always referved D - - Pqj. 10 y4DESCRIPTIONo/?/&e ISLAND for the Cacique’s table, and it would have been a crime in a fubjed to exprefs ever fo little a defire of tailing it. The leaf and root of a kind of Arum or calf s foot, whid, the French hzwe. called Caribee cabbage, purllane, wild fpinage, the buds of potatoes and of Mombins, were made ufe of on extraordinary occafions, or rather ferved as ra' gouts. They mixed them all up together, and feafoned them with their oxi, or pi. mento; this compofition they called Tracas. In times of fcarcity, when the ordinary foods were not to be got, they had recourfe to tlie wild fruits, with which their forefts;. bounded. Befides they had fo well accuftomed themfelves to eat of everything that cainj in their way, eventhofe things which fiaro/eaw abominate moll, fuch as worms, fpide,; bats, adders, and the like, that it was impoffible they fliould ftarve. But tho’ thefe animali are no way poifonous in the illands, the ufe of them, and the flightnefs of their commoj food, mull have been the true caufes of their having fuch bad conllitutlons, and bcinr fo incapable of hard labour. But if thefe illanders fared fo poorly, it was entirely tlici” own fault, for we may fafely affirm, that their country, and in general a great part of South America, has great advantages, in regard to the means of fubfillence, over Ennii where wheat and other corn fit for bread, are become of fuch abfolute necelfity, tiiat the failure of them generally occafions a famine, in confequence of which thou, fands perilli. But in this part of the New World there are fix fpecies of veg,.tablei, all as good food as bread, which never fail, biit multiply in a furprifing man- ner. The ground here may be made to yield three crops a year of maiz, and t«o of rice. Among the different kinds of potatoes, which are all very palatable aul wholefome, there is one called the fix-weeks potatoe, becaufe it may be eaten in lis weeks, or two months at moll, after fowing. In a tuft of bananiers, which gentrally confills of a dozen plants, there is always fome one or another loaded with fruit j aid this fruit likewife is very nourillfing. The manioc and igname are indeed to be kj but once a year, but the'crops are almoll always very plentiful; at leall they never cii be faid to fail, though thefe vegetables fcarce require any labour or attendance. Their houfes. The manner in which the inhabitants of Hatti built their houfes, perfectly anlVerd their frugality in other refpedls, all their buildings being reducible to two very fimpledf. figns. Every one was. at liberty to follow which he liked bell, there being no rule to contrary,but the poorer fort generally made ufe of thefollowing. They firll planted pretty deep in the ground, and in a circular form, at about four or five paces dillance, Ms about the fize of our rafterson thefe Hakes they laid flat, but very thick pieces of wood, which ferved to fullain a number of long poles united at top by their fmll ends, fo as, to form a conical roof. The poles W'ere bound together by canes, which, to make the frame the llronger, they placed two by two, and that only at about a palm interval between every two canes. To compleat the roof, they thatched it with veiy fine llraw, or with palm leaves, or the fmall ends of canes. As to the wall, the inter¬ vals between the flakes were filled up by canes fixed into the earth, and bound too¬ ther with a kind of very tough firings, called by Oviedo, Befchiufchi, that grow up fome trees, and hang down from the branches. The walls made in this manner were very folid, and fo tight, as not to admit the leall breath of air thro’ them. The canes ufed in building them grow to a much greater fize in America, than thofe to be fecniit Spain and Italy. The firings I mentioned, are of different fizes, and all, even the iinell, may be fplit in two, fo as to afford threads fit to bind up- the fmallefi parcels. They have befides their ufes in medicine, according to the. fame author, but he does notteil us what thefe ufes are. The houfes, or rather huts built in this manner, were litteft tt withfiand the impetuous winds, which fometimes infeft the illand. To make them ft® ftronger, it was ufual, at leall in fuch places as were moll expofed, to plant a poll in the center, and bind the extremities of all the poles to it. The other houfes were of tin fame materials and conflriidlion, but differed in form, being very like our barns, The roof was fupported by a long beam, and the beam itfelf by forked pieces of wood fixm in the ground from one end of the houfe to the other, fo as to divide it into twoequa apartments or rooms. Thefe houfes, were larger than the firll, and better adorael Many of them had a, kind of portico or porch, thatched with llraw. This was tte place where they received vifits; and Oviedo affures us, that the roofs of thefe parlouis . exceeded thofe of the houfes in Flanders at the time he wrote this account, juagl " language of thefe illanders was not every where exadlly the fame, for each pW' vince had its difiinifi dialed, but fuch, however, as could be underfiood in every otnet part of the illand j, that ufed in th^ heart of the; country was moll efleemed. It ; of HISPANIOLA or St DOMINGO, ii I deemed fucred, and in great vogue in the other provinces. Thefe dialers Were very i I- 'rom being barbarous, and were moreover attainable with great eafe. We may i !",‘g of theirlweetnels, by fome words of them that ftill fubfift, and which the other i ■ -tioas of Etirope have borrowed from the Spaniards. Our word canoe comes from j tbeir amaeba we have made hammock^ which is a kind of hanging bed 5 inf-de oi linnen or cotton, and fufpended at its corners, or extremities, by means of 5 -ones to two ports or trees, and of general ufe in all hot countries. Our iflanders called 5 fucani thofe terrible rtorms fo frequent in their country, and We have taken it at fe- ! cond hand from the Spaniards, juft changing it to hurricane. Father le Pers adds to tkefe words, the term Savanna j but this is a miftake ; for Mariana places it among thofe remaining among the Spaniards, of the ancient language of the Fifigoths, who con¬ quered them. ^ To return to their fongs, in which, as I faid before, all their annals confifted, they Their fongs were always accompanied with a round dance, and he who led the ball, firft be-“‘i‘^™“s- ran the fong, which was repeated after him by the reft of tlie company. He alfo regu- I jjted the fteps in the like manner: Firft he made fome fteps forwards, and then as : niany backwards, while all the other dancers copied after him. Tinie and meafure : were always ftrlftly obferved. Sometimes the men rianced by themfelves on one lide,and the women on the other; at other times the two fexes intermixed, and then it was in- diferent whether a man or woman led the way. But on public feftivals, and of her impor¬ tant occafions, they always danced to the found of a drum, and the drummer was gene- l tally the firft man in the town, or even the Cacique himfelf. Cacique, in the language ; of the country, fignified prince or lord, and the Spaniards have made a general word of I it, toexprefs not only all the Sovereigns of America, the Emperors of Mexico, and the i Incas ot Perti only excepted, but even the petty lords that commanded the fmalleft i villages. I This drum was nothing more than the trunk of a tree fafhioned into a cylinder, Drum to i on one fide of which was made a fquare oblong opening towards the oppofite fide, ; where, after leflening gradually, it terminated in another opening in the lhape of a H. : This drum, whofe mufic could not be very agreeable, they placed on its greateft opening, while they ftruck it with a ftick upon the other. Another diverfion called batos was equally in vogue among thefe iflanders. The batos Phy of the was a kind of ball or foot-ball, of a folid fubftance, but extremely light and elaftic, fo as to rebound almoft as much as thofe made of a bladder blown up within a i leathern cafe of a fpherical form. They never applied either hand or foot to it, but only : the head, hips, elbows, and efpecially the knees. The perfon who ftruck it laft, marked oae, and the game confifted of as many ftrokes as the players thought proper. The wo¬ men played at it as well as the men. Gonzalez Fernand iOviedo, an antient author, fays, that the batos confifted of a compofition made of the roots of ceytain trees, which he does not mention, and feveral herbs, by boiling them together; and that this com- pofilion formed a black pafte pretty much like pitch, but not flicking to the hands, when it was well dried. The number of players was not limited, andfometimes amounted to twenty on a fide. The opponents were feparated by a line, which it was not lawful for either to tranfgfefs. In every town there was a piece of ground fet apart for this exercife, and anoAer near it for more numerous parties, as, for example, when one town challenges another, which often happens. The victory was always celebrated by a general dance, at the conclufion of which Drankenefs they never foiled to get themfelves drunk with the fmoke of tobacco; a thing eafily accompliflied, as, in the firft place, they never began to fmoke till they were quite ex- haufted with fatigue; and, fecondly, the ftouteft head could holdout but a few mo- mentsagainft their manner of fmoking. Their way was to fpread moift leaves of to¬ bacco on half-kindled coal's, and then thruft the trunk of a pipe formed like a Y into the fmoke, and the two branches into their noftrils, and fo draw in the fumes, which foon afeended to the brain. Every man remained on the fpot, where he fell a vidlim to this fport, except the Cacique, whofe wives removed him to his bed, Whatever dreams fucceeded this drunkennefs, were confidered as fo many infpirations from heaven. But we may well imagine, that this kind of debauch, which had frequent returns, mull confiderably impair both the brain and the conftitution of thefe Indians. Tobacco was a natural produdlion of Hifpaniola ; the inhabitants called' it cohiba, and the inftrument with which they fmoked it, tabaco. This derivation is no longer called 12 ^DESCRIPTION of the ISLAND called in queftion, and it is a popular error to derive it from the ifland Tobago. Fatliet Labat’i opinion, that it comes from Tabafco, the name of a.town in A^ew Spain, so- pears equally ground lefs. The Spaniards fay, Eazcr un Tabaco, to fignify the diver, fion of round dancing and fmoking in the Ankrican manner ; and hence, it feem; mull be derived the word tabagie, fo much ufed by ancient voyage-writers to exprej,’ an Indian fellival. namcr"given thing is certain, which is, that this plant now fo well known, and adopted by to tobacco in many people for one of the molt indifpenfable necelTaries of life, was altogether ua- Fram. known to the ancients. As it iirft came into France by the way of Portugal, it for fome time had no other name than the Brafdian word, petun. It was afterwards called ^iieen’sherb and Nicotiana, becaufe the French owed their firlt knowledge of it toMonf, Nicot, ambalTador of Charles IX. at Lijbon, who at his return to France prefented fome of it to the queen mother, Catherine op Medicis. Father de Tertre, who wrote alnioH 8o years ago in the iflands of America, feldom gives it any other name than fetim • and Rochefort, who wrote at the fame time in Holland, never calls it by any other but that of tobacco. In fadt, this is the name the Butch knew it by, and which they borrowed from the Spaniards, with whom they always carried on a confiderable trade in this article. of tlieir oc- Neceffity fometimes prevailed over the indolence of thefe Ltdians, anrf ob- cupation. hands to fome employment, which generally confifted in fiih. Hunting, fowling, or hunting. In hunting they made ufe of little dumb dogs, which we fliall hereafter mention ; but often they did no more than fet fire to the four corners of a meadow, which by this means in a minute’s time they generally found covered wiih Fowlin roafted. They feldom fowled, and few of them knew the ufe of the bow °'' and arrow, tho’ they had induftry enough to fupply the want of arms. They ufed is particular to take great numbers of parrots, and their manner of catching them was lin¬ gular enough. A boy about eleven years old, climbed a tree with a tame parrot on his head. The fowlers then, covered all over with leaves, placed themfelves with as little nolle as poflible, round the trunk of it, and made the parrft feream. Upon this all the parrots wdthin hearing flocked about him, fereaming likewife with all their might. The child, on their alighting, calf a running knot round the neck of the bird that lay moll convenient to his hand, pulled it to him, and twilling its neck enough to kill it, let it fall to the ground; and went on in this manner till not a Angle bird remained. They had another method of catching wood-pigeons; they brought thefe birds to¬ gether by imitating their cooing, and then fecured them by nets which, as well as their fiihing-nets, were very well adapted to their feveral purpofes. Their preps- Tho’ thefe people, before the arrival of the Spaniards among them, were very far look old much as it is prized by us, they can by no means be faid to havedc- 00 orgo.d. pPgj jQ fearch very carefully for it, but then they generally fatisfied thera- felves with fuch little grains as were eafily found, which they ufed to flatten, and hang to their nollrils. Nay, it feems they conlidered this metal as fomething facred, fince they never went in fearch of it, till they had prepared themfelves by long falling and fome days continence : They even affirmed that as often as they omitted this preparation, their fearches proved unfuccefsful. Columbus did at firll all that lay in his power to prevail on the Spaniards to follow this example, and not fet out for the mines, till they had approached the facraments of confelfion and communion ; but he preached to no purpofe j no one lillened to him ; and when he offered to interpofe his authority, he was told that the church having enjoined confeffion and communion but once a year, it did not belong to him to make new precepts on the occafion; that after all, they found themfelves condemned againfl their inclinations to a much longer continence than that obferved by the illanders, fince they had left their wives behind them in Spain j and as to falling, their life, confidering the fmall pittance of bad food they were reduced to, might well pafs fora conftant and rigorous fall. Columbus, however, would not be con- tradidled, and, as far as it lay in his power, fuffered none to vifit the mines, but fuch as had prepared themfelves in the manner he propofed. I’liciimaimer The ancient inhabitants of Hifpaniola feldom employed themfelves in any fort of of cultivating hulbandry, and the Spaniat-ds found no tools among them fit for that purpofe. BroSg''lire I" ’’'® ^ manner their univerfal inllrument. They ufed to fet fire to the grafs pf their Savannas, (this is a term borrowed from the Spaniards, and fignifies plains, and in ' ■ general ^3 of HI S P ANIOLA or Si DOMl NGO. general every place that produces nothing but grafs. They ufed, I fay, to burn down 71,ji, die^rafsof their favannas, when thoroughly dried, and after a flight loofcning and 0-of culm-jir.g peniiiT the earth with flicks, fowed their maiz in it. ^ They never ufed ftones to procure fire, tho’ their ifland abounds with fuch as are very fitforthatpurpofe; perhaps theydid not know how to make ufe of them. Be that as it will, their way was to take two bits of wood, one very porous and light, the other denfe and Flrebycolliit- ■ |,jf(icr; this they fluck into the firft,and turned it very rapidly, much as we turn the little vt wooes. , |(J(i|-uinent for preparing chocolate. This violent collifion immediately produced fire from i the hard wood, while the foft wood ferved,like tinder or touchwood, to receive and retain it, i Fire alfo was the principal means employed by thefe people for conflrudting their 71, ; canoes or pirogues. After chufing a tree, they made a fire round it, jufl fufficient to nerofeon. ; kill it. for they let it fland to dry. After this they made another fire round it to bring ■! jt to the ground, and then fixing upon dimenfions, according to the intended fize of pirogue, i their veflel, they gradually hollowed the trunk with fire, paring off the burnt parts with a kind of hatchet or axe, made of a very hard green Hone. No quarries of this H.-itd.ess of : (lone have as yet been difeovered, either in this ifland or elfewhere. It is gene- ' rally believed, that they were brought hither from the river of Amazons, whofe flime, ■ it is laid, petrifies when expofed to the air. But then how could thefe iflanders, who : had no communication with.any other people, procure themfelves the flime of fodif- , tant a river. Tliefe people reprefented their deities under the moft hideous figures that can hHcous imat ; be imagined. The moft tolerable were toads, tortoifes, fnakes, and crocodiles. But in ' general, they were human figures horrible, and monftrous, with fomething in them botli frightful and ridiculous. From the great variety of thefe figures, it is rcafonable to think, that thefe iflanders believed a plurality of gods; and from their uglinefs, that they were perfuaded that thefe deities had more power to do harm than good ; and- lienee thefe poor heathens feldora thought of more than appeafing the fury of their gods, and engaging them by facrifices not to do them any mifehief. Thefe idols they called Chemis, or Zemes, and made them of chalk, ftone, or baked chrmh Hois earth. They placed them at the corners of their houfes, adorned their beft furniture with them, and imprefled the images of them on their bodies. It is not therefore fur- prizing, fince they had them cbnftantly before their eyes, and were under the greateft awe of them, that the forms of them often occurred in their dreams. They did not attribute the fame power to all thefe divinities. Some, they imagined, prefided over the feafons, and others over health; this clafs of genii over hunting, and that over fifh- ing ; and every deity had its peculiar worfliip and ofterings. Some authors, W'ho pre.- tend to have more thoroughly ftudied thefe people, affirm that they confidered the Zemes only as fubaltern divinities, and minifters of one, fovereign, eternal, infinite, " almighty, invifible Being. But this fupreme God they did not allow to be uncreated, for they gave him a mo¬ ther, who had five different names, which were, Attabeira, Mamona, Guacarapita, 7 /'- eHei and Guamaonocan. But neither this fupreme being, nor his -mother had any wor- fliip paid them, unlcfs we may refer to her the adoration paid to a divinity among the Zemes, in the form of a woman, attended by her two principal minifters, in con- flant readinefs to execute her orders. One of thefe minifters, they faid, was the God- defs’s herald, whofe bufinefs it was to fummon the other Zemes, when file wanted to fend them to faife winds, caufe rain, or otherwife procure mankind the bleflings they requefted. The other minifter had nothing to do but punifli by inundations, thofe who tefufed the goddefs that homage file required of all mankind. Don Fernando Columbus, in the life of his father, Chri/lopher Columbus, tells us, that tlieZewer were confidered as the tutelary gods of mankind, and that every man had his own particular Zemes, to whom he gave the preference above all the reft. He adds, that they ufed to fet them in private places, where no Chriftian was permitted to en¬ ter ; that whenever they were under apprehenfions of the difeovery of thefe private repofitories, they took care to remove the Zemes beforehand ; that fome Spaniards having one day entered the cabbin of a Cacique, they obferved a Zemes making a great vociferation, and uttering abundance of things in the language of the country, whicJi they did not underftand ; that concluding there muft be fome impofture in the aflirir, they kicked the ftatue to pieces, and thereby difeovered a long pipe between the head of the idol and a little corner covered with leaves, where a man, that could not be feen, E made lilt ^ DESCRIPTION 0 / ISLAND made the god fay whatever he pleafed ; that the Cacique begged the Spaniards not to % any thing of the matter, owning that he had recourl© to this trick, to make liis fubjefts obey him, and pay him tribute. Don Fernando adds, that the Caciquesho^A. three ftones which they kept very religioufly, on pretence that each had its particular virtue ; ons to make the feed grow, the fecond to make women bring forth v/ithout pain, and ihe third to procure rain or dry weather as need required. To conclude this fubjeft, we find in the moll ancient authors, the defcription of a Tin^ho- folemnity, which we fhall relate, as it is the only religious ceremony of this people, they of their have taken care to tranfmit to us. The Cacique appointed the day, and caufed it tobc proclaimed by publick criers. The folemnity began by a numerous proceffion, where the men and married women appeared in their moft precious ornaments; but the girls aififted quite naked as ufual. The Cacique, or principal man of the place, headed the march, in. celfantly beating a drum; and in this manner the whole company repaired to a temple full of idols, whofe figures refembled .devils more than gods. Here the priefts fiood ready to receive the offerings of the people, which they prefented to the divinities with great cries and bowlings. Part of thefe offerings confifted of cake, which the women brought in bafkets adorned with flowers. When the offerings had been performed, on a fignal given by the priefts, the women began to dance, and fing the praifesof the Zemes, to which they added thofe of the ancient Caciques, and concluding with a prayer for the profperity of the nation. The priefts after this broke the cakes, con- fecrated by their pious oblation, and diftribated them among the heads of families that were prefent. Thefe pieces of cakes were to be kept the year round, and were looked upon as prefervatives againft all manner of evils. The Cacique never entered the tem¬ ple, but feated himfelf at the door, where he continued to play on his drum, while the whole proceffion marched by him. The devout train entered the temple one by one ringing, and direfted their fteps towards the principal idol, and, as foon as they got in. to his prefence, thruft every one a ftick into their throats to excite vomiting. The fpirit of this ridiculous ceremony was to fliow, that to appear before the divinity in a religious manner, it was requifite to have a clean heart, and in a manner difcernable on the lips, Impotturcand The Zetnes communicated themfelves more particularly to the Butios, for thus they credulity, called their priefts, who were at the fame timephyficians, furgeons, and druggifts. jlnd tho’ the devil, if we may believe the old SpaniJI} writers, had fome lhare in the mu- faffions of thefe feveral profeffions, they were however attended with impoftutes merely human. When the Butios confulted the Zemes in publick, the god’s anfwer was never heard, but the people were left to judge of his intentions, by the countenincs of his prieft. If the prieft danced and fung, it was accounted a good fign, and the ’ fpedlators immediately expreffed their joy by every demonftration they could imagine, But if, on the contrary, the priefts put on a forrowful countenance, the votaries burft into i tears, and fafted till the divinity vouchfafed to give fome certain mark of his anger being appeafed. Prieils artful The Butios had no mark of diftindion, but the figure of a Zemes, which they al¬ to create ref- carried about them. They omitted nothing, however, that could make the people ' fear and refpedt them, and were particularly attentive to make the multitude believe, that they were frequently honoured with the converfation of their gods, and admitted ■ to theit moft intimate confidence, and informed by them of the moft fecret events of futurity. It was an eafy matter for thefe impoftors to get the afeendant over a rude and credulous nation, who often carried their veneration for them to fuch a degree, as to call them Zemes, and confider them as divine men. For tho’ the predidlions they ventured to make were often contradifted by events, they ftill found means to preferve both confidence and efteem. But the people were very far from always refpedflng thefe Butios in quality of phyli- in^pra'atog” priefts, as it was much harder to impofe upon phyfic with- them in regard to health, than in religious matters. When a fick perfon, in fpite of tlie out fuccefs. phyfician’s care and prediftions, happened to die under his hands, he was no longer con- fidered but as an ignorant impoftor. The neareft relations of the deceafed gathered a- bout the body, cut off the nails and hair, mixed them with the juice of a particular herb, and poured this compofition into the mouth, entreating the departed to let them know, if it was by the phyfician’s fault that the difeafe proved mortal. And, it is faid, that by virtue of magical operations and invocations, with which thefe entreaties were accompa¬ nied, they have at laft obtained an anfwer. Perhaps what happened on the occafion, was of HISPANIOLA, or St DOMINGO. is merely natural, for it is well known, that in all nations people have pretended to difco- ver the fecrets known to God alone, by figns which in themfelves were very ambiguous and indifferent. Be that as it will, if the real or fuppofed anfwer charged the phyfician, they immediately fell upon him, and tore him to pieces, when he had not the pre¬ caution to retire to a place of fafety. But it was requifite, in order to proceed lawfully to this inqueft, that the phyfician Ihould be already fufpedted j and very often the priefts themfelves accufed each other, out of jealoufy, of having neglefted the patient, or ma- licioufly ufed fome charm to abridge his days. It is however allowed, that the Butios applied themfelves with much diligence to the ftudy of fimples; but when their fkill tailed them, they made it up with deceit and affurance. Befides the people never for¬ got that they were minifters of thofe gods, whofe power they fo much dreaded, and therefore feldom dared to hurt them in cold blood. Their manner of treating the fick had fomething very ridiculous in it. They firft Tlievmerhod played a thoufand antic tricks about the patient’s bed, and then, after fucking the part affefled, produced a thorn, or fomething of that kind, which, as they affirmed, they had extrafted, but had in fadl taken care to hide in their mouths for that purpofe. ‘ Bcre,’ faid they, ‘ here h the thing that mde you fick, and it was fuch a one who con¬ trived to get it into your body.’ And thus thefe mountebanks fowed divifion among the beft united families. The prefent inhabitants of Hifpaniola Hill find the figures of Zones in feveral parts of the ifland, and it is by this fign they know, where Indian towns formerly flood, as well as by certain heaps of flaells found underground; the Indians having been very ’ 1 “'"°“' fond of fliell fifh; and as often as this happens, very curious difcoveries are to be made, by continuing to dig a little, in the neighbourhood of fuch heaps; for here are generally to be found every thing this people ufed ; fuch as earthen velTels, flat earthen plates for baking caffava bread, hatchets, and thofe little plates of gold they ufed to hang to their noftrils, and fometimes to their ears; but above all, a confiderably quantity of Zemes of every form. Thefe people had but very llender notions of the immortality of the foul and ano- ther life. They believed, however, that there was a place where the fouls of good men o'w inhabi-° met with rewards, but never fpoke of any torments prepared for the wicked. Every one placed this paradife in his own province, and reprefented to himfelf the life that was to be enjoyed there as very delicious, according to his own particular notions of things. They particularly rejoiced in the thoughts of finding their friends and relations there, and above all things great choice of wives. Some placed the refidence of departed fouls, near Lake Tdiberon^ where are great plains all covered with Manieys, a kind of fruit now call¬ ed the St Domingo Apricock. This, they pretended, was the ordinary food of thefe fouls, who provided themfelves with it in the night time, and lurked all day in moun¬ tainous and other places of difficult accefs. This opinion added a kind of facrednefs to the mamey, which is in itfelf an excellent fruit, and the living abftained from it thro’ refpefl, and for fear of expofing thedeceafed to the want of proper fubliftence. We have already related the extravagant notions of our iflanders, concerning the ori- Sacredcavems gin of men, and of the fun and moon. The cavern, from whence the fun and moon ofthefunand iffued, and which, we faid, was frequented by all the inhabitants of the ifland, con- tained two idols, to which they never failed to make very rich offerings. This cavern is thought to be the fame with that, in the ^uartier du London, at fix or feven leagues from Cape Francois.' It is one hundred and fifty feet deep, and about as many high, but very narrow. The entrance to it is larger every way, than the largeft coach-way, and the grotto receives no light but by this opening, and another in the roof, in the form of a ileeple, thro’ which, they added, the fun and moon launched out into the heavens. This Vault is all over fo regular and beautiful, that one can hardly think it the work of nature alone. There are no flatues to be feen in it, but Zemes on all fides engraved on the rock; and the whole cavern appears, as if divided into a great many niches, fome high and fome low, but all pretty deep; one would be apt to imagine that thefe niches had been made there on purpofe. The. women, according to another tradition, did not make their appearance in the World for a long time after the men. Thefe iflanders had no fet rules in regard to the number of their wives, feveral had two or three, and others a few more. One of the Pluraiitj' of fovereigns of the ifland, at the time it was difcovered, had thirty ; but thefe examples were rare. It appears, however, that in this refpedt every man was left to his owndif- cretion. description 0/ ISLAND cretion, and fuited the number of his wives to his abilities to maintain tliem, fo tiiet fe«, having any thing to fpare, the generality of them put up with one. As to prohibited degrees, they obferved none but the firft, which they never difpenfed with. Equality of Among the wives of the fame man, there was generally one more diftinguKhed than ■wives. ffiQ' yvitliout any fuperiory over them. All the wives lay round the hulLand and no jealoufy ever troubled the peace of the family. At the death of the Cacique above mentioned, two of his wives vyere obliged to keep Women in- Company, and be inclofcd alive in the grave where his body was depofited. But, at terred alive other times, Women have been known to pay this mark of love and rel'peft' freely and trafefhuf^^ of their own accord. In general they were permitted to do on the occafion as they t bM*. ” ked beft, and few were fools enough to throw thcmfclves away in this manner. The women were always charged with the care of burying their hulbands. This they Their fune- performed by firft wrapping up the body in bro.id cotton bandages, and then placing it in a ” '■ pretty deep grave with all the deceafed’s moft precious effefls. The corpfe was not laid out horizontally, but feated on a little bench under a kind of wooden arch, to hinder the earth from falling in upon it. This ceremony was accompanied with fongs and a medley of fuperftitions, of which no account has been left ns; but the bodies of the Caciques were not interred till they had been firft well emboweled and dried by fire. Such was the ftate of Haiti., when Columbus difeovered it in Decembcf 1492. Andhad the original inhabitants been treated by the firft adventurers and their fuccefiors with common humanity, they would probably be at this day one of the moft confiderable Jteople upon earth, fince they did not want the feeds of fenfe or courage, as afterwards appeared on many occafions; tho’ they fliewed too little of either in the beginning, to give the Spaniards reafon to treat them othervvife, than as a parcel of meek innocent chil- dren. Not only they received their new guefts with the greateft kindnefs, but gave them Simplicity of gold in plenty for fuch things, as the pooreft beggar in Europe would think beneath his the natives, notice. It muft however be allowed, in juftice to the crown of Spain, that it gave the ftriM Orders not to ufe them ill, and in juftice to Columbus, and fome other commanders, thattliey did their utm.oft to fee thefe orders ftridUy obeyed. But whenever the poor Indians driven T 'rannv and extremities by the impofitions, extortions, and cruelties of the adventurers, made any erad^"Ketittempt, or were even fufpedled to have formed any plan to redrefs or revenge them- Spamaris. felves, they were immediately treated by the officers as rebels, tho’ thofe who had ufd them as beafts, were left unpunifhed. And this behaviour of the officers was winked at, or rather approved by the court, as if any fovereign ftate or prince had a right to trsat as rebels, people whom they had no right to confider as fubjedls. Some, no doubt, had done homage to the crown of Spain, but fuch homage was generally obtained by force or fraud. And as to any pretence founded on the pains taken to make Chriftians of them, hothing can be more frivolous. Had the crown of Spain taken much more thank really did, the returns, even of the firft voyage, had been a fufficient equivulent; for, as te any rifk, it does not appear that the converfion of new-difeovered countries to Chrilli- anity, was the primary motive to venture in fearch of them. ’This confideration, it feems was of fuch weight with fome wife princes and honell minifters of Spain, that the adventurers were obliged to bethink thernfelves of a ftrata- gem to hold the Indians in fubje(ftion. They reprefented the Indians as incapable of go¬ verning themfelves,andurged the impoffibility of bringing them over to Chriftianity, if they were not ranged andentrufted to the care of Spaniards, who, as guardians, fhould be in- titled to certain fervices from thefe poor people. But, inftead of complying with the rules preferibed for their behaviour as tutors, many of them neither took any pains to in- ftruft their puplis, nor obferved any meafures in the hardftiips impofed upon them. Nay, fome had the impudence to affirm, that the Indians were incapable of inftruftion, in hopes of acquiring a right to ufe them like beafts, when they gave up that of treating Converfion of like pupils; while Others moft fcandaloufly threw out inveftives, and even made the/vAnwto oppofition in the churches, againft fome zealous miffioners come over on purpofe to preach the gofpel to the Indians, for fear they fliould become more knowing, and of courfe lefs fubmiffive to their worfe thaniE,gj/i/w«tafk-mafters. But, as a celebrated authoryery judicioufly remarks, thofe minifters of darknefs had no occafion to oppofe the inftruflions thus given the Indians, fince their own ill ufage of the poor people, and their bad examples, were fufficient to defeat them. However, the pious and charitable behaviour of the mim- oners 1 ? of BISPANtOLA, or St DOMINGO. oners unrtpei^eilly got the. better of their prejudices, and made them apply for baptifm w^th an earueftnefs, that even thofe, who entertained the tnoll favourable opinion of them, never expedled. But it would be highly unjuft to fuppofe the body of the Spanijh nation fo univerfally negligent or obdurate, as not to afford fome perfons capable of underftanding, and refolute enough to plead the caufe of the poor abufed hidians. Earthekmy de Ids Cafas^ Licenti- iteot Divinity, and afterwards Bilhop of Chiappi, the whole order of DominkanSf many others of the clergy, and the Jeronomites, who were firft fent over to examine into tlie ^iieircaafe grievances of the Indians, openly cfpoufed their caufe, Las Cafas, in particular, and efpoufed. tiie Dominicans, denounced from the pulpits of San Domingo the vengeance of heaven asainft their cruel guardians, and las Cafas returned to Spain, to defend their caufe before his Catholic majefty, and was thereupon declared their protedlor, in which office he exert-* ed himfelf with indefatigable patience and zeal. It is univerfally allowed, however, that he has greatly exaggerated the cruelty of his countrymen. It would be unpardonable not to mention the excellent Ifabella Queen of Cafiile, whofe having chiefly contributed to Columbus’s undertaking is the fmalleft part of her merit. She foX^Qu/of tookall opportunities of enforcing the diredtions the had firft: given for treating the In- CapiU. dials, in every refpedt. like the Spaniards themfelves; and carried her zeal fo far, that fhe even recalled her favourite Columbus, becaufe he had, as fhe imagined, trcfpafled againft her orders on this head. One of the chief articles of her will was in their fa¬ vour, and it is more than probable fhe would have chearfully facrificed her authority over thefe people, for the fake of forwarding the great and glorious work of civilizing and converting them. The cruelty of tire adventurers would, no doubt, have alone been fufficient to exter¬ minate the Indians, but tome contagious diforders, and efpecially the fmall pox, made great devaftations among them. Some authors will have the French difeafe to be a na- , five of Europe, others make the fmall pox a native of America ; but it is equally probable °thc that we gave the Americans the laft, and received from them the firft. In this unfortu- Fmciini Uate-eommutatiort however, in which both fides were lofers, the Indians were more to r“- be pitied than the Europeans, on whole part the moft dangerous of the two diforders was altogether voluntary. Whatever be the cafe, hard labour, barbarous ufage, and ficknefs, made fuch havock among the poor Haitians, that, in the year 1509, there remained but 60,000, out of dwindled a- 1,200,000 fouls found on the ifland, by the moft moderate computation, at the firft ^^iderabk* landing of the Spaniards. In four years more, thefe miferable remains were reduced to number. 20,000, and at the year 1533, to 4000. In confequence of the bold behaviour, wife condudt, and Angular moderation of a young Cacique, who, driven to extremities, had can¬ toned himfelf in inacceffible mountains, from whence alfo a multitude of fugitive Indians, encouraged by his example, had Id harraffetL the Spaniards as to make them think of a- bandoning the ifland, the laft remnant abovementioned were fet at liberty, permitted to fettle in any . part of the country, and committed to the jurifdidion of the Gt«yw, who, purfuanttoQm Ifabella's had received a good education, and of hisfucceflorsurtder the name Of Caciques of Haiti. Thefe chiefs were even entrufted with a power of life and death, but thofe who thought themfelves aggrieved, had liberty tt) appeal to the royal tribunal of San Domingo. And it does not appear that this colony of Indians, as it is called, tho’ fettled in their own country, has ever fince had the leaft teafon to cotnplain of die Spaniards. We are however well affured, that in the year 1716, with all their advantages, it confifted of no more than about thirty men and twice as many Women. In proportion as the Indians dwindled aw^ay the Spaniards grew rich and numerous, fill an iiifatiable thirft of gold drove thofe harpies to Mexico and Peru, fo that at laft hands were wanting to work the mines, and thofe who remained were in procefs of time, thro’ reftraints upon their commerce, and by the depredations of the Dutch, French, and Engtifh, but more perhaps thro’ their own indolence, reduced to the greateft mifery anddifttefs. By the beginning of the year 1506 they had builtand peopled 17 towns,and the gold dug annually out of the mines, and found in the rivers,amounted at leaft 460,000 marks, or 1,840,000 ounces. In the fame year they began to cultivate fugar, and were colpj foon in a condition to export great quantities of that valuable commodity, as alfo of hides, caflia, tallow, horfes, pork, and provifions of all kinds, haviiig replaced the Indians with Negroes, who, tho' not fo good minets, Vaftly furpaffedtheth jn every Other kind of work. F tyngs i8 ^ DESCRIPTION ISLAND Things remained nearly in the fame fitiiation as to exports, except gold, fur many years, till at laft they took an irretrievable turn, and went backwards fo faft, that in the year 1606, the colony was no longer to be known. San Domingo the capital, a port for iherly crowded with fliips of all nations, now received but one yearly from Spai?/^ th" only country in Europe with which it had been for fome time permitted, and now could poffibly trade. And the inhabitants of the ifland in general were reduced to fuch diftrefs • that it was Found necelfary in feveral places to celebratate divine fervice before day-light’ to give the people an opportunity of complying with the precepts of the church, vvitfo out trefpaffing againll decency, by appearing at it half naked in the day-time. ’ In 1630, a multitude of French, juft expelled-from St Chrijlophers hy thtSpaniaris with fome other adventurers, Englifli as well as French, finding the Northern coaft of Firft fettle- Hifpa/iiola uninhabited, and abounding with fwine and black cattle,thGught proper to take ment^of the poffeffion of it, and with the more confidence as relying on afliftance from the Dutch mjpanMa. '"^^0 frequented thefe feas, and promifed to fupply them with whatever they want¬ ed in exchange for hides procured by hunting. Thefe firft fettlers were called Buccaneers, from their cuftom of aflemhling after a chace, in order to regale themfelves with broiling the fiefli of the cattle they had killed B^can hu 'ccanning, that is, drying the reft. But many of them, foon tired of this new wav i'reSootck of life, chofe to turn pirates, trufting to find, among thofe who remained on land a quick fale for all the booty they could make at fea. This new body of adventurer’ were called Freebooters, from their making free prey or booty of whatever came to their hands. Thefe Freebooters reforted chiefly to Tortuga, where a harbonr afforded fecurity to their fliips, and the inland parts of the country to themfelves, efpecially againft the ffc. HlandofT ^hom they had moft reafon to fear. The Northern coaft of this ifland isal. /^adeferibed “0^ inacceffible even to canoes, and the Southern has but the one juft mentioned har¬ bour, which however is not fo much a port, as a pretty fafe road about two leagues from the Eaftern point of the ifland, and therefore Amply called, the Road. It affords good an¬ chorage in a fine fand, and may be very eafily defended by planting a battery on a hill that commands it. - The lands near this road'are univerfally good, and contain fome fee plains of wonderful fertility. The whole ifland is covered with very tall trees, growing between rocks, where it is a wonder how they are nouriflied. The Acajou is the prin¬ cipal, and ftill conftitutes the chief riches of the country. Tortuga is eight leagues in length from Baft to Weft, and two leagues from North to South,-.which is alfo the breadth of the channel between it and iS? Its latitude is 20° 10';- the airii very good, but there is no river, and -but very few .fprings. The moft confiderable yieUs a ftream of excellent water, as ,big as a man’s arm j the reft are inconfiderable, whence tlie inhabitants were obliged to referve the rain-waters. This ifland, tho’ now in a man¬ ner uninhabited, had formerly fix diftrifts wmll peopled, namely, la Bajfe Terre, Cajmiii, la Montague, la Milplantage, le Ringot, and la Fointe au Mapon j and a feveiith called Cabejierre would have been peopled, but for. the fcarcity of frefli water. All the vegeta¬ bles of the Antilles were to be found here, its tobacco efpecially was excellent, and the fugar canes of an uncommon fize and goodnefs; fome hogs brought hither from St Domingo had multiplied prodigioufly, and tho’ fmaller than thofe of the. great ifland, their 'flefli was more delicate. Laftly, the feas on all the coafts, efpecially. on the Soutli, abounded with fifli. ■ . , .. . Seized by the the Freebooters formed a defign to, feize on. it had a fmall garrifonof Freebooters, twenty-fjve Spaniards, who confidering their fituation as ho hetterthan an exile,.were pro¬ bably as glad to be fummoned by the Freebooters to leave it, as the others were to fee their fiimmons obeyed without refiftance.' ; As fobn as the inhabitants of St Chrijlophers got notice of what was doing on the coaft lo*"™®“'6f St Domingo, they efcaped in-numbers to Tortuga, in hopes of making, fpeedier for¬ tunes by a freer commerce with ftrangers, and efpecially with the Freebooters, who always gave good prices, and afforded good bargains.. Many of the new comers ajjplied them¬ felves to hufbandry, and planted tobacco, and the refort of Frew/j fliips, elpeckllyfiom. greatly contributed to . the profperity of the colony. ,-Thefe fliips fupplied the' fettlers withfervants bound for three years, and doing all the fervices that cpuld be ex- ■ peded from flaves. '- - and ‘ .’^ 1 ‘tis the colony cohfifted of four claflesBuccaneers, Freebooters, Planters, and In- govetunent, 'dented Servants, -- whg-generally remained with the BuccaneerSj or Planters. . Apd thefe " ■ ' A ' four of HI S P A NIO L Ai or St DO M1 NGO. four orders compofcd what they now began to call the body of Adventurers. Thefe G --ple lived together in a perfeft harmony under a kind of democracy j every freeman A^vemure.-s. a defpotic authority over his own family, and every captain was a fovereign in his own (liip, tho’ liable to be difcarded at tbe difcretion of the crew. The court of Spain was infinitely more alarmed at the eftablilhment formed by thefe Adventurers, than it had been at that of the French and Englifi at St Chriftophers Wherefore, from a perfuafion that if thofe on the ifland of Tortuga could be once dif-^fpoir/of lodged, the reft would difperfeof themfelves, the general of the galleons had orders to^'"'"^''- attack this illand, and, in order to make lliort work of it, to put to the fword all he ftouldfind there. This commiflion the general executed perfedly well; for while part of the inhabitants were engaged in hunting with the Buccaneers in the ifland of St Domingo, he fell upon the remainder, put to the fword all he found, and hanged thofe who in hopes of mercy furrendered at difcretion. Some few fled to the woods and mountains, vihom iht Spaniards did not think worth their pains to purfue, and left the illand without a garrifon. His next care wms to rid Hifpaniola itfelf of Buccaneers, for which purpofe the Gene¬ ral affembled a body of five hundred lancemen, who, as theyfeldom marched more^'than fifty in a company, were called the Fifties. The Buccaneers, well knowing that no peace was to be expeded from the Spaniards, thought it beft for their defence to eledl a diief, and made choice of one Willis, an EngliJImian, of great conduft and bravery. But he Buccaneers e fdon gave them realon to repent their favour, for he drew about him a multitude of his ' countrymen, and laughed at his eledors when they propofcd transferring the command to another. Hence this colony muft have been irretrievably loft to France, had not a bold adventurer found means of oppofing to Willis a man of, fuperior merit. This Adventurer embarked privately for St Chrifophers, and informed M. de Poind go¬ vernor general of the French Windward iflands, of all that had happened at Tortuga : . „ - The governor, who well underftood the importance of this ifland to his country, imme-poterf'™?' diately refolved to refcuc it out of the hands of the EngHfi, and chofe for this purpofe an vemorot fc- officer named le Vajfetir, a fldlful engineer, and a man of great valour and condud, but a Cahinijl. To this worthy perfon, befides the government of Tortuga, and of the coaft of St Fiomhigo, he granted, by way of further encourageinent, the free exercife of his reli¬ gion for himfelf, and all others of his perfuafion who would accompany him in thisex- Thefe terms were too favourable for/e Vajjeur to refufe them, and therefore he af- fembled as many inhabitants as were willing to go with him, and fet fail with nq more than thirty-nme men under his command for Tortuga. ■ He did not however think pro- Expels im, per to appear before it, till he had got fome intelligence from the buccaneers on the coaft pf St Doming. With this view he put in at Port Margot, about feven leagues to the leeward of Tortuga, where.he remained three months, during which he raifed fome foldiers, and was joined by fifty Buccaneers, moftly Proteftants. He then proceeded to f>rjuga, in hopes that all the fra/c/j under Willis would come over to hirh, as in fiicT they did. Having landed without refiftance, he marched in order of battle, and fummoned Willis and all the Englip in the. ifland to leave it in twenty-four hours, if they expefted quar¬ ters. So unexpeifted a fummons, followed by the infurredion of the Frenchmen under him flruck fuch a terror into Willis, that, without examining whether le Vaffeur could make bis words good, he abandoned the ifland.leaving the Frenchmen in polfeflion of a fort hehad built, and fortified with fome cannon. ' The ^ngljjh gave the French no farther uneafinefs, but the Spaniards being determi¬ ned, coft \yhat it would, to fuffer no ftrangers on this ifland, or ori the coafts of StZ)o- fitted outa fquadron of fix fliips, and put on board fix hundred land forces, who Repulfes ,he entered .the ropd in full confidence of vidory. Five or fix hundred paces from theTea is aliilUvith.a plain on its top, about the middle of which rifes a rock thirty feet high, and very fteep on erery fide, about nine or ten paces from the fpring abovementiond.Oh mis plapi le Kalfeur had formed terralTes capable of lodging four hundred men at their f* ■ ‘ ‘akep. up his quarters, and dllpofed his magazines on the top of the rock, which was amended half way by fteps cut in it, and above thefe by an iron ladder, which could Kdrawn up at pleamre.,; .He had befides contrived a tube like a chimney, thro’ which a if down upon the terras without being feen. This port, however maccellible m itfplf, was befides defended by a battery, and there was another on the terras, , ich.^mmandedthe port. Le Faffeur'Merei the Spaniards to come within half cannon (hot of his works, when he fired fo fiirioufly, and put them in fuch diforder, that ' with 20 ^DESCRIPTION 6f the ISLAND with much difficulty recovering their boats, they weighed anchor the mbmentthey got onboard their ffiips. However, fome time after they landed again, but at a good diftance from the fortj at a place where k Vaffeur could not, or did not think proper to oppofe them, but immediately marched in order of battle towards the hill, in hopes of carrying it by ftorm. But by the way they fell into an a'mbufcade, and with the lofs of two hundred men killed on the fpot, fled back to their fliips with the utmoft precipitation and never appeared afterwards. ’ Evadesapk: M.grownjealousof /? or apprehending that he might ereft alittle hitnS^')- republic in Tdfluga, formed a delign to remove him from thence with the firft vernment. opportunity. For this purpofe he fent his nephew to him, under pretence of compli. menting him on his fuccefs, and inviting him to a conference at St Chrijicphers, in order to concert further meafures for the good of the new colony of St Domingo, but with or. ders as foon as k FaJeUr left the ifland, to affume the government of it himfelf. But/r Fafeur quickly faw thro’ the Envoy’s fair fpeeches, and, tho’ he treated him with the ut- , moft refpedt and ceremony, excufed himfelf from leaving the ifland, for fear, he faid^ the Spaniards fhould attack it in his abfence, and, finding it without a chief, make an eafy conqueft of it. Le Fajfeur, no doubt, might have eafily effeded what was mofl: apprehended by ii Becomes a Poinci, had he continued to behave with as much moderation, as condud and valour j tyrant. But as foon as he faw himfelf in a condition to fear nothing from without, he gave him. felf little trouble to gain the love of his own people. Firlf, he deprived the catholics of the free exercife of their religion, burnt down their chapel, expelled the priefts who of. ficiated therCj and took every other meafure he could devife to get rid of them. Nest he quarrelled with his own'minifter, and, at length, played the tyrant with all his fubicflt indifferently, loaded them with taxes, puniflied them for the leaft faults with the greatell feverity, having contrived an iron cage, in which the inclofed could neither Hand nor lit, This he called his Hell, arid the dungeon of the caftle, a place fca'rce more tolerable, his Purgatory. In fhort, from being mild, affable, and generous, he became all at once cruel, haughty, and interelled to the laft degree. He ftill, however, made great profeflions of refpedt for M. de Poinci, till he thought himfelf fufficiently eftablifhed to apprehend no* thing from that quartet. For onM.de Poinci’% requeft to fend him a filver ftatue of the Bleffed Virgin, taken by fome Freebooters on board a SpaniPo veffel, as more fuitable to a Catholic, and-a knight of Malta, tha; to a Proteftant, le Fajfeur fent him the model of it in Wood, telling him that he knew the catholics had too much fenfe to fix their efteem on the materials of which fuch things were made, and that the filver image was of fuch exquifite workmanfliip, that he could not prevail upon himfelf to part with it, De Poinci, vrs may well think, would immediately have attempted to revenge thil infult, but he happened at this time to have work of more importance upon his hands. The court of France having nominated another general to fucceed him, he thought proper not to refign his place, principally for fear of being called to an account on Ids return to France for his conceffions to k Fajjeiir. This ftep bred a civil War in the in* Wants to be ^blonies, fome fiding with the new general, while others adhered to the old, U acknowledged Faffeur taking advantage of their divifions, endeavoured, by reprefenting to the Protef- p.inceoiTar-tants oiFortuga, that ifland as afure afylum for thofe of their perfuafion, to engage them to acknowledge him for their prince. But de Poinci getting the better of his adverfary, and feeing himfelf again in quiet pof feffion of his government,turned all his thoughts to theredudlion of his dangerous neighbouf le Fijfeur. For this purpofe he fitted out two (hips, and gave the command of them, alfo of Tortuga, and thecoaft of St Domingo toM. de Fontetiay, who, the better to cover hiS -■ dcfignd; gave out that this-armament was intended only agaihftthe Spaniards. But he Affa mated, ^ Qp gf oppofite to Tortuga, than he was informed that le Fajfeur had been affaffinated by Martin and Tbibuet, two of his j^ifa'ns, faid to be his nephews, but certainly conftituted his heirs, who, after their par* ricide, had feized upon the government, and all le Faffeur’& treafures. On this news, M. de Fontenay fet fail for Tortuga, and after he had been driven finm the roid by the can* non of the fort, landed his troops at Cayotme. But the ufurpers, finding the inhabitants no way difpofed to run any rifle on their aC* iflicd fonen. count, thought proper to furrender the fort, on condition of pardon for what was pad. dered to M. and kavc to keep their ill-got treafures. The news of this fuccefs no focmer reached St Doini»ff> of HISPANIOLA, dr St DOMINGO. ;a.i Domingo, than all the Catholics whom le VaJJetir had driven out of the ifland, or who had retired from it to avoid his tyranny, immediately returned. Be Fontenay then fet about repairing and enlarging the fortifications, and eredled two pottiacd, ani great baftions of hewn ftone, which took in the whole plain, and extended to an adja- cent mountain, hitherto thought inacceffible. The ifland upon this grew fo populous, that for want of room, fome families were fent to St Domingo, where they fettled, on the Weftern (hore, tho’nearer to the iS/iawrWr than the North-Weft, and fai'tlier fronf kortuga, whence alone they could expedl affiftance. This new fettlement alarmed the Spaiiiards, who therefore fent fome armed boats, to cruflr it in its infiincy; but the Buccaneers and Feeebooters fpeedily repaired to the aftift- ance of their brethren, and obliged the enemy to retire after burning a few plantations. The Spaniards, provoked at their difappointment, refolved to deftroy the root of . the evil, by recovering Tortuga, and leaving a force there fufficient to fec'ure the polTeftion of imprudence iuo his Catholic majefty. Nor was it long before de Fontenay gave them a favourable op- of the liew ’ jMrmnity of effeifting their defigns, as he not only permitted, but encouraged the inha- S°''eraor., biants to join in cruifing with the Freebooters, who now reforted hither from all.quar- urs. Hence the lands were fometimes left uninhabited, and the fortifications. without (Vfenders. , _ ^ . The Spaniards took advantage of this negligence and fecurity, and made difpofitions ''.reconquer the ifland with fuch fecrecy, that the governor had fcarce time to prepare .fjr their reception. And atlaft their fleet, confifting of five large veflels, with a multi- iade of barks full of troops and ftores, commanded by Don Gabriel Rozas, appeared in the ro."d. Hence, annoyed by the cannon of the fort, they retired, and landed at Cayonne in fpite of all the refiftance the French could make. After a reft of three days, they made a iijfition, which (hewed thattheir intention was to ereft a battery on the top of the mountain ad'acent to the baftions of the fortrefs. The French laughed at the attempt, till a volley iom the cannon aflured them of its fuccefs, and forced them to defertthe upper wprks of :he fort. The befieged, however, made a refolute defence, and erefled an epaulm'ent, which fecured them againft this formidable battery. But the Spaniards, planted another halhvay up the mountain, which fcoured tlie fort from one end of the new defence to the otlier. The French had now no other refource left, but to nail up the enemy’s can- fton, and they attempted it with great bravery, but the befiegers, forewarned by a fu¬ gitive Have, repulfed them with lofs. This fuccefs jf the Spaniards, and the deftrudfion of the garrifon occafioned a mutiny in the fort, which the governor with much difficulty appeafed. In the mean time, the Spaniards, who had flattered themfelves with carrying the place by ftorm, began to grow as lick of the liege as the French, and were pre.- piring to retire, when a fecond deferter informed them of the ftate of the befieged. On this advice they redoubled their fire, and de Fontenay, after another vigorous, but unfuc- cefsful fally, finding he had as much to fear from within as without, determined to fur- render, and obtained very honourable terms, by which, among other things, it was agreed that the French (hould, as foon as poffible, get afloat two jliips tl\at jay .ftranded in the road, and retire on board them wherever they thought proper. On one of thefe embarked Martin and Thibet, with the women, and children of the ifland ; but thefe aflafiins, one of whom had his wicked hand, which had been fliattered by a granado, cutoff, falling Ihort of provifions, put all their ufelefs mouths aflidre on fome defert ifland, and proceeding to fea were never heard of afterwards, and Ttihi M. de Fontenay, with the reft of the French, embarked in the other Ihip, which prd- . ving leaky, they put into Port Margot, where a Dutch veflel, on a fuppofition that they tvere returning to France, fupplied them with every thing they wanted. This .encoura- ged Fontenay to attempt tlie recovery of Tortuga, which he had in a great meafure.’loftx«. thro’his own fault, and having propofed it to his men, and fome Buccaneers, they, all fwore never to defert him. He therefore immediately fet fail for Cayonne., and repulfing the,Sj)iZ«wrr/f who oppofed his landing, purfued them vigoroufly.jn hopes of . entering, pell-mell with them into the fort, till a dog happened to difcover.an ambufeade laid for them. The French on this made fo furious a fire on the Spaniards in ambufeade, that ■they immediately fled with precipitation, but the French too fiitigUed to follow them, kept fliort at a fpring torefrefh themfelves; here the Spaniards made a fally upon them, hut were forced to retire. Thefe fuccefles however availed nothing, as tFes Fraich want¬ ed camion to batter tlie place. Hence they were on the .point of relinquifhing the projedt, 'Vhen Fontenay bethought himfelf of thecannon,whichthe5/i7;/wn)'f hadplantedagainft'the G epaulment 22 ^DESCRIPTION of IS LAND epaulment he had raifed to fecure himfelf from the batteries on the fummit of mountain, and which, as he was informed, they had left on the fame fpot, furround- ed with felled trees, and guarded by fifty men. Wherefore with all fpeed he climbed •the mountain, and attacked the party, which, furprifed at fo unexpedted a vifit, quid-l gave way, and left him in pofleffion of what he wanted. But he came Ihbrt of gf. powder, and was obliged to abandon his promifing enterprize. The Adventurers upon this began to forget Tortuga. The Buccaneers with much dif. ficulty defended themfelves againft the SpaniJIj fifties. -Such of the Adventurers, jj preferred planting, and were rich enough to undertake it, retired to the Wefterncoaft fettledof Tiomingo, where the eftablilhment formed in the Great Bay, called the Cul de Sac it Sac. grew daily ftronger, in fpite of all the meafures taken by the Spaniards to crulh it' As to the Freebooters, who confifted of a greater mixture of nations than either of the two other claffes, they offered their fervice to the EngliPa, who, after mifearrying in aj attempt upon St Domingo, thought fit to attack Jamaica, where they met with better quering Ja- fuccefs, driving all the Spaniards into the woods and mountains. But as they could not be eafy, while their enemies remained in thefe faftnelTes, they called fome of the Bucca. neers of St Domingo, as fitteft to fcour fuch places, and fetting a price on the heads of the fugitive Spaniards, were fo well ferved by thefe Adventurers, that the remains of the fugitives were foon glad to come in and afk quarter. Jir/aga reta- In i66o,Tortuga returned again under the dominion of France, thro’ the conduftanii ken by the bravery of M. tfe RauJI'et. This officer landed part -of his troops from canoes on tie French. Northern xroaft, from whence they climbed the mountain at the back of the fort, and. furprifed the guard of the cannon with which the Spaniards had formerly forced the .fharfi to furrender, while he advanced with the reft unfeen, and attacked them on the South. RauJJet foon after returned to France, leaving the command to his nephew M, la Place, a .man well qualified for his truft, who fent inhabitantsto'Psr? de Paix andoihet .places, but was foon after obliged to give place to M. d’Ogeron, whom the French kinj bad named governor, on the recommendation of the Wefi India company, to whom he had granted on their fatisfying for his claims, in confequence of his tin- idertaking- the recovery of it at his own peril and coft. The French writers confiderthh event as theepocha of the foundation of their colony of St Domingo, and M. de Ogm, for his fmgular prudence in executing his commmiffion, as the father of it. Theirac- count of the ftate of the French and SpanifJ} colonies at that period, has importance e- cough for inducing us to tranferibe the moft material particulars. The Spanijf: cohny confifted of about fourteen thoufand Spaniards and other freenitn stat f the colours, with as many Haves, befides about twelve hundred fugitive Negros, Sfa'i/colo- intrenched on an almoft inacceffible mountain about feven leagues from the capital, who nyofHi^a- kept all the country, and the capital itfelf, under contribution. Next to the capital, which contained about five hundred houfes, was St Jago, inhabited chiefly by merchants (and goldfmiths. This town had been pillaged a few years before by five hundred Frmi adventurers, provided with an Englifi commiffion, in revenge for the death of fome of their countrymen, taken by the captain of a Spanijh man of war out of a neutral Ihip, and put .to death in breach of his oath not to hurt them. The other Spanijh fettle- ments were little open defencelefs towns, whofe inhabitants were in moft wretched cir- cumftances. State of the The worft of thefe habitations, was however better than the beftof the French con- Frcnch. fijered in themfelves. Tortuga, the capital of thisinfiint colony, had but two hundred and fifty inhabitants, who cultivated nothing but tobacco. A little illand by Port Morpt, feven leagues from Tortuga, about half a league in circumference, had fixty dwellerS) and on the oppofite part of the great ifland, there might be reckoned ninety more. M. k P/are had begun toclearfomegroundat Port de Paix,bat this fettlement was fcarceworth mention.OnalltheWefternffiore there was no fettlement butLraganc, which confifted in* deedof atleaft an hundred and fifty inhabitants, half of them in Ogeron’s pay. This wasbe- iides the ordinary rendezvous of the Buccaneers, when purfued by the Spanijh fifties- But neither the Buccaneers, in number three thoufand, nor the Freebooters almoft as numerous, are included in this lift. As thefe two bodies were the principal fupport of this colony, and the Spaniards of courfe did their utmoft to extirpate them, the reader may be fuppofed to require a particular defeription of their manners and cuftoros, which were indeed quite Angular and curious. The Buccaneers beftowed the name of Boucans, from, whence they took their own, 23 of HISPANIOLA, or St DOMINGO. on (oiiie little fpots of cleared ground, large enough for drying their Ikins, and erefting fome houfes for buccanning their meat, with fome huts, which they called Ajoupas, a word they borrowed from the Spaniards, and the Spaniards from the Haitians. Thefe huts were a bare defence againft fun and rain, being on all fides open to the wind, whofe refrefliing gales were very agreeable to the inhabitants. As the adventurers had neither wife nor child, they aflbciated by pairs, and mutually tendered each other all the fervice a mafter could reafonably expeft from a fervant, living together in fo perfeft-a community, that the furviver always fucceeded his partner. This uniting, or knitting, in fellowfldp they called S'emateloter [infailoring], and each other [failor], whence is derived, at leaf!: in fome parts of the French dominions, the cuftom of giving the name Matehtagc [failoragej, to any kind of fociety formed by private perfons for their mutual advantage. They behaved to each other with the greateft juftice and open- nefsof heart; it would have been a crime to keep any thing under lock and key, but on the other hand the leaft pilfering was unpardonable, and puniflied with expulfion from the community. And indeed there could be no great temptation to fteal, when it was reckoned a point of honour never to refufe a neighbour what he wanted; and where there Was fo little property, it was impoffible there fliould be many difputes. If any happened, the common friends of the parties at variance interpreted, aild foon put an end to the difference, \fhis feems in part a defcription of the golden age, and proves the truth of the proverb, there is honesty among thieves.] As to law.sthe Buccaneers acknowledged none but an odd jumble of conventions rriade hetvreen themfelves, which, however, they regarded as the'fovereign rule. They fileri- and religion, ced all objedlions by cooly anfwering, that it was not the cuftom of the coaft, and ground¬ ed their right of proceeding in fuch a cafe, on their baptifih under the tropic,which freed them, in their opinion, from all obligations antecedent to this marine ceremony. They were under very little fubjedtion to the governor of FortugU, and Were fatisfied with ren¬ dering him from time to time fome flight homage.Theyhad in a manner entirely fliaken off the yoke of religion, and thought they did a great deal, in Hot wholly forgetting the God of their fathers. We are furprifed to meet with nations, among whom it iS a diffituit matter to difcover any traces of a religious worfhip: And yet it is certain, that hail the Buccaneers of St Domingo been perpetuated on the fame footing they fubfifted at this time, the third or fourth generation of them, would have as little religion as the Cajres and Hottentots of Africa, or the Topinambous&ni Gannibalshi Aiaerica. They even laid afide their furnames, and affumed nick-names, or martial names, rtiOft Altume niefc- of which have continued in their families to this day. Many however, on their marry- ing, which feldom happened till they turned planters, took care to have their real frit- names inferted in the marriage contradt; and this pradlice gave occafion to a proverb, frill current in the French Antilles, A man is not to be known till he takes a wife. They wore nothing but a filthy greafy fhirt, dyed with the blood of thfe anirhals they ^ killed, a pair of troufers ftill more nafty, athong ofleatherfor abelt, towhich they hung Theirappa* a cafe containing fome Dutch knives, and a kind of very fhort fabre called Manchette, a hat without abrim,buta little flap on the front totakehold of it by,and fhoesof hogfkinail of a piece. Their guns were four feet and a half in the barrel, and of a bore to carry balls nf an ounce. Every one had contradt fervants, more or fewer according to his abilities, arid a packof twenty or thirty dogs, among which there was always a'Couple of beagles. .Their chief employment at firft was ox-hunting, and, if at any time they chafed a wild hog, it was rather for paftime, and to make provifion for a feaft,- than for any other advaritage. But, in procefs of time, fome of them betook themfelves entirely to hunting of ■ hogs, whofe flefh they buedanned in the following manner: ■ Firft, they cut the flefh into long pieces an inch and a half thick, and fptinkled thtfh With fait, which they rubbed off after twenty-four hours. Then they dried thdfe piece's in ftoves over a fire made of the flcin and bones of the beaft, till they grdW as hard as a board, and of a deep brown colour. Pork prepared in this manner will keep in caffes' a twelvemonth and longer, and whenfteeped but a little While in lUke-Warih water, be¬ come plump and rofyi and yield moreover a moft grateful fmell,. eithefbrbiled of boiled, or othefwife dreffed, enough to tempt the moft languid appetite, • anffpleafe' ■ the moft de¬ licate palate. Thofe who hufit the wild boar, have of late been calied fimply Munfers. In hunting, they fet out at day-break, preceeded by theif bdagles, arid followed by thefr fervants, with the reft of their dogs. The beagles often led their mafteri. Who Ventured to follow them, through moft dreadful roadsi As foon as they had fbiized' the ’gaihe, the 24 A DESCRIPTION of tk ISLAND the reft of the dogs ftruck up and furrounded the bcaft, ftopping it, and keeping a con, ftant barking till the buccaneer could approach to llioot it, in which he commoiily . aimed at the pit of the breaft, and as foon as the beaft was down, he hara-ftrung it, tj prevent its rifing again. It has fometimes happened that the creature, not Wounded enough to fall to the ground, has run furioufly at his purfuer, and ripped him open, But in general the Buccaneer feldom miffed his aim, and when he did,was nimble enouglj to get up the tree behind which he had the precaution to place hirafelf, What is mote fome of them have been feen to overtake the beaft in chace, and ham-ftring him witll all the dexterity and difpatch imaginable. Way of eat- As foon as the prey was half Ikinned, the mafter cut out a large bone, and fucked the “£■ marrow for breakfeft. The reft he left to his fervants, one of whom always remained behind to finifli the fttinning, and bring the Ikin with a choice piece of meat fori|]j huntfmen’s dinner. They then continued the chace till they had killed as many bealb : as there were heads in the company. The mafter was the laft, to return to the boucaj* loaded like the reft, with a fldn and a piece of meat.Here the Buccaneers found their tabid ready, for every one had his feparate table, which was the firft thing, any way fit far the purpofe, that came to hand, a ftone, the trunk of a tree, and the like. No table-detb no napkin, no wine, appeared; bread, potatoes, and bananas, were not wanting if they came in their way ; otherwife the fat and lean of the game, taken alternately, fervsdto fupply their place. A little pimento, and the fqueeze of an orange, their only ftucr, contentment, peace of mind, a good appetite, and abundance of mirth, made every thing agreeable. Thus they liyed and fpent their time, till they had compleated thj number of hides for which they agreed with the merchants, which done, they catriel them to ‘Tortuga, or fome port of the great ifland. Difeafes and Buccaneers ufed much exercife, and fed only on frefti meat, they generally ej. cha^uV" Joyed a’ good ftate of health. They were indeed fubjeft to fevers, but either fucb« life- Jafted only a day, and left no fenfible impreffion the day following, or little flow fcviti, which did not hinder them from adion, and were of courfe fo little regarded, that it m ufual with the patient, when afked how,he did, to anfwer " Very: well, nothing aili jit “ but the fever,” It was irapoffible, however, to prevent their wafting away in &{ under a climate, to whofe intemperature they had not been early enough inui’sd, anJ ia fupport befides for many years fo hard and laborious a way of living. Hence tlie nisi confiderate among them, after they had got money enough to commence houfekep®, relinquiflied it. The reft foon fpent the fruits of their fatigues in taverns and tippling* , houfes, and many had fo habituated themfelves to this kind of life,. as to become inci- pable of any other. Nay, there have been inftances of young men who perfifted in tbii painful and dangerous profelfion, in which they had at firft embarked, merely thro's principle of libertinifm, rather than return to Hwwf, and take poffeffjon of the Koli plentiful fortunes. Their bou- The principal places of affembly, or Boucatis, as they called them, of thefe peopls were at the Peninfuia of Havana, a little ifland in the center of the Bay of Saiiiam, Port Margot, la Savane Brule, or, the Burnt Savanna, near the Gonaives, the Embarcadera of Mirbakt, and the bottom of the bay of Ifle Avache, from whence they made et* curfions to the gates of the Sfanipi fettleraents. Such then were the Buccaneers of St Domingo, and fuch their fituation, when tba Spaniards undertook to extirpate them. And at firft they met with great fucceA) fit Their bloody as the Buccaneers bunted feparately, every one attended by his fervants, they were eafily contentions furprizcd. Hence the Spaniards killed numbers, and took many more, whom thty wwl™ condemned to a moft cruel flavery. But whenever the Buccaneers had time to put them* felvesin a ftate of defence, they fought jike lions, to avoid failing into the hands of a nation, from whom they were fureto receive no quarter, and by this means they ofea cfcaped; and there are inftances of Angle men fighting their way through nuaibsHi Thefe dangers however, an^ the fuccefs of the Spaniards in difeovering their buucani, Vhere they ufed to furprife and cut the throats of them and their fervants in theif lleep, engaged them to cohabit in greater numbers, and even to adt offenfively, in hopes that by To doing, they might at laft induce the Spaniards to let them live in peace. But furious as they behaved whenever they m^x. z'ay Spaniards, their fury ferved only to make theif enemies miore intent on their deftrudtion, and affiftance coming to both parties, the whole ifland was turned into a flaughteivhoufe, and fo much blood was fpilt on bath fidcs, that many places on account of the carnage of which they had been the theatresi of HI S P A NlO L A, or St DO M IN G 0. 25 were intitled of the majfacre ; fuch as the hill of the moffacre, the plain of th:^ mafaere, and retain thofe names to this day. ' For feveral years the court of France feemed to give itfelf but very little trouble about '’“'‘cy “f the Adventurers, with a view either to difown them, or claim them as lubieds, as might at any time beft fuit with its intereft. It fent them no affiftance, nor named any gover¬ nor till dll Roiifet ; for le Vafeiir and de Fontenay had no commillion but from de Poind. On the other hand, the court of Madrid, alarmed at the increafe of thefe people, fent orders to the prefident of the royal audience of St Domingo to endeavour their extirpation, C'’"/' with commiffion to fetch troops for that purpofe from the neighbouring iflands and the onraiipatiiig continent, and promifes of rewards to thofe who (hould diftinguifli themfelves on the oc- iIk Adventu- iafion; and, for the greater fecurity, fent over an old Flemilh officer called Vundelmof who hadferved with reputation in the Dutch wars, to command in the expedition. VandelmofmdtA. at St Domingo in 1663, and on notice that the principal boucan of the French was on the kirnt meadow abovementioned, he immediately put himfelf upon his Spamard! niarch with 500 chofen men to furprile them. But the Buccaneers, warned of his ap- ijr proacli, and, tlio’ but 100 ftrong, received him at a defile, where the Spaniards loft the double advantage of an expeded furprife and of numbers. They fought, however, with great bravery, tho’ VandelmofkW at the firft difeharge, but were at laft broken, and fled to the mountains, whither the Buccaneers did not think fit to purfue them. Though the Spaniards loft but twenty-five men on this occafion, they thought proper to recur to their old way of dealing with thefe people, who frequently fuffered themfelves to be furprifed, till at laft, alarmed by their many lofles, they refolved to remove their Adventurers toucans to the little iflands about St Domingo, retire thither every night, and never hunt but f“™o,urtie in large parties. This expedient fucceeded, and the parties m confequence becoming lefs iL.ds. unequal, tliey fuffered no confiderable lofs for a long time, and their boucans by that means becoming more fettled foon grew into towns. Hence arofe the fettlement at Bayaha, which was mightily promoted alfo by the good- nefs of the port, the fafeft and moft fpacious about St Domingo, and perhaps there is not a better in all America. In the middle, is an ifland defending its mouth, which is very narrow; and the largeft Ihips may ride in it clofe enough to the fhore to touch it with their bowfprits. But the chief motives inducing the Buccaneers to eftablifli them¬ felves in this quarter, were the plenty of game in the adjacent parts of the great ifland, and the vicinity of Fortuga, to which they could pafs in a few hours, and diljyofc of their hides. And the French and Dutch veffels which traded to the coafts of St Domin¬ ie, finding Bayaha more commodious than Fortuga, even that fliort run was foon faved, and the former by degrees become the feat of a fair little town. When the Buccaneers had once fixed themfelves as related, each boucan ordered fcouts every morning to the higheft part of the ifland for reconnoitring the coafts, and difeo- Sfareof very of Spanifs parties. If no enemy appeared, they appointed a place and hour of the Eucca- rendezvous in the evening, and were never abfent if not killed or prifoners. When therefore any one of the company was miffing, it was not lawful for the reft to hunt till they had got intelligence of him if taken, or avenged his death if killed. One evening the Buccaneers of Bayaha happened to mifs four of their company; they immediately refolved to aflemble all in a body the next day, and never to feparate till they had heard what was become of their friends. With this refolution they fet out the next morning in a body for St Tago. They had not gone far when they were informed that thofe they were in quell of had been taken, as they fufpefted, by the Spaniards, and They re¬ put to death without mercy. The Buccaneers, on this advice, were exafperated to mad - nefs, and, after difpatching the informers, ranged over the firft habitations in their way, comndK like fo many wild beafts, and facrificed all the Spaniards they could find to the manes of their brethren. But the Spaniards had alfo frequent opportunities of difeharging their fury on the Buc¬ caneers, And once in p.articular furpriled about tliirty, fording a little river that falls into the fea near Bayaha, with every man a hide on his back, and, after a very refolute de¬ fence, killed them all, whence that river has ever lince been called the River of the F Majjkrc. But thefe little advantages were far from being decifive, and only fervedto incenfe the parties to the higheft degree, fo that now they began to think of nothing but revenge, tho’ to the detriment of intereft and bufinefs. With this view chiefly the Spaniards made “general hunt over the whole ifland, and deftroyed all the wild cattle they found, Tliis H deftrudfive 26 ^DESCRIPTION of //jHSTAND deftruftive revenge put moft of the Buccaneers under a neceffity of betaking themfelves to Saccjneers fonic Other profeffion. Hence many of them commenced planters, and cleared the dif, w freeboot- Giu’vcs, and Leogane. The fettlement of Port du Pnix was al- as. ' fo confiderably increafed by this event. Such of the Buccaneers as did not relilli the life of a planter, as too fedentary or regular, entered among the Freebooters, who by this junftion became a very famous body, and deferving our attention no lefs than the Buccaneers. Fuller ac- We may well fuppofe that thofe of the Adventurers who turned pirates under the nlnte Frabootm Freebooters were none of the honefteft men among them. The infancy of this',it; terwards fo formidable a power was very weak and inconfiderable. The founders had Their rife and neither fliips, nor pilots, nor ammunition, nor provifion. They began with forminght. names. jig focieties, to whicli, in imitation of the Buccaneers, they gave the name of Matd'^ tage, but among themfelves they went by no other than that of Frercs de la Cote, ” bro. “ thersof the coaft,” which in time was extended to all the Adventurers, efpeciallythe Buccaneers ; at leali however tlie title Gens de k Cote, or “ men of the coaff,” was ufed tofignifythe military, or rather fifliing men, of the French colony of St Dcnnngo. Be that as it will, every fociety of Freebooters purchafed a canoe that would carry twenty. Gradual in- five or thirty men. Thus provided, their next bufinefs was to take the firft opportunity creafu. for feiziiig on a filhing boat, a bark, or fome fuch fmall veflel. This effedled, they re- turned to Tortuga, to corapleat their crews, which for a bark generally confifted of lyo men, after which they failed to Bayaha, or Port Margot, for a flock of beef or pork; thofe who preferred turtle plied away for the Southern coaft of Cuba, where thefe crea¬ tures abound. What, after this, engrofled their attention was the choice of a captain, whom tliey Convention, ^ould diveft at pleafure, and who had no authority but in time of adion, nor more tbaa two fliares in prizes. The furgeon’s cheft was fiirniftied at the common coft, fmart-mo- ney to the maimed and wounded deduded from the prize-money before the dividenil, and proportioned to the damage. Thus a man who had loft both eyes or legs received fico crowns, or fix flaves, and the cruife was to be continued at all events, till there was enoDgli to fatisfy all fuch demands. I'his convention they called Chajfe-partie “ hunting matcli,’' and the refulting divifion d’Compagnon bon Lot, a comrade’s fair fliare.” Animofity of Though the Freebooters at firft made prizes of all Ihips that came in their way, ik bootersa Spaniards were the chief objeds of their enmity and animofity, hecaufe they were pro- gainrt the hibited by that nation from hunting and fifliing on their territories and coafts, to oot'n ]m\vZmni Freebooters pretended a natural right. And they had fo well formed tkit row grouna- (,Qjjfojgp(,gg^ grounded their proceedings upon this maxim, that they never fet otl upon an expedition without firft offering up publick prayers for its fuccefs, nor ever foe- ceeded without returning folemn thanks to God for their vidory. It is impoflible to refleft on tranfadlions, during the war between the Spaniards and Freebooters, without acknowledging the hand of God in employing thofe pirates to te- venge on the Spaniards the inhuman cruelties they had exercifed upon the original ink- ' ’ bitants of the New world. The relations publiflied of their behaviour were fufficient, without their known haughtinefs, and exorbitant power, to render them odious to all other nations. Hence Adventurers have been known to fight againft them out of pnti animofity, and not from any motive of libertinifm or intereft. yiontharr a Wc have a remarkable inftance to this purpofe in a gentleman of Languedoc, naiiied He had read, when a child, fome relations recording the cruelties and blood- ' fliedof the Spaniards in thofe parts of the world, on which he conceived fuch an im¬ placable hatred againft that nation, as fometimes kindled into fury. It is reported of him that while he was at the college, happening to ad in a play the part of a Frenchman, k fell with fuch fury on his fchool-fellow, who played Spa?tiard, that he would have killed him had not the fpedators interpofed. A paflion that fliewed itfelf fo early, and by fuch violent fallies, was not to be eafily conquered, and Montbarr longed for nothing fo much as to quench it in the blood of the Spaniards. Hence war was no fooner de¬ clared againft them, than be took fliipping for thofe fatal coafts, fo often ftained ffith the blood of the poor unfortunate Indians, whom he hoped, and took the greateft de¬ light in thinking, that he fliould be able to revenge. And it is impoflible to e.xprefs the mifehief he did the Spaniards, fometimes by land, at the head of the Buccaneers, and fometimes by fea, commanding the Freebooters, whence he was furnamed the Extirpator. It is confefl'ed, however, that he never killed a man but in fair fight, nor is he accufed of of HISPANIOLA, or St DOMINGO. 27 ihofe piracies and debaucheries which rendered fo many of the Adventurers abominable before God and man. But to return to the Freebooters, they were fo crowded in their little barks, and fo c.rrelefs of their provifions, that hunger and want of room made danger difappear in fcarch of their wants, and the fight of a large lliip, inftead of cooling, excited their courage in hopes of finding a good ftock of provifions as well as enlarging their quarters. Where- ^ ^ fore they attacked every thing they could come up with, and immediately boarded. A fucceifof Vi: linele broadfide would have funk their puny veffels, but they were light and governable, Fia'uonf.r- ihe'lailors dextrous, and never prefented to the enemy more tlian the bowfprit, well lined with good markfmen, who, by firing into their port-holes, foon difconcerted the gunners. A lliip once grappled by them, however well manned, was as good as taken. The S^anianis, who looked upon them as devils, and called them by no other name, loft courage at the fight of them, and furrendered diredlly, calling for quarter, v.'hich was jcldom granted but when the prize turned out rich, otherwife they werS thrown o- verboard. _ _ ^ They ufually brought their prizes to "tortuga, or Jamaica, and before diftribution eve¬ ry man held up his hand, andfolemnly proteftedhe had brought in all his plunder to tlie xheirmn- common ftock If any man was convided of a falfe oath, he was without further cere- '''■ mony put alliore on fome defart ifland, and there left to fliift for himfelf. Whenever they took commiflions from the governor of Tortuga they paid him the tenth of the booty; but when France was not at war with Spain, they repaired to fome remote quarter, and there divided the plunder, after which they took their pleafure, till every farthing was fpent. Their patience under hunger and thirft, and other inconveniences, was really amazing, but as foon as vidlory had reftored peace and plenty, they carried their iewcincfs and debauchery to the higheft pitch. As to religion, it would be abfurd to fuppofe they could have any. However, now and of their reii- then they appeared to think ferioully of their condition, and before an engagement ufed to embrace in token of mutual reconciliation. After this they would fall to thumping their breafts, as intending to e.xcite in their hearts a compunftion of which they were fcarce any longer fufceptible j but when danger was over, they returned to their former way of living. r The Buccaneers accounted themfelves honeft men in comparifon of the Freebooters, More religi- whom they confidered as firft-rate villains. The former were indeed lefts vicious, tho’ the vici- others preferved a much greater fliare of religion. But, in fliort, if you except a certain Kiccancers!*'* opennefs and integrity of heart, which charaaerifed them both, and their not feeding on human flelh, few barbarians of the new world furpaffed; but many came fliort of them in wickednefs. The Planters had alfo their aflbeiations, and every aftociation was allotted land in pro- portion to the number of perfons that compofed it. Though the Adventurers of this dal's were much feldomer obliged to meafure their ftrength with the Spaniards than the other two, they had many brave fellows among them, and from this body was drawn the militia which diftinguiflied itfelf on fo many occafions. If we may give credit to fome Ms recorded in the hiftory of the Freebooters, the Planters were every whit as bad as they or the Buccaneers.—We have but little to fay of the fourth clafs of Adventurers, the In¬ dented Servants, fince they never did any thing but by order of their mafters. Many of Ser- them indeed have been known to fight occafionally with the greateft bravery, and not a few have been induftrious and faving enough to purchafe their freedom, and raife immenfe fortunes. The Freebooters generally cruifed on the coafts of Cumana, Carthagena, Porto-bello, pkeesoferm- Panama, Cuba, and Nevi Spain, at the mouth of the Chagre, and in the neighbourhood q“a- of the lakes of Maracaibo smA Nicaragua. They feldom attacked lliips bound from Purope to America, their cargoes ufually confifting of flour, wines, and linnen goods, too troublefome and bulky, and befides not fo eafily vented. But they waited their return, where they were fure to find them freighted with gold, filver, curious ftones, and all the nobleft wares of the new world. It was ufual with them to follow the galleons to the Bahama channel, and if any one of them, through bad weather, or any accident, happened to be left behind, it was fure to fall into their hands. Thus one of their captains, called Pierre k Grand, a native of Dieppe, made himfelf mafter of a vice-admiral of the galleons, whom he carried into France, tliough his own fhip carried but five little guns, and twenty men. He boarded the SpaniPo velTel, after giving orders 28 A DESCRIPTION of the ISLAND orders to fink his own ; which ftruck fuch a panic into the Spaniards^ that they fuffered liiin to go quietly into the admiral’s cabin, where he immediately clapt a piftol to his breaft, and obliged him to furrender. He then put his prifoners afliore at Cape THero;, except a tew ncceffary to help navigate the velTel. Another Freebooter, mtMicka/l k Bafqiie, made a IHll bolder attempt with equal luccefs. He had the affurance to at. tack, under the cannon of Porto-belh, anotlier fliip belonging to the fame fleet, with a million of piafters on board, and carried her off. It appears by this account of the St Bomhigo Adventurers, that it was not eafy to find M ro iron ^ govern, or rather to make men and chriftians of them ; yet fuch was M. appo’midgo- d'Ogeron : Fie knew how to gain both their love and refpedl, brought them to reverence vtraorof laws that they thought no way obligatory to them, gave their bravery a turn, which no; rteSoK/ piracy, which had hitherto rendered it univerfally odiou,' Domingo, but made it extremely ufeful to their king and country, and converted great numbers of them into fettled Inhabitants, tolerating witli quiet difcretibn in the reft thofe abufes lie had not power enough to abolifli; nay, he appears, on all occafions, to have aded more like a father than a governor. However, though he had, in quality of an inhabitant of the coaft of St Domingo, where he had for fome time lived before his promotion, given the Adventurers fuffieient reafon to know what they might exped from him as commander he was obliged, in order to fecure his footing at Portvga, to dilfemble his being fent in behalf of the Wejl India company, and his intentions to fupprefs the trade carried on with the Dutch by the Adventurers, who alledged that the Dutch had never fnffered them to want any thing at a time, when the court of France did not fo much as know there were any Frenchmen at Fortuga, or on the coaft of St Domingo. M. /0^erfl«’sfirftcare, after he had taken pofleflion of his government, was to repair Hi! care and and augment the fortifications, to employ all the inhabitants, facilitate commerce, and Sreadrana eprocure his colony a name tliat might render it refpedable. And though of his colony, moft of the projefls he had formed for thofe commendable purpofes mifearried for want of timely afliftance, Fortuga and the coaft of St Domingo foon began to put on a new face, which confirmed the Spaniards in their uneafinefs concerning the eftabliflimenti formed by the French. In fad, Ogeron, the year after his arrival, propofed to the French miniftry an attempt upon San Domingo ; and probably nothing hindered M. Colbert from approving and feconding it, but his not being fufficieritly acquainted with the charafterof the propofer. This minifter, however, really came into Ogeron's ^vay of thinking as to the expediency of appointing a particular governor for Fortuga, whole falary this dilin- tcrefted officer offered to pay out of his own purfe, that he might vifit every place where he might-think his prefence neceffary. Colbert alfo approved his reprefentation on the neceffity of building a fort at Fortuga, furrounded with goods walls for fecuring the road, andforbarring the entrance of the fame road to the Weft j of making a highway twelve or fifteen leagues long in the ifland of St Domingo, to facilitate the communication between the feveral quarters; of forming an eftabliffiment on the Southern ftiore near IJIe Avadii, as' the Ihips bound for Jamaica generally paffed by it; of lowering at leaft one third of the duties on all manner of goods coming from France, without which it would be im- poflible to induce the Buccaneers and Freebooters to become planters; of fending yeady a fupply of 1000 or 1200 perfons, one third children; of remitting to the inhabitants one half of the duties payable on tobacco and other exports; and, laftly, of putting an effedual flop to the trade carried on there by the Dutch. All thefe regulations would doubtlefs have been of infinite fervice to the colony, but, tho’ all approved, were none of tliem put in execution. Ogeron formed another defign, in which he was better feconded, contriving to fix the ^^^oesof Adventurers by giving them wives. The Wejl India company fent him for that purpofs fifty young girls; and, fmall as this number was, the alterations they made in the manners of the Adventurers were very confpicuous. Thefe women comnmnicated to their huf- bands foine lhare of thofe virtues which adorn the fair fex, and in exchange borrowed Alteration! ffom their hulbands qualities peculiar to the men. Fora longtitne St Domingo was ft- ih™!" ^ producing Atalantas as alert and dextrous in hunting the bull and boar,as the moll • celebrated Meleagers, and many an Amazon ready to exchange a brace of bullets with the moft refolute warriors. Ogeron fent back the fhip for another cargo of the fame kind, and obtained it; but tho’ no goods ever turned to better account; it was the lafl. Wherefore. many young fellows, who, could they have procured wives, would have remained in St Domingo, and commenced planters, detefted the place as foon as a peace was made, and left of HIS PANIOLJ, or St DOMINGO. 29 left the colony in a very knguilhing condition. They began indeed to fend girls Supplies of indented for three years to 'Tortuga, but this commerce was foon pohibited on account I of the great diforder it produced. French authors charge their miniftry with this neg- ncwcJon>’. left of fending female fupplies to their new colonies, as the commoneft and greateft of '"^Th^ governor bethought himfelf of another expedient to make trade llourifli, ho-.j,|j^ nourable to himfelf, and advantageous to the colony. He engaged the company, by a nor's^wiib S; profpeflof profit, to advance money to a multitude of Adventurers, who continued fo lead a licentious and vagrant life for want of fums to commence planters. He offered to advance money himfelf for the fame purpofe without'intereft ; nay more, he bought two fliips, and fent them to France on his own account,tho’ thofe fliips rather belonged to the Adventurers, who were all free to put on board what they thought proper at a moderate freight. And when the fliips returned with European commodities, the charitable go¬ vernor immediately expofed the cargoes to fale, without requiring ready money, or even notes for any thing they wanted. Nay, he would not accept of notes when offered, but was content with the buyer’s promife to pay as foon as able. He has been even ob- fetved, on many occafions, to ufe a kind of good-natured violence with thofe who, through modefty or timidity, were Ihy of alking, or hefitated in taking what was offered. In Ihort, he was never known to hear of any perfon in diftrefs without flying to his affift- ance, and his manner of doing favours greatly enhanced their value. By luch behaviour he gained the hearts, and could command the purfes of all the inhabitants. People now flocked from all parts of St Domingo, for the fake of living under fo wife and beneficent a governor, who diftributed the new comers in fo judicious a manner, Freebooters, tliatall that part of the Northern fliore of St Domingo, which lies between Port Margot and Port ^e Paix, came by degrees to be inhabited. The war which the revolution in Portugal had kindled between the courts of Lilbon and Madrid, and in which France •fo deeply interefted herfelf, gave the governor an opportunity of gaining over a great number of Freebooters, who had hitherto preferved an intire independence, by diftri- buting among them commiflions received from the new king of Portugal. In doing this he had in view to make ufeful inhabitants of thofe pirates, when he had firft taken advantage of their bravery to ftrengthen his colony againft the Spania?-ds. Though the Freebooters may be regarded as founders of the colony of which we give Proceedings a hiftory, we ftiall nqj;- follow them in their courfes, which were now no longer confined to the Atlantic, or feas of the Antilles, but reached to the remoteft corners of the Fa- ' cipc Ocean. And though they did the Spaniards infinite mifchief, they fuffered e-^ nbugh themfelves to pay dearly for all their advantages, even had they been gained by fuch hoftilities as the laws of God and man could juftify. They feldom returned home without lofing great numbers of their men by iicknefs, fword, fatigue, and famine ; and ufually brought home but a very fmall part of their ill-gotten wealth. In all at¬ tacks, their firft attention was to make fome prifoners of confequence, not only to ob¬ tain thofe ranfoms which the rules of war allow, but to enforce the moft unreafonable demands, as it was ufual with them, when the Spaniards refufed to fend them the fums they demanded in ranfom for houfes or effefts, or proved dilatory in their payments, to ftrike off the heads of fome of them, and fend them to their countrymen, with menaces to ferve the reft in the fame manner, if their demands were not puniffually anfwered. And, when like to be overpowered, they ufed to make their prifoners march before them, threatning to put them all to the fword, if the leaft oppofition were made to their re¬ treat. They have even been known to put fcaling-ladders into the hands of nuns and clergy, and others moft refpedted by the Spaniards, and force them on other fuch fer- vice, in hopes that the Spaniards, for fear of hurting their friends, would fpare their moft inveterate enemies. While the Freebooters were thus worrying the Spaniards both far and near on the con¬ tinent, the French at Fortuga, and on the coaft of St Domingo, were weak enough to believe that the would remain quiet in confequence of the peace of the Pyrenees in 1659, and Ogeron received orders to ftand only on the defenfive. But the Spaniards moieftthe either received no fuch orders, or elfe did not think proper to obey them, but continued their hoftilities with fuch inveteracy, that the French could not go to reft without placing centinels round their habitations, nor work without being equally prepared to fight, and, in fpite of all thefe precautions, were murdered by night in their beds, and by day in the very heart of their plantations. This inveteracy of the Spaniards made it im- I poflible 30 ^DESCRIPTION o/ STAND poffible for Ogeron to rcftrain the Buccaneers, and fiich of tlie Freebooters as remained in the neighbouring feas; and probably he was not forry that the Spaniards by fudj behaviour fhould authorife the Adventurers to continue the war, fince moft of thofe who compofed his colony were unfit for any thing elfe, and, if kept at home inaftive, might occafion great diforders, both at Tortuga and elfewhere. At laft the war broke out afrefli between France and Spain in 1667, and as Ogeron flniMoviii openly againft the Spaniards, he fent one de Lip, a captain imtj the head of four hundred volunteers, to plunder St a't’/sj Cavalleros, whofe inhabitants were moft troublefome to the French. Tliis place lies fourteen leagues from the fea, in a fertile and agreeable plain, at the banks of the river Toque, or Monte Chrip, and diredtly South of Puerto de Plata, which is its embarca- der or fea-port. The churches here are very fine, but the houfes very mean, and the inhabitants} like thofe of almoft all the Spanifi towns in America, fituated at fome dif- tancefrom the fea, and very poor, their whole trade confiftingin tallow and leather, and all their riches in cattle, of which they feed vaft herds in the neighbouring favannas. De Lip landed his men at Puerto de Plata, and his arrival ftruck fuch terror into the ujit!' ** Spaniards, that they not only made no oppofition at the defiles, but deferted the town itfelf, where the French found fome treafure, which did not amount to more than three hundred crowns to each man, including the ranfoms of the prifoners, and twenty thoufand piafters paid them for not reducing the town to afhes. At this epoch of time the Freebooters were at the height of their glory. Their prin¬ cipal commanders among the French, befides thofe mentioned, were I’Olonois, Vauchk, Grammont, Poinet, le Picard, and Tributor -, and, among the Englip, Rock, Bop thr£oot- Morgan, and Manspld. They took, plundered, and ranfomed Cumana, Coro, Sam ers. Martha, the Caraccas, Maracaibo, Porto-bello, and Panama, fome of them, parti¬ cularly the laft, after they had notice of the peace concluded at Aix la Chapelle in 1668, pretending they were not obliged by it, as neither figned by them' or their plenipotenti¬ aries, nor themfelves called upon to affift at the conferences. Ogeron, who had made a voyage to France, returned in 1669 with a new comraiffion, theabufes, heretofore committed by the proprietary governors of the French fettlements, having determined the court of France not to grant any commiffion for the future for more than three years. This gentleman, before he left Paris, had prefented M. Colbert i memorial, intimating that when he was appointed governor of Tortuga and the emit of St Domingo, the planters were but nine hundred, and now fifteen hundred} and tint Jamaica ^ad reinforced the colony with three hundred perfons at his own expence. He adk awed by St that One advantage of this colony was its keeping the Englifi of Jamaica fo much in awe, Dmiaia. jjjg goyemor of that ifland had offered him a perpetual neutrality for the fettlemcnti of the two crowns in the Indies, whatever difturbances might happen between tliem in Europe. M. Colbert having expreffed a defire of building a fort on the coaft of St Domingo, Weft India com'pmy, who had taken O^rrew’s advice on the occafion, made Reafonsa- anfwer, that firft the building would coft between eighty and a hundred thoufand livtes, gainft baiid- befides the pay of the garrifon ; fecondly, that the expence would be quite ufelefs, as the required no fafer retreat than the woods, where the Spaniards, embaralTed St Domiage. by their lances, could make no ftand againft them } thirdly, that the colony after all would not be obliged to fly to the woods for flielter, if good roads were once made for affording the feveral ports an eafy communication, and four hundred men well armed and difeiplined were conftantly kept on foot at Leogane ■, laftly, that tho’ a fleet were to land a large body of troops on the coaft, thefe forces could do no more than burn a parcel of forry huts, which could be rebuilt in three days} and that it would be dangerous to make a fortrefs, becaufe the Adventurers would either retire elfewhere, for fear fuch an eredtion fliould draw the Spaniards on their hands from all quarters; or, if they remained, would lofe courage as foon as they found tliemfelves fhut up in a place however defenfible, and even perhaps mutiny againft the governor, and oblige him to furrender, as had already been the cafe at Tortuga, where Fontenay commanded them. Another thing, wfoich Ogeron had greatly at heart, was eftablifhing a French colony Advantages on the coaft of Florida, as this country is but two hundred leagues from Tortuga, and reulem"nfonwinds are always favourable to go or come, fo that the French of the Antilles, by. theSof "I’^ving a fore and eafy retreat, if at any time their fettlements happened to be broken, Barida, might be under no neceffity 'of going over to the, Englijh iflands, rvhich by that means they confiderably ftrengthened. Another advantage from fuch a fettlement w'ould re- of HISPANIOLA, or St DOMINGO. 31 fulttotlis French iflands, which would receive from thence, at an eafy price, all the (iifferent kinds of provilions to be had in any part of America, the dearnefs of which 'oil the coaft of St Domingo had once forced many of the Freebooters to retire to Ja- wiiere they were much cheaper. And, laftly, fuch an eftablifhment, he juftly concluded, might, by means of a port to command the ftreights of Bahama, render the French mailers of the commerce of the Spaniards, and ferve befides as a fence a- gainil the growing power of the Englijh. But neither the court, nor the Wejl India company, expreffing any readinefs to go tO' any great expence in America, Ogeron of¬ fered to carry his plan into execution, with the revenues of Fortiiga alone, after that' ifland was once put in a poflure of defence, which was neceflary to be immediately done. It was well for the EngUJh that this fcheme of fettling Florida did not take effeft, finue very probably they would not only by that means have loft fome valu¬ able fettlement, but the pofleffion of all the reft would have been rendered very precarious. We have before obferved that Ogeron, in order to engage the Adventurers to ac¬ knowledge him for governor, was obliged not to oppofe openly the condition of not hindering them from trading with foreigners j but it was his refolution not to fuffer it. Hence he had, by degrees, found means of eftablilliing the exclufive trade of the Wefi India company. But the Adventurers, who in the main acknowledged no fuperior, grew tired of lo unjuft a reftraint, and, in 1670, publickly declared againft it on the arrival of two veffels, which fupplied them with all manner, of European goods in exchange for their tobacco, three or four hundred per ■ cent cheaper than the We/l nrfimiia India company would afford; a thing almoft incredible, were we not told it by a French company en- writer, in a work publiflied at Paris, as an undoubted truth. No wonder the Adven- voitf^ tiirers fliould conceive the greateft prejudice againft fuch blood-fuckers, and even lofe that refpedl for their inftrument, M. Ogeron, tho’ no way concerned in their iniquitous plan of commerce, which on many accounts he juftly deferved. They not only made flight of his authority, but infulted him ; and the Dutch captains failed not to fupport them in their proceedings, alledging to the governor, when he fummoned them to withdraw, that they had dealt fairly and honeftly with the Adventurers, and fupplied them with arms, ammunition, and provifions at a moderate rate, when the French left . them to ftarve, and in danger of having their throats cut by the Spaniards ; and that .after all they did not know what right an officer, commiffioned by the court of France, liad to oppofe a trade managed with people living upon territories belonging to the court of Spain. Things were carried to fuch lengtlis, that Ogeron, being refufed affiftance by Gabaret, who commanded a French fquadron in thofe feas, was upon the point of abandoning Tsr- tuga, and retiring to fome of the iflands in the Bay of Honduras. But before he could execute his defign, Gabaret, and another commodore who was to fucceed him in the liime ftation, received pofitive orders to take Tortuga and the coaft of St Domingo in their way home, and take or deftroy all the Dutch veffels they fhould find there, and give Ogeron all manner of affiftance. Hence it was not long before Gabaret made his appearance, when the rebels, if they deferve fo harfh a name, confidering that it would be impradlicable to maintain a trade with foreigners while any French men of war re¬ mained on the coaft, thought it bell, after fome few unfuccefsful hoftilities, to fubmit Mal conteSj on conditions, importing that matters paft fliould be buried in oblivion, and that all French veffels ffiould, have liberty to trade to Tortuga, or the coaft of St Domingo, on paying the company five per cent. And the year following the promifed amnefty' came from France, and the inhabitants, who had been declared to have forfeited their privileges, were reftored to them in the ampleft manner. At this time the colony of St Domingo had no lefs than 2000 men fit to bear arms. About this time France declared war againft Holland, and fo afforded the Free¬ booters a plentiful harveft, as the Dutch carried on a very confiderable trade in thofe feas. M. de Baas, however, governor general of the French Antilles, not fatisfied with this advantage, refolved to attack Curacoa, and fent two men of war to the coaft of St Domingo, with orders to Ogeron to come to his affiftance with as many of his Ad¬ venturers as he could affernble. Wherefore Ogeron put 100 Adventures on board one of thefe veffels, and embarked himfelf on the other with 300 more. But they bad not beeri long at fea when this laft, through the ignorance or negligence of the ofthrAXen- pilot, was ftranded in the night on one of the keys, or little low iflands, on the Nor- them 32 A DESCRIPTION of the ISLAND them coaft of Porto Rico, where all of them, except Ogeron and two or three befiri who timely faved themfelves in a canoe, and a few more whom the Spaniards tefted out of mere compaflion, were, after being kept a long time in mifery fufpenfe, put to death ih cold blood, in confequence of Ogero 7 i's appearing to dmiand their enlargement in a hoftile manner, when he faw that de Baas neglefted the pm meafures to obtain it by fair means. In the mean time the King of Spain had, in favour of Holland, declared war galnH France. And Ogeron, on the news of this event, began ferioufly to think of Frimi coh- executing the plan he had before formed of reducing what the Spaniards ftill held ia Dies of Capi the illand of St Dotningo, by feizing or blocking up all their havens, as the had before done at Jamaica. With this view he fent a colony to the Southern coaft amana. Tthcron, and fome time after another to the Peninfula of Samana. And having, by thefe fettlements, deprived the Spaniards of all communication with the fea except by San Doningo, he ftudied on means for reducing this capital. But his frl! colony, which fettled in a plain now called le Fond de I'ljle Avachcs, was attacked bv the Spaniards before it could fortify itfelf, and difperfed. This difappointment, how. ever, did not diflrearten him, but, as he could in fome meafure difpenfe with a Wef- tern fettlement, ferved only to increafe his attention to flrengthen the Eallern at Samana. Samana, as we faid, is a Peninfula on the Eaftern coaft of St Domingo. Its ifthmusis ^ quarter of a league broad, and fo marlhy as to be eafily defended. Tie fcribcd. mean breadth of the Peninfula may be about five leagues, and its length between fifteen and fixteen. It helps to form a commodious bay fourteen leagues deep, where fliin! may be moored clofe to Ihore, or ride at anchor in fourteen fathom water. This bay is full of little illands, or keys, many of which are at its entrance, but may he eafil; avoided by keeping clofe in with the Weftern fliore. The lands of the Peninfula are not very level, but extreamly fertile, and the fituation befides is very convenient for trade, with Europe elpecially. The Adventurers had at firft fome thoughts of fixing at Samana, but as it is but twenty leagues from San Domingo, they were apprehenfive of perpetual molellation from the Spaniards, and therefore chofe Fortuga as more remote and tenable. However, as buccaneering flourilhed, it was the refidence of Buccaneers, and the refort of Free¬ booters. All thefe reafons determined M. Ogeron to chufe that part of the Weftern coaft for a colony. But as he knew that the Adventurers he fent thither muft be mete fol<^fots for a time, he gave them no women. But foon after a fliip from St Malm, flocked with bound to Fortuga, with a cargo of girls, happening to put in at this port, the Adven- girls, turers took each of them a girl at the price demanded, to the great joy of Ogeron, wto wiflied nothing more than to fee the Adventurers bind themfelves to a fettled life, tW a little fooner than he expedted. The year following tht French king fupprelTed the Wefl Lidia company, and affiimed all his rights to his illands in America, which heafterwards farmed, for 100,000 crow yearly, to another company called the Company of Farmers of the Weftern department, Schemes and Ogeron fet out for France, to propofe to the court the plan, before mentioned, of death of 0- reducing, with his own forces, what the Spaniards ftill retained in the illand of St Bs- germ. miugo, provided his majefty would aflift him with a fquadron ftrong enough to block up the capital; and another plan for rendering the colony much more llourilhing. By this laft he propofed to maintain three garrifons, pay the falaries of the governors, and remit annually 40,000 livres clear to the royal exchequer. But he died foon after his arrival, without obtaining audience of the king or minifter. Though this wife gover¬ nor had fo many fair and honeft opportunities of amaffing imm.enfe fums, he died very poor, if you except fome confiderable fums due to him from the Wejl India company, but of which we are alTured his heirs never received a farthing. Ogeron, on fetting out from his government, had entrufted Fortuga and the Nor¬ thern coaft to the care of M. de Capy, and the Weftern coaft to M. de Ponancy liis ne¬ phew. And not long after a Datfdi fquadron, of one Ihip of the line and fome frigates, gave thefe officers an opportunity of exerting themfelves. Thefe llrips firft appeared on the Northern coaft, and then failed for Petit Guave, where they firft met with a very warni reception from fome fmall veflels that lay there. But bearing off at a diftance fufficient to avail themfelves of the fuperiority of their metal, they at length ftruck fuch a panic into the French Adventurers, that they were fuffered to warp up very clofe of HISPANIOLA, of St DOMINGO. ^ to the (liore fome fliips that had been funk, for fear of falling into their hands, and burn them with all the other fliips in the harbour without the leaft oppolition. Ano- Dutch bum thet Dutch fquadron appeared on the coaft of St Domingo the next year, but, on falfe informations given it by a Swedijh captain in the French intereft, attempted nothing, 'cm-jt. Fonancj about this time was nominated to fucceed his uncle, whom he refembled in all the qualities of a good governor. But inftead of endeavouring to extend his co¬ lony, as his uncle had done, he confined all his views to the ftrengtliening of it, and therefore recalled the Adventurers of Samana, But, thefe people afking leave to ftay till they had confirmed their provifions, thought fit, in the mean time, to plunder a little town called about ten leagues to the Weft of Samana, which fo incenfed Colony of the Spaniards, that, on information by a deferter that moft of the men were out on hunting, they fell unexpediedly upon thofe who remained in the boucan, and put them all to the fword, evcept a few who efcaped in a canoe. This year Ponancy embarked with a good number of his Adventurers on board a '^78 French fquadron commanded by M. d’Etrees, who intended to attack Ctiracoa. But Expedition a- . their Ihips ftriking in the night on the Ifland of Avet, he was obliged to return with- gainft out effefl, after lofing many of his men by this unhappy accident. And foon after his return a Dutch fquadron appeared on the coafts of his government, where they carried off a number of veffels laden with tobacco, but bought much more of the inhabitants. They could not forbear expreffing a defire to confider St Domingo as a neutral colony, which would have been very agreeable to the inhabitants, as the Dutch had always dealt very fiirly and honeftly with them, and were, for this reafon, in fpite of the animofity between the two nations, and the exprefs orders of the Fretich court, as with the co- often as they came to trade in a peaceable manner, received with open arms. ' 'o"/' In the mean time Ponancy fent eight hundred Freebooters againft St Jago, the capital of Cuba, who, having loft their way at' the foot of a mountain that lay in. the road, wandered about it fo long, that at laft the vanguard came up with the rearguard, and caries. f taking it for a body of Spaniards, immediately attacked it. And, though the mif- take was foon enough difcovered to prevent much mifchief, it was thought improper to attempt the place, as the Spaniards could in a few hours afiemble four thoufand men for their defence, and muft have been fufficiently alarmed by the difcharges made on both fides, while the confufion lafted. The peace of Nimeguen fufpended all hoftilities, and the Spaniards of St Domingo finding that the French had at laft got too great a footing on the ifland to be dif- miutn fuf- ‘ poflefied by force, thought fit to vifit their fettlements in a friendly manner, and were : vifited in their turn. But, tho’ this good underftanding was attended with great advan¬ tages to both fides, the Spanip governor never approved it, at leaft openly, and it lafted but a very lliort time. Some time after the peace had been declared in the ifland, a Black, who had been 1679 a Have among the Spaniards, and, after killing his mafter, had taken refuge among the i„furreflion French, who gave him his liberty, and even afligned him a piece of land to clear and of the Ne- cultivate, feduced fome French Negroes, moft of whom had been taken from the Spa- 8'°“' niards, and longed to return to their former mafter. He intended, after cutting the throats of all the French in the neighbourhood, to throw himfelf again into the hands of the Spaniards, from whom, by this fecond crime, he expedfed to obtain pardon for the firft. The firft day he affembled twenty five, at the head of whom he murdered all that fell into his hands for feveral leagues along the coaft. After this he retired to a very high, andalmoft inacceffible mountain, where he made agood intrenchment with felled trees, from whence he made daily excurfions, feducing or carrying off by force all the Negroes he met with, and maffacring without mercy all the French. The governor was at a lofs how to deal with them, few perfons caring to engage in an expedition, which, befides being extremely dangerous, could not, as they falfly imagined, be attended with honour or advantage. In the mean time, the evil was getting to a very alarming height, not a day paffihg without defertion or carrying off ■ Saves, .and the murder of fome inhabitants. At laft a company of about twenty Buc¬ caneers happening to pafs that way, the governor acquainted them with his uneafinefs, and implored their affiftance, which thofe brave fellows immediately granted, and fet out direttly for the mountain. They began to climb it with fuch refolution, that the SupprcIWby ftrrified Haves made but a faint refiftance. However, feVen or eight of them were a few brave 34 ^DESCRIPTION of //jelSLAND and among them their chief, the reft efcaping to the Spanifi fettlements, where the- were well received. ^ The infurreftion of the flaves was fcarce fupprelTed, when another broke out amon? the inhabitants. In confequence of fome regulations made by the Fretich court in the Commotions tobacco trade, the principal fupport of this infant colony, the inhabitants were oft,. 0 *«“>■'>"/■ jjeceffitated to fell it, at a low price, to thofe who had an exclufive right to deal' in that commodity, and gave what they pleafed. Hence many, to avoid fo grievous a hardfltip, began to think of retiring to the Englifi and Dutch fettlements. And the difcontent was greatly increafed by an order of the French court to reftrain the Free- hooters in their hoftilities againft the Spaniards: A ftep which, tho’ tending in the main to the peace and profperity of the colony, was no way wiflied by the members of it, who thought of nothing but temporary advantages. The governor found means at iirft of pacifying the people by circulating a letter fro® the inteildant of the French iflands, importing, that as foon as the leafe of the farmers was expired, tobacco would be no longer formed, but fubjed only to a duty payable oa tmea importation into But this calm was of fliort continuance j for, on the at- terfSrrival of fome fhips with Negroes, on account of the Senegalcovapzny, a report was governor for fpread that this company intended to engrofs the ifland. This fo exafperated the inha- bitants, that they affembled in arms to the number of feven or eight hundred. Tb governor, however, by convincing them, as he imagined, of their miftake, made them promife to difperfe. But he was foon after informed that, inftead of feparating, they had refolved to burn their huts, and retire to tlie woods. The governor wifely fore- feeing that if they once took this ftep, they would afterwards flick at nothing, fet out to agree the point with them a fecond time, and did it fo effeftually, that they threw down their arms, only defiring that what was paft might be buried in oblivion. To this the governor replied, that it was not in his power to grant their requeft, and thatb could by no means omit informing tlie court of their behaviour. “ If this be the cafe “ they faid, there is no fafety here for any of us.” This was as much as to fay tkt they might as well right themfelves effeftually, as be puniflied for barely attempting it, The governor, forefeeing the danger of driving them to fuch extremities, very pm- dently replied, that, tho’ he could not pardon them, he would not profecute any one till he had the king’s diredtion; but, on the contrary, would write to the minillry in fuch terms that he could almoft afliire them of the king’s mercy. This engaged them to difperfe 5 and the governor, according to his promife, faithfully Ftsce and in-laid open their grievances, in the ftrongeft terms, reprefenting befides his inability to of tho manage them, if they were driven to extremities, or to want their afliftance if any foreigu " power fliould make an attack upon his government*. The firft of thefe reprefenta- tions muft have had great weight, fince it appeared, by a furvey made the year before this, that the colony, in fpite of all the Ioffes, commotions, and diftreffes, abovemen- tioned, contained feven thoufond fouls, one half of them fit for the moft difficult en- terprizes j and, in two years more, the number was increafed to about eight thoufand, half of them able to bear arms. Trmb mani- ‘liis time the French court thought fit to take off the mafk as to its pretenli- feftpretcnfi. om apon Hifpamoia, by declaring to the prefident of San Domingo, that it would con- fider any hoftilities committed againft the French on that illand, as infradions of the treaty of Nimeguen. The prefident anfwered, that the court , of did not conceive that the French had any right to a fingle foot of land on the illand itfelf, tho’, as to Th’- tuga, he would take care that the governor of it as fuch fliould have no reafon to com¬ plain of the Spaniards, provided he took care not to fuffer any of his countrymen to pafs over to St Domingo, either to trade or fettle there. Fonancy regarded this decla¬ ration of the prefident as a mere formality, and therefore dexteroufly improved his peaceable difpofitions to increafe and ftrengthen the fettlements of that part of his government. 1682 matter to account for the great increafe of the French colony of St Do- * mingo, as to the number of inhabitants, confidering what they fuffered from the clerks Frmh taY of the tobacco formers, who, in fpite of Pwrarre/s reprefentations, were permitted to ^un er e. g^kauft the people to fuch a degree, that at the time of his death, which happened at * One of the greatell difficulties in fuppteffing this infurreaion, arofe from the refufal of the male-contcnts to appoint an)' of-their body todifeover their grievances, left they ffiould be feleSed as chief promoters of the difturbancfs, and punifeii for an example »the reft. the of HISPANIOLA, or St DOMINGO. 35 thelattei' end of 1682, the colony was not only in a moft deplorable condition, but'fi ®='3 the government of it extremely weak and feeble. The molt antient clafs of the Adventurers, the Buccaneers, were dwindled to no¬ thing • die two others, in confequence of their united interelts, were Hill formidable. But this ftrength at the fame time made them fo ungovernable in their dillrefs, that the officers thought they did a great deal in preventing an open rebellion. The Free¬ booters in particular did the colony very little fervice, tho’ at the fame time they were fpreading terror and defolation throughout the Spanifi Indies. ,On the contrary, they obllrudtcd its trade, and procured it enemies, againft whom they were feldom in the Freebooters way to give it any affiftance. And, though they acknowledged the governor of obnoxious w ma for their fuperior, they made light of his orders when they any way clalhed JiZt'fli with their own private interefts. For thefe reafons the French court, after tolerating them a long time, as a neceflary evil, came at laft to confider them as both unneceflary and intolerable, or at leaft a decayed limb of the body politic, from which there was moremifchief to be feared than gain to be expefted. And, in fad, the Spaniards, be- fides not allowing the French any right to fettle at St Domingo, were entitled, from their entertainment and protedion of the Freebooters, to confider the whole fettlement rather as a neft of pirates, than a colony of honeft people, and therefore renewed their hofti- lities with more than ordinary animofity. Nor were the Englijh lefs alarmed at feeing the body of French Adventurers gradually affuming the form of a regular and policed fociety, which might in time become a powerful rival, by cultivating indigo, fugar, cotton, and other commodities, which St Domingo is capable of producing. Charlevoix tells us, that a letter was found on board a Spanijh nc&X, importing, Difcord be- that the governor of Jamaica had propofed to the governor of the Uavanna, to unite their forces for the redudion or extirpation of thofe who gave them fo much uneafinefs. Free- However, next year an Englijh frigate of thirty guns was obferved cruifing in the channel between Fortuga and the great ifland, and the captain being fummoned by the French commander to manifeft his intentions, made anfwer, that the fea being free and open, no perfon had a right to call him to an account. The Frenchman, on this occa- lion, not conlidering his dealer, fent out an armed boat, with only thirty Freebooters in her to take the obftinate Engliflman. But thefe Adventurers met with fo warm a re¬ ception, that they were obliged to flieer off in great confufion. On this the governor tequefted Capt. Grammont, a French Freebooter, who happened to be at the Cape with a fifty gun lliip, to vindicate the honour of his country. Grammont readily accepted the commiffion, and joined by three hundred Freebooters more, made directly for the higlijh veffel, vvhich waited for him with great refolution. But the French immedi-ga^ takou. ately grappled, and boarding the veffel put every man to the fword, except the captain. This rough treatment put an end to the good underftanding which had hitherto fubfifted between the Englijh of Jamaica and the French of St Domingo, which had been al¬ ready confiderably weakened by the letter abovementioned, in confequence of which the French Freebooters had refufed to admit the EngliJIo to join them in an ex¬ pedition, and had even confifeated their (hare of the plunder made in another enter- prize. However, all this pretended zeal for the honour and intereft of their country Freebooters could not fave many of them from being declared pirates by M. de Franquefnay, dedared pu who afted as governor till the French court had named a fucceffor to Fonancy, and treated as fuch, if they had not taken care to retire to other places, leaving the reft fomuchdiffatisfied, that there was great reafon to fear that their difeontent would break out into open rebellion. Such was the ftate of the colony when Cujfy arrived there as governor itl 1684; but he foon found means to quiet the inhabitants without proceeding himfelf, or driving them to extremities. However, it vvas not long before Grammont, and other Free¬ booters, applied to him for commiffions to cruife againft the Spaniards, which, at laft, Commiffion- he thought fit to grant, as the beft method of uniting thefe irregulars for an - expedition in which the French court wanted to employ them, and caufe Grammont, who had a great influence over the Freebooters, to bring back to St Domingo, by a cer¬ tain day, all thofe whom Franquefnay had obliged to retire by declaring them pirates. All this time fubfifted a truce between the French and Spanijh courts, fo that this flep of the French governor muft give a very ftrange opinion of him, as though it was confiftent with juftice to encourage fuch vermin in their unlawful praftices, to fecure their affiftance in fuch as was lawful, for fear of driving them to defpair, or making them 36 A DESCRIPTION .ihe .ISLAND ‘Iietn defert to the Englffh or Dutch colonies. But the French miniftry confideri, - the injury their depredatione did to the trade carrricd on by the Fretich mercl'a' ° in the names of thofe of Spain, with the Spanifi Netherlands, highly difapproved indulgencies, as they did others fliewed them in the time, of war, where they wei' proves indot-faffered to pay no regard, to the laws made in France for the regulation of privatecn So^efi impoffible to comply with fome of them; fuch, for example, as takic^ ree ooters. ftores. Or Careening their veffels in countries lubjedt to the crown of FraJ whereas it often happened that no country fubjeft to that crown, except France itff could fupply them with what they wanted on thefe occafions. And perhaps the mi' niftry was more to blame upon the whole than the governor. Moll: of the Freebooters had by this time acquired a Plantation, or an interell in on> fo that if they deferted the ifland, it would be rather becaufe the reftraints laid on i||e ' tobacco trade had rendered their labours alhore ufelefs, than becaufe they could not prev . at fea upon the Spaniards. By this reftraint, that article which ufed to pafs as monevjj this colony was become fuch a drug, thatperfons who had nothing elfe to exchange fe the neceffaries of life,. were in danger of ftarving. This diftrefs moved the inhat a toreprefent to the king, that if the tobacco farm was fupprelTed, and they hadliben-; to fell it by wholefale er retail, within or without his dominions, free of all duties, baccofann.- were willing to give him, free of all charges,, the fourth part of all they landed inari port of France, which would be worth more than the forty fols per hundred weightpii , by the farmers, befides encouraging them to raife cotton, indigo, fugar, and other ecu. modities, which would bring him confiderable fums. But this remonftrance, it feems, had no fpeedy effeft, fo that the colony was mo:i than once on the point of dilTolution, till at laft indigo began to flourilli, and broBsiii Cultivates in- much money into the country, and enabled the inhabitants to ered fugarworks. Rocu digo, fugar, and cocoa alfo began to be raifed in great quantities, and cocoa is' faid to have chiefly «- ra™to?dm- ^6buted to make the colony populous. As for cotton, the inhabitants negleded it, a tage, an article that did not quit coft. Many, of the inhabitants, however, even after ttte improvements vyere brought to. fome height, would have withdrawn themfelves, iveie ; it. not for the profits arifing from the prizes made by the Freebooters. Neither Ogeron nor Ponancy would ever tolerate an attorney or lawyer in the eoBntry, for fear of encouraging a litigious fpirit, which muft be highly detrimental toaninfat colony. And indeed there could be no occafion for them, when the judges underftood litile more than the parties. . For ever lince the Adventurers began to think of juftice, it ufeJ to be adminiftred by councils formed of the officers of militia in thefeveraldiftriftsurife the authority of the governor. But the colony was now grown too civilifed and populous to Council and remain in the hands of fuch illiterate juftices.Wherefore a fuperior council was the yearfcl- courts of juf. lowing eftablifhed for the whole colony, and inferior courts for the four principal diftrifi!, ftce ellablilh. namely Leogasie and Petit Guave, for the Weftern, and Port de Paix and Cape Frofii . for the Northern coaft, and upon thefe the adjoining diftridfs of leffer note were msd; ■ dependent. The council firft fat at Petit Guave, but afterwards retired to Lecgm-, the four inferior courts were placed in the four towns, from whence the principal lii- ftrifts .for which they were eftablifhed took their names. The feettlement at Tortuga, fo flourifhing at the beginning, was confiderably decayed when Ponancy was named governor, and all his endeavours to reftore it proved inefc Fort at Tor- tual.. The fettlement formed .by the Buccaneers at Boyaha mightpoffiblyhavecon- /aguabandon-jjjpjjjjg^ to this decreafe, but the chief caufe muft have been the detrition or ivearinj away of the land. This at laft determined Cujjy to abandon the fortrefs, and ereft one at Port de Paix fot the fame purppfe of commanding the channel between it and tliat ifland. Though Cujy .iid his utmoft to'reform tire Freebooters, they continued ftill in many places to lead molt fhocking lives, efpecially .at Pe/fr Gartw, the principal refort of them and the pirates. He profecuted his defign with fuch refolution, as convinced the Free¬ booters, that, if they were unwilling to do tlieir duty, they muft oppofe him by forcti or retire to fome place out of his reach, The laft feeeming moft eligible, they imni^' Freebooters refolved, to the number of above two thoufand, on an expedition to the Scidi refow'on Sea. About the fame time, the like refolution was taken by a large gang of EngUfi an expedition Freebooters, and feveral fmaller gangs of both nations. We fliall notfollowthefep'- t®rates in.their excurfions, which lafted to 16,88, and, from which the pifture we have already given, of their , manner of making war was chiefly taken- Thofe belonging of HISPANIOLA, or Si- DOMINGO. 37 fo St Bominzp alone went out to the number of 3000, of whom fcarce 500 returned, and th )l'e "'"ith hardly enough to pay the coft of their equipment, to the great difap- n,.iii!irient of the planters, who had advanced very confiderable fums to lit them out. I: could not be expedled that the Spaniards, molcfted by thefe pirates in the moft i6s,-. cruel manner on both flwres of their polTellions in America, ihould confider as friends a colony that had produced them in fuch numbers, and many of whofe inhabitants, they muft know, or have juft caufe to fufpedf, were concerned in their enterprifes. Wherefore they renewed their hoftilities on the coaft of St Domingo, and in 1687, with only eighty five men in a brigantine and pirogue, furprifed Petite Gtwsec, -whicli, ftom the great number of Freebooters it had furniflied out for the South Sea expedi¬ tion. and the feverity of CtiUy to the remainder, had fcarce a man left to defend it. p,t;te Gfmm But thofe in the neighbourhood had foon affembled, and cutting off the retreat of the'■“'■pof'-'d by ^ Spaniards to the fea, obliged them to lliut themfelves up in the fort, which was foon forced. On this occafion twenty-five of the Spaniards efcaped by flight, the reft were put to the Iword, except the officers, who were referved for a more ignominious death, and hanged, in reprifal for fome murders committed on their landing, and fome treat¬ ment of the fame kind lately given, though perhaps with great juftice, to fome Free¬ booters fallen into their hands. PtiM jtix Laurence de Graff, a famous Freebooter, was created major of the co- lony. This man had firft fignaiifed himfelf among the iSptfw'Wr, till he fell into the hands of fome Freebooters, whom, on invitation, he joined as brave men, and con- fequently better company, to make war upon his former employers. And he fpread fo much terror and defolation among them, that one of their public petitions was to be delivered from the fury of Laurencille, the name they had given him when he lived a- mong them. He waa not in fad fo bad as reprefented, but the Freebooters had fo often ufed his name to lecure fuccefs to their cruel enterprizes, that they brought an odium on it greater than it deferved. The~chief views of the French miniftry in promo¬ ting this man, were to engage the Freebooters, over whom he had great influence, to abandon their evil courfes, and to employ him in fcouring the adjacent feas from pi¬ rates, for which purpofe they appointed him governor of IJle Avache, and he executed his commiffion to the fatisfadion of French, Engli/h, and Spaniards. But all thefe meafures were but palliative v/ith regard to the difeafe that preyed upon the vitals of the colony. From the reftraints upon trade in general, and the tobacco trade in particular, fuch of the planters as had not ftock enough to plant indigo were ready to llarve, and the difficulties of cultivating indigo were confiderably increafed by the want trd&dVor of Negroes as well as contrad fervants j fo that many of the Freebooters, who were wantoftra*. difpofed to become planters, and had funds for that purpofe, could do nothing for want of hands. This evil arole from the exclufive commerce of Negroes referved by the Wejl India company ; for at firft they poured fo many flaves into the colony, that 0- thers were deterred from fending contrad fervants, and on their meeting with fome difappointment, through their own miftake in glutting the market, they flopped their hands all at once, Thefe reafons of complaint received new weight from a permiflion granted to another company, that of St Malo, to trade with the Spaniards in all thefe parts, by which means three or four hundred of the inhabitants, who heretofore lived comfortably by that commerce, were all at once reduced to the greateft diftrefs. The inhabitants firft complained of their grievances, but finding no redrefs, all thofe Rites inarm-, of the diftridl of Cape Francois took up arms, headed by one Chevalier, and talked of uaiping a fucceflbr to Cujfy, whom they accufed of trading with the Spaniards on his own account, though in the name of the St Malo company. Chevalier firft feized a ihip trading with the Spaniards in a neighbouring port, then paffed through the coafts fowing the feeds of rebellion, and at laft took poll on a hill that now makes part of the town of Cape Franpois, planted cannon on it, and intrenched himfelf fo as to make it difficult to force him. But foon after feeing an intrenchment thrown up oppofite to his own, he fent word to the officer who commanded in it, that he had taken up arms only to hinder the correfpondence of the governor with the enemies of France, to the great detriment of the colony, and th.it he was willing to lay them down on putting a flop to fo fcandalous a diforder. The oificer, after deliberating whether he ihould hang the meffenger, thought it better to fend him back with an anfwer, importing, that he would not fail to inform the court of the caufes of his complaint, not doubting that the king would pay due regard to them if well grounded. But in the mean time he L advifed. 38 ^ DE SC RIP T I O N o/ //jfi IS L A N D adviled him and his followers to difperfe, as the heft way to avoid increafnw t’-' - guilt, on which he would venture to affure them that what was paft fliould bs^burha ^ in oblivion. This anfwer had the defired effedl: The male-contents were fo weary of their confinement in their trenches, that they immediately cried out, nothing auidi’ Dirperfe. fairer, and immediately retired. Whether the leader did not comply till his followe-- had defected him, or renewed his caballing, the officer thought fit to arrcft him, X prefence of the inhabitants of the fame difirift, who never offered to interpofe in .hb favour, fo that the unhappy man was immediately put on board a fliip for Port “I execMei''''^ where he was tried, fentenced, and hanged; two more of his accomplices were treated in the fame manner. This infurreftion was fcarce appeafed, when the governor received a letter from the French miniftry about eftabiiffiing a poll tax, and an excife in the colony, but he fo well reprefented the confequences of fuch a ffep, that he heard no more of it. In June 1689, a gang of 240 Freebooters, who had brought fome Englifi prizes in. , to the Cul de Sac, having applied to Cliffy for commiffions to go upon a new cruize he propofed an attack upon St Jago de lot Cavalkros, as more honourable and advan' tageous to themfelves, and more beneficial to their country, than any they could un¬ dertake by fea, and promifed to lead them himfelf, and to take with him all the inhabitants of the Cape and its neighbourhood fit to bear arms. They approved his advice, and he embarked with them for Port de Paix, where he muftered his little army, confifting of four hundredhorfe, and four hundred and fifty foot, befides a hundred and fifty Negroes, to talce care of the horfes and baggage. Ciffy imagined he could eafily reduce all the Spaniff fettlements, on account of great difeontents, which, as l:c was falfly informed, prevailed among the Spaniards in general, and particularly in the garrifon of San Domingo. On this prefumption, he fent a meffage to the governor of St Jago, that he was come to decide by arms, with the prefident of San Domingo, the foie poffeffion of the ifland, and would wait his arrival if he accepted the challcn»e, The governor of St Jago gallantly anfwered, that he needed not trouble the prefident, fince he wanted not courage nor force to anfwer it himfelf. According to his word, Cujjy was a day or two after attacked in paffing a defile formed by a torrent, but he repulfed the Spaniards with great lofs, which ftruck them with fuch a terror, that he found the town quite empty. But the inhabitants had carried off every thing moveable St 7a t di provilions, which Cujjy gave orders not to touch. Some, however, unable to refill il/c^Luf temptation, gratified their appetites, and as they foon found themfelves fick, concluded ra burnt by they were poifoned; which fo enraged the army, that Cujjy was obliged to permit them the French, to bum the town, fparing only the churches and chapels 1690 following the colony of St Domingo was reinforced by a number of the moll confiderable families of St Chrijlophers, which the Englijh had taken from the Fimk And foon after their arrival, had advice that the fleet which had diflodged tliem, was failed for Portorico, to join the Spaniards, whom his late expedition to St Jago mull have highly exafperated. But the Spaniards, it feems, needed not affiflance to execute their revenge ; for two days after the governor had intelligence that they appeared both by fea and land, and in five days more their fleet, confifting of fix large lliips and a fi-igate, carrying 2600 men, landed 1200 at Bayaha, and 500 more near Jaqueri-, and neither thefe forces, nor 1200 more, which crofted the ifland from the capital, met with the lead refiftance. This inadfion of the French proceeded from a difference in opinion, between the governor and his lieutenant; the former advifing ambufeadts, and the other propofing to meet them in an open plain, called Savane de Limomk, through which they muff pafs in their way to the Cape. And, unfortunately for the French, this laft propofal was fo univerfally approved, tLt the governor was obliged to yield to it, and fecured to the Spaniards their advantage of fuperiority in number. Wherefore, two days after they marched to the plain, which is a league fquare, and perfedlly level. The day after their arrival the Spaniards entered the plain, and the French, on their firft appearance, fell upon them with the fame precipitation and con- fufiqn which had befere prefided at their counfels. However, the viftory remained long ‘^“bious, owing to the extraordinary efforts of 300 Freebooters, whole fire had almoft ^^.e^ority over that of this Spanijh Mihus. But a Spanijh officer, obier- *rd!. ving the dilparity, made a fignal to 300 lancemen, who had all this time lain flat on their fixes, and they made fo furious a charge on the French, that they im¬ mediately broke tlirough their center. On this the two wings, finding themfelves fepa- rated, took their flight, except a few of the molt refolutc,- who flood by the governor and 39 of HISPANIOLA, or St DOMINGO. ■ind lieutenant, till they were overpowered, and all llain. The French loll on thisocca- iiuii befides thole two general ofikers, betwen four and five hundred of their braveft men. Had the Spaniards made proper ufe of their advantage, they might have driven the French out of St Domingo, or at leall obliged them to lubmit to the Spanijh crown ; but they contented themfelves with burning the town of the Cape, and killing all the Frenchmen they found, and then retired with a great number of women, children, and llivcs. Some of the inhabitants, who had retired into the woods with their families, h d laved part of their effefts and Haves, who, on this occalion, and many others fince, vAve llirpnling proofs of their fidelity and attachment to their mailers, when they might not ihs have recovered their liberty, without an}'rilk, bydeferting them. A plain demonllra-thel^vinLv. tion that the:e poor defpifed people are fufceptible of noble fentiments, and of grati¬ tude in particular, fince the only reafon that can be given for their behaviour on thefe occalions, is the extraordinary mildnefs with which the French planters generally treat them, and their great care to make them good Chriftians. But though the Spaniards did not make the moll of their vidory, they recovered by it that fuperiority over the French, the lols of which had been fo detrimental to them, and of which the French have never fince been able to deprive them. Soon after their defeat, arrived 300 more of the late inhabitants of St Cbriftophcrs, who had been refilled entertainment by the people of Santa Cruz, but were more heartily welcome to St Domingo, where, befides filing the vacant plantations, they greatly contributed, with thofe already arrived from the lame place, to introduce fentiments of religion, virtue, and politenefs, with w'hich, itfeems, the inhabitants of St Domingo were not as yet too well acquainted. The Englilh, who were not early enough to aflifl; the Spaniards in the attack of the French colony of St Domingo, thought fit to take the advantage of the conllernation and weaknefs in which the Spaniards had left it. Wherefore, about three weeks after tlie retreat of the Spaniards, they appeared off the coall, with a fleet, confifting of four at- lliips of 40 and 50 guns, eight fmaller velTcls, and fome liiallops. After fome finie cannonading to no purpofc a place called la Petite Riviere on the Weftern coaft, they attempted to land ; but M. Dumas, who commanded in chief, till the court had ap¬ pointed a fucceflbr to Cu£y, had thrown up fuch good intrenchments there and at every other place, where there was reafon to apprehend any attempt of that kind, that the Eng/ijh were obliged to defift. They then fent fome fmaller craft, full of men, to take a Freebooters lliip, which had been ftranded within 100 paces of an intreiighment at a place called I'Eiierre, within two leagues of the former ; But M. des Landes, who commanded in the abfence of Dumas, having guefled their intentions, immediately diipatched Ids bell mounted troopers, who got thither time enough to defeat their defign. The next day the fleet weighed anchor, except two large Ihips, and one fmaller, left to amufe the troops of the Petite Riviere ; but des had left there 150 men, who hthaved fo well that the Englifi, for want of being covered by the cannon of their llilps, which lay at too great a diftance, could effedt nothing. The lliips left at la Petite Riviere were no fooner returned, than they all drew in nearer to the land, and the Engltjh commander fent two officers, and an old Free¬ booter on Ihore to propol'e a conference, and to ferve as hoftages, if the French com¬ mander thought fit to fend deputies to treat with him. The French commander ac¬ cepted the invitation, and lent two officers on board the commodore, but with exprefs orders not to conclude any thing. The propofal made to the officers imported that the French of St Domingo fliould put themfelves under the proteftion of his Britannic ma- jeily, who would not abandon them as their king had done, but would take care to lupply all their wants. The French officers anfwered, that this was not a propofal to be fairtjccr°JLy made to loyal fubjedls, that they wanted nothing, and expedted in a fliort time to re- '■’acFnach. turn their compliment at Jamaica. The Engiifli commander finding by this refolute anfwer, that the French were as willing as he had realbnto guefs they were able to defend themfelves, weighed chor and put to fea again ; but after taking in water and frelh provifions on the" oppollte ' fide of the Bay of Ctd de Sac, called les Pages, and at Mont Boup, he appeared again before la Petite Riviere, where des Landes, followed their fleet fi'cm pl.tce to pfice, got advice that his intention was to furprife, plunder, and burn Petite Guave. Wherefore he fent notice to the commanding officer of that place to be upon his ?uard, and that he would foon be with him. In fadl, the fleet immediately made for felite Guave, and des Landes followed by land, after putting fome men in boats to follow 40 A DESCRIPTION of the ISLAND follow it by water. But the fleet, inftead of flopping at Petite Guave, proceeded to Nippes, on which were but 50 men, and landed 500, who in lei's than two hours were attacked by the French commander, and not being flrong enough to maintain their ground on fhore, after a flight fkirmifli, retired on board their flrips, which im- mediately difappeared. Ducaffe the Soon after this event, M. Ducajfe, who had been nominated fucceffor to ^^gwernor jcj-iyed to take poffedion of his government. This gentleman, who had long relidcd lo"ny in^eat in the colony, both as an inhabitant, and as an agent to the Wejl India company, ^as deciy. greatly furprifed to find it weaker by 400 men than it had been a few years be.%e, when he left it, and without fortifications and military llores, the Freebooters, wlio had been its chief fupport, all dead, or in the hands of the Englip, and the coafls fo ill guarded, that all the merchant fhips which came this year from Europe, haj fallen into the enemy’s hands and, morever, the fettlement of the Cul de Sac threat, ned with a vifit from a moll powerful Spanip armament. But as this colony nay juflly be faid to have fomething very uncommon and lingular in its birth and growth, and to have wanted nothing but its Romulus and Numa to become a Rome to the New World, the reader, we imagine, will not be difpleafed to fee a particular furvey of j taken about this time by M. Honon de Gulifet, the king’s lieutenant at SanSla Criiz and his method for retrieving it. Cape Francois, fays Gulifet, enjoys the bell air of any place in the whole illanii, Particular has a port excellent in itfelf, and very commodious for llrips coming from Eunit, tmSiy I*® watered, and fufficient to maintain 6000 planters, Cape Fran- though at prefent there are but 1600, and not a fingle perfon of any confequencea- mong them. Port Jt Falx leagues Fall of Cape Francois, and contains 80 planters, anl ' its dillria will admit no more. It has no port, properly fpeaking, but only a rd not very good j the air befides is unwholefome, and the foil barren. Here are, how. ever, a multitude of Rangers, an indolent fet of people, who fubfifl by hunting, anJ live in huts in the country. Including thefe hunters, this poll may confifl of jeo perfons. The fort here is built on a rock of the hardell kind of freellone, which terminates at top in a flat of 450 fathoms in circumference, and well fupplied with fprings at two or three feet under the furface. The fide facing the fea, which walli- es 190 fathoms of it, forms an amphitheatre, but the fide towards the land is vciy lleep to the height of between 45 and 50 feet. This advantage, however, is almoit loll by the neighbourhood of fome hills, which command it on every fide by lanJ, from 160 to 300 fathoms diflance, and againll which it is impolfible to fereen it bat by very flrong and extenlive epaulments. It would be proper befides to reduce tbs curtains nearer to the center by cutting away the rock, fo as to give it a Hill greater declivity. Tertuia. Portuga lies oppofite to Port de Pain 5 has but 100 inhabitants, and is but a wretched habitation, and therefore ferves for nothing but to difperfe the colony’s forces, CuIdeSae: In the dillria of the Guide Sac, 50 leagues South of Port de Pain, are 50 planters, and it may admit of twice as many more; but the air is unwholefome, water fcarcc, and even what is obtained by digging brackifh. The dillria of Leogane is fix leagues further to the Eaft. It is a plain four leagues long, and a league and half broad, bordered on one fide by the fea, and by a ridge of mountains on the other. It has no ports to receive fhipping, but only roads, which are all open. The foil, however, is excellent 5 and hence the planters, may be about 200, are in the bell circumllances of any in the whole colony. Lagrande La Grande Guave lies four leagues more to the Well, and has but 30 planterSi mi k petite nor can it maintain a greater number. La Petite Guave lies two leagues from theo- Gnnt. many planters, though but 60. The air of this quarter is unvvholc- fome, and the foil good for nothing; but the town or village belonging to it is wdl built, and has an excellent port. Fiippti. The dillria of Nippes lies fix leagues Well of Petite Guave, is of no greater ex¬ tent, and contains the fame number of planters, befides about 100 difeiplined men, of whom all thefe Wellern diftridts may furnifli 700. The communication between them by land is very indifferent. Dillriaand To conclude, the dillridt which contains, and takes its name from the ille dvacb!, ifle kache. in the Southern fide of the illand near its Wellern point has no planters 3 but on the of HISPANIOLA, or St DOMINGO. 41 rtreat ifland, where the country is level, and interfefted by a multitude of rivers, the foil ^wonderfully fruitful, and capable of very well maintaining 10,000 planters 5 atprefent it contains but twenty, befides eighty of the militia. Now, M. deGalifet propofed the reduftion of the whole colony to this laft quarter, and that of the Cape; fince, befides the goodnefs and conveiiiency of their harbouis, they poiii toL- were the only diftridls capable of maintaining inhabitants enough to make head againil: f • an enemy, who, for the fame reafon, he faid, could not acquire any folid footing in the rower bomius deferted quarters. But DiicaJJt\ it feems, was of another opinion ; for having received certain intelligence, ^ itauhtSfanlards were preparing to give the colony another blow, he took the propcitft"^£u.uhe1r meafures to defend every poft. And the report of thofe meafures, joined to de Graff’i .wtetpiiie.v reputation for bravery, faved the colony from deftrudion. For the (Sprrw'Wr, whov/ere coming by fea, hearing of the governor’s preparations to receive them, drew back when within thirty leagues of Cape Fiw/wh; and, of 2000 and upwards, w’howere marching by land, under the command of the governor of St Jago, fo many deferted, when it was known that the terrible De G;w/';waited for them, in an advantageous poft, at the head of the militia of the Cape, that the governor was obliged to march back, for fear of being entirely abandoned. While the ftorm hung over the colony, Ducaffe had, tho’ with much difficulty, pre- Freebooterj vailed on the Freebooters to remain in the pofts where he judged their affiftance moft ne- cclTary; but it was no fooner blown over, than he found it impoffible to reftrain them, and five or fix of their velfels immediately put to fea. The difeipline, however moderate, to which the late governor had held them, had fo exafperated them, that they were never known to be more wicked and untradlable. And, what was worft of all, their examples were fo contagious, that moft of the young fellows of the colony, from a fpirit of liber- tinifm, took luch a liking to the fame profeffion, that the bell formed plantations were deferted, and the country ftript at once of men, arms, and ammunition. The new governor, however, did not conclude from hence, like many others, that it Wifely nw- was abfolutely necelTary to extirpate this reftlefs and ungovernable body, but rather con- lidered them as a necelTary evil. They had lately taken a good number of ihips from the Spaniards, and hindered both them and the Engliih from undertaking any thing againil the colonv, without conliderable fuccours from Europe, which they rarely received. Upon the whole he concluded, that it was bell to obfa ve fome meafures with a body of men, which his colony could not fpare, tho’ it had fo much to fuffer and fear from them. But the governor had another caufe of iineafmefs. All the inhabitants of the colony who fell into the hands of the Enffijh or Spaniards were generally loll to it for ever. The colony by de- Spaniards treated them fo cruelly, that moft of them periflied with famine, fatigue, or defpair, conlidering them, no doubt, as little better than pirates. And though the French governor threatened to retaliate this ufage, by giving no quarter, the Spaniff governors Hill per/illed in their behaviour to the French prifoners. As to the Englijh, the French wri¬ ters only charge them with fending the prifoners to England as fall as they took tliem, till Ducafe bethought himfelf of a cartel, which he concluded with the governor of Ja- mica, who, as the French do him the jullice to acknowledge, religioully obferved it. Ltd. ^ Tho’ the Englijh and Spaniards carried off many French merchant lliips from the coall of St Domingo, the Freebooters made the colony fome amends by their frequent defeents y . . .^ upon Jamaica, from whence they daily brought fo many Negroes, that this ifland was MmcT'L/- no longer known at St Domingo, by any other name than that of Little Guinea. ikG„ium. But the Englijh having intercepted fome letters containing an enumeration of the Fratc/a on the wellern coalls of St Domingo, agreeable to that of Galifet above related, refolved to fion of st bear no longer a thorn fo eafy to be extrafted. With this view therefore, they fitted out two men of war, a Spanijl: hurcdongo of 24 guns, and feven or eight merchantmen, Ltiiquiikc. on board of which they embarked 3000 land forces. But when juft on the point of fail- ing, they received advice that a defeent had been made on their own coall, which demand¬ ed tiieirfirft attention, as the moll preffing evil. Wherefore they haftily difpatched two fiiil of their ovvn armament and the barcolongo, in quell of the veffel which had landed the raen, and a frigate with two boats to watch the motions of the Freebooters, who might he aihore. But though the firll of thefe meafures fucceeded, the veffel that had made & defeent blowing up in the engagement with thofe fent againft her, and the laft proved uriiieceffary, the men, who had landed, being difeoncerted by the memorable earthquake M of 42 ^DESCRIPTION of //jelSLAND of Jamaica, yet they delayed the undertaking againft St Domingo fo long, that the fac^ earthquake intervened to render it inexpedient, and perhaps impoflible. It was fome time, before Ducafe had advice of the great damage done by the earth, quake at Jamaica, the Englijh purpofely detaining the Freebooters, who had landed in the expedition abovementioned, and furrendered upon condition of being fent back to St Domingo. Nor, when the news of it reached his ears, did he think liis colony qui^ out of danger, fince the expedition coft it two hundred'Freebooters, and the Spaniards were continually receiving reinforcements from Europe, wliich he had litth reafoii to expedl he fliould be able to refift. And his apprehenlions were not groimdlcft for in .^pril, 1693, a large Esiolifi fquadron appeared feveral times on the coalls of his An Snglifi government, but made no attempt. Ducaffe, having made the beft preparations he could orihe coat them, fent out the man of war, which had brought him over, to get intelligence of their motions. But the captain could meet with nothing ; which made the governor conclude, tliat though the Englifi at Jamaica miglit have retrieved their affairs by the fuccours,which the fleet, that had alarmed him fo much, had brought them fromEiiglmil, they were not as yet in a condition to give him any difturbance. Ducaffe, about this time, intercepted letters from the Archbifliop of San Domingo to the prefident of the council of the Indies, importing, that the Spaniards of that colony were in the utmoft diftrefs, and particularly in fuch want of clothes, that the wonicn were obliged to go to church before daylight, and that the whole ifland muff foon fii into the hands of the French, if the king did not grant a fettlement to tiie Fit wings, of whom, he faid, it was unreafonable to be apprehenfive that they would carry on a con¬ traband trade along the coafts of America, as if the Englifi and Dutch did not conftantly carry on the fame trade, and defraud the king of his duties, where.is the Flemings offered, both going and coming, to regifter their effeds, and pay the duties at any port his nia- jelly fliould order. Thefe conjedures and difeoveries made Ducajje prefs his court mcit than ever for fuccours, to enable him to attack both the Englifi of Jamaica, and tlie niards of liis own illand, efpecially the latter, jullly imagining, that they would be gkJ to change mafters, if only to obtain the neceflaries of life. But had not the Englifi mi- Defign of the carried in their attempt on Martinico, and been thus difrbled from fulfilling their sgrec- Engitfi and nient, and joining the Spaniards, who on their fide alfo loft three fiiips in the Bihm gaSTife CO- channel, with all their crews, and a great fum of money defigned to defray the chargesof lony abortive, the expedition, Ducajfe, inftead of propofing new cenquefts, would have thought hini- felf very happy in keeping his own pofleflions. However, while this ftorm hung over his head, he fent a llrip with all his Freebooteri, now reduced to one hundred and fifty, to makeadefeent on Jamaica, and they were fo fortunate as to bring back three hundred and fifty Negroes. But the French would prfr Governor of bably have paid very dear for this vilit, had not the governor of Jamaica taken too many Jamaica too precautions in the meafurcs he took to return it. For having got intelligence by inter- cepted letters, that Petite Guave was without troops, he fitted out fome veflels to burn it, and ravage die coaft. But, fearing his little fquadron was not fufficient, he fent to en¬ gage the alfiftance of five Dutch fliips trading on the coaft of Cuba ; but, as the captains infilled that the governor fhould purchafe their cargoes, and allow them very advantage¬ ous conditions in regard to the diftribution of the plunder, fo much time was loll inths negotiation, that the governor thought fit to defer the undertaking to another opportunity. All thefe hoftilities did not prevent Ducafe from attending to tire improvement of hit '694- colony, by the cultivation of fugar, indigo, and the many other commodities it is capa- tirivingftaK. 0 ^^ producing. Of thefe indigo was got to the greateft head, fince the planters lad not only enough to fupply their neighbours, who frequented thofe parts of the illand, not thinking it inferior to that oiGuatimala, but flattered themfelves, that they fliould be able to furnilli France itfelf with all it wanted. The governor promifed the miniftry toraife filk alfo, provided they would fend fome of the ufclefs hands that crowded the hofpitals of France, and above all, a good number of children from tv.'elve to fifteen years of age, whom, he faid, he could fet all at work the minute they landed. As to cotton and to¬ bacco, the inhabitants alledged that neither of them would quit coft. If fo, the decay of the latter mull have been owing .to the reftraints put on the commerce of it, or elfe the planters fpoke comparatively in regard to the profitable cultivation of indigo. Dticeje concludes the letter, from whence this account is taken, witli aflerting, that if the whole illand belonged to the French, as they could then make fettlements in the inland parts, and wonld no longer under apprehenfions of lofing their Haves, who were always well of HISPANIOLA, or St DOMINGO. 43 received by the Spaniards, it might be made to maintain as many fouls as the kingdom of France adlually contained. Ducafe, no longer apprehenfive of a vifit from the forces fent from England and Oldnucnjje pre- Spain, refolved upon another defcent on Jamaica. For this purpofe he fent out fix toll veffels with four hundred Freebooters, and followed them himfclf a few days after, with one hundred and fifty more on board a man of war. But the Freebooters fent be¬ fore, meeting an Englifi man of war that guarded the coafi: of Jamaica, retreated, fotne to go on another courfe, and the reft to return to St Domingo. As nothing therefore could be done, till this obftacle was removed, DucajJ'e returned to his' ifland for the man of war he had left behind him, which with the other overpowered and took the Englijh fliip. This fuccefs, with the arrived of 200 Freebooters, who had been abfent about a year, out of a multitude of thole who had lately delerted from Beauregard, put Ducajfe on ftriking a greater blow than that which had mifearried, and for this purpofe he affembled about I400 men of the coaft, and 21 fail of fliips, including the two French men of war and their prize. This armament arrived in Cqw Bay, 5 leagues from Port Royal, June 27, 1694, and Makes a de- landed 800 men under Beauregard without oppofition. They marched 14 or 15 leagues as far as Port Morant, burning and plundering all before them, and took 1000 negroes, and fome Englifi prijfoners, who informed them that the inhabitants, forewarned by fome deferters of the French preparations, had abandoned all their pofts except Port Morant, Ovatiron in Coiv Bay, and Port Royal, where they were ftrongly intrenched. And indeed Beauregard found the two forts of Port Morant evacuated, and j 8 pieces of cannon nailed, but great plenty of provifions. Here he remained four weeks, in vyhich time he finiflied the demolition of the forts, Ihipped off one eighteen pounder, burft the reft of the cannon, and fent to Port Mary a detachment of 200 men in four bodies, which ravaged all the northern coaft. Ducap flayed at Com Bay till about July 6, when, after taking fome lliips laden with provifions, he failed for Port Morant, with all the troops that remained with him, and all the Ihips, except the Englilh prize, which he fent to St Domingo with about 1200 taken, or deferted flaves, and a man of war, that had driven, and could never afterwards rejoin the fleet. Here he took aboard all the troops, which had been landed under Beauregard, and returned with them on the 20th to Com Bay, where all the Freebooters and men of the coaft were put alhore, and marched diredtly, with colours flying, to Port Royal, before which they remained three hours in order of battle. But this was done merely to give a falfe alarm, and it was afterwards refolved, that Major k Graff fliould march with all the Freebooters and men of the coaft to attack Ovatiron, 17 leagues eaft of Cow Bay, where the principal force of the Englijh was pofted. De Graff fet out that very evening after nightfall in 14 boats, and anchored the next day at three in the afternoon at Ovatiron. Here he found a flave-fliip of 30 guns; but on his advancing to board Irer, the captain, who had already landed his negroes, fet her on fire, and efcaped afliore. In the mean time, the cannon of the place played on the Ihips at anchor, but without doing them any damage. The troops, to the amount of 1000 men, began to land at two the next morning, but were not all afliore till day¬ break, becaufe the boats could carry but 50 at a time. However, they were no fooner landed than they marched up to the Englijh, who were ftrongly pofted, to the number 13 or 1400, behind three intrenchments mounted with 12 pieces of cannon. Beau¬ regard led the vanguard compofed of the Freebooters, and was fcconded by de Graff’ with the men of the coaft. After receiving the fire of the cannon and fmall arms, as loon as they got within mulket-fliot of the trenches, they poured their fire into them, and then attacked them fword in hand, and after an obftinate refiftance of an hour and a half they forced them; the Englijh, on this occafion, had 36011100 killed and Forces the wounded, among the former two colonels, two lieutenant colonels, and fix captains. %#in- The French had but 22 men killed and wounded, and took nine pair of colours, fe- ven drums, and 150 horfes bridled and faddled. De Graff afterwards repulfed 200 horfe fent from Spanijle Down to reinforce thole in the intrenchments, after a finar't Ikirmilli of two hours, and this was the laft refiftance he met. The next day de Graff' feut out a detachment of 500 men to bring in cattle, make prifoners, and plunder and deftroy the plantations and fugar works. Ducaffe arrived the 5th with the men of war, and fent out other detachments for the fame purpofe. But we find by fome memoirs that tliefe detachments were very far from meeting the fuccefs they expefted, becaufe many 44 A DESCRIPTION of the ISLAND many of the inhabitants, in the neighbourhood of Ovatiron, had built each a fort in [.jj plantation, and Ihut himfelf up in it with his family, flaves, and all his mod; precious moveables; and the walls being too high to fcale, and the bringing cannon to batter them being judged impradticable, the French could get nothing by attacking them ; they evon tell us, that the find of thefe little garrifons, which the French endeavoured to force, coll them a captain and 50 men. However the troops, after ruining the intrenchments, burflinj the cannon, and fetting fire to the town, embarked the 3d of Auguji for St Domingo, where they arrived the 14th. The plunder confided of about 3000 negroes, a good quaiiti- ty of indigo and other valuable goods, with a great number of pans and other utenfils belonging to the fugarworks. Great part of the booty, fome fay, was dedroyed by fire, whether accidentally or on purpofe is not mentioned. However there remained enough to procure Dticaje, by the manner in which he didributed it, the ill will of his Freebooters, who accufed him, though in every refpeft like Ogeren the father of the colony, of taking the bed diare to himfelf; but it is. more credible, that he gave it to the officers and crews of the men of war employed in this e.xpcdition. At this time there were upwards of 7000 Negroes in the mountains of Jamcuca, all defirous of living with the French ; and for this purpofe they fent deputies to them while they lay in Cow Bay, though not timely enough to deliver their propofals, as the report of tlie march of a great body of troops from Port Royal obliged them to haden their retreat. It was not doubted that the EngliJIo would take the fird opportunity of returning Ducajje the compliment he had paid them; wherefore, immediately on his return, be fet about putting all his pods in the bed condition of defence. And though he'did not expeft to be attacked before they had received fuccours from England, yet in lef; than fix weeks three Englijh men of war, a firediip, and two barks, anchored in the road of Leogane, oppofite to Eprre, which they battered nine hours, and in the mean time attacked two little veffels, one of which they fet on fire. After this they weighed an. chor, and indead of attacking Petite Guave, as the French expected, jud dopped a league above it, to land fome prifoners, and proceeded to IJle Avache, where the inlia- bitants jud gave them time to burn two or three houfes. 1695. This attempt could fcarce be confidered in any other light than a bravado. Butds- foon after received certain notice that a confiderable armament was preparing i- gaind him in England, and fpeedily expedted at 'Jamaica. This intelUgence gave him teck the great uneafinefs, as all his Freebooters \vere gone upon a cruife. Defides, the Enjili ny”f St Da- frigates cruifing between Port de Paix and Petite Guave, which entirely ruined ttiingt. the trade of his colony; and to compleat his misfortune, the fird of May a Dimfi veflel, difpatched from the idand of St Thomas, arrived at Leogane with advice, that five large Spanip (hips, full of people, were arrived at their idand; that two others bad failed by in fight of it without dopping; and that fix men of war, 15 merchant lliips, and two bomb ketches had been feen to put to fea from St Chrijlopher's. flxM/fpro; So powerful a confederacy was not however the thing that gave Ducajfe the moll uneafinefs. He was at a lofs to know, if the forces would join to adl together, or if the two nations would attack him feparately; and in cafe they united, where tJie cloud would break. In this uncertainty, he at lad refolved to remain at the Cul de Sac, and though he had but 500 men to defend an extent of 20 leagues, he detached ico un¬ der the command of Bernanos to reinforce the garrifon of Port de Paix, of which this officer was Major, and fent orders by him to de Graf and de la Boulaye, the fird, go¬ vernor of Cape Franpis, and the other, of Port de Paix, that if Cape Franpis fliould be attacked, Bernanos fhould repair to it with his detachment; and if the Spankrii appeared by fea and land at once, Captain Girardin drould march out to oppofe theit landing, while his Lieutenant, the Chevalier du Lion, remained in the fort to command, the batteries; and that de Graff fliould oppofe them by land, prepare ambufeades every where to receive them, difpute the ground inch by inch, by means of good intrench¬ ments, and thus make a fighting retreat to the town,, where it was thought he could fio|t be forced; that in cafe however this misfortune happened, he fliould nail up or burft his cannon, fet fire to his powder, and repair with as many men as he could to Pod de Paix, The orders given to Boulaye were to the fame purpofe; and as thefe two of¬ ficers had under them moft of the forces of the colony, Ducaffe, whom the EngUfi kept in conftant awe on the fide of i^e Cul de Sac, flattered himfelf, that thefe two important polls would make a vigorous refiftance, from the fituation of the roads, the inundations of the adjacent rivers, and the refolutenefs of the inhabitants, who came of HISPANIOLA, or St DOMINGO. 45 very ready and well prepared to defend the intrenchments and batteries to the lad: extremity. _ I At length, on the fifteenth of July, the allied fleet, compofed of twenty two fail, eight fleet of them Sfaiiijh men of war, with 4000 land forces on board, entered the bay of Man- cenilk, and were joined by 2000 men, fent by the prefident of St Domingo. De rave immediate notice of their appearance to Bouhye, who difpatched Bmwnos to him with 130 men, which detachment fet out the i8th and arrived the 21ft. Some par¬ ties had alfo taken the field to obferve the enemy’s motions, and on the 27th one of thefe parties came to inform De Graf, that they had made their appearance in the Sa¬ vannah of Limonade. On this, he immediately detached four troopers to reconnoitre them, who finding them encamped on the fame fpot, where De CuJJy had been fo lately defeated, flayed a full half hour to obferve them. The enemy’s advanced guard perceiving the troopers, gave notice to the main body, now within cannon Ihot of the firft intrenchment, which De Graff had thrown up in a place called le Ioffe de Limonade, and probably intended to take time enough to reconnoitre it thoroughly. But de Graff, who had already lofl eight days in the moft unaccountable inadlion, tho’ M he knew the enemy were fo near an intrenchment, in the attack of which the greateft * part of them might have been killed, idly fpent the remainder of the day in deliberating on choice of meafures, as if he could do any thing better than wait for their coming j and at laft, hearing that two large bodies of Spaniards lay hid in the woods, in order to cut off thofe who might be fent out a fecond time to gain intelligence, he refolved to with¬ draw his troops from this firfl intrenchment, and accordingly marched,them that very evening into another intrenchment, that he had thrown up at the fource of the river, called du baut du Cap, which defended the only road, by which the enemy could advance. The enemy’s fleet had approached the point of the Cape, at the fame time that the land forces appeared in the plain, and kept a conftant firing all the afternoon of the 27th. "FramohS But the cannon of the place being better ferved than thofe of the fhips put a flop to their proceedings ; and, as foon as night fet in, the fleet weighed and came to anchor again without the harbour. De Graff repaired very early, in the morning of die 28th, to the intrenchment, juft now mentioned, with all the men he could affemble, being at moft 300, and fet about fortifying himfelf there, and for thatpurpofe fent to the Cape for four one and two pounders. The Spaniards, in the mean time, took pofieflion of the poft he had abandoned, and Spm!.v.Ss were quite aftoniflied to find themfelves fo eafily mafters of it. De Grajffe, by his un- X, accountable indolence and want of fpirit, on this important occafion, loft the confi- trenciiment, dence of his troops, fo that he was no longer obeyed, and nothing could bd obferved but'a predominant and univerfal terror. The enemy no longer meeting with oppofition in the plain, fet fire to the neareft plantations, and then advancing to the fea fide, burnt a parcel of huts they had ob.ferved there. The flames ferving for a fignal pre-concerted with the commanders of the fleet, eighteen long boats approached the fpot, where the huts had flood, while two others made their appearance in the port, where they took foundings, aud landed fome men in fpite of the batteries. ™ ^ The Cape was garrifoned by 250 militia, a company of infantry, and one of Negroes. Captain Girardin, who commanded there, had difpofed his intrenchments along the fliore judicioufly enough to obftruft the enemy’s landing, and de Graff had for that purpofe detached a company of militia to fupport him. As for himfelf, he confidered his fecurity in his intrenchment at the fource of the river du baut du Cap, fo much the greater, as the enemy was under a neceffity of forcing two other intrenchments, before they could approach him. But the troops in thefe intrenchments did not give the enemy the trouble of attacking them, but abandoned them without orders, and marched to re- i.ntrench. infdrce de Graff’s, where they did lefs good, by increafing the number of his forces, than mifehief by their bad example, and the panick they brought with them ; their retreat befides laid open to the enemy all the Morin quarter. The afternoon of the fame day, their long boats joined the Ihips already under fail, and p^ccedings the whole fleet came to an anchor at fhoBande du Nord, on the flielves of the Petite qUm&ki. paffe du Port, from whence it detached four veflels to cannonade the battery, but the Chevalier du Lion foon obliged them to retire, and two of them were greatly da¬ maged in the undertaking. Next morning, the rifing fun difeovered fix long boats run¬ ning along ftiore, in order to make a defeent. Girardin upon this fent out twenty men N to 46 A DESCRIPTION of the ISLAND to oppofe their landing, in which they fucceedcd the more eafily, as the place, wiiere it was attempted, was full of rocks. The land forces were all this time marching forward, and had already reached tli? mraS^for Petite Aije, on which de Graff, who no longer doubted of the conjundtion of the for. oppofmg the ces, which the fleet had put afliore, with thofe that came by land, with a defign to at. land forces, refolved to unite his own likewife in a bpdy to receive them. With this view on Saturday the 28th, about ten in the evening, he fent an exprefs to Girardin, wirlj orders in writing for him and the Chevalier dtt Lion, to abandon the town and batteries leave the cannon under the care of the officer who commanded the Negroes, and repjiJ immediately to his quarters, with the whole force under their command. Girardin ini Bravery of an mediately obeyed, but du Lion anfwered, that the king’s batteries were not to be deferted ia officer. manner. De Graff replied, that he approved his reafon, and ordered liim to defend the pafles to the utmo.ft, and if he found himfelf under a neceffity of retreatino to nail up the cannon, and blow up every thing. Thus du Lion remained with thirpl three men, firmly refolved to defend themfelves to the lafl: extremity, though without hopes of being able to make a long refiftance, after the retreat of Girardin, and the evacuation of the town. Sunday the 29th, about ten in the forenoon, the enemy’s fleet approached the butte- lies, in order to cannonade them, and about four in the afternoon, taking the advant.r-s of a great llorm, detached their long boats to make a defeent at the fame place, where tile Fleet lands evening before they had attempted it in vain. There was now nothing to oppofe them, ”and they put on fhore 300 men, who took their march by the hills to feize upon the bat- teries. Du Lion, difeovering their motions, fent out fix men to meet them, and lire upon them from behind the trees. But all he intended by this, was to amufe them a while, and fo gain time to burfl: his cannon, and fet fire to his powder. He then made his men file off, and remained alone in the batteries, where he had made proper difpo- fitions, by trains of powder, to blow up every thing the moment the enemy fliould appear, on his fide of the hills. But unhappily a fmall rain intervened, which threatened to break Ser blmri'n meafures; however, as foon as he difeovered the hoftile troops within mulket upMaTm- fhot, he fet fire to his trains. The powder magazine and the cannon blew up, but so don the forts more than three pieces were burfl: j the reft were only difmounted and buried in llie and batteries. where he nailed them up. He then fet fire to the magazine in the town, and a- bout ten in the evening fet out to join de Graff. Though purfued in his march, he arrived at the intrenchment without lofing a fingle man. De Graff then told him, that he had held a council, before he left orders for abandoning the fort and batteries, and that the lofs was only of 20 cannon. Sunday morning, two hours before daybreak, advice being received that the Effffi, Intrenchment who had landed at the Cape, were advancing with a view of putting the French between of'the riwf ^ refolution was taken to abandon alfo the intrenchment at the fource of the abandoned, river du haut du Cap, though very ftrong, and, in confequence of the jundlion of diffe¬ rent bodies, adually defended by 900 men, well provided with every thing for making a vigorous refiftance. The commander’s intention was to march and poft himfelf at the Morne rouge, but moft of his forces having deferted him, he retreated with the reft to the Salt river, about a league and half diftant from the Morne rouge; and imme¬ diately gave orders to Girardin and du Lion, to repair with their company to Port ill Paix, where Major Bernanos was already arrived. Saturday, June 4, Girardin and du Lion arrived at Port de Paix in a canoe which they had found at Port Margot, and the enemy’s fleet, reinforced by a Ihip and two barks, anchored in St Louis’s quarter, three leagues and a half to the weft of Port it Paix, in a road which had hitherto been looked upon as imprafticable, and to this A defeent their boldnefs, Ducaffe in fome meafure aferibed the fiiccefs of all their future attempts, Ko ra'en*' began to fire to facilitate the defeent, and about four, eight long boats, carrying 500 men, ftruck off a fmall cannon lliot higher to land them. Ber¬ nanos, who commanded in this quarter, had polled an officer with fix or feven men at the place where the defeent was expedled j and this officer with his little detachment be¬ haved fo well, that all the attempts made by the boats, during the fpace of 24 hours, proved ineffedual, till at laft he happened to receive a wound, which fo diflieartened his men, that he was obliged to retreat. Bernanos, who had fet out to fupport him, was likewife deferted by all his men, and therefore obliged to make the beft of his way to a height in order to rally them j but in the mean time the 500 men landed without any further oppofition. The of HISPANIOLA, or St DOMINGO. 47 The iStli, two EngliJ!} and one Sjxifiifi fliip got under fail, with two barks, and ran along the creeks, to find fome fpot proper to make another defcent, and put Bernayioi {jetween two fires; but PnA', lieutenant of the Niceville company, though he had but -0 Nearoes under his command, ufed his fmall arms to fuch good purpofe till the 20th, that the enemy, after firing upwards of 1200 cannon fhot, were obliged to return to gt Louis without their errand. In the mean time, the 500 men, who had landed near S/ Louis, made themfelves mafters of the town, and then difperfed themfelves over the StLouisakca neighbouring country to pillage the plantations. After this they marched in queft of Berutinos, who had rallied fome of his men, and taken pod by a little river within half a league of St Louis j but he defended himfelf fo well, that they were at laft obliged to retire with lofs. The Spaniards, who were come by land from San Domingo, and the Englip, who had landed at the Cape, did not meet with the lead refidance in that quarter. De Gz-fl^'difappeared, as foon as the intrenchment at the head of the Cape had been defert- cd ' nor did a Angle man oppofe the enemy in a country, where, at every dep, ambufcudes might have been thrown in their way, fo that now they had it in their Land forces power to ravage and plunder every where at difcretion. The Cape and all the neigh- b"™ '"■'’■‘i bou.ing plantations were reduced to allies; fome of the inhabitants, who happened to S'fcretion!' be furprifed, were put to the fword; and a few Negroes, and fome women, were made "captives. Among the latter was a French lady, whom de Graff, then a widower, had A/mci lic- - married fome time after he left the Freebooters; and he had two children by her, who fell into the enemy’s hands with their mother. Her name was Anne Dieu-le-veut, and die was one of thofe heroines, whom the colony of St Domingo, in its infancy, ufed, as I faid, to produce in great numbers. One day, pretending to have received an affront from de Graff, file came up to him with a loaded piftol to bring him to an account for it; and this adtion had fo much merit in his eyes, that he thought the amazon wor¬ thy of him, and immediately married her. The enemy feeing no more of this officer, whofe name alone had for a long time been a bulwark to Cape Francois, refolved to pufh their conquefts as far as pofiible, and fet out for Port de Pair, where their fleet was already arrived. There are two Fof«s “arch roads from Cape Francois to Port de Paix, one about 20 leagues, and the other 27, * and both very bad, but the longeft is the eafier. In both are many fituations, where it was very eafy to deftroy an array of ten thoufand men. The enemy divided them¬ felves into two bodies, thinking by fuch a feparation to facilitate their march. The EngliJiJ, it feems, marched along the fea coafl, which was the fliorteft road, and plun¬ dered Port Margot, which lay in their way. The Spaniards took to the inland road, called the road de Plaifance, from a fteep mountain of that name, over which it paffes. Both armies had no obftacles to contend with, but fuch as nature threw in their way, though even thefe were much greater than they had forefeen, and multi¬ tudes died of mere fatigue, efpecially of the Englp, who were not fo well ufed to marches of this kind. ’Tis even pretended, that many of them periflied by the ma¬ lice of the Spaniards, who had contrafled a mortal averfion to them. The enemy’s fleet had been fix or feven days before St Louis, when the Spaniards, who marched by Plaifance, were difeovered at feven or eight leagues diflance from Port du Paix. The news of their approach was immediately brought to the fort, where Boulaye was no longer to be found. Hence the command in chief devolved upon Captain de Niceville, who immediately held a council to deliberate, if it was not proper to fend Dantze, judge of the place, who now adled in the capacity of Aid Ma¬ jor, to take pofTeffion of an intrenchment thrown up at a place, called the three Rivers, three leagues from the fort, where the enemy muft be obliged to pafs. In the mean i" conduacf time Boulaye arrived from his plantation, where he had been at more pains to put e- very thing in proper order, than at his fort. This gentleman was a mere novice in the art of war, and had conceived, that the woods were the beft fortifications againft the enemy; wherefore it was much againft his inclination he flrut himfelf up in his fort, which he accordingly deferted the very firft opportunity. He approved however of Niceville’s opinion, upon which Dantze fet out with 50 or 60 pick’d men. De Pafy was detached at the fame time wdth an equal number of whites and blacks, to defend another intrenchment, which lay in the way of the Engliff. Thefe orders were given the 2otli. The next day however, before daybreak, the allies landed a body of men wdthout Allies the " 48 ^ DE SC RIP T I 0 N o/ //jg IS L A N D the leaft refiftance. Thefe troops immediately fet out by land, while the Ioi;