SIEUR DE POTRINCOURT'S CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THEIR ARRIVAL, AND
HIS JOURNEY TO THE ETECHEMINS.
OUR arrival caused great joy on both sides--great on the part of
those arriving, because of their longings, and the tediousness of
so long a voyage; [143] but more than double was that of sieur de
Potrincourt, who had been in great distress and apprehension during
the entire Winter. For having had with him twenty-three people,
without sufficient food to nourish them, he had been obliged to
send some off among the Savages, to live with them: the others had
had no bread for six or seven weeks, and without the assistance
of these same Savages, I do not know but that they would all have
perished miserably. Now the succor that we brought them, was little
else, as the saying is, than a glass of water to a very thirsty
man. First, because there were thirty-six of us in our company,
and these, added to the 23 men that he had, made fifty-nine mouths
every day at his table; and Membertou the Savage [144] beside, with
his daughter and crew. After living four months upon the sea, our
provisions were very much diminished, especially as our vessel was
quite small, being only fifty or sixty tons burden, and provisioned
more for fishing than anything else. For this reason, then, it was
left to Monsieur de Potrincourt to think how he could promptly
send back such a large family, lest everything should be consumed,
rather than to secure traffic and fish, in which, however, lay all
hope of resources for a second voyage. But he could not entirely
refrain from doing some trading; for he had to make money, both to
pay the wages of his servants, and for journeys here and there when
in France.
[145] A ces fins doncques il partit dans ce sien nauire, quelque iours
apres auec quasi toutes ses gens, pour aller en vn port des Etechemins,
appellé la Pierre Blanche, à 22. lieuës de Port Royal droict à
l'Oüest. Il esperoit de trouuer là quelque secours de viures au moyen
des nauires François qu'il sçauoit y trafiquer. Le P. Biard l'y
voulut accompagner, à fin de recognoistre le pays, & disposition des
Nationaires, ce qui luy fut accordé. Ils y trouuerent quatre vaisseaux
François, vn appartenãt au sieur de Monts, vn Rochelois, vn Maloüin,
ou de S. Malo, de du Pont Graué, auquel commandoit vn sien parent
appellé Capitaine la Salle, duquel nous parlerons tãtost; & vne barque
aussi Maloüine, il se faut souuenir de ces quatre vaisseaux pour bien
entendre ce qui suit.
[145] For these purposes then, he departed some days afterward in
his ship, with nearly all his crew, to go to one of the Etechemins'
ports, called Pierre Blanche, 22 leagues from Port Royal, directly
to the West. He hoped to find there some help in food supplies from
the French ships which he knew were in the habit of trading in that
place. Father Biard wished to accompany him, to study the country
and character of the Natives, and his wish was granted. They found
there four French ships, one belonging to sieur de Monts, one
from La Rochelle, one Maloüin or St. Malo ship, belonging to Pont
Gravé, commanded by a relation of his named Captain la Salle, of
whom we shall speak by and by, and also a Maloüine barque; these
four vessels must be well remembered, in order to understand what
follows.
[146] Le sieur de Potrincourt appellant vn chacun de ces quatre l'vn
apres l'autre leur fit recognoistre son fils pour vice-Admiral: puis
leur demanda aide, remonstrant les necessités, ausquelles il auoit esté
reduit l'Hyuer passé, promettant de les rembourser en France, chacun
contribua. Mais Dieu pardoint aux Rochelois, car ils tromperent la
Gabelle, donnant des barils de pain gasté pour du bon.
[146] Sieur de Potrincourt, calling up each one of these four
vessels in succession, made them recognize his son as vice-Admiral:
then he asked them for help, dwelling upon the dire necessity to
which he had been reduced during the past Winter, and promising to
reimburse them in France. Each one contributed. But God pardon the
Rochelois, for they defrauded the Excise, giving spoiled bread for
good.
Cependant que tout cecy se traffiquoit, le P. Biard ouyt, que le ieune
du Pont estoit à terre auec les Sauuages, que l'année prochainement
passée il auoit esté faict prisonnier par le sieur de Potrincourt,
d'où s'estant euadé subtilement, il auoit esté contrainct courir les
bois en grande misere, & lors mesme il n'osoit aller à son nauire,
de peur qu'il n'y fust saisi. Le P. Biard ouyant tous ces accidents,
[147] supplia le sieur de Potrincourt d'auoir esgard aux grands merites
du sieur du Pont le pere, & aux belles esperances qu'il y auoit du
fils; adioustant que vrayement c'estoit bien estre malheureux, si
les François courants au bout du monde pour conuertir les Sauuages,
y venoyent perdre leurs propres concitoyens. Le sieur de Potrincourt
se flechist à ces remonstrances, & permit audit P. Biard d'aller
chercher le ieune homme auec promesse, que s'il pouuoit l'induire à
venir librement, pour faire la reuerence audit sieur de Potrincourt,
aucun mal ne luy seroit faict, & tout le passé seroit mis sous les
pieds, & enseuely. Le Pere y alla, & fut heureux en sõ effort, car il
amena ledit du Pont au sieur de Potrincourt, & paix, & reconciliation
faicte, on tira le canon. Du Pont [148] en action de graces, & pour
l'edification des François, & des Sauuages voulut se confesser le iour
suiuant, & faire ses Pasques, car il ne les auoit point faictes de
cest'année là. Aussi les fit-il auec fort bon exemple de tous, au bord
de la mer, où se chantoit le seruice. Ses deuotions acheuées il supplia
le sieur de Potrincourt de permettre que le P. Biard vinst disner à
son nauire, ce qui luy fut accordé. Mais le pauure inuitãt ne sçauoit
pas quelle desserte l'att[~e]doit. Car ie ne sçay cõment son nauire
luy fut saisi, & emmené. Lequel pour le faire court, luy fut rendu à
la sollicitation instante dudit P. Biard, qui en auoit le coeur tout
transi. En quoy le sieur de Potrincourt se mõstra fort equitable. Et
voulut obliger ledit Père, qui luy en sçaura gré à iamais.
While this business was going on, Father Biard learned that
young du Pont was on shore, among the Savages; that the year before
he had been made a prisoner by sieur de Potrincourt, and, having
made his escape from him, he had been forced to roam the woods in
great distress, and even then did not dare go to his ship, lest he
should be caught. Father Biard, hearing all these things, [147]
begged sieur de Potrincourt to have some consideration for the
great merits of sieur du Pont, the father, and to think of the high
hopes he had entertained for his son: adding that it would indeed
be a great misfortune, if the French, in running to the ends of
the earth to convert the Savages, should happen to lose their own
citizens there. Sieur de Potrincourt yielded to his remonstrances,
and permitted Father Biard to go in search of this young man,
with the promise that, if he could induce him to come freely and
acknowledge the authority of the said sieur de Potrincourt, no harm
would be done to him, and all the past would be put under foot and
buried. The Father departed, and was successful in his efforts, for
he brought du Pont to sieur de Potrincourt, and after peace and
reconciliation were effected, they fired off the cannon. Du Pont,
[148] as an act of thanksgiving, and for the edification of the
French and Savages, wished to confess on the following day, and to
receive his Easter Sacrament, for he had not done so that year.
Accordingly, he performed these duties, to the great edification
of all, on the shore of the sea, where the service was sung. His
devotions finished, he begged sieur de Potrincourt to allow Father
Biard to come and dine with him upon his ship, and his request was
granted. But the poor host did not know what dessert was awaiting
him, for somehow his ship had been seized and taken away; and,
to make the story short, it was given back to him at the earnest
solicitation of Father Biard, whose heart was very heavy over this
mishap. At this time sieur de Potrincourt showed how very just
he was, by trying to oblige the said Father, who will always be
grateful to him for it.
[149] CHAPITRE XVI. [i.e., xv.]
LE RETOUR DU SIEUR DE POTRINCOURT EN FRANCE, & LA DIFFICULTÉ
D'APPRENDRE LA LANGUE DES SAUUAGES.
NOVS auons expliqué cy deuant la necessité, laquelle pressoit le sieur
de Potrincourt de renuoyer tost ses g[~e]s en Frãce. Or ie voulut les
reconduire luy mesme en personne, à fin de plus efficacement donner
ordre à toutes choses, & principalement à vn prochain rauitaillement:
car sans iceluy ceux, qu'il delaissoit à Port Royal, estoyent sans
moyen de passer l'Hyuer, en manifeste danger d'estre troussés par
la famine. Pour ceste cause donc il partit enuiron la my-Iuillet de
la mesme annee 1611. & arriua en France sur la fin du mois d'Auost
prochain [150] suiuãt: il laissa son fils en sa place, le sieur de
Biencourt auec vingt & deux personnes, en contant les deux Iesuites,
lesquels voyants que pour la conuersion de Payens la langue du païs
leur estoit totalement necessaire, se resolurent d'y vaquer en toute
diligence. Mais on ne sçauroit croire les grandes difficulés, qu'ils
y rencontrerent: parce principalement, qu'ils n'auoyent aucuns
interpretes, ni maistres. Le sieur de Bi[~e]court, & quelques autres
y sçauoy[~e]t bien quelque peu, & assez pour la trocque, & affaires
communes; mais quand il estoit questiõ de parler de Dieu, & des
affaires de religion; là estoit le saut, là le cap-nõ. Partant ils
estoyent contraints d'apprendre le lãgage d'eux mesmes, s'enquestãts
des sauuages comme il appelloy[~e]t chasque chose. Et la besongne
n'[~e] estoit point fort penible, tandis [151] que ce qu'on demandoit
se pouuoit toucher ou monstrer à l'oeil; vne pierre, vne riuiere, vne
maison; frapper, sauter, rire, s'asseoir. Mais aux actions interieures,
& spirituelles, qui ne peuuent se demonstrer aux sens, & aux mots,
qu'on appelle abstracts, & vniuersels; comme croire, douter, esperer,
discourir, apprehender, vn animal, vn corps, vne substance, vn
esprit, vertu, vice, peché, raison, iustice, &c. En cela il falloit
ahanner, & suer, là estoyent les tranchées de leur enfantem[~e]t. Ils
ne sçauoyent par quel endroit le prendre, & si en tentoyent plus de
cent; il n'y auoit geste, qui exprimast suffisamment leur conception,
& si ils en employoyent dix mille. Cependant nos messers de Sauuages
à fin de se donner du passetemps, se mocquoyent liberalement d'eux;
tousiours quelque [152] sornette. Et à fin que la mocquerie fust
encores profitable, si vous auiés vostre papier, & plume pour escrire,
il falloit qu'ils eussent deuant eux le plat remply, & la seruiette
dessous. Car a tel trepier se rendent les bons oracles: hors de là, &
Apollon & Mercure leur defaillent: encores se faschoyent-ils, & s'en
alloyent quãd on les vouloit retenir vn peu long temps. Qu'eussiez vous
faict là dessus? Car de vray ce trauail ne peut estre apprehendé, que
par ceux, qui l'experimentent. En apres comme ces Sauuages n'ont ny
Religion formée, ny police, ny villes, ny artifices, les mots aussi, &
les paroles propres à tout cela leur manquent; Sainct, Bien-heureux,
Ange, Grace, Mystere, Sacrement, Tentation, Foy, Loy, Prudence,
Subiection, Gouuernement, &c. D'où recouurerés [153] vous tout cela
qui leur manque? Ou cõme vous en passerez vous? O Dieu que nous
deuisons bien à nostr'aise en France. Et le beau estoit, qu'après qu'on
s'estoit rompu le cerueau à force de demandes, & recherches, comme
lon se pensoit en fin d'auoir bien rencõtré la pierre philosophale;
on trouuoit neantmoins puis apres, que lon auoit pris le phantosme
pour le corps, & l'ombre pour le solide: & que tout ce precieux Elixir
s'en alloit en fumée. Souuent on s'estoit mocqué de nous au lieu
de nous enseigner, & aucunesfois on nous auoit supposé des paroles
des-honnestes, que nous allions innocemment preschotãt pour belles
sentences de l'Euangile. Dieu sçait, qui estoyent les suggesteurs de
tels sacrileges.
[149] CHAPTER XVI. [i.e., xv.]
SIEUR DE POTRINCOURT'S RETURN TO FRANCE, AND THE DIFFICULTY OF
LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF THE SAVAGES.
WE have heretofore explained the necessity which was urging sieur
de Potrincourt to send his people back to France without delay.
Now he wished to take them there himself, to more efficiently
arrange all the affairs and especially to procure an immediate
supply of provisions: for unless he did this, those whom he was
leaving at Port Royal would be without means of passing the Winter,
in evident danger of being carried off by famine. For this reason
then, he departed about the middle of July of the same year,
1611, and arrived in France at the end of the following month
of [150] August; he left his son, sieur de Biencourt, in his
place, with twenty-two persons, counting the two Jesuits, who,
seeing that for the conversion of the Pagans the language of the
country was absolutely necessary, resolved to apply themselves
to it with all diligence. But it would be hard to understand the
great difficulties which they here encountered: the principal one
being, that they had neither interpreter nor teacher. To be sure
sieur de Biencourt, and some of the others, knew a little of it
very well, enough for trade and ordinary affairs; but when there
was a question of speaking about God and religious matters, there
was the difficulty, there, the "not understand." Therefore, they
were obliged to learn the language by themselves, inquiring of the
savages how they called each thing. And the task was not so very
wearisome as long [151] as what was asked about could be touched
or seen: a stone, a river, a house; to strike, to jump, to laugh,
to sit down. But when it came to internal and spiritual acts,
which cannot be demonstrated to the senses, and in regard to words
which are called abstract and universal, such as, to believe, to
doubt, to hope, to discourse, to apprehend, an animal, a body, a
substance, a spirit, virtue, vice, sin, reason, justice, etc.,--for
these things they had to labor and sweat; in these were the
pains of travail. They did not know by what route to reach them,
although they tried more than a hundred; there were no gestures
which would sufficiently express their ideas, not if they would
use ten thousand of them. Meanwhile our gentlemen Savages, to
pass away the time, made abundant sport of their pupils, always
telling them a lot of [152] nonsense. And yet if you wanted to
take advantage of this fun, if you had your paper and pencil ready
to write, you had to set before them a full plate with a napkin
underneath. For to such tripods do good oracles yield; without this
incentive, both Apollo and Mercury would fail them; as it was,
they even became angry and went away, if we wished to detain them
a little. What would you have done under the circumstances? For
in truth, this work cannot be understood except by those who have
tried it. Besides, as these Savages have no formulated Religion,
government, towns, nor trades, so the words and proper phrases for
all those things are lacking; Holy, Blessed, Angel, Grace, Mystery,
Sacrament, Temptation, Faith, Law, Prudence, Subjection, Authority,
etc. Where will [153] you get all these things that they lack?
Or, how will you do without them? O God, with what ease we make
our plans in France! And the beauty of it is, that, after having
racked our brains by dint of questions and researches, and after
thinking that we have at last found the philosopher's stone, we
find only that a ghost has been taken for a body, a shadow for a
substance, and that all this precious Elixir has gone up in smoke!
They often ridiculed, instead of teaching us, and sometimes palmed
off on us indecent words, which we went about innocently preaching
for beautiful sentences from the Gospels. God knows who were the
instigators of such sacrileges.
Vn expedient se presenta aux Iesuites pour se depestrer heureusement
[154] de ces embroüillements, & entraues. C'estoit d'aller trouuer
le ieune du Pont duquel on apportoit nouuelle, qu'il s'estoit resolu
d'hyuerner à la riuiere S. Ieã, à quelques dix-huict, où vingt lieuës
de Port Royal. Car d'autãt que ledit du Pont auoit ja long temps vescu
au pays, & mesmes à la Syluatique parmy les Originaires, on disoit de
luy, qu'il entendoit fort bi[~e] la lãgue. Et ne falloit point douter,
qu'au moins il sçauroit proprem[~e]t expliquer les demandes pour tirer
des sauuages la response à propos: ce qui estoit necessaire pour
coucher par escrit vn petit Catechisme, & instruction Chrestienne. Le
P. Biard donc se resolut d'aller chercher ledit du Pont, se determinant
de plustost passer la Baye Françoise dans vn cauot, deuant que de ne
se seruir de ceste occasion de bien faire. [155] Mais le sieur de
Biencourt s'opposa fort à ceste deliberation, entrant à ceste occasion
en de grãds ombrages, ausquels il fallut ceder, pour auoir paix.
An expedient presented itself to the Jesuits, by which they
could extricate themselves happily [154] from these perplexities
and obstacles. It was to go and find young du Pont, who, we had
heard, had made up his mind to pass the winter on the St. John
river, some eighteen or twenty leagues from Port Royal. For since
this du Pont had already lived a long time in the country, even
leading the life of a Sylvan among the Natives, it was said of him
that he understood the language very well, and there was no doubt
that he could at least properly explain the questions so as to get
from the savages suitable answers; these were necessary in order
to write down a little Catechism, and some Christian instruction.
Father Biard then decided to go and look for du Pont, deciding to
cross French Bay in a canoe, rather than not to avail himself of
this opportunity of doing good. [155] But sieur de Biencourt was
very much opposed to this decision, taking great offense at it; and
we had to yield to him, to have peace.
CHAPITRE XVII. [i.e., xvi.]
VN VOYAGE FAICT À LA RIUIERE DE S. CROIX, & LA MORT DU SAGAMO MEMBERTOU.
SVR la fin du moys d'Aoust de la mesme année 1611. le sieur de
Biencourt ayant eu nouuelles, que le nauire du Capitaine Plastrier
de la ville de Honfleur faisoit pescherie au Port aux Coquilles,
à vingt vne lieuë de Port Royal vers l'Ouest: il se delibera de
l'aller trouuer, à celle fin de luy recommander vn de ses gens, qu'il
renuoyoit en France auec lettres, [156] pour presser le secours
attendu, & representer l'estat pitoyable auquel on estoit. Le P. Biard
l'accompagna; & ils rencontrerent ce nauire tant à propos, que s'ils
eussent tardé d'vn demy quart d'heure, la commodité en estoit perduë:
car ja il faisoit voyle pour reuenir en France. Estans dedans, nous
apprinsmes que le Capitaine Platrier s'estoit resolu de passer l'Hyuer
en l'Isle saincte Croix, & qu'il y estoit resté luy cinquiesme. Ceste
nouuelle fit prendre resolution au sieur de Biencourt d'aller à Saincte
Croix de ceste mesme tirade, auant que le Capitaine Platrier eust
moy[~e] de se fortifier: car il vouloit tirer de luy le Quint de toutes
ses marchandises, & traicte, parce qu'il hyuernoit sur le pays. L'Isle
Saincte Croix est à six lieües du Port aux Coquilles, au milieu d'vne
riuiere.