ON THE MEANS OF CONVERTING THE SAVAGES.
THE great show of power made at first by the Portuguese in the East
and West Indies inspired profound admiration in the minds of the
Indians, so that these people embraced, without any contradiction,
the belief of those whom they admired. Now the following is, it
seems to me, the way in which to acquire an ascendancy over our
Savages.
Le premier est d'arrester les courses de ceux qui ruinent la Religion,
& de se rendre redoutable aux Hiroquois, qui ont tué de nos hommes,
comme chacun sçait, & qui tout fraischement ont massacré deux cent
Hurons, & en [36] ont pris plus de cent prisonniers. Voila selon ma
pensée la porte vnique, par laquelle nous sortirons du mespris, où la
negligence de ceux qui auoient cy-deuant la traicte du pays, nous ont
ietté par leur auarice.
First, to check the progress of those who overthrow Religion, and
to make ourselves feared by the Iroquois, who have killed some of
our men, as every one knows, and who recently massacred two hundred
Hurons, and [36] took more than a hundred prisoners. This is, in
my opinion, the only door through which we can escape the contempt
into which the negligence of those who have heretofore held the
trade of this country has thrown us, through their avarice.
Le second moyen de nous rendre recommandables aux Sauuages, pour les
induire à receuoir nostre saincte foy, seroit d'enuoyer quelque nombre
d'hommes bien entendus à defricher & cultiuer la terre, lesquels se
ioignants auec ceux qui sçauroient la langue, trauailleroient pour
les Sauuages, à cõdition qu'ils s'arresteroient, & mettroient eux
mesmes la main à l'œuure, demeurants dans quelques maisons qu'on leur
feroit dresser pour leur vsage, par ce moyen demeurants sedentaires,
& voyants ce miracle de charité en leur endroit, on les pourroit
instruire & gaigner plus facilement. M'entretenant cét Hyuer auec mes
Sauuages, ie leurs communiquois ce dessein, les asseurant que quand
ie sçaurois parfaictement leur langue, ie les aiderois à cultiuer
la terre, si ie pouuois auoir des hommes, & s'ils se vouloient [37]
arrester, leurs representant la misere de leurs courses, qui les
touchoit pour lors assez sensiblement. Le Sorcier m'ayant entendu, se
tourna vers ses gens, & leur dit, voyez comme cette robe noire ment
hardiment en nostre presence; ie luy demandy pourquoy il se figuroit
que ie mentois, pource, dit-il, qu'on ne voit point d'hommes au
monde si bons comme tu dis, qui voudroient prendre la peine de nous
secourir sans espoir de recompense, & d'employer tant d'hommes pour
nous aider sans rien prendre de nous; si tu faisois cela, adjousta-il,
tu arresterois la pluspart des Sauuages, & ils croiroient tous à tes
paroles.
The second means of commending ourselves to the Savages, to
induce them to receive our holy faith, would be to send a number
of capable men to clear and cultivate the land, who, joining
themselves with others who know the language, would work for the
Savages, on condition that they would settle down, and themselves
put their hands to the work, living in houses that would be built
for their use; by this means becoming located, and seeing this
miracle of charity in their behalf, they could be more easily
instructed and won. While conversing this Winter with my Savages,
I communicated to them this plan, assuring them that when I
knew their language perfectly, I would help them cultivate the
land if I could have some men, and if they wished [37] to stop
roving,--representing to them the wretchedness of their present
way of living, and influencing them very perceptibly, for the time
being. The Sorcerer,[14] having heard me, turned toward his people
and said, "See how boldly this black robe lies in our presence." I
asked him why he thought I was lying. "Because," said he, "we never
see in this world men so good as thou sayest, who would take the
trouble to help us without hope of reward, and to employ so many
men to aid us without taking anything from us; if thou shouldst
do that," he added, "thou wouldst secure the greater part of the
Savages, and they would all believe in thy words."
Ie m'en rapporte, mais si ie puis tirer quelque conclusion des choses
que ie vois, il me semble qu'on ne doit pas esperer grande chose des
Sauuages, tant qu'ils seront errants; vous les instruisés auiourd'huy,
demain la faim vous enleuera vos auditeurs, les contraignant d'aller
chercher leur vie dans les fleuues & dans les bois. L'an passé ie
faisois le Catechisme en begaiant à [38] bon nombre d'enfans, les
vaisseaux partis, mes oyseaux s'enuolerent qui d'vn costé qui de
l'autre, cette année que ie parle vn petit mieux, ie les pensois
reuoir, mais s'estans cabanez de là le grand fleuue de S. Laurens,
i'ay esté frustré de mon attente. De les vouloir suiure, il faudrait
autant de Religieux qu'ils sont de cabanes, encor n'en viendroit on
pas à bout; car ils sont tellement occupez à quester leur vie parmy
ces bois, qu'ils n'ont pas le loisir de se sauuer, pour ainsi dire.
De plus ie ne crois point que de cent Religieux, il y en ait dix qui
puissent resister aux trauaux, qu'il faudroit endurer à leur suitte.
Ie voulus demeurer auec eux l'Automne dernier, ie n'y fus pas huict
iours, qu'vne fieure violente me saisit, & me fist rechercher nostre
petite maison, pour y trouuer ma santé: Estant guary ie les ay voulu
suiure pendant l'Hiuer, i'ay esté fort malade la pluspart du temps:
ces raisons & beaucoup d'autres que ie deduirois, n'estoit que ie
crains d'estre lõg, me font croire qu'on trauaillera beaucoup, & qu'on
auancera fort peu, si on n'arreste ces Barbares, [39] de leur vouloir
persuader de cultiuer d'eux-mesmes sans estre secourus, ie doute fort
si on le pourra obtenir de long temps; car ils n'y entendent rien: De
plus où retireront ils ce qu'ils pourront recueillir, leurs cabanes
n'estants faites que d'escorce, la premiere gelée gastera toutes les
racines & les citroüilles qu'ils auroient ramassées. De semer des poids
& du bled d'Inde, ils n'ont point de place dans leurs todis; mais qui
les nourrira pendant qu'ils cõmanceront à défricher; car ils ne viuent
quasi qu'au iour la iournée, n'ayãt pour l'ordinaire au temps qu'il
faut défricher aucunes prouisions. En fin quand ils se tueroiẽt de
trauailler, ils ne pourroient pas retirer de la terre la moitié de leur
vie, iusques à ce qu'elle soit défrichée, & qu'ils soient bien entendus
à la faire profiter.
I may be mistaken; but, if I can draw any conclusion from the
things I see, it seems to me that not much ought to be hoped for
from the Savages as long as they are wanderers; you will instruct
them to-day, to-morrow hunger snatches your hearers away, forcing
them to go and seek their food in the rivers and woods. Last year
I stammered out the Catechism to a [38] goodly number of children;
as soon as the ships departed, my birds flew away, some in one
direction and some in another. This year, I hoped to see them
again, as I speak a little better; but, as they have settled on
the other side of the great river St. Lawrence, my hopes have
been frustrated. To try to follow them, as many Religious would
be needed as there are cabins, and still we would not attain our
object; for they are so occupied in seeking their livelihood
in these woods, that they have not time, so to speak, to save
themselves. Besides, I do not believe that, out of a hundred
Religious, there would be ten who could endure the hardships to
be encountered in following them. I tried to live among them last
Autumn; I was not there a week before I was attacked by a violent
fever, which caused me to return to our little house to recover my
health. Being cured, I tried to follow them during the Winter, and
I was very ill the greater part of the time. These reasons, and
many others that I might give, were I not afraid of being tedious,
make me think that we shall work a great deal and advance very
little, if we do not make these Barbarians stationary. [39] As for
persuading them to till the soil of their own accord, without being
helped, I very much doubt whether we shall be able to attain this
for a long time, for they know nothing whatever about it. Besides,
where will they store their harvests? As their cabins are made of
bark, the first frost will spoil all the roots and pumpkins that
they will have gathered. If they plant peas and Indian corn, they
have no place in their huts to store them. But who will feed them
while they are beginning to clear the land? For they live only from
one day to another, having ordinarily no provisions to sustain them
during the time that they must be clearing. Finally, when they had
killed themselves with hard work, they could not get from the land
half their living, until it was cleared and they understood how to
make the best use of it.
Or auec le secours de quelques braues ouuriers de bon trauail, il
seroit aisé d'arrester quelques familles, veu que quelques vns m'en ont
des-ja parlé, s'accoustumans d'eux mesmes petit à petit à tirer quelque
chose de la terre.
Now, with the assistance of a few good, industrious men, it would
be easy to locate a few families, especially as some of them
have already spoken to me about it, thus of themselves becoming
accustomed, little by little, to extract something from the earth.
Ie sçay bien qu'il y a des personnes de [40] bon iugement, qui croyent
qu'encor que les Sauuages soient errants, que la bonne semence de
l'Euangile ne laissera pas de germer & de fructifier en leur ame,
quoy que plus lentement, pource qu'on ne les peut instruire que par
reprises. Ils se figurẽt encor que s'il passe icy quelques familles
comme on a des-ja commencé d'en amener, que les Sauuages, prendrõt
exemple sur nos François, & s'arresteront pour cultiuer la terre. Ie
fus frappé de ces pensées au commencement que nous vinsmes icy, mais
la cõmunicatiõ que i'ay euë auec ces peuples, & les difficultez qu'ont
des hõmes habituez dans l'oisiueté, d'embrasser vn fort trauail, comme
est la culture de la terre, me fõt croire maintenant que s'ils ne sont
secourus, ils perdront cœur, notamment les Sauuages de Tadoussac. Car
pour ceux des trois riuieres, où nos François font faire vne nouuelle
habitation cette année, ils ont promis qu'ils s'arresteront là & qu'ils
semeront du bled d'Inde; ce qui me semble n'est pas tout à faict
asseuré, mais probable, pour autant que leurs predecesseurs ont eu
autresfois [41] vne bonne bourgade en cet endroict, qu'ils ont quittée
pour les inuasions des Hiroquois leurs ennemis.
I know well there are persons of [40] good judgment who believe
that, although the Savages are nomadic, the good seed of the Gospel
will not fail to take root and bring forth fruit in their souls,
although more slowly, as they can only be instructed at intervals.
They imagine also that, if a few families come over here, as they
are already beginning to do, the Savages will follow the example of
our French and will settle down to cultivate the land. I myself was
impressed with these ideas, when we first came over here; but the
intercourse which I have had with these people, and the difficulty
that men accustomed to a life of idleness have in embracing one of
hard work, such as cultivating the soil, cause me to believe now
that if they are not helped they will lose heart, especially the
Savages at Tadoussac. As to those of the three rivers, where our
French People are going to plant a new colony this year, they have
promised that they will settle down there and plant Indian corn;
this seems to me not altogether assured, but probable, inasmuch
as their predecessors once had [41] a good village in that place,
which they abandoned on account of the invasions of their enemies,
the Hiroquois.[15]
Le Capitaine de ce quartier là, m'a dit que la terre y estoit fort
bonne, & qu'ils l'aimoient fort s'ils deuiennent sedentaires, comme
ils en ont maintenant la volonté, nous preuoyons lá vne moisson plus
feconde des biens du Ciel, que des fruicts de la terre.
The Captain of that region told me that the land there was quite
good, and they liked it very much. If they become sedentary, as
they are now minded to do, we foresee there a harvest more abundant
in the blessings of Heaven than in the fruits of the earth.
Le troisiesme moyen d'estre bienvoulu de ces peuples, seroit de dresser
icy vn seminaire de petits garçons, & auec le temps vn de filles,
soubs la conduitte de quelque braue maistresse, que le zele de la
gloire de Dieu & l'affectiõ au salut de ces peuples, fera passer icy,
auec quelques Compagnes animées de pareil courage. Plaise à sa diuine
Majesté d'en inspirer quelques vnes, pour vne si noble entreprise, &
leur fasse perdre l'apprehension que la foiblesse de leur sexe leur
pourroit causer, pour auoir à trauerser tant de mers, & viure parmy des
Barbares.
The third means of making ourselves welcome to these people, would
be to erect here a seminary for little boys, and in time one for
girls, under the direction of some brave mistress, whom zeal
for the glory of God, and a desire for the salvation of these
people, will bring over here, with a few Companions animated by
the same courage. May it please his divine Majesty to inspire some
to so noble an enterprise, and to divest them of any fear that
the weakness of their sex might induce in them at the thought of
crossing so many seas and of living among Barbarians.
A ce dernier voyage des femmes enceintes sont venuës, & ont aisemẽt
surmonté ces difficultez, comme auoient [42] faict d'autres auparauant.
Il y a aussi du plaisir d'appriuoiser des ames Sauuages, & les cultiuer
pour receuoir la semence du Christianisme. Et puis l'experience nous
rend certains, que Dieu qui est bon & puissant enuers tous, au respect
neantmoins de ceux qui s'exposent genereusemẽt & souffrent volontiers
pour son seruice, il a des caresses assaisonnées de tant de suauitez,
& les secoure parmy leurs dangers d'vne si prompte & paternelle
assistance, que souuent ils ne sentent point leurs trauaux, ains
leurs peines leur tournent à plaisir, & leurs perils à consolation
singuliere: Mais ie voudrois tenir icy où nous sommes les enfans
des Hurons. Le Pere Brebœuf nous faict esperer que nous en pourrons
auoir, s'il entre auec nos Peres dans ces pays bien peuplez, & si on
trouue dequoy fonder ce seminaire. La raison pourquoy ie ne voudrois
pas prẽdre les enfans du pays dans le pays mesme, mais en vn autre
endroict, c'est pour autant que ces Barbares ne peuuent supporter
qu'on chastie leurs enfants, non pas mesme de paroles, ne pouuans rien
refuser à vn [43] enfant qui pleure, si bien qu'à la moindre fantaisie
ils nous les enleueroient deuant qu'ils fussent instruicts; mais si on
tient icy les petits Hurõs, ou les enfans des peuples plus esloignez,
il en arriuera plusieurs biens: car nous ne serõs pas importunés ny
destournés des peres en l'instruction des enfants; cela obligera ces
peuples à bien traitter, ou du moins à ne faire aucun tort aux François
qui seront en leur pays. Et en dernier lieu nous obtiendrons, auec la
grace de Dieu nostre Seigneur, la fin pour laquelle nous venons en ce
pays si esloigné, sçauoir est la conuersion de ces peuples.
In the last voyage there came some women who were pregnant, and
they easily surmounted these difficulties, as others had [42] done
before them. There is also some pleasure in taming the souls of the
Savages, and preparing them to receive the seed of Christianity.
And then experience makes us feel certain that God, who shows his
goodness and power to all, has, nevertheless, for those who expose
themselves freely and suffer willingly in his service, favors
seasoned with so much sweetness, and succors them in the midst
of their dangers with so prompt and paternal assistance, that
often they do not feel their trials, but their pain is turned to
pleasure and their perils to a peculiar consolation. But I would
like to keep here, where we are, the children of the Hurons. Father
Brebœuf leads us to hope that we shall have some, if he goes with
our Fathers into those well-peopled countries, and if there is
anything with which to found a seminary. The reason why I would not
like to take the children of one locality [and teach them] in that
locality itself, but rather in some other place, is because these
Barbarians cannot bear to have their children punished, nor even
scolded, not being able to refuse anything to a [43] crying child.
They carry this to such an extent that upon the slightest pretext
they would take them away from us, before they were educated. But
if the little Hurons, or the children of more distant tribes, are
kept here, a great many advantages will result, for we would not
be annoyed and distracted by the fathers while instructing the
children; it will also compel these people to show good treatment
to the French who are in their country, or at least not to do them
any injury. And, lastly, we shall obtain, by the grace of God our
Lord, the object for which we came into this distant country;
namely, the conversion of these nations.
CHAPITRE IV.
DE LA CREANCE, DES SUPERSTITIONS, & DES ERREURS DES SAUUAGES MONTAGNAIS.
I'AY desia mandé, que les Sauuages croyoient qu'vn certain nõmé
Atachocam auoit creé le monde, & qu'vn nommé Messou l'auoit reparé.
I'ay interrogé là dessus ce fameux Sorcier & ce vieillard, auec
lesquelles i'ay passé [44] l'Hyuer, ils m'ont respondu, qu'ils ne
sçauoient pas qui estoit le premier Autheur du mõde, que c'estoit
peut-estre Atahochã, mais que cela n'estoit pas certain qu'ils ne
parloient d'Atahocam, que comme on parle d'vne chose si esloignée, qu'õ
n'en peut tirer aucune asseurance, & de fait le mot Nitatahokan en leur
lãgue, signifie, ie racõte vne fable, ie dis vn vieux conte fait à
plaisir.