hair; each one follows his own fancy. Some wear it long and hanging
over to one side like women, and short and tied up on the other, so
skillfully that one ear is concealed and the other uncovered. Some
of them are shaved just where the others wear a long [269 i.e.,
169] moustache.[14] I have seen some who had a large strip, closely
shaved, extending across the head, passing from the crown to the
middle of the forehead. Others wear in the same place a sort of
queue of hair, which stands out because they have shaved all around
it. Oh, how weak is the spirit of man! For over four thousand years
he has been seeking to ornament and beautify himself, and all the
nations of the world have not yet been able to agree as to what is
true beauty and adornment.
Le 29 du mesme mois de Iuillet ayant appris que les Hurons deuoyent
tenir conseil où il se debuoit agir de nos Peres qui sont destinez pour
leur pais, nous les allasmes voir le Pere Brebeuf & moy. Ie trouuay
Louys Amantacha au fort, ie m'entretins auec luy de choses bonnes:
& passant [270 i.e., 170] de discours en discours, il me témoigna
qu'il estoit tres-contẽt de ce que nos Peres alloyent secourir sa
natiõ. Il s'est employé pour trouuer qui les embarquast, ou plustôt
pour les choisir; car vn grand nombre s'offroit au Pere Brebeuf,
luy-mesme en vouloit prendre vn auec soy. Il nous promet merueille,
& pour tesmoigner le sentiment qu'il a du secours que Vost. Reu.
enuoye aux Hurons ses compatriotes, il luy rescrit de sa propre main,
m'asseurãt qu'il retournera l'an qui vient à Kebec pour mener en son
païs les autres Peres qu'õ y enuoyera. C'est trop peu (dit-il) de
trois Religieux pour tant de milles ames qui se trouuent parmy nous.
Il me demãdoit vn liuret d'images des mysteres de nostre Foy, pour les
faire voir à ceux de sa nation, à fin de prendre de là occasion de les
instruire: mais comme ie n'en auois point, il [271 i.e., 171] me dit
qu'il en escriroit au sieur le Maistre. I'ay mis les lettres qu'il
enuoye à V. R. auec celles-cy, ie prie Dieu qu'elle les reçoiue toutes.
Ie croy que ce ieune homme luy est biẽ cogneu: il a esté conduit en
France par nos Peres, baptise à Rouën par leur entremise: Monsieur le
Duc de Longueuille fut son parain, & Madame de Villars sa maraine: il
demeura entre les mains des Anglois par la prise qu'ils firent de la
flotte Françoise & de tout ce païs cy: il estoit si bien instruit, que
l'vn des Capitaines nommé Kers, peu affectionné à nostre Compagnie,
comme estant heretique, témoigna publiquemẽt qu'il appartenoit aux
Iesuistes de biẽ esleuer les enfans, voyant les deportemens de ce ieune
Sauuage. Le sieur Oliuier Truchement des François m'a rapporté cecy
cõme l'aiant ouy de la bouche mesme de ce Capitaine [272 i.e., 172]
Huguenot. Depuis cette prise ce pauure ieune homme a esté quelque temps
auec les Anglois, & puis auec les Sauuages de sa natiõ: Dieu vueille
que la cognoissance de leur heresie & de leurs vices (car il auouë que
les Anglois sont dissolus iusques au dernier point) n'empesche pas que
la premiere semence qu'on a iettée dãs son ame ne produise les fruits
que le Ciel attend, & que nous esperons. Mais venons au Conseil de
sa natiõ. Estant assemblé, le sieur de Chãplain nous fit appeller.
I'ay appris que Louïs XI. tint vn iour son conseil de guerre en la
campagne, n'ayant pour throsne ou pour chaire qu'vne piece de bois, ou
vn arbre abbattu qu'il rẽcontra par fortune au milieu d'vn champ. Voila
le portraict du conseil des Hurons, excepté qu'ils sont assis encore
vn peu plus bas, c'est à dire à platte terre, tous pesle-meslez sans
[273 i.e., 173] aucun ordre, sinon que ceux d'vne nation ou village se
mettent les vns pres des autres, pendant qu'on dispute en France de la
preseance, & qu'õ s'amuse à presenter vne chaire à celuy qu'on iugeroit
impertinent de l'accepter, on auroit acheué, & conclu trois cōseils
parmy les Sauuages, qui au bout du conte ne laissent point d'estre fort
graues, & serieux dans leurs harangues assez longues: ils estoient
enuiron soixante hommes en leur assemblée sans conter la ieunesse qui
estoit esparse çà & là. Chaqu'vn s'estant placé le mieux qu'il pût, vn
Capitaine commença sa harangue, le sommaire estoit que la nation des
Hurons, des Ours & autres estoient assemblées pour tenir cõseil auec
les Frãcois. Sa harãgue finie tous les Sauuages pour approbation de ce
discours tirerent du profond de l'estomach ceste aspiration, _ho, ho,
ho_, releuant [374 i.e., 174] fort la derniere syllabe. Ceste harangue
finie, & le conseil declaré legitimemẽt assemblé par cette belle
approbation, le mesme Capitaine en recommença vne autre, qui ne vouloit
dire autre chose sinon qu'ils estoyẽt venus voir leurs amis & leurs
freres les François, & pour affermir ceste amitié & alliance, qu'ils
offroient tous des presens à leur capitaine le Sieur de Champlain,
& là dessus luy presenterent trois paquets de robbes de castor. La
conclusion fut que tous les Sauuages approuuerent ceste harangue par
leur aspiratiō de ho! ho! reïterée, & les François par l'acceptation
des presens qu'on offroit. Le mesme capitaine poursuivãt son discours,
disant que tous ces peuples se resiouïssoyent du retour du Sieur de
Champlain, & qu'ils se venoyent tous chauffer à son feu: le bois qu'ils
y mirent furent encore [275 i.e., 175] deux ou trois paquets de robbes
de castor dont ils luy firent present. Sur l'heure mesme ce troisiesme
discours fut approuué comme le second.
On the 29th of the same month of July, having learned that the
Hurons were to hold a council, when they would take some action
concerning our Fathers who were destined for their country, Father
Brebeuf and I went to see them. I found Louys Amantacha in their
midst. I had an interview with them about some serious matters;
and, passing [270 i.e., 170] from one subject to another, he told
me that he was highly pleased because our Fathers were going to
the help of his tribe. He was trying to find some one who would
take them, or rather to choose some one, for a great number had
offered themselves to Father Brebeuf; he himself wanted to take
one with him. He promised us wonders, and, as evidence of his
appreciation of the assistance Your Reverence is sending to the
Hurons, his countrymen, he writes to you with his own hand, also
assuring me that he will return the coming year to Kebec, to take
back to his country the other Fathers who will be sent there. "It
is too few," said he, "only three Religious for so many thousand
souls which make up our tribe." He asked me to give him a little
book containing the pictures of the mysteries of our Faith, that
he might show them to the people of his tribe, and thus take the
opportunity to teach them. But as I did not have any he [271 i.e.,
171] told me that he would write sieur le Maistre.[59] I have
enclosed the letters he sends to Your Reverence with these; I
pray God that you may receive them all. I believe that this young
man is well known to you. He was taken to France by our Fathers,
and baptized in Rouën through their agency; Monsieur the Duc de
Longueville was his godfather, and Madame de Villars his godmother.
He remained in the hands of the English, after they had taken the
French fleet and all this country. He was so well taught that one
of the Captains, named Kers,[45] who had but little liking for our
Society, as he is a heretic, publicly confessed that the Jesuits
know how to bring up children well, seeing the deportment of this
young Savage. Sieur Olivier,[49] the French Interpreter, reported
this to me as something which he had heard himself from the mouth
of this Huguenot [272 i.e., 172] Captain. After this capture
[of the French] this poor young man remained some time with the
English, and then with the Savages of his tribe. May God grant that
the knowledge of their heresy and of their vices (for he declares
that the Englishmen are in the highest degree dissolute) may not
prevent the first seed sown in his soul from bringing forth the
fruit that Heaven awaits, and for which we hope. But let us speak
of the Council of his tribe. After it had assembled, sieur de
Champlain had us summoned. I have been told that Louïs XI. once
held his council of war in the country, having for throne or chair
only a piece of wood, or a fallen tree, that he happened to find
in the midst of a field. This is the picture of the council of the
Hurons, only they are seated a little lower still, that is to say,
flat upon the ground, all pellmell without [273 i.e., 173] any
order, unless it be that the people of one tribe or village are
placed near those of another. While in France they are discussing
precedence, and amusing themselves in offering a chair to one whom
they would consider impertinent if he accepted it, here they will
have held and concluded three councils among the Savages, who,
upon the whole, do not cease to be very grave and serious in their
rather long speeches. There were about sixty men in their assembly,
without counting the young men who were scattered here and there.
Each one getting the best place he could find, a Captain began his
harangue, the substance of which was that the Huron tribe, the
tribe of the Bear, and others, had met for the purpose of holding
a council with the French. When this speech was finished, all the
Savages, as a sign of their approval, drew from the depths of their
stomachs this aspiration, _ho, ho, ho_, raising [374 i.e., 174]
the last syllable very high. When this speech was finished, and
the council had declared itself lawfully assembled by this fine
method of assent, the same Captain began another speech, adding
nothing to what he had said already, unless it were that they had
come to see their friends and brothers, the Frenchmen, and, to
strengthen this friendship and alliance, they all offered presents
to their captain, Sieur de Champlain, and thereupon they presented
to him three packages of beaver skins. The end was that the Savages
expressed their approval of this harangue by reiterating their
aspiration, ho! ho! and the Frenchmen by accepting the presents
offered. The same captain, continuing his speech, said that all
these people were rejoiced at the return of Sieur de Champlain, and
that they all came to warm themselves at his fire. The fuel they
brought to the fire was [275 i.e., 175] two or three more packages
of beaver skins, which they gave him as a present. This third
speech was immediately approved like the second.
Là dessus le sieur de Champlain prit la parolle, & leur fit dire qu'il
les auoit tousiours aimés, qu'il desiroit grandement de les voir
comme ses freres, & qu'aiant esté enuoié de la part de nostre grand
Roy pour les proteger, qu'il le feroit très-volontiers: qu'il auoit
enuoié au deuant d'eux vne barque & une chalouppe, & que les Hiroquois
anoient tué trois de nos hõmes en trahison, que cela ne luy faisoit
point perdre cœur, que les François ne craignoient rien, & qu'ils
cherissoient grandement leurs amis: qu'ils ne creussent point ceux qui
les voudroient diuertir de les venir voir, & que leur ayant donné leur
parolle ils estoient veritables, ainsi qu'ils l'auoient [276 i.e., 176]
peu remarquer par le passé qu'il recognoissoit encor les vieillards
de leur nation pour auoir esté à la guerre auec eux: qu'il les
remercioit de leurs presens, & qu'il sçauroit bien les recognoistre.
Il adiousta que nos Peres les alloient voir en leur païs en témoignage
de l'affectiō que nous leur portions, disant des merueilles en nostre
faueur. Ce sont nos Peres, leur disoit-il, nous les aimons plus que
nos enfans & que nous mesmes: on fait grand estat d'eux en France, ce
n'est point la faim ny la disette qui les amene en ce païs cy: ils ne
vous vont pas voir pour vos biens ny pour vos pelleteries. Voicy Louïs
Amantacha de vostre nation, qui les cognoist, & qui sçait biẽ que ie
dy vray: si vous aimez les François comme vous dites, aimez ces Peres,
honorez les, il vous enseigneront le chemin du Ciel, c'est ce qui leur
fait [177] quitter leur païs & leurs amis & leurs commodités pour
vous instruire, & notamment pour enseigner à vos enfans vne si grande
science & si necessaire.
Thereupon sieur de Champlain began to speak, and told them that he
had always loved them, that he wished very much to have them as
his brothers, and, having been sent in behalf of our great King
to protect them, he would do it very willingly; that he had sent
to meet them a bark and a shallop, and that the Hiroquois had
treacherously killed three of our men; that he did not lose heart
on that account, that the French feared nothing, and that they
cherished their friends very dearly; that they must not believe
those who would like to divert them from coming to see the French,
and that, having given them their word, they would keep it, as
they had been [276 i.e., 176] able to observe in the past; that he
still recognized old men among their people, from having gone to
war with them; that he thanked them for their presents, and would
know very well how to requite them. He added that our Fathers were
going to see them in their country, as a proof of the affection
which we bore them, telling marvelous things in our favor. "These
are our Fathers," said he, "we love them more than our children
or ourselves; they are held in very high esteem in France; it is
neither hunger nor want that brings them to this country; they do
not come to see you for your property or your furs. Here is Louïs
Amantacha, of your own tribe, who knows them, and who knows very
well that I tell the truth. If you love the French people, as you
say you do, then love these Fathers; honor them, and they will
teach you the way to Heaven. This is what makes them [177] leave
their country, their friends, and their comforts, to instruct you,
and especially to teach your children a knowledge so great and so
necessary.
Deux Capitaines haranguerent apres cela, ce fut à qui honoreroit le
plus le sieur de Champlain & les François, & à qui nous tesmoigneroit
de l'affection: l'vn d'eux disoit que les François n'estans plus icy,
la terre n'estoit plus terre, la riuiere n'estoit plꝰ riuiere, le ciel
n'estoit plꝰ ciel: mais qu'au retour du sieur de Champlain tout estoit
retourné à son estre, la terre estoit deuenuë terre, la riuiere estoit
deuenue riuiere, & le ciel auoit paru ciel. L'autre confessoit que
les Sauuages estoyent tous craintifs & paoureux, mais que le sieur de
Champlain estoit effroiable en ses regards; qu'estant en guerre il
iettoit d'vne œillade la terreur dans le cœur de ses [178] ennemis;
& apostrophant la ieunesse de son païs il luy disoit: Prenez garde
maintenant, escoutez ce qu'on nous dit: ne dites pas qu'on n'a point
parlé de tout cecy en plein conseil: ie vous aduertis, afin que par
apres voꝰ obeyssiez.
Two Captains spoke after that. They vied with each other in trying
to honor sieur de Champlain and the French, and in testifying
their affection for us. One of them said that, when the French were
absent, the earth was no longer the earth, the river was no longer
the river, the sky was no longer the sky; but upon the return of
sieur de Champlain everything was as before; the earth was again
the earth, the river was again the river, and the sky was again
the sky. The other confessed that the Savages were very timid and
apprehensive, but that sieur de Champlain was frightful in his
looks; that, when he was in battle, a glance from his eye struck
terror into the hearts of his [178] enemies; and, apostrophizing
the youth of his tribe, he said: "Be careful now, listen to what
you are told; do not say we have not talked this all over in open
council; I warn you now, in order that you shall obey later."
La conclusion du conseil fut que le Pere Brebeuf leur dit en leur
langue, que nous allions auec eux pour y viure & mourir: qu'ils
feroyent nos freres, que d'oresnauant nous serions de leur nation: &
que si nos Peres ne demeuroyent point dans tous leurs villages, ce
n'estoit point qu'ils n'aimassent toute la nation, mais qu'ils ne
pouuoyent pas habiter en tant de lieux, estans vn si petit nombre,
que le temps viendroit que nos freres nous viendroyẽt secourir, & que
noꝰ seriõs en chacune de leurs demeures: que nous leur enseignerions
le moyẽ d'estre à iamais bien-heureux. Louys [179] Amantacha confirma
tout cecy, & tous les Sauuages à leurs accoustumées tesmoignerent
leur contentement par leur profonde aspiration ho ho ho ho! Puis
entourant le Pere Brebeuf, c'estoit à qui l'embarqueroit, les vns me
venoient prendre & me toucher en la main, & se disoient l'vn l'autre,
regarde comme ils se ressemblent, parlans du Pere & de moy, ce sont
deux freres: bref les hõmes du village où auoient demeuré nos Peres
s'addressans au Pere Brebeuf luy dirent, ouure nous tõ cœur, ne cache,
rien ou veux tu demeurer en nostre païs? Veux tu estre dans nos
Cabanes, ou en auoir vne à part? I'en veux auoir vne à part, dit le
Pere. Hé bien, repartent ils, nous irons tous nous cabaner à l'entour
de toy, nous nous sommes separés, & auons rompu nostre village à la
mort du François qui a esté tué en nostre païs: [180] chacun s'en
est allé qui deçà qui delà. Si tost que tu auras pris place, nous
reuiendrons tous auec toy, & tu nous defendras; car que serions nous
sans toy? Voila comme nos Peres estoiẽt aimez de ce pauure peuple.
O que ie dirois volõtiers mes sentimens voiãt ces pauures barbares
caresser auec tant d'amour ceux qu'ils ne cognoissent pas! O s'ils
penetroyent dans les desseins que nous auōs! Que Dieu soit beny pour
iamais, ie le supplie de leur ouurir le cœur: pour moy i'espere que
si vn seul village se couuertit, le feu ne tardera point d'en brusler
beaucoup d'autres, & que les nations voisines qui sont fort peuplées,
se voudront chauffer aussi bien que les Hurons à ce diuin brasier.
The conclusion of the council was that Father Brebeuf told them, in
their language, that we were going with them to live and to die in
their country; that they would be our brothers, that hereafter we
would be of their people; and, that if our Fathers did not live in
each one of their villages, it would not be because they did not
love the whole tribe, but because they could not live in so many
places, being so few in number; that the time was not distant when
our brothers would come to aid us, and then one of us would live in
each one of their villages, and that we would teach them how to be
forever happy. Louys [179] Amantacha confirmed all this; and all
the Savages, according to their custom, evinced their satisfaction
by their profound aspiration: ho, ho, ho, ho! Then they surrounded
Father Brebeuf, each one wanting to carry him away in his boat.
Some came to me and touched my hand, saying to each other: "See
how much they look alike," speaking of the Father and of me, "they
are two brothers." In short, the people of the village where our
Fathers had lived, addressing Father Brebeuf, said to him: "Open
thy heart to us, conceal nothing; where dost thou wish to live
in our country? Dost thou wish to live in our Houses or have one
apart?" "I wish to have a separate one," said the Father. "Very
well," answered they, "we will all go and build our houses around
thee; we separated, and broke up our villages on the death of the
Frenchman who was killed in our country; [180] and every one went
away, some here and some there. As soon as thou shalt have chosen
thy place, we will return with thee, and thou wilt defend us; for
what would we do without thee?" This shows how our Fathers were
loved by these poor people. Oh, how I wish I could describe my
feelings on seeing these poor barbarians so lovingly caress those
whom they did not know! Oh, if they could only penetrate into our
purposes! God be forever blessed! I beseech him to open their
hearts. As for me, I hope that, if a single village is converted,
the fire will not be long in spreading to a great many others; and
that the neighboring tribes, which are very populous, will wish to
warm themselves with the Hurons at this divine flame.
Le dernier de Iuillet iour de feste de nostre S. Pere Ignace, le Sieur
de Champlain & les capitaines des vaisseaux qui estoyent icy, estans
venus [181] gagner les Indulgences en nostre petite Chapelle, quantité
de Hurons nous venans voir, nous fusmes contraints de fermer nostre
porte, & de leur dire qu'on faisoit festin, afin de les empescher
d'entrer. C'est vne maxime entr'eux qui'ils ne mettront iamais le pied
dans la cabane de celuy qui fait festin: il n'y a que les conuiez à
qui cela soit loisible. Or neãtmoins comme ils desiroient de voir,
l'vn d'eux ayant mis la teste à vne fenestre appella ses compagnons,
& le sieur de Champlain prenant plaisir à les voir admirer, donna à
l'vn d'eux vn morceau d'écorce de citron, il en gouste, & commence à
s'escrier, ô que cela est bon! Il en depart a ceux qui estoient auec
luy, qui furent saisis de la mesme admiration: ils demanderent ce que
c'estoit, le sieur de Champlain leur dit en riant, que c'estoit de
l'écorce des citroüilles de [182] France, les voila bien estonnés, &
cōmencēt à se dire les vns aux autres, que nos citroüilles estoient
admirables: là dessus ceux qui n'en auoient point gousté se mettent à
la fenestre, & demandent au sieur de Chāplain si toutes les citrouilles
estoient mangées, & qu'ils voudroient bien en taster, pour en porter
les nouuelles en leur païs. Ie vous laisse à penser si tous ceux qui
estoient dans la chambre se mirent à rire. On les fit entrer apres
les Vespres dans la Chappelle qui estoit gentiment ornée selon nos
petites richesses, ce nous est vn contentement bien sensible de voir
que nostre Seigneur ait vne petite maison au milieu des grands bois
que nous habitons: c'est icy qu'ils furent estonnés tout à fait: nous
auions mis les Images de S. Ignace, & de S. Xauier sur nostre autel,
ils les regardoient auec estonnement: ils croyoient que [183] ce
fussent personnes viuantes, ils demandoient si c'estoient des Ondaqui:
le mot _Oqui_ & au plurier _Ondaqui_ signifie entre eux quelque
diuinité, en vn mot ce qu'ils recognoissent par dessus la nature
humaine: ils demandoient encor si le tabernacle estoit leur maison, &
si ces _Ondaqui_ s'habilloient des ornemens qu'ils voyoient à l'ẽtour
de l'Autel. Le Pere Brebeuf leur aiant expliqué ce que representoient
ces Images, ils mettoient la main à la bouche, & se la frappoient en
signe d'estonnement; Il y auoit trois Images de la Vierge, en diuers
endroits: ils demanderent successiuement de l'vne apres l'autre qui
c'estoit: le Pere leur disant à toutes que c'estoit la mere de celuy
qui a tout fait, ils se mirent à rire, demandans comment cela se
pouuoit faire qu'vne seule persõne eut trois meres: car ils prenoient
ces trois figures [184] pour la representation de trois personnes
differentes, on leur fit entendre que ces trois images figuraient la
mesme persõne. ô qu'il seroit bon d'auoir tous les mysteres de nostre
foy bien figures! ces images aident grandement, & parlent desia d'elles
mesmes.