a Reek of Hay. Some of them are sixty Foot Diameter. In Order to build
them, they plant Trees as thick as a Man’s Thigh, tall and strait,
and placing them in a Circle, and joyning the Tops together, form the
Dome, or round Top, then they lath and cover them with Weeds. When they
remove their Dwellings, they generally burn the Cottages they leave,
and build new on the Ground they design to inhabit.
[Sidenote: _Their moveables._]
[Sidenote: _Beds._]
Their Moveables are some Bullocks Hides and Goats Skins well cur’d,
some Mats close wove, wherewith they adorn their Huts, and some Earthen
Vessels, which they are very skilful at making, and wherein they boil
their Flesh or Roots, or _Sagamite_, which, as has been said, is their
Pottage. They have also some small Baskets made of Canes, serving to
put in their Fruit and other Provisions. Their Beds are made of Canes,
rais’d two or three Foot above the Ground, handsomely fitted with
Mats and Bullocks Hides, or Goats Skins well cur’d, which serve them
for Feather Beds, or Quilts and Blankets cured with the hair on, to
serve as mattresses and bedclothes; and those Beds are parted one from
another by Mats hung up.
[Sidenote: _Tillage._]
When they design to Till the Ground, they give one another Notice, and
very often above an Hundred of each Sex meet together. When they have
till’d that Piece of Land, after their Manner, and spent part of the
Day, those the Land belongs to, give the others to Eat, and then they
spend the rest of the Day in Dancing and Merry Making. This same is
practis’d from Canton to Canton, and so they till Land all together.
[Sidenote: _Instrument for Tilling._]
[Sidenote: _Women sow._]
This Tillage consists in breaking up just the Surface of the Earth with
a Sort of Wooden Instrument, like a little Pick-axe, which they make by
splitting the End of a thick Piece of Wood, that serves for a Handle,
and putting another Piece of Wood sharp Pointed at one End into the
Slit. This Instrument serves them instead of a Hoe, or Spade, for they
have no Iron Tools. When the Land has been thus till’d or broke up, the
Women Sow and Plant the _Indian_ Corn, Beans, Pompions, Water Melons,
and other Grain and Garden Ware, which is for their Sustenance.
[Sidenote: Indians _disfigure themselves_.]
The _Indians_ are generally Handsom, but disfigure themselves by making
Scores, or Streaks on their Faces, from the Top of the Forehead down
the Nose to the Tip of the Chin; which is done by pricking the Skin
with Needles, or other sharp Instruments, till it bleeds, whereon
they strew fine Powder of Charcoal, and that sinks in and mixes with
the Blood within the Skin. They also make after the same Manner, the
Figures of living Creatures, of Leaves and Flowers on their Shoulders,
Thighs, and other Parts of their Bodies, and Paint themselves, as has
been said before, with Black or Red, and sometimes both together.
[Sidenote: _Women._]
The Women are generally well Shap’d, and would not be disagreeable, did
they adhere to Nature; but they Disguise themselves as ridiculously as
the Men, not only with the Streak they have like them down their Face,
but by other Figures they make on it, at the Corners of their Eyes, and
on the other Parts of their Bodies; whereof they make more particular
Show on their Bosom, and those who have the most, are reckoned the
handsomest; tho’ that pricking in that Part be extremely painful to
them.
[Sidenote: _They do the Work at Home._]
It is they that do all the Work[102] in the Cottage, either in
Pounding the _Indian_ Corn and Baking the Meal, or making the Pottage
of the said Meal, by them call’d _Sagamite_, or in dressing their other
Provisions, or drying or parching, or smoaking their Flesh, fetching
the Wood they have Occasion for, or the Flesh of Bullocks, or other
Beasts kill’d by their Husbands in the Woods, which are often at a
great Distance, and afterwards Dressing them as has been said. They Sow
and Plant, when the Land has been broke up, and in short, do almost all
that is requisite for the Support of Life.
[Sidenote: _Their Behaviour._]
I did not observe that those Women were naturally given to Lewdness;
but their Virtue is not Proof against some of our Toys, when presented
them, as Needles, Knives, and more particularly Strings of Beads,
whereof they make Necklaces and Bracelets, and that Temptation is
rarely resisted by them, and the less because they have no Religion
or Law to prohibit that vile Practice. It is true their Husbands,
when they take them in the Fact, sometimes do punish them, either by
Separation or otherwise; but that is rare.
[Sidenote: _Habits._]
The Country of those _Indians_ being generally subject to no Cold,
almost all of them go naked; unless when the _North_ Wind blows, then
they cover themselves with a Bullock’s Hide, or Goat’s Skin cur’d. The
Women wear nothing but a Skin, Mat, or Clout, hanging round them like
a Petticoat, and reaching down half way their Legs, which hides their
Nakedness before and behind. On their Heads they have nothing but their
Hair platted and knotted behind.
[Sidenote: _Manners._]
As for their Manners, it may be said of these as of all other _Indians_
of that great Continent, that they are not Mischievous, unless wrong’d
or attack’d; in which Case they are all Fierce and Revengeful. They
Watch all Opportunities to be Reveng’d, and never let any slip, when
offer’d, which is the Cause of their being continually at War with
their Neighbours, and of that Martial Humour, so Predominant among
them.
[Sidenote: _Religion._]
As to the Knowledge of a God, they did not seem to us to have any fix’d
Notion of Him; it is true, we met with some on our Way, who as far as
we could judge, believ’d, there was some Superior Being, which was
above all Things, and this they testify’d by lifting up their Hands and
Eyes to Heaven, yet without any Manner of Concern, as believing that
the said exalted Being does not regard at all, what is done here below.
However none of them having any Places of Worship, Ceremonies, or
Prayers, to denote the divine Homage, it may be said of them all, that
they have no Religion, at least those that we saw.
[Sidenote: _Ceremonies._]
However, they observe some Ceremonies; but whether they have any
Regard to a real or pretended Superior Being, or whether they are
only popular, and proceeding from Custom, is what we were not able to
discover. Those Ceremonies are as follows. When the Corn is ripe, they
gather a certain Quantity in a Maund or Basket, which is placed on a
Sort of Seat or Stool, dedicated to that Use, and serving only upon
those misterious Occasions, which they have a great Veneration for.
The Basket with the Corn being placed on that honour’d Stool, one of
the Elders holds out his Hands over it, and talks a long Time; after
which, the said old Man distributes the Corn among the Women, and no
Person is allow’d to eat of the new Corn, till eight Days after that
Ceremony. This seems to be in the Nature of Offering up or Blessing the
first Fruits of their Harvest.
At their Assemblies, when the _Sagamite_, or Pottage, which is the most
essential Part of their meal, is boil’d in a great Pot, they place that
Pot on the Stool of Ceremony above mention’d, and one of the Elders
stretches out his Hands over it, muttering some Words between his Teeth
for a considerable Time, after which, they fall to eat.
[Sidenote: _Tabacco._]
When the young Folks are grown up to be fit to go to the Wars, and
take upon them to be Soldiers, their Garment, consisting of some Skin,
or Clout, together with their Bow, Quiver and Arrows, is placed on
the aforesaid Stool, an old Man stretches out his Hands over them,
mutters the Words as above, and then the Garments, Bows, Quivers, and
Arrows are given to the Persons they belong to. This may be compar’d to
Something of a Ceremony of Knighting among them. The same Ceremonies
are us’d by them in the cultivating of their Grain and Product, but
particularly of the Tabacco, whereof they have a Sort, which has
smaller Leaves than Ours; it is almost ever green and they use it in
Leaves.
This is what we observ’d among the _Cenis_, whose Customs and Manners
differ very little from those of other Nations, which we had seen
before, and saw afterwards. As to the Point of Religion, it is not to
be infer’d from what I have said above, that there is none throughout
that vast Continent: The Account I have given only regards those
Nations we saw; there may be others that have some Worship, and I
remember I have heard Monsieur _de la Sale_ say, that the Nation call’d
_Takensa_, neighbouring on the _Islinois_, ador’d the Fire, and that
they had Cottages which they made use of, as Temples.
[Sidenote: _Nation, what is meant here by it._]
Before I conclude this short Account of the Religion, Customs and
Manners of the _Cenis_, which belong’d properly to this Place, it
is fit here also to observe, that the Word Nation, is not to be
understood, among those _Indians_, to denote a People possessing a
whole Province, or vast Extent of Land. Those Nations are no other than
a Parcel of Villages, dispers’d for the Space of fifteen, of twenty or
of thirty Leagues at most, which compose a distinct People or Nation;
and they differ from one another rather in Language than in Manners,
wherein they are all much alike, or at least they vary but little, as
has been mention’d above. As for the Names of them, here follow those
of such as we travel’d through, or were near the Way we held from our
leaving our Habitation near the Bay of the Holy Ghost, till we came
among the _Cenis_.
[Sidenote: _Names of Nations._]
The _Spicheats_, _Kabayes_, _Thecamons_, _Theauremets_, _Kiabaha_,
_Chaumenes_, _Kouans_, _Arhau_, _Enepiahe_, _Ahonerhopiheim_,
_Koienkahe_, _Konkone_, _Omeaosse_, _Keremen_, _Ahekouen_, _Meghty_,
_Tetamenes_, _Otenmarhem_, _Kouayon_ and _Meracouman_. All these
Nations are on the North of the River called _la Maligne_. Those that
follow, are on the West and North-West of the same River.
The _Kannehouan_, _Tohaha_, _Pehir_, _Cagabegux_, _Onapien_, _Pickar_,
_Tokau_, _Kuasses_, _Chancres_, _Teserabocretes_, _Tsepehoen_,
_Fercouteha_, _Panego_, _Petao_, _Petzare_, _Peisacho_, _Peihoun_,
_Orcan_ and _Piou_.[103] This last Nation borders upon the _Cenis_,
at the Entrance into whose first Village I left my Reader, to give an
Account of the Inhabitants, and thither I return, to proceed with my
Relation and our Journey to the Village, the _French_ Man who liv’d
among the Natives was to conduct us to.
We arriv’d there at Night, and found other Elders coming out to meet
us, much after the same Manner as the others mention’d before. They led
us to their Cottage, made us sit down on Mats and smoke, but not with
so much Ceremony as the others. That done, it was Time for us to take
our Rest, having given them to understand that we were weary.
[Sidenote: French _Entertained by the Natives_.]
The _French Provencal_ would needs have us go to his Cottage, that is
to the Hut where he had his Dwelling; for, as I have said, there are
several Families in one of them, and that was one of the greatest in
the Canton, having been the Habitation of one of their Chief’s, lately
deceased.
They allotted us a Place there, for our Goods and Packs, the Women
immediately made _Sagamite_ or Pottage, and gave it us. Having eaten,
we ask’d the _French_ Man whether we were safe, and he answering we
were, we lay down, but yet could not sleep sound.
[Sidenote: _Apr. 1687_]
[Sidenote: _A Horse sold for an Ax._]
The next Day, being the first of _April_, the Elders came to receive
and conducted us to the Cottage where we had been the Day before. After
the usual Ceremonies, we traded with them for Corn, Meal and Beans,
giving in Exchange for the same, Needles, Knives, Rings and other Toys.
We also purchased a very fine Stone Horse,[104] that would have been
worth twenty Pistoles in _France_, for an Ax.
The Day was spent in driving our small Bargains and gathering
Provisions, which the Women brought. When that was done, it was agreed,
that I should remain there, to lay up more Store, and that the others
should return to our Company, which we had left near the River, to
carry the Provisions and satisfy them they might come safely.
Tho’ I thought my self not over secure among the _Indians_, and besides
had the Dissatisfaction of understanding none of their Language; yet
was I not unwilling to stay, that I might have an Opportunity of seeing
the two other _French_ Men, who had forsaken the late Monsieur _de la
Sale_, when he first travell’d into that Country, that I might enquire
of them, whether they had heard no talk of the _Missisipi_ River, for I
still held my Resolution of parting from our wicked Murderers.
As soon as they were gone, I gave a young _Indian_ a Knife, to go bid
those two other _French_ Men come to me, and whilst he was going I
drove on my little Trade for Provisions, and had frequent Visits from
the Elders, who entertain’d me by Signs, with an Account of their
intended War; to which I still answer’d, nodding my Head, tho’ very
often I knew not what they meant. It was some Difficulty to me to
secure my small Merchandize, especially at Night, for the Natives were
covetous of them.
[Sidenote: _The Author meets another French Man among the Indians._]
This Care, which kept me from Sleeping sound, was the Occasion, that
one Night I heard some Body moving near my Bed, and opening my Eyes,
by the Light of the Fire, which never goes out in those Cottages,
perceiv’d a Man stark naked, with a Bow and two Arrows in his Hand,
who came and sat down by me, without saying any Thing. I view’d him
for some Time, I spoke to him, he made me no Answer, and not knowing
what to think of it, I laid hold of my two Pistols and my Firelock,
which the Man perceiving, he went and sat by the Fire. I follow’d, and
looking steadfastly on him, he knew and spoke to me, throwing his Arms
about and embracing me, and then made himself known to be one of the
French Men I had sent for.
[Sidenote: _French turn’d savage._]
We fell into Discourse, I ask’d him for his Comrade, he told me, he
durst not come, for Fear of Monsieur _de la Sale_. They were both
Sailors, this Man, who was of _Britany_, was call’d _Ruter_; the other,
of _Rochelle_, _Grollet_. They had, in that short Space of Time, so
perfectly enur’d themselves to the Customs of the Natives, that they
were become meer Savages. They were naked, their Faces and Bodies with
Figures wrought on them, like the rest. They had taken several Wives,
been at the Wars and kill’d their Enemies with their Firelocks, which
had gain’d them Reputation; but having no more Powder nor Ball, their
Arms were grown useless, and they had been forc’d to learn to shoot
with Bows and Arrows. As for Religion, they were not troubled with much
of it, and that Libertine Life they led, was pleasing to them.
I acquainted this Man with the unfortunate Death of Monsr. _de la
Sale_, his Nephew and the rest, at which, he was surpris’d and
concern’d, at least in outward Appearance. I ask’d him, whether he had
not heard talk of the _Missisipi_; he told me he had not; but only
that there was a great River forty Leagues from thence towards the _N.
W._[105] where the Natives said there were many Nations along its
Banks. That made me believe, it was the very River we were in Search
of, or at least that it must be the Way to come at it. I gave him to
eat, and we went to Rest.
The next and the following Days, I continu’d trading, and the Elders
their Visits, and their Discourse by Signs, concerning their intended
War. Some of them gave me to understand, that they had been among the
_Spaniards_, who are nevertheless about two hundred Leagues from them.
They spoke some Words of broken _Spanish_, as _Capita_, instead of
_Capitan_, a Captain, and _Cohavillo_ instead of _Cavallo_, a Horse,
and so of some others. _Ruter_, the _French_ Man return’d to his
Dwelling, I gave him some Strings of Beads for his Wives, and desir’d
him to send the other _French_ Man to me.
[Sidenote: _Indian Maid brought to the Author._]
In the mean Time my being alone, as to any Person I could converse
with, grew very irksome to me, and I know not whether an old Man
did not perceive it; for he thought it would be proper to bring a
Companion, to divert me, and at Night I was surpris’d to see a young
Maid come sit down by me, and to hear the old Man tell me, he had
brought her to be my Wife, and gave her to me; but I had far different
Thoughts to disturb me. I spoke not one Word to that poor Maid; she
stay’d some Time expecting I would take notice of her, and perceiving I
did not stir, or speak one Word, she withdrew.
[Sidenote: French _Men like_ Indians.]
Thus I continu’d, without hearing any News, till the Sixth of _April_,
when the two _French_ Men, I have spoken of, came both, in the _Indian_
Dress, each of them having only a Clout about him, some Turky Feathers
on their Shoulders, their Heads and Feet bare. The latter of them whose
name was _Grollet_, had not consented to have his Face mark’d like the
other, nor to cut his Hair after the _Indian_ Manner; for those People
cut off all theirs, except a small Lock on the Crown of the Head, like
the Turks, only some of them have small Tresses on the Temples.
I repeated to them the Narrative of Monsieur _de la Sale_’s unfortunate
Story. They confirm’d what I had been told before, that the Natives had
talk’d to them of the great River, which was forty Leagues off, towards
the N. E. and that there were People like us, that dwelt on the Banks
of it. This confirm’d me in the Opinion, that it was the River so much
sought after, and that we must go that Way to return to _Canada_ or
towards _New England_. They told me, they would willingly go with us. I
desired them to keep it secret, which they did not, for being inform’d
that Monsieur _Cavelier_ and the others were coming, they went to meet
them, and I was again left alone.
[Sidenote: _The Murderers resolve to return to the Habition of_ St.
Lewis.]
The 8th, three Men came to me, one of which was the _French_ Man of
_Provence_, with each of them a Horse, sent by our People to carry
away all the Provisions I had got together, having taken a Resolution,
as those Persons they had sent told us, to return to the Dwelling of
St. _Lewis_, about the Bay of the same Name, from whence we came;
designing, as they pretended, to build a Boat there, to carry them
over to the Islands of _America_; an impracticable Notion, for all
our Carpenters were dead, and tho’ they had been alive, they were so
ignorant, that none of them would have known which Way to go about
that Work; besides that, we were destitute of all Necessaries for that
Effect. However we must obey, and set out with our Provisions. The Rain
having detain’d us the 9th on the Way, we could not come up to them
till the next Day, being the Tenth.
Father _Anastasius_ gave me the Confirmation of that Design, and
farther told me how roughly they had been treated by those Murderers
since my Departure. I know not what it was that mov’d them to it, but
they had resolved to separate themselves from those Villains, and
that we should eat apart, _viz._ Monsieur _Cavelier_ the Priest, F.
_Anastasius_, young _Cavelier_ and I, which was very agreeable to us,
because at least we could talk freely, which we durst not do before;
but at the same Time they allow’d us no more Provisions than would
suffice to keep us from starving, without giving us Share of any Flesh,
tho’ they often kill’d.
[Sidenote: _The Author and others resolve to part from the Murderers._]
Our Tyrants still holding their Resolution to return to their former
Habitation, thought they had not Horses enough, and therefore deputed
four of their Number, one of which was the _French_ Man half turn’d
_Indian_, to return to the Village of the _Cenis_ and endeavour to
barter for some. At the same Time we agreed together to let those
Gentlemen know, that we were too much fatigued to return with them to
the said Habitation, and were resolved to remain in the Village of the
_Cenis_. Monsieur _Cavelier_ undertook to be our Speaker, and to desire
_Duhaut_, who was Master of all, to give us some Axes, Knives and
Strings of Beads, Powder and Shot, offering to give him a Note of his
Hand for the same.
[Sidenote: _Design of the Murderers._]
To conclude, Monsieur _Cavelier_ made the Proposal to _Duhaut_,
disguis’d it the best he was able, and _Duhaut_ took till the next Day
to return his answer. He consulted with his Companions, and acquainted
us, that they would deal handsomely by us, and give us half the Effects
and all the Axes, intending to make the most Speed they could, to get
to our former Dwelling, and to put in Execution what they had before
design’d, as to the Building of a Bark. But in Case they could not
succeed, for want of Necessaries, they would immediately return to
us and bring F. _Zenobius_ along with them, who would be serviceable
to us, because, having been with Monsieur _de la Sale_ upon his
first Discovery, he understood the Language of the Nations about the
_Missisipi_ River. That whilst they were upon that Journey, we should
take Care to gather a Stock of Provisions, and that if they succeeded
in building the Bark, they would send us Word, that we might repair to
them. Monsieur _Cavelier_ approv’d of all they said, tho’ we had other
Designs. However it prov’d we were all Mistaken, for Providence had
order’d Affairs otherwise.
[Sidenote: _May 1687_]
We stay’d there some Time, expecting those who were gone to the
_Cenis_, they staying longer than was requisite for that Journey.
The overflowing of the River was their Pretence, but the true Reason
was the Women, who as I have said, are not so forward as to offer
themselves, but on the other Hand will not be over difficult in
complying for some little Present, and those who were sent did not
grudge their Time. In the mean while the Posture of our Affairs
changed, as follows.
[Sidenote: _Murderers change their Mind._]
One of our half Savage _French_ Men, whom I had acquainted with our
Design to go find the _Missisipi_, communicated it to _Hautot_,[106]
telling him all the particulars he had before acquainted me with;
whereupon _Duhaut_ chang’d his Mind, as to the Design of going to the
Habitation of St. _Lewis_, resolving to follow our intended Way and
execute our Project. He imparted his Thoughts to his Companions, who
were of the same Opinion, and all of them acquainted us, that they were
ready to put in Execution the Enterprize we had form’d.
This Change troubled us very much, there being nothing we coveted more
than to part with those Miscreants, from whom we could at a long Run
expect no better Usage than they had afforded our Commander and his
Friends. However, it was still requisite to dissemble, there being no
other Remedy at that Time: But God’s Justice provided for and rescued
us. We continued in that Camp all the remaining part of _April_,
expecting the Persons that had been sent to the _Cenis_, and _Duhaut_
intending to begin to put in Execution his Design of going to find out
the _Missisipi_, with us, made us advance towards the River that was
near, in order to pass it as soon as fallen, and repair to the Village
of the _Cenis_.
[Sidenote: _Murderers differ in Opinion._]
We staid three Days longer in that Post, at the End whereof, he we
call’d _Larcheveque_, one of those that had been sent out, cross’d the
River. He was _Duhaut’s_ Creature, and an Accomplice in the Murder of
Monsieur _de la_ _Sale_. He inform’d[107] _Duhaut_, that one they
call’d _Hiens_, who was also one of our Messengers, and had stayed
on the other Side of the River, had heard of _Duhaut_ and the rest
altering their Resolution, and that he was not of their Mind. _Hiens_
was a _Buccanier_, and by Birth a German. Monsieur _de la Sale_ had
brought him from _Petit Gouave_, and he was also accessory to the late
Murders.
[Sidenote: Hiens _kills_ Duhaut, _and_ Ruter Liotot.]