Transcriber's Note.
A list of the changes made can be found at the end of the book.
Formatting and special characters are indicated as follows:
_italic_
=bold=
THE JESUIT RELATIONS AND ALLIED DOCUMENTS
VOL. V
[Illustration: PAUL LE JEUNE, S.J.]
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents
TRAVELS AND EXPLORATIONS OF THE JESUIT MISSIONARIES IN NEW FRANCE
1610-1791
THE ORIGINAL FRENCH, LATIN, AND ITALIAN TEXTS, WITH ENGLISH
TRANSLATIONS AND NOTES; ILLUSTRATED BY PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND
FACSIMILES
EDITED BY
REUBEN GOLD THWAITES
Secretary of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin
Vol. V
QUEBEC: 1632-1633
CLEVELAND: =The Burrows Brothers Company=, PUBLISHERS, MDCCCXCVII
COPYRIGHT, 1897
BY
THE BURROWS BROTHERS CO
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
_The Imperial Press, Cleveland_
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor REUBEN GOLD THWAITES
Translator from the French JOHN CUTLER COVERT
Assistant Translator from the French MARY SIFTON PEPPER
Translator from the Latin WILLIAM FREDERIC GIESE
Translator from the Italian MARY SIFTON PEPPER
Assistant Editor EMMA HELEN BLAIR
CONTENTS OF VOL. V
PREFACE TO VOLUME V 1
DOCUMENTS:--
XX. Brieve Relation dv voyage de la Novvelle France, fait au mois
d'Auril dernier. _Paul le Ieune_; Kebec, August 28, 1632 5
XXI. Relation de ce qui s'est passé en La Novvelle France, en l'année
1633. _Paul le Ieune_ (first installment) 77
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: VOLUME V 269
NOTES 275
[Decoration]
ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOL. V
I. Portrait of Paul le Jeune, S.J. Photo-engraving from oil painting by
Donald Guthrie McNab _Frontispiece_
II. Photographic facsimile of title-page, Le Jeune's _Relation_ of 1632
8
III. Photographic facsimile of title-page, Le Jeune's _Relation_ of
1633 80
IV. R. C. Church at Penetanguishene, Ont., built in memory of the
Jesuit Martyrs in the Huron country; now in course of construction.
(From a recent photograph.) 295
PREFACE TO VOL. V
Following is a synopsis of the documents contained in the present
volume:
XX. This document (dated Quebec, August 28, 1632) is Le Jeune's famous
_Relation_ of 1632, the first of the Cramoisy series, which were
thereafter annually issued until 1672. In this document, Le Jeune, the
new superior of the Canada mission, relates to the French provincial
of his order, in Paris, the particulars of the stormy passage recently
made by the two missionaries to the New World, in De Caen's ship.
Le Jeune gives his impressions of the country, and of the natives.
He describes the tortures inflicted by some of them, upon three
Iroquois captives. Schools should be established for the youth, if
the adults are to be properly influenced. Mosquitoes greatly torment
the missionaries. The circumstances are related of the landing of De
Caen's party at Quebec, which is found in ruins; mass is celebrated in
the house of Mme. Hébert, and the condition of that pioneer family is
described. Quebec being surrendered to De Caen by the English garrison,
the Jesuits return to their old habitation on the St. Charles, only
the walls of which have withstood the shock of war. Le Jeune then
reverts, in his story, to the condition of the savages, telling of
their simplicity and their entire confidence in the missionaries. The
Jesuits baptize an Iroquois lad, and a native child has been left in
their charge. The successful garden of the mission is described, and
the relator tells how he almost lost his life by drowning.
XXI. Le Jeune's _Relation_ for 1633 is addressed from Quebec to the
French provincial of the order, Barthelemy Jacquinot, in Paris. In
the first installment of the document, given in the present volume,
Le Jeune, as superior of his order in Canada, mentions the kindness
shown the mission by the Company of New France, and the good behavior
of the French at Quebec, during the preceding winter. A description
is given of a visit he made to the savages in the vicinity of that
settlement, and his attempts to learn their language; he tells how the
Montagnais sought shelter near the fort, from the Iroquois; mentions an
eclipse of the moon (October 27); records, as they happened, whatever
events of interest occurred in the colony, giving, in this connection,
considerable information about the traits, customs, and religious ideas
of the Indians.
The narrator tells how his Montagnais interpreter, Pierre, who had
been educated in France, fell into disgrace with the commandant, and
was received by the missionaries, that he might instruct them in his
language. The narrator describes his own difficulties in that pursuit,
and in compiling a native dictionary and grammar.
Le Jeune describes the climate as very cold in winter, and hot in
summer, but healthful; and tells how he learned to use raquettes,
or snowshoes. He has two little boys given him by the savages, and
undertakes to educate them. In his school, are over twenty Indian
children, whose attainments in scholarship are described; and this
leads the way to a strong appeal to the ladies of France to establish
in New France a seminary for girls. He recounts the legends of
the natives about Messou, Manitou, and other deities; also their
superstitions about dreams. In speaking of Father de Nouë's visit to
some of the neighboring tribes, Le Jeune enumerates the hardships
endured by the missionaries in attempting to dwell in the savage camps;
nevertheless, he speaks hopefully of the prospect for mission labors,
especially among stationary tribes, like the Hurons.
A description is given of Champlain's return as governor of the colony;
and of a conference held by the latter (May 24) with the Ottawas, on
their annual trading visit to Quebec. The eloquence and shrewdness
displayed by the savages are dwelt upon.
The Iroquois attack a party of French, wounding and killing several.
The settlement is visited by natives from various tribes from the
upper country; a Frenchman is slain by one of the tribesmen; much
drunkenness occurs among the Indians; who craftily excuse themselves
from responsibility for any crime committed while in that condition,
by telling the Frenchmen it was caused by liquors supplied by them.
The Fathers baptize some savage children, and in caring for the sick
encounter the enmity of the medicine men.
The conclusion of this document will be presented in Vol. VI. of our
series.
R. G. T.
MADISON, WIS., February, 1897.
XX
LE JEUNE'S BRIEVE RELATION
Kebec, Aoust 28, 1632
PARIS: SÉBASTIEN CRAMOISY, 1632
SOURCE: Title-page and text reprinted from original in Lenox Library.
[Illustration:
BRIEVE RELATION DV VOYAGE DE LA NOVVELLE FRANCE,
Fait au mois d'Auril dernier par le P. Paul le Ieune de la Compagnie
de I E S V S.
_Enuoyée au R.P. Barthelemy Iacquinot Prouincial de la mesme Compagnie
en la Prouince de France._
[Decoration]
A PARIS, Chez SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, ruë S. Iacques, aux Cicognes.
M. DC. XXXII.
_Auec Priuilege du Roy._]
BRIEF RELATION OF THE JOURNEY TO NEW FRANCE,
Made in the month of April last by Father Paul le Jeune,
of the Society of JESUS.
_Sent to Reverend Father Barthelemy Jacquinot, Provincial of the same
Society, in the Province of France._
PARIS, SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, ruë St. Jacques,
at the sign of the Storks.
M. DC. XXXII.
_By Royal License._
[3] Brieve Relation dv Voyage de la Novvelle France.
MON R. PERE, Estant aduerti de vostre part, le dernier iour de Mars,
qu'il falloit au plustost m'embarquer au Haure de grace, pour tirer
droit à la Nouuelle France: l'aise & le contentement que i'en resenti
en mon ame fut si grand, que de vingt ans ie ne pense pas en auoir
eu vn pareil, ny qu'aucune lettre m'ait esté tant agreable. Ie sorti
de Dieppe le lendemain, & passant à Roüen, nous [4] nous ioignimes
de compagnie le Pere de Nouë, nostre Frere Gilbert & moy. Estans au
Haure nous allasmes saluër monsieur du Pont, neueu de Monseigneur le
Cardinal, lequel nous donna vn escrit signé de sa main, par lequel
il témoignoit que c'estoit la volonté de mondit Seigneur que nous
passassions en la Nouuelle France. Nous auons vne singuliere obligation
à la charité de de monsieur le Curé du Haure, & des Meres Vrsulines;
Car comme nous n'auions point preueu nostre depart, si le Pere Charles
Lallemant à Roüen, & ces honnestes personnes au Haure ne nous eussent
assistez dans l'empressement, où nous nous trouuions, sans doute nous
estions mal. Du Haure nous tirames à Honfleur, & le iour de Quasimodo
18. d'Auril nous fimes voile.
[3] Brief Relation of the Journey to New France.[1]
MY REVEREND FATHER: Having been notified by you on the last day of
March that I should embark as early as possible at Havre de grace,
to sail directly for New France, the joy and happiness that I felt
in my soul was so great that I believe I have experienced nothing
like it for twenty years, nor has any letter been so welcome to
me. I left Dieppe the next day, and, going to Roüen, [4] Father de
Nouë, our Brother Gilbert, and I united in one company. Being in
Havre, we went to pay our respects to monsieur du Pont, nephew of
Monseigneur the Cardinal, who gave us a passport[2] signed by his
own hand, in which he said that it was the wish of the Cardinal
that we should go to New France. We are under peculiar obligations
to the benevolence of monsieur the Curé of Havre, and of the
Ursuline Mothers:[3] for, as we had not foreseen our departure, if
Father Charles Lallemant, of Roüen, and these good people in Havre,
had not assisted us in the hasty preparations we were obliged to
make, we should, without doubt, have been very badly off. From
Havre we went to Honfleur, and on Low Sunday,[4] April 18th, we set
sail.
Nous eumes au commencement [5] vn tres-beau temps, & en dix iours
nous fimes enuiron six cens lieuës, mais à peine en peumes nous faire
deux cens les trente trois iours suiuans. Ces bons iours passez nous
n'eumes quasi que tempestes, ou vent contraire, hormis quelques bonnes
heures qui nous venoient de temps en temps. I'auois quelquefois veu
la mer en cholere des fenestres de nostre petite maison de Dieppe:
mais c'est bien autre chose de sentir dessous soy la furie de l'Ocean,
que de la contempler du riuage; nous estions des trois & quatre iours
à la cappe, comme parlent les mariniers, nostre gouuernail attaché,
on laissoit aller le vaisseau au gré des vagues & des ondes, qui le
portoient par fois sur des montagnes d'eau, puis tout à coup dans des
abysmes; vous eussiez dit que les vents estoient déchainez contre
nous; à tous coups [6] nous craignions qu'ils ne brisassent nos mats,
ou que le vaisseau ne s'ouurit: & De fait il se fit vne voye d'eau
laquelle nous auroit coulé à fond, si elle fût arriuée plus bas, ainsi
que i'entendois dire. C'est autre chose de mediter de la mort dans sa
cellule deuant l'image du Crucifix, autre chose d'y penser dans vne
tempeste, & deuant la mort mesme. Ie vous diray neantmoins ingenuëment,
qu'encor que la nature desire sa conseruation, que neantmoins au fond
de l'ame ie sentois autant ou plus d'inclination à la mort qu'à la vie;
ie me mettois deuant les yeux que celuy qui m'auoit conduit dessus la
mer, auoit de tres-bons desseins; & qu'il le falloit laisser faire;
ie n'osois luy rien demander pour moy, sinon de luy presenter ma vie
pour tout l'equipage. Quand ie me figurois que peut-estre dans peu
d'heures, ie me verrois au milieu des [7] vagues, & par aduanture dans
l'épaisseur d'vne nuict tres-obscure, i'auois quelque consolation en
cette pensée, m'imaginant que là où il y auroit moins de la creature,
qu'il y auroit plus du Createur, & que ce seroit là proprement mourir
de sa main: mais ma foiblesse me fait craindre, que peut-estre si cela
fust arriué i'eusse bien changé de pensée & d'affection.
We had fine weather at first, [5] and made about six hundred
leagues in ten days; but we could hardly cover two hundred on
the following thirty-three days. After this fine weather we had
little but storms and contrary winds, except a few pleasant hours
which were vouchsafed us from time to time. I had sometimes seen
the angry sea from the windows of our little house at Dieppe; but
watching the fury of the Ocean from the shore is quite different
from tossing upon its waves. During three or four days we were
close-reefed, as sailors say, our helm fastened down. The vessel
was left to the will of the billows and the waves, which bore it at
times upon mountains of water, then suddenly down into the depths
of the sea. You would have said that the winds were unchained
against us. Every moment [6] we feared lest they should snap our
masts, or that the ship would spring a leak; and, in fact, there
was a leak, which would, as I heard reported, have sunk us if it
had been lower down. It is one thing to reflect upon death in
one's cell, before the image on the Crucifix; but quite another to
think of it in the midst of a tempest and in the presence of death
itself. But I say to you honestly, that, although nature longs for
its preservation, nevertheless, in the depths of my soul, I felt
quite as much inclination to death as to life; I kept constantly
before my eyes, that he who had brought me upon the sea had some
good purpose, and that he must be allowed to do as he pleases. I
dared not ask of him anything for myself, unless it were to offer
up my life for all on the ship. When I realized that in a few hours
I might see myself in the midst of the [7] waves, and perhaps in
the depths of the blackest night, I found some consolation in the
thought that there, where there would be less of the creature,
there would be more of the Creator, and that it would be really
dying by his hand. But my weakness makes me fear that perhaps, if
that had really happened, my thoughts and inclinations might have
been greatly changed.
Au reste nous auons trouué l'hyuer dans l'esté, c'est à dire dans
le mois de May & vne partie de Iuin, les vents, & la bruine nous
glaçoient, le Pere de Nouë a eu les pieds & les mains gelées, adioustez
vne douleur de teste ou de cœur qui ne me quitta quasi iamais le
premier mois; vne grande soif, pour ce que nous ne mangions que choses
salées, & il n'y auoit point de fontaine d'eau douce dans nostre
vaisseau. Nos cabanes estoient [8] si grãdes, que nous n'y pouuions
estre ny debout, ny à genoux, ny assis, & qui pis est, l'eau pendant la
pluie me tomboit par fois sur la face. Toutes ces incõmoditez estoient
communes aux autres, les pauures mattelots enduroient bien dauantage.
Tout cela est passé, Dieu mercy, ie n'eusse pas voulu estre en France.
Tous ces petits trauaux ne nous ont point encor, comme ie croy, donné
la moindre tristesse de nostre depart. Dieu ne se laisse iamais
vaincre; si on luy donne des oboles, il donne des mines d'or, encor me
semble-il que ie me suis mieux porté que le Pere de Nouë, lequel a esté
fort longtemps sans quasi pouuoir manger; pour nostre Frere, il est
comme ces animaux Amphibies, il se porte aussi bien sur la mer que sur
la terre.
But, to speak of other things, we found winter in summer; that is
to say, in the month of May and a part of June, the winds and the
fogs chilled us; Father de Nouë's feet and hands were frozen; and,
besides this, I had pains in my head or heart, which scarcely left
me at all during the first month; and a keen thirst, because we
ate nothing but salted food, and there was no fresh water upon our
vessel. The size of our cabins was [8] such that we could not stand
upright, kneel, or sit down; and, what is worse, during the rain,
the water fell at times upon my face. All these discomforts were
shared by the others; but the poor sailors suffered many more. All
that is past; thank God, I would not have wished to be in France.
All these little afflictions have not as yet, I believe, caused us
the least sadness over our departure. God never suffers himself
to be vanquished; if you give him mites, he gives mines of gold.
Still, it seems to me that I get along better than Father de Nouë,
who, for a long time, was hardly able to eat; as to our Brother, he
is like the Amphibious animals; he is just as much at home on the
sea as on the land.
Le iour de la Pentecoste, comme i'estois prest de prescher, ce que ie
faisois [9] ordinairement les Dimanches, & bonnes Festes, vn de nos
mattelots se mit à crier moluë, moluë, il auoit ietté sa ligne, & en
tiroit vne grande. Il y auoit desia quelques iours que nous estions sur
le banc, mais on n'auoit quasi rien pris. Ce iour là on en prit tant
qu'on voulut. C'estoit vn plaisir de voir vne si grande tuerie, & tant
de ce sang répãdu sur le tillac de nostre nauire. Ce rafraichissement
nous vint fort à propos, apres de si longues bourrasques.
On Pentecost day, just as I was ready to preach, as I usually [9]
did on Sundays and great Fête days, one of our sailors began to cry
out, "codfish! codfish!" He had thrown in his line and had brought
out a large one. We had already been on the banks several days, but
had caught very little. On that day we drew in as many as we liked.
It was a pleasure to see so great a slaughter, and so much of this
blood shed upon the deck of our ship. These fresh supplies were
very welcome to us after such continuous storms.
Le Mardy d'apres, premier iour de Iuin, nous vimes les terres, elles
estoient encor toutes couuertes de neiges, l'hyuer tousiours grand
en ces païs, & l'a esté extremément cette année. Quelques iours
auparauant, sçauoir est le 15. & 18. de May, estans encor éloignez des
terres enuiron deux cens lieuës, nous auions rencontré deux glaces
d'vne enorme grandeur [10] flottantes dans la mer, elles estoient plus
longues que nostre vaisseau, & plus hautes que nos masts, le Soleil
donnant dessus vous eussiez dit estre des Eglises, ou plustost des
montagnes de crystal: à peine auroy-ie creu cela si ie ne l'auois veu.
Quand on en rencontre quantité, & qu'vn nauire se trouue embarrassé là
dedans, il est bien tost mis en pieces.
On the following Tuesday, the first day of June, we saw land. It
was still covered with snow, for the winter, always severe in this
country, was extremely so this year. Some days before, to wit,
the 15th and 18th of May, being still distant from land about two
hundred leagues, we had encountered two icebergs of enormous size,
[10] floating upon the sea. They were longer than our ship and
higher than our masts, and as the sunlight fell upon them you would
have said they were Churches, or rather, mountains of crystal. I
would hardly have believed it if I had not seen it. When a great
number of them are encountered, and the ship finds itself caught
among them, it is very soon broken into pieces.
Le Ieudy 3. de Iuin nous entrames dans le païs par l'vn des plus
beaux fleuues du monde, la grand Isle de terre neuue le ferme en son
emboucheure, luy laissant deux endroits, par où il se dégorge dans la
mer, l'vn au Nord, & l'autre au Sud: nos entrames par celuy-cy qui est
large enuiron de 13. ou 14. lieuës. Si tost que vous estes entrez, vous
découurez vn golfe de 15O. lieuës de largeur; en montant plus haut au
lieu où cette grande riuiere commence à s'estressir, elle a [11] bien
encor de largeur 37. lieuës: où nous sommes à Quebec, esloignez plus de
200. lieuës de l'emboucheure, elle a bien encor demie lieuë.
On Thursday, June 3rd, we passed into the country through one
of the most beautiful rivers in the world. The great Island of
newfoundland intercepts it at its mouth, leaving two openings
whereby it can empty into the sea, one to the North and the other
to the South. We sailed in through the latter, which is about 13
or 14 leagues wide. Upon entering, you discover a gulf 150 leagues
wide; going farther up, where this grand river begins to narrow,
it is [11] even there 37 leagues wide. Where we are, in Quebec,
distant over 200 leagues from its mouth, it is still half a league
wide.
A l'entrée de ce golfe nous vimes deux rochers, l'vn paroissoit rond,
l'autre quarré; vous diriez que Dieu les a planté au milieu des eaux
comme deux colombiers pour seruir de lieu de retraitte aux oyseaux,
qui s'y retirent en si grande quantité, qu'on marche dessus eux:
& si on ne se tient bien ferme, ils s'éleuent en si grand nombre,
qu'ils renuersent les personnes: on en rapporte des chalouppes ou
petits bateaux tous pleins quand le temps permet qu'on les aborde: les
François les ont nommez les Isles aux oyseaux. On vient dans ce Golfe
pour pescher des baleines, nous y en auons veu quantité, pour pescher
aussi des moluës. I'y ay veu grand nombre de loups marins, nos gens
[12] en tuerent quelques-vns. Il se trouue dans cette grande riuiere
nommée de S. Laurens, des marsoins blancs & non ailleurs; les Anglois
les appellent des baleines blanches, pource qu'elles sont fort grandes
à comparaison de marsoins; ils montent iusques à Quebec.
At the entrance of this gulf we saw two rocks, one appearing to be
round, the other square. You would say that God had thrown them
into the midst of the waters, like two dovecotes, as a retreat for
the birds that withdraw there in such multitudes that you would
almost tread upon them; and if you do not obtain a good foothold,
they rise up in such numbers that they may knock you over. Boats,
or little skiffs, full of them are brought back to the ships, when
the weather permits approach to these islands, which the French
have named the Isles of birds.[5] Ships come into this Gulf on
whaling expeditions. We have seen a great many fishing also for
cod. I saw here a number of seals, and our people [12] killed some
of them. In this great river, which, is called the St. Lawrence,
white porpoises are found, and nowhere else. The English call them
white whales, because they are very large compared with the other
porpoises; they go up as far as Quebec.[6]
Le iour de la Saincte Trinité nous fumes contraints de relascher à
Gaspay; c'est vne grande baie d'eau qui entre dans ce païs; c'est
icy où nous mimes pied à terre pour la premiere fois depuis nostre
depart. Iamais homme apres vn long voyage n'est rentré dans son païs
auec plus de contentement que nous entrions au nostre; c'est ainsi
que nous appellions ces miserables contrées. Nous y trouuames deux
vaisseaux, l'vn de Honfleur, l'autre de Biscaye, qui estoient venus
pour la pesche des moluës. Nous priames ceux de Honfleur de [13] nous
dresser vn autel pour dire la Saincte Messe dans leur cabane. Ce fut
à qui y mettroit la main, tant ils estoiẽt aises: aussi leur disoy-ie
en riant, qu'en bastissant leur cabane ils ne pensoiẽt pas bastir vne
Chapelle. Comme ie vins à l'Euangile qui se lit ce iour-là à la Messe,
& qui estoit le premier que ie prononçois en ces terres, ie fus bien
estonné entendant ces paroles du Fils de Dieu à ses Disciples, _Data
est mihi omnis potestas in cælo & in terra, euntes ergo docete omnes
gentes baptisantes eos in nomine Patris_, &c. _Ecce ego vobiscum_ &c.
Ie pris bon augure de ces paroles, quoy que ie visse bien qu'elle ne
s'addressoient pas à vne personne si miserable que moy; aussi m'est-il
aduis que ie viens icy comme les pionniers, qui marchent les premiers
pour faire les tranchées, & par apres les braues soldats viennent
assieger, & prendre la place.
On the day of Holy Trinity, we were compelled to stop at Gaspay,[7]
a large body of water extending into this country. It was here that
we trod land for the first time since our departure. Never did man,
after a long voyage, return to his country with more joy than we
entered ours; it is thus we call these wretched lands. We found
here two ships, one from Honfleur and the other from Biscaye, which
had come to fish for cod. We begged the people from Honfleur to
[13] raise an altar for us, that we might celebrate the Holy Mass
in their cabin; and there was a strife among them as to who should
work upon it, so greatly were they pleased. So I said to them,
laughingly, that in building their cabin they did not think they
were building a Chapel. When I came to the Gospel appointed for
that day in the Mass, and which was the first that I had read in
these lands, I was very much astonished in hearing these words of
the Son of God to his Disciples, _Data est mihi omnis potestas in
cælo & in terra, euntes ergo docete omnes gentes baptisantes eos in
nomine Patris_, etc. _Ecce ego vobiscum_, etc. I took these words
as a good omen, although I clearly saw that they were not addressed
to so poor a person as I. But it is my opinion that I come here
like the pioneers, who go ahead to dig the trenches; after them
come brave soldiers, who besiege and take the place.
[14] Apres la Messe nous entrames dans les bois, il y auoit encor
quantité de neige, si ferme qu'elle nous portoit. Le matin il gela
assez fort, comme i'allois lauer mes mains à vn torrent d'eau qui
decouloit des montagnes, ie trouuay les bords tous glacez. Nos gens
tuerent icy quelques perdrix fort grises, & aussi grosses que nos
poulles de France. Ils tuerent aussi quelques lieures plus pattus que
les nostres, & encor vn peu blancs, car les lieures en ce païs cy sont
tous blancs, pendant les neiges, & pendant l'esté ils reprennent leur
couleur semblable à celle des lieures de l'Europe.
[14] After Mass we went into the woods; the snow was still very
deep, and so strong that it bore our weight. In the morning there
was a hard frost; and, when I went to wash my hands in the torrent
of water which flowed down from the mountains, I found the edges of
it completely frozen. Here our people killed a number of large gray
partridges, as large as our chickens in France. They also killed
some hares, larger-footed than ours, and still a little white; for
in this country the hares are all white, while the snow lasts, and
during the summer they resume their color like that of the European
hares.
Le iour suiuant nous nous remimes sous voile, & le 18. de Iuin nous
moüillames à Tadoussac; c'est vne autre baie d'eau, ou vne anse fort
petite, aupres de laquelle se trouue vn fleuue nommé Sagué qui se
iette dans la grande riuiere de S. Laurens, ce fleuue [15] est aussi
beau que la Seine, quasi aussi rapide que le Rosne, & plus profond que
plusieurs endroits de la mer, car on dit qu'il a bien 80. brasses de
profondeur aux endroits où il est le moins profond. Comme nous allions
dire la Saincte Messe à terre, l'vn de nos soldats tua vn grand aigle
aupres de son aire, il auoit la teste & le col tout blanc, le bec & les
pieds iaunes, le reste du corps noiratre, il estoit gros comme vn coq
d'Inde. Nous auons icy seiourné depuis le 14. Iuïn, iusques au 3. de
Iulliet, c'est à dire 19. iours. Il faisoit encor grand froid quand
nous y arriuames, mais auant que d'en partir nous y auons ressenty
de grandes chaleurs; & ce pendant ce n'estoit que le printemps,
puisque les arbres estoient seulement fleuris. En fort peu de temps
les feüilles, les boutons, les fleurs & les fruits paroissent icy, &
meurissent, i'entends les fruicts [16] sauuages, car il n'y en a point
d'autres. Or c'est icy que i'ay veu des Sauuages pour la premiere fois.
Si tost qu'ils apperceurent nostre vaisseau ils firent des feux, & deux
d'entr'eux nous vindrent aborder dans vn petit cauot fait d'escorce
fort proprement. Le lendemain vn Sagamo auec dix ou douze Sauuages nous
vint voir; il me sembloit, les voyant entrer dans la chambre de nostre
Capitaine, où i'estois pour lors, que ie voyois ces masques qui courent
en France à Caresme-prenant. Il y en auoit qui auoient le nez peint en
bleu, les yeux, les sourcils, les iouës peintes en noir, & le reste du
visage en rouge; & ces couleurs sont viues & luisantes comme celle de
nos masques: d'autres auoient des rayes noires, rouges & bleuës, tirées
des oreilles à la bouche: d'autres estoient tous noirs hormis le haut
du front, & les parties voisines [17] des oreilles & le bout du menton,
si bien qu'on eut vrayement dit qu'ils estoient masquez. Il y en auoit
qui n'auoient qu'vne raye noire, large d'vn ruban, tirée d'vne oreille
à l'autre, au trauers des yeux, & trois petites rayes sur les iouës.
Leur couleur naturelle est cõme celle de ces gueux de France qui sont
demy rostis au Soleil, & ie ne doute point que les Sauuages ne fussent
tres-blãcs s'ils estoiẽt bien couuerts. De dire comme ils sont vestus,
il est bien difficile; les hommes quand il fait vn peu chaud vont tous
nuds, hormis vne piece de peau qu'ils mettent au dessous du nombril
iusques aux cuisses. Quand il fait froid, ou bien à l'imitation des
Europeans, ils se couurent de peaux de Castor, d'Ours, de Renard, &
d'autres tels animaux, mais si maussadement, que cela n'empesche pas
qu'on ne voye la pluspart de leurs corps. [18] I'en ay veu de vestus
de peau d'Ours, iustement comme on peint S. Iean Baptiste. Cette peau
veluë au dehors, leur alloit sous vn bras & sur l'autre, & leur battoit
iusques aux genoux, ils estoient ceints au trauers du corps d'vne corde
de boyau. Il y en a de vestus entierement, ils ressemblent tous à ce
Philosophe de la Grece, qui ne portoit rien sur soy qu'il n'eut fait.
Il ne faut pas employer beaucoup d'années pour apprendre tous leurs
mestiers. Ils vont tous teste nuë hommes & femmes; ils portent les
cheueux longs; ils les ont tous noirs, graissez, & luisans; ils les
lient par derriere, sinon quand ils portent le dueil. Les femmes sont
honnestement couuertes; elles ont des peaux iointes sur les espaules
auec des cordes, & ces peaux leurs battent depuis le col iusques aux
genoüils; elles se ceignent aussi d'vne corde, le reste du corps
la teste, les [19] bras & les iambes sont descouuertes: il y en a
neantmoins qui portent des manches, des chausses, & des souliers, mais
sans autre façon que celle que la necessité leur a appris. Maintenant
qu'ils traittent des capots, des couuertures, des draps, des chemises
auec les François, il y en a plusieurs qui s'en couurent, mais leurs
chemises sont aussi blanches & aussi grasses que des torchons de
cuisine, ils ne les blanchissent iamais. Au reste ils sont de bonne
taille, le corps bien fait, les membres tres-bien proportionnez, & ne
sont point si massifs que ie les croyois; ils ont vn assez bon sens;
ils ne parlent point tous ensemble, ains les vns apres les autres,
s'écoutans patiemment. Vn Sagamo ou Capitaine disnãt vn iour en la
chambre du nostre, voulant dire quelque chose, & ne trouuant point le
loisir pource qu'on parloit tousiours, [20] en fin pria la compagnie
qu'on luy donnast vn peu de temps pour parler à son tour, & tout seul,
comme il fit.
The next day we again set sail, and on the 18th of June we cast
anchor at Tadoussac. This is another bay or very small cove, near
which there is a river named Sagué [Saguenay], which empties into
the great river St. Lawrence. This river [15] is as beautiful as
the Seine, about as rapid as the Rosne [Rhone], and deeper than
many places in the sea, for it is said to be 80 fathoms deep in its
shallowest places. As we were on our way to say the Holy Mass on
the shore, one of our soldiers killed a great eagle near its eyrie.
Its head and neck were entirely white, the beak and feet yellow,
the rest of the body blackish; it was as large as a Turkey-cock. We
sojourned here from the 14th of June to the 3rd of July; that is to
say, 19 days. It was still very cold when we arrived, but before
leaving we felt excessive heat; and yet it was only the spring,
since the trees had only just begun to put forth their foliage. In
a very short time the leaves, the buds, the flowers, and the fruit
appear here and ripen; I mean the wild [16] fruit, as there is no
other. It was here that I saw Savages for the first time. As soon
as they saw our vessel, they lighted fires, and two of them came
on board in a little canoe very neatly made of bark. The next day
a Sagamore, with ten or twelve Savages, came to see us. When I saw
them enter our Captain's room, where I happened to be, it seemed
to me that I was looking at those maskers who run about in France
in Carnival time. There were some whose noses were painted blue,
the eyes, eyebrows, and cheeks painted black, and the rest of the
face red; and these colors are bright and shining like those of
our masks; others had black, red, and blue stripes drawn from the
ears to the mouth. Still others were entirely black, except the
upper part of the brow and around [17] the ears, and the end of
the chin; so that it might have been truly said of them that they
were masquerading. There were some who had only one black stripe,
like a wide ribbon, drawn from one ear to the other, across the
eyes, and three little stripes on the cheeks. Their natural color
is like that of those French beggars who are half-roasted in the
Sun, and I have no doubt that the Savages would be very white if
they were well covered. To describe how they were dressed would be
difficult indeed. All the men, when it is a little warm, go naked,
with the exception of a piece of skin which falls from just below
the navel to the thighs. When it is cold, or probably in imitation
of the Europeans, they cover themselves with furs of the Beaver,
Bear, Fox, and other animals of the same kind, but so awkwardly,
that it does not prevent the greater part of their bodies from
being seen. [18] I have seen some of them dressed in Bear skin,
just as St. John the Baptist is painted. This fur, with the hair
outside, was worn under one arm and over the other, hanging down
to the knees. They were girdled around the body with a cord made
of a dried intestine. Some are entirely dressed. They are like the
Grecian Philosopher who would wear nothing that he had not made. It
would not take a great many years to learn all their crafts. All go
bareheaded, men and women; their hair, which is uniformly black, is
long, greasy, and shiny, and is tied behind, except when they wear
mourning. The women are decently covered; they wear skins fastened
together on their shoulders with cords, these hang from the neck
to the knees. They girdle themselves also with a cord, the rest of
the body, the head, the [19] arms and the legs being uncovered. Yet
there are some who wear sleeves, stockings, and shoes, but in no
other fashion than that which necessity has taught them. Now that
they trade with the French for capes, blankets, cloths, and shirts,
there are many who use them; but their shirts are as white and as
greasy as dishcloths, for they never wash them. Furthermore, they
have good figures, their bodies are well made, their limbs very
well proportioned, and they are not so clumsy as I supposed them to
be. They are fairly intelligent. They do not all talk at once, but
one after the other, listening patiently. A Sagamore, or Captain,
dining in our room one day, wished to say something; and, not
finding an opportunity, because they were all talking at the same
time, [20] at last prayed the company to give him a little time to
talk in his turn, and all alone, as he did.
Or comme dans les grandes estenduës de ces païs cy, il y a quantité
de nations toutes barbares, aussi se font-elles la guerre les vnes
les autres fort souuent. A nostre arriuée à Tadoussac les Sauuages
reuenoient de la guerre contre les Hiroquois, & en auoient pris neuf,
ceux de Quebec en tenoient six, & ceux de Tadoussac trois. Monsieur
Emery de Caën les fut voir, il desiroit sauuer la vie au plus ieune, ie
plaiday fort pour tous trois, mais on me dit qu'il falloit de grands
presens, & ie n'en auois point. Arriuez donc que nous fumes aux cabanes
des Sauuages, qui sont faites de perches, & couuertes d'écorces assez
grossierement, le faiste n'est point couuert pour receuoir le iour
par là, & donner [21] yssuë à la fumée. Nous entrames dans celle du
Capitaine de guerre qui estoit longuette; il y auoit trois feux au
milieu, les vns éloignez des autres de cinq ou six pieds. Estans entrez
nous nous assimes de part & d'autre à plate terre, couuerte de petite
branches de sapin; ils n'ont point d'autres sieges. Cela fait, on fit
venir les prisonniers qui s'assirent les vns aupres des autres; le plus
âgé auoit plus de 60. ans, le second enuiron 30. le troisiesme estoit
vn ieune garçon de 15. à 16. ans. Ils se mirent tous à chanter, pour
montrer qu'ils ne craignoiẽt point la mort, quoy que tres-cruelle;
leur chant me semble fort desagreable, la cadence finissoit tousiours
par ces aspirations reïterées oh! oh! oh! ah! ah! ah! hem! hem! hem!
_&c._ Apres qu'ils eurent bien chanté, on les fit dancer les vns apres
les autres, le plus âgé se leue le premier, & commance [22] à marcher
du long de la cabane tout nud, hors mis, comme i'ay dit, vn morceau
de peau qui luy couuroit ce que la nature a caché. Il frappoit des
pieds la terre en marchant, & chantoit incessamment. Voyla toute sa
dance, pendant laquelle tous les autres Sauuages qui estoient dans la
cabane frappoient des mains ou se battoient la cuisse, tirans cette
aspiration du fond de l'estomach a--ah, a--ah, a--ah, & puis quand le
prisonnier s'arrestoit, ils crioient o--oh! o--oh! o--oh! & l'vn se
rasseant, l'autre se mettoit à dancer. Monsieur de Caën demanda quand
on les feroit mourir, ils respondirent le lendemain. Ie les fut voir
encor, & ie trouuay trois pieux de bois dressez, où on les deuoit
executer: mais il vint nouuelle de Quebec qu'on traittoit de paix auec
les Hiroquois, & qu'il faudroit peut-estre rendre les prisonniers,
ainsi [23] leur mort fut retardée. Il n'y a cruauté semblable à celle
qu'ils exercent contre leurs ennemis. Si tost qu'ils les ont pris ils
leurs arrachent les ongles à belles dents; ie vis les doigts de ces
pauures miserables qui me faisoient pitié, & vne playe assez grande
au bras de l'vn d'eux, on me dit que c'estoit vne morsure de celuy
qui l'auoit pris, l'autre auoit vne partie du doigt emporté, & ie luy
demanday si le feu luy auoit fait cela, ie croyois que ce fust vne
bruslure, il me fit signe qu'on luy auoit emporté la piece auec les
dents. Ie remarquay la cruauté mesme des filles & des femmes, pendant
que ces pauures prisonniers dançoiẽt: car comme ils passoient deuant
le feu, elles soufloient & poussoient la flamme dessus eux pour les
brusler. Quand ils les font mourir ils les attachent à vn poteau,
puis les filles aussi bien que les hommes leur appliquent [24] des
tisons ardents & flambans aux parties les plus sensibles du corps, aux
costez, aux cuisses, à la poitrine, & en plusieurs autres endroits:
ils leurs leuent la peau de la teste, puis iettent sur le crane ou le
test découuert, du sablon tout bruslant; ils leurs percent les bras au
poignet auec des bastons pointus, & leurs arrachent les nerfs par ces
trous. Bref ils les font souffrir tout ce que la cruauté & le Diable
leur met en l'esprit. En fin pour derniere catastrophe ils les mangent
& les deuorent quasi tout crus. Si nous estions pris des Hiroquois,
peut-estre nous en faudroit-il passer par là, pour autant que nous
demeurons auec les Montagnards leurs ennemis. Ils sont si enragez
contre tout ce qui leur fait du mal, qu'ils mangent les poux & toute
autre vermine qu'ils trouuẽt sur eux, non pour aucun goust qu'ils y
ayent; mais seulement, [25] disent-ils, pour se vanger & pour manger
ceux qui les mangent.
Now, as in the wide stretches of territory in this country there
are a great many wholly barbarous tribes, so they very often make
war upon each other. When we arrived at Tadoussac the Savages were
coming back from a war against the Hiroquois, and had taken nine
of them: those of Quebec took six, and those of Tadoussac three.
Monsieur Emery de Caën went to see the captives, hoping to save the
life of the youngest one. I pleaded very earnestly for all three,
but was told that great presents were necessary, and I had none.
Having arrived at the cabins of the Savages, which are made of
poles, clumsily covered with bark, the top left uncovered for the
purpose of letting in light and of leaving [21] an opening for the
smoke to go out, we entered that of the war Captain, which was long
and narrow. There were three fires in the middle, distant from each
other five or six feet. Having entered, we sat down here and there
on the ground, which was covered with little branches of fir, for
they have no other seats. This done, they brought in the prisoners,
who sat down beside each other. The eldest was over 60, the second
about 30, and the third was a young boy from 15 to 16 years old.
They all began to sing, in order to show that they were not at all
afraid of death, however cruel it might be. Their singing seemed
to me very disagreeable; the cadence always ended with reiterated
aspirations, "oh! oh! oh! ah! ah! ah! hem! hem! hem!" _etc._ After
singing for some time, they were made to dance, one after the
other. The eldest one rose first, and began [22] to walk through
the room, entirely naked, except, as I have said, for a piece of
fur which covered what nature has hidden. He stamped his feet upon
the ground while marching, and sang continuously. This was all the
dance; and while it was going on all the other Savages in the hut
clapped their hands, or beat their thighs, drawing this aspiration
from the depths of their stomachs, "a--ah, a--ah, a--ah;" and
then when the prisoner stopped they cried, "o--oh, o--oh, o--oh;"
and, when the one reseated himself, the other took up the dance.
Monsieur de Caën asked when they would be killed. "To-morrow," they
answered. I went to see them again, and I found three wooden stakes
erected where they were to be executed; but news came from Quebec
that a treaty of peace was being negotiated with the Hiroquois,
and it would perhaps be necessary to surrender the prisoners, and
thus [23] their death was delayed. There is no cruelty comparable
to that which they practice on their enemies. As soon as the
captives are taken, they brutally tear off their nails with their
teeth; I saw the fingers of these poor creatures, and was filled
with pity, also I saw a large hole in the arm of one of them; I
was told that it was a bite of the Savage who had captured him;
the other had a part of a finger torn off, and I asked him if the
fire had done that, as I thought it was a burn. He made a sign to
show me that it had been taken off by the teeth. I noticed the same
cruelty among the girls and women, when these poor prisoners were
dancing; for, as they passed before the fire, the women blew and
drove the flame over in their direction to burn them. When the hour
comes to kill their captives, they are fastened to a stake; then
the girls, as well as the men, apply [24] hot and flaming brands
to those portions of the body which are the most sensitive, to
the ribs, thighs, chest, and several other places. They raise the
scalp from the head, and then throw burning sand upon the skull,
or uncovered place. They pierce the arms at the wrists with sharp
sticks, and pull the nerves out through these holes. In short, they
make them suffer all that cruelty and the Devil can suggest. At
last, as a final horror, they eat and devour them almost raw. If
we were captured by the Hiroquois, perhaps we would be obliged to
suffer this ordeal, inasmuch as we live with the Montagnards, their
enemies. So enraged are they against every one who does them an
injury that they eat the lice and other vermin that they find upon
themselves,--not because they like them, but only, [25] they say,
to avenge themselves and to eat those that eat them.
Pendant que ces pauures captifs chantoient & dançoient, il y en
auoit de nostre equipage qui se rioient voyans cette barbarie: mais
ô mon Dieu quel triste subiet de rire! c'est la verité que le cœur
me fendoit. Ie ne pensois nullement venir en Canada quand on m'y a
enuoyé; ie ne sentois aucune affection particuliere pour les Sauuages,
si bien à faire l'obeïssance, quand on m'eust deu enuoyer encor plus
loin mille fois: mais ie puis dire que quand i'aurois eu de l'auersion
de ce païs, voyant ce que i'ay desia veu ie serois touché, eussé-ie le
cœur de bronze. Pleut à Dieu que ceux qui peuuent assister ces pauures
ames, & contribuer quelque chose à leur salut, fussent icy seulement
pour trois iours; ie ne croy pas que l'affection de les secourir ne
saisit puissamment [26] leur ame. Qu'on ne s'estonne point de ces
barbaries, auant que la foy fut receuë en Allemagne, en Espagne, en
Angleterre, ces peuples n'estoient pas plus polis. L'esprit ne manque
pas aux Sauuages de Canada, si bien l'education & l'instruction. Ils
sont dé-ja las de leurs miseres, & nous tendent les bras pour estre
assistez. Il me semble que les nations qui ont vne demeure stable se
conuertiroient aisement, ie puis dire des Hurons tout ce que nous en
a escrit il y a quelque temps le Pere d'vn ieune-homme des Paraquais,
sçauoir est, qu'il y a grandement à souffrir parmy eux, mais qu'il s'y
peut faire de grands fruicts, & que si les consolations de la terre y
manquent, celles du Paradis s'y goustent desia, il ne faut que sçauoir
la langue, & si le Pere Brebeuf n'eût point esté contraint par les
Anglois de s'en retourner [27] d'icy, lesquels s'estoient emparez du
fort des François, il auroit desia bien aduancé la gloire de Dieu en ce
pays là. Pour les nations étranges & vagabondes, comme sont celles où
nous sommes demeurans à Kebec, il y aura plus de difficulté; Le moyen
à mon aduis de les ayder, c'est de dresser des seminaires, & prẽdre
leurs enfans qui sont bien éueillez & fort gentils: on instruira les
peres par le moyen des enfans, voire-mesme, il y en a desia quelques
vns d'entr'eux qui commencent à cultiuer la terre, & semer du bled
d'Inde, leur vie facheuse & tres-miserable leur ennuye: mais en vn mot,
la promesse du Pere Eternel à son Fils s'effectuera tost ou tard. _Dabo
tibi gentes hæreditatem tuam, & possessionem tuam terminos terræ._ On
a fait de grands fruicts dans les Indes Orientales, & dans l'Amerique
meridionale, quoy [28] qu'on ait trouué en ces païs là non seulemẽt des
vices à combattre, mais encor des superstitions estranges, ausquelles
ces peuples estoient plus attachez qu'à leur propre vie. En la nouuelle
France il n'y a que les pechez à destruire, & encor en petit nombre:
car ces pauures gens si éloignez de toutes delices, ne sont pas adonnez
à beaucoup d'offenses. De superstition ou faulse religion, s'il y en
a quelques endroits, c'est bien peu. Les Canadiens ne pensent qu'à
viure & à se venger de leurs ennemis; ils ne sont attachez au culte
d'aucune Diuinité. Ils peuuent prẽdre plusieurs femmes, cependant ils
n'en ont qu'vne; i'ay ouy parler d'vn seul qui en a deux, encor luy en
fait-on reproche. Il est vray que celuy qui sçauroit leur langue les
manieroit comme il voudroit, c'est à quoy ie me vais appliquer, mais
i'aduanceray [29] fort peu cette année, pour les raisons que i'écriray
en particulier à vostre Reuerence. Mais retournons à la suite de nostre
voyage.