nominatus, & à quo tota regio nomen traxit, nunc fluvius Sancti
Laurentii dicitur, & ab occasu in ortum amplissimo fluit alveo. Alter,
cui nomen Missisipus, per vasta, & ignota magnam adhuc partem, terrarum
spatia fertur à Septentrione in Meridiem. Habent hoc singulare hujus
regionis fluvii, quòd certis in locis ex editiore solo præcipitant
in humiliorem planitiem ingenti cum strepitu. Ea loca saltus vocant
Franci. Catadupa recte dixeris, qualia in Nilo celebrantur. Aqua tota
fluminis, in morem arcuati fornicis, ita sæpe cadit, ut infra suspensum
altè amnem sicco vestigio transire liceat. Barbari, cum huc ventum
est, suas naviculas, è levi compactas cortice, imponunt humeris, & in
placidam fluminis, alveo depressiore fluentis, partem eas deportant,
cum sarcinulis. Urbs novæ Franciæ primaria Kebecum nuncupatur, S.
Laurentii fluvio imposita. Coelo salubri tota regio utitur; at hyeme
frigida, & diuturna vexatur. Hanc efficit partim fluminum & lacuum
crebritas; partim opacitas & amplitudo nemorum, quæ vim solis calidam
infringunt; denique nivium copia, quibus terra tres quatuorve menses,
in iis locis quæ ab Boream propius accedunt, & eidem ac vetus Gallia
parallelo subjacent, continenter inhorrescit. Humus omnium arborum
plantarumque feracissima, præsertim ubi excisæ silvæ locum culturæ
majorem præbuerunt. Quadrupedes eædem, quæ in Europa: nonnullæ regionis
propriæ sunt, ut alces. Magnam belluam indigenæ appellant. Id nominis
invenit à mole corporis: bovem enim æquat magnitudine. Mulum capite
refert; cervum cornibus, pedibus, & cauda. Eam canibus immissis barbari
agitant; defatigatam conficiunt jaculis & missilibus. Si desunt
venatici canes, ipsi vicem illorum obeunt. Per medias quippe nives
incredibili celeritate gradiuntur, ac ne corporis pondus vestigia pedum
altius in nivem deprimat, substernunt plantis, inseruntque pedibus,
lata reticula, illis simillima, quibus pilam lusores vulgò pulsant. Hæc
reticula, spatium nivis ac soli satis magnum amplexa, currentes facile
sustinent. Alces vero crura exilia defigens alte in nivem, ægrè se
expedit. Illius carnibus vescuntur, teguntur pelle, ungula posterioris
sinistri pedis sanantur. Huic ungulæ mira quædam & multiplex virtus
inest, medicorum celeberrimorum testimonio commendata. Valet in primis
adversus morbum comitialem, sive admoveatur pectori, qua parte cor
micat; sive indatur palæ annuli, quem digitus lævæ minimo proximus
gestet; sive demum teneatur in ejusdem sinistræ vola, in pugnum
contracta. Nec minorem vim habet ad sanandam pleuritidem, capitis
vertigines, & sexcentos alios, si credimus expertis, morbos.
Alterum animantis genus illic notissimum & frequentissimum est fiber,
cujus pelle, cum Europæis mercibus mutanda, commercii Canadensis ratio
fere tota constat. Color castaneæ colorem imitatur; modus cor[po]ris
idem, qui exigui vervecis: curti pedes & ad natandum compositi, nam
in aquis perinde ac in terra degit; cauda glabra, crassa & plana,
quæ natanti pro gubernaculo sit: dentes duo, majores ceteris, ex ore
utrimque prominent: iis tanquam gladio & serra utuntur fibri ad arbores
exscindendas, cum domos extruunt; in iis enim fabricandis mira pollent
industria. Eas ponunt ad lacuum fluviorumve ripas: muros è stipitibus
componunt, interjecto cespite uliginoso ac tenaci, calcis instar; vix
ut multa vi effringi opus & convelli possit. Tota casæ fabrica variis
contignationibus distinguitur: infima è transversis lignis crassioribus
constat, instratis desuper ramis, ac relicto foramine & ostiolo,
per quod in fluvium subire, cum videtur, possint: Hæc modice supra
fluminis aquam exstat, aliæ assurgunt altius, in easque, si fluvius
intumescens imum tabulatum vicerit, se receptant. In una è superioribus
contignationibus cubant; præbet molle stratum alga siccior, & arborum
muscus, quo se tutantur a frigore; in altera penum habent, & provisa
in hyemem cibaria. Ædificium fornicato tecto clauditur. Sic hyemem
exigunt: nam æstate, opacum in ripis frigus captant, aut undis immersi
calores æstivos fugiunt. In una sæpe domo ingens, & multorum capitum
familia stabulatur. Quod si loci premuntur angustiis, discedunt
juniores ultro, & sua sibi domicilia moliuntur. In eam curam incumbunt
sub prima autumni frigora, & mutuas sibi invicem operas commodant,
tum ad secanda ligna, tum ad comportanda, ita ut plures uni eidemque
succedant oneri, & ingentia ramalia, nemorisque stragem, devehant. Si
quem fluvium nanciscuntur ad suos accommodatum usus, non tamen satis
alto gurgite, struunt aggerem coercendis aquis, donec ad idoneam
altitudinem assurgant. Ac primo quidem arbores grandiores arrodendo
dejiciunt: deinde transversas ab una ripa ducunt ad alteram. Duplicem
versum & ordinem arborum faciunt; relicto inter illas obliquè sic
positas spatio sex fere pedum, quod referciunt cæmentis, argilla,
ramis, tam solerter, nihil ut perfectius à summo architecto expectes.
Operis longitudo major minorve est, pro fluvii, quem coercere volunt,
modo. Ducenûm aliquando passuum ejusmodi aggeres reperti. At, si amnis
plus justo intumescit, diffringunt aliquam molis partem, ac tantum
emittunt aquæ, quantum satis videtur.
Ut feris silvæ, sic piscibus abundant flumina. Unus est in Iroquæorum
lacu, de quo nihil à priscis legitur proditum scriptoribus. Causarus
ab indigenis vocatur: octo pedes longus, aliquando decem. Crassitudo,
humani femoris; color leucophæus, candido tamen propior; squamis
totus horret tam duris, tamque validè consertis, ut aciem pugionis, &
hastilium, excludant. Caput amplum, & cranio præduro, tanquam casside,
munitum. Hinc piscis armati nomen illi à Gallis inditum. Et vero
perpetua cum aliis piscibus bella gerit, quorum exitio pascitur. Pro
telo rostrum immane gerit, humani brachii longitudine, gemino dentium
ordine instructum. Hoc venabulo non solum reliquos mactat pisces,
verum etiam avibus, cum mutare dapes cupit, insidiatur & illudit. Eam
ob rem occultat se inter carecta: rostrum exertat aquis, ac paulisper
diducit. Sic perstat immotus donec accedant volucres, & incautæ rostro
insideant, arundinem aut virgultum ratæ: continuo perfidus insidiator,
misellarum pedes contracto rostro stringit, & in gurgitem demersas
vorat.
Non minor volucrum est copia, quàm piscium. Certis mensibus palumbes è
silvis prorumpunt in agros tanto numero, ut arborum ramos prægravent;
quibus postquam infederunt noctu, facile capiuntur, & barbaras mensas
regali ferculo cumulant. Præterea in vastissimo sinu, in quem evolvit
se flumen sancti Laurentii, cernitur exigua insula, seu potius
biceps scopulus: insulam volucrum dicunt. Tot enim eò convolant è
finitimo pelago, ut inire numerum nequeas. Indigenæ fustibus prædam
non difficilem comminuunt, aut pedibus conculcant; cymbasque lautis
dapibus, & inemptis [345] plenas referunt. Ludunt in aquis passim
anseres, anates, ardeæ, grues, olores, fulicæ; & aves aliæ, victum ex
undis petere solitæ. Peculiare quiddam habet una, gallinæ similis, si
molem spectes; pennis in tergo nigricantibus, sub alvo candidis. Pedum
alter unguibus aduncis armatur; alter digitos levi & continua pelle
junctos habet, qualis est anatum; hoc natat; illo pisces trahit &
eviscerat.
[344 § x.] Concerning the country and manners of the Savages of New
France.
RIVERS OF NEW FRANCE; NATURE OF THE SOIL; WILD BEASTS, FISH, BIRDS, ETC.
THERE are two great rivers in New France. One, called by the natives
Canada, a name thence extended to the whole country, is now called the
river St. Lawrence, and flows in a very broad channel from west to
east. The other, named Mississippi, flows from North to South, through
vast regions, for the most part still unknown. The rivers of this
land are remarkable because in certain places they are precipitated
with a great uproar from the higher to the lower levels. The French
call those places water-falls. You might justly call them cataracts,
such as are famous in the case of the Nile. The water of an entire
river often falls in the form of an arch, in such fashion that it is
possible to walk dry-shod beneath the stream which rushes overhead. The
savages, when they come to such a spot, shoulder their boats, which are
constructed of light bark, and carry them, together with the baggage,
to the calm portion of the river flowing below. The chief city of new
France is called Kebec, and is situated on the St. Lawrence river. The
whole country possesses a healthful climate, but is harassed by a cold
and long winter. This is caused partly by the frequency of the rivers
and lakes; partly by the thickness and great extent of the forests,
which diminish the force of the sun's heat; finally, by the abundance
of snow with which the land, in its most Northern regions, which lie
upon the same parallel as old France, is continually desolated for
three or four months. The soil is extremely productive of all sorts
of trees and plants, especially where the clearing of the forest has
furnished additional space for cultivation. The same quadrupeds are
found as in Europe; some, as the moose, are peculiar to the country.
The natives call it the "great beast." This name it receives because
of the huge size of its body, for it is as large as an ox. Its head
resembles that of a mule; its horns, hoofs, and tail, those of a stag.
The savages hunt this animal with the aid of dogs; when it is worn
out they dispatch it with spears and missiles. If hunting-dogs are
lacking, they themselves go in place of them. Indeed, they proceed
through the midst of the snow with incredible swiftness; and, in order
that the weight of the body may not sink their feet too deeply into the
snow, they place beneath their soles, and fasten to their feet, broad
pieces of net-work, very similar to those with which players commonly
strike the ball. These pieces of net-work, which cover a sufficiently
large portion of the surface of the snow, readily support them while
running. But the moose, planting their slender legs deeply into the
snow, with difficulty extricate themselves. The savages eat its flesh,
are clothed with its skin, and are cured by the hoof of its left hind
leg. In this hoof there is a certain marvelous and manifold virtue, as
is affirmed by the testimony of the most famous physicians. It avails
especially against the epilepsy, whether it be applied to the breast,
where the heart is throbbing, or whether it be placed in the bezel of
a ring, which is worn upon the finger next to the little finger of the
left hand; or, finally, if it be also held in the hollow of the left
hand, clenched in the fist. Nor does it have less power in the cure of
pleurisy, dizziness, and, if we may believe those familiar with it, six
hundred other diseases.
Another well-known and common sort of animal there, is the beaver; its
skins, which are exchanged for European merchandise, being the basis
of almost the entire system of Canadian commerce. Its color resembles
that of the chestnut; the shape of its body is like that of a small
wether; its legs are short and formed for swimming; its tail, which
it uses as a rudder while swimming, is smooth, thick and flat; two
teeth, larger than the others, project from its mouth on each side;
these, the beavers use like a sword and a saw in cutting down trees
when they build their houses, for in the construction of these they
exhibit wonderful industry. They locate them on the banks of lakes
or rivers; they build walls of logs, placing between them wet and
sticky sods in the place of mortar, so that the work can, even with
great violence, scarcely be torn apart and destroyed. The entire house
is divided into several stories; the lowest is composed of thicker
cross-beams, with branches strewn upon them, and provided with a hole
or small door through which they can pass into the river whenever they
wish; this story extends somewhat above the water of the river, while
the others rise higher, into which they retire if the swelling stream
submerges the lowest floor. They sleep in one of the upper stories; a
soft bed is furnished by dry seaweed and tree moss, with which they
protect themselves from the cold; on another floor they have their
store-room, and food provided for winter. The building is covered with
a dome-shaped roof. Thus they pass the winter, for in summer they
enjoy the shady coolness upon the shores, or escape the summer heat
by plunging into the water. Often a great colony of many members is
lodged in one house. But, if they be incommoded by the narrowness of
the place, the younger ones depart of their own accord and construct
homes for themselves. Upon the advent of cool weather in autumn, they
devote themselves to this task, and lend mutual services in turn, both
in cutting and carrying logs, so that many assist at one and the same
burden, and thus carry down great branches and logs of forest trees.
If they find any river suitable for their purposes, except in having
sufficient depth, they build a dam to keep back the water until it
rises to the required height. And first, by gnawing them, they fell
trees of large size; then they lay them across, from one shore to the
other. They construct a double barrier and rampart of logs, obliquely
placed, leaving between them a space of about six feet, which they so
ingeniously fill in with stones, clay, and branches that one would
expect nothing better from the most skillful architect. The length of
the structure is greater or less, according to the size of the stream
which they wish to restrain. Dams of this kind a fifth of a mile long
are sometimes found. But, if the river swell more than is safe, they
break open some part of the structure, and let through as much water as
seems sufficient.
As the forests abound in wild beasts, so the rivers teem with fish.
There is one in the lake of the Iroquois,[67] which is not mentioned
by early authors. It is called by the natives "Causar," and is eight
feet long, sometimes ten. It is as thick as the human thigh; it is
dun-colored, approaching white; it bristles all over with scales,
so hard and so firmly set together that they turn the edge of a
knife or the point of a spear. The head is large, and protected by an
exceedingly hard skull, like a helmet. Hence, the name of "armored
fish" has been given it by the French. It carries on perpetual war
with, and feeds upon, other fishes. For a weapon it carries an immense
beak, of the length of a man's arm and furnished with a double row
of teeth. With this hunting-spear it not only devours other fishes,
but also, whenever it wishes to vary its diet, deceives and ensnares
birds. For this latter purpose it hides itself among the sedge; it
projects its beak from the water and opens it slightly. It thus remains
motionless until the birds approach and thoughtlessly perch upon the
beak, deeming it a reed or a bush; then the treacherous ensnarer seizes
the feet of the unfortunate birds by closing its beak, and, dragging
them into the water, devours them.[68]
The birds are fully as abundant as the fishes. During certain months
of the year the pigeons sally forth from the woods into the open
country in such great numbers that they overload the branches of the
trees. When they have settled upon the trees at night they are easily
captured, and the savages heap their tables with royal abundance.
Besides this, in the huge gulf into which the river saint Lawrence
flows may be seen a small island, or rather a double rock; they call
it the isle of birds.[69] For so many congregate there from the
neighboring ocean that it is impossible to count their numbers. The
natives make an easy prey of them with clubs, or by trampling them
under foot, and bring back their canoes filled with sumptuous food
acquired without price. [345] Everywhere may be seen, sporting in the
water, geese, ducks, herons, cranes, swans, coots and other birds
whose habit it is to seek their living from the waves. A certain
peculiarity attaches to one, which is about the size of a cock; its
wings are black on the outside and white beneath. One of its feet
is armed with hooked claws, the other has webbed toes, like those
of a duck; with the latter it swims, with the former it seizes and
disembowels fishes.
CANADENSIUM DOMUS & RES FAMILIARIS; MORBI; ÆGRORUM CURA & MORTUORUM.
JAM, si mores & indolem gentis requiras, partim vagi degunt, in silvis
per hyemem, quò venationis uberioris vocat spes; æstate, ad amnium
ripas, ubi præbet facilem annonam piscatus: aliqui pagos incolunt.
Casas fabricantur infixis humi perticis: latera corticibus intexunt;
pellibus, musco, ramis operiunt fastigia. In media casa focus: in summo
tecto foramen, emissarium fumi. Is ægre eluctatus totam, ut plurimum,
casam sic opplet, ut coactis habitare in hoc fumo advenis sæpe oculorum
acies obtundatur, & hebescat: barbari, durum genus & his assuetum
incommodis, rident. Domesticæ rei cura, & quidquid in familia laboris
est, imponitur feminis. Illæ domos figunt, ac refigunt; aquam, & ligna
devehunt, cibos apparant: vicem & locum mancipiorum, opificum, &
jumentorum, implent. Venationis & belli cura, virorum est. Hinc gentis
solitudo, & paucitas. Mulieres enim, ceteroquin haud infecundæ, his
districtæ laboribus, neque maturos edere queunt fetus, neque alere jam
editos: itaque aut abortum patiuntur, aut partus recentes destituunt,
aquationi, lignationi, ceterisque operibus intentæ; vix ut trigesimus
quisque infans adolescat. Accedit rei medicæ inscitia, cujus ignoratio
facit ut è morbis paulo gravioribus raro emergant.
Duos maximè fontes morborum statuunt: unum ex ipsa ægrotantis mente
ortum, quæ desideret quidpiam, ac tandiu corpus ægrum vexet, dum
re desiderata potiatur. Putant enim inesse in hominum unoquoque
innata quædam desideria, sæpe ipsis ignota, quibus singulorum
felicitas contineatur. Ad ejusmodi desideria & innatas appetitiones
cognoscendas adhibent hariolos, quibus hanc divinitus concessam
facultatem arbitrantur, ut animorum intimos recessus pervideant. Illi,
quodcumque primum occurrit, aut ex quo fieri quæstum aliquem posse
suspicantur, ab ægro desiderari pronunciant. Nec dubitant parentes,
amici, & consanguinei ægrotantis, quidquid illud sit, quantivis
pretii, comparare ac largiri ægro, nunquam postea reposcendum. Ille
dono fruitur, & lucri partem hariolis aspergit; ac sæpe postridie
vita cedit. Vulgo tamen relevantur ægroti, quippe levibus tentati
morbis: nam in gravioribus timidiores sunt isti præstigiatores,
negantque inveniri posse quid ægrotus desideret: tunc eum depositum
conclamant, auctoresque sunt consanguineis ut hominem tollant è medio.
Ita longiore morbo vexatos necant, aut senio fessos; eamque caritatem
summam interpretantur, quia mors ærumnis languentium finem ponit.
Eandem benevolentiam adhibent erga pueros parentibus orbatos, quos
nullos esse malunt, quam miseros. Alterum fontem morborum esse censent
veneficorum occultas artes, & præstigias, quas ridiculis cærimoniis
conantur averruncare. Sæpe noxios humores ejiciunt sudando. Certum
casæ locum corticibus includunt, ac tegunt pellibus, ne qua possit aer
aspirare. Intro congerunt lapides deustos & igne multo saturos. Subeunt
nudi & brachia cantitantes jactant. Sed, quod mireris, ab his thermis
egressi & sudore diffluentes, hyeme perfrigida, in lacum aut amnem se
conjiciunt, de pleuritide securi.
Mortuorum cadavera nunquam efferunt per casæ januam, sed per eam
partem, in quam conversus eger exspiravit. Animam putant evolare per
camini spiraculum; ac ne moras trahat, casæ pristinæ desiderio, neu
puerulorum aliquem discedens afflet, hoc afflatu videlicet moriturum,
ut putant; crebro fuste tundunt parietes tugurii, ut eam citius
exire compellant. Immortalem esse arbitrantur. Ne porro emoriatur
fame, magnam vim ciborum infodiunt cum corpore; vestes, item, ollas,
variamque supellectilem, magno sumptu, & multorum annorum labore
conquisitam, ut iis utatur, inquiunt, ac decentius versetur in regno
mortuorum. Sepulcra nobilium exstant paulum ab humo: iis perticas in
morem pyramidis compactas imponunt: arcum addunt, sagittas, clypeum,
& alia militiæ decora: feminarum vero tumulis, torques & monilia.
Infantium corpora sepeliunt propter viam, ut eorum anima, quam ab
ipsorum corporibus abire longius non putant, illabatur in prætereuntis
alicujus feminæ sinum, & adhuc informem animare fetum possit. In luctu
vultum inficiunt fuligine. Moniti de funere affines, vicini, & amici
concurrunt in funestum tugurium. Unus aliquis, si mortui conditio
ferat, verba facit, neque rationem ullam ex iis prætermittit, quæ ad
leniendam ægritudinem à dicendi magistris afferri solent. Excurrit in
demortui laudes: hominem eum natum fuisse admonet, atque adeo morti
obnoxium: qui casus emendari nequeant, fieri patientia leviores; alia
id genus in eandem sententiam edisserit. Tertio die funus ducitur.
Epulum funebre apponitur toti pago, singulis suam symbolam, nec
malignè, conferentibus. Hujus epuli causas afferunt maximè tres:
primam, ut communem mærorem leniant: alteram, ut qui amici peregrè
ad funus veniunt, accipiantur honestius: tertiam, ut gratificentur
extincti Manibus, quem ea liberalitate delectari existimant, &
appositis etiam dapibus pasci. Peracto convivio præfectus funeris, quem
in singulis familiis clarioribus, certum atque insignem habent, adesse
tempus exequiarum proclamat. Omnes continuo lamentari, & ululare.
Effertur cadaver propinquorum humeris, intectum fibrinis pellibus, & in
feretro, è corticibus juncisve confecto compositum, collectis in glomum
artubus, ut eo modo terræ mandetur, inquiunt, quo in alvo materna olim
jacuit. Deponitur feretrum in constituto loco, munera quæ quisque
offert mortuo, præfiguntur perticis: & appellantur illorum auctores
à funeris præfecto: instauratur planctus; denique juvenes ludicro
certamine inter se dimicant.
Majori sepeliuntur apparatu & luctu, qui aquis obruti perierunt.
Nam eorum cadavera laniantur: carnium pars cum visceribus in ignem
projicitur. Id sacrificii quoddam genus est, quo placare coelum
contendunt. Iratum enim esse genti non dubitant, cum in undis
quispiam extinguitur: ac si quid rite atque ordine peractum in istis
funeribus non fuerit, huic piaculo calamitates omnes, quibus postea
conflictantur, acceptas ferunt. Indulgent luctui per annum integrum.
Primis diebus decem jacent humi, diu noctuque in ventrem proni: nefas
tunc vocem ullam, nisi quæ dolorem significet, mittere; aut accedere
ad ignem, aut conviviis interesse. Anno reliquo luctus continuatur; at
levius. Omittuntur omnia urbanitatis officia, colloquia cum vicinis,
congressus amicorum; ac si conjugem amiserint; coelibes, donec annus
fluxerit, perstant. Post octavum aut decimum quemque annum Hurones,
quæ natio latè patet, omnia cadavera certum in locum ex omnibus pagis
deportant, & in foveam prægrandem conjiciunt. Eum diem Mortuorum
vocant. Is ubi de procerum sententia constitutus est, eruunt corpora
sepulcris; alia jam consumpta, & ossibus vix hærentia; alia putri carne
leviter amicta: alia scatentia foedis vermibus, & graviter olentia.
Ossa, dissoluta in saccos abdunt: cadavera nondum dissuta componunt
in sarcophagis, & supplicantium ritu deferunt in destinatum locum,
alto silentio, & composito gradu procedentes, non sine suspiriis,
& lamentabili eiulatu. Ne vero memoria nobilium, & arte præsertim
bellica insignium, qui prole carent, intercidat, eligunt aliquem
ætate ac robore florentem, cui demortui nomen imponunt. Ille militum
statim delectum habet, ac bellum capessit, ut præclaro quopiam edito
facinore, probet se non tantum nominis, sed etiam virtutis ejus, cui
substituitur, heredem esse. Inferioris notæ nomina æterno silentio
damnant. Itaque simul ac in pago quispiam è vita cessit, ejus nomen
alta voce pronunciatur per omnes casas, ne quis illud temere usurpet.
Quod si mortuum tamen appellare necesse fuerit, utuntur verborum
circuitione, & præfantur quidpiam, quo mortis ominosa [346] memoria
leniatur. Idque si omittatur, accipiunt in gravem contumeliam: neque
atrociori maledicto vulnerari filium aut parentem posse putant, quam si
huic filius, illi parens, mortuus exprobretur.
HOMES AND HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY OF THE CANADIANS; DISEASES; TREATMENT OF
THE SICK AND OF THE DEAD.