the Savages who now inhabit the Land surrounding this Bay had deseâ—ted their former Habitation because of some stinking in French Puans Waters towards the Sea that annoy'd them CHAP XI A short Description of the Upper Lake THis Superiour Lake runs from East to West and may have more than a Hundred and fifty Leagues in length Sixty in breadth and Five hundred in circuit We never went quite over it as we did over all the others I 've hitherto mention'd but we sounded some of its greatest Depths and it resembles the Ocean having neither Bottom nor Banks I shall not here stay to mention the infinite numbers of Rivers that discharge themselves into this prodigious Lake which together with that of Illinois and the Rivers that are swallow'd in them make up the source of that great River St. Laurence which runs into the Ocean at the Island of Assumption towards New-found-land We travell'd upon this River about Six hundred Leagues from its mouth to its Source I 've already observ'd That all these Lakes may well be call'd Fresh-water Seas They abound extreamly in White Fish greater than Carps which are extraordinary good nay at Twenty or Thirty Fathom Water there are Salmon-Trouts taken of Fifty or Sixty pound weight It were easie to build on the sides of these great Lakes an infinite number of considerable Towns which might have Communication one with another by Navigation for Five hundred Leagues together and by an inconceivable Commerce which would establish it self among ' em And to be sure the Soil if cultivated by Europeans would prove very fertile Those that can conceive the Largeness and Beauty of these Lakes may easily understand by the help of our Map what course we steer'd in making he great Discovery hereafter mention'd CHAP. XII What is the Predominant Genius of the Inhabitants of Canada THe Spaniards were the first who discover'd Canada but at their first arrival having found nothing considerable in it they abandon'd the Country and call'd it Il Capo di Nada that is A Cape of Nothing hence by corruption sprung the Word Canada which we use in all our Maps Since I left that Country I understand that all things continue very near as they were whilst I resided there Those who have the Government of Canada committed to their Care are mov'd with such a malignant Spirit as obliges all who do not approve their Design to moan secretly before God Men of Probity that are zealous for Religion find nothing there of what they expected but on the contrary such Repulses and and ill Usage that no body could have foreseen Several resort thither with a design to Sacrifice their Repose and Life to the Temporal and Spiritual Succour of an Infant-Church but the loss of Reputation and Honour are the Sacrifices they 're oblig'd to make Others go thither in the hopes of spending their Lives in Peace and perfect Concord whereas they meet with nothing but Jarrs Divisions and a Sea of Troubles In lieu of their fair Hopes they reap nothing but Crosses and Persecution and all for not pleasing the Humours of Two or Three Men who are the over-ruling Wits of that Country What an immense distance there is betwixt the Humour of these Men and our Flemish Sincerity I mean that Candour and Evenness of Mind which make up the true Character of a Christian and is observ'd every where else But without entring farther into any Particulars I leave the Judgment of all unto God and shall only say that we who are Flemings by Birth went to Canada without any other private Design having renounc'd our Native Country meerly for the Service of our Religion after having quitted all other Enjoyments for embracing a Religious Profession And therefore it was not a small Surprize to us upon our arrival in that Country to see our Sincerity and Uprightness of Heart so sorrily entertain'd There is a certain sort of People to whom every thing is suspicious and whom it is impossible to retrieve from under the first Impressions they 've receiv'd Though a Man were never so complaisant yet if he be not altogether of their Stamp or if he endeavours to represent Things fairly and rationally unto them tho' with wise and soft Remonstrances yet shall he pass among 'em for a Fellow of a turbulent Spirit Such Conduct as this does not savour of Christianity nor bespeaks any other Prospect than that of temporal Interest This Consideration mov'd me oft-times to say to the Three Flemish Monks I had brought to Canada with me That it had been much better for us who had quitted all our Enjoyments and exchang'd them for the Poverty of a Monastick Life to have gone in Mission among Strangers to preach Repentance to Infidels and propagate the Kingdom of our Saviour among the barbarous Nations And indeed kind Providence seconded my Good Intentions for the Reverend Father Germain Allart Recollect late Bishop of Vence in Provence sent me Orders to undertake the Discovery which I am about to relate CHAP. XIII A Description of my first Imbarkment in a Canow at Quebec the Capital City of Canada being bound for the South-West of New-France or Canada I Remain'd Two Years and a half at Fort Frontenac till I saw perfected the House of Mission that Father Luke Buisset and I had caus'd to be built there This engag'd us in Travels which inseparably attend New Establishments Accordingly we went in a Canow down the River St. Laurence and after a Hundred and twenty Leagues sailing arriv'd at Quebec where I retirâ—d into the Recollects Convent of St. Mary in order to prepare and sanctifie my self for commencing this Discovery And indeed I must frankly own that when at the foot of the Cross I pensively consider'd this important Mission weighing it in the Scales of Humaâ— Reason and measuring the weight of its Difficulties by Human Force it seem'd aâ—together terrible rash and inconsiderable But when I look'd up to GOD and view'd it as an effect of his Goodness in chusing me for so great a Work and as his Commandment directed to me by the mouth of my Superiours who are the Instruments and Interpreters of his Wiâ—l unto me These Thoughts I say presently inspir'd me with Courage and Resolution to undertake this Discovery with all the Fidelity and Constancy imaginable I perswaded my self that since it was the peculiar Work of God to open the hard Hearts of that barbarous People to whom I was sent to publish the Glad Tidings of his Gospel it were as easie for Him to compass it by a feeble Instrument such as I was as by the most worthy Person in the World Having thus prepar'd my self for the Voyage of my Mission and seeing that those who were expected from Europe to bear part in this Discovery were now arriv'd that the Pilot Seamen and Ship-Carpenters were in readiness and that the Arms Goods and Rigging for the Ships were all at hand I took with me from our Convent a
for them All the Nations Southwards towards the River Meschasipi are more superstitious in their Huntings than the Northern People and the Iroquoise in particular When I was among them their Seniors six days before they were to enter upon the Hunting of their wild Bulls would send about Four or Five of their nimblest Hunters to the Mountains in order to dance the Camulet there with as much Ceremony as among the Nations to whom they were wont to send Embassadors to make some Allyance with Upon the return of these Men they exposed to the view of all the People for the space of three days a very great Kettle which they beset with Feathers of all Colours and fastned one of the Guns of their Fire-men athwart it for the space of three Days the principal Wife of a Captain câ—rryed this Kettle upon her back with Flowers in great Pomp at the Head of above two hundred Huntsmen following an old Man who had tyed an Handkerchief to the end of a Stick or Pole like an Ensign and carrying his Bow and Arrows in great Silence This old Spark made an Halt three or four times to weep and bitterly bewail the death of those Bulls which they hope to kill and at the last Pause the eldest of the Company sent two of the ablest Huntsmen to find out the wild Bulls whom on their return they whisper'd before they began the Chase of these Animals then they kindled a Fire of the Ordure of the wild Bulls dryed in the Sun and seasoned their Pipes or Calumets in this new sort of Fire in order to smoke their Runners whom they had sent to make a discâ—very This Ceremony was no sooner ended but an hundred Men went out on the one Side of the Mountains whilst a like number took the other in order to enclose in the Bulls who are very numerous they killed several of them in a confused manner with their Arrows and we Europeans seven or eight with our Guns These Barbarians could not sufficiently admire the Effect of our Guns the noise of which they heard but could not see the Bullets which maâ—e them believe these Creatures were kill'd with the report only they would clap their Hands upon their Mouths as a sign of their Amazement and cry Alansa Ouacanthe that is in the Language of the Issatrians this Iron doth Mischief to Men and Beasts yet we do not know how it comes to pass that at the noise of these round Machines the Bones of these Beasts come to be broken which still raised their Admiration of them I could not sufficiently wonder how these Salvages could slea those Bulls and cut them out to pieces seeing they had neither Knives nor Hatchets but the few they had stolen from us They cut the Hides of these Beasts with the Points of their Arrows which were made of a Sharp Stone and when once they can get their Fingers between the Flesh and the Skin of these Animals they could then quickly flea them As for cutting of the Meat to pieces and disjointing the Bones they made use of Stones with which they effected it They dismember'd also these Beasts and the Women took care to dry them by exposing the same to the Sun and the Smoke of a little Fire which they kindled In short they eat nothing during the time of their Hunting but the Entrails and the poorest pieces of these Animals but the best parts they carried into their Villages distant about two hundred Leagues from the place where they had been Hunting CHAP. XXVI The Way of Fishing amongst the Salvages THose Salvages that dwell to the North-ward fish in another manner than the Southern People The former take all sorts of Fish with Nets and harping-Irons as we do in Europe They sometimes also catch Fish with Lines but no great Number that way I have seen them fish in a pleasant manner they took a forked piece of Wood double painted to which they put a Net almost in the same manner as we do in Europe for to catch Partridges when that 's done they let it down into the Water and the Fish which are there in far greater Abundance than in our Rivers glide along and when the Salvages perceive that they are entred into the Net then they draw it up which is in Form somewhat like a pair of Pincers the Fish that are taken therein being held by the Gils The Iroquoise now and then in their Fishing time make use of a Net forty or fifty Fathoms long which they put in a great Cannow of Wood and then spread it out in an Oval Form to the most commodious Places of the Rivers and indeed I have sometimes admired their Dexterity therein I have known them take sometimes above four hundred Whitings larger than our ordinary Carps and amongst others several Sturgeons pulled out of the River with Nets made of Nettles In this way of Fishing its necessary that two Men hold the two Ends of this sort of Net and wrap it up exactly as occasion requires whereby they catch a prodigious Quantity of Fish especially in the River Nagara which are very good and of excellent Taste There is such plenty of Fish in this Place that 't is capable of furnishing the greatest City in Europe with Fishes of divers Kinds neither is it to be wonder'd at for the Fishes do continually swim up from the Sea towards the Spring of the River for fresh Water the River of St. Lawrence receives about this part of the Niugara a vast quantity of Waters from four great Lakes of which we have spoken and which are little Seas of fresh Water now this Deluge of Water coming to discharge and precipitate it self by the greatest and most frightful Fall that is in the whole World the infinite number of Fish that take pleasure to come and refresh themselveves in those Waters continue there because they are not able to get over this Cataract and hence it is that such a vast quantity of Fish may be caught there as are sufficient for the Subsistence of the greatest City in the Universe During the time of my Embassage from Fort de Frontenac I was to see the great Fall of Water which comes from a Northern River and discharges it self into a great Basin of the Lake Ontario capable to hold above an hundred Men of War in great Safety Being there I taught the Salvages to take Fish with their Hands I caused Trees to be felled down in the Spring near unto the forementioned Fall and this I did that I might lye down without wetting my self I found there a vast number of Fishes of divers sorts after I had a little tickled them with my Hand I took fast hold of them by the Gills and when at several times I had taken fifty or sixty great Fishes I went to warm and refresh my self in order to return fresh again to the Sport I put the Fish I had taken into a Sack which a Salvage held in his
and Creeks which we were forc'd to coast we past by the Great Fall of Niagara and spent half a Day in considering the Wonders of that prodigious Cascade I could not conceive how it came to pass that four great Lakes the least of which is 400 Leagues in compass should empty themselves one into another and then all centre and discharge themselves at this Great Fall and yet not drown good part of America What is yet more surprizing the Ground from the Mouth of the Lake Erie down to the Great Fall appears almost level and flat 'T is scarce discernable that there is the least Rise or Fall for six Leagues to gether The more than ordinary swiftness of the Stream is the only thing that makes it be observ'd And that which makes it yetâ—the stranger is That for 2 Leagues together below the Fall towards the Lake Ontario or Frontâ—nac the Lands are as level as they are above it towards the Lake of Erie Our Surprise was still greater when we observ'd there was no Mountains within two good Leagues of this Cascade and yet the vast quantity of Water which is discharg'd by these four fresh Seas stops or centres here and so falls above six hundred Foot deep down into a Gulph which one cannot look upon without Horrour Two other great Out-lets or Falls of Water which are on the two sides of a small sloping Island which is in the midst fall gently and without noise and so glide away quiety enough But when this prodigious quantity of Water of which I speak comes to fall there is such a din and such a noise more deafning than the loudest Thunder The rebounding of these Waters is so great that a sort of Cloud arises from the Foam of it which are seen hanging over this Abyss even at Noon-day when the Sun is at its heighth In the midst of Summer when the Weather is hottest they arise above the tallest Firrs and other great Trees which grow in the sloping Island which make the two Falls of Waters that I spoke of I wish'd an hundred times that somebody had been with us who could have describ'd the Wonders of this prodigious frightful Fall so as to give the Reader a just and natural Idea of it such as might satisfie him and create in him an Admiration of this Prodigy of Nature as great as it deserves In the mean time accept the following Draught such as it is in which however I have endeavour'd to give the curious Reader as just an Image of it as I can We must call to mind what I observ'd of it in the beginning of my Voyage which is to be seen in the Seventh Chapter of this Book From the Mouth of the Lake Erie to the Great Fall are reckon'd six Leagues as I have said which is the continuation of the Great River of St. Laurence which arises out of the four Lakes above-mention'd The River you must needs think is very rapid for these six Leagues because of the vast Discharge of Waters which fall into it out of the said Lakes The Lands which lie on both sides of it to the East and West are all level from the Lake Erie to the Great Fall Its Banks are not sâ—eep on the contrary the Water is almost always level with the Land 'T is certain that the Ground towards the Fall is lower by the more than ordinary swiftness of the Stream and yet 't is not perceivable to the Eye for the six Leagues abovesaid After it has run thus violently for six Leagues it meets with a small sloping Island about half a quarter of a League long and near three hundred Foot broad as well as one can guess by the Eye for it is impossible to come at it in a Canow of Bark the Waters run with that force The Isle is full of Cedar and Firr but the Land of it lies no higher than that on the Banks of the River It seems to be all level even as far as the two great Cascades that make the Main Fall The two sides of the Channels which are made by the Isle and run on both sides of it overflow almost the very Surface of the Earth of the said Isle as well as the Land that lies on the Banks of the River to the East and West as it runs South and North. But we must observe that at the end of the Isle on the side oâ— the two great Falls there is a sloping Rock which reaches as far as the Great Gulph into which the said Waters fall and yet the Rock is not at all wetted by the two Cascades which fall on both sides because the two Torrents which are made by the Isle throw themselves with a prodigious force one towards the East and the other towards the West from off the end of the Isle where the Great Fall of all is After then these two Torrents have thus run by the two sides of the Isle they cast their Waters all of a sudden down into the Gulph by two Great Falls which Waters are push'd so violently on by their own Weight and so sustain'd by the swiftness of the motion that they don't wet the Rock in the least And here it is that they tumble down into an Abyss above 600 Foot in depth The Waters that flow on the side of the East do not throw themselves with that violence as those that fall on the West The reason is because the Rock at the end of the Island rises something more on this side than it does on the West and so the Waters being supported by it somewhat longer than they are on the other side are carry'd the smoother off But on the West the Rock sloping more the Waters for want of a Support become the sooner broke and fall with the greater precipitation Another reason is the Lands that lie on the West are lower than those that lie on the East We also observ'd that the Waters of the Fall that is to the West made a sort of a square Figure as they fell which made a third Cascade less than the other two which fell betwixt the South and North. And because there is a rising Ground which lies before those two Cascades to the North the Gulph is much larger there than to the East Moreover we must observe that from the rising Ground that lies over against the two last Falls which are on the West of the main Fall one may go down as far as the bottom of this terrible Gulph The Author of this Discovery was down there the more narrowly to observe the Fall of these prodigious Cascades From hence we could discover a Spot of Ground which lay under the Fall of Water which is to the East big enough for four Coaches to drive a breast without being wet but because the Ground which is to the East of the sloping Rock where the first Fall empties it self into the Gulph is very steep and almost perpendicular 't is impossible for a Man
remained for some while fluttering in the Air not finding Ground whereon to put her Foot But that the Fishes moved with Compassion for her immediately held a Consultation to deliberate which of them should receive her The Tortoise very officiously offered its Back on the Surface of the Water The Woman came to rest upon it and fixed her self there Afterwards the Filthiness and Dirt of the Sea gathering together about the Tortoise there was formed by little and little that vast Tract of Land which we now call America They add that this Woman grew weary of her Solitude wanting some body for to keep her Company that so she might spend her time more pleasantly Melancholy and Sadness having seiz'd upon her Spirits she fell asleep and a Spirit descended from above and finding her in that Condition approach'd and knew her unperceptibly From which Approach she conceived two Children which came forth out of one of her Ribs But these two Brothers could never afterwards agree together One of them was a better Huntsman than the other they quarrelled every day and their Disputes grew so high at last that one could not bear with the other One especially being of a very wild Temper hated mortally his Brother who was of a milder Constitution who being no longer able to endure the Pranks of the other he resolved at last to part from him He retired then into Heaven whence for a Mark of his just Resentment he causeth at several times his Thunder to rore over the Head of his unfortunate Brother Some time after the Spirit descended again on that Woman and she conceived a Daughter from whom as the Salvages say were propagated these numerous People which do occupy now one of the greatest parts of the Universe How fabulous soever this History is yet one may perceive in it some Glimpse of Truth The Sleep of that Woman with the Birth of her two Sons hath some resemblance to the Sleep of Adam during which God took â—ut one of his Ribs and therewith formed Eve The Disunion of the two Brothers is the Image of the implacable Hatred of Cain to Abel The Retreat of him who retir'd to Heaven doth represent the Death of Abel and the Thunderclaps from Heaven denote well enough the Curse which God pronounced against that miserable Cain who was the Murtherer of his Brother It is a lamentable thing to consider with how many Whimsies the Devil intoxicates the Minds of these poor Salvages Although they esteem all Souls Corporeal for they understand nothing else by their Otkon Atahauta or Manitou but I know not what sort of a Material Spring which gives Life and Motion to all Things Yet they nevertheless pretend to believe the Immortality of the Soul and another Life after this in which they are to roul in all sorts of Pleasures and where they are to find especially Hunting in Perfection Fishing in Abundance Indian Corn in great Quantities for those that sow it for there are those among them that do not Tobacco and a thousand other both Curiosities and Necessaries They hold that the Soul does not immediately leave the Body after Death wherefore they always bury along with it a Bow Arrows Indian Corn and fat Meat to the end say they that the Dead may subsist thereupon 'till they can arrive in the Country where the Souls reside As they afford Souls to all living Creatures so they think that after Death Men continue to hunt the Souls of Beavers Elks Foxes Otters Sea-wolfs and other Animals They believe likewise that the Souls of those Rackets that they make use of to keep them from sinking into the Snow in Winter time will be of the same use to 'em in the other World as also the Souls of Bows and Arrows to kill Beasts withal They have also the same Thoughts concerning Fishing in a manner that according to their Opinion these Souls have likewise the same Occasion for Arms for that Sport The Bodies which they bury Seven or Eight Foot deep have no other need of these Arms and Provision which they put into the Grave with them than to serve them for their Voyage into the other World They imagine that these Souls walk visibly in their Villages for a certain time and that they partake of all their Feasts and Merriments and therefore they always assign them their several Portions Many of these People carry their Superstition to that Degree as to have several General Feasts for the Dead accompany'd with Songs dreadful Cries Banquets Dances and Presents of different sorts For this purpose they drag Corps out of the Villages and even the Bones of those whose Flesh is consum'd all which they call Bundles of Souls They transport them from one Tomb to another set out with Skins of Beasts Collars of Porcelain and other such Riches of their Country They believe that all this contributes mightily towards the Happiness of the Dead I shall not trouble my self here to relate the several Particulars of their Belief upon this Subject the different places and Employs which they assign their Dead the manner after which they believe they subâ—â—â—t their Wars Peace Policy and Laws These 〈…〉 so many extravagant and ridiculous Traditions founded upon Fables which their Ancestors have invented and to which they give so great Credit that they easily pass from one Generation to another for Articles of Faith There is some reason to suspect that the Salvages of America have originally descended from the Iews whereof some few might probably have been cast by Shipwrack upon these Shores for in effect there is a great resemblance between them in several things They build their Huts in form of Pavilions like the Iews They anoint themselves with Oyl and are zealous Observers of Dreams They bewail their Dead with great Lamentations and Noise Their Women wear Mourning for their Husbands a whole Year during which time they forbear Dances and Feasts and have a kind of Fryars Hood on their Heads And most commonly the Father or Brother of the Deceas'd takes care of the Widow As to the rest they seem to have a particular Curse entail'd upon them by God Almighty like the Iews for they are Brutish and Opiniated to the highest Degree They have no fix'd and settled Abode They are very unchast and have moreover such dull Pates that whenever they are told that their Souls are immortal they will presently ask what they shall eat in the other World Besides we may trace the Belief of the Iews according to the Revelation of Moses in what we have already touch'd upon concerning these Salvages Opinion of the beginning of the World But to speak freely these Barbarians seem to me to have no Idea at all of a Deity They believe indeed another World where they expect to enjoy the same Pleasures and Delights they have had here They are a sort of People subject to no Restraint Laws nor any Form of Government or Policy They are extreamly blockish in
Hand and I fed above fifty Families of the Iroquoise of Ganneous therewith who with the Sieur de Salle I had brought to plant Indian Corn there and to have their Children instructed in the Christian Religion at Fort Frontenac The most considerable sort of Fishing among the Salvages is that of Eels which are very big Salmons and Salmon Trouts and Whitings The Iroquoise Aguier who are in the Neighbourhood of New York fish very often for Frogs which they catch in abundance and which they put whole into their Kettles without fleaing them for the seasoning their Pagamite which is Pap made of Indian Corn. Salmon Trouts are catch'd in several other parts of the Rivers which discharge themselves into the Lake of Frontenac and there are such great Numbers to be found there that they kill them with Sticks They catch Eels in the Night time when the Weather is calm and these Fishes came down in great quantities along the River St. Lawrence the Salvages put the thick Bark of a Birch-tree together with Earth upon the end of a Stake and then kindle a kind of a Flambeau which gives a very clear Light when a Man or two go into a Cannow with an Harping-Iron fixed between two Points of a little Fork As soon as they discover the Eels by the help of the Fire they fall to and kill a vaft Quantity of them because that the white Porpoises which pursued them drive them before them till at last they betake themselves to the Brink of the Rivers to which those great Porpoises cannot approach Salmons they catch with Harping-Irons and Whitings with Nets the Southern Nations which dwell upon the River Meschasipi are very subtil and have such lively and piercing Eyes that tho' the Fishes glide very swiftly in the Waters yet they fail not to kill them with their Darts which they vigorously thrust a little bâ—fore into the Water when they shoot out of their Bow Moreover they have long Poles with sharp Points which they dart from them with greatAccuracy because of their being so sharp sighted they also kill great Sturgeons and Trouts which are seven or eight foot under Water CHAP. XXVII Of the Vtensils used by the Salvages in their Huts Their extraordinary way of making a Fire Before the arrival of the Europeans in North America both the Northern and Southern Salvages made use of and do to this day use Earthen Pots especially such as have no Commerce with the Europeans from whom they may procure Kettels and other Moveables in stead of Hatchets and Knives they make use of sharp Stones which they fasten in a cleft piece of Wood with Leather Thongs and instead of Awls they make a certain sharp Bone to serve which is seated about Elks Talons they have no Fire Arms amongst them Bows and Arrows being their only Weapons Their way of making a Fire and which is new and unknown to us is thus they take a Triangular piece of Cedar-Wood of a Foot and an half long wherein they bore some Holes half through then they take a Switch or another small piece of hard Wood and with both their hands rub the strongest upon the weakest in the hole which is made in the Cedar and while they are thus rubbing they let fall a sort of Dust or Powder which turns into Fire This white Dust they roul up in a Pellet of Herbs dryed in Autumn and Rubbing them all together and then blowing upon the Dust that is in the Pellet the Fire kindles in a momeâ—t When the Salvages are about to make Wooden Disheâ— Porringers or Spoons they form the Wood to their purpose with their Stone Hatchets make it hollow with Coles out of the Fire and scrape them afterward with Beavers Teeth for to polish them The Northern Nations where usually they have hard Winters make use of Rackets in their Passage over the Snow The Salvages make them of Thongs of Leather as Broad as small Ribbons in a neater manner than our playing Hand-Rackets they have no Handles to them as those of our Tennis Courts but they are longer and larger They leave a vacancy in the middle as large as the Toes to the end the Salvages may walk easier with their Shoes they Travel further with these Rackets than they can without them And without the use of them they would sink into the Snow which is there seven or eight Foot deep and more some times in the Winter Season Nay in some places t is as high as the highest Houses in Europe for the Wind drives it violently into Nooks and hollow Places The Salvages who live in the Neighbourhood of the Europeans have now the use of Guns Hatchets Kettles Awls Knifes Fireforks and other Instruments as we have In order to sow Indian Corn they make Pick-Axes of Wood but 't is to supply the want of Iron ones They have Gourds or Callibasses wherein they put their Bear wild Cat and Turnsoll Oyls there is never a Man that has not a Skin or Sack to put his Pipe and his Tobacco in and the Salvage Women make Sacks for Indian Corn of Bullrushes or Linden Bark to put their Corn in They also make them of Nettle-peel the Bark of Linden and of other Roots whose names I do not know The Salvages make use of very small Thongs â—o sow their Shoes withal and have Mats made of Bull rushes to lye upon and for want of them they make use of the Barks of Trees their Women swaddle their Infans in the same manner as the European Women do yet with this difference that their Bonds arâ— made of a large Skins and a kind of Cotton together to prevent their being over-heated in their Swathing they tye them to a piece of Board after they have swaddled them and that with a Skin-band then they make the Board fast to the Branch of a Tree or some place in their Huts in such a manner that the Infants do not lye but are bolt upright with their Heads upwards and Feet downward and to the end their Urine may not incommode them they put a piece of the Birch-Tree in a commodious Place for that Purpose so as that their Urine may run down as in a Gutter and not touch the Body of the Child These Women take such great care of their Infants that they do not come near their Husbands at all but shun their Company 'till their Children have attained to the Age of three or four Years and may be fed as the rest It 's otherwise with the European Women because it is easie to supply the Defects of Mothers by the means of Cows Milk or other tame Animals but these shun the Company of Men while they are Nurses because if they once Conceive their Infants must necessarily Perish seeing for Example they cannot at five or fix Months Old eat of their dryed Meats or any other thing and this is it that doth oblige â—hem to do as they do to the end they may put their Children
the Fishes call'd Espadons and the Whales their mortal Enemies neither am I to detain my Reader with an account of what vast Quantities of Fish we took at Forty Fathom Water upon the Great Bank of New-found-Land or what great Numbers of Ships we rencounter'd that were bound thither from different Nations to Fish in these Places which afford such infinite Numbers of all manner of Fishes These diverting Sights were very agreeable to all our Crew which was then about an Hundred Men strong to three Fourths of whom I administred the Sacraments they being Catholicks I perform'd likewise Divine Service every Day while the Weather was calm and we sung the Itinerary of the Clergy translated into French Verse after the Evening Prayers Thus we sweetly pass'd our Time a-board 'till at length we arriv'd at Quebec the Capital City of Canada CHAP. II. The Means by which the Author accustom'd himself to endure the Travail and Fatigue of his laborious Mission MR. Francis de Laval Bishop of Petrée having taken possession of the Bishoprick of Quebec which was conferr'd upon him by Pope Clement X. and that contrary to the Sentiments of many Persons of Quality who by means of his Preferment were frustrated of their own Pretensions This Reverend Prelate I say having taken into consideration the Fervency of my Zeal in Preaching the Gospel in my Voyage my assiduous Diligence in performing Divine Service and the Care I had taken to hinder the Young Fellows of our Crew from keeping Loose Company with the Women and Maids that came along with us for which I had oft-times been rewarded with Anger and Hatred these Reasons and such-like procur'd me the Favour and Applause of this Illustrious Prelate he obliging me to Preach in Advent and Lent to the Cloister of St. Augustin in the Hospital of Quebec But in the mean while all this did not satisfie my natural Inclination I us'd oft-times to go some Twenty or Thirty Leagues off the Town to see the Country wearing a little Hood and making use of large Rackets without which I had been in danger of falling headlong over fearful Precipices Sometimes to ease my self a little I made a great Dog I had brought with me drag my little Baggage along that I might arrive the sooner at Trois Rivieres St. Ann and Cape Tourmente Bourgroyal the Point de Levi and at the Island of St. Laurence whither I design'd There I assembled together in one of the largest Cottages of that Country as many People as I could gather after which I admitted them to Confession and to the Holy Communion In the Night-time I had nothing to cover me but a Cloak and sometimes the Frost pierc'd to my very Bones which oblig'd me to make a Fire five or six times in a Night to prevent my freezing to death My Commons also wâ—re very short scarce more than to keep me from starving In the Summer-season I was oblig'd in the continuance of my Mission to travel by Canou's that is a sort of little Boats which I shall describe hereafter that they make use of in Lakes and Rivers Which sort of Contrivance succeeded well enough where the Water was shallow or about two or three Foot deep But when we came to any deeper Place then the Boat which was round underneath was in danger of over-turning insomuch that I had certainly perish'd in the Water had not I taken a circumspect Care of my self However I found my self oblig'd to travel after this manner for there were no passable Roads in this Country it being imposbleto travel over-land in these new Colonies because of that infinite number of Trees and Woods that replenish them on all sides which must needs be cut down or burn'd before any practicable Way be made CHAP. III. A Description of those Canou's thâ—t they make use of in the Summer-time in America to waft them along the Country THese Canou's are round underneath as I said but now and pointed at the two ends not unlike the Venetian Gondals without them it were impossible to travel in America for the Country is full of vast and wide-extended Forrests Besides the impetuous Winds sometimes pluck up the Trees by the Roots and Time it self renverses great numbers of 'em which tumbling down through Age are hudled so one above another that the Ways are totally embarass'd and render'd impracticable The Savage Natives are very ingenious in making these Canou's They make them of the Rinds of Birch-Trees which they pull very neatly off that sort of Trees they being considerably bigger than those of Europe They betake themselves to this Work generally about the end of Winter in the vast Forests that lie towards the Northern Parts of these Countries For supporting this Bark they line it within with Ribs or pieces of common Wood or Cedar about four Fingers broad this they furbish up with small Poles made smooth that make the circumference of the Canou then by other Poles going a-cross about an Inch or an Inch and a half thick which are very smoothly polish'd these they join on both sides to the Bark by small Roots of Trees cloven in two not much unlike the Willows that we make our Baskets of in Europe These Canou's have no Rudder as the bigger Shallops have for they conduct them meerly by the force of their Arms with some small Oars and can turn them with an incredible swiftness and direct them whither they list Those that are accustom'd to manage them can make 'em go at a wonderful rate even in calm Weather but when the Wind is favourable they are expedite to a Miracle for they then make use of little Sails made of the same Bark but thinner than that of the Canou's As for the Europeans that by long usage come to be well vers'd in this sort of Tackling thâ—y make use of about four Ells of Linnen-cloth hoisted up on a little Mast the foot of which is receiv'd by a Hole made in a square piece of light Wood that is fastned betwixt the Ribs and the Bark of the Canou's towards the bottom Those that are well skill'd in managing these Canou's may run Thirty or Thirty five Leagues in a Day upon Rivers and sometimes more in Lakes if the Wind be favourable But some of 'em are much bigger than others They carry generally about a Thousand pound weight some Twelve hundred and the biggest not more than Fifteen hundred pound The least of 'em may carry Three or four hundred pound weight together with two Men or Women to steer them along But the Greater must have Three or Four Men to manage them and sometimes when Business requires expedition Seven or Eight to quicken their pace CHAP. IV. Other Motives that induc'd the Author more forcibly to undertake this Discovery I Was passionately zealous in imitation of many Priests of my Order for enlarging the Limits of Christianity and converting the barbarous Americans to the Belief of the Gospel and in pursuance of that
Fish I have already spoken of was then in season and made our Indian Corn more relishing We made use of the Water in which the Fish was boyled instead of Broth of Meat for when it gâ—ows cold in the Pot it congeals it self like some Broth of Vâ—al On the 20th arriv'd M. de la Salle from Fort Frontenac from whence he was sent with a great Bark to supply us with Provisions Rigging and Tackling for the Ship we design'd to build at the Mouth of the Lake Erie but that Bark was unfortunately cast away on the Southern Coast of the Lake Ontario by the fault of two Pilots who could not agree about the Course they were to steer tho' they were then only within two Leagues of Niagara The Sâ—a-man have call'd this Place the Mad-Cape The Anchors and Cables were sav'd but several Canows of Barks of Trees with Goods and Commodities were lost These Disappointments were such as would have disswaded from any farther Enterprize all other Persons but such who had form'd the generous Design of making a New Discovery in the Country M. de la Salle told us That before he lost his Bark he had been with the Iroquois Tsonnontouans and had so dexterously gain'd their Affection that they had talk'd to him of our Embassie with Applause and had given him their Consent for the execution of our Undertaking This good Intelligence lasted but a little while for certain Persons who made it their Business to cross our Design inspir'd the Iroquois with many Suspicions about the Fort we were building at Niagara which was in a great forwardness and their Suspicions grew so high that we were oblig'd to give over our Building for some time contenting our selves with an Habitation encompass'd with Palisado's On the 22d of the said Month we went two Leagues above the great Fall of Niagara where we made a Dock for building the Ship we wanted for our Voyage This was the most convenient place we could pitch upon being upon a River which falls into the Streight between the Lake Erie and the great Fall of Niagara The 26th the Keel of the Ship and some other Pieces being ready Mr. la Salle sent the Master-Carpenter to desire me to drive in the first Pin but my Profession obliging me to decline that Honour he did it himself and promis'd Ten Louis d'Or to encourage the Carpenter and further the Work The Winter being not half so hard in that Country as in Canada we employ'd one of the two Savages of the Nation call'd the Wolf whom we kept for Hunting in building some Cabins made of Rinds of Trees and I had one made on purpose to perform Divine Service therein on Sundays and other occasions M. la Salle having some urgent Business of his own return'd to Fort Frontenac leaving for our Commander one Tonti an Italian by Birth who had been forc'd to retire into France after the Revolution of Naples in which his Father was concern'd I conducted M. la Salle as far as the Lake Ontario at the Mouth of the River Niagara where he order'd a House to be built for the Smith we had promis'd to the Iroquois but this was only to amuse them and therefore I cannot but own that the Savages are not to be blam'd for having not believ'd every thing they were told by M. lâ— Motte in his Embassie already related He undertook his Journey a foot over the Snow having no other Provisions but a little Sack of Indian Corn roasted which fail'd him two Days before he came to the Fort which is above fourscore Leagues distant from the Place where he left us However he got home safely with two Men and a Dog who dragg'd his Baggage over the Ice or frozen Snow When I return'd to our Dock I understood that most of the Iroquois were gone to wage War with a Nation on the other side of the Lake Eriâ— In the mean time our Men continu'd with great application to build our Ship for the Iroquois who were left behind being but a small number were not so insolent as before tho' they came now and then to our Dock and express'd some Discontent at what we were doing One of them in particular feigning himself drunk attempted to kill our Smith but was vigorously repuls'd by him with a red-hot Iron-barr which together with the Reprimand he receiv'd from me oblig'd him to be gone Some few Days after a Savage Woman gave us notice that the Tsonnontouans had resolv'd to burn our Ship in the Dock and had certainly done it had we not been always upon our guard These frequent Alarms from the Natives together with the Fears we were in of wanting Provisions having lost the great Bark from Fort Frontenac which should havâ— reliev'd us and the Tsonnontouans at the same time refusing to â—ive us of their Corn for Money were a great Discouragement to our Carpenters whom on the other hand a Villain amongst us endeavour'd to seduce That pitiful Fellow had several times attempted to run away from us into New-York and would have likely perverted our Carpenters had I not confirm'd them in their Good Resolution by the Exhortations I us'd to make every Holy-day after Divine Service in which I represented to them that the Glory of God was concern'd in our Undertaking besides the Good and Advantage of our Christian Colonies and therefore exhorted them to redouble their Diligence in order to free our selves from all those Inconveniences and Apprehensions we then lay under The two Savages we had taken into our Service went all this while a Hunting and supply'd us with Wild-Goats and other Beasts for our subsistence which encourag'd our Workmen to go on with their Work more briskly than before insomuch that in a short time our Ship was in a readiness to be launch'd which we did after having Bless'd the same according to the use of the Romish Church We made all the haste we could to get it a-float tho' not altogether finish'd to prevent the Designs of the Natives who had resolv'd to burn it The Ship was call'd the Griffin alluding to the Arms of Count Frontenac which have two Griffins for Supporters and besides M. la Salle us'd to say of this Ship while yet upon the Stocks That he would make the Griffin fly above the Ravens We fir'd three Guns and sung Te Deum which was attended with loud Acclamations of Joy of which those of the Iroquois who were accidently present at this Ceremony were also Partakers for we gave them some Brandy to drink as well as to our Men who immediately quitted their Cabins of Rinds of Trees and hang'd their Hammocks under the Deck of the Ship there to lie with more security than a-shoar We did the like insomuch that the very same Day we were all on board and thereby out of the reach of the Insults of the Savages The Iroquois being return'd from Hunting Beavers were mightily surpriz'd to see our Ship a-float and call'd us Otkon
to see our Ship which rode all that while in the Bay or Creek I have spoken of It was a diverting Prospect to see every Day above sixscore Canow's about it and the Savages staring and admiring that fine Wooden Canow as they call'd it They brought us abundance of White Fishes and some Trouts of 50 and 60 pound Weight We went the next Day to pay a Visit to the Hurons who inhabit a rising Ground on a Neck of Land over-against Missilimakinak Their Villages are fortify'd with Palisado's of 25 foot high and always situated upon Eminences or Hills They receiv'd us with more Respâ—ct than the Outtaouatz for they made a triple Discharge of all the small Guns they had having learn'd from some Europeans that it is the greatest Civility amongst us However they took such a Jealousie of our Ship that as we understood since they endeavour'd to make our Expedition odious to all the Nations about them The Hurons and Outtaouatz are in Confederacy together against the Iroquois their Common Enemy They sow Indian Corn which is their ordinary Food for they have nothing else to live upon except some Fish they take in the Lakes They boil it with their Sagamittee which is a kind of Broth made with Water and the Flour of the Corn which they beat in a Mortar made of the Trunk of a Tree which they make hollow with Fire There is another Habitation of Savages near the Fall of St. Mary The French caâ—â— them Leapers because they live near that great Fall which they call a Leap These subsist together by Hunting Staggs Elks Beavers and other Beasts as also upon the White Fishes we have spoken of whose Fishery is so difficult in this Place that none but themselves are able to â—atch any They sow no Indian Corn because of the thick Fogs that are commonly on the Banks of the Superiour Lake which stifle Corn before it grows Missilimakinak and the Fall of St. Mary are the two most considerable Passages of all the Savages of the West and North for there are above two hundred Canow's that come through these Passes every Year to carry their Commodities to the French at Montreal below Fort Frontenac Our Enterprize had been very successful hitherto and we had reason to expect that every body would have contributed to carry on vigorously our great Design to promote the Glory of God as well as the Good of our Colonies However some of our own Men oppos'd it as much as they could they represented us to the Outtouatz and their Neighbours as dangerous and ambitious Adventurers who design'd to engross all the Trade of Furrs and Skins and invade their Liberty the only thing which is dear to that People The fifteen Men that M. la Salle had sent before him had been seduced and almost drawn from his Service The Goods which he had given them to exchange with the Natives were dissipated and wasted and instead of advancing as far as the Illinois as they were order'd they remain'd amongst the Hurons notwithstanding the Exhortations and the Prayers of M. Tonti who Commanded them Our Men went into the Country to Trade with the Natives and engag'd themselves too far so that they did not return to Missilimakinak till November M. la Salle being told that the Winds made the Navigation of the Lake very dangerous in the beginning of the Winter resolv'd to continue his Voyage without tarrying any longer for the return of his Men. CHAP. XXII An Account of our Sailling from Missilimakinak into the Lake of the Illinois ON the 2d of September we weigh'd Anchor and sail'd into the Lake of the Illinois and came to an Island just at the Mouth of the Bay of the Puans lying about forty Leagues from Missilimakinak It is inhabited by some Savages of the Nation call'd Poutouatamis with whom some of the Men M. la Salle had sent the Year before had barter'd a great quantity of Furrs and Skins We found our Men in the Island who began to be very impatient having so long waited our arrival The Chief of that Nation had been formerly in Canada and had an extraordinary Respect for Count Frontenac who was Governour thereof and upon that account received us with all the Civâ—lity imaginable and caus'd his Men to dance the Calumet or Pipe before us This is a piece of Civility we shall describe anon Our Ship was riding in the Bay about thirty Paces from the furthermost Point of the Land upon a pretty good Anchorage where we rode safely notwithstanding a violent Storm which lasted four Days And upon this occasion I cannot omit without Injustice the Generosity of that Brave Captain who seeing our Ship toss'd up by the Waves and not knowing it was able to resist ventur'd himself in his little Canow and came to our assistance He had the good Luck to get safe on board and told us he would at all times venture his Life for saving the Children of Onnontio Governour of Canada who was his particular Friend It must be observ'd that that Governour is call'd Onnontio by all the Savages M. la Salle without asking any body's Advice resolv'd to send back his Ship to Niagara laden with Furrs and Skins to discharge his Debts our Pilot and five Men with him were therefore sent back and order'd to return with all imaginable speed to join us toward the Sourthern Parts of the Lake where we should stay for them among the Illinois They sailed the 18th of September with a Westerly Wind and fir'd a Gun to take their leave Tho' the Wind was favourable it was never known what Course they steer'd nor how they perish'd for after all the Enquiries we have been able to make we could never learn any thing else but the following Particulars The Ship came to an Anchor to the North of the Lake of the Illinois where he was seen by some Savages who told us that they advised our Men to sail along the Coast and not towards the middle of the Lake because of the Sands that make the Navigation dangerous when there is any high Wind. Our Pilot as I said before was dissatisfy'd and would steer as he pleas'd without hearkning to the Advice of the Savages who generally speaking have more Sense than the Europeans think at first but the Ship was hardly a League from the Coast when it was toss'd up by a violent Storm in such a manner that our Men were never heard of since and it is suppos'd that the Ship struck upon a Sand and was there bury'd This was a great loss for M. la Salle and other Adventures for that Ship with its Cargo cost about sixty thousand Livres This will seem incredible to many but not to those who will consider that the Rigging Anchors and Goods were brought by Canow's from Quebec to Fort Frontenac which is such a vast Charge that the Carriage of every hundred Weight either of Anchors Cables and the like cost eleven Livres CHAP. XXIII An
obliging People and the Chief of the Koroa attended us to his Village which is situated about ten Leagues lower upon the River in a fertile Soil which produces abundance of Indian Corn and other things necessary for Life We presented them with three Axes six Knives seven Yards of good Tobacco several Awls and Needles They receiv'd our Presents with great Shouts and their Chief presented us with a Calumet of Peace of red Marble the Quill whereof was adorn'd with Feathers of five or six sorts of Birds They gave us also a Noble Treat according to their own way which I lik'd very well and after we had din'd the Chief of that Nation understanding by our Signs which way we were bound took a Stick and made such Demonstrations that we understood that we had not above seven Days journey to the Sea which he represented as a great Lake with large wooden Canow's The next Day we prepar'd to continue our Voyage but they made such Signs to oblige us to stay a Day or two longer that I was almost perswaded to do it but seeing the Weather so favourable for our Journey we embark'd again The Chief of that Nation seeing we were resolv'd to be gone sent several Men in two Pyrogues to attend us to the Mouth of the River with Provisions but when I saw that the three Chikacha of whom I have spoken follow'd us every-where I bid my Men to have care of them and observe their Motions upon our landing for fear of any Surprize It was then Easter-Day which we kept with great Devotion tho' we could not say Mass for want of Wine but we spent all the Day in Prayers in sight of the Savages who wonder'd much at it The Meschasipi divides it self six Leagues below the Villages of the Koroa into two Branches forming an Island about sixty Leagues long according to our best Observation The Koroa oblig'd us to follow the Canal to the Westward tho' the Chikacha who were in their Pyrogues endeavour'd to perswade me to take the other But as we had some suspicion of them we refus'd to follow their Advice tho' I was afterwards convinc'd that they design'd only to have the Honour to bring us to several Nations on the other Bank of the River whom we visited in our return We lost quickly the Company of our Savages for the Stream being very rapid in this Place they could not follow us in their Pyrogues which are very heavy We made that Day near forty Leagues and landed in the Evening upon the Island where we pitch'd our Cabin The 24th we continu'd our Voyage and about five and thirty Leagues below the Place we had lain we discover'd two Fishermen who immediately ran away We heard some time after a great Cry and the Noise of a Drum but as we suspected the Chikacha we kept in the middle of the River rowing as fast as we could This was the Nation of Quinipissa as we understood since We landed that Night in a Village belonging to the Nation of Tangibac as we have been inform'd but the Inhabitants had been surpriz'd by their Enemies for we found ten of them murther'd in their Cabins which oblig'd us to embark again and cross the River where we landed and having made a Fire roasted our Indian Corn. The 25th we left the Place early in the Morning and after having row'd the best part of the Day came to a point where the Mechasipi divides it self into three Canals We took the middle one which is very broad and deep The Water began there to taste brackish but four Leagues lower it was as salt as the Sea We rowed about for Leagues farther and discover'd the Sea which oblig'd us to go a-shoar to the Eastward of the River CHAP. XXXIX Reasons which oblig'd us to return towards the Source of the River Meschasipi without going any farther toward the Sea MY two Men were very much afraid of the Spaniards of New Mexico who inhabit to the Westward of this River and they were perpetually telling me That if they were taken the Spaniards would never spare their Lives or at least give them the Liberty to return into Europe I knew their Fears were not altogether unreasonable and therefore I resolv'd to go no farther tho' I had no reason to be afraid for my self our Order being so numerous in New Mexico that on that contrary I might expected to have had in that Country a peaceable and easie Life I don't pretend to be a Mathematician but having learn'd to take the Elevation of the Pole and make use of the Astrolabe I might have made some exact Observations had M. la Salle trusted me with that Instrument However I observ'd that the Meschasipi falls into the Gulph of Mexico between the 27th and 28th Degrees of Latitude where as I believe our Maps mark a River call'd Rio Escondido the Hidden River The Magdalen River runs between this River and the Mines of St. Barbe in New Mexico The Mouth of the Meschasipi may be about thirty Leagues from Rio Bravâ— sixty from Palmas and eighty or a hundred from Rio Panuco the nearest Habitation of the Spaniards and according to these Observations the Bay di Spirito Sancto lies to the North-East of the Meschasipi which from the Mouth of the River of the Illinois to the Sea runs directly to the South or South-West except in its windings and turnings which are so great that by our computation there are about 340 Leagues from the River of the Illinois to the Sea whereas there are not above 150 in a direct Line The Meschasipi is very deep without being interrupted by any Sands so that the biggest Ships may come into it It s Course from its Source to the Sea may be 800 Leagues including Windings and Turnings as I shall observe anon having travell'd from its Mouth to its Head My Men were very glad of this Discovery and to have escap'd so many Dangers but on the other hand they express'd a great deal of Dissatisfaction to have been at such trouble without making any Profit having found no Furrs to exchange for their Commodities They were so impatient to return that they would never suffer me to build a Cabin upon the Shoar and continue there for some Days the better to obseâ—ve where we were They squar'd a Tree of twelve foot high and made a Cross thereof which we erected in that Place leaving there a Letter sign'd by me and my two Men containing an account of our Voyage of our Country and Profession We kneel'd then near the Cross and having sung the Vexilla Regis and some other Hymns embark'd again on the 1st of April to return towards the Source of the River We saw no body while we continu'd there and therefore cannot tell whether any Natives inhabit that Coast We lay during the time we remain'd a-shoar under our Canow's supported with four Foâ—ks and the better to protect us against the Rain we had some Rolls of Birch-Bark
fast we found our selves notwithstanding all the Pains we had been at over-against the Place where we embark'd One of our Men must needs shoot at a Bird flying which overset his Canow but by good luck he was in his depth We were forcâ—d to break several Sluces which the Castors had made for our Canow's to pass otherwise we cou'd not have continu'd our Way or carry'd our things to embark them again above these Sluces These Creatures make them with so much Art that Man cannot equal it We shall speak of them in our Second Volume We â—ound several of these Ponds or Stops of Water which these Creatures make with Pieces of Wood like a Causey After this we pass'd over four Lakes which are all made by this River Here formerly dwelt the Miamis but now the Maskouâ—ens Kikapous and Oâ—toagamis who sow their Indian Wheat here on which they chieâ—ly subsist We made some Broath of the Wâ—ter of a certain Fall which they call Kakalin because the Savages come often hither to ease themselves and lie on their Backs with their Faces expos'd to the Sun Thus having made more than four hundred Leagues by Water since our departure from the Country of the Issati and Nadoâ—essans we arriv'd at last at the great Bay of the Puans which makes part of the Lake of the Illinois CHAP. LXVIII The Author and his Company stay some time amongst the Puans Original of the Name They celebrated the Mass here and winter at Missilimakinak WE found many Canadians in this Bay of the Puans The Nation that inhabits here is so call'd because formerly they dwelt in certain Marshy Places full of stinking Waters situate on the south-South-Sea But being drove out thence by their Enemy they came and setled in this Bay which is to the East of the Illinois The Canadians were come hither to Trade with the People of this Bay contrary to an Order of the Viceroy They had still a little of the Wine left which they brought with them and kept in a Pewter-Flagon I made use of it for the Mass. Till now I had nothing but a Chalice and a Marble-Altar which was pretty light and very handsomly ingrav'd But here by good Fortune I met with the Sacerdotal Robes too Some Illinois who had happily escapâ—d their Enemies the Iroquois who had attack'd and almost destroyâ—d them since my Voyage and the time that I had been a Slave amongst the Barbarians had brought with them the Ornaments of the Chapel of Father Zenobius Mambre whom we had left among the Illinois Some of these I say who were escap'd to the Place where we were deliver'd me up all the Ornaments of the Chapel except the Chalice They promis'd to get me that too for a little Tobacco whicâ— I was to give them and were as good as their Word for they brought it me some few Days after 'T was more than nine Months since I had celebrated the Sacrament of the Mass for want of Wine We might indeed have done it in our Voyage had we had Vessels proper to keep Wine in But we cou'd not charge our Canow with such being very unâ—it to carry things of Weight 'T is true we met with Grapes in many Places through which wâ— pass'd and had made some Wine too which we put into Gourds but it fail'd us whilst we were among the Illinois as I have elsewhere observ'd As for the rest I had still some Wafers by me which were as good as ever having been kept in a Steel-Box shut very close We stay'd two Days at the Bay of thâ— Puans where we sung Te Deum and my self said Mass and Preach'd Our Men prepar'd themselves for the Holy Sacrament which we receiv'd in order to render our Thanks to God who had preserv'd us amidst the many Dangers we had run the Difficulties we had surmounted and Monsters we had overcome One of our Canow-Men truck'd a Fusil with a Savage for a Canow larger than our own in which after an hundred Leagues rowing having coasted all along the great Bay of the Puans we arriv'd at Missilimakinak in the Lake of Huron where we were forc'd to Winter For our Way lying still North we shou'd infallibly have perish'd amongst the Ice and Snow had we proceeded any farther By the Couâ—se we were oblig'd to take we were still about 400 Leagues from Canada Amongst these People I met to my no little Satisfaction Father Pierson a Jesuit Son of the King's Receivâ—r for the Town of At h in Hainault He was come hither to learn their Language and spoke it then passably well This Religious who retain'd still the free and open Humour of his Countrymen had made himself belov'd by his obliging Behaviour and seem'd to be an utter Enemy of Caballing and Intrigues having a Soul well-tun'd generous and sincere In a Word He appear'd to me to be such as every good Christian ought to be The Reader may judge how agreeably I pass'd the Winter in such good Company after the Miseries and Fatigues I had undergone in the Course of our Discoveries To make the best use of my time that I cou'd I Preach'd all the Holy-days and Sundays in Advent and Lent for the Edification of our Men and other Canadians who were come four or five Leagues out of their Country to Trade for Furrs amongst these Savages From whence we may observe that there are some whom I shall forbear to name who notwithstanding all their pretended Austerities are yet no less covetous of the Things of this World than the most Secular Person in it The Ouâ—acuacts and the Hurons wou'd often assist at our Ceremonies in a Church cover'd with Rushes and a few Boards which the Canadians had built here But they came more out of Curiosity than any Design to conform themselves to the Rules of our holy Religion The latter of these Savages would tell us speaking of our Discoveries That themselves were but Men but for us Europeans we must needs be Spirits That if they had gone so far up amongst strange Nations as we had done they should have been sure to have been kill'd by them without Mercy whereas we pass'd every-where without danger and knew how to procure the Friendship of all we met During the Winter we broke Holes in the Ice of the Lake Huron and by means of several large Stones sunk our Nets sometimes 20 sometimes 25 Fathom under-water to catch Fish which we did in great abundance We took Salmon-Trouts which often weigh'd from 40 to 50 pounds These made our Indian Wheat go down the better which was our ordinary Diet. Our Beverage was nothing but Broth made of White Fish which we drank hot because as it cools it turns to Jelly as if it had been made of Veal During our stay here Father Pierson and I would often divert our selves on the Ice where we skated on the Lake as they do in Holland I had learn'd this Slight when I was at Ghent from whence
to Brussels one may run in three Hours with abundance of Pleasure when the Canal is frozen 'T is the usual Diversion with which the Inhabitants of these two Cities entertain themselves during the Winter by favour of the Ice It must be allow'd without reflecting on any other Order That those of St. Francis are very proper for the setling of Colonies They make a strict Vow of Poverty and have a Property in nothing as their own They enjoy only a simple Use of Things necessary to Life Those that give us any Moveables continue still to be the Owners of them and may take 'em again at pleasure 'T is this Poverty which is recommended to us by many Popes but above all by our Rule which is the only one I find inserted in the Canon-Law What pass'd at Missilimakinak during this Winter is a Proof of what I say Two and forty Canadians who were come hither upon the account of the Trade which they drive here with the Savages desir'd me to present them with the Cord of St. Francis I comply'd with their Request and each time I deliver'd a Cord made a small Harangue by way of Exhortation to the Person receiving it and then associated him to the Prayers of the Order They would have kept me with them and made me a Settlement where from time to time they might have resort to me They promis'd me moreover since I would accept of no Furrs that they would prevail with the Savages to furnish out my Subsistance in the best manner which could be expected for the Country But because the greatest part of them that made me this Offer Traded into these Parts without permission I gave them to understand That the Common Good of our Discoveries ought to be preferr'd to their private Advantages so desir'd them to excuse me and permit me to return to Canada for a more Publick Good CHAP. LXIX The Author's Departure from Missilimakinak He passes two great Lakes Taking of a Grâ—at Bear Some Particulars relating to the Flesh of that Beast WE parted from Missilimakinak in Easter-Week 1681. and for twelve or thirteen Leaguâ—s together were oblig'd to draw our Provisions and Canow's after us over the Ice up the Lake Huron the sides of which continu'd still froze five or six Leagues broad The Ice being broke we embark'd after the Solemnity of the Quasimodo which we had an opportunity to celebrate having by good Fortune met with a little Wine which a Canadian had brought with him and seâ—v'd us all the rest of our Voyage After we had row'd a hundred Leagues all along the sides of the Lake Huron we pass'd the Streights which are thirty Leagues thro' and the Lake of St. Claire which is in the middle Thence we arriv'd at the Lake Erie or of the Cat where we stay'd some time to kill Sturgeon which come here in great numbers to cast their Spawn on the side of the Lake We took nothing but the Belly of the Fish which is the most delicious part and threw away the rest This Place afforded also plenty of Venison and Fowl As we were standing in the Lake upon a large Point of Land whiâ—h runs it self very far into the Water we perceiv'd a Bear in it as far as we could see We could not imagin how this Creature got there 't was very improbable that he shou'd swim from one side to t'other that was thirty or forty Leagueâ— over It hapned to be very calm so two of our Men leaving us on the Point put off to attack the Bear that was near a quarter of a League out in the Lake They made two Shot at him one after another otherwise the Beast had certainly â—unk them As soon as they had firâ—d they were forc'd to sheer off as fast as they could to charge again which when they had done they returnâ—d to the Attack The Bear was forc'd to stand it and it cost them no less than seven Shot before they could compasâ— him As they were endeavouring to get him â—board they were like to have been over-set which if they had they must have been infallibly lost All they could do was to fasten him to the Barr that is in the middle of the Canow and so drag him on â—hoar which they did at last with much ado and great hazard of their Lives We had all the leisure that was requisite for the dressing and ordering him so as to make him keep and in the mean time took out his Intrails and having cleans'd and boil'd them eat heaâ—tily of ' â—m These are as good a Dish as those of our Sucking-Pigs in Europe His Flesh serv'd us the rest of our Voyage which we usually eat with lean Goats-flesh becausâ— it is too fat to eat by it self So that we liv'd for 100 Leagues upon the â—ame that we kill'd in this Place CHAP. LXX The Meeting of the Autâ—or and a certain Captain of the Outtaouacts nam'd Talon by the Intendant of that Name upon the Lake of Erie who recounts to him many Adventures of his Family and Nation Further Observations upon the Great Fall or Catarâ—ct of Niâ—gara THere was a certain Captain of the Outtaouacts to whom the Intendant Talon gave his own Name whilst he was at Quebec He us'd to come often to that City with those of his Nation who brought Furrs thithâ—r We were strangely surpriz'd at the sight of this Man whom we found almost famish'd and more like a Skeleton than a living Man He told us the Name of Talon would be soon extinct in this Country since he â—esolv'd not to survive the Loss of six of his Family who had been starv'd to death He added That the Fishery and Chace had both fail'd this Year which was the occasion of this sad Disaster He told us moreover That tho' the Iroquois were not in War with his Nation yet hâ—d they taken and carry'd into Slavery an entire Family of Twelve Souls He begg'd very earnestly of me that I would use my utmost Endeavours to have them releas'd if they were yet alive and gavâ— me two Necklacâ—s of Black and White Porcelain that I might be sure not to neglect a Business which he laid so much to heart I can rely upon thee Bare-foot for so they always call'd us and am confident that the Iroquis will hearken to thy Reasons sooner than any one 's Thou didst often advise them at their Councils which were held then at the Fort of Katarockoui where thou hast caus'd a great Cabin to be built Had I been at my Village when thou cam'st thro' it I would have done all that I could to have kept thee instead of the Black-Coat so they call the Jesuites which was here When the poor Captain had done speaking I solemnly promisâ—d him to use my utmost Interest with the Iroquois for the releasement of his Friends After we had row'd above an hundred and forty Leaguâ—s upon the Lake Erie by reason of the many Windings of the Bays