ON THEIR HUNTING AND FISHING.
LET us begin with the Elk. When there is very little snow, they
kill it with arrows, the first that we ate being taken in this
way. But it is a great stroke of luck when they can approach these
animals within range of their bows, as they scent the Savages at
a great distance, and run as fast as Deer. When the snow is deep,
they pursue the Elk on foot, and kill it with thrusts from javelins
which are fastened on long poles for this purpose, and which they
hurl when they dare not or cannot approach the beast. Sometimes
they chase one of these animals for two or three days, the snow
being neither hard nor deep enough; while at other times a child
could almost kill them, for, the snow being frozen after a slight
thaw or rain, these poor Moose are hurt by it, and cannot go far
without being slaughtered.
[149] On m'auoit dit que l'Elan estoit grand cõme vn mulet d'Auuergne,
il est vray qu'il a la teste longue cõme vn mulet, mais ie le trouue
aussi gros qu'vn bœuf, ie n'en ay veu qu'vn seul en vie, il estoit
ieune, à peine le bois ou les cornes luy sortoient de la teste, ie
n'ay point veu en France ny genisse, ny bouuillon, qui approchât de sa
grosseur, ny de sa hauteur; il est haut monté comme le Cerf, son bois
est haut branchu & plat en quelque façon, non rond comme celuy des
Cerfs, ie parle des bois que i'ay veu, peut-estre y en a-il d'autre
façõ. Quelqu'vn m'a dit que la femelle portoit tousiours deux petits, &
tousiours masle & femelle; mes Sauuages, au contraire, disent qu'elle
en porte tantost vn tantost deux, & qu'vne seule fois ils en ont trouué
trois dans vne femelle, ce qui les estonna comme vn prodige.
[149] I had been told that the Elk was as large as an Auvergne
mule. True, its head is as long as that of a mule, but I find it as
large as an ox. I have only seen one of them alive; it was young,
and the branches or horns were just emerging from its head; I never
saw in France either a heifer or young bullock that was as big or
as high as it was. It is tall and erect, like the Deer; its horns
are lofty, branching, and somewhat flat, not round like those of a
Deer; I speak of the horns that I have seen, but there may be other
kinds. I have been told that the female always bears two little
ones, always male and female. On the contrary, my Savages tell me
that she sometimes bears one, and sometimes two; and that once they
found three in a female, which astonished them as if it were a
prodigy.
I'ay quelque pensée qu'on pourra auec le temps domestiquer ces animaux,
qu'on s'en pourra seruir pour le labourage, & pour tirer des tranées
sur la neige, ce seroit vn grand soulagement.
I have sometimes thought that, in time, these animals might be
domesticated, and could be used to till the soil and to draw
sledges over the snow, which would be a great comfort.
Quand les Sauuages ont tué plusieurs Elans, & passé plusieurs iours
en festins, ils pensent à leur prouision & à leur seicherie, ils vous
étendrons sur des perches les deux costez d'vn grand Orignac, en ayant
osté [150] les os: si la chair est trop épaisse, ils la leuẽt par
laichent, & en outre la tailladent; afin que la fumée la desseiche &
la penetre par tout, lors qu'elle commence à ce seicher ou boucaner,
ils la battent auec des pierres, la soulent aux pieds, afin qu'il n'y
demeure dedans aucun suc qui la puisse corrompre, enfin estant bien
boucané, ils la plient & la mettent en paquets, voila leur prouision,
le boucan est vn pauure manger, la chair fraische de l'Elã est fort
aisée à digerer, elle ne dure point dãs l'estomac; voila pourquoy les
Sauuages ne la font point tant cuire: Pour le goust, il me semble que
la chair d'vn bœuf ne cede point à la chair d'vn bon Elan.
When the Savages have killed a number of Elks, and passed several
days in feasting, they begin to think about drying them and laying
them away. They will stretch upon poles the two sides of a large
Moose, the bones thereof having [150] been removed. If the flesh is
too thick, they raise it in strips and slash it besides, so that
the smoke may penetrate and dry all parts. When they begin to dry
or smoke this meat, they pound it with stones and tramp it under
foot so that no juice may remain to spoil it. At last, when it is
smoked, they fold and arrange it in packages, and this forms their
future store. Dried meat is poor food, but the fresh meat of the
Elk is very easy to digest. It does not remain long in the stomach,
therefore the Savages do not cook it much. In regard to taste, it
seems to me that beef is not inferior to good Elk meat.
Le Castor ou le Bieure se prend en plusieurs façõs. Les Sauuages disent
que c'est l'animal bien aymé des François, des Anglois, & des Basques,
en vn mot des Europeans; i'entendois vn iour mon hoste qui disoit en
se gaussant, _Missi picoutau amiscou_, le Castor fait toutes choses
parfaictement bien, il nous faict des chaudieres, des haches, des
espées, des couteaux, du pain, bref il fait tout; il se mocquoit de
nos Europeans qui se passionnent pour la peau de cest animal, & qui
se battent à qui dõnera le plus à ces Barbares, pour en auoir: [151]
iusques là que mon hoste me dit vn iour me monstrant vn fort beau
couteau, les Anglois n'ont point d'esprit, ils nous donnent vingts
couteaux comme celuy là pour vne peau de Castor.
The Castor or Beaver is taken in several ways. The Savages say
that it is the animal well-beloved by the French, English and
Basques,--in a word, by the Europeans. I heard my host say one day,
jokingly, _Missi picoutau amiscou_, "The Beaver does everything
perfectly well, it makes kettles, hatchets, swords, knives, bread;
and, in short, it makes everything." He was making sport of us
Europeans, who have such a fondness for the skin of this animal
and who fight to see who will give the most to these Barbarians, to
get it; [151] they carry this to such an extent that my host said
to me one day, showing me a very beautiful knife, "The English have
no sense; they give us twenty knives like this for one Beaver skin."
Au Printemps, le Castor se prend à l'attrappe amorcée du bois dont il
mange: les Sauuages sont tres-bien entendus en ces attrapes, lesquelles
venant à se detendre, vne grosse piece de bois tombe sur l'animal &
l'assomme, quelquefois les chiens rencontrant le Castor hors la Cabane,
le poursuiuent & le prennent aisement; ie n'ay point veu cette chasse,
mais on m'en a parlé, & les Sauuages font grand estat d'vn chiẽ qui sẽt
& découure cét animal.
In the Spring, the Beaver is taken in a trap baited with the wood
it eats. The Savages understand perfectly how to handle these
traps, which are made to open, when a heavy piece of wood falls
upon the animal and kills it. Sometimes when the dogs encounter the
Beaver outside its House, they pursue and take it easily; I have
never seen this chase, but have been told of it; and the Savages
highly value a dog which scents and runs down this animal.
Pendant l'Hiuer ils le prennent à la rets & soubs la glace, voicy
comment; on fend la glace en long, proche de la Cabane du Castor, on
met par la fente vn rets & du bois qui sert d'amorce, ce pauure animal
venant chercher à manger s'enlace dans ces filets faicts de bonne &
forte ficelle double, & encore ne faut il pas tarder à les tirer, car
ils seroiẽt bien tost en pieces, estãt sorty de l'eau par l'ouuerture
faite en la glace, ils l'assõment auec vn gros bastõ.
During the Winter they capture them in nets and under the ice, in
this way: They make a slit in the ice near the Beaver's House, and
put into the hole a net, and some wood which serves as bait. This
poor animal, searching for something to eat, gets caught in a net
made of good, strong, double cord; and, emerging from the water to
the opening made in the ice, they kill it with a big club.
L'autre façon de le prendre sous la glace est plus noble, tous les
Sauuages n'en ont [152] pas l'vsage, mais seulement les plus habiles;
ils brisent à coups de haches la Cabane ou maison du Castor, qui est
en effect admirable, il n'y a mousquet qui la transperce à mon aduis,
pendant l'Hiuer elle est bastie sur le bord de quelque petit fleuue,
ou d'vn estang faicte à double estage, sa figure est ronde, les
materiaux dont elle est composée sont du bois & de la terre, si bien
liez & vnis par ensemble, que i'ay veu nos Sauuages en plein Hiuer suer
pour y faire ouuerture à coups de haches, l'estage d'embas est dãs ou
sur le bord de l'eau, celuy d'enhaut est au dessus du fleuue, quand le
froid a glacé les fleuues & les estãgs, le Castor se tient retiré en
l'estage d'ẽhaut, où il a fait sa prouision de bois pour manger pendant
l'Hiuer; il ne laisse pas neantmoins de descendre de cest estage en
celuy d'embas, & de celuy d'embas il se glisse sous les glaces, par des
trous qui sont en ce bas estage, & qui respondent sous les glaces: il
sort pour boire & pour chercher du bois qu'il mange, lequel croist sur
la riue des estangs, & dans les estangs mesme; ce bois par embas est
pris dans les glaces, le Castor le va couper par dessous, & le porte
en sa maison. Or les Sauuages ayans brisé cette maison, ces pauures
animaux, qui sont par fois en grand nombre [153] sous vn mesme toict,
s'en vont sous les glaces, qui d'vn costé, qui d'vn autre, cherchans
des lieux vuides & creux entre l'eau & la glace, pour pouuoir respirer:
ce que sçachans leurs ennemis, ils se vont pourmenans sur l'estang ou
sur le fleuue glacé, portans vn long baston en main, armé d'vn costé
d'vne tranche de fer, faite comme vn ciseau de Menuisier, & de l'autre
d'vn os de Baleine, comme ie croy; ils sondent la glace auec cest os,
frappans dessus & prenans garde si elle sonne creux, & si elle donne
quelque indice de sa concauité, alors ils couppent la glace auec la
tranche de fer, regardãs si l'eau n'est point agitée par le mouuement
ou par la respiration du Castor: si l'eau remuë, ils ont vn bastõ
recourbé qu'ils fourrent dans le trou qu'ils viennent de faire, s'ils
sentent le Castor, ils le tuẽt auec leur grand baston, qu'ils appellent
_ca oui_k_achit_, & le tirans de l'eau, en vont faire curée tout aussi
tost, si ce n'est qu'ils ayent grande esperance d'en prendre d'autres:
Ie leur demandois pourquoy le Castor attendoit là qu'on le tuast, où
ira il, me disoiẽt ils, sa maison est rompuë, les autres endroits où il
peut respirer entre l'eau & la glace sont cassez, il demeure là dans
l'eau, cherchant de l'air, cependant on l'assomme, il sort quelquefois
[154] par la Cabane, ou par quelque trou, mais les chiens qui sont là,
& qui le sentent, & l'attendent, l'ont bien tost attrapé.
The other way of taking them under the ice is more noble. Not
all the Savages use [152] this method, only the most skillful;
they break with blows from the hatchet the Cabin or house of the
Beaver, which is indeed wonderfully made. In my opinion no musket
ball can pierce it. During the Winter it is built upon the shore
of some little river or pond, is two stories high, and round. The
materials of which it is composed are wood and mud, so well joined
and bound together that I have seen our Savages in Midwinter
sweat in trying to make an opening into it with their hatchets.
The lower story is in or upon the edge of the water, the upper is
above the river. When the cold has frozen the rivers and ponds, the
Beaver secludes himself in the upper story, where he has provided
himself with wood to eat during the Winter. He sometimes, however,
descends from this story to the lower one, and thence he glides out
under the ice, through the holes which are in this lower story and
which open under the ice. He goes out to drink and to search for
the wood that he eats, which grows upon the banks of the pond and
in the pond itself. This wood at the bottom is fastened in the ice
and the Beaver goes below to cut it and carry it to his house. Now
the Savages having broken this house, these poor animals, which are
sometimes in great numbers [153] under one roof, disappear under
the ice, some on one side, some on the other, seeking hollow and
thin places between the water and ice, where they can breathe.
Their enemies, knowing this, go walking over the pond or frozen
river, carrying a long club in their hands, armed on one side with
an iron blade made like a Carpenter's chisel, and on the other
with a Whale's bone, I believe. They sound the ice with this bone,
striking upon it and examining it to see if it is hollow; and if
there is any indication of this, then they cut the ice with their
iron blade, looking to see if the water is stirred up by the
movement or breathing of the Beaver. If the water moves, they have
a curved stick which they thrust into the hole that they have just
made; if they feel the Beaver, they kill it with their big club,
which they call _ca ouikachit_; and, drawing it out of the water,
go and make a feast of it at once, unless they have great hopes
of taking others. I asked them why the Beaver waited there until
it was killed. "Where will it go?" they said to me; "its house
is broken to pieces and the other places where it could breathe
between the water and ice are broken; it remains there in the
water, seeking air, and meanwhile it is killed." Sometimes [154] it
goes out through its House, or some hole; but the dogs which are
there, scenting and waiting for it, have soon caught it.
Lors qu'il y a quelque fleuue voisin, ou quelque bras d'eau conjoinct
à l'estang où ils sont, ils se coulẽt la dedans; mais les Sauuages
barrent ces fleuues quand ils les découurent, ils cassent la glace &
fichent quantité de pieux les vns pres des autres, en sorte que le
Castor ne peut euader par là. I'ay veu de grands lacs qui sauuoient la
vie aux Castors, car nos gens ne pouuans casser tous les endroicts où
ils pouuoient respirer, aussi ne pouuoient ils attraper leur proye; Il
y a quelquefois deux menages de Castors dans vne mesme Cabane, c'est à
dire deux masles & deux femelles auec leurs petits.
When there is a river near by, or an arm of water connecting with
the pond where they are, they slip into that; but the Savages dam
up these rivers when they discover them, breaking the ice and
planting a number of stakes near each other, so that the Beaver may
not escape in that direction. I have seen large lakes which saved
the lives of the Beavers; for our people, not being able to break
all the places where they could breathe, therefore could not trap
their prey. Sometimes there are two families of Beavers in the same
House, that is, two males and two females, with their little ones.
La femelle en porte iusques à sept, quatre, cinq, six pour l'ordinaire,
ils ont quatre dents, deux embas & deux en haut merueilleusemẽt
aterées, les autres deux sont petites, mais celles-cy sont grandes &
tranchantes, ils s'en seruent pour couper les bois de leur prouision, &
les bois dont ils batissent leur demeure, ils aiguisent ces dents quand
elles sont emoucées, les frottans & pressants les vnes contre [155]
les autres, faisans vn petit bruit que i'ay oüy moy-mesme.
The female bears as many as seven, but usually four, five, or
six. They have four teeth, two below, and two above, which are
wonderfully drawn out; the other two are small, but these are large
and sharp. They are used to cut the wood for their food, and the
wood with which they build their house; they sharpen these teeth
when they are dull, by rubbing and pressing them against [155] each
other, making a little noise which I have myself heard.
Le Castor a le poil fort doux, les chapeaux qu'on en fait en sont
tesmoins, il a des pieds forts courts & fort propres pour nager, car
ils ont vne peau continue entre les ongles, à la façon des oyseaux
de riuiere, ou des loups marins, sa queuë est toute platte, assez
longuette faicte en ouale; i'en mesuray vne d'vn gros Castor, elle
auoit vne paulme & huict doigts ou enuiron de longeur, & quasi vne
paulme de la main en largeur, elle estoit assez épaisse, elle est
couuerte, non de poil, mais d'vne peau noire figurée en écailles: ce ne
sont pas pourtant de vrayes écailles: on prend icy le Castor pour vn
animal amphiuie, voila pourquoy on en mange en tout temps: ma pensée
est que sa gresse fonduë approche plus de l'huille que de la gresse,
la chair en est fort bonne, elle m'a semblé vn peu fade au Printemps,
& non pas en Hiuer; Au reste si sa peau surpasse la peau du mouton,
la chair de mouton surpasse à mon aduis celle de Castor; tant pource
qu'elle est de meilleur goust, comme aussi que le Moutõ est plus gros
qu'vn Castor.
The Beaver has very soft fur, the hats made of it being an evidence
of this. It has very short feet which are well adapted to swimming,
for the nails are united by skin, in the same way as those of
river-birds or seals; its tail is entirely flat, quite long and
oval-shaped. I measured one of a large Beaver; it was a palm and
eight fingers or thereabout in length, and almost one palm of the
hand in width. It was quite thick, and was covered, not with hair,
but with a black skin looking like scales; however, these are not
real scales. The Beaver here is regarded as an amphibious animal,
and therefore it is eaten in all seasons. My idea is that the
grease when melted is more like oil than grease; the flesh is very
good, but it seems to me a little stale in the Spring, and not so
in Winter. But if the pelt of the Beaver excels the pelt of the
sheep, the flesh of the sheep is superior, in my opinion, to that
of the Beaver,--not only because it tastes better, but also because
the Sheep is larger than the Beaver.
Le Porc épic se prend à l'attrape & à la course, le chien l'ayant
découuert, il est [156] mort s'il n'est bien prés de son giste, qu'il
faict sous de grandes roches, sous lesquelles s'estant retiré, il est
en lieu d'asseurance; car ny les hõmes, ny les chiens, ne se sçauroient
glisser là dessous, il ne peut courre sur la neige, voila pourquoy il
est bien tost assommé, & n'est guere plus gros qu'vn gros cochon de
laict, ses pointes ou piquerons sont blãcs, longuets & assez minces,
entrelassez & entremeslez d'vn poil noir ou grisate: I'ay veu en France
des armes où il y auoit des pointes de Porcs épics trois fois plus
longues & dix fois plus grosses & biẽ plus fermes que celles des Porcs
épics de ce païs cy: les Sauuages m'ont dit que vers le fleuue de
Saguenay, tirãt vers le Nord, ces animaux y estoient bien plus gros.
Ils les brulent comme nous faisons les pourceaux en France, puis les
ayant raclez, les font boüillir ou rostir, le manger en est bon, assez
dur neantmoins, notamment des vieux, car les ieunes sont tendres &
delicats; mais ils n'approchent point, ny de nos Porcs Sangliers, ny de
nos Porcs domestiques.
The Porcupine is taken in a trap, or by coursing. The dog having
discovered it, it is sure to be [156] killed if it is not very
near its abode, which it makes under large rocks; having reached
this, it is in a place of safety, for neither men nor dogs can
crawl into it. It cannot run upon the snow, and is therefore
very soon put to death. It is hardly larger than a good-sized
sucking-pig. Its points or quills are white, long, and rather thin,
interlaced and mixed with black or grayish hair. In France I have
seen specimens of the Porcupine with quills three times longer and
ten times thicker, and much stiffer than those of the Porcupines
of this country. The Savages have told me that near the Saguenay
river, toward the North, these animals are much larger. They singe
them as we do pigs in France; and, after they are scraped, they
are boiled or roasted, and are quite edible, although rather
tough, especially the old ones, but the young ones are tender and
delicate. But in taste they are not equal to either our Wild Boar
or our common Pig.
Cest animal a les pieds tortus, & les iette en dehors, ses piquerons
ont cette qualité, s'ils piquẽt vn chien ou quelque persõne, ils
entrent incessamment, s'insinuans ou glissans petit à petit, & s'en
allans ressortir par [157] la partie opposée à leur entrée; par exemple
s'attachans au dos de la main, ils la transperceront & sortiront par
le dedans. I'ay souuent veu les chiens tous herissez de ses pointes
entrées desia à demy quand leurs Maistres les retiroient. Voulant
considerer le premier qu'on apporta en la Cabane où ie demeurois auec
les Sauuages, ie l'empoignay par la queuë, & le tiray vers moy, tous
ceux qui me regardoient se mirent à rire, voyans cõme ie procedois; &
de faict quoy que i'eusse tasché de le prendre dextremẽt, si est-ce que
quantité de ces petites lances s'attacherent à mes mains, car il n'y a
aiguille si pointuë, ie les retiray aussi tost, & les iettay dans le
feu.
This animal has crooked feet, which it turns outward. Its quills
have this peculiarity: if they stick into a dog or person they
keep on penetrating, insinuating themselves or slipping in, little
by little, and coming out [157] opposite where they entered. For
example, if they stick into the back of the hand they will go
through it, and come out on the inside. I have often seen dogs
bristling with these quills, already thrust half-way into them when
their Masters draw them out. Wishing to examine the first one that
was brought into the Cabin where I was staying with the Savages,
I caught it by the tail and drew it toward me. All those who were
looking on began to laugh at the way I went at it; and, in fact,
although I had tried to take hold of it adroitly, nevertheless a
number of these little spears stuck into my hand, for there is no
needle so sharp. I immediately drew them out, and threw them into
the fire.
L'Ours au Printemps se prend à l'attrape, l'Hiuer ils le trouuẽt dans
des arbres creux où il se retire, passans plusieurs mois sans manger,
& cependant il ne laisse pas d'estre fort gras, ils couppent l'arbre
pour faire sortir la proye qu'ils assomment sur la neige, où bien à la
sortie de son giste.
Bears are taken in a trap, in the Spring. In the Winter they are
found in hollow trees, to which they withdraw, passing several
months without eating, and yet they continue to be very fat. They
fell a tree, to make their prey emerge, which they kill upon the
snow, or as it is coming from its abode.
Ils prennent les Lieures au lacet, ou les tuent auec leurs arcs ou
matras; i'ay desia remarqué autrefois que ces animaux sont blancs
pendant les neiges, & gris en autre temps, ie les trouue vn peu plus
hauts & plus pattus que ceux de France. Ils tuent les [158] Marthes &
les Escurieux en mesme façon; voila les chasses d'animaux terrestres
que i'ay veu.
Hares are caught in nets, or are killed with arrows or darts. I
have already stated elsewhere that these animals are white during
the snow, and gray at other times. They seem to me to be a little
higher and more rough-footed than those of France. They kill [158]
Martens and Squirrels in the same way. These are the methods of
hunting terrestrial animals, so far as I have seen them.
Pour les oiseaux, ils en tuent quelques vns auec leurs arcs, se
seruans de fleches & de Matras, mais c'est fort raremẽt: depuis qu'ils
ont traitté des armes à feu auec les Anglois, ils sont deuenus demy
Gibboyeurs, quelques vns d'entr'eux tirent assez bien; mon hoste est
l'vn de leurs meilleurs harquebusiers, ie luy ay veu tuer quelques
Outardeaux, quelques Canards & Becassines, mais leur poudre est bien
tost vsée.
As to the birds, some are killed with bows, arrows and Darts being
used; but this is done rarely. Since they have come into possession
of firearms, through their traffic with the English, they have
become fair Huntsmen, some of them shooting very well. My host is
one of their best musketeers; I have seen him kill Bustards, Ducks
and Snipes; but their powder is very soon exhausted.
Quand à leur pesche, ils se seruent de rets, cõme nous qu'ils traittent
des François, & des Hurons: ils ont vne façon particuliere de pescher
le Saulmon, mais ne m'y estant pas trouué, ie n'en diray rien.
As to their fishing, they use nets as we do, which they get in
trade from the French and Hurons. They have a special way of
fishing for Salmon; but, not having seen it, I will not speak of it.
Pour l'Anguille, ils la peschent en deux façons auec vne nasse, où
auec vn harpon. Ils font des nasses auec assez d'industrie, longues
& grosses, capable de tenir cinq & six cens anguilles: la mer estant
basse, ils les placent sur le sable, en quelque lieu propre & reculé,
les asseurans en sorte que les marées ne les emportent point: aux deux
costez ils ramassent des pierres qu'ils étendent comme vne chaisne
ou [159] petite muraille de part & d'autre, afin que ce poisson qui
va tousiours au fond rencontrãt cest obstacle, se glisse doucement
vers l'emboucheure de la nasse où le conduisent ces pierres; la mer
venant à se grossir, couure la nasse, puis se rabaissant, on la va
visiter: par fois on y trouue cẽt ou deux cẽts Anguilles d'vne marée,
d'autrefois trois cẽt, quelquefois point du tout, quelquefois, six,
huict, dix, selon les vents & les temps: Quand la mer est agitée, on en
prend beaucoup, quand elle est calme, peu ou point, mais alors ils ont
recours à leur harpon.
In regard to Eels, they fish for them in two ways, with a weir and
with a harpoon. They make the weirs very ingeniously, long and
broad, capable of holding five or six hundred eels. When the water
is low, they place these upon the sand in a suitable and retired
spot, securing them so that they are not carried away by the tides.
At the two sides they collect stones, which they extend out like a
chain or [159] little wall on both sides; so that this fish, which
always swims toward the bottom, encountering this obstacle, will
readily swim toward the mouth of the net, to which these stones
guide it. When the sea rises, it covers the net; then, when it
falls, they go and examine it. Sometimes they find there one or two
hundred Eels in a single tide, at other times three hundred, often
none at all; at other times six, eight, ten, according to the winds
and the weather. When the sea is rough, many of them are taken;
when it is calm, few or none, and then they have recourse to their
harpoon.
Ce harpon est vn instrument, composé d'vn long baston, gros de trois
doigts, au bout duquel ils attachent vn fer pointu, lequel ils armẽt de
part & d'autre de deux petits bastons recourbés, qui se viennent quasi
ioindre au bout de la pointe du fer: quand ils viennent à frapper vne
anguille de ce harpon, ils l'embrochent dans ce fer les deux baston
adjoincts, cedans par la force du coup, & laissãs entrer l'anguille;
puis se reserrans d'eux mesme, car ils ne s'ouurent que par la secousse
du coup, ils empeschent que l'anguille embrochée ne ressorte.
This harpoon is an instrument composed of a long pole, two or three
fingers thick, at the end of which they fasten a piece of pointed
iron, which is provided on both sides with two little curved
sticks, which almost come together at the end of the iron point.
When they strike an eel with this harpoon, they impale it upon the
iron, the two pieces of stick yielding by the force of the blow and
allowing the eel to enter; then closing of themselves, because they
only open through the force of the blow, they prevent the impaled
eel from getting away.
Cette pesche au harpon, ne se fait ordinairement [160] que la nuict,
ils se mettẽt deux Sauuages dans vn canot, l'vn derriere qui le
gouuerne & qui rame, & l'autre est deuant, lequel à la faueur d'vn
flambeau d'écorce, attaché à la prouë de son vaisseaux, s'en va
cherchant la proye de ses yeux, rodans doucement sur le bord de ce grãd
fleuue, apperceuãt vne Anguille, il lance son harpon sans le quitter,
la perce comme i'ay dit, puis la iette dans son canot; il y en a tel
qui en prendra trois cens en vne nuict, & bien dauantage, quelquefois
fort peu. C'est chose estrange de la quantité de ce poisson qui se
retrouue en cette grãde riuiere, és mois de Septembre & d'Octobre, &
cela deuant l'habitation de nos François, dont quelques vns de ceux qui
ont demeuré plusieurs années sur le pays, se sont rendus aussi experts
en cét art que les Sauuages.
This harpoon fishing is usually done [160] only at night. Two
Savages enter a canoe,--one at the stern, who handles the oars, and
the other at the bow, who, by the light of a bark torch fastened
to the prow of his boat, looks around searchingly for the prey,
floating gently along the shores of this great river. When he sees
an Eel, he thrusts his harpoon down, without loosening his hold of
it, pierces it in the manner I have described, then throws it into
his canoe. There are certain ones who will take three hundred in
one night, and even more, sometimes very few. It is wonderful how
many of these fish are found in this great river, in the months
of September and October; and this immediately in front of the
settlement of our French, some of whom, having lived several years
in this country, have become as expert as the Savages in this art.
On croit que cette grande abondance, prouient de quelques lacs des pays
plus hauts, qui venans à se dégorger nous font present de cette manne,
qui nous nourrit, non seulement tout le Caresme & autres iours de
poissons, mais aussi en autre tẽps.
It is thought that this great abundance is supplied by some lakes
in the country farther north, which, discharging their waters here,
make us a present of this manna that nourishes us, not only during
all the time of Lent and other fish days, but also at other seasons.
Les Sauuages font secherie de ces lõgs poissons à la fumée; estans
apportez dans leurs Cabanes, ils les laissent vn peu de [161] temps
égouster, puis leur couppent la teste & la queuë, ils les ouurent par
le dos, puis les ayans vuidées ils les tailladent, afin que la fumée
entre par tout: les perches de leurs Cabanes en sont toutes chargées,
estans bien boucanées, ils les accouplent & en font de gros paquets, en
mettans enuiron vne centaine ensemble; voila leurs viures iusques à la
neige qui leur donne de l'Orignac.
The Savages dry these long fish in smoke. After they are brought
into their Cabins, they let them drain a [161] little while; then,
cutting off their heads and tails, they open them up the back, and
after they are cleaned, they are cut with slits, so that the smoke
may thoroughly penetrate them. The poles of their Cabins are all
loaded with these eels. After being well smoked, they are piled
together in large packages, about a hundred being placed in each.
Here you have their food up to the season of snow, which brings
them the Moose.
Ils tuent le Loup marin à coups de baston, le surprenant lors que
sortant de l'eauë, il se va éguayer sur quelques roches au Soleil, car
ne pouuant courir, s'il est tant soit peu esloigné de son element il
est perdu.
They kill the Seal with blows from a club, surprising it when it
comes out of the water. It goes to Sun itself upon the rocks, and
not being able to run, if it is ever so little distant from its
element it is lost.
C'est assez pour ce chapitre, ie ne fais pas profession de tout dire,
mais seulement de remarquer vne partie des choses qui m'ont semblé
deuoir estre escrites, qui voudra auoir vne pleine cognoissance de ces
contrées, qu'il lise ce qu'en a escrit Monsieur de Champlain, si faut
il auant que ie passe outre; que ie dise deux mots de quatre animaux,
que ie n'ay point veu en France, ie ne sçay où les loger, sinõ au bout
de ce chapitre.
This is enough for this chapter. I do not pretend to tell
everything, but only to jot down some of the things which seem to
me worthy of record. Whoever wishes to gain a full knowledge of
these countries should read what Monsieur de Champlain has written
about them. But, before I pass on, I must say a few words about
four animals that I have never seen in France. I do not know where
to place them, except at the end of this chapter.
L'vn se nomme des Sauuages _Ouinascou_, [162] nos François l'appellẽt
le siffleur ou le Rossignol, ils luy ont donné ce nom, pource qu'encore
qu'il soit de la chasse des animaux terrestres, il chante neantmoins
cõme vn oiseau, ie dirois volontiers qu'il siffle comme vne Linotte
bien instruite, sinon qu'il m'est aduis qu'il ne sçait qu'vne chanson,
c'est à dire qu'il n'a pas vne grande varieté de tons, mais il dit
tres-bien la leçon que la nature luy a apprise. Il est enuiron de la
grosseur d'vn Lieure, d'vn poil roux; quelques vns m'ont asseuré qu'il
se roule en peloton, & que comme vn Liron il dort tout l'Hiuer, sans
qu'on le puisse réueiller, ie n'en ay point veu que l'Esté, cest animal
est vn excellent manger, ny le Lieure n'en approche pas.
One of them is called by the Savages _Ouinascou_; [162] our French
call it the whistler or Nightingale.[22] They have given it this
name, because although it belongs to terrestrial animals, yet it
sings like a bird; I might say that it whistles like a well taught
Linnet, were it not that I think it only knows one song; that is to
say, it has not a great variety of tones, but it says very well the
lesson that nature has taught it. It is about the size of a Hare
and has a reddish skin. Some have assured me that it rolls itself
into a ball, and, like the Dormouse, it sleeps all Winter, it
being impossible to awaken it. I have only seen this animal in the
Summer; it is excellent eating, and excels the Hare.
L'autre est vn animal basset, de la grandeur des petits chiens, ou
d'vn chat, ie luy donne place icy, non pour son excellence, mais pour
en faire vn symbole du peché; i'en ay veu trois ou quatre, il est d'vn
poil noir assez beau & luisant, il porte sur son dos deux rayes toutes
blãches, qui se ioignãs vers le col & proche de la queuë, font vne
ouale qui luy dõne tres-belle grace; la queuë est touffuë & [163] bien
fournie de poil, cõmme la queuë d'vn Regnard, il la porte retroussée,
cõme vn Escurieux, elle est plus blanche que noire, vous diriez à l'œil
notãment quant il marche, qu'il meriteroit estre nommé le petit chien
de Iupiter; mais il est si puant, & iette vne odeur si empestée, qu'il
est indigne d'estre appellé le chien de Pluton, il n'y a voirie si
infecte; ie ne l'aurois pas creu si ie ne l'auois senty moy mesme, le
cœur vous manque quasi quand vous en approchez, on en a tué deux dans
nostre court; plusieurs iours apres il sẽtoit si mal par tout nostre
maison, qu'on n'en pouuoit supporter l'odeur. Ie croy que le peché que
sentit saincte Catherine de Sienne, deuoit estre de mesme puanteur.
The other is a low animal, about the size of a little dog or cat.
I mention it here, not on account of its excellence, but to make
of it a symbol of sin. I have seen three or four of them. It has
black fur, quite beautiful and shining; and has upon its back two
perfectly white stripes, which join near the neck and tail, making
an oval which adds greatly to their grace. The tail is bushy and
[163] well furnished with hair, like the tail of a Fox; it carries
it curled back like that of a Squirrel. It is more white than
black; and, at the first glance, you would say, especially when
it walks, that it ought to be called Jupiter's little dog. But it
is so stinking, and casts so foul an odor, that it is unworthy of
being called the dog of Pluto. No sewer ever smelled so bad. I
would not have believed it if I had not smelled it myself. Your
heart almost fails you when you approach the animal; two have been
killed in our court, and several days afterward there was such a
dreadful odor throughout our house that we could not endure it. I
believe the sin smelled by sainte Catherine de Sienne must have had
the same vile odor.
Le troisiéme est vn Escurieux volant, il y en a icy de trois especes.
Les vns sont communs, & sont non si beaux que ceux de France, les
autres que nos François nomment Suisses, pour estre bigarrez sur le
dos, sont tres-beaux & fort petits; les Escurieux volans sont assez
beaux, leur excellence consiste en ce qu'ils volent; ce n'est pas
qu'ils ayent des aisles, mais ils ont vne certaine peau aux [164] deux
costez, qu'ils replient fort proprement contre leur ventre quand ils
marchent, puis l'estendent quand ils volent. Leur vol n'est pas à mon
aduis de longue haleine, i'en ay veu voler vn, il se soustenoit fort
bien en l'air, mon hoste me l'auoit donné; ie le voulois enuoyer à V.R.
mais la mort, la deliuré d'vn si lõg voïage.
The third is a flying Squirrel. There are three kinds of squirrels
here. The first are the common squirrels, which are not so
beautiful as those in France. The others, which our French call
Swiss, because they are spotted upon the back, are very beautiful
and quite small. The flying Squirrels are rather pretty, but their
chief merit lies in their flying. Not that they have wings, but
they have a certain piece of skin on [164] both sides, which they
fold up very neatly against their stomachs when they walk, and
spread out when they fly. I do not think they take long flights; I
saw one of them flying, and it sustained itself very well in the
air. My host gave me one; I would send it to Your Reverence, but
death has freed it from so long a voyage.
Le quatriéme se nomme de nos François l'oiseau mouche, pource qu'a
peine est il plus gros qu'vne abeille, d'autres l'appellent l'oiseau
fleur, pource qu'il se nourrit sur les fleurs, c'est à mon iugement
l'vne des grãdes raretez de ce païs cy, & vn petit prodige de la
nature, Dieu me semble plus admirable en ce petit oiseau qu'en vn grand
animal, il bruit en volans comme vne abeille; ie l'ay veu quelquefois
se soustenir en l'air, becquetant vne fleur, son bec est longuet, son
plumage me sembloit d'vn verd paré; ceux qui l'appellent l'oiseau fleur
diroient mieux en mon iugement, le nommant la fleur des oiseaux.
The fourth is called by our French the fly-bird, because it is
scarcely larger than a bee; others call it the flower-bird, because
it lives upon flowers. It is in my opinion one of the great
rarities of this country, and a little prodigy of nature. God seems
to me more wonderful in this little bird than in a large animal. It
hums in flying, like the bee; I have sometimes seen it hold itself
in the air and stick its bill into a flower. Its bill is rather
long, and its plumage seems to be a mottled green. Those who call
it the flower-bird would, in my opinion, speak more correctly if
they would call it the flower of birds.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: VOL. VI
XXI
See Volume V. for particulars of this document.
XXII
The incomplete letter from Paul le Jeune to his provincial, dated at
Quebec, 1634 (without month or day), we obtain from Carayon's _Première
Mission_, pp. 122-156. The original, written in French, is in the
archives of the Gèsu, at Rome, where in 1858 it was copied for Carayon,
by Father Martin; this apograph now rests in the archives of St. Mary's
College, Montreal.
XXIII
In reprinting the text of Le Jeune's _Relation_ of 1634 (closed at
Quebec, August 7), we follow the example of the first edition (Paris,
1635), in the Lenox Library; but the "Table des Chapitres" we obtain
from that library's copy of the second edition, as this feature is not
a part of the first. These two editions are known to bibliographers as
"H. 60" and "H. 61," respectively, because referred to in Harrisse's
_Notes_, nos. 60 and 61. The "Privilege" bears date, December 8, 1634,
four months and a day later than the date of the document.
_Collation of first edition_: Title, with verso blank, 1 l.; Privilege,
with verso blank, 1 l.; text, pp. 1-342. The signatures of the text
are in eights, except Y which is in six, the last three leaves being
blank, one of which is usually pasted to the cover. There are two
copies of this edition (H. 60) in the Lenox Library. In one of these
the paragraph of fourteen lines beginning, "Le 24. du mesme mois" is,
through an error, given on p. 327, after the paragraph commencing
with "Le premier de Iuillet." In the other copy this is corrected
by transposition, the former paragraph appearing on p. 326. This
peculiarity serves to fix the priority of editions; for in H. 61 the
reprinter has followed the corrected issue of H. 60 in this respect,
though not line for line. This is likewise true of the Avignon edition,
noticed below.
The second edition collates as follows: Title, with verso blank, 1 l.;
text, pp. 1-342; "Table des Chapitres," 1 l.; "Extraict du Priuilege du
Roy," with verso blank, 1 l. The signatures are A-Y in eights; sig. Y
consists of text, 3 ll.; table, 1 l.; privilege, 1 l.; blank, 3 ll.
The pagination is quite erratic. In two copies of the first edition
which we have examined, the following errors appear in both: 132
mispaged 332; 229 mispaged 129; 321 and 322 mispaged 323 and 324; 335
mispaged 33. In the first issue of this edition 66 and 67 are mispaged
67 and 68, and 70 and 71 are mispaged 60 and 61; but in the second
issue of this edition these latter mistakes have been corrected. In the
second edition 220, 221, 281, 310, and 321-336 are mispaged 200, 121,
283, 210, and 323-338, respectively.
The second edition (H. 61) is in every way a reprint, varying from
the first edition in line and page-lengths, in contractions, in
line-endings, in text, in folio headings, and in typographic style.
While the title-pages of both editions end similarly, line for line,
the type of the first edition is generally larger than that of the
second; L'ANNE'E and M DC. XXXV in the first, are printed L'ANNEE and
M. DC. XXXV, in the second edition. In the Privilege of the first
edition the head ornament consists of eighteen parts, bisected by
four dots; but in the second there are but seventeen parts without a
division. The word "consecutiues" in the first is printed "cõsecutiues"
in the second; many similar differences in the text, too numerous to
mention here, are evident. Among other differences may be noted the
fact that whereas, in the first edition, native words are sometimes set
in Roman and sometimes in Italic, they are uniformly in Italic in the
second edition.
There is still another, a third, edition of this Relation of 1634,
which may be designated as the Avignon edition. The only copy known
to us is in the Lenox Library. It is imperfect; for almost half of
the upper part of the title-page, half of leaf A₄ (pp. 7 and 8), and
nearly the whole of the last four pages (413-416) are lacking. It was
reprinted, together with the Relation of 1635, and the following title
is restored by conjecture, through the help of the wording of similar
lines in other Relations.
[Relations] | d[e ce qvi s'est passé] | en [la Novvelle France,] |
en [les années 1634 et 1635.] | Enuoyée a[u R. Pere Provincial de] |
la Compagni[e de Iesvs en la] | Prouince de F[rance.] | Par le Pere
le Ievne de la m[esme] | Compagnie, Superieur de la | Residence de
Kebec. | [_A cross patté_] | En Avignon, | De l'Imprimerie de Iaqves
Bramereav, | Imprimeur de sa Sainctetè, de la Ville, & | Vniuersité.
Auec permission des Superieurs | M. DC. XXXVI. |
_Collation_: Title, with verso blank, 1 l.; preface headed "A
MESSIEVRS," etc., pp. (8); Le Jeune's Relation of 1634, pp. 1-269; p.
270 blank; Relation of 1635, pp. 271-336; Brébeuf's Huron Relation,
pp. 337-392; Perrault's Relation of Cape Breton, pp. 393-400; "Divers
Sentimens," pp. 401-416. Sig. a in five, and A-Cc in eights. Sig. O is
by mistake printed Oo; pp. 27, 152, 212, 323, and 345 are mispaged 77,
52, 122, 223, and 245, respectively. There is a special preface, as
follows, covering eight unnumbered pages:
A Messievrs les Prefect, Assistans, Conseillers, & Confreres
de la grande Congregation de N. Dame erigée au
College d'Auignon sous le tiltre de l'immaculee
Cōception de la Vierge.
MESSIEVRS,
_Voicy des Sauuages qui sortent de leurs forests, pour se produire
au iour dans la France, & changer d'air & d'humeur dans le plus
agreable seiour du monde. Ils_ [2] _viennent de paroistre à la
Cour, ou l'on a pris plaisir a voir ces visages d'vn autre monde:
le Roy les à veus comme l'vne des conquestes de sa pieté & celuy
qui luy a presenté cette Relation à eu le mesme accueil que le
courrier qui luy auroit porté les nouuelles d'vne Prouince gaignée.
Ce grand Genie de l'Estat venant de forcer l'Heresie dans ses
meilleures villes, a fait passer encore son zele au dela des mers,
pour y donner la chasse à l'Idolatrie, iusques dans ses forests.
Il est vray qu'il a fallu plus de sueur que de sang en vne guerre,
d'où l'on ne pretendoit autre auantage que sur des ames, & où l'on
ne_ [3] _vouloit rien gaigner que sur des esprits, qui ne sont
difficiles a estre vaincus, que parce qu'ils sont trop foibles.
Vous verrez des catécumenes, chez qui la premiere disposition pour
estre Chrestiens, c'est de deuenir Hommes; & peutestre que vous
benirez auec moy les trauaux de ces conquerans de la Croix, que
la charité arrache du sein de leur patrie pour changer le Ciel de
la Frãce en vn climat qui voit d'autres astres que cettui-cy, &
où l'on n'a rien de commun auec nous que les Elemens. Au reste ie
vous presente cet ouurage comme vne piece qui est toute acquise
à vostre Maistresse, & que i'appends comme_ [4] _vn anatheme
voué à cet auguste Oratoire où la Reyne du Ciel voit autour de
ses Autels l'vne des plus honorables assemblées qui soient en
France. Vous aurez de la consolation à voir des Pays inconnus,
qui donnent des seruiteurs à +MARIE+, & la passion que vous auez
pour sa gloire, vous fera prendre vos interests dans les heureux
progrez que ces commencemens nous promettent, puisque la creance
du Fils est la premiere disposition à l'honneur de la Mere: vous
estes les domestiques de l'vn & de l'autre; & voicy des Estrangers
qui cherchent de la faueur, & qui esperent que comme +MARIE+_ [5]
_agréera le bon accueil que ses deuots feront aux nouueaux subiets
de +JESVS+ aussi +IESVS+ les verra de bon œil, si les deuots de
+MARIE+ les luy presentent. Que si nos Canadois à leur abord vous
saluent de mauuaise grace, Messieurs, ne vous rebutez pas; ce sont
les complimens d'vn peuple qui voit plus souuent des Elans que des
hommes, & que nos François appriuoisent à la vie ciuile, sous des
cabanes. Ie sçay bien que dans l'estat ou vous les verrez vous ne
leur donnerez aucun autre rapport auec nous que celuy de la figure,
& que vous iugerez que dans le rang des natures intelligentes,_
[6] _ils composent vne espece nouuelle, entre l'hōme & la beste: &
cela mesme à mon iugemēt doit seruir à les faire mieux receuoir,
puisque vous lirez sur ces faces mal-faittes les obligatiõs
immortelles que vous auez à cette Prouidence qui à contribué autant
de perfections differentes pour vous rendre accomplis, qu'elle a
laissé de defauts dans les corps, & dans les esprits de nos pauures
Sauuages. Peutestre que le commerce qu'ils ont auec nos François
leur sera vne leçon ordinaire de cette humanité dont nous tenons
eschole ouuerte à toute l'Europe. Qui sçait si ces landes steriles
seront vn iour l'vne des_ [7] _belles parties du monde. Pourrions
nous bien desauoüer que ces belles Prouinces que nous habitōs
maintenant, & où les Nations estrangeres viennent faire l'amour
aux Graces, n'ayent esté autrefois la Nouuelle France? & les Peres
de ceux qui viennent estudier chez nous l'art de viure auec les
hommes, n'ont-ils pas fait passer nos ancestres pour des Barbares?
Que si nos Peres ont seulement adoré des Dieux d'or & de marbre,
nos Sauuages ne sont pas plus impies, pour estre superstitieux auec
moins de despense; & tousiours ils auront cet auantage qu'ils ne
perdront pas tant a brusler leurs Idoles. Que si_ [8] _vous agrées
(Messieurs) cete offre, ie redoubleray mes vœus & mes prieres
pour haster la conuersion de ces peuples afin que ma presse suë
plus souuent, & trauaille sur quelque ouurage plus grand ou vous
recognoistrez que ie suis._
_MESSIEVRS_,
Vostre tres-humble & tres obeissant seruiteur.
+IAQVES BRAMEREAV.+
The Avignon has one peculiarity which we have not seen noted elsewhere.
Signature F ends on p. 96 with the catch-word "Pour." In commencing
the next sheet, signature G, the printer begins with the word "Pour"
found near top of p. 130 of the Paris first issue; from that point, he
continues his type-setting, seemingly without discovering that he has
omitted the whole of the matter from line 4, p. 125, to line 3, p. 130
of the Paris first edition.
Harrisse's descriptions (nos. 60, 61, and 64) are entirely useless,
being in these titles very inaccurate. There are errors and omissions,
too, in Sabin, vol. xvi., p. 537, nos. iii. and iv. As the statements
of other catalogues and bibliographies are generally based on these,
we omit, in this case, to refer to them. Copies of the Paris editions
have been sold or priced as follows: Barlow (1889), no. 1274, $25.;
O'Callaghan (1882), no. 1215, first edition, $9.; no. 1213, second
edition, but called there first, $65.--it had cost him 68 francs; Moore
sale, pt. 2 (1894), no. 639, second edition, $10.; Dufossé, of Paris,
priced (1891 and 1892) at 150 francs; Harrassowitz, of Leipzig, priced
(1882) at 180 marks. Copies of the Paris editions, first or second,
may be found in the following libraries: Lenox (2 editions), Harvard,
Library of Parliament (Ottawa), Brown (private), British Museum, and
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.
NOTES TO VOL. VI
(_Figures in parentheses, following number of note, refer to pages of
English text._)
1 (p. 35).--This was the motto of the Society of Jesus; it was a
favorite expression with Loyola, and was adopted by him as the rule of
his life. It became thus the rule of the Jesuit order, expressing the
consecration of the lives of its members "to the greater glory of God."
2 (p. 35).--Jean de Lauson (or Lauzon), one of the most influential
men in the affairs of Canada during more than thirty years, was born in
1582. In 1627, he was a member of both the state and privy councils;
a member of the tribunal known as "requêtes de l'hotel," whose office
was to bring petitions of individuals before the royal council; and
president of the grand council. In the same year, he was appointed
intendant of Richelieu's Company of New France, holding this post for
about ten years. He acquired, for both himself and his family, large
seigniories; the most important of these was the island of Montreal,
which, however, he transferred (Aug. 7, 1640) to Dauversière and his
associates, who founded the Montreal colony.
In January, 1651, Lauson was appointed governor of Canada, where he
arrived in October following. Nine days later, he married (as his
second wife) Anne Després, sister-in-law of Sieur Duplessis-Bochart
(see vol. v., _note_ 34). Lauson's administration, lasting till the
end of 1656, was marked by quarrels with the Montreal colony, and by
general disaffection among the residents of Canada. He cared less,
apparently, for the needs or welfare of the country than for his own
aggrandizement; and he was unfitted, by age and by lack of resolution,
for the position he held,--especially at this time, when the Iroquois
were a constant menace to the entire St. Lawrence region. He was,
however, friendly to the Jesuits, and conferred many favors upon them.
He died in February, 1666.
3 (p. 37).--Davost and Daniel had arrived, with the latter's brother,
at the Grand Cibou (Cape Breton), in 1632; and in the following year
they went thence to Quebec with Champlain (see vol. v., _notes_ 53, 54).
4 (p. 43).--Concerning Three Rivers, see vol. iv., _note_ 24.
5 (p. 43).--Jacques Buteux was born at Abbeville, April 11, 1600;
and at the age of twenty entered the Jesuit novitiate at Rouen. His
studies were pursued at La Flèche; he was an instructor at Caen during
1625-29, and superintendent of the school at Clermont, 1633-34. In
the latter year, he was sent to the Canada mission, and in September
went with Le Jeune to the new settlement of Three Rivers. Here he
remained (as superior, during 1639-42, and 1647-52), ministering to the
Montagnais and Algonkin tribes, among whom he frequently journeyed.
His death occurred May 10, 1652, while ascending the St. Maurice
River, on a journey to the country of the Attikamègues; attacked by a
hostile band of Iroquois, he was slain by them, and thrown into the
river. Buteux, though of frail and delicate physique, was filled with
zeal for the conversion of the savages, and longed for the glory of a
martyr's death. Mother Mary of the Incarnation writes that his was "an
incredible loss to the mission."
6 (p. 47).--_All our men_: a number of skilled artisans had been
sent over in 1634, with Le Jeune; and they proceeded, under De Nouë's
direction, to rebuild the Jesuit residence, which had suffered greatly
during the capture of Quebec and the English occupation. They also
built a small house for the priests in charge of Champlain's chapel,
Notre Dame de Récouvrance (see vol. iv., _note_ 20).
7 (p. 69).--_Notre-Dame des Anges_: this name was given first by the
Récollets to their convent at Quebec (see vol. iv., _note_ 22); the
Jesuits adopted the appellation for their own church and residence
not far distant, on the site once occupied by Cartier's fort, at the
confluence of the St. Charles and Lairet rivers. The Jesuits were
granted, in 1626, a seigniory on the St. Charles, which was named
Notre-Dame des Anges.
8 (p. 75).--Robert Giffard, sieur of Beauport, was born in 1587,
at Mortagne, France. He was a physician, and Sulte says that he had
an appointment in that capacity, on the ships that were annually
sent to Canada. In 1627, he had a hunting-lodge at La Canardière,
where two Frenchmen were murdered by the Indians. He left Canada,
upon its seizure by the English; but having obtained (Jan. 15, 1634)
the concession of Beauport, below Quebec, he, in the following May,
conducted thither a colony, under the escort of Duplessis-Bochart.
He was (after Hébert) the first real colonist in Canada, the first
who obtained from the soil support for his establishment. Lists of
Giffard's censitaires are given by Sulte (_Can.-Français_, vol. ii.,
pp. 50-52, 57). In 1647, he obtained another and larger grant of land,
known as the fief St. Gabriel. He transferred a part of this concession
to the Hurons of New Lorette, March 13, 1651; another part to the
hospital nuns (which order one of his daughters had joined two years
before), Aug. 20, 1652; and the remainder to the Jesuits, Nov. 2, 1657,
but five months before his death. In September, 1648, Giffard was
elected a member of the colonial council. In August, 1652, his daughter
Marie Louise (then aged thirteen) married Charles de Lauson, son of the
governor. Giffard was a prominent and public-spirited citizen of New
France.
9 (p. 101).--Nicholas Rohault, Marquis de Gamache (or Gamaches), was
a nobleman of Picardy. His eldest son, René Rohault, was born May
25, 1609, not far from Amiens, in which city he was a pupil at the
Jesuit college. René became a novice in that order, March 9, 1626, at
Paris,--largely through the influence of Coton, then provincial of
France, whose death occurred but ten days later. Upon entering his
novitiate, René persuaded his father to give the Jesuits a part of his
own patrimony, for the establishment of a school in connection with
their Canadian mission. De Gamache accordingly gave them, for his son,
16,000 écus of gold (Charlevoix erroneously says 6,000); and added, as
a personal gift from himself, an annuity of 3,000 livres, to be paid as
long as he should live. René pursued his studies successively at Paris,
Amiens, Eu, and La Flèche, and preached three years at Eu, where he
died June 29, 1839.
Le Jeune had opened, about the beginning of 1633, at the residence
of Notre Dame des Anges, a school for such Indian children as he
could collect from wandering families or parties camping near
Quebec,--Montagnais or Algonkin. In the summer of 1636, a few boys were
brought from the Huron country by Daniel and Davost; and these, with
two lads who had been presented to Le Jeune, were the nucleus of the
"seminary" or boarding-school that had been so ardently desired by the
missionaries, Récollet as well as Jesuit. After continuing this school
nearly five years, the Jesuits abandoned it, in order to carry on the
college at Quebec (which had been established through the gift of De
Gamache), and an Indian settlement at Sillery.--See Creuxius' _Hist.
Canad._, pp. 7, 8; and Rochemonteix's _Jésuites_, vol. i., pp. 205-209,
280-287.
10 (p. 103).--Kingsford says (_Canada_, vol. 1., p. 130): "One
regulation which Champlain instituted remains in force to this day. He
directed that, in New France, the _Angelus_ should be rung at morning,
mid-day, and evening,--a social as well as a religious necessity, in a
community where there were few clocks, watches, or sun-dials.
"The _Angelus_ is so called from the short Latin prayer made at the
hour indicated by the ringing of the church bell. In summer the morning
hour is six, in winter it is seven; the bell is also rung at noon, and
at seven in the evening." The devotion of the Angelus was instituted by
Pope John XXII., in 1316.
11 (p. 105).--Cf. with this account of Jacques Michel, that given by
Champlain, in _Voyages_ (1632), pp. 230, 252, 256-262.
12 (p. 119).--Concerning Pierre Antoine (Pastedechouan), the
Montagnais interpreter, see vol. v., _note_ 33.
13 (p. 129).--For sketch of Oliver Le Tardif, see vol. v., _note_ 49.
14 (p. 147).--_The Sorcerer_: Carigonan, a noted medicine man among
the Montagnais, and a brother of Pierre Antoine. A third brother, with
whom Le Jeune lived while wintering with the tribe, was named Mestigoit.
15 (p. 151).--The abandonment of the Indian village at Three Rivers,
here referred to, would seem to have occurred some time after the
League of the Five Nations was formed (soon after 1600). See vol. v.,
_note_ 52.
16 (p. 157).--See Le Jeune's account of legends regarding Messou and
Atahocan, vol. v., pp. 153-157, and _note_ 41. Cf. the "comparative
study of the Nanibozhu legend" given by Chamberlain in _Journal of
American Folk-Lore_, vol. iv. (1891), pp. 193-213; and vol. v., p. 291.
17 (p. 159).--This curious legend suggests the Greek myth of Pandora.
Cf. a story related by Le Clercq, in his _Relation de la Gaspesie_
(Paris, 1691), pp. 310-326, of a soul that was brought back by a
bereaved father from the Land of Souls, and lost through the curiosity
of a woman. On the ideas of immortality current among the aborigines,
see Sagard's _Canada_, pp. 497, 498; Champlain's _Voyages_ (1632), part
i., p. 127; Tailhan's _Perrot_, pp. 40-43, 184, 185; Schoolcraft's
_Ind. Tribes_, vol., iii., p. 60, and vol. v., p. 79; and Parkman's
_Jesuits_, pp. lxxx.-lxxxiii.
18 (p. 163).--_Castelogne_: a woolen blanket. The name, originally a
commercial term, and used especially in Normandy, seems to have been
derived from Catalonia, Spain, where this article was manufactured.
Clapin's _Dictionnaire Canadien-Français_ (Montreal, 1894) states that
the name "castelogne" is still used in Canada, to designate a home-made
rug of odds and ends.
19 (p. 253).--The _Mercure François_, vol. xix. (1633), p. 841, thus
speaks of the influence of liquor on the Indians, and Champlain's
attitude toward the traffic, in an account of the latter's voyage to
Canada (1633), written by "a reliable person who made the voyage with
him:" "Our Savages--not only men, but women and girls--are such lovers
of brandy that they get swinishly intoxicated, since the English made
them acquainted with this beverage, which causes numberless quarrels
among them. When they get tipsy, they fight, and batter each other with
their fists; they break into the cabins, and tear them in pieces; and
in this state they may do some foul deed, and murder us,--as some time
ago they threatened a sailor, and, if he had not thrown himself into
the water, I know not what they might have done to him,--and thence
would arise broils and commotion throughout the country. Sieur de
Champlain, considering this, and realizing the misfortunes that would
arise therefrom, deems it expedient to issue a stringent prohibition
of traffic, in any manner whatsoever, in brandy,--under penalty of
corporal punishment, and loss of his wages, for any one caught in
selling brandy and wine."
The missionaries of all the orders, notably the Jesuits, persistently
opposed the sale of liquor to the Indians; but in this course they
aroused powerful and unscrupulous enemies, as we shall see in later
volumes.
20 (p. 257).--_Obole_: a small copper coin of early French currency,
named from the Greek ὀβολός. Its value was one-half that of a denier
tournois (which equaled one-twelfth of a sou). The obole is mentioned
as early as 1329. The word is used in the present text, however, to
signify, in a general way, a very small sum, in the same manner that
the English often use the word "penny," or "farthing."
21 (p. 271).--For information on the elk and moose, see vol. ii.,
_note_ 34; on the caribou, see vol. iii., _note_ 17.
22 (p. 271).--_The whistler, or nightingale_: so named from the shrill
whistle it utters on the approach of an enemy. The hoary marmot, or
whistler (_Arctomys pruinosus_): a hibernant rodent, of the _Sciuridæ_
or squirrel family; its flesh is esteemed a delicacy by the Indians,
who also sew the skins into robes or blankets.
23 (p. 273).--Concerning these roots, see vol. v., _note_ 29. The
"rosary" is doubtless _Apios tuberosa_; its roots were and still are
used as food by the aborigines. It has been found as far north as
latitude 47°, on the Lower St. Lawrence. It is figured and described
by Charlevoix, in _Plantes Principales de l'Amérique Septentrionale_
(Paris, 1744), p. 21.
24 (p. 273).--_Michtan_: the sugar-maple (_Acer saccharinum_). This
tree was found, by early explorers, growing abundantly throughout
Canada and the Atlantic region. Lafitau tells how the Indians made
sugar from its sap (_Mœurs des Sauvages_, part ii., pp. 154-157) and
gives a pictorial illustration of the process. Cf. Schoolcraft's _Ind.
Tribes_, vol. ii., pp. 55, 56; Bouchette's _British Dominions in N.
America_ (London, 1832), pp. 371, 372; and Carr's "Food of Amer. Inds,"
_Am. Antiq. Soc. Proc._, vol. x., part i., p. 170.
25 (p. 273).--The early explorers found tobacco cultivated by the
natives along the entire Atlantic coast. Cartier saw it in use on
the St. Lawrence; Champlain, under cultivation at San Domingo and
on the coast of Maine; Strachey, on the James River (where it was
called _apooke_). The Northern species was _Nicotiana rustica_,
smaller and of milder quality than _N. tabacum_ of the South. It was
generally known among the Indians as _petun_ (a word of Brazilian
origin).--See Pickering's _Chron. Hist. of Plants_, pp. 741, 742.
Champlain mentions it (Laverdière's ed., p. 50) as "tobacco, also
called petung, or Queen's plant." It is figured by De Bry in Wyth's
_Portraits of Inhabitants of Virginia_ (1590), plates 1, 22,--reprinted
by Langley (N. Y., 1841). For descriptions of its preparation and use,
see Cartier's _Brief Récit_ (Tross ed.), p. 31; Lescarbot's _Nouv.
France_, pp. 838, 840; Lafitau's _Mœurs des Sauvages_, part ii., pp.
126-139. Lescarbot says: "The good Tobacco that comes from Brazil costs
sometimes an écu the pound." Tobacco was highly prized by the American
Indians, and often figured in their myths, religious rites, and
sacrifices; much information concerning these is given by _Jour. Amer.
Folk-Lore_.
The pipes used in smoking were often elaborately carved and otherwise
ornamented. Creuxius has an illustration (_Hist. Canad._, p. 76) of
an Indian smoking a long pipe; Schoolcraft gives descriptions and
engravings of various sculptured pipes, in _Ind. Tribes_, vol. i., pp.
72, 74; vol. ii., p. 511. Cf. _Bureau of Ethnology Report_, 1890-91,
pp. 323-354, etc.; and 1891-92, pp. 128-134. The pipe was ceremoniously
smoked at councils, especially when a treaty was under consideration.
26 (p. 275).--_Hippocras_: an old medicinal drink composed of
wine with an infusion of spices and other ingredients, used as a
cordial.--_Century Dictionary_ (N. Y., 1889).
Transcriber's Note.
Variable spelling and hyphenation have been retained. Minor punctuation
inconsistencies have been silently repaired.
Corrections.
The first line indicates the original, the second the correction.
p. 105:
bereft him of all conciousness
bereft him of all consciousness
p. 133:
her Father was called in Algonqauin,
her Father was called in Algonquain,