Those Persons now prejudic'd by Passion and Interest will one day acknowledge their own Errour I have no other Aim in what I do than to promote GOD's Glory and to go under Your Majesty's Commands to view the new Passage to China and Iapan so often attempted by the English and Dutch through the Frozen Sea in order to avoid going twice over the Line which is so tedious and troublesome I hope SIR to have a share in that Great Work which through GOD Almighty's Assistance I am morally assur'd may be accomplish'd before the beginning of the next Age by the Help of our Discovery By the same Means SIR the Name of the True GOD will be prais'd among a vast Number of Nations hitherto unknown to our Europeans And as the SON of GOD has foretold that his Gospel would be preâ—ch'd over all the Universe the Piety of the Faithful has always increas'd and been concern'd in the Accomplishment of that Prophecy with respect to barbarous Nations Permit me SIR to tell all the World that GOD Almighty has reserv'd to Your Majesty's pious Endeavours the Honour of Carrying the Light of the same into Gospel those many Countries we have discover'd which are still in the Shades of Ignorance I should account my self Fortunate if at this happy juncture I could my self have a share in Opening the Eyes of so many blind-folded Nations and instructing them in the Truth Those numberless Nations GREAT SIR would undoubtedly be extreme glad to submit themselves to Your Majesty's Empire which would be so great an Advantage to them They would be Faithful and Obedient deeply affected with Gratitude and Love for a Monarch so Generous and so Tender of his Subjects They would at the same time most happily be brought to the Light of the Gospel And so many Nations who have hitherto been depriv'd of the Word of One God-and-Man CHRIST would henceforwards acknowledge him for the Sovereign Judge of the Quick and the Dead in Heaven and Your Majesty would have the Satisfaction to see his Sacred Name rever'd in all this New World on Earth I pray Heav'n SIR ever to accompany the Justice and Uprightness of Your great Actions ever to prosper with Success Your Majesty's Glorious Enterprizes and preserve Your Royal Person in the Promotion and Defence of the Interest You have espous'd of my King his most Catholick Majesty and all his August Allies for the Happiness of Your own Subjects and of all Europe now e'en crush'd by this Fatal War These are the continual Wishes I make from the bottom of my Heart my greatest Passion being to worship my GOD and continue my most humble Services to Your Majesty with Zeal and Affection I shall ever faithfully execute the Commands You will be pleas'd to lay on me and in a deep Sense of Gratitude I leave this Publick Mark of the most profound and inviolable Respect with which I am SIR Your MAJESTY 's Most Humble most Obedient and most Faithful Servant F. Louis Hennepin Missionary Recollect and Apostolick Notary THE PREFACE 'T Would be to no purpose to Preface the Reader to a good Liking of this Continuation for as Truth is the Soul and the proper Essence of the Descriptions of New Discoveries this Book of mine which I leave to Posterity needs no other Support and Authority Novelty and Variety have peculiar Charms even in a rude and unpolish'd Barbarity The Draught of near Two hundred Nations differing one from another in Language of which I have given an Account in my Description of Louisiana and in this Continuation and which we have discover'd and run through with the Sieur Robert Cavelier de la Salle will I hope present the Curious with an agreeable Entertainment But before I answer all the Objections that have been made against the Books I have publish'd I think it proper to give the Publick a Copy of the following Approbations and Certificates of the Friars of my Order of which I keep the Originals by me I have read and examined a Book entituled The Description of Louisiana lately discover'd on the South-West of New-France with the Manners of the Savages of the same Country Compos'd by the Reverend Father LewÃs Hennepin a Recollect-Preacher and Apostolical Missionary in which I have found nothing repugnant or contrary to Faith or Good Manners but rather full of several Reflexions and Remarks very useful not only for the Conversion of the Salvages but also for the Welfare of the State and Kingdom Given in our Convent of the Recollects in Paris Decemb 13. 1682. Signed F. Cesareus Harveau Reader in Divinity Provincial Father and Warden of the Recollects of the Province of St. Denis in France I have perus'd a Book entituled A Description of Louisiana lately discover'd on the South-West of New-France with the Manners of the Salvages of those Countries which not only I have found to be agreeable to the Faith of the Roman Catholick and Apostolick Church the Laws of the Kingdom and Good Manners but also that it gives good Hints and Directions to establish the Faith of Iesus Christ in that New World and extend the Dominions of our Invincible Monarch in a Country abounding with all sort of Goods Given in our Convent of the Recollects of St. Germain in Laye this December 14. 1682. Signed F. Innocent Micault Definitor of the Recollects of the Province of St. Denis in France and General Commissioner in the Province of the Recollects of St. Anthony in Artois 1. I am perswaded that several People of our Roman Catholick Religion either jealous of my good Fortune or prejudic'd by Passion endeavour to render me Odious under the specious Pretence That a FranciscaÌ„n Friar wishes that a Protestant King should facilitate to him the Promulgation of the Gospel in those vast Countries we have discover'd It is an easie matter for me to baffle those Artifices These Criticks know that all Things have two different Facings and are capable of a double Construction according as one is pleas'd to consider them But can they in Conscience blame the Potentates of Europe who act and live in good Intelligence for the Good of their Dominions with WILLIAM III. King of Great Britain And supposing his Britannick Majesty should extend his Monarchy over so many Barbarous Nations Is it not much better that a World of People should be call'd Christians than to live without Faith Laws or God Those Censurers ought to be glad that by making our great Discoveries known I give an Opportunity to the English Nation and the States of the United Provinces to bring out of Atheism so many Barbarians buried in dark Ignorance And those very Persons who take upon them to censure me do they not enjoy the Liberty of our Religion under the gracious Pleasure of WILLIAM III. King of Great Britain with whose Consent and Approbation I hope to contribute to the Extension of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Besides I would be guilty of Ingratitude if I did not
play a sure Game and have their Share aforehand Nor had they any greater Respect for what belong'd to me than for the Merchandise which they took from the Canow-men for they seiz'd my Brocard Chasuble and all the Ornaments of my portable Chapel except the Chalice which they durst not touch They obsâ—rv'd that this Vessel which was of Silver gilt cast a glittering Light so that as often as they chanc'd to look towards it they would shut their Eyes The reason was as we understood afterwards because they believ'd it to be a Spirit which would kill them I had a little Chest which I kept lock'd they made me understand by Signs that if I did not open it or break the Lock they would do it for me against some sharp Stones which they show'd me The reason why they threatned me thus was because they had not been able to open it all the way though they attempted it several times to see what was in it These People understand nothing of Locks and Keys Besides their Design was not to cumber themselves with the Box it self but only to take out the Things that were in it After I had openâ—d it and they saw there was little or nothing in it but Books and Papers they left it me untouch'd CHAP. LIII The Troop approaches the Village Grand Consult amongst the Savages whether they should kill us or save and adopt us for their Sons Reception which we had from them and the use they madâ— of my Chasuble AFter five hard Days travel without so much as resting except a little by Night in the open Air we perceiv'd at last abundance of Women and Children coming out to meet our little Army All the Elders of the Nation were assembled upon this occasion We observ'd several Cabins near the Posts of which lay several Trusses of Straw and dry'd Weeds where these Barbarians are wont to fasten and burn the Slaves which they bring home with them from their Wars Here they order'd the Picard du Gay to sing who all the time rattled a hollow Gourd full of little round Stones which he held in his Hand I observ'd moreover that his Hair and Face were painted with different Colours and that they had fastned a Tuft of White Feathers to his Head These Ceremonies renew'd our Fears and we thought we had more reason than ever to believe that they had still a Design to put us to death Nor were our Fears groundless since these with many others are the Ceremonies which they use at the burning of their Enemies The worst was we could not make our selves be understood However after many Vows and secret Prayers which we offer'd up to God on this occasion the Barbarians at last gave us some wild Oats to eat of which I have spoke elsewhere They gave them us in great Dishes made of Birch and the Savage Women had season'd them with Bluez This is a sort of Black Grain which they dry in the Sun in the Summer and are as good as Corrans The Dutch call them Clake-besien All the while the Feast lasted which was the best Meal that we had made ever since we had been taken there was a high Dispute between Aquipaguetin and the others about the distribution they were to make of the two Canow-men and my self At last Aquipaguetin as Head of the Party carry'd it who turning from one of the Principal Captains towards me presented me to smoak in his Calumet of Peace receiving from me at the same time that which we had brought as a certain Pledge of the Union which was to be for the future 'twixt them and us After this he adopted me for his Son in the room of him that he had lost in the War Cnarhetoba and another Captain did the same by the two Canow-men This Separation was very grievous to us tho' somewhat allay'd by the Satisfaction we had to find that our Lives were safe Du Gay took me aside to confess him being sensible of the uncertain Condition his Life was in amongst so barbarous a People This oblig'd him to embrace me very heartily and to beg my Pardon for what was past having first made the same Request to God I should have been over-joy'd to have seen Michael Ako as well dispos'd However I did not omit to shew both the one and the other all the Marks of a most tender Affection In short the Savages having parted us led us away each to his own Village Our Way lay over a Morass where we march'd half way the leg in Water for a League together at the end of which we were met by five of Aquipaguetin's Wives who receiv'd me in one of the three Canow's of Bark which they had brought with them and then carry'd me a little League farther into a small Island where their Cabins were CHAP. LIV. The Authors Reception by the Relations of Aquipaguetin They make him sweat to recover him of his Fatigues The use they make of his Chasuble and other Ornaments I Arriv'd at this Place in the Month of May 1680. the Day I cannot preciseâ—y tell for I was so harrass'd by the Savages on the way that I could not make all the little Observations which otherwise I would have done besides there is some seven or eight Hours difference between the Days and Nights of Europe and those of North America because of the Retrogradation of the Sun The Cape was always to West of us from Rochel to Quebec but to South-West from thence till we came to Meschasipi which made a considerable Variation in the Needle This Variation was occasion'd by the unconstant motion of the Needle which in certain Latitudes would encline to the North or North-East whereas in others 't would turn from the North to the North-West We never could be so well assur'd of our Computations in our long Voyages as to know exactly the way our Canow's made in a Day or what was the Variation of the Needle in each Latitude But we found there were many Minutes of Variation according to the Point the Wind was in To say the truth able Men might have lost the Memory of many Things under the same Circumstances with my self At the entry of the Captainâ—s Cabin who had adopted me one of the Barbarians who seem'd to be very old presented me with a great Pipe to smoak and weeping over me all the while with abundance of Tears rubb'd both my Arms and my Head This was to show how concern'd he was to see me so harass'd and fatigu'd And indeed I had often need enough of two Men to support me when I was up or raise me when I was down There was a Bears-Skin before the Fire upon which the youngest Boy of the Cabin caus'd me to lie down and then with the Grease of Wild Cats anointed my Thighs Legs and Soles of my Feet Aquipaguetin's Son who call'd me Brother had got my Brocard Chasuble and was strutting up and down with it upon his naked
he would have an Opportunity to make more exact Observations than I had been able to do in 1680. because they design'd to go thither with a great Force to secure them from the Insults of the Savages The Voyage of the Sieur la Salle from that River of the Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico was made only Two Years after mine viz. in 1682. Besides after the Sieur la Salle had been so unadvis'd as to do me such an ill Office with respect to Father Hyacinth le Fevre who as I have said before in my Advertisement to my foregoing Volume procured my Banishment from France upon pretence that I was a Subject to the King of Spain after all that I say he could not imagine but that I would impart the Knowledge of our great Discoveries in America to those who would have more Charity for me than the said Father Hyacinth and the Sieur la Salle After all Men are only for a time and all their Intrigues shall have quite another Face before God Almighty's Tribunal By all this it appears that they never saw any thing but what I had seen before them and that most of their Relations are taken out of my Iournal which they have in their Hands by means of the said Reverend Fathers Hyacinth le Fevre and Valentine le Roux Therefore the Reader may depend upon the Truth of my History and all I relate of those vast Countries which I have viewed first of any European 'T is true I have had there many Monsters to overcome and Precipices to go over but through God Almighty's Assistance I have at last surmounted all There 's a Place in the Island of Montreal in Canada which is Twenty five Leagues in Circumference where the Sieur la Salle begun some Settlements which â—â—nce are increas'd to a great Village now ironically call'd China because while he liv'd there the Inhabitants had often heard him say That as soon as he had made himself Master of the Islands of St. Barbe in New Mexico he design'd to go to China and Japan through the Discoveries we have since made together without going over the Equinoctial Line and that he would find a Way to go to the South-Sea which bounds the Lands of our Louisiana as the Reader may see in the General Map of my former Volume And the Hopes which were the predominant Passion of this great Traveller during our Stay in the Fort of Frontenac did run upon nothing else but upon the great Design of possessing himself of the Mines and going to the Pacifick Sea contiguous to our Louisiana And those who understand my Maps will easily acknowledge the Truth of what I say There are several Authors skill'd in the Mathematicks and Geography who assure us that Japan is contiguous to the Lands of the Northern America and the Famous Monsieur Graevius one of the most Learned Historians of our Age having maturely consider'd our great Discovery did me the Honour in an Assembly of Men of Learning and distinguish'd Merit in this City of Utrecht to tell me That he thought in effect that Japan is no Island as they commonly make it but that the Lands of that vasts Empire border upon the Continent of our Louisiana To all these Opinions of Great Men I have added in the 37th Chapter of the foregoing Volume a Proof of that Truth drawn from the Savages who came upon an Embassie from the Western Lands to the Issati and Nadouessans where I liv'd as adopted Son to one of the first Captains of those Barbarians in whose great Hutt those Embassadors have assur'd me by an Interpreter That there was no such thing as the Streights of Anien as 't was generally believ'd Which is a good Argument that the vast Countries of the Northern America are contiguous to Japan I have said before That whatever Endeavours the English and Dutch the greatest Sailers in the Universe have used before to go to China and Japan through the Frozen Sea they could never bring it about But if the Sovereign Princes and States that have done me the Honour to employ me send us again into our vast Discoveries we will infallibly find an â—asie Passage from our Louisiana into the Pacifick Sea through great Rivers that carry Ships of great Burden which run beyond the famous River Meschasipi from whence it will be easie to go to China and Japan without sailing twice over the Equinoctial Line as they are oblig'd to do hitherto with the loss of a great many Men. Now to shew how far I believe the Possibility of bringing this laudable Undertaking about I readily offâ—r my self to return to our great Discoveries In which generous Design of promoting God's Glory I ought to shew my self no less zealous than our former Recollects have done in the Kingdom of Voxu in the Eastern Part of Japâ—n the King of which Country by means of their Sermons acknowledg'd the Religion of the True God caus'd above Eight hundred Idols to be burnt all over his Empire and sent a famous Embassie of a Hundred Gentlemen who embark'd on the 28th of October 1613. and landed in Spain the 10th of November 1614. under the Conduct of the Reverend Father Lewis de Sotello a Recollect who presented the Embassador of the said Kingdom of Japan to our most Catholick King and afterwards to His Holiness assuring them That his King and Subjects acknowledg'd the True God of the Christians and renounc'd Idolatry The Reader ought to take notice That in the Years 1540 and 1541 Spain had already conquer'd above a hundred Kingdoms and a vast Tract of Land three times as large as all Europe together whilst our Franciscan Friars the first and only Evangelical Labourers had submitted part of the Subjects of Japan to the Empire of Jesus Christ. I ought to shew no less Emulation for the accommplishing of our great Discoveries than did the famous Christopher Columbus who being accompanied by our Franciscans in 1492 and 1493 made the great Discovery of the West-Indies otherwise America The Short Cut to China and Japan by means of our Discoveries will be as much and more profitable to future Ages as any Discoveries that have been made hitherto in the East-Indies New Mexico West-Indies and Northern America And as through God Almighty's Grace I have Patents and Leave from my General and the Senior Superiors of my Order to return into all the Parts of America in quality of Missionary the Issue of my Return into so many vast Countries if the Higher Powers desire it will I hope in God make known to all the World the Uprightness of my Intentions And I may averr without any Vanity That if we can find at our Return as I am morally assur'd we shall a Short Cut to China and Japan This Discovery of mine which I hope to accomplish with God's Help will be one of the finest and the most memorable of this present and future Ages The Reader may also observe That the Settlements
Fort of the Illiniens because he had advanc'd him all things necessary for his Enterprise He left the Illiniens in the Spring of the Year 1688 with Father Anastasius the young Cavelier Mr. Soutâ—l and one of the Salvages who is now setled near Versailles They arrived at Quebec on the 27 th of Iuly and sail'd for France on the 20 th of August following and by the Grace of God they are happily arriv'd at Paris after having undergone an incredible number of Dangers They gave an Account of their Journey to the now deceased Monsieur the Marquess of Seignelay This is the History of Mr. de la Salle's first Voyage which I have thought fit to make Publick it being as it were a Continuation of mine and a Confirmation of several things which I have related in my History I pass now to the Description both of the Religion and Manners of those Barbarous Nations which I have discover'd in my Journey CHAP. XI Reflections of the Author upon the Voyage to China The Belief of most part of the Savages in the Northern America concerning the Creation of the World and the Immortality of the Soul 'T IS a common saying that Truth is the Essence and Soul of History therefore this Treatise of the Customs and Manners of the Northern America Salvages needs no other recommendation as being done with the utmost sincerity Both the Novelty and the Variety will join their Charms together though I bring here upon the Stage none but raw and barbarous People Thus I hope that the Description of near two Hundred different sort of People I have either seen my self and whereof I have made mention in my former Volume or whom some of our Religious Order have discover'd shall give some sort of satisfaction to the Curious The Son of God having fore-told that his Gospel should be Preached throughout all the World the Faithful People have constantly applyed themselves to the Accomplishment of that Prophecy by endeavouring to Convert those Barbarous Nations to whom the true God is yet unknown It is true that this great Multitude of Barbarians who are spread all over those vast Countries of America have had hitherto their Eyes shut against the Light of Truth But we have already begun to preach to them Jesus Christ Crucified as well as we could to bring them into the way of Salvation And we hope that those who are animated with the Zeal of God will henceforth endeavour to perfect what we have but begun and apply themselves to promote the Salvation of so many Souls who perish only because the Christians do not their endeavour in labouring to draw them from their Natural Ignorance Therefore in order to facilitate to them the means for doing it we are going to treat of the Idea's which those People have of Religion and speak at the same time of their Manners That one may consider which means are the best for to instruct them and render them capable of Truth and Salvation As by our Discoveries we have made known the greatest part of the Northern America so I dont question if his British Majesty and our Lords the States would send us thither to finish that which we have already so happily begun but that it would be an easy matter to discover what the best Endeavours could not yet bring to Light It hath been impossible hitherto to go to Iapan by the Frozen or Icy Sea The going thither that way hath been several times attempted but without Success and I am morally certain that it can never be effected unless the Continent of those Countries which are between the Frozen Sea and the new Mexico be first wholly discovered God it should seem hath preserved me from those extraordinary Dangers I have been exposed to in my long Voyages only to bring about that happy Discovery I profer my self yet to the effecting of that Design being persuaded that God will give his Blessing to it if I can but be supplyed with the means necessary to the performance of it I am not surpris'd to see the Learned agree that they are yet in the dark how America was peopled and how that infinite Number of Nations which are found there came to be settled in that vast Continent America doth form half the Globe of the Earth The most perfect Geographers have not yet a Total Knowledge of it and the very Inhabitants of that new World whom we have discovered and who according to all reason should be best informed of it do not themselves know how their Ancestors came thither Certainly were we in Europe as those People without the ingenious Art of Writing which gives in a manner Life to the Dead which recalls to remembrance what is past and preserves the Memory of things to future Ages it is certain that we should be no less ignorant than these poor Salvages Most part of the Barbarians which do inhabit the Northern America believe commonly a kind of a Creation of the World They say that both the Heavens and the Earth and all Men were made by a Woman who governs the World with her Son They add that her Son is the Principle of all Good Things and the Woman of all Evil. They do believe that both do enjoy a perfect Happiness They say moreover that this Woman fell down from Heaven being big with Child but falling on the Back of a Tortoise she was saved from being drowned And when it is objected how ridiculous their Belief is they answer ordinarily that this Objection is good for those who make it but of no force against Them because They are otherwise made than the Europeans Other Salvages of the same Continent believe that a certain Spirit which the Iroquois call Otkon and other Barbarians who live at the lower part of the River St. Lawrence Atahauta is the Creator of the World and that one named Messou was the Repairer of it after the Universal Deluge They say that this Messou or Otkon going once to Hunting his Dogs were lost in a great Lake which overflowing covered the whole Earth in a little time and made but a bottomless Pit of all the World They add that this Messou or Otkon gathered a small quantity of Earth by the help of some Animals and with it repaired the World They also believe that the Europeans do inhâ—bit another World different from theirs So when you set forth before them the true Oeconomy of the Creation of the Universe in order to disabuse them of their Folly and instruct them in the Truth their Answer is that all this may be true for the World which we inhabit but that it is quite otherwise with theirs They ask even very often whether there be a Sun and a Moon in our Europe as in their Country Some Salvages which live at the upper end of the River St. Lawrenec do relate a pretty diverting Story They hold almost the same opinion with the former that a Woman came down from Heaven and
they are killed on the spot without any further Formality These poor blind Wretches are moreover engag'd in several other Superstitions which the Devil makes use of to Ensnare ' em They believe there are many living Creatures which have Rational Souls They have a very unaccountable Veneration for certain Bones of Elks Beavers and other Beasts and therefore never give them to their Dogs but lay 'em up in Repositories with a great deal of Care These they never throw into Rivers but with a great reluctancy They say That the Souls of these Animals observe how they deal by their Bodies and consequently advertise both the Living and Dead of that kind thereof so that if they treat 'em ill they must not expect that those sorts of Beasts will ever suffer themselves to be taken by them either in this or the other World We may affirm that the Corruption of Sin has o'râ—shaded the Souls of these unhappy Creatures with a strange Blindness and an entire Insensibility for all sorts of Religion in a manner that nothing is to be found like it in all History 'T is true they have several Superstitious Observations which they cleave to with a great deal of Obstinacy but nevertheless they have not the least Principle or Motive of Religion Their Zeal is only Frenzy and Infatuation for when they have an Argument struck home to 'em they sit down sullenly and answer not a Word When our Mysteries are propos'd to 'em they commonly hear 'em with the same indifference that they talk of their own Whimsies I have met with some who seem'd to digest this Truth That there is a chief Being who has made all the rest Nevertheless this does but only glance upon their Minds for they commonly receive little or no Impression by it but soon relapse into their wonted Drowsiness and accustom'd Sottishness CHAP. XIV Of the great Difficulties met with in keeping the Salvages from Praying by Rote THE great stupidity of these Barbarians proceeds chiefly from their not caring to be well instructed They never come to us but out of pure Fancy or Curiosity either as we are Strangers or that we treat 'em well or flatter 'em or on account of the benefit their Sick receive by us or else through hopes to get something by us in Trade Or lastly because we being Europeans they look upon us as more Valiant than themselves and therefore hope to be defended by us against their Enemies They are taught Prayers indeed but they repeat 'em like so many Children at School without the least attention For the most part they that have learnt longest and been Catechiz'd oftnest are very wavering except a very few They will throw down their Books of a sudden and return to the Woods and their former Superstitions upon the least Freak that takes them in the Head I cannot tell whether their Predecessors have been acquainted with any Deity or not but sure I am that their Language which is otherwise very Expressive is so very Barren in that that they have no word to express God or any the least of our Mysteries This is the greatest difficulty we meet with in their Conversion There is also another pretty considerable Obstacle in the Converting of these People which is that the greatest part of 'em have several Wives and in the Northern Country they change 'em as often as they think fit They cannot comprehend how it is possible for a Man to be subject to the Bonds of Marriage Dont you see cry they when we urge our Arguments most home to 'em how little Reason you have for what you stick so much for My Wife is not pleas'd to live with me neither am I at ease to live with her My Neighbour such a one perhaps may like hâ—r better and I may like his who does not much care for him Therefore why should you oblige us for to live like Doggs and Catts together when only changing one with another we live at quiet Another great Hindrance proceeds from their Custom never to contradict any body for they hold that every Man ought to be left to his own Opinion without molestation wherefore they always either believe or seem to believe what you say which frequently baffles us in our Endeavours All this comes from an innate blockishness and indifference as to every thing but more especially for matters of Religion which they mind least of all A Man must not go to America that has a mind to become a Martyr for his Faith These Salvages never Murder any body upon that score they leave every one at liberty to believe what he pleases They are only eâ—amour'd with the outward Ceremonies of our Church These Barbarians engage in Wars only on account of their Common Interest They kill no body at home except upon particular Quarrels proceeding severally from Lust Drunkenness Revenge or Infatuation by a Dream or some other extravagant Vision They are altogether against taking away a Man's Life upon account of difference in Opinion The Brutâ— generally presides in their Inclinations They are naturally Gluttons and know no greater Happiness than what they find in the pleasure of Eating and Drinking This brutish Humour may be observ'd to run thro' all their Diversions for they never have any of this kind but what begin and end with Feasts The Spirit of Revenge likewise to which they are much addicted is no common Obstacle to Christianity They have a great deal of Softness and good Nature for their own Nation but are Cruel and Revengeful to the highest degree towards their Enemies They are naturally Unconstant and Foul-mouth'd great Jesters and immoderate Lechers In fine among all the Virtues they can any way pretend to there is not one that savours in the least either of Religion or Morality And this without doubt is another Cause that renders their Conversion tâ—e more difficult To gain any thing upon them or to dispose 'em the better for Instruction the only way were to be very familiar with them and to Converse frequently among ' em This could not easily be effected 'till the Colonieâ— were considerably augmented After they have been among us for some few Weeks they always preâ—end to be oblig'd to go a Hunting for Sustenance and that without dispute extreamly debauches 'em from the Faith They must therefore be fix'd to some particular Abodes and brought to Till and Cultivate the Ground and to Work at their several Trades like thâ— Europeans before there can be any good wrought upon ' em For by this means their Manners would of course be civiliz'd and they renderâ—d more tractable I intend hereafter to speak of other Nations of the South who seem better dispos'd to receive the Gospel than these of the North and of the shallow River of St. Laurence CHAP. XV. The manner of the Salvages making their Feasts THEY have Feasts of Parting of Acknowledgment of War of Peace of Death of Marriage and of Health They spend both Night
Teach them The Merchants who usually Traffick with the Savages out of a design to be Gainers thereby are oftentimes the cause of the small progress that is made in the Conversion of these People It 's long since that St. Augustine Speaking of them has Said Continua est in illis meditatio doli tritura mendacii They have no other intentions than to lye and deceive that they may grow quickly Rich and put off their Goods to good advantage there is no stratagem they will not make use of to get the Furrs from the Savages at a Cheap Rate they are stock'd with Frauds and Lyes to put off their effects with and to gain double by them if they can and this no doubt is a great means to alienate the Minds of the Savages from a Religion which they see accompanied with so many Cheats and Artifices in those who make a profession of it It may be also said that there are some Missionaries who are partly the â—ause of the small progress which the Preaching of the Gospel has ordinarily made amongst thâ—se Barbarians It 's very difficult to learn their Languages because they differ very much one from another and no affinity between them there is therefore much time required for the insinuating our Mysteries into them and without the holy Spirit do operate in an extraordinary manner for their Conversion there is but little fruit to be expected from all the Missions made among the Savages Besides the different methods that are made use of to instruct them contributes very much towards retarding tâ—eir Conversion some beginning with the sensitive part whilst others think it more proper to fall first upon that which is Spiritual there are diversities of Beliefs among Christians every one abounding in his own Sence and Believing that his Faith is the purest and his method the most effectual to the end therefore things may succeed well among these People it 's necessary there be an uniformity in their belief and manner of Teaching them as there is but one Truth and one Redeemer hence it comes also that these People seeing so much difference in the Faith of Christians and in their method of Teaching they know not which to take to and this without doubt is a means to retain them in their Ignorance and ordinary Blindness I make a great deal of difference between the Zeal and indefatigable labours of the Missionaries and the pretended success they are believed to have and of which they make so much boast in the World It 's not doubted but those who have entirely disengaged themselves from the love of all Temporal things and been Missionaries among the Natives of South America have made very great progresses in those Countries there are Forty or Fifty Provinces of our Order where Publick Service is performed where they have full Freedom to Preach the Gospel after having first routed out the Idolatry and abominable Superstitions which in times past reigned amongst them But it must be confess'd that those who have laboured in this work in North America have not made the same progress their method has been to endeavour first to Civilize those Barbarous People render them susceptible of some Government and to put a restraint as much as they could upon their Brutal Extravagances and then they laboured to Disabuse them of their old Superstitions and this is the way they have gone to prepare the way of Lord in the mean time it must be owned that they have made but very little progress therein These Barbarous Nations I know not by what fatality of Interest are still almost as much Savages as ever and so wedded to their old Maxims Prophane Usages Gormandizing Pride Revilings Cruelty and other abominable Vices that you are to seek to this day for any sentiments of Humanity amongst them and especially amongst the Iroquois where I have Lived a long time They are still the same People they were Forty Years ago and upwards and yet how many Books have been Published that Treat of the great Conversions they have made say they among the Iroquois and Hurons And they would assure us at the same time that those Barbarians had built as many Churches and Chapels as they had ruined before and say that the untameable Philistines had made a very great Progress in the Faith In the mean time Experience makes it appear to this very day that these People are the same as they were at all times being of a fierce and cruel Nature and above all Enemies to the good rules of Christianity I will not pretend to say in this place that the Missionaries have not faithfully discharged their Ministerial Function but I would rather believe there has been nothing wanting for the Instruction of the Savages either from the Zeal or Assiduity with which they have laboured amongst them But after all the Seed of the Word is fallen upon a Barren and Ungrateful Land upon the High-way or among the Thorns and if these People reject the Light and Salvation tendred to them it 's at least evident that they are hereby rendred inexcusable and God is justified in the Condemnation of these Barbarians However it be 't is yet much that they do Baptize Infants and some adult Persons before their Departure who Desire it but as for those who are in Health the number of Converts among them is very inconsiderable and that of those who persevere in the Christian Religion still much less especially if regard be had to the Travels of a great number of Labourers who have been imploy'd upon Missions thither these Three or Four-Score Years but after all the Cares and entire Sacrifice of a Missionarie's Life would have met with an happy recompence if they had had the Glory to Convert and save one single Soul The principal function of the Missionaries consists in Administring the Sacraments to such Persons as travel into those Parts on purpose to Trade with the Savages and indeed it may be truly affirm'd that as soon as the Traffick for Furs and Beaver-Skins begins to cease among them the Europeans retire from thence and are no longer to be found in the Country This Reflection was made by those Barbarians one day in the presence of Monsiâ—ur de Frontenac even in a full Council held at the three Rivers in Canada with respect to certain Missionaries who were not of our Order of St. Francis During the whole time thaâ— we had any store of Beaver-Skins and other Furrs said a Savage Câ—â—tain the Person who was wont to pray with us was constant in his attendance instructing our Children and teaching 'em to say their Prayers and Catechism he was our inseparable Companion and did us the honour sometimes to assist at our Festivals But when our Merchandizes were once Exhausâ—ed those Missionaries thought sit to leave us imagining that their presence was altogether unprofitable It may be also averr'd for a certain truth that the most part of the Missions that were
peasure Therefore 't is absolutely necessary that endeavours be first us'd for the Civilizing of all these Nations before they be sollicited to embrace the Christian Religion For as long as they remain free from the yoke all attempts made for their Conversion will be attended with very little success at least if the Divine Grace do not interpose in an extraordinary manner by working some miracle in Favour of those People These are my Sentiments as to this Affair grounded on the experience that I have had as well as many other Franciscan Friars that accompany'd me in America But I may give a more particular account of these matters in a Third Tome and shall only inculcate thus much here that what I have freely declar'd was not with a Design to give Offence to any Person whatever but only to write the truth without Partiality or Dissimulation CHAP. XXXIII Of the pleasantness and frutfulness of the Country of the Savages That powerful Colonies may be easily settl'd in the Northern and Southern Parts BEfore we enter upon a particular Description of those pleasant Countries which are situated to the North and South of Northern America it will be expedient to speak a word or two concerning the Northern Territories to the end that it may appear from thence that powerful Colonies might be easily Establish'd therein it must be acknowledg'd indeed that there are Vast Forests to be clear'd from Canada to the Land of Louisiana along the Banks of the River Meschasipi so that much time must of necessity be spent in performing this Enterprize But every one knows that all new settlements are accompany'd with great Difficulties nevertheless a considerable Progress soon follows a good Beginning and the whole work after much pains may be at last happily brought to perfection Very great advantages have been formerly reap'd and no small profits as yet arise even at this day from the catching of Fish part of which was usually dry'd and became a Staple Commodity in the hot Countries insomuch that this Fishery-Trade was carry'd on in the preceeding Age with above a Thousand or 1200 Vessels The great shelf of Terra nova the neighbouring shores the adjacent Ilands Cape Breton the perforated Island and Acadia are the most convenient places in the World for Fishing but I do not here speak of the Northern Fishery which is claim'd by the French by vertue of their being the first Possessours in those Parts And indeed these Fish-Marts were inexhaustible Mines for the Kingdom which cou'd not have been taken from it if they had been supported by good Colonies Thus a great number of Vessels might pass from thence every Year to Fish for Porpesses Whales and Sea-Wolves out of which may be taken many Barrels of Oyl proper to be us'd in domestick Manufactures and even some part of it may be Transported into foreign Countries It is well known that the Fishery-Trade alone which is manag'd on the Coasts of Canada gave occasion to the first considerable Settlements that were made in those parts of America It is true indeed that they had as yet no opportunity to search the Country in ordeâ— to observe whether there were any Mines yet many Veins of Tin Lead Copper and Iron were found in several places and without doubt much more may be discover'd hereafter if due Application were made to that purpose Besides the Country affords good store of Wood necessary for the carrying on of the Mine-Works by reason of the spacious Forests in which are many plaâ—es where there are Quarries of a kind of Bastard-Marble and large Mines of Pit-Coal proper for Smith's Forges There is also a certain sort of Plaister which very much resembles Alabaster By how much farther a Man advances into this Countrey so much the greater number of fine Forests and Woods will appear to his view abounding with divers sorts of Gummous Trees which are of singular use for the making of Tar and Masts for Vessels besides good store of Pine-Trees Firr-Trees Cedars and Maples fit for all sorts of Mechanical Works more especially for the Building of Ships As for Naval-Tackle which may be made there the Sea-Men may be constantly employ'd and easily find means to maintaine their Families They might also inure themselves more to the Sea by Traffick and the Westeâ—n Navigation because many more Voyages are made thither than to the Levant and in regard also that the Vessels are there more numerous In the beginning of the Settlement which was made of a Colony in Canada their Profiâ— amounted Yearly to a Hundred Thousand Crowns without comprehending the Gain of Private Persons In 1687. this Summ was Tripled and above by the means of the Skins with which the Vessels were Laden at their return and although they are sought for a great deal farther than at first nevertheless their considerable Commerce will never cease as we have observed by the great discoveries which we made in those parts It is certain that there are no Nations in Europe that have so great an inclination to the settling of Colonies as the English and Hollanders the Natural Disposition of that People not suffering them to remain Idle in their Houses Thus the vast Countries of America of which I have given the Description may hereafter constitute the chief Mart of their Traffick and Private Persons who undertake it without engaging their Countrey will not fail of their wish'd for Success They may easily contract Alliances with the Savages and find means to Civilize 'em The Colonies which they establish there will be soon Peopled and may be Fortify'd in those places with a moderate Expence Indeed they must be at first content with a light Gain but afterwards they will get great Profits by the means of a considerable Commerce maintain'd by 'em in that Country In England and Holland there is a very great quantity of Manufactures of all sorts which cannot be vended nor consum'd in the Wars upon which account Commerce may be yet augmented and render'd much more advantageous by transporting these Commodities into America where a prodigious utterance of 'em may be made incessantly Thus we may come to a clearer understanding than we have hitherto done of the wonders of Divine Providence which has not thought fit that all the Countries of the World shou'd be equally furnish'd with all sorts of Provisions to the end that mutual Society Communications and Traffick might be maintained among the different Nations of the Universe as also that the Evangelical Truth might by that means be promulgated throughout the whole Globe of the Earth and that the several Naâ—ions which are spread abroad on all sides might be partakers of Salvation and of the benefits acquir'd for us by our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed it seems to be somewhat great and glorious to gain Battels and to subdue Rebellious Subjects but for certain 't is infinitely more Glorious to gain Souls by freeing them from their profound Ignorance and natural Blindness And indeed I
to be kindled in their Councils Thus it is the same thing with them to make a Council-Fire or to appoint a place to visit one another as to call an Assembly as is usually done by the Relations and Friends whenever they are desirous to Treat about their Affairs Lastly the eighth Present was to demand a Union of their Nation with the Canadians and they added a large Collar of Porcelain with Ten Gowns of Beaver and Elk-Skins to confirm the whole Treaty Whatever inclination the Inhabitants of Quebec might have to punish the Assassines for preventing the like Outrages for the future yet they were oblig'd to pardon 'em in regard that they were not in a condition to make Head against such potent Enemies Therefore two Hostages were demanded of them to serve as a security for the performance of all their Engagements Whereupon the Iroquois delivered to Father Ioseph two young Lads of their Nation nam'd Nigamon and Tebachi to be instructed by him Afterward the Criminals were sent back upon Condition nevertheless that at the arrival of the Ships which were expected from Europe this Affair shou'd be finally determin'd I remember that during my abode in Canada I often heard the French murmur against those Proceedings and even declare that they had made it appear how heinously they resented that Action which remain'd unpunish'd Afterward the Iroquois committed many other Outrages of the like nature saying That in so plucking off the Hair of the French they had found means to be quit with them for certain Skins of Wild Beasts instead of those of the Canadians whom they would Flea and that if the People of their Nation wou'd not suffer the like Insults without revenging them all the Iroquois wou'd be destroyed one after another Indeed these Barbarians have grown more insolent ever since and despise the Canadians as a People destitute of Courage Nay notwithstanding the Overtures the Iroquois have seemingly made of Treating with them yet they have done nothing but play'd the Politicians to the end that they might get a greater quantity of the European Merchandizes into their possession than that which they procure in exchange for their Skins We may observe even at this day that the War which the Iroquois actually maintain against the French in Canada is a sufficient proof of the cruelty and continual enmity of those People Therefore the Europeans ought to take away their Fire-Arms in order to reduce 'em to Obedience as also to force 'em to be more peaceable than they are and live after the manner of the Inhabitants of Europe which wou'd be a proper means to Convert 'em to the Christian Religion The Spaniards have effectually taken this course among the Mexicans who dare not keep any Fire-Arms even at this very day under pain of Death yet those People are never the worse treated nay the Mexicans are as good Roman-Catholicks as any in the World and live under the most gentle Yokâ— of any in the Universe Our first Recollects or Franciscans in the first Colony of Canada soon perceiv'd the necessity there was of frustrating the Counsels of the Iroquois who are the most formidable Enemies of the Europeans They judge that all the Negotiations relating to Peace which those Savages set on foot with their Enemies are Counterfeit and feigned only to conceal the Infractions which they made in former Treaties Therefore the Monks often represented to the King of France that to draw off those Barbarians and to hinder 'em from taking in their Councils any measures which may be prejudicial to the Colony of Canada it was requisite to found a Seminary of fifty or sixty Iroquois Children only for seven or eight Years whicâ— Term being expir'd they might be maintain'd by the Profits of certain Lands which were cultivated during that time As also that these Children wou'd daily offer themselves to the said Monks with the consent of their Parents to be instructed and brought up in the Christian Religion Lastly that the Iroquois and other Savages seeing their Children Educated and Maintain'd after this manner wou'd not propose any Projects in their Counsels for the forming of Enterprizes against the Colony as long as the said Children were as it were so many Hostages for their Father's Fidelity CHAP. XXXV Proper means for the Establishing of good Colonies The Opinions of the Savages concerning Heaven and Earth FOrasmuch as the Franciscan Monks do not possess any thing by right of Propriety not being capable by vertue of the Rules of their Order either to sell alienate or even to enjoy Revenues it may be justly affirm'd that there is no religious Order more proper than their's for the maintaining of Colonies which are settl'd on behalf of the Roman-Catholicks in America The verity of this Assertion appears from those whom the Empâ—râ—ur Charles V. sent to New Mexico where there are â—ven at this day a great number of powerful Families that have reap'd great â—dvantage from the moderate and regular Proceedings of our Monks The best Lands have not been there swallow'd up as in Canada where we see â—hat the Wheat and most Fertile places are now unâ—er the Jurisdiction of certain Commonalties who found means to get possession of them during the absence of the Recollects or Franciscan Friars who nevertheless were the first and most ancient Missionaries of Canada The People of New France having made great Sollicitations to cause us to come back thither after a long forc'd absence our Recollects perceiv'd at their return that an alienation was made of the best Lands of our Settlement belonging to the Convent of Our Lady of Angels where I my self have often renew'd and marâ—t out the Bounds that were left us in order to prevent the designs of those who were desirous absolutely to deprive us of what still remain'd in our possession I have no intention here to Censure or to give Oâ—fence to any Man but if some are displeas'd because I have here Publish'd my Great Discoveries they ought at least not to disturb my Tranquility upon that account Indeed I cou'd publickly declare many things which wou'd not be acceptable to a great number of Persons and yet at the same time speak nothing but the Truth I shall not insiâ—t on the great advantages that arise from the Missions of the Fransciscan Friars into the sour Quarters of the World but a particular enumeration of them wou'd fill up a very large Volume therefore I shall only give some account here of the pains our Monks have taken in the present Age in carrying on the Discoveries we have lately made in America When the French Colony was first settl'd in Canada our Recollects only demanded of the States Twelve Men capable to Cultivate the Lands and to manage a Farm These were to be under the Command of a Master of the Family who ought to be a Lay-Man for the maintenance of Fifty or Sixty Savage Children whilst the Monks were employ'd in Travelling into all Parts to
have been honoured throughout the Earth and in which the Reverend Fathers the Jesuits have been pleased to mingle themselves But they have built on our foundation or rather we have had the advantage of their helping hand to carry on the Work whilst we act in concert and perfect Unity to advance the glory of God and his Holy Gospel which is our only aim For which reason also it was that the Recollects of Paris in Mission at Quebec called the Jesuits to their assistance that they might labour together to so good an end But 't is observable that when the English after having kept it Four Years had restored Canada to the French the Father Jesuits who had more interest than us returned thither whereas we were prevented by little intrigues and underhand dealings which could not but be very grievous to us since in all other parts of the Christian World we had preceded the Jesuits in our Missions But in New France alone could not be allowed the Consolation so much as to continue our Labour with them and so much the rather because the mutual Charity which was not in the least impared between the two Societies made us apt to believe that the Father Jesuits who abound in Goodness and Merit were as really concerned at the injustice that was done us as the Letters which they were pleased to write to us on that occasion did import Were I to set forth the many difficulties our Religious met with before they could be restored to their Missions in Canada and all the little Intrigues of some People who left no Stone unturned to obstruct it no less than another Volume would be sufficient to contain them But at last after about Thirty Years the Deputies of Canada who were impatient of their return told some of them more than they desired to know or indeed than Common Charity will permit me to report They said further that they were resolved to have some or other of them put into the Cure at Quebec and other Principal-Places of the Country That their Consciences were too much hamper'd to have to do with the same People as well in Spirituals as Temporals there being none there to whom they could disburden their Consciences but the Iesuits That therefore in case our Recollects should refuse it they were resolve to provide themselves elsewhere Messeurs of the Company of Canada being instructed by their Deputies talked much to the same purpose particularly Mounsieur Rose the Director Messeurs Margonne Des Porters Beruhier and others whose express words speaking to our Recollects were these 'T would have been much better Fathers that you had returned to Canada rather than any others 'T is a great injustice that has been done you and the Country and we know whence it comes but present your Address with your Reasons and it will be remedyed Tâ—e Secretary of the Company said yet more Formerly Fathers I was against you but I have begged Gods pardon for it I was surprized but now am satisfy'd that I was in the wrong would to God that you had long since returned to Canada to have supplyed the Cure there the People want you mightily and can't have peace of Conscience without you Father Zachary Moreau a Recollect who dyed the death of the Just in my arms at our Convent of St. German en Laye and Paul Hâ—â—et who was my Father and Master of the Fasts at our Convent of Montergir told the Gentlemen of the Canada Company that in case they should permit us to return thither they would not pretend to meddle with any of the Curial Functions for â—ear of making some People jealous at least if the Reverend Fathers the Jesuits did not think â—it to return the Civilities which they had received from the ancient Fathers of our Order when in the year 1625. Father Ioseph le Caron Superior of our Convent at Quebec not only admitted but even invited them that there might be the better understanding between the two Societies to exercise with us by turns the Offices of the Cure of Quebec But all this signified nothing for the Company meerly to amuse them sent them back to the Council of Quebec which was made up of none but what were Creatures of the Jesuits as the Governor the Superior of the Mission â—he Syndic some of the Inhabitanâ—s whom they eâ—sily gained to theâ—r Party the Father Provincial of the Jâ—suits and Faâ—her Allemant Superior of the profession House who waâ— then in France and Superior of the Missions but all this caballing could prolong our retuâ—n but for a while The Reader may believe that if the case of the Reverend Fathers the Jesuits had been ours and ours theirs we should not have failed to have received and backed their Requeâ—t and used our utmost interest in their behalf as we did formerly when we stood up against the whole Country for the admission of the Jesuites into Canada and afterwards supported them upon their arrival in 1625. when the Governour and Inhabitants were against their reception And Charity which should be simplâ— and without guile makes us apt to believe that these Reverend Fathers did not want good will but Interest and Power in the Council of Quebec to return us the like curtesie as themselves were pleased to assure us in their Letter the year following Be it as it will you may imagine that the Resolutions taken this bout were not much in our favour for Monsieur de Lauzon Director General of the Company who notwithstanding all his fair promises had often underhand obstructed our return to Canada and was now gone Governour thither did not â—orget to continue the many good Offices hitherto done us We were no less mistaken in the Marquiss of Denouville who after I had made my great discovery was sent thither in the same quality and had made us much the same promises for the incouraging our discovery as did Monsieur Lauzon but was pleased likewise to forget them though he had particular Orders from Court to support our interest But he was soon recalled from his Government and the Count de Frontenac put in his room who has been since the true Father of the Recollects whom he has supported in their Missions at Canada as I have said at large in the description of my Louisiana and more in thâ— preceding Volume CHAP. XXXVIII Thoughts which a Missionary ought to have when he meets but with little incouragement in his Labours T Is held by the whole Christian World as a constant Truth and one of the first Principles of our Faith and Holy Religion that the Calling and true and sincere Conversion of People and Nations is the great work of the Mercy and Power of God and of the triumphant Efficacy of his Grace and Holy Spirit If this be true of those unbelieving and Idolatrous Nations which yet are Civilized and ruled and governed by good Laws and consequently have their Reason as we may say prepared to receive the
Doctrine and precepts of the Gospel and Christian Religion how much more ought Apostoliâ—k Men to acknowledge and revere this Sovereign and immediate Operation of the spirit of God in regard of those Nations who have no notion of Religion true or fâ—lse who live without Precept Order or Law without God and without Worship whose Reason is wholly buried in matter and uncapable of the most common Arguments of Faith and Religion Such are the People of Canada all along the River St. Laurence and in general all the other Nations of whom I have made mention in my Louisiana in the preceeding Volume and in this which I am now finishing The Missionaries then must acknowledge with the profoundest Humility that the work of Converting so many blinded Nations is beyond their Force that it appertains alone to the Father of Spirits as St. Paul says who holds the heart of Man in the palm of his hand to remove the veil that covers their eyes to enlighten their understanding and disperse the thick clouds of darkness in which they are inveloped to new mold their inclinations and soften their hearts to civilize and make them susceptible of the Laws which Reason suggests and subject them to those which Religion prescribes in a word to inlighten their minds and lead them by virtue of his Grace into the knowledge of love and truth This is the Foundation of the true Apostle-ship in regard to the Natives of Canada and my other Discoveries and indeed twelve hundred leagues farther up The great Points of Simplicity of Faith of Humility Grace and the Unction of the holy Spirit which I shall always have engraven in my Heart ought then to animate those whom it hath pleased God to call to publish the Gospel amongst these numerous Nations for whose Salvation I shall be ever ready to expose my life and all that I have most â—recious in this World even to the Death But before we hazard the Sacrificing our selves to this end we are to lay it down for our Principle that no one can be effectually drawn to Iesus Christ the Son of God if the Father of Lights draw him not by the virtue of his Victorious Grace That his Invisible Spirit moves and inspires when it pleases and where That the very Moments proper for the dispensation of his Grace are known to God and are in his power as the Father and Master of our Destiny and that having called all Men to Faith in the Fulness of his bounty which is common to all he gives them in his appointed time such natural and interior Graces as are sufficient to lead them to the Truth the work is not altogether of him that runs nor of him that wills but of him chiefly that touches and inlightens thro' the Effect of his great Mercy That therefore with greater reason the work and the glory of it is not his that Preaches or his that Plants or thaâ— Waters these are but weak and feeble Instruments but his indeed who gives the increase That Faith is the gift of God That the Sacrifice of all Nature can not merit by any right so much as the first Grace of Vocation so far is it from falling within the Compass of our mâ—rit That Men labour in vain to erect the Spiritual building of Faith if God be not on their side to prepare and dispose the Work An humble Simplicity ought therefore to run through and be as it were the very Soul of all the Apostolick labours of the Missionaries who have either gone before or shall come after me for the winning of Souls to Jesus Christ in the many vast Discoveries which I have made in Canada and amongst the other Nations of my Louisiana and the drawing them to their Ministry through this spirit of dependency as simple Organs and mere instruments of his Charity to whom alone ought to be given the glory of the Conversion of the little flock and if at any time the progress we makâ— be not answerable to our zealous endeavours then ought we with the profoundest submission and resignation to the will of God to rest highly satisfied within our felves when we can say we have done our part and what was expected of us in our Ministry tho after all we must own our selves to be unprofitable Servants I beg of God upon my bended knees with my hands lifted up to Heaven as I am now finishing this 3 d Volume of my Discoveries that he would be pleased to imprint yet deeper in my heart those humble and submissive thoughts which I ought to have to his Orders and those of my Superiours touching the Salvation of those several Natiâ—ns which have been buried so many Ages in the darkness of Ignorance that he would enable me to Sacrifice the best of my days to so good an end freely resigning my self to the holy dispensation of his Providence whether Life or Death and that I may be so happy as to leave behind me an example truly Apostolical worthy the imitation of all Missionaries full of light and ability grace and virtue zeal and courage to hazard all things for the Conversion of Souls encounter the boldest difficulties and bear up under the greatest disappointments and mortifications for the fulfilling of their Ministery I pray God with all my heart that Missionaries of all Orders might spread themselves in their Missions from one Sea to the other that with me they might be of the number of the chosen Vessels ordained to carry the name of the Lord amongst the People and Nations that Inhabit the utmost parts of the Earth and that the Providence of Him that I adore would be pleased to strengthen his Church Militant with a greater number of Labourers who by their Ministry may enlarge the Vineyard and second the Endeavours of all the other Orders both Regular and Secular in the New Plantations of the Kingdom of Iesus Christ. Jane Williams AN ACCOUNT OF SEVERAL New Discoveries IN North-America AN ACCOUNT OF New-France M. Ioliet who was sent by Count Frontenac to discover a Way into the South-Sea brought an exact Account of his Voyage with a Map of it but his Canow being over-set at the Foot of the Fall of St. Louis in sight of Montroyal his Chest and his two Men were lost therefore the following Account contains only what he has remembred I set out from the Bay of Puans in the Latitude of 42 Degrees 4 Minutes and having travell'd about 60 Leagues to the Westward I found a Portage and carrying our Canow's over-land for half a League I embark'd with six Men on the River Misconsing which brought us into the Meschasipi in the Latitude of 42 Degrees and an half on the 15 th of Iune 1674. This Portage is but 40 Leagues from the Mississipi This River is half a League broad its Stream is gentle to the latitude of 38 Degrees for a River from the West-North-West which runs into it increase so much its Rapidity that we cou'd make
as I continu'd there I met with one of the said Ambassadors since that time in their own Country who told me such horrid things that I cannot entirely believe them and I rather suspect the Miamis to be Contrivers thereof However Father Allouez had no sooner intelligence that I was arriv'd at the Village of the Illinois that they sent one Monso one of their Chiefs with four large Kettles twelve Axes and twenty Knives to persuade the Illinois that I was Brother of the Iroquois that my Breath smell'd like theirs that I eat Serpents that I was sent to betray them and attack them one way while the Iroquois should attack them by another that I was hated by all the Black-Gowns who forsook me because I design'd to destroy the Miamis having taken two of them Prisoners and lastly that I understood Physick enough to poison all the World Their Suggestions were so ridiculous and so false that I had no great difficulty to convince the Illinois of the Malice of my Enemies and Monso was in great danger of losing his Life for his pains They told him he had an Iroquois Serpent under his Tongue meaning his Baseness and Malice that his Comrades who had been Ambassadors into their Country had brought that Venom and had breathed in the Malice of the Iroquois in smoaking in their Calumet I was oblig'd to interceed for him for else they would have murthered him 'T is certain that their Design is to engage Count Frontenac into a War with the Iroquois and having try'd in vain several Ways to succeed they think there is no better than to perswade the Nation of the Miamis who are our Confederates to settle themselves near the Illinois and make an Alliance with them insomuch that the Iroquois cannot attack one Nation without breaking with the other and thereby oblige your Lordship either to forsake our Allies or declare Wars against the Iroquois This is not a rash and groundless Judgment for these Miamis with whom Father Allouez lives have kill'd several Iroquois this Winter and having cut the Fingers to another they sent him back to tell their Nation that the Miamis are join'd with the Illinois against them Perhaps that Perfidiousness obliges Father Allouez to quit them next Spring as I understand he designs to do However I am confident to stop the Progress of this Cabal if your Lordship comes this Year to weep for the Death of the Onontake who have been kill'd for the Illinois have promis'd me to release some Slaves and forbear their Excursions against the Iroquois who having been inform'd of my Good Offices have express'd a great Gratitude thereof This Weeping is a common Ceremony among the Savages when any of their Warriors have been kill'd I do not wonder that the Iroquois should talk of invading our Allies for they are every Year provok'd and I have seen at Missilinaokinak amongst the Poutouatamits and the Miamis the Heads of several Iroquois whom they have kill'd by Treachery as they were a Hunting last Spring This is come to the Knowledge of the Iroquois for our Allies have been so impudent as to boast of of it and especially the Poutouatamits who dancing the Calumet at Missilinaokinak before three Agniez or Envoys of the Iroquois boasted of their Treachery and held in their Hands several Heads of Hair of Iroquois's I cannot forbear to take notice of the Discourse I had with a Savage of the Nation of the Wolf who being convinc'd of the Truth of the Christian Religion and pressed by some Missionaries to embrace the Catholick and by some English Ministers to embrace Theirs was in great perplexity which of the two he should chuse for as he told me these Men are very unlike the Apostles the former because of their great Covetousness and the latter because of their being marry'd But having observ'd in the Recollects both Chastity and the Contempt of the Riches of the World he was Baptiz'd by them I have seen in this Country abundance of Green Parrots bigger and finer than those of our Islands A DISCOVERY OF SOME New Countries and Nations IN THE Northern-America By Father MARQUETTE ON the 13th of May 1673. I embark'd with M. Ioliet who was chosen to be our Director in this Undertaking and five other French-Men in two Canow's made of Barks of Trees with some Indian Corn and boil'd Flesh for our Subsistence We had taken care to get from the Savages all the Intelligence we could concerning the Countries through which we design'd to travel and had drawn a Map of the same according to their Relation in which we had mark'd the Rivers and the Name of the Nations we were to meet and the Rhombs of the Wind we were to make use of in our Journey The first Nation we meet with is call'd the Nation of the Wild-Oats I went into their River to visit that People to whom we have preach'd the Gospel for several Years and amongst whom there are many good Christians The Wild-Oats from which they have got their Name is a sort of Corn which grows naturally in the small Rivers the bottom whereof is owzie as also in marshy Grounds It is much like our European Oats the Stem is knotted and grows about two foot above the Surface of the Water The Corn is not bigger than ours but it is twice as long and therefore it yields much more Meal It grows above the Waters in Iune and the Savages gather it about September in this manner They go in their Canow's in those Rivers and as they go they shake the Ears of the Corn in their Canow's which easily fallâ— if it be ripe They dry it upon the Fire and when it is very dry they put it into a kind of Sack made with the Skin of Beasts and having made a Hole in the Ground they put their Sack therein and tread on it till they see the Chaff is separated from the Corn which they vann afterwards They pound it in a Mortar to reduce it into Meal or else boyl it in Water and season it with Grease which makes it near as good as our Rice I acquainted that Nation with the Design I had to travel farther into the Country to discover the remotest Nations and teach them the Mysteries of our Holy Religion at which they were mightily surpriz'd and did their utmost to disswade me from that Enterprize They told me that I should meet some Nations who spare no Strangers whom they kill without any Provocation or Mercy that the War those different Nations had one with the other should daily expose me to be taken by their Warriors who are perpetually abroad to surprize their Enemies That the great River was exceedingly dangerous and full of dreadful Monsters who devour'd Men and even the Canow's themselves They added That a Devil stopp'd the Passage of the said River and sunk those who were so bold as to come near the Place where he stood and in short that the Heat was so excessive
establish'd forty Years ago have been discontinu'd and are no longer kept on foot particularly those of the great Bay of St. Lawrence River of Ristigouche of Nipisiguit of Miskou of Cape Breton of Port-Royal of Wolf-River of Magdelane Cape of the three Rivers and many â—thers which were founded among the Hurons at the head of that River For the Missionaries who were wont to reside in those Parts have made no difficulty to leave 'em and even to abandon Tadoussac with a design to settle at Chigoutimi If my Life and Health through the Divine mercy be any longer preserv'd I shall give a very particular account in a third Tome of some other more considerable Obstacles that hinder the propagation of the Gospel among the American Savages and I shall only take the liberty to add here that whoever are desirous to enter upon the functions of this painful Ministry ought of necessity to lay aside all manner of regard to Worldly Riches and to be content with a moderate subsistence according to the Apostolical Injunction This without doubt wou'd prove an effectual means to convert the Savages and to oblige 'em to embrace the Christian Religion but perhaps I may have occasion elsewhere to speak more largely to this Subject CHAP. XXXI Of the Barbarous Customs and rude Deportment of the Savages THE Savages have very little regard to the Rules of Civility in use among the Europeans nay they even fall a laughing when they see our People employ'd in paying mutual respects one to another Upon their arrival at a place they scarce ever trouble themselves with saluting the Company there present but sit squat on the Tail without giving any manner of Salutation or so much as looking upon any one altho' a Visit were made to ' em They sometimes run into the first Hut that lies in their way without speaking one word take place where they can and afterward light their Pipe or Reed Thus they Smoke in profound silence and then depart after the same manner When they enter our Houses built and furnish'd after the European fashion they get possession of the principal Post but if a Chair be set on the middle of the Hearth they immediately seize upon it and never rise up to give place to any Man whatsoever altho' he were even a Prince of King For they take as much State upon themselves as can be done by Persons of the highest Rank and Quality In the Northern Countries the Savage Men and Women take care only to cover their privy Parts all the rest of their Body being destitute of Cloaths The Southern Savages go stark Naked without any sense of shame nay they make no scruple to break Wind publickly having no regard to the presence of any Person whatever They treat their Elders very rudely when they do not sit in Council and the common Discourse both of the Men and Women is incessantly full of Ribaldry and Obscene Expressions As for the kindly Correspondence between them they generally endeavour to conceal it nevertheless they sometimes take so little precaution in that Affair that they are often surpriz'd Besides the Savages observe none of the Rules of that natural Modesty and civil Deportment which are in use among us between Persons of both Sexes neither are they accustom'd to any of those Caresses or regular Methods of Courtship which are usually perform'd by the Civiliz'd People of Europe but every thing is there Transacted in a gross manner and with a great deal of Brutishness They never wash their Wooden or Bark Dishes nor their Porrengers and Spoons nay the Savage Women after having turn'd their young Children dry with their Fingers wipe 'em very lightly with a peice of Rind and then immediately fall about handling their Victuals Indeed this Nastiness was often very offensive to me and even hinder'd me from eating with those People in the Hut where they had made me an invitation neither do they scarce at any time wash their Hands or Face The Children shew very little respect to their Parents nay they often are so audacious as to beat them without receiving due Correction for such Misdemeanours by reason that according to their Maxim Blows wou'd serve only to balk their Courage and to render 'em uncapable of being good Soldiers They sometimes eat snorting and blowing like Brute Beasts and as soon as the Men have enter'd a Hut they fall to Smoaking Tobacco If a cover'd Pot happen to lie in their way thâ—y make no scruple to uncover it to see what may be contain'd therein They eat in a Dish that the Dogs have lick'd without washing or scouring it and when they light on Fat Meat they only rub their Faces and haste with their Hands to cleanse them not forbearing to Belch incessantly Those Savages who have found means to Trunk for Shirts with the Europeans never take care to wash 'em but generally let 'em Rot upon their Backs They seldom pare their Nails and scarce ever wash their Meat before they dress it Their Huts in the North Countries are for the most part very Nasty I was also much surpriz'd one day to see an Old decrepit Woman who was employ'd in biting a Child's Hair and devouring the Lice that were in it The Women are not asham'd to make Water before any Company yet they chuse to go a Mile or two into the Woods to ease their Bodies rather than to expose themselves to the publick view when the Children have foul'd their Cloaths they usually throw off the Urine with their Hands These people are also often seen eating as they lie upon the ground like Dogs In a word these People are unwilling to put themselves to the least trouble upon any account whatever and act on all occasions after a very brutish manner However Notwithstanding all this strange Barbarousness many things are Transacted by 'em with a great deal of Discretion and Agreeableness When any one happens to come into their Huts whilst they are Eating they usally set before him their Dishes full of Meat and they take it as a very great Favour when every thing is eaten up that was presented nay they wou'd chuse rather to be destitute of Provisions two days than to let you depart without offering to you every thing they have with much sincerity so that if the Messâ—s happen to be already distributed upon the arrival of any Person the good Woman whose right it is to make this distribution finds means to order matters after such a manner that there may be somewhat to be given to those who come unlooked for Some of these Savages presented to us the finest Mats and set us in the best place of the Hut when we came to make 'em a Visit and those who have often convers'd with the Europeans are wont to salute us when we meet them It is also customary among the same People when they have receiv'd a Present to send back part thereof to those who made it Although