was sick unto death. It was a good half league from our house to
his cabin. Night was approaching; the death of the last Frenchman
had caused some fear in the minds of the others, so much so that
we were on our guard. Notwithstanding that, I could not suffer
this poor little one to be abandoned. I wished to go and baptize
it myself; but, being indisposed, and having felt for some time a
slight attack of fever, our Fathers thought it best that Father
Brebeuf should go. So he started [252 i.e., 152] off with Father
de Nouë in a canoe. They encountered a Frenchman near the Cabins,
who said that these Savages did not want to show their child to
the French. That did not stop them. They entered the Cabin, and
Father Brebeuf, who can jargon as well as I can in Savage, made
them understand as best he could the cause of his visit. Father de
Nouë ran hurriedly to the Interpreter, to beg him to come and do
a service for the sick. As he was a very honest and worthy man,
he left his supper and joined the Fathers, who besought him to
inform the Savages why they had come so late; that it was because
they loved that little child, and that if it died without baptism
it would not go to Heaven; on the contrary, if it were baptized
it would be forever happy. They asked [253 i.e., 153] also if its
parents would not be very glad to have it baptized. The mother
answered that for her part she would be very well pleased, but
that her husband was drunk, and asleep in another Cabin. The Father
continued, and asked, if the child should die, if they would not
bring it to our house and bury it in our Cemetery; and, if it were
restored to health, if they would not give it to us to be educated.
She answered that her son was dead; but that if he revived, as soon
as he should be able to walk (for he was only about six months
old) she would bring him to us. A Savage, who heard this, ran to
the father of the child and aroused him; having reported to him
all that the Fathers had said, he answered: "Though I am drunk,
I understand very well all that thou sayest; go and bid those
Fathers baptize my son; I know [254 i.e., 154] very well that they
will do him no harm; if he dies, it is because he is mortal; if he
recovers, I shall give him to them to be educated." The Messenger
brought the news, and Father Brebeuf sent to the river for water,
while Father de Nouë and the Interpreter knelt down, reciting the
hymn _Veni Creator_; and Father Brebeuf baptized this poor little
one, giving him the name of François, in honor of St. François
Xavier, telling the parents that they must hereafter call him
François, and that if he died he would go straight to Heaven, where
he would be forever blest. These poor people gave evidence of their
great happiness, often repeating the name "François, François," and
showing that they had taken a great deal of pleasure in what we
had done. One of the Savages in the Cabin said that if the Savage
who had recently killed [255 i.e., 155] the Frenchman belonged to
his tribe, he would have prayed the Captain of the French to kill
him, wishing to give a proof of the love that they bore to all
Frenchmen. In short, the Fathers returned home at ten o'clock at
night very happy; and when I asked Father Brebeuf if he were not
glad to have ended the day so well: "Ah!" said he, "I would come
expressly from France, and cross the great Ocean, to reclaim one
little soul for Our Lord."
Il m'adiousta que le Pere de l'enfant s'appelloit la Grenouille, alors
ie le cognus fort bien, c'est vn Capitaine des Algonquains; il nous
est venu voir, ie luy ay quelquefois parlé de Dieu, i'en fais mentiõ
cy-dessus: c'est luy qui me demandoit combien ie voulois d'enfans, &
qui s'estonna quand ie luy repartis que nous en voulions vingt, & bien
dauantage [256 i.e., 156] quand nous les pourrions nourrir.
He added that the Father of the child was called "la Grenouille"
[the Frog]. Then I knew him very well, as a Captain of the
Algonquains. He had been to see us, and I had spoken to him
sometimes of God. I have mentioned him above. It was he who asked
me how many children I wanted, and who was astonished when I
replied that we wanted twenty, and many more [256 i.e., 156] when
we should be able to feed them.
Au reste, c'est chose estrange combien les Sauuages sont addonnés à
l'yurongnerie, nonobstãt les defenses du sieur de Champlain, il y a
tousiours quelqu'vn qui leur traite, ou vend quelque bouteille en
cachette: si bien qu'on ne voit qu'yurongnes hurler parmy eux, se
battre & se quereler. Le Truchement m'a dit que les Sauuages de la
nation de celuy qui est prisonnier au fort pour auoir tué ce François,
luy reprochoiẽt que c'estoit l'eau de vie, & non ce Sauuage, qui auoit
cõmis ce meurtre; voulant dire qu'il estoit yure quand il fit ce
coup: Tiens ton vin & ton eau de vie en prison, disent-ils, ce sont
tes boissons qui font tout le mal, & non pas nous autres. Ils pensent
s'estre bien excusez du mal qu'ils ont fait, quand ils disent qu'ils
estoient yures: ie ne voudrois pas les croire aisément [257 i.e., 157]
en ce poinct, car ils feignent fort bien cette manie quand ils veulent
couurir leur malice.
Further, it is very strange how these Savages are given to
drunkenness. In spite of the prohibition of sieur de Champlain,
there is always some one who trades with them, or who will sell
them a bottle now and then in secret. So that drunkards are
continually seen among them, shouting, fighting, and quarreling.
The Interpreter told me that the Savages of the tribe to which the
prisoner in the fort belonged who had killed the Frenchman, told
him reproachfully that it was brandy and not that Savage who had
committed this murder, meaning to say that he was drunk when he
struck the blow. "Put thy wine and thy brandy in prison," they say:
"It is thy drinks that do all the evil, and not we." They believe
themselves to be entirely excused from the crimes they commit, when
they say that they were drunk. I do not readily believe [257 i.e.,
157] in this, because they feign this madness very well when they
wish to hide their malice.
Pour retourner à cét enfant nouuellement baptisé, il mourut le
lendemain au soir: & le iour suiuant le Pere Brebeuf allant au fort,
veit les Sauuages qui trauersoient le grand fleuue S. Laurens, pour le
porter en terre à l'autre port. Ie croy qu'ils ne l'apporterent pas
chez nous pour auoir plus de liberté de faire festin sur sa fosse, selõ
leur coustume. Quasi à mesme temps vn ieune garçon huguenot qui a passé
dans les vaisseaux, & qui deuoit retourner auec eux, s'est noyé tout
deuant le fort, estrange effect de la prouidence & predestination du
bon Dieu! _vnus assumetur, alter relinquetur_.
To return to this newly baptized child: it died the next evening;
and on the following day Father Brebeuf, going to the fort, saw the
Savages crossing the great St. Lawrence river, to bury it on the
other side. I believe they did not bring it to us, because they
wanted to enjoy more liberty in feasting over the grave, according
to their custom. About the same time, a young huguenot boy who came
over in the ship, and who was to return with them, was drowned
right in front of the fort. Strange effect of the providence
and the predestination of the good God! _Unus assumetur, alter
relinquetur._
Le Pere Brebeuf ne laissa point d'entrer dans la Cabane d'où on auoit
tiré cét enfant mort. Il y en [258 i.e., 158] trouua encor vn autre
malade: il parla de le baptiser, sa grand'mere respondit; ie suis
contente que tu le baptise, pourueu que tu le guerisse. Le Truchement
des Algonquains qui se fait bien entendre des Montagnaits se trouuant
là, le Pere leur fit vn petit discours du Baptesme, & de ses effects:
Vous ne recherchez, leur disoit-il, que le corps, & nous recherchons
l'ame, qui est purifiée par ce Sacrement, faisant approprier leurs
paroles le mieux qu'il pouuoit à nos mysteres. Le Baptesme guarit
tousiours l'ame, ne fait point de mal au corps: ains au contraire luy
rend souuent la santé. Ils demanderent combien il falloit d'eau pour
baptiser: Le Pere respond qu'on n'auoit point d'esgard à la quantité.
La conclusion fut que les parẽs prirent eux-mesmes l'enfant, & le
disposerent pour receuoir cette benediction: [259 i.e., 159] mais le
Pere iugeant qu'il n'estoit pas en dãger de mort, ne se voulut point
haster.
Father Brebeuf lost no time in going to the Cabin from which they
had taken the dead child. Here he [258 i.e., 158] found another
sick child; he spoke of baptizing him, when the grandmother
answered: "I shall be satisfied to have thee baptize him, provided
that thou canst cure him." The Interpreter of the Algonquains, who
makes himself readily understood by the Montagnaits, being present,
the Father gave them a little talk upon Baptism and its effects.
"You care only for the body," said he, "we care for the soul, which
is purified by this Sacrament," adapting their words as best he
could to our mysteries. "Baptism always cures the soul, and does no
harm to the body, but on the contrary often restores it to health."
They asked how much water it took for baptism. The Father answered
that no attention was paid to the quantity. The result was that the
parents themselves took the child, and prepared it to receive this
blessing. [259 i.e., 159] But the Father, thinking that it was not
in danger of death, did not wish to hasten matters.
Le lendemain noꝰ l'allasmes voir le Pere de Nouë & moy, la crainte
que nous auiõs qu'il ne mourut sans estre baptisé, nous fit partir
par vn temps tout à fait violent: les vents & la pluye sembloient
vouloir tout rompre, & tout noyer. Ie voulois aussi aller entendre de
confession vn Bengalois qui auoit esté blessé, & qui me demandoit:
c'eft vn ieune homme amené des Indes Orientales, & fait Chrestien
en Frāce, qui a hyuerné icy auec nous. Ie le veis, & le cõsolay le
mieux que ie pûs. Pour le petit Sauuage m'estant presenté à l'vne des
portes de sa Cabane, on me dit _aouesse_, retire toy: mais ayans ouy
ma voix, ils me dirent que ie passasse par l'autre porte: i'entre donc
pendant que le Pere de Nouë cherchoit le [260 i.e., 160] Truchement.
Vne femme m'arresta au premier pas, me disant, _appitou_, sieds toy
là. Ie luy responds, ouy, ie veux voir l'enfant. attend, attend, me
dit-elle, tu le verras. Le plus grãd sorcier d'entr'eux, à ce que me
dit le Truchement, qui arriua bien-tost apres, chantoit & souffloit
cét enfant pour le guerir. Ils auoient fait vn petit retrenchement où
estoit l'enfāt, i'en voulus deux ou trois fois approcher, mais on ne
me le voulut pas permettre. Les Sauuages m'arrestoient à tous coups.
Attendant que ce beau medecin eut traité son malade, l'enfant estoit
nud comme la main, couché dans vn petit berceau d'écorce, sur de la
poudre de bois pourry. Il auoit vne grosse fiévre qui le brusloit, &
ce charlatan pour le guerir battoit & tournoit vn instrument remply
de petites pierres, fait iustement comme vn tambour de [261 i.e.,
161] Basque. Il chantoit auec cela à gorge desployée: en vn mot luy
& sõ cõpagnon pour oster la fieure a ce petit garçon faisoient vn
bruit capable de la donner à vn hõme biẽ sain. Le sorcier s'approchoit
du malade, le souffloit par tout le corps, à ce que ie pouuois
coniecturer, car ie ne le voiois pas, mais i'entendois son souffle
tiré du profond de l'estomach: il battoit ce tambour à ses oreilles,
cependant il y auoit vn grand silence parmy les autres Sauuages qui
estoient dans la mesme cabane. Sa medecine donnée il m'appelle, & me
dit que ie visse l'enfant, & que ie luy en disse mon aduis: pour luy
qu'il croioit qu'il avoit ie ne sçay quoy de noir dans le corps, &
que c'estoit cela qui le faisoit malade, voila le resultat de ce grãd
bruit. Ie m'approche, ie touche le poulx de l'enfant, ie luy trouue
vne grosse fieure, & leurs dy qu'il auoit vne maladie [262 i.e., 162]
que nous appellions la fieure, & qu'il le falloit laisser reposer, &
non pas le tuer auec ce grand bruit qui augmentoit sa maladie, & qui
depuis peu i'auois eu quelques accés de fiéure, & que le repos m'auoit
guery. Le sorcier me repart, cela est bon pour vous autres, mais pour
nous c'est ainsi que nous guerissons les malades. Helas que les hommes
qui ne cognoissent pas Dieu sont ignorans, voire mesme dans les choses
naturelles! Pour cōclure ce point, nous nous en retournasmes par eau
comme nous estions venus, sans baptiser l'enfant, ne iugeant pas sa
maladie mortelle, la fiebure quoy que bien grande estãt intermittente.
The next day Father de Nouë and I went to see the child. Our fear
lest he should die without being baptized made us set out in
the midst of very stormy weather; the wind and rain seemed bent
on breaking and drowning everything. I also wanted to go and hear
the confession of a Bengalese, who had been wounded, and had sent
for me. He is a young man brought from the East Indies, who had
been converted to Christianity in France, and has been passing
the winter here with us. I saw him, and consoled him as best I
possibly could. As to the little Savage, having presented myself
at one of the doors of the Cabin, they said to me: _aouesse_, "go
away." But, having heard my voice, they told me to come in by the
other door; I went in, while Father de Nouë was seeking the [260
i.e., 160] Interpreter. A woman stopped me at the first step,
saying, _appitou_, "sit thee down there." I answered her, "yes, I
want to see the child." "Wait, wait," said she to me, "thou shalt
see him." The greatest sorcerer they have among them, according
to the Interpreter, who arrived shortly afterward, sang and blew
upon the child to cure him. They had made a little retreat where
the child was. Two or three times I tried to get near it, but was
not permitted. The Savages stopped me every time. I waited until
this fine doctor had treated his patient; the child, naked as one's
hand, lay in a cradle of bark, upon pulverized rotten wood. He
was burning with a high fever; and this charlatan, to cure him,
was beating upon and whirling around an instrument full of little
stones, made exactly like a [261 i.e., 161] tambourine. With all
this he howled immoderately. In a word, he and his companion, in
order to cure this little boy of a fever, made enough noise to
give one to a healthy man. The sorcerer approached the patient,
and blew all over the body, as I conjectured, for I could not see
what he was doing, but I heard his breath drawn from the depths of
his stomach. He beat the tambourine in the child's ears, during
which there was great silence among the other Savages who were in
the same cabin. His medicine having been given, he called me and
told me I might then see the child, and that I should give him
my opinion; as to him, he believed that the child had something
or other black in his body, and it was that which made him sick.
Behold the result of this great noise. I approach, I feel the pulse
of the child, I discover a raging fever; and I tell him that he has
a sickness [262 i.e., 162] which we call fever, that he must be
left to rest, and not be killed by this great noise which makes him
worse; that recently I had an attack of fever, and that rest had
cured me. The sorcerer replied: "That is very good for you people;
but, for us, it is thus that we cure our sick." Alas! how ignorant
are they who do not know God, indeed even in natural things! To
end this story, we returned by water as we came, without baptizing
the child, believing that the disease was not mortal; the fever,
although very high, being intermittent.
A quelques iours de là ie le retournay voir, ses parents nous ayans
signifié qu'ils estoient bien aises que nous y allassions, i'y
rencontray encor vn sorcier qui le souffloit, mais [263 i.e., 163]
celuy cy n'entendoit pas si bien son mestier que l'autre, aussi est
il plus ieune, il me laissa voir ses beaux mysteres, il battoit son
tambour aux oreilles de ce pauure petit qui s'égorgeoit de pleurer,
il luy souffloit sur la teste auec vn sifflement qu'il faisoit bruire
entre ses dents: il tournoit son tambour deçà delà à ses costés,
derrière son dos, puis le ramenoit sur l'enfant; En vn mot il se tuoit
de bien faire, & ne faisoit rien qui vaille. Il n'entendoit rien à
faire le iongleur à comparaison de l'autre. C'est chose estrãge que
les Sauuages aient tãt de creance à ces charlatans! ie ne sçay comme
le mensonge est plus adoré que la verité! Bref ce petit enfant se
guerissant, son pere & sa mere nous sont venus voir, & l'õt apporté
auec eux, nous remercians par cette visite de la peine que nous auions
pris pour luy.
After a few days I returned to see him, his parents having made
known to us that they would be very glad if we should come. Again I
met a sorcerer who was blowing upon the body, but [263 i.e., 163]
this one did not understand his trade so well as the other; he was
also younger, and allowed me to see his beautiful mysteries. He
beat his tambourine in the ears of this poor little child, who was
almost choking with tears. He blew upon his head, with a whistling
sound made between his teeth; he turned his tambourine on this
side and that side of his ribs, behind his back, and then brought
it again over the child. In a word, he nearly killed himself with
exertion, but accomplished nothing of any account. He knew nothing
at all about playing the juggler, compared with the other. Strange
that the Savages have so much faith in these charlatans! I do not
know why falsehood is worshipped more than truth. In short, this
little child being cured, its father and mother came to see us and
brought it with them, thanking us by this visit for the trouble we
had taken for it.
[264 i.e., 164] I'en ay esté voir d'autres de puis au delà du grand
fleuue Sainct Laurens, où vne partie des Sauuages s'estoient cabanés.
Si ie continuë cet exercice les meres me tiendront biẽ tost pour
medecin des petits enfans, car elles me disent desia leurs maladies,
mais nous sommes appointés bien contraires: ils pensent seulement aux
corps, & nous à l'ame.
[264 i.e., 164] Since then, I have been to see others beyond
the great Saint Lawrence river, where a company of Savages were
encamped. If I continue this business, the mothers will soon regard
me as the little children's physician, for they already come to me
with their ailments, but we have a much higher calling; they think
only of the body, and we of the soul.
Le 27 de Iuillet Louys de Saincte Foy surnommé des Sauuages Amantacha,
duquel i'ay parlé cy dessus, retourna vers le sieur de Champlain qui
l'auoit enuoié au deuãt de la grosse trouppe de Hurons qu'on attendoit
de iour en iour: il en estoit desia venu quelques canots en diuers
iours tantost sept ou huit, & tantost dix ou douze à la fois, mais en
fin le 28. de Iuillet il en est arriué cent quarãte ou enuiron tout
à la fois qui portoient biẽ cinq cens Hurons, d'autres disent [265
i.e., 165] 700 auec leurs marchãdises. Les Sauvages de l'Isle & les
Algõquains, qui sont deux nations qu'on rencontre venant des Hurons
à Kebec, les auoient voulu dissuader de venir iusques aux François,
disans qu'on leur iouëroit vn mauuais party à cause de la mort d'un
nommé Bruslé qu'ils auoient tué, & qu'vn Algonquain de la petite nation
aiant tué vn François, on l'auoit pris prisonnier, & que c'estoit fait
de sa vie, qu'on en feroit autant à quelque Huron. Leur dessein estoit
de tirer toute la marchandise de ces Hurons à très-bas prix pour la
venir par apres traiter eux mesmes soit aux François, soit aux Anglois.
Louys Amantacha se rencontrant là dessus asseura ceux de sa nation de
la bienueillance des Frãçois, protestant qu'il estoit content qu'on le
mit a mort au cas que les François ne leurs fissent vn tres-bon [266
i.e., 166] accueil. Que pour Bruslé qui auoit esté massacré, on ne le
tenoit point pour François, puis qu'il auoit quitté sa nation pour se
mettre au seruice de l'Anglois. Enfin il a si bien fait que six ou sept
cens Hurons sont venus iusques à Kebec; vn plus grand nombre s'estoit
mis en chemin, mais les vns s'en sont retournés pour la peur qu'on
leur donnoit, les autres pour auoir ioüé & perdu leurs marchandises,
car les Sauuages sont grands ioueurs, & quelques-vns d'entre eux ne
viennent à la traite auec les François que pour iouër, d'autres pour
voir, quelques vns pour dérober, & les plus sages & les plus riches
pour trafiquer. Ie ne croy pas qu'il y ait nation sous le ciel plus
portée au larcin que la Huronne, il faut tousiours auoir les yeux sur
leurs pieds & sur leurs mains quãd ils entrent en quelque endroit.
On dit qu'ils dérobent [267 i.e., 167] des pieds aussi bien que des
mains. I'en regardois vn chés nous qui auoit ietté les yeux sur vn des
outils de la menuiserie de nostre frere, la pensée me venant qu'il
s'en pourroit saisir, ie le veillay tant que ie peu, mais il fut plus
adroit à prendre que moy à regarder. Il cache l'outil si dextrement
que ie ne luy vy faire aucune action. Voiant neantmoins la place vuide
ie me doubtay de ce qui estoit, i'en donnay aduis au Pere Brebeuf qui
entend assés bien leur langue: il accoste mon homme qui voulut nier le
fait au commencement, mais en fin il cõfesse la debte, rend son larcin
en riant, tant il estoit contrit de son peché. Le Pere de Nouë en
surprit vn autre qui enleuoit vn petit morceau de fer blanc qui seruoit
d'aiguille à vn meschant quadran que i'ay tracé, vn autre déroba vne
lettre par la fenestre de la chambre du Pere Masse. [268 i.e., 168]
prendre & n'estre point decouuert estant vne marque d'esprit parmy eux.
L'vtilité n'est pas tousiours le seul obiet de leur larcin. Vn François
aiant ouy dire que les Sauuages de cette nation estoient grands
larrons, se moqua de leur subtilité, disant qu'il leur donnoit tout ce
qu'ils luy prendroient: quelques vns l'allerent voir, il leur presenta
à boire, pour toutes actions de graces ils luy enleuerent sa tace, mais
si finement qu'il ne s'en prit point garde qu'ils ne fussent partis.
On the 27th of July, Louys de Saincte Foy, surnamed by the Savages
Amantacha,[21] of whom I have spoken above, came back to sieur
de Champlain, who had sent him to meet a great crowd of Hurons
who were expected from day to day. Already a few canoes had
arrived on different days, sometimes seven or eight, sometimes
ten or twelve at a time; but at last, on the 28th of July, there
arrived about one hundred and forty all at once, carrying easily
five hundred Hurons--or [265 i.e., 165] 700, as some say--with
their merchandise. The Island Savages[57] and the Algonquains,
two tribes on the route from the Hurons to Kebec, had tried to
dissuade them from visiting the French, saying we would do them
a bad turn on account of the death of one Bruslé,[58] whom they
had killed; and that an Algonquain of the petite nation, having
killed a Frenchman, had been taken prisoner, and had been condemned
to death; also that the same would be done to some Huron. Their
design was to get all the merchandise from these Hurons at a very
low price, in order afterwards to come themselves and trade it,
with either the French or the English. Louys Amantacha, meeting
them above, assured those of his tribe of the good feeling of the
French toward them, declaring that they might put him to death if
the French did not give them a very warm [266 i.e., 166] welcome.
As to Bruslé, who had been murdered, he was not looked upon as a
Frenchman, because he had left his nation and gone over to the
service of the English. In short, he convinced them so thoroughly,
that six or seven hundred Hurons came to Kebec; a greater number
were on the way, but some of them went back because they had become
frightened, and others because they had lost their merchandise in
gambling. For these Savages are great gamblers, and some of them
come to trade with the French for this purpose alone; others come
to look on, some to steal, and the wisest and the richest to trade.
I do not believe that there is a people under heaven more given to
stealing than the Hurons. It is necessary to have your eye both on
their feet and on their hands, when they enter a place. It is said
that they steal [267 i.e., 167] with their feet as well as with
their hands. I saw one, at our house, casting his eyes on one of
the carpenter's tools of our brother. Thinking he might take it, I
watched him as well as I could, but he was more skillful in taking
than I was in watching. He concealed the tool so adroitly that I
did not see him make any movement. But seeing that the place was
empty, I suspected what had happened. I told Father Brebeuf of it;
and, as he understands their language tolerably well, he spoke to
my man, who tried to deny the theft at first, but at last confessed
and laughingly returned the property, showing how contrite he was
over his sin. Father de Nouë detected another, who stole a little
piece of tin which served as a needle to a poor quadrant that I
had fashioned; another stole a letter through the window of Father
Masse's room. [268 i.e., 168] To steal, and not to be discovered,
is a sign of superior intelligence among them. Utility is not
always the sole object of their thefts. A Frenchman, having heard
that the Savages of this tribe [the Hurons] were great thieves,
sneered at their boasted cunning, saying that he would give them
all they could steal from him; some of them called upon him and he
gave them something to drink; all their thanks was to steal his
cup, and so shrewdly did they do it that he did not miss it until
they were gone.
Ie ne scaurois dire comme cette nation porte les cheueux, chacũ suit
sa fantaisie: les vns les ont longs & pendans d'vn costé comme les
femmes, & courts & retroussez de l'autre, si bien qu'ils ont vne
oreille cachée, & l'autre descouuerte. Quelques-vns sont iustement
rasez à l'endroit où les autres portent vne longue [269 i.e., 169]
moustache. I'en ay veu qui auoient vne grande raye toute rasée, qui
leur trauersoit toute la teste passant par le sommet & venant rendre au
milieu du front: d'autres portent au mesme endroit comme vne queuë de
cheueux qui paroist releuée à cause qu'ils se rasent de part & d'autre
de cette queuë. O que l'esprit des hommes est foible! Il y a plus de
quatre mille ans qu'ils cherchent à s'embellir & à s'orner, & toutes
les nations de la terre n'ont peu encore conuenir au point de la beauté
& de l'ornement.