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THE JESUIT RELATIONS

AND

ALLIED DOCUMENTS

VOL. LVI

The edition consists of sev

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all 11 umbered
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The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents

TRAVELS AND EXPLORATIONS
OF THE JESUIT MISSIONARIES
IN NEW FRANCE

1610- 1 79 1

THE ORIGINAL FRENCH, LATIN, AND ITAL-
IAN TEXTS, WITH ENGLISH TRANSLA-
TIONS AND NOTES; ILLUSTRATED BY
PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND FACSIMILES

EDITED BY

REUBEN GOLD THW AITES
Secretary of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin

Vol. LVI

LOWER CANADA, IROQUOIS, OTfAWAS,
HUDSON BAY: 1671 - 1672

CLEVELAND: U'be :J!3UtfOWS :ft3rotbers
C:OmpanR, PUBLISHERS, M DCCC XCIX

COPYIlIGHT, 1B99
BY
THE BURROWS BROTHERS Co

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

TA, lmþerial Press. Cleve/anti

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor

Translators .

Assistant Editor
Bibliographical Adviser

REUBEN GOLD THWAITES
FINLowALEXANDER
PERCY FAVOR BICKNELL
CRAWFORD LINDSAY
WILLIAM PRICE
EMMA HELEN BLAIR
VICTOR HUGO PALTSITS

CONTENTS OF VOL LVI

PREFACE TO VOLUME LVI
DOCUMENT:-
CXXVIII. Relation de ce qui s'est passé
en la Nouvelle France, les années
16 7 1 . & 16 7 2 . [Second and final
installment.] Claude Dablon [Que-
bec, October, 1672]; Jacquts Fre-
min, St. Xavier des Prez, August
14, 1672; Jacques Bruyas, Onnei-
out, [1672]; Pierre RaffeÙ:, Goio-
gouen, June, 1672; Julien GarnÙr,
Tsonnontouan, July, 1672; Fran-
fOi's de Crepieul, Tadoussac, June
2, [672; Henry Nouvel, Ste. Marie
du Sault, [1672]; Charles Albanel,
n.p., n.d.; Mar'Ù de I'Incarnatz"on,
n. p., n.d.

NOTES

9

[7
. 3 01

ILLUSTRATION TO VOL LVI

I. Monument to Claude Allouez, S.J., unveiled
at De Pere, by the State Historical Society
of Wisconsin, September 6, 1899 Front;spÙc

PREFACE TO VOL. LVI

Following is a synopsis of the document contained
in this volume:
CXXVIII. The Relation of 1671 -72 was begun in
V 01. LV.; the remainder of the document forms the
present volume, closing the regular series of the
Relatz"ons, begun in 1632 (Vol. V. of this edition). A
letter from Frémin gives an account of the mission
called St. Xavier des Prés, opposite Montreal, where
the Iroquois converts" are now professing the most
exalted virtues practiced in Christendom." They
maintain total abstinence from intoxicating liquors,
although there is "a dram-shop at their very
doors;" and their tribesmen are not welcome among
them unless they profess the Christian faith. Their
attendance upon religious services is most assiduous.
Dablon next gives a survey of the various Iroquois
missions, which employ seven Fathers. They have
baptized only two hundred persons, " which means
that the sick have been fewer this yearj and that
those who are well are, although adequately in-
structed, not yet strong enough in the resolve to
forsake their dreams and renounce their superstitious
practices." The Mohawks, who had been" most
thoroughly humbled by the King's arms," are those
most inclined to embrace the faith. Some converts
from this tribe have removed to the Huron mission
near Quebec. The Oneidas are becoming more tract-
able. Bruyas has held, for some time, conferences

10

PREFACE TO VOL. LVI

with the elders of the village, at which he has
expounded the truths of the Christian religion.
These are resulting in several conversions, which
greatly encourage the Father in his arduous toils.
A noted medicine-man dies" in his infidelity," and
his name has a baleful authority over the Indians
after his death, as well as before. Good news comes
from Onondaga, especially concerning the steadfast-
ness of the lately converted chief, Garakontié. When
in danger of death, he will not permit his family to
call in the medicine-men to cure him; and his zeal
for the faith never falters. Raffeix gives a detailed
account of the mission at Cayuga, " the fairest coun-
try that I have seen in America." He mentions its
natural resources, much more varied and extensive
than those of the adjacent Iroquois territories. He
finds the people more docile than their neighbors;
but, as his predecessors, Ménard and Carheil, had
been removed from this tribe soon after fairly begin-
ning their labors, he cannot yet report much prog-
ress, and says, "I do not think that the hour of
their conversion has yet arrived. .. He has obtained
good results from teaching the people to sing hymns
in their own language. He relates how two war-
parties were defeated by a band of Andastes boys,
and adds, "God preserves the Andastogués, who
count but three hundred warriors, and favors their
arms, in order to humble the Iroquois and maintain
the peace and our Missions." A letter from Garnier
is given, regarding affairs among the Senecas.
These people were favorably disposed toward the
faith, but one old man makes mischief among them,-
declaring that the faith will cause them to die, and
that the black gowns are spies and sorcerers. Gar-

PREFACE TO VOL. LVI

11

nier asserts his positive knowledge that plots are rife
for his death as a sorcerer and spy. Often he is
abused; and, when brandy is brought to the village,
he is compelled to flee for refuge to his chapel. He
relates the pious deaths of several of his converts.
Many others talk of migrating to Quebec.
A letter from Crépieul tells the story of his winter
spent with the savages of the Saguenay. His suffer-
ings are painful and continual, but the piety of his
disciples consoles him for all. The greatest torment
is the smoke from the cabin-fires, "which made us
weep day and night, blinding us for a time. I felt
very happy to offer those tears to our Lord for
extinguishing the flames of some souls in Purgatory."
The savages faithfully attend mass, and observe all
the holy days of the Church, regardless of storm
or cold; and the children come to the Father for
instruction, every day. As soon as Crépieul reaches
Tadoussac (May, 1672), after six months of wander-
ing through the forests and mountains, he sets out
for his other mission, among the tribes far below
Tadoussac.
It is in the Ottawa missions that the Jesuits have
reaped most of their harvest during the past year.
Their gains are thus triumphantly announced:
" More than three hundred baptisms conferred in one
year; more than twenty-five nations illumined by
the light of the Gospel; many sick persons restored
to health in a very extraordinary manner; Churches
erected and Crosses planted in the midst of idolatry;
the Faith borne far to the North and South." A
more detailed account of this work is begun by the
journal of Nouvel, who has spent the winter among
the Beaver Indians, on the north shore of Georgian

12

PREFACE IV VOL. LVI

Bay. His mission begins well, but the devil is
envious of his success, and stirs up trouble for him
with the medicine-men. By God's grace, he is able
to vanquish his opponents,- one of whom, at the Fa-
ther's bidding, erects a large cross for the veneration
of his tribesmen. During the winter, Nouvel makes
various excursions to neighboring encampments,
here and there baptizing a few, mainly children,-
except at Manitoulin Island, where he receives into
the Church fourteen adults and youth. He relates
several instances of marvelous cures wrought in sick-
ness, by water in which certain relics of the martyr
Brebeuf have been dipped.
At Sault Ste. Marie, one hundred and forty-five
baptisms are recorded. A church has recently been
built there, which is the object of much admiration,
from Frenchmen as well as savages. The rest of the
report from this mission is occupied with accounts of
miraculous cures wrought by prayer and holy water.
These wonders" have gone far toward eradicating
the two chief vices prevalent among these Tribes,
jugglery and polygamy." "Those who recognize
only the true God enjoy perfect health. We see, in
fine, Christianity becoming established here, despite
all helL"
The mission at St. Ignace, opposite Mackinac
Island, was recently opened for the benefit of the
Hurons, who have fled thither from Chequamegon
Bay in dread of the hostile Sioux tribes. Marquette
has accompanied them, and has charge of the
mission. Such of these Hurons "as have continued
in the faith now display great fervor."
A chapel has been built for the Green Bay mis-
sion, at the De Pere rapids. The advantages of this

PREFACE TO VOL. LVI

13

location are recounted at length. The writer gives
an interesting account of the methods employed by
the savages of the place in catching fish, and praises
the beauty and fertility of the surrounding country.
Allouez and André are laboring with those tribes,-
the former, with the inland tribes on the Fox and
Wolf rivers; the latter, with those about De Pere and
along the shores of Green Bay. The divinities
venerated by these tribes, and their superstitions
regarding them, are recounted. André makes a
strong impression on the minds of his savages by
songs,-composed in the Indian tongue, but sung to
French airs,-which he accompanies with a flute.
These songs, many of which are expressly directed
.against their superstitions, he teaches to the chil-
dren, and with a band of' C these little Savage musi-
cians " goes about the villages, "to declare war on
Jugglers, Dreamers, and those who had several
wives. " He also employs pictures to instruct the
people; and spends the winter in going frOlTI one
village to another, instructing and baptizing. He
is subject, of course, to trials and annoyances, " but
such Crosses are the delight of Missionaries." André
adds notes of his observations upon the apparent tides
in Green Bay.
Among the tribes of Central Wisconsin, Allouez
has accomplished much,-instructing savages of five
different tongues, of whom some had never before
seen a Frenchman. The Mascoutens and Illinois
" receive him as an Angel from Heaven, and crowd
about him, both day and night." The Outagamies
are especially interested in the cross; almost every
one, young or old, frequently makes its sign, and a
war-party from this tribe believe that they have won

14

PREFACE TO VOL. LVI

a battle by this means. Allouez erects in their
village a large cross, "thus taking possession of
those infidel lands in the name of Jesus Christ."
One of the most important events of the year is
the discovery of a land route to Hudson Bay,-made
under Talon's orders, by one of his officers, Paul
Denis de St. Simon, and the Jesuit Charles Albanel.
A full account of this long and arduous journey is
furnished in the journal kept by Albanel. With
Indian guides obtained at Tadoussac, they ascend the
Saguenay (August, 1671). On September 17, they
meet, far up the Chamouchouan, a party of Indians
from the far North, who tell them that trading-ships
are anchored in Hudson Bay, and that hostilities
have occurred between the strangers and the natives.
The Frenchmen accordingly halt at this place, and
promptly send messengers to Quebec for official
credentials of their mission. At the end of October,
the whole party go into winter quarters. This
proves to be the most trying winter that Albanel has
ever spent with the Indians; because his Tadoussac
guides, desirous to abandon the expedition, harass
and annoy him in every possible way, hoping thus to
compel him to return to the St. Lawrence. After
many conflicts with these savages, he secures other
guides, from the I\:Iistassini tribes; and the French-
men resume their journey, June I, 1672. After
crossing the watershed between the St. Lawrence
valley and Hudson Bay, they encounter a tribe who
must be propitiated in regard to affording the French
a passage. A council is held, where Albanel an-
nounces the peace now existing among the Eastern
tribes, recommends to these Indians the Christian
faith, and advises them to trade with the French,

PR
'"FACE TO VOL. LVI

15

rather than with the English who have recently come
to Hudson Bay. The delighted savages accept his
presents, and ask for instruction; but, after baptizing
some children, and assigning a future rendezvous
with him at Lake St. John for the adults, Albanel
resumes his march. Journeying by way of Lake
Mistassini and the Rupert River,-through moun-
tainous regions, by many lakes and streams, and
over numerous portages,-the French reach Hudson
Bay, June 28. Here they find an English vessel and
two houses. No savages are dwelling here, where-
upon Albanel's Indian guide desires to return im-
mediately to his home. The Father is indignant,
and his reproaches, reinforced by threats of God's
displeasure, bring the recalcitrant to terms. Albanel
adds, " I have always found the Savages very easily
moved by representations of Hell's torments, and by
the charms of Heaven's delights."
Proceeding twenty leagues up the coast of the bay,
they find a considerable encampment of Indians.
Albanel wins their confidence, and all desire him to
instruct and baptize them. He confers that rite
upon the chief and sixty-one other persons, and
promises to visit them again. In his journal he notes
much interesting information, such as he could has-
tily gather during his short visit, about Hudson Bay
and its tributary rivers, the nations dwelling about
it, the characteristics of its climate and soil, its nat-
ural products, etc. The Father admires the vast
forests and beautiful plains, the salubrious and even
pleasant climate, and the rich pasturage for cattle.
Returning homeward from the Bay, the French-
men" plant the King's standard" at Lake Nemis-
kau, and, later, on one of the rivers flowing south

16

PREFACE ro VOL. LVI

into Lake St. John. "to serve as a safeguard to all
those Tribes against all the Iroquois Nations." On
the way, they meet various parties of savages, and
Albanel confers baptism on many children. In all,
he baptizes during this journey and his return, two
hundred persons, both children and adults. The
party arrive at Tadoussac, August I, 1672. Albanel
felicitates himself upon his success, and upon his
responsible position in this enterprise. II The con-
duct of the expedition was my due, after my eighteen
years of effort to that end." The Father, in closing,
views with great hopefulness the prospect for missions
among those far Northern tribes. They desire trade
with the French, are well disposed toward the faith,
and are not so immersed in either licentiousness or
superstition as are the other Algonkin tribes.
The Relat'ion ends with an account of U the holy
death" of Madame de la Peltrie, and that of Mother
Marie de I' Incarnation,- the former the foundress,
the latter the first superior, of the Ursuline convent
at Quebec,- events which were" a public affliction."
Dablon recounts the circumstances connected with
Madame de la Peltrie's vocation to Canada, and her
relations with Jean de Bernières and 1\farie de l'In-
carnation. The vision of Canada seen by the latter,
and her voyage thither, are also related, in her own
words. Dablon continues the story of
fadame de
la Peltrie's pious deeds and saintly life in Canada.
She dies November 12, 1671; and, a little later (April
30, 16 7 2 ), she is followed by Mother 1:1arie. Dablon
highly eulogizes the virtues, intellectual ability, and
lovable character of this nun.

MADISON, WIS_, October, 18 99-

R. G. T.

CXXVII I (concluded)

RELATION OF 16 7 1 -72

PARIS: SEBASTIEN MABRE-CRAMOISY, 1673

Chap. i. of this document was published in Volume LV.;
the remainder is herewith given.

18

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

[53] CHAPITRE II.

DE LA RESIDENCE DE SAINT XAVIER DES PREZ.

L E Pere Fremin qui a foin de cette Refidence, &
de la Colonie compofée de Hurons & d'Iroquois
qui y eft attachée, m'en efcrit en ces termes,
du 14. d' Aouft de la prefente année 1672.
Je reconnois manifeftement que le faint Efprit a
une providence particuliere fur la conduite de cette
petite Eglife, & que la fainte 'Vïerge qui y eft hono-
rée, & faint François Xavier, qui en eft Ie Patron, y
font reíIentir par des effets de graces tout extraordi-
naires, leur pouvoir au pres de la divine 11ajefté, en fa-
veur de ces pauvres ames, dont la plufpart ayant efté
élevées autrefois dans l'infidelité, font maintenant
profeffion des plus hautes vertus, qui fe pratiquent
dans Ie Chriftianifme.
Je fus furpris ran pafIé, à mon retour du pais des
Iroquois, d'y voir tant de devotion & de ferveur, mais
je Ie fuis encore [54] plus prefentement de voir leur
conftance dans ces bons fentimens.
Depuis que je fuis icy, je n'ay eu aucune con-
noifIance qu'il foit entré dans aucune de leurs cabanes,
une feule goutte des boifIons qui caufent tant de
defordres chez les Sauvages. Ils en ont to us une
averfion extréme, quoy que par tout aux environs les
Sauvages s'enyvrent tous les jours, avec des excez
qui font voir parmyeux, une vraye image de renfer,
dans la fureur dont ils font tranfportez. lIs ont eu

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

19

[53] CHAPTER II.

OF THE RESIDENCE OF SAINT XAVIER DES PREZ.

F ATHER Fremin, who has charge of this Resi-
dence and of the Colony thereto attached,
composed of Hurons and Iroquois, writes me
about them, under date of August 14th of the
present year, 1672, as follows:
" I recognize clearly that the holy Ghost exercises
a special providence over the guidance of this little
Church; and that the blessed Virgin, who is honored
in it, and saint Francis Xavier, who is its Patron,
make their power with the divine Majesty felt there
by quite extraordinary manifestations of grace, on
behalf of these poor souls,-most of whom, after
being reared in infidelity in the past, are now
professing the most exalted virtues practiced in
Christendom.
" I was surprised, last year, on my return from the
country of the Iroquois, to see here so much devotion
and fervor; but I am still [54] more so now, to see
their constancy in these pious sentiments.
" Since I have been here, there has not come into
their cabins, so far as I know, a single drop of the
liquor which causes so many disturbances among the
Savages. They all have an extreme aversion for it,
although everywhere around them the Savages
daily become intoxicated, indulging in excesses which
render visible among them a veritable picture of hell,
with such madness are they carried away. For more

20

LES RELA TIO.NS DES /ÉSUITES

[V OL. 56

icy l'efpace de plus de trois femaines un cabaret tout
proche de leurs cabanes, pas un n'a eu la penfée d'y
mettre Ie pied; & ce qui me fait voir encore fenfible-
ment 1'effet de la grace, eft que fen compterois bien
cinquante ou foixante dans cette petite Eglife, qui
eftoient autrefois de grands yvrongnes, & qui ont
prefentement tant d'horreur de ce vice, qu'ils ne
peuvent fupporter ceux qui y font fujets, & qu'ils ne
leur parlent dans les rencontres, que pour leur en
donner de l'averfion. Ils fe fervent eux-mefmes des
moyens les plus efficaces, qui foient dans Ie Chrifti-
anifme, pour obtenir de Dieu [55] la vidoire fur leurs
paffions, & les afIujettir à la raifon, & à fa fainte
Loy. Soit que je les aye icy fous mes yeux, foit que
la faifon de la chaffe les en éloigne dans les bois pour
y chercher leur vie, ils ne manquent jamais à leurs
prieres matin & foir, tous leurs exercices fpirituels y
vont à l'ordinaire, ce qui m'eft une preuve évidente
de leur foy, & de leur vertu. Ils en font une pro-
feffion fi publique, en tout temps & en tout lieu, que
tous les Sauvages qui viennent icy, ou pour y demeu-
rer, ou pour y vifiter leurs amis, prennent refolution
de fe faire Chreftiens, ou font femblant de 1'efire,
fçachant bien que fans cela ils n'y feroient pas les
bien-venus.
Quand un étranger arrive icy, la premiere chofe
que font nos Sauvages, c'efi de l'infiruire, & de Ie
folliciter à demander Ie Baptefme, & j'eftlme que par
leur zele, par leur pieté, & par leurs bons exemples,
ils contribuent beaucoup plus que moy par mes
infirudions, à la converfion des infideles. Leur affi-
duité à l'Eglife eft extraordinaire: de n'y pas venir
prier Dieu, ou de ne pas entendre [56] la Meffe

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

21

than three weeks the people here have had a dram-
shop at their very doors. but not a man has thought
of setting foot inside it. Moreover,-a circumstance
which makes me see even more clearly the working
of grace,- I count in this little Church fully fifty or
sixty who were formerly hard drinkers, but who now
feel such a horror at that vice that they cannot toler-
ate those who are addicted to it; and do not speak
to those persons when they meet, except for the
purpose of inspiring them with an aversion for intem-
perance. They themselves use the most effective
means to be found in the Christian religion for
obtaining from God [55] the victory over their pas-
sions, and for subjecting them to reason and to his
holy Law. Whether I have the people here under
my eyes, or the hunting season calls them away to
the woods to seek their living, they never miss their
prayers, morning or evening, and all their spiritual
exercises go on as usual,-which is a manifest proof
to me of their faith and virtue. Such public profes-
sion thereof do they make at all times and in all
places, that all Savages who come here, either to
dwell or to visit their friends, resolve to become
Christians. or pretend to be such, well knowing that
otherwise they would not be welcome.
" Upon the arrival of a stranger, the first thing
our Savages do is to instruct him, and urge him to
ask for Baptism; and I am of opinion that they, by
their zeal, piety, and good example, contribute much
more toward the conversion of unbelievers than I
do by my teachings. Their assiduity at Church is
extraordinary: not to attend and offer one's prayers to
God, or not to hear [56] Mass even on a workday,
when one is in the Village, passes with them for a

22

LES RELA TIO.J.VS DE"S /ÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

mefme un jour ouvrier, efiant dans la Bourgade. cela
paffe parmy eux pour une grande faute, & il arrive
tres-rarement que quelqu'un y manque. Plufieurs
entendent deux Meffes les Dimanches & les Fefies,
& ne manquent point ny aux Vefpres, ny aux Saluts,
outre plufieurs vifites qu'ils rendent au faint Sacre-
ment pendant la journée. Au refie, toutes ces devo-
tions publiques n'empéchent pas que tous les foirs
avant Ie coucher, on ne faffe encore les prieres à
genoux dans chaque cabane.
La devotion de la fainte Famille, dont nous avons
icy une petite affemblée, fert beaucoup à les mainte-
nir dans cette ferveur & dans l'horreur du peche.
Dne jeune femme étant tombée dans quelque faute,
en fut tellement touchée de contrition, que dans la
refolution de s'en confeffer au plufiofi, elle fe retira
dans les bois, où elle y fit une rude difcipline pour
l'expiation de fon peché. Dne autre ayant trouvé à
deux lieuës d'icy, un Infidele, qui avoit un mauvais
commerce avec une Chrefiienne, fit tant par fes
remonfirances, qu'elle luy perfuada [57J de venir
demeurer dans fa cabane; du moins, me difoit-elle,
j'empefcheray par ce moyen, quelques pechez de ce
miferable. J e laiffe plufieurs autres exemples fem-
blables de leur zele & de leur pieté, mais je ne puis
obmettre une illufire preuve, que me donna il n'y a
pas long-temps, une de nos Chreftiennes, de fa foy
& de fa confiance en la fainte Vierge; elle me vint
trouver à l' occafion de fon enfant qui efioit malade à
l'extremité, & me dit, mon Pere, mon pauvre enfant,
efi malade au mourir, je n'ay rien efpargné pour fa
guerifon, vous Ie fçavez; j'y ay employé taus les
remedes imaginables; mais inutilement, je ne m'en

1671-72]

RELA TIOll/ OF I67I-72

23

serious offense; and it very rarely occurs that any
one is remiss in that respect. Many hear two Masses
on Sundays and Feast-days, and do not fail to attend
both Vespers and Benedictions, besides paying
several visits to the blessed Sacrament during the day.
All these public devotions, finally, do not prevent
their also kneeling, each in his cabin, every evening
before retiring, and saying their prayers.
"The devotion of the holy Family, of which we
have a little assembly here, is of great service in
keeping them in such a state of fervor and in abhor-
rence of sin. A young woman who had committed
some offense was so filled with contrition over it that,
resolving to make immediate confession, she went
away into the woods and took a severe discipline in
expiation of her sin. Another, finding two leagues
from here an Infidel who was maintaining improper
relations with a Christian woman, so far prevailed
by her remonstrances as to persuade the latter [57]
to come and live in her cabin. 'At least,' said she
to me, 'I shall by this means prevent some of that
wretched man's sins.' I omit many other similar
instances of their zeal and piety, but I cannot pass
over a striking proof, given me not long ago by one
of our Christian women, of her faith and her trust in
the blessed Virgin. She came in quest of me on the
occasion of her child's dangerous illness, and said to
me: ' My Father, my poor child is sick unto death;
I have, as you know, spared no efforts to effect its
cure, employing for the purpose every conceivable
remedy, but in vain. I am resolved to use such
means no more. Some time ago, I was no less
anxious to secure my mother's conversion, as she
was then an infidel. I had recourse to the blessed

24

LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

veux plus fervir; je me fuis trouvée autrefois en la
mefme peine, pour la converfion de ma mere, qui
eftoit infidele; j'eus recours à la fainte Vierge, je fis
dire des MefIes pour elle en fon honneur, elle m'ac-
corda ce que je luy demandois, & ma mere eft mainte-
nant bonne Chrétienne; j'efpere de fa bonté, la
mefme grace en faveur de mon enfant; voila un
collier de pourcelaine, que je luy prefente à cette
intention; & vous, [58] mon Pere, vous aurez, s'it
vaus plaift, la bonté de dire neuf MefIes, & la fainte
Vierge me rendra mon fils, fi elle Ie veut. La neu-
vaine n'étoit pas achevée que l'enfant malade eftoit
parfaitement guery. Je íouhaitterois que ceux qui
me demandoient autrefois, s'il y avoit des Chreftiens
parmy les Sauvages, fuffent icy; nous fommes eux
& moy pour avoir bien de la confufion devant Dieu
en l'autre vie, à la veuë de tant de pauvres barbares
qui fe feront fervis, plus avantageufement que nous,
du fecours de fes graces.

1671-72]

RELA TION OF IÓ'JI-72

25

Virgin, causing Masses to be said in her honor for my
mother. She granted me my petition, and my
mother is now a good Christian. I hope for the same
favor from her goodness on behalf of my child. Here
is a porcelain collar which I offer her to that end;
and you, [58] my Fath
r, you will have the goodness,
if you please, to sa y nine Masses; and the blessed
Virgin will give me back my son, if it be her will.'
The novena was not yet finished when the sick child
was perfectly cured. I wish that those who used to
ask me whether there were any Christians among the
Savages could be here. We are likely, both they
and I, to be covered with confusion before God in
the other life, at sight of so many poor barbarians
who will be found to have made better use than we
of the succor of his grace."

26

LES RELA TIONS DE
"'
.IÉSUITES

[YOLo 56

[59] Des Miffions Iroquoifes.

CHAPITRE III.

DE LA MISSION DES MARTYRS À AKNIÉ.

N ous avons fept Miffionnaires dans Ies cinq
Nations Iroquoifes. Le Pere Bruyas, qui en
efi Ie Superieur General, a pris Ie foin de Ia
Miffion des Martyrs à Annié, avec Ie Pere Boniface,
apres avoir travaillé quatre à cinq ans dans Ia Nation
des Onneiout, les plus fiers, & les moins traittables
de tous Ies Iroquois. Cette rude Miffion de faint
François Xavier, efi tombée entre les mains du Pere
1\1illet. Le Pere de Lamberville gouvernc l'Eglife
de S. Jean Baptifie à Onnontagué. Le Pere de
Carrheil, qu'un refireciffement de nerfs retenoit à
Quebec, s'en efi retourné dés Ie Printemps, en fa
:Miffion de S. J ofeph, apres avoir efié guery [60] de
fon mal d'une façon miraculeufe, par Ie recours qu'il
eut à Nofire-Dame de Foy, & à fainte Anne, nous
avons appris, qu'il eft. arivé en parfaite fanté; &
que Ie Pere Raffeix, qui avoit en foin de cette Miffion
en fon abfence, efi allé fecourir Ie Pere Garnier,
pour partager avec luy Ie foin, des trois 1\Iiffions de
la Conception, de S. Michel, & de S. Jacques à Son-
nontoüan, où l'on compte douze à treize mille ames.
Le progrez de toutes ces Nations dans la connoiffance
des veritez de nofire Foy a efié encore tres-grand
cette année quoy que je ne trouve que deux cent

16ì1- 72]

RELA TION OF rÓ'Jr-72

21

[59] Of the I roquois Missions.

CHAPTER III.

OF THE MISSIOX OF THE MARTYRS AT ANNIÉ.

W E have seven 1Iissionaries among the five Iro-
quois Nations. Father Bruyas, who is their
Superior-General, has, with Father Boni-
face, taken charge of the Mission of the Martyrs at
Annié, after laboring four or five years in the Nation
of the Onneiout, the haughtiest and least tractable
of all the Iroquois. That arduous Mission, saint
François Xavier. has fallen to the care of Father
Millet. Father de Lamberville 1 is over the Church
of St. Jean Baptiste at Onnontagué. Father de Carr-
heil, who was detained at Quebec by a contraction of
the tendons, returned thence in the Spring to his
Mission of St. Joseph; he had been cured [60] of his
ailment in a miraculous manner, by having recourse
to Our Lady of Foyand to saint Anne. We have
learned that he arrived in perfect health; and that
Father Raffeix, who had charge of that Mission in
his absence, has gone to aid Father Garnier, and
share with him the care of the three Missions -la
Conception, St. Michel, and St. Jacques-in Sonnon-
touan, where from twelve to thirteen thousand souls
are reckoned. The progress of all these Nations
in learning the truths of our Faith has continued
to be very marked this year) although I find. in our
:Missionaries' notes only two hundred baptized,-

28

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[V OL. 56

baptifez dans les memoires de nos Miffionnaires, cela
veut dire que les malades ont efté plus rares cette an-
née, & que les fains, quoy que fuffifamment in ftruits ,
n'ont point encore des refolutions affez fortes pour
quitter leurs fonges & renoncer à leurs couftumes
fuperftitieufes; les prieres des gens de bien, Ie zele
& la conftance des Ouvriers Evangeliques acheveront
cet ouvrage du Saint Efprit. Les Sauvages d' Annié,
les plus humiliez par les armes du Roy, font toujours
en poffeffion d'eftre les mieux difpofez à embraffer
[61] la Foy. L'affiiétion eft neceffaire à ces Peuples
pour les rendre dociles, aux mouvemens de la grace.
Pour preuve des progrez notables que nos Peres y
font par leur conftance infatigable à les inftruire,
c'eft que plus de foixante y ont reçeu Ie faint
Baptefme.
Quinze des plus fervens, tant Chreftiens que Cate-
chumenes, de cette Eglife, s'en font detachez, pour
venir prendre l'efprit du Chriftianifme, & de la devo-
tion parmy les Chreftiens Hurons de Noftre-Dame
de Foy. I1s y ont efté receus avec tant de charité,
que toutes les cabanes leur ont efté ouvertes, c'eft à
dir
tous les cæurs, & que chacun leur a fait part
liberalement de ce qu'iI avoit de meilleur. Plus de
cinquante autres eftoient dans Ie méme deíIein, leurs
canots eftoient déja tout difpofez, mais la crainte
raifonnable, qu'ils ont eu de m'écontenter leurs
parens, & que les Nations du Loup leurs anciens
ennemis, ne fuffent tentées de tirer avantage de leur
abfence, les a obligez de differer leur depart à une
occafion plus favorable.

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I6;I-72

29

which means that the sick have been fewer this year;
and that those who are well are, although adequately
instructed, not yet strong enough in the resolve to
forsake their dreams and renounce their superstitious
practices. That work of the Holy Ghost will be
accomplished by the prayers of the good, and the
zeal and constancy of the Gospel Laborers. The
Savages of Annié, who were those most thoroughly
humbled by the King's arms, continue to be those
best inclined to embrace [61] the Faith. Affiiction
is needed by these People to render them responsive
to the impulses of grace. In proof of the notable
progress made among them by our Fathers, through
their tireless constancy in teaching them, more than
sixty have received holy Baptism.
Fifteen of the most fervent mem bers of that
Church, Christians and Catechumens together, have
severed their connection with it, in order to come
and partake of the spirit of Christianity and devotion
among the Huron Christians of Nostre-Dame de
Foy. They ,vere received with such benevolence
that all the cabins - that is, all hearts - were opened
to them, and each one freely shared his best with
them. More than fifty others were entertaining the
same purpose. and their canoes were all in readiness;
but their well-grounded fear lest they might displease
their relatives, and lest the Loup Nations, their ene-
mies, might be tempted to take advantage of their
absence, forced them to postpone their departure
until a more favorable juncture.

30

LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES

[VOl. 56

[62] CHAPITRE IV.

DE LA MISSION DE S. FRANÇOIS XAVIER À ONNEÏOUT.

L ES Onneiout dont les cæurs femblent tenir de la
nature de la pierre, ou du rocher, d'où ils
tirent leur nom, deviennent plus dociles à me-
{ure qu'ils font plus infiruits de nos faints
Iyfteres.
La divine Providence ne manque jamais de donner
toft ou tard fa benediétion, aux travaux d'un Miffi-
onnaire vrayment Apofiolique: auffi ne fe rebute-t'il
de rien; uny qu'il efi eftroitement à celuy, à qui feul
il appartient de convertir les ames, il efpere tou-
jours; i1 employe mille indufiries, les unes apres les
autres, pour venir à bout de fon deffein, & quand
méme pas un de ces moyens ne reüffiroit, it ne defef-
pere jamais; i1 en cherche toujours de nouveaux, i1 a
recours à l'Oraifon, & il attend fans empreffement les
momens de la grace. C'eft ainfi que Ie Ciel mefnage
infenfiblement la converfion des Peuples Iroquois,
fufcitant de vrais imitateurs [63J de l' Apofire des
Indes, qui confacren[t] à ce glorieux employ, la
vigueur de leur âge, leurs talents, leurs travaux, &
leur vie.
Le Pere Bruyas, eftant encore en cette
Iiffion,
m'en efcrit en ces termes. Dieu m'a fait naittre
l'occafion que ie recherchois, it y a long-temps, pour
parler à fonds de nos faints :Myfieres aux Anciens de
ce bourg; toute la jeuneffe efiant ou à la chaffe, ou
en guerre, je leur propofay une penfée que j'avois

1671-72]

RELA TIO.N OF I67I-72

31

[62] CHAPTER IV.

OF THE MISSION OF ST. FRANÇOIS XAVIER AT ONNEIOUT.

T HE Onneiout - whose hearts seem to partake of
the nature of stone or rock, whence they take
their name - become more docile as they are
better instructed in our holy :\lysteries. The divine
Providence never fails, sooner or later, to bestow its
blessing on the labors of a truly Apostolic Mission-
ary; nor does he shrink from any hardship. Closely
united as he is with him to whom alone belongs the
conversion of souls, he is ever hopeful. He em ploys
a thousand devices, one after another, to gain his
end; and, even if not one of these means should
succeed, he never despairs. He is ever seeking new
ones; he has recourse to Prayer, and he awaits with-
out impatience the moments of grace. Thus, by
insensible degrees, Heaven is effecting the conver-
sion of the Iroquois Tribes, raising up true imitators
[63] of the Apostle of the Indies, who consecrate to
this glorious calling the vigor of their years, their
talents, labors, and lives.
Father Bruyas, who is still at the above-named
Mission, writes to me concerning it as follows: "God
has afforded me the opportunity which I had long
sought for a thorough talk on our holy Mysteries to
the Elders of this village. I proposed to them, when
all the young people were away hunting or at war, a
project of mine for holding daily meetings, where I
might explain to them our Christian truths, and, at

32

LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES

[VOL. 56

de nous affembler tous les jours, pour leur expliquer
nos veritez chrefiiennes, & leur faire voir en mefme-
temps, la vanité de leurs fables. Ils agréerent fort
cette propofition; ces entretiens fe firent par maniere
de conferences, ou ie fus efcouté avec gran de atten-
tion, nous y eufmes toujours affez bonne compagnie,
plufieurs s'y trouvoient par curiofité, d'autres y
venoient pour fe defennuyer, ou enfin pour s'infiruire;
& pour fe difpofer a embraffer la foy; Un fçavant du
bourg, en matiere de leurs refveries, voulut avoir
l'bonneur d'ouvrir la premiere conference, m'ayant
prié de l'efcouter, avant que ie [64] parlaffe, fur les
connoiffances, qu'il avoit tirées de fes ancefires, tou-
chant la creation du monde; je luy accorday volontiers
ce qu'il me demandoit pour ne les pas rebuter
d'abord, & pour prendre de la occafion de leur faire
efiimer davantage la folidité des veritez que nous
leur enfeignons. A la fin de ces entretiens, qui leur
agréerent beaucoup, je faifois toujours .une priere au
nom de toute la Compagnie, pour demander à Dieu
la grace de Ie connoifire, de croire en luy, de Ie
fervir & de garder fes faints Commandemens, avec
refolution d'affifier tous les iours aux prieres, de
renoncer aux fuperfiitions diaboliques de la Nation,
& d'embraffer Ie Chrifiianifme: cette priere eut de
tres-bons effets.
L'avantage que j'ay tiré de ces
infiruétions publiques & familieres, m'a efié fenfible
dans la facilité, que j'ay trouvée plus grande qu'au-
paravant, à difpofer quelques adultes tnoribons, au
faint Baptefme. Entr' autres quelques vieillards
m'ont donné beaucoup de confolation, & m'ont laiffé
apres leur mort de grandes efperances de leur falut.
L'un efioit agé de cent ans, & l'autre de fix vingts,

1671-72]

RELA TIOiV OF I67I-72

33

the same time, show them the vanity of their own
fables. They highly approved of this proposition.
These talks were held in the manner of conferences,
in which I was listened to with deep attention. Our
attendance never failed to be fairly large,-many
coming through curiosity, others to pass the time,
or, finally, to receive instruction and fit themselves
for embracing the faith. A man of the village, wise
in matters relating to their dreams, desired the honor
of opening the first conference,- begging that I
would, before speaking myself, hear him [64] relate
what he had learned through his ancestors regarding
the creation of the world. I willingly granted his
request, in order not to displease the people at the
outset, and that I might seize the opportunity there-
by presented for giving them a higher estimation of
the substantialness of the truths which we teach
them. At the close of these talks, I always offered a
prayer on behalf of the entire Company, asking God
for grace to know him, to believe in him, to serve
him, and to keep his holy Commandments; express-
ing also the resolution to attend prayers daily, to
renounce the diabolical superstitions of the Nation,
and to embrace Christianity. This prayer produced
excellent results. The benefit which I derived from
these public and informal lessons has been very
manifest to me in my own facility - which I found
to be greater than before - in preparing for holy
Baptism some adults who \vere at death's door.
Some old men among the number afforded me great
consolation, leaving me after their deaths very hope-
ful of their salvation. One of them being a hundred
years old, and the other six-score, they [65] were
only waiting for this grace to exchange a feeble and

34

LES BELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

ils [65] n'attendoient que cette grace pour changer
une vie languiffante & miferable, en une vie bien
heureufe & eternelle; i'en compte trente baptifez
depuis mes dernieres, du mois de May de l'an 1671.
dont Ie plus grand nombre eft d'enfans, qui ont
augmenté celuy des predefiinez dans Ie Ciel.
J'ayeu l'affiiétion de voir mourir un fameux Jon-
gleur dans fon infidelité. 1'Iais fa prefomption, &
fon orgueil l' ont rendu indigne de la grace du faint
Baptefme. Ce que j'admire to us les iours en ces
fortes de gens, c'eft qu'eftans convaincus par leur
propre experience, que toutes leurs jongleries ne font
que des impoftures, ils ne laiffent pas neanmoins de
fe laiffer tromper eux mefmes jufqu' au dernier
foupir, & l'on n'a point encore ouy dire qu'aucun
d'eux aye découvert les fourberies, de fon compa-
gnon, non pas méme dans I 'yvrongnerie, où ils de-
couvrent d' ordinaire leurs plus fecrettes penfées.
Ce fameux Jongleur, dont ie viens de parler, eftoit
dans une veneration extraordinaire chez to us les
Iroquois, & comme fon credit & fon exemple avoient
empeché [66] Ie progrez de la Foy pendant fa vie; Il
femble que fon ombre foit encore funeite au Chriiti-
anifme, & qu'elle foit fortie du fond de l'abyfme pour
continuer à perfecuter cette Eglife naiffante. En
effet il n'a pas trouvé moins de fubmifÜon dans l'ef-
prit de ces Peuples qu'il en avoit toujours rencontré
de fon vivant. Un ancien a tenu depuis peu Ie
Confeil, où il a dec1aré que ce Jongleur, luy a apparu
en fonge, & que le regardant d'un æil terrible, illuy
a commandé de rapporter aux anciens, qu'ils efioient
perdus fans refource, & qu'infailliblement les Gan-
daftógués viendroient Ie Printemps prochain, affieger

1671-72]

RELATION OF I67I-72

35

wretched existence for a blessed and eternal life.
Since my last letter, in the month of May, 1671, I
count thirty people baptized, most of whom were
children who have gone to swell the number of the
predestined in Heaven.
eel had the affliction to see a noted Juggler die in
his infidelity; but his presumption and pride ren-
dered him unworthy of the grace of holy Baptism.
What I wonder at every day in that class of men is,
that, although convinced by their own experience
that all their jugglery is only a fraud, nevertheless
they still allow themselves to be deceived until their
dying day; and not one of them has yet been heard
of as exposing the trickery of a comrade,-not even
when intoxicated, a state in which they commonly
betray their most secret thoughts.
cc The noted Juggler of whom I just spoke was
held in unusual veneration among all the Iroquois;
and, even as his reputation and example retarded
[66] the progress of the Faith during his lifetime, so
his shade still seems to be baleful to Christianity,
and to have issued from the abysmal depths that he
may continue to persecute this infant Church. In
fact, he has found not less submission in the disposi-
tion of these Peoples than he was wont to meet with
in his lifetime. An elder recently convoked the
Council, and announced to it that this Juggler had
appeared to him in a dream, and, regarding him with
a terrible expression, had bidden him bear word to
the elders that they were irremediably lost; and that
the Gandast6gués would come the next Spring,
without fail, to besiege the village and burn and slay
all who resisted them. If, however, they wished to
avoid these disasters, they must remove his body

36

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[VOL. 56

Ie bourg, & mettre à feu & à fang tout ce qui leur
feroit refifiance: que neanmoins, fi on vouloit eviter
ces malheurs, i1 falloit enlever fon corps du lieu, où
i1 efioit enterré, & Ie porter fur Ie chemin qui mene
à Gandafi6gué; & qu' alors i1 n' y a uroit pI us rien à
craindre: Parce qu' ayant dompté cet ennemy com-
mun de la Nation pendant fa vie, i1le pourfuivoit
encore apres fa mort, & que fon corps efiant tranf-
porté au lieu qu'il avoit marqué, ne manqueroit pas
de jetter l'effroy [67] dans Ie cæur de tous ceux qui
oferoient approcher du bourg. Tout Ie monde remer-
cia ce vieillard du bon avis quOil leur donnoit, &
quoy que la terre fût couverte de neige, on ne laBIa
pas d 'executer ponétuellement l' ordre reçeu, & de
tranfporter ce cadavre fur Ie chemin de Gandaftógué,
où ils luy ont dreffé Ie plus beau mauzolée, qui fe
voye parmy ces barbares. Apres tout, comme ce
fourbe s'eft trouvé menteur pendant fa yie, i1 n'a pas
efté plus veritable apres fa mort, deux femmes ont
eu de puis peu la tefte caffée par les mémes Ganda-
fi6gués, à cinquante pas de la paliffade du bourg.

1671-72]

RELA TIO]\/ OF I67I-72

37

from the spot where it was buried, and carry it out
along the road leading to Gandast6gué. He said
that then there would be no further cause for alarm,
since, as he had overcome this common enemy of the
Nation during his lifetime, he was still pursuing him
after his death; and his body, on being transferred
to the place that he had designated, would not fail
to inspire terror [67] in the hearts of all who should
venture to approach the village. All thanked this
old man for the good counsel that he had given
them; and, although the ground was covered with
snow, they failed not to execute to the letter the
order they had received,- bearing the dead body out
along the road to Gandast6gué, and there erecting to
it the finest mausoleum to be seen among these
barbarians. After all, as this knave was found to be
a liar while alive, he proved no less untrustworthy
after his death,- two women having recently been
brained by those very Gandast6gués, within fifty
paces of the palisade surrounding the village."

38

LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

CHAPITRE V.

DE LA MISSION DE S. JEAN BAPTISTE À ONNON-
TAGUÉ.

O N nous mande deux chofes de grande confola-
tion de la Miffion de S. Jean Baptifte, qui
nous font affez connoître que la Foy a fait de
grands progrez en ce pays. L'une eft que trente-
neuf perfonnes y ont receu la grace du faint Bap-
tefme, [68] vingt defquels font entrez peu de temps
apres en poffeffion de la gloire; on n'en peut pas
douter à l"égard de feize petits enfans, & les quatre
autres adultes ont donné à leur mort de grandes
marques de predeftination, principalement un ieune
homme de vingt-cinq à vingt-fix ans. Les charitez
& les affifl:ances particulieres, qu'il avoit reçeuës de
Meffieurs les Preftres de Mon-real, apres avoir efté
mal traitté de quelques François, n'ont pas peu fervi
à Ie gagner à Dieu. Toute fa famille quoy qu' encore
infidelle en a temoigné fouvent fes reconnoiíIances,
& s'efl: empreíIée méme pour fon falut. Sa mere
eftoit toute la premiere, à Ie faire prier Dieu & à
inviter Ie Pere Millet à l'inftruire; & peu de temps
avant fa mort, elle luyalla promptement donner avis
du danger ou efioit fon fils, afin qu'i1I'aydât à bien
mourir, & Ie moribond correfpondit fidelement à
to utes ces graces.
J'efpere, dit le Pere Millet dans fa lettre, qu'il ne
fera pas Ie feul Chrefiien, ny Ie feul predefiiné de fa

16il-72]

RELA TION OF IÓ7I-72

39

CHAPTER V.

OF THE MISSION OF ST. JEAN BAPTISTE AT ONNON-
T AGUÉ.

F ROM the Mission of St. Jean Baptiste we receive
information of two very encouraging circum-
stances, which plainly show us that the Faith
has made great progress in that country. One is,
that thirty-nine persons have there received the
grace of holy Baptism,- [68] twenty of them enter-
ing, soon after, into the possession of glory. No
doubt in the matter can be entertained concerning
sixteen little children j while the remaining four,
who were adults, gave in dying decided signs of
predestination - especially a young man of twenty-
five or twenty-six years. The personal kindness and
help that he received from the Priests of Mon-real,
after being ill-treated by some Frenchmen, aided
not a little in winning him to God. All his family,
unbelievers though they still were, often testified
their gratitude, and even showed themselves zealous
for his salvation. His mother was the very first to
make him pray to God, and to invite Father 1\Iillet
to instruct him,-while, a short time before his
death, she hastened to the Father to warn him of
her son's danger, that he might help him to die
well; and the dying man responded faithfully to all
these bestowals of grace.
" I hope, " says Father 1\1illet in his letter, " that
he will not be the only Christian or the only

40

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

famille, la joye qu'ils eurent apres fa mort de l'efpe-
rance [69J de fon bon-heur eternel, n' eft pas une
petite marque de leur Foy; auffi ne me femblent ils
pas bien eloignez du royaume de Dieu, & Ie grand
defir qu'i1s temoignent de Ie revoir un iour dans Ie
Ciel, me donne efperance de les voir bien-toft enfans
de l'Eglife.
L'autre point, qui doit donner bien de la joye aux
ames qui defirent voir Dieu glorifié dans la conver.
fion de ces Peuples, eft la conftance de leur Chef
Daniel GaraKontié dans l'eftime de la foy, & dans fa
fidelité à fa ire par tout une haute profeffiõ du Chrifti-
anifme. IlIa fit folemnellement i1 y a deux ans lors
qu'apres avoir efté baptifé à Quebec, il declara à
fon retour dans une affemblée publique, qu'i1 ne
pretendoit plus faire aucune fonétion de fa Charge
qu'à l'égard des chofes, qui feroiët conformes aux
comrnandements de Dieu. Il fit encore cette decla-
ration d'une maniere plus genereufe, en la Nouvelle
Hol1ande, en prefence des Europeans qui cornman-
dent en ce pais, & des notables de toutes les cinq
Nations Iroquoifes, qui avoient efté appel1ez pour
concIure la paix avec les Nations du Loup. Le Pere
[70J nous mande dans fa derniere, qu'il a fait paroiftre
un courage vrayrnent chreftien cet Hyver dans une
maladie, qui le mit à l'extremité, fes parents, & tout
Ie bourg, fe voyant en danger de Ie perdre. Ie foBi-
cite rent , avec beaucoup d'importunité de permettre
qu'on emploiaft pour fa guerifon, les jongleries
ordinaires qui paffent pour remedes dans Ie pais: i1
y refifta toujours forternent: neanmoins s' eftant fait
une cerernonie fuperftitieufe dans fa cabane, felon la
pratique des jongleurs, quand ils entreprennent la

1671- 72]

RELA TION OF IÓ7I-72:

41

predestined member of his family. The joy that they
felt after his death, in the hope [69] of his eternal
happiness, is no small sign of their Faith, and so
they seem to me not very far from God's kingdom;
while the great desire they evince to see the son
again some day in Heaven makes me hopeful of
soon seeing them children of the Church."
The other circumstance that must give much joy
to all who desire to see God glorified in the conversion
of these Peoples, is the constancy of their Chief,
Daniel Garakontié, in his high opinion of the faith,
and in his fidelity in everywhere making open
profession of Christianity. He did this with all
solemnity two years ago when, after being baptized at
Quebec, he declared upon his return, in a public
meeting, that he intended thenceforward to discharge
no function of his Office except so far as it should be
in conformity with God's commandments. This
declaration he repeated in a more courageous manner
in New Holland, before the Europeans who hold
command in that country, and the chief men of all
the five Iroquois Nations, who had been summoned
for the purpose of concluding a peace with the Loup
Nations. The Father [70] informs us in his last
letter that Garakontié showed a truly Christian cour-
age, the past Winter, in an illness that brought him
to death's door. His relatives and all the village,
seeing themselves in danger of losing him, urged
him with great importunity to permit, for the sake
of being cured, the employment of the usual jug-
gler's arts, which pass for remedies in that country.
To this he made constant and strenuous resistance.
Nevertheless, a superstitious ceremony was executed
in his cabin, after the custom of the jugglers when

42

LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

cure de quelque maladie, Ie Pere qui en eut avis,
entra en quelque foupçon que Ie malade y avoit con-
fenti; il Ie va vifiter fur Ie foir, il trouve avec Iuy
to us les anciens, qui Ie croyant proche de la mort,
efioient venus comme en corps par honneur, pour
luy dire Ie dernier Adieu. Le malade prit Ie pre-
mier, la parole & Iuy dit man Pere, je me fuis trouvé
aujourd'huy bien en peine à l'occafion de la ceremo-
nie, qui s'eft faite à man infceu & hors de ma veuë,
à l'autre bout de ma cabane. Helas! ay-je dit en
111oy-méme, que penfera, & que dira de moy Teha-
ronhiagannra, c'eft Ie nom du [71J Pere l\1illet; il
me croira un hypocrite & un diffimulé: non, mon
Pere, je n'ay point changé de fentimens, depuis mon
baptefme, je ne fuis plus homme à confentir à ces
fotifes, j'ay feulement permis qu'on me fcarifiat, &
qu' on me tirat un peu de fang de Ia tefte, mais ie ne
croy pas en cela avoir offenfé Dieu: ray trap de
cæur, mon Pere, & j' ay promis à Dieu trop folem-
nellement, de garder fa fainte loy, toute ma vie,
pour reprendre lachemen tIes anciennes coutumes
aufquelles fay renoncé & aufquelles je renonce
encore prefentement de tout mon cæur; non, mon
Pere, ie ne m' en dediray iamais, quand il iroit de
ma vie. Le Pere Ie confirma dans ces bons fenti-
mens, dont la compagnie demeura fort edifiée.
Depuis, no fire Neophyte, ayant recouvré fa fanté,
efi defcendu à :Mon-reaI en qualité d' Ambaffadeur,
de la part de toutes les Nations Iroquoifes, pour tenir
confeil avec les peuples Algonquins dits OutaoüaKs,
qui y avoient leur rendez-vous, auffi bien pour Ies
affaires qu'i1s avoient entr' eux, que pour Ie debit de
leurs pelletries. Ce fut done en cette affemblée, [7 2 ]

1671-72]

RELA TI01V OF IÓ7I-72

43

they undertake to cure some ailment. The Father,
hearing of it, felt some suspicion that it had received
the sick man's consent. He went to visit him
toward evening, and found with him all the elders,-
who, believing his death to be near at hand, had
come in a body to do him honor, and bid him a last
Farewell. The sick man spoke first and said to him:
" l\ly Father, I was much distressed to-day on account
of the ceremony which was performed, without my
knowledge and out of my sight, at the other end
of my cabin. 'Alas!' said I to myself, ' what will
Teharonhiagannra' "- [71] Father Millet's name-
" , think and say of me? He will believe me to be a
hypocrite and dissembler.' No, my Father, I have
not changed my mind since my baptism, nor am I
any longer the man to consent to such follies. I
merely suffered myself to be scarified, and a little
blood to be drawn from my head; but I do not think
that I thereby offended God. I have too much spirit,
Father, and have too solemnly promised God to keep
his holy law all my life, to resume like a coward the
old practices that I have renounced, and now once
more renounce, with all my heart. No, my Father,
I will never break my promise, even though my life
should be at stake." The Father strengthened
him in these good resolutions, which afforded the
company great edification.
Subsequently our Neophyte, having recovered his
health, went down to Mon-real as Ambassador from
all the Iroquois Nations, to hold council with the
Algonquin tribes known as the Outaouaks,-who
held their rendezvous there for the arrangement
of their affairs with one another, as well as for the
sale of their
furs. Now)n:this':assembly [72] of a

44

LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

de cent cinquante canots, c'eft à dire de plus de cinq
cent Sauvages de diverfes Nations, qu'en prefence
de Monfieur de Courcelles Gouverneur du pays, pour
lequel tous ces Peuples ont une veneration tres-parti-
culiere, GaraKontié fit paroiftre fon efprit & fon bon
fens, mais particulierement fa Foy, & fon zele. Car
apres avoir terminé leurs affaires, & confirmé par de
nouvelles proteftations d'amitié, & par des prefens
reciproques Ie traitté de paix, il leva la voix pour
leur dire qu'il avoit efté autrefois comme eux, dans
l'ignorance du vray Dieu, idolâtre de fes fonges, &
de toutes leurs coutumes fuper[f]titieufes; mais que
maintenant il eftoit Chreftien, & qu'il vivoit heureux,
dans l'obfervance des commandemens de Dieu, &
dans l'efperance d'une vie eternelle, & il finit fa
harangue en les exhortant eloquemment felon fa
coutume, à l'imiter & à Ie fuivre.
Un femblable difcours party de la bouche d'un
Sauvage qui declare ainfi naivement les fentimens
de fon cæur, a fouvent plus d'effet fur ces efprits
que de la part d'un Miffionnaire Ie plus zelé; en voicy
[73] deux exemples tout recens, Ie méme Daniel
GaraKontié, dit Ie Pere de Lam berville en fa Iettre
du 23. Septembre, ayant rencontré à fon retour dans
Ie pais une de fes parentes malade à la mort, me vint
trouver pour me demander pour elle quelque remede.
Mon frere, luy dis-je, Ie feul remede qui luy puiffe
eftre utile en l'eftat où elle eft, c'eft Ie Baptefme,
pour la preferver de l'enfer; mais elle n'a aucune
difpofition pour ce Sacrement; elle s'opiniaftre à
vouloir mourir comme fes Anceftres, qu'elle veut
aller trouver au pais pretendu des ames: fi tu as une
veritable affeétion pour elle, fais tous tes efforts pour

1671- 72]

RELA TID-N OF I67I-72

45

hundred and fifty canoes,-that is, of more than five
hundred Savages of various Nations,-in the pres-
ence of Monsieur de Courcelles, Governor of the
country, for whom all these Tribes have a very
marked veneration, Garakontié displayed his intel-
ligence and good sense, and especially his Faith and
zeal. For, after they had finished their negotiations,
and ratified the treaty of peace by fresh protestations
of friendship and an exchange of presents, he raised
his voice to tell them that he had formerly been as
they were,-ignorant of the true God, given to the
worship of his dreams, and observing all their super-
sti tious practices: but that now he was a Christian
and was living a happy life, obeying God's com-
mandments and hoping for a life eternal. He
concluded his harangue by exhorting them, with his
wonted eloquence, to imitate and follow him.
Such a speech, from the mouth of a Savage who
thus frankly declares the feelings of his heart, often
produces more effect upon these people's minds than
the words of the most zealous Missionary,-as is
shown by [73] two very recent instances. This same
Daniel Garakontié, says Father de Lamberville in
his letter of September 23rd, " having, on his home-
ward journey, encountered a kinswoman of his who
was mortally ill, sought me out, and asked me for
some remedy for her. 'My brother,' said I to him,
'the sole remedy that can avail her in her present
state is Baptism, to save her from hell. But she is
utterly averse to receiving this Sacrament, being
obstinately bent on dying like her Ancestors, whom
she wishes to go and find in the so-called " land of
souls." If thou hast a true affection for her, exert
all thy efforts to render her more docile; but make

46

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[YoLo 56

la rendre plus docile, mais hafte toy, eUe n'a plus
gueres de temps à vivre. ] e ne luy eus pas plufioft
fait cette ouverture, que ce veritable Chrefiien, ce
font les termes du Pere, qui n' a rien de Sauyage
Iroquois, que la naiffance & Ie nom, l' aUa vifiter à
l'heure meíme, avec un effet fi admirable de fon zele,
qu'elle fut enfuite inftruite íuffifamment pour rece-
voir Ie faint Baptefme au grand contentement de
toute la famiUe. Le Pere ne pouvoit encore aprocher
d'une [74J autre pauvre creature mourante pour luy
parler de fon faIut, parce qu'elle en témoignoit une
grande averfion, auffi bien qu'une attache incroyable
aux fuperftitions du pais. Dans cette peine, il eut
recours à une femme amie de cette famiUe, qui
n'eftoit pas encore Catecumene, & qui ne venoit pas
mefme à la priere; eUe avoit cependant quelque con-
noiffance de nos myfteres, avec une bonne intention.
Elle eut tant de fuccez dés la premiere fois, qu'elle
parla à la malade de fe faire Chrefiienne, & eUe
mefnagea par fon adreffe, une entree fi favorable au
Pere dans fon efprit, qu'il fut Ie tres-bien venu dans
fa cabane, eUe l'efcouta toujours de puis ; eftant donc
íuffifamment inftruite, eUe fut baptifée, & mourut
tres-chreftiennement peu de temps apres fon Bap-
tefme. C'efi ainfi, dit Ie Pere, pour conclufion de fa
lettre, que malgré l'yvrognerie, qui regne icy dans
Ie dernier excez, & les autres obítac1es que l'enfer
oppofe inceffamment à l'avancement de la foy, noUS
ne laiffons pas de trouver des ames à gagner, & des
fruits du Sang de ]efus-Chrift à recüe[iJUir.

]671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

47

haste, for she has only a little longer to live.' No
sooner had I made this proposition to him "- these
are the Father's words -" than that genuine Chris-
tian, who possesses no attribute of the Iroquois
Savage but his birth and name, went to visit her;
and wrought on her so admirably by his zeal that she
was thereupon sufficiently instructed to receive holy
Baptism - to the great satisfaction of all the family."
The Father was still unable to gain access to another
[74] poor dying creature, for the purpose of speaking
to her concerning her salvation, because she showed
an intense aversion for such themes, as well as an
incredible attachment to the native superstitions.
In this difficulty, he had recourse to a woman who
was a friend of that family; she was not yet a Cate-
chumen, and did not even attend prayers, but she
had some knowledge of our mysteries and was well-
intentioned. She met with such success from the
very first time when she spoke to the sick woman
about becoming a Christian, and cleverly contrived
to predispose the latter so fa vora bl y toward the Fa-
ther, that he was made most welcome in her cabin,
and she never refused him a hearing thereafter.
Being then sufficiently instructed, she was baptized;
and, soon after her Baptism, she died a very Chris-
tian death. "Th us it is .. - says the Father in clos-
ing his letter -" that, in spite of intemperance,
which reigns here to the greatest excess, and the
other obstacles that hell is constantly opposing to the
advancement of the faith, we are continually finding
souls to win, and fruits of the Blood of Jesus Christ
to gather. ' ,

48

LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES

[VOL 56

[75] CHAPITRE VI.

DE LA MISSION DE SAINT JOSEPH À GOïOGOÜEN.

L A Lettre que fay reçeuë du 24. de Juin du Pere
Raffeix, envoyé d'icy I'an paffé, pour aller
prendre Ie foin de cette Million, en l'abfence
du Pere de Carrheil, nous en donne une connoiffance
afíez particuliere: voicy ce qu'i1 efcrit.
Goïogoüen eft Ie plus beau païs que fay veu dans
l'Amerique; fa fituation eft par Ie 42. degré & demy,
l'aiguille d'aymant n'y decline gueres plus de dix
degrez. C'eft une terre fituée entre deux Lacs, qui
n'a pas plus de quatre lieuës de large, ce font prefque
des plaines continuelles, & Ie bois qui les borde en
eft fort beau.
Annié eft :une vallée bien étranglée, fouvent bien
pierreufe, & toujours couverte de broüillards; Ies
montagnes qui la ferrent me femblent de tres-mau-
vaife terre. Onneïout & Onnontagué paroiffent [76]
un pais fort raboteux, & peu propre à la chaffe, auffi
bien que Sonnontoüan. II fe tuë tous les ans aux
environs de Goïogoüen plus de mille Chevreüils.
La pefche y eft aulli abondante qu'à Onnontagué,
tant pour Ie faulmon que pour l'anguille & autres
poiffons, fay veu à quatre lieuës d'icy fur Ie bord
d'une riviere en fort peu d'efpace, huit ou dix fon-
taines de fel fort belles, c'eft là où l'on tend quantité
de filets pour la chaffe des tourtes, il s' en prend fou-
vent des fept à huit cent en un:coup _de filet; Le Lac

167] - 72]

RELA TIO"V OF I67I-72

49

[75] CHAPTER VI.

OF THE MISSION OF SAINT JOSEPH AT GOIOGOUEN.

T HE Letter received by me on the 24 th of June
from Father Raffeix, who was sent from here
last year to go and take charge of that Mission
in Father de Carrheil's absence, gives us an account
of it in considerable detail. He writes as follows:
" Goiogouen is the fairest country that I have seen
in America. Its latitude is 42}4 degrees, and the
variation of the magnetic needle there is scarcely
more than ten degrees. It is a tract situated be-
tween two Lakes, and not exceeding four leagues in
width, consisting of almost uninte:r:rupted plains, the
woods bordering which are extremely beautiful.
" Annié is a very narrow valley, often abounding
in stones, and always covered with mists. The
mountains hemming it in seem to me of very poor
soil. Onneiout and Onnontagué appear to be [76]
very rough regions, and little adapted to the chase,
the same being true of Sonnontouan. Around Goio-
gouen there are killed annually more than a thousand
Deer.
" Fish - salmon, as well as eels and other kinds-
are as plenty here as at Onnontagué. Four leagues
from here I saw by the side of a river, within a very
limited space. eight or ten extremely fine salt-
springs. Many snares are set there for catching
pigeons, from seven to eight hundred .being:often

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

de Tiohero l'un des deux qui joignent noftre bourg,
a bien quatorze lieuës de long, fur une & deux de
large, les Cygnes & les Outardes y font en grand
nombre; tout l'Hyver, & Ie Printemps on n'y voit
que des nuées continuelles de toute forte de gibier.
La Riviere d'Ochoüéguen, qui fort de ce Lac, fe
divife en fon commencement, en divers canaux entou-
rez de prairies; & d'efpace en efpace de bayes fort
agreables & affez profondes, qui y entretiennent la
chaffee
Je trouve les habitans de Goiogoüen, [77] plus
traittables & moins tiers que les Onnontagué & les
Onneïout; & fi Dieu les avoit auffi bien humiliez que
les Anniez, je croy qu' on y eflabliroit la Foy plus
facilement qu'en pas une des autres Nations Iro-
quoifes. On y compte plus de trois cent guerriers,
& une multitude de petits enfans, prodigieufe.
Pour Ie fpirituel, & pour ce qui regarde la Miffion,
je ne fçay bonnement ce que fen dois dire. Dieu
en ayant retiré autrefois Ie Pere Menard, lorfqu'il
commençoit a y travailler avec tant de fruit; & de puis
pres d'un an le Pere de Carrheil, apres qu'il eut
appris parfaitement la langue, & mis de belles difpo-
fitions dans les cæurs de ces barbares pour leur falut;
je ne penfe pas que l'heure de leur converfion foit
encore venuë.
Pour ofter à nos Cathecumenes & nos N eophites
l'averfion, que quelques efclaves de la Nation neutre,
& quelques Hurons renegats leur avoient donnée du
Chriftianifme, j'ay introduit parmy eux Ie chant de
l'Eglife, en accommodant diverfes Prieres, & quel-
ques Hymnes en leur langue, fur les principaux [78]
myfteres de nofire foy.

1671-72]

RELA TIO
V OF I67I-72

51

taken at once. Lake Tiohero, one of the two adjoin-
ing our village, is fully fourteen leagues long by one
or two wide. Swans 2 and Bustards are very abun-
dant there, during the entire Winter; and in Spring
one sees nothing but continual clouds of all sorts of
wild fowl.
"The Ochouéguen [Oswego] River, which flows
from this Lake, divides, in its upper waters, into
several cbannels, bordered by prairies; and at inter-
vals are very pleasant and somewhat deep inlets,
which are preserves for game.
"I find the inhabitants of Goiogouen [77] more
tractable and less haughty than the Onnontagué and
Onneiout, and if God had humbled them as he has
tbe Anniez, I believe tbe Faitb could be planted here
more easily than in any of the otber Iroquois Nations.
There are estimated to be more than three hundred
warriors here, and a prodigious number of little
children.
"As for things spiritual, and the interests of the
Mission, I hardly know what to say. Since God
removed bence, some time ago, Father Menard,
wben he was beginning his labors here with such
excellent results; and, nearly a year ago, Father de
Carrheil,- after he bad learned the language per-
fectly, and implanted in these barbarians' hearts a
disposition most favorable for their salvation,- I do
not think that the hour of their conversion has yet
arrived.
"To remove from our Catechumens and N eo-
pbytes the aversion to Christianity that some slaves
from the neutral Nation and some renegade Hurons
had given them, I introduced Church singing among
them, adapting thereto various Prayers, and some

Ð2

LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

Ce fut Ie premier jour de l'an que nous offrimes
pour efirenes à nofire Seigneur, ces Cantiques de
loüanges que nous avons continuez depuis avec fruit,
& beaucoup de fatisfaétion de nos Sauvages.
Je fuis occupé la plus grande partie de la journée
à vifiter les malades, à les inítruire, & à faire en
forte qu'ils ne meurent point fans Baptefme; Dieu
n'a pas permis que j'aye reüffi au premier, que je fus
vifiter à mon arrivée, & qui mourut peu de temps
apres. Je l'allay voir plufieurs fois, & je commen-
çois mefme à luy donner quelques infiruétions; mais
fa mere ne Ie put fouffrir. Un jour que je demeurois
au pres du malade, plus long-temps qu'elle ne vouloit,
elle prit un baíton pour me mettre dehors, & fa fille
une groffe pierre qu'elle me jetta, fans toutefois me
frapper; Je ne laiffay pas d'efpier toutes les occafions
de faire mon coup, je parlay en diverfes rencontres
à cette miferable mere, la conjurant d'avoir pitié de
{on fils, ie la trouvay touiours inflexible; ainfi ce
pauvre ieune [79] homme mourut fans Baptefme, au
moins réel; i1 femble que la malediétion de Dieu foit
fur cette cabane dans laquelle Ie P. de Carrheil avoit
eíté traitté encore plus indignement que moy, pour
un femblable fujet.
Quelque temps apres cette affiiétion, qui me fut
bien fenfible, i1 plût à Dieu de me con faler, par la
converfion d'un jeune prifonnier de guerre, de vingt
à vingt-deux ans, je n'ay jamais trouvé un Sauvage
plus docile, on luy venoit de couper la moitié d'une
main, & d'arracher les ongles; une foule de peuple
l' entouroit de taus cofiez, c' efioit à qui Ie feroit
chanter; on luy laiffoit prendre haleine de temps
en temps, & je me fervois de cette occafion pour

1671-72]

RELATION OF I67I-72

53

Hymns in their tongue on the principal [78J mysteries
of our faith.
"On the first day of the year we offered these
Songs of praise as a new-year's gift to our Lord;
and have since continued them with good results,
and to the great gratification of our Savages.
'c I am occupied most of the day in visiting the
sick, instructing them, and taking care that they do
not die without Baptism. God did not permit me to
8ucceed with the first one whom I visited on my
arrival, who died soon after. I went to see him
several times, and was even beginning to give him
some instruction, but his mother could not endure it.
One day when I remained with the sick man longer
than she wished me to, she took a stick to drive me
out, and her daughter a large stone, which she threw
at me,-without hitting me, however. I ceased not
to watch for opportunity to effect my object,-ac-
costing that wretched mother on various occasions,
and conjuring her to take pity on her son, but
finding her ever inflexible. Thus that poor young [79J
man died without Baptism,- at least, an actual one.
It seems as if God's curse were upon that cabin,
Father de Carrheil having been still more unworth-
ily treated there than I, and for a similar cause.
c. Some time after this affliction, which was a very
bitter one to me, God was pleased to console me by
the conversion of a young prisoner of war, between
twenty and twenty-two years of age. I have never
found a Savage of greater docility. He had just had
half of one hand cut off, and his nails pulled out; a
crowd of people surrounded him on all sides, vying
with one another in making him sing; he was
suffered to take breath from time to time, and these

54

LES RELA TIONS DES .I É5 UITES

[VOL. 56

l'inftruire, il fembloit parmy tout ce trouble qu'il
n'euft de la pre fence d'efprit, que pour concevoir les
veritez Chreftiennes, que je luy enfeignois; en fin il
me fatisfit tenement que je Ie baptifay, ce qui luy
donna tant de joye, qu'il me remercia pub1iquement
en chantant, de la charité que je venois d'avoir pour
luy.
J'en compte trente, tant enfans qu'adultes, [801 à
qui Dieu a fait la mefme grace, depuis Ie départ du
Pere de Carrheil; j'efpere que cette troupe de petits
Innocens qui augmente de toutes parts l'Eglife
triomphante, obligera enfin Dieu par les prieres qu'ils
luy en font, à avancer Ie temps de la converfion de
ces barbares, qui ne paroift pas encore fi proche.
Car de croire qu'une nation entiere fe convertiffe en
mefme temps, & ne pretendre faire des ChrefHens
qu'à centeines, ou à milliers en ce païs, c'efi s'abufer;
Ie Canada n' efi pas un païs de fleurs; pour en trou ver
& en cüeillir quelqu'une, il faut marcher long-temps
parmy les ronces & les efpines. Les perfonnes de
haute vertu, trouvent icy de quoy exercer leur zele;
& les lafches comme moy font ravis de fe voir obligés
par neceffité à fouffrir beaucoup, à n' avoir aucune
confolation que de Dieu {eul, & à travailler incef.
famment à fe fantifier. Je prie de tout mon cæur
V ofire R. de me laiffer dans cet heureux eftat toute
ma vie, & de fe perfuader que c'efi la plus grande
faveur qu'elle me puiffe faire, &c.
J'ajoufieray encore ce mot, pour vous [81] dire
des nouvelles de nos petites guerres, dit Ie Pere.
Le jour de }' Afcenfion, vingt Tfonnontoüans, &
quarante des plus fiers de nofire jeuneffe, partirent de
ce bourg pour aller faire quelque coup dans les champs

1671- 72]

RELA TIO,V OF ,,67":-72

55

occasions I used for instructing him. Amid all this
disturbance, he seemed to have presence of mind only
for grasping the truths of Christianity, which I
taught him. Finally he gave me such satisfaction
that I baptized him, thereby affording him so great
joy that he thanked me publicly by singing of the
kindness that I had just shown him.
" I count thirty, children and adults together, [80]
to whom God has granted the same grace since
Father de Carrheil's departure. I hope that company
of little Innocents, who are everywhere swelling the
Church triumphant, will at length constrain God, by
the prayers that they offer him to that end, to hasten
the time of these barbarians' conversion, which does
not yet appear to be very near. For the idea that a
whole nation can be converted at once, or the expec-
tation that Christians can be made by hundreds or
thousands in this country, is a delusion. Canada is
not a land of flowers; to find and pluck an occasional
one, it is necessary to walk a long distance through
briers and thorns. Persons of exalted virtue find
here material for the exercise of their zeal, and the
faint-hearted, like myself, are delighted to find them-
selves forced by necessity to suffer much, to derive
their sole consolation from God, and to toil inces-
santly in self-sanctification. I pray Your Reverence
most heartily to leave me in this happy condition all
my life, and to believe that it is the greatest favor
you can accord me," etc.
" I will add this one word more," [8 I] says the
Father, " to tell you the news concerning our petty
wars. On Ascension day, twenty Tsonnontouans
and forty of the haughtiest of our young men set out
from this village, to go and strike a blow in the fields

66

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 66-

des Andaftogués; à quatre journées d'icy, les Tfon-
nontoüans qui faifoiêt bande à part, les autres ayant
pris Ie devant par eau, furent attaquez par foixante
enfans de I 5. à 16. ans d. Andaftoguez, & mis en
fuite, avec perte de deux des leurs, l'un tué fur la
place, & l'autre emmené prifonnier. Ces jeunes
viétorieux ayant appris que la brigade des Goiogoüens
eftoit allée en canot, fe mirent promptement fur des
canots, & les pourfuivirent avec tant de diligence,
que les ayans joints, ils les ont battus, huit des noftres
ont efté tuez dans leurs canots, quinze ou feize font
retournez tout percez de coups de fleches & de
coufteau, ou demy affomnlez à coups de haches. Le
champ de bataille eft demeuré aux enfans d' Anda-
ftogué, avec perte, dit-on, de quinze ou feize de leurs
gens. Dieu conferve les Andaftoguez, qui ne font
que trois cent hommes de guerre, & il [82] favorife
leurs annes pour humilier les Iroquois, & nous
conferver la paix & nos Miffions.
Depuis cette lettre efcrite, Ie Pere de Carrheil eft
retourné heureufement en fa 11iffion, comme je ray
déja dit, & Ie Pere Raffeix eft allé travailler avec Ie
Pere Garnier dans les Miffions de Tfonnontoüan,
dont nous allons parler au Chapitre fuivant.

1671-72]

RELATION OF 1671-72

57

of the Andastogués, four days' journey hence. The
Tsonnontouans- who formed a band by themselves,
the others having gone on ahead by water-were
attacked by sixty Andastogué boys, 15 or 16 years
old, and put to flight, with the loss of two of their
number,- one being killed on the spot, and the other
led away captive. These young victors, learning that
the Goiogouen band had gone by canoe, promptly
took canoes, and pursued them with such speed that
they overtook and routed them,-eight of our men
being killed in their canoes; while fifteen or sixteen
returned badly wounded by arrows and knives, or
half killed by hatchet-strokes. The battle-field
remained in possession of the Andastogué boys, with
a loss, it is said, of fifteen or sixteen of their num-
ber. God preserves the Andastoguez, who count
but three hundred warriors, and [82] favors their
arms, in order to humble the Iroquois and maintain
the peace and our Missions."
Since the above letter was written, Father de Carr-
heil has returned safely to his Mission, as I have
already stated; and Father Raffeix has gone to labor
with Father Garnier in the Tsonnontouan Missions,
of which we shall speak in the following Chapter.

68

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

LV OL 56

CHAPITRE VII.

DES MISSIONS DE LA CONCEPTION, DE SAINT MICHEL
& DE SAINT JACQUES À TSONNONTOÛAN.

L ETTRE du Pere Julien Garnier du mois de Juil-
let 1672.
Le fpirituel de ces Miffions depend beaucoup
des affaires temporelIes, & fur tout de la difpofition
des efprits, pour la paix avec les François. Les
anciens du bourg de Gandachiorágon m'avoient
témoigné dans un confeil affemblé exprés, qu'ils
vouloient prier Dieu; & en effet, quelques-uns
commençoient à Ie faire, [83] & quoy que je n'y viffe
pas encore de grands principes de foy, neanmoins
leur exemple portoit Ie peuple à m'efcouter, & me
donnoit toute liberté de vifiter, & d'infiruire les
malades. Mais les bruits d'une armée Françoife
renverferent bien-tofi ces petits commencemens.
Les efprits efians mal difpofez, Ie demon s'efi fervy
de l'occafion pour faire parler contre la foy, & contre
ceux qui la prefchent. Un vieillard venu depuis
quelques années de Goiogoüen, efprit broüilIon, mais
fort en paroles, qui fait ce qu'il veut de nos Tfon-
nontoüans, & qui paffe parmy eux pour un prodige
d'efprit, leur prouve que la foy fait mourir par
l'induétion des familIes entieres, qui l'embrafferent
autrefois, lorfque Ie deffunt Pere Menard Miffionnaire
Apofiolique demeuroit à Goïogoüen, & defquelles il
ne refie pas, dit-il, une feule ame. I1 ajoute que les

1671-72J

RELA TION OF I67I-72

59

CHAPTER VII.

OF THE MISSIONS OF LA CONCEPTION, SAINT MICHEL,
AND SAINT JACQUES, IN TSONNONTOUAN.

L ETTER from Father Julien Garnier, written in
July, 16 7 2 .
"The spiritual interests of these Missions
depend largely on temporal affairs, and above all on
the state of men's minds regarding the peace with
the French. The elders of the village of Ganda-
chiorágon had declared to me, in a council called for
the purpose, that they wished to adopt the custom of
praying to God, and indeed some began to do so;
(83] and, although I could not yet see therein any
great beginnings of faith, yet their example induced
the people to give me a hearing, and procured for
me entire freedom in visiting and instructing the
sick. But rumors of the approach of a French army
soon undid these small beginnings. The people's
minds being ill prepared, the demon used the oppor-
tunity to make them speak against the faith and
against its preachers. An old man who came some
years ago from Goiogouen,-a mischief-maker, but
a persuasive speaker, åble to do what he will with
our Tsonnontouans, and passing among them for a
prodigy of wisdom,-is wont to demonstrate to them
that the faith makes people die. He cites whole
families who embraced it in times past, when the
late Father Menard, A postolic Missionary, was
sojourning at Goiogouen - families, of w horn, he

60

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

habillez de noir ne font icy que comme des efpions,
qui mandent tout à Onnontio, c'eft à dire, à Monfieur
Ie Gouverneur, ou que ce font des forders qui font
par la maladie ce que Onnontio ne peut faire par fes
armes. Je fçayavec affeurance [84] qu'on a deliberé
de ma mort en qualité d'efpion, & que comme forcier,
noftre hofie mefme, OnnonKenritaoüi, Ie plus confi-
derable des Chefs de cette grande Nation, a fouvent
fait à fa fæur la propofition de me tuer, lorfqu'elle
luy témoignoit de grandes défiances de moy, à l'occa.
fion de fa fille, qui tomboit fouvent malade. Comme
je ne me retire pas de fi bonne heure qu'ils ont cou-
tume de faire, & que je demeure Ie foir un temps
notable à prier Dieu dans la Chapelle, ils fe per-
fuadent que je ne puis m'employer à autre chofe
pendant ce temps-Ià, qu'à communiquer avec quelque
demon, & à comploter avec luy la ruine de leur
famille. De forte qu'à parler humainement, ma vie
dépend de la fanté de cette petite fille, & je courrois
grand rifque de la perdre fi elle venoit à mourir; il
yauroit encore autant à craindre pour moy, fi on
apportoit une nouvelle probable de la marche d'une
armée Françoife en ce pais; plufieurs m'ont affeuré
par avance, que fi cela arrivoit, infailliblement ils
me caíIeroient la tefte.
C'eft en cela, mon Reverend Pere, que [85] je fuis
heureux, & que j'eftime Ie bon-heur de ma Million,
qui m'oblige à confiderer chaque moment, comme Ie
dernier de ma vie, & à travailler avec joye en cet
efiat au falut de ces pauvres ames; tln feul enfant
mis dans Ie Ciel par Ie faint Baptefme, eft capable
de changer en douceur tautes ces amertumes.
Ce vieillard dont je parlois maintenant fe fert

1671-72]

RELA TION OF 1&'1-72

61

says, not one soul is now left. He adds that the
black-gowned men are here only as spies, and convey
all information to Onnontio,- that is, to Monsieur
the Governor; or that they are sorcerers, who effect
by disease what Onnontio cannot accomplish by his
arms. I know with certainty [84J that my death has
been proposed, on the ground that I am aspy, and
more or less a sorcerer; and that our host himself,
Onnonkenritaoui, the most influential Chief of this
great Nation, has often proposed to his sister to kill
me as a sorcerer, when she declared to him her great
distrust of me because of her daughter's frequent fits
of sickness. As I do not retire as early as is their
wont, and as I spend a considerable part of the evening
praying in the Chapel, they are persuaded that I
cannot be otherwise engaged during that time than
in communing with some evil spirit, and plotting
with him the ruin of their family. Thus, humanly
speaking, my life depends on that little girl's health;
and I would run great risk of losing it, were she to
die. I would also have equal cause for alarm if
probable tidings reached us of the ill,arch of a French
anny to this country,-a number of men having
assured me in advance that, in that case, they would
certainly brain me.
" Therein, my Reverend Father, [85] I am happy;
and therein do I reckon the blessedness of my
1is-
sion, which forces me to regard each moment as the
last of my life, and to labor joyfully in this condi-
tion for the salvation of these poor souls. The
sending of a single child to Heaven by holy Baptism
is enough to change all this bitterness to sweetness.
"That old man of whom I just spoke also turns
to his own advantage all that has occurred in these

62

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 66

encore à fon avantage de tout ce qui s'efi paffé ces
dernieres années, & de ce que ceux qui ont efié à
Quebec, ont rapporté contre moyen particulier. 11
n'en falloit pas tant pour détourner de la priere, &
pour aigrir contre nous des gens auffi ombrageux que
Ie font ceux-cy, & qui font entierement dans les
J ongleries & les fuperfiitions; auffi cerra-t' on de
venir à la Chapelle; fi j'entrois dans les cabanes pour
y chercher les malades, on ne m'y regardoit que de
mauvais reil, & fi je les voulois infiruire, on m'inter-
rompoit d'ordinaire par quelques paroles injurieufes.
L'yvrongnerie furvenant la deffus m'obligeoit de me
retirer dans la Chapelle, où j'ay toujours trouvé un
azyle affeuré. ]'admire que dans to us ces troubles,
[86] i1 n 'y ait eu qu'un feul yvrogne qui m 'y foit
venu chercher; on l'empefcha neanmoins de me
nuire. Depuis onze mois, il n'efi mort dans tous les
Bourgs de cette nation que trente-trois perfonnes
baptifées, quafi tous enfans, no us en avons baptifé
fept aùtres qui font encor malades, ce font en tout
quarante.
La mifericorde de Dieu a efté grande fur quelques
adultez baptifez, entr'autres fur un Captif des
Ontoüagannha, ou Chaoüanong, d'un âge caduque, ils
n'amenent d'ordinaire que des jeunes gens de ces
pais fi éloignez; Dieu voulut que je me trouvaffe
heureufement au lieu où i1 arriva, avec un Interprete,
Ie feul que je fçache de cette langue en ce pais, il
efcouta avec plaifir tout ce que je luy enfeignay des
principaux myfteres de noftre foy, & du bonheur
eternel dans Ie Paradis; enfin je Ie trouvay difpofé
au Baptefme, & je croy qu'il entra dans Ie Ciel Ie
mefme jour de fon arrivée à Tfonnontoüan, la

1671-72]

RELA TIOA r OF rÓ7f-72

63

latter years, as well as what those who have visited
Quebec have reported against me especially. Such
pains were unnecessary to turn aside from prayer,
and embitter against us, people as quick to take um-
brage as these are, and wholly given over to ]ugglery
and superstition. And so they ceased to attend
Chapel,- while, if I visited their cabins in quest of
the sick, I was only regarded with disfavor; and, if
I attempted to instruct them I was usually inter-
rupted by some words of abuse. Drunkenness being
added to all this, I was compelled to take refuge in
the Chapel, where I have ever found a safe asylum.
I am surprised that, in all these disturbances, [86]
only a single drunken man has followed me thither,
while even he was prevented from harming me. In
eleven months, there have died in all the Villages of
this nation only thirty-three baptized persons, of
whom nearly all were children. We have baptized
seven more, who are still ill, making forty in all.
" God has shown great mercy to some adults who
were baptized, and, among the number, to a Captive
from the Ontouagannha, or Chaouanong, a man
declining in years. Ordinarily, only young people
are brought from those countries so far distant. It
was God's will that I should fortunately be at the
place where he arrived, in company with an Inter-
preter,- the only one for that language in this
country, so far as I know. He listened with pleasure
to all that I taught him of the principal mysteries of
our faith, and of eternal happiness in Paradise. At
length I found him prepared for Baptisn1, and I
believe that he went to Heaven on the very day of
his arrival at Tsonnontouan,- divine Providence
having led him, bound and fettered, more than three

64

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 61

Providence divine l'avoit conduit plus de trois cen
lieuës lié & garotté, pour luy faire trouver icy l

vraye liberté des enfans de Dieu.
[87] Vne femme efiant furprife du haut mal ft
jetta dans Ie milieu d'un grand feu, avant qu'on puf
l'en retirer, elle fe trouva fi fort bruf1ée, que les 0:
de fes mains, & de fes bras luy tomboient les un:
apres les autres, comme je n'eftois pas alors dans Ct
bourg, un ieune François que i'ay avec moy, qui fçai
bien la langue, & qui fait dignement la fonétion dt
Dogique, y courut, l'ayant trouvée dans fon bot
fens, il luy parla de Dieu & de fon falut, l'inftruifit
luy fit faire tous les aétes neceffaires en cette occa
flon, & la baptifa. Cette pauvre creature parra Ie:
huit ou dix iours qui luy refierent de vie, en prieres
c'efioit-Ià toute fa confolation dans les douleurs tre:
griéves, & dans un abandon extréme de tout fecouT:
humain, qu'elle fouffrit avec une patience admirable
dans l'efperance d'une vie eternelle. Ce font de

coups de grace qui fe font connoifire en ces païs bar,
bares plus fenfiblement, & qui adouciffent puiffam,
ment les peines, les fatigues, & les amertumes d'UI
Miffionnaire.
Un ieune homme Chreftien d'une nation étrangen
& mort tres chrefiiennement, [88] m'attendriffoi1
toutes les fois que je Ie faifois prier Dieu dans Íé
derniere maladie; fon cæur & fa devotion, fe faifoien1
voir dans íes yeux, fur fon vifage, & dans l'ardem
de fes paroles; fes parens en efioient dans l'admira.
tion; i1 me temoigna cent, & cent fois íouhaiter Ie
mort, pour fe voir au pluftoft dans Ie Ciel; ces fenti.
mens font une marque de Foy bien manifefte. Unt:
femme Huronne Chrefiienne nous en a donné d'auff

1671- 72]

RELA TION OF J67f-72

65

hundred leagues, to make him find here the true
liberty of God's children.
[87] "A woman, seized with the epilepsy, fell
into the midst of a great fire; and, before she
could be rescued, was so severely burned that the
bones of her hands and arms dropped off, one after
another. As I was not in this village at the time, a
young Frenchman whom I have with me, who knows
the language well and discharges worthily the duties
of Dogique, hastened to her. Finding her in
possession of her reason, he spoke to her concerning
God and her salvation, instructed her, made her
repeat all the prayers necessary on such an occasion,
and baptized her. This poor creature passed the
eight or ten days of life remaining to her in prayer,
which was her sole comfort in her intense sufferings,
and her extreme bereavement of all human allevia-
tion,-a condition which she bore with admirable
patience, in the hope of a life everlasting. It is such
strokes of grace which manifest themselves most
visibly in these barbarous countries, and greatly
mitigate a Missionary's pains, fatigues, and bitter
experiences.
" A young Christian of another nation, who died
a most pious death, [88] moved me to tears every
time when I made him pray to God during his
last illness,- his feeling and devotion showing
themselves in his eyes, on his countenance, and in
the fervor of his utterance. His relatives were
struck with admiration. Hundreds of times he testi-
fied to me his wish for death, that he might reach
Heaven as soon as possible. Such sentiments are a
very evident sign of Faith. A Christian Huron wom-
an gave us equally manifest indications. She had

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LES RELA TIO.NS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

fenfibles, elle s'efioit enfin laiITée perfuader dans
l'abbatement d'une longue maladie, qu'un fefUn
fuperfiitieux la gueriroit; mais elle reconnut fa
faute, & voulut d'elle-méme en faire une reparation
publique, faifant paroiitre une grande douleur d'avoir
obey à ces fuppots d'enfer, aufquels elle reprocha en
bonne compagnie la malice qu'ils avoient euë de luy
avoir donné un confeil fi deteil:able.
Les Hurons de la 11iffion de faint
Iichel ont de
plus grands defirs que jamais, de fe rendre à Quebec,
pour y augmenter l'Eglife de Noftre-Dame de Foy,
quelques-uns de ceux qui ne font pas encore Chre-
fiiens, ont temoigné qu'alors ils [89J embraITeroient
la Foy. Le plus notable & Ie plus agé de tous, prit
la parole en fuite d 'une petite leçon, que je leur fis
la deITus, & declara que, pour luy, il n'attendroit pas
fi long-temps à fe faire Chrefiien, qu'il en prenoit à
l'heure mefme la refolution, qu'il renonçoit à fes
fonges, & à tout ce qui efioit deffendu de Dieu, qu'it
fe feroit infiruire inceffamment qu'il ne manqueroit
point tous les jours d'affifier à la priere; & qu'il
exhorteroit les autres à fuivre fon exemple, il a tenu
fa parole jufques à prefent, & j'efpere qu'il fera
bien-toil: baptifé.
Je finiray la prefente par une adion digne d'un
courage Chrefiien. Un ancien de cette petite Eglife,
qui ya fait avec grande edification l'Office de Dogique
depuis plus de vingt ans, queUe avoit efié privée de
Pail:eur par les guerres de plufieurs années; ayant
appris que fon fils, qui eil:oit fon uniqne, avoit efté
tue fur la place, dans un combat contre les Ganda-
il:ógués; il en fut affiigé autant qu'on Ie peut efire,
quoy que dans une refignation entiere à la volonté

16ïl-72]

RELA TION OF 167r-73

67

finally, in the prostration following a long illness,
allowed herself to be persuaded that a superstitious
feast would cure her; but she recognized her
error, and determined, of her own accord, to make
public atonement therefor,-showing great grief at
having obeyed those agents of hell, and rebuking
them in a large gathering for having maliciously
given her such abominable counsel.
" The Hurons of the Mission of saint Michel are
more desirous than ever to go to Quebec and swell
the Church of Nostre-Dame de Foy; and some of
those who are not yet Christians have declared that
they would then [8g] embrace the Faith. The chief
and eldest of them all took the word, after a short
lesson from me on the subject, and declared that,
for his part, he would not wait so long before turn-
ing Christian; that he then and there resolved to be
one; that he renounced his dream-worship, and all
things forbidden by God; that he would seek instruc-
tion without delay, and would not fail to attend
prayers daily; and that he exhorted the rest to
follow his example. Thus far, he has kept his word

and I hope that he will soon be baptized.
,. I will finish this letter with the account of a deed
worthy of a Christian's courage. An elder belong-
ing to this little Church,- who has filled, to the
great edification of all, the Office of Dogique during
more than twenty years, in which it was deprived of
a Pastor by the long-continued wars,-learning that
his son, his only one, had been killed on the battle-
field in an engagement with the Gandast6gués, was
filled with the utmost grief, although in a spirit
of entire resignation to God's will, and constantly
manifesting his heroism therein. [go] But all were

68

LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL

de Dieu, dont il faifoit à tous moments des aéte

heroïques. [90]
lais ce qui furprit tout Ie monde fu'
qu'une feconde nouvelle eftant venuë que ce jeun{
homme n'eftoit pas mort, & que les playes qu'i1 avoi'
receuës ne paroi1Ioient pas mortelles; ayant enfiI
efté apporté fur une efpece de brancart; Ie vieillarc
alors reprenant fes efprits & animant fa Foy d 'unc
nouvelle vigueur, il parra la journée a en faire de:
remercimens à Dieu, pleins de refpeét & de recon
noiffance. Tous ceux du bourg s'a1Iemblerent et
foule dans fa cabane pour luy en temoigner leu
joye, ils en fortirent avec une haute eftime de f:
vertu.
Apres tout, j'ay remarqué que ce n' eft pas tant 1.
depravation des mæurs qui empeche nos Sauvage
d'eftre Chreftiens, que les mauvaifes idées qu'ils on
pour la plufpart de la Foy, & du ChrifHanifme. }
connois pres de deux cent familIes, entr'autres, dan
des mariages fermes & ftables, qui eflevent morale
ment bien leurs enfans, qui empechent que leurs fille
ne converfent trop au dehors, & qu'elles ne fe jetteD
dans les deCordres de l'impureté, qui ont horreur d
l'yvrongnerie, & qui feroient pour vivre [91] tre

chreftiennement, s'ils avoient la Foy. C'eft un dO'
de Dieu que nous Iuy demandons ince1Iamment pou
ces pauvres ames, qui font Ie prix de fon Sang,

que je recommande tres-particulierement, mon Rev{
rend Pere, à vos faintes prieres, & faints facrifice

A Tfonnontoüan ce 20. de juillet 16 7 2 .

1671- 72]

RELA TION OF 1&;;-72

69

surprised when a second report came that the young
man was not dead, and that the wounds which he
had received did not appear to be mortal. Upon his
finally being brought home on a sort of litter, the old
man, recovering his spirits and reviving his Faith
with fresh vigor, passed the day in thanksgivings to
God that were full of reverence and gratitude. All
the people of the village gathered in throngs in his
cabin to show him their joy. They came out with a
high opinion of his virtue.
" After all, I have observed that it is not so much
depravity of morals that prevents our Savages from
being Christians, as the prejudiced impressions
which most of them have of the Faith and Chris-
tianity. I know nearly two hundred families among
them, who maintain inviolate the marriage-bond,
and rear their children in morality; who keep their
daughters from undue freedom of intercourse abroad,
and from plunging into riots of sensuality; and who
would be inclined to live [91] very Christian lives if
they had the Faith. That is a gift of God, and we
ask him for it unceasingly on behalf of these poor
souls who are the price of his Blood, and whom I
most especially commend, my Reverend Father, to
your holy prayers and sacrifices. Tsonnontouan,.
this 20th of July, 1672."

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

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[93J Seconde Partie.

Des Miffions aux Peuples Montagnais et Algon-
quins à Tadouffac, aux Outaouacs &
à la Mer du Nord. des An-
nées 1671. & 16 7 2 .

CHAPITRE I.

DE LA MISSION DE TADOUSSAC.

LETTRE DU PERE FRANÇOIS DE CREPIEUL DU 2. DE
IUIN 1672.
M ON R. PERE,
Puifque vous m'ordonnez de vous mander
ce qui s'efl paITé pendant mon [94J hyverne-
ment, je vous obeïray avec fincerité, vous donnant
un petit journal de noflre voyage, où vous ne verrez
qu'une fuitte de biens & de maux, de douceurs & de
rigueurs, que la divine Providence a fait fucceder les
uns aux autres d'une façon bien aymable.
J e partis de Que bee Ie 25. Odo bre 167 I. avec les
Sauvages que je devois fuivre dans les bois pendant
tout I' H yver, & nous nous rendîmes en trois jours à
Tadouffac, où je trouvay les Sauvages de ce lieu
ravis de ma venuë: ils me donnerent des marques
bien confolantes de leur pieté pendant tout Ie temps
que je fus avec eux, mais particulierement Ie jour de

1671-72]

RELA TION OF f67f-72

71

[93] Part Second.

Of the Missions to the Montagnais and Algon-
quin Tribes at Tadoussac, to the Outa-
ouacs, and to the North Sea, in
the Years 1671 and 1672.

CHAPTER I.

OF THE MISSION AT T ADOUSSAC.

LETTER FROM FATHER FRANÇOIS DE CREPIEUL, JUNE
2, 1672.
M y REVEREND FATHER,
Since you bid me write you what has oc-
curred during my [94] winter's sojourn here,s
I will obey you with sincerity, giving a little diary
of our journey, wherein you will see only a succes-
sion of good and ill fortune, of ease and hardship,
sent by divine Providence, one after the other, in a
manner truly worthy of our love.
I started from Quebec on the 25th of October, 1671,
with the Savages whom I was to follow through the
woods all Winter long; and in three days we reached
Tadoussac, where I found the Savages of the place
delighted at my coming. They gave me veryen-
couraging signs of their piety throughout my entire
sojourn with them, but especially on all Saints'

72

LES RELA TIONS DES .I
SUITES

(VOL. 56

tous les Saints, ayant confacré cette gran de Fefie par
toutes les devotions, qui fe pratiquent au milieu du
ChrifHanifme Ie plus Saint.
Nous ne quittâmes ce lieu que Ie fixiéme Novembre
pour entrer dans la riviere du Saguenay; mais ayant
efié arrefiez dés la nuit fuivante par Ie mauvais
temps, nous trouvâmes nofire azile dans une baye
aiIez fpatieufe, où nous demeurafmes pendant quatre
jours de vents & d'orages.
[95J reus Ie bon-heur d'y goufier les premieres
incommoditez de l'hyvernement, caufées par Ie froid,
qui efioit defia tres-vehement; par Ie coucher, n'ay-
ant plus deformais d'autre lid, que la neige couverte
de quelques branches de fapin: mais fur tout, par la fu.
mée, qui fait la grande Croix de ceux qui hyvernent
avec ces Sauvages. II faut y avoir paiIé, pour
concevoir les douleurs, que cette forte de fumée caufe
aux yeux qui n'y font pas accoufiumez, & mefme à
ceux des Sauvages; fur tout quand on efi enfenné,
comme nous efiions, dans une petite cabanne d'ecorce,
où Ie bois moüillé & demy pourry, qu'on y bruíle,
l"air humide, les neiges, & les vents de certains
temps, rendent la fumée fi piquante, que quoy qu'on
s'en deffende un peu, fe tenant toujours couché Ie
plus bas qu'on peut, on ne laiffe pas fouvent de
perdre prefque la veuë à force de pleurer; car les
larmes coulent inceffamment pendant tout Ie jour,
mais des larmes fi ameres & fi cuifantes, que Ie foir
on en reffent la mefme douleur que fi l'on avoit beau-
coup de fel dans les yeux.
Comme on eft obligé apres avoir marché [96]
quelque lieuës, de s'arefier les S. & 6. jours entiers
& quelquefois davantage, i1 faut fe refoudre à paffer

1671- 72]

RELA TION OF r67r-72

73

day,-celebrating that great Festival with all the
practices of devotion that are observed in the midst
of the Holiest Christian communities.
Not until the sixth of November did we leave that
place to enter the Saguenay river; but, being stopped
on the following night .by bad weather, we sought
refuge in a bay of considerable size, where we
remained during four days of wind and storm.
[95J I had here the happiness to taste the first
discomforts of the winter season, caused by the cold,
which was already very severe; by our being thence-
forward obliged to make our beds on nothing but
the snow covered with some fir-branches; and above
all by smoke, the great Cross of those who winter
with these Savages. One must have had the experi-
ence to conceive how painful that kind of smoke is
to eyes unaccustomed to it, and even to those of the
Savages. It is especially trying when one is shut
up, as we were, in a little bark cabin, where the wet
and half-decayed wood used for fuel, the damp air,
the snow, and the occasional winds, render the smoke
so stinging that. although we may avoid it a little
by constantly maintaining a reclining posture as low
as possible, yet we often nearly lose our eyesight
from weeping; for tears flow incessantly all.. day
long,-tears, too, so briny and stinging that at night
the same pain is felt as if the eyes were charged with
salt.
As one is forced, after journeying [96] a number
of leagues, to halt for 5 or 6 whole days, and some-
times longer, he must make up his mind to pass that
entire period, with no intermission, in this little
martyrdom.
I am glad to have explained this discomfort to you

74

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

(VOL. 66

tout ce temps dans ce petit martyre, fans aucune
difcontinuation.
ray efié bien aife de vous expliquer une fois pour
toutes cette peine, parce que nous l'avons foufferte
prefque:pendant tout l'Hyver, mais elle n'a pas pour.
tant empefché la devotion de nos Sauvages, qui pour
ne fe pas priver un feul jour de la confolation
d'entendre la Meffe, ayment mieux s'expofer pendant
que je la dis, à la rigueur du froid, efteignant Ie feu,
qui par fa fumée empefcheroit cette fainte aétion:
c.eft ce qui a efté pratiqué tous les jours, fans y
manquer quelque temps qu'il fill. ,.
-

L'onziefme de Novembre, apres avoir dit la Meffe,
& arboré la Croix dans ce lieu defert, nOllS fifmes
voiles d 'un vent favorable, mais qui nous perça d'une
pluye froide, dont nous fufmes tous glacez.
Sur Ie foir, nous abordâmes à une: grande baye,
qui fembloit nous inviter à debarquer, par la beauté
d'un Port affez [97] commode, qu'elle nous prefentoit,
& qui par un afpeét bien agreable paroiffoit comme
couronnée de trente grandes montagnes qui l'envi-
ronnoient de toutes parts; Ie pied de la plus haute
fut choifi pour y placer nofire cabane, & pour y
fouffrir quatre ou cinq nuits un froid propre à exercer
une patience à l'efpreuve: i1 fut fi violent, qu'il nous
ferma la riviere de glaces, & nous obligea à prendre
nofire route dans les bois avec des fatigues prefque
incroyables; La confolation que je reçois par la veuë
de l'Image de mon aymable Pere S. François Xavier,
& de mon reliquaire, ou je porte de la vraye Croix,
foulageoient beaucoup mes petites fouffrances.
Le 13. Ie froid s'efiant augmenté jufqu'à l'excez,
nous arrefta pendant fix jours dans Ie milieu d'une

1671-72]

RELA TION OF rÓ'Jr-73

75

once for all, for we suffered from it during almost
the entire Winter. But still it did not check the
devotion of our Savages, who, in order not to be
deprived for a single day of the consolation of hear-
ing Mass, preferred to expose themselves, while I
said it, to the severe cold,- extinguishing the fire,
as by its smoke it would have prevented this holy
observance. This custom was followed daily, with-
out fail, no matter what the weather might be.
On the eleventh of November, after saying Mass
and planting the Cross in this desert region, we
spread our sails to a favorable wind, which, how-
ever, pierced us with a cold rain that chilled us all
severely.
Toward evening, we approached a large bay where
a landing on our part seemed to be invited by the
beauty of a rather [97J commodious Harbor, which
it offered us,- which, as seen in a very pleasing view,
appeared to be crowned by thirty high mountains
surrounding it on all sides. The foot of the highest
one was chosen as the site for our cabin, and as a
place for suffering four or five nights of cold calcu-
lated to put one's patience to the test. So intense
was it that it closed the rivers with ice and forced us
to pursue our way through the woods, amid almost
incredible hardships. The comfort afforded me by
looking at the Likeness of my beloved Father St.
Francis Xavier, and my reliquary, in which I carry
a piece of the true Cross, greatly ameliorated my
little sufferings.
On the 13th, the cold increased exceedingly, and
compelled us to remain for six days in the midst of a
thick smoke which made us weep day and night,
blinding us for a time. I felt very happy to offer

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LES RELA TIOi\/S DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

efpaiffe fumée, qui nous fit pleurer jour & nuit, &
nous rendit aveugles pour un temps, j'eus bien de la
joye à prefenter à Nofire-Seigneur ces larmes, pour
éteindre les flames de quelques ames du Purgatoire.
Le 2 I. apres avoir commencé les fatigues qu'il y a
à marcher dans les neiges [98] par des forefis
efpaiffes, & fur des montagnes efcarpées, nos chaf-
feurs ayant tué un orignac, me firent voir fon petit,
qui n'efioit pas plus gros que Ie pouce. Apres avoir
bien efiudié toute 1'anatomie de ce petit animal, j'ad-
miray la fageffe du Createur, qui fçait renfermer dans
un fi petit efpace, tant de parties differentes, & fi
bien arrangées pour leurs fonétions: S'il eufi efié
plus grand, il eut remedié à la faim qui nous preffoit
& qui jufqu'au premier jour de Decembre, ne nous a
pas moins donné de peine que Ie froid & la fumée.
Je vous avoüe, qu'il y a bien a fouffrir dans cette
forte de vie, mais auffi les faveurs que Dieu repand
alors dans l'ame de fes ferviteurs, adouciffent bien
ces amertumes; mais ce qui me confole Ie plus, c' eft
de voir l'affeétion que nos Sauvages ont pour la
priere, laquelle mefme ils infpirent à leurs enfans,
car ces petits innocens ne manquent point tous les
jours, fi-toft qu'ils font levez, de venir à moy, pour
apprendre les prieres & Ie catechifme, en quoy les
journées me femblent bien courtes, & pendant Ie
filence de la nuit, lorfque nos Sauvages [99J ceffent
de chanter & de parler, & les enfans de crier ou de
pleurer, fay Ie loifir de m'entretenir avec Nofire-
Seigneur au milieu de ces folitudes.
Ce fut la qu'une famille chrefiienne de Sauvages
nommez Efquimaux, viDt nous joindre ayant quitté
leurs
Compatriotes qui font, difent-ils, fi brutaux,

1671-72]

RELA TION OF r67I-72

77

those tears to Our Lord for extinguishing the flames
of some souls in Purgatory.
On the 21st, after we had begun the fatigues of a
journey through the snow, [98] threading dense for-
ests and climbing steep mountains, our hunters killed
a moose; they showed me her fawn, which was
no bigger than one's thumb. After studying care-
ful1y the entire anatomy of this little animal, I was
struck with admiration for the wisdom of the Crea-
tor, who can enclose in so small a compass so many
different parts, all so well adapted to their func-
tions. Had the creature been larger it would have
relieved the hunger that beset us, and, until the first
day of December, caused us no less suffering than
the cold and smoke. I confess to you that there is
much to endure in this kind of life; but, on the other
hand, the spiritual favors that God then lavishes
upon his servants greatly mitigate these bitter experi-
ences. What gives me the most consolation, how-
ever, is to see the fondness that our Savages have for
prayer, which they even inspire in their children;
for those little innocents fail not, every day as soon
as they are up, to come to me to learn the prayers
and catechism-a work fo'r which the days seem to
me short indeed, And during the silence of the
night, when our Savages [99] cease their singing and
talking, and the children their crying and weeping,
I have leisure to commune with Our Lord amid these
solitudes.
At this point a Christian family of the Savages
called Esquimaux came to join us, having left their
Compatriots,- who are, they say, so brutal as to
cause those who receive Baptism to be strangled.
As we were proceeding all together through the

78

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[VOL. 56

qu'ils font efirangler ceux qui reçoivent Ie Baptefme;
comme nous marchions tous enfem ble par les bois &
par les montagnes, je rencontray en mon chemin, une
pauvre fille malade, qui me fit compaffion, & quoy
que j' euffe affez de peine à me porter, Dieu me
donna affez de force pour charger fur mes efpaules,
Ie fardeau qu'elle portoit, & l'aider par ce moyen à
fe rendre au gifie. Cet aéte de charité, outre la
confolation interieure que fen receus, m'obtint peut-
efire de Dieu une grace remarquable, car i1 me
preferva d'un danger bien grand, m'efiant par mé-
garde, jetté dans un trou qui fe trouva fous les neiges
au milieu des glaces de la riviere, où du moins je
devois avoir une jambe rompuë.
Ce fut vers ce temps que nous celebrâmes avec
toute la folemnité poffible la [IOOJ Fefie de l'Imma-
culée Conception, où les Confeffions, ]es Cõmunions,
les cantiques Spirituels, & les autres devotions que
nos Sauvages pratiquerent pendant toute cette jour-
née, furent fans doute bien agreables à la fainte
Vierge, qui fe voyoit ainfi honorée dans des lieux fi
affreux, & par des Barbares fi zelez pour fa gloire.
Cependant nous continuons nofire route, qui n'efi
marquée que par celIe des orignaux, fur les pifies
defquels on marche tant qu'on peut, pour avoir de
quoy vivre, c'efi ce qui nous engage en des chemins
facheux, ou j'enfonce bien des fois dans la neige
jufqu'à la ceinture, mais la peine efi de s'en retirer:
Apres avoir ainfi marché plufieurs jours inutilement,
& bien affamez; enfin Ie bon Dieu, qui a pitié de fes
ferviteurs dans leur neceffité, nous fit tomber fur
deux elans & fur quatre cafiors; cela arriva bien à
propos pour la veille de Noel, que nos Sauvages

1671-72]

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79

woods and mountains, I encountered a poor sick girl
on my way, who excited my pity; and although I
had difficulty enough in dragging myself along, God
gave me sufficient strength to take on my shoulders
the burden she was carrying, and thus help her gaIn
a place of shelter. This deed of charity, besides the
inner consolation I received from it, perhaps gained
for me a remarkable favor from God; for he rescued
me from a very serious danger when I had inadvert-
ently plunged into a hole beneath the snow, in the
midst of the ice that covered the river,-where I
was likely to have a leg broken, at least.
About this time, we celebrated with all possible
solemnity the [IOOJ Feast of the Immaculate Con-
ception,- in which the Confessions, Communions,
Spiritual songs, and other devotions performed by our
Savages during that entire day, were doubtless most
acceptable to the blessed Virgin, who saw herself thus
honored in regions so forbidding, and by Barbarians
so zealous for her glory.
Meanwhile, we continued on our way, which was
indicated only by moose-tracks; we directed our
course by these as far as possible, for the sake of
procuring provisions. Thus it was that we became
involved in difficult paths, where I often sank in the
snow up to my waist, the difficulty being to extricate
myself again. After we had thus journeyed a num-
ber of days to no purpose, and in dire hunger, at
length the good God, who takes pity on his servants
in their necessities, led us to encounter two elks
and four beavers. This occurred most seasonably
for the day preceding Christmas, when our Savages
used the time in preparing for the great Festival,-
being unwilling, from a feeling of reverence, to go

80

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[VOL. M

employerent à fe preparer à la grande Fefie, ne vou-
lant pas par refpeét, aller ce jour-Ià à la chaffe, &
gardant Ie jeune de l'Eglife, nonobfiant les jeufnes
qui avoient precedé. Toute la nuit & Ie jour fuivant
[IOIJ furent employez en devotions telles, que je ne
doute point que les Anges tutelaires de ces forets
n'en foient ravis; celles d'un jeune homme, & d'une
jeune fiUe, qui firent à la Meffe de minuit leurs
premieres communions, ne me donnerent pas peu
de confolation.
Le fils de mon hofie, efiant pour lors tombé
malade, me donna un nouveau fujet d'exercer la
patience, c'eftoit un enfant de fix ans, qui m'aymoit
comme fon Pere, & pour qui j' avois des tendreffes
bien grandes: II venoit tous les iours matin & fair,
me trouver pour eftre infiruit, méme pendant fa
tnaladie, & lors qu'i1 efioit à l'extremité: Je tachay
de faire en fon endroit I' office de Medecin & de Pere,
mais tous mes remedes furent inutiles, & il femble
que Dieu voulut faire tomber la mort de ce petit
Ange dans l'Oétave des Innocens, afin qu'il aUat au
Ciel augmenter leur nombre, fes parens en furent
touchez plus qu'on ne peut s'imaginer, cependant
dans la ferme creance qu'ils avoient, qu'il efioit dans
Ie Paradis, ils ne ceffoient de 1'invoquer, & apres
que nous l'eufmes tnis en terre avec les ceremonies
[102J de l'Eglife, qui confolerent beaucoup tous nos
Sauvages, avant que de partir de ce lieu, Ie pere de
l' enfant fut fe mettre à genoux fur fon tombeau,
pour fe recommander à luy, & Ie prier de luy tenir
deformais lieu de Pere.
La faim nous obligeant enfin de nous mettre en
chemin, il faUut marcher par des lieux extremement

16ïl-72]

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81

hunting on that day; and observing the fast of
the Church, despite the fasts that had gone before.
The whole night and the following day [IOIJ were
spent in devotions such as, I doubt not, delighted the
guardian Angels of those forests. The devotions
of a young man and a young girl, who received their
first communion at the midnight Mass, gave me no
little consolation.
My host's son, who fell ill at that time, afforded
me a new occasion for practicing patience. He was a
child of six, who loved me like a Father, and for whom
I felt a very tender affection. He came to me to be
instructed every day, morning and evening,-even
during his sickness, and when he was critically ill.
I tried to perform toward him the duties of Physician
and of Father, but all my remedies were of no avail;
and it seems to have been God's will to let that little
Angel's death fall in the Week of the Innocents, so
that he might go and swell their number in Heaven.
His parents were more deeply affected than can be
imagined. Nevertheless, in their firm belief that he
was in Paradise, they invoked him without ceasing;
and, after we had buried him with the ceremonies
[102J of the Church, which afforded all our Savages
great consolation, the child's father, before leaving
the spot, went and knelt on his grave, commending
himself to the child and entreating him to hold
thenceforth tb e place of Father to him.
Hunger finally forcing us to resume our journey,
we were compelled to make our way over some very
rough places, climbing mountains and then descend-
ing them,- which is accomplished only with much
difficulty when they are covered with snow. We
were also obliged to cross lakes, where the water

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[VOL. 56

rudes, grim per fur des montagnes, & puis les def-
cendre, ce qui ne fe fait que bien difficilement, quand
elles font couvertes de neiges, il nous fallut auffi
traverfer des lacs où reau de la pluye des trois iours
precedens, nous donnoit bien de l'exercice, parce
qu'elle paffoit par deffus nos raquettes, & nous venoit
jufqu'à my-jambes; Enfin il fallut effuier un vent
froid qui fe leva, & qui nous mit en grand danger
d'avoir Ie vifage, les pieds & les mains gelées: toutes
ces fatigues abbattent beaucoup les forces d'un Miffi-
onnaire, qui n'a pas prefque mangé avant que de
partir, non plus que les autres de fa compagnie: mais
Ie plus rude de ces travaux, c'eft fur Ie foir, Ie temps
de trois ou quatre heures qu'on employe à fe caban-
ner, avant [103J que d'avoir du feu: ce n'eft pas une
petite confolation de joindre ces fueurs & ces froids,
aux fueurs & aux froids que Noftre-Seigneur a bien
voulu fouffrir pour noftre amour . Voilà comme fe
paffa tout Ie mois de Janvier.
Un des iours de ce mois, c'eftoit un Vendredy,
nous trouvans plus preffez de la faim, nous con-
jurâmes Noftre-Seigneur par fes facrées playes d'avoir
pitié de nous: nos prieres ne luy furent pas deíagre-
ables, car ce iour-Ià méme, il nous donna en fort peu
de temps, cinq caftors, qui fervirent à reparer nos
forces, & à nous mettre en eftat de fupporter de
nouveaux travaux en continuant noftre voyage; où
paffant par deffus une riviere, la glace manqua fous
moy, & j'yaurois achevé mon facrifice, fi cet en droit
fe fut trouvé un peu plus profond.
Pour vous raconter ce qui s'eft paffé pendant les
trois derniers mois d'Hyver, i1 faudroit repeter tout
ce qui nous eft arrivé pendant les trois qui ont

1671-72]

Rl:..'LA TION OF 1671-72

83

left by the rain of the three days preceding gave us
much trouble, since it came up over our snowshoes
and even half-way to our knees. Finally, we had to
endure a cold wind that sprang up and put us in
great danger of having our faces, feet, and hands
frozen. All these hardships greatly weaken the
strength of a 1Hssionary who, like the others of his
party, has eaten hardly a morsel before starting.
But the severest of these sufferings comes toward
evening, in the three or four hours devoted to erect-
ing cabins, before [103J there is any fire. It is no
little consolation to join these sweats and chills to
those which Our Lord was pleased to suffer for
love of us. Thus the whole month of January was
passed.
One day in that month,-it was a Friday,- being
unusually pressed with hunger, we besought Our
Lord by his sacred wounds to take pity on us. Our
prayers were not displeasing to him; for on that very
day he gave us, within a very short time, five beav-
ers which served to restore our strength and prepare
us for undergoing fresh hardships as we continued
our journey. Here it was that, as we were crossing
a river, the ice gave way under me; and I would
have completed my sacrifice, had the water there
been a Ii ttle deeper.
To tell you what occurred during the last three
months of Winter would require a repetition of all that
befell us during the three preceding. Our route
was, indeed, a different one, but we experienced the
same difficulties. The month of February was the
severest [104J as to temperature; but that of March
seemed to us the most troublesome, on account of
the smoke. We passed the former in scarcity, but in

84

LES RELATIONS DES.lÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

precedé: Nous avons bien tenu des routes differentes,
mais nous yavons eu les mefmes peines. Le mois
de Fevrier a efié Ie plus rude [104J pour Ie froid,
mais celuy de Mars nous a femblé Ie plus importun
pour la fumée; Nous avons paffé Ie premier dans la
difette, & Ie fecond dans l'abondance des orignaux,
que Dieu fembloit conduire comme par la main dans
nofire cabane, bien plus qu' en celle des autres, &
j'ay jugé que fa bonté infinie a voulu recompenfer
par ce petit foulagement temporel, la fidelité que nos
Sauvages ont confiamment gardée pour les prieres &
pour Ie faint facrifice de la Meffe, que j'ay celebré
tous les jours dans leur cabane.
C'efi pendant ces deux mois, que nous avons
reffenty par deux fois un tremble-terre affez moderé,
mais qui efi la continuation de celuy qui commença
fi violemment dans tout Ie Canada en l'année 1662.
& qui n'a point ceffé du depuis en ces quartiers du
Nord, quoy que comme j' ay dit, il ne fe faffe fentir
que fort peu, & de temps en temps feulement.
Enfin, pour ne pas ufer de redite toutes nos routes,
qui n'ont efié que par des chemins tous femez de
Croix, fe terminerent bien à propos à un lac qui
porte Ie [IOsJ nom de la Croix, parce qu'il en forme
tres-parfaitement la figure: afin de luy faire porter
encore plus jufiement ce beau nom, nous plantafmes
aux environs beaucoup de Croix, en memoire de
celles que nous y avions fouffertes pour y arriver.
Ce fut encore une providence de Dieu, qui no us
avoit defiiné les quartiers de ce Lac de la Croix, pour
faire obferver à nos Sauvages les faintes Ceremonies
de l'adoration de la Croix. On s'efionnera peut-
eftre que pour bien celebrer les plus augufies Myfieres

1671-72]

RELA TION OF [67I-72

85

the latter enjoyed an abundance of moose, which
God seemed to lead with his own hand into our cabin,
much oftener than into that of the others; and I con-
cluded that, in his infinite goodness, he wished to
reward, by that little temporal succor, the faithful-
ness with which our Savages constantly attended
prayers and the holy sacrifice of the Mass, which I
celebrated daily in their cabin.
In the course of these two months we twice felt an
earthquake,-a rather moderate one, but the con-
tinuation of that which began with such violence
throughout aU Canada in the year 1662, and which
has not yet ceased in these regions of the North,
although, as I said, it is felt but very slightly and
onl y occasionaU y .
At length-to avoid repetition-aU our journey-
ings, which were made only by paths aU strewn with
Crosses, came to an end very fittingly at a lake bear-
ing the [105] name of the Cross, from its having the
perfect shape of one. To make it bear that beauti-
ful name for a still better reason, we planted many
Crosses in its neighborhood, in memory of those
which we had suffered in reaching it.
I t was also a providence of God that assigned us
the region of this Lake de la Croix for making our
Savages observe the holy Ceremonies of the adora-
tion of the Cross. It wiU perhaps excite astonish-
ment that, for the due celebration of the most august
Mysteries of our Religion, we were able to find room
in a poor cabin for aU that conformity to the Church
during Holy'Veek requires. We accomplished it,
however, in order to bring our winter to a happy
end, and to consecrate those Rocks and Mountains
by aU that we possess that is holiest and most worthy

86

LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

de noftre Religion, nous ayons pû renfermer dans
une pauvre cabane tout ce qui eft neceffaire pour
fe conformer à l'Eglife pendant la Semaine-Sainte:
N ous le fîmes pourtant, pour bien terminer noftre
hyvernement, & pour confacrer ces Rochers, & ces
Montagnes, par ce que nous avons de plus faint & de
plus venerable. Le Jeudy, Ie Vendredy, & Ie Samedy
Saint, firent de nos forefts une Eglife, & de noftre
cabane une fainte Chapelle, où fort peu des ceremo-
nies, qui fe pratiquent en ce temps, par les Chreftiens,
furent obmifes par [106] nos Sauvages; fur tout ils
traitterent avec un grand refpeét, & un religieux
filence la cabanne ou repofoit Ie faint Sacrement,
pendant la nuit du Jeudy au Vendredy, & 1'on ne ceffa
point dans ce profond defert, d'honorer cet augufte
Myftere par des prieres continuelles, que les tenebres
de la nuit n'interrompirent pas.
II eft vray que par tout où nous avons paffé, nos
Sauvages fembloient fantifier cette barbarie par leurs
communions, & par une vie auffi innocente, & auffi
fainte pour leur eftat, que celIe que menent les Ana-
choretes dans leur folitude; mais ils ont voulu mettre
Ie comble à leur pieté, au S. Jour de Pafques, avant
que de quitter les bois, pour me faire oublier þar de
fi devots exercices, toutes les fatigues que j'avois
euës avec eux pendant tout cet Hyver.
Ce fut done apres ces Feftes que nous montâmes fur
Ie Saguenay, Ie 16. de May 1672. & dés Ie lendemain
nous revîmes avec joye Tadouffac, que nous avions
quitté fix mois auparavant. C'eftoit Ie temps d'en-
treprendre la Miffion des Papinachiois, [107] pour
laquelle Noftre-Seigneur m'avoit confervé affez de
forces. C'eft à 30. lieuës au deffous de Tadouffac, &

1671-72]

RELA TION OF 1671-72

87

of veneration. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, of
Holy week, converted our forests into a Church, and
our cabin into a consecrated Chapel, where very few of
the ceremonies observed at this time by Christians were
omitted by [106J our Savages. Above all, they showed
profound respect for, and maintained a religious
silence in, the cabin in which the blessed Sacrament
was placed during the night between Thursday and
Friday; and in that utter desert this august Mystery
was honored without ceasing, in continual prayers
which suffered no interruption from the darkness of
the night.
Truly, wherever we went, our Savages seemed to
sanctify this barbarous region by their communions,
and by a life as innocent and holy, for their condi-
tion, as that led by Anchorites in their solitude; but
they determined to crown their piety on Holy Easter
Day, before leaving the woods,-in order, by such
devout exercises, to make me forget all the hardships
that I had suffered with them throughout that Winter.
After this Festival, accordingly, we ascended to
the Saguenay, reaching it on the 16th of May, 1672;
and on the following day we joyfully beheld once
more Tadoussac, which we had left six months
before. It was the season for undertaking the
Mission to the Papinachiois, [107] for which Our Lord
had left me sufficient strength. Its situation is 30
leagues below Tadoussac, and I reached it safely, at
the time when the Savages were arriving there from
the depths of the woods to carryon their petty
trading with the French.
I gave the necessary instruction to a number of
those poor people, who had never seen us before,-
baptizing 13 of their children, and administering to

88

LES RELA TIONS DES J
SUITES

[VOL. 56

je m'y trouvay heureufement au temps que ces
Sauvages y abordent du fond des bois, pour y faire
leur petit commerce avec les François.
J e donnay les inftruétions neceffaires à plufieurs
de ces :pauvres gens, qui ne nous avoient encor
jamais veus; je baptifay 13. de leurs enfans, & admi-
niftray aux Aduites les autres Sacremens dont iis
efloient capables.
La bonté Divine me parut bien admirable pour le
falut de deux femmes âgées de 80. ans, qui avoient
autrefois efté baptifées par Ie feu Pere Ie Jeune, &
n'avoient point veu depuis ce temps-Ià aucun Miffion-
naire: L'innocence & la pureté de vie qu'elles ont
gardée dans leurs forefts pendant tant d'années, a
fans doute merité la grace que Dieu leur a faite, de
fe trouver icy avant que de mourir, pour fe preparer
à cet important paffage de l' eternité. :
Voila, mon R. Pere, 1'abbregé de ce qui s'efl paffé-
pendant mon hyvernement, [108] la gran de grace que
je vous demande, eft de m'accorder Ie mefme bon-
beur pour I'Hyver prochain, pendant lequelj'efpere
que Dieu me donnera Ie courage de reparer, par de
nouvelles fouffrances, les fautes que j'ay pû faire
pendant celuy-cy. Efperant cette faveur de V. R.
je Iuy feray toute ma vie, &c.

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

89

the Adults the other Sacraments for which they were
prepared.
God's goodness appeared to me most admirable in
the salvation of two women, 80 years of age, who
had formerly been baptized by the late Father Ie
J eune, and had not seen a single Missionary since
then. The innocence and purity of life maintained
by them in their forests for so many years, undoubt-
edly won for them the grace that God showed them
in causing their visit here, before dying, for the
purpose of preparing for that important passage to
eternity.
Here ends, my Reverend Father, my brief account
of what occurred during my winter campaign. [108]
The great favor that I ask of you is to grant me the
same happiness next Winter,-when, I hope, God
will give me the courage to make amends, by fresh
sufferings, for the errors that I may have committed
this season. Hoping for that favor from Your Rever-
ence, I am, as long as I live, etc.

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

[109] De la Miffion des Outaouacs.

CHAPITRE I.

P LUS de trois cens baptefmes conferez depuis un
an, plus de vingt-cinq Nations éc1airées des
lumieres de It Evangile, un bon nombre de
malades refiablis en fanté dtune façon tres-extraor-
dinaire, des Eglifes dreffées & des Croix plantées au
milieu de l'idolatrie, la Foy portée bien loin vers Ie
Nord & vers Ie Midy, donnent fujet de loüer Dieu
des benediétions qutil continuë de verfer abondam-
ment fur les Miffions des Outaoüacs.
L t an paffé r on donna au public la Carte des Lacs &
des Terres, fur lefquelles ces Millions font placées;
nouS avons jugé à propos de la faire encore paroiftre
cette année, pour contenter la curiofité de ceux qui
ne I' ont pas veuë, & pour diftinguer quelques nou-
velles Miffions, qui font eftablies depuis peu en ce
païs-Ià, [110] comme entrtautres celIe de S. François
Xavier, placée tout de nouveau fur la riviere qui fe
décharge dans la baye des Puans, à deux lieuës de
fon emboucheure; & celIe de la Million des Apoftres,
fur les coftes du Nord du Lac Huron. Le P. Henry
Nouvel, qui eft Superieur de toutes ces
Iiffions des
Outaoüacs, a eu foin de celle-cy en particulier, & nouS
décrit ce qui sty eft paffé en ces termes.

1671-72]

RELATION OF IÓ'jI-72

91

[ 10 9] Of the Mission to the Outaouacs.

CHAPTER 1.

M ORE than three hundred baptisms conferred
in one year; more than twenty-five Nations
illumined by the light of the Gospel; many
sick persons restored to health in a very extraor-
dinary manner; Churches erected and Crosses planted
in the midst of idolatry; the Faith borne far to the
North and South,- these things give us reason to
praise God for the blessings that he continues to
pour in abundance upon the Outaouac J\1issions.
Last year, we published a Map of the Lakes and
Territories where these Missions are situated. We
have thought best to republish it this year, in order
to satisfy the curiosity of those who have not seen
it,4 and to designate some new Missions recently
planted in that country,- [110] as, for example, that
of St. François Xavier, very lately established on
the river emptying into the bay des Puans, two
leagues from its mouth; and the Mission of the
Apostles, on the Northern coast bordering Lake
Huron. Father Henry Nouvel, Superior of all these
Outaouac Missions, has had especial charge of the
latter, and thus describes what has occurred there.

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LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES

[VOL. 66

CHAPITRE II.

DE LA MISSION DES APOSTRES DANS LE LAC DES
HURONS.

J E partis de fainte Marie du Sault, dit Ie Pere, Ie
26. Oétobre 167 I. pour aller prendre mon quar-

tier d'Hyver chez Ies AmiKoüés, où je n'arrivay
qu'aprés 18. jours de marche, j'eus Ia confolation en
chemin de baptifer 4. petits enfans, & d'inftruire
leurs parens, qui m' efcouterent bien volontiers.
Le mauvais temps, & Ies vents contraires nous
ayant obligez de nous refugier dans diverfes HIes, je
ne pûs me rendre à [II I] celIe d'EKaentouton, que
Ie 6. de Novembre. J'y fis une Million en paffant,
& y baptifay fept enfans; c'eft Ià que je vis ce bon
Sauvage nommé Loüis, qui peut paffer pour Ie mi-
racle de ce Chriftianifme; car ce n' eft pas une petite
merveille
de voir un barbare, qui depuis plufieurs
années demeure ferme dans Ia refolution qu'il a
prife de paffer Ie refie de fes jours dans Ie Celibat,
n'ayant que cette veuë de fe rendre plus agreable à
Dieu, par ce genre de vie, qui eft inoüy parmy Ies
Sauvages. J'ayefté ravy de voir Ie refpeét que Ies
jeunes gens de fa Nation ont pour Iuy, & Ie foin qu'il
prend de difpofer un efc1ave à recevoir Ie Baptefme
au Printemps prochain: aprés Iuy avoir donné Ia
fainte Communion, je I'ay Iaiffé plein de con fiance &
de refolution pour perfeverer, s'appuyant fur Ies
forces que Iuy donne Ie Sacrement de Confirmation,

1671- 72]

RELA TION OF IÓ'JI-72

93

CHAPTER II.

OF THE MISSION OF THE APOSTLES ON THE LAKE OF
THE HURONS.

" O N the 26th of October, 1671,"-says the
Father,-" I set out from sainte Marie du
Sault to go and take up my Winter quar-
ters in the country of the Amikoués, where I arrived
only after 18 days' journeying,-having had the con-
solation on the way to baptize 4 little children,
and to instruct their parents, who heard me very
willingly.
C C The bad weather and contrary winds forcing us
to take refuge in various Islands, I could not reach
[I I I] that of Ekaentouton before the 6th of Novem-
ber. I served as Missionary there, in passing, and
baptized seven children. It was there that I saw
that good Savage named Louis, who may be regarded
as the miracle of this part of Christendom; for it is
no small wonder to see a barbarian who for several
years has stood firm in his resolve to spend the
remainder of his days in Celibacy,- his sole object
being to render himself more acceptable to God by
this mode of life, which is unheard-of among the
Savages. I was delighted to see the respect shown
him by the young people of his Nation, and the care
taken by him to prepare a slave for receiving Bap-
tism in the following Spring. After giving him holy
Communion, I left him full of trust and resolution
to persevere, relying on the strength given him by

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LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

qu'il a reçu des mains de Monfeigneur nofire Evefque.
Efiant party d'EKaentouton Ie 8. Novembre, &
ayant efté arrefté 2. jours, fur une pointe de rocher
par Ies vents contraires; enfin je me rendis au lieu
où je [112] devois paffer l'Hyver avec Ies Amicoüés,
qui font Ies Sauvages, appellez la Nation du Cafior.
Je donnay commencement à cette Miffion par Ie Bap-
tefme de 14. petits enfans, Ie jour de Ia Prefentation
de Ia fainte Vierge, à Iaquelle je prefentay ces
premiers fruits de ma Miffion.
Nofire petite Chapelle fut bien-tofi dreffée, &
enfuite comme confacrée par Ie Baptefme d'une
pauvre vieille, à qui Ia fanté du corps fut renduë
avec Ia vie de l'ame, par Ies merites de Ia fainte
Vierge, & de faint François Xavier, à qui elle s'efioit
recommandée.
Peu aprés cinq petits enfans reçeurent dans Ie
mefme lieu Ie faint Baptefme, avec toutes Ies ceremo-
nies de l'Eglife.
Le Diable envieux du bien que cette Miffion com-
mençoit de faire, & de l'honneur que j'avois fait
rendre à ]efus-Chrifi par nos Sauvages Ia nuit de
NoëI, s'efforça d'en troubler Ia folennité par des
ceremonies fuperfiitieufes, que nous apellons jongle-
ries, dont ces barbares fe fervent pour rendre Ia
fanté aux rnalades. Un de nos bons Chrefiiens
efiant reduit à l'extremité par une tres-dangereufe
maladie, [113] les infideles s'affemblerent en grand
nombre dans fa cabane, & employerent tout ce qu'ils
fçavoient de fuperfiitions pour Ie refiablir en fanté:
ren eus nouvelles, & auffi-toft ie me tranfportay dans
cette cabane, où ie trouvay tout ce monde bien occu-
pé à cette impieté, ie m'approche du malade, ie Ie

1671-;2]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

95

the Sacrament of Confirmation, which he had received
at the hands of Monseigneur our Bishop.
"Leaving Ekaentouton November 8th, and being
detained 2 days on a rocky point by head-winds, at
last I reached the place where I [112] was to pass
the Winter with the Amicoués, the Savages known
as the Beaver Nation. I began this Mission by Bap-
tizing 14 little children, on the day of the Presenta-
tion of the blessed Virgin, to whom I offered those
first fruits of my Mission.
" Our little Chapel was soon erected, and was then
consecrated, in a certain sense, by the Baptism of a
poor old woman; health of body was restored to her
with life of the soul, by the merits of the blessed
Virgin and of saint Francis Xavier, to whom she had
commended herself.
" Soon afterward, in the same place, five little chil-
dren received holy Baptism with all the ceremonies
of the Church.
" The Devil, envious of the good that this Mission
was beginning to do, and of the honor I had caused
our Savages to pay to Jesus Christ on Christmas
night, strove to disturb the solemnity of that occasion
by certain superstitious ceremonies which we call
jugglery, and which these barbarians employ for
restoring the sick to health. One of our good Chris-
tians being reduced to a critical state by a very
dangerous illness, [113] a large number of infidels
assembled in his cabin, and employed all the super-
stitious rites known to them, to restore him to health.
Being informed of this, I repaired at once to that
cabin, where I found the entire company very intent
on this act of impiety. I approached the sick man,
wrought his reconciliation with God by the Sacra-

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

reconcilie à Dieu, au milieu de cette foule, par Ie
Sacrement de Penitence, & demeure toujours au pres
de luy, dans la refolution de tout fouffrir plufiofi
que de permettre qu'on enlevafi la brebis d'entre les
bras de fon Pafieur: Ces barbares voyant leurs
]ongleries interrompuës, fe fachent, me menacent, &
me commandent arrogamment de fortir, pour leur
laiffer achever ce qu'ils avoient commencé, je tins
ferme, & leur dis que ce malade m'appartenoit,
parce qu'il efioit Chrefiien, & que ie ne l"abandon-
nerois iamais: Un de ces furieux, plus infolent que
les autres, voulut ufer de la force pour me mettre
dehors, ie refifiay, les autres fe ioignent à luy, &
m'entrainent avec violence, & comme la fureur efioit
iointe à la force, ils ne purent pas me mettre hors de
Ia cabane, [114] fans me Iaiffer fur Ie vifage des
marques de leur colere; i'efiois plus ravy de porter
ces playes, que s'ils m'euffent donné un empire, & la
fatisfaétion qu'ils me firent par apres en reconnoiffant
leur faute, & m'en demandant pardon, ne me fut
pas fi agreable que les coups que i'avois receus, me
fouvenant de la ioye qu'avoient les Apofires, quand
its efioient trouvez dignes de fouffrir des ignominies,
pour Ie nom de ]efus-Chrift.
Le fuccez que Dieu me donna fur un Jongleur fut
encore plus éclatant, ie l'allois attaquer de nuit, lorf-
qu'il fe mettoit en devoir de pratiquer fes fuperfti-
tions, pour deviner quelle efioit la caufe de la mort
de deux enfans decedez peu auparavant; car tant
s'en faut qu'il y pufi reüffir, qu'au contraire, l'auteur
de cette Jonglerie ayant veu fa femme tomber
malade, & s'efiant efionné que Dieu luy eufi rendu
foudainement la fanté par Ie moyen de la priere,

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

g7

ment of Penance, in the midst of that crowd, and
remained constantly at his side,- resolved to suffer
anything, rather than allow the sheep to be snatched
from his Pastor's arms. Those barbarians, seeing
their Jugglery interrupted, grew angry, threatened
me, and haughtily bade me withdraw and let them
finish what they had begun. I stood firm, and told
them that the sick man belonged to me, because he
was a Christian; and that I would never forsake him.
One of those madmen, more insolent than the others,
determined to use force in ejecting me; I resisted,
the rest joined bim, and tbey dragged me out with
violence; and, as rage was added to force, they could
not eject me from the cabin [114J without leaving
marks of their anger on my face. I was more de-
lighted to bear those wounds than if they had given
me an empire; and the atonement that they rendered
me afterward, in acknowledging their error and
asking my forgiveness, gave me less pleasure than
did the blows that I had received,-reminding me,
as they did, of the joy felt by the Apostles when
they were found worthy of suffering ignominy for
Jesus Christ's sake.
" The success that God granted me in the case of
a Juggler was still more signal. I went to assail
him at night, when he made it a point to perform
his superstitious rites in order to divine the cause of
the death of two children recently deceased. Now so
far was he from succeeding that, on the contrary,-
seeing his wife fall ill, and being astonished that
God should so sudden! y restore her by means of
prayer,- the author of that J ugglery acknowl-
edged his error; and with his own hands made, at
my bidding, a fine large Cross, which we erected

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[VOL. 56

reconnut fa faute, & fit luy mefme une belle &
grande Croix, par l'ordre que ie luy en donnay, que
noUS elevâmes avec grande ceremonie, pour efire
deformais l' obiet de la veneration [IIS] de ces
Peuples, & pour augmenter Ie triomphe de la Croix
fur l'idolatrie; ie baptifay en mefme temps cette
vieille femme, à qui Dieu avo it rendu la fanté par les
interceffions de faint François Xavier, & avec elle
deux de fes petites filles, defia atIez âgées, lefquelles
s'efioient renduës dignes de cette grace par l'inno-
cence de leur vie, par leur pieté, & par Ie foin extra-
ordinaire qu'elles ont eu de fe faire infiruire en nos
M yfteres.
11 faUut terminer cette ceremonie par Ie Baptefme
d' un enfant de deux iours, afin de pouvoir offrir à N.
S. des efirennes de tous les âges en ce premier iour
de l'année 1672.
Je ne fus pas long-temps fans reprendre ce faint
employ. Dés Ie 6. iour de Janvier, quatre filles bien
infiruites dans les chofes de la Foy, receurent Ie
Baptefme, puis un homme fait, & enfuite un enfant;
aprés quoy, ayant entrepris d'aller faire MiíIìon aux
Nipiffiriniens, to utes les fatigues d'un chemin tres-
rude furent effuyées par la pieté de la plufpart de
ces pauvres Sauvages, mais bien plus par Ie Baptefme
de neuf enfans, dont deux n'attendoient [116] que ce
paffe-port pour eftre receus au Ciel, efiant mort deux
jours aprés avoir efté admis dans 1'EgIUe.
Cettep,Miffion fut fuivie d'une autre que j'entrepris
vers les Outaoüacs d'EKaentouton, où Dieu me fit
trouver trois enfans à baptifer, l'un defquels mourut
trois jours aprés, & fut reçu au Ciel.
Ce n'efioit qu'une entrée pour Ie Baptefme d'un

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

9

with much ceremony, to be henceforth the object of
[I 15] these People's veneration, and to increase the
triumph of the Cross over idolatry. At the same
time, I baptized that old woman whom God had
restored to health at saint Francis Xavier's inter-
cession; together with two little girls of hers, already
considerably beyond infancy, who had shown them-
sel ves worthy of this grace by the innocence of their
lives, their piety, and the unusual pains they had
taken to become instructed in our Mysteries.
" In concluding this ceremony, I was called upon
to Baptize a baby two days old,- that we might be
enabled to make Our Lord a new-year's present of
people of all ages on that first day of the year 1672.
"It was not long before I resumed this holy
occupation. On the 6th day of January, four girls,
instructed in matters of the Faith, received Baptism,
then a grown man, and next a child. After that,
having undertaken to go on a Mission to the Nipis-
siriniens, I felt all the fatigues of a very rough
journey removed by the piety shown by most of
those poor Savages; and especially by the Baptism
of nine children, two of whom were only waiting
[I16] for this passport to be received into Heaven,-
dying two days after having been admitted into the
Church.
"This Mission was followed by another that I
undertook to the Outaouacs of Ekaentouton, where
God made me find three children to baptize,-one of
whom died three days later, and was taken up into
Heaven.
" That was merely preliminary to the Baptism of
a young man of twenty years, a child of eight, two
young married men, three young girls of fifteen or

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jeune homme de vingt ans, d'un enfant de huit ans,
de deux jeunes hommes mariez, de trois jeunes fiUes
de quinze à feize ans, de fix jeunes garçons de douze à
quatorze ans, & de deux veuves les plus confiderables
de toute la Nation; c'efi Ie choix que je fis parmy
les Catechumenes, n'admettant à ce Sacrement, que
les plus fervens, les mieux infiruits, & Ies plus
conttans dans Ia pratique de Ia vertu.
Vers ce mefme temps, je fis diverfes courfes fur
Ies glaces pour chercher la brebis égarée, j'y trouvay
à donner Ie Baptefme à cinq enfans, & à un jeune
homme malade, pour Ie falut duquel Ia Providence a
eu Ies yeux plus ouverts que moy, parce que l'ayant
baptifé par [II7J mégarde, non pas avec de l'eau
naturelle, mais avec une certaine liqueur qui coule
des arbres vers Ia fin de l'Hyver, qu'on apelle eau
d'Erable, que je prenois pour de I'eau naturelle, je
reconnus mon erreur Iorfque voulant donner à ce
malade quelque prife de Theriaque, je demanday de
l'eau d'erable, qui eftant naturellement fucrée, eft
plus propre à cet effet, on me prefenta de la mefme
liqueur dont je m'eftois fervy pour Ie baptifer, ce
qui m'obligea à reparer cette faute heureufement pen
auparavant fa mort.
Le Printemps s'approchant, il faUut fonger à
mettre fin à mon hyvernement, pour retourner au
Sault, nos Chreftiens fe voulant confoler de mon
abfence, firent une grande Croix & me prierent de
les affifter, lorfqu'ils la planteroient au milieu de leurs
Champs, ce qui fut fait avec bien de Ia devotion,
cbantans en leur langue Ie Vexil/a, pendant que ce
bois adorable s'élevoit en haut, & ils me promirent
que tous les iours ils ne manqueroient pas de venir

1671- 72]

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101

sixteen, six lads from twelve to fourteen years old,
and two widows, the foremost women of the entire
Nation. Such was my choice from among the
Catechumens, admitting to this Sacrament only the
most fervent, the best instructed, and the most
constant in the practice of virtue.
" About the same time, I made various excursions
on the ice in quest of stray sheep,-finding five
children to Baptize, and a sick young man, for whose
sal vation Providence was more watchful than I.
For, having inadvertently baptized him, [117] not
with natural water, but with a certain liquor that
runs from the trees toward the end of Winter, and
which is known as ' Maple-water,' which I took for
natural water, I discovered my mistake when, wish-
ing to give this patient a dose of Theriac, I asked for
some maple-water,- which, being naturally sweet,
is more suitable for such a purpose. I was given
some of the same liquor that I had used in baptizing
him, and was thus obliged to repair that error,-
happily, a little before his death.
"With the approach of Spring, I was forced to
think about closing my winter's work and returning
to the Sault. Our Christians, seeking consolation
for my absence, made a large Cross, and begged me
to assist them when they planted it in the midst of
their Fields. This ceremony was performed with
much devotion, the Vexilla being sung in their
language while that adorable wood was being raised
aloft; and they promised me that they would come
daily, without fail, and pay their homage to this
triumphant Standard of the King [118] of Heaven
and Earth.
" I was obliged, then, to my regret, to leave these

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[VOL. 56

rendre leur hommage à ce triomphant Efiendard du
Roy [1I8] du Ciel & de la Terre.
II me faUut done quitter à regret ces bons Neo-
phites, aprés avoir baptifé plufieurs de leurs enfans,
& pour ne pas perdre mon temps en m'en retournant,
ie paffay par MiffifaK, où ie fis neuf Baptefmes, & y
exerçay les fonétions de Miffionnaire, autant que Ie
peu de temps que i'avois à refier parmy eux, me Ie
put permettre.
Avant que de finir ce recit, ie dois cette recon-
noiffance à la memoire du Pere ] ean de Brebeuf, qui
a autrefois confacré une partie de ce Lac par fes
travaux, & qui a donné fa vie pour ]efus-Cbrifi, par
la plus horrible de toutes les cruautez des Iroquois,
ie I uy dois, dis-ie, cette reconnoiffance, de publier
quelques merveilles que Dieu a voulu operer envers
nos Sauvages parfes merites; ie n'en raporteray que
trois qui me paroiffent confiderables.
Un enfant fe trouvant fi malade que tous les
remedes efioient fans effet, fes parens s'aviferent d'y
employer les Jongleurs, mais voyant que Ie Inal aUoit
touiours s'augmentant, its eurent une meilleure [119]
penfée, qui fut de me prefenter leur enfant; je Ie
vis, mais it eftoit fi mal que je ne crus pas qu'aucun
remede humain pufi Ie delivrer; je recommanday
done aux parens d'avoir recours à Nofire-Seigneur,
qui fe laifferoit flechir par les interceffions d'un de
fes ferviteurs, que la plufpart des Sauvages avoient
veu dans Ie pais des Hurons, & je leur ordonnay
enfuite d'apporter l'enfant en la Chapelle trois jours
de fuitte, pour luy faire prendre un peu d'eau, dans
laquelle j'avois trempé une Relique du Pere de
Brebeuf,
dés Ie fecond jour, i1 fut guery,:& fon Pere

1671- ï2]

RELA TION OF IÓ'!I:-72

103

good Neophytes, after baptizing many of their chil-
dren; and not to waste my time on my return, I
called at Missisak, where I conferred nine Baptisms,
and discharged a :Missionary's duties as far as was
possible in the short time I could remain there.
"Before concluding the present account, I owe
this tribute to the memory of Father Jean de Bre-
beuf,-who years ago consecrated a part of this Lake
by his labors, and gave his life for Jesus Christ,
suffering the most horrible of all the cruelties prac-
ticed by the Iroquois,- I owe it as a tribute to his
memory, I say, to make known some marvels that
God was pleased to work upon our Savages by virtue
of his merits. I will relate only three instances,
which seem to me noteworthy.
"A child being so ill that all remedies were
ineffectual, its parents decided to call in the J ug-
glers; but seeing that the ailment was growing
constantly worse, they thought of a better [119]
plan, which was to bring their child to me. I ex-
amined it, but so serious was its disease that I did
not think any human remedy could save it. Accord-
ingly, I advised the parents to have recourse to Our
Lord, who would suffer himself to be moved by the
intercession of one of his servants whom most of the
Savages had seen in the country of the Hurons. I
then bade them bring the child into the Chapel on
three successive days, to let it take a little water in
which I had dipped a Relic of Father de Brebeuf's.
With the second day a cure was wrought, and the
child's Father testified his joy in a public banquet
that he gave to commemorate the occasion, after
which he received Baptism.
"A young woman who had been baptized some

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LES RELA TIONS DES Il'SUITES

[VOL. 56

en témoigna fa joye dans un fefiin public qu'il fit à
cette occafion, & enfuite receut Ie Baptefme.
Une jeune femme qui avoit efié baptifée i1 y a
quelques années au Cap de la Magdelaine, fut fur-
prife d'une groffe fiévre, qui la mettoit en grand
danger, avec un petit enfant qu'elle allaittoit: Je fus
la voir pour la confoler, & ayant trouvé qu'elle fe
portoit fort mal, aprés quelques prieres que je luy fis
faire, je luy donnay à boire un peu d'eau, OÙ j'avois
trempé ces mefmes Reliques; elle s'endormit là-
deffus, [120] paffant tout Ie jour dans ce doux fom-
meil, dés Ie lendemain elle fe trouva entierement
guerie, & alIa comme les autres femmes dans la
forefi, pour en apporter fa charge de bois.
Vne jeune Chreftienne, fille d'une mere idolatre,
fe vit affiigée d 'une facheufe fluxion fur un æil, &
fur une jouë, fa mere n' épargna ni remedes ni
J ongleries pour fa guerifon, mais tout fut inutile.
]'appelay la fiUe dans la Chapelle, je luy lavay l"æil
& la iouë de la mefme eau dont i'ay parlé, & dés la
premiere fois, elle fe trouva parfaitement guerie de
fon mal.
Voila, mon R. Pere, une partie de ce qui s'efi paffé
pendant mon hyvernement de plus de fix mois que
i'ay employez à parcourir les Millions du Nord du
Lac Huron, depuis fainte Marie du Sault iufqu'à
Nipiffing, c'efi à dire plus de cent lieuës, ie vous prie
de m'aider à remercier Nofire Seigneur, des bontez
qu'il a euës pendant tout ce temps-Ià pour les oüailles,
& pour Ie Pafieur.

1671-í2]

REL.1 TION OF I67I-72

105

years before, at Cap de la Magdelaine, was seized
with a violent fever, which endangered her life as
well as that of her little one whom she was nursing.
I went to see and comfort her; and, finding her
exceedingly ill, I gave her, after making her say
some prayers, a little water to drink, in which I had
steeped the above-named Relics. Thereupon she
fell asleep, [120J and passed the whole day in that
sweet slumber. On the morrow she felt entirely
cured, and went into the forest with the other
women to fetch her load of wood.
" A young Christian, the daughter of an idolatrous
mother, was afflicted with a painful inflammation of
one eye and a cheek. Her mother spared neither
medicines nor Juggler's arts to cure her, but all in
vain. Calling the girl into the Chapel, I bathed her
eye and cheek with the water already mentioned;
and, with the first application, she was entirely cured
of her ailment.
"Such, my Reverend Father, is a part of what
occurred during my winter campaign of more than
six months, occupied in visiting the Missions of the
North, around Lake Huron, from sainte Marie du
Sault to Nipissing-that is, more than a hundred
leagues. I pray you to help me give thanks to Our
Lord for the goodness that he has shown, during all
that period, to the flock and to the Pastor."

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[VOL. 66

[121J CHAPITRE III.

DE LA MISSION DE SAINTE MARIE DU SAULT.

O lEU a continué fes mifericordes fur cette Miffion.
qui conte depuis un an plus de cent quarante-
cinq perfonnes baptifées dans une belle Eglife
bafiie depuis peu en ce pays-là, qui attire l'admira-
tion, non feulement des Sauvages, mais auffi des
François, qui la confiderent comme une chofe affez
furprenante, eftant avancée com me elle eft plus de
quatre cent lieuës dans les forets.

oftre-Seigneur qui a voulu jetter les premiers
fondemens de ce Chrifiianifme par des fignes extra-
ordinaires, a eu la bonté de l'amplifier par les mefmes
moyens, par lefquels i1 luy a donné naiffance: II a
operé des merveilles en tous les aages, pour faire
voir que tous eftoient apellez à fon Royaume; nous
n' en rapporterons que deux de chaque aage, qui
fuffiront pour faire voir que les mifericordes de Dieu
s'eftendent jufques icy.
[122J Dans l'aage Ie plus tendre, la premiere mer-
veille qui arriva Ie 29. Oétobre. 16 7 1 . fut telle.
Plufieurs Sauvages ayant et1é baptifé tous enfemble
en ce jour dedié au grand Proteéteur de I' Eglife S.
Michel, dont on donna Ie nom à un des baptifez, &
celuy de Gabriel à un autre, qui eftoit un enfant de
trois à quatre ans; cet enfant eftoit tout moribond,
& mefme durant les quatre iours, qui fuivirent fon
baptefme, i1 perdit tout fentiment; de forte qu' on Ie

1671-72]

RE'LA TION OF 1671-72

107

[12 I] CHAPTER III.

OF THE MISSION OF SAINTE MARIE DU SAULT.

G OD has continued his mercies toward this
Mission, which, in the past year, shows
more than a hundred and forty-five persons
baptized,-in a fine Church, recently built in this
country. It is an object of admiration, not only
to the Savages, but also to the Frenchmen, who
regard its appearance with considerable surprise,-
situated as it is, on the frontier, more than four
hundred leagues in the forests.
Our Lord, who was pleased to lay the first founda-
tions of Christianity here by extraordinary signs,
has had the goodness to enlarge it, by the same
means through which he gave it birth. He has
wrought wonders in people of all ages, to show that
all were called to his Kingdom. We shall cite but
two of each age, which will suffice to prove that
God's mercies extend even to this place.
[122] In the tenderest age, the first marvel that
occurred was the following, of October 29, 1671. A
number of Savages had been baptized, all together,
on that day, dedicated to the great Protector of the
Church, St. Michael; his name was given to one of
the baptized, and that of Gabriel to another, the
latter being a child three or four years old. This
child was at death's door, and he even lost all con-
sciousness during the four days following his baptism,
so that he was already regarded as dead,-when

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tenoit defia pour mort, quand Ie Pere Gabriel Druil-
lettes, qui a foin de cette Miffion, alIa faire fur luy
quelques prieres, & luy jetta de I' eau benifte, en
forme de Croix; ce qu'il n'eut pas fi toft fait, qu'au
grand eftonnement de tout Ie monde, l'enfant fut
parfaitement guery; & de puis il ne ceffe de faire, de
foy-méme, à tous momens, Ie figne de la Croix,
comme en reconnoiffance de cette faveur.
La feconde merveille eft arrivé en la perfonne
d'une jeune fille d'un Capitaine Outaoüac, nommée
Urfule; elle eftoit malade à l'extremité d'une fiévre
continuë, qui l'avoit reduite fi bas, que depuis long-
temps elle ne mangeoit plus; un [123] jour de Ven-
dredy Ie Pere la fut voir, & l'ayant inftruite fur Ie

lyftere de la Paffion de Noftre-Seigneur, illuy dit
que c'eftoit à tel jour qu'il avoit verfé fon fang pour
noftre falut, & l'encouragea à prendre confiance en
l'eau benite; i1 en iette en mefme-temps fur elle,
priant faint François Xavier d'interpofer fon credit
pour fa guerifon: apres quoy, il fort de la cabane, &
Ie lendemain matin Ie pere de la malade vint en dili-
gence à I' Eglife, & dit au Pere Druillettes, remercions
Dieu, ma fille vit, elle commença à manger hier au
foir, incontinent apres que tu fus forty de Ina cabane.
Nous pouvons faire choix de deux autres merveilles
affez extraordinaires que Dieu a operées fur des per-
fonnes plus avancées en age: une jeune femme eftoit
prefque aux abois, & on ne croyoit pas qu'elle duft
vivre encore un iour: Tout l'enfer fembla s'intereffer
pour la remettre en fanté, mais cette guerifon eftoit
duë au Ciel, Ie plus fameux Jongleur du pays avoit
remply la cabane de Ia malade d'un grand nombre
de fes fuppofts, pour faire autour d'elle toutes leurs

1671-72]

RELA TIO.lV OF I67I-72

109

Father Gabriel Druillettes, who has charge of this
Mission, went to say some prayers over him, and
sprinkled him with holy water, making therewith
the form of a Cross. Scarcely had he done so when,
to the great astonishment of all, the child became
entirely well; and since then he has been constantly
making the sign of the Cross, of his own accord, as if
in gratitude for this favor.
The second marvel befell an Outaouac Captain's
young daughter, named Ursule. She was mortally
ill with a chronic fever, which had brought her so
low that she had long since ceased to eat. One [123]
Friday, the Father went to see her; and, after
instructing her concerning the Mystery of Our Lord.s
Passion, told her that it was upon that day of the
week that he had shed his blood for our salvation,
and encouraged her to put her trust in holy water.
At the same time, he sprinkled some upon her,
entreating saint Francis Xavier to interpose his
influence for her cure. After this, he left the cabin;
and on the next morning the sick girl's father has-
tened to the Church, and said to Father Druillettes:
" Let us thank God, my daughter lives; she began
to eat last evening, immediately after thou hadst left
my cabin."
We can select two more quite extraordinary won-
ders, which God has wrought in persons more
advanced in years. A young woman was almost at
death's door, and was not expected to live a day
longer. All hell seemed to be interested in her
recovery, but her cure was due to Heaven. The
most noted Juggler of the country had filled the sick
woman's cabin with his underlings, to execute in
her presence all their [124] diabolical ceremonies.

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LES RELATIOA

'" DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

ceremonies [124J diaboliques; Ie Pere y eftant entré
reprit ce Jongleur, de ce qu'ayant efté luy-méme
guery par la vertu de la priere, i1 ne gardoit pas la
promeffe qu'il avoit faite de ne plus ufer deformais
de ces fortes de fuperftitions, il Ie fit fortir de la
cabane avec toute fa fuiUe, & en la place de ces
miniftres d'enfer, ayant affembIé Ies enfans il les
fait prier Dieu avec la malade, ce ne fut pas inutile-
ment, car incontinent aprés elle fut faifie d'un doux
fommeil, & Ie jour fuivant, auquel on iugeoit qu'elle
devoit mourir, elle fe trouva de grand matin à
l'Eglife, dans une parfaite fanté, pour y rendre graces
à Dieu, & à faint Xavier fon liberateur.
L'autre merveille fut faite en la perfonne d'un
jeune homme, Iequel ayant efié bIeffé d'un coup de
Heche, qu' on penfoit étre encore dans Ie corps, fut
frotté d'eau benifte par cinq fois, & incontinent
guery, lorfque tout Ie monde en defefperoit.
La vieilleffe a eu part auffi à ces faveurs, nous n' en
raportons icy que deux exemples. Vne femme fort
aagée & toute moribonde, prend refolution d'aller
encore [125J une fois à I'Eglife, avant que de mourir;
res parens, qui ne croyoient pas qu'elle puft faire
deux pas, la detournent de ce deffein; elle perfifte,
& dit hautement qu'elle ne mourra point contente,
qu'elle ne fe foit acquittée de cette devotion; On
l' emmeine donc en nofire Chappelle, & elle yaddreffe
des prieres à Dieu, fi ardentes, qu'elles ravifIent tOllS
ceux qui I'entendoient, & enfuite on l'aide à retourner
chez elle, où elle véquit encore contre l'attente de
tout Ie monde, & elle ne mourut point qu'aprés avoir
declaré, qu'elle penfoit avoir efté tranfportée dans Ie
Paradis, où elle difoit avoir veu certaines perfonnes,

1671-72]

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The Father entered, and rebuked this Juggler for
not keeping the promise he had made, after being
himself cured by prayer, not to employ superstitious
rites of that sort any longer. He made him leave
the cabin, with all his suite; and, gathering the
children to take the place of those ministers of hell,
he caused them to unite in prayer with the sick
woman. Nor was it in vain; for immediately after-
ward she was overtaken by a sweet sleep, and on the
morrow, when her friends thought that she must
die, she made her appearance early in the morning
at Church, in perfect health, to give thanks to God

nd to saint Xavier, her deliverer.
The other wonder was wrought upon a young man
who, after being wounded with an arrow, which was
thought to be still in his body, was rubbed with
holy water five times, and straightway cured, when
all were in despair over him.
Old age also shared in these favors. We cite here
only two instances. A woman of great age, and
very near death, resolved to go to [125] Church
once more before dying. Her kinsfolk, believing
that she could not walk two steps, sought to dissuade
her from this purpose. She persisted, declaring
emphatically that she could not die content without
performing that act of devotion. She was accord-
ingly conducted to our Chapel, where she offered
such fervent prayers to God that they delighted all
who heard her; and then she was helped back to her
home, where she continued alive, contrary to every
one's expectation. Nor did she die until she had
told how she thought that she was borne to Paradise,
where, she said, she saw certain persons whom she

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SCITES

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qu'elle fit connoiftre, nommant entr'autres une fille
qui efioit morte peu de temps aprés fon Baptefme.
Un Vieillard aveugle fe fit conduire à l'Eglife, &
y demanda à N ofire-Seigneur la veuë, & la demanda
avec tant de foy, que fa priere fut exaucée, i1 en rend
graces à Dieu, i1 fort de l' Eglife parfaitement guery
& s'en allant dans les bois, i1 y fait fa chaffe, i1 y
tend des pieges aux orignaux pendant tout l'Hyver,
& agit comme fi jamais [126J il n'avoit efié aveugle.
On pourroit aporter plufieurs autres merveilles de
cette nature qui ont fervy beaucoup à deraciner les
deux principaux vices qui regnent parmy ces Peuples,
fçavoir la jonglerie, & la poligamie; car on y voit
des perfonnes que la mort enleve fubitement, parce
qu'elles s'adreffent à leurs Jongleurs, & d'autres qui
rechapent du danger manifefie, parce qu'elles ont
recours à Dieu; on voit fouvent que les Sauvages,
qui ont plufieurs femmes, fouffrent une cruelle faim,
& que les Chrefiiens du mefme lieu font dans l'abon-
dance, qui leur eft manifefiement procurée par les
prieres des enfans: on voit evidemment que la fuper-
[tition de ceux qui mettent leur efperance en plufieurs
demons familiers, qu'ils tiennent pour maifires de
leur vie, & de leur bonne fortune, eft confonduë; &
que ceux, qui ne reconnoiffent point d'autres divi-
nitez que la Lune & Ie loup font frapez de maladie,
pendant que ceux, qui ne recõnoiffent que Ie vray
Dieu, joüiffent d'une fanté parfaite: Enfin on
remarque que Ie Chrifiianifme s'eftablit icy malgré
tout l'enfer, qui ne manque pas d'y [127J mcttre bien
des oppofitions, mais eUes ne ferviront qu'à rendre
cette Eglife, dautant plus floriffante, qu'elle a plus de
perfecutions à fouffrir.

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designated,-naming, among others, a girl who had
died soon after Baptism.
An Old blind man had himself led to the Church,
and there asked Our Lord for sight, asking it with
such faith that his prayer was answered. Thanking
God, he left the Church entirely cured, and went
away into the woods, where he pursued his hunting
and set his moose-traps all Winter long, acting as if
he [I 26J had never been blind.
We could instance many more wonders of like
nature, which have gone far toward eradicating the
two chief vices prevalent among these Tribes,-
namely, jugglery and polygamy; for we see persons
suddenly carried off by death because they have
recourse to their Jugglers, and others who escape
manifest danger because they have recourse to God.
We often see Savages with several wives suffer cruel
hunger, and Christians of the same place enjoying
an abundance which is evidently procured them by
the children's prayers. We plainly see superstition
confounded in those who put their hope in a number
of familiar demons, whom they regard as the mas-
ters of their lives and welfare; and those smitten
with disease, who acknowledge no other divinities
than the Moon and the wolf; while they who recog-
nize only the true God enjoy perfect health. We
see, in fine, Christianity becoming established here
despite all hell, which fails not to [127] place numer-
ous obstacles in its way; but they will only serve to
render this Church the more flourishing, in propor-
tion to the number of persecutions that it has to
endure.

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CHAPITRE IV.

DE LA MISSION DE SAINT IGNACE À MISSILIMAKINAC.

L ES Hurons de la Nation du Petun, appellés Tion-
nontaté, ayant autrefois efie chaffez de leur
pays par les Iroquois, fe refugierent en cette
!fIe fi celebre pour la pefche, nommée MiffilimaKinac;
rnais ils n'y purent refier que peu d' années, ces
rnefrnes ennemis les ayant obligez de quiter ce pofie
11 avantageux; ils fe retirerent done plus loing dans
des HIes, qui portent encore leur nom & qui font à
l'entrée de la baye des Puans: mais ne s'y trouvant
pas encore affez en affurance, ils fe retirerent bien
avant dans les bois; & de là enfin choifirent pour
derniere demeure, l'extremité du lac Superieur, dans
un endroit qu'on a apelé la pointe du S. Efprit. lIs
eftoient là, affez eloignez des Iroquois [128] pour ne
les pas craindre, mais ils efioient trop prés des
Nadoüeffi, qui font comme les Iroquois de ces quar-
tiers du Nord, eftant les Peuples les plus puiffans &
les plus belliqueux de ce pays.
Tout s'efioit neanmoins paffé afIez paifiblement
pendant plufieurs années, jufqu'à la derniere, que
ces Nadoüeffi ayant efié irritez par les Hurons, & par
les Outaoüacs, la guerre s'alluma entr'eux, & on la
comrnença avec tant de chaleur que quelques prifon-
niers, qu'ils firent les uns fur les autres, ont pafIé
par Ie feu.
Les Nadoüeffi n'ont pas voulu neantmoins com-

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115

CHAPTER IV.

OF THE MISSION OF SAINT IGNACE AT MISSILIMAKINAC.

T HE Hurons of the Tobacco Nation known as the
Tionnontatés, being expelled years ago from
their country by the Iroquois, took refuge in
that Island so noted for its fisheries, named Missili-
makinac. Here, however, they were suffered to
remain but a few years, that same foe compelling
them to leave so advantageous a position. They
therefore withdrew farther to some Islands, which
still bear their name, situated at the entrance to the
bay des Puans; /) but, not finding themselves even
there sufficiently secure, they retired far into the
depths of the woods; and thence finally sought out,
as a last abode, at the very end of lake Superior, a
spot that has received the name of point St. Esprit.
There they were far enough from the Iroquois [128]
not to fear them, but too near the Nadouessi,- who
are the Iroquois, so to speak, of those Northern
regions, being the most powerful and warlike People
of that country.
Still, everything had been quite peaceful for
a number of years until last year, when, these

adouessi being angered by the Hurons and the
Outaouacs, war broke out between the two sides,
beginning with such warmth that some prisoners
captured on each side were burned to death.
The Nadouessi, however, would not begin hostilities
until after they had sent back to Father Marquette

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mencer aucun aéte d'hoftilité, qu'aprés avoir renvoyé
au Pere Marquette, quelques Images, dont il leur
avoit fait prefent, pour leur donner queIque idée de
noftre Religion, & les inftruire par les yeux, puif-
qu'il ne pouvoit pas Ie faire autrement, à caufe de
leur langue qui eft entierement differente de celIe
des Hurons & des Algonquins.
Des ennemis fi redoutables jetterent bien-toft la
frayeur dans les efprits de nos Hurons, & de nos
Outaoüacs, qui prirent refolution d'abandonner la
pointe du [129] Saint Efprit, & tous leurs champs
qu'ils cultivoient depuis long-temps.
Dans cette retraitte, les Hurons fe fouvenans des
grandes commoditez, qu'ils avoient autrefois trouvé
à 11iffilimaKinac, jetterent les yeux fur cet endroit
pour s'y refugi.er, & c'eft ce qu'ils ont fait depuis
un an.
Ce lieu a tous Ies avantages qu'on peut fouhaitter
pour des Sauvages, la pefche y eft abondante en tout
temps, les terres y font de grand raport, la chaíIe de
l'ours, du cerf, & du chat fauvage s'y fait heureufe-
ment, d'ailleurs c'eft Ie grand abord de toutes les
Nations qui vont ou qui viennent du Nord, ou du
Midy.
C'eft pour cela, que dés l'an paíIé, prevoyant bien
ce qui eft arrivé, nous y avions dreíIé une ChapelIe,
pour y recevoir les paíIans, & pour cultiver les
Hurons, qui s'y font arreftez.
Le Pere Jacques Marquette, qui les a fuivis de puis
la pointe du S. Efprit, continuë d'avoir foin d'eux,
comme il ne nous a pas donné de memoires particu-
liers de ce qui s'eft paffé en cette Miffion, tout ce
.qu'on en peut dire eft, que cette Nation [130] ayant

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]

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117

certain Pictures which he had given them, to convey
to them some idea of our Religion and teach them
through their eyes; he could not accomplish this
otherwise, on account of their language being entirely
different from the Huron and the Algonquin.
Such redoubtable enemies soon struck terror to
the hearts of our Hurons and Outaouacs, who resolved
to abandon point [129J Saint Esprit and all their
fields, which they had long been cultivating.
In this retreat the Hurons, recalling the great
advantages that they had formerly enjoyed at Mis-

ilimakinac, turned their eyes thither, purposing to
seek refuge there, which they did a year ago.
That spot has everything possible to commend it
to Savages: fish are abundant at all seasons, and the
soil is very productive; there is excellent hunting,-
bears, deer, and wildcats; and, furthermore, it is the
great resort of all Nations going to or coming from
the North or the South.
Therefore last year, clearly foreseeing what has
occurred, we erected a Chapel there, to receive the
passers-by and to train the Hurons who have there
taken up their abode.
Father Jacques Marquette, who followed them
from point St. Esprit, continues in charge of them.
As he has not furnished us any special account of the
occurrences at that Mission, all that can be said
about it is that, this Nation [130J having been trained
in Christianity years ago, before the Hurons' destruc-
tion, those who have continued in the Faith now
display great fervor. They fill the Chapel daily,
visit it often during the day, and sing God's praises
there with a devotion that has communicated itself
in no small measure to the French who have

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[VOL. 56

autrefois et1é elevée dans Ie Chrifiianifme avant la
defiruétion des Hurons, ceux qui fe font confervez
dans la Foy, font à prefent dans une gran de ferveur;
ils rempliffent tous les jours la Chapelle, pendant Ie
jour ils la vifitent fouvent, ils y chantent les Ioüanges
de Dieu, avec une devotion, qui en a beaucoup donné
aux François, qui en ont efié les témoins; les
adultes y ont efié baptifez, les vieillards donnent
l'exemple aux enfans pour fe rendre affidus aux
prieres. En un mot ils pratiquent tous les exercices
de pieté qu'on peut attendre d'un Chriftianifme
formé depuis plus de 20. ans, quoy qu'il ait efié la
plus part de ce temps-là, fans Eglife, fans Pafieur, &
fans autre Maifire que Ie Saint-Efprit.

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119

witnesssed it. There the grown people have been
baptized, and the old people set the children an
example in their assiduous attendance at prayers.
In a word, they observe all the exercises of piety
that can be expected from a Christian body organized
more than 20 years ago,- although it has been, most
of that time, without Church, without Pastor, and
without other Teacher than the Holy Ghost.

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[VOL 56

[131] CHAPITRE V.

DE LA \fISSION DE S. FRANÇOIS XAVIER.

ARTICLE I. DES AVANTAGES DU LIEU CHOISI POUR
BASTIR LA CHAPELLE.
L A baye communement apel1ée des Puans, reçoit
une riviere, dans laquelle on fait la péche de
gibier & de poiffon tout enfemble; Les Sau-
vages en font les inventeurs; car s'eítant aperceus
que Ies Canards, les Cercelles & les autres oyfeaux
de cette nature, vont chercher dans I' eau Ies grains
de folIe avoine qui s'y trouvent vers la faifon d' Au-
tomne; ils leur tendent des rets fi adroitement, que
fans compter Ie poiffon, ils y prennent quelquefois
en une nuit jufqu'à cent pieces de gibier. Cette
pefche n'eft pas moins agreable qu'elle efi utile; car
c' efi un plaifir de voir dans un rets, quand on Ia tire
de reau, un Can art pris proche d'un brochet, & les
Carpes fe broüiller dans les mefmes filets avec les
Cercelles. Les [132] Sauvages fe nouriffent de cette
manne pendant pres de trois mois.
La nature & Ia neceffité qui leur ont enfeigné cette
forte de pefche, leur ont donné auffi l'invention d'en
faire une autre dans la mefme riviere à deux lieuës
de fon emboucheure.
C'efi une machine un peu groffiere, mais fort com-
mode pour leur deffein, & qui fait qu'un enfant peut
efire excellent pefcheur: Ils la confiruÏfent de telle
façon, qu'ils barrent toute la riviere d'un bout à

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121

[131] CHAPTER V.

OF THE MISSION OF ST. FRANÇOIS XAVIER.

ARTICLE I. OF THE ADV ANT AGES OF THE SITE
CHOSEN FOR BUILDING THE CHAPEL.
T HE bay commonly called des Puans receives a
river, in which wild fowl and fish are caught
both together. Of this practice the Savages
are the inventors; for, perceiving that Ducks, Teal,
and other birds of that kind dive into the water in
quest of the grains of wild rice to be found there
toward the Autumn season, they stretch nets for
them with such skill that, without counting the fish,
they sometimes catch in one night as many as a hun-
dred wild fowl. This fishing is equally pleasant and
profitable; for it is a pleasure to see in a net, when
it is drawn out of the water, a Duck caught side by
side with a pike, and Carp entangled in the same
meshes with Teal. The [132] Savages subsist on this
manna nearly three months [in the year].
Nature and necessity, which have taught them this
mode of fishing, have prompted them to invent still
another on the same river, two leagues from its
mouth.
It is a device that is somewhat rude, but excel-
lently adapted to their purpose, and it enables a
child to fish with great success. They construct it
in such a manner as to bar the entire river from one
bank to the other, making a sort of palisade of stakes,
which they plant in the water in a straight line,

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l'autre; c'efi comme une paliffade de pieux qu'its
plan tent dans l' eau en ligne droite, ne laiffant de
l"efpace que ce qui efi neceíIaire pour laiffer couler
les eaux, au travers de certaines c1ayes qui arrefient
Ie gros poiffon: Le long de cette barriere, its pra-
tiquent des efchafaux, fur lefquels its fe mettent en
embufcade & y attendent leur proye avec impatience:
lorfque Ie poiffon fuivant Ie fil de 1'eau arrive à cette
barriere, alors Ie pefcheur enfonce un ret fait en
forme de poche, dans lequel it fait aifément entrer
les poiffons.
Ces deux fortes de pefche attirent en cet endroit
grand nombre de Sauvages [133J de toutes parts; La
fituation du lieu n'y contribuë pas peu; car fur Ie
bord de cette riviere, vers l'endroit dont nous venons
de parler, on voit une prairie de quatre à cinq arpens
de large, terminée de chaque cofié de bois de haute
fufiaye. Et outre les raifins, les prunes, les pommes
& les autres fruits qui y feroient affez bons, fi les
Sauvages avoient la patience de les laiffer meurir; i1
fe trouve encore dans les prairies une efpece ,de
citrons, qui ont du raport à ceux de France, mais qui
n'ont rien d'amer, non pas mefme dans leur efcorce,
la plante qui les porte tire un peu fur la fougere.
L'Ours, & Ie Chat fauvage, qui eft grand comme
un chien, d'une mediocre hauteur, rempliíIent Ie
pais, & comme Ie bois y eft fort clair, l'on voit des
gran des prairies dans les forefis, qui rendent .ce
fejour agreable; c'efi à ces fortes d'animaux, auffi
bien qu'au Cerf, dont la chaíIe fe fait aifément, tant
dans Ie bois qui n'eft pas épais, que fur la riviere,
dans laquelle it fe jette fouvent en courant, & où ron
va Ie prendre fans peine.

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leaving only space enough to allow the water to run
between certain hurdles, which stop the large fish.
Along this barrier they arrange scaffolds, on which
they place themselves in ambush and await their
prey with impatience. When the fish, following the
current, reach this barrier, the fisher plunges in a
pocket-shaped net, into which he easily coaxes
them. 6
These two kinds of fishing draw to this spot many
Savages [133] from all directions. The situation of
the place contributes not a little to this result; for,
bordering that river, near the spot of which we have
just spoken, we see a prairie of four or five arpents
in width, bounded on either side by woods of full-
grown trees. And besides the grapes, plums, apples,
and other fruits, which would be fairly good if the
Savages had patience to let them ripen, there also
grows on the prairies a kind of lime resembling that
of France, but having no bitter taste-not even in
its rind. The plant bearing it slightly resembles
the fern. 7
The Bear and the Wildcat-the latter being as
large as a medium-sized dog-abound in the coun-
try; and as the woods are free from underbrush,
extensive prairies are seen in the forests, and con-
tribute to the pleasure of living there. The above-
named animals, as well as the Stag, are easily
hunted,- both in the woods, which are not dense,
and on the river, into which the last-named animal
often plunges in its course, when it is pursued, and
is taken without difficulty.
To all the advantages of this place may be [134]
added the fact of its being the great-and the only-
thoroughfare for all the surrounding Nations, who

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A tous les avantages de ce lieu, on peut [134] ajou-
ter qu'il eft l'unique & Ie grand paffage de toutes les
Nations circonvoifines, qui ont un commerce conti-
nuel entre elles, ou de villte, ou de trafic; & c'eft ce
qui nous a fait jetter les yeux fur cet endroit pour y
placer noftre Chapelle, comme au centre de plus de
dix Nations differentes, qui nous peuvent fournir
plus de quinze mille ames pour eftre inftruites des
veritez du Chriftianifme.
C' eft là où Ie Pere Claude Alloüez & Ie Pere Loüis
André fe font arreftez pour travailler au falut de
tous ces peuples; & pour Ie faire plus commodement,
ils fe font partagez, l'un s'appliquant aux Nations
qui font plus reculées dans les bois, & l'autre à celles
qui font fur Ie bord de la baye des Puans.

ARTICLE II. DES PEUPLES QUI HABITENT DANS LA
BAYE DES PUANS, & DE LEURS FAUSSES DIVINITEZ.
Q UATRE Peuples differens font placés vers Ie fond
de la baye, & y vivent en partie de ce qu'ils
recüeillent de la terre, & en partie de la pefche & de
la chaffe: [135] Deux autres un peu plus éloignés
font leur demeure ordinaire fur les rivieres qui fe
déchargent dans cette mefme baye, du cofié du Nord;
& toutes reconnoiffent diverfes fortes de divinitez,
aufquelles el1es font fouvent des facrifices. Ces
Peuples ont des Dieux comme avoient autrefois les
Payens, ils en ont dans Ie Ciel, dans l'air, fur la
terre, dans les bois, dans les eaux, & mefme dans
l'enfer; & comme il s'eft trouvé des Theologiens qui
mettoient des intelligences particulieres, non feule-
ment dans les aftres, mais encore fur la terre pour la
confervation de chaque efpece de toutes chofes;

167] -72]

RELA TION OF 167r-72

125

maintain a constant intercourse, either in visiting or
trading. Hence it was that we turned our eyes
thither, with a view to placing our Chapel there in
the midst of more than ten different Nations, who
can furnish us over fifteen thousand souls to be
instructed in the truths of Christianity.8
There Fathers Claude Allouez and Louis André
have taken up their abode, for the purpose of labor-
ing to save all those peoples; and, for their greater
convenience in this pursuit, they have divided the
work,- one devoting himself to the more remote
Nations in the forests, and the other to those gath.
ered on the shores of the bay des Puans.

ARTICLE II. OF THE TRIBES DWELLING ABOUT THE
BAY DES PUANS, AND THEIR FALSE DIVINITIES.
F OUR different Tribes are situated near the head
of the bay, where they live partly on what they
gather from the fields, and partly by fishing and
hunting. [135J Two others, a little farther away,
make their usual abode on the rivers emptying into
this same bay from the North; and all acknowledge
various sorts of divinities, to whom they offer fre-
quent sacrifices. These People have Gods, as had
the Pagans of old,- having them in the Skies, in the
air, on the earth, in the woods, in the water, and
even in hell. And, as there have been Theologians
who placed special intelligences not only in the
heavenly bodies, but also on the earth, for the pres-
ervation of each species of all creatures, so those of
our Savages who are regarded as intelligent among
their fellows hold the belief that, besides the Sun
and thunder,- which they recognize as the Gods of
the Sky and of the air,- each species of animals,

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ainfi ceux de nos Sauvages qui paffent pour intelli-
gens parmy eux, ont cette créance, qu'outre Ie Soleil
& Ie tonnerre qu'i1s reconnoiffent pour les Dieux du
Ciel & de l'air, chaque efpece de beftes, de poiffons &
d'oifeaux, a un genie particulier, qui en a foin, qui
veille à fa confervation, & qui la deffend du mal
qu'on luy pourroit faire.
C' eft pour cela, que comme les Egyptiens met-
toient fur les autels les rats & les fouris, ainfi ces
peuples ont une confideration [136] particuliere pour
ces animaux, comme il parut dans une fouris que
nous avions prife & jettée dehors, car une fille s. en
eftant faifie, & ayant envie de la manger, fon pere
prit auparavant cette fouris, & luy fit mille careffes,
nous luy demandafmes pourquoy il en ufoit ainfi,
c'eft, dit il, que je veux appaifer Ie genie qui a foin
des fouris, afin qu'un mets fi extraordinaire n'incom-
mode pas ma fille.
II y a certains animaux, aux genies defquels ils
rendent beaucoup plus de refpeét qu'aux autres,
parce qu'ils leur font plus utiles: On ne fçauroit croire
la veneration qu'ils ont pour l'Ours, car quand ils
en ont tué quelqu'un à la chaffe, ils en font d.ordi-
naire un feftin folennel avec des ceremonies fort
particulieres; iis con fervent pretieufement la tefte
de cet animal, ils la peignent des plus belles cou-
leurs qu'ils peuvent trouver, & pendant Ie feftin ils
la placent dans un lieu eminent, afin quelle y reçoive
les adorations de tous les conviez, & les loüanges
qu'ils luy donnent les uns apres les autres par leurs
plus belles chanfons.
[137] lIs font quelque chofe de femblable à l'é-
gard des autres Divinitez; mais pour fe les rendre

1671-72]

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127

fishes, and birds, has a special genius who cares for
it, watches over:'its safety, and protects it from the
harm that might:befall it.
Therefore, just as the Egyptians offered rats and
mice on their altars, so these people cherish a [136]
special regard for these animals, as was illustrated in
the case of a mouse that we had caught and thrown
outdoors; for, a girl having snatched it up and
being inclined to eat it, her father first took the
mouse and bestowed a thousand caresses upon it.
Upon our asking him why he treated it thus, " Be-
cause," said he, "I wish to propitiate the genius
that cares for mice, in order that so unusual a dish
may not hurt my daughter. "
There are certain animals to whose genii they pay
far more respect than to others, because they are
more useful to them. It passes belief what venera-
tion they have for the Bear; for after killing one in
hunting, they are wont to hold a solemn feast over it
with very special ceremonies. Carefully saving the
animal's head, they paint it with the finest colors
they can find; and, during the feast, they place it in
an elevated position, to receive the worship of all
the guests and the praises that they bestow upon it,
one after another, in their choicest songs.
[137] They follow a somewhat similar usage in
regard to the other Divinities; but, to secure their
favor, they practice devotions of various kinds, of
which the following is the most customary and
the most important. They pass four or five days
without eating, in order that, having their heads
weakened by this fast, they may see in their dreams
some one of those Divinities, on whom, they think,
depends all their welfare; and, as they believe that

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favorables, ils pratiquent diverfes fortes de devotions,
dont voicy la plus ordinaire & la plus confiderable;
ils demeurent quatre & cinq jours fans manger, afin
qu' ayant par cette difette la tefte affoiblie, i1s puiffent
voir en fonge quelqu'une de ces Divinitez, de laquelle
ils croyent que depend toute leur bonne fortune; &
parce qu'ils croyent qu'ils ne peuvent eftre heureux
à la chaffe du Cerf, ou de l'Ours, s'ils ne les ont veu
auparavant en fonge; avant que d'alIer chercher des
beftes, tout leur foin eft d'avoir en dormant la veuë
de celIe à qui ils en veulent.
C'eft pour cela qu'ils fe preparent à leurs chaffes
par de grands jeûnes, qu'ils prolongent mefme quel-
quefois jufqu.à dix jours, ce que font plus ordinaire-
ment ceux de la Nation des Outagami: ils font bien
plus, parce que pendant que les hommes font à la
chaffe, on oblige les petits enfans de jeuner, afin de
pouvoir refver à l'Ours, que leurs parens vont cher-
cher, & ils s'imaginent que la befte fera [138] prife, fi
elle eft une fois veuë en fonge. mefme par ces enfans.
115 ont quantité d'autres fuperftitions, qu'il feroit
ennuyeux de raporter icy, mais qui donnent bien de
l' exercice à un Miffionnaire. qui a tous ces monftres
à combattre en mefme temps; c'eft ce que Ie P.
André a experimenté; nous allons dire quelque chofe
des travaux qu'i1 a foufferts pour defabufer ces
pauvres peuples.

ARTICLE III. DE LA MISSION FAITE AUX PEUPLES
DE LA BA YE DES PU ANS.
L E Pere les avoit déja fortement attaquez fur leurs
, . vices. & particulierement fur leurs fuperftitions.
pendant quelques mois qu'il avoit paffé. l'Efté dernier

1671-72]

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129

they cannot be successful in hunting the Stag or
the Bear, unless they have first seen these in a
dream, their whole anxiety is, before going to seek
these animals, to see in their sleep the animal upon
which they have designs.
Accordingly, they prepare for their hunting ex-
cursions by long fasts, - which they sometimes
protract even to ten days, as is most commonly done
by those of the Outagami Nation. They do far more;
for while the men are at the hunt, the little children
are obliged to fast, that they may dream of the Bear,
of which their relatives are in quest; and they
imagine that the animal will be [13 8J ca ug h t, if it be
once seen in a dream, even by these children.
They have many more superstitions, which it
would be tiresome to describe here, but which cause
much trouble to a Missionary,- who has all these
monsters to combat at the same time. Such has
been the experience of Father André, of whose
labors, undergone for the sake of freeing those poor
people from error, we are about to give some account.

ARTICLE III. OF THE MISSION TO THE PEOPLES AT
THE BAY DES PUANS.
T HE Father had already assailed them vigorously
on account of their vices, and especially their
superstitions, during several months which he spent
with them last Summer; but wishing to devote the
whole Winter to the work, he set out on the 1 sth of
December, to repair thither by a route equally rough
and dangerous. For, starting out on the ice that
covered the bay, and desiring to make short cuts
from point to point, to facilitate and shorten his
journey, he found [139J toward evening, when he

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avec eux; mais y voulant employer tout l'Hyver, it
fe mit en chemin Ie 15. Decembre pour s'y rendre
par des routes également rudes & dangereufes; car
s' efiant engagé fur les glaces de la baye, & voulant
couper de pointe en pointe pour fe faciliter Ie chemin
& l' abreger, il trouva [139] fur Ie foir, quand il
voulut gagner terre, que Ie paffage en eftoit fermé par
des montagnes de glaces entaffées les unes fur les
autres, qui faifoient comme un rampart, qu'il efioit
inlpoffible de percer: cependant Ie Soleil fe coucha
avant qu'il peuft trouver d'iffuë; Le Pere avoit déja
jetté les yeux fur quelque amas de glaçons, au milieu
defquels il avo it deffein de paffer la nuit à I' abry de
ces montagnes de glaces; mais il fut bien infpiré de
ne fe pas arrefter là davantage, car cet amas de
glaçons dés la nuit mefme fut enlevé par les vents; il
trouva une retraitte plus affeurée fur une pointe de
terre qui avance fur Ie Lac, & il y demeura avec fes
Compagnons, veritablement fans danger d'y perir;
mais non pas fans y fouffrir les rigueurs d'un froid
tres-rude. Cependant il faUut garder ce pofie fi
incommode, pendant trois jours, aprés lefquels un
vent de bife ayant fuccedé à la pluye, ne fit de tout
Ie Lac qu'une glace fi unie, qu'il eftoit tres-difficile
de marcher fans tomber prefque à chaque pas. Pour
fe délivrer d'un chemin fi importun, il fe jetta dans
un autre & plus facheux, & plus dangereux; [140]
car ayant pris fa route Ie long du bois, & s'eftant
engagé dans un pais embaraffé de cedres & de fapins,
où les glaces n'eftoient pas affez fortes pour Ie porter,
il enfonçoit à tout moment, il fe trouva mefme engagé
au milieu de quantité de trous, qui s'eftoient faits
dans la glace: de forte qu'il luy fut bien difficile de

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131

wished to gain the shore, that access thereto was
barred by mountains of ice-floes,- heaped one upon
another, and forming a sort of rampart, which it was
impossible to pierce. Meanwhile, the Sun set before
he could find an outlet. The Father had already
directed his attention to a pile of ice-floes, in the
midst of which he proposed to pass the night, under
the lee of those mountains of ice. But he was hap-
pily inspired not to tarry there longer; for that heap
of ice was swept away by the wind on that very
night. He found a safer retreat on a point of land
that projected into the Lake, and there he remained
with his Companions,- out of danger, indeed, of
perishing, but exposed to the rigors of a very severe
cold. Yet he was forced to keep that highly
disadvantageous position for three days; after which
a north wind, succeeding the rain, made of the entire
Lake nothing but one sheet of ice, so smooth that it
was extremely difficult to walk without falling at
nearly every step. To escape from so arduous a
route, he hastened to adopt another, both more diffi-
cult and more dangerous; [140] for, taking his course
along the woods, and becoming involved in a region
encumbered with cedars and firs, where the ice was
not strong enough to bear him, he broke through at
every moment, and even found himself caught in the
midst of numerous holes that had formed in the ice,
so that it was difficult indeed for him to extricate
himself. Nevertheless, he made his escape, drag-
ging himself out from amid those pitfalls, and con-
tinued his journey with the same dangers and fatigues
until he reached the spot where the Savages were,-
one of whose chiefs offered him a bag of acorns, to
regale him well after so much toil. This was not to

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D'y pas demeurer. II échapa neanmoins fe trainant
au milieu de ces precipices, & continua fa route avec
les mefmes perils, & les mefmes fatigues, jufqu'à ce
qu'il fe rendit au lieu, où étoient les Sauvages, dont
un des principaux, pour Ie bien regaler aprés tant de
peine, luy fit offre d 'un fac plein de gland, qui
n'efioit pas à refufer, car ce n'eft pas Ià un petit
prefent parmy ces peuples, qui n' ont point, pendant
l'Hyver, de mets plus delicieux, quand la chaíIe ou
la pefche ne reüffiíIent pas.
La premiere application du Pere fut à vifiter toutes
les cabannes, à enfeigner les enfans, & à expliquer
par tout, les myfteres de nofire religion; Les jours
efioient trop courts pour contenter la fainte curiofité
de tout ce peuple, qui ne [141] luy donnoit pas mefme
Ie loifir de prendre fes repas que bien tard, ni de
fatisfaire à fes devotions que dans quelque lieu
écarté, où l'on ne laiíIoit pas de l'aller trouver.
La caufe pour laquelle on Ie recherchoit avec tant
d'empreíIement, efioient certains Cantiques fpirituels,
qu'il faifoit chanter aux enfans fur des airs Fran-
çois, qui plaifoient extremement à ces Sauvages; de
forte que, & dans les ruës & dans les cabanes, nos
myfieres fe publioient & y efioient receus avec aplau-
diíIement, & s'imprimoient infenfiblement, par ces
Cantiques, dans les efprits.
Ce fuccez donna du courage au Pere, & luy fit
prendre refol ution d' attaquer les hommes par les
enfans, & de com battre l'idolatrie par des ames bien
innocentes. En effet, i1 compofa des Cantiques
contre les fuperfiitions, dont nous avons par1é, &
contre les vices les plus oppofez au Chrifiianifme, &
les ayant enfeignez aux enfans au fon d'une flute

1671-72]

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133

be refused, being a present of no small account
among those people, who have no more delicious
dish during the Winter, when they are unsuccessful
in h un ting or fishing.
The Father's first care was to visit all the cabins,
teach the children, and explain on every occasion
the mysteries of our religion. The days were too
short for satisfying the holy curiosity of all these
people, who did not [141] give him leisure even to
take his meals until very late; or to perform his
devotions, except in some remote spot, whither they
persisted in following him.
The reason why he was so eagerly sought was
found in certain spiritual Songs that he was wont to
have the children sing to French airs, which pleased
those Savages extremely; so that our mysteries were
published in the streets and cabins, and were received
with applause, impressing themselves insensibly on
people's minds through these Songs.
This success encouraged the Father, and made him
resolve to assail the men through the children, and
to combat idolatry with souls of extreme innocence.
In short, he composed some Songs against the super-
stitions that we have mentioned, and against the
vices most opposed to Christianity; and after teach-
ing the children to sing them to the accompaniment
of a sweet-toned flute, he went everywhere with
these little Savage musicians, to declare war on
Jugglers, Dreamers, and those who [142] had several
wives. And, as the Savages are passionately fond
of their children, and will endure anything at their
hands, they accepted the reproaches, bitter though
these were, that were made them through the Songs,
since they came from their children's mouths.

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douce, il alloit par tout avec ces petits muficiens
Sauvages declarer la guerre aux Jongleurs, aux Ref-
veurs, & à ceux qui [142] avoient plufieurs femmes:
& parce que les Sauvages aiment paffionnément leurs
enfans, & fouffrent d'eux toute chofe, ils agréoient
les reproches. quoique fanglans, qui leur efioient
faits par ces Cantiques. d'autant qu'ils fortoient de
la bouche de leurs enfans.
11 arrivoit quelquefois. que comme Ie Pere efioit
obligé de refuter dans la chaleur de la difpute les
erreurs de ces fuperfiitieux. & convaincre les vieil-
lards des fauffetez & des impertinences de leur idola-
trie, il arrivoit, dis-je, que cette trouppe d'enfans,
s'ennuyant d'entendre tant difputer, fe jettoient
comme à la traverfe, & entonnant leurs Cantiques,
obligeoient leurs parens à fe taire, ce qui donnoit
bien de la joye au Pere, qui voyoit que Dieu fe
fervoit de ces bouches innocentes pour confondre
l'impieté de leurs propres parens.
Outre ces exercices de pieté, qui fe faifoient dans
Ie bourg, Ie Pere affembloit les Sauvages dans fa
petite Chapelle. où il avoit trois grandes Images
propres pour l'infiruétion de ces Peuples, rune du
jugement univerfel, au haut de laquelle les [143]
parens efioient bien aife qu'on leur fit remarquer la
place que tiendroient leurs enfans baptifez; & au
bas, i1 voyoient avec horreur les tourmens que Ie
diable y endure.
Dans la feconde Image, font depeints douze
emblefmes, dont chacun contient un article du fimbole
des Apofires; La troifiéme faifoit voir Jefus mourant
en Croix; l'ardeur de venir prier Dieu devant ces
Images, & d.y recevoir les infiruétions, efioit telle,

1671-72]

RELA TION OF 1671-72

185

It sometimes occurred, when the Father, in the
heat of discussion, was obliged to refute the errors
of these superstitious people, and convince the old
men of the falsity and senselessness of their idol-
atry,-it was wont to happen, I say, that this band
of children, wearying of so much:-debate, would
throw themselves in the way, so to speak, and by
striking up their Songs force their parents to :be
silent. This greatly delighted the Father, who saw
God make use of those innocent mouths:to confound
the impiety of their own parents.
Besides .these exercises of piety, which were per-
formed in the village, the Father used to call the
Savages together in his little Chapel, where he had
three large Pictures adapted to these People's in-
struction,- one representing the universal judgment,
in the upper part of which the [143] parents were
glad to be shown the place that their baptized
children would occupy; while below they saw, with
horror, the torments suffered by the devil.
In the second Picture were represented twelve
emblems, each of which contained one of the articles
of the Apostles' creed. The third showed Jesus
dying on the Cross. Their eagerness to come and
pray to God before these Pictures, and to receive
instruction, was such that many children used to
come barefoot through the snow, over nearly a
quarter of a league's distance.
In these 'occupations the Father passed the whole
Winter,- visiting the Villages, one after another,
and inspiring a holy emulation as to who should best
know the spiritual Songs, and who should have the
most children baptized, and children best versed in
our mysteries.

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SUITES

[VOL. 56

que plufieurs enfans y venoient pieds nuds fur la
neige pendant prés d'un quart de lieuë de chemin,
qu'il yavoit à faire.
C'efi dans ces emplois que Ie Pere paffa tout I'Ry-
ver, parcourant les Bourgs, les uns apres les autres,
& y mettant une fainte émulation à qui fçauroit
mieux les Cantiques fpirituels, & à qui auroit plus
d'enfans baptifez, & de plus fçavans en nos myfieres.
II ne faut pas pourtant qu'on fe perfuade qu'on
puiffe reprendre les vices des ieunes gens, décrier les
Jongleurs, blafmer les fefiins fuperfiitieux, & com-
battre à guerre ouverte l'idolatrie, fans recevoir
[144] de temps en temps des affrons, parmi des gens
qui n'ont ni loix, ni police, ni Magiftrats qui empef-
chent les defordres: Le Diable prend trop d'intereft
à maintenir fon royaume, pour ne pas fufciter des
perfecuteurs contre ceux qui Ie deftruifent; mais
ces Croix font les delices des Miffionnaires, qui n'ont
point de plus grand defir, que de meßer leur fang
avec leurs fueurs. Le Pere n'a pas efié privé de ces
faveurs parmy fes travaux Apoftoliques, pendant
lefquels il n'a pas laiffé de faire quelques remarques
curieufes fur les marées de la baye des Puans, où i1 a
[p]affé une bonne partIe de I'année.
ARTICLE IV. MARÉE DE LA BAYE DES PUANS.
V OICY ce que Ie Pere en écrit. Je n'avois pas efié
iufqu'à prefent du fentiment de ceux qui croyent
que Ie Lac Ruron efioit fuiet au flux & reflux auffi
bien que la Mer, parce que ie n'avois remarqué rien
de bien reglé pendant Ie temps que i'aydemeuré furIes
bords de ce Lac; mais ie commençay à douter [145]
qu'il n'y eufi en effet de la marée dans la baye des

1671-72]

RELATION OF I67I-72

137

It must not, however, be thought that one can
repress the vices of the young, decry the Jugglers,
throw reproach on superstitious feasts, and wage
open warfare against idolatry, without receiving
[144] occasional affronts among people who have
neither laws, nor police, nor Magistrates to check
disorder. The Devil takes too much interest in
maintaining his kingdom, not to arouse persecutors
against those who destroy it; but such Crosses are the
delight of Missionaries, who have no greater desire
than to mingle their blood with their sweat. Of that
privilege the Father has not been deprived amid his
Apostolic labors, during which he did not fail to make
some curious observations on the tides of the bay des
Puans, where he passed a good part of the year.
ARTICLE IV. THE TIDE IN THE BAY DES PUANS.
F OLLOWING is what the Father writes on this sub-
ject: " Hitherto I have not shared the opinion
of those that believe that Lake Huron is subject to
an ebb and flow, in common with the Sea; because I
had observed no fixed movement of the sort during
the time of my sojourn on the shores of that Lake.
But, [145] after passing the so-called 'wild-oats
river,' I began to suspect that there might really be
a tide in the bay des Puans. We had left our canoe
in the water, in very calm weather; and the next
morning were greatly surprised to find it high and
dry. I was more astonished than the rest, because
I bore in mind that for a long time the Lake had
been perfectly calm. Thereupon, I determined to
study this tide, and at the outset reflected that the
contrary, but very moderate, wind did not prevent
the flow or ebb, as the case might be. I also became

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LES RELA TIONS DES IÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

Puans, apres ayoir paffé la riviere qu' on nomme de
la foIle avoine: Nous avions laiffé noUre canot à
l'eau dans un temps fort calme, & Ie lendemain
matin, nous fufmes bien furpris de Ie voir à fee; j'en
fus plus efionné que les autres, parce que je confi-
derois que depuis long-temps, Ie Lac efioit parfaite-
ment calme. Dés lors je pris refolution d'eftudier
cette marée, & d'abord je fis reflexion que Ie vent
contraire, mais fort moderé, n'empefchoit pas Ie flux
& reflux felon fon cours; je reconnus auffi, que dans
la riviere qui fe décharge au fond de la baye, la marée
monte & :defcend deux fois dans un peu plus de 24.
heures; d'ordinaire elle monte d'un pied; & la plus
haute marée que j'aye veuë, a fait croifire la riviere
de trois pieds, mais elle efioit aidée d'un vent violent
de N ordefi; fi Ie Suroüefi n' eft bien fort, i1 n' em-
pefche pas Ie cour de la riviere; de forte que pour
l'ordinaire, Ie milieu coule toujours en bas vers Ie
Lac, quoy-que l'eau remonte de chaque extremité,
felon les temps reglez de la marée; comme il [146]
n'ya que deux vents qui regnent dans cette riviere
& fur Ie Lac, on pourroit aifement leur attribuer la
caufe de ces marées, fi eUes ne fuivoient pas Ie cours
de Ia Lune, dequoy cependant on ne peut pas douter,
puifque j'ay
découvert manifefiement qu'en pleine
Lune, les marées font plus hautes, qu'elles retardent
enfuite, & qu'elles diminüent toujours à proportion
que la Lune décroifi. II ne faut pas s'efionner que
cc flux & reflux foit plus fenfible dans Ie fonds de la
baye que dans Ie Lac Huron, ou en celuy des Ilinois;
car quand la marée ne croiftroit que d'un poulce dans
ces Lacs, eUe devroit eftre bien remarquable dans Ia
baye, qui a environ 15 ou 20. lieuës de long, & cinq

1671-72]

RE'LA TIOIV OF I6'JI-72

139

aware that, in the river emptying into the bay at its
head, the tide rises and falls twice in a little more
than 24 hours,- rising usually a foot; while the
highest tide I have seen made the river rise three
feet, but it was aided by a violent Northeast wind.
Unless the Southwest wind is very strong, it does
not check the river's course; so that ordinarily the
middle flows constantly downward to the Lake,
although at each end the water rises with the fixed
periods of the tide. As there [146J are but two
winds prevailing on that river and on the Lake, one
might easily ascribe to them these tides, were it
not that the latter follow the Moon's course, a fact
which cannot be doubted; for I have ascertained
beyond a question that at full Moon the tides are at
their highest, then they fall, and they continue to
diminish as the Moon wanes. It is not surprising
that this flow and ebb is more appreciable at the
head of the bay than in Lake Huron, or in that
of the Ilinois; for were the tide to rise even but an
inch in these Lakes, it would necessarily be very
noticeable in the bay, which is about 15 or 20 leagues
long by five or six, or more, wide at its mouth, and
narrows constantly. Consequently the water, being
contracted within a small space at the head of the
bay, must of necessity rise much higher there than
in the Lake, where it is less confined."
[147J ARTICLE V. FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ'S MIS-
SION TO THE MASKOUTENCH, THE OUTAGAMIS,
AND OTHER TRIBES TOWARD THE SOUTH.
W E would need here almost as much time for fol-
lowing Father Claude Allouez in an account
of his Apostolic journeys, as he took in making them;

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

ou fi[x] de larges, ou plus, en fon commencement, &
va toujours fe retreffiffant, ce qui fait que I' eau eftant
reduite au fond de la baye dans un petit efpace, y
doit par neceffité beaucoup plus monter, que dans Ie
Lac, où elle eft plus au large.
[147] ARTICLE V. MISSION DU P. CLAUDE ALLOÜEZ
AUX MASKOUTENCH, AUX OUTAGAMI, &
AUTRES PEUPLES VERS LE SUD.
I L faudroit prefque autant de temps pour fuivre icy,
Ie Pere Claude Alloüez en racontant fes courfes
Apoftoliques, qu'il en mis à Ies faire, parce qu'il n'a
efté en aucune Nation, où i1 n'ait fait des chofes
pour Ia gloire de Dieu, qui feroient bien Iongues à
ra porter.
On pourroit conter Ies travaux du Pere par Ies
Baptefmes qu'i1 a faits, & ces Baptefmes par Ies dif-
pofitions admirables de Ia Providence qui ont éclaté
pour Ie falut de ces Sauvages.
C'eft ce qu'il fera aifé de reconnoiftre par Ie peu
que nous allons dire des peines prefque incroyables
qu'il a prifes, ponr enfeigner des Peuples de cinq
langues differentes, dont quelques-uns, qui viennent
tout recemment des quartiers du Sudoüefi, n'avoient
jamais entendu parler de Ia Foy.
Le Pere arrivant en la baye des Puans, [148] apres
plus de cent lieuës de navigation, ne fut pas fi toft
débarqué qu'il trouva un enfant qui ne faifoit que de
naiftre, & qui eftoit prefi de mourir; i1 Ie baptife, &
l'envoye en mefme temps au Ciel.
II baptifa au mefme endroit, & en mefme temps
un vieillard malade; mais qui ayant furvefcu à fon
baptefme, n'a pas encore pû obtenir apres plus de

1671-72]

RELATION OF I&JI-72

141

for he has not visited a single Nation without
performing deeds for the glory of God, that would
be very long to relate.
The Father's labors could be reckoned by the
Baptisms he has conferred, and these Baptisms by
the admirable dispensations of Providence, which
have been signally displayed for these Savages'
sal vation.
This will be easily recognized from the short
account that we are about to give of the well-nigh
incredible pains he took to instruct Tribes of five
different tongues,- some of whom, coming but
recently from the regions of the Southwest, had
never heard of the Faith.
Upon the Father's arrival at the bay des Puans,
[148] after more than a hundred leagues' journey by
water, he had no sooner landed than he found a new-
born babe, who was at the point of death. He
baptized it, and sent it to Heaven, at the same time.
At the same place and on the same occasion he
baptized an old man who was ill, but who, surviving
his baptism, was still unable to obtain, after more
than sixty years, what the child secured after Ii ving
a quarter of an hour.
Let us consider two more acts of Providence. The
favorable reception accorded the Father by the
Maskoutench gave him an opportunity to confer two
baptisms, while the ill treatment that he received on
tbe way to the Outagamis was compensated by two
more.
In that village of the Maskoutench,- that is, the
fire Nation,- he found three tribes, of different
tongues. He was received there as an Angel from

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. .')6

foixante années, ce que I' enfant avoit eu apres un
quart-d'heure de vie.
V oyons deux autres traits de Ia Providence. Le
bon accüeil qu'on fit au Pere chez les MafKoutench,
luy donna occafion de conferer deux baptefmes, & Ie
mauvais traitement qu'il receut fur Ie chemin des
Outagami luy en valut deux auffi.
II trouva dans cette bourgade des MafKoutench,
qui efi la Nation du feu, trois peuples de Iangues
differentes; i1 y fut reçu comme un Ange venu du
Ciel, particulierement de ceux qui eftant arrivez de
nouveau des quartiers du Sud, n'avoient jamais en
connoiffance d' aucun François, ils ne pouvoient fe
raffafier de Ie voir; les jours efioient trop courts pour
[149] I'entendre parler de nos myfieres, i1 falloit y
employer les nuits entieres: Un fi favorable accüeil
arrefia bien volontiers Ie Pere; & luy donna lieu de
baptifer deux malades. Dne femme malade qu'il
fit chrefiienne fur Ie chemin des Outagami, luy couta
de grandes fatigues, i1 falluft qu'il l'allafi chercher
dans un bois, où s'eftant égaré il fut contraint de
prendre fon giite fous un arbre, & de paffer la nuit
fans feu, au milieu des neiges.
II luy fallut encore achepter d'autres baptefmes
par de plus grandes fouffrances, lorfque fe trouvant
dans des villages affamez, il fe contentoit auffi bien
que ces pauvres gens de ne manger que du gland,
qu'ils ne luy donnoient qu'en fort petite quantité,
n'en ayant pas affez pour eux-mefmes.
Le baptefme de foixante enfans & de quelques
adultes dans Ie bourg des Outagami, font autant de
trai ts merveilleux de la Providence; mais elle a paru
encore plus vifiblement dans la mort de deux adultes,

1671-ï2]

RELA TIo.N OF I67I-72

143

Heaven,- especially by those who had recently come
from the regions of the South, and had never been
acquainted with any Frenchman. They could not
sate themselves with looking at him; the days
were too short for [149] hearing him tell about our
mysteries; the whole night must needs be used for
the purpose. So favorable a reception detained the
Father, by no means against his will, and enabled
him to baptize two sick persons. A sick woman
whom he made a Christian on his way to the Outaga-
mis cost him no little fatigue; for he was obliged to
go in quest of her in a forest where, losing his way,
he was forced to seek shelter under a tree and pass
the night in the snow, with no fire.
Still other baptisms he was compelled to pay for
with severer sufferings, when he chanced upon starv-
ing villages, where, in company with their wretched
inhabitants, he was fain to content himself with
acorns only, which the people gave him in very small
quantities, not having enough for themselves.
The baptism of sixty children and some adults, in
the village of the Outagamis, represented so many
marvelous designs of Providence. But these designs
were still more plainly manifest in the death of two
adults,- one, a woman who came to that country in
quest of baptism, and a happy death under the
Father's care, after many [150] eventful wanderings.
She had been captured here by the Iroquois and taken
to their country, and thence conducted to Montreal,
when she returned to the Outaouacs, there to find
her happiness. The other was an old man, who was
only waiting for the Father's coming to die a Chris-
tian. He was confined to his wretched mat by
paralysis, with pains so acute that he could not be

144

LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

d'une femme qui ana chercher en ce pais Ie bap-
tefme, & une heureufe mort entre les mains du Pere,
apres bien [150] des courfes & des accidens, ayant
cfté prife icy par les Iroquois, & menée chez eux, &
de là, conduite à Montreal, d'où enfin elle retourna
aux Outaoüacs pour y trouver fon bonheur; & dans
celIe d'un vieillard qui ne faifoit qu'attendre la
"enuë du Pere pour mourir Chrefiien, il efioit detenu
fur fa pauvre natte d'une paralifie, avec des douleurs
de nerfs fi aiguës, qu'on ne pouvoit Ie remuer fans
luy en caufer d'infupportables; cependant il avoit
foin de fe faire porter la main prefqu 'à tous mom ens
pour faire fur luy Ie figne de la Croix, nonobftant
Ie grand mal que luy caufoit ce mouvement, & i1
ne ceffa point jufqu'au dernier foupir de baifer Ie
Crucifix, & de luy adreffer des paroles fi tendres
& fi devotes, qu'on peut dire qu'il mourut dans les
tranfports d'un parfait am ant de ]efus-Chrifi.
Le figne de la Croix eft en telle veneration parmy
ces Peuples des Outagami, que Ie Pere a crû qu'il
efioit temps d'en elever une au milieu de leur bour-
gade, pour prendre poffeffion de ces terres infideles,
au nom de ]efus-Chrift, dont il [151] arboroit les
armes plus avant dans l'empire du demon, qu'elles
n. avoient jufqu' alors efié plantées. Et depuis ce
temps-là l'on ne voit prefque perfonne dans Ie bourg,
foit des jeunes, foit des vieux, qui ne faffe Ie figne
de la Croix avec refped, ils y ont mefme une telle
confiance, que quelques jeunes foldats faifant un
party pour aller en guerre contre les Nadoüeffi,
peuples qui fe rendent redoutables à tous leurs
voifins, & s'efiant addreffez au Pere, pour fçavoir
comment ils pourroient retourner viétorieux; illeur

1671-72]

RELA TIOi\r OF 1671-72

145

moved without being caused unbearable agony.
Nevertheless, he took care to have some one lift his
hand at very frequent intervals, and make on his
person the sign of the Cross, despite the intense
pain caused by this movement; nor did he cease to
kiss the Crucifix as long as he drew breath, and to
address it with words so tender and devout that he
ma y be said to ha ve died in the transports of a
perfect lover of Jesus Christ.
The sign of the Cross is held in such veneration
among those Outagami Peoples that the Father
thought it time to plant a cross in the middle of their
village, and thus take possession of those infidel
lands in the name of Jesus Christ, whose standard
[15 I] he was erecting farther within the realm of the
demon than it had ever before been planted. And
since then hardly a person has been seen in the
village, young or old, who does not make the sign
of the Cross with reverence. They even have such
confidence in it that, some young warriors having
formed a company to wage war on the Nadouessi,-
tribes who make themselves feared by all their
neighbors,- and having appealed to the Father to
learn how they could ensure a victorious return,
he related to them the story of Constantine, and
encouraged them by his example to have recourse
to the Cross. They believed it, for, of their own
accord, they marked their shields with this ador-
able sign; every morning and evening they made
it on themsel ves, without fail; and on meeting
the enemy, the first thing they did was to make the
sign of the Cross, after which they gave battle so
confidently that they happily won the victory. And
upon returning home they celebrated the triumph of

]46

LES RELA TIONS DES J
SUITES

[VUL. .
6

raconta l'hifioire de Confiantin, & les encouragea à
fon exemple d'avoir recours à la Croix; ils Ie crurent,
car d'eux mefme, ils marque rent fur leurs boucliers
ce figne adorable; tous les matins & to us les foirs ils
ne manquoient point de Ie faire fur eux, & ayant
joint l'ennemy, la premiere chofe qu'i1s firent fut Ie
figne de la Croix, & enfuite livrerent Ie combat avec
tant de confiance, qu'ils remporterent heureufement
Ia viétoire; & efiant de retour, ils faifoient triomphe
de la Croix, publiant par tout qu'ils luy efioient
uniquement redevables d'un fi bon fuccez.
[152] C'eft ainfi que nofire fainte Foy va s'efia-
bliffant parmy ces peuples, & nous efperons bien
que dans peu de temps nous la porterons jufqu'à Ia
fameufe riviere nommée Miffifipi, & mefme peut-
efire jufqu'à la mer du Sud, afin que I'Evangile
s'efiende auffi loin vers Ie Midy, que nous allons voir
qu'il a efié porté vers Ie Nord.

1671-72]

RELA TION OF JÓ'JJ-72

147

the Cross, proclaiming everywhere that they were
solely indebted to it for such good success.
[152J Thus our holy Faith is more and more gain-
ing a footing among these peoples, and we have
good hope that in a short time we shall carry it as
far as the famous river named Missisipi,-and, per-
haps, even to the South sea, that the Gospel may
extend as far Southward as, we are about to see, that
it has been borne Northward.

148

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

(VOL 66

CHAPITRE VI.

VOYAGE DE LA MER DU NORD PAR TERRE, & LA
DÉCOUVERTE DE LA BAYE DE HUTSON. MISSION
DE SAINT FRANÇOIS XAVIER EN 1671. & 1672.

L A mer que nous avons au Nord, eft la fameufe
baye, à qui Hutfon a donné fon nom, & qui a
piqué, depuis long-temps, de curiofité nos
François pour en faire la découverte par Ies terres,
& pour fçavoir fa fituation à noftre égard, fa diftance,
& quels font les peuples qui l'habitent. Le defir de
prendre connoiffance de cette mer, s'eít augmenté
depuis que [153] nous avons appris par nos Sauvages,
que tout fraifchement quelques navires y avoient paru,
& mefme y avoient commencé Ie commerce avec ces
Nations, qu.on nous a toujours dit eftre nombreufes
& riches en pelteries.
C'eft pour cela, que Monfieur Talon noftre Inten-
dant a jugé qu'il ne devoit rien obmettre de ce qui
feroit en fon pouvoir, pour faire cette decouverte; &
parce qu'il fçait que l'intention de fa Majefté eft, que
tous 1es Peuples de Canada foient inftruits dans Ie
Chriftianifme, il a demandé que1qu'un de nos Peres,
qui puft ouvrir Ie chemin à nos François vers cette
baye, en mefme-temps qutil y porteroit l'Evangile.
On jetta donc les yeux fur Ie Pere Charles Al banel
ancien Miffionnaire de Tadouffac, parce que depuis
long-temps, i1 a beaucoup pratiqué 1es Sauvages, qui
ont connoifIance de cette mer, & qui feu1s peuvent

1671-7
]

RELA TION OF IÓ7I-72

149

CHAPTER VI.

JOURNEY TO THE NORTH SEA BY LAND, AND THE
DISCOVERY OF HUTSON'S BAY. MISSION OF
SAINT FRANÇOIS XAVIER IN 167 I AND 1672.

T HE sea to the North of us is the famous bay to
which Hutson gave his name; it has long been
stirring our Frenchmen's curiosity to discover
it by land, and learn its situation with reference to
ourselves, its distance, and what tribes dwell on its
shores. The wish to gain a knowledge of this sea
has increased since [153] we learned through our
Savages that very recently some ships made their
appearance there, and even opened a trade with those
Nations, who have always been represented to us
as populous, and rich in peltries.
Therefore Monsieur Talon, our Intendant, deemed
it his duty to neglect no means in his power to effect
this discovery; and, knowing that it was his Majes-
ty's purpose to have aU the Tribes of Canada
instructed in Christianity, he asked for one of our
Fathers, to open a way for our Frenchmen to that
bay at the same time when he bore the Gospel thither.
Accordingly, we fixed our choice on Father Charles
Albanel, former Missionary to Tadoussac, since be
bas had much intercourse with the Savages who
possess a knowledge of that sea, who alone are able
to act as guides over those hitherto unknown ways.
Monsieur de saint Simon 9 and another Frenchman
being chosen for this enterprise, and Monsieur the

150

LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

efire les conduéteurs par ces routes, jufqu'à prefent
inconnuës.
Monfieur de faint Simon avec un autre François
ayant efié choifis pour cette entreprife, & Monfieur
rlntendant les ayant [154] tres-bien fournis de tout
ce qui efioit neceffaire, pour la faire reuffir, Ie Pere
partit de Quebec Ie 6. Aoufi 1671. & leur donna
rendez-vous à Tadoussac, où il devoit faire choix
d'un Sauvage adroit, & intelligent pour luy fervir de
guide pendant tout ce voyage.
Nous Ie fuivrons pas à pas, & nous fçaurons mieux
tout ce qui s'efi paffé en cette expedition, mettant
icy fon journal, tel qu'ill'a dreíIé pendant fa marche.
Je me rendis à TadouíIac, dit il, Ie 8. jour d'Aoufi,
où je me vis obligé de fouftenir beaucoup de
combats; pour rompre les oppofitions qu'apporterent
les Sauvages à cette entreprife.
Le Capitaine du lieu efiant mort de puis peu de
jours, je m'addreffay à l'onde du deffunt, qui efioit
Ie plus en credit, ce Sauvage, qui a beaucoup de
refpeét pour nous; & qui n'a pas moins d'affeétion
pour tous les François, me voulut obliger de bonne
grace; il affembla tous fes gens, & apres quelque
entretien particulier, fe tournant vers moy, me dit,
ma jeuneffe n'a point d'efprit; fi mon nepveu n'efioit
pas mort, c'eft moy, qui te voudrois [155] con-
duire: C'eft un honneur pour nous d'accompagner
un Miffionnaire, qui fe facrifie Ie premier, pour
ouvrir une nouvelle route à la preparation de la Foy,
& c'efi une obligation que nous t'avons de nous
donner Ie moyen de pratiquer la charité envers nos
freres, que nous irons vifiter pour les inftruire. V oHa
deux de mes gens que je te donne, qui font mes
beaux freres, & cet autre fera Ie troifieflne, qui eft

1671-72]

RELA TIO.A r OF IÓ7I-72

v> 1

Intendant having [154J most fully equipped them
with everything essential to its success, the Father
set out from Quebec August 6, 1671, assigning them
a rendezvous at Tadoussac, where he was to choose a
Savage of address and intelligence to serve him as
guide throughout this journey.
We will follow him step by step, and we shall best
learn all that occurred on this expedition by giving
here his journal, just as he wrote it during his
journey.
" I reached Tadoussac," he says, " on the 8th day
of August; and there I found myself forced to
contend vigorously to overcome the opposition offered
by the Savages against this undertaking.
" The Captain of the place having died a few days
before, I appealed to the uncle of the deceased, as
the one possessing the greatest influence. This
Savage, who has much respect for us, and no less
affection for all the French, decided to oblige me
with a good grace. He assem bled all his men, and,
after some conversation with individuals, turned to
me and said: '
Iy young men have no sense. If my
nephew were not dead, I In yself would [I 55 J guide
thee. It is an honor for us to accompany a Mission-
ary, who is the first to sacrifice himself that he may
open a new road for the introduction of the Faith;
and we are under obligations to thee for offering us
the means of doing a charity to our brothers, whom
we will go to visit for the purpose of instructing
them. Here are two of my people, whom I give
thee,-my brothers-in-law; and this other one, who
is my own nephew, will make a third. They will
assume thy guidance, and thou wilt let them take
part in the good that thou wilt do in laboring for the

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

mon propre neveu, ils auront foin de te mener, & tu
leur donneras part au bien que tu feras, travaiUant
à la converfion de tant de nations infideles. Puis
s'addreffant à ces jeunes homInes, il leur dit, mes
nepveux, fouvenez-vous que je prends part au bon
fuccez de ce voyage, & que je vous choifis pour me
degager de l'obligation de Ie faire moy-méme, m'y
eftant devoüé depuis long-temps.
L'affeétion de ce bon homme ne s'arrefta pas l'a,
it voulut nous embarquer avec nos pacquets, dans fa
chaloupe, comme eftant plus commode que nos
canots, & nous conduire avec fes gens à quarante
lieuës de là.
Nous en avions defia fait quinze, voguant [156] fur
la Riviere du Saguenay, quand nous fifmes rencontre
de deux canots, qui defcendoient, dans 1 'un defquels
efioit un homme, qu' on prefumoit fçavoir les che-
mins de la mer, puifqu'il n'yavoit pas plus de huit
ans qu'il en eftoit venu. Apres luy avoir fait
entendre nofire deffein, je Ie priay de nous vouloir
f ervir de guide; mais I' experience d u paffé, I u y
faifant craindre l'advenir, i1 s'excufa long-temps fur
la difficulté des chemins; illuy faUut pourtant ceder
à l'inftance de noftre conduéteur.
Nous partifmes done tous enfemble Ie 22. & ayant
eu Ie vent contraire, nous fufmes quatre iours à nous
rendre à Chegoutimit: nous y re11âmes trois jours, les
deux premiers furent employez à les conferrer & com-
munier, ce qu'ils firent avec grande devotion, pour
nous obtenir du Ciel, un heureux voyage; Ie troifiéme
jour ils tranfporterent fur leur dos nos canots, & tout
nofire equipage, pendant cinq quarts de lieuë.
Le 29. apres avoir fait un prefent confiderable à
ces bons Sauvages, qui no us avoient portez dans leur

1671- 72]

RELATION OF IÓ7I-72

153

conversion of so many infidel nations.' Then, ad-
dressing those young men, he said to them: I My
nephews, remember that I am interested in the
success of this journey; and that I choose you to
release me from the obligation of going in person,
having long ago pledged myself for the purpose.'
" This good man's affection did not stop there: he
insisted on em barking us and our baggage in his
shallop, as being more commodious than our canoes,
and on conducting us, with his attendants, for a
distance of forty leagues.
" We had already accomplished fifteen leagues in
our course [156] up the Saguenay River, when we
met two canoes coming down, in one of which was a
man who was supposed to know the way to the sea,
as he had come thence not more than eight years be-
fore. After informing him of our purpose, I begged
him to consent to serve us as guide; but, experience
of the past making him fear the future, he excused
himself for a long time, alleging the difficulty of the
route, but was constrained to yield to the urgency of
our conductor.
" Accordingly, we all set out together on the 22nd,
and spent four days, owing to head-winds, in reach-
ing Chegoutimit, where we remained three days.
The first two were employed in hearing confessions,
and administering the communion to the people,-
ceremonies in which they joined with great devotion,
in order to obtain for us from Heaven a prosperous
journey. On the third day, they carried our canoes
and all our luggage, on their backs, for a league and
a quarter.
" On the 29th, after making a considerable present
to those good Savages who had conveyed us thus far

164

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

chaloupe jufques [157] icy, & les avoir remerciez de
to us les bons fervices, qu'ils m'avoient charitable-
ment rendus, nous montames en canot, pour franchir
les premiers rapides, qui fe prefenterent, jufqu'au lac
de Kinougami, où no us arrivâmes Ie lendemain, & où
je trouvay deux cabanes de Sauvages de Sillery, qui
furent bien rejoüis de trouver cette occaGon de faire
leurs devotions, de fe confeffer, & fe communier.
Le I. de Septembre, nous couchâmes au delà d'vn
petit lac qu'on appelle Kinougamichis, renommé
pour la multitude des grenoüilles à longues queuës
qui 1'habitent, & qui y font un croacement continuel;
on tient qu'elles font fort venimeufes, quoy qu'en
ces pais les crapaux, les ferpens, & les viperes ne Ie
foient pas.
Le 2. nous logeâmes fur l'entrée du lac S. Jean
nommé Pingagami, qui a 30. lieuës de longueur, 10.
de largeur, 12. rivieres entrent dans ce lac, & il n'y
en a qu'une feule, qui en forte, laquelle forme cette
belle, & grande riviere qu'on appelle Ie Saguenay.
Ce lieu eft beau, les terres font fort unies, & pa-
roiffent bonnes, il y a de belles prairies; c'eft Ie pais
[15 8 ] des loutres, des orignaux, des caftors, & princi-
paIement du pore epi; c' eft pour cela que les Sau-
vages; qui y font leur refidence, s'appellent KaKou-
chac, prenant leur nom du mot KaKou, qui en leur
langue fignifie pore epi: c' eftoit autrefois I' en droit,
ou toutes les Nations, qui font entre les deux Mers,
de l' Eft, & du Nord, fe rendoient pour faire leur com-
merce; j'y ay veu plus de vingt Nations affemblées.
Les Habitans ont efté extremement diminuez par les
dernieres guerres, qu'ils ont eu avec l'Iroquois, & par
la petite verole, qui eft la pefte des Sauvages: main-
tenant ils commencent à fe repeupler par des gens

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

155

in their shallop, [I57J and thanking them for all the
kind services that they had charitably rendered me,
we embarked in our canoes to ascend the rapids-
the first that were encountered - to lake Kinougami.
We arrived there the next day, and I found two cabins
of Savages from Sillery, who were greatly rejoiced
at this opportunity to perform their devotions, to
confess, and to receive communion.
"On the 1st of September, we encamped on the
farther shore of a lake called Kinougamichis, noted for
the great numbers of long-tailed frogs that occupy
it and maintain a constant croaking. 10 They are held
to be extremely venomous, although the toads,
snakes, and vipers in those regions are not so.
"On the 2nd, we made our quarters near the
mouth of lake S1. John, which is known as Pingaga-
mi, and has a length of 30 leagues and a width of
10. Into this lake flow 12 rivers, while from it issues
but a single one, forming that fine large river called
the Saguenay. It is a beautiful region, the land being
very level and apparently fertile, with fine prairies.
It is the country [I58J of the otter, moose, beaver,
and, above all, the porcupine. Therefore the Sav-
ages living there are called Kakouchac, taking their
name from the word Kakou, which in their language
means' porcupine.' It was formerly the place whither
all the Nations between the two Seas, those of the
East and the North, used to repair for purposes of
trade; and I have seen more than twenty Nations
gathered there. The Inhabitants were extremely
reduced by their latest wars with the Iroquois, and
by the smallpox, which is the pest of the Savages.
Now they are beginning to regain their numbers, by
additions from the outside Nations who, since the

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LES RELATIONS DES./ÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

des Nations efirangeres, qui y abordent de divers
cofiez, depuis la paix. N ous arrefiâmes Ià, trois
jours, pour faire provifion de vivres, qui commen-
çoient defia à no us manquer.
Le 7. nous gagnâmes Ie bout du Lac. Le bon-heur
voulut que je fiffe rencontre de deux Sauvages, qui
nous accommoderent de deux fufils propres pour la
chaffe, quatre des no fires efiant inutiles.
Le 17. cinq canots d' AttiKamegues, ou poiffons
blancs, & de Mifiaffirinins [159] nous vindrent
joindre; ils nous apprirent pour nouvelles, que 2.
navires avoient moüillé dans la baye de Hutfon, &
qu.i1s avoient fait grande traite avec les Sauvages,
s'y efiant efiablis pour Ie commerce, ils nous firent
voir une hache & du tabac, qu'ils avoient eu d'un
Papinachois, qui avoit efié en traite vers la mer du
Nord, cet Efié méme. lIs adjoufioient qu'il n'y
avoit point d'affeurance de vie pour nous, qu' on s'y
battoit rudement, qu'un Sauvage avoit efié tué dans
leur demelé, & qu.un autre avoit efié :emmené pri-
fonnier. lIs en avoient affez dit pour jetter l'epou-
vante dans I'efprit de tous nos gens, mais comme ce
n'efioit plus Ie temps de continuer nofire route, à
caufe de I'Hyver, qui nous preffoit, ce difcours ne
fit aucune impreffion fur mon efprit.
Neantmoins pour ne pas agir fans conduite en
cette affaire, voyant que je n'avois aucun paffeport,
je pris refolution d'envoyer à Quebec, pour m'en
pourvoir, donnant en méme-temps advis de tout ce
que je venois d'entendre, & pour fçavoir quelles
mefures je devois garder en ces circonfiances.
[160] Deux Sauvages, & un François partirent Ie 19-
Septembre avec mes lettres: je m'occupay cependant

1671-72]

RELATION OF I67I-72

157

peace, resort thither from various directions. ll We
halted there for three days to provide ourselves with
food, which was already beginning to fail us.
e e On the 7 th , we reached the end of the Lake. As
good luck would have it, I met two Savages, who
supplied us with two muskets suitable for hunting,
four of ours being useless.
cc On the 17 th , five canoes bearing Attikamegues,
or poissons blancs, and Mistassirinins, [159] came and
joined us, bringing word that 2 vessels had anchored
in Hutson's bay and conducted extensive trading
with the Savages, having taken their station there
for purposes of traffic. They showed us a hatchet
and some tobacco, which they had obtained from a
Papinachois who had been on a trading trip toward
the North sea, that very Summer. They added that
our lives would be in danger, as hard fighting had
taken place there,- one Savage having been killed
in the strife, and another led away captive. They
had said enough to terrify all our men; but, as it
was then past the season for continuing our journey,
on account of the approach of Winter, their words
had no serious weight with me.
cc Nevertheless, not to act without guidance in this
matter, seeing that I had no passport, I resolved to
send to Quebec for one,- rendering, at the same
time, an account of all that I had just heard; and
asking what measures I should adopt under present
conditions.
[160] " Two Savages and a Frenchman set out on
the 19th of September with my letters. Pending
their return I engaged in teaching that little band
whom God so seasonably sent me. I baptized a little
child and two adults, after the necessary instruction;

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[VOL. 56

à inftruire cette petite bande, que Dieu m'envoyoit
bien à propos; je baptifay un petit enfant, & deux
adultes, apres les inftruétions neceffaires, & m'em-
ploiay a cultiver ceux qui eftoient Chrefiiens,
jufqu'aux dixiéme Oétobre, nofire canot eftant
retourné ce jour là, avec des patentes de Monfei-
gneur nofire Evefque, & des paffe-ports de Monfieur
de Courcelles noftre Gouverneur, & de Monfieur
Talon noftre Intendant, je reçeus auffi leurs advis,
qui m'ont fervy dans cette conjonéture d'affaires.
La faifon eftant trop avancée pour fe rendre à la
mer avant les neiges. & les glaces, par lefquelles
nous fumes arreftez Ie dernier jour d'Oétobre, nos
Sauvages choifirent ce lieu pour y paffer l'Hyver à
caufe de la chaffe, qui s'y trouve abondante.
J e ne me propofe pas de faire une relation parti-
culiere de cet hyvernement, ny des peines & des
fatigues qui l'accompagnerent. II me fuffira de dire
en general, [161] que cet efiat de vie ayant cela
d'avantageux par deiIus les autres, qu'il efi un con-
tinuel facrifice de nos vies pour la gloire de Dieu, &
Ie falut des ames, il nous met auffi dans la neceffité
d'exercer noftre confiance, & de rendre nofire aban-
don aux ordres de fa Providence, & plus parfait, &
plus foumis, & nous doit fervir d'un plus puiffant
attrait pour fuivre & remplir fes deffeins dans noftre
vocation.
Soit que ce qu'on dit ordinairement foit vray,
qu'on s'oublie aifement du paffé, & qu'il n'y a rien
que Ie prefent, qui nous coufie, en matiere de
fouffrance, je puis affeurer, que de dix hivernemens
que ray faits dans les bois avec les Sauvages, les
neuf premiers ne ill'ont pas tant donné de peine que
ce dernier.

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and occupied myself in training those who were
Christians, until the tenth of October, when our
canoe returned with letters-patent from Monseigneur
our Bishop, and passports frotTI Monsieur de Cour-
celles, our Governor, and Monsieur Talon, our Intend-
ant. I also received their advice, which has been
useful to me in the existing state of affairs.
"The season being too far advanced for us to
reach the sea before the coming of snow and ice, by
which we were stopped on the last day of October,
our Savages chose that place for passing the Winter,
on account of its excellent hunting.
" I do not purpose to give a detailed account of
that winter's events, or of its accompanying hard-
ships and fatigues. It will suffice for me to say in
general [16 I] that, as this condition in life has the
advantage over others of being a constant sacrifice
of our lives to the glory of God and the salvation of
souls, it also imposes on us the necessity of exercis-
ing our trust, and rendering our submission to the
decrees of his Providence both more perfect and
more humble; and must serve us as a most powerful
allurement for following and fulfilling his designs in
our vocation.
" Granted the truth of the common saying, that in
the matter of suffering we easily forget the past, and
nothing but the present counts with us, yet I can
affirm that, of the ten winters which I have passed
in the woods with the Savages, the first nine caused
me less discomfort than this last.
" This was not due to any lack of provisions,-the
region where we wintered being fairly well stocked
with moose and caribou; while the beaver and porcu-
pine had been increasing there for seven or eight

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Ce n'efi pas par Ie defaut de vivres, que cela eft
arrivé, Ie pais où nous avons hyverné efioit affez
peuplé d' orignaux, & de caribous; Ie caftor & Ie pore
epy s'y eftoit multip1ié depuis fept à huit ans que
perfonne ne chaffoit dans ces vaftes forefts. II eft
bien vray que les neiges ont efié tres-mauvaifes,
mais nos chaffeurs [162] efioient extremement
adroits, & avoient tous bon pied, bonne main, & bon
rei1, adjoufiez que Ie plomb & la poudre, les haches,
& les tranches, les efpées, & les fufils ne leur ont
pas manqué, la liberalité de Monfieur Talon avoit
pourveu à tous nos befoins.
La fource done de toutes nos peines n'a efté que
Ie mauvais traitement que nous avons receu de nos
conduéteurs mémes, qui eftans incertains de ce qu'ils
avoient à faire, où pour mieux dire eftans to us refolus
de ne paffer pas plus avant, & de s'en retourner,
d'ailleurs app[r]ehendant d'efire mal reçeus à Quebec;
pour fe mettre à couvert ils me vouloient obliger, en
exerçant ma patience, par toute forte d'indignitez &
d. outrages. à relafcher Ie premier, & perdre la penfée
de continuer la route. Dans cette conjonéture, un
pauvre Miffionnaire, qui fe voit engagé à voyager
avec des Sauvages, qui font plus forts en nombre, &
qui luy fervent de guides devoit-il pas fe
refourdre
à
foufrir fans ceffe toutes leurs infultes? ces mauvais
temps neanmoins ont eu quelque beau jour, & ces
fouffrances n'ont pas [163] manqué de leurs onétions
f piri tuelles.
J' ay efté fort confolé de la fainte & genereufe
refolution d'un bon vieillard aagé d'environ feptante
ans, qui ayant appris que fes en fans s'eftoient refugiez
à Quebec du temps des incuru.ons des Iroquois, & que

1671-72]

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161

years, during which no one had hunted in those vast
forests. I t is true the snows were very heavy, but
our hunters [162] were extremely dexterous, and all
sure-footed, steady of hand, and keen of sight; while
of lead and powder, hatchets and knives, swords and
muskets, they had no lack, Monsieur Talon's liberal-
ity having provided for all our wants.
" The cause, then, of all our sufferings was solely
the ill treatment that we received from our guides
themselves. They were undecided what course
they should adopt,-or, to express it better, they
were all determined not to proceed farther, but to
return. Yet, apprehending an ill reception at Que-
bec, in order to shield themselves, they undertook,
by trying my patience with every kind of indignity
and outrage, to make me take the first step in retreat,
and abandon all thought of continuing the journey.
In such a conjuncture, should not a poor Missionary
resolve to endure to the utmost all their insults, see-
ing himself obliged to travel with Savages superior
in number, and serving him as guides? Those
seasons of storm, however, were not without their
pleasant days; and those sufferings were not [163]
unattended with their spiritual unction.
" I was greatly consoled by the holy and coura-
geous resolve of a good old man, about seventy years
of age,- who, learning that his children had taken
refuge in Quebec at the time of the Iroquois incur-
sions, and that they had there been baptized, made
a journey of four hundred leagues to receive instruc-
tion and enjoy the same happiness.
" It was no slight consolation to me, on the twenty-
sixth of December, to have this good man come with
all his family, to the number of nine persons, to visit

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[VOL. 56

là ils avoient efié baptifez, a fait quatre cens lieuës
pour fe faire infiruire & joüir du mefme bon-heur.
Ce me fut une confolation toute particuliere Ie
vingt-fixiefme de Decembre, quand ce bon homme
nous vint vifiter où nous hyvernions, avec toute fa
famille au nombre de neuf perfonnes. Le foir de
[on arrivée je luy fis un beau prefent, pour me con-
joüir avec luy du faint mouvement, qui l'amenoit, &
Ie remercier fingulierement de I' obligation, que je
luyavois en la perfonne de mes hoHes, fes propres
neveux, ou petits fils, qui me menoient dans Ie voy-
age de la 1\1iffion, & decouverte du Nord.
Ce bon vieillard me repartit, apres avoir fouvent
repeté fon 0, 0, 0, en figne qu'il étoit tres-fatisfait du
prefent que je luy avois fait. Robe noire, me dit-il,
je ne fuis pas homme de Confeil, pour [164] fçavoir
haranguer, tu foufriras que je remette la partie à une
autrefois, main tenant ie te prie de croire que ie ne
viens icy que pour traiter avec toy de mon falut, &
de celuy de toute ma famille: voila nne petite fille
malade, depuis long temps, baptife la, par avance,
en attendant que nous foyons en efiat de reçevoir la
méme grace, que nous defirons tous, de tout nofire
cæur; au refie ne te decourage point, fi, efiant vieux,
& n'ayant pas beaucoup d'efprit, j'ay de la peine à
concevoir, & à retenir toutes les infiruétions, que tu
nous donneras, mon fils, que tu vois la, (montrant Ie
cadet) efi ieune, d'un efprit vif, & de bonne memoire,
inítruis Ie bien, il apprendra aifement tout ce que tu
voudras, & par. a pres i1 nous repetera en particulier,
dans nofire cabane, tout ce que tu luy auras enfeigné.
En effet ce ieune homme agé au plus de vingt
à vingt-cinq ans, d'un beau naturel, fort docile,

1671-72]

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163

us at our winter quarters. On the evening of his
arrival, I made him a handsome present of congratu-
lation upon the holy impulse that brought him
thither; and of especial thanks, in view of the
obligation under which I was to him in the persons
of my h
sts, his own nephews or grandsons, who
were conducting me on my journey of Missionary
work and discovery toward the North.
" This good old man, after often repeating his ' 0,
0, 0,' in sign of great gratification at the present I had
given him, replied to me thus: ' Black gown,' said
he, ' I am no Councilor, to [164] know how to make
a speech. Thou wilt permit me to postpone my
answer until another time. I now beg thee to believe
that I come hither only to treat with thee concerning
my salvation, and that of all my family. Here is a
little girl who has long been ill; baptize her in
advance, while waiting until we are in a condition to
receive the same grace, which we all most heartily
desire. Be not, moreover, discouraged if, old as I
am and lacking in intelligence, I find it very difficult
to understand and remember all the teachings thou
givest us. My son whom thou seest there' (pointing
to the younger one) 'is young, quick-witted, and
possessed of a good memory. Instruct him thor-
oughly; he will easily learn all that thou wishest,
and later he will repeat to us in private, in our cabin,
all that thou shalt teach him.'
"Indeed, that young man, who was between
twenty and twenty-five years old, of an excellent
disposition, very docile, respectful, and as innocent
as possible, learned in less than four or five days his
Pater, his Ave, the Credo, God's commandments, and
the most important [165] of our Mysteries,-which

164

LES RELA TIONS DES .fÉSUITES

[VOL. õ6

refpeétueux & innocent au pomble, en moins de
ql1atre ou cinq iours fçeut fon Pater, fon Ave, Ie Credo,
les commandemens de Dieu & les principaux [165J
de nos Myfieres, qu'il repetoit frequemment dans fa
cabane & à toute heure du iour, avec une aimable
im portuni té.
Je ne voulus pas pourtant rien precipiter, ie con-
tinuay l'efpace d'un mois, à leur expliquer tous nos
myfieres à les informer à fond, des chofes neceffaires
au faIut, & à Ies difpofer au faint baptefme, qu'iIs
reçeurent avec tant de fentimens de pieté, & tant de
devotion, que je ne pouvois m'empefcher d'admirer
l'attrait de Dieu, & les divins effets de la grace dans
la converfion d'une fi bonne famille.
Ces frequentes vifites, que m'a rendu un autre
Capitaine de la Nation de Mataoüiriou, qui s'appelle
OusKan, c'efi à dire, 1'os, m'ont caufé tout enfemble
bien de la ioye, & bien de la douleur. Ses premiers
entretiens me promettoient beaucoup, il avoit tant
d'ardeur pour fe faire infiruire, qu'il ne me donnoit
point de repos, ny la nuit, ny Ie iour, il deputa fon
gendre pour me prier d'aller chez luy Ie feiziéme
d' Avril, mais efiant occupé à difpofer nos hoftes
pour Ia communion [166J de la Fefie de Pafque, ie
ne pus me rendre en fon quartier que Ie dix-huiétiéme
.avec mes deux François, il me reçeut avec grande
affeétion, qui redoubla à la veuë du prefent que
ie luy fis, nos gens nous vinrent ioindre Ie vingt-
deuxiefme; & nous fufmes Ià environs fix femaines
enfemble. J'eus en ce lieu là tout loifir de Ie cate-
chifer, & de conferer Ie baptefme à db.,-fept perfonnes
de fa famille; pour luy, il s'en rendit indigne, ne
voulant point quitter un commerce fcandaleux qu'i1

1671- 72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

165

he often repeated in his cabin, and at all hours of the
day, with an amiable importunity.
" Not wishing, however, to be in the least pre-
cipitate, I continued for a month explaining all our
mysteries to them, instructing them thoroughly in
the things essential to salvation, and preparing them
for holy baptism, which they received with such
feelings of piety, and such devotion, that I could
only view with admiration God's beckoning hand
and the workings of divine grace in the conversion
of so good a family.
" The frequent visits paid me by another Captain,
of the Mataouiriou Nation, who is called Ouskan,-
that is, 'the bone,' - caus
d me at the same time
much joy and much pain. My first talks with him
promised me great results. So ardent a desire had
he to receive instruction that he gave me no rest by
day or night. He sent his son-in-law to beg me to
visit him on the sixteenth of April; but being
engaged in preparing our hosts for the communion
[166] of the Easter Festival, I could not go to his
quarters, with my two Frenchmen, until the eight-
eenth. He received me with great affection, which
redoubled at sight of the present that I gave him.
Our men came and joined us on the twenty-second,
and we remained there together about six weeks. I
had ample leisure at that place to catechize this man,
and confer baptism upon seventeen members of his
family; as for him, he showed himself unworthy
thereof by refusing to break off a scandalous inter-
course that he was maintaining with his wife's niece.
Despite the docility he had shown in wishing to be
instructed, and the assiduity I had used in overcom-
ing his repugnance to conversion, I could not attain

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LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

avoit avec la niepce de fa femme; quelque docilité,
qu'it euft temoigné à vouloir eftre inftruit, & quelque
affiduité, que i'euffe apporté à vaincre la repugnance
qu'it avoit de fe convertir, ie n'en pus venir à bout.
Ce n'eft pas que cet efprit rebelle ne fut extraordi-
nairement touché, ainfi qu'il m'a fouvent avoüé, &
s'il refiftoit, ce n' efioit pas tant faute d' efire bien
perfuadé que ce qu'on luy difoit ne fuft veritable,
que par l'oppofition fecrette de fon cæur, qui efioit
malheureufement engagé dans ces affeétions dére-
glées, c'eft un bel exemple qui nous apprend que la
converfion d'un Sauvage, [167] eft l'ouvrage de la
main de Dieu, à qui feul i1 appartient de toucher
efficacement les cæurs, & de donner aux inftruétions
de fon Miffionnaire, Ie fuccés qu'il doit attendre de
fa grace.
:Mais it eft temps de reprendre la fuite de nofire
voyage. Le Printemps avoit déia fuccedé aux
rigueurs de l'Hyver, les rivieres eftoient libres, les
glaces s'eftoient ecoulées, quand it fallut entrer dans
des conteftations avec nos conduéteurs, au fuiet de
no fire entreprife. Ce malheureux efprit, dont ie
viens de parler, extremement irrité du refus, que ie
luy avois fait de luy conferer Ie Baptefme, nous vou-
lut fermer Ie paffage de la riviere, fur laquelle, il
n'avoit aucun pouvoir; & pour couvrir fon ieu, il fit
une longue defcription des chemins, de la multitude,
& des difficultez des portages, des rapides, & des
cheutes d'eau, & tout fon difcours ne tendant qu'à
refroidir roes gens, it luy fut aifé de leur perfuader,
de dire, pour feconder fon deffein qu'ayant oublié
les chemins, ils ne pouvoient pas aller plus avant,
faute d'un bon guide. Deflors i'entray en foupçon

167] - 72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

167

my object. It was not that that rebellious nature
failed to be deeply moved, as he often confessed to
me; and if he resisted, it was not so much for the
want of being thoroughly persuaded of the truth of
what was told him, as from the secret opposition of
his heart, which was unfortunately wedded to those
unruly affections. He furnishes us a good example
in proof that a Savage's conversion [167J is the work
of God's hand,-to whom alone it belongs to touch
the heart effectually, and to give to the teachings of
his Missionary the success that the latter ought to
expect from his grace.
" But it is time to resume the course of our jour-
ney. Spring had already succeeded to the rigors of
Winter, the rivers were free, the ice had melted,
when it became necessary to enter upon a series of
conflicts with our guides on the subject of our enter-
prise. That unfortunate creature of whom I just
spoke, being extremely incensed at my refusal to
confer Baptism upon him, determined to close the
river against us, although he had no power to do so.
To disguise his purpose, he gave a long description
of the route, the great number and difficulty of the
portages, the rapids, and the waterfalls; and as the
whole tendency of his recital was but to discourage
my men, it was easy for him to persuade them to
second his design by saying that they had forgotten
the way, and could not go on for want of a good
guide. At this point I began to suspect that they
were all [I 68J conspiring together; and that that
captious fellow had used this expedient to do us the
present ill turn and check our progress.
" To defeat this purpose, I decided to make use of
a good old man of the nation of the Mistasirinis,

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LES RELA TIo.NS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

qu'ils ne fuíIent tous [168] d'intelligence, & que cet
efprit captieux n'euft donné cet expedient pour nous
faire ce mau vais party, & pour nous arrefter.
Je m.advifay, pour rom pre ce deíIein de pratiqueI'
un bon vieillard de la nation des Miftafirinis, qui
efiant fort neceffiteux, ayant une famille nombreufe,
& eftant depuis long-temps en mauvaife intelligence
avec cet e{prit malfait, {e laiíIa aifement gagneI' à la
veuë d'un riche prefent.
De plus ie luy promis du tabac, autant qu'il en
pourroit ufer pendant Ie voyage, & à noftre retour,
un autre pre{ent tres-confiderable, s'ils vouloient, luy,
& {on fils s'embarquer, & nous conduire à MifKoute-
nagafit, qui eft vingt lieuës dans la baye de Hutfon.
I1 {e prit à rire, & dit à {on fils, aUons, nous ne
manquerons point de tabac cet Efté.
Ce fut Ie premier de Juin 1672. que nous partifmes
de Natafchegamiou pour continuer noftre route au
nombre de dix-neuf per{onnes, dont i1 y avoit feize
Sauvages, & trois François dans trois canots. Nous
eu{mes fix iournées de rapides, il [169J faUoit faire
monter pre{que continuellement Ie canot contre Ie fil
de l' eau; bien {ouvent..il faUoit mettre pied à terre,
marcher dans les bois, grimper fur des rochers, fe
jetter dans des foíIez, & remonter fur des éminences
efcarpées à travers des touffes d'arbres, dont les
branches nous déchiroient nos habits, & d'ailleurs
nous eftions extrémement chargez, en{uite, nous
fufmes arreftez deux jours par des pluyes.
Le neuviéme donna grand exercice à noftre pa-
tience, à raifon d'un portage fort difficile, foit pour
fa longueur, que quelques-uns font de quatre lieuës,
foit pour les mauvais chemins, ayant toujours 1'eau

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

169

who - being very needy, having a large family, and
having long been at odds with the above-named
malicious fellow, readily allowed himself to be won
at sight of a rich present.
"I further promised him as much to bacco as he
could use on the way, and a second very considerable
present upon our return, if he and his son would
embark and guide us to Miskoutenagasit on Hutson's
bay, twenty leagues along the shore. 12 He began to
laugh, and said to his son, 'Come on, we shall not
want for tobacco this Summer.'
"On the first of June, 1672, we set out from
Nataschegamiou to continue our journey, our party
numbering nineteen, of whom sixteen were Savages
and three Frenchmen, in three canoes. We had six
days' journey of rapids, where [169] we were obliged
to propel the canoes almost constantly against the
current. Very often we had to land and walk through
the woods,- climbing over rocks, leaping into
ditches, and again scrambling up steep heights
through clumps of trees whose branches tore our
clothes; while, with all that, we were very heavily
burdened. After this, we were delayed two days by
rains.
" The ninth tried our patience séverely by reason
of an extremely difficult portage, both on account of
its length, which some place at four leagues, and
because of the bad traveling. One must always be
in the water half-way to his knees, and at times even
to his waist, in crossing and recrossing streams that
flow through the midst of a vast Plain which must be
traversed to gain the river N ekoubau, to the South-
west of the one left behind. Even the Savages
dread this journey, as one full of fatigues and peril.

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LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

jufqu'à my jambes, & par fois mefme jufqu'à la cein-
ture pour paíIer, & repaíIer des ruiíIeaux, qui paíIent
au milieu d'une vafie Campagne, qu'il faut traverfer
pour prendre la riviere de N eKoubau, qui efi au Sor-
oüefi de celIe qu'on quitte. Les Sauvages mefme
apprehendent cette journée comme pleine de fatigues
& de peril.
Le dixiéme fur les fix heures du matin nous arri-
va{mes à Paflifia{Kau, qui divife [170] les terres du
Nord & du Sud, c' efi une petite langue de terre
d'environ un arpent en largeur, & de deux en
lõgueur, les deux bouts de cette pointe font terminez
par deux petits Lacs, d'où {ortent deux rivieres,
rune defcend à l'Efi, & l'autre au Noroüefi, l'une
entre dans la mer à TadoufIac par Ie Saguenay, &
l'autre dans la baye de Hutfon par Neme{Kau, où eft
Ie milieu du chemin entre les deux mers. Sur Ie
{oir, nous fimes rencontre de trois Mifiaffirinins dans
un canot. qui efioit en fort bon efiat, ils venoient au
devant de nous, ayant apperçeu de grandes fumées
que nous faifions de temps en temps approchant de
cette Nation, pour fignal de no fire arri vée. Ce canot
prit congé de nous fur l'entrée de la nuit, feignant
de pouffer plus avant, & tout foudain apres avoir
tourné l'Ifle, dans laquelle nous efiions placez, il {e
vint joindre à nous dés Ie foir mefme, confiderant de
pres Ie plus âgé des trois, qui s'appelle MouKoutagan,
comme qui diroit coufieau crochu; j'entray dans la
défiance, qu'il ne nous voulut faire achepter Ie
pafIage, mais s'efiant apperceu de ma défiance, i1
[171] effaya de cacher fon deíIein, & ce fut Ie matin
en partant, qu'il s'en expliqua, en me di{ant, Robe
noire, arrefie icy, il faut que nofire vieillard, maifire
de ce pais, {çache ton arrivée, je m'en yay l'avertir.

1671-72]

RELA TION OF .167.1-72

171

., Toward six 0' clock on the morning of the tenth,
we arrived at Paslistaskau,13 which divides [170] the
lands of the North from those of the South. It is a
small tongue of land, an arpent in width and two in
length, the two ends of this point being bounded by
two small Lakes, whence issue two rivers. One flows
down to the East, and the other to the Northwest,-
the former emptying into the sea at Tadoussac by
way of the Saguenay; and the latter into Hutson's
bay, by way of Nemeskau, which marks the middle
point of the route between the two seas. Toward
evening, we met three Mistassirinins in a canoe that
was in excellent condition. They were coming to
meet us, having perceived the great smoke we made
from time to time, as we approached that Nation, as
a signal of our arrival. This canoe took leave of us
at nightfall, under pretense of continuing on its way;
but all of a sudden, after turning the Island on which
we were stationed, it came and joined us again that
very evening. Examining more attentively the
eldest of the three men, whose name was Moukouta-
gan-meaning , crooked knife '- I began to suspect
that he wished to make us purchase our passage.
But, perceiving my suspicion, he [171] tried to con-
ceal his design; and in the morning, when he took
his departure, he explained himself by saying to me:
, Black Gown, stay here; our old man, the master of
this country, must be notified of thy arrival. I will
go and tell him.'
" It is no new thing for the Savages, obeying a
maxim of their policy or of their a varice, to be
extremely cautious in granting strangers a passage,
by way of their rivers, to distant Nations. The
rivers are to them what fields are to the French,

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[VOL. 56

Ce n'efi pas d'aujourd'huy que les Sauvages, par
une maxime de leur politique, ou de leur avarice,
font extremement refervez à donner paffage par leurs
rivieres aux efirangers, pour aller aux Nations éloi-
gnées. Les rivieres leur font ce que font aux Fran-
çois leurs champs, dont ils tirent toute leur fubfifiance,
foit pour la pefche & la chaffe, foit pour Ie trafic.
J e fis neanmoins fern blant de m' offenfer de ce lan-
gage; c'eft pourquoy je luy répondis un peu brufque-
ment, eft-ce toy qui m'arrefte? Non ce n'eft pas
moy, & qui donc? Le Vieillard Sefibaourat; où
eft-i1? bien loin d'icy, me dit-il, hé bien tu luy feras
fçavoir, qu'aujourd'huy je me veux repofer efiant
fort fatigué, mais fi demain au matin, ton Vieillard
ne paroift, tu Iuy diras que je fuis preffé, & que je
continueray ma route. II s'embarque, & part à
l'heure mefme, mais je [172] fus tout eftonné que Ie
foir quatre canots parurent, qui me vinrent prier de
Ia part du Vieillard, de l'excufer, s'il n'eftoit pas venu,
qu'un vent contraire l'arreftoit jufqu'au lendemain.
Ce fut Ie 13. de J uin que dix-huit canots arriverent,
Ia plufpart ayant peints leurs vifages, & s'efiant
parez de tout ce qu'ils avoient de precieux, comme
de tours de tefte, de colliers, de ceintures, & de
braffelets de porcellaine. lIs vinrent defcendre tout
proche de nous, & Ie Capitaine mettant pied à terre,
je Ie fis faluer de dix coups de fufils en figne de
réjouïffance, & dés Ie mefme foir je Ie fis appeller,
avec les principaux d'entr'eux, pour leur parler par
deux riches prefens. En cette maniere.
Sefibahoura, ce n' eft pas pour achepter Ie paffage
de cette riviere, & de ton Lac, que je te veux regaler
de deux prefens. Le François ayant deí1ivré tout ce

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173

their sole source of subsistence,-whether in the
form of fish and game, or in that of traffic. N ever-
theless, I pretended to take offense at this language,
and therefore answered him somewhat brusquely:
'Is it thou that bidst me halt?' , No, it is not I.'
, Who, then?' 'The Old man Sesibaourat. ' 'Where
is he?' 'Far from here,' was his answer. 'Well,
then, thou art to let him know that to-day I will
rest, as I am very tired; but if to-morrow morning
thy Old man does not appear, do thou tell him that I
am in haste and shall continue my journey.' He
embarked and took his departure at once; but I [172]
was greatly surprised when, in the evening, four
canoes made their appearance, coming to beg me in
the Old man's name to excuse him for not coming,
as a head-wind had detained him until the morrow.
" On the 13th of June, eighteen canoes appeared,
most of their occupants with painted faces, and
adorned with all their costliest ornaments,- such as
high head-dresses and porcelain collars, belts, and
bracelets. They came and landed very near us;
and, when the Captain set foot on land, I had him
saluted with ten musket-shots in sign of rejoicing.
On the same evening, too, I caused him and the
chief men of his party to be summoned, that I might
present to them two rich gifts, accolnpanied by the
following address:
" , Sesibahoura, it is not to purchase the passage of
this river and of thy Lake that I am pleased to regale
thee with two presents. The Frenchman, having
delivered this whole country from the incursions of
the Iroquois, your foes, well deserves to be accorded
the right to go and come with entire freedom through
this region, which he has subdued with his arms.

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UITES

[VOL. 56

pais des incurfions des Iroquois vos ennemis, me rite
bien qu'on luy faffe un droit d'aller, & de venir avec
toute liberté fur cette terre, qu'il a conquife par íes
armes. De plus, Dieu, que vous dites vous [173]
mefme eftre Ie maifire de toutes choíes, puifque c'eft
luy qui a tout fait, & qui gouverne tout, m' envoyant
pour Ie faire connoiftre par toutes ces contrées; me
donne Ie droit de paffer librement par tout. L' An-
nié, l'Oneiout, l'Onontagueronon, l'Oiogouen, ny Ie
Sonnontouan, Ie Nepiffirinin, l'Outaouac, ny toutes
les Nations eftrangeres, n'ont jamais rien exigé de
mes freres, loríqu'ils paffent & repaffent librement
fur leurs terres pour les inftruire, & les informer des
Loix de l'Evangile.
En qualité de voftre amy, de voftre allié, & de
voftre parent, ce prefent eft une natte pour couvrir
les foffes de vos morts, qui ont efté tuez par l'Iro-
quois voftre ennemy, & à vous, qui avez échapé leurs
feux, & leur cruautez, il vous dit, que vous vivrez à
l'avenir; Onnontio luy a ofté des mains la hache
d'arme; voftre pais eftoit mort, il l'a fait revivre, il
a arraché les arbres, & les rochers qui traveríoient
vos rivieres, & interrompoient Ie cours de leurs eaux;
pefchez, chaffez, & trafiquez par tout, fans crainte
d'eftre découverts de vos ennemis, ny par Ie bruit
[174] de vos armes, ny par l'odeur du tabac, ny par
la fumée de vos feux, la paix eft generale par tout.
Ce deuxiéme prefent vous dit que l'Iroquois prie
Dieu maintenant, depuis que Ie François luya donné
de l'eíprit, & qu'il pretend auffi que vous l'imitiez,
maintenant qu'il vous a rendu voftre liberté. ]'aime
Dieu, vous dit Ie François, je ne veux point avoir
d'alliez, ny de parens, qui reconnoiffent Ie Demon

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175

Moreover, God whom you yourselves [173] acknowl-
edge to be the master of all things, since he is the
creator and ruler of all, gives me the right of free
passage everywhere, as he sends me to make him
known throughout all these regions. Neither Annié,
Oneiout, Onontagueronon, Oiogouen, Sonnontouan,
Nepissirinin, Outaouac, nor any strange Nation has
ever required anything of my brothers, when they
freely passed to and fro through those peoples' terri-
tories, to instruct them and teach them the Laws of
the Gospel.
" , As your friend, ally, and kinsman, I give you a
mat to cover the graves of your dead who were slain
by the Iroquois, your enemies; and to you who
escaped their fires and their cruelty, it will say that
you shall live in the future. Onnontio has wrested
the war-hatchet from their hands. Your country was
dead; he has restored it to life. He has cleared away
the trees and rocks that blocked your rivers and
checked the course of their waters. Fish, hunt, and
trade in all directions, without fear of being discov-
ered by your enemies, either from the noise [174] of
your arms, the odor of your tobacco, or the smoke of
your fires. The peace is general everywhere.
" , This second present tells you that the Iroquois
prays to God now, since the Frenchman has given
him some sense; and that the Frenchman intends
that you too shall imitate him, now that he has
restored you to freedom. "I love God," says the
Frenchman to you. "I will have no allies or kins-
folk that ,acknowledge the Demon for their master,
and have recourse to him in their needs. My friend.
ship, alliance, and kinship are not to be merely
on earth and in this world; I desire them to be

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[VOL. 56

pour leur maifire, & qui recourent à luy dans leurs
befoins. l\lon amitié, mon alliance, & ma parenté ne
doit point efire feulement fur la terre & en ce monde,
je veux qu'elle foit de durée en l'autre, apres la
mort, & qu'elle fubfifie dans Ie Ciel.
Et pour cela quittez Ie deíIein d'avoir commerce
avec les Europeans, qui traitent vers la mer du Nord,
où on ne prie point Dieu, & reprenez vofire ancien
chemin du Lac S. Jean, où vous trouverez toujours
quelque robe noire pour vous infiruire & baptifer.
Tout ce foir là ne fut qu'un grand fefiin pour nous
bien recevoir, & nous faire part à leur mode, de tout
ce qu'ils [175] avoient de meilleur; & fur la nuit
s'efiant tous aíIemblez apres Ie cry qu'en fit Ie Capi-
taine, pour nous mieux témoigner les tranfports de
leur joye, on ordonna une danfe publique, ou joignant
quelquefois la voix & Ie tambour, ils paíIerent la
nuit dans cette réjoüiíIance, en laquelle ne fe paíIa
rien que dans I 'honnefieté.
Le jour fuivant, Ie Capitaine parla à fon tour apres
un beau fefiin, en cette maniere.
C'efi aujourd'huy, mon Pere, que Ie Soleil nous
luit, & que nous favorifant de ta douce prefence, tu
nous fais Ie plus beau jour que ce pais ait jamais
veu; jamais nos peres, ny nos grands peres n'ont eu
tant de bonheur. Que nous fommes heureux d'efire
naiz en ce temps, pour joüir à plaifir des biens que tu
nous fais! Le François nous oblige bien fort, en
nous donnant la paix, il nous fait tous revivre.
Mais il no us oblige bien plus en nous voulant
infiruire, & nous faire Chrefiiens, nous Ie regarde-
rons comme celuy par Ie moyen de qui, nous pou-
vons, apres no fire mort, éviter les peines eternelles.

1671-72]

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177

continued in the other, after death, and to be main-
tained in Heaven."
.. · And, to that end, abandon the plan of carrying
on commerce with the Europeans who are trading
toward the North sea, among whom prayer is not
offered to God; and resume your old route to Lake
St. John, where you will always find some black gown
to instruct and baptize you.'
" That whole evening was nothing but one great
feast for our cordial reception, and for making us
share, in the native fashion, all the best things that
(175] the people had; and at night, when all had
assembled in response to the Captain's call, there was
ordered, as the best means of testifying to us their
transports of joy, a public dance,- wherein, with
occasional mingling of voice and drum, they passed
the night thus rejoicing, everything being conducted
with propriety.
.. On the following day, the Captain, at the close
of a fine feast, spoke in his turn, as follows:
" 'To-day, my Father, the Sun shines upon us;
and, favoring us with thy benign presence, thou
givest us the brightest day that this country has ever
seen. Never have our fathers or our grandfathers
had such happiness. How fortunate are we to be
born at this time, for the free enjoyment of the
blessings that thou bestowest upon us! The French-
man places us under great obligations; in giving us
peace, he restores us all to life.
" , But he makes the debt much greater by con-
senting to instruct us and make us Christians. We
shall regard him as the one through whom we can
escape eternal punishment after death.' He closed
(176] by giving me a present, and addressing me as

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[VOL. 56

II conc1ut [176] par un prefent qu'il me fit, en me
difant, mon Pere, nous t'arrefions icy pour nous
infiruire, & nons baptifer tous, à ton retour tu diras
à Onnontio que nous prions tous Dieu, & que nous
avons écouté fa parole.
11 me feroit difficile d' exprimer quelle fut no fire
joye, de voir en ce pais de fi bonnes dif pofitions pour
la Foy, & quel fut nofire zele pour feconder l'affeétion
qu'ils faifoient paroifire pour Ie Chrifiianifme.
Apres les remercimens qui fe pratiquent icy en ces
occafions. J e leur dis que pour les enfans, je les
baptiferois, parce qu'il leur feroit trop incommode
de les porter au Lac de S. Jean. l\lais que pour les
Adultes, efiant preffé de partir, je ne les pouvois pas
informer pleinement de tous nos myfieres, & que
ceux qui parloient tout de bon, allans au Lac de S. Jean
pour leur trafic, m'y pourroient attendre, & qu'à mon
retour je les fatisferois tous, à quoy ils s' accorderent.
Le 15. tous les particuliers nous regalerent à leur
mode, & je continuay à faire nos fonétions, & à les
infiruire.
Le 16. apres avoir dit la fainte Meffe, [177] nous
partifmes & arrivafmes à Kimaganufis. Le 17. à
PiKoufitefinacut, c'eft à dire, au lieu où ron ufe les
fouliers, c'eft ainfi qu'il eft nommé pour expliquer
la difficu1té du chemin.
Le 18. nous entrafmes dans ce grand Lac des
:11ifiaffirinins 'qu'on tient eftre fi grand, quïl faut
vingt jours de beau temps pour en faire Ie tour, ce
Lac tire fon nom des rochers dont il eft remply, qui
font d'une prodigieufe groffeur, il y a quantité de
tres-belles HIes, du gibier, & du poiffon de toute
efpece, les orignaux, Ies ours, les cariboux, Ie porc-

1671 - 72 J

RELA TION OF .167.1-72

179

follows: ' My Father, we detain thee here to instruct
and baptize us all. On thy return thou shalt tell
Onnontio that we all pray to God, and have listened
to his word.'
" It would be difficult for me to express our joy at
seeing such favorable inclinations for the Faith in
that country, and our zeal in seconding the cordial
attitude there manifested toward Christianity. After
the thanks customary here on such occasions, I told
them that, as to the children, I would baptize them,
as it would be too much trouble for the parents to
carry them to Lake St. John; but concerning the
Adults, as I was in haste to depart, I could not
instruct them fully in all our mysteries, and those
who were in earnest in what they said could go to
Lake St. John on their trading-trip, and await me
there, and I would satisfy them all upon my return.
To that they agreed.
" On the 15th, all the common people entertained
us after their custom; and I continued to discharge
our functions, and to instruct the inhabitants.
"On the 16th, after saying holy Mass, [177] we
took our departure, and arrived at Kimaganusis.
On the 17th, we reached Pikousitesinacut,- that is,
'the place where shoes are worn out,' - so named
from the difficulty of the route.
,. On the 18th, we entered that great Lake of the
Mistassirinins, which is supposed to be so large that
it takes twenty days of fair weather to go around it. 14
This Lake owes its name to the rocks in which it
abounds, and which are of a prodigious size. It has
many very beautiful Islands; and wild fowl, fish of
all kinds, moose, bears, caribous, porcupines, and
beavers are abundant. We had already proceeded

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LES RELA TIONS DES .I1tSUITES

[VOL. 56

epy, & les cafiors y font en abondance. Nous avions
déja fait fix 1ieuës au travers des lfies qui I'entre-
coupent, quand j'apperçeus comme une éminence de
terre, d'auffi loin que Ia veuë fe peut efiendre; je
demanday à nos gens, fi c'eítoit vers cet endroit qu'il
nous falloit aller, tais-toy, me dit nofire guide, ne Ie
regarde point, fi tu ne veux perir. Les Sauvages de
to utes ces Contrées s'imaginent, que quiconque veut
traverfer ce Lac fe doit foigneufement garder de la
curiofité de regarder cette route, & principalement
[178] Ie lieu où l'on doit aborder; fon feul afped,
difent-ils, caufe ragitation des eaux, & forme des
tempefies, qui font tranfir de frayeur les plus aífeurez.
Le 19. nous arrivafmes à MaKoüamitiKac, c'efi à
dire, à la pefche des Ours, c'efi un lieu plat, & l'eau
y efi fort baffe, au refie fort abondante en poiffons,
les petits efiurgeons, Ie brochet, & Ie poiffon blanc
y font leur demeure; il y a du plaifir a voir les ours
qui marchent fur les bords de cette eau, & qui
prennent de la patte en paffant avec une adreffe
admirable, tantofi un poiffon, & tantofi un autre.
Le 22. nous allaímes à OüetataíKoüamiou, cette
journée nous fut bien rude, i1 fallut quitter Ia gran de
riviere, les cheutes d'eau, & les rapides efiants trop
viol ens, & prendre no fire route parmy des petits
lacs, à Ia faveur de dix-fept portages pour retomber
dans la mefme riviere. Ce fut icy, où nofire guide
s'égara par deux fois, ce qui nous obligea de faire un
portage de deux grandes lieuës, par des rivieres, des
defcentes, & des montagnes, des pleines noyées, &
[179] des ruiffeaux qu'il fallut traverfer ayant l'eau
jufqu'à Ia ceinture.
Le 23. & Ie 24. nous trouvafmes un païs qui n'efi

1671-72]

RELA TION OF Ió7I-72

181

six leagues among the Islands that are scattered
through its waters, when I perceived what looked
like a bit of rising ground, as far away as one could
see. I asked our men whether we were to direct
our course thither. 'Be silent,' said our guide; 'do
not look at it, unless thou wish to die.' The Savages
of all those Regions imagine that whoever would cross
this Lake must carefully refrain from curiously in-
specting his route, and especially [178J the place
where he is to land. 11erely looking at it, they say,
stirs up the waters, and evokes storms that chill
the boldest with fear.
" On the 19th, we arrived at Makouamitikac-that
is, , the Bears' fishing-place.' It is a flat region with
very shallow water, and also extremely rich in fish,-
small sturgeon, pike, and whitefish having their
haunts there. It is a pleasure to see the bears walk-
ing on the shores of this piece of water, and, as they
go, catching with a paw now one fish and now
another, with admirable dexterity.
" We reached Ouetataskouamiou on the 22nd, after
a very hard day's journey,- being forced to leave
the great river, as the waterfalls and rapids were too
violent, and make our way among some small lakes,
with seventeen portages, to regain the same river.
Here our guide went astray twice, which forced us
to make a portage of two long leagues amid rivers,
declivities, mountains, submerged plains, and [179]
brooks that we had to cross with the water up to our
waists.
"On the 23rd and 24th, we found a less moun-
tainous region. Its atmosphere is much milder, and
its fields are beautiful; and the soil would bear
abundantly, and be capable of supporting a large

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LES RELATIO.NS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

pas 11 montagneux, l'air y eft bien plus doux, les
campagnes font belles, & les terres y produiroient
beaucoup, & feroient capables de nourir de grands
peuples, fi on les faifoit valoir. Ce pais, Ie plus
beau de toute noftre route, a continué jufqu'à N enlis-
kau, où nous arrivafmes Ie 25. Juin fur Ie midy.
N emisKau eft un grand lac de dix journées de
circuit, entouré de grandes montagnes, depuis Ie
Sud jufqu'au Nord, formant un de my cerc1e, on voit
à l'emboucheure de la grande riviere, qui s'étend de
l' Eft au N ordeft, des vaftes pleines, qui regnent
mefme au deffous des montagnes qui font Ie demy
rond, & toutes ces campagnes font entrecoupées fi
agreablement d'eau, qu'il femble à la veuë que ce
foient autant de rivieres, qui forment un fi grand
nombre d'Iíles, qu'il eft difficile de les pouvoir conter.
On voit toutes ces HIes teHement marquées des pUles
d'orignaux, de caftors, de cerfs, de porc-epy, qu'il
femble qu'eHes [180] foient Ie lieu de leur demeure,
où ils font leurs courfes ordinaires; dnq grandes
rivieres fe déchargent dans ce lac, qui font que
Ie poiffon y eft fi abondant qu'il faifoit autrefois la
principale nouriture d'une grande nation fauvage qui
l'habitoit, il n'y a que huit ou dix ans. On y voit
encore les trifies monumens du lieu de leur demeure,
& les veftiges fur un ií1et de roches, d'un grand fort
fait de gros arbres, par l'Iroquois, d'où il gardoit
toutes les avenuës, & où i1 fait fouvent des meurtres;
i1 y a fept ans qu'il y tua ou emmena en captivité,
quatre-vingt perfonnes, ce qui fut caufe que ce lieu
fut entierement abandonné, les originaires s'en efiant
efcartez. II y avoit grand trafic, & on y abordoit de
divers endroits à caufe de la riviere qui eft grande,

1671-72]

RELA TION OF Ió7I-72

183

population, if it were cultivated. This region, the
fairest on our entire journey, extended as far as
Nemiskau, where we arrived the 25th of June, toward
noon.
" Nemiskau is a large lake, of ten days' journey
in circumference, half surrounded from North to
South by a semicircular range of high mountains.
At the mouth of the great river, which extends from
the East to the Northeast, are seen vast plains, which
continue even below the semicircular mountain-
range; while all this open country is so agreeably
intersected by water that there appear to the eye to
be a corresponding number of rivers, forming so
many Islands that it is hard to count them. All
these Islands are seen to be so scored with the trails
of the moose, beaver, deer, and porcupine, that they
would seem [180] to be the place of their abode,
where they are wont to range. Five large rivers
empty into this lake, making it so rich in fish that
the latter formed the main subsistence of a populous
savage nation dwelling here eight or ten years ago.
The sad monuments of their place of residence are
still to be seen; and also, on a rocky islet, the
remains of a large fort constructed of stout trees by
the Iroquois, whence he guarded all the approaches
and made frequent murderous sallies. Seven years
ago he killed on this spot, or led away captive, eighty
persons; this caused the entire abandonment of the
place, its original inhabitants departing thence.
Owing to the size of the ri ver and the nearness of
the sea, there was formerly much traffic here, people
coming from various quarters. The river forms a
great elbow in turning to the Northeast, compelling
us to make four very difficult portages among some

184

LES RELATIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

& du voifinage de la mer. Cette riviere fait un grand
coude tirant au Nordefi, il nous fallut faire quatre
portages de tres-mauvais chemin, par des petits lacs,
pour la couper droit au Nordefi, & nous fufmes
coucher à N ataoüatiKoüan.
Le 26. à Tehepimont, pais fort montagneux. Le
27. nous achevafmes de [181] franchir les portages.
jufques icy DOUS n'avions point reffenti les in com-
moditez qu'apporte la perfecution de ces petites
mouches fort picquantes, qu'on nomme moufquites
& maringoüins; mais ce fut icy où il nous fut im-
poffible de pouvoir dormir, efians continuellement
occupez à nous deffendre par les fumées, que nous
faifions de tous cofiez, de la cruelle guerre que nous
faifoient ces petits animaux, dont Ie nombre paroiffoit
infin y .
Le 28. à peine avions nous avancé un quart de lieuë,
que nous rencontrames à main gauche dans un petit
ruiffeau, un heu avec fes agrez de dix ou douze
tonneaux, qui portoit Ie PavilIon Anglois, & la voile
latine; delà à la portée du fufil, nous entrafmes dans
deux maifons defertes; un peu plus avant on décou-
vrit que les Sauvages avoient hyverné là proche, &
que depuis peu, ils en efioient partis, no us pourfui-
vifmes donc nofire route, jufques à une pointe efioi-
gnée de fix lieuës de la maifon des Europeans. Là,
la marée efiant baffe, & Ie vent contraire, nous nous
en retirafmes les vafes jufqu'au ventre, dans une
petite riviere à [182] main droite, tirant au Nordefi,
où, en tournant, & cherchant, nous rencontrâmes
deux ou trois cabanes, & un chien abandonné, qui
nous firent connoifire que les Sauvages efioient
proche, & qu'il n'y avoit que deux jours qu'ils avoient

1671-72]

Rl!.'LA TION OF ;67.r-72

185

small lakes, to regain it by a direct Northeasterly
course. We went to Nataouatikouan to pass the
night.
"On the 26th, we arrived at Tehepimont, an
exceedingly mountainous region. On the 27th, we
accomplished the [18IJ last of the portages. Thus
far we had experienced no discomfort from the per-
secution of those little sharp-stinging flies known as
mosquitoes and gnats. But at this point it became
impossible for us to sleep, constantly occupied as we
were with defending ourselves, by the smoke that we
made on every side, from the cruel warfare waged
against us by those tiny creatures, whose numbers
seemed infinite.
" On the 28th, scarcely had we proceeded a quar-
ter of a league when we encountered, in a small
stream on our left, a hoy of ten or twelve tons, with
its rigging, carrying the English Flag and a lateen
sail. A musket-shot's distance thence, we entered
two deserted houses. A little farther on, we found
that the Savages had wintered near there, and had
recently taken their departure. \Ve pursued our
course, accordingly, as far as a point of land six
leagues distant from the house of the Europeans.
There, the tide being low and the wind against us,
we withdrew, the mud up to our waists, into a little
river on [182J our right, flowing toward the North-
east. Here, upon turning and looking around, we
found two or three cabins and an abandoned dog,
showing us that the Savages were near, and had
decamped only two days before. All that evening
we remained there, firing loud musket-shots to make
ourselves heard, and amusing ourselves with watch-
ing the sea which we had so long sought, and

186

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL 56

délogé. Tout ce foir nous arrefiames-Ià, tirant de
grands coups de fufils pour nous faire entendre, &
nous divertiffant à confiderer la mer que nous avions
tant recherchée, & cette fi fameufe baye de Hutfon,
de laqueUe nous parlerons cy-apres.
Le 29. un de nos canots partit pour aller à h1ifKou-
tenagachit, là où nos gens penfoient que les Sauvages
devoient efire. Le 30. mon hofie s'efiant mis en
mauvaife humeur, perdit cæur de paffer outre, & ne
fongeant plus qu'à fon retour, difoit qu'il efioit en
peine de fa petite fiUe âgée de quatre mois, qu'il
avoit laiffée, nous retournafmes à la maifon des An-
glois, il me faUut faire violence pour condefcendre à
cette humeur brutale, & diffimuler mes reffentimens.
Le matin du premier de Juillet apres avoir dit la
fainte Meffe, je tafchay de [183J luy reprefenter que
nofire canot n'efiant pas de retour, il falloit par
confequent qu'il eufi rencontré des Sauvages, & qu'il
nous attendi t.
11 propofa d'abord de grandes difficultez pour faire
une traverfe de vingt lieuës en canot fur Ia mer, je
crus deílors qu'il efioit gagné; neanmoins pour l'obli-
ger de fe declarer davantage, je luy repartis; il efi
de ton honneur, & de ceux qui t'envoyent de ne te
point arrefier, efiant fi proche; apres tant de fatigues
paffées, il n' efi rien de fi difficile que tu ne puiffe
aifément vaincre avec Ie fecours de Dieu. S'il n'y a
rien de fi noble, & de fi grand que de porter Ia Fay
parmy les infideles, & d'efiendre l'Empire de Dieu,
tu te devrois efiimer heureux de cooperer au falut de
quelque perfonne, qui s' en reffouviendra méme apres
fa mort, & priera Dieu pour toy, & au contraire tu
auras jufie fujet de craindre à l'heure de ta mort, les

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67r-72

187

that famous Hutson's bay, of which we shall speak
later.
"On the 29th, one of our canoes started for Mis-
koutenagachit, where our men thought the Savages
must be. On the 30th, my host, falling into an ill
humor, lost heart for continuing the journey; and,
intent only on returning, said that he was anxious
.about his four-months-old granddaughter, whom he
had left behind. We went back to the English-
men's house. I was obliged to curb myself, in order
to bear with that surly humor and conceal my
indignation.
" On the morning of the first of July, after saying
holy Mass, I tried to [183] show him that, as our
canoe had not returned, it must, in consequence,
have met with Savages and be waiting for us.
" At first he objected that it would be extremely
difficul t to make a passage of twenty leagues by
canoe on the sea. Then I thought that he was
persuaded; but, to force him to declare himself more
decidedly, I answered him: 'Thine own honor, and
that of those that sent thee, demand that thou shalt
not halt so near the goal. After so many past
fatigues, there is no obstacle so difficult that thou
canst not easily overcome it, with God's help. If
there is nothing so noble and great as to carry the
Faith among infidels and extend God's Empire, thou
shouldst count thyself happy to coöperate in saving
some one who will remember thy deed, even after
his death, and will pray to God for thee; while, on
the contrary, thou wilt have good reason to fear, at
the hour of thy death, the reproaches that may well
be uttered against thee, if anyone perish through
thy lack of spirit.' This brought him over entirely;

188

LES RELA TIOJ.VS DES .IÉSUITES

[VUL. 56

reproches qu'on te pourra faire, fi quelqu'un perit
par ta lâcheté; ce fut ce qui Ie gagna entierement, &
I' apprehenfion des jugemens de Dieu à ce dernier
paffage, luy fit refoudre de continuer Ia [184] route.
J'ay toujours experimenté que les Sauvages font fort
fufceptibles des impreffions des peines de l'Enfer, &
de l'attrait des delices du Ciel.
Alors tout brufquement, i1 me repartit, dépeche-
toy done, embarquons-nous. Nous partimes ce
mefme jour fur les fix heures, & à dix lieuës de là
fur les deux heures, nous rencontrafmes un can at
que Ie Capitaine, fçachant noftre arrivée envoyoit en
diligence au devant de nous, pour nous conduire.
Du plus loin qu'on nous vit approcher, iis fortirent
tous de leurs cabanes, & fe rendirent fur Ie bard de
l' eau, Ie Capitaine s' écrie à pleine tefte pour nous
complimenter, la Robe noire nous vient vifiter, la
Robe noire nous vient vifiter, & foudain une bande
de jeuneffe fe détache du gros, qui accourut à nous
ayant l'eau jufqu'au ventre, les uns nous porterent à
terre, les autres s'attacherent à nos canots, & Ie refie
à noftre équipage. Le Capitaine me prend d'une
main, & de I'autre fe faifit de mon aviron, me conduit
droit à fon logis, fait porter toutes nos hardes, & met
les deux François à [185] mes deux coftez. Nous
reftâmes là, iufqu'à ce qu'il nous euft fait dreffer
une cabane, à laquelle pendant que les femmes tra-
vailloient, ie tiray un beau calumet, & trois braffes
de tabac, & les donnay au Capitaine pour petuner, &
regaler fa jeuneffe. c'en Ie plus grand plaifir, & la
plus gran de civilité qu'on puiffe faire à un Sauvage
de Iuy donner à petuner principalement en ce pays-
là & dans un temps, ou Ie petun eftoit tres-rare.

167i -72]

RELATION OF 1671-72

189

and the fear of God's judgment at that last passage
made him decide to continue the [184] journey. I
have always found the Savages very easily moved
by representations of Hell's torments, and by the
charms of Heaven's delights.
U Thereupon, he answered me with much brusque-
ness, , Make haste, then, let us embark.' We started
that same day, toward six o'clock; and ten leagues
from there, about two o'clock, we met a canoe which
the Captain, knowing that we were coming, had
despatched in haste, to meet us and act as our escort.
" As soon as the people caught sight of us in the
distance, they all left their cabins and came down to
the water's edge,- the Captain crying at the top of
his voice, in compliment to us: ' The black Gown is
coming to visit us; the black Gown is coming to visit
us.' At once, a band of young men left the main
body, and hastened toward us, the water up to their
waists. Some carried us ashore, others seized upon
our canoe, and the rest took our luggage. The Cap-
tain, taking me with one hand and seizing my paddle
with the other, led me directly to his lodge, had all
our baggage carried thither, and placed the two
Frenchmen one [185] on each side of me. There we
remained until he had caused the erection of a cabin
for us. While the women were working upon it I
produced a handsome calumet and three brasses of
tobacco, which I gave to the Captain, that he might
smoke and regale his young men. To give him a
smoke is the greatest pleasure and courtesy that one
can render a Savage,-especially in that country,
and at a season w hen tobacco is very scarce.
"As soon as we were housed, the Captain pre-
pared a fine feast; while all vied with one another in

190

LES RELA TIOf\/S DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56-

Dés que nous fumes logez le Capitaine prepara un
beau fefiin, chacun tafcha à l'envy de nous careffer,
nous apportant ce qu'its avoient de meilleur, ils
vinrent tous l'un apres l'autre, pour nons vifiter, Ies
femmes mefmes, menoient leurs enfans pour voir
une robe noire, n'en ayant jamais veu.
Je n'efiois pas pourtant pleinement fatisfait de
ces civilitez extraordinaires. U ne chofe me tenolt au
cæur, .i'avois fait reflexion, dans l'entretien que
i'avois eu avec ceux du canot, qui efioient venus au
devant de nous, que fous pretexte de queIque inte-
refi de la Nation, avec laquelle ils avoient commerce,
ces gens [186J entr[erJoient en ombrage de nofire
vifite, & de nos pretentions, nofire)ntention ne leur
efiant pas bien connuë.
Pour leur faire prendre Ies jufies fentimens de
nofire conduite, ie me refolus de leur perfuader que
j'efiois parfaitement defintereffé dans la vifite, que ie
leur rendois, & que ie n'efiois pas venu pour exercer
aucun trafic, n'y m'enrichir
à leurs defpens, ou au
prejudice du peuple avec lequel ils trafiquoient, mais
plufiofi pour les enrichir en leur difiribuant liberaIe-
ment tout ce que nous avions apporté de fi loin, avec
tant de peine.
Je fis donc:affembler \tous les Capitaines, & tous
les principaux, & leur parlay de cette forte.
. 1. prefent. KiafKou, c'efi Ie nom duo Capitaine,
qui veut dire, mauve. Nous joüiffons fouvent, &
avec plaifir d'un bienfait fans en connoifire l'auteur,
& fans en fçavoir Ia caufe. Le bien de la palx avec
l'Iroquois que tu goufie maintenant efi de cette
nature, tu ne connois pas celuy qui te donne cette
paix, ny ce qu'il a pretendu en te la donnant.

1671-ï2]

RELA TION OF .167.1-72

191

their expressions of endearment toward us, bringing
us the best of their possessions. They all, one after
another, came to visit us, the women even bringing
their children to see a black gown -a novel sight to
them.
"I was not, however, fully satisfied with these
extraordinary civilities. One thing troubled me. I
had reflected, in talking with the occupants of the
canoe that had come to meet us, that, under pretext
of favoring the Nation with whom they were wont
to trade, these people [186] were likely. to take
umbrage at our visit and our claims, our purpose not
being clear to them.
" To make them take a correct view of our action,
I determined to convince them that I was entirely
disinterested in my visit; and that I had not come to
carryon any trading, or to enrich myself at their
expense, or to the prejudice of the people with whom
they were wont to deal,- but rather to enrich them,
by giving them freely all that we had brought so far
with such difficulty.
"Accordingly I called together all the Captains
and chief men, and thus addressed them:
"Present 1. ' Kiaskou,' - the Captain's name,
signifying , gull,' -' we often experience, and with
pleasure, a benefit whose author and cause we do not
know. The blessing of peace with the Iroquois, now
en joyed by thee, is of that nature; thou knowest
neither him that gives thee this peace, nor his
purpose in giving it to thee.
" 'Look at this present, which will open thine
[187] eyes to a knowledge of thy benefactor. (C It
is I," says Onnontio to thee, " who have made peace,
without thy knowing it. For the past five years the

lÐ2

LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

Regarde ce prefent, qui t ouvrira les [187J yeux
pour connoiftre ton bien-faéteur. C'eft moy, te dit
Onnontio, qui ay fait la paix à ton infceu; l'Iroquois
depnis cinq ans ne vous inquiete plus, i1 ne fait
plus d'incurfions fur vos terres, je luy ay ravy fon Pa-
Kamdgan, fa hache d'arme, & méme j'ay retiré du feu
tes deux filles, & beaucoup de tes parens; à la bonne
heure vivez en paix, & en affeurance, je te rends
ton païs, d'où l'Iroquois t'avoit chaffé. Pefchez,
chaffez, & trafiquez par tout, & ne craignez plus rien.
II. prefent. Ce n'eft point l'attrait du trafic, ny
du commerce qui m'amene icy. Si j'ay fouffert la
fatigue d 'un fi long voyage au travers de tant de
hazards, ce n'eft point pour autre motif, que pour
vous éclairer de la lumiere de la Foy, vous enfeigner
Ie chemin du Ciel, & pour vous rendre bien-heureux
apres cette vie, ce font mes penfées, & ce font les
penfées mefme des François, qui m'ont envoyé icy,
pour te dire, par ce prefent que la raifon, pour
laquel1e ils vous ont procuré la paix, avec }'Iroquois,
c' eft pour vous obliger à prier Dieu tout de bon;
voftre converfion au Chrifiianifme doit efire la recon-
noifIance [188J de ce grand bien, c'eft Ie deuxiefme
prefent.
Je fçay bien qu'il n'appartient qu'à Dieu feul de
toucher les cæurs, & de rendre efficace la parole de
fes ouvriers, qui l'annoncent en fon nom, & pour fa
gloire. Mais ces prefens eurent un tel effet fur leurs
efprits, qu'i1s prirent fur Ie chanlp, par Ie mouve-
ment du Saint-Efprit, qui les touchoit, la refolution
de fe faire tous inftruire; tous enfuite ont voulu em-
braffer la Foy, & eftre baptifez; & celuy qui en eft Ie
chef a frayé Ie chemin à tous les autres, ne m 'ayant

16í1-72]

Rr.."LA TION OF I67.l-72

193

Iroquois has ceased to disturb you; he makes no
more incursions into your territories; I have snatched
from him his Paka11lagan" '-his battle-axe-' " and
have even rescued from the flames thy two daughters
and many of thy kin. Very well, then, live in peace
and safety; I restore to thee thy country, whence the
Iroquois had driven thee. Fish, hunt, and trade
everywhere, and fear nothing henceforth." ,
" Present II. 'It is not the allurements of traffic or
of commerce that bring me hither. If I have borne
the fatigue of so long a journey amid so many risks,
it was from no other motive than to enlighten you
with the light of the Faith, teach you the way to
Heaven, and render you happy after this life. Those
were my thoughts, and those, too, were the thoughts
of the Frenchmen who sent me hither,-to assure
thee, by this present, that the reason why they
secured peace for you with the Iroquois, was to con-
strain you to pray to God in earnest. Your con-
version to Christianity must be your acknowledgment
[188] of that great blessing. This is the second
present. '
" I well know that it is for God alone to touch the
heart and give efficacy to his servant's word, which
is uttered in his name and for his glory. But these
presents produced such an effect on the hearers that,
under the influence of the Holy Ghost, which touched
their hearts, they then and there adopted the resolu-
tion to have themselves all instructed. Then they
all wished to embrace the Faith and be baptized; and
their chief led the way for all the rest, being unwill-
ing to let me depart until I had baptized him.
" I took pleasure in arguing with this good old man
when he pressed me for baptisln, and in offering

194

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 5&

point voulu laiffer partir que je ne l'euITe baptifé.
J e prenois plaifir de difputer avec ce bon vieillard
quand il me preIToit pour recevoir Ie baptefme, & de
luy faire beaucoup d'oppofitions pour l'affermir
davantage dans fes bonnes refolutions.
Vous efies 11 chancelans, luy difois-je, & 11 peu
fermes dans la croyance d'un Souverain efprit, qui
gouverne toutes chofes, qui fait tout, & de qui tout
dépend, qu'au moindre danger de la vie, de la fanté,
ou de quelque mauvais fuccez dans les affaires, qui ne
dependent que de la feule [189] volonté de cet efprit
fouverain, tu auras recours auffi-tofi au malin efprit,
& tu retomberas dans tes anciennes coutumes, & ce
genereux deITein, qui t'anime maintenant à prier, à la
moindre difgrace, qui t'arrivera comme un beau-feu
au moindre vent, s'efieindra, & s'en ira en fumée.
Cela feroit bon, 11 j' efioit un enfant, refpondit il, tu
aurois fujet de craindre que ie ne fuITe pas ferme,
dans la refolution que ie prens de prier tout de bon.
Celuy qui me donne ces bons fentimens maintenant,
me les confervera à l' avenir par fa grace, & s'il a
efié fi bon, & 11 puiITant pour allumer en moy Ie feu
de ce bon deITein, il ne l' efieindra pas, & qui Ie peut
eíteindre, puifque luy feul fait tout, & gouverne tout!
Attends, luy repartis-ie, à une autre fois, ie fuis
preITé de {onger à mon retour, il me faudroit trop de
temps pour t'infiruire à fonds; l' année fuivante, ou
moy, ou quelque autre viendra, & demeura icy pour
vous en feigner tout ce qu'il faut croire, faire, ou
eviter pour aller au Ciel, ouy mais, dit iI, & qui fa
affuré que tu feras [190] en vie l'année fuivante, ou
que celuy, qui partira de Quebec pour venir icy, y
arrivera? & qui t'a dit qu'on me trouvera moy-mefme

1671-72]

R.E.'LA TION OF r67r-72

19&

him greàt opposition, in order to strengthen him
still further in his good resolutions.
" , You are so wavering,' said I to him, 4 and so
unstable in your belief in a Sovereign spirit govern-
ing all things,-the creator of all things, and the one
on whom all things depend,-that when the slightest
danger threatens life, health, or success in thy
undertakings, which rest solely with the [189] will of
that sovereign spirit, thou wilt straightway have
recourse to the evil spirit, and wilt relapse into thy
former ways. Then this noble purpose that now
moves thee to pray will, at the least misfortune that
befalls thee, die out and vanish in smoke,-like an
illumination exposed to the slightest wind.'
" 'That would be true, if I were a child,' replied
he; 'thou wouldst have reason to fear that I would
not stand firm in my resolution to pray in earnest.
He who now gives me these good intentions will, by
his grace, keep me true to them in the future; and
if he has been so good and so powerful as to kindle
in me the fire of this high purpose, he will not extin-
guish it. And who can extinguish it, since he alone
is the creator and ruler of all things? '
" , Wait until another time,' I answered him; 4 I
am in haste to set about my return, and it would take
too long to instruct thee thoroughly. Next year,
either I or some one else will come and stay here, to
teach you all that you must believe, or do, or shun,
in order to go to Heaven.' 'Yes,' said he, ' but who
has assured thee that thou wilt be [190] alive next
year, or that he who shall set out from Quebec for
this place will reach it? And who has told thee that
I myself shall be found alive? I am already old,
and have been ill for two moons. If I die without

196

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

en vie? ie fuis defia vieux, & malade depuis deux
lunes, fi je meurs fans baptefme, veux tu que je fois
brul1é? ie diray à celuy, qui a tout fait, que ie vou-
lois efire baptifé, & prier tout de bon, mais que tu
n' as pas voul u m' accorder cette grace.
Ce bon-homme difoit cela, d'un fi bon cæur, qu'il
me tira les larmes des yeux, il efioit toujours apres
moy, pour que je Ie ba[p ]tifaffe, & i1 m' avoit déja
retenu trois jours faifant naifire divers incidens pour
m'arrefier. Le foir ie luy dis refolument demain ie
partiray, ha! me repartit-il, je ne fuis pas baptifé, he
bien demain matin avant mon depart ie te baptiferay;
voila qui va bien, dit-il, tu n'es pas menteur.
Le foir nous ayant affemblé, il parla de la forte.
Ce n'efi pas la difficulté de parler, qui m'a fait diffe-
rer de tenir ce Confeil, mais Ie rapport que tu dois
faire aux François, qui me met fort en peine; les
pre fens nous fervans de paroles [191] pour declarer
nos íentimens, comment veux tu expliquer à Quebec,
ce que ie dis, fi tu ne peux porter, ny recevoir ce que
je veux donner? on dira à Quebec, que je n'ay point
de bouche, qu
je fuis un enfant, qui ne fçais pas
parler. Comme tu es tout epuifé de force, que tu
fais grande diligence pour te rendre au plufioft, &
que les chemins font fi penibles, ce feroit achever de
ruiner la fanté qui te refie, fi je t'allois charger de
beaucoup de pacquets. Adieu donc, adieu va l' en,
quand tu voudras, prens íeulement ces lourtres pour
dire au François, que voulant menager Ie refte de tes
forces, & pour luy temoigner I'efiime que j'ay fait
de tes riches prefens, ma jeuneffe portera ma parole,
& mon remerciment au lac de faint Jean l'année
fuivante.

1671-72]

R.E.'LA TION OF 167I-72

197

baptism, wouldst thou have me burned? I shall tell
the maker of all things that I desired to be baptized
and to pray in earnest; but that thou wouldst not
grant me that favor.'
" That good man said this with such feeling that
he brought tears to my eyes. He was always at my
heels, asking for baptism, and had already detained
me three days, causing various incidents to occur to
delay me. In the evening, I said to him with
decision, 'I shall go away to-morrow.' 'Ah!' he
returned, 'I am not baptized!' , Well, then, to-
morrow morning, before my departure, I will baptize
thee. I 'Good!' he exclaimed; 'thou art no liar.'
" In the evening, he called us together and spoke as
follows: ' It is not the difficulty of making a speech
that has led me to defer the holding of this Council,
but the answer that thou art to give the French is
what greatly perplexes me. As presents serve us
for words [191] in declaring our sentiments, how
wilt thou set forth at Quebec what I say, if thou
canst not carry or receive what I wish to give?
They will say at Quebec that I have no mouth - that
I am a child, unable to speak. As thy strength is
utterly exhausted, as thou art in great haste to return
as speedily as possible, and as the way is so arduous,
it would completely ruin what health is left thee,
were I to burden thee with many packages. Fare-
well, then, farewell. Depart when thou choosest.
Take merely these otter-skins to let the Frenchman
know that, wishing to spare the remnant of thy
strength, and to testify to him my high appreciation
of thy rich presents, my young men will bear my
words and my thanks to lake saint John next year.'
"On the fourth of July, his just request was

198

LES RELATID.NS DES.lÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

Le quatriefme J uillet on luy accorda fa jufte de-
mande, je Ie baptifay, i1 fut nommé Ignace. Un
vent contraire nous ayant arrefté toute cette journée,
luy donna moyen de faire paroiftre qu'il y avoit
quelque chofe d'extraordinaire en luy, & que ce
n' efioit pas en vain qu'il avoit [192] receu Ie baptefme,
i1 fit affembler tout fon monde en noftre pre fence,
& paroiffant comme tout tranfporté d'une fecrette
imprellion du Ciel:
l\Ies neveux, dit-il, vous fçavez tous Ie bonheur
qui m'efi arrivé ce matin, j'ay efté baptifé. Je prie
Dieu maintenant, je fuis Chreftien, une forte penfée
de vouloir eviter les peines eternelles, & de joüir un
iour des delices du Ciel, m'a touché tout de bon; ie
ne fuis plus ce que Ïay efié autrefois, ie defavoüe
tout Ie mal que i'ay fait, i'ayme de tout mon cæur
celuy qui a tout fait, c'eft en luy feul, que ie veux
croire, c' eft en luy feul que ie veux efperer: voila ce
que ie dis, chacun y eft pour foy, & ainfi que chacun
penfe pour foy, ce qu'il aura à faire.
II anima ce difcours d'un air fi plein de l'efprit de
Dieu, & l'accompagna de tant de devotion, que tous
fes gens en furent fi emeus & fi fort penetrez, qu'il
eft certain que fi i'euffe voulu condefcendre à l'ex-
treme envie de tous tant qu'ils eftoient, ie leur aurois
donné Ie faint baptefme, apres quelques iours
d'inftruétions, cependant il nous falloit partir.
[193J Le cinquiefme, ce me fut un fujet de douleur
bien fenfible, de me voir obligé de quitter fi foudaine-
ment Ie lieu d'une Million fi belle, principalement
apres avoir goufié ces premieres douceurs, ie ne cru
pas pourtant la quitter tout a fait les laiffant dans
l'attente de mon prochain retour. Cette feparation

1671-72]

Rl!.'LA TION OF I67I-72

199

granted; I baptized him, under the name of Ignace.
Our detention by a head-wind all that day enabled
him to show that there was something uncommon in
him, and that he had not [192] received baptism in
vain. He assembled all his people in our presence
and, appearing as if quite enraptured by a secret
influence from Heaven,-
" , My nephews,' said he, , you all know the bless-
ing that befell me this morning. I have been
baptized; I pray to God now, and I am a Christian.
A strong purpose has deeply moved me to strive to
escape eternal punishment and to enjoy some day
the delights of Heaven. I am no longer what I
used to be; I disown all the evil I have done, I love
with my whole heart the maker of all things, in him
alone I will believe, and in him alone will I put my
trust. That is my declaration. Every man is his
own master, and thus each may think for himself on
what he has to do.'
" He breathed into this speech so much of the spirit
of God, and accompanied it with such devotion, that
all his people were greatly moved and impressed by
it,-so much so that, had I been disposed to comply
with the ardent desire shown by the entire company,
I certainly might have given holy baptism to all,
after a few days' instruction. But we were forced
to take our departure.
[193] "It was a cause of very keen regret to me to
find myself, on the fifth, obliged to leave so soon so
fair a Mission-field,-especially after tasting these
first delights. I did not, however, feel that I was
quitting it altogether, leaving behind me, as I did,
the expectation of my early return. This separation
was not less deeply felt by all those good Savages,

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SUITES

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ne fut pas moins fenfible à tous ces bons Sauvages,
plufieurs verfans des larmes, en me difant adieu,
firent affez paroifire la douleur de leur cæur. Ils
nous accompagnerent iufques fur Ie bord de l' eau, &
íuivirent long-temps de veuë noftre canot, i1 plut à
Dieu nous donner affez bon vent, nous fHmes voile,
& avançâmes noftre chemin iuíqu'à la demeure des
Anglois où nous couchâmes.
A vant que de íortir de la baye de Hutfon, i1 fau-
droit vous en donner Ie plan. Mais Ie peu de fejour
que j'ay fait à l\1efKoutenagafit ne m'a pas donné, Ie
loifir de la vifiter, ny de m'inftruire à fond des parti-
cularitez de cette baye, & du pays voifin, outre que
j'ay efté obligé d'employer la meilleure partie de ce
temps à inftruire & à baptifer foixante-deux perfonnes
[194] tant enfans, qu'adultes; C'eft pourquoy je n'en
feray pas icy l'exaéte defcription qu'on peut trouver
dans les cartes, qui en ont efté faites.
Je diray feulement que la Riviere par laquelle
nous fommes entrez dans la baye, s'apelle Nemif-
Kaufipiou, qui prend fa fource du lac de NemifKau
& en retient Ie nom, cette riviere eft fort belle, eUe
eft large prefque de demie lieuë, & plus en divers
endroits, mais elle n'efi pas bien profonde, elle vient
du Sudeft, & s'eftend au Noroüeit environ quatre-
vingt lieuës: elle eft fort rapide, & entrecoupée de
dix-huit faults, c' eft pourquoy de peur de brifer les
canots & de s'expofer à tout perdre on les porte avec
tout l'equipage, à travers les bois. Tous ces por-
tages font longs, & difficiles, il y en a deux ou trois
d'environ trois lieuës, les autres d'une lieuë, de
deux, & de deux & denlie.
Le flux & Ie reflux, qui eft icy tres-reglé, entre,

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many of whom showed plainly enough the grief of
their hearts by shedding tears when they bade me
farewell. Accompanying us to the water-side, they
followed our canoe for a long time with their gaze.
God being pleased to grant us a rather favorable
wind, we set sail, and proceeded as far as the English-
men's lodge, where we passed the night.
" Before leaving Hutson's bay, I ought to give you
a sketch of it; but my brief sojourn at Meskoutena-
gasit did not afford me leisure to explore that bay, or
to gain thorough information as to its characteristics
and those of the neigh boring region; moreover, I
was obliged to spend most of my time in teaching
and baptizing sixty-two persons, [194J both children
and adults. Therefore I shall not give here an exact
description of the bay, which can be found in the
maps of it that have been made.
"I will merely say that the River by which we
entered it is called Nemiskausipiou, and rises in lake
Nemiskau, whence it takes its name. It is a very
beautiful river, nearly half a league wide, and more
in some parts, but of no great depth. Rising toward
the Southeast, it flows Northwestward for about
eighty leagues, is very rapid, and is broken in its
course by eighteen falls. Fearing, therefore, to
shatter the canoes, and run
the risk of losing every-
thing, we carried them, with all the luggage, through
the woods. All these portages are long and difficult,
two or three of them being of nearly three leagues
each, the others of one, two, or two and a half
leagues.
"The flow and ebb of the tide, which is very
well defined here, affects this river for four leagues,
until intercepted by rapids; but this fact does not

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\' JI':SUITE:':

[VOL. 56

quatre lieuës dans cette riviere, jufques à ce qu'il
foit arrefté par un fault qui n'empefche pas que les
eaux ne confervent leur douceur pendant les marées
les plus hautes, non feulement dans [195] la riviere,
mais mefme quatre lieuës avant dans la baye.
I1 n' eft pas croyable com bien loin la mer fe retire
lors de marée baffe: les Sauvages mettent bien vingt
lieuës: tout ce grand efpace à perte de veuë, qui
pour la plufpart n'eft que de vafe & que de rochers,
demeurant prefque tout à fec, de forte que la riviere,
qui s'efiend fur cette vafe, & qui s'y perd, n'a pas
pour lors affez d' eau pour porter les canots.
Nous avons trouvé que l'embouchure de la riviere
eft au cinquantiefme degré d' élevation, & nous avons
veu, que dés fon entrée, elle couppe la baye par
quantité de detours, qui forment des Iiles propres
pour eftre habituées.
A la pointe de l'Oüeft font logez les Kiniftinons,
& dans la baye, les MataoüakirinoüeK, & les Mon-
founik; chaque nation efi feparée par de grandes
rivieres. Les gens de la mer habitent au cofié du
N ordeft fur la riviere de MifKoutenagafit où nOllS
avons efié, & avancé vingt lieuës dans la mer, c'en
une longue pointe de roches, fituée au cinquante-
uniefme degré, où de tout temps les Sauvages
s'affemblent [196] pour faire leur commerce; & plus
avant, en prenant au N ordefi, font placez les Pitchi-
boutounibueK, les KoüaKoüikoüefioüek, & beaucoup
d' autres nations; à trois journées dans la profondeur
de la baye au Norouefi, eft une grande riviere, que
quelques Sauvages appellent Kichefipiou, & quelques
autres, la riviere des orignaux, Moufoufipiou; fur
laquelle i1 y a beaucoup de nations, & fur Ie chemin

1671- 72]

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203

prevent the water's keeping its freshness in the high-
est tides,-not only in [195] the river, but even four
leagues out into the bay.
"It passes belief how far the sea recedes at low
tide-estimated at fully twenty leagues by the Sav-
ages, all that vast stretch, as far as the eye can reach,
presenting nothing but mud and rocks, for the most
part, and nearly all being left bare of water; so that
the river, flowing over that mud and becoming lost
in it, has not then enough water to float a canoe.
"We found that the mouth of the river is at the
fiftieth degree of latitude; and remarked that, in
emptying, it seeks the bay by many windings, which
fonn Islands fitted for habitation.
" Upon the point to the Westward the Kinistinons
are settled; and, upon the bay, the Mataouakirinouek
and 110nsounik, each nation being separated from its
neighbors by large rivers. The people of the sea
dwell toward the Northeast on the river Miskoutena-
gasit - the name of the place visited by us, situated
twenty leagues along the sea; it is a long rocky
point at the fifty-first degree of latitude, where from
time immemorial the Savages have been wont to
gather [196] for purposes of trade. And farther
toward the Northeast are settled the Pitchiboutouni-
buek, the Kouakouikouesiouek, and many other
nations. Three days' journey into the depth of the
bay, toward the Northwest, is a large river called by
some Savages Kichesipiou, and by others Mousousi-
piou, 'Moose river,' on which are many nations;
while on the left, as you advance, lies the well-
known Island of Ouabaskou,15 forty leagues long by
twenty wide, a bounding in all kinds of animals, but
especially notable for its white bears. There is

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on laiffe à main gauche l'Ifle fameuíe de OüabaíKou,
qui efi de quarante lieuës de long & de vingt lieuës
de large, remplie de toute forte d'animaux, mais
principalement recommandable pour les ours blancs;
on dit, qu'il y a une petite baye, où l'eau ne gele
jamais, & dans laquelle les navires peuvent hyverner
fort commodement.
Je ne dis rien de l'abondance du gibier, qui fe
trouve en ce pays, dans l'Ifle d'Ouabaskouk, s'il en
faut croire les Sauvages, elle efi fi grande, que dans
un en droit où les oyfeaux quittent leurs plumes,
quand ils muent, les Sauvages, & les befies fauves,
qui s'y engagent, ont de la plume par deffus la tefte,
& s'y [197] perdent fouvent íans pouvoir s'en retirer.
J e ne dis rien non plus de la varieté, & de l' abon-
dance des fruits, qui croiffent icy, parce qu'il n'y
faut pas venir pour chercher la delicateffe, & la
friandife; ce qui s' eft prefenté à moy pour I' ordinaire
font de petits fruits, qu'on appelle bluets à caufe de
leur couleur, de petites pommes rouges, de petites
poires noires, & quantité de groifelles fort communes
dans tous ces pais froids.
J'y ay veu quantité de grands arbres en divers
endroits d'où les efcorces avoient efié enlevées, &
demandant à mon guide, fi ce n' efioient pas des
marques & des écritures dont ils ont coufiume de íe
fervir, it me refporrdit, que les Sauvages reduits à la
faim avoient pelé ces arbres, pour fe nourrir de leurs
écorces. Dieu a donné aux pais chauds les rafraif-
chiffemens neceffaires, & en ces regions froides, les
ours, les orignaux, les cafiors, & Ie porc-epy, ce font
une nourriture qui vaut bien les figues & les oranges,
pour fortifier I' efiomach en ces contrées.

1671-72]

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205

said to be a small bay where the water never freezes,
and in which vessels can pass the winter very
comfortably.
"I say nothing of the abundance of wild fowl in
this region. On the Island of Oua baskouk, if the
Savages are to be believed, they are so numerous
that in one place, where the birds shed their feathers
at molting time, any Savages or deer coming to the
spot are buried in feathers over their heads, and are
[197] often unable to extricate themselves.
" Nor do I speak of the variety and plenty of fruits
growing here, as this is not the place to visit in quest
of delicacies and dainties. What commonly caught
my attention were some small berries, called
, bluets I [i.e., blueberries] from their color, little
red apples, and dark pears, and abundance of goose-
berries, which are very common in all these cold
countries.
" I sa w in various places many large trees from
which the bark had been removed; and, upon my
asking my guide whether these were not signs and
characters which the people were wont to use, he
answered me that the Savages had stripped those
trees, when pressed with hunger, to feed upon their
bark. God has given to warm countries their neces-
sary food-stuffs, and to these cold regions the bear,
moose, beaver, and porcupine; they constitute a food-
supply which, for bracing the stomach in these
regions, are well worth the figs and oranges [of the
tropics] .
[198] " They are in error who have held that this
region, whether by reason of the intense cold, the
ice and snow, or the lack of wood suitable for build-
ing and heating, is uninhabitable. They have not

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[VOL. 56

[19 8 ] Ceux là fe font trompez, qui ont crfì que ce
climat efioit inhabitable, foit à raifon des grands
froids, des glaces & des neiges, foit par Ie defaut de
bois propre à bafiir, & à fe chauffer. lIs n'ont pas
veu ces vafies & épaiffes forefis, ces belles pleines &
ces grandes prairies, qui bordent les rivieres en
divers endroits, couvertes de toute forte d'herbage
propre à nourir du betail, je puis affeurer qu.au
quinziefme de ] uin, i1 y avoit des rofes fauvages
auffi belles, & auffi odoriferantes qu'à Quebec, la
faifon méme m'y paroiffoit plus avancée, l'air fort
doux & agreable. II n'y avo it point de nuit, quand
j'y efiois, Ie crepufcule n'eftoit point encore finy au
couchant, quand l' aube du jour paroiffoit au levant
du Soleil.
Le fixiefme, nous reprifme nofire riviere avec
bien de la peine à caufe de la rapidité de fon cours,
& des frequentes cheutes d'eau, qui l'entrecoupent.
C'efi alors qu'i1 fàut que les Sauvages fe mettent
dans l' eau pour traifner leurs canots à force de bras,
les uns les tirant avec des cordes, les aut res les
pouffant avec de longues perches, & bien fouvent
efiant [199J impoffible de rom pre 1'impetuofité de
I' eau, qui paffe par deffus les roches avec une viteffe
efirange, i1 faut les porter & tout Ie bagage à travers
Ie bois, tantofi entre de hautes & affreufes mon-
tagnes, tantofi par des vafies campagnes & par des
chemins fort fafcheux.
Nous fumes quatre jours à gagner NemifKau, où
nous arborâmes les armes du Roy fur la pointe de
l'Ifle, qui coupe ce Lac, Ie neufiefme de ]uillet.
Le quatorziefme nous fifmes rencontre de deux
canots Sauvages qui nous firent un grand accueil.

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

207

seen these vast and dense forests, these beautiful
plains, and these wide prairies bordering the rivers in
various places and covered with every kind of grass
suited to the maintenance of cattle. I can assert
that on the fifteenth of June there were wild roses
here, as beautiful and fragrant as those at Quebec.
The season seemed to me farther advanced, the air
extremely mild and agreeable. There was no night
during my visit; the twilight had not yet faded from
the west when the dawn of day appeared in the
East.
"On the sixth, we regained our river with great
difficulty, due to the swiftness of its current and the
frequent waterfalls, by which it is broken. At such
places the Savages had to leap into th
water, and
drag their canoes after them by main strength,-
some pulling with ropes, and others pushing with
long poles; while very often it was [199J impossible
to overcome the impetuosity of the stream, which
flowed over the rocks with marvelous swiftness.
Canoes and all the luggage had to be carried through
the woods,- now amid mountains, lofty and fearful,
and now over vast plains and by paths of extreme
difficulty.
" We were four days in reaching Nemiskau, where
we planted the King's standard, the ninth of July,
on the point of the Island intersecting this Lake.
" On the fourteenth, we met two canoes filled with
Savages, who gave us a warm reception. In our
interview with them, they told us that a party of a
hundred and fifty Mistasirinins were at no great
distance; and invited me to go and visit them, assur-
ing me that they would all be delighted to see us,
and to be instructed in the Christian religion.

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[VOL. 56

Dans l'entretien que nous eufmes avec eux, ils nous
dirent qu'il y avoit affez proche, une troupe de cent
cinquante Mifiafirinins, ils m'inviterent à les aller
vifiter, m'affeurant qu'ils feroient tous ravis de nous
voir, & d'efire informez du Chrifiianifme. Ayant
pris feu à ce recit, je leur refpondis que ce me feroit
une joye particuliere de leur rendre vifite puifqu' on
y pouvoit faire quelque profit. Et comme j'efiois
prefi de m' en gager en ce chemin, nofire guide qui
feignoit de dormir s'écria tout à coup. ou veux tu
aller, robe noire. nous fommes [200J preffez, conti-
nuons no fire route. II me fallut luy obeïr. II eft
fafcheux de dependre de l'humeur d'un Sauvage, on
ne fait pas toujours ce qu'on voudroit. fay nean-
moins tout fujet de croire que Dieu fe contenta de
ma bonne volonté.
Cette rencontre a efié fort favorable à deux petits
enfans, qui furent ondoyez fur nofire chemin à la
follicitation de leurs parens, qui m'en prierent.
Le 18. nous arrivâmes à la riviere de 11inahigouf-
Kat, où nous efiions attendus de deux cens autres
Sauvages, lefquels, apres nous avoir faluez à la façon
du pais, nous regalerent to us chacun à leur tour. Ce
fut icy où fe prefenta une bonne occafion, fans
l'avoir recherchée, de faire valoir la gloire de noftre
nation, & les avantages de nofire fainte foy, ils
m'écouterent avec tant de fatisfaétion, qu'ils fe
dec1arerent alors tous publiquement pour la priere.
& me promirent de fe rendre au Lac de faint Jean
Ie Printemps prochain pour y efire inftruits, &
recevoir Ie baptefme; j'eus la confolation de voir
augmenter la gloire & Ie troupeau de J efus-Chrift,
de trente-trois petits innocens [201J aufquels je
conferay Ie Baptefme avant mon départ.

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

209

Kindled by these words, I answered them that it
would give me especial pleasure to pay them a visit,
since there was something to be gained therein.
But, when I was on the point of setting out, our
guide, who was feigning to be asleep, suddenly
cried: 'Whither wouldst thou go, black gown? 'Ve
are [2ooJ in haste; let us continue our journey.' I
was forced to obey him. It is vexatious to be de-
pendent on a Savage's humor; one cannot always do
what he would. Nevertheless, I have every reason
to believe that God was satisfied with my good
intentions.
" This meeting was greatly to the advantage of
two little children that were privately baptized on
our way, at the earnest request of their parents, who
begged from me the favor.
" On the 18th, we reached the 11inahigouskat river,
where our coming was awaited by two hundred more
Savages, who, after greeting us in the native fash-
ion, regaled us all, each treating us in turn. Here
occurred a good opportunity, without our seeking it,
to praise the glory of our nation and the advantages
of our holy faith. They heard me with such satis-
faction that they thereupon all declared themselves
publicly for prayer, and promised that they would
repair to Lake saint John the next Spring, to receive
instruction and baptism. I had the consolation to
see the glory of Jesus Christ, and his flock, increased
by thirty-three little innocents, [201J upon whom I
conferred Baptism before my departure.
" Toward two o' clock on the afternoon of the 19th,
I planted the standard of our mighty and invincible
Monarch on that river, to serve as a safeguard to all
those Tribes against all the Iroquois Nations.

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Le 19. fur les deux heures aprés midy je plantay
les armes de nofire puiffant & invincible Monarque
fur cette riviere, pour fervir de fauve-garde à tous
ces Peuples, contre toutes les Nations Iroquoifes.
Le 23. nous nous rendîmes, au Lac de faint Jean
apres beaucoup de peines. Je fus tout furpris à mon
arrivée dtapprendre que les 1vlifiafirinins m'atten-
doient depuis un mois. C'efioit cette premiere bande
que je rencontray fur ma route paffant dans leur pais,
à q
i j'avois differé Ie Sacrement de Baptefme jufqu'à
mon retour, & que j'avois envoyez au Lac de faint
Jean, en partie pour éprouver leur refolution, en
partie auffi pour les infiruire pleinement, & à mon
loifir, quand je ferois de retour.
Je receus la pleine recompenfe de \outes les peines
que j'avois fouffertes dans ce long voyage, par Ie
baptefme de trente Adultes. Apres les avoir fuffi-
famment infiruits, je fus d t avis qu tils refiaffent au
lac pour y paffer I'Hyver, & fe mieux efiablir [202]
dans Ie Chrifiianifme.
Tefpere que ce voyage leur profitera, car comme
les gens qui habitent ce lac, font pIttS anciens Chre-
fiiens, & plus fermes dans la Foy, leur exemple
fervira beaucoup à cette nation, pour leur donner
une veritable idée de noítre fainte Religion.
Le 29. nous partimes du lac pour aller à Chegouti-
miK, où Monueur de faint Denis Capitaine de
Tadouffac, nous attendoit pour nous embarquer dans
fon vaiffeau, nous y arrivafmes Ie premier d' Aoufi.
Dés que j'ayefié à Quebec, j'ay tafché d'expofer
la fuite de nofire voyage aux perfonnes, qui m'a-
voient employé, & que je fçavois avoir plus de part
au fuccez de cette :Miffion: je les ay informées des

1671-ï2]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

211

" We reached Lake saint John on the 23rd, after
many hardships. I was quite surprised, upon my
arrival, to learn that the Mistasirinins had been wait-
ing for me a month. They were that first company
whom I had met on my way to their country; and
I had deferred granting them the Sacrament of
Baptism until my return, sending them to Lake saint
john,-partly to test their resolution, partly also to
instruct them fully and at my leisure upon my
return.
"In the baptism of thirty Adults I received full
recompense for all the hardships that I had suffered
on that long journey. After instructing them suffi-
ciently, I advised them to remain at the lake and
spend the Winter there, in order to become better
grounded [202] in Christianity.
" I hope this journey will result in profit to them;
for, as the people dwelling on this lake are Christians
of longer standing and firmer in the Faith, their
example will be of great value to the nation in ques-
tion, in giving its members a true idea of our holy
Religion.
" We left the lake on the 29th to go to Chegouti-
mik, where Monsieur de saint Denis, Captain of
Tadoussac, awaited us in order to take us on board
his vessel. We arrived there on the first of August.
" Immediately after reaching Quebec, I endeav-
ored to give an account of the successive events of
our journey to those who had employed me, and
whom I knew to be most interested in the success of
that Mission. To render them a full and faithful
report, I informed them of the cause of so early a
return on my part, of the places that I had seen, and
of all that I had done for the salvation of those

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SUITES

[VOL. 56

caufes de mon retour fi prompt, des lieux que j'ay
veu, de tout ce que j'ay fait pour Ie falut de tous ces
peuples, pour la publication de l'Evangile, l'efta-
bIiffement de noftre fainte Foy, & pour la gloire de
noftre grand Monarque dans toutes les Nations que
nous avons pu pratiquer pour leur en faire un ample,
& fidelle rapport.
[203J j ufques icy on avoit eftimé ce voyage im-
poffible aux François, qui apres l'avoir entrepris déja
par trois fois, & n' en ayant pû vaincre les obfiac1es,
s'efioient veu obligez de l'abandonner dans Ie defef-
poir du fuccez. Ce qui paroift impoffible, fe trouve
aifé quand i1 plaift à Dieu. La conduite m' en eftoit
deuë apres dix-huit ans de pourfuites que j'en avois
faite, & j'avois des preuves affez fenfibles que Dieu
m'en refervoit l'execution, apres la faveur infigne
d'une guerifon foudaine, & merveilleufe, pour ne
point dire miraculeufe, que je reçeus dés que je me
fus devoüé à cette :Miffion, à la follicitation de mon
Superieur. Et en effet, je n'ay pas efté trompé dans
mon attente, j'en ay ouvert Ie chemin en compagnie
de deux François, & de fix Sauvages.
II eft vray que ce voyage eft extremement difficile,
& que tout ce que j'en efcris, n'eft que la moindre
partie de ce qu'il y faut fouffrir. II y a 200. faults
ou cheutes d'eau, & partant 200. portages, OÙ i1 faut
porter canot, & équipage tout enfemble fur fon dos,
il y a 400. rapides, où il faut avoir toujours une
longue perche [204] aux mains, pour les monter, &
les franchir; je ne veux rien dire de la difficulté des
chemins, i1 faut r experimenter pour Ie comprendre.
Mais on prend courage quand on penfe combien
d'ames on peut gagner à jefus-Chrift. II faut faire

1671-72]

RELA TIO-,-V OF I67I-72

213

people, the proclamation of the Gospel, the planting
of our holy Faith, and the glory of our great
Monarch, in all the Nations with whom we had been
able to mingle.
[203] "Hitherto this journey had been deemed
impossible for the French, who had already thrice
attem pted it, but, unable to overcome the obstacles
in its way, had been forced to abandon it in despair
of success. What appears impossible is found to be
easy in God's good time. The conduct of the expe-
dition was my due, after my eighteen years of efforts
to that end; and I received sufficiently manifest proof
that God was reserving the final execution for me,
in the signal favor of a sudden and wonderful- not
to say miraculous-cure that I obtained as soon as I
had, at my Superior's solicitation, devoted myself to
this Mission. And, in truth, I was not deceived in
my expectation; for I led the way, in company with
two Frenchmen and six Savages.
" It is true this journey is extremely difficult, and
all that I write about it is but half of what the
traveler must endure. There are 200 saults, or water-
falls, and consequently 200 portages, where both
canoe and luggage must be carried on the back.
There are 400 rapids, where a long pole must be
constantly [204] in hand in order to surmount them.
I say nothing of the difficulties to be encountered on
foot; they must be experienced to be understood.
But one takes courage when he thinks how many
souls can be won to Jesus Christ. Going and return-
ing, the distance is 800 leagues; we covered 600 in
less than forty days. Our rule was to start early in
the morning, and encamp very late. Setting forth
as soon as the dawn allowed us to catch but a glimpse

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800. li
uës pour aller & pour revenir, nous en avons
fait plus de 600. en moins de quarante jours. Noftre
maxime eftoit de partir de bon matin, & de gifter
bien tard, nous nous mettions en route auffi-toft que
Ie point du jour nous permettoit d'entrevoir les
roches dans la riviere, & nous la continuions, jufqu'à
ce que par Ie defaut de c1arté, on ne pouvoit plus les
diftinguer.
Le fuccez que j'ay eu en publiant l'Evangile a efté
furprenant, rencontrant dans les efprits de toutes ces
Nations, des difpofitions fi avantageufes, que j'ay en
plus de peine à refufer ceux qui fe prefentoient pour
eftre baptifez, qu'à les gagner, & à les affujettir fous
1'empire de la Foy. Tous les Capitaines, & les prin-
cipaux Chefs ont efté gagnez à Dieu, ce qui aidera
beaucoup à la converfion des autres.
[ 20 5J Ce n'eft pas fans raifon que j'en conçois de
gran des ef perances.
Les mariages & les fuperftitions font deux vices
capitaux, & l' obftac1e Ie plus malaifé à vaincre dans
toutes les Nations Sauvages, celles-cy femblent d'au-
tant moins éloignées du Royaume de Dieu, qu'elles
font moins fujettes à ces vices, n'eftant point accou-
ftumez à une vie beaucoup voluptueufe, & ne fe
montrant point fi opiniaftres dans leurs fuperftitions;
il eft aifé de les defabufer de leurs erreurs, les
affujettir aux Loix Evangeliques, & à la pureté de
la religion Chreftienne.
Je n'ay point eu de peine à leur faire comprendre
Ie peu de pouvoir qu'ont les demons, pour fecourir
ceux qui les fervent, puifqu'ils n'en ont aucun pour
fe de1ivrer eux mefmes des feux de 1'Enfer, & je
leur ay expliqué les peines qu'ils endurent, l'ardeur

1671-72]

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215

of the rocks in the river, we continued until, for lack
of light, we could no longer distinguish them.
" My success in proclaiming the Gospel was SUT-
prising,-finding, as I did, among all those Nations
a state of mind so favorable that I had more difficulty
in refusing those who offered themselves for baptism,
than in winning them and subjecting them to the
empire of the Faith. All the Captains and the lead-
ing Chiefs were won to God, which will aid greatly
in converting the others.
[205] " Not without reason do I cherish great hopes
of this.
" In their marriages and superstitions are found
the two capital vices, and the most difficult obstacle
to overcome among all the Savage Nations. Those
Northern tribes seem the less remote from God' s
Kingdom, in that they are less subject to these vices,
not being accustomed to a very sensual life, and
showing themselves less obstinate in their supersti-
tions. It is easy to disabuse them of their errors,
and to subject them to the Laws of the Gospel and
the purity of the Christian religion.
"I had no difficulty in convincing them of the
slight power possessed by the demons for succoring
their followers, since they have none whatever for
delivering themselves from the fires of Hell; and I
explained to them the sufferings endured by these
demons, the vehemence of their jealousy, and their
horrible malice in wishing to have companions in
their wretchedness.
" Polygamy is not common with these people. I
even remarked that the second [206] wife of those
who had two was nearly always some near relative;
and, upon inquiring the reason that could underlie

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de leur jaloufie, & la malice horrible, qu'ils ont de
fouhaitter d'avoir des compagnons de leur mifere.
La Polygamie n'efi pas ordinaire chez eux, j'ay
remarque mefme que la feconde [206] femme de ceux
qui en avoient deux, efioit prefque toujours quelque
proche parente, & m'efiant informé de la raifon,
qu'ils pouvoient avoir pour en ufer ainfi, on me
refpondit que quand une femme a perdu fon mary,
c'efi au plus proche parent d'en prendre foin, & de la
faire fubfifier, & de la tenir non pas en qualité
d'efc1ave, mais de femme.
Je finis Ie recit de nofire voyage par Ie nombre des
baptifez, qui monte depuis mon depart à deux cent,
tant enfans, qu'adultes. Que ne peut-on pas efperer
apres de fi beaux commencemens? particulierement,
fi on confidere Ie defir ardent que tous ces peuples
m'ont témoigné d'efire infiruits; la difficulté qu'ils
ont eu à me laiffer partir; les in fiances qu'il m'ont
faites de nous aller eftablir au plufiofi dans leur pais,
& les follicitations preffantes qu'ils font à tous les
François pour les inviter à venir negocier avec eux.
Peut-on rien fouhaitter apres tant d'avantages,
finon qu'il plaife à Dieu de donner benediétion à
tous nos travaux? c'efi fon affaire, & c'efi fon
in terefi.

1671-72]

RELA TION OF Ió7I-72

217

such a custom, I was answered that, when a woman
lost her husband, it was the nearest relative's duty
to take care of her and maintain her,-holding her
not as a slave but as a wife.
" I close the account of our journey with the num-
ber of persons baptized, amounting, from the time
of my departure, to two hundred, children and adults
together. What may we not hope after so fair a
beginning, especially in view of the ardent desire
for instruction manifested to me by all those people,
their reluctance to let me depart, the urgent requests
they made me that we should go to settle in their
country as soon as possible, and their pressing invita-
tions to the French in general to go and trade with
them?
"After so much encouragement, can we desire
anything except that God may be pleased to bestow
his blessing upon all our labors? It is his affair and
his interest. ' ,

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[VOL. 56

[207] Troifiefme Partie.

La Sainte Mort de Madame de la Peltrie,
Fondatrice des Religieufes Urfulines en la
nouvelle France; & de la Reverende
Mere Marie de l'lncarnation premiere
Superieure de ce Monafiere.

N OSTRE Canada a perdu Madame de la Peltrie,
Fondatrice des Religieufes Urfulines en ce
païs, & Bien-faétrice de nos Millions. Elle
mourut faintement parmy fes filles, Ie 18. de No-
vembre de l'an 1671. & fut fuivie fix mois apres, de
la Reverende Mere 11arie de l'Incarnation, fa chere
compagne, & la premiere [208] Superieure de ce
Monafiere.
La mort de ces deux I1lufires perfonnes a efié une
affiiétion publique: comme elles obligeoient tout Ie
monde, tout Ie païs y a pris part, & les a regrettées.
On les honoroit beaucoup par-tout, pour leur vertu
& leur fainteté, mais elles efioient cheries & confi-
derées, particulierement comme celles qui avoient
donné commencement à l'infiruétion des jeunes fines
Françoifes & Sauvages; & qui par ce moyen avoient
beaucoup contribué au bon efiabliffement, & au
progrez des Colonies de la Nouvelle France.
Elles ont efié toutes deux appellées de Dieu pour

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

219

[ Z0 7] Part Third.

The Holy Death of Madame de la Peltrie,
Foundress of the Ursuline Nuns in new
France; and that of the Reverend
Mother Marie de l'Incarnation, first
Superior of that Convent.

O UR Canada has lost Madame de la Peltrie,
Foundress of the Ursuline Nuns in this
country, and Benefactress of our Missions.
She died a holy death among her nuns, on the 18th
of November of the year 1671; and was followed six
months later by the Reverend Mother Marie de
l'Incarnation,-her dear companion, and the first
[z08] Superior of the above-named Convent.
The deaths of these two Illustrious persons were a
public calamity. As everyone was indebted to
them, the whole country shared that obligation and
mourned their loss. They were everywhere highly
honored for their virtue and holiness; but were
especially cherished and esteemed for having taken
the first steps toward the education of young French
and Savage girls, and for having thereby contributed
greatly to the firm establishment and the progress of
the Colonies of New France.
They were both called by God to this glorious
work:at:nearly"the _ same time, and both:in an extraor-

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LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

ce glorieux deffein, prefqu'en mefme temps, & toutes
deux d'une maniere extraordinaire, fans s' efire jamais
veuës ny connuës auparavant, au moins des yeux
du corps. Ce qui fut dés lors un préjugé de l'excel-
lence du caraétere de leur vie & de leur conduite,
comme it paroifira dans les Chapitres fuivans. II y
a 32. ans qu' elles pafferent la mer en un mefme
vaiffeau, & foufienuës qu'elles ont toujours efté
depuis, par de nouveaux renforts, qui leurs font
venus de [209] France, d'année en année, & que Ie
Cielleur a mefme procuré, parmy les filles qu'elles
ont élevées dans Ie pais; elles ont formé une Commu-
nauté affez nombreufe, qui fubfifte par une efpece de
miracle, & avec laquelle elles ont travailIé toutes
deux de concert, jufqu'au dernier foupir, à fanétifier
grand nombre de familIes, par les bonnes impreffions
qu.elles ont donné de nofire fainte Religion, & des
vertus Chrefiiennes à celles qui les compofent.
Mon deffein n'eft pas de prevenir icy les Efcri-
vains qui voudroient nous donner l'hiftoire complete
de deux vies fi faintes. J e ne pretends que toucher
legerement quelque chofe de leurs eminentes vertus,
& de leur fainte mort; afin d'éviter Ie blâme de com-
mettre une injuftice, en tenant caché un bien qui
doit efire public, & fatisfaire en quelque maniere,
comme par avance, à une infinité de perfonnes, qui
ne refpirent que la gloire de Dieu, en leur donnant
la connoiffance de deux faintes Ames, qui ont brulé
du mefme zele, & qui n'ont jamais eu d'autres
pretentions que de vivre & mourir en fon [210] faint
Amour, dans un pais barbare, & de Ie voir au peril
de leur vie, connu & aimé de tous les peuples de ce
nouveau monde.

1671- 72]

RELATION OF I67I-72

221

dinary manner, without having ever seen or known
each other before, at least with the eyes of the
body-a fact which from that time became an argu-
ment in proof of the excellence of their mode of life
and conduct, as will appear in the following Chap-
ters. Crossing the sea in the same vessel, 32 years
ago, and sustained as they have been ever since by
fresh recruits,- who have come to them from [209]
France, year after year, and whom Heaven itself has
procured for them from among the girls they have
reared in the country,-they had built up a Commu-
nityof considerable size, which is maintained by a
sort of miracle. With it they both labored in concert,
until they drew their last breath, in sanctifying many
families, by imparting to their members favorable
impressions of our holy Religion and of the Christian
virtues.
My purpose is not to anticipate here Writers who
might wish to give us the complete history of two
such holy lives; I intend merely to touch lightly
on some of their eminent virtues, and on their holy
deaths. I do so, in order to avoid the charge of
committing an injustice, by keeping concealed a
blessing that ought to be public; and to satisfy
to some extent-in advance, so to speak-a multi-
tude of people whose only desire is the glory of
God, by making them acquainted with two holy
Souls. These Souls burned with the same zeal, and
never cherished any other purposes than to live and
die in his [210] holy Love in a barbarous land; and,
at the peril of their lives, to see him known and loved
by all the people of this new world.
I cannot, however, refrain from speaking some-
what fully of their call to the country of Canada, as

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[VOL. 56

Je ne puis toutefois me difpenfer de parler affez
amplement de leur vocation au païs de Canada, parce
qu'elle fera voir les voyes admirables de Ia divine
Providence pour les fanétifier, en procurant en mefme
temps à ces Nations barbares, un fecours fi avanta-
geux pour leur falut; & queIque penfée que j'aye,
pour éviter Ia confufion de ramaffer en des Chapitres
feparez, ce qui Ies regarde chacune en particulier, i1
faut neanmoins qu'apres avoir oüy cette pieufe Dame
fur Ie fujet de fa vocation, nous en apprenions des
circonfiances tres notables du narré que nous fera de
Ia fienne, par l'ordre de fon Direéteur, la Reverende
Mere Marie de I 'Incarnation.

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

223

it will show the admirable means adopted by divine
Providence for their sanctification, and for procuring,
at the same time, for these barbarous Nations so
helpful an aid in their salvation. And, however
strong my purpose to avoid confusion by grouping
in separate Chapters what concerns each individu-
ally, yet we must, after hearing this pious Lady on
the subject of her call, turn our attention to some
very noteworthy facts contained in the account which,
by order of her Director, the Reverend Mother Marie
de 1'lncarnation will give us of her own.

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[VOL. 56

[211] CHAPITRE 1.

DE LA VOCATION DE MADAME DE LA PEL TRIE AU
PAYS DE CANADA.

M ADAME Magdelaine de Chauvigny, veuve de
feu Monfieur de la Peltrie, nâquit à Alençon
de parents des plus confiderables de ce pais,
qui prirent un foin tout particulier de l'élever dans
la crainte de Dieu, & dans la pieté. Dés fon enfance,
elle fit paroifire fon beau naturel, fes inclinations au
bien, & un efprit déja meur: on ne voyoit en elle
aucune marque de legereté, & fes mæurs fe formoient
dés lors à toute forte de vertu. Le faint Efprit qui
la conduifoit, luy infpira une affeétion tres-grande
pour tout ce qui regarde Ie fervice de Dieu; pour la
pureté, la mifericorde, & la charité envers les
pauvres, dont elle ne pouvoit voir la mifere fans en
efire touchée de compaffion; ce qui faifoit juger à
ceux qui faifoient une reflexion particuliere fur fa
conduite, qu'elle feroit un jour une grande fervante
de Dieu.
[212] Je laiffe à des perfonnes de merite, qui en
confervent precieufement les memoires, mille parti-
cularitez d'edification qu'on raconte de fon bas âge,
pour m'arrefier uniquement à ce qui a rapport à fa
vocation en Canada. Efiant un peu avancée en âge,
on connut affez que fon naturel, & les dons du Ciel
qui efclatoient en elle, la rendoient beaucoup plus
digne d'avoir Jefus Chrifi pour Epoux, que propre

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

225

[21 I] CHAPTER I.

OF MADAME DE LA PELTRIE'S CALL TO THE COUNTRY
OF CANADA.

M ADAME Magdelaine de Chauvigny, widow of
the late Monsieur de la Peltrie, was born at
Alençon, of parents belonging to the highest
station in that country, who took most careful pains
to rear her in piety and the fear of God. From
infancy she showed her beautiful disposition, her
inclinations to virtue, and a spiritual nature already
ripe. No trace of levity was seen in her; and from
that time her morals patterned themselves after
every kind of virtue. The holy Ghost, acting as her
guide, inspired her with a most ardent affection for
everything pertaining to the service of God; for
purity, mercy, and charity toward the poor, whose
wretchedness she could not witness unmoved by
compassion - which made those who gave any special
heed to her conduct regard her as destined some day
to become a great servant of God.
[212] A thousand edifying incidents that are told
of her early youth I leave to certain worthy persons
who carefully preserve their records, that I may
dwell solely on what concerns her call to Canada.
When she was somewhat past her childhood, it was
seen clearly enough that her native endowments, and
the gifts of Heaven which shone forth in her,
rendered her in a far greater degree worthy of Jesus
Christ for a Spouse than fitted for passing her life in

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

à paffer fa vie dans les pompes & les delices du fiecle.
Auffi les premieres faillies de fa devotion furent pour
la Religion; elle fit to us fes efforts pour y entrer, &
dans Ie defefpoir d'en obtenir la permiffion, eUe fe
jetta à la dérobée dans un Monaftere, d'où on eut
bien de la peine de la retirer, fur-tout pour l'engager
dans Ie mariage, pour lequel eUe n'avoit aucune
inclination. Neanmoins Ie grand refpeét qu'elle
avoit toujours eu pour fes pere & mere, dont eUe
connut la volonté, l'y firent confentir. Apres une
infinité de combats, & des torrens de larmes, elle vit
clairement que Dieu vouloit d'elle, qu'elle leur ren-
dift cette obeïffance. Elle efpoufa done un fort hon-
nefte Gentilhomme [2I3J de Ia MaHon de Touvoys,
nommé Monfieur de la Peltrie, de qui elle eut une
fille, qui ne reçeut la vie que pour aUer augmenter
dans Ie Ciel Ie nom bre des Predeftinez. En cet efiat
elle n' oublia rien, felon Ie precepte de faint Paul,
pour faire qu'on ne peuft remarquer la moindre tache
dans fa couche nuptiale; eUe conferva inviolablement
les loix les plus faintes du mariage, jufques à ce qu'il
plut à Dieu appeller à foy Monfieur fon mary, & la
remettre en liberté. Pour lors fe voyant fans enfans,
& avec de grands biens, eUe delibera devant Dieu
fur ce qu'elle avoit à faire, & ne fouffrit pas peu
dans fon efprit, avant que de fe déterminer. Car
d'un cofté elle fe fentoit fort portée à reprendre fes
premieres penfées de la Religion; de l'autre, les
richeffes que Dieu Iuy avoit données, luy prefen-
toient un moyen bien avantageux pour procurer un
fecours notable à la converfion des peuples barbares
du Canada. Enfin la compaffion de tant d'ames qui
fe perdoient, luy toucha Ie cæur plus fenfiblement,

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

227

the pomps and pleasures of the age. The first flights
of her devotion, too, were for a Religious life, to
enter which she exerted all her efforts; and, in
despair of obtaining the desired permission, she
effected her entrance by stealth into a Convent,
whence she was withdrawn with great difficulty,-
especially as her removal was for the purpose of
pledging her in marriage, for which she had no incli

nation. Nevertheless, her consent was gained
through the deep respect which she had ever cher

ished for her parents, whose wishes were known to
her. After countless struggles and floods of tears,
she saw clearly that it was God's will that she should
yield them this obedience. Accordingly, she mar

ried a very worthy Gentleman [213J of the House of
Touvoys, Monsieur de la Peltrie by name; by him
she had a daughter, who received life only to go and
swell the number of the Predestined in Heaven. In
this state she neglected no precaution, in accordance
with saint Paul's precept, to prevent the least stain
being found on her nuptial couch. She faithfully
observed tbe most holy laws of matrimony, until God
was pleased to call to himself 110nsieur her husband,
and restore her to freedom. Then, seeing herself
childless and possessed of great wealth, she deliber

ated before God on what she was to do, undergoing
no little spiritual suffering before reaching a decision.
For, on the one hand, she felt strongly inclined to
resume her early plan of a Religious life; on the
other, the wealth that God had given her offered her
a very advantageous means of contributing in no
slight measure to the conversion of the barbarous
tribes of Canada. In the end, pity for so many souls
who were being lost touched her heart with the

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& l'emporta par deffus les inclinations violentes
qu'elle fentoit [214] pour la vie Religieufe; & apres
avoir confulté la deffus des perfonnes doétes, de
merite, & de grande vertu, elle prit la refolution de
facrifier fes biens, & fa vie à cette bonne æuvre. Le
papier qu' elle leur mit entre les mains, où elle avoit
efcrit de fa main toutes fes veuës, fes lumieres, &
fes fentimens fur cette vocation, eft tombé heureufe-
ment dans les noftres.
J'en ay tiré les chefs qui íuivent, comme plus
remarquables, parce qu'ils en comprennent toute Ia
fubítance. Comme la fin qu'elle fe propofoit, eítoit
de connoifire par ces grands hommes, la volonté de
Dieu, elle leur ouvre entierement fon cæur, & en
expofe les fentimens dans toute Ia fincerité poffible;
Elle declare premierement que ce n' efioit pas un
deffein pris à la legere; que ç'avoit eíté Ie plus ordi-
naire de íes entretiens interieurs avec Dieu; princi-
paIement depuis fix ou fept ans, que Ie feu de fon
faint amour s'eítoit allumé dans fon cæur d'une
maniere extraordinaire, & qu' elle avoit reçeu cette
grace, faifant les exercices fpirituels, fous la conduite
d'un fage Direéteur.
[ 21 5] Que pendant cette retraitte, elle avoit fenty
des mouvemens fi puiffans, pour procurer par toutes
Ies voyes imaginables, la gloire de celuy qui poffe-
doit uniquement fon cæur, qu'elle ne fe propofoit
pas moins que de s'employer à procurer, autant que
Ie pourroit la foibleffe de fon fexe, la converfion &
Ie falut de toutes les nations du monde, qui Iuy fem-
bioit trop petit pour la grandeur de fon zele; qu'elle
accompagnoit dés lors en efprit tous ces hommes
Apoftoliques, (qui y travaillent par toute la terre,)

1671- 72]

RE'LA TION OF I67I-72

229'

greater force, and prevailed over the vehement
desires that she felt [214] for a Religious life; and,
after consulting in the matter certain learned persons
of worth and of great virtue, she resolved to sacrifice
her property and her life to that good work. The
paper which she placed in their hands, containing in
her own handwriting all her views, her knowledge,
and her feelings in respect to this call, has happily
fallen into ours.
I have extracted its leading clauses, which follow,
as being most important, since they include the sub-
stance of the whole. As the end which she set before
her was to learn, through these great men, the will
of God, she freely opened her heart to them, and
revealed its sentiments with all possible sincerity.
She declared in the first place that hers was not a
purpose lightly conceived, but had formed the most
usual theme of her inner communions with God,
especially since six or seven years before, when the
fire of her holy love had been kindled in her heart in
an extraordinary manner,-that grace being granted
her while she was performing spiritual exercises,
under the guidance of a wise Director.
[2 I 5] During this retreat, she had felt such power-
ful impulses to contribute in every conceivable
manner to the glory of him who alone possessed her
heart, that she set before herself nothing less than to
devote herself to promoting, as far as the weakness
of her sex would permit, the conversion and salva-
tion of all the nations of the world, which seemed
too small for the greatness of her zeal. From that
time, she was wont to accompany in spirit all those
Apostolic men (who are engaged in that work over
the entire world) in their dangers and their hard-

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[VOL. 56

dans leurs dangers & dans leurs fatigues; qu'elle
difoit cent & cent fois Ie jour à Dieu, dans ces tranf-
ports: Faites de moy, mon Dieu, tout ce qu'il vous
plaira, tout eft à vous, mon Dieu, mon cæur, mes
biens & ma vie; & qu'elle avoit fenty interieurement
que Dieu prenoit plaifir à fes faillies d'amour; qu'il
acceptoit l'offrande qu'elle luy faifoit de foy-mefme,
& que fes projets reüffiroient à fa gloire. Ces faints
defirs efioient fi embrafez, & fi violents, qu'elle en
avoit de la peine à refpirer; & elle ajoufte, qu'ils
avoient toujours continué, & augmenté de jour en
jour. Mais [2I6J comme fes veuës, pour lors,
n'eftoient que generales, elle n'avoit encore aucun
deffein formé; & elle jugeoit bien que n' eftant pas
affez forte pour entreprendre tout ce que fon zele luy
pourroit infpirer, elle devoit, pour rendre fes bons
defirs effeétifs, fe déterminer à quelque bonne æuvre
particuliere dans l'efienduë de fon pouvoir, & de fes
forces. Elle fe trouva là-deffus dans de grandes
obfcuritez, ce qui l'obligea à redoubler fes prieres &
fes devotions, & à faire dire quantité de Meffes; enfin
la penfée luy vint qu'elle ne pouvoit rien faire de
plus avantageux à la gloire de Dieu, que de donner
fes biens & fa vie, pour eftre employez à IÏnfiruétion
des petites filles de Canada; ô que de bon cæur,
difoit-elle, j'y confacrerois toutes les richeffes de
l'Univers, fi elles eftoient en ma difpofition, que je
fouffrirois volontiers tous les martyres imaginables,
pour cooperer au falut de ces pauvres ames aban-
données!
Dans ces penfées, & dans ces de firs fi ardents, elle
eftoit bien refoluë de ne rien entreprendre fans
l'aveu, & l'approbation de perfonnes bien éc1airées,

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ships. Hundreds of times a day she would say to
God, in these transports: "Do with me, 0 God,
whatever you choose. 0 God, all is yours,-my
heart, my possessions, and my life." And she had
been inwardly conscious that God took pleasure in
her outpourings of love, that he accepted the offering
she made of herself, and that her projects would
succeed, to the furtherance of his glory. These holy
desires were so ardent and vehement as to cause her
difficulty in breathing; and she adds that they were
always lasting, increasing in force from day to day.
But [216] as her intentions were then only general,
she had thus far no definite purpose; and she felt
convinced that, being unable to undertake all that
her zeal might dictate, she ought, in order to render
her laudable desires effective, to fix on some good
work in particular, within the scope of her power
and strength. Thereupon she found herself in great
darkness, which obliged her to redouble her prayers
and devotions, and to cause the saying of many
Masses. Finally the thought came to her that she
could do nothing that would more redound to the
glory of God, than to give her possessions and her life
to the cause of educating the little girls of Canada.
" Oh, how gladly," she exclaimed, " would I devote
to that end all the riches of the Universe, were they
at my disposal! How willingly would I suffer all
conceivable martyrdoms, in order to coöperate in the
salvation of those poor forsaken souls! "
Amid these thoughts and ardent longings, she was
fully determined to enter upon no undertaking with-
out the sanction and approval of some enlightened
persons; and she [217] saw very clearly that, to
gain her end, she must have the entire control of her

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& el1e [217J jugeoit affez que pour en venir à l'exe-
cution, il falloit qu'elle eufi la parfaite joüiffance de
fes biens; deux pas à faire tres-facheux; mais c'eft
icy, où elle fit paroiftre fon courage, & fa confiance
en Dieu, de fait elle, trouva mille difficultez pour Ie
dernier, & pour Ie premier de tres-grandes oppofi-
tions, fon entreprife ayant paru d'abord une chimere,
parce que, Ie Canada ne faifan t alors que commencer,
i1 n'y avoit aucune apparence, qu'une jeune veuve
delicate, avec de grands avantages de nature, de
biens de fortune & de grace, confiderée, & recherchée
comme l'un des premiers partis de ce pays, fongeaft
à paffer les 11ers, pour mener une vie miferable dans
des forefts, parmy des peuples les plus barbares du
monde. Pour fes biens, elle entra dans de grands
procez, fes parties qui eítoient puiffantes, pretendants
que pour fes profufions & fes liberalitez envers les
pauvres, elle eftoit incapable de gouverner fon bien:
Elle ne s'efionna point neanmoins, quoy qu'elle euft
peu de perfonnes pour elle, & qu'elle eufi perdu fon
procez. D'abord elle en appella; fes [218J parties
avoient de leur cofié des plus grands du Royaume,
qui follicitoient inceffamment les Juges contr'elle;
tout fembloit efire dans Ie defefpoir, & fes amis
tenoient comme pour affeuré qu'au plus elle n'auroit
fon partage, que par provifion. Dans ces embaras,
elle eut recours à Dieu, & luy fit væu, & au grand
faint J ofeph, Proteéteur du Canada, que fi elle gai-
gnoit fon procez, elle executeroit fan deffein, &
qu'elle employeroit tout fon bien pour fa gloire, & Ie
falut des ames. Tout eftoit encor alors dans Ie fecret.
En mefme-temps qu'elle eut fait ce væu, Dieu chan-
gea Ie cæur de fes parties, qui de lyons, pour Ine

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238

property,- two very difficult things to effect. But
at this point she showed her courage and her trust
in God. Indeed she encountered a thousand diffi-
culties in respect to the latter object, and extreme
opposition in her pursuit of the former. Her under-
taking appeared at first chimerical, since, as Canada
was then but in its infancy, there was no likelihood
that a young and delicate widow, greatly gifted by
nature, possessed of large means, richly endowed by
fortune and grace, highly esteemed. and sought after
as one of the best matches in her country, would
think of crossing the Sea to lead a wretched life in
the woods, among the most barbarous people in the
world. In the matter of her property she entered
upon a great lawsuit,- her opponents, who were
powerful, claiming that, owing to her profusion and
liberality toward the poor, she was incapable of
administering her estate. She was nothing daunted,
however, although she had few persons on her side,
and lost her suit. She at once appealed. Her [2 I8J
adversaries had on their side some of the greatest
men in the Kingdom, who were constantly striving
to turn the Judges against her. The whole case
appeared hopeless; and her friends regarded it as
certain that, at the utmost, she would obtain her
share only provisionally. In this perplexity she
had recourse to God, making a vow to him and to the
great saint Joseph, Protector of Canada, that, should
she win her suit, she would execute her purpose and
would use her entire property for God's glory and
for the saving of souls. Nothing had thus far been
divulged. At the same time that she made this vow,
God changed the hearts of her opponents, who, to use
her own words, were transformed from lions into

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LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

fervir de res termes, devinrent des agneaux, en un
mot elle gaigna fon procez. Tous fes amys, & tous
ceux qui luy avoient eíté les plus oppofez, en furent
furpris, & admirerent la conduite de la divine Provi-
dence, fur fes affaires. Quelques bonnes ames, dit-
elle, me difoient; nous ne fçavons pas quels font vos
deffeins, mais la main de Dieu s'efi fait paroiftre
extraordinairement en cette occafion, & vous eftes
bien obligée de l'en remercier, & [219] de luy en
témoigner vos reconnoiffances.
Apres ce coup du Ciel en fa faveur, elle temoigne,
que fes defirs de glorifier Dieu, dans Ie Canada, Ie
mepris des douceurs, & des commoditez de la France,
l'amour pour fa vocation, & Ie zele pour l'infiruétion
des petites filles Sauvages, s' efioient acrus notable-
ment, auffi bien que fa confiance en Dieu; & elle
avoüe franchement, pour s'expliquer avec fa fimpli-
cité, & fa fincerité ordinaire, qu' elle avoit reffenty
depuis, en fon cæur, tout ce qu' elle avoit jamais leu,
ou entendu, des paffions les plus ardentes des Saints,
pour tout ce qui touche Ie fervice & la gloire de Dieu.
De plus, que Ie jour de la Vifitation de Ia fainte
Vierge, pendant fon oraifon, Nofire-Seigneur Iuy
avoit donné une forte impreffion que fa volonté efioit
qu'elle allat en Canada, pour Ie bien de tant de petites
filles, & qu'il Iuy feroit, à ce deffein, de grandes
graces. Ce qui me donna, dit-elle, tant de confufion,
que je Iuy dis, toute baignée de Iarmes, Helas! Mon-
feigneur, ce n' eft pas à moy, qui f uis une fi grande
pechereffe, une fi vile, & fi abjeéte creature, qu'il
faut départir de [220] fi grandes faveurs, il me femble
qu'i1 me difoit interieurement, qu'il eítoit vray, mais
que c'efioit, pour donner fujet d'admirer davantage fa

1671-72]

RELA TION OF -,67-'-72

235

lambs. In a word, she won her suit. All her friends
and all who had been most opposed to her were filled
with surprise at the issue, and with admiration for
the guidance of her affairs by divine Providence.
She says: " Some good souls said to me, ' We know
not what your plans are, but the hand of God has
shown itself in a remarkable manner on this occasion;
and you are under strong obligations to thank him
and [2I9J show him your gratitude.' ..
After this stroke of Heaven in her favor she
declares that her longings to glorify God in Canada,
contempt for the luxuries and comforts of France,
love for her calling, and zeal for the teaching of the
little Savage girls gained remarkably in strength, as
did also her trust in God. And she frankl y con-
fesses, expressing herself with her customary simpli-
city and sincerity, that henceforth she felt in her
heart all that she had ever read or heard concerning
the most ardent passions of the Saints for everything
relating to the service and glory of God; furthermore,
that on the day of the Visitation of the blessed Virgin,
during her prayer, Our Lord had conveyed to her a
strong feeling that it was his will that she should go
to Canada for the good of so many little girls, and to
that end he would confer on her abundant gifts of
grace. "This so filled me with confusion," says
she, "that I said to him, my eyes streaming with
tears: 'Alas! my Lord, not upon me, who am so
great a sinner, so vile and mean a creature, must
[220] such great favors be conferred.' He seemed to
say to my inner ear that it was true, but that his
purpose was to give reason for admiring his mercy
the more, and that it was his will to use me in those
regions for his glory; that I should go thither some

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LES BELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

mifericorde, & qu'il vouloit fe fervir de moyen ces
lieux là, pour fa gloire; que je m'y verrois un jour,
& que j'y mourrois; que quoy que de fes plus zelés
ferviteurs d'euffent s'y oppofer, je n'avois que faire
de me mettre en peine, que i'irois infailliblement.
Je demeuray muette, ne fçachant plus que dire, je
fondois toute en pleurs, voyant d'un cofté les graces
que Dieu me faifoit, & de l'autre mon indignité; je
fortis de mon Oraifon remplie d'une paix interieure,
& dans une entiere confiance que mes deffeins reuffi-
roient.
N onobftant tous ces fentimens, & ces connoiffances
fi expreffes, felon qu'elle Ie pouvoit prefumer, de la
volonté de Dieu, elle remet tout au jugement de ceux
que Dieu,.luy avoit donné pour la decifion de cette
affaire, comme elle Ie temoigne, finiffant ainfi l'écrit
qu'elle leur prefenta fur ce fujet. Au refie je laiffe
Ie tout entre les :mains de Dieu (ce font fes propres
termes) & de fes fideles ferviteurs, qui [22 I] pren-
dront la peine d'examiner ma vocation en Canada,
les conjurant, au nom de fa bonté, de ne pas confi-
derer ce que je pourray fouffrir dans l'execution de
ce deffein, puifque j'endurerois volontiers mille Mar-
tyres, s'ilA.efioit: befoin, & que ce fuft la volonté de
Dieu, pour contribuer quelque chofe à fa plus grande
gloire, je fuis prefte de figner à l'aveugle tout ce
qu'ils auront conclu fur cette affaire.
lIs jugerent tous apres l'avoir oüye, & examiné fon
écrit que Ie doigt de Dieu y efioit tout manifefie, &
qu'elle.pouvoit fuivre, avec affeurance, l'attrait de la
divine Majefié; quelques-uns mefme maintenoient
qu'elle ne pouvoit reculer, ou differer, fans refifter au
Saint-Efprit.
I1 ne fe peut dire quelle fut pour lors
la joye de fon cæur.

1671-72]

RELA TION OF IÓ7I-72

237

day and should die there; that, although some of his
most zealous servants should oppose my course, I
had no cause for anxiety - I should go without fail.
I remained dumb, not knowing what more to say,
and burst into tears, seeing on the one hand the
favors which God bestowed upon me, and on the other
my unworthiness. I arose from my Prayer, filled
with an inward peace, and feeling a perfect trust
that my plans would succeed."
Despite all such feelings and, so far as she could
conjecture, such express information concerning
God's will, she referred everything to the judgment
of those whom God had given her for deciding this
question-as she declares in thus concluding the
paper which she presented them upon the subject:
41 Finally, I leave the whole matter in the hands of
God" (these are her own words), " and of his faith-
ful servants who [22 I] are to take the trouble of
examining my call to Canada. I conjure them, in
the name of his goodness, not to consider what I may
have to suffer in the execution of this design, since I
would gladly endure a thousand Martyrdoms, if it
were necessary and were God's will, for the sake of
contributing somewhat to his greater glory. I am
ready to submit blindly to whatever decision they
may reach in this matter."
They were all of opinion, after hearing her and
examining her written statement, that the finger of
God was plainly visible in the affair, and that she
could safely follow the beckoning hand of the divine
Majesty. Some even held that she could not, with-
out resistance to the Holy Ghost, draw back or delay.
One can scarcely imagine the joy that then filled her
heart.

23ð

LES RELATIOA?S DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

Noftre-Seigneur voulut encore témoigner qu'il
approuvoit fa refolution, dans une grande maladie,
qui luy furvint au plus fort de fes difficultez: elle
efioit à l'extremité, & fur Ie point de tomber en
l'agonie, dont on n'attendoit que Ie premier moment
pour Iuy donner l'habit des [222] Religieufes de faint
François, dans lequel elle avo it deÍÌré de mourir; lors
qu'elle fe fentit infpirée de faire væu, en cas qu'il
plufi à Dieu luy rendre Ia fanté, de s'appliquer,
encore avec plus de vigueur, à rompre tous les
obfiacles, qui s'oppoferoient à fon deffein; elle Ie
conçeut dans fon cæur, fans que perfõne en euít
aucune connoiffance, en mefme-temps la fievre Ia
quitta. Le Medecin ayant appris qu'elle n'eftoit pas
morte, & qu'elle avoit pafIe doucement, la nuit en fut
furpris, veu l'eftat où il l'avoit laiffée Ie jour prece-
dent. IlIa vint voir, & la trouvant fans fiévre, luy
dit, Madame, je penfe que vofire fiévre eft allée en
Canada; la malade, qui ne pouvoit encor parler, leva
doucement les yeux au Ciel, & fit un petit fouris.
Dieu Iuy ayant ainfi rendu la fanté comme par
miracle, elle s'acquitta genereufement de fon væu.
J amais homme ne fe trouva plus en peine que Mon-
ÍÌeur de Vaubougon fon pere, qui avoit des penfées
fur fa fille tout à fait oppofées à celles, que Ie Saint-
Efprit Iuy avoit infpirées; elle eftoit fa bien aymée,
demeurée [223] veuve à I'âge de vingt-cinq ans, fans
enfans, recherchée de tous coftez, & des meilleurs
partis de la Province, pour fes belles quali[t]ez, qui
la rendoient extremement aymable. Ils fouffroient
tous deux, dans leur efprit, & Ie pere & la fille: Ie
pere pour flechir Ie cæur de fa fille; qui luy témoi-
gnoit affez fon extreme averÍÌon du mariage, & la

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

239

It was Our Lord's will to manifest still further his
approval of her resolution, in the course of a severe
illness that overtook her in the very midst of her
difficulties. She was in a critical state, and about to
fall into the death-agony,-on the first approach of
which she was to receive the habit of the [222J Nuns
of saint Francis, in which she had wished to die,-
when she felt inspired to take a vow that, in case
God were pleased to restore her to health, she would
apply herself with still more energy to the conquest
of all obstacles that might stand in the way of her
design. Thus vowing in her heart, and without any
one's knowledge, she was straightway rid of her
fever. The Physician, learning that she was not
dead, and that she had passed the night comfortably,
was surprised, in view of the condition in which he
had left her on the preceding day. Visiting her,
and finding her with no fever, he said to her: "Ma-
dame, I think that your fever has gone to Canada."
The patient, not yet able to speak, raised her eyes
gently to Heaven, and gave a little smile.
God having thus, as by a miracle, restored her to
health, she nobly fulfilled her vow. Never was man
more troubled than Monsieur de Vaubougon, her
father, whose plans for his daughter's future were
altogether at variance with those wherewith the Holy
Ghost had inspired her. She was his dearly-beloved
child, left [223J a widow at the age of twenty-five,
without children, sought after on every side, and one
of the best matches in the Province for her beautiful
qualities, which rendered her extremely lovable.
They both suffered inwardly, father and daughter
alike,- the father in trying to move the heart of his
daughter, who very plainly testified to him her

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LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

fille, qui ne penfoit qu'à glorifier Dieu, fe voyant
comme feule, pour trouver une perfonne bien éclai-
rée, qui luy donnat confeil fans efire fufpeéte, &
l' aydafi à executer Ie deffein qu' elle avoit pour le
Canada. Elle confulte Dieu la deffus, à fon ordi-
naire; & la penfée luy vint de s'adreffer à une tres-
honnefie gentil-homme, d'une haute pieté, feu
Ion-
fieur de Bernieres, Treforier de France à Caën, affez
connu par fes livres, & plus encore par la fainteté de
fa vie; Elle trouve moyen de luy parler, & apres
l'avoir informé en divers entretiens, de toutes les
connoiffances neceffaires,pour tirer de Iuy les lumieres
qu'elle fouhaittoit dans la pourfuite de fon entre-
prife, elle luy propofa une penfée qui faciliteroit &
iufiifieroit la liberté de leurs entreveuës, [224] qu'elle
jugeoit devoir efire frequentes, pour pouvoir fe
fervir avantageufement de fes confeils: fçavoir, que,
comme on l'importunoit fort pour Ie mariage, il euft
pour agreable de Ia demander à
lonfieur fon Pere,
fans toutefois avoir la penfée de l'epoufer jamais.
Ce faint homme vit affez clair dans l'intention de
cette pieufe Dame. N eanmoins comme la chofe
efioit fort extraordinaire, il prit du temps pour la
confiderer devant Dieu, elle Ie fit auffi encore tres-
particulierement de fon cofié. Et tous deux enfin
ayant jugé que ce moyen, qui n'avoit rien qui ne fuft
felon Dieu, feroit efficace, pour la fin qu'ils preten-
doient, Monfieur de Bernieres en fit la propofition fort
civilement à Monfieur de Vaubougon, qui efiant bien
infonné du me rite de la perfonne, y confentit, pour-
veu que fa fille Ie voulut bien.
Cette fage fille, qui agiffoit de concert avec Iuy
dans cette fainte fiétion, efcouta la deffus fon pere,

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

241

extreme aversion to marriage. The daughter, too,-
who thought only of glorifying God,- seeing herself
in a certain sense alone, had difficulty in finding an
enlightened person who would, without being sus-
pected, give her advice, and aid her in the execution
of her Canadian project. She consulted God, as was
her wont; and the thought came to her to apply to a
very upright gentleman of exalted piety, the late
Monsieur de Bernieres, Treasurer of France at Caën,
very well known by his books,16 and still more by the
holiness of his life. She found means to speak to
him; and after she had, in several interviews, given
him all the information necessary for obtaining from
him the counsel she desired in the prosecution of her
undertaking, she proposed to him a plan that would
facilitate and justify the freedom of their inter-
views,- [224] which, to enable her to follow his
advice to advantage, she thought ought to be fre-
quent. By tbis plan, as she was being eagerly sought
in marriage, he was to consent to ask Monsieur her
Father for her hand, but without intending ever to
marry her.
That holy man perceived very clearly this pious
Lady's purpose; yet, as the proposition was very
extraordinary, he took time to consider it before
God. She also, on her side, did so with the greatest
care. And at length, both deciding that this expedi-
ent, which contained nothing contrary to God's laws,
would be effective in promoting the end they had in
view, Monsieur de Bernieres broached the matter
very politely to Monsieur de Vaubougon, who, being
well informed as to the man's worth, :." gave his
consent, provided his daughter was disposed to
receive his suit.

242

LES RELA TIOJ\TS DES /J1SUITES

[V OL. 56

avec beaucoup de refpeét & de modeftie; & fa réponfe
fut, que puifque cet honnefte Gentilhomme, qui luy
faifoit l'honneur de Ia [225] rechercher, luy agreoit,
elle Ie preferoit auffi à qui que ce fuft de Ia Province.
11 n'en fallut pas davantage pour contenter l'efprit
de Monfieur de Vaubougon, & pour donner à ces deux
bonnes ames Iiberté entiere de fe communiquer, &
pouffer fortement, quoy que fecretement, l' affaire du
Canada que Monfieur de Bernieres entreprit avec tant
de conviétion qu'elle feroit à Ia gloire de Dieu, qu'il
eftoit refolu d'y employer, s'il euft efté befoin, tout
fon bien, & ne quitta point Madame de la Peltrie,
qu'il ne l'euft mife Iuy-méme dans un des vaiffeaux,
qui paffoient en Canada.
Iais Dieu vouloit que pour
épargner la douleur qu'auroit caufé une feparation fi
violente, & fi inefperée, cette fille fi fort cherie fermat
auparavant Ies yeux à fon bon pere, qui mourut tres-
chreftiennelnent, peu de temps apres l'efperance qu'il
avoit conçeuë de revivre dans une heureufe pofterité
par ce fecond mariage, s'il eufi efte tel qu'il fe l'eftoit
figuré. Apres cette perte, qui luy fut tres-fenfible,
la voilà plus libre que jamais, & fes affaires fe trou-
verent à tel point pour ne pas m'arrefter à [226] trop
de particularitez, quoy qu'affez remarquables, qu'il
ne fut plus queftion que de faire choix du Monaftere,
& des Religieufes propres pour ce deffein. Conlme
on jettoit Ies yeux de tous conez, on découvrit enfin
qu'à Tours, quelques Religieufes Urfulines, avoient
vocation pour Ie Canada, entr'autres Ia Reverende
Mere Marie de I'Incarnation decedée en cette ville,
depuis quelques mois. Monfieur de Bernieres, &
Madame de Ia Peltrie s'eftoient tranfporté à Paris
pour negocier cette affaire; i1 y eut auffi-toft des

1671- 72]

RELA TION OF 1671-72

243

That discreet young lady, acting in concert with
him in this holy fiction, thereupon heard her father
with much respect and modesty; and her answer was
that, since this worthy Gentleman who did her the
honor to [225] ask her hand, met with her father's
favor, she also preferred him to anyone else in the
Province. Nothing more was needed to gladden the
heart of Monsieur de Vaubougon, and to give these
two good souls entire freedom for conferring together
and prosecuting vigorously, though secretly, the
Canadian project. Monsieur de Bernieres entered
upon this with such strong convictions that it would
promote God's glory, that he was determined to
devote all his property to the cause, if necessary;
nor did he leave Madame de la Peltrie until he had
himself put her on board one of the vessels sailing
for Canada. But, to spare the pain that so violent
and unexpected a parting would have caused, it was
God's will that this daughter, so fondly cherished,
should first close her good father's eyes. He died
like a true Christian, a short time after conceiving
the hope that, by this second marriage, if it should
prove to be what he had pictured it, he would live
again in a happy posterity. After this loss, which
was a very heavy one to her, she was more at liberty
than ever; and her affairs-
ot to dwell upon [226]too
many details, although they are quite noteworthy-
proved to be in such shape that it only remained
to choose the Convent and the Nuns suited to her
purpose. After a search in all directions, it was
finally discovered that some Ursuline Nuns at Tours
had a call to Canada, and among them the Reverend
Mother Marie de l'Incarnation, deceased some months
ago in this town. Monsieur de Bernieres and Ma-

244

LES RELA TIONS DES .I
SUITES

[VOL. 56

Lettres de part & d'autre; & les réponfes fe trou-
vant favorables, i1 fallut en venir au plufiofi à
l'entreveuë, qui verifia une vifion merveilleufe, que
Iadite Mere Marie de l'Incarnation avoit euë fix ans
auparavant; laquelle comme elle a efié fuivie de fon
effet, merite bien qu'elle mefme nous en fafIe Ie
recit dans Ie Chapitre fuivant, l'ayant écrite de fa
main, de puis la mort de ladite Dame & peu de temps
avant Ia fienne, par I' ordre de fon ConfefIeur &
Direéteur.

1671-72]

RELATION OF r67r-72

245

dame de la Peltrie having gone to Paris to negotiate
this affair, there followed immediately a Correspond-
ence on both sides; and the replies proving favor-
able, it became necessary to hold an interview with
the least possible delay. And on this occasion was
verified a wonderful vision which the above-named
Mother Marie de l'Incarnation had had six years be-
fore, and which, as it was finally realized, well deserves
to be told by her in the following Chapter. The
account was written by her own hand, after the said
Lady's death and a short time before her own, by
order of her Confessor and Director.

24b

LES RELA TIO.NS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL 56

[227] CHAPITRE II.

LE TÉMOIGNAGE ILLUSTRE QUE REND LA REVERENDE
MERE MARIE DE L'INCARNATION, DE LA PROVIDENCE
PARTICULIERE DE DIEU SUR LA VOCATION DE
MADAME DE LA PEL TRIE EN CANADA.

J E produis ce témoignage dautant plus volontiers,
que la fainteté & Ie merite de la perfonne, dont
nous parlerons cy-apres, luy donne fon autorité,
& fon poids: voicy fes propres termes.
Environ l'an mille fix cent trente trois vers la fin
de l'année, peu apres que i'eus fait ma profeffion
Religieufe, m'efiant retirée à l'iffuë de Matines,
dans nofire cellule; il me fern bla dans un leger fom-
meil, que ie pris par la main, une jeune Dame
Seculiere, & que marchant avec elle d'un pas plus
prompt que Ie fien, je la devançois toujours, fans
neanmoins la laiffer. Nofire chemin efioit vers Ie
lieu ou l'on s'embarquoit. Nous allafmes toujours
de compagne durant nofire voyage, jufques [228] au
lieu, ou no us nous devions rendre. Enfin nOllS
arivafmes à vn grand pays. Efians décendus à
terre, nous montafmes fur une cofte par un paffage,
comme de la largetLr d'un grand portail, a cofié de
cette ouverture, parut un homme veftu à la facon
qu' on depeint les Apoftres, qui nous regard ant
benignement ma compagne, & moy, me fit figne de
la main, me donnant a entendre que c'eftoit là noftre
chemin, pour alter à noftre demeure; quoy qu'il ne
parlât point, fon figne me fervoit d'adreffe, pour alter

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[227] CHAPTER II.

SIGNAL TESTIMONY RENDERED BY THE REVEREND
MOTHER MARIE DE L' INCARNATION ON THE
SPECIAL PROVIDENCE OF GOD CONCERNING
MADAME DE LA PELTRIE'S CALL TO CANADA.

I CITE this testimony all the more gladly that the
holiness and worth of this person, of whom we
shall speak later, gives it its authority and
weight. The following are her own words:
"About the year sixteen hundred and thirty-three,
toward the end of the year, soon after I had made
my profession of a Religious life, retiring at the close
of :Matins to our little cell, I seemed- having fallen
into a light sleep-to take by the hand a young
Lady of the W orId; and, walking with her with a
quicker step than hers, I was constantly outstripping
her, without leaving her, however. Our way lay
toward the place of embarkation. During our voy-
age we were always together, until we reached [228]
our destination. At last we came to a great country.
We landed, and ascended a hill by a passage-way of
about the width of a large church-door. Beside
this opening appeared a man, attired as we see the
Apostles painted, who benignly regarded my com-
panion and myself,- and motioned to me with his
hand, giving me to understand that the way to our
abode lay yonder. Although he did not speak,
his gesture served me as a guide to a small Church
situated on the hill. This place was square, in the

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à une petite Eglife, fituée fur la cofie. Cette place
efioit quarrée en forme d'un Monafiere, les bafiimens
beaux & reguliers, cependant fans m'arrefier,-:'à
en confiderer la firuéture, mon cæur efioit attiré
vers cette petite Eglife, qui m'avoit efié montrée
par Ie gardien de ce pays. ] e fentois toujours ma
compagne apres moy; & en avançant, je vis un che-
min, qui conduifoit au bas de ce grand pays,:qu'en
un moment je confideray tout en tier : il me parut
couvert d'un broüillars épais, au milieu duquel j'en-
trevis une Eglife, quafi enfoncée dans ces tenebres,
[229] en forte qu'on n'en voyoit que Ie faifie. Ces
obfcuritez, qui rempliffoient ce pauvre païs, efioient
affreufes, & paroiffoient inacceffibles, ma compagne
cependant me quitta, & defcendit quelques pas dans
l'epaiffeur de ces broüillars. Pour moy, qui dés Ie
commencement, avois eu figne d. aller à une petite
Eglife, qui efioit fur Ie bord de la cofie, ou nous
efiions, je ne refpirois que d'y ariver au plufiofi, elle
efioit d'un beau marbre blanc, tout orné d'une belle
fculpture à l'antique. La fainte Vierge efioit affife
au deffus, tout au milieu, & regardoit:ce grand païs,
portant en fon fein Ie faint Enfant ]efus: La Mere &
Ie Fils me paroiffoient de marbre, cependant leur
attrait efioit fi charmant, qu'il me fembloit que je
ne ferois jamais arrivée affez tofi pour contenter ma
devotion.
]'y arivay entin, pleine d'une ardeur, qui me
confumoit. Pour lors je fus bien furprife, car levant
les yeux je trouvay que la fainte Vierge, & fon divin
Enfant n'efioient plus de marbre, mais de chair, &
que cette facrée Mere jettoit fes regards pitoyables
fur ce pays defolé, & que baiffant la tefie, elle en

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249

form of a Monastery, the buildings handsome and
symmetrical. Yet, without pausing to examine their
structure, I felt my heart drawn to that little Church
that had been pointed out to me by the guardian of
this country. I was conscious all the time that my
companion was following me, and, as I proceeded, I
saw a road leading down to the lowlands of this wide
region, which in a moment I viewed in its whole
extent. It seemed to me covered with a thick fog,
amid which I caught sight of a Church almost
hidden in this gloom, [229] so that nothing was seen
of it but its spire. This darkness filling that poor
country was frightful, and apparently impenetrable.
Meanwhile, my companion left me, and descended a
few steps into the thickness of those mists. As for
me, having at the very first been motioned toward a
little Church, on the verge of the hill where we
were, I was only anxious to reach it as soon as pos-
sible. It was of fine white marble, all ornamented
with sculpture in the antique mode. The blessed
Virgin was seated on it, in the very middle, and
was contemplating this vast region, bearing on her
bosom the holy Child Jesus. The Mother and Son
seemed to me of marble; yet so winsome was their
bearing that it seemed as if I would never reach them
soon enough to satisfy my devotion.
" At last I came to them, filled with an ardor that
consumed me. At this point, I met with a great
surprise; for, upon raising my eyes, I found that the
blessed Virgin and her divine Child were no longer
of marble, but of flesh, and that the sacred Mother
was turning her pitying glances upon that desolate
land, and, lowering her head, was addressing [230]
the little Jesus. It seemed to me also that she was

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entretenoit [230] Ie petit Jefus, il me fembloit auffi
qu'elle luy parloit de moy, ce qui m'enflammoit Ie
cæur de pI us en pI us.
La beauté du vifage de la fainte Vierge, qui
paroiffoit de l'âge de quinze à feize ans, eftoit ravif-
fante, l'impreffion en eft encor entiere dans mon
efprit. La deffus je m'eveillay avec une grande idée
pour la converfion du pays, que j'avois veu, je n'avois
neanmoins aucune veuë de ce que pouvoit fignifier
cette vifion, tout m'eftoit un myftere, que je n'enten-
dais pas, par ce qu'en tout cela, il ne me fut pas
dit une feule parole. Un jour done que j' efiois
devant Ie faint Sacrement, je receus tout d'un coup
une nouvelle impreffion de cette mefme vifion; &
tout ce que j'avois veu de ce grand pays fut repre-
fenté à mon efprit dans toutes fes circonftances. La
divine :Majefté en cette vifion, me dit interieurement.
C'efi-Ià Ie Canada que je t'avois monfiré, il faut que
tu y aille faire une maifon à Jefus & à Marie. Je
n'avois jufques alors jamåis entendu parler de ce que
c'efioit que Ie Canada, que quand pour faire peur aux
enfans on les menaçoit de les envoyer en Canada, je
Ie [23 I] prenois pour un mot d'épouvente, ou de rail-
lerie. Pour cet homme, qui en eftoit Ie gardien, je
ne pus douter que ce ne fuft faint Jofeph, Jefus, &
Marie ne pouvant eftre fans luy.
II y avoit donc environ fix ans que tout cela s'efioit
paffé, Iorfque Madame de la Peltrie, & Monfieur de
Bernieres arriverent à Tours pour faire Ie contrad
de fondation fous Ie bon plaifir de Monfeigneur Def-
chau Archevefque, Superieur du Monafiere, & des
filles qu'on venoit demander. Ce fut Ie R. P. Reéteur
du College de la Compagnie de J efus, qui nous en

1671-72]

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251

speaking to him about me, which kindled my heart
more and more.
"The beauty of the blessed Virgin's face - she
appeared to be fifteen or sixteen years old - was rav-
ishing; its impress is still intact in my mind. At that
point I awoke, filled with the thought of converting
the country I had seen. Yet I had no insight into
the possible meaning of this vision; all was a mystery
to me, and beyond my comprehension, since through
it all not a single word had been said to me. Now
one day, when I was before the blessed Sacrament, I
was suddenly visited again by this same vision, all
that I had seen of that vast region being presented
once more to my mind's eye in every detail. In this
vision the divine Majesty said to my inward ear,
, That is Canada that I showed thee; thou must go
and build there a house to Jesus and Mary.' Until
then, I had never heard what Canada was, except
when some one, in order to frighten children, threat-
ened to send them to Canada. I [231] took it for a
word with which to inspire fear or indulge in rail-
lery. As for that man who acted as guardian of
the country, I could not doubt that he was saint
Joseph, as it was impossible for Jesus and Mary to
be without him.
" Now it was about six years after all this had
occurred, that Madame de la Peltrie and Monsieur
de Bernieres arrived at Tours to make the contract for
their foundation, with the approval of Monseigneur
Deschau, the Archbishop, the Superior of the Con-
vent, and of the nuns for whom they had come to
ask. The Reverend Father Rector of the College
of the Society of Jesus came to bring us these tid-
ings, which our Reverend Mother Prioress received

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[VOL. 56

vint apporter la nouvelle, que no fire Reverende Mere
Prieure reçeut avec action-de-grace, & qui de là à
noftre follicitation, alIa trouver Mondit Seigneur de
Tours, & luy demanda des Religieufes Urfulines,
pour accompagner Madame de la Peltrie, qui avoit
Ie deffein d'aller fonder un Seminaire en Canada pour
l'infiruétion des filles Sauvages. Cette demande
furprit d'abord ce bon Prelat, neanmoins apres qu"il
eut efié bien informé de tout, par ce Pere; alors efie-
vant fa voix; ha! mon Pere, luy dit-il, eft [23 2 ] il
bien poffible que Dieu veüille prendre de mes filles,
pour un deffein fi glorieux; helas! que je feray heu-
reux, s'il en trouve dans cette Communauté, qui ayent
vocation pour expo fer leur vie fi genereufement; Ie
Pere luy repliqua que la divine Providence y avoit
pourveu, & m'avoit donné cette vocation; Allez je
vous prie mon Pere, luy répondit-il, allez encore luy
parler, interrogez là bien fur ce fujet, & revenez au
pluftofi m'apprendre ce qui en eft.
Sur ces entrefaits Madame de la Peltrie entre avec
Monfieur de Bernieres, il la reçeut avec mille bene-
diétions fur fa genereufe entreprife, & fut tellement
touché de fa rare modefiie, & du zele, qui paroiffoit
dans fes paroles, & dans l'ouverture, qu'elle luy fit,
des fentimens de fon cæur, qu'il acquieffa avec joye
à toutes les demandes qui luy furent faites, fur tout,
lors qu'il eut appris, par Ie retour du Pere, qui
m' eftoit venu examiner de fa :part, fur ma vocation,
ce qui en eftoit au vray; En mefme-temps il voulut
qu'on nouS amenaft Madame de la Peltrie, qu'on luy
ouvrit les portes du Monaftere [233] à elle & à fes
fuivantes, & quO on la reçeût dans la Maifon, comme
fa propre perfonne.

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

253

with thanksgiving; and thence, at our solicitation,
he went in quest of the said Monseigneur of Tours,
and asked him for some Ursuline Nuns to accompany
Madame de la Peltrie, who purposed going to Canada
to found a Seminary for the education of the Savage
girls. This request at first surprised that good Pre-
late; yet, after receiving detailed information from
the Father on the whole affair, he made reply,
exclaiming: 'Ah! my Father, is [232] it indeed
possible that God chooses to take some of my nuns
for so glorious an object? Ah, how happy I shall be
if there are found in this Community any who feel
called to expose their lives so nobly!' The Father
answered him that divine Providence had provided
for that, and had given me this call. 'Go, my
Father, I pray you,' was the other's reply; , go and
talk with her again, question her carefully on this
subject, and return at once to let me know the truth
of the matter.'
"In the interim, Madame de la Peltrie entered
with 1'lonsieur de Bernieres. He received her with
a thousand blessings on her noble undertaking, and
was so touched by her rare modesty and by the zeal
manifest in her words and in the confession she
made to him of her inmost feelings, that he joyfully
acceded to all the requests made of him - especially
when, upon the return of the Father, who, at his
request, had come to examine me on my calling,
he learned the true state of the case. In the mean-
time, he desired Madame de la Peltrie to be con-
ducted to us, the doors of the Convent to be opened
[233] to her and to her attendants, and such a re-
ception to be accorded her as would be given to
himself .

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[VOL. 66

Cette bonne Dame, qui avoit apprehendé l'abord
de Monfeigneur de Tours, fut ravie de voir fon affaire
faite fi promptement; & fans differer davantage, vint
au Monafiere pour nous faire part de cette bonne
nouvelle, & connoifire celles que Dieu luy avoit
deftinées pour fes compagnes.
A fon arrivée la Communauté s'affembla au fon de
la cloche, & s'efiant rangée en ordre pour la recevoir
en ceremonie, felon les intentions de mondit Sei-
gneur, nous Ia conduifimes au Chæur en chantant Ie
Veni creator, qui fut fuivy du Te Ðeu1Jl. Toutes
pleuroient de joye de voir cette pieufe Dame, qu'on
regardoit comme un Ange du Ciel, elle de fon cofié,
penfoit efire en Paradis; Pour moy, dés que je l'eus
envifagée, je me fouvins de ma vifion, & reconnus
en elle la compagne qui s'efioit jointe à moy. pour
aller à ce grand païs qui m'avoit efié montré; fa
modefiie, fa douceur & fon teint m'en renouvellerent
l'idée, tous les [234] traits de fon vifage me parurent
efire les mêmes. It y avoit environ fix ans que cela
m'efioit arrivé, & cependant j'en avois l'idée auffi
difiinéte, que s'il ny eût eu qu'un jour. Ce qui me
fit encore admirer davantage la divine Providence,
fut ce que j'appris par apres d'elle même, qu'en ce
méme temps que Dieu me l'avoit fait connoifire, il
luy avoit auffi donné les premieres infpirations de fa
vocation pour Canada.
Pour ne point m'arrefier au détail de mille cir-
conftances, qui changerent dans cette agreable
entreveuë, no fire Communauté en un petit Paradis,
la difficuité fut de nous trouver une compagne, car
toutes Ie vouloient efire. On alloit en foule trouver
Monfieur de Bernieres, qui efioit refié au parloir,

1671-72]

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255

" That good Lady, who had dreaded to approach
Monseigneur of Tours, was delighted to see her
business so quickly despatched; and without further
delay came to the Convent, to share the good news
with us and make the acquaintance of those whom
God had assigned her for companions.
"Upon her arrival the Community assembled at
the ringing of the bell; and, after drawing up in
order, to receive her, with ceremony, in accordance
with the said Monseigneur's intentions, we con-
ducted her to the Choir, singing the VentO creator,
which was followed by the T
Deum. All wept with
joy at sight of this pious Lady, whom we regarded
as an Angel from Heaven; she, on her part, thought
herself in Paradise. As for me, as soon as I looked
in her face, I recalled my vision, and recognized
in her the companion who had joined me for the
purpose of visiting that great country which had been
shown me. Her modesty, her gentleness, and her
complexion only strengthened my conviction; all the
[234] features of her face appeared to me the same.
That experience of mine had been about six years
before, and yet I remembered it as distinctly as if it
had occurred only the preceding day. What in-
creased still more my admiration for divine Provi-
dence was the intelligence which I afterward received
from the lady herself, that, at the same time when
God had conveyed to me a knowledge of her, he
had also given her the first inspiration of her call to
Canada.
" Not to dwell in detail on a thousand circumstances
in this agreeable interview, which changed our
Community into a little Paradise, the difficulty was

256

LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. ó6

pour obtenir cette grace de Monfeigneur de Tours
par fon entremife. Enfin Ie fort tomba heureufement
fur une fille pleine de courage & de zele, & accomplie
en toute forte d'avantages de la nature, & de la grace;
c'étoit la Mere Marie de faint Jofeph, appel1ée aupa-
ravant, de faint Bernard, dont il efi fait mention en la
Relation de l'an [235] 1652. pour avoir finy fainte-
ment fa vie en ce pais, comme elle s'y efioit employée
l'efpace de treize ans avec grand fruit pour Ie falut
des ames.
Toutes chofes efiant ainfi terminées, en peu de
temps, felon nos fouhaits, nous prîmes congé, parti-
culierement de mondit Seigneur, & ayant reçeu fa
benediétion, nous partîmes inceffamment de Tours,
pour nous rendre au plufiofi à Paris; où efiant arri-
vées fur la fin de Février de l'an 1639. nous efperions
bien augmenter nofire nombre de quelques-unes des
Religieufes Urfulines du Fauxbourg faint Jacques,
qui avoient la mefme vocation que nous; & nofire
efperance en efioit dautant plus grande que nous
n'ignorions pas Ie zele de cette Maifon pour Ie
Canada, & la difpofition qu'elle avo it de s'en priver
tres-volontiers pour une fi fainte entreprife.
En effet, il s'en trouva qui efioient toutes difpofées
dés lors, à fe joindre avec nous, comme firent l'année
fuivante, la Mere Anne de faint Claire, & la Mere
Marguerite de faint Athanafe; mais Monfeigneur de
Paris ne Ie jugea pas à [236] propos, ne pouvant pas
encore fe refoudre à donner fon approbation à un
deffein fi extraordinaire.
La divine Providence avoit defiiné cette place pour
cette année, à la Mere Cecile de fainte Croix, que
nous trouvâmes heureufement au Monafiere des

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

257

to find us a companion; for all wished to be chosen.
They went in a throng to Monsieur de Bernieres,
who had remained in the parlor, to secure by his
intercession this favor from Monseigneur of Tours.
Finally the lot fell happily upon a girl full of courage
and zeal, well qualified in every way by nature and
grace, namely, Mother Marie de saint Joseph,-called
in early life de saint Bernard; she was mentioned in
the Relation of the year [235] 1652 as having closed her
life in this country in a holy manner, after spending
her energies here for thirteen years with rich results
in the saving of souls.
" All arrangements being thus speedily concluded
to our satisfaction, we took our leave, especially of
the said Monseigneur, and, receiving his blessing,
left Tours without delay and repaired at once to
Paris. Arriving there toward the end of February,
1639, we fully expected to add to our number some
of the Ursuline Nuns of the Fauxbourg saint Jacques,
who felt the same call as ourselves; and our hope
was all the stronger since we well knew that Con-
vent's zeal on behalf of Canada, and its readiness to
undergo privation most gladly for so holy an under-
taking.
" In fact, there were some who were quite ready to
join us then,- as was done the next year by Mother
Anne de saint Claire and Mother Marguerite de saint
Athanase; but Monseigneur of Paris did not think it
[236] best, feeling yet unable to make up his mind
to sanction so extraordinary a proj ect.
"Divine Providence had, for that year, destined
this place for Mother Cecile de sainte Croix; we
happily found her in the Ursuline Convent at Dieppe,

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[VOL. 56

U rfulines de Dieppe, dans des ardeurs incroyables
d'expofer fa vie aux tempefies & aux dangers de la
mer, pour cooperer avec nous, dans Ies em plois
propres de nofire Infiitut, au glorieux deffein de la
converfion de ces nations barbares.
Enfin, apres avoir furmonté mille difficultez, par
nne affifiance du Ciel toute particuliere, nous nous
embarquâmes Ie 4. de May, cinq que nous efiions,
fans parler des Reverends Peres J efuites, qui nous
affifierent en tout, & ne nous abandonnerent jamais;
& fans y comprendre auffi Ies Reverendes Meres
Hofpitalieres, que Ie faint Efprit avoit infpirées de
demander la mefme Miffion, pour exercer les æuvres
de mifericorde envers les François & les Sauvages
malades, appuyées de Ia pieté de Madame la Ducheffe
d'Eguillon, qui avo it donné la premiere ouverture
[237] à ce deffein, & fourniffoit Ie fond neceffaire à
fon efiabliffement.
Enfin, fous la proteétion de Ia fainte Vierge, à
laquelle nous avions eu recours tres-particulierement,
dans trois ou quatre dangers manifefies de naufrage,
Ie premier jour d' Aoufi de la méme année, nous
arrivâmes toutes hel;1reufement à Quebec, où nous
fûmes receuës par Monfieur de 11on-magny Gouver-
neur, par les Reverends Peres Jefuites, & par tous
les François & Ies Sauvages, avec toutes Ies civilitez,
& les demonfirations de joye imaginables.
Auffi-toít que je me vis fur cette terre tant defirée,
je m'y profiernay & Ia baifay dans des fentimens
de refpeét, & de reconnoiffance envers la divine
Majefié, que j'adoray dans Ie pais, qu'elle m'avoit
montré il y avoit long-temps. J e Ie reconnus tel que
je l'avois veu, à Ia referve de ces épaiffes tenebres,

16ï1-ï2]

RELATION OF 1671-72

259

burning with incredible ardor to expose her life to
the storms and perils of the sea, in order to coöpe-
rate with us in the proper functions of our Institute,
to the glorious end of converting these barbarous
nations.
" Finally, after surmounting a thousand difficulties
by the special aid of Heaven, we embarked on the
4th of May, our party numbering five,-not includ-
ing the Reverend Jesuit Fathers, who helped us in
every way, and never left us, or the Reverend
Hospital Mothers, whom the holy Ghost had inspired
to ask for the same Mission, in order to perform
deeds of mercy to the sick among the French and
the Savages. They were supported by the piety of
Madame the Duchess d'Eguillon, who had taken the
first step [237] in that enterprise, and was supplying
the means necessary for its foundation.
" At length, under the protection of the blessed
Virgin, to whom we had made a special appeal in
three or four manifest dangers of shipwreck, we all
arrived safely, on the first day of August of the same
year, at Quebec, where we were received by Mon-
sieur de Mon-magny, the Governor, by the Reverend
Jesuit Fathers, and by the French and the Savages,
with all imaginable attentions and demonstrations of
joy.
"As soon as I found myself upon this soil so
ardently longed for, I prostrated myself and kissed
it, with feelings of reverence and gratitude toward
the divine Majesty, whom I adored in the country that
he had shown me long before. I recognized it as the
one which I had seen, except that those thick shades
appeared to me to have been dispelled,- the Faith
having already made noteworthy progress among the

260

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[VOL. 56

qui me parurent diffipées, la Foy ayant déja fait de
notables progrez dans les nations Algonquines, Mon-
tagnaifes & Hurones, par les foins des Reverends
Peres de la Compagnie de J ef us.
[23 8 ] Ces bons Sauvages nous regardoient comme
perfonnes venuës du Ciel, ils mettoient la main fur
leurs bouches par admiration, efionnez de ce que pour
I' amour d' eux, nous avions quitté noftre pais, nos
biens, nos parens & nos amis. Nous careffions &
embraffions celles de noftre fexe, fans horreur, ny de
leurs cheveux graiITez, ny de leur mauvaife odeur,
c' efioient tous nos trefors, & toutes nos delices.
Le premier ChreUien Noel N egabamat nous amena
deux de fes filles, & enfuite ce qu'il y avoit fur
Ie lieu de filles Sau vages. Madame noftre chere
Fondatrice eftoit ravie de fe voir en poffeffion de ce
qu'elle avoit tant fouhaitté, & de les pouvoir fervir.
Elle en voulut abfolument avoir la charge en chef;
& illuy fallut donner cette confolation.
Ce fut un plaifir de la voir déployer ce qu'elle
avoit apporté pour faire de petites fimares à fes cheres
filles, que nous veftimes de camelot rouge, les
Sauvages en furent ravis les voyant toutes habillées
d'une mefme parure.
Comme nous ne pouvions pas encore [239] efire en
cloture, la maifon que nous avions d'emprunt, ne
defempliffoit point, non plus qu'une grande chau-
diere, qui eftoit toujours fur Ie feu; rien ne nous
eftoit trop cher pour nos pauvres Sauvages. L'hu-
milité & la charité de noftre pieufe Dame efioient fi
grandes, qu'elle rendoit à nos petites Sauvages, les
mêmes fervices que fait une nourice à fon enfant,
avec une joye auffi grande que Ie monde en trouve

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261

Algonquin, Montagnais, and Huron nations, thanks
to the efforts of the Reverend Fathers of the Society
of Jesus.
[238] "These good Savages regarded us as
persons come from Heaven, and put their hands over
their mouths in wonder, astonished that for love of
them we had left our country, our possessions, our
kinsfolk and our friends. With no disgust at their
greasy locks or bad odor, we caressed and embraced
those of our. own sex, who constituted our only
treasures and our sole delight.
"The foremost Christian, Noel Negabamat,
brought us two.daughters of his, and then all the Sav-
age girls in the place. Madame our dear Foundress
was delighted to find herself in possession of what
she had so ardently desired, and to be able to serve
these girls. She insisted strenuously on taking chief
charge of them, and we were forced to grant her that
consolation.
" It was a pleasure to see her spread out what she
had brought for making her dear girls some little
gowns; and we clothed them in red camlet, the
Savages being delighted to see them all dressed in
the same costume.
" As we could not yet [239] enjoy any seclusion,
the house which was loaned to us never became less
full, any more than a great kettle which was always
over the fire, nothing being too dear in our eyes for
our poor Savages. Our pious Lady's humility and
charity were so great that she rendered our little
Savages the same services as a nurse gives to a child,
with a joy as keen as that taken by the world in its
most engrossing pleasures. And, although naturally
of a very delicate constitution, she did not betray

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dans fes delices les plus charmantes. Et quoy
qu'elle fut naturellement d'une complexion tres-
delicate, elle ne Ie faifoit point paroifire dans ces
rencontres, mangeant fouvent dans les cabanes avec
les Sauvages, qui l'aimoient & l'honoroient à leur
façon, plus qu'il ne fe peut dire.
Mais ce narré de la Reverende 11ere Marie de I' In-
carnation, m'engage infenfiblement à faire icy un
petit abregé des principales vertus de cette pieufe
Dame.

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RELATION OF I67I-72

263

the fact in her new surroundings, often eating in the
cabins with the Savages, who loved and honored
her, in their own way, more than tongue can tell."
But this narrative of the Reverend Mother Marie
de l'Incarnation has gradually led me on to a brief
presentation here of this pious Lady's chief virtues.

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[240] CHAPITRE III.

DE LA VIE DE MADAME DE LA PEL TRIE EN CE PAIs,
& DE SA SAINTE MORT.

O N peut juger de fes premieres démarches, dans
la fidele correfpondance qu'eUe porta à la grace
de fa vocation en ce pais, de quel pas elle s'y
eft avancée en toute forte de vertu, I'efpace de pres
de 33. ans que ces peuples ont eu Ie bonheur de la
poffeder.
Ce qui parut d'abord en elle avec plus d'éclat, fut
Ie zele qui brûloit dans fon cæur pour leur conver-
flon. Elle euft voiontiers couru en perfonne toutes
les forefts, les lacs, & les montagnes de ce grands
païs, pour crier à ces nations infinies qui les habitent,
qu'il y a un :Dieu, un Paradis, un Enfer, un
Jefus-
Chrift crucifié pour ramour & Ie falut de tous les
hommes; mais i1 faUoit auparavant refpirer un peu,
il faUoit travailler à l'établiffement du Monaftere
qu'elle avoit entrepris, i1 faUoit qu'elle eufi la
confolation de voir fes filles en poffeffion [24 I] de
l'employ qu'elle leur avoit fouhaitté avec tant de
paffion, & qu'elle méme y mift la main dans Ie foin
qu'elle prit, conjointement avec elles, des petites
filles Sauvages. Ces premieres faillies du feu divin,
dont elle eftoit confommée interieurement, avec fon
humilité, fa douceur, fa pieté & fa charité, qui ren-
doient fa conduite fi fainte, donnerent de l'admiration
aux François & aux Sauvages; mais ce qui les ravit,

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265

[240] CHAPTER III.

OF MADAME DE LA PEL TRIE'S LIFE IN THIS COUNTRY,
AND HER HOLY DEATH.

F ROM her first movements in the faithful com-
pliance which she rendered to the grace of her
call to this country, we can infer with what
rapidity she advanced here in every kind of virtue,
during the period of nearly 33 years that these
peoples had the happiness of possessing her.
What most brightly shone in her at the outset
was the zeal that burned in her heart for their con-
version. Gladly would she have journeyed in person
through all the forests, across all the lakes, and over
all the mountains of this vast country, to proclaim
to these countless nations inhabiting it, that there
is a God, a Paradise, a Hell, a Jesus Christ crucified
for love of all men and for their salvation. But first
she required a little breathing-space; she was obliged
to use her energies in founding the Convent that she
had undertaken, she must needs have the consolation
of seeing her nuns engaged [241] in the work that
she had so passionately desired for them, and she
must herself put her hand to it in the care that she
took, conjointly with them, of the little Savage girls.
These first outbursts of the divine fire by which she
was inwardly consumed, with her humility, gentle-
ness, piety, and charity, which rendered her conduct
so holy, excited the admiration of French and Savages
alike. But what filled them with delight was her

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fut que deux ans aprés fon arrivée, ayant appris que
Ie grand concours des Sauvages devoit efire plus
baut, elle monta jufques à Mon-real, où fon grand
cæur n'en trouvant pas encore affez pour contenter
la foif extréme, qu'elle avoit du falut des ames, elle
prit Ie deffein de penetrer jufqu'à trois cent lieuës
de Quebec, par des cbemins embaraffez de torrens &
de cheutes d' eau, qui feroient méme peur à ceux qui
ne les verroient qu'en peinture, & d'aller au pais des
Hurons, ou efioit Ie fort des 1fiffionnaires, & où 1'on
contoit plus de quatre-vingt mille ames, en y com-
prenant les peuples de la nation neutre, & de la
nation du Petun, tous renfermez dans l' efiendu
de
[242] foixante lieuës de pais, qui ont efté depuis ou
ruinés, ou diffipés par les Iroquois, en des Contrées
plus efcartées. Tout efioit difpofé pour ce grand
voyage, fa compagnie, fes canots, les provifions, les
petits balots, qui contenoient dequoy vivre fur les
lieux, & y faire fes liberalitez; rien ne 1'avoit eftonné
de tout ce qu'on luy avoit pu dire pour la divertir de
cette entreprife, elle n'attendoit que Ie temps & la
faifon propre pour s'embarquer: mais un de nos
Peres eftant defcendu de ce pais avec la flotte Hu-
ronne, luy fit voir fi clairement 1'inutilité de ce
voyage, pour la fin qu'elle pretendoit, & Ie danger
manifefie de tomber entre les mains des Iroquois,
qui eftoient en guerre avec ces peuples, qu' elle prit
la refolution de n'y plus penfer; mais pour ne point
manquer à ce zele, elle fonda 1'entretien d'un Miffi-
onnaire de noftre Compagnie; & demeurant convain-
cuë, qu'elle fatisferoit pleinement à fa vocation, fi
elle fe contentoit de travailler à la converfion de ces
ames abandonnées, par des prieres continuelles, par

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267

going up as far as Mon-real, two years after her
arrival, upon learning that the great gathering of the
Savages was to take place up the river. Here, her
generous heart not yet finding the means to satisfy her
extreme thirst for the saving of souls, she conceived
the project of pushing onward for three hundred
leagues from Quebec,- by ways impeded by torrents
and waterfalls, that would frighten one to see them
merely in pictures,- and visiting the country of the
Hurons. There the fort of the Missionaries was
situated, and the population was reckoned at more
than eighty thousand souls, including the people of
the neutral nation and of the Tobacco nation,-all
situated within a stretch of [242] sixty leagues of
territory, and all since then destroyed by the Iroquois,
or scattered by them to more distant Regions. Every-
thing was ready for this great journey,-her attend-
ants, her provisions, her little packages containing
the means of subsistence and presents for distribu-
tion when she should reach her journey's end.
Undaunted by anything that people could say to her
for the purpose of dissuading her from this under-
taking, she was only waiting for weather and season
suitable for embarking. But one of our Fathers,
coming down from that country with the Huron
fleet, showed her so clearly the futility of such a
journey for the end she had in view, and the immi-
nent danger of falling into the hands of the Iroquois,
who were at war with those people, that she decided
to forego her purpose. But, not to be wanting in
zeal in that cause, she endowed a Mission to be
attended to by our Society; and remained satisfied
that she would fully meet the demands of her
vocation if she contented herself with seeking the

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[VOL. 56

íes abfiinences & fes mortifications ordinaires, & par
íes emplois [243] de charité aupres des petites filles
Sauvages, demeurant en cloture, & vivant dans Ia
regularité religieufe avec fes filles; comme elle a fait
íaintement & confiamment jufqu'au dernier moment
de fa vie, fans fe relacher jamais, felon Ie témoignage
que rend à fa vertu, toute fa Communauté. Elle
efioit fi exaéte en toutes chofes, qu'elle prevenoit
les autres en tout ce qui regarde la difcipline reli-
gieufe, & lorfque la Superieure ordonnoit queIque
chofe à la Communauté, elle efioit toujours la
premiere à l'executer, animant ainfi toutes les autres
par fon exemple à obeïr avec promptitude; & l' on a
remarqué que Ies obfervances regulieres n'efioient
jamais mieux, ny plus ponétuellement gardées, que
lorfqu'elle avoit foin de la cloche.
Ayant l'office de lingerie, qu'elle a exercé dix-huit
ans entiers, elle donnoit plus voiontiers qu'on ne Iuy
demandoit, & donnoit de fi bonne grace, & avec tant
de bonté, qu'elle faifoit mille excufes, fi les chofes
n'eft.oient pas fi commodes qu'elle 1'eufi bien fou-
haitté; auffi dés fon enfance, la charité & la miferi-
corde [244] avoient eft.é fes cheres vertus: Elle avoit
une telle affeétion pour les pauvres, que pour Ie
refpeét, & l'amour qu'elle avoit pour la pauvreté de
noft.re Seigneur, elle euft. voulu en avoir toujours
aupres de foy, & les veft.ir de ce qu'elle avoit de
meilleur; & comme on luy reprochoit un jour avec
refpeét & amitié, qu'elle portoit prefque toujours de
vieux habits rapetaffez, qu'il y avoit en cela quelque
chofe contre la bienfeance, & qu'elle feroit peut-efire
mieux de les donner aux pauvres. Ah, pour moy,
dit-elle, j' aimerois beaucoup mieux leur en donner

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269

conversion of those forsaken souls by constant prayer,
abstinence, and her usual mortifications, and by her
offices [243] of charity toward the little Savage
girls - she herself continuing in seclusion, and living
the orderly life of a religious with her nuns. And
this she continued to do, in all holiness and constancy,
to the last moment of her life, with never any relaxa-
tion, according to the testimony rendered to her
virtue by her entire Community. So punctual was
she in all matters that she anticipated the others in
everything pertaining to religious discipline; and
when the Superior gave some order to the Com-
munity, she was always the first to execute it, thus
by her example inciting all the rest to prompt obedi-
ence. It was also noted that the regular observ-
ances were never better or more punctually performed
than when she had charge of the bell.
While she had charge of the wardrobe,-a positon
held by her for eighteen years,-she was more ready
to give than people were to ask of her; and she gave
with such good grace and so much kindness, that
she was wont to make a thousand excuses if things
were less satisfactory than she might well have
wished. Thus, from her infancy, charity and pity
[244] had been her cherished virtues. She felt such
affection for the poor that, out of her respect and love
for our Lord's poverty, she would have liked to have
some of them always with her, and to clothe them
with her best; and when one day she was reproached,
with respect and friendliness, for wearing almost
always old and patched garments,- a practice in
which she was told there was something unseemly, and
that she would perhaps do better to give them to the
poor,-" Ah," said she, " for my part, I would much

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SUITES

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de neufs. L'efprit d'abaiffement, & d'humilité qui
regnoit dans fon cæur, luy rendoit facile la pratique
de toutes les vertus, fon plaifir eftoit de fe voir dans
les offices les plus méprifables, de laver la vaiffelle,
les marmites & les pots, ballier la maifon, & affifter
les malades dans les derniers fervices; ce qu' elle
faifoit d'une maniere qui raviffoit tout Ie monde.
Elle eftoit en poffeffion de prendre par tout, la
derniere place, au Chæur, au Refeétoire, à la Com-
munion, & aux autres affemblées de la Communauté;
c"eftoit luy [245] faire de la peine que de luy donner
la qualité de Fondatrice; Helas je ne fuis, difoit-elle
à cette occafion, qu"une pauvre miferable, qui n"ay
fait qu'offenfer Dieu; elle Ie croyoit ainfi, quoy qu'en
efIet fa confcience fuft tres pure devant Dieu, & que
fa vie fuft aux yeux des hommes, un exemple conti-
nuel de toutes les vertus. Son port, quoy qu'affez
majeftueux, eftoit humble, fon exterieur portoit à
I' amour de la pauvreté, au recüeillement interieur,
& à la devotion; & ce bas fentiment qu'elle avoit
d'elle-méme faifoit qu'elle parloit peu, & jamais de
foy, finon pour fe confondre. Un jour, au commen-
cement de l'année, les petites Penfionnaires luy
eftant allées demander fa benediétion, mes pauvres
enfans, leur dit-elle, à qui vous adreffez-vous? à la
plus méchante creature qui foit au monde. Cette
mefme humilité faifoit, qu'elle ne vouloit pas qu'on
luy fervift rien de particulier pour Ie manger, quoy
qu'elle en euft befoin, s'eftimant inutile & la der-
niere de toute la Communauté. Elle diffimuloit
avec une douceur incroyable, les petits deplaifirs, qui
font inevitables [246] dans une vie de Communauté
pour fainte qu'elle foit, elle fe donnoit toujours Ie

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271

prefer to give them new ones.' I The spirit of self-
abasement and humility which reigned in her heart
made easy for her the practice of all the virtues,-
her pleasure being to perform the meanest duties;
to wash the dishes, pots, and kettles; to sweep the
house, and to render the last offices to the sick,-
which she did in a way that charmed every
beholder. Hers it was to take the lowest place
everywhere,-in the Choir, in the Refectory, at
Communion, and at other assemblies of the Com-
munity. It was sure [245] to cause her pain to treat
her in the character of Foundress; for then she would
exclaim, " Alas! I am only a poor wretch that has
done nothing but offend God." And she believed
it, although in reality her conscience was very pure
in the sight of God, while her life in the eyes of men
was a constant example of all the virtues. Her
bearing, although rather stately, was humble; her
mien tended to inspire a love of poverty, spiritual
contemplation, and devotion. And this humble esti-
mate of herself caused her to speak but little, and
never of self except in self-depreciation. One day
at the opening of the year, when the little Boarders
sought her with a request for her blessing, " My
poor children," said she to them, " to whom are you
making application? To the most sinful creature in
all the world." Counting herself useless, and the least
of the whole Community, this same humility made
her unwilling that any special dish should be served
her at table, notwithstanding her need. With in-
credible sweetness, she feigned not to notice the
little annoyances that are inevitable [246] in the life
of a Community, however saintly it may be.
Always blaming herself, and unable to suffer anyone

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tort, & ne pouvant fouffrir qu'on luy demandaft par-
don, elle efioit fouvent la premiere à Ie demander à
genoux, c'eft moy, ma chere Sæur, difoit-elle, qui
vous ay donné fujet de peine, par mon orgueil. &
par mon impatience, priez Dieu qu'il me convertiffe,
& croyez que je vous aime de tout mon cæur. Quoy
qu'elle euft un don d'oraifon continuelle, & qu'elle
parlaft éminement des chofes de Dieu aux perfonnes
de dehors, qui la venoient vifiter, fon humilité nean-
moins la rendoit fi refervée dans la Maifon, qu'elle
n' en parloit que par interrogation, & comme fi elle
eufi ignoré ces chofes-Ià; & quand on la preffoit
quelquefois en recreation, de communiquer les bons
fentimens, que Dieu luy donnoit dans fes exercices
de devotion, elle répondoit naïvement, que diray-je?
finon que je fuis continuellement infidele aux graces
de Dieu.

ais com me je ne pretends icy que faire un petit
abregé de fa vie; je laiffe fes autres vertus, fes peni-
tences, & fes mortifications, [247] qu'un corps robufie
auroit eu de 130 peine à fupporter, & dans lefquelles
elle eftoit infatigable; fe refufant méme confiam-
ment en toutes chofes, les foulagemens qu'on jugeoit
neceffaires à fa foible complexion, & à fes infirmitez,
prefque continuelles. Et s'il arrivoit qu'elle eufi
connoiffance que quelque perfonne fuft en mauvais
eftat, & en danger de fon falut; elle redoubloit pour
lors, & fes aufieritez & fes prieres.
Auffi puifoit-elle cet amour des fouffrances, & ce
zele qui la confumoit dans la fource de l'amour divin,
fon cæur eftant infeparable du faint Sacrement de
l' Autel, pour lequel elle avoit une devotion admi-
rable, & dont elle ne pouvoit perdre la prefence.

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to ask her forgiveness, she was often the first to seek
pardon on her knees. "It is I, my dear Sister," she
would say, " who have caused you pain by my pride
and impatience. Pray to God that he may convert
me, and be assured that I love you with all my
heart." Although she had an unfailing gift for
prayer, and discoursed excellently on the things of
God to outsiders who came to see her, yet her
humility made her so reserved in the House that
she would speak only when spoken to, and as if she
had no acquaintance with such matters. And when
sometimes, in hours of recreation, she was urged to
impart the pious sentiments that God gave her in
her devotional exercises, she would answer ingenu-
ously: "What shall I say, except that I am con-
tinually unfaithful to God's gifts of grace? "
But as my present purpose is merely to give a brief
abstract of her life, I omit her other virtues,- her
penances and mortifications, [247] which a robust
frame could hardly have borne, and in which she
was tireless, even firmly refusing on all occasions
the relief that seemed to be demanded by her frail
constitution and almost constant infirmities. And
if she chanced to know of anyone in an evil plight,
with his salvation imperiled, she would then re-
double her austerity and her prayers.
Thus from the well-spring of divine love she drew
that love of suffering and that consuming zeal,- her
heart cleaving to the blessed Sacrament of the Altar,
for which she had an admirable devotion, and the
presence of which she could not lose. Except for
her humility, which made her averse to every indul-
gence of personal desires, she would have gladly
received it every day. To console and satisfy herself

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[VOL. 56

Sans fon humilité, qui l'éloignoit de toutes particu-
Iari tez, elle I' eufi volon tiers receu tous les j ours; &
pour fe confoler, & fe fatisfaire dans cette privation
qui luy efioit bien fenfible, elle procuroit au Mo-
nafiere Ie plus de Meffes qu'elle pouvoit, & les
entendoit toutes avec une modefiie & un refpeét
Angelique, fe donnant toujours la liberté de quitter
Ie parloir, & quelque converfation [248J que ce fufi,
Iorfque on fonnoit une Meffe.
Comme cette pieufe Dame avoit gagné les cæurs
de la Communauté par fes bons ex em pIes, & de ceux
de dehors par la douceur de fes faints entretiens, &
par fes liberalitez, tout Ie Canada luy fouhaittoit
encore plufieurs années de vie, mais it a plû à Dieu,
qui vouloit couronner les merites de fa fervante,
d'en difpofer autrement.
Ce fut Ie douziéme de N ovem bre de l' année der-
niere 1671. qu'elle fut attaquée d'une pleurefie, qui
l'emporta Ie feptiéme jour. Ce terme parut bien
court aux perfonnes qui n'efioient pas bien refoluës
de la perdre, it fut neanmoins fuffifant, pour faire
éc1ater dans fa mort les vertus qui avoient paru en
elle pendant fa vie: Elles s'affemblerent to utes alors
comme en foule, pour l'accompagner dans ce pafTage,
& parurent dans un éc1at fi extraordinaire, que les
perfonnes qui eurent Ie bonheur de l'affifier pendant
fa maladie, en furent toutes furprifes.
Jamais elle ne fut plus humble, plus [249J affable,
plus patiente, plus mortifiée, plus obeïffante, ny plus
foumife à la Superieure, aux ordonnances du Mede-
cin, plus devote, plus unie avec Dieu, ny plus
refignée à fa fainte volonté.
Elle avoit toujours eu une tendreffe particuliere

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in this privation, which was very keenly felt by her,
she caused that as many Masses as possible should
be said at the Convent, and heard them all with
Angelic modesty and reverence, always allowing
herself the liberty of quitting the parlor and any
conversation [248] whatever, when the bell rang for
Mass.
As this pious Lady had won the hearts of the
Community by her good example, and of people
outside by the sweetness of her holy conversations
and by her deeds of liberality, all Canada wished
her many years more of life; but God, whose will
it was to crown his servant's merits, was pleased to
order otherwise.
On the twelfth of November of last year, 167 I, she
was seized with a pleurisy, which resulted fatally on
the seventh day. This seemed a very short period
to people who were far from being reconciled to
lose her; yet it was long enough to render conspicu-
ous in her death the virtues that had been apparent
in her during life. These all gathered together in
a throng, so to speak, to bear her company on that
journey, and shone forth with such extraordinary
brilliance that those who had the happiness to attend
her in her illness were all astonished.
Never was she more humble, more [249] affable,
more patient, more given to self-mortification, more
submissive to the Superior and to the Physician's
orders, more devout, in closer union with God, or
more fully resigned to his holy will.
She had always cherished a special tenderness for
poverty; and so she wished to die as a poor person,
even to the extent of begging her attendants to do
her the favor to clear a little table, which stood near

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[VOL. 66

pour la pauvreté, auffi voulut.elle mourir en pauvre,
jufques là méme qu'elle pria celles qui l'affiftoient,
de luy fa ire cette grace que de décharger une petite
table, qui eftoit proche de fon lit, de quantité de
douceurs qu'elle ne jugeoit pas luy eftre necefIaires,
ajoûtant qu'elle defiroit que la pauvreté parut dans
fa chambre, & dans tout ce qui avoit rapport à elle,
comme une Reine dans fon Palais, où elle doit avoir
tout credit & autorité.
Le IS. du méme mois, & Ie quatriéme de fa mala-
die, elle fit fon teftament folemnel, où Monfieur
Talon Intendant voulut fe trouver, tant pour honorer
fa perfonne, que pour autorifer fes dernieres volon-
tez; & Ia defunte, qui eut toujours l'efprit fain &
prefent à foy, ne manqua pas de luy en faire compli-
ment, & de Iuy en témoigner fes reconnoiffances.
Deux jours apres, ayant appris du Medecin [250]
qu'elle ne pafIeroit pas Ie lendemain, elle ne s'en
eftonna point, & pria celles, qui eftoient aupres d'elle
de ne luy plus parler que de l'Eternité; & comme on
luy demandoit fi elle n'avoit pas quelque regret de
1nourir, point du tout, dit-elle, feftime mille fois
plus Ie feul jour de ma mort, que toutes les années
de ma vie.
Le jour fuivant, qui fut celuy de fon bon-heur,
elle fut ravie, quand s'eftant enquife quel jour i1
eftoit, elle fçeut qu'it eftoit Mercredy, Dieu foit
beny, dit-elle, ah! que ie feray heureufe de mourir
auiourd'huy, c'eft un iour deftiné pour honorer faint
]ofeph. De fait elle entra dans l'agonie en priant
Dieu, & expira doucement deux heures apres, fur
les huit heures du foir, dans l'enclos du 1'Ionaftere,
âgée de 68. ans, dont elle en avoit paffé trente-trois

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her bed, of a number of delicacies which, she thought,
she did not need, adding that she wished poverty
to appear in her room and in all that concerned her-
like a Queen in her Palace, where supreme influence
and authority are her due.
On the 15th day of the same month, and the fourth
of her illness, she made her formal will, a ceremony
at which Monsieur Talon, the Intendant, insisted on
being present, as much to honor her as to give
authority to her last wishes; and the deceased, who
was always of a sound understanding and perfect
presence of mind, did not fail to pay him her compli-
ments and acknowledge his kindness. Two days
later, learning from the Physician [250] that she
would not live through the next day, she remained
entirely calm, and begged those who were with her
to speak to her thenceforth only of Eternity; and,
upon being asked whether she felt any regret at
dying, "None whatever," she replied; 44 I count
the single day of my death a thousand times more
precious than all the years of my life."
On the following day, which was the day of blessed-
ness to her, she was quite delighted when, upon
inquiring what day it was, she learned that it was
Wednesday. "God be blessed!" she exclaimed.
" Oh, how happy I shall be to die to-day: it is a day
appointed for honoring saint Joseph." Indeed, she
was overtaken by the death-agony while praying to
God, and she expired gently two hours afterward,
toward eight o'clock in the evening, within the
walls of the Monastery, at the age of 68 years,
thirty-three of which she had spent in this country.
She passed that last day in such ardent longings to
see God and possess him, that the hours seemed to

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en ce pais. Elle employa cette derniere journée
dans des defirs fi ardents de voir Dieu, & de Ie poffe-
der, que Ies heures luy duroient des années, &
demandoit inceffamment quand arriveroit ce bien-
heureux moment qui l'uniroit à fon fouverain bien
pour jamais.
Elle receut fes derniers Sacremens de la main de
Monfieur de Bernieres, neveu [251] de celuy qui
avoit conduit toutes fes affaires pour Ie Canada,
grand Vi caire de Monfeigneur de Petrée, & Supe-
rieur du Monaftere, avec une devotion & une ioye,
qu'il feroit difficile d'exprimer: & faifant reflexion
fur la charité, & Ie foin de fes cheres filles, qui
n'avoient rien oublié, ny épargné, pour l'affifter en
tout, pour Ie fpirituel & pour Ie temporel, elle recon-
nut fenfiblement, avec beaucoup de fatisfaétion & de
confolation, qu'ayant tout quitté pour noftre Seigneur,
elle en recevoit Ie centuple dés cette vie, felon fa
promeffe. Ces paroles d uSage; timenti Dominum
bene erÜ in extremÚ, que l'ame qui aura paffé fa vie
dans la crainte de Dieu, s'en trouvera bien à la mort,
ont efié verifiées en cette pieufe Dame; Ie iour de
fa mort a efté pour elle un iour de benediétion, & in
die defunllionis Juæ benedicetur.
Auffi comme elle avoit acquis la perfeétion de la
]ufiice Chreftienne, fon arne, avec celle des Juftes
efioit en la main de Dieu, Iuflorum animæ in manu Dei
Junt, & dans la feureté de cet afyle, elle ne reffentit
aucune atteinte du tourment de la mort, non tanget
iI/os tormentum mortis, [252] Elle n'eut aucune peine
de quitter la vie; l'efprit de componétion, qui regnoit
dans fon cæur, y avoit mis Ie calme, & l'avoit delivrée
des inquietudes que caufe d'ordinaire)e fouvenir des

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279

her like years; and she was constantly asking when
that blessed moment would arrive which should unite
her forever to her sovereign good.
With a devotion and joy which it would be difficult
to describe, she received the last Sacraments from
the hand of Monsieur de Bernieres, nephew [25 I]
of him who had conducted all her Canadian affairs,
grand Vicar to Monseigneur of Petræa, and Superior
of the Convent. Reflecting on the charity and care
of her dear nuns, who had forgotten nothing and
spared no pains to aid her in every way, in things
spiritual as well as temporal, she recognized fully,
with great satisfaction and consolation, that, in hav-
ing left all for our Lord's sake, she received a hun-
dredfold in this life, according to his promise. Those
words of the Sage, Timenti Dominum bene erit in extre-
mÙ,-that in the hour of death it shall be well with
the soul that has passed its life in the fear of God,-
were verified in this pious Lady, the day of her death
being for her a day of blessing-et in dit defuncttonÙ
suæ benedicetur.
As, too, she had attained to the perfection of
Christian Justice, her soul, with that of the Just,
was in God's hand,- J ustorum animæ in manu Dti
sunt
. and in the security of that asylum she felt not
the scourge of death,- non tangel illos tormentum mor-
tis. [252] She suffered no anguish in leaving this
life, the spirit of contrition which reigned in her
heart having induced calm there, and freed it from
the anxiety commonly caused by the remembrance
of past sins. Finally, the testimony of a good con-
science, which constitutes all the glory of a Christian
soul, and her trust in the divine mercy, made her
regard with an:
untroubled:and fearless gaze all that

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pechez paffez, enfin Ie témoignage de fa bonne con-
fdence, qui eft toute Ia gloire d'une ame Chrefiienne,
& la confiance qu'elle avoit en la divine mifericorde,
luy faifoit regarder d'un æil paifible & fans crainte,
ce qu'il y a de plus horrible dans les Jugemens de
Dieu: de forte que fon cæur, au plus fort de fes
douleurs tout tranfporté de joye, & dans des mouve-
mens tout divins, ne refpiroit que Ie Ciel; elle prioit
fes cheres filles, qui eftoient touiours aupres d' elle,
de Iuy remettre fouvent en memoire, ce premier
Verfet du Pfeaume I2I. Lætatus fU11Z in his quæ dic?a
funt mtïÚ, in domum Domini ibimus. S' occupant iuf-
ques à ce qu'elle tomba en I'agonie, dans des fenti-
mens de componétion, pleins d'amour, & de fuavité,
de refignation à la volonté de Dieu, de confiance, de
Ioüange, d' adion de grace, & dans des defirs ardens
de fe voir au pluftofi dans la joüiffance du bon-heur
eternel.
Le lendemain de fa mort, elle fut enterrée [253]
dans Ie Chæur des Religieufes, dans un Cercüeil de
plomb, ce qui fe fit à Ia verité contre fes intentions:
cette humble Dame n'ayant cherché durant toute fa
vie que l'humiliation & l'aneantiffement, & fur tout
à la mort. Mais Ie reffentiment, que les Urfulines
fes filles conferveront toujours, de fes bontez, & de
fes bienfaits, les fit paffer par deffus toute autre
confideration, & les obligea dans une occafion fi con-
fiderabIe, & fi folemnelle, d'en témoigner cette petite
reconoiffance.
A vant que fon corps fut enfeveIy, on en tira Ie
cæur, felon qu'elle l'avoit ordonné, dans fon tefta-
ment, pour eftre mis entre les mains des Peres de
nofire Compagnie, aufquels elle l'avoit prom is depuis

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281

is most terrible in God's Judgments. Consequently.
at the height of her sufferings, her heart, quite
transported with joy and subject to impulses wholly
divine, breathed naught but Heaven. She begged
her dear nuns, who were always near her, to recall
frequently to her memory this Verse of the 121st
Psalm: Lætatus sum in his quæ dicta sunt mihz., in
domum Domini ibÙnus. Until she fell into the death-
agony she was engaged in sentiments of contrition-
full of love, sweetness, resignation to God's will,
trust, praise, and thanksgiving - and in ardent long-
ings to attain, as soon as possible, the enjoyment of
eternal happiness.
On the day following her death, she was buried
[253] in the Nuns' Choir, in a leaden Casket-a
proceeding quite contrary to her intentions, indeed,
as that humble Lady had, throughout her life, and
especially at her death, sought only humiliation and
self-effacement. But gratitude for her acts of kind-
ness and benevolence, which the Ursulines, her
nuns, will ever cherish, made them disregard every
other consideration, and obliged them, on an occasion
of such importance and solemnity, to render this
slight acknowledgment.
Before her body was interred, the heart was
removed, according to the directions recorded in her
will, to be placed in the hands of the Fathers of our
Society. Complying with their wishes, she had
promised it to them several years before, with the
express stipulation (another confirmation of her lowly
opinion of herself) that she wished it placed in a
small and perfectly simple wooden casket, which was
not even to be planed, with no other envelope than
earth and quicklime. In this condition it was to be

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[VOL. 56

plufieurs années, conformement à leurs defirs, decla-
rant expreffement (ce qui confirme, encore Ie bas
fentiment qu'eHe avoit d'elle-mefme) qu'elle vouloit
qu'il fuft mis dans une petite quaiffe de bois toute
fimple, fans eftre mefme rabotée, & fans autre en vel-
loppe que de la terre meí1ée avec de la chaux vive,
& qu'il fuft livré en cet eftat aufdits Peres, pour
marque du refpeét & de l'affeétion [254] (ce font les
propres termes du Teftament) qu'eHe a toujours euë
pour leur fainte Compagnie, pour eftre pofé, &
enterré fous Ie marchepied de l' Autel de leur Eglife,
où repofe Ie faint Sacrement, pour y eftre confommé,
& reduit en pouffiere, aux pieds de la divine Majefté.
Ces dernieres lignes de fon teftament olographe
ayant efié omifes dans la minute du teftament folem-
nel, elle n'eut point de repos qu'elles n'y fuffent
inferées, ne pouvant s'empécher, tandis que cette
affaire fe paffoit, de témoigner de 1'indignation
contre ce cæur, qui, a l'entendre, avoit efté fi traitre,
fi ingrat, & fi infidele a cette adorable majefié.
Ses obfeques furent honorées de toutes les per-
{onnes confiderables de cette ville, & des bourgades
voifines; comme cet illufire defunte eftoit regrettée
de tout Ie monde, auffi les larmes n'y furent pas epar-
gnées. La compagnie eftant refiée dans l'Eglife de
dehors, Ie Clergé entra proceffionnellement dans Ie
Chæur des Religieufes pour y faire I'enterrement.
Et, Ia ceremonie achevée, Ie mefme Clergé conduifit
Ie cæur porté fous un crefpe noir, apres Monfieur de
Bernieres, Curé, [255] par un des plus confiderables
habitans du pais, ancien Confeiller du Confeil Souve-
rain, fuivy de Monfieur de Courcelles Gouverneur, &
de Monfieur Talon Intendant, & de toute l'affemblée,

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283

delivered to the said Fathers, as a mark of the respect
and affection [254J (such are the exact terms of the
Will) that she had ever cherished for their holy
Society, to be given place and burial in their Church,
under the step of the Altar whereon rests the blessed
Sacrament, there to be consumed and reduced to dust
at the feet of the divine Majesty.
These last lines of her holographic will having been
omitted in the rough draft of the fonnal document,
she had no rest until they were inserted; nor could
she, while the insertion was being made, suppress
her expressions of indignation against that heart,-
which, according to her, had been so traitorous, so
ungrateful, and so faithless toward that adorable
majesty.
Her obsequies were honored by all persons of im-
portance in this town, and in the neighboring settle-
ments. As this illustrious deceased was mourned
by all, so there was no small tribute of tears to her
memory. While the assembled company remained
in the body of the Church, the Clergy entered the
Nuns. Choir in procession, to make the interment;
and, the ceremony completed, the same Clergy
escorted to our Church the heart,- borne under black
crape, after Monsieur de Bernieres, Curé, [25 5J by
one of the leading citizens of the country, a former
Councilor of the Supreme Council; he was followed
by Monsieur de Courcelles, Governor, and Monsieur
Talon, Intendant, and by the whole assembly.
There, at the door, it was consigned to the Superior's
charge by the said sieur de Bernieres, executor of the
will; and thence it was borne by the said Father to
the foot of the steps of the great Altar. The large
painting on the Altar was a gift of hers, as well as

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LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

jufques à noftre Eglife; où, à la porte, il fut con-
figné entre les mains du Superieur, par ledit fieur
de Bernieres executeur du teftament, & de là, il fut
porté, par ledit Pere, au pied des marches du grand
Autel, dont elle avoit autrefois donné Ie grand
tableau, & la lampe d'argent, avec un fond pour l'en-
tretenir, fans parler des autres témoignages de fon
afIeétion envers noftre Compagnie, tant en France,
qu' en ce pais, où elle a toujours eu un de nos Peres
pour fon Direéteur, & fon Confefi'eur: qui font des
marques de l"affeéHon qu'elle avoit pour cette Com-
pagnie & qu'elle a confervée jufqu'au dernier foupir,
ayant defiré, avant que de mounr, d'en voir les prin-
cipaux ouvriers, qui fe trouvoient pour lors à Quebec,
pour recevoir leurs benediétion, & fe recommander
à leur prieres; C'eft un devoir qu'elle merite de nous,
& que nous luy rendrons tous tres-volontiers, dans
des fentimens eternels de reconnoifi'ance.

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RELATION OF IÓ'/I-72

285

the silver lamp and a fund for its maintenance,-not
to speak of other testimonials of her affection for our
Society, in France as well as in this country, where
she always had one of our Fathers for her Director
and Confessor. Thus was her affection manifested
for this Society,- an affection which she retained to
her dying day,-desiring, before she breathed her
last, to see our principal workers who were then in
-Quebec, in order to receive their blessing and com-
mend herself to their prayers. This is a service
which she merits at our hands, and which we shall
all most gladly render her, with feelings of undying
gratitude.

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[256] CHAPITRE IV.

DE LA BIEN-HEUREUSE MORT DE LA REVERENDE
MERE MARIE DE L' INCARN A TION.

L A vie de cette femme forte, telle que nous la
reprefente Salomon, en quelqu'eftat que nous
la confiderons, ou engagée dans Ie mariage, ou
dans fa viduité, qui luy a donné la liberté de quitter
Ie monde, & d' eftre comme elle I' a efté, une tres-
digne fille de fainte U rfule, eftant un ouvrage du
Saint-Efprit, qui s'eft plu en cette arne, & qui a pris
plaifir de I' enrichir des dons les pI us exquis de fes
graces, demande un volume entier, & un efprit plus
éc1airé que Ie mien, dans la connoiffance de fa
conduite, pour en former parfaitement Ie caraétere &
l"idée.
Sa vocation toute furnaturelle, que j' ay efté obligée
de deduire affez amplement, nous donne quelque
veuë de la Providence particuliere, que Dieu avoit
fur cette arne, & nous la devons confiderer comme
un effet, & une produétion de ces belles I umieres,
dont fon entendement [257] eftoit efc1airé, & de ce
feu, que l'Epoux celeíte avoit allumé dans fon cæur,
dés fon enfance. J e ne dis rien de fa vie toute extra-
ordinaire eftant encor en France; elle a efté connuè
de perfonnes de grand merite, & d'eminente vertu,
qui la touchent de prés felon Ie fang: Ie zele de la
gloire de Dieu bruí1e trop ardemment dans leur cæur
pour en refufer la communication, & la connoiffance

1671-72]

RELATION OF I&;I-72

287

[256] CHAPTER IV.

OF THE BLESSED DEATH OF THE REVEREND MOTHER
MARIE DE L'INCARNATION.

T HE life of this able woman - such a one as Solo-
mon represents to us-in whatever state we
consider her, whether in the bonds of matri-
mony, or in her widowhood, which gave her liberty
to leave the world and become, as she did, a most
worthy daughter of saint Ursula,- being a work of
the Holy Ghost, who found pleasure in that soul and
was pleased to enrich it with his choicest gifts of
grace,-demands an entire volume and an intelligence
better informed than mine in its acquaintance with
her conduct, in order to give with exactness the
characteristics and outline of that life.
Her call- quite supernatural in its nature - which
I was obliged to set forth in considerable detail,
gives us some insight into the special Providence
which God exercised over her soul; and we must
regard that call as a result and product of that bright
light wherewith her understanding [257] was illu-
mined, and of that fire which the celestial Bridegroom
had kindled in her heart from her infancy. I say
nothing of her altogether extraordinary life while
she was still in France. She was known by persons
of great worth and eminent virtue, nearly related to
her by blood; and zeal for God's glory burns too
ardently in their hearts to admit of refusing to the

2Rb

LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES

[VOL 56

au public. La vie qu'elle a menée en ce pais a été en
comparaifon de I' autre une vie cachée; & commune
à l'exterieur; par un ordre exprés qu'elle en avoit
reçu de N. S. & qui fut approuvé de fon Direéteur;
ordre qu'elle a obfervé fi exaétement, & avec une
application fi particuliere, les trente-trois années
qu'elle a paffé dans Ie Canada, que, quoy qu'elle euft
interieurement de plus grandes communications que
jamais avec Nofire-Seigneur, qu'elle ne perdoit point
de veuë, dans fes emplois, & dans fa converfation
avec Ie prochain, non plus que dans l'Oraifon; nean-
moins, fes raviffemens, fes extafes, fes vifions, fes
carreffes fi particulieres queUe recevoit de la part de
Nofire-Seigneur, & de fa fainte 11ere, & autres fem-
blables faveurs, [258] qui auparavant luy eftoient
ordinaires, ne parurent plus. Toutes ces graces de-
meurerent cachées Ie refie de fa vie, fous un exte-
rieur tout celefte, qui edifioit & raviffoit les perfonnes
qui la voyoient, ou avoient Ie bon-heur de converfer
avec eUe. Son filence perpetuel n'avoit rien de
trifte, ny de rebutant; fa modeftie eftoit Angelique;
& fon humilité, & fa fimplicité, fans exemple, accom-
pagnée d'une fageffe & d'une prudence qui ne tenoit
rien de l'humain. Quoy qu'eHe euft efté dix-huit
ans en charge, à trois diverfes reprifes, avec une
entiere fatisfaétion de tout Ie monde, tant de la
Communauté que du dehors; toutefois eHe eftoit la
plus foumife, la plus obeiffante -de la maifon, la plus
exaéte dans toutes les obfervances; & découvroit fon
interieur à fa Superieure avec la fincerité que feroit
une Novice la plus fervente.
Elle confervoit une douceur inalterable pour qui
que ce fuft, & les perfonnes qui ont converfé fami-

1671-72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

289

public all mention and knowledge of our Mother's
virtues. The life led by her in this country, as com-
pared with that in the other, was a hidden one, and
outwardly ordinary, in accordance with an express
order received from Our Lord and approved by her
Director. That order she followed so exactly and
with such special assiduity during the thirty-three
years that she spent in Canada, that, although she
had more intimate inward communings than ever
with Our Lord,- of whom she never lost sight during
the discharge of her duties, and in her intercourse
with her neighbor, any more than during Prayer,-
yet her transports, her ecstasies, her visions, the
special marks of endearment that she had been wont
to receive from Our Lord and his blessed Mother,
and other similar tokens of favor [258] that before
had been commonly granted to her, were no longer
made manifest. All such gifts of grace remained
hidden for the rest of her life under an exterior, in
every way heavenly, which charmed all who saw her
or had the happiness to converse with her. Her
habitual silence had in it nothing sad or repellant;
her modesty was Angelic; and her humility and
simplicity unexampled,-accompanied, as they were,
by a more than human wisdom and prudence. Al-
though she was in charge of the Convent for eighteen
years, at three different times,- to the entire satis-
faction of all, both within the "'Community and with-
out,-yet she was the most submissive and obedient
person in the house, and the most scrupulous in all
observances; while she revealed her inmost thoughts
to her Superior with all the sincerity of the most
fervent Novice.

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LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES

(VOL. 5&

lierement avec eUe, ou qui ont conduit fon inte-
rieur, ont reconnu manifeftemet, que cette admirable
égalité d'humeur, venoit d'une vertu interieure toute
extraordinaire, & de cette [259] union in time qu' elle
avoit avec celuy qui dit de foy-même, mÜis j"um, &
Izumz:/Ù corde, je fuis donx & humble cæur. Elle eftoit
fans doute poffedée de fon efprit; & c'efi de cette
fource infinie de toutes fortes de biens, dont elle eftoit
fi proche, qu'elle avoit tiré ce grand courage, & cette
cõfiance inébranlable pour entreprendre fi genereufe-
ment la conduite d'une
liffion de Religieufes en
Canada, qui efioit lors fans exemple, & pour fe
refoudre à traverfer tant de mers, à s'efiablir dans
un pais barbare, à y bafiir un
Ionafiere, où eUe a
afIemblé 25. à 30. Religieufes, & un nombre confi-
derable de petites Penfionnaires, tant Sauvages, que
François, & à Ie rebaftir & Ie remettre fur pied,
douze ans apres fon arrivée, tout ayant eíté confumé
par Ie feu. Elle furmonta toutes ces difficultez, &
une infinité d'autres, qui fe trouvent toujours dans
l'execution des grands deiIeins, & fournit à toutes
ces dépenfes du fond inépuifable de cette confiance
qu'elle avoit en Dieu, animée de la charité qui
brufloit dans fon cæur pour Ie falut de ces peuples,
& appuyée fortement fur l"ordre qu'elle avoit reçeu
de Noítre Seigneur & de fa fainte
Iere, [260] de leur
bafiir en ce pais une Miffion. Ces veuës la tenoient
dans la paix, qu'elle ne perdit jamais, quelque oppo-
fition que put faire à fes deíIeins, Ie demon; du refte,
fa maniere d'agir eítoit accompagnée de vigueur, de
foin & de vigilance, felon la nature des affaires.
Son cæur & fes bras étoiet toujours ouverts aux filles,
& aux femmes Sauvages, qui vouloient eftre infiruites

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RELATION OF I67I-72

291

She maintained an unvarying gentleness of manner
toward all; and those who conversed intimately with
her, or who had charge of her spiritual guidance,
recognized plainly that this equable temperament,
so much admired, was the product of an altogether
extraordinary spiritual virtue, and of that [259]
intimate union which she enjoyed with him who said
of himself: jl,fitis sum, et Izumi/IS corde-" I am meek
and humble of heart." She was undoubtedly pos-
sessed of his spirit, and from that infinite source of
blessings of every nature - a source to which she
was so near-she drew her high courage and un-
wavering trust for undertaking so br8.vely the charge
of a Nuns' Mission in Canada,-a thing without
precedent at the time. Thence came her strength
for resolving to cross such an expanse of ocean, and
settle in a barbarous land; to build there a Convent,
in which she gathered together from 25 to 30 Nuns,
and a considerable number of little Boarding pupils,
both Savage and French; and to rebuild and restore
it twelve years after her arrival, when it was com-
pletely destroyed by fire. She surmounted all these
difficulties and countless others, such as are always
encountered in the execution of great undertakings,-
meeting all such drafts upon her strength by draw-
ing upon the inexhaustible fund of her trust in God,
animated by the charity that burned in her heart for
these peoples' salvation, and strongly supported by
the order that she had received from Our Lord and
his blessed
lother [260] to build them a Mission in
this country. Considerations of this sort enabled
her to retain her peace of mind, nor did she ever lose
it, however vehemently the demon might oppose her

292

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

ny la petitefIe du lieu où elles eftoient logées dans
les commencemens, ny leur peu de vivre, ny Ie man-
quement de quantité de chofes neceffaires, n'eftoient
capables d' arrefter fon zele, & fes liberalitez, ny
d'alterer tant foit peu fa confiance. Elle eftoit
induftrieufe, & n'ignoroit rien de ce qu'on peut fou-
baitter en une perfonne de fon fexe, pour l'aiguille,
ou pour Ie pinceau, & pour toutes fortes d'ouvrages;
elle n'eftoit pas mefme ignorante en matiére d'archi-
teéture. Elle apprit en peu de temps les deux
Langues, qui ont Ie plus de cours en ce pais, l' AI-
gonquine, & la Huronne, avec tant de fuccez, qu"elle
fe rendit capable de les en feigner aux autres, & on
peut dire qu'elle eft morte dans ce faint exercice,
puifque fa derniere maladie la prit, lors qu'elle avoit
aduellement [261] pour écolieres, trois Religieufes
nouvellement venuës de France.
Son indifpofition commença Ie feiziéme de Janvier,
par un débordement extraordinaire de bile, qui
l'obligea de fe mettre au lit jufqu'au dernier d'Avril,
qui fut Ie jour de fa bienheureufe mort. EUe fut fi
mal dés Ie commencement, que du fentiment des Me-
decins, on jugea à propos de Iuy donner fes derniers
Sacremens, n 'y ayant pas d'apparence qu' elle deuft
paffer Ie neuviéme jour; & depuis ils protefterent
fouvent, qu'eUe ne vivoit que par miracle. Dieu
vouloit qu'elle remplift la mefure des fouffrances, qui
luy devoient meriter la couronne, qu'elle poffede
maintenant dans Ie Ciel.

,Pendant ces trois mois & demy qu'à duré fa mala-
die dans une complication de divers maux, qui luy
caufoient jour & nuit des douleurs tres-cuifantes, eUe
fit paroiftre une conftance, qui donna un nouveau

1671- 72]

RELA TION OF I67I-72

293

plans. Furthermore, her course of action was accom-
panied by vigor, care, and watchfulness, according to
the nature of the matter:in hand. Her heart and
her arms were ever open to any Savage girls or
women desirous of instruction. N either the cramped
space of their first quarters, nor their scanty provi-
sions, nor their lack of many necessaries, could check
her zeal and liberality, or cause the least wavering
of her trust. She was ingenious, and possessed of
every accomplishment to be desired in one of her
sex,- whether needlework, painting, or whatever
kind of handiwork it might be. She even had some
knowledge of architecture. The two Languages
most current in this country-Algonquin and Hu-
ron - she learned in a short time, with such success
as to be enabled to teach them to others; and she
may be said to have died in this holy pursuit, as her
last illness overtook her while she was actually [261]
engaged in teaching three Nuns newly arrived from
France.
Her indisposition began on the sixteenth of Janu-
ary, with an extraordinary overflow of bile, which
confined her to her bed until the last of April, the
day of her blessed death. From the first, she was
so in that, by the advice of the Physicians, it was
thought best to give her the last Sacraments, there
being no likelihood that she would live nine days;
and they afterward often declared it a miracle that
she continued alive. It was God's will that she
should fill up the measure of suffering that was to-
win for her the crown which she now possesses in
Heaven.
During those three and a half months that her

294

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 66

lufire à toutes fes vertus. On fut obligé de luy
faire des incifions profondes, & tres-fenfibles en deux
abfez, qui s' efioient formez fur fon corps; pendant
cette operation, elle parut dans un repos & dans une
égalité d'efprit admirable, [262] fans fe permettre la
moindre plainte, cõme fi Ie rafoir euft agy fur un
autre corps que Ie flen. Elle fe tenoit devant Dieu,
& s'offroit à fon infinie bonté, en efprit de viétime,
toute prefte à fouffrir encore davantage, jufqu'au jour
du jugement, pour Ie faire connoifire, aimer & glo-
rifier de tous ces peuples: Elle fe confideroit comme
attachée à la Croix de fon Sauveur, fon unique
amour, qui l' entretenoit continuellement; eUe fe
conjoüifIoit avec luy de ce bon-heur, Clzrzjlo, difoit-
elle, conjixa fum crud, cette reflexion luy caufoit une
joye indicible.
Celles qui I' affiftoient, remarquerent que fa dou-
ceur, fa patience, fon humilité, fa charité, toutes ces
belles vertus qu'on avoit toujours admiré, fembloient
neanmoins croifire à mefure que croifIoient fes dou-
leurs: toutes chofes la portoient à Dieu, mais fur
tout les douleurs & les fouffrances. Vers les derniers
jours de fa vie elle paroiffoit comme dans une douce
extafe, la joye fur Ie front, la veuë modefiement
baifIée, ou tournée vers fon Crucifix qu'elle tenoit
en main, elle parloit peu, mais toujours avec une
fuavité ravifIante.
[263] L'emprefIement qu'on témoignoit à deman-
der à Dieu fa guerifon luy faifoit un peu de peine,
parce qu'elle s'efiimoit inutile fur la terre; un peu
avant fa mort, fa Superieure luy reprochant avec ami-
tié, qu"elle avoit donné quelque fujet à fa maladie,

1671- 72]

RELATION OF r67r-72

295

illness continued,-with such a complication of vari-
ous ailments as to cause her, day and night, the most
exquisite pain,- she showed a fortitude that lent
new luster to all her virtues. It was found necessary
to make deep and very painful incisions in two
abscesses that had formed upon her body. During
this operation, she appeared admirably tranquil and
calm, [262] not allowing herself the least murmur-
as if the knife had been used upon some one else's
body. She stood in God's presence, and offered her-
self to his infinite goodness, like a victim,- wholly
prepared to suffer yet more until the day of Judg-
ment, in order to make him known, loved, and
glorified by all these peoples. Regarding herself as
bound to the Cross of her Savior, the sole object of
her love, who held constant communion with her,
she rejoiced with him over this happiness, saying:
Christo con fix a sum cruci,-a reflection which gave her
unutterable joy.
Her attendants remarked that her gentleness, her
patience, her humility, her charity,- all those beau-
tiful virtues that they had always admired,- seemed
even to increase with her increasing pain. All things
led her to God, but especially pain and suffering.
Toward the last days of her life, she appeared to be
in a sort of sweet ecstasy; with joy on her counte-
nance, and her eyes modestly lowered or turned
upon her Crucifix, which she held in her hand, she
spoke but little, yet always in tones of ravishing
sweetness.
[263] The eagerness shown in asking God for her
recovery was a little displeasing to her, as she
counted herself of no use in the world. A short time
before her death, when her Superior reproached her

296

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 56

ayant toujours voulu fuivre Ia Communauté pour
Ie vivre, quoy que fouvent il fuft contraire à la
foibleffe de fon eftomac; elle Iuy découvrit pour lors
ce fecret; que N oftre Seigneur luy ayant ordonné, à
moins, qu'el1e ne fuft malade, de s'accommoder en
tout à Ia Communauté, elle avoit cru, apres avoir
communiqué la chofe à fon Diredeur, qu'elle devoit
éviter Ies particularitez; que fa vie eftoit de peu
d'importance, mais que fa grande affaire eftoit d'obeïr
à Ia divine Majefié. C'eft pour cette mefme raifon
que queIque degouít qu"elle eufi pour Ia vie prefente,
& pour ardents que fu1Ient fes defirs d'aller loüer &
aimer Dieu dans Ie Ciel, fes Superieurs voulant
qu'elle demandât à Dieu la fanté, elle obeït avec
fimplicité, & avec une parfaite foumiffion, & forma
fa priere prefque en mêmes termes qu'avoit fait
autrefois faint Martin; Monfeigneur fi vous jugez
que je fois encore [264] nece1Iaire à cette petite Com-
munauté, je ne refufe point Ie travail, ny la peine,
vofire fainte volonté foit faite.
Efiant à l'extremité elle demanda plufieurs fois
toutes les petites Penfionnaires, tant Sauvages, que
Françoifes, elle leur donna fa benedidion avec des
tendreffes incroyables, & les recommanda particu-
lierement à toutes fes freurs, avec grand zeIe, Ies
affeurant qu'elle offroit continuellement à Dieu Ie
peu de bien qu'elle faifoit, fes douleurs, fa vie & fa
mort, pour la converfion, & Ie falut des pauvres Sau-
vages, afin, dit-elle, que Dieu foit connu, aimé, fervy
& glorifié de tous ces peuples. Ce fut dans ces fenti-
mens que chargée d'années, & de merites, elle quitta
Ia terre, pour aller joüir de Dieu dans Ie Ciel. Cette

1671-72]

RELATION OF L67L-72

297

in a friendly way, saying that she had given some
cause for her illness by always insisting on following
the regular diet of the Community,-ill suited
though it often was to her weak stomach,-she then
revealed a secret. It was that, Our Lord having
ordered her, unless she were ill, to make all her
habits conform to the rules of the Community, she
had decided, after consulting her Director, that
she ought to allow herself no exceptional privileges;
that her life was of slight importance, but that her
chief end was to obey the divine Majesty. And
therefore it was that, notwithstanding her weariness
of the present life, and her ardent longings to go to
Heaven, there to praise and love God, when her
Superiors desired her to ask God for recovery, she
obeyed with simplicity and a perfect submission,
couching her prayer in nearly the same terms as
those used of old by saint Martin: " My Lord, if you
deem me still [264] necessary to this little Commu-
nity, I refuse neither toil nor pain; your holy will
be done."
When she was in the last stages of her illness, she
asked several times for all the little Boarding pupils,
Savage and French alike, and gave them her bless-
ing with incredible tenderness. She commended
them especially to all her sisters, with great zeal;
and assured them that she was constantly making an
offering to God of the few good deeds that she had
performed, and of her life and her death, for the
conversion and salvation of the poor Savages,-" in
order," said she, " that God may be known, loved,
served, and glorified by all these peoples." With
such feelings was it that, full of years and of merits,
she quitted the earth to go and enjoy God in Heaven.

298

LES RELATIONS DESJÊSUITES

[VOL. 56

ame fainte fe fepara fans violence de fa chere
Communauté, parce que Dieu l' appelloit à foy; elle
n'eut aucun fentiment de leurs regrets ny de leurs
larmes, d"autant qu'elle avoit les yeux arrefiez fur
la volonté de Dieu, qui avoit toujours efié l'objet de
toutes fes delices, & fon Paradis en cette vie.

FIN.

1671-72]

RELA TION OF L67r-73

299

That saintly soul parted without violence from her
dear Community, because God was calling her to
himself; she shared not their regrets or their tears,
as her eyes were directed toward the will of God,
who had been the source of all her delight, and her
Paradise in this life.

END.

NOTES TO VOL. LVI

(Figures in þarentheses,following number of note, refer to pages
of English text.)

I (p. 27).- Jean de Lamberville, born at Rouen Dec. 27, 1633, be-
came a Jesuit novice March 3, 1656, at Paris. After one year's study
there, he became an instructor at Bourges, Alençon, and Rennes,
successively; and completed his studies at Bourges and Rouen.
Coming to Canada in 1669, he was at once assigned to the Iroquois
mission, where he remained (as superior, after a few years) until
1687, when all the missionaries were compelled to flee from the can-
tons. During that time, Lamberville was a prominent figure in the
complicated relations between the Indians, French, and English, and
more than once averted hostilities between them. He was greatly
esteemed by the Iroquois, and thoroughly understood their charac-
ter; he was therefore often employed by the French authorities in
negotiations with the savages. After leaving this mission, he acted
during several months as chaplain to the French garrisons at Forts
Frontenac and Niagara; breaking health compelled him to return
to Montreal in February, 1688. In 1691, he was laboring in the
mission at Sault St. Louis; in the following year, he returned to
France, where he a-cted as procuror for the Canadian missions during
nearly twenty years. His death took place at Paris, Feb. 6, 1714.
2 (p. 51).-" Now accidental or very rare. A single specimen of
the trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) taken on Cayuga Lake,
is now in the rooms of the Phænix Sportsmen's Club of Seneca Falls,
N. Y."-Rathbun's Birds of Central New York (1879), cited by
Hawley in Early Cayuga Hist., p. 64, note.
3 (p. 71).- François de Crépieul (Crespieul) was born at Arras
March 17, 1638. In boyhood a student in the Jesuit college there,
and afterward in that at Douai, he entered the novitiate of the order
at Tournay, Oct. 29, 1658. His studies were continued at Lille and
Douai, and he acted as instructor at Lille and Cambrai; in 1670, he
came to Canada. During the following year, he taught rhetoric,
and completed his own course of theology, at the Quebec college.
In October, 1671, he began his missionary labors in the Tadoussac
region -labors which occupied the rest of his life. During twenty-
eight years, he preached to and instructed the Montagnais and Algon-

802

LES RELA TIONS DES JÊSUITES

kin tribes of Eastern Canada - from Tadoussac far down the north
shore of the St. Lawrence, and along its tributaries; throughout the
Saguenay valley, and around Lake St. John; and even on the Nikau-
bau River. In 1696 or 1697, he was appointed vicar apostolic for the
Montagnais. That mission was probably discontinued in 16 99.
Crépieul then returned to Quebec, where in 1700 he is mentioned as
.. prefect of classes;" he died there in 1702. \Ve shall present in
this series some of his missionary journals, and parts of a valuable
MS. written by him, containing remarks upon the Montagnais mis-
sion, advice to the missionaries who may succeed him, and other
interesting matter.-See Rochemonteix's account of this devoted
and successful missionary (Jisttites, t. iii., pp. 4- I S-43 I ).
4 (p. 9I).-Reference is here made to the map of the upper lake
region which appeared in the Relation of 1670-71; we give a reduced
facsimile of it in our vol. Iv., at p. 94-. The map is repeated in the
Lenox copy of the Relation of 1671 -72, but does not appear in the
Harvard copy.
S (p. IIs).-These islands lie at the entrance to Green Bay, at the
end of the long, narrow peninsula which lies between the bay and
Lake :\1ichigan. They are five in number, the largest being now
known as Washington Island. The ':->trait which separates them
from the peninsula was, from its turbulent and dangerous character,
early named II Porte des Morts," and is now locally called" Death's
Door. "
6 (p. 1 2 3).-Cf. Allouez's description of this fishing weir, vol. liv.,
p. 217, and see note 8 of that volume.
7 (p. 123).-The .. citrons" here mentioned are the fruit of the
Mayapple (Podoþlzyl/um þe/tatum). Cf. vol. xiii., note 3.
8 (p. I2s).-The mission thus founded by Allouez has recently
been commemorated in a manner that is highly gratifying to all
historical students. On Sept. 6, 1899, in connection with an histor-
ical convention held at Green Bay and De Pere under the auspices
of the State Historical Society of \Visconsin, was unveiled a monu-
ment intended to mark the location of the mission, as one of \Vis-
consin's notable historical sites. On a pedestal of native limestone
blocks is placed a large granite boulder, obtained in the vicinity, to
which is bolted a bronze tablet, 2 x 3 feet in size; this tablet bears
the following inscription:
.. Near this spot I stood the chapel of St. Francis Xavier I built in the
winteroÍl67I-72by I FatherClaudeAllouez,S.j. I as the centre of his
work I in Christianising the Indians I of \Visconsin. I This Memorial
Tablet I was erectedbythecitizensofDePere I and unveiled by the I
State Historical Society of Wisconsin I September 6, 18 99."

NOTES TO VOL. LVI

303

The monument is erected at De Pere, on the river bank, near the
east end of the wagon bridge; it stands upon ground owned by the
city, and open to the street. It is about three rods lower down than
the actual site of the mission-house, which was probably a short dis-
tance up the slope. An engraving of the monument appears in the
present volume, as its frontispiece.
Upon the occasion above referred to, the monument, after its un-
veiling, was accepted from the citizens' committee, in trust for the
State, by Reuben G. Thwaites, secretary of the State Historical
Society. In this connection, he exhibited the famous silver osten-
sorium given to St. Francis Xavier mission in 1686 by Nicholas
Perrot, then commandant for the French in the West, and related its
history. A picture of this notable relic will appear in a subsequent
volume of our series. Another interesting feature of the unveiling
exercises was a paper on" Early Jesuit Missions in the Fox River
Valley," by Bishop S. G. Messmer, of Green Bay; this, with the
other addresses, will appear in the forthcoming ProceedÙzg s of the
State Historical Society.
'Ve may here add, in reference to Allouez, that he was appointed
by Laval (July 21, [663) as grand vicar for" all the countries situ-
ated toward the North and 'Vest." The document conferring these
powers upon him, bearing above date, is conserved in the archiepis-
copal archives at Quebec; its press-mark is A., p. 166.
9 (p. Q9).- This French gentleman was Paul Denis, sieur de St.
Simon; he was one of the younger sons of Simon Denis (vol. xxxvi.,
note 50). Paul was born in France (June 8, 1638, according to SuIte;
but Tanguay says, in 1649)' In 1678, he married Marie Madeleine
Depeiras, by whom he had thirteen children. His death took place
in October, 1731. Tanguay says that he was grand provost of the
marshal sea of Quebec; the census of 1681 mentions him as lieu-
tenant therein.
Regarding Albanel, see vol. xxxiv., note 8.
10 (p. 155).-The lakes here mentioned are identified in vol. xxxi.,
1Zote 10.
II (p. 157).-Concerning this tribe, see vol. xiv., note 13.
12 (p. 169).-JJHskoutenagasit: this name is given, on some old
maps, to a river north of the Rupert, also flowing into Hudson Bay;
the East Main (vol. xliv., note 20) or Slade River. Its length is
about 400 miles.
13 (p. 171).-D'Anville's map of 1755 gives, along the watershed
between the Hudson Bay and Lake St. John river.systems, the
legend" Patchitaskau ou Hauteur des terres. " The Senex map of
1710 seems to have followed Albanel's description as here given,

304

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

apparently applying the name of Palistakau to a definite locality
north of Lake Nikaubau; that map is, accordingly, more accurate-
agreeing not only with Albanel, but with the results of recent ex-
plorations.-See the excellent map of this region issued (1896) by the
Geological Survey of Canada, " Map of Labrador Peninsula, S. W.
sheet. "
The altitude of this point on the watershed is given on that map
as 1,360 feet; it lies a little higher than Nikaubau Lake (vol. xlvi.,
p. 275, and note 19).
q (p. 179).-Lake Mistassini lies on the west side of the water-
shed above-named, near its summit; it is the source of Rupert River.
Until recently, it was supposed that but one lake was included under
this name; and little was known of its extent, save from vague
reports made by the Indians. The explorations of the Geological
Survey (1884-85) have shown that there are two lakes-long, narrow
bodies of water lying parallel to each other. Great Mistassini is
about 100 miles long, and (average) 12 miles wide; Little Mistassini
is 50 miles long, and I to 8 miles wide. An arm of this lake was, on
several early maps, named Lake Albanel.
IS (p. 203).-Senex's map of 1710 shows, in the western part of
James Bay, " Agameske or \Vhite Bear" Island; other maps style
it Bristol, Viner's, and Bear Island, respectively. It is now known
as Agoomska.
16 (p. 2.p).- Jean de Bernières-Louvigny (vol. xvi., note 6) com-
posed various religious works, of a mystical cast. One of these was
published (Paris, 16 59), Le Chrestielz in/erievr.... þar vn
Solitaire. This was exceedingly popular, twelve editions being
published within eleven years. It was reprinted as late as 1856.

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